#BecauseOfYou Thank You Series

Introducing my Because Of You series… 

Hi! Taylor here. Running a small business isn’t just about sales, inventory, appointments, or social media posts. It’s about people. It’s about faith. It’s about sacrifice...And it’s about the moments that make it all worth it!

In this series, I’m going to start sharing something a little more personal… the real, behind-the-scenes ways that your support impacts my life. Not just as a business owner, but as a daughter, aunt, friend, and woman chasing a dream.

I’ll be sharing these posts over the next few months as a reminder of what shopping small is truly all about.

From Mondays with my niece, collaborating with my fellow female entrepreneurs, to bringing family into the shop, to the quiet wins you never see… these posts are my way of saying thank you and showing you what your support truly means to me.

So when you see #BecauseOfYou, just know — it’s coming straight from my heart to yours. Every single one of you is part of this story. 🤍

Thank you for making this dream possible.
 — Taylor

#BecauseOfYou… I get to be the “cool aunt” and bring my niece Natalie to work with me.

Sometimes when Natalie (10) doesn’t have school, she gets to come to the shop with me, and those are some of my favorite days here! She loves helping customers, making outfit videos, sweeping up for the stylists, running the checkout counter, counting the cash drawer, and being besties with everyone in the salon and boutique. Sometimes we even rope her into shoveling snow!

Oftentimes, small business life comes with wacky hours, stress, and a lot of sacrifice… but days like this are the trade-off that make it all worth it. I get to teach her the ropes, show her what hard work looks like, and (hopefully) inspire her to chase whatever dream is on her heart someday.

So to every person who shops, supports, shares, and believes in Uptown Girl — please know: you’re not just supporting my business. You’re creating memories, opportunities, and moments I’ll hold onto forever. For that, I am endlessly grateful.

Because Of You… I get to babysit on Mondays for my baby niece.

My niece Ramona was born over the summer, and I’ve spent almost every single Monday with her since she was born — and that is something I will NEVER take for granted. So when you come in and shop on Mondays and don’t see my face… just know I’m extra thankful for you.

Because you choose to support my small business, I’m able to structure my schedule in a way that lets me be her Monday babysitter… the one who gets the snuggles, the bottles, the smiles, and the silly songs. 

Small business life is hard sometimes. There are late-night events, early mornings doing the bookkeeping, packing up the car for road events, and a lot of busy Saturdays. But the tradeoff? I get time. Time with the people I love the most and time I’ll remember forever.

So when you shop here, book here, share our posts, or send someone our way — you’re giving us more than just a sale. You’re giving me Mondays with my niece, and that means more than you’ll ever know. 

Because of you… I get to work alongside some of the most impressive, hardworking women I’ve ever met. 

When you support Uptown Girl, you’re not just supporting my small business — you’re supporting many small businesses. Every stylist, esthetician, nail tech, and beauty pro inside this building is an entrepreneur with her own dreams, goals, challenges, and victories.

Because of you, I get the privilege of working with women like Judy, Jodi, Angela, Kalyn, Miranda, Hannah, and Kenzie — each one running her own business, serving her own clients, and pouring her heart into the work she loves.

These women inspire me daily. They are talented, smart, dedicated, and so unbelievably hardworking. We learn from each other, lean on each other, cheer each other on, and share the kind of bond that only small business life creates.

So when you book with them, shop with us, or simply walk through our doors… you’re supporting an entire community of women building something beautiful.

I hope you know how much that truly means. 

Because of you… I get to keep Kristy’s dream alive. 

For those who don’t know, Kristy didn’t just start Uptown Girl — she helped shape my life long before this business ever existed.

She met me as an ultrasound picture. She babysat me from 6 weeks old until I was at least 12. She made every summer magical, filled with creativity, laughter, and love. She believed in me before I even knew who I was going to become.

Years later, when she trusted me enough to take over the business she poured her heart into, it wasn’t just a professional opportunity — it was personal. This wasn’t a brand-new shop with a clean slate… It was years of customers she cared for, clothing she thoughtfully selected, friendships she built, and a community she built along the way. 

So when you support Uptown Girl, you aren’t just supporting me…you are helping keep Kristy’s dream alive. You are honoring her courage, her vision, and the beautiful foundation she built before my name was ever on the paperwork. And I carry that responsibility in my heart every single day I unlock the door. 🤍

 

Because of you… my hometown has a place that fosters community. 

It means more to me than I can ever put into words that Uptown Girl exists in my town. The town I grew up in. The streets I walked as a kid. The community that shaped me.

And here’s a little fun fact most people don’t know: I was getting my hair cut right here at Uptown Cuts when I was in elementary school. I sat in these same chairs (we have the same exact booster seat for kids, no joke!). I laughed in this same space and flipped through the hair books, long before I ever dreamed I’d one day unlock these doors as the owner.

Small business keeps a small town “home”. It gives people a place to gather, connect, celebrate, and feel seen. It gives character to our streets and life to our downtown. And because of you, this space continues to be more than just a shop — it’s a meeting place, a safe place, a happy place.

So when you walk through these doors, please know… you are walking into a piece of my heart and my history. And because of you, it gets to keep living on in the community that raised me.

Because of you… I’ve made new friends I never would have expected. 

Many of you know the sweet senior ladies who come in for their weekly shampoo and style appointments. These women bring warmth, humor, and stories that fill the room, turning ordinary appointments into moments that matter.

This little shop has become a place where wisdom is shared freely — the kind that only comes from living full, meaningful lives. Stories, advice, honesty, and resilience are exchanged daily. Our fashion opinions may not always align, but common ground is always found in conversation, connection, and care. These women model for the younger generation what it looks like to move through life with confidence, kindness, intelligence, and thoughtfulness.

My dear friend Barbara deserves her own paragraph. In her early nineties, she shows up with grace, sharp wit, and a deep love for the people around her. She listens just as much as she speaks, offers advice without judgment, and carries herself with a confidence that only comes from a life well lived. Watching her move through the world is a reminder that kindness, curiosity, and thoughtfulness never go out of style.

Small business isn’t just about transactions. It’s about relationships, generations connecting, and a community that holds space for one another. That sense of connection is what makes this place feel like home.

Because of you… I don’t feel “behind” anymore. 

This one is hard to share, but it’s real.

For a long time, I carried the feeling that I wasn’t good enough…that I was falling behind in life compared to everyone else. Let’s be real — it took me 7 years to graduate college. I’m not married. I don’t have children. I don’t own a home. I haven’t checked off the “traditional milestones” society tells us we should reach by a certain age. For a while, that really hurt.

However, because of your support and this business, something shifted. Uptown Girl gave me purpose and responsibility. A place to pour my heart, my creativity, my strength. It gave me something to work for and something I’m proud of.

Through your support, I’ve learned that life doesn’t run on one timeline. There isn’t one right order, and success doesn’t look the same for everyone. I don’t compare myself the same way I used to. Thanks to you, I’m proud of where I am and not ashamed of what I haven’t done yet.

That kind of healing, freedom, confidence is worth more than anything I could ever sell in this shop. 

Because of you… I get to collaborate with other female entrepreneurs instead of competing with them. 🤍

One of the biggest gifts this business has given me is the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow alongside some truly incredible women. When you support Uptown Girl, you’re not just supporting me — you’re helping create space for community over competition.

Because of you, I’ve had the honor of working with and learning from women like Cari & Sarah from TwentyTwelve Boutique, Megan from Creative Simplicity, Sara from Full of Joy, Tanja from TT’s Nothing But Nature, Carissa from The Little Bear Boutique, Becky from The Silver Squirrel, Kara from Lillian’s, Cari from Periwinkle Poppy, Paige from The Midwest Closet, Andrea from Flights Wine & Cocktail Club, Jamie from Freedom Road Fashion Boutique, Barb from Brinkley’s Boutique, and Nicole from Sugar Rushlow— and so many more I’m grateful for every day.

These women have inspired me, challenged me, educated me, and encouraged me in ways I can’t even put into words. We bounce ideas off each other, share resources, and celebrate wins. We show up for each other. That kind of environment doesn’t happen by accident — it’s built when people choose to support small and shop local.

Small business can feel lonely sometimes… but because of you, I’m surrounded by a village of strong, creative, hardworking women who remind me I’m not doing this alone.