Style Icon: Nina Dobrev

I'm low key obsessed with the Vampire Diaries and the show's leading lady, Nina Dobrev. When some friends first told me this was a good show, I brushed them off and never thought it was for me. Nevertheless, I started watching last summer, blew through five seasons in 2 months, and have been hooked ever since; it's definitely guilty pleasure TV. Although Nina left at the end of this past season (I'm still getting over it), she'll always be in the headlines for her style. Whether its the red carpet or a simple day to day look, Nina always looks stylish, with great hair and accessories to match. Many of her looks include pattern and color mixing which I am a huge fan of. Although some of the pieces she wears would never make their way into my wardrobe, I love how unique her outfits are and that she isn't afraid to take risks with new and upcoming trends.

Some more of my favorite looks...

Similar styles of my favorite pieces 

red heels | white oxford | eyelet skirt | black tank

Do you love Nina's style as much as I do?

xoxo,

Julianna 

Preppy by the Sea

*all photos via pinterest*

Friday Favorites

This week completely flew by! This past weekend I went to the Cape for Memorial Day. Although it want quite beach weather, I got a taste of summer and can't wait to be back after school gets out! When you are reading this, I will be at the airport getting ready to go to Washington, D.C. for the weekend to visit a friend. Busy is an understatement to describe the past week, but I am loving every second of it. Look for a recap of my trip sometime next week! Anyways, here are some things I have been loving.

One: This Bag

I received this monogrammed weekender bag from Tuckernuck for Christmas. It is such great quality and oh so practical. It's basically like the classic L.L. Bean boat and tote bags in a duffle style with leather detailing. I have a ton of travel plans for this summer and know I will get a ton of use out of it. 

Two: Ice Cream

In the past few weeks I have made my fair share of trips to local ice cream shops. Once the weather gets nice, there is nothing I would rather indulge in than a creamy scoop of black raspberry ice cream. Last weekend when I was one the Cape, I made a trip to the ice cream store, each day #guilty. How freaking adorable are the all pink sprinkles?! 

Three: White Jeans

Finally, Memorial day has come and gone and white jeans are now socially acceptable to be worn! New England is known for its warm days and chilly summer nights, so I wear my white jeans all the time to dinners. I also broke out my white chinos (25% off) this week. White is such a flattering color and matches everything, so obviously it's one of my favorite looks for summertime. 

Happy weekend! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Lust List

wedges | espadrilles | skirt | clutch | bathing suit | dress | agenda | case | tank

I have a serious problem when it comes to spending my money. I think that a lot of bloggers face this problem. We have to post outfit pictures quite frequently and can't have the same products show up again and again. However, I want to give myself a big shoutout because I have changed my mindset to be more of a saver in the past few months. I did not add a ton of clothing to my wardrobe this spring and have had no problem with styling different outfits for the blog. During this time period, I have a done a lot of "window shopping". Even if you are not going to buy anything, it is relaxing and somewhat entertaining to accumulate excessive amounts of items in your cart and then not have your wallet hate you. Above are a few items that I have recently been lusting over for summer! I am in dire need of a new phone case, as my current one is practically in shreds. So, that might be the one item that may make it to my doorstep in a few weeks. Are you a spender or a saver?

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea 

Concerts

*via*

This weekend I am flying down to DC to visit a friend from camp. I am so excited to be back in DC, as it is one of my favorite cities. I am also thrilled to see my friend, especially because we live so far away don't get to see each other very often. One of the things that we will be doing over the weekend is going to a music festival. I love concerts, let's be real who doesn't? Despite this, there is one thing that I always struggle with, finding a "concert outfit". There are just some events in life where a pair of J. Crew chino shorts and a striped tee shirt won't fly. This summer I know that I will be attending at least three different concerts, and I need a few things to wear to them.  Crop tops are just not me. Also, not the biggest fan of ripped high wasted shorts, or the whole "hipster" thing in general. However, it is important to take a step out of your comfort zone and try something new every once and a while. I am sort of cringing at the fact that I am actually writing about this, but I will be wearing this top and these shorts to the concert this weekend and am excited to experiment with clothes I usually would not wear. I have tried them on together, I actually like the top because it is just barely cropped when I pair it with the shorts. This was a super random post, but I thought I would share my two sense on concert apparel as concert season is upon us. Do you struggle with finding clothes to wear to concerts?

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea 

Hydrangea Blue

dress | shorts | sweater | bracelet | scarf

Is it just me, or is it really hard to believe that summer is less than a month away. Yesterday I caught myself writing "2014" in the date section on my test, it's pretty clear I haven't even adjusted to the year yet and we're nearly halfway through. With the summer months quickly approaching, I can't help but get excited for Cape Cod, the ocean, and relaxing. Random, but by far one of my favorite things about the Cape is the abundance of flowers, particularly hydrangeas. I think this is the reason why I'm so obsessed with the color hydrangea blue. I was super excited to see this spring season several clothing items from many of my favorite stores made in this color. Most notably, this adorable tank I bought from Madewell a month ago.

xoxo,

Julianna 

Preppy by the Sea

Memorial Day Whites

jean jacket | striped tee | white jeans (similar) | necklace 

Happy Memorial Day! I hope that everyone enjoyed their long weekend and remembered what the holiday is really about! I am kind of a stickler about the whole no white jeans before Memorial Day and after Labor Day rule, so I am very excited to finally be wearing mine again. I scored this pair at Nordstrom Rack a few years ago and they were on super sale. White jeans are so awesome as they match practically everything and look really nice with a tan. This weekend, my family and I headed down to the Cape for the first time since the fall and it was so wonderful to finally be back at my favorite place. Because the weather is still a little chilly by the ocean, I thought that pairing my pants with my jean jacket would keep my comfortable, while still incorporating the summer vibe. Do you wait until Memorial Day to wear white jeans, or do you not stick to the rule?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Friday Favorites

 Happy Friday! We all made it through another week, and what's more rewarding than knowing you are entering a long weekend? Memorial Day weekend is one of my favorite weekends all year. My family and I always go to the Cape for the first time since the fall and it always is such a teaser for summer. I am crossing my fingers that the wearer cooperates and I can go on a beach walk (or two), visit the ice cream shop and just relax! Today officially marks one month until we get out of school and I am counting down the days! Today's post is going to be short and sweet as I have a ton of tests that I need to be studying for, so let's get into my favorites from this week! 

One: Sunday

I typically have a love/hate relationship with Sunday, however last Sunday was fabulous. I spend both Saturday and Sunday babysitting, so I was able to get my homework done after I put the kids to bed. On Sunday I sat around reading one of my favorite magazines, Coastal Living, eating some yummy fresh fruit, and shooting outfit pictures. If you don't get Coastal Living, I highly suggest getting a subscription because who doesn't love to flip through adorable beach houses?

Two: Scarves

Typically, I do not wear scarves that often once the weather warms up, however I might be changing that! See scarves styled for warmer weather here and here!

Three: Florals

Now that it is officially Spring, flowers are in full bloom. Although my mom picked these up from the grocery store, the flowers in our garden have made an appearance and I am loving all the pretty colors!

Do you have any fun plans for the long weekend?

 xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Spring Neutrals

jeans- J. Crew Factory | shirt- Gap (on sale $17!) | necklace- Rocksbox c/o | clutch- C. Wonder (old) similar | bracelet- J. Crew Factory | shoes- Old Navy

This spring I have been living in neutrals. I have a pretty extensive wardrobe and don't really need to buy anything else. The few things I have really purchased have been neutrals, I can wear them in so many different ways and they will not go out of style. Honestly, some good denim and a white tee shirt are probably two of my most worn products in my closet. This space gray shirt from Gap is the most comfortable thing I have ever bought and I wear it way too often. Last summer when I was in New York City for the Smart Girls Summit, my hotel was right near a C. Wonder (so sad to see them go out of business). Julianna, our friend Clare and I all purchased this cross body, it was marked down from well over $100 to $27! The black and white practically match everything and it is such a nice looking bag. Last summer I also bought these chunky heels and have worn them to death, they are surprisingly comfortable and once again match everything. Are you a fan of neutrals? Sorry for the random background, I wanted a "city chic" vibe and the cement wall was the closet thing I was going to get to it in the suburbs. 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea 

Maxis

one | two | three

others I love: orange strapless | royal stripes | white formal | coral | polka dots | sailboats | pink & blue

Do you ever just have those summer days when all you want to wear are nike shorts and a tee shirt, buy you need to look a little more presentable? Me too. I am low-key obsessed with maxi dresses (and skirts), they are SO comfortable, one piece, and are so flattering. I have two maxi dresses (1 & 2) and find myself wearing them constantly throughout the summer. In July, I will be traveling to Italy and I think a simple striped, navy, or black maxi would make the perfect travel outfit. My mom is only 5'3" (I'm 5'6") and does not like maxi dresses because they are so long on her, however I think that if you are shorter and get them hemmed they would look great on you. Also, many stores make the length awkwardly short and they would be the perfect length for anyone with shorter legs. Are you a fan of maxi dresses? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Pink and Orange

shirt- J. Crew Factory | shorts- Joe's Jeans | scarf- Old Navy similar | bracelet- J. Crew Factory | shoes- Jack Rogers | sunnies- J. Crew Factory

I love the pink and orange combination, but sometimes it can be so hard to style. The two colors create such a fun and colorful summer vibe. Personally, I think I don't look very good in orange (still not sure why I ever purchased this shirt), but with the scarf I think it's fine. When working with these colors, make sure you have a contrasting color worked into the look, whether that is some jewelry, a scarf, bag, or shoes. I think that white works the best. The pom poms on the end of my scarf, along with my pink sandals add a small pop of pink to play up the color combo.

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Clearing My Head

via

This past month has honestly been one of the busiest in my life. Golf season is in full swing, matches are 4 days per week, and I haven't been getting home until 7:30 at night. Juggling that and my homework has been, in a word, difficult, and until this past Thursday I had been studying for my AP exam in World History as well. I'm not here to complain about my schedule, I actually like having a lot to do; for me it's much better than being bored. Yet, the stress I felt from not having enough time to stay organized and focused wasn't healthy.

As it turns out after I took my exam, I felt a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I honestly hadn't realized how concerned I was with that one silly test until it was done. I got to leave school early Thursday, and took Friday off as well. I needed some time to clear my head.

From having no time to myself lately, I've realized how nice it is just to relax. Even though I am a self proclaimed procrastinator, I've been trying to schedule out my time more efficiently so I'm getting at least 8 hours of sleep. It has also given me some perspective about grades and school in general. I've realized that when 11pm rolls around, studying another hour for one quiz won't make a difference. In the long run it is just one quiz, test, project etc. Sometimes the work doesn't get done. It happens, accept it. I have, and I find I'm not as stressed and can actually think much more clearly when I'm taking any type of assessment. Going into a test with a clear head, I remember more of the information and have much more confidence that I can be successful. I enjoy doing well, but school is not the thing that defines who I am.

So, on my AP test I think I did fine, but even if I didn't I've made my peace with that too. It's one test, 70 questions, and a few essay responses. Failing does't make me a bad student, and passing doesn't make me exceptional. I'm satisfied with how I did in the class this year and felt prepared for my test, and that's all I can ask of myself. Looking back, I wish I could have told myself this as I anxiously prepared. As my mom has told me time and time again, hindsight is 20/20.

xoxo,

Julianna 

Preppy by the Sea

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! This week has been yet again a whirlwind and I am ready for another crazy weekend ahead. I am thrilled for so many upcoming plans I have made for the rest of the school year and can't wait to share them later on! Julianna had her AP exam yesterday so snaps to her for being in the homestretch! I am so beyond jealous of anyone who gets out in May as we still have a little over a month left... Anyways, here are a few things that I have been loving this week! 

One: Summer Scenery

I am so, so lucky to live where I do. Every year I gain more of an appreciation for the gorgeous New England coastal scenery. Last weekend I went to shoot an outfit post at this lighthouse, how beautiful is it!? BTW I got a hair cut last weekend, saying good bye to six inches was one of the best things I have done for summer. There is nothing worse than having a ton of hair in the heat!

Two: Berries

Has anyone else noticed how amazing the produce, especially berries have been in the past few weeks? I can't stop devouring strawberries and blueberries, which is definitely not a bad thing! 

Three: Post Practice Treats

These past two weeks have be SO hot, so I have been eating a lot of frozen treats recently. Between trips to the ice creme store, Italian ice, and popsicles I have consumed my fair share of sugar...oops! I mean after a long practice is there anything more refreshing than a chilly treat?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Dresses: $30 and Under

one | two | three | four

Apologies for the poor quality images in the graphic, however these dresses were just too cute not to share! In the spring and summertime, dresses are one of my weaknesses. I justify a cute sundress way to easily, but when they are under $30 like the four above how could you not? These dresses are great, they can be worn in a simple and casual manner, or paired with a pair of wedges and some jewelry to be spruced up for a nice dinner or event. Every girl needs a striped, navy, and white dress in their wardrobe, so why not snag one of these adorable frocks from Old Navy? last weekend (when I bough these shorts) I tried on the white dress and it was to die for. Unfortunately they did not have my size in stock at the store, but I might have to order it online. If you are looking for an inexpensive graduation dress, this is the perfect piece! Are you a fan of Old Navy dresses? Happy Hump Day!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Spring Cleaning

*via*

I am a very organized person, but at the same time I am also pretty messy. Everything has its place in my room, my clothes, closet, and desk are pretty neat, but the rest of my room can often times be a disaster. Spring cleaning is such a common phrase used but I think that it is very important. In the winter I am gone every weekend and do not have the time to deal during the week. So, once spring rolls around I really start to get into the cleaning mood. Spring is a fresh start and your chance to make some changes. Here are a few things that I do every spring to stay tidy and organized. 

+Rotate your clothes

I have a pretty small closet, so I never have enough space to keep all of my clothes from different seasons out at once. Even if I did have the space, I would still be going through the same process. Keep your closet fresh and seasonal, this will help you select outfits in a more efficient manner. Also, by storing away winter clothes there will be significantly less clutter and you will be able to stay organized for much longer. 

+Sell, Sell, Sell

When packing away your winter clothing or unpacking all the spring and summer stuff, make sure to sort through everything purposefully. If you find a few items that you didn't wear all winter, summer clothes you know you won't wear anymore, or anything that no longer fits, make a pile. I try to sell anything that I don't need on eBay, this way someone will get some use out of it and I will make some extra money to put towards new purchases. Also, if you have a ton of things to get rid of, donate them to Good Will and you will be able to help someone in need! 

+Organize Accessories

I don't know about you but my accessories can get cluttered and unorganized very quickly. Between jewelry, bags and purses, shoes, scarves, etc. the little things can become a big mess! Accessories are one of the things you can display in a fun way throughout your room. Invest in a cute shoe rack, jewelry box or ornate hooks to hang things from! 

+Go Through Tee Shirts

Oh my gosh, I have so many T-shirts it is absolutely ridiculous. It seems like every time I do something they are giving them away and, also every time I go on a vacation I seem to think that I need to purchase one from a shop there... Don't get me wrong, I practically live in nike shorts and T-shirts during the summer, but having over two drawers filled with them is not necessary. Do you really need that tiny shirt you got from volunteering at some event during middle school? Most likely not. When in doubt, throw it out! 

+Do Something For You 

Spring cleaning does not always have to be correlated with cleaning the house. Summer is just around the corner, maybe start to eat cleaner foods or workout a few times a week. You will thank yourself! 

How do you do Spring cleaning?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Blue Scenic

shorts- Old Navy | shirt- J. Crew | sandals- Jack Rogers | watch- Kate Spade | bracelet- J. Crew Factory | sunnies- Ray-Ban

If there is one thing that screams summer to me, it would be Lilly Pulitzer shorts. I have a few pairs and adore the bright colors and bold patterns. Unfortunately, they are fairly expensive as they retail around $65. The other day I was browsing through the Old Navy website and stumbled upon these chino shorts. I clicked on them in disbelief, as they are pretty much identical to the High Tide Toile Lilly print from 2012. This past weekend I went to the store to make a return and then tried the shorts on. I absolutely fell in love with them and scored them for only $19! They fit so nicely and are really good quality. For those of you looking for Lilly Pulitzer-like pieces I highly suggest checking these out! I know that I will be wearing these frequently this summer, and with all the colors they actually match a lot. Because of the fun beach pattern, I knew that I had to take advantage of living near absolutely beautiful New England scenery to snap a few pictures. Will you be purchasing these shorts?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Three Islands- Part Two

top: Three Islands c/o | hat: Southern Tide | shorts: Joe's Jeans | flip flops: Rainbow

Let me stay off by saying Happy Mother's Day! I hope everyone out there makes their mom feel special on this holiday. With that said, here is the second post on one of my new favorite companies, Three Islands. As mentioned in the first post, this has honestly been such a great collaboration as Three Islands' products are representative of both Catherine and I's style. I'm completely obsessed with this shirt, the pattern is adorable and I love all of the bright colors. Personally, I'm not a fan of tight shirts or really tight clothing in general, which is another reason why I love this. It's not too clingy and the wider sleeve adds some extra style to the top. I wore this top a few times while I was on vacation, even as a cover-up at the beach! I paired this look with my favorite Southern Tide baseball hat as the bubblegum pink complements the pink in the pagoda pattern.

xoxo,

Julianna 

Preppy by the Sea