Blowouts, Bloggers & Bling for a Cause

Last Thursday night I threw my first (of many) events, 'Blowouts, Bloggers & Bling for a Cause!' What I adored most about this event was that it incorporated everything I love under one roof.

Shout out to my girls Sacha (hair) + Rajaa (make-up) for making me feel beautiful!

First off, what girl doesn't love a fab blowout?! Paige Perkins, Owner of GlowDry here in Buckhead, was gracious enough to host the event! GlowDry is THE place to go to when it comes to hair and makeup. I have them on speed dial (seriously) for every major event! Their team did my look for the Taste of the Nation event back in May. If you're looking to step it up a notch, GlowDry is the place to go. Not only did Paige and her staff provide their chic salon to us, they also put together amazing swag bags filled with wonderfully scented products, coupons and sweet treats. During the event bloggers had the opportunity to get their hair done while they sipped on Jane St. Vodka Soda and mingled with other guests!

Did I mention bloggers friends?! I had several bloggers and friends come out to support me and my first event! It's been truly humbling to see the community of women (and men) who have rallied around me from the beginning. I call them friends, because they've all welcomed me with open arms into their group. We support each other at various events around town, grab brunch or dinner together (because girls got to eat) and on the (rare) occasion I gather a group to workout with me! It meant so much to me having everyone in attendance!

And what would a party be without a little bling? Alexandra Woolverton, a Stylist with Stella & Dot, was kind enough to reach out to me and collaborate on this fun evening. I am semi obsessed in love with everything S&D. The clutch pictured in my insta was one of the items I went home with that night! #PalmPrint is my chosen pattern of the summer. I picked up these cute shorts a couple weeks ago, and wear them any chance I get! It's always fun to play dress up with your girlfriends, and even better when you're working with a friend! PS - I also snatched up their Renegade Cluster Bracelet, an S&D staple. If you live in the Atlanta area and want to grab your girlfriends together for vino & appetizers, Alex is your girl!

As you've probably noticed, there is one big piece missing from this event...the FOOD. Food is a must at any party, especially ones that I throw. Back when Alex and I began planning this event, she asked me what charity I wanted to partner with. Alex, like me, is big on giving back to the community! I love seeing where my time and money goes, and without hesitation knew Open Hand was the organization I wanted to give back to. I was first introduced to this wonderful company back in 2013 when I began working with CSOA (Concierge Services of Atlanta). Open Hand has been serving those with chronic diseases for over 25 years! They seek to serve the community by empowering people to live healthier, more productive lives. I've been fortunate enough to deliver meals to those who cannot afford proper nutrition or are too sick to prepare their own meals. It's such a rewarding experience, and often times the person delivering them their meals is the only person they'll see all day. Thankful to have crossed paths with this inspiring company!

OK, so back to the food! Good Measure Meals provided us with the delectable spread of well-balanced bites, which included: Carolina Chicken BBQ Slider, Butterbean Hummus with Squash Crudité and Toasted Pita Points and Mini Lemon Ricotta Cake with a Blueberry Compote. The thing I love about Good Measure Meals is that they give 100% of its net proceeds back to Open Hand. GMM is a gourmet meal program which is both calorie- and portion-controlled, GMM meets the dietary needs of people with diabetes and related hypertension and is also a convenient and delicious way for people to manage their weight. I've been able to team up with GMM on several occasions to do Lunch & Learns for my office building, and always love hearing the tenant's positive feedback! Balanced meals that are flavorful! I've also had the opportunity to try their meal plan on a few occasions, and it is AWESOME! Yes, their meal plans deserve all caps. They have wonderful Blueberry Pancakes, Zesty Turkey Burgers, and so much more. Earlier this year, they launched a new and exciting feature, which allows clients the ability to customize their meals! How cool is that?! If you're interested in trying one of their meal plans out, just enter 'kalemekelly' to receive 10% OFF your first order! I would say enjoy, but know you will!

Through our appetizers provided by Good Measure Meals, we supported 30 meals to our community through Open Hand Atlanta!

And no meal is complete without a little bubbly! Jane St. Vodka Soda was kind enough to provide the beverages for the ladies and me. And they have gained a new fan! It’s light, refreshing and low in calories #winning Jane St. was developed as the first-ever Carbonated Vodka Soda, filled with bubbles and sweetened with agave nectar. Trust me when I tell you this is the perfect drink to serve at your next Ladies' Night, BBQ or just because it's Tuesday get together! Huge thanks to Hannah for bringing the goodies by, they were warmly received! And note to all the readers, their Pineapple Jalapeño flavor is to die for. Perfect blend of sweet and spicy.

As the event came to an end, I raffled off two giveaway from Stella & Dot and Good Measure Meals. My good friend and roommate, Jennifer Zuniga went home with this fabulous necklace set (pictured below) and Natasha will have her dinners covered for five days thanks to GMM. Don't forget you can customize your meal plan! Thanks to both companies for sponsoring! 

Special thanks again to Paige (GlowDry), Alexandra (Stella & Dot), Tiffany and Jochen (Open Hand and Good Measure Meals), Hannah (Jane St. Vodka Soda) and Elizabeth (Svelte) for supporting me in my first event! Could not have made all the magic happen without you awesome people!

Enter to win an exclusive swag bag from the event by sending me an e-mail to kmboring@gmail.com! First 3 entries will WIN!

  Kelly