Hi, I’m Melissa — or “Liss,” as most people call me. Before becoming a mom to my sweet little girl, I was a corporate girl through and through. I loved the steady salary, great benefits, and the comfort of a solid 401(k). But deep down, I knew there were parts of that life I didn’t love — the long commutes, the endless back-to-back meetings, and how little time I had left at the end of each day for the people I loved most.

Most nights, I ended the day completely exhausted, logging back into work from bed just to finish what I couldn’t get done during office hours. The constant pressure eventually led to anxiety, panic attacks, chronic neck pain, and migraines from spending endless hours sitting at a desk and staring at a screen. Even through all of that, I kept going because the money was good, and I convinced myself this was simply what life was supposed to look like.

Then I became a mom and suddenly my priorities changed. The moment I had my daughter, my entire world shifted in a way only other parents can truly understand.

As my maternity leave came to an end, reality hit me hard. I realized that parenthood is built on tiny moments, seconds in time that become the biggest memories, and I didn’t want to miss them. Soon, our slow mornings together would become rushed routines and long commutes. Our evenings would shrink into dinner, baths, and bedtime with barely any time left to truly connect. I didn’t want to only experience the tired, overstimulated moments at the end of the day while missing all the joy in between.

One day during my leave, my husband suggested I read a book he had been interested in. Just two days into reading it, something clicked. I decided I no longer wanted to build someone else’s dream while sacrificing so much of my own life in the process. I wanted to take back my time and invest it into something I genuinely cared about — something meaningful.

The question was: what would I create?

Before motherhood, my background was in retail, merchandising, marketing, and a small graphic apparel business. I’ve always loved fashion, creativity, and building brands. As I had time to think, I started wondering how I could combine my passion for family with my love for creating something beautiful. That’s when I noticed a gap in the market.

So many times, I’d dress my daughter in the cutest outfit, then look in my own closet — or my husband’s — hoping to find something that coordinated naturally, only to feel disappointed. Everything felt either overly cheesy, loud, or limited to holiday pajamas no one really wanted to wear in public. There wasn’t a brand that truly offered timeless, comfortable, coordinated family styles for everyone — from babies to adults.

And that’s when Flipp & Co. was born.

The name is inspired by my daughter’s nickname, “Flipper,” which she earned from day one thanks to her adorably big baby feet. What started as a playful family nickname became a reminder of the little things that make our loved ones uniquely themselves — the tiny details, quirks, and moments we never want to forget.

At Flipp & Co., the goal is to create a brand centered around those moments — slow Saturday mornings, coffee shop dates, grocery runs, movie nights, Sundays at church, and all the everyday memories in between. Pieces made with soft, quality fabrics that feel effortless, elevated, and wearable for the whole family — yes, even for the husbands who usually resist matching outfits.

Because at the end of the day, life is made up of little moments that pass by far too quickly. And those are the memories worth holding onto.