Meet Kayla Cape | Small Business Owner & Mother

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Cape and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I started Indigo Dreamz Apothecary a year ago, being a full-time mother to three children, a full-time student at Texas Woman’s University, and holding a management position at a construction company for over eight years. My life has been about perfecting a balance while maintaining my emotional well-being having so much on my plate each day. When COVID struck, I was able to work at home four out of five days of the work week. Doing so enabled me to get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time. I wasn’t used to having idle time on my hands, so I started intertwining my spirituality and my knowledge on herbs, salves, tinctures, candles, and mythology to create something meaningful not just for myself but for others within the community. It made me happy, and it still does to this day. For me, it’s essential to maintain interpersonal boundaries and containment boundaries while operating a business full-time. Without them, I would not stop working because I would not have the ability to say no to others when I am purely exhausted. My family will always come first, so I will instantly take a day off from Indigo Dreamz Apothecary if they need me. For a few months, I struggled with the concept of being able to say no when I needed to or walking away from things that were not beneficial for the business. Looking back a year ago to today, I can see how much has changed for the better. I’m more emotionally available to my family and friends- and even myself. Finding balance starting any small business can be challenging, but it is entirely worth it and necessary in the end.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I stated earlier that I’ve been an office manager for the past eight years at the same company. Yet I’m a full-time student and entrepreneur, to I suppose. I’ve been focusing on becoming a licensed professional therapist for the past few years. This business and my other job have been helping to make that possible. I graduate in the Spring with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and move on to Graduate school. I hope to continue my studies at Texas Woman’s University here in Denton because it’s been a fantastic experience so far. Yet my professional life and career are not about me at the end of the day. I’ve been asked many times what it means or even takes to be an effective leader in the community or how to be a good role model in a position of leadership. I believe that if you don’t have the ability to serve in whatever capacity, you don’t have the ability to lead in any capacity. I’ve seen many people over the years fail at something they could have thrived in had they been kind and humble. Sometimes when people succeed at something worth celebrating, they let it get to their head and fall into this cycle of seeking and needing recognition or accolades to keep feeling good moving forward. My ethics and principles don’t involve any of these things. Indigo Dreamz Apothecary is a vessel and way for me to give light and positive energy to the community.
Something as small as a candle, bath salt, or tea blend can help someone relax or feel good about themselves after a long day. So, in the end, Indigo Dreamz Apothecary is about giving something positive and uplifting to others. All of our products are natural and holistic, we don’t make anything that we wouldn’t use or let our children use depending upon what it is and if it’s age appropriate. My children love learning the process of how to make candles and salves. They love hearing the stories behind each Sanctuary Candle because there is mythology intertwined behind each one. Indigo Dreamz Apothecary is a fun, laid back, family oriented business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friends or family were visiting the area for a long weekend I would take them to Seven Mile Café for breakfast, somewhere on the square for lunch or dinner like the Barley and Board, and The Harvest House for drinks or just sitting back on the patio to talk and hang out. If it were the season for the Denton Community Market I would take them there, then walk across the street to Juliet’s Jewels, and Bewitched for everything else because their shops are literally one of a kind. Juliet’s Jewels, Bewitched, and even Shambhala Wellness Center has become the cornerstone here in Denton for safe spaces spiritually. Each of these businesses are unique in their own ways and have so much to offer. Every time I interact with one of the owners, I can just feel their warmth, energy, and light that they bring into their stores. It’s so inviting and uplifting. These are the first places I would take friends and family. Once Free Play opens back up on the square, I will probably be there every weekend again like I was before. It’s another place I’m looking forward to taking friends and family.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

When I began forming the concept of Indigo Dreamz Apothecary, I did not expect it to take off and be as successful as it has been within a year. The first two to three months, I only had my husband encouraging and supporting me to keep moving forward when I didn’t think it would mean anything to anyone but me. That would have been fine, but I did want to reach people and spread positive light and energy into the community, even if it was in the smallest of ways. Eventually, I became a vendor at the Denton Community Market and met many amazing people who became consistent customers and friends. Around this time, Bewitched of Denton was opening off of Elm Street, and I had decided to do something out of my comfort zone and approach the owners with some of my products.
Kasey and Fara- the owners, immediately made me feel welcome in their shop, and now seven months later, we’ve each watched our businesses grow and evolve. They now have a much larger shop off of Bryan Street and sell a myriad of my herbs, candles, and other products. Without this fantastic community and other like-minded supportive individuals, I don’t know where Indigo Dreamz Apothecary would be today. Many small businesses and vendors have been tremendously uplifting and encouraging in times that I’ve doubted myself. Gabby Sanchez, who owns The Cookie Thief, Monique from Forbidden Fruits, and Savannah and Taylor from Libra Rising to name just a few. I could name so many people. My husband Charles Cape truly deserves so much recognition in encouraging me on my good and bad days with Indigo Dreamz. It has not always been a cake walk and we both know there will still be bad days or weeks. Yet we both have such a passion and love for this community that we will only continue moving forward and expanding this business.

Website: www.indigodreamzapothecary.com

Instagram: @indigodreamzapothecary

Facebook: @indigodreamzapothecary

Other: https://etsy.me/3saSch9

Image Credits
Kayla Cape