About Midi Mae

I will refer to him as the CEO, the COO, the CFO and the SHM… I made that one up. It stands for Super Handsome Manager of ALL the things. He is the brains behind this business and I am truly so thankful for how he helps me with all the moving parts. 

We first met in Spanish class in the 10th grade. But sadly, neither one of us can speak Spanish. Maybe Chris was too busy gawking at me, and I was too distracted by his super curly afro at the time? I don’t know? Anyways… it wasn’t until our senior year of high school that we started dating. We got engaged my junior year of college and got married 2 months after I graduated. 

Chris was an insurance agent for 10 years until just recently when he decided to get his general contractor’s license. He is now building our family compound on the new land we all just went in together to purchase. 

He builds fast cars and drag races them at different tracks all around the country. If your man is in to that kind of thing too you can lead him here to see more about that life: MooreHP

Chris constantly blows me away at his knowledge and ability to do anything there is to do. He is the hardest working man I know. Sitting on the couch makes him sore (haha) so he’s on the go from sun up to sun down but still spends as much time with his family as he can. 

However, asking him to sit on a beach (mixed with hot sand) is a death sentence to him, but he will often sacrifice and do it for me. True love! 

Chris serves the Lord and our family in the order the Bible instructs him to. When I was praying for a husband, my heart’s desire was to find a man that faithfully attended church, paid tithes, and worked hard for our family. I thank the Lord for answered prayer! 

Energetic, always on the go (like her daddy), has insane negotiation skills, plays in the mud but loves her baby dolls, wearing dresses with high heels, and big bows in her hair!

This little one keeps us on our toes constantly. She is growing up so fast and we love hearing her try to use big words when she talks. She is such a good mixture of her daddy and I.

She loves Jesus and going to church. She is a Papa’s girl (my dad) but misses her Granna and prays every night for Jesus to give her hugs from us.

She is one of the reasons Midi Mae has been established. I wanted to create something that her and I could do together. We have already shared many giggles popping all the packing popcorn that comes in the shipments and enjoyed many conversations in our home office as we hung up little girl dresses.

Be sure to check out the Isla Kate Collection if you have a girl who loves twirl dresses like she does! 

I must admit, growing up I was always a mama’s girl. Mom and I did everything together while my dad and brother bonded more over their shared interests and hobbies. Dad and I have always had a great relationship though and I have always confided in his Godly wisdom and counsel. Him and I share a lot of things in common and I get a lot of my characteristics from him.

But what I always admired most about my dad was the way he wholeheartedly loved my mom. I read a quote one time that said “the best thing a dad can do for his daughter is to love her mother.” And this is so true. I watched my dad treat my mom like true royalty. He sacrificed so much (especially the last two years of her life) to make sure she was completely taken care of. They had a love that most would consider rare these days, but we all know it was because it was a love rooted in Christ… and our family is who we are today because of their true love, support and dedication to us. 

Dad (who is more referred to as Papa these days) is the one that makes sure we all play hard after we work hard. He loves to treat us to fun vacations, delicious steaks, ice cream at Jack the Dipper (if you’re ever in Western North Carolina this place is a MUST) and so much more! Isla Kate has him completely wrapped around her finger. She has been Papa’s girl from the very beginning and her love for him grows bigger every time she sees him! 

Dad has encouraged the start of this small business since the first day I mentioned it to him. He has provided so much insight, advice, and support and I’m truly grateful to have him cheering me on… just as mom would have been! 

Did anyone else have a younger brother that pestered the hound out of you growing up? I’m pretty sure that’s what little brothers are born to do until they become too cool to hang out with you. Haha! Thankfully, Stephen transitioned quickly from being the pesky little brother to the best friend I never knew I needed when I was a senior in high school and he was a freshman. That’s the year we begin to get close, and our friendship has only strengthened in time since then. 

There is no one on this earth that can make me laugh as hard as Stephen can. He is absolutely hilarious and his quick wit is always on point! I mean… he makes me cry laughing, and once I start laughing, he starts giggling at me which only escalates the laughter from us both! 

I said earlier that I get a lot of my character traits from dad, but Stephen got a lot of his from mom. He has such a tender heart. He’s kind and considerate of others, and he can use his humor to help ease any situation. 

He may be younger, but I have looked up to him for a very long time. Him and I spent a lot of time together riding back and forth to the hospital to go see mom. It was a 45 minute drive one way, which gave us a lot of time to talk. We would talk about how hard life is, but yet how good God is, and it was sweet time and conversations with him that I’ll cherish forever. I’m extremely thankful to have such a close relationship with him and I love that Isla Kate thinks that Oliver (Stephen’s son) is her little brother. They’re together that much, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Stephen has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders. “Shoot yea, Hannah… that’s awesome!” is more along the lines of how he’d encourage me and this adventure is more fun with his hilarious uplifting commentary in my corner! 

I have referred to her as my sister-in-love since the moment Stephen proposed to her! It’s a sweet thing when you get to gain a sister, especially when you never had a sister growing up. 

Stephen and Tori started dating the year Chris and I got married in 2013 and got married in 2017. 

Tori and I have always loved finding new hobbies and things we can do together that occupies our conversation and time while our guys live and breathe racing. A few years ago when the pandemic hit, we were bored and wanted to have some fun on Instagram. We tried to show the world how to make sausage balls like my Mamaw made them growing up. It was an epic fail and hilarious embarrassment (ps… DON’T cook the sausage beforehand!) We decided a cooking show probably wasn’t in our future so we opted for what we love most… clothes! We did a few try-on hauls for fun at some of our local boutiques and had an absolute blast! Shortly after that, Tori was hired to work at The Southern Loft and now gets to do try-ons at their store every day! What a dream!! You can find her (and the other cute TSL girls) at Try-On Tuesdays at: The Southern Loft

While she does work full time over there, I get to pick her creative brain and get her insight on the weekends. She has always been someone I can count on for a completely honest review. She knows ALL of my likes and dislikes and I can trust her to help me with fashion decisions.

Oh… and she makes the cutest glass cups on the side! Go check out her business on Etsy: Full and Free Cups

I hope you'll scroll down and read more about Lauren and our trip to Charleston in the "Meet the Photographer" section below, but I couldn't leave her out of The Crew because this website wouldn't look anything like it does without her amazing photography skills!!

I could easily call her Hype Girl #2 because from the moment I pitched this entire business idea to her (as we sipped Coffee at Starbucks) she has been helping me make it happen!!

Growing up we were together all the time, but as we've built families of our own we don't get to hang out as much anymore.

Midi Mae has brought us together (by choice and a little force too haha!) and I am truly thankful for the time we've spent together already. And to think it's just getting started!

Check out Lauren's Photography business at: Lauren Willett Photography

Many times growing up people would think that I was Amy’s daughter instead of mom’s. Amy is my aunt (mom’s sister) and her and I have always had many similarities in our personalities! 

Amy has always treated me like her very own. Our families have always been extremely close so when mom died, not much had to change in how Amy treated me, (because she was already like a second mother to me) but she stepped in and became the everyday cheerleader that I was missing in mom. We chat on the phone every day and she never fails to express her true excitement for this adventure of mine! 

I am grateful to have her. She loves me and the rest of my family BIG. We often wonder how she gets any sleep after she’s made sure we’re all taken care of. 

“Oh Hannah! This is beautiful, that dress is my favorite… oh I love it so much! Lauren these shots you’re taking should be the cover of a magazine, oh my goodness!” – all phrases said by my cousin Bethany on our trip to Charleston for the first Midi Mae photo shoot. She is the ULTIMATE hype girl, but that is who Bethany is on a daily basis.

She not only kept both of us hyped, she kept us laughing too! Bethany is known to talk to everyone she comes in contact with. Yes, everyone. Walking down the busy streets of Charleston, Bethany would say “good morning… hi!” to anyone that would look her in the eyes. Hilarious!!

Bethany is 4 years older than me and when my mom owned the Hallmark store, Bethany and I were often her Saturday employees. We spent many weekends together laughing and “working” (Bethany worked, I didn’t too much.) I wish someone would have told us at that time we were living in the good ole days. We made countless memories together in that store.

Anytime I can spend time with Bethany I leave with my sides hurting (from laughing) and my heart full from her constant encouragement and sweet wisdom she gives in Jesus. 

This is an honorary mention because I can’t leave this little cutie out! He calls me “Mae Mae” and I couldn’t be more swoon over his big eyes and handsome grin. He knows when I pick him up that he’s going to be squeezed and kissed to death, but I can’t help but love this little mini version of Stephen.