Thoughts For Thursday- Spring Break Essentials

Recently I have been getting really excited for spring break, which is in April for my school. I have seen lots of "Spring Break Essentials" posts and videos and thought it would make a fun Thoughts for Thursday! If you are on break right now, I hope you are having a blast! Leave a comment saying where you are going, we would love to hear about your exciting adventures!

                                                                                               

                                     
1. Jack Rogers
Jack Rogers are my go-to summer sandal, you can dress them up or down and they add a cute pop of color to your outfit. On spring break theses sandals are perfect to pack because they don't take up a ton of room in your luggage. Wear them with a simple tunic coming from the pool to grab some lunch or pair them with a fancy dress to wear to a nice dinner!

2. Hats
Hats, Hats, Hats! I could not survive a spring break trip with out one of my favorite hats, they keep the sun out of your face and are so adorable! Within the past year I have developed quite the obsession with baseball hats and am loving the gingham Southern Proper "Frat Hat", the Vineyard Vines "Whale Logo" hat and the Southern Marsh blue and white seersucker hat! Sun hats are also a staple, I have one from C. Wonder (monogrammed of course) the big floppy hat is such a cute piece to wear at the beach!

3. Tumbler
Obviously if you are at the beach it is going to be super hot in the sun, so always have a tumbler filled with ice water with you! If you don't have a tumbler, I suggest the Lilly Pulitzer ones, the patterns are so fun and they are only $16.

4. Sunglasses and Croakies
Sunglasses are kind of a given, however some people do not always think to bring croakies. Last year, I went to Turks and Caicos for spring break and we rented paddle boards and a sail boat. I was so glad to have my croakies on the trip because I knew I could wear sunglasses in the hot sun on the water with out the fear of losing them.

5. Tote Bag 
A tote bag is probably the most versatile thing you could bring on spring break! I take my tote bag as my carry-on for the flight and when I arrive at the resort pack it up with things for the beach and pool!

6. Sunscreen
You will get tan if you wear sun screen and the entire vacation will be more pleasant because you won't be terribly burned! I am not saying that you need to wear 100 SPF but at least wear some so you don't look like a lobster!

7. Monogrammed Bandeau/ Bathing Suits 
Last summer, Julianna and I purchased monogrammed bandeau bathing suits from Modern Monograms on Etsy, I got a white top with the navy circle font monogram. These tops are seriously so adorable! If you are a monogram lover I highly suggest purchasing one for this spring break or summer! A packing tip I have is bring suits that you can mix and match, it will prevent major over packing and you can still wear a different combination every day!

8. A Simple Wedge
Wedges are super comfortable for walking around and they are perfcet for a nice dinner. I suggest packing a simple pair that you can wear with multiple different dresses.

9. Rubber Flip Flops
When walking to the beach or the pool, you will not want to wear nice sandals like Jack Rogers, so it is important to pack a pair that can can wet! Last year I purchased a pair from Tory Burch, they are a little bit pricy for rubber flip flops however, they are SO comfortable and you can dress them up. I always get a pair of junky flip flops from Old Navy, I believe there are 2 for $5, so they are perfect for the beach and if you lost them it would not be a big deal. Rainbow flip flops are also a favorite, they have really good support and are super durable!

10. A Good Camera
I love taking pictures, I think that they are the best way to capture a memory of a special trip. We all have phones with decent quality cameras, however a real camera is definitely a must for a vacation! The quality of your photos will be much greater with a nice cameras and the battery life is so much longer than an iPhone.

11. A Good Read for the Beach
Sitting on the beach is my favorite part of vacation, and there is nothing like reading a good book under the shade of the umbrella. Last summer I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, if you have not read it yet I highly suggest bringing this one on your trip.

12. Lotion
I usually get burned over spring break so bringing a moisturizer is a must! Make sure the lotion is under 3oz. if you are not checking your bag!

13. Nike Shorts
I live in Nike shorts at the beach, they are so comfortable and dry quickly.

14. T-Shirts
Oversized t-shirts are also a go-to, I wear them with my Nike shorts. My favorite t-shirts are from Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines and the Fraternity Collection.

15. A Fancy Dress
I always bring a few nice dresses with me on vacation for dinners. How cute is this Lilly Pulitzer shift dress? I would also suggest packing a cardigan to wear with the dress incase it gets cool at night.

16. Casual Sun Dress
Last year on spring break I got burned so badly and the last thing I wanted to do was put on a dress that was tight and irritating on the burn. The simple chevron dress is loose-fitting and you can still dress it up with a cute statement necklace and wedges or wear it to a casual lunch. Boutiques have lots of cute simple dresses, the fabric they use is super light weight and they dry quickly, which is always good if they get wet by the pool!

17. Cute Shorts 
Lilly Pulitzer Callahan shorts and J. Crew Chinos are the perfect shorts to bring on spring break, wear them to lunch or if you go on any adventures! I always feel like I always over pack shorts because I end up just going from a bathing suit and t-shirt to a dress and wedges, there is not much in-between at the beach!

Here are my Favorite Vineyard Vines baseball hat and Lilly Pulitzer You Gotta Regatta dress from Spring break last year! 

I hope this was helpful if you are getting ready for a spring break trip! Everyone have a great break, whether your going on an exciting trip or staying home! 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea

Spring Break Essentials by preppybythesea featuring tory burch shoes

How to Survive a Long Flight and Airport Dilemma

On my way to California, my flight was two hours delayed in Boston and we missed our connector in San Francisco. Long story short we had to drive seven hours to the mountain after flying across the country because there were no more flights. We spent over 20 hours traveling, so I decided to write about how to deal with all the issues that come with flying.

1. Download a Movie (or two) the Night Before
Movies are a great way to make the flight go by faster, especially if it is a long one. It is very important to download the movie the night before because some times it can be painfully slow and you want it to be all ready to go when you are on the plane. If you have an iPad I highly suggest watching the movies on that, the battery life is amazing! (I watched a movie and it only used up 4%)

2. Pack Lots of Food
This is pretty self explanatory, you will be so thankful that you packed snacks because there are not a ton of options on the plane! My favorite things to pack are pretzel crisps, an apple and something sweet (a candy bar or cookie).

3. Hydrate 
I don't know why, but flying always makes me so thirsty, dehydrated and tired. Once you get past security by a bottle of water, or bring an empty water bottle with you and fill it up at a water fountain. On most flights they offer drinks, take advantage of that and get something other thank water, I love getting a Diet Coke! Staying hydrated will make your experience so much more pleasant and you will not feel as drained by the end of the day.

4. Pack Chap Stick 
I always find myself using so much Chap Stick on the plane because my lips gets so dry. Chap Stick is something that can easily be forgotten, but it is such a necessity. If your destination is hot the sun can dry out your lips and if you are traveling somewhere cold the dry air and wind will also dry out your lips, having Chap Stick will be so nice!

5. Bring a Head Rest Pillow 
I'm actually not sure what the exact name of these pillows are but they are awesome! Try to get some sleep on the plane, you will feel rejuvenated and time will pass quickly. I know sleeping on the plane can be awkward and uncomfortable, plug in you head phones and listen to some calm music and try to fall asleep or at least try to relax.

6. Try to Stay Calm and Use the Waiting Time to Your Advantage 
At the moment when you realize you are going to miss your flight or you flight was canceled it is hard not to panic, just try to stay calm. Dilemma at the airport happens all the time, planes have mechanical issues, weather causes delays, 99% of the time everything will work out (it might just take more time than you expected). When you are stuck in the airport use the time to your advantage, I cannot stress this enough! Currently I am sitting in San Francisco for a four hour layover, I have used the time to write this blog post and a few others to post when I am busy. Waiting is such a pain, sometimes its what you have to do to have an awesome trip. In the long run all the issues will not be what you remember, but the amazing memories you made on vacation!

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea 

How to Survive a Long Flight and Airport Dilemma by preppybythesea on Polyvore

Exam Study Tips

I am not sure when most school have exams, however I think they are just starting or coming up soon! This week I have my French exams and next weeks I have math, biology, history and English. Next week my school has half days on Tuesday and Wednesday and no school thursday so, I guess there are some perks with all the stress! If you have exams starting next week make sure to use this upcoming long weekend to your advantage!  Being in the midst of all these tests, I though that posting about my exam study tips might be helpful!


1. Use a Calculator when studying for math and science
Using your calculator instead of your phone is probably one of the best things you can do to study. I find that if I use my phone notifications will pop up and I will become easily distracted. I put my phone on the other side of my room on the charger and only look at it if I need to ask a friend a question.

2. Flash Cards
For foreign language, I find that flash cards are the best way to study vocab. Writing out the vocab helps commit the word to memory and you will learn how to spell it. The other benefit of flashcards are that you can take them with you where ever you are going, throw them in your purse and use time in the car to study!

3. Post-it Notes 
When reviewing old notes or going through your text book, using sticky notes is an easy way to remind yourself what to go back and look at. At the end of each term I empty out my binders and put all the notes into a big binder that is divided into my five main classes. Using color-coded sticky notes allows me to write myself a little note and remember what I didn't understand and which class it goes with.

4. Tea 
After a long day at school or even after dinner, I love to drink tea. Tea is so calming and helps me relieve some stress. How adorable is the monogrammed mug!? Celestial Country Peach Passion tea is my absolute favorite and it is decaf so drinking it late at night will not keep you up. If you know that it is going to be a very late night I would resort to coffee.

5. Word Documents 
I have two study tips involving word documents.
The first tip I have is regarding a study guide. A few of my teachers gave us HUGE study guides for the exams. My friends and I decided to split up the study guide and then e-mail each other our work. Sharing the work with friends is a life saver, it allows you to have extra time to work on assignments for other classes and have the study guide ready to go in a more efficient way!
The second tip is for classes you don't receive a study guide in
Starting to study for a class that does not give you much to work with can be extremely difficult so, take advantage of what you do have. I use old homework assignments and vocab lists that I had previously typed to make my own study guide for the class. The old assignments and notes from class will definately help you review the material.

6. Nightly Routine 
During exam week it is crucial to get as much sleep as you can so that you feel rejuvenated in the morning. I like to take a shower early so that I can change into cozy pajamas and study in my bed. For me moisturizing my skin is a must, seeing as it gets so dry in the winter. The St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter lotion is my go-to moisturizer and I love eos and Burt's Bees lip balm.

7. Know When to Take a Break 
You can not study forever, end of story. There comes a point when you know that you need to pull your head out of your binder and take a break! When I take a quick break, I like to read a few of my favorite blogs (http://www.prepinyourstep.com, http://kellyinthecity.com, http://www.classygirlswearpearls.com, http://www.prepavenue.com, http://thedariadiaries.blogspot.com and lots more!)

Let us know if you found any of these tips helpful or if you have any other good tips! Good Luck!

xoxo,

Preppy by the Sea 

Exam Study Tips (MId-Year Edition) by preppybythesea featuring Lilly Pulitzer

Yankee Swap and Secret Santa Gift Guide

With less than 10 days until Christmas, I'm sure many of you have an upcoming secret santa or yankee swap that you need to get a gift for! Every year my friends and I do both and I always wait until the last minute to get something and end up with no good ideas! This year I thought it through and decided I would make a gift guide for the blog! I hope you can get some ideas from this. Leave a comment about what you are giving or  what you received this year! On Sunday, I went to a Yankee and left with the J. Crew "minimergency" kit and some chocolate I was very happy with it, seeing that it was on my gift guide!

The "Beauty Bag" 

With a small budget, the beauty bag makes it seem like you are giving/getting a whole lot more! I found this Lilly Pulitzer Cosmetic Bag on Amazon for $2 (from a promotion last year) everything else would be available at your local drug store, Ulta or Sephora. 

 Starbucks gift card

Honestly if you don't know what to get your secret santa or what to bring to a yankee swap, you really cant go wrong with a Starbucks gift card! Who doesn't love a Peppermint Mocha?!

Daisy by Marc Jacobs roll-on perfume 

I have this perfume in the full size bottle and use it everyday! Every girl needs a travel size perfume to bring on the go! (available at Sephora)

J. Crew Factory Scarf 

This scarf is so cute, perfect for any season! Take advantage of the twelve day sale! 

J. Crew Studs

These studs are the perfect winter accessory, they are so timeless! 

I want to apologize now if any of the J. Crew sale items sell out quickly however, you will definitely be able to find something similar! 

xoxo,

Preppy by the Sea