My Latest Work
Best Time to Visit South Africa: Weather, Seasons & Tips
Few places on earth offer as much variety as South Africa. From the sun-drenched vineyards of the Western Cape to the expansive plains of Kruger National Park, each season brings its own rhythm, flavor, and adventure. Guided by insights from Collette’s own travelers and destination experts who have explored South Africa firsthand, we know that timing can transform a great trip into an unforgettable one.Whether you’re searching for lions on safari, sampling world-class wines, or traveling along a...
Best Places to Visit in the US: Month-by-Month Travel Guide
The United States is a land of contrasts, where every season paints the country in a new light. From New England’s fiery autumns to the Pacific Coast’s breezy summers, the best time to travel depends on what kind of experience you’re after. And, the U.S. is made up of different regions, each with its own unique climate, culture, and best travel seasons, so your experience can vary greatly depending on where you go.Whether you’re dreaming of leaf-peeping road trips, desert adventures, or coastal...
What Is a Safari? | What to Expect on a Safari with Collette
Picture this: the sun rising over the savanna — golden light brushing the tall grass, elephants trudging by, and a lion’s roar carrying across the plains.The term safari comes from the Swahili word for “journey.” It reflects both the physical adventure and the emotional discovery that come with venturing into the wild.A safari offers the chance to see nature at its most raw and real. From Kenya’s open savannas to Tanzania’s endless plains, safaris reveal the intricate balance of life that unfold...
The Living Art of Portuguese Tiles: Meet Artisan Luis Oliveira
When you picture Portugal, you might see golden beaches or rolling vineyards. Yet another iconic piece of scenery can be found on buildings throughout the country. Azulejos, hand-painted tiles, brighten the interiors and exteriors of churches, palaces, train stations, and people’s homes.These intricate works trace stories of faith, culture, and community across centuries, turning neighborhoods throughout Portugal into open-air galleries.Today, we’re traveling to Azeitão, a small town near Lisbon...
Life in Portugal’s Cork Country: Meet Cork Producer and Artisan David Caeiro
When you think of cork, what comes to mind? Wine bottle stoppers might be your first answer. However, this sustainable material has numerous uses, ranging from fashion accessories and clothing to shoes, furniture, flooring, wall coverings, and more. Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork, and the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) thrives in the country’s southern Alentejo region.Today, we’re virtually taking you to the center of the cork industry—to a small village just outside of the regi...
Behind the Business with Miller Mortgage, LLC in Peabody, MA
After working for large mortgage lending companies for a few years, Chris Miller decided to lean into his entrepreneurial spirit in 2006. “I learned a lot from the two places I had worked, but I also noted things I would do differently. Combine that mindset with a guy who played football and baseball in high school and college and was the team captain, and you get someone who wants to have their own business. It was the natural move for me, once I had the kn...
Community-centered life insurance: Behind the Business with Royal Arcanum in Boston, MA
Since its founding in 1877, Royal Arcanum in Boston has provided life insurance to middle—and lower-income families. Royal Arcanum is a fraternal benefit society and a non-profit. In short, the life insurance company operates differently from commercial insurers. Royal Arcanum reinvests its profits into its communities, including funding scholarships, participating in community projects, and supporting charitable causes.
Chief Operating Officer Nick Benoit descr...
Chief Operating Officer Nick Benoit descr...
Helping small businesses white-label apparel: Behind the Business with Happy Lilliput in Acton, MA
Helping small businesses white-label apparel
Megha Patil, a biochemist turned apparel designer and fashion business consultant in Acton, MA, shared her journey to entrepreneurship with us. Growing up in India, Megha always wanted to become a fashion designer but pursued a more stable career in biochemistry. After realizing she couldn’t shake her desire to create, Megha followed her heart and studied fashion design in India and fashion styling at the University of the Arts London.
Several years a...
Megha Patil, a biochemist turned apparel designer and fashion business consultant in Acton, MA, shared her journey to entrepreneurship with us. Growing up in India, Megha always wanted to become a fashion designer but pursued a more stable career in biochemistry. After realizing she couldn’t shake her desire to create, Megha followed her heart and studied fashion design in India and fashion styling at the University of the Arts London.
Several years a...
Residential and commercial moving with care: Behind the Business with Movers on the Go in Revere, MA
Residential and commercial moving with care
Movers on the Go is a family-owned, full-service moving company in Revere, MA, and it has served commercial and residential clients in the Boston area since 1997. After spending years working for one of the major national moving companies, founder Domenic Fazio decided to branch out on his own and take a more personal approach to the moving industry in Massachusetts. During our conversation, the small business owner provided insight into how his compan...
Movers on the Go is a family-owned, full-service moving company in Revere, MA, and it has served commercial and residential clients in the Boston area since 1997. After spending years working for one of the major national moving companies, founder Domenic Fazio decided to branch out on his own and take a more personal approach to the moving industry in Massachusetts. During our conversation, the small business owner provided insight into how his compan...
Helping seniors navigate life changes: Behind the Business with Dovetail Companies in Wilmington, MA
Helping seniors navigate life changes
Growing older comes with life changes. Some mature adults downsize their homes and move to senior housing; others age in place or transition to assisted living—there are countless scenarios, and people experience aging differently. Erin DiCarlo and Lauren Watts, co-owners of the Dovetail Companies in Wilmington, MA, are age-well advocates and help older adults transition to their next life stage. The business owners noted that elders are often left out of co...
Growing older comes with life changes. Some mature adults downsize their homes and move to senior housing; others age in place or transition to assisted living—there are countless scenarios, and people experience aging differently. Erin DiCarlo and Lauren Watts, co-owners of the Dovetail Companies in Wilmington, MA, are age-well advocates and help older adults transition to their next life stage. The business owners noted that elders are often left out of co...
Precision in the polish: Behind the Business with Maine Recon in Scarborough, ME
Precision in the polish
Joshua Davis owns Maine Recon, an auto-detailing business in Saco, ME. Maine Recon specializes in detailing motorized vehicles, which includes cleaning and restoring an auto’s interior, exterior, or both. Davis works on personal vehicles, commercial vehicles, boats, motorcycles, RVs, and more. In his interview, Davis shared what led him on the entrepreneurial path, what his business is like today, and more.
Davis started auto detailing in 2011. At the time, he was workin...
Joshua Davis owns Maine Recon, an auto-detailing business in Saco, ME. Maine Recon specializes in detailing motorized vehicles, which includes cleaning and restoring an auto’s interior, exterior, or both. Davis works on personal vehicles, commercial vehicles, boats, motorcycles, RVs, and more. In his interview, Davis shared what led him on the entrepreneurial path, what his business is like today, and more.
Davis started auto detailing in 2011. At the time, he was workin...
Legal matters: Behind the Business with the Law Office of Patrick M. Culhane, P.C. in Braintree, MA
Legal matters
Patrick M. Culhane, P.C. founded his law office in 2001 in Braintree, MA and offers services spanning estate planning, bankruptcy and real estate. The attorney chose to pursue a legal career in midlife, which inspired him to start his own practice. “I went to law school at night. I was working; I had a family. I was close to 40 when I went to law school. Getting into a firm when you’re older is hard, so I started my own practice and built it through word of mouth,” the attorney sai...
Patrick M. Culhane, P.C. founded his law office in 2001 in Braintree, MA and offers services spanning estate planning, bankruptcy and real estate. The attorney chose to pursue a legal career in midlife, which inspired him to start his own practice. “I went to law school at night. I was working; I had a family. I was close to 40 when I went to law school. Getting into a firm when you’re older is hard, so I started my own practice and built it through word of mouth,” the attorney sai...
Construction on Cape Cod: Behind the Business with Coast Carpentry Home Improvement in Sandwich, MA
Construction on Cape Cod
Fagner Mirelio Lima Rodrigues owns Coast Carpentry Home Improvement, Inc. in Sandwich, MA. Serving Cape Cod, the construction company offers carpentry, roofing, siding, gutters, deck building and painting for residential clients.
Rodrigues immigrated to the United States from Brazil, where he was in construction for many years. After working for another contractor in Massachusetts, he decided to start his own construction company in 2021. “When I came to the USA, carpent...
Fagner Mirelio Lima Rodrigues owns Coast Carpentry Home Improvement, Inc. in Sandwich, MA. Serving Cape Cod, the construction company offers carpentry, roofing, siding, gutters, deck building and painting for residential clients.
Rodrigues immigrated to the United States from Brazil, where he was in construction for many years. After working for another contractor in Massachusetts, he decided to start his own construction company in 2021. “When I came to the USA, carpent...
Digging the foundation: Behind the Business with David Towle & Sons Excavating in Cumberland, RI
Digging the foundation
Homeowners encounter different maintenance and renovation needs for their properties, including septic systems. David Towle & Sons Excavating in Cumberland, RI specializes in septic system design and installation. Additionally, the company provides excavation for new home sites and trenches for electric, water and sewer lines.
Owner David Towle shared that the business has a rich history. His father started the company in the late 1970s, and today it serves all of Rhode Is...
Homeowners encounter different maintenance and renovation needs for their properties, including septic systems. David Towle & Sons Excavating in Cumberland, RI specializes in septic system design and installation. Additionally, the company provides excavation for new home sites and trenches for electric, water and sewer lines.
Owner David Towle shared that the business has a rich history. His father started the company in the late 1970s, and today it serves all of Rhode Is...
Empowering nurses, enriching lives: Behind the Business with Home, Hope & Healing in Smithfield, ME
Empowering nurses, enriching lives
Sisters Jill Lufkin-Robinson and Jane Hall, both registered nurses (RN), shared a vision to provide medically complex children and adults with the medical support and care needed to keep them at home with their families. They founded Home, Hope & Healing, a private duty nursing company, in Smithfield, ME, in 2002.
“We're both registered nurses and have a very diverse background. Jane has done school nursing and many other things, and I've done a bunch of home c...
Sisters Jill Lufkin-Robinson and Jane Hall, both registered nurses (RN), shared a vision to provide medically complex children and adults with the medical support and care needed to keep them at home with their families. They founded Home, Hope & Healing, a private duty nursing company, in Smithfield, ME, in 2002.
“We're both registered nurses and have a very diverse background. Jane has done school nursing and many other things, and I've done a bunch of home c...
Blades of faith: Behind the Business with Khalsa Raj in Millis, MA
Blades of faith
Jot S Khalsa owns Khalsa Raj in Millis, MA, where he designs, creates and sells fine jewelry, artful objects and collectible knives. His artful designs can also be purchased via Khalsa Raj’s online store.
Interestingly, Khalsa discovered his faith and the practices of yoga and meditation in the early 70s. These discoveries influenced the designer’s choice of careers. For reference, Khalsa practices Sikhism, an Indian monotheistic religion India that believes in equality for all a...
Jot S Khalsa owns Khalsa Raj in Millis, MA, where he designs, creates and sells fine jewelry, artful objects and collectible knives. His artful designs can also be purchased via Khalsa Raj’s online store.
Interestingly, Khalsa discovered his faith and the practices of yoga and meditation in the early 70s. These discoveries influenced the designer’s choice of careers. For reference, Khalsa practices Sikhism, an Indian monotheistic religion India that believes in equality for all a...
Artisan Joy Issue 6
In Issue 6 of Artisan Joy magazine, we feature interviews with incredible creative entrepreneurs. They're breaking barriers and challenging the status quo. Artisan Joy's mission is to be a platform where creative entrepreneurs are heard, valued, and celebrated for their positive impacts on the economy and their local communities.
Independent wealth management: Behind the Business with Apex Wealth in Danvers, MA
Massachusetts native Cliff Ambrose worked in management at a large insurance company for years and had a small financial advising practice on the side. Then, in 2019, Ambrose decided to go all in on his business, opening Apex Wealth. In his interview, Ambrose shared his business philosophy and why he was set on running an independent financial advising practice.
“Primarily, Apex Wealth focuses on wealth management and retirement planning, and we also work with business owners on financial plann
“Primarily, Apex Wealth focuses on wealth management and retirement planning, and we also work with business owners on financial plann
Keeping families together: Behind the Business with The Law Office of Kevin Seaver in Boston, MA
Kevin Patrick Seaver founded The Law Office of Kevin Seaver in Boston over thirty years ago. His journey into law and establishment of his firm represent his commitment to justice and belief in the power of individual agency.
After graduating from law school, Kevin Seaver, driven by a sense of independence and a desire to chart his course, sidestepped the traditional path of joining a law firm. Kevin Seaver told us, “There were two things I knew when I graduated from law school. Number one: I d
After graduating from law school, Kevin Seaver, driven by a sense of independence and a desire to chart his course, sidestepped the traditional path of joining a law firm. Kevin Seaver told us, “There were two things I knew when I graduated from law school. Number one: I d
Craft and community: Behind the Business with Laurie’s Certified Construction, LLC in Colchester, VT
Laurie Goldsmith and her husband of 28 years operate Laurie's Certified Construction in Colchester, VT. With over four decades of experience, Goldsmith shared that her company offers a broad spectrum of construction services and aims to provide personalized and detail-oriented service.
The entrepreneur elaborated on the types of projects her company takes on. “We build additions, and we remodel kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, and add on apartments and bedrooms and stuff like that. So, we pr
The entrepreneur elaborated on the types of projects her company takes on. “We build additions, and we remodel kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, and add on apartments and bedrooms and stuff like that. So, we pr
Continuing a roofing legacy: Behind the Business with DeCarney Roofing in Beverly, MA
Decarney Roofing is a local business out of Beverly, MA that services the North Shore with a commitment to excellent customer service. Third-generation roofer Mario DeCarney began his entrepreneurial journey in 2017 after working for years with his father.
“I started roofing because my father owned a roofing company, and my grandfather also owned a roofing company. I started working with my dad pretty much every day after school and then eventually started my own company,” recalled Mario when a
“I started roofing because my father owned a roofing company, and my grandfather also owned a roofing company. I started working with my dad pretty much every day after school and then eventually started my own company,” recalled Mario when a
Science, sustainability, community: Behind the Business with Cambridge Scientific in Watertown, MA
In Watertown, MA, Cambridge Scientific sells laboratory equipment and provides furnished labs for startups to kickstart their research endeavors. The company's origin story is inspiring. In the 1990s, Barbara Pearlman worked in sales for a medical equipment company that sold hospital gear, such as beds and x-ray machines. While in the field, she "ran into a lot of research equipment for laboratories," which inspired an idea. Pearlman recommended that her employer begin selling the research equip
Reviving mind and body: Behind the Business with Sewall House Yoga Retreat in Island Falls, ME
When yoga instructor Donna Davidge was a child, she spent summers visiting Sewall House, her great grandparents' home in Northern Maine. Davidge’s great-great-grandparents settled in Island Falls, where the property is located, in the mid-1800s. "My great-grandfather was the first non-Native American child born in Island Falls. So, he learned about nature from Native Americans since age three. So, that's what I heard about as a child. I grew up in Connecticut, but my heart was always in Maine. I
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