When we asked Lani to describe herself she responded, “I’m a lover of coffee, dogs, music, and Jack Daniels (not in that particular order). I’m a wife, mother, sister, and whimsical sock collector. I am married to the love of my life and share 3 awesome kids with him. I love the outdoors, motorcycle sports, and NFL football (Go Cardinals!!).”

If you’ve been to a MOB NW networking meet up, you may have noticed Lani taking photos during the event.

Lani is the owner of Lillian Parker Photography - Family Portraiture and Intimate Portraiture with Lani. She was inspired to start her photography business after being disappointed with the “cookie cutter” poses, backdrops, impersonal feeling, and hundreds of prints they received from typical photography studios. Lani continues, “We also realized that there were so many cute little things that happened in-between those portrait sessions that we would essentially ‘miss’ because point & shoot cameras just weren’t great quality and camera phones were even worse.”

After receiving a DSLR camera from her husband for Mother’s Day, Lani began photographing the moments she felt were being missed between “official” family photos. She also began to photograph family and friends. “At some point, my best friend asked me ‘How much do you charge for family sessions?’ and it sort of caught me off-guard because I hadn’t thought of myself as a PHOTOGRAPHER. I realized that I was offering something to these families that they wanted, appreciated, and loved. I’ve been growing ever since,” says Lani.

She works on-location in the Portland area for both her family photography and her intimate portraiture. She explains, “My intimate portraiture sessions are done either at client homes or other locations that fit the needs of my clients and me. Sometimes that is a hotel or bed & breakfast, sometimes that is a forest/park!”

Although she grew up in Portland, she has also lived in Montana and Phoenix, and her dream is to own “a few hundred acres with a house that has a wrap-around porch and a 10-stall horse barn (filled with horses, of course) so I can sip coffee with the ponies in the morning and photograph beautiful people in the evenings.”

Lani says she wouldn’t call her dad her mentor, but credits him with much of her interest and talent in photography. “I remember him teaching me how to use his old 35mm before a school field trip to the Tacoma Aquarium in middle school and being so intrigued when my frames would come into focus as I turned the focusing ring on the lens. I was so obsessed with photography that every Christmas after that, I would get some sort of camera from my dad (disposables, polaroids, you name it!),” she says. Photography must run in Lani’s family because her dad is now a landscape photographer, and her sister is a contemporary art photographer!

Lani says her biggest struggle is the sheer number of photographers in the Portland area. “People have an overwhelming number of options and it is easy to select a photographer even before they reach me or have an opportunity to learn about me and the service I offer.”

However, instead of focusing on the competitive aspect, Lani chooses to support other photographers by learning as much about them as possible and referring clients who aren’t a good fit for her to them. She also focuses on the part of her business she is most passionate about. She explains, “The goal of my business is to earn a comfortable living, but the higher focus of my work is to provide a personal, customized service that families want to invest in as well as empowering individuals to realize how beautiful they are from someone else’s perspective.”

She recommends new business owners practice and never stop growing. Lani also encourages fellow photographers to support each other. “I want us all to be successful. But MOST IMPORTANTLY – know your worth and charge accordingly,” she says.
 
Lani loves to work with individuals and families who want personal, consultative portrait experiences and realize the value and importance of family portraits. For intimate portraiture, she wants to work with someone who is ready to celebrate their beauty and sensuality. She also loves to work with men and women who may not fully realize their beauty, but want to get outside their comfort zone, break down the barrier, and allow her to uncover their beauty.
 
She considers her biggest accomplishment to be jumping into her business feet first and ignoring the “can’ts” and realizing her worth. 

Lani loves being a MOB because “I just love this group of motivated, accomplished, driven, and passionate women. I love that we can all share “pains” and wins in business and in personal lives! Does anyone know what it’s like to have a sassy toddler take over your entire household??”

Like most entrepreneurs, Lani loves her work. “I love that I could be hitting the 80th hour of work in the week and it doesn’t feel like I’ve put in 80 hours. I love knowing and controlling my schedule, my income, and my growth.”

Lani is offering MOB Alliance members an exclusive 20% BONUS on portrait products and a 20% discount on your session fee (excluding Weddings).

 You can find Lani online at:

http://lillianparkerphoto.com/
www.facebook.com/lillianparkerphotography
 Client Group -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/IntimatePortraitswithLaniPrivateClientLounge/
Instagram - @lpphotopdx

Tiffany is a native Oregonian, mom of two boys, a wife, leader of FIT4MOM in SE Portland/Happy Valley, and also provides foster and respite care for families and caregivers. FIT4MOM SE/Happy Valley offers classes at Mt. Tabor, Woodstock, Mt. Scott and in Happy Valley.

“My life focuses on family, home, traveling, food, hiking, working, and being a strong and healthy woman! Having two boys under three, keeps me busy and I’ve found days are better when they’re active and with a village,” she says.

Although she had a been a work at home mom since 2013, she was ready to be a stay at home mom to spend more time with her toddlers. However, at meeting with Hike It Baby she learned about FIT4MOM. “Shanti mentioned the awesome Village of FIT4MOM. I checked it out and realized it was something I could do WITH my kids AND I got to work out AND I was able to be part of all these women. I was in love and caught up in a whirl wind relationship!”

Brene Brown’s work has had a big influence on Tiffany, and she also draws inspiration from other FIT4MOM locations. “I learn from them, I’m supported by them and inspired by them. I follow all of them online just to absorb their collective knowledge,” she explains.

She loves working for herself and having the freedom to meet the needs of her village. “I love owning every success and leading a team of strong mom instructors,” she explains.
One of Tiffany’s biggest struggles in her business is helping moms take care of themselves. She says, “For some, it’s just hard to get out the door with their new baby or maybe their kids are older and they think FIT4MOM is no longer for them. Helping the community understand that we’re more than a workout, we’re a village, with mom nights out, free public playdates, community involvement, support for all levels of motherhood. Once you’re a mom you’re always a mom.”

She loves to work with moms looking for community, support, fitness, time out of the house, or time for themselves.
 
Tiffany’s enthusiasm for exercise, family, and building community keeps her motivated as she grows her business.  She advises new business owners to surround themselves with inspiring, positive, and successful. She also suggests taking marketing classes and continuing to learn every day.


Her favorite part of being a MOB NW member is being surrounded by like-minded, inspiring women. “I love being a part of a tribe of ladies that knows what it’s like to pour 100% of yourself into work, being a mom, being a wife, keeping up with the household AND not losing yourself,” she says.
Tiffany and her family are often outdoors, playing soccer, camping and hiking.
You can find Tiffany online at:

Website - http://southeastportland.fit4mom.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Fit4MomSEPortland/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fit4mom_seportland/
 

Chelsey Craft, owner of Amethyst Bodywork is both a massage therapist and a doula. She offers massage in her home (with childcare!) or at her SE Portland office located within Portland Natural Health.

She grew up in Idaho and learned the value of hard work from an early age, “My early years were spent on a family dairy farm. I had to feed over 50 calves in the morning before I would get on the bus to go to kindergarten,” she says.

When asked why she became a massage therapist she replies, “I was involved in a carjacking and got shot in the middle of my femur with a .38 in 2003. Half an inch of my femur was shattered and I had four operations over the course of the following four years. This started me on my path to become a massage therapist in 2004 and later a Structural Integration Practitioner in 2007.”

Her doula path began when she moved to Portland in 2010 to be with her sister as she had her first child. Although Chelsey was a successful massage therapist with a thriving business in Idaho, being present for the birth of her nephew made her fall in love with the role of a doula.

Portland was supposed to be just a temporary place to call home, but she and her husband have fallen love with Portland and the Pacific Northwest. “Every year we would look for a different place to move and just couldn't find a better suited place for us.”

Her professional role model is Dr. Ida Rolf, the founder of Structural Integration or Rolfing. “She was an amazingly courageous woman that was full of curiosity and followed her heart no matter the adversity she faced,” says Chelsey.

Like many small business owners, her biggest challenge is marketing her business. “In Idaho, I never did any marketing/advertising. I had such a large group of supporters from the beginning, I was getting so many referrals I was staying busy. When I moved to Oregon, I knew my sister and that was it.”

She advises new business owners to join different networking groups to build relationships with other business owners.  Chelsey loves the community the MOB NW provides. “I LOVE meeting new members and supporting all of the awesomeness that the MOB encompasses.”

She says the relationships she has made in the MOB NW over the past year have been remarkable for herself and her business.  “Since I have been a member of the MOB, I have met SO many women that mean so much to me. It would be hard to list them all, but some of them include Selena Maestas (www.loveyoumoreproject.com), Gwen Montoya (www.gwenmontoya.com), Abbi Wood (www.abbiwood.com), Julie Court Jacob (www.travelingjulie.com) , Nedra Rezinas (www.bluedeerforest.com), Tiffany Lange (www.guestonellc.com) and Vanessa Smith (www.facebook.com/lularoevasmith). I have yet to meet Aria (www.artalacartenw.com/mobile) in person- but I have so much gratitude for this amazing woman. This is just the tip of the iceberg!”
 
Her ideal massage referral is someone searching for a way out of pain. “Through massage and Structural Integration, I have many tools I can implement to help get you in a more comfortable space- and stay there!”  

She only accepts one doula client per month to ensure they get the best possible care from her. “I implement a lot of massage with my doula clients and love to build a trusting relationship before we walk through labor and delivery together,” she explains.

When asked what she likes about working for herself, Chelsey replies “There are so many answers to this question! I can create my own schedule, don't have to ask for time off, I know my worth and get paid for it. But above all of those, I can be with my family when I need to without the fear of losing my position at work.”
 
Chelsey’s proudest accomplishment is her daughter, Zenobia. “Seeing her grow and become her own person is SO rewarding,” she says.

When not working, Chelsey is an avid reader and especially enjoys reading self-improvement books and books related to her work. “I love to learn and my husband teases me that I never read for fun!”
 
You can find Chelsey online at:

www.amethystbodywork.com
https://www.facebook.com/AmethystBodywork
 

By: Coach Selena Maestas 
I used to think that back-to-school was a God-send.
But as my kids have gotten older, summer is actually much more relaxed. Mainly, because they can entertain themselves. And by entertain, I may mean watching YouTube Nerf videos and beating the crap out of each other.
 
As nice as it is to have them in school while I work from home (blessed quiet!), the whirlwind of activities and new obligations that fall brings has grown exponentially.
 
First of all, we now have to get up earlier. Good GOD, the torture of waking children before 9am!
And make lunches. Which requires actual food to be in the house, which means more grocery shopping.
And drive to school, to the library, back to school because they forgot their homework, to practice, and home.
And back-to-school night. Which isn’t so bad if you don’t run your own business and need night-time hours to do actual work!
And do homework. Homework that has me questioning my knowledge and sanity. I have TWO degrees and can’t do 3rd grade math? Thank you Common Core curriculum.
Pencil sharpening. The God forsaken pencil sharpening! Heaven forbid a pencil isn’t sharp enough to puncture an eyeball!
 
Oh, but that’s not all.
 
Let’s not forget what happens mid September -- Holiday planning. Yes, that deserves a vat of pumpkin spice lattes -- with a shot of whiskey. Have you tried it?
 
Just as the back-to-school dust settles, the demands for Halloween costumes begin. Damn you Pinterest!
Then there is dress-up day at school, someone throws a Halloween party, my kid has a birthday, so does my dad, and then actual Halloween which is a HUGE waste of time since I don’t let me kids eat 90% of the candy they collect.
 
As soon as the costume comes off, the hunt for good Thanksgiving recipes commences! The thought of family drama forces me to create some Pinterest-worthy concoction of tequila, hot apple cider, and cinnamon to ease the pain.
 
Turkey day comes and goes, I kick out the family, and shuttle in December. I have a birthday. Just FYI, December is the WORST month to have a birthday -- EVER. I ignore my birthday and push on with every Christmas activity we can cram into each week, because I’m a glutton for punishment and a sucker for Christmas carols.
 
And then...after the eggnog, and sugar cookie hangover fades, I fall into a deep sleep from December 26 - January 1st. Cue the singing angels.
 
Just kidding. We all know the last week of September is when we scurry to promote or create our AH-MAZING January offer!
 
In a blink of an eye, the year is over and I’ve lost my mind and my temper about a dozen times. I think that’s why we actually have post-holiday letdown -- we are utterly exhausted and our brains are FRIED.
But does it have to be this way?
No.
 
We have a choice.
A choice to create the fall and holiday season we desire.
Oh sure, there are tons of obligations and expectations of your time, your money, and your baking skills, but ultimately, YOU get to make the call.
 
YOU get to keep your sanity!
 
Well, now I know you’re utterly confused, because what’s the holiday season without 2 am sleeping times and mainlining coffee?
 
Imagine what it would feel like if you created your non-negotiables and solid boundaries for your time and energy this fall?
 
What if you could choose EXACTLY what you did and did not want to participate in this holiday season?
 
Screw the judgement.
Shove your guilt in a drawer and lose the key.
 
Say goodbye to the fall frenzy and create your fall manifesto to save your sanity!
 
No, it’s not as hard as you think. Let me share with you a quick and dirty version of the Love YOU More Manifesto workshop, specifically for single goals -- like surviving the holidays. You can hammer this out in about 15 minutes, so grab your tequila herbal tea and choose YOU.
 
Here’s a pretty downloadable to create your Mini Manifesto today!  
 
 Please make sure you comment and tell me how it went for you!
 
Love YOU More!
 
Oh, you say you would love to learn how to take back YOU for more than just the fall? That you are interested in figuring out how to get yourself on your priority list for once? Great! Here are two ways to do that:
1.I HIGHLY recommend you join us for a LIVE (or virtual) Love YOU More Project Manifesto & Vision Board Workshop. This will set you on your path to awakening the YOU that has been gobbled up by expectation and obligation. You will have a clear vision for your non-negotiables for life and be motivated to learn more in specific areas...which would lead you to our Girls’ Nights!
2.Girls’ Nights are social events with women just like you! You start to learn more about different areas of self-care that are relevant to your day-to-day life. This way, you can have a monthly dose of motivation to continue to grow on your Love YOU More journey.
 
To find out more about our next Manifesto & Vision Board Workshop on September 30 and October 1st, visit: www.loveyoumoreproject.com/workshop
Monthly Girls’ Nights are found at: www.loveyoumoreproject.com/girls-night
 
Other ways to connect:
Love YOU More Project website: www.loveyoumoreproject.com
Love YOU More Project Group: www.facebook.com/groups/loveyoumoreproject
Coach Selena Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/coachselena
Coach Selena Instagram: www.instagram.com/coachselena
 
 
 

Self Balance Massage in Vancouver hosted our August 28th MOB NW networking event. We were thrilled to join them at their brand-new second location. This location shares an office with TriStar Family Chiropractic.

Our presenter for the evening was MOB NW founder and president Aria's daughter, Keilani. The young artist brought some of her work to sell.