Conversations with Heather Brogan O’Riley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Brogan O’Riley.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
💘 Hello! I’m 46 years old, married to my best friend, and we share our home (and hearts) with our little dog who brings us endless joy. We moved to Holly Springs in 2020 from St. Petersburg, FL, where we had lived our whole lives—and we absolutely love it here! We loved it so much we decided to build a house in Fuquay-Varina in 2025 and just moved in at the end of August!

2024- Present has been the hardest chapters of my life. I faced a long battle with Ovarian Cancer and only months later, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer as well. That journey brought countless surgeries, a total hysterectomy that took away the chance for us to have children, and eventually a double mastectomy. It has truly been a nightmare—one that changed us forever. However, I will always find a silver lining!

My corporate job is a full-time as a Casualty Claims Adjuster, often 12+ hour days, and after a decade in this career, it has taken a lot out of me. But during all the time I spent recovering in bed, I had the space to really reflect on my life and what truly matters. Out of that reflection came a decision to finally pursue one of my lifelong dreams: owning a small business.

As a kid, I was always the one saying, “Let’s add a little razzle dazzle!” I’ve always loved glitter and anything sparkly, so in between surgeries, I launched my business: Razzle Dazzle That NC ✨

I started with glitter tattoos for kids—they’re waterproof, last 3–10 days, and I use professional, non-toxic products. I do birthday parties and community events all around the triangle! I even won runner up for Best New Business in 2025 for the Maggy Award with Main and Broad Magazine. This was a huge accomplishment my first year in business!

Once that part of the business was rolling, I had to keep feeding my creative spark. I now sell handmade seasonal items using handpicked dried flowers and dehydrated organic fruits that I make myself. I also create Blind Date with a book, which have become super popular, along with customized gift baskets, simmer pots, and tons of other products. Right now I do a little bit of everything! Branding and a website are definitely next on my list. It has been a challenge juggling two jobs and cancer, but It has given me purpose and seeing my customers faces light up after a purchase or glitter tattoo pumps life back into me!

Everything I make is completely customizable and I have embraced the art of giving. I’m very proud to have a solid following and knowing that I can tailor any experience or gift for my clients totally fills my heart bank!

I’m incredibly proud of myself. In the middle of fighting for my life, I still chased my dream and opened my own business. I want to inspire people and tell them to always keep going and be the light.
I’m very excited to see where the next chapter in life takes me! Let’s Dazzle them!!
✨💖✨

I’m so excited to be part of this community and to spread love, kindness, and sparkles galore!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening your own small business and trying to be successful on a budget while fighting cancer is no small feat that’s for sure!
This has been an adventure full of trial-and-error, but no matter what it has given me the drive to Move Forward.

As you can imagine, getting hit with so much bad news all within months of each other and having over thirteen surgeries was a lot to process. Life had changed in an instant, and I could feel myself being sucked into a dark hole, mentally, emotionally and physically. However, I knew that nobody was going to pull me out of the darkness except for myself.
So pursuing a lifelong dream after realizing how precious time really is
gave me this undying drive to overcome any obstacle in my way. I told my husband that I wanted to rise like a phoenix out of fire if I beat cancer and that’s exactly what I did with a hand full glitter!
I’ve always said, “Rise Above and Conquer” and I have to truly say, my resilience has been in full effect and my motivation to spread awareness, empower women, and inspire those that are facing obstacles has truly been a super power during all of my struggles in this adventure!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My small business is all about gifts and glitter, with a focus on creating personalized experiences that feel truly special. Every piece I make is crafted with love, with the intention of giving someone a memorable moment or a meaningful gift. I want my customers to walk away feeling a little lighter, knowing they can reach out to me anytime for a one-of-a-kind item designed just for them. When customers come to me rather it’s for a waterproof tattoo or a customized gift I am truly here to bring their vision to life and give them a unique experience that they will hold close to their hearts and make them feel extra special!

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
To me risk and reward go hand and hand. Everything meaningful in life involves some level of risk: starting a business, trusting yourself and people, picking the right treatments for a illness, or trying something new. It is all very scary and intimidating. You just have to stay very focused and really go after what you want. We all know fear in taking a risk is natural, but it shouldn’t stop you from moving forward. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s acting despite it! No matter what you just have to keep moving forward and know that you will Rise Above the Challenge and Conquer it!

Opening my own business in the midst of fighting for my own life was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken! I was actually on long term disability at the time because I just kept having one surgery after the other, and we were drowning in medical bills. I was pushing myself as much as possible to heal, so I could get back to my corporate job asap, but I knew in my heart, there is more I was put on this earth to do. Having so much time to reflect on life made me realize it was time to take a risk and to stop being so scared of failure. I finally just had to ask myself what if I don’t fail? I’ve never liked living my life with what ifs and it just felt like the universe was pushing me to take a risk and pursue my dreams….and to this day I am so happy that I did. Every time a customer walks away and I see their smile it makes all the hard work and risk worth it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/razzledazzlethatnc?igsh=dHg2N2xoMmdkdHUw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567324007537&mibextid=ZbWKwL