A Touch of Southern Grace

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Easter Dresses

Is it just me or does it seem slightly unreal that Easter is next Sunday? I am loving the fact that warmer temperatures are starting to settle in and that flowers are in bloom – it is like Mother Nature is waking up from a very long nap.

Easter is the spring holiday that signals it is finally acceptable to wear all things seersucker, white, lace, and pastels – which to a Southern girl is a dream come true. Goodbye bulky sweaters and the many winter shades of grey, white, and black and hello color!

With Easter just around the corner it is time to start thinking about Easter Dresses. Here are a few favorite dresses that I have recently come across that would be perfect for just such an occasion.

Yellow Wear It On Worth Dress

Island Floral Print Dress

The Corbin Seersucker Dress

Pine Lace Dress

Raegan Fit & Flare Dress

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Favorite Photo Apps

Hands down Instagram is my favorite social media platform to use; after all, a picture does say a thousand words. Whenever I post pictures on Instagram I am all about using photo editing and using filters. Side note: pictures I post of myself on my blog for product review have very minimal editing if any; I am very much of the mind that you should 100% own who you are, appearance and all, and take pride in yourself, but hey, a filter here and there is sometime called for.

Before I post a picture on my Instagram page I usually take about 10 – 20 pictures of the same thing, even if it is just a book – yes, I realize this is somewhat ridiculous. Lately I have become an excessive photo app person…sometimes I even edit a photo that is just meant for a text conversation…

It is a little crazy to think that when I was growing up there were only film camera, and you had to cross your fingers, eyes, and toes, that there were at least a few suitable photos on the roll. Now as long as we have our phone with us we have a camera available at the ready and we can even edit photos with the help of a few photo apps in just a few short minutes. Admittedly, I have turned into somewhat of a photo app junkie, but lucky for you I have some photo app recommendations!

Snapseed// Snapseed is my most favorite photo app at this current moment. Not gonna lie, it is pretty amazing. This app takes tuning an image and bringing out the details in the photos to a whole new level. Oh, did I mention you can also crop, straighten, selectively enhance certain sections of a photo, and add a filter in the Snapseed App…

Squareready// As we all know to upload a picture in Instagram it has to be in a square… Most of the time I have the camera on my phone set to “square”, but on occasion I forget and take a regular photo. This app allows you to upload horizontal and vertical photos in Instagram, not just the square ones.

InstaSize// This is another app that comes in quit handy when you forget to set you picture to “square”. This app allows you to upload a picture into Instagram in the horizontal or vertical form without having to edit the photo.

Aviary// So many amazing filters, overlays, and whiting action, so little time… This app is worth downloading.

BeFunky// This photo app is like hitting the jackpot as far as photo apps go. You can do basically anything in this app: change the fill light, play with the exposure element of a picture, add text, frames, enhance makeup, and so much more. Plus it is a free app…definitely worth checking out!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Sunday Night Thought

Friday, March 20, 2015

Happy Hour Time

Well…hellooooo Friday and first day of spring! Give yourself a pat on the back – you’ve made it through the week and through the winter season! It may not be the warmest spring day, but at least we a getting closer and closer to being able to wear sundresses, seersucker, and of course, Lilly shorts and skirts. I hope everyone has enjoyed the week of St. Patrick’s Day and hope that no one was pinched for not wearing green… Here’s to a wonderful weekend spent with friends and family with many memories to be made. Cheers!

“I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good.”

~ Roald Dahl

Drink Special!

Sayonara

1 ½ ounce gin

1 ounce sake

½ ounce triple sec

Ice cubes

Orange twist for garnish

Shake liquid ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass

Around Town!

Nashville, TN: Meghan Trainor: That Bass Tour with Sheppard at Cannery Ballroom, Friday, March 20, 8:00pm

Savannah, GA: Savannah Music Festival, Friday, March 20 – Saturday, April 4

Louisville, KY: Maker’s Mark After Dark at Galt House Hotel, Friday, March 20 1:15pm

Charleston, SC: Festival of Houses and Gardens at Old & Historic District, Friday, March 20 – Sunday, April 19

Little Rock, AR: Mid-Southern Watercolorists are Arkansas Arts Center, Friday, March 20 – Sunday, April 12

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Throwback Blog Style

In honor of Throwback Thursday I thought it might be fun to do a little recap of some of my most popular blog post over the past few years. Sometimes I can seriously not believe I have had my blog for a little over two years, and am still astonished at the amount of people who take the time to read my blog.

When I first started blogging it took me a little while to find my voice: I was so worried if people would like what I was putting out on the massiveness that is the internet and a little embarrassed as well. Once I started to get more comfortable with the idea of people possibly reading what I was writing I became more relaxed and started to write in a way that allowed my authentic self to be relayed to my audience.

I will admit that I am still a little embarrassed by some of my early blog post, and am surprised that they have as many view as they do, according to blogger. Thank you to all of my readers who take time out of their day to read what I post! Here is a look book at some of my most popular post from least to most recent.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Lovely Leggings Do’s and Don’ts

Home Office Inspiration

Joules Evedon Rain Boots

Amy Ruth Designs

My DryBar Product Obsession

I desperately wish there was a DryBar around where I live. It is probably a blessing in disguise there isn’t; I strongly dislike how long it takes me to dry my hair and would definitely be visiting the DryBar a few times a week if there were one close to me.

There may not be a DryBar in Nashville {I have my fingers crossed one will open soon}, but luckily there is a Sephora five minutes away from me, and they just happen to carry basically all of the DryBar products! They may just be hair products, but they are hair products that are beyond amazing.

It all started a few years ago when I decided to treat myself to the 3-Day Bender, aka the best curling iron, ever. After my first DryBar hair tool purchase I was officially hooked. Over the past couple years I have slowly incorporated and replaced other hair products with DryBar products, and I am pretty convinced my hair could not survive without the products created by the DryBar. If you think I am exaggerating just try the shampoo… Here are a few a the DryBar Products that I use regularly as part of my hair routine.

Texas TeaShampoo// When I purchased the DryBar hair dryer a sample of the Texas Tea Shampoo and Conditioner were included. I have never been one to invest a lot in shampoo - I am usually a Pantene or at the most a Redken person. The first time I used Texas Tea Shampoo my reaction was WOW! I have never used a shampoo that has made my hair feel so clean and soft. The Sake Bomb shampoo is definitely on my list of products to try but right now I am loving Texas Tea. Side note: the bottle may not be very big but it last me usually around two and a half months, which I think is a decent amount of time.

HotToddy// Hot Toddy is the DryBar hear protector and frizz fighter product. Personally, I hate the feeling when products are weighting down my hair. All the DryBar products I have used thus far have felt light and honestly they serve there purpose, smell wonderful, and does not leave behind the yucky feeling of having a weighted down or over styled hair. I usually only wash and try my hair every other day or so, but when I do a heat protector is vital to my hair health; I have curly somewhat thick hair that takes about 30 – 40 minutes to blow dry. On top of the excessive time it takes to dry my hair I usually run a curling iron over it afterwards. Needless to say I would be up a creek without some sort of heat protector and Hot Toddy is my favorite heat protector I have ever used.

MoneyMaker// I cannot put into words my dislike of using hairspray. I usually never use a hairspray: I hate the way it smells, how it makes my hair feel, plus my hair usually holds its style so I usually hold off on using the hair spray. Money Maker hairspray, however, is a different story. I honestly use Money Maker just for the simple fact that it smells good. As far as functionality goes it is a flexible hold hairspray that does not leave behind a sticky feeling and allows you to easily brush your hair out after using it, plus it does a pretty good job of keeping hair in place.

ButtercupBlow Dryer// Best hair dryer I have ever used. Believe me when I say I put hair dryers to the test – a hair dryer usually last me about 6 months, at the most, and I have had the Buttercup for 8 and it is still going strong! Since I switched to this hair dryer I have noticed my hair seems to be healthier and it does not take as long to dry with a DryBar hair dryer as it would with a hair dryer one might buy at Target or such.

Hold MeHair Clip// I usually dry my hair in sections {unless I am tight on time}, and these hold me clips are perfect to hold hair that has already been dried out of the way. These clips are a little different from other clips due to the fact that they have an “alligator jaw” which better holds the hair and holds large amounts of hair.

The 3-DayBender// The curling iron that started something that over time evolved onto the DryBar Product Obsession. My two favorite aspects about this product is that it takes litterally 5 seconds to heat up before it is ready to use and because of the spinning barrel feature you do not have to have the heat on your hair for very long.

Oh, did I mention that DryBar just happens to have a YouTube Channel {click here to see} that shows you how to give yourself a blowout…

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

Question of the day: Does a Kate Spade Surprise Sale ever get old? Final answer: No! I completely love it when Kate Spade has a surprise sale – first off, it’s a surprise and secondly, hello…who doesn’t love a great sale! From handbags to dresses to stationary here are some of my favorite items included in the sale!