Meet Tasha Dixon | Wellness & Self-Care Advocate

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

Hi Tasha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Luvthemama is a “luv-yourself” self-care subscription box and apparel shop for moms! The idea came about after talking with a girlfriend one summer. She asked me if I had thought about creating a self-care subscription box for moms because I was always “preaching” about self-care to my friends. I also have a background in mental health counseling, so I am very in tune with how self-care and good mental health correlate. My passion for self-care came about after I became a mom in 2012. I was so enthralled in motherhood and this new sweet baby, that my life started to feel imbalanced. I recognized that in order for my life to be fulfilled and sustainable, I needed to fill my own cup first, and then I could pour into others. After seeing the startling rates of post-partum depression and anxiety amongst mothers in America, I knew that education and advocacy was the key to decreasing these rates. Our Mama Boxes are designed to remind moms to take time for themselves and to be intentional with self-care. Because the boxes are delivered right to your doorstep, you don’t need to find a babysitter or leave the house. You can simply schedule time for yourself and enjoy your box! Our mission is to highlight the importance of self-care for moms in an effort to improve maternal and post-partum support all over the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets Luvthemama apart from other self-care subscription box services is that we have a box tailored for each stage of motherhood: pregnancy, post-partum, and post-partum and beyond. Each box includes feminine care items, bath and body products intended to give your body some TLC, a warm beverage sample, a yummy, healthy snack and a special treat to indulge in. It was not difficult to get started with this idea, however it was overwhelming initially because I needed to do research and to ensure that I was doing everything properly and professionally. I didn’t realize how much needed to be done until I started the process, but it was exciting and I would do it all over again given the opportunity! To overcome any challenges that arose, I made sure that I connected to other service providers in my industry to ask questions, receive feedback and to ensure that I was on the right track. Social media is an excellent tool for connecting with other like-minded business owners and it was comforting to know that many entrepreneurs are eager and willing to help other business owners. I love the fact that most business owners recognize that there is room at the table for everyone. Most live by the motto: “someone else may do what you do, but they can’t do it *like* you do it!” What I’ve learned along the way is that you need to create a business plan. You will need a business mentor to help guide you on the right path and to guide you along the way, answer your questions and point you towards resources that will help you grow. Also, legitimize your business right away: if you treat your business like a business, it will pay you like a business. If you treat your business like a hobby, which is fine, you will yield those results. It’s all about what your final goal is. What I would like the world to know about Luvthemama is that we will be known worldwide as a household name for self-care in motherhood. Our goal is to let every mama know that she deserves love, care and attention in every stage of motherhood. We want every mama who receives our boxes to know that her mental, physical and emotional health matters.

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.
If a friend was visiting Richmond, Virginia I would take them to Carytown first! Carytown is a historic part of Richmond that contains several boutiques and specialty shops, restaurants and unique finds. It’s truly a hidden gem! If they are a fan of sushi, I would hop over to Akida for sushi or maybe Mellow Mushroom for a pizza! Bev’s Homemade ice cream is a treat for delicious ice cream! Maymont Park is near Carytown and has a beautiful Japanese Garden, mansion and children’s farm with a petting zoo. My family and I love to walk around Maymont Park and stroll, see the animals and end with a picnic lunch near the Japanese Gardens. There’s also a cute little movie theater near Carytown called Bowtie Cinemas, so we could wrap up our day by seeing a movie and then grabbing a burger from Boulevard Burger and Brew directly across the street on our way home! They would also need to check out the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for amazing works of art from all over the world. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is gorgeous during the spring, summer and fall, but also around the holiday season when they have a beautiful light show each evening leading up to the new year. Shockhoe Bottom, Canal Walk and Brown’s Island are other historical landmarks to visit! There are really amazing restaurants in Shockhoe Bottom, to include Bottom’s Up Pizza – my family’s favorite! Havana 59 is an excellent Cuban restaurant with live salsa dancing during the week! Canal Walk and Brown’s Island pay tribute to the slaves who built the canals that lead to the James River. It is a beautiful area to see and learn more about out city’s history.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My inspiration and my muse are my three beautiful babies: Aubrey, III, Aniston Grace and Autumn Gwynne. You three have matured me in so many ways. I often joke that you are raising me as I am raising you. You have taught me so much about loving myself so that I can love you even better. You are my reason for implementing self-care on a regular basis, and I pray that you can see the benefits in it for us all. Thank you for giving me space and grace to grow. Aubrey, marrying you has been my greatest blessing and greatest lesson. Along with maturing with our babies, I feel as though you and I “grew up” together as a couple. You have taught me to love myself better as well. You have encouraged me to take time to myself every day as we tag-team parenting, you help with shipping packages, printing labels, and almost every other task needed around the house. We make a great team. I may not tell you enough, but I appreciate you deeply. My love for you is endless.

Website: www.luvthemama.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/luvthemama
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/luvthemama
Facebook: www.facebook.com/luvthemama