Haute Life Magazine Issue 7 by HauteLifeMag

ISSUE 07

Peace of mind, from us to

3D Mammography at Clara Fairbanks. At Union Health, we understand that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. That’s why the Clara Fairbanks Center for Women offers the most advanced breast cancer detection available: tomosynthesis 3D breast imaging. This state-of-the-art technology pinpoints breast cancer at its earliest stages — before it can even be felt in a self-exam and when it’s most curable. For you, that means earlier detection. For us, that means being able to give you peace of mind in your healthcare. It’s just one more way we’re healthier together. To schedule your mammogram, call (812) 238-7766.

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Welcome: This is the...Haute Life!

Well, this is it my friends. The final issue. The jig is up. The ship has sailed, and we are changing course. As I write our final welcome letter, I’m reflecting on why we started. We started this magazine because small business is hard, y’all. Women in small business? Even harder. Everyone we feature, whether it’s a working mom, a business owner, a stay at home mom… they’re all hustlin’. We are hustling to do what we love. We knew we had the opportunity to feature local women who are working hard to turn their passions into a business. We have been blessed to collaborate with some of the best ladies you’ll ever meet in the Wabash Valley and beyond. Ladies (and one particular guy I’m pretty fond of) who have given their time and their brilliant minds to us without asking for anything in return, just simply to be a part of this dream. We cannot begin to thank everyone who has helped us put this magazine together, who allowed us to tell their stories, who have advertised with us, and helped us promote each and every issue. Our heartfelt thanks will never be enough! So, what are we going to do with all this free time? (Now, that’s funny!) Both of us have really narrowed things down to our true passions. I will be continuing as a professional bra fitter, and working on retail consulting. Yvette will continue to work with Sseko Designs and focusing on Charm School Creative Art Studio. You’ll still find us hustlin’ in our shop as usual and getting out in our community, doing our best to encourage women to keep following their dreams. XOXO, Yvette & Lori

Haute Life Magazine was created to celebrate, inspire, and uplift women in every aspect of their lives. Our mission is to recognize their courage and bravery in all that they do. We hope that Haute Life inspires you to seek your own passions.

We are Female + We are One

“I DON’T HAVE TO CHASE EXTRAORDINARY MOMENTS TO FIND HAPPINESS - IT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME IF I’M PAYING ATTENTION AND PRACTICING GRATITUDE.” BRENÉ BROWN

FEATURES 4. 5. 6. 8. 11. 12. 14. 17. 19. 20.

Our Contributors Dream Chaser Hatching New Beginnings Seams Stitchy Snap To It Fit to be.... Healthy The LimeLife Advantage Family Ties Unveiled Treetop Artistry

22. 25. 27. 28. 30. 32. 35. 36. 38. 42.

Sseko Adventure Awaits.... Small Town Girl Creating a Global Impact Eight by Eight Rule the Roost Makers Gonna Make There’s No Place Like...HauteHouseLove Because, Bras Sugar Box Blissfully Yours Bird’s Eye View

A Special Thank You to our Sponsor All photos for this issue were provided by the ladies featured unless otherwise noted. Cover photo by Ashlee Sappingfield

Ashlee Sappingfield Photographer

n o

u b

s r o t

Yvette Morgan

Monica Mundell

Co-creator

Young Living

Lori Mitchell

Amy Rader

Craig Mitchell

Co-creator

Fitness

Graphic Artist

Samantha McGranahan

Jennifer Schwab

Danielle Morrison

Unveiled

Editor

Sseko Designs

I spend many mornings listening to some of my favorite podcasts while I’m on a walk, cleaning my house or on the road. It helps me start my day and motivates me to be a better person at home, work and with others. I picked out a few that I’m really loving and wanted to share with you! I also enjoy reading in my spare time, but seems like time has a way of distracting me. I’m working on it and want to share with you a few I absolutely love, and some I can’t wait to get my hands on. Regardless, if you love to listen or read I think you’ll enjoy the ones I’ve chosen for this issue.

- Yvette Morgan

Podcast:

The Jennifer Allwood Show Building your Creative Business.

Show Up with Natalie Norton Being a really good human and building an amazing life.

Bookwor m :

Business With Purpose

Own Your Everyday

Born to Shine

Behind the scenes with some of the world’s most generous entrepreneurs.

Overcome Pressure to Prove and Show Up for What You Were Made to Do.

Practical tools to help you shine in life’s darkest moments.

Molly Stillman

Cultivate a Good Life

Becky Higgins & Becky Proudfit Covering topics like marriage, family, relationships, traditions, & business.

Light the Fight

Heidi Swapp & David Kozlowski Parenting Podcast covering personal and family relationships.

Jordan Lee Dooley

Ashley LeMieux

100 Days of Less Hustle, More Jesus

Beginner’s Pluck* Liz Forkin Bohannon

Shannon Noel

A Daily Devotional Journal

Build your life of purpose and impact now by the founder of Sseko Designs.

You are a Badass Every Day Jen Sincero

How to keep your motivation strong, your vibe high and your quest for transformation unstoppable.

Hatching New Beginnings If there’s anything we love, it’s seeing new businesses opening in the Wabash Valley, especially if it’s a woman-owned business, and even better if it’s for the babes! We’re so glad Kayla saw a need in our area and ran with it, even better that it’s in the newly renovated Meadows Shopping Center. Read on to learn more about Kayla and The Stork Stop! - Lori Mitchell

Tell us about your shop! The Stork Stop is an upscale, stylish children’s and baby boutique inspired by all the things our kids, Hudson and Haidyn, love. A one stop shop for baby showers, birthdays and unique items and apparel. We offer high quality baby and children’s clothing, unique baby accessories, nursery and playroom decor, eco-friendly toys, gifts, Mommy and Me sets, and some of our favorite local handmade products. We have hand selected our items to bring you quality, unique, and adorable products that will hopefully keep you coming back time and again. I hope our store fills a necessary void in our hometown. It’s been great to share this experience with friends and family. What was your process for deciding to open a baby shop? A lot of patience and prayer! My husband and I took a leap of faith, trusted in God, put our family first, turned the negatives into positives, and that’s when The Stork Stop was “hatched.” It hasn’t been an easy ride but it’s totally been worth it. We decided to open The Stork Stop because I was ready for a career change that would allow me more time with my family and to help fill a void in The Wabash Valley. What is your favorite thing about owning your own business? Kayla: Schedule flexibility and the relationship I get to form with people I’ve never met before (customers).

What is your favorite item that you carry? Copper Pearl - hands down my favorite brand! They have the softest and trendiest accessories from bibs to swaddle blankets. I love it all! We know the Meadows is very “local friendly”. What made you decide to rent space in the Meadows as opposed to other available spaces? We knew The Meadows was experiencing an exciting revitalization and we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to be a part of that. My husband grew up on the east side of town and some of his favorite childhood memories include going to Old Town Video and Pinwheel Creamery at Meadows Shopping Center. So, when we heard there might be an available space at The Meadows we jumped on it. Immediately after meeting with one of the owners we knew it was going to be The Stork Stops home. We are so excited to be part of the revitalization of Meadows and we can’t wait to help bring back that family friendly atmosphere. We can’t thank the owners of The Meadows enough for allowing our vision of our store to become a reality. What is your background or training/schooling? I’m just a small-town gal with big dreams! I graduated high school in 2008 from Clay City. I graduated Ivy Tech in 2014 with a degree in Business Administration. I worked at First Financial Bank for 7 years before accepting a position at Dentistry Just For Kids.

I spent 4 years at DJ4K where I helped in many different areas. I actually got to help set up and manage their orthodontic department, and I was privileged enough to be part of their leadership team. Where can we find out more about you and the shop? Facebook: The Stork Stop, online at www.thestorkstop.com, and Instagram @the_stork_stop. Our hours are Monday-Saturday 11-7 and Sundays 12-4. What advice would you give to others who are interested in owning their own small business? You’re always one decision away from living a totally different life. Let that soak in.

Kayla’s Final Thoughts: “As a consumer, you have so many choices on where you can shop. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for choosing US when you shop. Shopping local is so much more than a hashtag; it’s about building relationships with our customers, seeing your families grow, helping you troubleshoot parenting and so much more! Thank you, a million times, over for supporting us. Every purchase, smile, hug, and feedback drive us to do our best and give back to you! We appreciate and love you!”

Seams Stitchy Have you thought about sewing or wish you knew how? We’re so lucky to have Stitch and Fabric as part of our creative studio at Charm School here in Terre Haute. Jasmine Rivera leads a modern pop-up kids shop and teaches both adult and kids sewing lessons. Not only does she sell pre-cuts, fun notions and modern sewing classes, but she also makes and sells baby quilts, small blankets and burp cloths. Jasmine is super talented and so patient with everyone who takes her classes. I had the opportunity to take one of her Holiday classes where we made a Christmas stocking. I had a great time learning how to use a pattern and actually made a super cute stocking for my dog Wrigley. I would encourage you to try one of her classes - no experience necessary at all, just fun creating. - Yvette Morgan

Tell us about yourself and your small business? Hello All! My name is Jasmine Moore, and I am a sewist. I am momma to three littles ranging in ages 2 – 12, and married to Evan Moore. I am the proud owner of Stitch & Fabric, where I love to make sewing simple and teach others the basics of getting started with their new sewing machine. Even if you don’t have a machine, you’re welcome to take one of our classes - we have machines you can borrow. All of our classes and content are 100% beginner friendly, because we know everyone starts at the ground level when learning the basics of machine sewing.

Stitch & Fabric is also a pop-up shop, with a permanent booth space at A Bushel & A Peck in Brazil, Indiana. We stock a small selection of designer fabrics and fun sewing notions, so sewists can get a little “fabric fix!” Our shop will also occasionally set-up at other local markets and events. What is the Best advice you’ve ever gotten? “Finished is better than perfect.” It took me years to start my first quilt top because I was so worried about it being perfect, making sure all the corners matched up and seams laid in the correct direction. Being hung up on the perfections really distracted me from even getting started. Now, while I pride myself on the quality products I produce for my handmade business, Anna & Viv Handmade, I am no longer so distraught when something doesn’t turn out exactly how I had planned.

How did you get into sewing and quilting? Let’s be honest, all sewists typically fall in love with fabric first before they even dream of getting behind a sewing machine. My mother-in-law would always share with me her newest fabric haul from quilt shops she visited. Seeing the prints and feeling the fabric gave me the urge to learn how to sew, using the beautiful fabrics. I’ve been sewing for just about five years, but it took me a while to build up the confidence to make my first quilt. I’ve been making quilts for about 2 ½ years now and loving the process of each one I make. What is your favorite part of your small business? Building relationships hands-down has always been essential in any “job” I have had. I love getting to know people, and once they either take a class or just chat with me about sewing, I love connecting with them either out in public or social media. I always tell those that take my classes to reach out to me with any questions in the future, and I 100% mean it! I want you to continue to learn and grow with your sewing skills. Where can our customers find you to sign up for classes/Pop Ups? All of our classes are currently taught exclusively at Charm School in Terre Haute, but be sure to follow us on social media for details on private classes and pop-up shops at other locations.

What is next for your small business this year? We look forward to continuing to grow and teach others how to sew! You will see MORE classes available at Charm School, plus be able to watch us live on our Facebook page to preview each class, and for fun tutorials to get you started on your sewing journey. What are 3 things you love about teaching other women to create? I love to see the spark that ignites once they are able to catch on to something new. While many people are sometimes intimidated by a sewing machine, I always like to take my time to teach them something simple, then watch it snowball into something even more magical. Our class size will always remain small so I can spend time with each person one-on-one.

What do you want to learn that you have not done yet? While I do not own one yet, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to learn how to use a Cricut Maker machine! The Maker has an awesome option to cut fabrics for patterns, which would cut out half the battle of sewing. I guess I will be signing up for a class at Charm School to learn!

What is your favorite color palette? Mostly neutral with a pop of color.

August 1st, 2020

Tilson Auditorium 5:00pm

Snap To It I love supporting women in businesses, especially local restaurants in our community. Gingersnaps has been a long-time favorite located behind the mall in The Open Door Christian Book Store. My sister in law, Lynn Henry is the new owner and took over the business last May. They serve sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee. You can read a little more below about the new owner Lynn, and why she decided to add “restaurant owner” to her resume. - Yvette Morgan

Tell us about yourself and your family? I am married to my best friend, Billy, for 21 years now! We have a daughter, Summer, in Georgia and three grandkids there; Mack, Noah and Elijah. One daughter, Lori, and son-in-law, Riley, in Oregon, and their children Stella and Oliver. Our son Devin and his wife, Ally, are here in Terre Haute with our grandson, Copelan! What is your business name and where can we find you? Gingersnaps Coffeehouse and Café. We are located in The Open Door Bookstore, near the mall. What type services do you provide? We have healthy and fresh sandwiches, salads, wraps and soups. We offer frappes, smoothies and all kinds of wonderful coffee drinks with a flavored coffee every day!

What are your responsibilities as the business owner? I am very hands on. I do the ordering, payroll, and work at the restaurant almost every day. If you have any advice to someone wanting to get into food business what would it be? It is more work than you can imagine, but the relationships you build with your regular customers and the staff is absolutely amazing. And I know you’ve heard it before, but location, location, location. That has been one of our biggest challenges. We are just out of the way and people tend to forget if they don’t see you! Make sure you advertise and have an amazing social media person. I have Kim who handles all of my social media.

View the menu and place orders online at www.gingersnapsth.com

What made you decide to get in the food service? I was really looking to help our son and his wife start a business, but with a 1 ½-yearold it was a little too much for them! I was a customer of Gingersnaps and have always loved it, so when I found out it was for sale I decided I needed to keep this amazing place going! What has been the hardest thing about owning the restaurant so far? Wow, you just don’t realize how much work goes into a restaurant! The hardest part is keeping a trained staff and the challenges when someone can’t make it to work on any given day. What do you look for in an employee? We look for friendly and customer serviceoriented staff above all! We want to make sure our customers feel special when they walk through the doors. What are your goals going into 2020? I am looking forward to adding special menu items for a limited time. I also want to offer Bible journaling classes with Yvette at Charm School. I have been contacted by so many encouraging people with great ideas for the future. What makes Gingersnaps unique? We make everything to order. If you are in a time crunch just call ahead and we will do our best to have it ready for you. We offer catering as well!

Fit to be....Healthy Cross-Fit has perplexed us for some time now. Like, will it kill you?? We’ve been afraid to try, but we asked our friend Amy to fill us in, and it doesn’t sound so scary now! - Lori & Yvette

I’m a 42-year-old wife and mother to two daughters. I drive a school bus full time, and I also wait tables at FiFi’s Lunchbox full time. I dabbled in sports in high school but nothing serious as far as athletics go. I’ve been married to my husband Jamie for 21 years, and our two daughters are, Zoe is 20 and a student at Ohio State University. She’s very athletic and very health conscious. Veronica is 16 and a student at Terre North Vigo. She’s my artsy fartsy, musically inclined child. Very free spirited. Around a year and a half ago I was at FiFi’s and struck up a conversation with a customer, Cindy Martin (the mother of the owners of my gym), and I was honest about wanting to better my life and my health. She spoke about CrossFit and her daughters. About a week later, she came back and her daughters were with her this time. They weren’t overbearing or hounding me with information, they just simply said my first class would be free and they would love to have me. I made every excuse in the world as to why it wouldn’t work out, and they would calmly reply with an “okay” or “they’re plenty of classes to choose from” or “whenever you’re ready.” Summer was coming up and I told myself, the first day of summer break was a Monday and I had the whole day off so why not, let’s do this free class. Every mom in the world loves a bargain, so what can it hurt? That first Monday was June 4, 2018, and I did exactly what I said I was going to and I went to CrossFit. I was very overweight and out of shape. I stuck out like a sore thumb I’m sure, but no one treated me that way. Luke Nelson was my coach that day and I’m fairly certain he thought I was going to pass out multiple times, but I didn’t. He helped me understand what movements I was doing. He explained which muscles I was working and where I was going

to hurt the next day. And boy, oh boy did I; it was unlike anything I had ever felt. But then I realized that it hurt so badly because I was so out of shape and if I just stick with it, it won’t hurt so bad after the next time. Then the next time after that won’t be as bad either, and so on and so forth. And within the next month I was down 20+ pounds, things didn’t hurt nearly as bad as they did on day one, and the people are second to none. I now CrossFit at least 4 days a week sometimes 5. CrossFit is better than the gym for me personally, because it’s much more one on one. There’s constantly a coach there helping you, guiding you, explaining dos and don’ts, and correcting you. If there’s a movement you can’t quite do, your coach will find something comparable that will work those same muscles. You don’t get that in a large gym setting. There’s definitely more accountability with CrossFit as well, because the classes have smaller sizes and it’s so much easier to get to know one another and connect with others.

My favorite exercise is definitely the back squat. The back squat is one of the first movements I did that I didn’t need to scale to be easier. I started off super light, I believe it was 45lbs. Now my heaviest one-rep max is 205lbs. Before I actually joined CrossFit, like I said earlier I had met the owners, and they were great. One of the misconceptions of CrossFit is you have to be in shape before you even start, and I can faithfully attest to the fact that is a myth. I actually tried using that excuse to the trained professionals. I believe CrossFit is good for both losing weight and building muscle. I’ve lost more than 50lbs and I cannot even begin to tell you how many inches I’ve lost or muscle mass I’ve gained, but I know there’s quite the difference from over a year ago.

The best part of Common Ground CrossFit and Yoga is your first class is free, so you may as well give it a shot. You don’t have to be in shape, be fit, or even know your way around a gym to come here. The classes are small, 1-15 people, unless it’s a special holiday class. The coaches are amazing, and the relationships you build over time are so worth it. I want to lose a little bit more weight, and tone up a bit more, and I want to continue getting stronger. Most importantly, I want to be healthy. I want to continue eating better and working out regularly. I work out at Common Ground CrossFit and Yoga!! - Amy Rader

The LimeLife Advantage Who loves makeup, skincare and being around women who love to share it? I met Emily when she moved to Terre Haute from the East coast. We met a few years back, and after chatting, I knew we would be fast friends. Not only is she a beautiful person on the outside, but very kind and loving on the inside. She’s passionate about making women feel the best they can be while wearing makeup that makes you feel amazing. Emily is working her direct sales business, LimeLife by Alcone like a boss! I have seen her business grow leaps and bounds over the last year. There are so many choices out there when trying to narrow down which cosmetics line to choose, but what I love most about LimeLife by Alcone is that it’s a professional makeup line since 1952 and you curate and customize palettes to fit your lifestyle. Plus, the skincare line is free of harmful chemicals and unsafe ingredients. As you read more about LimeLife by Alcone and Emily, you’ll want to try for yourself. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family. My name is Emily Wiete, and I am originally from New England but moved to the Midwest 5 years ago. I am married and have a 9-year-old bonus son named Colton and a 16-month old daughter named Savannah. I am very close with my family back east and try to go back home to visit as often as possible. I have settled into my new life here in Terre Haute, and have had such a great experience meeting so many amazing women. I was a School Counselor for 9 years prior to becoming a stay at home mom, and am now able to be a “Mompreneur”, as I’ve discovered my new calling...helping women discover their true beauty.

-Yvette Morgan

Why did you decide to look into Direct Sales? Having had a career as a School Counselor for many years in many locations throughout the country, I chose to be a stay at home mom when my daughter Savannah was born. With living in Terre Haute for just over a year, I don’t have my ‘safety net’ of a familial support system, so I felt it was best for my family to no longer work. While it was an easy decision to make, I still craved more. I was never before interested in being a part of any direct sales company, and fell into the trap that so many fall into by viewing it with such negativity and misinformation. Having followed a friend’s journey with LimeLife by Alcone for two years, I knew this company was the perfect fit for me, so I decided to take a leap of faith by joining and see what it could transform into. I wanted to make an extra side income where I could make fun purchases or splurges, and maybe even save for family vacations, without having to feel guilty since I was no longer contributing financially. It has now grown into a career for me but has become so much more than just that. It has grown into a lucrative side hustle for me.

Tell us more about the company their vision or mission statement? At LimeLife, we empower people to achieve their goals and dreams and to inspire others to do the same. Our family-owned company was founded in 1952 to provide professional makeup to the stage and film industry. We are a group of smart and talented leaders who are building successful businesses helping women and men look and feel more confident every day. How many active Consultants are there in the country? There are just over 30k (and growing!) active LimeLife by Alcone beauty consultants in the US, and we are now in ten countries worldwide. What are the products ingredients or components? All of our products are paraben free and free of harsh chemicals. Our skincare is all natural, reef safe, mostly vegan, and of course never tested on animals. Our makeup is professional grade due to its 50% pigmentation (vs. the typical 13-26% pigmentation you will find at a department store or any other store that sells makeup), and is non-comedogenic, meaning it sits on top the skin, does not clog pores or cause breakouts and does not settle into fine lines or wrinkles. What is the best part of your side hustle? That I have been able to make an amazing income while getting to see all of my daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first year milestones; speaking her first word (mama), taking her first steps and watching her relationship blossom with her big brother. I am so grateful that this opportunity has sort of forced me to be more vulnerable, getting me out into my new community and meeting women I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise. I have created lifelong friends both in my community in Terre Haute and within my community of LimeLife sisters. What inspires you? I am inspired by females supporting and empowering other females. I am drawn to women who are kind and uplifting and who encourage me to be the best possible version of myself. I am also motivated by my husband and children who provide me with daily inspiration. What are your â&#x20AC;&#x153;must haveâ&#x20AC;? items from LimeLife? I have tried almost every skincare item that LimeLife sells, and I have to say I love them all. My top three skincare items are the Skin Polish Lemon Hydrating Mask, the Dream Clean Facial Cleanser, and coming in at #1 is the One Drop Wonder (ask me for details on that item!). The makeup just blows all other brands out of the water. I am obsessed with their wax based botanical blend foundation, fiber infused mascara and all of their enduring lip colors. What tips would you give someone who wants to join a Direct Sales Company? To not let the top three fears (fear of judgement, fear of failure, and fear of losing yourself) discourage you. I want to build a team of phenomenal women who are excited to take a chance on themselves and be pioneers alongside me in this venture. LimeLife is truly changing lives and I want you to come along for this ride with me.

Shop with Emily at limelifebyalcone.com/EmilyWiete

Primary Care from Union Medical Group. At Union Health, we’re not just here to care for you when you’re sick; we’re here to keep you healthy too. Our primary care providers get to know you and your unique needs – so they can better care for you during routine visits and help you manage chronic conditions before they impact your active life. It’s our way of helping you get well…and stay well. Call (812) 244.5057 today to schedule your next primary care appointment.

myunionhealth.org

Family T ies If there’s any business in the Wabash Valley that has strong family ties, it’s Harrold’s Beauty Academy. Harrold’s is the epitome of a family business, beginning in the 1920’s, with the academy starting up in 1962. If you’ve thought about going into the beauty industry, Harrold’s would be the place to start. I connected with Jamie Harrold to learn more about this amazing family business - Lori Mitchell

How long has Harrold’s been in business? The Harrold Family has been involved in the beauty industry for literally a century! Who first started Harrold Beauty Academy, and who runs it now? Byron Harrold started in the industry in the 1920’s (we are on the 4th generation!). His son Con Harrold started Harrold Beauty Academy in 1962 in Terre Haute, in the same building we are in today! What was the process like to open a cosmetology school? Con was one of the top stylist’s in the country, winning awards all over. He was also a pioneer in business, making Harrold Beauty Academy the first accredited cosmetology school in the entire state! He passed away in 2017. His son, Mike Harrold, my father-in-law, took over in 1986 and took the school to a whole new level, making it an industry leader throughout the country.

Unfortunately, he passed away in 2002 from a motorcycle accident. This changed many things, as everyone pitched in to keep the business in the family and continue their legacy. Patty Harrold, Mike’s wife and my mother in law, took over and still is the owner today. Her three kids are all involved as well. We now have 2 locations (Terre Haute and Avon) and run different programs at each location. What is the process for obtaining your cosmetology degree? Cosmetology takes 11 months and we enroll every month. Esthetics takes 5 months. To do either program you need 2 things: GREAT ATTENDANCE and PASSION!! How many instructors/employees do you have on staff? Harrold Beauty Academy staff is family. We have 9 employees and the least amount of time that any employee has been there is 8 years! That really says something! For example, Denise Fagin has been there for over 30 years, and has worked with 3 generations of Harrolds! Where can we follow what Harrold’s is up to? On Facebook at Harrold Beauty Academy and online at www.harroldbeautyacademy.com

Modern Glamour & Boudoir

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@unveiled_photos

www.unveiled-photo.com

Unveiled

On a small side street, just a few blocks from downtown Bloomington, sits the new and improved UNVEILED studio. We opened the doors on that studio space in January of 2019, and we have been thriving there ever since.

I founded UNVEILED in 2014; since then, the studio has moved spaces twice and has doubled in size of location, as well as staff. New opportunities have been slowly blossoming over the past year, and we’ve met each with excitement and intention.

Each year at the studio, I like to establish a word or short phrase to guide the studio all year long. In 2019, the phrase was “Level Up”; 2020’s word is “Intention.” With those words come new motivations and goals, and the biggest goal I have for next year is kickstarting destination retreats, as well as celebrating our second annual SPARK Weekend event, the first of which we held in July of 2019, in Bloomington.

UNVEILED will always be a photography studio, first and foremost. But the events and retreats that we will be hosting will fall under the umbrella that UNVEILED has slowly become over the past year. We’ve taken everything the studio stands for -- empowerment, self-love, acceptance, beauty -- and begun putting those aspects into bigger projects. So far, the response has been amazing. I truly can’t wait to see what else we will do. If you want to keep up to date on what we’re doing at the studio, follow us on social media! Instagram: @unveiled_photos Facebook: UNVEILED Behind-the-Scenes page (where most of the action happens!) > http://bit.ly/FacebookBTSpage - Samantha McGranahan

SPARK Weekend was a huge success, not only for our studio, but for the community as well. Over 200 people showed up throughout the day’s events, and we donated $1,400 to My Sister’s Closet, a local nonprofit in Bloomington dedicated to serving women in the community. Due to the outpouring of love, admiration, and excitement that SPARK Weekend received, we’ve already begun planning for the next one! In addition to SPARK, I’ve also been planning our first of many destination shoots. Our goal is to take a group of women to a destination of our choice (Miami, Las Vegas, maybe even Greece), where I will do photoshoots with the girls in various locations (the beach, the Strip, a town square, etc.). Additionally, guests will be treated to sensational food options, shopping sprees, and downtime where they can relax and truly enjoy some “me” time. I have big dreams for UNVEILED because this studio is capable of big things. In the past five years, I’ve seen so many beautiful, positive changes happen here, and I can imagine what the next five years will bring because I’m being very intentional with the choices I make concerning the studio’s future. I see the effect my work has on the ladies who walk through our door, and it only makes sense to keep expanding on that experience in bolder, more enhanced ways.

Have you ever wanted to go on a women’s “retreat”, but talked yourself out of it? Because you didn’t want to go alone, you’re fearful, or didn’t have the courage to take an adventure by yourself? I had the opportunity to travel to Nashville, Tennessee last summer in June for an art retreat taught by the very talented Jonee Adamson Sutton. I can’t describe what an awesome weekend it was making new friendships, creating beautiful art, learning art techniques, relaxing and enjoying my time in the beautiful treetop house with a handful of women. I can’t wait for you to read about Jonee and what a special, talented, creative person she is. She’s such an inspiration to me and I can’t wait to do another retreat in the future. - Yvette Morgan

Tell us a little about yourself, your family and your background? Hello! So glad you are here. I’m Jonee Sutton and I’m a mess! A beautiful mess, I always like to say (although I’m pretty sure I’m mostly a hot mess!) I am a 40-something art teacher and artist that still isn’t quite sure what she wants to do when she grows up. I love creating, watching others create and experiment with colors, thoughts, and feelings. I guess that is why teaching really speaks to me. My parents were both teachers and I swore I’d never do what they do…but here I am. My husband, Mike, is also a teacher so I am really surrounded by a love for helping others grow. I have 3 kids: 25, 10, and 9…keeping me busy but loving every minute of it!

to create. I have been growing my business ever since. Just like my life has changed and grown, so has my style and the products which I make. I taught elementary art to grades k-3, over 1000 students a week between two schools for 10 years. I had the opportunity to move up to the middle school 6 years ago and jumped at the chance for a fresh breath of air. I knew that middle school aged students would be a different challenge with raging hormones, ever changing attitudes, and their desire to fit in and take charge as upcoming adults. Boy, was it a big change! I also noticed just how lonely and left out and how terrible self-esteem issues were crippling my female students. This led me to start a yearly tradition I call “Being Brave”. Once a year, I take 10-12 middle school girls out of town on an art retreat for 3 days. We craft, eat, giggle, play, talk, eat, craft some more, etc. It is such an endearing and meaningful adventure camp that enriches me just as much as my girls. These retreats really help me reflect and make personal, meaningful connections that I pray continue to encourage more positive thinking and self-love within my students. What inspires you most when you see women come together at an art retreat? A year ago, I had several people ask me why I didn’t do these retreats for women? Well, I told them, that’s a great question!! So, I ventured out again, and organized a “Create Joy” retreat in Tennessee with some amazing, adventurous, creative women. As much as I love pouring into my students through my “Being Brave” retreats, participating and leading these adult retreats, helping me share my love for creating joy through art, had helped me so much in my own real-life adult connections I’m making along-side these women. They are a blessing and gift to me! Whether you are single, married, a mother,

Can you tell us about your creative business and how you started your art retreats? I’ve been teaching art for 16 years now, but about 8 years ago, while still juggling baby duties and elementary teaching, I decided I needed an outlet that would pour back into me. I felt like I was losing myself and needed to find my own joy again. Thank goodness I had the support from my family and a small space I could create small paintings and crafts. Friends and colleagues started asking me to make them paintings or asking me to sell what I was making and my small business, Rustic Wagon, began! I know that name really confuses people sometimes, but I struggled to come up with something that engulfed my love for all things “chippy” and rusty with the whimsical, colorful childlike side of what I wanted

a daughter, a sibling, a loner, this life places so much negativity and pressure on us that taking the step and purposeful decision to improve ourselves is WORTH IT! These retreats have breathed so much life into me, that I feel so blessed and humbled to be able to do it! It is very inspiring to see women from all walks of life, from coast to coast come together and make connections and leave as friends. It’s amazing to me the bravery that comes from the individuals that sign up and drive 10-12 hours to be a part of these retreats and for them to walk away joyful and filled. It really gives me purpose and sets my heart and soul on fire! What is a perfect day for you? I recently just finished my second women’s retreat in Sugar Creek, Ohio and it was an amazing location set upon a hill overlooking deep Amish Country. The art was spectacular, but the overwhelming beauty was from the friendships made. It just solidifies that this direction I’m going by providing these retreats and opportunities are where I need to be, and that it is something I need just as much as every other woman. If you get the chance to come alongside sometime, I’d love to have you. It really helps recharge and reconnect you to the passions of your heart. How has your art retreat evolved over the years, and do you plan to do more in the future? How can we find out about them? To find my retreats may be a little tricky. Technology isn’t my forte…I’m actually really bad at it! I can forage a Facebook page and curate my Instagram but that’s about the edge for me. I’m hoping to partner up with a local artist soon to help create a website so I can reach more people and share the retreats I have planned. For now, I only advertise through Instagram as soon as I have a location reserved. Being a teacher leaves me very limited on timing though. I still have to work around my school breaks and of course my kids’ activities (and, boy, is that getting harder and harder!).

What is your favorite art technique you enjoy teaching the most? My favorite art is all of it! I love painting and collage work so this is what you will find me doing most often. I’ve recently been trying my hand at weaving and I’m kind of hooked! When teaching others, I really like to try all different mediums. We’ve made metal stamped jewelry and leather cuffs, wall weavings, wooden signs, cold wax oil painting, jewelry, junk journaling and stamp making. I know it seems so random, but it’s just like me (remember the beautiful mess?)! I’m always open to trying new things and sharing those for others to find something new as well. We should never stop learning or growing! How boring would that be?! I don’t think I have a favorite to teach, just that I love teaching! When a student “gets it”, or you see the joy that is felt while making something, that is what it is all about! This helps inspire me to always be on the lookout for the next new technique or art tools to try to continue that learning process. How would you describe your studio? I still have a little studio in my home where I can go to fulfil my own desire to work and create and sell. It is bright, messy, and full of energy - a hot mess really. I often apologize to visitors for the mess but often get “oh, I wish I had a room like this”! So, I encourage all of you to grab a space, search for some inspiration and just MAKE! It doesn’t have to be perfect or frame worthy or even be anything specific…it just needs to inspire you, allow you the opportunity to escape and find joy in the creative process. There is joy out there in all the muck and negativity and stressful pockets of life and so much to discover by just trying and putting yourself out there. I would LOVE to share an adventure with you at a future retreat so keep your eyes peeled and keep those dreams alive! We are all a mess. Let’s turn our mess into a “beautiful mess” and spread that stuff everywhere!!!

Sseko Adventure Awaits.... In Spring 2019, I made the decision to jump all in and take the steps to focus more on my Sseko Designs business. I really wanted to see if I could make something out of my side hustle. I met Danielle Morrison (my “big sis”) at a Sseko party she was having at my friend’s home. I loved everything I was seeing and hearing about Sseko Designs and couldn’t stop thinking about how this could change a lot of things for me. By September 2018, I was on board, needing a change and another way to make extra money to pay off debt and have some left over for myself and my family. I previously worked in retail for 25+ years at some well-known, big box stores, but after many years of working in that environment, my career took me on another path and I opened up a small boutique called Modern Charm, where I sold handmade jewelry, accessories and gifting. In my career I’ve worked in management, visuals, and now not only a shop owner, but also own a creative business that joins my boutique, sharing that space with some awesome women in our community. I have always had a special place in my heart for handmade items, so when I found Sseko, I couldn’t help but think of the opportunities I could offer friends and family members, and grow a sustainable business in my community. When I joined and started to learn more about Sseko, I honestly didn’t know much about Fair Trade and how that worked. I have an appreciation for the artisans that Sseko partners with, and I love the idea of selling ethically handmade products from Uganda, Ethiopia and India. Our Impact is simple: Sseko was started to enable high potential, talented young women in Uganda to continue on to university. These young women work for Sseko in the 9-month gap between secondary school and university, saving part of their income for university.

Sseko matches their savings 300%. Every woman who has graduated from Sseko has gone on to pursue higher education. These women come from all walks of life and face a challenging job market. Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for women in East Africa to end the cycle of poverty and create more equitable society.

In 2018, Sseko became a Verified Member of the Fair-Trade Federation. As they continue to grow, not only are they helping our community and our consumers, but they understand and trust just how important it is for the company. Sseko began with three women making sandals under a mango tree in Uganda, and they have been building a business under those principles. They wanted to create dignity and opportunity for every person involved. I haven’t had the opportunity to go to Uganda, but I know when the timing is right and I start to see my business grow, I’ll have the opportunity to earn my trip and travel to meet the women who work at the Sseko Headquarters in Uganda. I can’t imagine what that experience will be like, but I’m super excited to have that goal in mind.

So, now that you know my Sseko story, I wanted to share with you some of the principles of Fair-Trade Federation and how Sseko went through an extensive screening and interview process to be accepted. 1. Create Opportunity for Economically and Socially Marginalized Producers 2. Develop Transparent and Accountable Relationships 3. Build Capacity 4. Promote Fair Trade 5. Pay Promptly and Fairly 6. Support Safe and Empowering Working Conditions 7. Ensure the Rights of Children 8. Cultivate Environmental Stewardship 9. Respect Cultural Identity

If you’ve been watching me on social media or paying attention at all over the last few years, you can tell Sseko is growing leaps and bounds. We have women from all over the US who are selling Sseko in their communities and sharing the Sseko story and that’s beautiful thing. I’m now ready to expand my business and looking to have my own team, so if you’re reading this and want adventure, community and sisterhood, please send me a message. I’d love to see how we can change the way we shop and help women on the other side of the world be the best version of themselves. Who knew that having BIG DREAMS of making sandals under a mango tree could make such a big difference in our world today. I’m super passionate about helping other women here in my community and across the globe, and so proud to represent Sseko Designs. I have my own big dreams as I head into this new decade, and I trust that joining this company will not only change me, but hopefully change you. It only takes a small tribe of women who support your adventures to take you to the next level. I feel pretty confident I have found it with Sseko Designs. - Yvette Morgan Find me on my VIP page: Yvette’s Sseko Sisterhood Website: ssekodesigns.com/yvette_morgan

Small Town Girl Creating a Global Impact Have you ever found yourself wishing you could go back in time and say YES to something amazing all over again? But only sooner? These are my thoughts as I think about how I used to shop and buy way too many things because they were either inexpensive (cheap random findings at Dollar General or Walmart) or I was addicted to the experience. Lularoe got me good, friends. In the mix of my shopping habits and attending online shows I found something when I least expected it. That’s usually how it goes. We rush through life and never take a moment to breath or realize what’s right in front of us. Whether it’s a choice or an opportunity, sometimes our blinders are always on.

Before we go any further, I’d love to introduce myself. I’m Danielle Morrison, Founding Fellow of Sseko Designs and Executive Mentor. We recently moved from Shelburn, Indiana to Sullivan, Indiana. Not much of a big change of your casual small-town vibe. I am married to my husband of 8 years, Daniel (I know how cool to basically have the same name). We’ve given up on trying to separate our mail. We are raising a fun and wild bunch of 4 kiddos, which that in itself can make the days go by so fast. I love ice cream, wine, a good girl’s night, singing

and dancing (dance party in the kitchen at least once a week), and LAUGHTER! You could call me your humorous gal pal. Back to the opportunity that changed my life. I was no stranger to online events and parties. I loved them and I enjoyed supporting women in business and finding a product or something new to fall in love with. My friends could usually count on me as an invite that would spend money. There was one specific show I attended that I was just too busy for. I clicked “going” as most of us do and never cared to return. If it wasn’t for my friend who was hosting, reaching out in my inbox with a friendly reminder, I would have

totally forgotten. It was a stressful week but I decided to pop in and see if I liked anything. THERE IT WAS!!!! A picture of a ribbon sandal that could be tied endless ways. Switching out ribbons and adding accents to make this sandal literally your shoe lover’s dream come true and keeping versatility alive. Being so busy I bought them quickly and returned to my household chaos. The day came when my ribbon sandals were delivered. As with anything we purchase, the feeling of happy mail and treating yourself is always fun. I opened the box, and found the beautiful fabric bag

they were in. Pulled them out and before I ripped the tag off, I noticed a signed name on the card. I also noticed the story card of how Sseko Designs employs bright women in Uganda giving them a dignified fair wage job and also sending girls to University through a work scholarship program. Sharing how purchasing something made a direct impact in their lives. I knew right then and there that I was unfamiliar with what show I had really attended. I missed something. I went back online to the Facebook party group and I started scrolling. Hoping to find answers to how they could do this, or how long this company has been around. I mean for as many parties that I attended and even joined myself, I was so curious to know the deets. I found the intro video of Liz Bohannon the CEO and founder. I watched it and had goosebumps the whole time and tears beginning to form in my eyes. In this moment, I knew I found something that needed to be shared. A beautiful company creating products and brighter futures. Making everything by hand and getting to know the exact woman that made each piece. SIGN ME UP!!! I chatted with the girl running the event and she shared how the company was new but going places and making a stand for fair trade and shining a light on ethically made socially conscious fashion. I also was able to be matched with 1 woman at our Uganda workshop that I could write to and become closer as we both walked alongside side each other for a better future. I knew nothing about fair trade. I didn’t grow up knowing the importance of where our things are made. I was aware of child labor and what being “Made in China” could mean. It really didn’t affect my emotions and spending until Sseko came into my life. I’m thankful for that alone. We don’t know what we don’t know! I also recommend watching the show on Netflix called True Cost. That will really rock your world when we think about fashion and voting with our dollar. Seriously go watch it and then message me how it made your feel. Fast forward to now, almost 4 years of being a fellow and I am in the Top 4 in the company and mentoring a team of brave, gritty and adventurous women. Truly didn’t think that would ever happen but I’m blessed to keep growing our global sisterhood and community that supports us. I’ve been to our workshop in Uganda to meet our sisters in person. Watching them create our divine leather goods and sandals to eating lunch and chit chatting about simple things that makes up our lives. Are you married? Do you have any children? Who’s your favorite music? Which for

most of them was gospel. A few days went by and we were connected to each other’s energy and excitement of our worlds colliding for this small time, and we became more in tune of the importance of both sides of working with Sseko. I also learned I am blessed beyond measure. To have running water and a bathroom is enough for me to realize what a gift and necessity that is. Watching children walk for miles with water in jugs over their heads as I remember my children griping because I tell them it’s shower night. To say it was hard to come back home to reality is an understatement. We also visited Cornerstone Leadership Academy where our University bound girls graduate from. They travel from all over Uganda to try to get into this school. Over 1,000 applicants are turned in and only 30 spots are filled. Before Sseko, after they graduated they had a 9-month gap that they would have to go and find work to earn money for University. When in reality most of them were sold as brides at a young age, forced to marry and carry children. Made to do jobs without pay or forced into sex trafficking. These women are the brightest of the country. The next leaders of lawyers, doctors, teachers, pharmacists and business women. Our founder knew it was a huge problem for them not to succeed and get an education. Those girls now get to work alongside our veteran, full-time women making a fair wage. They have to save 50% into a savings fun we provide and at the end of their 9 months, Sseko matches that by 300% if not more depending on our growth here in the US. These women are my friends, sisters and co-workers. We know the importance of empowering women and being here for the change of making a brighter world for us all to live in. If everyone knows how to shop better and the impact they can create, the more opportunities there will be. I’ve become more stylish yet aware of who I purchase from. Asking about their standards and joining in on the #slowfashionmovement. Knowing the difference between a charity and a for-profit company. Makes you think of the old saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats one meal, teach a man to fish and eats forever.” I’ve been able to shine my own light to share this wonderful brand and connect with women that are like minded. Wanting to make an income but also be a part of something bigger. Women looking for a community they can learn and grow from. So proud to share in this space the beauty of Sseko and to remind you that every Sseko has a story.

- Danielle Morrison

Eight by Eight The other morning, my husband woke me in a panic thinking we had both overslept. Turns out, we didn’t oversleep and he actually woke us up a bit early. I immediately thought, “oh, I have some extra time this morning”, and hopped right on my phone. Just that one simple change in my morning routine messed up my entire day. Have you read Mel Robbin’s book ‘The Five Second Rule’? The concept of the book is giving yourself only 5 seconds to make a decision, and then to act on it. Count down backwards from 5, and at 1 you must take action. That includes getting out of bed in the morning when the alarm sounds. After reading that book, and multiple other self-help books, I started thinking about my morning routine. I kept hearing how you start your day matters. I wanted to be sure I was starting it in the best way possible. So, I created a morning routine and coined it “8 by 8” … eight things I wanted to accomplish by 8am each day. Here are my 8 things:

Get out of bed when the alarm goes off, no snooze button. (If you’ve read Mel Robbin’s book, this is your most important first step of the day and has never really been difficult for me. I’m a morning person.) Fill my 32oz cup with water and usually add a drop or two of lemon essential oil. The goal is to drink this first cup by 8am.

Begin my day with prayer and gratitude. I head to my office, fill my diffuser with some motivating essential oils and begin journaling. I write out 3 things I am grateful for and then move onto prayer. Unload the dishwasher/pack school lunches. I run my dishwasher every night before bed and unload each morning before the kids head downstairs. When the dishwasher is empty to start the day, the kids can load their own dishes and the kitchen stays cleaned up the rest of the day. Quick dinner prep/plan. I look at what I’m cooking that night and pull things out of the freezer, lay things out on the counter, and start the crockpot if needed. Start a load of laundry. “A load a day keeps the piles away”.

Plan my to-do list and schedule my day. This is so important. I’ve recently been scheduling my to-dos into my calendar and I get so much more done that way. Spend 5 minutes visualizing how I want my day to go. When I stop and think about how I want my day to go and what I want to accomplish, it helps me stay focused and on track. (I learned this one from Brendon Burchard.)

How about you? Do you have a morning routine? Do you find that when you start your day with intention the day goes smoother? If you’ve never thought of how you start your day, make that your resolution for this decade. What do you want to accomplish before you head out the door each morning or start your work at home? - Monica Mundell

Rule the Roost

When I first met Jessie, she had stopped in the store to shop, but found so much more than merchandise. We connected on so many levels – mostly inspiring one another to be and do better, and I almost felt like I was a little bit of a mentor, maybe. But what Jessie didn’t realize was that I was learning a lot from her, too. Jessie has so many great qualities, and so much knowledge to share. I wanted to share with you her passion that she’s turning into a mission, Ladies Homestead Gathering. - Lori Mitchell

Tell us a little about yourself, and how you got involved in Ladies Homestead Gathering? My name is Jessie Reid, I am the President of the Sullivan County Chapter of the National Ladies Homestead Gathering. I love to sew, garden and raise chickens. I’m also an aspiring herbalist.

I got involved with NLHG because I found myself feeling alone in the lifestyle that I have come to love. Not many of the women I knew did the things I did, and some found it, well, rather odd. One spring I even hand raised a duckling that spent the first 24 hours in my bra! Baby ducks/chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature and they rely on mom to keep them warm (thus why it was in my bra). Of course, there were many online Facebook groups that I could post and chat in, but I wanted more than just a screen conversation. I wanted to have real life friends that had a similar lifestyle, a support system, and learning resources. What I was looking for was community. I knew there had to be other women out there that shared that desire too. I then reached out on a local Facebook group to see about how to go about creating a group like this and was pointed in NLHG’s direction and it has snowballed from there. What does Ladies Homestead Gathering do, and where are you located? Our mission at LHG is to empower women through homesteading by sharing knowledge, building community and growing friendships.

This is achieved in so many ways through our monthly gatherings, workshops, family days and future community projects. We currently meet the second Thursday of every month for gatherings in Linton, IN at the Greene County Hospital Foundation Building. Workshops and extra days are always announced via email or in our Facebook Group. (LHG of Sullivan Co) Tell us about your monthly meetups. Before and after every gathering we have a “Swap & Shop” where you can sell or barter your homestead goods. Anything from jams, veggies, eggs, wool, sewn items to even wine! We do not allow multilevel marketing as we want to encourage handmade homestead goods.

Every month we have a new topic; these topics are selected by all the women in our Facebook group, then voted on by our National LHG Members. Sometimes we will arrange to go “on site” for a more hands-on experience, like the small production maple syrup, which was fun. We have covered a great variety of topics just last year, everything from soap making to wool fiber and spinning. We have a portion of the gathering that is called “Herstory”, where a member or guest will share her homestead journey thus far, and it can be from someone that is still in the planning stage to a seasoned homesteader. Then we have our “Atta Girl”, where everyone can share their accomplishments from that month, no matter how big or small they are.

What roles on your board are available to fill? We do have board positions still open and welcome those who would want to join. We are currently looking for a Communication Coordinator, Community Coordinator, Education Coordinator and an Outreach Coordinator. How can someone get involved in LHG, and what are the requirements to be a part of it? Getting involved is as simple as attending your first gathering and having an interest or passion in homesteading. All of our gatherings are free to women 16 years and older (and we welcome breastfeeding mothers!). We encourage getting a national membership to give you more benefits in the chapter and organization.

What are the benefits of becoming a member? There are many benefits in becoming a national member of the Ladies Homestead Gathering. Some benefits include the ability to serve as a board member, voting on the upcoming years topics and workshops, participate in the National Member Appreciation Sweepstakes, receiving discounts and opportunity for early registration for NLHG events, discounts on local chapters workshops and events, national discounts from vendors and NLHG member’s businesses across the country.

One of the greatest benefits is being part of an amazing community that wants to see you grow.

If someone wanted to start their own affiliate of LHG, how do they get started? What advice would you offer them? I’m glad you asked! All you would need to do to get a chapter started in your county is contact our National Board through the national website, www.ladieshomesteadgathing.org. You can find all the information there and they’ll walk you through every step. If you choose to start your own chapter, have patience, be creative, ask for help, ask questions (even if it feels like you’ve asked a million of them) and most importantly, have fun! Where do you see your chapter of LHG going in the next 5 years? In the next 5 years, we would like to see our chapter more women in the Wabash Valley to join our exceptional community. Some of our goals are to have upwards of 40 active members, hosting at least 3 workshops per year, help establish new chapters in our state, community service projects, and to keep building on the NLHG mission of empowering women through homesteading. We are still a young chapter with much to learn but we are passionate about what we do and are excited to have the opportunity to share that with the women of the Wabash Valley.

makers

gonna make

Hello!!! My name is Yvette Morgan, owner of Charm School Creative Art Studio. We hope you have enjoyed reading all the “Makers Gonna Make” articles as we’ve highlighted Charm School since the first magazine was published. For this last issue, I wanted to personally write the article and give you some information on where were headed in 2020 and how we made it here. When I decided to shift gears and put more of my time in my creative space, I had no idea where this would take us all. I wanted to teach creative classes and focus on women and kids in our community. Every year, I pick a word to focus on. Last year, I picked “growth”, and this year I picked “community”. I believe we have all worked hard to build our businesses in 2019, and now we’re ready to go out in our community and share our love of the arts. Here’s a bird’s eye view of the new makers who will be teaching classes: Betsy Beckner - Honey B Crochet School Jasmine Rivera - Stitch and Fabric (featuring sewing classes) Christi Burt – Cricut Classes/Single Moms Club Jessica Aden – Make-n-Take Young Living Essential Oils All of these ladies continued to show up and hold consistent classes, and I’m so grateful for all of them. It’s not easy to put yourself out there and teach classes to complete strangers, but I think that we have done a great job promoting our businesses and helping one another go to the next level.

At Charm School, we strive to serve, inspire and teach others. I love that we have been able to teach classes throughout the year and fill seats. We have some very talented women who have joined me, and I hope you get a chance to meet them and take a class this Spring. We will be hosting a few events that I will post now just in case you want to mark them in your calendar! Check them out, bring some friends and Let’s Get CRAFTY!! July 6th - July 31st - Summer Kids Camp - Welcome to Kids (5+) Camp! We can’t wait for you to spend part of your summer at Charm School. We will have creative, themed weeks full of crafty artsy fun! Limit 6 kids per class. TBA - Art Retreat with Yvette Morgan - I have been wanting to lead a crafty Art Retreat, and this year I will be teaching at The Farm & Co. in Bowling Green, Indiana. More details will be available closer to the event pending government regulations. We can’t wait to see you in class and share our love of painting and crafting with you. You can find us on Facebook at Charm School, Instagram @charmschoolth, email us at www.charmschoolth@gmail.com or visit our website at charmschoolth.weebly.com (sign up for our newsletter!).

Classes we offer at Charm School: Birthday Parties, Special Events, Girls Night Out, Date Night, Fundraisers, Team Building, Bridal Showers, Bachelorette or Private Parties. • Paint by Number Canvas • Canvas and Wine Class • MDF Laser Wood Cut Outs - Make n’ Take (New) • Honey B Crochet School - Crochet (Fundamentals/Intermediate classes) • Cricut Machine - Beginners/intermediate classes • Pinterest Type Classes/Workshops • Wreath Making - Seasonal • Stitch and Fabric - Sewing • String Art • Chalk Couture – stencil chalk painting • Mixed Media • Pallet Painting • Single Mom’s Workshop • Bible Journaling

There’s No Place Like... I’m not even sure how Kera and I met exactly, but I have always admired her from afar. I’ve watched Kera build her e-design business where she specializes in re-decorating and consulting. She has a very successful brand. Not only is she a powerhouse at work, but she also is a momma to four beautiful children and married to her husband Tommy since 2009. I have always loved decorating and when I started following Kera, I knew she would be successful. She has an eye for design and works with items you wouldn’t normally use in your space, which I love. She thinks outside the box and uses her creativity to bring the best out in your home. We hope you enjoy reading about Kera and her business, ‘Haute House Love’. She’s not only a small business owner in our community, but also kind and professional. We love that we were able to feature her in this issue. - Yvette Morgan Tell us about yourself and your family. I’d love to!! I’m Kera Jeffers! My husband, Tommy, and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage this October and we have 4 amazing kids! Our oldest, Bryn (almost 9), is our only girl and she is in 3rd grade. Next up is Xander (7), who is in first grade, followed by Maks (4), and Sloan (2).

In May of 2017, we broke ground on a new home on the east side of town. It was a dream 5 years in the making. Tommy focused primarily on contractor scheduling, budgeting, and utilities (the boring stuff) and I took lead on the entire design. This process reignited the creative fire inside of me and is ultimately what pushed me to (finally) pursue my own business.

I’m originally from Michigan and Tommy is a Terre Haute native. We started our married life in Indianapolis in 2009, but moved back to TH permanently in early 2011 when Tommy took over the family business full time. He is a licensed tax preparer here in town and is amazing at what he does!

You’re a busy mama. What is your super power to make what you do look so flawless? This question makes me laugh. Truth. I am a busy mama, but I’m far from flawless. I am a strong believer that we make time for the things that are important to us. My family and my home rank high on my priority list.

As far as my “superpower,” my top success tools are schedules and organization with a little faking it mixed in. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, it’s easy to perceive that my home is flawless, but the realization is that we have chaos and messes as much as anyone. The key for us is incorporating a few simple things each day to help tidy up. It’s a really good system that works for us. How has your business evolved over the last year? I started the @hautehouselove Instagram page in July 2018 about a week after moving into our new home. My original thought was to turn the name into a business “someday.” But at the time, my only aim was to have a creative space to share home updates separate from my personal IG account. In October 2018, my husband and I went on a 9-day trip, just the two of us, and spent a lot of time dreaming of future goals. Launching a business was mine and during that time Tommy encouraged me to stop dreaming and just go for it. My argument was timing, but let’s be real, there is never going to be a good time when you are busy raising babies.

After putting my hesitations aside, HHL (the business) began accepting clients in late October 2018. I had a few clients to start, but things began really taking off in early 2019. By March 2019, my Instagram page was rapidly growing as well and I decided to introduce e-design as a service to further my reach. My local and remote clients continued to grow throughout the summer, and in July 2019, I landed my first handful of brand collaborations via Instagram. Currently my business is very steady with a mix of local/e-design clients and the creation of Instagram content for the brands I’m working with. In this stage of my business, my biggest challenge is juggling work + mom life. I still have two little ones at home most days, but I have learned that the more time I take to focus on things that I love outside being a mom — the better mom I am on my off-work days. The fulfillment I receive from designing fills my personal cup so when it’s time to be mom I’m ready. What is your creative motto for inspiration? Honestly, four months ago I would have struggled to answer this question. The thing that kicked me into high gear, to discover the answer, was a design conference I attended this past summer. We were encouraged to come up with an “elevator pitch” where we could describe ourselves and our business in a few short sentences.

Since I had no clue where to start, I took to my Instagram stories and polled my audience! I asked a series of questions. I essentially wanted to know why they followed me! They came up with several key words for me to work with and after a few days of mulling them over, I came up with “Functional Living. Timeless Design.”

These words encompass so much of my design style and how I want my brand to be seen. Other contending words (and mottos) include simple, attainable, and resourceful. What is your favorite artistic endeavor in your home? This is an easy question to answer. I am extremely proud of my foyer! It was a project that I took on in April 2019 and it took my home to a completely new level.

In the process of designing the space, I was dead set on locating a church pew that I could salvage and repurpose. A local contact came through for me, and it turned out to be my best repurposed project to date! Creating this space also made me realize my love for mixing modern + vintage design. Before I had a solid vision for the large 2–story wall in my entry, I took a morning to peruse the aisles of a local antique mall and found the jackpot. TONS of old antique doors, windows and vintage prints came home with me that day and the vision started coming to life. To this day, my foyer is the most liked/shared space on social media and remains my favorite decorated space in my home. (With my office as a close second.) What do you need to consider before designing a client’s space? When a potential client contacts me, I initially ask them to do a few things before I will put them on my calendar. The first thing is to fill out a client form followed by emailing photos of the space(s). This helps me to learn a little about the clients design style as well as their budget/expectations for the project. From there we set up an initial meeting where I evaluate the project and make sure the client and I are a good fit. Upon agreement, a custom plan is made to execute the project. What are your organizational tips? I have a few key things I focus on when organizing a space. 1. Simplify!! (Separate belongings into three categories — keep, sell/donate, throw away)

2. Create Function!! (Incorporate baskets, drawer organizers, and hidden storage in as many spaces as possible.) 3. Systemize!! (Give everything a home + a label.) My home isn’t perfect but whenever I go into revitalizing a space, I consider these principles. Keeping clutter to a minimum makes it so much easier to know what I have.

What 3 items are “Must Haves” in your home? 1. With a family of 6 designing a functional laundry room in our home has been game changing for us. Some features that I love include two dryers, a laundry chute and cubby storage for each person.

2. Splurging on heated tile floors in our master bathroom has to be one of our favorite overall features in our home. Our bathroom is already very spa-like but the heating element takes it to the next level! 3. A cohesive color scheme throughout the house is key in creating flow from room to room. It also makes it easier to “shop my home” when I grow tired of a space and want to do a quick change up. Because of our color scheme, many decor items can fit into several spaces in our home! What role does “DIY” play in your Interior Design Business? DIY plays a huge role when it comes to the content I share on social media. A lot of times I will share the step by step process of a project via Instagram stories then post a final picture of it to my feed. I’m not afraid to share my shortcomings and mistakes along the way, which I know people appreciate. DIY isn’t always a walk in the park, but sharing helps my audience to see attainability and have confidence in their own skills. How has Social Media helped build your business? Social Media has been huge for my business since day 1. Being a stayat-home-mom held my reach to a minimum when I first started and utilizing Instagram (and Facebook) has contributed to about 85% of my business growth.

When we moved into our home, I basically had a blank canvas to work with, so talking about (via IG stories) and sharing pictures (via my IG feed) of my home as I created cohesive spaces has been my foundation. As time has gone on, I have learned how to take/edit better photos for my feed and really connect with my audience via Instagram stories. My goals are #1 — to share free tips and tricks and give inspiration without reservation and #2 — to build a loyal community of followers who want to engage with me on social media. When I incorporate these things into my business it helps me to grow not only on a client level but also my potential for future brand collaborations — which in the long run is what turns a social media presence into a business. You can follow Kera on Facebook & Instagram @hautehouselove To inquire about becoming a Haute House Love client please email hautehouselove@yahoo.com

Because, Bras Fitting is in my blood. Yes, I’ve managed retail for 23+ years, but for most of that time, it wasn’t your usual business of fast fashion. I started my retail career at Express (remember that place? Sigh..), but shortly thereafter, opened the Victoria’s Secret store in our local mall as part of the management team, and within 6 months, was promoted to Store Manager. Man, that was an exciting time. Our mall was growing, we were gaining reputable, exciting stores, and I was part of an amazing company that really and truly loved their employees. I have never seen anything like their management conferences, and I never will again. I built a team that would rival any of the very best retail teams on the planet, customer service and “floor sets” were most definitely our cups of tea. But most importantly, we fitted, and we fitted all day long.

Fast forward 6 years, and I was recruited by another amazing company who was also planting themselves here in the Haute, David’s Bridal. Once again, we built an amazing team, had the very best training (hello Sacramento for 3 weeks!), and were nothing if not customer service focused. Our customer service “scorecards” were always in the top 5% of the company. Sure, we had some “-zillas”, but overall, what a ride that was. Still, it boiled down to one thing – we knew how to FIT like rock stars. We fit bras and undergarments, but we also fit the most beautiful brides in some of the most beautiful gowns. It’s all about proper measurements and being confident in your product.

Before

After

After leaving David’s to open my own boutique, I focused on boutique clothing for many years. Then, I found a company that was a perfect “fit” (see what I did there?) for me, and a perfect addition to the shop, Essential Bodywear. I was finally back to my fitting roots. Like most cities, our retailers were suffering, including the ones that were a big part of my life. Our big box retailers were closing – where many shopped for their undergarments, or they were driving 2 hours to be professionally fitted for a bra. Recognizing a huge need in our own area, it was perfect timing to bring Essential Bodywear in, and offer one-on-one, professional bra fittings right here in our own backyard.

In the two years I’ve been with EBW, not only has it helped pay the bills, it has been more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. When I fit a woman who hasn’t had a good bra in years, and the relief shows in her face when she’s in the correct size. When I fit someone that’s a bit older in age, who has never been fitted before, and realizes she’s been wearing the wrong size and style her whole life. When I fit the young lady, who has no choice but to buy bralettes with no support and meant for tiny people, because she can’t find her size anywhere. When I see the look in a woman’s eyes, the confidence in her face and in her stride, when she instantly looks 10 pounds lighter simply by changing her bra. That’s when I know I’m in the right business, the business of making women feel their most confident and comfortable, and I think there will never be a time that I don’t offer this service. We deserve it. - Lori Mitchell

Before

After

Sugar Box

If you have a sweet tooth like me, you know about Tiers of Elegance. Making some of the best in wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and for people like me who just crave a good sweet, literally the best shortbread cookies. With new owners Breanna and Sara, they’ve taken the business in a new direction, adding a mobile confectionary to the mix, The Sugar Box.Read on to learn more about how they’re taking the cake biz in a new direction.

- Lori Mitchell

Tell us a little about yourselves and your background… Breanna: Hello, my name is Breanna Loosbrock, formally Breanna Shaw. (I just got married in November!) I am 23 years old and am the co-owner of Tiers of Elegance and Sugar Box. I enjoy anything that involves creativity. I also love traveling, my two fur kids, and photography. Growing up I always had an interest in crafting, arts, and anything involving creativity. At 15, I was given the opportunity to work with a local cake business and fell in love with the art of cake. At 19, I became the co-owner of Tiers of Elegance. Sara: I’m Sara Waltermire - Co-Owner of Tiers of Elegance and Sugar Box. My husband and I share four children, three of which are grown up and finding their own way in the world. After more than 17 years in the Social Services field, I had the opportunity to turn my love for being in the kitchen and entertaining into more than just a hobby and joined partnership with Breanna in December of 2016. What roles do each of you play in the business? B: As co-owners we often share roles. We each know our business from the inside out, as any business owner would. There aren’t many roles one does that the other can’t. With that being said, Sara is an amazing baker where I try to stay out of the kitchen as much as I can. I would much rather bring the cake to life with a creative design. On a day to day basis, typically you can find me in the decorating room of our shop, or taking photos of our creations for our social media.

S: Although I love the kitchen, I feel I am at my best in customerfocused roles. I enjoy meeting with engaged couples or new moms planning a 1st birthday. I’m happy to chat up customers visiting Sugar Box about a beautiful new product. Our roles often overlap but we balance each other well. I defer to Breanna in the decor area. She is an amazing creative force within Tiers. What went into your decision to purchase Tiers of Elegance cakery? B: I previously worked at Tiers of Elegance under the original owner, Bette LaPlante. I loved my job at Tiers, so when the opportunity arose to purchase the business, I knew it was a rare chance. Tiers of Elegance had amazing recipes, a great reputation, and a large customer base. But I also saw that it had a lot of room to grow. I knew if we got in there, with how great it already was, that we could make it even better. My ideas started flowing: we needed to up our social media presence, we needed to get involved with more community events, and we needed to find that one of a kind product like no one else had which lead to introducing the Cakeshake. S: I believe in the growth and development of our community. As a 4th generation business owner in Terre Haute, I am interested in the entrepreneurial opportunities that contribute to that development. As Breanna stated, Bette had fantastic recipes and a devoted customer base. This was an opportunity for me to work with Breanna alongside her talent and continue to grow Tiers.

Many of us know you’ve added your traveling food truck, The Sugar Box. Tell us about The Sugar Box, and what went in to obtaining a food truck? B: The Sugar Box is our new mobile unit/food truck. When we first created the Cakeshake for the 2018 Covered Bridge Festival, we were blown away by the response we received from our community. Everyone loved the Cakeshakes and couldn’t get enough! We sold out of shakes daily as we didn’t have enough space to hold enough product to keep up with the demand. We quickly realized the best way to serve everyone would be with a food truck. A lot goes into making a shake and a lot of space is needed to store enough supplies to keep up. Sara and I spent months and months custom-designing a brand new food truck that would perfectly meet all our needs. We reached out to custom food truck companies all across the United States searching for the right company to meet our needs. We had a vision and specific requirements to make this food truck the perfect Cakeshake slinger! We finally found a company in Southeastern Georgia that would bring our vision and design to life. Many more months of planning, prepping, and learning the ins and outs of what it really takes to operate a food truck went into play. When the Sugar Box was finally ready, we went right into our first event with it at The Covered Bridge Festival. The event was a huge success. We can never thank our customers and the community enough for the support. Without them, none of this would even be possible, and for that we are incredibly grateful. Where can we find the Sugar Box and what goodies can we find there? B: You can find Sugar Box at private and local events, festivals, and even random pop-ups around Terre Haute. The best way to find us will be to follow our social media pages @sugarboxtruck. You’ll always be in the know, where we are and where we will be next, as well as what’s on the menu and what new items are coming soon. What is your favorite thing about owning a cakery? B: My favorite part of owning a cakery is the freedom of creativity. We are constantly coming up with new cake designs, new products, and crazy ideas for our business.

What is each of your favorite items to bake/make? B: My favorites to make are by far the items we make for Sugar Box: Cakeshakes, Edible Cookie Dough, and even our Monster Cookies. I absolutely love the idea of making something “Instagramable”. Each and every dessert is made with a vision. I love knowing that as soon as a customer purchases one of these items, the first thing they do is snap a pic. On average, how many cakes a week do you make? B: This is a hard question to answer. Like all businesses, we have extremely busy seasons and we have some slower months. We have an amazing partnership with Union Hospital. We provide a congratulatory cake for each family that delivers a baby at Union. Babies are booming! We deliver close to 40 cakes each week for Union Hospital. During our heavy seasons we could range anywhere from 70 to 100+ cakes a week. What is your most memorable cake? B: Personally, my most memorable cake was a wedding cake we delivered to Indianapolis. It was absolutely beautiful, covered from top to bottom in heavy buttercream ruffles. The cake had about 40 pounds worth of ruffles alone; this cake was a beast. Sara and I delivered the cake, driving through snow and ice in downtown Indy with crazy traffic. When we deliver cakes, we keep our vehicles as cold as possible, especially massive cakes like these. The a/c was running full blast in the middle of winter; we could barely even feel our hands. With as high-stress as the situation was, the cake still arrived perfectly and was stunning. Sara and I laugh about this delivery every time the conversation comes up. S: Absolutely agree with Breanna’s choice! That is “THE” Cake! What advice do you have for other small business owners? B: If you have a passion, put 100% into it and you will find success. Running a business isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. Being your own boss is scary at times, but it’s an amazing opportunity that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Find something that makes you unique, put your own spin on things, and always make time for you and your family.

Ceci and Jen have been friends of ours for a long time. When they told us they were opening a bridal salon, we were so excited for them. If anyone can pull that off, it’s these two ladies. Ceci Spoonmore has owned Rouge Beauty Bar for about a year and a half, and Jen Hamilton has owned Paisley Pistol, along with Stephanie Snider, for a few years as well. Both ladies have “entrepreneur” written all over them, and I can’t think of a better group of smart, strong women to have opened a one-stop-shop Bridal boutique. - Lori Mitchell

Tell us a little bit about all of you. Jen: Stephanie and I have been friends for over 10 years. We actually met through our oldest children at their school. We are both married with two kids, and instantly hit it off and become fast friends. Our love for animals, traveling, having fun, making people laugh, inspiring women and loving one another is just on the short list of why we are truly friends for life. Ceci: I love my job as an eyebrow artist and am married with three beautiful children. Jen has been in the retail world for almost 10 years and is also married with two children. Our friendship was a fast one. Our drive and passion for helping others and being the best at what we do was most definitely what

connected us. After several trips to the Beauty Bar for services, it was a no brainer that we would become business partners. We had a vision to combine our worlds of beauty and retail, which has led to an everlasting friendship and partnership. Tell us about your businesses, Paisley Pistol and Bliss Bridal Bar. Jen: Paisley Pistol was created with the busy, hardworking mom in mind. We wanted to provide adorable, affordable boutique clothes that anyone could wear that wouldn’t break the bank. We love the versatility of our clothing line, from workout gear to girl’s night out! Our goal is to make each person who shops with us feel amazing about their purchases and themselves when they leave.

Photos by Ashlee Sappingfield

Ceci: The Bliss Bar and Bridal Boutique specializes in all things bridal and wedding! We have several lines of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, special occasion dresses, to every day dresses! If you need a dress for any event in your life, we have you covered. The Bliss Bar specializes in wedding day/event hair and makeup. We are a full-service salon that offers anything from spray tan to lash extensions. Our bridal suite offers brides a place to relax and spend time with their wedding party during the process of hair and makeup, which is unique to most salons in town. What went into the decision to open your businesses? Jen: After working retail for several years, it was a no brainer that we could take our knowledge and open up something of our own. So, with very little planning and a couple margaritas, Paisley Pistol was up and going within 2 months.

Ceci: If there was one thing Terre Haute was lacking, it was bridal services in all aspects from planning, dress shopping, rentals, etc. We knew there was a market for it and wanted it to be more than just a bridal boutique. We wanted a destination, an experience. What brands do you carry? Jen: We carry a wide variety of brands, sizes and styles. It is easy to shop for yourself, but you have to keep the buying public in mind. Thankfully, Stephanie and I have completely different styles when it comes to fashion, except boots. We both love cowboy boots!!! Ceci: When choosing bridal lines, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little trickier. Bridal gowns have a wide range of prices. We wanted quality dresses at affordable pricing, while still offering the latest styles. Our first choice was Mon Chere Bridal; they house different designers such

as Martin Thornburg and Sophia Tolle, which are some of the top in the nation when it comes to pricing, style and quality. We also offer Maggie Sottero and Rebecca Ingram. Our bridesmaid line was one we really took more time with. We knew how important it was to keep them reasonable. We also wanted to have a good selection of dresses that could flatter any body type! Bari Jay Bridesmaids checked all our boxes. Our prom line, which is a favorite by teens, is Ellie Wilde! Super fun, beautiful prom dresses at a great price. Ceci - Rouge Beauty Bar has grown FAST and continues to evolve. How have you been able to manage such quick growth? I truly believe that The Beauty Bar has grown quickly mainly because of our original satisfied clients! Their trust, their belief in us, and their word of mouth has been everything! Beyond that, it’s the knowledge and education we provide our clients and followers. I couldn’t have been blessed with more amazing, knowledgeable partners than Amber Nickless, MaRanda Zanandrea and Dr. Christy Watson. Their level of expertise and care is the best around and our success and growth is a reflection of that. We make a great team and I think people can feel that, which gives them the confidence to try other services and recommend us to their friends and loved ones. You are both super busy ladies. Tell us how you manage your time between being busy moms and business owners? Any tips for other busy moms? Ceci: It is super easy to look at us and think we know all the answers, and that we have it all together! Trust us, that is not always the case. We have families at home that still depend on us. Ceci has three children under the age of 9! I have two teenage boys, one looking at colleges, and Steph has two very active children that are really involved with sports! From day one, we have said our families come first, and that we would be flexible with each other in order to provide for our families first. Our success truly is in the additional people we have on our team. You have to first understand that you can’t control everything, and that everyone has their niche and specialty. Put your trust in everyone on your team to do their job because that’s what you’ve hired them for! We take everything one day at a time. Our advice to busy moms would be to believe in yourself, ask for help and never give up on what’s most important to you. Put faith in God and put prayer into EVERYTHING you do! Your staff is a force - who do you have working with you? Ceci: We really have surrounded ourselves with the best girls who are all incredibly talented!

Lindsey Redman has been in the industry for about 13 years and her experience is so helpful! She’ll be managing the salon and overseeing education for the stylists. Raven Vicars is already known for her incredible color techniques, styling and cuts, but also extensions. She’s so trendy and loves to bring the freshest looks to our area. Alisha Cox brings tons of experience and energy to the salon! She’s a “go to” for sharp men’s cuts, the blondest blondes and rich brunettes. We are excited to bring her years of quality service to our area!

Jess Murphy will be a full-time hair stylist who offers gorgeous braids and high-quality color and cuts. Lexi Degano is the master at Brazilian Blowouts, and loves trendy, modern color and styling. Lexus Mercer will be joining as a full-time stylist and blowout expert! We are excited to watch all these girls bloom! Sidney Hoare is our makeup artist who will also be adding additional esthetic services, waxing, spray tanning and more. Raven Morphis is a highly talented lash extension specialist. She also excels with bridal styles and up-dos. Erin Morgan will be our bridal consultant who helps coordinate our brides and their requested services with our stylists, aestheticians and makeup artists for their big day! She also will be offering full wedding planning, styling and event coordination. At The Beauty Bar, our talented nurse Amber Nickless will be assisting brides and all with their pre-wedding injectable needs as well as any medical grade skin resurfacing that they may be wanting before they walk down the aisle. MaRanda Zanandrea will be helping to make each girl feel beautiful with her luxury facial and skin services. Signature facials, dermaplaning and more are available as additional pre-wedding necessities! I see you’re offering classes, from youth on up. What classes are currently being offered? Ceci: We have started offering classes for makeup and beauty. We have a very talented makeup artist, Sidney, who specializes in wedding, prom and special event makeup. So many of us haven’t

been taught the right way to apply makeup or care for our skin. This needs to be taught at a very young age. We will be adding classes for ages 4-100!! If you want to learn about makeup, beauty and skin care we are the place to be. We will also start offering other classes, such as “Mom and Me Braiding 101”! Where do you see Bliss in 5 years? Ceci: Our goal is to offer our brides, prom girls and all our clients the absolute best service, from their dress buying experience to their “day of” hair and makeup to their event planning journey. We are looking forward to mastering the art of the formal and bridal industry, as well as be viewed as a trusted resource for all your hair, skin and beauty needs. Our vision is to keep growing and offering the newest, modern, quality services and products that you would have had to find in a larger city beforehand. We hope to build a luxury brand, where there is truly something for everyone! What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs who may want to open their own business? Ceci: For anyone thinking about opening a business, our advice would be to surround yourself with the best of the best. Ask for advice, do your research, plan ahead, work hard, and never give up! It is easy to get discouraged and learning that everyone is not rooting for you can be difficult. If you believe in what you are doing and are passionate about it, the possibilities are endless and success is inevitable.

You can find Paisley Pistol located in Millie & Maude/Modern Charm Boutique, at the corner of 13th and Margaret, on Facebook, and on Instagram @PaisleyPistolGals. The Bliss Bar & Bridal Boutique is located at 630 Wabash Avenue. Find them on Facebook at Ceci & Co. – The Bliss Bar & Bridal Boutique, and on Instagram @ceciandco_theblissbar.

LORI MITCHELL INDEPENDENT FIT SYLIST

www.myessentialbodywear/maudebras lori@millieandmaude.net Contact me for your professional bra fitting!

Bird’s Eye View You’ve seen a lot of freelance marketing businesses out there, I’m sure. But one that stands out above many, one that is a breath of fresh air in a sometimes stale market, is Valley View Marketing. Take a look at what Darian Ripplemeier has to say about her new business adventure with Kimberly Freet. - Yvette Morgan

Tell us about your business? We decided to combine our marketing experience to offer a new set of skills to Wabash Valley businesses in September of 2019. We focus primarily on content creation and the daily management of our client’s social media channels. This allows them to focus on their business and best utilize their time serving their customers so we can handle the necessary evil that is their marketing.

Can you share with us examples social media projects you’ve worked on? Some of our projects include launching new business pages on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn as well as website design. We offer professional photography and videography also, so we often go on site to our client’s locations and create custom content there for their campaigns.

What online communities have you managed in the past? Some that readers may be familiar with are Crane Credit Union, Gingersnaps Café & Coffeehouse, and Wabash Classic Tattoos.

What type of budget would you suggest for a small business starting out? This is a very client-specific question. Some of our base packages are under $500/month and this is a great option for clients who just have too much on their hands and need some help with social media management. A new business often needs a website, logo, new social media pages, etc. We don’t believe in a “one size fits all” package or percentage to focus on because each business’s needs and goals are as unique as the people who own it.

What social media channels do you recommend for small businesses? This is very specific to each business and is best determined in a consultation where we can determine the client’s target audience and what kind of content will best reach them. What is best used for a plumber may not be what is best for someone retailing clothes. Facebook is almost always recommended and Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn are popular options as well.

How do you deal with negative comments or a brand’s bad reputation? We want our clients to do well and succeed, that is why we are in this business. If we come across bad experiences, we relay that to our clients to see what we can do to improve these things for their customers. However, we also encourage our clients not to stress about the (sometimes unavoidable) bad Facebook or Yelp review. This actually adds credibility in customer’s eyes. A perfect 5.0 rating often means the business is not experienced enough to have had some dissatisfied customers or they are being dishonest and having those bad reviews removed. How do you stay on top of the latest updates, innovations and new platforms? We are constantly researching the newest trends and tools, as well as hitting obstacles that we have to overcome and that prompts us to find new solutions to make our process easier for clients and ourselves.

Why should we hire you over another company? We genuinely put our client’s needs first and want to see them do

well. We pride ourselves on providing a service that is going to give our client’s the most return on their investment and only charge them for what will give them direct results. We don’t believe in asking our clients to go into debt to pay for our services because doesn’t that contradict us being there to help them succeed?

What type of experience do you have in this industry? Kimberly was with a local marketing company previously where she dealt with many local clients through other advertising medias. Darian has many years of sales and marketing training through traditional education, job experience, and seminars in the Chicago area. We were each managing a few social media accounts and ran our own businesses which required us to create and manage those accounts. One evening we just decided it was necessary to make a business out of it to meet the volume of requests we were receiving. Is it important to have a website over just social media? Not necessarily! SEO is sometimes the only reason for a business to have a website and if the business is a unique one to the area, they may not need a website at all or a very simple one just for the sake of credibility. Contact Darian and Kimberly at www.valleyviewms.com

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THE ONLY DRAMA I ENJOY IS IN MY LASHES

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