Midweek Ramblings.

 

{Enjoying cider donuts at an apple orchard this weekend! Follow me on Instagram @miss_alk}

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Ramblings:

• Fostering a veteran: This is one of the best stories I've read online in awhile! The TODAY show did a piece about a program that allows elderly veterans to be fostered by members of their local community. What a sweet story, and the photos that accompany it made me smile so big. 
• One year of COVID: Maybe not one year of it being in the US just yet, but yesterday marked the one year anniversary that Chinese doctors first publicly documented a mysterious new illness in a patient, which we now of course know as COVID-19. Some days I really wish I could go back in time to late last year and figure out where I was when I first learned about COVID-19 in China. Oh- the things I would've told myself that day!! Anyways, this article gives a good recap to what COVID-19 looked like in 2019. 
• Facebook group: Just another reminder that Southern Belle in Training now has a fun private Facebook group open to any women who read the blog or follow me on IG! This week we had a great discussion in there about ways to make friends as an adult. I'll also be doing at least one exclusive holiday giveaway for Facebook group members, so be sure to request to join here if you'd like to be part of the fun! 

Weekend recaps: 

• Last weekend: Saturday was so much fun! I drove over to Harrisonburg (an hour west) for a fun day. First, I met-up outdoors at a winery with my new friend Cara. My friend Sierra from Charlottesville  recently moved to Harrisonburg, so later in the afternoon I met up with her and her family at a beautiful apple orchard in the area. I'm trying to take advantage of as many safe outdoor ways to see friends as I can right now. The day finished with a fun doubles tennis match back in Charlottesville! Sunday was a quiet, lazy day spent getting groceries, watching Gilmore Girls and Hallmark movies, and working on my gift guide blog posts that have been going up this week! 
• This weekend: Saturday is going to be triple workout day- I have an outdoor Jazzercise class in the morning, my friend Leslie and I are going for a trail walk after, and then I have another tennis match that evening. On Sunday I'll be in Richmond for the earlier part of the day, and then my roommate and I will be decorating our Christmas tree that evening. 

Purchases:

• This week I ordered a couple special new Christmas ornaments for my tree this year! This is the first one- I had it personalized with my roommate, Delilah and I's names, and our apartment street name. 
• I also ordered this cute ornament! I loved the colors. It comes in many different shapes and also a mug form!
• My other purchases this week were all Christmas gifts. I like to get as much of my gift shopping done in November as I can.

Wishlist:

• File this under things that I absolutely don't need but would love to have: a ginger jar ice bucket, perfect for a bar cart!
• The most perfect tartan flannel for the holiday season.
• A fierce and unique sweater dress for under $30!
• Aren't these cute Christmas pajamas?
• I love classic silver rings that you can where everyday. I have one I really love that I've had since high school, and this ring is the closet that I've found to mine in a long time!
• I have this sweater from last year (see it styled here!) and I love it so much that I want to get one in another color on Black Friday next week!

Currently reading: Not The Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher - Lately I've been reading more modern romances than normal as a way to escape from the current events. This book is described as a millennial makeover on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and I'd say that's pretty accurate! It's been a fun and light read so far. 

Recipe of the week: Parmesan Chicken with Couscous and Roasted Carrots from Hello Fresh - Another winner of a Hello Fresh meal that I'm recreating in my home kitchen this week! The combo of the breaded chicken with the couscous is just so tasty!! 

Song of the week: Franchise by Travis Scott - This one took me quite awhile to warm up to (I thought for the longest time it sounded too much like Travis's 2018 hit Sicko Mode?), but now I find myself turning it up in the car!

Favorite blog posts of the week:

• Lonestar Southern - I love this post from Kate with outfit and pose inspiration for Christmas card photos this year.
  
• Crafty Teacher Lady - I am over-the-moon happy for Kelly-Anne and her husband! They tragically lost their first son at just 20 weeks last winter. They are now expecting their rainbow baby this winter! I smiled so big when I saw this news!
• Southern Curls and Pearls - This is my favorite maternity outfit of Caitlin's so far- she looks so chic and holiday-ready! Her outfit makes me sad there won't be holiday parties this year. 

On the blog this week:

• 2020 Gift Guides: FOR HER
  

     Gift Guide Week continues on the blog tomorrow- stay tuned! 🎁

     God Bless,

     xoxo Annaliese