Southern Belle in Training

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

September 1, 2022

Spring/Summer 2022 Recap: What I've Been Up To During My Blogging Break.

       Hi and happy September! I can't believe it's actually been over four months since I've talked to you here. When I announced my extended blogging break back in  April, part of me was unsure if I'd actually follow through with it. Blogging has been part of my daily and weekly routine for a whole decade. Even though I was burnt out and craving a long break to revaluate things, it also seemed kind of unfathomable that I'd actually stop blogging for so many months. But I did it! And... I'm so glad I did. 

      I'll have another post up next week with more thoughts on my break from blogging/influencing and what I see myself doing differently with all of it in the future. But for today, I wanted to recap this past spring and summer for you! I've been staying pretty busy, and it's definitely been a memorable past few months. 😊

     Also- I currently have COVID for the first time ever! I was so sad to have to cancel travel plans that I was supposed to leave for today. Getting back to the blog today is definitely something making me smile despite all that's going on.



     Just like last summer, I've been taking full advantage of the fact that I live so close to so many different beaches, and I've been trying to spend as much time by the water as I can. 


      While I have stuck close to home in Virginia Beach a good bit, I have also gone on some fun day trips! Like this one pictured below with my friend Bea to visit the Sweethaven Lavender Farm in Williamsburg this spring.

     
     I started golf lessons in February 2022, and with each month that goes by I find that I'm enjoying golf more and more. I wish I had learned to play years ago! This spring, I was playing and practicing as often as I could! I unfortunately wasn't able to play much golf in the height of summer (thanks to traveling, some extreme heat, and getting sick), but with fall almost here, I'm looking forward to getting back to it more frequently and continuing to practice. 


      2022 has brought the type of travel adventures that I've been dreaming about for the past few years! I've been on-the-go for trips big and small throughout this year. I've been to cooler weather destinations, like Ireland....


     ...And I've been to warmer weather destinations, like Puerto Rico! Now that I'm getting back to my blog, I'm excited to recap all my recent travel adventures for you on here over the next few months.


      Spring and summer 2022 has brought some big moments at work! My co-host Cash and I were honored to win the award for Best Radio Personality/Team at the Virginia Association of Broadcasters awards in June! It was an honor just to be nominated- I was totally not expecting to win. Probably one of the best nights of my life!


      I've also been going to lots of country concerts for work this summer! And I've even had the chance to meet a few artists. I was super excited to finally meet Thomas Rhett- I've been a fan of his for so long! 


     There's a pretty well known radio conference held annually called Morning Show Boot Camp. Although "morning show" is in the conference name, it's open to anyone on-air in radio, even if your show is airing at a different time of day. I've dreamed of going to MSBC every year since 2017 (my first year full-time in radio), and it finally happened this year! It was a whirlwind 48 hours in Chicago.


      In mid July I got to celebrate one year of living and working in Virginia Beach! In retrospect, it was truly a perfect first year living here. Most of the dreams and goals that I had for my first year here were achieved, and that is really cool to say.


      While most things over the past few months have been really good, life has its ups and downs always. As I mentioned at the start of the blog post, I currently have my first-ever case of Covid! I can't believe I made it 2.5 years. But, the worst part of 2022 for me so far was getting really sick with something that wasn't Covid! Just 3-4 weeks ago, I had a super nasty upper respiratory infection that gave me some terrible symptoms and kept me out of work for two full weeks. I don't get sick very often, and it's been close to a decade since I was this level of sick. It wasn't fun! So far Covid hasn't been as bad for me as this was... I'm hoping it stays that way. (But also- can you believe my luck to get Covid less than a month after being very sick with something else?!)


      Saving the best update for last...  😊 Meet my boyfriend Ryan! We met on Hinge in February, and things keep getting better everyday since. If you've followed me for awhile, you know that I've been single for most of my adult life. I'd used dating apps off and on for the past six years, but they would often stress me out and I'd find myself quitting them after bad or mediocre dates. In 2022 I challenged myself not to get discouraged so easily with dating apps, and to keep putting myself out there even when it started to feel hard. I'm so glad I did!! I never would've met this amazing guy if not.
       While my blogging break had nothing to do with being in a newer relationship, I think that it kind of worked out unintentionally in some ways. It was nice to spend a lot less time on my phone and computer in the early months of my relationship, and to be able to keep most parts private while it was still so new. 



      Lots more to share with you soon- stay tuned next week for a post about how I see myself getting back into blogging, and what the future of Southern Belle in Training looks like. By the way- next Tuesday is my 10 year blogiversary!! (And my birthday! Hopefully I'll be Covid negative by then...)



       God Bless,



        xoxo Annaliese 

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3 comments

  1. I'm so glad you're back and that you had a good break! Hope COVID doesn't stick around much longer and that you recover! Also, you look so gorgeous in that Puerto Rico photo!

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  2. I've missed your posts so much! But, a break is sometimes great for creativity and perspective. I'm sorry you've been so sick! So happy for you though to have found Ryan, and so glad things are going so great!

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  3. Welcome back! I too am getting over COVID for the first time and it's the WORST!

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