Whitney Rife | The Blog

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

We're ENGAGED!!!

"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew." -William Shakespeare

First off to my Fiancé,

Thank you for making me the happiest I have ever been, and happier than I ever dreamed I could be.

I never dreamed that I would find someone who challenged me to see the world in the way you do; a man who makes me laugh and love with abandon. I didn't believe that I could find a man who would remind me every single day to dream bigger, to work harder, and to open my heart to the possibilities of this beautiful life. I never realized that I could love anyone as much as I love you.

Shawn, you are the reason that I fight so incredibly hard to be the best person that I can be. You have breathed life and inspiration into this little piece of the universe, my world, and have made me even prouder of the woman I am today, because I am so loved by the incredible man you are. I promise to inspire you the way you inspire me, to lift you up when you falter, to always make weird squirrel noises, and forever eat Athens Super Subs with you, as long as you will eat Jimmy-Z Hibachi with me.

I promise to be your best friend, forever girlfriend, faithful wife, and the most amazing mother to our one day children, as I know you will be THE best father. I cannot wait to have sons just like YOU and look forward to the day of telling our daughter to fairy tales DO come true.

Thank you for loving my family as much as you love me, and including them on our special engagement.

I am your honored to be your “Last Mate,” and will never quit falling in love with you.

I absolutely CANNOT wait to be married to YOU!

With love, hugs, kisses… And the promise of a lifetime together,

Your ~~Rife~~ future Wife!

Now to our "Real Life" Fairytale...

Every girl (whether they admit it or not) dreams of the day their price charming will get down on one knee and ask her to marry him. “What will I be wearing (okay, maybe I only thought of this but…), where will it be, what color will my nails be painted, what will he say, who will be there…” On Saturday, December 10th, everything I ever dreamed my engagement to be, came true and far surpassed anything I could have ever imagined.

Last Friday I was supposed to fly to Myrtle Beach for Shawn’s company Christmas party (he had put it in our shared calendar months ago). I wasn't really sure what to wear so thankfully I took a few different options. My car had been in Myrtle Beach since Thanksgiving so my mom had to take me to the airport. My flight was at 10 AM and we had about a 2 hour drive, so she picked me up at my apartment around 7:30 AM. She was certainly in no rush but I was because I still had to run to the store to grab my headphones. She finally got to my apartment and must have told me 50 times it was cold, I needed a jacket. It was snowing, so I was already wearing a thick sweater and Sorel fur boots so I was like, uh…no I don’t. No way I can take a suit case, rolling carry-on, my purse, computer bag, make up bag, AND carry a jacket trying to get from one terminal to the other in Atlanta airport, and I was already DYING of heat. So I told her 51 times I was not taking a jacket. Little did I know, I would NOT be flying to Myrtle Beach.

On the way to the airport, I took a screenshot of an Instagram post posted by Wedded Wonderland and it read “I need a upper east side Manhattan Gossip girl type of excitement in my life.” (Still having NO clue what was about to happen) We got to the airport around 9:30 AM and I was dying to go to the restroom, I had checked in the night before so we decided to “go on to the restroom” instead of checking my bags. I was almost passed the Delta counter and all of the sudden jumps SHAWN BECKER jumps out from behind a big red Delta sign holding a handmade sign that said “NEW YORK?” (A little back information on the love of signs for us…the very first time Shawn told me he loved me, I had flown to Myrtle Beach and when I got off the plane he was holding a sign that said “Ms. Rife” and when he flipped it over it said “I love you!”) So for him to hold a sign that said “NEW YORK?” I was in total shock and loved it SO much. I shouted “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” I was SO confused and then came the MILLION questions, “What about your Christmas Party, How did you get here, We are going to New York?! What do I do about my flight, I’ve already checked in?!” I looked at my mom and she was tearing up and then from behind a pole came my brother filming my reaction, then the UGLY cry started. I was SO excited as NYC is my FAVORITE place on earth, and at Christmas time, I was ecstatic to go with Shawn. I became a little worried because I was like “I SERIOUSLY ONLY BROUGHT LOUNGE CLOTHES AND A COUPLE OUTFITS FOR YOUR PARTY, I am going to FREEZE!” But he assured me we could go shopping. As my dad would say, “she’ll find any excuse to go shopping,” haha.

Our flight to New York left at 11 AM so I had a few minutes to take it all in and ask even more questions, starting with “well what are we going to do?!” He knows I LOVE the Lion King play so he got tickets for us to go see the play that night and we’d finish our day off with dinner at Del Friscos. There, I saw a woman wearing a ring that I thought was beautiful, I said “babe, 50 years from now I will take that ring.” He laughed and said “maybe we will have to go shopping for rings and you can show me what you really like.” So this COMPLETELY through me off. We were both pretty tired (as Shawn drove to Tazewell the day before to stay with my parents so my brother could get him to the airport before me) so after the play and dinner we called it a night.

We woke up on Saturday and everything seemed pretty normal, other than I wanted to go to 5th Avenue to do some shopping. Struggling to find something to wear, Shawn was like “just wear whatever. We can go shopping later. But I will let you in on something, I booked us a horse and buggy ride at 1 PM so lets grab brunch and then it should be about 1.” One of my FAVORITE things to do in NYC is the carriage ride so I was immediately excited. We were staying near Central Park so I was like “Great, I’ll just wear these Uggs and we can come back here and change after the carriage ride.” His facial expression was like “OH NO! How am I going to tell her to NOT wear Uggs right now,” haha-not that I would have any clue, I am still in la la land. So Shawn said “well, we wont be doing that much walking now, why don't you just wear these Louboutins and if you’re uncomfortable we will come back and change after.” So I put the Louboutins on and away we went. We enjoyed a few mimosas and brunch, and 1 PM came around pretty fast. When we got over to Central Park, we had to wait a few minutes on our horse and buggy so we walked around a little. Shawn calls me his squirrel so we checked out all the squirrels around, haha, even took some pictures of them. Poor Shawn I’m sure at that time could care LESS about the squirrels but I enjoyed them and the pigeons.

Our horse and buggy finally pulled up and we got on, everything still to me was very normal. The driver wasn't doing that good of a job giving a tour tho, so I decided to tell Shawn what I knew about places and movies that had been filmed there. We were almost to the FRIENDS fountain when the buggy driver told us this was where the toured ended, that we had to walk up the hill to finish our tour. My first thought was “oh, cool, I haven't ever been up through here…” I still had NO idea what was about to happen, so we walked on up the hill and came upon “Bow Bridge.” There we walked over and we were over looking the pond, Shawn was holding me (it was a little chilly) and we were just talking about life and how we knew since April 2nd that we wanted to spend the rest of our life with each other. All of the sudden, Shawn said he had a question to ask me, and I immediately stared FREAKING OUT, screaming, “OMG, yes, Yes, YES,” over and over. It was the single happiest moment of my life. He stood up and I couldn't just quit hugging him! There were so many people on the bridge when we walked over it and after he asked me to marry him, they all stepped to the other side and were cheering and taking our pictures. All of the sudden Shawn goes, “look right over there!” It was a photographer that had been capturing us the ENTIRE time, from the ride to the moment he asked me to marry him. James, of Paparazzi Proposals, was absolutely amazing and so inviting! I thought the pictures stopped there but Shawn had actually booked a Central Park engagement session with him right after. Shawn was even SO amazing that he booked us a session with my favorite photographer, Pasha Belman on Monday but we have had to reschedule due to work conflicts.

We walked all over Central Park, taking pictures, enjoying the moment, and trying to take every second of it in. There was one moment, we went under an area in Central Park where there are all of these BEAUTIFUL tiles on the ceiling. There, we did a few pictures and when we went to walk away, Christmas Carolers starting singing “Noel.” In that moment, I lost it. I couldn't believe how blessed we were and felt I was literally in a dream. Shawn just stared wiping my tears and holding me so close. I could feel God right there with us, as we both have our entire relationship. I can remember this time last year, I didn't ever think the whole “marriage” thing would ever be for me. And I can remember on many occasions God kept telling me, “Keep faith in me Whitney, I have never left you and I will not let you down. Keep dancing with me.” The dance I shared at Courtney and Evans wedding with Shawn on April 2nd was the dance God kept assuring me that he’d let the perfect man cut in when it was time.

From the moment I saw Shawn at their wedding I knew he was the one. I walked out of the ladies restroom the same time Shawn walked out of the mens room. He took my breath away then and I walked right over to my brother after we chatted for a minute and told him, “That is the man I am going to marry one day.”

After our photos, we went back to the hotel. I just wanted to BE for a moment with my FIANCE and we had to call our parents and siblings! My family knew it was happening around 1:30 PM so when we didn't call until after 3, they were ALL beginning to sweat. Hearing my dad and Shawn’s dad talking about how proud they were of us was so heartwarming and sweet. That is all a father REALLY wants for their children and I am sure one of the hardest, most rewarding, happiest phone calls a dad will EVER receive.

We spent the rest of Saturday exploring New York and talking about EVERYTHING in the past 8 months, and our future. I asked a million more questions about all of the planning, and the FIBS that Shawn, my brother, and mother has told me over the past couple of months, haha.

Leaving New York, it started snowing so hard, and we were both so sad to leave but couldn't wait to get “home” and lay with each other. I can remember telling Shawn on the plane, “I hope all of the surprises are over because my heart CANNOT take much more,” haha. Sure enough, when we got back to the airport, I thought JUST my brother was picking us up, but there stood my mom, Brennan, Evan, and Courtney cheering with champagne, welcome home “Mr. and Future Mrs. Becker” signs, balloons, and the most beautiful pink roses I have ever seen.

We have had the best time Face-timing loved ones and seeing their expressions. I had to wait to get back to Tazewell to personally tell my loves of The Retail Therapist, and some family so we decided to wait until I was able to get home to publicly announce on Social Media, which has been the HARDEST PART NOT TELLING THE WORLD IMMEDIATELY.

The ring itself, is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It is so feminine, and me, and it literally takes my breath away EVERY time I look down, which I can’t stop doing by the way. When it comes to taking it off, forget it. I even catch myself waking up in the middle of the night to make sure it’s still there. The morning after we got engaged, I would ask him, are you sure I can take a shower with it on, what bout Cetaphil, can I put Cetaphil on my face with it on?!

Even tho we had the most picture perfect engagement, getting engaged has been about much more than the engagement itself. The rush of love from friends and family and all of you has been overwhelming. The love being poured into this next step of our relationship is incredible and we are both, so very grateful.

All our love,

Mr. and the Soon-To-Be Mrs. Becker

Photos c/o Paparazzi Proposals

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Q & A with The Retail Therapist

I have never been so excited and feel so blessed to have received all of your sweet and inspiring emails, texts, comments, and snaps as I was when I asked you all to send me whatever questions you may have for me! Enjoy, and any more you may have, feel free to shoot me an email at info@whitneyrife.com.

Also, you can read more about how I got started here.

And here is a look back at our first year being open.

from Kayla:

"I'm considering starting my own business soon and have some marketing ideas in mind, but what marketing methods do you use?"

I can gladly say since opening May 1, 2014, I have not spent a single dollar on advertising. I use every free form of advertising I can and HASHTAG (#) everything! I also sell and promote myself, there is NOTHING wrong with that, and if you're passionate about what your selling it, sell it! I post on social media as much as I can, and other than word of mouth and Prissy, that is all the marketing I have used.

from Gretchen:

"What site do you recommend for blog hosting? Also, do you manage all of the technical blog stuff on your own (i.e. designing your page) or do you let someone else handle it? If so, any recommendations?"

I have used Blogger from day one. (www.blogger.com) It was the hosting site Aubrey Kinch worked with, so it's the one I went with...(keep reading to find out who Aubrey is).

I do manage all of our "technical stuff" from running our store website thru our POS Shopify to managing all of our inventory and putting every single piece of thing that comes in and out of The Retail Therapist into inventory. I take the pictures from my cell and upload from my Mac.

The only thing I have let anyone else do, is make my header and footer graphics and logo. I use Aubrey Kinch of Kinch Designs and she is AH-MAZING! I literally shoot her an email and she gets back to me as soon as she can with the most perfect graphics! Aubrey also created my blog layout years ago and that is how our relationship got started. We have not once spoken on the phone, but she just gets me and what my company stands for, and for that I couldn't be more grateful. I HIGHLY recommend her!!!

from Brittney:

"What makes you look forward to tomorrow?"

UPS :) haha, joking, but that is a perk of "tomorrows."

The thought of waking up and getting to go to a pretty pink "paradise" is what makes me look forward to tomorrow! Seeing new customers that come in for the first time or old customers coming in trusting that I have what they're looking for makes me look forward to tomorrow. The store isn't ALL that I look forward to, but I look forward to knowing that no matter what, it will never let me down. I look forward to the day that I can have an "empire" to pass down to my children.

from Lindsay:

"What's the most rewarding part (for you) of owning your own boutique?"

My gosh, this is such a hard question to answer.

I would have to say the most rewarding thing about owning my own boutique is sharing it with my mom (and having Brennan there). I feel like when my dad tells people what his daughter does now it is something he is really proud of too. It is something we share together and something we both have dreamed of. The memories being made in that store are something that no one can ever take away from us. Yes, it is so rewarding dressing each of you, and taking tons of selfies, and going to market...but all of those things are nothing without the countless sleepless nights and all the steaming and arguments shared between mom and I...and we can't forget Brennan who is always put in the middle :) We lose him in the fall and I am devastated just thinking about it, because he is my right AND LEFT hand. But I know he too wants to make mom and dad and me even more proud of him than we already are. He wants to fulfill HIS dream.

from Cadorah:

"Online boutique vs. brick and mortar?"

There are good and bad things about both! I loved just being online, but I LOVE going to the store and interacting with people face to face. Online you can hide behind the computer and honestly never know a single customer. I love knowing my customers and shopping for THEM.

from Hannah:

"What would you say was the biggest obstacle you faced starting you business and how did you overcome it? Also, what kind of place or events did you bring your mobile truck to?"

The biggest obstacle I faced was with myself. I constantly compared myself to larger boutiques (Hopes, Red Dress...) and I would get so upset when I had the same pieces and they weren't selling as well as they did on those sites. I then realized that they had been in business much longer than I had and that I too when get there when I was ready.

Prissy has been to a few motorcycle events. This past year, I wanted to bring traffic to the store so I have had her parked, but this summer we plan on going to some festivals and maybe some more rallies. People often forget she can't travel too far, I mean she is a 70's model, haha!

from Brittany:

"How do you balance everything and the process of opening and running a successful store?"

I am not going to lie, it is hard. In college I just flew by the seat of my pants, which I still do (you have to remember when I opened the store, I was STILL in college), burt now it is all about balance and just trying to figure it out. I am learning it's okay to ask for help (thankfully my mom takes care of most everything for me, haha) and take time for yourself. You need that, to grow, to feel inspired, to just be.

from Courtney:

"I am in the process of opening up my own boutique. Hoping to have it done by the end of April. Do you have any advice you can give me?"

Ah, what a fun time!!! I loved the moments right before we opened and making sure everything was right! Cherish these moments, you'll change the store a million times by April of next year, and that's ok!!! You will never get these days back...be sure everything you're buying furniture wise is an investment tho, don't just buy it because you think you'll need it. Only buy what you know will look good in your store, and don't let anyone tell you how to decorate it. If you don't make your deadline, that's ok too...you want it to be right and just not "there."

When you open...Be patient. Customers will come...There will be days no one shows, and days 12-20 people will show. That's what makes it fun and worth going to work for.

from Sara:

"What is your secret?"

I don't really have a "secret." I am just not afraid to ask for help or "support."

If you're too afraid to ask the people in your life for support, then you probably need better support.

Another secret of mine is anytime I have a fear getting in my way, I talk about it, to myself, out loud (as silly as that sounds). You will quickly realize how stupid those fears sound.

from Yvonne:

"How does a start up get their inventory? And how do you make it to market?"

When you first start up, you think you're know what you're doing, but you don't. I am two years in and STILL figuring things out. I don't think there is a real answer for this. You just save up, and you buy things you think are cute, and you go from there!

To go to market, you need a Tax ID, business license, all that fun stuff, and you have to fill out some information on their websites...they will confirm you and from there, you just get in your car (or on a plane), check in at market, and shop shop shop. Some things ship immediately and some you wait months on...it depends on how you set up your inventory. You must buy a pack of 6 tho, and normally they run 2-2-2, 2 smalls, 2 mediums, 2 large.

From Morgan (sorry for the length but so inspiring):

"You are such an inspiration and a great role model. I originally began going to school for veterinary while putting an even greater passion of mine on the back burner. After seeing you put your dreams into action I was motivated enough to entirely change my major much to my parents dismay. I am now majoring in entrepreneurship and loving every minute of it. I am currently beginning my own blog. I come from an extremely small town of approximately 2,500 individuals and blogging is a big step out of the box for someone around here and being passionate about fashion and wanting that as a career is unheard of. I eventually would like to incorporate an online shop into my blog and have my own storefront in the future. I am curious as to whether or not you would recommend a financial advisor? How much would you recommend investing in your startup? How do you find balance? Would you limit content on a blog to a few categories? How you you manage a mobile boutique? I know you started out setting up booths at bike week. Would you recommend setting up at different events, why, where, and how?"

Here is how I incorporated my blog into my boutique...

I have not had a financial advisor because I have two business savvy parents who have helped me every step of the way. If you feel confident enough to proceed without one, I would recommend it. You know what's best for you.

Start saving now. It costs way more to start up a boutique than you can imagine. Whatever you think, times it by 10 because thats what you're gonna need!

I found balance in my parents. My dad is a banker, and my mom...well, we like the finer things in life. My brother always says my dad is the realist are we are the dreamers, and that's true. There are things my mom and dad wanted me to do the cheaper way in designing the store, but we always found a balance. There isn't one thing I would change about the store.

I basically only share things I have time to share on my blog now, which is awful. But it isn't my source of income, and it was really only something to do in college...I say I am going to post more, and I will...one day :)

Managing a mobile boutique wasn't hard at first, because that an the online boutique was all I had...now with the store I hate taking inventory out of the store, so I just don't. I want people going to the store. I want it to be a destination place. If I had another me, I would have three separate inventories (one for my store, one for online, and one for Prissy), and travel ALL over. BUT...I don't, yet.

I got started in the Harley bike rally and I loved it. It was honestly one of the hardest, most rewarding weeks of our life. It fit with me because it was something my parents went to and I had went to bike rallies for years. They're good people and they like to have a good time. They're doctors, and lawyers, and business people who like cute clothes or wanted to take their wives or children something home (it always fell on Mothers day which worked out), and I was there to provide them with something not so "biker-babe." I think music festivals would fit with my store well, because I love music and I love carrying the lyric tees, cowgirl boots, etc... ---You need to figure out who you want to sell to and what your style is and go from there. You'll feel it.

from Grace:

"How have you gotten those Instagram followers? Pretty much where did you start to really grow your name and brand?"

HASHTAGS! I know I always say this, but it really does work. I always search hashtags to find things I am looking for. Hashtag what you would hashtag.

My blog used to be The Retail Therapist. When I decided to open the store, I sent all those followers there and rebranded myself and my blog to Whitney Rife. That is how The Retail Therapist grew faster than your average boutique, it already had a following.

from Maggie:

"Has it been hard to establish an actual brick and mortar store in a fairly rural community?"

No. I always thought it would be and coming back to Tazewell I knew the online sales would carry a brick and mortar store. I always thought I'd never be able to have my dream store in Tazewell. I couldn't be more blessed to live in a small community who are so supportive of a new business and of my generation. They WANT Tazewell to succeed. We all do. YOU have to want better for your area. It doesn't matter where you're from or where you are. THAT is one thing that kills dreams more than anything, not where you're from. God didn't put these dreams in your heart for you to always wonder or put on a Pinterest board. They are there because you were given everything to see them through.

from Lauren:

"What do you dream now?"

I dream all the time. I dream small things like owning a Birkin and my wedding day...and I dream large things like being a wife and a momma. I dream of where The Retail Therapist will go next, and I dream of building a home...just because I have accomplished one dream doesn't mean I will ever stop dreaming...

from Cara:

"Whats the best thing about The Retail Therapist?"

It's fun, it's pretty, it's HOME GROWN, and it's affordable. We want to inspire girls and make everyone feel beautiful about themselves. We have something for ALL price points. We are family ran from the GROUND UP and we have the best employees who are just like family. When you buy something from The Retail Therapist, you are putting money into my small town, my community, you're helping me go back to market and buy more cute things for you!

When I first started designing The Retail Therapist, I wanted it to be simply pretty and unlike anything Tazewell has ever seen. I have been very fortunate to travel and shop all over and can honestly say I love my store. I want every little girl and woman to feel like they are not in Tazewell when they come in, that they are treated so special and can not be scared to come in or buy the dress they love because it will break them, or the tee they can't wait to take on vacation. Young girls coming in the store to play dress up is my favorite thing to watch! I love getting on social media hours later and seeing selfies in my mirrors with inspiring quotes on them and reading the sweet comments left by members of the community. I can honestly say I believe my customers when they come in and shop, leave feeling better about themselves and that is what I, that is what we at The Retail Therapist live for. It's what makes me thrive to be the best.

Thank you for believing in me, in my store, in my family. Thank you for supporting my dreams. I hope each and every one of you dream and do everything you can to make them happen. It REALLY is worth it! Just remember, it's not always as glamorous as I make it look on Instagram. There are tears, and fights, and moments you want to give up, but it will only make you grow! Please, never hesitate to shoot me an email, it may take me a minute to get back to you, but I promise I will!

Love and best wishes to you all... (due "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts)

and don't forget to treat yourself to a little retail therapy.