Midweek Ramblings + Recent Purchases + Current Wishlist.

{A little sneak peak of shopping at my favorite jewelry and accessories store in my hometown- The Best of Everything! It was so nice to be home last weekend, even for such a short trip. Follow me on social media @miss_alk!}

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

Ramblings:

• Free Magazine Bin: Something I recently discovered that has been a little delight in my week: the free magazine bin at my local library! The library in my hometown back in Maine had one of these too, and I used to love it when I was growing up. The free magazine bin is just as it sounds- a place for people to come to the library and drop off issues of magazines that they no longer want, so that others can enjoy them, for free! On my last trip to the library, I found some great issues of Family Circle and Good Housekeeping (#IAmOld) which had some tasty and easy new recipes in them, and I can't wait to try those soon. If your local library has a free magazine section, you should definitely check it out!
• Adulting To-Do List Progress: In a blog post from a couple weeks ago, I shared my "adulting to-do list," which was a building list of chores and tasks in my personal life that I'd been putting off for weeks. I'm pleased to report that since sharing that list on my blog, I've made some dents in it! I've crossed off two items so far, scheduling appointments with a new doctor and dentist here in Vermont, and calling my credit card company's customer service number to get help understanding the monthly statement and. I'm telling y'all- writing down stuff on the blog holds me so much more accountable than just writing it on a post-it note or in my phone! 😉
• Shopping in New Hampshire: One of things that I dislike the most about living in Vermont is the lack of shopping up here. It's forced me to become much more of an online shopping connoisseur in the last few months than I ever was before! As great as shopping online is, I still love the classic retail experience of being in a mall or your favorite store. I mean- I did work in retail for four years, so I guess it runs in my blood a little, ha! Anyways, on my drive back from Maine last weekend, I left home a little early so I could stop and do some retail damage in Manchester New Hampshire, which at just under three hours south is one of the nearest big shopping areas to Burlington. Another huge perk to shopping in New Hampshire is that the whole state is tax free, so it is to your advantage to shop there. They also have a HOBBY LOBBY- which is probably my favorite store in the world. Needless to say- it was an enjoyable way to spend my day off last week before a very busy work week!

Purchases:

• While in New Hampshire, I got to stop at several stores that aren't in Vermont, one being ULTA!! (Yes- you're probably wondering how I've been surviving up here as a fashion blogger. By throwing myself into my career, that's how! Haha!) As a treat to myself for not being in an Ulta since Charlotte, I decided to splurge on this palette, which I've had my eye on for a few months now.
• This week I picked up this top up (at a store that we actually do have here in Burlington- lol!). It's not my normal style, but it's something fun and different, and I think it'll be a good fall transition top!

Wishlist:

• These stylish black OTK boots from the Nordstrom Sale! 
• This foundation, which I've been loving and am almost out of, was all sold out at the ULTA that I stopped at last week. Guess I'll have to order more online!
• I love finding funny mugs online- how true does this one ring for fellow bloggers?!
• I had to buy an Otterbox for my phone a few months ago after I shattered the screen (and it has been much needed!), but if I wasn't so clumsy with my phone I would buy this gorgeous iPhone case in a heartbeat, it's just beautiful!

On the blog this week:

• NORDSTROM SALE 2017: Best Beauty Picks
• NORDSTROM SALE 2017: Styling My Purchases
• NORDSTROM SALE 2017: Best Home Decor + $500 Nordstrom Giveaway!
• Black Athleisure Look + My Summer Schedule.

   

     Thanks so much for reading, and hope that you've had a great first half of your week! Since last week's review post of LipSense was so popular, I'm sharing another type of review blog post tomorrow. This time I'll be reviewing a popular summer jewelry trend, and comparing different versions of it from a few different brands! 

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)

Black Athleisure Look + My Summer Schedule.

      I make it pretty well known on the blog that I'm a big fan of discount online retailer Shein. However- one thing that I had never tried from Shein prior to now were any type of pants or leggings. The under $15 price on these worried me a little bit, but I was pleasantly surprised in how much I loved them! I'm styling them today in this athleisure look, and sharing a bit about what my summer routine outside of work has looked like.

Thank you to Nicholle from Nicholle Sophia for these photos!

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

Top c/o {old, similar here} // Leggings c/o {under $15!} // Sports bra {old, similar here} // Sneakers // Lipstick c/o Smooch by April // 

      This is the perfect example of an outfit that I'd wear both to work, and then later to the gym. I love being able to wear athleisure outfits to work on days that I want to workout after! (The only difference is I would probably throw on a sweatshirt for work... no matter how casual your workplace is spaghetti straps in the office probably aren't a good idea- haha!) I still can't believe that these leggings from Shein are under $15. What a fantastic deal!

      Now to talk a little bit about my summer schedule... or perhaps I should say lack-thereof? Life-wise, everything for me was turned completely upside-down when I moved to Vermont in April to begin my post-grad career! I've struggled with time management throughout the past, and with having such a demanding work schedule I knew that I had to do something to organize my time outside of work. I read a great older blog post from one of my favorite bloggers, Katey from Chronicles of Frivolity, who said that after she graduated college and first lived on her own, something that helped her to organize her time was to designate each weekday for some sort of task or activity (outside of work hours). For example, some days for fitness classes, one day a week for errands/boring adult tasks, one day for appointments, one day for seeing girlfriends after work, etc. I thought this was such a great idea and initially I tried to implement this into my new life in Vermont. 

      Although it worked well at first, it fell apart kind of quickly for me. I talk more about this in my bi-monthly post-move updates, but I haven't really had much of a social life since I moved here, and when I do it's usual very infrequent and last minute plans. Something else that's been going on this summer too is that I've had a lot of company visiting. This has been a lot of fun and has helped to keep my spirits up, but as I don't get time off from work right now, squeezing in multiple visitors around my insane work schedule has proved to be a bit stressful. 

      All that goes to say- the little out-of-work schedule that I've made for myself has completely gone out the window! Including other things that I was enjoying doing after work, like cooking regular dinners and going to the gym a few times a week. Part of it is that work has really picked up- summer is the busiest time of the year for radio events. This week I work close to 60 hours! I've been feeling a bit burnt out between working so much and running my blog, that when I am home, I've been very unproductive and usually just mindlessly playing on my phone or sleeping. You know that you're burnt out when you don't even have the attention span some nights for Netflix- haha! Another thing is that on days when I do have energy after work, I've been trying to enjoy time by Lake Champlain outside. Vermont has such a short summer and I'm very much a hot weather person, so I feel like I'll have seriously guilt feelings to spend extra time indoors that I don't have to in these short warm weeks.

    So after all of that- my question to all of you is: how do you stay productive and on-track in your personal life in the summer months? Do you take a "summer vacation" from some things like cooking, apartment tasks, and the gym? Or do you still hold yourself accountable to your normal routine, even with a super busy work schedule (or two super busy work schedules in my case) and warm weather? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Doing this whole adulting thing is new to me, and I think we can all learn from each other! 

     After taking last week off, Midweek Ramblings + Recent Purchases + Current Wishlist will be back for tomorrow's Wednesday blog post! 

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)

     

NORDSTROM SALE 2017: Best Home Decor + $500 NORDSTROM GIVEAWAY!

      Today's giveaway is sponsored by Lili Allessandra. This post also contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Southern Belle in Training! 


      Today I'm sharing some home decor favorites from this year's Nordstrom Sale, as well as a $500 Nordstrom giveaway with some other great bloggers! I feel like homedecor is sometimes the category that gets forgotten about during the NSale, but there are also wonderful deals in this category, just like there are on clothing, shoes and accessories!

1. Lili Allessandra Decorative Pillow // 2. Polka Dot Glasses // 3. Marble Tissue Box // 4. Recipe Tin // 5. Wine Rack // 6. Lili Allessandra Bedding // 7. Area Rug // 8. Flamingo Shower Curtain //

      Let me start this off by saying it's taking all of my willpower NOT to buy that adorable flamingo shower curtain! Aquamarine and hot pink are one of my favorite color combos, and I am just in love with it! (I got all new bathroom decor for my first apartment in Charlotte last year though, so I'm not quite overdue for a bathroom decor refresh yet. #meh #budgeting)  

      I think that the recipe tin and wine rack would both make such great bridal shower or wedding gifts! Those are the types of items that a bride might not think to put on a registry, but could both come in handy for a new apartment or house. 

     This sale could also be the perfect time to invest in some luxurious new bedding! Bedding is one of those things that can be such an expensive purchase, but the good news is when it's from a good brand, it will last for years and years to come. I love this gorgeous Lili Allessandra bedding which is included in the sale! 

     And now for the best part of today's post- the giveaway! In celebration of the recent launch of Lili Alessandra a maker of fine linens and soft furnishings on Nordstrom.com. I have partnered with a few of my favorite bloggers to give away a $500 Nordstrom gift card! Simply enter below by completing the Rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open internationally and ends on 8/7. Winner will be announced here. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)