Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town? I’m originally from Lawrence, KS and I’ve lived in Summit since 2013.
Child(ren) and Age(s)? Penelope 10 and George 8
Favorite things to do with your kids? Baking and hiking!I feel like we’ve lived here forever, but I’m finally starting to learn about beautiful places to hike in NJ.
Favorite places to eat & shop in the area? Favorite places to eat are Summit House, La Focaccia and Village Trattoria – delicious food and the best people.Favorite place to shop is Wool & Grace!
Favorite form of self care? First and foremost, knitting, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that I love exercise to get my ya-ya’s out.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share! I opened and own a women’s apparel/accessories shop in downtown Summit, in March 2020 called Tea & Oranges. Retail can be exhausting, but I’ve always loved it.My husband observed this and encouraged me to open my own shop.
If you could give one tip to fellow Mom Entrepreneurs what would it be? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that things never go as planned. Whatever obstacles arise are either temporary (and not a big deal) or invaluable learning experiences.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
Most people don’t know that I’m a cancer survivor; I was treated for a Hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 21. It’s made me feel old-beyond-my-years for 20 years now, and I think I have a unique appreciation for aging because of it.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?First, my experience working at Wool & Grace (I’m avid knitter, in case that isn’t abundantly clear) gave me a lot of insight: into the community beyond the circle of my children’s school and what goes into running a small business. I learned all of this surrounded by truly amazing women.Second, I opened under very challenging circumstances (you know, the pandemic!) – surviving the last 10 months would not have been possible without the the support of a community that wants small businesses like Tea & Oranges to thrive.
For more information:
Tea & Oranges
316 Springfield Ave
Summit, NJ
Visit the website https://shopteaandoranges.com/
Follow along on Instagram @shopteaandoranges