Deanna Pizitz is the kind of person who exudes warmth. She meets no strangers. Her casual style matches her personality, which is personal and friendly. Her mantra in life is simple — to make women feel better about themselves through motivation, health, fashion and fitness. It’s why she launched Well & Worthy Life, a blog that specifically speaks to women looking to lead life to the fullest. As a mom, wife and constant seeker of meaning, Deanna champions a life well lived. Whether it’s tips on which book to read next or how to work the perfect denim skirt, Deanna has made it her mission to improve the lives of those around her. We sat down with Deanna Pizitz, today’s FACE of Birmingham, to learn a little more about her.
How did you come up with the idea for Well & Worthy Life?
A friend of mine has a successful fashion blog, and I mentioned the idea to her. I said, “I kind of want to do a blog, and I want it to be on health and wellness and helping people live their best life.” I read a book years ago — it was called Younger Next Year, and it was all about how we live in our 30s, 40s and 50s will dictate how we live in our 70s, 80s and 90s. I had always been into working out, but never so much the nutrition and all that kind of stuff.
Once I told my friend, she was like “yes, you have to do it!” And then, we sat there one day and went through a ton of different names and that’s how Well & Worthy Life was born. I started working on it this past summer, and then I launched it October 1.
I think that people are hungry to know what we can do to live a healthier life. I even say when I meet people, especially younger people, that a part of the blog needs to be to my younger self, because there are so many things I wish I would have started doing earlier in my life. We can always look back, but not always forward.
How did you come to love fashion?
My mother was a model. She was a model here in Birmingham, in fact. She was in fashion shows, and I modeled with her. We even did commercials together when I was little. I can remember looking at her in the mirror one day when I was a little girl — I could barely see over the counter — and I said, “you are so beautiful.” She really was. All through her life. She was just always so put-together. And I’m not put-together. So I think she probably inspired my love of fashion. And I just like to look good!
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Why do you think it’s important for women to have confidence?
I think we are so hard on our bodies. You know, I’m 52 years old — I have loose skin, and I can sit there and pick my body apart. But why? What good does that do? It just takes you down. Would you do that to your best friend? No. I think that we have to embrace who we are and love who we are.
I will say, as you get older, at least for me, it gets easier to embrace who you are. I like who I am today better than when I was in my 20s. I have no desire to go back to my 20s or 30s. I like where I am now.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself through writing the blog?
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that I can write. I never would have imaged that. I have three sons, and they’re all really good writers, and I’ve always been so impressed with their writing.
And that was one of the things that scared me about the blog — writing and being vulnerable and putting myself out there. My husband has even said, “your writing is good.” So it’s been one of those things that I’m like “oh, I didn’t know I could do this!”
Where is your favorite local place to shop?
My husband’s family owns Gus Mayer, so that’s my number one go-to. I shopped there way before I knew him. We’ve been married almost 4 years now.
Describe your fitness routine.
I do a lot of things now. When I leave here, I’m going to MPower. I have to gear myself up for it. Once I sold my Pure Barre, I wanted to start trying different things. So I got yoga-certified last fall — not really to teach — I just wanted to learn more about yoga. I still do Pure Barre, and I like True40 and Club Pilates too.
What I’ve found, going to these different places, is that there’s a place for everyone. After being an owner at Pure Barre and seeing all these different places, I kind of look around at the clients as if these are my people — I love the people, and I love the owners.
I really do think your best bet, though, is to find one thing that you really love. Because you’ll get to know the people, and you’ll find joy going there every day. It’s like finding your community, finding your place.
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What’s your favorite motivational quote?
Find your tribe, and you’ll find your vibe.
That just resonates with me so much because I really think that if you find the right people, the ones you surround yourself with, then you can live your vibe. They’re there to support you, and I think that’s what we need more of in our life.
How would you describe your personal style?
I would say classic, yet bohemian. I like classic, but I like that I’m not all the way put together. When I fix my hair, I like it messy; I don’t like it all in one spot. I like that classic bohemian kind of look.
Describe your perfect weekend.
I would go down to my beach house on 30A, and my husband would be with me. I would get on my bike and ride to my yoga class. And then from there, I would go ride my bike back toward the health food store there. It’s called For the Health of It on 30A. I would walk around and maybe get a juice or something like that. And then there’s the bakery, La Loba’s. Sometimes I don’t even buy anything, I just walk in, and it feels good.
Then I would get back on my bike and ride back to my house. My husband would come home. Usually around lunch time, he’ll stop by a place called Skipper’s and bring in shrimp. And then we might go to the beach and sit on the beach for a while, read a good book. That night, maybe we’d go to dinner with my oldest son who lives down there. That would be my perfect weekend.
What are three things you can’t live without?
Lip gloss; sunscreen; and my dog Kingston — he’s a King Charles Cavalier. He’s with me or my husband all the time.
What’s your best piece of advice?
I think if you can find your purpose and be mindful of your purpose, then you not only make yourself a better person, you make your work life better. You make the world a better place.
Thank you, Deanna! Explore Deanna’s blog, Well & Worthy Life.
Thank you to Eric and Jamie Gay of Eric & Jamie Photography for today’s beautiful photography of Deanna.
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Meet more amazing Birmingham women in our FACES archives. Prepare to be inspired!
