Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Perez

Hi Angie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I would tell you that the story of where I am now started five years ago during one of the most transformational years of my life, but in actuality it began long before that. I began writing in school as most do, in Language Arts or English class, with classroom assignments and homework. Most of the time I was instructed to write short stories, poems of varying subject matters and structures, always wondering if I was doing it right.

The next time I was introduced to writing was on a more personal level. In my early teens, shortly after my parents divorced, I was seeing a therapist (and by seeing I mean forced by my mother) and she suggested I start writing my feelings through journaling. Her instruction to start journaling was genesis to what is now one of the most cherished relationships I have in my life— the one I have with myself in-between those pages. There I never felt judged, there I found my own voice and there I never wondered if I was doing it right. I was just me and to find a space to be that was absolutely freeing.

I didn’t even realize writing was something you could be good at and then I started submitting essays and writing stories in high school and that’s when it came to my attention that I was, in fact, good at this. Maybe it was because I nurtured that relationship of writing through my own feelings that finding my voice came easy and I didn’t really know how to do it any other way. I would write about life, my family– really anything that was going on at the time. One day I had my Grade 12 English teacher come up to me with one of my papers in hand and say, “Angie, THIS is your thing” and from that point on it always was.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts minoring in English Literature (one of my only true regrets– it obviously should have been my major) because the fears of my immigrant mother screamed in my ear throughout the years. “You can never make money writing!!” she would say, “Why not try Nursing?” And I did, in fact– I tried everything. Nursing, then Nutrition, I was a Science major, decided to undeclare and then eventually graduated with a Degree in Sociology.

Up until the year that changed my life, I was working in Human Resources for the Public School Board in the city I grew up in playing the game of life. Working in my cubical, doing the whole 9-5 thing and living for whiskey and weekends (it was more like vodka but you get the point) And in every way you looked at it– I was successful and doing life the right way. But did it ever feel like that? I can’t say that it ever did.

So five years ago I decided to blow up my life. Sure it helped that the world was amid a historical pandemic and sure it helped that I was also postpartum with my second son trying to protect his health— those two things definitely made the decision easier. But I decided right there and then to quit my job and walk away from everything I built up until that point.

Naturally, what happens when you begin to dissect the workings of your life is that you start to look at EVERYTHING and what came next were my relationships. Who had I been surrounding myself with? Whose opinion had I given more value than my own? Whose life was I really living?

And then the next explosion began — I walked away. From many of the life-long friendships that molded my very identity up until that point. If it sounds scary, it was. If it sounds reckless, it was. But something happens when you get to a point in life when you realize you had been living someone else’s version of it. You start resenting any single moment that you spent under anyone else’s thumb. And up to that point for me— it had been 31 years. So I walked—no sprinted— away. I never once looked back. I had one life to live and with this second chance, I was going to do it for me.

For how bold and brave the gesture was, everything at that point became like slow motion. It was like finding my legs again. Who was I before I started listening to everyone about what I should do? What should I do now? Who should I become? And then I did what I’d been doing anytime I had profound questions like that— brought out my journal and wrote.

What I found? I was far more creative than I had ever given myself credit for. I began a new outlet for drawing and making graphic art on my tablet device. I became firm on rituals that worked for me. Amongst that writing—because how could I not? It had always been there for me, on those pages is not only were I existed but where I felt most alive. The path became clearer in my journal through words of affirmation, practicing gratitude for what I did have in my life, and setting daily intentions. One thing I knew for sure was that living on auto-pilot was no longer an option. I had wasted so many years idle to the life before me that if I could have any say on where my energy was going it would be grateful, it would be intentional and I would become my biggest supporter. I had given that privilege away before and during that time I realized it was one thing I would no longer give away. I would be her, she would be me and as long as I had that— I had everything.

Shortly after, I realized all the things I was doing could really help someone else going through the same. I looked around me and so many were going through transformational periods (I mean a pandemic will do that to you) and what if I held the tools to help them get through. Wasn’t it my responsibility to let them be known?

So I put my head down and worked. And what was birthed was what I now call Under This Moon— a self care stationery and lifestyle brand that I put my heart, soul and story into to help others going through transformational phases in their lives. I became an entrepreneur and a creative. I designed writing tools for others to help find themselves and I stood on my soap-box and talked about journaling and writing and all its benefits to any one who will listen.

And that’s where I am today. Three years into business, a ton of sales under our belts and now— right back to where I started all along. Writing my story right here with you. Except not confined to the pages of my journal. But loud and proud for the world to hear. Because that’s what happens when you start loving yourself, your voice, your journey. The magic finds you, the path becomes clearer and life starts feeling like you’re doing right. All you have to do is take the first step. And I’m so so glad I did.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Like any notable journey, the obstacles have been a plenty. And I mean A PLENTY.

First— not only learning how to love myself and navigate making it okay to do things for me, when I had never seen or witnessed anyone doing the same. It felt wrong and reckless every step of the way. How dare I dream? Who was I to feel like I was made for more? I would say my mindset was and still is one of the biggest obstacles I still battle with every day.

Faith has always been a great obstacle. Truly having and maintaining it. Which is also why I stand on my soap box with the brand I created today— because without the faith in myself, without honouring my voice within I would never feel comfortable taking that next step in what can be a very dark journey through entrepreneurship. Being an entrepreneur is not made for the weak. If you’re lucky, you can create every momentum and opportunity you get. If you’re not, you visit the drawing board daily. Trial and error is almost your CFO and to have faith in yourself, in your own path is critical. The tools I have created for myself through writing has helped me nurture that relationship with faith.

And lastly— let’s be real— money. When you are growing a business money can be a huge obstacle in your journey. And when your business starts growing it can be an even bigger one. I’ve had to heal my relationship with money in order to be where I am today. Making it okay to make money, to ask for it, to hold onto it, and to spend it— All things that were and still are hard for me– especially in being a child to immigrant parents who worked countless hours just to obtain it. I have had to reprogram every facet with my relationship to money.

I think in any journey— obstacles are guaranteed. If you’re looking for a path without one, there isn’t. Nor would you want there to be. The obstacles I’ve overcome have not only helped me to grow but made me who I am today. And I would never ever give this version of me up. So love the obstacles, because they are you. They are your story.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

Under This Moon is a self care stationery & lifestyle brand providing affordable writing tools and resources to help support your emotional wellness. Under This Moon is a place for those going through self transformation and evolution, those seeking self-care routines that ground you, and most importantly, those wishing to find themselves again.

I truly believe we all have the power inside us to bring all our dreams into fruition. And with self love, gratitude and awareness we can truly achieve anything. Whether you’re making a big decision, wanting to create more intention or battling the pressures of every day life, there are always tools and resources available to you. And we hope to become one of them

Currently, we best serve our customers through our writing tools. We produce affirmations, intentions and gratitude notepads for quick and easy self care routines as well as guided journals for reflection. We also believe that in order to be positive you have to see positive– and our lifestyle items such as stickers, keychains, pins & totes serve as just that– carrying messages of positivity for your day-to-day life.

However, what we are working on next is what brings me most joy: creating community and space for us to practice together. I am currently working on putting together in-person new moon/full moon journaling workshops for our community members in what will be the next phase on our journey.

Our ideal customer is someone who is on the path of self discovery. Someone who values authenticity and is willing to put in the work to find themselves. Someone who is wanting to be intentional in how they show up in this world and needs products and tools to help them achieve that.

Someone who doesn’t want to do it alone.

We have a fantastic and engaging online community filled with like-minded individuals who are on the same path as you. We are often putting out self-love and gratitude challenges to our members to keep us motivated and accountable. And soon a space to meet in-person to do the same.

Under This Moon believes in the power of you and bringing light to your journey–no matter what phase you’re in.

So come check us out, Under This Moon.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?

I’ve kind of always been this introspective and bubbly girl and I’ve always kind of walked my own path.

Where people would walk faster to get places, I would walk slower to enjoy the view. When people told me how things were done I would almost always question why. And no matter what I’ve always tried to find the humour in things.

Don’t get me wrong— it wasn’t and hasn’t always been an easy persona to maintain. Life definitely handed me a harder hand than most. I’m a Capricorn! I quite literally climb a mountain just to start the next. Anything I have, I’ve worked quite hard to have. Not only physically but emotionally as well.

I think what happens when you endure more than most is you actually become quite strong and relentless and my spirit is one of the things I love most about me. Tell me I can’t do something and I will quite literally do it in your face.

I feel like a really old soul of sorts. I love walking, and reading, touring small shops with trinkets, eating ice cream from a cone. My guilty pleasures are awful reality tv shows and dirty romance books. My pride and joy is my family. My two boys and daughter who bear resemblance to the beautiful man I love today. We spend weekends in the greens of parks or in the jerseys of our hometown hockey team.

I have a job I love, a family to adorn, a roof over our head and a pantry filled with carbs. In that way, I am a very rich woman and I am truly grateful for it all

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.underthismoon.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underthismoondesigns
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@underthismoondesigns