Here is a shout-out to an incredible group of people who have become part of our Uplift Intimate Apparel Tribe.
NICOLE PENCE BECKER
I started by writing that Nicole Pence Becker was the creator of #SkinbabeSunday. This is a true statement, but it just felt wrong because she is so much more than that simple title. And even giving you her brief Insta Bio is a disservice to the woman she is (but we’ll tell you anyway). Nicole is a wife, a mother (with 3 Sons in 13 Months), a 4x Television Emmy Winner, owner of Pence Media Group and the creator of #SkinBabeSunday. The title you don’t often hear which is one we applaud her for, she is a Mighty Warrior and Champion for Women. She has answered the call to rally women to share, gain and inspire confidence and is educating all of us in exactly how to do that through self-care and self-love. “Real self-care is being kind to yourself” was a statement Nicole made that resonated in a deep spiritual place with me. Many, many women struggle with understanding their value and worth; the idea of self-care is completely foreign to them. Nicole is showing us – in what she says and how she walks out her life – that one of the best investments is investing in yourself.
I connected with Nicole soon after opening Uplift and continue to be inspired by her sincerity and passion. There are few people who have the ability to completely focus on the person they are with while with them. Nicole is one of those people. With all the moving parts in her life and the work that goes into nurturing and growing a passion for the greater good, Nicole is completely focused on the one. Time spent with her is rejuvenating to my soul. I encourage you to make every effort to attend her next #SkinBabeSunday event. You will be forever changed and better for the experience.
Find out more about Nicole Pence Becker and #SkinBabe here
VALERIE PEREZ
Carla Mackie with Valerie Perez
Valarie Perez is the designer and owner of Wrap Up by VP. What started in a large camping tent in the back yard quickly became a major design house known worldwide with products sold in some of the most exclusive Hotels, Resorts, Spas and Boutiques. Wrap Up’s luxurious bathrobes, wraps, towels, and blankets are made of the highest quality microfiber providing an unmatched buttery feel and quality. Everything is available in a wide range of solid colors, but Wrap Up is best known for their original prints.
Born in Casablanca Morocco, Valarie grew up in Los Angeles where her family relocated in her early teens. Her love of color and design has always been a part of her. After running a highly successful global franchise for numerous years, Valarie unplugged from the chaos of big business spending time in Thailand. She came home with new inspiration and a new vision which became Wrap UP.
Valerie is as vibrant as her designs and believes everyone should say NO to ordinary bathrobes. She reminds us that we are each extraordinary. We agree! See why we love her?
JANE WOOLRICH
I met Jane Woolrich in 2017 and instantly feel in love with who she is – so passionate about her craft and her genuine love for all woman. Jane Woolrich, designer of the finest lingerie, is a woman who speaks the language of love and femininity. In the intimate apparel industry, there are few in the world with her talent to fully capture the essence of a woman.
What makes Jane Woolrich intimate apparel so special?
The Feel. Jane’s designs encompass some of the finest silks and satins in a variety of color options from clean whites and glowing ivories to an array of soft pastels and rich colors. The cool touch of flawless silk is a sensuous experience in the hand and on the body.
- The Fit. All Jane Woolrich Designs are fashioned to allow the fabric to naturally float along a woman’s curves in the most fluid of motions. And it doesn’t matter the size; Jane makes each pattern ensuring the fit is perfect.
- The Accents. Jane uses French Leavers Lace as trim, accents and as intricate elements of the design. Hand cut to match the pattern across the entire gown, the lace is seamlessly incorporated into each design revealing, concealing or accentuating perfectly.
- The range of designs. Long and flowing, short and sassy, provocative or demure, Jane’s designs capture any style or desire preference.
For more than 30 years, Jane has designed in Derbyshire England with the belief that “It’s not what you see, it’s what you almost see that fuels the imagination.” She, and her husband Mark, are cherished friends and I’m thrilled to offer her designs to all women here in Indiana (Jane Woolrich is exclusively available in Indiana at Uplift Intimate Apparel in Carmel, IN.)
HEATH HURST
When I started Our Tribe, I was originally thinking of women. That’s who I spend the most time with. But, here we are – month two, and I’m already changing my mind. Our “village” is women & men. So, we’re featuring a man this month.
Allow me to introduce you to Heath Hurst, Owner of Heath Outdoor and my son. If you’ve ever spent one minute or 300 minutes working to get your yard landscaped and maintained the way it looks in your head, you’ll appreciate the time saving value of a great landscaper. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, Heath Outdoor provides a full spectrum of services encompassing the design, building and maintaining of beautiful & functional outdoor living areas. I’ve been amazed at the difference the work they do makes to the feel and function of a home. Even at Uplift with the planters they maintain, the display changes with the moods and rhythms of the seasons. Like all good design, landscaping is a creation. Colors, shapes, textures, materials, function – all work together to create a cohesive whole. Outdoor living spaces add usable square footage to a home and set the tone for the time spent there and the memories created.
In addition to their work, Heath Outdoor is a huge supporter of people, all kinds of people. This business has more than 34 employees including a temporary crew who return each spring. You’ll find Heath Outdoor volunteering for The Cultural Trail and Project Evergreen, a National program that supports veterans who can’t mow their own lawn. They volunteer and sponsor events for Cottage Homes Neighborhood, volunteer at Northview Neighborhood Weekend. Heath Outdoor is the Landscape Designer for St. Margaret’s Guild 2019 Decorators’ Show House and Gardens. Heath has also started a non-profit, BETA Beautification, Education Training, Awareness. The more people know, the more they can do to protect the environment.
Heath Outdoor pays a living wage to all temporary and full-time employees. “It costs us a little more to do our work” Heath says, “but I believe that if you take care of your people, your people take care of the customers.” Crew members see it as a career not a job.
Heath Outdoor always takes the environment into consideration. They spray individual plants rather than a whole yard to kill weeds. Heath finds solutions to eliminate standing water in yards and dumping water into the sewer system. “Save the Bees” is one of their mantras! They make a home for the bees in a place that is away from people. Outdoor space is designed to be lived in as a community of people together instead of in dividing the space into sections.
Why do you need a professional landscaper? That’s for you to decide. But the proof is in the garden. In honor of Earth Day and our focus on Recycle, Repurpose & Reuse this month, we asked Heath for three tips for spring beautification and repurposing or recycling.
- Find where the water goes. If you can control where the water goes, you can solve a lot of problems with your landscape and environment. Consider drywells, rain gardens and/or irrigation systems.
- Consider composting bins. Use your food and yard scraps and create your own good soil.
- Weed control is key. Trimming, use of pre-emergent and mulch to block & stop weeds.
Heath is a son, husband, father, friend, nephew, grandson, a proud resident of downtown Indy and a foodie. All of these describe him well. He honors each role with the same dedication and creativity he brings to his work. I couldn’t be prouder of the man he has become.
NICOLE BUSCH
Say hello to Nicole Busch, of Nicole Blair Wear, the first member of Uplift’s Tribe which is a group of remarkable women who are doing great things for our community.
She’s a collector of all things beautiful (including people), an HGTV junkie and fluent in the language of laughter. She’s a restaurant’s dream customer (because she LOVES to eat out) and she’s lived long enough to have gained wisdom but not so long that she’s forgotten the little joys of living. But, if I had to pick only one thing to love about Nicole, it’s her heart. She truly cares about women. When so many are afraid of revealing what is inside, Nicole courageously removes our masks and shows our hidden beauty. She doesn’t judge – ever. She doesn’t judge size, shape, wardrobe, age – anything. She simple works her magic to uncover the real woman living inside of each of us.
But that’s not all. Nicole is a master of many talents. She understands merchandise at a cellular level making a real impact on your bottom line. She uncovers your personal style from head to toe AND can decorate your home creating the oasis you’ve always wanted. Think Mary Poppins in leopard print pumps!
I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s my favorite cheerleader for women and my go-to source for bringing the pieces together from the ground up or inside out. Three tips from Nicole, the Personal Brand and Style Expert are:
- If you’re unsure what shoe color to buy, buy your skin tone.
- Keep your hands manicured. They are your subtle first impression; even more memorable than a business card.
- Don’t buy clothes just because they are on SALE!