Our latest Stick Of The Week! is Michelle Swingle. Michelle is in the NOW as founder and chief stacker of Stack Blocks, a cottage industry shop focusing on eco-friendly, non-toxic, designer wooden blocks for children.
Michelle Swingle
Michelle Swingle lives in a 100 year old home in historical Norfolk, Virginia with her best friend and husband, Jeff, her 2 year old, Simone, her border collie Sidney, and their backyard tortoise, Moses.
She has a background in Commercial Real Estate
and currently runs a small business closing real estate loans in addition to Stack Blocks. Michelle is often found pondering the amazing fact that she couldn’t imagine her life being any better than it currently is.
Tell us about your Noodle on the Wall.
My current NOW is Stack Blocks -- an on-line shop focusing on eco-friendly wooden blocks for baby & toddler. I adore keeping up with trends and creating blocks for every type of nursery. Even more rewarding, is creating a safe toy that meets little one’s ever-changing developmental needs.
My current NOW is Stack Blocks -- an on-line shop focusing on eco-friendly wooden blocks for baby & toddler. I adore keeping up with trends and creating blocks for every type of nursery. Even more rewarding, is creating a safe toy that meets little one’s ever-changing developmental needs.
Owl and Woodland Creatures Wooden Blocks
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
At this point, my NOW is simmering… though it took some work to get it there. I used to overdo it. As the years go by though, I realize I’ll happily give up big paychecks and lofty job descriptions to live a balanced, satisfied, and content life.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
The best flavors come from the perfect balance of the best ingredients. While a dash of salt is yum, a cup of salt is yuck, right? I believe it’s important to be aware of your time commitments (balance). Also, where as aged Parmesan is a fantastic topping, a moldy kraft cheese slice may not be (do those even get moldy?). So choose wisely what you are willing to commit to in the first place (ingredients). In the end, it’s truly an individual thing – not a recipe – so taste often and adjust as necessary.
At this point, my NOW is simmering… though it took some work to get it there. I used to overdo it. As the years go by though, I realize I’ll happily give up big paychecks and lofty job descriptions to live a balanced, satisfied, and content life.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
The best flavors come from the perfect balance of the best ingredients. While a dash of salt is yum, a cup of salt is yuck, right? I believe it’s important to be aware of your time commitments (balance). Also, where as aged Parmesan is a fantastic topping, a moldy kraft cheese slice may not be (do those even get moldy?). So choose wisely what you are willing to commit to in the first place (ingredients). In the end, it’s truly an individual thing – not a recipe – so taste often and adjust as necessary.
Simone
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
When my daughter was born, I became aware of how unsafe many of the toys on the market are. But it was really more than that. With the birth of my daughter, came a change of priorities. Basically, the flavor of our family’s pasta dish needed to change. With less outside-of-the-house work, came less income. Unfortunately, lower income, meant less flexibility to donate to various charities. Since charitable donations are key to our family’s personal flavor, I drew upon my entrepreneurial spirit and created Stack Blocks. Stack Blocks focuses on providing safe, educational toys for children and gives a significant portion of each order to a charity that focuses on less fortunate children.
When my daughter was born, I became aware of how unsafe many of the toys on the market are. But it was really more than that. With the birth of my daughter, came a change of priorities. Basically, the flavor of our family’s pasta dish needed to change. With less outside-of-the-house work, came less income. Unfortunately, lower income, meant less flexibility to donate to various charities. Since charitable donations are key to our family’s personal flavor, I drew upon my entrepreneurial spirit and created Stack Blocks. Stack Blocks focuses on providing safe, educational toys for children and gives a significant portion of each order to a charity that focuses on less fortunate children.
Black and White Alphabet Wooden Blocks
Cars and Trucks Wooden Blocks
Simone and Michelle
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Motherhood inspired me to create a toy that is safe for the environment and safe for my child. It inspired me to create something that would teach my child and grow with her. It inspired me to create a way to give financially to children who need clean water, food, and protection from injustice. So, I suppose my daughter is my greatest source of inspiration.
Motherhood inspired me to create a toy that is safe for the environment and safe for my child. It inspired me to create something that would teach my child and grow with her. It inspired me to create a way to give financially to children who need clean water, food, and protection from injustice. So, I suppose my daughter is my greatest source of inspiration.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I’m a big list-maker. I begin each day with a list of what I’d like to accomplish and I split it up based on sections. Some examples....... while Simone’s napping, after Jeff comes home, when we’re at the library, while we’re snuggling etc. I’ve become adept at working on multiple things at the same time. That said, I find I also need to be flexible. If it’s just not happening, I switch gears and move on to the next thing. Eventually, it all gets done and I remind myself how lucky I am to be able to stay at home and enjoy my child as I work.
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My overarching goal is to live a balanced, productive and creative life where I love my family well and do my part to help others in need. Top that with some goat cheese and Y.U.M. Life is good.
I’m a big list-maker. I begin each day with a list of what I’d like to accomplish and I split it up based on sections. Some examples....... while Simone’s napping, after Jeff comes home, when we’re at the library, while we’re snuggling etc. I’ve become adept at working on multiple things at the same time. That said, I find I also need to be flexible. If it’s just not happening, I switch gears and move on to the next thing. Eventually, it all gets done and I remind myself how lucky I am to be able to stay at home and enjoy my child as I work.
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My overarching goal is to live a balanced, productive and creative life where I love my family well and do my part to help others in need. Top that with some goat cheese and Y.U.M. Life is good.
Do you know a Stick Of The Week! that you think should be featured on the NOW site?
Email me their info at elena@noodlesonthewall.com
RSS Feed
