This blog post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc.and Schwarzkopf Gliss™. All opinions are mine alone. #BlissOfGliss #HairIdenticalKeratin #CollectiveBias
Happy almost WEEKEND, everyone!! I'm so excited to share some behind-the-scenes photos of my wedding hair in today's blog post. I wrote an entire blog post on beauty treatments I had done before the wedding, but I left out something major: my hair! The wedding hairstyle that I wanted called for thick, voluminous and HEALTHY hair, so I wanted to do everything in my power to make my hair as healthy as possible on the big day. The three products that I've been using faithfully are from Schwarzkopf Gliss™- their line of hair products has patented technology to repair your hair up to 10 layers deep. For several months leading up to the wedding, I did several things to try to reverse the damage my hair has accumulated over the years:
2. I applied Gliss Fiber Therapy Repair-In-Oil Spray to my hair after getting out of the shower a few times per month. If I knew I was going to wash my hair in the morning, sometimes I would spray my hair and put it in a bun right before getting into bed.
3. I tried to go as long as I could in-between washes. If I could get away with only washing my hair once per week, then yep, you bet that's what I did! (Don't worry, I took baths to wash my body hahaha)
4. During workouts, I braided my hair so that it didn't get damaged from a tight ponytail.
5. When I could, I let my hair dry naturally, and used my curling wand as little as possible.
Now for my wedding hairstyle!
I knew I wanted a different wedding hairstyle... something romantic and a little boho. I envisioned lots of curls and loose tendrils, I didn't want a hairstyle that was "perfect" with every hair in place. I also knew that I wanted a partial updo - the Charleston heat and humidity can be pretty fierce, so I wanted a hairstyle that kept me cool, but also still looked like "me" (and I normally wear my hair down!). I gathered a ton of inspiration from Ulyana Aster's Instagram page, and asked my stylist (Charlotte Belk) to create something similar.
She started by curling my entire head with a curling wand, seen below (Lindsey was doing my makeup at the same time! :)
She then ran her fingers through the curls to create loose waves. P.S. I love this picture because of all my pretty bridesmaids in the back!!
Using tons and tons of bobby pins, Charlotte pinned small sections of hair to create this beautiful boho-style look. Before we started, I had given her a few instructions: I wanted lots of volume on top, and I wanted my hair to still look thick at the bottom, rather than looking like a braid where it thins out at the bottom. I think she did an amazing job capturing my vision!
Next, she secured the headpiece (I had bought this one from Ulyana's site six months in advance). She wrapped it around my temple and wove it through the hairstyle, securing it with bobby pins along the way.
And THIS was the final product! I actually had more videos than pictures on my phone, if you guys want me to share them on Instastories or compile them into a YouTube video, let me know in the comments. The videos help to show the process of how Charlotte achieved this hairstyle.
One piece of advice I have for future brides is to DEFINITELY have a hair trial a few months before your wedding day! I actually had a different hairstyle picked out at first, and that's the one I had done at my trial. My mom and I took a BUNCH of photos of the hairstyle so that I could see how it looked from all angles. During the moment, I thought I really liked it, but once I looked back at pictures I realized that I actually didn't like it and wanted to change a lot about it! So please, please have a hair trial beforehand because you might end up changing your mind :)
Overall, I am so so so happy with how my hair turned out! It was everything I had ever dreamed of, and on top of that, it stayed put the ENTIRE night! Even after a solid two hours of dancing, haha! If you're getting married in the Charleston area, I highly recommend Charlotte Belk. AND if you're looking to whip your hair into shape, I highly recommend Gliss products! I truly credit them for transforming my hair and making it healthier and shinier than it ever has been for my wedding day.
I think that's about it, let me know if you have any questions in the comments! I'll leave you with these two sneak peek wedding photos ;)
Good morrrrrning! Ever since my honeymoon, I've received a lot of questions from you guys about overseas travel - especially about adapters and converters, and what kind of steamer and curling wand I used in Italy and Greece. I did a lot of research before our trip, so I felt really prepared and didn't have any problems using technology or charging our electronics while we were there. Today I'm sharing allllll the details!
Read on for the 10 essentials I brought with me on our honeymoon.
1. NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
I have blogged about these noise-cancelling headphones a lot in the past, but they are truly lifesavers for me on long flights! They work like regular headphones, fitting over your ears, but there's a tiny switch on the side that works like MAGIC - it instantly eliminates all intrusive outside noise (even loud plane engines and crying babies). I use them a lot on overseas flights to watch movies and listen to music, and sometimes I don't listen to anything at all, but it's so quiet that I'm able to go to sleep. Mine are three or four years old now - I'm not sure if they even sell the same version! - but these are the updated headphones.
2. SILK SLEEP MASK
In addition to the noise-cancelling headphones, I find a silk sleep mask to be equally as essential on long flights. I have this one and use it for blocking out light to be able to sleep on the plane - plus, since it's made out of silk, it's really gentle on your eyes and eyelashes and won't harm them!
3. A LARGE TRAVEL TOTE
I always, always, always travel with a large roomy tote. It has to fit two requirements: 1. big enough to hold my airplane essentials, and 2. feels comfortable on my shoulder. The Barrington St. Anne tote (pictured above) is the perfect travel tote because it checks off both boxes and it's really cute. The nice leather straps are comfortable on your shoulder (even when you're running through an airport trying to catch your flight - I know from experience!) and I love how the bags are completely customizable. You can choose the print, colors and monogram all on Barrington's website. For size reference, it is bigger than my Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM, which is great because I can fit more inside it while I'm traveling.
4. STURDY PURSE ORGANIZER
This felt purse organizer is not just a travel essential... it's an essential in my everyday life! Not only is it less than $20, but it comes in a bunch of different colors (I personally like the beige because it's a classic color and goes with every handbag). When I'm traveling, this thing is loaded UP! In one pocket I'll have my portable charger, in another I'll have medicine, in another I'll have my sleep masks, etc. - the large pocket on the other side is even big enough to fit my Macbook Air. It really helps me keep my handbag or tote organized while I'm traveling - I know where everything is located and I have easy access to it. Even if you don't travel a bunch, it's still great for daily life. For reference, the size medium organizer is the perfect fit for a Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM.
5. PORTABLE CHARGER
I know there are tons of portable chargers on the market right now, but I think think one is the best - hear me out please! Most portable chargers come with two different cords - one for charging the device, and then another for when you want to charge your phone. This is SO ANNOYING to me - I don't want to carry around a bunch of cords in my bag and then try to figure out which one I need when I charge my phone! This portable charger (shown above) has a BUILT-IN lightning cable that you can plug right into your phone when it needs charging. It's also really slim and smaller than my iPhone (for size reference, my iPhone is the 8+), and it comes in a gorgeous rose gold color. I took this exact one with me on my honeymoon and we used it the entire trip, even Chris had to use it once when his phone ran out of battery - and we were using the map on his iPhone to find a restaurant for dinner. It was a serious lifesaver!!
6. ZIP-LOCK BAG OF MEDICINE
I always bring a zip-lock bag with a few different travel medicine bottles, like Advil, Tums, Dramamine, and some band-aids. I bring these in my purse everywhere I go, even in the airport and on any excursions. On the honeymoon, this little bag came in extra handy!! We ended up using everything we brought: Chris needed Dramamine while we were on the boat in Santorini, I had a bad headache one night and needed Advil, and Chris needed band-aids because his shoes gave him blisters. I highly recommend putting together a little bag like this, with whatever medicine you think you could possibly need!
7. ADAPTER PLUG
Now for the fun stuff! (lol) You will definitely need an adapter plug while traveling overseas. Every foreign country has different outlets, so you won't be able to plug any of your American devices in without an adapter. An adapter doesn't change the voltage, it only allows a dual-voltage appliance to be plugged into the wall outlet of another country. Look at your devices: most cell phone, laptop and tablet chargers are dual-voltage and work perfectly with an adapter (if your device says "120-240V," then you can use the product with the adapter). I bought one of these 3-packs and they were perfect for our honeymoon travels and we ended up using the same plugs the entire time in both Greece and Italy. I used this adapter for charging my phone, laptop, and even for using my curling wand (more about that later).
8. VOLTAGE CONVERTER
If you're traveling overseas, odds are that you will likely need a converter in addition to an adapter. A voltage converter actually changes the voltage from one level to another. If your device only operates at a certain voltage, you will need a converter to step down (or convert) the power supply in your destination country for it to work safety. Your device must be plugged into a converter to change the voltage to avoid overheating or frying. I bought this converter before the trip - the ONLY device I used it for was my steamer, which would have been fried if I plugged it into an adapter. More info on which steamer I used below!
9. TRAVEL STEAMER
I LOOOOVE my steamer and I don't go anywhere without it - haha! I think that it does a much better job of getting the wrinkles out of clothing than an iron does. I brought one with me on our honeymoon because I had packed a lot of dresses that get wrinkled easily (especially in a suitcase). Chris also used it on his linen shirts while we were overseas. This one is pretty lightweight and perfect for fitting in your suitcase - I think it's the updated version of the one I own - I can't find mine online but I bought it from Walmart a few months ago!
10. CURLING WAND
A lot of questions I received had to do with which curling wand I used overseas! This T3 wand is the one I use on a daily basis, and it worked perfectly everywhere we went in Greece and Italy. You will need an adapter to be able to plug it in, but you do not need a converter, which is nice. This curling wand is really nice because you can interchange the barrels based on the type of curl you want! I used the 1" barrel without a clamp in Greece and Italy (the image shown above is the 1" barrel with clamp). If you've been following my blog for long, you've probably heard me talk about this curling wand over and over. It truly is the best :)
Good morning everyone!! I'm back today with another travel guide from our honeymoon, this time to SANTORINI, Greece! When you picture Greece in your mind, you probably are imagining Santorini (with or without knowing it). White little houses all stacked on a hill, with a smattering of blue domes and the glittering Aegean Sea in the background - it truly is a breathtaking sight to behold! Like I said in my Mykonos Travel Guide, if Mykonos is where you go to party, then Santorini is where you go to relax. And it truly was one of the most relaxing places I've ever been!
Like usual, I'm rounding up some photos from Santorini (with all of our outfits!), but scroll down to the bottom for the full travel guide.
This was the view from our private pool attached to our room at Astarte Suites in Santorini. And no, we did not bring the pool float with us, haha! They had a bunch at the hotel for guests to use.
The sunset from Alali Restaurant - it was THE most beautiful sunset I've ever seen in my life!
We went on a sunset boat cruise while in Santorini! They took us on a little tour around the islands and stopped by the hot springs so we could swim in the warm water.
One of my favorite parts of our hotel - every morning they would set up an amazing breakfast for you on your patio! Every night we would fill out a sheet of what we wanted for breakfast the next morning and what time we wanted it delivered. The options were ENDLESS! Of course, I went for anything with nutella in it. :)
We went into Oia one afternoon, the picturesque and most famous town in Santorini! This was the "Kastro Oia House" - I have seen so many photos taken here so I knew we had to get one too!
Like Mykonos, there are two ways to get to Santorini: by land or by water. You can either take a ferry to Santorini's port (you can get a ferry from pretty much any neighboring island, as well as Athens), or you can fly into Santorini's airport. We took a two-hour ferry from Mykonos. It was a pretty miserable experience, because you have to stand out in the blazing hot sun waiting for the ferry to arrive, and then everyone makes a mad dash up the ramp with all of their suitcases. Once we were on the ferry, it was fine - the air conditioning was much needed! We booked the ferry ahead of time using this website (just be sure to print your ferry tickets ahead of time or they charge you!). We had arranged transportation with our hotel beforehand, so they picked us up from the port and took us to our hotel.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTORINI
This is the most difficult thing you'll have to decide when you visit Santorini! It all depends on whether you are wanting privacy and the opportunity to truly relax, or if you would rather be in the middle of bustling streets and nightlife. To start with, I would recommend looking at a map of Santorini. At the top of the island is Oia, the most picturesque and famous town in Santorini (it has the beautiful white houses with blue domes!). Oia is absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous, with (supposedly) the best view of the sunset in Santorini - and it's filled with restaurants and shops. The only downside is that it's so, incredibly crowded. In the middle of the island is Fira - it has a lot going on with restaurants and nightclubs, but is not quite as picturesque as Oia. At the bottom of the island, you'll see Akrotiri, which is far away from everything else but is a great place to stay if you're looking to truly relax.
Chris and I chose to stay in Akrotiri because we wanted privacy and to truly relax. We had just come from Mykonos where we were on-the-go constantly, and we welcomed the opportunity to laze around all day at our hotel in Santorini. We stayed at Astarte Suites in the Private Infinity Pool Suite #2. We LOOOOOOOVED our hotel and our room at Astarte! Since our hotel was far away from everything else, we ended up spending a lot of time in our room, which was great. The room itself was incredibly cozy - the bed was so comfortable and the robes they were provided were soft and fluffy (I wanted to steal them hahah). We woke up every morning and had breakfast out on our patio, then came back in the room to lounge around. We watched a bunch of movies, but we had the door to our room open so that we could look out on the incredible view at the same time. Sometimes we drank mimosas in bed. Sometimes we laid out by our pool and read books. Honestly, we were so so lazy haha but it was absolutely GLORIOUS. We really loved the staff at Astarte too - it is a small boutique hotel and everyone that works there is sooo nice! The owner George and his mom are the best - they even gave us a tour of some new rooms with cave pools that they are currently building. Banos and Alex were amazing too and took great care of us!
If you're looking for a little more activity (and don't want to be quite as lazy as us!), then I recommend staying in a hotel or VRBO in Oia. We visited Oia one afternoon/evening and it really is absolutely beautiful. The only thing we didn't like about it was the crowds - we could barely walk through the streets there were so many people! People's elbows and purses would hit you when they walked by, because people were jammed in so tightly. However, there were same places in Oia where the crowds weren't allowed - if you stayed in a nice hotel in Oia then I'm sure you would have a better experience than we did.
WHERE TO EAT IN SANTORINI Since we stayed at our hotel for most of our time in Santorini, we ate a LOT of meals there! We ate breakfast in our room and either ordered room service for lunch or went to the hotel pool for lunch every single day. For that reason, we don't have a ton of meal recommendations for Santorini! We went into Oia for the afternoon/night one day, so we did grab a drink there and ate at a really great restaurant. See below for our recs.
Dinner & Drinks:
Alali: This is the restaurant at our hotel, but even if you aren't staying there, I would still HIGHLY recommend making a reservation for dinner at this restaurant! The view is breathtaking (and so is the sunset), but the food is also delicious. Chris and I ate at Alali two nights during our stay in Santorini. Be sure to order the bread appetizer - it comes with a feta dip and olives - I ate probably 10 lbs worth of the dip while we were there!
Kastro Oia Restaurant: We stopped by this restaurant for drinks when we were in Oia. It's so cute and has the PERFECT view of the little white houses on the hill. We wish we could have stayed for dinner because the menu looked amazing!
Ambrosia Restaurant: We had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant in Oia - especially the view. Make a reservation for 7 p.m. here for a magical view of Oia and the sunset! We loved everything about this restaurant. We thought the food was DELICIOUS (albeit expensive). Chris and I had a shrimp appetizer, and we both had pasta for our main entrees. My pasta dish was flavored with lemon and sooo good. We also split a bottle of rose.
Lolita's Gelato: This gelato place is a staple in Oia! I had the pistachio and lemon flavors mixed together - mmmmmm so good.
WHAT TO DO IN SANTORINI
Visit Ammoudi Bay (and if you're brave, go cliff jumping!). You can hike here from Oia, I believe! There are a bunch of restaurants situated right on the water (we heard Sunset was the best), and you can also swim in the water. I dare you to swim out to the big rocks and jump off (don't worry, lots of people do and it's perfectly safe).
Go to the beach. Although Mykonos is more known for it's amazing beaches, Santorini does have a few beaches and we heard they weren't bad. There's a Black Beach, Red Beach and even a White Beach - just be sure to bring water shoes because we heard they're quite rocky!
Take a boat ride. We went on a semi-private sunset cruise with Vista Yachting with some of our friends we met in Greece and had SO MUCH FUN. The catamaran left at 3p.m. and took us by all of the beaches and some pretty amazing cliffs. The crew members were all incredibly knowledgeable and fun, and told us about the island as we sailed around. They also took us to the hot springs so we could swim around the warm water (I didn't do it because the water contains sulphur and it will permanently dye your bathing suit, so if you plan to swim then wear a suit you don't care about!). For dinner, they made an amazing meal with kebabs, shrimp, and a few vegetable and rice dishes. It was just as good as the restaurants we visited, maybe even better. OH and the entire cruise had unlimited beer and wine!
Visit a winery. There are a few different wineries in Santorini. We went to Santo Winery which was supposed to be the best! The wine in Greece is very distinctive, since the grapes are grown in volcanic soil. Chris and I went with another couple and did a tasting paired with a cheese and meat platter.
Explore Oia (and bring your camera). You will definitely want to take pictures of the sunset and the beautiful white houses adorning the hill.
Take a donkey ride. In both Oia and Fira, you can take a donkey ride! That is originally how people would get up and down the hill in the old days.
Shop! There are a ton of local boutiques, gift shops and art stores in both Oia and Fira that are really fun to peruse.
WHAT TO WEAR IN SANTORINI Santorini in June has really great weather - it fluctuated between 75 and 85 degrees every day. Chris and I pretty much lived in swimsuits because we spent every day laying out at our pool! I think that Santorini was a little "fancier" than Mykonos - I dressed up and wore heels every night for dinner. During the day, I wore these TKEES sandals (in the color "cocobutter") to walk around in. If you visit Oia, definitely pack a blue dress so that you can take a picture with the matching domes!
If you've been to Santorini before and have any recommendations, let us all know in the comments!
french bistro set from Homegoods, but I found a similar one online HERE & HERE
Good morning everyone, I hope you all had an amazing Fourth of July!! Now that we are settling into our house and married life (which, by the way, I have some really funny stories of living with a MAN!), we are really enjoying having our friends over. Last night we had friends over for the Fourth and we had dinner, played yard games and set off some small fireworks - it was a blast!! We've also been hanging out on our back patio a lot... even if it's just to have a glass of wine before heading out on date night. This bistro table and chairs are really similar to the ones I own (I found mine at Homegoods!). I love the French Bistro look :)
I wore this outfit on "date night" last week... this polka dot dress is less than $50 and, honestly, I feel very grown-up in it hah! The low V in the front has some sex appeal, but it's still classy because of the midi length. And the price is really great, too! I paired it with neutral accessories so that the outfit wouldn't get too "busy."
On another note, my birthday is on Sunday and I always like to do a fun post on my blog! I'm thinking of doing a Birthday Q&A post (like this one), so if you have any questions for me leave them in the comments! I'll answer anything and everything!
I thought this palm print maxi dress was fitting for this Friday's post, since my family is heading to the beach this weekend! We are going to a new beach we haven't been to before, and the best part is that the dogs get to come along with us (I have a teacup golden doodle, Winnie, and my mom has a bichon, Lilly). Just wait 'til you guys see what article of clothing I ordered for the dogs - haha! I can't wait to lay out on the beach Saturday and work on a puzzle book (my favorite thing to do at the beach).
Anyway, my birthday is Sunday and I'm going to be doing a Q&A post to answer any questions you guys have! You have already left some amazing questions on yesterday's blog post about the wedding and when Chris and I plan to start a family! Leave your question in the comment section below and I'll answer them all in Monday's post :)
Thank you so much everyone for all of the birthday wishes yesterday!! I had an amazing weekend and I'm geared up for an exciting week (I have some really fun posts coming and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts on Thursday!). Sorry this post is going up later in the day than I had originally planned - it took a long time to answer all of the questions! If you commented on my last blog post then I tried to answer every single question. I hope you can see that all of my answers are from the heart. I am truly so thankful for all of your support!
To start with, I broke the questions out into four categories: Personal, Wedding/Marriage, Fashion/Beauty and Blogging. Let's get started!
PERSONAL
Q: Do you have any favorite devotionals or faith-related books?
My favorite favorite favorite faith-related book is "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. I recommend that EVERYONE read this book. I think it's classified as Christian Historical Fiction - it's a re-done, biblical version of the story of Hosea but it's set in the 1800's during the Gold Rush in California. This book is not for the faint of heart - a young girl is accidentally sold into prostitution and the story revolves around suffering, heartbreak, faith, forgiveness and above all, love. I read a lot, but there are very few books that I have come across in my life that actually made a REAL difference. This one gave me hope during a rough time in my life, and brought me closer to understanding how deep God's love for us really is. Be sure you have tissues nearby!
Q: What is your go-to protein bar/snack bar?
My favorite snack bar is Larabar - not only do they taste amazing, but they're made from real food! Most of the bars have less than five ingredients (and they're REAL ingredients, like cashews and dates) and they're also gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free. My favorite flavors are Lemon Bar and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.
Q: On your monogram, what is the M for?
The M is for my middle name, McColl. It's a family name and I've always loved it! When I was younger, I wanted to go by "Mac" but everyone told me it was a terrible idea hahah.
Q: What is your name on Goodreads? I would love to follow you and your reading!
I'm pretty sure my username is "cmcoving" - you can follow me here!
Q: I currently live in Florida and would love to move to South Carolina. What cities/areas would you recommend us looking into?
I actually live in North Carolina now, but I have lived in South Carolina too - I love both of the Carolinas and think they're a great place to live! The beach and mountains are only a few hours away in either direction. If you're set on South Carolina, I would look into Greenville and Charleston - those are my two favorites and I can't say enough good things about them! (I lived in Greenville for a year after college.)
Q: Would love to know more about how you and your Momma stay so close!
My mom has always been my best friend, although our relationship has evolved and matured over the years - when I was growing up she acted like more of a mom, and now that I'm older she acts like more of a friend (but she still gives me advice and tells me what to do every now and then haha). We also work together (she's my photographer!) which is amazing because we get to spend a lot of time together and travel together. I don't know how to explain it... we're closer than best friends because we're family, and we're always there for each other and are loyal to one another. She's also one of the wisest people I know.
Q: What is your favorite type of wine?
My two favorites are rose and chianti! I really love having a glass of wine at night with dinner or while I take a bath... it helps me unwind and relax.
Q: Can you explain your current fitness/diet routine and especially what you did to be in the best shape possible for your wedding?
YES, but I'm actually putting together a whole blog post on this - it will be live later in the week!
WEDDING/MARRIAGE
Q: How did you meet Chris?
Chris and I met in Greenville in 2012 - my first "big girl job" was in public relations in Greenville, and I moved there after college. I met Chris 18 days after moving, although I wasn't interested in him at first (haha). Chris pursued me and convinced me to go on a lunch date with him, which he called "harmless" and the "friend zone." After that first date, I was a goner! I fell for him quickly.
Q: What does Chris do for a living?
Chris works for Hanes Brands in Winston Salem. I don't know his specific title haha but I know that he manages all of the finances for the "Champion" brand. He's a numbers person and is very good at what he does - he's also obsessed with Champion and owns Champion hats, T-shirts, jackets, pants, shorts and even shoes!
Q: Did you and Chris do any premarital counseling? If so, what did you think?
Yes! We had several premarital counseling sessions with our pastor in Winston Salem, and we completed these workbooks (there's a girls' version and a boys' version) on our pastor's recommendation. The workbooks helped cultivate deep, and sometimes tough, conversations about topics that don't normally come up in everyday conversation, such as how we were raised and our views on parenting and finances. We both agreed that the workbooks helped us set better, more realistic expectations for marriage, and I actually learned a lot about Chris and his childhood that helped me understand him more as an adult. One really valuable exercise was talking through the roles that each of our parents had played growing up (for example, which parent did the cooking, cleaning or disciplining) and we talked through how we saw our roles playing out in our own marriage.
Q: What are your top 3 favorite memories from your wedding day?
Ugh this is tough - there are so many!!! I think my obvious favorite would be seeing Chris for the first time on our wedding day - the way our venue was set up is a little different than most venues, and the direction I walked from I actually got to see Chris's face first, before anyone else. I've never seen such a big smile on his face - and he was crying!! - thinking about it even now makes me emotional.
Q: What was the most difficult part about planning your wedding and how did you and your husband work through it?
I think the most difficult thing was just each of us having full-time jobs and having to make wedding planning a priority. Almost every weeknight and weekend was spent either talking about or planning for the wedding, or doing things for the wedding (we had to take a lot of trips to Charleston, too). There were many moments where I was stressed beyond belief. My doctor even prescribed me anxiety medication because I physically couldn't handle the stress! I would wake up in the morning and not be able to get out of bed because of crushing anxiety - between my job, wedding planning and maintaining the household, it felt physically impossible to get everything done. But to all my engaged ladies out there - HANG IN THERE because it IS worth it!
Q: Do you have any major pet peeves about living with a boy? And if so, how are you overcoming them?
Honestly living with a boy is great!! I lived by myself for six years prior to getting married, and I also worked from home most of that time, so I often felt pretty lonely. Being married is amazing because you get to live with your best friend and we have so much fun together, we kind of act like little kids hahah! When Chris gets home from work, we're both like, "What should we do tonight!?? What movie should we watch?!" We both discussed our "roles" prior to getting married... for instance, I hate changing the cat's litter boxes, so Chris does that every week... and I usually take care of things around the house that need maintenance, like replacing lightbulbs and calling the plumber when our disposal stops working. We share chores like doing the dishes and laundry. I'm pretty lucky because Chris is a very clean person and cleans up after himself, I'm actually the messy one in our relationship!
Q: How soon do you want to start a family?
We both want to enjoy being married and being able to travel for a while before we start trying to have kids. We know that once we have kids, we can never get this time back!! Right now, we think we may start trying for a baby in the fall of 2019 - but that could change. One thing is for sure, we both want a house full of kids! :)
Q: Do you and your husband plan on taking a vacation every year? If you do, what are future destinations you'd like to visit?
Yes, definitely! Chris and I both love to travel and will probably take a week off from work to go somewhere new ever year. Chris really wants to go to Portugal (home of his favorite soccer team) and I'd like to explore more of Italy. We also love going to the beach on the weekends since it's only a four hour drive from our house - we like to go as often as we can in the summertime.
Q: I know you got engaged a little over a year ago, do you think it's best to wait a whole year to plan the wedding, or do you think it can be done in a shorter time frame?
You definitely could plan a wedding in less than year, but it depends on how big your wedding is, where it is and what type of person you are. We booked our wedding venue a year out, and even then, almost all of the dates we wanted were already taken. It also took a long time for my wedding dress to come in (maybe eight months). I found wedding planning to be one of the most stressful periods of my life, but I'm also a control freak! If you're laid-back and don't care as much about the details, then you could definitely plan it during a shorter time frame.
FASHION/BEAUTY
Q: How do you get so much volume at your roots?
Two ways! First, I blow-dry my hair upside down. Whenever I flip my head over, my roots have so much volume because they were blow-dried that way! Secondly, I also pouf up my hair and clip it in place with this big hair clip while I'm doing stuff around the house. It trains my hair to have more volume!
Q: Who is your top celebrity style icon?
Without a doubt, the answer is Victoria's Secret Model Romee Strijd! I have a HUGE girl crush on her, I love following her on Instagram and am obsessed with her YouTube channel. She is so cute and sweet and down-to-earth, not to mention absolutely gorgeous. I think if I ever met her in real life, I would't be able to form words, I'd be so star-struck!!!
Q: Do you have a favorite season or time of year that you love dressing up for?
Summer is my favorite time of year because I love being outside and going to the pool and beach, but I LOVE dressing for fall. It's hard to describe that feeling when the weather gets crisp and the leaves start to turn colors, I just want to curl up in a blanket scarf and cozy sweater with a book and a cup of coffee. I think fall outfits are the cutest and the possibilities are endless - tall boots, booties, jeans, cute skirts, sweater dresses, floppy hats - I love it all!!
Q: What is your natural hair texture?
My hair is naturally wavy and frizzy. I used to scrunch it in college and it would turn into ringlets, but if I let it dry naturally it's more wavy.
Q: How long does it take for you to go from wet naturally curly hair to dry wavy shiny hair?
It used to take me about an hour, but I've gotten it down to about 35 minutes now! I blow dry my hair first and then curl it with this curling wand using the 1" barrel.
Q: Do you have a tutorial on how you do your top bun like in Thursday's post? My hair is long like yours and it always falls down.
Yes I do! I did a bun tutorial a few months ago, you can read about it here.
Q: Would you be willing to talk about botox or enhancements you've had done to your face?
Sure! It might be obvious to some of you, but I had rhinoplasty about a year ago. I didn't post or talk about it then because I didn't want anyone to think I was promoting plastic surgery - it was a deeply personal decision, and one that I made for myself and for my confidence (after years and years of thinking about it and researching it). I also got botox before my wedding, to prevent forehead lines in pictures. I haven't decided if I want to continue with botox or not, but I do really like the effects and not being able to make those frown lines!
Q: Could you share your skincare routine for morning and night and what products do you use?
At night, I start out by washing my face with a cleansing oil - it may sound counterintuitive to wash your face with oil, but it does a great job of removing makeup and impurities, and I LOVE how it makes my face look and feel! My two favorites are this one and this one. Then I use this drugstore makeup remover with a cotton pad to take off any remaining makeup. The next step is my retinal - I SWEAR by this retinal and I think my skin has cleared up a lot because of it! I've gotten my mom addicted to it too. Next I apply a Vitamin C serum to help lighten dark spots and brighten my skin - this one is my favorite, it smells sooo good and I love putting it on at night! The last step in my night routine is moisturizer - I alternate between two different ones, this one and this one, depending on how I'm feeling. I love them both but the second one can be a bit oily - although it does an amazing job of moisturizing! The only thing I do in the morning is put on sunscreen. Sunscreen is so important!! You have no idea how much sun your face receives, even if you aren't outside that much - your face gets sun just by driving your car! This is the sunscreen that I've been using lately because it blocks the rays of the sun (you want to use a physical sunblock on your face rather than a chemical sunscreen).
BLOGGING
Q: What is the story behind your blogger beginning?
I started my blog when I was still in college, with no intention of turning it into a career or ever making a dime off of it. I really wanted to work for a magazine after college, and I wanted a creative outlet that could showcase my writing ability, as perhaps an extra addition to my resume. I wasn't prepared to fall head over heels in love with blogging. It ignited a passion within me for so many different things! I found out that I loved photography in addition to writing, and it was fun to share recipes and fashion, as well as talk about sorority life. I eventually graduated from college and got a job in public relations, but kept up my blog on the side. My blog kept growing until I couldn't physically handle my desk job and my blog at the same time - so I took a leap of faith, trusted God and moved back to Charlotte to blog full-time. That was nearly six years ago :)
Q: What would you be doing if you weren't a blogger?
I would want to be a novelist! I loooove to read, as you guys probably know, and I think it would be really fun to be on the other side of it and be the storyteller.
Q: If you could create one thing through your blog, what would it be? (For example, a book, clothing or makeup line)
It would definitely be a book! I don't really have a desire to have my own clothing or makeup line... I mean, it would be cool, but I wouldn't want to deal with all of the inventory and shipping things out! Plus, it's just never been a dream of mine. But I would really love to write a book. I've even considered it before. I don't know if it would be a "Blogging How To" Guide, or a book about my journey as a woman and a blogger... or just a book for women about living a well balanced life - I would have everything in there, my favorite workouts, my favorite healthy recipes, some fashion tips, even tips on keeping your house clean and building confidence!
Q: What do you dislike most about blogging?
Like any small-business owner knows, it can be very tempting to work ALL THE TIME, but especially in the blogging industry. Social media never sleeps, and as with any small business, there is literally something I could be doing at all hours of the day. For many years, I threw everything I had into my blog: putting in 80-hour work weeks to ensure that I had a new blog post up every single day, as well as three different Instagram pictures. It was exhausting. I'm at a point in my life now where I'm feeling a little burned out - in addition to being just plain tired, I now have a house, husband and pets to take care of! Even if I wanted to, I couldn't devote the same amount of time to blogging now as I was able to in the past. I've had to learn to be a lot kinder to myself - which can be tough because I'm a perfectionist. If I don't get an Instagram post up every single night, I have to remind myself that it's okay. It's really tempting to become all-consumed by blogging, but it's not healthy (I know because I've been there). I've really taken a step back this year and realized that there are more important things in life... like relationships!
Q: I would love to know how you keep your editorial calendar for your blog and social posts to keep everything in order? Do you prefer digital planners or paper?
I keep all of my blog posts scheduled out on a digital calendar (I use Basecamp - it is really nifty because I can keep all of my contracts and my calendar in the same place), but for everyday purposes, I prefer paper. Every morning I make a new To-Do List with things that need to get done that day. It's so satisfying to be able to cross things off your list as you've accomplished them!
Q: Do you keep all your outfits featured on your blog and Instagram? If not, do you sell them? Do you donate them instead?
No, I don't keep all the outfits! If I really love an outfit or think that I'll wear it in my personal life, then I keep it in my personal closet (I have a "business" closet and a "personal" closet). Most of the time I end up giving clothes to my mom or assistant, taking them to a consignment store, or donating them to Goodwill. I don't sell them on Poshmark or my blog because it's too time-consuming!
Q: Can you write off clothes purchases for your blog on your taxes as business expenses?
Yes and no. My accountant is awesome and has done tons of research to figure out what can be considered a business expense and what can't. Fashion blogging is a relatively new industry and the taxes can get pretty complicated. If I buy an item of clothing specifically for a blog post or Instagram picture, I can write it off, but only if I end up discarding the item in some way (whether it's through donating or selling the item). If I purchase the item for a blog post but then continue to wear it in my personal life and/or plan on keeping it forever, then I can't write it off.
Q: I LOVE how you edit your Instagram photos and would love to hear what editing apps you use for cell phone photos.
I edit all of my Instagram photos with Lightroom! It's a little bit annoying because I have to airdrop or email all of the photos from my iPhone to my computer, then I apply a Lightroom preset to the photo, save it, then transfer it back to my iPhone. From there I sometimes use Snapseed to adjust the lighting.
Q: I would love to know how you plan and organize your Instagram posts. Do you have them all scheduled in advance, how do they relate back to your blog, and do you plan out all of your captions as well?
I would say that at any given time, I have my Instagram posts planned out two or three days in advance. I know bloggers who take Instagrams, edit them and then post in the moment, but my anxiety would not allow me to do this!!! I like feeling prepared and knowing that I have a backlog of photos, and I know exactly what my feed will look like when they're all posted. I use an app called Snug to plan out the order of my Instagram posts - I keep in mind what day and what time of day would work best with the photo, and then go from there. I don't plan out my captions, though... I write all of those right before I post!
Q: Do you ever get stuck from a creative side when writing blog posts? If so, then how do you get past it?
For sure, there are times that I get frustrated with myself because I can't seem to think of anything new or creative. During times like that, I usually stop and have a brainstorming session with my mom or even Chris - it helps to bounce ideas off of someone else. If that doesn't work, then I take a little break and do something fun, like read a book or watch a movie, or even get out of the house and take Winnie on a walk. A little break is usually enough to hit the "reset" button on my brain.
Q: How did you come up with Southern Curls and Pearls as your blog name?
I started my blog in college and had absolutely NO idea that it would be my career some day. Looking back on it, I might have picked a different name if I had known! I decided to go with Southern Curls and Pearls because I was southern, I had curly hair, and I loved to wear pearls - the name just sort of came to me and I went with it!
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
The thing that is cool about blogging is that every day is different! Some days are shoot days and we'll photograph a bunch of outfits; other days I'm unpacking boxes, steaming clothes and preparing for photoshoots. Some days I stay in workout clothes all day and answer emails or hop on conference calls. I'm still planning on doing a "day in the life" post sometime soon, I've been meaning to do it forever!
Q: What are your tips for us ladies who work from home, on staying social and not getting lonely?
Working from home can definitely get lonely, and I'm someone that HATES to be alone. That's always been my personality... some people need "me" time, but I really thrive off of having people around me. I think my first tip would be to get a pet, because they offer so much love and comfort. We have two cats and a dog, and they are like family to me... I talk to them all day long (which would be quite embarrassing if you guys heard me). I also force myself to get out of the house once per day, whether it's to run an errand, go to a workout class, or go browse around Target. If I don't get out once a day, I will go crazy! I also call my mom or my friends and talk on the phone or FaceTime, that helps tremendously.
Q: Will you and your mom be shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? Your reviews (and hers) are my favorite!
YES we will definitely be shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! All of my picks will be on the blog THIS THURSDAY on the morning that the early access sale opens so that you guys can shop right away. You can check out this post for a sneak peek at what to expect! There's some GOOOOOD stuff this year!!!
The Nordstrom Anniversary Early Access Sale starts THURSDAY (!!!) and I'm sooo pumped you guys! There are tons of great products this year that you're going to flip over. I got a sneak peek at some of the items that will be available this year, so I wanted to share a few with you today!
Side note: you will not be able to shop any of these items until Thursday - I'll be updating all of the links as SOON as they go live! For exact pictures of the items, please see the collage I put together above! If you have any questions about how the Nordstrom Anniversary Early Access Sale works, be sure to check out this blog post with helpful information.
This year the Leith Circle Cardigan will also be restocked, but this time it's RIBBED!!! Which I think makes it even better :) This cardigan will be marked down to $45.90 during the sale and also comes in a gorgeous light blue color (shown above) and grey color.
Good morning and happy Wednesday, you guys! I'm so excited to reveal our WEDDING PHOTOS today on the blog! Our photographer Bethany Small was absolutely over the top AMAZING. She was a calm and peaceful presence on our wedding day and is genuinely the sweetest person in the world. Not to mention that she captured some of the most meaningful, precious moments that Chris and I have ever experienced. I'm in AWE of her talent!!!! This is just a sliver of the photos that Bethany took, so I'm going to split them up into several blog posts. This blog post features our ceremony and some pictures of me and Chris.
I hope you enjoy them and get a little peek into our special day - and check back tomorrow BRIGHT AND EARLY for my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks (and a big surprise ;)
P.S. All of the wedding details/sources are listed at the bottom of this post!
To recap this post, it was absolutely, truly and honestly, the best day of my life. Up until the morning of my wedding, I worried and worried and worried some more - about the flowers, how my hair would turn out, if I had picked the right tablecloths for the reception, etc. - and in the end, it all turned out exactly how I had imagined it. What's funny is that, I barely even noticed the tablecloths and the flowers and all the little details that I had lost sleep over during the last year... when you're holding hands with your new husband and surrounded by every single person you love... it doesn't even matter. I have never felt so happy, joyous, supported, and filled with love on that day. Chris and I want to thank all of our friends and family for being there on that day, and all of YOU guys for supporting us as well. All of your emails, tweets, and DMs have not gone unnoticed - I love you guys and am so thankful for your outpouring of love!
Don't forget to check back tomorrow morning because I have another HUGE surprise!!! :)
The sale we wait all year for is finally here... the Nordstrom Anniversary Early Access Sale! During this sale, brand new fall merchandise from amazing designers (like Tory Burch and Rebecca Minkoff) is marked down to really low prices - it's the perfect opportunity to buy any big-ticket items you've been coveting, or your entire fall and winter wardrobe. I had the chance to shop the sale yesterday, and I actually bought more than I usually do - there is SO MUCH GOOD STUFF.
To start with, you'll see that I picked a ton of basic pieces that you can mix and match to create dozens of outfits. I went for closet staples like solid tees, my favorite brand of jeans, cozy cardigans and chunky sweaters. Aside from olive and burgundy hues, there's also a lot of beautiful lavender colors that I am loving so much. Keep reading because I'm sharing all of the details on the fit and quality of everything I bought, right here in today's blog post. Let's get started!
Sizing: This camisole is true-to-size (I got an XS) and extremely versatile: you can wear it under cardigans and sweaters, and paired with pants, skirts and denim. The straps are adjustable. These cardigans will sell out fast!
Sizing: I sized down to an XXS in these pants (the attached belt allows you to tighten them, as well). They're perfect for an office setting (just add a cardigan) or dressed up for a night on the town. If these are out of your comfort zone, give them a try because they might surprise you!
Sizing: True-to-size, I'm wearing the XS. This plaid shirt comes in a bunch of different color combinations and is incredibly soft and high-quality. It would also be cute with leggings!
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing a size 7. These booties are the perfect cognac color for fall, and have an adorable buckle detail on the side. They're also extremely comfortable and would be great for college campuses or football games.
Sizing: True-to-size. My Nordstrom was out of XS, so I had to buy a medium in this striped tee. (I did buy it in other colors in my usual size, though.) These tees are made of a nice material with a slightly distressed hem. I love striped tees in particular for layering in the fall and winter.
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. This circle cardigan is an updated version of the cardigan from the past couple of years, with the addition of ribbing. It comes in a couple of really pretty colors, including a beautiful light blue!
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. I get a new pair of these Zella leggings every single year at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: I wear them both to my pure barre classes, and with regular clothes (as seen above).
Sizing: I sized down one whole shoe size in these, so instead of my normal size 7, I went with a 6. I will definitely wear socks with them! They do have a platform heel, so they add a couple of inches to your height (hooray for us short girls!).
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing the XS. I like the high neck on this tee, giving you the perfect excuse to wear a cute necklace. The olive color is very flattering!
Sizing: This scarf is one-size-fits-all, and also doubles as a wrap. It's made 100% of cashmere and is incredibly soft to the touch, plus the caramel color is extremely versatile.
Sizing: True-to-size. I bought these tees in multiple colors, but the white is a wardrobe staple. These tees are made of a nice material with a slightly distressed hem.
Sizing: This scarf is one-size-fits-all and is in the shape of a large square. It can be worn as shown in the above picture, or as a blanket scarf. I love the light pink and baby blue hues.
Sizing: True-to-size! I went with my normal size in these jeans and they fit perfectly. AG is my favorite brand of jeans for their supreme quality and guaranteed fit. I love that their jeans don't stretch, even with a lot of wear. I love, love, love the ripped knee!
Sizing: True-to-size, I went with my normal size 7 for this shoe. The "grey suede" color is a beautiful light silver - it's even prettier in person than it comes across in photos. The wedge on these booties makes them comfortable for walking long distances.
Sizing: True-to-size, I'm wearing the XS. This is a huge steal for a leather jacket! I love the soft pink/beige color of it, because it will pair nicely with any color palette. It's also a really thick, high quality material.
Sizing: True-to-size! I went with my normal size in these jeans and they fit perfectly. AG is my favorite brand of jeans for their supreme quality and guaranteed fit. I love that their jeans don't stretch, even with a lot of wear. I love, love, love the ripped knee!
Sizing: True-to-size. My store was already out of XS in the shirt, so I opted for the size small. I wish I had gotten the XS, though, since it comes down a little low in the chest area. I would stick with your normal size for this one. It's perfect for layering (as shown below).
Sizing: True-to-size! I went with my normal size in these jeans and they fit perfectly. AG is my favorite brand of jeans for their supreme quality and guaranteed fit. I like the darker wash of these jeans, the clean hemline and the fact that there are no rips.
Sizing: These flats run true-to-size, I'm wearing my normal size 7. You really can't beat a good pair of leopard flats for the fall, and these are absolute perfection.
Sizing: These are true-to-size! I wear a size 7 and that's what I went with in these Sam Edelman boots. I absolutely LOOOOVE the color, it's a light cognac suede! I love how they elongate and slim your legs.
Sizing: This camisole is true-to-size (I got an XS) and extremely versatile: you can wear it under cardigans and sweaters, and paired with pants, skirts and denim. The straps are adjustable. These cardigans will sell out fast!
Sizing: Runs large, size down. I opted for the XXS in this cardigan since it is extremely oversized (and long). It is very well made, though, and I love the lavender color!
Sizing: I find that Free People jeans always run small, and these are no exception! I sized up one size in these, to a 26, and they were perfect. I love the trendy rips in the knees, and you can't beat the price!
Sizing: I sized down a half size in these mules for the perfect fit. They have a light pink hue which is gorgeous in person... and I couldn't believe the price when I saw it for the first time! Less than $50!!
Sizing: True-to-size, I'm wearing the XS. I love a good white sweater for the fall and winter, and this one will be a staple in my closet. It has slight balloon sleeves and looks great with both skirts and jeans.
Sizing: Runs large, size down one. I sized down to a 24 in these jeans - they are very stretchy (almost like leggings!) which makes them very comfortable. They're a beautiful plum wine color.
Sizing: True-to-size. This cardigan is meant to be oversized, I'm wearing the XS/S. This cardigan is actually an updated version of the popular one from last fall - you can see me wearing it in a blog post here.
Sizing: True-to-size. I went with a size US 2 in this miniskirt (the equivalent of an XS). It's made of a nice, high-quality corduroy and can be worn multiple different ways. I'm showing it with both a black tank (above) and a white sweater (below).
Sizing: True-to-size, I'm wearing the XS. I love a good white sweater for the fall and winter, and this one will be a staple in my closet. It has slight balloon sleeves and looks great with both skirts and jeans.
Item: B.P. Ribbed V-Neck Tee Sizing: True-to-size, wearing the XS. This is a great layering piece to have in your closet, it can be worn under cardigans and jackets. Price: Originally $35, marked down to $22.90
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing the XS. I fell in love with the color of this jacket, it's also made of a very thick suede and the jacket itself is heavy - a clue that it's really high quality!
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing size 25. I love the raw hems on these jeans, especially paired with the Vince Camuto Movinta Bootie. These jeans are so comfortable, they almost feel like pajama pants!
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. This jacket feels like your wrapped up in a million teddy bears - it's the best feeling ever! It's SOOOOO soft! I was hot within a couple seconds of trying this on, so I'm confident it will work really well in cold weather.
Quality: This might be my favorite bag that Tory Burch has EVER put in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It's just too darn cute! The crossbody straps can be taken off if you prefer to hold it by the top handles. It's made of nice, high-quality leather and there are a few organizational pockets inside.
Sizing: This scarf is one-size-fits-all. It fits very oversized, making it extremely cozy for fall and winter! Since it's made of cashmere, it's soft to the touch.
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. This cardigan is sooo soft and cozy in person, it reminds me of curling up at a coffee shop on a rainy day. It has oversized buttons and a large waffle knit. It also looks great with the addition of a scarf (below).
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. This dress is form-fitting (but not too tight) and comes down to my knees (I'm 5'3 for reference). It's very high quality and the perfect black dress for fall! You can either dress it up or down, I'm showing it above as a casual look, and below as a dressed up look.
Sizing: This sweater is true-to-size, however I sized up to a large so that I could wear it as an oversized, off-the-shoulder sweater. If you want it to be more fitted, go with your normal size.
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. I get a new pair of these Zella leggings every single year at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: I wear them both to my pure barre classes, and with regular clothes (as seen above).
Quality: This tote is perfect for running errands around town. I was surprised to find that the mauve color went with almost every single outfit! It's very roomy inside and the handles are very sturdy (perfect if you carry a lot of heavy things in your handbag like I do!). I checked, and my computer fits nicely inside this tote. Price: Originally $64.95, marked down to $42.90
Sizing: True-to-size, wearing XS. I get a new pair of these Zella leggings every single year at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: I wear them both to my pure barre classes, and with regular clothes (as seen above).
I bought this luggage and I'm SO excited to use it!! I love the light pink color, and the exterior is really tough so hopefully it will last for a long time!
Now for a really fun surprise! To celebrate the start of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I'm giving away $1,500 in Nordstrom gift cards. Two winners will each receive $500, and the other two winners will each receive $250. The giveaway winners will be announced on my blog the morning of July 20th, the same day that the sale goes live to the public (so you can shop your heart out that morning!). This giveaway is really a way to say thank you to you guys!!!
Enter my $1,500 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Giveaway HERE
Good morning and happy Friday, you guys!!! This has been a HIGHLY requested post and I'm really excited - albeit a little nervous - to share it with you today! I think women's bodies are always under scrutiny (too thin! too fat!) and that's not why I'm putting this post out there - every woman's body is different and you have to do what is right and healthy for you. Let's have this be a judgement-free zone, please!
I have been eating clean and working out regularly for the past couple of years, but I really wanted to look and feel better than ever for my wedding. I've always been naturally thin (thank you mom and dad), but I've never had much muscle. Even when I ran track and did competitive cheerleading in high school, I NEVER had much muscle tone. So one of my goals for my wedding was to actually put on weight - muscle weight! In particular, I wanted to focus building muscle in my arms (since that's what shows in a wedding dress) and getting more defined abs.
In January of this year, I started Kayla Intsine's Bikini Body Guide workouts, otherwise known as BBG. You've probably heard a little about BBG before (or at least have seen Kayla's Instagram account). The BBG program consists of three 28-minute high-intensity resistance workouts per week, and three LISS (low intensity, steady state) cardio sessions per week. You can either download the PDF version from Kayla's website, or download the Sweat app. I already owned the app and did the workouts sporadically, but starting in January I fully committed to going through the program from the beginning. My weeks looked a little bit like this:
Monday: BBG arms/abs workout
Tuesday: 30-minute walk with Winnie
Wednesday: BBG full body workout
Thursday: 30-minute walk with Winnie
Friday: BBG legs workout
Saturday: 30-minute walk with Winnie
Sunday: REST
For the first three months, I did solely BBG. The workouts are short (only 28-minutes!) but they are REALLY tough. There would be times, such as in the middle of the legs workout, where I didn't know if I could keep going or not! I remember saying a prayer during one of the sessions, asking God to give me the strength to finish the workout hahah! Despite their difficulty, a positive was that I noticed a change in my body right away, even after just two weeks of the program. And the longer I stuck with BBG, the easier the workouts became (as my body got stronger). Then in April, I started incorporating some Pure Barre classes into my routine, swapping out a low-intensity workout for a Pure Barre class. This helped me take the workouts to the next level! Plus I absolutely love my Pure Barre classes, and I looked forward to the classes every week. I continued doing both BBG and Pure Barre for the final three months before my wedding.
Here's what my workouts looked like during a typical month (this was April of this year):
So here's the low-down and my thoughts on this program: This winter was really rough for me. I struggled a lot with self-doubt, burnout, the stress of wedding planning and just the dreariness and gloominess associated with winter weather. I even had to go on anxiety medicine for the first time in my life. To be honest, BBG gave me a "purpose" this winter. Even when I was struggling with blogging or wedding planning, whenever I accomplished a workout I felt SO good. It felt like my life was sometimes spiraling out of control, but the BBG workouts were the one thing that I did have control over, and they became such a positive part of my day. There were a lot of times that I made sacrifices to do the workouts: I got less sleep or I skipped doing a blog post because I made working out a priority - but all of a sudden, something crazy started happening. I started feeling so much better. I had more energy, I was able to focus, I was even more productive. And it wasn't just about the changes happening to my body, because to be honest, I barely noticed the physical changes. Sure, I felt myself getting stronger and able to do more pushups, but mentally, I felt better than I ever had in my life. Accomplishing these tough workouts gave me a sense of confidence that I had really never felt before. On my wedding day, I was happy with my body, but even more than that, I was happy with who I was on the inside and what I was able to accomplish. And that, my friends,is what made it worth it in the end!
Now for pictures!
Let's start with the "before!" Here's me in college: (don't even get me started on why I'm wearing cowboy boots on the beach, my best friend and I thought this "photoshoot" was a great idea hahahah). I was what you might call "skinny fat." I looked okay in clothes, but I was the farthest thing from healthy - I barely worked out and ate lots of junk food and late night meals. In addition, I didn't feel good from all the junk I was feeding my body, and I virtually had zero confidence. I might be smiling in the photo, but inside, I wasn't a very happy person!
This was six months before my wedding, on January 1st, the day that I started the BBG program.
25 days into the program:
Two months into the program. This picture was taken at the end of February:
Five months into the program, finally starting to develop a butt (I've never had a butt in my life!!!):
Six months into the program, taken June 8th (right before our honeymoon!). I actually wasn't "flexing" for this photo, I was trying on a bathing suit that had just come in the mail!
Like I said, by the end of the program, it wasn't even about the physical changes that were happening to me.... I was more proud of what was changing inside! Let me know your thoughts on BBG if you've done it before... or if you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comment section!
P.S. If you haven't entered my $1,500 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Giveaway, you can do so HERE!
Happy Saturday, friends! I'm so excited to announce today's guest poster, my mom - otherwise known as CarCar! It's become an annual tradition for my mom to share her favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale - I always get so many requests for this post, I think you guys may even like her style better than mine!!! Alright CarCar is going to take it from here...
Hi everyone, I'm Carla, Caitlin's mom and I'm back again this year with my picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you are a new follower of Caitlin's then you might not know that I am the one who is usually on the other side of the camera. We switched things up today so you guys could see what I found for fall from the Big Sale! I'm so excited to share my finds with you guys today!! I think this year's sale is better than last year's... so many cute things! I will talk about the fit and sizing for each item. For reference I am 5'4" and wear a size XS/small in tops, a 0/2 in dresses and a 26 in jeans.
Review: I am wearing an XS in this cardigan and it is still roomy enough to wear a sweater underneath. This cardigan could be dressed up or down, depending on where you're headed. I love the "collegiate" feel to it!
Review: I love the color of this wallet, I feel like I'll be using this for years to come! The leather is really high quality (and smells nice, haha).
Price: Originally $198, marked down to $131.90
Item:Paige Hoxton High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (Calani) Review: I'm wearing my normal size 26 in these! Just the right amount of stretch and the fit it so flattering! The dark wash is really slimming. These jeans go with everything. Price: Originally $189, marked down to $109.90
Review: Wearing an XS in this top! This top has a lot of stretch in it, which makes it very comfortable. It's pretty lightweight, so I'll be wearing it now and in the fall. I particularly love the bell sleeves!
Price: Originally $49, marked down to $29.90
Item: Paige Verdugo Ankle Skinny Jeans (Faded Vine) Review: These jeans are true-to-size, I'm wearing a size 26! I LOVE the color of these olive-hued jeans, they're a great way to switch up your look from normal jeans. Paige jeans also last forever... I'm still wearing my pair from last year! Price: Originally$199, marked down to $132.90
Review: True to size. These booties go with EVERYTHING! They're super comfortable because of the open toe, and they're a great shoe to start wearing now and transition into the fall.
Review: Wearing an XS. This is my favorite outfit from the sale!! I'm a sucker for blue and white stripes, and this top is no exception. The sleeves are really different and add an extra "oomph!" This top looks equally as cute with regular jeans.
Review: Size down half a size in these! I can't say enough good things about these mules. The cut of the mules really elongates your legs (yes please!) and they're sooo comfortable. And I love the blush color, they will go with so much in my wardrobe.
Review: Size down in this blouse, I'm wearing an XXS. I like this blouse because it feels very youthful (I feel like I'm going back to school, haha!) but still appropriate for a woman in her 50s. The delicate embroidery makes it very feminine - if you're a plaid girl, you need this one!
Review: True to size. If I had to imagine the perfect fall booties - it would be these! I looked for this color last year and couldn't find it, so I was really excited to see this pair in the Nordstrom Sale this year. I'll be wearing them all of fall and winter.
Review: True-to-size! Wearing an XS. This is my favorite cardigan from the sale!!!! I love the heathered look because it gives the cardigan some dimension. It's really comfortable, and it even has a HOOD! That makes it extra cozy. It's also a little bit sporty.
Price: Originally $69, marked down to $45.90
Item:Paige Hoxton High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (Calani) Review: I'm wearing my normal size 26 in these! Just the right amount of stretch and the fit it so flattering! The dark wash is really slimming. These jeans go with everything. Price: Originally $189, marked down to $109.90
Review: Caitlin and I both bought these bags from the sale this year! (Caitlin got the black and I got the olive) I've had it for two days and am already in love with it. It's so lightweight, it's going to be my everyday bag and my travel bag because it's expandable. For everyday use, I like it to keep it zipped. My felt organizer fits inside perfectly.
Review: True to size. How cute are these wedge sneakers?! I tried them on for fun and then Caitlin told me I had to have them! They add that little bit of height that I need, but they're sporty at the same time. They really are very comfortable, I would definitely recommend these to all my wedge-lovin' people.
Review: Wearing an XS. Love love love a good field jacket! The fit is perfect, and you can cinch the drawstring to give it some shape, which makes it more feminine. Hood... pockets... it has everything!
Price: Originally $119, marked down to $79.90
Item:Paige Hoxton High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (Calani) Review: I'm wearing my normal size 26 in these! Just the right amount of stretch and the fit it so flattering! The dark wash is really slimming. These jeans go with everything. Price: Originally $189, marked down to $109.90
Review: Wearing an XS. This cardigan is a little dressier than the others, the knit is lighter and a fine weave. I love the stripes in the middle! I will wear this with jeans and nicer pants as well!!
Review: This is a perfect sized tote. I love the pocket on the outside (perfect for your phone) and the color is so so pretty in person - the mauve color surprisingly goes with a ton of outfits! Price: Originally $64.95, marked down to $42.90
Review: Wearing a size small. This was my daughter's favorite outfit that I put together! I would wear this to run errands around town or grab coffee with my girlfriends. The henley is so soft, it feels like I'm wearing my pajamas!
Price: Originally $59, marked down to $39.90
Item:Paige Hoxton High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (Calani) Review: I'm wearing my normal size 26 in these! Just the right amount of stretch and the fit it so flattering! The dark wash is really slimming. These jeans go with everything. Price: Originally $189, marked down to $109.90
Review: True-to-size, I'm wearing an XS. I love the beautiful lavender color of this cardigan. I surprisingly love it with the leopard shoes! I think I'll have fun styling this one during the fall and winter.
Price: Originally $98.50, marked down to $65.90
Item:Paige Hoxton High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (Calani) Review: I'm wearing my normal size 26 in these! Just the right amount of stretch and the fit it so flattering! The dark wash is really slimming. These jeans go with everything. Price: Originally $189, marked down to $109.90
Review: True-to-size. I don't usually find mules to be very comfortable, so I was surprised to find that these are!! They're so versatile. Leopard is a neutral in my book!
Review: True-to-size, wearing an XS. I styled this one a little differently than it is shown online. I unbuttoned the bottom few buttons and tied it in a knot for a sporty casual look. The shirt is really soft and looks cute layered with a cardigan on top!!
Price: Originally $69, marked down to $45.90
Item: Paige Verdugo Ankle Skinny Jeans (Faded Vine) Review: These jeans are true-to-size, I'm wearing a size 26! I LOVE the color of these olive-hued jeans, they're a great way to switch up your look from normal jeans. Paige jeans also last forever... I'm still wearing my pair from last year! Price: Originally$199, marked down to $132.90
Item: Dreamers by Debut Exposed Seam Sweater Review: True-to-size, wearing an XS. This sweater is so soft, it feels like cashmere (although it's not). I really like the longer length, it would look cute with leggings since it covers your booty! Price: Originally $55, marked down to $35.90
Review: I really like the colors in this scarf and it's not overwhelmingly big, like some of the blanket scarves. I feel like I could wear this with so many outfits!
Review: I'm wearing my normal size 26 in these! Just the right amount of stretch and the fit it so flattering! The dark wash is really slimming. These jeans go with everything.
Quality: This was one of the first purchases I made in the Nordstrom Sale. It's real leather, but it's at a great price! I love the size. It has a main zipper and a couple of zippered compartments inside.
Sizing: True-to-size. I like that these are so lightweight... they aren't super heavy. I also like the light color of these and the fact that they're really comfortable.
Price: Originally $224.95, marked down to $149.90
Thanks so much for letting me take over Cait's blog today! If you have any questions you can leave them in the comment section and I'll get back to you there! :)
I purchase one of these EVERY SINGLE YEAR. No lie, it's the best body lotion I've ever used! It doesn't have a particularly strong or noticeable scent, which I like, and it's incredibly rich, creamy and luxurious feeling without being greasy AT ALL. Plus, this bottle is huge - I use it every single time I get out of the shower, and it lasts a full year! I still have about a quarter of a bottle left, and I bought my last one during last year's Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you still don't believe how good this lotion is, check out this blog post and this one!
My lips are somehow always flaky (which is really annoying when you put on lipstick!) so I picked up this lip exfoliating kit. I tried it out the other night before bed and it's pretty magical - first you put on the exfoliating balm (it tastes sooo good, like coconuts!), rub it in really well and then wipe it off with a tissue. Next you apply the moisturizing balm. I woke up the next morning with soft, smooth lips!
If you've read my Nordstrom posts for the past couple of years, you probably know that I pick up one of these sets every single year! I LOVE these candles - even more than the Bath & Body Works ones! The thing I really like about these is that you can light one and in a matter of minutes, the entire house smells amazing.
I'm obsessed with Dior makeup and I love this cute little pink kit - it even comes with a mini lip maximizer, which really does plump your lips (temporarily!).
I own this hair dryer (although I got mine before the sale) and it's the best dryer I've ever used. It dries my hair SO fast, and the negative ions help smooth the hair cuticle.
I picked this up too, although I have never tried any of these products before! As I continue into my late 20s (and soon early 30s), I am getting desperate to stop the aging process hahah! These serums have AMAZING reviews on beauty websites.
I use a T3 wand to curl my hair, so I couldn't believe it when I saw one included in the sale this year!! This one already sold out, but could be restocked on July 20th when the sale goes live to the public (so keep checking). Or you can enter my giveaway and win one or free, below!!
I have blogged about these a lot in the past (see here& here). I can't LIVE without my silk pillowcase, I have even resorted to bringing my pillowcase everywhere with me when we travel! The silk is really gentle on your skin and hair, and also prevents pillowcase wrinkles from sleeping. Chris even loves his, too!!
Hands down the best makeup brushes! I bought a few of these brush sets so I'll never run out. I won't apply my foundation with anything else!
Now for the GIVEAWAY!! I'm giving away ONE T3 Grey SinglePass Curl 1.25-Inch Curling Iron, my favorite curling iron EVERRRR, to one lucky girl! All you have to do is download the LIKEtoKNOW.it app on your phone, follow me (@cmcoving), and email a screenshot to southerncurlsandpearlsassist@gmail.com.
This will be easy if you already follow me on the app - just take a screenshot and send it to me! The winner will be announced on my blog the morning of July 20th (the same day the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale goes live to the public).
My mom and I left this weekend for a little road trip to the mountains and we've been soaking up every single minute of cool mountain air since we've been here! It's around 70 degrees, but it's been raining and thunderstorming off and on so it's felt even chillier. I normally HATE the rain - but in this case I actually like it because it makes it feel so cozy! I've been snuggling up in cardigans and reading my latest thriller novels ;)
ANYWAY, this BlankNYC No Limit Suede Jacket is one of the items I brought along on our trip and it's included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (along with the rest of my outfit!). It's a really thick/heavy material which means that it's incredibly high quality suede! I also love the color - it's a greenish brown, however I think it's more on the olive green side. In my opinion, it doesn't look good online! But it's SO CUTE in person! My A.G. Jeans and Leopard Mules are also included in the sale - if you haven't entered already, you can enter to win my $1,500 Nordstrom Gift Gard Giveaway here.
Also if you want to see a Travel Guide from our trip to Highlands, let me know!! xoxo
Good morning everyone! I just checked and it looks like both of our outfits are still pretty much FULLY stocked! woohoo! My mom and I wore this one day while we were in Highlands (we are home now!). We both love colored pants in the fall. Jeans can get SO boring after a while! Colored pants are a great way to switch it up. I actually just ordered my mom's olive green jeans in my size because I love them so much on her! :) Here's all the sizing info for what we're wearing: Carla's Outfit: Item: B.P. Ribbed V-Neck Tee Sizing: True-to-size, wearing the XS. Price: Originally $35, marked down to $22.90
Item: Vince Camuto Indigo Released Hem Denim Jacket Sizing: I'm wearing the XS in this denim jacket and there is still room to wear a sweater underneath. Price: Originally $129, marked down to $85.90 Item: Paige Verdugo Ankle Skinny Jeans (Faded Vine) Sizing: These jeans are true-to-size, I'm wearing a size 26! I LOVE the color of these olive-hued jeans, they're a great way to switch up your look from normal jeans. Price: Originally $199, marked down to $132.90
Sizing: True-to-size. I don't usually find mules to be very comfortable, so I was surprised to find that these are!! They're so versatile. Leopard is a neutral in my book!
Review: This was one of the first purchases I made in the Nordstrom Sale. It's real leather, but it's at a great price! I love the size. It has a main zipper and a couple of zippered compartments inside.
Sizing: Runs large, size down one. I sized down to a 24 in these jeans - they are very stretchy (almost like leggings!) which makes them very comfortable. They're a beautiful plum wine color.
Sizing: True to size. These booties go with EVERYTHING! They're super comfortable because of the open toe, and they're a great shoe to start wearing now and transition into the fall.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has become known for it's vast selection of cute, trendy fall clothes like booties and cardigans, but that's not all they have. I was DEEP into the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale website while browsing the other day when I had an epiphany - there are some REALLY good staple items included in the sale... staple items that you can stock up on now (while they're on sale) and they'll improve your life and home in the future. A lot of these may seem boring (I talk about towels and underwear a lot hahah) but as a woman, I love chatting about these things! And I'd love to hear your opinion, too. Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these!
I love having all matching tools in my home, especially for guests to use! These hydrocotton bath towels come in 18 (yes, 18!!) different colors and have amazing reviews. I'm serious - read the review section on Nordstrom's site - there are 90 pages of reviews raving about these towels, with commenters calling them "plush" and "luxurious," adding that they hold up well in the wash and are still as soft as ever.
Do you have a set of matching wine glasses in your home? If not, now is your chance to snag them on sale. The Nordstrom Sale includes these red wine glasses, as well as these white wine glasses and these champagne glasses. I love serving guests a glass of wine in a nice, "grown up" wine glass as I call it, haha.
I ordered one of these bras after hearing my friends rave about how soft and comfortable these are! One of my friends had just bought bras at Victoria's Secret and went and returned them all after she tried this brand. A high-quality and well-filling bra is hard to find for less than $50, so I was shocked to see the sale price, and I currently have two of them in my shopping cart!
If you haven't tried 400-thread count sheets before, you're missing out - they're like heaven to sleep on! These sheets are thick and soft and made with organic cotton. I personally like all-white sheets, but these come in three other colors, too. I'm stocking up on a few sets for our guest bedrooms.
Alright, I know what you're probably thinking... $65 for deodorant?!? TRUST ME when I say that this deodorant is life-changing! I bought my first one a few years ago and now I will never use a different brand. It smells so good that I could probably spend 10 minutes talking about it - and it also works really well to prevent sweating. This trio will probably last you a couple of years!
I'm always running out of hand wash in my house! I ordered three of these sets during the first day of the sale and I'm happy to report that the formula smells amazzzzzing! I also am obsessed with the packaging - it looks very elegant in my master bathroom.
Another thing I'm always running out of: socks! I can never seem to find a pair that matches. I ordered several of these Zella 3-packs from the Nordstrom Sale to replenish my sock drawer. The great thing about these is that they have extra fabric on the back to prevent blisters - they really protect your heels in tennis shoes! I 100% recommend them.
If you buy ONE thing from the Nordstrom Sale, please let it be these high-waisted leggings. I have sworn by Zella leggings for several years now. The plain black color is such a wardrobe staple - I wear them both to work out in and with regular outfits, too. They look really cute with boots and an oversized sweater, and they last a really long time!
You are probably sick of hearing me talk about these candles, but they are just too good. I love these because you can light one and within a matter of five minutes, that room in your house will smell good. The scent really travels, which I love! (I hate when you light a candle and then can't even smell the scent.) Plus this trio is a really good deal!
I have been wearing Hanky Panky underwear since I first discovered them in college, and I'll never switch to anything else! They're one-size-fits-all, which sounds weird but it somehow works, it truly does fit everyone. These are so comfortable and also pretty at the same time! I have accumulated so many pairs that my underwear drawer looks like a rainbow of Hanky Panky, haha! But really, they're the BEST!
Don't forget to check back tonight at 3 A.M. when the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale goes live to the public - I'll be revealing the $1,500 Gift Gard winners and the T3 curling iron winner!
Good morning everyone!! (Literally the MORNING, it's 3 a.m. here as I'm posting this hahah!). The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is finally PUBLIC, meaning that anyone can now shop the sale, not just Nordstrom cardholders. Today I'll be sharing some of my recent looks with all of the sale items. If you're interested in sizing information, please check out my original Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Try-On Haul (with all sizing info).
Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the giveaway winners!!
$500 Gift Card Winners: 1. Christine Peterson Nevitt 2. Nicole Cooper $250 Gift Card Winners: 1. Brooke Scott 2. Kathy Olson T3 Curling Iron Winner: 1. Kathryn Burch
Please email me at southerncurlsandpearls@gmail.com to redeem your prize!
THANK YOU ALL for your support, I love and appreciate each and every one of you. xoxo
Happy Monday morning, everyone! I looooove stripes, and I picked up this Halogen Bell Sleeve Knit Top during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (it's still available, btw!). I thought it would be fun to style it a few different ways on the blog today. (Let me know which look is your favorite!)
This first look I absolutely love!! I paired the striped top with all different tones of pink/mauve, from my baker boy cap to this adorable roomy tote bag. Baker boy hats typically don't look that great on me, but I really like the fit of this one. I'm thinking of picking it up in black too!
For this second look, I kept it simple by pairing the striped top with a corduroy miniskirt. This would be a great transition outfit as we move forward into cooler months.
In my book, stripes and leopard are a match made in heaven! I love pattern mixing, so for this outfit I paired the top with leopard mules and a neutral handbag.
Last but not least, stripes and plaid are another great combo! This scarf is actually still available from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale - snag it while you can!! It's really cute but also sooo soft!
Did everyone have a good weekend?! Since the wedding is over, Chris and I have been focusing on furnishing and decorating our house! The downstairs is close to being complete, but we have not even touched any of the rooms upstairs so we have a loooot of work left to do. I'll be doing a "mini house tour" on the blog this week so stay tuned :)
I know I know - it's still probably a zillion degrees wherever you guys live in the United States! However I always start thinking about transitional outfits at the end of July because it means that FALL is soon to be upon us (in fact, I stopped by Bath & Body Works yesterday and all of their fall candles have arrived...). I love this ribbed body-con dress for wearing now and transitioning into the fall! For summer, I would pair it with sandals, but for autumn it looks great with both booties and tall boots. And this entire look is included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Although it's not on sale, this dress is really similar and probably better quality! :)
Good morning! This look was from our trip to the mountains a few weeks ago... almost every piece of the outfit is included in the Nordstrom Sale, and surprisingly there are still a few things left in stock! There are a few sizes in this J.Crew Oversize Cardigan (looove the lavender color!) as well as these Articles of Society jeans. I'm missing the cooler weather so much now that we're back home... it is WAY TOO HOT!
P.S. My mini house tour will be live on the blog tomorrow!! I'll have it up at 6 am :)
Good morning, loves!!! Last September when I moved into our house, I did an empty house tour on my blog (read it here!). Although I feel like we've made a TON of progress in decorating it, there's definitely a lot more to do! I'm sure you know how it is, there will probably never be any room that I think is "perfectly" decorated. There are still plenty of empty walls and open spaces that need some work, and I'm constantly switching things up to see what looks best where. With that being said, I'm happy to be sharing some updates on our home decor today. This post ended up being sooo long so I had to split it into two parts! The first part today will feature the mud room, guest bathroom, dining room and master bedroom, all located on the first floor. I'll be sharing the details of our kitchen and small living room in another post coming soon!
