Graduation Gift Guide

Graduation season is in full swing which means lots of grad parties and gifts to shop for. Next Saturday is graduation at my school so the chaos has not quite begun, however I know lots of schools have already had their ceremonies. Shopping for the perfect gift can be hard. Every party is a different, some people you know better than others, and everyone has different tastes. I think that this gift guide a little something for everyone (and every budget). Although it may seem impersonal, giving money is also never a bad idea. College students will greatly appreciate having a little extra spending money throughout the year! 

for the coffee lover: gift card | keurig | tervis tumbler 

I know that many high school and college students (including myself) are extremely dependent on coffee. Starbucks gift cards are great especially because most colleges have one on campus! Also, if you are looking to spend a little bit more, a keurig is an awesome present that would be perfect to have in a dorm! 

travel: longchamp | weekender bag | card case

New luggage is a perfect for someone about to head off to college. From lugging everything down on move in day to weekend adventures, I guarantee you grad will love a new tote or duffel. 

a reminder of home: state hat | necklace

Majority of people I know leave their home state when they head off to school. So, I think that something involving their state would be really nice to remind them of home during the school year. The coordinates necklace is such a cute (and inexpensive) gift that is very personal, you can even customize it with the exact address of their childhood home. 

on campus: fitbit | shorts | s'well bottle

Being on a college campus, chances are they will be doing lots of walking from their dorm to class. A fitbit would be a fun gift to track daily steps or workouts-- avoid the freshman 15! 

for the jewelry lover: ring | watch

Personally, I think that nice jewelry is the best graduation gift. If you have been lusting over something for a long time graduation would be the perfect time to receive a timeless piece from your parents or family. 

for the dorm: bath set | slippers 

Moving into a dorm is a big change and giving a gift to make the transition a bit smoother is always a good idea. A nice bath set or slippers will make your grad feel at home next fall at college! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Memorial Day

shirt | white jeans | jean jacket similar | shoes | sunglasses | necklace similar

Happy Memorial Day! This past weekend has been absolutely beautiful on the Cape which has me so  excited to be back in just a few weeks for the summer. Over the past three days, we soaked up some sun at the beach, went out to dinner and to our favorite ice cream shop, and squeezed in a round of golf! Memorial Day weekend has always been one of my favorite weekends of the year, everyone is always in such a good mood and after all it's unofficial start of summer!

I think I also love this day because I associate it with white jeans, seersucker, and Lilly. I know that the blogging community has declared white jeans before Memorial Day socially acceptable, however I am such a stickler for this fashion rule. Call me old fashioned, but I just think they are too summery to be worn in the middle of winter. Anyways, white jeans are one of my all time favorite pieces for breezy summer days and I can't wait to get a ton of wear out of mine in the upcoming months! 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea

May Playlist

Happy Friday everyone!! I typically share playlist posts at the very end of the month, however I thought I would do it today as I know a lot of people go away for Memorial Day weekend. I think that a good playlist can make or break a long flight to road trip, and this one has a really good variety. Now that is feels like summer, I have found myself listening to a lot of country again. Also, the top 40 stations have added a few new songs recently, my favorite being Cant Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake. It's so upbeat and perfect for summer! I am on the Cape for the weekend and am planning on taking advantage of the perfect weather and scenery to get some new outfit photos up soon! Do you have any exciting plans for the weekend?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

The Homestretch

It's that time of year again, the weather is nice, the workload is light, and the seniors are about to leave. However, there are still a few more weeks of school. At this point I am so done with my classes which is really bad because I need to keep my grades up and finish the term on a high note. After practice, my friends and I have been going out to ice cream or getting coffee way more than we should. I have gotten home late so many times in the past two or three weeks and have been doing a lot of my homework in my study- please tell me I am not the only one with this problem right now! We have a little less than a month to go and I have been thinking about ways that I can power through the next few weeks, as after all we are in the homestretch. 

Balance // At the end of the school year, it's okay to embrace a little more free time and have fun with friends. However, it is important to maintain a healthy balance to avoid any academic mishaps at the end of the term when it really matters. I think that this is especially hard for juniors as it is the second to last term before applying to college, so there is a ton of pressure to do your best even after a long and grueling year. 

Get ahead // At my school we have a ton of events quickly approaching between sports banquets and awards night. So, look ahead at your schedule to help manage your time. I have always been a big fan of the monthly calendar in my agenda, it really helps me visualize what is coming up and how I can get ahead. If you know there are certain nights where you are going to be insanely busy, work on long term assignments over the weekend or on light homework nights. 

Busy weekends // I don't know if this is just me but school weeks always seem to feel longer and longer as the year progresses. Having a really fun and busy weekend to look forward to throughout the week is a great motivator. Now that it is nice out, plan a day trip with friends, or a dinner to catch up. Also, try to wake up earlier on the weekends, it will make you feel so much more productive and way less tired at school during the week! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Rent the Runway

For the past year or so I have heard bloggers talking about Rent the Runway and I always thought that it was a great idea. When prom season rolled around, I was initially planning on buying my dress as junior year we wear short dresses, which I could wear again. However, when I stumbled upon this Elizabeth and James dress at Revolve I knew that it was the perfect prom dress. It retailed for about $400 which I decided was not worth it to buy. After continuously looking for a dress and finding nothing that compared to this I somehow thought of Rent the Runway. Thankfully, the dress was available and I quickly booked it for prom! 

My experience with Rent the Runway was a 10/10. The dresses arrived on time, were clean, and fit perfectly. I booked the dress about six week before the date I needed it for, so I'm not sure if it is more difficult to book for closer dates. When placing the order you receive two dresses in different sizes. The reviews for my dress said it ran small, so I ordered a 4 and a 6. For reference, I typically wear a size 2 and ended up going with the 6. It was a little bit big in the chest but everywhere else it fit like a glove. Having the extra dress is so nice as it eliminates the stress of the dress arriving a day or two before your event and not fitting. 

I definitely think that I will get my senior prom dress from Rent the Runway as I know I would never wear a long gown again. If you are someone that goes to a lot of events, or even if you are a college student who goes to multiple formals I would highly recommend getting a pro membership. This is $29 a year and you get free shipping on all orders and a free dress on your birthday! Have you used Rent the Runway before? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea