Happy Girls are the Prettiest

"Bein' a woman ain't for the faint of heart"

Sister C said it best, y'all.

Being a woman in today's world is a tough task!

We have to deal with age spots, saggy everything, fluctuating weight, and a never ending list of things that the world tells us isn't perfect about ourselves.

When we walk down the beauty aisle at Target or through the doors of Ulta, we see a barrage of products claiming that they'll "fix" us.

Thankfully, I've stumbled upon a product that doesn't want to "fix" you.
Body Merry is a company that understands that each woman is unique and strives to put out products that cater to each unique woman to help her feel and look her very best...and the best part?

They do it at a cost effective price, even college girls can afford it!

 

I'm featuring three of their products today on le blog & letting you know what I think. . . 

Check them out!

 

Stretch Marks & Scars Defense Cream

Any woman who has had fluctuating weight or a growth spurt (or pregnancy!) knows all about the dreaded stretch marks.

This product is my favorite of the three because I have seen the most results from it.

It has a thick, luxurious consistency & a scent that resembles cocoa butter (that I love).

My stretch marks have begun to fade and I've been using it for about a week now, plus it leaves my skin feeling oh-so-soft! 

 

Day-to-Night Eye Gel

I've tried similar products to this before and not seen any results.

With this gel, I noticed that the dark circles under my eyes are not quite as pronounced.

I have only been using it for a week (& they recommend using it for longer to see more results!) so I'll continue to keep using it and see if the under eye circles continue to recede!

 

 

Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream

This was my least favorite product (and I'm just being honest) because of the smell.

It has a very minty scent that resembles Vick's Vapo-Rub or Icy Hot.

The product in itself seems to be helping firm up my thighs, but I've been hesitant to use it because of the scent.

The more I use it, the more I get used to it though, so like I said with the eye gel. . .

I'm going to continue to use it and see what my results are!  

 

Body Merry is a positive company with a great message.

I have fallen in love with some of their products & will continue using the others for the full month.

I look forward to seeing my results in the future!

Until next time. . . 

xoxo, 

 

A big thank you to Body Merry (via BrandBacker) for providing me with product in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Thank you for supporting brands who support The Southern Stylista.

Fall Wishlist

Fur Vest/Floral Dress/Fran Earrings Gold Drusy/Essie Polish "In The Lobby"/Sam Edelman Rae Flats

As I've proved time again on this blog, Fall is my favorite season to buy new goodies.
All the colors are so rich, the fabrics are so cozy, and I just need all the things.

I love my current fur vest from Target, but I'm looking for one with a little more quality (but not a major price tag) this season, H&M has just the little number.

Speaking of H&M, that floral dress is from their Fall collection & it is on point. I love the bold floral detailing and think it would be super cute with booties and that vest.

My sister and I were perusing through the Kendra Scott store the other day and everything drusy was catching my eye. It's so sparkly, yet understated, and the perfect shade for Fall.

Essie is another brand that's killing it for Fall, I love this rich, dark purple shade for nails.
It's especially great because since I'll be in the classroom, I don't necessarily want black nails, but this color is dark, yet classic.

And because I'll be in the classroom starting this week, I'm going to need a pair of flats that look killer-but aren't killer on your feet. Enter in the Sam Edelman Rae flats.
These have great reviews and come in pretty colors like leopard and a wine shade.
I've picked the classic black so it will match everything & I love the pointed toe-very chic.


I'm linking up with Brave Love Blog again and loving every minute of it!
Go check her out & all the other ladies lovely wishlists :)

Until next time. . .

xoxo,

In Vs. Out

Today I'm linking up with the beautiful Allison of "Because I Said So" for her monthly "In Vs. Out" post.

IN

Finally feeling like Fall weather (a little bit) here in Alabama

Season Premieres- I've watched Castle, Grey's Anatomy, Scream Queens, and Nashville so far...Scandal is my only one left!

Dark Makeup; with fall comes finally being able to wear darker eyeshadow and all the plum lipsticks (two of my favorite things)

Cooking! I've been loving preparing meals for Chris and I this past week, we've had chicken manicotti and smothered pork chops two nights this past week (plus, I can make lots of extra and we'll have leftovers!)

Dressing up-I've got lots of pretty new fall clothes and I'm so ready to wear them, so I need an excuse to dress up.

OUT

Anxiety over my practicum starting: I go to meet my teacher on Monday (she seemed SO nice on the phone), but I'm always anxious about new experiences.

French tests-my first one is on Monday!

Realizing I'm going to have to retire my Norts and sandals soon, Fall will be here before we know it.

Organizing my life away-I sat down and worked on my updating my planner last night & realized that I'm seriously not going to have any free weekends next month.

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Finally Fall {Decor}

horse head/gold wing tray/monogram mug/oversized throw blanket/throw pillow/mixing bowls/large tray

Today is the first official day of Fall!

And while it's still eighty something degrees outside here in Alabama, this time of year has me wishing for warm and cozy plaids.

Toss in a few rustic touches like the horse head and the gilded splash of this wing tray (which would be perfect for organizing your jewelry on!)

You can even add touches of Fall to your kitchen with those adorable mixing bowls and tray.

The monogram mug would make a precious gift too, fill it with some goodies or hot chocolate mix and give it to someone special.

 No matter what you do, make sure to embrace the changing of the seasons.

"I think God created the seasons as a gentle reminder that nothing in life is permanent: not joy, not pain, not friendship, and sometimes not even love."

What are you most excited about for Fall?

 

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

 

Guilty Pleasure

Y'all, I am so glad to be back posting for y'all!

Last week I was on my game, posting almost every single day, but this week has been insane.

It was my first day of having my French class (which actually went SO well & I think I'm going to love it! J'adore French!), I had a meeting about my Internship next semester (graduation is next May!), and then on Friday I went to take the Praxis...and passed! I am officially done with testing for school and I'm so excited :)

But today I'm bringing y'all a list of my #GuiltyPleasures & linking up with Brave Love Blog again!

I love the idea of doing this because it's almost like admitting something, which is kinda freeing-ya know ;)

1) Guilty Pleasure Book

I kind of cheated on this one, but I'm sharing with y'all my favorite author/books for this guilty pleasure.

Philippa Gregory is a historical fiction author (and I'm a history ed major) so I love, love, love her books. She focuses on the women in history and telling their story which I love.

I know that it may seem a little nerdy, but her books are great.

I'm currently reading The Queen's Fool!

2) Guilty Pleasure Magazine

 

I know, I know-how basic can I be, right?

But Cosmo is actually really stepping up their game. They've been including lots of health and really deep articles on top of the beauty and fashion that they're really known for!

Also, it's been my favorite place to get drink and food recipes lately!

3) Guilty Pleasure Fashion

  

Say what you want, but Chacos are fab! I've had mine for over a year now and I still turn to them regularly for class and exploring.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to score another pair since the season is changing (maybe they'll be on sale!)

4) Guilty Pleasure Food

I shared this recipe for Tortilla Pizza on the blog earlier this summer and I have to say...it's kind of all compiled of my guilty pleasure foods. It may seem weird, but my favorite pizza toppings are spinach, black olives, and artichoke hearts! They're so good for you and so filling so it's a win-win.

I would definitely try out this recipe and see if you like it because it's so quick and easy!

5) Guilty Pleasure Song

That's My Kinda Night-Luke Bryan

This song is a little cheesy, I'm not going to lie. But what can I say? 

 I can't help that love when he talks about his "big, black, jacked up truck" because I have one of those ;)

It's a little silly, but definitely a fun song to listen to occasionally!

I hope y'all liked this random little list, I think it's fun to do posts like this every now & then to get to know each other better.

Let me know below what your guilty pleasures are (& if you have any blog post ideas I would love to know!)

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

 

Fall Bucket List

Today I'm linking up with Brave Love Blog and bringing y'all my Fall bucket list. :)

At the top of the list is going to a football game, hopefully an Auburn game!

Chris and I love our Auburn Tigers and I really hope to be at the game this Saturday as Auburn plays the Jacksonville Gamecocks (the university that I go to!)

Carving a pumpkin is also on my list...call me basic if you want, but Chris and I did this two years ago (we carved a super cute cow into our pumpkin) and I can't wait to do it again. I want to carve our farm brand into one this year!

The fair has been on my calendar since I found out when it was coming to Montgomery. Cole Swindell will be playing and I am so, so excited to see him!

I'm a fire-bug, I just can't help it. There's something about having a bonfire and roasting marshmallows that just makes me realize that fall is finally here.

The crock-pot is my favorite cooking tool, especially for Fall and winter. I have bookmarked tons of recipes on my Pinterest slow cooker  board that I can't wait to try out. From pork chops to cheesy bacon potatoes, I've got them all ready to try which will be perfect for when my student teaching starts and I need an easy meal.

Live music is my absolute favorite. Chris and I saw Riley Green (side note: YouTube his song Bury Me in Dixie if you don't know him) this past weekend & we definitely want to hear some more live music before it gets too cold outside to do so!

On October 20th it will be the one year anniversary of Chris proposing to me, he did it when we were trail-riding so I think I would like to take a trail ride around that date to kind of commemorate that :) Plus trail-riding in the Fall is just SO  much more comfortable than riding in the summertime.

Just like trail-riding, hiking is much better in the Fall than in the summer. We're blessed to be less than 20 minutes away from beautiful Cheaha Mountain (which is the highest point in the state of Alabama). I hope that we can get in at least one or two good hikes before it gets too cold outside.

My last two go together, the perfect apple dessert and wassail can be served together on a cool night. I've got several apple desserts pinned on my Sweet Dessert board on Pinterest that I plan on trying out along with my stand by Wassail recipe. If you've never heard of Wassail, it's basically like a spiced cider/orange juice drink. It's heavenly & I love to serve it at family get-togethers (& keep some on hand for when I get a scratchy throat!)

I hope y'all enjoyed my fall bucket list...what do you have planned for your Fall?

Head over to BraveLoveBlog and see what is on everyone else's bucket lists!

Until next time. . . 

xoxo, 

Fall Fashion Finds

Striped Coatigan/ Swing Dress/Tassel Earrings/Chambray Shirt Dress/Fringe Pendant Necklace/Southern Charm Elsa Top/Plaid Shirt Dress/Gigi NY Satchel/Utility Vest/Quilted Puffer Vest  /Suede Ankle Booties

Y'all, Fall is my favorite time of the year for more reasons than just shopping. . .but the shopping is a great reason! Today I rounded up several of my favorite picks, with links so you can shop them for yourselves!

This striped coatigan (yes, that's what it's really called) from LOFT looks so warm and cozy. I picture myself wearing it in the classroom with some black skinny pants, a neutral tank, and either boots or flats. It would be perfect for lounging around too!

I picked out several dresses for y'all, including two shirt dresses which are my favorite! The chambray one is from JCrew Factory & comes in under $50, the olive plaid one is under $30 from Old Navy. These are perfect for pairing with sandals or wedges now and boots and leggings in the Fall.

The swing dress I included (in a gorgeous jewel tone) is a simple staple that every girl should have!

I love pairing all of those dresses above with vests when the weather gets a little cooler. These two picks are from JCrew Factory. I have the navy one and it goes with everything, the utility vest is next on my wishlist-that color is fab for Fall!

I LOVE the new Lilly Pulitzer release, Southern Charm is one of my favorite classic prints and they brought it back in an Elsa (which is my favorite style top from Lilly). Although the colors are bright, I think they can be carried well into the Fall with skinny jeans.

These booties would be the perfect addition to the Elsa and skinny jean combo, but they would also look adorable with any of the dresses mentioned above.

As for Fall accessories, fringe and tassels are going strong. The necklace, which is a long pendant is only $15 right now from BaubleBar, which is a steal! The earrings are the perfect jewel tone, with just a little bit of crystal.

 I love the wine color of the Parker Satchel from Gigi NY, it's such a luxurious bag with lots of pockets so it would be perfect for a teacher bag or work bag.

I hope y'all enjoyed this little roundup and you found some good Fall goodies!

Until next time. . . 

xoxo, 

 

Labor Day: Honoring the Laborers

If there is any day to celebrate those who work hard every single day to give us the rich life that we are able to live as Americans, Labor Day is the day.

It's ironic on a day such as today, those who truly work to give us this life are those that don't take the day.

Firefighters, EMTs, nurses, members of our military, and most dear to my heart. . . farmers.

I come from a family of farmers, I'm a third generation.

My husband is a fourth generation farmer.

If anyone knows about hard work, it's a farmer.

Farming is 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

No "holidays", no set vacation days, no sick days, and you always bring your work home with you.

Even when you do take a vacation, you're constantly using wonderful technology to keep tabs on the farm.

 I may be biased, but I think farming is the best way to grow up.

You learn early on that you have an important job, feeding the world is no joke.

You learn the value of a dollar and that hard work is a necessity.

You learn that sometimes life is disappointing. Sometimes you give it everything in you & you still lose.

That's something kids don't learn nowadays, but it's important to learn how to lose and still work just as hard the next day.

 

I'm proud to be the wife and daughter (& daughter-in-law) to farmer's who are so proud of their job.

They would rather be on the farm than anywhere else & they're proud of what they do.

 Next time you go to a farmer's market, a you-pick for berries or apples, or even your local pumpkin patch this fall...

Thank a farmer!

It's an under appreciated job, one that's often made fun of or criticized.

One thank you from someone from the outside can make a world of difference for a farmer.

And to all of you on Labor Day, thank you for the jobs that you do.

Without the teachers, doctors, lawyers, chefs, waitresses, gas-station attendants, bankers, Wal-Mart checkout clerks, and everything else the world wouldn't run as smoothly as it does.

I'm thankful for you all, but most of all I'm thankful for a farmer.

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Make a Measurable Difference

Today on the blog, I want to make it a "Spotlight Sunday" on a brand that I recently learned about.

I am a huge fan of any brand that supports women and helping them feel their very best.

In their words, this brand "is a reflection of a healthy and natural lifestyle to accommodate women everywhere - whether they choose to as a city girl in an office or from home as a mother."

They work to promote natural beauty in a world of unrealistic beauty expectations, which I think is super important. Women are constantly pushed to be something other than what they naturally are, but this brand wants to enhance women's beauty and preserve it!

 The LASHEM Natural Beauty Products line consists of mascara, anti-aging creams, and eyelash booster. Their products are also made in the U.S.A!

These eyeshadows are only $7 and the colors work so well together (& there are lots more options than just the three I mentioned above!)

Make sure to check out all of their products right here!

And I'm also hosting a giveaway below for you to win a palette in the color Desert Nights, enter and good luck!

;

Until next time. . .

 

 A big thank you to Lashem Natural Beauty (via BrandBacker) for providing me with product in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Thank you for supporting brands who support The Southern Stylista.

August Favorites

Hey y'all!
Can you believe that it's already September?
It feels like it was just yesterday that I was counting down the days until my wedding that was in May!

August was such a fun, busy month. I spent it soaking up what was left of my summer by going to the beach with my family and spending as much time with my new husband as I possibly could.

Now I'm headed back to school and I start my second practicum experience (semi-student teaching!) at the end of this month, so I know that's going to take over my life soon!

I just wanted to share a few things that I couldn't get enough of this month...

Carmex has literally been a lip-saver this month!
After coming back from the beach my lips were super dried out, I saw this baby sitting on my husband's dresser and fell in love.
It kind of burns your lips for a second when you put it on, but then it's so glossy and soothing.
I usually wear it at night after I take my shower, before I head to bed.

Sally Hansen's Air Brush Legs (which Influenster sent me to test out) has quickly become a fave for this month. I wore this for a dinner that my husband and I had to go to as well as a date night out (pictured above!)

It gives me just enough color, which is super helpful since I've kind of sworn off tanning.

It goes on really smoothly and comes off easily with water and soap (but didn't rub off onto my clothes!)

Another favorite in this picture are my Corral Boots!

These were my wedding boots and I absolutely love them. They are so comfortable and just gorgeous.

The bone color of the detailing is so feminine and the leather is very worn-in and rustic.

I can't wait to wear them a lot this fall!

 

 

 

 A beauty favorite of mine this month is one that I reviewed in this blog post last February.

I ran out of my Say Yes! to Carrots moisturizer and I reached into my stash and re-discovered the Insta Nautral Vitamin C Moisturizer.

It's got the perfect consistency, almost watery, but it absorbs so well and really soaks your skin with moisture.

After being out in the sun all day, it's just what my skin needs!

 

 

I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned my Yeti Rambler (30 oz) on this here blog, heck it might have even been in my last favorites post. But that just goes to show you how often I turn to it!

I rotate between this cup, my Tervis, and my Lilly insulated tumbler but by far the Yeti Rambler works the best.

It keeps ice all day long and having ice cold water on hand makes me want to drink it even more.

Plus, Chris just brought me a new one home which means I'll be looking for a new monogram sticker...where should I get one?!

 

 

This favorite is kind of random (& a lot harder to track down on the internet than I thought it would be!)

but it's my candle warmer!

I bought mine from Bed, Bath, & Beyond a realllly long time ago, but I linked a similar one from Amazon for y'all.

 

What I love about these candle warmers is that I can use up allllll of a candle.

Instead of having to toss out those jars with an inch or two of wax left and no wick, I just stick it on this warmer and it melts the wax (kind of like a Scentsy!)

 

My two food favorites of the month are two that I took with me on the roadtrip to Panama City with my sister. . .

 

 

Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn is so, so good.

I picked it up at Target & I was satisfied with the flavor and the amount that you get for only 70 calories!

It's a snack that will be easy for me to portion out into bags for school.

 

My second favorite are these Samoa dupes, the Coconut Dreams cookies by Keebler!

I don't like coconut. I actually hate it. But these cookies, when it's combined with caramel and chocolate-it's delish!

They aren't a healthy alternative like my first snack, but they are a great treat for dessert.

This Tazo Chai tea has been an absolute fave this month.

On mornings when I don't get up with Chris and cook him breakfast (which includes coffee), I just don't see the need in fixing any for just myself.

This tea doesn't take too long to steep and the flavor is amazing. Sometimes I add just a little bit of Sweet Cream creamer for a little extra-well creaminess!

(You can get this at Publix for sure, but probably any grocery store!)

My favorite song of the month came late in the month, it's Chris Jansen's newest single and I absolutely love it. It's the perfect end-of-summer anthem.

My favorite part of course is the part about a Yeti 110 iced down with some silver bullets :)

I hope y'all enjoyed this little gathering of all of my favorites for the month.

Look forward to some great content this month, I've already got several things in the works :)

Until next time. . .