A Thought and a Half | Southern Food & Lifestyle Blog

Be Bold in 2016: A Linkup!

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Y’all, I am super stoked to make this announcement today! But first, I have a question for you:

Do you want to be bold in the New Year?

Several weeks ago, I started thinking that I wanted to kick off the New Year with something big. I wanted a place to share my goals for 2016 and to connect with other bloggers. I wanted to offer a place where other bloggers can come and share their goals, and find accountability partners and cheerleaders to help them reach their goals. Everyone operates better with some encouraging words and support from peers.

Most of all, though, I wanted to offer a space where we can all come together, grow our communities and discover other fabulous blogs and meet fantastic bloggers. Nothing brings me more joy than finding a new blog to read and a new blogger to get to know… and seeing others doing the same!

So, without further ado, today I am so pumped to bring y’all:

Be Bold in 2016: a blogging community to make your 2016 brighter!

be bold in 2016 linkup

Be Bold in 2016 is a linkup for bloggers of all niches, genres and backgrounds to share their goals for the New Year and to connect with other bloggers. Through this, we can all grow our blogging communities and find cheerleaders and accountability partners to help us own our goals and make 2016 bright and bold. After all, blogging is more fun with friends!

Do you want to be BOLD in the #NewYear? Then #BeBold2016 is for you! Click To Tweet

I’m super excited to team with with four amazing bloggers to bring Be Bold in 2016 to life!

Gina @ Gina Alyse
Allie @ Call Me Sassafras
Christina @ The Social Butterfly Gal
Catherine @ The Blissful Mind

We’d love for you to join the fun! We’ll post and link up each Friday in January, starting Jan. 8th. The themes and topics for each week are:

Jan. 8: What’s your “Word of the Year”?
Jan. 15: What are your blogging goals for the year?
Jan. 22: What are your health goals for the year?
Jan. 29: What are your personal goals for the year?

How can your “word of the year” apply to your goals in other areas and help you achieve them? Your word of the year can help you focus your efforts so you can work efficiently toward your goals.

If this sounds amazing to you, then feel free to grab our button and link up with us starting Jan. 8! You can follow along with #BeBold2016 on Twitter and Instagram, too!

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My Favorite Things: Gift Guide for Family & Friends {Part 3}

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First of all, my blog has a Facebook page! Give it a like and spread the word, please and thank you!
Happy holidays, everyone! It’s December, so it’s officially acceptable to blast Christmas music and admire my decorations (even though I’ve been doing the latter for two weeks already). I really love the Christmas season, so be prepared for lots of holiday spirit on the blog.

In the third and final installment of the My Favorite Things linkup with April, Elise, Katie, and Zelle, I’ve got a gift guide for your friends and family. These are gifts that will fit (almost) anyone on your shopping list. They’ll at least spark some ideas if you’re struggling to think of nice gifts to give (at least I hope they do!).

gift guide for family friends

{1} Scarves – Insert my usual “I love scarves” talk here; scarves really are great for everyone. Even guys can pull them off if they’re worn the right way, with the right coat. There’s a scarf out there for everyone. And best of all, scarves are affordable.

{2} Wine & wine accessories – If you can’t find a nice bottle of wine, or don’t know what kind to buy for the recipient, there are tons of fancy accessories to choose from, like openers or bottle stoppers. A good bottle opener can really go a long way.

{3} Slippers – Everyone loves to slide their feet into warm, soft and fuzzy shoes at night. My and my mom’s personal favorites are the L.L. Bean “wicked good” slippers. All department stores carry a variety slippers and house shoes, so you’ll have plenty to choose from for your friends.

{4} Blankets – Keep your friends and family warm this winter with a soft, warm blanket. Handmade blankets are even better. I especially love the tied, no-sew fringed blankets made from fleece. Those are usually affordable to make, and with all the patterns, colors and prints available in fleece, you can make a really special blanket for almost anyone. And they’re easy.

{5} Mix CD – Okay, perhaps a little dated and “old” at this point, but I really love making meaningful mix CDs for my friends. I guess now this could be done as a sharable playlist, but that’s not as fun. I guess holding the physical CD is what makes it special, too.

{6} Ornaments – Simple, easy and good for anyone who has a Christmas tree. My family has collected Lenox ornaments for as long as I can remember, and we’re really proud of our collection. We’ve given ornaments to friends in the past, usually ones that resonate with an inside joke or a shared memory.


What’s on your holiday gift guide?

My Favorite Things: Stocking Stuffers {Link-Up}

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Hello lovelies! I’m back on the “My Favorite Things” link-up action today. But before I get into that, today is my last day of class before I have a few days off to for Thanksgiving. This will be a much needed break and I’m so excited to relax and take it slow, and celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. 












Today’s link-up theme is stocking stuffers! Stocking stuffers are fun, thoughtful little gifts but miniature in size. I love shopping for small gifts because there are so many options that will make anyone smile. Here are my recommendations for some awesome stocking stuffers for your friends and family (and maybe even yourself). 












Writing/Office Items: I’m weird and have a strange affinity for fancy pens. Maybe it’s a writer/blogger thing, but nothing makes me happier than a fresh pack of nice pens. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, because there are definitely things that make me happier, but you get the idea. Helene in Between posted an awesome list of gift ideas for your favorite blogger, and it’s spot on. 







Books: Stocking-sized books are great ideas, and they’re easy to find. From little comic and humor books, to pocket-sized field guides, to collections of inspirational quotes, to Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris, there’s a book option for everyone on your shopping list. 







Sunglasses straps: These are great for everyone. I never used “croakies” (as they’re sometimes called) until recently because I thought they were a bit tacky. But then I got a free pair at Foxfield last year, and I was converted pretty quickly. They’re so convenient! You can find these in so many different colors, styles, and patterns, and can even get them monogrammed if you know where to look (like Etsy). 







Mini perfumes: Any kind of beauty accessory makes a great stocking stuffer for your beauty-savvy friends. Rollerball perfumes are great because they fit nicely in purses or clutch-style wallets. Nail polish will add a pop of color to any stocking collection, and every girl needs a good tube of lipgloss for the occasional night out. 







Ties & bow ties: For the men in your lives, nothing adds a classy touch like a nice tie or bow tie. Again, these are easy to find, as they’re available at almost any department store, and come in a wide variety of colors, patterns and material. How about a new tie for his first day at a new job or for a special dinner party? Why not! I keep wanting to get my dad a VT tie…maybe one year. 






What are your favorite stocking stuffers?









My Favorite Things Link-Up {Part 1}

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I love a good link-up, and this one, hosted by April, Elise, Katie and Zelle is just perfect for the holiday season. Not to mention the title is a reference to my favorite movie of all time, ever, The Sound of Music. 

















This week’s topic is: Your Christmas Wish List!

{1} Little Black Dress: I recently realized that I do not own a little black dress! It’s a major fashion staple because of its versatility. Good for all seasons, except maybe the super hot months of summer, and can be dressed up with a pop of color and appropriate accessories. 
{2} Blanket Scarf: Looping back to my obsession with scarves…blanket scarves are extra soft and warm, and easy to wear with almost any cool-weather item in my closet. There’s a really cute one from Bourbon & Boots, and I have a coupon… Christmas present to myself? 
{3} iPad: The software has changed so much on iPads since I started using my dad’s old first-generation one. I can’t even run updates on it anymore because the apps are too new and the software is too old! Plus, if I want to go into media and PR work, it’d be nice to have one for organizing apps and keeping up with news on the go and when traveling, aside from my phone. And really, iPads are fun to play with, and much lighter than my laptop. 
{4} Measuring Cups: It sounds silly, but a good set of measuring cups can go a long way! The $4 set I bought at Target when I moved has already broken. There are some really cool and nice silicone cups that collapse and flatten for easier storage. Is everything silicone these days? 
{5} Mana-Tea Infuser: Stocking stuffer, maybe? I love my Tea Duckie infuser, and this would make a great companion. The fact that it hooks to the rim of the cup is awesome. My duck just floats and topples. Also, how can I say no to the great built-in pun? Manatee…mana-tea…get it? 
What’s on your Christmas list this year? 






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