Kana Brown 3/1/24 Kana Brown 3/1/24

One Night in NULU | Louisville, KY

It was a SUPER FREAKING COLD weekend, but we warmed it up with some drinks!

My friends came in town for the weekend in celebration of one of them getting married this month. We decided to get a airbnb in the heart of the heart of NULU. It was by chance that I found this gem. I was at a Galentine’s Day at WOW Factor Collective and I met Mindy who talked about managing a property. Low and behold she had this gem available for the following weekend. I love when things are so kismet.

I stocked up on some goodies before I got to the airbnb. I am trying out Hummingbirds for Louiville and partnered with them to grab some Modica from Paul’s Fruit

I’d never been in before, but I will definetly be back. Great selection of fresh juices, fruit and healthy food. I ended up grabbing one of their made to order breakfast sandwiches and it was so bomb!

My friend had a bouidor shoot scheduled with Chanel Nicole Photography. We got her ready for the shoot and this airbnb was so perfect for it!

I made the Tart Cherry Old Fashioned with Starlight Distillery Bourbon. We kept the Espresso Martinis flowing during the shoot. I just so happen to get a cute little mixer and Distillery 64 Vodka from the SoIN ribbon cutting a few days before, it was PERFECT. Everyone enjoyed them so I 10/10 recommend getting these mixes. It was way easier than grabbing a bunch of bitters and additives. I felt like a little baddie bartender. Also if you happen to have the time, you can go to Indiana and experience both distilleries.

We started the night with a drink at Nouvelle, which was next door!! Loved the gold rush drink and it was nice atmoshere to have a pre dinner drink.

We followed drinks with Dasha Barbours for dinner. It was about a 5 min uber drive from our location. The food was so bomb. PRICEY, but actually worth the price. I was happy to see that the carry COY Wine Collection, a local black owned wine brand. Had to get a bottle to support! The Bold + Beautiful Red Blend is my favorite.

After dinner we went to Outerspace, the back rave area in Galaxie. I had a TIME. The EDM was just hitting my soul. Dancing and the music hitting is a different type of feeling. Once we popped out of there we walked to Norae Bar and was met with a brave soul delivering Drunk In Love. It was magical, we all joined in because nothing crosses racial barriers and differences more than singing Beyonce together. Once that was done, we found ourselves a private room and belted until we had no more voice left.

All in all, this is a lovely way to spend your weekend in Louiville, KY

STAY: Holy Goat
SHOP : Women Owned Wallet, Wicked, Bourbon Country Cannabis, NULU MAP
DRINKS + SNACKS: Modica, Trader Joe’s, Paul’s Fruit Store
PRE DINNER DRINKS: Nouvelle
DINNER: Dasha Barbours
NIGHT OUT: Galaxie/Outerspace, Norae Bar
BRUNCH: Agave + Rye

Kana Brown 10/30/23 Kana Brown 10/30/23

Barre3 + 3 Business Epiphanies

I’ve been taking Barre3 classes since April of this year. While my mind is constantly running rampant until it isn’t most days. Today’s class brought a special new lens that put in perspective so many gems. Barre3 is not only conditioning me physically, but also mentally and emotionally to withstand the rollercoaster of being a small business owner.

YOU NEED COMMUNITY

When I moved, Barre3 Frankfort in Louisville, KY was such a saving grace for me. To meet such friendly people who invited me to events, shared their favorite places and supported me in class with a “great job” was so good for my mental health.

You can not move the needle in your business without being around like- minded people. You want clients, podcast subscribers or to launch your next event, you have to put yourself out there and meet people! It is vital, no matter what your business is, to create relationships.

MODIFY, MODIFY, MODIFY

It doesn’t matter what your neighbor looks like in class. Just like it doesn’t matter what any other business LOOKS like. Because, baaabyyyeee!! The amount of debt some choose to take on or incur is not shown in their very pretty websites or professional business headshots. You have no idea the strain in their relationships it may be causing. You may not realize how small they may be, how unhappy they actually are or what help and advantages they’ve had along the way to get to where they are.

I’ve learned over time, It’s the smallest, sometimes undetectable changes that make an impact for your life and for building great glutes.

THE COOL DOWN IS NECESSARY

This is the part we want to skip out on, but truly provides the most delicious nuggets. Your heart rate is high, you’ve put in all this work and you're going to SKIP the best part?! Craziness. I get it. As someone who has been going, going, going for so long. It has taken me YEARS to learn to rest and I’m still learning how. This moment for stillness, this moment for breath is something that anchors me at the end of the class, but I’m really learning it anchors me in life.

When you forget the pause, there is very little room for gratitude. Whether that be for how much our bodies have supported us in movement, but also how much our nervous system supports us during hit, after hit, after hit in life.

I could go on and on about how sitting your ass down and being still is actually necessary to live a good life, but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.

There’s also things like your breath is important, a cute outfit makes workouts more enjoyable and to check yourself in the mirror. If you’re a barre3 girly, what are some gems that come to mind for you? I'd like to hear in the comments!

If you’re ready to spend some one on one time sorting through all the hidden gems you’re missing in your own life check out my Creative Strategy Sessions for women ready to pivot or bring their passions to life.

Kana Brown 8/7/17 Kana Brown 8/7/17

Louisville Love | Meagan Jordan Photography

In the process of discovering my favorite Kentucky city I have truly found some gems in the people & places.

As many of you know I've spent a fair amount of time in Louisville this year. Some of you may have even thought I was leaving you high and dry and packing my bags for Kentucky. While I have had some great adventures and hope to continue to do so in Louisville, Evansville is still my home.

In the process of discovering my favorite city in Kentucky, I have truly found some gems. Some of my favorites are places like Forage, where I gave my first Kentucky skin care class and is my total Pintrest dream come true. I also frequent places like 21c, Mr. Lee's and Lola above Butchertown Grocery. The people are equally amazing. Like Brooke Meadows, who I met on a shoot for Kentucky Bride is my Kentucky twin beauty soul mate. Monroe is...just freaking beautiful man, (literally a model) who I met dining at 8up Eatery which has one of the sickest views of the city. The superstar photographer, Meagan Jordan, I actually met at one of my most memorable weddings to date, The Biggs, featured in Love IT! EVV. We've caught up for drinks, food and laughs almost every time I've been in her neck of the woods. This woman is the sweetest. I mean seriously even her voice is the sweetest thing you'll hear all day!

I was thrilled when she was available to snap some pics. A quick flip through her portfolio will show that she has a range of diverse people, which is SO IMPORTANT to me. I see such a lack of diversity in the creative field and I am thrilled to know that's of importance even to new people that I meet. We decided to get some headshots ( be on the look out for another post) for myself and Monroe's portfolios and then we had some fun. Meagan spent some time playing with light and a prism and also sharpened her already amazing skill of capturing couples.

So NOW for the reason this is on The Beauty Room blog is for my bride babes! I wanted to drop a few tips for your engagement session as that's exactly how our lovely couple shots came out.

TIPS FROM KANA

Coordinate...but wear your favorite things. I know most people go out and buy new attire for photo sessions, but I think there is something so much more fluid and relaxed in how you move your body in familiar clothes. Plus it will make the photos even more special. I wore my favorite yellow tassel earrings & my go- to off the shoulder shirt.
Spend some chill time beforehand. Couples can be sooo go go go all the time and never really get to sit down and enjoy each other. I got to spend some quality time exploring Evansville with Monroe a few days before this shoot. I think it really shows in the photos how comfortable we were with each other.
Try to just have an experience. It's hard to do with a camera in your face, but the right photographer will definitely make it feel like it's just you two...but with professional suggestions.

TIPS FROM MONROE

Music
Food
Comfortable Space

(Guys are simple)

I've worked with quite a few photographers and I must say studio work isn't knocked out of the park by everyone. Known for capturing candid + organic moments Meagan hit it out of the stratosphere. This is a great representation of the work she can do for you and your bae.

Now enjoy these lovely, romantic pictures. They totally take me down memory lane.