We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, do you think your parent’s parenting style has impacted you and your life?
There is no one I have more respect for than my father. He is honest, wise, and fair. I remember when I was in third grade, he told me that integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. He taught me that my words have lasting meaning, so be truthful even when it hurts, follow through when I make a promise, and think twice before I say something that could be hurtful. My whole life, I have aimed to be that person. I most assuredly fall short sometimes, but he set the goal. My mother might actually be an angel. She cares so deeply for me and my two older sisters. She has taught me how to sacrifice for the ones you love. She is one of the most tenacious and hardworking women I have known. Every Saturday when we were kids, she would make us clean the house before we could go have fun. I hated it. It would take me hours of procrastination before I finally got it done. But she taught me an invaluable lesson—just because you don’t want to doesn’t mean you don’t have to. Most of all, my parents taught me to love the Lord, that everything I do is to honor and glorify him. And they didn’t just teach me, they showed me. They showed me through their marriage, how they worked through the tough times. They showed me through their jobs, even when they didn’t love where they were and what they were doing. And they showed me in their daily lives by not giving up even when they messed up.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My mind is constantly thinking of new projects and goals, so I love to find new ways to express my thoughts. While I truly enjoy being a hairstylist, my need to be creative reaches beyond that. I am also passionate about theater, writing, and painting. The most difficult part of starting a career for me has been finding time to nurture all my hobbies and other passions. Starting out, you have to give it your all, which can be exhausting and sometimes even discouraging. However, once you have established yourself and understand the inner workings of your craft, then you are able to extend beyond the boundaries and create a balance.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
The flying biscuit is the obvious first stop. My husband and I love them so much that they catered our wedding. Depending on how adventurous our guest was, the day could go a few different ways. For our more active visitors we could spend some time at one of the many escape rooms around the city, or play at WhirlyBall Atlanta in Roswell. For those seeking a slower-paced weekend, the park behind the Alpharetta business office is a stunning place to take a walk, and as obvious as it may be, the Georgia Aquarium is beautiful. I could spend hours in front of the Whale Shark Tank—it’s mesmerizing. For dinner, two great places for sushi are Thaicoon (the tuna pizza is mindblowing) in Marietta or Kirin House in Suwanee. And then we would follow that with either an incredible latte at Caffe Bene, or Tea and a Korean Baked good at Tree Story. Another option would be La Petite Maison in Sandy Springs, a small, cozy french restaurant with incredible swordfish. And for someone who’s looking for more excitement, there is bowling at the Painted Pin and dinner and games at Ormsby’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Many times, the story is about the woman behind the man. However, mine is the man behind the woman. I would not be who I am or where I am without that man. I am so blessed to be with someone who is as thoughtful and servant-hearted as my husband. When I have a new goal or project that I bring to him, his immediate response is, “How can I help you?” Far too often, people in my life have played “devil’s advocate,” which is just a euphemism for “pessimist.” Instead, he is simply my advocate. Running a small business isn’t easy, and there are many hard days. He stands by me through everyone of them.

Instagram: @studio123.abrown

Image Credits
Abby Byrd Photography, Keira Davis Photography, Melissa Artieda Photography, Nikki Chattom Photography, Kate Stone

Nominate someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.