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.

Jackie

Motherhood in your 30s isn’t about having it all figured out, it’s about doing what works for your family and letting the rest go. Jackie is a stay-at-home mom with a toddler, another baby on the way, and a life that’s more about rhythm than routine. She teaches Pure Barre, carves out time for herself where she can, and holds space for both chaos and calm. Her days are full, sometimes overwhelming, often sweet, and always meaningful.

Routines, Rest, and What Actually Works

Every morning starts the same: her daughter calling out, “Moooommmm, come get me!” Jackie gets Mara settled with applesauce and a show, brews her coffee, and starts breakfast. Their mornings are slow but steady including FaceTiming grandparents, eating together, and heading to school or the gym. That rhythm helps everything else fall into place.

She tries to plan one thing each day. Sometimes it’s the library, errands, or a walk through Target. It’s less about getting things done and more about keeping everyone grounded. Staying home all day usually leads to restlessness, for everyone.

At home, painting and play-doh help fill the slower moments. And when it comes to screen time? Jackie’s honest: “I prioritize my sanity. I don’t know how people do no screen time.”

Tricks and Treats

Jackie swears by snacks, not just for the kids, but for herself too. A well-timed snack, she says, can prevent a meltdown from just about anyone in the family.

When it comes to dinner, Jackie keeps it simple and silly. Chicken night means a performance at the table complete with flapping wings and laughter. When she’s too tired to think, spaghetti and meatballs are always a reliable fallback.

Her current favorite Amazon find is magnesium glycinate, a game changer during pregnancy for headaches and insomnia. And her unofficial mom uniform? Athletic dresses. They’re cool, comfy, and require zero thought when getting dressed.

Mental and Physical Health

Motherhood has taught Jackie just how much weight women carry, emotionally, mentally, and physically. The constant multitasking, the emotional weight of caring for little people, the lack of quiet… it adds up. Some days feel great. Others feel like survival mode. She’s come to accept that the highs and lows are normal — and that it’s okay not to feel joyful every single moment. It’s not always calm but there is connection and that matters more.

Pure Barre might seem like a side gig, but it takes real planning and presence. Instructors don’t just show up, they choreograph, cue, count, and coach through every movement. Jackie puts a lot into it, and it shows. She loves it!

Jackie usually preps the day before class — often choreographing during nap time and then spending another hour or two after bedtime to fully memorize the flow. She typically teaches two different class formats in one day, and never repeats the same sequence twice — something her clients really appreciate.

She likes to take the class herself, too, so she can feel what her clients are feeling. It helps her push them through the moments when most people want to give up. On class days, she reviews her notes again in the morning to go in feeling focused and ready.

Jackie’s been teaching since 2014, but it took years of practice to get to where she is now — confident in her cues, timing, and connection. Teaching looks effortless from the outside, but it’s built on hours of prep, presence, and patience.

Jackie reminds her clients of something she often needs to hear too:

“No one is paying attention to what you’re doing! Stay focused on yourself, your form, your strength, and you’ll get so much more out of your class. ”

After a c-section and now pregnant again, her body feels unfamiliar. The number on the scale might be the same, but everything fits differently. She knows many moms feel the same, even if it’s rarely talked about.

Letting Go and Leaning In

Letting go of expectations — for her home, her body, and her timeline — has become an essential part of Jackie’s motherhood story. “My parents made it look a lot easier,” she says. And maybe they did — but she also knows there’s not one “right” way to do this. she’s learned to stay grounded in what works for her family. Not caring what others think about being a stay at home mom vs working full time took some time to accept.

Leading With Playfulness and Patience

One of Jackie’s quiet superpowers is keeping things light even when life feels heavy. Whether it’s dancing in the kitchen, making crafts at the table, or turning dinner into a full-on show, she finds ways to infuse fun into the everyday.

But none of it is accidental. That playfulness is rooted in something deeper: her desire to lead with kindness, gentleness, and patience. Jackie knows kids learn less from what you say and more from how you live. And she hopes her daughter sees a mom who’s present, steady, and loving even on the hard days.

Jackie wants her kids to remember that she showed up, paid attention, laughed with them, and loved them well. She hopes they learn compassion and resilience from watching her navigate this season with honesty, and maybe even joy.

The days are long, but the years are already speeding by. “It’s so cliché,” she says tearing up, “but it’s so true.”

If you’re a mom reading this thinking, “Same,” Jackie would probably hand you a snack and say, “You’re doing great.”

No filters. No pressure. Just real life, one messy, meaningful day at a time.

Curious what it really takes to become a Pure Barre instructor or how Jackie fits it into her life? Drop your questions in the comments below.

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