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LAWYER FOR CREATIVES + SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Visit Liberty, MO!

December 1, 2021 ·

As a lifelong Kansas City “Northlander,” I’m excited to share a few local gems located right here in Liberty, MO. Liberty is located just minutes North of downtown and is full of unique places to shop and dine. The Historic Liberty Square is definitely a destination spot and captures that small town feel and local shopping experience. Within several minutes from the Square, Liberty also has some of your favorite big box stores, along with many more local favorites.

My first stop on my tour of Liberty was a little boutique located right on the Liberty Square called Catfish & Tater. From Chiefs gear, cute clothes and shoes, to baby gifts, there’s something for everyone in this cozy boutique. I tried on several items and wanted them all!

My next stop, which was just across the street from Catfish & Tater, was Petals & Potpourri. It was absolutely bursting at the seams with holiday cheer! Petals & Potpourri features seasonal decor, custom floral arrangements, and unique gifts. I had the opportunity to meet the owner of the store while I was there, and she could not have been nicer.

Voted KC’s best bagel for several years in a row (and lucky for me, located just down the road from my office), my next stop was Meshuggah Bagels. Meshuggah Bagels is know for their delicious New York style bagels. I normally opt for a plain bagel with salmon schmear, but since I stopped in just before Thanksgiving, I had to try out the pumpkin pie schmear. It did not disappoint!

My final stop was the Liberty Antique Mall. I have driven by this place many times, and had no idea how cool it was. It’s much larger than it seems from the outside. I enjoyed meandering through the two floors of antiques and vintage items. The rotary phones and record players completely brought me back to my childhood! If you love antiques, you absolutely must make a trip to Liberty Antique Mall.

The above are just a small handful of the wonderful shops and restaurants located in Liberty, MO. If you are local to KC or the surrounding areas, be sure to add Liberty to your list of places to visit!

#sponsored

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Uncategorized

Up Your Easter Game with Hy-Vee

March 28, 2021 ·

You can’t have Easter without the sweets! Here are three fun and EASY ways to incorporate your favorite sweet treats from Hy-Vee into your Easter festivities this year.

Easter Sweets Charcuterie Board

Brooklyn’s eyes lit up when she saw this amazing Easter candy filled charcuterie board I made for her and a few neighbor friends to share. All you need do to make this festive board is remove the items from their packaging and scatter them into groups on your board. It only takes a few minutes to do, but really gives that “wow” factor! Here’s a list of everything I included on my board, all purchased from Hy-vee, of course.

Jelly Beans

Frosted Animal Cookies

Mini Reece’s Cups

Peeps

Bunny Grahams

Mini Eggs

Peanut Butter M&Ms

Hershey Kisses

White Chocolate Pretzels

Vanilla Wafers

Taffy

Peeps Floral Arrangement

Hy-Vee is one of my favorite places to buy flowers, and they have the prettiest pre-made boutiques for Easter this year. I also found some daffodils for just $1.67 a bunch! They are a great gift to bring to a family gathering or to simply level up your spring décor. To add a little Easter flair, I picked up a few packs of Peeps and created this super simple and colorful display.

All you need to do this yourself is: (1) two vases of differing diameter but same height and (2) several packages of the bunny-shaped Peeps (the number of bunnies depends on the size of your vase). You simply place the smaller vase inside the larger one, and drop the bunnies in from the top until each row is filled. That’s it! Again, this project just took me just a few minutes to complete.

Peeps S’mores Dessert

My kids and I love S’mores, so when I came across this recipe on Pinterest, I knew I had to replicate it for Easter this year. It’s super simple and is another one that only takes a few minutes. I used one package of semi-sweet chocolate chips, a few dollops of peanut butter, and then topped it with Peeps. I broiled it in the over for just a couple minutes to brown the top and then lowered the temp to 350 and baked it until the chocolate chips melted. (I let the oven cool off a little in between). I served this warm with graham crackers. Delish!

Be sure to shop your local Hy-Vee for Easter this year. In addition to Easter candy and flowers, they have pre-made meals, pies, basket fillers, egg dying kits and more! #sponsoredpost

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Family, Holidays

Holiday Shopping 2020

November 14, 2020 ·

Black Friday seems to have started earlier than ever this year, so it’s the perfect opportunity to knock out your holiday shopping earlier as well. I am personally looking forward to getting all my shopping and wrapping done early, so that I can relax and truly enjoy the holiday season.

Below are links to a few things that are on my family’s holiday lists, and I’ve also included a few favorites we’ve received in the past. I’ve always found inspiration and ideas from other bloggers’ gift guides, so I figured I would share my own! Happy Holidays!


Gifts for Her


Gifts for Him


Gifts for Girls


Gifts for Boys

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Gift Guides, Holidays
Tagged: 2020 holiday gifts, gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts for kids, holiday gift guide

Traveling to Napa Valley during the COVID-19 Pandemic

August 30, 2020 ·

Now that we are home and can confirm we all remained COVID-19 free, I’m spilling all the details on our recent Napa Valley trip. Despite its association with California, where coronavirus cases have been pretty high, Napa Valley was an excellent, safe, summer travel option. All restaurants and wineries are operating entirely outdoors, and social distancing is strictly enforced. Other than an occasional waiter or waitress in a mask, I don’t think we came within 10 feet of anyone outside our group the entire trip! Keep reading to see which restaurants and wineries were accommodating to our group and which ones you might want to avoid.

Let’s start with the flight. We flew Delta, and it felt very clean and safe. Like many airlines, Delta is limiting the number of people on flights and are leaving the middle seat open. We were given a sanitizing wipe when we got on the plane, and although there were no beverage carts, we were given a plastic bag with a snack, additional wipe, and water bottle. We had to wear our masks the entire time, and it did get old. However, on one of our flights, I saw someone with a full hazmat suit, N90 mask and goggles, so I figured if he could survive the flight, surely I could too!

When we arrived in San Francisco we were all starving, so we made a quick pit stop at the Ferry Building. I had my heart set on some oysters, but we didn’t have time, so we settled on Gott’s Roadside. Great choice! I had the Western Bacon Blue Ring Burger and some of their famous Mexican Street Corn. So, so, so good! We sat outside, and the entire Ferry Building was pretty much a ghost town, so it felt very socially distanced.

We then made the drive into Yountville and stopped at one of my favorite little wineries, Jessup Cellars. They were very gracious to our group of TEN. Yep, you read that right. Despite a ban on groups of more than 6, we rolled into Yountville like the rebels we are. We had to split up the entire trip into groups of 4 and 6 or 5 and 5. We drew names, which was fun at first, but, sadly, I don’t think I ate dinner with my husband the entire trip. Here’s a good time to point out that *I would NOT recommend going to Napa with a group larger than 6.

Okay, back to Jessup Cellars. The Jessup Cellars tasting was one of the group’s favorites. The wine was delicious and the tasting fee very reasonable. We really enjoyed the service here and the more laid-back vibe. It was also walkable from our bed & breakfast, Maison Fluerie.

That night we had an amazing dinner at Bouchon Bistro. They have a small but beautiful patio area, and the service was exceptional. Because of our wait, they even bought us all a round of drinks. A good glass of Rosé can truly fix anything. We celebrated a friend’s birthday that night, and they even rolled out a dessert with a candle. Highly recommend this place!

My husband and I went for a run around Yountville each morning and ended with a coffee and treat from Bouchon Bakery. The line gets crazy when it opens, so we got there about 15 minutes early and had no issues. We also had a fabulous breakfast by the pool at our B&B each morning.

We started our first full day of wine tasting at Frog’s Leap Winery. The grounds were beautiful, and I’m a big fan of this organic wine. This was actually our third time visiting Frog’s Leap. They were pretty strict on us wearing our masks, even asking us to put our masks back on even when we were out in the vineyard trying to take a photo. Given that we were outside and not within 100 feet of another person, it was a little strange.

Next we grabbed lunch at Oakville Grocery. It was absolutely delicious! It’s a casual spot, but the food and wine selection are excellent. I split a pizza with a friend and we bought a smaller, half-bottle of wine to enjoy over lunch. The beer drinkers in our group were glad to grab a beer (or two) on this stop.

After lunch we attempted to visit Mumm Napa. Despite having two separate reservations for 4 and 6, they would not let us in. The host outside the tasting room was extremely rude to us. We joked that it felt like we were getting scolded at the principal’s office. Not okay. No one in our group will be visiting or buying any of their wines in the foreseeable future. Our issue was not with their COVID-19 policies, but more with how they treated us.

Our last winery of the day was at the charming Elizabeth Spencer Winery. This was my first time visiting this winery, and I absolutely loved it. They could not have been nicer and the back outdoor seating area was so nice. They even had special tasting menus printed for our group.

For dinner that night we went to Brix, where I had the best meal of our entire trip. If you make it here, you have to order the Roasted Chicken Carbonara. It almost had a chicken noodle soup vibe, and really hit the spot! Next time we are in Napa, I will be headed back to Brix for this exact meal. The views were also stunning here, and we were lucky enough to be there for the sunset. We did get asked several times to not commingle our group, but they were very nice about it, proving that it’s possible to enforce your business’ COVID-19 policies without being a jerk.

Day two kicked off with a private tasting at Momento Mori. This was my favorite tasting of the trip. The wine is so, so good. We also had the best time chatting with our host, Emily. She was overflowing with knowledge about the valley and winemaking.

We lunched at the gorgeous RH Yountville. Wow! You have to eat here, if only to experience the decor. The outdoor dining space was truly magical. The food was also excellent, and it was nice that we just had a short walk back to Maison Fluerie after lunch.

That afternoon we hit up a couple local tasting rooms. First we made a visit to Priest Ranch. Their outdoor patio was pretty small, and honestly, the service was not very good. I would pass on this place until they are open for indoor tastings.

We then headed just outside of town to check out Hill Family Estate. They have a tasting room in Yountville, but with very little outdoor space, they suggested we head to their winery just outside of town. It was so beautiful, and the perfect spot to relax. They were very friendly here, and this place was definitely worth the 5 minute Uber ride.

We had dinner that night at Bottega. They have a very large outdoor area, so I would think this would be an easy one to get a reservation. Unfortunately, the service was very poor here, and I kid you not, we saw a very large rat crawling down the wall near our table. When we told our waiter about it, he acted like we were making it up. The entire dinner all I could think about was that dang rat! Unfortunately the food did not make up for the poor service.

Before heading out of town that next morning we stopped at Mini Model to try their famous English muffins. Let me tell you: worth the hype! So delicious.

All around it was a great trip, and it was really nice to get out of town for a few days. We loved our stay at Maison Fluerie. It was our third time staying there, and it was great as usual. They always go above and beyond. If you are thinking about a trip to Napa Valley in the near future, go for it! Just don’t go in a big group. Other than that, enjoy your trip!

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Uncategorized

L.O.L. Surprise! Makeover Birthday Party

June 23, 2020 ·

Over the weekend we had a pretty epic birthday party to celebrate Brooklyn’s 7th birthday! All the credit goes to Brooklyn for coming up with the concept for this party. She specifically requested an L.O.L. Surprise! Makeover party, where she and her friends would be made over to look like their favorite LOL doll. I thought it was genius!

All the decor is linked below, and I made the balloon tassels after watching a few YouTube videos. They were SO easy, and it only cost around $15 to make all of them. Brooklyn even helped! Because the balloons were all so big, we had to take them to Party City to be inflated. I purchased a helium tank, but the first balloon pretty much used up the entire tank!

She found a cake she liked on Pinterest, and Midwest Cookie Co. recreated it perfectly. The top half was funfetti flavored, and the bottom was triple chocolate. It tasted as good as it looked! She was also very specific on snacks. We had fruit cups and a mix of gold fish, marshmallows, pretzels and cheddar popcorn. The party was at 1pm, so we didn’t have to feed everyone, which was nice.

Each girl was given a bag of goodies, including their own lip gloss, nail file , hair brush, etc. They decorated their bags with stickers right from the start. They were also given a water bottle. (If you don’t know, each LOL doll comes with it’s own water bottle.) I tried my best to find these that looked the most like the LOL water bottles, and I used paint markers to write their names on them and ribbon to spruce them up a bit. I found these LOL waterproof vinyl stickers, and the girls also decorated their water bottles.

I set up three stations: hair, makeup and nails. I recruited a couple of our neighbor girls to help with hair and bought a bunch of temporary hair color and hair chalk. I also ordered bows and some LOL hair ties. Each girl was given their own brush to use. I found these at Target for $3 a piece.

For the makeup station, I used Brooklyn’s pottery barn vanity and let them do their own makeup. These girls love to do their own makeup! I found some inexpensive makeup brushes from Target and a great neon eyeshadow pallet. The LOL press on earrings were also a big hit!

I did everyone’s nails, since that’s my jam. I already had a bunch of nail polish, but I ordered a couple pink fans to make it seem a little more like an actual nail salon. I also bought some cute nail decals and each girl got their own LOL nail file.

After the makeovers, they all sat in a circle and we gave each girl her very own LOL ball to open. I found the Winter Disco series on clearance at Best Buy for $6 and put them in a cute LOL bag. They watched each other open them up one by one, which took quite a while.

We sang happy birthday, ate cake, opened presents, and then everyone went home full of sugar, with multicolored hair and their new L.O.L. Suprise! swag. Brooklyn had the time of her life, and I was so happy I could help make this happen for her.

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Uncategorized

Scout & Cellar: Sauvignon Blancs

March 21, 2020 ·

(*Note: I am an Independent Consultant with Scout & Cellar*) You don’t know how hard this research project was! (Wink wink). Nevertheless, I made the sacrifice and tried each of these delicious Sauvignon Blancs from Scout & Cellar. Below I’m sharing my tasting notes and favorites with you!

1. 2019 Adelante Sauvignon Blanc (Chile): A good, grassy Sauvignon Blanc. This tasted very crisp and classic to me. No one picked this as a favorite, but it was the most interesting and very delicious!

2. 2019 Dove Hunt Dog Sauvignon Blanc (North Coast, California): I thought this one was the smoothest, with a hint of an oaky flavor. Both my husband and I picked this one as our favorite! If you prefer something not as sweet, this may be the one for you.

3. 2019 Gallivant Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County, California): This was super bright, sweet, and will be consumed in large quantities over the summer for sure! This was my dad’s favorite, and he is more of a sweet wine drinker.

4. 2019 Fiddleneck Sauvignon Blanc (Potter Valley, California): This was probably my least favorite of the group, although we still drank a couple bottles of it within a day or two – lol. It was definitely more citrusy/acidic.

Why Scout & Cellar? These clean-crafted wines are free from synthetic pesticides and chemical additives and sweeteners. Scout & Cellar also works directly with smaller-batch growers and family-owned farms. The result? Better tasting wine! Once I started primarily drinking Scout & Cellar wines, nothing tastes quite as good.

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Wine

Summer Essentials

February 25, 2020 ·

Everything on my list I personally own and am completely obsessed with. Let’s chat about it.

1. I love this twist back tank from J.Crew. It’s great to throw on over a swim suit or wear on its own. I’ve washed it a million times, and it still looks great.

2. These cutoffs have a cult-like following, and they are 1000% worth the money and the great reviews. I actually have them in two colors.

3. I was just recently gifted some Teleties, and now I am hooked. They are cute to wear on your wrist and much easier on my hair. There are a bunch of great spring colors, and I’m loving this pink.

4. I bought this packable straw hat from J.Crew last year, and it’s awesome. You can literally roll it up and secure it with the elastic that goes around the brim. It’s virtually indestructible, which is great when you are packing. I feel like my hats always get crushed when we travel.

5. These are the most comfortable sunglasses I own. I love how big they are, so they cover those fine lines around your eyes when you are out in the sun. They also won’t break the bank, so if you drop them in the ocean, you won’t be devastated (or maybe you’ll just be less devastated – lol).

6. If you don’t own a pair of Birkenstocks, what are you waiting for? Again, they are a great investment. I have a few pairs, and they all pretty much look new. They are comfortable if you are walking a lot (i.e., Disney or Europe), and nice enough to wear to dinner with a maxi dress.

7. I just bought this swimsuit, and it is SO comfortable. I will definitely be able to swim and play with the kids without feeling like I’m going to fall out of my swimsuit. A quality swimsuit that fits right is always worth the money!

8. I have been on the hunt for a good basic coverup since last summer, and I finally pulled the trigger on this button down tunic. The material is almost like athletic clothes, so I’m guessing it’s going to be quick to dry. It’s the perfect length, and I plan to wear it buttoned and unbuttoned.

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Fashion, Travel

My Favorite Madewell Jeans

February 10, 2020 ·

If you don’t own a pair of Madewell jeans, then you are missing out! I bought my first pair a couple years ago, and since then, I’ve been hooked. I think I now own roughly six pairs and the overalls. They fit so great and the price is right on point.

1. If you are going to buy one pair, my all-time favorites are the 10″ High Rise Skinny in Hayes Wash. They are basic, fit great, and are nice enough to wear on a casual Friday in the office.

2. The next pair I wear all the time are the 9″ Mid-Rise Skinny in Berkeley Black. These jeans are SO comfortable that I find myself reaching for them every morning when I get dressed.

3. I just got the 9″ Mid-Rise Skinny in Black Sea for my birthday this year, and I’ve been wearing them almost as much. I needed something a little more “destroyed,” and these fit the bill.

4. Within the last month, I bought the 10″ High Rise Skinny in Mackey Wash. I love the button-front detail and am hoping I can wear these to give my other 10″ High Rise Skinnies a break.

5. I can also highly recommend the overalls! You may think you can’t pull these off, but they are so fun and also so comfortable.

Lastly, you can bring in or send in an old pair of jeans to Madewell, as part of their recycling program, and you’ll get $20 your purchase of a new pair of jeans. It’s a great deal, and I almost always do this!


   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Fashion

Book Review: Rising Strong by Brené Brown

February 9, 2020 ·

Let me start by saying, I am a HUGE Brené Brown fan. In 2018 I read Daring Greatly at the recommendation of a friend, and within the year, I had quit my 10-year career as an attorney in an effort to live a more authentic life. I am also a perfectionist (a ONE on the enneagram), and The Gifts of Imperfection was equally as transformative.

Rising Strong was just as good and insightful as these other books. There are a lot of similar themes and ideas, so there is definitely some overlap; however, these are things I need to revisit on a regular basis. It’s almost like saying you read the Bible once, so no need to read it again.

As someone jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, I feel like Rising Strong has prepared me to respond to potential failures that I know will arise. Just because I experience failure, doesn’t mean I am a failure! I’ve also caught myself lately really leaning into or “rumbling” with some feeling I know are not good.

Brené Brown’s honesty and humor make her stories so relatable. “Self-help” books are my favorite genre, and I love when I can learn and grow from a book, while also being highly entertained!

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Books

February Outfit on Sale!

February 3, 2020 ·

   

Posted by bvokolek / Filed In: Fashion, Uncategorized

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Hi. I’m Brea. Social media-obsessed lawyer turned influencer. Generally overthinking everything and sharing it with you!

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Visit Liberty, MO!

Visit Liberty, MO!

Up Your Easter Game with Hy-Vee

Up Your Easter Game with Hy-Vee

Holiday Shopping 2020

Holiday Shopping 2020

Traveling to Napa Valley during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Traveling to Napa Valley during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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