08/16/2026
Sorry it’s a little long but just make sure sure you read the end ❤️. Thank you all…always!!!
Life & Business Updates 🩵
Two pretty huge things happened last week. *actually make that THREE!
First, I turned 50! 🎉
How does that happen so fast?! Everyone tells you it will, but actually living it is crazy.
I started pouring candles when I was around 19 years old and turned it into a “real” business when I was 25. So I’ve officially been doing this for half of my life. 🥹
I went to college and worked in accounting for the first 10 years while building Rustic Charm on the side. Then, at 35, I opened my first storefront and spent the next 15 years really pushing the candle business and watching it grow into more than I ever could have imagined.
I’m so incredibly thankful that I’ve gotten to spend all these years doing something I truly love.
And that brings me to the second big thing.
From day one, having Rustic Charm Candles in Cavender’s Western Stores was THE dream. It was the goal I always had tucked away in the back of my mind.
Then in 2019, on a completely ordinary day, I received a completely unexpected phone call—and that dream came true.
I hadn’t contacted them. Honestly, I didn’t even think we were ready yet! A friend of the buyer at the time had shared one of our candles with them, they loved it, and suddenly our little family candle company from Breckenridge, Texas was headed to Cavender’s.
For more than seven years, we have had the incredible privilege of seeing Rustic Charm Candles on the shelves of Cavender’s stores across the country. During that time, Cavender’s has continued to grow at an amazing pace, adding what I would estimate to be around 50 more stores.
And we grew right along with them.
But as much as we have loved every minute of it, keeping up with that growth was also becoming a full-time job in itself.
At one point, we considered moving into a larger building and expanding production so we could continue growing at that pace. But things never quite lined up—and looking back, I think there was a reason for that.
As the years have gone by, my goals have changed.
Instead of constantly thinking about how to make Rustic Charm bigger, I’ve found myself wanting to make life simpler.
So last week, Rustic Charm and Cavender’s mutually agreed that it was time to end our partnership.
And it’s okay. 🩵
Actually, it’s more than okay.
There is something incredibly freeing about realizing that it’s okay to let go of something you once dreamed about.
That dream came true. We lived it. We loved it. And now I’m ready to enjoy some of the little things again.
I feel like I can breathe.
And because God has such a funny way of working things out, the very next day after receiving our confirmation email, our son Bryce Double B Hat Company received an order from Cavender’s adding his hats to the stores they had not previously been in.
So now his products are on the shelves of every Cavender’s store. ❤️
Talk about a full-circle moment.
I simply cannot thank the Cavender’s family and team enough for giving our little family business more than seven years of incredible support and success. They made one of my biggest business dreams come true, and we will forever be grateful.
We love that company, we love the people behind it, and we are so excited that Cavender’s will continue to be such a special part of our family’s story through Double B.
And just to be very clear…
Rustic Charm Candles isn’t going anywhere! 🕯️🩵
You’ll still find our candles in wonderful smaller retail shops across the country, and of course, you can always shop directly with us through our own website.
I think 50 might just be the beginning of a really sweet new chapter.
A little slower.
A little simpler.
And hopefully with a whole lot more time to enjoy the things that matter most.
Thank you for being here for all the chapters. 🩵 Steph
