An Every Woman Blog Reunion

Last week, we hosted a dinner for the Every Woman Bloggers to celebrate the holidays and thank them for their dedication to our blog! It was a fun evening full of delicious food, wonderful stories, and a fun ornament exchange.

Our bloggers provide us with inspiration as they handle being mothers, wives, professionals, sisters, friends, and providers. Please join us in thanking them for sharing their lives with us!

Learning Lovely Letters at First Thursday on Main!

By: Sydney Yarbrough

When I heard about the opportunity to take a calligraphy class with Stefanie Stroman, I was ecstatic. I remember back in elementary school when my friends and I would compete to see who could write their name the prettiest. Flash forward to today and calligraphy is everywhere from envelopes to business logos! I’ve always wanted to learn the art of calligraphy, so I was excited that there is now a chance to learn here in Columbia.

The class took place at First Citizen’s Café during their monthly First Thursday event. Our class was small, which was great because it allowed us to all chat and help each other. It also allowed our instructor, Stefanie, to walk around and give each of us individual instruction. She was extremely helpful in teaching us technique and answering all of our questions.

I have to talk about her decorations, because the details were fabulous! There was lots of gold and glitter, which was consistent throughout the entire class. We also had some patriotic themed cupcakes for an early 4th of July celebration!

She equipped us with everything we needed to get started- a practice notepad, as well as calligraphy writing supplies (pen staff, nibs, and ink). I loved that even though we were learning modern calligraphy, we were still using the traditional technique of dipping the pens into the ink. She also gave us an easy to follow instruction booklet that took us through the entire alphabet!

The class was two hours long and was so relaxing. I was amazed to find how meditative the art of calligraphy actually is! And, to my surprise, I wasn’t terrible at it! Stefanie also supplied us with some recommended reading and resources to further research advanced calligraphy. I can’t wait to learn more about it!

 

I highly recommend taking this class. It would be a great activity for a Girls’ Night Out or even if you’re just looking to try something new!

Interested in taking Calligraphy 101? The next class is August 7th at First Citizens Café! You can visit the Stroman Studios Etsy Shop for more information and to sign up for your class! 

Credit: All of the amazing photos in this blog courtesy of Sarah Christmus Photography! (Thanks, Sarah!) 

 

Adding ‘Business Owner’ To My Resume

By: Sydney Yarbrough

I never thought at age 23 I would own my own business. However, at the beginning of this year, I found myself filing for a retail license, and soon after that, filling wholesale orders.

What started as a part-time crafting hobby was quickly growing into a larger-amount-of-time business, and I have loved every minute of it. I love the aspect of getting orders and forming relationships with my customers.

So what do I make? Jewelry. Well, mostly bracelets right now, but I have plans to grow the line into other types of jewelry in the coming months. Mostly I sell on Etsy. My jewelry is carried in a few boutiques, and I hope to expand into more!

Custom orders are my favorite. I love designing for bridal showers, baby showers, or even individual customers who are going to events. I get a lot of requests from those who have troubles fitting standard bangles, some too small, others too big. I’m happy to do custom sizes!

Everything is still in the beginning stages, but starting this business led to me figure out dreams that I never knew I had. The unknown is scary, sometimes, but also exhilarating. I get to meet new people and make beautiful things every day! What more could I ask for?

You can find my jewelry on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/SydneyElleDesigns.

I’m constantly adding new things! So make sure to follow my store. I’m also on Instagram @SydneyElleDesigns.

 

Feel free to email me at SydneyElleDesigns@Gmail.Com with questions!

Favorite Finds!

By: Sydney Yarbrough

I’m so excited that we’re finally into warmer weather! Spring and summer are my favorite time of year, and I love finding new clothing and being able to eat outside on a patio. Here are a few recent things I have found while being out and about!

1. These strappy nude wedges from fab’rik in Trenholm Plaza. Fab’rik is a brand new store with lots of great clothes and accessories at great price points. I highly recommend it!
2. Saluda Shoals Park, located off of I-26 & Bush River Road. I had never been here before last week, but it is beautiful! Lots of places to walk, bikes to rent, and it’s right on the water. You can find exercise and serenity all in one place! 
3. These awesome koozies that I found at Goodwill for $0.75! Can you tell I’m ready to be at the beach? I highly recommend going thrift store shopping for summer clothes. Goodwill also had bathing suits that Target had donated as overstock (with the store tags still on) for around $2-$3 per piece!
4. Gin’s Juice! I came across Gin while she was downtown at First Citizen’s Café. Such a sweet girl! You can also find her at Soda City on Saturday mornings. Her drinks run about $5 or you can buy a growler for $15 and have it refilled for $12. Super healthy and refreshing on those “famously hot” days!
5. This brunch at Café Caturra. The picture says enough, but I HAVE to point out that breakfast pizza! Perfect Saturday morning in Forest Acres. 

Purse Food!

By: Sydney Yarbrough

In my efforts to get ready for beach weather, I recently started following a new nutrition plan. The basics of the plan are to eliminate processed food and refined sugar and to eat the right foods at the right time. According to the plan, healthy carbs and fruits should be eaten in the morning, while starches should be eliminated after 3 p.m. I am a student and I work full-time, so following any type of nutrition plan is very much a challenge for me.

This had led me to what I like to call “Purse Food.” Food that I can grab and go, or keep in my car, and I am guaranteed to have something belly-friendly at hand! Here are some of my favorite snacks to keep handy:

1. Protein Bars- These are tricky. You need to make sure they’re not full of sugar. I prefer gluten-free, sugar-free ThinkThin bars or Cliff bars. There are also tons of recipes for no-bake protein snacks that you can make on Sunday nights to last you the entire week!
2. Homemade Smoothies- Anything you can make yourself with fresh produce is always better. I like to add coffee to smoothies I drink in the morning. Keep mason jars or a plastic tumbler cup on hand and make your smoothie the night before if you know you’re going to be in a rush in the morning.
3. Alternative Trail Mix- Blueberries and walnuts make a great snack. Lots of pre-packaged trail mixes are full of sugar and processed foods. Avoid this and maintain portion control by packing it yourself!
4. Purse Friendly Beverages- My favorite is coconut water! It’s a great, natural way to stay hydrated during the day and comes in lots of flavors! I also like sparkling water and  making my own flavored waters. Here’s a quick tip: Get a reusable water bottle and add mint and cucumber for a delicious drink!

I hope these tips help for managing your appetite and getting beach-ready for the summer!

Be A Couch Volunteer!

By: Sydney Yarbrough

Volunteering is very important to me. The act of selflessly doing something to help an organization in need reaps so many rewards!  Many think that volunteering takes up a lot of time and energy, or that they’re too busy to fit it into their schedule, but there are so many ways to volunteer and help people in need, even from your own home! Here are some easy ways that you can use your time to make a difference for a non-profit or cause that you support:

1. Share their posts on Facebook. I don’t mean just “like” the post. I mean click SHARE, write a message to your followers, and encourage them to support your cause, too! Of course, not all of them will catch on immediately, but at least you’re helping to get the word out!
2. Find Small Organizations to Support. There are plenty of non-profits that you see regularly in the media and on the news. Many hold events, galas, fundraisers, etc… The truth is, not every non-profit can afford to do these things. Many fund their causes from their own pockets, making an event nearly impossible for their budgets. I encourage you to find a lesser-known non-profit and follow their page on Facebook. Retweet them. Interact with them on your computer at least once every few days.
3. Donate Your “Clutter.” When you’re doing spring cleaning, instead of putting everything in the trash, separate usable items into a bin and take it directly to a non-profit. Many animal rescues need items like blankets (or old clothes that could be used for blankets), detergent, cleaning supplies, etc. Coupons are a great thing to donate, too! Many assume that donating automatically means writing a check, but not always. Gift cards are also a big help.
4. Reach Out. Wondering what the best way is for you to help? Pick a cause you’re curious about and send them an email or a Facebook message to see what they are currently most in need of. Ask if they have an Amazon wishlist that you could view and send them a gift, or if they need help hosting an information booth in the future. 

I like to encourage everyone to support smaller non-profits and rescues. Even if that just means “Like”ing their Facebook page. Every little act makes a difference and sometimes you don’t even have to leave your couch!

Maintaining Mentality

By: Sydney Yarbrough

If the recent ice storm has you feeling like going into hibernation, it’s time to snap out of it. My brain has definitely been in a Winter fog these past few weeks and I am on a quest to rediscover my motivation before the warmer weather gets here. I’ve compiled a list of tips to stay creative and motivated, and today I’m sharing that list with all of you!

1. Find time for yourself. Take just a few minutes per day to have quiet time. Set a timer if you have to so you don’t get sidetracked and off task. Read a book. Take a bath. Sit on the couch and close your eyes to help clear your mind. This is important because often times we get so caught up with our day-to-day responsibilities that we forget to breathe. This results in what I would like to call, “burnout.” And it’s not good.
2. Stay active. It’s so tempting to come home from work and do nothing but sit on the couch. Try to get into a routine of doing some sort of activity. There are tons of fitness videos online to watch! My favorites are Barre (a mix of ballet and Pilates) and Yoga.
3. Write things down. It’s very helpful to me to compile a list of things that I need/want to get accomplished in a day – just so I can see it. Investing in a planner is a good idea. I have the Day Designer by Whitney English that I ordered from Etsy, but even just keeping a notepad with you can be helpful.
4. Socialize. Work and home responsibilities can often cause you to feel like you’re too busy to make plans with your spouse or your friends. Make sure you schedule some time during the week to be around other people and maintain social interaction. It’s important to maintain relationships with others and not let your professional life keep you from enjoying a social life.

Remember that it’s okay, and even important, to worry about yourself. Like time management, taking care of yourself requires focus and discipline. As we head into a warmer season, I hope this list will help with maintaining motivation and creativity! 

Meet the New Every Woman Bloggers: Sydney Yarbrough

Sydney Yarbrough, one of our new Every Woman Bloggers, is already an experienced blogger. She loves fashion and design, and even makes her own jewelry. Meet her in this video.