Hey Chiks! We'd like you to meet Veronica Moya! Veronica is a spirituality and meditation teacher based in New York City, whose emphasis is on nurturing self-reliance & assertiveness in young people. Read on to learn about Veronica's journey to the US and how she became the Boss Chik she is today!
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Donna Versatile or Versatile Woman in Italian is 100% inspired by the Proverbs 31 woman. The one who does not give up, who multiplies her resources and does not neglect herself. The business is composed of an online boutique and blog who seeks to inspire women to be the best version of themselves in everything they do and to display it even through the way they dress.

The boutique carries accessories and clothing pieces for all body types, sizes run from S to 3XL. There are new arrivals every week for every taste and style, because personal style goes with every woman everywhere they go and with everything they do. During these trial times, it is important that even at home one can feel beautiful, equipped and in charge for the day. Just an outfit can make you feel accomplish. Because of the shift in the way business is been done, we will be carrying loungewear pieces as well. For every woman who wears it to be comfortable, without compromising chicness. We will keep carrying more dressy pieces as well, because dressing up is something that can still be done during special occasions at home and obviously when everything goes back to normal. Our content is offered through photo shots and short videos to offer different ideas, fitting details and fashion inspiration. We are also offering free shipping while this situation lasts, so everybody can get their pieces and save money at the same time. They can also feel free to subscribe to the website in order to receive 15% of one item the first time they order with us using code "Welcome". 

Website: http://www.donna-versatile.com
Facebook: Donna Versatile or @versatiledonna
Instagram: donna_versatile

-Iris Rosario, Owner of Donna Versatile

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We've been hearing all the stories of couples having to reschedule their weddings due to COVID-19 and they are truly heartbreaking. The stress alone is enough to make anyone's head spin! The team over at The Beauty Studio is here to help. Not only are they available for those who have lost their hair and makeup vendors, but they're also supporting brides with digital content. They're encouraging couples who have had to postpone to still celebrate their original date at home. You can check out their tutorial for an easy updo you can do at-home to get dolled up and celebrate! 

We love a good celebration! And even more than that, we love small business who are supporting folks through this trying time. We couldn't be more excited to feature Marisa and The Beauty Studio as a guest blogger today. 

Hey there! We are The Beauty Studio located in Ludlow, MA! We are a one-stop-shop for all your beauty, fashion, and special event needs! Our location is a full-service salon and spa where you can come and receive a number of beauty services including Microdermabrasion facials, deep tissue massages, lash extensions, lash lifts, any hair color you could imagine- we even offer private tarot card readings! While you are in our little oasis, take a look around and grab yourself a brand new outfit from our ever-growing boutique! The boutique has new arrivals weekly including clothing, shoes, and accessories. Online shopping is always available on our website. Everything is currently 30% OFF until May 9th!

The main service that we provide is hair and makeup for our wonderful brides. We have a full freelance team, therefore, we can accommodate any bridal party size and any popular dates. We travel all across New England to make your day-of-services as easy and smooth as possible. This year we have successfully rebooked every single wedding that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The main concern is to keep our brides as calm as possible and we have been reassuring them every step of the way with any possible changes that need to be made. We are in contact with a number of wedding planners, mothers, maid of honors to successfully reschedule and adjust dates due to this virus. 

If you have a wedding that was canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19 and your original hair and makeup team is no longer available, absolutely reach out!! We still have dates open at the end of summer and fall and we would love to work with you. I have an entire Bridal Guide as well and a Bridal Pampering Packet I would love to drop in your inbox.

Here is where you can follow along with us:
Instagram: @thebeautystudioma
Instagram: @thebeautystudio.boutique
My professional Instagram: @artistybymarsia

Now more than ever, we could all use the expertise of Kelly over at Macaroni Kid Springfield! Kelly provides a weekly eNews chock-full of great activities, crafts, recipes, and more that are perfect for keeping your kids busy and bringing the family together. When the world isn't in quarantine, she also features local events perfect for the whole family. Did we mention that it's FREE?! With the kids at home for the foreseeable future, we couldn't think of a better resource for mom chiks to take advantage of. You can check out all of Kelly's articles and sign up for her eNews here. 

How did you get started with your business?
This is my tenth year publishing and when I first moved to Western Mass with my family, I used Macaroni Kid Springfield to find events in the area to keep busy with my toddler!

What do you feel is most important for others to know about your business?
Our children are our future and we need to give them a strong foundation through unconditional love, being surrounded by family and friends, and of course - PLAY! My newsletter and social pages help make it easy for families to find their fun. FOR FREE!

How would you describe your leadership style?
I love working together with locally owned businesses to collaborate on projects, events and of course promotions! While I am the only one to run my edition, I enjoy collaborating with others from time to time.

When you were growing up, what is your ultimate dream job? If it's this, how does it feel to have met your dream?! If it was something different, how did your dream change over time?
I wanted to be an actress and a news reporter! This job lets me do that in a way. I get to report and research on all the things happening in our area for families. I can be dramatic and events with the kids like when I host trunk or treats or story times... even when I make videos and go "LIVE" on social!

Every business owner faces challenges. How are you empowered to overcome yours?
It can be challenging to step away from the computer and phone - I always want to be connected and respond to families. Taking time to unplug helps and gives me focus.

Tell us (in one word) how you would describe your boss chik business!
FUN!

If you're running out of things to do at home with your kids, we couldn't recommend Kelly enough! You can find here here:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube

Cupcake Charlies  is one of our all time favorite clients! We were fortunate enough to work with Penny and her team last fall with the grand opening of their latest Wareham location. They now have 6 locations across New England and offer a wide range of sweet treats. Those treats include 16 cupcake flavors (cupcakes that were featured on Cupcake Wars, mind you!),  Whoopie Pies, S'mores Bark, Ring Dings, Cake Pops, Push Pops, Cupcake Jars, Frosting Shots, Cookie Dips, Trifle Cups and so much more! It's actually heaven on earth. With all that is going on in the world today, we couldn't think of a better way to make someone smile, than to send them a box of Cupcake Charlie's!

​I'm Monique Vacon - an Executive leader, advocate and educator within Young Living Essential Oils. I truly believe we can all feel like queens- imagine having more energy, sleeping better and smelling so good all the time. Reach out to me if you are open to learn more. I love to educate! We can chat about oils and our fabulous products. 
Check out our product guide here!

Reach out to me via email or text! 
mvacon18@gmail.com | 413-272-8386
Facebook Page: Essential Oils with Monique 

We cannot say enough good things about Monqiue and Young Living! We absolutely adore their essential oils and have been swearing by Thieves currently! 

Founder, Owner Ashley Tresoline is a personal chef, kid/adult cooking class instructor and food educator here in Massachusetts. Ashley has been living with MS since she was in her early twenties and it is what drives her to help people stay healthy and heal themselves through food. Ashley’s love of food and her desire to help other people stay healthy with food that is organic and high quality as well as tastes amazing is what made her want to start my business. Ashley always says being healthy starts from the inside out.

Bella Foodie was created over 6 years ago as a way to spread love of healthy cooking with the local community. Bella Foodie’s goal is to create locally grown, delicious, healthy and organic food that gives people the feeling of having a personal chef in their kitchens or at their events. Food is all about joy, love, friend and family.

How did you get started with Bella Foodie?
I have always loved to cook and grew up in a big crazy Italian family where food was a big part of our lives. I have been living with MS since my whole adult life and learned how much food plays a big part in our health. A strong love of food and a desire to help other people on their health journeys and heal themselves through food that is organic and high quality as well as tastes amazing is what made me want to start my business. We have evolved over the years and started offering classes for Mini Foodies and adults which gives me so much happiness to teach the next generation.

What do you feel is important for others to know about your business?
Healthy organic food can be delicious and full of flavor. A lot of people come to me because they have healthy issues that center around their diet, I am here to help them figure out what is next .The best part about my work is seeing that moment in a person when it finally clicks in their mind that everything we have been working on with their dietary needs makes a difference. It makes it all worth it for me, knowing I am helping make someone’s life better through food even if it’s only a small part.

How would you describe your leadership style?
Fair. I believe in accountability on every level. You make a mistake own up to it, if there is skill you need help with tell me, you aren’t clear on your tasks and so on.  I want to give everyone I work with a chance to shine in their roles which ultimately makes everything we do better as a whole.

What is your ultimate dream job – or are you living it?
I love what I do, no doubt. It is an amazing feeling helping people and creating through food. I would love to have a chance to share my love of food and educate people on a bigger scale.

Every business owner can face challenges, how are you empowered to overcome yours?
Challenges are a part of life personally and professionally. You can give up or face it head on and work the problem. I will always choose to work the problem. Coffee helps too!

Do you have any exciting upcoming classes for kids and/or adults?
We have a new Kid’s Cooking Class -Let’s Go Green, coming on March 18th, in our brand-new location at St. George Cathedral and Hall in Springfield, MA on St. George Rd. Our new space is bigger and freshly renovated!! To register please email Ashley at ashley@bellafoodie.net or call 413-342-4641. Ages 4 and up. $34 per Mini Foodie.

Where can our readers go to learn more about your business?
If your readers would to know more about Bella Foodie, LLC you can check out our website www.bellafoodie.net. You can also email me with any inquiries or questions at ashley@bellafoodie.net.

To end, please tell our readers (in one word) how you would describe your boss-chik business?
Enlightening!


Be sure to follow this chik-tastic SHERO and stay connected via social media!
Facebook and Instagram: 

Kelley McShane is one of the owners and managing partners of The Granny Squibb Iced Tea Company. They are an iced tea company based about of Providence, Rhode Island. The original recipe was created in the 1930s in Saunderstown, Rhode Island by Sally “Granny” Squibb, while she was at her home overlooking iconic Narragansett Bay. Granny started making iced tea for all of her friends and family when iced tea was still a novelty. Fast forward 75 years and her granddaughter, Robin Squibb, decided to start bottling it. Their tea has the same homemade taste it did a hundred years ago.

Today, their business has a team who want to take Granny Squibb’s to new levels. They believe in adventure and fun, and most of all, being a part of our community. Every person that works for Granny Squibb’s is involved in other Rhode Island non-profits and a portion of their proceeds are donated to Save The Bay, which is an organization that helps protect Narragansett Bay, where the original recipe was developed!

Tell us everything we need to know about what makes Granny Squibb’s Iced Tea so unique?
We have an incredibly clean product. All of our teas have the same base: black tea, mint, and water. Then we add lemon, lime or cranberry depending on the flavor. Each of our flavors has both a sweetened and an unsweetened version. We use organic cane sugar for our sweetened varieties. We believe this is important because not only do we see upward trends in non-sweetened RTD beverages, but a lot of people can’t have any sweetener. Our iced tea is for everyone and we want our products to reflect that.

What sparked your passion to be a part of the Granny Squibb brand?
Before Granny Squibb’s, I worked with Amos House, which is a social services agency in Providence. Robin had been donating tea for years, so I was very familiar with the product line. Then, in 2017, my husband, Nick, and I moved into Providence and Robin ended up being our neighbor! We became good friends and, seeing an opportunity, Nick and I decided to team up with her.

Do you remember the exact moment when you wanted to be your own boss?
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be my own boss!

What healthy ingredients do you feel are important for others to know about your product?
All of our products use organic, non-GMO, preservative free and vegan ingredients. We pride ourselves on having the highest quality ingredients.

What is your ultimate dream job – or are you living it?
I am living my ultimate dream job. I believe that we all go through phases in life. People keep saying I won’t have the energy to do this forever, but for now, I’m happy as clam!

Every business owner can face challenges, how are you empowered to overcome yours?
My team. I do everything I do because I genuinely care about my team. I’m the boss, which means I work for everyone.

How can our readers get their hands on your product?
We are sold at Whole Foods Market, Dave’s Marketplace, and over 200 different restaurants and bars. We will be expanding our presence in Massachusetts this summer!

To end, please tell us (in one word) how you would describe your boss-chik role?
Onward!

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Be sure to follow this chik-tastic brand and stay connected via social media!
Facebook and Instagram: @grannysquibb.

Hey Chiks! Welcome to our brand new blog segment, "At Home with Meghan"!

Last week, we had the pleasure of inviting  Liz Theresa  to Meghan's home for a candid chikchat on the couch! For those of you who don’t know, Liz is an online marketer and web designer/developer hailing from Boston who helps entrepreneurs launch and build online businesses that they love!

Liz also has her Liz on Biz Podcast which was recently highlighted on Forbes for being one of the 12 Small Business Podcasts That Will Help You Sell More. Listen in on Meghan's recent episode as she shares her tips on how to use PR to get big brand sponsorships!


Be sure to follow this chik-tastic SHERO and stay connected via social media!
Facebook and Instagram: @LizTheresa.

Blog by Editorial Contributor Crystal Dunn

Ashley Kohl is a lover of all things happy. She believes in always doing the right thing, supporting others’, making a positive impact and bringing more love & light into the world. Ashley loves to laugh, eat, snuggle her two kids and be around people who lift her up.

Kohl's business stands for spreading love, unapologetic self-expression, & inclusion.

Ohana School of Performing Arts has a mission to spread peace and positivity through performance. The concept is simple: people come to dance class, they fuel their passion and feed their joy. When they are around each other, there’s positive energy & uplifting support. Students find their forever friends and parents grow life-long friendships with each other. When dancers perform, they feel free and they invite the audience to feel something, too. They pass on their joy and inspire everyone to find their passion & share it.

Dance brings joy. And the more dance & joy there is in this world, the better off we all are!

How did you get started on the path to Ohana School of Performing Arts?
I danced my entire life, quickly realizing at a young age that it was my passion. My mom, Darlene Sattler, opened a dance studio in 1997, Technique Studio of Dance, where I grew up dancing and teaching. After high school I worked in NYC for two years, and moved back home.
I eventually landed a job at WWLP hosting their lifestyle TV show Mass Appeal for six years. During my time there, I did a story on a dance class for all abilities. I was so moved by the experience, I wanted to open my own studio.
My mom passed down her studio to me, and wanted me to make it my own. I knew that I wanted it to be more community-based rather than competition-dance focused, and I wanted the name to reflect that. Since it started as a family business, and I really wanted it to feel like a “family”, I decided the name “Ohana” was the perfect fit.

Ohana means family. And, in my logo, the word Ohana is written in my mom’s handwriting.

Can you share with us a bit about your childhood and how performing at a young age may have influenced your decision to open and lead your own dance studio one day?
It’s kind of funny -- I never wanted to have my own studio. I started dancing when I was two years old at New England Dance Conservatory. I moved on to dance competitively at The Dance Shop, which eventually changed its name to Northeast Dance Academy. In 1997, my mom opened her studio in Chicopee. I learned so much from her - as a dancer and an instructor. Little did I know, I was also learning how to run a dance studio! She owned it for 19 years, and I never had a thought of taking over. After working for Disney and auditioning for music videos in NYC and after a 6 year career in television … I realized why I was put on this earth. To not just have a dance studio, but to inspire people to chase their dreams and to live a life fueled by love, acceptance & joy.

Do you remember the exact moment when you wanted to be your own boss?
Yes, I do. My marriage was falling apart and I knew that I did not want to go through a difficult life transition in the public eye. I don’t have a college degree; although the education I received on Mass Appeal was comparable! I knew it would be difficult to change my career without a degree in higher ed. I was inspired by the story I did on an all-abilities dance class, and figured - that’s it! I got in my car after shooting the story and knew in that moment. I want to share my love of dance with EVERYONE - regardless of their background, age, ability or status. I want to have my own business with a mission that is a direct reflection of who I am and what I believe in.

Tell us about what joy through dance means to you!
We all have our own outlets for finding and fueling joy. Whether it’s sports, painting, playing an instrument, cooking, etc. If there’s one thing that I can say ALL humans can do, it’s dance. Whether at a wedding, in a dance class or in your kitchen - everyone can do it. And, it always puts a smile on your face. Finding joy through dance is what many people have done at Ohana. Maybe it’s their dream to be a ballerina, or perhaps their life just needed something else, or maybe their home environment isn’t the most positive space, or maybe they sit at a desk and just needed to get their bodies moving more. Whatever the reason, Ohana has provided the opportunity for so many people to discover joy through dance.

What do you feel is important for other women and young girls to know about your business?
I want women and young girls to know that everyone is invited to come as they are. You will be celebrated for the gifts you bring to the world. Quick story - Growing up, I didn’t really feel like I fit in in school. When I went to Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School, I found my people. I discovered that I could be WHO I AM and still be loved! I didn’t have to wear labels or be a certain size to be accepted. I want that same message to be shared and that same vibe to be felt at Ohana. Be who you are, don’t compromise, don’t change. And you will be loved and accepted for it, just the way you are!

How would you describe your leadership style? 
Carefree & positive. I am not a “control freak” - I love suggestions, collaborations and team efforts. I want everyone to feel valued and heard. As a leader, my mantra is “choose love.” No matter what the circumstance, I always tell myself to CHOOSE LOVE.

Would you say that the art of dance has been a thriving generational passion and influence throughout your family?
Absolutely! My Memere, Lorraine Lavigne, never took dance classes, so it really started with my mom. My mom took classes as a child and grew up to perform with The Springfield Ballet Company and the Massachusetts Ballet Company. My sister, Christy Sattler and I definitely “caught the bug” from her...and now my daughter Summer, who is sever years old, is just as passionate. She already told me she is going to take over Ohana when she grows up! I hope she keeps chasing that dream - nothing would make me happier!

What is your ultimate dream job – or are you living it?
No doubt, I am living it. I am surrounded by the greatest people with the biggest hearts. I am constantly given opportunities to grow as a person & as a leader. I get to share my love for dance with others and influence children in a positive way. I watch others’ discover their light and shine so brightly in the world. I preach and live good vibes always, and I watch others’ do the same. I don’t have thousands, but I have enough money to care for my kids and afford a roof over my head, go on a vacation every now and then and celebrate the good times... and that’s all I need. My heart is so beyond full.

Every business owner can face challenges, how are you empowered to overcome yours?
I listen to Kirk Nugent’s “Pursue your Passion”  speech on YouTube. I listened to him perform this live about eight years ago and was so moved. Whenever I am thrown a curveball or have a mountain to climb, I listen to it. It’s empowering and uplifting -- SO MANY inspirational people have failed, yet they never gave up. And that made all the difference. I remind myself of my WHY. It’s not what I do , but WHY I do it. I will fail and I will grow. So long as I never give up.

To end, please tell our readers (in one word) how you would describe your boss-chik business? Life-enriching!


Be sure to follow this chik-tastic SHERO and stay connected via social media!
Facebook and Instagram: @OhanaPerformingArts.