I love this time of year during spring! The mornings are still cool, and in the afternoons we get a taste of the summer days ahead. The temperature is just warm enough to bring out your wedges and that new sundress you've been itching to wear.  Spring and summer are such exciting seasons for fashion. I can't wait to see new trends come to life! To carry us over, here are a few of my favorite trends that we're sure to see in the new season.

one | two | three | four

dress | bag | sunglasses | shoes

photos by Ban Avenue Photography

Another week has flown by and I can't believe it's almost the weekend (in T minus 3 hours for us, when Zach gets home and we celebrate big time)! I told Z yesterday that while I feel so incredibly happy and blessed with our new family of four, I also feel like I'm struggling to get things done and adjust to our new "normal". My emails rack up to an overwhelming number before I can find the time to answer them, my to-do list keeps getting things added faster than I can mark anything off, and I haven't cooked a meal or taken a walk in two months because I simply can't find the time. I know we will adjust with time and I'll find a balance that works, but at this moment we call it a successful day if Bear isn't more than 15 minutes late to school and I remember to go pick him up. At the end of the day, though, I look at my boys and my heart feels like it could burst. I love being their Mommy more than anything and it's worth every struggle and Sonic run.

In the world of fashion, there are so many styles that I'm obsessed with right now. I've also purchased approximately 87 swimsuits in the past month because I'm dying over all the swim styles right now- high waisted and pom poms FTW. Here are some more trends I'm loving!

1. These sunnies. You've seen me wear these a ton already and I #cantstopwontstop because I love them, no pun intended. They are a great dupe for this designer pair and $10 vs. $508? No brainer on the dupe!

2. Polka dots. My inner 90's child is fired up about the polka dots we're seeing everywhere right now; I can't get enough of them, both big and small. You're going to be seeing a lot more on the blog soon because I just got in some fun polka dot sets I'll be shooting next week!

3. Comfy sandals. This is nothing new, as this is my shoe of choice every spring and summer but this year especially I am living in my Tory Burch Miller Sandals. I have them in "sand patent" but my next choice is "makeup" that I plan on getting sometime before summer. If you're getting a pair for the first time, I recommend one of these two nude shades that will match everything and elongate your legs! Also size a full size up- I'm normally a size 6 and I wear a 7 in these.

4. Wrap dresses. Dresses like the one I'm wearing above are flattering on all shapes, timeless so you can wear them for years to come, and nursing-friendly for breastfeeding mamas like myself. I love the ruffle details so many of them have right now- I've had my eye on this one from Nordstrom for weeks now and I think I'm finally gonna take the plunge (more polka dots, too!).

5. Two-piece sets. This trend started getting big last year but has only snowballed; now you can find adorable two-piece outfits in almost any store you walk into. I just got in some that I love and can't wait to wear! This one and this one are my favorites. 

Boone is currently taking a good nap despite Bear being loud and crazy, so we're gonna keep riding it out and try and get some things done! I'm hosting a baby shower from my friend Aimey tomorrow and have a few things left to do- can't wait to celebrate her baby boy! 

xo, Britt

Original Content Written By The Hello Honey Blog

Dress: Red Dress Boutique c/o  | Bag: Kate Spade | Earrings: J.Crew | Heels: Forever 21 | Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Instagram is constantly evolving and constantly bringing stress to influencers and users alike. The minute you think you have Instagram figured out, Zuckerburg goes and changes the algorithm or the API security and we’re back at square one. To add insult to injury, it’s reported that only 10% of your followers are even seeing your posts. So if you are feeling frustrated on the pathway to Instagram growth, know that you are not alone.

Instagram has seriously leveled the playing field recently and we’ve all thought about throwing our phone out the window or even throwing in the towel. Unfortunately, complaining isn’t going to get us anywhere, so we must adapt.

Now, if you have come here for a quick fix, this is the wrong post for you. This is tough love for anyone trying to make it in the influencer industry that is so new, yet constantly in flux. We didn’t get a guide book or college courses – all we got was trial and error. So if you’re dipping your toe in, know that this industry comes with a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

Life is too short to follow sucky accounts.

Or to be a sucky account, honestly. I am a firm believer in “if you build it, they will come”. If you consistently create quality content, there is an audience for you. The last thing I am going to convince you to do is a loop giveaway, engagement pod, shout out, etc. And I’m certainly going to discourage you from cheating in any way! What I’m going to do instead is take a deep dive into the algorithm and share all the ways to make it work to your advantage. I’m no overnight success, but I feel like I’ve cultivated a group of women with shared interests whom I feel extremely bonded to. And at the end of the day, that’s success in my book. So read on for what my own trials and a lengthy list of errors have taught me.

Consistency is Key (and so is Quality)

If you are determined to grow, it’s going to take fierce dedication.

Have you noticed that successful influencers always show up at the top of your feed, while you rarely ever see a post from your coworkers or high school friends? Thanks to Instagram’s algorithm update, your timeline is FAR from chronological. It is sorted by a number of factors including engagement, timeliness of the post, and your followers’ relationship with you. So let’s chat time and engagement and we’ll get to relationships later…

POST 1-3 TIMES A DAY: Come up with a posting schedule that you feel comfortable sticking with, but aim to be posting every day. Not only do your followers come to count on your content, decreases in daily engagement can negatively effect where you appear in users’ feeds.

FIND A TIME THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU: It is extremely important to figure out when your followers are most active and always strive to post within that window. How quickly users interact with your photo is important to the algorithm, so you want to get the most bang for your buck.

UTILIZE INSTAGRAM STORIES: Did you know that Instagram Stories have 300 million daily users? That is double Snapchat! How likely your Stories are to appear high in people’s feeds is based on the same algorithm as your posts are. This is GREAT news because it is easier to get your followers to interact with your stories than your posts. Simply include polls and swipe-ups to increase Story engagement. Instagram interprets this the same way as comments and likes and will, in turn, boost your Stories and posts. Once you’ve established some Story engagement, space out your Stories so as to continue to appear higher in the feed.

While quantity is important, quality is VITAL. Never post for posting’s sake. This is where things get a little pricey. If you are wanting to get serious about your content, I would suggest investing in a DSLR and a good lens (I use a Nikon D750 and a Sigma 35mm 1.4 lens), Photoshop, and Lightroom. If you’re creating lack luster or low resolution content, it doesn’t matter if you follow every tip in this post – it won’t work. So make sure to go the extra mile in each of your posts.

No one is following you to do you a favor… besides maybe your mom.

Brand Yourself

Setting a theme for your feed is a sure-fire way to convert casual browsers into followers.

Take a gander at a few of the most successful accounts and you’ll quickly see that these have a clear brand, color scheme, style, and maybe even a rhythm. Yes, it is easier said than done to create a cohesive feed, but let’s break it down into manageable parts.

BRAINSTORM: Take some time to think hard about your brand and come up with three words you would use to describe it. For me, I would say feminine, southern, and affordable. It crystallized for me after continuously describing my style as “Easter Sunday, everyday”. Use these key words to shape all of the content you publish.

SHOOT FOR YOUR STYLE: Once you are clear on your brand, shoot for this style. Using myself as an example again, I only shoot on pastel or brightly colored backgrounds wearing light-colored clothing. Take a few hours to explore your community and keep a list of no-fail shooting locations. Take advantage of the blooms in Spring, the leaves in the Fall and the snow in the Winter. Maybe even carve out an hour on vacation to take advantage of something scenic. Whatever you do, don’t bounce around dramatically when it comes to your shooting style.

EDIT YOUR PHOTOS: If I could stress one thing in this post it would be to bite the bullet and purchase Lightroom. It is worth every penny and is seriously a game changer. Find or create a preset and stick with it. Every one of my photos for Instagram or this blog go through Lightroom first and what a world of difference it makes. I am currently working on some of my own presets but in the meantime, I highly recommend THESE. When each of your photos is edited the same way, a cohesive feed is a breeze!

VISUALIZE YOUR FEED: Influencers who can just snap a picture and throw it onto Instagram are the bravest people I know 😉 I personally shoot and edit a number of looks ahead of time and then upload them into my ride-or-die app, Snug. With this amazing app, I can see how all of my upcoming photos will look in my feed and arrange and rearrange them until it’s perfectly to my liking. I also try to avoid posting similar colors or shots next to each other to add some interest to my feed as a whole.

 I would turn off or shock my followers if I suddenly wore something uber trendy, revealing, or dark. So always keep in mind why these people follow you, what they are looking to you for, and how to best achieve this.

The same applies to your Instagram Story highlight icons. Get creative and theme these bad boys! Or if you’re lazy, you can download my pre-made ones HERE.

Share Yourself

While you likely follow many accounts, I guarantee the ones that resonate most are the people you feel you’ve gotten to know. I’m sure a few influencers are coming to mind: that blogger who is hilarious, the one with the adorable kids, the one who took you through her weight loss journey, the one who opened up about singleness or about her faith.

If you are a fashion/beauty blogger, you don’t have to spend all of your time cramming products down your followers throats.

I get it, you need to make a living. But try incorporating your family, friends, your day, music, tutorials, workouts, even your frickin’ Starbucks order into your content.

Social media is unique because to be successful you don’t have to be the prettiest, the funniest, the smartest, or the fittest… you just need to provide value to your followers. Once you have developed trust with your followers, your value to brands increases. This trust comes from a close, personal relationship with them.

Interact With Your Community

Instagram isn’t a one-way posting platform. C’mon y’all! It’s called SOCIAL media for a reason. One quick way to lose your followers’ trust is to not respond to comments or DMs and one quick way to slow your growth is to not comment or DM accounts you love.

Quit posting and ghosting and get chatting.

ADD A CALL TO ACTION: Did you know that the algorithm takes into account how long a user views your post? Take major advantage of this with a clever caption or a call to action.

REPLY TO YOUR COMMENTS: Your comments should be a conversation. Instagram is actually boosting accounts that consistently reply to comments and do so quickly. Interact within the first hour of posting to increase visibility.

CROSS-PROMOTE WITH OTHER BLOGGERS/BRANDS: If you have created amazing content for a brand, make sure they see it! Tag them in the post or email them the high-res version and encourage them to share it with their followers. And collaborate with other bloggers on posts! That way each of y’all are exposed to the others’ following.

SHARE THE LOVE: Don’t go all spammy but if you genuinely like an influencer’s post, take a minute to let them know that. And please don’t make it a generic “Love your feed” or “Cute pic” – be sincere. Not only is it the nice thing to do, but the more you interact with your community, the more people will engage with your posts and the higher you will appear in people’s feeds.

Study Your Analytics

If you have a business account, your analytics need to become your top priority. (If you haven’t made the swap yet, HERE is an article on how to do so) Finding out what your followers convert highest on and what brings them to your website/affiliate links will save you a ton of time – something influencers have very little of.

Work smarter, not harder.

Did a particular post perform unusually well? That is your followers begging you for more of that. Duplicate your top-performing posts be it an outfit they loved, a type of post, or even a new vertical. Home and beauty verticals perform well for me when it comes to engagement, but not in terms of conversion, so this is something I consider when creating content.

Another factor to study is what time of day your posts perform the best at. This is likely the time that your followers are actively on the app. Once you’re equipped with this information, aim to post in these windows for maximum exposure.

Hashtags are important to dig deep into, as well. Did you know that you can actually see how many people discovered your post based on your hashtags? It’s right there in your analytics! So y’all, it is more important than ever to use relevant hashtags to get discovered. Be sure to use hashtags that uniquely describe your posts and account and mix them up on each post. Instagram could potentially penalize you for copying and pasting the same hashtags on every post or using particularly spammy ones like #likeforlike. So be intentional, but still try to use all 30 hashtags to increase your likelihood of discovery.

Bonus Tip: Utilize the Carousel

Y’all may not realize it but by utilizing the carousel feature (i.e. posting multiple photos in one Instagram post), you have a unique opportunity to get more eyes on your post. Once your followers scroll through their timeline once and see the first photo in the carousel, Instagram will likely key up the second photo for another timeline scroll. That means Instagram will force your followers to see your same post TWICE. Finally, this damn app is working for ME! This feature is especially important if you are working with brands. More eyes = more engagement + more VALUE.

Plus, as users scroll through your photos, they are spending more time on your post. Instagram rewards you for this!

If you have made it this far, congratulations! I hope this post was helpful to you. The algorithm is constantly in flux so there is no way to ever truly master Instagram. I just want y’all to know that you don’t have to cheat to grow, you can still grow organically if you are willing to put in the work. Ask my husband – I put so much more into this career than I ever did my 9-5 and while it is increasingly difficult to achieve success as an influencer, it is so rewarding and I can’t see myself working in any other industry.

So in Instagram as in life:

Be nice, work hard, and be authentic.

Original Content Written By Cort in Session

Dress: Marleylilly // Earrings: Lisi Lerch // Shoes: Jack Rogers // Hat: Honeymoon Hats // Bracelets: Hazen & Co and I Love Jewelry

Do you love monograms? Do you want to monogram everything you own? Well then you are in the right place! Today I’m sharing my monogram love with Marley Lilly as well as some of my favorite pieces and ways to incorporate personalization into your wardrobe. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that my monogram obsession has been in overdrive as we prepare for the arrival of our sweet baby boy. I’ve always loved monograms – I have monogrammed luggage, clothing, and china galore. But now I’m obsessed with monogrammed pajamas, jon jons, diaper covers, and swaddles – I might be a little out of control!

I love monograms because they symbolize tradition, heirlooms, family history, and personality. Three unique letters prescribed to you at birth – There’s just something special about that. Southerners are known for saying that if it’s not moving, monogram it! I think the fabulous queen of southern belles Reese Witherspoon actually said that! 🙂 Are you a fellow lover of all things monogrammed? I’d love to hear about your favorite pieces to monogram and the places you love to buy them! And St. Pete/Tampa people – I have been searching for someone to do monograms locally. Please let me know if you have any recs!

For years, Marleyilly has been my favorite destination for affordable monogrammed clothing, accessories, and décor. It’s also one of the best resources for personalized gifts. I want to buy everything they have! Check out some of my favorites!

Photography by Sandra Morlet

This post is in collaboration with Marley Lilly, but all opinions are my own.

Original Content Written By So Sarah Hunt

Easy Office Plants

Have you ever been scrolling through Pinterest and noticed all the cute greenery that adorns every office space these days? Ever wanted to have plants of your own at your desk or office, but haven't known where to start? Are you scared that your plants will immediately die within a week? You're not alone!

I recently tapped into my inner gardener and gifted all my coworkers small office plants that are extremely easy to care for and need minimal sunlight exposure. Everyone has so enjoyed caring for their plant child, and they have all thrived so far! An added bonus is that our shared office space is looking much greener and more cheerful!  Having plants in the office offers so many benefits, which include, but are not limited to: filtering the air, reducing noise levels, reducing stress and an enhanced perception of your space.

After this pretty astounding indoor plant success (we can’t all have green thumbs), I wanted to share with you five of my favorite plants that will be the perfect addition to your work area. Read on for greener work spaces!

Snake Plant

Great for filtering out bad VOC’s (air toxins)

Gives oxygen at Night

Likes moderate to bright light

Low to moderate watering

Does not need repotting, unless necessary

Toxic when eaten

Golden Pothos

Great for filtering out bad VOC’s

Likes moderate to bright light

Low to moderate watering

Untangle vines once in awhile

Toxic when eaten

Spider Plant

Great for filtering out bad VOC’s

Prefers bright light, will grow in semi shade

Lots of water in summer, less in winter

Aloe Vera

Great for filtering out bad VOC’s

Heals cuts, and burns with gel from leaves (goodbye sunburn!)

Likes the sun

Allow soil to dry between watering and use a wide planter rather than a deep one

Peace Lily

Great for filtering out bad VOC’s

Prefers medium-indirect sunlight

Thrives in low-light conditions

Keep soil evenly moist, water every week

Toxic for cats and dogs

I'm always on the hunt for organization hacks - beauty, closet, kitchen - I can't get enough! One area I tend to neglect, though, is my car, especially when I travel! When I'm on the go, no matter how hard I try, my shoes, clothes, and accessories end up everywhere. Until now, that is! Marleylilly recently launched these adorable monogrammed organizers, and I am all in!

Monogrammed Market Tote

Confession time - I too often forget to bring a reusable grocery bag to Trader Joe's, Aldi or Lidl. I totally support the #GoGreen movement, but how can I do my part when I always forget my grocery bag? Now I am out of excuses with this monogrammed tote bag. This is the perfect tote to leave in your trunk for your weekly errands, like a grocery run or a quick fitness class. It's super lightweight, spacious and is easily collapsible - perfect for car storage.

Monogrammed Car Organizer

This past weekend I stayed with my sister in Myrtle Beach, SC for her birthday. She and her husband live in the CUTEST little townhouse surrounded by palm trees and only 10 minutes from the beach! It was such a great place to stay! Not only was the location perfect, but throughout the whole weekend I couldn’t help but notice what amazing hosts my sister and her husband were! I felt totally comfortable and had all the essentials I could ask for! Forgot my towel? No problem. Forgot my shampoo? She had some. Forgot blankets? She gave me 5. Needed a snack? They made freshly baked brownies (yum!). It was such a wonderful weekend and I left there feeling like my sister was definitely the “hostess with the mostest”! Do you need some help hosting your next guests? Below you will find a couple of ideas and tips to help you get your home ready!

When you’re expecting guests, the golden rule should always be to go above and beyond the expected! Start by brainstorming through their day. The first thing they will probably do after settling in their room is freshen up. Make sure you have extra toiletries (shampoo, razors, body wash, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)! And to add a luxurious touch, invest in an adorable monogrammed towel set like these at Marleylilly! Your guests will definitely feel like they are receiving the spa treatment with these comfy towels!

And don’t forget to have plenty of blankets handy! Marleylilly also has these Personalized Sherpa Blankets that are SUPER warm and cozy!

Want to check out more monogrammed housewares? Click here to shop even more personalized items for your home!

Another tip is to make sure you plan a few fun things to do and also organize your guest's transportation if they need to be somewhere. If your guest doesn’t have many plans, think of some things they may enjoy doing. That could be as simple as relaxing at the house, playing games, going to the mall, dining at a local restaurant, or riding around town. Make sure you don’t go too overboard, but also make sure you have some options planned just in case your guest wants to go out! One of the things I enjoyed about staying with my sister this past weekend was how she and her husband took me to all the best places in Myrtle Beach. They were like the ultimate city guides! If you’re not sure what events are going on in your city, check out this article. Here you will find some apps that will help you find out what events are going on near you (concerts, festivals, markets, bands…etc)!

The next thing to think about is food. Who doesn’t love snacks!? If you know some special treats your guests like, grab them at the store before they arrive. It will make them feel so special! Also, make sure to ask them about any food allergies and likes/dislikes they may have. If you’re planning on cooking dinner for everyone one night, come up with a couple of recipes and let your guest decide which one sounds best! And just because you’re the host doesn’t mean you need to spend an arm and a leg on food. To find some fun snack and meal ideas, check out Delish.com! They have TONS of recipes! Here’s a helpful article with “52 Cheap And Easy Dinner Recipes”!

And if you really want to impress your guests, consider purchasing some personalized dining items such as placemats, napkins, cutting boards and cheese trays from Marleylilly! It will add a perfect touch of class to any meal or snack!

Monogrammed Napkin Set

Monogrammed Cutting Board 

Want to know more dos and don'ts of hosting? A great resource can be found here at Elle Decor. This article has a very interesting and fun infographic about hosting. This graphic goes through some statistics about what you can do to make your guest’s stay more comfortable and welcoming. And it also has some tips for guests too! ;)

Happy hosting! Let us know what advice you have for all our hosts/hostesses out there below!

When I was researching what to wear to the Masters I had the hardest time finding any recommendations. I found a few pictures on Pinterest but didn’t have much to go off of. It seemed like no one could recommend what to wear, so as a first-time spectator I am here to help! Below are some tips on what women should wear to the Masters.

I’m not a big golfer, to be honest, I know nothing about golf, so I spent a lot of time people watching since I didn’t have my phone. During my time people watching I saw 3 different types of women at Augusta National.

I loved my outfit! I felt like it was very me and very golf appropriate. We did a lot of standing, but we did buy chairs to sit, so I never had an issue wearing a dress. There’s also stand throughout the course, so rarely did I see someone sitting on the grass. I debated bringing a jacket or not but I am so glad I did because it was pretty chilly until about noon. Below are 5 things I definitely recommend wearing/bringing.

1. Sneakers: I saw a lot of girls wearing sandals, but we did SO much walking I’m so glad I went with sneakers. It also rained the night before so sneakers were helpful to avoid any muddy areas (which were minimal because of the immaculate grounds).
2. Light Jacket: Like I mentioned it was chilly in the mornings, so I was happy to have some coverage to keep me warm.
3. Small Purse: The Masters is VERY strict, so a small crossbody bag is ideal. All bags must be no larger than 10″W x 10″H x 12″D. A crossbody is the best option due to all the walking and standing, I didn’t want to have to have something to lug around.
4. Hat: A hat was a must have for me, one because I was having an awful hair day, but two because it protected my scalp and face from the sun. The last thing I wanted was to get sunburned.
5. Rain Jacket/Poncho: Small rainstorms are common this time of year, so you don’t want to be stuck outside in the rain stranded. I bought a cheap emergency poncho and just kept in my jacket pocket. Thank goodness I didn’t have to use it.