Coffee with Creatives - August 18, 2025
Featuring
Tara Braatz of Tara Lee Interior Design
Rebecca Bertoldi of My Local Marketing Shop & 222 Marketing
Coffee with Creatives: Catching Up, Creative Adventures, and Cozy Fall Vibes
Welcome back, friends! Grab your favorite mug, get comfy, and join us for another episode recap of Coffee with Creatives—your behind-the-scenes peek at life, laughter, and all things creative. This episode was loaded with stories, travel tales, local happenings, and, yes, more coffee mug appreciation! If you missed the August 18th chat with Rebecca Bertoldi (marketing friend extraordinaire) and Tara Brot (your go-to interior designer), this blog post covers every fun detail, insightful moment, and creative spark.
☕ Meet Your Hosts
Before we dive into the week’s happenings, a big hello from your hosts:
Rebecca Bertoldi — "Your friend in marketing"
Tara Brot — "Your interior designer buddy"
Their easy-going banter and creative chemistry are part of what makes every episode a warm, welcoming space.
“It’s funny that you always have mugs with good texture. I wonder if that’s the designer in you.”
– Rebecca
The Summer Wind-down: Fall Vibes Incoming
The episode opens with that classic late-summer feeling: the “I’m so ready for fall” itch. Tara’s fall-themed coffee mug set the tone:
"Another hot weekend just went by and I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for fall. So my coffee mug is putting out my fall vibes. I’m ready for it."
With their mutual appreciation for fun and textured mugs (designer habits die hard!), the conversation slides easily into the week’s creative wins and funny finds—including Rebecca’s hunt for a new, unique mug and the need to buy two, just in case friends get mug envy. We've all been there!
Tara’s Week: Staging, Sconces, and Busy Days
Double Booked (in a Good Way!)
Tara dove into her latest interior design adventures, wrapping up a successful home staging for a realtor—and already lining up not one, but two more! Staging requests are coming in fast and furious, reflecting a subtle local real estate market shift:
Finishing Touches at Palmer Street:
Tara’s work continues with long sconces (imagine elegant lighting on the bedroom wall!), and she’s collaborating with Matt, a trusted electrician from her networking group, to bring the vision to life.Team Effort:
The project involves not only home staging for a new realtor but also some redesign work right in the realtor’s home—a fun mix-up in Tara’s usual routine.
Real Estate Trends: Staging Makes a Difference
Tara and Rebecca mused on why staging is getting so popular lately. As houses linger longer on the market, beautifully staged spaces stand out both in-person and in those all-important online listing photos:
"It’s always three clicks online—if the potential homebuyer doesn’t like what they see within those three clicks, they’re on to the next house. My job is to get that house unique and captivating so they’ll want to come for a showing."
Palmer Street Update
Tara’s Palmer Street staging is nearing the finish line:
Long sconces installed and looking great
Outdoor work scheduled soon
Photo session with a local photographer for that listing magic
All in all, a very busy week for Tara!
Rebecca’s Week: Michigan Travels, Family Time, and Creative Finds
Rebecca’s week meant a break from the usual grind—heading out to Michigan for a family visit. But as any creative small business owner knows, going away takes some serious planning (and inevitably, a chaotic catch-up on return).
Travel Chaos: Getting There and Back
Early Flight Out:
The trip started with a 3:30 am wakeup for a flight out of Bradley to Detroit.Choosing the Best Deal:
Though Spirit Airlines isn’t Rebecca’s first pick, hassle won out over the budget: upgraded seats for $160 per person, compared to $500 on other airlines. Sometimes practical wins over preference!
Family & Friend Connection
Visiting with family and reconnecting with her very first friend from her California days made the trip extra special.
Local explores—including a sandcastle contest downtown!
Exploring Small-town Michigan: Creative Gems Everywhere
One serendipitous stop? A privately owned bead and gemstone shop—pure heaven for a crafty soul like Rebecca. The store was organized by jewelry design styles, inspiring major creative ideas (and a little self-restraint: "I could’ve bought half the store if I had the power!").
Textured metallic beads (hello, fall palette!)
Unusual square bead holders
Gemstone-ready pieces begging for DIY projects
Henry Ford Museum & Factory Tour
No Michigan trip is complete without a little automotive history. Rebecca took us through her adventure at the Henry Ford Museum and Ford Factory Tour:
Although no photos were allowed in the factory itself, the museum was a treasure trove:
Presidential limos and classic cars
Old New York City taxis and fare meters
Massive, vintage headlights and quirky car lanterns
Early traffic signals and street memorabilia
“I really liked this car... I totally could get one of these. Look at those huge headlights!”
Even an old McDonald's sign when burgers cost 15 cents—accompanied by a gentleman reminiscing:
"They told us we had to charge 35 cents, and I thought nobody would buy it!"
The Ford factory still runs on Henry Ford’s original assembly line logic: "moving the cars to the people"—technology has advanced, but the workflow spirit is alive and well.
Local Finds and Creative Inspiration
Handmade Glass Pumpkins:
Spotted in the museum gift shop—beautiful, but priced at $70 each. The search is on for a local (more affordable) alternative!
Guestbook Art:
At a small grocery store, kids could take a piece of art, sign the guestbook, and leave a little creative mark. Simple, heartwarming community moments.
Recipe Throw-down: Grandma’s Sauce
No family celebration is complete without food stories! As Rebecca helped prep for her cousin’s 50th birthday bash, they both made their grandmother’s legendary pasta sauce. The best part? Even with the same family recipe, their sauces tasted totally different.
"It just goes to show, following a recipe can be so different person to person. We served both at her pasta bar birthday party and let everyone taste for themselves."
Weather Woes & Pool Perks
Summer heat and humidity followed Rebecca to Michigan, making her extra grateful for air conditioning back home. At least her cousin’s mesmerizing spa pool came to the rescue:
It’s a “treadmill for swimming”—a pool with a built-in current for endless laps or a hot tub soak.
Possible inspiration for her next backyard splurge!
Ann Arbor Elegance & Laid-back Living
Rebecca capped off her Michigan trip with a mini-tour of Ann Arbor (charming college town feels, lined with campus houses and beer pong tables).
The best surprise? How affordable everything was, whether eating out or getting DoorDash deliveries. “Definitely a fun place to visit!”
Coming Home: The Joys of Pet Reunions
Returning home is always its own adventure, especially with pets waiting to greet you. After a slightly eventful trip back (the plane in front of theirs hit a bird and had to return—yikes!), Rebecca, Kyle, and their animals were happily reunited.
Catching Up: Mondays for Headspace
Rebecca wisely blocked off her calendar the day after getting back—no appointments, just time to catch up and get grounded. For anyone running their own business, you know the importance of giving yourself that breather!
Sharing the Love: Community Causes & Kindness
The Madonna Place Diaper Drive
A recurring theme in Coffee with Creatives? Giving back. This week, Rebecca brought up Madonna Place, a local nonprofit in Norwich that supports families and children. They’re currently running low on diapers—especially sizes 4, 5, and 6.
“If you have any to spare, please send them their way.”
Crafty Inspiration: Bandana Necklaces
Shout-out to viewers! Tara and Rebecca spotlighted Tanya and Carleen, who recently took a class making bandana necklaces (how fun is that?). Hoping they’ll join next week's episode to share tips and maybe demo their creations.
Recommendations & Happenings: Music, Festivals, and More
New Netflix Binge: Wednesday
If you’re looking for your next show-and-chill pick, season one of Wednesday (the Addams Family spinoff) just hit Netflix. The hosts admitted to binge-watching the new episodes while catching up on rest.
Local Events Rundown
Wednesday Night: Rock the Dots in Norwich, powered by the local chamber and sponsors—a great chance for live music and neighborly fun.
Connecticut on Parade: Happening at Mohegan Sun, another can't-miss event for locals.
As the last true weeks of summer wind down, fairs and community gatherings are everywhere. Take a look and see what’s happening near you!
Weekly Wisdom: Kindness Always Wins
Tara closed the show with some much-needed good vibes:
"Remember, always be kind. You never know what anyone’s going through, and a smile goes a long way."
A perfect reminder as we hustle through busy days, creative projects, and everyday life.
Final Sips: What’s Ahead
As fall creeps closer and calendars fill up, Tara and Rebecca are excited for what’s next. With more staging to do, creative projects brewing, and community collabs on the horizon, you can bet next week’s Coffee with Creatives will be just as packed with heart, humor, and good company.
Catch the Next Episode!
Stay tuned for next week’s adventures—and if you’ve got mug inspiration, creative crafts, or want to join in the fun, drop a comment or join the live chat!
Until then:
Take care, keep creating, and don’t forget to sip something you love.
"Thank you, everybody, for being with us. We look forward to seeing you next week. Take care. Have a good week. Bye, guys."
Links & Resources
Learn more about Madonna Place — Support families in need!
Community Bulletin Board
Have an upcoming event, craft class, or local cause? Reach out to Coffee with Creatives to get a shout-out!
We Want to Hear from You!
Share your favorite mug, recent creative project, or thoughts on staging, traveling, or family recipes in the comments. Your stories are what make this community special!
Stay cozy, stay creative, and see you next week ☕✨
