Meet Nicole Lanzafame | Educator / Entrepreneur / Influencer

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

Hi Nicole, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind “Nicolucha’s Handmade with Love” self-care products & shop, is the intention to bring – healing, growth, empowerment & most importantly, “Bringin’ That Sexy” back into your daily Self-Care routine.

Nicolucha was born and raised in the City of Los Angeles. She is a soulful, sultry-voiced Sicilian-white girl whose mother married into a Colombian family when she was just a little girl. Nicolucha adapted rather quickly to her new Colombian family, to the Afro-Colombian foods, and she learned how to speak Spanish at a young age. As she got older, her cousins nickname her “Nicolucha”.

Nicole is the mastermind behind “Nicolucha’s Handmade with Love,” products & shop. Her L.A.- based small, local business was birthed in the “Time of the Rona.” Her handmade products & shop represent the essence of Self-Love & Self-Care rituals that help to relax, refresh, & rejuvenate one’s mind, body & spirit.

Nicolucha followed a nudge from her intuition that prompted her to create. She kept getting signs & synchronicities that she should create self-care baskets. She contemplated curating baskets filled with self-care products that she loved to use from small, local businesses. However, Spirit had a different vision for her small business idea. Instead, Spirit made it clear that she was to learn how to create self-care handmade products to place in her own self-care baskets.

As a child, little Nicolucha was in-tuned with her spiritual connection to her intuition. In her youthful years, she had been in-tuned & dedicated to her spiritual journey, but over time as she grew older she fell into the illusions of this world & began to forget her spiritual gifts, passions, and abilities. For years, Nicolucha battled with her inner child wounds. This led her to emotionally unavailable relationships with her family, in friendships, and in romantic partnerships too. She coped with the devastating loss of SELF with sex, drugs & alcohol. For many years, this self-sabotaging behavior & lifestyle kept Nicolucha in a deep slumber. After an extremely violent experience in a narcissistic relationship, she awakened to her self-love + healing journey. That experience was the catalyst that sparked the vision behind the thought process of “Nicolucha’s Handmade with Love” self-care products & shop. Everything is “Handmade With Love”, carefully & intuitively chosen and filled with undying love, strength, resilience & perseverance!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets Nicolucha’s Handmade products & shop apart is her determination to heal, grow, and transform tragedy into TRIUMPH. She followed a nudge from her intuition that prompted her to create. Her handmade products & shop were created with the intention to bring – healing, growth, empowerment & most importantly, “Bringin’ That Sexy” back into your daily Self-Care routine.

She is most proud & excited because she stepped out of her comfort zone and believed enough in herself to create handmade products from scratch. With over 20 years experience in the field of education, transitioning into running a small, local business seemed so unfamiliar professionally. However, she continued to persevere regardless of the challenges, other people’s opinions, self-doubt, and fear. She hopes you feel all the “Love & Passion” that is infused into each of her handmade products & in her shop!

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.
If I had a friend visiting Los Angeles, I would have them come to visit during the summertime, so we can enjoy every opportunity to catch the sun’s rays, ocean waves, blue skies, and its beautiful palm trees. For starters, I would take them to some of our local and private beaches, For example, Venice for its eclectic vibes, and Will Rogers for its chill vibes & white sandy beach, and for a super chill vibe – we would sunbathe, picnic, and catch some waves at Paradise Cove. Then, head over for lunch to the Beach Cafe.

We would drive into Hollywood for its historic landmarks like Mann’s Chinese Theatre, we would check out the Walk of Fame, a museum or two, and catch Bob Marley’s One Love immersive exhibit celebrating the Great Bob Marley! For Dinner, we’d head over to Musso & Frank’s for steaks & martinis at the oldest restaurant in Hollywood.

Most definitely, we would have to check out the sights in historic Chinatown for its incredible architecture, for some money tree shopping, and check out local vendors & its quaint shops. Then, go feed our tummies over at family-owned, Hop Woo’s authentic Chinese BBQ & Seafood restaurant. In the evening, we’d dance to a night full of music and celebration with KCRW’s Summer Nights in Chinatown.

We would head up to the Observatory to catch the incredibly, beautiful view of the city! We’d hike along the trails, go to see the iconic landmark the Hollywood sign. For a late lunch or early dinner, we’d head to Bacari in Silverlake for their Mediterranean & Italian-inspired small plates, and specialty cocktails, and for the amazing decor. Then, enjoy a summer night concert with great music, ambiance and entertainnment either at the Hollywood Bowl or at the Greek Theater!

I love the film, “Sideways!” So we would drive up the coast to wine country and taste our way through Santa Barbara to explore wineries such as Fess Parker, Andrew Murray & Firestone. We would have some great wine, and good eats along the way at Los Olivos Cafe & Wine Merchant, at the Hitching Post, and at the Solvang Restaurant. After all the sight-seeing, driving, filling our tummies with good eats, dancing, celebrating life in this beautiful city & coast. We would finish off our itinerary with a couple days of resting, relaxing and recouping with a spa day at Glen Ivy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I would like to THANK the MOST HIGH for turning my “TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH!” THANK YOU to my ancestors who walk with me, guide me, protect me, and continue to give me the strength, courage, + wisdom to accomplish this IMPOSSIBLE on-the-daily! I’m in such gratitude for the life I live today. On this personal journey to soul recovery, healing, & self-love, I’ve been super blessed to have met so many wonderful people. Thanks to the effort of so many, each person, group, and organization impacted my life and deserves a dedication in my Shoutout. In my life, everyone and everything played a critical role that taught me something of value along the way.

This special Shoutout goes to my Gramsbear Phoebe, early on she recognized the greatness in little Nicole before anyone ever did. She recalled her Grandma always saying, “there’s something really special about Nicole.” Well, guess what, Grandma you were right?! Thank you Grandma for seeing the greatness in me early on, loving me in such a special way and being a guiding light for me. I thank you for the all the wonderful childhood memories, the many summers we spent watching classic films and eating chocolate-peanut butter ice cream together. Thank you to Grandpa Jim (RIP), thank you for all those fun, summertime adventures in Chicago! I always had such a blast with you and Ingrid (RIP). I know you both watch over me from above.

This next Shoutout goes to my parents, first I would like to thank my beautiful mama, Christi. Thank you for all your beauty and your efforts to raise me right. Thank you for showing me what a strong, financially independent woman looks like. Thank you for every prayer during each chapter of my life. I’m here today because of your prayers, your dedication to Prayer & Spirit. Shoutout to my Pop’s, Joe “Peeps” Lanzafame, thank you for your charisma, your shine, and for your soulful rhythm & smooth moves on the dance floor. My mama always said you had the best rhythm and dance moves. Well Pop’s, the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree because I’m the same way too! Shoutout to the rest of the Sicilian side of my Family – my grandmother Venora (RIP), my Uncle Tony, my Stepmom Bella, my sis Gabriella, my niece Gianna Mae “Gigi”, and to my younger bro Mikey. To all my Sicilian side of the family, we’re Sicilian Gold, Baby!

Shoutout to “Mi Padrestro”, my Stepdad Alonso Buitrago, and to the Colombian side of my family especially mis primos (you know who you are). The Buitrago’s were hugely influential on the woman I’ve become today. The nickname Nicolucha wouldn’t even exist if wasn’t for them. Thank you for giving me a passionate & charismatic family, a rich & beautiful second language, Spanish & a vibrant Afro-Colombian culture, la musica y “la comida Colombiana.” Shoutout to my siblings – Miguel & Brigette and to their spouses Jo & Jeff, thank you for making me the happiest Auntie ever! I love my nieces & nephews so much!

Early on my journey, I was fortunate enough to connect with some rare & beautiful souls in elementary, thoughout junior high, high school & then, to so many years after that. Shoutout to the soul tribe, I had growing up I was blessed to have them early on. Cheers to our unforgettable moments & memories from the 90’s and Beyond (you know who you are) “Amigas Para Siempre!”

Thank you to my former E3 bosses – Linda McManus and Nancy Simpson for taking a chance on me early on in my educational career and giving me an opportunity of a lifetime. I was hired as a 1st and 2nd grade enrichment teacher for an after-school program. Shortly there after, I was promoted into a Site-Supervisor position for that site. I gained 10 years of solid experience in a leadership role as Site-Supervisor which later lead to a long-term career in a director position. Thank you both dearly. Linda, thank you for all the experiences & business opportunities you provided me along my educational career.

This next part of the Shoutout goes to my incredibly gifted & lovely friend – Elizabeth Paravicini, owner of the Art Camp in Valley Village. Over 10 years ago, the Art Camp was looking to hire a seasonal summer director and contacted the company I was working for at the time. We met for the Art Camp Director interview & we talked the entire interview process as though we had been friends for lifetimes! We continue to collaborate on various work fronts, projects, on different platforms simultaneously while building our own personal brands, running Art Camp as well as an TK-8 grade afterschool program. On more of a personal note, this portion of the Shoutout is to thank Elizabeth for being a wayshower and a guiding light to helping me bring my dreams and visions to life by broaden my entrepreneur skillset, creating a brand and building my small, local business “Nicolucha’s Handmade with Love”. Thank you Mage for guiding me back home to Self.

I’m grateful to so many organizations along my journey, however, Peace Over Violence (POV) is a non-profit, feminist; multicultural, volunteer organization dedicated to building healthy relationships, families, and communities free from sexual, domestic, and interpersonal violence and Amigas for my Soul (A4MS), Empowering women to live purposefully & Courageously in communities of like-minded women, I would to extend a “Thank you”. I actually found POV from a movie I was watching one day called, “Things Never Said.” A few years back, I was introduced to Amigas for my Soul by a childhood friend of mine named Ana Rivera and the rest was history! I became involved in these two organizations in hopes to heal the loss and brokenness I had endured throughout my life. With great determination, I was on my way to soul-recovery by learning to heal & process the trauma inside of me with healthy coping mechanisms. I’m so grateful to have met so many wonderful women through A4MS who were on a similar soul journey (you know who you are). These two organizations were such a consolation to my soul during some of the most dificult times of my life. POV came through for me and I’m forever grateful. RaqC, founder of Amigas for my Soul, always said to me, once you tap into your magic, it’s all over! Well, I tapped all the way in and my life is changed forever. Thank you to POV & A4MS for being such a pivotal part of my healing journey!

Still on my self-love + healing journey, I was deteremined to heal myself, so I got involved in every healthy & positive opportunity that presented itself on my journey. So I joined an 8 week Salsa Class Series with the incredibly multi-talented + lovely Michelle Morales (@mimorales09). I’ve always loved to dance and for many years in the narcisstic relationship, I gave up so much of myself and what I loved to do. I was determined to find my joy, confidence, freedom, self-expression and how to bring that “sexy” back into my life again. I met a community of women (you know who you are), who at the time were on a similiar soul journey. We found each other at the perfect time. Thankful & grateful to all those priceless moments in time. Thank you ladies!

As I got older, I was fortunate enough to connect with rare and beautiful souls again later on to recreate a soul tribe in my adulthood (you know who you are). Grateful for each and every one of you! And to everyone I crossed paths with along my journey from past to present, I thank you for your presence in my life.

I live a life now, I once used to pray about. I’ve learned to transmute those painful parts of me that were once broken, destroyed & stripped from me. Now turning those painful parts of me into POWER to be a “way-shower” for others in the collective. I’m a living testament to how the Heavens above have an indescribable way of turning the most painful circumstances into the most righteous way of redemption, peace & restorative justice. Our stories, the ones that nearly broke us down weren’t meant for us to keep to ourselves. But instead, meant for us to utilize those experiences as tools & resources to rise up in order to live to talk about it. Our stories of victory, redemption, overcoming & breakthroughs are what help us to heal collectively. I’m honored & humbled to share my story of “TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY” with everyone who reads this piece. May it bring consolation, hope, and courage to others. Thank you.

Website: http://nicoluchasproducts.wixsite.com/mysite

Instagram: @handmadeproductsbynicolucha

Other: linktr.ee/handmadeproductsbynicolucha

Image Credits
@handmadeproductsbynicolucha @michaelastorgaphotography