It’s Meet a Mom Monday! Today we’re introducing Shilpa Hosler, Lincoln Park mom and founder of Fetti & Fizz. We recently hosted a jungle themed “sleep-under” for my daughter’s pod with a Fetti & Fizz sleepover setup, and were absolutely blown away by the whole experience. Talk about supermom – Shilpa is SO talented, she truly has such a gift! Keep reading our interview below, where Shilpa shares more about what led her to start Fetti & Fizz, her FANTASTIC local recommendations, and some exciting hints about future Fetti & Fizz offerings!
Hi Shilpa! Thanks for speaking with us today! Which Chicago neighborhood do you call home? How many kids do you have and how old are they?
I feel fortunate to live in the heart of Lincoln Park with my husband and two kids, Laila (11.5) and Kai (10 this month). They are 18 months and 1 grade apart. While that was tough when they were younger, they are besties now and I would not have it any other way.
Where are you from originally, and what brought you to Chicago? How long have you lived here?
I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, home of bourbon, Derby, and Southern hospitality. I moved to Chicago right after graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, 22 years ago, making Chicago the longest place I have ever lived. Two of those years were in Evanston while I was getting my MBA at The Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern. I met my husband there and we decided that Chicago would be our home.
What is your favorite part about being a mom?
I love seeing and experiencing the world through their eyes, guiding them as they go from big kid to tween to teen. When my daughter turned 9, it hit me that she was ½ way to becoming an adult. I vowed to make family time a priority which has been the best decision. As the kids get older, our time together and the memories we make are priceless.
What do you love most about raising your kids in Chicago? What are your favorite things to do around the city with your family?
When my daughter was born, I left my corporate job to be home with the kids. I love that Chicago makes it easy to be a stay at home mom who doesn’t actually have to stay at home! I quickly learned that we are all much happier being out and about. We love and frequent museums, parks, farmers markets, beaches, long walks, bike rides, festivals, and restaurants.
What are your favorite local businesses to frequent in Lincoln Park?
Building Blocks for toys and gifts, Luft and Paris 312 for balloon installs, Stitch Monograms for embroidered monogramming, Floriole for caneles, Blue Door Farm Stand for lunch with friends, Summer House for family dinners, Jeni’s for ice cream, Busy Bird Culinary for healthy homecooked meals, and All About Dance for dance classes (my daughter and I both dance there).
Summer is right around the corner! What are you and your family most excited about in the coming summer months?
There is nothing better than a Chicago summer to help us forget all about the winter. We look forward to festivals such as the Green City Market BBQ (lots of delicious foods to taste from the best restaurants) and the Air and Water Show (fun for the whole family). We live right by Oz Park and you can often find us there playing Badminton. For an escape from city living, we love going to the beach and lakefront.
You have an amazing party planning business, Fetti and Fizz! How did your career journey lead you to start your own business? Have you always been in party & event planning?
Since childhood, I have had a passion for hosting, planning, and creating. I always found a way to include my passion for party planning in my life socially, and through leadership positions as a student and alum, as a room parent, and even during my Corporate days volunteering to organize social events. My friends kept saying that I should be doing this as a career. In January of 2019, I decided to try it out by helping a friend who happens to be an Influencer (Dope Ass Mom, Andrea Levoff) with thousands of followers. It was for her daughter’s 9th birthday at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Andrea ended up writing a blog post highlighting the party, turning my hobby into an official business overnight. Nothing says party like confetti and bubbles, thus Fetti & Fizz was born. I help with all aspects of putting together a customized and personalized party for both adults and kids so that you can feel like a guest at your own party.
Tell us more about all of the exciting services you offer through Fetti and Fizz!
We do it all – Venue Sourcing, Décor and Styling, Entertainment Sourcing, Party Favors, Party-in-a-Box, Menu Selection, Personalized Items, Custom Signage, Virtual Parties, Themed Sleepover Experiences, and Custom Art Kits. I am always adding services so follow me to stay up to date.
What’s next for Fetti and Fizz?
I am working on a boho sleepover theme for adults that would be perfect for a Moms Night In or for teens. Some new services that I am working on are DIY manicure and facial station and luxury picnic set ups. Giving back is important to me so I am working on incorporating a service component so that kids can work on a project for others in need. More to come as I continue to brainstorm ways to make party planning easy for clients.
What is your lead time for sleepover setups? How soon should moms reach out if they would like to get on your schedule?
To get a date that you want, we suggest booking two months in advance. Although we will always try our best to accommodate you.
What is the best way for moms to connect with you for more information?
You can check out our website (www.fettiandfizz.com), or follow along with us on social media (@fettiandfizz)! You can also send an inquiry via email ([email protected]).
Rapid Fire Round:
What’s the best thing that happened to you this year? Vaccines!
Favorite birthday cake? Sweet Mandy B’s yellow cake with chocolate icing
Favorite holiday? We are known for our St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween parties
Where would you live if not in Chicago? Suburbs
What do you do to relax? Read and binge watch Netflix
Shoes or bags? Shoes
