“When One Of Us Rise, We All Do.”
It is such an honor and pleasure to acknowledge these local women who have truly inspired me beyond comprehension since I have come across their websites, businesses, Instagram pages, Facebook pages or met them through mutual friends.
I have spent so many nights sitting on my sofa watching their videos, reading their posts, following along their journeys, cheering them on, crying in their loss and reveling in their victories. Most importantly, I have never been more so inspired by a group of women in my entire life. Many of these women likely do not realize the impact they have had on me, but I hope as each of them read this, they know just how grateful I am to have them in my circle.
They have inspired me in life and in business. They have set an example of being real, authentic, “go getters,” and are the most hard-working people I have ever come across. These women do not give up. They do not quit. They go after their dreams and share their journeys with us- every mountain and valley.
They say you become who you surround yourself with and I firmly believe this is true. I watched the women below cheer for each other, support one another, develop friendships and genuinely learn from one another.
This is what we are suppose to do as women and these 20 women below are the epitome of this phrase.
It is truly a privilege to call these women friends and supporters and I am thrilled to have them a part of my first ever “20 under 40.” Over the last 4 months, I have compiled these women’s stories into this blog post. We had a BLAST at our photoshoot and I am just SO ecstatic to use my platform to honor each of these women and share their stories.
Enjoy learning about these female leaders in our community who are helping to redefine the phrase, “Women supporting women.”
Reesa + TerriLynn Gravois- Arabie
When we started Haven Flower Farm I honestly, and naïvely, did not realize how scarce time would become. All that I could picture was our backyard filled with beautiful flowers and my optimistic attitude towards conquering this flower farm thing! The truth is that our business has changed our lives in more ways than I can count. We have recently had to pivot in order to prioritize that which is most fleeting, time. For those of you who do not know us, you will learn quickly that it is easy for me to get carried away with goal achieving. I (Reesa) am a Type A, Enneagram 3, #bossbabe with HUGE dreams for our life and our small business. If you find me relaxing, check my pulse and make sure that I am still breathing because it is rare. I am always planning, plotting, thinking, dreaming and yearning for the goals that I have set and let’s be honest, that’s just straight up exhausting. Not only for me but also for those around me, more specifically for my lovely wife. While we have lots in common, we do differ in ways that allow our marriage and our small business to thrive. TerriLynn’s dream job is retirement and she is always on the lookout to have a good time with friends and family. Give her two options, work or play, and it is play every single time. She is the most grounded and consistent person that I have ever met which compliments my wild and ever evolving, dream filled personality. We may be the epitome of opposites when it comes to life goals but that is what keeps our relationship balanced.
The industry of Farmer-Floristry is demanding, to say the least, because it consists of two businesses wrapped into one. Farming is time consuming and often-backbreaking work. Let a hand driven tiller drag you around our very hard, clay-textured soil for a while and you will get where I am coming from. Raising plants from seed requires undivided attention to detail. To be frank, I have learned that flower farming is about failing and having the courage to start all over again. If I had a dollar for every seedling that I have killed, well, let’s just say that I’d be sitting on a beach somewhere. Floristry, on the other hand, is a completely different ballgame. It requires continuous creativity, an iron clad marketing scheme, the perfect photos, social media posts, websites, building trust with clients, wedding proposals, collaborations, flower recipes, and the list goes on. Learning techniques to bring our design aesthetic into fruition was a challenge in and of itself. Now, throw in two full-time careers, a marriage, a social life, and the need to revel in the mundane for the sake of sanity and you will find our cups grossly overflowed.
Fast forward to November 2021, eighteen months after the start of Haven Flower Farm, and we found ourselves completely burned out. Between my insatiable need to get this business off the ground and the massive impact that it was taking on our day-to-day lives, we had reached a breaking point. I found myself spinning out of control, prioritizing the business over everything and caught a glimpse of TerriLynn standing still, waiting for our world to stop spinning so quickly. After recognizing that we were becoming two over-worked, impatient people with no personal time and tons of stress, we stopped to reflect. We noted that we had lost ourselves in the madness of our small business and decided then to change our trajectory. The most important thing to both of us is quality time away from our day jobs and our small business. So, what did we do to incorporate more of that into our lives? Well, it was rather simple. We started by using our large, wall calendar that resides in our living room to plot out six weeks of our life at a time. We created a system where we would schedule farm work, floristry work, and quality, personal time away from flowers. If you come over to visit and see a little red heart next to the date, those are our freebee days where flowers are not the topic of conversation. I recognize that the thought of such a tight schedule would make most people cringe but it was seemingly the only way for us to find time for ourselves again. After a couple of weeks of trialing, we realized that our new concept was really paying off. Not only were our business tasks being completed efficiently but we also regained our precious time back. The busy weeks began to feel less daunting because we could work towards our goals and look forward to having time to live our lives in between.
Learning to adapt and find balance in this new life has been our greatest lesson yet. Growing from lessons like this one has provided another strong layer to the steadfast foundation of our small business. Above all, this lesson has reminded me that getting lost in the end goal can cause you to miss the present moment, which is all that any of us really has. Communicating, adjusting, prioritizing, and scheduling has been the four pillars that we have gained to stand upon by being vulnerable enough to live through it all. We hope through sharing our story, that other entrepreneurs feel supported. We are not alone and thanks to Jessica, we have a safe space to connect as like-minded people who are all experiencing the glory and the woes of business ownership. So, start the business, set the goals, achieve the dreams but also take the breaks, watch the Netflix series, plan the trips, and make time for yourself so that in the end you were present enough to enjoy the ride and glad that you made time to live your life in between it all.
Ashlynn Campbell
I’m Ashlynn, the creator of Ashlynn’s Appetite where I share my appetite for life, health, and wellness.
I was inspired to create this brand in 2020 as I began my dietetic internship while balancing being a stay at home mom during the pandemic. Throughout the past ten years, I’ve realized that the adversities I’ve overcome should be shared in hopes to inspire other women and glorify God.
I currently work as a Dietitian (PL-LDN) in New Orleans with goals of furthering my education and earning specialties that help serve women.
My overall goal is to walk along side of you as we navigate self love, motherhood, living a healthful lifestyle and more.
You can find me on Youtube, Instagram, & Facebook @Ashlynnsappetite
Bailey Domangue
As a multiple hat wearer (wife, mom, multi-passionate business owner) I really have to lean on discipline to not only do the things necessary in my day-to-day but also to do them well. I own The Graced Co an online faith based apparel line and Ces’t Bon a smoothie shop in Downtown Houma. Both businesses were created out of a desire to serve those around me well! Graced Co’s core enables me to utilize my creative talents to make intentional clothing and items that inspire people and those around them in faith. C’est Bon was dreamed up out of the desire to offer healthy options in an area that leans more on fast, processed foods. All items on our menu are made up of fruits, roots, veggies, and other natural nutritious items with a focus on the good in simplicity. Both businesses help to draw us nearer to the beauty and intricacy of how we were made and how giving and surrounding ourselves in that good gives us the best environment to thrive! As a former collegiate and professional athlete I am used to carrying a heavy load and know the value of consistent hard work, no doubt in my mind all the lessons and ways I have learned from those experiences drive me to be successful in what I now get to do. However, I know and always keep in perspective that my most important work of life as a wife and mother!
Vera Holloway
Hi, I’m Vera! Over the years, I have spent a great deal of time working with women held back by shame, insecurities, brokenness, heartache, rejection, guilt, and unworthiness. During my doctoral study, I began to take a closer look at all these core issues women were experiencing.
Combining core women’s issues, my personal life experiences, and my clients’ experiences, I wrote a women’s curriculum titled, Beauty From Ashes: My Journey from Broken to Beautiful. In 2021, I completed transitioning my Beauty From Ashes curriculum to a book format so women from every part of the world can get their hands on a year of counseling for the price of a book! The name of the book is Your Second Chapter: Moving From Stuck to Peace, Purpose, and Productivity and is being released in February 2022.
I continue to provide counseling services to the local Bayou Region. My client schedule has limited appointment availability as I dedicate a large portion of time to writing, speaking, and other business endeavors. I am a teacher at heart and the opportunity to teach and minister to people is something I continually pursue.
Personally, I’m a wife, mom of two, a licensed counselor, women’s ministry leader, and business owner. I live on a sweet little farm in the bayou country of south Louisiana. These roles are a wild ride at times and definitely call for me to wear many hats, but God, boundaries, and balance make it all possible.
XO, Vera
Janie Hebert
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left but could say I’ve used everything You gave me.” – Erma Bombeck
Wise woman, that Erma. Her words have permeated my being since I’ve read them in 2014 while pursuing my graduate degree in speech pathology. I was graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders with a psychology minor, after falling short of a ballet minor by a few credits. I know what you’re thinking. Ballet classes and speech pathology don’t really go hand in hand. Yep, I am aware. At the time, I had convinced myself that even attempting a ballet minor was silly and unproductive toward my future, but I’m so thankful for my college advisor who pushed me to go for it, liberating me from the notion that dance couldn’t have a place in my life anymore. While my plans to achieve my minor unfortunately didn’t work out, my advisor’s encouraging and inspiring words stayed with me beyond graduation and well into my first few years in the “real world” with a “big girl job” as a speech therapist.
In 2018, I decided to pursue a training to become a certified barre instructor, finally tapping into my dancing talent, though in a bit of an indirect way (barre ≠ dance … but they’re related!). In 2019, The Barre Room was born. Since then, I have been working as a speech-language pathologist during the day, and a barre studio owner/instructor in the wee hours of the morning and in the afternoons. You know what they say, “a body in motion stays in motion!” At least that’s what my high-school chemistry teacher, now barre client, always taught me (funny the way things are all related). But really, while I keep myself busy, I’ve never felt more alive and fulfilled in my life. This is certainly not the path I ever envisioned sitting in Burke-Hawthorne Hall 6 years ago, but I’m thankful every day that this dual career journey is my reality.
Speaking of Burke-Hawthorne Hall… Looking back to college me, I always tried to play to my strengths (which isn’t a bad thing – don’t get it twisted!), unless those strengths don’t serve you! When I started college, I didn’t know who I was, like 99% of freshman. I figured I would go into pharmacy, maybe minor in Spanish, because I was great at Chemistry and had above par Spanish skills. Yet, there was ZERO heart in those endeavors. I thank God frequently for guiding me toward a career that I was passionate about (speech pathology) … and then I thank God a little extra for blessing me with a great support system and the courage and determination to listen to my heart, chase my dreams, and open The Barre Room.
If you’re still here, I hope you take away three things from reading this. 1. You can have your cake and eat it, too. If you have multiple interest areas, your day job doesn’t have to dictate whether you should shut the door on your other interest areas. Tap into your creative energy and believe in your limitless potential to create the life of your dreams filled with passion! 2. Never underestimate the power of your own encouragement and the ability to inspire others. It may just change their lives. 3. Use your talents. I beg you. Don’t hide them. Find the courage to let your gifts shine!
Abby Trauth
What a whirlwind of a year it has been. I launched my children’s book, Cancer and the Mighty You, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic in December of 2020. When Jess approached me to be recognized as one of her “20 under 40” in December of 2021, I immediately thought…this is what imposters syndrome feels like-haha!
My children’s book was the spawn of a time in my life when I was avoiding the grieving process of losing my grandmother to a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. After she passed in January of 2020, my husband and I were reading a children’s book to our daughter, and I had the wild idea to write a children’s book of my own. Through a global pandemic which lead me to be furloughed from a job that I loved, I took on a new role as CEO, marketer, and saleswoman of Cancer and the Mighty you…all while maintaining the role of wife and mom.
My first print run was for 500 copies, and by June of 2021, I had sold them all. The last of them are at The Basketry-though by the time this is published, those might be gone, too.
I’m at a bit of a crossroads. I’m always up for a challenge, but the resurgence of Covid and Hurricane Ida put a halt on my second print run. Most hospitals are still closed to visitors and my house is closed to 500 books until my floor is ripped up and put back together. In typical me fashion, I had to make use of the time I spent waiting and decided to run 100 miles for the American Cancer Society last month. I’ve raised more than $1500 for the cause, and I’m hoping to lead the charge in hosting a statewide American Cancer Society 100 Mile Run next year. So in looking to the future, I’ll leave you with wise words from a friend of mine, “Let’s Freaking Go!”
Haley Gregoire
I started Fuel Good Nutrition in 2020 during quarantine. I was finishing up my dietetic internship with Nicholls State University at the time, and honestly had no intention of starting my own business.
I came across an online nutrition academy that helps you to start an online practice for nutrition coaching and decided to invest in it to learn more. After taking the courses and becoming certified, I felt confident enough to start an online nutrition coaching business. I started taking clients shortly after that and knew I had made the right decision in starting the business. I won’t lie, it was scary and exhausting at first, but so worth it. I love every second of guiding my clients to a healthy lifestyle that they can maintain forever.
My goal is to teach people that dieting does not have to be restrictive, but instead you can enjoy the foods you eat and still see results. I do this first by learning my clients and their lifestyle. Then, we make a realistic plan together to reach the goals they have. I provide accountability and encouragement during the process. All clients get check-ins with me to communicate and reevaluate the plan if needed along the way. My nutrition coaching is all about nutrition education and long term success for my clients. I want to give my clients the tools to succeed, but also give them the why behind the actions taken.
I currently work at Iron Tribe Fitness in Baton Rouge. I coach fitness classes throughout the day and work with my Fuel Good Nutrition clients on the side. I enjoy all sides of health so being able to do the fitness side of things, as well as nutrition, has been the best of both worlds. My job at Iron Tribe also allows me to work with members on their nutrition habits to make the changes necessary to see results. It’s the best feeling in the world getting to see clients achieve their goals and create an entire new and healthier lifestyle for themselves. I am blessed that God allows me to do what I love and use my gifts to help others everyday.
Lauren Domangue
I once read somewhere in a book that to balance life effectively it’s not about juggling all the balls at once; it’s knowing when to put one down. That little phrase makes so much sense to me now that I am a wearer of many hats—mom, wife, teacher, and photographer just to name a few. The real secret to it all is that the second you realize that you can’t do all the things all the time, life somehow gets easier and more manageable. So, I guess to answer your question of how do I manage teaching, photography, and family the simplest answer is that I don’t—not in the traditional sense at least. It’s all about balance and I’ve dropped many balls along the way—just ask my infinitely understanding wife of 9 years, Maggie.
This crazy journey started when I graduated from Nicholls with a Master’s Degree in Secondary English Education. I was already teaching English and Yearbook, so I decided it was time to make the whole photography thing official. I’ve always known I wanted to be a mom and a teacher. An eye for photography has honestly been a bonus. I am often asked to pinpoint a specific moment when I decided that this was it. My ah-hamoment has been more of a progression and journey of teaching, learning, and self-discovery. Because of my teaching background, I have mastered the art of patience and carefully listening to the needs of my clients and students.
I am truly lucky to have found two passions in life as opposed to just one that also helps me be the best mom to my two kiddos: Stevie (5) and Scully (4). Now that I am in my 12th year of teaching and 10th in owning a photography business I can honestly say that I don’t know what will happen when the day comes that I have to choose one over the other. It’ll just be one more ball to put down before picking up another.
Melanie Boudreaux
A little bit about me… I am married with 7 year old twins, and I am currently 34 years old, born and raised in Houma, Louisiana. Years ago (haha!), I graduated with my undergraduate degree (Magna Cum Laude) and MBA from Nicholls State University. Last month, I defended my dissertation at the University of South Alabama, so technically, I am Dr. Melanie now (YAY!) graduating with a 4.0 GPA. I have been teaching Human Resource Management classes at Nicholls full-time since I was 24 years old. I also paint in my free time (check out @BrushedByBoudreaux on Instagram and Facebook), and I absolutely love COFFEE, to go for walks, swim, and be outside.
Whew! That even sounds like a lot from me just typing it all. Honestly, the last 3 years have been a whirlwind with being a mom while working and getting my PhD, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because it got me to where I am today.
People ask me, how do you do it all. Well, I am an extremely determined individual, but I am far from perfect. I wake up every day, and I try to be just a little bit better every day. But, I mess up; I forget my kids’ school projects or snacks at home; I am human. Some days are far from easy, but I try to fill my head with positive thoughts and vibes. I try to stay focused on the good in my life, and I try to be as thankful as possible for my family, friends, job, and life. I truly feel that what you focus on will grow, so if you focus on being happy and practice being happy then that will multiply. However, if you focus on what is going wrong in your life or what could go wrong, that is what will also multiply.
SO- focus on what brings you joy! I try to remind myself of this every day. Here are some resources that have helped me, and I hope some of these tips help you too.
- I try to go for a walk every day. During this walk, I usually listen to UPLIFTING podcasts. Some of my favorites are: Love Your Life, Law of Attraction Tribe, New Mindset who Dis, and more!
- I try to at least do one thing every day that brings me joy. Maybe that is painting.. maybe that is going to get a coffee.
- I have pictures with slogans on my mirror in my bathroom when I am getting ready for work that say things like: no one is you and that is your superpower, today is a great day for a great day, etc. (find the ones that work for you- Pinterest has tons!)
- I try to write down things, people, places, events that I am grateful for.
Again, I am human… So these things do not always happen every day, but I am constantly trying to be a little bit better. Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to share some tips that have helped me in my 34 years, and if this helps one person focus on joy, then I am elated!
XOXO,
Mel
Andréa Orgeron
My name is Andrea Orgeron, and I am the aspiring photographer behind Andrea Orgeron Photography! Along with being behind the camera, during my “free time” (*insert winky face*), I am a full-time wife, animal mom, educator, and coach.
The “want” to be a photographer actually started when I was in high school, but it was only a year ago when I actually started pursuing my long-time passion. With many prayers and support, I finally decided to just “go for it!” I love being behind the camera; I love being creative, while simultaneously capturing moments people will cherish forever, making someone else feel confident and beautiful, and having fun. I love looking through my photos (with my artist husband) and critiquing what I could do better next time and what I did really well this time.
I look forward to always improving and growing, and I look forward to working with YOU!
Linzie Cheramie
Rumours Resale was born when my life-long love for thrifting and my need to react to our sustainability issue in the fashion industry came together.
From a very early age, I was introduced to thrifting from my grandma who would take me to garage sales regularly. I fell in love with rummaging and picking through unique items that had character, and each held their own stories. As I grew older and became interested in fashion and style, I found myself not always wanting to wear what was “trendy”. I wanted to wear those unique items that I surrounded myself with when I was younger. I believe my love of fashion and style came from these older pieces that I felt still needed to be appreciated.
I started working in the retail industry 11 years ago. Through that time, I was able to witness certain issues in our fashion industry. I knew very soon that if I ever wanted to turn my love of fashion into a career, I needed to be part of a solution. I wanted to build something that was ethical and sustainable. I am forever blessed that I was able to find the answer to my problem with something that I truly treasured since I was a little girl. Rumours Resale combined my love for thrifting, my admiration for unique items from decades past, and my want to be a part of a brighter future for us and the planet.
I always say “we save clothing”. We take items that would otherwise end up in landfills in other countries and give them a second life. By the time most of our clothing gets into our closets, it has done so much damage to the garment workers who make them, to our water supply, and to our planet. I never set out to completely change people’s lives, instead I just hoped to bring awareness and to spread the message that circular fashion is fashionable. Our mission is to give our customers another choice when they are shopping. A choice that can be better for their wallet, our planet, and each other.
Since Rumours Resale began, the support of our wonderful customers has allowed us to give so much back. We’re able to regularly donate clothing to places like The Haven Women’s Shelter, The Colonel Closet, and so many more great works. Our customers always come through when we are raising funds for various mutual aids and funds benefiting our local area. I am so thankful our customers give us an opportunity to give back, and I know we could never do it without all the amazing support we have received over the years.
Shelby Clement
Hi, I’m Shelby Clement, a wife, mama of two boys, and an entrepreneur. I live in the small town of Thibodaux, LA – heading to Covington, LA very soon. Family is my everything. I graduated from LSU in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and from LSUS in 2017 with an MBA. I am 30 years old and ready to make my dreams into my reality.
Growing up around business has taught me the true value of hard work and what it takes to be successful in a business. (Thank you to my hardworking parents). It truly does not come easy, but it is so very worth it.
I took a large leap of faith and left a comfortable corporate job and I started SCM in May of 2021. A dream that I’ve finally turned into a reality! SCM is a marketing/social media marketing firm that helps small businesses around the world enhance and scale their business through these social media platforms organically.
2021 was one hell of a year and I’m ecstatic for how 2022 will turn out! Thank you to everyone that have supported me and continue to support me.
Xoxo, your social media bestie, Shelbs!
KASSIE VOISIN
Hi! I’m Kassie, a self taught artist specializing in large scale murals. I’ve been married for 8 years, and I’m a mom to a wonderful 8 month old baby boy! I started my art business when I first got married. In the beginning I worked solely on commissioned pieces in my home studio. Over the years I have moved on to painting larger scale artwork for local and Nation wide businesses.
I have enjoyed the years of traveling the country for work, but now I am truly enjoying life as a local artist. The mom-work life is a constant juggle of trying to give the right amount of attention to everything. (And let’s be honest, I rarely get it right.) I’m blessed that I can spend time with my baby and also continue to do what I love in my city!
Being a commissioned artist, I rarely get to paint things that I’m passionate about. It’s mostly logos and preexisting artwork. But, there’s something special to be found in that. I enjoy the customer relationships I’ve been able to build through this. Making others dreams come to life has brought me so much joy. I hope for my future art career that I would continue to do just that! Sometimes it’s not about the huge career, but living a simple life filled with love and bringing joy to others.
Cassie Porche
I’ve been taking photos for as long as I can remember. I always had a little point and shoot camera and took it with me every where. I photographed everything because I wanted to be able to back on them one day; there was never an artistic process to it while I was growing up though. It was just for the memories.
I was a nanny for a wedding photographer, and her assistant bailed on her one day, so she asked me to step in and shoot a wedding with her. I started shooting with her more and more, and no matter how many wedding I shot, I felt like I could throw up from anxiousness each wedding. It was such a high stress, fast paced environment, but she was paying me like $25/hr at 17, so I kept showing up.
I remember her breaking down to me one night about how hard it was to be a wedding photographer and raise kids because you miss out on so much. After that conversation, I told myself wedding photography is something I would never pursue. I went to school for Computer Sciences, and I spent 7 years helping build up a small start up software company in my home town.
In that time, I started taking on portrait sessions that it naturally led me back to wedding photograph; however, I kept reminding myself of that conversation I had with my mentor, so I kept my IT job and took a limited amount of weddings each year, so I had more time for my kids on the weekend.
What I didn’t realize is that I was putting in more hours working two jobs than if I would just focus on what I truly loved. In October 2021, my daughter asked me why I was always on my computer, and why everyone else’s mom brought them to the park. I quit my IT job the next day.
Over the past 4 years, weddings became second nature to me. I love being a small part of someone’s big day and being able to provide a product that will be past down through the family. I love the trust that each of my clients puts in me, and I feel like I am more present in my kids’ lives than ever.
Everyone has a different narrative, and I am so grateful I was able to find my own.
Meagan Gonzales
Hello, there! My name is Meagan Gonzales, and I’m a self-taught artist from Louisiana. I currently live in Houston, TX, where I run my art business, MGT Artistry, through social media. Acrylic and watercolor paints are the mediums I use, and my canvases include stretched fabric, watercolor paper, glass, plexiglass, wood, and more! Here is my story of how I got here.
What started out as a hobby quickly became a passion. I’ve always been known to doodle on anything I could get my hands on, and those doodles grew. Being in a sorority during my time in college, I began painting big/little week items, such as cups, cork boards, and boxes. Word got around about my work, and I slowly started gaining more and more customers. I decided to take my work to social media.
Fast forward to my final year of MBA school in 2020. At the beginning of the pandemic, classes were moved online. We were quarantined, and I decided if I was going to be stuck at home, I was going to learn more. I watched tutorial after tutorial, practicing as I watched. I gained new techniques and various styles to increase my portfolio and become a better artist. Doing this ignited a flame in me that I believed would go away over time.
Months later, it was time to graduate with my MBA and head to Texas for what I thought would have more opportunities for my fiance’ and I. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. It took me eight long months to find a full-time job. I was becoming depressed and hopeless, but I had my escape: art. While job searching, I started to learn more about social media, website building, packaging, and creating lasting relationships with my customers/followers. I kept taking orders and increasing my following on various social media platforms, and then I finally got a call I had been praying for… the call I thought I wanted and needed more than anything: a job opportunity. Just when I accepted a full-time position, I decided within the first month that the 8-5 desk job was not for me- my business was. Seeing how my art made a difference is what truly mattered to me.
Three months later, I quit that job with the help of motivational podcasts and a whole lot of pep talk from my family, friends, and most importantly: myself. In August 2021, I went all in with MGT Artistry. Naturally, I had days of doubt with questions filling my head like, “Is my art good enough? Will this career help pay the bills? What if I fail?” My customers and followers show me daily, though, that I made the right decision. I get to do what I love daily, and the best part? That thing I love brings others joy, too! It has now been 6 months as a full-time artist, and I’m only just beginning. I have many goals to accomplish and a lot more smiles to put on peoples’ faces.
For those reading my story, I hope that if there’s anything you take away from it is this: take. the. leap. And I mean go all in. Life is too short to be held back from doing what we love, whether it be a career change, taking on a hobby, starting a side hustle, or even just reading a good book. I will leave you with a quote that has helped me more times than I can count. “Run every decision, big or small, through this filter: Does this support the life I am trying to create for myself?” I hope you follow along with my journey as I continue to create a life I love (and a lot of pretty pieces)!
Sarah Hebert
Hey yall! My name is Sarah! I am an artist, business owner, mom, and wife living our busy lives in south Louisiana.
My family means the absolute world to me. Between keeping up with school and extracurricular activities quickly approaching (with a soon-to-be 5 year old daughter), spending time with my husband & best friend with our constant busy schedules, and planning for our family’s future… you’d think that would leave little time for much else, right? Sarah Hebert
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Running a business, as many know too well, is like having another child. From my point of view, starting my art business in 2014 has been an experience. I raised my business from quite literally nothing into what it has bloomed into today- much like raising a child. There are ups, downs, twists & turns, quite a bit of emotion, & a whole lot of ambition. Running a modern business requires much more than just the performing the logistics of it all. Running a business requires relationships to be built, social media to be consistently kept up with, staying on a prompt schedule, ordering, packaging, shipping, consultations…. The list can go on and on.
Owning and running a business is a lot. Raising kids is a lot. Marriage is a lot. With all this said, I’m not referring to “a lot” as a bad thing. A LOT just requires structure. My secret to balancing the different hats that I wear in my personal/professional life is to follow schedules. I have them everywhere. I have a large acrylic (has to be pretty, right?) calendar on my wall to keep me in line. I have calendars in my phone, my purse, and work bag. If I didn’t have everything written out, I’m pretty positive I’d lose my own head and I know that I’m not alone in thinking this way. My husband and support system are also a HUGE help and the reason I am able to balance everything the way that I do.
My family means everything to me, but so does the business that I’ve built (my extra kid). What do they say…Where there’s a will, there’s a way. There’s a way to balance everything you want in life. For me, it all about penciling it all in and even some sticky note reminders along the way.
Coryelle Jacobs
My name is Coryelle Jacobs and I am a model, social media influencer, and a content creator from a small city called Raceland, Louisiana. I have always been creative! My first creative gift was drawing and as a small child I loved being in front of the camera. I also grew passionate about beauty and skin care because of my struggle with acne since I was 13.
I have always consumed fashion and beauty since I could remember! When I was younger I would watch the beautiful models walk down the runway in the fashion shows on TV late at night. As I grew older I watched tutorials on YouTube learning makeup techniques and keeping up with the latest fashion trends on Instagram. I would always get compliments on my outfits from family, friends, and strangers. My friends and family would often suggest that I start my own YouTube channel just out of noticing my interest for it and they would seek my fashion and beauty advice often.
Over time I started to realize that people would turn their social media platforms into careers! so I started my journey, and as I did research I fell in love! I have worked with brands because, they love what I can create! It’s hard work but, I love how I can still be creative many different ways! I come up with different concepts for my audience, I put together stylish looks, create and edit videos, share fashion tips and spreading the importance of self love, and I also take my own photos!
I’m so grateful for the experiences and new people I’ve met along my journey thus far. I’ll continue to strive and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me!
Hillary Danos
My name is Hillary Danos. I am a mother to a 5 year old little girl, I work for my best friend Jeray at her law office, and also help run Bless Your Heart Nonprofit.
Juggling all of these duties is challenging at times, but also very rewarding. There is nothing that makes me happier than helping others. So while Bless Your heart has been such a blessing to so many, it has also been a blessing in my life as well.
Jessica Rebstock
Hello! My name is Jessica Rebstock and I am so happy to be connected to you through my website!
A little bit about me… I was born and raised on Bayou Lafourche and if you don’t know where that is, grab a map and look at the bottom of the boot that is Louisiana!
Fun fact about me, I have always had the dream of being an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. In February of 2017, I took the leap and launched this blog and website, Hello GorJess. Over the past four years, the blog and my brand has grown into a multi-faceted business and has provided me several opportunities to grow as a woman and work with people, specifically locally-owned women business owners.
Hello GorJess was originally created with the idea of being a home and lifestyle blog, but in the last two years, I realized that one of my many passions are inspiring and promoting the personal develop of women. What I have learned in the last few years is that my readers and listeners are women who are looking to level up in life and are on the journey to becoming the best version of themselves. I want my blog to be a resource for women to relate to and unapologetically be themselves because this is where I am at in my life.
The way my life has been mapped out gives me the opportunity to be an example, but instead I hope for women to come on this journey with me as we all grow together and become who we were meant to be. In April of 2021, I expanded my blog and brand by launching a podcast called, Hello GorJess & All That. The goal for the podcast is for all of you who are readers of the blog to able to make a deeper connection with the content by not only reading what I share, but hearing it in my own voice.
In 2021, Hello GorJess has expanded in a way I always dreamed of, a way of giving back to women and children in our community. Currently, we are working on starting a foundation, the 2328 foundation later this year to raise money for projects like Bags of Sunshine, Our Little Free Library and The Rebirth Project.
Hello GorJess’ sole purpose is to be an uplifting space for all women. We all have dreams and goals and I am so happy to have created a community of women who are all rooting for one another and if you are reading this, I am rooting for you too!