✨ Celebrating the Whimsy That Started It All: My MacKenzie-Childs Story
How a little whimsy and a lot of heart and soul sparked my creative empire.
Every empire starts with a spark. Mine began with hand-painted checks, bright florals, and a love for the whimsical world of MacKenzie-Childs.
Before The Soul Food Pot® and Vegas Right Now™, there was simply me! A home décor collector who saw magic in color and pattern.
In 2016, I launched my first website to share my love for MacKenzie-Childs after starting a new business that, believe it or not, only paid once a year! So here’s how it all started…
From collector to creator
Most things in my life happen organically, born from need or opportunity. That’s how I went from collector to content creator, and eventually to owning a publishing company built on shared media.
In a way, I created my own online network. Think NBC’s Peacock, ABC’s Hulu, or Netflix. Advertisers pay for placement on my “networks”: my websites that reach readers and viewers across food, lifestyle, and travel.
And the best part? It all happened naturally! ...Almost by accident.
The blog that changed everything
I wish I could say I saw the end from the beginning. But my first blog was just an extension of something sweet and simple: my daughter made me an Instagram so I could stay in touch with the MacKenzie-Childs brand, enter their contests, and engage with fellow collectors. (Thanks, Daughter!)
Through an eBay ad, a few of those collectors became clients, ladies who hired me to be their personal shopper at the brand’s annual Barn Sale in Aurora, New York. It was the shopping event of the year!
That personal shopping business was fun… But it only happened once a year. So, to stay connected between sales, my daughter then created a blog for me to share my collection and keep in touch.
MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale 2016 - Aurora, New York
The shift
At the time, I was pivoting from my first business, a cheerleading retail shop where I produced thousands of handmade hairbows monthly! From that experience, I learned an important lesson:
“You make a job with your hands and a business with your mind.” —Shaunda Necole
I was ready to use my mind.
What started as a once-a-year personal shopping gig soon became a year-round online business. I found my people through Instagram hashtags before I even knew what SEO meant!
Still, the business model had one big flaw: it only brought income once a year!
So I started publishing blog posts about home décor and linked my favorite products. That’s when affiliate marketing clicked, and soon after, brands began paying me for collaborations!
By 2019, things had taken off. I had an agent, paid speaking gigs, and partnerships with brands that aligned with my audience. My little blog had evolved into a media machine!
From blogger to brand
Today, that same spark of creativity powers a full media and publishing company, with three thriving “networks”:
🌟 ShaundaNecole.com – where it all began
🍗 TheSoulFoodPot.com – the #1 soul food site on Google
🎲 VegasRightNow.com – my travel blog that turned into a bestselling book!
Nearly a decade later, I’m still amazed that something so whimsical, my love for colorful dishes, became the foundation for my entire business empire!
MacKenzie-Childs brand collaboration photoshoot 2017
A love letter to whimsy
It’s been a journey of courage, creativity, and fun. Believing in my own unique flavor. What started with a love of MacKenzie-Childs dinnerware became the foundation for my life’s work: storytelling through soulful, joyful living.
From collector to creator, that spark of whimsy turned into something bigger... A publishing empire built on stories, food, and community.
Perhaps this post is my love letter to the brand that started it all, and a gentle nudge for you to find the spark that starts your next chapter. ✨
⭐️ Inspired by this story? Here’s what I’ve learned:
💬 Shaunda says:
1️⃣ “Start before you’re ready.”
Proactive work is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. A “thank me later” moment from you to you.
2️⃣ “Consistency is key.”
Or as I like to say, “Inch by inch is a cinch.” Do the right things well and do them often. Progress is built, not lucked into.
And just when you thought this story was sweet enough… There’s something even bigger baking behind the scenes. 🥧✨
Stay tuned for my next Substack post — and become a “Flava Fam” paid subscriber so you don’t miss a beat of the soul and the story! 💛
Shaunda!! so many good takeaways. Where do I even start? I’m so glad the story is out there in the world and that you’ve launched your sub stack. You make a job with your hands and a business with your mind. I’ve never heard that one and definitely love it.
Shaunda, reading your story made me feel like you were sharing it with me in person. No wonder why your story has been so successful. Thank you for giving us an insight!