Young Black MRS

In this episode, Morgane chats with Julie, Owner, and Planner at Fiore Events in the Main Event.

Morgane shakes her curls at the lack of sanctity of marriage. After reading an article in GQ  and a magazine’s social media post about open marriages. Morgane’s take on the topic with ease.

Morgane has really loved the meal delivery services lately. She chews on gnocchi with zucchini, tomatoes, and a creamy lemon sauce. during What You Chewin’.

Here are the key takeaways from the Main Event:

Who is Julie?

Julie started as a planner because of her love for planning weddings. But she truly started learning from her experience with event planning while working at a nonprofit. After getting married in 2018, she took the leap to start her business shortly after.

She offers services for both planning and coordinator. The difference here is with planning vs coordinating is Julie is way more involved with the details of the event. As with coordinating she may start about 8 weeks out from the wedding to really pull the final touches together.  Most of the full planning clients come to Julie without the date or the venue.

How are you pivoting with your couples?

“We are holding on and hanging out for the best. We are trying to keep everyone as calm as possible,” Julie said about her experience.  There’s a 2021 wedding boom. Because venues are so booked because of 2020, it has been referred to as the wedding boom. 

What was wedding planning like in a pandemic?

Though her average wedding range was 15-25, she only planned three weddings during 2020. “I know when you start a business, the third year is kind of your benchmark, but with 2020 that got threw out of the water,” Julie explained.

All the venue staff is masked, the coordinators are masked, and even the guests must be masked. The couple was able to not wear masks. More rural Missouri had no mask mandates. Some couples have even moved their weddings to rural Missouri to get away from wearing masks.

Trends

Micro-weddings are now a thing. Some people call them small weddings. The technical number is under 15 people, but some couples have under 100 guests to their wedding.  Julie has noticed there’s a lot more RSVP than usual. It’s more like 5% of people that decline over the average 15%.

How did the bride and groom cope during this time?

“ I have to give them such huge credits because they (my bride and groom) just took it with so much grace," Julie describes.  

What is the role of a coordinator?

The coordinator works with all people involved from the venue to the caterer, the couple, and even the family. This role also puts out “fires”. A coordinator has the resources and the connections with local venues, photographers, DJs, etc. in case of an issue.

Florals mentioned in the episode

DIY Flowers; https://www.kukkaflowers.com/

Let’s keep the conversation going by connecting with Morgane and Julie on social media. Let the pair know what you thought of this episode.

Stay connected with Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/Morgane_Eats

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

Stay connected with Julie

Website: fioreevents.com

www.instagram.com/fioreeventskc

www.facebook.com/fioreeventskc 

In this episode, Morgane chats with Stephanie of Pretty and Planned about it was to be a wedding planner in the Main Event.

Morgane shakes her curls at people not showing up to events. If Morgane says she’ll be there. She’ll be there.

She chews on a spicy red pepper gazpacho during What You Chewin’.

Here are the key takeaways from the Main Event with Stephanie of Pretty and Planned

Who is Stephanie?

One of the highlights of Stephanie’s job as Lead Planner at Pretty and Planned is she gets to work with people on the happiest day of their lives. Wedding planning has been a dream of Stephanie’s since childhood. She gained her start in the industry through an internship. Planning was somewhat of a side gig until she gave birth to her child.

Why hire a wedding planner?

“As a newly engaged person, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Stephanie says. Wedding planners have the experience of seeing things, knowing vendors, and just being tapped into the wedding space. In Stephanie’s case, she typically averages about 35-40 weddings a year, which will only help her guide potential brides/grooms towards an amazing wedding day.

What was wedding planning like in a pandemic?

“It was a make or break year,” Stephanie recalls about 2020. Unfortunately, Stephanie did see some vendors not making it through the year with their business. Stephanie led with a backup plan approach as restrictions were constantly changing from county to county. Micro weddings and normal weddings were two popular terms in 2020. A micro wedding was limited to about 10 or fewer people. Guests may be treated to a dinner at an upscale restaurant afterward or a backyard dinner. And normal weddings would be defined as no restrictions on the guest list.

How did the bride and groom cope during this time?

“I had so many of my past brides reach out to me, just saying we are so happy we did it. There were a lot of tearful phone calls,” Stephanie reflects. As a planner, Stephanie wears many hats but in 2020 she wore the big sister hat quite a few times. She offered practical advice and a listening ear for her clients.

Let’s keep the conversation going by connecting with Morgane and Stephanie on social media. Let the pair know what you thought of this episode.

Stay connected with Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/Morgane_Eats

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

Stay connected with Stephanie:

www.instagram.com/pretty_and_planned

www.prettyandplanned.com

Welcome to the mid-season premiere of Young Black MRS. In this episode, Morgane chats with Lea of Mpower Finance about how finances affect your marriage in the Main Event.

Morgane shakes her curls at the idea of marriage being a business decision. Spoiler alert, Morgane is more focused on a long-term partnership.

She chews on vegan-friendly Mexican food from a local restaurant during What You Chewin’.

Here are the key takeaways from the Main Event with Lea of Mpower Finance

Mpower Finance offers education on retirement, estate planning, couple financial planning, and more.

Lea started saving for retirement in her early teenage years and that saving has yielded her over 60K. She learned her great money mindset from her parents, who served as parents and mentors to her in her youth. Though her parents also had humble beginnings, they focused on generational wealth for Lea. This set a strong foundation for Lea to pass along to her daughters.

Mpower Finance offers an online course called Empowered Couples. During this course, Lea and her team do provide excel worksheets to help track the couple’s finances but that information is only shared between the couple. This program helps facilitate the conversation about the couple’s values and goals within their union.

During our discussion about how money affects marriage, the topic of shared accounts did pop up. How did Lea reply...with research of course. Stats show that 95% of couples with shared income are reportedly happier in the relationship. Lea believes this might be true because of the total transparency in the marriage.

So what’s on the horizon for your money? Reports have shown that spending has dramatically decreased since the pandemic. However, with more activities opening up, Lea recommends being cautious with your spending. Consider your couple goals and values before discretionary spending.

Shifting your mindset over money in marriage means a few things. First, shift your mindset to us not me. If you hate the word budget like Lea, reclaim the word by calling it a spending plan. Lea also is an avid investor and prefers investing your money over putting it in a savings account.

Let’s keep the conversation going by connecting with Morgane and Lea on social media. Let the pair know what you thought of this episode.

Stay connected with Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/Morgane_Eats

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

Stay connected with Lea:

www.mpowerco.com

www.instagram.com/mpower_finance

www.facebook.com/MPowerFinance

A few fun freebies from Lea:

https://mpowerco.com/resources/free-printables/

Website signup:

https://mailchi.mp/mpowerco/newsletter-registration

On this episode of Young Black MRS, Morgane discusses being a Young Black MRS with mom, wife, model and YouTuber, Rhesa. She has an amazing love story that will warm your heart. The two have a deep and honest conversation about marriage, family, friends, and partnership. Rhesa offers a treasure trove of advice on balancing goals with family, finding purpose as a woman, wife, and mother, exploring identity and not getting lost in a spouse's identity, how friendships change in marriage, and a little bit about her  YouTube channel. 

Have you and your spouse or special somebody ever had the talk about the role a spouse is supposed to play? Bump that. Morgane is shakin' her curls at the expectations we place on our loved ones or they place on us relationship norms such as cooking and cleaning. In a partnership, when you know your strengths, play to them and let your significant other play to theirs.

Keep your napkins close. Morgane is chewin' on a tofu scramble burrito. That is an egg scramble but made with tofu. Add some peppers, mushrooms, onions, jalapenos, taco sauce, and a little harissa olive oil and then stuff onto a tortilla. You now have a filling, spicy (maybe too spicy) and flavorful meal. As a bonus, any leftover tofu scramble can be used in other meals.

Connect with Rhesa

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbUFNQE3nneil8bb7OYc6w

Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

On this episode of Young Black MRS, Morgane has invited her line sister Jessica to discuss womanhood. Jessica is an entrepreneur, accountant, model, and a mother of twins. She is real, honest, and tells it like it is. They chat about the essence of womanhood starting with the romanticizing of womanhood and its origins in missing conversations of life. Jessica drops gems on the voices of women, the strength of womanhood, and creating spaces for empowerment. They also touch on role models of womanhood, the pressure of expectations, the impact of friendships.

With May being Mental Health month and Morgane being an advocate, she is not shakin' her curls today. Instead, she is speaking from the heart about making sure you take care of yourself. Back-to-back losses in her family and the lack of time to grieve and recover made her realize the importance of rest and self-care. 

Morgane is sipping on hot chocolate elevated with a special ingredient: Apothokary's "Chill the F* Out" elixir. This cortisol targeting supplement boosts your mood, focus, and vibe while putting you into a state of relaxation. Made from reishi mushrooms, ashwagandha, raw cacao, the elixir will add a subtle mint taste to your drink. Be prepared. You will be asleep in no time.

Follow Jessica

https://www.instagram.com/jessicaowen__

Products mentioned:

http://apothekary.refr.cc/morganef

https://www.rubylove.com/

https://sugaberry.com/

Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

In this episode of Young Black Mrs, Morgane chats social media and personal brands with Danielle, the owner of the digital branding company Octane Design Studios and co-host of the More Than Graphics Podcast. In addition, she is a mother of four, wife, lover of cosplay, live MMA, and chai tea. The pair discuss the value of a personal brand and the importance of function and purpose. Danielle offers tips on how to become an Instagram influencer and some strategies that can be employed to develop a personal brand. Look out for the gems she drops on finding fun and creative ways to repurpose your content for a greater impact and reach.

Morgane is not chewin' on anything this episode...Instead, she is taking a sip of a lavender London Fog latte! A timely tea for warmer days, this tea's special ingredient is a lavender simple syrup. The essence of the lavender, creaminess of the oat milk, and richness of the black tea make for a relaxing and complex treat.

When you're scrolling through social media, do you ever come across a post about somebody's triumph and feel some type of way? Morgane is shakin' her curls at our tendency to compare our progress with others. There is a huge difference between using the success we see on social media as an inspiration for our journeys and making it the standard to live up to. Reflecting on that difference is key to respecting the challenges that others overcome to achieve success and learning what we need to advance.

LINKS Mentioned:

Recipe for London Fog: https://youngblackmrs.com/vegan-iced-lavender-london-fog/

TLB: https://thelipbar.com/pages/_go_?ref=4441:89572&discount=MorganeF&utm_source=Affiliates&utm_medium=Homepage

Misfit Market: Misfit Market: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/?promo=COOKWME-CZ9HIA

Connect with Danielle

https://lexoctane.com/

https://lexoctane.com/?page_id=10291 (Podcast)

https://lexoctane.com/?s=How+We+Tech+Through+It (How We Tech Through It)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCihgahe0Zqe-9DfoZsF_umQ?

https://www.facebook.com/octanedesigns/

https://twitter.com/octanedesigns?lang=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/octane-design-studios/?originalSubdomain=in

https://www.instagram.com/octanedesigns/?hl=en

Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

On this episode of Young Black MRS, Morgane discusses batching cooking with Stephanie, the Veeg Mama. Stephanie is a plant-based meal planning expert and founder of the Batch Cooking Club, a weekly vegan meal prep membership program. She helps busy vegan and vegetarian families with cooking. To Stephanie, being plant-based is about centering your meals and activities around plants and being compassionate about the process. She and Morgane chat about how to encourage family and friends to eat plant-based without pressuring them to do so, nerd out on batch cooking and how to craft a system that allows you to meal prep without spending more than two hours in the kitchen, trade tips on gathering components for easy meals, and must-haves for batch cooking.

In addition, Morgane will be chewin' on an idea Stephanie shared: Cauliflower Nachos. This hot (read burning) dish is an easy sheet pan meal to put together and apply the core ideas of batch cooking. The fried cauliflower is an excellent vehicle for beans, jalapenos, non-dairy cheese, and guac. You will enjoy this delectable meal.

A little off-topic but still important, there have been two separate incidents of infidelity by a popular financial guru and relationship expert...and a lot of shade has been thrown at these men's wives. That's not fair and Morgane is shakin' her curls at the lack of sympathy and understanding these women in particular but cheated partners, in general, can face.

Connect with the Veeg Mama

https://www.facebook.com/VeegMama/

http://instagram.com/veegmama

https://www.pinterest.com/VeegMama

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrToDMzePOLpksnhDc7hTig

http://www.twitter.com/VeegMama

Free planner to organize your meals and prep for the week: 

https://www.batchcookingclub.com/planner

Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

In this episode, Morgane speaks with a health & wellness enthusiast, WU alum, and owner of Live+Flow Wellness, Tiara. They discuss the helpful lessons they learned in 2020 and are bringing to the new year. Tiara offers tips in how to S.H.I.N.E. (Stop Holding In Negative Energy) and highlights the importance of creating a space to ground yourself, the importance of being present and how to manage thoughts and release emotions that are no longer of service to you. She also provides tools, like creating systems, being careful of what energy you take on, attending to daily rituals, or practicing mindfulness, to stay in tune with your inner world and your intuition's guidance.

Morgane will also be shakin' her curls at the lack of time we spend taking care of ourselves. It is ok to be selfish and invest in your self-care. Morgane offers the importance of building oneself up and avoiding the distractions that prevent it. Take the time you need and treat yourself.

Finally, Morgane is sippin' on two drinks you are sure to enjoy. The first is a ginger shot made with ginger, turmeric, carrot, and apples. Fair warning, it will be smooth but it will burn. The second is a beet juice with beets, pineapples, ginger, carrots, apples, and celery. It's pure delight. Remember, what you eat and drink is vital to your overall health and sense of peace.

Follow Tiara

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAedIegf1cKkebDyeYifz5A

https://www.instagram.com/shinewithtiara/

📷 Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-VsfPB3egPu_OJ6_osL3w

On this episode of Young Black MRS, Morgane chats with Jasmine RaeLynn, Boss, Mompreneur, CEO, and Founder of Jasmine RaeLynn Elite Marketing Firm. Her Seattle-based firm, which operates nationwide (and even internationally), focuses on bringing the best of all people and specializes in public relations and digital marketing. Jasmine shares her road to entrepreneurship and the many people who helped her explore her talents, embrace her purpose, and expand her horizons. (Special shout out to Dr. Morah and WU). They also discuss how to parlay your skills into a business, the challenges of building a business, the importance of educating yourself and researching your business, seeking mentors, the responsibilities of being a mother and the opportunity to expand your child's horizon, and the importance of black business. If that gives you chills, listen in and absorb the wisdom of boss babe behavior.

To anybody hustling for life's many opportunities, don't stop striving but this is for you. Drawing from her personal experience, Morgane is shakin' her curls at overextending yourself. Occasionally, when trying as many new things as possible, we can lose focus on what matters. Hone in on what makes you happy and watch the joy your gifts will bring.

*Freebie Alert* Morgane will be chewin' on a smoothie bowl. An easy staple anybody can make, blend a frozen banana, frozen berries, a splash of your milk of choice (oatmilk), and a little agave. Optimally, add some chia seeds and a dab of almond butter as well. Top with chocolate chips, more berries and granola for a dash of prettiness and enjoy. This can be eaten at any time in the day for a fulfilling breakfast, quick snack, or delectable dessert. https://www.subscribepage.com/ybmfreebie

Follow Jasmine

www.facebook.com/jasmineraelynntheelitemarketingfirm

www.instagram.com/jasmine_raelynn

www.instagram.com/jrtheelitemarketingfirm

www.linkedin.com/JasmineRaeLynn

Clubhouse: @JasmineRaeLynn

Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrs.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS

Morgane discusses Black Love with the Badass Boss Woman, Wife, Mother, Organizational Change Manager and author of "The Hitched Bitch's Guide: To Going from Fiancée to Badass Boss Wife", Kacie Thompson! The two talk about how the pressures of planning the perfect wedding prevented Kacie from expressing how the experience was affecting her and how that led to the creation of The Hitched Bitch umbrella and process. Kacie then explores important foundations for a strong marriage that are rooted in patience, communication, and embracing change. They also chat about the importance of prayer and finesse, trusting your intuition and red flags to watch out for, and healthy habits to incorporate.

As described by the author Gary Chapman, there are five love languages. Everybody has their favorite languages and all are good but...Morgane is shakin' her curls at the love language of receiving gifts. Getting a high-valued gift from your partner just does not carry the same weight as spending time together and really understanding what a loved one cares for. If you have thoughts about the love languages, reach out and join the discussion.

Morgane is chewin' on Annie Chun's Korean-style, sweet, chili noodle bowl she found at Aldi. It is a quick and fulfilling meal with a nice taste of spice and umami. If you want to see what other gems Morgane finds during her shopping hauls, check out her YouTube channel.

Follow Kacie

www.facebook.com/thehitchedbitch 

www.instagram.com/thehitchedbitch

www.thehitchedbitch.com

Follow Morgane

www.youngblackmrspodcast.com

www.facebook.com/YoungBlackMRS

www.instagram.com/YoungBlackMRS