My Story
Where It All Started
I was born and raised in Dunedin, Florida. My parents split when I was very young, but they remained friends. I typically saw my dad once a week growing up, but most of the time it was just my mom and me. She worked long hours to support us. She was also a natural giver, and from her I learned both independence and generosity. She passed away in 2019, yet the lessons she taught me and her giving spirit are woven into everything I do.
We did not have much money, so I learned to be resourceful. In elementary school, I flipped candy just so I could afford better lunches or save for something nice I wanted. Even then, I had a fascination with quality. I have always appreciated things that last and things that are made well.
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Challenges That Shaped Me
Life tested me early. As a skinny kid, I was bullied by older kids in my neighborhood. Years later, those same kids broke into our home multiple times, stealing my mom’s money along with some of my things. One day, I caught them in the act while I was home sick from school. That moment was traumatic, but it also became a turning point. It woke me up. I started lifting weights, building not just my body but also my mindset. Fitness became my foundation. Preparedness became second nature. I began looking at the world differently, developing strategies for “what if” scenarios. That experience planted the seed for the discipline, resilience, and awareness I carry with me today.
In middle school I tried to fit in with the “cool” crowd, which led to trouble, referrals, and eventually being kicked out of public school halfway through eighth grade. I was sent to a tough school far from home. Ironically, I thrived there. I made honor roll and proved to myself I was not a bad kid, I had just been making bad choices.
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By 10th grade, I was back in public school. My schedule was packed with classes like chemistry, history, algebra 2, and gym. I did well in gym because it was the one subject I enjoyed, but most of the rest felt pointless to me. I struggled to stay interested, and I often thought the time would be better spent learning skills that actually mattered to my life. Eventually, I made the decision to drop out. That choice was not about giving up on learning. In fact, it was the opposite. I wanted to learn things that I believed truly mattered to me. I was frustrated with the limits of the classroom and wanted to invest my energy into real-world learning such as working, buying and selling, restoring things, and creating my own opportunities. I wanted to develop skills that would serve me for life, not just pass me through a test.
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Finding My Path
At 15, I started working in a sub shop owned by my mom’s ex-husband. I stayed there around two years. I worked hard, but I knew I was capable of more. I began going to yard sales, thrift stores, and pawn shops. I was mostly buying broken Craftsman tools, using their lifetime warranty to trade them in and resell them. Eventually I worked my way into buying and selling professional hand tools such as Snap-On Tools, and later entire toolboxes from retired mechanics. From there, I expanded into estate sales, auctions, and ultimately abandoned storage unit auctions.
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Over the years, I have bought around 350 abandoned storage units. It became my full-time income for many years, but more importantly, it became a classroom for creativity. I learned how to spot value, restore, fix, and flip just about anything. I still love storage auctions today, and I still try to buy units when I can. The opportunities are not there the way they once were, but I will probably never walk away from that world completely.
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When COVID hit, the industry changed. Storage auctions went online, prices soared, and opportunities dried up. Between September and December of 2022, I suffered a major setback when I lost a bag of cash containing $20,000 that I had for storage auctions. I do not know when or where it disappeared, but it wiped out most of the money I relied on to keep investing. That loss forced me to look for stability, so I took a job as an undercover security investigator for a large retail company. I am still there today. The pay is not what I aim for long term, but it gives me stability, valuable experience in security, and a base to rebuild from while I work toward getting back to my own thing.
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Health, Fitness, and Creativity
Health and fitness are my foundation. What started as self-defense against bullies turned into a lifestyle I love. Training, eating clean, and pushing my limits are not just hobbies. They are who I am. I once created a meal plan that helped thousands of people lose weight and live healthier. That experience showed me the power of helping people directly and the fulfillment that comes with it.
Creativity is the thread that ties everything together. Whether it is restoring tools, designing projects, researching products, or creating content, I thrive on building, improving, and finding better ways to do things.
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Why I Built This Site
All of these experiences, from the struggles to the lessons to the wins, led me here. I created this site to take what I have learned and put it to use for others. To help people live healthier, feel more prepared, and save time. To research and highlight quality products, tools, and insights that actually make a difference.
My mission is simple: to help as many people as possible, in the most ways possible.
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Who I Am Beyond Work
I am a foodie who loves exploring high-end restaurants and unique eats. I love to collect coins, precious metals, antiques, jewelry, weapons, minerals, crystals, mechanical puzzles and signed memorabilia. I love traveling, hiking, camping, exploring nature parks, shooting targets, riding motorcycles, playing basketball, and learning new skills. Once in a while, I unwind with a video game with friends. Above all, I am someone who is always learning and always looking for ways to give back.
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The Legacy I Want
If there is one thing people remember about me, I hope it is this: I care deeply.