Midweek Ramblings + Recent Purchases + Current Wishlist (on a Thursday!).

{Sharing this week's Midweek Ramblings on a Thursday due to yesterday's Valentine's Day outfit post! Better late than never, right? 🙂Follow me on social media @miss_alk}

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{ Sweater dress c/o // Hat // }

Ramblings: 

• Fitness goals: I mentioned in my New Year's Resolutions blog post that I'm really focusing on fitness in 2018. I finally went to the gym 3x last week (up from 2x), and that was a great feeling! I'm also working hard on slowly running longer distances to make my goal of running a 5k this year. I know this doesn't sound like much but I have never been a runner so that's a big goal for me to work up to. When I started running on the treadmill around New Year's I could barely run a quarter of a mile before having to walk (so pathetic I know!), now I'm almost running a mile and doing so pretty quickly! It's been fun and motivating for me to have this goal to work towards. If you also had fitness goals for this year, how are they coming? 
• New TV show: There's a new show that I've been watching and enjoying! LA to Vegas on Fox premiered in January, and I am loving it so far. It's a comedy about a fictional budget airline (think like Allegiant Airlines) that operates a weekly flight from LAX to Las Vegas, and it follows the flight crew and a few of the "regulars" that fly to Vegas each week on the same flight. I love Las Vegas (it's one of my top US vacation destinations) and I love most things that have to do with Vegas, so I think this show is super cute!! I hope it gets picked up for a second season in the fall. 

Purchases:

• I successfully completed the four week shopping fast I did between mid-January - mid-February! It was a great way to save money, and also get more use out of things I already had in my closet. I finished the end of the shopping fast with a trip to Macy's in Burlington, which is closing in a few weeks so the store closing sale is in full effect. Fun fact about me: I love shopping store closing sales.
• I was able to score a great deal on a new pair of my favorite flats! These are pricier at full price (around $100) but my last pair lasted me a few years, and since I got this new pair at a discount with the store closing sale I knew I couldn't resist! 
• I also scored a pair of suede lace-up heeled sandals for spring/summer (whenever that arrives in Vermont... lol!). With all of the store closing discounts they were under $25! Mine aren't online, but these are really similar. 
• I also was able to find a really cute crocheted black bikini for $40! Such a great deal for a versatile swimsuit. The one I purchased isn't online, but this one is similar. 

Wishlist:

• A cute long sleeved top for transitioning to spring. 
• Such a classy dress that's perfect for the workplace. It would look great layered with tights and a blazer for the rest of the cooler months!
• This utensil kind of looks too pretty to use on any food... but it would be a dream to have something this gorgeous in my future kitchen! 
• Disclaimer that this is way too expensive to be anything more than a wishlist item, but this chic spring purse is so beautiful! I'm always drawn to anything with a bold floral pattern.
• Easter is on the way and it's my favorite holiday. This wreath is kinda tacky... but also soooo Annaliese. 😊

Recipe of the week: Spicy Mexican Shredded Pork Tostadas (or Soft Tacos). My best friend from high school, Jules, gave me the America's Test Kitchen official cookbook for Christmas this year, and lately I've been digging into it and trying recipes from it. Last week I made the Spicy Mexican Shredded Pork Tostadas  recipe, except I made them into soft tacos with corn tortillas instead. I have linked the recipe online, however since it's from their cookbook you have to be a member of the website and sign up for a free trial to access it online. 

Song of the week: Good Life by The Young Escape. This week in the car I've been listening to a lot of Air1, a nationally syndicated Christian radio station. Honestly for the last few years I haven't been a big fain of most mainstream Christian music, but lately I've been craving listening to it for some reason (I'll dive more into that in tomorrow's blog post!). Anyways, I discovered a new Christian song that I really like from the band The Young Escape - check it out! 

On the blog this week: 

• Working With a Blog Photographer: Everything You Need to Know!
• Winter PR Packages Review.
• Relationship Monday: Valentine's Day Prayers for you Future Spouse.
• Southern Belle in Training 2018 Annual Reader Survey!
• Red and Pink Outfit - Happy Valentine's! 

     Thanks so much as always for reading! I hope you're having a great week.

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese

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