Waffles, Chaos, and Crowdfunding: A Summer in the Life of a Mama CEO

Summer in my house doesn’t start with alarms or neatly organized to-do lists. It starts somewhere between the sound of a barking dog and someone yelling, “Who ate the last waffle?” after we’ve stayed up all night watching movies and laughing until our bellies hurt.

Most mornings, the sun is already shining by the time we wake up. Either Kay'leigh is already in the kitchen trying to play chef, or I’m dragging myself out of bed to see what’s left in the fridge. And if we’re really feeling fancy—or just craving crispy bacon and someone else to do the dishes—we load up and head to our favorite Waffle House.

Of course, Jalen is always the one in the back seat talking about how early it is (even though it’s probably 10:30 AM), and the dog is barking like she’s got a full-time job as our personal chaos coordinator. But in the middle of all that noise, all that beautiful mess, there’s peace. There’s joy. There’s us.

What I Didn’t Realize I Was Missing

When I made the decision to close the physical storefront for JAK’s last year, it felt like a heartbreak and a relief all at once. I had poured my soul into that space. But what I hadn’t realized until I stepped back… was just how much I had been missing right at home.

The long talks. The slow mornings. The movie marathons. The spontaneous 5 & Below runs and dance battles in the kitchen. The sacred, small moments that don't feel like much until you blink and realize they're everything.

Now, I’m watching my first baby get ready to have babies of his own. Yep—your girl is about to be a Glam-Ma to twins boys! And while the thought of it makes me emotional, it also makes me proud. Because my babies grew up watching me hustle—and now I get to show them what legacy really looks like.

Building While Mothering (and Mothering While Building)

Don’t get me wrong—it’s still crazy around here. Between shipping orders, developing formulas, handling private label clients, and preparing to scale our operations, the work hasn’t slowed down. In fact, it’s intensified. But what’s different now is how we show up for each other through it.

JAK’s isn’t just my business—it’s our business. Every bottle, every bar, every bundle that leaves our hands is touched by love, laughter, and a little bit of organized chaos. Whether it’s Kay’leigh helping with packaging, Jalen checking labels (with complaints, of course), or me bouncing between CEO mode and mama mode, we’re doing this as a unit.

And that’s the beauty of it.

We’re not building this to impress strangers—we’re building it to empower families.

Why We Launched Our Crowdfunding Campaign

As we expand, we’re not just trying to grow bigger—we’re trying to grow better. That’s why we launched our crowdfunding campaign. We want to upgrade our space, invest in better equipment, and reach more entrepreneurs who are ready to turn their beauty ideas into reality—but don’t know where to start.

With your help, we can keep showing up for our family and yours.

Your donation doesn’t just fund a business—it fuels a vision. A vision where Black women-owned manufacturing labs like JAK’s Private Label thrive. A vision where families work together and win together. A vision where we normalize generational entrepreneurship, not just generational wealth.

Every dollar, every share, every word of support helps us stay in motion—while still holding tight to the things that matter most.

So If You’re Reading This…

Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting real families with real dreams. Thank you for believing that you don’t have to separate motherhood from entrepreneurship—that they can, in fact, strengthen each other.

From my messy, loud, love-filled home to yours, I’m sending gratitude—and a gentle reminder:

Success doesn't always look like suits and boardrooms.Sometimes, it looks like sticky syrup, half-folded laundry, and a baby on the way.

And that, my friend, is more than enough.

📢 Want to help us expand? You can donate or share our crowdfunding campaign here:🔗 https://www.ifundwomen.com/projects/scaling-beauty-building-brands-fueling-dreams

Together, let’s make it happen—for the culture, the community, and the future.