What The Pretty Way means inside a business (with Ellie - the part of me, and the part of you too)
There’s a part of me who shows up in my business every day.
Her name is Ellie.
She’s soft and sensitive, creative and capable, slightly chaotic, occasionally dramatic, and absolutely doing her best.
She’s the part of you, too - the version of you who wants your business to feel meaningful, gentle, doable, and a little bit Magical.
Ellie is why The Pretty Way exists.
Although the idea began long before my business ever did.
It began with my dad.
He didn’t believe in taking the “normal” route anywhere.
He announced we were going “the pretty way,” which meant:
excellent scenery
questionable navigation
and the occasional accidental ferry ride that made zero sense
We were late. Frequently. Yet we always saw things we wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Those winding roads shaped how I see business: the scenic route isn’t always efficient, though it always teaches something worth knowing.
Ellie understands that deeply. Maybe you do too.
The heart of the Pretty Way
Some women thrive in the fast lane.
Ellie is not built for that lane.
She feels everything. She cares fiercely.
She overthinks. She underestimates her own brilliance.
She works hard and then blames herself when she needs a nap and a biscuit.
Heavy days convince her she’s the problem. Scattered days convince her she’s behind. Slow days confuse her because the online world worships speed.
The Pretty Way offers something else.
A rhythm that doesn’t demand.
A structure that doesn’t suffocate.
A way of showing up that feels human instead of performative.
Inside a business, The Pretty Way looks like this:
1. Noticing instead of rushing
Ellie checks in with her energy before she checks her inbox.
She picks one meaningful task instead of juggling 17 tabs and a dream.
She gives ideas breathing room instead of forcing them through a deadline-shaped funnel.
2. Softer systems
Ellie loves a simple system that holds her creativity without bullying her brain.
A home for ideas.
A home for Love Notes from clients.
A home where clarity can land and stay, even on tired Tuesdays.
3. Storytelling that feels true
Ellie doesn’t want to shout online.
She wants to tell stories that start with love.
Stories from the funny, the weird, the mundane - because those are the stories that teach her the most.
Scruff refusing his bowl.
A detour that became a life lesson.
The dentist appointment booked at 2:30, which still makes her laugh.
These moments become metaphors.
This is Once Upon a VA - storytelling with strategy.
This is Love Notes & Notion - turning life into meaning and meaning into clarity.
4. The return of self-trust
Ellie begins to see that she was never the issue. The overwhelm was. The noise absolutely was.
Her confidence returns when her nervous system feels safe. She hears herself again when things finally slow down. She moves forward when she follows a rhythm that matches who she is, not who she thinks she should be.
The Pretty Way is not a method - it’s a way of being
Gentle. Grounded. Structured enough to hold you. Soft enough to let you breathe. Playful enough to make you smile on days you need it most.
Ellie is me. Ellie is you. Ellie is every creative soul who wants a business that feels like home - not a high-pressure performance review.
If you want a place to explore storytelling and systems The Pretty Way, the first season of The Dotty Duo is waiting for you.
It includes:
Love Notes & Notion (storytelling that starts with love)
Once Upon a VA (storytelling with strategy)
A Notion dashboard to organise your world
The Dotty Pages digital journals
A cosy $55 doorway into clearer stories, softer systems, and a more supported you.
Your version of Ellie is welcome here. Always.
