Preppy by the Sea

September 29, 2014

Fabulously Flared

I recently made an order off of J. Crew Factory (shocker I know). I am so happy with my purchases and know that I will get a ton of wear out of them. The first thing I got was this navy flared skirt that everyone and their mother has, but now I know why! The skirt is flattering on everyone and is versatile all year round. At first I was a bit hesitant about the cut, but I absolutely love it and can guarantee this is not the last time you will see it in a post! I also purchased this grey shirt that I already have in two other colors. These shirts are made from the worlds softest material, they are a bit flowy and could be worn with legging and a vest or a skirt as seen here. It is so important to stock up on basics, especially ones that can be worn year round and J. Crew Factory is the place to go!

I love little hints of leopard in the fall, weather it be a cute belt or a pair of loafers. Adding a little bit of pattern to a simple outfit can really pull it all together.

It was super hot this weekend for later September- high eighties, so I opted for sandals. If the weather was a bit cooler this look would be great with flats or even riding boots.

I am obsessed with this crystal pendant necklace, it is a fun twist on the statement necklace.

Shirt- J. Crew Factory | Skirt- J. Crew Factory | Necklace- J. Crew Factory | Belt- Old Navy | Sandals- Target

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

September 26, 2014

Friday Favorites

Finally, it's the day we have all been waiting for, Friday. Honestly, Friday might be my favorite day of the week because by 4:30 school and sports are over and you have the entire weekend to look forward to. Recently, I have found a few things that I have been LOVING and wanted to quickly share them on the blog! I think that doing this Friday Favorites post is a great way to share some random interests with everyone- let me know what you think.

One: Scandal

Three words: Oh. My. Gosh. Scandal is my new addiction, I started it three weeks ago and have finished all three seasons on Netflix.... Scandal is about the staff of the White House and a crisis management group called Pope and Associates. This show is so addictive and every episode has an intriguing plot and obviously some type of scandal! The created of Grey's Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes also created this and her newest show, How to Get Away with Murder. Scandal is on Thursdays at 9 on ABC, trust me you don't want to miss it!

Two: Trader Joes Pumpkin Waffle Mix

Just warning y'all I'm about to get real basic... One of the first things I think of when fall comes to mind is pumpkin everything (except pumpkin spice lattes- I hate those). Trader Joe's is amazing when it comes to pumpkin items for fall time, think granola, yogurt, cereal bars, ice cream, bagels, etc. however my favorite thing is this waffle mix. I instagrammed this picture last weekend, after having them for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday #dontjudge. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area definitely pick this up in your travels, you will not regret it!

Three: Insulated CamelBak Water bottle

I have really gotten into drinking lots of water throughout the school day and obviously when running. I have found that it makes me feel so much better. In addition to that, a cold has been running ramped at our school and unfortunately I got stuck with it as well. Staying hydrated is so important especially when you are sick or before a workout. This water bottle is awesome because it stays cold for so long, the ice I put in it at 7:15 before school lasts until at least 1:00!

What have you been loving this week?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

September 25, 2014

Balance

I love this little Pinterest find!

We are almost done with our fourth week of school and I feel like I am really getting back into the swing of things. Every year of school is an adjustment. There are new obstacles, maybe it is academically or maybe its socially, but there is always something each year. In the past four weeks I have really discovered the importance of balance in my life. School, sports, homework, friends, sleep- Can you really have it all? The answer is yes, you can! Last year, I really struggled specifically with balancing my homework and actually sleeping. This year I have not gone to bed past 10:30 and have been feeling so much more positive about school. At the end of the day I try to leave school with a plan that will make every day a good day. Sitting down and getting right to work is crucial, the earlier you start, the earlier you finish!

Over the past four months, blogging has become a higher priority for me, and I find consistency very important. We are trying to have 4-5 posts up a week and with this comes a large time commitment. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing I love more than blogging and I will happily sit down for hours scheduling posts, but it also adds to the whole "balance" thing. In addition to this sometimes it is important to change your priorities. There are always some days where you really just have no motivation to do anything productive and just want to hang out with friends, catch up on your favorite show or in our case- blog. This is okay. Give yourself a break, go do something fun and forget about everything you have to do for a little bit. Life is crazy and sometimes you need to be a little crazy as well. Have you been seeing the importance of balance after getting back into a routine?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

September 24, 2014

September Playlist

When it comes to running, I am incredibly specific about my songs and often find myself constantly skipping everything in my playlist. Cross Country has obviously led to a decent amount of running in the past month and I think I have finally perfected my playlist. I am typically a big fan of country music, however when it comes to work out music my mix gets crazy random. I like to have loud, fast beat songs to run to. This month the six songs I have really gravitated towards are Save Me San Francisco, Shake It Off, American Kids, Day Drinking, Shower, All About That Bass and Sweet Home Alabama. I am actually laughing at myself for this group of songs, like what!? Do you find yourself listening to a weird variety of songs? Anyways, I love reading these posts on other blogs and hope you enjoy this month's edition! What have your favorite songs been, I'm always looking to add new ones?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

September 22, 2014

Swell Caroline & Giveaway!

We are always browsing the internet looking for cute little shops that sell jewelry and oh my gosh, we think we found it! Swell Caroline is an online shop based out of Atlanta, Georgia, they have been featured on CBS, Southern Living, Daily Candy and many more! Julianna and I both are wearing the Sibley Necklace, which adds the perfect pop to any outfit! We absolutely love this chunky necklace; a versatile piece good for any season. Whether you are looking for a cute monogrammed necklace, a trendy statement necklace, Game Day essentials or some fun accessories for great prices, Swell Caroline is the perfect place! Not to mention, their wrapping is adorable, think pink confetti and cute little jewelry bags! Lucky for you, today we are giving away a $50 gift certificate!