My sister Maria is back just in time to serve up the most aromatic and soul warming cider you can drum up for your guests for upcoming gatherings with family and friends!
This cider will make your whole house smell like the holidays! I just made it over the weekend for my extended family and every man woman and child wondered what smelled so lovely. You will never go back to plain cider again. 🙂 Sip slow and enjoy the warm goodness. Happiest Thanksgiving wishes to you all! ~Maria
Cinnamon Orange Cider:
1 Jug of of Apple Cider (64 oz)
4 Cups of Orange Juice
2 Tbs. Whole Cloves
1/3 – 1/2 Cup of Red Hots or Cinnamon Candy
Heat all ingredients to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 -10 minutes or until red hots are melted. Strain out cloves.
Final segment of the Atlanta Brand Market workshop recap:)
We had some big changes occur a few weeks before the workshop happened that are worthy of note! Savannah and Jenny were so instrumental in laying the foundation for this new venture, and were so wonderful to work with this past year. Due to their pregnancies, moves, and other major life changes, they realized the BMW was something they no longer could tackle. Although I am sad we no longer will get to work together, I am so thrilled for them to experience so many new adventures their life is about to bring.
I was lucky to have two phenomenal ladies step up to the plate to still make the workshop a spectacular one…
Mandy Rye of Waiting on Martha lead the way in the Branding portion of the workshop, sharing the story behind her biz, her rules of ethics, secrets to success, strategies, and tips for making big strides in a short amount of time. We were all ferociously taking notes.
I also shared my portion on marketing, going over how to grow your business through social media, a breakdown of a memorable media kit, pitching to your dream brands, and even studying the brands of a few successful friends who have made it big! (A big thank you to Camille Styles, Little Hip Squeaks, Freshly Picked, and Hilary Rushford for sharing some wisdom with us from afar!)
Leslie Kerrigan of Seniorologie wrapped up the workshop with a portion on photography, lighting, and photo styling. She also snapped some gorgeous headshots of each attendee to use for their professional portfolios and sites.
The day included one on one sessions in which I got to chat with each individual on their business….their goals, their business strategies, and a plan of action on how to get there. This of course was my favorite part…I am so energized by talking with entrepreneurs and doing a small part in helping their business succeed. I can’t wait to see where they go!
I really am so excited about the upcoming workshops we have in store for 2014! You can hop on the email list on The Brand Market website if you want the announcement of what cities and dates we will be hitting up next:)
Chelsey Heidorn is the awesome photographer behind these photos.
We are packing up and headed north to a blustery forecast and you can bet your bottom I am bringing this warm and cozy knit cowl! Its a neapolitan color blend with the softest feel!
So just a quick hello and a heads up about this sweet etsy seller Amy and her beautiful shop Rukaa!
As you instagram friends know, I like to have virtual coffee chats once in a while, so taking it here again on the blog. Join in on your own blog if you like! I would love to read!
1). Current shows Gabe and I are stalking on Netflix: ONCE and Revolution. After whining about having to wait for Downton to Return, you all came through for me with many ways to acquire these episodes beforehand. I feel horribly guilty (maybe I don’t but I should) for watching them early, but with convenience of early peeking at my fingertips, what’s a girl to do? 😉
2). We have successfully held off on Christmas music until now, but once I found this record player and then a stack of old school Christmas records, I caved. Don’t tell my sisters I broke out long standing family rule! If it keeps us all happy with high spirits (especially Veronica), than I have no qualms. The rug is being cut as a result;) Gabe already put lights on the house so that when we get back from our upcoming trip he can come home and plug them right in. What a goose.
3). I should be whipping out Christmas and Thanksgiving DIY’s right about now as most successful bloggers are doing, but I am afraid my brain cannot be cable jumped at the moment, and there are no creative thoughts that are producing. I am taking the cue to take it easy and focus on making my children’s advent and Christmas a memorable one. I was frantically putting together the IHOD Holiday Guide last year, and though I will miss doing it, I am more than a little relieved to have no looming deadlines. And on that note, this.
4). After mentioning in this post I would probably need to hire an inbox assistant soon, I received some incredible resumes and decided to jump start this thing a little early. My type frantic fingers won’t know what to with their new found freedom! I will be sure to report how it’s going.
5). I may have tips for successful family photos down, but someone want to help me out with how to pack for a family a five for a week? Because there has to be a better way than packing two outfits for each child + laundry detergent to save room;)
6.) I am taking the pledge NOT to shop on Thanksgiving.
“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”
If you missed part one of the decor and space recap, you can check it out here.
I am SO grateful for each of the companies that sponsored the bags full of swag to make our first workshop totes top notch! It is always a perk to get to know new handmade and small business indie shops…
Each bag also included a stack of resource prints to help with social media tips, branding visuals, and resources for all the sites they would need to know about as a creative entrepreneur.
We are going to be giving away some extra goodies we have on hand all week on the facebook page if you want in on that action;)
Stay tuned for Part 3 about the Atlanta Brand Market Worskhop!
Here to report on how I am doing with taking it easy…..
Not so well. (shocker.) This week was actually non-stop, BUT the good thing is, the majority of my time this week was spent with friends and family. Been focusing on catching up and checking in and calling to say hi, etc. Its been great actually. And I even cleaned that dirty corner of the family room I had been hiding behind the couch. Big strides. I never had much appreciation for the month of November but this year it has been a grand one. It has taken me years to figure out how to live in the present, but when you can do so, it makes you feel like you are fully ALIVE. My little ones are at such a fun age and Gabe and I feel like kids counting down till Christmas. We will be starting the weekend off with a date with friends which is welcomed and needed for both of us!
Now on to the fun link round up….
The savvy, smart, and Hilary (who came up with our #EncourageBeauty campaign) is launching a book. And oh boy, you will not want to miss this.
You know how I am perpetually on the hunt for the perfect mascara? Well my top favorite right now is L’Oreal dual action. However, my friend Grace is the honest blogger I am going to trust on this one and I may be trying her #1 pick.
If you have never read one of Meg’s “Conversations” posts, now would be the time.
Gabe and I recently saw this movie. Intense and really well done (as MOST of Tom Hanks movies are).
In Other news…
*Totally honored to be featured over at SMP Living for Best Dressed Blogger. You can head over to check out my 5 must haves for every woman’s wardrobe!
My sister Jana is in college and with a few of her friends, she is helping 5 new single mothers who are in tough financial situations (with two of them having babies in NICU!), by throwing them a big baby shower. Pretty cool right? If you are a shop owner that covers the genre of babies or mamas, and you are up for donating a few items, please email me! If you are able to donate even $5 to help with the diapers and basics they are getting for them, I will be posting the link to do so over on facebook. Thanks friends!
The last three years in a row our Christmas cards went out after New Years. Half a stack is always found a week later and by March I am sending the last round. This year I resolved it WILL be different.
The cards arrived yesterday and the stamps were bought today so there is nothing to stop me now …. with the exception of a spilled coffee on my parade.
I usually design and print my own, but somehow the cropping and coloring was never right with the company I used. Needless to say I was thrilled when Pinhole Press asked if I wanted to try their cards this year. Um yes. Only a humble fan for many moons now.
They didn’t disappoint. Crystal clear color and design and endless options to choose from. I thought I would do the old send a summary letter of your year thing to friends and fam afar and loved this design option. The letters are going to be complete and sealed with Lemon and Lavender’s Believe Stamp and off the Christmas cheer will go on a prompt date sometime BEFORE Christmas:)
I also tried out the giant paper magnetic calendar which I plugged in photos for to each month. JUST the right size for my kids to add their artistic touch too AND leave room for my attempts at organizing our life;)
And got doubly excited when Pinhole Press decided to offer readers 33% off Holiday Cards with code IHOD through Dec. 3rd!
Hope you enjoy friends!
*Photos taken by Chelsey Heidorn Photography. Check out her family photo tips here.
**This post is sponsored by Pinhole Press, but all opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting the companies that make IHOD possible!
