Nothing says "classic summer preppy outfit" to me like the color combination of pink and green! These two colors when worn together just make me so happy. Anyone else? 😊
I purchased this retro looking green gingham shift dress a couple months ago, and I knew that when I styled it I wanted to add hot pink accessories. I came up with two different pink accessorized outfits... and I liked them both so much that I shot both for today's blog post! One is more of a daytime look, and the other I think would be cute for a fun evening out or a date night. So here's one of my new favorite dresses, styled two ways!
Cyber Monday may have officially been yesterday, but a lot of the best deals and sales are still continuing into this week. The dress, coat, shoes, purse and earrings I'm wearing are all from the same retailer, and they currently have thousands of items marked down for their extended Cyber Monday sale, which is continuing today. Ready to learn where this outfit is from?
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!
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!
"Southern Belle in Training" is the name of my blog, but I feel like it's been a little while since I've posted what I think is a true Southern Belle type outfit. I think today's look definitely fits the bill, and I'm excited to share this beautiful dress in today's blog post. There's also a Nordstrom gift card giveaway with some other bloggers further in the post- Early Access for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is on the way soon!
What is a Southern Belle? According to Wikipedia (my favorite reference source), a Southern Belle is a "stock character representing a young woman of the American South's upper socioeconomic class." This description brings to mind pictures of 1800s Southern women in hoop skirts... I think we're way past that in terms of Southern Belles! To me, the modern Southern Belle is a woman who is put together, poised, and confident. Her fashion sense is feminine, bright, and classic. On a deeper level than fashion, the modern Southern Belle knows how to stick up for herself and is strong and independent, but also loving and nurturing. Her faith is the center of her life, and that plays out into how she loves and interacts with her family, friends and significant other. And most importantly... she LOVES living in the South and loves Southern culture! These are the attributes I think of in 2018 when I hear the words "Southern Belle," and I try and live them out myself through both my blog and my real life. 😊
Now- onto the outfit! This dress from Chicwish makes me think "Southern Belle" every time that I see it! The bold red and pink flowers are so eye-catching and beautiful. It's made of a light enough material that you wouldn't sweat too much wearing it outside on a hot Southern day (it was about 90 when Deeana and I shot these photos!). It makes me think of all sorts of fun summer occasions like garden parties and tea parties. I paired the dress with classic pointed-toe nude pumps, a bold pink lipstick, and a coordinating necklace.
Switching gears now- did you know that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is just a few weeks away? If you've followed me or other fashion bloggers for a few years, you know that this is one of the biggest sales of the year, especially here in the blogging world! I make a conscious effort each July not to *over* promote it, but with that said it is a great sale, and I am excited for it this year! To get excited for the NSale, I've teamed up with a group of other bloggers to give one lucky person a $1,000 Nordstrom gift card to shop the sale!! Giveaway details are below:
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So excited to be "back at it" with new fashion content today - here's my first outfit post from Virginia!! I'm also sharing an updated round of book reviews with the books that I read at the end of winter. I haven't read anything in the last month since I haven't gotten a Virginia library card yet.... hoping to change that soon!
What better way to kick off new fashion content from Charlottesville than with a spring Lilly Pulitzer outfit? Virginia is the perfect place to wear Lilly, and I am so excited to break out all of mine once the weather is a little warmer. This darling Sophie Ruffle dress is from Pink Colony, the charming Lilly speciality boutique in Stowe, VT that I got to visit and work with for SBIT this winter! (Check out my most recent collaboration post with Pink Colony here!) I cannot get over how pretty the navy and hot pink colors are for the flamingo print on this dress. I love it! I know I'll be wearing it on repeat all spring and summer. Pink and navy really is the cutest color combo that I don't wear enough of.
It's been so long since I've shared any book reviews on the blog, and that's made me sad!! One of my new years resolutions was to read 30 books in 2018. I got off to a strong start with three books in January... then one book in February... then no books since! 😭 Job applications and moving out-of-state, while working full time and running a blog is no joke!! My new apartment does have a pool that will be opening once the weather gets a little warmer, so once I get a local Virginia library card, I'm hoping to make reading by the pool a weekly, if not daily occurrence!! There's still time to hit my resolution goal right? Anyways- here are the four books I've read so far this year. Differing from my past reviews- 3/4 of these are non-fiction!
*Smart is the New Rich: Money Guide for Millennials by Christine Romans: This was the first of a few books that I asked for on my Christmas list this year! A personal goal of mine for this year and next is to become more financially savvy. I think that I already manage my money fairly well for someone my age (I'm responsible about large purchases, I've never had credit debt, I've been working hard to pay off my school loans, etc), but there's still so much related to personal finances that is foreign to me!! I want to develop the best money habits and practices I can while I'm young. This book received good reviews on Amazon and the name caught my eye, so I requested it on my Christmas list. It wasn't bad! I think it's more geared for college students... I probably could've gotten more out of this read a few years ago, during the time when I was investigating school loans and applying for my first credit card for example. But with that said, I enjoyed Christine's straightforward writing style and still got many takeaways from the book! (I will say- I do disagree with her point that millennial college graduates should live at home to save money. I'm definitely team #MoveOutofStateForNewExperiences!)
*** 3/5 stars
*The Best Travel Hacking Guide by J.F. Warden: Another topic that I want to educate myself more on this year and next is the concept of travel hacking. It is incredible to me that people are traveling pretty much for free, simply by how they are able to utilize their credit cards, airline miles and rewards points! This was another book on my Christmas list, and I loved it!! It's a very small but extremely informative guide to travel hacking. The author is very well-versed in the ins and outs of the major airline carriers and rewards credit card companies and provides so much handy information. His travel style would be a bit different from mine (He writes that he's a fan of the "couch surfing" method of lodging... since I've had bedbugs in the past, you literally couldn't pay me to do that haha!), but there was still so much useful information that I got from this book. I probably won't be starting my travel hacking journey in 2018 since I just started my new job and don't start getting PTO for awhile, but hopefully in 2019 I'll reread this book and finally start this new hobby!
****4/5 stars
*Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media. by Aliza Licht: Oh my gosh- I had such high expectations for this one. I put this book on my Christmas list because the title really grabbed me! In early December I was starting to prepare my resume and portfolio for job applications, so I thought this book would give me some motivation as I started looking for new radio jobs after Christmas. Similar to the first book I reviewed above, I think I might have a totally different view on this one if I'd read it in college (or even high school?). Aliza tells the detailed story of how she unexpectedly ended up working in Fashion PR in New York City (her original plan was to get into the medical field), and while her story is interesting, I found the book to mostly be about her personal story, and not as much about offering advice for others in their careers. The advice that was given in the book was really just geared to college students who want to work specifically in PR or fashion related industries, so I didn't find many takeaways that helped with my own job search this winter. But- there were still parts of Aliza's story that I enjoyed reading!
**2/5 stars
*Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin: My former blog photographer and sweet friend Deeana gave me this book for Christmas, and I loved it! It tells the story of Ellen, a New York City photographer, and her marriage to her husband Andy. Their marriage seems perfect... until Ellen runs into an ex-boyfriend, and she starts having confused feelings for her past. This book hooked me in from the start, and it was a lovely and fun read! One quote from the character of Ellen resonated with me so much that I actually used it in my blog post where I announced my move to Virginia.
****4/5 stars
Thanks so much for reading today's post! I hope your week is off to a great start. My outfit details and the books are all linked below!
What are the top three things that I associate with the state I've been calling home since the spring of 2017? Maple products, cheddar cheese, and classic red barns. I've done my fair share since moving to Vermont of consuming the first two, but the I hadn't had much exposure to that third item: the red barns! Vermont as a state has tons and tons of beautiful and classic red barns, some being used for traditional purposes as farming barns, and some restored into event venues, like the one you'll see in today's photos. The thing about finding a classic red barn is that the majority of them are in other parts of the state, either in the NEK (slang term for "Northeast Kingdom") or in Southern Vermont- both of these regions are about 2-ish hours from the Burlington area. I told one of my photographers, Melissa, that I wanted to try and find a beautiful red barn to visit within an hour radius to Burlington, and we were able to do just that!! I'm excited to share our visit to West Monitor Barn with you in today's post:
It was a mere six degrees outside when these photos were taken!! Hopefully I don't look too frozen here. 😊 I was so excited to finally do a photoshoot near a big red barn that I think my joy kept the freezing cold at bay at least for a little bit! I decided to style this classic white sweater and vest combo with bright pops of color in my accessories. I had fun pairing my pink Hunters and favorite blue DIFF sunglasses with this bold striped pom pom scarf. I think everything came out well for the finished product! That's the great thing about wearing "winter whites" like sweaters and vests, you can have so much fun adding color with your accessories. I've said this before on the blog, I am one of those people who follows the traditional rules about not wearing white after Labor Day. However- that applies to summer whites! Winter whites are awesome, I love my white sweaters especially.
The barn that Melissa and I went to is called West Monitor Barn, and it's about 45-ish minutes from the Burlington area. It's owned by the Vermont Youth Conversation Corps, but it can be rented out in the warmer months for weddings and other functions. This is literally the image I've had in my mind when I think of "classic Vermont barns," so I loved getting to visit here.
I'm keeping today's post short and sweet, but I'm looking forward to the other posts that are coming up on Southern Belle in Training this week! I've been having a lot of fun this month with different types of lifestyle content. With the cold weather this winter, it's reduced the amount that I've been shooting fashion posts for the blog, so it's challenged me creatively in other ways to still provide the same amounts of weekly blog posts for y'all. I hope you have enjoyed what I've been putting together, and as always I love blog post suggestions!
Funny story about how this blog post title came about: I have to give credit for the title of today's blog post to Nicholle from Nicholle Sophia. We had dinner after work the same day that these photos were taken, and she said that I looked dressed straight out of a Hallmark Holiday movie (which I took as a big compliment 😉). So there you go- blog post title born! Read on to find out more about my new favorite holiday casual outfit (my cozy turtleneck sweater is under $30!), and in today's post I'm also sharing my 4 favorite weekly podcasts that I keep up with on the reg!
Photography by Amanda Rose Photography
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!
This cable knit turtleneck is seriously my new favorite sweater for this holiday season. The ways that you can wear it are endless- it's such as essential basic piece! I had fun dressing it up for this outfit with pumps and statement jewelry, but it could just as easily be dressed down with snow boots and leggings for a cold and casual winter day. It's under $30 and seriously a must-buy!! I know I'll be getting a lot more use out of it, and this is definitely not the last time you'll be seeing it on the blog!
I'm also loving my gorgeous pink DIFF sunglasses! You might have seen on Instagram that I got to work with DIFF to promote their fantastic Cyber Monday sale which was yesterday. Unfortunately that specific sale is over now, but I think a pair of DIFF sunglasses would make a great Christmas gift for someone in your life (or for you!). These were actually the first pair of "nice" sunglasses that I've ever owned... for real, I've never had a pair worth over $20 before now!! I'm taking such good care of these though- I love them! 😊
Now let's chat about something that I've gotten really into in 2017: podcasts!! In a blog post a few weeks ago, I shared three of my favorite shorter series ones (meaning that they're a full story told in under 10 episodes). I think a short series podcast would be especially perfect to listen to on holiday travels, and also a great introduction to podcasts if you're unfamiliar with them in general. Although I enjoy getting into a series podcasts from time to time, I also have a few weekly podcasts that I really look forward to hearing new episodes from each week. These aren't a specific series and don't tell a certain story, but each one is still on a certain theme or topic. Two of them I've been listening to since the very beginning, and two I pick and choose episodes from on certain weeks that interest me specifically. I personally usually listen to podcasts in the mornings before work, since I don't go into my day job until later in the day (read my morning schedule here). Let's get to it:
1. Good Christian Fun: Instead of saving the best for last, let's jump into the best FIRST! Good Christian Fun is absolutely the best podcast that I've ever heard. Each episode leaves me with both a lot to think about in terms of faith and Christian pop culture, and also has me laughing to the point of tears (seriously- every episode!). This podcast is hosted by Kevin T. Porter and Caroline Ely, and in each episode they highlight, review and debate something different from (the weird world of) Christian pop culture: everything from albums to movies to books, etc. A lot of the things they review are throwback items to the 90s and early 2000s, and as someone who grew up in church and attending youth group, this podcast brings back SO many memories!! Another thing that I love about the podcast is that it's something that can be enjoyed both by those of the faith and also those not (a lot of the podcast guests actually aren't Christians!). Seriously- I don't think Kevin and Caroline know how grateful I am to them for the endless laughs and entertainment that they provide me with each week. I hope this podcast goes forever and ever!
2. Help! I Suck At Dating with Dean Unglert: This is the other podcast that I listen to each and every week. Hosted by Dean Unglert of Rachel's season of The Bachlorette, this one as you probably guessed from the title is a dating and relationships based podcast! I really liked Dean on Rachel's season, however I don't watch Bachelor in Paradise so I didn't get a chance to see him on that show. From what I've gathered from entertainment news and also Dean's own take on the season on his podcast, he didn't act too great with a couple of the girls on Paradise, which is what inspired him to learn from his mistakes and start this podcast. Each week tackles a different topic related to dating, and some of them get very specific with issues related to dating in the 21st century (like dating apps, etc). Dean also has a variety of guests on each episode, everyone from other Bachelor/ette contestants, his ex-girlfriends, to love experts! While I don't agree with all of the topics and advice given out on this podcast (ahem... the sexting episode...), overall I think this podcast is quite fun, and seriously, props to Dean for trying to get better at dating!
3. The Reality Steve Podcast: For all my Bachelor and Bachelorette fans out there: you are missing out soooooo much if you don't follow Reality Steve and get into the spoilers of the show! Reality Steve (real name: Steve Carbone) is a full-time blogger who makes his living spoiling each season of The Bachelor and blogging about television news. I should add on that his website and social media posts are absolutely hilarious, and usually have me laughing out loud! I started watching The Bachelor shows with Brad's second season in 2010, and I learned about the spoilers I'm pretty sure in 2011 or 2012, so I've been a loyal RS fan for many years. I've tried to get so many of my friends and my mom as well on board with him, but so many people refuse to get into the spoilers. I tell you though- once you read them for one season you can't stop!! It is amazing what he does.
Anyways, Steve's podcast doesn't so much cover spoilers of the upcoming Bachelor season, but instead he interviews past Bachelor/ette contestants, and sometimes even season leads! It is so cool to get such an insider perspective about what happens on the show. These podcast interviews are a lot like his writing, and each episode is hilarious to listen to. There have been some seasons that I haven't watched, so I don't listen to each week's episode (if it's with someone that I'm not familiar with from the show for example!). But if it is with a contestant that I knew and loved, I know it'll be a treat to tune in! A few of my favorite interviews include Courtney Robertson, Ben Flajnik, DeAnna Stagliano, Amanda Stanton and Sharleen Joynt.
4. The Skinny Confidential Him and Her: This lifestyle podcast is hosted by blogger Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential blog, and her husband Michael Bosstick. I love how this husband/wife duo does a podcast together, and it's so fun to see Lauryn and Michael's chemistry and humor together on their podcast! The Skinny Confidential Him and Her podcast is a lot like Lauryn's blog; it covers a big variety of lifestyle topics, and different guests are brought on to assist with those topics. Kind of like with The Reality Steve podcast, I only listen to the episodes with guests or topics that interest me, but when I do tune in, I always love the episode!! A few of my favorite episodes include Lauryn and Michael's love story (which they recorded right before their wedding last year!), interview with actress Ashley Tisdale, and interview with fellow blogger Julie Solomon.
Are there any podcasts that you listen to regularly? Have you heard any of these before?
Hope that you're having a great week so far! Thanks for reading!
I love any excuse to get dressed up, so bring on fancy holiday parties and occasions! Thanksgiving actually isn't one of my favorite holidays, but I feel like if I had a fancy dinner to attend that I'd love it a lot more! I've never attended a formal Thanksgiving celebration before, but that might be on my bucket list now. If your holiday celebration plans entail something a bit on the dressy side, today's outfit is for you! This outfit would also work great for a classy holiday office party.
Photography by Amanda Rose Photography
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training!
I love a beautiful statement coat, especially during the holiday season! As soon as I saw this plaid one, I knew that I needed it. I'm not the biggest fan of cold weather (clearly Vermont is the wrong state for me!), but if I have to tolerate it, I'd rather do so in a beautiful and elegant coat, rather than an big and bulky parka! Since this coat has such a vibrant plaid pattern, I decided to make my outfit simple and chic around it. An elegant and fitted red dress,classic pearls and nude pumps were the perfect compliments around the coat. I've actually had this red dress from when I used to work in retail in Charlotte last year (it's from the store that I worked at), but I've found a similar one here! Anyways, I don't have any Thanksgiving plans that warrant an outfit like this coming up this year (nor have I in years past), but I do hope someday to be able to host or attend a fancy Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving! Why not right?
I have a fun blog post in the works for Thanksgiving day, to share a bit about what I will be doing this year and what I've done in years past when I lived in North Carolina. I've only gone home for Thanksgiving once in the years since I left Maine in 2012, and quite honestly I don't ever see myself going home for it again! I associate family time and my home in Maine with religious holidays (Christmas obviously, and also Easter), and not so much Thanksgiving, especially since it falls so close to Christmas. I've had the chance to do some interesting things for Thanksgivings past, so I'm looking forward to sharing more about that with y'all on Thursday!
What's this week looking like for you? Is it a normal work week, or do you have time off? Being in radio, there aren't ever "holidays" from the media, but at my company we do take Thanksgiving day off and record our shows!
Versatile outfits are a girl's best friend for weekdays! In the adult world, date night (or after work drinks with girlfriends) often happens after a long day at work, and you might not have time to swing home and put on a whole new outfit first! Where I'm working on developing more of a social life in Vermont this fall, aka becoming less of a hermit after work and instead getting out and spending time with new friends (and dating too!), I wanted to share what I think would be the perfect work to date night look for early fall.
Here is the look all set for work- and yes, I really did wear this to work the day Amanda and I took these photos! (Except instead of these nude heels, I wore my favorite brown flats, since radio is a super casual work environment). If you do work in a more business casual environment, you could swap out skinny jeans for a pair of dark skinny dress pants and the look would still be great! A dressed up camisole top under a statement tweed blazer makes a great option for a workday look. This outfit made me feel poised and powerful both on-air and at my desk! I did keep the long tassel earrings on for work again since my job is casual, but if you work in a more formal environment, maybe try a pair of chic studs instead.
And now the workday is done- it's time for date night or girls' night! Take off that blazer and let those shoulders breath a bit! The embroidery on this top is gorgeous and it needs its own moment to shine. I love my new Tory Burch Parker tote- it was a birthday gift from my parents (Thanks mom and dad for reading my wishlist posts here on the blog! 😊) It's the ideal work bag, but also not too corporate looking, so you can take it out to a restaurant or bar for Happy Hour after work.
What does your ideal work to date night outfit look like? Are you also a fan of outfits that easily transition from the office to play?
Hope that y'all are having a great week! Tomorrow is this month's Radio 101 post on the blog- catch up on last month's here in the meantime! I think y'all will really like tomorrow's post- it's a question I've gotten asked all the time since starting work in radio.
