Scheananigans with Scheana Shay - The Sis Kiss with Megan Divincenzo

Episode Date: August 26, 2022

This week Scheana sits down with former trial attorney and founder of The Sis Kiss, Megan Divincenzo. They talk all about how Megan started the brand with her sister in their basement and turned it into a massive success. What was the turning point that made her leave law and follow her passion? Tune in to find out!    Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. From Vanderpump Rules to Motherhood and everywhere in between, it's time to catch up with Sheena Shea. This is Shenanigans. And now here's your host, Sheena Shea. Hello everyone, welcome back to Shenanigans. We are chilling in studio. I have the gorgeous founder of the Sisqus Jewelry, former trial attorney, Megan DiVincenzo. I got it. I got it. I was like, all right, is it DiVincenzo? Is it DiVincenzo? My name, Sheena, is spelled S-C-H-E-A-N-A. So my whole life it's been getting messed up.

Yes. Sheena. Yeah. Sheena. Sheena. Even my wedding planner right now, her fiance, they have a business together and he still calls me Sheena. Really?

I haven't even really corrected him because I feel like he just kind of has the twang and like, we've already been to Mexico twice together. It's done. You can't go back now. So I'm like, I'm just Shana to him. Well, you nailed it. And everybody asked. So Deven Senzo.

There you go. That's so cool. It's funny because my maiden name is DeSenzo. Oh, no way. I know. So you would have asked that too. That's crazy. Yeah.

And we're from the same hometown. So it's like. Wow. Yeah. It's people just always assumed we were cousins growing up because I was the son. So he was Steven's son. So, but obviously we're not. Oh, that's so funny. Yeah. Okay. So tell me about where you grew up. I want to know, did you have an Elle Woods moment when you went to law school? Like kind of walk me through. Yes. From then to now. And then I have

so many questions. Okay, perfect. I grew up in Warren, Ohio, which is like a suburb of Cleveland. Okay. And we live in Cleveland now. So we didn't move too far. And I guess I always thought I wanted to be a lawyer. My mom had always said that she wished she went to law school. So she never pushed me, but I feel like I heard that a lot. Yeah. I was also a very talkative kid, a very like always like trying to get in your face, like look at me. I can totally relate. Yeah.

And I'm a Leo. So it just like comes in my nature. And I was very argumentative, but not to be like mean, but just very good at it. Like you said the sky was green. I'm going to explain why it's purple. And I'd probably get you to believe it. So it just seemed in my nature. And then after I graduated, I went to law school and I loved law school. And I 100% had an Al Woods situation. I always was the girl in court in my red heels. I love that. I had purple

nails, black nails, like big hoops. And I did criminal defense. So I was one of the only women attorneys usually in court or in jails because it's it was pretty much male dominated field. So I did stick out. I had leopard print suits. I love that. And obviously I'm still pretty like pretty eccentric. Oh, thank you. Yeah, you're just you're pretty. Yeah. Thank you. I'm just older now and in the jewelry business. I love it. So yeah, I did have an outwards moment. But I did love everyone I came across along the way, even though many people were very different.

I really loved it. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. So when I got here today, y'all were set up in the conference room making forever bracelets. Yes. Okay. So I want to talk about Forever Bracelets, but before I want to

see, when did you decide to transition from trial attorney, I mean, criminal defense, and now you're making jewelry. Yes. So I, I was a trial, well, I was a criminal defense attorney and my sister was a teacher. Okay. And we both did that time. And we both have tiny, tiny wrists. So we were trying to like figure out how to do bangles. And every time we'd put them on, they'd fall off. So literally, we were both just in our own little lives, doing our own little jobs. And I was like, this is so frustrating. Like, I just want to buy a pretty wire wrap bracelet and they fall off our wrist. So she's super perfectionist and crafty and like so like she always like did everything so perfect. I'm like, you could totally make us

one of these. So she literally like went to Michael's and bought like all the wire and beads and like started making them just for her and I. And then my mom was like, well, hi, I want one. So we'd measure my mom's wrist and my sister would make my mom one. And then her friends wanted some and literally it happened just like that. But that's not why I quit law. So I was still practicing and she was still a teacher. And this was just a side hustle. It wasn't even on purpose. It was just something that I could tell lit my fire. How old were you when you started this side hustle? I'm so bad at things like this, but I swear it was like, my son was like two and he's 12 now.

So it's about 10 years ago. Awesome. And oh God, I'm sorry. I'm like trying to think of like how long ago was that? And then I lost my train of thought. And no, I don't. I just don't want to bore your audience with my backstory. No, no.

I love to hear a good backstory. I was doing this as a side hustle. And at the same time, I was having mental anxiety and depression, like with my job at court and leaving my son at daycare when he was like crying. Like it just all kind of boom. And then it just like I loved my job until I didn't and I didn't anymore. And it like was majorly affecting my mental health. And it was noticeable. And so finally, my husband's like, you need to quit. And so I

literally just like quit. Like I didn't walk in there and just like give it up because obviously when you're an attorney, you have people that rely on you. So I made sure like I gave a date so I could help complete their cases. And then I walked away and never looked back. But there was some time after that, that I like was not well, like I was mentally a different person. I was having anxiety. I had major depression. So I wasn't doing a ciscous. Like I was mentally a different person. I was having anxiety. I had major depression. So I wasn't doing a cyst kiss either. I was just kind of focusing on my mental health. And then I think I got on the proper medication. I talked to the proper people and I started coming out of it slowly. And I had the cyst kiss on the side. So it kind of like

coincided well together. Okay. It's like I had my mental breakdown, but yeah, when I was ready, I had this little hobby that made me super happy. And it was like there for me when I was ready to come back. Yeah. So that's literally what happened. And we got so busy making the bracelets that I had to start manufacturing them because there was no way she could keep up with making them. So I found manufacturers and then we couldn't keep up with shipping either. So I had to figure out hiring employees. And so literally here we are today. Wow. That's awesome. Yes. One of the things I was going to ask were what are some of the things you did while struggling with your mental health? So like

therapy and the right medication. I feel like I was the opposite of, you hear a lot of people say that they didn't tell anybody or they didn't know who to reach out to. I feel like I was the opposite. Like I felt so unlike myself that I was like screaming for help. And thankfully my husband is like the most supportive person. And he was like, something is not right with you. What's going on? Let's figure this out. My dad and my mom came and stayed with me. You know, they helped get's figure this out. My dad and my mom came and stayed with me. You know, they helped get me on proper medication. I remember my dad like cutting up my Zoloft to make sure I was taking the proper dosage. And I had friends like come over and they're like,

you need to get up. Like, and so I think I tried everything. And I honestly think something, I'm obviously not a doctor, but there was something going on chemically that I couldn't fix on my own. And I feel like once I, you know, figured out some of my hormonal problems and also started on my medication and also was talking to friends, my husband and a therapist, I feel like it all started to slowly come back. Yeah. And then I started to feel more like myself each and every day. But it was a dark place. And I feel like people don't talk about it. And then I started to feel more like myself each and every day. But it was a dark place. And I feel like people don't talk about it. And I'm always preaching, especially to new moms, because I also suffered postpartum after my second. And it's like scary because it's not

you. And you're like, why do I feel like this? Yeah. And I just feel like on social media, everybody posts like the happy stuff. Right. Totally. That's why social media is fake. I know. And I was just like, yo, how is this happy for you? It was like so traumatic for me. Yeah. And that was again, because when I was pregnant, I went off my meds because I didn't want anything to happen to her. Yeah. I did the same thing. And then it's like, boom, you have a baby and it's like your hormones are crazy. Crazy. And the funny thing is I felt it coming because I had had it prior the eight years prior. It's like, I was fine until I gave birth. And then it was like slowly creeping when I was in

the hospital and I felt it. And I even said it to my husband, I can feel it like babe. And it's like, here's this baby that really, really needs you, who you really, really love, but you can't understand why you feel the way you feel. So, of course, I called my doctor immediately and she put me on different doses so we could figure it out. And then I slowly became myself again. So I'm a big advocate of that might not work for anybody else, like the medication or the route that you want to take.

Actually, I'm seeing a holistic doctor now because we're trying to wean myself off because I really do want to do things holistically. Yeah. I'm super into my wellness now that I'm getting older. And I feel like that has so much to do with my mental health too, because when I focus on my wellness, you can't focus on the negatives. Like it's almost just like out of your brain because you're so focused on like the things that make you feel good and then, and the things that you're eating that make you feel good and then and the things that you're eating that make you feel good so I feel like I'm at a really good place so I love that you are advocating and you're speaking about this out loud you know because especially with so many new moms and with women whether it's you know miscarriage postpartum depression all of those

really hard topics I feel like it is so easy to just hide behind a happy photo and then everyone thinks, oh my God, her life's perfect. But people really do have those struggles. So I commend you for being open about that because it's not easy to talk about the hard stuff publicly. Well, and I also feel kind of lucky that obviously when I had my son, he's 12 now, there wasn't the Instagram that there is now. That's so true. Yeah. It was like he posted on Facebook. Yeah.

Like, welcome to the world, Leo Michael. And that was that. Right, and that was it. Yeah. And then when I had my daughter, I was not as involved in the jewelry space. So it wasn't like anyone was waiting for me to post about it on social media. So I never, so it's like, I don't want to like put out there. I never felt the pressure to have to.

Yeah. Whereas maybe now it would get more attention. Definitely. But I would hope that I would handle it the same way because I feel like mental health is so important and I don't know why it's shameful. It really is. I mean, if you aren't the best version of yourself, like how can you be the best mother to your child? You have to take care of yourself and your mental health and your well-being. It is so important.

And it's so easy, I feel like, sometimes to get lost and to not. And you put, you know, your family and everyone else first. But if you're not taking care of yourself, you're not going to be the best version of yourself. I even find that a lot, trying to explain that when people ask, like, how do you work every day all day? Like, don't you want to stay? I don't mean, nobody really comes at me in a mean way, but you get like kind of some comments like, like I'm a stay at home mom or did you, would you prefer? And I just think this makes me the happiest and it makes me a better mom. And that's important. And that's, I tried staying home after

I quit law and it just, it made me feel even more miserable because it wasn't who I was. Yeah. My mom was a stay at home mom. She was an amazing mom. I had an amazing childhood. I have so many friends who are stay at home moms. It's so commendable. I couldn't do it.

It is such a hard job. I feel you. So I feel you. I think if that's what makes you tick, that's going to make you a better mom. And this is what makes me tick. And this makes me a better mom. And the fact that I'm an entrepreneur and I own my own business, I have my own warehouse where the kids have their own room there and my employees treat them like gold. How much better can it get? They can come every day after school. Yeah. They it's it's like they walk in the door and it's like I've

already had a full day of work, but now I get to see them, too. And it's just like I always say I'm happy driving into the warehouse after leaving them at school. Yeah. But I'm also happy driving home because I just spent all day being so productive, so creative. It's like I feel so lucky. Yeah. No. Good for you. That's amazing. I mean, you started this in a basement, right? Yes. Like a basement and like a side office and a garage. She's got me from like the Midwest. If this started in a basement, we don't have basements out here.

You're like, wait a minute. I don't know the story, but I bet. Yeah. So I want to hear this story because you hear that and it sounds like it's like a cliche thing. You're like, oh, in your parents' basement. It does. But a lot of things do, in your parents' basement. It does. But a lot of things do start in people's basements.

It actually started on a pizza box. No. I'm not even lying. My sister and I were sitting at my parents' house and my dad's like, let's write out the details of this business. Yeah. Literally, he wrote because, of course, we had pizza. So he wrote it on top of a pizza box.

And I'm like, do they still have that? I got to find it. Right. Yeah. They probably saved it. I don't know. My mom's like a clean freak. I can't imagine her saving a pizza box. Maybe it's tucked away somewhere. The sad thing is I say this a lot and I'm like, why haven't I asked them? Right. You need to just ask. I'll call them when we're done. Yeah. So that started like that. And then literally boxes like you couldn't close my garage. Wow. Like to the point where my UPS guy was like,

does your husband know you're doing this? I'm like, yeah, I think he knows. Yo, I'm like, what? And then like when I got the warehouse, I feel like the male people in my, you know, my neighborhood, they were like cheering. They're like, thank God because it's somebody else's territory. Oh, that's funny. So we couldn't get the cars in the garage. Finally, my neighbor came over. She was my first employee. She came over to help me carry boxes. Wow. That's how I got my first employee. She was walking her dog and she was like, do you need help with all those boxes? And I was like, no, like, you know, go. Yeah. I'm so stubborn. And then she was like, just let me help you, Meg. And then she never left. And she's still with me today. No way. And her sister works with me.

And their old neighbor works with me. So how many employees do you have now? There's nine. Nice. Yes. That's awesome. No, and they're so amazing. And I always say they always do everything that I don't do well.

Yeah. It's awesome that you've had them from the beginning, too, because you know they're loyal. Yes. And loyalty is like everything. I mean, just as much as I feel like they would hope the same from me. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you've got your warehouse now. Yes. So walk me through what is the day to day of Megan's life? You wake up, you take your kids to school, you go to the warehouse, like what, what's your day like? You want micro, real micro here. I get up really early and I talk to my manufacturers every day. It's non-negotiable, like 5.30 AM. Wow. My husband brings me coffee in bed. It's like, I like to say it on podcasts and people think I'm like spoiled. And yes, I am. But it's almost like

this cute little thing that we do. It's like a love language. I love that. He's always up before me. So I text him when I open my eyes and he brings me coffee. My husband does the same thing. I think you should like, I don't understand. You should demand that ladies. That's how you should be treated. Get your fucking coffee from your man. And then I speak with my manufacturers because the house is so quiet. It's like, you know, my team's probably not up yet on the chat. My kids are still sleeping. My husband's working downstairs. He's also very, you know, he's a hard, hard worker. I love that time to myself. And then sometimes I meditate. I try. Sometimes I like read a chapter of a book. Sometimes I write in my gratitude journal, but I always try to do like one of those things for five to 10 minutes. Yeah. Because if I say I'm going to do more, it just makes me feel guilty if I don't do it. So and then I always go to the gym and then I

go to the warehouse. Yes. I drop my daughter off on the way to the gym and my son takes the bus. Yeah. They're taken care of. And my husband shares a lot of that duties. He's a very hands on dad, which allows me to be a very hands on CEO Yeah. Like, seriously. That's so amazing. To have a supportive partner is so important. It's everything. Yeah, it really is. Because what if you didn't? And somebody was always like, are you going to come home and make dinner?

Yeah. You'd always feel this whole like, I got to go, but yet I'm not done here. He is, well, first of all, I don't make dinner. I did once in 2006, stuffed peppers. And that was, he was like. And that once in 2006 stuffed peppers and that was he was like that was it that was it never he was like no he likes to cook and he likes to go to grocery stores so I'm very blessed in that department but even if I didn't if if I did cook he's not that kind

of guy that'd be like yeah are you coming home yeah like he's the one like go girl I got this I feel like we're married to the same person. Like Brock is the exact same way. Like he will encourage me to go out to do stuff. Even today he was like, honey, did you need a co-host? Do you want me? I was like, I mean, it's going to be like two girls chatting about jewelry and you know, like her life. I was like, if you want it, he's like, well, I'm a founder and you know, she's a founder. He's like, I can do it with you.

And I was like, I was like, sure, come do it. And he's like, no, it's okay. Like, cause at first I was like, I mean, I don't know. I love that. Yeah. But he's so important. And I never take that for granted. Yeah. And like traveling, like he's like, it's okay. I got the kids. Like you have to go do this opportunity always. Like I cannot remember a time that he held me back. Of course it's also fun when they can join you a hundred percent, but you know, when you have a kid, you almost have to like split duties or make sure it's like, I hate to call it a duty, but they have to be taken care of and taken to hockey and all of the things. I know. I mean, I'm already thinking about,

we have to get her on a fucking wait list for preschool. Apparently I'm like, she just started walking a couple months ago. I have to think about preschool. I know. I just got my daughter into kindergarten and they're like, you didn't upload this. And then it's like, wait, you forgot this. And I'm like, oh my God, it's so many forms. Yeah. Oh God. And I'm not like detail oriented. Good. Like that. It like blows my head when there's too much. I'm like, I hope she's in kindergarten. I just pass it off to like my mom or sister. I'm like, I need you to do this for me. A hundred percent. It's what they're good at. Yeah. Yeah. You should focus on the things that you're good at. They were my first employees.

Were they? Do they still work with you? Yeah. I love that. They're amazing. Just like keep it in the family. And then my sister's boyfriend, he does all of my video editing for YouTube and Patreon. That's amazing. So he's a keeper. Yeah. Can't get rid of him. I know. I said, I was like, if you guys ever break up, we're keeping him. You get dubs. He's in the family. You should put him in a contract. Right? I know we should have. You should, for sure. Love that.

Okay, so when you get to the warehouse, are you making all the jewelry in the warehouse? Do you guys outsource? Is this where you're shipping from? Right, it's shipping and receiving. Then we created the front of the warehouse to be a retail space. So people come and shop. Yep, they get their Forever bracelets. They make appointments. Yeah. We have so many events there. It's so fun. It's, it's, it's everything. Like it's designed exactly how I pictured it in my mind,

you know, that you'd want to go to work. It sounds like the dream. You have to come. I mean, you went to law school. I would love to. Yeah. We'll have you over. Yeah. That would be so fun. We would love that. You did law school and now you're doing jewelry. You're a mom. You have an amazing husband. You get to go to work, live your best life and come home and have your family. Like that literally is the dream. And my dog comes with me every day.

Oh my God. I forgot that best part. You have it all. People come to see her. She's the queen. I love that. Yeah. She's our rescue pit mix.

Yeah. And she's the queen. Oh my God. She's living her best life. Hell yeah. She is. No, I'm living rescue pit mix. And she's the queen. Oh my God. She's living her best life. Hell yeah, she is. No, I'm living my best life. You both are. Yes. Living it together. I think if you can take your dog to work, you've made it. Yeah. That's like 100%. Right?

And then it's just like, what? I have to get a jet next. That's next, yeah. But then what's next? A bigger jet. It's like the Kylie. Did you see her Instagram post? Are we taking your jet or mine? Oh, my God.

And I was like, OK. Yeah. Yeah. Then you both decisions. So that's what's next. Yeah. I love that. Yeah.

OK. So before we go into what's next in the jet, what's now the forever bracelet? So I just saw those being put on. Yes. So tell me about the forever bracelet, where the idea came from, and is that exactly what it is? It's like a forever you don't take it off. Well, we were joking before you showed up that it's forever, you know, like marriage.

Yeah. Kind of. Forever, like kind of. So what it is, is we kind of, no, we don't kind of, we wound it on your wrist. It's like a very small zap that you don't feel. And it's like a little. I saw that. Yes.

And then she had glasses on. I was like, wait, I just looked at that. Was I supposed to have glasses on? No, you're okay. I think because she does so many, she just wants to keep her eyes protected. No, the girl getting it had the glasses on. Oh, well, we want to be safe. I don't need any lawsuits.

I just looked at that. Okay. Well, so it doesn't have a clasp.. I don't need any lawsuits. I just looked at that. Okay. Well, so it doesn't have a clasp. So you don't. Right. Yeah. That's what I noticed. And I was like, wait, how is it going to close?

And I thought she was going to stick it in the thing. And then I say it's like not forever if you don't want it to be because let's say you have a surgery and you have to take it off. Right. You have to cut it. Okay. But we can reweld it. Yeah.

So those have been a very amazing hit because people like an experience. And I try to always do something with my brand that's not just selling jewelry. I've never seen anything like that before. We are so surprised to hear that when we've come out here. Yeah. It's like more of an East Coast thing. I have a forever nose ring. Well, okay.

But that hurt. Yeah. So, I mean, I had it pierced for, God, I don't know, like maybe 12 years. And then it was just a stud, like a little diamond stud. But then when I got the ring, whenever I've gone to certain appointments or the dentist, they're like, oh, can you take that out? I'm like, I actually can't. It's like welded.

Can't they just put something over that? I mean, they have because I'm not taking it out for the last five years. But it is like your forever bracelet. They do well that. I mean, however they do it at the tattoo shop, they put it in. I can't take it out. It's not like I can just like bend it open. It has to be professionally removed. I didn't realize that. Yeah.

Okay. Well, it's like your nose ring. Yeah. Okay. Maybe we should start doing that. You could. Andrew's gonna kill me. I mean. We'll go tell her when we're done. Yeah. Now you're doing noses. Forever noses. Forever noses. I love it. I love it. No, but it's cute. Did that hurt? It feels like it would like sting. It was so long ago. Honestly, I don't recall.

I did have to get my belly button re-pierced though after baby. So that was more recent. It didn't feel great. It kind of more than it hurt. It just made me feel a little sick. Yeah. Like I don't like when you have to clean your belly button. I'm like, no, I don't want it in it. Because it's like that little sensitive.

Yeah, but it's just right there. But once they put the bar back in, I felt like me again. I hadn't lost all the weight. I still had the saggy skin and whatnot, but I just felt like me. Now we get it. Again, that changed everything for me and my confidence. I was like, oh, it's back. I'm back, bitches. I'm back.

So do you do belly button brings? No. You are giving us. I'm giving you ideas. I know. I'm going to write things down. Yeah. So you started with bracelets.

The Forever bracelets, yes, we started with. And we can do rings and inklets too. Yeah, I know. I'm wearing the ring right now that I have. And I'm also wearing my personalized Sheena rose gold hoop. I was going to say you got rose gold. Yeah. I love it.

So I'm totally mixing metals right now. You're supposed to. Yeah. So I've got the silver and, you know, whatever this is, white gold on my hands. I've got the yellow gold and then I've got the rose gold. I love your necklace. Thank you. Everything looks so good.

Thanks. You're welcome. You have so many cute pieces. When I was looking through, I had to have my sister help me pick out what I wanted to order because I'm like, where do I start? I'm not a huge jewelry person. I wear my staple pieces and I like things thin and dainty and simple. And you have so many dainty pieces and so many customized pieces.

We do. Actually, we're trying to clean up the website. Oh. Yeah. My marketing team's like, this is slowing everything down. It's like not user-friendly and it's really hard for me because it's almost like they're your babies. Yeah. And actually today while we were traveling, my brand manager sent like a huge list of things they're going to X. And I was like, somebody else needs to approve this list because I think I'm too close to

the situation. Yeah. So I put it on one of my girls to help me with that. It is funny because we do have a lot of customized. The reason is because I'm psycho and I'm always thinking of something new. Like I'm the creative and it like keeps me up at night. Like what's next? What's new? So that's my fault.

You sound like my husband in that sense. It's bad though, because it does create a bad user experience. Because there's too many choices. When there's too many choices, you don't choose one. Interesting. Yeah. You abandon Carter. No, I do wish he was here.

This would help him with his business. I mean, we can come back. Don't worry. No, you guys are going to come to Cleveland. I mean, you're just getting married. I know. You're not doing anything. Totally. Yeah. No big deal. But listen, I listened to your episode with the medium. We can be your collab. Oh my God. Your product collab. You did say that in the fall. I was like, Cleveland. Hello. Wait, I love this. You should honeymoon in Cleveland.

Cleveland, hello. Wait, I love this. You should honeymoon in Cleveland. Yeah. I can't even say it without laughing. We will welcome you. Just don't come in the winter. I'm like, have I?

No, I don't think I've been to Cleveland. I've been to, where did I have to fly into? Cincinnati to then go to Kentucky. So I've been to Cincinnati. It's like a different world. I have friends from Columbus. Both beautiful. I went to school in Cincinnati.

Okay. For college. I remember Khloe Kardashian saying she loved Cleveland though. She visited often. Yeah. But take her back. I mean, who wouldn't take her? We'll take her back. Yeah.

We won't take him back. No. He's gone. Yeah. But we will take her back. Agreed. Khloe, if you're listening, you can come to Cleveland again. Yes.

Yes. We're going to have a collab with a product. Yeah. Per the medium. Yes. So what was the reasoning behind why you wanted to do so many different customized pieces? Because I feel like we hit it big with our custom name necklace. We were kind of trucking along like very side hustle.

Very. I was wholesaling a lot. I was actually wholesaling a lot of bags. Like I designed a lot of leopard print stuff. And then Loverly Gray, she's an influencer. We sent her one of our first custom necklaces. And I didn't even know that she like put it on and posted. And literally our phone went wild.

And that was the first time I had ever experienced like an influencer. She put on her stories like, oh my God, I just got home from vacation and look at this name necklace. And she was about to have a baby. And it was the name. It was the name of the baby. Yeah. Oh my God. Like the response was ridiculous. And literally we've been like, I always credit Brittany for everything because then it was like other influencers, you know, it's a snowball effect. than somebody else wants one or somebody else wants to work with us. And then we started having contracts and campaigns. And I don't know if I would have been where I was if somebody wouldn't have shown me that way. Yeah. Like I was pretty ignorant to that at the time. Yeah. Like just the amount of orders we got from that one post that many years ago. It's so influential.

That's amazing. So because that took off and literally my mind was like, well, everybody has it. Everybody already has it. So what's next? And my husband's like, babe, would you calm down? Like not everybody fucking has it. He's like, if everybody in this world owned your name necklace, we'd be off on like some island. But that's just my mentality is always like, what's next? So I've part of the reason I get up super early is I'm really creative in the morning. So I'm always trying to design with my vendor the next it thing. I mean, she made that an it necklace.

So it's like, what's next? Yeah. You don't want to be a one hit wonder. Yeah. So. Definitely. And we've definitely hit on a few others. I really like to be different.

I try to stand out. So I think. Do you design everything yourself? I try to stand out. So I think I'm- Do you design everything yourself? I try to design a lot of our pieces. I love that. Obviously, a lot of the pieces we have are what's trending. We also want to be on trend. And we also want to make sure, let's say you love our name necklace and you want something

to layer with it. We want to have so many of those options that you can create an everyday look paired with the custom necklace. So a lot of it is obviously pieces like that, but the custom pieces, that's my favorite thing to do is to design or to design an experience. Like last year we did advent calendars. So we literally made on brand advent calendars and every pocket was something about our brand. Like one was a leopard print on it. One was a lip. So then we stuffed each pocket with surprises. Oh, I love that.

So if you ordered it every day, you would pick out a new surprise. And our customers went wild. And I love that they liked having an experience. Like I love that. So I'm always trying to think of like not just selling jewelry. It's not selling jewelry to me no totally it's more than that it is and we just started a podcast and I heard I just did my first episode and I don't know girl really I was pretty shy and quiet no I know it was I think were you

in studio yes we built a studio it's called whatly Unprofessional. Wildly Unprofessional. Which is definitely me. I love that. But I was not very wild or unprofessional on my first episode. I was more like, shit, did the internet work? Shit, is my lipstick still on? Shit, can she hear us okay? Because it was via Zoom. And we did it with Loverly Gray.

See, but the thing with Zoom, it is hard. It's a different experience. I've been doing this four and a half years. And every Zoom podcast I have to do, I get anxiety. I'm like, is the sound going to be okay? Do I have the mic? Does she have headphones? Like all of that.

So I feel like you can't really base your first experience on Zoom. Right. I need to loosen up in the studio. A hundred percent. And once you start doing it more and you start talking and you get your flow. But I mean, it's not for everyone to just pick up right away. It is something you kind of have to learn. Yeah. Oh, completely. Yeah. Because it's not easy. No. I mean, sure. It sounds like you and I are having a conversation, but you are skilled at this. So you know what to ask and when.

But you know what I'm saying? You are doing so good. And of course, like the Skinny Confidential is one of my first. Oh my God. People after that, it's like it was hard for me to like launch. You know, it's like, shit, what would Lauren say? What would they ask next? And then it's like silence. So I'm going to. Well, that's the power of editing. Well, we'll work on that, too. I haven't. We can talk after. Yeah. We're going to get it. It'll be good. Yeah, definitely. But it's like, I think it'll be fun to listen back like in three years when we're wildly successful. It'll be fun to listen back to our first episode. Wildly successful and wildly unprofessional. That's right. That's me in a nutshell. I love that. Yeah. So who is your inspo? You have great style. I love all of the jewelry you make. I love your outfits. I love your hair.

Literally, you're gorgeous. Can I come here every day? Sure. Can you text me affirmations every morning? I would love to. Bitch, you look good today. You do. You will kill this day. Right when I walked in, I was like, oh my god, her hair is so cute. Thank you. Who's your inspo?

This just comes to you. Yeah, it's kind of my thing. Like I was talking about Dorit. I know this sounds like kind of off on a tangent, but you know how Dorit from the Real Housewives, her like vibe is not like an outfit. It's like art. A hundred percent. I'm always like putting together the entire, that's, that's fun for me. But people, it's funny. Cause like I'll spend time at home, like, okay, first you have to get the jacket, then you have to figure out the hair. And some people are like, oh my God, you're so bougie. But it's not that. It's just you put together, I'm the brand. Yeah. I can't be a hot mess. I mean, I am a hot mess. Trust me. But I'm saying, you know, you don't

buy into the hot messness. You want to see, I don't know. And this is my style. Like, I'm very edgy. And it's so funny because we did a daughter, like a mommy and daughter photo shoot the other day. Oh, so cute. Okay, stop. First, I wore like a lace white dress to match her. I was like, if anyone posts one of these fucking photos,

they were so ugly and I knew it. You know what I mean? Like, you know, like this isn't my style and I can't stand it. And I do. I hate the photos. Oh, I threw a leather jacket on the end. I'm like, OK, then there you go. You add your little Megan to it. And it's funny how you get to know like this is so not me. Right. So, yeah, I kind of just I mean, obviously we talked about Chloe. She actually is a huge inspo of mine. Like, I love how she can be edgy. Yeah. Glam. Yep. Always the big hoops. You got to have the hoops. You got to have the hoops. Yeah. I mean, I know. Thank God for the hoops. Yeah. I need the hoops that you're wearing too. When you said you like

thin jewelry, these go nowhere. Like these come everywhere with me. Yeah. So I have staple hoops that I've had for honestly, probably over five years. Of course. They're always in my purse. They go with me. I never leave home without them and they just broke and they're unfixable last week. When you come to Cleveland for your honeymoon and record my podcast, we'll give you a new pair of hoos. No, that would be so fun to come and see the warehouse. And bring Brock. And you guys can talk together. I would love that.

Yeah. I think him and I would head it off. Yeah. Hustlers. I definitely agree. He's going to get his app off. Yeah, for sure. I can't wait.

So I know you're also big with charities. Tell me about some of the charities you support. Well, I'm very much into dog rescue. I mean, that's like I live and die for my dog, obviously. And that's just the soft spot in my heart. I feel like we also donate to other charities like different parts of the month. We always have something else running. The dogs are just what do it for me.

We just hosted a dog event. So dogs that needed homes, we brought them on my warehouse and we got so many adopted I was like my heart was so full like yeah they peed and pooped all over the warehouse yeah but you know you got someone to come in and clean up yeah mission accomplished they found homes they did so that's kind of my I'm huge into that and I would that's what I want to do with my jet you fly and get the dogs and take them to farms and things like that. Everybody laughs at me when they said that they're not letting their dogs on the jet. I promise you I will do that. So, and we also give our customers

the option to donate. We always have charities listed at the checkout so they can choose what charity means a lot to them and a portion goes to every purchase. That's such an interesting element to add in. Yeah. What's the point if you can't give back? I mean, 100%. I don't know. I'd love to always give more and I hope we get to the point where we can do more as well. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Well, you're doing more. You're doing a podcast. You have so much amazing jewelry. What is next other than the podcast? Is there like a certain piece you're working on? Is there? I feel like my head is spinning like all the time. Yeah. To be really honest, and maybe some other entrepreneurs out there can like associate

with this. I really struggle with wanting to do it all and then really trying to focus on maybe two or three things and doing it like really well. It's really hard for me to do it all and then really trying to focus on maybe two or three things and doing it like really well. It's really hard for me to turn off that I want to do it all. And honestly, I'm trying to like meditate the summer and come down with, do you want to like focus on 6,000 things or do you want to do two things well? So with the podcast, I am going to try to focus on getting that up and running well because I don't want to launch something that's a piece of shit. And so we are going to really work on that. We have so many travels this summer. It's been really fun to travel with our Forever Bracelets. We're doing

more events. I hope to take it to New York Fashion Week. Christmas is always crazy for us. Oh, I bet. Like that's so big. And because everything's custom, our cutoff is earlier. So like if you wanted to give a gift, you'd want to order it probably by November. So you'd get it. Right. So we, Christmas starts really early for us. So we really try to like keep things hustling and bustling at the warehouse. And I try not to like stray.

But yeah, there's so many things going on. So it'll be perfect time for a collab for Christmas. That's what he said. Yeah, that's what he said. He's like, it's not filming. It's like a product collab. I was like, you're like, but TV, but also like no product. You're like, but TV. I know because I'm like, OK, any psychic or person could take an influencer and say you're going to have a product collab in the fall. I'm like, that's so fucking broad. But it's how we apply it. Exactly. Because in today I walk. I'm like, that's so fucking broad, dude. But it's how we apply it. Exactly. Because in today I walk.

I'm like, well, he said it's going to happen. He's a psychic. He did say fall. It does get chilly. Because you were like, well, I do like chilly evenings. Yeah. And I was like, it's real fucking cold in Cleveland. Yeah, I know.

She's going to be fucking freezing. We're going to get you some cute little outfits. Yeah, I do have some, actually. We'll bring them out. I have so many winter clothes here that I don't get to wear. That's sad. Because I love a coat. We have like the one snow trip. I do them out. I have so many winter clothes here that I don't get to wear. That's sad because I love a coat.

I do too. I have a whole closet of them that's just sitting in San Diego and then in Palm Springs and here in LA, I don't use any of them. Well, you did name your daughter Summer. Yeah. You like kind of manifested that you're pretty much a warm weather girl. She was conceived in the summer. I had her in the spring.

But she's Summer. She's Summer. I love it. Yeah. And congrats on your. But she's summer. She's summer. I love it. Yeah. And congrats on your new lashes. Thank you. How's that going for you? If I can turn the table.

So I'm wearing the moon style right now. It's going great. Good. Yeah. So we have three styles. We have the summer, the moon, and the honey. I don't know why. I guess I thought that my favorite would be everyone else's favorite, but it's not.

No. The summer lash has totally taken off as the favorite but I did I guess know that that one's kind of more for everyone not everyone loves a dramatic lash so I'm like well maybe I need to start wearing the summer ones more and just sell those out and then you know you'll figure it out I wear a lot of things that people don't buy from us like because they're too bold or too chunky. And the dainty pieces, like you mentioned, are our best sellers. Yeah.

For sure. Yeah. I love the dainty pieces. And I'm always trying to push the junk, chunky edge. Right. It's crazy. And my team's always like, Meg, stop. Like you already tried that.

And I'm like, where are my baddies? Yeah. So we joke that there's baddies versus classies. Hell yeah. And the classies always win. But I mean, honestly, the older I get, the more I'm like, this is too much. I'm starting to scare myself a little.

It's never too much. Keep the nails. Keep the hoops. I'm never going to get rid of the nails. Thank you. I love this. I love that we both came in with long ass nails. Do you ever get tired of people being like,

how do you do things with those? How do you wipe your ass? Why do you ask that? I'm like, I wipe mine and my daughter's just fine. I mean, even my new girl asked sometimes. Yeah. What? I know. I do just fine. I can't function without them. If I don't have nails, it feels like my fingertips are all cut off. A hundred percent. And COVID I cut, I like soaked them off. Well, I mean, we didn't have a choice. No, I was like begging my girl to come over and she was like, I cannot do that legally. And I was like, please. I felt like I had no fingers.

Yeah. It was like the first place I went. I know that sounds so vain, but I was like, hi. I know. Are you open yet? No, I finally did too. You had to. But it was like, you couldn't buy press-ons.

You couldn't buy anything. There was nothing. No, nothing. We have to have our nails. And even my son's like, why do you have to have your nails so long? Because you do. Why not? You know, you just do. It's who I am. It really is. It is a part

of me. I showed my husband a photo of me when I was 12. I'm like, do you see I still have the nails? What are you going to do for the wedding? Aren't you saying? I'm going to do a French tip, but still long. That'll be beautiful. They'll be like this. And you went dress shopping.

I did. Did you get a dress? I got a second dress. Oh, OK. Yeah. So I have two of my designer friends are actually going to be on the podcast soon. His name is Paul Atu. His husband is Patrik.

Amazing. And they are amazing. So they have designed me a custom gown it is I mean it's going to be gorgeous it's not even near done yet but then I wanted to have a shorter one for our after party soon it's yeah it's really soon so they're okay they're working on it getting it done but um yeah our I feel like you need to leave this podcast and go get ready. I have another fitting on Monday. Even when we scheduled this, I'm like, isn't that really close? Yeah.

Because originally I think I was in here in August. No, it was a week of wedding. That's a lot. I can't do that week. No. I can't do that week. I can do a lot, but not that. Yeah. So yeah, so I'm doing two dresses.

I love that. Yeah. We didn't have that when I got married. I mean, it wasn't a thing. Well, me either the first time I got married. I know, but I'm doing two dresses. I love that. Yeah. We didn't have that when I got married. I mean, it wasn't a thing. Well, me either. The first time I got married. I know, but I think I would, because I think I would enjoy the second dress better because I bet it's like edgier and flirtier and more fun.

See, and I feel like I'm going to like the first one more. Yeah. But the second one is going to be a short dress. Yeah. Because our after party is in a cenote and it's like in like the spa area of the hotel. Okay. And there's water and stuff and if someone's drunk

or the floor gets wet, I don't want my long gown. I don't want it getting stepped on. And you'll have pictures in both. Yeah. So it won't matter. And if you're more comfortable in the second,

you'll be able to dance. Totally. That's what I was thinking. Yeah. It's going to be amazing. Yeah. I'll be looking for the nails. Yes, definitely.

And I will be coming to Cleveland after the wedding. We're going to start a new trend. We got to do it. Honeymoon in Cleveland. Hell yeah. All right. We'll be waiting for you. And my daughter's middle names are Moon and Honey. I know. I love it. That's funny. I know. It's Moon Honey. And then you can conceive number two in Cleveland. Oh, my God. Let's do it. All right. Tell everyone, everyone please where they can find you. And you guys can use code Shay at checkout for 20% off at the syskiss.com and follow the syskiss on Instagram. Yep, they're just the syskiss on everything, TikTok and Instagram, Facebook, and then www.thesyskiss.com. Hell yeah. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so

much. And I will be posting my jewelry. So be on the. Hell yeah. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much. And I will be posting my jewelry. So be on the lookout for that. Thank you. Thanks for listening, guys. Bye. Thanks for listening to Shenanigans with Sheena Shea. Download new episodes every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.