A behind-the-scenes look at my own unfiltered shenanigans from the marketing trenches. A real-life, no BS view of what it's really like to market a small business and ideas to make it all feel a whole lot easier!

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The holidays are one of my very favorite times of year. The twinkle lights, the smells, the music, the general excuse to eat fudge at 9 a.m.

But I’ve also learned that the holidays have a special way of exposing… shall we say, my “less charming” traits.

Mainly, that I am (how do I put this delicately?) a little too detail-oriented. Like a full-blown perfectionist with a visceral need to make the holidays magic.

And nothing brings that out quite like decorating cookies with my kids.

Surprisingly, I genuinely do not care how much frosting they use (though if you’ve ever seen 14 pounds of melting icing mixed with 87 kinds of sprinkles and, for reasons unknown, a rogue Skittle… you understand my concern).

It’s not the mess that gets me - it’s the pure randomness with which they decorate. The absolute chaos of it all.

There’s no rhyme, no reason, no palette cohesion (ahhhhhhh)!

I have to say I’ve gotten better at letting it go. I take deep breaths. I remind myself: they’re having fun, let's just let the sugar shrapnel fly.

But it always hits me how uncomfortable it feels when things are untidy and unorganized… when there’s no rhythm to the process. Yes, even when it comes to cookie decorating.

And honestly? That’s exactly what most small business marketing looks like in December.

A sprinkle here.

A Reese’s chunk there.

A desperate swirl of frosting trying to say something meaningful.

And somehow you hope it all adds up to something palatable.

Spoiler: it doesn’t.

And behind the scenes, I have been working on a way to help.

It’s called the 3-Step Marketing Map - a super simple, not-at-all-overwhelming guide to help you set up your 2026 marketing plan in about an hour.

Here’s how it works:

1. Identify your busy and slow seasons (because we all have them).
2. Pick one quarterly focus area instead of trying to do all the things all the time.
3. Create a monthly rhythm that feels realistic, not random.

That's it. I pinky swear it isn't busy work.

It is a quick and easy way to get some clarity in a season full of chaos - and dripping frosting.

It's a calm, clear, confidence-boosting plan to carry you through next year without the sugar crash.

Oh, and it's totally free because we all need a little sanity this time of year.

I hope it will make your marketing feel as satisfying as a perfectly frosted cookie.

📍 Grab the 3-Step Marketing Map here ​

Once you have your 3-step plan, grab a hot cocoa (or a bourbon if you've been frosting cookies with your kids) and enjoy!

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