Five on Friday

Happy Friday readers!

Is it just me, or has this week felt like the longest ever?

It has been raining here pretty much nonstop since Monday night which has certainly put a damper on things...it looks like the weekend ahead should be clear, though!

Today I'm linking up with the lovely Five on Friday ladies!

ONE

The cover of this month's House Beautiful

If the weather doesn't take a turn for the better and things stay gloomy outside, I wouldn't mind curling up with this latest issue of House Beautiful! That kitchen...mega swoon! I majorly need that island in my life...and those pendants. Speaking of kitchens, Bryce finally agreed to paint our cabinets white, something I've dreamed of for years! As long as I agree to keep our front door black, he's okay with us doing the interior painting projects I've been wanting for quite some time! I'm not sure how quickly we'll get around to it, as the house needs a few other things worked on first, but I am documenting it here as proof to hold him accountable to our agreement! 

TWO

Chris Stapleton

Last week we were listening to Van Morrison radio while cooking dinner, and the station was killing it! Several Chris Stapleton songs played during the course of the evening and I think he now counts as my new music obsession. Are you a fan?

THREE

Fall Fashion

I am seriously struggling with the fact that fall weather isn't quite here yet. It finally feels cool enough today that I'm wearing my riding boots. On my fall wish list this year is: a plaid, non-blanket, scarf, a cream colored Patagonia vest, and some trendy clogs! What's on yours?

FOUR

Ultimate Fall Salad

Since starting my new job, I've been eating more salads. I pack my lunch most days, rather than going out or home, and have been trying to make big salads that I can eat throughout the week. I am dying to make this Ultimate Fall Salad with kale, butternut squash, and farro! I think some crispy prosciutto would also be a great addition! What are your favorite salads that stay good throughout the week?

FIVE

This Photo

Credit: J&D Photography

How gorgeous is this sneak peek of my UVA bestie Anna's wedding!? I can't wait for all the pics to be revealed in the next few months! Standing by her side all weekend was so special and it was an incredible weekend! I can't wait to share more details with you!

What's on your mind this Friday?

Fun weekend plans?

Does it feel like fall where you are?

Have a great weekend!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday, readers!

How are things going?

I'll be the first to admit, I've hit the summer blogging slump. On top of that, things are gearing up at work. Fall is our busiest time of year and now we are starting to get busy with preparations for the upcoming season.

I am glad to tune in today, though, linking up with the 5 on Friday ladies!

ONE

This Top

Like probably all of you, I also love the off-the-shoulder trend and have been on the hunt for a top that I love...that doesn't break the bank. I've found it in this top! It actually reminds me a lot of this top that I fell in love with, but was way out of my price range with a tag of $395! I love loose, flowy tunics, and this has a similar feel! I also love this barely there salmon color! It also comes in white, a pale blue stripe, and a dark blue stripe. I have a 20% off code right now, which brings this shirt in as a steal at under $60. You can get your own code, by completing this brief survey. What summer trends are you loving?

TWO

This Pin

I try to not share things here on the blog that I can't link back to an original source, but this pin was too good not to share. Those who follow along on Insta, know that I've caught the running bug. For the last month and a half, I have been running every 2-3 days, a minimum of 3 times per week. I have always said "I am not a runner" but have finally reached a point that I crave my runs. I've been using the Running for Weight Loss app, which is an interval training program. I started at the beginner level and in the beginning, it was mostly just walking and running. Now I am doing mostly running and sprints. Toward the very last leg of the workouts, I find myself at a point (typically after a tough uphill sprint), where I just want to stop and walk. At that point, I just repeat to myself in my head over and over, "Running slow is better than walking." You can imagine, therefore when I saw this pin, it really resonated. Now I just need to get my diet in shape! What are your best motivators to stay fit?

THREE

This Song

I can't get enough of this "Head Over Boots" song by Jon Pardi. It is so cheesy, but I love it! I always find myself listening to country more in the summertime. What have you been listening to lately?

FOUR

This Cocktail

I can't believe that 4th of July is just next weekend! Time, as always, is flying! Earlier this week, we had dinner with Bryce's mom and we discussed coming up with some creative blueberry cocktails for the holiday, as the blueberry bushes at the river are overflowing with berries. I couldn't resist going to Pinterest for some inspiration, and think the champagne cocktail pictured above sounds like a winner! I also will likely be making my Patriotic Popcorn (recipe here). What are your 4th plans?

FIVE

This Blogger

I first came across Bradley of the blog Luella & June on Instagram here. I was immediately drawn to her preppy, punchy style! I still follow along mostly on Insta, but also like perusing her blog for fashion eye candy! If only I had an unlimited budget to fill my closet with all of her beautiful pieces...do you follow Bradley? Any other favorites I should be following?

So there you have it! My 5 on Friday!

What's been on your  mind lately?

Have a great weekend!

Follow

I'm Alive!

Happy Hump Day readers!

Just a quick post to say hello, I miss you all, and I'm alive!

Things have been hectic lately--my thesis due date is looming, the holidays and my birthday (just 5 more days!) are here, and student teaching is coming to an end.

That being said, I've had little free time for blogging.

Today I will quickly share a new song with you that I'm loving:  "Bait a Hook" by Justin Moore.  If I haven't mentioned it on the blog before my type is a preppy, Southern, and outdoorsy man.  My friends have laughed at me for saying "I could never date a guy that doesn't hunt and fish"-- but it's true!  When I heard this song the other day, it brought a huge smile to my face and some laughs.  Lucky for me, I found my perfect preppy, Southern, and outdoorsy catch in Bryce!

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with good food and family!

I Survived!

Happy Hump Day to you all!

Though I don't want "personal days" to become a regular thing on this blog, I'm going to take another personal day today.  The epicenter of the 5.9 earthquake that hit Virginia yesterday was in the very same location as my school.  I had never experienced an earthquake before and in my initial panic thought it was a bomb and that I might not live.

Needless to say, I'm still quite shaken up.  There is so much damage to our school that we don't have school today and probably will be out for a while.  Luckily, though, all of our students made it out safely.

I'm taking today to decompress and wind down.  I also am taking this as a reminder for how blessed and grateful I am for my life and all of the wonderful people and things in it.

On a lighter note, Bryce and I are going to Luke Bryan tonight and I can't wait!  I'll leave you with some of my favorite songs of his.

Have you ever experienced an earthquake?

Do you like Luke Bryan?

Have a great day!

Here Fishy, Fishy...

Happy Monday and Happy August to all of you!

Because today is the first day of August that means it's time for African Aspirations, however, I decided to push that back a day so I could tell all of you about my fishing trip on the Rappahanock River this weekend!

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and left the house by 5:45 am! We were on the water by 7:00 and though I would have loved to sleep in that morning, it was gorgeous being out so early.

My idea of "fishing" usually consists of fishing a little bit, and then heading up to the bow to lay out and read for a while.  Saturday was no different, however, I stopped fishing altogether after about ten minutes.  My favorite thing to do in the world is be on the boat, so I spent my day lounging up on the bow (which has always been my spot), chit-chatting with the guys, and just basking in the sun!

My short fishing stint

Cousins

RLE & Allie

the guys

The fish weren't biting at our first spot, so we decided to try somewhere else.  I headed up to the bow and enjoyed the cruise!

The weather was gorgeous: blue skies and a nice breeze

My favorite spot on the boat!

getting the lines ready at our next spot!

Turns out we didn't have much luck there either, so we headed somewhere else...

our captain for the day!

An important part of fishing is patience and we certainly had that...

RLE

RLE, RLE, Daddy

After awhile, I was beginning to think we were going to go home empty handed.  My dad finally caught something, though...a CRAB, only he was missing two legs!  We teased him that the only thing he could catch was a handicapped crab.

Our luck, eventually changed, though..

the guys caught 5 or 6 perch in a row!

Daddy & Allie

However, our good luck sadly did not last long.  At about 1 pm, when the breeze vanished, we decided to call it a day.

As we were leaving, we called my mom to let her know we were on the way home.  She excitedly asked "Are y'all bringing a cooler full of fish home?"  We had to tell her that it was in fact, a bad day of fishing.  I think this Billy Currington song, "A Bad Day of Fishing Beats a Good Day of Anything Else" should be our theme song for the day:

Have you ever had a bad day of fishin'?  How was your weekend?

Checklists

Happy Tuesday!

I know I promised an entertaining post today, and I have that in the works, but I didn't get home until late from Date #3 last night so I'm going for this short post instead!

Last night Bryce and I went out for pizza and then went to see Horrible Bosses--the movie was much better than I expected and really funny!  After that we relaxed at his house and even went out for a Slurpee run around 11:00--did anyone else take advantage of Free Slurpee Day?  Finally, as I left, he traded me his new Billy Currington CD for one of my favorite CDs so we can burn copies for ourselves.  I can't get enough of the song "All Day Long."

One of the things we discussed last night (which is the inspiration for this post) was things we want to do.  We decided to make a checklist of fun things and brainstormed them together--my job was to write the checklist, add more to it, and give it to him tomorrow (he's coming to have lunch with the Cuties and me) for him to put on his fridge.

In case you can't read it, on the list is:

1. Canoeing
2. Squirrels Game (The Flying Squirrels are Richmond's minor league baseball team)
3. Cook Dinner Together
4. Play Catch in the Backyard
5. RIVER!  (Bryce has a river house and wants to take me sailing)
6. Paint pottery @ All Fired Up
7. Edo Squid (Edo Squid is an Italian restaurant downtown that everyone raves about and neither of us have tried yet)
8. Take Honcho for a walk (Honcho is Bryce's black lab)
9. Concert
10. HAVE FUN!
11. Add more to this list

It's a pretty good list if I do say so myself and I can't wait to check things off.

Aside from fun checklists like this, I write lists for EVERYTHING--packing lists, shopping lists, blog idea lists, To-Do lists.  I've always been a huge list maker and they help keep me organized and also help me to feel accomplished: It feels so good literally checking things off!  

Are you a list maker?

Additionally, because I don't want Sundresses and Smiles to simply become a blog about my love life, I'm planning to from here on out only touch on the high points/big news in this budding romance and promise tomorrow I will have that more entertaining post for y'all!

Have a great day!

My New Ride

Happy Monday everyone!

Today I have some big, exciting news to share with y'all!  Before I spill the beans, though, I thought I would provide you with some background information.

When I was young I was HORRIBLE with change.  I didn't like any change, and it wasn't until I was older and forced to deal with some really big changes, that I began to realize how inevitable change is and that it can really be something to embrace and learn from.

My senior year, I wrote my main college application essay about this journey to accept change.  I prefaced the essay with a frame story that I will now share with you.  It was Christmastime of 1995, I was in kindergarten, and we were getting a new car.  A brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee, to be exact.  I can vividly remember crying in the backseat of our old car:  I couldn't bear the thought of getting rid of our beloved car and having a new one.

I probably looked a little like this!

That new red Jeep Grand Cherokee turned out to be quite the car.  My mom drove it for years, and then my dad for a while, and finally when I got my driver's license, I too drove the Jeep.

After sharing the beginnings of this story and three pivotal examples of moments in my life when I had to accept change and was the better for it, I closed the essay and frame story by explaining that after college I would be getting a new car and certainly would not be crying in the backseat of the red Jeep--I was ready to embrace that change!

Well now that college is over, the time had come for that new car.  I wasn't really sure, however, if I would still be getting a new car; my parents generously decided to pay for the Masters, but because of that, I didn't expect a car.  About a month ago, though, my parents called me describing a much newer Jeep Grand Cherokee they had found in excellent condition.  When they called I was in Staple's frantically printing out a final project.  I asked my mom to send me a picture, and she explained:  "Okay, but you need to decide fast--we're trying to make a deal!"  Little did I know how soon my new car would be arriving!  During summer school I drove the old Jeep, but now that, I'm home, the new Jeep is mine!  I am a little sad to say goodbye to the car I learned to drive on, but, I am definitely NOT sobbing in the backseat over the goodbyes!

So now--after that long story:  Voila!

Isn't she a beaut?

Ready to go with UVA and Vineyard Vines stickers!

So happy behind the wheel!

Please ignore the lack of make-up/shower/etc!

This new car keeps reminding me of one of my favorite Alan Jackson songs:  "Drive."  I too grew up driving an old wood boat and then a Jeep!

What new car memories do you have?  

Did you have a good weekend?

Brad Paisley

Happy Hump Day! Aren't short weeks the best?

Today's post is a quick one, because I was up late working on a final group project for summer school.  (Can you believe the 3 weeks have already passed?)

Anyways, on to today's post--I honestly think if I had to describe my dream man it would be Brad Paisley (though, I'd have to outfit him in some preppier clothes).  He can belt out a sweet love song, but also loves to fish, hunt, and get some mud on his tires--my kind of man!

Recently, I can't seem to get enough of his "Old Alabama"--have y'all heard this song yet?

I love when artists blend their music together like in this song!

Country music is by far my favorite and in the summertime it is a necessity!

Two summers ago  I went to a Brad Paisley concert with some friends from camp and became an even bigger fan of him than I already was!

It poured rain, but the concert was still a BLAST!

Do you like country music/Brad Paisley?  What songs have you been loving lately?

One Month & A Cornbread Recipe

Yippee!  Today my blog is one month old!

Below is one of my favorite songs:  "I Should Be Sleeping" by Emerson Drive.  I'm posting this song today, because its lyrics could easily be tweaked to show how I feel about this blog.  I find myself often up late at night (when I should be sleeping...) thinking about Sundresses and Smiles!  I am constantly getting new ideas for blog posts from the world around me; I find myself mentioning posts I've read in conversation; and I look forward to free time when I can check my blog reads out!  I am so glad that I started this new endeavor and have had all of your support along the way!

If I could re-write the lyrics to this song, instead of saying:

"After just three days (just three days)

And one great kiss (one great kiss)

It's way too soon...

To be obsessing like this!"

I would say this:

"After just one month (just one month)

And one great post (one great post)

It's way too soon...

To be obsessin' like this!"

So, again, thanks to all of you!  This blogging thing would not be nearly as fun (or addicting) if it weren't for all your support!

Additionally, I'm going to do my first link up today with one of my favorite bloggers Daphne at Flip Flops & Pearls.  

Today's recipe is for the easiest and most delicious cornbread!  I am super picky when it comes to cornbread.  Back in the fall, I was babysitting at our Alpha Phi Advisor's house and she had made some of this cornbread.  I ate SO much...I couldn't stop myself!  I asked her for the recipe and made it for Thanksgiving.  My family loved it and I have a feeling it will become a Thanksgiving tradition.  So thanks to Farrell for sharing this wonderful recipe with me!

It smelled so good that my dad stole a piece before I could even snap a picture!

Ingredients 2 packages Jiffy Cornbread Mix
2 eggs
2 cups sour cream (I have used reduced fat or regular)
¼ cup sugar
1 stick butter
Preheat oven to 400°F.  Melt butter in 9 x 13 regular pan in the oven.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour into pan.  Do NOT stir in the butter, just layer batter on top.  Bake for 20-25 min until brown.  Cool 5 min.
Have a wonderful weekend!!

Fabulous Front Porches

WHEW!  I survived!  Yesterday, I was a multi-tasking queen and managed to get through all my assignments and feel proud of the work I turned in!  Now I can relax...for a few days!  Enjoy today's post!

As I've mentioned before, I can't imagine living anywhere other than THE South.  At home, I have this sign in my bedroom.  I bought it at one of my absolute favorite stores, Tweed in Richmond.

If you can't read it, it says:  "The place where... 1) Tea is sweet and accents are sweeter.  2) Summer starts in April.  3) Macaroni & Cheese is a vegetable.  4) Front Porches are wide and words are long.  5) Pecan Pie is a staple.  6) Y'all is the only proper noun.  7) Chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy.  8) Everything is Darlin'.  9)  Someone's heart is always being blessed."

There is SO much I could post about just based off of this sign, but today I am going to focus on number 4:  "Front Porches are wide..."

Front porches are iconic of the South and are often a place to socialize and reflect.  At my godparents' lake house, the porch is such a place of memories and down-right debauchery, that we gave them this sign as a Christmas present last year:

Thanks to Aunt Patti for snapping this pic and sending it to me!

My dream home will have a HUGE front porch with a swing and some rocking chairs.  

Today, I want to pay homage to the South's amazing porches and share some lovely ones I found online!

I could rock in that swing for hours!

There's just something about a yellow house...

one word...ELEGANCE

I can just picture my (future) kiddies playing on this bench!

stately columns, windows galore, hydrangeas...YES PLEASE!

I'm convinced...my future home will have a pink door!

Images found via Google Image Search, House Beautiful, and Veranda.

Does your house have a front porch?  What are the "must haves" of your dream home?  

As a side note, special thanks go to Jenny at Something Old, Something New (if you have not read her blog, you must check it out!) for the "One Lovely Blog Award."  As part of this award, you're supposed to share 7 random facts about yourself and award 15 other bloggers!  So, here goes!

1. The word verifications when posting comments crack me up!  Most recently I was tickled by "goons."
2. I'm super organized and a neat freak, but when I get busy, my room becomes an absolute wreck.  This semester, with 7 classes, I have been quite busy, so typically Thurs night-Mon morning my room is clean, and then Mon night-Thurs it's a wreck!
3. I'm a huge nerd and like to sit in the front in most of my classes.
4. I'm a lefty, but play most sports with my right hand.
5. Country music is my favorite.
6. I've always been a "Daddy's Girl" but in the last 5 or 6 years my mom and I have also become the best of friends.  I willingly hang out with my parents more than any other college kid I know!
7. I'm a complete girlie girl, but also love the outdoors and to get dirty on occasion, especially when I'm at the lake or river.

And for the fifteen of you I'm going to award:  Flip Flops & Pearls, Fried Green Pickles, Happiness Is..., Hines-Sight Blog, Life in the Sweet Virginia Breeze, Lizards and Lollipops, North Meets South, Pink Champagne, Pretty Pink Tulips, Ruthie Relishing Life, Simply Southern, Southern Inspired, Southern Somedays, spark, and WhatMissLoves!