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Woman Wednesday: Sam

October 24, 2018December 6, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged adventure, advice, blog, business, college, comfort, cool, cute, dreams, education, educational, enriching, environment, farm, farm life, farmland, feminism, for women, friendship, future, inspiration, job, life, life lesson, life lessons, love, memories, money, motivation, New Jersey, people, photography, photos, shorts, small biz, small business, stories, story, sunshine, sunshine fields, support small business, tips, travel, travels, trends, true stories, university, women, wood work, woodworking, wwomanLeave a comment

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.

Q and A with Sam, Sunshine Fields, New Jersey

“There’s such a disconnect now with the way we ‘should’ live our lives and the way we want to live our lives. I graduated college, received a degree, got a good job in a good city, and I’m sure to many that would be a total success story, but it wasn’t the end of mine.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: My largest passion is people- helping people and working with people. I think that’s partially why I wanted to start up my own businesses (so I could do that all of the time).

My two current businesses are Forest & Farm and Sunshine Fields NJ (both I’m working on with my other half and partner of 4 years, who totally also deserves credit)! His name is Matt.

Forest & Farm is our woodworking and home decor business. It basically started by us building all of the furniture for our first apartment together. Matt is an engineer, and I’m an artist. Together, we figured we’d DIY our way through everything (coffee tables, shelves, dinner tables, dressers…), and eventually, everything in our home became handmade! We wanted to share that with others, so we started wholesaling, retailing, and opened up our own Etsy shop. We are constantly doing custom made projects for people.

Sunshine Fields is a 115+ acre family flower farm (Matt’s parents primarily grow wholesale flowers there, but we decided to open up to the public for the first time ever this year!) The two of us planted pumpkins together, cut a 5+ acre corn maze together, and crafted all of the games and activities for this two-month long fall festival. Again, we wanted to share this with others. This farm is such a peaceful place, filled with beautiful flowers and family, and we felt it was so worth opening to the public.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: As a young kid, I heavily enjoyed four (…well, five) things: art, animals, music, being outdoors 100% of the time, and being a tomboy. I had fears, but generally, I always identified myself as a strong girl capable of learning anything (from learning how to play guitar in middle school to learning how to skate in college.) There’s never really a limit to what you can do.

When I was 14 years old, I ended up entering a beauty pageant (pretty unlike my tomboy self) for Filipino-Americans in the US (I’m half Filipino, half Irish), and I ended up winning that thing. I’ve always felt sensitive talking about it, mostly because I never wanted to feel any sort of entitlement or be different than anyone else. I really only wanted to win to break this negative facade of pageants and complete the charity work. I think it was a huge pivotal moment in my teen years and in becoming who I am. I had this opportunity to actually do something. When you’re that young, and you fly to the Philippines, and you live out this dream of helping others and donating yourself and your heart to others, it’s a little wild. I’ve always had that in the back of my heart (this feeling of a desire to be a part of something greater than myself).

Fast-forward to me sitting at a desk in an office in the corporate world. It just couldn’t cut it for me. I had multiple internships and jobs in New York City. I left those for smaller non-profits, and I tried out a whole bunch of career opportunities. As cool as the experiences were, there was just something that never really felt right. I couldn’t shake this feeling that I could really do something and really start something, so I left those jobs to try to figure it all out. It’s still a little crazy to say that [laughs], but I figured it’d be worth a shot.

Q:What is something valuable you’ve learned that you’d like others to know?

A: There’s such a disconnect now with the way we ‘should’ live our lives and the way we want to live our lives. I graduated college, received a degree, got a good job in a good city, and I’m sure to many that would be a total success story, but it wasn’t the end of mine.

If I had gone to college and if someone would have told me that starting up two businesses at 23 years old would be difficult and impractical, maybe it would have made me want to do it more (…maybe)! I mean, just to know that the thought would even possible at all would have been pretty cool. We should feel more empowered to do this. I think I’ve been going through this process of both losing and finding myself throughout the things that I’ve done. It’s really (really) hard to put yourself out there and chase an idea, or a dream, in a vulnerable state. It takes courage, and it’s underrated.

Q: What would you like others to learn from your story?

A: Take the plunge, and do what you like to do. You have nothing to lose. Trust me, literal blood, sweat, and tears and every penny I have has gone into everything I’ve done. I’m still terrified. It’s still really dang hard, but there is still nothing to lose (…& I should really take my own advice)! There is nothing more rewarding than doing it.

Check out Sam’s shop!

ETSY: www.etsy.com/shop/forestnfarm

Sam’s Instagram Profiles to Follow:

@sunshinefieldsnj & @forestnfarmco

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Woman Wednesday: Miriam

October 17, 2018December 6, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, blog, brand, college, comfort, cool, cute, dreams, education, educational, family, fashion, feminism, for women, future, inspiration, job, life, love, memories, mother, motivation, people, photography, photos, stories, story, tips, trends, true stories, womenLeave a comment

Q and A with Miriam, San Diego, California

“Believe you are valuable. Invest in yourself. Work toward your goals, and be proud when you accomplish something.”

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’m currently an independent team leader with Color Street. I’m also a mother of two and happily married to a United States Marine. I moved to Maryland back in 2015, and I’m originally from California. Moving to the east coast was a huge change for me. After having my second baby, working full-time at my pharmacy career wasn’t realistic with having to look into childcare for the very first time. Having the only option to stay mostly at home was very devastating to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids, but I went to school for a full-time career and working full-time was the only thing I ever have known to do.

Miriam and her husband, United States Marine

Miriam is proud to show off her Color Street!
I started looking into what I could possibly do at home to make a stay at home income for myself. I came across direct sales companies. I had never previously known about them. After a lot of time spent looking into them, I jumped right in!

To date, I have been with Color Street for about a year now, and I can’t even fully express my emotions on how much this company means to me. Not only have I accomplished replacing my full-time income from what I was making working in a pharmacy, but I have found what I love doing!

Photography Courtesy of Faith Nicole Photography

I couldn’t ask for any greater reward than helping so many ladies conquer their goals and fears! My goal for myself is to continue leading and helping those who have the same passion as me. I strongly believe that anyone could do what they set their mind to and accomplish it for themselves.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up really fast. I had my daughter when I was 17. It wasn’t easy, but I strongly believe that I wouldn’t be who I am today without her. She taught me so many things about myself along the way. Even though times were not easy, you get through them and become stronger.

Q: What is something valuable you’ve learned that you’d like other to know?

A: Something valuable I’ve learned is to believe I am valuable.

Believe you are valuable. Invest in yourself. Work toward your goals, and be proud when you accomplish something. Like the known quote, “No one is you, and that is your super power.”

Q: What would you like others to learn from your story?
A: I hope that whether you are a stay at home mom, a wife, a college student, that you know that anyone as an individual can accomplish anything. It depends on whether or not you believe you can. I hope that you don’t settle. Create a life you really enjoy.

Women can do anything! I stay at home with my kids, work part-time nights, be a wife, and work my business full-time. I make it work, and that’s why I believe others can do it too. Who doesn’t like being their own boss?!

Get in touch with Miriam:

Instagram : beautykissednails_

Website: www.beautykissednails.com

https://m.facebook.com/groups/406348223133111

Miriam & My Lilianas would love to hear from you! Comment below!

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Woman Wednesday: Corrie

October 3, 2018December 6, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, animal love, animals, blog, bunnies, cats, change majors, college, college life, cute, deals, dogs, dreams, education, educational, environment, family, feminism, for women, friendship, Inspirational, job, life, lizards, love, mass media, memories, motivation, people, photography, photos, stories, story, story to be told, teaching, tips, Towson University, trends, true stories, university, womenLeave a comment

Q and A with Corrie, Baltimore County, Maryland

Teacher, Animal Lover, Towson University Alumni

“I wasn’t a failure or a quitter for changing my major. I was making myself happy. I also learned that it is very hard to stick with something when people are against you, but in the end, it is worth it.”

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: My passions include teaching, animals, and conservation.
I am currently a 4th grade teacher. I absolutely love teaching. I feel at home in a classroom surrounded by students. My students bring out the best in me, and my goal is that I can do the same for them.

I didn’t always want to be a teacher. When I was younger, I saw myself working with animals. My first job was being a kennel technician at an animal hospital. I eventually moved on to be a veterinary technician, which I continued to do all throughout college. While working at the animal hospital, I started being a nanny for a doctor that I worked with. I instantly fell in love with being around the kids. I really enjoyed helping them with their homework. I started to rethink my entire life path, and I became a teacher.
My love and compassion for animals never went away. Being a teacher allows me to teach my students about animals and conservation. I enjoy telling my students about all my pets- most of them are rescues. We talk often about the impact we have on our environment and the animals we share our environment with. I constantly let them know that they can be an advocate for animals and our environment in many ways.

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Q: What were your younger years like?
A: My family has had the biggest impact on my life. I was raised by my father. He was a single parent raising myself and my brothers. My dad worked hard to give us a great life. Every day, I strive to make him proud. Growing up in a family of all men wasn’t always easy. Let’s face it; girls and boys are different. I didn’t have a lot of confidence around other girls and women. I wasn’t used to being around them. My dad is amazing and always encouraged me to be a strong woman. He even bought me books about how to be a strong woman when I was in middle school. He knew how important it was for me to feel comfortable in my own skin.

When I was in college, I started as a biology major. I was almost finished with my degree when I decided to pursue teaching. Most people were very supportive, but of course, some were not. People thought I was crazy when I told them I was switching majors. They questioned my motives. They often brought up my love for animals, and they brought up the cost of education. There were a few times when I almost decided not to switch majors and to just stick with what I started. I’m glad I didn’t. I learned a few valuable lessons from that experience. One thing I learned is that change isn’t a bad thing. I wasn’t a failure or a quitter for changing my major. I was making myself happy. I also learned that it is very hard to stick with something when people are against you, but in the end, it is worth it. The last thing I learned was that a great support system is so important. My husband, Tony, who was my fiancé at the time, supported me in my decision to no end. He was my biggest advocate and supporter. I would like others to learn that change can be a good thing, to always stick with what your mind and heart are telling you, and to keep positive people in your life.

Q:What does feminism mean to you?
A: What does feminism mean to me? That used to be a very hard question for me. I honestly used to believe that feminism was a negative word. I thought it was a word that was used to describe women who hated men. I was raised by my father and brothers, so, of course I didn’t hate men. It took me a while to realize that feminism doesn’t have to be negative. To me, feminism means believing in yourself as a woman. It means knowing that you can do anything and everything you put your mind to. Feminism means wanting the best for all women. It means wanting to see women succeed in their careers and life.

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Mindset, ready, go!

September 25, 2018November 29, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, animals, blog, business, comfort, cool, environment, Faith, family, feminism, film, fulfilled, fulfillment, happiness, happy, happy life, how to be happy, inspiration, Inspirational, life, life lessons, live, live happily, live happy, motivation, outlook, people, photography, positive, positive mindset, stories, story, teaching, tips, travel, trends, true stories, tv, womenLeave a comment

Have you ever wondered, “How can I be happier?” Have you ever Googled ‘How to be happy’? Or have you ever purchased a self-help book on how to find happiness? Keep on reading, and you will learn tips and tricks on how to be truly happy.

One of the things many happy people and successful people have in common is a positive mindset.

Think positively.

Have confidence in yourself.
We all know it’s easier said than done.
As someone who grew up with little self-confidence and lots of self-doubt, I know what it’s like to struggle with confidence.
Being verbally harassed in middle school and high school (by some of the people closest to me) certainly took a large toll on my confidence.

Here’s the thing: There’s always going to be someone who’s trying bring you down. So while everyone is trying to diminish your happiness, what can you do to make yourself happy?

First, the secret…that is not such a secret, but rather a true fact we need to internalize.

Here it is:

The worst enemy of all is not those trying to tear you down, the worst enemy of all is yourself.

Who was my worst enemy? My peers? My friends? My family?

No.

My worst enemy was myself.

I was the one who believed what they said. I consumed their insults and took their words to heart. I chose to care about their opinions of me.
By believing in their words, I chose to not think very highly of myself.
I said the worst things imaginable to myself.

I found myself very unhappy and wanting to change that.

Did it happen overnight?

No.
Confidence doesn’t happen overnight, but like many wise people say, “You gotta fake it till you make it!” Over time, you won’t be just ‘faking it’ anymore. You will realize how truly amazing and special you are.

So, how did I fake it?

Keep on reading, and I will tell you.
It will take effort and small changes each and every day, but start now, and it will pay off for you if you’re consistent and driven.

You can do it! I have confidence in you.

Here are a few strategies that have worked for me.
1. Tell yourself 3 positive things about yourself each day. You can say them aloud, to yourself in the mirror, write them down, or just say them in your mind. I prefer to do this in the morning as my “self-love” routine–that way I don’t forget!

2. Remind yourself that no one is superior to you. Everyone is human–it is as simple as that. Others may have accomplished more, but who is saying you cannot accomplish what they have or more than what they have?

3. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your goals. What do you want to improve on? Write them down and hang them up somewhere you can see each day. Create steps to achieve those goals! Each step you take will feel like little successes helping you get to your end goal. In addition to this, pursue what you are passionate about. You only live once…(unless you believe in reincarnation)…so get moving!

4. Spread the love! Go up to at least one person a day and let them know you appreciate them. It can be as simple as a genuine compliment. This will spread positivity, and you will feel its effects.

5. Take care of yourself. Gym? A hearty breakfast? Music to get you in the mood? I start my day with a workout and dancing to some music—even just five minutes of movement has a large positive impact on my entire day.

6. Smile with reckless abandon! Forcing yourself to smile more, to others, and in the mirror, will actually make you start to smile for real.

7. Help others. You can volunteer or it can be something small. For example, you can start by holding the door for someone, giving someone some spare change, give someone some good advice, or help a friend move into their new home. It will make you feel a sense of purpose.

8. Make changes. Are you too comfortable in your current job or position in life? Maybe you need to make a change and get out of your comfort zone. Maybe you want to try something new? Only you can make that decision!

9. Talk it out. Make connections with others. Sometimes, we need to just talk with someone else. Talk with a friend or family member. If there is not one who will willingly listen to you, seek other people or other outlets. Look up local events in your area, join an online chatroom, or just strike up a conversation with a stranger. There are many people in the world you can reach out to.

10. Recreate your favorite memory in your mind. Get in that mental happy place. Remember that happy memory, and keep it in storage for a rainy day! If it helps, think about it every day.

11. Going forward, what made your favorite memory your favorite memory? Are there aspects of it that you can bring into your current life? Make the changes in your life yourself. No one else is going to make them for you.

Most important of all:

When you are focused on yourself, accomplishing your goals, and working towards your dream, you will find that you are more happier than ever.

When will you be your happiest? When you accomplish your dream.

So, do not give up! Have a positive mindset, and work towards everything you want!

You’ll notice that just by making these changes and taking steps to achieve your passions, you will be a lot happier.

When you are happy, it will pour into all facets of your life.

So, what are you waiting for?

Follow these steps, and go be happy! 🙂

We’d love to hear about you, your experiences, and your story! Please~ we encourage you~ to comment down below.

Woman Wednesday: Faith

September 12, 2018December 6, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, beauty, blog, brand, career, college, comfort, cool, cute, deals, dreams, education, educational, environment, Faith, family, family memories, fashion, feminism, for women, friends memories, friendship, future, goals, inspiration, Inspirational, inspire, job, life, love, mass media, memories, money, mother, motivation, people, photography, photography services, photos, shorts, small business, stories, story, teaching, tips, travel, trends, true stories, value, washington DC, wedding, women1 Comment

Q and A with Faith, White Marsh, Maryland

“Look back to when you were younger, and see if what you love now is what you loved back then. Often, the things we loved when we were kids are the things we have a true passion for.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

As a mom, wife, and a full-time manager, I have a very busy schedule every day! I love every minute, and yes, sometimes everything can go up then down, but it all seems to manage itself out. I love being a mom to a wonderful 10 month old as well as a stepmom to 2 kids- both 8 and 9 years old. I love every second I can be with them. I am a full-time manager with a company geared towards children for 9 years. I’m very thankful for the love and support of my husband, mom, and sister so that I can do what I truly love– which is photography. I have been a photographer for around 7 years, and I seriously started doing it as a business two years ago in 2016. Over these two years, I have grown so much. Photography is a skill you can learn and teach yourself by doing it hands on and watching videos. I started my passion of photography originally by shooting nature photography. I loved capturing the waterfront where I lived plus the woods and animals all around me. Especially when I went on trips, I loved taking my camera and capturing every moment. Photography can be so relaxing whether during a session or event or when editing the images.

I love all the support and feedback I get from not only family and friends, but from my loyal clients as well! Some have been with me since 2016 and through my growth. I hope they stick by me through many more years. I also hope to be full time with photography in at max 5 years and not just part time- like I am now. I would love to have my own studio one day. I do sessions and events for all kinds from family, newborn, maternity, birthdays, weddings, and much more! Recently, I started a new venture in my career and started shooting weddings! This has been a huge step to further my career, and I can’t wait for all the new adventures this brings me. If you ever need any photography done, you can contact me through my Facebook page Faith Nicole Photography. I’m located in White Marsh, Maryland, but willing to travel in Maryland or another state. I would love to capture your family memories for you to keep forever.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I come from of a family of three kids. As a middle child, I always found way to keep myself busy in addition to playing with my siblings and cousins. We lived an outdoor life, which consisted of always playing games, fishing, and anything under the sun. If I wasn’t outside, I was indoors playing school or doing arts and crafts (especially painting and drawing). I was a very shy and quiet kid when I was younger. I worked really hard in school and was mostly on the honor roll. I graduated in 2010 from Eastern Tech High school where I was a part of the culinary program. After high school, I didn’t go to college like most of the kids I graduated with. I wanted to, but I really wanted to work and become independent. I wanted to make sure I could pay for what I wanted and needed without having to ask my parents for it. Even now, working full-time, plus running my own business, I work very hard not only to support myself, but also my family. I think being so creative and independent when I was younger helped me grow to where I am now and it especially has helped with running my own business. I still have a lot to learn, but as I tell others, you can only learn best by doing it and trying.

Q: What would you like others to learn from your story?

A: The most important thing to know is to always follow your dreams and passion. Even when I get discouraged and want to give up, I always try to remind myself that it will all work out. I look back at my work from the past, and I honestly cringe to see how different and little I knew back then. I’m still learning until this day about how to take photos. I even have severely upgraded my equipment from a simple cheap camera to now a professional DSLR camera along with a lot of other equipment, props, backdrops and more. I will grow and grow every year the more I practice and work on my passion. I organize throwbacks next to current work to show my clients and others the difference from time to time. I love and appreciate my clients that have stayed with me throughout my growth, and I truly appreciate it from the heart. Basically what I’m saying is… don’t give up as it will be a struggle at times, but you will make it through. Keep working on everything you want, and you will get it one day! Despite a bad review here or there, you will get many more good reviews. Keep doing what you love, and I support you along the way too!

The best way to learn from my story is look back to when you were younger, and see if what you love now is what you loved back then. Often the things we loved when we were kids are the things we have a true passion for. Mine was photography throughout the years among doing many other things such as girl scouts, soccer, gymnastic, karate, and being an adventurous and crafty kid. Even through high school and then when I started working, I always admired photography and seeing everything in a creative point of view. In 2016, my passion clicked in my head, and I started doing what I loved to do again. I enjoyed seeing the faces and reactions of my clients once they saw their images. Now with the growth I have had, the reactions are even greater, and I hope they will be further down the road. Doing what you love to do will make your life that much greater. But to add to that, it is your family and friends who make it even much greater. Capture those memories forever, because everyone grows up too fast and changes. I love being able to capture the memories for all people to keep and look back on years from now, and for your kids and grandkids to see many, many years from now.