Today we’d like to introduce you to NICOLETTE DUONG.
Hi NICOLETTE, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always believed that even the simplest dinners deserve a little magic. My journey started behind a piano bench, using a secondhand tea set and boundless imagination to host pretend cooking shows for a crowd of hundreds (in my mind, at least). From there, every birthday, dinner, and gathering became an opportunity to create an experience—where every napkin, candle, and dish told a story. As a published fiction author, storytelling has always been in my blood, but I found new joy in bringing that creativity to the table—literally. Hosting themed dinners, baking sweet treats, and planning unforgettable events became my way of sharing that joy with others. Craft & Crumble was born from that love—a little homegrown business where baking meets storytelling, and every detail makes life a little more extraordinary.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road—more like a juggling act on a tightrope. I was going to school full-time, working three jobs, and writing a book, so creating beautiful tablescapes and whimsical dinners wasn’t exactly at the top of my to-do list. Back then, making magic had to wait. It wasn’t until my 30th birthday that I gave myself full creative permission to dream big and celebrate boldly. And it’s true what they say—adult money makes the vision board a little more real.
These days, I work in a corporate setting where my dinner parties have been traded in for Excel sheets. While I genuinely love my company and my role, there’s a part of me that still dreams of waking up to a life more Martha Stewart—the cooking show version, of course, not the criminal record. It’s been a journey of finding the balance between passion and practicality, but I’m inching closer to the life I’ve always imagined—one theme party, cookie batch, and caption at a time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in turning ordinary moments into something unforgettable. You could call me an event planner, a caterer, and a decorator all in one—but really, it’s a lifestyle. I give even the simplest dinner party an edge, curating every detail from the name cards to the coasters to the background music. Every element is intentional, designed to tell a story and make people feel seen, special, and celebrated.
What I’m most proud of is simply starting. I’m naturally shy, and putting myself and my work out there wasn’t easy. But I knew I wanted this passion to be more than a hobby—I wanted it to be my life’s work. What sets me apart is that I believe beautiful moments shouldn’t come with a luxury price tag. I work within real budgets using thoughtful, creative DIY techniques. Whether it’s a new mom planning a first birthday or a teenager organizing a sweet 16, I believe you can create magic with whatever you have—even if that’s just $5 and a glue gun. That mindset is at the heart of everything I do: making the everyday feel extraordinary, without compromising authenticity or accessibility.
How do you think about luck?
Luck? I think I came out of the womb with a little sprinkle of it. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to always have people in my corner. From my parents letting me dirty every dish in the kitchen to turn an ordinary Tuesday into a full-blown Italian dinner—with a plaid tablecloth and five kinds of pasta—to friends who may not totally get why a Game of Thrones night needs to be fully themed, but still show up in Winterfell tees without question.
Luck has also meant falling in love and gaining a second set of parents who support me just as fiercely as my own. I’ve been lucky not just in the love I’ve received, but in the way the people around me have encouraged and nurtured my creativity. They didn’t just cheer me on—they gave me the space and support to dream big, go over the top, and turn my passions into something real. That kind of support? That’s the best kind of luck there is.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: craft_andcrumble
