From the Heart
If I had only listened to all the warnings when I was younger instead of having an obsession with being dark things might be different for me.
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Shopping Small Means So Much More This Year
Shopping Small is so much more than supporting local communities.
It's supporting actual people, working hard every day to make a dream come true.
It's putting food on the table. Helping makes end meet. And loads and loads of sacrifice.
We grow because of your support and commitment to keep things small and your trust in our company. Your support helps us do our part to ensure better roads, better schools, and more revenue coming into our city.
It allows us to create jobs and keep them secure so our employees can better their situations and reach their own personal goals.
Mom Bods are Hot AF
And just like that as my mindset changed so did my body and I pray I can keep this up. That I can remember what I've worked for and continue to use it to positively influence the 3 little girls watching me.
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Back to School - Mom's this one is for you!
"Running a Business is Hard. Being a Mom is Harder. Balancing them both has me feeling some days like I'm a super skilled Ninja and other days like one Big Hot Mess. "
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Photo Shoots, Ranching, and Mom Life
I knew when I started this company that I wanted to be different and stand for something. I wanted to grow a business where I could balance my family, farm, and bring a community together.
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Hey I heard You Like the Wild Ones....
Never in a million years did I imagine that move would change my life. That a relationship built solely on the love for our daughter would evolve into finding my soulmate. The man who would gift me, the girl slated to not be able to have children, with 2 more beautiful little girls.
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Making Memories One Kid at a Time
That morning, after our walk I realized that sometimes the best medicine is getting some special time with each child and it reminded me to find a way to do that a little more. Being a Mom is hard. Being a Working Mom is hard. Being a Mom to more than one Kid is Hard. Balancing it all is Hard.
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Keeping It Real- One Cup of Coffee at a Time
Real talk this Morning.
I’m tired. Like drop dead, crabby AF tired.
And here’s a fun fact. I haven’t had coffee in a month. Or eaten anything with gluten. Seriously. And I have been feeling GREAT. but this morning, I NEED COFFEE.
On Thursday nights I host a Live Sale for my Boutique which has me up late, getting to bed well after everyone in my house is asleep. Totally fine with that. It’s my job. And I Love It. But what you don’t know is for some crazy reason our youngest decided a few weeks ago to have some sort of obsession with riding the school bus. The bus that arrives at 6:30. The bus that I feel is just way too early for my kids that have a very long school day as it is now. I know. I was an educator for several years. They need all the rest they can get. So, we drive them in. But....her obsession is real and she has been determined to ride the bus. Even if it means going to bed earlier. Even if it means waking on her own. Even if it means discipline. And you know I'm all about Goal Diggers. So, we allowed it. But then SHIT. GOT. REAL.
Now, to be bluntly honest I am the only early riser around here. And not that I necessarily enjoy rising before our crowing Rooster does but because if I'm going to get that workout in its got to happen at the crack of dawn or it doesn't get done. It is what it is. So, I figured it wouldn't be too bad. I would wake her up when I got up to work out and it would be fine. But then it got crazy. She began to get this obsession I wouldn't wake up. Or she would miss the bus. She began resorting to infant mode and all of the sudden I had a newborn again. One that woke at all hours of the night only this one didn't need breast fed. This one was at my bed side saying "Can you do my hair?" at 2am. "How long do I have before the bus comes?" at 3am and when I had enough of that and told her she COULD NOT WAKE ME UP THAT EARLY she began just getting ready on her own. Turning every light on and getting ready in complete entirety. A 6-year-old all dressed up with no place to go. Watching Netflix at 4am. A full 2.5 hours before the bus was set to arrive. The rest of the household still sound asleep. Her Mother? A Walking Zombie. Hangry at the World before the Sun had rose planning to fuel that anger with Carbs and plan an early Happy Hour. Who needs to work today right? My Middle Daughter says to me "Mom, you can always go back to bed" where I laugh and say "Oh silly child, but there is work to be done today and a Mother does not simply just go back to bed."
Ah, the joys of being a Working Mom, right?
Now any tips on getting your 6-year-old to Sleep through the Night. Seriously. Drop them Below.
Self Love is the Greatest Middle Finger of All Time
Hey Ya'll! I'm Barb the Owner of Southern Mess. Most days you can find me in our Warehouse working my tail off to bring you the latest and greatest. We are known for our love for fashion that focuses on Real Women. All of our Models are 30+, have real bodies, kids, work, and our images are not photoshopped. We want you to really see what you will look like in our clothes. People would often refer to me as having a Gypsy Soul with a Sailor's Mouth. And I won't argue with that. I love serving the world but empowering Woman to support one another and giving back to our Community where I can. I'm most passionate about my husband, my 3 girls, our ranch, and my business. When I'm not busy working on the boutique you can find me outdoors on our Ranch. Or doing piles and piles of laundry. Yay...laundry.
If you're dying to hear more, here are 5 things you might not know about me:
1. I have chapstick....everywhere. All over our house, in my car, in the office. Addicted.
2. I love a little coffee with my creamer.
3. I never raised a farm animal until we moved onto our Ranch.
4. I used to get up every morning and milk our goats before work.
5. My husband and I had 3 children before we decided to Marry.
Still here and don't think I'm super weird? Great. Then we should be friends. Seriously though....Let's Connect! Follow me on Facebook and IG @smboutiquetx.
Southern Mess Holiday Bonus Info
Purchases made between Dec 1 and Dec 31st will accrue $5 for every $50 spent. The bonus cash is earned per order and is not accumulated.
For example place a $55 order you'll earn $5 bonus cash certificate in that order. Place $200 order and you'll get a bonus cash certificate for $20 in that order.
Bonus cash codes can be used Jan 1-30th. There is a minimum purchase requirement. Offer cannot be combined with other codes, coupons, or sales and does not apply to previous purchases.
The Vow to Shop Small
Shopping Small is so much more than supporting local communities.
It's supporting actual people, working hard every day to make a dream come true.
It's putting food on the table. Helping makes end meet. And loads and loads of sacrifice.
We grow because of your support and commitment to keep things small and your trust in our company. Your support helps us do our part to ensure better roads, better schools, and more revenue coming into our city.
It allows us to create jobs and keep them secure so our employees can better their situations and reach their goals.
It truly takes a village.
I would personally not be where I am at today if it wasn't for an amazing group of small business owners, friends, and family who have been the support system I needed to get through the tough and focus on our company goals.
Last year I sent an email out titled "When you Buy From a Small Business an Actual Person Does a Happy Dance" and I meant it just as much then as I do today.
When I began our company, I had no idea where it would take me. We began as a little monogramming company on Etsy where I shipped orders from my coffee table and processed orders from my kitchen table. Last December I left my full time job teaching to focus on Southern Mess full time. I spent a lot of time reflecting on my goals and where I wanted our company to go. I wanted something authentic, different, and personal. We are so much more than fashion. We are a way of life, and a tribute to Woman all over the world. We are about empowerment, community, and working together for a common good. We are real and we are just like you. Through our brand we reflect every day fashion. We are casual but like to dress up. Our graphic tees often say the things everyone else was already thinking. The faces behind our brand are Mothers trying to figure it all out just like the rest of us. They have flaws and insecurities but have also grown so much in confidence, and that's the very thing we love we feel we were blessed to do. I have a passion for fashion but also for coming together and building something amazing, lasting, and honest.
Thank you from every part of my heart for your support. It means the absolute world to me and my family. As we come up on 3 years of business, I'm amazed at what we have been able to do and so excited to show you what we have planned next!
XOXO,
Barb
Southern Mess