The New Southern | Sight + Soul Valentine's Day Gift Guide

The New Southern is all about living our best life with what we have… AND we all have love and light within each of us 365 days of the year! So, let’s gently say sayonara to a 24-hour notion of celebrating love this Valentine’s Day! While red hearts and roses are symbolic this week, there’s nothing sweeter than a creative way of expressing appreciation for your loved ones each and every day with a little style and substance. As a leading photographer and stylist…. I am constantly challenging myself to think outside the box… to tap into my creativity, to extend my businesses and craft to be more of service. This mindful practice of living a creative life is an extension of self-love. For me, creativity is love… creativity is light. So, for the holidays, I love giving gifts that keep on giving throughout the year. Books are the easiest way to achieve this…. Check out a few of my favorites below with Cleo Wade’s Heart Talk and Melody Beattie’s Journey to The Heart. Also, let’s discuss art! I am leaning into color more and more for my walls (Hello Hayley Mitchell and One Kings Lane!!!!) This is one of the best ways to incorporate personality to a space. My walls are filling up with visual memories that I either aspire to achieve or take me back to a special heart filled moment. Regardless, find the pieces that will energize you, evoke emotion and inspiration for you and your loved ones.

By filling our homes and our souls with loving sentiments that we can set our sights on every morning and every night before we go to sleep, we can extend the love of Valentine’s Day far beyond February 14th. To help get you started, here is a fun New Southern gift guide for SIGHT AND SOUL. Full of substance — you can share the love with these punchy, thoughtful ideas, any day of the year!

The New Southern | Celebrating Self-Love The New Southern Way

It’s the season of red hearts and roses...and pints of Ben & Jerry’s. Regardless of your relationship status — it’s a good time to improve your connection with yourself. Love may not always go our way but even if it does...Why not get back to the basics and practice self-love? I make it a point to focus intently on cultivating deep gratitude for all that I am. It’s not always easy but it is a daily ritual for me. When we are confident and showing our true, strong, beautiful selves it never puts anyone down. If anything it frees others to do the same and rise to their greatest potential. When we approach ourselves with grace and kindness it vibrates throughout our friendship circles, our community, and all that we do.

My number one sentiment is that you can only give as much love to others as you feel for yourself. To live a life full of light and love we need to begin with ourselves. Loving your morning walk around the block, choosing a positive internal dialogue with your thoughts, loving your morning coffee ritual paired with fresh tulips, or feeling passionate about your new creative project...it’s finding joy in the little things. I believe that passion and love are intertwined, tucked away into every aspect of life, and the more self-love that we can cultivate — the better.

The New Southern is a platform to advocate and champion others, encouraging and supporting creative entrepreneurs and artists. As a woman that advocates for other females it’s important that I vocalize the idea that everyday is about loving yourself — not just Valentine’s Day. Never silence your femininity or connection to yourself. Let’s support one another for being bold, brave, and courageous day in and day out. By doing this we will weave webs of community and connection that will truly recharge our lives. Together we empower one another, make our dreams come true, and be a catalyst for change. 

Whatever comes your way — I encourage you to have a consistent, loving relationship with yourself. See how beautifully this can translate into the love that you can offer everyone and everything in your life.... this is when true magic happens. 

Daily Affirmations

Whether your affirmation of choice is a bullet journal or positive mantra. Keep your thoughts constructive and rooted in love. I believe thinking patterns are very powerful and it is important to choose your thoughts wisely. Every day won’t be perfect (sometimes it won’t even be close and resemble the opposite of anything desirable) but when you are present, and able to revisit your mantra, this allows for a more positive self dialogue that will perpetuate constructive positive experiences. When I was a little girl, I was a gymnast and trained at the Olympic Training Center. We would have afternoons dedicated to visualization techniques for our routines. This was the most valuable tool for me. From a very young age to the present I am intentional in keeping my thoughts positive, tossing away limiting beliefs or self doubt, while visualizing my next "routine" so to speak..... This practice has served me and I hope it is helpful to you. 

Choose Your Tribe With Care

A great quote from Tim Ferris is, "You are the average of the five people you associate with the most, so do not underestimate the effects of pessimistic, unambitious, or unkind friends." Tim proceeds to go on and say that if these people are not making you stronger, then they're making you weaker. I disagree with his last sentiment as we are solely responsible for our internal strength but I do agree whole heartedly to select those in your life where there is mutual support, encouragement, authenticity and a willingness for the group to grow. I surround myself with strong women and men who are authentic and confident. I am inspired by my friends and collectively we champion one another, we are positive, we love each other and have a deep respect for the bonds forged as we each continue to grow together and on our own. 

Nourish Your Body

I have a confession here: I eat sugar, I eat gluten, I eat meat, and basically... I eat whatever I crave. I listen to my body and what it needs and this is a form of self-love for myself. I believe in moderation but I also believe in listening to yourself first and foremost. How do you know what you need or what you want if you can't sit still long enough to ask and listen to your gut? Being an athlete my entire life, I depended on this when it came time for both fuel, play and rest. The same applies for me now as an entrepreneur... lets just say I am drinking my green smoothie currently and twizzlers or swedish fish may be the chaser... balance and moderation with lots of rest!! 

Making Time For Yourself

And what you love to do! Learning what makes you feel taken care of is so incredibly important to your well-being — whether it’s working out, getting your nails done, learning a new skill,  treating yourself to a massage, or a hobby that makes your heart happy. Ask yourself... "what do I love to do? what do I find myself doing for long amounts of time and it feels like no time went by at all?" Whatever this is for you, DO IT! And do more of it!! 

Celebrate Your Victories

I love celebrating the small wins!! Do you know why? Because, the small wins are all about progress. This can be as simple as tackling your calendar or getting through your to-do list for the day...  I value progress over perfection and I may even do a little happy dance for my small victories. By celebrating the small wins..... we are already dancing to the big ones!! Xx

I am sending you all much love this Valentine's day..... Do one thing to treat your self today and every day after this. Xx 

My Subtle and Sweet Pink Room Round on Style Me Pretty Today!!

I personally like to incorporate the sentiment of love everyday. In a world of grand gestures, I think it is important to experience this feeling in a stripped down basic way and apply it to everything we pursue. I find love to be simple in a complex world and I see it in even the smallest details that exist with in the spaces I shoot and amongst my nearest and dearest. 

Head over to STYLE ME PRETTY LIVING to find a few more of my thoughts about Valentine's day with more soft and simple hues of love. Xx

Made in Nashville, TN | Nice Bear Designs |

I'm a little biased when it comes to the south, so naturally I have a true appreciation for not only southern comforts, but currently up + coming creative southern talent. Made in Nashville, TN warms my heart, and so does Cori Bechler of Nice Bear Designs. My passion in life is working with creative people, and Cori is not only one of the most genuine people I know, her creative talents are endless. I am so honored to have the opportunity to work with her at the beginning of what will be a very successful path for her. This is a sneak peak of what's to come from Nice Bear Designs. I look forward to many more packages in the mail to drool over and photograph from the Nicest Southern Bear I know!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with warmth + head over to A Village of Flowers to start purchasing these paperie treats.

Currently being sold @ A Village of Flowers in Hillsboro Village 

Nice Bear Designs Website Coming Soon