Southern Belle in Training

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

January 31, 2018

Midweek Ramblings + Recent Purchases + Current Wishlist.



{A throwback to one of my favorite winter looks from last year! Follow me on social media @miss_alk}




Ramblings:
  • Feeling bleh with blogging: Confession time: this has been kind of a rough month for me with blogging. I suppose you might not know that, as I've still been posting on the blog and my Instagram regularly each week. But internally, I've been struggling a bit. Last year I was really able to grow my blog's income, which was a huge blessing! However, the start of 2018 has been incredibly quiet for me on the collaboration front. A few things have fallen through, I've had some offers that weren't a good fit for my brand, and other then that my inbox has been very quiet. I had gotten used to several months in a row in 2017 of multiple blog and social media collaborations and being very busy managing all of it, so it is a bit of a shock to me for things to go still so suddenly, especially since I'm not quite sure why. I suppose that's part of the unpredictability with being an influencer! If you're a blogger and have been in a similar boat lately or were at another time, I'd love any of your tips to stay positive! Luckily this hasn't impacted my writing too much... I always have a lot of "rainy day" blog post topics saved, so I've had a lot of content for this month. But I am definitely feeling a little discouraged in the other parts of my blog, and it feels kind of good to admit that!
  • Staying busy: In all honesty, I have been feeling a bit "bleh" in other aspects of my life besides for blogging, too. I've definitely noticed that my anxiety has been flaring up in recent weeks. January hasn't been the easiest month, but I'm trying to take things one day at a time! I've been trying my hardest to stay busy in my life outside of work to keep positive. I'm going to the gym a few times a week, I've still been trying new recipes, I've been trying to stick to a more regular schedule for cleaning my apartment, and I've also been doing some of the ideas that I shared in my 25 Ways to Beat Cabin Fever blog post from last week! I think the best thing I can do to combat all of this anxiety is to keep myself busy and productive in my spare time.
  • Grammy's 2018: This year's Grammy awards sadly were not my favorite. There were some great performances- I really enjoyed DJ Khaled/Rihanna/Bryson Tiller doing Wild Thoughts, Kesha's performance was beautiful, and I liked Elton John and Miley Cyrus's collaboration as well. But I was disappointed in how political the show was made. The Grammy's should be a night to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the biggest artists in the world, and a night to bring people together because of music... not a night to push political agendas (either conservative or liberal). There are definitely plenty of opportunities in media to talk politics, I don't think the Grammy's is that stage. That's just my opinion! What did you think of this year's show? 


Purchases: I am currently doing a month long shopping fast! So no personal purchases this week. 😊



Wishlist:
  • I started thinking this week about how much I'd like to refresh some parts of my home decor in my next apartment... whenever that is! (I'm not moving anytime too soon.) Anyways, one easy thing to update are accent pillows. They can add so much character to a space! How cute and colorful are these pillows?
  • If you're trying to fight off the winter blues (or as I call it, a "bleh spell") like I am right now, I think a neon pink shift dress would perk anyone right up!
  • This is one of the cutest sports bras I've ever seen! I'd love this since I've been going to the gym more regularly. 
  • I have no plans on the agenda for Valentine's that warrant wearing a spicy little dress like this- but I am still obsessed with it! 



Recipe of the week: Almond Frosting from Better Homes and Gardens. I made this over the weekend to frost some sugar cookies, and I think this frosting recipe is for sure a keeper!! It paired wonderfully with my favorite sugar cookie recipe, and the almond extract was a great addition to the frosting! 



Song of the week: Sick Boy by The Chainsmokers. I am absolutely obsessed with the new single by The Chainsmokers! I don't usually listen to too much Top 40 music outside of work (since I listen to it all day at my job), but this song has been on repeat nonstop on my Spotify at home! It was interesting to hear Alex and Drew interviewed on the Grammys' red carpet this past weekend and see them answer questions about the meaning behind this song- it definitely has a darker tone than their other songs! 



On the blog this week:


     Remember to sign up for my brand new monthly newsletter for Southern Belle in Training if you haven't yet! I'll be sending the first one out later today and plan to do so in the future around the end of each month.



     God Bless,



    xoxo Annaliese 






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15 comments

  1. I've never thought about almond frosting but it sounds delicious! Might have to whip some up when I finish the Whole30.

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  2. Ugh...I totally feel you on the quite inbox. I haven't gotten any good collab opportunities and it's starting to weigh on me too.

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  3. I'm happy you were transparent with where you're at with blogging! I know the feeling! I felt super disconnected the last two months of 2017 and found myself turning down SO many things that I was getting discouraged! Then 1/1 hit and now I'm booked through March! I think it ebbs and flows and It was great to use that time to slow down and feel reinspired!

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  4. I am sorry you're feeling so bleh lately. I think January and February are dry months for everyone when it comes to collaborations. That neon dress will certainly turn some heads!

    April | https://thebluehydrangeas.com

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  5. Aww that frosting looks delicious! I want to try it this weekend!

    xo Deborah
    Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes

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  6. That’s almond frosting looks soooo good! I need to eat something like soon.

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  7. I think that January is just a tough month overall- everyone is so busy getting back into their own groove it's like nothing is going on in the outside world. I always feel like life just gets brighter in Feb/March! Hang in there girlfriend!!

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  8. thanks for sharing your thoughts, i totally understand the bleh of blogging, although mines from a different perspective :) it might also just be that companies are using the new year to reevaluate how much they are willing to spend/give to influencers for collabs :) don't let the first month of the year get you down!! :)

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  9. Girl you are so busy!!! I need to check out those songs.

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  10. First, blogging is so unpredictable. I wouldn't let that bother you. Just keep being you and posting consistently and I'm sure opportunities will surely arise. Keep on pushing through. Second, I was at a family dinner and was so angry at myself for forgetting to record the grammys...so sad! :)

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  11. Girl, I've been feeling bleh too in general, it can be hard to get out of a funk. I hope that things start looking up, in fact I know they will!

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  12. Annaliese! I'm sorry to hear that you've been feeling a bit bleh lately. I don't know if you saw, but I recently launched blogoscopes- your blog horoscope may have some good ideas to help you hit "refresh" on content! If you want to see yours, let me know (idk what sign you are lol)
    -Emily
    https://norepeatsorhesitations.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8531b708ba5f898da3861d650&id=04f47e2628

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  13. ok that multicolored pillow is perf. Especially against a white couch! and i've gotta try that almond frosting!

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  14. January has been very slow for me too. Not sure what's going on.

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