Hey, y’all! Today’s post is definitely more personal than the usual fashion edit, but it’s been on my mind for a while to share what I’ve been working through.

During a weekend away with my mom for Mother’s Day, I was chatting with my mom about how anxiety has been impacting me lately and she asked me, “when did this start?” I couldn’t really nail down an exact timeframe, but I shared with her when I had my first anxiety attack - albeit, I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time. It was back in college and while I’m going to keep the particular time and details private, it got me thinking that this is something I’ve been dealing with longer than I thought.

Like many others, the pandemic and quarantine exacerbated my anxiety and I was dealing with my emotions more frequently than I ever had before. But, it wasn’t until the fall of 2021 that I had another one since that first back in college and it actually became a more frequent thing. In the last 6 months, I have experienced 4 anxiety attacks (as someone who had ever only had 1 in my 28 years of life up until this point, it felt like a lot) and knew I really needed to deal with what was happening. But, the first thing was to find out what was causing them.

I looked at each attack and really tried to nail down what was happening and the emotions I was feeling during them to see if it would help determine any triggers or environments that were contributing. Here’s what I found:

My anxiety Triggers:

• Feelings of lack of control or too many variables around me is a big catalyst

• Alcohol enhances the likelihood of having one/severity for me

• High stress or feelings of being too overwhelmed

• Negative thinking and spiraling thoughts

• Personal life stressors and circumstances

• Being out of my routine for too long

INSTAGRAM VS. REALITY

This night on Instagram looked like so much fun and an amazing experience - it was - but, what I didn’t show was the anxiety attack and scary feelings I had toward the end of the night. This wasn’t intentional as my first reaction when having anxiety isn’t to grab my phone and share with y’all, but I think to be authentic in this post I needed to share the story with y’all (more below).

One or most of the above list was present for me during the attacks, the main one being lack of control. In every experience, it started by feeling like I wasn’t in control, couldn’t do/change things, or I was ignoring my emotions to “get through it” and then it bubbled over. Sometimes my anxiety will just linger throughout the day and not always be an attack. Other times, like the CMT Awards, it bubbled over and I found myself having a full-blown attack at the show. That particular night really helped me understand a lot about how to combat my anxiety and some tips and tricks I’ve learned that have helped me.

So, I think part of that night’s issue was that I was building it up and had pretty high expectations of the experience. I’m an enneagram 2, control freak, and very much want everyone around me to be happy and having fun - people pleaser has entered the chat. This was one of the biggest events I had ever been invited to as a blogger and you could say I felt the pressure to get great content, please the brand and also make sure my guests were having fun. This was all, of course, self-induced pressure and did not come from the brand or my friends that I brought along, but my anxiety was mounting throughout the day.

It started off a great day as two of my best friends came to Nashville to join me. We got ready together and we were so excited since we were about to be in the same room as Carrie Underwood! We jump in our Uber, head to the show, and halfway there it starts POURING rain. Our driver tries to get us close to the door, but we inevitably get soaked. The venue and where we were meeting the brand were about 3 blocks apart so we ended up having to walk in the rain, in heels and dresses - thankfully, they gave us ponchos which helped a little.

We get inside the venue and have to wait in line for security. There was a mix-up with our wristbands and for a moment, they wouldn’t let us inside. After figuring that out we find out we are in a standing section and don’t have seats for the night. I wasn’t expecting them, but one of the girls with us was pregnant and I was spiraling thinking she would be so uncomfortable all night. I calm down a bit and start taking photos, hanging out until the show starts and things seem to be fine. The next thing I know, the show starts, Keith Urban is literally 2 feet away from me, and I’m surrounded by a room full of country stars. I was feeling a lot better with all the distraction.

The night goes on and well into hour 4, I start getting uncomfortable. My feet hurt, I’m tired of standing and since it’s a live show, there are a lot of moving parts, commercial breaks, crowds of people, and audience queues - aka, things out of my control. I start getting some negative thoughts about how if maybe I’m ready to leave my friends are too and they don’t want to be there, I wanted to go to the bathroom but had no idea where it was and didn’t feel like I could leave my spot until the commercial break. I also was pretty dehydrated and worried about 2 more hours of standing in a crowd. I tried some breathing exercises and the 3-3-3 rule (more on that below).

I’ll cut to the chase on this already long-winded post: I was standing in the crowd waiting for Maren Morris to come on (my absolute favorite) and got an overwhelming feeling of “I have to get out of here”. I started to get hot, nauseated, and tunnel vision set in. I told my friends I needed a break and went to go find the bathroom. Halfway out of the crowd I felt like I was going to pass out and asked a security guard to take me to the bathroom since I didn’t know where to go. After some embarrassing moments taking my sweet time walking up multiple ramps in heels and dizziness, I made it to the bathroom and got sick.

I got a text from my friends asking if I was ok and to hurry back because Maren would be on soon. I knew I needed to hang out in this stall a while longer and remembered sending “can’t. puking.” back to them lol. Then, I could hear Maren Morris singing and I took a drink of the water I luckily brought with me. I texted another friend that I was having an attack. We’ve chatted before about them and she also deals with anxiety so I knew she would be helpful.

She immediately asked how I was feeling and then ended up changing the subject to take my mind off things. We chatted for a few min and then the friends I was with texted me asking if I needed anything. I realized the worst of it had passed, got myself together again, and went back downstairs to the show. The security guard who escorted me was waiting outside the bathroom to make sure I was ok. He was so nice and walked me back downstairs. We talked about his grandkids and I could feel the anxiety melting away. I got back to my friends and they were so kind about it. I ended up telling them about the attack - I had only ever told my husband and the other friend at that point - and they were so supportive. They asked if I wanted to leave, but I decided we could stay. After a couple more performances, they admitted they weren’t feeling the best either (it had been a really long day) and we decided to head out.

We got back home and just talked about the show, shared videos, and chatted about life. I called Kollin (who was out of town) and told him what happened. It felt really good to just be open about it. So, I decided to write down what caused me to get those feelings (above list) and what made me feel better or mitigated the anxiety.

Things that bring me peace of mind:

• Other people knowing what I was feeling helped them help me. You can’t get help unless you ask for it and I had to get comfortable talking about what made me uncomfortable to protect my mental state. Now, my husband or friends can understand what might be triggering for me or just check-in to make sure I’m all good.

• 3-3-3 rule: Look around you and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body — your ankle, fingers, or arm

• Watch a comforting show or movie

• Inner self-talk: I learned this on the TSC Podcast with Ethan Kross and found it really helpful. Essentially you internally talk to yourself in pep-talk form as you would someone else. But use your name and don’t say it out loud

• Listen to music or a podcast

• Change your environment - spatial relation to the anxiety is so real and taking a step out of that physical space can change your mindset and help calm you

• Go into nature - sit in the sunlight, listen to the birds, look at the sky, put your feet in the grass

• Take CBD

• Journal or write a gratitude list

• Pray or meditate

• Read a book

• Stick to your routine as much as you can. Lack of control is a trigger for me so when I know I’m in my routine and things are going to plan it helps. Another tip from friends has been to make a mundane to-do list. Easily accomplished items that are completely in your control and you do every day like brush your teeth, drink water, and get dressed. It might seem silly, but that literal boost of serotonin helps when you check it off and feel accomplished in something.

HELPFUL TOOLS TO COMBAT ANXIETY:

Y’all may know that I’ve been really focused on becoming a morning person this year and a big part of that was developing a morning routine. You can read the specifics here, but a few months ago added CBD back into my daily routine and have found it really helpful in keeping me calm, grounded, and less reactive to my anxiety. I started taking Equilibria CBD every day as a more preventative way to combat anxiety, stress, and overwhelming feelings. It has really helped me understand the calibration of my emotions and notice the feelings of the beginnings of anxiety and stress. I take the daily gummies in the morning every day and also love their daily drops if I need a little more calm throughout a stressful day. You can learn more about CBD and Equilibria here.

TCB readers can use my code AMANDANAVA for 15% off their order if you’re wanting to try it yourself! I’m linking other tools I use below in my morning routine and throughout the day to help combat any anxiety I’m feeling like a cozy sweatshirt, refreshing ice roller, my favorite blanket, and journal.

If you’re still here, thank you. I know that was a lot and this isn’t my usual topic or something that is relevant for everyone, but my hope is that if it is relevant for you, you found it helpful and grabbed some takeaways. I hope this post also showed you that life can look really different than what we see on Instagram or written on a blog. I wanted to be authentic with y’all and reiterate the message that we’re all human. We all deal with tough things and struggle with issues many others do too. Having now experienced anxiety myself, I know how helpful it is to talk about it. If you need someone to talk to please send me a DM on Instagram or email me. I’d love to help however I can and would also love to hear from you if you have any helpful tips for readers too! Thank you again so much for reading!

I partner with Equilibria and could receive a small commission from any purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

SHOP THE LOOK

*linked shoes are similar, not exact. You can find them on resale sites as ‘Jimmy Choo Minny 85’

Hey, y’all! I’m not sure if it is the influence of the very colorful runway or the fact that I’m wishing for warm weather and tropical vacation, but I’ve been SO into color lately. Which, if you know me, is weird. I am a neutrals girl through and through, but lately, I’ve been feeling a pull toward mixing it up and incorporating fun colors. Here are five colors I’m seeing all over the runways, stores, and trends for 2022! Would you wear any of them?

Neon Pink

I can tell you that I audibly gasped when I saw the Valentino FW22 Collection which was a dual-gender collection created almost entirely in “Valentino Pink PP,” a hue that color specialists Pantone developed exclusively for the Italian label. Valentino Creative Director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, decided on a monochromatic collection to “eliminate the visual shock” and allow “the unique character of the person and the fashion (texture, shape, and decoration) to remain the sole focus.”

The same color is already finding its way into everyday wear and retailers. Check out some pieces in this iconic hue below!

Hot Orange

I recently purchased a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals (at a major discount - check it out here if you missed it) in bright orange and I’m obsessed! I love that you can pair them with a neutral look for a pop of color or go all out like in my outfit above in a color block outfit. Hot orange is making a strong play this season and I love it for accessories, dresses, and of course vacation wear.

Lavender

This time of year lavender can seem like an obvious choice. Pastels and lighter hues are pretty popular in Spring, but. lavender is taking it to the next level this year. While it might be easier on the eyes than some of the other colors listed here, it still is attention getting and different than usual wear for most people. Stand out in a classy and elegant color this season!

Illuminating Yellow

This color definitely grabs your attention and sometimes can be as bright as neon, but for spring 2022, illuminating yellow is a color to watch and gravitate toward. Invoking warm and bright feelings, this shade of yellow is perfect for warmer weather and as a base color for your outfits. Go classic with a button down or make a statement in a highlighter pump. No matter how much you incorporate this color, you’re in for a fun and cheerful look.

Kelly Green

This hue of green lives between emerald and lime green, this bright and playful green can also be very elegant and sophisticated. I think this color is gorgeous in pretty much any category, but we will see it mostly in dresses, shoes and pants! Pair it with hot pink, black, or go with a full monochromatic style for a chic look.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you found some inspiration to add these fun colors into your wardrobe this Spring and maybe an item that you liked! Tell me below in the comments what your favorite color is this season!

Hey, y’all! Good denim is something it seems the majority of us are on the hunt for most of the time when people ask me about shopping requests or styling help. Having a go-to pair of jeans is such a good feeling, especially when they make you look as good as you feel in them.

I’ve put together a huge edit of denim from multiple retailers, at different price points and a ton of different styles. I’ve grouped them by popular styles or colors, but even within those groups there are several different styles and cuts to try!

STRAIGHT DENIM

This style is definitely the most popular amongst today’s fashions and is a great starting point for most body types and sizes. The high-rise cut allows for a cinched waist, clean and straight-lined silhouette that can be worn with most any top, jacket, shoe and outfit.

SPLIT HEM DENIM

I’ve loved this trend and how it elongates your legs while also adding a unique touch to your denim without embellishments or distressing. These mimic a wide leg denim or flare style by being wider at the bottom and allowing for an A-line silhouette that is really flattering.

BLACK DENIM

Regular blue jeans are an amazing staple to have in your closet, but I actually find myself wearing black denim more often. It adds a level of elegance and dressiness to the outfit since blue jeans carry a more casual tone. Whether you go with no distressing or knee rips, I’ve rounded up some amazing pairs.

WIDE LEG & FLARE DENIM

This style is nothing new, but as more relaxed styles are becoming more popular, the wide leg or flare are great options! Stick to a slimming style like a flare if you’re wanting more structure or go for a wide leg style for something relaxed and casual.

WHITE DENIM

Similarly to black denim, white denim adds a layer of variety to your closet and denim collection. Perfect for spring and summer and more ethereal looks, the crisp and clean look is a great foundation for any style!

DENIM SHORTS

As we move into warmer weather, denim shorts become a staple for many. Short styles echo jeans when it comes to cuts and silhouettes - high waists cinch you in, looser cuts and distressing add to a more casual feel, and shorts that flare away from the body create a slimming and flattering shape.

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you found a style and pair that you love! Reach out to me on Instagram or comment below with any questions! Shop all the denim below in the boutique! xx

Hey, y’all! So we all know the groundhog called for 6 more weeks of winter, but I’m just refusing to accept that and immediately moving into Spring. Since we don’t live in Chicago anymore and winter doesn’t last until May in Nashville, I can truly appreciate the season of Spring. I recently was asked on Instagram for my thoughts on sandal trends (Thank you, Bryn!) and wanted to devote an entire post to Spring shoe trends in general. I, of course, added in sandals, but wanted to cover all shoe categories that were highlighted during Fashion Weeks. So, let’s get into it!

ARCHITECTURAL ACCENTS

ALL IN THE DESIGN

The runways are hot with architectural elements and unique shapes in footwear.

I’ve loved this trend since I first started seeing unique sandals and heels by the brand Cult Gaia back in the late 20-teens. Seeing similar designs and aesthetics arrive in more affordable stores and sticking around for another season is really fun! I personally think shoes should be fun and eye-catching so I love this trend!

SHOP THE TREND

SKY HIGH PLATFORMS

LEGS FOR DAYS

Super high heels and platforms are very in this year - might want to take some practice walking around in these babies, but they are so fun and chic!

I remember the first time I ever saw a pair of Saint Laurent Bianca Platform Sandals, followed by the Jodie Platform Sandals and I needed them. I, of course, do not own them to this day, but I am certain one day I will! I find them so chic and classic. This trend really took off during fashion week when Versace debuted the Medusa Heel. It is all over my Instagram, Pinterest boards, and fashion trend reports for Spring. They are definitely more of a statement, but I find them super fun and playful! The design isn’t new as we’ve seen it on the red carpets since the 2000s when designers like Laurence Dacade, Gucci, Prada and Valentino made the styles more popular at the height of the days of Paris and Nicole going clubbing. Anyone else remember the iconic Bratz doll and Steve Madden ads that focused on platforms? Well, the 90s-00s are back y’all!

SHOP THE TREND

GLADIATOR SANDALS AND HEELS

time to lace up

The gladiator style is back and more exaggerated than ever. Sandals with straps, wraps and ties are here.

This trend isn’t new and I remember buying the Steve Madden Travel Sandal a couple years ago and seeing them everywhere! So, good news for any of you that purchased a pair in the late 20-teens - they’re here to stay! I personally love the wrap around styles that are a bit more understated than the knee-high gladiator in the above picture. Check out the styles below!

SHOP THE TREND

CAN’T MISS IT COLORS

bold & Bright colors

This seasons runways were full of colorful clothing, shoes, accessories and prints. Shoes will be no different - if anything, they can be the statement of your look.

My thoughts on this is that after two years of dealing with a pandemic, designers are wanting fun, colorful and memorable designs to fill stores and runways. Bright colors, bold statements and saturated designs are all the rage right now. From designers like Tom Ford, Bottega Venetta, and Saint Laurent we saw bright pinks, blues, oranges and greens in footwear. I love a colorful heel and sandal to make an outfit than the more traditional neutral colors most choose. Will you try out some colorful shoes this season? My biggest tip is to purchase a pair in a style you already own. I LOVE these Steve Madden Vala Heels and they come in so many colors!

SHOP THE TREND

POINTED TOE BOOTS

MAKE YOUR POINT

Another classic style that is back again, the pointed boot replaces past year’s focus on square toed sandals and boots.

I personally never loved the rounded toe style and felt that pointed toe shoes never really went out of style. Perfect for elongating your leg and adding a chic, elegant touch to any look, there are plenty of options out there to try out the trend. If you’re new to the style, try out a bootie or knee high style as an introduction. I also love this pointed toe heel style I’m seeing in the sandal category. So chic and cool!

SHOP THE TREND

I hope y’all like this type of post and covering a bit more of upcoming trends and styles in different categories. I had fun putting it together and finding pieces you can bring into your closet from runway inspiration. What style or trend was your favorite? I think I’m personally going to be adding more color this Spring and maybe try out those sky-high platforms. Thanks so much for reading!

Hey, y’all! We’re over a month into 2022 and I’m loving moving into a new month! With that new month comes a new reading selection from the Books and Bubbly Reading club! As a refresher, I put together a list of 25 books to read in 2022 and each month, I ask my Instagram followers and TCB community to give their input on which of the two selections they’d like to read as a group. Check out the two January books and my reviews below and then see what everyone voted on for February (hint: it’s in the image hehe). As an FYI, I won’t be sharing any spoilers in the reviewz - just my overall thoughts and impressions!

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE BY ANTHONY DOERR

Set in France and Germany during World War II, this historic and beautiful novel follows the story of two main characters, Marie-Laure, a blind girl living in Paris with her father, and Werner, an orphan who lives in a German mining town. As the war continues to build momentum, each character presses to find themselves.

As the Nazis occupy Paris, Marie-Laure and her father, who works at The Museum of Natural History, flee to her great uncle’s home in Saint-Malo and carry with them what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. Werner is recruited to a Nazi school because of his expert ability at building and fixing radios and receivers. He is then instructed to use his talents to track down the Nazi resistance as a soldier.

How Anthony Doerr weaves these two stories and paints a haunting, beautiful, and informative narrative for readers is enticing.

SHOP THE POST

This book has been on my reading list for quite some time and I knew that it was going to be great based on the amazing reviews, awards (hello, Nobel Peace Prize #casual), and excitement I was hearing from others who had read it. I added it to the Books and Bubbly Reading List for 2022 because it was a different genre than I’m used to and I love learning about this time in history. While it feels like a different world to most of us alive today, in actuality, it wasn’t that long ago, which is pretty scary and haunting to think about.

Most of the World War II novels I’ve read focus on the Holocaust or share the story from a Jewish person’s perspective. While that experience and education of their stories are extremely important, I liked that this book took place in several locations and told stories that I hadn’t learned much about. While the actual novel is fiction, I can imagine that most of the situations are completely plausible and something the author drew from history. So, let’s get into it!

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
☆☆☆☆☆/5

As I mentioned above, the notoriety and awards this book has received is why I chose it. I knew the story would be compelling, the character development would be impeccable and the historical accuracy would be dependable. My rating of five stars reflects all of those things, but I’m not going to lie. This book is long and requires patience. You have to get through a good chunk of it before you truly appreciate the story, but because of that story-telling, character development, artistry in writing, and historical elements, you are enveloped in its pages.

I love when a book allows you to root for and not like a character at the same time, but this author does an incredible job at humanizing aspects of people we never want to see as humans. He writes in a way that helps you understand how difficult, complex and scary it must be to be blind. The heartbreak and emotion that filled those war-filled years and the notion that just because someone identifies in some way doesn’t blanket their entire being as being wholly defined that way.

Both Marie-Laure and Werner showcase that to the readers in different ways and you begin to understand that time, the attitude toward the war from all sides, and many aspects of the complexities of each side that are not often talked about. The chapters are short and the story alternates between Marie'-Laure and Werner so it keeps you interested throughout. It flips between certain times and you learn details from each perspective in a unique way that keeps you turning the page.

I definitely recommend checking this one out if you want to learn more about WWII, occupied France, and the different elements of war that the current generation have not witnessed or even know about today. As an important time in world history, this novel not only teaches us those lessons, but also to appreciate the most important aspects of life for us all: family, honor, and against all odds, to be part of the good in the world no matter your situation.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID

One of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the golden age of movie-making, Evelyn Hugo, is now an aging and reclusive woman living in New York City. When an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant, receives an offer to tell her story from Evelyn herself, she’s stunned to understand the reasoning behind it.

Known for her seven marriages and life of glamour, Evelyn agrees to hold nothing back and share the stories of her life with Monique. As Evelyn shares the stories of how she made her way in Hollywood, her love life, and traumatic events in her past, Monique begins to understand that there is more to why she was picked to tell this story.

A goal of mine in 2022 is to read 25 books this year and in order to do that, I have to read about 2 books per month. This one was my second choice from the reading list and I LOVED it. An obvious departure from the WWII novel above, this story is enticing, clever, truly filled with star power.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID
☆☆☆☆☆/5

This book was highly-rated and as a New York Times bestseller, I knew it was going to be a fun one. What I didn’t expect was how incredible this storytelling would be. One of my favorite things about the book is the deep and complex character development that the author spent time on. The reader truly understands every angle of the situations happening. You can love and hate the person at the same time, while also being surprised at what happens next. Filled with twists and turns, this story follows Evelyn’s life throughout the 1950s and into her late life. Switching between her stories as she tells them to Monique and Monique’s perspective interviewing Evelyn, as well as her own personal life, you are never bored.

This book is definitely one of the most well-written novels I’ve ever read and I was in awe of the human and complex nuances the author was able to bring through to the characters. You felt like you knew them, understood them, and felt their emotions as you were reading. It was genuinely magical. I also really appreciated the subject matter of this book. At first glance, you might think it’s all glamour, smut, and Hollywood phonies from the premise of the book, but you’ll be presently surprised to learn about what life was like for these characters in a time that was not as kind and glamorous as every movie makes it seem.

You’ll walk through issues of race, sexuality, morality, honesty, abuse, and public perception with these characters, and over the course of several decades, there are a lot of aspects of Evelyn to learn and witness. As I reached the end of the novel I found myself feeling there was a bit too much of those aspects in the story to make it as believable as I wanted it to be, but I suppose that’s what makes it fiction, right? Regardless of that small critique, this has been one of my favorite books in a long time!

I hope y’all like these reviews and can join in on the reading fun this year! Check out the 2022 Reading List and be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up with The Books and Bubbly Book Club! We vote each month on the book we’re going to read from the list and share our thoughts together! February’s book was voted to be Greenlights by Matthew McCoughnahey. You can find it here! I’m really excited to have some autobiographies in this year’s list as I think we can learn so much from other’s people’s stories about our own selves. I hope you’ll join us! Happy Weekend, y’all!

SHOP THE PICTURE

Hey, y’all! I’m a little shocked I haven’t done a post like this in the past because if there is one thing that I love, it’s handbags. I’ve been asked multiple times if I’m a shoe, handbag, jewelry, clothes, etc. type girl and if I could only pick one I’d go with handbags. Something about them makes them little pieces of art and I love the way we can express ourselves with accessories.

I asked y’all over on Instagram about the different price points you wanted to see handbags in and the two most popular were under $200 and under $500. When it comes to designer bags there are quite a few out there in those price points, but I know $200 is a lot to spend on a bag to some so I included another category of under $100. The other price ranges were for more designer-focused buyers in the $1,000 and $1,500 price range. I’m happy to make another post for those if you all would like that! So, before I jump into the bags I wanted to share a little bit about what you should look for when purchasing a bag no matter who makes it.

IMPORTANT HANDBAG DETAILS BEFORE BUYING

Whenever I buy a new bag I always consider the cost per wear. Is this a bag I am purchasing for a certain event like a wedding, work event, or cocktail party? Or is this something I’ll wear every weekend no matter my plans? I’d like to think every bag is the latter, but as with most things, the more you buy, the less you’ll use each one. If this is something I’m only using a handful of times then my budget drops immensely. On the other hand, if this is a bag I’ve had my eye on for a while or something that is really functional like a work bag, I’ll spend more because I want to make sure the quality is there to support how much I’ll use it.

Secondly, trendy vs. classic. Everyone is different in their taste which makes fashion so fun, so we each have our own spectrum of those two words and what they mean to us. If I feel a bag is trendy (something that is hitting the industry as a new season, unique to the time, or something not very practical, but everyone is loving) then I typically stay away from high-priced versions. I personally prefer bags that are more classic in terms of structure, color, and overall design. I love bags that I can reach for no matter the season, year, color or event because it goes with everything.

HANDBAGS UNDER $100

There are a ton of handbags that fit into this category and are really well made and offer a great variety in how they can be used and styled. I’m linking some of my personal favorites and other great finds below! In this price point, there are a few things to look out for - wear and tear on your bag can start pretty early because of the materials used. Secondly, the structure of the bag. Because the materials used are cheaper, you may not have as much variety in bag shape, design elements and uniqueness as there would be in higher price points, but I think I found some really great options!

HANDBAGS UNDER $200

Most of these are actually closer to $100, but were just above the mark so I added to this category. You start getting into some nicer designer bags here and more unique designs! I love that you can grab great designers on sale like Rebecca Minkoff, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Mansur Gavriel, and Marc Jacobs. If you’re looking for designer then these will be their smaller bags like totes, crossbodies or clutches.

HANDBAGS UNDER $500

This category definitely has the most range with what I found. I think the sweet spot is around $350 so I tried to focus there and then included some higher end designers in wallets and other accessories!

If y’all have any questions on specific designers, specific bag shapes or types you’re looking for or anything please let me know, I’d love to help! I hope y’all liked this more categorical experience! If so, I can definitely do it more and other categories if you like. Thanks so much for reading and for your feedback on this idea!

MEET KATIE DEAN OF KATIE DEAN JEWELRY

Katie creates handmade, dainty jewels to inspire women to try something new, embrace their femininity, and feel beautiful while still feeling like themselves. Born and raised in Michigan, she made the move to LA in 2007 and wasn’t feeling fulfilled in the jobs she found there. By disassembling jewelry she already owned and making it her own, Katie Dean Jewelry got it’s start.

Hey, y’all! I’m so excited to share a brand and business owner with you that I’ve looked up to for years, Katie Dean of Katie Dean Jewelry! I first discovered her brand when I was working for another jewelry company. My role at that brand was creative and marketing based so we had a lot of discussions around imagery, photoshoots, creative inspiration, and branding. I kept finding myself coming back to images on Pinterest and Instagram or the same brand: Katie Dean Jewelry.

I loved the aesthetic, clean and dainty designs, and the overall emotions the brand evoked. The rings, initial pieces, necklaces, earrings found their way on many mood boards! It wasn’t until 2019 that our paths crossed when Kollin purchased an initial ring from Katie as one of my Christmas gifts. I was so excited and started wearing it immediately! Unfortunately, on the day after Christmas, Wrigley, our corgi, had other plans when his collar caught my ring stack and ripped the ring off my finger in one fell swoop. Since the design was an open ring, he pulled it enough and the ring just snapped in half.

I sent a DM to the Katie Dean Instagram page and they were SO kind about it. We flew home two days later and my new ring was already in my mailbox with a little handwritten note from Katie herself! I was blown away at how amazing they were and SO happy about the new ring.

As I’m typing this, almost four years later, I am still wearing that ring and it is part of my daily ring stack (I even have a second one in case I wear this one into the ground lol). I got the initial K for Kollin my husband and am still so in love with it! Fast forward to 2020 and I was tagging Katie’s Instagram page a bunch during my “Weekly Best Sellers” Series because people kept buying it! After about a year of that, I decided to shoot my shot and ask if the brand wanted to partner together. I fully thought that it would be a no and maybe we could work together when I had grown my audience more.

Katie replied and, as always, was so nice and said she would love to collab! To tell you I fangirled would be an understatement. Since then, we’ve done several giveaways together and I’m so glad that I now know Katie a bit more on a personal level! Crazy how something can go from inspiration on a mood board to a new friend! I was so grateful that Katie agreed to share some of her stories with us and I know y’all will find so much value in what she has to share!

Hi, Katie! Tell us how you got started in jewelry and what prompted you to start your own business.

I’ve always been creative. Ever since I was really little I knew that my purpose was to create and put art into the world to make people happy. In high school I focused on ceramics, in college I focused on sculpture and then I actually ended up leaving college after my first year because I did not feel fulfilled creatively. I was 18 when I moved to LA and I had a ton of different jobs there. I worked as a production assistant on set, I cleaned houses, I nannied, I cooked weekly meals for families, and then I worked for a stylist that was styling celebs for red carpets and commercials.

I think it’s important that people know I had a long journey before I started my jewelry line BUT with that said everything I did prior to starting my line helped me as a jewelry designer! It’s crazy how that works out. Everything I did and everyone I worked for ended up helping me grow my jewelry business. So, to come back around to the question, I started making jewelry when I was working as a styling assistant. A few years into styling I knew that it wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

At that point, I asked myself what made me happiest and most excited, and that was creating art that was useful. From there, I took some jewelry pieces that I already owned but was not wearing and took them apart. I used all the different pieces to make a different piece. What really prompted me to start a business out of jewelry making was that after making some more pieces and wearing them around, friends and people I barely knew asked if they could buy them and I literally sold them right off of my body! That’s when the light bulb went off and I knew I could create a business out of making jewelry.

What is the most sentimental piece of jewelry you own?

I have a gold Herringbone collar length necklace from my Grandma Julie that she gave to me before she passed away. I wear it a lot and it always makes me feel good like she is with me and cheering me on in life.

This Brand Brief series focuses on women-owned businesses. Can you speak to your experience as a female business owner and any advice you have for those looking to start their own business?

Totally! The most important thing when starting your own business is writing out your purpose. This may sound too simple but I’m telling you, it is so much more important than you realize. When you’re in business you are constantly handling problems, it’s not a bad thing, it’s just part of the game, but sometimes it can make you want to quit. If you have your purpose written out, you can go back to that whenever you feel like you are lost or defeated and it will reignite that spark of why you started and help you carry on.

Did building your business go to plan? What were some things that were easier than you thought they would be and some things more challenging than you expected?

Haha, yes and no! This is a great question because when I look at little segments of time in my business my answer is NO WAY. Things don’t often go to plan. But then when I take a broader look at my journey, as in looking at it overall I would say YES! I’ve actually accomplished almost all of my long-term goals that I initially had when I first started. This brings up another really important point for anyone in business or about to start their own business. You have to be persistent.

When you set goals, you should set long-term goals and then break them down into little goals that you can accomplish so that it’s not overwhelming. Often you may feel like nothing is going right but if you just keep going and get creative with pushing past barriers you will find that before you know it you have accomplished some big goals. You have to keep a broad viewpoint and keep your eye on the mountain top and not on all the little barriers that pop up along the way. Otherwise, you may feel defeated and give up.

Something easier than I thought it would be is managing my website. In the beginning, I thought I needed to pay a programmer for everything related to my website but with Shopify, it is SO easy to manage my website and it has literally saved me thousands and thousands of dollars which I’ve been able to invest in product and marketing.

Something more challenging than expected is predicting inventory. It’s gotten easier over the years to predict what will be a best seller or how much we will sell during peak holiday seasons, but I still find this to be one of the biggest mysteries! It’s an important thing too because if you produce too much of one style and you don’t sell through you’ve potentially wasted a lot of cash on something you may not make a profit from. On the other side, if you are too conservative with your production and you don’t make enough product and you sell out, you then are leaving money on the table because you don’t have enough product to keep up with the demand. Experience is a huge part of being in control of this part of the business. I often have to take a deep breath and remind myself to be patient otherwise I can get frustrated with myself.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Great question. I honestly find inspiration everywhere! I love seeing what other people are wearing, but I also enjoy watching movies from the 80s and 90s and observing what jewelry they were wearing then. I also get inspired by architecture, especially European architecture. When my husband and I were in Europe for our wedding and honeymoon I was so in love with the huge arched doorways that seemed to be all over Paris and the detailing of the hotels in Positano, Italy. This actually was the inspiration behind my Beaded Collection and inspired the detailing on the latest Heart Collection.

How has your role at the company changed since you first began Katie Dean Jewelry?

When I first began I actually did not feel confident in handling various parts of the business and I too often put my trust into people or services that I knew nothing about. That was a dangerous place to be in because when something went wrong in an area that I wasn’t involved in I felt helpless.

You get a glimpse of Katie Dean Jewelry 5 years in the future - what did you see?

I see Katie Dean Jewelry being sold on a lot of major retailers’ websites and being carried in many more brick-and-mortar stores. We are excelling on our wholesale side of the business which has been an incredible area of growth for us. It is a possibility that we could have our own flagship brick-and-mortar shop too! I never entertained this idea until last year when everyone was stuck indoors and it became clear to me that while online shopping will only get bigger, there is a very special connection that happens when you shop in person.

I can envision a very cool Katie Dean Jewelry store opening with a coffee shop right next door or inside our boutique and maybe we could even have a floral element to the shop. I think of my last trip to London when I think of a future KDJ store. They have these incredible floral installations that flank their entrances creating the most beautiful moments! If you can’t tell I’m a huge coffee and flower lover!

Where can everyone find you? Share your website, Instagram, anything!

Thanks for asking! I would love to have everyone find us on our website and subscribe to our email newsletter: www.katiedeanjewelry.com

Then you can find us on the following social channels:

• Instagram @katiedeanjewelry

• TikTok @katiedeanjewelry

• Pinterest @kdeanjewelry

Thank you so much, Katie, for being a part of The Brand Brief! My goal is to share women-owned businesses that we can all support and potentially inspire other women to start or keep going with the ideas and businesses they love! Thanks so much for reading!

I’m so excited to share that we are building a home in Nashville! If y’all have followed us in the last few years you have known that our path after college was a bit different than others. If you’re new here, I’ll fill you in briefly.

Kollin and I met in middle school and dated off and on through high school. We got back together in college and dated long distance for 3 years while Kollin was in Colorado and I was in Kentucky. After college, we moved to Chicago for Kollin to attend law school, got married in 2019, and lived in Chicago for 5 years. We then decided during the Pandemic that we wanted to prioritize our ideal living situation in 2021 (you can read about that here - part two here) and made the choice to move to Nashville with the intention to buy a home. *Crazy housing market enters the chat*

With the market the way it was and wanting to make sure Nashville was our forever home, we decided to get an apartment. Fast forward another year and we still couldn’t compete with out-of-state, all-cash buyers and the stress that comes with a competitive market. That market had driven new build home prices way up and we couldn’t afford that route anymore - especially in an already escalated price point that is Nashville. We felt a bit stuck but remained faithful that the right time would come. We re-signed our lease and chose to just go with whatever was to come, which was very hard for me if I’m being honest. I’ve always been the type that needs a plan, that works through the details and understands all the options.

When that plan and how I thought our lives would look these last few years didn’t match reality, I felt pretty defeated. When would we be settled? I’d see friends and family buy homes, have kids, upgrade their kitchen, buy fixer-uppers and keep moving forward. I felt jealous, behind, and not good enough. When was it our turn? After some much-needed pep talks and validation from friends and family, I made the decision that 2022 was going to be the year of letting go. Keeping our faith in God’s plan and the patience we’d built over the last 2.5 years.

We canceled our travel plans for the month of January after a tough holiday season and focused on resetting our intentions and goals for the New Year. With some downtime and the understanding that our lease was up in June, I took another look at the market around Nashville and saw some promising homes listed for sale. We decided to start the search again. On a Thursday I shared a builder with Kollin I had seen a couple of times and we decided to book a meeting to see the development and area of town. We toured on Saturday, went back Sunday, and started the process of buying that following week. To say it went quickly would be an understatement! As first-time buyers, the learning curve was steep. With the help of family and many Google searches, we are under contract and our lot is currently being graded by the developer! We have a long way to go but are hoping to be move-in sometime in July or August.

All this to say, I know your path might be different or feel ‘behind’ compared to others. You might ask yourself when your turn is or why your path isn’t going the way you intended. But, like many things I’ve learned about life - it’ll happen when you’re not expecting it and might be faster than you planned. Your time is coming and you just have to keep going.

I can’t wait to share this process with y’all if you’re interested and am so excited to be creating our home in Nashville! Thank you so much for reading!