[New] SISTER ACT

of)

Anne Healy, Associate Publisher, spoke to Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella, the founders and the driving force behind The Sister Project. This duo has created a place to celebrate women, share inspiration, and trade lifestyle tips while helping their followers connect with essential things in life.

YOUR GRANDMOTHER LIVED IN DOWNERS GROVE; WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES?

Michelle: When I think of my time at my grandma’s house in Downers Grove, I think of her giant garden plot we called “the farm,” long walks (because she didn’t drive) to Venture, and playtime at McCollum Park. My sister Nicole and I would spend days on end with her. I’m pretty sure our mom of five was trying to catch her breath with fewer kids for a bit. We loved staying up late watching reruns of “I Love Lucy” and turning her kitchen into Michelle and Nicole’s Cafe. After a long weekend, our mom would pick us up, and our sweet gram would follow us to the stoop to say goodbye. I can still hear her voice. “So long, babies.” Gosh, I miss her.

Lauren: I was obsessed with visiting my Grandma Manos in Downers Grove. She was my closest buddy for a long time. Wandering around in her garden is a favorite pastime of mine. To this day, the smell of tomato plants catapults me back to her “farm” in her backyard. She also had this beautiful willow tree in her backyard that I loved to sit under and daydream. I often went to her house with my little sister, Andrea, and we stayed up extra late watching reruns of “Laverne and Shirley.” My love for Penny Marshall goes way back. And of course, Venture. We’d walk there for some shopping and stop at Burger King for a value meal. I’d always get a Dr. Pepper. Grandma Manos was the best grandma ever - she adored us.

YOUR BLOG FOCUSES ON THE HYGGE LIFESTYLE. WHAT IS HYGGE?

Michelle: Hygge is a Danish term that means to seek pleasure in the moment. It is a lifestyle centered around creating a warm atmosphere and relishing in the simplicity of the utter feeling of cozy contentment. Candles, home-cooked meals, and crackling fires really enhance the experience, but the best thing about hygge is it’s free, and ultimately, it is about the feeling you have when you experience it. Our goal at The Sister Project is to spread the good word of hygge because we are all running around with our heads cut off, and we want to inspire people to set some time aside to nurture themselves via some cozy + mindful + well-being. Hygge is good for your health.

Lauren: Another aspect of hygge I love is its celebration of the seasons. Our mom, June, was obsessed with all things fall. Apple picking, pumpkin scented candles, soups, bonfires, plaid, you name it! She passed down her love for autumn to her kids, and as a family, we love to celebrate it the way she used to. Making moments and memories to last a lifetime which is very hygge indeed.

SPEAKING OF YOUR MOTHER, JUNE, THE SISTER PROJECT LAUNCHED IN 2014 AROUND THE TIME OF HER DIAGNOSIS OF FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA (FTD). HOW DO YOU PROVIDE A VOICE FOR THE MANY FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PROGRESSIVE BRAIN DISEASES?

Michelle: It was not our initial plan to share our journey with dementia with our community. As time progressed with our mom’s disease and the fact that we were sharing so much of our lives already, it felt odd not to share that aspect of our lives. We talk about caregiving and grief and how with dementia, you grieve the loss of a loved one, not once but twice. We real-

HOW HAS YOUR CONVERSATIONAL PODCAST, COZY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SISTER PROJECT, EVOLVED?

Michelle: Cozy Convos has evolved as we grew at our craft and settled into our own podcasting style. We have a natural sisterly banter that makes you feel like you are in on the conversation with us. Lauren keeps us on track, and I bring the zingers. Our goal is to make sure your listening experience makes you feel connected. We promise you will learn a little and laugh a lot.

Lauren: Our podcast evolves as we evolve as women, friends, sisters, daughters, and mothers. We take our listeners along for the ride and aren’t shy about sharing our lives or our wheezy laughs.

WHAT IS UP NEXT FOR THE SISTER PROJECT?

ized an entire world of people connected with us and our journey. The Sister Project’s mission is - and will always be - to spread awareness for dementia and like diseases.

Lauren: There is another aspect of dementia that isn’t often talked about freely. Individuals with this disease are often forgotten about as time moves on. We decided at one point to use our platform to keep June’s spirit alive and talk about her and who she was before she became sick. And with that came conversations on grief. We do not talk about grief nearly enough. Grief is part of the human experience. Not only does it help others when we open up about our grief and loss, but it also helps us heal as well.

Michelle: World domination and taking down the patriarchy. Joking. Sort of. We are so thrilled to have launched season five of Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project and have decided to add video podcast content to our platform. This way, people can listen and watch as we have our cozy convos. We have a solid lineup of guests covering an array of topics like the importance of sleep,

We also just launched the third scent in our cozy candle line. It’s called Fall AF and customized, so fall punches you in the face when you pass the room it is burning in. Think apple & pumpkin harvest with a twist. Our candles are a soy and coconut blend and are on sale now in our Cozy Shop via The Sister Project Blog. The best part is they are hand-poured right in Downers Grove! ■