An Old Fashioned Girl - Blog

Reflections of An English Major

Thu, 15 May 2025 17:04:15 GMT

As I write this dear reader, I am supposed to be writing an essay about the historical context of John Donne’s "A Valediction: of Weeping" and how the modern reader might misinterpret it. It’s my final project for my British Literature 1 course and it’s dense.

I only have two days left of my first year at college, and I thought I would share some thoughts and insight on my year as an English major.

This school year has taught me many things, how to work with other people, how to get work done, how to be responsible for myself. I’ve learned about friendships and grief, isolation, creativity, love, humor, roadwork, vending machines, flat tires, and literature. But most importantly this year has taught me how to surrender every part of my life to Jesus and to trust him with an uncertain future.

I’m an English major. That’s a sentence that a lot of people are confused by, or instantly make assumptions about. They roll their eyes or ask “what in the world are you going to do with that?” One thing I’ve been learning through my experience so far in this field is that people don’t understand a lot about the industry and the richness of the English language and literature. It’s a misunderstood career with a lot of people believing that there isn't a viable path. This has cemented in my mind the importance of holding onto your dreams. So many times I have felt judgement for wanting to be a writer, as if the career I’ve been pursuing for years is insignificant and unimportant. But this year I have met other students with similar dreams, and I’ve met professors who believe in me and my abilities.

I guess what I am saying is that you will be rewarded if you hold onto your seemingly silly dreams. Maybe your dream isn’t writing books like mine is, but I want to champion you and encourage you to keep going. Who cares what they say anyways. Study novels, write stories, drink lots of tea while you annotate poetry. You know what you’re doing and where you’re going even if no one else does.

That leads me into the next thing I learned this year. Romanticizing your life, if you make time for it, actually works. I get a thrill when I light a candle and make a cup of tea and pull out my cute highlighters to annotate Chaucer. Sure I despised The Canterbury Tales, but it was so much more enjoyable with my medieval pilgrim ambiance video in the background. Do your math to a jazz playlist, write your essays at a coffee shop. Take time to unproductively study with your friends in the library. These are the moments that make your life interesting and beautiful, and I believe, help you to be a better student in the long run.

I’ve grown a lot socially and emotionally this school year. I’ve dealt with so many challenges and experienced so many joys. I learned how to center myself on Jesus in the middle of the chaos that happened in my life. I learned how to connect with others in my classes, my church, my job, and everywhere I go. I think emotional growth and social growth go hand in hand. College stretches you socially, and I think that this in-between your teenage years and adult years grows you emotionally. It’s been beautiful, it’s been heartbreaking. There were days where my life seemed like a Shakespeareian tragedy, and other days when my life was the ending of an L.M. Montgomery novel. And that’s just part of it. Not just college but life in general.

I know a lot of you aren’t in college right now, maybe you’re a few years away from it, or it’s something in your past, or perhaps you never went. I hope that even you can glean something from this post that is about college.

I’m not going to lie, I have a deep love for higher education. I love the freedom of it, I love learning from different people, I love the aesthetic of it. I love study playlists and in between, class coffee runs. I love writing essays and taking practice quizzes. I love knowing my campus and seeing people I know all around it.
I love getting good grades and attending classes.

This school year I learned about Beowulf’s influence on literature, Fanny Burney’s influence on Jane Austen, how Taylor Swift’s Blank Space falls under the category of a neoclassical work, and how Roald Dahl wrote a story about a murder by leg of lamb. I learned the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid. I learned about Pavlov and his dogs, the American civil war for the millionth time, and lines, shape, and color (I swear I’m not in second grade.)

I’ve grown a lot. If all I get out of my college experience is a deeper understanding of myself, then I think it’ll be worth it. I’ve learned that I function well with routine as opposed to chaos. I’m the kind of person who has to make sure she takes care of her body and mind because everything else ends up stemming from that.

I’ve been learning how to surrender. In Christian circles surrender is a word we throw around a lot. We talk about giving our lives to Jesus as an act of surrender, raising our hands in worship is an act of surrender, we surrender decisions and relationships to Christ. But how do you actually surrender? See surrender isn’t giving in, or letting go, it’s sacrificing. Surrender is removing perfectionism and control from your life and the situations that surround you. Surrendering to Jesus means falling into him and letting him have control. Surrender isn’t easy, surrender isn’t always a relief. You have to learn to trust God, knowing how deeply he loves you and cares about you. So much so that he can handle your situations better than you can. For me surrendering means reminding myself of the goodness of God and how he has worked things out for me in the past and will continue to do so. Surrender is praying before doing homework or writing a blog post. It’s not running away from scary things because you know God is in control.

What have I learned about writing? Well. I’ve learned that sometimes the things we love have to take a backseat. Life ebbs and flows, sometimes we have to focus on academics and work before our dream careers. Sometimes we will get more enjoyment out of spending time with friends or listening to the same three songs on repeat then we will from reading books or writing poetry. And that’s okay.

I haven’t written much this semester. It’s not that I don’t want to or feel like I can’t, it’s just that my priorities shift. If I’m not writing 1000 words in my novel each day like I used to be able to, it doesn't mean writing isn’t for me. Your life may not always look the same way it did last year. That’s a beautiful thing.

Our creativity and the artwork itself changes as we grow, as we go out into the world and do new things. Isn’t that what it means to be a writer in the first place? To tell stories that are rooted in universal human experience? It’s my experience that we cannot write about human experience without experiencing life. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to spend hours on my novel over the summer, but I think it means I’m healing from the lie that to be a writer you have to hit word counts. It’s not about that anymore for me. It’s now about you. The reader. The person who can read my life experiences and be touched and realize that they are not alone in the wilderness of life.

So there were my ramblings from a year as an English student. If you have any questions I would love you to comment them and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Do you like this style of post with all over the place thoughts?

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.

Redefining Beauty

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 23:27:09 GMT

I don’t know who taught me that the difference between beautiful and ugly is. Not only do I not remember the teacher, I don’t remember when the lesson was taught.

If we were in my literature class right now someone might say that the knowledge of what beauty is is ingrained into each of us as much as our own individualism is. But I think that’s far too gentle to be true.

I don’t remember when I learned the difference between beautiful and ugly, but I do remember being about four years old, looking into a toy compact mirror and saying aloud that I was ugly. I don’t know where I heard the word. My mom heard me say it and rushed to tell me that I shouldn’t say that about myself because I was beautiful.

I’m sure you had an experience like that too. One that didn’t reassure you, but turned you into Alice in a funhouse mirror, and then straight down the toxic rabbit hole. Comparing yourself to barbie dolls, your sister, and cartoon characters.

And it probably carried into school didn’t it? Comparing yourself to that girl, that celebrity, wondering why your clothes didn’t fit you the right way and if they ever would.

You probably told yourself that your acne was the reason those girls didn’t want to be friends with you. You thought that your lack of blonde hair or blue eyes or whatever it was that you told yourself beauty was, would prevent boys from ever falling in love with you. Maybe you tried to hide your ugliness with glittery lip gloss and purple nail polish, but you still felt like you would never be quite as pretty as you wanted to be. Because it was you that wanted it even though you convinced yourself it was someone else’s fault.

I know you did that.

I know you probably also looked in the mirror and cried wondering when you would get pretty. Your mom probably read you Bible verses about being fearfully and wonderfully made, she probably bought you your first makeup set and told you that we only wear it to enhance our natural beauty. But you didn’t. You wore it because you were insecure.

Maybe someone told you that you were ugly. Too pale, too dark, too fat, too skinny, too scarred, too freckled. Maybe someone told you that boys only like blondes, that brown eyes look like dirt, that there was nothing special about you and you looked like every other girl in the world. Maybe you spent hours trying to make your curls straight or your straight hair curly.

You probably felt that before didn’t you?

Same girl, same. I say all of this because I’ve been there.

Have you gotten over this obsession with beauty yet, or are you still tied to it? I’m not sure where I lie. But one thing I do know is that accepting myself as beautiful has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It’s funny because it’s not something that happened all at once, we as little girls were told that beauty looked a certain way. Even if no one directly told us, we still knew the standards. You don’t need me to tell you that beauty standards are false and unfair. They are, we all know it, but yet we still conform to them in some way or another. You may always secretly wish to be blonde and as much as the media has tried to portray beautiful women with all shades and styles of hair, you’ll always cling to that ideal. Because if you’re like me, you’ve set beauty standards for yourself. Even if you know deep down that you are beautiful, you may still believe the lie that someone else is better than you.

We have to let go of our self-imposed standards of beauty.

But what if we reframed beauty in our minds? What if we remove beauty from being solely in association with our physical appearance?

Maybe if we reframe beauty to be about flowers, trees, and birdsong. Maybe beauty is music, crayon drawings, and concrete buildings. Beauty can be pastry, a mug, a dinosaur toy. Beauty is laughing and smiling and crying. Beauty is strawberries and lightning and a tube of lipstick that's simply just a tube of lipstick, not something to mask your smile. Maybe beauty is thinking a satellite is a shooting star, maybe it’s singing at the top of your lungs in your car. Find beauty in raindrops, in cold coffee, in swamps, in kittens, in poetry, in really badly taken polaroids. Beauty can be garden hose water, campfire smoke, and your beat up combat boots.

Start seeing beauty differently, start looking around you for the beauty.

Maybe beauty is uncertainty, heartbreak, hope, and fulfillment.

Maybe beauty is in time with Jesus in the morning, in screaming his name at the top of your lungs when you are at a loss about what to do. Maybe the beauty is in the forgiveness God grants you. Maybe beauty is worshiping the Lord, or simple sitting in his presence.

And then after you take the time to see this beauty all around you, maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and it’ll suddenly occur to you that you are beautiful.

After all this time, maybe you'll finally see it.

Maybe your mom was right all along. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. And no one had to tell you it, you just knew it because the character of God is a character of beauty, and all he created is beautiful, with no exceptions.

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.

Yet Another Birthday

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:08:07 GMT

As is yearly tradition at this point, I just had a birthday and thought I would share it with you. I treat birthdays with a lot of respect and I agree with Anne Shirley that “it isn’t as if birthdays are common things”.

I hope this little post is entertaining and gives you some ideas of what you could do for you next birthday. I also want to say that I am so blessed and so grateful to all of my family and friends who made this birthday so special!

You may know this if you’ve been around on the blog for a while, that I love to have my birthdays themed around books and bookish things. This year was very regency inspired (which has been a theme this year.)

On the morning of my birthday my Dad, brother and I went to a bakery. The drive there was so beautiful, looking at all of the budding and flowering trees while listening to Laufey.

At the bakery I got a Pain au Chocolate (they sadly didn’t have any almond croissants), a cheddar, bacon and scallion biscuit, and a London Fog latte.

I spent a lot of my day quietly, hanging out with my family, reading Jane Austen’s Lady Susan, and taking a walk with my family.

I also took my siblings with me to Starbucks to get my free drink (I got a matcha in case you were wondering).

The main event of the day was going to the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice at the movies. I of course adore this movie, and seeing in the theaters was a surreal experience, especially since my friends hadn’t seen it before!

The evening was spent in at home with food my parents cooked, and a pistachio cake with raspberry whipped cream.

The day was so lovely in it’s simpleness. Remember that birthdays and every day can be beautiful if you do little things to make yourself happy.

Now it’s time for a little gift haul. This isn’t everything I got, but these are the things that I think are the most fun and interesting to you all (they’re mostly books.)

This shirt is my new obsession and a perfect reflection of my personality. Obviously Little Women is my favorite book ever, so having a shirt that captures all of the little moments that make the story so timeless and special is amazing!

Going on the same track, my best friend sent me this beautiful edition of Little Women. It's the Harper Muse Painted edition, I love it so so much!

This picture is very bad quality so I apologize, but one of my friends who went to the movie with me gave me this adorable Pride and Prejudice book vase. It's so cute and the peacock!!! iykyk. The flowers were also a gift :).

The Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady is such a beautiful book. It's the real diary of a woman from Edwardian England and how she tracked the seasons through her paintings of nature. This edition is stunning.

Bows! I have become obsessed with bows, and there isn't much else to say about that.

Back when I was in England (it's been a year guys), I kept wanting to visit Fortnum and Mason, a store known for their fine tea selection. Unfortunately I wasn't able to, but now I get to try some of their most popular blends from this little box of tea.

I have been collecting the Chronicle Books/Barbara Heller classics for a while now, and I've had my eye on Anne of Green Gables since it came out in September. I am so grateful for this edition, it's beautiful and full of little bits of Avonlea. Such a special book.

In the same vein, I got The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook! It's an adorable book full of recipes from the Anne books and L.M. Montgomery's personal kitchen.

And because the world needs more Anne, I also receive this copy of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional by Rachel Dodge. I've been going through this every morning and I love being reminded of the truth of Gods word through the world of Anne.

All in all, such a lovely birthday and I'm so grateful for what this past year of life has been, and for what God has planned for me in this next year.

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.

Living Like A Disney Princess Part 1

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 21:01:12 GMT

I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that I love princesses. Specifically, Disney Princesses. I wanted to write a spring recommendations post or something along those lines, but then I got thinking and thought, what about giving spring coded recommendations based on Disney Princesses? They are perfect examples of Old Fashioned Girls, girls who are sweet, kind, and beautiful yet make up their own minds and work towards things bigger than them. Think of this as your guide to becoming a Disney Princess yourself.

You can try all of my suggestions or just the ones that fit your favorite princess. (Yes some of the recommendations are going to be retellings of the original fairytales, I hope that is acceptable to you.) I also want to note that this list starts with Snow White ends with Moana. I know that Raya is technically a part of the Disney Princess franchise, but I have never seen her movie. Also technically Anna and Elsa aren’t Disney princesses so they are also excluded from this list.

Snow White -
A sweet homemaker of a princess. Snow White is the youngest princess (at 14), and yet she is also the oldest seeing as her film came out in 1938.

Book - Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
This book is not your average Snow White story. It’s about Aza, a girl who is considered ugly with her pale skin and ashy hair. Her one beauty is her voice which she can throw around a room and use to imitate voices. When she gets invited to the wedding of the king, everything changes for her. She gets caught up in a plot involving a magic mirror, a handsome prince, and her honor. This book is a middle-grade fantasy and it’s a childhood favorite of mine.

Movie - Disney’s Enchanted with Amy Adams is a movie I think Snow White would love. It’s about a princess from a perfect fairytale world who gets sucked into the very real world of New York City. It’s whimsical, silly, and romantic, a great movie for spring time.

Fun Drink - Last year I uploaded this recipe for earl grey lavender lemonade. I think this drink is perfect for Snow White. It’s floral, classy, yet rustic at the same time.

Treats - In the original film Snow is seen making a gooseberry pie (bet you didn’t know thats what she was making.) Gooseberries aren’t the easiest to get, but some other berry pie like blueberry captures the essence of Snow in a dish. Bonus points for you if you whistle while you work.

Extra - For each princess I thought it would be fun to share some extra things that I think fits the aesthetic of the princess. For Snow White it’s all things gentle and cottagecore. Creators like Randi Lynn Reed and Ahya’s Cottage with their rural charm and bookishness perfectly match the aesthetic of Snow.

Living Like Snow White - Snow White cares for the dwarves because they took her in in a challenging time in her life. She repays kindness with kindness and tries to bring small joys into the dwarve’s lives. To be a little more like Snow we can care for the people in our lives by doing small acts of kindness. Snow is also the kind of girl to do her hard work with a smile, if you feel weighed down by spring cleaning, homework, or any other stress, take a hint from Snow. Open your windows, let fresh air flood in and sing or whistle while you do your work

Cinderella-
   Cinderella to me is the epitome of a Princess. She’s beautiful, she works hard, she has all of her dreams come true. As far as I can remember this is the first movie I ever saw as a kid, so Cinderella will always have a special place in my heart.

   Book - An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
   If you want a book that represents kindness in the face of adversity, true love winning, and all around wholesome vibes, this is the book. I know I know it’s the book my blog was named after, but there is something about Polly Milton that feels very Cinderella to me. It’s about country mouse Polly who goes to spend a winter with her cousins in the city, it’s about her learning how to hold onto her values among people who don’t live the same way she does. It’s about bringing kindness into places that are void of it.

Movie - I feel like this is a cop-out movie. But seriously it’s one of my all time favorite movies and I think it’s pretty much perfect. That movie is Disney’s Cinderella live action. It’s magical, sweet, beautiful, basically every adjective that is good. It stars a dazzling Lily James and it’s my ultimate spring comfort movie.

Fun Drink - For Cinderella I’m thinking a London Fog would be the perfect drink. A vanilla scented earl grey with foamy milk. It’s got this coziness that also feels springy which is perfect for Cindy. Here’s a recipe.

Treats - I know it’s not fall, but you can’t talk about Cinderella without talking about pumpkins. This pumpkin bread from Broma Bakery is one of my favorite recipes and I think it’s acceptable for spring because princesses baking with the remaining harvest from the autumn is totally the vibe ;)

Extra - In the 2015 Cinderella, her mother tells her that she needs to “Have courage and be kind”. I think this is a simple yet powerful message that we can turn into action. Volunteering somewhere new is a great way to do this. It can be challenging to step outside of our comfort zones, but showing kindness and sharing Jesus’ love with people who are hurting (or animals if that’s your thing) is really important. So maybe volunteer somewhere this spring.

Living Like Cinderella - The thing that stands out to me the most about Cinderella isn’t even her kindness, but it’s how she dreams. Her life is so hard, yet she dreams and hopes with confidence that better days are ahead. She romanticizes her life by creating and singing and dreaming. This is something we all can do to make our lives a little more beautiful.

Aurora-
You may not know this, but even though her movie is titled Sleeping Beauty in reference to her, Aurora is the princess with the least amount of screen time. She is also the only princess with violet eyes, which is an interesting design choice that I am not mad about.

Book - The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I don’t know if you’ve ever cried over a book because it’s beautiful, but I have. The Secret Garden is about Mary Lennox, a girl who grew up spoiled in India. She is very dissatisfied with her new life with her uncle in Yorkshire, but when she discovers an entrance to a hidden garden her world opens up. This book is so beautiful and touching, it’s about friendship and grief and how new life can come out of what has been broken.

Movie- Aurora falls in love with a man that she doesn’t know is the prince she is arranged to marry. This mystery romance kind of gives off You’ve Got Mail vibes. The coziness, the misunderstandings, and the falling in love without knowing each other's true identities feels like a less creepy Sleeping Beauty with a wonderful 90’s bookish aesthetic.

Fun Drink - Pink or blue? Ask anyone and they will tell you that the main conflict of this movie isn’t Aurora being asleep in the tower, but what color her dress truly is. I haven’t tried it before, so take this recommendation with a grain of salt, but… Butterfly Pea Flower Tea changes from blue to a pinkish purple with the addition of acid. Pink or blue? The choice is yours.

Treat - In the movie for Aurora’s sixteenth birthday her fairy guardians (or whatever they are) make her a sixteen layer cake with drippy blue frosting and tall candles. This would be a big undertaking of a cake to make, but there are lots of cute, more scaled down versions I’ve seen on the internet. This could be a really fun weekend project.

Extra- One thing I think of when I think about Aurora is dancing. She dances alone in the forest and then Prince Phillip cuts in which is very romantic of course. But there is something about solo dancing in your bedroom that just feels so good! Bonus points for you if you put on a pretty dress and the music you dance to is Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty.

Ariel-
This little redhead saved the Disney Animation studios and I am so grateful to her! I love her whimsical outlook on life and her voice actor Jodi Benson is a personal hero of mine

Book - This isn’t so much a book that Ariel would like as much as it is a book about Ariel. That book is Part of My World by Jodi Benson. Jodi was the voice of Ariel in the original film, this book is her memoir that talks about her journey with acting, working with Disney, as well as her personal journey with Jesus and how he changed the way she lived. It’s full of fun stories about the creation of Ariel and what Ariel means. It’s also full of insights on life, dreaming, marriage, family, and following God’s calling for your life. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Movie - This might be a stretch I know, but when you really think about it The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan is the perfect movie for Ariel. Redheaded siblings who don’t always get along perfectly, get up to so many antics in new worlds to them, and they are trying their best to bring two people together.

Fun Drink - Ariel in a sense feels almost tropical to me..? I think a smoothie with tropical fruits like mango and pineapple would fit her perfectly.

Treat - Since Ariel is from the sea but wants to be a part of our world, I’m thinking she would love salted caramels covered in chocolate. Chocolate is a very our world thing, and sea salt is something she’s probably familiar with.

Extra - Thingamabob shopping! Ariel loves collecting little kicknacks and hoarding them. Thrifting feels like the perfect ariel inspired activity to me. Bonus points if you thrift a unique dinglehoper.

Living Like Ariel - Ariel sees the world as this beautiful and wonderful place with new things to discover and explore. I know that this viewpoint in the film is rooted in naivete, but I think her general outlook is something we can all get behind. Ariel finds immense joy in little material things, she’s so curious about the world around her. She lives with her eyes and heart open. I think this is something we all could do some more this spring. Let yourself see the wonder of the everyday. Let yourself fall in love with the little things in life.

Belle-
My favorite Disney princess. I bet you would never have guessed that. Belle is a shift in what princesses in the Disney world were. She thinks for herself, she doesn’t go out looking for love. She’s smart, clever, and beautiful. She is the best and she’s the only princess with hazel eyes (twins in case you didn’t already know that we were twins.)

Book - Books are hard when it comes to Belle because we already know she has read them all, so really any would be a good choice. But for a read that has a focus on books and also sentient inanimate objects, I would highly recommend The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams by Mindy Thompson. This book is set at a time traveling bookstore in New York during World War II. The bookstore travels through time to bring hurting people together through the power of books. The story follows Poppy, a young girl who is dealing with the loss of a freind. With such a clear depiction of light versus dark, glimmers of romance, and an emotional bookshop this book is perfect.

Movie- Okay, so not me plugging all of my favorite cozy and bookish media, but the movie I have selected for Belle is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This movie is amazing, it’s about loss, war, love, and the power of reading and writing. The setting is
beautiful, Lily James is her wonderful self, the costumes are so pretty, there are letters and typewriters and kooky old people, I can’t recommend this movie enough!

Fun Drink - Belle is from France and if I know her, I know she loves reading into the night. A french inspired hot chocolate is my drink choice for her. You can make it homemade (preferably) or find a mix or kit.

Treat - “There goes the baker with his tray like always, the same old bread and rolls to sell.” Belle sings this line at the beginning of the movie while she also basically steals bread from said baker. I personally agree with her taste (why wouldn’t I) and would recommend a french bread or pastry (such as a pain au chocolat or an almond croissant.)

Extras - In the reprise of the song “Belle”, she sings that she wants “adventure in the great wide somewhere.” I love this line so much and it makes me think about taking a spring day to do all the little things that make me happy. Adventures don’t have to be big deals, they can be little things. If we’re going for ultimate Belle vibes, then going to bookstores, museums, and french bakeries are exactly what we should do.

Living Like Belle - I resonate deeply with Belle for obvious reasons, but the thing that stands out the most to me about her is her sacrificial love. She gives her life and freedom up for her Father and eventually the Beast. She loves fully, sure she’s independent and free spirited, but she cares so deeply for the people in her life and she would do anything for them.

I hope you've enjoyed this little guide to living like a Disney Princess, stay tuned for part 2!!

What Disney Princess do you most resonate with, and why? Are you going to try any of these suggestions?

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.

Dear Writer Girl,

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:18:26 GMT

Dear writer girl. Maybe you’re perfectly fine the way you are. Like maybe it’s okay if you don’t touch your manuscript for 700 days.

Writer girl, live your life - drink tea all night long while you pour over the great works of fiction, run away to Paris, or Dublin, or Charlotte. Find inspiration in the mundane little things around you. If you don’t write today you’re going to be okay.

Perhaps tomorrow the words will come, or maybe you need to pick up painting and you’ll find the inspiration there.

Perhaps you need to have your heart broken and then sewn back together. Maybe you have to lock yourself in a room to finish your manuscript, or draft it in a string of text messages. Maybe you need to rent Emily Dickinson’s bedroom for an hour and write there, or maybe you need to go down to your basement and find inspiration in the unfinished floors.

Maybe it doesn’t have to look the way it looks for everyone else.

We get so caught up in word counts and publishing deals we forget about the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the taste of coffee that has gone cold, and how disorienting it feels to finish writing for the day.

Writing’s this chaotic lifestyle of clacking away and reminding yourself that you still have to live.

A few years ago I would have told you that my best writing advice would be to write a little every day, to read a lot, and to make sure you have fun with your writing. Back then it was all about the act. The finger clacking, the outlines with hundreds of little check boxes. That was how I wrote. I thought there needed to be a method and I thought my book had to look like all of the other books and go viral on TikTok as well as bring millions of people to Jesus. I thought that I had to just pull all of this potential out of myself and throw it onto paper.

All of that has changed.

I don’t write that way anymore.

If you asked me today what my writing advice is I would tell you to listen to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack and cry on your bed until your mascara stains your pillowcase. I would tell you to book a flight to London, to buy yourself an exotic perfume, to keep a stack of un-read books on hand just in case.

You want writing advice? I’ll give it to you - dance for an hour in your bedroom, laugh too loudly, take notes when you see people flirting, try to figure out why someone got that tattoo.

Watch movies, stupid ones, amazing ones. Laugh to them, cry to them, talk over them, hyperanalyze them. Read books, old ones, new ones, picture books, war novels, theology, science. Laugh at them, cry over them, write all over their pages, force other people to read them, hyperanalyze them, and sew pieces of them into your personality.

I’d tell you to make friends with random people and to listen to what they have to say. Let yourself be anxious, sad, angry, happy, giddy. Live your life, feel the things you were designed to feel. Eat food, buy coffee, start a scrapbook, take a picture every day of your life.

That’s how you write.

Yes you still have to get out of bed and find your way to your laptop. You still have to make the keyboard keys move and the letters turn into stories. But you have to experience life, let it happen. You have to be patient, maybe it won’t happen now, or maybe it will. Follow your fancies, don’t push words out that aren’t meant to be pushed out. Pray over your manuscript, your hands, each email you send, each new opportunity.

Get a job, go to school, join something, meet someone, be there for your family.

Sing along to the radio, write some letters, fold laundry.

Dance in the rain, gaze at the stars, throw leaves in someone’s face.

Live the story that is your life, and the words will come from there.

Dear writer girl. You’re gonna be okay. You’re not a failure if you’re not a success today. Live the beautiful life God has planned for you. The words will come, they always do. You’ll feel inspired again some day, even if that day is not today.

You have to live too. The stories happen out there in the big world we call home. We are the characters. The more we learn, the more we do, the more we observe, the better writers we become.

Write poetry. Write songs. Write a play. Don’t worry about writing your magnum opus. Jot down everything, read your Bible every day, take care of your body. Tend to your mind, protect your heart. Write.

Write on the lives of those around you by caring. Be loving and kind, be such an example of Jesus that everyone will know you live for him. Write on the places you visit by respecting them and caring for them as if they are your own. Write on your own heart your worth. Write letters to your future self telling her how proud you are of her.

Leave your handwriting everywhere just by living the way you live.

Dear writer girl - you’re gonna go places. I know you will. Live and write and the rest will come.

Writer girl, don’t let them tell you your dreams are silly - that you’re wasting your life.

Write that book.

Live that life.

You are here for a reason.

God put you here to do this.

Stop telling yourself you can’t when you really actually can.

Dear writer girl.

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.

Two Years of An Old Fashioned Girl

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

“The "Old-Fashioned Girl" is not intended as a perfect model, but as a possible improvement upon the Girl of the Period, who seems sorrowfully ignorant or ashamed of the good old fashions which make women truly beautiful and honored."
-Louisa May Alcott, An Old Fashioned Girl

Two years ago, on March 14, I hit publish on this little website. I prayed that it would make a difference, that it would be a comfort to someone, that people would be reminded of days gone by.

I started this blog as two things, a place for me to share my writing, and a place where I could be my true self. I started this blog while a member of The Young Writer’s Workshop and was hungry for a quiet place on the internet that was full of all of the things I love - history, literature, and Jesus.

The blog started out small, and guess what it’s still small! But I am full of gratitude, gratitude for each of you who reads my posts every week, for those of you who take the time to leave comments, and to God for giving me this platform and allowing An Old Fashioned Girl to grow.

This week we are celebrating all the Lord has done with this little platform.

The Last Year in Blog Posts -

I posted many a blog post this year, here is a list of some standouts

The Best Post - In Search of Wisteria - this post was an intro to my England posts, but it also serves as a little window into my heart.

The Worst Post - honestly I don’t have one I hate from this year :)

My Favorite Post - Who Can Ever Be Tired of Bath? - this post was where I recorded one of the best days of my life which easily makes it a favorite.

The Weirdest Post - Ranking Every Disney Channel Movie I’ve Seen - what was she doing here? I don't have an answer for you.

The Post I Had The Most Fun Writing - Unhinged Thoughts on Pride and Prejudice 1995 - watching this movie and taking note of all the weird and wonderful things was so much fun (even though it ended up being highly controversial).

Celebrating -

If there was one thing I'd have you know about me, it's that I love to make the little things important. I love celebrating small wins as well as big accomplishments. So, on Friday for the blogiversary I bought us a cake. I hope you can take a second to imagine me standing the bakery waiting for the cake to be finished in my floral dress and sweater, and I hope you can imagine the casual embarrassment on my face when two random ladies read the text on the cake without any context (and also look me over from head to toe).

But despite that, to me cake is how you celebrate. And even though it feels weird for me to celebrate my blog turning two in this way, I realize that hard work needs to be appreciated. Even if it means buying myself a cake.

Birthdays and blogiversaries aren't complete without gifts, so I bought myself a book. It might surprise you to know that I never have owned a copy of the book this little blog is named after.

An Old Fashioned Girl is a tender and beautiful book by my favorite author Louisa May Alcott. The message of the book guides this blog.

So I bought a copy.

This baby girl is from 1903, and is in wonderful condition. It's something I will treasure and page through often. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to purchase this edition.

The Blog Going Forward

I started this blog out to be a safe space, and I want to continue to do that. I promise to not get into politics, social issues, or to talk about topics that are controversial (other than books of course). I want to keep this space clean and beautiful by fostering a kind community. I want to talk about Jesus’s love for you, I want to share about the things that bring me joy. I want us to talk about books, movies, music, the things that inspire us to be creative. I want to go back to why I started this blog, return to the original mission, to remind you that there is beauty in everything, especially the small and insignificant things. I want this to reflect in my continuing blog posts and everywhere that I expand my platform.

I also want this blog to be for you, even though I’m the one doing the talking, An Old Fashioned Girl is here to serve you <3.

An Old Fashioned Girl isn't me, the Old Fashioned Girl is any girl who sees life a little differently, who sees the beauty in the small things. Any girl who like Louisa's Polly Milton " ...thought that insignificant as she was, she yet might do some good, made her very careful of her acts and words, and so anxious to keep her heart contented and her face happy."

What Does An Old Fashioned Girl Mean To You?

Last week I asked my email list subscribers this question, and the responses warmed my heart (and made me cry). This blog isn't about me, but you. So here is what An Old Fashioned Girl means to you, (and me.) Thank you to everyone who shared!!

"I found this blog through YWW, and it never fails to bring me a sense of coziness and peace. I rarely skip over a post, and I've found some wonderful book recommendations from this blog! The posts are very thoughtful, engaging, and aesthetic. :)"
-Anna

"I found this blog after I discovered Belle's writing and after she left the writing community we were both a part of at the time. It started as a way to sort of keep in contact with her. However, it quickly became more than that, instead turning to my favorite blog! It offers such a calming environment on the internet (both her blog and her YouTube channel) that I honestly use to relax. Oftentimes I'm having a rough day and it just makes me so much happier to find an email notification for a blog post in my inbox."
-Haniah

"I found this blog because I was searching for beautiful newsletters to sign up for,and this is certainly just that!"

"I came across your blog because I know you, but I stuck around because it’s just a really cool space. It’s like stepping into a slower, more thoughtful world—where books, faith, and the little joys in life actually matter. I love how you bring that old-fashioned charm into everything you write. Whether it’s talking about literature, life, or just random thoughts, it always feels genuine. It’s refreshing, and I think a lot of people appreciate that."
-Ben

"I found An Old Fashioned Girl through Pearl Christine's blog. As soon as I saw the title and realized it was taken from my favourite novel, I knew I'd found something amazing! I've loved reading how you analyze novels, authors, and movies, including many of my favourites, and I look forward to reading your posts."
-Olivia

"It's a mesh of old and new! With vintage inspiration and modern ideas, it's the perfect place for old souls living in the 21st century."
-Molly

"An Old-Fashioned Girl blog is a weekly source of delight. The content is very wholesome, each post is very enjoyable to read and shines with Belle's beautiful worldview and I'm always reminded of where my focus needs to be – on God. Belle is very thoughtful and has beautiful views on how to live life to the fullest. I am very grateful for every post! ❤️"
-Oceana Rose

"I love Old Fashioned Girl so much! The posts are always so helpful. The overall vibe of the blog is so aesthetic and vintage and peaceful. "
-Bella

"It's such a sweet blog! Belle covers a spectrum of lovely content, from book reviews to travel to encouragement for the growing girl to idyllic things you can do to make life beautiful :)"
-Lillian

"I found the blog through an email list swap about a year ago, and I have loved it. My favorite posts are often the ones on Little Women and Jane Austen, and I loved the multi-part series you did a while back breaking down the similarities and differences in the 1994 and 2019 Little Women film versions. I also have enjoyed your recent recommendation on the website with recipes for single-serve cookies and other baked goods. As someone who often house sits, it is nice to have something that I can do for just me without having to make a whole pan that I won't eat!

All in all, I love the focus on older and classic stories for girls and women, and I do enjoy the occasional post about life as well. I would love to see even more thoughts on evaluating different adaptations of classic girls stories for film and radio drama. I'd like to hear what you think of the Focus on the Family Radio Theater Little Women version, since several people I have talked to loved it and it is also one of my favorites!"
-Anna

(a note from Belle - how have I never heard of the Focus on the Family Little Women?! I will find it as soon as possible and write a post about it!!)

"From its meaningful name, reminiscent of the old days, those values, those more humane ways, Polly Milton was the embodiment of all of this, of that simple, yet beautiful, and meaningful life; to its inspiring posts, by its creator, Belle, I think An Old Fashioned Girl is a unique space. I discovered this blog about a year ago and loved the mix of so many topics; and I can't forget that post from last year, "Something for the Girls." It came as a response to something I truly needed, and now I'm truly grateful for it. I think that's all there is to it. Greetings from somewhere in the world.🌷🌷🌷🌷"
-Ellen

Something I mentioned in my post last year was that I write to fourteen year old me. In the blogging community people often talk about your blog persona. Who is it that you write for? People tell you to write all about her, figure out what she looks like, what her day looks like, what she eats, where she shops, what music she listens to and so on and so forth. I always struggled with that prompt, because the girl I end up with always looks a lot like me.

I always come back to me at 14. She was anxious, alone, and she discovered classic books for the first time. She wanted to fly away to the Victorian period because then maybe things wouldn’t seem so hard. That girl had to learn to rely on Jesus, she had to learn how to find joy in the life she was placed in. I write for her and for the thousands of girls who look a lot like her. If that portrait of me at 14 sounds anything like you, then know that you’re in the right place.

With all of that in mind, I wrote my own response to the question "What does An Old Fashioned Girl mean to you?"

"Belle, I just want to share how proud I am of you. How far you’ve come. Remember being that anxious little 14 year old girl who found solace in Louisa May Alcott and L.M. Montgomery? Remember how alone you felt. Now you have the power to help other girls overcome that pain. I know it hasn’t been easy. I know you’ve doubted your abilities, been stressed about so many analytical details. I know you’ve had so many anxious days and cried so many buckets of tears, but you’ve impacted the life of at least one girl (you), and that makes everything worth it. What does An Old Fashioned Girl mean to me? Well An Old Fashioned Girl is me. It’s the place where I am truest self, a place where I can pour out love onto other girls who also feel trapped in the 21st century. It’s my home, it’s my heart, it’s the one thing that I will continue doing as long as I possibly can. It won’t be easy, but you know that already. I’m so proud of you. Imagine if we only knew how far we would have come when we launched back in 2023.

I’m listening to “Letter to my 13 Year Old Self” by Laufey right now and feeling so emotional, so proud, so grateful.
Jesus has carried you and helped you through so much to do what you are doing now.
I love you.
Thank you for changing my life."
-Me

“And Polly didn't think she had done much; but it was one of the little things which are always waiting to be done in this world of ours, where rainy days come so often, where spirits get out of tune, and duty won't go hand in hand with pleasure. Little things of this sort are especially good work for little people; a kind little thought, an unselfish little act, a cheery little word, are so sweet and comfortable, that no one can fail to feel their beauty and love the giver, no matter how small they are."
-Louisa May Alcott, An Old Fashioned Girl

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.

25 Ways To Have Fun Alone

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 21:00:04 GMT

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post with 25 things you can do with your friends. Some of you mentioned how you don’t have many friends who live near you and I began thinking about a time in my life when I didn’t have many friends either. I understand how hard that can be, especially when you see other people having fun. Trust that God has good plans for you my loves. But, while you are in this waiting season I have tons of fun things for you to do.

(all images are from Pinterest)

This is also a great list of things you can do to recharge, care for yourself, or just do for fun.
I have ten ideas of small happy things you can do when you feel sad, anxious, lonely, or are just bored. Then I have ten solo hangout/date ideas, these are more out and about or planned activities that you can do by yourself (or with someone else let’s be real). Then finally I have five activities that you can do with long distance and online friends through text and video calls.

Little Recharge Activities

Here at An Old Fashioned Girl we (as in me), are all about finding joy in the small things. These are activities that are perfect things to brighten up any day.

1. A Body Reset

This is something I like to do once a week or so. Take some time to stretch, do yoga, take a walk or something else active that makes you feel good. Then take a full body shower with your favorite products. Afterwards use lotion, body mist, your favorite lip mask etc. and put on fresh pajamas. This always calms me down and helps my body feel like it has reset.

2. Make a Fun Drink

If you know me, you know I love a fun drink. Personally, I think there’s nothing better than making a drink for yourself, there is something so therapeutic about the process of making a drink. You could simply make a cup of tea, or you could experiment with mocktails, matchas, different kinds of coffees or something totally new. Take inspiration from famous cafes, your favorite desserts, and the seasons.

3. Buy Yourself Something You Don't Need

I don’t know about you, but I tend to get caught up in the “if I don’t need it, I shouldn't buy it” mindset. But once in a while, buy yourself something! It could be a favorite snack, a new makeup product, you could pre-order a new book, treat yourself to a cute piece of clothing or a new tea. The list is literally endless. I especially love things that I can order and then can look forward to their arrival.

4. Have a Dance Party

No matter who you are, you deserve a dance party. Solo dance parties are my personal favorite because no one can judge how you dance or what music you play. I like to pull the shades shut, make a playlist of the random songs I’m obsessed with at the moment and then just dance. This always makes me feel so so good!

5. Journal

I know this isn’t a fun thing for everyone, but hear me out. Writing about your feelings, your day, your favorite things, the movie you watched last night, whatever it is is such a calming experience. It helps me focus on what I’m writing and not all of the thoughts going through my head or the pain/stress/anxiety/exhaustion etc running through my body. Don’t confine yourself to writing either, use stickers, pictures from Pinterest or your everyday life, draw, write in code or sudoku or with tears whatever helps you express yourself! And just because extra is the best way to be, pair a journaling session with a fun drink and a candle!
Let me know if you want a full post about my journaling journey, processes, and prompts!

6. Take a Walk

But not just any walk my loves. Romanticize that walk. Listen to an audiobook and dress like the characters in it. Listen to music and pick flowers. Talk out loud to God, read poetry and frolick through the streets. Touch every leaf just to feel it, walk backwards, stop to listen to your breathing or to see the way the sun hits the cars. Take pictures, press leaves, pick wild grapes. Walk but make it something special.

7. Read Only Your Favorite Chapters of Your Favorite Books

This is especially good if you feel sad or lonely. Pull your favorite books off of your shelf and read your favorite chapters in each of them. For me this is Chapter 8 of Little Women, Chapter 26 of Ella Enchanted, and Chapter 15 in Anne of Green Gables. (Let me know what your favorites are!)

8. Small Batch Baking

Bestie if you haven’t done this before, you need to! This is my favorite thing to do when I’m home alone or just want a little treat all to myself. The recipes tend to take only a few minutes and they make small servings if you don’t want to make a whole batch of something. My favorite recipes are always from Broma Bakery. I love that if I want to I can make them randomly after work or school and it’s such a good mood boost.

9. Write a Letter To Yourself

Taking a few minutes to write a letter to yourself full of hopes, dreams and encouragement is so much fun. You could write to your past self, yourself in the future, or yourself right in this moment. Seal it up and write a date on the envelope for when you will read it again. This could take a few minutes or you could make an afternoon out of it.

10. Solo Karaoke

Yes this is very similar to the dance party idea, but it’s a little different. Singing for some reason is something that always boosts my mood. You can have a little karaoke party on your commute, or you can use actual karaoke tracks in your bedroom, backyard or randomly in public if you’re cool like that.

Solo Hangouts

Have a free weekend with no friends who are free? Don’t feel like socializing? Need a little extra alone time? Then these ideas are perfect for you. They’re things you can happily do in your own company. These are a little more in depth then the last 10 activities as some of these may require more preparation. Some of them are out and about, some are easy to do at home.

1. Curate A Space To Make Your Favorite Online Activity Feel Classy

I love watching Youtube videos and I love scrolling through Pinterest, but neither of these activities feel very productive unless I’m sick or waiting in a line or something. A fun solo activity could be to make your YouTube video sessions feel like a short film festival. Write reviews of each video, eat movie theater snacks and host mental interviews with the creators.

Scroll through Pinterest but it’s an art gallery event. Make mocktails and appetizers and dress up to make your boards. Play jazz or classical music, dim the lights and feel like the classy lady you are.

2. Solo Coffee Shop Date

As has been said already, I love a fun drink. Cafes and coffee shops just appeal to my soul. Something very easy and very fun to do is to go solo to a coffee shop. Buy yourself a drink and a treat, bring a good book to read, and have a good playlist playing in your headphones and you’ve set yourself up for the best afternoon ever.

3. Go To A Museum

I love museums, but it can be hard when you have a large group of people who all want to see different things. That’s why going to a museum is the perfect solo activity. You can look at what interests you and stay as long as you want or leave as soon as you are ready.

4. Have a Time of Reflection

Go to your favorite place, whether that’s in nature, your bedroom, a coffee shop or somewhere else entirely. Take the time to reflect on yourself and your life. You can read your Bible, prayer journal, scrapbook, write about what’s been going on in your life, pray, write a letter to yourself, and go through your camera roll.

5. Live Like You're In Your Favorite Book

Most of us here are book lovers, I think for a lot of us there is nothing we would like better than to live in our favorite books for a day. Plan a day for yourself where you’ll eat the foods your favorite character might eat, dress how they might dress, do activities they might enjoy (or that they do in the book). The best part? No one really has to know that you’re reliving a book.

6. Read a Book In a Single Day

To me, there is nothing more comforting than reading a book in one day. Pick a book you’ve really been looking forward to, make sure your favorite sweatpants are clean and that you have a stash of favorite snacks, and spend the entire day reading your little book.

7. Create Something

I find so much satisfaction in creating something. Why not take some time to make something beautiful? It could be a painting, a piece of jewelry, diying a pair of jeans, making flower crowns, painting candles, anything. Make it fun for yourself, curate a playlist, buy Ollipop and your favorite chips, open the windows if it’s a nice day, and create.

8. Go on a Picnic by Yourself

I have a deep affection for picnics that manifests itself in lists of saved recipes and a wicker picnic basket I rarely use that has plastic champagne flutes included with it. Solo picnics are the most girl in a book activity I can think of. You only need enough food for one person (and it can be all of your favorites), you can bring your drawing, or poetry, or camera, or book, or Bible, spread a blanket out and listen to the birds. You can go somewhere special for it or just do it in your backyard. Bonus points if it’s at sunrise or sunset.

9. Solo Movie Night

I don’t know about you, but there are some movies I love so much that the people in my life are sick of or just don’t care about. So carve out time to watch those movies alone. Again, get all the snacks, the comfy clothes, build a fort or something if you’re feeling extra and enjoy Mary Poppins (or whatever film it is for you).

10. Vlog or Have a Photo Shoot

Plan a fun day (literally could be as simple as going to the pool and getting coffee) bus use your creativity and film it or take photos of everything. Make it cute, make it fun. You don’t have to share it with everyone, but experiment with photography. Doing this isn’t just fun, it also helps you realize how beautiful your boring little life actually is.

Things to Do With Virtual Friends

I know a lot of us have friends who don’t live near us so most of our communication happens digitally. Here are five things you can do with them because hanging out is hard when you live thousands of miles away.

1. Have a Bookclub

Read a book at the same time as your friends, then you can either have a group chat where you discuss the book, or do a video call once you all finish it.

2. Cook Something Together (or make a craft)

If you and your friend have a similar hobby such as cooking or crafting you can still do it together. Pick a recipe or project, call each other and stumble (or work through it) together.

3. Study Together

It is my opinion that pretty much anything is better with friends. You and your friend can save homework, projects, or even hobbies to do together while on a call. Sure you might get nothing done, but it’s a great way to spend time together when you’re apart.

4. Answer Questions

I don’t know what to actually call this, but this is something one of my best friends and I do all of the time over text. We name a subject, and the other person has to say either their friend's favorite or what reminds them of their friend’s personality. For example the topic could be months of the year, for my friend September is a month that just seems like her. It’s a fun way to see how well you know your friends and to give each other compliments.

5. Have a Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Make a list with your friend and then pick a day to do it. Each of you can go around your home or town and take pictures of the items on your list. As soon as you find it, text them to each other, whoever finds everything first wins. You could combine this with a solo date around town to make it even more fun. Make sure you both start at the same time and you take time zones into account.

Those were all of my activity recommendations that are solo or virtual. If you’re in a season without many friends, remember to lean on the best friend you could ever have, Jesus. And trust me when I say that he has people planned for you.

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.