Southern Belle in Training

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

September 6, 2016

Feelin' 22!














     As a blogger, one of the reasons that I look forward now to my birthday each year is because it's an excuse to do a special photoshoot! (#bloggerprobs? Or maybe #bloggerperks haha!) My blogiversary also falls on the same day, so to me that's an excuse just to make things bigger and better each year. :-) I'm so excited this year to have done my birthday/blogiversary photoshoot at my new favorite place in Charlotte, City Lights Rooftop bar at Le Meridien hotel in Uptown Charlotte! Some of you might remember that I've attended a few events this summer at both City Lights and neighboring pool club Craft City Social. I am absolutely obsessed with the panoramic views that City Lights offers of the skyline, so doing this photoshoot there was an absolute dream. 


     I can hardly believe that today is my 22nd birthday. When I take the time to think about it, my four years in college went by in a blur. Each year brought its own highs and lows, but overall college was an incredible time of growth and new experiences for me.


     When I was growing up and used to think about my future, it was hard for me to see beyond my college years. I always dreamed about pursuing a career in radio broadcasting (which I’m currently doing since I’m now enrolled in broadcasting school), but other then that, I didn’t see my future very clearly. When I was young, I certainly never excepted that I would go to college so far from home and end up falling in love with another part of the country! Life is full of surprises, and I’m so excited to see what’s in store for me. One thing that I did always think about when I was younger is that I always saw myself getting married young, and assumed I would meet my future husband either in college or before. Clearly that wasn't in the cards for me, but I feel like 21 was the first year where I finally felt confident and content as a young single woman. I'm hoping 22 might be the year where I find someone special, but if that's still not in God's plan for me just yet, then I know that I'll be fine. 

     This week I made a bucket list of things that I would like to accomplish before I turn 30. I have a bucket list page here on my blog, but it is long due to be updated. I might re-do that soon with some of the goals and aspirations that I recently came up with! It is an exciting time to be thinking about what my 20s might bring for me. 


      21 was a truly whirlwind year. I'll do a bigger recap of some of the highlights in both blogging and my personal life this December when I do my annual yearly recap posts here on the blog, but for now I do want to stress one thing. I have an image pinned to the top of my Twitter timeline right now, and it will probably stay pinned up there for awhile. The picture reads "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" and the tweet that goes along with it reads "Not everything in someone's life is shared on their blog and/or social media... just something to think about." This rings extremely true for me as I have been through some things in my life this year which I have not been able to discuss here on my blog. It pains be more than y'all know not to be able to talk about it, as I like to share my life with all of you (I think of each of my readers as a friend!), and also because writing on my blog is the ultimate stress relief for me. But alas, sometimes situations in the real world arise which need to be resolved before they can be spoken about. And sometimes things take a very, very long time to resolve. 


     Not to kind of hit a downer note in that last paragraph- but I just wanted to say that I'm sure I speak for a lot of bloggers when I make the point that sometimes people go through traumatic experiences and might not be able to blog about them. As the quote says, "everyone is fighting a hard battle." Definitely a life lesson that I learned at 21. 



    Anyways, on a lighter note, today is also Southern Belle in Training's 4th anniversary!! Happy Blogiversary to my special little corner of the internet! Yes- I did start my blog on my birthday, my 18th birthday to be exact. Normally I do a combined birthday and blogiversary blog post, but this year I decided to break them up. You can check out another part of my special City Lights photoshoot with Deeanna here on the blog tomorrow, as well as a 4th blogiversary Q&A! Thanks to everyone who tweeted me questions for it. :-)


     My dress that I wore for this photo shoot is from a local Charlotte shop! They are moving to a new location and were having a huge clearance sale, so I picked this up, as well as the skirt that I'm wearing in the photos that I'll be sharing tomorrow. I do love shopping local from time to time! I have found some other super and similar cute pink dresses though which I am linking below:




     Thank-you all for reading this little blog of mine for the past four years, and for helping me to celebrate 22! Here's to another fabulous year.



     xoxo Miss ALK
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18 comments

  1. Happy birthday & blog anniversary!! What an exciting day of celebrations!!

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  2. Happy birthday! I've loved following you and your blog the past 4 years, and can't wait to see what's to come!
    xoxo

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  3. Happy birthday and blogiversary!!! I'm so excited for you in this upcoming year-- I know God has some great plans for you!

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  4. Love the photos! Happy blogiversary and birthday!!

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  5. Happy birthday and Blog birthday babe!!

    http://xoxobella.com

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  6. Happy birthday beautiful! Cheers to an amazing 22nd year!

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  7. Happy, happy birthday!!! 22 was one of my favorite years - you will rock it!

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  8. This photoshoot is soo soo cute, you look completely gorgeous! Happy 22nd birthday, I hope 22 is a year filled with so much happiness and adventure. For me, 22 was a whole lot like the Taylor Swift song (as silly as it sounds). Happy, free, confusing, and lonely in the best way...there were a lot of emotions involved but I grew SO much!

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  9. Love your photos! That is so exciting that this is your 4th year anniversary for your blog, I can't wait until I finally reach that mile stone!! ,x kenz http://sincerelykenz.com

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  10. These photos are so fun and the perfect location!! I hope you had a wonderful 22nd birthday and 4th blogiversary!!!
    xoxo
    Amy | Pastel N Pink

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  11. Happy Belated Birthday! I love your dress and hope you had an amazing day.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison

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  12. Happy Birthday Love!! Oh my, that dress, those balloons...you're so stinking cute!! Hope you had the best day sweetness!

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  13. Happy birthday sweet girl! Enjoy your day and happy bloggeversary too!

    Greta | www.gretahollar.com

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  14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GORGEOUS!! And happy Blogiversary! I have enjoyed reading your blog so much throughout the years, and am so thankful that I have been able to connect with you through blogging, because you truly are a jewel :) These pictures are so cute! Can't wait to read your Q&A post tomorrow! Also, I love that quote you mentioned...so much truth right there!

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  15. Beautiful pictures. Happy birthday!! 22 is going to be a special year for you!

    Tori

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  16. These pictures are perfect, that dress is amazing, and you are ADORABLE! :) Happy BIRTHDAY!! <3

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  17. Happy belated, sweet friend! I love that bright pink dress on you - perfect cheerful color to be celebrating a new year and new chapter of your life!

    XO, SS || Seersucker Sass

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  18. Happy, happy birthday!!! I turned 22 on September 7th! So close!!! Your dress is freakin' adorable!!! XO

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