Meet Talicia McCall, M.Ed, CFLE | Floral Designer & Certified Family Life Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Talicia McCall, M.Ed, CFLE and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Talicia, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Being a woman, I, like many others play several roles and it has been that way most of my life which makes me used to multitasking and juggling various responsibilities. Over time, it becomes difficult trying to stay connected in all these roles without experiencing stress and burnout. There is no possible way, each endeavor I am involved in will be allotted an equal amount of time. I don’t believe in work life balance. Prioritization is what works for me and my family. My business, my personal life, my extended family, etc. are all important to me but life is unpredictable and although some tasks remain the same, each day is different (the business may require more attention than the family and one day my daughter or husband may require more attention than the business). Each day, I make myself the main priority and that is what is most important to me. Making sure I am whole and well allows me to be productive with my time and clearly communicate with others. Also, communication is essential and comprehension is key so that everyone you are tied to knows what to expect and no assumptions are to be made.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of the joy that my work brings to others. Making a surprise delivery to someone or creating an elegant tablescape for a social event and seeing the client’s eyes light up is what makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy. AMBIANCE By Lovie is all about creating an aesthetically pleasing luxury environment that instantly elevates your mood. I grew up around flowers everywhere with my Granny and Aunt. They were always beautiful and added just the right aesthetic to their homes and gardens. I wasn’t much of a dirt girl growing up so I didn’t plant flowers but loved when I received them or I would purchase them myself. Each time, I would find myself rearranging them and it was always a refresher to look over on my desk or in the kitchen and see this beautiful arrangment of fresh flowers. After the passing of my aunt in April, I was desperately seeking something that would connect me to her and bring me a sense of calmness. I had been tinkering with the idea of gardening (this was truly out of my element). For Mother’s Day, my husband took me to Lowe’s and purchased me a ZZ Plant, A sunpatiens, watermelon seeds, soil, etc and everything I needed to start my garden. I grew squash and zucchini…the watermelon and tomatoes did not make it. I took excellent care of my ZZ plant and Sunpatiens. Going outside every morning and hearing the birds chirping while tending to my plants and garden was very therapeutic. It was a drastic change from my hectic life. Well, life did it what it does and I neglected my plants and garden. Fast forward to the end of 2021, I was desperately looking to tap into my creativity again and decided to create a faux flower box arrangement. It took me literally ten minutes and that ten minutes changed my life! At that moment, I knew that I had to tap into this gift that I’ve been blessed with and AMBIANCE By Lovie was born. Yes, creating and starting my new business was very easy but in hindsight all the years that I have spent educating myself, overcoming obstacles, living and learning, being undervalued and underpaid, not setting boundaries, etc were all preparation for where I am today. So, actually it was not easy but this is why you have to keep going and allow your life to flow. We don’t realize it, but goals can be distractions on the way to your true purpose in life. We can become laser focused on the outcome that we place on ourselves or what society dictates for us and all we realy need to do is allow ourselves to bloom where we are planted.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Did you say best friend? Week long? Yesss, let’s get to it. Okay now being the HGTV, home decorating, flower loving ladies my best friend and I are, the first stops are HomeGoods and America’s Mart, now that I have my Florist retail license. I promise you we would spend most of our time there. Facials, Massages, and spa time is definitely included… so we would need to head to Chateau Elan. We love good food and drinks in quaint cute places so we’d definitely go to The Garden Room. We also love museums, art, music. With us, there would be no itinerary just wherever the day leads us, I promise you there will be lots of fun, laughter, and sleep if the two of us could have a week long vacation together.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is a long list of people who have truly supported and encouraged me throughout the years, but I must say that my Husband, Daughter, Mom, Grandmom, and my late Aunt Marie are essential pieces of my puzzle that have contributed to me being the woman that I am today. My husband is the powerful force cheering me on and helps me see things from various perspectives. My sixteen year old daughter encourages me and tells me when I’m working too much. She keeps me lauging and being silly. My Mom…wow…she is my biggest fan and I am hers. She is there through it ALL but most importantly she guides me in such a loving way and we have the best conversations. Being able to talk to your mother about all aspects of life is priceless. My Granny B is the sweetest, fiercest little lady I know. She taught me the importance of family, the beauty of flowers, and the essentials of being a lady. My dear Aunt Marie passed in 2020 and she was my second mom. She was my dancing queen and dance partner, the one who never fussed at me and loved to see me coming. She is the reason that I decided to live life on my terms and step out on faith to pursue my dreams.

Website: www.ambiancebylovie.com

Instagram: @lovetshante

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliciashante/

Image Credits
Halei Moss, Her Visuals LLC