About Us

Stillbones is a story about being in the right place at the right time. Call it happenstance or even call it serendipity. A love story, yes, but also a quest to get re-inspired by life together. Together, we ignited a spark to find moments of pause & appreciate the little things. You never know what magic will fall into your lap when you just sit still.

We’re Courtland & Nicole, a husband-&-wife duo, who met by our paths crossing & stars aligning more times than one. After living in Southern California, juggling multiple jobs, & spending way too much time in freeway traffic, we were left feeling depleted, stagnant, & uninspired. We felt disconnected from ourselves & our zest for life felt distant. 

In 2019, one week after marriage, we sold most of our belongings, packed our two-bedroom apartment into a few bags, & moved to New Zealand as a means to shake things up, seek new experiences, & get a bit out of our comfort zones. While searching for work & trying to distinguish what felt right, we followed a few pings & chased the sun to Waiheke Island, a small island in the Hauraki Gulf known for its tranquil beaches & divine wine. With no previous work experience in wine, our American gift of gab finally paid off. We managed to land a job at a prestigious Waiheke winery, found the perfect studio cottage nestled in the forest (with the best landlords to boot), & quickly began to fall under the enchantment of the island.

As we all know how the 2020 story goes, COVID lockdowns came in full swing. New Zealand harvest was at its peak, & we found ourselves outdoors emerged in the vines & olive tree groves harvesting grapes & olives. During a time that felt so chaotic & out of our control, we found refuge in our connection with nature. We felt fully immersed in the present moment, which brought a sense of gratitude during such a disorderly time. We embraced the chance we were given to slow down & connect with the whole process, from putting our hands in the soil to enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Cut to a few years later, here we are back in California, newly settled in the Central Coast, slowing things down in SLO, & bringing the magic of the island back here to the California coast. 

So cheers to taking a leap of faith, chasing pings, & giving ourselves permission to have a moment of pause. In the words of Waiheke: Slow down. You’re here.