Shopping Event

So excited about my upcoming JS Creative Minds 4th Annual Summer Shopping & Networking Event.  If you're in the Chicagoland Area, and looking to support Local Small Businesses come to this event!  To find out more info "Like" the JS Creative Minds facebook page here.

I'M A STUDENT!!!!

A couple of months ago I blogged about troubles, because I had received word that I once again was not accepted into a school that I applied for.  This was the 5th School!  I was really upset and I was sort of discouraged, but still determined to see if I can actually make my dream of becoming a therapist come true. Northwestern University was the closest school that I got to actually making it.  I made it to the final round. Out of 200 something applicants I was a part of the 70 something people that actually got an interview and I was proud of that. I was thinking,  what if this actually happens?  When it didn't happen my world was kind of turned upside down. I was thinking why would God put being a therapist on my heart for the last 10 years for it to not happen?  What is the lesson in this? That question was not settling with me so that's why I was determined to just keep going and see what happened. So I did my research and I found one more school that had my program.  I saw that it was an online program and I talked to God.  I said, "is this what you're telling me?  Are you telling me that I need to go to school online because my life is crazy right now?  I mean how would I actually be able to handle going to class in this life and studying?  Is this what you want me to do?  You want me to go to school online?  I imagined him saying,  "Go for it!" (Or maybe I heard him for real ;-)

So that's what I did and now I am happy to announce that I am now a graduate student of North Central University in the Master of Arts Marriage and Family Therapy Program. I was so excited to get that acceptance letter all I could do was get down on my knees and praise God literally. So far I'm in my first week of class and I've done three assignments and everything is smooth sailing (besides a hiccup with fingerprinting).  Financial aid has been all taken care of.  I've spoken to my advisor several times.  Communication is great, and I will meet my instructor via Skype tomorrow morning Everything is great!

You might say what is happening with an Enchanté?  I would say that's a great question.  Enchanté is not going anywhere.  The fact that I am becoming a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist will only add to the success of on Enchanté. Enchanté is all about empowering women to believe in themselves, know their worth, carry themselves with dignity and integrity, and demand for the world to worship them and be encouraged to take care of themselves within.  Being an MFT will help aid me with the work that I can do in the community that Enchanté will be affiliated with. I have so many ideas for on Enchanté and I am so excited to see it on unfold.

Relief

I'm standing here on the wonderful bike off of Lakeshore Drive doing my

stretches after finishing my 3 Mile walk and I decided to speak into my earpiece and talk to my people.

Sorry that I haven't let you inside my world

for so long as you may know by now I'm a very busy woman, lol. In an Enchanté update I feel relieved to finish my walk for the day and get a fresh start to my day but I am also relieved that I have successfully finished one prom dress out of three.

I absolutely love creating, and I love designing, but there is nothing like the relief you feel when you successfully finish a prom dress. There is nothing like the feeling you feel when you see the smile on a girl's face and it makes her dance in the mirror because she knows she looks good. I can't wait to finish the other two so that I can start potty training boot camp for my last and final child, :-).

In a self-care update I have been doing really well. I'm walking more thanks to my Just 4 Wives sister, Alice telling me about this wonderful It works supplement.

I have been making a point to pray daily. I have physically let go of some negative people in my life and mentally I'm in a really good place, and I'm so happy to be.

In a marriage update hubby and I went out with my Real Wives of Chicago / Just 4 Wives sisters and they were wonderful! 14 couples fighting hatd for their marriages and showing that marriage is not dead.

In a graduate school update I still haven't heard from them yet, but I have been told that no news is good news so I ask that you please continue to pray for me and my acceptance into the program, and that feeling of relief .

So cheers to a lot of more successful days What's been going on in your world?

Life

I haven't blogged in a while because it's been one thing after another these last 3 weeks, and not necessarily bad things. About a month ago, I believe I had a breakthrough. I'm not really sure what happened, maybe the weather started to be nicer. Whatever the reason is I REALLY (this time) realized how done I was with being upset, waiting on other people to do what they should do, and not thinking about my own needs, and I'm happy to say that 4 weeks later I'm still done, and I'm enjoying this process of enjoying my life more.

I enjoyed myself in New Orleans with my husband. I've been taking the time to thank him more, and taking steps back in these trying times to put myself in his shoes and validate him, although this is still in the beginning steps of the process, but I'm optimistic that this will improve on both our parts. I did have the stomach flu for a week, and was out of commission as much as a Mother of two rumbuteous boys can be out of commission. Then I turned around and got right back sick with a cold, or maybe its allergies? I don’t know I was sick :-)! I'm working on creations, prom dresses, and planning my next JS Creative Minds Vending and Networking event and I still haven't gotten word from North Western University, but I'm learning to Praise God while in my challenges, and worship him before my blessings come.  I  have figured out how to take things as they come, and pull the positive out of the majority of situations I encounter, and whatever else I don't encounter I'll deal with when I do, and I'm loving this moment.  Tell me, how are you doing?

The Count Down

I am so anxious right now. Last week I had my admissions interview with Northwestern University. I was one of the 72 applicants picked to be interviewed out of 260 something applicants. I was not really scared going into the interview in fact I was really confident but I admit that my nerves were high, but I feel that I did well. I've been visualizing how going down this new road would look for my life and I must say that it looks great!

For a few years now, I have had a dream, premonition, daydream; I don't know really what it is, but I have had this vision of myself with salt & pepper locks sitting high on my head in a neat bun, with a lavender tailored business suit, getting out of my car. Now, I feel like I'm going to work at a boutique in this vision but I always felt like, even though I know I can rock this suit, but I always felt like I was a little over dressed to be going to work in my boutique, but going to work in my boutique and also being a therapist I feel that this suit would be perfect! Maybe this is a premonition of what is to come. I so cannot wait to rock my lavender suit!

So I am counting down the days when I get to announce that I am now a student earning a Master of Science degree in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Northwestern University. Doesn't that sound absolutely wonderful!

Prom, Prom, Prom!

My prom girls started early this year, and I am so excited!!!!!  Here's some of the prom fabric that I have so far, also I got inspired to make myself something for my trip to New Orleans with hubby! Stay tuned for more prom and New Orleans pictures!!!!!!!!

Getting back to the swing of things...

Other than doing small alterations around the house I haven't creatively sewn anything since the last fashion show I did in September, and rightfully sew (Ha! Get it?!) because  I designed, and sewed about 24 pieces in 3 weeks, and I was tired, and took the holidays and applying to graduate school as the excise I needed to take a break from sewing.

Now that its a new year, and I'm already getting prom orders in I figured it was time to get back into the swing of things and get busy with some designs I wanted to draft. Starting with this jumpsuit.

The story behind this jumpsuit is, my hairdresser/ big sister I always wanted has been asking me to make her a jumpsuit for about 15 years. Now my neck is making dresses so that's what I have been sticking to all these years but finally I got the urge to make this particular jumpsuit and I decided to make it for myself so I'm sorry Ouida but I'll be making you one one day, lol.

So I'm stepping out of my comfort area a little bit by working with stripes and knit fabric, because I'm a cotton, satin, silk kind of girl. So we'll see what else I can come up with this year.

Consistency

The word of the day is... Consistency

The word consistency is more and more making an appearance in my life. I'm finding myself getting upset not only with with people around me, including my husband but also with myself in my relationship with my kids, my business, and my marriage.

 We all know that children are sponges and they are watching us. So we have to set positive examples for them. We can't expect big things from them if we're not providing a consistent example of what big things are.

I'm also realizing that I need to be more consistent in my business. This consistency determines how successful I am. I'm currently working on being more active with blogging and having more interaction with fans and supporters on social media. Becoming more proactive on my email listing, and creating more merchandise. This is all an effort in trying to achieve my goal of becoming more consistent, hence becoming more successful in my business.

I'm also making more of an effort to be consistent in

Isn't Marriage spelled wrong;-/

my marriage by not being so focused on the things that are going wrong but being more encouraging, showing acknowledgment, and creating more opportunities for intimacy.

Being consistent is very important in all relationships if we can push ourselves more and show that we care more I believe we'll all be consistently happy. :-)

Happy Real Year

This is going to probably be the realest post that I have ever done, and I admit cause I have partaken in the drinking of 5 bottles of spirits this New Years Eve, and yes I am an Entrepreneur professional, but I am also a human being and I am an artist, and so much more, and I have a couple things to get off of my chest.   I am absolutely determined to not go into the new year with BS from anyone which includes my family.  Why is it freaking New Years and instead of my Husband walking to me and giving me a new years kiss he is screaming at me to come here, and because I don't get up he just sits back down?  Whatever happened to fighting for what you love, or going after what you want?  Especially since your wife has pointed out a few things that she would like you for you to work on, and you have agreed that you need to.  Yes, I could of gotten out of my deep seating couch sectional experience and simply gotten up as was requested of me.  However, I have said time, and time again after cooking a full turkey, dressing, baked macaroni, and collard greens, ham, and sweet potatoes meal all by myself for Thanksgiving and Christmas that I wasn't doing anything but sitting on my ass for new years, and thats exactly what I was going to do.  Excuse me, MF!  I'm tired too!  Why do I have to always meet your ass half way, 3/4 of the way or all the way?  Can you do something on your own for fucking once?  Yeah, yeah, anybody that knows me is probably shaking their heads right now, and calling me all types of hypocrite, and Te, thats not how a marriage is supposed to me. Shawnte you're not supposed to put you marriage out there like that, but you know what who's there for me right now to vent to about this MF? Nobody! So this is what I'm doing to  make myself feel better about this asswhole.  Deal with it!  The mission of my business is to make women feel like they are worthy of being worshiped.  To think about themselves for change, self care!  Care for your loved ones around you; nurture them, love on them, but also don't forget to do the same for yourselves, and sometimes you just have to vent, and right now I'm doing just that.  This is my mission for my business, because this is what I'm passionate about its something that I also want for my life, for myself.  Maybe I'm wrong talking about my not knowing how to handle his liquor husband, but this is what makes me feel good at this moment, and him, and anyone else that doesn't like it can kiss my you know what!

This is a great way to start the new year, but to make it positive here's to standing up for myself, and working towards filling my empty cup! Happy New Year!!!

This Moment

I'm back!!!!!! I promise I won't write this post, and not see you again for another 2 years.  I've learned that writing or reading is needed in my life in order for me to feel like me so, I'm determined to write, but at the same time not feel overwhelmed and pressured by it.

So anyways...

There is so much going on that I don't even know where to start!  Let me just start with the moment...(be more in the moment it helps)

Have you ever wanted to prove something to other people, (and yourself) so bad that you develop tunnel vision and you can't see anything else?

Well, I decided after designing for 15 years and not doing a fashion show of my own, that I was going to make it happen come Spring, but today I just realized I just have to much going on!

1. I'm working on strengthening my relationship with God. I've found a church with Pastors that I adore, and I've joined a bible study with my Just 4 Wives group aka Real Wives of Chicago Sisters, and because of the wonderful movie, War Room, I'm developing my own prayer closet/prayer book. 
2. I recently finished taking a class with a Chamber of commerce retail pilot program that helps Entrepreneurs with resources to open their own storefronts.  Although I'm finish with the class, I still have work to do in making this happen; like networking, scouting locations, working on my inventory, keeping in contact with current clients, trying to get new clients, etc., and did I mention that I just changed the name of my business from The Isis Collections to Enchante and there's so much I have to update, and re-register with the name change.
   
3. I recently applied to graduate school. Hopefully I get accepted (Pray that I get accepted Gods & Goddesses), and if I do I'll be starting September 2016, but there are 2 prerequisite classes I'll need to take before I start. 
4. My oldest son is starving for his parents attention, and I have to make away to give it to him.
5. My youngest son is starving for his parents attention, and I have to make away to give it to him, as well as potty train him, and get him ready and registered to start school in September 2016. 
6. Last but not least I have a husband that is starving for my attention, and I have to make a way to give it to him as well.
7. One more thing, I have to not forget about me, and take care of myself.  Do things that I want to do.  Relax!  Relate!  Release!

So because of all of this, I've decided since I'm getting closer to getting my storefront location, I will just wait until my grand opening and have a fashion show then.  I know many of you, I have reached out to because I wanted you to be apart of my fashion show, and I still want to be apart of it, but it won't be happening in Spring.  I promise I'll keep you updated.  Sometimes you have to make hard decisions and cancel things before they turn how to be a problem.