Book Review: Opening Belle

One of my goals for this year is to start reading more in my free time. When I was reading theSkimm one morning, Opening Belle was the book recommendation and it caught my eye. I goggled it to read a little more about it, and some reviews. In doing this I learned that Reese Witherspoon was making a movie about it- between that and the great reviews, I knew I had to order it. Within a few weeks (this is fast for a high school student with tons of work and sports after school) I finished it! 

Now you're probably thinking, what is this book even about? Opening Belle tells the story of Belle, a mother of three who has a huge job on Wall Street. Navigating the male dominated world of finance, extravagant manhattan lifestyles, and the constant desire for more, Belle finds herself amongst the chaos. Belle and the other successful women at her firm, Feagin Dixon, work together in pursuit of greater promotions and equality in their rambunctious workplace. 

Years after her ex-fiancé left her for another woman, they are reunited as he represents her biggest client. Balancing her lethargic stay at home husband, her children, and her demanding work schedule she wonders what could have been when the two are reconnected. Her morals are tested when the thought of rekindling the relationship emerges. 

I would highly recommend Maureen Sherry's Opening Belle. The balance between the crazy day to day life at a ruthless Wall Street job and Belle's complicated love life will have you flying though the book. Whether you are a high school student interested in the business world or a mom looking for a good read, I guarantee you will throughly enjoy the book! Let me know if you have, or plan to read Opening Belle.

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Trending: Off the Shoulder

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70% of the time, I tend to stray away from trendy items. However, there are always a few pieces each season that I find myself lusting over despite the fact that they may or may not be in style the following year. Recently, off the shoulder tops have really caught my attention. I love the fun feminine look of the tops, and the fact that they can be paired with denim shorts during the day and transitioned to a night look with white jeans and wedges. Last summer I was at Zara in Rome and tried on this crisp white off the shoulder top and did not end up purchasing it. When the buyers remorse hit and I went to go buy it only, it was unfortunately sold out. Now I am on the hunt to find the perfect off the shoulder top for the upcoming summer months! What are your thoughts on this trend?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

March Playlist

Happy Monday, I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and had a wonderful Easter! This past month I stuck to my winter playlist on Spotify so I don't have a ton of new songs to share. However, with spring break just a few weeks away, I really need to start working on a new playlist for all my travels and relaxing on the beach- any suggestions are more than welcome :) A few of these songs are actually from spinning classes, so if you are looking for a some new workout tunes to help you get motivated and jump-start your week, check these out!  

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Third Term Slump

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Ahh the annual third term slump. I honestly have no idea why, but for some reason third term is never a great one for me. I'm honestly a little bit scared for senior year me if this is what happens every year... Thankfully, the term ends in two weeks and then it's just one more term until summer! If you're anything like me and are going through the same lull, have no fear I have a few tips for you. Balancing school and a social life (and blogging!) can get overwhelming, but you can do it- here's how! 

+ Go to the Library 

I live really close to the library in my town, yet somehow up until this year I rarely went. My productivity level in my room has gotten terrible and I need to leave my house to get things accomplished. Because everyone around you is focused and determined to get work done, you will most likely be much more productive. Personally, I need a quite area to get my homework done and the constant ebb and flow of people in my house does not make for a great working environment. If you are looking for a little bit of a social aspect, meet one of your friends there and you can work together if you are in any classes together or have the same teachers. 

+ Get to School Early

This past year I have been getting to school about an hour before class starts. I bring my laptop to school (highly recommend this) and try to crank out any work I can at the school library. Also, sometimes I will quickly meet with a teacher in the morning if I have questions before a test- I find it is less crowded than in the afternoon. 

+ Treat yo self 

Every morning I make myself coffee or tea before school- I literally can't function without caffeine at this point. However, once or twice a week I like to treat myself to a nice cappuccino at Starbucks before school. Listening to music while sipping on a warm drink on the drive to school is such a nice relaxing way to start the day. 

+ Work Out 

Like I have mentioned before, I am really into spinning classes. I usually go 3-4 times a week and have found that it really helps me clear my head. I honestly questioned my decision making skills the first time I signed up for a 5:30 am class, but it turns out I really enjoy working out before school. If I get my workout done in the morning, it gives me more time to focus on homework ay night and can get to bed earlier. 

+ Make Fake Deadlines 

This one is kind of random, but I think it is really helpful for long term assignments. Right now I have two different research papers that I am working on, one for U.S. History and the other for my AP lang class. Because each paper entails so much work, I have started to force myself to reach certain check points by specific dates. This will help you avoid procrastinating and staying up late when the due date approaches. 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Jergens Natural Glow

Now that spring break is just around the corner, it is time to get into warm weather mode. When it comes to getting ready for break, not only do I like to update my wardrobe, but I also always bring out my Jergens self-tanner. My skin is pretty fair, especially after a long winter, and I personally think that everyone looks better when they have a little color. A few years ago, one of my friends recommended this lotion to me and I was extremely hesitant to try it out, the last thing I wanted was to be orange. Despite my hesitations, I bought small tube of it and gave it a go! The first time I had a few orange splotches when I woke up in the morning, but once I got the hang of it and really rubbed it in the results were amazing. 

My routine

Every year around March or early April, I start to use my Jegens lotion. After I take a shower, I apply the lotion to my legs and let it try for 5-10 minutes before getting in bed so that the pigment does not get on my sheets. I have found that the results are best if you apply right after shaving and use it 3-5 times a week. I occasionally use it on my arms, but have never tried it on my face, as I am afraid it will make me break out. You should see results within the first three or so days of use! 

The verdict

Like I said before, I have been using this lotion for the past three years and absolutely love it! It is available at the drug store for about $8 and comes in shades for all different skin tones (I use fair to medium). The lotion has a distinct smell, but I would not say that it smells bad, plus it fades rather quickly. When applying, use it sparingly on your ankles and knees, as those are the two places that it can sometimes be splotchy if you don't rub it in well. Also, make sure to wash your hands after applying so they don't have random orange spots on them the next day.  Overall I would give it an 8/10 and would definitely recommend it! Are you a fan of Jergens Natural Glow? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

*This post was not sponsored by Jergens. All opinions are my own.*

Easter Gift Guide

bathing suit | luggage tag | dress | perfume | phone case | cosmetic bag | shorts | sandals

Although we just had a huge snow storm, I am very excited about Easter being in March this year! My school typically has no breaks during march, so having a nice homework free long weekend is much needed. In scrolling through stores new spring arrivals in search of the perfect Easter gifts, my love for pink, navy, and white has once again been affirmed. During the winter months, I find myself straying away from more "preppy" items, so I am looking forward to bringing out lots of color in the upcoming months. I am seriously lusting over the dress and shorts, and the fact that everything is under $100 (except the jacks)! This weekend is my last weekend in Vermont, so I will be spring Easter on the slopes. Do you have any exciting plans for the weekend?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Now

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After an eleven day blogging hiatus, I'm back! Over the past week and a half I have gone to a leadership conference for student council, been assigned two research papers, started golf season, taken multiple tests, and got sick along the way. To sum it up, being a junior is pretty hectic. I don't want to complain about school, as I know everyone is going though the same thing. However, I needed to take a break from blogging for a little bit to get caught up, clear my head, and revive my creativity.

Blogging is something that I am very passionate about and truly enjoy, but when I have so much to do and it feels like just another thing on my to-do list I don't want to be publishing sub-par posts. Now that I have had time to live in the moment I feel so much better and am excited to share new content for spring and summer. It's no secret that life is stressful and can sometimes slip away from us, and in the past month or so I have really begun to notice that I don't live in the moment all the time. This weekend I submitted my classes for senior year which is so crazy to think about. With less than a year and a half left before college, I really want to start appreciating "the now." I want to do more regular life update type posts on the blog so I can share a little bit of my personal life with you, and also personally reflect on what's been happening in my life. Here's to making some blogging changes and getting back into the swing of things!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Kate Middleton Hair Inspo

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Kate Middleton is seriously the most poised and well dressed woman around, I am fairly obsessed with the royal family and am pretty sure that I have a girl crush on her. Her family is freaking adorable and how could we forget the fact that she is a princess! Not only does her wardrobe never fail to disappoint, but her hairstyles are fabulous. I am getting a haircut next week and think that I am going to get something similar to her length. Unfortunately my hair is extremely temperamental and refuses to hold a curl so I can't achieve her long wavy look, but the general length is perfect- not too long and not too short! With prom just a few months away (#stressfest) I think that scrolling through Pinterest and looking at her more formal updos is a great way to seek some inspiration! Are you a fan of Kate Middleton and her hairstyles?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Easy & Healthy Snack

I am a self proclaimed snacker and eat when I am bored which is something I have been trying to change recently. Eating empty carbs will not fill you up for a very long time and they have little nutritional value. For me personally, if I eat something healthy with protein I can avoid constantly snacking throughout the afternoon. When I spent summers at camp, all the girls would eat bananas with peanut butter if they didn't like the meal being served, or as a snack and one day I decided to see what all the hype was about. I am not the biggest fan of bananas, so I was a bit apprehensive to try it, but it turns out that I love the combo and ever since it has been one of my go-to snacks!

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and Vitamin C, and the peanut butter adds a little bit of protein (it's also so good with nutella if you want to go for the less healthy option) . Recently I have been topping it off with sprinkled granola to add a little crunch. Because you remove the peel on the top of the banana, using a spoon is the least messy and most effective way to eat the final product! Let me know if you give this banana boat recipe a try, or if you are a also a fan!

xoxo,

Catherine 

College Tour Essentails

After recently going to look at a bunch of schools, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I wore and brought with me on the tours. I am the oldest, so going into the college process I only really know what to expect based on what I have heard from friends. Do I bring a bag on the tour? Should I take notes? Do you need to fill out forms when you get there? These were all very basic questions I had before going on my fist tour. For me reading about the college process on other blogs has been really helpful, so now that I have a little bit of it under my belt I thought I would share my two sense.

On all of my tours I wore jeans, a basic knit tee shirt, and my barbour jacket. There is no specified dress code for tours, some people were just in nike shorts and t-shirt and others were fairly dressed up. I recommend wearing something you would typically wear to school, unless you have an interviewed scheduled, in which you should wear something a bit dressier. Also, I highly recommend wearing a pair of comfortable shoes. You will be doing a ton of walking (I averaged 5+ miles a day, shoutout to the health app!) and having your feet be in a ton of pain is the last thing you will want. I wore my converse everyday and was perfectly comfortable! I threw my sunglasses in my bag at the last minute and was so glad that I had them with me as it was very sunny. You really can't see the campus or your tour guide if the sun is glaring in your face!

As for things I actually brought with me, I tried to keep it minimal. I did not bring a purse with me, however my mom did, so if the school handed out any papers I just put them in there. It was pretty warm the weekend I was touring, so a water bottle was 100% a must. At most schools before you go on the walking tour of the campus they have an informational session. Bring a notebook and pen with you to take notes on anything useful during this session about the school, their application process, or any additional questions. I initially wasn't going to bring a notebook, but I am so glad I did because if you take notes on your phone it will look like you are on your phone texting while someone is speaking to you.

People always told me that schools start to blur together after a bunch of visits and I didn't understand how until after I saw five different colleges in four days. Try to a take a bunch of pictures at each campus so you can go back and remember them all!  I primarily used my phone to take pictures during the tour as I didn't want to lug around my camera. However, I did walk around the campuses a little bit after the tours with my mom and took pictures with my real camera then. What do you bring on college tours?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Shades of Spring

sweater | jeans | shoes | sunglasses (sold out) similar | watch

Happy monday! This week it is supposed to reach 65 degrees which has me 100% in the spring mindset. March and April are always such weird transition months and dressing for chilly mornings and warmer afternoons can be difficult. Recently, I have been trying to move away from my darker winter colors and slowly bring in more colorful pieces. This blush sweater with the criss-cross hem is one of my favorite tops right now. At this point I am done with wearing dark wash denim all the time, so a distressed pair of light wash jeans are the perfect alternative! As for shoes, I have been wearing boots a little bit less and resorting to my converse or a pair of flats. What are your favorite transition looks?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

February Playlist

Let me just start this post by apologizing that my February playlist is making it onto the blog in March. I have not been home for a weekend in three weeks and life has really gotten the best of me. However, I did do a lot of traveling in the month of February, so I wanted to share what I have been listening to on the go! A few of these are oldies, but when I was in Colorado my friends and I played a lot of old music (think Jonas brothers and some classic Britney hits) and sang along at the top of our lungs #justgirlythings amiright? Also, I would be lying to you if there wasn't at least one John Mayer song on my playlist each month!

Tomorrow morning I am taking the SAT, but after that I am excited to enjoy a relaxing weekend at home. Also, I am planning on writing a lot of posts this weekend to avoid the recent blogging lull. If there are any posts you are dying to see, leave a comment, tweet us, email us etc. We are all ears and want to post content that you are excited about!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

College Tours Recap

Over the past four days, my mom and I did a lot of driving around the South looking at various colleges. I had seen a bunch of New England campuses before, but had never been on the actual tours, so this was the official start of my college search process. We flew into Charlotte, NC because all of the schools I was looking at are in a two hour radius of the airport. Going into this trip, the only thing that I was certain about was that I want to go to college in the South. Don't get me wrong, I am a New England girl, but I want to do something a bit different for four years... plus the warm weather is a major incentive. We looked at five schools ranging from small liberal arts to large state schools.  I highly recommend looking at all different types of schools on your first college trip because it is extremely helpful in figuring out what you like and what you don't like. I love looking at other people's pictures of campuses, so I thought I would share a few of the pictures I snapped on each visit!

{Clemson University}

South Carolina 18,000 undergrad

UGA was not a school that was on my list, but because it was only an hour from Clemson we decided to quickly stop in. Caitlin from Your Typical Prep was so sweet and showed us all around the campus. I think the school is a little bit too big for me, but I am so glad that I got to see what a big state school looks like, plus the town of Athens is seriously the cutest college town! 

{University of Georgia} 

Georgia 27,000 undergrad 

I also got to meet Shannon from Prep Avenue on my college adventure. She is a tour guide at Furman and showed me around the beautiful campus. This trip really gave me a new appreciation for blogging, as meeting the girls behind some of my favorite blogs really creates a more personal feel for this crazy online world we live in.

{Furman University}

South Carolina 2,600 undergrad

{Elon University}

North Carolina 5,600 undergrad

{Wake Forest University} 

North Carolina 4,800 undergrad 

This trip was very eye opening and allowed me to really figure out what I want from a college. I am excited to see where the process takes me and feel even more motivated to make junior year my best academic performance thus far!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea