Let's Go Back to Real Relationships

Hi y’all,

Tinder. Bumble. Farmer’s Only. You’ve seen the ads, you’ve heard your friends talk about them. You’ve probably even used them. 

So this might sound ridiculous, but what happened to the old fashioned days of dating?

I cannot tell you the amount of people who will tell me the only way to get a date is to either use an app or go to a bar and get drunk. 

Hello, seriously? Is there no other way to meet people?

I do know people who have successful relationships (and most likely would not have met otherwise) from either websites or Tinder. 

What really kills me more than anything else is “friends” won’t set up their male friends with a female friend. When I asked people why they wouldn’t do this, they said “I don’t want anyone to have to put up with that”. Why are you friends with them then? 

While I don’t think the most important thing in life is having a significant other (sign me up to be a puppy mom, please). I do think it is important to have good quality friendships and people who care about you. 

Now, I was never the popular kid in school (and I really wouldn’t change that fact). I learned how to be a friend with myself and I truly value the friendships I do have. However, finding a significant other has been tough. I have been able to put myself first, though. I have increased by education, decided what I actually wanted to do with my life, and am more financially stable than I thought I would be. I won’t apologize for who I am. I will most certainly continue to wear the same style of clothes, being willing to get my hands dirty at any time, and work toward my own personal goals. 

I’ve also noticed that when my friends and other people I know go on dates, their dates don’t treat them the old fashioned way. Doors aren’t held open. Heck, some don’t even come to the door to get their date. Instead, the cool thing to do is “hide” your relationship.

Bottom of the line: It’s not okay for you to feel awful about yourself because your date doesn’t treat you the right way. Instead, stand up for yourself. Believe me, this relationship won’t be your last.

with southern grace,

Lindsey

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Packing for the Long Weekend

Hi y'all,

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here, and I bet you that unlike me, you probably are going on an extended trip (I have to work on Saturday morning). 

While I’m sad that I have to cut my plans short, I thought I would give a few quick tips for packing for your long.

Packing for the Long Weekend

Pack Necessitates

Sunscreen

Less technology is more

Duffle bag

Separate your jewelry

www.withsoutherngrace.blogspot.com

1. Pack what you (realistically) need. I am for sure someone who over packs. I have found it super useful to lay out the outfits you plan on wearing. This way, you know exactly what you have and what else you need to pick out. This also means don’t pack a lot of makeup. Chances are you won’t need it.
2. Bring sunscreen. This is something I almost always forget to bring, but should. Especially during big holiday weekends it can be hard to either find sunscreen or a hassle. 
3. Don’t bring all your technology. Take a break and enjoy your weekend. You don’t need your laptop, iPad, phone, and iPod. Maybe, just you’re phone. But, don’t forget to put it down and remember your charger.
4. Use a flexible suitcase. Instead of using one of those rolling hard suitcases all the time, use a duffle bag. This is a total game changer because you can put it in places in a car you can’t put a hard suitcases, and you can also pack a little bit more because it’s flexible.
5. Pack jewelry in little bags. This sounds really silly, but if you’ve ever bought from Kendra Scott, you get a bag with each piece. Keep them! Use them to individually pack your jewelry pieces. It prevents tangling and keeps the jewelry cleaner.

with southern grace,

Lindsey

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Summer Lovin'

Hi Y'all,

While I don't anticipate making many posts like this one, I thought I would share some of the items I'm loving so far for summer. I do like doing these posts, but I typically end up making at least one purchase while I'm creating them (even with this one, I bought some stuff from J.Crew).

Lilly Luxletic Shorts    J.Crew Scalloped Leggings Vineyard Vines Fan Boarder Print Dress  Lilly “Mini Enna” Dress

Linen Rayon Dolman Dress

with southern grace,

Lindsey

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101 in 1001 Update

Hi Y'all,

Since it's been a while since January when I started this list, I thought I would give it an update.

Start: January 1, 2017

End: September 29, 2019

{via}

Professional: 

1. 1. Finish my teaching program
2. 2. Student Teach
3. 3. Get my teaching licensure
4. 4. Get a teaching job/contract
5. 5. Pass my tests to become a teacher
6. 6. Attend a professional conference
7. 7. Start my master's degree
8. 8. Learn CPR 5.5.17
9. 9. Set up a virtual file for Word Study
10. 10. Copy some math handouts
11. 11. Update my resume
12. 12. Keep a journal during practicums  March-April 2017
13. 13. Keep a journal during student teaching 
14. 14. Become certified with Hootsuite

Personal:

1.  15. Save $5000
2. 16. Get a puppy
3. 17. Read 32 books (1 for each month)-total complete: 12
4. 18. Take a trip
5. 19. Attend my sorority's 5th year anniversary celebration
6. 20. Unplug from technology for 24 hours
7. 21. Workout every day for 30 days
8. 22. Go back to London/UK
9. 23. Move into my own apartment
10. 24. Sell some of my old Lilly clothes/clothes I don't wear
11. 25. Buy a new computer
12. 26. Watch a full baseball game
13. 27. Run a mile
14. 28. Run 2 miles
15. 29. Run a 5k (does not have to be a race)
16. 30. Attend a polo match
17. 31. Go apple picking
18. 32. Go ice skating
19. 33. Drink 70 oz. of water every day for a week 1.15.17
20. 34. Buy nothing for 30 days Feb. 2017
21. 35. Go on a hike
22. 36. Blog 5 days a week for a month
23. 37. Visit Charleston, SC
24. 38. Go to CNU's Homecoming
25. 39. Celebrate my friend's Medical School graduation
26. 40. Visit Chicago again
27. 41. Take a trip alone
28. 42. Clean out my technology- computer, iPad, phone, and iPod
29. 43. Give to CNU
30. 44. Give to Alpha Delta Pi
31. 45. Frame my college diploma
32. 46. Clean my room
33. 47. Write a handwritten letter, that is not a thank you note
34. 48. Unsubscribe from all unwanted emails
35. 49. Get to inbox zero on all of my emails
36. 50. Make my bed every day for a week 1. 29.17
37. 51. Go one month without shopping Feb. 2017
38. 52. Make dinner with a friend
39. 53. Get Invisalign/teeth straightened
40. 54. Learn to a shoot a gun
41. 55. Take a trip with a friend
42. 56. Work on my Spanish Started February 2017-use the app Duolingo.
43. 57. Pray more
44. 58. Take a day for myself
45. 59. Clean out my closet
46. 60. Go kayaking with a friend
47. 61. Take 5 minutes a day for myself for a month
48. 62. Visit a zoo
49. 63. Visit a new museum
50. 64. Clean my car myself
51. 65. Clean my bathroom once a week for a month Jan. 2017
52. 66. Celebrate best friend's graduation from college
53. 67. Go camping
54. 68. Hold a plank for 3 minutes
55. 69. Clean out social media "friends" Jan. 2017
56. 70. Take my coins to the bank
57. 71. Buy myself flowers
58. 72. Watch a documentary 5.11.17 {On the Farm: Life Inside Angola}
59. 73. Go to a concert
60. 74. Spend time in a park
61. 75. Make my bed everyday for a month
62. 76. Do a 30 day exercise challenge
63. 77. Do PT exercises everyday for a month
64. 78. Get a new doctor {scheduled appointment for June 2017}
65. 79. Go to "Sunset Series"
66. 80. Try paddle boarding
67. 81. Have/go to a bon fire
68. 82. Watch the sunrise with someone
69. 83. Watch the sunset with someone
70. 84. Have a day where I stay in bed all day
71. 85. Walk 30,000 steps in a day
72. 86. Plan outfits out for the next day the night before for a week
73. 87. Cook someone dinner
74. 88. Cook someone breakfast
75. 89. Organize jewelry Jan. 2017
76. 90. Binge watch a show I haven't watched before
77. 91. Get my t-shirt quilt made of my sorority and college t-shirts
78. 92. Reach out to a sorority sister
79. 93. Have a rainy movie day with a friend
80. 94. Go to a fair
81. 95. Go to the beach
82. 96. Visit Harry Potter Studio Tour in England
83. 97. Have a picnic
84. 98. Pick up for 5 minutes a day for a month
85. 99. Go on a ghost tour
86. 100. Post to Instagram every day for a month
87. 101. Buy myself a nice piece of jewelry. 

*1 month= 30 days, 1 week= 7 days

Total Complete: 11/101 

To Go: 90

Surviving Long Distance Friendships

Hi y'all,

As many college students head home for summer, this is the longest time period you'll be away from your college friends (assuming y'all are all returning in the fall).

I know that I definitely missed my roommate, sorority sisters, and my best friend (who ended up transferring and even moving states).

But y'all, what a time to be alive. Technology changes the face of the long distance friendship or relationship.

1. Facetime. Guys, I cannot tell you how useful Facetime actually is. I got to "meet" my long distance diamond sister, and see my best friend's apartment in Chicago (and her dog). You can even facetime during your favorite t.v. shows, so its just like you're watching them together.

2. Texts. While a text can be easily ignored, your friends will answer your {eventually}. It's a great way to be in constant communication.

3. Hand written letters/cards. I absolutely adore a handwritten note. I keep almost all of them. Not only are they a great way to keep in touch, but they're a great way to remember your friendship over many years, even decades or centuries.

4. Start a Youtube channel. You can start your own YouTube channels and both upload to it. This allows all your college friends to see what you're doing (and maybe even make you some pocket change).

5. Make plans to visit. Chances are y'all will have some free time during the summer and if you don't live too far apart, you can probably set up a visit or two.

It's also important to keep in mind that you might grow apart, even just a little during these 3 months apart.

Likewise, it is important to prioritize your school friends, just as much as your hometown friends during the summer months.

with southern grace,

Lindsey

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Recent Purchases + What I'm Lusting After Roundup

Hi Y'all,

I'm not one to share what I've bought, but I think that it is nice to know what people are buying. I personally haven't tried out the Dry Bar products yet, but I've heard enough good things about them, I thought I would give them a try. I have multiple pairs of Hunter Boots (Navy and pink) but both are matte. I've already worn these boots twice and love how neutral they are.

| Hunter Boots Original High Gloss Boot | Madewell Gingham Wrap miniskirt (sold out) | 

| Dry Bar Double Standard | Dry Bar Hot Toddy |

I also have a small list of things I've been lusting after...

a Barrington bag

Bose speaker

David Yurman ring

Personally, I can't wait until the May 22 Lilly Pulitzer release (they have the cutest sailboat print coming out!). 

What have y'all bought? What are y'all lusting after?

with southern grace,

Lindsey

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Sorority Skills Used in Every Day Life

Hi Y'all,

As some of you may know, I'm an ADPi. So, I figured there was no better day than ADPi's Founder's Day to share this post with y'all: the skills I've found useful since graduating in 2015.

Now, I realize that I work in retail and in school, but I feel these are pretty universal.

1. Conversation. If you've ever done sorority recruitment on the sister side, you can probably hold a 10 minute conversation with a brick wall. Let me tell you, this skill is actually useful when making small talk or trying to figure out something during a sticky situation. Since I work in retail, I have definitely had to talk to people from all walks of life, and working in a school means I have to figure out what the conflict is when there are two kids screaming at each other and crying at the same time.

2. Multitasking. Being in a sorority means you're pretty busy. This means you can probably do two (or more) things at once. This I have found super handy in being able to get things done during the day so I'm not running around anymore than I have to (which is still a lot).

3. Organization. Again, this was a key skill in college, and still is post grad. I always have something going on since I work two jobs and go to school full time. Now, I don't color code my agenda anymore (well at least not as much), but I now use Google Docs/Google Drive successfully, or at least in a sufficient way for me to be successful.

4. Time Management. What? You mean you don't have to work 5 hours, go to class for 3-4 hours, AND do homework? Well, if you don't you're probably taking work home with you. While, I take very little work home with me because I have successfully learned time management. While I was doing my undergrad at CNU, I rarely had as much homework/studying to do as my roommate (granted, different majors and different expectations), but in my collegiate years, I would work, go to chapter, homework, and dinner and still be in bed by 9 or 10 every night (and I can say that I made it through all of college without drinking coffee).

5. Crafting Skills/Tech Skills. I don't know about y'all, but my crafting days did not end on May 9th, 2015 when I graduated. If anything, I use them more now. I can make an ad/flyer on the computer quickly. I can edit a picture for Instagram and keep a consistent look (done more for the store than my personal Instagram). I can craft something in 10 minutes that it takes other people half a day to figure out how to do. Also, cutting things with a die cutter? Oh my gosh, give me 5 minutes and it's done.

Moral of this story: learn all the skills you can, you never know when you'll need them.

with southern grace,

Lindsey

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