Name: Kristine Colson
Business Name: Wentworth Event Center
Email: kristine@wentwortheventcenter.com
Web Site: http://www.wentwortheventcenter.com
Phone: (207) 930-3630
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWentworthEventCenter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wentwortheventcenter/
How would you describe yourself?
I am analytic, driven, energetic, outgoing, optimistic, persistent and social. I enjoy collaborating and helping others succeed. I am also realistic, and self aware of my growth opportunities which help me to continuously grow and become a better version of myself.
Tell us a little about your business and how you got started.
I run Wentworth Event Center in Belfast Maine. We host weddings, meetings and celebrations.
The business started in 2009 when my father and I identified the need for event space in Belfast. We already owned the property, and had a vacant building at the time. Each year since 2009 we have made improvements to the building and the property.
How long have you been involved in your business?
I have been involved for 8 years, since we opened in 2009. Some of these 8 years were in a behind the scenes role.
What do you like most about your job?I love weddings! I enjoy helping couples bring their dreams to reality. By the end of the wedding I feel like they are part of the Wentworth extended family.
What keeps you motivated?
My kids keep me motivated, and on my toes! I bring my 9 year old son, and 4 year old daughter to work with me Monday through Friday. They stay home when we have private functions, but they love to help me get ready for the parties.
Tell us a little about your family
My family is great, we strive to make each day an adventure! My husband Jared works for Bank of America. Aiden is our 9 year old son. He loves to play video games, and ride his bike. Michaela is our baby girl, she is 4. She loves to help at Wentworth by decorating the tables. She gets super sad when I ask her to stay home for the private functions. We have one fur baby, dog named Sheema. Even Sheema gets to come to work sometimes. She is super energetic!
How do you prioritize family and business?
Prioritizing family and business is a constant juggling act! I feel like I constantly have to step back and evaluate, always shifting something. I strive to prioritize myself first by getting to the gym, and making time for dates with friends and hubby. Its like putting my oxygen mask on first so that I can effectively care for others. I am fortunate that my business is flexible, and mostly by appointment so I can bring the kids to Wentworth with me. Sometimes they help me clean, or they play outside while I do office work. I definitely log back onto my computer and work late at night once the kids are in bed. I have had to accept the fact that what works this week, may not work next week. Being flexible with my expectation is key for me.
How do you think being a woman in business has affected or will affect your family?
Being a woman in business has provided my family with more flexibility in our lifestyle. I hope that it will provide my children with the skills and confidence to achieve their biggest dreams. I love incorporating them into the daily activities that are required to run a business.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a woman in business?
Being a woman in business I have learned to speak my mind, share my opinion and back it up with why I feel the way I do. I have been invited to the ‘table’ for a reason, so I am not going to stay quiet or be passive.
I have also learned and started to embrace my fears. If there is something I am fearful of, I sit back and figure out why. One of my Mantra’s is: Fear = Face Everything And Rise
All Entrepreneurs encounter bad days. How do you handle yours?
I go back to bed! Just kidding. When I have bad days I try to take some time for me, and be alone. Ideally I will go down by the water, and walk or sit in my car. I like to allow myself a little time to sit with the emotions that I am feeling. Once I have allowed the emotions to be felt, then I put on my wonder woman cape and keep moving forward. I feel its important to have some down time/days, but not to dwell on them for too long. I try to figure out what’s causing them, and adjust accordingly. Always making forward progress in my life.
Tell us about your ideal
My ideal day includes lots of check boxes being checked off. I even put my “me” time on my check list!
This is a quick outline of what daily goals are M-F.
5:00am – wake up – consume Caffeine!
5:30am – Gym
6:30am – Home – Get ready for the day – Kids up, breakfast, household contributions
9:00am – 10:00am – Run Errands with kids, then head to Wentworth Event Center
10:00am – 2:00pm – Wentworth Event Center – Check in with Dad, office work, cleaning, event planning
2:00pm – Adventure time! I try to take the kids to do something fun daily – city park, harbor walk, play at home etc.
3:00pm – 5:00pm – Flexible time to get things done from the checklist
5:00pm – Dinner and family time 7:00pm – Kids in bed (HAHA, this is the goal!)
8:00pm-10:00pm – Adult time and typically some more work
10:00pm – Sleep
You guys! It’s that time of year again! It’s time for our FOURTH annual spokesmodel contest!!!!
There are SO many lovely ladies out there that I would LOVE to have the opportunity to work with, and each one has a unique story that should be told, so each year I use this contest as a way to be able to feature at least one of those ladies each year! Continue reading »
Name Jen Wenz
Business Name The Aquarian Gift Shop
Email theaquarian@outlook.com
Phone (207) 218-1036
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theaquariangiftshop/
Instagram http://instagram.com/magickintheair
How would you describe yourself?
I am a Woman with many names, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, and Nana to My Family and Loyal friend and Confidant to Many Wonderful People I have met throughout the years! I am an Independent 10th generation, Traditional Solitary Gray, walking my path and sharing words and knowledge of enlightenment with those Open-minded Souls who choose of free will to follow their own Unique Spiritual journey.
How long have you been involved in your business?
Truthfully 16 years, since 2001 when I opened The Sea Witch’s Closet, on Main St. in Searsport. Then I opened The Sea Witch Gift Shop in 2005 on Rte. 1 in Belfast until 2008 when the economy took a dive. I made the tough decision to close, with the understanding that we would emerge again, when the time was right, the economy was healthier and with a new location and new name to start a new chapter doing what I love!
What do you like most about your job?
My customers! Meeting people who are following their unique spiritual path and sharing knowledge! It’s exciting to meet people with open hearts and sharing conversation as to where they are and what they hope to accomplish. It’s all very enlightening!
What keeps you motivated?
The desire to make my little part of the world a much nicer place to be, a place where friends, family and new friends can shop in a warm and welcoming environment.
How do you prioritize family and business?
Family Comes first and in many ways my family is involved with my business. It is a balancing act but what isn’t? Time for my family is possible because I do work for myself.
How do you think being a woman in business has affected or will affect your family?
Work/life balance is at best an elusive ideal and at worst a complete myth most women in business will tell you but by making deliberate choices about which opportunities we pursue and which we decline, rather than simply reacting to emergencies, we can and do engage meaningfully with work, family, and community. I’ve discovered through hard experience that prospering as an entrepreneur is a matter of carefully combining work and home so as not to lose ourselves, loved ones, or our foothold on success. Those who do this most effectively involve their families in work decisions and activities. We also vigilantly manage our own human capital, endeavoring to give both work and home their due—over a period of years, not weeks or days.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a woman in business?
I have been fortunate enough to face certain challenges and overcome certain obstacles. This journey has left me with countless life lessons that I feel privileged to have learned first hand. No matter what journey you take in life or where your professional goals take you, there are certain life lessons that you can always apply to your own path. It doesn’t matter where you came from or where you are going, I’ve learned these lessons can be universally applied to us all Women as well as Men.
Hard work outweighs talent and intelligence and is necessary if you want to succeed. This not only means working hard when things are going well, but working harder when things are not. It means taking calculated risks and sticking to them, no matter how challenging they are.
Making money is a huge motivator in all of our lives, but I have learned firsthand that you should never travel down a road just because there is a promise of financial gain. You need to have a real passion for what you are doing and the decisions you are making for these decisions to be worth it.
Tonight I was finishing up with a clients ordering appointment when she stepped out to use the restroom. I took the moment to check my phone to see if I had any messages from my husband and noticed an email from HuffPost…
Last week I had received an email from them requesting permission to use one of my images from a couple years ago for an upcoming post about Couples Boudoir Sessions!
I was understandably flattered, and excited by the prospect! I reached out to my clients to make sure that they were on board with this usage (because it goes beyond my typical model release) and as soon as I received confirmation from them I sent authorization to the HuffPost editor, Kelsey Borresen, to go ahead and use the image for the post :)
The image above is not the one they used, however it is another from the session… The one they used in the article was actually inspired by an iconic photograph of two lesbians from the 90’s. We put our own spin on the image and it is absolutely one of my favorite images from their session!
See the Huffington Post article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/couples-boudoir-photos-that-capture-the-steamier-side-of-love_us_591dde2ee4b03b485cafa78b
See the original image and the rest from the session here: http://jessicamichaelphotography.com/glamour-photos/same-sex-couples-boudoir-portland-maine
Posted in Boudoir, Couples Boudoir
Tagged boudoir ideas, boudoir shoot, Fashion Photography, Maine Boudoir Photographer, Maine Boudoir Studio, Maine couples boudoir Photographer, Maine glamour studio, Maine Portrait Photographer, Midcoast Maine Boudoir Photographer, photographer, pin up photography Maine, Sexy photos
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This week for Wardrobe Wednesday I decided to give a bit more of an in depth view into some great pieces that would be perfect for your boudoir session!
First, there are a few pieces that I recently found at City Drawers in Belfast (stay tuned for more information on some collaborations we have in the works!)
Ignore the cell phone snapshots, it was all I had with me at the moment, but I just fell in love with both of these pieces! I didn’t have a chance to thoroughly inspect all of their amazing pieces, but I definitely saw some other very fun items that you may not expect to find in this quaint little shop on Main st in Belfast. Be sure to stop in next time you’re in town and get a free Bra Fitting with Stephanie and check out what they’ve got… and feel free to send me photos of your favorites! And don’t forget, they also have a store in Bath, Maine now as well!
If you aren’t in the Belfast or Bath areas and like to do your shopping online, this piece here is absolutely gorgeous, and conveniently available on Amazon! For only $12 and available in two different styles and SO many color options, this is definitely a Go-To piece for anyone! Sizes Small through XXL available!
Click to view on Amazon!
I love everything about this outfit! Available in sizes XS-XL with a slightly padded top for those who want a little added modesty during their session!
Check back soon for our next edition of Wardrobe Wednesday!
**This post contains affiliate links**
It’s that time again! Time for us to open our doors and let you in to see how it all works!
I really love having regular open houses so that it gives everyone an opportunity to come in, get to see how we work, ask questions and get a feel for the atmosphere at the studio!
We will be having a live hair and makeup demonstration on a model as well as a photography demonstration immediately following! Goodie bags, prize giveaways, etc.
Due to the nature of the images we display in the studio, we are asking to keep this event 18+ please!
Every visitor will receive an entry form to put in for the giveaway of their choice… Come with a friend and you each get a second entry form… Bring a dress to donate to the studio wardrobe and get TWO Bonus entry forms!
Giveaway Items (we may change or add to this list):
•Jessica Michael Photography Mini Session
•Jessica Michael Lingerie Gift Certificate
•Mini Makeup Kit
•Athena’s by Mitchell Gift Certificate
https://www.facebook.com/events/201603503655967/
