I think it’s time for a little life update—just some things the Rios family has been up to lately!
We had such a wonderful summer. We enjoyed the slower pace, the lack of schedule, and time on the water. We shared our trip to the Oregon Coast earlier this summer, and we also spent some time in Yellowstone (I’ll be sharing more about that trip in next week’s post!).
Now that fall has arrived, we’re back into the swing of things.
Homeschooling has started again, with four of my five kiddos being school age. This year though, we’re also trying something new! The kids are attending a pod school a couple of days a week, and I’m actually teaching there too. I’m leading classes in Human Anatomy and World Geography, which has been such a fun change of pace.
My older kids are taking a few additional classes at the pod school as well, and it’s been exciting to watch them connect with new friends and learn in a slightly different environment.
Of course, fall also means football season! Our boys are playing and our girls are back in the dance studio. I’m teaching dance one evening a week, and it’s been so fun to get back into the routine and activities.
I’ll be honest—it’s a little overwhelming sometimes keeping up with five kids and their different interests, but watching them grow, learn, and discover their talents makes it all worth it.
On the business front, Iviana & Co. is celebrating nine years! I can hardly believe that next year will be the ten-year anniversary of the company.
Looking back, I sometimes wonder why I’m not “further along” but then I remember—I’ve had three babies in those nine years. The business has naturally taken a backseat at times, and that’s okay. As the kids have grown, I’ve been able to devote more energy to Iviana again, and that’s been such a joy.
This year, I finally started hiring help beyond jewelry production and it has made such a huge difference. I honestly wish I’d done it sooner! It’s allowed me to show up more consistently, both for my business and here on the blog. You may have noticed there’s been a bit of a surge in posts lately—that’s why.
The biggest change for our family lately has been with Chris’s career.
Earlier this spring, he went through a major job transition. He had been working for a real estate investment company in a remote sales position. It was flexible, had an entrepreneurial feel, and seemed like a great fit for our family.
Then, literally overnight, everything changed. He was promoted one day, and the very next, let go. His supervisor decided not to train him for the new position and simultaneously eliminated his previous role. It was completely unexpected and really shook us.
It felt a lot like déjà vu—similar to when the platform we sold our jewelry on went bankrupt a couple of years ago. Once again, we found ourselves asking, What now?
We talked through every option—should he go back to a traditional job? Should I return to nursing? But none of those paths felt right. They didn’t align with who we are or how we want to live as a family.
So, after much prayer, thought, and conversation, we decided not to reenter the workforce in the traditional sense.
Chris spent a few months brainstorming business ideas. By early summer, we knew we needed to make a decision.
The one idea he kept coming back to was liquidation. Chris has always loved a good deal. He’s the guy who gets a thrill from buying something refurbished, finding an open-box bargain, or scoring an auction win.
That love for deals—and the excitement of selling—sparked an idea. He found an amazing opportunity to purchase a semi-truck load of Costway overstock. We rented a warehouse, received pallets of merchandise, and launched Real Deals Depot, based right here in Boise, Idaho.
The night of our first auction was such a special family moment. We all gathered around the computer as bids came in, cheering each time an item sold. Watching that excitement build reminded us of the early days of our jewelry business—the same spark, the same energy.
We’re starting local with in-person pickups, but plan to expand to shipping as the business grows. It’s been incredible to see Chris light up with a new sense of purpose and passion.
Between homeschooling, dance, football, jewelry, the podcast, and now Real Deals Depot—it’s a busy season, but one filled with purpose and excitement.
We’re grateful for how far we’ve come and for everyone who’s been part of our journey. It’s wild to think we’ve also reached the one-year anniversary of the podcast, Homeschool with Steph! I’m so thankful for the conversations, encouragement, and community it’s created.
Overall, we’re just feeling deeply grateful and blessed. Thank you for being here, for following along, and for supporting our family through all of life’s twists and turns.
