What’s in a name?

So there I was—sitting on the couch in my dim, post-breakup, alley apartment. It was dark, it was empty, and it was the perfect backdrop for questioning every life choice I’d ever made. I was sad, scared, and downright furious that the “perfect” future I’d planned had gone up in smoke overnight. My creativity had evaporated. I was desperate to reclaim it and redefine who I was.

The holidays were approaching, and I needed a project to keep myself from wallowing in existential dread.

As I planned my trip home for Christmas, my thoughts turned to food (duh). All the classic holiday dishes, sure, but one thing haunted me: that sweet, tangy, spicy mustard that had to be on the table every year. My brother and I fought over who took home the biggest jar like two feral West Virginia raccoons..

I had a spark of an idea: make a giant batch of mustard for friends in Wilmington, NC. But the moment the thought crossed my mind, I shut it down. “You can’t do that. You’re not certified. You’re not an expert. You’re not allowed.”

But something in me finally stood up and fought back. I rebelled against this notion that you have to have every box checked before you’re “allowed” to create. For too long, I’d been tangled in perfectionism, convinced I needed to do everything the “right way” before taking a single step.

So I made a decision: Jump before you’re ready. I literally thought, “Oh, you think you CAN’T? Bitch, yes you CAN. Go prove it.”

That’s how Can’t Can Goods was born. It’s a personal mantra—a reminder that everything I thought I couldn’t do, I actually can. It’s also a nod to food tradition: canning, preserving, making real food with love and grit. And, let’s be honest, it evokes the playful spirit of Can-Can dancers: fun, flirty, rebellious, and unafraid to show off.

Today, Can’t Can Goods is my way of sharing handmade pickles, mustard, condiments, and baked goods without limits. Although, the outlaw, bootlegging component of this project is becoming more mainstream. Ya girl is going LEGIT, Y’all! I’m taking steps to get everything above board and get some of these goods in more hands.

I’m having a blast dreaming up photoshoots, experimenting with flavors, and challenging what I thought was possible. I’m learning to get things wrong, make changes, and keep growing.

Thank you for coming along on this journey. Thank you for supporting me and the bold, tasty ideas I put into the world. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY CHEERLEADER.