Brand New Season: Marketing Yourself Through Life’s Transitions (Event Recap)

Branding, Connection & Community at Swamp Cat Brewery

While it may have been sweltering outside, we were cool as cucumbers inside the beautiful private event space at Swamp Cat Brewing Co., soaking in real conversation, marketing wisdom, and the company of incredible women.

The May 28th Ladies Lifestyle Network – SWFL event brought just the right balance of comfort and confidence—and a whole lot of inspiration.

Branding That Connects

Our featured speaker, Elise Sharpless of @heyyousocial, brought the house down with her magnetic presence, warmth, and powerful storytelling. She reminded us that our brands are not just visuals—they’re personal. People are relational buyers. They’re drawn to who you are before what you sell.

Her vulnerability in sharing how she’s built and rebuilt her brand through different life seasons resonated deeply with our guests. Whether you’re in a new season or still figuring it out, Elise’s reminder that authenticity and strategy can go hand-in-hand was the encouragement we all needed.

If you haven’t yet, check out her podcast Beyond Your Brand, which features everyday experts with extraordinary wisdom. It’s clear that Elise isn’t just building brands—she’s building people.

Vendors That Made the Night Even Sweeter

Let’s hear it for our amazing featured businesses who brought the heart, the goods, and the joy:

🍞 Blessed Loaves We are still dreaming about those scones. Between her jalapeño cheddar sourdough, perfectly golden loaves, and melt-in-your-mouth strawberry rolls (think cinnamon rolls but homemade strawberry jam and glaze 🤤), her table was a hot spot all evening—for our guests AND the brewery crowd! Her smile and kindness were the cherry on top.

👗 Anilyn Boutique One of our favorite repeat vendors, Anilyn Boutique once again brought an incredible spread of summer styles, trendy bags, and jewelry that had us all swooning. Anisha’s dedication and personal touch with each customer is why we adore having her back every time. She curates with care, and it shows. Her hard work for this business doesn’t go unnoticed. 

🧠 @krpcoaching and @capecoralcookie also joined us in our swag bags and giveaways!

🎁 And let’s talk GIVEAWAYS! From a Brand Visibility Blueprint by Elise (valued at $250!), Photography session by Amanda Feltz Photography, fresh homemade sourdough strawberry glazed rolls and sourdough loaf from Blessed Loaves, and more—we had so many smiling faces walk away with joy and gratitude.

Giving Back with Purpose

We were honored to spotlight Pregnancy Resource Center of SWFL as our Featured Nonprofit. Lisa, who joined us from PRC, shared deeply moving stories of walking alongside women through unplanned pregnancies—from overwhelmed moms of multiples to women surprised by a pregnancy in their 40s when they thought they were long done with children.

They offer emotional, educational, and medical support to ensure women know they’re not alone and not without options. With every ticket purchased, a portion of sales went directly to support their mission—and we are so proud to play a part in their life-changing work.

The Real Magic of the Night

This event was special not just because of what was shared on stage—but because of the warmth in the room. The women. The connections. The stories. The comfort.

From new guests who didn’t know what to expect to familiar faces who’ve become part of our extended LLN family, the feedback was heartfelt: "I’m new to the area and this is just what I needed to feel like I was a part of a community again."

That’s what these rooms are about. Real conversations. Real women. Real growth.

Special Thanks To:

📸 Amanda Feltz Photography for capturing the beauty, emotion, and in-between moments that make our events unforgettable. She is incredible and we are so thankful for her sharing her time and talents with not just LLN but also our venue and vendors for their marketing and branding. The results were everything and more! 

🍺 Swamp Cat Brewing Co. for once again being the perfect venue sponsor. Their hospitality, energy, and space create the ideal atmosphere every time.

🍴 A Huge Shoutout to Our Swamp Cat Eats!

No LLN-SWFL event is complete without delicious food to fuel the connection — and @tinybitesgoodeats, @dynamitestreeteatz, and @laplaya787 absolutely delivered! Whether you were craving bold flavor, savory comfort, or something sweet and satisfying, these incredible on-site restaurants provided not only amazing food but top-tier customer service. We’re so grateful to partner with a venue that brings the full experience — beautiful atmosphere, meaningful connection, and unforgettable bites.

We can't wait to do it all again! Join us June 26th for our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION at BHive Event center in Fort Myers — the biggest event of the year is almost here, and trust me... you want to be in the room. Tickets are ready for you HERE!

✨ Until next time, keep showing up, keep growing, and never underestimate the power of saying YES to yourself. There is always room for you and your business in our rooms. ~Kayla 💙