I’m not a huge exercise junky, so ethically made workout clothing was never something that was high on my list when I made the switch to fair trade and ethically made fashion. I honestly didn’t think about it at all until my sweet sister gifted me these high-rise leggings from Girlfriend Collective.
The things that have been bringing me joy lately:
1. Simple Truth Sweet Potato Chips. All of my friends and family are probably sick of hearing me talk about how much I love Kroger. But seriously. They have the best prices and a huge selection of organic/gluten-free/natural products. Their Simple Truth line is free from 101 artificial preservatives and ingredients and is often organic as well. I have been buying Simple Truth products for awhile but just recently tried the sweet potato chips. Oh, y’all. So good. Especially paired with pimiento cheese (is that weird?).
In case anyone has been living under a rock and hasn’t noticed, it has been exceptionally cold so far this winter. The temperature has frequently been in the teens and 20s the past couple of weeks here in North Carolina, and this thin-skinned Southerner can only take so much, y’all. Until winter finally high tails it out of here, dressing warmly is essential!
It’s my annual “books I read this year” post! I had so much fun doing this last year, and I got some great recommendations from y’all on books to add to my reading list!
I read 28 books in 2017. This was fewer books than in 2016 (I have a shorter commute now, and the majority of the books I “read” are actually audio versions that I listen to in the car). I am still incredibly proud of this number! That’s slightly more than two books per month! Read More
Today, I woke up to a beautiful dusting of snow! To celebrate, I am giving away this gorgeous pair of ethically made Béljoy earrings from The Flourish Market!
These delicate brass earrings look stunning with a backdrop of snow, but they are also versatile enough to be worn year-round with virtually any outfit! Read More
I think it’s actually kind of fitting that my regularly scheduled Social Justice Sunday post falls on New Year’s Eve so that we can end the year with a little bit of inspiration! Y’all know that I am a big advocate of purchasing ethically produced products–that is, goods that are produced in a way that is kind to people and the environment. This quote is something that I hope inspires all of us as we enter the new year:
At the end of 2016, I did a post with 11 superlatives for the year. This year, I’m making it an annual tradition! As we approach 2018, it’s been fun to look back on 2017 and reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here we go!
1. Biggest Milestone: Launching this blog! The new name and layout felt like coming home…like this was always where my blog was supposed to be. And since the launch, I’ve been better about posting more regularly, which has been an exciting achievement!
2. Hardest Challenge: My family lost a sweet pup this year, and we have had several other losses and trials within our wider family circle that perhaps haven’t had an enormous direct impact on me personally, but that I have certainly felt and grieved over. I also struggled with some anger and anxiety from a political perspective earlier in the year. I honestly had to disengage myself somewhat from politics and the news in order to cope. I’m not super happy about this, as I think it’s important to be informed and involved, but my mental health just couldn’t take it anymore. All in all, I hesitate to truly label any of these things as “challenges” because they certainly don’t compare to finding out that, say, you yourself have cancer, but they were the tough parts of life that we struggled with this year. Read More
How in the WORLD is 2017 already coming to a close?? This year was jam-packed full of life, and you know what they say: Time flies when you’re having fun!
To celebrate another great year of blogging, I’ve pulled the top five most frequently visited blog posts on Fairly Southern in 2017. Starting with number 5:
5. 11 Year-End Superlatives for 2016. Good thing you loved this one, because my superlatives for 2017 will be coming to the blog next week! Hooray!
Real talk: Finding an ethically made cocktail or semi-formal dress is HARD, all caps.
Earlier this fall, I came up dry when trying to find a new dress to wear to semi-formal weddings. Many ethical fashion brands are on the casual side, and I just didn’t find anything I loved in my size at my favorite consignment stores. It was probably a good thing, because it forced me to re-wear things already in my closet. But if my friends have to see me wear that same navy dress one more time, they may forcefully shove me into a department store dressing room until I come out wearing something different. Read More
Y’all, I think I could write an entire post about the little joys from this weekend alone. I love this time of year! Twinkly lights, holiday parties, festive desserts, and cheery drinks are my jam. It’s been an easy season for finding joy!
Specifically:
1. Christmas lights. I’ve already mentioned it, but it’s worth saying again. All of these twinkly lights have made me so excited! I’ve put shots of some of my favorite neighborhood lights up on Insta stories, and y’all seem to be loving it, too! Read More