Help to Support a Dream: LucArchie's Baby Boutique

You're never too old to dream, right?

At least, that's what I told myself when I started this journey.

Yes, I am a devoted wife. I am the incredibly lucky mother to two beautiful boys, Luca, soon to be 3 in August, and Archie, soon to be 1 in August. I have a wonderful job as an educator. I know I am blessed in so many ways.

Yet, part of me still felt empty. Something was still missing. I still felt like I wasn't living out my true purpose in this world, the very purpose God created me for.

Yes, my children are a part of my purpose, but one day, they will grow and leave the nest I was blessed to raise them in. They will move on with their own lives and maybe even start their own families. I will be left missing them, knowing I did the best I could for them. However, I didn't want to also be left wondering what else it was in this world I was supposed to have done with my life.

I have always wanted to own my own business. I have always wanted to give back to my community. I have always wanted to build something of my own that my children could be proud of. I just never knew how or what. I don't think I ever really believed in myself enough to really try to make it happen.

But I did pray. I prayed for years that God would give me direction and help me to share my talents and my passions with others. I prayed He would give me happiness and fulfillment, outside of my family and my job.

One night, when I least expected it, but also when I needed it the most, God answered my prayer.

I looked at my boys, playing on the living room carpet together. I heard their laughter and watched their love for one another unfold in front of me; suddenly, I was overcome. I can't quite explain it, but at that moment, I just knew what it was I was supposed to do. It was because of them, my children, whom I love with all my heart, that everything finally made sense. I knew I was going to get out of my comfort zone and take a risk. I knew I was going to work towards my dream of owning my own business, for them, for my husband, and for myself, and I felt with all my being God was moving my heart, saying, "You need to do this."

That was truly the moment LucArchie's was born, the future baby boutique of Tunkhannock named after two of the most beautiful human beings I have ever known.

I went to my husband, Matt (you may know him as the old "beer guy" from B&R Distributors) who has listened to a ton of my crazy ideas through the years. (We have been married for four years but together for a decade, God bless his heart.)

I told Matt I wanted to open a baby boutique. Not just any baby boutique, but a place where I could share my creative talents with the community. A place where I could publish and sell the children's books I have always dreamed of writing. A place where I could create and personalize gifts that I have so often wanted to buy for other expectant mothers and friends, but I could never quite find what I was looking for. A place where I could sell quality products at a good price, because I know how expensive it is to have kids and to want the world/the very best for them. A place where I could network with other local small businesses and promote them, because I believe in supporting everyday folk who are working their butts off to make a living for themselves and their families. A place where I could host events for the community, because there is nothing I love more than bringing people together. Most importantly, a place I could call my own, so that my boys could see how hard I worked for them, in order to help their dad provide them with the best life possible.

I want my boys to know that no dream is ever too big, that impossible truly does not exist, so long as there is hard work, passion, and dedication. You just have to believe in yourself enough to start, and this was a chance for my start.

I needed my husband's support. I gave him my business plan, laid it all out, talked a hundred miles a minute out of sheer excitement and optimism, and he didn't even hesitate. He said, "Babe, I know you can do this. It's a great idea, and I know you are going to make it happen."

With Matt's support, I hit the ground running.

Launching a small business into the world is HARD, especially in today's world. We are at the VERY BEGINNING stages, and we do not expect to open until June of 2025. I am bound and determined to make it happen, no matter what, and we have already received so much support!

This is, perhaps, outside of raising children, the scariest, most exciting, and most rewarding journey in my life thus far. I cannot wait to see where this takes our family, and I am praying with all my heart that LucArchie's becomes a staple in our community for years to come.

If you asked anyone who knows me, they would tell you I am not one to ask for help. I genuinely try to figure things out for myself if I am able, because I don't like to burden others. I was also raised to be a hardworking and independent woman. (Thank you, God, for my amazing parents, who set the best example for me.)

However, due to the massive financial undertaking this is, between renovating our location, building inventory, marketing our business, etc, I am here, asking anyone who is able, to help support my dream. While I have many community fundraisers planned over the course of the next year to crowdfund our business, I know it will not be enough to help offset the cost of what will ultimately be required to make this dream become a reality.

Whether you are able to donate or to simply share our GoFundMe, your support is appreciated more than you know, and I promise to pay your kindness forward tenfold as we continue to build LucArchie's into everything I know it can become.

I truly believe in this business with all my heart, and I cannot thank everyone who has supported us thus far.

I hope that sharing my story has, perhaps, inspired some of you to keep dreaming. There IS hope. Your prayers truly ARE heard. You are not alone, and it is certainly never too late. <3

If you are reading this, thank you for being a part of my family's story. Thank you for believing in us and this crazy dream, for supporting us, and for helping this business to take flight. We could, quite literally, never do it without you. This is just another reason why Tunkhannock is one of the greatest communities to be part of, and I could not be prouder or more humbled by the love and kindness we continue to receive.

Thank you, again. We cannot wait to see you in 2025!!!

With love, from our family to yours.

- The Alfieri's

(Chelsey, Matt, Luca, and Archie)