Food photography is a whole different beast but I love that We know such talented people that have made this process way easier because they are so talented and Juliana is truly special!
This is where it gets really fun yet so so so stressful! @chandrawickephotography has been doing my brand photography for over 4 years and every single time she captures our brand perfectly!
Tonight in Pasadena we’re gathering for something real.
An intimate conversation about community, building something that lasts, and how women lead the way when it comes to care, connection, and creating generational wealth.
I’ll be sitting down with the incredible @bstereo for a conversation that hits deeper than business. We’re both Pasadena moms, founders, and women who believe that community isn’t just a nice idea, it’s the foundation for everything we’re building.
Hosted by TurboTax, who continues to create space for conversations like this and amplify the voices doing the work.
Join us tonight
�April 18th | 6–8pm�345 S. Lake Avenue
Suite 104A
Pasadena, CA
Light bites and cheese boards by Neighbors & Friends
Come as you are. Bring a friend. Be part of the kind of community we all say we want.
Coachella reminds us how much we love doing brand activations and working with some of the most amazing people! As we move into the summer we are dreaming up different brands to reach out to for summer activations and we are going to share over the next couple of days how we are doing that. Who is your dream client? We loved working with @neutrogena
We are speaking this into the universe. Brand activations are our bread and butter. It is where we thrive and telling a story with food makes us one of the best caterers in Los Angeles. This clarity is allowing us to truly scale and do things we rarely get too and we are all in!
I’m buzzing with pride after speaking at PCC for US Bank. When I arrived on site, my team was already setting up catering. I’m now rarely “in the wild,” but getting to build the table with an incredible crew was nothing short of amazing. Huge shoutout to our Stems crew, as well as Neighbors and Friends, for your hard work, creativity, and grit that made this moment possible.
A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Gomez for the incredibly warm introduction. This moment is a testament to what we’re building at Stems. He may have been introducing me but we wouldn’t receive such praise if you didn’t all rally around a shared dream, crazy brainstorms when times are tough and late-night sprints. Grateful also for the guidance from mentors and the collaboration with the @pasadenawbc and @pasadenasbdc teams at PCC. Always a group effort♥️
Networking can feel like you’re doing something.
You go to the event.�You exchange names.�You follow each other.�You leave thinking, “That was good for my business.”
But here’s the truth most people don’t want to say out loud: busy ≠ building.
Networking is often rooted in potential.�“What could come from this?”�“How could we work together?”�“Who might be useful later?”
Relationship building is rooted in presence.�Who is this person?�What do they care about?�Do we actually share values, energy, humor, timing, perspective?
And here’s the part that matters most to me:�Relationship building shouldn’t feel like work.
The relationships that have changed my business, the ones that led to opportunities like Neutrogena, were never forced. They were built with people I genuinely liked. People I’d grab coffee with even if business never came up. People who felt like homies, not “contacts.”
When it’s real:
* the outreach doesn’t feel heavy
* the follow-up doesn’t feel awkward
* the connection doesn’t feel transactional
Because there’s no hidden agenda.
And over time, something powerful happens:�You start showing up for each other.�You think of each other.�You advocate for each other when you’re not in the room.
That’s when doors open—not because you asked, but because you’re trusted.
This series isn’t about networking harder.�It’s about building relationships that actually hold you as you grow.
Weekend 1, Day 2
Real Talk… Networking and Relationships are not the same thing!
When we got the call to cater for Neutrogena in Tahoe, it wasn’t a cold pitch. It wasn’t luck. It was a relationship, one built long before the ask.
See, I used to think networking was the way. Walk in, make the right connections, get something from it. But it felt shallow. Relationships are different. You show up when there’s nothing to gain. You care, genuinely. You build on what you share and create trust. And over time, those relationships put you in rooms you didn’t even know you’d be in.
This is Day 1 of a series where I share exactly how we built those relationships, what it looks like in practice, and why it’s what truly scaled us. Follow along this week, and let’s get real about what it takes to grow.
And if you want to kick-start your outreach with more intention, grab my free Outreach Guide in our stan store. Comment STAN below.
Weekend 1, Day 1 of @neutrogena brand trip catering. We had less than a week to prepare for 2 back to back weekends and I would say mission accomplished!
