This post was contributed to by Claire Bruce, owner of Sloan + Themis.

The bond between a mother and her child is indescribable. But, what about the bond between mothers and daughters in business...together? In celebration of Mother's Day, here's what it's like to share that indescribable bond in both life and business while working as a mom-daughter team in downtown Cape.

Pastimes Antiques - Deb Maevers and Kyleigh Baliva

"This whole store wouldn't have been in my wildest dream. But, us working together? It's been fun. I would enjoy working with her whether she was daughter or not," says Deb , owner of Pastimes Antiques when asked about working with her daughter, Kyleigh.

Deb and Kyleigh have worked together on several ambitious projects. Not only does the mother-daughter team manage one of downtown's largest antique stores, they've embarked on the Vintage Now Fashion Show. Vintage Now, started in 2009, is an annual fundraiser that brings together their love of vintage fashion and helping women via the local safe house.

Both ladies bring their own energy and specialties to the business, which add to their favorite parts of working with one another. "We can be silly together and make fun things," says Kyleigh.

Kyleigh said they can be put into any situation and are able to know what the other is thinking. In the business of vintage and antique wares, one never knows exactly what may come through the door. The pair prepares well together to handle anything and everything as a team, right down to reading each other's minds according to Deb. "I do some things before I know she wants me to do it," said Kyleigh.

Deb and Kyleigh's relationship has grown even closer having worked together since 2003. Deb's extensive work with interior design has been passed down to Kyleigh over the last several years. "I used to do all the windows, and now mostly she does them all. She's become a great window display artist," said Deb.

Time spent together working at Pastimes is invaluable to both ladies. Catching up with one another is easier at the store, providing an opportunity that otherwise may not be as easy to come by. "She's my best friend; I don't know what I would do without her," said Deb.

Stash - Jill and Emily Hoehne

In fall 2012, downtowners got some new neighbors when mother-daughter team Jill and Emily Hoehne opened Stash on Main Street. With a mix of brightly colored frocks and hip accessories, the boutique was an instant hit.

"It was always my dream to open a shop, and the stars aligned to make it happen," said Emily. Emily has managed retail shops in the St. Louis area for several years before returning to the Cape Girardeau area to earn her degree. Around the time Emily graduated, Jill had the opportunity to retire, then both mother and daughter were able to start a new adventure together.

The Hoehnes found that taking turns was key in making it all work. They worked together designing and building the shop. From scouting out vintage accents, constructing displays, refinishing tables, and hanging and steaming clothes, mother and daughter shared tasks and business decisions. Today, they still distribute the workload 50/50 in the store. Emily is the planner and the buyer who travels several times a year to market in Los Angeles and Dallas. Outgoing Jill has found her strength in styling and helping find the perfect look. "I love meeting all the new people and learning their stores, what their likes and dislikes are," said Jill.

Not only have the Hoehnes made a big impact on Cape's fashion scene, downtown has made an impact on their family. If you have every shopped at Stash, you know it is truly a family business. In one of the dressing rooms hangs a photo of Jill's mother, who provides shoppers with inspiration for grace and elegance. Emily also often brings her son to work. "I like that my son, Adrik, can see people working hard and succeeding. It teaches him the value of a dollar," said Emily. Recently Adrik even raised money for his school by making bracelets and selling them at Stash. Business savvy definitely runs in the Hoehne family.

This post is written by guest blogger Steven Amrhein, Intern at Old Town Cape.

As some of you may know, I recently got engaged! One of the perks of getting engaged is the photographs that you get to take with your significant other to announce the engagement. Instead of going back home to O'Fallon for the photographs, we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous scenery in Cape Girardeau. Now, according to my fiancé, these have to be "lively, fun, loving...they have to be perfect!" It's what everyone sees when you send out the announcements and apparently if they are bad, then no one will show up to the wedding...or so she says. I did some digging around and came across someone that I believe is perfect for capturing and sharing the special moment in our lives.

Stacey Thompson, a fashion and portrait photographer, that lives in downtown Cape has some of the best work that I have ever seen. She strives to create a sense of timelessness in her images by avoiding trends and incorporating vintage and retro themes. We were pleased to find out that she has been in this area for her entire life and enjoys living downtown because she has the opportunity to scout out quiet corners that most people wouldn't consider shooting in - she wouldn't disclose where though! Stacey enjoys the sense of community in downtown Cape and explained that "people are a close-knit bunch; they value their neighborhood and strive to make it the best it can be."

If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing her work, you are truly missing out. She has promised to turn my fiancé and myself into models...after all, she is used to working with them! Models are referred to her through agencies who are in need of current portfolio photos. Occasionally Stacey can even request a model that is a good fit for an upcoming photo concept that she is working on. Several models have came from out of town with the furthest coming from a five hour drive away. Every time someone new comes to the area, they comment to Stacey how picturesque downtown Cape is, especially the Riverfront area. She enjoys working with clients who are expressive and at ease in front of the camera, but also finds joy in working with those who aren't used to having their picture taken.

Several publications, including two international magazines, have featured her work. She even has pictures on PhotoVogue, a portfolio section of the VogueIT website. Solis Magazine also decided to do a print feature on her work after she submitted samples to them. She admitted that she is a little worried though because Solis only allowed her to write 2,000 words to explain her work and she fears that she may have turned it into a rant about Doctor Who, Jim Butcher and Legos. While she is receiving international exposure, some of her favorite pieces still come from downtown scenes, one of which was taken in conjunction with Annie Laurie's Antiques. "I frequently shop at Annie Laurie's Antiques because she has such a great selection of vintage clothing and home decorations. A year or two ago, Laurie began a blog featuring models in clothing from her shop. We got in touch and I've had the opportunity to work with her on some incredible vintage fashion projects," Stacey explained. She also began collaborating with Deb for some work through Pastimes Antiques when she was approached to shoot the 2014 Fashion Faces calendar to benefit the Safe House for Women. They both share a love of vintage themes, and Stacey has since photographed several of her concepts with clothing from the store.

One of the best things about reaching out to Stacey for our engagement photos is that she knows how to work with you. I'm looking forward to our session in late May that we strategically chose in order to have warmer weather and blossomed trees - they'll make for a beautiful background. Before we even had a chance to discuss location, she informed us that she had the perfect place in mind. Check back in early June for a sneak peek at the pictures.

This post is written by guest blogger, Tara Mills.

Let's rewind almost five years. It's spring in Cape Girardeau and you can feel it in the air. The flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and the air is softening. But for one girl, everything is as bleak as winter. Her heart has been broken, you see. So, where to go and what to do to somewhat mend that heart? Why, Ragsdale's is just the ticket! It certainly helps that her friend is bar tending that night. After a while, after a few tears and lamentations, in strolls a vaguely familiar guy.

"Don't I know you?"

"I'm talking to my friend right now," is the sweet response.

The girl on the barstool was me and the vaguely familiar guy? He's now my husband. Now, now, don't let your mind wander - it was a night of visiting and storytelling. Josh and I first met when we were sixteen. He was friends with my cousin and I visited Cape for a couple of weeks that summer. But we had only seen each other a few times since then, the majority of those conversations sounding something like this:

"Hey, aren't you Jill's cousin?"

"Yeah, I am. Aren't you Jill's friend? The one with the blue truck?"

"Yeah! Good to see you."

"Good to see you too."

That fateful night he was living in Indiana and I was moving away from Cape in a month. Not a great start to a romance, to be sure, but it all worked out. I eventually moved back to Cape to start graduate school. When Josh visited, our nights would begin or end (and sometimes both) at a downtown establishment - whether for food, drinks, dancing, or all three! After Josh moved back to Cape, our relationship grew and we began to see all of the other great things that downtown Cape has to offer - furniture, antiques, clothes, events like Tunes at Twilight and the Cape Riverfront Market, and jewelry. Oops, I just gave you a hint as to how this story ends!

Ok, now fast forward to the night before Thanksgiving of 2012. After dinner at Broussard's, we walked to the river. As we meandered by Ragsdale's, this conversation sparked: what would our lives be like if we hadn't run into each other that one night? We continued to walk, talk, and watch the water whoosh by. As I headed back to the car, Josh called my name and I turned around to find him on one knee with a stunning ring from Jayson Jewelers.

Our story doesn't end there. I said yes, and just a little over a month ago, we were married. When looking for locations for the ceremony, the answer seemed obvious. Downtown Cape had been such a big part of our lives and relationship that it was the perfect place to begin our new journey together. We were lucky enough to be one of the first weddings allowed in the beautiful Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church since the 1970s! The church's downtown location also allowed us to use the unique views and vistas, resulting in amazing pictures and memories that we'll hang on our walls and cherish forever.

With all that downtown Cape has been to and done for us, it's exciting to think about what's next. Our relationship began and blossomed downtown, developed into a serious something, then changed into a marriage, a real man-and-wife something. Thank you, downtown Cape, for your charm and opportunities both new and old, and all of the good times that you offer. Personally, I thank you for my hubby!