When I was a kid, we used to vacation in the desert with my family — fun little road trips and weekend trips. During COVID, my siblings and mom decided we needed a change of scenery and moved out here. Best decision we ever made.

I have worked in retail since I was 16 years old. I’ve always had a passion for fabrics, style, and the art of expressing oneself through clothing. My first retail job was at Mervyn’s. I just loved it! I knew it was the start of a fun future. I have worked for several retailers, like Wet Seal, H&M, and Nordstrom. I moved from the customer side to the corporate side on my journey and worked for several merchandising companies. I held roles from Sales Associate all the way up the food chain to Regional Director, from buyer to corporate store development. Retail is fast-paced and I just loved new store openings — the excitement of the staff showing off all their hard work and the customers enjoying their shopping experience.

After 25 years in the industry working for some amazing companies, I decided it was time to do something for myself! It was time to open my own little shop — and I’m just getting started!

My parents always owned their own businesses — from gas stations to donut shops to Eastern European markets. My father was a serial entrepreneur. He taught us all that hard work pays off. Put your best foot forward and help your community grow. Even when I worked for other companies, I treated it like my own business. I love to see a business succeed and flourish.

I wish I had a fun story here, but my brother-in-law really helped me come up with the name. We sat around the table one April night and came up with Songbird & Sage. It was perfect — expressing my love for songbirds and the color green. There’s something so calm about the sage green color.

During my adult years visiting El Paseo, I noticed there was a gap in the shopping market. There are several beautiful stores on the block, but nothing that reflected my Orange County flair, was affordable, and on trend. I  definitely manifested my shop at a young age.

When I arrived in the desert in 2020, El Paseo was shut down and I was still working at my corporate job. In 2023-2024, I decided to start out on my own. I began at the La Quinta farmers market, working with women’s groups from Ghana and bringing in beautiful hand-woven baskets and fans to the market. 

El Paseo was coming back to life during that time and I decided it was time to bring something different to the neighborhood. Several people told me it was too ambitious, but I’ve always lived by the “go big or go home” motto — and I love a good challenge. So far, it’s paid off. Customers are enjoying the shop and I love meeting and styling every one of them.

Songbird & Sage captures the effortless beauty of modern bohemian style — where laid-back California ease meets timeless sophistication. The boutique’s aesthetic blends natural textures, earthy palettes, and feminine silhouettes with an undercurrent of wanderlust and quiet luxury. Think soft linen dresses, embroidered details, artisan-made accessories, and curated statement pieces that feel both romantic and lived-in. Each collection is designed for the woman who values authenticity and artistry — she’s grounded yet adventurous, polished yet free-spirited. From sunlit neutrals to dusky desert hues, every piece tells a story of ease, intention, and understated elegance.

Over the years in retail, I’ve come across many different brands, vendors, and artists. I’ve always had a love for something unique — clothing with texture and expression. I buy items for my shop with trends in mind, but I also like to make sure they are accessible to a wide range of customers. There is something about going into a store and falling in love with several pieces and knowing that your friend, mom, or sister would love them, too. I have two sisters and their personal style and love of fashion help inspire the variety in my shop, allowing me to curate a selection that’s diverse yet cohesive.

That’s a tough question. I love to buy for fall!! I’m jacket-obsessed even in the desert! I’m a maximalist, so I love to layer fashion to create a unique look.

It comes from my own personal expectations and the service I used to provide to my customers in the past. Going above and beyond is second nature. I genuinely enjoy seeing my customers happy and making their day. So often, you go shopping or out to eat and the service is terrible, but the environment, food, or shop is great. Sometimes you attempt a second visit, but usually it’s spoiled by that first impression. I take pride in giving all my customers the best experience every single time they visit.

It’s definitely a unique dance. Sometimes I don’t have it all balanced, but I trust the process. I really enjoy managing all parts of the shop and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch your hard work unfold into an amazing experience for a customer.

I’m real — no fluff. I genuinely want to get to know my customers, whether it’s helping them find exactly what they need, enjoying a little window shopping, or just having a chat. Sometimes I don’t have exactly what they’re looking for, but I always know where to send them. I’m here to make their shopping experience the best it can be.

I’m the oldest of three siblings. Sometimes you have to joke a little to get through the day and that definitely helps when it comes to working with customers. And sometimes you just vibe with people and they become an instant friend.

Melie Bianco handbags! (The Carrie is my favorite.) I personally love a good handbag. I worked in the accessories division for 10 years of my retail career and a good handbag can make or break an outfit.

My favorite item right now is the Oxana Faux Fur Coat. OMG, I love a good fur moment. This coat is perfect with jeans and a graphic tee — but you can also dress it up for a night out on the town.

Feedback from all the customers. All my hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Understand your market. Do some research and observe the customer base.

Honestly, working in L.A. and Orange County, you never have time to look at the sky and take a breath. Life is very go, go, go. I love that at night here, I can see every star in the sky. I can take time to relax and enjoy my environment. I was even able to rescue a pup, my favorite little boy Connery.

Mexican food, of course! My mom and I always go to Pueblo Viejo Grill in Indio (pictured)! Yummy, yummy!

There are so many amazing places, but my top favorites are: Hundenfolk — the best dog shop in the desert; Thai Smile on El Paseo; Rosemary HiFi (pictured) in Indio (music and wine — yes, please!); and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens — I love feeding the giraffes!

Hands down the best pumpkin patch in the Valley, All Color Growers nursery transforms into an autumnal wonderland each October. (This year’s festivities take place the weekends of the 17th and 24th.) Featuring a petting zoo, live music, a beer garden, endless photo ops, a lineup of local vendors (including faves Buena Matcha and Ruby & Co.), and more, the scene is very reminiscent of the patches I visited regularly as a kid in Half Moon Bay—aka the World Pumpkin Capital. It’s a Halloween can’t-miss!

In the mood for a Halloween-themed dinner and a movie? Fork N’ Film’s upcoming Hocus Pocus night on October 18th conjures up the perfect blend of film and fare. The “carefully curated” event offers a “fully sensory experience” inspired by the beloved 1993 Disney classic. On the multi-course menu: Graveyard Gnocchi, Spellbook Brownies, and Dead Man’s Toes (breadsticks served in a mini casket, natch!)—paired with spellbinding cocktails like Potion of Youth and Black Flame Candle. Bon appétit, indeed!

Photo ops, trick or treating, and face painting—oh my! Come celebrate the season the La Quinta way at Old Town’s annual Fall Festival, happening October 26th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Along with the aforementioned festive fun, this family-friendly event features a wine garden, a pumpkin patch, a farmers market, live music, and more. My favorite, Lucky Linqs, will also be popping up with her beautiful permanent jewelry at Mimi & Rae, so be sure to drop in for a spell!

What better way to embrace the season than with a visit to a working farm? Through October 26th, 123 Farm in Cherry Valley (about 35 miles west of Palm Springs—and so worth the drive!) is hosting Lavender Nights, a celebration of all things lavender. Guests are invited to stroll 20 acres of sweet-smelling fields, sample lavender-infused fare, and wander olive groves draped in thousands of twinkle lights. The festivities also include wagon rides, a multitude of artisan shops, and hands-on activities like perfume blending, breadmaking, and tea tasting. It’s fall at its finest!

My favorite Halloween event in the Valley, I look forward to tours of La Quinta’s famous Haunted Hacienda (aka J & J Ranch) every fall. Nearly every square inch of the historic 2.5-acre 1920s-era private residence—owned by Halloween enthusiasts John Miller and James Blanton—is overhauled to chilling perfection with spooky décor that changes annually, including all of the outbuildings! Taking place on October 30th, tickets run $10 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the La Quinta Historical Society.

We’ve both always loved coffee culture and have visited hundreds of coffee shops, but due to health reasons, we began to look for alternatives. Once we discovered organic high-quality matcha, it became more than just a drink – it became a ritual and a part of our health journey. We fell in love with its calm energy, versatility, and the way it makes you feel good without the crash. It started as a personal obsession and turned into a passion we wanted to share with all our friends and family.

There weren’t many places in the desert and throughout Southern California offering quality organic matcha, so we thought—why not us? We started small, doing pop-ups at local markets, and quickly saw there was a real demand for quality matcha and fun, elevated drinks. The pop-ups allowed us to connect directly with our community and refine our vision. In fact, our first official pop-up was at a pumpkin patch at All Color Growers nursery in Bermuda Dunes. There, we discovered that we may have created something the valley really wanted and appreciated. Soon after, we continued popping up at the Indio Farmers Market on Saturdays and from there expanded to pop-ups at Blonde Alibi hair salon in La Quinta, Kaylie Nicole boutique on El Paseo, and Hagit Taylor Design on El Paseo. We are so grateful for the partnerships we developed with all these amazing businesses that allowed us to grow as a business and share our matcha with the valley.

Lots of trial and error! We definitely dove into tutorials online, read everything we could, reached out to farms in Japan, and experimented nonstop. But honestly, most of it came from hands-on experience, trying things out, listening to feedback, and learning what people loved. We still treat it like a craft we’re always perfecting.

We value quality and organic ingredients. We wanted full control over flavor and quality. A lot of store-bought syrups are packed with artificial ingredients, and that didn’t feel aligned with the purity of matcha and our personal health standards. Creating our own syrups allows us to get creative and seasonal, and we think it really sets our drinks apart. We also have several friends and customers who overcame cancer through holistic methods such as consuming organic products. It became important to us to offer drinks that would align with people’s health standards

The community. 100%. We’ve met so many incredible people, from loyal customers to fellow small business owners who have now become our friends – many like family. Watching people light up over a drink we crafted is honestly the best feeling.

We create matcha moments for people to connect, feel loved, and enjoy life.

We always had our eyes on El Paseo. It’s a vibrant, walkable area that felt ready for something fresh and modern. We are grateful to Michelle Davidson from The Firm Brokerage, who helped us find a space on El Paseo that had the outside look we were going for. Design-wise, we wanted it to feel like an escape—minimal, calming, organic, and a little unexpected. Hagit Taylor and her amazing team—Thea and Salome— took our vision and made it a reality! Even though our space is small, it is mighty: beautiful and inspiring!

Tough call, but right now we’re loving our coconut matcha—it’s perfectly soothing and refreshing for the summer. Ask us next week, though, and we might have a new fave! We do love our secret flavors that we change often with seasonal and surprise creations.

Editor’s note: I’ve never been a coconut person (like at all!), but tried their coconut matcha on a whim and am hooked. It’s that good!

How supportive the majority of people are! It’s a smaller community, but people show up and rally behind local businesses. Also, we’re constantly surprised by how many people are craving new, wellness-forward options like our organic matcha

Start before you’re ready and work really hard. Seriously! You’ll never have it all figured out, but if you wait for perfect, you’ll miss your shot. Stay flexible, stay humble, and build a brand that feels true to you. Choose to celebrate others and don’t forget to prioritize your family in the midst of all the hard work.

Be consistent, be authentic, and engage. Care more about people than just your business. Show your face, tell your story, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. People connect with people, not just products.

The pace. There’s something grounding about life in our valley. There’s a reason why so many individuals choose to vacation and retire out here. There is peace and tranquility with lots of luxury available, as well as nature and simplicity. Such a beautiful combination – great for raising a family or simply finding rest and relaxation.

We have so many great spots throughout our desert. We are big fans of Gabino’s Creperie (pictured). We also enjoy taco trucks and the amazing restaurants on El Paseo!

We love local spots like Kaylie Nicole boutique (pictured), Hagit Taylor Design, Piero’s PizzaVino restaurant, Mole, Tommy Bahama, and, of course, La Dolce Piccola Gelateria for some great ice cream. We also love Food Truck Fridays in Indio and the Indio Farmers Market on Saturdays hosted by CV Harvest Box! We love our community!

Be sure to swing by Buena Matcha for what is certain to be the best matcha of your life! I recommend the coconut, lavender, strawberry and vanilla versions—though you really can’t go wrong with any flavor! In the meantime, follow Kayla and Nahum here to keep up with all of their matcha adventures!

(PS: If your dream home is also on the menu—please reach out! From matcha to move-ins, I’ve got you covered!)

Your pink journey starts the moment you land at PSP, thanks to the airport’s new The Pink Door coffee shop. Decked out with blush accents and playful nods to Palm Springs’ most Insta-famous house, Villa Sierra, it’s a charmingly rosy welcome to the desert. Bonus: The café serves up delicious brews from local favorite Joshua Tree Coffee, whose blush packaging is perfectly on-brand! Consider this your first sip of Palm Springs pink!

Step into 1930s bliss at The Mesa Bungalows—a bloomy-hued oasis once owned by Josh Evans, son of actress Ali MacGraw and mega-producer Robert Evans, and later fully renovated by F1 racer Jenson Button and his interior designer wife, Brittny. Inspired by the ethereal hues of The Beverly Hills Hotel and Jayne Mansfield’s Pink Palace, the property now serves as a dreamy vacation rental. Draped in romantic pastels and chic décor, the abode makes for both a sublime retreat and Insta-worthy backdrop. (Photo courtesy of The Mesa Bungalows.)

More is more at this Palm Springs watering hole! The brainchild of Trixie Mattel of RuPaul’s Drag Racefame, the blushy drinkery feels like a Pepto Bismol fever dream come to life—and I say that with 100% adoration. From cheeky patterns and blushy bricks to fuchsia furnishings and pastel accents galore, it’s over the top and perfectly pink in all the right ways. The cherry on top? The food—upscale comfort fare—and drinks—think whimsically named cocktails like Queen of Hearts and Pink Flamingo—are absolutely delish. (*Reservations required.)

Drenched in pinks of every shade, this chic eatery is easily one of the Valley’s most Instagrammable. The work of famed interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the space draws inspiration from the desert’s midcentury-era social clubs, as well as the lush gardens of Marrakesh’s legendary La Mamounia hotel. And the fare? Just as fab as the ambiance! Go for the endless photo ops; stay for the Green Chile Chicken Tacos and the Roasted Turkey Club (my two favorite entrees)—and be sure to wash it all down with a 50 Shades of Pink cocktail!

Possibly the most famous door in the Valley (and maybe all of Instagram), no pink-in-Palm-Springs itinerary is complete without a stop at That Pink Door, aka Villa Sierra. The swank pad is so Everything Palm Springs-coded, its visage graces both my homepage and my business cards! Swing by for the ultimate photo-op—or fully immerse yourself in its grandeur with an overnight stay! Once owned by actor Telly Savalas, the glam estate currently operates as a vacation rental. This is Palm Springs pink at its most ico