The Cutest New Target Shoes for Spring!!

      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!). 

My 2020 Socially Distanced Summer Bucket List.

     Hey Friends! This blog post was supposed to go live on Monday, but I took the rest of the work week off from new blog and IG content to honor everything going on right now. I used the time weekday afternoons that I normally spend working on my blog to instead be having some tough but meaningful conversations with dear friends about the current events, racism, politics, and more. I'm also excited for some library books about racism that I put on hold to come in for me.

    Anyways- I will definitely still be educating myself and having these tough conversations in the weeks and months to come (this week has truly changed some things for me), but it is time now to get back to business here on the blog! 😊

     This marks my third annual Summer Bucket List! I started publishing these on the blog in 2018, which was my first summer here in Virginia. The past two have been fun ways to challenge myself to make the most of this fleeting season, and to enjoy activities and experiences new and old that I wouldn't get to do at other times of the year.

    I wasn't sure if I should still make a list for this year, thanks to COVID-19. The truth is this summer will be looking a lot different than the last two. 😬 Even if some of the activities that I'd hoped to do this year won't be open or safe, that doesn't mean I should let this season go to waste! If anything, I want to be even more intentional with how I'm spending my time. Stay-at-home orders will be over and it will be safer to go out and explore certain types of local spots, but that doesn't mean social distancing and general safety are over as well. 

    So here we go- my third annual Summer Bucket List and first ever one created with social distancing in mind!

Lilly Pulitzer Let's Cha Cha Skort (+ WHEN is the Next After Party Sale?)

     I'm wearing one of my very favorite Lilly Pulitzer pieces on the blog today- and I can't believe this is the first time this skort has gotten its own outfit post! I've had it for over five years, so better late than never I guess? I also wanted to chat about when the next After Party Sale might be- safe to say at this point it'll be within the next month, if not sooner!

All White Outfit for Summer + Giveaway!

    There are a few specific fashion items and trends that just scream summer. Flip flops, bright Lilly Pulitzer prints, and seersucker to name a few... but another thing that makes me think of the warmest months of the year is a chic all white outfit! Whether that's an LWD or white separates, there is something so summery about that type of outfit. I'm sharing my take on all white for summer today, as well as a fun giveaway with other bloggers!

Flamingo Skirt + My Summer 2019 Bucket List!

     I think this is by far the most FUN outfit that I've worn in 2019! It's a pet peeve of mine when bloggers refer to everything they wear as their "favorite item" (you can't have a new favorite five days a week on Instagram!)... but y'all this skirt really is my new favorite, haha! Also sharing a little summer bucket list in today's post!

The Perfect Tourist Outfit Is...

     Last weekend I was in Washington DC for a quick 48-hour trip. DC is quickly becoming my favorite city to play tourist in on Saturdays and Sundays! There are endless fun things to do, and always something new to see. It's hard to get tired of visiting there! One thing I will say about DC is that it is a "go go go" type of town. This isn't the best tourist destination for a relaxing weekend, but instead it's one to check out if you like having a full itinerary and tons of stuff to do. Putting together outfits for being a busy weekend tourist can be challenging. Athletic clothing and sneakers might be the most comfortable to wear, but if you're anything like me, you still want to look cute and fashionable in all the photos you'll be taking. In today's post, I'm sharing the simple but chic outfit that I wore in DC last weekend!

     And here's a couple fun photos in front of the White House!!

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Jumpsuit c/o {under $30!} // Sandals // Earrings {old, very similar here} // Sunglasses c/o // Purse // Lipstick //

      After this past weekend, I am convinced that jumpsuits are the ideal outfit choice for tourist activities! They're so easy to wear, and yet you look like you spent a lot more time getting ready. 😉I also get cold very easily, so I like the fact that most jumpsuits cover more of your legs than dresses. The only hassle with jumpsuits is of course that they're really annoying to take off if you have to go to the bathroom... but hey, I'll take that in exchange for how cute they look on! This orange floral jumpsuit is gorgeous, and I loved wearing it for a morning of sightseeing in DC. I ordered a size M, and it fit me perfectly. 

     I have fallen in love with visiting DC for weekend trips! The DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) area has an exorbitant cost of living and a bit of a fast paced and intense lifestyle, so while I'm not sure I'd ever want to live and work there, it's the absolute best to visit on weekends!! Without traffic, I live just under two hours from some of the Virginia DC suburb towns (like Tyson's Corner, a big shopping district), and about two and a half hours from DC proper and the Maryland suburbs. It's a really easy drive to get up there from Charlottesville, and I intend to keep taking full advantage of this!

     The plethora of amazing free things to do in DC continues to blow my mind. In addition to all of the museums and attractions, there is world class shopping and dining. DC is such a beautiful city to visit as well; the architecture styles and unique charm of all the different areas is wonderful. My favorite DC weekend was still my first trip up last spring, when my friend Mercedes and I saw all things cherry blossoms! I also wrote a blog post after that weekend detailing some fun and free things to do in DC, which you can check out here. I'm planning another weekend in DC around the holidays to see the city all decorated, but truth be told I'm most excited for cherry blossoms in 2019! 

     Have a wonderful weekend! My mom is here visiting me in Virginia, and I'm looking forward to hopefully doing some exploring with her on Sunday after church. A new Relationship Monday is coming to the blog next week! 

    God Bless,

    xoxo Annaliese

   

Tassel T-Shirt Outfit + My Blog's Mission Statement.

     Last week I shared and styled a sundress from Shein that was a total win- and today I have another great Shein find for y'all! It's the most adorable top, and it's so perfect for late summer. Also chatting a bit about my blog's mission statement, and looking for your feedback!

Photography by Kate Greer

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

Top c/o // Jeans {from Zara, similar here} // Sandals {old, similar here} // Earrings {old, similar here} // Purse // Bracelets // Lip Gloss // 

     How cute is this striped tassel top?! Definitely another Shein win. I ordered an M, and it has a nice and loose relaxed fit on me. It's a great way to add a pop of fun to my late summer work outfits. I wore this exact look to work a couple weeks ago, and it was the type of outfit that brightened my entire day. For hair talk- I've recently started doing my messy buns a bit differently than I used to, and I love this end result! Plus- it's truly one of the most simple hairstyles. I found this type of messy bun tutorial through Emily at The Sweetest Thing in this blog post of hers!! 

     So- I'd love y'all's feedback on something! I never formally introduced this, but a few months ago I created Southern Belle in Training's first mission statement. I figured that with my six year blogiversary coming in September, it was about time to do this! I have this listed on my Instagram, Twitter, and my blog's About page. My personal mission with this blog is to provide content that is "Affordable Fashion // Attainable Travel // Authentic Living." The first two are kind of self-explanatory- for "Affordable Fashion" I strive to feature outfits on my blog with affordable pieces, and I also enjoy regularly showing how I re-style things from my closet. A love of fashion can encourage someone to pursue materialism- but I want my blog and style to show that doesn't have to be the case! You can love clothes and all things girly and stick to a budget and not buy into every single trend. "Attainable Travel" is along the same lines. I love to travel and discover new places, but in my young 20s I know that I don't have unlimited funds to go on luxurious and exotic vacations. I want to show y'all how you can discover new places in your own state or region, and how when I do take bigger trips, I do them while being financially smart. 

      The last part of the mission statement, "Authentic Living" - is the part that I'm still trying to figure out how to fairly represent in my blog posts and social media. This would comprise the posts on Southern Belle in Training that aren't fashion or travel related. Posts about my faith, career, and relationships.  You might have read my Grocery Store Wars posts from this spring and summer- that's a perfect example of this topic. In my real life, I love grocery shopping and always have (every since I was little!). It's a mundane everyday thing that actually brings me a lot of joy, so I wanted to share that on my blog, even though it has nothing to do with fashion or travel. Another blog post series under this category would be my Relationship Monday posts where I talk about dating and singleness. The last time that I wrote one of these I lived in Vermont (and a lot of them were written back when I still lived in North Carolina!), but it's a blog post series that I'd really like to start doing more often on Mondays again. My heart really lies in writing longer blog posts about personal topics. I am finally at a place in my life where I'm loving being single, but it took years to get myself in that mindset! I want to share more about relationship-based topics, and especially how my faith and morals play into how I view dating (and someday marriage). 

     Anyways- now that I have formally shared my blog's mission statement, I want to know what you think!! Do you like my style of sharing fashion and travel content? Would you like to see more posts each week in the "Authentic Living" category? What past posts on Southern Belle in Training have you loved or found notable? If you want to give your thoughts on any of those questions- leave me a comment on this post! 😊

      God Bless,

     

      xoxo Annaliese 

Having a Great Summer When You Can't Take a Vacation.

     Getting real in today's blog post! Both in my choice of outfit (this is a more casual look than I usually wear on the blog), and in the topic of today's post. Can't wait to hear y'all's thoughts about this topic! 

Photography by Meredith Sledge

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

Top // Shorts // Sandals // Sunglasses // Purse // Necklace // Bracelets // Lipstick //

    Outfit talk up first: definitely keeping things very casual for today's look! This is a perfect example of the type of outfit that I'd wear on a summer weekend in Charlottesville. I picked up this cute striped t-shirt over Memorial Day Weekend, and I love all of the bright colors in it. These shorts have been some of my very favorites for a few years now- I love them so much that I re-purchased an identical pair this season since my previous pair was looking a little worn from years of love. To make this casual look seem a bit more put-together, I added a fun statement necklace, bright pink sunglasses, and a favorite pink crossbody purse.



     Now let's get to today's other topic: how to avoid FOMO and stay positive during the summer if you're not able to take a vacation this season. There's lots of reasons why some of us can't take vacations certain years. I actually haven't had a summer vacation since 2015, so I am hopefully much overdue for one in 2019! In 2016 I had just started broadcasting school, in 2017 I was still too new at my first job to use PTO, and this year, 2018, it's the same situation as last year! Radio is an industry that isn't famous for its PTO or benefits, and I have to wait until I've been employed six months at my new job for my time off to start. Of course, these are just a couple examples of reasons why you might not be able to take a summer vacation. There are tons: lack of PTO from work, being in school during the summer, family needs, illness, not having the funds, etc etc.


     It can be hard to stay positive about staying in your town or city all summer when friends are jetsetting all over the country and world (social media unfortunately makes the travel FOMO all the more real!). I wanted to share some tips in today's post to help with still having an amazing summer, even if you can't visit anywhere exotic or new.



      *Remember that social media is a highlight reel: We're all guilty of getting caught up in the downsides of social media sometimes. When you keep seeing perfect Instagram picture after perfect Instagram picture from people's summer travels, it can be easy to get into a negative mindset and throw a pity party. It's good to take a step back and constantly remind yourself that Instagram and other social media is people's *highlight reels.* 99% of the time, you're seeing only the highs, and not the lows that we all deal with. If the comparison game is really getting you down this summer, try to spend less time on social media!


      *Use the summer to reevaluate the reasons that you can't travel at this time: There's probably a major reason why you can't travel this summer. If you're staying close to home this month and next, take that time to remember your reason for not being able to go anywhere, and think about how you can fix that by summer 2019! For example, my reason for this summer is that I don't have PTO yet at my new job. When I start to feel down about not having any vacations coming up, I remember all the reasons that I moved to Virginia to take this new job, and how much I love my job, which makes it worth it for me. I also have started brainstorming a list of travel destinations I'd like to visit next year, which gets me excited about the future! If finances are the major reason you can't travel right now, I challenge you to save as much money as possible this month and next, and start a separate savings account for future adventures.



      *Plan a weekend overnight trip within a two hour radius: Y'all- never underestimate the power of an overnight getaway! Simply getting out of your home for a night and heading to a close by new city or town (or staying in your city for a staycation at a hotel) can do wonders! I had an absolute blast during my weekend trip to Richmond,VA last month (Richmond is just over an hour from Charlottesville). Weekend trips are generally affordable, and they can "hold you over" until you're able to go on a longer trip! Plus, I'm sure there's tons of places within a 1-2 hour radius of you that you're not familiar with yet.

     
      *Make a summer bucket list of local activities: I shared my summer bucket list on the blog last month- and I'm so glad I made one! The one I made has kept me motivated with trying new things in Charlottesville and Central Virginia this summer. If you're feeling especially financially thrifty, I challenge you to make a bucket list of only free activities in your local area!


      *Keep your social calendar full: Staying busy with friends is a great way to enjoy your summer and local area! Although I was bummed I can't travel this summer, I have been viewing it as a blessing in disguise because I've been able to devote a ton of time to fostering new friendships and meeting people in Charlottesville. If I was on-the-go all summer long, that probably wouldn't be the case! It was really hard for me to make friends in Vermont last year for the first few months (last summer), so summer 2017 felt so long and boring to me. I've had a much different experience making friends in Virginia, so summer has been awesome so far! I have different social things to look forward to each week, and it's all been a total blast.


      *Become involved with a summer activity in your local community: If you're staying put for the summer, it can be a great time to get involved with a summer specific activity or local project! I joined a summer bible study group at my church, and it's been a way to meet new friends at church, learn more about topics in the bible that I hadn't previously studied, and it also gives me something to look forward to each week! Other options include getting involved in a volunteer opportunity, joining a sports league, signing up for a fun class at community college or your parks and rec department, or even picking up a new side hustle.


   


     Are you traveling a lot this summer, or also staying grounded this year like I am? I'd love to hear in the comments!



     God Bless,


   
      xoxo Annaliese

Preppy 4th of July Outfit.

     Some holidays I manage to hit every year on the blog in terms of content and outfits based around them... and some just escape me. The 4th of July is weirdly one that usually blows right past me each year- it's already happened by the time I remember that I should have shared an outfit related to it! Luckily, I didn't let that happen this year. I'm sharing this simple and preppy 4th of July look in today's post, and also talking about my plans for the holiday this year; my first one in Virginia!

Photography by Meredith Sledge 


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




Top {mine not online, very similar here} // Shorts // Shoes // Earrings // Gold Bracelet Stack // Rose Gold Bracelet // Ring // Lipstick // 

     I realized when putting this outfit together that while I have a plethora of white and bold blue items in my closet and accessories collections... solid red fashion items are something I'm lacking a little bit. I actually just ordered these red earrings (which I'm hoping will be here in time for the 4th next week!), but until then, I opted when styling this outfit for a bold red lipstick to make sure I had all three colors of the flag represented!


     I've been loyal to J. Crew Factory shorts for many years now- and this blue scalloped pair is no exception! They're so cute for all types of summer outfits, and of course absolutely perfect for the 4th of July. I paired them with this favorite tie-front white top, and fun blue statement earrings to finish off this preppy look. This outfit is simple, but definitely still patriotic for the 4th!



      What are your plans for the 4th of July this year? Do you have any traditions, or do something new each year? Since graduating college, I've done different things each 4th! Two years ago, I went to a fun pool party in Charlotte, and then watched the fireworks with friends in Tega Cay, SC. Last year I was in Vermont, and I had to work in the morning. Later that day, my friend Ciera flew in for her summer visit, and we spent the rest of the day at a state park on Lake Champlain (and then I think went to bed before any fireworks shows- lol!). This year, Ciera is coming back to visit me for the week of the 4th! Our friend Priyanka (also from Charlotte) is coming up with her, and I can't wait to have the girls here with me in Charlottesville for a few days. They're both arriving on the 4th, so I think we will keep things mellow that day, and try and check out one of the fireworks shows in Charlottesville that night! I'm still asking around of where the best place is to catch them here.

   

     God Bless,


   
      xoxo Annaliese 

National Wear Your Lilly Day 2018.

     It's one of my favorite non-official holidays of the year! Today is the first day of summer (real holiday), but June 21st is also National Wear Your Lilly Day, celebrated by Lilly Pulitzer fans everywhere. Out of all four seasons, summer is definitely the one that screams Lilly fashions and accessories. I always look forward each year on June 21st to wearing something Lilly, and sharing a Lilly Pulitzer look on my blog to celebrate!

Photography by Deeana Kourtney - location: The Graduate Richmond hotel

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

Dress {from last year's After Party Sale, very similar here}  // Shoes {old, similar here} // Wallet // Earrings c/o // Bracelet // Lipstick // 

     Lilly Pulitzer makes many different types of dress styles, and quite honestly I love them all! I own quite a few of the casual stretchy cotton dress styles, like the Sophie and Marlowe. However, any of the classic Lilly shifts will always have a special place in my heart. When I slip into a Lilly Pulitzer shift dress like the one that I'm wearing here, I instantly feel classy, put together, and confident. All of Lilly Pulitzer's unique prints make me so delighted to wear, and Lilly is just something that you feel happy in! This specific print is even more neon and vibrantly colored in person- I feel like the photos don't even do it full justice.

     I purchased the shift dress I'm wearing here in the After Party Sale that was at the end of last summer, but I hadn't really had a chance to wear it until recently (#WinterInVermontProbs). I know I'll be wearing this all summer long for dinners out, church, parties, and of course nights spent at rooftop bars, like I was last weekend in Richmond when these pictures were taken! 

     Something else that I love about Lilly Pulitzer is that their prints and clothing pieces don't really go out of style- they are always timeless for preppy fashion! I have some older Lilly pieces that I've found at thrift stores or have been given to me, and I love them just as much as newer Lilly that I've purchased myself. National Wear Your Lilly Day is so fun to celebrate each year, because you can wear one of the latest and greatest Lilly styles, or dig back into your closet and pull out an older Lilly gem! 

     A quick note about today's photoshoot location: these pictures were taken at the Byrd House, a stunning rooftop bar in Richmond, Virginia! It's located on top of the Graduate Richmond hotel, which I had the pleasure of staying at over the weekend for a girls' weekend with my friend Deeana! I'm looking forward to sharing more about my weekend and the hotel with y'all early next week.

     Today you can also feel free to check out some of my past National Wear Your Lilly Day blog posts from 2015 and 2017! Fellow Lilly lovers: are you celebrating today? Linking some of my favorite Lilly new arrivals below:

      God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese 

My Happy Places...

      We're not only talking happy places in today's blog post, but I'm also literally showing y'all one of mine! I've been blogging for almost six years now, and working with photographers for content for Southern Belle in Training for over two years. That's a lot of blog pictures and photo shoots in that amount of time- sometimes I have to think a little outside the box to still be creative with my pictures. Last month, I had the spur of the moment idea to shoot one of my outfits for the blog in one of the Charlottesville libraries! It was so fun, and totally out of the norm from the types of places I normally do blog photos, but hey, sometimes it's fun to mix it up. 😊

Photos by Lacey Botteon

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

Top {similar} // Shorts c/o {such a bargain!} // Shoes // Necklace // Earrings {similar} // Bracelets c/o // Purse // 

     Let's talk about the outfit details for a second! So in one of last week's blog posts- I shared an outfit from my favorite online discount retailer Shein that was actually kind of a miss for me (a "get what you pay for" in terms of quality situation). The shorts I'm wearing in today's post also from Shein.... but WOW! These are a win!! They are only $10, and fit well and are really cute. As with most things from Shein, I did size up in them! Usually in the summer months I wear even brighter and colorful outfits than I normally do, but this outfit is all black and neutrals and I still really liked it.



      Now let's talk about happy places! We all have them. You know what I'm talking about- a place that you can arrive at and instantly feel at peace, or at least able to forget a bit about the distractions and stress of everyday life. I'd love to share a few of mine with you, and please let me know in the comments what yours are!



     *Library: Probably a given from these photos! I've loved libraries and reading since I was a little girl. There's not a lot of things that are truly free to enjoy in the adult world, but public libraries are a rare gem! I am such a big bookworm, so letting myself get lost in a place that's completely dedicated to the love of reading and books is something I'm always down for! I've had a local library card in every city/state that I've lived in- it's usually my motivation to go to the DMV for my new license when I move, because new license equals being able to get a library card!


     *Mall: Okay- it's no surprise that I love fashion since I have a fashion blog! However, one thing that I've noticed from a lot of girls' blogs that I read is that a lot of bloggers admit to preferring shopping online! While there are some online-only retailers that I do like shopping at, I still love the retail experience and going to the mall. Maybe it's part childhood nostalgia (I have the best memories of looking forward to mall trips for my birthdays or other special occasions growing up!), or part the fact that I did work in retail for a bit myself, but malls will always have a special place in my heart. There's just something about the smell of cinnamon buns wafting from the food court- you know what I mean! Even if I'm not going to the mall to buy anything specific, if I have a few hours to kill and want to get out of my apartment, it can be a nice place to walk around, especially in winter when the weather isn't great.


     *Beach (especially in my hometown): Okay- cliche answer here! Who doesn't like the beach, right? But it holds a special place in my heart as a happy place, since I'm from a small coastal town in Maine! Now that I live in a landlocked place, my heart misses the ocean where I'm from, especially in the summer months! Maine beaches are very natural and serene, most of them aren't built up or commercialized. I don't get homesick very much as I really do love the South, but sometimes I do long to take a long walk on one of my hometown beaches! I definitely appreciate it a lot more when I get to visit home now, as visits are few and far between.


      *Radio studio: I feel so lucky to be working in my dream industry, one that I dreamed of being in since I was a little girl! Being in my station's studio, where I spend the majority of my workday, really is a happy place for me. Some days I have to take a minute and just reflect about how lucky I am to be able to play great music, and bring joy to people's day in their cars or workplace (or wherever they listen to the radio!) - like that's my actual job!


     *Airport: Okay- this one needs a little explaining. Airports definitely stop becoming a happy place when severe flight delays are involved. But if everything goes smoothly on the travel end, I love airports! I feel like there's so much excitement in the air to see everyone hustling and bustling around, off to different destinations. And I think airport gift shops are so fun- I've found some of my favorite touristy souvenirs in them!


     *Church: There's just something so sweet and special about coming together to worship God and hear a great biblical message with other believers! This goes beyond just traditional Sunday services though. Church being my happy place includes bible study meetings, service opportunities, or just general times of fellowship with my church family!


     *Waterfalls: I love hiking and checking out beautiful places outdoors, but I have a special affinity for any trails that lead to waterfalls! There's just something magical about seeing them for yourself in nature. (Or maybe my love stems from my obsession with 90s music and TLC's hit song Waterfalls.... hahaha!)



     Okay- those are my favorite happy places! What are yours?


     Hope your week is off to a good start!!

     God Bless,


     xoxo Annaliese

   

My Summer 2018 Bucket List!

     I have my Instagram friends to thank for the theme of today's post! Last week I was feeling a bit stumped for what to write about for the topic of today's blog (I pre-write my posts a few days in advance), so I posted a poll on IG Stories asking which you'd rather read between two post topics. My Summer Bucket List was the clear winner- so here you go! I'm excited to share this today, and these outfit details as well. These photos were taken a few weeks ago, back when all of the spring blooms where still going strong in Charlottesville.

Photography by Lacey Botteon

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

Crop top & shorts set c/o // Shoes // Earrings c/o // Necklace {old, similar here} // Sunglasses // Bracelets c/o // Purse {old, similar here} // Lipstick // 

     This little crop top and matching shorts set is from Shein! I've worked with them on my blog to style and review their clothing for a couple years now. Generally speaking, despite their very low prices, I usually like most of the items that I get from this online store. This top and shorts was a miss sadly, It did photograph well in these pictures, but I found the quality of the fabric to be terrible, and the zipper was so poorly made on the shorts that they didn't zip fully! So I actually wouldn't recommend this.... if you do want to buy it for like a beach vacation, expect that you're getting what you pay for! But generally- I do really like Shein. 

     Alright, onto my summer bucket list! Sharing a few things that are personal goals for the summer, and some things that relate to life in Charlottesville and Virginia. I'm planning to put together my first ever 1001 in 1001 style bucket list for my birthday and blogiversary in September, so consider today's bucket list a little preview for that!

      My Summer 2018 Bucket List

      Personal Bucket List:

• Try one new recipe a week - either a dinner, snack, or dessert recipe! (I haven't been as creative in my cooking since moving and want to step up my game again!)
• Find a new primary care doctor in Charlottesville and make an appointment, and make an appointment with my new dentist for a teeth cleaning. 
• Begin my 401k savings account once I become eligible through work (and if eligibility date is later in the year, put the money I would put into that into my remaining student loan during this summer!).
• Work out three times a week - either at my apartment gym, playing tennis, or going for a long trail or neighborhood walk. 
• Find a new-to-me show to watch this summer on Netflix.
• Finish (re-watching for me) Season One of Hart of Dixie on Netflix with my friend Becca- we are watching together!
• Read a minimum of three books each month.
• Call my grandma at least once a week.
• Host my housewarming tea party in my new apartment.
• Host friends from out of town at least once a month at my apartment!

Charlottesville / Virginia Summer Bucket List:

• Plan an overnight trip to see one of Virginia's beaches.
• Visit one new-to-me hiking trail somewhere in the mountains. 
• Find a local nature walking trail in Charlottesville for weekly walks.
• Drive more of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
• Visit 12 wineries (by the time summer is over) on the Monticello Wine Trail!
• Go to a polo match at King Family Vineyards.
• Go to Sunset Series at Carter's Mountain Orchard (Thursday night concert series).
• Shop at Short Pump in Richmond (the nicer shopping district, similar to Charlotte's SouthPark).
• Go tubing on the James River.
• Continue meeting weekly with my women's Community Group at my new church.
• Continue participating in monthly service projects with my new church.

     Historically speaking, when I share things on the blog it does hold me pretty accountable to getting them done! So hopefully since I shared this with y'all, I'll be able to report in September that I checked all the items off. 😊Have you made a summer bucket list this year? If so- what's on it?


     Even though today's post focused all about my new life in Virginia, in an upcoming post this week I'll be taking y'all back to Vermont1 I'll be sharing a travel guide specific to visiting the Burlington, VT area in the summer months. Vermont of course is a popular state to visit in the winter with the plethora of ski resorts in the state, but it also makes for a very unique and different type of place to go to for summer vacations as well. I might not have had the best experience living there as an actual year-round resident, but I think Vermont could be great for a certain type of summer vacation, so I am excited to share some recommendations from my time living there later this week on the blog!

      God Bless,



      xoxo Annaliese 

Tie-Waist Shirt + Neck Scarf = Two Spring Trends To Love!

     Finally sharing the last found of photos from an early spring shoot with Meredith- these were taken just a couple weeks after I moved to Virginia! I definitely saved the best for last, because I am low-key obsessed with two of the trends that I'm wearing in this outfit. 

Photography by Meredith Sledge

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Top {almost identical linked} // Jeans {from Zara, similar linked} // Sandals {last season, similar linked} // Neck Scarf // Bag // Earrings c/o // Bracelets c/o // Lipstick c/o // 

     I'm clearly all about things that tie in today's outfit! Let's start with tie-front shirts. I started seeing this trend pop up in full force this winter, and I really wanted to get my hands on a white tie-waist shirt for spring and summer. I actually found the one that I'm wearing during my last shopping trip to Montreal before moving to Virginia, but this shirt is almost identical! It's not often that I purchase something that will match literally everything in my closet- but this shirt might be it. From casual jeans like I styled it here, to dress pants, shorts, skorts, and skirts- it coordinates with it all!

     A fun fashion discovery that I made last year: Zara is a great store to buy jeans at! They have some really unique denim styles, they're all so comfortable, and just about all of their denim is under $100. I also purchased the jeans I'm wearing here at Zara in Montreal, but I'm hoping this summer or fall to get to check out some of the Zara locations in the DC area. This pair of jeans is similar to the ones I'm wearing. And for the other spring trend that I'm loving: neck scarves! They are such a chic way to add a twist to an everyday outfit. The one I have here is also from Zara- this one is similar though!

     I hope that y'all had a great weekend. Mine was just the best! One of my dearest friends, Caroline, came to visit me from Charlotte. Longtime SBIT readers might recognize her name- Caroline is one of my best friends from college and we were suitemates during senior year! She also helped take a lot of my blog photos during senior year specifically (and has quite the eye for photography). I haven't seen her since when I moved away from Charlotte- and 13 months is too long to be away from one of your favorite friends. I'll be sharing more about what we did this weekend in Wednesday's post!

      God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese