It's all about family

The O'Tooles share a goal and a philosophy, which is evident in the way each one describes the family's new business.

The philosophy of creating a pleasant atmosphere from the color and paint on the walls to keeping family close emanate from family members at Westminster's newest spa local.

"It almost takes out immediate family and extends it out," Sherry O'Toole, one of the owners of All About You.

All About You opened on Village Inn Road providing beauty - such as facials, make-up consulting, and massages - as well as health services - such as pilates classes and yoga classes for all.

"The health and beauty industry isn't all about the beauty," Sherry said. "It's about the health, too."

Sherry and Ed O'Toole held the grand opening of their business on June 15 and by their side was their 21-year-old daughter and their seven-month-old grandson.

Their daughter, Casey, is working as the salon's manager, while Sherry a trained aesthetician, will provide some of the services at the salon. Ed for the last four months has done much of the construction work and computer work, while seven-month-old Stone helps keep the family close.

"If the four of us aren't here it's just odd," Sherry said. "We all have parts in the business. We have our areas of

She expertise."

Sherry and Ed said being surrounded by family isn't

odd because they have tried to be surrounded by their children.

Ed has worked out of their home in the high-tech industry for the last 10 years and Sherry drove a school bus in the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District for 13 years.

"I was always with her," Casey O'Toole said. She said the decision to join with her parents wasn't a hard one.

"We went out for breakfast and it was ... are you in or out? ... We were in," she describes.

The couple also has two sons: Eddy, 25, who lives and owns a business in Ashburnham and Scott, 19, who is going to school in Florida.

Sherry said her family is the most important part of her life and she has always been drawn to the industry in which she is now making her career.

She says she always asks, "how do I take care of myself." She said it is important to balance the antioxidants going into the body, exercise often and relax the minds, as well as to feel beautiful.

"If I know what my wants and needs are I assume there are other people that want some of those things," she said.

That desire to achieve her wants and provide for her needs was the thing that started the business, which now occupies most of the large while building at 23 Village Inn Road.

Sherry said that she enjoys just spending time at her new business.

"We are all hanging out here," she said. "It's like even though we all have houses we can go to we have this nucleus here."

-  - Caitlyn Kelleher can be reached at (978) 827-3386, ext. 15, or e-mail: caitlynkelleher@aol.com