Amidst the ocean breeze and tropical climate of Key West, high schooler Selina had fallen in love with the Sunshine State and told herself, “I would never live in the cold again.” Originally from Michigan, Selina was introduced to her newfound fashion style of lightweight and breathable clothing while living the island life. Years later, her high school outfits would become the inspiration behind her brand’s identity. Today, she calls Winter Haven, Florida, home and is the ow

Vampire Penguin: Polk County’s Enchanted Parlor of Impossible Flavors This is the story of a magical shaved snow shop where each spoonful transports customers into the world the flavor was inspired by, a feast for the eyes and even better for your soul. When I walked into Vampire Penguin on a steamy Saturday afternoon, the dark brownish brick walls enveloped me in a cool, celestial, adventurous hug. I had stopped by the shop before it opened earlier in the year, so it was a d

Kokomo’s Cafe is the perfect lounge space for avid readers looking for their next page-turner while sipping away on a beverage of their choosing or eating lunch. The dreamy cafe offers a variety of drinks like tea, coffee, wine, and beer, and a carefully curated food menu with clean-sourced ingredients. The place was dreamt up by the owner herself, Chloe Shreeve, who has a passion for creating a space for people to unwind, be loved, and feel welcomed like a warm hug. Named af

Whether you’ve heard of the three-year champion of the “Best of Florida Food Trucks” or not, you will now. Taco Riendo is a family-owned and operated Mexican cuisine food truck based in Lake Wales, FL, serving their food “Fresh, Hot and Authentic” since 2019. Taco Riendo originally began as an expression of love for sharing homemade tamales with individuals on the weekends out of a Thunderbird. It’s now grown into a family business serving an array of communities in Polk Coun

The moment you step into Noisettes Bakeshop, the aroma of toasted, buttery croissants warms your soul and brings a smile to your face. “I was just waiting for that one shot to get my space,” said Wendy Theroulde-Miller, the owner and baker of Noisettes, and after a year of looking for places since leaving her corporate job and several years of saving for that moment—the time finally came. On January 29, 2024, the love for baking she had cultivated while growing up in Trinidad

This month, we talk with the founders of Latinas Profesionales In Action, Yesenia Loor and Lupita Alvarez. These two powerhouse women are uniting the community through culture, connection, and celebration as they prepare for the very first Día de los Muertos Night Market and After Party on November 1 at Union Hall. Their vision is not only to honor tradition but also to create a space where local talent, businesses, and families can come together. Tell us about Latinas Profes

Her titles sound like the start to a riddle- a baker and a skydiver. Shayla Hand has been making baked goods and jumping out of planes for three years. Everyday fears don’t seem to apply to her. Originally from Utah, she packed up and moved to Florida on a whim, simply because she was tired of the snow. Hand began her career in ophthalmology, until the day she said she would make her hobby of baking her main gig. Originally not an adrenaline junkie, she’s now licensed to free

Polk County Moms is a local online resource dedicated to helping families in Polk County stay in the know and on the go. It provides a place for parents looking for kid-friendly events, local activities, and seasonal fun. We sat down with Maricarmen Chavez, AKA Polk County Moms, to find out what inspired her to start this local gem. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF! I was born in Nicaragua and came to the United States in 1979. My parents sought political asylum, and while it wasn’t gr

“Mooo-ve over grocery stores, a new concept for convenient, local ingredients has arrived, fresh from the farm!” What do you get when you mix a love of local, farm fresh produce with a need for convenience? The Harvest Collective, that’s what! I caught up with Mikaela Booth, the owner and operator of Evelyn & Co. (a sustainable refillery based out of Lakeland) to learn more about her new business: The Harvest Collective. The concept was originally pondered as a solution to Mi

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF I am a writer, author, and poet who believes in the power of words to inspire and connect. I love to travel and use it as a creative source for my writing. I make it a priority to explore and immerse myself in a variety of cuisines and cultures, always seeking to expand my views and deepen my understanding of the world. I love to garden and spend most of my free time planting fruit trees, nurturing my garden, and creating a space to read, write

Olivia Sanchez is transforming the local beauty scene using an eco-conscious approach with her company, Sudz Cauldron. Passionate about crafting products that are as kind to the environment as they are to the skin, this maker shares the story behind its sustainable practices, natural ingredients, and the mission to make beauty routines more earth-friendly. Olivia was born in Illinois and moved to Haines City in the sixth grade. She went to Polk State College for her AA, the U

The couple behind Hart Art, Caroline and Laurie Hart, have had an exciting year. What started with a tiki bar turned into their own art gallery at a local resort. But more on that later. Let’s catch up with the Harts! The Hart Art story is one of international love, civil rights hard fought and won, and a shared creativity turned livelihood. Caroline hails from a small West Sussex village. She had a career in the radio industry, including the U.K.’s number-one commercial radi

The couple behind Lakeland’s favorite popup café is opening a bake shop! Gio and Gabriella Favilli-Vigoreaux have dreamed of opening a bakery since they were kids. What started as two separate culinary ventures operating out of the Catapult Kitchen Incubator, Vicky G’s and Casita Verde, combined to create Bandidas. A Central Florida native and first-generation American, Gio would travel to Nicaragua several times a year to visit family growing up. She delighted in meals made

“My first memory of food was when I made rice with my grandmother back in the Dominican Republic. I was five years old,” Morena Mazorra said, smiling. “I made it in this little, tiny pot.” Grounded by her Dominican roots, Mazorra unofficially started baking in 2009. She and her husband had both lost their jobs. “We were newlyweds with a newborn baby,” she said. Mazorra majored in culinary arts in New York, so cooking for others was a no-brainer. She started selling food and d

There’s a bright yellow school bus on the side of the road on the way to Lake Alfred that’ll teach you a thing or two about good vegan food. Eimi El serves 100 percent plant-based comfort food with soy-free and gluten-free options from her converted school bus food truck. El, from North Carolina, moved to Florida in 2000 and has lived in Davenport since 2018. “I wanted to be vegan 20 years ago when nobody was vegan,” she remembered. The only meat replacement she could find at