Tag: Matis

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It’s Within Reach

In a month I will officially have taken over Matis Fourways for 10 years.

My designer sent me the logo I had in mind as the first step in recognising & commemorating this milestone this morning & seeing it brought a rush of memories, & all the emotions that came with the rollercoaster that has been the last 10 years. Honestly, nothing could have prepared me for this emotional tsunami.

We don’t know how very unwilling the banks are to loan money to someone who is already self employed until said person decides to buy a salon. A little over 10 years ago my journey started with a lot of “No” & I eventually ended up buying a business with the help of my #1 supporter- my gorgeous mom, in instalments from the previous owner – AND she agreed to still work for me for a few months. My mother has so fearlessly believed in me! She has so easily invested in my dream, & even when I felt overwhelming guilt for not doing better, & sheer gratitude for how much she loves me that all I could do was cry; she just kept reminding me that I’m not alone.

I had no idea what was in store for me… The next 5 years were undoubtedly the most stressful years of my life; trying to manage expenses, working in the construction site that was Fourways Mall, & trying to hold myself together was like trying to climb a mountain with no shoes, people on your shoulders, & a mustard seed of faith that the long string you’re clinging onto, tearing open flesh, won’t just snap & leave roadkill of what was once a woman’s dream & the people who depended on her.

I can clearly remember feeling like I had made the biggest mistake of my life, many times… There have been instances on this journey that I was saved purely by God’s grace. Stone cold business people with hearts seemingly as hard as the concrete used to build the  demise of many people’s lifelong dreams & only source of income. A pandemic that stole the lives and livelihood of countless, & yet Matis Fourways made it through – only by God’s grace. A man who thought underhanded moves would teach this woman that business is a man’s world, BUT God used him for my good.

As I take a pause to wipe away the tears- tasting the saltiness of the ones that escaped the tissue – & to take a sip of the salty water Veniva has introduced that feels like a physical representation in this moment  of the years I’ve cried. I can now close the door to my office & weep with thanksgiving to my father who has never failed me. He has carried me though the lowest valleys & reminds me that HE is holding the string on the top of that mountain.

This is not where my story ends, I give all the glory to God that His plan for my life is far more beautiful, more abundant & more joyful than I could ever imagine. How wonderful it is to be in the palm of His hand.

This month, I’m just going to pause & take stock. I’m going to take a very wise man’s advise & stand on every promise He has kept & be reminded that He will never fail.

To every single one of our amazing clients who continue to choose Matis Fourways over & over, – there are no words to express my gratitude. To my unbelievable landlords, I thank God for you all every day. To my staff, you are what makes the wheels turn, & my phenomenal mom – none is this would have been possible without you.

I hope my story  will remind someone that nothing is too far, whatever you can imagine is within reach.

With an overflowing heart,

Laurien

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Open doors.

At the beginning of each year Pastor Nic declares a word over the church, over the church family & for each soul represented. I’m not sure if his line to Jesus is a little clearer than most of ours… because we surely see the fruit of his lips unfolding around us. I’m so grateful to be where I am today; tested and momentarily gave up, but He remains faithful! I honestly don’t know how people who don’t have a relationship with Christ cope with life, people are harsh, hurtful and sometimes just evil; how else do we remain unchanged by the world? It’s no wonder there is so much reference of us being IN the world but not OF the world.

This year took me to possibly the darkest place I’ve ever been. I wrestled with depression and became overwhelmed with guilt for not having joy. An internal battle that far removed me from the voice of my creator, but never able to remove His love from me… ❤️

Finding my way through couldn’t have been more beautiful, no Hollywood scriptwriter or 19th century poet could have brought it to life; my path was determined and there was no other way. In this year of open doors I felt suffocated, in this year of open doors I felt like I had been reaching, stretching and clawing forward, only to find myself further behind. Feeling like this year of open doors was for everyone besides me, until everything changed so fast, I was terrified to believe it was reality. I have a friend (cherished sister) who thanked me for sticking with her this year & I realised that it’s the bad, the ugly, the painful, the “tornadoes” that show us who we really are, & who the people around us are. Maybe they are more beneficial than we’d like to admit? Have you ever looked back & saw a profound lesson after the biggest storms?

Today I’m sitting in my little office, every now & then glaring out of the window, sipping on my GL♥️♥️T , thinking about the old school RnB I’m going to hear at the spot that does the best parmesan chips… grateful for my guy who makes my heart a little softer every time I think of him, my phenomenal besties, and SOOO many other things. I have the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Just when you’re about to give up, at the end of the road, when we think that we’ll never make it; things can still turn around. Never in a gazillion years did I think I’d say this… but…  I’m living proof! Not quite sure if it’s the meds or the amazing dance class I did this morning, (my hips weren’t lying 🤣),  but I think I’ve become that annoying overly grateful person that I usually roll my eyes at; and I’m not hating it…

We’re entering the last month of the year, again! Everyone loosing their patience, overly exhausted, stressed out about Christmas lunch & shopping, yes, we can’t escape it. I just hope in the midst of it all, you can also stop and think about what you’re grateful for. If your season of “stuck” isn’t quite over yet, Pastor Nic told me to tell you – the year isn’t over yet

I hope to see you in the salon soon so that my INCREDIBLE staff can help get you holiday ready. We’re getting crazy busy so please book ASAP! our last day of work for 2024 is the 24th of December, we will be back on the 7th of Jan to welcome you into 2025 with a smile.
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and a blessed, fruitful & joyful New Year 🎉

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This chapter is called…?

It’s time to put manicured nail to qwerty again. My mental demanded a break, and yet being back feels better than ever. Once again I’m reminded of the therapy this part of my job is, how grateful I am to be able to do so many of the things I really love. More than ever I realise how fortunate I am to do what I have loved for over 20 years, & how blessed I am to have clients who actually want to hear me wag my chin about the symphony of texture, aroma & results that is Matis.

I went for my laser hair removal this week @ https://satoribeautyandwellness.co.za/  (I do LOVE barter…) & my gorgeous, oh so fabulous friend Hayley gave me possibly the biggest compliment I have ever received. She told me how happy she is for me,  looking at where my life is now🥰 ; not so long ago I felt like nothing was going right. Frustrated with stagnation, overwhelmed with the mountain that is my degree, stressed, exhausted, aching; completely missing the essence of me.

I can point to a week, maybe even a few moments when I felt a shift in my spirit, a time when my head & heart decided on the same dance, switching between lead and follow, and finally the darkness lifted & just like that… all the pieces (I didn’t even know were missing) fell together. So many contributing factors and so many hearts play a critical role in the story that is my life & to all you treasures, Thank You!

The past month or two we have seen more people concerned with ageing than I can remember! We’ve seen more clients change to anti-age serums, and more clients expand their homecare routines. Our data shows a definite upward trend in more anti-age skincare treatments & we’re here for it! With the sun finally out to play after it’s little tantrum last week, I feel it’s the best time to celebrate ageing gracefully, AND taking it up a notch with our skincare. I can honestly say that I am obsessed with how fantastic my skincare is at the minute, I’ve introduced the Densifiance serum & the Caviar cream; the level of bliss I am experiencing on a daily in front of my bathroom mirror is positively life changing. My dedication to treat my neck & hands more specifically is a true representation of “over 40” 🤦🏽‍♀️I would be THRILLED to talk more about this is you catch me at the salon 😉

I am so excited to focus this month’s promos on anti-ageing, weather you’re 30, 40 or 70, we all would love to age more gracefully so let’s start right now!

I know, we’re speeding toward that dreaded time of year where everyone is grumpy, there are more bad days, your tired is tired & even if you plan to do Christmas shopping early, you very well may find yourself short tempered and frustrated on the 24th of December. Some things don’t change. What I can confidently say is, that 5 minutes with your skin at the end of each day works just like a plaster on your 5 year old’s knee. 😉 It’s also what your skin needs.

EASE:

If you do something with ease, you do it easily, without difficulty

to make or become less severe, difficult, unpleasant, painful

What would this chapter of my life be called? “Ease”, not because it’s easy, but because I want to squeeze as much ease into each day I can. Because I will choose to only take on only what I can, to unapologetically take a step back when frustration and unnecessary difficulty are the grey clouds and heavy stones that make the way forward an uphill battle, and possibly most importantly, I want to show the people in my life that “with ease” is the only way to handle me. I promise to check-in with myself whenever necessary, to make sure I remain firmly seated in my unapologetic femininity. Being the adultiest adult in many areas of my life for longer than I’d liked, has cultivated a woman who craves ease like never before.

Here’s to an October full of anti-age habits; minds, hearts & spirits that are calm & full of ease. Who’s with me?