Nonprofit Niche highlights the vital role nonprofit organizations play in our communities, whether faith‑based or charitable, these organizations exist to meet real needs, not for profit, but for people. And more often than not, the most impactful work happens quietly, faithfully, and without much fanfare. 

Fun fact: The origins of Valentine's Day are believed to be rooted in the celebration of Lupercalia, (A.D. 270) a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. Whether fact or fiction, I know I'm certainly not celebrating a Fertility Festival. Yikes!

What is Coffee, Laughs, and Chats? Since I’ve been asked this a lot, and because behind every idea lies a good backstory, let’s break it down. Coffee, Laughs, and Chats began as a simple Facebook group in 2024. The goal? To share funny, heartfelt, quirky, and real thoughts and stories. When you least expect it, some things just work out. 

Jill’s entrepreneurial journey began twenty years ago. Having spent most of her adult life crunching numbers and doing what CPA’s do best, Jill’s ordinary workday took an unexpected detour. One of her longtime clients floated an idea about starting a payroll company. He would provide the capital; Jill would run the business. Same partnership, different investments. On paper, it made sense. With her strong management skills, a reputation for getting things done right, no conflict of interest since her current firm did not offer payroll services and knowing the business inside out, logic said it was time to take a chance; still Jill was hesitant. Although she was intrigued by the prospect of owning her own business, this was not a decision she could make lightly or on a whim. Running every aspect of a payroll service would be no small undertaking and she needed to carefully weigh the pros and cons before taking a leap of this magnitude.

Welcome to the first edition of Coffee, Laughs and Chats Business Series. Today, we are diving into Brewed Awakenings: A Startup Business Journey. An adventure that is sometimes bold, sometimes bittersweet, but always best when shared over a good cup of coffee. 

Welcome! Time to get comfy, grab your coffee mug and settle in for Coffee, Laughs, and Chats Holiday Edition. This month’s theme: Santa’s Out of Duct Tape and Patience. Around here, our conversations are sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but ALWAYS real!

      What? Is it true that you have never heard the story of the Bread Family Christmas? Oh my, well it's time to grab a big cup of hot chocolate, get comfy and let me share one of the most delicious stories never told!

Thanksgiving is Tomorrow. Yikes! Seriously, where did the year go? It feels like I just finished putting away Halloween candy (okay, I admit it, putting it away, eating it; same difference) and now it’s time to start prepping for my annual turkey marathon.

Welcome to this month’s Coffee, Laughs, and Chats edition, Black Friday Elbow Throws and Coupon Codes. Today, we’re not just talking Black Friday shopping, we’re diving into traditions, chaos, drama, and those legendary doorbusters.

If you ever reheated your coffee three times before noon, brokered a peace treaty over the last candy bar, or wondered if the laundry pile is secretly multiplying, then you’re in good company. 

There is something timeless about written words on a page. The stories you like to read with your morning coffee, during a break at work, or in the evening before you turn in. That's Coffee, Laughs, and Chats!  

Life, by itself, is full of anomalies. Toss in a behind the scenes look at the chaotic life of writer and suddenly you discover a paradox wrapped in caffeine, procrastination and questionable snack choices. So why write about my process? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it's because I want others to realize it's never too late to pursue a goal, or maybe, just maybe, it's a PSA of sorts dispelling the myth that writing is somehow glamorous. Far from it, it's messy. Between inspiration and procrastination, there are moments of silence, a continuous blinking curser, a game or two of Spider Solitaire and throwing in a little chair boogie while listening to my favorite 80's song playing in the background.