End-of-Year Funk

The week between Christmas and New Year's is always tough in the news business. Between vacations and lack of anything happening, it can easily turn into the longest week of the year, especially if your stress-to-sleep ratio is out of wack like mine has been. In fact, I've been in a kind of funk for the past two weeks it feels like.

It all started when we had to miss my aunt's annual Christmas party and then Christmas with my grandparents because Alexis got a terrible stomach bug. To make it worse, we sent her to stay with my mom because she was out on winter break so daddy and I wouldn't have to miss work. Needless to say I was not focused on work those three days. Other than getting a touch of the bug myself, Christmas came and went pretty uneventfully (more on that in a post next week), but this past week has been bad. Bedtime has been a struggle all week, I haven't slept well, and work has been beyond stressful for a handful of reasons.

All of these things have combined to create an end-of-year funk I'm having a hard time breaking out of. I feel like I'm not being a good mom, wife, friend, or daughter right now, and all I want to do is burrow into the covers on my bed and sleep until I feel like me again. But of course I won't. Instead I'll do the laundry that's been piling up, organize all the Christmas gifts Alexis got that are strewn from one end of my house to the other, and take down our decorations before the new year. And while nearly everyone else I know will be out celebrating the end of 2016, I think I'll watch a movie with my husband and go to bed early. If nothing else, I'll start off 2017 with a good night's sleep.

Happy New Year.

Monday Motivation

Make every day better than the one before.

Happy Monday!

P.S. If you'd like this print, you can buy it here.

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: 4 Tips for New Producers

I started the (Not So) Basic Journalism Skills series two years ago with the goal of sharing some of the things I've learned from the newsroom that weren't taught in school or are often taken for granted as something you should already know how to do. It's been over seven years, and I still haven't run out of things to write about.

Within the past year, I've trained two producers who don't have degrees in broadcast journalism - one was a print major like me, the other has an English degree. There's been a fairly big learning curve, much like during my first few months as a producer, so I've had to come up with unique ways of bridging that gap, which is what inspired this post.

I've put together a list of four tips to help new producers find their footing and keep their sanity during their first month.

1. Establish a Routine
In this business, deadlines are a blessing and a curse. They give you something to work toward, but, in the beginning especially, they can seem synonymous to failure. That's why it's so, so important to establish a routine early. I have a printout that I give all my new producers to help them get started. It's the exact same routine I've been following for the past seven years.

2. Time Yourself
I learned the hard way that having a checklist isn't always enough, especially when you're a brand-new producer. When I first started, I worked overnight by myself. There was no one there to hold me accountable or jump in and save me if I got behind, so I set myself deadlines throughout the night to get things done. I've found this to be very helpful for the last two producers I've trained.

3. Prioritize
My newest producer was having a hard time meeting final deadline, even with a timed checklist. Turns out, we hadn't allotted enough time for her to edit video and had it too far down her checklist. So we rearranged and blocked out her time differently. Basically, we reprioritized so that the hardest thing for her was higher on her checklist. Bottom line, do your hardest thing first. After you've picked your content, that is. It's kinda hard to do anything else before that.

4. Watch/Look Back
This may be the best piece of advice I can give you. Go back and look at past shows, both the rundown and the air-checks, to see how things are put together, how stories are written, etc. This is a visual business, so reading old copy and watching old shows will give you a strong visual of what your end goal should be ... at least in the beginning. Obviously, your goal should always be to improve upon the product.

All of these tips are tried and true. I've used all of them myself or have employed them when training new producers.

For more tips and tricks on surviving the news business, check out my other (Not So) Basic Journalism Skills posts.

Monday Motivation

How could this not be my Monday Motivation for this week? First of all, it's a giraffe, my favorite animal. Secondly, it's such great advice. Why would you want to be anything but yourself? Don't be a carbon copy. Sure, you can be inspired by other people, but you can never be them. So do your own thing, develop your own interests, and be completely unapologetic about who you are because who you are is absolutely wonderful.

Newsroom Fashion: White After Labor Day

It's been a hectic past couple of weeks at work, and I've honestly just been forgetting to take pictures of what I'm wearing. In fact, this picture is a direct result of me remembering during my toddler's bath that I hadn't done a Newsroom Fashion post in a couple of weeks, so I quickly snapped a photo while sitting on the bathroom floor.

There's nothing special about this outfit but it's so comfy and flattering. I'm so glad I splurged on these white jeans from The Limited this Spring and this sweater back when I was pregnant. Now that I'm normal size again, it fits like a tunic so I can wear it with jeans or leggings. Everything I'm wearing is at least six months old, proving once again that smart shopping is always worth it in the end!

I couldn't find anything really similar to my sweater, but I linked to some tunic-style sweaters that come in a similar color that are available at The Limited right now below.

Details:
Sweater: The Limited old (with fringe, textured cowl neck)
Jeans: The Limited old (similar)
Necklace: The Limited old (similar)
Boots: Target old (exact)

Working-Mom Guilt

Being a parent is tough. I think we all constantly worry that we're not doing enough, that we're making a billion mistakes, that we're not there enough. That last one is what I've been struggling with lately - working-mom guilt.

I love my job. It is an absolute privilege to be able to do what I do every day, and I've worked very hard to get to where I am in my career, but opportunities get off early when you work in news, especially when you're a producer, are few and far between.

My typical weekday starts between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. If I'm lucky, it starts at 6:00 and Alexis sleeps until 7:00, which means I get an uninterrupted hour to get ready for the day and then another hour to spend with her. If I'm not lucky, she wakes up before my alarm, is grumpy because she didn't get the sleep she needs, and the morning is spent fighting to get ready so we can leave the house by 8:00. Alexis is at daycare by 8:15 so I can be at work by 8:30. I get off as soon as my show ends at 5:30, pick Alexis up no later than 6:00 depending on traffic, and we're home usually by 6:30. Her bedtime is 8:00.

Even on days when daddy is off, I still only get to spend a few hours a day with Alexis during the week. And even though I'm a big believer in daycare and the social skills Alexis is learning while there, I still feel guilty that some days she spends more than eight hours there.

When we get home in the evenings, there's dinner to be made, bath time to get through and the all-important bedtime routine to follow. It's 8:00 before I know it, and although Alexis' day is done, there are still things on my to-do list like dishes or laundry, but most nights I'm ready to fall into bed as soon as I know she's asleep. So then there's the guilt of daily household chores often left undone, not to mention the guilt that comes along with feeling like you don't have enough to give of yourself to your partner.

Is there no end to working mom guilt?!

I don't actually have an answer to that, but I am working on ways to feel less guilty about the things I can't or don't do. I'm also working on appreciating the personal time I get instead of constantly feeling like I should be doing something other than something that's just for me.

Are you a fellow working mom? What tips or advice do you have for overcoming working-mom guilt?

Monday Motivation

Better late than never, right? After a particularly long night with the baby, this Monday was one of the toughest I've had in awhile and definitely one which I have to remind myself that tomorrow is another day.

Happy Monday!

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (***SPOILERS***)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3183660/

Here's my review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in a nutshell: if you are a fan of Harry Potter, you need to see this movie. If you haven't seen it yet but plan on it, read no further than this paragraph or risk having the movie spoiled for you. You have been warned.


Here's the general plot line -- Newt Skamander (Eddie Redmayne) travels to the US from England to release a griffin back into the wilds of Arizona. He's traveling with a magical suitcase filled with magical creatures including a niffler. Some of those creatures escape in New York when Newt accidentally swaps suitcases with a muggle, or no-maj as Americans refer to non-magical people, aspiring baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). Newt and Jacob, along with disgraced auror Tina (Katherine Waterston) and her sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) then find themselves in an adventure that's much bigger than recovering escaped magical creatures and keeping the magical world hidden.

The crux of the movie revolves around an American auror named Graves (Colin Farrell) and his secret search for an obscurus, a child that has suppressed his/her magical powers so that they manifest in an uncontrollable form. Graves has enlisted the help of a young man named Credence to help him find this obscurus, wrongly believing it to be one of Credence's adopted sisters. When Credence fails to deliver, Graves essentially tells the boy he's useless, prompting Credence to reveal that he is the obscurus and in the process expose magic to the entire city.

In the end, aurors destroy Credence, and Graves' true identity is revealed - Grindelwald, the evil wizard (Johnny Depp) - setting the scene for a sequel, which will be released in 2018.

Fantastic Beasts is the best movie I've seen all year, and, in my opinion at least, it was better than the Harry Potter movies, and I don't say that lightly but rather as an adult who now has a grown-up version of the magical world that's been a beloved part of my formative years. And just in case you weren't sure, I can't wait for Fantastic Beasts 2.

Newsroom Fashion: Wine + Blush

This is as close to a monochrome look as you're likely to see me. Blending shades of the same color into one outfit has always been tricky for me, but I do like how this oxblood sweater and blush jeans turned out. I was actually inspired to try this combination by a coworker who wore an all-blush outfit one day last week. The only thing I might change next time I wear this is my shoes and opt for wine-colored pumps instead of boots. (P.S. Both my sweater and jeans are on major sale right now, and my boots are 30% off. Links below.)

Details:
Sweater: ShoeDazzle
Jeans: Aeropostale
Boots: Target

Monday Motivation

In honor of my 30th birthday this past weekend, I thought I'd share a quote from one of my favorite authors, and Mr. Emerson couldn't have penned truer words than these. After spending a majority of my school years not fitting in, it's so rewarding to begin my third decade as nothing more than myself, unapologetically and with absolutely no need for approval. I hope you all will or already have achieved this same accomplishment.

 

Happy Monday!

What I Wore: Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving in my family is not a fancy affair. The food is deliciously Southern, the atmosphere is laid back, and the dress is casual.  That's why this t-shirt dress, denim jacket, and ankle booties were the perfect combination for not one but two Thanksgiving dinners. However, we got up to almost 80 degrees so I had to lose the jacket after lunch.

Details:

Dress: Wet Seal

Jacket: Old Navy

Boots: ShoeDazzle

My Go-To Thanksgiving Side Dish

 

I like to cook, but I'm not what you'd call a chef. I make a good pot of chili, to-die for potato salad, and can fry a mean pork chop, but I can't just come up with my own dish, and I usually don't stray far from a recipe other than to omit some things like onions or peppers. So it's safe to say you won't find me cooking the Thanksgiving turkey anytime soon, but it's tradition in my family for everyone to bring a dish to Thanksgiving. A few years ago I decided that those of us who don't like sweet potatoes or yams needed a similar alternative so I decided to try my hand at glazed carrots. They were such a big hit that I decided this year to share my ridiculously simple recipe.

What you'll need:

• 2 cans of carrots (I prefer Del Monte but it really doesn't matter)
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Black pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat both cans of carrots on the stove just like you would if you were preparing them normally.
2. Once heated through, drain water off.
3. Transfer into serving dish.
4. Add a few teaspoons of butter (I usually do three but I'm not big on butter).
5. Once the butter has melted, add in desired amount of brown sugar, gently stirring so as not to smush your carrots. You'll want at least two tablespoons but last time I made them I used four.
6. Optional: sprinkle on black pepper to taste.

See, I told you. Super simple and takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?

Recipe adapted from this version.

Monday Motivation

How true is this? There will always be people out there telling you that you can't do it, but even though it is so tempting to stop and bark back, the best thing you can do for yourself is to ignore them and keep working toward your goal. Besides, think about how awesome it will be when you can say you achieved your dreams despite those who said you couldn't.

Happy Monday!

Newsroom Fashion: Cranberry & Black

 

There's just something about this color combination that screams fall and the holidays, plus it's the perfect way to show my support of my alma mater, Troy. This post, though, is really in honor of my boots. Every time I wear them I get so many compliments and questions about where they came from. I bought these last year but luckily they're back in stock this year! They're very comfortable and the legs are lightly padded you don't get that gross leather-sticking-to-your-leg feeling after wearing them all day. If you're in the market for a heeled black boot, I highly recommend these.

Details:

Top: Old Navy

Skirt: old Lauren Conrad (similar, similar)

Boots: ShoeDazzle

On Living Your Dream

I knew a long time ago, before high school even, that I wanted to be a journalist. I decided that was what I wanted to do and set out on a path that ultimately led to where I am today, which I will admit is not where I imagined I would be all those years ago.

As with nearly everything in life, technology (and the 2008 recession) has transformed the journalism industry tremendously. Instead of working with ink, bylines and column inches, my day-to-day involves video, anchors and commercial breaks. But just because it turned out a little differently from the original plan doesn't mean I'm not living my dream.

See for me it's all about the news - delivering those stories that members of my community need and/or want to see or read. My original goal was to work for a newspaper or magazine, but when the economy tanked in 2008 that part of this industry took a big hit. I didn't give up, though, and applied to more than 100 publications before I was asked to temporarily produce my station's morning show in 2009. Even then I didn't realize that the definition of my dream was evolving. For the first two months I worked as a producer, I was still applying and going on interviews for newspaper jobs. None of them worked out, obviously.

Now, a little more than seven years later, I've gone from morning producer to evening producer to senior producer and now to executive producer. In addition to that I've gotten to pick up a camera and report on stories in my hometown. Sure there have been ups and downs and times when I've considered leaving, but I honestly can't imagine my life without the news.

So what was the point in me telling you all this? Too many times I see people give up on their dreams because it's not working out exactly the way they thought it would. I can't even imagine where I'd be now if I had turned that temporary producing gig because it wasn't part of the plan. The biggest part of achieving your dreams is the journey you take to get there.

Even though things didn't go nowhere near to plan, I didn't give up on my dream to be a journalist. Take it from me, the path to achieving your dreams isn't always straight but it's the twists and turns where you're most likely to learn who you are. You live and you learn and you just might end up exactly where you're supposed to be.

Monday Motivation + Blog Announcement

There really is nothing better than seeing someone doing what they love, whether it's their job, playing a sport or even doing a hobby. When I see people genuinely excited about what they're doing, it makes me want to find something I love to do right then. Fortunately, I love my job and my biggest hobby - this blog.

 

When I started this blog, I didn't even imagine that it would be a long-term part of my life. In fact, it started as a class project; I just never stopped. Over the years it's evolved from a commentary on random things I found while working overnight to a blog about all things journalism to what it is today - a lifestyle and career blog.

 

This weekend, I took the next step in the world of blogging - bought a domain name. What was ashtonwright.blogspot.com is now mommythejournalist.com. The former address will still get you here, but if you're following on a reader that isn't run by Google, you might want to resubscribe.

Happy Monday!

Newsroom Fashion: Over-the-Knee Boots

Over-knee-boots have been a trend I've admired on others but been wary about trying out myself because of my height. I worried that the boots would make me look shorter than I actually am. But when I saw this pair, I had to try them. They have an inner ankle zip, ties on the back and a nice cut-out at the knee. The suede, almond toe and heel help make these boots chic. They're pretty tight, especially around my prone-to-swelling ankles, and don't have much bend in the ankle area, but otherwise are comfortable ... so long as you don't try to cross your legs at the knees. Also, this skirt is a new favorite and is on major sale. I linked to it below.

Details:
Sweater: old (similar, similar)
Skirt: Cato
Boots: ShoeDazzle

Halloween 2016 Recap

Last year, I missed out on Halloween with Alexis because I was in a wedding, not that there's a whole lot to do on Halloween with an almost 7 month old. This year we made up for it, and have a pumpkin full of candy to show for our efforts.

First, we took Alexis to an event in my hometown - Pumpkins on the Square. She won third place in the costume contest for cutest contest, and especially liked the bean bag pumpkin game.

On Halloween, we took her to a trick-or-treating event held on one of our area town squares. Churches, businesses and individuals set up around the square handing out treats. There's also music and inflatables for the kids. Hundreds of people come out.

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween!

Monday Motivation

I don't know how much plainer I could put this. Or why anyone would not want to do this! It stands to reason that if you start and end your day with happiness you're more likely to have an entire day filled with happiness, right? It's worth a shot anyway.

Happy Monday!

There are 12 more cheerful comics where this guy came from. You can check them out here.

For more of my favorite motivational sayings, click here.

Tonsillectomy Update

This has been the longest two weeks ever. I never thought I would say that about any time off, but it's true. The past 12 days has dragged by so slowly; it's been hard to keep track of what day it actually is! I'm actually looking forward to going back to work on Wednesday, if for no other reason than to get back into a routine. I'll be going back just in time for the National Peanut Festival and election day, which ought to be interesting on pain pills. Ha!

So here's what I've been doing in my down time, other than popping pills every 4-6 hours, napping and watching bad TV...

1. Keeping on top of my work email. I know it sounds boring, but I get hundreds of emails a day during the week. And because this was an unplanned multi-week leave, I didn't have time to plan accordingly for one of the most time-consuming parts of my routine -- interview scheduling.

2. Pinterest. It's by far my favorite social site to scroll through. My favorite things to pin - outfit inspiration, recipes, and motivational quotes.

3. Online shopping. I do a majority of my personal shopping online because most of our local stores don't have a petite section. Plus, I like to find unique pieces that just don't make it into places down here. So far I've ordered a pair of jeans, new shirt, and two pair of boots (one to replace my everyday brown boots & one just for fun).

4. Blogging. Not writing new ones because I haven't been in the right frame of mind for that, but catching up on all the posts I've missed lately.

Other than that, I've drank more blue Gatorade in the past two weeks than my entire life. I haven't had a soda since before the surgery. Unless something is really salty or sweet, I probably won't taste it. Talking is still difficult but not impossible. And I still can't sleep laying all the way down. Oh yeah, I think I might have developed thrush but it's nothing serious.

Some things you can look forward to next week include a Monday Motivation post and a recap of our Halloween activities.

Monday Motivation

In other words, live life optimistically. Be positive that you will be successful and when you aren't be assured that you are meant for something even better.

Happy Monday!

Tonsillectomy: Day 6

It's been almost a week since my tonsils and adenoids were removed and I thought I'd give you guys a little progress report. I've been on basically an all liquid diet with some soft foods like pasta and muffins, but nothing tastes like it's supposed to and it hurts to swallow anything. I've probably lost five pounds so far and wouldn't be surprised if I'm down by 10-15 by the time I'm back to feeling 100 percent.

I obviously expected my throat to be sore, but it's so much more than that. Here's a list of everything that hurts - tongue, uvula, jaw, neck, ears ... basically my entire head. I've been taking hydrocodone for pain and Benadryl to slow down the river of snot running down my throat. Last night was the best I've slept since the surgery, but sleep is the enemy because when I wake up my mouth and throat are painfully dry.

They say the second week is worse than the first because that's when the scabs start to flake off, so I've got that to look forward to still. So in the meantime I'll keep drinking blue gatorade and taking it easy.

Monday Motivation

This has been something I've been struggling with for the past week. I'm having surgery tomorrow - tonsillectomy. I've had strep throat four times this summer, and since I truthfully haven't felt 100 percent well since the first case. Turns out, I have an abscess on my left tonsil, and after taking two rounds of a very strong antibiotic, it's still there. Hence, the decision to cut. I'll be missing two weeks of work and have spent the past week trying to get everything I possibly can lined up. I'm sure there's something I've forgotten, but I was definitely not planning for this to happen, especially right before my station's busiest month of the year. Anyway, I've spent the past week preparing at work, and this weekend I decided to put my worries aside and spend every possible moment enjoying my daughter.

It's amazing how much weight is lifted when you stop worrying about something you can't change.

Newsroom Fashion: Leather Skirt

This post is long overdue. It's just been sitting here in my drafts for a week waiting for me to come finish it. It's been an extremely hectic past week -- more on that in a post on Monday. Anyway... Leather is having a big moment right now, and I couldn't be happier. It's still unseasonably warm here in the deep South, so to keep from burning up in this leather skirt I paired it with light pieces.

Details:

Shirt: The Limited

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Target

Monday Motivation

For a long time I didn't know what I was. I didn't really follow the crowd, but outside of knowing what I wanted to do career-wise, I never really knew what type of person I was supposed to be. Now that I'm almost 30, it's easier to pinpoint my true self and be unapologetic for not wanting to go out and drink until I can't see straight, or dress like everyone else is at the moment, or like the same television shows and movies that my peers are into. And I am so much happier for it.

So here's my advice to you -- quit trying to be like everybody else thinks you should be. Be who you are and don't apologize.

For more quotes to inspire self-confidence, click here.

Newsroom Fashion: Fall Flowers

 

We've finally got some cooler weather in my neck of the woods. It's by no means sweater weather yet but it's been so nice to have under-90 degree temperatures the past few days. This dress is one of my most favorite recent purchases and I've been dying to wear it, so when I saw low 80s in the forecast it was the first thing I reached for. One trick I've learned in ordering from Forever 21 is to look for items with "contemporary" in the name. Those items are made bigger, longer and generally are more appropriate for older shoppers (i.e. not 21 year olds). This dress is fully lined, has a hidden back zipper and ties at the neck. The sleeves are fitted three-quarters of the way down. I could wear this dress every week and not get tired of it. There aren't many left but I linked to it anyway because there are similar suggestions at the bottom of the page.

Details:

Dress: Forever 21 

Shoes: Target

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: 4 Things to Master Before Your First Job

Congratulations. You've landed your first job in journalism, but are you prepared?

In the past seven years, I've watched a few dozen fresh-out-of-college reporters and producers navigate their first jobs in broadcast. As someone who has a hand in the training of every new employee in my newsroom, I know how important it is to have a good foundation before you walk in that first day. So what skills should you have already mastered before you're hired? In this post, I'm breaking down what I would consider the most important tools you can already possess when you enter your training period.

1. Vocabulary
I'm not talking about what you learned in grade school. No. I'm talking about the vocabulary of your trade. You need to know the terms that will be regularly tossed about your newsroom. You need to know the difference between a vo/sot and a PKG; what the ratings/sweeps period is; and the basic terminology for any equipment/software you'll be working with.

2. Grammar
This is what you learned in grade school, and sadly it's not uncommon for just-out-of-school journalists to be sorely lacking in this department. So bone up on your subject-verb agreement. If grammar isn't your strong suit, I recommend bookmarking Grammar Book.

3. Research
I can't tell you how frustrating it is to continuously have to guide someone through the steps for gathering information about a story you're not writing. Knowing how to research is an integral part of being a journalist. It's something I do every single day, multiple times a day. Tools like Google make it so simple, but you also have to know how to find credible information.

4. Geography
Chances are your first job is not in your hometown or even your home state, and while no one will expect you to be proficient at finding your way around your new home, I would recommend that you get out and explore on your own before your first day. At the very least, look at a map of your station's coverage area and familiarize yourself with the cities and towns you may be visiting.

I also recommend reading this article from Fox Business about the skills many employers are finding lacking in millennials. If nothing else, it should at least give you some perspective on how veterans in this business feel when trying to work with and/or help newbies.

Monday Motivation

Newsroom Fashion: Leopard + Leather

The first day of Fall certainly didn't feel very autumnal here in south Alabama. Our temperatures topped out somewhere in the 90s, which is above average even for us this time of year. Still, Fall fashion is by far my favorite so I definitely wanted to celebrate the changing of the season appropriately. This leopard-print tie-neck blouse has been a favorite ever since I found it on a clearance rack a few years ago, and it paired nicely with this faux leather skirt from ShoeDazzle. I've been wanting to add some leather to my closet and had a credit on my account so decided to click order, and I'm so glad I did. The quality is nice; it has a wrap look without being a wrap skirt, which I have a hard time wearing; and it's machine washable! I'm usually a M/L and wearing a large.

Details:
Shirt: old Rue21 (similar)
Skirt: ShoeDazzle
Shoes: old Cato (similar, similar)

Would you believe I ordered this top as a dress? For real. It's barely even a tunic, and this is a large, but that's the risk you take when ordering from Forever21. Honestly though I love it as a shirt and even used it as a swimsuit cover-up last weekend at the beach. It's pretty see-through so I layered a nude-colored cami underneath. It's also meant to be off-the-shoulder but didn't really work well for me. These faux leather leggings were a $5 splurge last year, also from F21. I'm in the market for a nicer pair with a little more structure and linked to some options below.

Details:
Shirt/Dress: Forever21 (it's out of stock but here are a bunch of white dresses)
Leggings: old Forever21 (similar, similar)
Boots: old Target (similar, similar)

Baby's First Beach Trip

Sorry about the lack of posts last week. I only worked a few days and then we headed to the beach for an anniversary/hubby birthday/baby's first beach trip. We rented this cute little house in Mexico Beach that I'm sad to say I didn't take pictures of and spent three days on the sunny-sometimes-cloudy Gulf Coast. It was a much-needed break from reality, and it's safe to say that my daughter is a water baby. We played in the surf and sand, chased birds, had a beach picnic, and didn't want to leave. (My dress is from ShoeDazzle. My swimsuit is from AdoreMe. They're out of black but this is the same style. I'm wearing medium in both.)