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

Hi Daphane, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I think we need to find a new paradigm for work life balance which is beyond an aspiration for an equal weightage on the scale of work life and personal life, and beyond the more accepted work life integration paradigm, we need to look at integration plus boundaries plus joy. I have coined my own personal term for this…worthy wholeness. I am worthy of being whole at all times. After a battle with breast cancer and burnout as an executive, what I found to be satisfying and worthy of my time and energy evolved. My priorities and values underwent a transformation and I threw away the old idea of balance. I had to get to a place where work was an extension or arm of my life and not consuming my life. I wanted the sense of security, peace and purpose that I experienced to be true at all times and not in just my work life or my personal life . I wanted “worthy wholeness.”
Worthy Wholeness is where I have autonomy, joy and respect while feeling useful and purposeful at all times. I think of this imperfect balance as what do I give and what do I get, what do I invest and what do I reap, what do I create and how do I impact. Joy of Rest: Allow yourself the luxury to rest where it is a physical rest (sleep, break), spiritual rest (do what makes you peaceful) and emotional rest (choose activities that give enthusiasm and fulfillment – individually or socially). And last, I learned the art of resilience. Not all days are good. Some make me feelI am on top of things, some pass by and some are devastating. Understanding the motions of life like waves that rise and fall, and going back to the anchors in my life that stay constant (my husband, children, faith) helps me find the courage and resilience to be ready for the next day.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our two spirits are a Limoncello and a Berrycello. Our limoncello is different than our competitors because we sit in the middle between a liqueur and a vodka. The versatility allows you to sip it, take it as a shot or mix in a cocktail.

Our Brand, Our Story

As a young girl growing up near Waynesboro, Georgia, I spent time with my grandmother, Lena. She was a strikingly beautiful woman with southern charm and a presence that would command the attention of friends, family and strangers. She was an amazing cook and host. Every occasion was filled with comfort food, sweet drinks, laughter and good times.

My grandmother would make her fresh squeezed lemonade for holidays and other special occasions. On the mornings of the special days, she would send me and my sisters to her garden to pick the largest and juiciest lemons from her lemon tree.

Our excitement could not be contained as we wanted to help in any way so we could enjoy the fruits of our labor, her special lemonade.

She would slice a few lemons into thin slices and place them in a large jar filled with water and honey from a local farmer. She would squeeze the juice from the other lemons and place in the jar. This concoction would be placed on the porch in the sun, and she would let God’s natural way of juicing happen in that jar.Meanwhile, she would make a sugary bliss of water and sugar on the stove. She would add caramelized lemon peels and let this sit for 15 minutes. Next, she would add the mixture from the jar with the simple syrup to make the perfect lemonade for a hot summer day.

We also lived in the rural part of Georgia where “moonshine” was readily available. In fact, My Uncle John, also known as, “Sugar Boy” was a connoisseur of moonshine. His version of induction into adulthood involved having a hefty taste of moonshine. Although moonshine was known for its strength and distinct burning sensation, Uncle Sugar Boy would add nectarines and oranges to smooth the taste.

These two memories remained with me well into adulthood. As Texas became my new home, I was fortunate enough to meet one of my best friends, Taia. During one of our girl’s nights, we decided to try Limoncello as the drink of choice for the evening. It was as if the lemonade of my grandmother and the moonshine of my uncle were magically combined to form a sippable and perfect potion. From the first sip, I knew that limoncello and I were meant to be.

We had the chance to visit the Amalfi Coast and learn firsthand from the Italians how to make the perfect limoncello. This was our inspiration to curate and create the perfect limoncello for those who want the bliss of a liqueur and the smoothness of a vodka. We call it the “luxe liqueur” because you can sip it, shoot it or mix it. Welcome to Daphane Limoncello.

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.
We would have a ball.

My friends and I are shoppers so we would have brunch at a”Bouzy because it is always someone’s birthday and a great reason to sip champagne. And then on to shopping….

We would hit up my favorite boutiques including Raspberry Rose, Beehive and Melodrama.

Drinks again at SOHO Garden HTX and onward to the Museum District to visit a few museums. There are always interesting exhibits.

The evening would find us people watching in Discovery Green and on to bar hopping in the late evening and early night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many wonderful folks in my life. I will have to give a Shout Out to my business partner and co-founder Taia Rashid. We are besties doing business and life in a fun and luxe way. AND my husband, Stephen Carter, is the oil, fuel and the machine to this business. His love, support and energy has been a tremendous part of our success thus far!! I am so grateful for him.

Website: limoncellolife.com and daphanelimoncello.com

Instagram: Limoncello Life

Facebook: Limoncello Life

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