Spotlight on Mommy -- Alyssa Morby of Cherry Lime Boutique

This week, I would like to introduce you to Alyssa of Cherry Lime Boutique.  Alyssa created beautiful hair accessories for girls and young ladies.  She was kind enough to send me an assortment of hair accessories for my daughter Savannah to try and model.  Savannah loved looking at herself in the mirror with these beautiful and artfully created hair pieces.  I also had a friend's 4 yr. old try some out, and she just loved them to.  She felt like she was a model/superstar.  Wow, it is amazing how these hair accessories from Cherry Lime Boutique make a girl feel.  Check back on Friday to see photos of Savannah and Cammy modeling some of Alyssa's creations.  In addtion, I will be offering a giveaway, where one lucky reader will win a hair accessory especially picked out for my readers.  Also, I will be sharing a coupon code for 15% off all etsy store purchases.  You must stop by Cherry Lime Boutique and check out the festive creations Alyssa creates for daily wear, as well as for holidays.  I know you will fall in her love with her hair accessories, like I have.



Name:  Alyssa Morby
Company Name/Product/Service:  Cherry Lime Boutique/Girls Hair Accessories
Company Location: Loveland, Colorado
Company Website:  http://www.cherrylimeboutique.com/
Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/cherrylimeboutique
Twitter Handle: @CherryLimeBotiq
Age of Company:  4 months (Launched Sept. 1, 2010)
Favorite Inspirational Quotes: "You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge!"
Favorite Book: Green Eggs and Ham  :)


Tell us a little bit about yourself.  How many children do you have?  What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.: 

Well, my name is Alyssa, and I am 35 years old.  I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA, where I worked for the government and traveled a lot for my job.  I married by husband at 29, and relocated to northern Colorado where we just celebrated our 6 year anniversary.  I am blessed to be able to stay home with my 5 children.  After working in the government setting for 12 years, I was excited to have the opportunity to settle down in a new beautiful area, and be a stay-at-home mom to my kiddos.  I have 2 wonderful step-daughters that are 12 and 11.  I have boy girls twins that are 5 and we adopted our little princes 2 days after Christmas 2009, who just turned one a couple weeks ago.  I love to do anything that has to do with crafting, painting and photography.  We love our friends and spending time with them is very important.  I love to cut a rug when I have the chance and my kids apparently are following in my footsteps and love having "dance contests" in our family room regularly.  Our family travels a lot since my family is still in California, and my husband's is in Idaho.
Briefly explain your business.  How did it come about?

We make girls and young ladies hair accessories.  I have always loved to craft and especially after having 4 girls, was finding that I spent a lot of money on hair accessories for them.  I was at a favorite store of mine when I was purchasing some hair clips for my daughters and realized, "Hey, I could do this," so I did.  I enlisted the help of a good friend who is just as creative, if not more, and together we created Cherry Lime Boutique.  I couldn't be happier.
What is a typical work day like?

After getting all the kids to their schools, I still have the baby at home to tend to and run errands with.  We manage to stay very busy!  There are always those PJ days for sure, where I just craft away while she is napping.  We are very involved in our church and extra activities as well.  Between dance, Tai Kwon Do, Cheer and sports, there is always something going on.

What has been a struggle while starting up your company? 

The biggest struggle has been getting our name out there.  We have done very good at local craft shows, and have a good following here, but reaching everyone via the web is another battle.
What did you do in your past work life?

I worked as a human resources analyst for the state of California for 12 years, until I met and married my husband.  We then relocated.  While I worked for the State, I traveled around CA conducting interviews for civil service exams.  When I wasn't traveling, I was in the office doing wonderful human resources administrative work! :)
What have been some of your major successes?

My family, by far!  I waited to settle down.  I purchased my home and had an established career prior to getting married.  That was a huge success to me. However, after waiting till nearly 30 years of age to get married, I not only knew it was right, and he was the right one, but I couldn't wait to start my family.  We were blessed enough to immediately conceive twins, and later found out that I would not be able to have any more children due to a heart condition I developed.  The twins were clearly a huge blessing for many reasons.  And, how lucky were we to get a boy and girl.  We later adopted and that has been a truly life changing experience.  Being a mother is truly my calling!

What have been some of your major challenges?

As for my personal challenges, it would be dealing with the heart diagnosis and being told that my one pregnancy would be my last.  When my husband and I got married, I quit my job, sold my home, relocated 1200 miles away, bought a new home, got pregnant, turned 30, had the twins, and then celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary.  Quite a bit to bite off, then chew up, all in a year.  We did it though, and it made us stronger.  Through it all, though, it was very hard to be so far away from my family and the friends I had grown up with my entire life.  I always had visions of  being pregnant and going through the experience "back home," but after immediately relocating, had to do it in a new area.  With new friendships, everything has a way of working out, though.
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?

My kids.  Really nothing else!  Everything I do is for them.

What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?

Organization!!!!! I am a huge OCD fanatic.  I have to have a schedule and adhere to it, or I get all out of whack!  You kind of have to be like anyway with 5 kids. :) You can not successfully manage a family and even have a life, let alone a company, without prioritizing and staying organized!!!
What is next for your business?

We hope to grow a lot on the Internet, and eventually sell wholesale to a lot of children's boutiques and hair salons.  We were recently picked up by a children's hair salon that has 3 locations -- 2 here, and 1 in Arizona.  That was very exciting.
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?


I struggled for a long time about what it was I exactly wanted to do. But, when it finally hit me, I just knew that was it!  After you make the decision to do it, you have to do just that...do it and do it well!  You can not just give 50% of yourself to your endeavor.  Remember you get back what you put in!