Welcome everyone to the @MNMOmag Twitterview with guest @Sonjaeileen from the @BeautyRoomMPLS. Lets have some fun today!

Sonja:    Hello!

So tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up, go to school, and what did you want to be as an adult?

Sonja:    I grew up in Excelsior, MN and went to Minnetonka HS. I went to Aveda to become an esthetician

I actually wanted to be a pilot. I wanted to go to UND in Grand Forks, but then I found the world of spas!

That’s a GREAT world! :) How did you know it was a good fit for you? Where did you start using your skills?

Sonja:    In high school I worked in a small spa as a receptionist & fell in love with the environment & work it was so peaceful

My first real job as an esthetician was in Santa Barbara, Ca. We used organic products & I fell in love with that too!

Santa Barbara CA is a good place to start! Did you get good tips? Did you get to work with any celebrities?

Sonja:    Worked in Santa Barbara for 3 years, then moved to LA. That’s when I started working on some celebrities

I worked on Montana in Santa Monica & at The Beverly Hills Hotel, which was the greatest experience ever.

have worked on Jennifer Garner, Pamela Anderson, Melania Trump and Kelly Osborne to name a few. It was fun!

The Beverly Hills Hotel was a crazy place for celebrity sightings! It was an unbelievable experience.

Wow! How were you treated by them? Did they want to talk about themselves or did they ask questions about you?

Sonja:    Actually, most of them were very nice. Not too much conversation in general (because they were relaxing!)

Every once in a while a celebrity would be stand offish, but for the most part they were cool.

Was the spa then kind of an oasis for them from the public, or would they get “swarmed” there too?

Sonja:    The BHH was know for being very private & protective of celebrities. They always felt comfortable there because they..

knew paparazzi were not allowed near the hotel. We couldn’t ask for autographs & could only address them by last name.

EX. Good afternoon Mr. Buffet. He was one of my favorites!

Do you mean investor @W_Buffett? Can you tell us what he had done?

Sonja:    No, I meant the singer, Jimmy Buffett! Sorry, different spelling.

And he didn’t do anything in particular. I was just excited to meet him :)

Neat. Lets move on to today. Where do you work now, and what kinds of services do you offer to clients?

Sonja:    Today I work @BeautyRoomMPLS on 43rd & Chicago. It’s a beautiful salon/spa where I specialize in facials, skin care,

and waxing. I use an all natural skin care line called @ARCONA_LA which has given my clients wonderful results.

Super! So what days of the week can people make appointments with you?

Sonja:    I work T 9-5 (every other) , W 12-8, Th 11-7, F 10-6 & S 10-4 (every other)

The Beauty Room is at 4300 Chicago Ave, Mpls 55407 612-724-4111. I would love for everyone to come check us out!

Good to know. What’s one skin tip that you’re giving to people with the weather we’re having right now?

Sonja:    Drink lots of water!!

Our climate is so dry, leaving us with dehydrated skin. Also, exfoliate a few times a week & use moisturizer daily.

Lastly. Got any big goals that you’re targeting for next year?

Sonja:    I eventually want to open a small boutique spa of my own. Not sure when it will happen, but stay tuned

Joel:    Great idea! Well thank you Sonja for sharing some of your life on Twitter today with the #MNMOtv audience. Take care!

Sonja:    Thanks so much Joel, I had a wonderful time.

Kristin Makholm

Hello everybody! Welcome to today’s @MNMOmag Twitterview with @kmakholm (Kristin Makholm). Lets get started!

Kristin:     Hi Joel!

To begin, lets learn a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up, attend H.S and college?

Kristin:    I grew up in Milwaukee, went to Shorewood High School and college at Northwestern University.

When you were growing up, what were some of the fields of work you thought you might want to get involved with?

Kristin:    I was primarily a musician growing up–piano, bassoon, singing in choirs, and always knew the arts interested me

when I got to college, I rebelled and studied art history because I thought it would be cool to work in an art museum

I was a liberal arts geek, and studying art history was fascinating to me.

A good decision! So what kind of work did you do after college that led you to working at the MMMA?

Kristin:    Graduate school in art history at the U of M, internships at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Met in NY, the MIA

Curatorial jobs at the St. Louis Art Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum, gallery director at MCAD

It was probably all the contacts I made at those jobs that have been so important to what I’m doing now at MMAA.

Networking is always valuable! With there not being an actual museum space, at the moment, what does your role entail?

Kristin:    Well, trying to resurrect an art museum is a full-time job! I need to encourage people to continue to support us.

I need to refine the vision and mission of the MMAA to remind people of our importance to the arts in Minnesota

I’m also taking care of our great art collection and getting it out for people to see and appreciate around MN.

To get the message out to everyone who will listen! This takes the form of exhibitions, articles, and Twitterviews!

Fundraising!

Wonderful! Now isn’t there some kind of touring exhibit that lets people see some of the collection? Is there a website?

Kristin:    Yes! Our Treasures is our current traveling show of great hits from the collection.

It began its tour at the Tweed in Duluth and is now at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

It continues to Carleton College, the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, and ends back up here at the Weisman next winter.

All the info is at http://www.mmaa.org. Fabulous art by Paul Manship, George Morrison, Joan Mitchell, great stuff!

What’s the cost to see the “Our Treasures” exhibit? Regarding fundraising, what are some options for the public to help?

Kristin:    The show is free at all venues. It has a free treasure hunt brochure too for kids and families to investigate the art

We just restarted our membership program, so bringing everyone back to support the renaissance of MMAA is our goal.

$40 gets you reports on our events, exhibitions and the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping us get reestablished.

We’re looking for volunteers to help out. And we also accept donations in any amount!

When you’re not being the Dir of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Kristin:    Two kids (15 and 11) keep me busy, but I also sing in the Plymouth Church choir, which keeps my music buds active.

But it’s a full-time job just keeping up with exhibition openings and art events after 5 pm and on weekends.

Joel:     Thank you so much Kristin for sharing some of your life and work today on #MNMOtv. Have a great rest of the week!

Kristin:    Thanks! This was fun!

Romeny Chan

Good morning everyone! Welcome to today’s @MNMOmag Twitterview with @RoeWolfe co-founder Romeny Chan!

Where did you grow up and go to school?

Romeny:    I grew up in Bloomington as a youth and finished my high school years in Burnsville…

I attended college in Winona for Advertising and English.. Oh, how I do miss the bluffs!

I see. So how did you get into the makeup and fashion business?

Romeny:    As far as I can remember, I was really into water painting. From there, I painted incessantly using all types of media…

Later, I made a natural transition into fashion and make-up. Truly enjoy working with faces and features

What then led you to open @RoeWolfe with Ashley Kilcher?

Romeny:    @LuLi795 and I have been in the fashion industry long enough to know it was time to evolve…

From being on sets, artistic direction behind spreads and fashion shows, we wanted our inspirations to be approachable

Hence, a “fashion marketplace” – a humble boutique that consults you. We are passionate and just as ambitious.

So your boutique is more than just a retail location right? How would you explain as to what you offer customers?

Romeny:    Yes! Our team are all artists and stylists. Every woman is different, so we make it an intimate experience…

Along w/ our high-end collections, we have @BECCA_COSMETICS - and so, we offer image consultations and lessons

Once women know that we embrace the many magnitudes of woman, there’s no questioning our integrity of services

I understand that you are a perfume specialist. Explain how you can help women in this area.

Romeny:    Olfactory love. We carry Nasomatto and Boadicea. Men and Women leave here in a silage of sentiment!

I had to make sure our lines were unisex. There’s such an art and intimacy in finding the right scent….

Lastly, what are some of the brands that you carry in womens fashion in your boutique?

Romeney:    To mention just a few, we carry: Darling, WinterKate, Love Sam, Darling and Saivana.

Items from Pendleton, Nasomatto and A Peace Treaty are unisex! And, our full cosmetics line : @BECCA_COSMETICS

Joel:    Thank you Romeny for your time and comments today! See @MNMOstyle‘s article for more details – Suburban Chic

Romeny:    It was a pleasure!

Good morning everyone! Lets start off the day with a Twitterview with a #CyberQueen like @VeraSweeney. Time for the fun to start! #jectv

Q – #1    So to begin @VeraSweeney, please share with us where you grew up and went to High School?

Vera:    I grew up in Astoria Queens – and went to St. John’s Prep

Q – #2    I see, so what was your next “life step” after High School? What interested you as far as job opportunities?

Vera:    I went to college in Albany and became a business consultant for both Accenture and Ernst and Young

I loved it but I wanted to do more coding and they kept putting me in front of the client.

Q – #3    Interesting. So how long did you stay on that course until you shifted to @imnotobsessed and other cyber ventures?

Vera:    After 9/11 I decided that I didn’t want to stay in a job that I didn’t LOVE. It took me a year, but I finally quit

Ended up teaching computers to K-8 at a local school in Queens. Did that for a few years and was happy

But then I got pregnant, was placed on bedrest, and then eventually became a stay at home mom

After 3 months or so of being home, I started to look for outlet. That’s when @imnotobsessed was born

It started out as a hobby – but then it just really caught on. Thats when I started to take it seriously

Q – #4    Great story! So about how many regular followers do you have for @imnotobsessed? An entertainment or gossip blog?

Vera:    I think we get about 5 million views a month on @imnotobsessed

Uniques are around 1.5 million

we write about gossip but it’s always PG rated

that was important for me because – as a mom – I never wanted to feel bad about my gig

Q – #5    Good for you! :) What is your source or sources for photos and info that you post? What has trended lately?

Vera:    I buy all my photos from WENN, FAME, and FLYNET

And after 6 years of blogging, I’ve ended up on a TON of PR blasts. I get most of my info from my email.

whats trending lately? Anything Twilight, pregnancies, Lohan, and Kardashian lol!

Q – #6    Is there any person or couple that you’re just TIRED of hearing about at this point?

Vera:    lol @JoelECarlson I dont want to insult anyone. There are some die hard fans out there. I never write negatively about celebs

Q – #7    I understand. Have you been able to parlay your @imnotobsessed blog to other biz opportunities or star connections?

Vera:    Ive had some great opportunities – done a few red carpet events, got a trip to costa rica to be on set for reality show

I’m so thankful @JoelECarlson ive been very blessed. It’s been a great ride. And I hope I have a few more years in me

Truthfully, these days most of my event invites come from http://ladyandtheblog.com though…

Q – #8    When you’re not taking care of your family and working on @imnotobsessed, what other interests take up your time?

Vera:    I love to read (when I can), play tennis during the warmer months, TRAVEL TRAVEL TRAVEL. My fav hobby

I spend all day on the computer – so all my hobbies are offline.

Q – #9    Now some of your FAVORITES: Restaurant, comfort food, social media platform, recent book and celeb blogger.

Vera:    Ok! @JoelECarlson Fav Restaurant – La Nonna Bella in Long Island, Rosa Mexicana in NYC, Benihana (yeah I said it), Otto in NYC

Fav comfort food @JoelECarlson : fried chicken and colombian food (steak, rice, beans, plaintains)

Fav social media platform @JoelECarlson – Facebook – I find more interaction on that tool (twitter is second)

Fav recent book @JoelECarlson The Black Dagger Brotherhood (entire series) it’s like vampire porn so watch out, and The Hunger Games

Fav celeb blogger @JoelECarlson – dont have any. Is that bad? :)

Q – #10    Nope. You are your own creative leader. Do you think @imnotobsessed will ever include videos? (YouTube)

Vera:    I embed video (trailers etc) but I dont think I do enough to have my own YouTube channel.

Q – #11    To close. If you could have a meal with any one person (dead/alive), who would you pick and why?

Vera:    aw man that is a hard one. I guess I would pick… @JensenAckles__ (just kidding… or am i?)

no seriously I would choose my grandfather – miss him dearly.

@JoelECarlson:    That’s sweet! :) Thank you very much for your time and comments today. Enjoy the rest of your week. Regards! :)

Vera:    thank you for interviewing me! had fun :)

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone! Lets get started with today’s Twitterview with @metrozing. She loves to organize!

Geralin: Good afternoon Joel, I’m ready when you are (and, even if you aren’t!)

Q – #1    Tell us first @metrozing, where did you grow up, where did you go to school and what was your 1st adult job?

Geralin: I grew up in the same hometown as: Gilda Radner, Eminem, Madonna, Lily Tomlin, Diana Ross, Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder

HS-> Warren, MI (Tower High, Vikings) College-> Chapel Hill, NC (University of NC, Tar Heels) BA

1st adult job: I was a travel agent (family vacations, honeymoons, continuing education for DDS at UNC Dental Schools)

Q – #2    So who were some of the players on the UNC basketball team when you were there?

Geralin: May I call foul or out of bounds? (dates+ages) How about if we just say Dean Smith was coaching; is that acceptable?

@JoelECarlson: Sure, I’m just a big fan or their team. No offense intended. :)  re:UNC BBall #jectv

Q – #3    Also, how did you go from a travel agent, to DDS to becoming a professional organizer?

Geralin: I coordinated continuing education trips; enjoyed keeping a lot of plates spinning – decided to do it full time.

Q – #4    How/when did you get connected to the “Hoarders” TV show?  Hoarding is really a physical and a mental health issue right?

Geralin: I was called *Julie McCoy* (cruise director of Love Boat) It made me think, hey, I *really* like organizing and . . .

I’ve been organizing on AE TV’s Hoarders since season 1 in 2009; u r correct, hoarding is a mental health condition.

My first hoarding client [non TV] was someone who had a shopping addiction. Her disorder fascinated me

Since working with that client I’ve become interested in the sociology of shopping, sales, marketing, advertising

Q – #5    Does that make it more difficult for you as the organizer? As opposed to someone who needs “light help”?

Geralin: Helping clients with mental health disorders is satisfying. It’s a population reluctant to reach out for help; stigma!

Hoarders are not your average consumers. They have a very different value system.

For anyone interested in behaviors + consumerism, Dan Ariely, April Benson and Lee Eisenberg are name to explore

Q – #6    So is the “1st step” for you to figure out the person before you figure out how to organize the space?

Geralin: My 1st step is usually discussing what the client’s goals are. How organized do they want to be? Why? Timeframe?

1. a phone consult 2. an assessment 3. collaborate with appropriate folks/form a team, last. hands on organizing

Q – #7    I see. You obviously do your work well. Do you ever get people that can’t get our of the “gear” that their currently in?

Geralin: Absolutely! There are some people that I don’t have the skill set to help: animal hoarders, senior dementia, etc.

My hoarding clients must agree 2 work with a therapist; I can’t treat/cure clients. I can help them manage their stuff.

Q – #8    More about YOU. Favorite(s) Restaurant, store, comfort food, travel destination, recent book/movie.

Geralin: Time for true confessions + my faves: I’m a documentary junkie and I LOVE foreign films with subtitles

Favorite comfort food: summer = ceviche while winter = cassoulet. Favorite reading: I read a lot of blogs

My favorite destinations have been Positano and St. Barts. Both have beautiful scenery, friendly people and fab food.

Q – #9    To end today, what’s 1 tip you’d give to people that may have the beginnings of a cluttered home?

Geralin: Need Help Organizing? Institute for Challenging Disorganization + Natl Association of Professional Organizers can help

1 organizing tip: commit to owning less and enjoying it more

@JoelECarlson: Thank you for your time and sharing some thoughts today on #jectv. Keep up the good work that you do! :)

Geralin: Joel, today’s twitterview was my pleasure; thank you!