Entrepreneur Crush of the Week: Buddie Daniel

The Fourth of July is coming up & you know what that means!!!!!! We, as a nation, come together to celebrate our independence from Great Britain almost 241 years ago, cookout with our friends, family, & neighbors, & shoot off fireworks. Lots & lots & lots of fireworks!

Until 2015, it was illegal to sale or purchase fireworks in the state of Georgia. Many people remember driving across the border to make their purchases but times have certainly changed! & thanks to Buddie Daniel, owner of Brunswick's Velocity Zone Fireworks, you only need to drive but a few minutes to this 11,000 square foot showroom to acquire all the fireworks your little heart desires!

Velocity Zone Fireworks officially opened its doors on May 27, 2017 & business has been booming since! (Pun totes intended.) Buddie says he's always loved fireworks & was driven to start selling them after four years of retirement. But this is not his first experience with owning a business; he founded TAPCO & sold it in 2012 after 25 solid years. Aside from selling fireworks, Buddie spends his spare time walking the beach & picking up trash with his girlfriend (thank you Buddie & Donna!!!) & spending quality time with friends & Precious, his diva of a pet potbellied pig.

At Velocity Zone Fireworks, you can expect to find a wide selection of inventory priced way below MSRP, especially if you love the sparklers & fountains or the big stuff that's loaded to the maximum allowed by law at low prices & no gimmicks of high prices & BOGO scams. -& expect a 10% discount if you're in the military, a police officer, or a firefighter.

YOU CAN BUY IN BULK!

Visit Velocity Zone Fireworks at 3219 Glynn Avenue, Brunswick, Georgia! Be sure to follow him on Facebook to keep up with schedules of open hours and specials!!

Please remember to be safe this Fourth of July & brush up on Georgia Law regarding the use of fireworks!

Brunswick Farmers Market "Pop Up"

So last night I joined a small group of passionate creatives in our local community who are determined to re-energize our downtown area! With the brilliant idea of Sarah Pittenger, affectionately known as Lady Hanover, we will be re-energizing the local Farmer's Market by doing a massive "pop-up" once a month! Our current Farmer's Market is every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8-5pm. However, our FIRST "pop-up" will be held on Saturday, June 17 from 8 a.m.-noon. We want anybody and everybody to join us - help us grow Brunswick and its downtown area in to the happening place it's meant to be!!

Join the event here on Facebook! 

You can bet your bottom dollar I will be here to capture this exciting transformation! Guys! IT'S HAPPENING!!!

Our first meeting!!!

Entrepreneur Crush of the Week: Jenny Van't Land

If you've been following my posts for the last several weeks, you'll have noticed a lot of "Moxie Craft Fest"'s being thrown around. Obviously, the event was a wonderful way for me to connect & meet some new & amazing entrepreneurs who have taught me a LOT! & that's all thanks to this ladybug here, Jenny Van't Land, owner of Free Spirit Jenny & creator of the biannual Moxie Craft Festival. Jenny is a devoted wife & mom of two bright boys, - a family woman first - embroidery artist, & pioneer in the local creative scene. When Downtown Brunswick erupts in to the happening place it was always meant to be, it will be attributed to the hard work, nurturing, & vision of artists like Jenny. (& I will be here to capture its progress - count on it!)

Free Spirit Jenny was started some four years ago after spotting some embroidered pieces, trying it for herself, & totally rocking it. (That last bit didn't come from Jenny but it's totes true.) A native Texan, her inspiration is rooted in all things cactus (duh), botanical, & retro. Though her pieces are more on the minimalistic side, they follow her interest, not just what she thinks will sell. & that's what's so likable about Jenny - she stays true to her heart & people get it & definitely want a piece of it! 

Embroidered necklaces!!!! WUT?!

A couple of years ago Jenny partnered with a friend to bring something the Golden Isles was in desperate need of, a market for the community unlike we've ever seen before - & she had the support of the development authority 100%. Moxie Craft Festival in Old City Hall is a place for unique vendors to sell & connect while customers can shop for true, one-of-a-kind pieces & meet fresh, up-&-coming artisans. The growth of the indie scene is quite obvious after attending these festivals & some of us are eager to attend just to see how far it's come in the past six months. While the fourth festival was just concluded, Jenny expects she will begin planning & preparing for the next one in about another month - yes, it takes about four months to plan! But you can bet it will be bigger & better than the last! (Hard to believe, I know!)

Jenny gains much of her inspiration from cacti, which adorn almost every square inch of her beautiful home!

Jenny pretty much lives inside of a magazine house.

Don't judge me - I couldn't pick just one!

Jenny invited me in to her home to take these photographs, a most perfect setting to capture her true essence. When I walked in, I was blown away by her style, collection of plants, use of space, white walls (to accentuate with her minimalistic style and PLANTS) , & inviting, comfortable tone. Her home is a reflection of the family: fun, hip, but lived in. Her pieces are a true reflection of herself: simple, light, beautiful, & very inspiring. (& I'm happy to say I walked away with two of her pieces!)

Find her work on her Etsy page, at the local shops, Coastal Kiss, Viola's Market, & Dot & Army, or some of the local craft fairs. You can also find her in the Hidden Hand Society in Savannah, Community Athens in Athens, GA, and in All Ye Citizens in San Diego, CA. Be sure to follow her on her social media sites to see where she'll be next!

Welcome Nelly!

Everybody, meet Nelly! She is a SWEET, floppy, puppy-breathed little golden retriever. Congratulations Mary Margaret & Ben!!!

Sarah & Jet

Happy Friday everyone!!!!!! I am SO looking forward to the weekend, as I'm sure you are!!!

Enjoy some the eye candy that is this gorgeous couple! P.S. Their affection is the real deal - they couldn't be any sweeter!

Entrepreneur Crush of the Week: Gina Patrick

Happy Thursday everyone! It's a cool morning, perfect for sipping hot coffee on the couch and watching the clouds make an attempt to break for the sun after a few days of heavy rain! It's turning out to be a rather nice day!

And I'm about to make it nicer. (Hint: read entirely to find out how to enter a giveaway you won't want to miss! You're welcome.)

I am so pleased to introduce to you Gina Patrick, oil goddess and owner of Virgin Apothecary, a line of skincare products based out of St. Simons Island for the "beauty minimalist." I officially met Gina at Moxie Craft Fest a few weeks ago but spotted her working the Sea Island Market last November. Though I was unable to stop by as I was just passing through, I am so glad I finally had the chance to talk with her in depth about her line and try out some products for myself. Guys, I was so excited to try out her Essential Face Serum that I created an entire "spa night" for myself. When I awoke the next morning, I couldn't believe how "alive" my skin felt! The brand truly speaks for itself but after learning more about Gina and her work, my appreciation for Virgin Apothecary is limitless. 

Gina may have created products for the "beauty minimalist" but she has certainly found a way to maximize the potential of one's natural skin. I'll give you an example: Gina's face. She's not wearing any makeup here. She's not wearing any makeup!

A concept that started about two years, Virgin Apothecary was officially launched in August of 2016. Gina was inspired to create a line of products free of nasty/harmful ingredients after growing disenchanted with conventional skincare products that commonly contain detergents and preservatives such as sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. But like most women (me, included), Gina came to the realization the hard way that ordinary products would never work; she often found herself loading up on products aimed to control an over-production of oil while enhancing her natural beauty but nothing seemed to work. On the contrary, these products seemed to exacerbate her problems. After researching different plant oils and herbs and eliminating her old routine, she found a simpler, more natural routine that revealed secrets about her skin she never knew: she actually had very dry, sensitive skin! Now Gina aims to educate others about healthier alternatives while providing simple solutions. After all, "our skin is the largest organ of our body!" she says. While finding a regimen that caters to your exact needs could take some experimenting, Gina says organic coconut oil (found in most grocery stores) is a great go-to oil that has many uses. It's a great place to start but talking to a skin expert like Gina will help you determine what formulas of oils and herbs are best for your skin.

Perfectly handcrafted in her home, quality of every item is ensured by creating in small batches. 

Let's talk a little bit about the quality of Virgin Apothecary: Every single product is, "all natural, non-toxic, GMO free, cruelty free, with organic ingredients when possible." Currently, Gina creates and stores her products in her home kitchen and office. But creating is no overnight process. For example, after perfectly weighing a mixture of ingredients, soap bars are developed using either a cold or hot process. Each has its separate pros and cons and requires extensive technical skills. After a lot of other steps and running each recipe through something called a Soap Calculator, the soaps are cured for about 6-8 weeks and then sold to consumers. At this time, she offers a wide range of skincare and wellness products, including a natural bug spray, a hybrid (multi-purpose) mist, a face serum, hair oil, beard oil, body oil, body melt -massage butter, lip balm, multi-purpose salve (hands/feet/cuticles), and handcrafted soap. But Gina is constantly working on new concoctions to provide a broader collection of high-quality products to shoppers.

Her bars of soap are perfectly crafted and worth every penny!

I have become keenly aware of things I put on or in my body over the last several years and am proud to say I am now a devoted customer. I am impressed by Gina's dedication and passion to not only educate consumers but provide a better, simpler way to great skin care! People are becoming more and more health-conscious and it's important they are aware local health pioneers like Gina exist. Humbly she says, "I love all the friends that I have made through starting this new chapter in my life, and I never would have thought to have found such a supportive and gracious community of small business owners! "

I seriously recommend you trying out her products for yourself! You can find her products inside Dot & Army in Downtown Brunswick, of course on her website, and at her Etsy store!

Screenshot of her online shop! I want all the things!! Enter here for your chance to win a Virgin Apothecary Travel Kit! Goodies include: 

1 Pink Lotus/Lavender Hybrid Mist (2 oz)

1 Multi Salve (1 oz)

1 Cocoa Mint Lip Balm

1 Essential Face Serum (10 ml roller)