Patricia Barnes, a.k.a. Sister, has enjoyed baking since she was old enough to hold a spoon. Growing up in Troy, Sister, a name given to her by her older sister, Charlotte, who could not pronounce Patricia, spent hours in the kitchen with her mother and her grandmother, Gommey. It was Gommey who taught her the art of making dinner rolls-the same rolls Sister donated to her church’s holiday frozen food fair in 1989. That first year, she donated 20 pans, and they all sold. The second year, the rolls were added to the pre-order form, and Sister had to cut the orders off at 200 pans. In 1991, the third year, orders were limited to 300 pans. It was then Sister had a revelation: if the people of Troy liked her rolls so much, perhaps others would too.

“I talked to my daddy, who was a business guru and entrepreneur, and told him about my dream and to ask his advice about going big with the dinner roll business,” says Sister. “He told me in his business, he knew what he was going to make when he sold any given piece of furniture, and then he asked me how many pans of rolls I could sell.”
Sister convinced her father she could sell enough to build a successful business, so he fronted the money to buy equipment and offered her space in his furniture warehouse. And with that, Sister Schubert’s was born.

Sister took what started as a small catering business out of her home and opened her first commercial kitchen in 1,000 square feet of the furniture warehouse, but after just six months, the roll-making and baking had taken over, and there was no longer any room for the furniture!

The tremendous and very quick growth of Sister Schubert’s led Sister to hire George Barnes, a food broker, to peddle her pans. George did such a good job marketing the rolls that in 1994, Sister Schubert’s opened a state-of-the-art, 25,000 square foot facility in Luverne. In the early years, workers who lived in Troy and had been with Sister from the beginning were bused to Luverne and back every day to make the commute easier.

A year later, Sister married George and by 1998, the Luverne bakery had completed two expansions rolling out more than 3 million rolls a day!

It was then the decision was made to sell the company stock to Lancaster Colony Corporation out of Columbus, Ohio, which almost immediately propelled Sister Schubert’s into a national brand.

“One of the most appealing things about Lancaster was their history of buying family-owned businesses, but keeping the family on board to help run the company,” says Sister.
And that is exactly what happened.

Now with manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Kentucky, Sister still enjoys going into the bakeries and working alongside the employees rolling out the dough.

“I’m kind of my own ‘undercover boss’ (referring to the prime time series on CBS),” says Sister. “Once I was in my apron with my hair pulled back, and I got on one of the lines and was placing rolls into the pans. One of the ladies told me I wasn’t folding them right and the rolls were not going to rise like they should, so she showed me how to do it correctly. She had no idea who I was, and I loved it!”

Sister and George are still very integral players in the success of the company. Sister helps to oversee research and development of new products, and her eyes grow as she offers the scoop on the new products that will be on the market in the next months, including Pretzel Rolls, Crusty Baguettes, Banana Nut Bread, Cranberry Orange Bread and Mini Loaves of Bread. Angus Burger Sliders are another product in the developmental stages.

Talking about new and existing products for Sister Schubert’s is still exciting for Sister, but it’s not the yeast and dough that really gets a rise out of her; it’s the Barnes Family Foundation.

Sharing their good fortune with others, the Barnes Family Foundation was founded in 2001 and offers study abroad scholarships, restores buildings for historic preservation, feeds the hungry and has built a Foster Care Home in the Ukraine.

The Study Abroad Scholarships are given annually through Auburn University’s School of Human Sciences and provide opportunities for students to experience other cultures around the world. The Historic Preservation division of the foundation restores historical sites to preserve a rich heritage. Recent projects include the renovation and restoration of the Henderson House, which was built in 1867, the Pioneer Museum, and George’s family home in Andalusia.

Feed the Hungry, built on the belief that no one should go hungry, provides rolls to local food banks, homeless individuals and shelters, churches and other organizations that serve the needy, and assists those faced with devastation, like the April 27 tornadoes that ripped through Alabama. Sister Shubert’s Roll Company sent truckloads of sausage rolls all across the state to those who lost everything.

“When we see a need, we are there as quickly as we can load the trucks,” says Sister. “It warms our hearts to be able to share our rolls with those who are hungry.”

Sasha’s Home, the Foster Care Home, established by the Barnes Family Foundation in 2008, is named in honor of Sister and George’s adopted Ukrainian-born son, Alexander, who was located through the foundation. The home, located in Gorlovka, houses foster and adoptive families while they get to know the child(ren) they will be raising.

“Sasha’s Home is a building of seven apartments for families to live together while getting to know the children they are fostering or will adopt,” says Sister. “It provides a loving, Christian atmosphere for the family to get to know each other; likes and dislikes, habits and things like that. Some of the children live there their entire lives, but they are so loved.”
Sister received the Petro Gorlov Medal for her work at Sasha’s Home.

On her second visit to the Ukraine, Sister was presented handmade cards from the children who were playing in the Solarium Room at the Foster Care Home.

“One little girl called me ‘Mamma Sister,’ and I wish you could have seen her little face as she told me ‘thank you’ and ‘I love you,’” says Sister. “All the acclaims and awards pale in significance when it comes to the joy of seeing these children prosper and thrive.”

Sister and George have five children: Charlotte, Chrissie, Laura, Evans and Alex and seven grandchildren. Sister loves working on needlepoint and being at home spending time with her children and grandchildren; she also still loves to be in the kitchen cooking-and baking Gommey’s (now very famous) rolls.

For more information on Sister Schubert’s, visit www.sisterschuberts.com; for information on the Barnes Family Foundation, visit www.barnesfamilyfoundation.org.

Toomer’s Coffee Company, established in 2004 by Sandy and Trish, is a full-service coffee bar and wholesale coffee company. The Toomers are no strangers to the coffee business. In the early 90s, Sandy flew as a commercial pilot for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) where he served missionaries and indigenous tribes of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, while Trish worked as hospitality coordinator to visitors of the MAF Shell Ecuador base. One of the tribes they served in the northern Ecuadorian jungle was the Quichuas; a tribe that grew and processed Arabica coffee. After 14 years of flying coffee and visiting this and many other coffee plantations, Sandy had a large knowledge of the coffee business, from the “ground up,” thus enhancing the Toomer’s passion for quality coffee.

“My friends on the base would laugh,” shares Trish. “Every time someone walked in the door, I was offering them a cup of coffee, and I still do that to this day.”

Upon leaving Ecuador, Sandy and Trish transitioned to the Southeast United States in order to help the MAF in a recruiting role. When recruiting in Tennessee, the couple visited some friends who owned a coffee shop and were roasting their own coffee. They encouraged the Toomers to do the same. Their friends planted the seed, and within six months, the Toomers opened their own shop.

“When we were there, it was nothing like I had experienced before locally,” explains Trish. “The coffee was the best ever — best aroma, best taste, no bitterness — and the atmosphere was great. They were in a turn-of-the-century building in a historic area at the base of the Appalachian Trail. It was cozy and inviting, somewhere you wanted to go and sit down with friends, not cold and sterile.”

So in 2004, Trish and Sandy opened their first store in Historic Downtown Opelika before being encouraged by much of their coffee-bean-buying clientele to move to Auburn in their current location at University Village on South College Street. The shop has an eclectic style with exposed brick walls, warm colors flanked by cozy couches, and tables and chairs that can be easily rearranged for groups or gathering. An art gallery in the rear of the shop displays work from local and surrounding area artists, and large canvas prints of the South American coffee industry intrigue guests in the front of the shop. On any given day one may find a table of studying students, a women’s bible study, or a group of professionals carrying on business meetings while being served by cheerful baristas. The location and atmosphere is cozy, comfortable and versatile, but the quality of their coffee is what keeps bringing people back for more.

For the Toomers, the business is all about the coffee, and they have committed to not steer from that concept. Their goal is to provide the community with a higher-grade, freshly roasted coffee that is a better quality and better flavor than can be found elsewhere.

“We seek to offer coffees from as many sections of the world as possible,” shares Sandy. “The flavor profiles of coffee are different in different areas of the world. The fruit is grown the same, but varying locations affect the beans. Everyone has a different coffee palette, and we want to offer a good variety to the community.”

The Toomers buy their coffee via direct trade (supporting the farmer and offering higher quality) when available, through a broker who makes recommendations on their selection. They purchase Arabica beans from countries such as Brazil, Ethiopia, Tanzania or Malawi. The Toomers roast their own coffee and create their own blends for the consumer. Sandy roasts approximately 1,000 pounds of coffee a week in a Diedrich Infrared Roaster handmade specifically for Toomer’s Coffee Company, a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, brass machine. The coffee is roasted in small batches, pampering the beans in the roasting process, while developing flavors and reducing acids that cause stomach sensitivity found in large industrious roasting. It is the only local coffee company that roasts beans locally, providing the freshest coffee and selling it across the country.

The wholesale business is thriving with Toomer’s Coffee being shipped to several states, while the local retail business and catering business along with personal sales are growing, just as the Toomers seek to grow personal relationships with their clientele.

“Through our custom roasting, we are glad to offer the best we can to the community,” says Trish. “We have four coffees on our bar every day, and we encourage clients to always try something new and discover what they enjoy.”

Named for Sandy’s father, Captain F.S. Toomer, distantly related to the Toomers of the Auburn corner, the Toomer’s Coffee Company isn’t about a location or a name. “We’re working for the entire experience that’s important,” agree Sandy and Trish. “We want Toomer’s Coffee Company to be the best and most enjoyable experience we can offer…by the cup, by the pound or by the hour.”

Auburn graduate Octavia Spencer 
makes it big in The Help

The black SUV pulled up to the curb of the Montgomery Rave Theatre on Vaughn Road one hot Friday evening in August. A small crowd, including one television station camera crew, had gathered on the sidewalk waiting for the arrival of Octavia Spencer, a capitol city native, in town for the premiere of The Help, her first starring role. Until that night, the movie was known primarily as a New York Times bestselling novel. But all of that was about to change in a big way.

Spencer stepped out of the car, took one look around and lit up when she realized most of those waiting were former teachers, principals and childhood friends.
“Oh my gosh, my principal!” she squealed. “Oh, wow! I haven’t seen you in years; I can’t believe you’re here!” she yelled to another bystander as she jumped up and down and hugged each one.

It seemed odd to see the touted star of the heavily advertised movie get more excited to see familiar faces there to greet her than the other way around, but it was just opening night, and nobody really knew what was about to happen. Spencer was escorted into a packed theatre where she thanked her hometown for coming out to support the movie, signed copies of the books movie-goers had brought with them and then slipped away. Little did any of them know, including Spencer, that after that weekend, Octavia Spencer would become a household name nationwide. No, make that worldwide.

Spencer, who plays the feisty domestic help, Minny Jackson, in the movie, has deep roots in Alabama. She was born and raised in Montgomery and is a 1994 graduate of Auburn University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in theatre arts. She always dreamed of working in theatre, but saw herself working behind the camera not as the focus of it. She also entertained the idea of becoming a comedian.

While a student at Auburn, Octavia worked at the Pizza Hut in Opelika where customers remember her dynamic and humorous personality.

“She entertained my sister and me when we went to Pizza Hut with my parents,” says Laurin Thrower of Opelika, who was just a little girl back in the early-mid 90s. “We would put quarters in the toy machine there that had the claw that goes down and grab a prize, and Octavia would get behind the glass machine and act like she was inside of it. We would laugh so hard.”

Thrower says Octavia always told the little girls she was going to be in Hollywood some day, and if she became a star, she would come back and make stars out of them, too.
“She had the best attitude and was always smiling,” remembers Thrower, now 20. “We loved her, and I’m so glad to see she has ‘made it.’”

The sixth of seven children, Spencer always wanted to work in the film industry, but she was not very comfortable performing. That all changed in 1995 when acclaimed director Joel Schumacher gave her a small part playing a nurse opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit film A Time to Kill. Then, in 1996, she teamed up with Bullock again in Bullock’s directorial debut Making Sandwiches, a short film that premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

“I was originally hired to work on casting, but I asked Mr. Schumacher if I could audition for a small part, and he let me,” says Spencer, still sounding a bit surprised she got the part.
In 2003, she starred opposite Emmy Award-winner Allison Janney (of The West Wing) in Tate Taylor’s critically lauded and award-winning short feature, Chicken Party, and had a brief, yet memorable appearance in Will Smith’s Seven Pounds. Until recently, Spencer was perhaps best known for her role on Ugly Betty as Constance Grady, the INS Agent turned stalker of Betty’s father, Ignacio Suarez. In 2009, she was recognized for her comedic timing and named by EntertainmentWeekly.com as one of its esteemed 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood.

But all that preceded August 2011, when DreamWorks released The Help. Spencer joined Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron Howard) playing the feisty and unflappable domestic, Minny Jackson. The Help, written by Jackson, Miss., native and University of Alabama graduate Kathryn Stockett was directed by Stockett’s childhood friend, Tate Taylor, also of Jackson and an Ole Miss graduate who was Spencer’s roommate for several years when the pair first moved to Los Angeles. Long before the book was published, Stockett told Spencer she was writing a book and using her personality as a character, so when DreamWorks picked up the screenplay, Taylor knew exactly where to go to find “Minny.” With her genuine performance and her classic “side-eye,” the expressional Spencer’s portrayal of the defiant maid has movie critics talking and buzzing about award nominations, including an Oscar.

To say The Help was a life-changer would be somewhat of an understatement, but it is safe to say Spencer’s aspirations to be behind the camera are, at least for now, on hold.
The DVD of The Help will be released December 6.

DIY Style!

Curl up with a cup of hot 
chocolate and read on as designers 
James Farmer and Jess Margeson 
share their best tips for 
creating flawless holiday décor!

Do—Choose a neutral palette. Subtle tones and neutral colors can carry you through the entire holiday season, helping you save time and avoid unnecessary costs and labor. Here, brown, gold and deep green create a perfect backdrop for the season.

Don’t—Limit yourself to only traditional red and green for the Christmas season!

Do—Borrow from nature whenever possible! Pinecones, walnuts and acorns are all wonderful adornments by themselves. Add a color pop of fresh fruit and consider your creation complete!

Don’t—Be afraid to cut from your own yard! Mounds of magnolia leaves make a grand statement, especially when accented with fresh leaves or berries. No flowers required!

Do—Be creative and open to original ideas. Why not incorporate an aviary theme in your décor? Here, a pheasant rests comfortably in this Thanksgiving arrangement. Later in the season, nests or glittered birds add an unexpected touch to a traditional tree.

Don’t—Feel like a traditional tree is the only way to display beautiful ornaments. In this instance, glass ornaments grace common branches arranged in a sturdy glass vase. EAL

Jess Margeson is the owner of Frou Frou, a floral design business nestled in historic downtown Opelika. Her store front (Frou Frou on 8th) is located at 116 S 8th Street and carries home décor, gift items and fresh flowers. A graduate of Auburn University, Margeson opened Frou Frou upon graduation and enjoys living and working on the Plains. To learn more about Margeson, please visit www.froufrouinc.com.

James Farmer is the owner of James Farmer Designs and is based out of the Middle Georgia area. His designs have been featured in periodicals ranging from Gun and Garden to Southern Living (where he works as a contributing editor). To learn more about Farmer, please visit jamesfarmer.com.

Over the years, her art has expanded to include prints, cards, ceramic tiles, children’s designs and Christmas ornaments. Nearly every piece of “Reminders From the Heart” art features a Bible verse, as Pam’s vocation is also a ministry.

Pam moved to Opelika from Dothan during her junior year in high school. After graduation she took an art class then purchased books on art and taught herself.
When she and husband Terry were expecting their youngest daughter, Allana, Pam was placed on bed rest. To pass the time lying on the couch, she began experimenting with painting shirts. With the assistance of her mother and sister, she arranged a work area around the sofa.

Later, when Terry’s aunt and uncle opened a craft shop Saw Miller’s Daughter, they persuaded Pam to paint some items for the shop. At the time, Pam was giving her paintings away. “I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to buy them,” she says.

By word of mouth, Pam’s talent spread. She began painting mailboxes, T-shirts, clay pots, floors, walls and found objects, including old furniture on the side of the road.
As she expanded her art designs, she began taking her work to art shows and festivals. Her husband constructed furniture and cut designs from wood for her to paint.
Their daughters have assisted in making products and selling. Their daughter Ashley, who is a graphic designer/artist, is the displayer and organizer, while Allana has been operating the cash register since the fourth grade.

Pam began painting what people wanted and whatever was popular at the time. Some of her clay pots were featured in a Better Homes and Gardens Craft magazine. A South African Christian magazine for teen girls used her designs in an issue.

 “As I became busier and busier, it forced me to decide what I was going to do,” says Pam. “I felt God wanted me to paint reminders from His Word. Life is often hard, and people need to be encouraged. Throughout the years I have painted so many reminders about hope and promises from the Bible, but there are still so many more that I want to do.”
Pam only had a few designs for children, but requests began coming in for children’s décor. The birth of her grandson, Micah, sparked a greater desire to paint designs with reminders for children. She created children’s designs that would complement popular bedding sets and incorporated a scripture into the art.

Most of her other art pieces also highlight a Bible verse. “I see my work as a ministry,” adds Pam. “It is a business and involves a lot of time, and it can be very hard work. It is the ministry aspect that keeps me going and able to endure through the hard times.

“When people come into my booth, they are attracted to the artwork. As they look closer they will see and hopefully read the verses written around the picture I painted. Often, when I look up in my booth and see it full of people looking and reading the different verses, I pray that God is using it to speak to their heart.

“It is a way to spread God’s word and to have the verses in people’s home. I believe it is a vehicle to have scripture in places to encourage and give hope.”

Some ideas come to her during personal Bible studies, sermons and songs. Customers will request a certain verse on a piece of art, and she will create a custom design. The scriptures have opened doors to talk to people. Sometimes she is asked to pray for someone.

Pam carries prints and seasonal designs in a variety of sizes with the design repeated on ceramic tiles, note cards, mouse pads, bookmarks, bag tags, magnets, buttons and other items.

Each Christmas she creates a special ornament and cards with a theme. This year she is featuring “Be still and know….” With this theme, she has designed snow girls to accent tree ornaments and cards. She has selected fabrics in holiday colors for creating fancy, vintage costumes for the snow girls.

Ornaments from past years are also available, each with a theme word, such as love, faith and hope. Along with ornaments and cards, she offers tiles and shirts with her Christmas designs.

The Coxwells still travel to festivals most weekends during the fall months. She mainly sells her art at festivals, online or at her home studio.
To contact Pam at her studio call 334.745.3161 or order online at 
www.fromtheheartart.com.

Allan and Lisa Campfield, owners 
of Homeworks of Alabama, deliberately chose East Lake for the third installment of the East Alabama Living Showcase Home.

“The location is perfect for families. You have an elementary school down the road, a medical facility, pharmacies, clothing boutiques, restaurants and a grocery store all within a few blocks of the home. Toss in the great position to Tiger Town and I-85, and what more could you need in location?” says Allan.

“The lot is near the entrance to East Lake, and being a corner lot, I knew I wanted a kicking exterior,” says Lisa. “We needed the perfect architect to draw the perfect plans.”

Residential Designer Micki Jo’ell fit the bill. The Campfields fell in love with her Lake Martin residence before knocking on the quirky front door. “I have a $35 flea-market door that most people wouldn’t appreciate, but then, I’m quite the rebel,” laughs Jo’ell, a more than 25-year veteran of the building industry with a who’s who 
of an executive client list.

“With a corner lot and three primary road views, I chose to layout out the architecture in square pod forms with some set at angles in an attempt to project a pleasing panoramic overview. The architecture as a whole is not pure in any style, but celebrates aspects of a French villa with hip rooflines and outrigger timbered brackets. Tuscan influences are also melded into the scene to help create an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality,” says Jo’ell.

The floor plan features 3,550 square feet of heated space with four bedrooms and 3½ baths. Jo’ell describes the master retreat on the main level as a sanctuary of spaces complete with a dressing area that evolves into 230 square feet of dual closets and personal laundry. A private covered area flows onto the family patio from the master suite. Another, more family friendly covered porch includes a wood-burning fireplace with television hookup. The space then moves into a grilling section for casual, outdoor dining or entertaining.

Three bedrooms and various baths sit on the upper level with a large laundry and children’s artwork stations. A roughed-in bonus space has been designed over the garage with access near the kitchen and service entry to maximize potential living area. In addition to the living spaces and porch areas, Jo’ell has developed a third garage with multiple usages, from landscape equipment or bicycle storage to a workshop.

The talented residential designer says one advantage of joining the Campfields was their mutual ability to see things in color while other builders take a more black-and-white approach. “I’ll walk the property to assess the sun, topographics, any specimen trees, then also get a feel for the neighbors, their need for privacy and, of course, the views. I take a panoramic approach and rarely label my drawings with front or back, only with directions as in north, south. I sensed (the Campfields) were going to turn me loose and trust my creative process. I’m thrilled to work with a builder like Allan and a designer like Lisa because they put value in what I can contribute. I revel in a builder with such flexibility for our combined interests of the project,” says Jo’ell.

The Campfields started in the “building” industry by building a family. In 1994, Allan, a widower, had reached the end of a 20-year-military career while Lisa, a single mother of two young boys, worked full-time while pursuing a degree in psychology. Set up by a mutual friend, the couple married six months later. They had a common dream to start a construction company, but did not want the strangle-hold of debt.

“We knew we were going places, but we had a very strict plan on how to get there,” says Lisa. Allan worked as an area sales representative for Sears Home Improvement, earning national recognition, while Lisa and the boys “lived lean and saved.” The couple also flipped houses on the side until they had more than they could manage with Allan’s travels. They built their first speculative home in 2004.

Lisa had also started the design firm, Space Appeal, to help bridge a gap she found among builders and their clients. “I had buyers calling me in tears because a builder would ask them for paint colors two days before the painter was to be at the house. I’m sure there were organized builders out there, but I wouldn’t see it,” says Lisa. Word spread of her easy work-style and attention to detail. “I eventually had to quit once we really got into the building business because I found myself helping the competition. It was a definite conflict of interest.”

Homeworks of Alabama sets itself apart from the competition because of Allan’s managing skills and Lisa’s design experience. Lisa serves as an in-house designer, but also manages the process. A well thought-out schedule is used and followed to ensure the customer and sub-contractors alike are always prepared for the next stage of construction.
Lisa also scours wholesale and retail distributors for flooring, fixtures, etc. because she knows the client’s budget. “By the time we’re picking out things, I have gotten to know the client really well. When I put that together with our budget, I can narrow our choices and save the client time and headache. Our service and attention to detail makes the process a whole lot easier,” says Lisa.

“I think it also makes a difference having two women involved in designing the home,” says Allan, referring to Lisa and Jo’ell. “Women are most often the decision maker when purchasing a home and the one in the relationship to truly function in the home.”

“This may be a ‘showcase’ home, but in the end, it’s somebody’s home. We are keeping that in mind every step of the way,” says Lisa.

The showcase home is located at the corner of East Lake Boulevard at the first intersection of the subdivision. By mid-November, the Campfields expect to complete framing and be working well into the interiors and outside façade. Drive by. Stop and say hello. And be sure to follow the progress in the next three issues of East Alabama Living.

The other is a statement of what never changes, the very cornerstone of every Malzahn home since 1988.

“She’s my accountability,” says Gus about his wife. “She’s always asking me, ‘What does the scripture say?’ She gives me a clear word from His word. We’re in this thing together.”

This “thing” has been quite the ride.

The Malzahns grew up together in Fort Smith, Ark., although three years separated them. Gus, home from college, was reintroduced to the high school senior, and Kristi followed her future husband to Henderson State University where they married a year later. Daughters Kylie, 22, and Kenzie, 19, soon followed.

“My mother said she knew from the start that Gus was the one for me. She knew he would be a strong leader, but she also knew how strong-willed I could be. She felt like Gus would be stronger, but also allow me to be me,” says Kristi.
The early years were tough on the young couple. “Gus started coaching right away although we found out he only got his first job because no one else wanted it,” laughs Kristi.

“I remember being so excited only to find out I was the only one who applied,” says Gus.

In spite of the rough start, Gus moved into other positions, including athletic director of Shiloh Christian High School and then Springdale High School. “I was gone away from my family then much more than I am now. I had to attend every sporting event as well as school functions,” says Gus.

Kristi says it was a hard time for the family. “I was so focused on my needs, what wasn’t being met for me. I was very resentful of his time away, and I was isolated with two young children. It wasn’t until I hit my knees and prayed for God to show me what my feelings were saying about me as opposed to whatever shortcomings I thought were Gus’s. When I did that, it was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” says Kristi.

From 1992 to 2005, Malzahn led three football programs to impressive victories, earning an appearance in six state championship games and winning four titles. His quarterbacks set national records for passing touchdowns and total yards. Kristi and the girls rarely missed a game.

After short, but successful, jaunts at the University of Arkansas and University of Tulsa, Gus received the call from newly named Auburn University head football coach, Gene Chizik, in late 2008.

“We were completely unprepared, but knew it had to be a God thing,” says Kristi.

The move didn’t come without controversy. One blog comment stated, “I wonder if he can do anything with our (Auburn’s) QBs?”

By early 2011, Gus had answered the question having coached Heisman trophy winner, quarterback Cam Newton, accepted the Broyles Award for Assistant Coach of the Year and contributed to a national championship season. ESPN also selected Gus as one of the best recruiters in the Southeastern Conference.

“It’s hard to find balance during recruiting season,” says Gus. NCAA regulations forbid coaches from calling or even returning phone calls from recruits so Gus’s cell phone is never out of his hand in order to receive calls as they come in, a time through which Kristi grits her teeth.

“I have to remind him to at least offer a ‘give me a minute’ finger in the air,” says Kristi. “There have been times I’m in mid-sentence, and the next thing I know, he’s walking off with the cell phone on his ear.”

Kristi also encourages her husband to be more deliberate with compliments instead of always telling his players what they’re doing wrong. “I’m the softer side of Gus. I’ll have players call me, asking why Coach doesn’t like them or what they can do differently – even Cam (Newton) early on questioned why he couldn’t seem to please Gus. I didn’t tell Gus this for awhile, but little by little I’d remind him of ways to build up his players.”

Gus laughs. “I’m glad she didn’t tell me because I’d have told Cam right away to quit being so whiny.” He pauses in reflection, and then continues. “But she’s right. My job is to fix what’s wrong, and often times I’m so focused on that, I forget to let others know when they’re doing something right. I just assume if I don’t address it or tell them it’s wrong, then they know I’m happy with their performance. I’m working on that.”

Gus also tends to forget to warn Kristi of company, like when she learns through a passing comment at the athletic complex that the boys are coming over to watch the game. “The boys” meaning the freshmen class. As a surrogate mom to some 80 boys, Kristi never knows who might be dropping by and when.

While parenting hundreds of young men through the years, the Malzahns have raised two daughters who enjoy each other enough to live together while attending Auburn. “My daddy always told me, ‘You have the whole world to fight. You’re not going to fight your family.’ Our girls love each other and have such a heart for people,” says Kristi.

Gus has a slightly different take on the girls being away from home.

“I don’t like it,” says Gus.

The protective father admits to driving by the girls’ house a few times a day, even though it’s barely two miles from the Malzahn home. “Before I accepted the job from Gene, I sat all the girls down and said, ‘Either we all go, or none of us go.’ Whatever move we make next will most likely be the first one we’ll make without one or both of our girls. I hate it,” says Gus.
For now, the move does not include anywhere other than onto a new quarterback and offensive line for the Tigers. Gus signed a new contract with the University, giving him another season at Auburn, despite being wooed with head football coaching positions at other universities. Kristi is gearing up for her involvement with Gene and Jonna Chizik’s philanthropy, All in for You Turn, as well as participating in a community Bible study.

Protecting her family comes naturally to Kristi, but reservation had to be learned. “Things are very black and white to me. I am so vocal. I want to make people understand these are kids, and I know their hearts. And this is my husband, who has such a desire to help other people achieve their dreams. But sometimes, God reminds me I have to be still. A lot of days last year, I didn’t even leave home. I’d cut on the music. It was just me and the dogs,” says Kristi, referring to Jolie, Jax and Winston, a Maltese/Yorkie mix, Maltese and Shih Tzu, respectively.

Kristi also protected Gus from family worries during the National Championship game last January. Gus’s father was preparing to leave for the game, when he fell ill. “We knew it was bad, so I was monitoring his condition, ready to tell Gus if I needed to, but not wanting to worry him until I absolutely had to,” says Kristi. Immediately after the game, Chizik put the Malzahns on a plane to Texas.

“That’s the great part of Gene and Jonna, and working for a Christian athletic director (Jay Jacobs). There was no question asked. No hesitation. No indication I was needed anywhere else except to be with my family,” says Gus. His father died in February with Gus and Kristi present.

“You really learn to appreciate where you are in that moment. Whether we are in the trailer home of our 20s or sitting on the beach of Cabo, we know we are blessed,” says Kristi.

When asked what the Malzahns of today would say to the Malzahns 20 years ago, Gus grins. “Buckle up.”

Kristi concurs. “We’ve learned a lot along the way and are continuing to learn. Listen, we’re major mess ups. There is no explanation for where we are today. It’s only by the grace of God.”

Gus holds up a finger to indicate he needs a minute and steps out to take a call. Kristi rolls her eyes and laughs. “It’s been a wild ride.”

Nichols took his advice and started selling clothes out of the back of her car and at sorority houses. “I would travel to Tuscaloosa and Auburn and set up in different sorority houses and give 10 percent of my sales back to their philanthropy,” says Nichols. “After a year or so of that, I decided to open one of the little huts at Seacrest Beach, Fla., that was only 100 square feet.” She worked at the booth every Thursday through Saturday, making the drive from Alabama to Florida each day. Nichols then sold her Mustang for $4,000 and used the money to grow her business.

Déjà Vu has since expanded to two permanent locations in Florida, one in Seaside and another in Panama City Beach. Nichols lives nearby with husband Justin and 4-year-old son Fox.

Because both stores are located on the Panhandle where the threat of hurricanes could potentially ruin a business, Nichols decided she needed a backup plan for her stores. “Also, being in retail I knew what women wanted, and I couldn’t always find that perfect garment at markets. So I thought, why not start a clothing line? I knew we would sell all over so the threat of hurricanes no longer bothered me. It would be like my own little insurance policy.”

Less than two years ago, Nichols developed the clothing line Judith March, named after her mother Judith and mother-in-law March. “They are two of the strongest women I know,” says Nichols. “They believed in me and gave me the confidence to take risks and keep moving.”

The tops, dresses, jewelry and accessories she creates have a bohemian, yet classic feel. “I feel like you can be Jackie-O one day and Janis Joplin the next,” says Nichols. Her designs are inspired by antique pillows, blankets, old photos of Grace Kelly, embellishments from a purse and vintage garments, to name a few.

Women adore the clothes, and it shows. Already, more than 2,000 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and
Australia carry her line, and she’s planning on expanding even more. “Nothing motivates me more than when a store calls and says their numbers are up, and they can’t keep Judith March on the racks,” says Nichols. “I had a store call me one time, and they said their boutique had been struggling due to the economy, and when they started carrying Judith March, their sales went through the roof, and they expanded. Now they have more than one location. That was huge for me. I felt like something we did, made a difference.”

Nichols is passionate about helping others. She even designed a dress for the Toomer’s for Tuscaloosa foundation, which supports tornado victims, and donated 100 percent of the profits from the dress. “I always like to help out in any way I can,” says Nichols.

It’s no surprise that Nichols has been successful. “I have worked hard,” says Nichols, “but I have to say that I would not be anywhere without the people that I work with, the support of friends and family, and last but definitely not least—the good Lord.”

When asked how it feels to have accomplished so much before her 30th birthday she replies, “You know that saying, ‘Hard work keeps you humble?’ Well, I get it now. Being so busy and trying to constantly tame this animal, I really don’t ever think about it.”

In the future, Nichols hopes to spend as much time with her family as possible, catch an abundance of lizards and crabs with her son, and travel more. “I love to work, so I always want to work, but I hope to accomplish balance. I’m working on it, but it is a tough one in this business.”

For more information, visit judithmarch.com, shopwithdejavu.com or call 850.267.0293. Locally you can find Judith March at such East Alabama Living advertisers as: The Village Boutique, Kinnucans and Cutie Pie.