Happy International Women’s Day! As a member of Style Collective, Eclectic Chic has been prompted to answer the following questions and share them with you all! After reading the post, be sure to comment below and let me know how you celebrated women on this wonderful day of recognition!
Introduce yourself, your blog, and tell us why you started it.
Hi! My name is Lia! A little bit about me. I am Michigan born and raised. Shortly after graduating high school, I moved to Hawai’i and lived on the beautiful island of Oahu for almost 7 years. While attending Hawaii Pacific University, I received my BA in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry; as well as a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I’ve since returned to Michigan, and I currently practice here in Birmingham at Dayspring Vision Counseling, PLLC as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I am also Board Certified as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) in the mental health care field. In addition to counseling, I am a runway and print model; blogger and founder of Eclectic Chic®, LLC; world traveler (13 countries in 5 continents…can you guess which ones?); fashionista; influencer; owner of LJ Interior Designs: “Let Your Happily Ever After Begin At Home”®; and public speaker.
I started Eclectic Chic blog to follow the many diverse facets that make my life unique and enjoyable. Some days I see clients for individual, couple or family therapy sessions. Other days, I’m traveling the country as a product specialist for the North American International Auto Show. Life has presented me with a buffet, and I have treated my palette to the many colorful and assorted experiences that it has offered.
Eclectic Chic, LLC, is a Limited Liability Company and blog that focuses on fashion, travel, therapy, beauty, interiors, and lifestyle. I (Lia Jamerson) am the current trademark owner of Eclectic Chic®, which is a registered trademark through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Eclectic Chic’s brand features and collaborations include Nordstrom, Marc Jacobs, Nylon, Origins, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Park Central Hotel New York, Mackenzie Childs, E.L.F. Beauty, and The Stewart Hotel. As the founder and CEO of Eclectic Chic, I am a member and influencer for rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it, Style Collective, InfluenceHer Collective, and Influenster. By definition, I am eclectic, or “composed of elements drawn from various sources” according to Merriam-Webster…wide-ranging, diverse, all-embracing, multifaceted. Check and check. That’s me. That’s who I am. My professions are eclectic, and so is my life…eclectic chic, that is.
What is your personal mission statement?
Eclectic Chic’s mission statement is “to inspire and encourage individuals with eclectic interests and passions by signifying that it is possible to live an enriched and balanced life while maintaining a diverse range of pursuits”.
What are some big goals that you’ve accomplished?
Wow! The past few years have been full of blessings and achieving big goals of mine. Each day, I wake up and I think, “I am living the life I prayed for”. That’s such an incredible feeling, and I am so grateful and excited…hard work pays off. Finishing my Master of Arts degree at 24 years old; becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) at 27 years old, and a Board Certified Counselor at 28 years old; and opening my own private practice in the mental health field that same year were big accomplishments that have brought me so much joy. It was incredible to celebrate the opening of my practice, as a member of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues.
As far as blogging goals, I am also proud to see how Eclectic Chic has evolved. Eclectic Chic just recently got approved and accepted into the rewardStyle community, and I am featured as an Influencer on the LIKEtoKNOW.it app! I was denied twice before finally being accepted, so I was ecstatic when I found out! Be sure to follow me on my LIKEtoKNOW.it profile. 2018 ended wonderfully and 2019 has been off to a great start! #BossMode!!
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day means everything to me. This morning, to celebrate International Women’s Day, I tagged 5 extraordinary women who inspire me with their courage, their kindness, and their authenticity. Check out my insta to see who these women are before the story runs out! This morning, as I tagged these women, I thought of many other women who I did not have space to tag, but who have encouraged me and supported my journey. It feels so wonderful to see how far women have come and to know that we have contributed so much to our communities and our world.
Growing up from a teenager on, I did not always feel like I received the best support from women. When I transitioned from being a kid to a preteen, I noticed that the way women responded to me had changed…and not in a positive way. At 12 years old, as I began to physically develop and grow, I started to observe older women glaring at me, or looking me up and down with such hostility that I thought they were conjuring bolts of lighting to descend from the sky and strike the land. Ok a bit dramatic. I got a little carried away, but seriously. Lord help me if they were with their significant other. I remember women yanking the arms of their boyfriend or husband when I walked by. Women had begun to act really nasty towards me, and I did not understand why. I hated it. I hated the way that women treated me. I learned to look past women and to not let them into my space. I didn’t trust them. I didn’t trust them not to hurt my feelings and make me feel small. I built up my walls to protect myself, and lowered my expectations from my friendships and encounters with other women. Even when I recall former female bosses I had, I have a hard time not cringing while thinking of ways in which certain (not all) female bosses bullied and created a hostile and unsupportive work environment for me. Wow! Not good! I put relationships with women into two categories. 1. They are going to be mean or nasty towards me while trying to demean me…in a subtle or not so subtle way; or 2. They are going to be nice and I will let my guard down, just to find out that it was only because they wanted something from me. Not the greatest options.
This International Women’s Day, on March 8th, 2019, I feel very different. I have learned to open myself up to the possibility of having positive relationships with my fellow sisters. I am so happy to now have friends from women in their 20s all the way to women in their 70s who love and support me in an unimaginable way. I have become strong in my own unfolding as a woman. Despite certain encounters, I have always kept my kind heart and my eyes set on my dreams and goals. In standing my ground and not allowing what those mean individuals did to change me as a woman, I have found likeminded women who have my back and love watching and encouraging me during my journey. We are able to cheer one another on, and that makes my heart so full. Sure, there are still some mean women who do not acknowledge this unspoken sisterhood. But I am so thankful for them, too. Encounters with them have taught me how strong and courageous I am, and that I am able to stand up for myself, use my voice, and set appropriate boundaries with women and all individuals who attempt to knock me and my dreams down. Not today you won’t. International Women’s Day is about celebrating our collective achievements, milestones, and growth.
What does being a member of Style Collective mean to you?
I have grown and progressed so much as a blogger since joining Style Collective last April. Using the e-courses and advice from Annie Spano and my fellow blogger sisters, I have learned so much. Eclectic Chic has matured into a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and I have developed my aforementioned mission statement to focus attention on my intention for my blog and how it affects my readers. In addition to this, l appreciate the support and feedback I receive from my SC sisters. I am so proud of how many of them have evolved as bloggers, business owners, and women. I love that we can share frustrations and successes alike with one another, and know that we will be well-received void of any judgment or any negativity. We have been able to encourage one another, and that means so much to me. That is the embodiment of what International Women’s Day is all about.
Tell us three fun facts about you and let’s celebrate the fearless woman that you are!
- I’m a daredevil. I’ve been skydiving, water jet packing, shark cage diving, ziplining, ATVing, horseback riding, and have taken part in other exhilarating activities.
- I have traveled to 13 different countries in 5 continents, including Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Canada, Aruba, The Bahamas and Jamaica.
- I LOVE watching Korean dramas (with English subtitles, of course) and a good snack. I like to switch it up between Sweet Mango Mochi ice cream for a sweet snack, or Guacamole and blue corn chips for a savory bite.
