Monogram Everything... Especially Stationery

If there's one thing that doesn't need justification for monogramming, it's stationery.

Of course, I don't think monograms need any kind of justification. Period. And who doesn't love to write a letter that's more than just a store-bought package? I know that throughout the next few years, I'll be writing lots of handwritten thank yous- after interviews or shadowing opportunities, to professors who go out of their way to help me, to friends who help me though college life. So, when I was writing graduation thank-you cards, I told myself that I'd buy monogrammed stationery once I ran out... and guess who's out? :)

So I've been looking around for the best perfect  set- cute and cost effective! Let me just tell you, this is harder than I thought! So many options and choices to make that it's going to be a bit of a process, but I thought I'd share some of my favorites:

Design Darling
p.s. if you don't read Mackenzie's Blog, you need to! 

Etsy

Okay, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want every single set from Minted.

If I had to choose just one, it'd certainly be this Paris Vintage print... bows and French? 

J'adore.

I haven't got my heart set on one look yet, and I'm still making up my mind which means that I'm looking to my fabulous readers to help me out! Which of these three do you like? Or, do you have a recommendation of your personal favorite? 

If so, I'd love to check that out! 

Wishlist Wednesday: College Desk Edition

As lame as this sounds, I'm so excited to shop for my desk!

Just give me THIS.

Having a clean slate to work with is any neat-freak's dream! I get to organize however I want and decorate it for both looks and function. As I've stated before, I'm kinda on this lucite kick so don't be surprised when everything I want is lucite! 

Anyways, here's my wishlist for my desk:

1. Vertical File & File Folders

2. Glass Desk Pad (monogrammed?)

3. Lucite Monogrammed Pencil Holder

4. Book Ends

5. Inspiration board/ book

6. WWBWD Pencils

7. Plant (hydrangeas, please?)

8. Lamp

Kinda ridiculous for a college dorm, but I've been dreaming of having a desk for so long! I haven't had one for any of college and it's so hard to sit in the kitchen or on my bed to do my work; I had no set study place, which isn't good. So, while I have the chance, my desk is going to be beautiful!

For me, a desk is almost the most exciting part of moving into a dorm.

Wishlist Wednesday

I am adopting this trend from Hannah at the Pink and Green Prep.

It just always looks like a fun post and who doesn't have an ample amount of things on their wish list? I'm going to narrow my wants down, but here it goes!

Beauty: Tarte Glamazon LipStick

I saw these on SarahBelle's channel in YouTube and fell in love! First of all, I never have been one to stray from my trusty chapstick so the fact that I like a lipstick is a little crazy for me! But, these just look so fun and youthful while also allowing to dress up my makeup or play down my eyes in exchange for my lips. 

Clothes: Jack Rogers!

It's no secret that Jacks have been on my wishlist for quite a while. Now that it's summer, I've been working more. My next paycheck is definitely going towards some shiny new Jacks!

Books: Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style

Okay so I'm a little bit obsessed with the WASP, Ivy League lifestyle. This book has been on my wishlist (and in my Amazon cart) for quite some time. It looks so intriguing, but I don't really have a place for "coffee table books" so until then...

Accessories: Bows & Monograms!

So Etsy has got my monogram obsession even more... obsessive! There is every font and size you could ever want. And the bows. OMG the bows. 

Odds & Ends: Luke Bryan Tickets

Okay so Luke Bryan is on tour this summer with Florida Georgia Line. Basically the best concert ever, and this girl wants to go! Ticket prices are a little bit steep, but I might just go for it because this is going to be the concert of the summer- I can just feel it! 

 So I probably could have gone on and on with my wishlist. Having the extra cash plus graduation money just causes my wants to grow and grow... and grow! But, I'm really going to work on saving so that I can indulge a little bit in college. Eh, we'll see how that goes.

For now, here's to not breaking the bank!

Top 5: May 2013

Another month has come and passed and it is finally summer!

Today is graduation and tomorrow begins grad party madness! The slowing down of school along with me just not caring as much anymore has led to me getting into all kinds of cool, random things! I'm sorry if this "Top 5" post seems random. It probably is!

5. YouTube Beauty/ Lifestyle Videos

So, instead of watching a tv show or movie, I've been really into watching YouTube videos. I feel like I learn such awesome tips about beauty and just life from them! Some of my favorites include Sarah Belle, Bethany, and of course Carly! I'm not sure what makes them so entertaining, but I'm not the only one who does this because all of these ladies have millions of views!

4. Etsy!

Hello, online shopping addiction! I'd heard of etsy before and had been on their website, but I'd never really spent any amount of time on it. Let me just tell you, their monogram selection is wonderful! I've been looking for stickers and desk supplies for college, and the selection and prices on etsy are awesome. I haven't made an order yet, but I'm sure I will soon. 

3. Colored Lip Stuff

I said "stuff" because it varies from lipstick, to gloss, to balm. With less focus on my face and eyes in my summer makeup routine, fun lips are an easy way to brighten up my face without looking too overdone! I still haven't gotten into the lipstick on a daily basis, but I'm loving Baby Lips in Pink for day-to-day funness! 

2. The New Lilly Agendas

A "Top 5" wouldn't be complete without some Lilly! When the new agendas were released, I think I might have cried. They're so so so adorable! I am in love with the Tusk in Sun print (unfortunately, it ships after I leave for college so I'm not sure about that) as well as LuLu and Let's Cha Cha. Can I buy all 3? No seriously. I almost can't wait for school to be in session so that I can use one of them! The hard part is going to be deciding which one to get.

1. Acrylic Desk Accessories

I know... kindof a weird #1 for the month. But I've become obsessed. From Design Darling's Acrylic and monogrammed Collection to Etsy and the Container Store, I can't wait to be all decked out in acrylic accessories! It's a bit retro, but I'm also a fan of clean lines and classy-but-still-functional furniture. 

I warned you that this list was going to be random and weird! I've done a lot of dorm and college shopping, which is probably why these are my favorites for the month. 

Hopefully June will be more exciting!

Graduation Gifts

Today marks 4 weeks (or 19 days) of school left!! 

College kids are finishing up finals or are already home, and high schoolers are nearing their last days! The class of 2013 is entering its final days of high school-

  graduation and open houses are quickly approaching!

Whether you know hundreds of graduates or just 2, there's nothing like commemorating the accomplishment with a perfect gift! While money is always, always appreciated, putting some thought into a gift that your grad will love is so much more heartfelt and gives them a way to take a bit of you away with them!

Hint to your favorite cousin or crush that you want to keep up the correspondence with this adorable Lilly stationery set. This set works for a variety of occasions; she'll hardly be able to resist writing you! I know I wouldn't be able to! No student can have enough pens, and this Lilly one will keep note taking light and pretty! You can never go wrong with Lilly or writing materials. Put the two together and you've made the best gift-giver list!

Whether graduating from college or high school, grads have a whole new world ahead of them. For the avid writer, note-taker, or list-maker (hello, me!) this Kate Spade travel journal commemorates the leaving of one life to the entering of the next. It's cute and fashionable while also completely functional. Since it's technically a travel journal, it has pockets inside, which will work perfectly for any busy girl who needs a place to keep her syllabus, calendar, or just some miscellaneous notes. This is an awesome, inexpensive gift that will make an impact on your grad and keep her thinking of you every time she opens it.

Every girls needs a College Prepster monogrammed bracelet! Marley Lilly has the one, and it is a perfect grad gift! Jewelry is always perfect for the preppy girl, and a monogram makes anything better! This bracelet is the epitome of the preppy girl and will be a great outfit staple for going to class, going out, or meeting with a professor. Stylish, sophisticated, and classic, you can't go wrong with this one. 

For the reader, the funny one, or the guy who's too smart for his own good, That Book about Harvard is a perfect buy! At less than $15, the price is just right. This book will make you laugh at the horrible things poor Eric went through his freshman year at the esteemed Harvard University, though it's lighthearted enough not to instill fear into the incoming college freshmen. I plan on purchasing this book for many of my guy friends. While books aren't always the most exciting gift, encourage your grad to give it a chance. I promise you that they will be hooked after the first page. The laughs will be great and the fact that you provided them will be even better! 

Happy Gift Giving! Don't forget to tell your grad "Congrats!"

What's in a Word: Prep

Today, I came under fire in my Sociology class. Okay, maybe not "under fire", but our debate got a little heated. We've been talking about social groups and classifications and had to share aloud a group that we have observed on campus. Just my luck, the first group named was the Preps. While I don't necessarily group myself with the Preps at my school (who are only classified as preps because they are popular), I wanted to argue the idea that there are ANY groups of true Preps at my school. I needed to defend the label!

Before I go any further, let me clarify the area that I live in. It's not exactly lower-class, but no Gossip Girl upper East side, either. It's a suburb out of a nice city, but it's kind of an awkward area: farms mixed with city doesn't mix well. The groups mentioned today included the trashy kids, skaters, rednecks, and farmers. And with that, I'll replay today's in-class debate.

While Prep is another word for popular here, I know the true definition. Most people didn't even realize that Prep came from privileged, East Coast prep school students. Ridiculous? I'd say so. They went on to say that Preps are stuck up and rude. The truth is, true Preps are not stuck up; true Preps live a lifestyle not easily related to. Vacations to Martha's Vineyard and the Hamptons, large endowments, and old money are all custom to the classic, WASP Preps.

Then, there are the new Preps: The Southern Preps. They live in lavish homes on the beach with palm trees shading their beautiful pools. Lilly Pulitzer everything decorates their homes and bodies as they sun themselves on the beach. Once again, their lifestyle is quite challenging to relate to.

Regardless of the Prep lifestyle, I feel that it is a widely misused label. Those who are Preps where I live would be a disgrace to a real Prep. What's in the word Prep? It's money, power, and class. While I can hardly classify myself as a real Prep, I am a prep for where I live. While it may have been meant in a derogatory term, I enjoyed arguing the label today and will forever wear my plaid and Lilly proudly!

What'd you do today that strengthened who you are?

A Girl's Best Friend

I'm not really the kind of girl who opens up and gets super close with a large group of girls. For me, girls are hard to trust... except for those few who I know have my best interests at heart. It's so incredibly hard to find great friends in high school, in my opinion. The friends you made in eighth grade are suddenly so different junior year. The girls you meet freshman year probably get sucked into the party scene by junior year. I've come to the conclusion that the summer between sophomore and junior year is the year that everything and everyone changes. It's true for me, at least.

That summer was one of the worst summers that I can remember, but it led to great things. I remember feeling so lonely that year. I was growing up and excited to start focusing on my future. Everyone else was discovering the parties that the senior class was throwing. All of my girlfriends became these monsters, and I didn't want that to happen to me. It wasn't until my final week of that summer that I met my best friend.

I'll refer to her as LEM, and you will probably hear about her a lot. She is the most wonderful person to come into my life thus far. While I can't understand why she doesn't like science or reading (I guess she's just not a nerd like I am), we share a love of monograms, Gossip Girl, and just being crazy! She is the perfect compliment, and sometimes contrast, to me. I can't imagine what my life would be like without LEM. She is my go-to girl, who never judges me for my crazy ideas and is 100% supportive of pretty much anything I propose. I believe that every girl needs her LEM.

Show your LEM some lovin' today!