#soapboxinfluence

Let us introduce Mille Davis Alderman, aka “Mayor Mille,” a Bentonville native who always knows the best local spot to recommend and knows someone when she’s out. By day, Mille’s a marketing maven who also runs a popular, locally-focused lifestyle blog and Insta feed. Mille started her career in marketing right when social media was becoming its own medium, launching her own career working for brand giants like Sam’s Club, Walmart and currently at Clorox, marketing their Burt’s Bees, Brita and Renew Life brands.

She lives with her husband (and high school sweetheart) Kyle and their big fur baby Olli (an 80-lb Goldendoodle) in Bentonville. Mille tries every new thing to come to Bentonville, chronicling her local adventures on her lifestyle blog milledavis.com. We loved her Discover Arkansas series with photos of Mille and Kyle’s anniversary staycation at 21C Museum Hotel (5360, 200 NE A St, Bentonville, AR)! She’s a self-professed theater geek who will never forget her favorite role as the Wicked Witch of the West in a high school production of The Wizard of Oz. Today she honors that by frequenting the Arkansas Public Theater (116 S 2nd St, Rogers, AR ), where she serves on the board.

Finding new places, new restaurants and experiencing new cultures is one of my favorite things, but the older I get and the more I travel, the more I've learned what a perfect home Northwest Arkansas is. I think it says a lot about our area that no matter where I travel all over the world, I always want to come home. I have everything I need here - amazing career opportunities, a growing cultural scene and most importantly, my family and friends. - Mille Alderman

Follow Mille’s takeover of @TSGNWARKANSAS to see her local loves and catch a sneak peek into “Mayor Mille’s” favorite Bentonville haunts.

Today we get to introduce the girl behind the blog Brandedblonde.com, Raka’ Pinkerton. Raka’s inspirational blog and Insta feed @rakapinkerton features a lovely mix of fashion, lifestyle, food and dog photos! We particularly love seeing what Raka’ is cooking each week and of course, her maltipoo Lola’s poses. Inside secret: She finds many of her adorably styled looks locally at E.Leigh’s Boutique (628 West Dickson Street, Fayetteville, AR).

Raka’ is a NWA local through and through. She’s lived here almost her entire life, with one quick two-year stint at college elsewhere, after which she transferred right back home, to graduate from the University of Arkansas. Today Raka’ lives in Rogers with Lola. The two of them love to visit Lake Fayetteville and walk everywhere. Raka’ prefers to start the day with something healthy at Mamaka Bowls (495 West Prairie Street, Fayetteville, AR) or finish it with friends at Local Lime  (2103 South Promenade Boulevard Suite 10100, Rogers, AR) or with a Painting with a Twist (1401 SE Walton Boulevard. Bentonville, AR) class.

Your only limit is your mindset. Be Brave, Be Bold, Be Kind. Set goals and just go for it. - Raka’ Pinkerton

Follow Raka’s takeover of @TSGNWARKANSAS to see her local loves and catch a sneak peek into her and Lola’s adventures out and about in Rogers and beyond.

(Above and below) Riffraff founder Kirsten Blowers Morman minding the store while giving a shout out with one of Riffraff’s infamous stickers to support local.

This week we introduce the Northwest Arkansas fashionista, entrepreneur and #girlboss who needs no introduction: Kirsten Blowers Morman. Her story is pretty remarkable: Ten years ago, Kirsten opened the famous Fayetteville fashion boutique, Riffraff (19 South Block Avenue, Fayetteville, AR), with just $100. The shop quickly became a local favorite and a digital powerhouse, launching shopriffraff.com and the  T-shirt lines, Friday+Saturday and Charlie Southern, which are now found in boutiques all across the nation.

Kirsten and her team of 30+ young women are currently busy celebrating Riffraff's tenth birthday by wrapping up a party full of surprises and OMG did you see those balloon garlands?! The team is also currently moving into a freshly renovated garage turned warehouse/office space for their headquarters! Follow along on @RiffraffHQ!

It’s a family affair! Homestead provisions and goods shop City Supply on the downtown Fayetteville Square is one of Kirsten’s latest local ventures and collaborations with husband Chase (and baby Bo!).

Kirsten lives in Fayetteville with her husband, Chase Morman and new baby, Hattie Bo. When she’s not running store renovations, perfecting the shop’s merchandise or meeting with her team on new weekly projects, you can find Kirsten at home in her beautiful Mount Sequoyah abode with baby Bo and hubby. We love everything Kirsten curates, especially her cozy-chic home (check out baby Bo’s amazing nursery, captured on her Insta feed @kirstenblowers). 

With a natural affinity for supporting #livelovelocal, Kirsten haunts local vintage design spots like 410 Vintage (410 North College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR) to find treasures and loves a weekend trip with her family through the Fayetteville Farmers Market followed up with a visit to Arsaga’s Church and Center (200 West Center, Fayetteville, AR) for a honey latte and a slice of OMG Ashley toast.

Follow Kirsten’s takeover of @TSGNWARKANSAS to see her local loves and catch a sneak peek into the new Riffraff HQ reno reveal. (We’re hoping for lots of Baby Bo sightings!)

This week we are introducing lovely Sarah Fortune Gill, the voice (and mom) behind @sarahfortune and SarahFortune.com. Sarah’s lifestyle blog chronicles her adventures in Fayetteville and her travels with her husband Todd and adorable first-grade daughter, Iris. (During the day, Sarah works for a Fayetteville nonprofit.)

Sarah was born and raised in Memphis, where she met Todd when he moved to town to join the band Lucero. When they landed in Fayetteville 14 years ago, Sarah didn’t know a soul. Today, she can’t imagine living anywhere else.

We love following her perspective as a mom living in Northwest Arkansas, from Iris’s cute fashion choices to their local adventures, Sarah’s blog and feed are charming and inspirational!

Raising a child in Northwest Arkansas has helped me see how fortunate we truly are to live here. From the bike trails, to the Fayetteville Public Library, and of course the Farmer’s Market, all the independently owned shops, the various theaters, Crystal Bridges, great schools - I could go on and on. There’s just so much to share with a growing little one and I’m having fun experiencing it through her eyes. - Sarah Fortune Gill

Follow Sarah’s takeover of @TSGNWARKANSAS to see her local loves and catch a sneak peek into her and Iris’s adventures out and about in Fayetteville.

This week we’re introducing the gorgeous Elise Jones, of the picture-perfect @eliseejoness. Elise is a Rogers-based technology consultant who travels throughout Northwest Arkansas meeting with small to medium sized local business making their techy dreams come true, collecting lifelong friends and living her best (and most photogenic) local life!

Elise came to the region for college at The University of Arkansas, where she caught what she calls the “NWA bug.” When the chance to work and live in Rogers came her way, she jumped up the road and settled at the Promenade Apartments, snagging a dream job at Verizon Business Channel.

When she’s not out connecting with small business owners, Elise is connecting with the community, helping others, and making friends. She’s a provisional member of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas and a founding member of the women-in-business program through the Rogers Chamber called Hustle in Heels. She’s what your might call an extreme extrovert who thrives with a huge circle.

“I’m always looking for opportunities to make new local friends that share a passion for this incredible place we live in.”

A former shopgirl at Riffraff (19 S. Block Ave., Fayetteville), Elise lives to shop local. Her faves include Riffraff (of course), Label (116 W. Central Ave., Bentonville) and The Haley Boutique (2001 S. Promenade Blvd., Rogers). We can’t wait to follow Elise’s local life out and about in our region with her friends through her TSG Northwest Arkansas Instagram takeover at some of her favorite spots like Undercroft at Preachers Son (201 NW A St., Bentonville), The Holler (801 SE 8th St., Bentonville),  Local Lime (2103 S. Promenade Blvd. Rogers), and Oven and Tap (215 S. Main St., Bentonville).

Little known facts about Elise: She is a Disney junkie, having been to Walt Disney World a total of 19 times! 

Follow Elise’s takeover of @TSGNWARKANSAS to see her local loves and catch a sneak peek into her huge circle of local friends and businesses.