Recently, 573 held a contest for the best recurring dream. The winner would get a weekend stay at The Tiny Houses of French Village. Terri Jestus from Cape Girardeau entered a super cool dream and took the prize.
I was so excited when 573 Magazine reached out and told me that I had won this dream contest.
Our good friend and serial entrepreneur, Carisa Stark, has developed another awesome place to stay in the 573. Carisa, owner of Mary Jane Burgers and Brew, Jackson Street BrewCo and The Urban Lofts in Perryville, and Mary Jane bourbon + smokehouse in Cape, recently completed her latest creation, The Tiny Houses of French Village. Like Thoreau's Walden, Carisa's Tiny Houses offer a way to live deliberately, reducing it to its simplest terms experiencing life in real-time without interruptions—but with style and luxurious creature comforts.
This 573 Magazine story is brought to you by serial entrepreneur, Carisa Stark.
The four 600 sq ft Tiny Houses Carisa designed sit on ten secluded acres in the woods near French Village. Large wall-to-wall sliding glass doors make each space feel open and luxurious, with Wall-to-Wall blackout curtains for privacy and peaceful sleeping. Each tiny house is very well equipped and tastefully styled. Each with an outdoor dining & firepit overlooking a beautiful valley and tranquil rolling hills from the highest point in St. Francois County.
We had never been in a Tiny House, and we immediately fell in love with the coziness and design.
My name is Terri Jestus. I am the Director of Cape's Best After School and Summer Camp and also help with the marketing at Cape Martial Arts. I invited my friend Pitter to stay at the Tiny Houses, and yes, her name is really Glinda. Lol. I was so excited when 573 Magazine reached out and told me that I had won this dream contest. I never EVER win anything, and to top it off, I won a weekend getaway. Wow!!!
My recurring dream was I jumped from the ground up to the top of a telephone pole and then I jumped to the next pole and kept going. In the dream, I remember thinking NO ONE will believe I can do this. But it was so much FUN! :-)
Ironically, Carisa, who owns the Tiny Houses in the French Village, brought her work team from Mary Jane's to Cape Martial Arts to do a team-building exercise a few months ago. We all had so much fun! We focus on Child Development and Adult Enrichment.
Pitter and I were so excited to be headed on "our adventure," as she called it. Pitter is always busy with her family and I am always working on events at Cape Martial Arts that we were both looking forward to getting away for a weekend. The bonus was not having to drive for hours to get there. We had never been in a Tiny House, and we immediately fell in love with the coziness and design.
We were impressed that Carisa had thought of absolutely everything that you may need. The kitchen was phenomenal, the back deck looked out into the woods, and we even had a Christmas tree to top it off. It was everything we could ask for, plus a thousandfold. Then, we woke up in the morning to the snow, and we realized God REALLY meant for us to slowww down and enjoy our time there. It was so beautiful!
My name is Glinda Seabaugh. I am proud to say that I have lived in Cape Girardeau County most of my life. I was the owner of the Mississippi Mud House Coffee Shop and co-owner of Pitters on Broadway. I recently retired but stay very busy with grandchildren and my art. I attended Southeast Missouri University, where I studied art. I enjoy many different types of art, from painting to designing, sewing, and selling Native American and Civil War clothing. I am Deputy Chief for the Northern Cherokee Nation and am passionate about genealogy. All these activities keep me so busy I hardly find time for myself.
We stayed at the Pikes Peak Tiny House. It was amazing!
I am Deputy Chief for the Northern Cherokee Nation and am passionate about genealogy.
I was so excited when Terri called and asked me to join her for a weekend at the Tiny Houses of French Village! My first thought was that she and I both needed to get some rest and quiet. We stayed at the Pikes Peak Tiny House. It was amazing! And not so tiny! Carisa Stark, the owner of this wonderful getaway, graciously invited us to join their party for chili. Carisa and her family were wonderful hosts. I can't say enough about Carisa, as she really knows how to make someone feel at home and welcome! As we entered Pikes Peak, we were greeted with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a welcome package of cheese, sausage, crackers, and snacks! The place was well stocked with everything we could possibly need.
...a deer come right up to the deck as we were drinking our morning coffee.
It made you feel like you were right at home, sitting in front of the fireplace, looking out at the beautiful scenery of woods and open space. We sat around a fire and on the deck as we watched a deer come right up to the deck as we were drinking our morning coffee. We couldn't have asked for a better host or a nicer place to stay. I can't thank Carisa, 573 Magazine, or Terri enough for inviting me!
Learn more about The Tiny Houses of French Village at urbanloftsandmore.holidayfuture.com
Get Out There! There's No Time to Waste.
pics and words by t. smugala
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