Southern Belle Ruffle Tiered Dress

Contrary to what you may know about me, I’m a city girl born and raised outside Boston, Massachusetts. But for the last decade I’ve been posing as a Southern Belle living in Florida.

I love to go back home and visit (matter of fact I’ll be heading to Boston in a few days to visit my bestie to see Mr. JT in concert) and don’t get me wrong a part of me will always be a city girl but living in the South has it’s charm.

I would never have thought I would have anything pleasant to say about living in the South.

When I first moved to Florida it was such a culture shock and I hated everything and I mean everything. I felt like I didn’t belong and people were mean and that famed Southern Hospitality was a false pretense and people really were just really good of being polite with their rudeness.

I hated the fact that I needed to drive because everything is so far apart. Oh and I hated the drivers too. I hated that there wasn’t a Haitian Bakery so I could get my pastry fix and I hated started my adult life in a place I never thought I would be.

I was a Debra Downer to say the least but at a certain point I had to stop complaining. My living situation wasn’t going to change.

My attitude was so poor and was the real issue and that could change with a little work.

I had to force myself at first but I eventually learned to see the postives of living in Florida. I would then find the people who would become my people. Got my footing at work, in my congregation and I started to travel within my new state and be a tourist in my new Southern home.

No place is perfect and I do miss Boston at times but a happy home is what you make it and the South does have its charms.

I never was a beach person living up north. It was such a big to-do that we just hardly ever went. Now I live 25 minutes away from the beach and keep a beach chair and umbrella in the trunk of my car. Like, who am I?

I also love visiting historic cities like St. Augustine, FL, Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. There’s just so charming about cobblestone streets and colonial homes that I love.

I recently visited Charleston which has no shortage of southern charm. Beautiful tree lined streets, great food and a darling downtown are the makings of a perfect southern weekend getaway.

It was my first time going and didn’t have time to hit up all the places on my list so I will be back soon.

This dress was the perfect look to stroll down the streets of Charleston’s downtown. I just need a blush colored colonial with a huge wrap around porch and two rocking chair for me and my beau (in my head).

Photos by N. Barineau Art