Building Dreams & Businesses
Read our story of turning our passions into purpose and the journey that led to Feeding the Nobles and Victory Gym.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
A recent question from a Feeding the Nobles follower about the most surprising part of our entrepreneurial journey got me reflecting. It’s a story I never imagined when I first met Caleb on our blind date in 2015. I’ve never been much of a dreamer, and change has often felt overwhelming. But this journey has shown me how deeply fulfilling it can be to pursue something you believe in. It’s also revealed to Caleb and I how beautifully our strengths and passions align, allowing us to create something far greater together than we ever could on our own—not just in business, but in a shared commitment of making a difference and striving towards a goal. Balancing deep business discussions while breaking up toddler quarrels isn’t for the faint of heart, but we’ve discovered a unique joy in collaborating as husband and wife. We’ve experienced life-changing moments and navigated some really dark valleys, but through it all, I wouldn’t change a thing.
THE JOURNEY
In 2019 Caleb and I launched Victory Gym online and created the FTN Instagram page, all while making do with a tiny kitchen that had just one working burner. We patched up cracks in the basement walls—dealing with regular flooding—to turn it into a functional gym space for ourselves. It wasn’t uncommon to find Caleb in the kitchen doing overhead lifting due to our low basement ceilings.
In 2020, just days before welcoming our first baby, we bought my parents’ house and gave Victory its first physical location in our third-car garage. As our family grew, so did the business, eventually taking over all three garage bays after our second baby was born. For three years, Caleb coached clients before and after his full-time job in a clinical health environment. While pregnant with our third child, I began jotting down recipe ideas for what would eventually become my cookbook. It started with scribbles on Post-it notes, unsure if I’d ever pursue the idea. In 2023, Caleb quit his job to go full-time with Victory—on the same day I went into labor with our third baby. This was also the year I made the decision to leave my teaching career of seven years and stay home full-time with the kids.
I wasn’t sure if the timing of everything made sense to pursue something that I knew would take a lot of my attention. Outside of motherhood, the cookbook became my primary focus. Caleb surprised me with a new computer, solidifying the commitment to bring this dream to life. With no prior experience in publishing or even owning a cookbook, I dove in headfirst, learning step-by-step how to create, design, self-publish, print, and distribute.
After rejections from publishers and limited guidance from others, I set a date for a photoshoot and gave myself three months to finalize recipes, prep and freeze all of the dishes, and plan every detail from location, props, and styling inspiration. The two-day photoshoot, held just days after Christmas, was such an exhilarating experience. My newborn was in tow, sleeping in the bathroom between feedings, a testament to the wild, beautiful reality of blending work and family life.
My work hours were carved out during nap times, late nights from 7:30 PM to 1:00 AM, or on occasions when family members stepped in to watch the kids. After several revisions and prototype rounds, we finally achieved the perfect copy.
For about one year, this project consumed my thoughts—I’d even wake up in the middle of the night with an idea I had to jot down before I could fall asleep again. Despite the intensity and every obstacle, this experience became a lesson in resilience. I couldn’t have done it without Caleb’s support and encouragement. For the first time, I truly saw how deeply he values our relationship in his pursuit of dreams. Don’t let the polished photos fool you—our teamwork isn’t always glamorous or perfect. But that’s what makes this journey so meaningful: knowing we’ve put everything into building something special together.
THE LAUNCH
Launching the cookbook was a surreal and unforgettable moment. It perfectly aligned with my love for party planning. The celebration was more than I could’ve dreamed—over 400 guests braved the rain to support us, with nearly 30 local businesses contributing to make the event extraordinary. What surprised me most—and touched me deeply—was how wholeheartedly you all showed up to celebrate this journey with us. The outpouring of encouragement and anticipation throughout this process meant more to me than words can express. I sold out of my first print run of 500 copies that day, rushed to order 2,000 more, and dove headfirst into distribution. When the orders flooded in, we rallied the whole family for a packing party, balancing the demands of our growing businesses while gearing up for Victory’s relocation to a new facility, set to open in January 2025.
WHAT’S NEXT…
Caleb and I are in awe of how perfectly everything has unfolded. The timing feels divinely orchestrated, and we’re now fully invested in growing both Victory Gym and Feeding the Nobles. As I consider the accomplishments of our lives together and the successes yet to come, what I cherish most is the private moments of dreaming with Caleb and the unseen sacrifices we make as a team. It’s about knowing we’re not alone in the sometimes lonely, challenging, and liberating journey of entrepreneurship.
This morning, I sat at the breakfast table with tears in my eyes, reflecting on the last four years we’ve spent as a close-knit family, running our small business together from our home. The family breakfasts, a driveway full of clients, the kids screaming during office meetings, renovating our garage, and family gym sessions where we took turns soothing our babies in between sets—each memory is so deeply cherished. As this chapter comes to an end, it feels bittersweet. There’s excitement and anticipation for what’s ahead, but also a quiet sadness for a uniquely special season of life that will never be quite the same.
In just one month, we’ll officially celebrate the grand opening of our new Victory Gym facility—a dream that’s finally becoming a reality! The journey from vision to completion has been incredible. Every detail of this boutique-style facility has been thoughtfully designed to deliver a world-class training experience, complete with top-notch amenities, personal training, and expert coaching to support your physical and mental well-being. We can’t wait to grow our team and make a real difference in our community.
As for Feeding the Nobles, this is just the beginning. We’re excited to bring more accessible education and practical resources to support your health journey. Our mission has always been to change lives and create a lasting impact, and we can’t wait to share what’s coming next. Thank you for being part of this journey. I am grateful, inspired, a little tired, actually a lot tired, and eager for what lies ahead!
Here is a glimpse of the VICTORY GYM renovations in full swing. Sign up for the waitlist to be the first to know when our exclusive launch offer drops.
A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
From humble beginnings in the basement of our first home, where ceilings were too low for overhead presses and walls were lined with chipped paint, to building out of our third car garage in the home where we welcomed all three of our babies—what a journey it has been!
We started small, dreaming big, and poured everything into transforming each space into something greater. That third bay soon turned into all three as Victory grew alongside our family. Looking back on these moments reminds us how much heart, hustle, and sacrifice built this dream.
Grateful for the past, thankful for the present, and excited for what’s next. The best is yet to come!
