Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Hilton-McAuley.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a SURVIVOR. I have lived through a lot of trauma and hardships but my health has been one challenge after another. I am told it is my fighter spirit that keeps me going but I also know it is the fear of failing. This frame of mind comes from being a single parent for so long but I had the answer key as I too was raised but a single parent. Now that you know where my determination comes from let’s discuss how I got to where I am now in my entrepreneurship. I started out after high school working at Hooters and took on the role of Bookkeeper and Trainer. It truly was the most fun job ever but with all that I learned, I then ventured out to the corporate world and landed a job in Accounting for Landry’s. We worked out of a small building and there was no boardwalk at this time, but I did the books for 3 restaurants and I really regret not being able to commute when they moved the office to Post Oak from Clearlake but it was too far and I then found a job working for US Oncology as a Lead in Accounts Payable.
This would be the job that changed my life and opened my eyes to this Devil called Cancer. We had to take Medical Terminology classes and other classes about procedures and medications and all as we were dealing with the Doctors and practices billing. I left when I had my baby and when I returned there was many changes and things just didn’t work out.
I tried working at another place and it was a shipping company in the Greenspoint area. It was at this place that I was an accountant and after a year, a lady from corporate came in and said these words that changed my career path she told me, “ you don’t belong here. You have too much of a bubbly personality for accounting “ I tried to stick it out but I was also working two other side jobs as a model and ultimately I did take her advice and I left.
I had great ventures with my modeling and as in anything I ever gave a go I mastered and got bored with the politics of favorites, sketchiness, and drama.
So one last try in corporate was what happened next, Oil & Gas. I worked as a Landman and got to work for Solly Hemus, he was an American professional baseball infielder, manager, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. He was a good man. I then worked for Chesapeake then chose my family, who needed me most at home rather than on the road.
This is where I decided to go back to school and do something that made me feel good and So I went to The Aveda Institute of Houston and became a Licensed Esthetician. I have taken more classes then I utilize, more certifications than I can count, but it always went back to Oncology and I am now an Oncology Aesthetician, Cannabis Practitioner, an Artist and Canna Chef and the only way I can do all of these things is working for myself and I have managed to find the perfect spot in Old Town Spring where I can totally be my bubbly self!!!!!!! Thanks, lady!!!!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have had many obstacles and illnesses but the hardest challenge would be after the Strokes and the memory loss and severe fatigue syndrome. Being a business owner, you wear many hats. You are the accountant, marketing director, the buyer, the customer service rep, the complaint department, the visuals director, the cashier, the cook, the custodian, the handyman, the salesman, the esthetician, the social media content person and the payroll department.
I thought To myself “I GOT THIS” I had been doing these things all my life for others ya know? Well, after the Strokes, my brain was not and is not the same.
I get confused, I forget, I have total memory loss, and I get very tired. The hardest thing is how hard I am on myself for not being what I once was.
Imagine at one point being an accountant and a Microsoft and Excel power user and trainer for big corporate company who now can’t even remember how to make a spreadsheet or powerpoint slides. Imagine having to recount the cash drawer 5 times because you miscount so much or lose your count lol imagine being so tired that your aphasia gets bad and you start talking gibberish and people just think your high or something lol it’s embarrassing and humiliating and I got so angry because I am not what I once was. I am sure I am not alone, that is why I opened my store so I could be there for others who experience the same and I can help them not feel alone because it can get lonely when no one understands. Trust me, I find more often than not when I share my stories people are relieved that I GET THEM. I UNDERSTAND WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an Oncology Aesthetician & Cannabis Practitioner- I specialize in cannabis-infused skincare for people going through during or after Cancer treatments helping to get them looking and feeling whole again. I am a Cannabis Chef- I cook infused baked goods on the weekends and for private parties. I teach people how to make their medicines in foods other than the normal sweets and treats.
I am a Licensed Consumable Hemp Manufacturer& Retail – I make my own infused products edibles and topicals and sell other brands as well.
I am an Artist- I am a Mixed Media Artist
I am an Advocate- I raise money for The American Cancer Society and have a series of programs where I gift Survivors of Cancer or Other serious illnesses with a gift of Hope with BlankieGram.Com.
I am very proud of all that I do. I love to help others and I am most proud of the fact that I continue to touch people’s lives in their most difficult times. I will always remember the few that were there for me and how much that meant so yeah I’m most proud of my pay it forward attitude.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
When I was young I was very involved in athletics I played Volleyball, Dance Team, Cheerleader, And Fast Pitch Softball. I guess I was always wearing many hats lol I loved the idea of teamwork and I could fit in anywhere I just never had a “home” I was and am still very much a Chameleon! Military brats move around a lot and I was never in a school longer than 2 years. This is something that leaves scars and makes us stronger.
I have always been the prankster and silly girl that I am today. Laughter is the best medicine and that is how I learned to deal with a lot of things is through humor. I learned to laugh and make others laugh so they couldn’t see if I was struggling. That hasn’t changed, lol.
Pricing:
- Infusion Classes $75 per person
- Facials vary $55-$130
- FREE- The experience of my shop guaranteed to Laugh, Sing, or have great memories triggered.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.Hemplication.com
- Instagram: Hemplication88
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hemplication?mibextid=LQQJ4d
