Southern Reliving
My Grandma does this awesome thing for our family. When you get married, she starts getting you a subscription every year to Southern Living magazine. She said it was one of the first magazines she started reading as a young southern bride, so she has continued that tradition. I love it. I love the magazine, but I love it more because it’s from my Grandma.
One of my favorite parts of Southern Living is a little column called, “Southern Tastemakers.” In this part, they identify little boutique or shop owners throughout the south and they ask them the same standard questions to help people get to know them and their style preferences. Since I am currently out of new ideas and am resorting to posts full of random, ridiculous lists of unless facts, I thought I’d answer those questions, too.
Here we go…
I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT… my iPhone. I can’t live without it. I will turn around when I am halfway to work if I realize I have forgotten my phone. I use it for social things, but I also use it at school for educational apps throughout the day with my classes. It’s a necessity!
THE MOST STYLE YOU CAN GET FOR UNDER $25… A good pair of earrings. I love earrings. They can change an entire outfit or style. My newest love are Marian J earrings. It’s a super cute Etsy shop with jewelry that is just my style. I have several of her pieces and love them all. It is definitely statement jewelry but at a reasonable price. Love it!
MY VANITY IS ALWAYS STOCKED WITH… Several things: Mary Kay Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser and Mary Kay Age-Fighting Moisturizer, Garnier Fructice Curl Construct Mousse and Hairspray.
BEST SHOPPING ADVICE… Shop for your shape and not for your size. Don’t worry about sizes or anything, just buy whatever looks good. So many people get caught up in their size number that they don’t see how they look in something. Some things in my closet are a size four and some are a size ten. It depends on what I’m wearing and how it looks.
I ALWAYS SPLURGE ON… Make up. I use MAC and Mary Kay make up products, and sometimes I feel bad spending extra on that. But it really lasts so long and I figure if it’s on my face every day, then it better be pretty good quality.
I ALWAYS SAVE ON… Shampoo and conditioner. I buy whatever I have a coupon for or whatever is on sale. Usually it’s Herbal Essence or Pantene.
EVERY SOUTHERN WOMAN NEEDS… A string of pearls and pearl stud earrings. Not the over-sized trendy kind, but the understated, real deal kind of pearls. Wear ’em to a tailgate with jeans or to church in your Sunday best. You can’t go wrong.
I LOVE TO COLLECT… Books. I love ’em. I like to have my own that I can hold in my hand and dogear the pages. I collect them at home and for my classroom. I love being given a book as a gift and I love the feeling of buying one for myself. I love big giant chain bookstores like Barnes and Noble and I love small independent used bookstores. Doesn’t really matter how I get them. I love books.
MY SECRET STYLE SOURCE… Believe it or not, Gracie! I love little girl clothes. They are so bright and happy, and yet cozy and comfy at the same time. Another thing I’ve learned from Gracie is how to mix patterns and prints. Polk-a-dots and stripes or flowers and plaid. I never would have tried mixing those things before, but she has a lot of little outfits with mixed prints and I think they are adorable. Of course, I have to really downplay a lot of it in my own style, but I can do it in little bits and pieces throughout my wardrobe.
MY MUST-HAVE FOR FALL… Flat suede tall boots in brown. I don’t technically HAVE these boots yet, but I’m on the hunt. I had a black pair for a couple years and I loved them. They went with everything – dressy because they were suede, but casual because they were flats. I am looking for a new pair this year, but in brown. I know they’re out there somewhere!
13 Comments
Christy
Try Zappos for your boots. I bet you will find something and they have a great return policy. This post made me want to go shopping.
Vikki
Katie check out Lucchese Spirit-Chelsea boots, very cute!
Jennifer
As a curly girl myself who uses the cheaper stuff, I have to recommend Garnier Sleek & Strong shampoo & conditioner. I can usually find it at a good price and they usually have $1 off coupons.
Kat
love it! And you’re so right about the earrings – I feel similarly about a nice necklace – totally changes up the outfit in my mind.
Lee Ann
I, too, love to collect books. Books to me must have a cover and pages, something I can feel and turn. I have not yet felt the desire to own a non-book item with a screen from which you read words. That said, the day may be coming when I succumb to the dreaded e-book. Why? Because of all the books I’ve moved two or three times. The friends who help me move gently told me that they would no longer move boxes of books. So I’m slowly, painfully sorting through 50 years of a book collection and finding new homes for the ones I can bear to give away. Ah, the pain!
Natalie
I also splurge on beauty products and collect books! There is a great used bookstore in Casselberry (436 & 17-92) that I go to a lot, Brightlight Books, and they have a great selection of books and movies. You should definitely check it out if you are ever near there Mon- Sat!
Alaina
Good for you on the Mary Kay 🙂 (Speaking as a consultant myself)
Mallory
I have a pair of boots similar to the ones you’re describing that I love! They’re by Steve Madden.
Nate's Mom @ Nate is Great
Go check out your Q&A page – lots of good starter questions there, particularly ours – Nate and I want to know how Mister Bear is doing! 🙂
tabs
Oh my gosh, i LOVE this post!! You have given me some good things to chew on…as per usual when i read one of your posts. 🙂
Kaitlyn
Charlotte Russe has the best flat suede boots! I have them in black, brown, purple, and red. And they’re only $30!! I have to buy a new pair about every two years cos I wear holes in them from wearing them so much, but I mean for $30 I think that’s an amazing deal. and no this is not a promotion for Charlotte Russe, hahaha I just can’t not tell someone about a good deal.
Nikki
Oh how I love my pearls! They are such a great accessory. I should probably change it up a bit and wear other earrings, but I wont. It’s just habit! I’m also searching for brown boots. I will have to look at some ideas on here and get to shopping.
Brianna
They aren’t suede, but these are the best flat boots. I wore them so much, I’m on my second pair. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/steven-by-steve-madden-intyce-boot/2956230?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=COGNAC+LEATHER&resultback=2358