This week’s #RealLifeWonderWoman is both an entrepreneur and a college student. She’s not afraid of hard work and is fueled by a desire to genuinely care for others. I’ve seen her activate her inner superpowers of hospitality and kindness as the Assistant Manager at Evelie Blu Boutique (one of my favorite places to shop!) where she makes each guest who enters their doors feel special and welcome. You’re in for a treat today as you get to know Ellie LeBlanc, a real life Wonder Woman.

KR: Welcome Ellie! Would you please tell us about what brings you joy and fulfillment?

EL: The things that bring me the most joy are, of course, the people I surround myself with, but most importantly my parents. They have supported me wholeheartedly and have always been my number one fans. I love to spend time with them not only to have fun, but the thing I like most is that they are so wise and can teach me so much about life and give me some great advice for the major transitions that I am going through as I grow up. Another thing that brings me joy and fulfillment would be the steps I complete to reach my goals. This can be things such as graduating high school, getting into college, and completing every semester. Every time I complete a step, I feel a little more accomplished and excited to reach my dreams and set up my life I have ahead of me.

Lastly, my two kitties (Binx & Louis) and my dog (Bella) bring me that companionship that I never thought I would feel through an animal. They are definitely someone to talk to when needed!

KR: We all have inner superpowers. What are some of yours?

EL: One of my superpowers would be multitasking. I have learned this from the expert, my mom, who has taught me this skill especially by working in retail. I can manage lots of things at one time and not get too lost in what I am doing. I’d say this is a really great superpower to have because I can get lots of things done in a timely manner. To dig a little deeper, people have always told me I have a big heart. I do consider this a superpower because it seems to be rare now days. I treat everyone with an open heart and love to talk to people and care for them the best that I can. I think we all need someone like this in our lives because we need people who genuinely care about us.

KR: Can you tell us about an influential woman in your life and how she inspired you?

EL: Well, if you haven’t already guessed it, the most influential woman in my life would be my mom. She has taught me to shoot for the stars and put in the work to get what I want in life. She has not only told me this but shown me in her businesses. When she opened up her first store in 2008, I worked with her and helped her run the business at 8 years old. I thought she had achieved her dreams to the fullest, but I was wrong. She wanted something bigger and better, so she opened Evelie Blu Boutique! She worked very hard to get to this point which gave me a lot of respect for her. I am incredibly proud of her because there is so much more to owning your own business than just opening the door. She went through lots of sacrifices and risks to get to where she is today, which is living her dream that she had ever since she was a little girl. This makes me never want to give up my dreams and goals because I know it is possible with the work that I put in every single day.

KR: If you could have one super-human power, what would it be?

EL: If I could have one superpower, it would be to make the unfortunate fortunate. I think that everybody deserves happiness and joy in their life because that it what makes it so great. I’d give people homes that are homeless, jobs that are jobless, food that are hungry, and help that need it. This would for sure make me feel like a wonder woman and real-life superhero because this is something that could change people’s lives forever.

KR: What do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?

EL: One of my hobbies is making candles! I find so much joy in finding unique jars, filling them, and seeing people use them in their homes. This makes me happy because I enjoy burning candles as much as I enjoy making them. Another thing that I love to do is travel! My parents have always traveled with me so I can see the world and get out of Minnesota once in a while. Whenever I travel, I am reminded that there is so much more to life than just work and school and that we are so tiny in comparison to the rest of the world.

KR: Knowing what you know at this stage of your life, what words of wisdom would you give to your 20-year-old-self?

EL: Since I am 20 years old right now, I will give some advice to my future self. I would tell myself to stop and take a few moments to remind yourself of what you are grateful for, what you have accomplished, and what you are striving for. I think we can get pretty caught up in life and routines that we need to take a step back sometimes. This will remind us of the things we value most in life and why we are doing what we are doing. I call it self-reflecting.

KR: Wise words, indeed! Thank you, Ellie, for sharing your thoughts and ideas with us today. I do have a couple of candle questions. Where can we purchase Ellie Rose candles? And would you tell our readers about your refill option for special vessels and jars? 

EL: Sure! You can purchase them at EvelieBlu in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Or online at evelieblu.com. I use a high quality soy wax blend for a cleaner, longer burn, and a wood wick (which not only looks neat, but makes a crackling sound as it burns). If you have a special jar or sentimental vessel (perhaps a goblet, teacup or pottery piece) that you’d like made into a candle, I refill them with the scent of your choice. You just pay per ounce. It’s a great way to reuse and recycle jars and get a custom candle that you can enjoy all season long.