I am an entrepreneur, makeup artist, stay at home mom to three kids, and wife.  My children are 14, 4 and 1.  The oldest is a boy and the other two are girls.

I was a middle school science teacher for 10 years and left when I had my second child.  I love helping women feel and look beautiful not just for big special events, but everyday.  I love enhancing a woman’s natural beauty and I have the ability to create her a custom foundation that will ensure she looks flawless always.  I really love teaching women how to do their makeup as well.  My love for teaching will never go away, it has just evolved as I have changed career paths.

I love to read, I hardly have time, but I love it.  I have to read a real book and paper backs are my favorite.  I enjoy the sense of accomplishment I feel when I get to the end and close the cover.  Being a business owner and mom leaves me little time to read, but having a book club that meets monthly really pushes me to carve out time for myself to do what I love.

Travel and time with family is super important to my husband and I.  We travel with the kids a few times a year and also try to travel just the two of us when family can watch the kids.  I love seeing the world and I want my children to experience different cultures and appreciate the differences and similarities we have.  My favorite place that I have traveled to so far has been Paris and I want to go back in a few years.  We are also a snowboarding/skiing family and every winter we head to the mountains.  I taught my son how to snowboard when he was 4 and my daughter learned to ski at 3.  The youngest still just hangs out in the lodge, but in a few years we will all be on the mountain together and I look forward to that so much!

2. What is a typical day like for you?

My day starts with the wake up nudge from my 4 year old.  We come down stairs, I get her breakfast and then its coffee and my gratitude journal.  I love writing what I am grateful for and what I want to accomplish that day when I am first waking.  It puts me in such a good mood and starts my day on a positive note (no matter how early I am woken up).  Sometimes I get to finish my hot cup of coffee, but usually my littlest is waking up before then and its mommy mode until nap time.  During nap time I put on my business lady hat and get to work, answering emails, responding to calls/texts, and growing my business.

After nap its fun time…. we go to the zoo, museums, library, etc until it’s time to come home and cook dinner.  We have dinner at the table and talk about the day.  By this time my husband is home to and loves hearing what the girls and I did all day long.   We play a little more or watch a tv show and then its bath, stories and bed time.  Sometimes I go out before bedtime to see friends or network.  I love having some time to be an adult and enjoy adult conversations.  The other nights I get to curl up on the couch with my hubby and we watch some TV or I crush him in cards or scrabble.

3. On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day?

The kids are my motivation most of the time.  Sometimes it is my drive to do well and be a success that gets me up.  Both motivators ensure that things will get done and that I come through.

4. Who inspires you to live your best life?

Is it wrong to say myself?!  I have really started to be more present and conscious about the choices I make.  I mean, I want to be living my best life so that my husband and my kids are also living their best lives too, but it’s me, I push myself.  Over the past 4 years I have read many books about personal growth, getting out of your comfort zone and designing your life to be what you really want and because of this, I feel that I am now living the best life for me.  There are some things that I still want to accomplish to ensure that my whole family benefits from me doing the best I can, but I have found my path and am loving it.

5. If you could go back and tell your 13 year old self something….what would that be?

Stop judging yourself by everyone else’s standards; you are an amazing person and will do great things with your life.  No one else should tell you what you should/need to be.  Stop hating the way you look; you’re beautiful.

6. What is your favorite quote?

One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals – Michelle Obama

7. You are inspiring women to get out there and love themselves, what piece of advice would you give them?

Stop letting other people define you by their definition of beauty.  Love yourself fully for you are amazing and strong.  You have only this one life, do not waste it hating yourself.  Give yourself love;  You are worth it!