Hi! I’m Audra, the founder of Manifest Luxuries. I started my professional journey by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, with a concentration in Math and Physics, from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. During my time in school, I seized an amazing opportunity to start teaching and competing in Swing Dancing, and thus I began a 29 year (and going) career in Ballroom Dance. Throughout this time, I have taught thousands of students, created dozens of dance events, and have maintained a dance internship program which has always been one of my greatest joys.
While residing in both Pennsylvania and New Mexico, I have had the opportunity to create several successful small businesses, in addition to my Ballroom Dance Business, as side interests. While working on my Bachelor’s degree in the late 1990’s, I designed, marketed, and distributed a beautiful High-End Craft and Wreath line in Pennsylvania. In the late 2000’s (just before the crash), I was a realtor in New Mexico; and I have always believed in maintaining some sort of rental income, and in building a real estate investment portfolio, if at all possible. In that same time period, I created a simple and sustainable Wedding Rental Business and Managed an Historic Chapel for several years. Then, during the pandemic, with my dance career on hold for almost two years, I decided to learn about, and create, yet another business…selling hand-made masks, online, on ETSY. This lead me to research more creative online ventures like Print on Demand, culminating in the creation of an Amazon Merchant Account, through which I market my own designs, and earn passive income.
The success of all of my businesses always came down to following my heart; following a strong personal code of ethics with transparency and integrity as the basis; setting up simple, sustainable, and low maintenance systems of doing business; choosing businesses with a very low overhead, low risk, and high profit; and focusing increasingly on passive income streams. These methods have allowed me to be my own boss and make my own choices throughout my whole adult life.
With all of the experience and knowledge that I have gained in creative, business, and technical fields over the years, starting my own website almost felt inevitable. With full ownership and control of the content that I create, I am more excited than ever to share with the world all of the things I’ve learned, and as much useful information I can find, to help you improve your own quality of life! I have had a life filled with love and joy, and have also experienced devastating set-backs. With all of the good and the bad, I have always done my best to enjoy the most important things in life…love, life, health, basic necessities, and simple pleasures. Throughout my blog, with your support, I plan on showcasing the best of these things, and maybe even some more indulgent things from time to time as well! Let’s enjoy all that life has to offer!