Pretty Southern

Author: Lauren

Pretty Southern Visits Mastermind Your Launch on Business Radio X

Stefanie Diaz rocks her show Mastermind Your Launch on Business Radio X.

Stefanie Diaz and yours truly @Pretty_Southern

Talk about a #GirlBoss! Stef is rocking the tech scene in North Fulton – a.k.a. the 400 corridor from Atlanta to Alpharetta. Her consulting firm Mastermind Your Launch is dedicated to helping early-stage entrepreneurs develop strategic marketing programs and communication plans. I was delighted to connect with Stefanie and join her weekly show at Business Radio X!

Y’all definitely should follow Stef on Twitter @MastermindStef

Click here to replay Mastermind Your Launch

This was one of the first opportunities I’ve had to speak publicly about my career as editor of PrettySouthern.com and the Storyteller at Terminus: Account-Based Marketing. With my 10th anniversary from graduating at UGA (yikes!) coming up in May, it was cool to share my story since graduating from the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, when I was Editor of The Red & Black.

I shared with Stef how I graduated right before the Great Recession in 2007 and worked for Naylor Publications, Jezebel magazine, AutoTrader.com, and RaceTrac convenience stores before making my “pivot” to the startup world. In the summer of 2011, I launched Pretty Southern with my husband, Kevin, who bought this domain, our WordPress theme, and he even designed our first logo.

Around the same time, the content marketing boom started happening thanks to Pardot for putting Atlanta on the map. All these startups started getting funded all of a sudden. And these companies needed help with their digital brand presence, marketing communications, PR, websites, social media, SEO (see page), etc.

I saw job openings for roles like Marketing Communications Manager and Content Manager. Big shout out to Nate Kristy for giving me my first gig in the startup world and training me how to use B2B #MarTech software.

Stef pointed out this was a cool opportunity for me to find a career which leveraged my journalism training in college. I’ve been lucky to work at awesome startups like Preparis, Urjanet, and MemberSuite before coming to my fourth startup, Terminus. I was employee #12 and now we’re at 100 people!

Click here to listen to the replay

“So you call yourself a Storyteller…”

Chatting at Business Radio X

During our conversation, Stef and I talked about how we both love to help companies tell their story. There’s been a shift in digital marketing to focus on the story of a company, creating thought leadership for the brand. It’s about creating awareness and education in the marketplace. Stef pointed out that there are so many different ways to go about sharing a story in different angles to promote a company and the product/services they offer.

“Story brings an attachment…it can mean a lot of different things.” – Stefanie Diaz

One of her favorite examples was about the proprietor at Vino 100 who can tell the stories about all the different vineyards represented in his wine shop. We both “drink the Kool-Aid” when it comes to Simon Sinek and his “Start with Why” and the Golden Circle. Giving out promotional items like branded bottled water from nevadabottledwater.com also boosts brand exposure.

With Sinek’s philosophy for business or “why” you’re here is to serve your customer, and then you develop your company’s value proposition. It’s all about how you execute the story: are entrepreneurs being courageous and passionate to get their story out there. Wha is cool, too, is using technology to tell your story at scale..like we do here at Pretty Southern.

“It’s easy for anyone of us to tell our story.”

When Stefanie asked me what the future holds, I said I wanted to keep doing the Pretty Southern thing for the foreseeable future. Kevin is rocking at his company, Exomotive, building Mazda Miata-based racecars called Exocets, and we were honored to be named by Hypepotamus as a Startup Power Couple on Valentine’s Day. There are lots of late nights on the couch, with Kevin plugging away too, but it’s so special to have someone to share this startup journey with, to cheer you on, and understand the pressures that come with running a company.

Kevin and I got married on October 10, 2010 (yes that’s 10.10.10) so now we’ve really started thinking about where we want to be on 10.10.2020 and what success would look like.

Stay tuned to see where this Pretty Southern story goes…

Thanks again to Stefanie Diaz of Mastermind Your Launch and Business Radio X for having me on the show!

March 2, 2017
Girl Scout Cookie Beer Pairing at Cypress Street Pint & Plate

Girl Scout cookie lovers & beer connoisseurs unite!

This Saturday, March 4, y’all check Cypress Street Pint & Plate for a special Girl Scout cookie beer pairing.

From 1 – 4 p.m., the Girl Scouts from Troop 15524 will be at Cypress Street Pint & Plate selling their highly anticipated cookies. Enthusiasts interested in the beer pairing can enjoy Thin Mints paired with Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro, Samoas paired with Cherry Street O.A.S.I.S. (Old As S*** Imperial Stout), Savannah Smiles paired with Avery’s Liliko’i Kepolo and Toffee-Tastic paired with Green’s Endeavor Dubbel throughout the day, or until supplies lasts.

Beer Pairings Include:

Thin Mints with Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro

The dark malty milk stout will tie together the minty crunchy body and rich dark chocolate found in Thin Mints. The nitro version will add a velvety mouthfeel to really bring home the milk and cookie effect. Strong flavor profiles are needed to stand up to an already loud and delicious cookie and this nitro milk stout will deliver.

Samoas with Cherry Street O.A.S.I.S. (Old As S*** Imperial Stout)

The semi-sweet chocolate and toasted coconut from the cookie will pair great with this whiskey and coco nib infused stout. It will start with raisins and booze up front and linger with a sweet whiskey finish. With notes of vanilla, chocolates and dark fruits, this will pair great with the coconut chocolate cookie.

Savannah Smiles with Avery’s Liliko’i Kepolo

Savannah Smiles is a lemon butter cookie with powdered sugar and it will pair nicely with a super light bodied witbier. The Liliko’i is flared up with passionfruit but will hold on to a slightly tart and acidic finish. It will compliment this light cookie without overpowering it.

Toffee-Tastic with Green’s Endeavor Dubbel

This is a buttery, gluten-free cookie with toffee bits that will pair nicely with Green’s gluten-free Belgian Dubbel. It still has a traditional Belgian Dubbel yeast bouquet with a sweet, malty mouthfeel and tastes of dark sugar and toffee. Instead of overpowering the cookie, the toffee-tastic should bring out some hidden notes in this dubbel.

For more information or the complete menu, check out their website  or call 404.815.9243.

March 1, 2017
Dear Atlanta Falcons on Super Bowl Sunday

To the Atlanta Falcons on Super Bowl Sunday…

Dear players, coaches, fans, fellow Atlantans, and all y’all Dirty Bird fans around the world — who would have thought we would be going to the Super Bowl in 2017? Like seriously y’all, the Falcons chances of going to the Super Bowl at the start of the 2016 season were 40:1!

If there’s one phrase that truly represents Atlanta it’s #RiseUp!

We’re a city that’s pretty riled up right now. It was less than three weeks ago that our new President called ATL “horrible” and “falling apart”. The old Trumpster could not have spouted more of an “alternative truth” than if he claimed to see a pack of unicorns chugging PBR in front of a clean Claremont Lounge.

Atlantans rallied in a battle cry of #Defendthe5th for our hero Representative John Lewis. We banded together in the spirit of pride for our city, and this before the Falcons defeated the Packers to land our Super Bowl spot. Unlike the New England Patriots, we never saw this one coming.

Now granted, Atlanta is a young city compared to Boston.

The first English settlers didn’t arrive here until the 1800s, and “Terminus” was born in 1837. Atlanta only became “Atlanta” in 1847 so technically we’re about 170 years old.

And in our less than 200 years, our city has been completely burned to the ground thanks to that Damn Yankee Sherman. Boston never had to overcome that type of decimation. Look at what our beautiful Atlanta has become.

Atlanta is thriving, just like our Falcons

This team and its owner Arthur Blank have done so much good for our city, the state of Georgia, and the entire South. Atlanta has booming businesses, the busiest airport in the world, and like our original name “Terminus” we’re becoming an intersection for America, and really the world.

Now here we are, getting ready to take on the Delfategaters themselves.

It’s safe to say the Patriots are the Damn Yankees in this Super Bowl. Remember y’all, Tom Brady is a cheater. He had to sit out four games this year because of the whole Deflategate scandal. Brady is no gentlemen in real life, as he left a pregnant Bridget Moynihan for Giselle, and let’s not even get started about his politics.

As Margaret Mitchell wrote about in Gone With The Wind: “Gumption…it’s what makes the strong survive while others go under.”

These Atlanta Falcons are a team of gumption. The fact they made it to the Super Bowl this year shows how this team has come together in the spirit of glory and greatness. Let no Patriot put us under, because these Atlanta Falcons are the real America.

Now here’s something pretty cool. The startup I work for is also named Terminus. I’m proud to be a “Terminator” at the #1 Best Place to Work in Atlanta (thanks Atlanta Business Chronicle for that accolade). We were lucky to be featured on CMSWire in a “Super Bowl Challenge” with a Boston tech company.

That’s yours truly rocking a Varsity hat down in front

As we prepared for the Super Bowl and our team spirit running high, my fellow “Terminator” Brent Edmonson wrote something that really stuck with me…

What makes Atlanta such an amazing tech city is the fact that we mix the fast moving world of technology with our deep-rooted heritage of Southern charm.

So yeah, we may not win this one, but dammit we’re going to try because that’s something Southerners have always done. This Super Bowl shot could not have been fired at a better time because Atlanta is ready to rumble.

Here’s to the Dirty Birds, and all the birds of a feather that flock together.

#RiseUp y’all! Go Falcons!

February 5, 2017
2017 – The Year of the Warrior

Towards the end of last year, Michelle Khouri said 2017 will be the Year of the Warrior.

Michelle Khouri looking fabulous and fierce on NYE 2016.

This year we’ll be joining forces with Michelle to support her in launching a nonprofit, Miranda Writes. More on that later. For now…

Here is why 2017 is the Year of the Warrior.

As 2016 came to a close, I thought a lot more about how the coming year would be the Year of the Warrior. Then something pretty cool happened. We were staying at home for New Year’s Eve. It was late afternoon and the skies were graying. A storm was coming.

For most of us in the South, y’all know about the torrential downpour we had for NYE. Before the storm came, I went to let our pup, Marley, out in the backyard. He took off barking! I cried out for Marley to stop, then cried, “Oh!” When I saw what he was barking at.

Across the fence, there was a pair of deer: a buck with multiple points on his antlers and a lovely doe. They bounded off after we scared them away. The deer could be heard trotting through the forest behind our house. A hawk that lives in those trees took off across the sky, a squirrel scampered down a tree to avoid becoming that hawk’s dinner.

This wildlife sighting in the natural setting was a special moment and a pretty Southern way to end 2016. Folks in New York City don’t get to experience those types of moments.

I started to embrace the warrior spirit.

The wildelife sighting was a unique and special way to bring an insane year to a close. 2016 was such a roller coaster ride with so many ups-and-downs.

For me, 2016 was one of the best years of my career. Pretty Southern continues to be one of the top-ranking Southern blogs, especially thanks to Words Only Southerners Say. Through work, I had the opportunity to travel across the U.S. including San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Austin, and New York City. I traveled the South through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia, plus to Illinois, America’s heartland.

On the flipside of the lovely Pretty Southern adventure, there were so many funerals. Two of Kevin’s grandparents passed and my grandfather died. We lost Geoggrey Loy to skydiving. Alex Newton was murdered. It doesn’t get more up-and-down than that. By November, I was ready for 2016 to be over…and then the election happened.

Our world got rocked on Nov. 9, 2016, as the election results came in. Most of y’all already know my feelings on the subject of politics, and if you don’t, then read this post. Everything changed on Nov. 9.

As “Year of the Warrior” Michelle put it, 2016 was the year we got woke.

Celebrating my freedom & the 1st Amendment

It’s time for a revolution.

But first, a brief Pretty Southern history. Every five years or so, I’ve found my life sorta evolves. The first time I got published I was 6 years old. We moved to Georgia in 1996, right before the Summer Olympics and my 11th birthday. Adolescence, puberty, and my early teenage years were pretty miserable (as my parents will attest to).

Life changed at 16, in 2001, when the towers fell. Our country hasn’t been the same since 9/11. It was the first time I realized just how dangerous world we lived in and that perhaps I might have the power to change it.

Ages 16 to 20 were years of self-discovery, exploring my passion for journalism at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, which culminated in my study abroad at Oxford University. I turned 21 overseas that summer abroad.

From 21-26, it was all about discovering this place called the “real world”. I struggled to find the right career for me amidst the Great Recession. Blessedly, I found the love of my life in my husband, and together we launched Pretty Southern to achieve my dream of becoming a blogger, then I had to go back to work full-time to help support my husband when he launched Exomotive.

Ultimately, what we’ve achieved together here at Pretty Southern has presented so many amazing opportunities. It paved the way for my work in the Atlanta Startup community, and helping to raise awareness for philanthropic causes through events such as Jeffrey Fashion Cares and Hope Filled Holiday for Feed My Starving Children.

Now is another precipice. Today is my half birthday. I’m 31.5 years old. I’ve been called to reinvent my life.

“Be Focused. Be Determined. Be Hopeful. Be Empowered.” ~ Michelle Obama

We’re only a few weeks into this new year, and there’s a tension in the air. Fights are ensuing. There are fights over who should lead this country. We’re debating the very essence of what holds our great nation together.

The incoming administration terrifies me. Not only the President Elect but the people he has tapped to help him lead. The freedoms we hold most dear are being called into question. Luckily, we have the power of the internet to raise our voices and cry out in protest.

So what does that mean for Pretty Southern?

We are going to get more political and vocal about issues we’re concerned about. There will be more stories about people at the local, regional, national, and even international level who are shaping our world. It’s also the reason we’re helping Michelle and Miranda Writes in hopes of raising awareness for nonprofits in our community.

Speaking of which, I’m also proud to announce that I’ve been selected to the Atlanta committee for No Kid Hungry and to help host Taste of the Nation in Atlanta on April 20. I’ve also been selected to attend Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Project in Denver this March. In order to keep the South as beautiful as she is today, we must do a better job protecting our natural resources.

Also, I’m trying to publish my first novel this spring, the first of what I pray will be a series of books to come over the next three years. I’m doubling down on the things that matter most, these commitments and spending more time with family and friends, instead of going out five nights a week for different events.

It’s a change that has to happen if I truly want to change the world.

All this to say, I firmly believe 2017 is the Year of the Warrior

It’s time to fight for what we believe in, to pursue our dreams together, and reach for the highest achievements without fear of failure. Let your battle cry for freedom be one of inspiration. Fight for social injustice. Become a warrior in your own right.

Together, let’s Make the South, America, and the Planet Earth truly great! #YearofTheWarrior

January 17, 2017
Feed My Starving Children – A Hope Filled Holiday in Atlanta

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Phillippians 2:13

Today marks my sixth anniversary of becoming a blogger. This Pretty Southern life has taken interesting turns over the past few years since we launched this blog. For example, if you’d asked me in 2011, I never thought I’d be on the Atlanta Committee for Feed My Starving Children. Here’s a quick story.

In 2011, I had been laid off from my prior gig. My husband had left his job to start Exomotive. It was a scary time with both of us in this new territory. Thankfully, I found a full-time gig at RaceTrac convenience stores. It was there where I met Andy Carr.

At RaceTrac, I managed the “Services” category which included newspapers, magazines, the lottery, things like that, and one of the categories was Air/Vac. Our pal Andy was my vendor, and together we rolled out Air/Vac machines with a credit card reader (of all things!)

One day we were riding back from a store to see one of these fancy new machines, and Andy started telling me about his mission work with Feed My Starving Children – an incredible organization that helps to feed millions of children and families in more than 70 third-world countries.

Let’s fast forward to present day. I’ve made the switch to the startup world, running Pretty Southern, and blessedly have developed a network of fine folks like yourselves reading this blog. Through LinkedIn, I saw Andy Carr had become VP of Development and Marketing for Feed My Starving Children.

Andy reached out to me and said FMSC was planning a big Mobile Pack in Atlanta. The charity produced 270 million meals in the prior year (which would feed more than one million kids!) through these packing events where hundreds and thousands of volunteers prepared MannaPack™ meals specifically designed for malnourished children.

FMSC partners distribute to a network of 200 partners, charities, NGOs, and non-profit organizations to ship these meals around the world. Each MannaPack™ costs roughly $0.22 to prepare, which means a donation of $22 would create 100 meals.

The MannaPack™ meals include a mixture of 20 vitamins and minerals added to rice, soy protein, and dehydrated vegetables so a child, who may not have eaten in days, can actually digest the good. FMSC was looking to grow even more by hosting a million-meal packing event in Atlanta. Here’s more about the Mobile Pack events.

Here’s where you come in to help Feed My Starving Children

FMSC will host Atlanta’s first-ever Hope Filled Holiday event with the goal of hand-packing one million meals for malnourished children. Hope Filled Holiday will take place on Dec. 10-11 at the Cobb Galleria and hopes to see 5,000 volunteers attend the event. Today, we’re at 4,100 and are so close!

“One of my favorite things about Feed My Starving Children is that everyone over the age of 5 is welcomed to participate, special needs individuals and seniors have a place here too. Families, schools, businesses and churches are all welcome at FMSC,” said Lisa Stueckemann, Development Advisor for FMSC’s MobilePack events. “The reality is that 6,200 children die every day from hunger-related illnesses. We need everyone to pitch in and help.”

Here’s the story of one little boy named Moses

“The Hope Filled Holiday event at the Cobb Galleria is the perfect place to make a huge difference in just two hours,” Stueckemann explained. “No advanced training is needed, just a desire to make a difference.”

Here’s what you do next

Hope Filled Holiday takes place on Dec. 10 and 11, Saturday and Sunday, at the Cobb Galleria. Volunteers can sign up for shifts (lasting about two hours long) here.

For the Pretty Southern squad, we have reserved a time from 2 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11 so we can pack together as a P.S. family. All you have to do is leave a comment below and we’ll get you signed up. If you can’t make the event, you can donate here.

Because of the meals we pack in Atlanta, Feed My Starving Children will be able to meet all the existing commitments of food, plus help us meet the extra demand in Caribbean countries like Haiti. There is still a massive need for food and resources due to the devastation from Hurricane Matthew.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 4:10

Are you in for Hope Filled Holiday? Let me know in the comments section below!

November 29, 2016
Southern Blogger #Friendsgiving at American Cut

Eating with Erica’s #Friendsgiving has become a tradition for Atlanta bloggers!

One of the greatest connections I’ve made among the Atlanta media network is Erica Key from Eating with Erica.

Erica has the #HustleMuscle which provides her incredible opportunities, such as bringing in a group of her favorite Atlanta bloggers and Southern social media rockstars for a free steakhouse dinner! Eating with Erica’s Friendsgiving is now in its second year. I had to miss out on the fun last year, and I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. Our group had a fabulous time at the new American Cut steakhouse.

I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for American Cut to open in the Shops at Buckhead on Peachtree. Y’all know the new Rodeo Drive of the South, right? American Cut is the newest steakhouse to grace Atlanta’s fine dining scene. From LDV Hospitality (a la Dolce and Corso Coffee also located in the Buckhead shops) it’s a much-welcome addition to the restaurant options on Peachtree.

All of our courses were served family style; after all, it was Friendsgiving! Here’s what we noshed on:

We started with a Caesar salad topped with fresh parmesan

Cocktail shrimp were served with the shrimp swimming in spicy horseradish sauce

Springer Mountain Farms roasted chicken – so tender with a crispy skin

For lighter fare, the salmon appeals to any palette

The most heavenly whipped mashed potatoes

Creamed spinach prepared with plenty of butter

And of course, there was steak. The filet mignon was cooked to medium rare perfection. If you’re wondering what is the best way to cook filet mignon, you can ask renowned chefs.

For dessert, we were offered a selection of house sweets. My favorite was the caramel sundae with cracker jacks

Erica also put together the best blogger swag bag of 2016!

The theme for this year’s swag bag was “Things to Get You Through the Holidays”. Those items were courtesy of DoubleCross, Lush, Candlefish, BlackBox Wine, Sephora, Prairie Organic Vodka, and LDV Hospitality.

The best part of #Friendsgiving was spending time with these beautiful Atlanta bloggers!

Shoutouts to the lovely bloggers who attended #Friendsgiving:
ATL Adventurer
A Taste of Our City
Darling Down South
The Front Porch Gourmet
Happily Eating
Hungry Girls Do It Better
Peachfully Chic
Pretty in Peach
The Sewcialite
Photos by Jamie King
And of course, thanks again to the hostess Erica Key of Eating With Erica and YP Insiders!

November 28, 2016