Main & Luxe Magazine - Issue 6 | March 2022 - Women's Empowerment by Main & Luxe Magazine

Main & Luxe Naperville

Issue 6 | March 2022

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Contents and Credits Features 6 Social

See and Be Seen

8 Editorial

Empowerment

10 Dine

Ladies Who Lunch

14 Community Woman’s Club

16 Curated Splurge Women-owned Boutiques

18 Luxe Life Make It Pink

22 Give Back

Find Mutual Ground

24 Live Here She Shed

18 Glimpse of Gourmet 26 Finer Things Vegetable Gumbo

20 At the Library Women’s Events

Home Organization

30 Profile

Essential Leadership

The Cover: True empowerment. Different stories. Different ages & backgrounds. One powerful unit. (L to R): Autumn Geist (Curated Splurge), Lopa Dash (Dine), Nicki Anderson (Profile) © Firefly Nights Photography

Ladies Who Lunch Page 10

Founder / Direction / Layout Ashley South Senior Editor Christina Balsano Wichmann Contributing Editorial Writers Karthika Gupta JD Hollyfield Marcia Teckenbrock Photography Cover - Megan Drane, Firefly Nights Photography Katie Braga, Katie Braga Photography Emily Cummings, Emily Cummings Photography Consultants Ross Creative Works Publisher Bluehouse Publishing Inc Naperville, IL bluehousepublishinginc.com Advertising Inquiries info@mainluxe.com

Naperville women pivoting on the term.

Main & Luxe, March 2022

you

distinctively

Phone: 630-416-8998

W e b s i t e : w w w. c b c o n l i n . c o m

Promoting The Enjoyment of Life Through Created Outdoor Environments Since 1985

Social

See and Be Seen Staglin Vineyard - Salus Wine Dinner

Brought to you by 64 Reserve Room Thursday, March 10th 6:30pm to 9:30pm SixtyFour Wine Bar & Kitchen resy.com/cities/npv/venues/sixtyfour-wine-bar-and-kitchen $148. Join us in our Reserve Room for our Staglin Family Vineyard ‘Salus’ Estate Wine Dinner! 5 courses paired with 5 wines. Reservations required.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Brought to you by the City of Naperville Saturday, March 12th 10:00am to 12:00pm Downtown Naperville naperville.il.us/events

Free. The West Suburban Irish’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is familyoriented, celebrating the community as a whole, the diversity of our community, and Irish-American heritage and culture.

Kids Night Out: Luck of the Irish Hosted by Naperville Park District Friday, March 18th 6:00pm to 9:00pm Fort Hill Activity Center napervilleparks.org/kidsnightout

VIRTUAL

$26-39. Enjoy the night out while your children enjoy a night filled with St. Patrick’s Day fun! They’ll make their own leprechaun hats and shamrocks, hunt for a pot of gold, participate in a Shamrock Challenge, more. Ages 4 to 13.

Mary Anning - 1st Woman Paleontologist Presented by Naperville Public Library Thursday, March 3rd 1:00pm to 2:00pm Registration required. napervillepl.librarycalendar.com

Free. Born in 1799, Mary Anning was an English fossil collector, dealer and paleontologist who became internationally known for the discoveries she made in Jurassic marine fossil beds in the cliffs along the English Channel. 6

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Editorial

Empowerment I

n honor of Women’s History month, this issue is all about women’s empowerment. We wanted to explore that theme and bring different perspectives on the topic. Through our conversations, we discovered and highlighted diverse types of power and variations on empowerment. These stories will change the way you think of the term when you hear it. We found that there is no one day to find or feel empowered. It is unique to each person’s experience and life station. Because the word can feel nebulous at times, we looked to capture stories about women of different ages and backgrounds and in different work roles. We listened to women in corporate America, those who own their own business, and those who are or were stay-at-home moms. Each of these women shared what empowerment means to them.

What types of power do you have or see in the women around you? From these stories, I saw the following: Quiet confidence—Not on display; this type of confidence can be the most powerful as the person does not strive to prove anything. They want no limelight and set about their path unencumbered. Overt confidence—Direct action for change; they can be a name or face for something that serves as inspiration to others. Community involvement and a sense of duty—The internal driver to give back to the world and people around them. (All of our features this month have this sense of empowerment.) Someone with influence— Knowledgeable as a resource to others; able to provide good advice; a trend setter with a record of success. A connector with a large network— Excellent at relationship building and remembering details to link Person X to Person Y. Main & Luxe, March 2022

Within these pages, we pivoted the term “Ladies Who Lunch” on its head via a stay-at-home mom, a woman in finance, and a business owner. We reached out to the Naperville Woman’s Club to connect with what they are doing in the community and how you can join. We spotlight four womenowned businesses for you to shop at. We learn about the programing for Women’s History Month via the Library on women who laid a foundation in history and the STEM field. We introduce you to a philanthropic organization that supports victims of sexual and domestic violence and helps them re-find their feelings of empowerment. We look at a quiet refuge in the backyard via a she shed! And Nicki Anderson, our profile feature, talks with us about being a stay-at-home mom, turned business owner, turned university director of women’s leadership—she covered ALL the things of empowerment in one interview! Those with power and those who feel empowered tell us they know who they are and trust themselves. We admire them for their passion and approach. Their individual stories are relatable and inspiring. How do you feel empowered? Sweaty from a challenging work out? Head-to-toe polished and ready to take on any difficult meeting? Comfortable in jeans and a tee exploring a new park recommendation with your kids when they get home from school?

We want to recognize that there is no right way to be or feel empowered. Empowerment is about finding what works for you and owning it. Our only recommendation is to do it without apologies!

Ashley South How can Main & Luxe help empower you? Ideas and musings may be sent to: CEO@MainLuxe.com www.mainluxe.com

Dine

Ladies Who Lunch By Ashley South

he term “ladies who lunch” was coined in the early 1960s by the magazine Women’s Wear Daily based on a trend within wealthy middle-aged women at that time. The moniker was reserved for those women who devoted their afternoons to restaurant outings within their social circle, spending hours in mindless conversation, usually over a cocktail… or several. Truman Capote lost all his wealthy, socialite best friends, whom he affectionately called his “Swans,” when he published the story “La Côte Basque 1965” revealing their gossip and stories in the fictitious ladies-who-lunch story.

For the women we interviewed, the term is no longer about gossip and cocktails. And we argue you should embrace the phrase! A new group of ladies who lunch has emerged, and it’s inspiring. Main & Luxe sat down with three women from our community: a stay-at-home mom, a woman

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Lopa Dash’s Friday adventure Starved Rock State Park, Deer Park Township, IL

in finance, and a soloprenuer. No matter their background, the women we spoke with are using their lunch hour to expand their mind and connect, either with themselves or others. They’re spending the time they have away from the workplace/household to explore interests important to them.

Lopa Dash, stay-at-home mom Lopa Dash, of the Ashbury neighborhood, moved here from India four years ago. Her husband’s work transferred them to the Chicagoland area, and they chose Naperville because of the schools. Lopa has a degree in Information Technology, but she and her husband made the decision for her to stay home with their children (7, 10, and 11) when they moved here. Four days a week, she maintains a regular schedule after dropping the kids off at school. She cleans up after breakfast, starts prepping dinner, makes school lunches for the next day, and then goes for a walk to reset herself. On Fridays, she lunches. Lopa’s Friday lunches are usually a trip to a state or local park to walk around

and make notes of things to talk with her kids about regarding the park. Coming from India, the scenery and wildlife in Illinois is ever new to Lopa. These were times to relax by herself.

In October of 2021, Lopa joined a Facebook group for moms in her neighborhood. After a while, Lopa started to invite the women from her neighborhood group out with her on her Friday adventures. She would simply advise where she was going and at what time. Several of the ladies would meet her: they’ve visited Starved Rock, Lake Geneva, and the Morton Arboretum. Her “lunches” were often stretched to a few hours. “Every Friday, it is ME time. I use it to reset and invite others to join me!” When the ladies finally sit down for

“

Every Friday, it’s ME time. I use it to reset and invite others to join me!

“

-Lopa Dash

their meal, she admits that they don’t just talk about kids, they talk about drinks, wines specifically! Lopa has become a lightning rod for the neighborhood for selfcare and adventure.

Jessica McLaughlin, Finance Exec

Jessica McLaughlin, finance executive Jessica McLaughlin, a leader in the financial industry, uses her power hour to focus on her own professional career strategy. See, Jessica took a new job recently. She went from an established team where she could easily be social with them via lunching to a newly established team that requires her leadership to bring structure and an established presence. She tells us she sees people

spending a lot of time reflecting on their original ten-year plan. Many people have left their corporate roles as part of the “Great Resignation; however, many people like Jessica remain happy with what they are doing and excited about their future at their current company. Prior to accepting her new role, Jessica felt herself constantly looking for the next thing. But does not find herself doing that right now. She has her finger on the pulse but is not taking as many calls. Today, Jessica spends her lunch hour focused on the particulars of her new role reading and meeting with her team trying to get herself up to speed and more acquainted with the technical side of the business, the current market, and needs of her clients. From a corporate standpoint, she wants to take advantage of being the person that shows her permanency and commitment in the face of corporate human resource uncertainty.

Alexis Rago, small business entrepreneur Alexis Rago is founder and owner of Marketing Mana LLC. Alexis knows firsthand the importance of lunches and that they’re not at all defined by any stereotype. She blends them all! Alexis is a team of one. At Marketing Mana, her vision is to create a less

noisy marketing space. She works to empower business owners and ideate strategic tactics, often over lunch together. Alexis remarked, “it is incredible how much I learn about a business during these lunches.” She told us about a recent one she had with a client who needed help naming her company. They spent lunch brainstorming and walked out of the restaurant with a name!

Alexis also uses her lunch as serious power hours for her own business—working on ideas and strategies to grow. And, at times, Alexis uses her lunch to reset when she feels stuck. “As women, we are so hard on ourselves, it is okay to have a lunch just to be lunch with a cocktail or two thrown in.” Her next program “Work on Your Business Retreat” is April 21–24 and a little longer than lunch. Through this program, she is providing business owners the opportunity to work on their business and marketing strategy together as a soundboard of ideas from people who have similar experiences, fears, and goals.

Alexis Rago, Owner, Marketing Mana

Lopa spends her time recentering and inviting others to join her. Jessica spends her time career planning and strategizing for her future. And Alexis spends her time building her business and collaborating on ideas. These women have taken a unique approach to the time they carve out of their day. Embrace the phrase, get out there, and be a lady who lunches!!

https://workonyour. business/ www.marketingmanallc.com/

Main & Luxe, March 2022

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Main & Luxe Naperville

Issue 2 | November 2021

Main & Luxe Naperville

Issue 3 | December 2021

Community

Woman’s Club O

rganized on March 1, 1897, the Naperville Woman’s Club has been a steady presence in Naperville for 125 years. It was originally established as a literary club by nineteen women who desired knowledge, connections, and a function outside their homes and churches in this once small farm community. Philanthropic projects were quickly added on, and these have become the backbone of the club over the years. In 1903, the literary club became the Naperville Woman’s Club (NWC), and throughout its history, NWC has been dedicated to improving the community and the lives of others through its volunteer service.

Julie Cunningham, President, Naperville Woman’s Club Courtesy of NWC

Julie Cunningham, the current president of the club, has been a member for the past 13 years. She joined in 2009 when she was looking for a way to get involved in the community and was attracted to the club’s mission of supporting the arts, education, and community service. At that time, Julie was semi-retired with a flexible schedule and had been involved in leadership roles in several nonprofit professional associations prior. Another thing that attracted her to the club was the daytime club meetings. “After years of attending service club meetings in Main & Luxe, March 2022

the evenings after work, it was great doing this during the day. When I joined the club, I got active immediately. I joined a couple of committees and was asked to be on the board of directors. I have now served three times as president and, over the years, on most of the club’s committees,” she says. “The thing I enjoy the most in the club is the fellowship among the women and the giving back component. The club has been a consistent presence in the community— doing good with a sense of duty and purpose.” Many women join the club because they are attracted to one of its activities, but everyone loves the friendships that they form and the learning opportunities available for members, Julie tells us. Generally, one of the monthly meetings is reserved for educational/historical lectures, which retains an original goal of the club’s founders: attaining knowledge Most of the members are retired and those who are employed generally work in the Naperville area, so they can attend the twice monthly 11:30 am meetings. NWC’s home is the historic Gothic Revival stone church with the bright purple doors on Washington Street. NWC also rents out its landmark clubhouse—which provides additional support for their operations. Today, there are about 65 members, and all the club’s events are centered around the local Naperville community. NWC’s signature event is the Fine Art & Artisan Fair, which is the longest running art fair in Illinois. This year will be its 63rd year! The art fair will be held at Naper Settlement on June 25–26 and will feature over 110 artists exhibiting and selling their works. Admission is free and will also include live entertainment, food, beverages, and a “Petite Picasso” art tent for children to explore their talents. Its

“

The club has been a consistent presence in the community - doing good with a sense of duty and purpose.

“

By Karthika Gupta

other big event is Witches Night Out— which is referred to as the best “girls’ night out” in Naperville. On this night, Naper Settlement is transformed into a spooky village with food, drinks, music, dancing, and psychic readings, among other activities.

Other club activities include the Young Adult Art Contest for area high school students on March 11 at the NWC club; the winner receives a scholarship to a summer art camp. The club also sponsors an arts scholarship at North Central College and a scholarship toward the Collage of DuPage Foundation for a student majoring in human services. They also donate a scholarship to District 203 for a student who will major in education. In addition, the club raises money to donate to local area social service agencies and organizes

Naperville Woman’s Club, 14 S Washington St

Courtesy of NWC

several collections of goods for food pantries and homeless shelters. Over the last 20 years, the club has donated nearly $500,000 to local philanthropic organizations. The club truly is for anyone who wants to make a difference in the community. The members bring a variety of skills to the club. But even better, club members can learn new skills by taking on something they haven’t done before, such as planning a large event, handling building rentals, or organizing collection drives. Membership to the club is $70/annually. New members are welcome. However, nonmembers can get involved with the club by attending or volunteering at events such as the Fine Art & Artisan Fair and Witches Night Out. On March 16, the Naperville Woman’s Club is sponsoring “The Women of Cantigny” at the 95th Street Library. During this presentation, attendees will learn about the women of the Medill, McCormick, and Paterson families, whom, due to a lack of male heirs, were propelled to do amazing things. From serving in Congress, breaking flight records, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and owning their own newspapers, each woman has a fascinating story. Presented by Laurie Russell of the Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny.

Courtesy of NWC

Witches Night Out

Courtesy of NWC

Naperville Woman’s Club 14 S Washington Street www.napervillewomansclub.org

Courtesy of Karthika Gupta

Author: Karthika Gupta Contributing Writer. Karthika is a writer, photographer, and world traveler. She owns her own business and has been published nationally as well as internationally. She lives in the Tall Grass neighborhood. Main & Luxe, March 2022

Curated Splurge

Women-Owned Boutiques By Ashley South

Neelam Saboo, Owner, Beautiful Ideas

Courtesy of Neelam Saboo

Beautiful Ideas (above) - trendy and unique clothing and accessories for women and children 2752 Forgue Drive, Suite 120 www.facebook.com/BeautifulIdeas

Occasions (below) - specializes in artisan gifts, tabletop, and jewelry from around the world 3027 English Row Avenue, Suite 111 www.occasions-gift.com

Courtesy of Allison Page

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Allison Page and family, Owner, Occasions

Courtesy of Allison Page

Autumn Geist (on cover), Owner, The Collective + Makery

The Collective + Makery (above) - curates beautiful apparel, home decor and gifts in a creative space 4724 Main Street, Lisle www.thecollectivelhe.com

Glam & Glitz (below) - updated space! No more tiaras, only unique trendy pieces for modern ladies 1292 Rickert Drive, Suite 128 www.glamandglitznaperville.com

Karen Shunk, Owner, Glam & Glitz

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Luxe Life

Make it Pink By Chris Wichmann

hree things I love: pink, the Roaring Twenties, and vacation. Combine these three and you get the Don CeSar, the Boca Raton, the Chesterfield, the Royal Hawaiian, and the Vinoy Renaissance Resort. Although pink palaces of Mediterranean design were extremely fashionable in the 1920s—Chicago even had its own pink hotel (the Edgewater Beach Hotel)—these are no shabby remnants from the past. All of the hotels listed have undergone millions of dollars in restoration; they still retain a Gatsbyesque grandeur, but they are now equipped with modern, world-class amenities. Planning a romantic or family getaway? Imagine yourselves poolside in a tropical setting with a pink grande dame to call home for a week. Private beaches, gorgeous hotels, luxuriant landscapes, and a little bit kitschy…doesn’t take long to get the fantasizing started.

Courtesy of Chris Wichmann

Author: Christina Wichmann Our senior editor. Chris is a writer, editor, and project director during the day, and our seamstress by night. She carefully unstitches misplaced words or paragraphs and brings them back together in ways much better than we could have hoped. She lives near Knoch Knolls Park.

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Flamingo Pink: The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach, Florida The pinkest of the hotels and every bit as elegant as the architects originally intended in 1928. During a stay with Zelda, F. Scott Fitzgerald called it “the hotel in an island wilderness.” Bask on the Gulf of Mexico, enjoy a retreat at Spa Oceana, and even bring the pup for vacation. Pets are welcome and treated like VIPs: gourmet room service, petsitting services, and maps of dog-walking routes.

Frothy Pink and Creamy White: The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Florida A 200-acre waterfront resort with five hotels, sea foam green water, and activities galore. This super-sized resort features a yacht club; private golf club; and four-acre water oasis with three pools, 450foot floating river, slides, and surfing simulator. Don’t want to leave? The Bungalows offer long-term stays, a private pool, and dedicated concierge team. Good times since 1926. Lilly Pink: The Chesterfield, Palm Beach, Florida Pack your Lilly Pulitzer, and indulge yourself at this Palm Beach landmark, which is only a couple blocks from your new best friend, Worth Avenue. The hotel’s retro-chic Leopard Lounge is the cocktail hour hangout of the elite. Show your spots by ordering the signature Leopard Martini. The hotel was built in 1926 and has remained a stylish fixture ever since.

The Don CeSar, Saint Pete Beach, Florida

Courtesy of The Don Cesar

The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Florida

Courtesy of The Boca Raton

The Chesterfield, Palm Beach, Florida

Courtesy of The Chesterfield

Coral Pink: The Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, Hawaii This is where the Hawaiian honeymoon was invented, along with the Mai Tai. Waikiki Beach, luaus, snorkeling, catch-of-the-day dinners, and a spa situated within a tropical garden—a pink paradise. This hotel was built in 1927 and epitomizes beachfront luxury with a pink parasol cocktail. Salmon Pink: Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Florida Vintage luxury—MVPs come here for the tennis, golf, two swimming pools connected by a waterfall, and sunset champagne cruises. The Vinoy was built in 1925 and is adjacent to Vinoy Park, one of the top ten parks in Florida. A mile south of the hotel, visit the expertly curated collection of Salvador Dalí’s work at the Dalí Museum.

The Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu,Hawaii

Courtesy of The Royal Hawaiian

Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club, Saint Petersburg, Florida

Courtesy of Vinoy Renaissance

Glimpse of Gourmet By Terrell Cole

Author: Chef Terrell Cole Owner of Darkhorse Catering in Naperville, Chef Terrell brings his decades of experience to a new feature exclusively for Main & Luxe Magazine. He is known for his range and ability to manage effortlessly. He lives Downtown.

With an incredible array of vegetables coming into season, take advantage and put a healthier spin on a festive staple

Does this look tasty to you? This is just a glimpse! Head to Chef’s page to get the recipe.

Vegetable gumbo over dirty rice

Main & Luxe, March 2022

At the Library

Events for Women By Ashley South

eagan Kellermann, coordinator of external adult programming at the Naperville Library, is passionate about bringing diverse content to library patrons of all ages and backgrounds. Meagan’s goal is to ensure each topic is as relevant to a 20-year-old as it is to a 60-year-old. As part of her job, Meagan attends conferences and events for ideas that she can bring back to our community. She and her team of two sift through content to curate experiences each month, which are presented to the manager of Adult Services for approval.

Over the years, the library has tailored its presentation times to account for the varied schedules of its patrons. They have a brown bag lecture series at 1:00 pm on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The presentation is truly lunch and a show. The library also presents programs at 7:00 pm on Thursdays and Wednesdays for people to attend after work. Timing and audience are considered for each presentation.

For March, programming includes history, STEM, and women’s empowerment! Each presenter is a woman this month. A sampling of upcoming programs includes the following:

Chana Milchtein, Mechanic Shop Femme Courtesy of Chana Milchtein

The Why’s and When’s of Car Maintenance Tuesday, March 1, 2022 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm

Chaya Milchtein, presenter, selfdescribed “mechanic interpreter” breaks down car maintenance and timing. Learn when to perform specific maintenance tasks and why, including changing oil and filters, tire pressure, coolant and more. Become an educated consumer so you can protect your investment. Chaya also provides car classes and advice about purchasing, seasonal maintenance, and overall education via her blog and podcast. More can be found at www. mechanicshopfemme.com Meagan Kellerman, Naperville Library

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Mary Anning, oil Unknown Artist, Before 1842

Stock Image

Mary Anning - The Life and Times of the World’s First Female Paleontologist Thursday, March 3, 2022 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Clare Evans, anglophile and former UK resident, is presenting on Mary Anning. Mary is considered to be the world’s first woman paleontologist. Mary became known around the world for finds she made in the cliffs along the English Channel. Although unacknowledged and uncredited by the scientific community in her own time, her findings contributed to changes in scientific thinking about prehistoric life and the history of the Earth. The program is meant to highlight historical contributions women made in STEM and their influence on today.

Greek Ruins

Chicago, overlooking Lincoln Park

Stock Image

An Evening with Madeline Miller Thursday, March 3, 2022 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

An evening with Madeline Miller to discuss her books, Song of Achilles and Circe. Miller is a leader in Greek retellings, New York Times bestselling author, and Orange Prize for Fiction winner. Before she was a novelist, Madeline Miller earned her BA and MA in Classics from Brown University, and she taught and tutored Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students for more than fifteen years. This program is presented in partnership with multiple Illinois libraries.

Rosie the Riveter (Star of the campaign to recruit women to the war efforts during WWII) Thursday, March 17, 2022 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Lynn Rymarz, presenter, brings us the story of Geraldine Hoff Doyle, who believed herself to be the real woman behind the poster. Lynn will share not only Geraldine’s story but weave in stories of other real-life Rosies who stepped out of their traditional roles to support the war effort during WWII. She will also share the story of Millie Werber, a Jewish teenager from a Polish ghetto who ended up working in a factory that supported the Nazi war effort.

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30 Things to do in Chicago Under $30 Tuesday, March 22, 2022 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

From big museums to little-known attractions, learn how to take advantage of everything the beautiful city of Chicago has to offer—without breaking the bank. In this presentation, Jez Layman, librarian and professional speaker highlights 30 deals and free options to make the most of a weekend or staycation, ranging from history and culture to green spaces and quirky sites off the beaten path.

All programming is virtual in March. The library has become a digital space where previously they were not offering any digital programs. Currently, they are working on how to provide a hybrid space in a way that honors the programming. Naperville Library www.naperville-lib.org

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Give Back

Find Mutual Ground By Marcia Teckenbrock

izbeth Rios first learned of Mutual Ground while pursuing her undergraduate degree in social work at Aurora University. Lizbeth and some of her classmates toured the historic mansion that houses Mutual Ground and its emergency shelter and spent time organizing clothes in Miss Fannie’s Room, a clothing closet named after a longtime volunteer. Lizbeth felt a connection with the organization and began volunteering on a regular basis caring for children— playing with and reading to them and putting them down for naps—while their parents or caretakers attended group therapy sessions.

“

While pursuing her master’s degree at Aurora University, an adult counseling internship position opened up, which Lizbeth applied and was awarded. “Getting involved as a volunteer gave me insight into what the organization tends to

Lizbeth Rios, Mutual Ground

offer,” she said. “And then, as an intern, that opened my eyes even more. With the clients, it helped me see that, yes, this is really for me.” As graduation approached, Lizbeth happily accepted a full-time adult

Main & Luxe, March 2022

It’s like having a conversation with clients and teaching them things.

“

counseling position with Mutual Ground, enabling her to continue to work with her existing clients.

As a therapist at Mutual Ground in Aurora, Lizbeth helps adult domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their family members handle the trauma of violence and abuse. Her work includes helping her clients create safety plans, address anxiety and depression, develop coping skills, and build self-esteem. The organization offers a wide range of services in the greater Aurora area. Services include a 24-hour hotline, counseling, emergency shelter for individuals and families, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, and education and prevention programs. Mutual Ground also provides outpatient substance use services and school-based prevention education programs.

Walk for Hope, Mutual Ground

But originally, she didn’t see herself as an adult therapist. She had learned all the techniques and theories on social work and how to work with clients through her undergraduate and graduate degrees, but Lizbeth originally saw herself as a DCFS or adoption caseworker. “I actually told my professor that I didn’t see myself as a therapist and feared I’d say the wrong things. My professor said, ‘It’s like having a conversation,’ which it is, having a conversation with clients and teaching them things.” “Eventually I ended up loving it,” she said. “To see my clients and the progress that I helped them make. Those were the moments when I realized, ‘These things really work! The things you can teach your clients work!’ That made me fall in love with therapy and the work I was doing.” Lizbeth was also motivated by a lack of representation in her community. “As a

Courtesy of Mutual Ground

Latina, I came to realize we don’t talk about mental health in our community. I also realized that many of my clients were Latina, and I am needed in the field—the Latino community needed that. That’s what keeps me going. To help other Latinas, including men, that come in.” It is important to note that domestic violence and sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or background. “We have clients from 5-years-old to 70-years-old. Race doesn’t matter. Age doesn’t matter. The older clients feel alone. They feel that other older people don’t experience that—what they’re experiencing.”

In 2021, Mutual Ground provided crisis intervention, guidance, and information for 6,004 calls to their 24hour hotline; counseling and advocacy services, free of charge, to 1,292 adults and children; emergency shelter for 170 adults and children; and prevention education

Snippet from The Settlement

1st Donor

Courtesy of Love Purse

in area schools to 31,912 students in grades K–12.

Mutual Ground has many charitable giving and volunteer opportunities, including directly aiding victims (with appropriate volunteer training), community outreach, providing wish list items for clients, and serving on a fundraising or event committee. In addition, several job opportunities are currently available. See https://mutualground.org/ about/careers/ Mutual Ground has regular special events each year that would be a great opportunity for volunteer groups or company sponsorship.

This year’s events: Walk for Hope, May 15, Downtown Batavia Black and White Ball, October 14, Hotel Arista, Naperville

To help the clients of Mutual Ground, Main & Luxe is partnering with Love Purse and Occasions Boutique (3027 English Row Ave, Suite 111) to collect purses filled with toiletries for distribution at Mutual Ground. Purses should be between $20 to $30 in value to provide a similar experience to all recipients. You may drop off purses between March 1st and March 31st. Examples of what to include in the purse: feminine products, deodorant, soap, body lotion, hand sanitizer, tooth brush, tooth paste, mouth wash (no alcohol), lip balm, nail file, shower slippers, socks, face mask, comb, brush, shampoo, conditioner, face cloth, compact mirror, chocolates, mints, floss, note pad, pen, and a note of inspiration. If you wish to donate a luxury purse, Love Purse will raffle it during its annual ball in October. Love Purse was started by Maria Castro of Riverside, IL, after identifying a need in her community. This month is their 1-year anniversary. They have collected almost 6K purses thus far. They provide purses to non-profits throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. LovePurse.org

Mutual Ground is our featured 501(c)(3) for March, please consider donating or volunteering. Mutual Ground 418 Oak Avenue, Aurora https://mutualground.org/

By Jeanne Schultz Angel

America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries did not afford most women with individual rights… however, things were changing. Those who were strong-willed, opinionated, and determined not to let their gender limit them were beginning to gain strength. Caroline Martin Mitchell was among them. She was the grandchild of Scotch immigrants, a business leader, and a philanthropist, who ultimately determined the placemaking for what is today the fourth largest city in Illinois. In 1936, she donated through a trust agreement 212 acres of her family property to her hometown of Naperville, Illinois to support the city’s growth and to house a museum dedicated to preserving the area’s history. Her gift is now home to Naper Settlement, Central High School, Von Oven Scout Reservation, Sportsman’s Park, Community Garden Plots, Knoch Park, Rotary Hill, Edward Hospital Campus, and more. From its founding in 1831 to Caroline Martin Mitchell’s time a century later, Naperville evolved from a small pioneer outpost to a bustling farm and college town. As business owners and civic leaders, the Martin family played a critical role in the city’s progress, running one of the largest and most successful quarrying and manufacturing companies in the region, the Naperville Tile and Brick Works. After

her father’s untimely death, Caroline, her mother, and her sisters took over in this male dominated field and were respected as business women. Today, Naper Settlement occupies 13 lush acres of the original family property. It showcases the Martin family home, now fully restored to its Victorian splendor. Naper Settlement remains a thriving and vital cultural anchor for the city of approximately 150,000 people, hosting educational programs, concerts and other events and activities that fulfill Caroline Martin Mitchell’s vision of a permanent, public institution that celebrates Naperville’s history and its promising future. At a time when America is openly embracing gender and racial equity in business, government, and every other aspect of society, it’s important to honor women leaders from the past like Caroline Martin Mitchell whose resilience and determination helped to define a community.

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Courtesy of Naper Settlement

Live Here

She Sheds By Stephanie Anderson

oday’s woman takes on many roles in society, at home, and in the workplace. We are busy. We are multitaskers. And at times, we need an escape. And I’m not talking about the bathrooms or closets we’ve all retreated to in order to get a brief moment of peace and quiet. Rather, these should be spaces that allow for devoted work, relaxation, or even play. Enter the she shed. The she shed is the “ying” to the traditional man-cave’s “yang,” and they can be as unique as the women who occupy them. They can be something as simple as an office, a space to craft, a think-station, or a place to enjoy cocktails and gossip with friends. Whatever the desire, these spaces are incredibly fun to design; they are areas that offer the chance to reflect who you are and what you enjoy!

For those who may be just starting to consider this concept of a backyard escape away from the main house, there are several variables you may wish to consider: the size, the enhancements of the space, electricity, heating and cooling, and plumbing, to name a few. A customized, more elaborate space will require the help of your favorite designer/ contractor or there are companies specializing in prefabricated tiny houses, which could help you achieve similar results.

Main & Luxe, March 2022

On a personal note, my own she shed is currently in the drafting stage, culminating in a separated backyard studio for my business, SA Interiors. The opportunities this space will provide includes a quiet work environment for the team to be creative, a dedicated area to present clients’ drawings, and yes, even beverages with friends away from peeking eyes. For those with similar needs, an investment into a backyard office she shed may be more functional and cost effective than renting a monthly office space.

While designing the SA Interiors’ She Shed Studio, I made many thoughtful decisions about how the space should serve my needs and desires. It will have walls of windows to offer natural daylight for sample selection and ample shelving for materials and finishes, as well as a separate workspace for two employees. While these functional elements are important, the part of the design that lies near to my heart is the color schematic and finishes. Deep teal tones represent the brand, so shelving will be accented with our colors. Soft drapery sheers will be added to the windows to provide softness in the studio. A fur rug will function as the centerpiece of the studio to anchor everything together. And black-and-white artwork of past projects will accent the walls and act as a rewarding reminder of the finished products we’ve brought to our clients.

Exterior, rendering

Regarding the actual structure you can either hire a professional or do it yourself. Bantam Built, a company based out of Elgin, IL, specializes in tiny house construction and offers several options from standard floor plans to custom designs. They also provide assembly and final installation. For DIY enthusiasts or the budget-conscious, local big-box hardware stores sell prefabricated sheds that can be delivered right to your backyard. From there, you can spruce up the structure with your own design elements and personal décor. Whatever your she shed’s purpose, options and advice exist to help you turn your vision into reality. Why not invest in a space that allows you to focus on something that likely needs more attention: yourself. SA Interiors www.sainteriors.com

Courtesy of SA Interiors

Courtesy of Stephanie Anderson

M&L Live Here Author: Stephanie Anderson, owner of SA Interiors Stephanie is a Naperville designer with a BFA in Interior design. She enjoys collaborating with clients, hearing their stories, and discovering their aspirations so a space can be designed that is not only timeless and functional but unique to her clients.

Finer Things

Home Organization By Chris Wichmann

“

want my house to be less organized - said no person ever.

There was one room in my house that was not hot: my twin daughters’ bedroom (shared with two guinea pigs). Recently, I realized I’d originally go into their bedroom to tell them something or put laundry away, but it would instead turn into accusations of, “What happened to this room?!?” “Why are there clothes everywhere?!?” “Why do you think I will just do everything around here?!?” It was kind of negative.

I reached out to Melissa Garlough of MG Home Organizing. Melissa, my 11-year-old daughters, and I spent 3 ½ hours together organizing the bedroom. The best description I can offer

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Courtesy of MG Home Organizing

is that Melissa made this fun enough that two 11-year-olds stuck with it for 3 ½ hours until they got hungry and a little slap happy. Three weeks later, the results have been sticking.

Melissa tells us there aren’t any limits to what MG Home Organizing can systematize: basements, garages, home offices, closets, pantries, playrooms. Melissa has helped people with life changes, moving to new houses, and making homes operate more efficiently by paring down.

“The past two years have caused significant changes in household dynamics, and I have helped people keep up with those changes,” said Melissa. “People are spending more time in their homes. They want them to function better and feel more relaxing. Experienced home organizers are in demand to help people achieve these newfound

-Our Editor to her twins

Courtesy of MG Home Organizing

goals.” Are there home organization practices that work for everyone? Melissa has the following tips: •

•

MOTIVATE yourself and find an accountability person or group. Text before-and-after pictures to friends to encourage results. GROUP together all like items within the space. For example, if you’re organizing a mudroom or entryway closet, are all the gloves in the same area or are they tucked into different spots?

FILTER out all items no longer needed or that don’t belong in the room. I recommend filling boxes designated with certain categories: items to disperse throughout the house, items to donate,

•

“

In fact, three of the best-rated home makeover shows on TV are “Get Organized with the Home Edit” and “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix and “Hot Mess House” on HGTV. From racks to store sporting equipment and yard equipment in the garage (baseball bats, hockey sticks, rakes, shovels, etc.) to shelves and bins to compartmentalize the pantry (soup cans, spices, extra paper towels, etc.), the opportunities in home organization seem limited only by the imagination. Studies show it’s good for your brain, stress levels, and productivity. De-cluttering and organizing are hot.

What happened to this room?!? Why are there clothes everywhere?!? Why do you think I will just do everything around here?!?

and items to discard. You might also benefit from a fourth category: things that require an action, such as something you never got around to fixing. ORGANIZE the items by keeping them in containers that are appropriately sized. Keep items close to the area they’re used and make it as easy as possible for items to be used and then put away.

LABEL containers to help family members find items. This will also keep them accountable for putting items back in the right place.

MAINTAIN organization by explaining the system to everyone in the household and encourage all to be as consistent as possible.

Filtering is a big step for many. “Helping people through this step is one of my strengths,” said Melissa. “Some clients need permission to let go of items. The item may have been a gift, expensive, or rarely used, so many people feel bad giving it away. People hold on to things they don’t need because, ‘What if I need it one day?’”

“I joke, if I don’t receive lots of exclamation marks and hearts in a text message after a session, I didn’t do my job well.” Melissa’s rate is $45/hour. She comes highly recommended by many Napervillians.

Before

Courtesy of MG Home Organizing

After

Courtesy of MG Home Organizing

Melissa coaches clients through making those hard decisions and reminds them that moving forward helps bring new energy into their lives. “My primary job is to work as hard as I can to organize a space for my clients, and hopefully alleviate stress in the process,” said Melissa.

Luxe Liaison By JD Hollyfield

Courtesy of JD Hollyfield

Author: JD Hollyfield JD is a USA Today best-selling author with over 60K reviews on Goodreads. Her father was Naperville’s Director of City Planning in the 70s. She lives in Plainfield. She has a BA in Advertising from Western Illinois University and an Event Planning Certification from Harper College.

MG Home Organizing https://www. mghomeorganizing.com/ (630) 453-0421

My name is JD Hollyfield!

I am a USA Today Bestselling Romance Author who is also a contributing writer with Main & Luxe. Outside of magazine assignments, I spend my days writing spicy happily-everafters. But I am strategic about each plot. My characters don’t find their way to each other because of pure luck. It’s careful planning and a puzzle board of ideas and plots. There’s angst, fighting, push back, and heated tension. M & L asked me to think about a column to have a dialog with our readers – a chance for me to give you romantic inspiration from my years of research and writing! You provide a scenario, and I will provide advice from a romance novelist’s perspective.

Ask me all your burning questions and let me answer with my creative romanticinspired take.

I’ll give our readers ideas about dates, setting the mood, and all the little things in between. Everyone deserves a happily ever after (or in this case a happily-ever date night.)

We are setting up a fully open Google Form. All feedback is anonymous - so whatever happens behind the sheets (of this column), stays there. Ask away!

https://forms.gle/ D98K74FKVWQGGQrd8 Main & Luxe, March 2022

Profile

Essential Leadership N

icki Anderson embodies this issue. She is a woman empowered. Nicki tells us her empowerment is from being stuck in her toddler brain of being chronically curious and listening to herself. “When your intuition kicks in and you have people telling you not to go down an unknown path, trust yourself to go forward and own your success. Embrace the curiosity!” Nicki’s curiosity has taken her down many different paths: she has been a stay-athome mom, a business owner, the Chamber of Commerce CEO, a published writer, and currently, a university program director. She is passionate and trusts herself and her decisions along the way, even if the next step is not what she might have expected. There are nuggets from each of her life phases to inspire all of us.

Nicki moved to Naperville as an infant in the early 60s. (She made note to tell us there were 13,000 people at the time—so tiny compared to today!) Her early years were spent in the East Highlands and Cress Creek neighborhoods. In middle school, her family moved to Florida for a year and then to Texas where she finished high school. With Naperville never far from mind and with a contact at The Second City, Nicki, a theater major, moved back to Naperville. She rented an apartment on Center Street in the Historic District. There, she met her future husband, Bill Anderson, who lived in the same building. From that point forward, Naperville remained Nicki’s permanent home.

Main & Luxe, March 2022

Bill and Nicki were married a few years later. As their family expanded to four children, Nicki embraced her new role and responsibilities as a stayat-home mom. She ushered the kids to school, practice, and everything in between. The evenings were her time. She read different publications and wrote, submitting several poems to the children’s magazine, Ladybug.

One evening, she was reading through Publishers Weekly and saw an advertised course on personal training. She studied when she could, mostly at night. Nicki remarked that she used the time as meditation for her to center herself throughout the hectic weeks. After a year, Nicki received her personal training certification. After seven years as a stay-at-home mom, Nicki decided to become a business owner and take her newly formed approach to health to the world.

In 1993, Nicki launched Lifetime Fitness. (A name that was ultimately changed to Reality Fitness due to the other one we know today—although check out that picture with Oprah!) She specialized in inhome personal training and fitness. Nicki describes herself as someone in the confidence building business. For her, this came via self-care and selfcompassion. When she found herself regularly driving from Western Springs to Arlington Heights to Plainfield, she opened a studio with individual rooms to truly allow each trainer to focus on their clients during their time at her facility.

“

When your intuition kicks in and you have people telling you not to go down an unknown path, trust yourself to go forward and own your success. Embrace the curiosity!

At this same time, Nicki also wrote four books (including, Reality Fitness: Inspiration for Health and Well-Being and Nicki Anderson’s Single-Step Weight Loss Solution: 101 No-Nonsense Tips for Healthy Living, Weight Loss, and a Diet-Free Life), contributed fitness articles to several magazines, sat on three advisory boards, took on ad hoc

Nicki Anderson, Director, LEADS Program Benedictine University

“

By Ashley South

speakership opportunities, and ran her business (in addition to all the activities of a wife and mother). The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce noticed. They were going through some leadership changes, and the board approached her about coming on as the first woman CEO. As a Chamber member, the organization had been good

Courtesy of Nicki Anderson

Nicki’s studio grand opening (before name change), 1998

to Nicki. She also had ideas for changes. She took the job. From 2014 to 2019, she was the CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Meetings and idea sharing became intentional under her tutelage. During her time, she created the mastermind groups of business leaders, revamped the speaker’s bureau, and put the Chamber back on the map as a solid support system for its members.

During her time as CEO, Nicki was regularly invited to speak at different events. Her background as a business owner and then Chamber president made her connections to the community vast and her story unique. After speaking at Benedictine University’s graduation commencement in 2019, President Charles Gregory of the university approached Nicki about developing a women’s leadership program at the college. He told her he had a dream of creating a program for the young women at the school. After her speech, he was convinced she was the right woman to bring his dream alive. Seeing this as a platform to help bring her messages of selfcare and empowerment, Nicki accepted the position. Nicki and President Gregory established LEADS (Leadership, Empowerment, Action, Development and Service), a Women in Leadership Program,

Courtesy of Nicki Anderson

Yes, that’s Oprah Circa 1995

Courtesy of Nicki Anderson

Inside the Chamber, TV show on NCTV17

in 2020. It is a four-year cocurricular leadership program for incoming freshman women. Nicki built the program from the ground up. Starting off, she looked around to see what other schools were doing. Many colleges and universities have women in leadership programs, but she found that very few had structured programs that lasted all four years, so they created one. “At the core, LEADS is a selfactualization program where the classes help the young women discover who they are and how they can take strengths and turn them into successful leadership traits. When you have the opportunity to work with young women and talk about how they convey themselves in their work, they begin to develop self-trust and confidence.” Nicki has helped so many people from her clients at Reality Fitness, to local businesses in Naperville, to the students at Benedictine

Courtesy of Nicki Anderson

University. Nicki shared with us that she wasn’t always selfconfident. She struggled with her weight in her teen years, and she inflicted negative self-talk on herself. She generally felt a sense of dissatisfaction with whatever she did. She told us that changed when she was 17. Her manager of Gym-n-Trim, where she worked after high school, told her he saw something in her and introduced her to the world of motivational speakers. She was introduced to people who told her repeatedly that she was special. That message won over after some time. From there, she decided she deserved to be satisfied with herself and took charge of her actions, which included self-care. She advised that if you are struggling, ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Ask hard questions: Why are you doing what you are doing? Why now? And have an honest discussion with yourself.

Honorary Degree

Courtesy of Nicki Anderson

Empowerment and confidence is in ownership, owning who you are fully and unapologetically! From theater major to creator to director of a women in leadership program, Nicki changed course along her route but stayed on her own personal path of empowering others. LEADS Program www.ben.edu/leads

Main & Luxe, March 2022

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