Instagram story viewer> @tifcreates> Posts

TIF : HAIRSTYLIST MENTOR

@tifcreates

7K

followers

2392

following

Owner : @merakihairloungemsp
🌞Minneapolis+St. Paul🌞
@velvaeremae : Viking Lakes
@merakihair.lab : masters program for stylists

POSTS STORIES REELS

To carry this gift again, this time to fully understand what it means. To have felt the biggest love, a love that you can’t explain. When you feel it, it is fully felt all at once instantly.

To then watch it move and change and grow year after year as the mystery of this beautiful love unfolds. How could something that feels as familiar as the palm of your own hand carry such wonder?

I know this journey, I’ve felt it’s powerful grasp. I got to swim the depths of motherhood for 15 years. 15 beautiful years.

I know the most unique side of that love. A side not many mothers explore, and I pray they never do. I’ve tasted the poison of having lost it all.

4 years of wandering the earth with my phantom limb of of love that I once called my motherhood, my daughter. And as I’ve wandered I’ve contemplated what would become of me on this aimless journey if I was to not feel able to hold and carry the gift of the big love again.

After you’ve experienced it… and after you’ve lost it - life is tinted a different color. You question the point of things. You burry yourself in tasks and if you’re like me, you do the hard work. You turn the dirt over and over trying to find who you are and who you were and who you’re becoming praying that it’s some version that’s able to make it to tomorrow.

After sometime you realize it may never be quite the same or quite as sweet. Then you stumble upon the biggest question of all. If I were to do it again, and it all went the same way, if I ended up on the side of losing it all again - would it be worth facing that pain again?

The answer was clear. That mysterious love that was lost - still shining so brightly guided the words “if I was able to experience it all again and it all went the same way - I would do it a million times over. Enduring the pain of the loss barely holds a flame to the love felt and experienced”

And so here I am walking down this mysterious path again, knowing very well the feeling that’s coming. I know when we meet, we will be reuniting. The person you will become will unfold in its own special way, all while feeling as familiar as the palm of her hand.
#mother by @tifcreates

Walking the trails in our new back yard. I think this will be magical for me for the rest of my life. Our new home is my version of my Barbie dream house. We will retire here and likely end our earth time here. It’s a crazy feeling to know you’ve shifted timelines in life and you know you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. The last 6 years since Aeva’s death have felt like being stuck in space and time. I won’t say I’m unstuck, but something has shifted in me so deeply. It’s a knowing of all of the things I had been trying to figure out in this grief process - yet somehow I knew them the entire time. There are things about our own suffering that feel so necessary but also chosen. I pray when the time is right for you to make a new choice, you’re brave enough to do it

After nap snuggles in front of the window full of trees and sun

New energy and spark happening in Eagan lately and it has been so much fun!

Bird house trail

Salon owner findings. Just a key snapped in half on my way to unlock the garbage.

Just something about cold crumbly dirt

Mornings here

We got our mums!!

7am walks with Clementine. Clementine has had some hard years of body pain and I swear we moved her here where she has room to roam and stretch and she’s limbering back up almost over night. I’ve seen her gallop even. We may have added a few extra years to this 10 year old girls life 💗

Driveway entrance

Queen of her castle. Our home is a Swiss Chalet - which I had never heard of until we toured it. I love it so much, it’s so unique and honestly perfect for us and our lifestyle.

First morning here we met this little lady

The Blue Ox jumped over the Loon.

I’ve been playing around with asking Aeva for very specific signs. So far it’s been insane. 2 weeks ago I asked her for a sign if I should have another baby.

I asked specifically to see a blue ox and that I wanted to see it by April (so I gave quite a bit of time). I also felt this would be a pretty difficult one to achieve.

2 days later I was driving from our Minneapolis home to our new home and decided to go a different route than usual due to traffic. As I passed over the Wakota bridge there was by @tifcreates

Biggest congrats to this sweet family... Tif & Paul, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this big moment, and honestly one of the coolest homes I’ve sold. I can’t wait for you guys to make it your own, and I’m so excited for you and this next chapter. 🤍 by @tifcreates

DADS DO HAIR!!!!

Ok listen up! This class only has 16 tickets total, we anticipate they will go quick!

This class is for any caregiver who wants to create a fun experience with their little when it comes to getting out of the house daily with no stress and pain free!

We welcome all caregivers! Not just dads - but we understand dads seem to struggle more in this area than others.

This class will give you and your little an opportunity to spend some time together learning all about hair care. You will learn how to properly detangle, brush and style your littles hair!

Class is taught be our lovely Emerging Creatives, @daileystylez and @hairby.hannah.ang on October 4th at 10am at our Saint Paul @merakihairloungemsp

Moms/partners feel free to tag along (no ticket needed)

Tickets include a @glowbeauty.hair brush which will make detangling a breeze, detangling spray and hair ties that won’t snag or snap!

Share this with anyone you know who would benefit from this fun experience! We can’t wait to see you!

#daddydaughter #mnevents #stpaulevents by @tifcreates

Life lately. The highest highs and the lowest lows. I’ve learned this is the cycle of life. What’s most important is you stay focused on what matters most and keep moving forward. Trust the things are always working out just as they should.

A heavy month of grief and putting our dog down unexpectedly after he bit someone was devastating. So many people I know have lost pets this year and it is absolutely heartbreaking and their absence feels so wrong. Our dog Joey was my protector in my grief. That dog truly saved my life 2020-2023 and I’m not sure I’d be here without him. With that he was the goodest good boy and he did exactly what he was supposed to do while he was earth side.

We got away for a week, randomly put an offer on a house (to be continued) and we are about to celebrate a 2 year old birthday party this weekend on the 4th of July! Can’t believe our son is about to be 2! by @tifcreates

A little bit of April

A lot of salon renovation content

A lot of warm days outside

A lot of this boy

In April I always tend to start sinking a little more. Aeva’s birthday peeking over the horizon line. Knowing what comes after. More crying. More reflecting. Only now it’s all different with this boy in my arms.

Renovating the Minneapolis salon has been such a deep dive. When we built it she was with me at first. She helped me paint the walls. And then she was gone. I pressed forward in some kind of hazy, buzzing, long term adrenaline spike. No room for feeling proud, happiness completely inaccessible.

The moments of feeling proud of the other things I have done have all been cloudy. Always thinking of what it would be like if she had been there all along.

Taking what she and I started back in 2020 in excitement and joy and renovating in excitement and joy feels like maybe it’s how I could have felt back then.

I am now someone completely different than the girl who opened these doors. Unrecognizable. Much calmer, much more present, much more curious, much more creative. Gratitude feels like a flimsy word when it stands with the feeling it gives.

The road to here is not one I could have predicted.

And here we are. Proud. by @tifcreates

A little sneak peak of our Minneapolis renovation 💫

We are currently interviewing for these new stations, there are 6 total and I currently have 4 available for rent.

We do have the capacity to add commission stylists to our team if they are the right fit.

We are located conveniently with access to 394, 94 and 35W within a minute of the salon. We are a stone throw away from Northloop, Uptown, the Kenwood neighborhood a Theodore Wirth Park. Our Minneapolis salon location was established in 2020 and has some of the most talented stylists in the twin cities. by @tifcreates

Life lately

We packed in a lot so far this year! Things taking up most of my time? Momming, training in new hires and the minneapolis salon renovation.

Only very recently had it occurred to me that I’m operating a multilevel complicated business with multiple moving parts all by myself. Making it to the gym 5 days a week and home by 3pm to play and have snacks with my son.

Somehow getting 6 hours of sleep a night if I’m lucky. The current chaos of the world has given many sleepless nights and I’m sure many of us can agree it is a strange time to be alive.

This year so far I’ve maintained a routine, kept building my new business venture @merakihair.lab continued negotiating spaces for said business venture, had a death in the family (RIP Christopher), attended and participated in a fundraiser at our St. Paul Meraki location put together by @sb.styles._ (blown away by that day still and how everyone showed up and raised money for a great cause), attended a wedding of a dear friend and turned 40! Continued renovating the Minneapolis salon space (almost done!) and amidst some chaos I kept my sanity (all while just navigating being a human in 2026)

There’s a lot coming up this year still. Including selling our condo in Long Beach Christopher was living in, selling our rental property here in minneapolis and getting our home ready to sell later this year. A big year changes and the astrology of the fire horse feels very appropriate. Closing many chapters this spring 😓🥲

I hope you’re hanging in there and keeping your eyes on the lessons we are learning and leaning into where you can be helpful and leaning back when you need to rest. by @tifcreates

Looking to take your business behind the chair independent? We have a rare chair opening at our Eagan Minnesota salon @velvaeremae

Work alongside some of the most talented stylists in the south eastern suburbs who are motivated to grow and continue to learn the most up to date looks.

We are located in Viking Lakes right across the street from the Vikings Training Center and are in an area with a lot of projected growth in retail and housing.

We carry R+Co and Kerastase and do stock Wella Color for your convenience.

We currently have part time and full time opportunities starting in March. Can’t wait to hear from you 💕 by @tifcreates

💌Valentine’s Community Event & Food Drive💌

Come enjoy a fresh blowout/style, warm up with a speciality coffee from @barra.mpls, and stand together to support our MN community! All proceeds/free-will offerings will go to helping those in need within our city through Interfaith Outreach! A raffle for fun prizes, coffee, calming activities, & a food/clothing drive will be available! 🫶🏻

🩷blowouts, styles, raffle tickets, & coffee will all be offered for free/ donation-based! Whatever you are able to donate for our community is so appreciated!

🩷If you are able to donate any items, kindly check the link provided on slide 2 for a list of most needed donations from IOCP:)

🩷 to pre-book your blowout/style, click the link below ⬇️ and select “DONATION BASED BLOWOUT” or message (605) 951-3731 to book! All stylists are tagged in the last slide🤍

online booking 🔗 https://www.merakimpls.com/st-paul

@hairbylesliemeredith @colorwithjayda @locksbyabby
@haleys.hairhaus @andreaschair_ @blondedbykaylee @kennidydidmyhair @tianahairmn @hannahjo_hair @_hair.by.pa @elena.artistry @hair.bygenevieve @bleach__please @sb.styles._ @hairbylaurenaxe

#mnstrong #iceoutmn by @tifcreates

Happy holidays 🌲

💗 tif + sir by @tifcreates