The Creative AF

09/04/2026

One of my favorite parts of working on The LP Dinner has been thinking about how the experience unfolds for guests, including what we don’t tell them in advance.

Because guess what? The menu is a secret.

Instead, 16 adventurous guests will leave the menu in the chefs’ hands and experience an evening of elevated food and thoughtfully selected drinks across three downtown stops.

Bringing all the pieces together for this exciting new event has been so much fun (and getting to taste test things is certainly a perk!). I can’t wait for guests to experience what the crews at The Turntable, The Empire Bistro, and The Renaissance of Tiffin have in store for them.

What does “local” taste like? You’ll have to join us to find out.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 8, exclusively at Empire Bistro. Stop in or call (419) 448-7733 to purchase your ticket.

08/31/2026

I’m excited to share something I’ve been working on with The Turntable , The Empire Bistro, and The Renaissance of Tiffin.

Introducing The LP Dinner.

Three downtown stops. Sixteen seats. One night built around food, music and the meaning of “local.”

The LP Dinner is a new progressive dinner series designed to showcase Tiffin’s culinary talent in a completely different way.

For Volume I: Local, each participating establishment was given one question: What does “local” mean to you? The answers will unfold throughout the evening through food, drinks and the stories behind them.

The event will take place on Monday, September 28. Only 16 seats will be available, with tickets going on sale September 8, exclusively at Empire Bistro.

08/24/2026

🚨 NEW CLIENT ALERT! 🚨

I'm excited to welcome Decko Products LLC of Sandusky to the growing list of organizations partnering with The Creative AF!

Can't wait to get to work with this great team!

08/19/2026

Something new is coming to downtown Tiffin. That's all we're telling you. For now.

08/10/2026

It's always rewarding to see a client's vision come to life.

Over the past several months, I've had the opportunity to partner with the team at The Empire Bistro to think beyond traditional restaurant marketing. Together, we've developed new menus, expanded experiences, community partnerships, special events, and fresh ways to bring people together in downtown Tiffin.

This feature in The Advertiser-Tribune highlights Empire's exciting next chapter as the restaurant celebrates 10 years in business, and I'm grateful to have played a small role in helping shape what's ahead.

Congratulations to Rick, Sharon, Gavin, Eli, and the entire Empire team. The best part? We're just getting started.

You can read the full story below!

New offerings, hours, events

08/04/2026

I'm thrilled to have helped bring this program to life at The Empire Bistro!

Finding unique ways to bring people together while creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs in our community is one of the best parts of my job, and “Pour Into Yourself” does exactly that. We’ve paired Empire's Wine Wednesday with the fabulous Kirstin Berlan of The KB Edit for a special life coaching experience.

It’s happening NEXT WEEK on Wednesday, so be sure to RSVP soon. Wine, snacks AND life coaching for $15? Yes, please!

Ladies, this evening is just for you.

Take a break from the busy pace of life and join The Empire Bistro in Downtown Tiffin on Wednesday, August 12, for Pour Into Yourself, a special Wine Wednesday experience designed to help you reflect, reset, and recharge. Certified life coach Kirstin Berlan of The KB Edit will lead a guided coaching session to help you gain clarity, confidence, and intention for the season ahead. Whether you're navigating a transition, setting new goals, or simply looking for a meaningful night out, you'll leave feeling refreshed and inspired.

Your $15 ticket includes a glass of wine, a light snack, and a guided life coaching experience valued at more than $50. Gather your friends, raise a glass, and spend an evening investing in the one person who often gets overlooked... yourself.

Visit The Empire Bistro's page for RSVP information and event details.

06/24/2026

Sometimes you don't need more marketing. You need fresh ideas.

Over the past year, I've spent a lot of time refining The Creative AF and narrowing my focus to what I do best: helping organizations uncover opportunities, create memorable experiences, and turn fresh ideas into meaningful results.

That might mean:
• Developing a conference theme and attendee experience
• Creating hospitality programming and special events
• Designing trade show activations and engagement strategies
• Building strategic partnerships
• Improving guest, donor, alumni, member, or attendee experiences
• Finding creative ways to increase attendance and participation

Recent results have included helping a service organization generate more than $21,000 through a fundraiser, creating a local restaurant's strongest night of business in years, and leading the creative strategy behind an annual conference that generated nearly $600,000 in revenue and achieved a 100% attendee likelihood-to-return rating.

Many of the best ideas don't require large budgets—just a fresh perspective and a creative approach.

If you'd like to learn more, visit www.thecreativeaf.com or send me a message. I'd love to connect.

06/15/2026

Good ideas don't always require big budgets.

Sometimes they look like a themed brunch, a trivia game, a special event, or a fresh reason for people to walk through the door.

I've enjoyed partnering with Empire Bistro to help brainstorm and launch new experiences that keep things fun for guests and support business goals.

Creative thinking. Smart use of existing resources. Meaningful results. That's the kind of work I love!

06/02/2026

One year ago, The Creative AF was just an idea I decided to stop overthinking and finally pursue.

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with amazing businesses and individuals on everything from events and interiors to branding, marketing ideas, and creative problem-solving.

What I’ve learned most over the past year is this: people don’t always need more resources — they often just need fresh perspective, intentionality, and someone willing to think creatively alongside them.

Along the way, clients have called me “a great creative partner,” shared that projects led to “the best night of business,” and trusted me with ideas big and small, which honestly means everything.

To everyone who supported, referred, collaborated, hired, encouraged, or cheered me on during year one: thank you. Here’s to more bold ideas, creative risks, and meaningful partnerships in year two!

05/13/2026

“She…solves problems that have plagued us for years in a very short amount of time.”

Reviews like this mean so much to me because they get at the heart of what I actually do.

Yes, I can help with branding, events, visuals, and marketing ideas — but more than anything, I help businesses look at what they already have with fresh eyes and figure out how to make it work better.

Sometimes that means creative direction. Sometimes it means strategy. Sometimes it’s simply helping move ideas from “we should do something” to actually getting it done.

I especially love when that work connects directly to real spaces and real experiences — like helping venues such as The Christy House shape how they host, present, and grow their events in a way that feels both intentional and effortless.

I’m grateful for the kind words from The Christy House, and even more grateful to be part of work that helps businesses step into what’s next.