Our Story: How It All Began...

How Facebook Marketplace Accidentally Changed My Life (No, Seriously)

Leah and I have known each other for years- not because we’re long-lost soul sisters or bonded over a love of fine wine and yoga retreats—but because our sons have grown up playing sports together. You know the drill: endless weekends spent on freezing bleachers, pretending we understand the rules of every game while shouting things like, “Great hustle, buddy!” Translation: we were your classic sideline sport moms, united by concession stand snacks and muddy cleats.

That was our relationship. Sports. Boys. Balls flying dangerously close to our heads. The end.

But then- cue dramatic music- everything changed on a cold, wintery November night. (Yes, like a Hallmark movie but with more fleece and less romance.) Leah, unbeknownst to her, was about to disrupt my whole life trajectory, all because she has a raging addiction to Facebook Marketplace. And lucky me, I was selling some old craft organizers that had been collecting dust since 2009. So she popped over.

Now, here’s what Leah didn’t know: I had recently lost my dad, and I was deep in one of those “What am I even doing with my life?” spirals. You know, the kind where you binge inspirational Pinterest quotes and consider becoming a goat farmer in Vermont. I was desperate for purpose, or at least a new hobby that didn’t involve alphabetizing my spice rack.

So there we were... me, grief-ridden and aimless; her, high on the thrill of a $15 storage bin deal—and then she casually dropped seven life-altering words:

“I’ve been staging a house all day.”

I’m sorry, what? Staging homes? For a living? You mean people actually get paid to rearrange furniture and fluff throw pillows? Was this a sign from God? HGTV? Joanna Gaines herself?

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I mean, I redecorate our house every time I get bored or find a throw blanket on sale! So I messaged her later and asked the million-dollar question: “How would one get a job like that?”

Fast forward a bit: I’m still teaching elementary school by day (because health insurance, duh), but by night...and weekends...and every spare moment that doesn’t involve grading spelling tests, I’m now a designer. It’s been the perfect creative outlet for me—between styling spaces and dreaming up design boards, I get to tap into my love for creativity and writing. And hey, turns out blog writing is way more fun than lesson planning. Who knew?

And that conversation in November? It started a whole new chapter for Leah and me. One that included approximately 320 hours spent at our favorite coffee shop- brainstorming, dreaming, occasionally panic-googling “how to start a staging business,” and drinking enough caffeine to power a small village.

Leah, a seasoned realtor, always loved helping her clients find their perfect homes, but she realized she really loved helping them make their homes look amazing in the first place. Over the years Leah has flipped houses for clients and staged their homes without getting paid- because apparently she enjoys exhausting herself and working for free (we’re still working on that part).

After about 420 meetings, 89 forms, five online courses, and more YouTube tutorials than either of us will admit to, Petals & Places was born in March 2025. Yes, it’s official. We have a business. With a name. And a logo. And a business bank account that we stare at proudly like it’s a newborn baby.

Oh, and “Petals”? That part’s from Leah. She loves flowers and can whip up a gorgeous bouquet faster than I can lose a pair of scissors. I told her I’m trainable, and honestly, I’ve come a long way- despite the fact that neither of us can keep a plant alive for more than six days. Our husbands find that hilarious. We do not. But what we DO love is making people’s day by delivering flowers to them! Turns out, you don’t need a green thumb to brighten someone’s front porch- you just need a good vase and some charm. Nailed it.

So here we are- teacher and realtor turned design duo, powered by coffee, blind faith, and an overuse of throw pillows. We believe God brought us together for a reason, and we’re thrilled to see where this journey takes us next. It’s already taken us to some pretty cool places (literally and creatively), and we can’t wait to share a few of those with you~ follow us on Facebook to see what we are up to!

Stay tuned. We’re just getting started—and we haven’t burned down a house yet. So that’s promising.

Thanks for reading. We promise to water a plant in your honor today (no guarantees it survives).
With love & throw pillows,
🌸 Nicole & Leah