Meet Anais Childress | Educator & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anais Childress and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anais, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

OfficiallyLMD was birthed through an experience I had as an educator. Firstly, I have always love style and started a blog about my own personal style as an educator because I struggled with the narrative of what one “should look like”. Then people started asking me to style them and give them advise so that is when Le Monde a la Mode LLC was born. It means “The Fashionable World” in French as that is the other language I speak. I was only styling clients for vacations, transitional wardrobes and the like, until I realised that I needed to break through the travel world. You see I have always believed in travel for scholars and wanted to take a group of my scholars on a trip, so I did. There are countless companies out there that make it easy for educators to plan this type of thing and I went with one of them. We had a great experience however, I quickly learned that the company was not maximizing the investments my scholars were making and they had been working so hard to make their trips happen so that annoyed me. I figured, can I do this on my own? I have a lot of travel experience but never dreamt about curating trips for others. I planned a graduation trip for 22 to Milan Paris and Barcelona, actually, we were supposed to being going to Japan but COVID so within 3 months I had to change the trip. It was that moment I decided that I could help others live the lifestyle they wanted to without throwing their money away at useless nonsense .Since January 2022, I have been blessed to help people through discovering themselves after divorce, to planning their dream trip with their girlfriends, to helping strangers become friends and make life-altering travel decisions that they will remember forever through our group experiences.

What should our readers know about your business?

Creating OfficiallyLMD while being a full-time educator has been a challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey. Teaching is a demanding job, filled with lesson planning, grading, and the emotional work of supporting students. But my passion for fashion and travel was always there, and I found ways to weave it into my daily life, even amidst the chaos of the classroom.

It all started with a personal blog where I shared my style as an educator. I wanted to challenge the conventional image of how teachers should dress and show that personal expression was possible even within the confines of school policy. As my blog gained traction, I noticed a growing interest from my colleagues and students, who started asking me for style advice. This was the spark that ignited the creation of OfficiallyLMD.

While teaching during the day, I spent evenings and weekends working on my business. I launched Le Monde a la Mode LLC to offer personal styling services, initially focusing on vacation wardrobes and transitional pieces. It was challenging to balance my day job with my side hustle, but I was determined to make it work. The real turning point came when I organized a graduation trip for my scholars, which showed me the transformative power of travel and how I could create meaningful experiences for others.

As the business grew, so did my responsibilities. I had to learn the ins and outs of travel planning, marketing, and customer service, all while maintaining my role as an educator. There were late nights, early mornings, and countless weekends spent juggling schoolwork with business tasks. But each challenge taught me valuable lessons about perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of pursuing your passions, no matter how busy life gets.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been the impact I’ve had on my scholars and clients. Whether it’s helping them find their style, plan their dream vacation, or create unforgettable travel experiences, seeing their joy and transformation has made all the hard work worthwhile. It’s a constant reminder that following your passion can lead to incredible outcomes, even when it seems impossible to balance everything.

Being a full-time educator while running a business is no small feat, but it has given me a unique perspective on the importance of resilience, creativity, and the ability to find inspiration in unexpected places. This journey is far from over, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Here’s a weekend itinerary for visiting your favorite spots in Dallas, including Village Baking Co., Son of a Butcher, White Rock Lake, and Shoreline City Church.

Friday Evening: Arrival and Dinner
– Arrive in Dallas: Check into your hotel or accommodation and get settled.
– Dinner at Son of a Butcher: Kick off your weekend with some of the best sliders in town. Enjoy a selection of unique sliders with creative toppings, along with loaded fries or a milkshake for dessert.

Saturday Morning: Breakfast and Outdoor Adventure
– Breakfast at Village Baking Co.: Start your day with a trip to Village Baking Co. Enjoy fresh pastries, croissants, and coffee. Be sure to try their famous almond croissants or kouign-amann.
– Head to White Rock Lake: After breakfast, make your way to White Rock Lake for a morning of outdoor activities. You can go for a walk or bike ride along the trails, enjoy a picnic by the lake, or rent a kayak for a relaxing paddle on the water.

Saturday Afternoon: Explore and Relax
– Visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden: Located near White Rock Lake, this expansive garden offers a variety of themed areas to explore. Take a leisurely stroll through the gardens and enjoy the scenic views.
– Lunch at a Local Spot: Stop by a nearby café or food truck for a quick lunch. You can also bring snacks from Village Baking Co. to enjoy during your walk through the gardens.

Saturday Evening: Dinner and Nightlife
– Dinner at a Local Restaurant: For a relaxed dinner, consider dining at a restaurant in Deep Ellum, a trendy neighborhood known for its artsy vibe and great food. You can try Pecan Lodge for some delicious barbecue or a unique dining experience at a gastropub.
– Explore Deep Ellum: After dinner, walk around Deep Ellum to check out the street art and visit some local shops or bars for a nightcap.

Sunday Morning: Church and Brunch
– Shoreline City Church: Start your Sunday with a visit to Shoreline City Church for their morning service. Enjoy the uplifting atmosphere and connect with the local community.
– Brunch at a Local Eatery: After church, head to a nearby brunch spot to enjoy a hearty meal. Try places like Hattie’s Restaurant or Boulevardier for a classic brunch experience.

Sunday Afternoon: Wrap-Up and Departure
– Last-Minute Sightseeing: Depending on your departure time, you can visit other popular Dallas attractions, like the Perot Museum of Nature and Science or the Dallas Museum of Art.
– Departure: Head back to your hotel to check out and make your way to the airport or train station for your journey home.

Enjoy your weekend exploring your favorite spots in Dallas!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Here’s to all the incredible scholars who inspired me to start OfficiallyLMD! You were the reason this journey began, and I’m so grateful for your impact on my life and business.

OfficiallyLMD was born from my experience as an educator and the passion I had for style. I started a blog about my personal style as a teacher, challenging the typical image of how an educator should look. As I shared my journey, you—my amazing scholars—began asking for style tips and advice. That’s when Le Monde a la Mode LLC was born, which means “The Fashionable World” in French. I started by helping clients with vacation styling and wardrobe transitions, but it was your encouragement and curiosity that pushed me to dream bigger.

I always believed in the power of travel, especially for you scholars, so I decided to organize a trip for you. We had a great time, but I realized the travel company we used wasn’t maximizing the hard-earned money you invested. That didn’t sit well with me. I knew I could do better, not just for myself but for all of you who believed in me.

I took on the challenge of planning a graduation trip to Milan, Paris, and Barcelona. Originally, we were set for Japan, but COVID-19 forced a change in plans within just three months. It was intense, but your energy and enthusiasm made it all worth it. That experience convinced me that I could create unforgettable travel experiences for others without unnecessary costs and stress.

Since January 2022, I’ve been able to help people find joy in travel, thanks to the inspiration I got from you. I’ve seen people rediscover themselves after divorce, plan dream trips with their best friends, and even turn strangers into friends during our group adventures. You, my scholars, are the reason I do this. Your drive, passion, and excitement have made all the difference.

Thank you for inspiring me to start OfficiallyLMD. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without you. Here’s to the incredible experiences we’ve had and the ones still to come!

Website: OfficiallyLMD.com

Instagram: OfficiallyLMD

Linkedin: Anaischildress

Twitter: MrsAChildress

Image Credits
Kelcee Phillips

All other photos are my own.