Luv-Me-Knot Boutique

My first "Mom-preneur Monday" features my sweet friend Ariane Macnevin, the creative mind behind Luv-Me-Knot Boutique.  I can vouch for Ariane's work... she is nothing short of amazing & so creative!  Her business is booming & I think I'm pretty lucky to call her a friend.  Luv-Me-Knot offers gorgeous bows & clothing... Please take some time to check her out here...  Luv-Me-Knot Botuique (website), here... Luv-Me-Knot Boutique (facebook) & her etsy/read to ship here... Luv-Me-Knot (etsy)!

She just made her NEW Christmas items available, so you better order while you can!  How cute is this?!?

You can order the Snowman Monogram Top & Bow HERE!

If you're interested in being featured please e-mail me at esther@aidangrace.com... I would love to learn more about you & your business!

{Mom-preneur Monday} Intro

Hey ya'll! 

Yesterday on my sewing break, aka, lunch I thought of a brilliant idea & want to share it with you.  First off let me say that in 2007 when I gave birth to my second child, my daughter, Emma-Grace I desperately wanted to find a way to stay home & for us as a family to still be financially stable.  My pregnacy was followed by a job change for my hubby & my "part time/ hobby" gig quickly became a necessity.  When I made my first craft supply shopping trip I had no clue that just a couple short years later I would be contacted by Southern Lady Magazine's editor.  She was impressed with my work & I was selected to be featured in the Mother's Day Edition 2010.  What an amazing opportunity!

When you start a business as a hobby & it grows quicker than you ever imagined, it's an amazing feeling knowing that every day that you go to "work" you're building your own dreams... what you do or don't do directly effects your aspirations & your family.  I was blessed to have a supportive & understanding family that backed me 100%... they still do!  My business was grown on late nights after my baby went to sleep, and I wasn't alone... that's how a lot of Mom's start their business... it's late nights, sacrifice, & asking yourself a LOT of hard questions.  Being a WAHM still comes at a cost, the benefits are great, but you have to put in the work & time.  

During my growth as Diaper Diva Boutique I realized that this business is full of all kinds of women.  I have made some true friendships; some with women that live states away, but I can pick up the phone & call to vent to or run an idea across... and I can trust them 100%  We all started somewhere... that's what this is about.  

In 2011 Diaper Diva Boutique officially grew into Aidan Grace Boutique... it hasn't been an easy change, and it's kind of like starting from scratch again.  That being said, I have slowed down & realized that a lot of female business owners reach a point where they forget where they started... their ego gets ahead of their talent & the connection with other Moms gets lost along the way.  I was a Mom who started just like every other successful "Mom-preneur" has & I want to help inspire & encourage other women who put in those late nights & long hours... all in the dreams that they will "make it" one day too.  {Mom-preneur Mondays} will be a mix of stories of how businesses started, dreams were set in motion & where they are now.  Some up & coming "new" WAHMs will be introduced & hopefully we can all connect & share.  After 3+ years in business I have a list of great, sweet women I will be introducing you to over the next few Mondays, but I would love to hear from you as well.  Maybe you're starting out, or maybe you've been around a while & want to share your story & some tips... please e-mail me at esther@aidangrace.com with the subject {Mom-preneur Monday} & look forward to hearing from you!

My first {Mom-preneur Monday} post will be this Monday, September 26th!

Sangria anyone?

Peach Sangria anyone?

OK... I am newly addicted to Pinterest & stumbled across two recipes for homemade Sangria.

This one: Peach Sangria via 'The Boston Day Book'

& this one: White Sangria Sparkler via 'Linda Wagner'

Well, I read & re-read both recipes & decided I was going to have a go at it but change it up.  Here is my recipe & I won't lie... it's YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY!

You'll need:

1 bottle of white wine

1 cup *not pictured* peach (or flavor of your choice) schnapps

1 lemonade concentrate

1 liter of club soda *chilled

&

fresh fruit of your choice

*I used a white peach, regular peach, strawberries, kiwi & grapes

I used a gallon plastic pitcher to store mine in over night & a fancier glass pitcher for serving at the party the next day.

Wash & cut your fruit & add to your storage pitcher, then add your bottle of white wine, cup of schnapps, & lemonade concentrate.  Stir.  Then pop your lid on & store in the fridge overnight (or at least a few hours).

I used this wine:

Partly because I think the label is cute... not that "versed" on wine, but a fan of anything cutesy.  And it turned out delicious... so I lucked out!  Come on... it's too cute!  PS, found it at HEB.

When you're ready to serve simply pour your mixture into your fancier pitcher if another is being used & then pour your club soda & stir again.

DONE.

WARNING: I do NOT drink hardly ever & two glasses made me have to sit down.  I may or may not be a wimp, but the other ladies who tried it gave it two thumbs up & said it had a kick.  In my opinion, it had a delicious fruity taste & the club soda add just enough fizz.  This would be a PERFECT summer party drink... for some reason I keep thinking Baby Shower, but that would be no fun for Mom-To-Be, although I'm sure you could use your noggin & adapt it to be a "Virgin" cocktail.

Hope you all give it a whirl while it's still HOT outside... call your girlfriends over, lay by the pool & bottoms up!