Junior Year

For as long as I can remember people have been saying that junior year of high school is really rough. It's the year of the SAT, the ACT, the last full year before applying to college, NHS induction, getting teachers to write recommendation letters, and the list just keeps going on and on. So, this past September I went into school with the expectation that my life would basically be miserable for the next 180 school days. Don't get me wrong, there were lots of late nights spent studying, earlier mornings, tears, and times spent after school with teachers. However, junior year was not horrible. Instead of writing a long and quite frankly boring post about my experience, I thought I would share a list of 25 things I have learned over the past ten months. It has been quite the learning experience both in and out of the classroom and although I could not be more excited that it is over and I am almost a senior, I definitely think I have grown a lot in the past year. Here's to the last week of junior year!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday everyone! Next week is my last week of classes followed by one exam the next week and then it's summer! I could not be more excited to be done with my junior year and finally be a senior- we just ordered our senior shirts for next year which is absolutely crazy. Apologies for being MIA for the past few days, it has not been the greatest week. On Monday morning I was driving to school and got rear-ended which was a major bummer. Everyone was okay, however both of the cars are in really bad shape and might be totaled, so we have been dealing with the insurance company, rental car place, and repair shop all week. Fingers crossed I don't have to get a new car. On to brighter things, this weekend is my friend's birthday so I think we are all going to get together to do something to celebrate!

One: Graduation

This past Saturday was graduation at our school. All of my friends and I went and had so much fun seeing our friends get their diplomas and finish up high school! We made sure to snap a picture with our friend, Lea who was one of our golf captains this year. The ceremony was really well done and has me super excited for our graduation. It's crazy to think that it will be us in less than a year. Congrats to the class of 2016 and good luck next year! 

Two: Peonies 

Guys, It's officially peonies season and I seriously could not be more excited! Peonies are by far and away my favorite flower, I love the soft shape and light hues that just scream summer. I picked this bouquet up at Trader Joe's this week and know that I will be back quite a few times in the near future to purchase more. 

Three: Chocolate Covered Banana Slices 

I have been absolutely obsessed with these "Gone Bananas" from Trader Joe's recently. They're frozen bananas covered in dark chocolate, so they are refreshing on a hot day but they are so much better for you than indulging in an ice cream cone. I am not even the biggest fan of bananas and I have literally gone through 2 and half boxes in the past week. Definitely pick up a box the next time you find yourself at Trader Joe's!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Summer Dresses

chevron tassel | lace up | red off the shoulder | blue & white | green ruffles light blue off the shoulder | white 

Over the past four weeks or so, I have been very busy with all sorts of events. Between awards nights, graduation, sports banquets, and graduation parties, there have been a ton of things that I have needed to look dressy for, but not over the top. I thought that I had a lot of dresses, however in getting ready for these events I have noticed that my dresses are either very formal, or extremely casual tee shirt dresses. Also, I am bussing and hostessing at a restaurant on the Cape this summer so I will need some more dresses for that as well- always a good excuse to go shopping, right?! So, I am now on the hunt for the perfect "day dress". You would think it wouldn't be too difficult to find dresses in this category, however I am definitely struggling. Let me know if you have stumbled upon any sites with lots of cute summery options as I am in desperate need of some new pieces.

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Healthy Coconut & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now that it is almost summer and I will be in a bikini on the reg, I have been trying to reduce my sugar consumption (I'm looking at you ice cream). A few weeks ago one of my friends brought these cookies to lunch. After trying them I knew that I needed to get the recipe and make them at home! Not only are the cookies absolutely delicious, but they are not that bad for you as most of the ingredients are natural. Thanks to this recipe I can now satisfy my sweet tooth guilt free. Also, if you are gluten free, Paleo, or have a wild diet (not sure what that consists of) you can enjoy them as well! The recipe itself is super easy and only takes about 25 min from start to finish. Let me know if you end up making them as I would love to hear your thoughts! 

**there is 1/2 cup of coconut oil-I forgot to include that for ingredients**

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

Zara Collection

 

white skirt

bell sleeves

off the shoulder 

embroidered tunic

shoulder cut-outs

white dress

criss cross top

striped skirt

Over the past year or so I have been really obsessed with Zara, it's the prefect mix of classic staples and trendy pieces, and their prices are great for a high school or college budget without sacrificing quality. This year their spring/summer collection has been on point and I thought that I would share a few of my favorite pieces. Think lots of blues, crisp and clean designs, with a fun feminine flare! The other weekend when I was in Boston with my mom we stopped in the store on Newbury Street. I have been on the hunt for the perfect off the shoulder top forever and finally found this one which is to die for! I can't wait to style it with white jeans and wedges later this summer when I am a little bit tanner :) Also, the white skirt is definitely at the top of my summer wish list! What are you favorite pieces from the collection?

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea