Today we are sharing our LOCAL LOVE for Little Big Things and it’s founder Aneta Mendoza.
“I have learned over the years that it is not those who are close to you in age and have similar interests that become your true friends. It is the women who care about other women doing well, who are supportive and helpful and know that we are stronger together.”
Tell us all about you! What you do and where your passions lie?
I was born and raised in Poland. Now I live in Plymouth, MN with my husband Angel and my three sons: Nathaniel (12), Benjamin (10) and Jonathan (4 months). I am a director of Business Case Analytics at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In my “free time” I stay busy cooking for my family, acting as a chauffeur between soccer and basketball games and running my mom’s Etsy store. I do so while enjoying listening to classical music.
Tell us all about Little Big Things.
The Little Big Things Instagram bio sums it up pretty well: “Started to celebrate beating illness against all odds. Now, 2 friends turning yarn into special crochet and knitted creations for the world to enjoy.”
Please read here for the full story of how Little Big Things started (page 16 to page 21).
I will add that since the above article was published Little Big Things had another successful Christmas season with new ornament designs added to the collection. In addition, my miracle baby boy Jonathan became an inspiration for the bunny collection launch (baby and toddler toys and clothes).
Right now, we are working on a Mother’s Day collection of handmade clutches. We are also in the process of collaborating with The Thinking Spot, a new local Wayzata bookstore, on a spring 2022 collection of crocheted animal themed bookmarks and baby books. Stay tuned!
What do you love about the Twin Cities area?
I should probably start by being honest. We moved to Minnesota from New Jersey 10 years ago with the thought of staying here no longer than 5 years. However, once our boys started attending Spanish Immersion at Deephaven Elementary (and later Navigators program at Scenic Heights), we had built our home and made friends. Our plan of moving back to the East Coast kept getting pushed back. The reality is that today we can not imagine raising our kids anywhere else. Twin Cities is our home. Despite missing our family (most of which are in NJ and Poland), we know that this is the right place for us. The community, the schools, our friends, our work-life-balance, it all somehow makes sense.
What is the best way for our TCMC community to support your business?
Visit our Etsy shop and help us spread the word! Not just about Little Big Things, LLC but about the feelings and emotions that the little big things created for you or your loved ones. Help us capture it in photos: the spirit of Christmas through our handmade snowflakes or the special moments when gifting baby loveys.
Feel good knowing that you are supporting a women-owned small business in a coal-mining town in southern Poland. As our Etsy profile says: Little Big Things journey started in 2020 with a beautiful crochet snowflake collection. Each of the snowflakes was made with a lot of love, patience and a goal in mind to make others smile. It took years of experience and true passion for a handmade craft to deliver such high quality products.
With time commitment and some yarn, Little Big Things creations are made in Jastrzebie Zdroj, a coal-mining town in southern Europe by two wonderful women, mothers and grandmothers. For years they have been knitting and crocheting for their families and friends simply to make others happy. The decision to start this Etsy site was made by their family to prove to them that what they do matters more than they expect and that the smiles and special moments that their handmade art creates are forever lasting. Help us spread joy and memories beyond their homes by purchasing one of our handmade options.
Now let’s talk about your role as a mother and friend. How do you prioritize friendships and connections with women?
Having friends is so important. Especially when your family is far away. I would say that I am pretty social but I am also very selective when it comes to friendships. I do not have a lot of close friends, but the ones I do have are very special to me. I have learned over the years that it is not those who are close to you in age and have similar interests that become your true friends. It is the women who care about other women doing well, who are supportive and helpful and know that we are stronger together.
Being a mom is no easy task in and of itself. How do you relax and take care of you?
That is is a tough one. I am not sure that I am very good at it but I try. Once you are a mom, kids and their activities kind of take over. We all know that. Making friends with school moms definitely helps. Being able to meet up for a quick coffee or a glass of wine, even exchanging a few text messages and having the opportunity to vent is sometimes helpful. But in all honesty, going away without the kids no longer seems exiting. I think my guilt would eat me up inside. So I choose to plan family vacation or weekend trips with friends where we all can spend good time together without having to miss each other. I suppose that means that I will be tired until my boys leave for college but that is the choice I made and the choice I am happy with.
What’s been your greatest joy in motherhood?
I have three boys: 12, 10 and 4 months. Some people decided to get dogs during Covid; we had a little baby boy join our family 🙂 I always wanted to have 3 kids. Ten years ago I was told that I would not be able to have any more kids. Apparently, miracles do happen and ours joined our home last September. This experience gave me a whole new appreciation for motherhood. I am so tired but so happy! I have been working full-time ever since I can remember and juggling between home and work just got a little tougher. At the same time I am so much more grateful for piles of dirty laundry, bloody noses and never-ending chauffeuring to and from activities. I am one tired and lucky mom!
How do you hope your lives influence and/or inspire other women?
I truly believe in passing it forward, especially when it comes to supporting other women. There are many things that happened in my life simply because someone gave me a chance. That includes me going to college, getting my first job, and many jobs after that. I have been lucky to come across many strong and supportive women mentors and blessed with many opportunities along the way as a result of that. I try to pass it forward every chance I get. Do you know the saying, “Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean”? I would love to see Little Big Things grow so we can have more women join and know what it feels like to be small business owner. My mom and her friend who today create all of the Little Big Things products still can not wrap their head around the fact that their creations are cherished in homes on the other side of the globe.
Aneta’s Local Loves:
Date Night Restaurant: Lurcat
Local Coffee Shop: Penny’s
Locally based business: Graze Local – owned by my friend
Locally based non-profit organization: Crisis Nursery
Locally based non-profit organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities
We love having the opportunity to share the women behind Twin Cities businesses and organizations! If you would like to recommend another local business you think should be featured in our Local Love series, please email us at info@twincitiesmom.com
