Fall Wreath DIY

I know when Halloween ends & November begins, it seems like everyone jumps straight to Christmas. I'm a huge fan of Christmas, but you can't just skip Thanksgiving!

My mom asked for a Fall-inspired wreath & I was more than happy to help her out, & this is a wreath that can easily be changed into a Christmas wreath...let me show you how to make it!

First, you have to gather all of your supplies.

For this wreath, I headed to Hobby Lobby & picked up several things from the Fall aisle (all 40% off!)

I got several sprigs of leaves, a small burlap pumpkin, and a sprig of assorted Fall floral (sunflower, leaves, etc.)

I got a grapevine wreath (which wasn't on sale, so I was able to use my 40% online coupon)

And a roll of burlap ribbon...

I worked out where I wanted all of the leaves, going up one side of the wreath.

I attached them by simply inserting them into the vines & twisted them in the back until they were secure.

Then, I moved to the other side, where I started by placing the pumpkin (twisting the wire in the back) & then I worked in the other floral pieces behind it in the same manner.

The bow at the bottom was possibly the hardest piece of the entire wreath.

I measured out the ribbon as much as I could while it was on the roll (so I could minimize the mistakes).

The size of the bow depends on how big you want it to be, but basically I looped the burlap to the size I want my first loop to be, then I move to the other side & make a loop of the same size.

Then I make a slightly larger loop-after going back to the first side, then I move to the other side and make a loop slightly larger than the one in front of it.

I take a small piece of burlap & cut it, then I wrap that around the middle creating the bow.

I put the "tails" on the bow separately & secure it all with hot glue.

Do NOT hot glue the actual bow to the wreath if you want to be able to transform it to a Christmas wreath/Spring wreath/etc.

I didn't mention this in the above supply list, but I raided my gift supplies when I was trying to find a way to secure my bow to the wreath.

I had about 6 inch piece of thin navy blue ribbon in my stash & I used it to secure the bow to the wreath (simply tying it instead of gluing it) & it looks great, you can't even see it!

Here is the finished product!

It looks even better hanging up on my mom's red door & the best part of it is that once Thanksgiving is over, I can take all of these pieces off, go to Hobby Lobby & pick up some more Christmas-y decor & change the entire look & save lots of money.

Let me know what you think? I am obsessed with it & can't wait to do Christmas ones for C's house...that is if I can bear to part with my precious U's!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

October Favorites

I never seem to be able to crank out a monthly favorites post on the first day of the next month, but I honestly have good intentions.

This year is absolutely breezing by & I know the next two months will do the same, it will be New Year's before we know it!

I just have a handful of things that I fell in love with this month & I can't wait to share them with you...so let's get into it.

Sheppard's Pie

This is a shameless plug for myself, but this recipe is delicious & easy! It's so yummy to eat on a cool Fall night & I can't wait to make it again now that the weather has actually cooled down.

MakeupByKimm's YouTube Videos

If you like any kind of YouTube videos that are fashion & beauty related, Kim is my go-to & she should be yours too! She's a fellow KMSS sister and her personality is completely adorable. She is so relate-able & her message at the end of each video is great for all girls & women to remember.

ShopStyle

I recently stumbled upon this website while searching for items to feature on the blog & fell head-over-heels in love with it. Basically, it's one of the best fashion resources out there. Not only is there a search feature where you can type in exactly what you're looking for like "fur vest" & many different options from different sites & different price points will come up.

Also, it has a great "offers" and "sale" tab where you can find really awesome deals.

This is a great resource for the upcoming Christmas shopping season!

The Knot (Wedding Timeline)

Since becoming engaged, I have been trying to get everything in order & The Knot has become one of my favorite resources for wedding planning. They have a wedding timeline on the website as well as in the magazine & it is so helpful for laying out my wedding to-do list. Plus, the website is perfect for all sorts of wedding inspiration.

Yes to Carrots Moisturizer

When the weather gets cold, my skin gets so dry.

This Yes to Carrots product that I picked up on a whim from Target has been a life-saver.

My face has never felt so soft before & I can't wait to use it all winter.

Plus, it has SPF 15 which is so important to keeping your skin healthy year-round.

She Wants A Cowboy

This song from Dustin Lynch's newest album is one of my favorite songs for the month.

It's so sweet & reminds me of myself, specifically the fact that I love my sweet farmer, C.

My favorite lyric is, "Motorcycles, turbo Porsches, sailboats, Rolls Royces. . .but she likes horses, she wants a cowboy."

Perfect Storm

My last favorite for this month is Brad Paisley's latest single...it is absolutely perfect.

From the moment I heard it, I knew I was going to love it.

I have two favorite lyrics in this song...

1) "She destroys me in that t-shirt & I love her so much it hurts."

2) "If she was a drink, she'd be a single-barreled bourbon on ice, smooth with a kick, a chill & a burn all at the same time."

So. Freakin'. Good.

I hope y'all enjoyed my October Favorites & I hope that y'all have found a few things to enjoy!

Tell me what you were loving last month or leave a link to your favorites post below. :)

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Style Saturday: Styling a Faux Fur Vest

Have y'all noticed that I love a good "Day" post?

Duh.

I think it just makes me feel witty & organized, but who knows.

This morning, I've been digging around on Pinterest for the perfect way to style my new fur vest (which I finally found the one at Target, for only about $30!) 

I couldn't find my specific vest on Target's website, but I found some other affordable options are here and here, and here.

I thought as soon as I had my hands on the vest of my dreams that I would know exactly how to wear it & do it without hesitation, but now that I've got it...I'm kind of at a loss.

So, I turned to my trusty friend Pinterest for some inspiration & now I'm completely refreshed and ready to wear my vest today to my town's Fall celebration.

Here are some of the images that inspired me. . .

Top knot, over-sized sunglasses, pearl studs, white blouse, gold cuff, and fur vest.

via

Radiant Orchid blouse, fur vest, layered necklaces, stacked bracelets & watch, and clutch.

via The Sweetest Thing

Plaid flannel, cross body bag, over-sized watch, & fur vest.

via Lauren in Lilly

Riding boots, boot socks, leggings, red Piko dress, fur vest, & plaid scarf.

via Red Dress Boutique

Luckily for y'all, I took the time to go through & find dupes of the main portions of these outfits that I have highlighted under their pictures with clickable links to take you straight to the products...minus the fur vests, which I recommend you visit the links for those (because they're basically sold out everywhere else!), so you're welcome ;)

Remember to follow my social media accounts for more inspiration: 

 Pinterest

Tumblr

Twitter 

BlogLovin'

Instagram: SouthernAndStyle

I can't wait to share pictures from this afternoon with y'all & I look forward to sharing last months Ipsy bag, my Moda VoxBox, & my October Favorites with y'all in upcoming posts!

Until next time. . . 

xoxo,

Friday Favorites: Favorite Apps

Today I want to feature my top five favorite apps for my iphone & narrowing it down to five was so hard.

1) Instagram

This is a duh moment, but I love instagram! I manage my own personal account, my KMSS Rep account, as well as my account for this blog (follow me at SouthernStylista)!

2) Monogram

See my adorable background that I featured at the beginning of this post? Well, it came from the monogram app. I switch my backgrounds up pretty often because they're always adding new images!

This app is free with the option to buy packages within it (which I have & love), but you can also download the Marley Lilly app, which does basically the same thing for free :)

3) Spotify

This app is so perfect, especially if you don't have a lot of space on your phone, you can make playlists within this app & keep all of your music instead of having it all within the "music" app. (I don't personally do this, but it's a great idea!)

I love that it syncs on my iPad & my laptop, so when I listen to it on my iPad I can choose any song I want to, I don't have to pick an artist and shuffle. They always have the newest music too!

4) RueLaLa

I've mentioned this app to y'all before I think, but it seriously is the best. You have to join the site (but it's absolutely free to join & browse, you only pay when you purchase an item!) Here is a link to join.

I've scored some great deals; Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rogers, Kate Spade, Coach, Pandora, Cole Haan, & even more country brands like Laredo & Ariat frequent the boutiques at deeply discounted prices.

I store my debit card information within the app (completely safe!) & when I'm ready to buy something, it only takes a second :)

This is an especially helpful feature because sometimes when things are deeply discounted, they go very fast so it's best to scoop them up while they're there!

Would y'all be interested in an entire post detailing how to use Rue & all of my favorite tips & tricks for getting the best deals? Let me know if you do!

5) Tumblr & Pinterest

Okay, I cheated...I'm actually loving six apps, but these are so similar that I wanted to share them together.

I can bury myself in Pinterest for hours (as y'all know!) & it appeals to my OCD side because I can organize and reorganize my boards as much as I want to!

Tumblr is my new favorite though, it's great for blog inspiration as well as finding pictures to share on the blogs instagram. 

Follow me on both & leave comments with your usernames so I can follow y'all as well!

Pinterest: JordynReneeee

Tumblr: www.southernstylista.tumblr.com/

I hope y'all enjoyed this version of Friday Favorites, leave me your favorite apps below if you think there is one that I need to check out & please let me know if you would be interested in seeing a RueLaLa themed post.

Remember to follow on the social media outlets that I've posted as well as here on GFC (on the sidebar) & BlogLovin'

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Wedding Wednesday

I know we focus on my favorite engagement photographs a lot, but right now I'm getting ready to arrange my engagement session & that's all I've been burying myself in...well, that and a million different projects for school, but that's an entirely different blog post for a different day.

Today, I want to feature just a handful of the prettiest engagement photos that I could find on Pinterest, y'all need to let me know which poses you like or hate so I can know whether to include them or not!

 

via 

One of my mom's friends sent this image to me via Pinterest & I fell in love. Who wouldn't want to have a pumpkin patch/Fall themed engagement shoot?

The middle picture is my favorite of the three because they looks so natural with each other.

via

I'm constantly trying to find ways to incorporate our horses into our engagement session without coming across as cheesy or silly, I think if we took the cowboy hat out of the equation (C wouldn't be caught dead in a cowboy hat), this would be perfect for the two of us.

Their outfits are simple, the horse is gorgeous (but mine are just as pretty ;), and the background is beautiful.

via

The hopeless romantic in me wants to have a beautiful shot like this.

I love the rustic atmosphere of the barn & the shadows fall in such a visually appealing way.

Plus, let's all just take a second to say, "Awww" at the way his hand is gently brushing her face, too cute.

via

Call me corny, but I love the idea of incorporating your new family monogram into your engagement session. In fact, I recently won a wooden monogram & got it with our couple initials so we could use it for our engagement & wedding shots!

Last but not least, you can call me a hick...but I am the farmer's daughter & I will be the farmer's wife-so it's only fitting that we have a pose with one of our trusty John Deere tractors.

I also love how laid back (Haha, that's my dad's farms name!) it is, as well as being unique!

Well. there y'all have it, my roundup of my favorite (at the moment) engagement pictures.

Also, please keep C's sweet step-mom in your prayers-she's undergoing her reconstructive surgery from her battle with breast cancer as I type, so just remember her.

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

My Morning Routine

image via

The way you wake up and your morning routine have more of an effect on your day than you realize.

The way you start your day lays a foundation for how well or how badly the rest of it will go, so it's so important to get off on the right foot!

I'm going to take you through my average morning routine (for a day that I have class in the mornings) so you can see how I start my day.

First things first, I hit the snooze button two or three times (this isn't preferable, but you do what you gotta do, right?)

This gives me time to gradually wake up, especially since it's still dark when I wake up now (at 6 AM).

I reach over and play with my phone for a few minutes after I turn the alarm clock off; checking the weather (to see what outfit I should wear today), seeing who's posted what on Instagram, checking and responding to comments on the blog, etc.

This helps me wake up and know exactly what's going on for the day.

image via

Coffee is always the first place I go when I wake up.

My coffee pot has a pre-set, so it goes on automatically at 6 AM.

I pour myself a cup & stir in 2 packets of Splenda (sorry big sis!), a splash of milk, and a splash of some sort of flavored creamer (I'm loving this & this right now)

Then while my coffee cools a little bit, I head to the bathroom.

Back in the bathroom, I turn on my straightener (I'll talk more about that later), wash my face with this toner by Neutrogena, brush my teeth with my favorite toothpaste, and then moisturize with this (which I'll be reviewing soon!) by Yes to Carrots.

After that, I head back into the kitchen for breakfast.

I used to hate breakfast, but now I realize that it's the most important meal of the day & I make sure to load my breakfast with lots of protein.

My favorite breakfast is made with sourdough bread (which I toast), scrambled eggs with a little cheddar cheese tossed in, two slices of deli chicken, and a thin slice of cheddar.

It's delicious, filling, and pairs perfectly with my cup of coffee.

I enjoy it while watching the morning news with my favorite guy, it just really kick-starts my morning.

C leaves for work after breakfast & then it's time for me to go get ready for class.

The NuMe Silhouette  is the new straightener that I just bought (you'll see it in my next haul post & maybe even a review of it!). Basically, when I have class (& pretty much every other day, too) I just straighten my hair since it only takes about 15 minutes.

Now for makeup. . .

Stay Matte Primer by Rimmel is the primer I'm using right now, it's not my favorite, but it gets the job done. I'll probably be trying a new one, so if y'all have any suggestions let me know in the comments below!

The next step is my Maybeline eyeliner & my NYX eyebrow pencil.

They are my go-to's and I don't feel like a human unless I've used these two products.

Covergirl Clean foundation is my long-time foundation, I've been using it since I first started using makeup. I apply it with a dampened blending sponge (this one is from Sonia Kashuk at Target).



Maybelline Fit Me concealer is my new go-to for problem areas such as my chin & nose, it really gives them a matte appearance and covers any small imperfections that I might have.

Y'all will probably think this next step is weird, but I use L'Oreal True Matte Naturale powder on my t-zone, and then I use CoverGirl Trublend Mineral loose powder all over my face with a large brush.

Next I use my Maybelline Master Glaze cream blush stick in Coral Sheen on the apples of my cheeks & I use this Pop Beauty bronzer (which I received in one of my Ipsy bags!) to contour my cheekbones, on my temples, and on my neck.

My Physician's Formula highlighter goes on next and then...



I use eye shadow from my Sephora makeup pallet from Christmas 2012 (I think), which they obviously no longer have, but Sephora always has great, high-quality makeup sets for the holiday season. (This is a great set & great value here).

After my eye shadow, I use. . .


Maybelline Colossal Volum Express Mascara

This mascara probably isn't the best, but it's waterproof and it gives my lashes the little extra that they need.




Flower Sheer Lip Tint is usually what I use to top my lips with for the morning.
Believe it or not, I stumbled upon this in Wal-Mart & fell in love with it's moisturizing texture, soft yet pigmented shade, and easy to use crayon applicator.
It's great to wear for just a day of classes because it goes on really easy but doesn't make your lips look too red.

After my makeup routine is over with, I just put on my every day pieces of jewelry which are. . .



My Tacori engagement ring, my Sea Magic pearl studs by Kay Jewelers, & my Open-Heart necklace by Kay Jewelers.

Sometimes, I also add bracelets, depending on what I'm wearing for the day & my mood. ;)


After all that is done, I go pick out an outfit...here is an example of what I might wear to class on a casual day.


You can always find me in a Spirit Jersey (now that the weather has cooled down!), leggings (usually from Victoria's Secret!), Riding boots (my favorites are from Gianni Bini), carrying my NorthFace backpack around, texting on my iPhone 5C, and wearing my favorite Essie nailpolish (which at the moment is the shade Wicked).

Thank y'all for sticking around through this long blog post, I hope y'all enjoyed living through my morning routine & seeing what it takes to get me ready for school!

What do y'all do to make your day get off to a great start?

Until next time. . .

xoxo,

Motivation Monday

I usually don't mind Mondays, because usually I only have one class & it's just a short one.

But a few times this semester both of my hybrid Monday classes fall on the same one & I end up having to stay on campus from 12 to 8 that night, which is a huge bummer.

Sure, I could take that time to do something constructive, like take a nap study for tests, etc. But sometimes it's just so hard to get going.

So today, I decided to do a little post dedicated to my favorite motivational quotes to get us all up and moving & kick the Monday blues.

This one embodies everything a girl should be. Be healthy in what you do & what you eat.

Feel good about yourself, wear the makeup (or no makeup!) that makes you feel good.

And most importantly, don't let anyone, not just boys, be mean to you.

I think at some point we all get uptight when we think about all of the things that aren't moving forward in our lives, but I love the part of this quote that says, "Time takes time."

We can't force it to go faster, we just have to keep moving forward and take it all one day at a time.

Enjoy the process.

You'll look back in 50 years and wish you had enjoyed everything instead of rushing from one point to the next.

I know the theme is motivation, but honestly after finding the quotes that I wanted to use, I think I'm motivating you not only to kick Monday's rear-end, but also to remember how precious life is.

Too often we run through life with our eyes closed & we take every day, every hug, every smile for granted. I know there are people who I would like to see just one more time, but I can't.

So make sure that you enjoy every moment. 

Even when you're sad, stressed out, busy, angry, etc.

Slow down & just feel everything, realize what's around you, and enjoy all the little bits and pieces of life.

Today is Monday October 27th, 2014 and we're never going to get to have this day again-remember it.

Make sure to follow my Quotes & LOL's board on Pinterest for more quotes like these.

& Instagram

& Tumblr

Until next time. . . 

xoxo,