Lifestyle Archives - Sassy Southern Blonde

MY GOALS FOR 2023

January 2, 2023

I have been sharing my new year’s resolutions (or goals) since 2018, and I almost decided to skip this year! 2022 was such an amazing 12 months, and it’s bittersweet closing that chapter. I have anxiety just thinking how in the world 2023 will live up to the same standards! Between my brand and my personal life, I was really blessed. I also have to thank y’all because I wouldn’t have a platform without you! 🙂

PS: I just read through my 2022 goals, and I still really connect to them! My 2023 goals will probably sound familar for that reason! Lol.

Make Healthier Food Choices + Drink More Water

I think we all know that I don’t eat the best, and I’m not trying to completely cut all the good stuff! There’s no way I could just stop eating cookies and french fries. I would love to make smarter food decisions though, especially during the week! We shall see…

Focus On Video Content

I am already SO proud of myself for how far I’ve come with video content and editing! It wasn’t even a goal of mine in 2022, but I finally realized the importance of it to my brand’s growth and evolution. I just wish I would have started sooner but better late than never!

Pray For Patience + Being A Good Mom

This goal is aimed at my sweet, precious little boy who already loves to test my patience! I am laughing that this was also a new year’s resolution in 2018 when I only thought my patience was thin then.

Continue Attending Church Regularly

I’m carrying this goal over from 2022 because I obviously want to keep it up! It’s extremely important to me to raise Baker in a Godly home and that starts with taking him to church! We did a pretty good job this year, but there’s always room for improvement! 🙂

Start Working Out Again

Before Covid hit in March 2020, I had been working out 2-3 times a week for 6 months! The difference I saw in myself was crazy. I even had small muscles for the first time in my life! Lol. I really don’t care about gaining muscle again, but I’d love to consistently exercise each week! I feel like I have to make a plan with this or I won’t do it, though!

Jump Back Into Reading

I’m a chaotic reader! I’ll go months without picking up a book, and then I’ll read like 3 in one month. I just finished One Day In December, and I’m starting People Like Her next!

New Year, New Goal Income

I was SO close to reaching my goal income in 2022! I even surprised myself that I was in the vicinity of that number. I’m still going to raise it a bit for 2023 and work really hard! Here’s your reminder that it’s okay if you don’t achieve every goal you set completely. You still made effort and progress!

Work Harder At Saving Money

Saving money will probably be on my goals list for many years to come, but I am happy with the amount I have accumulated so far! This might be surprising, but I’m not usually an impulse shopper. Especially when it comes to big ticket items! There have been times when I regretted not splurging more, but I keep telling myself my future beach condo will be worth it! Hahaha.

GET MARRIED 🙂

I haven’t done any planning since Bo and I got engaged in August! I was entering the busiest season of the year, so I decided to wait until January 2023. We have always wanted to go to Hawaii, so I know that’s where we’re going for our honeymoon! We thought about eloping and having an actual wedding ceremony there too, but I think we’ll end up going to the courthouse. I’d love to book a photographer to capture the moment and hopefully add some glamor to the day! And my mind could still change, but this is what I’m currently thinking!

Kelsie

Reflecting on 2022

December 29, 2022

I have been writing yearly recaps since 2018, and I am so excited to keep it going! I just finished reflecting through my 2021 post, and it filled my heart with the best nostalgia. Sassy Southern Blonde is like my personal online diary that I share with y’all, so thank you for being here and caring enough about me and my little family! 🙂 2022 was an incredible year for me both professionally and personally. I partnered with some of my dream brands, I traveled to places on my bucket list, I got engaged to the guy I love, I saw brand growth on my social media platforms, and I watched my sweet baby boy become a wild toddler!

January

Like most Januarys, the beginning was slow, but I did take my first trip of the year to California! I traveled with my management agency at the time to San Luis Obispo to meet the team and spend a few days connecting with them and the other girls on their roster. We really had the best time from horseback riding (my FIRST experience) at a gorgeous farm to tastings at picturesque wineries! I had never visited central California before, but I would love to go back to the area, especially Napa!

February

Even though February can be dreary, I like to make the most of the month because it’s Valentine’s Day and Bo’s birthday! His is the 13th, so we usually celebrate with dinner on Saturday night and then have Sunday brunch for Valentine’s. Bo hates making a big deal out of his birthday, but that’s my favorite thing to do! Lol. We also went to the rodeo in Jackson and saw Gary Allen perform. I cannot believe it was my first time attending because I had SO much fun! I was shocked! Lol.

Baker started a mother’s morning out program 4 days a week, and it was the best decision ever! I didn’t realize how much I was struggling until I actually had the time to dedicate back to my business. I love Baker bug with my entire heart, but a break from each other is good for us! Lol.

March

March was the month that I finally started to create video content after I had procrastinated it as long as possible! I could kick myself for not jumping on the TikTok train in 2020 but better late than never! I began posting mainly on Instagram, and migrated to TikTok later in the year. My early videos are pretty cringe, so I’m glad my editing skills have since improved! 🙂

April

April was the calm before the busyness of the next few months! We just enjoyed family time during Easter and took Baker to see the Easter bunny! I continued being consistent with video content, and I started posting on TikTok which is something I thought I’d never do! Haha. I can confidently say it has begun paying off!

May

May is my favorite since it’s my birthday, and I love using it as an excuse to plan a trip! I decided on Charleston, and we almost didn’t make it because Baker gave us the stomach virus the night before our flight. Luckily, the woman at the airport rebooked us on a later flight and we still went to Charleston! I felt pretty weak, but we made the most of it. Lol!

I also attended my first brand trip with Buddy Love later in May to Captiva Island, Florida! Work looked like a vacation! Haha. We shot content by the pool, and we also rode a boat to a small island off the coast! I’m so glad we went to this particular spot because Hurricane Ian basically destroyed it in September.

June

June was such a wonderful month because Baker turned one! I had his first birthday planned for months with Pete the Cat theme. He loves the show on Amazon Prime! It was an amazing day with our family and friends celebrating him. It feels like just yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital! (First birthday blog post HERE)

I had some cool things happening business wise too! Bo and I attended the Kenny Chesney concert with his company, Blue Chair Bay Rum. The show and the drinks were both phenomenal! I also had several Instagram photos go viral. Many people don’t know this since I have my likes hidden, but it was a fun ride! (Instagram later ended their affiliate program in August, so the viral photos came to an abrupt halt unfortunately)

July

There is nothing that makes me happier than having multiple trips on my schedule, and July kicked off a busy few months! Bo’s dad invited us on a weekend getaway to Nashville, so I talked Bo into going a day early. I had been dying to stay at The Graduate even for just one night! I did late check out, and we shot the cutest photos around the hotel. Bo was a pretty good sport! 🙂 I know Nashville has become so touristy, but I still LOVE visiting! (Nashville travel guide HERE)

August

We don’t travel with Baker because my mom can normally watch him, but I did want to take him on his first beach trip! My entire family rented a condo in Orange Beach, and of course Baker gave us the stomach virus again on the first night. I passed it quickly, but my mom was down for two days! Bo really turned the vacation around since he ended up proposing on the beach our last night! 🙂 I was SO happy that it finally happened! (Engagement blog post HERE)

August also kicked off the busiest work season I have ever had, but I was so grateful! Even though I get overwhelmed, I truly enjoy having a full calendar. It’s such a blessing to partner with brands that I love, and I will never stop pinching myself that this is my job!

September

My travels continued in September with a dream vacation to the Bahamas that Bo and I had planned! I honestly didn’t realize that hurricane season could have ruined everything, but thank gosh we had beautiful weather! We stayed at Baha Mar and were upgraded to a spacious suite. I’m already dying to go back!

I then headed to Dallas later in the month for LTK Con! Only the top earners in rewardStyle are invited to attend, so I felt honored to be there and learn from some of the best. It was a great opportunity to network with brands and other influencers in the industry! (LTK Con Recap HERE)

October

Visiting Vermont in the fall has been on my bucket list for YEARS! I was determined to make it happen in 2022, so I rounded up my favorite travel buddies and flew to Stowe for a weekend! We saw the most gorgeous fall foliage and even ventured to nearby Woodstock. October was also full of weekends with Baker at the pumpkin patch, fall festivals, and fair! It was so much fun experiencing it with him now that he’s older! I do think Halloween will be even better this upcoming year, though! (Vermont travel guide HERE)

November

I have always wanted a pink Christmas tree, so I made my dreams come true with a $65 one from Walmart! I decided last minute to film myself constructing it for TikTok, and the freaking video went viral! I was shocked. I went from 2k followers to 15k with over 8 million views! It was exciting, but it also gave me serious anxiety. People on TikTok are extra mean, so there’s a price you pay for popping off! Hahah. I’m still glad it happened!

December

I took my last trip of the year to Palm Beach with the Buddy Love team to shoot my very own collection launching in January! This was such an amazing opportunity and the pieces fit my style perfectly. On a side note, I can’t believe how much I was able to travel this year! Booking a new adventure brings me immense joy, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to very often after I had Baker. I’m really blessed with a supportive family who picks up the slack while I’m gone!

This holiday season was so magical with Baker between making homemade handprint ornaments to looking at Christmas lights! Even though a new year can be intimidating, it’s refreshing to have a clean slate with new goals, visions, and intentions! Cheers to 2023!

XOXO

Kels

#LTKCon RECAP :)

October 11, 2022

SHOP MY OUTFIT

I have been insanely busy lately, and I realized I never shared my #LTKCon recap! I went to Dallas a couple of weeks ago for the LTK Conference, and I actually had the best time. It was an extremely busy few days, but I feel like the good outweighed the bad! The bad being just exhaustion from talking and engaging with so many people. Haha! I used to be such an extrovert and I still am, but my energy levels are depleted much quicker these days!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

My first LTK Conference was originally supposed to be in April 2020, but obviously it was cancelled! I remember being so sad because I had already purchased my hotel and plane ticket. They only invite the top 300 earners in the company, so it’s such an honor to attend! I would never have this opportunity if it wasn’t for y’all, though. Every like, comment, save, purchase through my links, or using my discount codes supports my business and ultimately my livelihood! I truly appreciate y’all!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

I roomed with my friend Brenna who I met in January, and then we went on a Buddy Love brand trip in May! We are very similar, so we were always on the same page when we needed to rest in our hotel room before the next event. Lol! #LTKCon kicked off with an afternoon cocktail hour with the cutest western theme! Girls were there that I hadn’t seen in years, so it was nice catching up with everyone. Or at least trying to! 🙂

SHOP MY OUTFIT

We had dinner Monday night at The Monarch with the Buddy Love team, and it was great seeing them again! They threw a beautiful dinner. The entire conference met on Tuesday morning where speakers shared information about new updates to the LTK app, and we even heard from the TikTok team! After lunch, we broke into classroom sessions to discuss everything from holiday preparation to TikTok strategies. It was super informative!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

Each creator also had 4 brands they met with for potential partnerships in the future! My schedule was Free People, Urban Outfitters, Petal & Pup, and It Cosmetics. Needless to say, I was extremely pleased with my pairings because I shop and link these retailers frequently! After the sessions and meetings were finished on Wednesday, LTK threw a gorgeous awards ceremony where everyone dressed to the nines!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

My favorite part of the night was servers bringing out cheeseburgers and french fries on silver platters during the afterparty! They were SO good. I think I ate two burgers, but don’t tell anyone! Lol. I didn’t stay out too late because I woke up early to get back in time to pick Baker up from school! Bo was in charge while I was gone, and he did a great job! I had a wonderful time with everyone at #LTKCon, but I was pretty happy when I pulled up in my driveway on Thursday! 🙂

PS: You can always follow me @kelsiebynum in the LTK app for easy shopping!

Kels

2022 BOOK REVIEW (So Far…)

July 20, 2022

I’m really bad about being consistent with my reading because I hit a lull after I finished Daisy Jones & The Six in January! Luckily, I picked it back up in April and now I’ve knocked out quite a few books. It’s hard to even choose a favorite because they’re all so different! Let me know your thoughts on this lineup because I know we all have different opinions! 🙂

The Last Thing He Told Me

I chose this book because it was a top read of 2021, but I think it was somewhat overhyped! The storyline got better as I read, but it just wasn’t on the same level as others to me. I do occasionally have a hard time reading books that are very unrelated to my life, so maybe that played a factor too!

Daisy Jones & The Six

I have seen mixed reviews about Daisy Jones, but I LOVED this book! A lot of people recommended the audiobook since the story is told in multiple viewpoints, but I didn’t mind it. This is the kind of book that I was sad about finishing! I’m pretty sure it’s loosely based on Fleetwood Mac. There’s also a movie (or tv show?) being filmed! I can’t wait!!!

People We Meet On Vacation

If you’re looking for a cute and easy vacation read, obviously the People We Meet On Vacation is a safe bet! The plot wasn’t too deep, and I honestly wished I would have saved it for the actual beach. It has a very obvious ending, but I still enjoyed the journey to it! Lol.

The Paris Apartment

I’m still on the fence about The Paris Apartment months later! I really had to force myself to push through to the “shocking moment” when a book starts to click for me. Even then, I struggled to like it! Without revealing any spoilers, it was pretty obvious everyone in the story was connected. I wish the author would have made it more conspicuous!

November 9

Although I enjoy Colleen Hoover books, I’m not her #1 biggest fan! I definitely liked November 9 more than It Ends With Us. It also has spoilers from Ugly Love, so you need to read it first! I do think the character’s connection in the book was less obvious than her others which I appreciated! Haha.

The Golden Couple

Thrillers that have a bizarre twist you never saw coming are just the best! Especially if you’re in the mood for that type of book. I knew I would enjoy The Golden Couple if it was half as good as The Wife Between Us. As always, Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen deliver the anxiety I crave in a great read!

The Hunting Wives

Oh my gosh. This book was recommended by one of the girls on my favorite podcast, and it was SO good. I think I read it within 48 hours? That’s saying something for me. I couldn’t put it down! You really have no clue what’s going to happen because the ending shocked me! I also just enjoy reading about the mysterious lives of rich southern women! 😉

What’s Next…

Meant To Be, The Idea of You, It Happened One Summer, Lessons in Chemistry

XOXO

Kels

BAKER’S FIRST BIRTHDAY

June 20, 2022

I have been planning Baker’s first birthday party for months now, so it was really cool to see my vision come to life! I knew pretty quickly that I wanted the theme to be Pete the Cat because Baker is obsessed with the show on Amazon Prime. Unfortunately, Pinterest didn’t have as many cute ideas as I hoped for, so I winged most of it! I’m still SO happy with how everything turned out. The vendors I used were amazing, and I cannot recommend them enough!

Summer’s Sweet Studio handled the invitations! I loved the very first one she sent me, and that’s what I went with! Magnolia Grace Cakes made the birthday cake, cookies, and smash cake. I chose red velvet for the top and normal white cake mix for the bottom! It was seriously some of the BEST cake I’ve ever had, and I like to think of myself as a bit of a cake expert! 🙂 Vine and Toast created the prettiest (and tastiest) charcuterie board! I’m so glad we had leftovers because I’ve been nibbling on it constantly! Haha. The white bounce was from Magnolia Luxe Rentals! It’s such an easy and fun party activity because they handle the set up and take down!

I think I covered everything, but please let me know if you have any other questions about Baker’s party! Thanks for reading y’all!

Kels