Lora LaPratt is the CEO and head stylist of Shopping Girl XOXO, a personal styling brand for clients nation-wide. She prides her business on helping clients to not only look but most importantly FEEL amazing in their own unique style. Lora specializes in working with local Chicago designers and boutiques across the city. She has been featured as a style expert on multiple TV segments and publications and was chosen as one of the Top Woman Owned Businesses in 2016. To learn more about Shopping Girl XOXO and Lora's styling packages visit www.shoppinggirlxoxo.com
Lauren Brynjelsen is the founder of One Life Kitchen. While going back to school to further her education in the Nutrition and Health Coaching field, Lauren dreamed of what it would be like to combine her knowledge of nutrition with her passion for cooking, fitness and entertaining. Residing in Barrington, IL, her mission is to provide an atmosphere where each guest finds nourishment for the body, mind and soul. One Life Kitchen represents the nourishing of Lauren’s favorite things. It is a place where guests come to gather together to learn, feast and share.
CONTRIBUTORS
Josie Volpentesta is a professional Makeup Artist from Chicago’s upscale North Shore suburbs and has solidified herself as one of the best makeup artists in the entertainment industry. For over a decade she has worked with "A" list celebrities, hit TV shows, and various magazines. Last year Josie launched her own lip gloss under her label, Makeup by Josie. Josie shares some of her favorite products that will help you achieve and maintain a good look.
Heather Reid is the CMO for boutique legal operations consultancy UpLevel Ops, where she is a marketing/communications strategist and content creator. She began her career as a newspaper editor and designer but quickly moved on to the (then) new Internet frontier, where she held nearly every online role, from technology to creative execution. Heather found her passion for digital branding and social media as an agency account executive. She has a BS in Journalism from Medill at Northwestern University and is also an essayist and freelance writer whose work has appeared in various magazines and culinary sites and at heatherreidwrites.com. She is a Cubs fan and runs a micro-bakery (eatlikeamother.com) on the north side of Chicago, where she lives with her husband and two sons.
LeAnita Ragland-Brooks is a cum laude fine art graduate and the designer behind her own jewelry brand. Having lived and traveled extensively through Europe and Asia, her unwavering eye for fashion and culture have shaped a woman who moves through the world with intention. She spent more than 30 years in executive levels of global financial services and speaks within the family office community — and when cancer arrived, three times, she applied that same precision to survival. Her book Survival Is My Superpower: Diagnosis to Dominance, Thriving Through Stage IV Breast Cancer and Lymphoma hit #1 in new releases in both breast cancer and lymphoma in its first week. She lives in Lake Forest, IL with her husband and has two children.
Shay Moinuddin, MHA, CANS, RN has 20 years of clinical experience in the Aesthetic industry and has worked with renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Julius Few since 2008. She is a highly experienced and trained nurse injector, laser specialist, and skincare clinician, with an established base of loyal patients in Chicago and Los Angeles. Shay is a frequent media contributor for local television and national print media. Her aesthetic credentials include the elite Physician Extender and Aesthetic Nurse Specialist certifications. Shay is a huge animal lover and serves on the development board for PAWS Chicago.
Aliyah Kilzilbash is a tech entrepreneur, CEO, and founder of TaxBack and CityQuantum, with a passion for AI-driven solutions and business strategy. After spending 17 years as a stay-at-home mom, she stepped into the world of business and software learning, adapting, and building from the ground up. Today, she is committed to helping women embrace reinvention, build confidence, and succeed in high-achieving spaces. Her podcast and social media make AI, business, and empowerment approachable and inspires others to take bold steps toward their goals.
Sigrid Garavito is founder of SeraphX Digital Consulting. With over two decades of high-octane, Fortune 500 CPG marketing experience, Sigrid has unlocked the secret to bringing big-brand expertise to local heroes in healthcare, and professional home services without the "Fortune 500" price tag.
Known as a trailblazer in omni-channel and digital marketing, Sigrid’s approach is rooted in data, fueled by passion, and tailored to bring out the best in each client. Her mission? To give every business the power to shine online, drive engagement, and achieve real growth through innovative digital strategies, e-commerce, or social media. A true citizen of the world, Sigrid balances her role as a fearless marketer with her insatiable love for travel, outdoor adventures, and athletic pursuits. At home, she’s dedicated to cheering on her two athletically active boys at fútbol and football games or supporting their latest theater productions.
Zeeba Kruse is a multi-talented student, performer, and writer whose passions span the arts, sciences, and athletics. On stage, she has played leading roles in The Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland and most recently performed in an official production of the award-winning musical Hadestown, funded by After School Matters. Off stage, Zeeba is an avid singer, poet and author with multiple novels and short stories to her credit. Zeeba is also a competitive athlete in volleyball and track. In addition, she is a social media influencer whose YouTube channel has garnered over 1.6 million views, connecting with audiences through creative, book-focused content. Her FLM column Unzipped brings creativity, empathy, and a unique Gen Z perspective to explore the issues shaping her generation.
Lauren Brynjelsen is the founder of One Life Kitchen. While going back to school to further her education in the Nutrition and Health Coaching field, Lauren dreamed of what it would be like to combine her knowledge of nutrition with her passion for cooking, fitness and entertaining. Residing in Barrington, IL, her mission is to provide an atmosphere where each guest finds nourishment for the body, mind and soul. One Life Kitchen represents the nourishing of Lauren’s favorite things. It is a place where guests come to gather together to learn, feast and share.
Jocelyn Osorio is an actress, and founder of Paz & Co., a creative studio specializing in cinematic hospitality and destination storytelling. Based in Chicago, she shares refined travel, design, fashion, beauty, and family experiences through an elegant, editorial lens, with a passion for uncovering exceptional places and meaningful stories.