Meet Heather
I've spent most of my life building things. It took me years to realize the most important thing I'd ever build would be a community.
I was born in San Diego, California, into a military family, so moving was simply part of life. Every few years meant a new city, a new school, and another chance to figure out where I fit in... and never really did. Home was constantly changing, and family life came with its own challenges. Looking back, those early experiences taught me to be independent, adaptable, and resilient… They also left me believing that relying on myself was the safest way to navigate the world.
That independence became one of my greatest strengths. It also became one of my greatest barriers.
Professionally, I've spent more than 25 years helping people create homes they'll love. What I didn't realize at the time was that I wasn't just designing kitchens, I was creating spaces where families would gather, friendships would grow, life would unfold, and they would create their community.
I'm a wife, mom, bonus mom, and grandma of a blended family. Like so many families, ours has experienced seasons of joy, along with chapters that have been complicated, messy, and heartbreaking. Those experiences have taught me that love isn't measured by perfection and that relationships are built with grace, forgiveness, and hope.
Today, my husband and I are living a dream we built together in Costa Rica. Together, we own Alajuela City Hotel & Guest House, where hospitality isn't just our business, it's at the heart of who we are. We love opening our doors, welcoming people from around the world, and creating a place where guests feel seen, cared for, and at home.
For years, if I'm being honest, I didn't always understand women. They were “sometimey”, emotional, and just too much for me. If you had told me that I was going to be running a business dedicated to women, I would have laughed till I peed. Today, I see women differently. I see strength, resilience, courage, humor, and stories that deserve to be heard.
I'd describe myself as a sarcastic optimist. I believe laughter can heal, hope is always worth holding onto, and there's almost always something good waiting to be found, even in life's hardest seasons. My faith is the foundation of who I am. I believe in leading with grace, loving people well, asking honest questions, and creating space where everyone feels seen, valued, and welcome.
One of life's greatest gifts was meeting Penny. What started as a friendship quickly became a true sisterhood. We discovered a shared love for creativity, dreaming big, laughing until we cried, and finding humor in everyday life. Somewhere between conversations, coffee, and more than a little sarcasm, My Snarky Tee was born.
My Snarky Tee means so much to me. Not because it's about T-shirts… quite frankly I never was a graphic tee girl... I guess I am now! LOL. But because it's about creating a place where women can show up exactly as they are. A place where a shared laugh becomes a conversation, a conversation becomes a friendship, and a friendship becomes the kind of community that reminds us that we never have to live life alone.
If there's one thing I hope my story reminds you of, it's this:
Community matters more than perfection. Authenticity is far more beautiful than appearances. Laughter truly is healing. And that every woman you meet is carrying a story you know nothing about.
You don't have to have a perfect life to build a beautiful one.
Sometimes all it takes is finding your people. I pray you'll find yours here.
Heather Marcet-Henderson
Co-Founder | Community Builder | Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO)
Meet Penny
I've spent over 25 years helping people believe in themselves. It took me a little longer to believe in myself.
I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, and life has taken me on a journey I never could have imagined. Some of my experiences as a child and teenager were incredibly difficult, and for many years, they shaped how I saw myself. Those experiences followed me into adulthood, influenced many of my choices, and left me questioning my own worth far longer than they should have. Looking back now, I can see they also taught me resilience, compassion, and the determination to keep moving forward—even when the path wasn't easy.
I'm a proud mom, and helping others has always been at the heart of who I am. As a health coach, personal trainer, and business owner, I've dedicated more than 25 years to helping people build healthier lives, find confidence, and believe in themselves. Ironically, it's often much easier to encourage someone else to chase their dreams than it is to chase your own.
For nearly ten years, I dreamed about starting a business that was completely different from anything I'd done before—something creative, light-hearted, and just plain fun. A business that would make people smile. But every time I thought about taking the leap, self-doubt found a way to talk me out of it.
At 58, I finally decided that fear had been calling the shots for long enough. I stopped waiting until I felt "ready" and realized that confidence doesn't magically appear before you begin, it grows because you go.
One of the greatest gifts along this journey was meeting Heather while I was living in Costa Rica. From the moment we connected, I knew I'd found a true soul sister. We share a love of creativity, big ideas, genuine conversations, and the kind of sarcastic humour that not everyone appreciates... which usually tells us we've found our people.
When I'm not working, you'll usually find me with a good book, sketching, scuba diving, out for a run, or dreaming up my next creative project. I'm spiritual rather than religious, endlessly curious, and I firmly believe that laughter is one of life's greatest healers. A little sarcasm doesn't hurt either.
Starting My Snarky Tee is about so much more than designing funny T-shirts. It's about proving to myself that dreams don't have an expiration date, that healing is possible, and that it's never too late to reinvent yourself.
If there's one thing I hope my story reminds you of, it's this: your past doesn't define your future. Life has a funny way of opening new doors when you're finally brave enough to walk through them. I'm living proof that it's never too late to believe in yourself, chase a dream, and create a life that makes you smile.
Penny Hounsome
Co-Founder | Community Builder | Chief Sarcasm Officer (CSO)