Okay, so… it’s officially late July. How did we get here? One minute I’m planning my Bermuda trip (which feels like a literal lifetime ago, take me back pls) and the next, I’m standing in the kitchen at Graze, staring at a block of Manchego like it’s a math problem I can’t solve.

If you know me, you know I’m a double Pisces. That means I am basically 90% feelings and 10% RedBull at any given moment. I’m a nurturer by nature, which is great for making your platterboxes look like a literal work of art, but, and it's a big "but", I’m the type of person who wants to do everything myself. Why? Because I’m convinced only I know the exact 45-degree angle a cracker should sit at to achieve maximum "wow" factor. It’s a blessing and a curse (mostly a curse for my sleep schedule).

But you guys… I finally did it. I hired someone.

The Weekend Energy Shift

So, my new human started, and she’s been working Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. SHE IS A GODSEND or whatever the kids are saying these days. She organized my ENTIRE shop. She cleaned, she dusted, she did all these things I haven’t had the mental bandwidth to do since we opened back in 2022. I know, I know. I’m a big yikes. My millennial battery was at 2% and she just plugged me back in.

Having someone there has been such a weird, beautiful, slightly terrifying trip. Training a new hire is basically like handing over your firstborn child, but the child is made of cured meats and triple-cream brie. I found myself kind of hovering at first, classic Pisces behavior, just watching her chop up strawberries. Is she doing it right? Is that strawberry too small? Should I intervene?*

Narrator: She was doing it perfectly.

You know what she did? She made a whole month of meals for the kiddos at Georgie’s school in record time. I think she actually saw my jaw hit the floor. It was the kind of efficiency I usually only see in TikToks of people who have their lives together.

But then, something happened. I actually… walked away? I went home to let the doggos out and she was just fine. I got to sit down and write out my meal prep plan for Monday, answer emails (which, as you know, I hate with the fire of a thousand suns), and I didn’t look back. It’s incredibly helpful to have someone help you even though I’m used to bossing only myself around.

The Great "Brie Melting" Incident

The other day, I was setting up a grazing table for and I swear the humidity was so high I felt like I was breathing underwater. My skin was not thriving. I had this beautiful wedge of triple-cream brie, and for a second, I thought it was going to just… peace out and slide right off the table. It was nugget ice machine levels of emergency.

But this is where the delegation comes in. Because I have help now, I’m not just a one-woman show trying to fight the laws of thermodynamics in a humid kitchen. I can actually breathe. I can focus on the details that have been on the back burner for months.

Manifesting, Reels, and Leo Season

She’s already done so much in just one week. I basically got on my knees and said, "Please, please help me with social media. Help me find my following. Help me grow our clients." And she was just like, "Ummm, you need to start posting reels and YOUR FACE."

And she was right. Ugh. Why are they always right?

So off I went and made a little reel of me making your beloved chicken salad. I posted it, closed my eyes, and hoped for the best. You guys... I got over 10k views and 25+ new followers in like 6 hours. LIKE WHAT??? I’ve been manifesting so hard the last month, and since we’re in Leo season, I’m locked down and ready to figure out how to grow. Now that I have Miss Jaycee, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. It’s an incredible feeling. I think the tail end of 2026 is going to be really good for us. Yes, US.

Why Catering in Chelmsford Needs Heart

I’ve spent so long being the "boss," the "maker," the "delivery driver," and the "social media manager" (shoutout to my ADHD brain for keeping 50 tabs open at all times) that I forgot how to just… be Abby. The Abby who likes dirty Hendricks martinis and actually wants to sit on her back steps for five minutes without checking an order form.

Delegating is hard because it feels like losing control, but it’s actually about gaining space. Space to create. Space to not be a total crank when someone asks for a last-minute modification (okay, I’m never thaaat cranky, but the internal monologue is definitely spicy).

When you look for caterers in Chelmsford, and yes mine is super niche, you want someone who puts their soul into the food. I realized that if my soul is totally drained because I’m trying to do the administrative work of three people, the food suffers. Or at least, the vibe suffers. And at Graze, the vibe is everything. Whether you need chelmsford catering for a baby shower or a grazing table for a wedding, we’re about the memories. We’re about the "oh my god you have to try this cheese" moments. I want to put smiles on your faces, but I also want you to come back for more, even if it’s just to stop in and say hello to us at the shop.

The Reality of the Hustle (It's a Good Mess)

Don’t get me wrong, things are still chaotic. My kitchen table currently has three different planners on it, a stack of food-grade paper boxes that looks like a Jenga tower about to topple, and I’m pretty sure I lost my favorite pair of scissors somewhere in the depths of my car. I am a mess. But it’s a good mess.

Training someone new means I’m finally seeing the business from the outside again. I’m seeing the joy when a couple picks up a 7x7 box for a date night at the Summer Concert Series on the Common. It reminds me why I started this whole journey in the first place. Whether we are acting as your go-to chelmsford cater or just providing a snack box for your Tuesday night music session, it’s about the community.

I’m learning that I don’t have to be the "everything" person. I just have to be the "heart" person. (Wow, that was cheesy. Pun intended. Bye.)

Wrapping It Up (With a Side of Salami)

So, if you see me around town maybe grabbing a bite at Fishbones or just dodging the heat in the shop, know that I’m working on it. I’m working on the delegating, the breathing, and not having a meltdown. If you need catering, we’re here for you, and now we’ve got even more hands on deck to make sure your event is perfect. From date night to full-blown grazing tables, we’ve got the bandwidth now!

Thank you guys for being so patient with me during these growing pains. I know it seems like I have them often, but really, half the time I feel like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. It’s been a wild summer, and we’re only halfway through! I’m so grateful for every order, every "keep going," and every person who understands that sometimes, the executive function is just... not functioning.

Stay cool, eat more cheese, and maybe try to delegate one thing this week. Go joybait someone too. We could all use a little pick-me-up. Even if it’s just asking someone else to put the trash out. It feels great, I promise.

One More Thing Before I Go Full Sleep Token Again

I made a little trip to Barre 129 in Billerica this week with sammies and loaded s'mores rice krispy treats, which honestly felt very me. Those ladies LOVE the carbs after a tough workout and frankly? I respect it deeply. Nothing bonds people faster than collective suffering and then a sandwich reward situation.

And now I fear I may be entering my barre era??? Which is a hilarious plot twist because apparently I’m in my glow up era and trying to make choices that involve movement and not just stress pacing around the shop with a coffee I forgot to drink. We’ll see. No promises. My commitment issues are alive and well, but I’m thinking about joining.

Also, little shop update so you guys know what’s up-we’ll be open Thursday and Friday next week, but closed Saturday.

Love you all!

XX,

Abby

Song of the day: New Constellations-Hot Blooded

Let’s be real for a sec. Whether we’re dropping off sammies to the legends over at Barre 129, sweating through a humid afternoon in the shop, or nervously hitting “post” on a reel and praying the algorithm is kind, we are all just trying to feel a little more alive. This track has that effortless, moody-yet-bouncy coolness that makes you want to roll your car windows all the way down, crank the volume, and pretend you’re the main character in an indie movie.

So, consider this your official homework for the week..go stream "Hot Blooded," eat a piece of good cheese, and let yourself lean into the chaos.

We’ve got this.