Handmade hat brand giving back to children’s hospitals as our family of 5 travels the U.S. in an RV.
The journey of b.e.happe started as I was stepping away from my career as a Doctor of Physical Therapy to stay home with my three kids. I wanted keep my hands strong and challenged myself to learn something new for this new season of life.
I donated hats to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa as I perfected the skill.
Having difficulty with the transition from a medical profession to stay at home mom, I was searching for a hat that I could wear when running errands, dropping off at school and to simply feel put together as a mom of 3 kiddos under 4 years. I decided to design my own hat after not being able to find what I wanted, and crocheted what is now the b.e.happe Simple Slouch.
After friends and family urged me to start to sell my items, b.e.happe was born in 2016. For the first two years we had a "Buy one hat, Give one back" to Blank Children's hospital with each sale.
In 2018, after a lengthy PICU stay with my middle kiddo at Blank our family realized that there is a much greater need for giving back. We were blessed by Child Life Services and appreciated everything that they did for both my son and his siblings to make them feel safe during the stay. It was at that time that we transitioned to 'hats that give back,' using a portion of sale proceeds to donate wish list items for child life services.
In 2019 we made a major change, and sold our house and almost all of our belongings, to travel the country full time in an RV for an adventure of a lifetime and to grow b.e.happe.
We looked deeper into what b.e.happe meant to us...it is more than just my initials and a brand that gives back. b.e.happe is a mind frame to never stop dreaming, a lifestyle, our hope and direction as we took a leap of faith as a family of 5 and travel the country.
As our family spends time together and creates a lifetime of memories we run b.e.happe from our 42 foot fifth wheel. We give back to the local children's hospitals as we travel the country by donating to their "Wish List" items, all while teaching our children that they can do anything they put their minds to and to never stop dreaming.