SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY

One of the reasons I LOVE blogging so much is I get to talk with many women out there who need advice and I get to help them whether it be with a simple recipe or maybe just some advice on a new workout routine!

Attorney, volunteer, beautiful, compelling, passionate, smart....just a few words to describe...

I got to know Krissy Froelich through my blogging and let me tell you ladies this chick is so inspiring her story has changed the way I look at my own passion! 

Read the interview and you will understand why I almost had tears in my eyes at this remarkable woman 

Tell me about yourself.

 I went to law school at William and Mary in Virginia and graduated in 2003.  I clerked for the Supreme Court of Kentucky for a year and then moved to Charlotte, NC, where I began to work as a real estate finance/mortgage backed securities attorney.  I moved to Chicago in  2006, and continued practicing the same type of law.  In late 2008, my work level dropped significantly as the real estate and mortgage industries began to suffer.  In 2009, I was laid off from my firm due to a lack of work in my practice area.  It was very difficult for me to find a similar position, given that all my experience was in real estate and banking, two industries that were in great decline then.  I had never planned on choosing a new career at age 30, and this was a very difficult time in my life.  I eventually decided to view this time as an opportunity to pursue a career that was more in line with my personal interests and felt more meaningful to me and decided I wanted to go to esthetician school. 

I attended both Florida College of Natural Health in Miami and Douglas J Aveda Institute in Chicago.  While I chose esthetics because of my love of beauty and skin care products, what I discovered I truly loved was being able to help people relax and feel more confident about their appearance.  While in school, I worked part time in the accounting department of a real estate development firm and when I finished school, they offered me a full time position.  While I love working there and was excited for the opportunity, I missed working in the esthetics industry.  

How were you able to keep esthetics in your life?

I had heard of American Cancer Society's "Look Good, Feel Better " program and decided to volunteer as a way to keep esthetics in my life and help people at the same time.  Through this program, I teach a monthly two hour class to women in cancer treatment on how to care for their skin-Skin goes through a lot of changes with cancer treatment and it causes many changes to people's appearance, including changes in the pigmentation of the skin and loss of hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.  

The women are all given a kit of skin care and makeup products, and I give a basic makeup application lesson as well.  For the women, it is a chance to focus on something other than cancer, and a chance to begin to feel comfortable with their appearance again.  Teaching women how to draw their eyebrows back on is a huge thing-They generally remark that they feel "more like themselves" again.  

In the last session I taught, I had a woman who said she just wanted to look "normal" and "not sick" when she went to her son's baseball games.  I truly believe that when people are happy with how they look, it creates a positive change in the rest of their life and I am happy to have the opportunity to help people have a fun, positive experience during a difficult time. 

What are some tips that every lady should know?

My number one tip for everyone is sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!!!  The sun not only causes skin cancer, but it causes age spots, wrinkles, and causes a loss of elasticity in the skin.  Basically, any physical trait you associate with aging is caused or made worse from the sun.  So, at LEAST an SPF 15, but preferably an SPF 30, everyday.  It should be applied not only to the face, but also the neck, the chest, and the back of your hands, as they all get sun exposure and show age.  Stay out of tanning beds, unless you want to look like leather.

Women should also find a skincare routine that works for them and stick with it-If you aren't getting the results you want, you are either not using the right products or are not applying them correctly, so you should talk to an esthetician about what changes you should make.  You don't have to spend a ton of products to get results-There are some excellent drugstore lines, and I always advise to spend money on products that matter-Such as anti-aging or anti-acne products, serums, eye creams, and other treatment products, as those stay on the skin.  You can save on things like cleansers, which are rinsed off.  You should also make time for yourself and see taking care of your skin not as a luxury, but as a regular part of maintenance/prevention-The same way you have routine doctor checkups.  And having fun and enjoying life makes anyone more beautiful.

What inspires you? You inspire me so much!

I am inspired by people who follow their dreams, whatever those dreams may be.  I am also inspired by people who have a positive attitude.  I have the most amazing, beautiful, generous friends anyone could ever have-Through every challenge in my life, they have supported me, made me laugh, pushed me when I needed it, helped me become a better person, and I am grateful for them everyday. 

How can I contact you to learn more about skin care and where are you sharing your knowledge currently?

 I am also now fortunate to have an esthetician position at Ambra Salon and European Spa, which is a beautiful spa in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago.  

I am there every Sunday and you can call 312-337-5055 for an appointment or go to ambrasalonandeuropeanspa.com.  

I can also be reached at krissy_froelich@yahoo.com for any questions!

Interested in Volunteering?

Here a few opportunities to help with your search:

• Look Good, Feel Better
• Certified beauty expert? Share your knowledge, skills, tips and tricks with ladies who will appreciate your advice and give them the confidence they deserve
• If you are not certified, there are other ways to help out with this organization as well just check out the link and see how you can make a DIFFERENCE!
• Volunteer Match
• Volunteer Match is for those who live in the United States to find an organization they feel passionate about! Grab some friends and get out of bed Saturday and change someones LIFE!
• Other opportunities for technology pros living anywhere in the world. A lot of these organizations need help with web design, marketing, brand design etc. Even if you are in school this could be a great way to share your new skills
• Liga MAC
• Help support low income families and work "mano y mano" hand in hand and help kids stay in school, get medical care and so forth
• Los Cabos Humane Society
• Live in Cabo and LOVE animals? Here is your chance to make a difference in an animals life and help out a great cause

Krissy has inspired me to start using my skills and knowledge to help others! I volunteered at a charity event called Dressed to the K9's during the holidays and had a great time helping with the party. I really want to be apart of a charity and volunteer time to helping out! I am thinking of bringing my Ballet skills back to life! I used to volunteer in high school and teach ballet and it was so much fun showing girls how to be princesses :)

How can you start sharing your skills with others in need?