Cheri Leavy visits with fellow UGA grads to talk beauty, style, gameday, and more!
Name: Jessica McRae
Family: Husband: Bobby (UGA class of 1999). Children: Lundy (6), Janie (4), Mack (1)
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.
Current Town: Kennesaw, Ga.
What Years at UGA: 2000-2004
School/Degree: Grady, Public Relations
Profession: Co-founder, SwatchPop.com
Accolades: SwatchPop! named one of the Top 40 Most Innovative Companies in Georgia last year. Included in Inc. Magazine’s “24 Startups \ You Need to Know About.” Winner of TechCrunch Pitch-off in Atlanta. My co-founder and I were just named in last month’s Jezebel Magazine, “8 Fresh Faces Taking Over Atlanta’s Design Scene.”
Describe Athens in three words: My favorite place.
Fave bars and restaurant in Athens: Last Resort, Five Bar, the rooftop bar at the Georgia Theatre, Creature Comforts. I was a big fan of Boarshead back in the day!
Fave shops in Athens: Heerys, Encore, Cheeky Peach. I’m blown away by all the shopping in Athens these days! Options were very limited when I was in school.
Fave Athens landmark: Georgia Theatre
Describe your typical Bulldog game day: We’ll arrive several hours early to tailgate with friends. We’ll go to the Dawg Walk to see all the players arrive, and then hit the stadium right before kickoff. If it’s an early game, we’ll hang around afterwards for dinner to let traffic die down. If we’re really lucky and we can find someone to keep our kids overnight, we’ll try to score a room at Hotel Indigo
Fave lipstick: Eeek. I’m more of a lipgloss gal
Fave mascara: Trish McEvoy
Fave skincare line: Honestly, I don’t have a regimented routine for skincare. But I probably should!
Fave hair product: Bumble and Bumble semisumo
Product you can’t live without: Hyaluronic acid serum
Best budget buy product: Victoria Secret lip gloss
Best product splurge: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, (drinkable collagen supplement)
Fave fashion designer: Anything I can find in the runway section at TJ Maxx
Fave interior designer: Kate Marker
Fave jeans: Paige
Fave tee: James Perse
Fashion idol: Julianne Hough, cool and casual
Fave flower: Orchid
Fave accessory: Mignonne Gavigan scarf necklaces
Fave stationery: Rifle Paper Co.
Who inspires you? Sara Blakely
Fave blog: Studio McGee
Fave instagram: Jason Kennedy, @thejasonkennedy, (love him!)
Fave magazine: House Beautiful, Southern Living, and Better Homes & Gardens
Fave book: I love anything by Elin Hilderbrand.
Fave song: “Just Like Heaven,” by The Cure
Fave artist: Melissa Payne Baker
SHARE A TAILGATE RECIPE:
Ugly Dip:
Ingredients
• 1 can (11oz.) white shoe peg corn, drained
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (4 oz.) package crumbled feta cheese
• Small bunch of chopped green onions
Dressing:
• 1/2 cup extra light olive oil
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Prepare dressing, shake well and marinate. Add to ingredients above and let marinate 1-2 hours before serving. Drain with slotted spoon to serving bowl. Serve with tortilla chips
FOR CHERI’S RECENT GEORGIA GIRLS POSTS with UGA ALUMNAE – click here
FOR CHERI’S RECENT PROUST Q&As with UGA ALUMNI – click here
FOR CHERI’S RECENT POSTS on THE SOUTHERN C – click here
