Weekend Recap

Happy Hump Day, readers!

I don't consistently post weekend recaps (or consistently post anything, haha) on the blog these days, but every now and then a really great weekend comes along that's worth documenting here. This past weekend was one of those weekends and I'm excited to share it with you...and that we're halfway to this coming weekend!

Our weekend started with the absolutely perfect Valentine's Day dinner party hosted by our friends Blair and Davis. Our friends, Emily and Frank were also in attendance and whenever the six of us get together it is a guaranteed amazing time!

Blair's tablescape was equal parts formal and whimsy and absolute perfection! I loved how she had cute details like the sparkly pom poms on the table and those marble and gold foil candlesticks were stunners!

 

We even each got our own bag of Lindt truffles at our place setting as favors! No detail was spared!

Just as important as the tablescape is the menu! I took sweet potato ham biscuits, shrimp and grits cakes, and cheese crackers, compliments of The Orderves Company (more on that in a post coming soon!).

Blair and Davis outdid themselves with our dinner menu. We feasted on salad, beef tenderloin, and lobster pot pie! Blair even made extra puff pastry in the shape of lobsters for dipping! No...detail...spared!

For dessert, we had Shyndigz Oreo Cake. So grateful for these wonderful friends and can't wait for our next get together!

Saturday morning, I taught barre and then my girlfriend Amanda and I hit the road to Raleigh. In snow and rain, no less! Right before Christmas, I had ordered a chair from Beau Dandy Goods in Raleigh. Bryce had just been to Raleigh for work and was planning to head back in a few weeks, so Ashleigh was sweet enough to offer to hold the chair so I wouldn't have to pay high shipping costs. Well...Bryce never made it back to Raleigh and doesn't anticipate a trip there soon, so Amanda and I decided to road trip to get the chair...and it was so fun, y'all!

The weather had cleared by the time we crossed the border into North Carolina. After picking up the chair, and meeting the sweet golden retriever, the "Beau" of Beau Dandy Goods, we headed to brunch at Hummingbird at the recommendation of Ashleigh, Beau's mom.

Hummingbird had a cool vintage meets industrial meets girlie vibe and we loved it! The food was also deeelicious! Amanda and I both chose the Shakshuka, which was burnt tomato, eggs, herbs, and feta baked in a Le Creuset gratin dish. We were very hungry from barre and our time in the car and it did the trick! It was a definite comfort food and it was as if an Italian dinner entree had merged with brunch! I also ordered grits on the side that were cheesy perfection, and Amanda ordered hash brown that were also tasty.

 

Our next stop was Cameron Village for shopping! Charlotte's Inc was at the top of both our lists as we've followed them on Instagram for quite some time. I didn't save any pictures at Charlotte's, but I did get this dress for 70% off and these earrings in the turquoise! We also popped into Uniquities and The Impeccable Pig and then discovered Steven Shell Living on our way out and decided to pop in! It did not disappoint!

 

I fell in love with these gorgeous oversized fern prints that were a steal for just $69! Ferns are a personal favorite and were a big theme in our wedding floral scheme, so I knew I had to indulge. I thought a pair could make a fabulous statement and chose the two on the right below. The maidenhair was a must, because it was one of my favorite details in my wedding bouquet and last summer Bryce planted a maidenhair with black stems like the print in our garden. I picked the second, more traditional fern, because I thought it paired best with the maidenhair in terms of color and scale.

 

Our last stop was Vita Vite at the suggestion of a sorority sister who lives in Raleigh for a quick bite before hitting the road. It had a great energy and vibe and art was displayed for sale all around the restaurant.

Amanda and I were both still somewhat satisfied from brunch so opted for cheese and charcuterie for dinner. We also split a baby chocolate eclair, because as it turns out, Amanda had never had an eclair before...she liked it!

 

We hit the road and made it home in time for each of us to snuggle our pups and head to bed. We both agreed that getting out of town was good for the soul and invigorating! It made me think I really need to do impromptu day trips, or even just a night away more often! One of my favorite things about Richmond is that we have so many cool destinations within just a few hours of us and I want to take better advantage of that moving forward!

Sunday Bryce and I had brunch at a Richmond favorite, Lulu's (three words: red velvet waffles) with some friends who are expecting their first baby next month. I couldn't make it to the mama-to-be's shower, so this was our chance to celebrate with them. I wore my new earrings!

After that, we headed home, got my chair styled and had a lazy Sunday! We watched As Good As It Gets on Netflix that night with Chinese takeout and thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was a weekend that was one for the books, and one where I truly savored every moment...living out my word for 2019!

Did you have a good weekend?

Any fun plans for the weekend ahead?

Do you take advantage of day trips to places near your hometown?

Have a great day!

Defining My Niche

Happy Tuesday, readers!

I appreciate your patience during my blog hiatus last week. I had hoped to schedule some posts ahead of time during my absence at the Southern C Summit, but those plans fell to the wayside as I juggled preparing for the conference, and also preparing to miss a week of work.

Those of you that follow along on Instagram, saw that the conference was an amazing time. I'm still ruminating over all the information that was presented and the many people I met. I'm also enjoying some time to unwind after what was a whirlwind week. I've gotten as far as unpacking my dirty clothes and enjoying some Goo Goo Clusters from my swag bag. I have yet to look through the many business cards I collected over the week or to download the slew of pictures I took. I'll get there.

I eventually plan to do a series of posts, highlighting the many adventures I had during my trip, but first I thought I would spend some time here writing and reflecting on a theme I heard throughout the Summit's sessions: "Be niche."

A message that was relayed by several different presenters in several different ways, was to find your niche...that one thing you are most passionate about or most an expert on...and focus on it. It left me thinking "Do I have a niche? And if so, what is it?"

Now before I go further, I will share that much of the conference focused on small business owners and career bloggers. I am neither. I started my blog more than 5 years ago purely as a hobby, and intend to keep it that way. I do enjoy making a little bit of money on the side and having the opportunity to partner with brands from time to time; but at the end of the day this blog is my hobby and my creative space. Because of that, I don't think I need to feel pressured to "be  niche." I love that this blog is my blog--a lifestyle blog where I post about anything and everything I want, regardless of whether it converts into likes, pageviews, or comments. On the other hand, though, I'm human, competitive, and a perfectionist and certainly feel motivated on some level by those stats. 

Despite recognizing that I don't have to fit myself into a niche, I still find myself pondering and questioning it. Can "lifestyle" be a niche? When asked what I blogged about during the conference, I continually answered "I'm truly a lifestyle blogger and post about whatever I want. I tend to write about fashion, interiors, cooking, books, and then just my day to day life." "Is that too broad?" I wondered. 

At lunch on Thursday, after a morning of sessions where "niche" came up continuously, my table engaged in a great conversation about blogging as a career versus hobby, defining your audience (whether it be as a blogger or creative small business owner), and the motivations that drive and inspire us all. When Haley of Hermosa Jewelry commented that her customer base and audience includes both teens and grandmothers, it all clicked for me. I shared that defining your audience can't always be driven and honed down to facts and figures such as "women in their late-20s to mid-30s." An audience can also be a feeling or a type. In that moment I felt like I discovered my niche!

I realized that the blog world I entered 5 years ago was not one of affiliate links, professional photography, or branding: It was a community. And YES, wholeheartedly, my niche, can be lifestyle. It can include an array of posts that might not always be connected. Even though I don't post about just one topic, I'd bet that you, my readers, know what to expect when you decide to click over to Alexandra Bee Blog. I hope that you expect to find a fellow woman who is real. I hope that when you stop by, you feel like you're sitting down to chat with a close friend. I hope you see that like you, I'm just trying to figure this whole womanhood thing out...career, domesticity, relationships, adulthood, healthy living, identity, and more.

My favorite blogs are the real ones. The bloggers that bare all from time to time, and make me realize none of us have it all together. The bloggers (and readers) that have been by my side over the last 5 years, through the good times and bad.

So now, if you've made it this far. I want to hear what you think. How would you describe Alexandra Bee Blog to someone? If you're a blogger, in what ways would you define your niche?

I love learning from you.

Have a great day!

Follow

Little White Dresses

A sleepy Monday over here, my friends!

Every so often I battle insomnia and last night happened to be one of those nights. I am literally running on fumes today as I got less than 2 hours sleep last night...not a good way to start the week!

This weekend Anna, my best friend from UVA, came into town. She is getting married in September and was in town from New York City to attend to wedding tasks, but she set aside some time for me on Friday night. Prior to her moving up north, we saw each other every few months, and now we're lucky to get in one or maybe two good, long visits a year. That being said, time with her is cherished! I picked her up from the airport on Friday night and we headed to a local favorite, Stella's. We were the last ones to leave the restaurant and then made our way to her brother's where she was staying. We opened a bottle of wine and parked ourselves on his porch swing, talking into the wee hours of the night. I came home so happy and relaxed from my visit with her.

During our conversation, she gave me the task of helping her to find a rehearsal dinner dress. I've never been known to turn down shopping and got right to it!

 A little white dress is a staple in every Southern lady's closet. And regardless of whether you're a bride or not, it's so fun to pull out crisp, white dresses this time of year, so I decided to share my finds with you.

Anna's rehearsal dinner will be at a rustic location on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She is giving her fiance, Charlie, the reins in terms of choosing a menu for the night. It's looking like a good old fashioned Southern barbecue might be in the cards. That being said, I immediately knew an easy sundress would be in order for this laid back night.

Addy Eyelet Shift Dress

Moon River Embroidered Shift Dress

(Anna, this dress screams you!)

Whisper Light Double Strap Dress

Broderie Off Shoulder Sundress

Starla Lace Dress with Capelet

(this is my personal favorite!)

Laced Garden Shift

Hale Eyelet Dress

Textured Floral Body-Con Dress

Strapless Lace Fit & Flare Dress

Ruffle Dress with Lace Up Back Detail

Do you own a little white dress?

Have a great day!

Follow

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday readers!

Did y'all have a nice weekend?

Ours was great and I'm happy to share it with you today.

Once the weather warms up, I find that the weekends go by so much faster because we spend more time out and about rather than cooped up inside.

My weekend kicked off with an April Fool's Day Tea Party and Luncheon that my mom hosted for my grandmother. My aunts and cousin Margeaux were there. I couldn't stay as long as everyone else, because I had to get back to work, but it was nice to get some family time in!

After work I headed home and Bryce and I chilled for a little bit. We started watching Call the Midwife on Thursday night at the recommendation of a few coworkers and are hooked. We sipped on a beer and enjoyed an episode. On a side note, I mentioned on Instagram Bryce is thrilled to be drinking beer with me these days. I am not a beer fan, but have discovered that I love sour beers! My favorite so far is Duchesse De Bourgogne.

After an episode, we got ourselves in gear and headed to a nearby restaurant Postbellum for dinner. They have a rooftop bar and the weather was too gorgeous to not be outside. I ordered the Romaine Salad that was topped with crispy brussel sprouts, fingerling potatoes, and nuts. It was delicious! Bryce got the Cabot Cheddar Burger which was equally good! We weren't too far from Shyndigz, a dessert bar I've been dying to try. When it first opened it was walking distance from our house, but we never got around to visiting. Being so close by on Friday  night, I wasn't going to let the opportunity pass by. That being said, we were still too full to think about dessert, so we decided to do a little bar hopping. We walked to nearby Rancho T and sipped on a cocktail there. I feel like I am constantly saying this, but we have been going, going, going lately so it was so nice to have some quality time and conversation just the two of us on Friday  night! After Rancho T we made our way toward Shyndigz which is on the same block as the cool new hot spot, District 5. We pretty much never "go out" anymore, but I still wanted to check it out. It was only about 9:30, so we were able to get 2 spots right at the swanky bar. I got the Peach & Razz Margarita. The bartender warned me that it was sweet and she was not lying! It was very good, but took me a while to drink!

After District 5, we finally made our way to Shyndigz and it did not disappoint! We ordered the chocolate peanut butter cake and the key lime pie. They were both amazingly delicious, not to mention huge. Needless, to say I felt a little jittery on the ride home. Definitely had a sugar high!

Saturday morning we slept in and then I headed to my cousin's bridal shower. I wore this dress that arrived on the doorstep just in the nick of time Saturday morning. It is currently 40% off with code TICKTOCK and is a great piece that can be worn for work or play!

This necklace that my cousin Margeaux gave me as a surprise "surcie" paired with it perfectly!

I was charged with the task of making her ribbon bouquet!

I finished the bouquet when I got home with the help of scissors and glue! My mom had the great idea of incorporating these paper flowers that were used as decor and cupcake toppers at the shower and I thought they aded the perfect finishing touch.

Bryce was fishing with friends when I got home, so I had made plans with my friend Amanda. We went for a walk through the neighborhood and to a nearby Starbucks. It was a nice chance to get some exercise and girl time in one! That evening we headed to a friends for dinner. It was organized by Bryce and some of his hunting buddies and I have enjoyed getting to know their wives better over the last few months. We had an amazing steak dinner and even better company!

Sunday we went to brunch and the grocery store before getting the house ready for my Ronald McDonald House Red Shoe Crew meeting. The 2nd annual Red Shoe BBQ is coming up soon on April 29 so this was our last meeting together before the event. Richmond friends, you can get your tickets here!

I kept things simple, putting out roasted garlic and tomato basil hummus, pimiento cheese, salami, and marcona almonds. The store didn't seem to carry my normal pita chips, so I got these instead and they were really good!

The weather was pretty enough to open up the French doors and it was so nice to have the fresh air in the house! When Bryce came home, we sat at the table and munched on the spread. I have a feeling we'll be opening these doors up a lot more frequently in the coming months!

I also couldn't resist snapping a few pics of the flowers blooming in our front yard. Everything has really come alive! Next to bloom will be our irises and then it's peony and hydrangea time! I can't wait!

Finally, last night we watched a little more of Call the Midwife and went to bed early. 

What did you do this weekend?

Have a great day!

Follow

NYC Recs?

Happy Monday readers!

After a two week blogging hiatus, I am glad to be back in the saddle!

I have some great posts lined up for you this week, but today, I am here to ask for your help!

I am headed to NYC this Thursday night to visit my best friend, Anna. Believe it or not, this will be my first time visiting The Big Apple.

Evelyn Henson NYC Map Print

She is always the hostess with the mostess, so I don't need too much help, however, I am going to have to entertain myself for a bit while she goes to work on Friday.

Her apartment is right near Central Park so I plan to spend a good chunk of the morning exploring the park and hopefully checking out Good Morning America's free Dierks Bentley concert in the park (thanks to a great mom of one of my students for that recommendation!).

What should I do beyond that? Where would be the best spots for me to grab a solo lunch?

Any museums or more "touristy" attractions that may be boring for Anna, but great for a NYC rookie like me?

What is in semi-close proximity to the park that I must see?

All help and recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Have a great day!

2015: The Year of Doing My Thing

Happy New Year friends!

First things first, today is the start of the Lilly After Party Sale! Click here to shop ah-mazing deals!

Wow, I took quite the break from blogging these last few weeks. School has been so demanding this year, that I needed this break more than ever before. Little did I know that would mean a break from, well, everything, including the blog.

I also will admit, I've been hesitant to sit down and write this post. I knew that my next few posts would reflect on the past year and also look forward to the new year ahead. That task has been more daunting than in years past. As I've mentioned before, 2014 has been a tough year. It has been the hardest year of both my and Bryce's lives. As I've stated previously, I don't feel at liberty to share the details of our challenges from the past year, but I will share that what has made this situation unique is that most of the challenges we have faced have been largely out of our own control. Our relationship (and sanity at times, ha) was put through the ultimate test, yet it was not due to something either of us did to the other. Rather, it was a series of outside struggles and stress that put a huge strain on our relationship.

I've done a lot of thinking about the past year. There are so many sayings about the tough times in life--"What does not kill you makes you stronger," "Everything happens for a reason," "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain," "Yada, yada, yada!" I don't mean to sound cynical (and maybe I am), but while I think these words have meaning, I also think sometimes bad things just happen. I don't think there is some divine ultimate reason for everything. I wouldn't even say that I am necessarily stronger than I was a year ago; in fact, in some ways I am probably weaker. I would say the "positive" from the past year has been assurance. I now can say with complete assurance that I am strong, that my relationship with Bryce is strong, that my relationships with friends and family are strong. Does that make me better though? I'm not so sure.

All that being said, my motto for 2015 is "Do your thing." So much of my past year was spent trying to ameliorate and control the situation I was in...a situation that was largely out of my control. Throughout much of the year, I felt like I had lost a sense of myself. I developed anxiety. I was unhappy and I was a glimmer of the person I believe myself to be. The last few months have been much better, and moving forward, I am vowing to simply do my thing. To be myself, and focus on what is best for me...in some ways, regardless of others. That may be selfish, but after the past year, I think I need some time to be selfish. To expand on my motto a bit:

via

And now to not sound totally cynical, and self absorbed, I'll do some reflecting on last year's resolutions and share my other goals for the year ahead. To read in detail my goals and resolutions for last year, click here.

In short, below you will find my goals for 2014 and a brief reflection:

REVAMP MYSELF AS A BLOGGER

All in all, I would say that this goal was largely successful. 2014 was a bit of a rebirth of my blog. I recreated myself as "Alexandra Bee Blog" and got a pretty new design courtesy of Laura Wyatt Designs. I also largely maintained my goal of posting 10x per month. I missed the mark in both September and December, posting only 8 times those months, however, life was busy and I posted more than 10 several months so I think it all comes out in the wash.

MAKE OUR HOUSE A HOME

This goal was largely about focusing on my relationship with Bryce and the new step we took by choosing to move in together at the beginning of last year. Because of the year we faced, I can honestly say that the exact particulars of this goal were not my focus. Much of our focus in our relationship over the last year, was really, for lack of a better word, survival. We had to fight to stand by each other's side for most of the year. It was tough, but ultimately, we prevailed and our relationship is now stronger than ever. And honestly, I'd say that has been the ultimate success. 

TAKE CHARGE OF MY OWN HAPPINESS

Well, you can probably infer from my reflections at the beginning of this post, that I didn't totally succeed in this goal. I set out with high hopes for 2014 and the first short six days were great. I was proclaiming the benefits and power of positive thinking and confident moving into the year ahead. Then on January 6, that all changed. I've learned a lot though and feel confident I can find more success with this goal in the coming year.

via

KEEP TRYING NEW FOODS

I would say that goal was hugely successful. I consider myself somewhat of a reformed picky eater and will eat most anything these days. I'm still not the biggest fan of fruit, though, haha!

And now for 2015. I was tempted to make no goals and just say that my resolution for the year ahead to make it a better year than last, but that's just not in my nature.

FOCUS ON POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS

If the past year has taught me anything, it's how important a support network can be. I am so lucky

to have the unwavering love, friendship, and support of Bryce, my family, and some seriously amazing friends. There is no way in hell I would have gotten through the past year without my support network, so my goal moving forward is to really focus on continuing to cultivate positive relationships and to pay it forward. I want to make sure the people that have helped me so much know just how much their appreciated and loved by me.

via

SPEND MORE TIME INTERACTING WITH OTHER BLOGS

I am so proud of how far this blog has come, but over the last year, I have really struggled to find the time to read, comment, and connect with other bloggers. I have tried hard to do a better job of emailing readers in response to comments and questions, but I can most certainly do better in the new year. Additionally, I am constantly inspired by others and miss reading blogs regularly. That being said, I am hoping to be able to carve out some additional time each week to connect with all of you beyond my posts. 

GET BACK TO HEALTHY EATING

Womp, womp, womp...this is the boring goal, but it's a necessary one. In the last year, as I've become less and less picky, Bryce and I have really become foodies. Richmond's food scene has also been booming and we've had an influx of amazing new restaurants at our fingertips. All that being said, we've probably been doing a little to much eating, drinking, and being merry, haha! I am hoping that the new year will bring better meal planning and more healthy eating.

BUILD UP MY SAVINGS

Another boring, but necessary one here. This year, I really want to work hard to spend less and save more. I am very fortunate to have little educational debt which my parents are helping with and no credit card debt. I also am proud to say that I already put away for retirement each month. That being said, there is plenty of room for improvement in terms of saving. I had the habit for a while of putting a huge chunk of my paycheck into savings at the beginning of each month, however, I got out of the habit over the last few months. I plan to make it a habit again and focus less on material, more on meaningful.

So there you have it! My goals for 2015..the year of doing my thing! New year, I'm ready for ya!

via

How was your past year?

How do you cope when the times get tough?

What goals or resolutions do you have for 2015?

Have a great day!

And just because I am saving, not spending, doesn't mean you have to! Shop some of my Lilly favorites that may be included in the sale below. I will also tune back in after school this evening with more!