In early August, I'll be leaving home for the first time truly on my own! I'll be moving into an apartment closer to work (the two hour commute from home is killing me!) and while the process of apartment hunting is stressful beyond belief, I've found a way to rid that stress by planning the decorations!
I've decided to build a registry list on Overstock.com and Target.com (you can view those lists here and here! and are welcome to gather inspiration!) This way, I could make a public list for my family (read, my parents) and actually purchase things.
It's so weird to think it's all coming together! I'm no longer planning for fun, soon I'll have a real apartment with real furniture!
My apartment will be kelly green and bright pink with navy and white as neutrals. Think Lilly Pulitzer meets Vineyard Vines, plus a little offbeat indie/vintage for good measure.
What do you want your dream apartment to look like? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Life Update: Apartment hunting
The epitome of being an "adult" isn't just graduating or getting a job. It's moving out on your own.
I was "out on my own" in college, but I lived in a sorority house, had 24 resident-assistance and my food paid for. Not really living independently, huh? So moving to an apartment in my new hometown will be a big step!
I've been looking in the city, close to the station. I have a little list of what I want... I hope I can find it all!
What do you want in your dream place? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
I was "out on my own" in college, but I lived in a sorority house, had 24 resident-assistance and my food paid for. Not really living independently, huh? So moving to an apartment in my new hometown will be a big step!
I've been looking in the city, close to the station. I have a little list of what I want... I hope I can find it all!
What do you want in your dream place? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
Monday, June 24, 2013
Lilly loves Estee Lauder!
My boyfriend's mother is an avid Belk shopper. So when she saw the Lilly Pulitzer for Estee Lauder gift with purchase, she made sure I got one!
I've never used a lot of Estee Lauder products. They're a bit pricey, and with the Georgia heat, most of my make-up slides off my combination skin. I'll experiment with anything and I just love to shop at specialty make up store, but I usually try to find drug store copycats of my department store favorites.
However, there were a few things I just loved: the Lip Conditioner, the Sumptuous bold volume lifting mascara and the Daywear moisturizer! And of course, I love the tote bag that comes with!
I got a little lucky and got a few extras from my dear's mother, including a full size sample of the day wear kit. I'm head over heels for the Illuminator!
The price is really steep for me though, especially being the bottom of the ladder at work. Maybe when I'm super rich I can spring for the whole line! I'd definitely spring for the mascara and the lip conditioner again, though.
Did you nab any of the Lilly Pulitzer gifts with purchase from participating department stores? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
I've never used a lot of Estee Lauder products. They're a bit pricey, and with the Georgia heat, most of my make-up slides off my combination skin. I'll experiment with anything and I just love to shop at specialty make up store, but I usually try to find drug store copycats of my department store favorites.
However, there were a few things I just loved: the Lip Conditioner, the Sumptuous bold volume lifting mascara and the Daywear moisturizer! And of course, I love the tote bag that comes with!
I got a little lucky and got a few extras from my dear's mother, including a full size sample of the day wear kit. I'm head over heels for the Illuminator!
The price is really steep for me though, especially being the bottom of the ladder at work. Maybe when I'm super rich I can spring for the whole line! I'd definitely spring for the mascara and the lip conditioner again, though.
Did you nab any of the Lilly Pulitzer gifts with purchase from participating department stores? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
Friday, June 21, 2013
Book Club: "Never Sit Down In a Hoopskirt (and other things I learned in Southern Belle Hell)" by Crickett Rumley
Welcome to book club! I love to read, but I feel like I almost never get a change to do so. Recently, I went on an emergency road trip so I had some time to kill!
Naturally, I picked up this little gem from Crickett Rumley. I had been meaning to read it for a while - my father brought a signed copy of her book to me after he met her at a writer's... meeting? It was a while ago.
Plot Summary: 17-year-old rebel Jane Fontaine returns to her hometown of Bienville, Alabama, to live with her grandmother after leaving boarding school. Trying to fit in with the townsfolk, who only want to discuss her mother who passed away many years ago and her father who has since engrossed himself in work, she is ushered into the Magnolia Maids "Achievement" Pageant by her grandmother, and surprisingly, she gets in. Suddenly, she has to take a long hard look at Bienville, the Magnolia Maid program, and herself.
What I liked: I love all things southern belle. I'm embarrassed to admit I skipped debut and cotillion (in hindsight I'm mortified but that's a story for another day!) but oddly, I skipped it for the same reasons Jane felt like she didn't belong on Magnolia Court. It was easy for me to relate to all of the characters- they were all so likable! And, without spoiling the ending, I liked the way the "Mean Girl" character, Ashley, was taken care of, so to speak. Finally, I just LOVED the tone - it felt like a girl my age was really telling the story.
What I didn't like: I wish I had more insight on Jane's father, Cosmo. I also wish I had a few more physical descriptions of the characters, but I feel that was an artistic choice to allow the reader some creative wiggle room. I also wish one of the ending parts didn't end the way it did (gah it made me want to cry and go hug my Mom and Dad) but that's the way life is. There were also a few plot holes that I wish had been filled in (The train on the Queen's dress and the two pink dresses bothered me to no end!)
Overall: Four out of Five stars. Would recommend to other southern belles, but you may be slightly put off by the approach. A nice, easy, quick read!
What are you reading? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
Naturally, I picked up this little gem from Crickett Rumley. I had been meaning to read it for a while - my father brought a signed copy of her book to me after he met her at a writer's... meeting? It was a while ago.
Plot Summary: 17-year-old rebel Jane Fontaine returns to her hometown of Bienville, Alabama, to live with her grandmother after leaving boarding school. Trying to fit in with the townsfolk, who only want to discuss her mother who passed away many years ago and her father who has since engrossed himself in work, she is ushered into the Magnolia Maids "Achievement" Pageant by her grandmother, and surprisingly, she gets in. Suddenly, she has to take a long hard look at Bienville, the Magnolia Maid program, and herself.
What I liked: I love all things southern belle. I'm embarrassed to admit I skipped debut and cotillion (in hindsight I'm mortified but that's a story for another day!) but oddly, I skipped it for the same reasons Jane felt like she didn't belong on Magnolia Court. It was easy for me to relate to all of the characters- they were all so likable! And, without spoiling the ending, I liked the way the "Mean Girl" character, Ashley, was taken care of, so to speak. Finally, I just LOVED the tone - it felt like a girl my age was really telling the story.
What I didn't like: I wish I had more insight on Jane's father, Cosmo. I also wish I had a few more physical descriptions of the characters, but I feel that was an artistic choice to allow the reader some creative wiggle room. I also wish one of the ending parts didn't end the way it did (gah it made me want to cry and go hug my Mom and Dad) but that's the way life is. There were also a few plot holes that I wish had been filled in (The train on the Queen's dress and the two pink dresses bothered me to no end!)
Overall: Four out of Five stars. Would recommend to other southern belles, but you may be slightly put off by the approach. A nice, easy, quick read!
What are you reading? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
Monday, June 10, 2013
Stumped
Hey y'all!
I have a couple blog post floating around my head, but I'm not sure how to execute them. I've been playing with them for a couple of weeks!
I do have a skirt tutorial I will post, as soon as I process my photos, so hang tight!
What do you want to see on my blog? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
I have a couple blog post floating around my head, but I'm not sure how to execute them. I've been playing with them for a couple of weeks!
I do have a skirt tutorial I will post, as soon as I process my photos, so hang tight!
What do you want to see on my blog? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
Monday, June 3, 2013
Bows before bros?
In college, I loved wearing hair bows. When my hair was short and straight, it helped keep things from looking flat. As my hair became curly, I learned that bows weren't needed in the same spots. Now, my bows are bigger and tucked in center of my hair to hide frizz and unruly chunks of hair.
However, I've never worn one of my fluffy bows to work. I have a simple, leather-y one I've sported before, but my favorites have stayed in my drawer.
I thought I would switch to headbands after school was out, but I realized that headbands and headphones can be an uncomfortable pair (darn you, radio headphones!)
Naturally, I'd start wearing bows again. But - is it okay to wear bows to work?
Bow Pro: The only people who see me at work are my colleagues
Con: When I go out into the field I meet important people from all over the city
Bow Pro: Bows are significantly more comfortable than headbands with headphones on
Con: My colleagues already think I overdress
Bow Pro: They're pretty and I like them
Con: My coworkers might think they're tacky, or rule me out as a typical sorority girl
So, the pro/con list is pretty even. What's a girl to do? Is there a grace period that I can go to work with a bow and no one will bat an eye?
Since I'm new, I'm worried about judgement quite a bit. Unfortunately I don't think everyone has grasped that I am who I am, bows, dresses and all. I'm worried that they think I'm trying too hard, when really, I'm just being myself. [More on that later....]
Would you wear bows to work? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
However, I've never worn one of my fluffy bows to work. I have a simple, leather-y one I've sported before, but my favorites have stayed in my drawer.
I thought I would switch to headbands after school was out, but I realized that headbands and headphones can be an uncomfortable pair (darn you, radio headphones!)
Naturally, I'd start wearing bows again. But - is it okay to wear bows to work?
Bow Pro: The only people who see me at work are my colleagues
Con: When I go out into the field I meet important people from all over the city
Bow Pro: Bows are significantly more comfortable than headbands with headphones on
Con: My colleagues already think I overdress
Bow Pro: They're pretty and I like them
Con: My coworkers might think they're tacky, or rule me out as a typical sorority girl
So, the pro/con list is pretty even. What's a girl to do? Is there a grace period that I can go to work with a bow and no one will bat an eye?
Since I'm new, I'm worried about judgement quite a bit. Unfortunately I don't think everyone has grasped that I am who I am, bows, dresses and all. I'm worried that they think I'm trying too hard, when really, I'm just being myself. [More on that later....]
Would you wear bows to work? Share with me in the comments below!
Stay true to yourself,
Alyson
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