Davin Indah Love story

The past 2 days, I was in “panic attack” mode. Suddenly I felt anxious. My mind became noisy. I started making decisions without really thinking clearly. I was confused. Stuck. Worried about how this business will move forward. I revamped the website. Ran social media ads. Reached out to previous customers. But nothing happened. The inbox stayed empty. No WhatsApp enquiries. No bookings. Slowly, I started doubting myself. Out of panic, I opened LinkedIn, JobStreet, and Glassdoor and started applying for jobs — honestly, even jobs that I myself was not sure about. Maybe I just wanted to feel useful again. To feel productive. To feel like I was doing “something” instead of waiting. But strangely, there was still no peace inside me. So I decided to slow down. I went for Mass. Spent some quiet time. And in the morning during my cardio time, I listened to sermons by Rick Warren. Interestingly, he talked about God’s timing. God has His own timetable. And His time is very different from ours ...

What’s the most demoralising part of running a small business? It’s when you feel like you’ve given your best… but nothing seems to happen. You spend hours creating content you believe could help people, but barely anyone reads it. You build a website with care and hope, but only a few people click on it. And the hardest part? You realise you have no control over who becomes your customer. Deep down, I’ve always believed that every customer who comes to us is not because of our own greatness or strength — but truly God’s grace and provision. Still, there are days filled with disappointment and silent doubts. But somehow… hope comes again. Last month, we received a booking for a trip happening next year. Yesterday, another customer contacted us because they needed winter jackets for working inside a cold room. And last night, someone booked a try-on session for her December holiday — even though it’s still 6 months away. Sometimes God sends encouragement in unexpected ways. Just enough ...

When I first started WinterBuddy, I remembered a story about two builders who wanted to build a house. Both started with almost nothing. The first builder simply began with whatever he had. It wasn’t perfect. He didn’t have enough resources, enough knowledge, or even a clear guarantee that it would work. But he started anyway. As he continued building, little by little, help came along. Neighbours chipped in. Family supported him. Opportunities appeared. Within a year, the house was built. The second builder spent all his time waiting for the “right time.” He kept planning, strategising, and overthinking every detail. But because he never truly started, nothing was ever built. Looking back now, I realise I was probably like the first builder. When I started WinterBuddy, I honestly didn’t have much. My capital was very small. I didn’t know the market well. I didn’t know how to build a website. I was terrible at accounting and analysing backend numbers. Most of the operational side of ru...

These are God’s words that echo so strongly in my heart. Not once, not twice—but three times. And when God repeats something, I know He is serious. These passage came from Joshua chapter 1:5-9 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.   6  Be strong and courageous , because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7  “ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.   8  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.   9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous...

Continuing from our previous story about searching for storage for our business, God’s providence came in a way I never expected—beyond what I could have imagined. At that point, I was still discerning between a few storage options, and time was running out. I told my husband honestly, “I don’t know what God wants.” He asked me, “What do you feel? Which option is pulling you more strongly?” But the truth was—I didn’t feel strongly about any of them. He then said something that stayed with me: “God’s way is often not the easiest. Sometimes He leads us to places that feel unfamiliar so we learn to rely more on Him.” He suggested Ubi, since it was a new place for us, outside our comfort zone. Since I had no clear inclination, I chose to follow his suggestion. From a practical standpoint, Ubi made sense—it was more affordable, bigger, and offered monthly payment. There really wasn’t another option that matched those benefits. Before making the final decision, I went for a weekday Mass at S...

This month I need to make an important decision about my storage, as the lease will end at the end of this month. I have been praying and asking for God’s guidance. Yet sometimes it feels as if God is silent—or perhaps my own anxiety and expectations are making it hard for me to hear Him clearly. The rent for the current unit will increase sharply, and to sustain my business, staying there is simply not possible. My options are either to move to a different unit or relocate to a different area altogether. It’s a difficult decision because I have grown comfortable in the current location. If I move to a new place, I will have to dismantle and rebuild the entire inventory setup, update the system, and reorganize everything. But the payment structure there is monthly, which would help my cash flow and allow me to allocate some funds toward advertising. As I continued praying, God reminded me of two stories. The first is when the Israelites were leaving Egypt. They could have taken a shor...

It’s been a while since I last wrote this blog. Over the past three months, things have changed in a positive way. Customers slowly started coming in. It wasn’t entirely from the social media ads I ran, but more from Google searches. Finally, the hard work began to pay off. Then my family and I had to travel to Italy and France, a trip we had planned since January 2025. Before leaving, I felt anxious—worried that something might go wrong with the business while I was away. But I prayed and surrendered everything to God, telling Him that whatever happened was under His control. I wanted to fully enjoy this pilgrimage with my family, because it mattered more than the business. My children and our faith are far more valuable than something I had just built. So I asked God to take care of everything while we were traveling. And He did. The trip turned out to be the best holiday we’ve had so far. The business continued to run smoothly, with no major hiccups along the way. We are deeply grat...

This month is extra special for WinterBuddy!  It marks our very first  pop-up event collaboration  — and not just with anyone, but with one of Singapore’s leading names in sustainable fashion:  The Fashion Pulpit . 👗✨ It all started quite unexpectedly. I was scrolling through social media, reading about thrifting and pop-up events, when I came across The Fashion Pulpit’s page. I decided to follow them on Instagram… and the very next day, their Brand Manager reached out to ask if we’d be interested in hosting a pop-up at their space! I was thrilled — and immediately said  yes ! 💙 I didn’t know what the outcome would be, but it felt like a small breakthrough — a sign that someone believes in our vision and wants to support this little business. Our pop-up event will be running until  10 November , so if you haven’t checked it out yet, come by and experience our curated collection of stylish, functional winter wear. 🤞 Let’s keep our fingers crossed that som...

Today marks one year since my journey shifted from a busy working mom to a stay-at-home mom with a side hustle. This past year has been a  refining and pruning season  from God — a time when He purified my heart, refined my character, and stripped away worldly motivations and selfishness. It wasn’t an easy process. I’m naturally stubborn, impulsive, and a fighter at heart. I had my own principles and ways of thinking — even my husband often found it difficult to advise me. But God, in His mercy, broke off every branch that wasn’t bearing good fruit for my growth. There were times when I felt low, unworthy, and lacking confidence. I questioned myself —  What am I doing here? Am I even useful? My faith often hung by a thread, especially after starting this business. There were no customers, finances were in the red, and yet I had to keep planting and nurturing the seeds, not knowing if they would ever grow. My only source of strength was the  Eucharist . I spent many a...

I’m deeply grateful for God’s mercy and generosity toward His lowly servant. Last week was a hectic one after returning from our business trip — I had to update the inventory, website, and accounting, while also welcoming two groups of customers for try-ons and preparing for our very first pop-up event. By God’s grace, both groups booked their winter wear with us for their upcoming December holidays. 🙏 I truly thank God for His providence. I know it’s not by my own strength, but by His generosity and guidance. And now, we’re preparing for another try-on session at the end of this month for a family traveling to Japan. I surrender everything to God. If He is the One who opens the door, He will surely provide and help me accomplish the mission He has entrusted to me. 💙

Two weeks ago, I was feeling so down and desperate that I didn’t even know what to pray for anymore. During midday Mass at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, I broke down and cried hopelessly during the Eucharist. All I could say was,  “Help me, Lord. I am drowning and don’t know what to do.” In that moment, I imagined myself like St. Peter when he began to sink after stepping out onto the water to walk toward Jesus. He saw the storm, panicked, and began to drown—yet Jesus reached out His hand to save him. I felt the same way, needing His hand to lift me up. After Mass, I messaged my supplier to check on some stock because I had a customer preparing to travel to Finland. To my surprise, she told me her shop would be closed in October for renovations and only reopen in November. I was puzzled, but I realized I had no choice—I needed to go earlier, and the only window available was during PSLE week. Since my husband had to be with our child for the PSLE, I went alone. I prayed aga...

When I was at the gym, I came across a YouTube video by Stefanie Gass about running a God-led business. As I continued listening to her podcasts, I found one episode that deeply spoke to me:  Business Meeting with God . She explained how important it is to have regular  “business meetings with God” —whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly. God is the CEO. He sees the bigger picture and knows what’s ahead, while we are His employees. That’s why we need to consult Him and ask for direction instead of relying on our own plans. Here’s how Stefanie suggested having a business meeting with God: Prepare a quiet space—light a candle, bring your Bible, journal, and a pen. Begin with praise and worship. Spend a silent moment asking God to speak. Be attentive—He may prompt you to read a certain verse or remind you of something. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s direction. God is not a God of confusion but of clarity. Often, we struggle not because He isn’t clear, but because His guidance ...

This week has been a tough one for me. It began with an  Influenza A  infection — thank God I’ve recovered now. But not long after, I was hit by another wave of what I can only describe as a panic or spiritual attack. Out of nowhere, I felt deeply down, helpless, worried, and flooded with negative thoughts pulling me into a dark pit. I found myself overthinking, over-worrying, and overwhelmed by everything — the business, the kids — until I had no emotional energy left even to serve at the  Life Spirit Seminar . I was simply moving through the motions, saying “yes” to every plan without heart. One weekday noon, I found myself on my knees crying at Mass, because I didn’t know what else to do. The breaking point came yesterday when I cried out to God for help, telling Him I was drowning. I asked for  Mary, mother of Jesus ’s intercession, saying I had run out of “wine.” “Do whatever He tells you…” I hoped things would get better, but instead they seemed to go the oppos...

I’ve been absent from writing the blog for quite a while, as I felt there wasn’t any story worth sharing. But today, I want to share something that happened in August. For some time, I had been waiting and praying, asking God to show me whether I should persevere with this winter rental business. I often felt that all my efforts were in vain, and I had reached the end of my wits, unsure of what else to do. In my prayer, I asked God specifically for a sign: if there was even just one try-on appointment in August, it would mean that He still blesses this business and that it remains aligned with His plan. That very afternoon, I suddenly received a WhatsApp message from a man who wanted to arrange a try-on session for the next day. I replied quickly, asking for details — and to my surprise, he said 10 adults were traveling together! I immediately told my husband, though I also explained that we didn’t have enough stock for such a large group. My husband encouraged me to call and explain t...

Last Friday became an unexpected recollection day for me. I didn’t plan it, but somehow it turned into one of those light and peaceful days when I wasn’t preoccupied with work and instead focused on caring for my soul. It all started at the gym. I was watching an interview on the  Heaven & Earth  podcast featuring John Kim, a Christian investor, who shared how he practices discernment in every investment decision—even when it doesn't make logical sense. His deep trust in God’s guidance struck a chord with me. From there, I was led to another video—this time a sermon by Rick Warren about surrendering control to God and praying,  “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  As I listened, it felt like God was revealing His answers to me. One statement pierced through my heart: It resonated so deeply. Lately, I’ve felt like God has been quiet, that doors are closing, and I’m left wondering where He is. But maybe this silence isn’t absence—it’s a test. A test of ...

I t’s been a month since our official launch. We haven’t had any bookings or try-on appointments yet—but I’ve learned a lot already. Here are some of my key takeaways so far 1. Battling Self-Doubt Yes, self-doubt started to creep in. I kept asking myself:  Is there something wrong with me? Is it the pricing, the website, the social media? Why isn’t this moving the way I expected? At one point, I even started imagining the worst-case scenario, which led to a mini intervention from my husband. He reminded me—firmly but lovingly—that setbacks are part of the journey and not a reason to quit. When I chose to start this business, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. There’s no turning back—I just need to find what works. 2. Finding Comfort in a Book One day, while shopping at Popular for our kids’ holiday practice books, I stumbled upon a title that caught my eye:  Surrounded by Setbacks.  It felt like the universe was speaking directly to me, so I picked it up. Now I read it every mor...

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to uproot. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to search, and a time to give up. A time to keep, and a time to let go. A time to tear, and a time to mend. A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time for war, and a time for peace. He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:1–11) These are the seasons of life that every one of us must go through. Everything in this life has an expiry date—except the love of God. This is a personal reminder to myself, especially in this season I’m in. I was frustrated when three weeks passed and nothing seemed to bear fruit. I star...

Last week, I made a decision to empty myself through intentional fasting—12 hours a day from Monday to Friday. I hoped that in doing so, I could find clarity and hear what God wants me to do, especially in this new venture I’ve embarked on. My heart and mind were completely fixed on this business. I held on to it tightly, as if it were the only thing I had. As I entered those five days of fasting, I expected a miracle—something big, like someone making a booking, or a travel agent agreeing to partner with me. But what I experienced was the opposite. Over the weekend, I felt deeply troubled. I had no peace. It was as though I had fallen into the darkest pit of my soul. Anxiety, worry, disillusionment, guilt, doubt, and fear of failure all came crashing down at once. I felt distant from God—as if He wasn’t doing what He was “supposed” to do. I even asked Him for a clear, physical sign—perhaps testing Him. I asked for a miracle to help pay for our kids’ tuition, an unexpected burden we ha...

This is our first small storage the host our winter items. It's compact and just perfect for our current inventory. I hope it can grow bigger and help to serve more people.

It’s been 10 days since our soft launch—nothing major has happened yet, but I still want to pause and celebrate this small but meaningful milestone. 📅  5 May 2025  – Soft launch 📅  10 May 2025  – Official website launch 📅  15 May 2025  – Reached 210 organic Instagram followers 📅  16 May 2025  – First collaboration discussion with our laundry partner; we're planning to roll out a sustainable inventory program by the end of this month One of our friends once shared a beautiful analogy with me:  “Faith like potatoes.” When we plant potatoes, we can’t see the fruit right away—it grows underground. But we trust the process, believing that with the right care and patience, good potatoes will eventually appear. That’s exactly how I feel right now. The fruits of my labour are still hidden. It’s early days, and there’s a lot of trial and error as I figure out how to generate leads, identify target areas, and refine our strategy. I truly hope someo...