Smarty Shannon Blair recently treated herself to a day at Mood House spa for a massage and a well-needed dose of self-care. Read all about her experience and impressions of one of Charlotte’s newest and trendiest spots to get a massage and a reboot. And read on for her sit-down interview with Mood House founder Cristina Wilson, Smarty mom and kickin’ new business owner. – Smarty Carroll
Q. What gave you the courage and motivation to start your own business?
A. Once I decide on something – for better or worse – I can’t let it go! Once the concept gripped me, I knew I would have regrets if I didn’t go for it. I had faith in myself that even if my initial ideas weren’t perfect, I would keep refining them until I got it right.
Q. Which strategies helped you actualize your vision into the operation Mood House is today?
A. Collaboration is one of my core values as an individual and that absolutely made the journey to opening exciting and enjoyable – working on the brand design, working with our architect and interior team, hiring our first lead therapist to refine the service concept. That’s what made it fun then and still now. I don’t feel like I’m on an island.
Q. How do you harmonize life as a business owner and parent?
A. We are grateful to have so much family support – a big reason we decided to plant our roots in Charlotte – and that makes this life possible in many ways, especially with COVID. I’ve really accepted that a lot of social activities or hobbies are not priorities in this season and I put my immediate family, work, and sleep first above everything else.
Q. In what other ways do you practice self care –– besides Mood House services, of course?
A. After the first few months of “putting out fires” mode with a startup, I knew I needed to get back to a fitness routine that was time-efficient and also kept me accountable. I started working with Lemonade Fit to make sure I did not let exercise take a back seat and I’m so glad I did!
Q. Any “Smarty” tips for first-time visitors to Mood House?
A. “Calm” is a fan-favorite mood, but don’t be afraid to try one of our other mood profiles. All of our sessions are super relaxing, but my personal favorite is Clear. It’s all about intention setting and getting clarity on your vision. I always feel so refreshed and inspired after a Clear massage.
Q. Are there any special offers just for our CSP readers?
A. Charlotte Smarty Pants readers can book their first massage (new clients) as a member with a personal invitation from me. If they include “Cristina’s guest” in the appointment notes, our front desk team will know to honor the member rate for them. Happy Valentine’s!
