It is Meet a Mom Monday!
This week we are pleased to share Alicia Southern. She and her husband Joshua have 2 kids and are the owners of Risky Studios Lansing. GLAMoms met Alicia a couple of years ago and since have had the pleasure to work with her at GLAMJam Summer Kickoff!
Read more about this busy and very involved mom, her civilian position at East Lansing Police Department, more about Risky Studios and a fun idea of her son that now is a weekly family dinner date at the Lansing Chick-Fil-A! And so much more! 🥰
Welcome to GLAMoms, Alicia! Please introduce yourself!
I am Alicia Southern Co-Owner/ CEO of Risky Studios. My husband and I are originally from Saginaw where we both attended Saginaw High School. My family and I reside in Lansing after relocating here in 2018.
How old are your kids?
I have two children, Joshua, 7 and Layla, 3.
What do you think is one of the best parts about being a mom so far?
The best part of being a mom for me is teaching tiny humans the foundational things they will use for the rest of their lives. I also enjoy creating different experiences that will give them lasting memories.
What is a piece of advice for new moms you wish you would have known when you were a new mom?
Give yourself grace and be okay with asking for exactly what you need from your support system. Too often we put pressure on ourselves to reach unnecessary milestones, goals and expectations and don’t give ourselves grace.
Tapping into your tribe and expressing your feelings and needs will be so much better for your mental health and experience as a parent.
Please tell us more about Risky Studios!
Risky Studios is a podcast production and recording studio. We offer a range of services to professional and novice creators through consultation, creative direction, production and editing. Risky Studios does live streaming, videography, editing, music production, hosting and we also provide DJ services for private and corporate events. Many of our clients use our newly expanded space for holding meetings and small events as well.
Did you enjoy yourself as the GLAM Jam Summer Kickoff Master of Ceremony TWO years in a row!?
GLAM Jam was a success for the second year in a row. I enjoyed and have been honored to work with Julie & Christine for this event. Myself and DJ Myrical look forward to being part of this event and others for the Greater Lansing Area Moms in the future.
Thank you Alicia, GLAM Jam Summer Kickoff was amazing and we are so grateful for you and DJ Myrical
What are you looking forward to the remainder of 2023?
I look forward to partnering with other leaders and organizations in the community and having the opportunity to connect with other great moms!
How do you balance being a mom and a small business owner?
I have the opportunity to work with my amazing husband who has recently made the transition to working our businesses full time. I now have more support on the business side as well as at home. I find the most balance at this point in my life by prioritizing my health both mentally and physically which allows me the strength, energy and mental bandwidth to tackle my daily obligations
Who has been your biggest role model?
I would have to say that the women in my family as a group have been great role models. They all contribute different things to my life in very different but important ways, even if they don’t know it or do it intentionally.
You work for the East Lansing Police Department too? Would you share more about the community focused position?
As a Neighborhood Resource Specialist with ELPD, I serve the community in a non-sworn position. In my position I respond to non-emergent, quality of life community issues such as neighbor complaints as well as participate in community events. This position allows me to connect with the community and assist them in a different capacity than our sworn officers.
Here are a couple questions to get to know you better 🙂
What gets you up in the morning?
Multiple alarms LOL! Really, my kids being excited for the day gets me up, especially when we have days off to hang out.
And how do you take your coffee? 😊
Since I’m not a coffee drinker, I’ll get up and make a huge cup of tea; usually a blend that will give me energy or something fruity. I make a pretty good cup of hot cocoa too.
Last book you read?
My husband and I read Marriage Be Hard by Kevin & Melissa Fredericks together, great read!
What kind of music do you listen to?
I LOVE music and we have a studio so really, all genres but I LOVE 90s R&B.
If you watch television, what is your favorite show?
My go to will always be Law & Order: SVU
The children’s book you most enjoy reading?
The “Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
Where are some of your favorite places locally to spend time with your family/family favorites?
When we first moved to Lansing, my son made up “Chick-Fil-A Friday”, so most Fridays since 2018 we spend at the Lansing Chick-Fil-A for dinner. The kids play and we catch up with each other at the end of the week. The owner Kate & her staff have become like family and have watched the kids grow over the years.
What do you think the Greater Lansing area needs more of?
More events for moms to connect with each other.
Mind sharing a mom trick another mom will be happy to learn?
Since it’s summer vacation time, the best tricks I have learned as a mom have been geared towards traveling with the family. For road trips, bathe the kids, put them in PJ’s and leave at bedtime. You miss traffic and everyone stays on their usual schedule.
What is something you do yearly with your son as you prepare to head back to school?
Each summer we go through the previous years school uniforms and sports equipment. We take everything that he’s outgrown to his school and to local organizations to donate.
The age difference of 4 ½ years, what did they have in common over the summer?
Layla had a great time following Joshua around and doing whatever he did. They enjoyed playing together and spending time with each other.
What was something you did this summer that you very much enjoyed?
We have quite a few summer birthdays in our family so taking time to celebrate everyone’s birthday this year was fun and relaxing!
Thank you so much for joining us this week! We could go on and on about how much we have enjoyed getting to know Alicia! She did an incredible job at GLAM Jam Summer Kickoff two years in a row – and we are looking forward to working with her again in 2024 😊
We hope you have a fantastic last bit of summer and your kids have a fantastic school year!
How do you prefer readers to connect with you if they would like more information?
Follow us on social media @riskystudioslansing on both Facebook and Instagram or email us at [email protected]
Would you like to offer GLAMoms readers a discount, deal or incentive?
Now through the end of the year, GLAMoms can get $15 off hourly sessions and $25 off their 1st month of membership at Risky Studios.
Photo credit:
Alicia and her family: Mikayla Monae Photography
Alicia on the stairs: Photo credit: 87 Visuals Photography
Alicia, Joshua and Sparty: GLAMoms
Joshua and Layla: Allicia Southern
Risky Studios and DJ Myrical at GLAM Jam Summer Kickoff
Meet a Mom Sponsor information
Today’s Meet a Mom featuring Alicia Southern was brought to you by Boji Group. Boji Group specializes in Private-Public Partnerships, has offices in both Lansing and Birmingham and is headquartered in downtown Lansing.
