a blog post for Lauren Scruggs

Normally, I'm posting about fun and light-hearted experiences and designs, but today I'm posting on a serious note. I wanted to introduce a friend and fellow-entrepreneur, Lauren Scruggs. Tipsy Skipper fans may be familiar with Lolo Magazine, started by Lauren and her friend, Shannon Yoachum. 

Lauren Scruggs

Last weekend, Lauren was in a devastating accident in which she was injured by the propeller after getting off a small plane. She suffered severe injuries to her head, shoulder and lost her left hand. She is in ICU, but thanks to her fighting spirit, she is showing tremendous strength and making progress each day.
Her parents were on the Today Show Tuesday morning speaking about the accident and expressed the comfort they've found in their Faith, and Lauren's courageous spirit. You can see the Scruggs video here.

Lauren with her mother, Cheryl

Watching Lauren's parents is heartbreaking as they know that injuries are serious, and they believe it is a miracle that she is alive. Lauren has a long road of recovery ahead, but it is clear that she is a fighter, and she will make the best of any situation. 

Lauren with her parents, Jeff and Cheryl

Lauren is 23 years old and already has an incredible resume and portfolio. She has interned in the wardrobe department for Gossip Girl and also Michael Kors. Lauren has a background in fashion and modeling, and has even covered fashion weeks around the world. 

She recently followed her dream and created Lolo - an online lifestyle magazine which includes everything from fashion and beauty, fitness and health and travel and culture. Lauren and Shannon are always interviewing influential designers and are frequently at store openings and trunk shows -reporting from the 'front lines' of fashion.

Lauren Scruggs and Shannon Yoachum

Lauren, along with her team, blogs about fashion, health and fitness, beauty, etc. Frequently, she posts videos of herself demonstrating workout tips, or introducing beauty and hair techniques. Lauren has a way with the camera, and her followers really feel like they have a window into her life. 

Shannon and Lauren

 Lauren always posts about the newest fashion trends, and Lolo Magazine hosts giveaways featuring other brands.

I'm grateful to a mutual friend, Lensey, for putting me in touch with Lauren about a year and a half ago. Knowing Lauren and I were two entrepreneurs, Lensey introduced us, and we really hit it off! Lauren has been so generous and thoughtful to include Tipsy Skipper in many of her posts, and we have emailed frequently over the last year and a half. 

It's comforting to be in touch with another entrepreneur who started her company right after graduating college. I have followed Lauren through her blog and the launch of Lolo Magazine, and I love reading her posts about NY and Paris fashion weeks, new trends, and seeing pictures from her amazing trips around the world. 

Lauren and Shannon at Fashion Week

Lauren is driven, beautiful, and clearly a go-getter. In our interactions with one another, I have found her to be so kind and generous, and we have worked to cross promote one another as much as possible. I can always count on Lauren to be the first to 'like' a Tipsy Skipper photo, or 'retweet' a post. Lauren was so great this past October to organize a LOLO Pumpkin Carving Contest. The winner received a Tipsy Skipper clutch. Here's the video she posted to promote the competition.

 

While Lauren and I have never actually met in person, we definitely have forged an 'entrepreneur' bond, and I hope we can meet the next time she is in NYC. Lauren is extremely motivated, and creative, and I know that this is just the beginning for her. I have been keeping up with her progress and recovery through her Caring Bridge website and I was so glad to learn that Lauren spoke more today and even took her first steps since the accident...30 to be exact - she counted! 

I am also happy to see that Shannon has continued the 'Lo List' giveaways in honor of Lauren - a new giveaway each day. Please participate in the giveaways and sign up for a Lolo email subscription as a tribute to all of her hard work.

The outpouring of love and prayers on her website and facebook has been tremendous. Lauren has obviously touched so many people, and like me they feel a connection to her. There are many fans and strangers who are praying for her recovery and her family at this difficult time. I keep Lauren and her family in my thoughts and prayers and I know my readers will as well. 

 

A fund has been set up for Lauren, at this time you can donate at any Frost Bank to the Lauren Scrugg's Hope Fund, or at http://www.paypal.com to laurenscruggshopefund@gmail.com


Please keep Lauren and her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as we wish her a safe and speedy recovery. Feel free to express your thoughts and sympathies for Lauren and her family by commenting on this blog post.


Kearsley Lloyd

Residences: accessorized for Tipsy Skipper

The Ocean House is a recently restored hotel in Watch Hill, RI. Overlooking beautiful Block Island Sound, the Ocean House has incredible views from every angle. If you are ever in the area, you should definitely stop in for a cocktail!

 As you may have seen, the Tipsy Skipper 'burb can sometimes be seen in the OH driveway.

Denise shopping for Skipper Skimmers

Recently, there was a luncheon highlighting four of the interior designers who each styled a residence: Samantha Knapp, Philip Gorrivan, Jean Doyen de Montaillou, and Betsey Ruprecht. I was fortunate to be seated with Philip who has his own collection of textiles for Duralee, and has designed homes from Nantucket to Palm Beach.
Afterward, there was a house tour. Each designer's unique style came through in each design, and complemented the views of the ocean.

We couldn't help but notice that the color palettes in the residences coordinated with the Tipsy Skipper Fall prints! There was so much color, and some unexpected pairings.

Freshen up! A perfectly coordinated powder room and Captain Morgan Clutch

Lots of Orange!  

 Purple and Yellow complement each other and really POP

Notice the purple sofas and those amazing yellow lamps.

 

This circular room is separate from the residence, connected by a sundeck, and has the most incredible views! The perfect space for cocktails with friends.

More orange!

Samantha Knapp and Betsey Ruprecht collaborated on one of the residences. Opening out to the beach, this chic residence had lots of nautical details - very inspiring for Tipsy Skipper! 

Samantha Knapp, one of the talented interior designers hosted an incredible event earlier this month at Tiger Lily's (Samantha's studio and workshop) in Greenwich, CT. The cocktail party was a one-year anniversary celebration. Samantha was a fantastic hostess and so nice to include Tipsy Skipper, along with some other local vendors. There was food catered by local restaurants, and the cocktails were flowing!

Will Moger and Kearsley Lloyd promoting Tipsy Skipper at Tiger Lily's

Samantha Knapp and Kearsley Lloyd

It's all Greek to the Skipper

Tipsy Skipper is all about having a good time, and looking fantastic while doing it, so what's more perfect than a custom Tipsy Skipper sorority print?! The Alpha Delta Pi girls at the University of Florida Gainesville got in touch with the Skipper, and we worked on a custom Tipsy Tote for Bid Day.

Naturally, the UF Gator girls decided on 'That's a Croc' for their tote bags. The gold trim is the perfect complement, and gives it a little bling! Plus, there's even gold embroidery!

80 bags were packed up and shipped down to Gainesville for the girls! Lots of big boxes.

We could not wait to see the girls with their bags on Bid Day! Thanks to ADPi for sending us these photos! This looks like a Tipsy Skipper fest at the Alpha Delta Pi House!

A pink and green lollipop to match! These girls are seriously coordinated!

Perfect Tipsy Skipper models!

Diamonds for Alpha Delta Pi

Tipsy Skipper is so excited to have 80 Tipsy Totes sailing around campus! Those totes are sure to catch the attention of a fraternity boy or two!

Tipsy Skipper is happy to do custom orders. We can customize prints and products to suit your needs! Just wait until you see the bridal party order we're working on! If you have an event or organization, please contact kearsley@tipsyskipper.com

We'll make it extra Tipsy!

Tipsy Skipper takes a load off

Tipsy Skipper is a strong believer that there is no surface or product out there that can't be given Tipsy Skipper flare! So why should our director's chair be an exception? We use our Captain's chairs at trunk shows and events for women to try on Skipper Skimmers, or just take a load off.

The chairs just had the TS logo on them originally....BORING!

The hardest part was deciding which fabric to choose! We went for That's a Croc and Pinch Me. We found a fantastic canvas sailmaker in RI - Oaklawn Marine Canvas and they were happy to work on our custom project. Plus, they appreciated the Tipsy Skipper name!

So here they are...

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We think they're perfect! What do you think?! Thanks to Oaklawn Marine Canvas for doing such a fantastic job! If you stop by a trunk show this Fall, you'll have to test them out.

We're glad to see even our youngest Tipsy Skippers are enjoying our new chairs!

You may have noticed that Tipsy Skipper has some new wheels. We're now driving in style in a Chevy Suburban - which is perfect for hauling around our shoes and accessories to trunk shows and events. After all, those Skipper Skimmers, Tipsy Toes, Tipsy Totes and Captain Morgan Clutches take up a lot of space!

Plus, what's better than an American-made Suburban to go along with our American-made products! We're all about the USA here at Tipsy Skipper.

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So, obviously, we weren't finished there....

The next step was DESIGN! We are all about prints, patterns and color, so we had to make our mark on the 'burb. That huge truck is like a blank canvas! Originally, we thought of covering the truck entirely with a Tipsy Skipper print, but then we came up with a more subtle design.

We put a nautical twist on pinstripes, and kept our signature navy blue

We found a local company here in RI to help make the vehicle design a reality. Finish Line Signs does all different types of custom decal work and signage. They can do vehicles, boats, etc. We handed them the design, chose our vinyl colors, and a few hours later came back to the shop....

The 'burb was officially Tipsy Skipper-ed! It looks fantastic!

We've been turning heads with our shoes and accessories and now we're grabbing attention on the road. You certainly can't miss us!

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Beep! Beep!

The Summer weather was slow to get started in New England, but social events started off with a BANG! -a wedding and Fourth of July festivities. Tipsy Skipper accessories were everywhere at the wedding! Go Fish and Starboard Tack Captain Morgan Clutches

[caption id="attachment_789" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Denise and Kearsley showing off their Captain Morgan Clutches"][/caption]

Check out the cake -isn't that amazing?! No sailing theme here, but the adirondack chairs are the perfect cake toppers! The pink and green theme goes so well with our 'Shellacked' seashell print.



Apparently we're a little confused here in RI, because we celebrated the 4th on July 2nd with a party and fireworks....It was a perfect New England evening - plenty of red white and blue to go around here!

Speaking of Red, White and Blue - 'Pinch Me' is the perfect patriotic print!

Melissa of 'Mix it up Fitness' loves her Tipsy Tote! And the Captain Morgan Clutch was another perfect accessory to celebrate!

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This berry tart was Tipsy Skipper-ed for the Fourth. Yum!

Then it was off to the races! The Fourth of July Regatta was on one hot, hazy summer day. The fog cleared out just in time for the starting gun.

Each year Aphrodite is the Committee Boat - a beautiful antique yacht, and perfectly patriotic.

Tipsy Skipper has been having a great Summer, and it's extra special with our bright accessories! There's a print for any social occasion! Cheers to Summer!