Squirrelly Mama Adventures: Meet The Spencer Crew
Where It All Started
Our family’s life in Crosslake, Minnesota has turned into something we never quite expected — raising kids in a lake town, building businesses like Squirrelly Mama, and somehow trying to keep up with the chaos in between.
But our story isn’t just about Crosslake.
It’s about chasing big dreams, raising good humans, and taking off on family adventures whenever we can to remind ourselves why we work so hard in the first place.
Before we share more about lake life, business, and the day-to-day chaos… it only feels right to introduce the crew behind it all.
So here we are.
The Spencer crew.
About Jackie: Mom of 4, Dreamer, No Off Switch
If you know me, you know this is true — I don’t really have an off switch.
I’m very much a “go big or go home” kind of person… which probably explains a lot about how we ended up here.
I also very much resonate with a sign we have in the store that says:
“I have a good heart, but this mouth.”
Honestly… it might be one of the most me things in the entire shop.
All those years serving and bartending helped me get through college — but they also left me with a few speech habits I’m still trying (and mostly failing) to keep under wraps. 😉
And if you’ve ever been in our store, you might notice that same personality shows up in many of the things we carry too.
Some of it might be a little bold… maybe even a little inappropriate depending on who you ask — but I personally think it’s hilarious.
Because life can be hard.
And if you can laugh, even for a second, it makes everything feel a little lighter.
I grew up in Palmer, Minnesota — a small farm and lake town.
The kind of place where everyone knows everyone, where people show up for each other, and where the values you learn young stick with you.
Life started moving fast for me early. I had my oldest daughter when I was 17, and from that moment on, everything became about building a life for her.
Since then, it’s been a mix of big dreams, hard work, and figuring things out as we go.
If I’m being honest, those dreams have sometimes been a little all over the place. I’ve always had ideas, always wanted to build something — I just hadn’t quite found the thing yet.
But one thing has always stayed the same:
I’ve always wanted to do something good for other people.
I’ve always wanted my kids to see what hard work looks like.
And I’ve always wanted to build something rooted in community.
Those values have guided everything.
They’re also a big reason Steve and I clicked in the first place, because he values the same exact things.
Steve: The Calm in the Middle of My Chaos
Steve grew up in Clearwater, Minnesota.
And just so everyone knows — he is three months younger than me.
Which, according to him, means he will never be as old as I am, and I never hear the end of that! 🙄
While I tend to run toward big ideas, Steve is the one making sure everything actually works.
He manages properties, has a drywall Company called Property Pros and is about to start another exciting business called Platinum Beam Surface Technologies.
He keeps things grounded, and somehow keeps up with the chaos of our family.
Every dreamer needs someone like that.
Our Crew
Ceyauna: Our Oldest
Ceyauna just turned 25, which still feels impossible to say out loud.
She lives in St. Cloud and has a very serious Starbucks habit, but more importantly, she has a heart that cares deeply about people.
We may not always agree on her love for long nails and lashes… but the kind of person she is has always made us proud.
Linkin: Our Gentle Giant
Linkin is 12 and already towering over most people his age.
He works hard, is a great student (except when it comes to cleaning his room), and has become incredibly involved in sports.
This was his first year playing basketball — and his team went on to win state. Such an incredible moment for him, made better only by the fact that his teammates and their parents are the GREATEST PEOPLE!
As much as I want to winter somewhere warm, I also love how much my children LOVE school in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.
Brielle: Our Diva with the Biggest Heart
Brielle is 8 and brings personality into everything she does.
Yes, she can absolutely be a diva… but her heart is huge.
She loves adventures, she loves being a mama bear to the littles around her, and like her mama, loves making fun projects of every variety!
She also loves dance and dreams of becoming a Brainerd Kixter someday like one of our employees she looks up to (for very good reason), so I am currently transitioning into crazy dance mom mode…. watch out! 😉
Cruz: The Feral Fourth Child
And then there’s Cruz.
Our feral fourth child.
Cruz is two, loud, curious, wild, and constantly into something he shouldn’t be.
He wasn’t even here when we first moved to Crosslake, which makes it even crazier to think about how much life has changed.
But he’s also the unexpected blessing we never knew we needed but we now couldn’t possibly live without.
The Thing I’m Most Proud Of
Out of everything — businesses, ideas, projects — the thing I’m most proud of will always be our kids.
Like most parents, I worry about a lot.
But one thing I don’t worry about?
Whether they’ll grow up to be good humans.
Because they already are.
They are genuinely kind.
They care about people.
They help others without thinking twice.
And knowing that brings more peace than anything else ever could.
Why Crosslake Became Home
When we first came to Crosslake, we didn’t realize how much it would become part of our story.
But it did.
Crosslake, Minnesota has a way of pulling people in — the lake life, the community, the people who truly care.
It’s the kind of place where:
• you run into people everywhere
• businesses support each other
• kids grow up surrounded by community
Now, between Squirrelly Mama, Create Chaos, and everything else we’ve said yes to… our lives are deeply rooted here.
And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Work Hard… Then Go Live Life
If you know me, you know I love to work.
I love building things — businesses, ideas, projects, community events.
But if I’m not careful, I’ll work nonstop.
So we’ve learned to balance it like this:
We work really hard…
and then we go live life.
Sometimes that means lake days in Crosslake.
Sometimes it’s spontaneous road trips (that daddy isn’t invited to because we like to “wing it” and not have any plans in mind — something that drives Steve NUTS).
Sometimes it’s traveling to places we love — like Florida, especially Naples, which has become one of our favorite places to reset as a family.
And sometimes, travel is part of the work too — like heading to market to find the coolest new products for the store and bring fresh ideas back home.
Those trips, whether for work or for family, are a huge part of what keeps us inspired.
Because at the end of the day, those moments are why we do all of this.
This Is Just the Beginning
This blog — Squirrelly Mama Adventures — isn’t just about business.
It’s about:
• raising kids in a lake town
• building businesses as a family
• Crosslake life and community
• mom life chaos
• family adventures wherever they take us
Some stories will be funny.
Some will be chaotic.
Some will be a little more reflective.
But all of them will be honest.
Because the businesses are just one part of the story.
The Spencer crew is the heart of it.
And we’re really glad you’re here.
