Gift Guide: Under $25

candle | pajamas | barre socks | dry shampoo | st. tropez set | gold knot necklace | tassel earrings | clutch | glasses | what do you meme | book | prosecco pong | patagonia hat | tote | perfume set

With just one week left until Christmas, I am finally starting to finalize my shopping. Being a college student on a budget, I think that the $25 and under gift guide is my favorite to write and to read on other blogs. Despite the low budget, I was able to find so many fun gifts, many of which look more than $25. Whether you have a beauty guru on your hands, a jewelry lover, or want to give something cozy, this gift guide has something for everyone! Also, if you have a yankee swap or secret Santa coming up that is on a budget, hopefully this will help you brainstorm!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Holidays at Elon

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Elon and I have absolutely no complaints! In going to college in North Carolina, I never thought I would see snow this time of year, but the flurries came just in time for the holidays. Despite being in the midst of exams, Elon has done such a good job of keeping students in the holiday spirit. On Wednesday, the President hosted his annual Christmas party at a country club near campus which was such fun change of pace from always being on campus. I happened to stand right behind Renee from Gimme Glamour in line for the shuttle to the party, so we were able to catch up and snap a few pictures at the party which was so fun! On thursday night, Elon had a lights festival where all the students gathered to drink hot chocolate and sing Christmas songs while they turned on all the Christmas lights on campus. I absolutely love walking around campus at night and seeing all the lights, its such a therapeutic way to destress after spending the day studying in the library. Just a few more days and I'll be finished with my first semester of college and home to really get into the Christmas spirit :)

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Gift Guide: College Student

hat | phone pocket | beats headphones | slippers | speaker | yeti tumbler | room spray | blanket 

Happy Monday! Now that we are officially into December, I am excited to be making lots of gift guides for the 2017 holiday season. Seeing as I am writing this post from my dorm, it only seems fitting to kick off these posts with my picks for college students. Although a lot of these items are catered towards girls, I think that most guys would be excited to receive a Patagonia pullover, yeti cup, slippers, a speaker, or new headphones. However, if none of these gifts seem like a good fit for the college student in your life, trust me, money is always appreciated by broke college kids :) 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Book Review: You Are a Badass

Over the past couple of year I have really gotten back into reading. As much as I love getting in bed and watching Netflix, there is something so much more relaxing about putting away your technology and cracking open a book. Unfortunately, I have been a little bit lazy on the book front since getting to college, however over Thanksgiving break I decided to start You Are a Basass by Jen Sincero. One of my friends had recommended this book to me over fall break, so I picked up a copy before break. Having to fly home from college can be somewhat of a pain, but it provides ample time to read.

Naturally, the flashy yellow cover and bold title makes this book catch your attention before reading a single chapter. You Are a Badass was the first "self-help" book I have ever read so I have nothing to compare it to, despite this I found it funny, motivating, and well written. In addition to being an author, Jen Sincero works as a success coach and speaker, so she has a great deal of experience with strategizing ways to identify goals and pursue them in successful ways to develop a life you love. She covers everything from combatting negativity, to identifying the roots of beliefs, both good and bad, to making money, and everything in-between. The book is a quick read that will leave you wanting to set goals and make changes to the way you live your life. I would highly recommend this book for any new college student, or frankly anyone going though a transitional period in life, along with anyone who feels they are just stuck in some sort of rut, unable to identify the root of their problems. I think everyone could take something away from You Are a Badass, so if you are looking for an easy Christmas gift this would be great! Although it is not in a genre I would typically go for,  I really enjoyed Sincero's book and think it was a great book to read on the road. Have you read You Are a Badass?

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea

Thanksgiving Break Recap

Happy Tuesday! After a wonderful week off from school enjoying time with friends and family, I am excited to share a little photo recap of my break. I left Elon on Friday night and flew to Chicago to visit my friend Clare at Notre Dame. I met Julianna at the airport and we surprised Clare at a restaurant near campus which was such a great way to start break. Although it was cold and rainy in Indiana, I had so much fun going to the football game and getting to see her campus. On Sunday morning we said goodbye to the dorm and drove into Chicago. This was my first time visiting Chicago so we tried to cram in all the touristy stops. We made our way to the bean, a Christmas market, Michigan Avenue, and Lincoln Park all in one afternoon, so I would say the day was quite a success! On Monday I flew back to Boston to spend the rest of my vacation at home and on the Cape. I am so thankful for all the time I was able to spend with family and friends and now just two and a half weeks and a couple of exams before I'm back for Christmas break!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Cyber Monday Deals

Cyber Monday is the best of both worlds for Christmas shopping, you get all the deal without the crowds of Black Friday. This year Cyber Monday happened to fall on my birthday so I know I will be treating myself to some new clothes today, along with checking off some gifts foo make sure to check out all the sales before they're gone! I know most bloggers have a round up of today's deals, but its always nice to see them all in one place!

Anthroplogie- 20% off full priced items & additional 30% off sale items
Madewell- 25% off with code GOODMOOD
ASOS- 30% off everything with code EPIC30
Zara- 40% off select items
Gap- 50% off everything with code CYBER & additional 10% off with code TREAT
Old Navy- 50% off everything
Nordstrom- extra 20% off sale items
Loft- 50% off everything & free shipping with code CLICK

xoxo,

Catherine 

Nineteen

Today I turn nineteen and frankly, I do not really know how I feel about it. Eighteen was a big year; I got into college, I graduated from high school, I voted for the first time, and I went to college, it was probably the biggest milestone year of my life. Nineteen feels somewhat irrelevant, as it does not come with the freedom of becoming a "real" adult, and it it not an exciting year like entering your twenties or turning twenty one. That being said, I am excited to see what nineteen has to offer. I hope that over the course of the next year I start to find my home at Elon, I hope to make more friends, declare my major, and get more involved on campus. I look forward to taking advantage of my time at home, spending time with my family, high school friends, and going on lots of new adventures. It may be an in-between year, but I hive high hopes for nineteen. 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Birthday Wish List

the subtle art of not going a f*ck | sweet bitter | tote bag | suede jacket | green top | free people thermal top | boots | sneakers 

My birthday is November 27th (Cyber Monday!!) so I thought I would round up a few items on my wish list. The fact that it is almost Thanksgiving honestly blows my mind, I feel like this year the holiday season just came out of nowhere. This is the first time ever that I will not be at home for my birthday surrounded by my best friends and family, so it is definitely going to be a different experience. Nineteen is definitely a weird age, but never the less who doesn't like to celebrate their birthday?! The weather has just started to feel like fall here in North Carolina, so most of the items I have recently been lusting over are fall staples. Additionally, I will be doing a lot of traveling in the next month, so I think having a few new books would be great for all my upcoming flights! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Life Update

Happy Monday! After quite the hiatus I am back again. My adjustment to college has definitely been a lot more difficult than I anticipated and that has effected my blog content. As the semester is starting to come to an end, I am now realizing how much I miss blogging and what a great creative outlet it is for me. Since I have not been posting on here for a while, I thought a quick life update would be a good way to get back into a blogging routine. 

+ Halloween // halloween was such a fun weekend here at school. I knew halloween was big at college, but I guess I never realized the extent to which it is celebrated. I dressed up as a devil for one night and then went as a mermaid for the second night. Thank god for Amazon as I was able to order this sparkly red dress and these mermaid pants at the last minute. I was definitely skeptical of the one size fits all, however they ended up working out great! 

+ Exploring Elon // before fall break I solely ate on campus, everything was new and I did not want to get into a habit of eating out all the time and spending a ton of money. However, like most colleges the food at Elon is nothing to get excited about and gets old quickly. Over the past few weeks, my roommate and I have gone out to dinner on the weekends to mix up our dining routine which has been a nice change of pace. Although there are not a ton of restaurants in downtown Elon, there are a few good spots! 

+ Scheduling for Second Semester // I pick my classes tomorrow for second semester and am definitely stressed about the whole process. I am nervous that I won't get any of the classes I want as my pick time is pretty late in the game, so fingers crossed it works out and I get at least a few of the classes I am interested in. 

+ Trip to Notre Dame // On Friday afternoon I am flying to Chicago to visit one of my best friends at Notre Dame and I seriously cannot contain my excitement. Like I said, getting adjusted to college has been difficult for me, especially because I am so close with my friends from high school. I have never been to the midwest, so I am excited to see Chicago and spend time at a totally different school! 

+ Thanksgiving Break // After classes on Friday I am officially on Thanksgiving break! Elon has a ten day break which is such a treat and I can't wait to spend time with my family and friends back home in Boston. 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Fall Break Bucket List

Happy Friday! As of today my first round of college midterms are behind me and I am heading back to Boston! It has been eight long weeks since seeing my best friends and being in my home town and I could not be more excited to go back. That being said, my fall break is on the shorter side (4 days) and I want to cram in as much as possible before going back to the dorm life. After being the the North Carolina humidity for quite some time now, I am so excited for crisp fall New England mornings and lots of beautiful foliage. What's on your agenda for fall break? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

My College Food Essentials

I'm back! Wow college is busy. I have been really inspired to blog recently and have been brainstorming new content ideas regularly. Unfortunately, my schedule has been go, go, go between doing homework, trying to meet new people, going to the gym, and actually getting some sleep. I am still trying to figure out a schedule for this year, but I am thinking that realistically that should be 2-3 posts a week. I love being able to publish new content as frequently as possible, but right now that just is not realistic. Hopefully I will have a more concrete blog plan to share soon, but in the mean time let's talk about food! 

Going to the grocery store is honestly one of my favorite things. It is not something the average eighteen year old girl enjoys, but going to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods is so much fun. I love checking out all of the products and buying food that I can get excited about. One of the downfalls of going to college in the middle of North Carolina is that Target is really the only place to buy food. Despite this, I have figured out what my staples are to keep in my dorm. I try to keep things in my room that are on the healthier side to avoid late night snacking on ice cream or chips... and the freshman fifteen. 

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark Thins // These have been my go-to dessert recently. There is nothing better than the classic sweet and salty combo and these really hit the spot. I like to keep a bag in the freezer (so good!) and have a few after a long night of studying. 

Peanut Butter Granola Bites // I had never had these before getting to school and they are amazing. I stumbled upon them in the cereal isle at target and they are the perfect mid-morning snack, or breakfast if you're someone who doesn't like to eat a lot in the morning. 

Natural Popcorn // Popcorn is one of my all time favorite snacks. I always have a bag of Skinny Pop on hand, but warm popcorn is such a nice treat if you have a little bit more time or want to have a movie night. 

Steel-Cut Oatmeal // I typically eat breakfast in the dining hall, however when I have my 8:30 class or if I get up early on the weekends before the dining hall opens this is my go to dorm breakfast. Just toss it in the microwave and add some berries and you're ready to go! 

Chia Seeds // I always add chia seeds to my oatmeal and I have also been making chia pudding in the dorm. They are a great thing to keep on hand and can add protein to lots of snacks. 

Almonds // Almonds are a great snack to keep in your dorm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class from 12:00 to 4:00 and don't have time to eat a real lunch. I always bring a ziplock bag with almonds to class to keep me full. 

Seltzer Water // I am a seltzer addict, seriously it's the only thing I drink. I always have a stockpile of cases under my bed so that I don't run out. Unfortunately they don't have Polar here so La Croix (grapefruit is my favorite) is the next best option!

What food can you not live without in your dorm room?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Dove Dry Shampoo Line

Washing my hair every night has always been part of my routine because my hair tends to get greasy without a wash. Unfortunately, this practice is not good for your hair and sometimes simply does not fit into my busy college schedule. I tried dry shampoo for the first time last year and had only ever used the Batiste brand, so when Dove reached out see if I wanted to try their new line, I was all in! I have been using Dove products forever, and love their "Real Beauty" Campaign and company values. 

Over the past week I have been testing out the four different dry shampoos and can confidently tell you that they work wonders. When I wake up after not washing my hair, I spray the product and it almost instantly absorbs oils and leaves my hair looking fresh. Unlike the dry shampoos I have used in the past, it does not come out white and make my hair look powdery. My personal favorite is the Fresh and Floral scent, it smells great without being too overpowering, and works wonders. I also really like the Volume and Fullness dry shampoo, plus it comes in a travel size which is perfect for on the go! The new line is available at drugstores and online. Do you have a favorite dry shampoo? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Friday Favorites

Does anyone else feel like this week absolutely flew by? It seems like it was just Monday and somehow we have already made it to the weekend! My third week here at college has once again been a busy one; I attended my first club meetings, heard from a guest speaker, tried a Barre class for the first time, and managed to do all my work and get some sleep. I am excited to have some down time this weekend and relax. 

One: Dove Dry Shampoo Line

I was so excited to get a package from Dove this week. They sent me a bunch of samples from their new Dry Shampoo line which I know will be very practical for keeping my hair looking fresh even on my busiest days when I don't have time to wash my hair. Look out for an in depth review post next week! 

Two: Ice Chai Tea Lattes

These are amazing. For some reason I never thought to try a chai tea latte before coming to college and now I can't get enough! I always start my morning off with a latte in my dorm that I make with my Nespresso, but these have become my go to afternoon drink. We have lots of coffee shops here on campus and they all make great iced chais. I think they are the perfect fall drink if you're like me and don't enjoy pumpkin spice drinks. 

Three: Study Spots

Now that I am officially in school routine, I have figured out where I am most productive...aka not my dorm room. This room is one of my favorite places on campus, the leather couches, oriental rugs, huge fireplace, and jazz music playing in the background feel so home-y. Its the perfect place for me to sit down and get to work. 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Freshman Year Dorm

Happy Monday! I am so excited to finally be sharing my freshman year dorm tour. Before coming to school I was expecting to live in a shoebox and was pleasantly surprised by a much more spacious room when I arrived on move in day. I am living in the historic neighborhood at Elon University and our dorm was just renovated over the summer, so it is a bit nicer than some of the other dorms in the area. My roommate and I did not coordinate our bedding or a color scheme, however I think that the room looks very cohesive and super home-y. 

When living in a small space, organization is very key. I tried to keep in mind the practicality of pieces when I was decided what to purchase for my dorm. Having the 6 cube organizer (under $35!) to store our food, Tupperware, and dishes in has been an absolute life saver. The cubes maximize space that we would not have otherwise used above the micro-fridge and still looks cute. Additionally, I have found that having the 3 plastic drawers in my closet has provided me with the perfect amount of space for workout clothes, and fits perfectly in my closet. 

Room Details: sheets (so soft!) | duvet | elephant pillow | floral pillow | coordinates pillow (custom) 

gold mirror | desk lamp | shoes organizer | rug | storage ottoman 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Weekend Wear

dress (similar) | shoes | sunglasses | bralette | bag (similar)

I am the biggest proponent of Nike shorts and a t-shirt, but honestly sometimes it is easier to just toss on a comfy t-shirt dress when running errands or going to your 8 AM class. This dress is hands down one of my favorite pieces in my closet, it is insanely soft and the color is perfect for any season. These are the last photos I took before leaving for college and I accidentally left this dress in my room at home...no worries my mom is going to mail it to me :) Unfortunately it is no longer available, but I'm sure you would be able to find something similar at almost any store. Do you have a favorite lazy day look? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

5 Things I Learned My First Week of College

1. It is more difficult than I thought
For some reason I always assumed I would get to college and make friends immediately because everyone is in the same boat. Yes, it is easy to go up to someone and start a conversation in your classes or at the dining hall, however you will not have a solid group of friends right off the bat and that has been hard for me after having such a close group of friends in high school. Additionally, I simply miss the familiarity of my hometown and my family, having a shower that is hot and has good water pressure, and just having down time. College is still so new and I do think Elon will eventually feel like home, but the first week is definitely a difficult adjustment.

2. Don't trust social media
Social media is a not a well rounded representation of someone's college experience. It is hard to look at all of your snapchat stories on a Friday night and see everyone having such a "great time" when you are not having your best day. It is important to remember than no one is going to put things on social media to let you know that they are also homesick, or struggling to adjust. Everyone adjusts to college differently and you just need to do what's right for you and try not to let social media impact you.

3. Make your room feel like home
I love my dorm room, it is cozy, happy, and overall just a place I look forward to coming home to. After a long day of classes, or when you just need some alone time, it is so nice to get into your comfortable space, and be surrounded by pictures of your family and friends, and things that make you happy. College is very tiring, so you want to make sure your rest time is enjoyable.

4. There is a lot of homework
College is a lot of work. I feel like this fact is often grazed over when people talk about college. You always hear about all the social aspects, however spending lots of time in the library is not usually mentioned. College is a place where you go to get your degree, so naturally that is not going to be an easy task. After my first American Government class, I had over six hours of work. Although it is not ideal to be spending hours and hours cooped up doing work, if you find a study spot on (or off) campus, you will be more productive and ready to get your work done.

5. Alone time is important
I have never shared a room before, so living with someone 24/7 is definitely an adjustment. My roommate and I get along super well and are on similar schedules, but it is still important to have time to decompress and have some alone time.

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! I have officially survived my first week at college. This past week has been quite the whirlwind, but I am definitely getting more acclimated to Elon. The first couple of days were definitely hard, and I am still really missing my fiends, however starting classes has made it a lot easier. 

One: Move In Day

Last Friday I moved into my freshman year dorm.. dorm tour to come :) I was pleasantly surprised at how painless the move in process was. My dorm room and closet are way bigger than I was anticipating and I really lucked out in the roommate department, so all things housing are off to a great start! 

Two: My bed

I never thought I would love my bed at college as much as I do. The 3-inch mattress topper, mattress pad, and soft bedding makes it the perfect cozy place to settle into after a long day. College is very tiring, so it is crucial to like you bed. 

Three: Exploring Campus

Now that classes are in session, I have been doing a ton of walking around campus. I have found some great study spots, running loops, and overall have started to really get to know the school. 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea