Name of your Business: dianne’s Delights
Date you opened for business: July 2010
Twitter: @diannesdelights
Facebook: Click here
Website: diannesdelights.net
Believe it or not, I found Dianne on Twitter, although she told me later that she had recently attended a Girl Power Hour. The second I took a look at her website, I knew I wanted to meet her. There was something happy and super positive about it. Website fung shui or genuine goodness? I had to find out. She met me at Starbucks with delights in hand. I was so intrigued by her story and drawn in by her infectious energy that I forgot to open the box…until I got home. And what a sweet surprise that was! My boyfriend and I literally fought over her icing-and-sprinkle-covered cake balls. He still asks me occasionally how he can get some.
…dianne’s Delights were recently featured at the Girl Power Hour Be Dazzled event; we hope to bring her delights to you again soon!
Needless to say, Dianne loves people. Her mission in life is to brighten people’s lives in any way she can. A good day for her is when her smile and positive energy makes someone laugh, smile, or simply helps to change their mood. Dianne’s other love is baking. Her passion for all things sweet had her constantly in the bakery mastering her art. Let’s just say if Dianne’s coming to your party you know she is bringing yummy treats. It was only natural that Dianne combine her two passions. The result is dianne’s Delights – a dessert only catering business. Dianne can now reach more people and through her amazing desserts she can continue to make people smile.
Dianne’s Delights began in July of 2010 and is rapidly growing. Specializing as a professional dessert caterer for private and corporate events, Dianne’s success comes from her visually stunning table displays and most importantly her delicious creations. Dianne’s secret to making fantastic desserts comes from a simple philosophy – always bake with LOVE.
Q&A Interview
Q. What kind of delights do you specialize in?
A. Since I am a dessert caterer, I don’t really specialize in just one dessert. What I do specialize in is giving my clients creative and appropriate desserts displayed on matching themed tables to create an experience that is both visually appealing as well as delicious. That being said…anything that counts as dessert, I bake it!
Q. Do you have a favorite item? If so, why is it your favorite?
A. Being a part of the baking world, you can’t really have a favorite. Everything that is considered dessert, I love to create and eat! But, If I had to choose I would pick coconut cake! It is a lovely, beautiful cake with the right amount of sweetness and a little hint of almond in the frosting to knock your socks off!! SO GOOD! This recipe that I have goes way back to my great-grandmother and with any special occasion you can find me in the kitchen baking up that beautiful cake.
Name of your Business: Three Step Dating
Date you opened for business: September 2007
Twitter: @RenessaRios
Facebook: /profile.php?id=100001819631296
Website: www.ThreeStepDating.com
Getting to know Renessa Rios……
I first came across Renessa maybe two years ago and we chatted for nearly as long about finding a way for us to partner. A “jill of all trades,” Renessa had many ideas, as did I, but none seemed to fit. We never gave up hope. As time went on, I watched her business grow and I admired from the sidelines. We finally met in person at a recent Mashable event on Capitol Hill. We were inseparable for the rest of the night and that’s when we put 2 and 2 together. Renessa was the perfect fit for our “Be Dazzled” Girl Power Hour event, happening tonight. There, you can meet Renessa, get a signed copy of her new book, “Date Right,” and hear about how everything in life relates back to networking, including dating.
Q. What type of matchmaking company is Three Step Dating?
A. Three Step Dating is all about relationship building with our members. Not all of our members are ready for matchmaking, some need dating support after their divorce or a bad breakup.Some of our members need coaching support on how to flirt, approach, and their conversation with new people. We have had huge success from our single events because our events are a safe place to meet new singles and try out your flirting techniques to build up on their strengths and weaknesses. Dating can be scary and awkward, we look at it as if you are starting a new job, once you understand your position, then you will know what is expected out of you and you can succeed by meeting you life time partner!
Q. What makes Three Step Dating unique compared to all of the different dating companies offered to singles?
A. The number one thing that makes Three Step Dating unique is our educational process. We educate singles on their dating/relationship skills. After we match a couple, we follow up after the date and find out their thoughts of how their date went. We then provide feedback and let them know how the other person thought and felt during the date with them. What works and what did not wrk during the date. If you have ever gone on a first date and felt attracted to that person and then the person never called you back, Three Step Dating is able to give our members the reason why. We consider this priceless, so we are not continuing the same mistakes in future dates.
Many new singles do not know the rules for proper dating etiquette. We are the only dating company in the Northwest that offers monthly dating classes teaching about online dating, flirting, conversation starters and successful relationship skills.
Getting to know Stephanie Percy……
Stephanie Percy is the proprietor of La Bijou, a high-end lingerie boutique in Bellevue. Prior to providing lovelies to the greater Eastside, Stephanie’s business background consisted of working as a Marketing Executive in the banking industry, being a Washington State Trooper and serving four years in the Navy. Stephanie has a passion for lingerie, traveling, fitness, surrounding herself with playful and interesting people and enjoying life in the moment it’s being lived.
We first met Stephanie at the 2nd Annual Girl Power Hour Holiday Cocktail Party back in December, but I had already heard of La Bijou. She had just become a member and was excited about GPH, asking questions and smiling. She was easy to get along with and we all just clicked instantly. That’s when I started asking about her business. Who was she? What was her inspiration for starting La Bijou? Her background?
I wanted to know more.
So Corrie and I went to see La Bijou to check it out, learn more about Stephanie and the gorgeous undergarments she so stylishly and delicately displayed throughout her exquisitly designed venue. To our surprise, she told us it used to an old chinese restaurant. No way. It was true. And so was she. We enjoyed a glass of pink champagne as she told us her story….
Name of your Business: La Bijou
Date you opened for business: October 25, 2009
Twitter: @LaBijouIntimate
Facebook: /profile.php?id=100001819631296
Website: www.La-Bijou.com
Q. What type of lingerie do you carry?
A. La Bijou carries high-end fashion lingerie, beautiful basic pieces and the finest mens briefs in the industry.
Q. Do you carry a signature brand?
A. My two signature brands are La Perla and Simone Perele; La Perla is an Italian collection offering chic-couture designs, Simone Perele is a French collection offering romantic, feminine designs.
Q. What is your favorite item in the store?
A. I have two favorites …. the La Perla Reggiseno bra, panty and garter collection in deep eggplant purple, brings out the vixen … and the La Perla Passion De Fleur Long Robe .. the satin is soft as butter, synches at the waist, sheer sleeves and upper back … simply delicious. 
Q. What was your inspiration for starting La Bijou?
A. Lingerie has been a love of mine since I was little, it just seemed to represent the all the loveliness that women are. The inspiration to start La Bijou ignited when I was a Washington State Trooper. Being the 40th woman hired in the history of the patrol, they didn’t have women’s uniforms (just smaller versions of the men’s) which made me feel very masculine. So I started wearing my lovelies under my uniform to remind myself daily that I was first a woman … then I could become whatever I needed to throughout the day. Sharing this with other women I discovered many felt the same way, that life often times distracts them from being the woman that they are. In those moments I decided to create an environment where women could come and rediscover the woman that they are at the core. Lingerie is the perfect reminder or our feminine, womanly side.
Q. Was there an “Ah-Ha” moment associated with it?
A. Oh yes … I distinctly remember sharing my feeling of being masculine with a friend of mine who instantly replied “there’s nothing masculine about you, you’re all woman.” That simple statement essentially birthed La Bijou …. I literally drove home and put my prettiest bra and panty set on under my uniform and went back to work. Makes me smile just remembering the moment.
Jen Mueller is the creator and founder of Talk Sporty to Me and is rarely at a loss for words. I first met Jen in 2009 when she contacted me about her new venture, Talk Sporty To Me. I was fascinated with her business and figured there had to be a way for us to partner. I hadn’t figured out just how to do that yet until Jen moderated a panel I was on for the Ladies Who Launch Global Conference in late 2010. That’s when I realized what a jem Jen is. She’s got a rockin’ career, her own sassy business and she’s got style! That’s what makes Jen so Glambitious!
Jen’s passion for talking and sports led to a career in sports broadcasting. A former high school athlete, she turned her attention to sports communications in college. Jen spent 4 years working in the sports department at KING 5, producing nightly sportscasts, writing scripts and reporting when possible. She joined the FSN Northwest staff in 2006 as a Producer/Reporter. Jen currently provides content for Mariners All Access and Cougars All Access, in addition to working on Mariners pre and post game broadcasts, and serving as a sideline reporter for college football and basketball games. You can catch Jen at the Girl Power Hour 2011 Glambition Kick off Party this Thursday for her networking action tips. Go Girl!
Getting to Know Jen Mueller
Q: What was your inspiration for starting Talk Sporty To Me?
A: I was approached by a group of female accountants who wanted to learn how to entertain clients at sporting events. It seemed their male counterparts spent their evenings out and about at Mariners, Huskies and Seahawks games. But the men weren’t just there to watch a game, they were interacting with clients, signing deals and getting ahead at work. The women were frustrated and asked me to help out. As I was planning for the event, I started to realize the magnitude of the problem and the many sports knowledge can benefit professionals, singles and anyone looking to improve their communication skills.
