tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31400576907618849092024-03-18T15:57:57.729-04:00Southern Belle in TrainingFashion, Travel & Lifestyle Blog || Est. 2012 || Virginia Beach, VAAnnaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.comBlogger1734125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-25034824169277420372024-03-13T05:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T05:00:00.230-04:00Travel Diary: An Overdue Weekend in Charlotte, NC<p> In January, I got to take Ryan to visit my favorite city for the first time! It was a very quick trip, and I feel like I never have enough time to see all of my friends or do everything I miss doing in Charlotte. But we did knock out several fun things, and Ryan got to meet four of my Charlotte girlfriends and some of their significant others!! So, I'll still count the weekend as a win for our first Charlotte experience together!</p><p> Here's a little recap of what we did during the weekend:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneB5mFC3K7YXwRstSUBhJz_3q28P2jPWDtTGDFKnF_Tx724SwXw_cs2mgFknSBE-w4DK2wwjcXg6jensqpXLFx-9cDXuQwNgQk9EVvi0uJ2HnFE9JSqwOhq-46Hs9bQxwF-aZqYQKv5uIqBw-VwdJMKT9vuhMuWdd8bve0AQRT7BHZtDrrszkHbG-amU/s4032/IMG_9241.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneB5mFC3K7YXwRstSUBhJz_3q28P2jPWDtTGDFKnF_Tx724SwXw_cs2mgFknSBE-w4DK2wwjcXg6jensqpXLFx-9cDXuQwNgQk9EVvi0uJ2HnFE9JSqwOhq-46Hs9bQxwF-aZqYQKv5uIqBw-VwdJMKT9vuhMuWdd8bve0AQRT7BHZtDrrszkHbG-amU/s16000/IMG_9241.HEIC" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training blog!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If you're newer to reading my blog or following me, I spent five years in North Carolina from 2012-2017! I went to college there and lived there for a year after school as well. NC is also the state that I started this blog in, way back as a college freshman! Although I was never able to find the right radio job to bring me back to live in Charlotte, the city is still so special to me. Ryan had never been before, and I'd been dying to take him basically since we started dating. We finally made it down in January 2024! Charlotte often has pretty mild weather in January, and hotel rates tend to be a lot cheaper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We took off a Friday from our jobs so that we could have a full two days. Charlotte is just shy of six hours away from where we live in Virginia Beach, so we didn't want to make that long of a drive after work. We got off to a bright and early start, and we were treated to this stunning double rainbow outside of Franklin, VA! What a treat!! I took that to be a sign that a great weekend was ahead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_K7dBNyOMalhHEo55bl4ZqwUB-te4QnTQruLApUdhhQBCLYHWErfQFqXOSX4ZYFMMZcLW7na-GGEjHMkLV7F947n1hc5CBkomAlXFDFHk7bWrVA8SwS0yhOs4yoUMK3bDe_GB3sBPP0OdFgZakprf8PZJQhQZMlxHzczNPSMBggy7t4qe_mgHoAFxHw/s4032/IMG_9141.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_K7dBNyOMalhHEo55bl4ZqwUB-te4QnTQruLApUdhhQBCLYHWErfQFqXOSX4ZYFMMZcLW7na-GGEjHMkLV7F947n1hc5CBkomAlXFDFHk7bWrVA8SwS0yhOs4yoUMK3bDe_GB3sBPP0OdFgZakprf8PZJQhQZMlxHzczNPSMBggy7t4qe_mgHoAFxHw/s16000/IMG_9141.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The first thing that we did in Charlotte on Friday was visit my alma mater, Queens University of Charlotte. Queens is a small school but does have a very lovely little campus that's right in the heart of Charltote. I was so excited to walk Ryan around and show him where I went to school. He went to a very large state school in the midwest, so tiny little Queens was definitely a very different vibe than his college experience. Ha! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The weather was absolutely phenomenal on that Friday- it was sunny and in the low 70s. That made the experience of showing Ryan around even better! I also enjoyed getting a couple of pictures at some of the spots that I used to take my old outfit blog post photos at in college. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ6mkBC-vNfCfm-duRPAFddSSft5c2-_zkAgPPjyGN3LvOVBKa3SZgSONGdejsH7fDvMy_61wiv7x2ZUOS7JyAqfKSPQGJ91hwjH7dKrgcadtHeEVyu1jpacAsDXo3wZ914PkGGkki5eJ2Ax1vMnIn9t2PME3SI2tkakhAF0VsP9rSsYZ-Q8wk5wBBaE/s4032/IMG_9149.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ6mkBC-vNfCfm-duRPAFddSSft5c2-_zkAgPPjyGN3LvOVBKa3SZgSONGdejsH7fDvMy_61wiv7x2ZUOS7JyAqfKSPQGJ91hwjH7dKrgcadtHeEVyu1jpacAsDXo3wZ914PkGGkki5eJ2Ax1vMnIn9t2PME3SI2tkakhAF0VsP9rSsYZ-Q8wk5wBBaE/s16000/IMG_9149.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvbslgS9aH9QzSYOnUsEqQjSZPPgwysNxNwjQZELe8870Z-9HYgn9pvyakhfaraRxZQMjcax5wyp_k_XRFAH3WJy86vuIpWbX_4_cBcx-60HoXz4jduYSila12vnR0WTzRuUx3l6H710ImvNvoNLjvPU4tV5awPhj5TcNqydXPolc0R20dTW7UEsmK_k/s4032/IMG_9161.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvbslgS9aH9QzSYOnUsEqQjSZPPgwysNxNwjQZELe8870Z-9HYgn9pvyakhfaraRxZQMjcax5wyp_k_XRFAH3WJy86vuIpWbX_4_cBcx-60HoXz4jduYSila12vnR0WTzRuUx3l6H710ImvNvoNLjvPU4tV5awPhj5TcNqydXPolc0R20dTW7UEsmK_k/s16000/IMG_9161.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnjlPl_oz6kFseesq5GC9Nc69pYVGRjuA_pD_U9aGIHBo90qwIewQgpCazHvdoCQyeBleVRhtBg7UYRLjxIYtryKoCKx2lZt30TnkiLo3zit4hwhNwyOnVlSU4KCCAC91jNM-qbqwrc8Mpl0cHZnKxlfgK8paBTyzOX3TKkIbmsLWMx456zs8sC7v8Fg/s3088/IMG_9163.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnjlPl_oz6kFseesq5GC9Nc69pYVGRjuA_pD_U9aGIHBo90qwIewQgpCazHvdoCQyeBleVRhtBg7UYRLjxIYtryKoCKx2lZt30TnkiLo3zit4hwhNwyOnVlSU4KCCAC91jNM-qbqwrc8Mpl0cHZnKxlfgK8paBTyzOX3TKkIbmsLWMx456zs8sC7v8Fg/s16000/IMG_9163.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On Saturday, I enjoyed showing Ryan another fun Charlotte spot: the Evelyn Henson Confetti Hearts Mural in South End!! This mural was completed a few years after I graduated college, but I've been to see it a couple times on trips back to Charlotte and it's such a cute photo spot. Fun fact: my best friend Ciera got engaged here at the mural a couple of years ago!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWhkSTbSpSxmSXJ9j9pHvTvbTV8fhJnjxgmcyr8t6pRv6Ggz5p6L8jhRwdc0613eoKTKakZIlM1KcZYTnP8DEMpmOZSHad8XrKeVvpxMxs5ly9kY3TlE0JLjWQgt3qQOGFgOgrfutCBpxnyDBPswh309X98WMzpXZlGP-FNfaT5god6X9ZW_fZWQeOoQ/s4032/IMG_9236.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWhkSTbSpSxmSXJ9j9pHvTvbTV8fhJnjxgmcyr8t6pRv6Ggz5p6L8jhRwdc0613eoKTKakZIlM1KcZYTnP8DEMpmOZSHad8XrKeVvpxMxs5ly9kY3TlE0JLjWQgt3qQOGFgOgrfutCBpxnyDBPswh309X98WMzpXZlGP-FNfaT5god6X9ZW_fZWQeOoQ/s16000/IMG_9236.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The weather wasn't great for the second half of Saturday, so we spent a good amount of time indoors shopping. But not complaints from me since Charlotte has fantastic shopping! We spent Saturday evening at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, which I truly think is one of the best malls ever. Truly the best balance of mid-price and high-end stores, and it's also just well designed and well maintained. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I also finally got to visit and shop at the popular Charlotte boutique <a href="https://bit.ly/3TvScbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ivy & Leo</a>! It's across the street from SouthPark Mall. I had always heard about this store when I lived in Charlotte, but for some reason never went. I think this is one of the cutest and best boutiques that I've been to in recent years! I could've bought out the entire store. Everything was so colorful and fun! I was trying to be good, and I only bought one thing, but I could've bought so much more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjDbMnaWfTicf-QIVtPn2KS4WWWW7m7c-tJUwm7xBtQa3HwoX23390uEOWcGkhbpSRKUzg_GelRp5sbrmPClbww2Oo3e7iX1_AOKbYeVy43rig4OtrAPPyZ3sGy-6EyHH79xMWQ8dESXj1au2Xp0jjJ05ZOu8w9Yq2tSwIkSBYTClg2mt_tJsBogb72A/s4032/IMG_9204.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjDbMnaWfTicf-QIVtPn2KS4WWWW7m7c-tJUwm7xBtQa3HwoX23390uEOWcGkhbpSRKUzg_GelRp5sbrmPClbww2Oo3e7iX1_AOKbYeVy43rig4OtrAPPyZ3sGy-6EyHH79xMWQ8dESXj1au2Xp0jjJ05ZOu8w9Yq2tSwIkSBYTClg2mt_tJsBogb72A/s16000/IMG_9204.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Let's chat food! Charlotte was always one of my favorite cities for restaurants, but unfortunately so many of my old favorite spots have closed in recent years. But that just gives an excuse to try a couple of new places now when visiting. My friend Priyanka suggested we try a new South End spot called Muraya for brunch. It's a modern Colombian inspired restaurant with a very cool vibe, but they also have some dishes on the menu inspired by other countries. Priyanka and I both got the Ube Pancakes, which were topped with Fruit Loops! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ilcHE8tu72nvaNAIqhPksdgD_kAcVW2ZKDQG39qCwph7gw6kZr8v4A87gf9-u2WgtdPLOcE4UBlGPezq3lUUEadmPgck-Dm8Bn1qkCZiWwGMs7G7xEbqihelmceLIQjh-DjdsoLyJi_13pEpbIc36TQMWr1yO67tstnNjBjH14cOZwwChNOvCVLtBJo/s4032/IMG_9218.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ilcHE8tu72nvaNAIqhPksdgD_kAcVW2ZKDQG39qCwph7gw6kZr8v4A87gf9-u2WgtdPLOcE4UBlGPezq3lUUEadmPgck-Dm8Bn1qkCZiWwGMs7G7xEbqihelmceLIQjh-DjdsoLyJi_13pEpbIc36TQMWr1yO67tstnNjBjH14cOZwwChNOvCVLtBJo/s16000/IMG_9218.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngNAF-PGwLGPI0N9T5Kvn8HvhaAfXyMDaPCAkD9133hbE5r0PTcRKJx4RhFyjTJD7IgGCOfrtvE9Sq30BP2DgZjzkU591RGWD05z1jr9KOMB8nOjR6Fh_81gDFSv_WKw1BNz4XADuShaT0RT-7EBuvI4OjByPyc4bRsk47AyH-4UhL5AjiIAjorrSpac/s4032/IMG_9217.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngNAF-PGwLGPI0N9T5Kvn8HvhaAfXyMDaPCAkD9133hbE5r0PTcRKJx4RhFyjTJD7IgGCOfrtvE9Sq30BP2DgZjzkU591RGWD05z1jr9KOMB8nOjR6Fh_81gDFSv_WKw1BNz4XADuShaT0RT-7EBuvI4OjByPyc4bRsk47AyH-4UhL5AjiIAjorrSpac/s16000/IMG_9217.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div> One spot from my college years that is still thriving is Amelie's French Bakery! They now have several locations throughout Charlotte. If you ever go to Charlotte, Amelie's is an absolute must-visit!! Their beverages, pastries and sandwiches are all fantastic, and the decor of each bakery is so quirky and fun. It kind of feels like you're inside a French version of Alice in Wonderland. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN77lvHkwGpIEyqwoUbx3x3To01GL1tQtZUk9sOAAgq0a8__8zohN1-gQmYEoXR_TsvC_jeIjhj2oiGjcdYIC43iPf2aO8P5d1D92PGsbgDa-13EYnX2t5kmPthj-4R47ZhwrhmWJuO9T7yBJXvN1Rw4a2SSC_G8-CLusrv6SB1jAa6GuwFUu0_efFNwM/s4032/IMG_9281.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN77lvHkwGpIEyqwoUbx3x3To01GL1tQtZUk9sOAAgq0a8__8zohN1-gQmYEoXR_TsvC_jeIjhj2oiGjcdYIC43iPf2aO8P5d1D92PGsbgDa-13EYnX2t5kmPthj-4R47ZhwrhmWJuO9T7yBJXvN1Rw4a2SSC_G8-CLusrv6SB1jAa6GuwFUu0_efFNwM/s16000/IMG_9281.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yYfGiHndn7VGfm8YsDkZMCcj2DPFlyIZh-Ua_26E4cPmO-kQEy_3oVfS8XqSfDkEJP5Vqey1ZEDWdqWI3RTXHHOdwCq6YwPS1N-0UcoSOuceEIdohxjw3ty0rBPgMI6KAvBN-cFU2rLv_XyZ1GZtdHX79TJrGlp0XiSRNFMQDciYYoPG56_Izzr-jic/s4032/IMG_9284.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yYfGiHndn7VGfm8YsDkZMCcj2DPFlyIZh-Ua_26E4cPmO-kQEy_3oVfS8XqSfDkEJP5Vqey1ZEDWdqWI3RTXHHOdwCq6YwPS1N-0UcoSOuceEIdohxjw3ty0rBPgMI6KAvBN-cFU2rLv_XyZ1GZtdHX79TJrGlp0XiSRNFMQDciYYoPG56_Izzr-jic/s16000/IMG_9284.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> But the best part of the trip was getting to see four of my closest friends that are still in the Charlotte area! I've known all of these ladies for 10+ years now, and they all are so special to me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOh3L7OQYMvMYVhDJyi-BIHYI6vXFW1KiH4PuKeHL8ZgoCLcVq86rcXqvRPJ3tqj-0-iBO-ToAHH6qNirPurQu-Lt7wo7BnONkGJiFXSsFc8ZzdNnkkFpB4X3CZvnloAHSYuUw4uT8c7jCHnvcWL1nzGcbT31xouh5uLjggM-qLZwuyLizaLhtOSdDDPw/s4032/IMG_9193.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOh3L7OQYMvMYVhDJyi-BIHYI6vXFW1KiH4PuKeHL8ZgoCLcVq86rcXqvRPJ3tqj-0-iBO-ToAHH6qNirPurQu-Lt7wo7BnONkGJiFXSsFc8ZzdNnkkFpB4X3CZvnloAHSYuUw4uT8c7jCHnvcWL1nzGcbT31xouh5uLjggM-qLZwuyLizaLhtOSdDDPw/s16000/IMG_9193.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> First up, we got to do a little afternoon double date on Friday with my friend Liane and her husband Eduardo! Liane is pregnant with their baby girl who is due this spring, and I am just so excited for their family. It was also our first time meeting Eduardo and their first time meeting Ryan! Liane was my French teaching assistant during my freshman year of college, and I'm so glad we have stayed in touch over the years. You might remember that I went on <a href="https://bit.ly/41CxpEq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">an amazing girls' trip to Puerto Rico</a> with Liane in 2022!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtoOlo7piOyq6fNuR08yOk1bWoXvKLjoQ5asmrRzOebtUe16Wh8NezgoM-6TcAKmzs28kxMw41hyphenhyphenXb5J96skuVQNJOdhNjFl2x3U5doR7Wu45mreOpwpjEiTuj_1uD5yMUAPnCiUT-yNsx_A7dTt9y-PueBw2OT4SFapxtcFzFTQesIKyUAyPrlO6vk4/s3795/IMG_9195.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3795" data-original-width="2633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtoOlo7piOyq6fNuR08yOk1bWoXvKLjoQ5asmrRzOebtUe16Wh8NezgoM-6TcAKmzs28kxMw41hyphenhyphenXb5J96skuVQNJOdhNjFl2x3U5doR7Wu45mreOpwpjEiTuj_1uD5yMUAPnCiUT-yNsx_A7dTt9y-PueBw2OT4SFapxtcFzFTQesIKyUAyPrlO6vk4/s16000/IMG_9195.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Next up, we had dinner with my friend Perrin, her husband Taylor, and their daughter. It was my first time meeting her daughter which was so special! We went to a casual burger spot called Moo & Brew, which Ryan said ended up being his favorite meal of the trip. We then went to see their new house after dinner. Perrin and I were sorority sisters in Alpha Delta Pi and in the same pledge class! I am thankful for her many years of sisterhood and friendship. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDnc81t5YJuqVCvTU3EvmDqgRz3T-PqBeq8CjrTAj3RJ6inmTczafB1UC0xaL0Um-sDBVFVXhh1_mmM9VAGcHLwIPscsX0sRzgC5G4SJPC4KUgfm7blnEqZUOEEdgT-6jn0fR6RKraH3YG_slrILuPmWkipG3QvTmSMXTAE1stCrVRkSaHrPLUbkhf_g/s4032/IMG_9227.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDnc81t5YJuqVCvTU3EvmDqgRz3T-PqBeq8CjrTAj3RJ6inmTczafB1UC0xaL0Um-sDBVFVXhh1_mmM9VAGcHLwIPscsX0sRzgC5G4SJPC4KUgfm7blnEqZUOEEdgT-6jn0fR6RKraH3YG_slrILuPmWkipG3QvTmSMXTAE1stCrVRkSaHrPLUbkhf_g/s16000/IMG_9227.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On Saturday morning, we met my dear friend Priyanka for brunch at Muraya restaurant, and then walked around South End on the Rail Trail and took Ryan to see the Confetti Hearts Mural! Priyanka and I met when I was in college through our mutual best friend Ciera (Ciera and Priyanka were high school best friends, and Ciera is my college best friend!). I always say that the best gift Ciera has ever given me was sharing her friendship with Priyanka with me as well!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Nho1cwxLN8IPBT9QvOp2Wy3x1Q3Tv9gGVzz1wHPmHOM46nuzcvAJClOqO5Yug-NRAXgM4Iy6mgoDuRQ1ImJVNpfmyXis4rwMfM2YoBFW9wiuCS3ymWdqgCS3FXlklsgtk1suItzHCYRWnfuZtpiOdqHQADZoNt5iwkGAcTaGxhIgP5h4zx0yFoBUZqc/s4032/IMG_9270.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Nho1cwxLN8IPBT9QvOp2Wy3x1Q3Tv9gGVzz1wHPmHOM46nuzcvAJClOqO5Yug-NRAXgM4Iy6mgoDuRQ1ImJVNpfmyXis4rwMfM2YoBFW9wiuCS3ymWdqgCS3FXlklsgtk1suItzHCYRWnfuZtpiOdqHQADZoNt5iwkGAcTaGxhIgP5h4zx0yFoBUZqc/s16000/IMG_9270.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And finally, I was so excited to see my blogging friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cara.roux/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cara</a> and her husband TJ! They were living in Georgia for a couple of years, but recently moved back to Charlotte and bought a beautiful home. They had us over on Saturday afternoon and it was so wonderful to catch up in person and see their new place! It is still crazy to me sometimes how I have made some truly amazing real-life friendships like Cara's- all from just having this blog! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And that about sums up our winter weekend in Charlotte!! I do want to give a quick unfortunate note about our lodging. We stayed at a hotel that I had previously stayed at in 2019, and at the time had highly recommended on my blog. Unfortunately, it has gone way downhill since then, and Ryan and I were pretty dissatisfied with our room and the service! (They also now have mandatory parking charges, too.) I would definitely not recommend the <a href="https://bit.ly/3VgrNQa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DoubleTree South Tyvola</a> in Charlotte (formerly the Hilton Executive Park). I got a good deal for us to stay there, but it wasn't worth it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I already can't wait to take Ryan to Charlotte again! My guess though is our next trip will be in 2025 after we are married.... eek! π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p></div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-27853108164015754922024-03-05T05:00:00.000-05:002024-03-05T05:00:00.127-05:00{Monthly} Midweek Ramblings: February 2024<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024:</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5f2sMBfKQtB8mTRuTGnJPWz2ObVn6NIrGazPX-GEfdkI-_whyphenhyphenoib1fQXp1GS3Q6beawndYzggR06ArbM2uRdcSHOJ-uoWRKYYYSMD3RwLWX9zvWayGH2vs8C7-vupbd-Mzw5bSlST5wdkMOBKD68uj2gd9qLVCBU-QWewn86yQkWb0f2XvkKmsc9Hro/s4032/426720360_294697890057271_108784808231313229_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5f2sMBfKQtB8mTRuTGnJPWz2ObVn6NIrGazPX-GEfdkI-_whyphenhyphenoib1fQXp1GS3Q6beawndYzggR06ArbM2uRdcSHOJ-uoWRKYYYSMD3RwLWX9zvWayGH2vs8C7-vupbd-Mzw5bSlST5wdkMOBKD68uj2gd9qLVCBU-QWewn86yQkWb0f2XvkKmsc9Hro/s16000/426720360_294697890057271_108784808231313229_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Highs of the Month:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Getting to be invited to and attend four separate Galentine's parties this year!! Recaps of all of them are below in the Weekend Recaps section of this blog post. January felt very busy between two weekends out-of-town and lots of wedding planning, so it was great to catch up with so many local girlfriends in February. </li><li>I got to eat at one of my favorite local restaurants, Cooper's Hawk, twice this month! Cooper's Hawk is technically a chain, but this is the first place I've lived where they have it. I am obsessed with their food and wine (they have an in-house winery with their own wine label!). </li><li>LOVE IS BLIND SEASON 6!!! Caps lock needed for how much I am enjoying this season. Wednesday nights have been the absolute highlight of Ryan and I's month! I am so excited for the wedding episode this week but also so sad that such a good season is coming to an end. Dare I say this might be the best season of Love is Blind yet? Definitely tied with Season 1 at least. And I love that it's set in Charlotte, my very favorite city! </li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lows of the Month:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Realizing that a few wedding vendors I looked into would be completely out of our budget. Why is anything on earth to do with weddings just <i>so </i>expensive! Ha!! I know everything will work out just fine for our special day, but sometimes it is tough not the play the comparison game with friends who have higher wedding budgets than us. </li><li>It was a really busy month at my job. A coworker from a different department is out on maternity leave, and myself and two other coworkers are each taking about 1/3 of her work responsibilities for the next few months. My new duties aren't related to being on-air or my morning show, so it's been different types of work to add in to my daily schedule. It is definitely not a bad thing to add new skills outside of on-air radio stuff to my resume, but it for sure was a busy month getting used to my new temporary duties.</li><li>We had to change the date of our engagement party due to circumstances beyond our control. It's all worked out (Ryan's parents already sent the invitations for the new date!), but I always do get bummed when things that are set and planned have to be changed, especially when it's for an uncontrollable reason. But again- it'll all be okay! We are still having an engagement party. π</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>February Weekend Recaps:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-size: large;">2nd-4th: </i>My friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carolinecoleburn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Caroline</a> visited Virginia Beach to join me for<a href="https://bit.ly/49SgXnh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> my staycation with Transcendent Stays</a> in one of their beautiful rental properties! We worked on content for my blog and our Instagrams on Saturday afternoon, and then Saturday night my friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/craftyteacherlady/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kelly-Anne</a> met us for a delicious dinner at an upscale Latin American restaurant called Quemar in Virginia Beach. On Sunday, I went to church with Ryan, and then I went to my first Galentine's event of the year, which was a craft market with proceeds benefitting a meaningful local cause. I attended with my friends Kathryn and Amanda, and it was a great way to kick off a fun month of girl time and Galentine's plans!</li><li><i style="font-size: large;">8th-10th - </i>I was up in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville Virginia for a fun weekend!! (If you're new here, I lived in Charlottesville for about three and a half years between 2018-2021). I started the weekend by driving up to Harrisonburg after work, which is where my friend Cara lives. I got to spend Friday night with her and she took me to a wonderful local winery that was open late on Friday nights (a lot of Virginia wineries close at 5pm). We had a delicious late dinner after at a Mexican restaurant in Downtown Harrisonburg. On Saturday morning, Cara hosted her annual Galentine's brunch + crafting party that I was so happy to attend this year. It was fun to meet all of Cara's local friends. I had to leave that party a bit early though for my second party of the day: my friend Emily's bridal shower in Charlottesville! It was great to celebrate her and her upcoming wedding this spring. I then spent Saturday night in Charlottesville and stayed at my friends Lily and Meredith's house. On Sunday, I stopped at my former radio cohost Marc's house to get to catch up with him and his family before my drive back to Virginia Beach. Such a fun and full weekend seeing so many people that I love!</li><li><i style="font-size: large;">15th-17th - </i>Ryan and I had a belated Valentine's date night on Friday at one of our favorite restaurants, Cooper's Hawk. That restaurant is right by our local mall, so we went to the mall after Fun fact: it was our first time ever going to our local mall together. π I had two more Galentine's celebrations to attend during this weekend! (That makes four total for this February.) On Saturday was my friend Liza's Galentine's party! I went with my friend Bri and we had a great time, and we even made a new friend at the party! On Sunday we went to church, and then that evening I went to my friend Sarah's Galentine's dinner at her home. She cooked a full Italian meal for everyone! I met Sarah through Junior League, and I got to see some other JL ladies that I hadn't seen in a few months. </li><li><i style="font-size: large;">22nd-24th </i>- My friend Bri and her husband were hosting a couple's game night on Friday night, but Ryan and I had to bail at the last minute when I got a bad migraine! I felt so badly to cancel but stayed home and went to bed early. I went to a workout class on Saturday morning, and then had a hair appointment at Drybar (as part of my Instagram collaboration with them) that afternoon. Saturday evening, my friend Sara-Sullivan hosted a dinner party for her 30th birthday at her place! It was a great time, and I got to meet several awesome ladies. Ryan and I went to church on Sunday... and to be honest I can't remember what we did after! It must have been an uneventful Sunday, but sometimes those are so needed. π</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>February Purchases:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>First up, some beauty purchases! I was influenced by multiple creators on TikTok to try the <a href="https://bit.ly/3UhcIx2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rare Beauty bronzer stick</a>. I had a reward in my account at Sephora, so I used that to get a little discount on it. I actually haven't used it yet as I'm trying to use up a powder bronzer I have, but I think I'm going to start using it this week! </li><li>I had a travel size of <a href="https://bit.ly/3OlagC0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Pureology dry shampoo</a> for several months, and I loved it so much that I finally splurged on the big can. Aside from my ride-or-die affordable hairspray. I have moved away from drugstore hair products and pretty much use exclusively prestige brands now. But I think it's worth it! </li><li>Another high-end hair product I tried in February was the <a href="https://bit.ly/3vLrou7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kenra heat protectant</a>! I want to try more Kenra products in the future.</li><li>The <a href="https://bit.ly/3UquvSH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cutest white heeled sandals</a> for our engagement party this spring, and they're super affordable!! Still can't believe the price on these. (<a href="https://bit.ly/3wpGYvU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I wrote a whole blog post about them here!</a>)</li><li>My biggest purchase of the month was my getting-ready outfit for my wedding morning!! Fun fact: I spent more on this than I did on my wedding dress, since I got my dress at a sample sale! But I am so excited about the look I ordered. Half of it is here, and half arrives next week. I'll wait to share my exact look until the wedding, but <a href="https://bit.ly/430adSg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is the store</a> I ordered it from! </li><li>I also wanted to share a shopping fail from this month. I decided to splurge on <a href="https://bit.ly/49JYMQO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this white bathing</a> suit for our honeymoon. It got great reviews, and I'd always wanted a really nice white bathing suit for a honeymoon trip someday. Well... it looked terrible on me. Not an understatement I promise!! Probably one of the least flattering bathing suits I've ever put on. πI'm returning it this week and so bummed, but the white swimsuit hunt will continue in the months to come.</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>February Blog Posts:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3w0mPfz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Worthwhile Beauty Splurge: BeautyBio R45 Retinol Review</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3uzH978" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday: 9 Months Out Checklist + Early Wedding Planning Q&A</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3I53tsx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My 2024 Word of the Year</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3wpGYvU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Cutest New Target Shoes for Spring</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/49SgXnh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcendent Stays: The Best Short-Term Rentals in Virginia Beach</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-53658031296453863512024-02-29T07:14:00.002-05:002024-02-29T07:15:26.197-05:00Transcendent Stays: The Best Short-Term Rentals in Virginia Beach<p> Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to do a wonderful weekend staycation here in Virginia Beach. Local property management group <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcendent Stays</a> invited me to stay at one of their fantastic local short-term rental properties. I am usually Team Hotel over Team Short-Term Rental for my travels both near and far (with exceptions to that rule on occasion), but I had such a phenomenally positive experience with this staycation that it was a good reminder for me to consider these types of properties more often when traveling out of the area or doing a staycation! I can't wait to tell you more about it today. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJsG-TuytS_MXqeYCz2qVfJ3SbGzdgTl6IpInniOBnwOv95-WoS7MtHIPwGClRKWp-fZafdcmAmtxT_Ty0cDnDt-gA5cCK8UXsQiQlHKgCVUYa9bSEBVmc_39DDb1crEjbHXKpgg0Crf6gZL9snL-_X6E3DNVP8TQHIlYT5zKhzr3afqGstz2xcp5tTs/s5472/IMG_3012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJsG-TuytS_MXqeYCz2qVfJ3SbGzdgTl6IpInniOBnwOv95-WoS7MtHIPwGClRKWp-fZafdcmAmtxT_Ty0cDnDt-gA5cCK8UXsQiQlHKgCVUYa9bSEBVmc_39DDb1crEjbHXKpgg0Crf6gZL9snL-_X6E3DNVP8TQHIlYT5zKhzr3afqGstz2xcp5tTs/s16000/IMG_3012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><i>Photos by myself and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/essie__kay/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Essie Kay Photography</a></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you to Transcendent Stays for providing gifted accommodation and meals. All thoughts in this post are honest and my own!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcendent Stays</a> is a Virginia Beach based property management group that wants to transform the short-term rental experience. They own a variety of properties in the Virginia Beach area, and are constantly expanding. They currently have everything from lofts and studio apartments, all the way up to a gigantic multi bedroom beach house! What sets Transcendent Stays apart from other short-term rental or AirBnB management groups is that their construction team has personally built or renovated all of their units. Every single property is top of the line and designed with the best possible guest experience in mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The team at <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Transcendent Stays</a> also wants their guests to fall in love with the city of Virginia Beach beyond their lodging accommodations! They want guests to really embrace their stay in this area and get out and explore the local charm as much as possible. I loved seeing that their website has a whole <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/things-to-do-in-va-beach/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Local Guide</a> section! I've really fallen in love with Virginia Beach in the past two and a half years that I've lived here, and I think more of the hidden gems here should be shared with visitors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XDN6xzAO31UGKgBe_YjyKcIEyskn1o6Z1OgOKGk7lQYxlxoY6WX7N41D-YcGyqMFg7qJjhmf25h_8kuPhueibJPdzqu0dZhRqt-lCuH0EuqMuZGRU9UWe6p6EEIXtnjkcssajzelzqT9UpUotrgskLgMUt5taBLMlRlzuKdXF_M3qPEBZvjUx6JNfkI/s1427/SarahsCamera-2462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XDN6xzAO31UGKgBe_YjyKcIEyskn1o6Z1OgOKGk7lQYxlxoY6WX7N41D-YcGyqMFg7qJjhmf25h_8kuPhueibJPdzqu0dZhRqt-lCuH0EuqMuZGRU9UWe6p6EEIXtnjkcssajzelzqT9UpUotrgskLgMUt5taBLMlRlzuKdXF_M3qPEBZvjUx6JNfkI/s16000/SarahsCamera-2462.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8GrsFrte4TKKvC66THYvM-3SdZzSSXrbw-eoUDacSnGXTWSicMXgzhINxAfVXdEQPzxI6DgF2p_pfxZjAjeifE8Lcm-Eko_YseZ06SV2s2lhs9zbkxr0EFSLGLMfzMNBu-kP_-3sPtAyDEIvxVBGMZfaSYcSKdGF6yuPprLJUgeVPtOlVoL36PekYu0/s5472/IMG_2952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8GrsFrte4TKKvC66THYvM-3SdZzSSXrbw-eoUDacSnGXTWSicMXgzhINxAfVXdEQPzxI6DgF2p_pfxZjAjeifE8Lcm-Eko_YseZ06SV2s2lhs9zbkxr0EFSLGLMfzMNBu-kP_-3sPtAyDEIvxVBGMZfaSYcSKdGF6yuPprLJUgeVPtOlVoL36PekYu0/s16000/IMG_2952.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The team at Transcendent Stays reached out to me a couple of months ago and asked if I'd be interested in doing a complimentary off-season staycation in their <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/vrp/unit/Cape_Henry_House_Inn_at_Old_Beach-63e40d1e453d4700324e71b8-33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cape Henry House</a> property! This is a spacious and gorgeous one bedroom apartment that's found within the building called <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/the-inn-at-old-beach/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Inn at Old Beach</a>. This was a former historic inn that the Transcendent Stays team bought and completely renovated within the past couple of years. There are all sorts of units within <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/the-inn-at-old-beach/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Inn at Old Beach</a>, but <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/vrp/unit/Cape_Henry_House_Inn_at_Old_Beach-63e40d1e453d4700324e71b8-33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cape Henry House</a> is one of the larger ones! It has it's own outside stairs and entrance, but still has access to communal spaces like the Inn's breakfast room and the year-round hot tub! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I invited my friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carolinecoleburn/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Caroline</a> to come do this stay with me. She's a fellow Virginia-based influencer and is also a wonderful friend of mine in real life. (She's actually one of my matrons of honor in my wedding! π) </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9MwhHydLDNQLQSXI-FtJyYzI4DJhURIv5jqxtTXQYeUJskn21pO8TzuccrmHYLtjHc1zRK3GsVYsU6ZqUMyIw14goBKkPv72jV7tsECFEILvHrA0rbQNyEzU4bxbttN603Q_gfLJUSqXWJRU7jfMLB8TGEvfKUVI5tXk7Ig1VYJ9jwJfmObPzDbFvyY/s4032/IMG_7223.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9MwhHydLDNQLQSXI-FtJyYzI4DJhURIv5jqxtTXQYeUJskn21pO8TzuccrmHYLtjHc1zRK3GsVYsU6ZqUMyIw14goBKkPv72jV7tsECFEILvHrA0rbQNyEzU4bxbttN603Q_gfLJUSqXWJRU7jfMLB8TGEvfKUVI5tXk7Ig1VYJ9jwJfmObPzDbFvyY/s16000/IMG_7223.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjNrwGZ1GTpk8SlyL8Oc9Q2JerpXBy_dm4puB_sMHSZyb4d_7B7xDI47Jm9c-kL6BlvlQ9jMzyT8T2uEp5HAK8H3Enn3akUTh1Y1piWyAPkczLlo1G7k61rt4D6GI6ve_OaK7G5m0p7zfcufpdDhMXJ0pDEePCc5c22SHoDZedZh02oUzvaxlgTma6YE/s4032/IMG_7252.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjNrwGZ1GTpk8SlyL8Oc9Q2JerpXBy_dm4puB_sMHSZyb4d_7B7xDI47Jm9c-kL6BlvlQ9jMzyT8T2uEp5HAK8H3Enn3akUTh1Y1piWyAPkczLlo1G7k61rt4D6GI6ve_OaK7G5m0p7zfcufpdDhMXJ0pDEePCc5c22SHoDZedZh02oUzvaxlgTma6YE/s16000/IMG_7252.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfhZ6kIH6RzSe92w3MPsbkmEcBlplv74w4JKqeYjGvLV_zEsEA9nZqrdPQgSbNVp8c8RbCPyWXonq5725Mr0wus-Z0XGCZ5ycoPWYG9YJXqppwn20UCzJOmWwZFSn3zmbARXsgFiVwpK6JLs7sYLvGJqvF4PNnWwpGjDEhJf-73MJF4A0GQx9-UNbWdw/s3073/418936332_629193379345227_1598874258590939521_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3073" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfhZ6kIH6RzSe92w3MPsbkmEcBlplv74w4JKqeYjGvLV_zEsEA9nZqrdPQgSbNVp8c8RbCPyWXonq5725Mr0wus-Z0XGCZ5ycoPWYG9YJXqppwn20UCzJOmWwZFSn3zmbARXsgFiVwpK6JLs7sYLvGJqvF4PNnWwpGjDEhJf-73MJF4A0GQx9-UNbWdw/s16000/418936332_629193379345227_1598874258590939521_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As I mentioned above, the Cape Henry House is a generously sized one bedroom apartment. The bedroom is huge and features <i>two</i> queen sized beds and a walk-in closet. The living room sofa is also a sofa bed, so technically the place can sleep up to six guests! There is also 1.5 bathrooms, a good-sized balcony, and gorgeous fireplace and a spacious apartment kitchen. And I did I mention that the <a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/vrp/unit/Cape_Henry_House_Inn_at_Old_Beach-63e40d1e453d4700324e71b8-33" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cape Henry House</a> and the other rental units at The Inn at Old Beach are located a mere two blocks from the beach? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0tMzxcmXl-12ueA6UZXHaCG4semHSoW_xQGYZBXxMruhrMfqHIfqH47-hyvQKquYdgMLjNyjGl_V6cfHkUeqTYsYuuHwX3Q68CkHn6qDrJKT4fgberie5F3vAB81QUK7s9a0PM3BF5yZ5niCJDvHNy8uO1VS0yqRsYOqK3T53IjFXOvrNo5TNzb6Nt4/s4032/IMG_9422.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0tMzxcmXl-12ueA6UZXHaCG4semHSoW_xQGYZBXxMruhrMfqHIfqH47-hyvQKquYdgMLjNyjGl_V6cfHkUeqTYsYuuHwX3Q68CkHn6qDrJKT4fgberie5F3vAB81QUK7s9a0PM3BF5yZ5niCJDvHNy8uO1VS0yqRsYOqK3T53IjFXOvrNo5TNzb6Nt4/s16000/IMG_9422.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET4ywWan-Vgj_KElXLSnKnwi-aRt0J8e3JkQX5SA8gzrHmTQ4Gj1e1h7MmJTMgCL6SDtWAGb1ageN8ifV_WoLeilURLjGwwxFeO1x1RabgleUNm37XtLS3zzaHuHlqBFVFvZJ0TKnI18vinaSOmssB19_TXBTchrrxaY4IwlbhXuhDv0OEsg21G_9aNY/s1534/SarahsCamera-2471.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET4ywWan-Vgj_KElXLSnKnwi-aRt0J8e3JkQX5SA8gzrHmTQ4Gj1e1h7MmJTMgCL6SDtWAGb1ageN8ifV_WoLeilURLjGwwxFeO1x1RabgleUNm37XtLS3zzaHuHlqBFVFvZJ0TKnI18vinaSOmssB19_TXBTchrrxaY4IwlbhXuhDv0OEsg21G_9aNY/s16000/SarahsCamera-2471.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMovpPtwCeu_pwGJGFvcCHszK4aQ07SW0PDVK8wqAZ1vwTCjy9eYI8PT2jENkVFx2yEjjMyPI7zJe_DiSsis3zkRXeCkK0alBy5DAZvbIy588SbWHFh_Qk2gf_Q-64cKrEQ131bSZGGmFrlf1oGNJhhaeapHI6gtjzPSGCncsyH5D59O8jbTMrKVP3WLM/s4032/IMG_9423.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMovpPtwCeu_pwGJGFvcCHszK4aQ07SW0PDVK8wqAZ1vwTCjy9eYI8PT2jENkVFx2yEjjMyPI7zJe_DiSsis3zkRXeCkK0alBy5DAZvbIy588SbWHFh_Qk2gf_Q-64cKrEQ131bSZGGmFrlf1oGNJhhaeapHI6gtjzPSGCncsyH5D59O8jbTMrKVP3WLM/s16000/IMG_9423.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6je-AuLxvjdfqSUg5wUlQutHsabfTsshQitqbm0ctWGXZnechuCwEkrFA3ixYcVkSS011duYmc2OVEpABmiMAK4zAmqEf1dIAtFE3-iOLYCYi1cG72Oe_bracpWzQHyTGuOQ3X0fUs5FYype0NCNjVQw00z6tHKCvRmRrbMSC45vH57gC70uHA8Hl9g/s1302/SarahsCamera-2452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6je-AuLxvjdfqSUg5wUlQutHsabfTsshQitqbm0ctWGXZnechuCwEkrFA3ixYcVkSS011duYmc2OVEpABmiMAK4zAmqEf1dIAtFE3-iOLYCYi1cG72Oe_bracpWzQHyTGuOQ3X0fUs5FYype0NCNjVQw00z6tHKCvRmRrbMSC45vH57gC70uHA8Hl9g/s16000/SarahsCamera-2452.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://bit.ly/498V2II" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pajamas</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The beds in the bedroom were both ridiculously comfortable, both Caroline and I slept so well! Cape Henry House and the other units at The Inn at Old Beach have a vibe about them that makes you feel so settled in so quickly. It would truly be the perfect place to stay for a full week at the beach! Definitely much more "homey" vibes than a hotel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPzV16neiFinbzjN_eyTfdIOxXrPdqP6Efi7g2gY2Yb4dh8MQz6xKaM_Ks1AFOpug78Hvwe5hD9vIoDtpGOG5twuaJ-AOaUmM74HOWj5v4jqNX5q9v4Xgm6_ukESEi5QbwFmASW9Bimgy4jHJ4oHcS19nlPY9YEVjcgy0clmCKHj5Mu6HXBmhvSh2jfE/s4032/IMG_9418.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPzV16neiFinbzjN_eyTfdIOxXrPdqP6Efi7g2gY2Yb4dh8MQz6xKaM_Ks1AFOpug78Hvwe5hD9vIoDtpGOG5twuaJ-AOaUmM74HOWj5v4jqNX5q9v4Xgm6_ukESEi5QbwFmASW9Bimgy4jHJ4oHcS19nlPY9YEVjcgy0clmCKHj5Mu6HXBmhvSh2jfE/s16000/IMG_9418.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKwDSl-DVt6BGWkURpVBTD-t9SS2G5POQBYxdBtx9Mbv8x_28IZv9cT6a1RPOCxzt-pXOPUxOwPHatzHCmdvlirZCqRKytJQDOEMckrAEv3kb12pj1CEGWjoJj7IDsXg1tT7HJcMZWN7v8eel5zIbPhvYEoWT_AtzuZvOcRCVVvrF31D7uwFBkgACkd4/s1534/SarahsCamera-2446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKwDSl-DVt6BGWkURpVBTD-t9SS2G5POQBYxdBtx9Mbv8x_28IZv9cT6a1RPOCxzt-pXOPUxOwPHatzHCmdvlirZCqRKytJQDOEMckrAEv3kb12pj1CEGWjoJj7IDsXg1tT7HJcMZWN7v8eel5zIbPhvYEoWT_AtzuZvOcRCVVvrF31D7uwFBkgACkd4/s16000/SarahsCamera-2446.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://bit.ly/498V2II" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pajamas</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> One huge highlight of staying in a rental unit at The Inn at Old Beach is that there is a really nice year-round hot tub for guests to use!! Caroline and I enjoyed some time there before dinner on Saturday night, and it was heavenly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4hOwk5Poq-vPw_HRNmDJrZohbnySwnHnQavWUBlIASSordErqqqtcKoYtr290_1cnsrVgkn64h7Zrn1NsNE7euZGPFq4JAB1cmlf0ikkz14ApieY3H61C-RihfmZOrBoY9hprVTHmPJLRg0XHOGTv6D1Cj4bwUFE-pJ1Z6mYnfCVrc7UAgHfyvnpoGM/s3073/420595071_1157589415240255_5146322736009507985_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3073" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4hOwk5Poq-vPw_HRNmDJrZohbnySwnHnQavWUBlIASSordErqqqtcKoYtr290_1cnsrVgkn64h7Zrn1NsNE7euZGPFq4JAB1cmlf0ikkz14ApieY3H61C-RihfmZOrBoY9hprVTHmPJLRg0XHOGTv6D1Cj4bwUFE-pJ1Z6mYnfCVrc7UAgHfyvnpoGM/s16000/420595071_1157589415240255_5146322736009507985_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://bit.ly/48ueFK4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Swimsuit</a> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Transcendent Stays team recommended two great local restaurants for Caroline and I to dine at during our staycation. I had been to both before, but both were new to Caroline and I was excited to introduce her! We had a great lunch at <a href="https://www.bakerscrust.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baker's Crust</a> at their Hilltop location. Baker's Crust is a nice but casual spot with a few locations. They have a varied menu that includes everything from wood-fired pizzas to brunch, but I really enjoy their salad and toasted sandwich combos for lunch. I'll be honest- I'm <i>very</i> picky about both salads and sandwiches that I like but trust me when I say both are so good here! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We had dinner on Saturday night at <a href="https://quemarcocina.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Quemar</a>, which is an upscale Latin American spot near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. I first dined here about a year ago, and I loved it so much that I've been back a few times since. It's such a great dinner spot for a girls' night out! We enjoyed margarita flights, a delicious assortment of appetizers, and great meals and dessert. My friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/craftyteacherlady/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kelly-Anne</a> also joined us for dinner, and it was just the best evening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ79zu3eJJPQFqksw5TWu6dHcyPWAC3q5k-6XoqIC7Fz4r4W4lEg7LA_kDBWQEAXY10-Zw7Zc5njJbhtBOqPQMEDowNNMJpdNgKRxwco_zDl2jh_908J5xZjYv0li5FMz_CZpfiqeGT9hQexgcjGYXOvhLOAYXXkacitQCZ1EjIH-JLPwGvV-1w4iPGQo/s4032/IMG_9433.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ79zu3eJJPQFqksw5TWu6dHcyPWAC3q5k-6XoqIC7Fz4r4W4lEg7LA_kDBWQEAXY10-Zw7Zc5njJbhtBOqPQMEDowNNMJpdNgKRxwco_zDl2jh_908J5xZjYv0li5FMz_CZpfiqeGT9hQexgcjGYXOvhLOAYXXkacitQCZ1EjIH-JLPwGvV-1w4iPGQo/s16000/IMG_9433.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOGEgF-U3tV-KJ1ruRc7nggHDdKps5nHtO8ZLhEQ9kPE0PtE-GHPKiwu_fek7HrKGGUUnkICqpmqUpjyCwCa8lTzVQTxdd9zJrWpNzTJbXhVK6sz-i9Os1hMjROToCBnPAV4IkQmWMJgsZMwpp2GaqSgsoHreyy9Vb_oVgEytIU51SW_jQ-UKBrFe5Y0/s4032/IMG_9445.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOGEgF-U3tV-KJ1ruRc7nggHDdKps5nHtO8ZLhEQ9kPE0PtE-GHPKiwu_fek7HrKGGUUnkICqpmqUpjyCwCa8lTzVQTxdd9zJrWpNzTJbXhVK6sz-i9Os1hMjROToCBnPAV4IkQmWMJgsZMwpp2GaqSgsoHreyy9Vb_oVgEytIU51SW_jQ-UKBrFe5Y0/s16000/IMG_9445.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP3HSYUkZ00HKX9Wwu6LZZEPAYFv-iZhRlqn-3keB_YOMUkYNbw5PqLjc0EYXvtLu-DKap8R-GQj1p3GdifApwlI4HUGWFkvnQJr-9JaO_OOMuLxhGLJP4ixeiJhxkrOGZ1E8dX1nRJcUOvoNRLzMQb32MO_zsF-kahBiSCiApVXNCJ7N7RcSDPmEQtY/s5472/IMG_3115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP3HSYUkZ00HKX9Wwu6LZZEPAYFv-iZhRlqn-3keB_YOMUkYNbw5PqLjc0EYXvtLu-DKap8R-GQj1p3GdifApwlI4HUGWFkvnQJr-9JaO_OOMuLxhGLJP4ixeiJhxkrOGZ1E8dX1nRJcUOvoNRLzMQb32MO_zsF-kahBiSCiApVXNCJ7N7RcSDPmEQtY/s16000/IMG_3115.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP3A5_Brkkaib3YviYYbYuuz_VS-H4YJzbtDer9_RTxlYGecKb3tTwYyOv9mzQc54qPeMtbMZZaB-aWiUsZ2RZtzayinCRqMarSIlopE4MZYWs8hXh6tKJATYzhs-tboKERoO7MVCNDOELBsrd5ylf9MiwWNpJE09HpgzOdZ8pwVwHBe94Z1LahOvwKU/s4032/IMG_9501.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP3A5_Brkkaib3YviYYbYuuz_VS-H4YJzbtDer9_RTxlYGecKb3tTwYyOv9mzQc54qPeMtbMZZaB-aWiUsZ2RZtzayinCRqMarSIlopE4MZYWs8hXh6tKJATYzhs-tboKERoO7MVCNDOELBsrd5ylf9MiwWNpJE09HpgzOdZ8pwVwHBe94Z1LahOvwKU/s16000/IMG_9501.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Transcendent Stays has a whole variety of rental properties near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront! If you're looking for something that's a better fit for a bigger group of people, they have houses that fit that. Their team has kindly passed on a discount code for me to share with you. Use code <b><i><a href="https://www.transcendentstays.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ANNALIESE</a></i></b> for 10% off your Transcendent Stays booking direct on their website. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</div><br />Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-64281286792673431332024-02-23T05:00:00.001-05:002024-02-23T06:11:22.966-05:00The Cutest New Target Shoes for Spring!!<p> Over the past few years, I've found Target to be more hit-or-miss for me when it comes to clothing, but I swear that their women's shoe selection keeps getting better and better every year! I wanted to get up a quick post to share a few of my new favorite styles (all under $50!). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYvWXn-cDE4C6Z4tTG5G77mjMzGZC2FCx3v61nQx2i1Mok2oIxXV5GbY12IjbMpVETp532vff-KMHxyK5wh-IDG-zgEBxEuH6Cuc6Nh6fIQaiUIDE-lrsOpVo5lIPQpsCyxriojyrc7mv35z6prELwBrnwsxvFr4G43DkeHSZhU0x1zVlC4xzyGZ25jk/s3088/IMG_9398.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYvWXn-cDE4C6Z4tTG5G77mjMzGZC2FCx3v61nQx2i1Mok2oIxXV5GbY12IjbMpVETp532vff-KMHxyK5wh-IDG-zgEBxEuH6Cuc6Nh6fIQaiUIDE-lrsOpVo5lIPQpsCyxriojyrc7mv35z6prELwBrnwsxvFr4G43DkeHSZhU0x1zVlC4xzyGZ25jk/s16000/IMG_9398.HEIC" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I recently ordered the two pairs of white heeled sandals pictured above! The <a href="https://bit.ly/3SJFpBD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audra pair</a> is on the left, the cream-colored shoes with two straps and uniformly sized pearls. The <a href="https://bit.ly/3UquvSH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stacy pair</a> is on the right, the white shoes with three straps and different shaped pearls. Both were under $40 and had the same heel height! I knew I would definitely keep one of them to wear to our engagement party this spring, and possibly some other pre-wedding events. I did a try-on video deciding which pair to keep and which to return. I ultimately kept the Stacy sandals (the true white ones with three straps), but honestly both pairs were great! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPy2sjbI0-HSRCU2TMMkYwmjHviw9TmUmNmqVCWfVEW8uIIM6BtE2qsIcfXFo3ayg-yad60tB0nO0lkjZSklYNM23tiDX_1lC-MYmy-Hj63Sx1xLqBcJzkEt2GWLe5Q-CA4y41X49FIr2amvtXlNaOzhTnlTeN7o8_C9ENImXh-XiAGiIOuTgHeTtsX8/s4032/IMG_9366.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPy2sjbI0-HSRCU2TMMkYwmjHviw9TmUmNmqVCWfVEW8uIIM6BtE2qsIcfXFo3ayg-yad60tB0nO0lkjZSklYNM23tiDX_1lC-MYmy-Hj63Sx1xLqBcJzkEt2GWLe5Q-CA4y41X49FIr2amvtXlNaOzhTnlTeN7o8_C9ENImXh-XiAGiIOuTgHeTtsX8/s16000/IMG_9366.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I decided to keep browsing <a href="https://bit.ly/2YXLssc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Target's</a> website beyond just these white sandal styles. <a href="https://bit.ly/2YXLssc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Target</a> has <i>so</i> many cute spring shoes right now in all colors and styles! Check out some of my other favorites below: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div class="boutique-widget" data-widget-id="1242459"><script type="text/javascript">!function(w,i,d,g,e,t){d.getElementById(i)||(element=d.createElement(t),element.id=i,element.src="https://widgets.rewardstyle.com"+e,d.body.appendChild(element)),w.hasOwnProperty(g)===!0&&"complete"===d.readyState&&w[g].init()}(window,"boutique-script",document,"__boutique","/js/boutique.js","script")</script><div class="rs-adblock"><img onerror="this.parentNode.innerHTML="Disable your ad blocking software to view this content."" src="https://assets.rewardstyle.com/production/c93c7e40010dd2eeea9416f99aff8e756ad9633c/images/search/350.gif" style="height: 15px; width: 15px;" /><noscript>JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.</noscript></div></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-59549996464604833952024-02-20T05:00:00.001-05:002024-02-20T05:00:00.131-05:00My 2024 Word of the Year.<p> I usually try to get my Word of the Year post published before the end of January each year, but it totally escaped my mind this year since the first month of this year was so busy with wedding planning. But better late than never, right? π I am really excited about my 2024 Word of the Year. This year's is such a good fit for my current life stage, and it also has such a positive connotation attached to it. I'm also sharing a few photos of one of my favorite casual winter outfits! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsm8fkrke2Lbywe27e8U0O1_wIwWYnBszouI8JI0OAV53csGWLehtQAYWa2EaIA7RxDfoM-dedB7Ms8ENsnDrpgeRZQkAmiVArDXBXg_d6knvaDA8vYWz7LLa4e_-vUKjRa0to_8mQPVd-RkXqv5auMXFPuibdhmZcgXkLkmBqbzoCULXH0fpDW-Es2g/s5472/IMG_2990.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsm8fkrke2Lbywe27e8U0O1_wIwWYnBszouI8JI0OAV53csGWLehtQAYWa2EaIA7RxDfoM-dedB7Ms8ENsnDrpgeRZQkAmiVArDXBXg_d6knvaDA8vYWz7LLa4e_-vUKjRa0to_8mQPVd-RkXqv5auMXFPuibdhmZcgXkLkmBqbzoCULXH0fpDW-Es2g/s16000/IMG_2990.jpg" /></a></div><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlKUftDtdoUtgPrra4x-Nj74r7P_9VeKt46vjsCXpOtZhGJlvTugdzZ2DyhTlrH1DsW3sFJWB3IzbS_-gEgpQMsBI3FU36EyoGcma2kpOm4d0vV30v3xLD4XM8njnaOd2qKhJ7wreMjLzXqUoAKVOMfW1zZfy8XC82cTeHvUSSSwnJNFxxftYyBUj2kM/s5472/IMG_2976.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlKUftDtdoUtgPrra4x-Nj74r7P_9VeKt46vjsCXpOtZhGJlvTugdzZ2DyhTlrH1DsW3sFJWB3IzbS_-gEgpQMsBI3FU36EyoGcma2kpOm4d0vV30v3xLD4XM8njnaOd2qKhJ7wreMjLzXqUoAKVOMfW1zZfy8XC82cTeHvUSSSwnJNFxxftYyBUj2kM/s16000/IMG_2976.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdf9h-g3ILAUiukjLKdhQKMbnderOO6x9Y8ijt5VLmCxXvXuA8nocUWe5tVqHUk5MeSiKXTSq6aaYvIFGuGJKT5kfr-Ci-PNjvNqPH4vXXzQAPCW_2FUtY-5f78LObcKHVF4ibL3OoI0-OYE6hGjYc4MB-GIt7gTAP-C_8fmXceQCtnzHYEahysbWtjBI/s5472/IMG_2991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdf9h-g3ILAUiukjLKdhQKMbnderOO6x9Y8ijt5VLmCxXvXuA8nocUWe5tVqHUk5MeSiKXTSq6aaYvIFGuGJKT5kfr-Ci-PNjvNqPH4vXXzQAPCW_2FUtY-5f78LObcKHVF4ibL3OoI0-OYE6hGjYc4MB-GIt7gTAP-C_8fmXceQCtnzHYEahysbWtjBI/s16000/IMG_2991.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpsRtt5B0ZYtDXxC0yrVG35mOxwM1hQy-vTw3g3zmLsKXv7qGRQUhJHghzB3mz55AzvhOh3SvM347Eb_EEPqwzj9LZEpTkwWZ2HITXVuIhzSnTE74Mps-Ab_Bcb94qjfkUF9DYTiO6I0QgRvkF1LOm1gXPc9ksjZdp2eBqe6klDENPHa2tBehYDF6HEI/s5131/IMG_2974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5131" data-original-width="3301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpsRtt5B0ZYtDXxC0yrVG35mOxwM1hQy-vTw3g3zmLsKXv7qGRQUhJHghzB3mz55AzvhOh3SvM347Eb_EEPqwzj9LZEpTkwWZ2HITXVuIhzSnTE74Mps-Ab_Bcb94qjfkUF9DYTiO6I0QgRvkF1LOm1gXPc9ksjZdp2eBqe6klDENPHa2tBehYDF6HEI/s16000/IMG_2974.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://bit.ly/3SC9PEP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweater {old, similar here}</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3UwaXfI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coat {old, similar here}</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3vmxuBa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jeans</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3Wic7tD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sneakers</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/31y5aqI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purse</a></i></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p> I think I can keep this year's post pretty short and sweet. My 2024 Word of the Year is <b>CELEBRATE</b>. The year 2024 is going to be a huge one for many reasons. On a personal level, I turn 30 this year, and it's also <a href="http://www.southernbelleintraining.com/search/label/Wedding%20Wednesday" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my wedding year</a>! These are two gigantic and notable things that I'll remember for the rest of my life. Just the things in my personal life alone is plenty to celebrate. But that's not even including all of the exciting life events for many close friends this year. I have four close friends who are also getting married in 2024, several close friends who are pregnant or recently had babies, and also several friends who join me in turning 30 this year. Talk about celebration after celebration! </p><p> This is going to be a year of blessings and big life events not just for me, but for so many friends who mean so much to me. I want my focus this year to be on celebrating the big things in my life, and the big things in lives around me. Not every year of life will bring this many happy occasions, and I want to soak up all of it while I can. I also want to celebrate the everyday moments in between all of these big ones. </p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;">Past Word of the Year blog posts:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2TCYp3m" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2019</a> // <a href="http://bit.ly/2TduDFD" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2020</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3sDN99s" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2021</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3HO9Xd3" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2022 </a>// <a href="https://bit.ly/3HfdzHU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2023</a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="shopthepost-widget" data-widget-id="5146684"><script type="text/javascript">!function(w,i,d,g,e,t){d.getElementById(i)||(element=d.createElement(t),element.id=i,element.src="https://widgets.rewardstyle.com"+e,d.body.appendChild(element)),w.hasOwnProperty(g)===!0&&"complete"===d.readyState&&w[g].init()}(window,"shopthepost-script",document,"__stp","/js/shopthepost.js","script")</script><div class="rs-adblock"><img onerror="this.parentNode.innerHTML="Disable your ad blocking software to view this content."" src="https://assets.rewardstyle.com/production/c93c7e40010dd2eeea9416f99aff8e756ad9633c/images/search/350.gif" style="height: 15px; width: 15px;" /><noscript>JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. 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<p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-73107593046506936882024-02-07T05:00:00.008-05:002024-02-07T08:25:50.165-05:00Wedding Wednesday: 9 Months Out Checklist + Early Wedding Planning Q&A<p> Welcome back to Wedding Wednesday!! We are officially nine months out from our wedding month... November 2024! (Yes, this spring and summer lover is going to be a late fall bride! Who would've thought?!) I thought it would be fun today to share a little checklist of things I've done so far and things that I'm hoping to do between now and the six-month mark. We got engaged less than a week before Thanksgiving 2023, so with the craziness of the holiday season I didn't really start wedding planning until after New Years. But we sure got a lot done in January, which I feel really good about. I'm excited to share my first wedding planning checklist here on the blog today!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR2IW2SDhwNRAlhwiFeA81ZLoiSxAWgmjfpIMhC02ONyh_75_8Vbhu26RB50cWIEqb6reFsY0-JiU03jaE_FA74pyoSpKfm7BJ7yfetXVrcgi_kLAi-JdpypClfbRPWq7fM7GtlvEXnIhD-ntzzvuBy7FPcxiJ8P64H6UyLeGdNSnJu1xfmz04y2V-CQ/s2048/405246703_3473096023001958_6786279360722687822_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvR2IW2SDhwNRAlhwiFeA81ZLoiSxAWgmjfpIMhC02ONyh_75_8Vbhu26RB50cWIEqb6reFsY0-JiU03jaE_FA74pyoSpKfm7BJ7yfetXVrcgi_kLAi-JdpypClfbRPWq7fM7GtlvEXnIhD-ntzzvuBy7FPcxiJ8P64H6UyLeGdNSnJu1xfmz04y2V-CQ/s16000/405246703_3473096023001958_6786279360722687822_n.jpg" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><p> </p><p> I originally wanted to get married in Spring 2025. I liked the idea of a year and a half engagement to really space out all of the planning and such. We ended up deciding to move things up to November 2024 (I'll probably talk about why in another Wedding Wednesday post!). I was nervous at first that I wouldn't have time to accomplish everything in just a year, but now that we have actually gotten some of the big stuff done, I am feeling a lot more confident! I think exactly a year engaged is actually the perfect timeline now.</p><p> Here's what I / we have done so far:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Researched Virginia Beach wedding venues - <i>November & December 2023</i></li><li>Did venue tours at our top choices - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Researched and interviewed photographers - <i>December 2023</i></li><li>Booked our ceremony venue (church) - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Booked our reception venue - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Booked our photographer - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Attended local bridal expo - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Asked friends who have gotten married locally in Virginia Beach a ton of questions about their favorite vendors - <i>November & December 2023</i></li><li>Bought my wedding dress - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Made rough guest list -<i> December 2023</i></li><li>Made budget / talked to both sets of parents about wedding finances - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Asked the bridesmaids to be in the wedding - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Set a date for our menu tasting at our reception venue - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Set a date for engagement photos in a couple months -<i> January 2024</i></li><li>Set a date for our engagement party - <i>December 2023</i></li><li>Designed engagement party invitations - <i>January 2024</i></li><li>Mailed my passport for renewal - <i>January 2024</i></li></ul><div><br /></div><div> Here's what I / we need to do in the next three months:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Interview and hire a day of coordinator</li><li>Finalize guest list</li><li>Take engagement photos</li><li>Design and send save-the-dates</li><li>Make wedding website</li><li>Interview and hire a DJ</li><li>Interview and hire a florist</li><li>Interview and hire a cake baker </li><li>Ryan ask groomsmen to be in wedding</li><li>Set dates for bridal showers</li><li>Decide on if doing bachelorette trip or not</li><li>Research hair stylists and makeup artists</li><li>Research gifts for bridesmaids</li><li>Research potential registry items</li><li>Research honeymoon locations + decide if using travel agent</li><li>Ryan passport appointment</li><li>Think about wedding day timeline</li><li>Think about wedding day transportation logistics </li></ul><div><br /></div></div><p></p><p> And here are a few questions that y'all sent to me on Instagram!</p><p><br /></p><p> <i>Will you share your venue? </i>- I will not be sharing our ceremony or reception venue names on my blog prior to the wedding, for privacy reasons. π But I am looking very forward to recapping all about our wedding day after it happens, and of course that will include venue information and why we picked the places we did!</p><p><i> Sit down or buffet? - </i>We will be doing a sit-down dinner! Not only is it cheaper at our venue (and most of the other venues we looked at too), but I feel like the food is always hotter / better presented for weddings that do sit-down vs. buffet. </p><p><i> Do you have any inspiration pictures of what you want your wedding to feel/look like? - </i>Yes! But similarly to not sharing the venue before the wedding, I don't want to share all that here just yet. After the wedding I do think it would be fun to do a blog post comparing my wedding Pinterest board with photos of what my wedding actually looked like! </p><p><i> Is a coworker from your radio station going to DJ your wedding? - </i>This is a great question! Radio hosts often have side hustles as wedding and event DJs. However, none of my current coworkers actually do this. If they did, I'd have been open to using a coworker. But since that won't be an option, I'll just have to hire a DJ from elsewhere! It's all good though. I am so excited for finding a DJ... fun fact about me is I strongly dislike live wedding bands. I'm Team DJ all the way! </p><p><i> Are you planning to incorporate any country elements to the wedding in tribute to your job? </i>- Fun question! There will definitely be some country music in our wedding playlist! I am even considering a country song for our first dance (we haven't chosen a song yet). But aside from that, probably not? We aren't getting married at a rural venue, nor will I be wearing cowboy boots with my wedding dress. π</p><p><i> What are you most looking forward to for the planning process? - </i>For actual things that I plan, I'm very excited for our reception venue tasting and cake tasting. I am also looking forward to taking our engagement photos and designing our save-the-dates and invitations (I'm such a sucker for a nice invitation). For other things during the engagement season- I'm <i>so </i>excited for our engagement party and my bridal showers! Bring on ALL the celebrations please! </p><p><i> What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day? - </i>I am by far the most excited to <i>absolutely tear up the dance floor</i> at my wedding! I've been working on my wedding playlist for years (seriously) and dancing my butt off at my wedding with all of the guests is something I've truly been dreaming about for years. Other things I am excited for: my first look with my bridesmaids (they won't see the dress until that day), walking down the aisle towards Ryan, and of course just <i>marrying</i> the love of my life! Ryan is going to be such a wonderful husband. I know that there will be disappointments in the months leading up to the wedding day and even on the day itself, and I don't want to let those things get to me. The bottom line is I'm marrying Ryan! That's what I want to stay focused on. </p><p><i> Do you have a theme or color palette picked out? - </i>Sort of. I'm struggling with finding a defined theme to be honest! Ryan knows what color he wants himself and the guys to wear, and I am 99% sure I know what color I'd like the bridesmaids in. But I don't want those two colors to be the main ones for the whole wedding. I love all sorts of colors! I want very varied and colorful florals and decor. If I could describe the wedding vision so far, I'd say: "<i>Traditional wedding with a couple of untraditional touches. Classic yet colorful. Spring and summer colors despite the November date.</i>" </p><p><i> Will you and Ryan be writing your own vows? - </i>No, we will be just using the traditional standard vows! We are both on the same page with this.</p><p><i> Any fun DIYs you'd like to do? - </i>I definitely want to do some DIYs for the wedding. Probably a unique DIY seating chart? And there is a bridesmaids' gift I might try to attempt that would DIY as well. If you have any fun wedding DIY ideas though- please DM me and send them my way. I'm all ears!</p><p><i> </i></p><p> Thanks so much as always for reading! It has seriously been <i>so</i> much fun to share these Wedding Wednesday posts since we got engaged. I'm excited to keep writing more as this year goes on, and next year to recap our wedding! </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;">Past Wedding Wednesday Posts:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Our Proposal Story</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3GNwOaq" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">My Ring Shopping Experience</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/420fngm" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Local vs. Destination Wedding</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/4baTtv0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Wedding Dress Shopping Story</a> // </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-66436880636700032362024-02-05T05:00:00.007-05:002024-02-05T05:57:46.203-05:00Worthwhile Beauty Splurge: BeautyBio R45 Retinol Review<p> I recently tried a high-end skincare retinol system that worked incredibly well for my skin! I shared a little bit about it on Instagram Stories and got so many questions about it, so I wanted to write up a quick blog post with more information. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwSPG4-2DtvxM-9yeVV8kDPLwSR8fxES0gHaEtrXGF4nAuVqIQWvChnIZs_G-qIqsQdkvEL56KsUEQV8cEXtdTBEfVhnsj9vD7doiQBRL_rx7aw9eKoeJZDg8d3Ed7maDjTqkZ202AjfpehSYTrZ8O6sATF0sdfiBfEYCD41O2ypPaC_vdynVWudsUjY/s3088/IMG_8529.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwSPG4-2DtvxM-9yeVV8kDPLwSR8fxES0gHaEtrXGF4nAuVqIQWvChnIZs_G-qIqsQdkvEL56KsUEQV8cEXtdTBEfVhnsj9vD7doiQBRL_rx7aw9eKoeJZDg8d3Ed7maDjTqkZ202AjfpehSYTrZ8O6sATF0sdfiBfEYCD41O2ypPaC_vdynVWudsUjY/s16000/IMG_8529.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Back in November, I went to Florida to visit my good friend <a href="https://bit.ly/3SHOATA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gentry from Girl Meets Bow blog</a>. Gentry is a buyer in the beauty industry for her day job, and she currently works in skincare! I loved hearing about some of the prestige skincare brands that she currently gets to work with. While I was visiting, Gentry realized she had a full extra set of a high-end retinol from the brand BeautyBio. She kindly gifted it to me, and I was so excited to try it! I started it the day that I got home to Virginia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> What is retinol, and why use it? Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A. It has many benefits for facial skin including reducing the general changes associated with aging, wrinkle reduction and prevention, dark spot fading and acne reduction. The<a href="https://bit.ly/3vYPdPf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> BeautyBio R45 Retinol System</a> is a 45-day retinol regimen for your face. It is very concentrated, so instead of using a daily retinol year-round, they only recommend doing this regiment twice a year in the recommended 45-day increments. I did mine every evening after washing and cleansing my face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I'd tried some less concentrated retinol products from the drugstore makeup and skincare brand Pixi before (and I think some other cheaper brands too?), but this was my first time ever doing a dedicated retinol regiment from a high-end brand. I should also share that I have been pretty blessed my whole life to have good facial skin. I don't have super oily or super dry skin, and it's also not overly sensitive. I have breakouts here and there (usually on my chin when I do get them), but I never struggled with consistent facial acne the way some of my friends have. But skincare and SPF have been very important to me since college! While I have used a lot of different drugstore and prestige brands for my skincare and don't often stay loyal to just one or two, I have always been diligent about a morning and evening skincare routine featuring moisturizer, eye cream, and a mix of serums or toners. I'm thankful that I started becoming religious about this so early in my 20s! I have never done Botox or any type of facial fillers, and while I'm not opposed to trying those someday, I have no desire to start them soon if I don't need them. With 30 quickly approaching, it seemed like perfect timing for trying a strong retinol system like this one. I hoped this would help my already good facial skin look even more youthful and clear, and hopefully help delay my need for any fillers even more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I was nervous that this might dry out my skin too much or I might have some other type of bad reaction, but that wasn't the case luckily! I didn't have any bad reactions to the <a href="https://bit.ly/3vYPdPf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BeautyBio R45 system</a>. It did exactly what I wanted to right from the start- making my already good skin look even better! I wasn't great at remembering to take a lot of progress photos, but I did take one at the 15 day mark that's pictured below! I didn't edit or filter this picture in any way, and my face is free from any makeup. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWEgcAhZPDeTxNjiI0A1sykAQoomYeMwAGvBakPV12Ba030ldeGOq1vDUKGJLkyY_BL_cdrSyJm6_nP99tXrk7vOtYaazSdggSdB3wM4Pe8vGqkcEwNDttZt6Px6I4kzkjCrVQ_6XN7ULAk0_2gKbypj6eHKE0YBHi3iqN-c9B1DgCzP50ro95sYAexc/s3088/IMG_7478.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWEgcAhZPDeTxNjiI0A1sykAQoomYeMwAGvBakPV12Ba030ldeGOq1vDUKGJLkyY_BL_cdrSyJm6_nP99tXrk7vOtYaazSdggSdB3wM4Pe8vGqkcEwNDttZt6Px6I4kzkjCrVQ_6XN7ULAk0_2gKbypj6eHKE0YBHi3iqN-c9B1DgCzP50ro95sYAexc/s16000/IMG_7478.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 15 days of using the BeautyBio R45 regimen</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I can't get over how clear and firm my face looks in the picture after 15 days of use! Wow!! I continued using the <a href="https://bit.ly/3vYPdPf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">R45</a> nightly through Day 45 as directed. One thing that I was pleasantly surprised by is that I didn't have <i>any breakouts</i> during the 45 days. Not even little chin pimples, which are the most common ones that I get! My skin has truly never felt better than using this product. Below is my final photo on Day 45! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdA8rcG9ttSpKeBEQ8g4D8JLFLATuK_Kek9mPM69oqyfqXhbOtcIPTEK3607lxJ7bdIHDGcaLsWliN6WPu0HSlGUU9QQhoNSTcnLxJ92tcOnvbv7ibSObLHIs1EHAT3Onnn3kMSPOwj2XYpVlvv7bPoQQFgUQduR012sKqTx7Ju1IXzIiuxYDULsWz88/s3088/IMG_8528.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdA8rcG9ttSpKeBEQ8g4D8JLFLATuK_Kek9mPM69oqyfqXhbOtcIPTEK3607lxJ7bdIHDGcaLsWliN6WPu0HSlGUU9QQhoNSTcnLxJ92tcOnvbv7ibSObLHIs1EHAT3Onnn3kMSPOwj2XYpVlvv7bPoQQFgUQduR012sKqTx7Ju1IXzIiuxYDULsWz88/s16000/IMG_8528.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The proof is in these pictures- what a product! I am definitely a believer now. So thankful that my friend Gentry gifted me this! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I do want to note that while I was using <a href="https://bit.ly/3vYPdPf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">R45</a> I did modify my normal skincare routine. I did still use <a href="https://bit.ly/3w3ixEs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my favorite gentle moisturizer</a> and <a href="https://bit.ly/42n6vBU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">current eye cream</a> twice a day (morning and night), but I temporarily stopped using my toner and serums. I didn't want to overwhelm my skin <i>too</i> much when using a retinol regimen this strong, and I think that was a good decision. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The R45 system is not cheap...it's way more costly than I've ever paid for a skincare product! But I do think it is worth the cost. I plan to do it again this June (six months following when I first finished as recommended). The BeautyBio line is sold at both <a href="https://bit.ly/3SgICHi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ulta</a> and <a href="https://bit.ly/3OpcjoH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephora</a>, but I have found that <a href="https://bit.ly/3SHkGhL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">QVC</a> and <a href="https://bit.ly/4bjuKF5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HSN</a> often offer the best deals and sales on R45 specifically. </div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-19604474637229420992024-02-01T05:00:00.004-05:002024-02-01T08:09:27.370-05:00{Monthly} Midweek Ramblings: January 2024<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">January 2024:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPglVcApwLYHkcv3GzgmWZw68UCIpKCmhPvdLvX65Fd7eanMlmpAj0r-YJd2jvjoG9bJ6YEf-w5Bf1jqc9QotBC3pEpDB8ZYISg5uHSjhpNEdE5LAYp9D8IYqFeoCjyta_oyZNux63LgvDVs7dNpjH9U0z0ASeVGNOGG77dIvZi929Cb4WfAizF4d24U/s4032/IMG_8778.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPglVcApwLYHkcv3GzgmWZw68UCIpKCmhPvdLvX65Fd7eanMlmpAj0r-YJd2jvjoG9bJ6YEf-w5Bf1jqc9QotBC3pEpDB8ZYISg5uHSjhpNEdE5LAYp9D8IYqFeoCjyta_oyZNux63LgvDVs7dNpjH9U0z0ASeVGNOGG77dIvZi929Cb4WfAizF4d24U/s16000/IMG_8778.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Highs of the Month:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>SO</i> many highs this month!! Where do I even begin? It's going to be so hard to narrow it down to three highs. The first and biggest one: we booked our three biggest things for our wedding this month!! <b><i>We have a wedding date, church, reception venue and photographer all booked</i></b>! I am also beyond thrilled to share that I will be a <i style="font-weight: bold;">2024 bride</i>! That's right, we are getting married later <i>this year</i>! </li><li>Another gigantic wedding related high: the unexpected way that I found my wedding dress for an incredible deal! Check out the full story <a href="https://bit.ly/4baTtv0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">in this Wedding Wednesday post</a> if you missed it. </li><li>A wonderful weekend in Charlotte, NC, and the fact that it was Ryan's first trip to Charlotte! He finally got to meet some of my longtime friends there and see the city that means so much to me. </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lows of the Month:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>On the other hand, it's hard for me to think of three lows for the month because this was such a great January. π One would be that we still haven't finalized our wedding guest list yet, and there's still been some more tough convos about that this month. I wish I had an unlimited budget and could invite like 300+ people- ha! The bigger the better if finances weren't a concern.</li><li>I had to get new tires for my car this month, which is always a large expense that isn't fun. (But I will say- I had phenomenal service at Discount Tire which made the experience less painful! Good customer service is everything!)</li><li>Also money related- it was a low month for me with blogging income. Blogging isn't my full-time job, and I don't rely on the money I make from blogging for my daily living expenses or bills, but it is "fun" money that I use for things like travel, shopping, and the costs of keeping this blog up and running. I usually do pretty well with <a href="https://bit.ly/3fxVkfN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">affiliate links</a> in January for some big post-holiday sales, but that just wasn't the case this year. Not much I can do about it, but a little bit of a bummer to see lower numbers than the last couple of Januarys. </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>January Weekend Recaps:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-size: large;">5th-7th - </i>We had a quiet Friday night at home, and then on Saturday morning we left for a quick 24 hour trip to Raleigh, NC! Ryan's big Christmas surprise from me this year was hotel and tickets for the St. Louis Blues / Caroline Hurricanes game on January 6th. (Ryan is from St. Louis and is a big Blues fan!) We started our weekend at the Crabtree Mall in Raleigh. I don't love the malls that we have in our area, so it was nice to go to a larger mall that also had some stores that we don't have here. We had dinner at Brio, an upscale Italian chain that we also don't have in Virginia Beach. We then went to the hockey game on Saturday night. This was my first-ever professional sports game, and I had a blast! We left early to beat traffic, but the Blues did win! On Sunday morning, we did a little geocaching near downtown Raleigh, and then we headed to the awesome North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, which is a great <i>free </i>science museum. It was a great little weekend away!</li><li><i style="font-size: large;">12th - 14th - </i>We had a fun double date with my friend Bri and her husband at a new Italian restaurant on Friday evening. On Saturday we had a wedding venue tour!! And then we spent some time discussing wedding related things with Ryan's parents at their house. On Sunday, I went to see a matinee performance of Shen Yun, the popular traveling Chinese dance group. My ticket was my Christmas gift from my parents. It was an incredible show, and I had a wonderful time!!</li><li><i style="font-size: large;">19th-21st - </i>Another great weekend! I met my friend Kelly-Anne for a matinee movie on Friday afternoon. We saw Anyone But You and it definitely exceeded my expectations- it was so funny! On Saturday, I had a work event with my radio station at an RV dealership about an hour away. That evening, I got tires put on my car and also ran some other errands. Sunday was such a good day. Ryan and I became members of our church during one of the morning services! We can get married there easily now that we are officially members. Ryan's mom and I then went to attend a local bridal expo, and that's where I unexpectedly found my wedding dress! After all of that excitement, I met up with my friends Amanda and Tracy for a fun Sunday evening Happy Hour at The Porch, which is one of my favorite local places for cocktails. </li><li><i style="font-size: large;">26th - 28th - </i>We were in Charlotte, NC for the weekend!! It was my first time spending more than 24 hours there in about 4ish years! And Ryan's first time ever visiting Charlotte. While the weather wasn't great for the whole weekend, it was still a fun trip. A great mix of showing Ryan some of my favorite spots just the two of us and meeting up with some of my close girlfriends! I want to write a little travel diary post about our weekend soon if I have the time.</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: large;">January Purchases:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>After not buying anything for myself in December, this was a big shopping month. But it was all things that I either had a gift card for, or a defined need for. Let's get right to it! First up: I scored <a href="https://bit.ly/3RAs8cU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these shorts</a> for this summer season when they were extra marked down. I got them for under $15! They fit TTS.</li><li>I've been looking for a new pair of <a href="https://bit.ly/3vmxuBa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">light wash jeans</a> that weren't too expensive for quite a while. I got these in January and they're great!! Affordable, comfortable and flattering. They also fit TTS!</li><li>A fun little purchase to refresh my hair accessory drawer: these <a href="https://bit.ly/3TLevdB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">crystal and pearl hairclips</a>!</li><li>I had three fun dress purchases this month! First up, I got an incredible deal on <a href="https://bit.ly/41WWTNN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this pink cocktail dress</a>- I was able to combine some promo codes and get it for under $20!! I love that it is a little sexy without being revealing or showing too much skin. I</li><li>Next dress: my cohost Cash and I are emceeing a fancy charity gala in March that I knew I needed a dress for. I found an incredible deal on a silver and purple sequined dress at my local Ross Dress for Less for $40!!! π± I have found some great apartment decor things at Ross, but rarely luck out for clothing finds there. So I was excited to find this formal dress! I can't find the exact dress online, but <a href="https://bit.ly/499pqSM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="https://bit.ly/47TMK5O" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a> are sort of similar.</li><li>And my final January dress purchase: <a href="https://bit.ly/3OlN06T" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this elegant dark blue dress</a>! I plan to wear it to at least one of the weddings I'm attending in 2024. Honestly, I might wear it to two weddings! (We have multiple weddings this year.) It's back up to full price as of the time that I'm writing this blog post, but I was able to find it on sale last week and combine promo codes and get it for 50% off!! Can't wait for it to arrive. </li><li>I've wanted <a href="https://bit.ly/3SA7yuK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these running shorts</a> in the pink color for months now, and I finally used a gift card that I got for Christmas to order them. They were described as being Lululemon short dupes, and they're super comfy and flattering. </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>January Blog Posts: </b></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3H6zkZv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilly Pulitzer 2024 Sale Details</a> </li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/420fngm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday: Are We Doing a Local or Destination Wedding?</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3U9MQDb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Best Books I Read in 2023</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/4baTtv0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday: My Insane Wedding Dress Shopping Story</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-62221098539580087132024-01-24T05:00:00.005-05:002024-01-24T05:00:00.132-05:00Wedding Wednesday: My Insane Wedding Dress Shopping Story! <p> If you had told me a week ago that today I'd be sharing this insane story of how I got my wedding dress, I would not have believed you! I wasn't planning to dress shop until late February. I had actually just made a few appointments at local dress shops and was planning to schedule a couple more this week. But plot twist- I found my dress by total surprise this past Sunday in an incredibly lucky way!! Here's the full story: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizFh8dOgUsJjRBzNC1IJGoYycBQB33sQTOu-e7SyxrO49wy37tdYUYGejziXZBb39qn8CBBRnjw7ZNfHUnVqv9aBHy3qxkgQjs81pdCm4Q3lkoGYVfr3XDNl_qarGNQwx5YXZQ08DtVakxP2wNyoHmI_xjcbksR2bVypvCIOn7zcpjxhZgGAiHamdvrU/s4032/404668898_672336961499362_3994462585796119745_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizFh8dOgUsJjRBzNC1IJGoYycBQB33sQTOu-e7SyxrO49wy37tdYUYGejziXZBb39qn8CBBRnjw7ZNfHUnVqv9aBHy3qxkgQjs81pdCm4Q3lkoGYVfr3XDNl_qarGNQwx5YXZQ08DtVakxP2wNyoHmI_xjcbksR2bVypvCIOn7zcpjxhZgGAiHamdvrU/s16000/404668898_672336961499362_3994462585796119745_n.jpg" /></a></div><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><br /><p></p><p> I'm about to say something that you're probably going to find very surprising. <b style="font-style: italic;">I wasn't very excited to shop for my wedding dress. It was probably one of the least exciting things for me about being engaged. </b>I know, I know! Certainly a hot take right? π
Especially coming from someone like me who does love fashion and girly things, and has done some sort of fashion blogging for over a decade! But it's the truth. Wedding dress shopping felt like a discouraging chore that I *had*to do, not something I was super excited about.</p><p> I feel like the wedding dresses are one of the most inflated and ridiculously expensive parts of anything to do with the wedding industry. Standard pricing on most bridal store designer dresses these days seems to be in the $1500-3000- range (and that's still the low end for pricing at some bridal boutiques!). I have no qualms with making investment purchases when it's something that I will wear for years and years, such as a really nice winter coat, shoes or boots or fine jewelry. I bought <a href="https://bit.ly/37GK4f5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a unique winter sweater costing a few hundred dollars</a> a few years ago that at the time seemed <i>ridiculous, </i>but I still love it today and have enjoyed wearing it every winter season since then. I definitely feel like I got my money's worth on that purchase. But for a dress that I will quite literally wear <i>once in my life</i>?! How can someone justify spending four figures on that?! </p><p> My budget was strictly under $1000, but I was so worried I wouldn't be able to find anything that I liked in that price range. I was convinced I'd either have to settle for a very mediocre cheap dress or go way over budget to get my "dream" dress. Either I'd be disappointed in a cheaper dress or feel financially stressed by spending over budget on a dress I actually liked. Both seemed like lose-lose situations.</p><p> I had decided that I was going to dress shop by myself, but with my mom on Facetime from Maine. I was going to bring my phone tripod to the various bridal boutiques and set it up in the dressing rooms so she could feel part of the experience from afar. I didn't want to invite any bridesmaids or other friends to come with me. I know it's traditional to bring multiple women in your life with you for dress shopping, but for me I wanted it to be a more private experience (probably because I wasn't that excited- ha!). My parents and I talked about my mom coming down in person for dress shopping, but the flights were ridiculously expensive<i> </i>for any weekends this February, and I wasn't available any March weekends for dress shopping between prior travel commitments and work events. So I decided to book solo dress shopping appointments in February and take my mom along via Facetime! I had three appointments set, and as planning to book one or two more as well.</p><p> Ryan's mom (who lives locally) and I got tickets last month to attend a big bridal expo called Uniquely Yours in Virginia Beach on January 21st. I was hoping this would be a great environment to learn about local vendors like florists and DJs. A couple weeks before the bridal show, I saw a post on Instagram that said there would be a sample sale on select wedding dresses at the expo! I sent that info to my mom. She was excited and told me she would mark it in her calendar to Facetime me that day if I tried on any sample dresses at the bridal expo. As the day got closer, I started wondering if it would even be worth it to look at any sample dresses. Surely it would be a very limited selection, and they would probably be very picked over by the time I got there. I had already spent the time to make multiple dress shopping appointments in February anyways.</p><p> Ryan's mom and I were on our way to the bridal expo, when I saw I had missed calls and texts from my mom. I called her back, and she said she was ready at home with her cell phone to Facetime and see me try on the sample dresses. I was like "<i>Oh mom, I don't think I'm actually going to try any on today! I have dress appointments next month at actual stores, it's probably a crap selection here today.</i>" But my mom still strongly encouraged me to look that day. She suggested I head to the dresses first thing to see what they had early in the day.</p><p> When we entered the bridal expo, sure enough the dresses were right near the front. I think there were maybe only 80-100 wedding dresses. It wasn't a ton! And since they were all samples, it was only one size per dress. Kind of like finding a diamond in the rough. </p><p> I was shocked to find several dresses in my size though that were actually really beautiful!! Dresses ranged from $99 (!!) to $700. I figured I'd try some on just for fun. I surely didn't think any would actually work on me. I was just kind of like "<i>Why not</i>?" You could try up to three dresses. I picked two dresses to try on that weren't super-duper my taste but seemed really fun. Maybe it would be a pleasant surprise and I'd like them! I also found a dress in my size that was fairly close to the wedding dress inspiration pictures that I had been saving. The bottom part was <i>exactly like</i> some of the styles I had saved on Pinterest recently! The top part was different than the dresses I'd saved online, but despite that it still felt very aligned with the vibe of our wedding, possibly even more aligned than the inspo dresses that I'd save pictures of? But I didn't want to get my hopes up on it. What are the odds it would work?</p><p> There were these little makeshift "changing rooms" set up with black curtains. I had to wait while to get one, but that gave me time to get my mom ready on Facetime. Finally, it was my turn! I decided to try on the dress that most aligned with my vision for a wedding dress style first. I put it on... and imagine my shock when the waist area was almost a <i>perfect fit</i>! It felt like "my" dress from the moment I stepped into it. I could not believe it!! Was I actually finding my wedding dress at a sample sale?! The first one that I ever tried on?! What on earth!!!</p><p> My future MIL loved it, and so did my mom on Facetime!! It was very chaotic and rushed when I tried it on since there were so many people around (with it being in the middle of a bridal expo and all!), but the moment was still magical to me. I decided to try on one other dress (one of the ones that was more out of my fashion comfort zone), but I knew right away that it wasn't it. I showed my MIL and mom briefly, but while laughing to myself because the other dress had been so right. I didn't even bother to try on the third dress. My dress will definitely need alterations in the top part, but that's pretty common I know with wedding dresses! It also a is a little bit long, but taking off some length should be an easy alteration as well. The waist part was a perfect fit though, and I think that's often the toughest part with dress shopping (finding one that properly fits and flatters the waist area). </p><p> I think it is so cool how this worked out because I'm not sure I would've ever tried on this specific dress at a bridal boutique! I think I would've gravitated towards similar ones, but possibly not this exact style since the top half looks a bit different from what I thought I wanted. But I'm so glad that the unique circumstances did lead me to this dress! I know I haven't given many details about our wedding yet (that's coming in my next Wedding Wednesday post!) but believe me when I saw that<b><i> this dress fits our wedding vibe perfectly</i></b>. Probably more perfectly than similar styles that I had been saving pictures of! Isn't it funny when life works out like that? </p><p> Ready to find out the best part of this story though?? What I paid for the dress! As I mentioned above, this sample sale had dresses ranging from $99-$700. How much was my dress?</p><p><br /></p><p> <i><b> $150!!!!</b></i></p><p><i><b><br /></b></i></p><p> That's right, just one hundred and fifty dollars for my wedding dress! And it's not from a cheap online retailer. It's a designer wedding dress from a local bridal boutique!! I googled my dress style and it looks like it usually retails for $1300-1500. That means I got it for about 85-90% off!!! Isn't that incredible?! What a blessing!! My fears of finding a dress that was way out of my budget at a bridal boutique were quickly eliminated. π</p><p> Here's my mom reacting to me picking the dress on Facetime! I am grateful she was able to see me trying on the dress for the first time, thanks to technology. She and my dad will be visiting this spring for our engagement party, and I'm planning to make a veil and accessories appointment at the bridal boutique that the dress is from for when she is visiting. That way she can finally see me in the dress in person, and also help me choose some of the important accessories to go with it! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEil-KXkaYnYah656-p0sBqwjXskJnHGXNlSb1vvba3hScfr-eDNIOB9iFlQ3jiW0HhOAuWEOKyAzolR9QQpgfzkqYqr8oq8r1IBcNKCA8mQHrFqHqKehu6WwcWrskYSUeexeyjBqBpHvlLzkUiEvUevE5O3tAxVbDS39-Ojz_5HH1VustvlAEMUxB3QA/s2532/405086344_912580110407557_7078299475519352079_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="1170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEil-KXkaYnYah656-p0sBqwjXskJnHGXNlSb1vvba3hScfr-eDNIOB9iFlQ3jiW0HhOAuWEOKyAzolR9QQpgfzkqYqr8oq8r1IBcNKCA8mQHrFqHqKehu6WwcWrskYSUeexeyjBqBpHvlLzkUiEvUevE5O3tAxVbDS39-Ojz_5HH1VustvlAEMUxB3QA/s16000/405086344_912580110407557_7078299475519352079_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Past Wedding Wednesday Posts:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Our Proposal Story</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3GNwOaq" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">My Ring Shopping Experience</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/420fngm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Local vs. Destination Wedding</a> // </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese </p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-21113220490568241342024-01-22T06:02:00.004-05:002024-01-22T06:02:41.463-05:00The Best Books I Read in 2023.<p> I read 42 books in 2023, and it's time to recap my absolute favorite reads. For several years now, I have done a recap post sharing only the very best books of the year. I give out five-star book ratings on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/30854657-annaliese-l-k" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> pretty sparingly, so you know that if one of these books is featured in today's post that I truly <i>loved</i> it. I had four novels, and three non-fiction books make the cut this year! One book was a re-read from a few years ago, the rest were all new to me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW-lwTqLN3jx-Ei93JroOwR-H9KVBQ4KEfTGcZ0N6JMmDy-65gKoPVqdvJkUo9-R65hhbgWxskUxbUOkpJjUfuRbeh5mox5O0w7iat6wkTLIof_4aOuJAfWxsTVB9rQrzCcLCwCh1rdg02xSj5S5xjDg2EurgOW6wQee520w16slFDcbpeTKe_iY2gEE/s4032/404545882_185120121330332_8416489127562930361_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW-lwTqLN3jx-Ei93JroOwR-H9KVBQ4KEfTGcZ0N6JMmDy-65gKoPVqdvJkUo9-R65hhbgWxskUxbUOkpJjUfuRbeh5mox5O0w7iat6wkTLIof_4aOuJAfWxsTVB9rQrzCcLCwCh1rdg02xSj5S5xjDg2EurgOW6wQee520w16slFDcbpeTKe_iY2gEE/s16000/404545882_185120121330332_8416489127562930361_n.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training blog!</i></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Best Fiction Books of 2023:</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3vv6Gyz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfield</a> - My <i>favorite</i> book of the year! While I don't buy a lot of novels, I know that will have to purchase this one sometime soon so I can read it again and again in years to come. This novel takes place between the years 2018-2020. It's about a female comedy writer who works for a fictional version of a Saturday Night Live type show in NYC, and the chance meeting she has at work with a male pop artist who is hosting the show one week. They lose touch after the chance meeting, and then reconnect later on in a unique way. I thought this book was absolutely brilliantly written, and I was heartbroken when I finished it! Romantic Comedy managed to be both sexy, sweet and funny (I laughed out loud in parts!). It got a lot of mid-range ratings on Goodreads because other readers said they really didn't like that a lot of the book took place during the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020. Personally, I <i>loved</i> the 2020 parts! I thought the author did such a genius job capturing how difficult and different life was during that weird year. I thought it made the storyline that much more interesting. I also love the fact that so much of the book was told over long-distance emails, because it reminded me so much of getting to know my fiancΓ© Ryan long-distance for a few months (with tons of texts and calls) before he moved to Virginia, when he was still living in the Midwest.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3Sa75PU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand</a> - One of Elin Hilderbrand's best works, I think! I absolutely loved this Nantucket summer novel. It's all about the staff of a recently re-opened luxury hotel in Nantucket. A lot of the staff members have secrets and drama going on in their personal lives, and it's so interesting to learn the backstories of all of the characters. The staff is working hard all summer towards hopefully attracting and impressing a very popular anonymous travel blogger to stay there. I enjoy all of Elin's Nantucket books, but this one especially kept my attention, and there were a few plot twists I didn't guess ahead of time! </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3SeDg0v" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler</a> - This novel hit me so deeply. It perfectly summarized two things: 1) the highs and lows of being in your mid 20s, and 2) the realities of falling in love with someone who will never feel mutually about you. What a plotline!! The story hit me so deeply that it made me tear up a couple times while reading. It's about an American named Adelaide who is living and working abroad in the UK post college. She falls hard and fast for a British guy named Rory, but their romance soon has complications. This was the debut novel from the author, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/47t9zND" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Idea of You by Robinne Lee</a> - I originally gave this book four stars, but I truly could not stop thinking about it a few weeks after I read it, and realized I needed to bump up my rating to five stars! This book is about a 40-year-old divorcee named Solange, who has a chance meeting with the 24-year-old heartthrob star of the world's most popular boyband. (It's clearly based on One Direction!) They end up having a messy, intense and passionate love affair, until Solange is forced to make a really tough decision about their future. Heads up: this book is <i>spicy</i>. There is a ton of adult content in it! But I still loved the storyline so much. There is a movie coming out about the book on Amazon Prime later this year, and I can't wait to watch! </li></ul><div><br /></div><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Best Non-Fiction </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Books of 2023:</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/41Rg0Jl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Swipe Up for More! Inside the Unfiltered Lives of Influencers by Stephanie McNeal</a> - It's about due time that there is a book written about blogger and influencer culture, right?! This was such a fun and insightful read, especially since I am a blogger of 10+ years myself. The author followed three massively popular influencers and interviewed them in depth about their careers. One of the influencers featured was OG fashion blogger Caitlin Covington from Southern Curls and Pearls! I've followed Caitlin almost as long as I have been blogging, so I loved her parts of the book especially. If you've ever blogged yourself, or hvae enjoyed following bloggers and influencers (which I assume you do if you're reading my blog!), I think you'd really enjoy this read. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/48RRIkL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff</a> - This book is long, but absolutely incredible. It was written for a niche audience though- fans of the hit comedy The Big Bang Theory! I was a huge Big Bang Theory fan when it was on, so as soon as I heard about this book being written I was excited to read it. Jessica Radloff did an incredible job. She spent lengthy amounts of time interviewing all seven of the lead cast members, and the show's creator and producers. The book goes through all 12 seasons of the show in great depth and detail! This book is very lengthy, and it did take me a few weeks to get through, but I loved it. Before this book, I've really enjoyed reading Jessica Radloff's TV articles for Glamour Magazine. She's clearly a great book author as well, and now I want her to write a similar type of book for all of my other favorite TV shows!</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3RSsfRd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Open Book by Jessica Simpson</a> - This was a re-read from 2020! With my most favorite five star reads, I like to do re-reads a few years later to see if I still love them just as much. Spoiler alert for this book: I think I loved it even more this time! This time I read alongside my best friend Ciera, as she read it for the first time. It was so fun to discuss it with a friend. This book remains my <i>favorite </i>celebrity memoir of all time! Jessica Simpson is an incredibly talented author, and her life story is wild. This book is deep, impactful, funny, sweet, and sad all in one. It's also incredibly easy to read- can Jessica Simpson please write more books?! If you're a big fan of early 2000s pop culture like I am, this is especially a must-read for you!</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> These were the seven best of the best books that I read this year!! I'd love to hear about your favorite reads from last year in the comments.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Past Best Books Of The Year posts:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2UdsDdo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2018</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/2G7wPXf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2019</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3nzeG8a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2020</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3qVBu5D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2021</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3H3DfH2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2022</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />
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</div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-5971050257990318722024-01-17T05:00:00.004-05:002024-01-17T07:19:51.907-05:00Wedding Wednesday: Are We Doing a Local or Destination Wedding?<p> Time for my next Wedding Wednesday post! I already know that this whole series is going to be <i>so </i>much fun to write and document over the next year or two. The biggest question that I feel like a couple gets when starting to plan a wedding is "<i>Where do you want the wedding to be?</i>" Will the wedding be local to where the bride and groom currently live, in the bride or groom's home city, or a domestic or international destination wedding? All of those options have their own pros and cons of course. And the estimated wedding budget definitely plays a huge roll in figuring out which option would be best. Ready to find out where Ryan and I are planning to get married?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgKvbKWj6WB6IsvACgfQRQrtnuw0rFHCrwCLK6Cje-6gCohEeXtgZQ6V-0_JFNC8Eh4BtaD_gEO5bhQPnHJQaiuhHYuxaRxPzRVF8cHCW-IJQ0brldNEwJKgNZpCHVQLkliDE9zfwWwNlOcd1CJxd_UH5zQJ5uk_hFxS11S4eEgCd0v3InO1nKvXWiZI/s4032/404452704_756423505862277_5894179613711086114_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgKvbKWj6WB6IsvACgfQRQrtnuw0rFHCrwCLK6Cje-6gCohEeXtgZQ6V-0_JFNC8Eh4BtaD_gEO5bhQPnHJQaiuhHYuxaRxPzRVF8cHCW-IJQ0brldNEwJKgNZpCHVQLkliDE9zfwWwNlOcd1CJxd_UH5zQJ5uk_hFxS11S4eEgCd0v3InO1nKvXWiZI/s16000/404452704_756423505862277_5894179613711086114_n.jpg" /></a></div><p> <b> <span></span></b></p><a name='more'></a><b> <span style="font-size: medium;">Ryan and I have mutually decided that we wil</span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">l be having our wedding <i>locally</i> where we live, in beautiful <i>Virginia Beach, Virginia</i>! </span></b><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p> We are both very happy with the decision and we actually had our reception venue tours over the past week! There were several factors that went into choosing to get married locally. I'll start by sharing why we ruled out other options:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Why we aren't doing Maine (where I'm from):</i> The nicer venues in my hometown area (<a href="https://bit.ly/2RIcyh6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kennebunk/Kennebunkport</a>) are all <i>ridiculously expensive</i>. Not that having a Virginia Beach wedding is necessarily cheap, but the preferred venues in my hometown would've<i> for sure been more expensive</i>. We also would've been pretty limited to having a summer wedding for warm weather, as the spring season is often very cold in Maine and can't be counted on for being good wedding weather. Summer 2024 would've been too soon, and Summer 2025 seemed way too far away. Lastly, probably 75% of our guests (maybe even a higher percentage?) aren't from Maine and are beyond drivable distance from Maine, so Maine would count as a "destination" wedding and would probably rule out a lot of people from attending, similarly to a tropical destination wedding when it comes to high travel costs for guests. And for reasons that I'll share further down, I'm not interested in a domestic destination wedding. I was pretty set that I was open only to a local wedding to where I live currently, or a tropical island type destination. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Why we aren't doing Missouri (where Ryan is from): </i>Ryan wasn't interested in having our wedding in Missouri. I haven't even had a chance to visit Missouri with him yet, so even if he had interest in doing it where he is from, I would never say yes to having a wedding in a city/state that we hadn't visited together yet! While Ryan and his brother were raised in Missouri (his brother still lives there), all of their other family currently lives in other states, with the majority being in Virginia. (That's actually why Ryan moved to Virginia in 2022!) And it's the same destination problem as Maine would've been- most guests aren't in driving distance from Missouri.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Why we aren't doing an international destination: </i>I actually went through a short phase last summer after <a href="https://bit.ly/440aqnw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">visiting an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic</a> with my dad where I really wanted a tropical wedding at an all-inclusive resort, whether in the DR or another island. While I wasn't super open to US destination, I liked the idea of a one-stop-shop tropical resort that included venue and lodging all in one place. It seemed like it would be much easier planning-wise to do this than a destination somewhere in the US. But Ryan was automatically against having the wedding in another country that would require any of our guests to get passports. So that ruled that out pretty quickly.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Why we aren't doing a domestic destination: </i>Ryan was more open to doing a domestic warm weather destination, but I actually was not! I felt like the only type of destination that I'd enjoy doing was a foreign island where we could be at an all-inclusive resort that would take care of anything. For example, I was not open to looking into hotels in a state like Florida, because I'd still have to outsource a bunch of vendors, and that seemed like so much work to do in a place that I didn't currently live. I also kind of thought that would be unfair to my parents to pick a random domestic destination, when I wasn't that open to getting married in Maine. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Why we aren't doing Edenton, NC: </i>This was the one spot besides for where we currently live that Ryan and I actually seriously considered pursuing. Over the past couple of years, I've shared a lot online about my obsession with the charming Eastern North Carolina town where my aunt and uncle moved to: <a href="https://bit.ly/3tNg4cP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edenton, NC</a>! It's only an hour and a half south of Virginia Beach, and there are a couple of really nice options for venues there. Ryan came to Edenton with me for the first time this summer, and he also loved the area. It wouldn't really be much of a "destination" for us, since we are in such close drivable distance! It would've been very easy for me to get down there for vendor meetings. We ended up not deciding to pursue Edenton out of consideration for our guests. We have a pretty decent chunk of guests that will be flying to our wedding. Edenton is an hour and a half from our local Norfolk airport, which would be the closest one. We don't want to rent a bus to transport guests to and from Edenton, which means that guests would be forced to rent a car to get down there. If we get married in Virginia Beach (under 20 minutes from Norfolk airport), guests flying in can easily rely on Uber for the weekend and not be forced to rent a car. There are also very limited lodging options in Edenton- one Hampton Inn and a couple of bed and breakfasts. We wouldn't want anyone to wait awhile to book lodging and then get blocked out. Virginia Beach has much better transportation and lodging options for those traveling from afar, so that solidified our decision not to pursue venue tours in Edenton. It also looks like we've found some local venues in Virginia Beach that will be cheaper than Edenton.</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p> A little bit about the geography of our local area: Virginia Beach is part of the Hampton Roads metro area, which comprises seven cities. Virginia Beach is the largest one by population, and there are also several mid-sized and small cities nearby. The "Southside" of Hampton Roads is Virginia Beach, and the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk. On the "Peninsula" side of Hampton Roads are the cities of Hampton and Newport News. The Peninsula cities are connected to the larger Southside cities with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Interstate 64. </p><p> Tunnel traffic can be <i>terrible</i>, so we have no interest looking at wedding venues in the two Peninsula cities of Hampton Roads. We also aren't as interested in getting married in the other Southside cities besides for Virginia Beach. Parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk are very far away from Virginia Beach (and could also be tough for guests flying in and require them to rent a car, just like had we picked Edenton, NC). </p><p> Norfolk would've been the other local city that I would've considered getting married in. They do have some really nice hotels and other venues there. But we did get engaged in Norfolk though at Norfolk Botanical Garden! And the spot that I'd like to take our engagement photos at is also in Norfolk. I'm excited to do that soon! π Virginia Beach just feels more "us" to have our wedding there. Narrowing our search down only to venues in Virginia Beach has also been helpful, too</p><p><br /></p><p> As I mentioned earlier, we had our reception venue tours here locally over the past week. I am so excited for taking the next steps in wedding planning very soon! </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Other Wedding Wednesday Posts:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Proposal Story</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3GNwOaq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Ring Shopping Experience</a> // </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> God Bless,</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-47413586923260658792024-01-09T05:00:00.004-05:002024-01-09T08:14:46.840-05:00{Monthly} Midweek Ramblings: December 2023<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">December 2023:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwRUazZklKWd903tEw6xN95Jx89hWHN82Hj-VxQAdvSIy4tAZrCLUrueG388eC2EUOHlmLkwwNjuxB2PO0lpcXoasaFx-eefWWvyxZ0nSnEOyDWeUGGK_ruJr8KnfKk9Byzg5XotfKkyzSoVizQacPhc8jNkDu1KwuWrdIHha-80X2wHDwR-0a1GnAkQ/s4032/IMG_7734.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwRUazZklKWd903tEw6xN95Jx89hWHN82Hj-VxQAdvSIy4tAZrCLUrueG388eC2EUOHlmLkwwNjuxB2PO0lpcXoasaFx-eefWWvyxZ0nSnEOyDWeUGGK_ruJr8KnfKk9Byzg5XotfKkyzSoVizQacPhc8jNkDu1KwuWrdIHha-80X2wHDwR-0a1GnAkQ/s16000/IMG_7734.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Highs of the Month:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The whole first weekend of December was a high! I hosted<a href="https://bit.ly/3Pm1SkM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> my third annual Favorite Things Christmas party</a>, and this was also the first time that I'd really gotten to see friends since getting engaged, which made it extra special! The following night. I hosted the recorded televised broadcast of the Virginia Beach Christmas Parade for the third year in a row for work. Ryan and two couples we are friends with come to watch the parade and cheer me on, and we all went out to eat after at a local dive bar spot. It was such a great weekend all around!</li><li>Another annual tradition from December: it was the third year that I met my dear friend Caroline and her mom and sister in <a href="https://bit.ly/3HMpAoJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colonial Williamsburg</a> for a Christmas brunch! Unfortunately, we didn't have great weather this year, but we made the best of it and still had a fun and special time together! I love this special tradition of ours.</li><li>Starting a new tradition of making monkey bread and a delicious breakfast spread at home with Ryan on Christmas morning. I forgot how <i>delicious</i> and <i>easy</i> monkey bread is! I used<a href="https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/grands-monkey-bread/7a1e41b1-4708-4028-8ce6-fcb5baebbc19" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> this recipe</a>.</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lows of the Month: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>My car lease comes up in April 2024, and in December I started test driving some new cars from the same brand and getting quotes for new leases. The leasing rates are <i>exponentially higher</i> than when I signed for my current lease in 2021. The monthly payments are too much of a jump from what I pay currently (especially with wedding planning this year and saving for the wedding). So, it looks like this spring I'll be starting the process to buy out my car. I have loved leasing so much and would still like to lease again someday, but now is just not the time unfortunately. Such a bummer! </li><li>Starting to work on our wedding guest list and realizing that some friends will likely have to be cut for budget limitations. I hate excluding people in anything in life, so I know as these guest list plans continue this winter it will be tough for me at times. The not-so-fun side of wedding planning.</li><li>An unexpected and hurtful friendship situation that didn't have resolution. </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>December Weekend Recaps:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>1st-3rd</i> - </span>A really busy weekend, but one of my favorite weekends of the year! I hosted my annual Favorite Things party with lots of local girlfriends on Friday night. On Saturday, Ryan and I went to our church life group meeting, and then that evening was the Virginia Beach Christmas Parade (I host the TV broadcast for work!). Two of our couple friends came this year and we all went out to a local dive bar spot after. On Sunday, I went for a beach walk and ice cream with my friend Emily! It was super warm on Sunday and it was so nice to be outside and talk wedding stuff together. </li><li><i style="font-size: large;">8th-10th - </i>Friday was a long double shift workday for me, as I had to go back to work that evening for the conclusion of our station's annual Radiothon for St. Jude. This year we raised over $220,000+ for kids with cancer- amazing! On Saturday morning, Ryan and I got in a quick 9-hole round of golf with our friends Alton and Carly. Saturday afternoon, I helped set up for my coworker Lynnie's baby shower with two of our other coworkers! We set up decorations and then helped run games during the party. Sunday, I drove up to Williamsburg to meet Caroline and her family for our annual Christmas Brunch! </li><li><span><i style="font-size: large;">15th - 17th - </i>Ryan and I went to our church life group (bible study) meeting on Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon, I went to Norfolk to meet up with my friend Sara Sullivan. We grabbed drinks at a coffee shop and went for a long walk around the Ghent neighborhood in Norfolk. I loved seeing some of the historic homes there all decorated for Christmas. On Sunday, we went to church in the morning. I then went to Afternoon Tea with my friend Amanda to celebrate her birthday! It was a very rainy and cold day, so I stayed home and inside for the rest of the day after that. </span></li><li><span><i style="font-size: large;">22nd-24th - </i>Christmas weekend! I got gifts for Ryan and his family wrapped on Friday after work. On Saturday morning, I was finally free to go to a weekend Jazzercise class! We then met my aunt and uncle for lunch at a favorite local seafood spot, Waterman's. They were visiting for the afternoon from North Carolina. We then did a little beach walk with them, and then they came over to our apartment after. On Saturday evening, I worked on my wedding Pinterest board and making some old school collages for more wedding inspiration. On Sunday, we had a busy day of attending two church services! Our church had normal Sunday morning service, as well as a Christmas Eve service. After the evening service, we went to see the charming Virginia Beach 43rd St. Christmas lights with Ryan's parents.</span></li><li><span><i style="font-size: large;">29th-31st - </i>A <i>very</i> quiet New Year's Weekend at home! Knowing that we'd be out of town for two weekends in January and also jumping into wedding planning in January, we didn't want to do much at all over New Year's this year. I also ended up not feeling great for part of it (luckily though that didn't turn into any serious sickness!). I did get a few workout classes in though, and did a lot of cleaning around the apartment, blog work, and wedding planning prep before a busy January.</span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>December Purchases:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Believe it or not, I actually didn't buy any clothes or beauty products for myself in December! It was an expensive month of Christmas gift shopping this year. The only thing I did buy for myself last month was a kitchen item. I shared the story about this on Instagram. I have been starting to do some wedding registry item research online, and I ended up finding the most perfect <a href="https://bit.ly/3NU7Slu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blue and white kitchen utensil holder</a>! I knew it would coordinate so well with our blue and white sugar jar that I keep near our coffee and tea area in the kitchen. I started getting worried that this item might sell out by the time people are actually buying us wedding gifts, so I bought it on the spot! π I'm so glad I did though, it looks great in my kitchen and coordinates with everything much better than my old black cooking utensil holder. </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>December Blog Posts:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday: Our Proposal Story</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/41vGuQj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trend I Love: The Lady Jacket</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3GNwOaq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday: My Ring Shopping Experience</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/48cojl7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2023 In Review: Highlights From My Year</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div></div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-26014804654008805522024-01-02T05:00:00.001-05:002024-01-02T05:00:00.198-05:00LILLY PULITZER SUNSHINE SALE: Winter 2024 Sale Dates + Info! π΄πΈ <p> My favorite way to start off a new year is with news about the winter edition of the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale! I am more excited than normal for this Lilly sale. Why? Because I will be on the hunt for all things <i>wedding</i>! White things to wear for our engagement party or my bridal shower, a cute piece or two to wear for engagement photos, and dresses to wear for friends' upcoming weddings. Bring on the shopping! π</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy7cuQPgWPelbnIZV1PfCryzFTb1ApJJ6oAz9iJPHTAXy0g-aXezvHDTuDqKl9M-HXM1fNsHEwM3r4bCKGc2DI3msxBGBKbG8HwbjcjoC6-_ovFJcyRJY8mE_7m-DUFd1fpwV4ShKuBh5VR_QWqYxW7iD9DbLZHuCpz5IHfY1Pfbl8U3P1rF4oBuEg_k/s2048/IMG_4912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy7cuQPgWPelbnIZV1PfCryzFTb1ApJJ6oAz9iJPHTAXy0g-aXezvHDTuDqKl9M-HXM1fNsHEwM3r4bCKGc2DI3msxBGBKbG8HwbjcjoC6-_ovFJcyRJY8mE_7m-DUFd1fpwV4ShKuBh5VR_QWqYxW7iD9DbLZHuCpz5IHfY1Pfbl8U3P1rF4oBuEg_k/s16000/IMG_4912.JPG" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ9FTbSA1OQ7ki6kohhVne5AwvPjJyaiZI8POdBX1LhQE7sInYGaD7fCKiZKJ58nxsZLjlTIOYUBFnqcZ753RMr4p5c8uoneWC4J3mUKC_1reqOTCYj7CzH4M2EzbLmiB15lLh8OBWxGvbZ2v4AyWcqUEjlu1nkcPUHx96zsagxbJQxdvU7vDYEFOeY0/s2048/IMG_4914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ9FTbSA1OQ7ki6kohhVne5AwvPjJyaiZI8POdBX1LhQE7sInYGaD7fCKiZKJ58nxsZLjlTIOYUBFnqcZ753RMr4p5c8uoneWC4J3mUKC_1reqOTCYj7CzH4M2EzbLmiB15lLh8OBWxGvbZ2v4AyWcqUEjlu1nkcPUHx96zsagxbJQxdvU7vDYEFOeY0/s16000/IMG_4914.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Uy44aWYzHUhQldPzIEUYHBi7pdajZtoJLhmB4_kYWw-5pTh1ZFaARV4SRC7-CxA0XRbz4hrvR-gd9szoNsp87-1zBGzQ0Pci4bOsvNC8zkLjGB294hybCa1w9y0XtfIquQ7yPnxjXfSVDnGK38r7qOKZOt2p97c4q1e1TEQ7SNPVsUdOu1D9ONWKGA/s2160/B159B1DB-7B1A-428A-B217-64FF9E8664FB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Uy44aWYzHUhQldPzIEUYHBi7pdajZtoJLhmB4_kYWw-5pTh1ZFaARV4SRC7-CxA0XRbz4hrvR-gd9szoNsp87-1zBGzQ0Pci4bOsvNC8zkLjGB294hybCa1w9y0XtfIquQ7yPnxjXfSVDnGK38r7qOKZOt2p97c4q1e1TEQ7SNPVsUdOu1D9ONWKGA/s16000/B159B1DB-7B1A-428A-B217-64FF9E8664FB.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photos by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/freshbeats_goodeats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Virginia Concert Photographer </a></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;"> If you're a frequent SBIT reader, you know that I don't do a ton of sale coverage on my blog anymore. The one big exception to this is for the twice-yearly <a href="https://bit.ly/3unHOIk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sales</a>! </span><span>When I look at my blog's analytics year after year, several of the top posts are always related to Lilly Pulitzer sales. I take that to mean that y'all are still just as big fan of Lilly as I am. π And let's face it, it isn't cheap to buy Lilly at full price! I would guess that 70-80% of the Lilly Pulitzer pieces that I own were bought either during one of these sales, or from a consignment shop. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Typically <span style="font-family: inherit;">Lilly Pulitzer only steeply discounts their merchandise twice a year, during the winter and end-of-summer </span></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3unHOIk" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Sunshine Sales</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">. (They used to be called the After Party Sales.) And this year's winter edition of the <a href="https://bit.ly/3unHOIk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunshine Sale</a> is the one that's about to start! Best-selling Lilly Pulitzer apparel and accessories will be marked down to 30-70% off their original prices. The Sunshine Sale usually includes a whole mix of women's apparel, men's and children's apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry and more. </span></span></p><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The <a href="https://bit.ly/3unHOIk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Winter 2023 Online Sunshine Sale</a> opens</span><span style="background-color: white;"> at<span style="color: #ff00fe;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span>8am EST on Wednesday, January 3rd 2024</span><span> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">and will run through Friday January 5th 2024 at</span></span><span><b style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </b><span><b style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span>11:59pm EST!</span></b></span></span></span></div></span><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"> If you log on to shop right at 8am EST, there will be a virtual queue line to wait in to prevent website crashes. Sometimes I luck out and get in to shop within 5-10 minutes. A few times it's been the opposite and I've had to wait over two hours. Usually it's about a 20-30 minute wait. As exciting and fun as it can be to shop the sale right when it opens, don't worry if you're busy at that time and can't shop until later. There are hundreds of items in the Sunshine Sale! I guarantee you'll still be able to find many items you love in your desired size later on. Lilly also often adds new sale items on the second and third days of the sale, so stayed tuned on Thursday and Friday for new additions. Those usually happen late morning-mid afternoons on the later days!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Here are some categories of items that I find tend to sell out the fastest in past Sunshine Sales:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3Scr0Ol" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Anything luxletic (especially skorts and leggings)</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3NNAE74" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Pajamas</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3tFIw3V" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Elsa tops and other silk top styles</a> </li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3NMaUs3" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Mila shifts and other classic shift styles</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3S1y9kh" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">Swimwear</a></li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Lilly's website will also be down starting late tonight (Tuesday) until the sale opens on tomorrow on Wednesday- so I <i>highly recommend</i> <a href="https://bit.ly/3unHOIk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">signing into your account</a> and updating your card info and mailing address if needed! It will make things much faster on Thursday morning for you. This is also a great time to join Lilly Pulitzer's <i>free rewards program </i>Club Lilly, if you aren't already a member! Your After Party Sale purchases will count towards future shopping rewards. </div></span></span><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Here are some of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer blog posts from years past:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3LxVsOX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Birthday Cake</a><br /></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3raSzwE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Most-Worn Lilly Pulitzer Items</a><br /></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/35KkLLU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2022 Lilly Pulitzer Try-On + Sizing Guide</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2UXOZ4H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4 Easy DIY Lilly Pulitzer Craft Ideas</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3iZ9OdM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Wear Your Lilly Day 2021</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.southernbelleintraining.com/2019/09/lilly-pulitzer-after-party-sale-my-5.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My 5 All-Time Favorite Lilly Pulitzer Looks</a><br /><br /></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Thank you from the bottom of my heart to <i>everyone</i> who shops the sale through clicking through links here on my blog! I use affiliate links on my blog, and each Lilly sale I have sales goals that I try to hit. Your support of my blog truly means the world to me, and I love sharing my love for Lilly Pulitzer with you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Have fun shopping!! Feel free to DM me on Instagram with any sale questions, or to share what you purchased!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> God Bless,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> xoxo Annaliese </span></div><div><br /></div></div></span></span>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-10496452015440100432023-12-29T05:00:00.007-05:002024-01-01T16:26:43.135-05:002023 in Review: Highlights From My Year.<p> How is it already time once again to write my favorite post of the year? I love taking the time to write and reflect on each year. Let's take a deep dive into all things 2023: the highs, the lows, the big moments and the everyday. This was certainly a memorable year! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8McROuHtlSeZ1hx6UiEgt2m9aulacy5rExxVVeOU28qUFoZUuELDQdguyndepQucSuJKAaThBfp4X9Ku-04n8rO1WcyfmtaGrblsVNCGP9WiGlmjSp2YaD4phIrhqzUpQ_aa9GHYFiEHWIX_Zw6Ek6DdwX-m5h3yw4dJpip_a6skh6mLIvP-73AJK7-w/s1152/2023%20Highlighs%20from%20my%20Year.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="859" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8McROuHtlSeZ1hx6UiEgt2m9aulacy5rExxVVeOU28qUFoZUuELDQdguyndepQucSuJKAaThBfp4X9Ku-04n8rO1WcyfmtaGrblsVNCGP9WiGlmjSp2YaD4phIrhqzUpQ_aa9GHYFiEHWIX_Zw6Ek6DdwX-m5h3yw4dJpip_a6skh6mLIvP-73AJK7-w/s16000/2023%20Highlighs%20from%20my%20Year.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Summary:</b></span></p><p> What an interesting year this has been! I would say that the first three quarters of the year were "okay," but the last three months of the year brought some truly incredible memories. 2023 is the year that I got engaged, which was <i>the best moment of my life</i>! But despite the fact that this year had what is currently the best moment of my life, it still wasn't one of my favorite years as a whole. 2022 was truly the best year of my life to date, and the majority of 2023 just didn't have quite the same sparkle or as many treasured memories overall as 2022 I hope that doesn't sound too negative! But writing these blog posts at the end of each year is my chance to truly be honest about how I have felt about the past 12 months. And overall, I've felt that 2023 was just an okay year, until the final three months.</p><p> Something that I kept thinking about over and over again this year is how Instagram and social media is <i>such </i>a highlight reel. To the outside eye, it probably did look like I had the best year of my life. And there definitely was good in 2023! (Getting engaged and moving in together, lots of travels, some fun career moments, etc). But people weren't seeing the constant anxiety, health stuff, really painful friendship moments that brought a lot of tears, struggles with the comparison game/jealousy, etc. I want to keep remembering in years to come that someone's online persona really is just a highlight reel, since I think I definitely learned that lesson for myself this year. </p><p> Also not sure where else in this blog post that this little update will fit- but after three and a half years as a blond, I went back to being brunette in 2023! I always saw myself with more natural brunette hair for my engagement photos and wedding someday, and I'm so glad I changed my hair back in 2023 since I ended up getting engaged this year! It feels good to be brunette again, although I did love my blond hair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4bxNGIFkDOvHAREbgH2eSKkJWi9gMUhLjaYKLR5Kw9_iCOoVES1DOZZ6NddcDz_F3XbRZ4PBfPJDQvIuut5UPt_u825LA18Loa1xucnWCN6TqjMr61sd9RoKSEhVmhdZuwnAE-zSY9vBYl0DZmRN0aZI1K3eQaUZhQNyJC0GN6hTC5CUb3wgRqL_6pk/s2048/IMG_4908%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4bxNGIFkDOvHAREbgH2eSKkJWi9gMUhLjaYKLR5Kw9_iCOoVES1DOZZ6NddcDz_F3XbRZ4PBfPJDQvIuut5UPt_u825LA18Loa1xucnWCN6TqjMr61sd9RoKSEhVmhdZuwnAE-zSY9vBYl0DZmRN0aZI1K3eQaUZhQNyJC0GN6hTC5CUb3wgRqL_6pk/s16000/IMG_4908%202.JPG" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Accomplishments: </b></span></p><p> A really fun career accomplishment happened just a few weeks ago near the end of this year. I was named to Radio Ink Magazine's 2023 30 Under 30 Radio Superstars list! I'm 29, so this was my final year of eligibility. Radio Ink is one of the premiere publications for my industry, and it's such an honor to have been chosen for this prestigious list amongst many of my 20-something radio peers. </p><p> And obviously... <i><a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">getting engaged</a></i>!! ππ What a long-awaited answer to years and years of prayers. It's been about six weeks now, and I still cannot believe it. It often still doesn't feel real. I truly wasn't expecting Ryan to propose in November 2023, and I was so certain the proposal would come sometime in 2024. What an incredible surprise and accomplishment to end this year as an engaged woman! </p><p> A less shiny accomplishment but one that is still important is that I went back to counseling for the first time in almost six years in September 2023. My anxiety was really starting to overtake various aspects of my life, and I knew it was time to do something about it. I have found a wonderful counselor who is really challenging my ways of thinking, which has been so great. I've seen counselors in the past for other things going on in my life, but I don't think I've ever tried to "put in the work" like I am now. I'm proud of myself! </p><p> Oh! One more funny little accomplishment. In my first year ever doing Fantasy Football, I made the semifinals for the playoffs and am on track to come in third or fourth in my league of 10 people. I was certain I'd be in last place since I knew nothing about football and had never done Fantasy before... but I actually started to pick up the hang of it, and won way more games than I thought I would. </p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUpDhUWGF7Y17Vrtt8cJRjU6kLBXl1a7tdHm83z1ZoN8wtL6Fy-WcRDPvuJh78NbvD_ULlQb_QIsy9X0Hb6qSnIB8S9YvEB2V9E6n12VDhVN-_TaNOq7TcRbAQ59tJzE9B8imjZrfRZfpJzsigWpWLyN4ECLVPotHW5Y7YIMeyAs_88Btgk2k0rrN4mQ/s1429/397065AB-39DE-43C4-A78B-F79B90099C60.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="1074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUpDhUWGF7Y17Vrtt8cJRjU6kLBXl1a7tdHm83z1ZoN8wtL6Fy-WcRDPvuJh78NbvD_ULlQb_QIsy9X0Hb6qSnIB8S9YvEB2V9E6n12VDhVN-_TaNOq7TcRbAQ59tJzE9B8imjZrfRZfpJzsigWpWLyN4ECLVPotHW5Y7YIMeyAs_88Btgk2k0rrN4mQ/s16000/397065AB-39DE-43C4-A78B-F79B90099C60.jpg" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ldN6uDisTrLZrmwBFNAVs9jkZ28CAAzLfrcCj07kmnCgT6AvZLOgElk260BsNYL9ZTeO0rxle0v2a7jUgJtoLPAhEJz4bEkfiXahJb7ODJTMTXPTlhGVOKnOzMR0TlR1XdN91y6L0J7CLeaoPAqqMpZgrkvVZjYX0JM15t8qMVNox4AjaWna4MYw-E8/s2048/SarahsCamera-1344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ldN6uDisTrLZrmwBFNAVs9jkZ28CAAzLfrcCj07kmnCgT6AvZLOgElk260BsNYL9ZTeO0rxle0v2a7jUgJtoLPAhEJz4bEkfiXahJb7ODJTMTXPTlhGVOKnOzMR0TlR1XdN91y6L0J7CLeaoPAqqMpZgrkvVZjYX0JM15t8qMVNox4AjaWna4MYw-E8/s16000/SarahsCamera-1344.jpg" /></a></div></i><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Travels:</b></span></p><p> 2023 brought the most travel opportunities that I have <i>ever</i> had in a calendar year! It's no secret that I love to travel, so I was really excited about a lot of these. I spent a total of 31 nights away from home this year! Most of these trips fell on weekends or long weekends. I don't get a lot of PTO at my job currently, so I have to be very smart about maximizing weekends. As great as many of these trips were, it definitely felt like way <i>too much</i> travel all back-to-back in the later half of the year. For 2024 I still want to have some fun trips to look forward to, but I'm hoping they're all much more spread out. But anyways, let's get into where I went: </p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3k6WZBh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nashville, TN - February</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORGu7rqQdBQgAh1wQyjWSZm7E2ta008o582NlQs9wfE4sqojG4Jx6JWWGmVDoc3b-cvvokb3IteagV6wJLwgAjZ0PG8Fmrp1tCvDajeSCy0gQJ3ogNy7hI7VPH31B0w4ajlEFMA2OXnh20vdzIWqzfHVSJGrXujwp8ADmyo3pqDOfvFZmvNt-hd82ffY/s4032/IMG_7430.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORGu7rqQdBQgAh1wQyjWSZm7E2ta008o582NlQs9wfE4sqojG4Jx6JWWGmVDoc3b-cvvokb3IteagV6wJLwgAjZ0PG8Fmrp1tCvDajeSCy0gQJ3ogNy7hI7VPH31B0w4ajlEFMA2OXnh20vdzIWqzfHVSJGrXujwp8ADmyo3pqDOfvFZmvNt-hd82ffY/s16000/IMG_7430.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3mUSGdd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Orlando, FL - March </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR_eb0LVdqdgdh40wZXcjDEBmEtu7PMOm3FPgXIb2s-P6orpYCjDhnYh1hq1oRGOgmhPmaoYDN5NGcGu0EIDis0B3gqnCdVOraMwc_tQUCtgAcybBOCYZ5_Ism2U_qvXCcfanbGwTC8-9MGmh5_mJbzlhI8AJzCTerlISO4MMl3J7QGflJ38LHrH93pQ/s4032/IMG_8182.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR_eb0LVdqdgdh40wZXcjDEBmEtu7PMOm3FPgXIb2s-P6orpYCjDhnYh1hq1oRGOgmhPmaoYDN5NGcGu0EIDis0B3gqnCdVOraMwc_tQUCtgAcybBOCYZ5_Ism2U_qvXCcfanbGwTC8-9MGmh5_mJbzlhI8AJzCTerlISO4MMl3J7QGflJ38LHrH93pQ/s16000/IMG_8182.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Houston/The Woodlands, TX - March </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxoVd5ptGYerlLQm5rgFRowlnbix81YgQ_E0_7QNAWTY26Z2sX0vJq_j-GyD4oVi7Y5hC_Un6RD_NhWVlAZSuQM7FFdnw_ptxs-L6Jim5s1fOg3pkV_CZTG7fkjaKEal8UcJawin1m70jPROi9i9zMUvruPbniU6qKh7ILcXi9NeZjY649qDWRfgtXNE/s4032/IMG_9050.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxoVd5ptGYerlLQm5rgFRowlnbix81YgQ_E0_7QNAWTY26Z2sX0vJq_j-GyD4oVi7Y5hC_Un6RD_NhWVlAZSuQM7FFdnw_ptxs-L6Jim5s1fOg3pkV_CZTG7fkjaKEal8UcJawin1m70jPROi9i9zMUvruPbniU6qKh7ILcXi9NeZjY649qDWRfgtXNE/s16000/IMG_9050.heic" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Richmond, VA - April</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0wR9wSxrRdVpg26USL2IYfw03ho-W-fbEP0Ntz3q0e73d2B61XSz1etwHdghJSYLRdVVNTPhwmsiiPPxb_loK1f8H0epvDv1FrGUU14T8rcCTdSIqztnbQrc1ONsZEdzoBqRoqSYp-659Jq5rK5q69e04AXNkFbMher5LaBztEBE02nLxR6IAaiXEuQ/s4032/IMG_9713.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0wR9wSxrRdVpg26USL2IYfw03ho-W-fbEP0Ntz3q0e73d2B61XSz1etwHdghJSYLRdVVNTPhwmsiiPPxb_loK1f8H0epvDv1FrGUU14T8rcCTdSIqztnbQrc1ONsZEdzoBqRoqSYp-659Jq5rK5q69e04AXNkFbMher5LaBztEBE02nLxR6IAaiXEuQ/s16000/IMG_9713.heic" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/440aqnw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - June</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEgtsYplFyQsRDtE8XDZEOvZj7qYeZuGjthcISw0bETAKgcf2FWSIu0do9i2I0ZGr9BO5phtIEgM9ADwCD6GPAcfsYgaGmAjk8XkritGGwxGCS6V3d3bBER7RadrUaMleJxI1pXHrBKKR3Ygk3db9PUfqqXxRbztULFPshz1e4KZ2PtdCIjpsMBlntUw/s4032/IMG_0966.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEgtsYplFyQsRDtE8XDZEOvZj7qYeZuGjthcISw0bETAKgcf2FWSIu0do9i2I0ZGr9BO5phtIEgM9ADwCD6GPAcfsYgaGmAjk8XkritGGwxGCS6V3d3bBER7RadrUaMleJxI1pXHrBKKR3Ygk3db9PUfqqXxRbztULFPshz1e4KZ2PtdCIjpsMBlntUw/s16000/IMG_0966.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KwGOao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greensboro, NC - August</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx09pjAQUMEuzgjaIQ4mQh-NGdpE7z6EQ8FpfH9TuD0Y_R4gZCeK_KW2XFT5BTuhEX1_enVWu5jojwOLacZV7gsI4WHp5X0oA4TT_10Z-VnriUI0vkKTla-yzg31Z_ISjikLNrSpT7JsmgqyB0Zip50lScYIabfUb6nqYMWmI4j3dCNBh_ZRDE-NJaoU/s4032/IMG_3018.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx09pjAQUMEuzgjaIQ4mQh-NGdpE7z6EQ8FpfH9TuD0Y_R4gZCeK_KW2XFT5BTuhEX1_enVWu5jojwOLacZV7gsI4WHp5X0oA4TT_10Z-VnriUI0vkKTla-yzg31Z_ISjikLNrSpT7JsmgqyB0Zip50lScYIabfUb6nqYMWmI4j3dCNBh_ZRDE-NJaoU/s16000/IMG_3018.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3Sqjj7p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charlottesville, VA (3 trips this year) - August, September, October</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVdccaG7tqcu1ZMFRDELiPBbZKWLpjnwelBQmxrPWlLs4j6Jf8CVbIyjxnD7qhLALDX_sa7HQguTli9gLWQc5bh07T054zf7YYoeDW_MuMvkSMBr1_H9zH1oSBXZ2ExXRDi48_7Hq1P2yXckXyKktgolCGMQyEZLS74m1c3Q9LOpnxMcAiViqmdRQqlo/s4032/IMG_5948.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVdccaG7tqcu1ZMFRDELiPBbZKWLpjnwelBQmxrPWlLs4j6Jf8CVbIyjxnD7qhLALDX_sa7HQguTli9gLWQc5bh07T054zf7YYoeDW_MuMvkSMBr1_H9zH1oSBXZ2ExXRDi48_7Hq1P2yXckXyKktgolCGMQyEZLS74m1c3Q9LOpnxMcAiViqmdRQqlo/s16000/IMG_5948.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Edenton, NC - August</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO2aR7XauDb2qqXQ9Ac33obL3ZxYOKT5ots27eorv9UtUsJwUSL22aggORKBTFhN-_oginkSbaeKjYk9nagHlspU52NgZtgnTOT5GjmmIUu8zvq05OhRXoYVxwUTOW95kIXTksPjmvHtyo_H07XpeExXcJfgyZhTLM09On9OdWJZwY4hYAk4rOf5gSks/s4032/IMG_3858.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO2aR7XauDb2qqXQ9Ac33obL3ZxYOKT5ots27eorv9UtUsJwUSL22aggORKBTFhN-_oginkSbaeKjYk9nagHlspU52NgZtgnTOT5GjmmIUu8zvq05OhRXoYVxwUTOW95kIXTksPjmvHtyo_H07XpeExXcJfgyZhTLM09On9OdWJZwY4hYAk4rOf5gSks/s16000/IMG_3858.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3rl8kRR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kennebunk, Maine - September</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh06T3yUzNMP6iW2E_WV3gphkLKk6VcOekfQxYUfOggREfivLTikjJqZvHFBHl4kT0jAwMBgdlVZ1WLbEQDxBYcJazKC_cW_6GYQ5026RQjWyWzT2FXrWZL3kCgOEJqNz61z9aCrWDhyphenhyphenVjmhUolU5Za5pVP0VgOUOqGlZuU1glye0K80h07kK8f4cZpX8/s4032/IMG_4156%202.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh06T3yUzNMP6iW2E_WV3gphkLKk6VcOekfQxYUfOggREfivLTikjJqZvHFBHl4kT0jAwMBgdlVZ1WLbEQDxBYcJazKC_cW_6GYQ5026RQjWyWzT2FXrWZL3kCgOEJqNz61z9aCrWDhyphenhyphenVjmhUolU5Za5pVP0VgOUOqGlZuU1glye0K80h07kK8f4cZpX8/s16000/IMG_4156%202.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Charleston, SC - October</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbCoFNAI4QivfCI25qbNDklQ1NIjnSrTLNj9BnE5LGULLRAadnrbpw7mk5pIQUPxvd_8NE-8Git-KTV8pjX5DaN94fiLmY3ezeleN74YmiPLIuvlEdjJmY1pVA8aCHKguZnGmuQ16IDux5xDRhr_yGQZZWTUZg38_iaFWZ46siwthnAamPtPWFMD9yyo/s4032/IMG_5165.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbCoFNAI4QivfCI25qbNDklQ1NIjnSrTLNj9BnE5LGULLRAadnrbpw7mk5pIQUPxvd_8NE-8Git-KTV8pjX5DaN94fiLmY3ezeleN74YmiPLIuvlEdjJmY1pVA8aCHKguZnGmuQ16IDux5xDRhr_yGQZZWTUZg38_iaFWZ46siwthnAamPtPWFMD9yyo/s16000/IMG_5165.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3Qp8AIU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Memphis, TN - October</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk4RJdZVj0XsMtWhyXLEikHg6j6xHfNokC_g1tFailv-VylAjZE2uKs0_9sGX591WDNDzDlJuLyonaJSIi8-2WxjqmPi2jJrPTAe4pPk17QeV6a78RNhfGYPFHhhQStK4yHfPRtGd0bGB2KhNFRModJkcY_4EadaaJntJmqumPzYZNNYJtQoy_xf_lZM/s4032/IMG_5547.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk4RJdZVj0XsMtWhyXLEikHg6j6xHfNokC_g1tFailv-VylAjZE2uKs0_9sGX591WDNDzDlJuLyonaJSIi8-2WxjqmPi2jJrPTAe4pPk17QeV6a78RNhfGYPFHhhQStK4yHfPRtGd0bGB2KhNFRModJkcY_4EadaaJntJmqumPzYZNNYJtQoy_xf_lZM/s16000/IMG_5547.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3SHOATA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">St. Pete, FL - November </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj8kYvr5U074LoR3BTqHiH0jc2KoNQnbvkgh9X90JtAr8kKQgGFnO4MZ434zfozoTqr3_cxfAub21ZU8JbeliIok-OXG_-xP-ACrEr7dCuj5O6R7VtcdctrvCZ7ZUtXyG2tVy22UcvK8xACQqvkFH7sI2TQBGGvNy8nun2UjyNO8RqVyUQ8afniaeLCo/s4032/IMG_6850.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj8kYvr5U074LoR3BTqHiH0jc2KoNQnbvkgh9X90JtAr8kKQgGFnO4MZ434zfozoTqr3_cxfAub21ZU8JbeliIok-OXG_-xP-ACrEr7dCuj5O6R7VtcdctrvCZ7ZUtXyG2tVy22UcvK8xACQqvkFH7sI2TQBGGvNy8nun2UjyNO8RqVyUQ8afniaeLCo/s16000/IMG_6850.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Visitors:</b></span></p><p> Moving in the middle of summer and traveling so often meant I had a lot less visitors than normal this year, but I am glad that my parents and a good friend did get to visit! </p><p> Mom - May </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfViJhHoGxK1w4pvezGZ_Upc1ATVgbhGve4CfrkDhKOc7kMj8CznAVyt4KqKBWDzRUt-QFezrFKcD3faSNvgfSE_P5d_pkttOxieVvrVfJ0kZyyryrUW2Aj3InC8j1OPgr3p_gErMTgAXUOBk15p6Ejae8X-JJMBW2VQJqeHVbYpTWCXmsJhkjGDoIyw/s4032/IMG_0135.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfViJhHoGxK1w4pvezGZ_Upc1ATVgbhGve4CfrkDhKOc7kMj8CznAVyt4KqKBWDzRUt-QFezrFKcD3faSNvgfSE_P5d_pkttOxieVvrVfJ0kZyyryrUW2Aj3InC8j1OPgr3p_gErMTgAXUOBk15p6Ejae8X-JJMBW2VQJqeHVbYpTWCXmsJhkjGDoIyw/s16000/IMG_0135.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Dad - September</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZjPutpQJRbeP-c6ew4stLfK244N66Ym9bhPWFmG9S0vXz4FQ51uCYwAU6KB1dCbz8BCHyXSi3ZwPOKdikQEym_3nr68CSD-qrb6rCEOt3iAMuUsu8vYPzAeCHQYsBXSwnrbeHDRa0nD2K6-wUut2VZkDkoLyE25CA3JN0IF4hfdlPmf3u8lkICVtgM/s3088/IMG_4587.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZjPutpQJRbeP-c6ew4stLfK244N66Ym9bhPWFmG9S0vXz4FQ51uCYwAU6KB1dCbz8BCHyXSi3ZwPOKdikQEym_3nr68CSD-qrb6rCEOt3iAMuUsu8vYPzAeCHQYsBXSwnrbeHDRa0nD2K6-wUut2VZkDkoLyE25CA3JN0IF4hfdlPmf3u8lkICVtgM/s16000/IMG_4587.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Emily - June </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpVSmTNG7PV3CkyY4JIw5mAvAtEAnseS8Z9PbBcvPkYFeve8GY8ujyHmLlusHimNrm-DPEmY2glZUF5AC9PW6litgaH1rROy61rz0OxO1JJnihtv2b_wHBQlZEq7NCciLrtuQYISrc0Sd3Cin9Rru0WGS3DaPfQcdfgJ71aQexp_Ax5iH7oG62Nd7ItE/s4032/IMG_1298.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpVSmTNG7PV3CkyY4JIw5mAvAtEAnseS8Z9PbBcvPkYFeve8GY8ujyHmLlusHimNrm-DPEmY2glZUF5AC9PW6litgaH1rROy61rz0OxO1JJnihtv2b_wHBQlZEq7NCciLrtuQYISrc0Sd3Cin9Rru0WGS3DaPfQcdfgJ71aQexp_Ax5iH7oG62Nd7ItE/s16000/IMG_1298.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Winter Memories:</b></span></p><p> Unfortunately, 2023 didn't get off to the best start. Ryan and I had a cancelled weekend trip during the first weekend of the year, and then Ryan's dog Arrow tragically passed away sooner than expected from a brain tumor on January 12th. She was only five years old, and he had been expecting to have at least three more months with her. But the tumor progressed too quickly. Shortly after Ryan's dog passed in late January, my hip bursitis pain started. I wasn't properly diagnosed with bursitis until March, so the first two months of the year were quite long and painful for me. I didn't travel much at the start of the year, but in February I did go to Nashville for my best friend Ciera's bachelorette trip. I planned the entire trip in 2022, and it was fun to see it all come to fruition (although it did suck to be in so much hip pain on the whole trip). We also had our Mass Wedding event at work on Valentine's Day (quite literally a mass wedding where multiple couples get married) which was a hoot. One highlight though is that it was a very mild winter! No snow at all in Virginia Beach, and really pleasant weather most days. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8QcgbZuTlR2xNEauLCbThQ8HVXh877fUW1JMutC0eL8Gn2pc0ZFGATWHCD_Y88BXC2IFrREXwewmxF_aKeNnTkQhfaVERZzVMCem40dobD2jeaZwPfhN_hcO8LwUYN3kqYu7PMt90Dx7c_R9E6NxGDe3wOuezhpJSbRrj61zYABZiKQkmOj_0go2UKo/s3600/IMG_6852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8QcgbZuTlR2xNEauLCbThQ8HVXh877fUW1JMutC0eL8Gn2pc0ZFGATWHCD_Y88BXC2IFrREXwewmxF_aKeNnTkQhfaVERZzVMCem40dobD2jeaZwPfhN_hcO8LwUYN3kqYu7PMt90Dx7c_R9E6NxGDe3wOuezhpJSbRrj61zYABZiKQkmOj_0go2UKo/s16000/IMG_6852.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXp1VTtO757_qyo1tvEigwhKRNC4aJhRTzgumUNiXKXuqPjSeGAWDP6NEXpSKtYrVp8_5ojAhjstjCIFeCNAyoll3PSwJ8piKgXr-sZsfVgUXjjAzrn8h2ZiQ1CVgTjfUyJk-77uFAXIiPWD46TpJFTQh4uNjzofYaGnr5esCHDG39ffJF4dmZdun1k8/s4032/IMG_7128.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXp1VTtO757_qyo1tvEigwhKRNC4aJhRTzgumUNiXKXuqPjSeGAWDP6NEXpSKtYrVp8_5ojAhjstjCIFeCNAyoll3PSwJ8piKgXr-sZsfVgUXjjAzrn8h2ZiQ1CVgTjfUyJk-77uFAXIiPWD46TpJFTQh4uNjzofYaGnr5esCHDG39ffJF4dmZdun1k8/s16000/IMG_7128.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANJgWTqLkH-e_ug50q0AVKjtpHXiZViU4AYwifFjr-hzKug18hRE9dHZxawT3K_bbO4E57b56kr4tFFsX4FXE_J1aXDacw6OPAQJTCyHq8MHNK9KcTKucBO-W-JkQWSjbS02IkAvYJEbyJt-kCmVNF72JO9Yw0XBd_wGppYUAQnfm-ctvTFZOTBnSz44/s4032/IMG_7392.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANJgWTqLkH-e_ug50q0AVKjtpHXiZViU4AYwifFjr-hzKug18hRE9dHZxawT3K_bbO4E57b56kr4tFFsX4FXE_J1aXDacw6OPAQJTCyHq8MHNK9KcTKucBO-W-JkQWSjbS02IkAvYJEbyJt-kCmVNF72JO9Yw0XBd_wGppYUAQnfm-ctvTFZOTBnSz44/s16000/IMG_7392.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76tBmvw6doEvEYvU95KsurtfP9xhd_yp0nlV4iVvIiW0iV7heM0AdpugAyhDBIAqYD2EDwKtnvH3wSG08K0gOS3ERWUYcgwQ74pg-v7lKZK9ecQfVDYwAdEus9jkYEIkH3EZ1F22D4fdmx69vo1y0BAo9UGgIJV_JjoEIGUSgWxqDrnB_JxIYAqkMI5M/s4032/IMG_7503.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76tBmvw6doEvEYvU95KsurtfP9xhd_yp0nlV4iVvIiW0iV7heM0AdpugAyhDBIAqYD2EDwKtnvH3wSG08K0gOS3ERWUYcgwQ74pg-v7lKZK9ecQfVDYwAdEus9jkYEIkH3EZ1F22D4fdmx69vo1y0BAo9UGgIJV_JjoEIGUSgWxqDrnB_JxIYAqkMI5M/s16000/IMG_7503.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyeaxxsW-RRcWtNY6AjEyqL_4Dg0e64ORiU_77aFGXUu7Qcj97juZ4Kr6DUTH5PrcL9-Gt7dhN8Fw4uP8EJiP0q818q11EDN1rJTQ0YYvrmsHhqRQWEla-LemLpBCyzQ4dmsgjBssq5XjKkjYAIfvnHPkPeqGgEE3ntSQko4yOfOhqDAFMOW9Ed9uRlo/s4032/IMG_9467.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyeaxxsW-RRcWtNY6AjEyqL_4Dg0e64ORiU_77aFGXUu7Qcj97juZ4Kr6DUTH5PrcL9-Gt7dhN8Fw4uP8EJiP0q818q11EDN1rJTQ0YYvrmsHhqRQWEla-LemLpBCyzQ4dmsgjBssq5XjKkjYAIfvnHPkPeqGgEE3ntSQko4yOfOhqDAFMOW9Ed9uRlo/s16000/IMG_9467.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Spring Memories:</b></span></p><p> Spring was better than winter overall. Although I was still dealing with my bursitis, I was finally on a medicine regiment that was helping with pain management, and I also started physical therapy. March brought my favorite trip of the year! Ryan and I went to Orlando and Winter Park, FL for his 30th birthday, and it was just the best. There were also two fun love related milestones for dear friends. Ryan and I got to help with our friends Emily and Luke's proposal surprise here in Virginia Beach, and my best friend Ciera and her husband Patrick got married in an untraditional and intimate celebration in Texas that I attended at the end of March. Ryan and I also celebrated <a href="https://bit.ly/3AF7QXJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our first anniversary</a> on April 24th! Things seemed to be on the up and up, but then I got hit with <a href="https://bit.ly/3O93eiY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a health scare</a> that started in April. That brought a lot of uncertainty and also a lot more medical bills on top of what I was already dealing with for my hip. Unfortunately, I think I let this steal a lot of my joy in the spring months. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyS2fqX-GYWE07v8Vl13lJKi_p467fqPOHR_5eaLyIHOOnlVomU9FTgS37xIo7HCCRWrwKtHWuOviSz2enOGyVjKy9BjCYokt3wEtUnoYK_Z6_oWelBZSxsSJuY3hDTiv8BpqtskhEuwFkTPrr1AiuVMqDLOHGxa63nlMa5dD-z0tWKpAeR_VCfhY4iCQ/s4032/IMG_8230.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyS2fqX-GYWE07v8Vl13lJKi_p467fqPOHR_5eaLyIHOOnlVomU9FTgS37xIo7HCCRWrwKtHWuOviSz2enOGyVjKy9BjCYokt3wEtUnoYK_Z6_oWelBZSxsSJuY3hDTiv8BpqtskhEuwFkTPrr1AiuVMqDLOHGxa63nlMa5dD-z0tWKpAeR_VCfhY4iCQ/s16000/IMG_8230.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6NpHqC0h0wKWei9b2ZCFH415rk4BEFmuDUpMR7yki2Ue-LP0Ira38uzBO70QGFOuZVPyTha1gSkm8Gf1wrneKlWipf0FmBovBsdho6jLRIfgddTkvkrVEVsw7tZuiELl9Vv-p56MTL9ZKzrTx5_BvLilyk_RCxblhVQnuZkqfwA0XgBXTSQD57Zdhnk/s4032/IMG_8389.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6NpHqC0h0wKWei9b2ZCFH415rk4BEFmuDUpMR7yki2Ue-LP0Ira38uzBO70QGFOuZVPyTha1gSkm8Gf1wrneKlWipf0FmBovBsdho6jLRIfgddTkvkrVEVsw7tZuiELl9Vv-p56MTL9ZKzrTx5_BvLilyk_RCxblhVQnuZkqfwA0XgBXTSQD57Zdhnk/s16000/IMG_8389.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB1blo7sAzd3CJ-wsOzVitE2qCTTe3pNgzDi8Mzf2ieebqr6Z0hDs6M8Ys-yVvxNC2KpK6ZMv3NekdU2h4NKyHjcbop8IqhdFh6atpnteXBE1tdDxZWjNpSjZt1iBHK18UivSd5HR7SOVYDuuGny9SSW2PbTeEcrNf7aHL8PG4U6d780yymi2E27tPQI/s4032/IMG_8543.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB1blo7sAzd3CJ-wsOzVitE2qCTTe3pNgzDi8Mzf2ieebqr6Z0hDs6M8Ys-yVvxNC2KpK6ZMv3NekdU2h4NKyHjcbop8IqhdFh6atpnteXBE1tdDxZWjNpSjZt1iBHK18UivSd5HR7SOVYDuuGny9SSW2PbTeEcrNf7aHL8PG4U6d780yymi2E27tPQI/s16000/IMG_8543.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEbGOq1xzZysb26BoUrz_KTY8V7qFLlTXiIy82E4_GbwKj_wA8BJmvLl-zw16D3HOAU7xSdGw8OaAlb8sMWuUrFYeiWuaBQqsuwBdOsepZsr-FfUMY_w0-Wsi-iOhnb1nSySNZ4Ly9PeQSZjN_e66Kb-Mjd058Auyo9qCk7BsfLMAEjFA-wvzFBw82gA/s1653/IMG_0212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEbGOq1xzZysb26BoUrz_KTY8V7qFLlTXiIy82E4_GbwKj_wA8BJmvLl-zw16D3HOAU7xSdGw8OaAlb8sMWuUrFYeiWuaBQqsuwBdOsepZsr-FfUMY_w0-Wsi-iOhnb1nSySNZ4Ly9PeQSZjN_e66Kb-Mjd058Auyo9qCk7BsfLMAEjFA-wvzFBw82gA/s16000/IMG_0212.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24kXKxOeYQ_ixBd-mGGWPOOElBY7kIw1f_qoVRQ8bVLFm3jfjd5fdXerHajvoebOKGh3L3PuyCm-K0bg3Q7tDxexpl5CjmMlUg4C4BDny5nrX-9ruAJPgMBHmKdxGwRpnpjSManoGYAaZakMrwmQF69UZN8gzwmtQgt-fPuSRBZZAMBsg_vP4K30WdOA/s4032/IMG_9981%202.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24kXKxOeYQ_ixBd-mGGWPOOElBY7kIw1f_qoVRQ8bVLFm3jfjd5fdXerHajvoebOKGh3L3PuyCm-K0bg3Q7tDxexpl5CjmMlUg4C4BDny5nrX-9ruAJPgMBHmKdxGwRpnpjSManoGYAaZakMrwmQF69UZN8gzwmtQgt-fPuSRBZZAMBsg_vP4K30WdOA/s16000/IMG_9981%202.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Summer Memories:</b></span></p><p> Summer was <i>busy</i>! June 2023 was the busiest month that I have ever had for my career. I had so many concerts and so many other work events. I also took on some new responsibilities at work in June. I moved in with Ryan on July 7th. The move itself was really stressful since it fell during such a busy time at work. But settling in and living with Ryan has gone very smoothly and better than I think either of us were expecting! It didn't take long for the apartment to really feel like home. Just when work started to calm down in August, my life got really busy. I ended up being out of town for three consecutive weekends in August! One summer highlight in July was going to H2OBX waterpark with three couples that we have become good friends with. It was so much fun to do rides and swim and feel like kids again! While I wasn't back to golfing yet due to my hip bursitis, my friend Amanda and I did attend a professional golf tournament in North Carolina, which got me really excited to play again sometime soon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR3RRe2J05CMwSQO-wp9m5piGhBhDv9vWh8Ioco5MlOg-UHJ7HODT66zx7rqrg-is1JEnJnWK4Ut5RktQOFZQzbWlw1WgAm3H8wqTTPhwxSvVEX9VNGdqYvvoeoVt22u5Etb01dsYpWDe3rfFdQP3_XUEdqyNPc1PBGRe5kpv89QIi7uJlT4NdULn_y0/s3088/IMG_1475%202.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR3RRe2J05CMwSQO-wp9m5piGhBhDv9vWh8Ioco5MlOg-UHJ7HODT66zx7rqrg-is1JEnJnWK4Ut5RktQOFZQzbWlw1WgAm3H8wqTTPhwxSvVEX9VNGdqYvvoeoVt22u5Etb01dsYpWDe3rfFdQP3_XUEdqyNPc1PBGRe5kpv89QIi7uJlT4NdULn_y0/s16000/IMG_1475%202.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7xqhLInahrk0-t2-NARlROK_h46rL1rR87DkTJiMAQXbv0b4zqj9EpohmCrzo5ps9NCr8ml1sKKi3DDdwNxgh1CoHqDsTwEX-4wtLhKiTvuQIUvC-Jjglfkn5wjw6alKumKSk-yk1t9d5a0s-uzQUh5dsHWM-K8QNWtgdlELtHnqsmYxVTNzAPUOphM/s4032/IMG_1771.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7xqhLInahrk0-t2-NARlROK_h46rL1rR87DkTJiMAQXbv0b4zqj9EpohmCrzo5ps9NCr8ml1sKKi3DDdwNxgh1CoHqDsTwEX-4wtLhKiTvuQIUvC-Jjglfkn5wjw6alKumKSk-yk1t9d5a0s-uzQUh5dsHWM-K8QNWtgdlELtHnqsmYxVTNzAPUOphM/s16000/IMG_1771.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFU4e7HVc8SFxKRlaGENCS8XZd84RutRPVkpeFW8Vv9D4yUI5JoMVtekkNg9KmBvstEV-q8xz9_v_vLv4XYIvOKSMhGMMHAv30JXX70pR8XPaT7odnb2ehJaNWyvcRRju5-PxhuXR2TRsJZ5EFULeBp_kS5sFmVe4nCi8Hdf3UGBDyY_3FM-2jcl_Jqg/s4032/IMG_2447.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFU4e7HVc8SFxKRlaGENCS8XZd84RutRPVkpeFW8Vv9D4yUI5JoMVtekkNg9KmBvstEV-q8xz9_v_vLv4XYIvOKSMhGMMHAv30JXX70pR8XPaT7odnb2ehJaNWyvcRRju5-PxhuXR2TRsJZ5EFULeBp_kS5sFmVe4nCi8Hdf3UGBDyY_3FM-2jcl_Jqg/s16000/IMG_2447.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggybda6CPd2rV5JhPXj_1wKWVh9YLeU7hJczJyaLAYZPnRIyc9LOwKIOCslwSeH2yyy4NXaDHkVfH7PiQQl0NfFrjxJAIz-UYJQoO7TlaEVYm1UJ2uqZQsOy6PVmtnJ50we45Wux4xybqNSNLVAc9fAA1NLljcRzMR2F-_Ad8iRsx9qLukFLcFNofJ-mQ/s4032/IMG_2567.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggybda6CPd2rV5JhPXj_1wKWVh9YLeU7hJczJyaLAYZPnRIyc9LOwKIOCslwSeH2yyy4NXaDHkVfH7PiQQl0NfFrjxJAIz-UYJQoO7TlaEVYm1UJ2uqZQsOy6PVmtnJ50we45Wux4xybqNSNLVAc9fAA1NLljcRzMR2F-_Ad8iRsx9qLukFLcFNofJ-mQ/s16000/IMG_2567.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgxcxRgfPS4UGLnGGjVAfuprqIPBQQbiqJSV_v47rES8W8TmImZ_9DR5PKV7NNzJcOho6X4XptXry83dmBaA1zNemAqJfjIwdIejlhNQQCcX9E4b92kwIUUaLY9GjQ4FjxDADEgwrK8UM9PCEBuMeGNtdI6wZZ4EKJYTnL1z8D764TbZ37WzsopETdDk/s4032/IMG_3032.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgxcxRgfPS4UGLnGGjVAfuprqIPBQQbiqJSV_v47rES8W8TmImZ_9DR5PKV7NNzJcOho6X4XptXry83dmBaA1zNemAqJfjIwdIejlhNQQCcX9E4b92kwIUUaLY9GjQ4FjxDADEgwrK8UM9PCEBuMeGNtdI6wZZ4EKJYTnL1z8D764TbZ37WzsopETdDk/s16000/IMG_3032.heic" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Fall Memories:</b></span></p><p> Fall was my favorite quarter of the year for 2023, but it was <i>busy.</i> I was gone for two weekends in September and three weekends in October. As much as I love to travel, I got very burned out by the end of October. I really want to try to avoid back-to-back trips in 2024 after how I felt this fall. But with that said, all of the trips were for fun reasons! And I do feel lucky to have had some cool weekend trip experiences this fall. A real highlight of the fall was finally being healed enough from my hip bursitis to resume physical fitness! I got back into golf and took some lessons again, and decided to make fitness classes a regular part of my routine again. I did Jazzercise in Charlottesville and loved it, and in September I finally joined a local Jazzercise studio here in Virginia Beach. Being able to work out again hasn't just been good for my body, but it's also been so good for my mental health. Speaking of mental health, after noticing my anxiety getting really out of hand earlier in the year, I started counseling in September with a wonderful counselor. I've already noticed it helping my anxiety so much, and helping me form better boundaries about various things.</p><p> Much to my shock and surprise, Ryan and I got engaged on November 19th. What a joy to spend the final six weeks of 2023 engaged to the love of my life! The end of 2023 brought hosting my third annual Favorite Things Christmas Party, and lots of time with Ryan's family for the holidays. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxB7JOgUc3Tx0hjBTNX07leHl-vK7LffvuhzMCWD-8Df0rER5rxIL0tU5dt-zacJdgjs_uzkyxPxPp_A90ZhL5tV2hk6ABUu3aCTj2cBFudJY2YPPRFUWDbBIATOd1HCyQXOBh_wB5L8_UlTKUntPHQ2LUuxpn6mc_c9qNNsdtCfsRttGe1aR_taMLPg/s4032/IMG_4529.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxB7JOgUc3Tx0hjBTNX07leHl-vK7LffvuhzMCWD-8Df0rER5rxIL0tU5dt-zacJdgjs_uzkyxPxPp_A90ZhL5tV2hk6ABUu3aCTj2cBFudJY2YPPRFUWDbBIATOd1HCyQXOBh_wB5L8_UlTKUntPHQ2LUuxpn6mc_c9qNNsdtCfsRttGe1aR_taMLPg/s16000/IMG_4529.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTvUnZVcvMOqYdcTg8v73FIZvoBYrFriIxiwQgIxG4gejKbN6m973J1HumDgnK2YXEL6ujN4Z4RHjPwj9og11s2o7gbVZgjzzoOcCBuKIeIVPvuOh0ys2dUHOkeTEO1-aN3Ml7GC4tJQ4B4yqe3ruHJlqUJRrxXfeJcHXIf2nzIhi_lGc973KSC0Io0Y/s4032/IMG_5043.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTvUnZVcvMOqYdcTg8v73FIZvoBYrFriIxiwQgIxG4gejKbN6m973J1HumDgnK2YXEL6ujN4Z4RHjPwj9og11s2o7gbVZgjzzoOcCBuKIeIVPvuOh0ys2dUHOkeTEO1-aN3Ml7GC4tJQ4B4yqe3ruHJlqUJRrxXfeJcHXIf2nzIhi_lGc973KSC0Io0Y/s16000/IMG_5043.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wsp_blVDumPh4AmzgMWfI7h86WzHcvyXBZrG6mCqcCtKLYID3o_4eY-8MLsFbJVSTgetkrZRycifxcQ2P1rm9aAXrIRwz1gj2FGWUHF3KodjPuYJSh8BrPQ56jUXBsQNzu_uRfJi-KCcRFzH5CUYIalkM6EezfB8X1muXdfX8Sfneh_iqPIiXdlknII/s4032/IMG_5155.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wsp_blVDumPh4AmzgMWfI7h86WzHcvyXBZrG6mCqcCtKLYID3o_4eY-8MLsFbJVSTgetkrZRycifxcQ2P1rm9aAXrIRwz1gj2FGWUHF3KodjPuYJSh8BrPQ56jUXBsQNzu_uRfJi-KCcRFzH5CUYIalkM6EezfB8X1muXdfX8Sfneh_iqPIiXdlknII/s16000/IMG_5155.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrfVM84fDXBX8qNnCMwBfNS1qzndBFXZewtJJMl1HEiRhrWRAKFgVAzLwJqFS2xXNFMFnmumoUePeIMzRa8i1pQyBys_l721TeWz_yrT0pgC_PDpN6T434aPmfKEg5X4vNBzFOabf0t8thnL8El9NvVt8YaNCUcfcOOSOS8bhZrn98zK-mp-Ge8Rt-vo/s3814/Facetune_20-10-2023-16-57-47.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="2860" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrfVM84fDXBX8qNnCMwBfNS1qzndBFXZewtJJMl1HEiRhrWRAKFgVAzLwJqFS2xXNFMFnmumoUePeIMzRa8i1pQyBys_l721TeWz_yrT0pgC_PDpN6T434aPmfKEg5X4vNBzFOabf0t8thnL8El9NvVt8YaNCUcfcOOSOS8bhZrn98zK-mp-Ge8Rt-vo/s16000/Facetune_20-10-2023-16-57-47.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVovgnavmtcRh8s1RNY7DFfw4l7KXwPM5Qzt8h4sn5lTAjUoqqDidUwTB-IFkw20HVsZ29OMfFAliW3U2uj90xd0YGdP0So2ZduLCDH_86dFGZs-ZFBCkJUgF7vodSVC9bigd4qndW6meJXdLOA88Z_M_IFuwnYP70-32MTI-E3OuxMi0i2j346i9HDGM/s1822/DSC_8518%202.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="1301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVovgnavmtcRh8s1RNY7DFfw4l7KXwPM5Qzt8h4sn5lTAjUoqqDidUwTB-IFkw20HVsZ29OMfFAliW3U2uj90xd0YGdP0So2ZduLCDH_86dFGZs-ZFBCkJUgF7vodSVC9bigd4qndW6meJXdLOA88Z_M_IFuwnYP70-32MTI-E3OuxMi0i2j346i9HDGM/s16000/DSC_8518%202.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Weddings:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span><b style="font-size: large;"> </b>2023 97.3 The Eagle Mass Wedding - February (<i>My radio station held a mass wedding event for 14 couples on Valentine's Day this year!) </i></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4assLZjUAO9N-7XrNG2DymRdnvutTGHewli-GsSc9rg3UUEry8ilXfylx-Ak9iKySW5rQorARp3ObSLCKjih5mYqCS9WS4Z51B7iS1ZbMSQVNM0nEelQa7dd96xXQmCGpbmcCkHsXAYEEg1ep1NZQio_pVibLKhuPBRvTtjAQTlToXPrQxp8qwFVK7O0/s960/329952638_1001289150849351_8447907514401572061_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4assLZjUAO9N-7XrNG2DymRdnvutTGHewli-GsSc9rg3UUEry8ilXfylx-Ak9iKySW5rQorARp3ObSLCKjih5mYqCS9WS4Z51B7iS1ZbMSQVNM0nEelQa7dd96xXQmCGpbmcCkHsXAYEEg1ep1NZQio_pVibLKhuPBRvTtjAQTlToXPrQxp8qwFVK7O0/s16000/329952638_1001289150849351_8447907514401572061_n.jpg" /></a></span></div><span><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p> Ciera and Patrick - March (<i>Ciera is one of my best friends! They had a small and untraditional wedding with only a few guests, so it was an honor to be one of the few.)</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONRm1Lk7uUMuUKEwh3OroqSzdHGhmWoYymuvgstQuD4FJFgD54gRi2YAnr5PO7M_DP_hVkoOZ6DV-ZwAEFdwqe8Rizg5C0fhQmWNQyLpeAvbO0vPWL2aWU98N1TDqVWXBEmnimU499dkhjRumjneiKRet6ew731jYp77zXhKbxwkbJVUVd128D_AGCrM/s4032/IMG_9077.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONRm1Lk7uUMuUKEwh3OroqSzdHGhmWoYymuvgstQuD4FJFgD54gRi2YAnr5PO7M_DP_hVkoOZ6DV-ZwAEFdwqe8Rizg5C0fhQmWNQyLpeAvbO0vPWL2aWU98N1TDqVWXBEmnimU499dkhjRumjneiKRet6ew731jYp77zXhKbxwkbJVUVd128D_AGCrM/s16000/IMG_9077.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> Rachel and Daniel - October (<i>Rachel is Ryan's cousin)</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKTr7WPqaUac6qprh9HCyTSMCh6ToNfCvrNczrNeb3nYVCNBl1aRZZYja5pdYqfIw110ZFD4CyJ4Kqict0zDmeaK2SW4e2dZd0sPgvfbuEBlUXnGprl3wFVtTjTZjMQ0zd5pxemknoqWt_2OL07goHMiq88WnHr24k-mAqTC-HVugw-8NXuftriEMrJ0/s4032/IMG_5272.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKTr7WPqaUac6qprh9HCyTSMCh6ToNfCvrNczrNeb3nYVCNBl1aRZZYja5pdYqfIw110ZFD4CyJ4Kqict0zDmeaK2SW4e2dZd0sPgvfbuEBlUXnGprl3wFVtTjTZjMQ0zd5pxemknoqWt_2OL07goHMiq88WnHr24k-mAqTC-HVugw-8NXuftriEMrJ0/s16000/IMG_5272.heic" /></a></div><br /><p><i><br /></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2023 Concerts:</b></span></p><p> Chase Rice - April</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11DbNGQUJoTplxPz5ZlHPy3xAbnIvw_KURVg5L_9u_IPUZKTVttEnYI7iZA5ttTiVxLDJ5hTBfowcI38fDucyZOhLGME5Laq3fMYVL4EH8sRI9NTqLxXTZAK2NOG3v7Awr3lF4BX42WBj_nMy46hyz6Oxj8qo9A_3egoTQJDaROc9Gon53MC7v3N9JMw/s4032/IMG_9479.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11DbNGQUJoTplxPz5ZlHPy3xAbnIvw_KURVg5L_9u_IPUZKTVttEnYI7iZA5ttTiVxLDJ5hTBfowcI38fDucyZOhLGME5Laq3fMYVL4EH8sRI9NTqLxXTZAK2NOG3v7Awr3lF4BX42WBj_nMy46hyz6Oxj8qo9A_3egoTQJDaROc9Gon53MC7v3N9JMw/s16000/IMG_9479.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu6Ilr_onBBGe60efKXlYBzTQSiDtyd_Jf_JjSJo4U_wrmZ5TcY8e2TN9morA0bklc6LimArLQaCX58KC8cKobaxsf8vjsZNKHxFp5O4EE0Bb_GpL0QtXmOtQ5-5_B01NSloTnM96LA4BQ_xF4V4Co4ifgxQyj_sza-cXPmEj8JCtadyww7dGmTKyJlU/s4032/IMG_9487.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu6Ilr_onBBGe60efKXlYBzTQSiDtyd_Jf_JjSJo4U_wrmZ5TcY8e2TN9morA0bklc6LimArLQaCX58KC8cKobaxsf8vjsZNKHxFp5O4EE0Bb_GpL0QtXmOtQ5-5_B01NSloTnM96LA4BQ_xF4V4Co4ifgxQyj_sza-cXPmEj8JCtadyww7dGmTKyJlU/s16000/IMG_9487.HEIC" /></a></div><p> </p><p> Beach It! Country Music Festival (Performances I got to watch: Kip Moore, Riley Green, JoDee Messina, Cole Swindell and Thomas Rhett) - June </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquZ7fOT33UE6N74BZHi_Lm_60LsHjof-warMd5YURV44qCkIKoIZEwLHkNTHugQ2jZe1gJZxj_gEt9GDU9eQHmlCR3oAnWUC36pHauc5NS9HGOA-pn12teY46AM11mIF2WEUjD1OGNFewv40EWxeETGmgAl5qyuy4xmXN4_8d-QKxVIUK0t3AZsJHKXo/s4032/IMG_1724.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquZ7fOT33UE6N74BZHi_Lm_60LsHjof-warMd5YURV44qCkIKoIZEwLHkNTHugQ2jZe1gJZxj_gEt9GDU9eQHmlCR3oAnWUC36pHauc5NS9HGOA-pn12teY46AM11mIF2WEUjD1OGNFewv40EWxeETGmgAl5qyuy4xmXN4_8d-QKxVIUK0t3AZsJHKXo/s16000/IMG_1724.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmj2_r7xFULiZoOxb8M_OY94KL5FhfmLIvM6qB17sPc6IFPG3b_n9Rf4hQILnLbUKuDj3APFvgbQ9iFxQv-mzmKNKN9dt13PXsvGAwt054VCNTzisX9KPp3tKYiaZsznVSY1Q_TLHN8VeUp5-Xe3wNHHHqubb60OlKzXtntnBQCSIvaX9lYqJXsPhTWM/s4032/IMG_1679.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmj2_r7xFULiZoOxb8M_OY94KL5FhfmLIvM6qB17sPc6IFPG3b_n9Rf4hQILnLbUKuDj3APFvgbQ9iFxQv-mzmKNKN9dt13PXsvGAwt054VCNTzisX9KPp3tKYiaZsznVSY1Q_TLHN8VeUp5-Xe3wNHHHqubb60OlKzXtntnBQCSIvaX9lYqJXsPhTWM/s16000/IMG_1679.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIupf2rWKs3UV2llMoC5rqMFZfG5OZEFNMjKU1gj_xN5uaa8vxPlrZRxtk_FJnAvxiu-3vvrJZGmztM7VKBNQNElTPsajO568bexwp6wg1RI-7bdaRHSYBFmJE-2ZV7Oz_OaRPlEVk0zEBJ9P0Uv3D_59tTlSeNjuNf05vLu1jOdhWdlcB6R1MxMChVI/s1518/IMG_1775.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIupf2rWKs3UV2llMoC5rqMFZfG5OZEFNMjKU1gj_xN5uaa8vxPlrZRxtk_FJnAvxiu-3vvrJZGmztM7VKBNQNElTPsajO568bexwp6wg1RI-7bdaRHSYBFmJE-2ZV7Oz_OaRPlEVk0zEBJ9P0Uv3D_59tTlSeNjuNf05vLu1jOdhWdlcB6R1MxMChVI/s16000/IMG_1775.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Jelly Roll - August</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1pjaQEk2HMT3IDv_7shzbF5RaIva3f1oTc8iKLEXOdT2cPL9VgqyStZfDdxJw6t12TDNWm0oz_gkL4zb9WXl1ne_ijeT7nixT55v61Jb0Y4ZTIBITtlZre1oKThyIldHLIIg3TLHSWFEE5wJ2nuRmgYo3Lu8xYpAzpNKcmZhyphenhyphenD9XsXxwmoYnff1DSNc/s4032/IMG_3360.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1pjaQEk2HMT3IDv_7shzbF5RaIva3f1oTc8iKLEXOdT2cPL9VgqyStZfDdxJw6t12TDNWm0oz_gkL4zb9WXl1ne_ijeT7nixT55v61Jb0Y4ZTIBITtlZre1oKThyIldHLIIg3TLHSWFEE5wJ2nuRmgYo3Lu8xYpAzpNKcmZhyphenhyphenD9XsXxwmoYnff1DSNc/s16000/IMG_3360.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span><b style="font-size: large;">TV Shows I Loved in 2023: </b>Abbott Elementary, Full Swing, How I Met Your Mother (rewatch), Is It Cake, Jury Duty, Love is Blind, Selling Sunset, Selling the OC, Sweet Magnolias, That 90s Show (<i>I feel like I really didn't watch much TV this year overall?!) </i></span></p><p><span><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>5 Favorite Memories of 2023:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52ESQlWd3KiVV6XpL3gnwTlh6Z0XkQdufy2E2qsfj4zKIArz7sMJhJQCyCvsaJYK3LgMQxriOgCws3-mbQKD96JWVWDGQcEE8ibMw9S0uR3Q_a77fm2IJw1gT-mGQr6Qr5zSIqdQXkHmBWbNkF1noT_vvvV4htPOG7jI0M-gbv1SR4fpJXl6M6m60GD8/s2080/390EDA13-40C5-4ED4-AA63-0110E388D190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="1170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52ESQlWd3KiVV6XpL3gnwTlh6Z0XkQdufy2E2qsfj4zKIArz7sMJhJQCyCvsaJYK3LgMQxriOgCws3-mbQKD96JWVWDGQcEE8ibMw9S0uR3Q_a77fm2IJw1gT-mGQr6Qr5zSIqdQXkHmBWbNkF1noT_vvvV4htPOG7jI0M-gbv1SR4fpJXl6M6m60GD8/s16000/390EDA13-40C5-4ED4-AA63-0110E388D190.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Getting engaged on November 11th, 2023. <i>The best moment of my entire life to date!</i> </li><li>Our day exploring Winter Park, FL on our Orlando trip for Ryan's 30th birthday. The whole trip was wonderful, but this day was truly perfect. </li><li>Swimming in the ocean at Isle of Palms beach in South Carolina with Ryan and his family (on our Charleston trip for his cousin's wedding). </li><li>Receiving an email for an amazing blogging collaboration opportunity in the middle of one of my worst days of the year (the day I had my first screening for my health scare). This was such a reminder of God's faithfulness and blessings, and how He always provides at the right time.</li><li>A great day in St. Pete, FL while visiting my friend Gentry that involved a trip to the spa and time at the beach!</li></ol><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Blog - Readers' Favorite Blog Posts of 2023:</span></b></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3pypE4H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Different Type of Moving Announcement </a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday: Our Proposal Story</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3xY5Zfk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Relationship Monday: Two Resources That Finally Changed My Mindset on Dating</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3WIN0Qt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LILLY PULITZER SUNSHINE SALE: Winter 2023 Sale Dates</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3k6WZBh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Travel Diary: Nashville TN Bachelorette Weekend Itinerary</a></li></ol></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Blog - Top Selling Items of 2023: </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+wsrLy1aG-9PXOmZG0bVbJQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Almay Makeup Pads</a> (<i>I've been using these since high school, but it cracked me up this was my blog's best selling item of the year! </i>π)</li><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+CjtKAx5zK-rSJiU7MXITRQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grey and Cream Striped Pillows</a> (<i>For the couch in the new apartment)</i></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3RSkzQ5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Draper James x Lands' End Swimsuit</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/4ayTets" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Very Bradley Campus Backpack</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3vlciLz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilly Pulitzer Christmas Ornaments</a><br /></li></ol></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Here's to 2024! The year I turn 30, and the year that could very likely be my wedding year. I have a feeling next year will truly be the best year of my life!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;">Highlights From My Year posts from years passed:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3IflVzR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2022</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3pyH5iY" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2021</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/38AO5C6" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2020</a> // <a href="http://bit.ly/2rIWSk6" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2019</a> // <a href="http://bit.ly/2SoVk6H" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2018</a> // <a href="http://bit.ly/2BMIzuB" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2017</a> // <a href="http://bit.ly/2hNInkD" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2016</a> // <a href="http://www.southernbelleintraining.com/2016/01/2015-rest-of-my-year.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">2015</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-84523653385827379322023-12-20T05:00:00.012-05:002023-12-22T07:02:17.436-05:00Wedding Wednesday: My Ring Shopping Experience. π<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Time for my second Wedding Wednesday post! I already know that this whole series is going to be <i>so </i>much fun to write and document over the next couple of years. I kicked Wedding Wednesday off two weeks ago by sharing our <a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">proposal story</a>! The next few Wedding Wednesday posts that I wanted to write included the full story of how Ryan and I met and started dating, my experience with ring shopping and finding my dream ring, and an early wedding planning Q&A. I did a poll on Instagram about which post you'd like to read first, and the full story of how we met got the most votes! However, I know that will be a bit of a longer post for me to brainstorm and write out (similar to the proposal post), so I've decided to put that one off until after the holidays. I knew that today's topic (ring shopping) would be an easier post for me to write, so I thought I'd knock that out for this week! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAqH80pjVGshf52YeCX3dtS2QeUQwZMc7Y1grsR0oCxGxLWnIe4d__984bkJMl-kYu10sfESooQMoTLrIzgVDyf5eatuJn4LzzAMnkL5WOUcPcOQKCor1-W1uIqRyU7_2axRXcc6JCTqiBe-jBxJea4UfOGZrl32hSgFY-pBNMU75hh0R8XNJrRuu1hE/s1534/IMG_7363.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAqH80pjVGshf52YeCX3dtS2QeUQwZMc7Y1grsR0oCxGxLWnIe4d__984bkJMl-kYu10sfESooQMoTLrIzgVDyf5eatuJn4LzzAMnkL5WOUcPcOQKCor1-W1uIqRyU7_2axRXcc6JCTqiBe-jBxJea4UfOGZrl32hSgFY-pBNMU75hh0R8XNJrRuu1hE/s16000/IMG_7363.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The answer to the big question: Y</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">es, I did pick out my ring myself</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">! And I am </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">so </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">glad that I did. Growing up, I always assumed that my future husband would pick out my perfect ring himself. I imagined that in some point of dating, I'd show </span>him<span style="font-family: inherit;"> inspiration pictures of what I liked, and then he would just go from there. So romantic and easy-peasy, right?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> As I got into my mid and then late 20s, I realized I had no idea what type of engagement ring I'd actually like. A lot of the pictures on Pinterest of rings that I'd saved in my early 20s seemed to be very outdated styles now. After Ryan and I realized we were far enough into our dating relationship to be having discussions about engagement and marriage, I started getting worried that if I didn't give Ryan any guidance, he'd pick out something that wasn't really "<i>me</i>" and I didn't want to wear every day for the rest of my life. Which would be a tragedy since rings aren't a cheap purchase! But what type of ring was "<i>very me</i>?" I had never tried any on! </span></p><p> In Winter 2023, we started talking about me starting ring shopping around March/April 2023 (near our one-year anniversary). I really wanted Ryan to come with me to various jewelry stores and thought it would be so fun for us to do together. Ryan disagreed though and didn't want us to do it together. He thought it wouldn't be nearly as romantic, and also was worried that salespeople might be really pushy for him to buy on the spot if he was there with me. I thought those were fair points! </p><p> Ryan and I also talked early on about a lab grown diamond vs natural, which I think is an important conversation to have. Prior to ring shopping, I didn't know the diamond cut and style of engagement ring I wanted, but I <i>did know</i> that I wanted a large and very sparkly ring. Dainty and small isn't my vibe for an engagement ring diamond. π I wanted <i>big</i> and I wanted sparkly! And for what I wanted; a lab grown diamond was 100% the most cost-effective option. Lab grown diamonds have come a long way in the past decade. They aren't cheaper alternatives like moissanite or cubic zirconia. They are <i>actual</i> diamonds in their chemistry! Just made in a lab versus from the earth. That also means that they are 100% more ethical as well, since there are no questionable mining processes. And the cost savings is substantial. I knew I could get Ryan to get me something a good bit bigger if I was open to lab grown vs. natural, so it was a no brainer for me to be on board with it.</p><p> The only thing I knew going into ring shopping with 100% certainty is that I wanted a platinum band, so the ring would be silver colored. I love gold jewelry and wear more of it than I do silver colored these days, but I've <i>always</i> known for an engagement ring that I wanted the band to be silver colored. I also knew I did not want white gold, because I have several friends with white gold rings, and they've told me that white gold can tarnish with wear and has to get re-dipped from time to time at the jewelry store, which sounded like such a hassle to me. Platinum is definitely an investment metal, but I knew I'd be saving Ryan a ton of money by being open to a lab grown diamond instead of natural, so the platinum band would be the "splurge" part of my ring. </p><p> I decided that I wanted to take a girlfriend with me for the first time that I went to look at rings, and then from there I'd probably do the rest myself. But the first time that I went ring shopping was by myself and totally unintentional! Last winter, I tok a gemstone cocktail ring of my grandmother's to get resized at a local jewelry store called <a href="https://www.longjewelers.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Long Jewelers</a>. The sales associate that I worked with was absolutely fantastic. While I was there to drop off my grandmother's ring, I asked her if I could look at a few engagement rings that I saw in the case, and she kindly showed me several. I didn't end up loving any of the styles that she showed me, but that was still helpful because because started to show me what I didn't like. I also liked that the salesperson was very positive about lab grown diamonds. For the record- even though my engagement ring isn't from there, I would 100% still recommend Long Jewelers for local jewelry purchases in Hampton Roads! Although they didn't have any ring styles that felt right for me that day, they still had a lot of styles to look at. And their staff is <i>so nice</i>! They did such a great job resizing my grandmother's ring. I would definitely return here in the future for other jewelry purchases or repairs. π</p><p> I then invited my girlfriend Amanda to go with me to another jewelry store for my first "official" day of ring shopping. Amanda is married and a few years older than me, so I thought she'd be able to offer some good "big sister" type advice, and her perspective would be helpful to figure out what type of rings I liked. I am so glad that I had her with me for the next time that I went to a jewelry store, because my second ring shopping experience at a different store was very intense. I feel like the salesperson that we were paired with was a bit too high-pressure. He was also rude when I asked questions about lab grown diamonds vs. natural. If I'm being honest, his blunt nature kind of took some of the joy of ring shopping away. I am so glad Amanda was there because she thought to ask so many good questions and helped keep everything focused! At this store I did find a couple of styles that I liked, but the pushiness of the salesperson kind of turned me away from wanting to give them business, so I decided I'd keep looking around. This was the first time though that I considered an oval halo ring, which had never previously been on my radar!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFb9Rd_4Lca-pBt2kxp5nrH2xBuwxZzaFBTrZGjPyo3NJP-S6MBDlNDAbr7jnLUYfE43GYem9c3KGD_a0TEzoyKZ7wZlqRFmh7iaUF6U3-adfJSwJyVpqlQMaOfC4fAU8lXdv0-KVMgKUpxf4NOfB80p13Ywv0TNqfX-iQXPh9HMuntl7NP_yWVSAiJQ/s4032/IMG_8633.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFb9Rd_4Lca-pBt2kxp5nrH2xBuwxZzaFBTrZGjPyo3NJP-S6MBDlNDAbr7jnLUYfE43GYem9c3KGD_a0TEzoyKZ7wZlqRFmh7iaUF6U3-adfJSwJyVpqlQMaOfC4fAU8lXdv0-KVMgKUpxf4NOfB80p13Ywv0TNqfX-iQXPh9HMuntl7NP_yWVSAiJQ/s16000/IMG_8633.HEIC" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The first oval halo ring that I found and liked! I knew this one wasn't it (since I didn't have a good experience at this jewelry store, and it was a little TOO big), but it made me want to start looking at more oval halo rings.</i></div><i><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p> A couple of weeks later, I tried out another local jewelry store by myself. Unfortunately, I didn't have the best experience here either. Not only did I not love their rings, but I had another pushy and rude salesperson. Just like the last store, she made negative comments made when I asked questions about lab grown rings. The woman at this store was even kind of insinuating that Ryan might not love me well if he wasn't going to buy me a large natural diamond ring. Woof!! That store lost my business quickly. I was starting to get kind of discouraged. Why was dealing with jewelry salespeople starting to feel even worse than car shopping? These should be some of the most exciting shopping trips of my life, not something I dreaded that made me feel badly about myself. </p><p> Thank goodness that I didn't give up.... because the next jewelry store was it! I went to <a href="https://adelediamond.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adele Diamond</a> on a random rainy afternoon in April. The place that I did physical therapy at this spring for my hip bursitis was near Adele, and I decided to stop in on a whim. And from the first few minutes in the store, I knew this would be a different experience. The salesperson working was genuinely <i>nice</i>, and I could tell that he didn't have a weird agenda. I mentioned lab grown diamonds within the first few minutes and he responded so positively about that. (I sadly don't remember this guy's name, but he was great!) What I really loved about Adele Diamond is that they have three large tables with hundreds of engagement ring models out in the open on display, so you can just play dress-up with all of the rings that catch your eye and <i>have fun</i>! It's not the stuffy experience of having to have a salesperson take out certain ones from behind a locked counter. (All of the model rings are cubic zirconia and sterling silver, so they are totally safe to be left in the open). </p><p> I tried on tons of rings since it was easy to try on as many as I wanted. Near the end of my visit, I found a pretty oval halo and tried it on. I was immediately <i>in love</i>. I knew this was the ring that I wanted to wear for the rest of my life!! My only complaint? The center stone was a little smaller than I liked. π Hahaha. But I knew if the center stone was slightly bigger, it would be perfect! Below is the first photo of me trying on my ring (ignore that it's not properly on my finger, the model rings were all very tiny and didn't fit my ring finger at all). I was also pretty sure on the first visit that I wanted the engagement ring band to have diamonds in it, instead of a plain band like the model ring was on. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOhBGLyfovYD0j2mq1NYwnJ52tWzbD3p-Gq2ECnHB72Q9dHWfqcFFcYnWUQeYUKNq8-ZCWMxueM0IyAJALzyRv0rZeat3M9ELVhN_r0rZnbUn75M55S9oIbrNOXTG6TcXes_vEi5wXHFmIYuuh0ctz2eUGF-ug6fxmeeDrfoltNtKF4U9ZsE9K1meilU/s4032/IMG_9436.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOhBGLyfovYD0j2mq1NYwnJ52tWzbD3p-Gq2ECnHB72Q9dHWfqcFFcYnWUQeYUKNq8-ZCWMxueM0IyAJALzyRv0rZeat3M9ELVhN_r0rZnbUn75M55S9oIbrNOXTG6TcXes_vEi5wXHFmIYuuh0ctz2eUGF-ug6fxmeeDrfoltNtKF4U9ZsE9K1meilU/s16000/IMG_9436.heic" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First time trying on my ring at Adele Diamond!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p> My mom was here visiting in early May, and I thought that taking her to see the ring that I liked might be fun. Ryan had told me pretty early on in our discussions about getting engaged / a future together that he likely wanted our proposal to be very private and not have our friends/families there. Since I knew my parents probably wouldn't be there the day that I got engaged, I thought that showing her the ring I liked while I had a chance to would be nice. I also wanted to see my favorite ring one more time to see if I still liked it as much as the first time. </p><p> My second visit to Adele with my mom was the best! Dare I say even better than the first time? The first guy I worked with wasn't there, but we worked with another sales associate named Dan who was also fantastic. Dan is the one that ended up helping Ryan get my ring later on! I tried on a bunch of different styles on the second visit as well but was still absolutely in love with that pretty oval halo ring. It was also on this visit that I started loving the ring as-is on a plain silver-toned band, and not thinking that it needed to be set on a band with diamonds in it. I decided that I would leave the band up to Ryan. He could either go plain platinum, or a platinum band with diamonds in it. That would be the part of the ring up to him! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSQsP3w0UzZJkAqpDG-BgSYLBhVeM6BOKAcRg9A72PLrafQzlGP1LRgChYfWvJH-vY5muyUdP6vr0weTl_GMnK6laaf7gIsNRGZPh98FfPjooO_wFaFI74wclJuZWo3R8x1fdmGE1kmXGbQDtmFnazUZaYOPqPfZHWNXTsSpNa0qPuFZKSreJz7agCR8/s4032/IMG_0086.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSQsP3w0UzZJkAqpDG-BgSYLBhVeM6BOKAcRg9A72PLrafQzlGP1LRgChYfWvJH-vY5muyUdP6vr0weTl_GMnK6laaf7gIsNRGZPh98FfPjooO_wFaFI74wclJuZWo3R8x1fdmGE1kmXGbQDtmFnazUZaYOPqPfZHWNXTsSpNa0qPuFZKSreJz7agCR8/s16000/IMG_0086.HEIC" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />My second visit to Adele Diamond, and my mom getting to see the ring I wanted!</i></td></tr></tbody></table> <div> Ryan went to Adele Diamond and ordered my ring back in the summer. He decided to go with a plain platinum band instead of one with diamonds, and I'm so glad he did! It really allows the beautiful center stone to shine and be the center of attention. Because I was open to a lab grown diamond, Ryan was able to do a bigger stone than the model ring, just liked I hoped he would! Below is a picture of me really reacting to how big and sparkly the ring was. π Just like I dreamed and wanted! <div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzWq7Gzd4Knqangh7q7tRcDGPFbcUVz1gNkEERusQe-RHrPFdtK35TFZjPECd2J-hGy4FdVQnff1zhs2-mEYd04X9L8dqNEwt4FStIB3K6vot8tCOMf1xXv7QUP5vp6Ys2fjSbcoKuMYCzJCVqW1ZrsQF2yC-j6oTJgs3YeSjgnd5MDBDTWIjIQKPauc/s2048/IMG_7332.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzWq7Gzd4Knqangh7q7tRcDGPFbcUVz1gNkEERusQe-RHrPFdtK35TFZjPECd2J-hGy4FdVQnff1zhs2-mEYd04X9L8dqNEwt4FStIB3K6vot8tCOMf1xXv7QUP5vp6Ys2fjSbcoKuMYCzJCVqW1ZrsQF2yC-j6oTJgs3YeSjgnd5MDBDTWIjIQKPauc/s16000/IMG_7332.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Me realizing that the ring Ryan proposed with was indeed bigger than the model ring at Adele Diamond, just as I hoped it would be. π</i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span>Thanks so much for taking the time to read about my ring shopping experience! As you can probably guess, I 100% recommend ring shopping if you're likely getting engaged and aren't sure what you want! I do think it is so risky to have your fiance pick out the ring without any input. It's something that you will hopefully be wearing every single day for the rest of your life, and it's an investment purchase! It should be something that you're super excited about. I would also recommend being open to lab grown diamonds- I'm so glad I was!</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdUZCh9wHYmaiKp7C3amnoUSpcsUWLK_OEKTH3fJCi5jMUyf8s8TlTPfnC7D_EJkw-e2mSBcoqA0v406YzrorIQGfwMDBxYX5z836QHygZKcEh4MJCRpBmONoezvFETT2SGq6xht6jmL0bOT4tcK8bQg3ysVxEassPeEEKR18qztIEmG2cGU37E1hYoM/s2048/404229714_691381369462364_3761049396370882395_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdUZCh9wHYmaiKp7C3amnoUSpcsUWLK_OEKTH3fJCi5jMUyf8s8TlTPfnC7D_EJkw-e2mSBcoqA0v406YzrorIQGfwMDBxYX5z836QHygZKcEh4MJCRpBmONoezvFETT2SGq6xht6jmL0bOT4tcK8bQg3ysVxEassPeEEKR18qztIEmG2cGU37E1hYoM/s16000/404229714_691381369462364_3761049396370882395_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God Bless,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> xoxo Annaliese</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-47401539998925809302023-12-15T05:00:00.010-05:002023-12-15T05:00:00.131-05:00Trend I Love: The Lady Jacket<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I think we are long overdue for a good ol' fashioned outfit post here on the blog... is it 2015 again? π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNTRRddAxVH_TugrHi5WWs5M0aepuH8W8qhux88BUJNb5wEf2JQbH6UVCxkX7cl5U2ziUPSfUMOg1_lF10v4SGlOrGq1vn3TaN6T4YfAQFptWJ8wMIZ4cUK2qtTPcgVe700JoaicBznnadCXeXAn4RhjD3SWQ_h3Wod2mbxY1rjhejDAmqG9xtngL7yU/s2048/IMG_4908%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNTRRddAxVH_TugrHi5WWs5M0aepuH8W8qhux88BUJNb5wEf2JQbH6UVCxkX7cl5U2ziUPSfUMOg1_lF10v4SGlOrGq1vn3TaN6T4YfAQFptWJ8wMIZ4cUK2qtTPcgVe700JoaicBznnadCXeXAn4RhjD3SWQ_h3Wod2mbxY1rjhejDAmqG9xtngL7yU/s16000/IMG_4908%202.JPG" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycluEnR0TdYTVVdgt4KTZ2C2Hvd1T6XHGMDoANKg4F8E9FxvlyTBJ75WGCla8utDbPNpliCCZQcxfmJAhyphenhyphenlnJHbBssFQKnrTk6jJZdsuo9kGWf9AuFa2cb8TZsMCVxTavJVRPHR_9Boq2FEfLFSRU-1B9BHPj_EpD_FeK8yfP1W6an1BlNGL8pwHno0E/s2048/IMG_4915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycluEnR0TdYTVVdgt4KTZ2C2Hvd1T6XHGMDoANKg4F8E9FxvlyTBJ75WGCla8utDbPNpliCCZQcxfmJAhyphenhyphenlnJHbBssFQKnrTk6jJZdsuo9kGWf9AuFa2cb8TZsMCVxTavJVRPHR_9Boq2FEfLFSRU-1B9BHPj_EpD_FeK8yfP1W6an1BlNGL8pwHno0E/s16000/IMG_4915.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbSKXZ5VlnRDIqX83dt4aSzNl5XGTw36xiuSOJ6o_tjVcB7AauOWKKSu4Yp-oRIkgdb_y3HjwTZDci2_RTb37xvM8qI-1EiPApJnJXKPI437RvKXUi2LaHguG_t_XYQqwPwcm5AM5Hngy_NmI3NwCBN6w9xcch02c1l6K0Ssm4_JKO4rsV1Sb2Hk7iYM/s2048/IMG_4911.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbSKXZ5VlnRDIqX83dt4aSzNl5XGTw36xiuSOJ6o_tjVcB7AauOWKKSu4Yp-oRIkgdb_y3HjwTZDci2_RTb37xvM8qI-1EiPApJnJXKPI437RvKXUi2LaHguG_t_XYQqwPwcm5AM5Hngy_NmI3NwCBN6w9xcch02c1l6K0Ssm4_JKO4rsV1Sb2Hk7iYM/s16000/IMG_4911.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySZHLyiC7ot0CAtzAbWlBcqU7GawggAzhfJUg8YprJDyLkOtQLRKwIBlFdgUd4unWWbDQgaGpgBfIz0nAGENthqLQfaHJkreQX4TrKaQY1vQxg64_4ozuV_I-hJYdr30GPJOxbB4KhPypjVM7lYrjJuDOfX8OYMjAvkD374BMfY9gQqdu52q1BM3cjX8/s2048/IMG_4910.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySZHLyiC7ot0CAtzAbWlBcqU7GawggAzhfJUg8YprJDyLkOtQLRKwIBlFdgUd4unWWbDQgaGpgBfIz0nAGENthqLQfaHJkreQX4TrKaQY1vQxg64_4ozuV_I-hJYdr30GPJOxbB4KhPypjVM7lYrjJuDOfX8OYMjAvkD374BMfY9gQqdu52q1BM3cjX8/s16000/IMG_4910.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzonvTgwBUf29I_YKtJg0SwCPIFFAnPPKK5edvBT8m9ad_jNZv-XOyA6Cxf8_SNtuFrzI-7bjPhPB2rwQNgDaK7x-Dj7Mhc2nedDjc6Uo-JdbfcU5Yo7HiXWw9xJ2iu9fULzixzlcvDl-VobDajluiA-uJgbakMAYnvc9OcLQbOuW2_ISyL4e6m2uBmM/s2048/IMG_4909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzonvTgwBUf29I_YKtJg0SwCPIFFAnPPKK5edvBT8m9ad_jNZv-XOyA6Cxf8_SNtuFrzI-7bjPhPB2rwQNgDaK7x-Dj7Mhc2nedDjc6Uo-JdbfcU5Yo7HiXWw9xJ2iu9fULzixzlcvDl-VobDajluiA-uJgbakMAYnvc9OcLQbOuW2_ISyL4e6m2uBmM/s16000/IMG_4909.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><!--more--></span><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photos by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/freshbeats_goodeats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Virginia Concert Photographer</a> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://bit.ly/45DLW3W" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lady Jacket {exact one sold out, similar in another color here}</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3uTTsLA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blouse {old, similar here}</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/42gbqUu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jeans</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/3GD9AUf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shoes c/o</a> // <a href="https://bit.ly/46N3JX6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bag {old, similar here}</a> // </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Although I started this blog in 2012 mainly as a way to document my outfits, I don't do much true "fashion blogging" anymore. Part of that is from taking a step back from blogging as often as I used to, but a large part is also that I've felt kind of disconnected from trendy fashion for the last few years (basically since the pandemic!). I feel like I don't understand a lot of Gen Z fashion <i>at all</i>, and for the last year or two I've really started to feel my age when it comes to fashion trends that I feel too old for, or just don't get. For example: I will never put a pair of cargo pants on my body, unless it's for some sort of Halloween costume or Y2K theme party. Even if Lilly Pulitzer started making cargo pants, I'm not wearing them! π That's just one of many current trends that I don't get.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> But there is one trend as of the past year or two that I am all about: the lady jacket! It's not quite blazer, not quite cardigan. It's elegant, feminine, and professional. Throw one on with jeans and a t-shirt, and your outfit is instantly elevated and more chic. Or pair them with a coordinating skirt or dress for a dressier look. As soon as I saw this aquamarine Lady Jacket cardigan last year, I knew I needed it. Aquamarine is my favorite color! (I feel like a lot of people think my favorite color is pink because I wear a lot of pink more frequently, but it's actually aquamarine.) I patiently waited for it to go on sale, and it made it much more satisfying when I finally got it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I styled this with <a href="https://bit.ly/42gbqUu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">jeans</a> and a<a href="https://bit.ly/3uTTsLA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> blouse</a>, <a href="https://bit.ly/3GD9AUf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leather flats</a>, and one of <a href="https://bit.ly/46N3JX6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my new favorite purses</a>! It's a Kate Spade bag that's probably 8-10 years old, but I got such a good deal on it from a consignment store while in Florida earlier this year. And it's also aquamarine!! Love that I've added some new-to-me things in my favorite color to my closet this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I hope that you're having a great week! I know this time of the year is always <i>so</i> busy with the holidays. I feel like my weekends in December are always so booked up with plans, both work events and social plans. Granted, it's all fun plans that I really look forward to of course! But I wish I did have more free time in this month each year. I have so many blog post ideas that I'd like to get published before the end of the year, but I'm not sure I'll have time to do all of them. At the very least, I'd like to publish at least one more <a href="https://bit.ly/4a4xzcv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wedding Wednesday</a> post, and of course <a href="https://bit.ly/3IflVzR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my annual Year in Review</a> post, which is always my <i>favorite</i> post to write each year! Here's to hopefully getting all of this done in the next couple of weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />
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</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-44969092399054064292023-12-06T05:00:00.032-05:002023-12-06T09:59:18.315-05:00Wedding Wednesday: Our Proposal Story<p> It's finally time to recap in the best moment of my life in full detail on the blog! I shared <a href="https://bit.ly/47HHanv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a brief engagement announcement blog post</a> a couple of days after the proposal, but I wanted to have the time to fully write out the full story with all of the little details. This is also the first blog post of my Wedding Wednesday series! I've enjoyed seeing other bloggers do their own versions of Wedding Wednesday series for years and have dreamed about the day when I would be in that life season to document on my own blog! </p><p> This blog post turned out to be quite long! I wanted to include all of the special little details; partly for you to enjoy, and partly for my own memory. But this post truly is special, because Ryan wrote his own side of the story for it! I'll share my version first, and then stay tuned at the end for his.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_boVAoNHyIamS2zTBR_PiidK7rVkhoKgf6QjXDzd609iRZGwQ1E0L4WodiJlagd2E7h8hZupxIRd31SwLAEYy4lGN5KXQJKFWRWegncuchhJXLaBfUb1vwlgyiEOOkQuovQXk0wJKwk4nbXAanKAkAndrvw1021tHNSqzdJTQbz2Z8xuCT0CdzptvhWI/s1534/SarahsCamera-991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_boVAoNHyIamS2zTBR_PiidK7rVkhoKgf6QjXDzd609iRZGwQ1E0L4WodiJlagd2E7h8hZupxIRd31SwLAEYy4lGN5KXQJKFWRWegncuchhJXLaBfUb1vwlgyiEOOkQuovQXk0wJKwk4nbXAanKAkAndrvw1021tHNSqzdJTQbz2Z8xuCT0CdzptvhWI/s16000/SarahsCamera-991.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Photography by Sarah L. aka <a href="https://www.instagram.com/freshbeats_goodeats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Virginia Concert Photographer</a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Ryan and I matched on the dating app Hinge in February 2022, met in person for the first time that March, and then he officially asked me to be his girlfriend on April 24th, 2022. (We were long distance at the time as he was in-progress of moving to Virginia Beach when we met, so he wanted to wait until his April trip to Virginia to make our relationship official in-person.) I wish I could remember the first time that we really discussed marriage and a future together, but it was definitely fairly early on into dating. What I loved about Ryan is that he wasn't afraid to discuss a future together and his forward-thinking intentions, but he also didn't want to rush our dating stage and jump into other life stages too quickly. We were always very much on the same page about dating for </span><i style="text-align: left;">at least</i><span style="text-align: left;"> a year at the bare minimum, but as time went on we seemed in agreement that it could be closer to dating for two years.</span></p><p> I started ring shopping around our one-year dating anniversary this past spring. (<i>Yes- I did pick out my ring! I will do a separate blog post on that whole story so that this post can stay focused on the proposal. </i>π) Ryan did not want to join me himself for ring shopping, but he did encourage me to go either by myself or with a friend. I found the perfect ring at a local jeweler called <a href="https://adelediamond.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adele Diamond</a> in April. Adele Diamond was the fourth jewelry store that I visited. Shortly after finding the ring that I loved, I found out from radio commercials at work that Adele Diamond was having a gigantic sale in July, with discounts as steep as 20-30% on engagement rings. I told Ryan about it. I was like "Even if you aren't ready to propose until a full year from now, still get the ring while it's marked down this much!" He played it very cool when I told him this, and made it sound like it was way too soon to be buying one, good discount or not. So, I honestly didn't think that he took advantage of the sale. But he did! He made the decision to be ready to order my ring in June and officially ordered it in July.</p><p> I had no idea that Ryan had ordered my ring this summer, and as the months of 2023 went on, I truly believed we would be getting engaged in 2024. He gave me absolutely no indications that it would be in 2023. I was worried that I would start to get bummed out if he hadn't proposed by like March 2024. But a big part of me had a feeling that Ryan might wait until our two-year anniversary next April to pop the question. We are taking a big family vacation with his family in March, and I really hoped we would be engaged before that at least. </p><p> We are supposed to be going to Charlotte, NC in January so that Ryan can finally meet some of my college friends. I was <i>really </i>hoping privately (and also dropping a few hints to him) that I wanted to get engaged during that weekend trip, since Charlotte is such a special place to me. But realistically I was guessing the location would be in Virginia Beach, sometime between February-April 2024. I did always think that our local botanical garden would be a good proposal spot if Ryan chose that! But I always thought it would be springtime if he did the proposal there.</p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i>Now let's get to how our actual proposal came to be! </p><p><br /></p><p> Back in the summer, I received an Instagram DM from a local follower named <a href="https://www.instagram.com/freshbeats_goodeats/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sarah.</a> She told me that she was a big fan of my morning radio show and had also started following me on Instagram and reading my blog. Sarah shared that she used to be a full-time wedding photographer but had stepped away and taken up a more traditional 9-5 schedule job in the last couple of years for a more stable lifestyle and schedule. She didn't miss the hustle and bustle of shooting full weddings but <i>did</i> miss being creative with photography and doing smaller shoots. Anyways, she reached out to see if I'd ever be in need of some complimentary professional blog photos to use on here and Instagram. Complimentary professional blog photos? Heck yes!! I thought her message was too good to be true at first and wasn't sure if it was someone scamming me- ha! But Sarah was indeed legit, and her offer stood. Since she is a big country music fan, I also connected her with a manager at the radio station about shooting some concerts for our station, which she started doing in the fall. </p><p> During our first blog shoot in September, Sarah mentioned that for a future shoot if I ever wanted to bring Ryan and get couples photos instead of solo photos, I was more than welcomed. I told her that was such a kind offer, but that Ryan doesn't like taking photos as much as I do, so I'd probably keep working with her just on my blog. I thought more about it though, and when I bumped into Sarah a couple weeks later when she was shooting a concert for our radio station, I told her I might actually talk to Ryan about doing couples photos in the next month or so. Since <a href="https://bit.ly/3pypE4H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">we moved in together</a> this year, I wanted a photo of Ryan and I on my Christmas cards this year. I was planning to use a picture from <a href="https://bit.ly/3rl8kRR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">our recent Maine trip</a>, but figured if she was truly offering to do complimentary photos of us, why not use professional photos for our first joint Christmas card if Ryan was on board? </p><p> I mentioned doing Christmas card photos with Sarah to Ryan sometime in October. To my absolute <i>shock, </i>Ryan seemed very on board! He seemed into it from the get-go which really surprised me, since photos aren't normally his thing. He even suggested doing them at Norfolk Botanical Garden, which is a special spot to both of us. We are members at NBG and enjoy taking walks there once or twice a month throughout the year. I chuckled to myself because I always thought that if Ryan would propose to me in Virginia Beach, it could be likely for it to happen at the botanical garden! <i>(But remember, I was 99% sure I wasn't getting engaged until Spring 2024, so I didn't dwell too much on the fact that he suggested NBG for the Christmas card photos.)</i></p><p> I set up the photos for the late afternoon on Sunday, November 19th. We already had evening plans with friends for Saturday the 18th, and I didn't want to cancel on our friends to do the photos on Saturday instead. As the month of November began, Ryan started asking a lot of questions about the Christmas card photos. He would repeatedly ask things about what I'd be planning to wear and what time they were happening at. I did think it was interesting that he asked me multiple times for the date and time, which really isn't like him since I typically arrange all of our joint plans! He also wanted to know more about Sarah. How did I meet Sarah? What was her business name? Could he see examples of her past work from when she was a wedding photographer? I thought this was all so interesting since Ryan normally seemed care less about photos. </p><p> As he would keep asking me questions as this got closer, part of me did start to think "<i>Could Ryan be thinking about proposing? These really seem like questions that he would ask if wanted to propose?" </i>(I told Ryan early on that my one non-negotiable for him popping the question was having professional photographs at our proposal.) But as soon as my brain would go there, I would shut it down for two reasons: 1.) I was still very convinced he would be proposing in 2024 since there was no major indication it would be 2023. And 2.) The larger reason.... who on earth would propose to me on a <i>weeknight</i> as a morning radio host?! Everyone who knows me knows how strict I am about making big weeknight plans since I go to bed early on worknights. If I ever have a work event or a Junior League meeting on a weeknight, you can 100% count on me to be walking out the door and headed home by 7:30pm! Thanksgiving Week is also without fail always one of the busiest workweeks for me in radio, which Ryan is well aware of. I remember thinking to myself that if our photos were on a Saturday instead of Sunday, I'd be a lot more suspicious that Ryan could be proposing! But obviously he would never do something <i>that </i>exciting on what was a worknight for me. So, I honestly didn't dwell too much on these thoughts. </p><p> The weekend before we got engaged, I was in St. Pete Florida visiting my friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlmeetsbow/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gentry</a>. I did tell her about all of the questions that Ryan was asking about our Christmas card photos and confessed that my brain had wondered a few times if he was planning to propose that evening. But I also told her that I highly doubted he would propose on a work night, and that every time that my brain went there, I'd shoot it down by remembering our photos were a Sunday evening. π I did tell her though that while I felt ready to be engaged, I was absolutely not expecting it before 2024! And I also shared how I really hoped Ryan would do it when we go to Charlotte, NC in January 2024.</p><p> It was finally Saturday, November 18th. I had just gotten home from the grocery store, when I got a text from my friend Sierra about the plans that we were supposed to have with her and her husband that night. She said they were still getting over a bad cold that they'd had earlier in the week. They wanted to know if we still wanted to do dinner or reschedule. I let Ryan know, and he immediately and firmly said he would prefer to postpone the plans rather than risk getting sick. Typically, I am the bigger germaphobe out of the two of us, so I was a little surprised that he was so adamant to reschedule. (Now it all makes sense! He didn't want to risk us feeling crappy the next day.) Since I had just bought all the groceries to make dinner, I still cooked the meal that I was planning to do for Sierra and her husband. We had a wonderful, quiet dinner at home just us two. We even ended up discussing future dream honeymoon spots at dinner! (But even with that wedding-related discussion topic, I still didn't think he was proposing the next day because the next day would be a worknight with an early bedtime for me!) </p><p> After dinner on Saturday night, I got really bored and restless. I didn't feel like watching TV with Ryan, but also didn't feel like going anywhere. I then got the most random idea ever for something we could do- painting! I got out a bunch of my old art supplies from my closet. Some of these paints and brushes dated back to my sorority crafting days in college! and Ryan and I started working on individual paintings at our dining room table. We've never done any sort of craft projects before, so this was truly so random. But it was so fun and relaxing. I love that the night before we got engaged was just us enjoying time at home just us in such a creative way. Below is a picture of what we painted. (I bet you can guess which one is his and which two are mine!) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiPUU8ngJ1U01bgOxMkCiDApHJsE7EHNGufDcxlKAS01QgEpL-a3AUe1BjbXM-lGz2fYG8jp3SfasyRMkTRkTVUG0JSrJ8JqLIMje4I6QT-U4jV42SUeUb2e1UlQbc2tBfYPUrnJh4JH1qSmB2h4NYfNNdZGDsHCJM767UtLvMHs2MwKgsYIarDTTdsU/s4032/IMG_7090.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiPUU8ngJ1U01bgOxMkCiDApHJsE7EHNGufDcxlKAS01QgEpL-a3AUe1BjbXM-lGz2fYG8jp3SfasyRMkTRkTVUG0JSrJ8JqLIMje4I6QT-U4jV42SUeUb2e1UlQbc2tBfYPUrnJh4JH1qSmB2h4NYfNNdZGDsHCJM767UtLvMHs2MwKgsYIarDTTdsU/s16000/IMG_7090.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> On Sunday, we went to church in the morning. We then came home to have lunch and spend a few hours resting and getting ready for the photos. Since I thought Sarah was doing this shoot complimentary for us, I wanted to at least give her a little gift as a thank you. (<i>Note: Ryan did pay her because of course a full proposal shoot is a lot different than just a few complimentary photos for Christmas cards. π) </i>I knew that I had some Christmas scented candles in my room somewhere that I keep on hand for gifts. While I was looking for one to give to Sarah, I found a gift that my friend Amanda had given to me a few months ago. Amanda got married in 2020 and had an extra Mrs. themed ring dish that someone had given her, and she had never used. She gave it to me this summer to either give to an engaged friend of mine, or to save it for myself to use someday. I hadn't seen it since the day she gave it to me. I smiled when I found it, but thought to myself "<i>Well, it will still be quite a while before I can use this, since Ryan definitely won't propose until 2024!" </i>It was a foreshadowing sign that I totally missed!</p><p><i> </i>We headed over to the Norfolk Botanical Garden, and Ryan was acting 100% normal in the car. Nothing about his body language or behavior made me suspect this wasn't just Christmas card photos. We met Sarah in the lobby of the garden. The late afternoon weather was just perfect for Christmas card photos. It was sunny and in the low 60s. One of the first things that I said to Sarah when we arrived is that I specifically did <i>not</i> want the Christmas card photos to have a lot of PDA in them. I literally said "<i>I don't want people on Instagram to see these and send me DMs asking if these are for a special announcement! Just some nice and very tame pictures that I can use as Christmas card photos." </i>Sarah nodded and said absolutely. I have no idea <i>HOW </i>she kept such a good poker face when I said that!! No idea!!! We then spent about 30-40 minutes taking "Christmas card photos" at various parts of the botanical garden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYrHTmhSt5i1RueP0AjcsJOCTkG4y_BBOG4G4c8TLVripYjxjALThoVgXEi7Sh3xr1pCh7VRew9EzUwE2tMI6KvZO1Wt_lavaOi-SwfJTmqYXWmZc73YKwsAWE6NAifYoJpOhgrPeQa4-mcsWmDQW4PbP0fzDba5sKwRBwITjC2xvVeNOVq9jHT4m-_M/s1446/SarahsCamera-957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYrHTmhSt5i1RueP0AjcsJOCTkG4y_BBOG4G4c8TLVripYjxjALThoVgXEi7Sh3xr1pCh7VRew9EzUwE2tMI6KvZO1Wt_lavaOi-SwfJTmqYXWmZc73YKwsAWE6NAifYoJpOhgrPeQa4-mcsWmDQW4PbP0fzDba5sKwRBwITjC2xvVeNOVq9jHT4m-_M/s16000/SarahsCamera-957.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2UoFFU-NzPQ62xtN40-67kaB8jK_ka9SBtQqkHicqdhxG8UQbEGzftxwcsUXlFKjaBCuqhVToFHIRjsMTvH1CA7ktP42ULvDm9q_hUC1HavZkb14skcivuQTOculf6nn6kv_NQNyC5pvoLhnCY2BSPsR74DX0bd_qN9RjMuCxFPkhsozoTyxxTKYcgA/s1534/SarahsCamera-942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2UoFFU-NzPQ62xtN40-67kaB8jK_ka9SBtQqkHicqdhxG8UQbEGzftxwcsUXlFKjaBCuqhVToFHIRjsMTvH1CA7ktP42ULvDm9q_hUC1HavZkb14skcivuQTOculf6nn6kv_NQNyC5pvoLhnCY2BSPsR74DX0bd_qN9RjMuCxFPkhsozoTyxxTKYcgA/s16000/SarahsCamera-942.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9MlbdV7JTTLKIg5J8xsNVFHdjzBiBwT4eWEoVj1ur9DzbNs1Q2J2Fr92HtzEzqw_iqyn9QjGTufBWWffXIemnJovN2pgsPaQCl8E7oGMqh52qCUXSozm3eB4lX6AF5g8CdZ80N-6SY9Lb7FHCq18KB0NZZ_rV05EiLhsjth1ziL-YuXwxUZikCi8AII/s1534/SarahsCamera-947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9MlbdV7JTTLKIg5J8xsNVFHdjzBiBwT4eWEoVj1ur9DzbNs1Q2J2Fr92HtzEzqw_iqyn9QjGTufBWWffXIemnJovN2pgsPaQCl8E7oGMqh52qCUXSozm3eB4lX6AF5g8CdZ80N-6SY9Lb7FHCq18KB0NZZ_rV05EiLhsjth1ziL-YuXwxUZikCi8AII/s16000/SarahsCamera-947.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJYeF_yI7MlSej-i_gKgA03NBenzJEWZsaICrIBf7IQ_R_AreA9gVZwSrOELMHknbfQdKm3P8KfamW8rik0Z5yHABzxgv5z4JG7aT_FGpiCHEGpCkD0tmkiL6pw7TAO8T_Lu92s78ulT68BUc0RcWleO8LVwQP4od5nvNONYSYPYOK4vlnijpfqfROec/s1534/SarahsCamera-948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJYeF_yI7MlSej-i_gKgA03NBenzJEWZsaICrIBf7IQ_R_AreA9gVZwSrOELMHknbfQdKm3P8KfamW8rik0Z5yHABzxgv5z4JG7aT_FGpiCHEGpCkD0tmkiL6pw7TAO8T_Lu92s78ulT68BUc0RcWleO8LVwQP4od5nvNONYSYPYOK4vlnijpfqfROec/s16000/SarahsCamera-948.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Sarah then suggested we move over to the Renaissance Garden at NBG. This is one of the most beautiful spots at the botanical garden. It feels very historical and very Italian, from the landscaping to the style of the large fountain. Had we been doing Christmas card photos on Saturday, we wouldn't have been able to take pictures here because this area is where all of the outdoor weddings at NBG happen, and it's closed to the public almost every Saturday afternoon and evening! But since it was Sunday, it was all ours. Sarah took a few photos of me solo first (to use for an upcoming sponsored Instagram post that I needed some photos of a product for). She then said we would start doing couples photos again but said "</span><i style="text-align: left;">First I need to change the ISO on my camera.</i><span style="text-align: left;">" Ryan then said "</span><i style="text-align: left;">What's ISO?</i><span style="text-align: left;">", and Sarah explained some basic photography and camera terms to us as we started posing. I later learned this was their code word that it was time for Ryan to propose!! </span></div><p> Sarah said she wanted to try something different and had us stand back-to-back. A logical woman might start thinking hmmm... maybe this pose could lead to a proposal when I turn around? But I wasn't in a logical mood, and I was 100% oblivious to what was going on. π I remember thinking that the back-to-back pose seemed weird and definitely wouldn't be what I used for the Christmas cards, but I assumed it was something Sarah wanted for her photography portfolio! Since she was doing these photos for free, I was open to doing any types of poses she wanted if it was something that could help her out. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY94V_NpNN6jv0LzU6KtynyuXZo8yVrB-tmc_bKYO_rTdgIWo4sWFplK9GYdKeRVa7SiKKKJL1ycgVlr5DiL6ONT7GqL10AS37zwGv6QFJ-nEyYDyhb7EbJyR9L1f8VC5Im3RYjJm9bAjfEJYRKOUvxjafLFk-H7U-0ZKOixREN3122MrOacjmz0yttJg/s1423/SarahsCamera-976.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY94V_NpNN6jv0LzU6KtynyuXZo8yVrB-tmc_bKYO_rTdgIWo4sWFplK9GYdKeRVa7SiKKKJL1ycgVlr5DiL6ONT7GqL10AS37zwGv6QFJ-nEyYDyhb7EbJyR9L1f8VC5Im3RYjJm9bAjfEJYRKOUvxjafLFk-H7U-0ZKOixREN3122MrOacjmz0yttJg/s16000/SarahsCamera-976.jpg" /></a></div><p> Sarah told Ryan to turn around first. I was still totally oblivious! Then a few seconds later she told me to turn around. And there was Ryan, down on one knee holding the most beautiful ring I've ever seen in my life (<i>the exact ring I fell in love with in April but BIGGER</i>!) and asking me to be his wife. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-9stTef-d8zdhyphenhyphen-Cx3S4iQAN33PFUMK0so6qX8L8koz-j4_HhaDeqwhBMx22IyIVmOYMtBq5yYOlWK9wFrpaN9cz7wuOgv3z8hFjWXxZytOFZrdhR9b2dA03iTRc8ZBqAwz-xaybop_v-BqXdjc2V_ytZVMg0NVCXz4vGg_MnkJZ-0M5b9mAi0EVV8k/s1024/SarahsCamera-977.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-9stTef-d8zdhyphenhyphen-Cx3S4iQAN33PFUMK0so6qX8L8koz-j4_HhaDeqwhBMx22IyIVmOYMtBq5yYOlWK9wFrpaN9cz7wuOgv3z8hFjWXxZytOFZrdhR9b2dA03iTRc8ZBqAwz-xaybop_v-BqXdjc2V_ytZVMg0NVCXz4vGg_MnkJZ-0M5b9mAi0EVV8k/s16000/SarahsCamera-977.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbYiWfKw0-lZjH33jXOZ0FUA4glJEI_ryQI8e4n-Z0l6grK8CebU_p2qlL-kn3aL2mfkQLFrIyx4ceBJXmzNam-DK04GJz2yM_1d6AYlWjz6HC6dfLKomkLbL1VMFKC20SH9iGoPjs3MX9XL3oeFUM5PvHXi0O_78Qya-JEXWEj_S2KPr9bgOSUANyfY/s1024/SarahsCamera-978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbYiWfKw0-lZjH33jXOZ0FUA4glJEI_ryQI8e4n-Z0l6grK8CebU_p2qlL-kn3aL2mfkQLFrIyx4ceBJXmzNam-DK04GJz2yM_1d6AYlWjz6HC6dfLKomkLbL1VMFKC20SH9iGoPjs3MX9XL3oeFUM5PvHXi0O_78Qya-JEXWEj_S2KPr9bgOSUANyfY/s16000/SarahsCamera-978.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xu-kufybTAaME1Uto70WhyphenhyphenWsqRiyEgwOaQ-Fw8SWsXYex7QDz5cfAMS4zAl-c4SMp4gRCmHDwlYv8dYfiILJVet-6CkdCA3RyY62aCxbQ0YFtiI7FN6kuzSD96u5aZuykcNiPLC_FcLr_D0Cy4imtR8ObvPueAcLDqP2iGyvXOJTKE-hnvSXVvh06DM/s1024/SarahsCamera-979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xu-kufybTAaME1Uto70WhyphenhyphenWsqRiyEgwOaQ-Fw8SWsXYex7QDz5cfAMS4zAl-c4SMp4gRCmHDwlYv8dYfiILJVet-6CkdCA3RyY62aCxbQ0YFtiI7FN6kuzSD96u5aZuykcNiPLC_FcLr_D0Cy4imtR8ObvPueAcLDqP2iGyvXOJTKE-hnvSXVvh06DM/s16000/SarahsCamera-979.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> I absolutely </span><i style="text-align: left;">blacked out</i><span style="text-align: left;">. I truly felt like my soul and brain left my body. I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, I couldn't process. It's a miracle I didn't pass out and was able to keep breathing! I have truly never had a life experience quite like that before of pure and utter shock (the good type of shock that is!). The first thing I wondered is if I was asleep and dreaming, because the timing of this seemed so wild and absurd. There's no way I could be awake right? I never expected Ryan to propose in 2023!! There's no way this could actually be happening</span><i style="text-align: left;"> right now</i><span style="text-align: left;">! After wondering if I was dreaming or not, I saw a giant iPhone calendar emoji flash across my brain that said MARCH 2024 on it. π All I could think about is how this wasn't spring 2024 like I expected it to be! </span></div><p> Poor Ryan is still down on his knee for 10-20 seconds and I'm still so much in shock that I haven't even said yes yet! Poor guy! He finally smiled at me and said "...so will that be a yes?" I was still in too much shock to really talk, but I was able to muster what I hoped was an enthusiastic "<i>YES</i>!" Apparently I also said out loud "<i>But it's not March!</i>" I don't know what my hangup was with the month of March.... but I guess internally March 2024 is truly when I thought I'd be getting engaged? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rsg8SpdrPpzJ4IbIIeRtO5ECRxdjnWAKCAPz8XmkEvM2oiDe1zxgwOgy6jOLpU4SkWSljvz2zLMdgjI4SlBbVF_7BroQ9pwKZVmH5PS4qLEVwIIXyaQgybF0u2s5HuGKEVDd_4CgCkpGA96cqbuVvUBea9TtHQQ_9TYHnXdjOFNLeVDf4WR7p9wCzp0/s1024/SarahsCamera-980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rsg8SpdrPpzJ4IbIIeRtO5ECRxdjnWAKCAPz8XmkEvM2oiDe1zxgwOgy6jOLpU4SkWSljvz2zLMdgjI4SlBbVF_7BroQ9pwKZVmH5PS4qLEVwIIXyaQgybF0u2s5HuGKEVDd_4CgCkpGA96cqbuVvUBea9TtHQQ_9TYHnXdjOFNLeVDf4WR7p9wCzp0/s16000/SarahsCamera-980.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqNmlADPaA4bEK9HXLRa1ozhwKK1eYX2ISu-5he6nJOuMMbP695YAcL1HsdbZi28ARLP1oTtDj-tTe5agBnDgnb49okiDX9hf-lkVeAzDcQkZP6CNkYRlbQu_n2dqMrzFfo5mw1O56tywBPLckv_O6RvFMaURBj8gd_4gNbNyYA_T-aBzlLo6FGbsX1Y/s1024/SarahsCamera-981.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqNmlADPaA4bEK9HXLRa1ozhwKK1eYX2ISu-5he6nJOuMMbP695YAcL1HsdbZi28ARLP1oTtDj-tTe5agBnDgnb49okiDX9hf-lkVeAzDcQkZP6CNkYRlbQu_n2dqMrzFfo5mw1O56tywBPLckv_O6RvFMaURBj8gd_4gNbNyYA_T-aBzlLo6FGbsX1Y/s16000/SarahsCamera-981.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0-r1a-izoq0VfuvAlnwk0mAU08K2LTUSzX4TlwDef5EjkFCk3mckAkSFp-qQQH-C5SqojWWq6L6TmTrrZBGTs66SrdklTnMhPXGPaX0TE0yQ3mO8s-GEk3FG1S9y1PgHi3GWKkO-9R5Wfsd7K6oH3qcvIqNdGGV0zGf1nqK7svlqZv8aXUcGB2Opvy8/s1024/SarahsCamera-982.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0-r1a-izoq0VfuvAlnwk0mAU08K2LTUSzX4TlwDef5EjkFCk3mckAkSFp-qQQH-C5SqojWWq6L6TmTrrZBGTs66SrdklTnMhPXGPaX0TE0yQ3mO8s-GEk3FG1S9y1PgHi3GWKkO-9R5Wfsd7K6oH3qcvIqNdGGV0zGf1nqK7svlqZv8aXUcGB2Opvy8/s16000/SarahsCamera-982.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I leaned over finally to kiss Ryan after saying yes, and it was finally then that I had him put on the beautiful ring! I was in awe of how perfect it was. It was the exact ring I had fallen in love with at Adele Diamond back in the spring, but <i>bigger</i> and more beautiful! After the ring was on, I went into shock <i>again</i>, and spent awhile crouched on the ground trying to process the last few minutes! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgog3bVWFffTGSzuVXcxJzsVgTfqcAOlVq08dVS3ojnDLVSh2BR9P-tY99sYLG2YVs5MX2d-zAeGypY4pJe07iXbuVkuN39RCpBddKULqjhhTUk0uYohaghCLFq7qjl7aAKSR0QyuPKKmIf3I6-RzXT0M3dVhiSxDVyNCiN6ttndd9TqgUlQw6hCjDQHw/s1024/SarahsCamera-985.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgog3bVWFffTGSzuVXcxJzsVgTfqcAOlVq08dVS3ojnDLVSh2BR9P-tY99sYLG2YVs5MX2d-zAeGypY4pJe07iXbuVkuN39RCpBddKULqjhhTUk0uYohaghCLFq7qjl7aAKSR0QyuPKKmIf3I6-RzXT0M3dVhiSxDVyNCiN6ttndd9TqgUlQw6hCjDQHw/s16000/SarahsCamera-985.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZhqOtqCFQKeTmk2I2SjJXkrELprDZc8i82u99xCX2O1iBbwxMk73Wn8vgz9N9t3ilTMMRJEtxXH2g-st2fgNnz1OpSCG_DdAuYCXGT07-vHZZsDWjeZ7HrKEWKu7eZQ-5Er_r7d21AmKfyP6FSWkEhI80agAyK_CXrFQA0tEwyenEir6g36Ee06Ek_k/s1024/SarahsCamera-987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZhqOtqCFQKeTmk2I2SjJXkrELprDZc8i82u99xCX2O1iBbwxMk73Wn8vgz9N9t3ilTMMRJEtxXH2g-st2fgNnz1OpSCG_DdAuYCXGT07-vHZZsDWjeZ7HrKEWKu7eZQ-5Er_r7d21AmKfyP6FSWkEhI80agAyK_CXrFQA0tEwyenEir6g36Ee06Ek_k/s16000/SarahsCamera-987.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWewlWZaaXU_XCF8ySzVXyUI9a-8ogpReAzVaMRoYJtVeUisynKdMTuIUBZDg3eBuHarepOZoBpFX83FrvDu0YwzcMR0XvG0STSKz_-9zTROpLaNluC1L9qygfZwRvX_zSCKWuKQz_ePzuND-uior2UsOHOqGiOIlXz50lvRbM1y9BoMyVTsPN9hFGNI/s1024/SarahsCamera-989.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWewlWZaaXU_XCF8ySzVXyUI9a-8ogpReAzVaMRoYJtVeUisynKdMTuIUBZDg3eBuHarepOZoBpFX83FrvDu0YwzcMR0XvG0STSKz_-9zTROpLaNluC1L9qygfZwRvX_zSCKWuKQz_ePzuND-uior2UsOHOqGiOIlXz50lvRbM1y9BoMyVTsPN9hFGNI/s16000/SarahsCamera-989.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We then took a bunch more photos with Sarah to celebrate <i>being engaged</i>! I will truly treasure these photos for the rest of our lives. I was still in absolute shock!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyCYYi8G8bjE8REUAuqiiYh8FQOOueV178Hn-lAJoJedouThZxR0G57iHOWLXO_oreRdrs3SlySquVb87LAVqGs1s0qVcdWi1aNiXM6pMRAp-LhxzHAfNTlFRtrYOdY9jy_5qIp8pcsd6O0iJGxeE47VM3_aMLVN_tes7fgP_I9h64U4D12mIeuDYLKU/s1534/SarahsCamera-992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyCYYi8G8bjE8REUAuqiiYh8FQOOueV178Hn-lAJoJedouThZxR0G57iHOWLXO_oreRdrs3SlySquVb87LAVqGs1s0qVcdWi1aNiXM6pMRAp-LhxzHAfNTlFRtrYOdY9jy_5qIp8pcsd6O0iJGxeE47VM3_aMLVN_tes7fgP_I9h64U4D12mIeuDYLKU/s16000/SarahsCamera-992.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGAUMZJSjItrZdYAfKWcxXO4QMk6iu3XfoIeHqKKX2UipBGKAGcv7cH2YrDHpm_nxbeyIZX1Rm3IykVyfUPyNmJ3IVmK75htJ5n_8gaWtxsWFO2oi8M0M57Kn2V91NltYMF-otTD0AuSh2_Ec7_zXrGDPCur8UvwFjOxJnfZ4MUbS43sOy9y-z-Zhyow/s1534/SarahsCamera-994.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGAUMZJSjItrZdYAfKWcxXO4QMk6iu3XfoIeHqKKX2UipBGKAGcv7cH2YrDHpm_nxbeyIZX1Rm3IykVyfUPyNmJ3IVmK75htJ5n_8gaWtxsWFO2oi8M0M57Kn2V91NltYMF-otTD0AuSh2_Ec7_zXrGDPCur8UvwFjOxJnfZ4MUbS43sOy9y-z-Zhyow/s16000/SarahsCamera-994.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ4UK8BrAP13JbSIkzVeSw7WYbqCMeCx6PlmxlzJIt7EOIUz-JLYJsSpQflp9X2kEeysQuOpIiSb2qxO2Hb1Rc2s-D2Ysx8S-lkUofkfl1yeW-hTFQes2u4_Hu4cV-EbC3MSnwL28QlvtPnC4jI4cHoH0eUgjR36ijLxd7IXLfdjU3m4s1cMuojSVyFU/s1280/SarahsCamera-1002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ4UK8BrAP13JbSIkzVeSw7WYbqCMeCx6PlmxlzJIt7EOIUz-JLYJsSpQflp9X2kEeysQuOpIiSb2qxO2Hb1Rc2s-D2Ysx8S-lkUofkfl1yeW-hTFQes2u4_Hu4cV-EbC3MSnwL28QlvtPnC4jI4cHoH0eUgjR36ijLxd7IXLfdjU3m4s1cMuojSVyFU/s16000/SarahsCamera-1002.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm3uhyG0zF3cnN8rpyS_eDMyg0PEyF0cKFUgqKcKvRkUgL0yZEXX6aVSDLS4DiR7i2wnwGfrhocfE36LpBTuNEcMi08FKkNUQhWSXYa97QAeVZsW79pcAfn1-sBf8x1zCqphZbCzcpn6VIpGdamRqWbvAf-3SIFh1EcbE9a8rtJryM75l8Dx_jY_2HOU/s1534/SarahsCamera-1004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVm3uhyG0zF3cnN8rpyS_eDMyg0PEyF0cKFUgqKcKvRkUgL0yZEXX6aVSDLS4DiR7i2wnwGfrhocfE36LpBTuNEcMi08FKkNUQhWSXYa97QAeVZsW79pcAfn1-sBf8x1zCqphZbCzcpn6VIpGdamRqWbvAf-3SIFh1EcbE9a8rtJryM75l8Dx_jY_2HOU/s16000/SarahsCamera-1004.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQq1I6idPCnOkqyQAwYfbi3IzKlIFLG5xQKLgYkcYzbUR5Q7A-r9VYBqYOaKEpRicTES_v8In1sXKZ8FoMkaebKMnfJYh0kQvpmF8s_UK5Dvt3Z0BqzUdZczsdA3SyXFp8FGEIybjVp2cAmUOPTNo7IeTNERUuTcXy0ivvbeR8bmKqjIfCjBgjQhoC_Os/s1534/SarahsCamera-1006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQq1I6idPCnOkqyQAwYfbi3IzKlIFLG5xQKLgYkcYzbUR5Q7A-r9VYBqYOaKEpRicTES_v8In1sXKZ8FoMkaebKMnfJYh0kQvpmF8s_UK5Dvt3Z0BqzUdZczsdA3SyXFp8FGEIybjVp2cAmUOPTNo7IeTNERUuTcXy0ivvbeR8bmKqjIfCjBgjQhoC_Os/s16000/SarahsCamera-1006.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWly0SrSlqrdqTIxnwTa1UTsk0NN2Avgc61_eUsOSZOhIc4crJx95B5NU6OYeEoWxppxDaWyn59Fpr8FeMOtZU_fanaAmGAkTK88YWG-wT7deSXXTsKB61XXOUEVgMVyJBLAVpC03_KMVYZoWwQvx2V5ftx-2LrNpbzeXChT4PqeZZQn_BxTj6Uydy60s/s1534/SarahsCamera-1008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWly0SrSlqrdqTIxnwTa1UTsk0NN2Avgc61_eUsOSZOhIc4crJx95B5NU6OYeEoWxppxDaWyn59Fpr8FeMOtZU_fanaAmGAkTK88YWG-wT7deSXXTsKB61XXOUEVgMVyJBLAVpC03_KMVYZoWwQvx2V5ftx-2LrNpbzeXChT4PqeZZQn_BxTj6Uydy60s/s16000/SarahsCamera-1008.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And lastly, we had to take a special selfie inside of the tropical greenhouse at NBG! We came here for one of our early dates in April 2022, just a few days after Ryan had asked me to be his girlfriend. It was Ryan's first botanical garden trip, and we took a selfie in the greenhouse that ended up being one of the first photos that I ever shared of Ryan online! We had to recreate the selfie with my ring (and Sarah also captured us doing that which was so fun!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ24YHE9FsSNU1Ds88T2QZWgTIWV1_OyfBE77mvWfeGNEcgPGhrRwsrnQ5s12JrYyXQfkprtSAJ5k-_WDD4qxRmZZ1RcgZ1Hjqht9ls9oYPzCyCF44rWvSeqI-eBar-0JPkRRkCEUDsp7Ekt_mHlwaRii3lLVHbhe-1hQrxvFvzFJiZB6s7cEdWzJqeYM/s3088/IMG_8639.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ24YHE9FsSNU1Ds88T2QZWgTIWV1_OyfBE77mvWfeGNEcgPGhrRwsrnQ5s12JrYyXQfkprtSAJ5k-_WDD4qxRmZZ1RcgZ1Hjqht9ls9oYPzCyCF44rWvSeqI-eBar-0JPkRRkCEUDsp7Ekt_mHlwaRii3lLVHbhe-1hQrxvFvzFJiZB6s7cEdWzJqeYM/s16000/IMG_8639.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SS4N7Zy6Oj9RbVnjgF5-SYbgK4Btae2eovG9JDWVQOjPX95CsSdemoUUoH-QbLOKtZkfWR2sIIL2iek3HgB0AV7RvbJrGmjgU_sVEwMi8b2iyXuMEzDmL74jF5WSE_1Lfurul1jADhTswdJxz4es3d8GYc5F6ILYyBn-67a6wJwLjchN6eAlD4u5ed0/s3088/IMG_7134.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SS4N7Zy6Oj9RbVnjgF5-SYbgK4Btae2eovG9JDWVQOjPX95CsSdemoUUoH-QbLOKtZkfWR2sIIL2iek3HgB0AV7RvbJrGmjgU_sVEwMi8b2iyXuMEzDmL74jF5WSE_1Lfurul1jADhTswdJxz4es3d8GYc5F6ILYyBn-67a6wJwLjchN6eAlD4u5ed0/s16000/IMG_7134.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjim72Zq72NnG17Wa5ftQoxzXKaIgsDhupSgnBpVcGii0aCAqZafrzqU1i-cPlbOKsprHqaAB4B0eoaZ9YLvNNhtwNrE1QcERi6LtEfy-bJc5c2dixa0twUJmXdWdlX2I9urbt4GcVUb9yPNf9Ayay4r0pKV17xyyd6AJlKb1iFdvpq59JPhIssq-Oag/s1534/SarahsCamera-1012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjim72Zq72NnG17Wa5ftQoxzXKaIgsDhupSgnBpVcGii0aCAqZafrzqU1i-cPlbOKsprHqaAB4B0eoaZ9YLvNNhtwNrE1QcERi6LtEfy-bJc5c2dixa0twUJmXdWdlX2I9urbt4GcVUb9yPNf9Ayay4r0pKV17xyyd6AJlKb1iFdvpq59JPhIssq-Oag/s16000/SarahsCamera-1012.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div> Sarah then headed out, but we stayed a bit longer at NBG. We found a bench and that's when we called my parents and a couple of my best friends (some of them who didn't answer their phones for a few hours- ha!). I learned that Ryan had <i>only </i>told my parents and his parents. None of my friends knew about us getting engaged on this day. This is also when I contacted a couple of my coworkers at the radio station with the good news, because I knew I wanted to surprise Cash with the news the next morning. I had them start thinking of a plan for a way for me to share the news in the 8am hour of the show the next day. <div><br /></div><div> Then, Ryan had another surprise to tell me about! He had made us dinner reservations at Byrd & Baldwin, which is a very upscale steakhouse in Norfolk, VA. We had never been there before since it is so fancy, and I couldn't believe he took it upon himself to research such nice dining options and find this upscale spot for us to try! We got downtown a few minutes early for dinner, so we walked around outside by the Nauticus ship museum for a bit, and this is when we called Ryan's parents. I also took a ton of selfies and pictures of the ring on my phone. π<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsZWAKwIal4faGjJ6s6B1hil3QwF62OpPr3R1cEafWg73vyJHmD_NABhBWJnnmqYobr8lfIpxgcCW8jMUpcKCv5C3M3oRSksoRVfWJABWqzIs_68FDEPp3gQoiM_u5pABVmiojOP-b4xBT91X2iSbdmhBBFj5lJRelWgKrH_pVaS5uWJIxcGgeAyV9FA/s4032/IMG_7146.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsZWAKwIal4faGjJ6s6B1hil3QwF62OpPr3R1cEafWg73vyJHmD_NABhBWJnnmqYobr8lfIpxgcCW8jMUpcKCv5C3M3oRSksoRVfWJABWqzIs_68FDEPp3gQoiM_u5pABVmiojOP-b4xBT91X2iSbdmhBBFj5lJRelWgKrH_pVaS5uWJIxcGgeAyV9FA/s16000/IMG_7146.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyTAPEYkeM0hKoqP91uQv1S-17AWijJRVCkbJZxDvpZb_3tDKjRHWRNefE4BBMsJHZrVkfcAhxrreteY6LauxJAoGDgRypz28tIvWEJKBv1SvPC14WOHjmeLv-VSOZmKJyVw5KS_FCNw9R8CakzEp2xEPYPVMTq4f6gyiP79G6GitOaUgp_wNfg2mkng/s3088/IMG_7152%202.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyTAPEYkeM0hKoqP91uQv1S-17AWijJRVCkbJZxDvpZb_3tDKjRHWRNefE4BBMsJHZrVkfcAhxrreteY6LauxJAoGDgRypz28tIvWEJKBv1SvPC14WOHjmeLv-VSOZmKJyVw5KS_FCNw9R8CakzEp2xEPYPVMTq4f6gyiP79G6GitOaUgp_wNfg2mkng/s16000/IMG_7152%202.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9gKadgcwkZibs_vthscxr4rN_K3CJGrdMLOkp7pvbyV8jzH3h0sAihs5khcn1qBXESUcKPj9FPNEkQVC2yAbOB_7sFIAuiJlemBqs2iBNsPdi7Z2yceEeZTKPq9SFhZpzb-wNLgrW9Gjw05lBjug8jiZQVRV63aQlYY1y9OIyZakMsEjKpKTV33h_a8/s4032/IMG_7149.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9gKadgcwkZibs_vthscxr4rN_K3CJGrdMLOkp7pvbyV8jzH3h0sAihs5khcn1qBXESUcKPj9FPNEkQVC2yAbOB_7sFIAuiJlemBqs2iBNsPdi7Z2yceEeZTKPq9SFhZpzb-wNLgrW9Gjw05lBjug8jiZQVRV63aQlYY1y9OIyZakMsEjKpKTV33h_a8/s16000/IMG_7149.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then it was time for our dinner reservation at Byrd & Baldwin. What a fantastic dinner experience! I was so touched that the staff had all signed a congratulatory card for us and offered us complimentary glasses of champagne. The food was all excellent. We had Greek salads, steaks with blue cheese on top, and for dessert I had key lime pie and Ryan had cheesecake. (I wasn't able to get any good photos of the food, but you'll have to take my word that it was great!) This is definitely not a cheap restaurant, but it was certainly a special choice for such a milestone meal. I hope we can return someday for an anniversary or other notable occasion! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9kcSx05I2lBmQQFii3aP7KL0h1Bag-8DtlWGrQQ0AXLeaP99iOg-lIcPUVz_Nr2CnRL3_fl1AgCHt3tCaYszrtkLdhnuVlUdmIxAfASb8u9teo0hxechmEiv0op3fDqax2yDAi_V_fm_xxvgsHsgUAd6U8GlCIcjAHqK3wNPDzC-KXFJTSoUSjyZWFw/s4032/IMG_7159.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9kcSx05I2lBmQQFii3aP7KL0h1Bag-8DtlWGrQQ0AXLeaP99iOg-lIcPUVz_Nr2CnRL3_fl1AgCHt3tCaYszrtkLdhnuVlUdmIxAfASb8u9teo0hxechmEiv0op3fDqax2yDAi_V_fm_xxvgsHsgUAd6U8GlCIcjAHqK3wNPDzC-KXFJTSoUSjyZWFw/s16000/IMG_7159.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2qrYLnWZR93DOq2vx0VuCMXCMMmgUo0EQRNoHDwMHBvtU17_JM83LEgWUNYhUVTtPUGRXDxyuXlUg4ZOQEh0tRmpK91KdeqftFMTYDP6CSP74wzGD7bngum7tcFfMg5jnLyrHneZwnGvnxkOb94a8m25ICVx5WP3wz6OktE0YAA3Ge8YcA9AdMy6Xmk/s4032/IMG_7161.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2qrYLnWZR93DOq2vx0VuCMXCMMmgUo0EQRNoHDwMHBvtU17_JM83LEgWUNYhUVTtPUGRXDxyuXlUg4ZOQEh0tRmpK91KdeqftFMTYDP6CSP74wzGD7bngum7tcFfMg5jnLyrHneZwnGvnxkOb94a8m25ICVx5WP3wz6OktE0YAA3Ge8YcA9AdMy6Xmk/s16000/IMG_7161.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVrz_1NMFO71E2hj69W7AgRAKTCz16AWvACd2IBsF3oHZ6l03tqMjA5MentZCnXx4VxaVS2a-Ck8ilmRTXNWSSrLzBeB7qSPj7B0HRW6EHfpZE78xl2lDluKIrUEVWpedfXQVoQ_guWIdivNjqEiEZ8qDqWpZ9ARGzkIjb8lLmeKXx4_yXNe0j2WMVQM/s4032/IMG_7164.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVrz_1NMFO71E2hj69W7AgRAKTCz16AWvACd2IBsF3oHZ6l03tqMjA5MentZCnXx4VxaVS2a-Ck8ilmRTXNWSSrLzBeB7qSPj7B0HRW6EHfpZE78xl2lDluKIrUEVWpedfXQVoQ_guWIdivNjqEiEZ8qDqWpZ9ARGzkIjb8lLmeKXx4_yXNe0j2WMVQM/s16000/IMG_7164.heic" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> By the time we got home after dinner, I only had about an hour before bedtime to tell most of my friends and extended family the good news. In an ideal world, I would've been able to keep the news private for a few days and then have the time to call or Facetime the news for a lot more people than I did. But the clock was ticking before bedtime, and I had so many friends that I wanted to invite to listen in to the big announcement on my morning show the next day. So time was of the essence! I quickly texted a <i>ton</i> of friends, promising the full story to come at another time, but in the meantime letting everyone know about what time to listen in to the radio the next day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I finally got into bed around 10pm (way later than normal!), and I think I got about two hours of sleep! I was still in so much shock. I just couldn't get my brain to shut off! (I did crack up watching Delilah sleep so soundly on the edge of my bed through the whole night.) I finally gave up on sleep around 2:30am and decided to just stay awake another hour until it was time to get ready for work. I started responding to texts that had come in late, and I responded to a group text that Ryan was also in. We have separate bedrooms in our apartment, but he was also awake in his room and saw me respond to a text. He came into my room, and we cuddled in bed for about an hour. And just got to talk and relive the joy of the last 12 hours. This might've been my favorite memory after the actual proposal moment itself. He finally went back to his own room to get more sleep when I had to get ready for work. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Thanks to the help of some of my coworkers, I was able to pull off my plan and surprise Cash with the news on-air! You can see the video of that <a href="https://www.973eagle.com/2023/11/21/how-annaliese-told-cash-shes-engaged/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Last thing from me before I turn this over for Ryan's side of the story. I wanted to share my outfit details! <a href="https://bit.ly/3SIGiuT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My dress</a> was a recent under $20 Walmart find! I had ordered a sweater dress that I had seen a couple other bloggers wear, and I added this black watch plaid dress to my cart as well to try to hit the free shipping minimum. The sweater dress ended up not working out, but I loved the plaid dress! I thought it would be great for Christmas card photos. I have been cracking up that I got engaged in a <a href="https://bit.ly/3SIGiuT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart dress </a>instead of a Lilly Pulitzer dress like I always imagined. π My <a href="https://bit.ly/481UNhz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">over-the-knee boots</a> are a longtime Amazon favorite, and I added some flattering shape to the dress with a <a href="https://bit.ly/47MHhyf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tory Burch belt</a>. My earrings were old Kate Spade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Okay! Time to turn it over to Ryan for his perspective!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> I knew I wanted to marry Annaliese well before I made the decision to purchase a ring and plan a proposal. Annaliese and I had an agreement (in the spring of 2023) that she could start βshoppingβ around at jewelers to figure out what sort of ring she wanted. This way gave me confidence in what I was purchasing was going to be something she loved, but also enough wiggle room to add my own touches to the ring. </i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"> The ring was purchased in July 2023. I did not get possession of the ring until late August. Since I proposed in late November, there was a lot of time in between to give me a chance to find a great moment to propose. I had a lot of different ideas, some good, some terrible. It even crossed my mind (silly enough) to propose in our kitchen, just so I could get it over with. Not that it was something I didnβt want to do, but the nerves of wanting to propose and starting that next chapter made me so eager I just didnβt want to wait at points. But Iβm glad I did because waiting for the right moment was every bit worth it in my opinion. I did consider </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>proposing</i><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><i> when Annaliese and I went to visit her hometown in Maine in September. But I knew that trip would be busy with sightseeing and meeting a lot of Annaliese's extended family, so I changed my mind and decided to propose sometime after the Maine trip. </i>(Annaliese here- so glad Ryan didn't propose in Maine! He's right, it ended up being such a <i>busy </i>trip! We barely had time to ourselves.)</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Within that time of having the ring before proposing, the best idea for a proposal in my head that wasn't in Maine was to propose at the local botanical garden. The botanical garden was one of the few spots that we shared time together from the very beginning of our relationship. We are also members of the garden so we can visit as </span>often<span style="font-family: inherit;"> as we want to, without paying admission each visit. Since I decided that was one of the best ideas to propose, I started to come up with a game plan. The plan was to initiate a date each month for us to go for a walk at the botanical garden. This way, she wouldnβt be as suspicious if I suggested botanical garden as a reason to go there. I was playing the long game. When we would go for walks each month, Iβd be curious what her favorite spots were so that way I could find the best available spots to propose when the time was right. This process took almost 3 months alone. I was getting worried that the weather was starting to change, and I needed to find a way to get a photographer set up unbeknownst to herβ¦and fast. I didn't want to propose at the botanical garden in the winter.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> It was such a blessing that Annaliese approached me with the idea of Christmas cards. I knew right away when she suggested we do them with a photographer that itβd be a great idea to suggest the botanical garden as the spot we take them. Sometimes things just fall into place the way theyβre intended. In a way, it was a sign that this was the moment that my life story was giving me to start that new chapter. </i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">It is truly so surreal to be sharing my proposal story with the love of my life on my blog, after</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><i style="background-color: transparent;">almost a decade</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> of blogging about singleness and dating struggles. I am so thankful to God for the blessing of having Ryan in my life! If you are in a season of feeling very discouraged about dating, please know that I have</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><i style="background-color: transparent;">been there</i><span style="background-color: transparent;">. In fact, I was there for the better part of a decade. If this is you, I'd like to encourage you to read</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3xY5Zfk" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">this blog post</a><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">that I wrote last year! It's all about what steps I took to finally boost my confidence with dating and continue to put myself out there both on dating apps and in-person. I hope it is an encouragement to anyone who is feeling hopeless about modern dating. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> xoxo A</div><div><br /></div></div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-90879900938536229372023-12-01T05:00:00.004-05:002023-12-01T05:00:00.131-05:00{Monthly} Midweek Ramblings: November 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">November 2023:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GC3sbQreIFIvbj6ZswfJeD-4urxjjSF0b1BFmlygm4wqa9NcxBAso1PoDMHKbwxoZ93oGIsTf4igSOIgqjRKFu-BS4ngz9LUo7oJdjJzXV21ZERVPvplEqDN1bo5MBvc-VKfdeEiZVoSwFYv2pzRwnDwN-nlGy3pfPVXlAVMivbPgfNdoc3oQ0vfyL8/s2048/404275224_876730647324802_7964975821200049282_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GC3sbQreIFIvbj6ZswfJeD-4urxjjSF0b1BFmlygm4wqa9NcxBAso1PoDMHKbwxoZ93oGIsTf4igSOIgqjRKFu-BS4ngz9LUo7oJdjJzXV21ZERVPvplEqDN1bo5MBvc-VKfdeEiZVoSwFYv2pzRwnDwN-nlGy3pfPVXlAVMivbPgfNdoc3oQ0vfyL8/s16000/404275224_876730647324802_7964975821200049282_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Highs of the Month:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Obviously <i><a href="https://bit.ly/47HHanv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">getting engaged to the love of my life</a></i>!! The best moment of my entire life. I had no idea we were getting engaged this month either, so it was also the surprise of my life! I haven't had time just yet to finish the full proposal story for a blog post, but hopefully soon. </li><li>The most wonderful <a href="https://bit.ly/3SHOATA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">weekend trip to St. Pete, FL</a> to visit my blogging friend Gentry and her family! It was such a fun and restful weekend with lots of good girl time. I thought it would be the absolute highlight of November....but now it's in the number two spot after getting engaged. π</li><li>So many friends acknowledging our engagement and sending us cards and gifts. Gift giving is my top love language, so being on the receiving end of so much love (after years of trying to do this for other friends who have hit this milestone) is just really special and nice.</li><li>I try to keep it to just three highs for each month- but this month truly had so many good things. I have to add a bonus high! I found out some exciting career news at the start of November, which I can hopefully share publicly sometime in early December! </li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lows of the Month:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>After a wonderful four months pain-free, my hip bursitis came back for two weeks randomly in mid-November. Not only was it super annoying to have hip pain again, but it made me so nervous that it might be become a chronic issue for me. It finally went away this week after a lot of meds and resuming some of my PT exercises, but I'm just so nervous I'll always be dealing with this now. </li><li>A gigantic health insurance hassle that I had to resolve. A doctor's office that I'm a patient of was dropped from in-network to out-of-network by my insurance. I had a pre-existing appointment at the end of November, and it was such a headache with my insurance to have to request an exemption for continuation of care for this. I was able to work it out, but geez! Insurance is just the worst. </li><li>Already having some stressful conversations related to wedding planning. We aren't jumping into planning fully until 2024 / after the holidays, but already there have been a couple of tough convos. (From what I gather though from talking with married friends- this is totally normal! π)</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>November Weekend Recaps:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-size: large;">3rd - 5th: </i>A rare quiet weekend for me! It was so needed after so many weekends traveling in September in October. Ryan and I had a fun date night on Friday night by going to a Norfolk Admirals hockey game. They were playing the Maine Mariners, the minor league hockey team from my home state! We hit up Crumbl cookies after the game for a later evening treat to take home. I was very lazy on Saturday and spent a lot of time reading and watching the new season of Selling Sunset. We went to church on Sunday, and then started setting up Christmas decorations at home (since I'd be out of town the next weekend). </li><li><i style="font-size: large;">10th-12th: </i>The best girls' weekend visiting my dear blogging friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlmeetsbow/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gentry</a> in St. Pete, FL! I recapped our whole weekend in <a href="https://bit.ly/3SHOATA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this blog post</a>, but it was so much fun. We tried some cool local restaurants, had a spa day, and I got to visit my first Florida beach! It was so wonderful to see Gentry after almost five years since we had seen each other last. I am so glad I did this trip because Gentry was a friend that I really wanted to visit before I was engaged / wedding planning (and had to pass on as many weekend trips as I did this year for saving for a wedding). I had no idea I'd be getting engaged literally the next weekend! π</li><li><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;">17th-19th: </span><span>On Friday afternoon, Ryan and I went for a walk at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (it's free entry November-March). On Saturday morning, I went to a workout class and then did groceries. I cooked dinner for Ryan and I at home, and then we did something totally random: we had a painting night!! I got out some of my old paint supplies from my closet and we each had fun being creative and making paintings. (So random because we have never done a craft project together before!) On Sunday, we went to church and then came home for a few hours where I took my time getting ready for our "Christmas card photos," which turned out to be my surprise proposal!!! π I am so excited to share that full story on the blog soon. I got about two hours of sleep on Sunday night from the shock and excitement!</span></li><li><i style="font-size: large;">24th-26th: </i>Thanksgiving Weekend! On Friday morning I ran out to Bath & Body Works to stock up on soaps and hand sanitizer. I prefer to get those things in person so I can smell them, rather than order online. I then did some online shopping back at home before we got ready to leave for NC. We took a day trip to the Outer Banks (two hours south) to visit with Ryan's extended family who spent Thanksgiving Week down there. It was a beautiful day and we got to enjoy a nice beach walk and family time. On Saturday morning, I took Ryan's brother's girlfriend to a local outdoor Christmas market for Small Business Saturday. That evening, I went to the Miracle Christmas pop-up bar in Norfolk with Junior League friends. That was the first time I'd seen friends since getting engaged which was fun! On Sunday, I went to church and then chilled out at home the rest of the day (the weather was horrible). </li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>November Purchases:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Lots of purchases to share this month since Black Friday / Cyber Monday just hit! First and foremost-<a href="https://bit.ly/3SIGiuT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> the dress</a> that I ended up getting proposed to in! A random buy that ended up being such a great find. </li><li>I actually ended up ordering the dress that I want to wear for our engagement photos next year on Black Friday, since it was pretty discounted! I don't want to share the exact dress now, but it's from <a href="https://bit.ly/3uEgJ3V" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this new-to-me brand</a>!</li><li>I ordered this <a href="https://bit.ly/3GHjYup" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cute white top</a> that I feel like I'll get a ton of use out of in the months to come with being engaged! </li><li>Had to stock up on more of <a href="https://bit.ly/3Gsvvxa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my all-time favorite everyday cardigans</a> when they were marked down well for Black Friday.</li><li>I also got a <a href="https://bit.ly/3SZZt3l" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">matching shell</a> to go with one of my new cardigans. I think this will get a ton of use.</li><li>I've long since wanted to order <a href="https://bit.ly/3RmuIUY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this mug</a> whenever I got engaged, so it worked out so well to get engaged Black Friday week and have it be on sale.</li><li>I stocked up on my absolute <a href="https://bit.ly/3SAYars" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">favorite face moisturizer</a> while it was on sale. It's a splurge at full price but so, so good!</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>November Blog Posts:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3Sqjj7p">HOTEL GUIDE: Kimpton The Forum Hotel in Charlottesville, VA</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3SHOATA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Travel Diary: 48 Hours in St. Pete, FL</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/47HHanv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We Are ENGAGED!!!!!</a> </li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3SOV1nY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Black Friday Sales 2023 + What I Plan To Buy</a></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div><div><br /></div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-73585644109045281972023-11-24T08:57:00.003-05:002023-11-25T22:36:02.377-05:00Black Friday Sales 2023 + What I Plan to Buy<p> Happy Black Friday!! Historically, this is one of my favorite days of the entire year. I went shopping at the mall every single year from 2007-2021 without fail. By 2021 I started to realize that I think my days of getting up early and braving the crowds were coming to an end, but I still really look forward to Black Friday shopping online of course! (As well as Small Business Saturday!) </p><p> Here's a list of all the deals from my favorite stores! I also am including a small business section too sine I have really grown to love Small Business Saturday. Stay tuned at the bottom too for what I am planning to purchase or have already purchased. </p><p> As always- I can't thank you enough for shopping through these affiliate links in my blog post! It means the world to have blog readers support my website simply by using my affiliate links.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr3L0xpw4-Kvaq2HF_aac_hwe3oQgX-Xz7mzLhMkH5_h2QBTpUEQqsYA0Hwde9vhgc0dRa_Z6r11fn_kOF6W-D5ecsL3apJ8efigDoyr00yoGk48Hag55KDtkVrt3P_YXAuBvndlpzVkHUOCGBC-AFBda_itW2RMRc6XywGjTWeu83Uy-ktUETUdRxlI/s4032/76EB76B7-9C30-4880-BBDD-EFC7F767C558_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr3L0xpw4-Kvaq2HF_aac_hwe3oQgX-Xz7mzLhMkH5_h2QBTpUEQqsYA0Hwde9vhgc0dRa_Z6r11fn_kOF6W-D5ecsL3apJ8efigDoyr00yoGk48Hag55KDtkVrt3P_YXAuBvndlpzVkHUOCGBC-AFBda_itW2RMRc6XywGjTWeu83Uy-ktUETUdRxlI/s16000/76EB76B7-9C30-4880-BBDD-EFC7F767C558_1_201_a.heic" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><br /><p></p><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: justify;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3sOseFy" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">*Abercrombie</a><i style="font-family: inherit;"> - 25% off everything! Also use LTK code CYBERAF for an extra discount.</i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="max-width: 100%; transition-duration: 0.25s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3sD2CeJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Aerie</a><i> - The year's best deals on various items.</i></span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="max-width: 100%; transition-duration: 0.25s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3uqkfyJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Ann Taylor</a></span><i> - 50% off everything. Until 12pm on 11/24, extra 15% off orders $200+ with code <b>CYBER</b>.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3uqkfyJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Baublebar </a><i>- 30% off sitewide. Special $10 deals additionally. </i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="max-width: 100%; transition-duration: 0.25s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-out;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3RaHyp7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Barrington Gifts</a></span><i> - Use code <b>HOHOHO </b>for 15% off purchases up to $200, 20% off $200+, and 25% off $400+! </i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*<a href="https://bit.ly/3RbU8Vc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bath & Body Works </a><i>- Buy 3, get 3 free.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bedheadpjs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Bedhead Pajamas </a><i>- Take 15% off one item, 20% off two items, 25% off three or more items.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*<a href="https://dashingdiva.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dashing Diva Nails </a><i>- 40% off Premium styles.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*<a href="https://dazzledry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dazzle Dry Nail Polish</a><i> - 25% off sitewide.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*<a href="https://www.impressbeauty.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ImPRESS Nails</a> -<i> 40% off everything.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3sSi86j" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*J. Crew</a> <i>- Up to 50% off everything.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3sIMFDL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*J. Crew Factory </a><i>- 50-70% off everything, free shipping. Use code <b>FRIDAYFUN</b> for $10 off every $50 spent.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3R9Bz44" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Kendra Scott</a><i> - 40% off fashion jewelry.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3Re7bpj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Lilly Pulitzer</a><i> - 30% off all purchases for Club Lilly members, 25% off for non-members.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3R8G6nc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*LOFT</a><i> - 50% off everything.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">*<a href="https://bit.ly/3umLVo6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lulu's </a><i>- 20% off sitewide.</i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>*</i><a href="https://bit.ly/47Kf6zV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Madewell </a><i>- 50% off everything. Use code </i><b>LETSGO</b>.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>*</i><a href="https://bit.ly/3GadmV5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Old Navy </a><i>- 50% off sidewide.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>*</i><a href="https://bit.ly/3sIws1p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ole Henriksen (my favorite skincare)</a> - <i>30% off sitewide.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>*</i><a href="https://bit.ly/48vjx2W" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Palm Beach Sandals </a><i>- Buy 3 sandals, get 1 free.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/49KZsGh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Sugar Lips</a><i> - 30% off sitewide.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>*</i><a href="https://bit.ly/49QD3Y2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Talbots</a><i> - Take 50% off one item, 40% off everything else purchased.</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3uvkGbe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">*Vera Bradley </a><i>- 30% off everything, including sale styles.</i></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Small Businesses: </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><a href="https://dunejewelry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dune Jewelry</a> - <i>10% off orders $75+</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://bit.ly/47sm8tw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Evelyn Henson</a><i> - 15% off sitewide with code SHOPSMALL15.</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://jolieami.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jolie Amie Accessories</a> <i>- Up to 50% off sitewide.</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://letslovetocook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Let's Love to Cook</a> <i>- 30% off sitewide + free shipping.</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+LtPvWn03Sv_sR0rtYuGFKA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lisi Lerch</a> <i>- 40-60% off sitewide</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://newhopegirls.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Hope Girls</a><i><a href="https://newhopegirls.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>- 30% off sitewide</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://rstyle.me/+YtwKxTIi4BHwDqcSCnPubg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Splash of Pink</a> <i>- 30% off sitewide</i></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div> <i>What I plan to buy:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><ul><li>I've been looking at <a href="https://bit.ly/3N2uuzJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this dress</a> for quite awhile for one of two events I have next spring (either a formal work event or a wedding). This is the lowest price I've seen it at! </li></ul><ul><li>For years now I've dreamed of treating myself to this adorable <a href="https://bit.ly/3SW7aro" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mug</a> if I got engaged... and since it's Black Friday I just have to get it!</li></ul><ul><li>Stocking up on <a href="https://bit.ly/3MXU6hd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my absolute favorite skincare line</a>! It's not cheap and this is one of the rare times of the year that it's really on sale.</li></ul><div><ul><li>True story: I was planning to buy the dress I wanted to wear for engagement photos on Black Friday this year, because I hadn't seen it on sale before and have been tracking for a few months. (Even though I truly didn't think Ryan and I would be engaged until 2024! Haha!!) Now that we did get engaged I feel like I <i>have</i> to get it. π I don't want to link the exact dress, but it's from this <a href="https://bit.ly/49KZsGh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new-to-me brand</a>!</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Happy shopping!! (And thank you again for all the congratulations <a href="https://bit.ly/47HHanv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on my big news</a> earlier this week!)</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese </div><div><br /></div></div></div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-76889027927698750622023-11-21T05:00:00.006-05:002024-01-16T08:53:32.458-05:00We are ENGAGED!!!!!<p> I cannot believe I get to share the most happy news of my life with you on the blog today! It did not feel real typing out the title for this blog post. (Yes, five exclamation points in the title were 100% necessary!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfltTurV-RAUQYJFT_eADtWDdm1Rq4UedYca2iPJwm4oCmRi1SipQtWGc8tJSoL1hIXvARayN01DIn-UUSna8UwXy4bGMfEH1VlcdFgiPSDKB75-ssS9gm8GJIIsCEqTAFip2ixIsOpNEAS7WxQSV4iAHTl0qthvEMZny8ttj6la9hj9GTVe8MLgz2sZU/s3008/DSC_8506.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2008" data-original-width="3008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfltTurV-RAUQYJFT_eADtWDdm1Rq4UedYca2iPJwm4oCmRi1SipQtWGc8tJSoL1hIXvARayN01DIn-UUSna8UwXy4bGMfEH1VlcdFgiPSDKB75-ssS9gm8GJIIsCEqTAFip2ixIsOpNEAS7WxQSV4iAHTl0qthvEMZny8ttj6la9hj9GTVe8MLgz2sZU/s16000/DSC_8506.HEIC" /></a></div><p> <span></span></p><a name='more'></a> On Sunday, November 19th 2023, Ryan asked me to marry him. I was completely surprised and mind-blown. (<i>I thought we were just doing Christmas card photos... that I had set up! </i>π) Ryan proposing in the middle of the photoshoot truly felt like an out-of-body experience and it's still hard for me to describe how I felt in that moment! I will try to share the full proposal story here on the blog next week. (<i>Perhaps that will be my first official "Wedding Wednesday" blog post?! Eeeek!</i>) But for today, I just wanted a quick post to share the incredible news, and to share a couple of these preview photos from our photographer. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1DnAdGbbaFdGqOhnEQD-p3dBdg-PKP9sijw3GunHiEDz7gamc8LLHFPfQ83v9OdXb0dvlVDuwKv2Bt9R5oMmnCsw2Yf6dvkHdtrAFC0TyltXg1UJKfek1IHwJRXGZgzDksieTYWmN6AwvJ3pdXJZ8ya8GkF19w78P-pqih4sKfGjvrq9hwCp6kHUbmU/s2729/DSC_8518.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="2729" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1DnAdGbbaFdGqOhnEQD-p3dBdg-PKP9sijw3GunHiEDz7gamc8LLHFPfQ83v9OdXb0dvlVDuwKv2Bt9R5oMmnCsw2Yf6dvkHdtrAFC0TyltXg1UJKfek1IHwJRXGZgzDksieTYWmN6AwvJ3pdXJZ8ya8GkF19w78P-pqih4sKfGjvrq9hwCp6kHUbmU/s16000/DSC_8518.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> I cannot believe I get to go into Thanksgiving Week 2023 feeling like the luckiest girl in the world! And that I am a <i>fiancΓ©</i>!! Ryan is an answer to many years of prayers for my future husband (really more like decades worth of prayers), and I am so humbled that God gave me the blessing of being his wife someday. </p><p><br /></p><p> More to share soon!</p><p><br /></p><p> God Bless,</p><p><br /></p><p> xoxo from Miss ALK... to the Future Mrs. ALM π</p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-65370050913489162562023-11-15T05:00:00.006-05:002023-11-15T05:00:00.129-05:00Travel Diary: 48 Hours in St. Pete, FL<p> Last weekend, I made a quick trip to Florida! It had been close to five years since I last saw my good friend from blogging, <a href="https://www.girlmeetsbowblog.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gentry from Girl Meets Bow</a>. Gentry is a Florida native, and I was excited to visit her home city of St. Pete, FL for the first time. 48 hours isn't nearly enough time to do everything that St. Pete has to offer, but Gentry did show me many of the local highlights! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK8Ur_bEkx-WRMda7bBohMpd96u7xDBC5cueNCucdD3-TDygkAYfkrbcDxaICrHnGmHmse_q6Xg2D8W56zrcYAuUQtn_ZTBgYcd8EjPkcqOyb9zumGr6zNlD6YFnktG83cmUi7KlE22VgL9NjhBiMFdCI6xI6U6Q7kDrHkCrmnLTFKLxugT05RM4mJ9M/s4032/IMG_6866.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK8Ur_bEkx-WRMda7bBohMpd96u7xDBC5cueNCucdD3-TDygkAYfkrbcDxaICrHnGmHmse_q6Xg2D8W56zrcYAuUQtn_ZTBgYcd8EjPkcqOyb9zumGr6zNlD6YFnktG83cmUi7KlE22VgL9NjhBiMFdCI6xI6U6Q7kDrHkCrmnLTFKLxugT05RM4mJ9M/s16000/IMG_6866.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> St. Pete is part of the Tampa, FL metro area on Florida's Gulf Coast, and is Tampa's neighboring city. St. Pete does have its own downtown, and it was much bigger than I expected! There are also tons of residential neighborhoods, some really nice boutique hotels, and of course lots of beautiful Florida beaches. There is a small airport serving St. Pete and Clearwater (another neighboring city), but I opted to fly into the nearby Tampa airport. It's much bigger, and there are direct flights to Norfolk VA from there! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Check out the amazing flamingo installation at the main terminal of the Tampa airport! Isn't this just the coolest?! What a great welcome to Florida! Also- love that fact that Gentry and I unintentionally both wore <a href="https://bit.ly/3unHOIk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lilly Pulitzer dresses</a> and had our <a href="https://bit.ly/2XQUoeR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barrington totes</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbwRKPCQ0CcHbuPrm_Hb8BssDSrnWG7yXfyOyNAWE5kLr0GxjPc8nw7u3UNIQyDxSe9h5MkBviR8YgupGVIPNO2255YusncTnJ_DQ7azIJW0pjghct2x656WNYUei9hyphenhyphenf9uD1sZfPVP8zcm5eqRmJ2XvGoLlfLWWH-IYrk-9xyTRIp5jUFVCH_J9cpuQ/s4032/IMG_6779.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbwRKPCQ0CcHbuPrm_Hb8BssDSrnWG7yXfyOyNAWE5kLr0GxjPc8nw7u3UNIQyDxSe9h5MkBviR8YgupGVIPNO2255YusncTnJ_DQ7azIJW0pjghct2x656WNYUei9hyphenhyphenf9uD1sZfPVP8zcm5eqRmJ2XvGoLlfLWWH-IYrk-9xyTRIp5jUFVCH_J9cpuQ/s16000/IMG_6779.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> St. Pete has a thriving local dining scene. Gentry told me that St. Pete has many more local restaurants vs. chains, and I definitely saw that to be true. Here are the spots we went to during my trip:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cali<i> (190 37th Ave. N) - </i>A great spot for takeout or to sit-down. They have a diverse menu featuring wraps, pizza and bowls. I got the Spicy Brazilian bowl for lunch and it was fantastic! It kind of reminded me of a Mediterranean bowl at a place like Cava or Mezeh, but with tasty Brazilian flavors instead. </li><li>Paul's Landing <i>(in the Vinoy Hotel, 501 5th Ave. NE) - </i>We had dinner here on the first night I visited. This elevated casual spot is located right by the pool at the luxurious Vinoy Hotel. If you opt for an outside table, you'll probably have great views of the St. Pete downtown skyline! They have a varied menu with everything from sandwiches to steak and seafood. I also loved my cocktail here. </li><li>Social Roost <i>(150 1st Ave. N) - </i>Gentry and I had lunch here after I flew in, and I think this was my favorite food spot of the trip! The decor of the restaurant is immaculate and so Instagrammable. The food was also fantastic. had the chicken pot pie which was light and delicious. They also have some all-day brunch items on their menu, which is fun if you're in the mood for that. </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzgu3EcFgdooHqehKL3YTZIH_kvqCxUcKAnvdkA33UBWPeOPR_Cu-Oz7Y6sDpQjpn83-ZftdfXIdR68ZTM2KSqhabGy8cm_DaXQ16lTaqOpLyz_Vjhxn3KqqW1nmeWWNNSmj8p5msT7VK7czMjTe5CbKurRzROx8-VON7lczUAgOMp8bltQypOtYJXv8/s4032/IMG_6782.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzgu3EcFgdooHqehKL3YTZIH_kvqCxUcKAnvdkA33UBWPeOPR_Cu-Oz7Y6sDpQjpn83-ZftdfXIdR68ZTM2KSqhabGy8cm_DaXQ16lTaqOpLyz_Vjhxn3KqqW1nmeWWNNSmj8p5msT7VK7czMjTe5CbKurRzROx8-VON7lczUAgOMp8bltQypOtYJXv8/s16000/IMG_6782.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Social Roost</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuausFbBQPsfXg0PqQG76eRtz1Pla_QhgrFdRutIwrYe5bVg94TaKhGaPf44rP8DJImpGvDnKnCSjbJPFWFcgR3n2GvDUfTEA4muFX4S6S8vEjhdwmtdSR6XDpIEsFm4H7jp9hm2bvV6wQUIopbOJYC33XUP4lXEfSgMhlZsZWnrkZ7cu1zcX63ye97g/s4032/IMG_6783.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuausFbBQPsfXg0PqQG76eRtz1Pla_QhgrFdRutIwrYe5bVg94TaKhGaPf44rP8DJImpGvDnKnCSjbJPFWFcgR3n2GvDUfTEA4muFX4S6S8vEjhdwmtdSR6XDpIEsFm4H7jp9hm2bvV6wQUIopbOJYC33XUP4lXEfSgMhlZsZWnrkZ7cu1zcX63ye97g/s16000/IMG_6783.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Social Roost</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk-jsFpl1LhD2bv5PJ6SHh3Vi7aQQIFgYpneRf7r0Tc2LbeaiB5Qf0u6QjrQVyUb1gIVIeGFyhycFDbQZfNUvBbwV5LcmLjhcZEhqGup1KzAJkART77CZgnDb0dKA_0y2aPiMIoEbu7zTEgz_LPt3xUoIErVmU2bP-JwRl6rueG5YQKnXVGTdrNqait8/s4032/IMG_6844.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk-jsFpl1LhD2bv5PJ6SHh3Vi7aQQIFgYpneRf7r0Tc2LbeaiB5Qf0u6QjrQVyUb1gIVIeGFyhycFDbQZfNUvBbwV5LcmLjhcZEhqGup1KzAJkART77CZgnDb0dKA_0y2aPiMIoEbu7zTEgz_LPt3xUoIErVmU2bP-JwRl6rueG5YQKnXVGTdrNqait8/s16000/IMG_6844.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's Landing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJNar8XemnmeICNSR7FASRLfmfO3IvvZbcqXh5lqkSBIUOLRgW3wKYE7dVF-otbqHzR6wUcDm2Oib-DRuKUEn8enTHTBUL8GFLtR9DHteC9MHPvFIZ-OGz1MbRGdn_mSCcWzo62JbUZK5xri7fxbzoDpdmRkO047lJOZ7WJ0nLYShEydD5E1UjzTtHek/s4032/IMG_6860.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJNar8XemnmeICNSR7FASRLfmfO3IvvZbcqXh5lqkSBIUOLRgW3wKYE7dVF-otbqHzR6wUcDm2Oib-DRuKUEn8enTHTBUL8GFLtR9DHteC9MHPvFIZ-OGz1MbRGdn_mSCcWzo62JbUZK5xri7fxbzoDpdmRkO047lJOZ7WJ0nLYShEydD5E1UjzTtHek/s16000/IMG_6860.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's Landing</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> There are so many fun things to do in St. Pete! We had a wonderful and busy weekend, and we didn't even have time to venture into the neighboring cities of Tampa or Clearwater at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> *<i>Sunken Gardens</i> - This is the local botanical garden, and it's been open to the public since the 1930s! It's home to all sorts of beautiful tropical plants and flowers, and also some fun wildlife. Seeing some flamingos playing in the water was such a highlight! I love exploring botanical gardens when I travel, so this was a real highlight to see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgfK_O99ad7VnPCJ_2DUY_WLYcklaqtdnVMRQ4thL0nuqM60CwhThBhbELnbAv53VC-8hyEvQl6wtg3rj5tMvCT0dvx3JvPkd9hsJzxBcng7dccCwmMNLQYSVDhZtVnxeK81hsNnEZRuT04vsCQWjm3-DYln-dBjoQKszgswJpxI8ZKFFgBqiC0vaL4g/s4032/IMG_6791.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgfK_O99ad7VnPCJ_2DUY_WLYcklaqtdnVMRQ4thL0nuqM60CwhThBhbELnbAv53VC-8hyEvQl6wtg3rj5tMvCT0dvx3JvPkd9hsJzxBcng7dccCwmMNLQYSVDhZtVnxeK81hsNnEZRuT04vsCQWjm3-DYln-dBjoQKszgswJpxI8ZKFFgBqiC0vaL4g/s16000/IMG_6791.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2onH7B2OnN-7GtWb2Nxfda-uJmFH5wdEHN4MZqfx4YffLuk2gUoJjplRShWqNaJYYVJ65TV9jVot80IzNr6qgIs6Rkcxl87TTzMefIix0RAiIyYM18AYQyJ4HN61Vi3uoBpSs18KiaUst2I8y-S9UumVFLP2Wmcr4KkOUclhn7GRNz7Z6l7JnWOlIcRg/s4032/IMG_6796.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2onH7B2OnN-7GtWb2Nxfda-uJmFH5wdEHN4MZqfx4YffLuk2gUoJjplRShWqNaJYYVJ65TV9jVot80IzNr6qgIs6Rkcxl87TTzMefIix0RAiIyYM18AYQyJ4HN61Vi3uoBpSs18KiaUst2I8y-S9UumVFLP2Wmcr4KkOUclhn7GRNz7Z6l7JnWOlIcRg/s16000/IMG_6796.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUvsT6CXMmFrivY0q8gF9bb2xtWc7TObGAMTXCw-ZrD2cwA0SdAXkab0PtGvRmOowFYTk9SLPup0_2yT17MsAzGAs9w4jcK8USX04wCn7iRknUAZyBUxMxnfbwv59BV_U-yOCKbqkTExenL39tCcsS0uqX0ew3jscJ_4H9qRIyak3RnWB6AgYlE0pwz4/s4032/IMG_6821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUvsT6CXMmFrivY0q8gF9bb2xtWc7TObGAMTXCw-ZrD2cwA0SdAXkab0PtGvRmOowFYTk9SLPup0_2yT17MsAzGAs9w4jcK8USX04wCn7iRknUAZyBUxMxnfbwv59BV_U-yOCKbqkTExenL39tCcsS0uqX0ew3jscJ_4H9qRIyak3RnWB6AgYlE0pwz4/s16000/IMG_6821.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Eg8QlPE_9psk8qMwm-vFVncYrCifLpjmchpNONd6ixi4mnf7PaVHH04wHzDZjLZ1UEXJs84LOS5zGqarrYtkQKu6ebOGx3JkgBIXPZjY3Y5PmOEmXw0LR3jm_e3DR-ij5fjjiC2mj6RUabrBieetp91ToK8Kzl-Rjtezho2wXzCnBhdPzN9poEB8x6U/s4032/IMG_6824.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Eg8QlPE_9psk8qMwm-vFVncYrCifLpjmchpNONd6ixi4mnf7PaVHH04wHzDZjLZ1UEXJs84LOS5zGqarrYtkQKu6ebOGx3JkgBIXPZjY3Y5PmOEmXw0LR3jm_e3DR-ij5fjjiC2mj6RUabrBieetp91ToK8Kzl-Rjtezho2wXzCnBhdPzN9poEB8x6U/s16000/IMG_6824.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk-a52x3o1bHHxF4n6GnK6gMXsvp9e2zbnZ1FN6ymVhsxCbMwwgM4pS-9Ms73xw1wwSxAtXMmDnkA-slg6y_DHrZKrcGoo5FEkWRf2hKAXqd0S8S0wn2K7v7Eumlqdt4fAwDQXMbNwBIC_SWikraTF9qcRCWvg-AiLJC-7MLETDsEQWLG9O9_Y-yxZs0/s4032/IMG_6838.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk-a52x3o1bHHxF4n6GnK6gMXsvp9e2zbnZ1FN6ymVhsxCbMwwgM4pS-9Ms73xw1wwSxAtXMmDnkA-slg6y_DHrZKrcGoo5FEkWRf2hKAXqd0S8S0wn2K7v7Eumlqdt4fAwDQXMbNwBIC_SWikraTF9qcRCWvg-AiLJC-7MLETDsEQWLG9O9_Y-yxZs0/s16000/IMG_6838.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> *<i>Oakhouse Day Spa </i>- Gentry's husband Rob generously treated us to a spa day while I visited! I loved Oakhouse Day Spa. The services were incredibly relaxing, and the staff was wonderful. We each got massages and facials and it was divine! Truly such a special part of the trip. (Thank you again Rob!!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhpiz8Mc9yEq9IDEw79bS6tuiB4sOc6BDRxYOGm1ejC8zYuXmr44uXo-hovz9PPDr7bdSBD-rXtiGj2t5sNbXIImXDqqTmkbatkest5xWHchC6zmN3EJ5tmQuoZP9GJ9mZcDcD-h0kB5QnltpE6UTJcaM77nvK_kM-yc3o2T1cM0htlD6jXhKQ5x0Sz0/s3088/IMG_6865.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhpiz8Mc9yEq9IDEw79bS6tuiB4sOc6BDRxYOGm1ejC8zYuXmr44uXo-hovz9PPDr7bdSBD-rXtiGj2t5sNbXIImXDqqTmkbatkest5xWHchC6zmN3EJ5tmQuoZP9GJ9mZcDcD-h0kB5QnltpE6UTJcaM77nvK_kM-yc3o2T1cM0htlD6jXhKQ5x0Sz0/s16000/IMG_6865.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> *Explore St. Pete's pink hotels</i> - There are two big, fancy pink hotels in St. Pete! I loved getting to see the grounds of both of them. <a href="https://bit.ly/3ul5mxv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Vinoy</a> is right near downtown St. Pete, with views of the bay and skyline. <a href="https://bit.ly/3QBmQ07" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Don Cesar</a> is directly on St. Pete Beach, with ocean views and its own public beach area. Even if you're not staying at these hotels, both are lovely to walk around and explore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIT5wB4qSV3pSEogOAaawl17z_zROYxvH_wavPSmhqvNgpN5NMNymI0VFk8iO5QO7OLWrpF1ewkdWxuhnmv6jpbdf-9Q6aFc5omcNPnVInX4lT4YjRzUhUKbOtr02G1TwlcU7TC-9nba14uuOvq8WBh1JFN6pWe_QrRsccJpQtD1YUrPp1nrRhpg2G10/s4032/IMG_6841.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIT5wB4qSV3pSEogOAaawl17z_zROYxvH_wavPSmhqvNgpN5NMNymI0VFk8iO5QO7OLWrpF1ewkdWxuhnmv6jpbdf-9Q6aFc5omcNPnVInX4lT4YjRzUhUKbOtr02G1TwlcU7TC-9nba14uuOvq8WBh1JFN6pWe_QrRsccJpQtD1YUrPp1nrRhpg2G10/s16000/IMG_6841.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1nrBfBGaNVDBTdio7LHqyx3dg6IoDEBXMMvP-zTssIjlIlbqjSJfglvMfu-VHugGRxqMBDDFsKRT1ie1OzGkz5yWRPLpIbzH_qr6rE7r4QklL8t-osfllQLOmFMl0lUrH8lC-fdo8VKxThkqt8iaZIfPmzEa1M9jN39q8nlYxh1o-B8LyNkgtOXhHM4/s4032/IMG_6850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1nrBfBGaNVDBTdio7LHqyx3dg6IoDEBXMMvP-zTssIjlIlbqjSJfglvMfu-VHugGRxqMBDDFsKRT1ie1OzGkz5yWRPLpIbzH_qr6rE7r4QklL8t-osfllQLOmFMl0lUrH8lC-fdo8VKxThkqt8iaZIfPmzEa1M9jN39q8nlYxh1o-B8LyNkgtOXhHM4/s16000/IMG_6850.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38N8Jmo7SatlUlwEejv633krbIkLc_a-hNzdSLE1c2teQx7vXkxwSB2T8qdbdbrLwCr_3w1z-i1RHPWJb0Jm5bqJ42GfivWulaeD24UNh7bEJITOJjVbw6XT8nMGQeWhj9C9IPvYleXy5LzFz3O4eaA-jB7UD-2s_O1VW4WCJGQOXN5CWi4BDh8GV_ag/s4032/IMG_6867.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38N8Jmo7SatlUlwEejv633krbIkLc_a-hNzdSLE1c2teQx7vXkxwSB2T8qdbdbrLwCr_3w1z-i1RHPWJb0Jm5bqJ42GfivWulaeD24UNh7bEJITOJjVbw6XT8nMGQeWhj9C9IPvYleXy5LzFz3O4eaA-jB7UD-2s_O1VW4WCJGQOXN5CWi4BDh8GV_ag/s16000/IMG_6867.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOaWVCJO0EDImYVgUhPTlyo83ojOjG4Y78gjecSVdGWKQXSCjzTqkuIsTRc-AJfmOFh4YMGcTkV9U8f5M2d6U2KkffS3Z9WrzNw5ueBD5wFkIzmFsCDbSl_tPQpQDPCwhweOu1mUatOb8B8RdE1JaIONzpZWkOT-8dfWuMMWZ6fQg55sVGz2Pzh3kAOE/s4032/IMG_6891.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOaWVCJO0EDImYVgUhPTlyo83ojOjG4Y78gjecSVdGWKQXSCjzTqkuIsTRc-AJfmOFh4YMGcTkV9U8f5M2d6U2KkffS3Z9WrzNw5ueBD5wFkIzmFsCDbSl_tPQpQDPCwhweOu1mUatOb8B8RdE1JaIONzpZWkOT-8dfWuMMWZ6fQg55sVGz2Pzh3kAOE/s16000/IMG_6891.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> *<i>St. Pete Beach</i> - Visiting one of the many beautiful beaches in the area is a must! Gentry took me to St. Pete Beach so that we could also check out The Don Cesar Hotel. The stretch of beach at the hotel is totally open to the public, which is really cool! You can kind of feel like you're a hotel guest too when you use their public beach access. St. Pete Beach was <i>beautiful</i>. Beautiful turquoise water and soft white sand. (Different vibes from Virginia Beach. π)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd2YfuhyphenhyphenT9txb_sBJqDQLWYXUIoknd5uRvuP5yO9zHN5k6zQFFofiFXq_56wm6-rBNMkBycdJ_YiKjSXbHsKWDeWI8B-dev6LWHixQs3u5cpilYODfcbGGLkl1T7VZt0K_EpSrG8hSU-JHlAw4VfPOFYXhVIHIpCN5UTqVhx519F8hYZubbE7vhj7ato/s4032/IMG_6873.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd2YfuhyphenhyphenT9txb_sBJqDQLWYXUIoknd5uRvuP5yO9zHN5k6zQFFofiFXq_56wm6-rBNMkBycdJ_YiKjSXbHsKWDeWI8B-dev6LWHixQs3u5cpilYODfcbGGLkl1T7VZt0K_EpSrG8hSU-JHlAw4VfPOFYXhVIHIpCN5UTqVhx519F8hYZubbE7vhj7ato/s16000/IMG_6873.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzlEjLUopOG9Ikavh0IM9pgztrdq427gJUz0Eo4UvQUfN7xP-qHGBbkQGAlOuEH3SaM3IIwWnLrBuJxD5PtmgkJflJCZdHMzm0Nl7zXDcpsE4nvTTyg6Dr0wK2wpWPC6NZKdiiSNiM8AC-Wsjjqf49_1dR0oGrXqVyqyXMOVcQXp071nTB4i5jnL_eFU/s3088/IMG_6887.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzlEjLUopOG9Ikavh0IM9pgztrdq427gJUz0Eo4UvQUfN7xP-qHGBbkQGAlOuEH3SaM3IIwWnLrBuJxD5PtmgkJflJCZdHMzm0Nl7zXDcpsE4nvTTyg6Dr0wK2wpWPC6NZKdiiSNiM8AC-Wsjjqf49_1dR0oGrXqVyqyXMOVcQXp071nTB4i5jnL_eFU/s16000/IMG_6887.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS6LkvexAu_oALvQfaU8a-SuZtMEdp9KdBBGXE169Yh-DCFX4p-l1k6ExwLc5Ff_-no_nxBkUVk5wP9nLqHryhyog9sPyyTzt2VikZ2aFqbuvcWjF2CjafvQQkKaRI9esYyr89xKVhj_wyMJC7WWRS4zhpP74U22zQRZ4ggzon11AMfHAeJKkOvFE3Uo/s2048/IMG_0085.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS6LkvexAu_oALvQfaU8a-SuZtMEdp9KdBBGXE169Yh-DCFX4p-l1k6ExwLc5Ff_-no_nxBkUVk5wP9nLqHryhyog9sPyyTzt2VikZ2aFqbuvcWjF2CjafvQQkKaRI9esYyr89xKVhj_wyMJC7WWRS4zhpP74U22zQRZ4ggzon11AMfHAeJKkOvFE3Uo/s16000/IMG_0085.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And that's my St. Pete recap! I really enjoyed my brief time here, and would love to come back in the future. Next time I'd also love to see a bit of either Tampa or Clearwater. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I do want to give a quick shout-out and thank you again to <a href="https://www.girlmeetsbowblog.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gentry</a> and her family for being such wonderful hosts! Gentry's friendship over the years has truly been a gift in my life. We first connected online through blogging in either 2016 or 2017. We finally got to meet in person for the first time in 2019 when we attended New York Fashion Week together for our blogs! To date, that was one of the most fun and special girls' trips that I've ever been on, and also such an accomplishment for my blog. I hadn't seen Gentry in person since that trip close to five years ago, but being together again it was like no time passed at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Gentry isn't just a great friend and fellow blogger, but I truly consider her to be a role model for my life. Gentry is a few years older than me, and whatever life stage she's in sets such a positive example for me. When we first met years ago, I was 24 and still very new in my career and struggling with navigating dating and singleness post-college. I was incredibly inspired by how Gentry was thriving in her late 20s and early 30s by successfully navigating her career, social life, faith and dating with positivity and grace. Now almost five years later, she's still thriving in her career and blog but is also a wonderful wife and mom. Visiting her this weekend and seeing her sweet family (and how well she balances family life with work and blogging) was once again so inspiring to me! It felt once again like a possible peak into my own future. π Friendships like this truly are a gift! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> God Bless,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> xoxo Annaliese</div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-30020030124422249842023-11-06T05:00:00.003-05:002023-11-06T05:51:48.802-05:00HOTEL GUIDE: Kimpton The Forum Hotel in Charlottesville, VA<p> I recently got the chance to stay at Charlottesville's newest boutique hotel, <a href="https://rebrand.ly/missalkatforum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kimpton The Forum Hotel</a>, located on the property of the University of Virginia. It's always great to be back in my former home city for a weekend, and I love keeping tabs on what's new in the area. The Forum has guest rooms with an air of modern luxury, and one of the best and most unique locations of any hotel in Charlottesville. The hotel was quite busy the weekend that I visited, and there was such a diverse clientele of guests. I saw business travelers, young families with children, older folks and lots of 20-30-something friend groups who looked like they were in town for weddings or UVA events. </p><p> I spent a fall weekend at The Forum with my good friend and fellow influencer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carolinecoleburn/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Caroline Coleburn</a>. Fun fact: Caroline and I met in Charlottesville almost five years ago when I was living and working there as a morning radio host, and she was a morning reporter for a local TV news station! I'm now doing radio in Virginia Beach, and Caroline is on TV in Richmond. It was extra special to visit my former city for a weekend with a special friend like Caroline who I met during my time there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa2uNtdGn1snWc4eT2kQh2NMTivjMX6Yh3Rg2-RyU8pPeYs0yoBQYxiYsRKM7iK0ibfrGSfX5-b3vfHJCOqMR2V-_jUt0F2dXywZjDC8rhpCxUvAczhWocFUp-2r6vWqAvJhsd0D9doc3jEPyaGnI9xLGfIJ-ppTGT1m1I9ZxEMb9AMM6vFc1bM6f0DE/s4032/IMG_6318.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa2uNtdGn1snWc4eT2kQh2NMTivjMX6Yh3Rg2-RyU8pPeYs0yoBQYxiYsRKM7iK0ibfrGSfX5-b3vfHJCOqMR2V-_jUt0F2dXywZjDC8rhpCxUvAczhWocFUp-2r6vWqAvJhsd0D9doc3jEPyaGnI9xLGfIJ-ppTGT1m1I9ZxEMb9AMM6vFc1bM6f0DE/s16000/IMG_6318.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></span></div><p><br /></p><p><b>Hotel Location + Travel Info: </b></p><p> <a href="https://rebrand.ly/missalkatforum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Forum Hotel</a> just opened in Spring 2023 in Charlottesville, VA. What sets it apart from other Charlottesville hotels is that it's actually located <i>on the grounds </i>of The University of Virginia! It's located within North Grounds, directly next-door to UVA's acclaimed Darden Business School. Talk about a location! Just steps away from the hotel is a beautiful part of UVA. If you're traveling to Charlottesville for anything related to the university, this would be such a convenient place to stay. </p><p> Due to limited parking because of the hotel's location at UVA, there is mandatory valet parking for overnight guests. If you are just visiting the hotel briefly, they do have a daily option as well. If you're flying into the area instead of driving, the Charlottesville airport is about 15-20 minutes away, and the Richmond Airport is 90 minutes. (You can find out more information about Charlottesville travel options in my <a href="https://bit.ly/3DJvumi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultimate Charlottesville Travel Guide</a> post.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMLwE6cWrrDuST7ojOxrxwYYY3rvmO2zjec4ockGcIkONU-YD4vKI23Svb8seWSbNJ11kRvdZQ8j2EN70LmGWODmHe_1pSIJQBPoiu62ySJs0iHQIhtlpIzbHgHl2Uw7fEhC_ghNfrfMSwBcCJaXsGO7SquY2oJT1AQoiNGL3UniCHToAaCjfczqkzqM/s4032/IMG_5905.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMLwE6cWrrDuST7ojOxrxwYYY3rvmO2zjec4ockGcIkONU-YD4vKI23Svb8seWSbNJ11kRvdZQ8j2EN70LmGWODmHe_1pSIJQBPoiu62ySJs0iHQIhtlpIzbHgHl2Uw7fEhC_ghNfrfMSwBcCJaXsGO7SquY2oJT1AQoiNGL3UniCHToAaCjfczqkzqM/s16000/IMG_5905.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehjpfsjdCTjUr3qyOyvT_Z-n4HcWOSySNst5PWS8ALokYtI_cL9l9FMIuwVjtyV5fRdeRG-e31dceVTFZo8Ep-xwTwHNCYctN_N-stzSr4xcwfdIcfvQwigB4bG8l9hTL8xX7b2zr_ZvgcyQvtwUAgRS2hpdMw57JLX-ULv9dGPVqHUclMO4Ns9rJU3Q/s4032/IMG_5909.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehjpfsjdCTjUr3qyOyvT_Z-n4HcWOSySNst5PWS8ALokYtI_cL9l9FMIuwVjtyV5fRdeRG-e31dceVTFZo8Ep-xwTwHNCYctN_N-stzSr4xcwfdIcfvQwigB4bG8l9hTL8xX7b2zr_ZvgcyQvtwUAgRS2hpdMw57JLX-ULv9dGPVqHUclMO4Ns9rJU3Q/s16000/IMG_5909.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-ruvU9Y-V1RLPuPUqpaRHFU9wfsxUgZIT7Spf-jlzp6UWn4KIIYl-wWm44N98l7n1rs6yPuwBxLhbAvH7sW26msJStQpDbpEQnGkACfZn8FEau7rtAHLbP0eOxVGIEoB40PbvtTdnGI697T1PZqjXNZMP8fl0UOxlpSIK9qPlWnpWFmwiEnFEA7wpBI/s3814/Facetune_20-10-2023-16-57-47.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="2860" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-ruvU9Y-V1RLPuPUqpaRHFU9wfsxUgZIT7Spf-jlzp6UWn4KIIYl-wWm44N98l7n1rs6yPuwBxLhbAvH7sW26msJStQpDbpEQnGkACfZn8FEau7rtAHLbP0eOxVGIEoB40PbvtTdnGI697T1PZqjXNZMP8fl0UOxlpSIK9qPlWnpWFmwiEnFEA7wpBI/s16000/Facetune_20-10-2023-16-57-47.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>Room Info:</b></p><p> Caroline and I were both so impressed with the luxurious and contemporary room that we shared at <a href="https://rebrand.ly/missalkatforum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Forum</a>. It was spacious and bright, and had very comfortable beds and pillows! We also lucked out and had a room that had a wonderful view of the fall foliage behind the hotel (which was at peak when we visited). The bathroom was spacious and had a wonderful walk-in shower. </p><p> What I appreciated the most about our room is all of the small details that were there to make the stay more enjoyable for guests. This is where Kimpton Hotels shine above other more budget hotel brands. Our room had a refrigerator, bathrobes, an umbrella, and a yoga mat for guests to use during their stay. There was also a very detailed note with a list of lots of items that the front desk keeps on hand in case guests forget them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2xkO3iviX3fljA7qJPbv8Yinb3y9lUUmMx9A7L8LvOLLPlN_YvPmnweaLDfzOIb06JTltil1RXh3NdSkPb2QnpcoJ5Y-u8C9riFuD83iAe9Uwem9uBxVNN2YQfOSwUnM26ZDDpzkL7TWoMl84EKrcnStESysI12UKs74X7TKRDP0g1IiHNakh_Ef99k/s4032/IMG_5853.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2xkO3iviX3fljA7qJPbv8Yinb3y9lUUmMx9A7L8LvOLLPlN_YvPmnweaLDfzOIb06JTltil1RXh3NdSkPb2QnpcoJ5Y-u8C9riFuD83iAe9Uwem9uBxVNN2YQfOSwUnM26ZDDpzkL7TWoMl84EKrcnStESysI12UKs74X7TKRDP0g1IiHNakh_Ef99k/s16000/IMG_5853.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDudYjql_y8ORsS1kHOk3tC74kEx1KWLnFAm7xXv96iLb1eJDgEQ5e8z0yamzQekTB2j5URQqHQxmNYRGhloNUAU1xFwIBB3XGvYWA7vWcd_d7TQ6C6bVxd_DAFYS1H4lksARo3CHcuO5z5lYUb-AmVVEVVw5zyo9w91DiKffylqbjW_rMy5fpZCzkbLU/s4032/IMG_5855.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDudYjql_y8ORsS1kHOk3tC74kEx1KWLnFAm7xXv96iLb1eJDgEQ5e8z0yamzQekTB2j5URQqHQxmNYRGhloNUAU1xFwIBB3XGvYWA7vWcd_d7TQ6C6bVxd_DAFYS1H4lksARo3CHcuO5z5lYUb-AmVVEVVw5zyo9w91DiKffylqbjW_rMy5fpZCzkbLU/s16000/IMG_5855.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab0RELAmkK_yonuQlAl62HULI3t4kj4F74b82c6u3wyR2i1m6BkHT9oOEqWQJwGRtd-7aM0nOi9a0J-0iqk5A9YRSzr2av4KodKmdzYdOfV8Ssic3ZpBghfvdaY788YO4jRpySqhnebt3ySgOHuToOKeYp095DojO2a0Cm0X9eZRSHgrbrB3OLdhqFc4/s4032/IMG_5857.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab0RELAmkK_yonuQlAl62HULI3t4kj4F74b82c6u3wyR2i1m6BkHT9oOEqWQJwGRtd-7aM0nOi9a0J-0iqk5A9YRSzr2av4KodKmdzYdOfV8Ssic3ZpBghfvdaY788YO4jRpySqhnebt3ySgOHuToOKeYp095DojO2a0Cm0X9eZRSHgrbrB3OLdhqFc4/s16000/IMG_5857.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCJyCKSlV23u8rwKpMularoJO8C5ROw60nEzm3DDULpm2g9pIaWLIB6JDJTPW84EAI1w1d7KmtQ9e0Qw92zecJWCV05ls1oyzrSnilX05Lmh54S9aE9Ecpc2dAqCigsBHJuGXVXbW8YBBqZIQdKLsEGcji0YBbC4DhzF_CBBsf_u6A0ENurm5VlmlMog/s4032/IMG_5900.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCJyCKSlV23u8rwKpMularoJO8C5ROw60nEzm3DDULpm2g9pIaWLIB6JDJTPW84EAI1w1d7KmtQ9e0Qw92zecJWCV05ls1oyzrSnilX05Lmh54S9aE9Ecpc2dAqCigsBHJuGXVXbW8YBBqZIQdKLsEGcji0YBbC4DhzF_CBBsf_u6A0ENurm5VlmlMog/s16000/IMG_5900.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzPr9UoM49UduP3Hy6BrocpIYMoEyA2XCAFtByI-mE_ytgLD5rg_X15zdc_AIw_uNNQqd4f1w1SMfErawCuP-NYZ6KOHssCWhRwLDuOdhFSb6vopAvHzRFdVyGlpoxTskKuRpxjaC8QR18nv26H0aqlrwjcj_IE7xro1QhC62dWmCnRiolYWNl1nc6gE/s4032/IMG_6002.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzPr9UoM49UduP3Hy6BrocpIYMoEyA2XCAFtByI-mE_ytgLD5rg_X15zdc_AIw_uNNQqd4f1w1SMfErawCuP-NYZ6KOHssCWhRwLDuOdhFSb6vopAvHzRFdVyGlpoxTskKuRpxjaC8QR18nv26H0aqlrwjcj_IE7xro1QhC62dWmCnRiolYWNl1nc6gE/s16000/IMG_6002.HEIC" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>Dining: </b></p><p> <a href="https://rebrand.ly/missalkatforum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Forum Hotel</a> has two restaurants on-property. The Good Sport is their casual spot which features various craft beers and popular pub favorites on the menu. I didn't get to eat here during my visit, but I have a few local Charlottesville friends who have been and said that it's very good. The main restaurant is <a href="https://rebrand.ly/missalkatbirchandbloom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Birch & Bloom</a>. It's a bit more upscale, and serves breakfast and dinner. Caroline and I shared cocktails and a cheeseboard here on the night that we checked in, and we had breakfast there the next morning as well. Breakfast was delicious- we both ordered the Berry Pancakes and they were wonderful. (The granola on top was a tasty surprise!) If you'd like to get a drink but don't have time for a full meal, the hotel does have a lovely lobby bar as well. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Q_TZqVeTWcpVzx3g84_e5RqvVDYSwAAafuSpsgBOlE1fe7Hlj4IOKvuXKbnrSkjMj1MPQwePxQBpux2ExReJ6CYgq7zZJSlpJ1DkugW63pK2cFLJOgoj4khFcCyRRiEU4EmN5Qr7jDBtlTrK-EsfGNAPaPSbYxrDzQVDwqIfi2uN13eLK38w4_VGpO8/s4032/IMG_6251.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Q_TZqVeTWcpVzx3g84_e5RqvVDYSwAAafuSpsgBOlE1fe7Hlj4IOKvuXKbnrSkjMj1MPQwePxQBpux2ExReJ6CYgq7zZJSlpJ1DkugW63pK2cFLJOgoj4khFcCyRRiEU4EmN5Qr7jDBtlTrK-EsfGNAPaPSbYxrDzQVDwqIfi2uN13eLK38w4_VGpO8/s16000/IMG_6251.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwIm6jUaLge9yZLb585LIFk3LzIziNC7d1lAgy1425GCF_4lPTnKQ_dvQZwrsRM7JnymiNdKa7FSvWKGPBeFnB9yJ2ShFW2dR_H2_XfCM54QbTT3_LQ8ZiEHLSFhCW0F9ojdYUVTK_D3FIVDjj4CTS3IwQzHHB4Og99otQdJO-bhhVRGWCd6r30Oyabg/s4032/IMG_6286.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwIm6jUaLge9yZLb585LIFk3LzIziNC7d1lAgy1425GCF_4lPTnKQ_dvQZwrsRM7JnymiNdKa7FSvWKGPBeFnB9yJ2ShFW2dR_H2_XfCM54QbTT3_LQ8ZiEHLSFhCW0F9ojdYUVTK_D3FIVDjj4CTS3IwQzHHB4Og99otQdJO-bhhVRGWCd6r30Oyabg/s16000/IMG_6286.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecJsM9aZQe2HrO8PYFjMqyouI_mXv0XKluWM41ttvLspprAdL4GtlckeDXKHK94F07kK-Nzt8sEACZkAz1qWuwVZu4FBXgmyFKMSqDiZNkk6cacGadaMdnttjhD9TL9v9LuwgDpGmmy5VffvZgxGIPN3CWvHqX0sZ3zciYMvv9hUNFJcetbFo8ecAP6U/s4032/IMG_6297.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecJsM9aZQe2HrO8PYFjMqyouI_mXv0XKluWM41ttvLspprAdL4GtlckeDXKHK94F07kK-Nzt8sEACZkAz1qWuwVZu4FBXgmyFKMSqDiZNkk6cacGadaMdnttjhD9TL9v9LuwgDpGmmy5VffvZgxGIPN3CWvHqX0sZ3zciYMvv9hUNFJcetbFo8ecAP6U/s16000/IMG_6297.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0Opeg845AIa9HvwmGCjGuzFdd71u17_dpqmqSsQlrFaqSb-8A4oe82TNIJF20JlCraViB-409zusXf-2JbS_UoN5yvOff3WXiuXHvGLaUHpa4nJpneaZk0EWyAON9ul7bDko9B6NXWQMo_Y2Z4aUPb33sAMzqPf-9xU81ehqD9ha8xhV83-sRh5OPtE/s4032/IMG_6301.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0Opeg845AIa9HvwmGCjGuzFdd71u17_dpqmqSsQlrFaqSb-8A4oe82TNIJF20JlCraViB-409zusXf-2JbS_UoN5yvOff3WXiuXHvGLaUHpa4nJpneaZk0EWyAON9ul7bDko9B6NXWQMo_Y2Z4aUPb33sAMzqPf-9xU81ehqD9ha8xhV83-sRh5OPtE/s16000/IMG_6301.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><b>Notable Features:</b></p><p> Kimpton Hotels are a hotel brand that I feel like truly values the guest experience. Their hotels are ones with special details for guests that wouldn't be included at more no-frills brands. Here are a few things that stood out to me during my stay at The Forum Hotel:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i><a href="https://bit.ly/3simQu1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kimpton x Anthropologie Accessory Rental Collaboration </a>- </i>This might just be the coolest thing that I've ever seen offered at a hotel for all guests! Kimpton Hotels (not just The Forum specifically) currently<a href="https://bit.ly/3simQu1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> have a collaboration with Anthropologie stores</a> nationwide to allow Kimpton guests to sign out on-trend Anthropologie accessories for the day from the hotel front desk. Caroline checked out a fall handbag and I checked out a fun pair of sunglasses for one of our Charlottesville adventures! This is a free perk to guests- no additional fee!</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Arboretum + Botanical Garden On Property - </i>The Forum Hotel has a stunning "backyard"- five acres of arboretum and botanical gardens! The various gardens represent plants and flowers from different parts of the world. It is truly the most peaceful and lovely hotel area. Shouldn't all hotels have lovely gardens on-property?! As you can see from some of my photos above, the fall foliage in Charlottesville was peaking around the hotel property at the time that we visited! </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Coffee + Tea in the Mornings - </i>Whether or not you're eating breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Birch & Bloom, there is an assortment of complimentary free coffee and tea in the lobby every morning for guests to enjoy.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Evening Social Hour - </i>There is a complimentary Evening Social Hour every evening for guests in a room adjacent to the main lobby! A variety of alcoholic beverages are provided, as well as a great ambiance to socialize. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Bike Rentals - </i>There are a couple of Kimpton brand public bikes that guests can check out and ride around the local area! We saw one of the bikes on display right near the front doors of the hotel. It's too bad we didn't have time to do this, as we had such nice weather the weekend we were there!</li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA_E0EsOI7wDJFwWB5yy8AO5uCCZCEQDHaeYjC2C4cE7fBj4yKaZZd-ESBMQV1h3Pch2skflVFSGx7niDVb1WFN48to1o6FnFPipU5R-IRyJZoex-pL90ncLABox9IQRs54kyBvzpoFn5rT8n8tOnxqO08oFe7wbKoOxnpIttZE8fQGiVdRpzL7FFyPQ/s4032/IMG_6328.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA_E0EsOI7wDJFwWB5yy8AO5uCCZCEQDHaeYjC2C4cE7fBj4yKaZZd-ESBMQV1h3Pch2skflVFSGx7niDVb1WFN48to1o6FnFPipU5R-IRyJZoex-pL90ncLABox9IQRs54kyBvzpoFn5rT8n8tOnxqO08oFe7wbKoOxnpIttZE8fQGiVdRpzL7FFyPQ/s16000/IMG_6328.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXtdlrq3JQS7ha1AMutY98zgxNr2C9TGeulusg8Z1y8gIpglYt-pdQP1miKn4k07XIKsB6IMtsfWAdZdxjUFDAxk9XvWg_Bag55mnHQvU6OK2CRmkiAcsrdDBAA_1fdODPxGTnlXGIJQK8HUKT4RKjbVGfbRUYSYvVTgY15dWqKxwGuegM8xo181Yv_4/s4032/IMG_2081.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnVMavR9bv60K33bydkMgLNciGyu6q58U4xA1KMItKxJqhOz4RtnPsctHZy43HrVSAM3BB3GwGOwsH3KXhuipaV24dr72gmSoFDTlVkvFhgEfw8Mc0ffF3z2Ky-gVudLikXn1dFV9lvT8I_NFZhTPS5LOVW4ItGEoLbCU5Yc2Yc1IluiagnxttA4JrVk/s4032/IMG_5903.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnVMavR9bv60K33bydkMgLNciGyu6q58U4xA1KMItKxJqhOz4RtnPsctHZy43HrVSAM3BB3GwGOwsH3KXhuipaV24dr72gmSoFDTlVkvFhgEfw8Mc0ffF3z2Ky-gVudLikXn1dFV9lvT8I_NFZhTPS5LOVW4ItGEoLbCU5Yc2Yc1IluiagnxttA4JrVk/s16000/IMG_5903.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrl65PJfKCVbqtKVqHn3uFXu5A913UHDQZwi2yqFDhUMk9euZART14CADiqtVPAJLcsNqQTPHzSjXbSWatUBtI3l0THv0b4sItGOaF08jiP0yfs4BqE4CQyjf4rwkX-l8maXEXI6D2l-0sX6e-wdEgVC4KcdLSWo7PiKF0SKaCEjnrdKeRBU7GiXyOxrU/s4032/IMG_5964.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><b>My other Charlottesville recommendations:</b></p><p><b> </b>Since I lived in Charlottesville for just about three and a half years, I have my fair share of local recommendations! It's such a great part of Virginia. You can see my recommendations for dining, wineries and local activities in my <a href="https://bit.ly/33sW59s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultimate Charlottesville Travel Guide post</a>. </p><p> Over the last several years, Charlottesville has also begun to really establish itself as a popular East Coast bachelorette and/or girls' trip destination, due to the large amount of wineries and the stunning mountain scenery just outside the city limits. For recommendations more specific to these types of group trips, check out my <a href="https://bit.ly/33sW59s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ultimate Charlottesville Bachelorette Party Recommendations Guide post</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> God Bless,</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> xoxo Annaliese</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Thank you to Kimpton The Forum Hotel for providing this complimentary stay. All opinions in this post are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</span></i></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-79259263869289636402023-11-01T05:00:00.005-04:002023-11-01T05:00:00.138-04:00{Monthly} Midweek Ramblings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">October 2023:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQSrnvLtgIhVG4nfJfWYD0OnciHJTfzJBYpUqrds31VN7-R5AKYSZ7DPVMj5-Kuy0e52PQ_Vb230CRVnXjReUZjds9x9L94XMlj3wVMtX_wZ-gDa8dOoha-f5UGFdSOqNUP_EesSZ5zQVO9y47wK6dSOcUMBZORaXMDyAMh-0XYh37NEViYOuwqIsEhs/s4032/387326470_363944219403490_5026091285509977265_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQSrnvLtgIhVG4nfJfWYD0OnciHJTfzJBYpUqrds31VN7-R5AKYSZ7DPVMj5-Kuy0e52PQ_Vb230CRVnXjReUZjds9x9L94XMlj3wVMtX_wZ-gDa8dOoha-f5UGFdSOqNUP_EesSZ5zQVO9y47wK6dSOcUMBZORaXMDyAMh-0XYh37NEViYOuwqIsEhs/s16000/387326470_363944219403490_5026091285509977265_n.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!</i></div></span><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Highs of the Month:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our trip to Charleston with Ryan's family for his cousin Rachel's wedding. We had the absolute best weather, which can truly make or break a trip! It was Ryan's first time to Charleston which was also fun. Just a few highlights: walking the Pitt. St. Bridge in Mount Pleasant, eating at Callie's Hot Little Biscuit early one morning, and a perfect beach day at Isle of Palms. This wedding was also the first we have gotten to attend together as a couple.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another great trip to Memphis for the St. Jude Country Cares for Kids radio seminar conference. This was my second year in a row attending. This year I got to meet a few country radio personalities from Nashville that I really admire and look up to in the industry, so that was a highlight. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last weekend of the month was so warm and beautiful! Like May/June weather all over again. I can't believe I was on the beach in a bathing suit when it was practically Halloween. </span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lows of the Month:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Becoming burnt out from too much travel. I was gone for four consecutive weekends in September/October. Charlottesville, Charleston, Memphis and Charlottesville again. I absolutely love to travel, but four weekends in a row gone (while staying busy with work on the weekdays in between) was truly too much. I was so burnt out, tired and stressed by my final trip of the four (Charlottesville). I don't mind the occasional back-to-back trip, but I genuinely hope to never do four weekends out of town again! You live and you learn, right?</li><li>Leaving behind an art print that I bought in Charleston at our hotel and having to pay an exorbitant amount of money for a courier service to ship it back to us in Virginia. Totally worth it as we both love the art print, but woof!! I hope to never make that mistake again when traveling. </li><li>My health anxiety kind of came back full force this month. The weird thing is that nothing is wrong with me right now! I haven't been sick or had any doctor's appointments or anything like that. But it's still very high from <a href="https://bit.ly/3O93eiY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">some health stuff</a> I was dealing with earlier this year. Anxiety sucks! </li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>October Weekend Recaps:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">6th-8th - </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were in Charleston for a long weekend with Ryan's family for his cousin's wedding. We did sightseeing all over Charleston and Mount Pleasant on Friday and Saturday, and had the wedding Saturday night. The weather was perfect, and we truly had the best time. I'm holding off in the meantime on writing an updated Charleston Travel Guide, as I'll be going back next spring for another trip. </span></li><li><b style="font-size: large;">13th-15th - </b>I went back to Memphis for the second year in a row for the St. Jude Country Cares for Kids radio seminar conference. It was Thursday-Saturday this year. This time, I also got to do a little bit of Downtown Memphis sightseeing with a radio friend who lives in the area and visited Graceland on Saturday before flying back to Virginia. The conference was once again held at the famous <a href="https://bit.ly/3Qp8AIU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peabody Hotel</a>. I got home late Saturday night, and on Sunday I threw my friend Sierra a little baby sprinkle by doing Afternoon Tea at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach. </li><li><b style="font-size: large;">20th-22nd - </b>I was in Charlottesville with my friend Caroline for a travel blogging collaboration trip with the new Kimpton The Forum Hotel! I am currently working on my Hotel Guide blog post, and it should be up within the next week. I left Charlottesville pretty early on Sunday morning since I had been gone so much lately, and had a relaxing rest of the day at home in Virginia Beach.</li><li><b style="font-size: large;">27th-29th - </b>Finally- a weekend home! I spent Saturday morning judging the costumes at the Wicked 10k race for the third year in a row with a coworker of mine. Afterwards, I met Ryan for lunch near the Oceanfront, and then we headed to the beach to enjoy the gorgeous warm weather! We got ice cream after the beach, and then had a relaxing night at home. On Sunday, we went to church and then I went to see the off-Broadway production of Aladdin that was visiting Norfolk with two Junior League friends. </li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>October Purchases:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I don't typically shop as much for myself in October, with Black Friday sales and the holidays quickly approaching. But I did get a couple things this month. First up: I replenished my most-used <a href="https://bit.ly/3FLiRJj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eyeshadow palette</a> when it was marked down on Amazon in mid-October. This also makes a great gift item / stocking stuffer!</li><li>I needed a couple new skirts for fall/winter. The first that I picked out with <a href="https://bit.ly/46GQnfl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this plaid skirt</a>. A bonus: it is made of super soft and comfortable material! </li><li>I also got this <a href="https://bit.ly/3F7tENU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wrap suede skirt</a> which I've been loving for fall. </li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>October Blog Posts:</b></span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bit.ly/46p8iHP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">101 in 1001 List: One Year Update</a></li><li><a href="https://bit.ly/3Qp8AIU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HOTEL GUIDE: The Iconic Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN</a><br /></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> God Bless,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> xoxo Annaliese</div><p></p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-51954859821836338502023-10-19T06:24:00.003-04:002023-10-19T06:36:37.362-04:00HOTEL GUIDE: The Iconic Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN<p> As a travel lover and an avid travel blog reader, I've had a running hotel bucket list in my brain for years. It's always exciting when I get to actually stay at and experience a hotel on that list. And the absolute perfect scenario? When my day job in radio brings me to one of these hotels! It hasn't happened very often, but I'm thrilled that I've now gotten to stay at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN twice for work conferences. This hotel was always high on my travel bucket list, and it has been awesome to experience in person multiple times now. Since I've stayed here twice in the past year, I think it's about time I write a Hotel Guide for this iconic American hotel.</p><p> Even if you don't stay at The Peabody Memphis when visiting the area, I still think it is worth a visit for a drink or a meal! It's truly a historic gem. While there are many pros to staying here, there is one thing that I've found to be a con on both visits. As always- I'll give an honest review of the good and the bad!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZXayI5vP90z1IqZapO45GQErb55yRbF8tGasOG3vTVVULUUpEqHoxPDMDZGxb-UueyxpA9Boz0-vIrdZ4sZAYnuTTX89OvYZVmt9hm9qwTwoks7e8sV0j7Qp2aiuE9MZFhbUhAt0egn7BULFKTBj37BVC9_lyrZcV_8xeY80ymGhsL1M_s5ilZWlJ14/s4032/387555192_649627780663544_7720848350415606487_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZXayI5vP90z1IqZapO45GQErb55yRbF8tGasOG3vTVVULUUpEqHoxPDMDZGxb-UueyxpA9Boz0-vIrdZ4sZAYnuTTX89OvYZVmt9hm9qwTwoks7e8sV0j7Qp2aiuE9MZFhbUhAt0egn7BULFKTBj37BVC9_lyrZcV_8xeY80ymGhsL1M_s5ilZWlJ14/s16000/387555192_649627780663544_7720848350415606487_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!<span></span></span></i></div></i><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>History of The Peabody Memphis and The Peabody Ducks:</b></p><p> The original hotel opened in 1869 in Memphis and became very popular over the years. The hotel moved one block away to a new spot in downtown Memphis in 1925, which is where it still stands today. <a href="https://bit.ly/3ZXV6Hr">The Peabody Memphis</a> is fondly known as the "South's Grand Hotel." It's been an AAA Four Diamond Hotel for years, which is quite an honor in the hospitality world. The Peabody Memphis is a large-scale hotel that has over 450 guest rooms and lots of event space. </p><p> What makes <a href="https://bit.ly/3ZXV6Hr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Peabody Memphis</a> one of America's most unique historic hotels is the five famous residents that call the hotel lobby fountain home. Since the 1930s, The Peabody has been home to five mallard ducks. The ducks reside overnight in the Duck Palace on the hotel rooftop, and each day they are led downstairs by the hotel Duckmaster for the famous March of The Peabody Ducks. Every day the ducks arrive in the hotel lobby fountain at 11am, and then leave promptly to go back up to the Duck Palace at 5pm. You do not have to be a hotel guest to enjoy watching the Peabody Duck March each day. It's open to the public! You can also ask to take a photo with the current Duckmaster, which I've done on both visits. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXnS1ZgZbF9B6hnLhuKVwRMeIUzVqu1cvDAoilmmjUrMROr59OHOf3zVgwxR46XVmIb7wIZHUoLAfsuEY5iJ125Ce_0pzmLexsaUdIBqScNTR8T-tWUrnGzONyTWxRpSXtrnyrEIUVF-jYbUB8T7oi5fbFLWAiaWbus2UXjAP8Dk5CQof3r-yTEIANPI/s4032/387336710_332231366125781_2305785146131708450_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXnS1ZgZbF9B6hnLhuKVwRMeIUzVqu1cvDAoilmmjUrMROr59OHOf3zVgwxR46XVmIb7wIZHUoLAfsuEY5iJ125Ce_0pzmLexsaUdIBqScNTR8T-tWUrnGzONyTWxRpSXtrnyrEIUVF-jYbUB8T7oi5fbFLWAiaWbus2UXjAP8Dk5CQof3r-yTEIANPI/s16000/387336710_332231366125781_2305785146131708450_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Peabody Rooftop!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9v6tBOiebnI4hQ0OZ-ncf_1jqOHjD9o4IcXrcHaR4w2T0BLb4T5g4V-qsu5dz3nFSKl-EJaF1yJdMqRlfJjh4nfxOCDrLqXrmE_Q235x3evk6vPEusRuv0J3m9oLrzjKQFH1x5-ykW4KgmIG7EJnYgpzWDak579mwtibloErpe4AfKBh3CL0qtdDsKw/s4032/387561619_862454662219707_3370466220736009128_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9v6tBOiebnI4hQ0OZ-ncf_1jqOHjD9o4IcXrcHaR4w2T0BLb4T5g4V-qsu5dz3nFSKl-EJaF1yJdMqRlfJjh4nfxOCDrLqXrmE_Q235x3evk6vPEusRuv0J3m9oLrzjKQFH1x5-ykW4KgmIG7EJnYgpzWDak579mwtibloErpe4AfKBh3CL0qtdDsKw/s16000/387561619_862454662219707_3370466220736009128_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2022 Duckmaster</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNO_VvC8houW48wVmF7Dz97WVu4LVQyJxeCIQ1YFoWA1hedjPIOWRcFaLMeSwIcMBrWjwGdzOw1qI1tLdPkk06HXhQuBMTBN_T2EozXHn-XK6w3KEEInqEoDUh0FIWXT4Q5NEH10TFR8DIetueEE-gUeS3yrwML40TdZrYEF_LHt3MbvRsKs7qorPSEY/s4032/387336507_862480031804177_4472986599825366384_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNO_VvC8houW48wVmF7Dz97WVu4LVQyJxeCIQ1YFoWA1hedjPIOWRcFaLMeSwIcMBrWjwGdzOw1qI1tLdPkk06HXhQuBMTBN_T2EozXHn-XK6w3KEEInqEoDUh0FIWXT4Q5NEH10TFR8DIetueEE-gUeS3yrwML40TdZrYEF_LHt3MbvRsKs7qorPSEY/s16000/387336507_862480031804177_4472986599825366384_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2023 Duckmaster</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;">Hotel Location + Travel Info:</b></div><p> <a href="https://bit.ly/3ZXV6Hr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Peabody Memphis</a> is located in the heart of downtown Memphis. It's walking distance to the Memphis Redbirds ballpark, the waterfront of the Mississippi River, several museums, and lots of bars and restaurants (including the popular Beale Street entertainment district). </p><p> If you're driving, the hotel offers both valet and self-park options in a nearby garage. If you're flying to Memphis, the airport is about a 15-minute drive away. The Peabody does not currently provide airport shuttle services. (The conferences that I've attended have always provided their own airport transportation for attendees.) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZG5J_G7jfJ7r7v7RFmebzcpfm4ULc2E7Mq0mnZXU8Ra9FzyDYvUbGzs_MjjdKg43wngEKrUCpGAIjgwne5sr0dsTE6e5dkyywaJdO4IV1qIloJNw94eAr8PwpxBX2Q4DRVBqcKC7OB9oAmQu1un9eIBH0r7-xwAdoP9B8X9u_mAHF7QRrpRwDDGK9w/s4032/387331095_1026308125376376_5860827000861937164_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZG5J_G7jfJ7r7v7RFmebzcpfm4ULc2E7Mq0mnZXU8Ra9FzyDYvUbGzs_MjjdKg43wngEKrUCpGAIjgwne5sr0dsTE6e5dkyywaJdO4IV1qIloJNw94eAr8PwpxBX2Q4DRVBqcKC7OB9oAmQu1un9eIBH0r7-xwAdoP9B8X9u_mAHF7QRrpRwDDGK9w/s16000/387331095_1026308125376376_5860827000861937164_n.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>Room Info:</b></p><p><b> </b>Rooms at<b> </b><a href="https://bit.ly/3ZXV6Hr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Peabody Memphis</a> are cozy and nice. Both rooms that I've stayed in have had duck themed art on the walls- so fitting! The hotel beds and pillows are very comfortable. I especially appreciate the evening turn down service that's included with your stay. I feel like so many hotels have started skimping on housekeeping services post-pandemic, but I can vouch that The Peabody still has excellent daily housekeeping services. </p><p> Ready for my one con of staying at The Peabody? There is a severe lack of soundproofing in the guest rooms. This was the case for me on both stays (despite staying on different floors and totally different parts of the hotel on each stay). I've been able to hear <i>everything</i> that my neighbors are doing, from conversations to the TV to alarms. Even quiet conversations I can still hear clearly! And hallway noise too. This year I came prepared with earplugs to sleep in, so it wasn't as brutal as my first stay. But definitely still a problem. I don't want to say that it isn't worth it to stay at The Peabody because of this (it's still an amazing hotel!), but where this has been an issue for me on both visits, I did want to be transparent and honest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5AgFeisRKfE6xb5-cRlVE7rp4AvyXgCfj7j2clBhsA7Ke6_GGwACq2ALuRQr6HHJfWThO-xhTQltQFNYzFwUXTMHl7LPwchQcQaUHMoQxK5kcz085B8X1GoV478MmZL4ExNBdpDjECWhQlPpF-Cqdkokv78aUFPStPztwgp75jgBpd2sn5ztBLrMIPM/s4032/387324682_274771131601904_8789255200318524498_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5AgFeisRKfE6xb5-cRlVE7rp4AvyXgCfj7j2clBhsA7Ke6_GGwACq2ALuRQr6HHJfWThO-xhTQltQFNYzFwUXTMHl7LPwchQcQaUHMoQxK5kcz085B8X1GoV478MmZL4ExNBdpDjECWhQlPpF-Cqdkokv78aUFPStPztwgp75jgBpd2sn5ztBLrMIPM/s16000/387324682_274771131601904_8789255200318524498_n.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>Dining:</b></p><p> Most of the meals that I've had at the Peabody were served in the ballroom for attendees of the conferences I've attended. I have to say- as far as event food goes, I've been very impressed by the catering kitchen at The Peabody! On my most recent trip, everyone had a phenomenal dinner for the cocktail party night. Steak, salmon and what were the best mashed potatoes I've ever had in my life! As far as actual restaurants at The Peabody Memphis, here are the options:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Chez Philippe - </i>A fancy and famous French restaurant in The Peabody. It's the only AAA Four Diamond restaurant in Memphis right now! I'd love to eat here for a fine meal if I ever have time on a future trip. This is also where Afternoon Tea is served at The Peabody!</li><li><i>Capriccio Grill</i> - An Italian a steakhouse that's also open for breakfast and lunch. I had breakfast here on the last day of my first trip to Memphis, and it was great! </li><li><i>Peabody Deli & Desserts</i> - My most visited food spot in The Peabody, since it's the perfect destination for a quick hot beverage and snack during conference craziness. This is the <i>best</i> spot to grab an amazing dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. The incredible pastry chefs at the hotel whip up gorgeous tarts, pies, cakes and other delicacies that you can find here! They also have sandwiches, ice cream, and lots of coffee and tea beverages. They also sell some unique hotel merchandise here that's different than what's in the main gift shops. </li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX5p7I7WHRBeKxo_mIUzT3EDsjlMJ4gkJPUSVdSIRPCF_S1mvy_htj3SALHN_2izZ2C1Mjp4uVSd2pq2e9GSdJygN3SfftUKimaDjej1prDooPiRyYinuey4RWtHiVwtfl2NF6zBe6ROoesTZoKOwO2IfDL1OtiNu16t8GipVlJNds1pg4-apph7zszU/s4032/387323673_154665754394101_6204296635255441139_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX5p7I7WHRBeKxo_mIUzT3EDsjlMJ4gkJPUSVdSIRPCF_S1mvy_htj3SALHN_2izZ2C1Mjp4uVSd2pq2e9GSdJygN3SfftUKimaDjej1prDooPiRyYinuey4RWtHiVwtfl2NF6zBe6ROoesTZoKOwO2IfDL1OtiNu16t8GipVlJNds1pg4-apph7zszU/s16000/387323673_154665754394101_6204296635255441139_n.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5CgYR99fYhZCKnWvIMdiBXFTf0_8laWJgnrwRpSAMepv7P_rnS4IHGhzutEqjZsVgyRHLSUoH8MPUPTyZ4fwT-xmePIAoJE1LyE1Wq9X3RIupbTEQn0vEfCb3KCxerZbBFX0nS4WEif-5p2IQR7iabbIvTulw__LfRlUSzax0sf0KjB0p48heNadFxQ/s4032/387325048_1486411482147853_8985680572560423682_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5CgYR99fYhZCKnWvIMdiBXFTf0_8laWJgnrwRpSAMepv7P_rnS4IHGhzutEqjZsVgyRHLSUoH8MPUPTyZ4fwT-xmePIAoJE1LyE1Wq9X3RIupbTEQn0vEfCb3KCxerZbBFX0nS4WEif-5p2IQR7iabbIvTulw__LfRlUSzax0sf0KjB0p48heNadFxQ/s16000/387325048_1486411482147853_8985680572560423682_n.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fP8rhipQRrYh_KfCFM3in9nY5EMy12fqQsWUEvFNx19QFgPsiaU_UIM0_CJw3QdU2n72VGt4xijWAhBccGGKFGdICN7_k1zS2cT1hLYgra0A_LQIX032oCes1EM58Ajy0Zjoiqxoxb8Z-wCtq7hxIAXBZunPvB6hh9Ys4fZvGnK61Ab-3Z9FCxkyFPY/s4032/387326959_674994697923715_33881671469258580_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fP8rhipQRrYh_KfCFM3in9nY5EMy12fqQsWUEvFNx19QFgPsiaU_UIM0_CJw3QdU2n72VGt4xijWAhBccGGKFGdICN7_k1zS2cT1hLYgra0A_LQIX032oCes1EM58Ajy0Zjoiqxoxb8Z-wCtq7hxIAXBZunPvB6hh9Ys4fZvGnK61Ab-3Z9FCxkyFPY/s16000/387326959_674994697923715_33881671469258580_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezSk0xt0PRonaTHhgUj2TxCAmAP06BYfKKHUWKPjbPPfxMhPrkNg4PiWSOptGV_Fz5oSt60-dSI4R1AaPdVtGXh0AyUa78hGOhJ-6fEd1N5VGXSlOGqCzPoI9rSTzXutx01TZQjAYU-4D1HuLCMNpzRIQGWmR1iqOVM9fVyi6D0ePRTIFYH0Ia0gjTEU/s4032/387330069_1246727699342842_5663935406715494198_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezSk0xt0PRonaTHhgUj2TxCAmAP06BYfKKHUWKPjbPPfxMhPrkNg4PiWSOptGV_Fz5oSt60-dSI4R1AaPdVtGXh0AyUa78hGOhJ-6fEd1N5VGXSlOGqCzPoI9rSTzXutx01TZQjAYU-4D1HuLCMNpzRIQGWmR1iqOVM9fVyi6D0ePRTIFYH0Ia0gjTEU/s16000/387330069_1246727699342842_5663935406715494198_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p><b>Things to Do: </b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Watch the March of the Peabody Ducks - </i>The Peabody Duckmaster marches the Peabody Ducks down to the lobby via red carpet every day at 11am, and then the ducks march back to their rooftop home every evening at 5pm. It's truly the most unique and adorable sight to see! You don't have to be a guest of The Peabody to enjoy watching the Duck March in the lobby. It's open to the public! You can grab a drink from the Lobby Bar while this happens. They even have some duck themed cocktails! </li><li><i>Hotel History Tour - </i>The Duckmaster leads a daily one-hour tour all about the hotel's rich history each day. It costs $10. I'd love to have the time to do this on a future trip.</li><li><i>Afternoon Tea</i> - I love doing Afternoon Tea anywhere, and I feel like The Peabody would be an especially lovely place to do it! It's held in Chez Philippe restaurant. Fingers crossed if I ever go back, I can do this! </li><li><i>Go Shopping - </i>The Peabody has some incredible lobby shops to browse. In addition to having two great gift shops (one that's duck themed and one that's Memphis themed), there are two phenomenal boutiques in the hotel. One for men and one for women! Lansky's at The Peabody Men's Shop is inconic men's clothier that once clothed Elvis Presley! Today they sell some really unique men's pieces. Lansky 126 For Her is the sister boutique that sells women's clothing and accessories. I love the women's shop! They sell great brands like <a href="https://bit.ly/3YasHwL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Queen of Sparkles</a>, KARLIE and <a href="https://bit.ly/46Wk6kO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spanx</a> to name a few.</li><li><i>Visit the Rooftop - </i>The Peabody Rooftop has some incredible views of Memphis! You can also check out the Peabody Duck Palace, which is where the ducks live when they aren't downstairs in the lobby fountain. The Rooftop is open to guests and the public unless there is a private event going on. Sunset is a really nice time to be up there! </li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4asHNiAMnKLnb9tjhT4d8uByXpRVlQLXdgZKomxwy6SKWiZ65B-NTHtTqWi_H2ruU8H35tHjwhIuTP4Kw-zxfgIx2ZyUOkT8cFdhx8OoivxfojyE9l2p40i6Im0K9fKVj6b8a_3Xqp053eWnYAtl5vXZeRB0MjN2WbwSD9689DtFAfDnTglRjyHX7us/s4032/370283104_358817106572163_2153157140212813090_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4asHNiAMnKLnb9tjhT4d8uByXpRVlQLXdgZKomxwy6SKWiZ65B-NTHtTqWi_H2ruU8H35tHjwhIuTP4Kw-zxfgIx2ZyUOkT8cFdhx8OoivxfojyE9l2p40i6Im0K9fKVj6b8a_3Xqp053eWnYAtl5vXZeRB0MjN2WbwSD9689DtFAfDnTglRjyHX7us/s16000/370283104_358817106572163_2153157140212813090_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kOuDCEeZ2-qAzoWG1CotZNUAWi-UPMUBJiFbuOXt4TuhxDwme14GVGgx4xKqTnA6hZmbREY3YdX47rJ_Z7WLfixKqS4_06qvE4NhZrRiLEW068TvqYfbh2Oioe2o_YH6zUTCwALGMAb4WNw6QnvRnTCXr_RXjLAFJyuZw154nRyFCMoV5i5-k_3-vyI/s4032/387327578_883590756068933_5404120471654747499_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kOuDCEeZ2-qAzoWG1CotZNUAWi-UPMUBJiFbuOXt4TuhxDwme14GVGgx4xKqTnA6hZmbREY3YdX47rJ_Z7WLfixKqS4_06qvE4NhZrRiLEW068TvqYfbh2Oioe2o_YH6zUTCwALGMAb4WNw6QnvRnTCXr_RXjLAFJyuZw154nRyFCMoV5i5-k_3-vyI/s16000/387327578_883590756068933_5404120471654747499_n.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRl-nWGxlxA4PtQva6NvJ9C9dmF9nGqfIClIFfpH_N1_nFWTlW1dmu95dckAORxJmYp-Nwkuo759Wa_PQ5DLpt_VjyjaeqEbQ1JvDQFVNnsrOn9e_rWVBpkWWjb0QwQy51FwEmYyiYMwa4BZjqmXHhrMblAMklVecvjq75pdh6PTJG5B5Cme5TxGpwscQ/s4032/387333575_6723988610990124_124788107030608500_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRl-nWGxlxA4PtQva6NvJ9C9dmF9nGqfIClIFfpH_N1_nFWTlW1dmu95dckAORxJmYp-Nwkuo759Wa_PQ5DLpt_VjyjaeqEbQ1JvDQFVNnsrOn9e_rWVBpkWWjb0QwQy51FwEmYyiYMwa4BZjqmXHhrMblAMklVecvjq75pdh6PTJG5B5Cme5TxGpwscQ/s16000/387333575_6723988610990124_124788107030608500_n.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zaLTeLq9Dhhzc5FGZmsHXbpe21RGDZRPA5r1iWvOliJqT8kzExaKSKAORu7UqsLKuQ_o21oKB898scjppF6YaYsQ4WQWn25OJthgpLfc7jXd6Eph-bM-h6Qan9HodFo-7uo7ePGaiBVg8ZEaCeBKdtI3w3ZntStoDmgwSZS-VTLtr2gSYFZcpagcxD4/s4032/387328801_6645005095569037_4922436960593788301_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zaLTeLq9Dhhzc5FGZmsHXbpe21RGDZRPA5r1iWvOliJqT8kzExaKSKAORu7UqsLKuQ_o21oKB898scjppF6YaYsQ4WQWn25OJthgpLfc7jXd6Eph-bM-h6Qan9HodFo-7uo7ePGaiBVg8ZEaCeBKdtI3w3ZntStoDmgwSZS-VTLtr2gSYFZcpagcxD4/s16000/387328801_6645005095569037_4922436960593788301_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9_g4xykGzBprtOkn5JZMCId6ZZzyH7hlI21K5FcSUeQ4RRrag_O6C1NvAF0_QcdMw8HmpcQDqZeydeRGjxv2R2fVX20UbOKP5sY5twDI1aW7HlqQ4_M9C9CbgGchZ7k7KN4XJyLGCAj4eKOv_lnAmGexUkPJZu4xpI_KhhPwf22CRgCtTmsaScxV5VE/s4032/387335876_712015250331835_6296603945953929546_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9_g4xykGzBprtOkn5JZMCId6ZZzyH7hlI21K5FcSUeQ4RRrag_O6C1NvAF0_QcdMw8HmpcQDqZeydeRGjxv2R2fVX20UbOKP5sY5twDI1aW7HlqQ4_M9C9CbgGchZ7k7KN4XJyLGCAj4eKOv_lnAmGexUkPJZu4xpI_KhhPwf22CRgCtTmsaScxV5VE/s16000/387335876_712015250331835_6296603945953929546_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0oAy6736o56wjNMYnWieRT6VZeJy-muUTYTtelBcdHfhpR3Q8R_6_91Ti-FRpCkj4ERdtwD_AArMVhanmwjk2p95mcTen3lVU1iVHlRtNtsGy-hbHFtIrz_Fi6iyrn3kGuAsfD7L90iuCucoJIUatlMIn4f5ZztSPCzzaS9xCRUBrBG_i5FdXCXHrto/s4032/387340800_858999579251827_5575502401362332533_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0oAy6736o56wjNMYnWieRT6VZeJy-muUTYTtelBcdHfhpR3Q8R_6_91Ti-FRpCkj4ERdtwD_AArMVhanmwjk2p95mcTen3lVU1iVHlRtNtsGy-hbHFtIrz_Fi6iyrn3kGuAsfD7L90iuCucoJIUatlMIn4f5ZztSPCzzaS9xCRUBrBG_i5FdXCXHrto/s16000/387340800_858999579251827_5575502401362332533_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p> As I mentioned earlier in this post, staying at <a href="https://bit.ly/3ZXV6Hr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Peabody Memphis</a> and seeing the Peabody Ducks had been on my travel bucket list for a long time. I feel very lucky that work has brought me to this hotel twice now! If you're passing through Memphis and decide to stay elsewhere for yoru lodging, I still highly recommend visiting The Peabody to browse the lobby and shops and watch the Duck March! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> God Bless,</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> xoxo Annaliese </p>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140057690761884909.post-81398956020542188052023-10-11T05:00:00.000-04:002023-10-11T05:00:00.143-04:00101 in 1001 List: 1 Year Update.<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: 14.3px;"> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's already been a year since I started my latest 101 in 1001 list! Let's get right into all of the goals that I've hit over the last six months. If you haven't ready any of my past 101 in 1001 posts, you can see them <a href="http://www.southernbelleintraining.com/search/label/101%20in%201001" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. The 101 in 1001 is a type of bucket list created by blogger Mackenzie Horan from <a href="https://mackenziehoran.com/my-101-in-1001-list-no-5/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Design Darling</a>. You try to hit 101 goals in various categories of your choosing in 1001 days! I'm now on <a href="http://www.southernbelleintraining.com/search/label/101%20in%201001" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my second 101 in 1001 list</a>, and love doing these. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14.3px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx0_A0PCRcGAoxR2D791W6MYBgW-HBgLRCdS2F9CRp7Rf47GuDl-Jb4yMRxF7gZ9sA59ldCf8-5F1DjAtydpJfRJrfHriWCk-1Z6D6WhzL6HMbjZQTqt5fREdpJLtN3BfALwpiW6nG3Ui_wjS6XFiDm2Z-Yq6U94_zGydsBkhszUXGsuD_Bjkqn8DEII/s2160/379656422_655060970107687_132356812079056324_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx0_A0PCRcGAoxR2D791W6MYBgW-HBgLRCdS2F9CRp7Rf47GuDl-Jb4yMRxF7gZ9sA59ldCf8-5F1DjAtydpJfRJrfHriWCk-1Z6D6WhzL6HMbjZQTqt5fREdpJLtN3BfALwpiW6nG3Ui_wjS6XFiDm2Z-Yq6U94_zGydsBkhszUXGsuD_Bjkqn8DEII/s16000/379656422_655060970107687_132356812079056324_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /></span><span><a name='more'></a></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">101 in 1001</span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">START DATE: October 3rd, 2022</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">END DATE: June 30th, 2025</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: 14.3px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">CAREER:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">1. Attend a new-to-me radio conference</strike> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjd_gu2Obl3/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">2022 St. Jude Country Cares Radio Seminar, October 2022</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Attend CMA week again (or attend ACM week or CMA fest week)</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Attend a music awards show on behalf of my job</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">4. Get to emcee a large local event</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">Hampton Roads St. Jude Gala, May 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Earn a ratings bonus for my morning show</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Have the opportunity to dip my toes back into music programming for a radio station again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Be interviewed by an industry publication or podcast about my career</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">BLOG:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Write a comprehensive Virginia Beach, VA Travel Guide</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">9. Update my Norfolk, VA Travel Guide</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">10. Write a comprehensive Nashville, TN Travel Guide</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">11. Write a comprehensive Edenton, NC Travel Guide</strike> - <a href="https://bit.ly/3tNg4cP" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">November 2022</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">12. Write a Travel Diary recapping my 2022 Ireland trip</strike> - <a href="https://bit.ly/3Hy521C" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">February 2023</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">13.Write a Travel Diary recapping my 2022 Puerto Rico trip</strike> - <a href="https://bit.ly/41CxpEq" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">April 2023</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">14. Write a blog post about my golf journey</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">15. Write a blog post about how I met Ryan / our relationship story</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">16. Reach 500 TikTok followers</strike> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@miss_alk" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">March 2023</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">17. Reach 1000 TikTok followers</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">18. Reach 17k Instagram followers</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">19. Execute a successful Annual Giving Week in 2023 for Junior League</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">January 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">20. Serve in an elected or appointed role again for another Junior League year</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">21. Attend an event with my sorority's local alumni association</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">22. Become involved in a church in Virginia Beach (volunteering or joining a bible study)</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">23. Reach a 365 day language learning streak on Duolingo</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">December 2022</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">24. Reach a 1000 day language learning streak on Duolingo</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">RELATIONSHIP:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">25. Take Ryan to Charlotte</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">26. Take Ryan to Charlottesville</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">27. Take Ryan home to Maine</strike> - <a href="https://bit.ly/3rl8kRR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">September 2023</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">28. Visit Ryan's home state of Missouri with him</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">29. Take a romantic trip just me and Ryan (not a trip to visit friends/family)</strike> - <a href="https://bit.ly/3mUSGdd" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">March 2023</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">30. Do something special for our one-year dating </strike><strike style="font-style: italic;">anniversary</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">April 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">31. Keep our weekend beach walking tradition going for at least a year</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">32. Bake cookies together</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">33. Get engaged</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">34. Have wedding date set or be married by the time this list ends</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">SKILLS:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">35. Try a new recipe with my fondue pot</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">36. Use my bread machine to make a recipe</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">37. Learn a go-to cocktail recipe</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">38. Make an intimidating new dessert recipe</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">Chocolate Kahlua Cheesecake, January 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">39. Bake something with the fresh dried lavender I picked in Spring 2022</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">Lavender Shortbread, February 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">40. Take a cooking class</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">41. Take a craft related class (jewelry, pottery, art, sewing, etc)</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">FUN / MISC:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">42. Visit a fall fair (county fair or state fair)</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">43. Buy a piece of home dΓ©cor from an antique store or estate sale</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">44. Buy a piece of jewelry from an antique store or estate sale</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">45. Buy a new tweed blazer or jacket</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>46. Buy or be gifted a new piece of fine jewelry</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">Blue Topaz earrings, February 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">47. Go skiing or snow tubing again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">48. Go kayaking again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">49. Go apple picking again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">50. Go to Afternoon High Tea somewhere that I haven't done it before</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">Founder's Inn in Virginia Beach, September 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">51. Own a dining room table again (the apartment space I'm living in when this list begins is too small for a dining table)</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">Moved apartments (so Ryan's dining table became mine), July 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">52. Go to my first-ever major league professional sporting event</strike> -<span style="color: #674ea7;"> <a href="https://bit.ly/3KwGOao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wyndham Championship, August 2023</a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">53. Meet an emu</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">54. Lease another new vehicle or buy out my current lease</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">55. Go to a fancy event for a New Years' Eve</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">56. Have a special party for my 30th birthday</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">57. Read at least 40 books in 2022</strike> -<span style="color: #38761d;"> November 2022</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">58. Read at least 30 books in 2023</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">August 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">59. Read at least 30 books in 2024</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">60. Read 15 books by the time this list ends in 2025</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">61. Host my annual Favorite Things Swap Christmas Party in 2022</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">December 2022</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">62. Host my annual Favorite Things Swap Christmas Party in 2023</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">63. Host my annual Favorite Things Swap Christmas Party in 2024</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">64. Plan and attend my best friend Ciera's bachelorette trip in Nashville</strike> - <a href="https://bit.ly/3k6WZBh" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">February 2023</span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">65. Plan and attend a girls' weekend with my Charlottesville friend group</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">GOLF:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">66. Attend a professional golf tournament</strike> -<span style="color: #674ea7;"> <a href="https://bit.ly/3KwGOao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Wyndham Championship, August 2023</span></a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><strike>67. Take more golf lessons again </strike>- </i><span style="color: #674ea7;">August 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">68. Play in a local amateur golf tournament</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">69. Play in a golf course in another state</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">70. Take a golf focused weekend trip</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">71. Obtain a golf handicap </span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">TRAVEL:</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">72. Visit Delaware (only East Coast state I've never been to)</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">73. Visit another new-to-me state</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>***74. Visit three new-to-me US cities*** - </i>In progress! <span style="color: #38761d;">Memphis TN (October 2022)</span>, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">75. Visit another new-to-me country</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">76. Visit Paris, France</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">77. Visit the Outer Banks, NC again </span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">78. Visit Raleigh, NC again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">79. Visit Chapel Hill, NC</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">August 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">80. Visit Baltimore, MD and/or Annapolis, MD again </span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">81. See the cherry blossoms in Washington DC again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">82. Stand on the Plaza and watch the TODAY show live in NYC</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">83. Go on a tropical warm weather vacation</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="https://bit.ly/440aqnw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - June 2023</a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">84. Visit Canada again</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">VIRGINIA:</span></b></div><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">85. Visit the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">86. Take a glass blowing class at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><strike>87. Make a candle at Sugar & Grace Co. in Norfolk</strike> - </i><span style="color: #38761d;">January 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">88. Attend another wine tasting at Vino Culture in Norfolk</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">89. See the Christmas lights on the Nauticus ship in Norfolk</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">90. Go to a Norfolk Admirals hockey game</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">91. Eat or drink at the Glass Light Hotel in Norfolk</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">92. Walk the trails at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">November 2022</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>93. Eat at The Bee and the Biscuit in Virginia Beach</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">December 2022</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>***94. Visit three new-to-me Virginia wineries*** - </i>In progress! Oakencroft Winery (August 2023), </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">95. Stay at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">96. Visit the western part of Virginia during the fall again</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">September & October 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">97. Day trip to Yorktown, VA</strike> - <span style="color: #674ea7;">May 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike style="font-style: italic;">98. Day trip to Smithfield, VA</strike> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkcBtq5see1/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #e72078; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">October 2022</span></a><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">99. Day trip to Hampton, VA</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>100. Day trip to Newport News, VA</strike> - <span style="color: #38761d;">April 2023</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">101. Go rafting on the James River in Richmond, VA</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Completed past 6 months: 12</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Completed total: 32</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>4. Get to emcee a large local radio event </i>- I was honored to be the emcee for a local black tie gala benefitting St. Jude Children's Hospital in April. I'm so excited that I already have another emceeing event on the calendar in spring 2024 for work. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">27. <i>Take Ryan home to Maine</i> - One year after we were supposed to go to Maine, we finally made it! Ryan really enjoyed Maine and we did a lot of sightseeing at my favorite places. Here's <a href="https://bit.ly/3rl8kRR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the full itinerary</a> for our trip! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">50. <i>Go to Afternoon Tea at a place I haven't done it before</i> - My friend Amanda kindly treated me to tea at The Founder's Inn in Virginia Beach as a belated birthday celebration last month! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">51. <i>Own a dining room table again </i>- Technically it's not "my" table, but I moved into Ryan's apartment in July, and he has a dining table set! For more reasons than just dining tables, I am so happy to be living in a bigger place than the tiny one bedroom that I lived in for my first two years in Virginia Beach.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">52. <i>Go to my first-ever major league professional sporting event</i> - Amanda and I attended the <a href="https://bit.ly/3KwGOao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2023 Wyndham Championship PGA golf event</a> in August for our annual girls' trip! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">58. <i>Read at least 30 books in 2023</i> - I hit 30 books for 2023 in August! I'm hoping to get to 40 by the end of the year. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">66. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Attend a professional golf tournament</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - Another 101 in 1001 list item </span>that<span style="font-family: inherit;"> attending the <a href="https://bit.ly/3KwGOao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wyndham Championship</a> checked off for me! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">67. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Take more golf lessons again</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> - I resumed golf lessons in August (<a href="https://bit.ly/3O93eiY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">post hip bursitis</a></span>) and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> have been continuing them into the fall! I feel like a broken record to say this, but I am just so thankful to be back to golfing again. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">79. <i>Visit Chapel Hill, NC</i> - Another 101 in 1001 list item that my friend Amanda helped me check off! π We had brunch at the historic Carolina Inn hotel in Chapel Hill on our way back from the Wyndham Championship.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">83. <i>Go on a tropical warm weather vacation</i> - My dad and I did a father-daughter trip to <a href="https://bit.ly/440aqnw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic</a> in early June! Other than the fact that we both got bad food poisoning, it was a great time.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">96. <i>Visit the western part of Virginia during the fall again</i> - I was just up in <a href="https://bit.ly/3DJvumi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charlottesville</a> last weekend, and I'm headed there again in a couple weekends from now! Hoping to see some beautiful foliage on my upcoming trip. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">97. <i>Daytrip to Yorktown, VA</i> - I had work event in Yorktown a few months ago, and it was during the weekend that my college roommate Caroline was visiting. After I was done working, we explored the historic riverfront area of Yorktown. It's a very cute area! (But smaller than I was expecting.)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> I can't believe that I'm already close to a third of the way done this list. I feel like I'm off to a stronger start for the first year than I was with my first 101 in 1001 a few years ago. There are already a few list items that are on the docket to be crossed off within the next several months, so I'm already excited for my next update post next spring! </p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> God Bless,</p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> xoxo Annaliese</p><div><i><br /></i></div>Annaliesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691548618653074600noreply@blogger.com0