A Must-Read for New or Expectant Moms

Y'all. My word.

If you've had kids or are expecting a baby, (or maybe in nursing school yourself), you NEED to read this post by my friend Rachel. She's a Labor & Delivery nurse and today, she's sharing the details and emotions of her job with the blog world.

She's one of my all-time favorite bloggers and internet friends and one of these days, I'm going to meet her in person. (Seriously Rachel, this needs to happen. It's been like six years.)

Read up, gals.

This is Her Story: {Melissa}

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Happy Tuesday, Blonde Ambitioners! Today's special guest is Melissa.

Melissa is a middle school teacher and fellow blonde, twenty-something just trying to make her mark on the world, one student at a time. Read more about challenging and often under appreciated job that is teaching!

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Name: Melissa

Age: 26

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Profession: 8th Grade Math Teacher

Meet Melissa!

Hello everyone! I’m so happy to be posting here today! When I saw that Leslie was doing the This Is Her Story series, I knew immediately that I wanted to participate. I’ve loved reading all of the different stories so far, and I hope my story will give you some better insight into the teaching profession in today’s world!

I grew up in Marietta (a large Northern suburb of Atlanta), Georgia and went to high school in the same school system that my Mom and Dad grew up in. My entire family is from Georgia, so I grew up with my extended family always around me and still see them often. I have one brother that currently plays college baseball. I attended the University of Georgia where I got my degree in Middle School Education. After a fun few years in Athens, I made the big move to Atlanta where I met my boyfriend, Roman. We have been together now for two and a half years, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us!

I am currently in my fourth year of teaching. I teach 8th grade math at a school that is about 40 miles outside of Atlanta in the state’s largest school system. This also happens to be one of the largest urban school districts in the country. My school consists of about 60% Black and Hispanic students with the other 40% being White and a small percentage of other minority groups. We currently are one of the top performing middle schools in our district despite a more than 40% free and reduced lunch population. Having grown up in a wealthy, Upper Middle Class school system where minorities were almost non-existent, my experience in teaching this population of students has opened my eyes in so many ways. I am continually amazed at the accomplishments of my students yet saddened by the hardships that so many of them and their families face. From homelessness to unimaginable poverty to illiteracy to non-English speaking families to crime infested lives, I have grown to admire my students and learn from them as much as, if not more than, they learn from me.

Melissa's classroom

When did you decide that you wanted to be a teacher?

I think that, deep down, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. As a kid, I was always playing school with my friends and pretending to be a teacher. In fifth grade, I was voted “Most Likely to Become a 5th Grade Teacher” by my classmates. But, my parents were both very successful in the business world. My Dad is the Vice President of Sales for his company, and my Mom (who is now “retired” at the age of 46) was a very successful IT Manager for a big company here in Atlanta. When I went to college, I didn’t really think that I would ever pursue anything other than a business degree. Once I started taking business classes, that mindset quickly changed. I realized that, although I really was interested in the business world, I could never see myself working an office/desk job. On a whim, I dropped a class, went to the school of education, figured out what I needed to do to switch my major, and made up my mind that I was going to be a middle school math teacher. Just like that.

What we are doing in class now…LOVE these letters my BFF made for my board this year!

Was it a risky choice as a second semester sophomore? Sure. But, something told me that this was the path that was best for me. In the end, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

What is the most challenging part of your job? The most rewarding?


The most challenging part of my job is putting myself in the shoes of my kids. If you were to think back to when you were in eighth grade, most of you would probably cringe. I know I do. I hated middle school, but that is also one of the reasons I LOVE teaching middle schoolers. I know how rough that time in your life can be, but I also know how much better things can get post-middle school. I try to help my students see that. Sometimes, this is the most difficult part of my job. Other times, the most difficult part is putting myself in their shoes and trying to understand what they are going through. Whether it is issues with family, friends, boys/girls, other teachers…these all effect kids of this age in a huge way. Although I sometimes struggle with relating to them, when I do make a connection with a kid, it is the most rewarding thing about my job.

(The best piece of technology EVER…my Interwrite Tablet!  I can walk around the room and write on it while I’m teaching…to catch those sleepers!)

What has been your proudest day as a teacher thus far in your career?

The proudest day for me as a teacher came this year. One of my former students who was a really tough student to handle came back to visit me one afternoon. We were talking about how his high school experience was going and how his grades in his classes were. This kid had given me such a hard time the year before, and his parents made my life as a teacher less than easy. In the middle of our conversation, he stopped suddenly and said, “Thank you for pushing me so hard.” This little jokester kid didn’t know it at the time, but his words will stick with me forever. And for that, I am forever grateful to him.

I took a tip from a former coworker of mine during my first year of teaching to keep a file of happy thoughts during my career. As a teacher, there are so many moments when you get bogged down by negativity, either from administrators, parents, students, or even coworkers. That day, I wrote down what this student had said to me and put it in my file along with everything else I’ve added over the years. I can’t wait to look back on all of those pictures, notes, and memories one day when I’m old and gray.

Continued

This is Her Story: {Rachel}

Good morning and happy Tuesday, Blonde Ambitoners! Today's guest star needs no intro; most of you in the blog world are probably already familiar with the fabulousity known as Rachel Dillard, author of Simple Little Joys, one of my personal fav blogs.

Rachel, (in addition to being beautiful, genuine and a real woman after the Lord), is one of the most inspiring people I think I know. Her story of getting healthy and losing weight for the RIGHT reasons motivated me to get my rear off the couch. Hopefully it will inspire you, too!

Rachel dealt with an issue that all of us girls have faced at one time or another: The Battle of the Scale. She is living proof that with hard work, sweat and a firey sense of motivation, one can accomplish anything.

Without any further rambling, here is the person I'm so blessed to call my friend, Miss Rachel!

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When Leslie approached me and asked me to write a post for her blog, I was shocked and humbled. I never thought that one of my most favorite bloggers would want to put my story on her blog for all the world to see. As she introduced her new series of posts, I knew I'd love them because Leslie never lets us down! It's hard to believe anyone would care to hear my story, but here goes.

If you happen to be a follower of my blog already, you've heard most of this, so bear with me :)

Let me preface this by saying how hard it is to discuss this topic with the blog world. Weight has always been the topic I avoided at all costs, because it hit a vulnerable place with me and just made me want to crawl into a corner. I felt like the W word came up and a spotlight was on me, so that word was taken out of my vocabulary. I hope this doesn't come off as cocky or arrogant, because I definitely don't know much when it comes to weight loss--this is just my story, and if I can encourage just one person who felt the same way as I did, then I'll be happy. I had those people who encouraged me out of my deepest insecurities, and I am so thankful for them.

In the past, when I looked in the mirror, I never saw beautiful.I saw insecurity. I saw the extra weight that I was carrying around, the weight that I was hiding behind. I saw the size 18 jeans that barely buttoned on some days. I saw the struggle to find clothes in my closet that actually fit me. And I hated it. I hated the way I looked and I hated the way that made me feel about myself. I was embarrassed to go out with my friends, embarrassed to talk to guys, and embarrassed to even look in the mirror most of the time.

In my mind, I was always labeled the "big girl" of my group of friends. I went to Ole Miss and was in a sorority, so needless to say, I was always surrounded by beautiful, thin, confident girls. As much as I hated it, appearances played a huge role in the college dynamics. It was all about the guys, the outfits, the football games, the parties, etc. And I always (in my mind) seemed to stick out because of my weight. Luckily, I learned how to have a big personality to compensate for the "shortcomings" I felt with my appearance. But something was always missing.

Nursing school began my Junior year, and that was the downfall of the weight struggle. Stress took over, and spare time for healthy eating or working out was non-existent, and my weight skyrocketed. It wasn't an all-at-once weight gain...the pounds just added on over the 5 semesters of school. Before I knew it, I weighed 238 pounds and couldn't wear anything in my closet. The moment of truth came about when I uploaded pictures from my college graduation from nursing school, and I was too embarrassed to put them on Facebook. Too ashamed of my weight and how I looked to show the world my biggest accomplishment so far in life. I think I am the only one (minus my family) that has even laid eyes on those pictures--how terrible is that? It was the turning point in my weight struggle. That was the moment when I knew something had to change.

That was in May of 2010. Something just clicked inside of me. I was tired of looking at myself and not seeing beautiful so I just made up my mind that I was finally going to get real with it and do something about it. I wanted to be able to go into stores and be able to fit into a size they offered without having to squeeze myself into them. I was tired of having to shop in the plus size department for a college girl's wardrobe. Those two just don't go hand in hand. Even more than that, it affected me on a deeper, more serious level. I somehow made myself believe that no guy would ever love me if I wasn't thin and beautiful.I made myself feel like I wasn't good enough because I wasn't a size 2. I know now that that isn't true, but it was real to me then.

I have always been a dieter. Sugar Busters, South Beach Diet, Atkins, etc. Tried them all...succeeded for a few months...then bounced right back to the previous weight. So, I knew this time had to be different. I wasn't sure how, but something just had to change. And it totally did. This time around has been a completely different story, and it really has made all of the difference with my weight and my self-confidence.

To start off with, I downloaded two apps to my phone, both calorie counters. One for typical, everyday grocery-store food and one for restaurant food. So the calorie counting began. I cut out snacking, I stopped drinking Diet Coke cold turkey (which was the hardest thing ever--I was a total DC addict!), and I gave up eating out for the first few months. I'm not going to lie, those first weeks were miserable. I obsessed over food constantly, which was one thing I had to break myself of. And slowly but surely, those cravings and wants went away.

My mom and I started walking for 30 minutes every day, rain or shine. It was slow at first, but gradually we worked up to 45 minutes, and then 1 hour of power walking. Eventually I was able to jog for parts of it, which I never could do before. We always focused on interval walking (like 1 minute moderate speed, 2 minutes brisk powerwalk, then 3 minutes moderate and so forth). I also did Pilates 3 days of the week, the Firm workout videos when I was tired of just walking, and yoga every now and then. I got to the point where I felt like something was missing in my day if I had skipped a workout. I'll admit--I really like having that craving for workouts.

In August, I got a job as an RN in Jackson, and moved 2 hours from my hometown. I had lost about 30 pounds at this point, so my self confidence was slowly coming back. I joined a gym and got into a good workout schedule. The Elliptical became my best friend. This was when I found my favorite word...moderation. I learned how to eat what I wanted to eat but in moderation. Of course, I still cut out most fast food, the extra sweets, and too many carbs, but I never deprived myself. If I wanted Mexican (my favorite), I'd go with my friends and order what I wanted, but only eat half of it. And weird enough, I learned that I was actually satisfied with that much. It's like that concept finally clicked in my head, after hearing it over and over again. Every now and then, of course, I'd hit a plateau and couldn't get past a certain weight, which was so frustrating. Those plateaus will happen, so don't get discouraged if you hit a stopping point. I would just up my cardio a little bit, cut out a little extra calories, and the weight would start coming off again.

I'm reading back over what I've written so far, and it sure sounds like it was an easy road. It wasn't. I struggled daily. My biggest motivation through all of this has been encouragement from family and friends, honestly. I couldn't have gotten through it without them and their daily words of wisdom...they always know what to say to push me a little further. Another huge motivation is seeing results, of course. Watching that number on the scale get smaller and smaller and being able to put on jeans 4 sizes smaller than my previous ones was just what I needed to keep inspired. Leslie asked me what my biggest struggle was throughout all of this, and I really had to think about that answer. I struggled with getting over that insecurity the most, honestly. I struggled with accepting myself. It wasn't even about what others thought about me anymore--I had to love myself first before anything else could fall into place. That was a daily prayer throughout this whole journey, and still is. God reminded me in a powerful way that I am His creation, and I am beautiful in His sight.

It's been almost 8 months and I've lost 74 pounds. I look at the number on the scale and it still shocks me to be under 200 lbs. I pull on a pair of size 10 jeans and they button with no problem, and are actually a little baggy. I look in the mirror and don't see the uncomfortable, self-conscious girl I always knew myself to be. I finally see beautiful. I finally see self-confidence. I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. Don't get me wrong about my college days--I loved every bit of them. Most of these insecurities were always held on the inside, so no one really knew how I felt. But I do regret letting my weight hold me back from doing and experiencing everything I wanted to during those 4 years. I feel like I've gotten my life back at this point, and it is seriously so refreshing.

Every day is a struggle, in all honesty. With weight loss, I have to look at it one day at a time or otherwise I get discouraged. I still let myself have chocolate when I want it. And on the days when I'm too worn out to work out, I don't beat myself up over it. It's a continuous thing but I have finally overcome that obstacle in my life. I finally feel beautiful when I see my reflection, and I feel like it shines more from the inside, too.

I've "officially" hit my goal weight, but I still want to lose about 10 more lbs. So that's where the 30 Day Shred has come in. I'm on Day 11, and let me tell you--it's not an easy task, but it works. You want to know a secret? I've never worn a bikini before. I've been to the beach approximately 13 times over the past 5 years with my group of friends, but it was always a tankini or one piece for me. So my next goal is to get bikini-worthy. I know that I'll never be Heidi Klum status, but I want to know what it's like to put on a two piece and feel comfortable in it. That's my goal by summer!

If you're reading this and my words hit a hard place with you, trust me, it's not impossible. I always viewed myself from the weight standpoint, but there's so much more to me than that. And there's so much more to you, too. I learned, through all of this, not to let my weight define me. Because my weight isn't who I am. I am a child of God. I am a nurse. I am a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I am confident, passionate, loving, strong, and beautiful, and although some days it's hard to think those things, I know they're true. And I'm so glad I've gotten to the point where I can finally admit that.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalms 139:14

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Thanks again for sharing your story, Rachel.

Be blessed, lovelies-

This is Her Story: {Kimberly}

Kimberly, Alexis and Kimberly's Husband at her 34th birthday celebration!

Hello friends! Today's "This is Her Story" segment is brought to you by Kimberly S.

Kimberly approached me last month with her story about her battle with a kidney insufficiency and the amazing miracle that is her daughter Alexis. For any expectant moms out there OR any young women that might be dealing with an illness or health dilemma, I hope this inspires you!

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I got married March 18th, 2006. Shortly after, I found out I was pregnant my precious daughter, Alexis Jolee. I found out I was pregnant Easter Sunday. I was craving a Diet Pepsi and I do not like soda at all! I took at pregnancy test and immediately it was positive. I was so shocked that I took 2 more the next day. I found out the next day that I was 5 weeks pregnant. I was SUPER excited. I did not see what was coming though.

I started getting really sick quickly. I was so sick that I thought I was having twins, so I asked for a sonogram. There was only one baby, but I was still wondering why I was so sick. Through some tests, I found out that I have kidney insufficiency. I was never supposed to have a child. Thank GOD that I had EXCELLENT doctors that saved my life (and of course, God!!!). I stopped getting sick around 6 or 7 months. My doctor said Alexis would never be over 6 Lbs. She was 8 Lbs, 5 oz!!!! A true miracle! As I'm writing this, tears fill my eyes because God gave me one of HIS kids to raise. Through my pregnancy, he let me find out about my health, but also blessed me with the most beautiful little angel EVER!

I had to get several shots close to the end of my pregnancy due to early contractions. The shots almost made me pass out, it was not fun at all. Alexis wasn't due until December 20th, 2006 but towards the end of November I wasn't feeling good. I had to take several stress tests while pregnant to make sure not only me, but that Alexis was fine. Thank God she was! She was born December 10th, 2006 after a LONG labor. I went in at 7am Saturday morning and she would finally make her arrival Sunday around 6:30am. I pushed for 3 hours and fell asleep several times. I heard my doctor come in the room and say "We are getting the baby out." If it would have been 3 minutes later, I would have had an emergency c-section. God is so good and saved me. I would do it all over again in a heart beat to have my precious daughter.

My doctor decided pretty quickly after Alexis was born to put me on prednisone, a steroid, to protect my kidneys. It was a rough time in my life. I got mad at people quickly and was NOT myself. There were nights I would rock Alexis to sleep while I just cried because I could not sleep. I wanted to be happy about my newborn, but I was miserable about the drug. It didn't take long for me to gain water weight. I blew up everywhere and could barely smile because it hurt too much. It was also a rough time because people judged me for the way I looked. People didn't know who I was and it made me sad. I knew I was the same on the inside, but on the outside, I was 45 Lbs heavier with the medication. I have learned the hard way to NOT judge people no matter what they look like. After my doctor slowly took me off the medication (and my health started improving) I was judged again for losing the water weight. People made comments like "I would never be that skinny" or whatever rude thing they could think of. There were times I would come home and just cry because no one knew what I went through. They didn't know the pain I went through of losing the baby weight (45 Lbs), then gaining weight right back (45 Lbs) with the prednisone and then getting off of it and losing that weight. However, I wouldn't change a thing. Every struggle I have gone through has gotten me to today. We took family pictures when I was on prednisone and people have no clue it's me. I literally looked like a chipmunk. However, I am finally at the point where I see beauty in it.

I am SO thankful, truly beyond words that God blessed me with this angel. She just turned 4 and started preschool Sept 2010. She is growing right before my eyes. She is healthy, happy and the love of my life. I never intended on quitting my job, but shortly after returning to work, I put my 2 week notice in.

My faith wasn't as strong as it is now, but I know God had a plan for me staying home. I never asked my husband, I just turned my notice in and was SO excited to stay home with her. Alexis has such a heart for Jesus. Her favorite songs are "Jesus Messiah" and "Jesus Saves." She even sings her songs in the grocery store, loudly. But Iwill never tell her to quiet down when it comes to singing about our Savior.

Jesus saved my life and gave me the greatest Christmas gift that I have ever gotten.

Kidney insufficiency will never stop me. I take several medications to control my health and even though I do not like taking them, I know it's for the best. At recent doctor appt. I did find out that my protein count went up 200 points. I went from the 500's to the 700's. The doctor said if it reached 1000 or more again, that there would be concern. When I was pregnant, it was as high as 2500. Not good at all!! I go back in February and need prayers that I am still stable and that my count is okay. I had a biopsy 2 months after Alexis was born. One of my kidneys doesn't work at all, the other 50%. I do not need dialysis till I'm at 11% or less. The doctor said that probably won't be till at least my 60's so let's pray that it's even later then that or not at all!

Thanks for reading my story = )

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Thanks for sharing your story, Kimberly!

If you have an amazing story or know a woman who does, please email me at
askblondeambition{at}gmail{dot}com. You could be featured in a future T.I.H.S. edition!

Be blessed, lovelies-

This is Her Story: {Kellie}

Hey girls! Today's "This is Her Story" is a bit more serious, but I felt completely compelled to share this incredible and important story with all of you out there. Kellie came to me a few weeks ago when I asked for "This is Her Story" entries. After reading her email, I knew this is one story that had to be told.

I hope you are all as moved by precious Kellie's post below as much as I was. Without further adieu, here's my girl, Kellie:
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A million Thank You’s to Leslie for being gracious enough to share the stories of these fabulous and inspiring women. While I’m new to her blog, Leslie’s heart is so visibly in the right place-she is truly a gem. For her kindness and generosity, I am very thankful.

When I first read about Leslie’s new feature, “This is Her Story”, I felt an immediate pull to share my mom’s story. My mom, Laurie, is not only my best friend, but also one of the 72,000+ people in the United States actively waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

My mom was ill through much of my childhood, suffering from what at the time was somewhat of a mysterious illness. There were many hospital stays (especially during stressful times in life, like Christmas), lots of testing-just a lot of confusion about what was going on with her health. She was finally diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in the mid 1990’s, and for a short time, was able to improve her quality of life through medication and diet.


Kellie (right) and her mom Laurie, baking up a storm in the kitchen



Several years after the Ulcerative Colitis diagnosis, we learned that despite a 2:1 male to female predilection, and only a 5% chance of occuring, that my mom was also suffering from an autoimmune disease (a predecessor of Ulcerative Colitis), called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. This was a much more dire diagnosis, as the only long-term treatment is liver transplantation.

For the past five years or so, I’ve watched my mom’s health steadily decline. She suffers from an array of life-altering side effects directly related to PSC ; most prevalent are jaundice, severe itching, painful abdominal swelling, pancreatitis and chronic fatigue. Though she is on a reduced work schedule, she must continue working despite her advanced liver failure to make ends meet financially.

Through all of this, my mom’s spirit and heart have persevered in a way that amazes everyone around her. Despite never feeling well, and a future that is unknown, she is able to continue smiling and laughing, providing emotional support to my sisters, dad and I. At a time when we should all be lifting her up as much as we can, she continues to be the heart and rock in our family.

Laurie (second from left) and Kellie (far right) pause for a pic with family members.



With certain factors of her disease, the reality of my mom ever making it to the top of the waiting list for the full liver we so desperately need is at best grim. Her team of transplant doctors at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) has advised that we begin the search for a live donor. Given the damage a failing organ and PSC can cause, we must act as quickly as possible. Waiting too long would increase the likelihood of different cancers and the possibility of missing the window for transplantation.

We are asking that anyone who is between 18 and 55, O+ or O- in blood type and who is open to the thought of live donation to contact us to begin the screening process. The search for a viable donor is incredibly challenging, but we feel confident that someone will step forward and save our family.

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If anyone out there feels compelled to learn more about the screening process for donors or just to offer an encouraging word or prayers to Kellie and her family, you can email today's author at kellie.koppes@gmail.com.

Be blessed, lovelies-

This is Her Story: {Leslie Pennel of Esque}

Today's "This is Her Story" edition is probably one of my favs- simply just because I'm addicted to clothing/accessories/other tangible objects that will serve me no purpose in the hereafter ; )

This chica is changing the face of style in Northwest Arkansas and pretty soon, you might just be seeing pieces from her line Esque pop up in your neck of the woods.

Without further adeiu, meet the darling designer, Leslie:

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Name: Leslie Pennel

Age: 29

Hometown: Morrow, AR

Profession: Clothing Designer

How would you describe your personal style?

Like a young Elizabeth Taylor after a three-week bender with Lewis Carroll.

When and how did you start Esque?

The short version? It has always brought me a great deal of pleasure to create a mood with my clothing, to write a story, to paint a picture, so to speak(Ok, I'm out of metaphors.) I, like everyone, have the basics - t-shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. But, I feel more alive and inspired in something slightly more extravagant. (Example: a 70's polka dot mini dress, cowboy boots with tassels and a weird hat.)

At a young age, I was intrigued by fashion: design, sewing and illustration. It wasn't until my sophomore year of college in an undergraduate Chemistry class that I realized fashion was going to be my career choice. I was zoning out in Chem 1 yet again, sketching design ideas using chemical structures as prints for blouses, dresses and skirts. Epiphany! My lot in life is not to be a pharmacist, but a clothing designer. I switched my major from Biochemistry to Apparel Studies. During my senior year, I spent two months in Europe for my internship and returned chocked full of inspiration. I began to experiment with different forms of wearable art. I started altering used clothing to create a new and unique look, using vintage fabric put to modern patterns and vice versa, as well as, flirting with spray paint/stenciling and other mediums applied to clothing. This is when Esque was birthed-in 2005. I began selling a line of t-shirts at a local store that I worked at and making clothing for local fashion shows, including Art Amiss, Fayetteville's local art collective. Six years later, my line has changed a bit in nature but is ever flourishing.

Who are your design influences?

My style, philosophy and personal design aesthetic is a hodge-podge of everything; whether it be music, film, fabric, color, people, and/or places I’ve been.

As for brands, retailers, and designers that inspire me. I love Pixie Market and Anthropologie, Haute Hippie and Free People, and Viktor and Rolf.

What's on your iPod playlist while you're working?

Here are fifteen songs from today's playlist. My mood changes throughout the day. When I'm deep in design mode and coffee'd up, I listen to gangster rap or old gritty twang country. (I know, but really!)

Mika-Lollipop

Why?-The Hollows

Stars-Elevator Love Letter

Sarah Jaffe-Before You Go

Kendal Johansson-Blue Moon

Kanye West-Monster

Rufus Wainwright-Instant Pleasure

Randall Shreve and the Sideshow-Welcome to the Show

Jay-Z-Empire State of Mind

Land of Talk-Quarry Hymns

April March-Chick Habit

Ray LaMontagne-Within You

Alicia Keys-Never Felt This Way

Ludwig Van Beethoven- Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor

Loretta Lynn-You Ain't Woman Enough

What type of girl wears Esque?

An esque girl aims for uniqueness and authenticity. I'd like to think that she's persnickety and clever, as well as the type o'gal that appreciates the little things in life- word of the day, kitschy coffee mugs, day dreaming, the color red, ampersands, cotton candy, smiles from strangers, dry humor, vintage, irony, Anthropologie, twinkle lights..

Best career advice you've ever been given?

Be the best at what you do. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Get involved. Know your limits. Know your worth. Work and play at the same rate.

Biggest fashion no-no in your opinion?

Not being oneself. There are those who are "into fashion" and those who "have style". What separates the two, in my opinion, is when we try to follow every trend that comes around. Not every length and every cut is well suited for every woman. We each have our own body type, figure, personality, complexion, et al, that makes us so wonderfully unique. It's not necessary to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe each season. But, it is important to be true to yourself and what you feel comfortable in and for the pieces in your closet to fit your curves just right!

What celebs would you most like to dress?

I would love to work with Dree Hemingway, Sophia Coppola, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Zoey Deschanel..

If you could raid any one person's closet (famous or not, dead or alive) who would it be and why?

No contest. Rachel Zoe. Her style is so fantastic. I could spend days playing in her closet with big tears of joy streaming down my face. :)

What's your personal motto when it comes to dressing women?

Know who you are, be yourself, feel comfortable. There is something very intriguing and compelling about a woman who is in her own skin. Confidence and grace goes a long way.

Where can we pick up some Esque goodness for ourselves?

Locally, Esque is available at Maude and Ultra Studios. The Nouvelle Collection by Esque is available at Lola. Also, I have two stores out of state that will soon have my line on the floor - The Radish Underground in Portland, OR and The Pink Saloon in Wichita, KS.

Let' play Haute or Naute.

Leather shorts?
Haute

Faux fur?
Haute

The uber-controversial, loved and loathed Ugg Boot?
Naute, unless you're under the age of ten. Crocs fall under the same category.

Combat boots with frilly dresses?
I think this is cool if you go light on the makeup and hair. And, if it doesn't look too gothic or 80's.

Tights with peep toe shoes?
Meh. Depends. Most likely, naute. Unless, the person's being ironic.

Socks with heels?
Haute. I dig it.

Side note: I think four out of five of these trends need to be worn in a very specific way and be executed just right to look "haute!"

Any words of wisdom for other women looking to get into a creative profession like clothing design?

It involves practice, self motivation, learning from your mistakes, persistence, connections, luck, cock-eyed enthusiasm, passion, drive, spirit, mentors, the ability to sew through tears(!), etc. I think these are all important when being in a creative profession. So, own it and try hard to trust your own judgement. I've found that even the most risky business decisions prove to be the right ones when I've trusted my gut.

To learn more about this gutsy girl, check out her FB page. If ya live in Northwest Arkansas, Portland, OR, or Wichita, KS- check out Maude Boutique and Lola in Fayetteville, AR or Radish Underground (Portland) and Pink Saloon (Wichita).

Be blessed, lovelies-