What I’ve Been Up To Lately

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know I always seem to have a dozen projects blooming at once. Between running my child care business, creating new designs for LaRae & Co Threads, tending to my gardens, and spending way too much time watching birds through my Birdfy cameras, life has been wonderfully busy lately.

One of the biggest projects I’ve been working on is my Houseplant Success Guide. What started as years of personal experience growing and collecting houseplants has turned into a digital guide designed to help fellow plant lovers feel more confident caring for their indoor jungle. Creating the guide has been a labor of love, and I’ve enjoyed sharing plant care tips, troubleshooting advice, and some of my favorite houseplant lessons learned along the way.

Speaking of plants, gardening season is officially in full swing here. The perennial beds are waking up, the lupins have been showing off with their gorgeous blooms, and I’m already spending more time outside admiring what’s returning from last year. There’s something special about seeing a garden mature and fill in over time. Every season feels like a new chapter.

The birds have also been keeping me entertained. The feeders have become a gathering place for finches, sparrows, catbirds, cardinals, woodpeckers, and plenty of other feathered visitors. My Birdfy cameras have captured everything from birds splashing in the bird bath to hungry finches waiting impatiently for breakfast. Watching wildlife in the backyard has become one of my favorite ways to unwind after a busy day.

Over at LaRae & Co Threads, I’ve been embracing a new creative direction that feels so much like me. Cottagecore-inspired designs, gardening themes, bird lover apparel, and nature-inspired graphics have been filling my sketchbook. The new Feathered Friends and Bird Nerd collections have been especially fun to create, combining my love for birds with a vintage, cozy aesthetic.

Behind the scenes, I’m also working toward expanding the business onto Amazon while continuing to grow the Shopify store. There have been plenty of learning curves along the way, but every step brings new opportunities and excitement for what the future holds.

Life certainly isn’t slowing down anytime soon, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether I’m planting flowers, feeding birds, creating designs, writing guides, or caring for little ones, I’m grateful for this season of growth.

Thank you for being here and following along on this journey. I can’t wait to share what comes next.

With gratitude,

Mandy
LaRae & Co Threass