This one is personal…
- Julia
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Mohave Monsoon 🌵
There are some places that never really leave you.
I was born in Needles, California, in 1983—but home was just across the river in Mohave Valley, Arizona. Both sit right in the heart of the Mojave Desert, where the landscape is dry, rugged, and unapologetically wild. I spent the first 23 years of my life there, surrounded by desert skies, creosote bushes, and heat that only people from that part of the country truly understand.
Eventually, life took me a little further south to Yuma… and then, in 2009, I packed up everything I owned and made the journey to Ohio. And while a lot has changed since then, there’s one thing that never has—
That smell right before and after it rains in the desert.
While I consider myself an Ohioan now, a huge part of my heart will always belong to Mohave Valley.
For over two decades, both sides of my family lived on the same dirt road. Life was slower, simpler… and full of little routines that I didn’t realize at the time would stick with me forever.
Most mornings started with coffee—black—with my Gram. Then later in the day, I’d walk four houses down for another cup with my Grandma Brown… except hers came with plenty of milk and sugar. And yes—this started when I was about five.What can I say? My love of coffee runs deep.
Growing up there shaped me in ways I’m still figuring out.
I did well in school (top 5%… just saying 😏), fell in love, worked probably a little too much for a teenager, and even won a state award for Humorous Interpretation—so yes, this is official proof that I’m hilarious.
But like most places that hold your whole life, it also holds the hard parts.
I had my heart broken. I spent years trying to figure out who I was—or who I was supposed to be. (If I’m being honest… I’m still working on that.)
And over time, I lost so many people I love.My mom. My Poppy. Both of my Brown grandparents. Close family friends who felt like home.
I haven’t been back since 2018.
And for a long time, that place started to feel tied to the weight of all of that loss.
Over the last six months or so, I found myself at a crossroads.
The downtown store was struggling. I was juggling school, home, work… all the things. And somewhere in the middle of it all, I started to feel like I was losing a part of myself.
I was being pulled in too many directions, and I knew something had to change.
So I did a lot of reflecting.A lot of hard conversations—with myself and with my husband.
And we made the decision to close the downtown location. Not because I didn’t love it… but because I needed to find my way back to what mattered most.
Back to my roots.
It’s a rebirth.
A reminder of who I am, where I come from… and where I’m going.
Because this week, something really big is happening.
On Friday, I graduate with my MBA.A freaking Master’s in Business. Holy cow.
And I can’t help but think about the people who should be there.
My mom would probably be taking pictures of everyone’s mullets…and my Poppy would be standing there, arms crossed, mean-mugging the entire place.
God, I wish they could see it. But I’ll carry them with me as I walk across that stage—for the last time (and I mean it this time… I’m DONE 😅).
And somehow… through all of it… I found my way back to that smell.
Those stormy desert days where it could be raining on one side of the street and sunny on the other.
The air thick with creosote. Warm. Earthy. Familiar.
Grounding.
Please enjoy our newest scent: Mohave Monsoon.
This one was poured straight from the heart…with maybe a few of my tears mixed in.
It’s more than just a candle.It’s memory. It’s healing. It’s home.
And for me—
It’s a new beginning.
A rebirth.
I feel more me now than I have in a long time.
✨ Now available in-store and online✨ Hand-poured, all-natural soy wax✨ Clean, non-toxic fragrance
Come experience Mohave Monsoon for yourself.
Sending love & light,
Julia