Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about why I do the things I do.
Why I started The Gilded Grimoire.
Why I decided to open a Shopify store.
Why I recently bought everything I needed to start streaming on Twitch.
And honestly? It all comes back to one thing.
I’ve always known I wasn’t meant to work for someone else forever.
Not because there’s anything wrong with having a job — but because deep down, I’ve always wanted to create something of my own. Something that feels like me. Something I can build, grow, and eventually live from.
Even as a kid, I had that mindset.
I used to buy candy in bulk from Costco and sell it during snack breaks at school. I’d sell each chocolate bar for a dollar and end up making about eight dollars a day. I didn’t even realize it back then, but I was already thinking like a tiny entrepreneur.
I also tried making necklaces and bracelets and selling them. I was always the hobby kid. The creative kid. The one who loved making things and finding ways to turn ideas into something real.
Now, as an adult, that part of me never went away.
It just evolved.
I started reading again and fell back in love with books. That led to bookmarks. That led to The Gilded Grimoire. That led to building a brand, a shop, and a community.
And recently, I thought — why not lean into another thing I love too?
Video games.
I’ve always loved cozy games and immersive worlds. And at the same time, I’ve been looking for ways to eventually earn money doing things that actually make me happy instead of feeling stuck working for someone else forever.
So I decided to start streaming.
Not because I expect to become famous overnight. Not because I think it’ll be easy. But because it’s another creative outlet. Another world I can build. Another step toward becoming more self-sufficient and living life on my own terms.
At the end of the day, my dream is simple.
I want to be able to work from home.
Take care of my child.
Create things I love.
Travel the world.
And not feel trapped in a system that drains me.
I’m still figuring it all out as I go.
Some days I feel motivated.
Some days I feel overwhelmed.
Some days I wonder if I’m doing too much.
But I also know this — I’ve always been a creator. I’ve always had ideas. And I’ve always believed I could build something for myself.
The Gilded Grimoire.
The Common Room.
Streaming.
Bookmarks.
Blogs.
They’re all just different pieces of the same dream.
Creating a life that feels like mine.
If you’re also someone who’s trying to turn hobbies into something real, who’s tired of feeling stuck, or who’s building something little by little — I see you.
We’re figuring it out together.