A Little of This & A Little of That keep it movin!

WHO AM I? 

My name is Tonya Smith, I will be 38 years old next week October 28th!!!

I am a single mom of a 2, 12, and 16 year old. Unfortunately, life has never been easy being raised by a single mom I saw a life full of struggle but with a mom that never gave up. She worked hard and taught us how to keep fighting! As a single mom I have hit roadblock after roadblock. Hardship after hardship however I have always taught my kids there will never be a day I won’t fight to be better than the day before! I will never give up on the dreams of breaking generation curses with them! Every single hardship you face in life is a lesson to be learned and a chance to grow and be better and better! Most that know me would say I am the most dedicated hardest worker they've ever seen. The days my children are not at home with me I work from sunup and burn the midnight oil but without hard work and passion I will never accomplish what I feel like I’m destined to accomplish in my heart! 

What is MY COMPANY? What's the Problem? Why are you here? 

A Little of This & A Little of That started back in 2017. As a single mom it quickly took off while I was working full time and had to give it up due to not being able to keep up. I never gave up the passion, my heart, or desire as an entrepreneur to have a store front. Finally, after a high-risk pregnancy (in and out of the hospital for my entire pregencany with a miracle baby that only started with a 6% chance of surviving) , a breakup, and covid (hospitalized for a week) I decided it was best if I finally gave in to my dreams! I obtained a store front in March of 2021. After obtaining the store front, we experienced a snowstorm then flooding then I was diagnosed with covid all setting me back!

August 22nd a Sun. morning I headed to the shop to work on the orders. I pulled up with the most excitement and dedicated heart ready to finally show up and show out getting orders completed! I walked in to find my production shop broken into! Every single item I had purchased was GONE! Everything that I had worked so hard for with no investors, no loans, just hard work was gone in the blink of an eye! Over $12,000 worth of equipment completely stolen unfortunately with a lapsed insurance payment from being shut down due to covid I had no insurance! 

Since then, my landlord for the business location had an opening for me to move locations. I have just in October been able to move two locations into one putting my production shop and boutique in the same area! I have about 3 times the space for the boutique alone than I had before allowing me to bring in about 7 other locally owned Kentucky Proud Handmade business to help fill the shop with inventory while helping them expand their business as well as mine!

Dreams Do Come True

The biggest thing I have done to make my business a reality is to never give up! Through hard work, sweat, tears, heartache, going without, the stress, and worry if I could make ends meet, I've never given up my dream nor passion! With God's Blessing, my faith, and grace I have forever been changed me as a person, as a mom, as a business owner, and as a community member!

The money would be used to invest in inventory for my boutique (which I'm extremely limited on due to replacing the stolen items), buy materials so I can make more items, eliminate the worry and fear if I can even pay my rent for the next month! With tears in my eyes, joy in my heart, just reading this contest gives me the affirmation that regardless of winning a contest or not there is SOMEONE out there WHO STILL BELIEVES IN ME, IN US!!!

I truly from the heart appreciate you taking the time to read this!!! This is not a sob sorry, feel sorry for me. This is my life and my reality, but I'm too hardheaded and stubborn to let this stop me! So onward and upward we go!!! 

My personal Facebook: 

(2) Tonya Smith | Facebook

My Business Group: 

(2) A Little of THIS & A Little of THAT | Facebook

The Reason and heart of why I will never ever give up!!!