#SBSCon

If you guys follow me on Instagram, you probably already know that I spent last weekend at the Southern Blog Society conference at the W Atlanta -- Buckhead. This was my first blogger conference ever, and I'm not going to lie, I was pretty intimidated to head outside of my little D.C. bubble to a new city with esteemed bloggers.

Long story short: I had the time of my life. Jessica and Cathy did such an amazing job planning the entire event and I got the chance to mix, mingle and network with both the crème de la crème of Southern bloggers and some amazing brands (ASOS, Kendra Scott, Dermalogica, ShopSense and Ahalogy, just to name a few!)

I'm still unpacking our massive swag bag of goodies I received at the conference, but I'll slowly but surely share my favorite products on Instagram, Twitter and in outfit posts. In the meantime, check out a few photos shot by the incredibly talented Rebekah Carson.

Photos by: Rebekah Carson

Naked3 Palette Giveaway

Lucky for you: I've teamed up with Caroline and a few other bloggers and we're giving away not one but two Naked3 Palettes! One for you and one to give to your friend! Ladies, get on this.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Geometry Lesson

Photos by: Lisa Chiu

My favorite part about summer fashion is that there is no shortage of bold colors and crazy prints in stores. Don't get me wrong, I love a good neutral, but bright colors just work for me a lot better. I love complimenting bold hues with crisp, white accessories in an attempt to blind everyone walking past me as well. Hello. This outfit is in your face and I'm not sorry about it.

This J.Crew dress is great because it's one of those dresses that works for various occasions. Brunch? Check. Work? Check. Drinks with the girls? Check check check. As a girl who loves J.Crew but has a modest entry-level budget to work with, this purchase made sense. 

Guest Post: 5 Tips for Adjusting to Life in a New City

Good morning, everyone! I am happy to have Ashliegh from The Darling Daily guest post for me today! I'm actually obsessed with this post as this subject hits close to home. I've moved to four different cities over the last six years, and I wish I knew these tips when I was constantly relocating!

If you're digging this post, make sure to check out Ashliegh's blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages! 

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Hey Darlings! I'm Ashliegh, the blogger behind The Darling Daily. My blog features classy fun, fashion, beauty, recipes and more! I am a recent post-grad and sorority woman, with a passion for bargain shopping, reading classic literature, and living life to my personal motto, "high heels, high standards, pearls everyday."

Since graduating this past May, I've transplanted from the flat farmlands of Ohio to the mountainous area that is Northern Virginia. Mind you, I don't know anyone in this area except for my boyfriend and his parents. As much as I'd love to be BFF's with my boyfriend's mom, I've been on the hunt to find some new friends to hang out with! Here are five tips for adjusting to life in a new city!

1. Be friendly to everyone.
This should be a given! Kindness goes a long way with people.  Put on that beautiful smile of yours and chat up the cashier at your new favorite boutique or another coffee drinker at the local coffee shop. You already have something in common since you're at the same store! 

2. Enjoy some time for yourself.
If you're new to a city that you don't know a lot of people in, chances are you're going to be spending quite a bit of time by yourself and that's ok! Spend this time for self-reflection and working on your hobbies or learning a new skill. 

3. Reach out and join a club.
Being bloggers, we love making new connections. I've recently done some research to find local bloggers and blogging groups and plan to meet up with them. I also joined meetup.com and found a few 20-something groups on there. I was able to plan a meet up at the local horse track and casino that had a great turn out! I've also been looking into women's groups and service organizations like the Junior League and alumnae groups through my sorority. It can be intimidating to put yourself out there but you might make some great connections and new friends!

4. Explore!
Who knew that sketchy hole-in-the-wall restaurant had the best pizza in town? Or the adorable local coffee shop hosted a weekly networking night? The options are limitless in a new town to find new things to do and people to meet. Through exploring, you could even find out about more events if you check out the community bulletin boards commonly found at coffee shops, restaurants, etc. 

5. Take up a new hobby.
While I've had extra time to work on my blog more, I've also taken up a few new hobbies. I've been cooking and baking up a storm in the kitchen and also purchased a DSLR camera. It's been fun learning photography and even building a fun skill like food photography and styling. I would even consider finding the cutest winery in the area a hobby, right Alicia? 

I hope if you're moving to a new city that you find these tips helpful. Even if you're not, you could apply these tips to make some new connections and discover newfound skills!

Feel free to drop by my blog or give me a shout out on Facebook or Twitter! 

Monday Must-Have: Light Layers

One // Two // Three // Four // Five

I'm headed to Atlanta for the very first time this weekend for the Southern Blog Society conference. I'm super excited, but I am a little nervous about the weather. They certainly don't call it Hotlanta for nothing! 

I love layering, even in the dead of summer, so I decided to round up a few light, breezy layers that would be ideal for summer in the deep South. For all of my southern readers, if you have any other tips and tricks on what I should pack for this ATL trip, please let me know!