“Real Women, Real Clothes” is quickly becoming one of our favorite series to date on the Love, Reese blog.
First up was Sarah O’Brien, the founder of The Little Tart Bakeshop in Atlanta, Georgia. Sarah was followed by Shannon Cogan, an evening news anchor in Louisville, Kentucky.
For the third installment of this series, we headed to the Holy City–Charleston, South Carolina–where we caught up with Katie Weinberger.
Katie is the marketing director and creative half of King Bean Coffee Roasters. The other half is her husband, who founded King Bean in 1994.
With previous experience as a magazine editor, Katie’s transition to marketing was, in her words, “natural.”
Along with running King Bean, Katie’s also an avid reader–“I love to write almost as much as I love to read—I aim to read a book a week.”– and a mother to her 7-year-old son.
Read more about her life at King Bean Coffee Roasters and find out the one thing she can’t live without below.
What’s the best piece of life advice you’ve ever received?
My favorite reminder is, “This too shall pass.” When we have obstacles or bad days or disagreements, it’s easy to get caught up in the feelings of the moment.
But to keep moving forward, I take a deep breath and say, “This too shall pass.” It’s super helpful to remember how fleeting it all is.
What’s the favorite part of your work day?
My favorite part is when I first walk into the roastery. I work from home quite a bit and am usually the last one in, around 10 or 11.
So when I walk in, the coffee roasting is in full swing, the place smells fantastic and everyone is busy in the warehouse working, packing boxes, and loading up the delivery van. Simply a fun energy to walk into!
What do you do to give back to your community?
One of our core values at King Bean is generosity, so we are always looking for ways to give back.
This past holiday season, we created a coffee blend that gave back: $2 for every bag sold went to Good Friends of the Lowcountry, a grassroots organization that provides financial assistance to those “on the brink.” We loved being able to not only give back from each bag of our Good Friends Blend, but also use our company as a platform to further the organization’s message.
How would you describe your everyday style?
It may be an oxymoron, but I call my style “preppy bohemian.” I love to look put together, but with whimsical jewelry, shoes, and patterns.
What drew you to the Draper James Belted Magnolia Shirtdress?
The shirtdress is a super flattering style on me, and I think anyone else who wears it! It’s easy and comfortable and transitions well from work life to mom life.
I can change out of my sandals and wear my low top Converse to cart my son to sports after school. It’s actually really cute with Converse.
What’s the one thing you can’t live without?
Coffee, of course! It’s my morning ritual to make coffee first and then sit and sip while I read “The Wall Street Journal. ”
I like to experiment with the different coffees we have in our portfolio at King Bean, so each week I have something new. This week, I’ve been sipping on a new Colombian coffee. It’s delicious.
What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to dressing for your vocation?
My biggest challenge is not dressing too casually. It would be easy to wear yoga pants every day since (A) I’m the boss so I can and (B) our roastery is in a warehouse, so it lends a casual vibe.
To dress it up a little, I choose clothes that are comfortable to wear, but are feminine and pretty and easy. Clothes that I feel good in, like this Draper James shirtdress.
What’s your favorite thing about living in the South?
Hands down, it’s the people who live here.
I love that Southerners are welcoming and generous and loquacious. We are people who believe in sharing with each other—stories and advice and recipes and ideas.
Do you have a favorite “Southernism”?
Yes! “Pretty is as pretty does” has always been a favorite of mine. A nice reminder that beauty comes from the inside.
Photo credit: Nickie Stone
