About Us
Hey there!
I’m Jessica, owner of The Sweet Melange. I'm a wife and mom to 3 very energetic humans. There is never a dull moment in our household and while I would like to say I wouldn't want it any other way, there are those days....! That being said, I feel truly blessed and thankful for the life I am living.
I want to welcome you and thank you for taking the time to stop by and shop our small business! We are a lifestyle boutique located in Southwest ND. A store created to inspire you to bring out your style and personality. Style that makes you feel good. Style is such a personal thing which is why our selections are an array of styles for all women, curvy ladies, and children. It’s not just about the clothes, but about the place you call home and how the “things” you put in it represent you and those you share it with. “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn” – Gore Vidal
What does “Melange” (Meh-lah-nge) mean? Melange means a mixture of elements, a medley or blend. First off, I’m a lover of both home décor and fashion so I decided to “blend” both into the same space. Second, we are a blended family with different culture backgrounds. They are my "Why" and what matters most in this world.
I’ve always loved fashion, but to me, it was just that...a love for dressing up in clothes that made me feel good. I was the 4th kid in a family of 4 girls at the time (now there is 5 girls…my dad loves it ). I got a lot of hand me downs and I honestly was just fine with it. I didn’t know any different. During college I worked my first retail jobs. I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t going to be my career path…or so I thought. I was headed to be a music teacher so that was that.
The beauty of life is that we can make changes to our choices as we grow. Fast forward a few years and I became a Registered Nurse instead. WHAT??? For 15 years I took care of many patients and fell in love with the bond that can be formed with so many people. I love talking to people and I love helping them feel better if it is in my power. So many memories, both happy and heartbreaking made during those years. Conversations, hugs, laughs, tears, and all the feelings that came during moments with these people that were our patients.
By the time my 3rd child was going to be born, it was time for me to stay home with my children and I put my nursing career on hold. Believe me when I say that being a SAHM was the hardest job I have ever done. I’ve never worked harder in my life! Breakfast, laundry, dishes, lunch, dishes, laundry, cleaning, dinner, repeat. Lord help me! I needed an outlet to express myself and call something my own. It was here that the seed for creating was born.
The Sweet Melange started as a creative outlet for me where I created pretty things for my girls. Bows turned into tutus and the tutu’s needed a matching shirt or onsie. Enter the art of machine embroidery. I taught myself how to make things for my girls, did craft shows and special orders for customers.
After 3.5 years of doing that, we bought our building. We moved into a large retail space that I needed to fill. There was no way I could make everything going in it. This is how it evolved into what it is today. A beautiful mélange of items specially picked and curated with a mom, career woman, or carefree casual soul in mind. We want to provide a space where you can come in and have a great time with your girlfriends or just a “me time” break from the kid’s.
Our goal is simply to make you smile and put a little happiness into your day. Every piece that I pick is in hopes that it will make you smile because you feel so good in that new outfit or you just can’t wait to put that new chair in your living room. Maybe you're excited for family pictures and get to pick something awesome for your kids. Whatever the objective may be, I hope that you can feel the heart that goes into selecting our pieces displayed in our store. So again, thank you for stopping by. We can't wait to help inspire you!
XOXO,
Jessica
