Okay friends this is the very first feature in a series I’m working on called Babe’s in Real Life, and I am soooo excited that Hailey agreed to participate in this project with me! Let me start by saying that aside from Hailey obviously being a total babe for it’s true definition inside and out, in this series it stands for Bad Ass Brands & Entrepreneur’S) and each post will include some exclusive photos by yours truly, and an intimate Q+A with Hailey Daniels about business, life, motherhood, basically anything and everything – nothing is off the table. Hence, Babe’s in Real Life <3 I really want this brand to focus primarily on supporting and celebrating women. Women that are building their dreams, thriving in their careers, prioritizing personal happiness. Women that are persevering against all odds, women that are mothers, raising children and shaping little people into contributing members of society. I find myself really inspired by the women around me and I thought this series could be a fun way to not only feature some of these women, but possibly inspire some of you as well.
Hailey Daniels is a doting wife, girl-mom of three, pilates instructor, twin sister to Kailey, as well as the co-owner with her sister of a highly sought after hair and makeup company, Etoilly Artistry, that serves Houston, Dallas, and beyond. She is also 1/2 of the fashion & lifestyle blog called Double Shot of Sass with her twin sister, Kailey and I recently heard through the grapevine that she’s about to launch something new with her hubby here soon – so we’d better stay tuned. Basically, this not-even-30-year-old gal is who we all want to be when we grow up. I bet 6 year old Hailey is SO freaking proud.
I met up with Hailey at the absolutely stunning 1874 Guesthouse in Galveston, Texas, where we chatted about business, motherhood, makeup, her struggles and triumphs and her hopes and dreams. Here are some of the best bits from that interview:
What Was The Best Advice On Motherhood Have You Ever Received?
THE BEST ADVICE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN SINCE BECOMING A MOM HAS BEEN TO GIVE YOURSELF AN ABUNDANCE OF GRACE. I THINK I HAVE SUFFERED FROM IMPOSTER SYNDROME IN MOTHERHOOD. PERHAPS FOR SOME REASON I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE REARING LITTLE PEOPLE. SILLY, I KNOW. HOWEVER, A VERY GOOD FRIEND TOLD ME THAT BAD MOMS DON’T ASK THEMSELVES IF THEY ARE BAD MOMS. THE GOOD MOMS ASK THEMSELVES WHAT THEY COULD BE DOING BETTER TO BE THE BEST MOM GOD HAS CHOSEN THEM TO BE TO HIS CHILDREN. I THINK WE CAN ALL RELATE TO THAT. EVERY MOM DOING THEIR BEST IS ENOUGH.
What Is Your Favorite Go-To Dinner Recipe When You Are Short On Time?
PERHAPS NOT A RECIPE, BUT A QUICK DIP INTO TRES MARKET IN RIVER OAKS. THE BEST FRESH, FROZEN ENTREES READY TO POP IN THE OVEN. MY KIDS LOVE IT. MY HUSBAND LOVES IT. WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER. LITERALLY.
Most of us (if not all) know that you are a mom and an entrepreneur. If you had to do it all over again what would you do differently?
I THINK MY STORY IS WHAT GOT ME TO HERE. THE ADVERSITY OF IT ALL. WITHOUT TRYING TO BE AMBIGUOUS, I’VE BEEN THROUGH SOME SHIT. I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO ASK MYSELF IF I WOULD RATHER PLAY DEAD OR GET UP AND MOVE. I’VE ALWAYS HAD TO KEEP MOVING, AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE GIFT TO MY OWN CONFIDENCE AS WELL AS SHOWING MY CHILDREN THAT RESILIENCY IS A THING OF COURAGE. HOWEVER, THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT WAITING TO HAVE CHILDREN AFTER YOU’VE ESTABLISHED YOUR DREAMS. YOU’LL HAVE FAR LESS GRAY HAIRS AND EARLY ON-SET WRINKLES THAN ME!
What’s a typical day like for you?
EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT FOR ME! ON AVERAGE, IT GOES A LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
5:30 AM: WAKE UP TO GO WORKOUT
6 AM: PILATES AT MY FAVORITE STUDIO, PUSH PILATES
7 AM: GET HOME AND DRESS FOR THE DAY
7:30 AM: WAKE UP THE GIRLS AND GET THEM READY FOR SCHOOL (JACOB IS THE REAL MVP BECAUSE SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WASH MY HAIR AND THAT’S A BEAST IN OF ITSELF)
8:30 AM: DROP OFF ALL GIRLS AT SCHOOL
9:30 AM: GET TO THE STUDIO AND POST THE DAILY PULL ON DOUBLE SHOT OF SASS INSTA
10:00-3:00 PM: TAKE ETOILLY ARTISTRY APPOINTMENTS AND/OR ADMIN WORK TO MAKE SURE ALL CLIENTS ARE BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF4:00 PM: PICK UP GIRLS FROM SCHOOL4:00-8:00 PM: MOM IT UP8:00-9:00 PM: SPEND TIME WITH JACOB BEFORE BED10:00 PM: MY ABSOLUTE LATEST BEDTIME
As a mom, what is your favorite part of motherhood?
AS MUCH AS I HAVE LOVED THEM BEING SO LITTLE, I REALLY LOVE SEEING THEM GROW AND BECOME THEIR OWN PERSON. I REALLY JUST HOPE TO HOLD THE SPACE FOR THEM TO BE COMPLETELY THEMSELVES, BUT TO ALWAYS BE THERE TO TEACH THEM TO BE KIND, COMPASSIONATE HUMANS.
What is the hardest part of motherhood for you?
I THINK EVERYONE SAYS THIS, BUT THE GUILT OF MISSING OUT ON MOMENTS. I’M CONSTANTLY REMINDED THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET THIS TIME BACK WITH THEM SO I HAVE TRIED TO BE AS PRESENT AS POSSIBLE WHEN I AM WITH THEM. How do you make time for your marriage? LUCKILY, JACOB HAS A PRETTY FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE SO WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE TIME FOR EACH OTHER DURING THE DAY WHEN POSSIBLE! IT STILL IS SO HARD BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE LITTLE PEOPLE IN OUR HOME, BUT IT IS A CONSTANT PRIORITY. BASICALLY WHENEVER WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO GIVE EACH OTHER UNDIVIDED ATTENTION, WE BOTH TRY OUR BEST TO MAKE ROOM FOR THAT.
How would you describe your personal brand?
KAILEY AND I BOTH JOKE THAT WE DON’T THINK WE HAVE AN ACTUAL STYLE SO LET ME TAKE A WHACK AT IT: NANCY MEYERS MOVIE WITH A SPLASH OF CARRIE BRADSHAW (AKA NEUTRALS ALL DAY, EVERYDAY BUT MAKE IT FUN WITH ECLECTIC ACCESSORIES)
When did you realize that your passions could become a career?
THE MOMENT I BECAME A TEACHER. JUST KIDDING, BUT KAILEY AND I HAVE TRIED LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS BEFORE FULLY EMBRACING OUR DREAMS. ALL THROUGH COLLEGE I TRIED SO DESPERATELY TO DO SOMETHING MORE SECURE, MORE SAFE. I WAS NEVER PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING, BUT I WANTED TO BE. ONCE WE HAD LILY, I REALIZED LIFE WAS TOO SHORT TO DO THINGS THAT DIDN’T MAKE YOU JUMP OUT OF YOUR BED TO DO EVERYDAY. PERHAPS SOME PEOPLE DON’T NEED THAT IN THEIR CAREER, BUT I AM SOMEONE WHO MOST CERTAINLY DOES.
What’s been the most exciting event/moment you’ve experienced since starting either Double Shot of Sass or Etoilly Artistry?
FOR DOUBLE SHOT OF SASS, I SEE IT AS A SCREEN ROLLING THROUGH ALL OF THESE MAGNIFICENT MOMENTS THAT HONESTLY MADE TEARS RUN DOWN MY CHEEKS: OUR FIRST FASHION WEEK IN NYC IN 2017, MEETING OUR FOLLOWERS IN REAL LIFE, CREATING CONTENT THAT IS PURELY CREATIVE…
FOR ETOILLY ARTISTRY, ANY CHANCE WE GET TO BE WITH OUR ENTIRE TEAM IS REALLY AMAZING. IT BLOWS OUR MINDS THAT ANY ARTIST WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US, AND IT REALLY IS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH WHO WE DO. WE HAVE WORKED WITH ABSOLUTELY AMAZING CLIENTS AND HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE MOST STUNNING EVENTS AND WEDDINGS. EVERY BRIDE IS SPECIAL TO US. ANOTHER GREAT MOMENT FOR US WAS WHEN WE WERE SO GRACIOUSLY ASKED TO BE A PART OF CHEVAL’S (IYKYK) NEW BRAND. SHE’S AN ABSOLUTE INNOVATOR AND CREATIVE GENIUS, AND SHE IS A HUGE INSPIRATION TO US.
What strategic advice do you have for up and coming Instagram influencers? Hair and makeup artists?
FOR INSTAGRAM GROWTH FOR BOTH INFLUENCERS AND HAIR/MAKEUP ARTISTS, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO GROW IN INSTAGRAM IS TO POST INTENTIONALLY. CREATE CONTENT THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF AND THAT IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF YOUR CREATIVITY. ALSO, TAKE THE TIME TO CHEER OTHERS ON. SHARE OTHERS WORK THAT IS INSPIRING TO YOU AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SHINE WHEN THEY DIDN’T EXPECT IT! YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU!
What advice do you have for women who are trying to gain a following on social media?
POST WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY AND TRY NOT TO PAY SO MUCH MIND TO THE PERFECT FEED, ALGORITHM, ETC. USE IT TO LIFT OTHERS UP. TO SHARE POSITIVITY. TO LET YOUR VOICE AND CREATIVITY SHINE. BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY YOU.
What do you do about nasty commenters?
I LIKE TO RESPOND WITH THE CLASSIC, “THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE KIND WORDS. I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY!” THE LAST PART WE TRULY DO MEAN. OBVIOUSLY THEY’RE HURTING MORE THAN ANY HURTFUL THING THEY CAN SEND YOU.
Anything you’d like to leave us with?
LET’S SEE. BE BOLD. BE BRAVE. TAKE REALLY, REALLY BIG RISKS. HAVE FRIENDS THAT WILL CALL YOU OUT ON YOUR SHIT, BUT WILL EQUALLY CHEER YOU ON. HAVE SO MUCH FAITH IN YOURSELF THAT YOU’VE CONVINCED EVERYONE AROUND YOU THAT YOU REALLY DO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, EVEN IF YOU DON’T YET.
To hear more from Hailey during our chat that wasn’t shared here on the blog, keep checking back at the highlight on our instagram where I’ll be adding parts 1-5 of our Q+A or visit. <3
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