We had the good fortune of connecting with Leafynoms and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi LeafyNoms, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had my fair share of ‘small businesses’ in the past with making and selling clay charms in elementary school, clothes and knick-knacks in middle school, and virtual forms of items in high school. All of these eventually faded away due to my decreased ability to dedicate time and of course, education taking the front-seat.
Now, I look at my instagram account as more of a hobby than a business. An escape from the many obligations I have in my life at the moment. It’s there for my own entertainment and helps me keep a log of places I’ve been to, what I’ve thought of them, and if someone stumbles upon one of my reviews and it helps them decide to try a new cafe or restaurant – great!
I don’t have any intentions behind my posts besides telling my own opinion. I hope to continue this account over the years to document how food can play a vital role in someone’s life especially when they may be uprooted from home and transplanted in a new city, state, or country for school or work.
Food is a medium by which many of us can connect and share different cultures, and I hope to be a small piece in the large puzzle that somehow connects us all.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently in graduate school. It’s hard to find things that set me apart from my peers when so many of us are hard-working individuals. Getting to grad school was a long journey, but the most difficult thing hasn’t been the curriculum or sheer amount of information I’m supposed to remember, it’s being away from family. That was another reason I started my instagram account; I wanted to keep tabs on the many places I’ve been to and which ones I’ve enjoyed – so hopefully, I can share these experiences and make memories with my family.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This really depends on what time of the year my friend would come! The summer is a bit too hot to go out during the day, but the winter brings a perfect cool breeze.
Every day I’d try to hit a different cafe to either study, enjoy some pastries, or just try a different latte or coffee. Some of my favorites are Cafe Mollie, A Flour shop, and The Alley. We’d pack up our bags and make the 2 hour trip up to Sedona where we can go on a variety of different hikes and try all the amazing food there (ex: Elote!). We’d take a stroll along the shopping streets and peep in to see what souvenirs we could bring back to our friends.
On the weekends, we can visit the variety of farmer’s markets available from the UpTown market to the one in Scottsdale.
As you can see, most of my itinerary would be centered around food, but I’m sure we could block out some time to hit a ceramics class, throw together a puzzle, or tuft a rug!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout to my amazing partner who is always willing to help me take photos, be the additional lighting I need, and be so patient if I need to take a video 20, 30, or even 50 times. I’m quite hard on myself in my usual day to day career, so having someone who is there to support me endeavors regardless of how small or big they may be means a lot to me.
Instagram: Leafynoms
Other: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=1c_nItcclSNz7RiFZQh7sIfEnTIvcilc&usp=sharing