Southern Belle in Training

Fashion, Travel & Lifestyle Blog || Est. 2012 || Virginia Beach, VA

December 2, 2015

Midweek Ramblings + Recent Purchases.




{Via my Instagram @miss_alk - follow me on Snapchat too with the same username!}



Ramblings:
  • Friendsgiving: This was my third year out of four years of college spending Thanksgiving with families of my friends instead of my own extended family back home. Getting to spend so many Thanksgivings, and a few other holidays as well, with other families has been such an enriching experience. It's a wonderful feeling to be welcomed into someone's home for a holiday, and I absolutely love seeing the different traditions that each family holds near and dear. Honestly this has probably been one of my favorite parts of going to college far from home! This year's Thanksgiving with my best friend Mia and her family back in Pennsylvania was definitely one for the books. Since I plan to stay out-of-state following college, I know that I will have many more Friendsgivings to look forward to, and possibly even hosting some of my own wherever I end up living! 
  • Grey Thursday is the new Black Friday: In all the years that I have Black Friday shopped, this was my very first year of starting shopping on Thanksgiving night. Typically I wake up somewhere between 6 and 8 a.m. on Friday, and just make for a 10 or 12 hour day at the malls! But this year since I was spending the holiday with my friend, things were a bit different. We ended up doing one traditional mall and also Philadelphia's huge outlet mall all on Grey Thursday! We started at about 8 pm, and didn't get home until after 2 a.m.. But what an awesome experience!! I am a total night owl so I loved being able to shop into the wee hours of the morning. (Of course the fun didn't stop on Thursday though... we hit up King of Prussia, the largest mall by retail space in the country, on Black Friday evening!)
  • Winter Break Goals: I am starting to plan out my goals and list of things to accomplish over Christmas Break! I'm only going home to Maine for two weeks of break this time, and decided to return to Charlotte early. I am hoping to have a fun and productive Winter Break in both Maine and Charlotte- this is my last one as a college student after all! A few of my goals include making fun NYE plans for Charlotte (I'll be back by then), setting up apartment tours, planning some fun things with my Maine friends and family while I'm home, and beginning crafting for a birthday gift for a friend whose birthday is next semester! 


Purchases:
  • This year's Black Friday sales did not disappoint! One of my favorite purchases of this year was finally finding the perfect pair of over-the-knee boots. And the best part?! They were only $20 during Black Friday!! I had been looking online at some OTK boots at department stores ranging $100 and higher. I'm so glad that I held out and struck gold with these!
  • I shared on my Instagram last night a little preview of two adorable skirts that I purchased from Abercrombie & Fitch on Grey Thursday. Each was marked to about $25, so I got both of these for $50!! Sadly both of the skirts are no longer listed online, but here is a very similar option to one of the skirts that I got.
  • Black Friday is always a great time to stock up on essential wardrobe items, since these are usually all on sale. I found some great pairs of of tights on sale here, and I know I'll get tons of use out of them this winter!
  • Y'all-please help me to make a decision with this skirt! I purchased this on a whim on Grey Thursday, but after trying it on when we got home from shopping I realized I would have to exchange it for a different size. But I'm not sure if I still love it (at least maybe not in this color)... yet at the same time, I feel like a skirt like this is a blogger essential. Thoughts?! Should I exchange or return?


      For those of you who did Black Friday/Cyber Monday this year, how did it go for you?? In addition to purchasing these items and a few other things for myself, I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping, which makes me happy! I hate being a last minute present shopper.



     xoxo Miss ALK
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25 comments

  1. It's so funny to see you talking about shopping at all of my favorite places! Hope you had a great time in PA! :)

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  2. I love that skirt so much! I want one so bad, and I feel like you can wear it in all seasons. Since I've been following your blog for awhile, I know that you could totally pull it off!

    Have a great rest of your semester!
    xoxo

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  3. I am so glad you got some good steals! I wish I was able to do friends giving! It sounds like so much fun!

    Mikayla | A Seersucker State of Mind.

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  4. Grey Thursday? I LOVE that! How am I just hearing about this term?!

    XoLindsay
    Sugar & Something

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  5. I'd love to see you in that tulle midi skirt.
    SO cute.

    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

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  6. I think its great that you've experienced so many Thanksgiving dinners! And I can't wait to see the OTK boots!!

    http://thealwaysblog.com/

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  7. I would love to spend Thanksgiving with a friend's family, that is such a fun tradition. AMAZING steal on the over the knee boots, $20 for boots is SUCH a steal.

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  8. I'm so jealous of the steal you got on those OTK boots! I've been wanting a pair for a while!!

    Jadoregrace

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  9. Love all of the great steels you got!
    www.kayleighskloset.com

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  10. What a great Friendsgiving!! My friends did before we hosted the main Thanksgiving Dinner for a Ladies Night and it was fun!!

    Ursula

    www.blueridgebeautyblogger.com

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  11. I can't wait to see you style of your Thanksgiving sale finds! I say keep the skirt:) I wanted one like that SO badly for my engagement shoot last year! It's such a fun piece and I would love to see you style it for holiday wear!

    xo Ashley

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  12. Friendsgivings are the best when you're far away from home! Love having a supportive network no matter where you may be :)

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  13. I went to college an hour away from home, and I loved bringing sorority sisters to Thanksgiving dinner with me each year! It's always nice to share family traditions with friends that become extended family :)

    I love that skirt! I've been strongly considering ordering a black one!

    XO, SS || Seersucker Sass

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  14. I love friendsgivings so much (especially since they don't normally come with the chaos of family) and wow!! Maine this time of year must be so beautiful!

    xo,
    Sara Kate Styling

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  15. I would stick with the tulle full midi skirt! Maybe get it in the pink?

    Lauren | The Arizona Prepster

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  16. Omg I've never spent Thanksgiving at a friends house. My mom and dad would be so sad lol but I love the idea of Friendsgiving and those boots were only 20$ too bad it's sold out now :(

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  17. It's so nice that you have close friends who have you over for Thanksgiving!

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  19. I'm glad you had luck on Black Friday!! I did, too, and I'm terrified of my credit card bill! Womppp.

    xo,
    Stephanie
    Diary of a Debutante
    www.thediaryofadebutante.com

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  20. I also participated in Grey Thursday for the first time this year. I am honestly still in shock about how many good deals I snagged!

    Kristine | My Little Box of Tricks
    http://mylittleboxoftricks.wordpress.com

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  21. I didn't do any Grey Thursday/Black Friday shopping this year. Not even online which is a first! Been trying to save money so did not want to be tempted by all the amazing deals! I always end up spending way more than planned!

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  22. You're making me miss college with the winter break talk.. :'( I love a good over the knee boots! I bet they look awesome on you!

    Nicole // Chronicling Home

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  23. BF was the best. The sales were insane!

    xo
    Lauren

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  24. I also try and stock up on essentials during black Friday! I bough 4 huge candles just because they were buy one get one free! However, I get a little scared going out there, but it's worth it!

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  25. Good luck apartment hunting!
    Pi love,
    Lindsey
    with southern grace,
    lindsey
    www.withsoutherngrace.blogspot.com

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