Issue #4: she stands TALL

Head into the weekend with your FULL self!

Apr 26, 2024

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We stand tallest when supported…when others have our back.

In what areas of your life do you feel most supported? And least supported?

This week’s Five Senses Friday is from Stephanie, creator of She Stands Tall, host of Milwaukee’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Week, and owner of Melnick & Melnick, S.C. We are grateful for the community, conversation, and inspiration that She Stands Tall offers in support and celebration of women business owners in MKE and beyond.

photo credit: Chelsea Matson Photography

TASTE: Siren Shrub Company. Siren Shrub Co. is women-owned, located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and makes some of the tastiest drinks and mixers I’ve tasted. Deceptively simple ingredients—organic apple cider vinegar, organic cane sugar, and fruit or herbs—yield complex flavors to drink from the can or mix in your favorite cocktails/mocktails. Start with the tart cherry and basil and work your way through their classic flavors and limited releases. I had you at women-owned? Same!

SEE: Heart Speak: A Visual Interpretation Of Let Your Life Speak. Sherrill Knezel, graphic recorder and owner of Meaningful Marks, collaborated with Parker J. Palmer to bring his “Let Your Life Speak” to life in the most beautiful and touching way. Sherrill adds her thoughtful images, words, and questions to Parker’s ideas. Find more of Sherrill’s drawings, including her Daily Drawings, on Instagram @sherrill_knezel.

SMELL: I visited Italy recently and the smells of pasta, cappuccino, and gelato are still top of mind. Some of my family’s pasta go tos are Smitten Kitchen’s Classic Pesto and Pasta Puttanesca and Mark Bittman’s Spaghetti with Fried Eggs. Although not a traditional Italian take, I’ve used whole wheat pasta with each of these sauces to great success. (Trader Joe’s whole wheat spaghetti is a favorite.) Make tasty Italian style coffee at home with a Moka Express. Using the Moka Express takes a little practice but makes Espresso-like coffee in an affordable and attractive device. Bonus, look for these gadgets second hand. I thrifted mine for $7 and it works great!

HEAR: Wiser Than Me podcast with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I’m a long-time JLD fan going back to her days playing Elaine on “Seinfeld.” On “Wiser Than Me,” she interviews women older than her and “goes there” every time delving into the personal and funny details that make this podcast truly special. Plus, at the end of each episode she talks with her 90-year-old mom, Judy, about the interview. Season one included, for example, Jane Fonda, Amy Tan, and Carol Burnett and I cried multiple times. “Wiser Than Me” won Apple’s podcast of the year for 2023 and JLD opened season 2 with Sally Field.

TOUCH: Use Art Every Day. I love art in all its forms. I choose special items to satisfy common needs and the tactile experience of this art enhances my everyday life. My coffee tastes better in a Lolly Lolly Ceramics handmade mug. My charcuterie looks fancier on a handmade Camino Woodshop charcuterie board. And I smile every time I look at my Bayview Printing Company and Artery Ink calendars or send their cards to friends and family. For an overall art infusion in your life, check out all the things at Olson House. And, yes, all these are small businesses, and all are women-owned.

MKE Women’s Entrepreneurship Week (May 6-10)

So many workshops and sessions…here are a few! Collaborating with Intention. Bookkeeping + Legal Considerations. Lessons from our First Years. Dream, Create, Empower: A Journey of Entrepreneurship for Black & Brown Women Amongst Fellow Entrepreneurs. The Art of Business Besties with IW Board Member Claire Becker. All About the Apps. Build a Brand Story. Real Estate for Small Businesses. How to Build a Team. Nurturing Balance: A Workshop for Women Balancing the Invisible Load of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship with Theresa + IW Board Member Caitlin Walsh. Show Her the Money Film Screening. Optimizing Productivity Through Cycle Syncing with Rebecca + IW Board Member Sara Beaumont.

Get the full schedule

Season 6 of the PODCAST arrives May 15th!
Intimacy + Sexual Health.

my (theresa) CHALLENGE:
finding deodorant that WORKS

I was 6 and 7 months pregnant with my daughter during the hottest part of the year in our hometown. I was hot. And sweaty. And deodorant was necessary. But as soon as I had found out I was pregnant I was evaluating EVERYTHING I was putting in and on my body, including my lotions, hair products, and deodorant.

My previously little thought of aluminum-and-other-harsh-ingredients deodorant went in the trash. I went without for a bit but realized, sooner than later, I needed to figure out my deodorant game so I could hug people. The natural deodorant market ten years ago was not the thing it is today. All ideas and products have to start somewhere. Let’s just say I knew I wasn’t a flower even using what was available at the store.

Fast forward to a year ago when my daughter’s hormonal development is adding a little spiciness to her aura and it was time to introduce her to hygiene. We made it fun, at first sharing my products which made her feel the specialness of her development. Shopping together, smelling the options (so many options now), and watching her take ownership over her body as an informed consumer is a great feeling (and a little sorrowful as I realize how quickly she’s growing). It’s a win raising my child during an era of more conscious companies and consumers expecting better for their wellbeing. What is working for you? Any recommendations or favorites? These are our favorites right now: