Belle Meets World

BEAUTY MUST-HAVES

ACCESSORIES MAKE THE LOOK
CASUAL STYLE

ACCESSORIES MAKE THE LOOK

Sometimes a look is all about the accessories. It’s the extras you put together that make a simple piece of fashion into your own style. And the best part is that you can turn an outfit into killer-fashionista status with items that don’t cost that much at all. Case in point? This adorable Forever 21 watermelon bag and fruity sequin hat! I scored them here in Charleston this weekend for just about $40 and had to have them. So playful and fun for summer trips and adventures. 

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WHERE TO SHOP EASTER DRESSES UNDER $100
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WHERE TO SHOP EASTER DRESSES UNDER $100

When I was a kid I loved getting a new Easter dress every year. We would go to Belk or Uptons and I’d get to pick something out. My favorite dress one year was a little white cotton dress with a ruffled skirt and a big pink bow plus a white hat with a pink bow to match. It was my prized possession of the moment. Even as a little one I loved shopping so much. Then after church we’d get to find our Easter baskets and gorge ourselves on Cadbury creme eggs, Peeps and Jelly Beans. It was the best!

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NON-TRADITIONAL WEDDING DRESSES
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NON-TRADITIONAL WEDDING DRESSES

Believe it or not, I wasn’t one of those girls who dreamed about her perfect wedding growing up. I didn’t think about the details or have a vision for what it would look like, where it would be or who would attend. I didn’t even think about the groom until much later in life when I started dating more seriously. When I met the man who would become my groom, it became a lot easier to imagine the day. But until then, the only thing I knew about my wedding very strongly was that my dress would not be white. It could be short, long, tight, flowy, or whatever the hell it would be. It would be a color – preferably pink – but I’d be open-minded.

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GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN – GOOD OR BAD?
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GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN – GOOD OR BAD?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about going against the grain and what that does to boost your sense of self and get you closer to the things you want to achieve. Sometimes it works, and others it doesn’t. I’ve always struggled with desperately wanting to be different yet secretly wanting to be accepted by the people around me. I’ve had daydreams of a career on my own yet return to the corporate world again and again when the going gets tough and the money runs out. I will often take big leaps, only to find out I’m actually pretty risk averse. But in my mind, I’m a radical maverick who bucks tradition and laughs in the face of sameness. Hahaha!! Hello, mirror, can I look into you to get a dose of the truth?!

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MARCH WRITING CHALLENGE + RED DRESS IN WINTER
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MARCH WRITING CHALLENGE + RED DRESS IN WINTER

Hello Dear Readers! Since the start of 2017, I’ve been hard at work on my very own happiness project. Each month I’m working on something or a couple things that will both challenge and change me. Ideally I keep them going in the months to follow and add on something new with each month. For March, I’m challenging myself to write on this blog as much as I possibly can. Ideally that means 5 days per week, but I’m also learning to be flexible with myself as I strive to meet major goals, so we’ll aim for as close to 20 posts as I can get.

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WHAT TO WEAR TO HOLIDAY PARTIES AND EVENTS
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WHAT TO WEAR TO HOLIDAY PARTIES AND EVENTS

Each season, I try to find a few fabulous items that I know will have tremendous staying and wearing power – pieces that can turn heads for all the right reasons and that will work for the multitude of holiday parties and events I’ll need to attend. Owning one or two unique yet basic pieces can really simplify any style conundrums you may run into as you prepare for the social obligations that November and December bring. Meeting your significant other’s parents for the first time? Attending an engagement party? What about the office holiday party? A trip to the theatre? A religious service? That’s a lot, and while you might be tempted, it’s not the time to wrap yourself in a tight red dress and unleash the cleavage. It’s the time to look covered up, respectful of the people who invited you, and classy.

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