Makeup, Manifestation, and Owning Your Confidence at Any Age

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Francesca, a New York-trained makeup artist with 35+ years of experience and a gift for helping women feel beautiful in the skin they’re in. Together they explore the truth about beauty as an inside-out energy, why confidence shifts as we age, and how professional hair and makeup can elevate not just your photos — but your sense of self. They also dive into synchronicity, manifesting aligned connections, and the power of raising your frequency to call in what you desire. This episode is a warm invitation to celebrate your beauty, your age, and your inner fire… right now.

Learn More About Francesca:

https://www.facebook.com/makeupbyfrancescaj

https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyfrancesca68?igsh=MWoyaGNvdml6aTJsdQ==

If you are a woman who is ready to be seen, celebrated, and appreciated for the divine and dynamic woman that you are — this experience was built for you. From professional hair and makeup to wardrobe guidance, every detail is handled for you. All you have to do is show up and spend an afternoon fully catered to you - where you feel seen, valued, and celebrated from the moment you walk in.  https://www.stephshanks.com

Transcript

Stephanie Shanks (00:27)
Hey, it's Stephanie. Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode I have Francesca here who has an amazing business called makeup by Francesca. I feel like

with connections, sometimes they're just meant, like they kind of like live below the surface and then eventually they come up and I feel like this was our moment. Exactly, it's not by chance that you meet people. I don't believe that. I don't think so either. So can you tell my audience a little bit about what you do? So I've been a makeup artist for over 35 years, time, but I started my own business 10

little bit over 10 years ago, it's called Makeup by Francesca. So we do everything from weddings to photo shoots to special events. We work with salons also to do their master classes for their stylists. And we just keep adding more and more to what we do. Yeah, but what is your background? So I grew up in New York.

and Long Island and I went to college for a hot minute. My creativity was always just doing hair and makeup. I started in New York, went to school there and trained with Estee Lauder and then with a ton of other cosmetic companies through the years. That's awesome. And somehow you made your way to Madison. So, I mean, I worked for Estee Lauder. was the one who

Is there something specific about helping women with their makeup that kind of lights you up and keeps your fire going? It does, it does. mean, definitely the women that I meet with, give me a lot of energy. Like sometimes they don't realize like what they bring to me or what they give to me. And I just, I love every minute of helping women feel confident, you know.

great in the skin that they're in, just at any age. love it. And that's the truth of it, is that beauty is something that kind of comes from the inside out. And a lot of times I think we start comparing ourselves to other people, especially women younger, different skin types. And beauty is, what's the word I'm looking for?

It never ends. No, it doesn't end. That's such a great way to put it. It doesn't end at any age. You have to celebrate it. And putting my photographer hat on just for a minute before we kind of dive in, I always recommend to my clients to have professional hair and makeup done.

And can you kind of just go over why that's important? It is very important. And I think photographers think you see the value in having a makeup artist. It just really enhances your photos very much so. And then it just gives you that little bit of added confidence as well. So you may feel like you have a little bit more than normal when you're getting it done. But at the end of the day, it really helps your photos look polished and really,

elevated and something you gave me a little gift before and it's and it's red lipstick and I've watched tutorials on red lipstick and I've read about it heard about it because it's supposed to be really great but I've never been able to pick it up and purchase it and now

I'm really just, makes your outfit, your eyes, like everything. It looks so good. And especially on camera too. Once you commit to the red, like you're in. And I loved how you just said, okay, here I go. I'm gonna put it on. I didn't even have to ask you. It's good. Yeah, well, I'm all about, you know, putting a little bit of fear.

you know, taking a risk, I guess. Yeah, I'll take a risk for you. I trust you too. And that's another thing I really want to talk to you about too is because when we chatted on the phone just briefly, we ended up starting to talk about. We're to let Jake come in for a minute.

So Jake just walked, pushed his nose into the studio. So we're just gonna let him, just gonna let him hang for a minute. I love it. Do you want some red lipstick too? It would match his red collar. I know. Yes. Okay, can you sit down? Sit. Almost there. There we go. Okay.

When we were talking on the phone, we talked about, just briefly about manifesting and we talked about belief systems. What are some of the ways that you kind of get into your bravery mindset a little bit in the mornings? And I'm sure that every day is so different for you and different clients. you know, let's talk about your kind of your routine a little bit. So like you said, it's different for me every day, every week is different.

But I really believe in manifesting everything in my business, in the people that I meet, in just everything that I do from day to day. So I really will visualize what it is I'm looking for or hoping for in myself and others. And I just find that the universe always brings it back to me somehow. And I'm always surprised, even still.

and I'm always just feeling blessed every time it happens. Yeah. What's something recently that you manifested? Recently? Oh, okay. So, I like to work out, just doing everything and anything I can to move my body. I love Zumba. You heard Zumba? Oh, yeah. Okay. I love Zumba, and I especially love my instructor. She's over at Crunch.

Shout out to Maria. She just has an amazing story and she's built like a brick shithouse in my life. We can swear on the podcast. And she has an amazing story just, you know, as far as like her weight loss journey and her own personal story. She allows some of us to come up on stage with her and do Zumba. And, you know, I am Italian. I've got the little moves, you know,

on the day but I just thought you know one day she's going to call me up there and I'm gonna get on that stage because I was excited about possibility and I was with Hannah mutual friend that introduced us and all of a sudden one day she's like

Oh my gosh. I think for me with manifesting, I've done it on the down low for so long.

And it's really just been in the last few months that I've been comfortable talking about it a little bit. I don't know. It's such a, for a while it was such a woo thing. And then, you know, the secret came out and all that stuff. And I believe that it's not about really,

like going and finding the thing, it's about bringing it to you. Yes. You know, like a magnet. It is. And we have to get really clear and we have to have a specific vibration and frequency. just said that, never. It is a vibration. Yeah. It is a vibration. Because I've had times where...

You know, I'm traveling and all of sudden I'll get like free baggage or an upgrade or whatever else. And I'm thinking, what is happening today? I'm so excited to be flying and to meet people and everything else. And I think my vibration is definitely showing that. And it's just coming back to me and other things with other people. It's amazing. Yeah. And that's that's how I feel, too. And, know, recently I've been since I moved here, I moved here in July.

there is a really beautiful little park. called P. Witt's Nest. Have you been there? It's a little chilly today, I would take you. But I've been taking him hiking there. And then one day I met a guy out there and well actually Jake met the guy out there. For you. For me. Here you go. Yeah. And we've been we started talking and dating and we've been together for a couple months now.

And I feel like I manifested that as well because that is my happy place. is my frequency is highest there. And I'm doing the things that I love to do. And you just attract, you attract. For sure. And it's just like right now, we don't know when those moments are going to happen when people connect. But I think the clearer that we can be, more opportunities are going to be out there.

Yeah. So what are some ways that you kind of increase your vibration a little bit and your frequency? I just I write it all down. OK. You know, I write it all down. think about it, you know, all the time, especially when I'm driving. get all these like ideas and things like that. But I'm always I'm always looking for it and searching for it in some small way. And it always comes to me. And there are times in my career, too. I've been doing this for a long time where I think.

what else could I possibly do in my time here that would be something different or would really level things up just a little bit more? it still happens all the time because that's what I ask for. Yeah. And I think that's another thing too for our listeners because you and I are both, I mean, you're a solopreneur. think you have women underneath, you have-

But you are the soul, the S-O-U-L of your business. And it's a privilege to be that person. And it also is a challenge. Because it is on us to bring home, get the clients, bring home the clients. And for me, exercise and journaling and meditation, those are the three non-negotiables for me.

Every day. Same, really. Absolutely, yes. And I think that's funny because, you know, we're talking about frequency and vibration and we're both doing the same things. connection too. Connection with, you know, people and all that stuff too. It's so important. Yeah. And what about your children? Do they follow along or do they think you're just, you're just mother?

It's just really cool for them to watch me grow and where I started, where I am now. I remember my son, I remember the first time I was on the local news to talk about holiday makeup or whatever. I was nervous, I still get nervous, it's good for us to get nervous. For sure, oh yeah. Otherwise, we're not.

We're just, we're not kind of encouraging ourselves to grow, right? But just, you my son saying, mom, you're getting, you know, better and better like each time or, you know.

If I'm working with a client, sometimes if I work with athletes, I have no idea who they are, but my son does, or my daughter. It's nice, because it just really, really helps to bring things to a reality. Yeah. think that... So I have two older kids, then I have sons that are 27, they're twins, and then I have a 17-year-old.

that I was just yelling at before. 16, for real. I know.

I know. Yeah. Vibrations. Yeah. Talk to you on the phone and just everything. Yeah. And that's another thing. Don't you feel like vibrations or it's just a feeling you have for people like I do. I can feel it. I'm just one of those sensitive like empathetic. Yeah. What is your sign? I'm an Aries. OK. But I was just like, I don't know you. I didn't look you up. I know I could have. But I'm like, she's she's tough. Like she's got like this

like great spirit, like, I don't know, like a warrior. That's how I felt. Yeah. I would say that's probably pretty accurate that I've had to be a warrior. This time of year, like we get stressed, right? We get stressed about family and we get stressed because there's not enough sunlight and our skin gets dry. 40s, 50s, we're pre, post.

in menopause, all of it. So what are your kind of your go-tos? Because your skin is banging. Oh, you're so right. Thank you so much. You know, I think that's a really good question, right? It's probably a loaded question. So you can take it however you want. No, no. Thank you.

I get the opportunity to work with like all ages. it's like when I have the younger girls that come to me, I'm like, great, that's fantastic. And then the more mature women, and then I get the women in every stage of life, right? have clients that either they're going through, you know, cancer or they have just had a major breakup or they have just lost all this weight and they, you know, they feel great about themselves. So I meet them.

in every stage of life, right? So what I like to teach women more than anything, and lot of my clients say, because when I'm doing the makeup, I'll just I love the I love the transformation. It happens quickly. And that's why I like makeup the most. And all the things that I do. Yeah. And as I'm doing it, like I'm like, my God, you look so beautiful. And it's not I'm not blowing sunshine up anyone's ass. No, I'm not. Like, I truly feel that way. Yeah. Because I see

you know, what's happening. But I think they're beautiful before as well. But things change, right? Yeah. The 40s, like the lids start to change. You know, where you're putting things need to go in different areas. And that's kind of where I come in, where I give women the confidence to say, no, you can do this. You can wear makeup. It's just, you know, it changes and you just have to go with the flow. And I also think, too,

An important piece of this is that it's okay to hire a makeup artist for your Christmas, for your galas. There's no shame, you know, like why...

Why not? I have CEOs that come in and they're doing a talk in front of all these people and stuff like that. And they hire me because it helps them feel more confident. It's something they don't have to think about. I can't tell you how many of my clients are nervous before going on. And I think there's something about you have to be with the right person, right? Yeah. Make sure that the connection is there. That's why trial trials are important.

or looking for a hairstylist and everything else. So if you feel comfortable with that person and confident, why not do it before something, an event that's just really important to you? Yeah, 100%.

What do you have a specific age group of women that you like to work with? Do you like working with, you know, more mature women or? know, I do like working with more mature women. like working with, you know, girls that are just getting into makeup, too. I grew up where I didn't I didn't have the money to have a makeup lesson or we didn't, you know, we didn't have that money growing up. Yeah. So when even when like a mom comes to me and says, you know, my twin daughter wants to start to wear

makeup or I have no idea what to tell her or what to use, I love to come into that because I didn't have that. I would go to the beauty supply store and I would get like pancake makeup and it was all wrong. I just didn't know. So I love that part of it. But I also like the part of more mature women too because I feel you. I'm there. I'm going to be 58. And it's great. I've gotten so many husbands now for Christmas.

you're like, oh, I'm getting this for my wife and this will be great for her and she never knows what to do. So it's just like men are participating too for their wives and for their kids. It's fun. That's a great shout out. And we can also just say too with photo shoots, you don't have to have her.

You don't have to have a headshot photo shoot. You don't have to wait for family photos. You can do a photo shoot because you just turned 50 or... I just did a 60, a woman turned 60. I did a full on photo shoot for her a couple weeks ago. amazing. Yeah. We're at this moment in the world, the history of

that we are allowed to be celebrated and we don't have to ask permission anymore. What are some of the ways that you celebrate your beauty and your age and your success? You know what, I celebrate my success really by

Just, it can be the smallest things, right? It can be where, you know, I will give something to someone, I'm just a very giving person. So if I...

and a place where I can give more. And that's that's how that's how I celebrate. love that. Yeah. Most is by giving. I was taught that at a young age. Yeah. Even your boss, you always give them like something just because they're they're helping you along the way to grow. So even if it's like a bottle of wine or whatever, that's how I did it. Like growing up or even for you. It's like I'm making this connection with you. And so how can I thank you?

for

bringing me here and then introducing me to others. It's not, it's from the heart. It's not like, okay, I'm gonna give this, what am I gonna get? Never expect anything back. That's not the way to do it. But it's really just being grateful. It's gratitude. Yeah, that's an absolutely amazing way to celebrate.

The good stuff in life is to share it with others. It doesn't matter how, what it is, like just to be grateful.

And yeah. For everything. Yeah. every client, for every shout out, just for everything. Yeah. And I think that's why your name probably gets brought up in random conversations on a 12 mile hike, to be honest, right? Because it's how you go through the world is a light.

and those lighted up people. I completely agree with you. That's so true. That is so true. I keep saying connections and all this stuff, but I'm the same way. I'm the ultimate connect. I am the ultimate connector. And so I love doing that for people. And then I give you your wings and you fly. And it just makes the world go round. Yeah.

Yeah, have nothing to add to that because it's so accurate. So besides just helping women with makeup and hair, you sell makeup as well. I do. So I do lessons. And how did you find...

because there's so many different...

Is it just because you know? Yeah, there's so many brands out there. another good question. It's overwhelming, right? Because there's so many brands when I when I started in cosmetics, there weren't there were like a handful of brands. now there's so many in their social media telling you what to buy. Yeah. I know what's drugstore friendly versus, you know, high end. So my husband, actually, when I when I do wedding makeup trials, I give

the client a face chart and give them a list of what they have I've put on them and so then they would go and purchase all those items. So now I just make it convenient for the client and how did I choose Glow Skin Beauty?

It's just all natural. It's got vitamin A, C, E, and green tea in it. So you're putting on really clean products on your skin that really, I know it sounds ridiculous, but your skin does glow with it. I mean, your skin is glowing. Thank you. So I love that. But I don't just stop there when I'm doing a lesson or I'm talking to someone about makeup.

doesn't mean it's gonna work for you, right? So I might try something else on you and say, you know, try this or try that and you can get this here, you can get that there. And that's something I'm working on in the future is just having like a storefront where I those suggestions and then you can pick it up. So it's just making it more convenient, you know, for you, for the customer and for me as well.

Because right now you're in online business, right? And they book with you online and then you go to them. Yeah, personally and online. I've never, honestly, in almost 11 years I've been in business, I've never once advertised, ever. I think when I started out, Facebook was new. thankfully I did some things that were pretty exciting. And so, you know, just being on Facebook and word of mouth. You know, we talk about, you manifesting too.

I did that for my team too. I was like a one trick pony for a long time. And then I just thought, well, you know what? I'm gonna put it out there. I'm gonna really just ask for what I need and what I want and what I'm hoping for. And I finally feel that I'm there with my team of artists. And they all come in with their own stories too. And I'm so grateful. Do you vision board at all?

You know, I don't, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't try it. I used to, like, in high school, cut out the magazines. It's the same thing. So I can see myself doing that again, but no, it's all in my head. It's all in my head. Yeah, I find that vision board, doing a vision board is super helpful when I'm kind of trying to manifest something new.

or the things that I had on there before kind of all came into fruition or something shifted or a word, right? So my word right now is luxury. I say that and then I like, like, oh, who am I to have luxury, right? Which is why it's on my vision board is because I want to get more comfortable with luxury. So on my board is a couple of women in first class, some nice

vacation spots and the fitness thing is always huge. mean, let's face it, like fitness is a luxury. Like we are so blessed to be able to go to a gym or do Zumba. I mean, I don't take any of that for granted. And it's just having people push you and just believe in you. It just helps.

Yeah, where do you see yourself going with your business? You know, what are you manifesting right now? Yeah, you know, I manifest just really

a bigger team, know, always finding new people. And then just really mentoring and just being a part of the business in a way that, you know, I love to do it.

Yeah, so no slowing down. No, no, I know it's such a. Yeah. know, it's funny you say that because with photography, I thought there was a timeline on it as well.

that, especially when I was shooting weddings.

Like, nobody's gonna want an old lady wedding photographer, and it's such a bullshit. Yes, it's true, because we bring experience, right? Yeah. I bring a ton of experience to the table. Yeah. For these young girls that are artists, or my clients, too. I have been through it all, timelines, this, that. People will say, you do it so quickly. It's, yeah, because when you're under the gun,

You know, if a time for who is like, okay, time is money, are you done? You know, you have to know how to do it and you have to lead your girls in that direction as well. So we bring the experience to the table and we have to remember that. When we kind of question ourselves sometimes, I have to remind myself. Yeah, I think I got this. Not only do I got this, I'm amazing at it. Yeah, that's like the hardest thing for me.

And I also, I understand with my profession that there aren't a lot, when I was getting into photography, it was a lot of men doing photography well and having a successful business. And it was the women that were doing it on the side, you know, like just as a filler. And I,

fell into that category when I was married. My photography business took the backseat to taking care of the kids and the grocery shopping and the cleaning and all that stuff. And I got super resentful. so as the marriage was deteriorating, because it just wasn't meant to be, I was taking business classes and I had the marketing coaches and the photography coaches online.

You know, right around COVID, was 2020. And I rose up. Yeah, and now I'm at the point, now it's 2025, and it's like, holy shit, I did it.

Yeah, it's fun. It's fun to see that, isn't it? Like it's wild. And where you've been. It's amazing. I love that. love that. You know, women are taking a backseat like photographer, anything, anything because I know like I I stay home with my kids and I feel so fortunate. Not every woman gets to do that. It wasn't easy, but I did it. But as they became more independent, that's when I started my business. And I think it was it was definitely something for

It's kind of funny now because I'm single and I have to do everything on my own. I was complaining before because I had to do.

Yeah, I know, but when I was married, I'm like, can you at least do something, you know, and then when I first moved into my apartment, I'm like, god damn, this is a lot of...

A lot of work. guess I really wasn't alone in it, but I'm alone in it now. I'm going to figure this out. I'm going to do a vision board now. you very much. Yeah. What do you think you want to put on it? What are you like what's kind of sparking some joy right now? You know, I definitely it's things are slowing down like the wedding season is slowing down, which is nice. still have a lot of November weddings, so I just want to be able

to breathe, right? There are some things that I want to do in terms of like getting myself in front of the camera more. cool. And it's just

It's always been every year I say I'm going to do it more. You know, I have a lot of my clients saying if you, you know, if you got in front of the camera and showed me what to do or told me what to buy, like I would totally, you know, I would do it. And so every year I say I'm going to do that. But then I think like, wait a minute, can I do that? Is anyone really going to want to hear me? Yeah, people want to hear you. So I have to really push myself. And that's something that I need to do because I want to do it every year.

I want to do it, but then the year goes by and then the next year goes by and then there's an opportunity missed, right? So I think that's what I'm going to put, you know, on my vision board and lots of, you know, Zen time and relaxing and vacations and friendships and all that good stuff. What is the block?

that keeps you from being in front of the camera more? You know, there's so many people in front of the camera now, you know, like telling you what to buy and, you know, I also like, I don't want, I guess I don't want my followers to think like, oh, you know, is she getting paid for this now or what is she? I generally want to do it to share my knowledge and I think, you know, I just, for example, did a photo shoot and

You know, they'll ask me like, where'd you get this? Where'd you get that? Send me the link or I feel like sometimes even if I'm wearing clothes, I feel like a bookie. call the store and be like, okay, my client wants a pair of, okay, someone else wants this. You know, I people say, just bring it to us. Like, don't be afraid. I don't know. Something I have to work through. Yeah, because even if you were getting paid to speak,

There's nothing wrong with that. But I just I wanted to be genuine. Like I don't want to ever sell something to someone for a price tag. If I love something or if I had a great experience, I just I have to talk about it. That's just how I am. Yeah.

It just comes out of me. So even like when I do my makeup lessons, I'll always say, there's no obligation to buy anything. You know what I mean? But it's here if you want it. Yeah, and they want it. They do. I haven't worked with a makeup artist in town that they've offered to...

sell any of the makeup and I know that my clients would have absolutely bought it. So it's really smart. I love it because certain products, there's one of the glow products, let's just say. And I'm into mixology, A little bit of this, a little bit that. Okay, so you used to glow, it's sheer, but if you want a little bit more coverage that day, then add this to it, and that'll give you a little more staying power, but it still will keep you not feeling like you're wearing a

So these little, I don't know, these little suggestions or experiences. My clients also come in with, know, bags and bags of makeup. And we'll go through it, like what do I need? What, you know, what don't I need? What can I replace? You know, because you don't want to waste either, right?

But makeup is like having a pair of jeans. We don't just have one pair, right? We have several different pair sizes, when we're feeling comfortable. It's the same thing with makeup. I tell you, if I'm gonna wear red lipstick, I'm gonna own it. I'm not gonna be like, it too party? No, today I'm wearing it, and here I am.

I love it, I love the seasons and the different looks and the colors. Just a small change can make to your makeup. Just a small change, like a friend of mine. Which is like the hardest thing to do. It is, because you get stuck in a rut. Yeah.

I just did a shoot with and I said, just add a little bit of this like lotion. It's going to give you that glow. Like you said, I'm going to your foundation and tell me what you think. And she's like, I got so many compliments, like so many people are like, what's different? What's new? You know, that's what it is. And so I guess when my clients pick it up and they're willing to to run with it and I can see them or I went into them and I'm like, she got it. She's doing it. She's not afraid. Like, it's amazing.

It's amazing. Do you do parties? I have, So like I have like five friends and I'm like why don't you come over? We're gonna have Francesca come and... Absolutely, yeah. Oh that's really cool. I a daughter in like brunches where they come and you know we do makeup and then they leave with the products that they're interested in. Yes, yes I do. Oh that's awesome. You probably have like a really fun job.

It is fun. It's fun. But it is work. I have to remind, I don't always have to remind my clients of that, but it is work. It's putting as much as my clients give me energy, I'm also giving out energy and stuff like that. So you have to kind of balance it out. Yeah.

And you do that through meditation, you do that through journaling and exercise. Exercise, is key. And then just food prepping too, like making sure that I cut my vegetables because when I'm hungry, you know, I'm Italian, I it now. So it's like, OK, I can grab those peppers that I diced and I can, you know, just it's prepping. It's thinking about what the week ahead, all those things that sleep. Yeah. I do this thing, especially at night if I'm tired.

It's like, okay, what can I do for my future self tomorrow? And then usually then that means laundry gets done. It means the dishwasher's empty. And it's just like a little game I play for myself so I can set my future self up for. I agree. I say something to myself like a lot. Like if it doesn't, if it's not gonna make me feel good.

If it's something that's not going make me feel good, if it's going to hurt me at the end, you know, then try something else. So I do, I'll do that. Like if I'm up at 10 o'clock and I'm like, I really want those chips and salsa. I think is it going to make me feel better? Think of something else. I'll have a glass of water instead. Yeah. I actually played that game last night and I lost. Yeah, that's okay. was fine. was, it was just chicken strips. So it wasn't a big deal, but

Yeah, sometimes it really is just turning the TV off. it's like the reward system of a hard day. I'm just going to like watch TV and I never really appreciate. I don't appreciate myself in those moments. I don't appreciate like the.

the content that I'm, but if I would have gone and laid down in bed and did some like, some fantastic visualizations. And sometimes, you know, sometimes I just have to remind myself of that. Yeah.

I finished it I was like, I finished the book, it so good. Yeah, it's such a luxury to read a book. And I feel guilty, like, oh, I shouldn't be sitting here reading, right? I should be doing something else, but. So you have a family that's that's kind of grown. What do you guys have planned for the holidays? So my son, he's in the Air Force Academy and my daughter is fantastic in school. He graduated from the Air Force Academy. So we're going to Minnesota because we're Badger fans or so my kids are going to go to the game.

and I have sister-in-laws that live there. In Minneapolis or? Minneapolis. Okay. So we're gonna spend it there. And I'm just really excited to see my kids and my family and just spend some time just away. Is there anything you do specifically to kind of prepare yourself for the holiday season?

Yeah, you cook. Yeah, I love to cook. And I mean, food is my love language. Very Italian of you to say. I mean, just just cook. You know, I love to do it like my son's home and I just I cooked for him. My nephew, my friends, it just it brings me joy. Yeah. And what other things are you thinking that, you know, when you just said joy, so then my brain automatically goes to do you

Do you find time throughout your day to incorporate those joyous things or is it more just like, I'm sure you do now, right? But there was a point in my life where I would put off the joyful things because I didn't think that actually fit into my vision of success. Yeah, no, I get that completely. So I will do that, like I will.

do my work and then I'll say, OK, take a break. I'm going for a walk. It's a sunny day. don't care what the temperature is or whatever else. And I just I feel so much better after that. But if I just continuously work and then I say I didn't I didn't take that time like I let it pass. Yeah. And now I'm like, no, no more happier than I would have been. I would have gone outside and, you know, got some fresh air or you know what mean? Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, I know. I always feel.

I still feel a little guilty when I take off and go for a hike at now it's like 2 p.m. because it gets dark. I know. And no one's ever told me you should feel guilty. No one's ever said that to me. It's all in my head.

It's amazing. Yeah. And then it's, I have gotten better at life, I think. And I think that's really what we're here for is not. And this was another thing I had to learn is that my success does not necessarily mean I am a millionaire. And I had that mindset in my head that I had to make X amount of money in order to feel value.

from within myself. And I had to learn that.

the value comes from having a good heart, an open heart, and a good life. That's right. And I completely agree. And I feel like I find that in my clients and my kids, how they feel afterwards, or what it did for them, or all that stuff, being the example for our kids too, right? Yeah. Do as I do. Yeah, it seems like that we have the courage to kind of put ourselves out there. It's not easy to put yourself out there. No.

A lot of the times if I post something or I do something I'll cringe, I'll be like, oh my god, here we go. Am I bragging or whatever? But then I do it and keep going and going. know? Yeah. Here we are. And if one person says, you inspired me, I remember.

going to Sephora and to buy products that I need for shoots or whatever. I worked with this one girl and she was lovely. And so anyway, I heard from her later on that

me coming into Sephora, telling, you know, what I do or I was looking for the products inspired her to start her own business. And now, you know, she's in the industry, I think it's great if I had, you know, if I had that little bit of inspiration, like for her. Yeah. Yeah, that's success. That's success to me. I agree. Sephora, like my daughter, you know, this is now my

third podcast, which, you know, I always still get nervous. For sure. My daughter, first time she heard it with her sorority sister, she's like, Mom, it was so good. You know, that's what makes me feel like so good that I had the courage to go out there and, you know, put myself out there and then, you know, just someone just feeling proud of you or someone taking a piece of it and really connecting with it. Right. Yeah. mean, even with this podcast.

This is the first in the last month that I've actually felt proud of it. You know, I remember last year, last year I was, I have 50 something episodes, right? And, and last year I was at an event in Baraboo and somebody said, I've been listening to your podcast. I turned bright red and I like walked away. couldn't even like, I couldn't even handle that somebody was actually watching it. It was like so...

And here I am. It's a great feeling. It is. It was really eye opening for me to be like, OK, what is that? What is it that I'm afraid of that they're judging? Like, you know, it is a sphere of judgment for sure. Yeah. But yeah, I can understand that because I know there are times where I've gone out and someone says, you making my friendship?

I love your work and I'll be like, oh my God, like that's an amazing feeling. It's just like, if we just set with it for a minute and let it like sink in. Yeah, like that the good stuff sink in versus like, oh my God, do they hate me or whatever? Did I say something that they don't like? Yeah, and just like appreciate it for what it is. I think that's honestly a big growth thing too. It is, for sure.

So you have all these amazing things happening and going on and you're very active on Instagram. Are you active on any other platforms? You know, I thought about TikTok and all that stuff. It's just that I get to the point where I'm like, you know what, I'm just gonna stick to what I think works for my

you know, my business or whatever else. Yeah. Doesn't mean that I, you know, won't entertain it sometime, but I know what works for my business and I'm just kind of going with that for now. And what is, where's the best place for people to contact you?

You know what I have my Instagram, Facebook, and then I have my own website too, where you can see my portfolio, you can ask me questions and you know, book things, whatever you'd like. Yeah, and you know, your portfolio is quite, it's amazing that, hey, I didn't even know like there's so many great things happening in Madison and you get to be part of a lot of it. I do, I do, that's another thing like I'm really grateful for

because I work with a lot of local businesses like Sub Zero, Yohara is a software company, Spring Windows Fashion. It's like sometimes when you work with producers or you work with photographers, they bring their own people in.

The companies that I work for like Matrix or Johnson Health Tech also, local companies, they say, no, we got our girl. Like we have our girl. that doesn't, that just makes me feel amazing because there's so many choices today in this world, you know? And they're still coming for me and like, and my team. it doesn't, it's just, I so appreciate it. And it doesn't go like unnoticed.

That's why I just think connections and really giving your heart and soul into your work, it doesn't go unnoticed. Yeah, I 100 % agree. And do you travel? Would you come to Baraboo for?

or do they come to you? How does it work? travel. I would say a huge part of my business is traveling. And it makes it convenient for weddings, like photo shoots, whatever. We travel anywhere, really. I've even gone to Italy and I've done weddings in Scottsdale or somewhere. I've been there, so that's exciting. So yeah, we do travel. Traveling makeup artists, stylists, everything. ⁓ that's right. Yeah, you do it all.

Yeah, that's amazing. Well, I just really appreciate you being here today and sharing your knowledge, but in your light and your sunshine and all the good stuff. I'm really looking forward to our connection more and see where it goes.