My #NSale Picks!

Hey y'all!

Today we're talking about the same thing that every other blogger is talking about, yes it's basic, but we're talking about the #NSale aka, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

It's one of my favorite sales of the year (next to the Lilly sales, of course) because you have the opportunity to get so many Fall staples at great prices before the season, instead of after.

Instead of dragging this out into four different posts, I just separated this into four different graphics: Clothing, Shoes, Accessories, and Home.

Shop my favorites from the widgets below each graphic!

Just a heads up, you'll have to actually click on the images in the widget to see the sale prices, for some reason the normal price is the only one showing up :)

This sale is such a good one, I personally picked up the Barefoot Dreams cardigan in Indigo (it feels like you're wearing a blanket) and it is perfect for the mild Alabama winters. I'm also about to purchase the Zella leggings, because I wear leggings all year long and $35 is a great deal!

I also am currently living in Nike Tempo shorts, so $22 is a steal for those-I might need to stock up there too!

Y'all, I could've gone shoe crazy in this sale if I had enough $$$.

My personal favorites are the bootie options and those gorgeous lace up flats, but if you're looking for tall boots-this is the time of year to grab them!

I know I've said this about every category, but I absolutely adore so many things in this section of the sale! Those drop earrings are so trendy and such a great price (they come in four different colors!) and I'm a huge fan of aviators, just at $100-those are an awesome deal and are so classic.

My personal favorite category is home, because I absolutely love decorating our home!

The recipe tin, Mr. & Mrs. mugs, and the address books would all make excellent wedding gifts (yes, you'll still need a paper address book-I promise!)

I am a huge fan of stocking up on Christmas gifts throughout the year, both the UGG blanket and Barefoot Dreams blankets would make awesome gifts.

I personally am a huge fan of the pineapple float ;)

I hope y'all enjoyed my little roundup of my favorite products and pieces from this sale-let me know down below what you purchased on plan on purchasing in the sale!

Until next time. . .

xoxo,

Ten on Tuesday [No.15]

Some of the links below are affiliate links-thank you for supporting Southern & Style!

Hey y'all! Hope you're having a wonderful week, I know last week felt like a weird one so everyone is trying to get back into the swing of things after the Fourth of July holiday.

Let's jump into this week's Ten on Tuesday!

ONE

On Saturday we celebrated something very, very exciting...our sweet puppy, Forrest, had his 1 year adoption anniversary! He's actually a two-year-old labrador mix that we adopted from our local animal shelter and one of the best decisions we ever made.

This past year we have laughed more, smiled more, learned to love again (after losing the first dogs we had adopted together) and more.

With Forrest, we've been on adventures, we've learned to love the water even more than we did before (he loves the lake, the river, the creek, mud puddles, the swimming pool...he's not picky about his water). He's melted my husband's heart and he captures the hearts of everyone who meets him, everyone loves him and always compliments how well behaved and beautiful he is.

We are so proud of him & we love him so much!

I love jim enough to put a no-makeup picture of myself on the blog, because he looks so cute in our selfie!

He's always right by our sides (either me or Chris, he's gotta be with one of us!)

We honestly couldn't love him more.

I think I'm going to do a post about our reasons for adopting a dog, in honor of his one-year anniversary with us! Would anyone be interested?

 Who wouldn't love that cute, dirty face?

And pretty labs+sunsets just go hand in hand 😍

TWO

Have you checked out the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catalog yet?

I know I have & I've got my eye on a couple of things-but I'm sure I'll have my eye on more when the sale opens on the 12th (to cardholders!)

These will be amazing for Fall, I wish these weren't so expensive-they would be the most versatile beauties for Fall, this will be perfect for wrapping up in when the night's get cool, and even my favorite jewelry brand is going to be on sale!

THREE

If you love ice cream & you love booze then you need to try these. 

FOUR

Have you checked out last weekend's post yet?

I spent some time diving into this seasons latest trends (palm print, pom poms, millennial pink, gingham, etc.) and finding good deals on each of them.

Check out the post, I linked tons of options at the bottom that aren't even in the graphic!

FIVE

I felt like such an adult yesterday because I took myself to an appointment with my oral surgeon (I have the worst white-coat syndrome ever!) I had to have the last step of my dental implant put in and I didn't realize he would be numbing my mouth and there would be stitches involved...so eating things like pizza and burgers are out of the question at least until the end of the week.

The only plus to this really long rant is that I can eat this ice cream, Dr.'s orders! I pick mine up from Publix (sometimes they have them BOGO) and it tastes so, so yummy.

SIX

This past Saturday, in addition to being Forrest's one year adoption anniversary, Chris and I also finally got to go out and celebrate my birthday.

If I ever have the opportunity to plan our dates, I always choose Auburn.

 This city has long been a favorite of mine, since I was in high school.

It's so gorgeous and while it's growing, it still has a small town feel.

 I ended up wearing this dress, sandals very similar to these, and although you can't see in this shot-I'm wearing these earrings (my all-time favorites for how cute they are, yet still comfy!)

It was the perfect outfit for walking around downtown and Samford Park and then out to dinner.

Of course we had to stop at Toomer's for my favorite lemonade 😋

Y'all, campus at Auburn is just beautiful. There was even a blogger taking fashion-y photos while we were walking around, I can see why!

Our dinner for the night was at Acre, which is my all-time favorite restaurant. If I could choose anywhere in the world to eat, it would be Acre-hand's down. 

Our appetizer was fried green tomatoes with fresh heirloom tomatoes and arugula, crab meat, house-made pimento cheese, and a spicy aioli-the best!

My entree was a blackened snapper with a crab-boil butter, crab meat, heirloom cherry tomatoes, fried okra, and a blacked lemon to squeeze on top.

Y'all, when I say this food is top-notch, I mean it. I scraped every last bite up and so did Chris (he had  Hereford beef tenderloin, fingerling potatoes, and green beans).

If you're ever in Auburn-go to Acre!

SEVEN 

Hallmark just released their lineup for Christmas movies for this weekend, I know what I'll be doing!

EIGHT

Caroline shared a recipe for the yummiest-looking berry trifle that I'm just dying to test in my kitchen. It sounds so easy and refreshing for summer, too!

NINE

If you've got a garden or a local farmers market, take a look at these recipes to use up all of your fresh goodies! And if you're in the mood for something a bit more light and fresh, here are some cool salads for this summer!

TEN

This summer has been such a busy one on the farm; on Sunday Christopher & I cut the hay at my dad's farm and honestly-those are some of my favorite days. It's just us, riding in the tractor (it has a cab with air conditioner and a radio, I'm a fan), and we have such long talks about everything. They're truly some of the best "dates" we've had.

Plus, you can't beat these views.

I'm going to have to sweet talk my sweet photographer friend to come up to the farm and do a hayfield shoot one day. I missed it by a few minutes, but when the light hits this field at just the right time..it's so hazy and buttery and dreamy, I just love it!

Well y'all, that's all for this week's Ten on Tuesday! I hope y'all have a great rest of your week!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, SS

Trends for Less: Summer 2017

This post contains affiliate links-thank you for supporting Southern & Style!

Unless you've been living under a rock, then you know that this spring and summer we have had a ton of bright and bold trends.

The thing about trends is just that, they're trendy. So what's in style today just might be a hilarious yearbook photo tomorrow-so you don't wanna spend the big bucks on something that you might be hiding in the back of your closet next summer ;)

Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite trends with y'all & all of the options are budget friendly!

Almost everything in both the widget below and the graphic above are under $30 and absolutely everything is below $50!

TREND ONE

Straw hats are all the rage, just check instagram. While many bloggers have popularized the straw hats with embroidered sayings on top, I thought this simple hat with the pale (millennial pink) band was perfect because it combined two trends, the material and the color of the band!

TREND TWO

I first fell in love with embroidered clutches when Sheaffer of Sheaffer Told Me To starting featuring them on her blog. This cutie is still a little pricey at just under $30, but if you choose it as a statement to dress up a plain LBD then it's worth it. Also, I use my clutches in large bags as well so they're worth more than just carrying them out to dinner ;)

TREND THREE

Gingham. Need I say more?

Gingham isn't just for Fall anymore, now it's a year-round statement pattern and I'm such a huge fan.

I have a similar dress to this one (from Belk's Crown & Ivy brand) but this one is a steal at $20 and still in stock in all sizes!

TREND FOUR

Statement phone cases are definitely having a moment. No longer are people turning to plain cases, they want something a little more snazzy. I personally love Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer cases...that is until I found this adorable case and it's just $10-from Target!

TREND FIVE

I have a slight obsession with statement earrings (even though I rarely stray from my staple earrings). These millennial pink triple drop pom-pom earrings caught my eye in store the other day & I'm obsessed with how pretty and dainty the ombre is. They're small enough to be comfortable, but the style and coloring is perfectly eye-catching. 

TREND SIX

This little blouse literally contains three different major trends for spring and summer...and I'm not even mad about it.

 It's off the shoulder. It's got bell sleeves. And the colorful pompoms!

Plus...you've got to check out the price-it's a steal. 

Tuck this trendy top into jean shorts and you've got a winning summer outfit. 

TREND SEVEN

I remember the days when palm print was reserved for your grandmothers bathing suit (with a skirt no less) or perhaps the couch at the beach condo you rented for Spring Break...not anymore!

Palm print has hit full force (my phone case is even palm printed!) It looks amazing on dresses, just like this one, pants, bikinis, curtains, pillows...everything!

It's literally the perfect summery touch for everywhere, plus it incorporates the Pantone color of the year ;)

TREND EIGHT

I have to admit, I have fought this trend-the straw tote.

I don't think that I can get away with carrying one of these in Alabama (not really tropical), but you can best bet that I would love to have one of these for the beach, I mean...look at those tassels! 

TREND NINE

The lace-up trend is one that I've been behind for over a year now. It started with these flats and now I'm dying to test out the trend for the summer with these fringe-y lace up sandals!

The widget below contains all the items in the graphic above & lots of other fun trendy items for low, low prices! Click on the photo for more info (and scroll through for all the products!) 

Let me know below what trend you're loving the most!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Ten on Tuesday [No.14]

Some of the links below are affiliate links, from which I earn a small commission when they are used. Thank you for supporting Southern & Style!

Happy Fourth of July, y'all!

So sorry that I missed last week's Ten on Tuesday-my sisters, mom, and I took a cooking class last Monday and I was hoping to include some photos in that post so I didn't schedule it and we didn't get in until after midnight...needless to say, I didn't edit any photos or schedule a post that night when I got home!

I hope this week's "Ten on Tuesday" post finds you all well! I personally cannot believe that this is the first Tuesday of July, this summer is positively flying by!

ONE

I have been patiently waiting for one of my two favorite sales of the year to be announced and sure enough, Nordstrom has announced the dates of the #NSale!

It's their biggest sale of the year & always gets me excited for cozy fall clothes, even if it's in the middle of some of the hottest months in Alabama.

While I wait on the #NSale, I've been perusing their current sale section and found a couple of goodies like this (these would be perfect gifts!), this (so cute for summer!), and this (these boots were so popular last Fall & now they're $200 off and in stock in all sizes!)...they might just be too good to wait on!

TWO

Since we've had such an abundance of fresh veggies this summer already (thanks to our friends and neighbors!) I've been thinking about all the yummy recipes I can fix including this Mexican corn on the cob that you cook on the grill, my personal favorite method of cooking during the summer months!
Now if I could just get my hands on some fresh peaches for these fried peach pies...

THREE
If you've watched the new HGTV show Home Town, then you probably already love it as much as me. Check out their 6 decorating tips-my personal favorites are displaying your collections-I think hanging things that you love to collect (like vintage china, etc) on the walls adds so much personality to your space & the tip about adding color to the outside of your home is awesome too-right now we have a bright red door, but I hope to turn it navy one day, either way it adds personality to our home!

FOUR
Just in case you're looking for a new house anytime soon...Jackie Kennedy's childhood home, Merrywood, is for sale-and it is stunning!

FIVE
If you watch Orange is the New Black, then you need to see what the cast looks like in real life-some of them will surprise you!
Also, speaking of new shows-I just finished The Handmaid's Tale & Harlots on Hulu and I'm obsessed. I cannot wait for season two of both!

SIX
My absolute favorite restaurant in the entire world (& that's saying a lot, because I've eaten at a lot of great places) is Acre in Auburn, Alabama. The chef, James Beard Award Winner-David Bancroft, had this recipe for his Frito Pie featured in Garden and Gun and it sounds like a winner-just like everything else at Acre...and everything else in Auburn ;)

SEVEN
I'm such a country music fanatic and lately while I've been working on things around the house or prepping blog posts I've been listening to Country Coffeehouse on Spotify.
This song; Forever Girl by Jon Langston came up one day and I absolutely fell in love-it's so sweet!

EIGHT
If you missed Saturday's post, I talked all about why you should take a cooking class...I've become a firm believer in making memories and having experiences rather than just giving things-I think it's worth so much more in the end!

NINE

Speaking of food, if you're ever in a rush in the breakfast-you need to try out the new overnight oats that Carly shared on her blog last week. They sound so easy and so tasty!

TEN

Here's a mini-roundup of how I spent some of the Fourth of July weekend...

I have loved growing my own flowers this summer, this bouquet was the perfect patriotic touch-blue hydrangeas and red geraniums and zinnias.

We are so blessed to be able to spend a little bit of time out on the lake this weekend, it rained on us a few times but it was so beautiful...and if the picture below doesn't get you in your feelings, then I don't know what will!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

Taking a Cooking Class

Some of the links in today's post are affiliate links from which I make a small percentage of each sale-thank you for supporting Southern & Style!

Hey y'all!

Today we're chatting about something that I recently did with my sisters and my mom...and why you should do it too.

 

Before I talk about our particular cooking class, I want to tell you why we decided to take one.
My mom's birthday falls in June (so does mine & my middle sister!), so instead of just buying more knickknacks or candles we decided we wanted to give her an experience and a memory to keep forever-from all three of us sisters.

We decided that going to Birmingham for the afternoon and a cooking class at Sur la Table was the perfect "experience" gift, and it was!

Our class was called "Tacos from Scratch" and included a pork shoulder taco and a shrimp taco with all the toppings. Our instructor, Chef Tyler, was very good at his job and we enjoyed how hands on he truly let us be. He guided us at the beginning of each step, but really let us take the lead. 

My mom took her turn searing our pork shoulder before it went in the pressure cooker.

Trystan, my oldest sister waiting with our pork.

Mom listening to Chef Tyler explain about the process of searing and how important it is.

There was also some amazing pico and chips, oh and wine, for us to enjoy during the class!

We got to use some new techniques, which was my favorite part-now I want a mandolin for my kitchen!

Julie and Trystan doing the quick pickling liquid for our peppers and onions. 

Probably our most favorite tool of this class was the tortilla press.

I had taken a field trip when I was younger and we saw tortillas made by hand, so since then I have always wanted to learn how to make them as an adult and I had no idea how easy it was!

One thing I want to point out is how Chef Tyler always showed us how to correct things that went wrong; for example, our tortillas were breaking when we tried to flip them on the grill. To correct that, we had to go back and add just a touch of water to the balls before we pressed them.

If everything had went perfect in class and I got home and tried that and my tortillas cracked, I would've had no idea how to fix it. It's true that we learn more from our mistakes than being perfect!

The end result was so incredibly tasty.

The shrimp was perfectly cooked and slightly spicy. The pickled onions and jalapeños were the perfect tart taste and the tortillas were soft and the perfect texture. 

The pork didn't cook as well as it could had, because we had issues with the pressure cooker, so it wasn't as tender as it could've been-but it was still tasty and the flavor was spot on!

In addition to making the tacos, we also made an avocado creama and a tomatillo salsa that were so yummy!

I hope I've convinced you through taking you along through our class that you should consider taking a cooking class-if not with Sur la Table, then at another place. We laughed and just had the best time talking and cooking and learning, it was one for the books and has turned me into a believer of doing experiences rather than asking for things as gifts. 

Let me know below...have you ever taken a cooking class?

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 

📷: 99% of the photos in this post were taken by my beautiful big sister and part-time blog-tographer, Trystan Terrell!