Laura

Spotlight on Laura

Laura is known as a brilliant interior designer, a devoted mother of five, and someone who carries herself with warmth, kindness, and faith. She has built a thriving design business while raising a busy family, and she is open about both the joys and the challenges of living in those two worlds. Laura thrives in chaos, and it’s clear she carries it with a grace that makes others feel steady just being around her.

Juggling Business and Motherhood

Balancing work and family has never been easy, especially in the early days. When her twins were just eight weeks old, Laura worked from home through the night, drawing design plans while holding a baby. When her youngest was born, she was at the stone yard picking out stone just days after birth. That persistence grew into a company strong enough to employ and support others, something that she counts as one of her proudest achievements.

As her children have grown, her idea of what it means to be a good mother has shifted. She once felt the pressure to make every event. Now she knows that sharing responsibilities with her husband, Spencer, and trusting that their “divide and conquer” approach is enough and allows her to be there for what matters most. With that being said, her go to word for her kids and clients is always yes, she want to make it all happen. That generosity toward others seems to be a trend in the Cedor household.

“We must juggle a lot and still expected to be everything from everyone around us. ”

Balance has been a focus for Laura this year. She is committed to being both a great designer and a great mom, but experience has taught her that saying yes to everything only stretches her too thin. In the past, she took on projects to grow her business, even when the style or client wasn’t the perfect fit. Now, she is learning to protect her time and energy, choosing work that feels aligned so she can show up fully for both her clients and her family.

Everyday Life

Laura’s days begin quietly before the rest of the house stirs. Being ready before five kids walk downstairs gives her a sense of control and calm. Once the afternoon begins, she leans on routines: homework first, then snacks, then time outside. She keeps her car stocked with everything from Tylenol to extra clothes to help manage the unexpected.

Some of her most cherished moments come from simple traditions. Evening walks with her daughter have become a regular rhythm, three miles of conversation and connection away from the noise of a large family. Mealtimes are practical, often planned so a dish can serve twice in a week, keeping life just a little more manageable.

Design with Heart

Laura brings that same thoughtfulness to her work. She says she is always planning for her clients—pausing in the middle of a day, waking up with new ideas, even sketching on vacation. Her projects are full of detail because she wants to see her clients’ dreams come alive.

She has a sharp eye for the things that can change a space: the way light sets the tone, how the wrong scale can throw a room off balance. Rugs are her favorite budget-friendly upgrade, while wallpaper is the splurge she always recommends—it adds instant joy. Her own home is a reflection of both design and real life. She breaks the design rules with family photos lining the walls, her boys sleep in beds once used by her brothers, and the dining table is missing chairs from years of spills and play. Rather than cover the imperfections, she embraces them as part of her family’s story.

Faith, Family, and Connection

Faith is at the center of Laura’s life and the anchor she returns to in both busy and quiet seasons. She treasures the rosary, finding in it a rhythm that settles her heart and restores her perspective. Praying with her children each night and attending Sunday Mass together are non-negotiables that shape her family’s week. Her faith gives her a sense of spiritual peace, a reminder that she doesn’t have to carry every burden alone.

Her marriage is grounded in steady conversation and shared responsibilities. She and Spencer talk constantly, keep each other emotionally connected, and share the load of household tasks. Teamwork makes the daily chaos manageable. She credits Spencer for the push to open her own business, allowing her to thrive with his constant support and partnership.

Outside of the home, Laura also treasures her close circle of friends, women she describes as the best kind of support system in both motherhood and work, a consistent source of strength. She says her group is truly there for each other and cheers each other on through it all.

What She Hopes Her Kids Remember

When Laura imagines what her children will look back on one day, she hopes it is her presence and faith they remember. She was there at the bus stop, at school events, and in all the big moments. She worked hard for them, AND she showed up. She says that is what matters most. That is the legacy she is building, both in her family and in her work.

Lauren

When Lauren first opened her inclusive dance studio, I watched with quiet anticipation. We’d known each other in college, but I didn’t know her full story or how she would pull it off. I was intrigued. The logistics, the funding, the scope of her vision. But as time went on, it became clear she was creating something truly meaningful.

I wanted to feature her not just to share MOVE’s mission and the incredible way she empowers her students, but also to show what it looks like when someone follows a calling to serve. Her story is both inspiring and humbling. It’s a reminder that an idea paired with passion and persistence can create real impact. The happy, dancing moments where her students feel fully themselves and accepted, those moments Lauren dreamed of, are truly life changing.

Planting The Seed

Lauren’s roots in dance run deep. She grew up dancing competitively, later joining the University of Southern Mississippi’s dance company. Though she didn’t yet know what it would look like, she knew she wanted to blend dance with purpose, to use movement as a way to connect and uplift others.

After college, she moved to Nashville and worked in the nonprofit world, gaining experience in fundraising and community outreach. But the idea for an inclusive dance program stayed quietly with her. It wasn’t until 2018 that she decided to test the concept. The Project launched as a summer camp for individuals with Down syndrome. The response was overwhelming. Families showed up. Volunteers were moved. And Lauren realized she couldn’t stop there.

MOVE Inclusive Dance began that summer with one clear vision: to create a space where individuals of all abilities could experience the joy of dance and not just as participants, but as the heart of the studio. Lauren saw a gap in the dance world and built something to fill it. A program designed specifically for people with disabilities, where inclusion isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the foundation.

What makes MOVE work is the culture it has created. Classes are structured but flexibility and creativity are always present. Instructors meet students exactly where they are, celebrating progress in all its forms. From the moment dancers walk through the door, they are seen, supported, and encouraged to take up space, not in spite of their differences, but because of them.

A Working Mother

The work Lauren does is deeply rewarding but not without pressure. She leads a team, manages funding, and carries a mission close to her heart, all while balancing life as a wife and mother.

Like many working moms, Lauren navigates the delicate balance between purpose and guilt. She knows her work matters and sees its impact clearly, yet the demands of her roles sometimes pull her in conflicting directions. She’s learning to embrace both — holding gratitude for her calling alongside kindness for herself on the harder days.

Motherhood has profoundly shaped her spiritual journey and her faith, in turn, has deeply influenced how she approaches motherhood. She describes childbirth as one of the most transformative experiences of her life, a moment when she deeply felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Since then, faith has shown up in the small, quiet moments of parenting, now more woven into her daily life than ever before.

Mental Health

When life feels overwhelming, Lauren doesn’t look for a grand escape. Instead, she returns to simple, grounding practices like slow breaths, a worship playlist, or a whispered prayer. Her favorite moments with her husband aren’t about big plans. They’re found in stillness: a weekend with nothing on the calendar, steaks on the grill, a bottle of good wine, brownies baking in the oven. These small rituals help steady her.

Mental health is an open topic in their home. One lesson that has stayed with Lauren came from her husband, Thomas, who gently encouraged her to shift from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this.” That subtle change in perspective transformed how she approaches her days, and it’s a mindset she now shares with friends and students when they feel stretched thin.

Therapy has also been a key part of Lauren’s journey. In her twenties, anxiety showed up in ways that left her shaken. It wasn’t until a boss pointed her toward a therapist that she began to understand what was really going on. That support was a turning point, helping her move toward healing and reclaim her life.

Friendships have evolved too. While Lauren no longer has time for long dinners or extended meetups, she still makes space for connection. Maybe it’s a quick walk beside another mom or a venting phone call with a friend that ultimately ends when a child needs her attention. But those small moments of connection remind her she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

The Real Life Behind the Work

At home, her routines are her gentle anchors: a pinch of Baja Gold salt before morning coffee, mouth tape at night for better sleep. If she had a full day to herself, she’d start with a workout and time in the infrared sauna, followed by a healthy lunch, a facial, and a massage. She’d end the day with reality TV and no interruptions, while her husband kisses the kids goodnight.

Her approach to parenting is the same blend of real and thoughtful. Screen time has its place, especially on road trips, which are tough for her son. Chicken nuggets are a staple, but she’ll sneak flaxseeds and hempseeds into mac and cheese or yogurt when she can. Dinner is built around organic meat always on hand (Thanks Costco!) or fresh seafood from her parents. She keeps the base simple to make meal decisions easy.

What Inclusion Really Means

Her down-to-earth philosophy extends into Lauren’s work at MOVE. When inclusion is working, she says, it just feels right. It’s not performative or polished, it’s warm, human, and honest. At MOVE, that shows up in the way students are celebrated for who they are, not what they achieve. Dance becomes a language when words fall short, a way to connect across disability, language, and culture.

She’s seen how much that kind of space matters. Families often walk through the studio doors bracing for rejection, worn down by a world that isn’t always built with them in mind. But here, they’re met with kindness. A knowing look from another parent, a welcoming word from a teacher, a place where their child is not just included, but deeply valued. Sometimes, even just an hour of belonging can be healing.

For Laure, inclusion doesn’t need to be perfect. It’s not about getting everything right. It’s about showing up, being curious, and staying open and respectful.

“Be kind. Be open. Listen. And above all, know this: disability isn’t a bad word. It’s not something to avoid or whisper. It’s normal. It’s human. When we embrace that, we build a community where everyone can belong.”

Disabilities aren’t something to fear or fix, it’s part of the human story, and it deserves to be seen. Embracing it invites us to build communities rooted in acceptance and genuine connection. When we open our hearts to see people fully, beyond labels or limitations, we create a world where everyone truly belongs.

Still Dreaming

Lauren is dreaming again. Building MOVE has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life, and she’s beginning to feel that familiar spark to start something new. Even small ideas excite her. She’s always imagining, always creating. And we are here for it.

To support or learn more about MOVE Inclusive Dance, click here.

Nicole

Before Arizona, there was Mississippi. Nicole and her husband, Dustin, never planned to move back there, but life took a turn. Both lost their jobs at the same time in New Orleans, and they had no choice but to head home. It felt like a setback, but in hindsight, it was a turning point. They began looking for work all across the country, and one day Dustin’s former boss called with an opportunity in Arizona.

Nicole already knew she loved Arizona. Her best friend lived there, and after several visits, she had fallen for the place. Dustin felt the same. So they made the move. Even though they miss their families deeply and Nicole still carries a tender ache for New Orleans, it’s clear that Arizona has been the best move for their family.

As their family grew, Nicole and Dustin made another big decision. When their second son was born, the demands of two careers, no nearby family, and constant travel simply didn’t add up. So they chose to make a shift. Nicole stepped away from her career to stay home, a choice that came with real sacrifice. It meant letting go of income, identity, and daily adult interaction but what she received in return has become the sweetest blessing.

What makes this season work? For Nicole, it’s community. Real, invested, everyday connection. “Every mom needs community. It’s my number one tip,” she says. Whether it’s an annual Easter egg hunt or a last-day-of-school swim party, the rhythms she’s built with other moms have brought joy and stability to the everyday. Having people to do life with makes the mundane feel lighter.

Motherhood has shaped Nicole in ways she didn’t expect. With her firstborn, things came easily. But her second son brought challenges that helped her realize just how different each child can be. Parenting, she’s learned, isn’t about getting it right every time. It’s about connection, intention, and meeting each child where they are. She says her kids can come to her with anything. Total mom win.

Health and fitness, once a way to spend time with her husband, have grown into something personal and powerful. Nicole now embraces movement for what it brings to her mental health. Together, she and her husband are intentional about modeling a balanced life for their kids, showing them what aging, fitness, and clean eating look like in a healthy, sustainable way.

She’s also honest about the ongoing work of marriage. Nicole recognizes that every relationship will hit a season where things feel like autopilot. To stay close, she and Dustin check in weekly and ask one another simple but meaningful questions: “Where is your love tank this week? What did I do well? What can I do better?” They were first inspired by The Five Love Languages, but the truth is, it’s their steady commitment to each other that makes it work. Their connection is something you can feel—quiet, steady, and full of spark.

Nicole also finds joy in the little things. Her current favorite Amazon find? CRZ Yoga sets—a great Lululemon dupe that keeps her comfortable and motivated through gym mornings that turn into full-day errands. And when it comes to dressing her boys, she swears by a mix of high and low: Zara, Abercrombie, Cotton On, H&M, and Target, with Walmart in the mix for toddler basics.

Nicole is someone who lights up a room. She’s encouraging, loyal, and naturally warm. She helped me land not just my first job, but my second, too. She loves to laugh, and her curly hair is legendary.

Arizona might not have been the original plan, but it’s where Nicole has rooted deeply. Her story is one of choosing change, leaning into growth, and finding joy right where she is.

Do you have any questions for Nicole?