Small Joys: Volume 17

All the little things bringing me joy lately:

1. Spring is finally here! I’ve enjoyed spending some time outside on warmer days with Ru pup, and I got to spend a fun afternoon with my mom exploring beautiful Pullen Park in Raleigh!

Pullen Park, Raleigh NC | Fairly Southern

Spring at Pullen Park, Raleigh NC | Fairly Southern

2. A completed shower renovation. Back in December, we began renovations on our master bathroom shower to correct some issues that were causing mold. Our shower is finally complete, and I am thrilled to be able to use it again and not have to clean it every few days!

How to Declutter Your Mailbox

3 / 10 / 193 / 9 / 19

Let’s face it: Junk mail doesn’t spark joy for anyone.

Decluttering has become a major cultural movement as Marie Kondo’s tidying methods have swept the nation and more and more people are embracing minimalism. You may have already purged your junk closet and organized your clothes, but there’s one part of your home you may be overlooking: Your mailbox.

Get the Look: Holiday Glam Clean Beauty Makeover (& a Giveaway!!)

12 / 9 / 182 / 16 / 19

This makeover post gives all the details you need to create a glam holiday look at home using clean beauty products! But the best news? One lucky reader will win their own professional makeover at Trellis Beauty! Read through to the end of the post to enter.

If you’re like me, you’ve got your everyday makeup routine down pat. I can throw on some foundation and mascara like a champ. But when it comes time to take it up a notch for a special occasion, I’m a little lost. Highlighter? Winged eyeliner? Contouring? I don’t have a clue about this stuff…but I want to!

Why I Use Clean Beauty Products

12 / 2 / 182 / 23 / 19

This post is part of my Why Series here on the blog. I often write about fair trade, eco-friendly, socially conscious living, but I am not always able to fully address in each of my blog posts WHY I choose to live this way. This series goes into greater detail about my why!

Over the past couple of years, I have transitioned my shower and skincare routine to include more and more “clean” beauty products. This means that I am choosing products that are made from natural, non-toxic ingredients rather than harmful chemicals. Here is why I have decided to make clean beauty a priority:

1. Most conventional beauty products contain harmful, toxic ingredients.

Why I Haven’t Bought New Clothes This Fall

11 / 18 / 1811 / 18 / 18

Sometimes, ethical and sustainable fashion means NOT buying new clothes.

I haven’t shared many outfit posts on the blog lately because I haven’t been shopping much! I purchased quite a few cold weather tops and sweaters last year, so I honestly haven’t needed to do much shopping as the weather has changed this year. But I have to confess: I have felt anxious about not having any great new ethical fashion finds to post here on Fairly Southern.

Small Joys: Volume 14

11 / 11 / 182 / 16 / 19

All of the little things bringing me joy lately:

1. N.C. State University. It’s not like I’ve ever hated N.C. State, but I’ve never actively liked it, either. I grew up in a split UNC/Duke household and officially began to bleed Carolina blue after attending UNC myself (twice!). But y’all, N.C. State has really earned my respect lately. Read More

Gluten Freedom: How I Stay Positive About My Gluten Intolerance

10 / 21 / 1810 / 17 / 18

I’ve found gluten freedom, and it is oh-so-liberating.

Before I figured out that I had a gluten intolerance, I was one sick lady. I couldn’t eat and weighed just 90 pounds. I was constantly nauseous and carried a sick bag with me everywhere. Every joint in my body throbbed in pain. I was achingly tired and honestly felt like I was dying. A good day meant that I made it to work and back home again…forget doing anything else. I could barely stand for more than a few minutes at a time because I was so weak. I never thought that my mid-20’s would look or feel that way.

Small Joys: Volume 13

9 / 23 / 183 / 27 / 19

Here are all of the little things I’m grateful for lately:

1. Minimal negative effects from Hurricane Florence. Several days before Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas, the direct path of the storm was headed straight for our house in the Triangle area. The storm ended up shifting south, and we had very minimal effects…just some brief power loss. We are so grateful that things ended up not being as bad in our area as the forecasters originally thought. Still, my thoughts go out to all of those who did have terrible impacts from the storm! Read More

Clean Beauty Swap: Mascara (& a GIVEAWAY!!)

8 / 26 / 189 / 3 / 18

Beauties, I’ve got a real treat for you today: a clean beauty swap AND a giveaway! Be sure to read through to the end of the post for your chance to score some clean beauty goodies from Trellis Beauty!

Today, we’re talking mascara. Compared to most bloggers, I think I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to my eyelashes. I don’t mess with eyelash curlers, eyelash extensions, eyelash growth serums, etc. What I do want is a volumizing mascara that works really well. Most days I don’t wear eyeliner, so my mascara is the sole big performer on my eye lids. I want as much va-va-voom as possible!