Paula Deen's Mississippi Mud Brownies

Something super important you should know about me: I looove to cook and bake. My friends are always teasing me, saying that I'm already in training to be a fantastic housewife, which I find positively hilarious. But in all honesty, I just find it so much fun! I love trying new recipes and experimenting with old ones, and I'm slowly building up a little collection of recipes–both family ones and ones I've found (thanks, Pinterest!)–that I probably will end up making years down the line for my own family. Towards the beginning of the summer, I bought a copy of Paula Deen's 2012 issue of Southern Classics when I was at the supermarket.

I highly recommend it (You can buy it here!)! It's chock-full of delicious Southern recipes, and I've been just dying to try some out! Last weekend, I had some time, so I decided to make the Mississippi Mud Brownies.

The finished product! Yum!!!

I was so surprised by how easy they were to make, and how completely delicious they were!! They were super, super rich, so I cut them into really little squares instead of bigger bars. Plus that way, there was more to go around.

Hard at work in my favorite apron.

My favorite part of these brownies was that, between the icing and the actual brownie, there's a super thin layer of peanut butter. The flavor is so subtle that it's easy to miss while you're eating the brownie, but it comes out more after. Soo good! There's also supposed to be a layer of marshmallows and pecans that goes under the icing too, but I didn't have either on hand when I was baking. They were still great, so I can only imagine how good they would have been if I'd gotten those!!

This has definitely become a new favorite recipe...I'll be making these brownies a long time from now.

Have you tried any of Paula Deen's recipes? What's your favorite thing to bake?

XO

Early Thoughts on Junior Year

Hi everyone!! Sorry I haven't posted in the past few days, I've just been so swamped with getting back to school and getting back into a routine! I started my junior year (AHHH!!) on Thursday, and I am loving it so far. It's definitely going to be a challenge sometimes, but I'm very excited! 

I'm super involved at school this year, and I could not be more thrilled. I'm returning to Poms for my third season (second on Varsity) and am so, so, so pumped for this season. I'll also be  doing sports coverage and other projects for my school's TV station. It's my first real year with TV and I already feel like I'm part of the team, which is fantastic. Finally, I'm a Student Council Rep and I'm on Class Board, so I'll be involved in planning Homecoming, Prom, and various charity events at school!! In addition to balancing all my extracurriculars, I've got the heaviest courseload I've ever had, so I'm a little nervous about that. I know I can handle it, but I'm not excited for late nights and studying for three AP tests. 

Junior year just started, and I'm already feeling excited, nervous, and a teeny bit overwhelmed. Over this past weekend, as I wrote my first AP US History paper (that's right, a paper that was due on the third day of classes), I couldn't help but feel stressed. I know that there will be plenty of times that I'm stressed this year, but I also know that it will all be worth it in the end. My heavy courseload and hard work and involvement will make my junior year one to remember, I just need to make it through. I need to keep going even, when it seems as if I can't handle it. As I wrote, I was reminded of an image and quote that I repinned last week that I've adopted as my motto for this year.

{via}

I've heard the Junior Year Horror Stories from everyone. I know as well as anyone that it won't be smooth sailing by any means, but this is the course I chose to take. I finally feel like I'm mature enough to handle everything I've put on my plate, and as nervous as I may be, I feel ready. I'm going to make my junior year especially memorable for all the right reasons.

XO

The New Go-To

When getting dressed for school, I try my best to be put together and well-dressed the majority of the time. I know it's "just school," but I strongly feel that I actually learn better and am more focused when I have put some effort into my appearance and I know that I look nice. That being said, I don't have the time or patience in the mornings before school to stand in my closet and stare at my clothes wondering what to wear. I normally try to pick something out the night before, or at least go to bed with an idea of what I'll be wearing the next day (i.e.: if it's a Thursday, something super-comfy, like leggings and a big sweater, will be on the agenda). Even so, sometimes I get stumped. Especially with the weather lately. It's still hot out, like summery hot, but I can't just wear tank tops and chino shorts (my summer go-to) to class all the time! Or at all, really. And it's obviously too hot for skinny jeans and sweaters. I've had to find a new "go-to" outfit, and I've definitely stumbled on something golden.

Shirt | Skirt | Flats

It strikes the perfect balance between school-appropriate and fun. It's become my favorite because there are simply so many options–OCBDs and popovers in so many colors and minis in so many fun prints–that you could follow this formula for days on end and never repeat an outfit. Even in my own closet right now, I could probably make seven or eight variations of this outfit! Lately, I've been frequenting Lilly skirts and Jacks, but when it gets a little chillier, I'll just wear flats and wool minis from J.Crew!

Here's my personal favorite variation of the OCBD/printed mini combo!

I love this outfit so much, that not only did I wear it in California, but I also wore it Thursday for my first day of school!

What's your go-to outfit?

XO

California Recap

Better late then never, yes? At the beginning of August, my family and I took a vacation to Southern California to visit Mama's family that lives out there. We had a fantastic time together! My ten day stay was packed with shopping the local boutiques, fun family dinners, running on the beach, catching up with old friends, and even a surprise trip up north for Little Sis and me to visit our aunt, uncle, and cousins!

from my Instagram

My closest friend from California! She's the best!!

Redondo Beach, CA

Redondo Beach, CA

Little Sis, my little cousin J, and me at their house

I had a fantastic trip!! It was a really nice end to my summer!

XO

My First Lilly Sale!

Yesterday morning was quite the morning for me. I was up at six-thirty with the sounds of my younger sister getting up and ready for school. I didn't even wake up grouchy; I was just excited to shop my first Lilly Pulitzer Endless Summer Sale! I parked myself on my bed with my laptop and opened up the Lilly website, patiently waiting and watching the live countdown on the homepage. At seven on the dot, I refreshed the page, looking for the sale tab. As it reloaded, no sale tab.

 What?!?!?

Of course, this was not the end for me. I opened another tab, reopened the site, and, praise the Lord, the sale tab was there! Having heard all the stories about the site crashing in the past, I worked quickly, picking my way through dresses, tops, sweaters, and skirts. Even with the huge sale prices, my original cart still came out to about $700. No way I was getting Mama to pay for $700 of Lilly goodies, no matter how much I begged, pleaded, and promised years of servitude and meticulous housework. Not that I was really up for groveling at seven in the morning. So instead, I started whittling, keeping in mind that I really didn't want to blow my entire fall budget, regardless of how much I wanted everything.

Here's what I ended up with:

Tate Skirt in Hotty Pink Seersucker: $108 $29

Jarvey Skort in Resort White Fresh Cut: $88 $19

Patricia Sweater in Hotty Pink Argyle AND True Navy Argyle: $128 $25 each

I placed my order with no problem, and within a minute or two, my phone dinged with the familiar sound of a confirmation email. Success! I was so glad I didn't have any problems, because the minute I got my email, the site totally crashed! My heart goes out to all of y'all who had problems with the site, I know how rough that must have been!

I had originally wanted to get a dress or two, but since I wasn't really in looove with any dresses from this past season (except the Adelson, which I already have in the Lilly State of Mind print!), I skipped on that. Plus I'm already pushing to wear Lilly for Homecoming...

Did you luck out at the sale yet? Or did you have some tech issues?

XO

Preppy iPhone Cases

Let me start off by saying how much I looove my iPhone. For years, I dealt with having a lame, boring cell phone that shut off whenever I set it down on a table. Talk about temperamental. This spring, my parents surprised me with an iPhone and I made the switch, no questions asked! One of my favorite parts about having an iPhone is how easy it is to personalize it with a fun case and how easy it is to switch out your case depending on your mood! iPhone cases also make great gifts, because there is really a case for everyone. For my birthday, my sister and two of my best friends got me new cases, which I loved.

My little case collection (Tory Burch, Kate Spade, and my original case).

Everywhere I go, I feel like I find so many new cases that I want. I've had to really practice self control on this little obsession, because I know it would be so easy for me to drop some money on a case here, a case there, and I would go broke on iPhone cases!

Marley Lilly has the cutest monogrammed cases. Since I'm loving chevron right now, I would definitely go with this cute pink and navy one!

A case to match my agenda? Yes, please!

This Kate Spade case is just so fun! And we all know I have a weakness for anything and everything metallic.

Who doesn't love dots?

J.Crew

Love the colorblocking!

J.Crew

I always have a hard time choosing between hard cases and silicone ones. I haven't really developed a preference yet, but I lean towards my hard cases for regular use and the silicone one when I go running because it's easier to grip!

Where do you get your cases?

XO

Back to School: Organization

I'm back with the fourth and final post in my Back to School series! Catch up here, here, and here :)

Besides getting back into the rhythm of actually going to school and studying at night, I think getting and staying organized is the hardest part of going back to school. Hopefully with these tips, you can get organized and stay organized early!

Different class, different supplies. This one seems like a no-brainer, but I can't even tell you the number of times I had to write something down for a class and ended up jotting my notes in the back of a random notebook. Each class should have its own binder (or folder, depending on how many handouts you expect to get) and notebook, and they should be present with you every time you're in class!

Color code. Building off of the idea that each class has its own notebook and binder, having the notebooks match the binders in color makes it so much easier for you to gather your supplies quickly for each class. For example, I'll be using red for History, pink for Calculus, purple for English, green for Biology, turquoise for Spanish, and yellow for TV. I also have a master binder that's pink with green trim that I'll always have with me for extra handouts and homework.

Make a switch. No one wants to lug around a million textbooks, binders, and notebooks all day. Plus, there probably isn't room in your bag for all that! Find the "break" or "breaks" in your schedule–your lunch period in the middle of the day and/or a study hall or free period work well–to go to your locker and switch out your books and binders. For example, before your first class, stock your bag with your supplies for your morning classes. Then at lunch, swap them out for your afternoon supplies. If you have other free periods throughout the day, you can switch your binders even more often, meaning you don't have to carry as much with you!

Prioritize. A big part of being organized is knowing what's important and what's not. Writing a paper that's worth a large percentage of your English grade is more important than a small daily math assignment. The important things should be dealt with first. This doesn't mean you should skip assignments that you deem unimportant, but your focus should be on what you know needs lots of time and effort. Keeping your priorities straight also means that you don't have to accept the extra volunteer opportunity or extra credit essay when you've got a huge Chemistry test coming up and have a party you want to go to Saturday night. Balance is key!

Plan it out. We all have agendas and planners for a reason. Use them! I've said it before, but this is really so important. Write everything down, from homework to football games to volunteer commitments to the time you want to work out. If you write it down by hand, you're more likely to remember it and more likely to do it. Plus, if it's written down, you have no excuse to forget it...you can always look back!

I hope this post, and the rest of the series, helped y'all as the summer winds down and we prepare to go back to school! I wish y'all the best of luck in this coming school year!!

XO

Current Obsession: Quarter Zip

It started freshman year with my quarter zip pullover from Poms. To this day, that sweatshirt is one of my absolute favorite sweatshirts ever. So I guess that this obsession isn't so much current as set up to be life-long. But I digress. Lately, I've been seeing so many adorable quarter zips that I'm in love with!!

Vineyard Vines 1/4 Zip Sweater

This sweater from Vineyard Vines is the cream of the quarter zip crop. I'm so in love with it, and plan on ordering one in all three gorgeous colors and wearing all three to death. That's how perfect it is.

More from the masters of the quarter zip, the Shep Shirt is an essential. 

Nike Element Half-Zip Running Top

I have one of these Nike tops (stolen from Mama's closet...she's not getting it back!) that I wear all the time to go running and when I'm lounging around the house. It's so comfy and I love how it's stretchy without being too tight or clingy!

Patagonia has a few takes on the half and quarter zip pullover, my personal favorite being this one in fleece. (And can you tell I'm loving green lately?)

XO

Back to School: Study Habits

This is the third post in my Back to School series! Make sure you check out the first and second posts too!

A week or two ago I got a question on Tumblr requesting a post with study and organization tips (Organization will be the topic of my next post!!). That question inspired my whole back to school series, and really got me to take a look at my own study habits. I realized that at the beginning of each semester, it always takes a little bit of time for me to get back into the swing of things. Especially after a long summer, it's challenging to get back into a routine, especially a routine that includes studying. Ew. Here are some study habits that I've found to work for me. I hope this helps y'all!

Make a schedule. I know we all have our planners with things like meetings, clubs, parties, practices, and football games written in right next to homework and to do lists. That's only the beginning of your schedule. Make sure you also block out specific time for studying, dinner, and study breaks, as well as putting all of your other obligations there. A table or spreadsheet works great for this. If you're getting really specific, you can block out your time to study for specific classes in order of importance, or you can leave it more general and just give yourself study hours.

Take breaks. One of the biggest mistakes I see my friends–and myself!–make while studying is forgetting to take breaks. I have a tendency to sit down and study for long periods of time without breaks, and sooner or later I realize that I'm not really focused or taking in what I'm working on. Give yourself a break every hour. It doesn't have to be long, just five or ten minutes to decompress so you can finish your task with a clear head. And be sure to get up from your desk during your break to stretch your legs. Personally, I use my breaks as short periods of cardio!

Be realistic. That huge Calculus test? The massive research paper? A group presentation? All of these require careful planning and lots of preparation time. My biggest downfall in my high school career thus far has been my tendency to underestimate the amount of time I'll need to complete a task while overestimating my ability to complete it quickly but thoroughly. Being realistic when it comes to studying and doing assignments is my biggest goal this year. I definitely think that my past experiences, including a few all nighters, will serve as a good reminder when I'm making plans and study schedules that I need to work on being a bit more realistic. 

I really hoped this helped y'all and I would love to hear all of y'all's study habits and tips!

XO

Back to School: Clothes - The Fall Five

This is the second post in my Back to School series. Be sure to check out the first one here!

Don't get me wrong, summer is definitely my favorite season. I love the warm weather, soaking up the sun, barbecues and picnics, and long nights sitting on the front porch. At any given moment from June to August, if asked what I was wearing the answer would almost always be either a sundress or a bikini. And I love it that way. But my favorite thing about going back to school is definitely being able to pull out my fall wardrobe! It's the return of sweaters, riding boots, scarves, blazers, and wool skirts, aka The Fall Five.

Scarf | Sweater | Skirt | Boots | Blazer

These five items are absolutely essential to any fall wardrobe. They make getting dressed so much easier, and can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. Not to mention they're all super cute and comfy for class.

Sweaters. I probably could (and probably will!) write an entire post dedicated to them. Cardigans, as well as classic v-necks and crewnecks, are staples, as is at least one cozy, oversized sweater. When going for oversized, think boyfriend fit, and don't be afraid to go into the guys' section for these!

This v-neck from the J.Crew Men's section is perfect to throw on with leggings and riding boots when you're having a lazy day. Make sure to add girly accessories, like a hair bow and pearls, to keep the look feminine.

Riding Boots. Ask anyone, in the fall and winter, I wear riding boots with almost everything. Skinny jeans, leggings, skirts, dresses...they're definitely my go-to footwear, like the fall-winter equivalent of a platinum pair of Jack Rogers Navajos. See where I'm going with this? I'm loving the outside zipper on this pair. And remember, don't be afraid to spend a little extra on a pair you'll wear all the time...you'll want them to last you! (PS: Piperlime is great for deals all around, not just shoes!)

Scarves. Lately, I've become a bit of a scarf junkie. Last week, when I was in California–yes, California, where it was warm and sunny and fall should have been the last thing on my mind–I had to stop myself from coming home from the boutiques with bags full of scarves. I did cave on one though! A scarf is one of the easiest ways to change up the look of an outfit, and you can easily find very inexpensive scarves to switch out throughout the season!!

L.L. Bean | Echo | J.Crew | Remi & Reid

Blazers. Easiest way to look like you put thought into your outfit? Throw on a blazer. I'm dead serious. It's just as easy as putting on a sweatshirt, but looks so much more put together. All nighter? Blazer. Presentation? Blazer. Wednesday and you have no idea what to wear? Blazer.

I'm partial to J.Crew's Schoolboy offerings (also available in navy).

Wool Skirts. I used to not wear skirts as the seasons changed for fear of being too cold. Enter the wool skirt. From varying weights and textures–felted wool, wool crepe, wool with stretch–to silhouettes–think pencil, a-line, and mini–it's easy to wear skirts year-round! There are so many options. All it takes is a bit of testing to find your favorite! I'll tell you now, my City Mini from J.Crew (pictured in red in the first picture) gets a lot of love from September all the way until March.

What's in your Fall Five?

XO

Back to School: Bags

This post is the first in my new back to school series!! I'm actually very excited for this school year! One of my absolute favorite parts of going back to school is getting a new tote. It honestly makes me so excited, almost ridiculously so. I do switch off my totes every so often, but the tote I get at the beginning of the school year is the one I carry for the majority of the year. I haven't picked out this year's tote yet, but here are some fun options for anyone:

Clockwise from Top Left:

LL Bean Boat & Tote (Large with Long Handles)

Longchamp Le Pliage Large

Francesca Joy Palm Beach Pink Anchor Anything Tote
Longchamp Custom Le Pliage

I highly recommend using either a canvas or nylon tote for school. I've used both the LL Bean Boat & Tote and the Longchamp Le Pliage in the past, and they are both super durable and very easy to clean if necessary. I love that the Boat & Tote can be monogrammed, and there are so many color options!! Currently, I'm leaning towards the custom Le Pliage. I customized it in beige with a hot pink stripe and I think it is just too presh!! 

Clockwise from Top Left:
The North Face Women's Isabella Backpack
JanSport Spring Break Backpack
The North Face Women's Surge II Backpack
SwissGear Backpack

Personally, I'm not really one for backpacks. But if you know you're going to be carrying a heavy load with lots of textbooks or need the extra room, definitely go for a backpack. While they may not be as aesthetically cute as a tote, extra stress on your shoulders and back and broken totes aren't super cute either! From what I've seen, The North Face has really sturdy backpacks that come in cute colors (I love the coral!) as well as basic black and other neutrals. SwissGear also seems to be a popular choice at my school, and JanSport is another very popular yet inexpensive option.

What will you be carrying to school?

XO

Southbound Belle Playlist #1

I've done some playlists before (here, here, here, and here!), but this is my first playlist as the Southbound Belle!! Here's what I've been listening to lately: the perfect mix of fun, summery songs as the summer winds down!

It's a bit longer than usual, but I figured it was worth it! What have you been listening to lately?

XO

Say Hello to Southbound Belle!!

I know I said that the big changes would be coming after I got back from California, but I really just couldn't wait. I've decided to take a whole new approach to this blog! North Shore Prep is now Southbound Belle!! Everything is different: new name, new URL, new design, new color scheme...even my associated Pinterest, Tumblr, and Goodreads have new, matching usernames!! I also have some new pages up at the top for y'all to check out.

I really felt like it was time for some big changes, and I'm finally very happy with this blog and how it looks, etc.! I hope y'all like the new name and design as much as I do!! I'll probably be tweaking it and playing with it a little more, but this is basically what it is!

Next week (and probably the week after), the focus will be back to school! I'll have posts on clothes, bags/backpacks, organization, school supplies, and more! 

XO

OOTD: Stripes on Stripes

Shirt: J.Crew | Skirt: Lilly Pulitzer (old - similar) | Shoes: Jack Rogers | Bag: Longchamp | Watch: Michael Kors (old - similar) | Cross Bracelet: Ribbons Boutique (similar) | Sugar Cubes Bracelet: Bon (similar) | Pearls: Old

Nail Polish: Fingers: Essie Need A Vacation | Toes: OPI Cajun Shrimp