Carry On Essentials

Over the next two weeks I am going to be at the airport a lot. On Thursday I am flying out to Colorado to go skiing with friends and when we get back from break, my mom and I are going to North and South Carolina to look at colleges. Perfecting the art of packing a carry on is an essential skill, and having the right things with you during the flight can make or break the experience. The bag I bring usually depends on where I am going and if I need to bring a lot of homework with me. If I am not bringing my backpack, I typically carry a tote, my favorite being this Mark and Graham monogrammed suede boho bag!

Technology // Laptop, iPhone, camera, headphones, and portable charger

I always keep all of my technology in my carry on, regardless of if I plan to use it on the actual flight. Bags get lost all the time, especially if you have connecting flights, so keeping all your valuables with you is always a good idea- same goes for any nice jewelry! Many planes now have wifi on them, so I try to use the flight to be productive and get caught up on emails, schedule posts, or work on any homework I have. 

Entertainment // Book and magazine

Watching movies and listening to music is always great, however sometimes I need a little change of pace. I always bring a book with me (I'm currently reading Opening Belle and love it) and pick up a magazine at the airport to flip through during the flight. 

Beauty// Glasses, contact case & solution, perfume, and chapstick 

For some reason I find that majority of the time I fly at weird hours of the day. Red eyes, and very early morning flights can be draining and it is nice to have a few beauty products with you to freshen up. I wear contacts and can't fall asleep with them in so having my case and some solution with me is a must. Also, my lips are always getting chapped on the plane, so I always have chapstick with me. 

Other// Wallet and snack

Bringing your wallet with you is pretty self explanatory, but I also highly recommend packing an additional snack in your bag. Let's be real, airplane food is awful, and on short flight might not even be an option. Toss a granola bar or some pretzels in your carry on and you should be fine! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Favorite Instagram Accounts

Instagram is by far and away my favorite platform of social media, and from a blogger's perspective, it just got better. I think I can speak for anyone managing multiple instagrams that finally being able switch between accounts without constantly signing out is pretty great. Anyways, I am constantly exploring Instagram and finding new accounts to add to my feed and thought I would share a few of my favorites. Having a balance of bloggers, celebrities, news, and food accounts keeps your feed fresh and interesting. I follow a ton of bloggers, so I only included a few of my favorite to keep this post concise. 

@taza // Over the past few months, Naomi's instagram has quickly become one of my favorites. She lives in New York City with her husband and adorable three kids #familygoals. They have been on a ton of amazing trips recently (think Australia, Peru, and California), so the account also satisfies my obsession with travel. 

@emilyshuman // Ahh the infamous Cupcakes & Cashmere. Not only am I obsessed with Emily's blog, but her daughter, Sloan, might be the cutest little thing ever. Her simplistic style, fun L.A. lifestyle, and delicious food posts make her one of the best well rounded instagrammers. 

@juliahengel // Julia is a San Francisco based blogger and seriously has the most amazing outfits. I love all the the light pink hues she wears, and her hair and make up are always so put together. The photography on her account is absolutely stunning. 

@graymalin // This is by far and away the best photography account I have found on Instagram. I first discovered Gray Malin last summer before I went to Italy. He has done tons of shoots on the Amalfi coast, especially the beaches of Positano. His recent ski collections have also caught my eye!

@reesewitherspoon // Reese Witherspoon is my favorite actress and her instagram is no exceptions. She recently started a clothing company called Draper James, which features a classic collection with a southern influence. If you are looking for book recommendations, fashion advice, and lifestyle posts, add Reese to your following. 

@peoplemag //  Like many girls out there, celebrity gossip is definitely one of my guilty pleasures. I like to think that People Magazine is the most reliable source out there. They post all the latest news, with a brief description under the photo. If you want to read more, the direct link to the article is linked in their bio. Following this type of account is a quick and easy way to stay up to date with pop culture.

What are your current favorite Instagram accounts?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Links I'm Loving

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One of my goals for the 101 in 1001 days is to read 10 books for pleasure. I am always super busy and this article offers some great tips on how to make time to read.

I have switched gears to thinking about spring shopping and these denim shorts are on the top of my list!

Did you see the trailer for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates?

On the snow day my friends and I made slutty brownies. Definitely a 10/10

No plans for Valentine's Day? Check out Caroline's treat yourself post!

Iconic models recall their fashion week experiences 

Looking for a light hearted and hilarious show? New Girl is the answer.

The perfect white dress, under $20 (insert heart eyes emoji) 

I leave for Colorado on Thursday and I'm loving this guide to light packing for a ski trip!

The best celebrity airport style round up

#blogged delicious and festive Valentine's day cookie recipe.

I just got this royal blue bathing suit and the back is to die for! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Valentine's Day Cookies

My favorite thing about Valentine's Day is by far and away all the sweets. Last Friday we had an unexpected snow day so I decided to do a little baking to stay warm inside. I used this Martha Stewart recipe for double chocolate chunk cookies and replaced the chocolate chunks with Valentine's Day m&m's. As much as I love the traditional chocolate chip cookie, it's nice to mix it up sometimes, plus these will definitely satisfy a chocolate craving. The cookies are pretty easy to make, however if you were in a rush you could always opt for a chocolate cookie mix. If you are having a girls night in, or going to a small Valentine's Day party, these would be perfect to bring as the recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

P.S. Today we're participating in the Valentine's Day #galpallinkup make sure to check out all the posts for other recipes, outfits, and date night ideas! 

Snow Day Essentials

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There's something so magical about a snow day. Is there really anything better than waking up to fresh snow and relaxing in cozy pajamas all day? Recently we were hit with two different storms and had a snow day last Friday and this Monday #fourdayweekend. It takes a lot of snow to get a snow day in the Boston area, so when we have them you can be guaranteed an abundance of snow and great sledding and snowman making weather. I thought I would share a few of my snow day essentials and favorite activities after spending a lot of time in a winter wonderland recently. 

Cozy PJ's // No matter if you are the adventurous type on a snow day or prefer to stay inside all day by the fire, having a cozy pair of pajamas is a must. Personally, I go back and forth between wanting to wear a cute matching set and wearing huge sweatpants.

Pullover // Whether you are out shoveling or sledding, layering a cozy pullover under your jacket will keep you warm in the storm. Also, they are great for lots of Netflix watching :)

Snow Boots // In big storms, sometimes bean boots just don't cut it. My Sorels keep my feet warm all day and are high enough that snow does not get in. 

Go Sledding // We had a ton of snow days last winter, yet somehow I never went sledding. This year my friends and I went to the golf course and had so much fun! 

Build a Snowman // This is actually one of the things on both of our 101 in 1001 list. I haven't made a snowman in a really long time and think it should definitely be a priority for my next snow day!

Movie Marathon // If it is super chilly outside, there is really nothing better than staying inside all day and binge watching your favorite movies. Invite your friends over, bake some cookies and settle in for the storm! 

xoxo,

Catherine 

Preppy by the Sea