Coffee Shop Hop: Buddy Brew x Tamp, FL with Our Little Life
I got to meet up with the mama and, creator behind Our Little Life and this one’s extra cozy! Like you might want to grab your favorite blanket right now and get ready for an inspiring, (and might I say life changing), read. Our Little Life is a blog that features slow living, as a family of four, in a big city and after getting to know mama you’re going to want to subscribe.
For privacy, her family keeps things simple by saying mama, daddy, etc versus their actual names
Pour up a cup, and let’s dive in.
Mama and I met up at Buddy Brew, the Armature Works location, in Tampa because it’s one of her favorite cafes in the area.
Where it all started: Buddy Brew
When we met up, mama was raving about Buddy Brew (even has their merch!) and listed off several things she loves about them. She loves that even with all their locations, they have stayed loyal and local to Florida (Tampa area specifically). The most beautiful part about us meeting at Buddy Brew though, is that it’s where Our Little Life uprooted. It's actually where she wrote a lot of her blog in the early days, at a location near where she used to live (on Kennedy). She'd sit there for hours, breastfeeding her youngest, soaking in how welcoming the space felt. This cafe has become a part of her familys story.
Born and raised in Tampa
Mama grew up in Tampa, and Armature Works holds a lot of memory for her. As a kid, that whole area was just open land, a field with nothing on it. She remembers a big tent that would go up there at Christmas time, where families could come get toys for their kids. Now it's where half of Tampa's events happen. She's watched this city grow fast, and while she’s adjusting to the change, it’s been a lot different. She’s a native to The Big Guava and misses the small communities, the neighbors knowing each other’s names, and seeing the parades run through Ybor City.
Although a lot has changed, her and her family are seeing the cup as half full. Meaning, they see the new business they can support, the opportunities, the new sites to enjoy. She’s learned that getting lost in the city is just one big adventure.
“You never know where the road (literally and figuratively) can lead.”
How Our Little Life was born
There’s always a slower vibe, or energy within mama but she didn’t quite know it then. It took her a while to actually come face to face with it, and own that that’s who she is. She’s mindful, knows the power of presence over perfection, and enjoys experiencing life versus rushing and being tied up in materialism.
In 2024, everything shifted. She'd been working in hospitality, climbing the ladder, and honestly doing really well. But she kept getting the same feedback. “You're not moving fast enough.” What people saw as a flaw, she now sees as the thing that was trying to get her attention the whole time. She gave her customers a real experience. A genuine experience. She took her time with people. That instinct didn't go away when she left hospitality to become a stay-at-home mom, it simply found a new home. A new home she gets to share with others who might also be longing for slower days.
The blog, Our Little Life, started in 2025, and the name says everything.
Our Little Life.
It’s not rushed, chasing the next big thing, or trying to prove anything. It is, however, taking time to see what’s around, being intentional, and valuing time with family and the life around us.
Living slow in a fast city
Mama's whole message is that you can live within your means.
Yes, you can live minimally, even in a city, and even with kids. It's okay to have less.
When she started this blog, she realized pretty quickly she's not like other content creators. She doesn't chase likes or follows, and she's not trying to keep up with every trend or fast fashion cycle. She's dedicated to honoring who she actually is… and who her family is. While this interview is with mama and it’s her creative outlet, her family is very much involved. She shares their life, together.
For her, experience is everything. She gets to see her kids notice a flower for the first time, and because she's slowed down enough to actually be there, she feels like she's seeing it for the first time too. Slowing down doesn't mean doing nothing though. Her words, not mine: it's not about dancing in a prairie. It means being intentional with your time.
In chaotic moments, her approach is simple: focus on what's needed right now. Let go of what you can't control and take it one step at a time instead of letting anxiety take over everything.
Chaos is truly all around us. Between kids, marriage, work, bills, and a busy city it’s easy to react. Mamas approach is about pausing, then responding. It’s about less friction and being frantic and more slowing down to see what you can control.
She also pointed out that two things can be true at once. You can be adventurous, go hike, chase cool experiences, and still be living a slow life. It's not about staying still.It's about staying present.
Her question for anyone trying to figure that balance out: what do you value, and what do you need to say no to?
She'd rather “have a house full of memories than a house full of stuff.”
An intuitive rhythm, not a rigid one
There's no content calendar here. Mama films when she feels inspired and edits after the kids fall asleep, whenever it truly aligns. She's fine not posting for a while if that's what the season calls for. She only posts what she genuinely believes in. To me, that alone speaks volumes. This isn’t a job for her. This is her creative outlet and one that doesn’t take away from the kids or her partner but adds value to their lives- all while, also inspiring others.
Lately she's been baking bread and playing with different flavors, banana bread among them, with guava on her list to try since her whole family love, love, loves guava flavor.
Outside of motherhood, she’s always been creative. Growing up she explored many things like choir, dancing, cheerleading, piano, and even drawing. What stuck with her is: vlogging. The filming short clips of her days are for her future self, and an archive being built for her kiddos. Vlogging is also an ode to her great-grandfather. She grew up seeing him film ordinary moments on a giant VHS and she sees now, that he was onto something. Mama capturing their days on camera, horizontally, is a nod to her younger days.
Her line that's stuck with me since: taking the scenic route, literally and figuratively, is always worth it.
She came with so many gems that I want to quote every word and share it the world because it’s just that good. This conversation has allowed me to look at my own life, and see how I can also slow down, appreciate what I already have, and be more present.
Homeschool and the magic of small moments
This all connects to how she homeschools too. Sitting in the moment with her kids, actually being there, lets her watch that spark happen, and nurture it. The moment a subject clicks for them and they light up. The fact that she can go down a whole spiral of learning and teaching on a certain topic that has them lit up. She doesn't want to miss that. Slowing down is what lets her wander right alongside them and catch the magic in the tiny things.
Mama, thank you for the reminder that slow isn't behind. It's on purpose. Here's to a little life, lived fully.
To follow along Our Little Life, head to their Instagram here, website here, and YouTube here. Thanks for reading and getting to know mama, and her fam with me.
