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So, you’re having a baby?! Congratulations!  Hopefully, you will be one of those “special” girls who is only pregnant right in her itty-bitty, perfectly round tummy.  But if you are like the rest of us, we have you covered!  From swollen feet and ankles to puffy hands, pregnancy can be downright hard on a body!  Growing a small human in your womb is hard, and miraculous, work, and often leaves you feeling exhausted and not so glamorous.  But let me tell you something sister, you have never been more beautiful than you are right now!  And dressing like it will help you feel like it!  Don’t worry because it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune!  Luckily, what is on trend today can carry you from pre-pregnancy hottie through full-on pregnancy beauty and back again.  Look for empire waists and flowy, feminine fabrics.  Maxi dresses with a cinched, empire waist will definitely be a wardrobe staple for you before, during, and after.  Another thing to remember is you only need a few basic true maternity items—jeans or pants, tank tops or t-shirts.  The rest of your wardrobe during this time can be built with clothes you already have or with items you can continue to wear after your sweet sugars makes his or her appearance.  Kimonos and cardigans will fit regardless and really add a feminine touch to a basic jeans and t-shirt outfit.  One thing on trend right now is chambray fabrics.  Slip on some comfy leggings, a basic t-shirt, and your denim jacket and you are ready to go!  One brand we carry that is perfect for before, during, and after pregnancy is Umgee.  Many of their cuts are very full and flowy, which is just right for your growing belly.  They won’t stretch or lose their shape as you continue to wear them, and will be very forgiving after your little bundle arrives and you get back your pre-pregnancy body.  Pair one of these tunics with your favorite leggings and a pair of our leopard print flats, and you are ready for anything your day brings and look amazing doing it!  This is a time in your life that may not feel all that glamorous, but is one of the most special and perhaps the most miraculous and remarkable thing you will ever accomplish—you deserve to look as beautiful as your truly are!

Maternity Photo Credit: Alea Kent Photography

The questions I have been asked most frequently since the inception of Blush Boutique are, “How do y’all know each other?” and “How did you get involved in this?”.  Both are pretty amusing to me because the answers are just so natural.  

Amanda and I have a long history together—our fathers were best friends growing up, and while we did not know each other until adulthood, it did not take long for us to become best of friends also.  Amanda worked as my nurse for several years before following her true passion and purchasing Merle Norman Cosmetics in 2014.  She knew it would be a matter of time before I started trying to boss her around again, though!  In truth, we have been talking about doing something like Blush for years, and now we are making that dream a reality!  

People often question best friends going into business together, and now we have added my sister-in-law, Emily!  Are we crazy?!  Well, probably we are, but this is not why!  The thing that makes us successful in business is what has always made “us” work—we put our friendship and each other before everything business-related.  There is nothing more important to the three of us than our families and our friendships.  So, we always make sure to put those relationships first, and everything else falls into place.  Like Jesus taught His disciples, serve others as more important than yourselves, right?

The other thing that makes us better together is that we have different strengths but the same goals.  Our mission in opening Blush originally was to increase local shopping options and to try and support American manufacturing wherever possible.  We carry two lines of top-notch American made jeans, Angry Rabbit and Kan Can.  We also sell Bridgewater Candles, made in South Carolina, created by a company that feeds orphaned children around the world with each candle sold.  We carry Flirt Jewelry (Mississippi), Southern Strung jewelry (Carrollton, Georgia), and Southern Raised t-shirts (Tuscaloosa, Alabama).  In fact, the majority of what we sell is made in the USA. 

We also believe that women work hard and carry huge responsibilities.  Whether they work in the home or out, we are the backbone of the American family, and as such, we deserve to look and feel as beautiful as God created us.  Women give until they cannot give anymore, then they give some more, always putting themselves last.  At Blush, we want to make sure each woman we encounter leaves feeling better than when they arrived and that they KNOW just how important, lovely, and beautiful they are.  

As our online store launches, we hope to carry this hope and this mission to the far reaches of our great nation.   I guess you could say we are “Free Falling” girls—we love Jesus, our mamas, and America, too.  We love each other, and we want you to know what we feel in our hearts.  We hope that you will fall in love with Blush Boutique like we have, and that you will always remember what our Memaw says, “Jesus loves you and so do I.”  Thanks for checking us out, y’all!  Happy shopping!