This post is several weeks in the making, and a long time coming, in my opinion. I wish I didn’t wait until a global pandemic to shed light on some of my absolute favorite local businesses, but there has never been a better time to shop small and shop local, than now! These local business need our ongoing support during this critical time, so hopefully I can do my small part in sharing their incredible products and/or services with you!
These businesses are all local to Moore County, North Carolina – on the outskirts of Fort Bragg! This small town (or collection of towns, really) is BURSTING with inspiring entrepreneurs, and many of these businesses are military spouse or veteran-owned! I have never felt a more connected community than this one, and whether you live local to here, or are located somewhere else in the world, I highly encourage you to support them! Purchase from them, follow them, share their goods and services with others, or just simply drop a kind word on their social media pages! They will appreciate it!
Ready? Let’s do this!!
Oak & Oliver Candle Co.
The military brought Lisa, her husband, and their two doodles to the Moore County area three years ago, a place they now confidently call home. Oak & Oliver Candle Co. began in 2015, while living in Colorado Springs, as an idea for holiday gifts. Lisa’s husband was away for military training, and while armed with red wine and moral support from her puppy Oliver, she set to work in their kitchen, learning how to make soy candles.
A 2016 move to North Carolina introduced her to a community eagerly ready to welcome another entrepreneur with open arms. She began selling candles each Saturday at the Moore County Farmers Market, and three years later more than 10 local stores carry Oak & Oliver candles! Lisa has gone above and beyond, creating custom scents for stores, while also releasing curated seasonal collections.
Visit Oak & Oliver Candle Co., where you can access their Etsy shop!
Through the end of April you can use code CARISSA10 for 10% off your order!
Some of my favorite scents are the citrus and mint blends (grapefruit and mint, specifically), and anything from the spa collection (cactus flower and jade, mmm, yummy)! Local deliveries come with a $5 delivery fee, or there is a flat rate $9 shipping fee for non-locals!
Oak & Oliver on Instagram
Oak & Oliver on Facebook
Hot Asana Yoga Studio
Hot Asana Yoga Studio is locally owned by Virginia Gallagher and is a cornerstone in our downtown community. My husband and I have been going to Hot Asana for nearly 5 years, and I have used their on demand streaming while traveling overseas, as well as their live streaming classes while self-isolating at home. They manage to make my living room feel like their beautiful downtown loft studio in each class. In order to keep the business opened, teachers working, and students practicing, they have created this online live streaming platform to use.
You can sign up for Live Streaming classes exactly like you would sign up for a class at the studio using any of the following: Their Hot Asana Website, the FREE Hot Asana app, or the MindBody app. Your class packs, memberships, and drop-ins are all accepted, and you can purchase a live-streaming class for $10! Their steaming platform is Zoom, and a link is sent to your email prior to class starting. A Spotify playlist is also included, and you will be guided through class as if you were in the studio.
As I mentioned above, if you cannot attend a Hot Asana Live Streaming class, they offer professionally pre-recorded On-Demand classes a Hot Asana Online. Your first week is FREE, and you can either pay $19.99 for unlimited access, or purchase one class at a time for $9.99 per class!
They are deeply thankful for your support and your continued practice during this time! Sidenote: I needed new yoga blocks, and they kindly charged my card on file and left them at the bottom of their stairs for me to pick up! If you are in need of yoga supplies, reach out to them!
In need of a yoga mat? My favorite is the Jade Yoga Harmon Mat. My husband and I have gone through several Jade Yoga mats over the years, and after trying Lululemon, B mat, and Manduka, Jade are our favorite!
Hot Asana on Instagram
Hot Asana on Facebook
Mockingbird on Broad
The owner of Mockingbird, Sundi McLaughlin is a proud military wife (and one of the funniest people I know) who lives and works in Southern Pines, NC where she has a lovely shop called Mockingbird located on Broad St, right in the heart of downtown. Sundi, a prior Deputy from Florida, moved to Southern Pines in 2008, and subsequently opened this adorable shop in 2009. A visit to Mockingbird is a regular habit of mine, as there are always new adorable treasures in stock, and the ladies that work there are a treat to chat with! This is also where I purchase LITERALLY every gift I have bought in the last 5 years – baby showers, weddings, birthdays, you name it. Stuck in quarantine? Try a puzzle, a book (like “Pet This F*cking Puppy – A Touch and Feel Book for Stressed Out Adults”, or a Paint by Number, Watercolor Edition.
The physical store (and web store) is stocked with Sundi’s favorite things; a very limited list includes towels, candles, books, children’s gifts, jewelry, mugs, welcome mats, clothing, and cards that will make you roll on the floor with laughter. Her store is FULL of positive and comedic energy, and while we cannot walk through it and soak in all the wonderfulness right now, we CAN still shop it online!
They are currently offering free local delivery within Moore County, and free shipping on orders over $50!
Mockingbird on Broad on Instagram
Mockingbird on Broad on Facebook
Thrive Pilates Studio
Thrive Pilates Studio is a fully equipped Pilates studio located in downtown Aberdeen since 2018, and is owned by my dear friend Alisa! Alisa is a brilliant fitness instructor, with depths of knowledge on nutrition, and expertly tailoring workouts to fit the specific needs of her clients. She is also an incredible mom and business owner!
Whether you are just beginning your journey back to movement health or you are a professional/recreational athlete looking to up your game, they will work with you to achieve your personal goals. In addition to Private and Semi-private sessions, they offer a variety of classes to meet the fitness and therapeutic needs of each client. Their instructors are extensively trained in Pilates, anatomy, bio mechanics, and physical limitations.
They create a safe space for movement, strength building and balance to ensure proper alignment, muscle development and injury prevention.
They are mindful of the difficulty and stress this pandemic brings to every individuals lives, and have made a genuine effort to remain in support of their community, teachers, and family. That is why Thrive Pilates has made a temporary transition to *LIVE* online group classes, privates, and duets.
You can stay connected and continue to support their instructors by joining their live online classes! Check out their schedule for all of the group classes they are offering until they can open their doors again!
View their Pilates Mat/Barre classes schedule
Visit their You Tube Channel with FREE 30min workout videos
In APRIL they are providing DISCOUNTED virtual sessions! An additional 5% off will be given to health care professionals!
Private Sessions Package of 5: $300 ($60 per session)
Duet Sessions (per person) Package of 5: $150 ($30 per session)
Email studiothrivepilates@gmail.com or call 912-856-9022 to purchase a package
Thrive Pilates Studio on Instagram
Thrive Pilates Studio on Facebook
The Modern Planter
The Modern Planter is a boutique houseplant business, owned by Courtney Eury, a Moore County native. Their mission is to help the community find the perfect house plants, while also providing information on how to care for them! I personally have over half a dozen plants in my home from The Modern Planter, and have physically picked up a stunning Monstera from Courtney’s front porch.
The focus of The Modern Planter is not only bringing unique or rare plants to the shop, but also bringing in plants that may be more common, while helping plant-lovers find what may work best for their space and lifestyle. Their main goal is to work with clients to understand their vision and budget. Some of the services they offer include creating custom arrangements, specialty orders, gifts for bridal or baby showers, as well as engaging in ongoing collaboration with local businesses.
The Modern Planter is located inside The Estate of Things on Broad St. in downtown Southern Pines, but you can also order plants directly from their website (or in my experience, by DMing them on Instagram)!!
Current Promotions include a $5 flat rate delivery for any website order
$25 Succulent Kits that include 3 succulents and pots, soil, care instructions and a gardening FAQ guide (written by Courtney)
Custom planters or arrangements delivered
The Modern Planter on Instagram
The Modern Planter on Facebook
Workhorse Fitness and Yoga
Workhorse Fitness and Yoga recently opened their stunning fitness studio, after renovating a gorgeous abandoned brick building in Southern Pines; but this fitness institution is far from new in concept, it’s owner, Tiffany, had this plan tucked away for years. After years in the industry, instructing everywhere from corporate fitness centers to helping launch niche boutique studios, Tiffany knew she wanted to open her own fitness studio with four very clear objectives:
1. Take the guesswork out of fitness for their members by providing purposefully designed programs to target their specific goals and interests.
2. Provide a completely comprehensive wellness experience from strength and conditioning to recovery to nutrition support and guidance under one roof.
3. Personalize Group Fitness. Tiffany has seen the enormous benefit that group fitness provides from its camaraderie, variety, accountability, convenience, and fun. However, it sometimes lacked the personalization and guidance that are found in personal training. Tiffany is on a mission to change that.
4. Create a welcoming environment void of ego or judgement where anyone who walks through the door feels comfortable and believes in their ability to be successful.
Having worked in cities with highly competitive fitness markets, Tiffany has been fortunate enough to experience unique and inspiring training environments. She knew that exceptional type of environment was what she wanted to offer the Sandhills community.
This is my home fitness studio, and while it pains me not to be there in person, working out with some of the best people I know, I know there are ways all of us, near and far, can continue to support them, while also creating a healthy lifestyle at home.
Current Promotions (visit website to purchase)
All Unlimited Monthly Members and 10-Class Pack Holders have Unlimited Access to our library of on-demand home workouts and guided recovery, to include; weighted and bodyweight only strength and conditioning, yoga, deep stretch, pilates and cycling AND access to daily live streaming classes. Class pack holders do NOT lose classes from their package to participate in online classes. Those will be reserved for use in-studio once we reopen.
10-class packs normally $140 but use code ABLONDEESCAPES for $20 off your 10-class pack
Workhorse Fitness and Yoga on Instagram
Workhorse Fitness and Yoga on Facebook
Cotton and Grain
Cotton and Grain is a military spouse-owned online boutique based out of Southern Pines, NC. The owner, Kim Lyons, began this journey in 2017 out of her home and now has a studio downtown where she photographs and stores all of her inventory. Many local customers prefer to set up in person styling sessions and pick up their online orders from her at the studio!
Cotton and Grain is known for its trendy, yet classy and comfortable clothing. The owner is proud to be an online retailer for R. Riveter Handmade Handbags, a company she admires for their mission of providing jobs to military spouses around the country.
You can shop on Cotton and Grain’s website and feel assured you will pick the right product and size, as Kim provides detailed descriptions and instant replies to questions while ordering. Also, you just might see me now and again on their website, so keep a keen eye out (ahem, photo above)!
Use code CARISSA for $5 off your order!
Cotton and Grain on Instagram
Cotton and Grain on Facebook
Pine Life
Whether biking through the pines, hiking trails, or a bonfire with friends, PINE LIFE® embraces a pride for the outdoors, and honors all who desire to be connected.
They are a lifestyle apparel brand that also celebrates nature by giving back the same beauty it provides.
They partner with One Tree Planted, leveraging their products and your enthusiasm to reforest some of our most endangered habitats.
Since their launch in 2017, they have planted 1,200 trees both locally and across the United States. Simply purchase a tree at checkout for $1 or if you add a decal to your cart at on their website they will make an additional donation to One Tree Planted.
Current Promotions: They are offering 25% off their hoodies!Shop Now!
Pine Life on Instagram
Pine Life on Facebook
A Final Note From Carissa
Thank you for supporting our small town, local businesses! We sure all do appreciate it, and I promise, you will absolutely, positively, enjoy their services and products! It is a win-win for everyone!
Do you have a small businesses you love, that you think we should all know about and support? If so – drop the details in the comments section below!
A Blonde Escapes 