Hi!  My name is Colleen Phillips Leffler, and I am the owner of Village Boutique!  I have been playing in makeup since I was 6 years old (it helps to have a big sister and know which drawer she hides her makeup in) and I can never resist buying just one more shade of eye shadow so opening Village Boutique was just an excuse to buy thousands of eye shadows at a time without feeling guilty!  Just kidding -- kinda!

Seriously, I have always loved makeup and fashion.  When I was 19, I started modeling professionally.  It was really exciting in the beginning, but I soon learned the hard way that modeling isn't nearly as glamorous as it looks in the magazines.  And the demand for junior petite models (I'm only 5 feet tall) isn't great so it was obvious that I was going to have to choose a back-up career just in case I didn't become rich and famous as the world's top pocket-size model.  I ended up becoming a professional photographer instead.  But along the way I learned how important it is to eat right, stay healthy, stay in shape without starvation diets, get front row seats for all Bon Jovi concerts, and most of all -- how important it is to take care of your skin.  And thanks to Oprah, I learned how to choose the right coconut bra size to go with my grass skirt for all the Jimmy Buffet concerts.

Looking good and taking care of my skin has always been important to me, but shortly after becoming a single mother with 3 kids, I saw my first wrinkle and EEEKKKK!!!!  Suddenly I became a crazy woman, determined to find a way to stay 29, wrinkle-free with great skin.  I stopped using products with harsh chemicals, got healthier using Herbalife products and started drinking Xango Mangosteen juice.  I switched to all natural mineral cosmetics because they are actually good for your skin.  By that time, using natural products and eating healthy had become a habit.  Then I discovered the miracles of olive oil.  Now I use olive oil and goat's milk soap, olive oil lotion, I wash my hair with olive oil shampoo and I cook with olive oil.  I live in the heart of a little Greek Village right on the Gulf of Mexico so switching over to natural sponges for bathing fit right into my lifestyle.

Several months ago I discovered European Bare Minerals.  I had been using the popular brand of Bare Minerals that you see on infomercials, and I really wanted to love it as much as everyone else seemed to, but the truth is that the well-known brand adds Bismuth Oxide to their products and the unnatural shine from Bismuth made me look like I was going trick-or-treating.  Lots of women are allergic to Bismuth Oxide so I'm not sure why they add it, but when I discovered European Bare, I was ecstatic!  European Bare doesn't contain Bismuth Oxide so I can wear it with no problem.  And it is good for your skin!  I was so impressed that I contacted the company and asked for permission to import their wonderful minerals into the United States.  It was the beginning of a whole new love affair!  Soon afterwards I opened Village Boutique so I could share my passion for healthy, natural products with others.   I only sell products that I believe in and use myself so if it is in Village Boutique, I believe in it and recommend it.

Customer service is always important to me and I work hard to give each of my customers the best service I can -- from answering emails truthfully and honestly, to shipping all orders within 24 hours of receiving payment.  I work hard to keep all of my customers happy.  I don't want one-time shoppers.  I want happy, loyal customers who are so happy with my products and my service that they come back again and again.  I love my customers.  My customers are like family.  They are my friends.

So that's me.  And that's Village Boutique.  I hope you will come back to my store often.  I enjoyed visiting with you!

Colleen

P.S. -- I'll trade products for front row tickets to Bon Jovi concerts any time!