My Graduation Gift

My parents gave me my graduation gift like the night before my graduation, but it wasn’t the right size. They gave me a gold and pearl Pandora ring (that I actually posted about when I got back from spring break…funny story: my mom didn’t really like it because she thought “I was hitting her over the head” by saying how much I liked it, so in turn, I deleted the post.) and I absolutely love it! It has 4 teeny tiny pink sapphires in the sides of the “crown”. When we were in Phoenix, the saleswoman told me that it was part of Pandora’s princess collection. How fab? Well, anyway, mother had ordered a size 7, which I’m guessing is like typical ring size. The 7 easily fell off my hand though, causing a slight wearability problem. It fit on the middle finger of the hand I write with, and even that finger has a huge knuckle that it fit over. Needless to say, I needed a much smaller size, so we headed back over to Smyth to get a new one. After ordering the size 6 (and being properly fitted) it finally arrived a few days ago!

I’m still getting used to wearing a ring, and I tend to fidget taking it on and off and on and off. It does turn fairly often, so I find myself turning it back because of the texture (you can see the little balls on the photo). Also, to take the close up pictures (pardon the hair, my mom seemed a little grossed out, but I didn’t think twice about it) I used the digital macro setting on my camera for the first time! I upgraded my camera around Christmas time and I still am not sure how everything works yet! It took incredibly clear VERY close up photos of the ring. I decided to take the picture ON my hand because you can see the pink sapphires the best. Who even knew that sapphires could come in any color besides blue?! Well, they come in the fabulous shade of pink too!

Ever get any special graduation gifts? This is definitely one I’ll remember!

xxKatie

See U In The Dark

Last night, my sister and I went out to Philadelphia, P-A for a concert at the Wachovia Center. As my mom likes to call it, it is our "last sister hoorah". Grace is a huge Jonas Brothers fan (I am not however but details to follow) so she wanted to get tickets to the summer tour. I, however, like the opening band much better. They're called the Honor Society (Listen to all their songs! The first one on their MySpace is going to be in the movie "Bandstand", and I'm going to see the movie only because they're in it, yay!) and "See U in the Dark" is their most well-known song (grammar?). Grace told me that they are from NJ and they're whole look is Prep School(-esque). I couldn't agree more! They are a PREPPY BAND, can you believe it!? 

My favorite band member just so happened to match his-wait for it-boat shoes with his GUITAR! He even wore a button-down and a Madras tie!!!! 

By the way, all these photos were taken by me. Since my sister's in the JB fan club, we got a chance to get un-believable seats. We were virtually in the 4th row. Anywho, look at his tie! He was ADORABLE!! I got this ridiculous photo of his shoes from where we were sitting. These were his shoes (you won't believe this picture):

He was adorable! His name's Andrew.  I took this video of them singing their song (title of my blog- See U in the Dark). They have 3 other band members, Michael, Alexander, and Jason. 

(I really want to help them get famous. I mean they're already famous-obviously because they're touring with the JBs- but they're very cool!) They only have one song on iTunes, and its called "Where Are You Now" its the one I have another video of (it took too long to download on blogger), but download it please! I'm listening to it now as I write this blog. To make their preppy look even better, the drum/their logo has two crossing guitars above the HS, but they look like teeny-tiny lacrosse sticks! I love them! They even like one of my favorite sports!

Last summer Honor Society were discovered by another group of New Jerseyites, the Jonas Brothers, who have since introduced Honor Society’s brand of radio-friendly slick R&B pop to its fans and grabbed them as openers on the JoBros’ upcoming world tour. Even though its members skew slightly older than Jonas (Honor Society’s four members are all in their twenties), Honor Society has already achieved heartthrob status and nearly two million MySpace plays.

That's "their story" according to RollingStone- yeah they've been in RS. They even consider their look to be "very Polo Rugby with some rock edge" how fab! Enjoy HS!

xxKatie

Lilly Fall!

Hello! Sorry I've been completely MIA these days, but getting ready for school is positively taking over my life! Getting ready paired with working about 4 days a week has just taken up all my time!  Speaking of working however, Lilly fall (shipment #1) has hit stores! In 2 days we have sold 11 fall units! The stuff has only been out for 48 hours, but everyone seems to be reacting well! By far, the Sabine Shirt Dress is an early bestseller (sorry the photo is so big)! 

Lilly also brought back last year's Blaney dress, which is simply adorable. With pockets and everything, it is a most-flattering dress for all shapes and sizes too. All the girls I work with have very different shapes, but many of them own a Blaney (or two or three...). One girl is even heading over to Scotland and she's named the Blaney as a staple in her to-be overseas wardrobe (best of luck aBc!) The Dale Knit top is this year's Britta top, very cute, very versatile and even comes in a (pricey) printed version! My boss has the Britta in every color it comes in--5--and loves it, the Dale surely won't disappoint! 

PS: get to your Michael's Craft store ASAP. In the front section they have this crazy 10/$10 section and this season it has a "Preppy Collection". I took advantage of it, buying stationary and other paper products for school like crazy! Photos to follow!

xxKatie

Vera for School!

Today I went VB shopping before heading over to Robek's (boy, am I going to miss my Polar Pineapple smoothie from Robek's at USC). Now, I don't own too much Vera, however, I found the need to get a small wallet for school with an ID pouch that allowed for access to my school card. The other day, my friend Shannon (she's going to Loyola College in MD) had this great VB wristlet that was able to hold her camera! I knew it would be perfect for my school stuff, and where she put her camera, I could put my phone. I have an LG Dare so its super slim and would fit.I decided on the "Raspberry Fizz" color because it is kind of USC colors and pink! They don't have a strictly pink and green one or I would have gotten that. This cost me about $32 which I didn't think was too bad considering how useful it is. My mom agreed too, that it made sense spending it on such a practical wallet. She even said that she might like something like that considering she's been using the same black leather Coach wallet for a few years. From college students to moms, this seems like a great little wallet! You can even find some prints in the All-In-One Wristlet on sale for $20!

xxKatie

I love bloggers.

So I had a post all planned out and what I was going to write about, but I logged on today to see that I HAVE THE BEST FOLLOWERS EVER. Your comments on my last post about college made me SO happy. Everyone is offering support and you're all excited FOR me. You guys rock! I just had had had to say something. I promise I'll have a real post tomorrow.

xxKatie

1 Month!

One month from today, I will be moving into my dorm at USC! I found out my suitemate today and both girls seems awesome! Not the scary worst nightmares I had been worrying about!! Yay! I did some more dorm shopping, including my computer! Apple has this great deal if you show a student ID you get $50-$100 off a computer, a free (after rebate) iPod touch, and a free (after rebate) printer! I am so so so excited! Its getting closer!! I can't believe it! 

On another note, I'm going to rush in the fall. I'm super excited and there are so many sorority choices at USC that its crazy. They have the most ridiculous houses for sororities and fraternities. They are unbelievable. I've heard a lot about which ones to join (and not to join) and I think I have some ideas, but does anyone have advice? Its very early, but I'd rather go into the whole thing with a plan and know a little about it before it gets crazy. Believe it or not it begins the first day of school!

I can't believe its only 1 month away. Let the real countdown begin!

xxKatie

The Great Debate Results!

Here are the results from the post the other day!

First of all, to set it straight, this is the JR/SB "Navajo Flat" real Great Debate. Fellow blogger Melissa C. Morris says she spoke directly to Vivian from SB (I didn't write this, she did, so click the link to see the full "article"):
Bonanno: The Original.
My father made them back in the 60's with Mr.. Luigi Pucillo, his partner. My mother cut out the leather into patterns, the long thin strips for the whipstitch as well as punched every single hole by hand. She put together all the tops of the sandals chose the colors she thought would show nice on her counter, while my father glued, stitched and sanded the soles. The Bonanno name was never stamped into the sole until my brother took over the business in the 1980s.
Jack: Imitation.
They saw a good thing, copied and mass produced them and sold them in dept stores. There is no patent on a shoe so more power to them.

Here are the results to my Great Debate (I felt compelled to make it official!):
Look at how some won by landslides--Lilly for instance! Tomorrow is my mother's birthday, happy birthday in advance mom!

The Great [Preppy] Debate

Hi all! The other night, I tuned into one of the funniest shows I've seen in awhile on VH1 called The Great Debate. They take tons of comedians, famous singers, other celebrities and random famous people and ask them which they prefer, "A vs. B". In the category of "Favorite John Travolta Character", substitute Danny Zuko for "A" and Tony Manero for "B". (Obviously, my heart belongs to John Travolta in Grease since I was like 5.) They had crazy other things too like Aunt Jemima vs. Mrs. Butterworth and Cabbage Kids vs. Tickle Me Elmo. Well, between the comedians' commentaries and the jokes from the celebs, this show was too cool, so I decided to think up a few preppy "Great Debates". Post your answers!

1. Best Preppy Color Combo: Pink & Green vs. Navy & White









2. Best Preppy Pattern: Stripes vs. Plaid
3. Best Preppy Material: Seersucker vs. Madras










4. Best Preppy VV Guy: Shep or Ian
5. Best Preppy Tote Bag: Vineyard Vines or Vera Bradley
6. Best Preppy Shoe: Lilly Pulitzer McKims or Jack Rogers Navajo Flat










7. Best Preppy Silver Accessory: Silver Pearls or Silver Rings
8. Best Preppy Monogram: Circle or Script
9. Best Preppy Menswear: Blue Blazer or Boat Shoes
10. Best Preppy Designer (the tough-y): Lilly Pulitzer or Ralph Lauren

Let me know your Great Debate picks!

xxKatie

Gamecocks + VV= Love

They finally have it online! WOO HOO! Vineyard Vines has finally put their USC collegiate line online! I am SO excited. For all of you who didn't know, the USC mascot is a Gamecock! That's it pictured in the print. Cocky is the USC mascot who goes to all the USC games' name. There are a bunch of photos of Cocky where its posing with its arms out so I've begun calling Cocky the sassy Gamecock! Look at how cute this bag is! I'll definitely be picking one up before I head down to school! This also comes in Navy blue but how can you pass up the traditional USC garnet (I'm using the official school color name...)?! I am so excited! As the VV website says, "Wear Your Colors With Pride!" Click the link to see if there are totes or ties for your current school or Alma Mater!

xxKatie

GET TO MARSHALL'S!

ASAP: Get to your Marshall's. Lilly Pulitzer perfume spotted. Both Beachy (blue) and Squeeze (yellow) have been seen in Marshall's in the big size, available for...$24.99! Believe it or not, it is the real thing and completely available. I've now been to two area Marshall's's and both locations have carried the perfume! Now, also in both locations, there have only been a few bottles, but they were still there!!! My friend Emily bought Beachy and so did I! Find it asap!!!

xxKatie

Have a Favorite Quote?

I've done a bunch of favorite things on my blog, even a blog post about favorite things! Anyway, what are your favorite quotes? I have SO many to choose from, but my junior year we had to pick a favorite one for our creative writing class. It was supposed to do with writing but that rule was a bit relaxed. We picked a favorite photo (that didn't include ourselves) of something like a serene sunset or clean white snow or something cute and funny. It was supposed to be inspiring for writing. The picture of the two girls was my portfolio cover. It was such a fun thing to pull out of my backpack when I needed some inspiration or just a silly giggle. My favorite quote (sort of. It was the one I used on my portfolio cover along with the photo.) happens to be from one of my favorite books, The Alchemist: "We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand." It was a good quote that summarized a nice idea as well as being about writing.

I have quite the list of other favorite quotes. I usually add them in a "Note" on my phone to remember them or their page numbers in the book I'm reading. Here are the ones that have made my list (there are a lot) and what they're from is listed too!

"Its like finding out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich." -Jane, 27 Dresses

"To love another person is to see the face of God" -Les Mis

"Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are." -The Alchemist

"Because that's what people do. They leap, and hope to God they can fly, because otherwise you just drop like a rock, wondering the whole way down, why in the hell did I jump? But here I am, falling, and the only one that makes me feel like I can fly... is you."-Hitch

"I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is"-Forrest Gump

"The friends who grew up with you deserve a special respect. The ones who stuck by you shoulder to shoulder, in a time where nothing was certain, all life lay ahead, and every road led home"-The Wonder Years

"Sometimes i wish that i had never met you, so i could go to sleep at night not knowing there was someone like you out there." -Good Will Hunting

"Sorry I had a fight in the middle of your Black Panther party." -Forrest Gump

"..and I met you. You said you needed somebody. Well, I needed somebody too. I thanked God for you, because you seemed to be gentle-- a cleft in the rock of the world that I could hide in." -A Streetcar Named Desire

"Why do you want to marry me?"
"So I can kiss you whenever I want." -Sweet Home Alabama

"If you love someone, just say it, just say it right there out loud, otherwise the moment, just, passes you by." -My Best Friend's Wedding

What are some of your favorite quotes? Or what books do you find especially quotable? Just a fun thought!

xxKatie