Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Smith.
Hi Alexandra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Alexandra Smith. In 2015, I graduated at the top of my nursing class in Tallahassee, Florida with summa cum laude and valedictorian designations.
After graduation, I moved to Miami to begin my career as a registered nurse. Since that time, I have worked in a multitude of nursing specialties including, Postpartum, Intensive Care, Surgery, Transplant, and Oncology.
My most recent position involved caring for women who were impacted by breast cancer, as well as their families. This experience impacted me significantly since my mother is a breast cancer survivor. Now, after almost a decade of hospital-based nursing, I have shifted my focus to help women who have survived breast cancer regain or increase their self-confidence through my business called POSH Pigment. I offer medical pigmentation, without any cost, to these very special clients.
It is not uncommon for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, or for those who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, to have their breast tissue removed. The procedure is called a mastectomy and in some cases, the surgeon is unable to spare the patient’s areolas. Women can generally elect to have implants placed after their surgeries, but lack of color and texture at the site of their areolas can lead to women not feeling as confident as they were before their fight against cancer. My goal is to help alleviate any stress associated with this by providing medical pigmentation, or tattooing, to the area.
Before the tattooing appointment, a consultation must take place to better understand the details of the past surgery (e.g. were one or both breasts affected) and to gather general medical information. Once the client is cleared as an appropriate candidate, they are scheduled for their tattooing session. The appointment lasts about two hours. Color and other details are discussed with the client before any work. Lidocaine is used as a numbing agent. Touchups are usually necessary every so often starting between months six and twelve.
The appointment takes place within the office of Dr. Christopher Salgado, a phenomenal plastic and reconstructive surgeon, on Coral Way. There is no charge to these women for this service. They have endured enough by the time we interact with one another. The feeling of helping another woman feel better about herself after having undergone so much is payment in itself. Other services I offer to the general public within Dr. Salgado’s office include eyebrow microblading, lip blushing, and scar revision.
My other personal passion, outside of the world of health care, involves working with my mother and my younger sister in a family bakery business. We create custom shortbread cookies for events like weddings, engagements, showers, birthdays, and work events. We work with each customer to create the perfect design for their intended occasion. Our cookies are rich and delectable and our designs are intricate. From Barbie to florals, or calligraphy, there is nothing we cannot do.
We sell our cookies by the dozen and meet our customers in Coconut Grove as an easily accessible pickup location. I find this work to be both fun and rewarding. I love working with my family and using my creativity to transform our customer’s inspirations into delicious and beautiful treats. Our Miami location is called The Cookie Shoppe.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Obtaining clientele has been an obstacle I have faced in both my medical pigmentation and my baking ventures.
I thankfully have an amazing support system to keep me motivated and focused. I find that when challenges arise, it is very important to remember your motives for pursuing the passion at hand.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Permanent Makeup (PMU) involves the application of ink to areas like the lips or eyebrows for cosmetic enhancement. Medical Pigmentation is a part of the PMU industry but addresses more in-depth issues like scars, hypopigmentation, or hair loss.
Areola pigmentation falls under this category and is not a procedure that most PMU artists are trained to do. I am proud to say that I am one of the few artists in the South Florida area offering this service to clients. I am also extremely proud to be offering it to my post-breast-cancer clients without any cost to them.
As for my baking endeavor, custom cakes and cupcakes are much more common than custom cookies. Our cookies are just as gourmet, delicious, and personalized as any other custom baked good but can sometimes be a better investment since they last much longer.
We heat seal each cookie in every order unless otherwise requested, so our product can last at least a week after the intended event. If attendees of a baby shower, for example, do not eat all of the elegant blue and white Baby Joseph cookies at the time of the event, they can be taken home as a party favor and enjoyed at a later time.
I am proud to be able to work directly with our customers and to use their inspirations to create artistic and tasty cookies that can last longer than the traditional baked goods used at events.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Word of mouth is extremely important for both POSH Pigment and The Cookie Shoppe. Reviews on platforms such as Google are also necessary.
Pricing:
- 1 Dozen Custom Cookies – $60+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecookieshoppemiami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poshpigmentmiami/; https://www.instagram.com/thecookieshoppemiami/
