Rustic Magnolia

It’s my favorite day again where we get to meet another amazing entrepreneur and find out a little more about them and their business so let’s get started

1. Welcome to this weeks edition of Savvy please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business?

L: Thank you for having me, my name is Lacey and I’m the owner,designer and highly inappropriate boss lady behind Lines by Lacey. I pull inspiration from my own married with child life to bring you snarky, sarcastic, real life signs that bring out a snicker, a chuckle and maybe even a nod of agreement to a relatable life situation.

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2. Is this something you’ve always been interested in? Or if not, how did it come about?

L: It all started 6.5 years ago when I was planning my daughter’s 3rd birthday party. Frozen was the theme to have but there were no decorations to be found anywhere. I ended up making everything from cut out characters to a large cardboard ice castle. It was pretty epic!! When all was said and done, I didnt want to toss out the decorations so I decided to post them on a local FB Auction page to see if I could get $25 for the whole lot. Well holy crap !! It blew up! Bidding went like crazy and the messages came pouring in about making other sets etc. This is where Lines by Lacey started. It went from hand drawn cardboard character cutouts to handpainted wooden cutouts to woodworking to lovey dovey signs to finally doing what feeds my soul- Snarky, sarcastic, real life humor signs.

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3. What does being a small business owner mean to you?

L: What does being a small business owner mean to me? Hustle until your haters ask if you’re hiring LMAO!! Though that being true one of the best quotes I keep with me always is “The only way to do great work is to love what you do” – Steve Jobs . I don’t want to waste my life away working on someone else’s dream. The goal will always be to work on mine.

4. If there’s one thing you’d like your customers to know about you, what would it be?

L: There is no smoke and mirrors here- Whatcha see is what you get. The sarcasm and humor come from a place of honesty and truth. So much of what I put out into the world is a representation of my own life.

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5. I’ve followed you for a long time and I always smile or laugh when seeing your posts, stories and memes, how do you manage to stay positive and what advice would you give someone struggling right now?

L: Be honest with how you are feeling. I can’t possibly stay positive all the time nor do I want to. I think that is an unrealistic expectation for anyone to have. I want to stay motivated and challenged. That’s what I would tell people to strive for.

6. What is the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given regarding business?

L: “Stay in your Lane” – A fellow maker. Talk about horrible advice. If you can’t take risks or think outside of the box, you will always be cookie cutter.

7. What words of advice would you have for someone wanting to start from the ground up with an idea and a prayer? Lol

L: Life of an entrepreneur is no easy task and not for the faint of heart. You must be willing to ride out the highs and lows of not just the selling seasons but of your own emotional rollercoaster. Be kind to your ideas and give them time to grow and evolve, but also be your own worst critic and expect nothing but the best.

8. Your always up for a wicked collab, so what requirements or things do you look for from somebody looking to collaborate with you?

L: I don’t do fake!! A collaboration needs to be where both (or all parties involved) share similar interests, views or opinions.

9. What is the funniest or oddest thing you’ve ever been asked to place on wood?

L: I feel like there’s a joke in there somewhere lol. I’ve done many odd and unique custom pieces before, but I always find it weird when I’m given letters from an acronym and not told what they mean. I know it’s none of my business, but it always makes my imagination work in overdrive. Are these clues to a murder mystery or treasure? I can only hope that it’s that cool and not something lame lol.

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

L: That’s always a hard question, I know that I don’t want to become stagnant or irrelevant with my business. I’ve evolved so much in the last 5 years, it’s hard to say where the next 5 will lead.

11. In closing, is there anything else you would like to add?

L: I’m incredibly grateful and humbled by every purchase, comment, like and share from stores to social media platforms. Thank you to all those that have supported me new and old.

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Thank you Lacey for being here today, sharing your business, making me laugh and putting light heartedness into everything you do. As I told you before I definitely think we are related somehow lol. Finding humor in all things even when tough is the best medicine. To check out Lacey and her work go to instagram @linesbylacey or head on over to http://www.linesbylacey.com and you can find a list of great retailers that carry her work as well. Thank you again this is truly becoming my favorite day of the week.

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Love a very amused Magnolia xx

Today I’m just taking a moment to say Merry Christmas to all of you. This year has been maddening, frustrating, saddening but also inspiring,enlightening and a definite shift in perspective for me. I became a grandmother, I hiked up a mountain which if you would have asked me if I thought that was possible for me this year i would’ve laughed. I put those dreams I had put on hold back on the burner, my family grew closer and stronger. My point being I want to reflect on this year and choose to see my good and the positive. I started this blog and yes I’m still working out the kinks but I’ll get there and none of this is possible without your support and the support of my family. So as we celebrate this holiday season in unexpected ways please see your good and your positive. I’m thankful for each of you and all the support I have received this year. From my family to yours I wish you the merriest of christmases xxx

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Love a grateful and thankful Magnolia xx

So this week I’m joined by Jodie who is the owner/designer at Crookedtreestudio where beautiful art pieces are created with scrap pieces of wood. I hope you are as excited about this as I was. Let’s get started.

Hey Jodie, first let me say thank you for your interest in being a part of Savvy Business Saturday. Can u tell us a bit about yourself and your business?

J: Well my name is Jodie, I am a wife to my best friend Lynton who works with me to run this business when he isnt doing his full time job as a firefighter and I am a mom to 2 grown kids as well!(Landon, 22 and Arika, 20) I am a dreamer and a bit of an “ideas person”. I love good music, good food and finding joy in ordinary things. I have always loved hunting for treasures at garage sales and thrift stores. Bringing life back into things that would otherwise be thrown away gives me joy and I found a way to do this with salvaged wood. By creating art, which is what my business Crooked Tree Studio is mostly about I’m giving new life to old wood that would have headed to a burn pile otherwise.

2. How did Crooked Tree Studio get started? Was it always an interest of yours?

J: Thinking about how Crooked Tree Studio started is hard for me to explain when people ask because I never really planned on running a business or making wood art. I have never really been a planner, I really like to take things a day at a time so it all evolved naturally. I believe I was created to make things the way some people are created to write books or be teachers. Looking back on things I can see more clearly how things went, much easier then seeing forward. So instead of telling you what I planned, I will tell you what ended up happening.                 For as long as I can remember I have loved the thrill of the hunt heading off to garage sales and finding treasures at thrift stores. When I was young I constantly found ways to rearrange my bedroom or make things for whatever space I found myself in whether it was pillows for my bedroom or bunting for my college dorm room I had to be creative. Thinking back to those pillows I made in grade 9 that spelled my name in black and white music note fabric, to the peach and mint water color wallpaper I picked out for my bedroom, I cringe a bit at some of my choices. But I also believe it was all part of the process of realizing what I was designed to do which is create things. I got married when I was 19 to Lynton who was 21, it may seem young but we’ve never really been concerned with societal norms. We didn’t have much money or a life plan for that matter but we made it work by filling our little basement apartment with treasures I found at thrift stores and garage sales. I remember painting a little thrift store wooden couch I had found for 20 bucks a terracotta color and our walls all sage green which oddly enough I’d pick those colors again even all these years later. We had two kids whom we chose to homeschool (best years ever) Homeschooling may not be for everyone but it worked for us. Quick disclaimer and side note my Dad was a public school teacher so before anyone thinks I’m against all other education forms I’m not. Every family is different do what’s best for you and your family. I commend teachers for all their hard work.Anyhow when my kids were grown which happens way to quickly if you ask me, they dont need you as much anymore I found I had all this time on my hands. I continued on thrifting and upcycling things only now had become a “business” as several people has asked me to make furniture or decor for their home. The big turn of events happened when I was making flower boxes for a spring market out of salvaged wood and I had all these pretty scraps of wood needing to be picked up. I set them on the work table and thought to myself these would make really cool abstract art with. I made 2 pieces that day and took them to a market out of curiosity, they sold right away with requests to make more. Six years later I’m still here making art from scraps of wood

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3. What does being a small business owner mean to you?

J: Being a small business owner means that my business can grow and change with our lives as needed. My husband is first responder, a fire fighter with the City of Calgary and works shift work. Having my business allows me to set my schedule to accommodate his and allows us time together to decompress after a hard shift. He is a journeyman carpenter and has taught me a lot of things along the way. I truly enjoy the time we spend working together in the shop. This has been a truly great gift for our family.

4. I know you created a line of pieces dedicated to your dog Marbles which were absolutely stunning by the way, but do all your pieces hold meaning to you? What inspires your art and fuels your heart the most?

J: Yes I did create a wood art series called “Memories of Marbles” when my best bud passed away this fall. It was very cathartic and a great way for me to think about how animals impact our lives. It is one of my most favorite collections ever made. Every piece I create I find joy in and a lot of thought goes into each and every piece as I try to puzzle everything together. The outdoors, the colors in nature and obviously the mountains inspire me. I find I am always observing shapes and color in nature and then thinking of ways to translate that into art. I also like to take an idea for example fireworks ( which is a series I am currently building) and make pieces with that thought in mind. Spoiler alert*** I will be releasing that series January 1st, 2021.

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5. What is something you know now that you wish to have known when starting out?

J: Lol that I wasn’t created to be a bookkeeper and i should’ve found a good one sooner.

6. What is the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given regarding business?

J: I don’t know if I have been given bad advice because I love when people share ideas with me but I have heard a lot of people mention to me about five year plans and a lot of business talk that goes over my head. I think it works for a lot of people but I dont think any of that would have worked for me. I see a business plan as stifling creativity and becoming more about a monetary goal than a way of life. I want my business to be my way of life with money being secondary. I also dont know what tomorrow brings let alone five years from now and so far it has worked out for me in my life to surrender my moments and each day to a Creater larger then myself. My business planning is one day at a time. I do believe we were all wired a bit different so that might not make sense to a lot of people, that’s ok. I can appreciate most want to see the whole picture even if they end up having to adjust it along the way.

7. This year has been tough to put it mildly, what do you do to stay positive and do you have any advice for those struggling right now?

J: This year has been a wild ride for sure. And honestly I have had days this year I haven’t wanted to get out of bed but I believe the key to getting up and moving forward on any hard day is thankfulness. In that little moment even if it is for a second when you are being thankful it is impossible to be depressed. So moment by moment looking through a lens of gratefulness instead of focusing on what to be unthankful for has helped me move from a place of dread and depression to hope. Another thing I personally did was remove my personal account from facebook, I needed that break from the fake news and negativity and bad vibes this year has brought for my own mental well being and I can honestly say it has been a relief and freeing. It all is a bit overwhelming and i would rather focus on the things that don’t change like beautiful sunrises, sunsets, the fact the river is still flowing, squirrels are still chirping in the trees, morning coffee is always there etc etc etc. There is always, always something to be thankful for and we get to choose what we focus on.

8. Would u be interested in doing a collaboration?

J: I am a yes girl…. so most often,in the past my answer to collaborations has been yes. But another thing I am learning about collaborations is to consider the motivation behind it. Is it for monetary gain, is it to help someone else grow their business, is it solely for creativity and working with another creative?? Once I figure out all those things then I can be more mindful which ones I choose to do and which I say no to. It also depends what else I have going on and if it would interfere with my families needs at that time.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

J: I have no idea lol hopefully where I am now and enjoying the process of dreaming and creating. I have a whole bunch of dreams and creative ideas, I am excited to see which ones unfold and which doors close as we go. Some of these include: Fixing up an RV we recently purchased for eachother for our 25th wedding anniversary (excited for this process together) Opening an air B&B somewhere ( maybe even our own home) Buying land and building a little cabin on it ( we have built a few homes over the years as that is what Lynton did before firefighting) and we would like to do it again. Continuing to work away at Crooked Tree Studio and maybe even bring on other woodworkers into the process if that happens happens and the right people and place to do so comes along.

10. If there is one thing you would like your customers to know about you what would it be?

J: I would want my customers to know how thankful I am for them, for their nice words when they write to me and tell me ” it is even nicer in person then in the photo” and for enjoying what I make for them. I hope that when they look at our art piece it brings them joy in their day and when they do find themselves at a place where they are having the worst day they would be able to look at their life and know that there were more joyful things than that one bad day, and that my wood art might even be a little speck of that joy. as well.

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11. In closing, is there anything you’d like to add?

J: Thank you Sarah for taking the time to ask me these questions and to show interest in me and what I am doing with my time here.

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Well that’s a wrap on this weeks Savvy Business Saturday and I just gotta say Jodie I’m 100 percent loving the dreams you have so if you need help I’m there lol. This girl can wield a hammer,cut some wood have a dance party to keep the mojo going whatever you need. This interview has given me enlightenment, inspiration and helped reaffirm dreams I have put on the back burner for too long so thank you Jodie. If anyone wants to check out wait let me rephrase needs to check out her work please go too Instagram @crookedtreestudio or her website at http://www.crookedtreestudio.ca

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Love, a very joyful and enlightened Magnolia xx

This edition of Savvy Business Saturday we will be featuring Bubblee Events. I had the pleasure of meeting Baylee after she had planned and executed an amazing baby shower for my daughter Jaycee. We had gotten to talking and she needed volunteer hours for her public relations coarse and marketing at Mount Royal University. I have received so many compliments on my ads, graphics and stories on Instagram that I can proudly say Baylee has been behind my facelift on all my social media platforms. So this week we will get to know Baylee, her new business venture and I can shamelessly plug her talent. Lol

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Diving right in thank you for joining us today Baylee, can you tell me more about Bubblee Events and what services you’ll be offering?

B: At Bubblee Events, our goal is to make you shine like a star. We create flattering,contemporary events for our guests, specializing in versatile styles. Whether you want fashion forward, timeless, or just for a special occasion, Bubblee events is here to help. We believe everyone deserves a special event, so we are happy to cater to any budget and lifestyle. This is why we offer a full service experience from start to finish. Bubblee events is not here to gauge your pockets, we strive to give an amazing experience at a reasonable price. We offer the following services: Anniversaries Birthdays Engagement Parties Wedding Showers Baby Showers Divorce Parties Graduations Holiday Parties Fundraisers Promotional Parties Cocktail Parties Housewarmings Other

2. Why Event planning? Is it something you’ve always been passionate about?

B: Event planning has always been a passion of mine and is intertwined with the current programs I am taking In University. I had planned quite a few events in my lifetime and every person was very pleased with the beauty and success of them, so I thought why not start a business. The turning point in my life that actually made me start my business was Sarah’s daughter’s baby shower; I received such meaningful feedback that I said why not.

3. As a fairly new business owner, what are you looking forward to most?

B: As a new business owner, I have to say I am most looking forward to Covid-19 to be over. It has really put a damper on the success of my business since people are currently not allowed to have guests over. The changing restrictions also make things extremely hard, but it encourages me to be innovative. I am beyond excited for the future of Bubblee Events and what is in store.

4. If there’s one thing you’d like future clients to know about you, what would it be?

B: It is so hard to just pick one thing but I would like future clients to know that I am here to make your life easier. I personally offer more services then just event planning through Bubblee events, I am a third year student at Mount Royal University for Public Relations and Marketing. That allows me to be versatile in the services and work I provide. You have an idea and need to bounce it off of someone or need assistance in a certain area, I am your girl. If I dont know the answer chances are I know someone who can assist you further.

5. Now 2020 has been quite a struggle for most small business owners, what motivated you to want to open up and launch this year?

B: After the 2 Baby showers Bubblee Events hosted this year, I could not wait to start my business. I thought the Covid-19 situation would be cleared up by now, so I just dove right in with pure excitement for my future. I do wish that I had taken more time to develop things a bit farther and waited till this Covid situation was better. It is hard to have such passion and not be able to express that in my work.

6. When planning your events, do you have go to people or an aesthetic that inspires you most?

B: When planning events, it is mainly just me. I do reach out to those closest to me for thoughts and ideas to ensure I provide my clients with the best possible event. These people are my life line, cheerleaders and biggest motivators, I wouldn’t be where I am without them. As for aesthetics,I am really inspired by colors more then themes honestly. For me that is my starting point because it gives me an idea of what will come next. The colors and shades I work with most would be gold, silver, black, white, red ,pink,blue and purple. Once I have a color picked out the rest comes naturally and I can imagine exactly how I want the event to look.

7. What 5 tips do you have when planning any event?

B: Five tips I have for planning any event would be as follows: -Start with the type of party (ex birthday) -Set your budget and always have wiggle room,you just never know if something is going to happen or change at the last minute and you dont want to be gauging you pockets trying to make up the extra cash. -Pick a color, I find this helps when determining the decorations, cake, invitations etc.Then pick a theme( ex Avengers, Great Gatsby) keep in mind that your color can also be your theme. -Always be flexible,you never know if plans are going to change, if someone is going to bail last minute,etc. Also be transparent, if you know you can’t make something work that’s okay just be honest about it with your group or yourself. – Finally, enjoy that dang party! When you’re hosting a party it is so hard to remember to actually enjoy it, but please do. You deserve to have a good time too.

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8. When looking for an event planner because let’s face it sometimes we really need the help, what should clients look for or ask about first?

B: All event planners specialize in specific events, so browse through your options before picking one. Be sure to look at their social media and website to see if past events they’ve planned align with the one you’re wanting to host. Also don’t be afraid to ask us questions to get to know us and our business, we are here to help you and sometimes it is easier to get to know someone a bit before handing over your trust and money. We love to get to know our clients so we can provide you with the best results and experience. When approaching an event planner about a party, provide the first 3 out of 5 points listed above so we can get a better sense of what you’re looking for right off the bat. Keep in mind, most service fees are based around how much work actually goes into the event, so most event planners will not have a set fee but asking for an estimate is always a good idea.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you hope to accomplish?

Where do I even begin with this question. In the next five years, I hope to be happy and healthy. My goals are to finish university with a degree and minor and complete a few more certification courses. I am hoping that Bubblee Events will be thriving and I can hire a few employees to help take care of it. Finally, I hope to be successful in my career and have opportunities to expand my knowledge and passions.

10. Before we finish what is 1 good piece of advice and 1 bad piece of advice that you’ve been given?

B: One good piece of advice I have received would be to keep pushing through no matter how hard life can be. Life is filled with highs and lows, and let me tell you those highs are really high and the lows are really low but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Never give up on your dreams no matter how unrealistic they seem to other people because you could be the next Elon Musk or Beyonce. None of the advice I have received has been bad but one not so helpful piece of advice would be to start a business during a pandemic. To all the potential new business owners out there, I know how exciting it can be but really develop your business before launching. It doesnt sound very fun, but I promise the wait will be so worth it.

Thank you for joining me this week Baylee, I look forward to working with you more in the future. I will have all of Baylee’s details below should anyone need an event planner, social media guru and so one. I’ve loved working with you and really enjoyed giving you this spotlight today.

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Love a very excited Magnolia x

In this weeks edition of Servin Up Sunday I made a recipe from a cookbook I had picked up on sale called Everyday Keto!!

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I had gone on a pretty strict diet when first starting on my weightloss journey and I mean strict !! Pretty sure my dog ate better as I was detoxing lol. So after the 6 weeks I was feeling refreshed ( although it’ll be a long time before I touch another lemon). I wanted to remain on a healthier path with my eating so when I came across this book in Chapters I perused through it and was really impressed how good and easy everything looked to make. Did I mention it was on sale? I nabbed it and the first recipe I picked to make was the Thai Grilled Beef Salad. Let’s get started.

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Ingredients: 3 Tablespoons Thai Seasoning, divided 1 beef flank steak (about 1 pound) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 2 red thai peppers or 1 red jalapeno peppers,seeded and sliced into thin slivers 1 tablespoon finely chopped lemongrass 1 tablespoon minced red onion 1 clove garlic,minced Juice of 1 lime 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 large carrot, grated 1 cucumber, chopped 4 cups assorted salad greens

Instructions: 1. Prepare grill for direct grilling ( I fried it, too bloody cold outside) 2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Thai seasoning over beef; turn to coat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Place steak on grid over medium heat. Grill, uncovered, 17 to 21 minutes for medium rare to medium or until desired doneness, turning once. Cool 10 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, combine remaining 2 tablespoons Thai seasoning, cilantro, basil, Chile peppers, lemongrass, onion, garlic, lime juice and fish sauce in medium bowl; mix well 4. Thinly slice beef across grain. Add beef, carrot and cucumber to dressing; toss to coat. Arrange on a bed of greens.

*** So full disclosure I couldn’t find lemongrass anywhere so that was not in my dish, I didnt find it lacking either. Second thing to note I didnt used flank steak I got a package of thin fast fry steaks and sliced those. Other then that this dish was absolutely yummy. Oh and I made a little rice for my kids just in case the salad didnt quite fill them up.

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I hope you give this recipe a try and if u add or take away make it your own please send me the suggestions. Till next sunday ..

Love, a now hungry Magnolia xx

Welcome welcome it’s time for another edition of Savvy Business Saturday and in today’s edition we will meet and get to know another amazing lady who is the owner and creative force of @three.wild. I’m a huge fan and let’s get started.

Thank you thank you for taking part in this edition of Savvy Business we will kick this edition off by asking the fundamental question what is your business name and tell me a little about it?

#1 Hey thank you for having me. My name is Tiana and I am the maker behind Three Wild. Basically what I do is create wood art, also known as wood mosaic’s. From coming up with a design and puzzling pieces of wood together right through to the final piece of art.

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Is this something you have always wanted to do or if not how did it come about?

Tiana: Is this something I’ve always wanted to … yes and no. It had been on my mind for the past couple of years to make some and sell them but not to the extent of what it’s turning into. I was thinking more along the lines of markets not custom online sales. It’s a huge honor to have people appreciate my work so much that they are willing to pay and have a piece made for their home.

What does being a small business owner mean to you?

Tiana: Venturing into the world of home business is scary in the sense that I need to put that belief in myself, yet at that same time having the security knowing I can bring an income in from working at home is a blessing. I’ve been a single parent of 3 girls for 2 years now, so being able to do something I love AND pay the Bill’s has been such a help.

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If there’s one thing you’d like your customers to know about you and your business what would it be?

Tiana: How thankful I am. It means a lot and goes a long way when someone places an order. Creatively it means people appreciate my work, which gives me such a boost and motivates me to keep going with my designs. Again bringing it back to my everyday life, it means that when things go wrong (Covid) and the world shuts down and I have 3 kids at home doing school work I have this amazing job that I love, where I can still work and take care of my girls.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced this year?

Tiana: I would say the biggest challenge for me over the last year is self-worth. I know a lot of people have struggled with Covid and being thrown into isolation, but when everything shut down it was almost perfect timing for me. It gave me time to be with my girls, refocus and a knowledge how things can change so quickly. I cant control the circumstances around me but I can see myself with value and what I offer has meaning. In doing that my self belief,the goal to work from home, circumstances helping that decision the dream of Three Wild became reality.

With 2020 being so challenging and uncertain how do you or how have you been able to keep positive?

Well personally I cant say 2020 was completely terrible. The difficult for me was more on a personal level. I would like to say though, difficult life decisions can be hard but good can be found in them and things to be thankful about. I realize looking back and picking them out is far easier to see then when you are in the middle of that struggle. There’s a verse from the bible that says “Be thankful in all things” . If we could retrain our brains to go through a list of things to be thankful for everytime we are at a low then I think we could avoid so much negativity and the downward spirals we can get caught up in. Even with the things I’ve faced this year I know I have a lot to be thankful for. Memories and discoveries I wouldnt have had otherwise. Not the year I thought I was going to have but one I choose to be thankful for.

What advice do u have for fellow business owners going through ups and down this year?

Tiana: Since I’m just getting started I can’t offer much advice right now. But I will offer some I received from a close friend when I struggled with doubts in myself and my business. She said “there is enough people in this world to enjoy and appreciate everyone’s talents and art”. I will probably always have this fear people won’t like my work, but there will always be people who will. There is more then enough room for everyone in the creative world.

Where do u see yourself in 5 years from now?

Tiana: In 5 years, I just want to be happy , I want my girl’s to be happy. I’ve learnt that I have no idea what’s going to happen and I’m ok with that. Ultimately I want to be confident that I’m right where I’m supposed to be with no “what if’s” and peace. A place where I can go fishing regularly would help too lol.

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What inspires your when creating each piece? Do u have a plan in mind when starting or do you let the piece decide as you go?

Tiana: What inspires me when I make each piece? I usually try to get some insight from the customer to begin with. Sometimes they want something they’ve seen in another piece and sometimes I get the creative freedom to do whatever I want with a color scheme in mind. I always try to put my own spin on each one because I want it to be unique to each customer.

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Do your pieces hold any special meaning to you?

Tiana: I think each piece offers something different. A learning experience, what not to do next time or how to do it differently next time. A relationship with a customer. A challenge to do a little more and push me creatively. So far, they have all had meaning because each piece has taught me something new.

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That brings us to the end of today’s edition. I loved every minute of this interview and from the bottom of my heart am thrilled with all the things I’ve learned so far talking to these amazing women about their passions and businesses. I can honestly say second to my own passion, Savvy Business Saturday has quickly become one of my favorite things to do. Thank you Tiana for sharing your love and passion for your work and giving us a glimpse into your life. Everyone please head over to instagram and show this girl some love @three.wild is her handle. Till next time

Love a Very Thankful Magnolia xx

Hello again my lovely readers this friday edition I’m afraid is going to be very very short and sweet. I had a whole thing planned but unfortunately I had a medical appt and procedure yesterday and I just needed to come home recoup and rest. Thank u for understanding and I’ll be back next friday refreshed and with new content xx

Love a Very sore but grateful Magnolia x

Welcome back, last week I shared my experience getting my eyebrows microbladed for the first time and this week I’m gonna share my top favorite products to use for my hair, my face, my body and some of my favorite makeup as well. Here we go:

Hair: My hair has been a nightmare for years. I have tried everything from store bought to salon recommended and it would work for awhile then I’d be back to dry, frizzy unmanageable you get my point. Then by chance I stumbled across an instagram account of a woman who literally radiated sunshine and happiness and enthusiasm about life. Our friendship was instant and she convinced me to try these hair products. And as they say the rest is history…. I tried a few samples and never looked back. Since using these products my hair has never felt better,looked healthier or received as many compliments as it has using Monat products.

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Now moving on to my face, I have a rosatia type rash on my face which makes finding good products hard to find. Never had much acne growing up so I found it hard when diagnosed with lupus that I had at 34 years old skin that looked like I just hit puberty ugh. So I have top 2 that are my go to. They dont burn my face,it feels fresh ,clean and I feel pretty even without makeup

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Hair and face covered how about an all over good feel for body? My go to again a fluke stumbled upon an instagram tried it loved it and I’ll keep using it. It’s called Frank’s Body and its another all natural product made from coffee, yes coffee which we all know is another favorite of mine. They also offer face and haircare which I havent personally tried so I won’t tell u what i dont know. I will however say the body scrubs are AMAZING my skin is smoother,healthier looking, it helps with cellulite and stretch marks. Full disclaimer its messy lol but well worth it.

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I was planning on sharing my makeup favorites as well but I think that’ll take a whole post with maybe some before and afters. So I’ll leave u with these and I’ll post links where u can find all of these great products should u decide to give them a whirl.

Www.6928128.mymonat.com for both the haircare and skincare. If u need help finding out which products work best for u shoot me a message x

Www.sephora.ca for drunk elephant products

Www.franksbody.com (self-explanatory)

Please dont hesitate to ask me questions or tell me about any products you’ve used or tried that you recommend. I will always try something once even when I’ve already found ones that work. It gives me a more well rounded opinion when giving reviews and making suggestions. Till next time

Love Healthy Glow Magnolia xx

Its 11:41 pm on monday the day is winding down …. sort of and my good intentions of this fantastic post for my first mommy monday totally shit the bed. This is how my monday went and I had this to do list prepared

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I mean I was already fighting with my laptop to get sundays post up until I figured out that posting from my phone is not only easier and user friendly its quicker too but I’m getting off point. Back to my good intentions and to do list. I woke up sure I could tackle these tasks and make today my bitch and then reality, that pesky cow decided to kick me in the ass. I forgot to call the doctor’s office, that’s my first no no then I mailed off fabric. Ooooo a checkmark came home realized I had literally looked like a homeless person as I mailed things off so I decided to wash my hair. My shampoo has a mild mint scent to it and I have to say it is so delightful when u get said mint shampoo in your eyes. I got water everywhere trying to find my towel and when I could finally get the lovely sensation going on in my eyeballs fixed I then realized I couldn’t find my tablet for my zoom meeting. You see where this going right I’m cussing to then realize my youngest child is in class online in the next room. I’m sorry kids ….. oops and I’m a grown ass woman having a full blown meltdown . Out of 7 things and I only put 7 on my list I got 2 done I mailed some stuff and i finally albeit 2 hours later got my zoom meeting where I laughed and I cried and filled my empty cup right back up. Here’s the moral of this story, yes my day started out wrong, yes I didn’t accomplish what I had set out to do but that’s ok. I’m learning that the best intentions sometimes just don’t work out and sometimes after that struggle you talk to your person or your people and just accept it. It is perfectly ok to not be superwoman all the time, it is perfectly ok to act like the exorcist with a full 360 head twist when you just need a dang minute, at the end of the day we are human and flawed and complex and there’s always tomorrow. I needed my cup refilled today and tomorrow will be better. I’ll tackle the to do list, I’ll get this social media stuff down eventually and I’ll be grateful and content in what happens either way. Till next time

Love my cup runneth over Magnolia xx

The recipe I’m gonna share today is technically considered a side dish but I’m all for tweaking recipes to make it a little more conducive to having a family so before we start I should say this is a side dish but I will share some things I’ve tried that turns this into a one pan casserole real quick and tastes just as good. I initially found this recipe on allrecipes.com when I was looking at changing up a side for a holiday dinner and it’s now a staple on my menu and also a favorite of everyone in my house.

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It’s called Broccolli Cauliflower Casserole, the prep time is quick,cooking time is a little longer how I cook it but it’s preference right.

Ingredients: 2 cups of broccolli, 2 cups of Cauliflour, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1 cup of shredded cheese,divided , 1/2 cup butter melted, 1 15ounce package of seasoned croutons crushed.

*** when I cook this recipe I double everything only because it’s a favorite and I know it’ll get eaten. I also don’t use croutons instead i opt for crunchy onions as a topper and I put it on after its cooked. To turn this into a one pan dish I have used chicken fillets and sausage, it can be added before going into the oven. For my vegetarians there are plenty of no meat options you can add in as well.

Step 1: preheat oven to 350 (I set to 425) Step 2: Put broccoli and cauliflower in separate saucepans and pour enough water into the saucepans to cover the vegetables completely, bring to a boil and cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain each and mix in a 11×7 inch baking dish

**** Again I dont preboil my veggies because I like some crunch to my broccoli and cauliflower so I use a 9×12 baking dish spray with cooking spray cut my veggies up and place in the dish

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Step 3: Beat eggs in a bowl until creamy. Mix mayonnaise, onion, and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese into the eggs; pour over the vegetables. Pour melted butter over the broccoli mixture and top with the remaining cheddar cheese. Sprinkle croutons over the entire dish Step 4 : Bake in preheated oven until brown and bubbling, about 40 minutes

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Again its preference and keep in mind if adding meat of any kind your cooking time might be longer hence why I set my oven higher then the heat listed in recipe. Tonight however I breaded chicken fillets and cooked them up to go with

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Now as you prepare this u can decide whether u need an extra carb like rice,potatoes or pasta to go along with the dish but I found this checked off all the boxes in my house and I simply serve the casserole along with our meat choice on it’s own. Try it my way or follow the recipe either way I think this will become a favorite in your house as it did in mine. My kids dont like broccoli or cauliflower any other way now. Next time I’ll talk about meal plans, saving money on groceries and finding new ways to feed a family that all have different tastes without wanting to pull your hair out

Love, a very satisfied Magnolia x