Sitting Pretty with McKenzie Fussell of Somethin’ Southern and Emily Ley

How adorable is Miss McKenzie Fussell!? I absolutely love her southern style and her positive outlook on all things career, fashion, marriage, and life. She is the Director of Community Development at Emily Ley – yup, you’re favorite planners/agendas! – and she writes the lifestyle blog, Somethin’ Southern. If you don’t read Somethin’ Southern then I definitely recommend adding it to your list of daily reads because McKenzie has a great eye (p.s. I loved her southern artist profile post from just yesterday!). Any gal as sweet and hardworking as McKenzie deserves all the blog love in the world so I hope you enjoy my Sitting Pretty with McKenzie Fussell of Somethin’ Southern and Emily Ley interview! Thanks for stopping by McKenzie!

Sitting Pretty with McKenzie Fussell of Somethin’ Southern and Emily Ley

Name: McKenzie Fussell

Neighborhood: Fernandina Beach, FL // Amelia Island

Job: Director of Community Development for Emily Ley by day, blogger by night!

Instagram Handle: @mckenziefussell

Let’s talk business…

What motivated you to start your blog, Somethin’ Southern?

Somethin’ Southern started out as a creative outlet over two years ago where I wrote about newlywed life and the people, places, and pieces that brought me inspiration. When I started the blog I was finishing up undergrad, my husband was in ministry school, we had both started new jobs and we were still in our first year of marriage. We were definitely BUSY and it was so nice to take a little time out from my week to get creative and connect with like-minded women.

Describe your blog in 3 sentences or less.

I like to see Somethin’ Southern as an online community of gals who share my heart for the South, family, and style. It’s where I share the people, places, and pieces that bring me inspiration.

Is there something you know now that you wish you’d known when you started your blog or career?

Yes! Comparison is awful and will quickly lead to blogger burnout. When I started blogging I was reading a ton of blogs on the daily, wondering when my blog would get to where theirs were. I quickly realized many of these gals had been blogging for 5+ years! Moral of the story – don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. That goes for blogging and other careers! It takes time. So I changed my motivation, and continued blogging as a creative outlet for FUN. Years later and I still love it.

How do you balance both your blog and your job with Emily Ley?

It’s not too difficult because I really enjoy both. I devote much more of my time to my role with EL than I do for my blog, but that makes the time spent blogging a bit more fun. It doesn’t necessarily feel like work! I work for EL during the day and blog when I have a little extra free time at night or on the weekends. When we have time off for the holidays or a long weekend, I try to get ahead by writing multiple posts at once and scheduling them through WordPress.

What is a typical day in the life of McKenzie?

My weekdays are pretty boring to write about, although I enjoy them! A typical day starts out pretty early around our house. First things first, coffee. I can’t function until I’ve had at least a cup. I like to take a little time to prepare myself for the day and then I jump right into full on work mode for the rest of the morning and afternoon. Occasionally I’ll work from my favorite local coffee shop, but you’ll typically find me at home with my favorite Spotify station on. In the evenings you can usually find me and the hubs in our kitchen attempting (key word there!) to make something yummy. We devote much of our weekend to time with each other, adventuring, and refueling for the week ahead.

What keeps you inspired at work day-in and day-out?

The girls I work with and our @SimplifiedPlanner community are SO inspiring! They’re an awesome reminder of how blessed I am to get to do what I do!

Let’s talk Fashion…

Describe your style in three adjectives.

classic, beachy, simple

What are your wardrobe staples?

A great pair of flats (I’m a sucker for Tory Burch flats!), white denim, and a classic striped tee.

If I peeked into your closet, what color would be the most prominent?

Navy blue for sure! I’m putting a limit on how much navy I purchase this year. White is a very close second.

What fashion piece would you splurge on tomorrow if you could?

A new hermes scarf!

Are there any trends you’re excited about right now?

I’m still hooked on the off-the-shoulder trend. So beachy, so fun.

Let’s talk Beauty…

What are your beauty must-haves?

I LOOOOVE One Love Organics Skincare products!

What perfume do you spritz on as you walk out the door?

I usually skip perfume because I’m still in search of a fabulous organic scent. Know of one?! I’d love the details!

What color nail polish are you currently wearing?

Really Red by Essie

Let’s talk Décor…

Describe your decorating style in three adjectives.

Coastal, preppy, Southern.

If your mother taught you one trick about interior decorating, what would it be?

You can beautifully mix old + new pieces to make a room your own.

What is your favorite piece of art or furniture you own?

Furniture – Our vintage Henry Link Dresser that’s currently painted with a gorgeous navy blue lacquer.

Art – This one’s tough because our walls are filled with art I love but my favorites would have to be two pieces Pearce’s grandmother painted. One is a gorgeous blue hydrangea bush (my favorite flower) and the other is an old dock with a few colorful sailboats, I hope to hang that in our little one’s room one day. They’re stunning.

What’s on your bar cart?

Typically a few of the following – Ice Bucket, cookbooks, a favorite wine, Sanpellegrino, the cutest pineapple bottle opener, a collection of misfit cocktail napkins, moscow mule mugs, and a seasonal art print.

Do you have any must-have coffee table books?

The Southerners Handbook, Living With Pattern, and The Perfectly Imperfect Home.

Let’s talk Travel…

Beach or Mountains?

Beach, beach, beach!

East Coast or West Coast?

East for sure.

What is your favorite destination?

We love coastal South Carolina!

Are you planning any upcoming trips?

We’re hoping to get to Ireland as soon as possible. If any of y’all have been, we’d love to hear your recs!

Who is your favorite travel buddy?

My sweet husband.

Go-to cocktail when you’re traveling?

I’m a sucker for a good mimosa but I’ll usually try the local favorite to see what all the fuss is about.

What is your top bucket list destination?

Greece!

Let’s talk Amelia Island…

What is your favorite part of living on Amelia Island?

We love living in this area for a number of reasons but my personal favorite is seeing friends and family just about everywhere we go! We both grew up here so there’s no shortage of familiar faces.

Fill in the blank: “On the weekend, you’ll find me at _____________.”

the beach!

Best date night restaurant?

The Patio Place for sure.

Best brunch restaurant?

Salty Pelican. Great mimosas, great views.

Best healthy food restaurant?

There’s a new little spot called The Picnic Basket – they have the best fresh juices and snacks!

Best boutique(s) or shop/shopping?

I love Twisted Sister for gifts, The Pearl + Evelyne Talman for clothing and accessories, and The Plantation Shop for home decor!

Best activity?

If you ever visit the island, you MUST take a sunset river cruise with Capt. Pajama Dave! It’s so much fun and the views are stunning.

Anything else we need to know about Amelia Island?

Once you visit, you’ll probably want to move here! 😉 Yes, I can recommend a really good realtor.

Photographs: Somethin’ Southern