Ringing in the New Year | Hello, 2016!

December 31, 2015December 31, 2015 Abby Hathorn1 Comment

HAPPY (almost) NEW YEAR, Y’ALL!

Oh, my my my! I can hardly believe it–2015 is almost over, and we are all getting ready to ring in 2016! Goodness gracious! It feels like just yesterday we were watching the ball drop for 2015! Hmm…I guess the old cliche is true–time really does fly when you’re having fun! *wink*

2015 has been an awesome year–one for the books! The year has been jam-packed with lots of awesome things (and some not-so-awesome things) that have helped fill the pages of my imaginary scrapbook *wink* From interviewing The Beekman Boys and John & Whitney Spinks to getting accepted (with a transfer scholarship) to Emory & Henry College, I am excited to say that 2015 has been a good year on and off the VIP blog!

Sure–there are always hiccups and bumps in the road, but it’s important not to dwell on the negatives because, after all, it is (almost) a new year! We have new and exciting and positively wonderful things to look forward to, and we don’t need to focus on the not-so-great things like unfortunate fender benders, slacking on social media promotions, and how the weather is like a guy in a Katy Perry song *cue Hot n Cold*

Now, to ring in the brand new year, what do y’all say we review the most popular and most fabulous VIP posts of 2015?! DJ–hit the music *wink*

Most-viewed posts of 2015–

1. Modeling Shoot: The Modern Day Jack & Diane

(view post here)

2. VIP Interview: John & Whitney Spinks of HGTV’s Flipping the Block

(view post here)

3. VIP Home: Color-Staining Concrete Pavers (DIY Patio Project)

(view post here)

4. Weekly Whistle: Dreaming of a Safari Adventure

(view post here)

5. Weekly Whistle: A Southern Belle in the Snow

(view post here)

In other 2015 news…

In addition to some awesome blog posts + interviews, I had the opportunity to interview Tracie Potts from NBC on my college’s student-produced television series Direction: Northeast. (I did several more of these interviews, but they are not avaliable on YouTube yet…So y’all will just have to wait to watch until 2016 *wink*)

As mentioned earlier in this re-cap blog post, I was also admitted into Emory & Henry College for my junior year! Goodness–I can’t believe that I will be graduating with my Associate of Science Degree in Broadcasting in May from Northeast State Community College! *happy dance*

https://www.instagram.com/p/-U9OkINJhP/?taken-by=abbyhathorn

Oh–and how can I forget…I TURNED 20! *I may be two decades old, but I wish I still had the responsibilities of a 10 year old *wink*

https://www.instagram.com/p/-r_kuaNJs1/?taken-by=abbyhathorn

ALSO in 2015, this blonde experimented with hair color! Remember that time I was a temporary ginger *wink*

https://www.instagram.com/p/32UAM0NJnY/?taken-by=abbyhathorn

AND LAST but definitely not least, in 2015 I started a new creative journey by hand-making bracelets and selling them on Etsy! Please give my shop BlueGrits a view or two and shop around :) Click the banner to shop.

Now, I will say good-bye until next year *wink* I hope all of you have a fabulously fun and safe New Years celebration! :)

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Three Ways to Wear Thursday: Safari, Safari, Safari

March 26, 2015 Abby HathornLeave a comment

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

It’s Thursday, which means it is time for this week’s fabulous TWTWT! Yay! Shall we get started?!

For this week’s TWTWT, I am going to be throwing it back to three ways I have worked “safari” into my everyday wardrobe. Ahh….there is nothing better than remembering my childhood love for safari and adventure *wink* If you missed the wicked throwbacks to my trips to the zoo + safari-themed kid bedroom…click here and here. You won’t regret it–my 90s fashion was totally on point *wink*

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the TWTWT outfits. :) Be sure to come back tomorrow for the “Letter from the Editor” to find out all the things that inspired me to do a safari-themed week on VIP.

Throwback 1:

Not a very far back “throwback” (considering this outfit was yesterday *wink*)–BUT it is still one of my favorite ways I have worn “safari”.

Throwback 2:

Meeting + Q&A with Betsey Johnson. I sported a fabulous, solid leopard dress. A bold and sassy way of wearing safari.

Click photo to read interview + get outfit details.

Throwback 3:

A casual way of sporting safari. I love the slouchy shorts with cute leopard blouse.

Click photo for outfit details + more photos.

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

Weekly Whistle: Dreaming of a Safari Adventure

March 25, 2015 Abby HathornLeave a comment

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

Woo hoo! It’s Wednesday…finally *wink* That means the work week is half way over. My brain already wants it to be the weekend because I woke up this morning thinking it was Friday. Obviously, I did not have enough coffee yesterday *wink*

Between this beautiful spring weather we are having here in Tennessee + the VIP safari theme this week–I am craving adventure…especially one to South Africa *wink* BUT since visiting South Africa is out of the picture at the moment, I am just going to show y’all this week’s Weekly Whistle + pretend I’m Meryl Streep in Out Of Africa (minus the scene where she battles the lion–that’s just too scary for this chickadee).

Look 1:

I changed up the accessories in this week’s Weekly Whistle to show how something as simple as a different belt can take an ensemble from event-to-event in a snap…or a buckle, if you will *wink*

Blouse: Anthropologie | Skirt: J.Crew | Shoes: Kork-Ease, DSW | Necklace: Hearts of Stone by Rachel Leathers | Cuff: Luke & Lyla Designs | Belt: Anthropologie

Look 2:

Belt: Target

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn

VIP Home: Talk Safari to Me

March 23, 2015 Abby HathornLeave a comment

Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!

Ever since I was little, I have had a large love for the zoo and safari. I would beg to go to the zoo all of the time (even up into my teen years when my family and I were living in Birmingham), and I often dreamed of becoming an apprentice to Steve Irwin in Australia. *bless his sweet soul* My eyes were constantly glued to Zoboomafoo, The Crocodile Hunter, and a variety of other television shows of that nature. Just to put my obsession of “safari” into perspective….take a look at my safari themed, childhood bedroom here *wink*

The VIP in 2000 at the Jackson, Mississippi zoo. Check out that crochet scrunchie *wink*

As I grew older, I learned about Ernest Hemingway’s hobbies, writings, and home in the Florida Keys and fell madly in love with safari all over again. *NOTE: I have put it on my bucket list to visit Hemingway’s home (as well as Mark Twain’s, of course *wink*) So, taking inspiration from one of my childhood loves and the brilliant Hemingway–I have created a fabulous safari-themed living space for this week’s VIP Home.

Stay tuned the rest of the week on VIP for some awesome safari-inspired makeup and ensembles *wink*

If I were to follow this design in my home, I would opt for darker walls. Personally, I am a fan of rich hued walls in living spaces; however, for showcasing the elements of this design, the light slate gray was a fresher option. *Note: My dream living room walls will be either a deep midnight blue or dark navy blue because I am obsessed with dark shades of blue*wink**

I am just going to assume this is supposed to be a statue of a Dodo bird.... *slowly backs away* Oh, check out that ensemble too, y'all *wink* — I am just going to assume this is supposed to be a statue of a Dodo bird…. *slowly backs away* Oh, check out that ensemble too, y’all. I am proud to say that I picked out my own clothes and dressed myself *wink*