Hi! My name is Dannelle Shugart. It’s nice to meet you!
A little about me? Thanks for asking 🙂 I’m a local stay-at-home mom of a 9 year old girl. As an older mom, I have made sure to take advantage of all the mom groups and mom friends the area has to offer. This has added an infinite amount of fun and parental wisdom to my life.
On the side, I’m an award-winning author of a nonfiction book on time travel. I also work for Washington Magic, an upscale magic show and I own the Dress-Up Boutique – a sustainable fashion shop.
I grew up traveling the world. I went to 10 different schools in 5 different countries. It created a love of travel and so I took my husband castle hunting in Wales for our honeymoon.
As for my hobbies, I’m addicted to thrifting and I’ll easily travel an hour or more to check out a great thrift store. I love murder mysteries and joined a local book club that focuses on mystery books. I also love doing anything that could become a great story. I’ve taken a flying trapeze lesson from a clown, slept in a haunted castle and I was accepted in the NASA social program where I was invited to Cape Canaveral to attend the SpaceX mission to resupply the International Space Station and post about it via social media.
Oh – and I love to make friends and do fun things, but I am extremely shy. I’m so grateful to people who come up to sit next to me at group events – I’ve made some great friends that way!
About Dannelle Shugart
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I married someone 13 years my junior. Best thing I ever did. 1 month after getting married, we started on a year long IVF journey. 7 fertility treatments later and we had a feisty red headed daughter. We also have 2 guinea pigs.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I own the Dress-Up Boutique. It’s a sustainable fashion/upcycled gift shop. I go thrifting and yard saling, then I create custom outfits for clients, or let them explore the boutique. I’m completely addicted to thrifting, so there’s that. But it’s SO MUCH FUN watching people when they find something that makes them feel beautiful. I also have a table for “happy day gifts”. It’s a place where people can pick up a free gift for a friend, neighbor or peer – entirely to put a smile on their face.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Decide what you want and set your feet in the direction towards that goal. The steps don’t need to be big, but they need to be consistant.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I hope to still be a stay-at-home mom with a thriving sustainable fashion boutique that has a lot of repeat clients.
Dannelle Shugart & Our Community
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I LOVE to eat out – especially with my friends. Some favorites are Claire’s at the Depot, Erin’s Elderberries, Great Harvest Bread Company, The Whole Ox, Outback, Starbucks and Trummers.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve been here about 11 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
So many people! How to choose?? Ms. Edel Kunkle is the head of Mountainside Montessori. She grew that amazing school from a few students in her basement to an amazing school on a farm. She knows every student and every parent by name.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Gateway Center has put on some amazing holiday events including a carriage ride and time with Santa and hot chocolate and more. My daughter loved that!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I’ve recently joined some really outstanding networking groups. It’s a great way to grow a business and make friends.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I’d love to go to lunch with any of my friends. Let’s go to Trummers!
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I might have a crush on William Shatner. Any Star Trek movie. I love light hearted murder mysteries.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I had the best author signing that Barnes and Noble Manassas ever had.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A lunch out with friends. An evening in with family.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mother.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love. Family. Cozy.