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10-Minute Thai Chicken Pasta with Mighty Spark Food Co.

Hey Babe Hey! 

Happy Labor Day! Tonight the hubs & I are bringing you a quick and easy recipe tonight featuring our favorite meat products:

 Mighty Spark Food Co.

#BiteBackHunger #SparkAMovement #WinWin

This post is sponsored by Mighty Spark Food Co., but all content and opinions are 100% our own! Thank you SO much, Mighty Spark!

Thomas & I had so much fun making this meal together, especially since it took TEN MINUTES, not to mention: the final dish resulted in EIGHT meals for us to eat on this week! We had two for dinner tonight and have already made a major dent in our meal prep for the rest of the week! I’m all about leftovers, but I reeeeally can’t wait to eat this meal again and again.

Now, ya’ll already know we love Mighty Spark – we featured a fun recipe with the same meat we’ll be using tonight: be sure to try our Tasty Mini Thai Tacos Recipe HERE!

If you stay tuned to my Instagram Stories, AKA where I share sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes, and TONS of #RealLife then you already know:
we un-boxed the lovely cooler of small batch meats Mighty Spark sent with you, then took it to a vote to let YOU CHOOSE which meat you wanted us to create a new Mighty Spark recipe with! No surprise that Mighty Spark’s Sweet Thai-Style Seasoned Ground Chicken was the crowd favorite again!

I actually loooove that we’ll have 2 recipes on Blush & Bourbon with the same key meat ingredient! I love when a fashion staple can be worn multiple ways, and Mighty Spark is definitely a constant staple in our fridge….. why not style the Thai Chicken multiple ways, too?! 😉

Plus, the Thai Chicken double-feature will allow me & the hubs to create even more recipe content for you! If you’re like us and always looking for affordable, ethical pre-seasoned meats you can snag at your local grocer or farmer’s market, then keep reading for more about the Mighty Spark brand + our 10-minute recipe!

Before I dive into the recipe breakdown, I have to mention the Mighty Spark customer service and product delivery is always incredible. I talk a lot on the blog about how important it is for our little fambam to spend our hard-earned money on healthy, local products with a cause, and Mighty Spark makes that so easy to do, because……

Mighty Spark is both.

Mighty Spark launched a #BiteBackHunger Initiative in April 2014, a program that donates one meal to a hungry child for every Mighty Spark item purchased. Can we just take a second to let that sink in……?

How amazing is that?!

You’re going to buy meat at the grocery store every week, regardless. And if you live in the Southeastern United States like we do, you probably live close to a Publix (we’re surrounded by them, actually). Why not make life easier by buying pre-seasoned, top quality meat that gives back by feeding a child in need?

Through its network of charity partners, Mighty Spark hosts meal-packing events in neighborhoods nationwide, sparking a movement that has resulted in millions of meals donated to date. In 2017 alone, Mighty Spark donated a whopping 1,170,200 meals to hungry children; more on that HERE.

Let’s dive in to our super-easy 10-minute Thai pasta recipe. I’m telling ya, the fact that Mighty Spark’s Thai Chicken comes ground and small batch pre-seasoned makes life SO much easier….. and SOOOO much tastier!

By the way, if you’re dying to know more about our cooler un-boxing, head to my Instagram page @misses.blush and check out the Recipes Highlight! I’ve saved a look inside the cooler delivery, dry ice to keep it fresh all day included.

To make our 10-Minute Thai Chicken Pasta, you’ll need all the items pictured here, which I’ll list below:

  • 1 pckg Small Batch Sweet Thai-Style Chicken
  • 1 pckg Linguine or Spaghetti
  • 1 bag Shredded Green & Red Cabbage
  • 1 bag Matchstick Carrots
  • 4 tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Peanut Butter
  • Fresh Garlic & Ginger (to taste)

10-Minute Thai Chicken Pasta Recipe:

  • Bring water to a boil in pot while sprinkling in sea salt
  • Add spaghetti or linguine noodles + let boil 6 min. (or 1 min. less than whatever the packaging says)
  • Grease pan with olive oil and add Mighty Spark Sweet Thai-Style Chicken
  • Brown meat while noodles soften; strain noodles and use pan to cook veggies
  • Stir veggies while adding in soy sauce, honey, peanut butter, garlic, & ginger
  • Once veggies are wilted but still have most of their color, add noodles back into the pot and stir together
  • Add Mighty Spark Sweet Thai-Style Chicken in and stir until ingredients are blended together
  • Serve and ENJOY!

Cook Time: 10 Minutes / Serves: 8

Be sure to head over to @MightySparkFood on Instagram to see what they’re up to and give them a follow!

If you’ve tried Mighty Spark products, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! I’d also love to know what meat you’d like to see us cook up a recipe with next! Be sure to check out my Instagram stories and sound off in the comments so we can give ya whatcha want!

Hope you and yours had a lovely Labor Day, babe. Thanks for stopping by Blush & Bourbon, and until next time…..

Cheers!

xoxo,
Elle

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Girl Boss Feature: Kelly Klemmensen Photography

Hey Girl Hey! 

I’m breathing in my morning coffee with the 8th Issue of Magnolia Journal, “Made Ready.” Joanna’s cover look – a giant chunky sweater daintily wrapped around her shoulders as the buttery evening light hits what is THE most gorg embellished floral skirt I’ve ever seen – is everything. I may or may not have Insta-stalked her Issue 8 cover stylist, Shannon Shroeder, to comment her begging for the deetz (don’t act surprised, lol) . . . you already know I’ll keep you babes posted on what I find out!

It’s a slow Sunday morning at the Graham Fam Farmhouse, and, as Cardi B says, “I like it like that!” I’m on my second cup of coffee, and besides feeding the fur babes and kissing Belle’s kitty mouth way more than she’s comfortable with, I haven’t really “accomplished” much this morning. If, by “accomplished,” we mean house work or chore after chore.

If we’re talking “fulfillment” as in filling up my metaphorical cup – i.e., puttering around breathing in coffee with a herd of fur at my feet while I admire Joanna’s skirt – then, yeah . . . I’m kinda killin’ it at this Sunday thing, to be honest!

Kelly Klemmensen:  Magic Maker, Jesus Lover, & my Kindred Creative Soul

A look inside what it’s like to shoot with this beautiful, boss babe soul.

Part 1:

Mornings that fill up my soul in the best kinds of ways will forever remind me of the morning we recently spent with Kelly Klemmensen Photography in South Carolina. I am moved to tears each time I really sit down and scroll through the gallery she created for us, which I can really only describe as pure magic. Kelly captured so much more than a Southern sunflower field at sunrise on a late summer Saturday morning. She captured emotions and tiny millisecond moments with my husband that I already treasure forever.

Thomas and I had never met Kelly before our adventure to Historic Brattonsville, but a few minutes in to our time together and we felt like we’d been double dating with her and her youth minister hubby Aaron for years. It wasn’t just comfortable and easy shooting with Kelly, it felt downright familiar. How do I explain what I mean by that when I’m not even sure how to put it into words myself? I’ve done my fair share of photo shoots when it comes to this little blog of mine – somewhere between 15-20, actually – and they’ve all been fun, different, and special in their own way.

But shooting with Kelly in the stillness of South Carolina – in all the magic of watching God’s light spread across 100’s of acres of corn and sunflowers – was the first time I’ve felt such a deep, creative pull inside me: that feeling of, “We can really do this. Together.” It was the first time I felt unadulterated creativity flow through me during a shoot instead of  mostly feeling like I’m being awkward in front of a camera in a cute outfit, quietly praying a few photos of my mug will turn out acceptable for the saturation on Instagram.

It was too easy to get lost in the magic of creating with the kindred soul that Kelly is. I’ve never left a shoot feeling like it was a spiritual experience, like I was truly blessed to witness that kind of beauty unfold during the sunrise. There was such a feeling of being at peace in my marriage and living in that moment for dear life, knowing every image will turn out to be something we gasp at, a treasure to transport us to that quiet morning whenever we need to revisit it.

And we will . . . we already have! The first time I opened up the gallery Kelly gifted us with, thankful tears welled up at the way she captured us together. I don’t mean Kelly has insane editing skills and made every image beautiful in color, tone, and focus. (She does have insane editing skills, and every image is beyond perfect, down to the details. In fact, you should go check out the Before & After highlight on her Instagram page, because it’s kind of mesmerizing and a little bit magic: @kellyklemmensenphotography to see for yourself!)

What I mean is, every image Kelly took was beautiful to start out with. The way the natural light came through the sunflowers and framed my hair, the hysterical laughter T & I shared, even the smallest snuggle, those “way we look at each other moments” you know exist but don’t think anyone else will ever see for the special exchange it actually is . . . Kelly saw all of us. And she captured our love beautifully. With a grace I will forever admire and strive to emulate.

Want to learn more about the woman behind the lens? Keep scrolling for Part 2, a fun little Q&A sesh! I can’t promise you her editing secrets (I wish!), but I can promise you’ll want to grab a coffee with her and go light chasing very soon.

Kelly’s Q&A Sesh:

1). How do you balance being a wife, full time employee, and your passion, photography?

“I’ll get up at 4:30 in the morning if I need to edit things. I also edit during my lunch breaks, I’m always editing. If husband is doing his own thing at home, then I try to get as much photography stuff done as I can. I hate coming home and there’s Aaron wanting to hang out and I feel like I can’t. Aaron supports me so good, though, he’ll sit next to me while I’m editing and cheer me on, tell me what looks good.”

2). What type of photography to do you work in and what type would you want to expand to?

“Right now, it’s couples, weddings, and bloggers. Individual portraits and couples are my fave. I love LOVE! And I love getting that one on one time with the couple and when my relationship with the couple continues on. And with families that just doesn’t happen as often because there are 5 of them or more. Plus, being around the same age as my couples helps build that connection. So I’d have to say my favorites would be couples shoot, engagements, weddings, anniversaries. And I dream of doing elopement photography one day!”

3). What’s one thing you try to do to lift up and empower other women, whether it’s women in the wedding or photography industry, girl bosses, or small business owners?

“If I’m with them one on one, if I’m photographing them, then I want them to feel beautiful, sexy, and so empowered.” If I’m just chatting with people on Instagram then I’ll set notifications and try to remember to engage with them daily, just go tell them how awesome I think they are. Collaboration. For me, it’s all about collaboration.”

4). Talk about something you’ve been through that has empowered you, and what you learned from that situation.

“Moving. My husband and I got married straight out of college and moved 11 hours away from home right away. That forced us to completely put ourselves out there and become independent together and figure things out on our own. It also gave me the courage to do things I didn’t do back home because ‘that wasn’t me,’ where everybody knew me. Here, I was this new girl who could do whatever I want to do. Aaron and I learned to figure life out together. I’ve been in the ‘real world’ my whole life. No need to get scared of the real world, we’re blessed to be able to do adult tasks like find what doctors will take my healthcare. We’re a team, if there’s something I don’t understand or know how to do, Aaron helps me,  and vice versa.”

4). What is a book you read that you fell in love with so much that you’d highly recommend to anyone and everyone?

“Who I Am in Christ by Neil T. Anderson, a devotional I find myself returning to over and over again.”

5). What’s your favorite part of working with your clients? If you had to pick just one favorite part!

“Building relationships and getting to know them as a person. Making them feel good about themselves. I love that and don’t understand how there are photographers out there that don’t strive for that in each shoot. To build people up is innately in me.”

6). What’s the hardest part of doing what you do, and how do you manage that part of the job?

“Having enough time. Because I have a huge vision and it’s hard to not be at that point yet and to know it’s going to take a long time. I have a husband and I work at a church and I work at the Billy Graham Institution. Patience is the hardest part for me. Wisdom for how much to take on. I struggle with those.”

7). What is one piece of advice for achieving your goals / following your dreams that you’ve always lived by or would encourage others to remember?

“It’s hard to put into words what I want to say. People have the fear of rejection or the fear they’re not going to do it well, insecurities and all that, but it’s not until you actually try to do it that you know! And even then, most of the time if you just do it then you ARE doing it. Who says you’re not besides you, in your head? My long-term dream is that I want to be an elopement photographer, so I just act like one day I will. My advice is that if you want something and you desire something then it’s up to you to make it reality.”

8). And the funny get-to-know-you-on-a-friend-level stuff: your favorite food, your favorite movie, and if you absolutely had to choose would you be a mermaid or a unicorn?

Pizza – my dad perfected a homemade dough recipe, soAaron and I keep  a sauce stock from Indiana and use my dad’s recipe every Friday night. Pizza Fridays! We had an intern living with us over the summer and she loooved pizza Fridays, soooo they’re kind of a big deal! “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is my favorite book, duh. And I’d be a mermaid hands-down! I’m a swimmer. When I was little I would cross my legs when I got in the pool and pretend to be a mermaid. Except, my fave Disney princess is Belle, not Ariel. I played Belle in high school and think she’s the best Disney princess.”

“She definitely is,” I respond, so grateful for the beginning of something beautiful with this sweet soul.

Until next time, Babe . . . . .

xo,
Elle

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Out With the Old, In With the Cue

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CueTheNewYear #CueVapor #SatisfactionAtLast #CollectiveBias This post is intended for an audience of adults age 18 and older

Happy Spring, Blush + Bourbon Babes! I’m so excited because I’ve got a very special blog post for you tonight – something completely different than ANY of my blog posts to date!

Tonight my hubby Thomas is taking over the blog as we dive into our newest collaboration with Cue™ Vapor System! T & I were so excited to connect with Cue Vapor to create this collaboration. He’s been vaping for a few years now, so it just made total sense for this post to be written from T to you. Keep reading for the hubby’s inside scoop on Cue Vapor products! Trust me, if you vape or have friends or family who smoke or vape, you’re not going to want to miss out on the deets! Enjoy, and until next time, xoxo! -e

Cue Vapor: Vaping. Made Simple.®

Hi…..

Now listen up!

I first tried out vaping a few years ago during law school. Vaping made sense for me, and I was happy I could even find liquids in 0 mg nicotine options as well as an endless variety of flavors, so there’s really no downside.

Fast forward a few years and I’ve tried my fair share of vaping brands, from tanks to liquids. I know what I like and what I don’t, and one thing I don’t like is the amount of money that can easily be spent on all the vaping system parts and liquids. That’s why when the opportunity arose to partner with Cue Vapor, I couldn’t resist. A tag line like Vaping. Made Simple.™ is pretty promising for a guy who’s committed to vaping here and there, but not so much here for the additional cost.

I was pretty surprised by how easy the Cue Vapor was to assemble… it really is a simple, affordable system, and I’m so glad to have found it in my local Kroger store you can check out the store locator HERE to find Cue Vapor products near you. Be sure to watch our video competition on Instagram to see which was faster: me putting together the Cue Vapor system straight out of the packaging, or my wife doing her eye makeup for date night.

I also like subscription option Cue Vapor offers, which you can check out HERE. Being able to snag the vaping items I’m looking for in the grocery store is so convenient, but it’s also pretty cool to have the option to customize deliveries of the Cue Vapor product straight to my doorstep. Some weeks I have time to run by the grocery store, and some weeks are so crazy we have to get our groceries delivered, so I like that I can do either when it comes to Cue Vapor, too!

 

The subscriptions are easily customized depending on the amount of product you’d like to commit to, and you can even select the delivery frequency option of every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks. Be sure to use THIS SUBSCRIPTION LINK to save yourself 15% off when you sign up today! I would highly recommend the Fresh Melon and Creamy Mint Flavors, and the Smooth Tobacco flavor would be a great classic for those not into “flavors” of vaping liquid.

Whether you are a smoker looking to switch to vaping, a current vape consumer looking to find a simpler system, or you have a close family member who vapes and needs a new system, Cue Vapor is a great option! Honestly, the Cue™ Vapor System is a device so simply designed that anyone can take it out of the box, insert a cartridge, and vape! Much quicker than they could do their makeup, that’s for sure…..

If you have any questions about Cue Vapor, be sure to drop them in the comments down below and I’ll get back to ya.

NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS. California Proposition 65 Warning Statement: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including nicotine, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Cue™, the Cue Logo and Vaping. Made Simple. ® are trademarks of Digirettes, Inc.

Thanks for reading!

T

 

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Quick & Easy Spring Makeup Tutorial with EVER

Hey Girl Hey!

That spring heat got ya feelin’ lost in your current makeup routine? I’ve got you covered, Babe.

Tonight on Blush & Bourbon I’m sharing all about a new skincare line I’ve been trying the last few weeks called EVER! I’m so excited to share everything you need to know about EVER SKIN + I’m sharing a step-by-step 5 minute makeup tutorial that will have you out the door & looking beautiful in a breeze!

Thank goodness the sweetest angel named Diana reached out about her EVER skincare products on Instagram because, ya’ll! I had NO idea what I’ve been missing!!!!!

By the way, you’re gonna wanna go check Diana out on Instagram: @diana_lofstead.everskin – give her a follow! 🙂  While you’re over there, be sure to browse through Diana’s EVER website, too!

I actually hadn’t heard of EVER until Diana and I connected on Insta. Shouts to Insta for helping us connect with people we otherwise never would meet, work with, or even just comment AKA randomly converse with! Insta, for all the frustrations you bring us, you’re pretty darn cool.

Anyway, I can’t stress enough just how much I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I tried EVER products. Not only is the packaging beautiful – tbh, I’m a sucker for packaging – their formulation philosophy is something I can get behind:

“EVER products are consciously developed with the health and beauty of skin in mind. We think globally when choosing an ingredient and go beyond “can we use it” and aspire to “should we use it” based on global regulations and emerging scientific studies. Only those ingredients that meet our strict performance, safety, and sustainability standards go into EVER products. Our products are dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, clinical grade, gluten free AND we never ever test on animals. This is the EVER Conscious philosophy.”

EVER products are formulated without ingredients banned from cosmetics use in the EU or US, and the packaging is crisp and beautiful. Oh, and by the way, the product results are absolutely beautiful, too.

Did I mention the product packaging has rose gold accents? I’m obsessed.

My favorite product hands-down is the “Out The Door Cheek & Eye Palette” because it comes with everything I need to get that beautiful Spring glow quick, fast, & in a hurry!

Ya’ll, I feel like I’m always in a hurry. Good LORD help me! But honestly, even if you’re not in a hurry, who wants to spend more than a few minutes doing their makeup during Spring or Summer?! My makeup melts, cakes, or washes down my face depending on what I’m doing during any given Spring or Summer day. Farmer’s markets, lake days, road trips, ice cream runs . . . they sound hella fun, but they get HOT. That’s why my goal for the hottest seasons is to always keep it light & fresh.

Unless it’s a special occasion, or something, of course! 😉

More lipstick, less eye makeup.
More bronzer, less foundation.
More highlight, less of literally everything else.

These are my Spring/Summer makeup mottos.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get that gorgeous Spring glow in under 5 minutes using some of my favorite EVER SKIN products! 

QUICK & EASY SPRING MAKEUP TUTORIAL:

  1. Brush the deep cheek tone “Graceful” from the “Out The Door” Palette to contour.
  2. Sweep the vibrant pink cheek color “Cheerful” on your cheeks for blush.
  3. Add that summer glow, girl! Add the golden shimmer “Flawless” to highlight.
  4. Brush “Fierce” the bronze shimmery eye shadow all over your lids.
  5. Accentuate your crease with “Polished” until you’ve got that depth between the two colors.
  6. Finish off your bronze smokey eye by accentuating your outer lids and under-eye line with the deep brown eye shadow color “Mesmerizing”.
  7. Kiss those eyelashes with some “Whiplash Speed Volumizing Mascara” and swipe on some “Flash Lip Gloss” and you’re READY TO GO!

That’s UNDER 10 STEPS in UNDER 5 MINUTES, Babe! And you. look. GORGEOUS!

How absolutely beautiful are these EVER products? Comment your thoughts down below + feel free to ask me any questions you have! If you’ve tried EVER SKIN I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments, too! I received EVER SKIN products complimentary, but ALL opinions are 100% my own.

What’s your favorite makeup product right now, Babe? What tutorials are you loving! Slide into my comments or DMs and let’s chat!

Thanks for stopping by Blush & Bourbon tonight, and until next time . . .

Cheers!

xoxo,
Elle

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Tasty Mini Thai Tacos with Mighty Spark Food Co.

Hey Girl Hey! 

Sooo glad you stopped by Blush & Bourbon tonight because the hubs and I are sharing all about our NEW favorite – and LOCAL to CLT! – meat products:

Mighty Spark Food Co.

#BiteBackHunger #SparkAMovement #WinWin

(CLICK HERE to visit the Mighty Spark website to LEARN MORE!)

This post is sponsored by Mighty Spark Food Co., but all content and opinions are 100% our own! Thank you SO much, Mighty Spark! 

A few days ago we received the COOLEST delivery – pun intended – of Mighty Spark Meat Co. products, right to our front door! The Styrofoam cooler had dry ice packages inside and was “smoking” like a witch’s cauldron when it arrived! Literally, SO COOL!

We received the following Mighty Spark ground meat packages to try:

  • Sweet Thai-Style Seasoned Ground Chicken
  • Bruschetta Ground Chicken (seasoned with sun-dried tomato and basil)
  • Bacon-Bursting Ground Turkey Blend

How amazing is Mighty Spark for sending TWO of each flavor for us to try, ya’ll?! Customer service like that combined with the top notch delivery – opening up that cooler and feeling the products were still frozen hard as a rock – is so important because it means a lot. As consumers the hubs and I have really grown to care about the quality of the food products we buy, from the sourcing to the treatment of animals and every health grade or chemical ingredient in between, and that’s a good thing. That’s why it’s always incredible to learn about a brand that exceeds our expectations, even down to the details beyond taste.

But the taste, though . . . . .

Probably no surprise for two bourbon-loving Southern attorneys, but the Bacon-Bursting Ground Turkey Blend is hands-down our favorite of the three flavors we were sent! It is melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and to be perfectly honest with you: Thomas and I BOTH thought the Bacon-Bursting flavor was made of ground beef! That is, until we read over the packaging while cooking our second container of the flavor to prepare to write this blog post for ya’ll. It’s just that juicy and good!

I honestly can’t believe we both just forgot we were eating ground turkey and have been assuming these are ground beef sliders for days. Well done, Mighty Spark.

Our second favorite flavor is a close call – I mean, they’re ALL SOOO GOOD! – but it’s the Sweet-Thai Style Seasoned Ground Chicken for both of us!  We love Thai food ever since we tried it together a few years ago and we had so much fun creating these Tasty Mini Thai Tacos for Taco Tuesday tonight!

Tasty Mini Thai Tacos Recipe:

  • 1 container Mighty Spark Food Co. Sweet-Thai Style Seasoned Ground Chicken
  • Mini taco shells (hard or soft, up to you!)
  • 1 package Asian salad mix*

BOOM! That’s all you need to make these incredibly Tasty Mini Thai Tacos! The best part is this recipe takes UNDER 15 MINUTES to throw together and is absolutely delicious!

*Pro Tip: Look for these bagged salad mixes in the fresh veggie/salad mix area of your local grocery store! Want a bonus tip? Look for the kind that comes with a container of crunchy won tons and Sesame Ginger dressing you can use to top your tacos! Hello, money saver and flavor creator!

You might be wondering why you literally only need to buy taco shells and a bag of basically lettuce to create mouth-watering flavorful Thai tacos, and that would be because you’ve not tried Mighty Spark products, my friend. Mighty Spark’s meat products are so fresh and full of flavor . . . just packed with seasoning and juicy sauces. That’s why they’re perfect for anyone like us living a fast-paced, busy life while trying to stay healthy and enjoy what we cook!

What You Need to Know:

  •  Mighty Spark products are available at your local Publix!
  • Also available at the Charlotte Regional Farmer’s Market this summer! YAY!!!!!
    • Mighty Spark actually started at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market and will be available at BOTH the Charlotte, NC AND Daytona, FL markets this summer!

Be sure to head on over to @MightySparkFood on Instagram to see what they’re up to and give them a follow!

If you’ve tried Mighty Spark products, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Also, help a girl out with some recipe tips for the Bruschetta Ground Chicken flavor! I never know what to do when it comes to Bruschetta-inspired recipes and I’d love to hear your go-to’s!

Thanks for stopping by Blush & Bourbon, and until next time . . .

Cheers!

xoxo,
Elle

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Families & Felines: How to Ready Your Home Cat’s Home for House Guests

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeAndCleanLiving #CollectiveBias 

Hey Girl Hey!

I’m SO glad you’ve stopped by Blush & Bourbon Blog tonight because I’ve got a very special post for you (& your feline friend)! As I write this I’m taking a break from a little late night house cleaning because you already know from my Instagram post . . . my in-laws are staying with us this weekend!  And they’re ARRIVING FRIDAY MORNING! 

*cue the dramatic music*

Now ya’ll already know I’m obsessed when it comes to planning things out and getting down to the details. So of course I’m freaking out because this is the FIRST EVER TIME we’ll have house guests since we moved in to our FIRST EVER HOME together.

It’s absolutely no presh at all, and I’m completely fine. *gulp*

The in-laws will be staying in our guest bedroom, of course, which just so happens to be where we’ve been conveniently keeping our kitten Belle’s litter box since the move-in. We put some strategic thought into this location, which works pretty much every day (except when we’ll have house guests) . . . . .

Now, I personally don’t like to admit my children’s character flaws – which are few and far between I might add on their behalf – BUT TRUTH IS: Our chocolate lab/pit bull mix, Cambria, has an affinity for eating the litter box. When we went from living in our tiny apartment to our two-story farmhouse, we made a “No Dogs Allowed Upstairs” rule for sooo many reasons that make sense for our family:

  • Downstairs is entirely tile/wood floor, but the upstairs includes some carpeting
  • We have 3 giant furry pups (& our 2 goldens especially shed like crazyyy!) that are so much easier to sweep up after than vacuuming
  • Litter box stays upstairs . . . doggies stay downstairs . . . mama stays happy!

Ya’ll, I’m a total kiss-my-dog-in-the-mouth kinda girl, but there’s absolutely no way I want anything to do with them when they come up to me with litter caked on their mouths & noses.

One reason we’ve been absolutely loving New Purina® TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter we bought at Target while we prepare for our house guests all week is that there’s FINALLY no kitty litter smell permeating the entire house! I was so worried that the guest bedroom would reek of litter no matter how many candles I lit or room spray I unleashed because that’s where we’ve been keeping the litter box this whole time. I had NO idea that the reason I’ve been smelling cat litter all these years is because I’ve been using the scented kind . . . call me super basic, but I just assumed the scented kind would eliminate the smell of Ammonia, not just cover over it with a fake perfume-y smell.

Aside from the fact that it’s TARGET, AKA Heaven on Earth, we love shopping at Target for all our pets’ needs because Target offers everything we need as a family . . . it’s truly our Sunday “one stop shop” because we’re able to grab everything we’ll need for the coming week, from our groceries, to clothes, to pet supplies, to snagging my prescription medication from the pharmacy & grabbing an iced latte from Starbucks on the way out the door! I also can’t help but be obsessed with the Target dollar section . . . with prices like $3 – $5 for all kinds of adorable goodies – and Tidy Cats Free & Clean Unscented on the shelves – I’m guaranteed to have an incredible shopping experience (and probably leave with a little somethin’ somethin’ for myself) every time.

Thankfully, moving Belle’s litter box into our bedroom has been a breeze, and a change we honestly haven’t noticed in the least bit. I am so relieved knowing I won’t be miserable smelling cat litter in our master bedroom all weekend while our guests enjoy their privacy in our spare bedrooms. I even expected the change of litter box location to be a bit of an adjustment for Belle, but I she took to both the new litter box locale AND her new Tidy Cats Free & Clean Unscented litter amazingly well! There’s no dust, no scent (of either fake perfume OR Ammonia), all the clumping power, and . . .  DARE I SAY IT?! . . .

We’ve had absolutely NO problems going into the weekend! 

It’s funny how figuring out one little thing – like how to NEVER smell cat litter EVER AGAIN! – can make you feel confident in SO many other areas of life. Who knows, now that I’ve settled on what is hands-down the BEST cat litter I’ve ever used, I may just give gardening a serious go.

If you’re in need of  a switch in the litter department, the hubs and I would highly recommend giving Tidy Cats Free & Clean – and its powerful activated charcoal – a try! Thankfully, Tidy Cats® knows powerful odor control is at the top of my list of litter must-haves, and I had no idea that sometimes added fragrances and dyes just aren’t the best solution to odor control. Free & Clean combines the odor-absorbing power of activated charcoal plus TidyLock® Protection to lock away odors—giving Belle the clean she deserves and needs completely free of the stuff she doesn’t!

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YLLO Beauty’s Fight to End Child Marriage

HEY GIRL HEY! 

Let’s talk about a badass female-centered brand that’s all about women empowerment, shall we?

Meet YLLO Beauty, or @YLLOBeauty on Instagram. YLLO is a Turmeric-based skincare line that donates a portion each sale to help end child marriage in Bangladesh.

When I stumbled across YLLO Beauty on Instagram in January 2018, it was literally love at first sight (or site, ha!). I was blown away by the fact that YLLO had a powerful purpose behind its products: ending child marriage through donating a portion of its proceeds from each sale. It’s pretty unique for a beauty brand to be focusing on a household spice as the top ingredient, especially when pretty much every other brand on the beauty scene is focused on acids and chemicals. I started reading through YLLO’s website and Instagram posts and learned that YLLO is completely cruelty-free and vegan. My very next thought was: HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS BRAND?! 

 

 

 

That’s why I was so excited when YLLO agreed to collaborate with Blush & Bourbon Blog so I could help spread the word to all you incredible Babes Supporting Babes out there! I try to focus on women empowerment, girls helping girls, and self love as much as possible on Blush & Bourbon because let’s be honest: there could never be enough empowered women or babes who love themselves. 

I was even more excited when the hubs agreed to join in on the fun and try out the YLLO Turmeric-Based Face Mask with me! Real talk, Thomas and I do a face mask together at least once a week, usually on the weekends. We loooove to compare the way they feel on our skin – whether we can both feel it tingling our skin, whose skin looks more glowy after . . . . . we’re just skincare besties like that! We had way too much fun playing around in the kitchen mixing up our masks to get the consistency we both wanted!

Honestly, we were both blown away by the bright, dewy GLOW the mask left behind on our skin. No exaggeration, I could see a noticeable difference in Thomas’s skin within minutes of washing off the mask, which . . . to keep it real with ya’ll, we had to do in the shower. The mask was a little crumbly coming off because we left them on just a few minutes extra – hey, it was selfie time – and I just didn’t want to have to clean it up off the bathroom sink and floor. Can’t say I’m mad about having to strip down and shower with the hubs to help make a difference in this world . . . . . I just do what I can . . . . .

Fair Warning: YLLO is a Turmeric-first skincare brand, so that means Turmeric is the FIRST and MAIN ingredient. I mention that because you might notice the very faintest scent of Turmeric on your skin the day after you mask!

Here are just a FEW reasons Why I’m Obsessed with the YLLO Turmeric Face Mask: 

  • NO STAINS!  –  You’ve probably heard that turmeric stains, and you betcha that if you covered your face solely with turmeric from your pantry it would. YLLO is formulated with just the right amount of turmeric—no need to head out into the world looking all yellow-ish.
  • VEGAN & CRUELTY FREE!  –  100% natural and free of preservatives, parabens, or other nasty chemicals.
  • JAZ!  –  The “Her” behind YLLO, Jaz believes in living as natural as possible: Jaz wanted a product she could understand that came with fast results. Jaz tailored YLLO to heal rather than hide her skincare problems, no mystery ingredients necessary!
  • JAMIL!  –  The “Him” behind YLLO, Jamil’s goal is to empower girls to make their own choices while educating communities on the negative effects of child marriage. Jamil’s grandmother was married at just 9 years old and hi mother’s marriage was arranged when she was only 16, causing an abrupt halt to her promising track and field career.
  • A BRAND WITH A PURPOSE!  –  You can feel incredible about each purchase you make because YLLO seeks to solve complicated problems with ingredients you can feel good about.

So, what are you waiting for, Babe? Head on over to the YLLO page and make your purchase today! Let’s help girls be girls and have the glowiest damn skin around while doing it.

Thanks for stopping by Blush & Bourbon Blog, Babe! 

CHEERS, & until next time:
xoxo,
Elle

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Galentine’s Day Series Part 2: 4 Looks for Ladies Celebrating Ladies

Hello, Beautiful! AND HAPPY GALENTINE’S DAY! 

I’m so happy to share Part 2 of this Galentine’s Day blog series with you because it’s all about the outfit!

In Part 1 we talked about The History of Galentine’s Day, the Ultimate Girl Power Shopping Experience if you’re local to the QC, and all about Girl Tribe Co. + the lovely ladies who helped make the styled shoot of my dreams happen!

In Part 2, it’s all about the look! This morning I’m talking what to wear for the ultimate Galentine’s Day with your girls, whether you’re headed to brunch, lunch, the movies (I mean, I’m not above seeing “Fifty Shades Freed” for Girls’ Day, ya know?), or whatever it may be, these looks will have you ready to celebrate the very special kind of love that is friendship.

First off, I have to tell you that pulling clothes from racks riddled with sequins, inspiration, and neon nestled away behind that little pink door on Camden Rd. with my girlies was an absolute dream scenario. I feel so incredibly humbled that THE Sarah and Carrie of THE Girl Tribe Co. allowed little ole me and my mini gang of Galentines to play dress-up one rainy January Sunday. That moment at the end of the “Lizzie McGuire Movie” is coming to mind where everybody’s singing, dancing, and overall just embracing who they are (such as a high school girl randomly destined for explosive overnight Italian Pop fame – same. same.) . . . . . Anyway, “Hey now. Hey now. This is what dreams are made of.”

I mean, what public middle school doesn’t have international excursions to Italy? Pretty standard, it’s casual.

Before I go down a Lizzie McGuire memory lane that completely dead-ends in nostalgia and the utter deniability that I currently have to do adult things like handle complex legal issues in corporate America instead of my only worry being whether my straw was going to literally split through the back of my Capri Sun, let’s dive into the cutest Galentine’s Day fitties there ever were, shall we?!?!?

LauRen Merola

LauRen is such a badass, and I look up to her in so many ways (and have for years!) As a local radio personality, we all get a little bit of the inside scoop into LauRen’s life from the things she shares with her Kiss 95.1 audience. But as soon as you meet LauRen, you realize that’s just who she is, and that her presence and personality – whether on the radio, at a local Charlotte event, repping her fave local boutiques, or just hanging out sipping champs and shopping – are nothing but passionate and authentic.

When LauRen isn’t busy helping the entire Queen City wake up (and keep up . . . . . with the Kardashians, which I so appreciate, personally . . . . . LOL!) she has her own Charlotte fashion blog that is a MUST FOLLOW! Go check out her Instagram page HERE and her blog website HERE. LauRen’s blog is called “All Of The F-Words” so you know it’s love at first blog. I mean, who doesn’t love fashion, food, family, and fun?! As LauRen puts it, “these are all the F-words a lady should know,” and that’s how I know she’s my f*ckin’ soul sister.

LauRen styled her Galentine’s Day look to be casual and fun, complete with distressed black overalls, a blush graphic tee, and the cutest print pop of leopard print booties!

Isn’t she such a babe? Her smile and eyes seriously light up any room. Her blog is all kinds of #goals – I mean, this chick just got back from New York Fashion Week 2018! Go check out her page and give her some serious love + be sure to follow along for all her outfit updates!

 

Sieana Robinson

Sieana is a beauty stylist specializing in concierge hair and makeup in the Charlotte area, and boy do I love her spirit. She is the older sister I never wanted but now wish daily that I’d had. Her heart is so kind, and she always keeps a bottle of Veuve chilled and ready for clients (which isn’t just kind, it’s a whole other level of class and amazingness I don’t even really have words for . . . . . she’s just that freaking cool!). I met Sieana through our mutual friend and my girl friend from law school, Maryellen Hill. Sieana keeps our hair looking fierce, our hearts feeling full but light, and, yes . . . she keeps the champagne flowing. I love her.

Sieana chose a Galentine’s Day look that couldn’t fit her personality any better: fun wine-colored sleeves, a pop of sexy black sequins, and the sweetest jeweled headband. Not to mention her to-die-for clutch by Policy Handbags. I love that Sieana’s look would also be perfect for Valentine’s Day, just like Maryellen’s! Keep scrolling to see what she chose! 🙂

Maryellen Hill

Maryellen and I met in law school during our very first semester, but we really got to know one another one a girl friend level when we both studied abroad in Lithuania for the entire summer after our first year. Maryellen brings warmth, laughter, and sincerity to any room, as well as a sassy Southern accent I can always relate to. She’s a total boss babe attorney doing major things at Wells Fargo (with my hubby, whom she actually recommended to her department for me and legit helped him secure his job), and I just think the world of her sweet soul. I wish we could snap our fingers and be in the corner of a book shop sipping tea whenever we want, but we’ll always have Lithuania.

Maryellen chose sharp red dress that she contrasted nicely with a faded denim and pearl jacket and a black druzy statement necklace and black heels. I love the way her red dress flares out at the bottom, a perfect complement to her personality. I also love that Maryellen’s look could translate to Valentine’s Day just like Sieana’s! I am all about reusing pieces / pieces that are multipurpose . . . . . because . . . . . law school loans don’t pay themselves off, ya’ll. #YAFEELME

Elle Graham

Yo, what up, it’s me . . . . . ya girl. The woman behind Blush + Bourbon, a sipper of champagne, an arranger of fresh flowers, and a fierce lover of the women I’m fortunate enough to have in my life.

The outfit I chose is probably my personality in fashion form, and I’m more than okay with that. This “Besties for the Resties” Girl Tribe Co. tank is perfect for literally anywhere: I’ve worn it at the gym, for this Galentine’s Day shoot, to lounge around the apartment, and to brunch, and it’s been extra-soft and flattering with every wash and wear! Girl Tribe Co. graphic tees / tanks / and sweatshirts are made with love and quality in every single stitch, and that fact alone has me itching for more new closet additions.

You know that I pretty much stay ready for any excuse to pop champagne or wear a tulle skirt, and Galentine’s Day is no exception. I loved contrasting the flirty, fancy vibe of the crisp, white tulle skirt with the edgy feel of this ultra-distressed dark-washed denim pearl jacket. Check it out!

I loved that this look is complete even without the distressed denim pearl jacket on top! A little bit of rose gold satin bralette peeking out of a girl power tank never hurt anybody, right? Cheers to that!

All stunning photos are by the one and only Catrina Earls of Catrina Earls Photography.

Thank you to these total babes for helping me make this Galentine’s Day Blog Series happen! #GirlGangGoals tbh (only missing Sarah + Carrie of Girl Tribe Co.)!

Thanks for stopping by Blush + Bourbon Blog today, Babe! I hope you leave with some chic outfit ideas, some fashion inspo, and most importantly: a smile on your face and a happy feeling in your heart. Go where you grow.

I’d love to hear all about how you’re celebrating Galentine’s Day today! Leave me a comment with your plans + what you’re gifting your best gals.

No idea what to gift your gals this year? Stay tuned to the blog tomorrow tonight for my Galentine’s Day Gift Guide in Part 3 of this series!

I hope you have a beautiful Galentine’s Day filled with love and laughter. Don’t forget to shoot your girls a text and tell them that you love them this February 13th (and as often as you can)! I’m missing all my best babes extra hard this Galentine’s Day and hope we will be reunited again soon!

xoxo to the real ones,
elle

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Flannel x Tulle Valentine’s Day Look + a Gift Guide for Him

Hello, Beautiful!

Thanks for stopping by Blush + Bourbon Blog! I’m so excited about tonight’s post because this Valentine’s Day look is ultra feminine and comfortable. I love a good dressed-up flannel – especially paired with girly details like a statement necklace, heels, or a skirt! – I mean, for me it’s a year-round affair. This flannel has sparkly details that paired so well with the coffee-colored tulle skirt from Space 46 Boutique (such. good. quality!). 

Somethin’ about flannel reminds me of Southern charm, and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s a year-round closet staple for me. Keep scrolling for clickable, shop-able links of this exact look PLUS my first-ever gift guide, which I’m SO excited to share with you: my Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Him! (Am I the only one that thinks boys are so hard to shop for?! Leave me a comment if you agree!)

Flannel x Tulle Valentine’s Day Look



Okay, you guys, PLEASE tell me if I am the only one out there who feels like shopping for men is so hard. I swear, I love Thomas more than life itself, but when it comes to the heat of the moment, I feel so much pressure shopping for him. He’s always doing that thing moms do, saying he “doesn’t need anything” and “has everything he needs,” which is so mature and admirable, but . . . like . . . I’m still buying you a Valentine’s Day gift, Homes.

That’s why I sat him down next to me for this blog post so we could create this gift guide together. We can all rest easy this Vday (and at night bahaha) knowing what to get the men in our life this Valentine’s Day. I know you’re probably thinking, “What if my man doesn’t like the same ish Thomas likes?” I thought of that possibility before I even asked him to help me create this gift guide, and the resounding thought I kept coming back to was this, ya’ll: Thomas is super picky when it comes to what gifts he wants, what clothes he wants to wear, what gifts he gives others. It’s one of the things I love the very most about him, because it’s picky in a good way . . . the thoughtful kind of way.

T has a great eye when it comes to clothes and mostly gets what works together – he notices tiny design details about clothes before I do sometimes . . . well, primarily flaws to keep us from buying them, LOL! No, but he definitely has a classic sense of style and tends to go for quality, staple pieces he can use and cherish for years to come, so that’s what this gift guide is all about!

From us to you, enjoy! 

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Him

I’d love to hear your Valentine’s Day – and/or Galentine’s Day! – plans + what you got for the loved ones in your life! Eeek, I love  L O V E ,  you guysss. Leave me a comment below or send me a message on InstaStory! I hope you have a B-E-A-YOU-tiful weekend!

xoxo,
elle

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Galentine’s Day Series Part 1: Galentine’s Day the Girl Tribe Way


Hello, Beautiful!

Let’s talk how to spend the ultimate Galentine’s Day with your besties, shall we?

Photo Credz: Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls organization.

I’m so excited to share this gorgeous Galentine’s Day styled shoot with you tonight on Blush + Bourbon! This shoot has been bouncing around in the creative corners in my brain since the end of October – early November, and “I am so excited to see it finally come to life” is the understatement of the century! This styled shoot wouldn’t have been possible without some seriously amazing women, including:

  • [ the setting]  (the sweetest local boutique called Girl Tribe Co. that is actually so much more than a boutique)
  • [ the photographer ]  (Catrina Earls Photography, moon of my life, my sun and stars, etc. etc.)
  • [ the Galentines ]  (I wouldn’t have wanted to sip champs or stuff my face with donuts with anyone else to be quite honest)
  • [the jewelry]  (Roma Designer Jewelry has THE coolest, most unique story behind their incredible Roman Glass designs, but more on that in the third post in this series!)

It was so important to me to do a Galentine’s Day series for the blog because I love the idea of setting a day aside that’s all about celebrating the women in our lives who, after all, help shape us into the women we are by inspiring us, encouraging us, and overall quite literally being the best damn friends a gal can find on a daily basis (even when we’re hangry or hang with dumb boys).

Photo Credz: Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls organization.

The History of Galentine’s Day

Ladies Celebrating Ladies.

In its original American NBC broadcast on February 11, 2010, the “Parks and Recreation” episode titled “Galentine’s Day” was seen by 4.98 million households. Thanks to Leslie Knope’s amazingness, Galentine’s Day has since transcended from the television screen into everyday culture, marked by a nonofficial holiday on February 13th. Galentine’s Day is celebrated as a day for “ladies celebrating ladies.”

While Galentine’s Day may have started out with Amy Poehler’s NBC character going to brunch with her female friends, February 13th can be – and is – celebrated by so many people around the world, not just fans of the show. To me, Galentine’s Day is so much more than just a plot point in an episode (but to be perfectly honest of course I’m watching THE “Galentine’s Day” Parks & Rec episode right now, duh).

#GalentinesDay trends every year on February 13th all over social media, and businesses like Target even promote the holiday and sell Galentine’s Day-themed products (go check out the Target dollar section ASAP for so many of the details you’ll see in this series!). Ultimately, February 13th is meant to be a beautiful celebration of friendship to be celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day. Because sisters before misters, period.

Keep scrolling for Part 1 of this 3-Part Galentine’s Day Series and stay tuned to the blog throughout February for the rest of this fun series! Be sure to subscribe to the blog for updates so you never miss a post, tips on sales, or giveaways!

Galentine’s Day Series Part 1: Galentine’s Day the Girl Tribe Way

Saturday’s can be for the boys. That’s fine. Because . . .

Sundays are for the girls!!!!!

Need Galentine’s Day plans? Local to the Charlotte area? Well, hi, Beautiful! If we’re already gal pals, I can’t wait to celebrate you this Galentine’s Day! If we’re not already friends, I’d loooove to meet you, you poetic land mermaid.

Either way . . .

Come join me and some pretty darn incredible women at the second annual Girl Tribe Co Valentine’s Day Pop-Up event on Sunday, February 11th, 2018!

What’s So Special About It?
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Rett Syndrome Research Trust – a cause that is dear to the hearts of the owners of Sugar Creek Brewing.

S U P P O R T I N G  C H A R I T Y
For this Girl Tribe Co Pop-Up Event, the Girl Tribe team is presenting the first-ever Girl Tribe Creatives Workshop – with artist Bree Stallings! This means there are two different opportunities to catch a Watercolor Calligraphy Class in the event room at Sugar Creek! First class starts at 12PM and second starts at 1PM! Best part? All items needed will be provided with registration fee!

D A N C E  x  Y O G A  C O M B O  C L A S S
You can even start off the day with THE JAM: CLT Dance (Drop it LOW class) at 11:00 mixed with a slow cool down yoga sesh by NC Yoga Bar! Pro tip: bring your own yoga mat and a water if you sign up for this part of the pop-up event!

S H O P  T H E  B E S T  F E M A L E  V E N D O R S  in  the  QC
Shop with Girl Tribe Co’s favorite local female-powered vendors from 11-3PM (will be open while the above classes are in session, too) and will include beer selections from Sugar Creek, snacks, fun music, and most importantly . . . GIRL TIME! Pop-up shopping is 100% FREE to attend, no purchase necessary.

What’s better than sipping champs and stuffing your face with donuts? Doing so with your girlfriends, of course!

Okay, That’s Everything I’ve Ever Wanted + More. Gimme the Deetz!
Date:  Sun, February 11, 2018

Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST

Location: Sugar Creek Brewing Company

Address: 215 Southside Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217

*Tickets: CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS!

*Be sure to follow the above link to secure your ticket! Shopping is completely free, but signing up for a “free” ticket will help let all the vendors and sponsors know how many of you beauties to expect!

Except, you’re not a loser. Actually,

So there’s that.

Kisses for Ringo the Flamingo! (Props to my hubs for the cool name idea. I was calling him “Frank the Flamingo” until Thomas reminded me what a major opportunity I was missing not picking a rhyming / Beatles name like Ringo. This is why I married him.)

Hope to see you there, beautiful! If you’re local to Charlotte, I’d love to meet you and say hi, so feel free to comment me or send me a DM on Instagram if you’d like to get together – and cheers to #GirlPower – at the event!

Cheers, and until next time . . . 

xo,
eg

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the incredible people who made this styled shoot dream-come-true happen for me:

  • Carrie & Sarah, the Creators & Founders of Girl Tribe Co. How amazing are they for letting us hang out in their store for an hour while we created this magic?! They are the very definition of women supporting women, and I absolutely adore them. (CLICK HERE to check out the Girl Tribe Co. website and CLICK HERE to follow along with the Girl Tribe Co. Instagram account!)
  • Catrina Earls Photography (CLICK HERE to check out Catrina’s photography website and CLICK HERE to read my full blog post featuring Catrina’s photography business!)
  • LauRen Merola
  • Sieana Robinson (CLICK HERE to check out my full blog post featuring Sieana’s business and CLICK HERE to follow along with her Instagram!)
  • Maryellen Hill (CLICK HERE to follow along with Maryellen’s Instagram!)
  • My Hubs*

*I mean, who do you think threw all these rose petals directly into LauRen’s face? Great job, T. You’re the real MVP.

In all seriousness, though, Thomas is the best Instagram husband – and the best damn husband period – in the world. He helped me every step of the way with this shoot, from loading and unloading the props to taking videos so I can share a behind-the-scenes clip with you all! I couldn’t have done it without him.