Beach Bound: The Best Company in the World

When traveling to the beach, you think of all  your packable essentials: Costas, toothbrush, phone, sunscreen, phone charger, iPod, books, towel, hat, bathing suit--if you forgot everything else, you'd still be in good shape! However, another essential isn't packable. You GOTTA surround yourself with fabulous beach buddies in order to properly enjoy the beach. Although today is our last day of our Bethany Beach vacation, my dad and I are headed home. For the first time in awhile, this trip to the beach was just me and the fam, naturally I surrounded myself with the best beach buddies out there!

Like I said, Dad and I had to pop home because I have to go back to school and work and he's a workin' man too. Today ALLLLSO just so happens to be Father's Day! So happy Father's Day Daddyo! (PS: This is among my favorite pictures of us--matching in our favorite crab-wear!)

I wish we were staying later but it's back to the real world for us! In our place, my mom and my sister will get to spend time in the beach house with my grandmother and one of my mom's sister's so they'll still be in absolutely wonderful beach company! We've even nicknamed the perch atop our 3rd floor of the house Nan's perch so it's only necessary that she's returning up there!

I'm a big fan of taking friends to the beach too! Just over 2 months ago, as y'all know, I went to the beach with a big group of friends for a fraternity event:

Here was our house! And what a fun group we were! I've brought out many different friends to our house in Bethany through the years and they've certainly enjoyed the break!

A HUGE part of a good beach trip is the company you surround yourself with. A funny beach sign I've seen says, "You never know how many friends you have until you own a beach house!" 

xxKatie

Cooler Painting

Back home at last! We returned home from the beach around noon yesterday after a very successful weekend! A big custom with these fraternity weekends is to paint coolers themed around the weekend or event (formals, initiation, for your littles if you're in a sorority) so that you can bring your drinks, snacks and food easily with you! They are EXTREMELY difficult to paint. Whoever made this custom of painting acrylic paint on plastic was insane. Thanks to modern technology and the aid of several girlfriends who have done this in the past, my process was relatively easy. It started out looking like this:

Standard Igloo $18.88 cooler from WalMart

Then progressed:

And again:

And again:

And again: (it's like a butterfly)

This was the finalized top!! I was SO PROUD! Shane and I often call ourselves "Team Maryland" so when I started painting my cooler I knew I was gonna take the Maryland to an extreme! What's more Maryland-y than Old Bay Seasoning??

This was my madras front. I was most proud of this side. I'd never seen anything like this cooler so I was really excited to be very different from the norms!

This was one of my small sides! For this side, paint pens were key!

This was the back, it was a MapQuest inspired map to where we were heading! 

So now that I have one cooler under my belt, I'm tempted to make a list of things I wish I knew. Anyone have any tips to add? What you painted coolers for?

xxKatie

My Next Roadtrip/Vacay: Myrtle Beach, SC

Yesterday we actually left for a big beach weekend trip with a big group of friends! I have been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time and will be attending with a huge group for a fraternity beach weekend! I painted my cooler during some of the (very little) free time I had and I think it came out pretty well. I'll be sure to post pictures upon our return home! I am looking forward to a few relaxing days on the beach, in the sun and just doing nothing before exams kick into high gear. I've had SO MUCH WORK recently (as I'm sure ALL of my college girls will agree with...this pre-exam lead up is the worst!) and this little mini vacation is perfect timing!

This little road trip/weekend will be so much fun I can't wait! Anyone have any suggestions for places we MUST visit in Myrtle? Let me know for sure and I'll be sure to let the group know!!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Gameday 2010 Season Opener

Gameday! by letsbepreppy featuring a lace dress

I wore a basic black shift from forever21 to the big game! I was super hot because it felt like 90 degrees out there! I have to believe that it was just ridiculously hot the whole time! I decided to go with the totally Southern look: pearl necklace, pearl earrings, modest dress, and flat shoes. I wore a gold bangle and a DY bangle and carried my khaki Longchamp. That one is pretty dirty so I have no problem when it sits on the ground of the stadium seats (I've taken this bag out with me, on Halloween, so you get the idea...I did buy it from Ebay, so I don't feel too bad). I got lots of compliments on this dress and saw very many ill-dressed girls. Some (freshman) girls don't really get the idea that gameday isn't trashy. It's a time to look cute and put together. One girl, I don't know her name, but I called her "romper girl". Gameday is no place to wear a romper. She looked inappropriate and it was very badly fitting for her shape. The shorts were too short and it didn't go with the "black dress" theme. Most girls wore Jacks or Rainbows and I don't blame them. Some girls wore heels, but I don't know how they survived. A big part of the student pump up during the game is a song called "Sandstorm". It's a well known techno song that they play between 7 and 10 times per game: after touchdowns, before halftime, if the Gamecocks need a boost, you get the idea. I would not want to run the risk of hurting myself while EVERYONE is jumping during that song in heels! 

It was a really fun night and I'll be sure to post some pictures soon! I have a great one of two of my friends tying on a Palmetto bowtie! Too cute!

xxKatie