Impressive Hours

Yesterday was one of the hardest day's that I have experienced in a long time. When I was around 13, my father bought me a horse, the horse that would change my life forever. Impressive Hours, or Paint as we all called her, was my best friend, my confidant, my teacher, and now my angel. 

She was twenty-five years old & there was no horse who was more loved than she. 

I was thankful for all that she taught me and for every single moment I got to spend with her, down to the last second.

Losing a horse that has made such a large impact on my life has beat me up emotionally, but this is also a lifestyle blog and so I want to share things from my life with y'all.

Please don't give up on me yet, I'm going to get my feet back underneath me & get back up in the proverbial saddle. Expect a post on Equestrian Inspired Style this week, you'll see hints of her in my writing, I'm sure.

If you're a horsewoman (or man), or an animal lover in general, hold your fur-babies tight.

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

First Day of Fall

The calendar declares that today is the first official day of Fall & Alabama decided to agree!

When I stepped out onto the front porch this morning the air was cool & crisp, 

My first instinct was to run to my closet and wrap myself in first sweater I could find.

But, I have this thing about not dressing up for class (unless I have some sort of presentation) so it's always a struggle to find the cutest comfy clothes possible. 

Insert the world's cutest bum look-Southern Stylista Approved.

Spirit Jersey/Shorties/Tennis Shoes

Let's start with the spirit jersey-these oversized shirts are known for being made out of the softest, most comfortable material. I always order a size up so that I feel like I'm being swallowed in comfort. 

Here's another great option here; it's only $49 with the discount code KMSSJSU.

These shorties are to die for! I have mentioned Lauren James time & time again, and this is no different. These come in a million different patterns and colors, I love them for Spring, Summer, and even early Fall in the South. Make sure you use the code SoFlaGrlProbz for an extra 10% off at checkout! 

A good pair of tennis shoes is a staple for every college girl. When you're walking miles around campus every single day, Jack Rogers just don't cut it. These are a stylish option from Nike that offer tons of support for walking all over campus & they're great for running in the crisp, cool evenings. 

Let's face it, a PSL is the un-official start to Fall & I wait for it every single year, so of course I had to include it in my First Day of Fall outfit summary. 

I hope y'all all have a perfect first day of Fall, drink a PSL, light a Bath & Body Works candle, and curl up on the couch with your favorite book (or your favorite blog!)

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Agenda: Organization and How-To

Hey y'all! 

I hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend, thank you for sharing part of your weekend with me because I know each and every one of you are busy...so let's get right into this!

I normally never post consistently over the weekend, but I've had my school supply post ready as a draft for about a week now, so when Saturday rolled around & I didn't have a scheduled post like I do Wednesday-Friday, I knew it was the perfect time to share it with you!

Even if you aren't in school, I really think that both of these posts could be very informative for you since they do deal with office supplies which is something that everyone deals with on a daily basis, we all have to make to-do lists & keep up with things!

First of all, let me just say that I did not realize how useful a planner would be until I transferred from my community college to a four-year university. Having one single place that I can refer back to when someone asks me to make plans or when someone asks me for a due date, it's just so simple and easy now with a planner. 

This specific planner was the 2013-2014 Vera Bradley Student Agenda in the pattern Lilli Bell. 

I loved the bright color of this agenda & while I would've preferred a Lilly Pulitzer, this one was a gift and so of course I used it. One thing that I disliked was the fact that it was a two-year planner. I really like a fresh planner for each year because, and this sounds awful, but I sort of get bored looking at the same one because it's something that I see every single day. 

Overall, I felt that this planner has held up really well so far. It has monthly & weekly spreads, which I did like. I tend to use a paper clip to clip the current week & the month together so I can look at the entire month as well as the things I'm doing that particular week in farther detail. 

I also enjoyed the spiral binding, I felt like it has held the planner together very well & the elastic band keeps all the pages together so nothing gets lost or falls out. 

This view of my planner simply shows not only the colorful patterns that are throughout the planner, but also the notes sections that are scattered throughout the planner. It seems that every semester I have used a notes section to write out my entire class schedule, including the teacher's name & the classroom number and the building the class it's in. Writing in the times for the class also helps me out for the first few weeks of each semester & I haven't gotten lost yet!

In my Back-To-School Necessities post I mentioned that I color code inside my planner, this is the monthly view pictured above for the month of September. I use the color pink for my Black America class, navy blue for the Auburn games, and light blue for my Foundations of Education (except for the exception of the wedding I put in there, but I hadn't decided my color coding system when I wrote that in, whoops!)

I would prefer a larger monthly view, which is exactly why when this planner ends in December I will probably be upgrading to the Erin Condren Life Planner or the Lilly Pulitzer Jumbo planner, just for more space & also because the Vera Bradley Student Agendas, the new versions, have been getting awful reviews!

This is a weekly view, you can just see more of the color coding (with the exception of Rodeo that is coming up, once again I wrote that in before I had my color coding worked out!)

The color coding works really well for me, I can always tell when I have online discussions due & for which class with only a glance. 

The above photo is just another example of a monthly view, this time of November. I have all of the football games written down, all of my assignments that I have been assigned thus far, but most importantly I want you to look at the bottom of the month. 

I have Thanksgiving Break the last week of the month & I have used Washi Tape (which I mentioned in my Necessities blog) to block out that week so that I know the dates by just a glance. I should've used a marker instead of a pen because the writing wasn't as dark as I wanted it to be, but you understand the point. 

If I had a larger planner I would use Washi Tape for so many more things, but with these small daily blocks it's harder to fit it in.

I hope y'all enjoyed a little review of how I use my agenda and the things that I do and don't like about it. 

I think that a good agenda that works well for you is what's important, whether it's Vera, Lilly, Erin, or even Wal-Mart. It doesn't matter where it comes from as long as you are happy with the system!

If you have any questions, feel free to post them below or email me at KMSSatJSU@Gmail.com & I'd be happy to help!

Until next time. . .

xoxo

Back-to-School Necessities

Hey y'all & welcome back to the Southern Stylista!

This is a blog post that I've been promising for a long time, but I'm glad that I waited until a few weeks after school started because now I can truly share with you the things that I feel are absolutely necessary to make it through school, whether you're in middle/high school or college. 

As a college senior, I've been around the block a few times & have tried a million things that haven't worked or have been a waste of my time & so I've narrowed this down to the things that I feel have really always helped me through the years. 

So here we go!

Binders (preferably 2-inch): 

The four pictured below are Avery Dimension brand (from Target or Wal-Mart). I prefer the binders that come in bright colors so that I can color code my classes and so I don't accidentally pick up the wrong one for the wrong class. Also, I prefer having a separate binder for each class because I'm extremely OCD, but if you can do with less-go for it! I didn't take pictures of them, but in each binder there is a 5-Star brand folder clipped into the binder clips to hold extra papers, etc. I prefer the 5-Star brand because I've had the same ones since I started college my freshman year & they're still in great condition. 

The monogrammed binder covers here came from a blog via Pinterest over a year ago, which I can't seem to find. But there are so many tutorials on Pinterest that cover this topic, or you can simply download the Monogram App or Marley Lilly App and make a monogram, save it to your phone, download to your computer, & print it off! Easy, peasy!

Five-Subject Notebook: 

I usually don't like using spiral-bound notebooks because once you take a paper out, you can't put it back in, but this semester my classes are a lot less note-taking & more discussion so I've found that spiral notebooks are perfect for jotting down parts of the discussion that you want to think about later! This Mead notebook came in lots of fun colors, but once again I just chose this color for color coding purposes!

Agenda: 

I don't care whether you chose a Vera Bradley (like this one, from last year-it's a 2-year version), a Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Erin Condren, or Target brand. Go get yourself an agenda.

I'll be making a post about how I organize & use my agenda hopefully tomorrow or later in the week, so stay tuned. But know that my agenda has saved my life so many times! *Plus, isn't this print just so much fun?*

Pens: 

These pens are my favorite for taking notes! These are the Pilot G-2 07 brand (and one Frixon Ball Clicker 07 by Pilot that was free-but I really like!)

These come in so many fun colors, which are once again perfect for color coding. They also help keep my attention during note-taking & I use a different color for each day so that I know where my notes for each day start & stop. The Frixon pen is also erasable (& not your old middle school erasable, this one really works!)

The pencil bag is actually an Ipsy makeup bag, it fits all of my pens, pencils, & high lighters perfectly!

Highlighters: 

These are my absolute favorite highlighters. The orange & pink ones are Sharpie gel highlighters, which I love because they are no mess (they don't leak or bleed through pages!) & the colors are really easy to see. 

The other two are also Sharpie brand, one is the retractable & the other is the chunky version. I like both of these, but not as much as the gel ones!

Spare Pens/Pencils: 

I do not say this lightly, when you come to college people will come to class unprepared & see you with your pencil bag full of goodies & try to take advantage of you-don't let them!

I keep my least favorite pens/pencils in a separate pocket of my backpack & when someone asks for a writing utensil I hand them one of those, that way I won't be sad if they don't ever give it back (because chances are that they won't). 

Bonus points if you spotted the Honor Roll pencil in the middle or the Sheraton pen that's beside it. 

Extras:

These are things that I keep in my backpack at all times, kind of like J-Lo in the Wedding Planner, I'm prepared for everything. 

I keep a set of Post-Its just in case I need to write something down & stick it on a page in my textbook or on a page in my binder. 

I keep a stapler because you never know when your teacher is going to give you a million handouts.

I keep two flash drives for downloading things from the computers in the library or bringing projects to class. 

I bring a calculator because I may be out of all of my math classes, but sometimes you still need to do some quick calculations!

Backpack:

I got this Northface backpack back in 2011 after I graduated high school & it's still in just as good condition as it was back then (and I'm pretty rough on it!) They no longer have the plaid print in the Jester, but they have so many other cute colors! Sometimes I wish I hadn't gotten the plaid, but then again, I've never seen anyone else with it so that makes me happy. 

I really like this backpack because it has a large pocket that has plenty of room for all of my binders/books/agenda plus a front pocket that keeps all of my pens, etc. neatly contained. The two side pockets are great for stashing my keys, wallet, water bottle, sunglasses, etc. while I'm in class.

Plus, the back is padded & the straps are really comfortable, even on long walks all over campus!

 Oh & ladies, suck it up & get a backpack instead of one of those cutesy tote bags. It'll save your back and shoulders, I promise!

Umbrella: 

Y'all are probably thinking, why is this girl listing an umbrella on her back-to-school necessities? But I'm telling you, you need an umbrella to stick in one of those mesh side-pockets of your backpack. I don't know how many times I've walked to class in the sunshine & had to pop this baby out on my way back to my truck. This umbrella was actually a Christmas gift from my boyfriend's family & is no longer on sale on the Coach website, but there are so many cute (& cheaper!) options at Target or TJ Maxx!

Little Extras (That just make life easier!):

Washi Tape:

I didn't understand what all of the talk was about when I first started hearing about Washi tape, but since that moment I have found SO many uses for it! I'll tell you about my favorite way to use it in a later post (hint; my agenda) but it's also really useful for sticking up little notes on my calender in my room, closing envelopes, etc. All of the things you can do with regular tape, but much more fun! Plus this tape is easier to write on!

Post-Its:

You've already seen where I always keep a pad of Post-Its in my backpack, but I also like to keep them on hand while doing reading for class or studying for tests. The full sized ones are great for making notes on & the tabs are great for marking your place (or jotting down your number for that cutie that sits two rows over!)

Pencils & Pens:

I've already mentioned my favorites, but I raided the school supplies clearance section at Target the other day & found these on sale, I always like to keep some extras on hand, because you never know when you're going to run out! Plus, it's always better to snag things on clearance than have to pay full price later. 

White Out: 

White out is a must for me because I cannot stand to just scribble things out & I definitely don't have time to just tear out a page & rewrite the entire thing! This Bic white out works really well & is dry as soon as you put it on the page, so you can write over it as soon as you finish!

Small Notebooks:

These notebooks are perfect for jotting down ideas, whether it be in class or for blogging. 

I had coupons for these so I went on & got them, they can't "go bad" or anything, so I know they'll get used before the semester is over with. Aren't the colors just so much fun? They'll be easy to dress up with a monogram or some fun preppy stickers.

Well, that's that. I hope y'all enjoyed a little look into my backpack & my school necessities. I've gotten a system down & I'm really happy with how it works & I hope y'all got some ideas for things that you might be able to do a little differently & more easily!

I'll have my How I Organize My Agenda post up soon, so be on the lookout!

& make sure to follow my Pinterest board JSU (my school!) for ideas for your dorm rooms/apartments, tips for freshman-seniors, study tips, and all sorts of fun ways to decorate your notebooks *so many printables*!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Friday Favorites

Hey y'all, I hope y'all enjoy the new look for the blog, I was going for something a bit more sophisticated-not that I don't love the Lilly P print I had, but the peonies are so much cuter!

Yesterday morning was the first morning it has been chilly enough to add a sweatshirt over my big tee & Nike shorts and as much as I thought I would be happy, I was kind of sad. 

But luckily, the sadness was nothing that a little shopping trip couldn't handle!

I want to share with y'all a few things that I fell in love with this week!

Zara Scarf

This Zara blanket scarf is gorgeous! Can't you just imagine wrapping up in it's warmth? I love a blanket scarf & the fact that this one is in tartan just makes my heart happy. I was really sold on this scarf until I realized it retailed for over $50. I'm sure that's reasonable for a scarf of this size & quality, but not on this college girl's budget. Luckily for y'all, I discovered it's look-alike on Amazon for only $23! Thank me later, ladies!

Rebel Women's Crimson Angel Boot

These boots are so amazing. Every detail from the soft red leather, all the way to the detailed winged-cross that is across the front and back, is just beautiful. It honestly makes me feel like a gypsy! Lucky for you ladies, if you're in the market for the most perfect pair of boots, these are it & they're on sale for $199.95 (with free shipping!) from Country Outfitter! As much as it pains me to say it, these might really be perfect for Alabama gamedays, so all you Bama Beauties grab them while they're in stock!

Gigi New York Clutch

Ever since I first ran into this brand, Gigi New York, on Pinterest. . . I have been in love!

This plum colored snakeskin pattern is perfect in an unexpected way for Fall & I love the tassel detail. Plus, y'all know if it has a monogram, it has to be mine. 

Dark Green Pocket Loose Longline Knit Cardigan

This sweater looks incredibly comfy & it's only $45 here, which I consider a really good deal considering how often I would wear this if I owned it. I would pair it with a simple cami underneath and leggings or jeggings & boots. It would be so warm for class or out to dinner with friends!

Favorite Quote

I am so obsessed with Fall, but sometimes I get bummed about losing the warm weather. This print which you can buy here (perfect for a gallery wall!) for only $18, makes me feel much better about what I'm giving up. I don't mind the colder temps if I get my Pumpkin Spice & cozy plaid scarves, like the Zara I mentioned above!

Thanks so much for sharing my favorites from this week; I can't wait to share with you my Back-to-School necessities & Agenda posts because they should be up this weekend! And I just got my Ipsy Glam Bag in the mail, so I'll be sharing a review of all of those products next week.

Until next time. . .
xoxo, 

Caramel Apple Sangria

Happy Thirsty Thursday, y'all!

We've made it to the end of another week (well, one more day & the rest of y'all will, but today is my Friday!) and I can't think of a better way to spend it than with a cool glass of sangria. 

Tonight Auburn plays Kansas St. & the boyfriend and I are planning to unwind tonight with some burgers on the grill & you just can't grill out without some delicious drinks!

Here is the perfect fall sangria recipe from Food, Family, Finds blog that has all the delicious flavors that we all love about the season!

Caramel Apple Sangria: 

Ingredients: 

1 bottle of your favorite moscato

3 cups of apple cider

1 cup of carbonated lemon-lime soda (like Sprite!)

1/2 cup of caramel flavored vodka

1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

3 sweet apples, diced

1 pear, diced

1/2 cup of green grapes, sliced 

Instructions: 

-Dice the apples & pears

-Slice the grapes in half

-Add all the fruit to a pitcher

-Add the cinnamon to the fruit

-Pour the moscato, vodka, and cider into the pitcher

-Gently stir all the ingredients together

-Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour

-Just before you serve the sangria, add the lemon-lime soda & stir it up!

I'm so excited about this recipe because one of my favorite parts of fall are fresh apples & pears, plus the grapes are a perfect addition, you can use them almost like ice without having to water down your sangria!

I hope y'all enjoy today's beverage & make sure y'all check out my Pinterest board Tip It On Back for even more delicious drink recipes! 

Until next time. . .

xoxo, SS

  

Wedding Wednesday

Happy Wednesday, y'all! 

We've made it halfway through the week & I'm so thankful and ready for the weekend already. 

Today I wanted to share some more wedding inspiration with y'all because it's Fall and that means that wedding season is back in full swing.

Favorite Engagement Photo: 



I love the simplicity of this shot. There aren't any fancy props, no model-y empty stares at the camera, no designer shoes. It's just the two of them, all of the focus is on the beautiful couple.
Find this and more fun inspiration of all kinds at the Cup Half Full blog.

Favorite Wedding Venue:

Plantation weddings have always had my heart, they are gorgeous and elegant. I love the large trees framing the plantation home and the brick aisle. Can you imagine how beautiful this would be in the Fall? And the wedding photography would just be incredible. 

Favorite Wedding Gown: 

This gown is from Allure Bridal and I'm completely obsessed with it. From the vintage lace details, to the overall way that it is fitted-there is nothing that I don't love. I also love that they paired it with detailed cowboy boots for a more rustic look, perfect for a Fall wedding!

Favorite Bouquet: 

This is my definition of the perfect Fall wedding bouquet. The sunflowers and daisies are beautiful & I love the burlap lace wrap instead of just regular ribbon. 

View other pictures of the wedding that featured this bouquet here. 

Favorite Wedding Cake: 

There are so many things that go into the perfect wedding cake other than just how it tastes. This rustic tree slice stand (with the initials & wedding date carved into it!) make the perfect base for any wedding cake.
Then you have the sunflowers that are tucked all around it, which would match your bouquet if you got the one pictured above. Then the initial that is placed at the top just brings everything together. Perfect for a country-chic wedding! Not to mention I love the way the butter cream on this cake isn't just frosted on flat, it has dimension and texture.

Favorite Wedding Sign: 

 

Normally this is where I would post some chalkboard art, but when I saw this pallet sign, I couldn't resist it. For a Fall wedding, the dark wood of the pallet is perfect & don't you just love the sweet saying? I know when I get married I don't want a seating plan at my reception, it's so much more intimate and casual without! Plus, I know I can count on my precious big sister to paint up one of these signs for me...right?

Favorite Floral Design: 



Barrels just scream Fall decor & these wouldn't be a disappointment. I can envision these welcoming guests to the ceremony spot at an outdoor wedding, framing the aisle. I could even picture them at the reception, framing the doors or entrance there or beside the serving tables. Those flowers up top are so bountiful and gorgeous too.
See more images from this beautiful, rustic wedding here. 

Favorite Bridesmaids Dresses: 



I know there is some controversy about the color Nude for a bridesmaid dress because it's so close to white, but personally I can get on board with this trend!
I love the ones that are borderline between Nude & Blush, and especially if they are long gowns-they're so appropriate for a Fall wedding.
They make the perfect backdrop for any color of flowers, so all accent colors will match well.
Visit this website for more details about this wedding & the beautiful bridesmaids dresses.

Favorite Wedding Photo:

 

Since I started with an engagement photo, I felt it was only right to end with a wedding photo.

A lot of time I focus on the Bride & Groom when I pick my favorite wedding photography shots, & I should-it's there day. But when I stumbled across this shot of a Maid of Honor and a Bride, I knew I needed to include it. A Bride and a Maid of Honor have a special bond, and I feel like this picture fully showcases a portion of their special friendship. Pictures that show laughter and emotion are some of my favorites.

Well, there it is! I hope y'all enjoyed my Wedding Wednesday round-up, I scoured my two Pinterest boards dedicated to weddings, I'll Wear White & You'll Wear Out the Words I Love You and Engagement & Wedding Pictures. So give me a follow & leave comment below with your Pinterest name & I'll give you a follow-back as well.

Remember to follow on Instagram @SouthernStylista for inspiration all day long!

Until next time. . .
xoxo, SS

Fall Decorating Home Inspiration

It's almost time to start decorating for Fall here in Alabama!

I've tried so hard to resist, but every time I go into Hobby Lobby I can't help but walk out with one or two new Fall pieces. It's hard enough to stop myself from buying Christmas decor!

Fall is probably one of my most favorite seasons to decorate for, I'm not sure whether it's because of all the warm shades, the harvest themes, or the fact that everything is pumpkin scented-but I just love it all!

I'm going to share with y'all a couple of my favorite decorating ideas that I found via Pinterest. You're more than welcome to follow my boards Holidays & Home is Where the Heart is. 

Also make sure to follow my Instagram account: @SouthernStylista for inspiration all day long!

Beautifully decorated front porches make me feel all warm and toasty inside. The spread of pumpkins, straw, flowers, and corn stalks are all beautiful. I especially love the scarecrow up top! It's almost a nod to Halloween without screaming it. 

We are *hopefully* finally getting a mailbox put up at C's house soon, so I'm looking forward to going all out with decor for it as soon as it gets put up. I love that this is simple, but it makes a big statement. Especially the chevron burlap bow!

When I discovered this beautiful tablescape on Pinterest, I was hooked. It originally comes from here. I love the farm table and the burlap runner. The tall candles and the bounty in the center make it the perfect table that will last all Fall long!

If you don't want to go all out for decorating your front porch, something simple like this would be just as beautiful! 

I love the initialed pumpkin and the vintage lantern.

Plus, I think I spot a big urn back there-perfect for adding more floral accents!

Find more information on this set-up here.

You know I couldn't end a post like this without adding in something fun, colorful, and girly right?

Enter the Lilly Pulitzer inspired pumpkins!

Did you know that if you don't slice into your pumpkins, they can last way longer? Duh right?

These pumpkins were hand-painted and their stems were glittered, which I love!

You can google Lilly tutorials and find several prints. 

These would be so much fun for your apartment at school, because I don't think I could get C on board with having these at his house!

Happy Fall, y'all!

xoxo, SS

Fall Wedding Outfit Inspiration

'Tis the season for Fall weddings & I'm as happy as can be! 

I love going to weddings more than anything, there's just something about the romance and the beauty of the day that just makes me want to squeal. 

Also it doesn't hurt that it's a good excuse to dress up and party!

Today I want to cover what I think would be the perfect Fall wedding outfit, especially since I just attended a wedding Saturday night!

Earrings/Bracelet 1/Bracelet 2/Polish/Dress/Hairstyle/Clutch/Wedges

I think it's perfectly acceptable to wear this nude/pale pink chiffon number to a fall wedding. Especially if you add these Emerald earrings & stack these precious bracelets. 

The polished-yet-messy bun is perfect to keep your hair looking put together after you've danced the night away at the reception, all while showing off those beautiful baubles on your ears!

The nail color is "She Said Yes" by Essie, I couldn't think of a better shade to wear to a wedding!

The wedges will be comfortable for you to spend long hours on your feet and keep you looking great all night. Not to mention that Cognac color is perfect for bringing a little fall to your otherwise light outfit. 

Lastly, this is a clutch I've been eyeing for months now. The emerald color is perfect for fall & the tassel adds just a little bit of extra fun. 

You could easily change up the statement color and transform this into a spring wedding ensemble. 

Either way, you'll be stealing the hearts of all the single guys at the reception. . .

Can you say, "Hello groomsmen?"

Until next time. . .

xoxo, SS

Labor Day Sales Haul

Hey y'all! Welcome back to The Southern Stylista. 

I am so excited to share with y'all some of the things that I have snagged not only from Labor Day sales, but also all those wonderful little "End-of-Season" sales that lots of stores & websites have been having.

I'm going to start off with one of my favorite purchases from this haul. . .

Lauren James gets me. The little thrill I got when I first saw this package said it all.

And here are the two items I ordered. . .

Hold Your Horses Tank: Caribbean Blue

Let's just hold on a minute and let you take in the perfection that is this tank. We all know I'm obsessed with anything equestrian-inspired & this tank is the perfect nod to riding & the Kentucky Derby (which is my favorite day of the year!)

I snagged this piece for only $18 & you can't beat that for how comfy this is. I know it'll be a favorite for sure!

This particular tank is out of stock, but you can shop her collection of precious tanks that are on sale here. 

 Walkin' in High Cotton Long Sleeved Tee-Tropical Green

As an Alabama girl, I fell in love with this shirt from the very first time I saw it. The bow definitely helped draw me in as well. The color of the tee is fabulous & the material is SO soft! I paid full price ($36) for this, but I think it's so worth it considering I'll probably wear it once a week to school all during the Fall & Winter. Hashtag Sorry Not Sorry.

Y'all Mrs. Lauren James was nice enough to include a koozie (in one of my most favorite colors!) as well as a sticker (that will probably be making it's way onto my laptop pretty soon!) The customer service from this company doesn't get any better than this. 

Future First Lady: 

I was lucky enough to win a contest on Twitter recently from Future First Lady & she allowed me to select three koozies, which I was so excited about!

I chose ones that said. . .

1) I only date men who Rage Like W., Dress Like JFK, & Think Like Reagan

2) God is great, Beer is good, & Liberals are crazy

3) Kiss Me, I'm Republican

Please don't take any of those sayings the wrong way, I completely respect everyone's political views-I just thought these were the funniest!

She was also sweet enough to send me a precious decal!

Southernly Stated: 

A Southern State of Mind tee:

I purchased this tee during their Labor Day weekend sale, although I had wanted it for a long time before then!

The quote on the back is so precious and I love how soft the tee is (it's Comfort Colors brand!)

Plus, who doesn't need another pocket tee to sport to class?

Martin's Family Clothing:

Martin's is actually a local department store that we have here that sells boutique style clothing, game day gear, etc. & I love it! I'm sorry that they don't have an online store I can direct you to, but I'll try to include the brand names so you can search for them yourselves if you happen to fall in love!

Comfort Color Tees:

These three plain Comfort Color brand tees were only $5 a piece! I love to buy them for monogramming, and at that price I probably should have bought more!

This top didn't have a brand, which I thought was strange. But it fits so well, more of an oversized tunic. I'm in love with the color & the fun tassel/lace detailing on the arms!

This was another non-brand piece, an oversized Aztec-printed cardigan. It's short sleeved and pretty long, I can't wait to wear it over a tank top in the fall, paired with skinny jeans and wedges or boots.

 Umgee Plus Dress:

I bought this same dress when we were in Florida on vacation in a baby pink shade, so finding it in black was a stroke of luck! It's SO comfortable and looks great with sandals or wedges, even heels for a more dressy look! The lace detailing on the arms and bottom make it so fun.

American Eagle: 

AEO Double-Strap Tank: 

This tank top is SO comfortable. AE has come such a long way since the days of graphic tees and hoodies. I love the strappy details and the lace trim at the bottom. It's a great tank to wear with jeans, or tucked into shorts or a maxi skirt. 

AEO Cross Back Tassel Trim T-Shirt:

Can we just discuss how adorable this little tee is? From the little crossed straps in the back to the sweet lace details on the hem, it's the perfect "Your white tee, but better". I can't wait to toss it on with some jeans or even layer it under a cardigan. This is one of those pieces that can easily be worn year-round in Alabama.

Also, right now American Eagle has all of there stuff buy-one, get one 50% off. I used that deal with these two white shirts. =)

AEO Jegging Sweater:

This is THE sweater to pair with your jeggings for fall. It's made to fit oversized and slouchy, in a put-together kind of way. The ribbed cotton is so soft and the scooped neck is so graceful. 

I had a $10 off your $40 purchase for this, so it came out to about $35, which I thought was pretty good for something that I'll probably wear a lot this fall. 

Old Navy: 

Women's Poplin-Crepe Shirt Dress (in Teal): 

I randomly decided to stop in Old Navy on my way home from class this past week and automatically I was drawn to this color, which in person is more of an emerald than a teal. I'm still not completely sure whether I want to take this back and size up (it's a little snug in the should area). I can't wait to pair it with tights and boots for the fall though. And hey teachers! This is the perfect conservative length for y'all!

Plaid Flannel Boyfriend Shirt (in Blue Buffalo):

I'm constantly on the look for shirts that will both look great with leggings as well as skinny jeans for the fall and winter & this plaid is perfect! The boyfriend fit is oversized, so it offers plenty of room for larger-chested girls (like myself!). I'm not sure whether I'm going to return this and size up or not (I sized down a size in the store, but now I'm rethinking it due to the shoulder area). Definitely try it on, but go buy one because for $20, you can't beat that price!

Quilted Zip-Front Vest (in Blackjack): 

If you've been following my blog, you know that I recently purchased the J.Crew Factory herringbone vest & fell in love. When I saw that Old Navy had a similar vest for less than half the price, I had to try it. While this dress doesn't have the weight that the J.Crew version has, it looks really nice! I also think that the light weight will be nice for layering, without giving the extra bulk. Alabama doesn't really call for big, bulky vests most of the time, anyways!

 Jersey Leggings (in Blackjack):

I wasn't really expecting much when I stuck these $10 leggings in my online cart, the reviews were mixed and my only thought was, "They're only $10, worst case scenario is that I have to return them to the store, no big deal". I was so pleasantly surprised when they were a perfect length, a perfect rise, and not see-through as some people seemed to have thought. Can't wait to wear my $10 leggings to class with my big tees!

(Always make sure to check out online at Old Navy for great deals! Often you can purchase from the website and return to the store if things don't fit properly!)

Amazon:

Jack Rogers:

I was SO excited to buy my first pair of Jack's & these were only $63 when I bought them from Amazon, with free shipping! Thankfully, they also have free returns because these babies are going back. I bought my regular size as I was encouraged by many people that I asked. But even though these may stretch, my foot barely fit into my regular size, which is insane! I'm going to wait to purchase my next pair of these until I can try them on in a store. The quality was definitely there though, they were beautiful shoes!

(Always make sure to check Amazon, Ebay, or RueLala for great deals on Jacks before paying full price!)

I hope y'all enjoyed this haul post, it was just sort of everything that I purchased because of sales going on over Labor Day and the end of season sales. Make sure to keep up with all of my posts so that you can snag deals like these too!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, SS