In Honor of #FREEBRITNEY.

     Today (November 12th, 2021) is the day that Britney Spears's conservatorship is supposed to finally be dissolved in court. Everyone following the #FREEBRITNEY movement knows that this has been a very long time coming. Last month, I styled a Britney Spears concert t-shirt for the blog, and as soon as I remembered that her final conservatorship hearing was coming up, I decided to save these photos for today!

Dressed Up Jeans for Spring.

     Hey friends- happy Monday! I've been super busy lately and there's a few things happening behind-the-scenes in life right now... so starting off the week with a lighthearted outfit post sounds good to me. This look was so much fun to put together, and it's honestly making me happy to see a cute outfit like this on a Monday.

    This is also the first outfit post in a long time where I'm using a mix of iPhone and camera photos!! The first three are from my DSLR camera, and the last two are phone snaps. I'd love to know if there's one you prefer or if you can tell the difference!

Midi Skirt with Sneakers: The 2019 Trend I'm On Board With.

     The older I get, I feel like the less likely I am to try certain trends. In high school and college, I was all about it. I knew that I loved wearing bright colors and fun prints, but I didn't have much of a sense of my personal style yet aside from that.  Now I'm pretty selective about trying new trends- I don't feel pressured anymore to try ones that aren't something I'd wear if they weren't "in." Today's post though features one big 2019 trend that I'm glad I have finally come around and embraced: midi skirts with sneakers!

The Closet Item I've Been Searching For.

     Fellow fashion lovers- I don't think there is anything better than finally finding the perfect version of something that you've been wanting to have in your closet! Today I'm sharing all about a beautiful tweed blazer that I found completely by chance. I'm also sharing some blog post ideas for the upcoming weeks- I've been feeling in a bit of a "same old, same old" rut for blog content over this month, and I'm ready to write some really fun posts! 

Photography by Meredith Sledge 

Today's post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Southern Belle in Training! 

Blazer {sold out, very similar here} // Top {under $20!} // Jeans // Boots c/o // Necklace {old, similar here} // Purse // Lip Gloss //

     For years now, I've wanted a tailored pink tweed blazer. This just seems like such a chic and versatile piece of clothing, and one that can get a lot of wear especially in the fall and spring months! I'd looked at some in stores occasionally over the last couple years, but all of the tweed blazers I found were either not a good fit, or too expensive for me to justify purchasing. I had faith that if I was patient, I'd eventually find the perfect one! 

     When I was back visiting Charlotte over Labor Day Weekend, I treated myself to an afternoon of solo shopping at SouthPark Mall. The Labor Day Sales were fantastic this year, and SouthPark has the best store selection in Charlotte. Ann Taylor has been one of my favorite retailers for a few years now, but I always prefer to shop there in-store rather than online. We don't have a store in Charlottesville, so I knew I had to visit the SouthPark store! Way in the back on the clearance rack, there was *one* beautiful pink tweed blazer hanging on a random rack. I quickly snatched it and took it to the dressing room, and it fit perfectly. I couldn't believe my luck- I'd finally found THE blazer! Even better, I found it for 70% off. Patience paid off, literally! Since I found this one on clearance, I unfortunately can't link it for y'all. This one is also from Ann Taylor and is very similar though! 

     I also want to give a quick shout-out to these cute faux suede boots that JustFab sent me to style. They arrived to me shortly after I found my dream blazer, so I knew I wanted to pair the two together! I love how this look turned out, and it will probably be on repeat for me at work this fall season.

    On a personal note- the month of September has been absolutely nuts for me! There's been a lot going on behind-the-scenes in my life that I'm still not able to share on the blog quite yet, but hopefully I can soon. My mind has been going a million miles a minute this month and hasn't been focused on Southern Belle in Training as much as it usually is. I'm hoping that October will bring the good news that I've been praying about, and that I'll be ready to tackle the rest of the fall blog content season in full force! A few upcoming blog post ideas that I have include an updated list of podcasts that I love, a big fall book reviews post, a post all about my US bucket list travel destinations, some honest thoughts about my personal experience with situation depression last year, and an October post for my Relationship Monday series! If you have any blog posts requests for the next month, let me know in the comments. 🙂

      God Bless,

      xoxo Annaliese 

Fall Transition Look + 3 Things I've Been Loving in September.

     Now that the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale is behind us, I'm officially making the transition to fall fashion on the blog today. This outfit is a great transition look for living in the South- it's fall colors and super trendy, but it won't make you too hot for the days that it's still in the 70s or 80s outside!

Photography by Kate Greer

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

Top c/o // Skirt {old, identical here} // Shoes // Purse // Earrings c/o // Bracelets // Necklace {old, similar here} // Lipstick c/o //  

     I am really excited about how this outfit turned out, and I see myself repeating it a lot this fall. If you've been reading here awhile, you know that my favorite outfits in all seasons are ones with a lot of color, but sometimes I do wear darker colors or neutrals, and sometimes I even like it! 😉The gold jewelry that I've accessorized with here makes this outfit a little brighter. I've had my skirt since college, but plaid skirts are always trendy in the fall, so I've found an almost identical one here! My t-shirt is from Mott&Bow. They make premium denim, and just expanded into t-shirts as well. The shirt I'm wearing is called the Marcy. It's fitted very well and extremely comfortable to wear! A well-made, solid colored t-shirt that you'll get tons of wear out of in all seasons can be a worthwhile investment. 

     I've had my Tory Burch Parker tote (pictured) for just over a year now. Since I got mine, the Parker style has been discontinued, but they're selling the Robinson tote instead, which is very similar (and available in the same color as mine!). I'm curious if y'all would like a dedicated blog post review on this bag? I know that some bloggers do designer bag reviews, and I always find those interesting to read. Even though my exact bag isn't available anymore, the Robinson tote is really similar. This is my work bag, and it's served me very well for that! 

     Wrapping up today's outfit post with three things that I've been loving this month! September has been off to a rough start for me. I know that I've been teasing that on social media and in past blog posts without much detail... hopefully by October I'll have enough information to be able to share what's been going on in my life outside of blogging. Anyways, even though the past few weeks have brought a lot of anxiety into my life, I've been trying to make a conscious decision each day to choose joy and take delight in the little things. Here are three random things I've loved this month! 

     *Superstore (NBC TV show): I know I've mentioned this show in a few other blog posts already, but I gotta give it even more love. This is 100% the funniest and most relatable comedy that I've found in 2018. The show follows the work adventures of various employees at a fictional megastore called Cloud 9. I am obsessed with the show- I only wish I'd started watching this when it was new on TV a few years ago! I adore the characters especially, and since I've worked a retail job in the past, I can relate to some of the situations in the show. All of the jokes are just hilarious, and watching this show on demand has really been a bright spot for me these past few weeks.

      *Peppermint tea: I drink a cup of hot tea every afternoon at work in the 1pm hour, before I go on-air for my afternoon show! Up until recently, I'd usually pick something caffeinated for that afternoon boost, like Earl Grey or English Breakfast. Over the past few weeks, I've started bringing caffeine-free peppermint tea to enjoy at work. I've found that most days I'm find without the afternoon caffeine, and peppermint tea is just so delicious either sweetened or unsweetened! This type of tea leaves me feeling even more refreshed to conquer the busy part of my workday. 

     *SNS nails: I got bi-monthly gel manicures during last year when I lived in Vermont, and when I first moved to Virginia I tried SNS dip nails instead. I LOVED SNS manicures initially- it lasts longer than gel, and there aren't any UV rays involved! A couple months ago I let the SNS grow off my nails though and started painting my nails myself again- as much as I love going to the nail salon, it gets pricy, and that seemed like an easy way to cut my budget. Anyways, for my birthday weekend in Charlotte, I finally got an SNS manicure again, and now I'm hooked! These past couple weeks have been very stressful, but one thing that hasn't been is the beautiful color that is lasting so well on my nails. I think I'm hooked back into salon visits for now! 

     Before I go- a quick Hurricane Florence update! A few of you checked in with me last week as the hurricane neared the East Coast, and that was so sweet. Thankfully the path of the hurricane went away from Central Virginia, so while it was a rainy weekend here, there wasn't any life threatening damage in this area. I still stayed indoors for the majority of the weekend. I am still praying for those in the NC/SC coasts who ended up having a lot of damage- so sad to see the news coverage.

      Thank you so much for reading Southern Belle in Training today, and making this post apart of your Monday! I do appreciate everyone who reads here. No blog post tomorrow as I have some busy stuff going on at work- but I'll talk to you Wednesday for this week's Midweek Ramblings!

     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

Vermont Bachelorette Pad Tour: Bright & Cozy Living Room.

      Welcome to the much-awaited Vermont apartment-tour series on the blog!! I was originally planning to wait and begin these posts in January or February, as I thought it would make for great blog content when the temperatures in Vermont get really too cold to do much fashion content. But I decided I'll still do most of the apartment tour then, but why not start one part of it now? 😊 In just a couple of weeks, I'll be sharing my Christmas-themed apartment tour, which includes my tree and all of this year's decorations, so get excited for that too!

Photography by Amanda Rose Photography

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks your for supporting Southern Belle in Training!

Outfit: Cardigan c/o // Shirt {not online, similar here} // Jeans // 

Living room: Chairs - from my mom's house, similar here // Poufs - from my mom's house, similar here // Rug - Home Goods, similar here // Painting - At Home, found the same print here! // Pillows - At Home, very similar on sale here // Mirror - Home Goods, Similar Here // 

      Welcome to the cozy part of my living room! My Vermont apartment is a one bedroom, and minus the bedroom and bathroom which do have their own doors, the rest of it is very studio-like and super open. My apartment last year in Charlotte wasn't that large either, but the living room, dining room, and kitchen all felt very separate based on how it was designed spatially. My apartment now is much more open, so when I got here it was a bit of a challenge for me to figure out how to differentiate different parts of the biggest room! I wanted to have a dining area, a blog office area, and also a cozy living room area. It took a bit of figuring things out, but I have everything set up now in a way that I like. Also- you can probably see here that my living area has a lot of natural light!! That's honestly my favorite thing about this new apartment. Natural light is huge to me, especially after four years of living in dark artificially lit dorms in college!


      At some point this winter I'm going to do some home posts more centered around decorating and furnishing a home on a tight budget, but for now I'll just say that furnishing a home or apartment is not cheap, especially after an out-of-state move! Where I know that Vermont isn't my forever home, I didn't feel pressured to have this place be "perfect," but I still wanted it to be bright, fun, and a Bachelorette Pad that I enjoyed living in! One sacrifice that I knew I had to make was not having a couch. In my former apartment, my roommate brought our couch, so she took that with her after our lease ended. Couches are super expensive, and I didn't really have the money to buy a solid, comfortable one at the time that I moved. Plus- a couch would be a huge hassle to move whenever I leave Vermont! I am so grateful that my mom gave me these orange chairs and cute floral pouf ottomans for my Vermont apartment. They're from the TV room at my home in Maine, so I was very familiar with them! (I will probably give them back to my mom when I move next and finally get my couch, but I was so grateful to have them now! 😊) Honestly- orange has never been one of my favorite colors, but I ended up loving how these chairs look in my apartment. I think they add such a fun and modern touch, and the poufs just make them! So tip if you're looking to furnish an apartment on a budget and you live alone: fancier chairs and ottomans might be cheaper (and easier for moving) than a couch!


      You might recognize the accent pillows from my bedroom tour from my Charlotte apartment! I switched up my bedroom with different pillows when I moved up here, and I thought my old bedroom pillows looked amazing on the orange chairs. My favorite thing in the cozy part of my living room is the pineapple art print above the chairs. (I found it online here if you're interested in it for your own home!) I found it at At Home (my favorite Southern store that I lost access to post-move) a couple weeks before the move, and immediately fell in love with it. I decided to wait a few days to think about it, since it was quite expensive for an At Home purchase (I have other art from there that was under $10 for comparison!). But I couldn't stop thinking about it all that week! I went back to the store, and there was only one left. Meant to be!! You know you really love something if you take a week to think about it and can't stop! Pineapples are the Southern symbol for hospitality, so I love having little touches of them throughout my apartment.


     Across from my chairs (which you can kind of see the reflection of in the mirror) is my TV and its stand, and also my clothing rack. I'll definitely show what that side of the room looks like when I do my full apartment tour this winter! I actually rarely sit in my chairs when I watch TV, usually I just use them for blog work (especially catching up on Instagram!), and reading, like I'm pictured here! When I watch TV, I love to cuddle up on the floor with the poufs for pillows and a bunch of fuzzy blankets. #noshame #whynot



      Lastly- the outfit that I'm wearing is the perfect example of what I wear during cozy days at home! I foresee a lot of those happening this winter, haha! I just love this cardigan especially. It's definitely super casual, but also warm and perfect for layering! And how cute is this graphic-t? Graphic-t's aren't my usual style... but this is an adorable shirt, and it's from my mom! (She surprised me with it in a recent package! So cute.)



      I've linked similar home items to what I have in this section of my living room! Thanks so much for reading, and stay tuned for Midweek Ramblings tomorrow!

     God Bless,




     xoxo Annaliese

Day Off Work Outfit + Things To Do On A Day Off.

     With my new work schedule since coming to Vermont, usually Mondays are my day off! My work schedule is ironically a bit different this week and I'm filling in for a coworker who is on vacation, so I am actually not off today. But I thought it would be fun in today's post to share what some of my summer day-off outfits have been looking like, and the activities that I do to entertain myself on my one-day weekends!

Photography by Melissa Lynn Studios 

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

T-Shirt // Skirt borrowed via Monelle Vermont {local boutique} - same one online here // Shoes // Bracelets c/o // Tote {moving away gift from Katie, similar here} // 

      Unless it's a week that I've had company visiting from out-of-state, I spend most of my days off alone. (I have yet to meet someone else in Vermont who also has regular Mondays off!) It can be kind of nice to bum around in my apartment for the first few hours of the day, but I've found that the whole day can kind of go to waste if I don't get dressed at all or put some effort into my appearance, even if I don't have any big plans! 

   

      This outfit is a perfect example of the type of look that I've been wearing on summer days off. It's a very casual yet preppy Southern look... aka perfect for me but not perfect for Vermont- just how I like it. 😉 I stocked up on a bunch of Lauren James Sweet-Tees in their Pink Friday sale earlier this summer, and these t-shirts are a perfect cute yet casual option for days off. There is a local Lilly Pulitzer signature store here in Burlington called Monelle Vermont, and they've been sponsoring some of the radio events that I've been doing over the past few weeks. Monelle has given myself and another employee different Lilly Pulitzer bottoms to wear each week for our events (and then I trade them back in each week for a new outfit), and I thought this skirt was too cute not to pair with one of my Lauren James tees! I normally gravitate more towards dressier Lilly pieces, but I think in this season's upcoming After Party Sale, I might try and find more casual Lilly attire that would be good for days off! 

      And if you're curious for some of the things that I do on my days off, here is a list of my most popular day-off activities! Some are self-care, some are necessary adulting to-do tasks, and others fall somewhere between both:

•      Get my nails done
•      Shoot blog photos - outfit posts w/photographer or lifestyle posts/flat-lays in my apartment 
•      Schedule upcoming appointments
•      Catch up on blog "accounting" (recording payments, expenses, etc)
•      Read a library book
•      Take a walk by Lake Champlain (weather permitting)
•      Go to Zumba at my gym
•      Bake a treat to bring to work the next day
•      Cook dinner
•      Go grocery shopping
•      Clean my bathroom
•      Do laundry
•      Watch Netflix
•      Have calls with brands for upcoming blog collaborations
•      Plan out my Instagram feed

     Those are probably the main things that I have been doing on Mondays off! I really try and stay away from anything related to my day job in radio, or major blog tasks on Mondays, to give myself one full day to "rest." As you can see, I will sometimes catch up on back-end blog tasks which I don't have time for during the rest of the week on my days off, but I rarely write blog posts on Mondays for example!!


     I've thought about doing a "Day in the Life" post as a radio personality for a post in my Radio 101 blog post series- would that interest y'all? It's probably more exciting than what I do my days off, honestly speaking! 😉

     Happy Monday- thanks so much for reading!



     God Bless,



     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)

4th Blogiversary Q&A.

Photography by Deeana Kourtney Photography

     Today I am celebrating Southern Belle in Training's 4th blogiversary! Technically this day was actually yesterday, as my blogiversary falls on my birthday. But this year I felt that I had a lot of thoughts to write out on my birthday, so I decided to separate the day into two separate blog posts. (Be sure to check out yesterday's post if you haven't yet!) I usually share my favorite blog posts from the past 12 months and talk about the highlights of the year in blogging at the end of December of each year. But in honor of this blogiversary, I thought it would be fun to do a Q&A with questions from all of you! I've read similar Q&A's to this one on many of my favorite blogs throughout the past year. Here are all of the fun questions that y'all tweeted to me! 

     A big thank-you again to City Lights Rooftop bar at Le Meridien hotel for generously allowing me to use the venue for this photoshoot! Shooting in this space was an absolute dream.

Beach or mountains? Beach 100%! Being from a coastal town in Maine, I grew up on the ocean year round, and it is the one thing that I do really miss here in Charlotte. Charlotte is a great location in that it is easily accessible to different beaches for vacations or even short weekend trips, but doing a day trip to the beach is a little bit far. I truly miss the luxury of being from a town that was literally on the ocean! Although I don't miss the cold Maine winters one bit...
     With that said, I do also appreciate the mountains! While I don't think I'd like to live in the mountains, I do love to hike, and I enjoy day trips to mountains in both New England and the Carolinas.


Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Wow- what a question!! Hopefully still living in the greatest city on earth- Charlotte! If I don't live in Charlotte, then I see myself living in another wonderful Southern locale, or possibly somewhere in the middle of the country. I don't see myself returning to the North anytime in the future.
     I hope to be a syndicated radio show host by this point in my life. Or perhaps my broadcasting career will take a different turn, and I might end up in TV. We'll see! I really hope that blogging is still a thing in 10 years, because my little corner of the internet means so very much to me, and at this point I can't really imagine my life without Southern Belle in Training!
     Oh- and I hope to be married to an incredible guy as well by this point in my life! But this part of my story will be all in God's timing of course. :-)


Favorite item in your closet? My senior prom dress (which I re-wore this year to my last sorority formal), or my vintage Chanel purse from my grandmother.


Early bird or night owl? 100% diehard night owl. College didn't help this at all. However with my current work and broadcasting school schedule, I am really trying to break this habit and maybe not become an early bird, but at least be more productive in the mornings!


What's the best/most important thing you've learned when it comes to blogging? The most important thing that I've learned in 4 years of blogging relates to the blogging community itself. This is a phrase that's used in a lot of creative communities, but I think that it applies to the blogging community very well also. "Community over competition." I have met some of the most incredible women through blogging, some of whom have become my nearest and dearest real life friends as well! Open yourself up to the possibility of community in this world, and don't become stuck in compare your journey to someone else's. Blogging is such a unique platform and industry, and everyone's blog and social media grows at different rates, no matter how much effort you put into it. Being happy for your friends' successes and encouraging them is always the way to go! If you have a blog- don't just use it for your own growth, use it for the networking and social aspects too, and get involved in the blogging community!


Favorite milkshake flavor? Haha I LOVE this question! I like to consider myself a self-proclaimed milkshake connoisseur. But when it comes down to it, my all-time favorite milkshakes are the simple ones. In my opinion, nothing beats a delicious chocolate malt shake! It's timeless, and very hard to mess up. I'm planning to write a blog post this fall or winter where I rank my favorite spots to get a milkshake in Charlotte (both chain restaurants and local hotspots)!


 How would you describe your style? 50% trendy, 50% classic! And 100% colorful and bright. It's rare that I wear an outfit comprised of all dark colors, and when I do I usually make sure to over-accessorize or wear bold makeup to compensate, haha! Sometimes I wear very girly outfits, but I wouldn't say that my style is girly all of the time,


What advice would you give to a friend who wanted to start a blog? I was so excited when this question was asked because my high school best friend is actually considering starting a crafting and lifestyle blog currently (shout-out to you Jules!). Probably the biggest piece of advice that I would give to anyone wanting to start a blog is to be aware of the time commitment involved with blogging! Obviously if you are only writing as a hobby and not to monetize (like I did for the first year of having this blog), then you don't technically have to post on any sort of a schedule. But if you are trying to gain followers and work towards a point when you can be accepted to affiliate networks or take on sponsored posts, then new and consistent content is so important!
     I would also suggest to launch social media channels for your blog when you start it. While I did start my blog's FB page fairly early on, one thing that I wish I had done differently is that I only had one Instagram account for almost the first three years of blogging! I wish that I had separated my personal and blog Instagram accounts sooner. (However something that I still keep combined is my Snapchat- I like for followers on there to see a more down to earth side of me!)


What is your favorite Britney Spears song? Gold star award to my girl Amy from Pastel n Pink for the best question of all- haha!! Many of you know from my social media that I was in Vegas this past weekend to both celebrate my birthday and also fulfill my lifelong dream of seeing Britney Spears in concert. I'll be sharing more about the concert soon... but for now I will leave things at the fact that I've been a ginormous Britney fan since age 5, when my parents (made the mistake) let me see part of her nationally televised Hawaiian concert. One look at those dance moves and one list to those songs and I was hooked!
     It's honestly very hard for me to pick my favorite Britney song. Different songs of hers have been my favorite at varying points in my life, and I also have associations to some songs for different memories.
      If I had to pick an absolute, all-time ffaaavvvooorrriiittteeeeeee Britney song, I would have to go with Oops!... I Did It Again. The Oops! album was actually my first Britney album (I got that one before Baby One More Time...). And let's be real- nothing beats the famous red jumpsuit from the music video!
      (Also- now I am listening to Britney as I finish this post! Thank-you Amy!)



    I hope that all of you enjoyed this Q&A! I would love to do another one in the future if y'all enjoyed.


     And from the bottom of my heart - thank-you to every reader, social media follower, brand that I've worked with, and everyone in my personal life who has supported my blog over the last four years! This little space on the internet has become so dear to me, and I have big dreams for it in the coming years. I am planning to do my first ever reader-survey in December during my yearly review posts, to see what types of content y'all will be wanting in 2017 and future years to come!



     The skirt that I'm wearing in this blog post is from a local Charlotte shop (the same that the dress was from that I wore in yesterday's post), but this is a very similar skirt! My custom made Southern Belle in Training t-shirt was created by a friend of my photographer, Deeana! She is preparing to launch a shop soon, but for now you can check her on on Instagram @lastearns.



     Cheers to four years, and here's to many more!



     xoxo Miss ALK

A Sucker for Seersucker (Shorts).

Top c/o {sold out, similar here} // Shorts c/o // Shoes {similar here} // Necklace // Lipstick

Photos by Deeana Kourtney Photography

     Summer fashion is my favorite, and I try to incorporate my favorite elements of it into my wardrobe all year round: things like touches of Lilly Pulitzer or pops of color, or even pairing some of my favorite transitional sundresses with scarves and tights for the cooler months! But there are some summer fashion pieces that sadly just do not work all year round. The good part of this is they're just that much more special to wear during the months when it is acceptable! A perfect example of what I'm speaking of would be something like these darling purple seersucker bow shorts from Lauren James. 

     The name of this blog is "Southern Belle in Training," and to me these shorts would be apart of any Southern Belle's summer wardrobe! The fun bow adds such a cute and unique feminine touch, and they are the perfect piece to be dressed up or down. Lauren James sells these shorts in a variety of fun seersucker colors! 

     Also- how pretty is this darling little bouquet of Trader Joe's flowers?! Under $5 to add a splash of fresh blooms and happiness to your day. I actually picked these up as a little apartment housewarming present for my Little and her boyfriend- right after these pictures were taken, I went to visit their new apartment for the first time! But the flowers were so pretty that I had to steal them first for these photos (and these!). Hope you didn't mind Julie! ;-)

       xoxo Miss ALK

The Ring By Spring.

Blazer: Ann Taylor // T-shirt: Target // Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters // Sunglasses: LOFT {similar} // Ring: c/o Anjolee // Earrings: c/o Jojo Loves You //  Mug: Lilly Pulitzer {old pattern, similar here} // Nails: Maybelline Color Show Nail Laquer in In the Blush // Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rosewine

      There is a classic saying that is associated with female students who are preparing for college graduation. Getting the ol' "Ring by Spring" was at one time the goal of most girls who attended college! In the 21st century, most young women are getting an education for many purposes other than a MRS. degree, but there certainly are still a plethora of college students who meet their significant other during their college years. For example, two of my female cousins both met their husbands when they were sophomores in college! While it isn't the norm for seniors to be engaged upon graduation at my college, I do know of a few friends and classmates in my grade here at school who are (special shout-out to my sorority sister Perrin!). And at my former college, which was a Christian school, the old tradition is even more alive and well! It seems like all of the Facebook updates that I still see from old classmates there are engagement announcements. 

     

     I have remained single throughout my college years, and while my interesting mostly third-wheeling adventures as a single gal could chronicle several other blog posts, all I will say today is this means that I most certainly did not get a ring by spring from a special someone. However- just because I'm graduating college not engaged doesn't mean that I don't deserve to treat myself to some special bling! I am proud to be rocking my own gorgeous version of a ring by spring, courtesy of Anjolee Jewelry. 

     While Anjolee sells a variety of beautiful pieces in all categories of jewelry, they are especially known for their lovely engagement ring collections! The piece that I am wearing here actually is a diamond engagement ring style! However, since I don't currently have a man in my life to place a special piece of diamond bling on "that" finger, I requested for my ring to have blue topaz as the center stone. Oh yes- did I mention that Anjolee is an awesome company to work with for customizing your jewelry pieces?! 

     If you or anyone you know is beginning to discuss engagement (or if you just need a little bling bling in your life, for just because reasons!), definitely look to Anjolee for a beautiful selection of engagement rings! 

     Did any of you receive a ring by spring? Or are you/were you single like yours truly, and enjoy treating yourself to some shiny ring candy?


     Today's post is sponsored by Anjolee Jewelry. Thank-you for supporting the brands that support Southern Belle in Training!

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Target

NORDSTROM

Ann Taylor

Revlon

LOFT

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     xoxo Miss ALK