19 Jun

Posted at 20:20h in Activities, art, Beauty, Business, Columbus, Community, design, Family, food, Fun, Local, local business, Marriage, Meet the Business, Story

Part 1: Saira (Right) @dahliaoccassions; After meeting at a community gathering years ago and becoming instant friends (through their shared passion for decorating and weddings) they decided to became business partners. Saira is originally from Pakistan and came to the United States in 1997. "I got married to a wonderful man and I am blessed with two beautiful daughters." Saira has been teaching Pre-School for the past 10 years as a head start teacher, "I love it. My other passion is weddings--I love weddings! Happy people, bright lights, bright colors, and beautiful decor always makes me happy. And ultimately this was the reason I decided to go...

23 Apr

Posted at 17:21h in Columbus, Community, death, Emotions, Family, healing, Local, Organization, Story

My dad started showing signs of Alzheimer’s when I was in high school. Let me tell you, there’s no worse combination in the world than a teenager and dementia patient under the same roof. I suppose all terminal illnesses are vicious in their own way, but Alzheimer’s really enjoys itself. It relishes in its slow and meticulous nature. It doesn’t want you to miss out on anything. Especially losing your loved one twice. Once when you watch everything about them slowly disappear over the course of a decade or so and then a second time when you have to actually bury them. You’d think watching your parent...

14 Apr

Posted at 20:17h in Childhood, Columbus, columbus families, Community, death, Emotions, Family, friendship, Giving Back, healing, health, Heath, Local, Local Family, love, meaningful, Meet the Family, motherhood, Non Profit, Organization, parenthood, reflection, relationships, spiritual, Story, Things that Matter, Topics that Matter

"It was Friday the 13th of 2002, and the first anniversary of 9/11 was coming up, and I just kept having this dreaded feeling that Friday the 13th was going to be a really bad day. I had no idea why, so I went on with my day.  Lindsay came home from school and decided she was going to go work out with her best friend.   About an hour later after she left, the phone rang, and it was her best friend Morgan. She said, “Kathy, Lindsay fainted. You need to get over here right away.” She fainted at the gym on the treadmill.  So, at...

19 Mar

Posted at 20:14h in art, Beauty, Columbus, columbus families, Emotions, friendship, healing, health, Local, Local Family, meaningful, Music, reflection, spiritual, Story, writing

E Elyjah, L Live or die-- he had a choice to make, whether to let his situation will determine his purpose or not. 31 days in children's hospital led him to a mature mental state unheard of for his age. Y You may be thinking he's gone. However, J Jumping to conclusions usually doesn't produce a positive outcome. The A Aftermath of a brain abscess turned him into a beast on the inside and a cub on the outside, and became a part of who he was, and what he felt the need to preach through his own experiences. Most wouldn't understand nor agree with an idea that the H Holy Spirit was now inside him. N (k)nowledge...

19 Mar

Posted at 17:15h in Activities, Beauty, blogging, Business, Columbus, Local, local business, Marriage, Meet the Business, Photography

Part I: Emily Blake Emily is a Licensed Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist. "I have been in the beauty industry nearly 10 years, but have had a passion for it my entire life." Her mother did hair and makeup-- so she was a witness to her mothers passion. "I remember having sleepovers and doing makeover parties with my friends. So, since the start of entering the beauty industry, beautifying #brides was something I loved. And, If I'm not #beautifyingbrides, you can find me at the nearest country concert enjoying an ice cold beer, or road tripping exploring a new town. I'm 27 and have always been an...

16 Mar

Posted at 07:38h in Columbus, columbus families, Community, Crafts, design, Emotions, Family, Fun, Local, local business, Local Family, meaningful, Meet the Business, parenthood, Photography, reflection, relationships, Responsibility, Things that Matter, Things to do

Part I: Memories A memory happens, and -blink- it's gone. It becomes just that, a memory. We all say we will remember and treasure those small moments, but let's be honest, how many small moments do you truly remember? How many times do you tell yourself you wish you would have written something down or documented it somehow? I'm guilty, and wish I could turn back time to record so many of those precious milestones. Courtney knew there were people just like me and she wanted to help them document their lives with photography and writing-not only for them, but for the people who will follow. "Memories and...

12 Mar

Posted at 20:13h in Activities, art, Business, cancer, Columbus, Community, Fun, Giving Back, healing, Local, local business, meaningful, Meet the Business, Non Profit, Organization, Politics, Retail

Alisa Becker and Paula Katz are two social entrepreneurs from Columbus launch Be the Sign; donating 100% of profits to charity. Be the Sign focuses political messages on equality, diversity and love. Alisa and Paula are former retail executives, freelancers, activists, friends and now social entrepreneurs. Alisa was a merchant for Bath & Body Works, Zulily & others, created the blog www.30daysofcancer.com and is a grieving mother channeling her sadness into something positive. Paula has visual experience with L Brands, formerly owned the bakery Layer based here in Columbus, and currently freelances for prominent companies such as, Yankee Candle and Nasdaq. "We realized our conversations were increasingly political. And,...

04 Mar

Posted at 07:50h in Activities, Business, Columbus, columbus families, Community, Crafts, Family, Furnishing, Giving Back, handmade, Local, local business, meaningful, Meet the Business, Meet the Family, Outdoors, Story

Part I: Meet Josh & A Carpenter’s Son Design Co. A Carpenter's Son is an umbrella of local craftsman “salvaging a piece of Columbus’ history one tree at a time and giving it a new life,” states Josh, the Founder. “The name actually came to me in the middle of the night.” Growing up Josh was home schooled until the 9th grade, and during that time he witnessed firsthand his father’s passion for carpentry (that he still practices today in Cleveland). Josh’s father was a self-employed entrepreneur--- And home for Breakfast-Lunch-and Dinner most of the time. So, the name doesn’t sound far-fetched—it’s actually rather perfect. With Josh’s early years...

12 Feb

Posted at 18:25h in Columbus, columbus families, Community, death, Disease, Education, Emotions, Family, Giving Back, health, Heath, Local, Local Family, meaningful, Meet the Family, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Non Profit, Organization, Responsibility, Story, Things that Matter, Topics that Matter, Wellness

  The part of my story I am sharing with you is about my experience with being the daughter of a mom who suffered with extreme mental illness and addictions. I remember thinking I could fix her.  And, I thought if I got her Cascade dishwasher soap that promised the dishes would be sparkling clean, she would smile as big as the ladies on the commercials. But, we didn't even have a dishwasher.  I was six years old and just knew I wanted her to be happy. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Heather as a baby with her mother[/caption] When I was in college and had some of my own money,...

11 Feb

Posted at 09:06h in Activities, Alternative, Business, Columbus, Community, death, healing, health, Heath, holistic, Local, local business, meaningful, Meet the Business, Natural, Organization, Practice, spiritual, Wellness

PART I: Meet Jill "I think I have a large capacity for joy that's developed over the years. In large part, I attribute that to the hardships that I've had to face, including the deaths of my husband and my mother in succession. My container for holding joy and pain is very large and I think that directly influences my work with patients in the acupuncture clinic today. After my husband's death in December 2007, I was overwhelmed by grief and developed a chronic ache in my back. [caption id="attachment_9221" align="aligncenter" width="236"] Jill Farell[/caption] A friend suggested acupuncture and I began to get regular treatments. My back pain...