Meet Cheryl Leahy of All Dressed Up with Nothing to Drink

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Leahy.

Cheryl, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had one full-time job in marketing and at least 2-3 part-time jobs. When I was pregnant with my first child, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom a few months before he was born. Well, that lasted a week, I had a fairly major identity crisis during this time and all of the sudden was presented with a drastic shift in responsibility and sense of self. I started chronicling my internal struggle- I still loved to dress up and express my personal style, but was no longer out at the bars until 2 am without a care in the world.

My blog, All Dressed Up with Nothing to Drink, has become what I hope is an inspiration to moms- take time for yourself, remember that you have an identity outside of “mom,” and re-discover your sense of self and style. 7 years later, I have created a brand that is all about celebrating individuality and owning who you are and how you best operate. I work with a variety of businesses in different ways: I review local restaurants with my “Date Night: Food & Fashion” series, bring unique products and shortcuts to the masses via TV segments such as “How to Throw an Oscar Party for Less,” and showcase ways to make fashion accessible and relatable with blog posts like “Try a Trend Tuesday.”

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and I continue to struggle with many issues of starting a small business. I am a full-time stay at home mom with zero help- no nanny, no regular babysitters, so I am the main caretaker for my young children. Trying to create a professional brand when most waking hours are dedicated to the needs of very demanding tiny humans is challenging to say the least, and trying to balance the needs of everyone is a constant struggle. My brand is a reminder that there is more than one way to do things in life- have a career, raise a family, express yourself.

Please tell us about All Dressed Up with Nothing to Drink.
I love being my own boss and making decisions that aren’t mainstream. For example, if I create and execute a marketing plan for a clothing boutique I am often happy to work in trade. I love showing how one piece can transform a wardrobe, and demonstrating style secrets to boost confidence.

Having a lifestyle brand allows me to reach multiple facets of a mom’s life- I work with liquor companies to craft cocktails that are ideal for easy entertaining and food brands that make mealtime more manageable. I am able to involve my children in my work in a meaningful way- showing incredible adventures, crafts, recipes, and experiences that enhance family life.

My business is not a traditional one, but I am proud to make my own rules and define success in my own way. I am kind, helpful, creative, passionate and curious. I work with brands I truly believe in, and I am able to share the little tips and tricks that make life a little more enjoyable. I adore showing moms that life isn’t perfect- it is often messy, full of bloopers and tantrums, but being able to roll with the punches and love it anyways is the key.

In addition to my blog and marketing services, I am the style columnist for Chicago Parent Magazine, a Featured Contributor to 30Seconds.com, and host a style segment for the online show ChicagonistaLIVE!

I am currently working on mom style service with a twist- instead of simply providing clothing advice, I plan on a comprehensive lifestyle offering. New moms often have a difficult time adjusting to their new bodies, new time constraints, new activities. My goal is to help ease the transition- provide clothing recommendations, hair and makeup consultations, organize date nights and give parenting tips and tricks.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start from scratch, I would have recognized my worth a lot earlier in my career. You aren’t about how many people follow you, how many likes or comments you receive, and how many re-tweets, shares and views you accumulate.

I suffered from severe postpartum anxiety after my first child and was too insecure to launch my brand effectively for a few years. I helped many others with their brands, hoping it would build my cred in the media world. I would have focused more on what I wanted, what I had to offer clients, and what set me apart from others in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alldressedupwithnothingtodrink.com
• Phone: 847-508-9893
• Email: cjalldressedup@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjalldressedup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllDressedUpWithNothingToDrink/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjalldressedup
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpPXhp9-OSzfPy7vjxgTHNA?

Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.