Nashville Tourist Outfit.

     Happy Thursday! Today I'm sharing an outfit that I wore in Nashville a few weeks ago. I normally only share camera photos for outfit posts on the blog, but today I'm mixing things up a little bit as these are actually all iPhone photos.

NORDSTROM SALE 2018: My Three Purchases Styled!

     Yes- you read this post title correctly! I'm a fashion blogger... and I only purchased three items from this year's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! That's right- I didn't blow my whole shopping budget for 2018 or go into debt shopping this sale, haha. 😉I'm proud of the self-control I exercised during this year's NSale, and I'm really happy with the three items that I now own. Check out today's look to see how it all styled together!

Photography by Kate Greer 

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

Cardigan {NSale} // Top {NSale} // Jeans {from Zara, similar linked} // Shoes {still in stock this year!} // Short necklace c/o // Long necklace {old, similar linked} // Purse // Lip Gloss // 

     Here you have it friends- my purchases styled! (One of them you can't see pictured- the Natori Feathers Contour Bra. But I am wearing it here and I have been wearing it a lot since I got it- it's very comfortable!) I'm absolutely obsessed with the Barefoot Dreams cardigan and this Caslon striped shirt. 

      Let's talk about the cardigan first. I am so glad I decided to spluge on a Barefoot Dreams cardigan in this year's NSale! One thing that you may or may not know about me is that I'm a bathrobe enthusiast. No- seriously! I have a ton of bathrobes in all different lengths and fabrics- but my favorite ones in my closet are the fuzzy and warm ones.  This cardigan literally feels like a bathrobe- except it's of course appropriate to wear out of your house. WIN WIN. This will sell out fast when the NSale opens to the public tomorrow, and I highly recommend it! I ordered size XS/S.


     I'm also loving this simple but cute striped long sleeve top! It comes in a variety of colors in the NSale in both striped and printed options. I am already thinking of endless ways to style this come fall and winter- with skirts and tights and a statement necklace, or dressed down with leggings and sneakers for a weekend look. There's so many options. It's under $20- which is a great price both for Nordstrom and also just for such a staple piece! I ordered size S and I liked the fit.



     So there you have it- my 2018 NSale purchases. I'm proud of myself for really sticking with a budget in this year's sale, and I know I'll be using and wearing all three of my purchases often. I can totally justify making a spluge on something if I will wear it all the time- like with the Barefoot Dreams cardigan!



      With the sale opening to the public tomorrow- I'm so curious as to what you'll be buying!! Did you also shop the sale Early Access? Or are you planning to after tomorrow? Or just avoiding it in general this year? You can check out my 2018 NSale guide to my favorite brands included in the sale in this post, and some NSale beauty picks as well in this post!

     Happy Shopping!



     God Bless,



     xoxo Annaliese

     

      

New Must-Have Cardigan + The Hype With Plattsburgh.

    Confession time: my new favorite cardigan came to me by way of LiketoKnow.it! As a fashion blogger, I encourage my Instagram followers to use this to shop my outfits often. In full honesty- I can't say that I use LTK that much to shop other bloggers' looks. (I think LiketoKnow.it is awesome, I just try and put together more unique outfits for my blog!) However- I couldn't like to know the outfit details fast enough when I saw this adorable leopard print cardigan featured on Stephanie from A Sparkle Factor's Instagram a few weeks ago! Thank goodness for LTK - and the cardigan was on its way to me soon. 😊 I'm styling it in today's blog post, and sharing a bit about why Vermonters like to venture over to the region of New York called the "North Country," and to Plattsburgh, which is the biggest town there!

This post contains affilliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

Cardigan // Top {mine from Marshall's, similar here} // Leggings {my favorites- back in stock for this year and on SALE} // Coat {old, similar here} // Boots // Purse // Earrings c/o // Necklace c/o // Lipstick // 

      First up- the details about this cardigan. It totally exceeded my expectations, which is always something great to have happen with an online purchase!! It's thick, soft, and super warm and comfy. And I love the darling leopard print!! Wearing this cardigan with jeans and riding boots would be like my ideal winter work outfit over the upcoming months. If you're looking for a cute and casual cardigan, I definitely recommend this one! I styled it for this weekend look with my favorite faux leather leggings, fun jewelry, and one of my favorite coats (which I've had since 9th grade and still adore!). 

      On my Instagram Stories and in past blog posts, you might have heard me mention taking a ferry, or going to a place called Plattsburgh in New York. These photos were taken in Plattsburgh, so I though it would be fun to share a bit about this town on the blog today, as it's quite an important place to most people who live in the Burlington Vermont area! As I've shared before, one thing that really frustrates me about Vermont is the huge lack of retail presence here. One of the malls in the area is currently undergoing a renovation project that will take a couple of years, so pretty much all of the stores closed and vacated for the time being. The other mall in the area is supposedly the largest mall in Vermont... but it makes me so sad every time I say that, haha. The shopping options there are really quite dismal (I really only go there for Bath and Body Works candles, lol!). Vermont will be getting the state's very first Target next fall, in October 2018, which will be a new anchor store in the larger mall. But up until then, we don't have Target, and the Burlington area doesn't even have a Super Walmart! Other things that Vermont doesn't have that I love: Ulta, a full-sized Sephora, LOFT (it closed since I moved here), Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21, DSW, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Hobby Lobby, At Home... and many, many more retailers. 

      Plattsburgh, New York to the rescue for the Vermonters! The Adirondacks region and the area north of it that borders Canada in (very) Upstate New York is considered the "North Country" region, and Plattsburgh is the largest town/small city in this area. It is a little bit smaller than Burlington. New York state however has a lot less regulations about retail and development, so they have a lot more shopping options! Plattsburgh is home to a large Target, a super Walmart, DSW, and as of recently, a HOBBY LOBBY (my very favorite store). It is weekend day trip-worthy to do some shopping at the big box stores across the lake. The only hard part is crossing the lake! The only bridges that go over Lake Champlain are at the Northern and Southern ends of the lake, neither which are near Plattsburgh or Burlington. The Lake Champlain Ferry system is really the only method to cross with. The most convenient ferry is the one that runs from the Champlain Islands (which you drive to) right across the Plattsburgh. There's so much traffic and commerce between the two states that the ferry amazingly runs 24/7! I've never had to wait more than 5 mins to board one. You drive right on with your car, and the perk is that you get to see some amazing lake views from the boat. The major downside is the cost. For one person, round trip ferry service is about $20, and for two people it's about $30. Plus factoring in the gas to Plattsburgh (the whole trip is just under an hour from Burlington, ferry and driving included), that's not the cheapest day trip! But it can be worth it every once in a while- especially if you're a big shopper like myself! I think Plattsburgh also has a kind of cute downtown, there's a river that runs through it (where some of these photos were taken), and I always have a soft spot for downtowns of cities and towns with rivers! 

     

     Anyways, if you live in a place where you don't have to pay $20+ to access Target, Hobby Lobby, and more, know that a lot of Vermont people are jealous of you!! I definitely took a lot for granted when I lived in Charlotte... and heck, even Maine. Haha!

      

God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese 

      

      

      

     

Old School Lilly Dress.

Dress: c/o Lilly Pultizer via thredUp // Cardigan: LOFT // Shoes: TJ Maxx {similar here} // Sunglasses: H&M // Lips: Essence Liquid Lipstick in Show Off! 

Photography by Deeana Kourtney Photography

   

     There are many things that I love about Lilly Pulitzer: the beautiful colors and iconic patterns of the brand, the classic silhouettes of their dresses, and the fact that no matter which season your Lilly is from, it's never out of style! But one thing that I don't love about Lilly Pulitzer are the high prices of each season's current line. Full priced dresses are often in the $200-$300 range, and at this point in my life, I just can't afford to be dropping that much money on dresses all of the time! Lilly's sales are wonderful, but they only happen a few times a year.

     Enter thredUp as an excellent option for shopping Lilly Pulitzer pieces on a budget! thredUp is an online consignment store that sells like-new name brand clothing and accessories. Their brands range from popular mall brands all the way up to designer labels! thredUp carries a wide array of gently used Lilly Pulitzer items, and the prices are very reasonable. Many of the items in stock are Lilly dresses or clothing pieces from seasons past, but since Lilly is the epitome of classic, preppy style, everything is still in! How beautiful is the Lilly dress that I'm wearing here from thredUp?! It would be perfect for all spring occasions, and I'm sad that I didn't have it in time for attending the Carolina Cup last month! 

     Have you ever shopped with thredUp before? They have so many clothing brands on their website, so if Lilly isn't your thing, don't be afraid to still give it a try!

     Hope that y'all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! Did anyone have any fun plans or travel anywhere exciting? My weekend was pretty low-key.... I caught up with some friends from college on Friday afternoon and enjoyed my first pool day of the year. On Saturday I attended the evening service at church, and then had a late dinner out with my Big and Little from ADPi (Jess, my Big, moves to Florida for an internship at Disney this week!), Most of my Sunday was spent working. It was a mellow weekend, but needed! 

     xoxo Miss ALK

     P.S. On the actual Lilly Pulitzer website- the awesome free gifts with purchase for Memorial Day Weekend ends today!! 

Link-Up: 2016 NPC Badge Day!

     Welcome to my second annual fashion post link-up on Southern Belle in Training for NPC Badge Day! (Check out last year's post here!) As y'all know, one of the highlights of my college experience has been getting to be apart of Greek life at my school. I'm a sister of Alpha Delta Pi, which is one out of the 26 Panhellenic national sororities. Every year, the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) hosts a day when women of all sororities- both collegiate members and alumni, are encouraged to wear their organization's pins and pin attire, and to celebrate being apart of the larger women's Greek community!

     As a sister of ADPi, I take so much pride in wearing the diamond shaped badge of my sorority. I know that sisters of other sororities also understand the significance of wearing their own pins! In honor of NPC Badge Day and to promote Greek unity in the blogging community, I decided last year to host an annual link-up where bloggers can share pin-attire inspired fashion posts, or other posts related to Greek life on NPC Badge Day. :-) Please feel free to join in the fun and link-up a relevant post!! I'm leaving the link-up open through this week.

     For last year's Badge Day outfit, I featured a very business casual and traditional pin attire outfit. This year, I wanted to show y'all the way that I normally dress for pin attire days or chapter meetings. My sorority holds weekly chapter meetings on Sunday nights. I often get dressed for church in the morning, keep my dressier clothes on all day (it motivates me to do homework!), and then change things up slightly that evening for my chapter meeting. See below for a perfect example of what I would wear on a Sunday:

     

     This gorgeous blue maxi dress would be perfect to wear to church on Sunday morning, for lunch with friends, and it's also comfortable enough for a day of homework afterwards! 

Dress: c/o Pink Blush // Cardigan: J. Crew Factory // Shoes: Rack Room Shoes {similar here} // Bracelets: c/o Jet Chic Arm Candy, Kate Spade // Lips: Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

  

     Later that day for chapter I would change up my accessories a little bit, and add a cardigan and pin to make it a little more conservative. This outfit is transformed from afternoon casual to pin attire appropriate!  

      My outfit details are linked above, and the NPC Badge Day link-up for all of you to link your posts to is below! And lastly: I have a fun giveaway for y'all :-) 

     Pink Blush is an online boutique that sells very fun and trendy fashion and accessories! (They also have a huge section on their website of maternity clothing- perfect for if you or someone you know is expecting!) I styled a gorgeous top from them in Saturday's blog post, and the dress that I'm wearing here is from Pink Blush as well. They are generously giving away a $50 gift card to one lucky Southern Belle in Training reader! This giveaway will run through Tuesday, March 15th, 2015. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

     Today's post was sponsored by Pink Blush. Thank-you for supporting the brands that support Southern Belle in Training! 

     xoxo Miss ALK

Dressing for a Cold Front.

Sweater: L.L. Bean // T-shirt: Target // Jeans: American Eagle Outfiters // Boots: Tory Burch // Leg Warmers: Charlotte Russe {not online, similar here} // Earrings: In Pink {old, similar style here} // Bracelets: c/o Taudrey // Lips: Milani Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in Bare Secret 

      Now that Valentine's Day has come and gone, Spring Break and Easter are on my radar, which also means the arrival of one of my favorite things- spring fashion! But just when I'm getting ahead of myself, the weather outside reminds me that despite being below the Mason-Dixon line, winter is still here for the time being. This past weekend, temperatures in Charlotte were in the 20s and 30s! It was quite chilly and reminded this native Mainer a little too much of home.

      Luckily for me, it was the perfect time for me to break out this cardigan from L.L. Bean. Back when I was home in December, my friend Shara and I paid a visit to the L.L. Bean Factory Store in Freeport Maine, and that's wear I found the cardigan! It is soft and cozy, and the print on it is able to add a fun twist to wintery attire. One of the reasons that I hate freezing cold weather is because I find it very hard to dress for, but pieces like this help to brighten up your look and still help you to stay warm! 

     I hope that y'all had a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend, despite the cold weather in many parts of the country! Did you do anything fun? My weekend was pretty low key- I had a huge annotated bibliography due for my senior ethics class today, so I spent most of my weekend working on that. I also took the time to see two movies in the theaters for Galentine's plans with different girlfriends... which is unusual for me since I rarely go to the movies!

     xoxo Miss ALK

70 Degree December.

Cardigan: TJ Maxx {very similar here!} // Dress: H&M // Shoes: The Walking Company {similar here} // Sunglasses: Le Chateau {Canadian store} // Clutch: Towne & Reese {local Charlotte company! :-) } // Necklace: c/o A-List Greek Designs //  Bracelets: Alex & Ani // Rings: Charming Charlie // Lips: Nyx Matte Lipstick in Strawberry Daiquiri 

     Earlier in the year I shared my First Day of School outfit for fall semester on the blog... today I'm sharing what was my last day outfit!! Well- last day for first semester. Can't get too ahead of myselfm haha! As I shared in some of last week's posts, we were so blessed in Charlotte to have a very mild start to our month of December. I enjoyed weather in the 70s for all of my last days of class and final exam days! It made it a little hard to study and be productive, but it was wonderful to plant myself outside and get some work done at some of the many pretty spots on campus. 

     I think that this outfit is absolutely perfect for a warm winter day. Wearing a very casual LBD is great for winter because of the dark color, and this aztec cardigan added both a little bit of warmth and also a little color of the outfit! I got this aztec cardigan this summer at TJ Maxx on a whim one day, and I had no idea how much use I would get out of it this season. It's so cozy, and I wear it with so many different things! (This aztec cardigan is super similar to the one that I have.)

     Lastly, how fun is this adorable clutch from Towne & Reese?! Town & Reese is a Southern based jewelry and accessories company. They gained some national fame after Charlotte resident and former Bachelorette Emily Maynard wore some of their pieces on her season of the show! The sweet family that I babysat for this semester purchased this clutch for me as one of my Christmas gifts- I absolutely adore it! It's just my style, and I love the thoughtfulness behind the gift. :-)

     Happy week leading up to Christmas, y'all! Hope it's off to a great start for everyone! My time here at home in Maine is starting to fly by.

    P.S. Be sure to check out the new widget that I just added to the top of my blog- it features some fun sparkly fashion ideas for NYE style! 

     xoxo Miss ALK

Full-time Fashion Blogger.

Top: The Red Dress Boutique {sold out, similar here!} // Skirt: Kohl's // Cardigan: Talbots // Shoes: Rack Room Shoes {almost identical here!} // Earrings: c/o Kendra Scott // Bracelets: c/o Jet Chic Arm Candy // Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Blushing Mauve

     Earlier this summer, I saw this adorable top from The Red Dress Boutique come across my Instagram feed. I instantly knew that I had to have it! Not only was it on sale at the time (I'm pretty sure that I got it for under $15, including shipping!), but it's also the comfiest top ever. And what blogger doesn't love to advertise her job / favorite hobby a little more than normal?! ;-) This fun graphic top is perfect to pair with jeans and booties for a casual look, or you can take a dressier take on it like I did with this outfit! 

    Speaking of blogging "attire," now is the perfect time to start shopping for holiday gifts for your blogger besties, or any friends in your life who share your passion for blogging! Be sure to check out the Ultimate Blogger Gift Guide post that I wrote this summer- most of the items are still available! 

     There will be no Midweek Ramblings + Recent Purchases post for tomorrow/this week... taking this week off since it's Thanksgiving and I will be traveling! Stay tuned for more posts later in the week though, and please follow me on Instagram and Snapchat @miss_alk to stay up to date on my fun travel plans for this week!! 

     Some similar (and equally cute!) blogging tops are linked below:

     xoxo Miss ALK

     

Keep Pounding.

Top: Talbots {old, striped shirt in similar colors here} // Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters // Cardigan: Talbots // Shoes: Banana Republic // Scarf: H&M // Purse: Michael Kors // Earrings: Target {old, similar here} // Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Demure {my signature shade!} 

     What an exciting time to be a Charlottean! The Panthers, the NFL team for the Carolinas, is currently 8-0 for this year's season after their most recent win yesterday! I have never previously been a big football fan. I'm an only child, and neither my mom or my dad are into football. In New England where I'm from, you're either a diehard Patriots fan or you're not, there isn't really any between (and my family definitely falls on the "not" side- haha!). 

     But this year, it was one of my goals to try and start showing a little more team spirit towards Charlotte's hometown team, the Carolina Panthers. I think it's pretty cool that I go to school in a city that has its own NFL team, and I wish I had gotten more excited about this sooner! Yesterday, I watched my very first Panthers game. I didn't actually go to the game- as with the excellent record that the Panthers have been having, ticket prices are soaring. But I did enjoy the game from Uptown Charlotte's Buffalo Wild Wings, a fantastic choice of a sports bar and grill, and then finished the game later in my room. I was proud of myself for making it through until the end! ;-)

     Of course, watching my first Panthers game meant that I had to dress the part! The Panthers' colors are blue and black, so I did what I could to show my team spirit. Yesterday was quite chilly in Charlotte, so I wore one of my favorite comfy Talbots cardigans over my shirt and scarf combo.

     One thing that I think makes dressing for game days extra fun is jewelry in your team's colors! The earrings that I'm wearing here are from Target, but you can find perfect game day jewelry at so many stores. Charming Charlie is always a favorite destination of mine for affordable and cute jewelry. If you're very loyal to a team and see yourself attending many games or tailgates, I would invest in some nicer jewelry in your team's colors from Kendra Scott- her stuff is timeless! 

     On a note unrelated to all things football- I am really excited about tomorrow's post here on the blog! When brainstorming lifestyle content for this month on Southern Belle in Training, it hit me that I haven't written many posts about college life so far this semester. The post that I have scheduled for tomorrow is definitely a unique and personal one, but it's something that I can't wait to share!! 

      xoxo Miss ALK

She Leaves a Little Sparkle Wherever She Goes.

Photos: Emily Sacra Photography

Dress. Lulu's {Sold out, similar here} // Cardigan: J. Crew Factory // Shoes: Nine West // Tiara: {Can be bought online HERE!} // Sunglasses: LOFT // Wallet: Kate Spade // Bracelets: Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, c/o Taudrey // Lips: Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick in Pink Light Medium 

      Thank-you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday (and blogiversary) yesterday! My 21st birthday weekend in Myrtle Beach has been truly wonderful: a little wild but mostly pretty mellow and filled with lots of sunbathing and girl time with two of my best friends! I will definitely be sharing some of my outfits from the trip soon, as well as more about the trip itself. 

     Today though is a post that I've been waiting anxiously to share for the past few weeks! My much awaited birthday/blogiversary photoshoot with Emily Sacra Photography! I knew that I wanted to have a special photoshoot to commemorate both my 21st birthday and third blogiversary for Southern Belle in Training, and Emily was able to capture everything that I wanted (and more!). I feel like these photos encompass my true spirit, style and personality. The pictures with the balloons literally made me feel like I was living in a Kate Spade ad- hence the post title!

      I have been online friends with Emily from Emily Sacra photography for quite some time now! We actually both used to read each other's blogs several years ago, back when I had my old blog in high school. We became Facebook friends a few years later and have kept up with each other throug there. Emily is from a part of Western Virginia that my dad and I always pass through on our drives to Charlotte, so I've always wanted to try and meet up with her! It has never worked out in the past, but I'm so happy that it finally did this time. She's such a talented photographer and also a wonderful person!! It's always so fun to meet online friends. Emily is a fantastic wedding and portrait photographer, so definitely check out her website!!

    Here's to another year of blogging (and leaving the beach to go back to reality and my busy schedule at school!)!!

    P.S.- the giveaway that I posted about last week ends tomorrow! Be sure to enter!

    xox Miss ALK