Smarty Mom: Cara Viers

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Happy Smarty Mom Saturday! I’m happy to introduce you to Cara Viers, Queen Diva of the Harris YMCA! Cara is mom to Morgan (12) and Jake (10) and has been married to hubby, Jason, for 13 years.

Cara was one of my first idols as a new mom. I met her 6 years ago when my oldest participated in her first Camp Tutu. What a magical production that was! Cara paid attention to every detail from the real life princess appearance to the different theme each week, the girls experienced five days of fairytale enchantment! Two birthday parties, a handful of weeks at Camp Tutu and Camp Diva, and endless hours at Childwatch, Cara Viers became threaded through my daily mom routine. I have always been so impressed with her passion for little princesses, her love of her career and overall positive outlook on life in general. She literally lights up a room every time she enters it!

Let’s meet Smarty Cara!

As a mom of two and a successful business woman, what are your best tips as to how to balance it all, which you seem to do so well?
I don’t really balance it well at all. I always wish that I either did not have to sleep, or that there were more hours in a day (especially since I really love sleeping!). I am always juggling many tasks and don’t always feel like any of them get my full attention. However, I know that I like to be busy, I love my kids and my husband and I am driven to work and be successful. The price for this is to be busy and I spend all my time prioritizing what needs my attention first and the most. I have decided that I have to accept the fact that I will not get everything done perfectly or tied up into a nice pretty package at the end of every day, although I wish for this all the time. I try to be there for everyone that needs me and I spend alot of time apologizing to those I do not get too. When it is all done, I just want to make a small difference in this world and to be a great example for my kids.

As our Smarties are reading this, you will be twirling around the Harris Y putting on your amazingly enchanted “A Princess Breakfast.” What inspired you to put on this special treat for Charlotte princesses-in-the-making?
I love Disney! We go every year, sometimes twice! I am running a Disney Half Marathon in March and we are avid Disney Pin collectors as a family (we have more then 500 pins!). I love all my little sweet ballerinas and I wanted them to have a special opportunity to be treated like a princess without leaving Charlotte. I love to see them smile and hear them laugh and this event does that for them and their mommy or daddy. It creates a special memory of time together and makes them so happy at the same time. I walk on cloud nine when I can give these children a special experience like this and serve them in this unique and creative way.

We often refer to you as the “Diva of the Harris Y!” Tell us about your latest runway project, “Rock the Runway” on Saturday, 11/14.
I am so excited about this project! My husband Jason and I own a salon here in Charlotte named Salon 42. I wanted to bring that passion for my husband and our business together with my love for the YMCA and the efforts that I spend in raising money for our Community Outreach Programs. On November 14, we will host a first time ever Fashion Show right in the Gym of the Harris YMCA. The tickets are $25 and all proceeds will go to benefiting children in our Starfish Literacy Program and families at the McCrorey YMCA so that they can have opportunities and experiences like everyone else. Partnering with Salon 42 for the hair and Old Navy, Banana Republic and Asana for the clothes, we are going to literally Rock the Runway here in Charlotte! Nothing but Noodles is generously providing the food and we have an amazing silent auction of items to choose from, this will be great Christmas shopping! I hope that people will join us to see real life people modeling everyday, wearable clothes while raising money for a great cause. Tickets are available at Salon 42 and at Harris and Harris Express YMCA’s.

Favorite family-activity in Charlotte?
We love to Letterbox (Smarties, this topic seems worthy of it’s own blog – stay tuned…)

Favorite kids-activity?
Still Letterboxing!

Favorite mommy-time activity in Charlotte?
I love Shopping!

Favorite place to take the whole fam to dinner?
Mexican Food all the way!

Minivan or SUV?
Totally SUV!

Favorite date-night spot?
We are so lame, we love to hang at home together when we actually get the time.

Favorite lunch spot with your girlfriends?
what girlfriends? (teasing…)-love Bronte Bistro in Joseph Beth Bookstore.

Favorite GNO outing?
Movies

Favorite place to get a birthday cake/treat?
Edible Art, Y-U-M!

Best birthday party you’ve attended/hosted?
Every party is the best! I love to celebrate with everyone and to see the birthday person smile…birthdays are the most special holiday of the year!

Best book you’ve read lately?
Loved the Glass Castle.

Funniest thing your children have ever said to you?
My kids were little and discussing my son’s kindergarten love. My daughter (big second grader at the time) was providing him advice as to how to impress her. He became frustrated and threw his hand up and exclaimed, “It is never going to work, I am a scribble scrabbler and she colors in the lines!”

Favorite CSP blog this far?
All of them, really!

Smartiest way you save $?
Coupons at the grocery store. I love it when the manager has to come and over ride the transaction because it was too much money discounted! I usually shout whohoo!!! when this happens.

I could not live without my…
…cell phone, sad as it is, it is the only way to stay in touch with all I have going on!

Thanks, Cara and best of luck with your super Smarty endeavors! See you next week at Rock the Runway!