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WEEKEND WANDERINGS: QUEEN BEES & HONEY
Catching a Buzz in More Ways Than One
LONG-AWAITED!
Oh man, it feels so good to get out and start doing things! Up until now, most of my excursions have been limited to leaving the house for only the bare essentials. A trip to Costco when it’s 106° usually ends with me coming home, needing to completely change my clothes, and often a cat nap to rejuvenate. If you’re not a woman over 50, I don’t expect you to understand. Ha!
But the lowering temperatures have me yearning to get out of the house. And, luckily, this past weekend’s adventure was just what I needed. I had my calendar marked for a long-awaited visit to Spencer’s Place, which I scheduled to coincide with the very first stop on Screws & Sparkles’ Road Tour. And, since I was in Surprise anyway, I added a stop at Trader Joe’s, so you must check out the sweet finds I brought home with me that day.
SPENCER’S PLACE
Spencer’s Place is the vision of Karin York, created in honor of her son, Spencer, who was born with Down syndrome. Karin, a former special education teacher, saw the need for further support for individuals with disabilities after they graduated high school. There was a gap, a gray area, and Karin sought to solve that. She ultimately left her teaching career, just 6 years shy of retirement and…
Spencer’s Place was born, opening their flagship store in 2019 and their second location in 2023. While the full essence of what Spencer’s is about cannot be fully captured in words, it is a coffee shop with a mission and a big vision. Spencer’s provides employment opportunities to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while serving the absolute top-notch drinks and treats (and pre-made lunch options too)!
The menu itself is clever: drinks are listed from least sweet at the top to most sweet as you move down. I ordered an iced cinnamon dulce latte and, drumroll please… a gluten-free lemon scone. The majority of their baked goods are gluten-free because both Spencer and Karin (and their family) are gluten-free. I’ve known about the GF factor since I first learned of the café, and it’s one of the main reasons Spencer’s has been on my must-visit list since the beginning of The Buzz.
I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had a proper scone. There was a time when most GF baked goods were dry, cardboard-ish disappointments. Those days are over, Spencer’s has the recipe dialed in! I haven’t stopped thinking about that scone since that day and I’m typing so fast right now in the hopes I can celebrate the publishing of this issue (#56) with another one today!
You’ll have to excuse the fact that I didn’t get the best pictures to share here, I was too busy talking with the most delightful people! I was invited to have my coffee with Spencer’s grandmother, her friend and her friend’s grand-daughter. I was so filled with a buzz from this entire experience, that I failed to get their names, and I’m also wishing I would have gotten their numbers so we could meet again. I don’t believe in coincidences and it was no mistake I met them that day. What a gift!
FIND SPENCER’S PLACE:
📍 Spencer’s Place (West Surprise/Surprise Farms) (This is the one I visited)
💟 Donate
📆 Calendar: 5k Fun Run March 22, 2026; Registration Opens January 2026
SCREWS & SPARKLES - ON THE ROAD
Screws & Sparkles - On The Road | 09-27-25
If you’ve been in Buckeye awhile, you’ll remember Sophia and her shop, Screws & Sparkles, which used to be downtown. Recently, she closed the storefront to take her creativity and community on the road, giving her, and the artists and makers she collaborates with, a broader audience and stage.
I caught her first stop at Spencer’s Place, where she set up shop with a mix of vendors, music, and that unmistakable Screws & Sparkles vibe that washed over me as soon as I opened the door. The place was buzzing, and this was after the rush, that I apparently just missed. Sophia has always had a way of curating people, products, and experiences into something that feels, well, again, beyond words.
Sophia had a whole crew with her working that day. Watching her interact with her young nephew, Adrian Medina, who was filming content for her, I was struck by her directness, her belief in him. He sought her advice and then I watched him take off, confidently approaching a group and directing them like an old soul in a 12-year-old’s body. I witnessed Sophia being the actual wind beneath his wings in that moment. This is her gift: she makes people believe in themselves and their abilities.
As part of her offerings since closing her storefront, she started The Creator Collective where she mentors other entrepreneurs to find clarity and courage. And most importantly, belief.
VENDORS ON TOUR
Each stop (dates listed below), will have a variety of different vendors. Today’s stop included Screws & Sparkles’ curated vintage collection and:
CATCH THE TOUR
📍 10-18-25 | The Black Sheep - Downtown Glendale | 9 AM - 3 PM
📍 11-15-25 | Avondale - Follow Screws & Sparkles for Info
FIND SOPHIA
QUEEN BEE VISIONARIES
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that what unites both Karin and Sophia is more than business drive and ambition. They both have a strong, deeply aligned faith and spiritual connection that propels them forward in pursuit of the vision placed on their hearts.
This means walking by faith and a willingness to believe in what’s unseen until it becomes reality. It means stepping out against impossible odds, often when the timing feels uncertain or the resources feel scarce. It means trusting in something so much greater than meets the eye. In their faith, and in their courage, we get to witness what is possible when one is brave enough to answer the call. The result is tangible. Go visit them, meet them, and see what I mean.
AND… HONEY
I hopped, skipped and jumped my way out of Spencer’s… I was seriously buzzing! Still am, in fact, that was such a great day! I left there, made a stop at the Goodwill next door (will share more about my scores in a later issue), and then ventured over to Trader Joe’s for our monthly stock up.
I’ve written about Trader Joe’s before and all the things that I love there, but this time I shopped off my list and picked up a few new things that I just have to share with you here, namely this Honey Hydration Face Mask ($7.99) that is divine! It even smells like honey! The consistency is more like a gelée, very different than anything I’ve ever tried before. Turns out, the mask is a dupe for the Farmacy Beauty Honey Potion Mask that retails for $45! While I’m typically pretty low maintenance, I have done this mask several times already, sometimes twice in one day! It’s that good!
Also off my typical list, were these fun things that kept the pep in my step all week. While the light-up Jack Skeleton Air Plant ($7.99) is seasonal and not on their website, these Coffee Lover’s Espresso Beans ($1.49) are going to always be on my list from now on! All week I’ve been grabbing a couple to power me through my afternoons!
If you’ve never been to Trader Joe’s before, between now and the end of the year when they have all their seasonal items, is the time to go! Make a day of it like I did!
FIND TRADER JOE’S
UNTIL NEXT WEEK…
As always, if you visit any of these wonderful people and places, please let them know The Buckeye Buzz sent ya!
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Publication Disclaimer: Everything included here is accurate to the best of my knowledge at the time of publication. It is always best to double-check links to be sure event information hasn’t changed if you plan on attending something.
©️ 2025 The Buckeye Buzz | All content and information set forth above was curated, cultivated & then created by Vanessa Kinsey for The Buckeye Buzz and is the intellectual property of this publication. It is protected under US copyright law, including but not limited to “The Digital Millennium Copyright Act.” Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of any material, in whole or in part, without express written authorization & consent, is strictly prohibited by law and may result in legal action. Violators will be subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
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