As girls, women, and moms, we’re often told we need to choose between kids or career; passions or reality...
I grew up in Chicago, IL USA in a happy home with a family that loved hard, and worked hard. My older sister Keisha and I had strong values instilled into by our parents and I truly felt blessed. I was passionate about sport, excelled in volleyball, and owned a happy-go-lucky attitude.
When I was 18 years old, the loss of my father at the young age of 49 shook our household to it’s core. An extremely tight-knit family, we grieved together and had a newfound understanding that life can “change on a dime”.
Loss, encountered at any age, is often a catalyst for change and can manifest in a number of ways. For me, I believe this loss facilitated my growth into a woman who counts my blessings, endlessly expresses gratitude, embraces change, jumps on opportunity, looks for silver linings, and truly makes the most out of any situation.
This perspective is truly the theme of my life, and something I share with my daughters, my Move2Give tribe, and everyone I keep in my circle.
By age 23 I completed my Masters in Sports Marketing at Western Michigan University, where I studied on a volleyball scholarship. I continued to live my life with the mentality that “bravery and a willingness to try new things can lead us down paths that we never could imagine, to places we never could have dreamed”.
A few years after graduating, in 2002 my sister dared me to audition for The Bachelor. I was selected and embarked on the whirlwind journey with courage. I opened my heart to falling in love and ultimately finished “runner up”. I use quotations, because while this is what the tabloids called me, I am certain that I WON!
When The Bachelor wrapped, “instafamous” wasn’t a thing, because Instagram didn’t even exist yet! Though meeting Oprah and Ellen was pretty amazing!!! I returned to my life as usual, and later started dating my totally hot, now-hubby, Matt Higgins. Matt was playing professional hockey in Europe at the time, where I eventually moved to be with him and support his dreams.
It was difficult to move away from family, but I was committed to following my heart. Living and travelling in foreign countries where I didn’t speak the language continued to push my boundaries and personal growth. Diving head first into new cultures, I learned to adapt to constantly changing circumstances, living every day to the fullest.
Matt and I married in 2007, and had two daughters Lily and Mika while living in Ingolstadt, Germany. Home is truly where the heart is.
I had never, ever felt that kind of love before; the love I have for my two baby girls. Becoming a mom solidified that life is all about the people you share it with, and to always count your blessings.
Eventually, when Matt hung up his skates after 8 seasons, we decided to move to Calgary, Canada for the next chapter of our lives.
With two beautiful daughters, I was only sure about one thing, that I needed to find a flexible career that would allow me to be present for my girls while contributing to my family and our financial freedom. I considered what I was passionate about and bounced around ideas related to hair, makeup, skincare, sports, and fashion.
For me, this means balanced living. It means having a family, being a present wife, mother, daughter, and sister.
It means a career I love, making time for health and wellness, and enjoying the fruits of financial freedom too!
It is my goal to inspire and support woman to pursue their own passions, on their own terms; especially through Team Move2Give.
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