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:

Brush the deep cheek tone “Graceful” from the “Out The Door” Palette to contour.
Sweep the vibrant pink cheek color “Cheerful” on your cheeks for blush.
Add that summer glow, girl! Add the golden shimmer “Flawless” to highlight.
Brush “Fierce” the bronze shimmery eye shadow all over your lids.
Accentuate your crease with “Polished” until you’ve got that depth between the two colors.
Finish off your bronze smokey eye by accentuating your outer lids and under-eye line with the deep brown eye shadow color “Mesmerizing”.
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

Are we best friends yet?!

May 1, 2018May 12, 2018

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!

Are we best friends yet?!

March 15, 2018April 29, 2018

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

Are we best friends yet?!

February 12, 2018February 13, 2018

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

Are we best friends yet?!

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018

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

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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

<br /> 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

Are we best friends yet?!

February 4, 2018February 4, 2018

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).

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.

Are we best friends yet?!

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018

Celebrate Love and #GiftThoughtfully this Valentine’s Day

Hello, Beautiful!

Let’s talk upping our gift basket game in a major way, shall we?

Can we just go ahead and say it? GONE are the days of the traditional wicker gift baskets! There are so many specialized gift companies popping up all over the place with such elevated, chic, beautiful packaging, it honestly makes me wonder what we were ever doing gifting those Easter basket-looking cellophane-wrapped baskets filled with perishables (like, enough with the crackers and hot sauce) and the occasional poorly made stuffed animal.

That’s why I’m so glad to have found Thoughtfully, a company passionate about gifting experiences that help us make memories together rather than throwing together your traditional old gift baskets.

I love the idea of gifting my friends, family, husband, and loved ones an adventure that fits their individuality and uniqueness rather than something that looks like it took a lot of effort to put together but is actually just a bunch of random stuff that won’t stand the test of time.

I love that Thoughtfully believes that a gift should last long after the beautiful wrappings have been torn away. I adore getting to use something regularly that I’ve received as a gift because it brings the person who gifted it to mind, almost like connecting with them from afar.

With Valentine’s Day just 2 weeks away, why not gift your girlfriends or lover babe a truly thoughtful gift, something the two of you could use to create a memory or a story? Last Valentine’s Day was a total bust for us because T was studying for the Bar Exam at the end of February and I was still bedridden post spine-surgery, so we pretty much ate chocolate covered strawberries and drank champs on the couch. I’m so thankful that we’re both in a totally different place this Love Day, and I wanted to celebrate that in a sweet way with the hubs.

If you’re in need of the perfectly packaged, truly elegant gift for your sweetie pie this February 14th, keep reading to learn more about why you should #GiftThoughtfully to your friends and family! Be sure to scroll through the gorgeous photos to see what experience I picked out for T and I to enjoy together this Valentine’s Day!

Can’t wait?! Dying to see more?! CLICK HERE to be taken to the Thoughtfully website!

I love a good Mule – it’s actually one of the cocktails I order the most when we we’re out – and I also love doing things with Thomas. We’ve been together more than 7 years now (since our second year of college! “awwww!”), so it’s safe to say we’ve been to our fair share of movies, lunches, dinners, walks, hikes, and all your other typical “date” activities.

We’ve been making an effort to do more things that connect us (bonus if it’s totally new to us!), like cooking a new recipe together, studying photography, writing songs, and anything else that gets our creative juices flowing (read: we are officially out of shows to Netflix and chill to).

Making a fancy schmancy cocktail to enjoy together was right up our alley, and we even lucked out with a random 64 degree Saturday in January that allowed us to enjoy them over a little picnic. I tell you what, January was the month that never ended, so being outside in the sunshine cheersing with my babe was just what I needed to feel the love this Vday.

We love that we’ll get to enjoy most of our Thoughtfully gift for the rest of our lives. I mean, we ate the ginger candy right away, to be honest. Didn’t even make it to its rightful place as a cocktail garnish because it smelled that good and looked that authentic and high-end. This was not your typical gas station or grocery store gummy candy.

But the two mugs, the jigger, and the cocktail shaker are truly beautiful kitchenware pieces we have loved adding to our kitchen and look forward to using for years to come. The copper and glass are high-quality and designed with such an attention to detail. We love that we’ll always have the glassware and the memory we made together to share, and we can’t wait for our next adventure experience with Thoughtfully!

What’s In It?

Two Moscow Mule Mugs
Two Graphic Paper Coasters
Glass Cocktail Shaker
Matryoshka Jigger
Bundaberg Ginger Beer (12.7oz)
Moscow Mule Syrup (8.5oz)
Candied Ginger (1.5oz)

What’s Missing?

Ice (because it melts!)
Vodka

That’s it!

Moscow Mule Tutorial:

Using the matryoshka jigger, measure out 2 shots of vodka and 1 ounce mule syrup.
Combine vodka, mule syrup, and 1 cup of ice in the shaker and shake vigorously.
Pour into mug and combine with a half cup of the Bundaberg ginger beer.
Garnish with ginger candy and enjoy!

Leave me a comment if you have any questions about Thoughtfully and be sure to snag your own incredibly thoughtful gift set for you and yours this Valentine’s Day! Thank you so much for stopping by the Blush + Bourbon Blog, babes – I love sharing my life and recommendations with you, and I so appreciate your support. Be sure to subscribe and turn on Instagram post notifications so you never miss a single update!

Cheers, and until next time . . .

xo,
eg

Are we best friends yet?!

January 6, 2018

My 2018 State of Mind

Hello, Beautiful!

I can’t believe we’ve officially got the first week of 2018 under our belts! Happy New Year from me & the Blush+Bourbon Blog! I hope your year is off to an incredible start – may it be your best year yet! I know I’m going to do everything in my power to make darn sure that 2018 is my year.

If 2017 wasn’t exactly (or anywhere close to) what you wanted it to be – or even if you had the most beautiful year of your life – let’s start each day in this brand new year by reminding ourselves:

We. Are. Enough.
This. Is. Our. Year!

If you’ve been following along with the blog and my Instagram, then you know that my 2017 had its ups and downs – to say the least! It’s really important to me to be as straightforward as possible on this blog, every chance I get, especially because it can be so easy to perceive pretty pictures on Instagram as someone’s reality. Pretty pictures aside, 2017 brought me both excruciating pain and sincerely held joy, the most heartbreaking of downs and the most wonderful ups. If I had to narrow it down to my biggest struggles of 2017, I believe they would be:

Battling with (sometimes irrational) fear, depression, and anxiety before and after my spine surgery in February 2017.
Encountering tons of financial difficulty, from our law school being shut down by the federal government shortly after we graduated to our car breaking down with a new problem like clockwork every month.
Accepting that I may never understand some things, like when two of my very best friends – who stood beside me on my wedding day not so long ago and who I have loved more than anything for years – just weren’t interested in being my friend anymore. They officially stopped texting me back and started ignoring my calls, and ultimately stopped loving me despite how much I’ve loved for most of my life.

I am so thankful for the joys we experienced this past year, too. As my mama always says, we can’t be afraid of each day’s purpose, each season in our lives: be it sorrow or joy. Joy prepares us for sorrow, and sorrow prepares us for joy. We will not live life all with one or the other, because God knows that whatever sorrow sweeps from our heart, room is being made for great joy to take place.

In 2018, let’s take our battles, our sorrows, our heartbreaks, and recognize them for what they are: the very leaves and rotten roots being shaken from the boughs of our hearts so that green leaves and new roots can grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place if you just believe in yourself and have faith. Continue reading “My 2018 State of Mind”

Are we best friends yet?!

December 30, 2017December 30, 2017

Pretty in Plaid Post-Christmas with Rosie the Blog Dog

Hello, Beautiful!

Anyone else LOVE a good plaid print but feel a little weird about wearing plaid after the holidays?

It almost feels . . . dare I say the word? Tacky. But, why?

Who says we can’t wear plaid after Christmas Day? After all, the winter season didn’t even officially begin until December 21, 2017 – just 4 days before Christmas – and won’t end until March 20, 2018! Plus, I don’t know about ya’ll, but here in North Carolina the weather gets chillier with each day lately.

That’s why I’m all about making those gorgeous plaid pieces last throughout the Winter season, not just for the holidays! If you love a good plaid print like me, keep scrolling for the lowdown on how to style that “holiday” plaid after the holidays!

I’ve also linked similar pieces to those featured in today’s post – just scroll to the bottom of my post and shop away. 🙂
Continue reading “Pretty in Plaid Post-Christmas with Rosie the Blog Dog”

Are we best friends yet?!

December 23, 2017December 30, 2017

Heavenly “Peace” by Sophia’s Naturals

Hello, Beautiful!

Sleep in Heavenly Peace . . . slee-eep in Heavenly Peeeeace!

Speaking of Christmas songs . . . I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner – eek, it’s Christmas Eve eve – literally just a few days away! I’m sipping coffee out of a Target mug that says “Beary Christmas” while Mariah Carey belts out “All I Want For Christmas is You” and I’ve gotta say . . . the 60ish degree weather we’ve been experiencing lately in the Carolinas isn’t going to cramp my Christmas style at all.

The back and forth with all this weather lately has really done a number on my skin, though, ya’ll. I don’t know WHAT’S going on with “December” this year, but even the palms of my hands are incredibly dry, and I’ve never really been particularly prone to dry skin, so I can only assume it’s all global warming mixed with surprise freezes we’ve had this December in the Carolinas. Whatever it is, it leaves my skin wanting, in desperate need of replenishing so the hubs will keep snuggling me all Winter long.

That’s where Sophia’s Naturals comes in, a brand I’m so grateful to have found through the magic of Instagram! I’ve been following along with Sophia’s Naturals on Insta for a while, always admiring their warm and friendly posts, their beautiful packaging, and of course the fact that it’s a family + small business in the heart of Jonesboro, Georgia.

I love Sophia’s Nautrals Body, Soul & Mind Collection because it reminds me – on the box, literally – to “Remember To Take A Moment For You Everyday!” I love that! Any of Sophia’s Naturals gift collections would make the perfect gift for your girls or your mom because it comes with a set of 3 full-sized items . . . complete with enclosed tips to help you relax and enjoy your Sophia’s Naturals experience!

I really appreciate the little details that go into creating a product, especially since I run a blog and an Etsy shop. It’s hard work to create something that feels so unique, sincere, and specially made with love once held in a customer’s hands, but that’s exactly what the Evans Family has done with their brand. Continue reading “Heavenly “Peace” by Sophia’s Naturals”

Are we best friends yet?!