Daily Inspiration: Meet Mallarie Wiese

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallarie Wiese. 

Hi Mallarie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Color Me Monti is a Montessori-inspired lifestyle and interior decorating studio born from my love of color and kiddos. It is a Covid project and launched this summer, June 2021, so it is very new. Still just a babe. I began my post-grad career as an event planner and designer but knew I wanted more when reading all the parenting books while pregnant with our son Bodhi in 2019. I quickly chose to go through a Montessori Education Certification program before his birth. I act on a whim most days, haha! I also earned my license as an Interior Decorator that same year. I came up with the idea to combine the two components of my business when decorating Bodhi’s room and learning the best ways to make it a safe space just for him. 

Today, Color Me Monti is starting out as a strong seed and growing by the day. I am learning a lot each day with every parent I coach and every nursery and playroom I design as I have a small babe myself. It really strengthens the bond between my grown-ups and I when we can relate. I run this business and am currently parenting my child solo as my husband is in the US military and overseas until next summer. That is also teaching me a lot! 

In the next couple of years, I see Color Me Monti still growing, always growing, but flourishing into the life-changing business it deserves to be. In the next few months, we have a t-shirt line launching that will be donating a percentage of proceeds to world-changing foundations like The Malala Foundation and Girl Scouts of America. In January 2022, our Montessori playgroups will be coming to Columbia to teach grown-ups how to have meaningful play with their babes with everyday things you can find around the home. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Opening a business is never extremely smooth. If it is for someone, I’d love to know how they did things differently! Covid made me think, think so hard on making a safe structure for everyone involved. I have made the majority of my business online and safe for all which took a lot of scenarios and playing around. 

I also opened this business while moving cross-country and saying “See you later” to my life partner, Trey. My husband is in the US Navy and is on a hardship tour, meaning he is on the other side of the world until next summer. Currently, I am running my business during the wee hours of our one-year-old’s nap time. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am known for bringing color to Montessori! Maria Montessori began her method of educating the whole child in the late 1800s-early 1900s. We know Montessori when we see wooden toys as Maria used in her practice. Many Montessori homes and classrooms are beige and beautiful, but I prefer bold and beautiful. Maria said herself, “The child should live in an environment of beauty,” and to me, that means color. 

I specialize in bringing the Montessori method into your daily life while making an emotionally, mentally, and physically safe space for your babe whether it is a nursery, playroom, bathroom space, or art nook. And I do that with lots of colors. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck? You get in what you put out, and I have been blessed with all the good energy. I have amazing family to help love my son while his father is away, amazing supporters and friends who have helped this business start, and an awesome community who loves the Monti (Montessori) way. 

Because of all of this good luck, I have been able to put some back into the world. In the next few months, we have a t-shirt line launching that will be donating a percentage of proceeds to world-changing foundations like The Malala Foundation and Girl Scouts of America. In January 2022, our Montessori play groups will be coming to Columbia to teach grown-ups how to have meaningful play with their babes with everyday things you can find around the home. 

Pricing:

• Montessori LIfestyle Consultations $75
• Design Consultations $100
• eDesigns $200-300

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: colormemonti.com
• Instagram: colormemonti
• Facebook: colormemonti