Preparing For a White Christmas...

     I have always wanted to do blog photos where Christmas trees are sold, and it's something that I never got to cross off my photoshoot location checklist while living in Charlotte. Maybe that worked out for the better... because getting to shoot amongst freshly snow covered Vermont Christmas trees for sale was really quite magical! The only thing not so magical was the weather... it was seriously 10 degrees when Amanda and I were out here! But we made it happen anyways, and I think it was worth it! I'm also getting real at the end of today's post about how to get real with yourself when the holiday season is filled with personal anxieties and stress.

Photography by Amanda Rose Photography 

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

Coat c/o // Sweater // Jeans {not online, very similar here} // Boots // Earrings c/o // Lipstick: LipSense in Bella // 

      It is very hard to find a winter coat that is still cute and fashionable, but can also keep you warm and insulated in New England's bitter cold winter temperatures. I am so pleased to report that this gorgeous coat  checks off both of those boxes! It actually kept me quite warm and toasty on the freezing morning that Amanda and I were out shooting these pictures, and I think it has the most darling plaid pattern as well! I know I'll be reaching for this coat many more times during the upcoming months of winter. A note on the sizing- this brand does tend to run smaller, so I ordered a M. It is a bit large, so I probably could have gone with a S (my normal size) and been fine. But sometimes it's good to have coats a little larger- that means you can wear a super thick sweater and scarf underneath and still have extra room! 

      I am a fake Christmas tree girl all the way (check out this blog post to see how I decorated my tree this year!), but I do think there is something very beautiful about Christmas tree farms or lots. Vermont is very big on all things local, so it wasn't surprising to me to learn that they have tons of tree farms here! Amanda and I stumbled on this little tree lot set up in downtown Shelburne, a quaint lakefront town near Burlington, and taking these photos there really did get me into the holiday spirit!


      This year could be my first white Christmas in several years! I have gone home to Maine every year for the holiday (minus a couple years where my parents and I have traveled), but the last few years it has been mild in New England for the holiday! One Christmas a few years ago it hit 60 degrees... not even joking (it was also my dream come true). Definitely a warm weather girl! Well- I might finally get to see a white Christmas again this year whether I like it or not! Snow is headed for Northern New England on Christmas Day! I'm just hoping the snow will coordinate itself around my driving schedule so I can make it home safely.... and be able to get home at all!

     

      Getting real for a second about something not related to cute coats and Christmas trees- the past couple weeks have been really rough for me personally. I struggled with anxiety and depression in high school, and honestly I don't remember feeling as awful as I've felt lately since that time in my life several years ago. It seems a bit ironic, to be dealing with lots of anxiety, stress and uncertainty, in what is supposed to be the most magical time of the year, but I guess that's what adulting can sometimes bring. I am trying to make some positive life changes for 2018 following my holiday travels, in hopes that the new year will be one filled with less stress and anxiety, and more joy and peace. I can get much more into detail about all of that in another blog post! But just for right now, I did want to share that it hasn't been the easiest few weeks. Sometimes in this Instagrammable world that we live in (especially at the holiday season I feel like), it's easy to see pretty pictures and assume that all is happy and perfect in someone's life, but that isn't always the case. It's always good to keep it real and speak up and seek support if you're dealing with a lot. 😊   

      Happy Thursday! Thanks so much as always for reading. Y'all's comments always truly make my day! 

      My whole outfit is linked below:

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese