May carries the sweet promise of what’s to come. The days are longer, the air is warmer, and you can almost smell summer approaching. If you think back to your school years, May is when most graduations happen - closing a finante chapter or era of life in pursuit of something new. This month feels buzzy with anticipation and consideration of what’s next.

This month the Joy Journal will lean into the creativity and imagination that sparks inside anticipation. Beauty lies in the in-between where one chapter is closing and another is quietly preparing to open. Can you lean into the unknown and let yourself dream for a while?

Whether you’re an analog girlie with a cozy journal and your favorite pen, or someone who processes through voice notes on a quiet walk - welcome to the May Joy Journal.

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1. What emotions come up for me when I think about stepping into the unknown?

2. As a young girl, how did I exercise my creativity? Does this spark any specific memories?

3. If there were no boundaries, what would I build or create today that would bring me joy?

4. How do I tap into my imagination as a tool in my day-to-day life?

5. What is something I are currently anticipating, or looking forward to? How does it feel to want something that I don’t already have?

If you feel called to share anything that came up while journaling, we are happy to listen. The girl inside you still knows how to dream big, so let her!

Forever your girls,
Courtney & Kendra

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Through guided reflection, you’ll be invited to write a heartfelt letter to a woman who has made an impact on your life, whether in the past or present. This is a chance to put into words what often goes unsaid!

As we listen to one another’s stories and experiences, we’ll be reminded of the beauty of connection, the power of being seen, and the quiet ways women uplift one another every day.

We’ll close the evening with a playful, creative moment, decorating your letter and envelope. Because truly, nothing says girlhood more than some decorated snail mail.

Register here!

Let’s create a ripple of appreciation, connection, and joy, one letter at a time. Can’t wait to see you there!

Sincerely Your Girls,
Courtney & Kendra

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April showers bring…May flowers! This month carries the energy of rainstorms and renewal. Not sure about you, but there is something mystical about a rainstorm. In the matter of moments the sky can go from dark and heavy, to light and bright. And in some ways, it is a simple reminder that what can feel messy, is always temporary. If you are resilient enough to wait out the storm, there are always clear skies ahead.

This month the Joy Journal will lean into the wisdom of an “April shower” and encourage reflection on the moments of life where patience and resilience allowed us to experience brighter days ahead.

Whether you’re an analog girlie with a cozy journal and your favorite pen, or someone who processes through voice notes on a quiet walk — welcome to the April Joy Journal.

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1. What is the last “rainstorm” I have weathered, and what did I learn from it?

2. When I was young, how did I work through things that felt overwhelming? Has that coping method changed?

3. What advice would I give a younger version of me when she was going through a season of change?

4. Often rainbows are associated with April. What emotions come up when I think about the symbolic nature of a rainbow?

5. How can I share an honest story of my resilience with someone else?

If you feel called to share anything that came up while journaling, we are happy to listen. You have already survived 100% of your hardest days - keep going!

Forever your girls,
Courtney & Kendra

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A designer with over a decade of experience working alongside global brands such as AT&T, Hilton, Facebook, and Google, Courtney now guides entrepreneurs through her signature Intuitive Branding process, a methodology that combines brand strategy, astrology, chakra color theory, and energetic alignment.

Her work is rooted in the belief that branding is not just aesthetic, it is energetic. When your visuals, voice, and leadership align with your energetic blueprint, your business becomes magnetic.

Beyond branding, Courtney facilitates intentional tarot experiences that feel less like fortune-telling and more like sacred conversation. Her readings are immersive, reflective, and designed to help clients access their own inner magic and gifts.

She is also the author of The Rainbow in Me, a Montessori-inspired children’s book introducing the chakra system to kids in a playful, accessible, and whimsical way.

Mother of three daughters. Lover of rap music and tea. Builder of businesses that feel like home.

A chat with Courtney »

Tell us about yourself! What’s your big three? What are your hobbies? What makes you YOU?

I am a Scorpio Sun, Capricorn Moon, and Sagittarius rising! I love astrology so much, and naturally incorporate into my everyday life. If we are good friends, I am sure I have your natal chart saved in my phone, this way I can give you all your astrological updates as well! I have a Scorpio and Capricorn stellium, so your girl is super deep, psychic and serious whilst also embracing my Sag party girl energy! I am a true embodiment of the yin/yang.

My hobbies include drawing, painting, journaling, and listening to rap music. I LOVE to put together fun outfits. I am a true believer in dopamine dressing. Nothing beats a fresh fit and matcha while you tackle the day. I am also someone who needs daily movement. I love yoga, cardio tennis and a fun fitness dance class. I turn into a country club girlie every summer and attempt to improve my golf game during the warmer months.

Outside of all these fun things, I am a mom of three little ladies, a wife, a daughter and sister. There is never a dull moment in my life, and I am so thankful for that!

Tell us about little Courtney! What was she into? What did she want to be when she grew up? What did her bedroom look like?

The little Courtney inside of me was (and is) the star of the show. She was sparkly, spunky and shined so bright. I never shied away from putting on a performance for anyone who would watch. I was very into dancing as a child, it was truly my safe space as a kid. I had dreams as a little girl of going to Juilliard and dancing forever (maybe because I was so obsessed with the movie, Save The Last Dance).

In high school, I loved the movie 13 Going on 30, and was determined to become a graphic designer and work at a magazine! I took our high school’s first graphic design course they offered and loved it so much. I dove into art head first and it became such a passion of mine. I never worked at a magazine, but I always loved that I drew passion from movies or art I experienced as a kid.

My childhood bedroom was filled will what we now call “Vision Boards”. I was obsessed with collaging and making art. The walls were covered with creations and pictures of me and my friends. I was also a little book worm, I had a shelf filled with my Twilight series and tween romance novels, which has snowballed into my love of Smut/Romantasy now. I remember having a very bright and colorful room, I have never been a beige kinda gal. I loved my lava lamp, butterfly doorway beads, and an old rotary phone I had next to my bed. My room was my expressive space and I had so much fun every few months rearranging furniture and making the space feel new and fun.

What does girlhood mean to you?

Girlhood to me is a form of sisterhood. It is giggling. It is hugs. It is safe. It is innocent and pure. It is trusting another woman with your joy. Not worried about competition or judgement. It is cultivating connection with shared experiences and dreams for the future.

What are you most excited about for Girlhood Rising?

I am truly so excited to create something with Kendra, to have a vision together and build a community rooted in safety, trust, and connection. I cannot wait to see the groups of women we bring together and the ripple of change we hope to inspire. I am so excited for women to begin tapping into their inner innocence and passions they may have forgotten about or pushed to the side. I am excited to see women create new connections and friendships though the intentions we create for this space. I hope it takes on a life of its own and that women all over really resonate with this brand. It is all of ours.

A Pennsylvania native, she relocated to Chicago in 2020 with her now-husband, Kevin. After settling in the western Chicago suburbs, she pursued her group fitness certification while working a traditional 9-5 in the technology consulting space. After a decade of corporate life, this past September Kendra made the decision to close that chapter and find a slower, more gentle pace of life allowing her more time in-studio doing what she loves most.

As a fitness instructor, Kendra is hyper-focused on not only making clients stronger physically - but strengthening the collective community. She believes the power and energy exchange in a group workout is the best, and safest, drug on the market. You can find her on the mic at Sweat Sessions, by Aubre Winters in Chicago, and Dripyoga in Glen Ellyn.

She’s a cookbook fanatic, cat mom, and your biggest cheerleader.

A chat with Kendra »

Tell us about yourself! What’s your big three? What are your hobbies? What makes you YOU?

Leo moon, Leo rising, Aquarius sun…and that should tell you everything you need to know! I am a glass half full girl to a fault, and love nothing more than a good problem to solve. My hobbies include giggling, taking walks, reading cookbooks, cuddling with my cat, playing board games, and arranging Trader Joe’s flowers. I feel like I am equally parts logical and artistic which makes me a bit of a “perfectionist creative.”

I get my energy by building community and connection. Above anything else, bringing people together lights me up. I love a good ice breaker, and am not above a forced “get to know you” game.

Tell us about little Kendra! What was she into? What did she want to be when she grew up? What did her bedroom look like?

From what my mother tells me, I was a natural leader with ambitious goals! I was a self proclaimed “teachers pet” who loved to stay in and help my teachers with extra work during recess. I was agreeable to a fault (and still am) always offering to do more for people.

I was active as most kids are. I wasn’t passionate about sports but you could find me running around on a soccer field (slowly) or attempting to dribble a basketball. I loved dance and performing, and was also in the school band and choir. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, my sister and I spent a lot of time outdoors - hiking, fishing, archery, playing with animals, or just a good ole fashion game of hide-and-seek.

As a little girl I was obsessed with the idea of being a hairdresser, but as I got older I think I knew I would lead something but wasn’t sure what. Both of my parents were school teachers, so I think instructing was baked into my DNA.

For most of my life as a young girl and into my teenage years I shared a room with my sister, Blair. I can specifically remember the pink and blue beads that hung from our door frame, the Dixie Chicks and Mary Kate and Ashley posters on our walls, and butterfly rugs between our beds. Looking back, I am so grateful to have shared a room with my sister because I think it made our bond uniquely special. I would share a room with her again in a heartbeat, sorry Kevin!

What does girlhood mean to you?

Girlhood to me is matching pajamas, pinky promises, and glitter eyeshadow. It’s the feeling of radical acceptance and love from other women, versus feelings of comparison and conformity. Girlhood to me is symbolic of creative expression and feminine power. It’s sisterhood.

What are you most excited about for Girlhood Rising?

I am most excited to be a member of a community of women who can feel comfortable being their most authentic self. Girlhood Rising is not a networking opportunity; it’s not a clique; it’s not group therapy; it’s simply a place where women can just be. A space that allows us to reignite parts of us that we haven’t fueled since we were girls. A space that feels safe, welcoming, and joyous. A space that allows our feminine energy to radiate. I am excited to help create the village, and be a villager.

Whether you’re an analog girlie with a fuzzy journal and gel pen, or you’d rather record a voice memo on your phone - welcome to the March Joy Journal.

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1. What parts of me are in bloom or blooming right now?

2. What memories of my childhood do I associate with spring? What feelings do this memories bring up?

3. Who were my female role models as a child? What impact have they had on me today?

4. In what way am I currently a role model for the women in my life?

5. How can I show a girlfriend in my life that I appreciate her this week?

If you feel called to share anything that came up while journaling, we are happy to listen. Take a look in the mirror - you are blooming and we love to see it.

Forever your girls,
Courtney & Kendra

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So, we’ve been talking a lot lately about girlhood. Not just the sparkly, sleepover version (though she was iconic), but the version of girlhood that keeps showing up no matter what stage of life we are in.

Because somewhere along the way, we were told that girlhood was a phase. Something we would grow out of. Something cute and nostalgic, but ultimately in our past.

But we don’t actually think that’s true.

If you look closely at history, at culture, or at your own life, you’ll see that women have always found one another in ways that were joyful, nurturing, creative, and sometimes even world-shaping. Girlhood isn’t gone, it has evolved and taken on a new shape since our youth.

It shows up in friendships that stretch across seasons of life. In women who challenge each other, protect each other, and build each other up. It exists in bonds that deeply shape who we become.

Think about the stories we loved growing up. Stories of girls promising to be best friends forever, to keep each other’s secrets, to create magic together, and never give up. These stories taught us that this kind of friendship made you feel braver just by standing next to another woman.

And yet still, the truth is that somewhere in adulthood, our female friendship starts to feel optional or distant. They can feel like something we squeeze in when everything else is done. Something that we know we miss, but don’t prioritize.

So here we are on Galentine’s Day to remind each other that girlhood matters. Our female friendships matter. And wanting deep connections with other women doesn’t make you needy, it makes you human.

Girlhood Rising exists to reignite the power of girlhood in our adult lives. It is a space built by women, for women, to choose one another. A space to build purposeful friendships. A space to cultivate joy.

This isn’t about going backwards. It’s about carrying forward the best parts of girlhood that we all remember: the play, the creativity, the giggles, the honesty, and the sense of belonging.

So here’s your reminder on Galentine’s Day and always: girlhood is not behind you, it’s waiting for you. And it’s even better when we rise together.

Forever your girls,
Courtney & Kendra

PS: If a girl comes to mind while you are reading this, send it to her and remind her you are in her corner.