Swamp Head. Gainesville, FL.

Okay, so the first few blogs were fun.  Now it's time to go on an adventure...well read about one of mine.  For those of you who don't know me, I am originally from a small town called High Springs, FL.  If you don't know where that is, that's okay.  It's basically right outside of Gainesville, FL aka where The University of Florida is located.  So, pretty much I grew up in Gainesville.  Good ole Alachua County is still my "home", and where my parents reside.  This weekend (I finally had a WHOLE weekend off, gotta love 8 game road trips), I made a trip up to High Springs to visit my parents, along with all of my favorite things back home.  Once I turned 21, I discovered Swamp Head at one of my favorite hometown bars (Salty Dog in Midtown).  Since then I had made it a goal to visit the brewery.  Now when I return home, its a must to stop by.

Swamp Head Brewery was born in 2008 and has made its home in Gainesville.  They are all about Florida, and being "Inherently Floridan."  Which is awesome, and a huge reason why I love this beer and this brewery.  They recently moved into their brand new brewery, and it is phenomenal.  The taproom, or The Wetlands, is there as well and has such a great feel to it.  While I've tried quite a few of the Swamp Head beers (and suggest you do the same), Wild Night is my favorite.  Connor loves it as well.  It is just one of their 5 year round beers. You can also find Cottonmouth, Stump Knocker, Midnight Oil, and Big Nose IPA on tap.  Anytime I'm home, I stop by and fill up a growler, or two, of Wild Night to take back to Lakeland with me.

This particular visit was the first time I actually got to sit down and enjoy The Wetlands.  Hot dang! I was not disappointed.  The Wetlands is such a comfortable place, and the prices are on point.  For $4 a pint, you can enjoy one of the Swamp Head brews on tap.  They even pour beers from other Florida breweries, and prices vary on those.  In the actual tap room, there are high top tables mixed in with regular height tables, as well as seats at the bar.  There are huge windows with a beautiful view of the land surrounding the brewery.  There are board games available to play, or you can even bring your own!  The bar is amazing, as it has purse hooks AND power outlets built into it.  It has such a bright and relaxing vibe.  There is an area roped off in the brewery area where you can play cornhole, life-sized connect four, Jenga, or just hang out. On the day Connor and I visited, there was even a food truck out front.  Dos Burros serves tacos and burritos, and it doesn't get much better than tacos and beer!  (Be sure to check out the Events tab on their website to see if there will be a food truck there if you visit.  It's not an everyday thing.)

Then there is the beer.  Like I mentioned before, Wild Night is my absolute favorite.  I love it and it always provides me with some great memories.  Wild Night is a honey cream ale, and since I love light beers it works perfectly for my taste.  Out of the other year round beers, I have also tried Cottonmouth and Stump Knocker.  Both of these are fan favorites and I have to say they are very good.  Cottonmouth is a Belgian Witbier, and Stump Knocker is a pale ale.  If you're into stouts, Midnight Oil is all you.  This is an oatmeal coffee stout with locally roasted coffee!  Last, but not least, is Swamp Head's IPA.  Big Nose IPA has an ABV of 7.3% and is a huge favorite among the locals.

If you can't make it to Swamp Head, but live in the Gainesville area, it's okay!  Swamp Head cans and sells their Stump Knocker and Big Nose IPA.  (Wild Night cans are in the works!)  Don't live in Gainesville?  Hey, that's okay too! Simply head on over to Swamp Head's website and see if its available anywhere in your area.  Right now, its only available in Florida, but everyone needs a reason to visit the Sunshine State!
For more information on Swamp Head and The Wetlands, be sure to check out their website!

If you're ever in town, I would definitely recommend stopping by and having a beer.  (I want you to have fun, and please enjoy responsibly!) If you've been there, tell me what you thought! There are seriously so many cool places around Florida, and I love visiting as many as possible.  I can't wait to share more of my adventures with y'all!

Until next time,
Brandt

What's in my bag?

A girl's purse is a magical wonderland of various treasures.  Some ladies seem to have everything in their purses, while others seem to have barely anything at all.  I fall somewhere between those two categories, carrying what I consider to be the essentials.  From a Tide To-Go pen to a koozie, my purse contains the things I think I need on a day to day basis.

Wallet
Lets start off with something general, my wallet.  I love it! When I was "building" my purse before I started my job, I searched high and low for the perfect wallet.  I've had what feels like every style wallet out there-the longer ones, the wristlet ones, and even a trifold. While I don't mind those styles, I needed something that would fit in my new purse, and wouldn't break my bank.  One day at Target, I was checking out the wallets.  There mine was, and it was on sale!  It was the perfect size, and at $4.99 I couldn't say no.  I have a ton of store cards, but choose not to carry them around on a daily basis.  I usually will just use my phone number or e-mail at the store, or only take them with me if I'm planning on going to that particular store. This wallet is perfect for carrying around the basics!

Cosmetic Bag
This was another item that I searched for until I could find one that wasn't like $15.  I finally found it at either Walmart or Target, and I believe it was under $5.  I would consider this to be one of, if not the most, important things in my purse.  My mom has always carried one, and I usually thought it was ridiculous. She's a nurse (and a smart lady in general) and is always prepared for anything.  In my bag I carry a Tide To-Go pen, band aids, lotion, body spray, bobby pins, floss, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and lady products.  Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret have the best travel sized items that fit perfectly in these types of bags.  That's where I stock up on my hand sanitizer, body spray, and lotion. I cannot tell you how many times something in this bag has saved me!

The Essentials
There are items that I carry with me that fall into a miscellaneous category. Some items in my purse are purely in there for work.  I carry a tiny notebook around to keep quick notes on, my credentials, and A TON of pens with me every day. Besides that, everything else in my purse is a little random.  I'm not an extreme couponer or anything, but I carry a small coupon organizer in my purse.  I have a bad habit of forgetting to use coupons when I have them, but this way they're always with me.  Mints and lipstick or something of the sorts are two things I really try to not be without.  You never know when you'll need it!  It may be weird, but I also carry my headphones (and Lifeproof tail) with me all the time.  This way I have them if I need them, and never forget them when I go to the gym.  Plus, I always know where they are when I need them.  I carry not one, but two koozies in my purse.  I think it's mostly in case someone else needs one or I'm not in the mood for my Lilly one.  Either way, I think koozies are great to carry around.  Its a huge thing for me to make sure my sunglasses always make it back into their case; I have broken too many to not do this. Especially since I've started spending a few extra dollars on them. My dad tends to be a little overprotective (and a little overdramatic), so I also carry around some pepper spray.  Thankfully, I've never had to use it. The last essential I carry around with me is either my planner, a notebook, or my iPad.  Sometimes I carry only one, sometimes I carry all three.  I'm huge on being organized, and this helps if I need to jot something down or remember a date.

Crazy to think all of this fits in my medium sized purse, right?  It all fits pretty comfortably with some extra room to throw in my phone charger or anything I might need for the day.  I found my purse on sale at Versona for $17 and it's been a real trooper.  I love all of the compartments and that it zips up.  I was determined to not spend a ton of money on a purse, so this ended up being such a great deal. I also love that my purse unintentionally has a color theme...with the exception of a few things.

I carry some pretty random stuff around with me, but it's all come in handy at least once.  What do you consider to be your everyday essentials?

Until next time,
Brandt

Girl, this is my JAM!

A few weeks ago, I was planning a Ladies Night for one of our upcoming games.  (In case you didn't read my "About" page, I work for a minor league baseball team.)  Along with that came making a playlist for the night.  To compose the playlist I searched Spotify, asked some of my coworkers for their opinions, and threw in some of my personal favorites.  During the game I couldn't stop thinking of how much I liked the playlist...and then I remembered that I (partially) came up with it.

At the stadium, we use Spotify to make and play our playlists for games.  My fellow intern, Kenny, was gracious enough to make my list into a Spotify list and allow me to share it with the world (aka you lovely friends).


I personally like to listen to this on the way to work, or while at work.  It's a mix of songs about ladies, songs for ladies, and (most importantly) songs by ladies.  It has a ton feel good, sing along jams, so why not share it with everyone?

Do you have a favorite playlist full of female powerhouses, or great girl jams?  Share them with me!  I love new music!

Until next time,
Brandt

I love my lips.

I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for new lip glosses, balms, and stains.  My collection ranges anywhere from EOS lip balm and Maybelline's Baby Lips to Sephora lip glosses and Ulta lipsticks.  They are all great in my option and are in my daily rotation depending on my plans.  There's a new addition to my lip wear collection, and it's been my go-to every day this week.

PROVOCALIPS: 16 HR Kiss Proof Lip Colour by Rimmel London
I was casually browsing through my Instagram feed when I saw a post about these lip colors, so I decided to give them a try. Rimmel's website describes them as "kiss-proof, transfer-proof, trouble proof" with "up to 16 hours of lip liberation!" It is also advertised as "weightless" and providing "endless comfort." Sounds great, right?

During my last shopping trip, I decided to pick up a few shades and give em a go. I chose Dare to Pink-110 and I'll Call You-200.  I'm a fan of lighter pinks for more casual days, and fuchsia/darker pink shades for work and going out.  Dare to Pink is a lighter pink, and I'll Call You is a darker pink.

Dare to Pink.  Great color, but definitely not my favorite of the two.

I'll Call You: Love the color!

I'll be up front with you, I like I'll Call You much better than Dare to Pink.  Not because of the shade, but more because of the way it wears.  For some reason, the lighter shade seems to not apply as well as the darker shade.  When applying these make sure you leave your lips apart for 60 seconds between the color and the lock & shine.  I did not know to do this at first, and it really does help.  So, how well does it live up to it's expectations?  Well, these colors definitely last for 16 hours and you won't find traces of them on your straws and cups.  At the end of the day, my lips are still full of color.  Be sure to have some great make up remover on deck to remove it though.  It really does hold up well throughout the day.  I never find it on anything, and if I ever need to reapply its sometimes after lunch.  As far as comfort goes, I would say yes to feeling weightless and mostly yes for endless comfort.  I forget I'm wearing it sometimes, because it is weightless and never smudges.  For comfort, sometimes I feel like my lips are a little dry.  However, I tend to over moisturize my lips and this summer weather can also play a part in that.  The texture may take a little getting used to, but like I said it is very weightless.

Overall, I am a fan of these stains.  They are pretty comfortable, come in great colors, and last all day.  I would totally recommend them for casual, everyday wear. Want to get your hands on a shade or two and try them?  They're available in a ton of different places! Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Meijer, and Ulta.  You can even "try it on" using a feature on Rimmel London's website!  It's pretty wallet friendly too, averaging about $6.  I snagged mine for $5.84 at Target using a 10% discount through their Cartwheel app.  Ulta also has them on sale right now for $5.99, and they run about $6.50 at Walmart.  Oh, and it is available in 9 different shades, so you're bound to fall in love with one of them!
Decide to try it? Let me know which color you rocked, and how you liked it! Already use it? Tell me if you like it, or could do without it!

Until next time,
Brandt

"You're always wearing your letters!"

So for my first post ever, I wanted to write a blog post that has been in the back of my mind since January 6th, 2015.  When I started my job, I couldn't stop thinking about how my sorority really shaped how I would handle having my first work experience as a post-grad. Okay, I know you're probably thinking you've read this same article before, but hear me out on this one.  There are so  many elements of my job (which is really a full-time internship) that I gained experience with through my time in my sorority. Here are some of them...

First one up is one that really stuck in my head for a while.  If you were ever in a sorority, you've probably heard the phrase "You are always wearing your letters" about 100 times a week.  Believe me, I know because I was Standards for a year and I was usually the one saying it. We say this to remind everyone that no matter what, you're always representing your organization.  It's a pretty important reminder.  Well, after I graduated, I did not think it was something that I would be hearing that much of anymore.  Oh my gosh, was I wrong! On my first day at my internship (or job, I use them interchangeably), the other four interns and I sat down with our general manager for our day of training.  Side note: you should know that I intern with a major league baseball team, but I work with one of their farm (or minor league) teams and am technically employed by a major league club.  During this day long meeting, we covered a ton of topics.  What we were allowed to do, what we should not do, how to interact with players and the media... the list goes on.  Then, he explained to us that we would have a lot of opportunities where we would be around people from other clubs and we would attend a lot of events with people high up in our company.  While this is awesome, he stressed how important it was to remember that we are always representing our organization, the whole organization.  I almost started laughing, which would have been awful, because he was basically telling us we're always wearing our team's logo.  We are always representing our company, and it is very important that we do not do something embarrassing to not only ourselves, but to the company as well.  Wow, never thought I'd hear that one again.  It is now something that I am constantly thinking about, and is one of the most important things I have to remember.

Another one would fall under the category of attire.  If there was one thing that I got sick of from week to week, it was pin attire.  Both chapters I was a part of dabbled in the "wearing pin attire once a week mandatory" game, and after four years of it I was over it.  However, it was pin attire that really shaped and guided how I would dress for my big girl job.  Every job has a different dress code, but at the end of the day looking tasteful is always important. Pin attire helped me realize what might be too short, too low cut, or too casual.  I know that if I'm following pin attire rules, I'm in the clear to wear it to work.

Okay and the last one would be chapter, and meetings in general.  I served two terms on our executive board, so I know all about meetings.  Chapter meetings, executive board meetings, committee meetings-I've been to them all.  Meetings happen at jobs.  They're not always boring, but they're not always exciting either.  No matter what, proper meeting etiquette is really important.  Knowing how to be a part of a meeting is very important too.  Paying attention, contributing, and taking great notes are all things that I did in chapter and that I still do in meetings. Always make sure to come prepared, and be on your A game.  It is so embarrassing to be in a meeting and to be asked about something and not be prepared.  Believe me on this one.  It's very important to watch your facial expressions too.  If you're bored out of your mind, try really hard not to let it show on your face; it just doesn't come off very professional.  If you're currently Greek or involved in a club, I would start taking meetings a little more seriously and pay attention to what makes them successful and what isn't working.  This will definitely help you when your time comes to enter into corporate America!

Oh! My sorority also really helped me with handling social settings.  Those questions you ask during recruitment? Great conversation starters at a reception or cocktail hour.  Learning how to handle your liquor and/or knowing your limits? Really handy when you're at an event with free beer and wine.  Just some things to keep in mind, because you're always representing your company!

So basically, my time in my sorority really did prepare me for my future.  I'll tell you that I always knew it would, but it's still cool to see how much it really did.

Until next time,
Brandt