…why I’m building something new for East Texas. Last year I made a commitment: be intentional, spend local, support East Texas businesses first. Then I tried to actually do it. Turns out shopping local is hard. Not because the businesses aren't there — because I couldn't find them. The Honest Version Shopping local turned into a scavenger hunt. And not the fun kind. Google searches that surfaced everything but what I wanted. Facebook groups buried under three years of recipe
