COMING SOON!

Hi dolls! The only proper way to begin this is with THANK YOU! Over the past two years as The PR Princess, I have been able to connect and influence so many talented individuals and for that, I am thankful. Over the past six months, I have taken the time to reevaluate my goals and interests. While doing this, I realized that I have grown tremendously and that it’s time for change and rebranding. I’ve decided to rid of my PR blog and move on to a blog which truly exemplifies everything that I am passionate about…

FOOD (Duh!)

FASHION

DIY/PINTEREST PROJECTS

PR (Okay, just a little bit)

BEAUTY

I am beyond excited to start fresh and share my tips and tricks, recipes, and outfits with all of my loyal readers on a brand new blog: Southern B & Sweet Tea! At this point in my life, I have realized that my happiness expands much further than public relations and I want to share that with you all. Please follow & subscribe! I promise you won’t regret it 🙂

I hope that you will join me in this new chapter and will continue to follow, subscribe, and leave feedback. I value your support and opinions tremendously. I cannot thank each of you enough for following and supporting my dreams. It’s time to share new dreams with you all and I couldn’t be more excited! Stay tuned… Southern B & Sweet Tea is comin’ in HOT!

If you have any ideas for blog posts or have questions you want me to answer, please send them to me at southernbandsweettea@gmail.com. Also, please subscribe and follow me on Instagram: @southernbandsweettea

I will be officially changing my current Twitter & Instagram handles on May 1 to @brandiwelk.

XO, Brandi

DIY Teeth Whitening

media relations 101

Pensacola Chapter of FPRA

Last week, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the 76th Annual Conference for the Florida Public Relations Association in Orlando, FL. I had never attended the conference as a professional. I had no idea what to expect. I figured I would have to listen to boring talks on topics of no interest all while being surrounded by a bunch of old folks. BOY was I wrong?! The conference turned out to be 3 days of jam-packed seminars with speakers and public relations professionals from all over the country including The Weather Channel and Google. This conference is one that I will cherish and plan on attending from here on out! 

One breakout session that stood out to me was instructed by Lauren Saver, President of Headlines Consulting, LLC. She was a spicy Italian that gave all of her tips & tricks to media training. Below are some of the highlights I took from the session:

Media Relations 101

• ALWAYS say “yes” to an interview – Even if you can’t conduct the interview right when being asked, say “yes” and schedule a follow up time.
• ALWAYS provide a reporter with an “expert.” – This is what every reporter wants . . . THE FACTS!
• Pitch PEOPLE not achievements – Truth is, no one cares about your dull ribbon-cutting ceremony. 
• Think visually – If possible, provide the reporter with video or a photo from your event. This makes their life much easier!
• Remain flexible – You don’t need a perfect conference room for an interview. A parking lot is just fine!
• DON’T provide stacks of background materials – Reporters operate on very tight deadlines and don’t have time to read novels of background information. 
• Watch the calendar – Make sure that your pitches are timely. Send out a press release 1 week prior to the event and email a reminder 1-2 days before.
• DON’T call a reporter – They already receive tons of pitches daily. Emails are best . . . unless you have a personal relationship with the reporter.

Improve Your Interviews

• Use FEWER words – Less really is more! Make your responses simple for any audience to understand.
• DON’T use technical jargon – The public already suffers from information overload.

The Life of Your Average Reporter

• 9:30 am – editorial meeting
• 10:00 am – hit the phones
• 11:00 am – hit the road
• 11:30 am – 1:00 pm – INTERVIEW SWEET SPOT! This is the best time to catch an interview. Be available!
• 2:30 pm – script deadline
• 3:30 pm – editing
• 4:00 pm – drive to live shot location
• 4:30 pm – set up live truck
• 5:00 pm – live @ 5 pm segment airs

I cannot stress enough how helpful this information was for me. Lauren Saver is an expert! She has worked as a reporter for many media outlets including Fox News and NBC. Seriously though, who knows the ins & outs of the media better than a reporter?! 

I’ll be posting more of what I learned from the conference in the next couple of days! Enjoy!

#PrayForPensacola

The past 24 hours have been full of trials & tribulations for my home, Pensacola, FL, and the surrounding areas. What was predicted as severe thunderstorms equating to 4 – 6 inches of rained turned out to be a devastating flood resulting in over 20 inches of rain. Many families watched their possessions float by in their homes and their entire streets be washed away. Others, like myself, were extremely fortunate to have had no damage from the downpour, but my heart breaks for those who must now start from scratch. Many people do not have flood insurance and are looking for help.

Below are some photos from the aftermath of this terrible storm:

 

This is in the neighborhood Aragon Court. The waters overtook many homes. All of these families will have to rebuild & restore.

This house is off of Bayou Blvd. A giant sinkhole was formed from the many waves of water coming towards them.

This car floated down the street. The only thing keeping it stable today is the bus sign anchored in the tire.

This is what remains of part of our famous drive, Scenic Highway. Cars actually fell off this road during the storm.

This is only a small selection of photos from the storm. Pensacola must now rebuild & restore our city. I do feel absolutely proud to live in Pensacola, FL. From the moment the rain stopped, strangers were helping one another by pulling cars out of mud, providing shelter and more. When the going gets tough, we stick together. I ask all of you reading this to please #PrayForPensacola and the surrounding areas. Please help us spread the word by using the hashtag — #PrayForPensacola.

Many people are without any sense of hope right now and the more prayers, the better. Donations can be made to the American Red Cross here — Make sure that you designate the donation to “Disaster Relief.” In this time of recovery, anything will help.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts & prayers. You are appreciated by the entire city of Pensacola, FL.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

best & worst from the 2014 ACMs

The ACMs were full of surprises last night. From Taylor Swift rocking a crop top to Miranda Lambert debuting her hot new bod, the event did not disappoint. My favorite part of award shows, as for most women, is seeing what all of the celebrities wear on the red carpet. Here are some of the best & worst from the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards:

 

My absolute FAVORITE of the night was Taylor Swift. I am loving the black & white color blocking and the crop top is a plus in my book. LOVED IT!

My second best dressed of the night was Carrie Underwood. I mean, seriously, can she get anymore flawless?! I love this flapper inspired gown with fringe detail. GORG as always!

Hunter Hayes rocked the show when performing his new single “Invisible” and also rocked the red carpet. I love the simplicity of his outfit choice last night. 

Of course, this precious couple made my list! Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton melt my heart at every award show, but this time Miranda Lambert stole the show debuting her hot new bod. Looking good girl!

WORST DRESSED — need I say more?! Frankie Ballard, you missed the mark here buddy. You look like you belong in a Liberace band!

Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the show. I did feel that many stars played it safe, but better safe than sorry I suppose!! Who were your favorites last night? I would love to hear them — Comment below!

fashion friday: dip-dyed locks

All of our closets are transitioning from rich dark hues to ones that POP! Warm weather is here & bright hues are taking the stage and boy, am I excited for this?! But, do the colors have to stop with your wardrobe?! NOT THIS SPRING!

This spring a fabulous & edgy trend is coming about . . . dip-dyed locks! I actually really adore this trend. It’s fun and gives everybody a chance to show their wild side. Here are some of my favorite looks:

  

  

As you can see, this look is not limited to one type of woman. Even Rachel McAdams embraced the trend! If you are iffy about the drastic change, don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be permanent. They actually have chalk that can be rubbed on your hair and washed out the same day. I, personally, love the chalk from The Body Shop — http://bit.ly/ORPn16

    

 

They are in-store only products, but they are only $12 —  and $7.20 deal right now! I definitely plan on buying some of this & will definitely post a before and after pic.

I’d love to know what you think about this trend . . . connect with me on Twitter at @theprprincesss.

being translucent within your brand

We have all heard the famous words of wisdom: “Honesty is the best policy.” Whether you are shopping in a store or conducting a PR campaign, these will ALWAYS be words to live by. In the world of public relations, being translucent within your brand is imperative to your success. 

For instance, what words come to your mind when thinking of your doctor? For me, I think of my doctor being smart, caring, helpful, trustworthy, honest and in a sense, my friend. All of the components that you find valuable in your doctor are the same components you want in your PR brand. You want your audiences to trust you for the answers. You want them to come to you for honesty. You want to be their friend.

This is especially important even in the hard times. Many brands make the mistake of trying to cover up their booboos. No matter how bad the situation may be, it is necessary to Tell the truth, Tell is all and Tell it fast! By doing this, yes, you will most likely face turmoil and backlash. But, in the end, your brand will be seen as one with moral value and one with the client’s best interest in mind.

Telling the truth is not always easy and can be extremely challenging when facing large audiences. As PR professionals, our role in society gets skewed on the daily. Many of us are seen as “truth-twisters” and “liars.” This stereotype needs to be put to rest, but the only way to do that is to work together for the greater good.

Please, do us all a favor and be honest.

 

fashion friday: headscarves

Headscarves will be turning heads this spring! I’m not gonna lie. I’m super obsessed with this trend. It is quite ballsy, but I’m ready to take the risk! Are you?!

Headscarves have popped up on the runways of Marc Jacobs & Stella Jean as well as having been seen on celebrities like fashion blogger Courtney Kerr, Rihanna and Nicole Richie for quite some time now. Below are some of my favorite looks with this spring 2014 trend:

               

The look is truly effortless and makes any plain white tee look super chic! If you are like me, you have no idea where to start when putting on a headscarf. No worries!! Below is a link to step by step instructions courtesy of the new show, The Fabulist, that airs on E! Mondays at 8:30/7:30c.

“5 Steps to Tie The Perfect Headscarf”

Head in the right direction this spring with a headscarf to complete your outfit! Also, don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram, Pinterest & Twitter. Links can be found at the top of this page —  I would love to hear from you & what you are loving right now. Stay fabulous dolls!

fashion friday: spring in my step

Spring is near & my heart couldn’t be happier. But let’s be honest, my toes are even more happy about the transition in weather. THEY WILL BE FREE! I can wear bright-colored sandals, printed Keds, gladiators, wedges and my infamous must-have Rainbows. The possibilities are endless, but make sure those toes are painted please! Nobody likes bare piggies!

This spring is taking a throwback by trending 90s style. Being a 90s gal, this is right up my alley! Below are some of my favorites from the 90s that I definitely plan on bringing back in my style this spring:

 

If you don’t know what any of these treasures are, I’ll be praying for you. At the top are the adorable Jelly shoes. I literally wore these almost every day and my mom bought me every color! They are super affordable too.

Underneath are the comfortable Birkenstocks. These are a HIT this spring. It seems as though I have been seeing them pop out of the woodwork for weeks now. They cost between $100 – $140 on average, but I promise you they LAST FOREVER and you will get your moneys worth.

Lastly are the Keds. Taylor Swift herself has made these babies popular in recent years and once again, they will be springing in my step. I love how affordable they are and the many print varieties. To top it off, my favorite designer is Kate Spade and she has an exclusive line with Keds right now. I died.

If you click on the pics, I have provided links to where you can find these gems. Join with me this spring & take it back to the 90s.

PS – Most of my style inspiration comes from my Pinterest. Feel free to follow at http://www.pinterest.com/brandiwelk/ 🙂 Have a great weekend dolls!

social media detox

Do you ever get that feeling of being overwhelmed by all of the social media?

Lately it seems as though I have noticed more and more how unhealthy it can be and how it can put a damper on relationships. I mean think about it — this friend vents about how upset they are about work while this friend announces an engagement and then this friend gets pissy at you because of something you commented on. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram —  YOU NAME IT! They are all taken too personally and should not define friendships. It’s really sad actually.

This past week, I shut myself off from the world. I deleted all of my social media apps on my phone and refused to get on until the weekend. This small step was so therapeutic. I found myself not caring about little unimportant things and focusing more on what is important to me. When I did finally sign onto Facebook, nothing was that interesting and it only solidified my new habit I am taking on.

Don’t get me wrong though . . . I do post 1-2 times during the weekend on Facebook/Instagram, but I always make sure that my posts are either a nice looking picture with a friend or something positive and uplifting. I enjoy spreading the good news and in my faith, that is what we are supposed to do. Some may disagree & dislike my posts, but I’m okay with that. Your social media platforms are for YOU and sharing what is important to YOU.

I challenge all of you to shut yourself off from social media during the week and see how much happier you are . . . if I am wrong, feel free to let me know! If you do get the urge to post, I challenge you to make it positive & enjoyable to others. I have had countless amounts of people say how much they appreciate my uplifting messages & spreading of good news.

Sometimes, it’s just what that friend needed to hear and that makes me happy!