Announcing: The Brand Market

June 24, 2013

As some of you have gathered through instagram, it has been an eventful week! I did not originally intend to have everything fall on one week, but the way I look at it, better to have it fall on those weeks when you have all that nesting energy right? Well, today is the day we are so excited to share a creative idea we have been working on for a while! We are thrilled to announce….

brandmarketworkshop.com

I am a lucky girl. I met two of the coolest gals in the Atlanta area who shared the same vision of wanting to help creative business owners make their brand a successful one. Not only that, but these girls are photographers and graphic designers with loads of experience on what makes a brand thrive.

Savannah, Jenny, and I got together some months back to discuss how we could best offer a resource for entrepreneurs who have approached us with branding, photography, blogging, and marketing questions. We came up with a solution that got us giddy excited to share and we hope it will become a great resource for some of you! We are so proud to launch these workshops and can’t wait to share more details! Visit the site for current information, and stay tuned for the new website coming in August!

WHAT WE WILL COVER:

A little about what we will cover in the trifecta of the creative business world:

Photography – We tend to be visual people. The key to an attractive site is strong phtography. We will be covering everything from photo lighting tips to post processing. Styling a creative set up and personal portraits are also on the menu. To hear more about how we will tackle aspects of photography and styling we will cover, visit Savannah!

Branding – A Strong Brand Identity can make an impacting first impression and a lasting one. We will be providing one on one brand consultations, as well as the going through the steps to integrating a successful brand throughout every aspect of your business. To hear more about what we will be working through on this topic, visit Jenny!

Marketing – You can have the most ingenius product or brilliant site in the world, but if you do not market your business, it most likely will not thrive. Marketing is the wheels on the vehicle. I had to learn and navigate my way through this aspect of being an entrepreneur and wish I would have had a workshop that went through all the A,B, and C’s for me! We are going to do our best to bring you the best tips for marketing strategy, the do’s and don’ts, the power of the right tools, and the most natural way to find your niche in the creative realm. We will be your partner in arming you with all of the right resources to feel confident in your brand, and share it in the most effective ways.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Our first workshop will launch here in Atlanta, GA on Oct. 9th, with a second workshop to follow in Greenville, SC! *We might be spreading our wings to more cities! Email us if this is something you would want to see come to your town and if we get enough requests from a certain city, we may just put it in our schedule in the upcoming year!

We would so appreciate your support along the way of our new venture!
We have set up ways for you to be the first to know about details of The Brand Market and behind the scenes previews as our business unfolds:
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | EMAIL
Hashtag #brandmarketworkshop

Shop Scoop: Hugh & Crye

June 21, 2013

*Aubrey Shirt c/o Hugh and Crye

As you may have gathered, my husband is usually the one behind the camera around here. Once in a while, I ask him if he would oblige me with a couple posers.
What a champ for obliging me. So here’s his best serious shots;) His nickname on the Rugby field in college was “Hansel”…can you guess why?? Owen Wilson might have something to do with it…

Gabe is a middle school teacher and administrator and so he is dedicated to the shirt and tie look during the school year. The beard is a summer thing, but it suits him well, no?
He rarely finds shirts that fit right off the shelf. He has to have them tailored since he is a taller and narrower build. When we were introduced to Hugh and Crye and their easy fit guide, we were all about giving it a try. The shirt fits him like a glove. No tailoring required. Score. I’ll be honest, this shade of blue and the fit has me feeling a little intimidated by his good looks….;) Needless to say this site will be a frequent shop we visit….not to mention the design and set up is superb.

So a few Q’s for the man of the hour…we can’t let him slip by unheard from can we??

Thoughts on the new shirt?

Fantastic shirt! I have a hard time finding button down shirts to fit properly and therefore nearly always need to have them tailored. This one fit spot on straight away. Light and comfortable, but for those who are regular tie wearers this means a little more challenging to iron. Small price to pay for the quality, and as my wife knows I am all about quality…

Last movie you saw?

Man of Steel. I enjoyed it. Good story line. Good cinematography and style. And Clark in a beard reminds me of, well, ME! So thats a plus. (I may or may not be serious…) Although as a staunch comic book fan there were a few things about the movie that bothered me a bit, but that is because I am a purist. The average viewer probably wouldn’t pick up and point out these elements, but there are many over the internet if you would like to find them.

Cool website or app you like to frequent?

Favorite app is without a doubt Flipboard. I am a news and information junkie and with the Flip I can customize and compile many different news sources into one location, giving me diverse points of view. Also a great source to put all of one’s blogs and feeds in one place.

Baby #3 is about to make its debut. Are you ready?

Can you ever be fully ready? Nope. That’s why I am just enjoying this phase of life with a brood of two and soaking up the time in order to properly enjoy the next phase with a brood of three. Being ready set aside, I am incredibly excited! How can I not be? We are bringing another life into the world, and if this life is anything like the goofballs which procede him or her it is going to be one entertaining ride. I just hope this one will be tough enough to hold his or her own against my two current tornadoes.

Happy weekend friends!

P.S. Some really exciting news happening over the weekend if you want to follow along on instagram! ALSO, a big announcement coming to you on Monday! (As if having a baby wasn’t enough, right??)

Fourth of July Recipes: 50 Stars BBQ Chicken, Avocado Cucumber Salad, and Lemon Blueberry Bars

June 20, 2013

Post by talented sister Maria.
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I started dreaming about what the big summer holiday menu would be in May. (I know, I’m weird, and my brain thinks in food sometimes).
In my own family, the Fourth of July Recipes always included something on the grill, something cool and refreshing, and something patriotically sweet.
So here we go with a Firecracker Menu!

– 50 Stars Barbecue Chicken
– Avocado Cucumber Salad
– Lemon Blueberry Bars

We’ll also make sure there’s lots of Grillin’ Beans, Chips and Dips, and Sweet Tea on hand!

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Little Finds: Joules Rainboots + Giveaway

June 19, 2013

We had the strangest weather pattern yesterday. It was stormy and sunny, on and off all day long. I love a good summer storm tough. It comes strong and leaves quick. My little Veronica and Gabriel love them as well. They are like mini music boxes, and have songs for every occasion. As soon as it starts raining, I hear Veronica:
“Rain rain go away, come again. Rain rain go away, come again.”
Gabriel chimes in with: “If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops or what a rain that would be…!”

They also have this thing with rain boots. Its the preferred shoe of choice…at all times….even if its 90 degrees and sunny. Last week I got to show them their new ones from Joules Clothing. A lot of emphatic and enthusiastic expressions ensued. They were a hit as you may have guessed. Gabriel’s boots had sharks on them…enough said. Veronica made sure to tell me that they were “pretty mama!” as she slipped her little feet inside. You have to check out the other girls rain boots. So adorable. ( So impressed with the quality as well. )

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Summer Postcard .01

June 18, 2013

Outside photo // Inside photo

Here is your weekly dose of color/photo inspiration!
If I could send you a postcard, here is what it would look like:)

Today its a slow and steady drizzle outside,
My sister Jana is teaching Veronica songs on the front porch as they watch the rain fall.
Gabriel is riding around me on his tricycle.
I am writing out a very long to-do before baby arrives list.
Gabe is reading his daily dose of morning news.

I couldn’t take enough handfuls of these days. I love being surrounded by my family.
This morning is just a taste of summer and its many facets.
Raising my glass of chocolate protein shake to you!
Cheers to the week ahead friends!

Style that Bump: Maternity Fashion Collaboration

June 17, 2013

My outfit: Shorts and Top: More of Me, Jacket: J.Crew(old), Sandals: Guess (similar), Earrings: Bauble Bar

I am sure its fun for you all to see some fresh faces over here! All beautiful mamas to be. Lynzy had the fun idea of sharing a different ways to style the bump throughout your pregnancy. I know I could use all the inspiration I could get on that front.

Tiffany from I am Style-ish – 26 weeks

Abbey from Along Abbey Road – 19 weeks

Emily from The Freckled Fox – 22 weeks

Lynzy from Sparkling Footsteps – 24 weeks

Now that I am down to a few weeks left, I am kind of sad maternity fashion will be coming to an end. This pregnancy challenged me to go a little further in finding comfortable options that don’t compromise your style. Now I will just have to have fun watching these lovely ladies work it through pregnancy! You can check out their blogs for more on these looks and the outfit details!

Wedding Gift Picks with Uncommon Goods

June 14, 2013

Wedding season is in full swing. I get really excited whenever we get the chance to attend one. Its kind of magical. That newlywed bliss hits everyone around the bride and groom. Not to mention the food, decor, and pretty dresses are a major perk. We won’t be able to attend but one this summer due to the impending child I have in my womb;) but I do get to still buy some wedding gifts which is fun to do when it can be done from the comfort of your living room, right?

Found so many fun ideas at Uncommon Goods. Unique, fun, and affordable! Here are a few I am debating between to gift this summer! ..

1. Personalized prints – I thought it was clever how you can add the names of the bride and groom to this 20’s-esque modern art print. EVERY bride and groom need art to hang in their new home also so its a win win. This would be a good joint gift from a group of friends too. Also check out the city line prints! Maybe one of them is their honeymoon spot or where they live!

2. Baseball Bat Bottle Opener – This one would be more for the groom, unless they are super cool chicks who are crazy about baseball! These bottle openers can be made from a game opener of their favorite team! My husband would die over a gift like this. (Major Brewers fan!)

3. Soup and Crackers Bowls – because how cute?! I love ceramic pieces that have extra functions like this. Would be an original gift that you can guaranty won’t be gifted by someone else. (Hate it when that happens!)

4. Yours, Mine, and Ours Decanter Set – One of my favorite old movies by the way if you have never seen it – Yours, Mine, and Ours – check it out! Thought this set is a fun way to get their bar cart started and a reminder to cheers to each other and enjoy the friendship you have in a marriage.

5. Anniversary Wine Box– giving them celebratory wine three years in advance! I like it! Its a great way of wishing them many happy years together:)

6. Chalkboard Cheese Plate – This makes me want to throw another wine and cheese party. Such a cute way to display cheese and inform guests what they are tasting. A perfect wedding gift for the social couple. (And for under $50!)

You can check out the rest of Uncommon Goods wedding gift ideas here.
Are you attending any weddings this summer??
Hope you all have a fantastic June weekend ahead!

*This is a sponsored post and is %100 my own opinion!