Cedar Rapids Gazette: Christina Otte said her love of fashion began at an early age. Still, Otte obtained a nursing degree and trend-setting styles took a back seat to nurse’s scrubs as she pursued a career as a registered nurse. But not anymore. Otte has turned her love of fashion into a business. About a year ago, she came across a franchise opportunity with Apricot Lane, a women’s retailer. “I did a little more digging and talked to other women franchise owners, and it seemed like a great fit for me,” Otte said. In October, she opened Iowa’s first Apricot Lane Boutique at Coral Ridge Mall.