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Lisa Wu Hartwell is a career woman and entrepreneur who owns her own real estate firm Hartwell and Associates.  She is an artist and designer.  Her baby clothing line is Hart 2 Hart, her jewelry line is Wu Girls and she just started a new clothing line, Closet Freak.  She and husband Ed Hartwell, a player with the NFL and their three children, 13-year-old Jordan, 10-year-old Justin and 1-year-old E.J. live in a luxurious country club community in Duluth, GA.

(Interview with Flaimahmy, July 27, 2009)

FM:  What made you want to be in business?  You run several of them.

LH:  I’ve always been independent.  I’ve worked since I was 14-years-old.  That’s really all I know.  I have a lot of energy and I’m very creative.  I like movies; I create jewelry.  I’ve always wanted to be productive and put my energy into places that I know will supply jobs for more family members and others.

FM:  What do you believe is your most important role?

LH:  My most important role is being wife and mother.  Business comes second nature for me and I have a great team.  I’m very blessed to have a great husband and family.  My whole team is very essential to my success.

FM:  You’ve previously spoken about domestic abuse.  Do you believe that domestic abuse is more prevalent in the entertainment industry than other parts of society?

LH:  No, I wouldn’t say that.  I think it happens daily.  The statistics are there.  Women are being abused daily every second of the day.  Women are being killed.  And, not only just women there are men who are being physically beaten by their spouses.  I think domestic violence is wrong whether the woman is hitting the man or the man is hitting the woman.  Sometimes I think the people get confused and they say we are just passionate people.  No, it’s abuse.  I do think about it.  I was in a situation for a long time and I got out of it.  I’d like to encourage other women and let them know that it is not normal.  I don’t think it is just the entertainment industry.  I think everyday women go through the same thing.

FM:  Being on The Housewives has cast you and your family into the public eye.  How do you balance that with your home life and children?

LH:  I’ve been in and around the entertainment industry for such a long time.  It’s not anything that was new to me.  I’ve helped in entertainment shows, I’ve shot a movie and I’m working on another movie as well.  I think you have to just maintain your integrity and remain true to who you are, true to your family and your loved ones and everything else will be ok.

FM:  In hindsight do you think it was better that your older sons were not featured on the last season of  The Housewives?

LH:  I don’t think so.  I don’t think that any of the children on the Show were portrayed derogatively, in a negative light at all.  I think everytime the children were shown it was in a family environment, doing family things.  So, absolutely not.  I would love to have my children on it.  Hopefully, next season, there’ll be a third season, if they choose to be on it, if they want to be on it at that time, hopefully we can show them.

FM:  We know that there is a lot of drama among several of the cast members on the Show.  What do you teach your children about handling conflict with others?

LH:  I believe that being honest and standing for what you believe in, even if you have to stand alone, is very important.  I don’t go with the majority and I don’t go with popularity.  I stand for what I believe in even if I’m standing by myself.  I teach my children to just have integrity and be a puppet for no one.  There are people who are told to do certain things and they do them.  I’m a puppet for no one.

FM:  After you became a mom what style tip did you pick up to help you maintain your flyness?

LH:  Fly glasses!  And when you have to take them off mascara and lip gloss will carry you a long way.  Long lashes make you look wonderful.  If you don’t have makeup on the fly glasses will carry you through the day.

FM:  What’s your favorite style trend this coming fall season?

LH:  I’m an artist.  I’m very creative so it changes with me.  There’s not just one thing that I’m into.  I love boots of course.  I cannot say one item.  I’m an artsy type of person and I wear what I like.  It doesn’t have to be a brand name but I will rock it.  Some people may not agree with it but being an artist I wear what I feel comfortable in.  Who knows.  You may see me wearing all kinds of stuff.

FM:  We consider you to be a Flymommy.  In your own words what makes you a Flymommy?

LH:  Spending one-on-one time with my children.  A lot of people have their children every single day in their houses and they’re on these gaming systems for seven or eight hours.  I consider myself a Flymommy because I get down and dirty with my kids.  I play paint-ball with my kids.  I ride all the roller coasters, whatever they like to do I do too.  We’re very hands-on.  We play kick-ball.  We play baseball.  I think that’s what makes me pretty fly, being physical with my children.  I think that it’s necessary because with all these gaming systems, parents are using them like babysitters so they don’t have to deal with their children.  I’m pretty hands-on with all my children.

FM:  Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

LM:  Tune into season 2.  This season is definitely better than last season.  You’ll see a sensitive side of me.  Last season I think a lot of people thought I was a robot.  They saw me working everyday and they were like, “Oh my God, she’s doing this, she’s doing that.”  You’ll definitely see a softer side.  They’ll see that I’m human, you know?  I do have feelings and emotions.  So, we’ll definitely keep you entertained.  Also, I’m coming out with a book “When the Cake is Already Made,”  It discusses some of my personal experiences with domestic violence and survival.  It has some funny moments as well.  I have a clothing line called Closet Freak. I know the name is a little risque but it means the total opposite.  The line gives confidence to women so that they don’t dress provocatively, so they always present themselves as elegant, classy and sophisticated.

You can find out more about Lisa Wu Hartwell and her businesses at  www.lisawuhartwell.com.