Fall Forecast: The Trends Taking Over This Season!
Introducing the October Lively Lady: Meegan Bretzel!
Meet Meegan!
Fort Lewis College is what first brought Meegan to Durango, and from the moment she stepped onto campus, she had the feeling she was exactly where she was supposed to be. She came to college planning to study journalism because of her love for writing, but a Chemistry 101 class sparked an unexpected passion for science, ultimately leading her to earn a degree in biochemistry. After graduation, Meegan left Durango to pursue a career in biotech, and life filled in the rest. She met her husband, started a family, and eventually landed in Scottsdale, Arizona, after they made the decision to homeschool their children. Three years ago, the family returned to Durango for a Sepp Kuss parade, and somewhere between coffee at Bread, a hike up Junction Creek, and a swim at Oxbow Park, her husband said, “I could see us raising our kids here.” He gets credit for saying it first, but Meegan had been thinking the same thing from the moment they arrived. Soon after, they bought a home on a couple of acres, planted an organic lavender field, and have happily called Durango home ever since.
Meegan considers her husband her best friend, and raising their children together has been the greatest adventure of her life. Motherhood has a wonderful way of keeping her humble. Just when she thinks she has something figured out, her kids are usually there to remind her otherwise. At the same time, being a mom has been more meaningful and fulfilling than she ever could have imagined. Her children motivate her to get up each morning and strive to be the best version of herself. Some days that version is more impressive than others, but they are the constant that keeps her grounded, gives her perspective, and reminds her of what matters most. One of the unexpected gifts of motherhood has been the community that came along with it. Becoming a mom introduced Meegan to an incredible group of smart, capable, and generous women who show up for one another, share their wisdom, laugh through the chaos, and somehow always seem to know exactly what to say. Those friendships have become a treasured and incredibly important part of her life.
About five years ago, Meegan took a sabbatical from biotech to homeschool her children and never went back. When her family moved into their Durango home, tucked up against the Animas Mountains, she began imagining a lavender field and greenhouse on the property. She had never really thought of herself as a farmer, but she loved the idea of creating a beautiful space and nourishing lavender products that could be shared with friends and the local community. That vision became Lone Horse Lavender, the family’s business. They have already developed a line of preservative-free, lavender-infused botanical simple syrups as a natural alternative to the artificial syrups commonly found in coffee and boba shops. Meegan also recently enrolled in a formulation course to become certified in creating organic and botanical skincare which is a transition that feels especially natural given her background in science and love of skincare. She could happily talk about skincare all day, and healthy skin has always been one of her favorite features on a person. To her, there’s something especially beautiful about skin that looks cared for and nourished, particularly as we age. Her goal is to create a line of products that genuinely supports healthy skin in Durango’s high-desert climate without the harsh chemicals, preservatives, or fragrances often found elsewhere. And there’s one very practical benefit to all of her experimenting: her kitchen now consistently smells amazing which, historically speaking, was not always the case.
Meegan admits she may be a little biased, but she her favorite lively brand is Los Poblanos! It’s also hard for her to go wrong with anything from Free People, especially their Hot Shot Onesies. And when someone compliments her jeans, there’s a good chance she’s wearing PISTOLA! Meegan is an options girl, so she loves the variety of brands and price points that lively offers. She also appreciates how much lively supports local businesses while offering styles that feel relevant to life in Durango.
In her experience, the women at lively have an incredible talent for putting together an outfit. Sometimes Meegan knows exactly what she’s looking for, while other times she has an occasion on the calendar and no idea what to wear. Either way, the lively team always offers thoughtful suggestions without ever being pushy, making the entire shopping experience feel easy, personal, and genuinely enjoyable.
You can shop Meegan’s lively looks in the blog below.
Photos by Niki Bryant Photography.
