Thoughts For Thursday: Confidence

Let's face it…

We've all had an awkward stage.  Middle school is a rough three years, and we've all felt its effects some way or another.  Maybe it was your chubby stage, or your acne decided to make its debut, or you had braces that made everything even more uncomfortable.  For me, (and I'm guessing I'm not the only one) it was all of the above.  Lucky enough, the summer before freshman year came and seemed to wipe away a lot of those middle school nightmares.  Physically, we all look better without the imperfections, but does that necessarily mean we feel better?

Through it all, I've realized that confidence and self-esteem is the feeling all of us need need in order to stay true to who we are.  Middle school was probably the hardest time in my life to feel confident, but a I still managed to stand up straight, raise my hand, and express my personal voice in front of others.  Some of us struggle with self-confidence all throughout middle school, high school, and possibly even into adulthood because beating insecurities is not something that is easy to do.  

via pinterest

Confidence: A belief in oneself and one's abilities 

This right here is one of the most important traits to have.

Steps to being confident:

1. Dress Well: Yes, we all have our off days where we just want to go out in sweatpants and a t-shirt, but put some effort into your appearance.  I'm all for inner beauty and not caring about what's on the outside; but for me, wearing a cute outfit that gets a lot of compliments makes me feel really good. 

2. Posture: I couldn't count the number of times my mom has told me "stop slouching" or "stand up straight" and I just ignored it.  Whether I like it or not, she's completely, 100%, right.  Standing up straight not only gives you height, but it makes you feel good about yourself!  This right here is the easiest confidence booster ever!

3. Speak Up: Make a statement! Answer a question! Express your opinion in front of your peers!  Feeling heard, like your voice matters is SO important.  Be yourself and share your thoughts, you'll gain respect from classmates, teachers, and anyone else who hears you because it takes guts to get up and talk, and everyone knows it

4. Kindness: Showing just a little kindness goes a long way.  Give and compliment or just say hi to someone who looks like maybe they aren't having the best day.  We all have bad days, and a kind gesture goes a long way when we're in need of cheering up.  Be friendly;  showing kindness to others makes you feel just as good

So the next time your self-esteem feels like it's running on empty, just remember to admire the person you've become and be proud of all your accomplishments.  Comment your confidence boosting methods, stories, thoughts about this post, or whatever else you feel like talking about!

xoxo,

Julianna 

Preppy by the Sea

via pinterest

Whatever Floats Your Boat

This weekend I went to the harbor to take some pictures for the blog. It was about time we brought the sea back to Preppy by the Sea! About a month ago, I stumbled upon this adorable sail boat sweater. I knew it would be the perfect transition piece for the Spring. Bright colored pants are a staple for my Spring wardrobe and these orange ones are definitely one of my favorites!

Tip: cuff the bottoms of your pants, it gives a Spring feel to your outfit

I spy with my little eyes...

a blogger!

Add a white polo under a simple sweater to add a final touch to the outfit

Once again, I have resorted to a pair of my Sperrys for a simple and casual look :) 

Sweater- Old Navy (Sold Out) available on eBay | Polo- Ralph Lauren | Pants-Lucky Brand | Shoes- Sperry (Old) Similar Here | Charm Bracelet- Local Jewelry Store

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea

Color Me Crazy

Today we were thankful to have nicer weather here in New England and were able to wear Sperrys and dresses! It is nice to add a pop of color to our outfits once the weather improves! We love pairing bright statement necklaces with simpler outfits (especially on Fridays). Our friend Clare blogged with us today!

Julianna chose to add color to her outfit with a coral J. Crew sweater, while Catherine's statement necklace adds sophistication to an otherwise simple outfit. 

Coral is a great spring color, especially paired with neutrals like navy and grey.

This is one of our favorite pictures, we love the details in the bows and pearls! #girlsbestfriend

Our friend Clare has an obsession with Georgetown University...next College Prepster? :)

We love the turquoise pop of color on Clare's Sperrys!

Sperrys are such versatile and comfortable shoes for the spring (see our Spring State of Mind post for more on Sperrys!). 

Just remember: friends who wear Sperrys together stay together! :)

Julianna's Outfit

Dress- Crewcuts (Old) Similar Here  | Sweater- J. Crew Factory | Necklace- Francesca's Similar Here| Shoes- Sperry Similar Here

Catherine's Outfit

Shirt- J. Crew Factory (Old) Similar Here | Necklace-eBay | Leggings-Lululemon | Shoes- Sperry 

Clare's Outfit

Shirt- J. Crew Factory | Pants- Madewell (Old) Similar Here| Necklace- J. Crew Factory | Shoes- Sperry Similar Here

xoxo,

Catherine and Julianna

Preppy by the Sea

Spring State of Mind

April is finally here! March felt like eternity, mostly because it was a five week month with no long weekends or vacations. Warm air is slowly but surely making its way up to Massachusetts and spring break is quickly approaching. Last weekend I decided that it was time to put away my cords and bean boots and pull out some bright colors for spring! April started off on an interesting note for me this year and for the first time ever, I really got fooled by one of my friends! With flower buds starting to pop up and bright colors making their way to my closet, I thought that I would do a post about ten things that remind me of spring.

Lilacs

Lilacs are my all time favorite flower. I remember when I was in elementary school and walked home, my neighbor had tons of lilac bushes in the front yard and I would pick off a few and bring them home. Although taking my neighbor's flowers was probably not the best idea, I could not resist the sweet smell and beautiful colors. A mason jar filled with Lilacs would be the epitome of spring to me. Their gorgeous pastel purple color to the sweet smell that fills the house makes them a spring favorite.

Pink

Honestly, who doesn't associate pink with spring? Pink is my favorite color no matter the season.  There is nothing better than pulling out my pink pants and chino shorts for Spring and adding a simple pop of color to any of my outfits. This is one of my favorite pictures of these J. Crew chino shorts, see how I styled them in the post from last summer (link in caption). 

{Pleasant Breezes by the Dock}

Sweatshirts

As much as I would love to say that I am wearing Jacks and Lilly shorts in the spring, I am most certainly not (at least until May). I am still eagerly awaiting a day when it gets to 60 degrees, let alone sunny and seventy five. With cool days as the reality for Spring in New England, sweatshirts are my go to thing for lazy days or cool beach walks. I am not crazy about sweatshirts with hoods, but I have an obsession with crew necks and quarter zips. Every time I go on a trip, I find myself returning with a new sweatshirt. A cute sweatshirt is such a staple to have because they work for cool summer nights, early April sports games or just running errands!

Pastel Nail Polish

To be quite honest, I wait all winter to bring back my pastel nail polishes and the time has finally come! To me, nothing screams spring like essie's "secret story" or "in the cabana". Whether it's a light pink, sea foam green or light blue, essie nail polish is always my go-to brand. I just need to soak up some sun over spring break so that my coral shades will look good with my skin tone! How adorable is my little Lilly Pulitzer makeup bag, it is the perfect size to fit some spring shades!

via instagram

Easter

Although it is typically not Lilly dress weather for Easter in Massachusetts, it definitely makes me think of spring! Thankfully, Easter falls later this year and I will get to enjoy the weekend on Cape Cod with my family rather than on the ski slopes! My cousins are little, so I am looking forward to the Easter egg hunt and fun festivities :)

Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade from Starbucks

This is pretty impressive, I think this is only the second time I have ever mentioned Starbucks on the blog. The Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade is my favorite drink from Starbucks. Ever. I'm just going to put this out there, their cold summer drinks are much better than their fall and winter special coffees. This ice tea is so delicious and refreshing on a warm Spring day and is the perfect blend. I took this last summer in New York City, where I will be again for a few days of my Spring break!

Sperrys 

Sperrys have been my favorite spring shoe since sixth grade, they are comfortable and versatile for any weather. I have had many pairs of these shoes over the years, but the original ones are by far my favorite. Once my boots are away, these are my go-to shoes to wear (along with flats) until I can wear my Jack Rogers in warmer Spring weather. 

Fruit

Although this may sound a bit strange, good fruit is probably one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Spring. Peaches are my all time favorite fruit and obviously I had to take a picture of them. If you are ever in Seattle, you MUST go to the Public Market and get the peaches. They are so sweet and juicy, I promise this will be a life changing experience :) Fruit salad at a cookouts are also one of my favorite things about spring. After spending long hot days playing in games (or watching) there is nothing more refreshing than eating a big bowl filled with watermelon, strawberries, pineapple etc.!

Colorful Button Down Shirts

As I have mentioned about ten times already in this post, Spring in New England is no Florida. Colorful button down shirts are my best friend in spring. These shirts allow you to get that fun pop of color for Spring into an outfit without freezing outside. J. Crew's oxfords and popovers are so cute and I also love the ones available at C. Wonder (the pattern on the cuff and color is the perfect touch. 

Here are the links to a few button down shirts I am loving Fuchsia Popover | Yellow Stripes | Multi Gingham | Flower Bud Popover | Red Anchors | Scallop Oxford | Maritime Flags

Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend is by far and away my favorite weekend of the year. Every year we go to our beach house and all of my cousins and friends are there as well. This weekend is always the most perfect weather and a little dose of summer. Remembering that I have to return to school on tuesday, after spending the three days laying on the beach and swimming in the ocean is always such a bummer!

I hope this post got you in the mood for the fun spring months ahead! Before we know it, it will be summer! What are you most looking forward to this spring?

xoxo,
Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Spring Layers

After school, I went up to J. Crew with my mom. I was beyond excited to find this excursion vest in the sale section, it was the only one left and it just happened to be in my size! As seen quite frequently at J. Crew, everything on sale was an additional 40% off and I scored this vest for $47! In the fall I purchased a sand vest from J. Crew Factory and wore it to death, now I have an additional one in my closet that will add a pop of color to any outfit. Here in Massachusetts, we will not be expecting warm weather anytime soon, so layering bright colors is a go-to Spring outfit. 

I went to the outlets this weekend and picked up this adorable scarf for spring. 

Unfortunately, it has rained for the past three days. My Hunter boots are most definitely going to be seen a lot in the upcoming weeks (at least it's not snow)!

Despite the dreary weather, spring is in the air!

Shirt- Ralph Lauren (Old) | Jeans-Joe's Jeans | Vest-J. Crew (Sold Out) available on eBay | Scarf- Gap Outlet similar here | Boots-Hunter | Pearl Bracelet- Crewcuts Factory | Silver Bracelet- Local Boutique 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea