Happy Valentine's Day!

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Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones! Enjoy this special day full of love with your favorite candies, special people, favorite movies, drinks and everything else by your side!

xxKatie

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2012!

(This photo is our Christmas card picture this year! I figured you were probably wondering why it's not red and green with a Christmas tree in the background!)

Enjoy your holiday with family, friends, and loved ones! I will be thankful that we are all safe, sound, and snug together for the holiday season this year. It is certainly a time of reflection and relaxation and also important to remember the special reason for the season. 

Let your Christmas overflow with love, happiness, appreciation and a full heart today!

xxKatie

Merry Christmas Eve!

Tonight is when my family does a lot of our celebrating! We'll head to mass around 6, have a late dinner (plus my grandparents now that they've arrived in town!) and head to bed to get snuggely before Santa comes. This is one of the pictures we snagged last year!

We all get a dressed up for Christmas Eve mass and dinner. My Christmas outfit will consist of the following:

Lilly Pulitzer Mallory dress that I snagged on a HUGE sale this summer!

My gold circle monogram necklace

Libby Edelman Booties

Last but not least, my Old Navy ruffle coat (which is now like 1/2 price!!)

Does your family do a big night for Christmas Eve or Christmas or both? What party frock will you be donning for the big day?

xxKatie

Holiday Hostess

As the holidays are fast-approaching, there's often times when you'll find yourself staying at a girlfriend's house, spending time couch-surfing at an aunt or uncle or perhaps even staying with your grandparents! Below are a list of great hostess gifts that will be perfect when you're staying with someone!

Is your hostess a wine-o? I love this Lilly Pulitzer wine tote. Add your hostess' favorite type of wine and you've got a festive gift she'll love!

Is your hostess a big foodie? Specialty olive oil is a great alternative to flowers or even wine. A brand new olive oil shop opened here in Columbia and it's too cute! It really opened my eyes to the thought of olive oil as a gift!

Is your hostess very overextended this holiday season? Treat her to a manicure or pedicure! Add in a bottle of your favorite nail polish to go with it for some inspiration. Make it a date and go with her too!

Unsure of where to even start for a hostess gift? A candle is always a great option! I've posted about Capri Blue Volcano candles in the past, and they're my favorite scent. These candles are sold all over and make an awesome treat!

xxKatie

Break O'Clock

As of today, I'm officially on break time!

I am done with the stress of finals (3 finals in 3 days is a WILD ride, let me tell you!) and looking forward to really getting into the merry spirit!

We actually found ourselves in the middle of a cold snap yesterday, and I even had to dig out my rain coat from the chilly drizzle that accompanied the colder temperatures. This is definitely the winter that we're used to--not the very mild stuff we've had all December!

I also wrapped up my internship for the semester working for the American Red Cross. I had a great experience and it was crazy to be leaving my office for the last time! So much has gone on this semester, it really flew by!

I'm going to head home early next week and get a chance to spend time with my family and start decking out house out in pink and green decorations like the ones above I started to put up at work as soon as Thanksgiving was over!

Hope you're getting into the Christmas and holiday mindset as we start to get SO MUCH CLOSER to the big day!!

xxKatie

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy spending this time of thanks with your friends and family!

xxKatie

Giveaway: Capitol Letters Makeup Bag

What's perfect for the girl who has everything? Something to put it all in!

A great choice for a girly gift is a makeup bag!

Capitol Letters on Etsy is giving away a makeup bag to a lucky winner!

Not only is this a great gift, but a good makeup bag is a holiday essential for anyone traveling. Do you spend Thanksgiving with your maternal grandparents and Christmas with your dad's parents? Do you go from coast to coast? Do you fly or drive? 

SO MUCH TRAVELING around this time of the year! That's certainly one major thing I've learned since traveling a lot to and fro college and home!

I love the fun, whimsical details on the bags too!

In order to qualify for this week's Giveaway Monday giveaway just use this Rafflecopter widget:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Giveaway Monday!

Safe travels to anyone heading home or to their Thanksgiving destination if you're leaving today!

xxKatie

Crafternoon: DIY Preppy Pumpkins

Last year my boss and I had a crafternoon at work and made these great Lilly pumpkins!

They were easy and you don't need many supplies at all!

Supplies:

1. Pumpkins: we used hollow ones from Hobby Lobby that were light and small

2. Wrapping Paper: in your print of choice

3. Mod Podge: lots, this is more like paper mache!

4. Glitter: if you want to make a baby glitter pumpkin

5. Green paint if you want to spruce up the stems

Steps for wrapping paper pumpkins:

1. Cut your wrapping paper into 1'' thick strips--this makes placement on the pumpkin MUCH easier

2. Paint a small section, maybe 3'' wide, of your pumpkin with Mod Podge

3. Cover that wet area of the pumpkin with dry wrapping paper strips--1 at a time

4. Paint strip of wrapping paper with Mod Podge--during this step you are trying to saturate the paper to make it lay flat. Getting it saturated is really a key.

5. Repeat

Steps for glitter pumpkins:

I definitely did this pumpkin backwards last year when I did it, but I know a better way now!

1. Mix glitter and Mod Podge in a small bowl

2. Paint pumpkin with glittery paste mixture

3. Let layer dry

4. Repeat as necessary for full coverage

Glue may drip, in fact glue dripped EVERYWHERE on our pumpkins. Because of that, when we peeled the dry pumpkins off the drying surface (a styrofoam plate) some of the bottom of the paper peeled off/stuck to the plate. This is ok! It will all be hidden when the pumpkin stands up or is displayed!

This DIY pumpkin craft is a great craft if you don't like carving pumpkins. I don't really like goopy guts inside the pumpkin, so I am much more inclined  to make something like this! Plus, these pumpkins can be packed and reused year upon year. A year later and our pumpkins look great! 

Happy Halloween Crafting!

xxKatie

I'm BAAAAAAAACK

Vacation was nice, but I'm glad to be back! My computer has been on the fritz and I had no wi-fi, so what's a girl to do!?

Instagram. Obviously.

Anyway, I'm back and ready to blog! Here's a little recap of my holiday:

Out at dinner with my friend Jami at the beach in South Carolina!

My shirt for the 4th that I very eagerly purchased at a store that had an entrance that was a shark.

Spent any amount of time that there was even a SLIVER of sunshine happily clad in sunnies.

Went out a few nights!

I had to decide between patriotic red, white, and blue Lilly or the State of Mind Patch which would have been PERFECT for America and the 4th! I ultimately decided on the red, white and blue and didn't regret my dress since it was so hot!

ANYWAY, now I'm back and ready for action! Sorry for my vacay hiatus!

xxKatie

I Got It From My Momma...

Happy Mother's Day to my awesome Mom! I miss you and can't wait to see you in THREE DAYS!! Before we know it, I'll be home! 

Arizona, 2009

Turks and Caicos, 2010

Aruba, 2011

Aruba, 2011

You can see the Mother-Daughter apple doesn't fall far from the tree...I got it from my Momma! Your oldest daughter cannot wait to see her fabulous Mom in a matter of HOURS!! I love you Mom, thanks for everything you've done, especially recently. See you soon!

For all the other Moms out there, I'm sharing a P&G commercial that makes me cry nearly every time I see it:

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!!

xxKatie

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you and yours!

Enjoy one of my favorite holidays with all your loved ones!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: No Pinches Here!

March 17 by letsbepreppy featuring kate spade earrings

Ever heard of the St. Patrick's Day rule, if you're not wearing any green, you've provided ANYONE with reason to pinch you? Well you have now! Be sure to wear some green today so that you don't get any pinches--I'll be pinching people not wearing green (or at least the ones I know!!)!

Happy St. Pat's! 

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Valentine's Day

February 13 by letsbepreppy featuring black ballerina flats

I love my Elsa Pintucks that I got for Christmas! It's the PERFECT Valentine's Day top! ...too bad I wore it yesterday! I worked for a few hours and I wanted to have a fabulous pink Valentine's shirt on for my shift! It was perfect. It's been so chilly these past few days here at school that a silk shirt may not be the warmest option but it was still a good pink choice! I think for Valentine's I'm going to wear something like this:

December 18 by letsbepreppy featuring animal earrings

I will, at the very least, be incorporating this dress into my look and maybe even adding my pink blazer HOWEVER, that could easily take it over the top! I've scheduled all my posts for this week since it's a crazy one (sorry in advance for all my economics tweets--we have a HUGE test Thursday--first of the semester!) so I'll be sure to update my Polyvore with the most up to date outfit choices!

Tonight I'm going to cheer on Miss Colleen (she just uploaded a BUNDLE of photos from my birthday and we just LOVED this one!) in a wonderful dating game show tonight! Isn't she so great for putting herself out there like that?! Here's to junior year... (#htjy). Anyway, those are our big Valentine's plans!

What are y'all doing for the big night? Have a great outfit? Let me know!! Happy Valentine's Day to you and all your Valentines!

xxKatie

It's Great to be a Gamecock!

Since the 4th of July is officially over, it's time to look forward to MY next holiday in 60 days exactly. That, my friends, is you guessed it: the KICKOFF FOR FOOTBALL SEASON 2011! The football team has released a bunch of AWESOME videos just like this one on the website:

It has gotten me OH-SO-EXCITED to see what this season has in store! For the Navy vs. USC game, Mom and Dad are even going to pay me a little (awesome) visit to hang out and see what a real football game is like!

60 days from today, my favorite team and YOURS, the Carolina Gamecocks against East Carolina to be in Charlotte, NC!

I cannot wait to be donning my best black dress, with this fabulous crossbody, my favorite platinum Jacks, and sunglasses! This is my next holiday and I cannot cannot cannot WAIT until College Football Season is upon us!!!

xxKatie

(P.S. Mom I know your birthday is between now and football season--don't worry, I didn't forget, that's REALLY the next holiday :) xoxo)

Weekly Gratitude

I figured it would be IDEAL to post my Weekly Gratitude post in it's scheduled time since it's the 4th of July. We're goin' RED, WHITE, AND BLUE style (with a little bit of humor thrown in...) for the usual WG:

1. I am thankful that we get to celebrate our 235th 4th of July today! Let's party like it's 1776!
2. I am thankful for all our soldiers, reservists, fighters, firefighters, police officers, and other civic workers who keep our country safe. You do a lot for us (and myself included) don't thank everyone in that category enough!

3. I am thankful for Betsy Ross and her AWESOME design skills and sewing abilities. Homegirl got it done for us. Looks like some of our founding fathers were impressed too.
4. I am thankful for Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence. I am thankful for John Hancock for having the biggest signature (and giving us the idiom of the "John Hancock"). I am thankful for (while we're in the Declaration frame of mind) Charles Carroll for reppin' Maryland and Catholics, and being the longest-living signer of them all!
5. I am thankful for Toby Keith (cue historical change) for giving us "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue"..."Hey Uncle Sam put yo' name at the top of his list...!"

6. I am thankful for Robert Mills. He was the designer of the Washington Monument in DC AS WELL AS the Maxcy Monument built on the Horseshoe of USC to honor our first university president, Jonathan Maxcy!
7. I am thankful for the Han Dynasty (206-220 BC) for inventing fireworks by burning bamboo!
8. I am thankful for Old Navy for annually releasing their American t-shirt and American flag bathing suit every year. In store only, that is.

9. I am thankful for Steven's Hardware in Annapolis for selling "Made in the U.S.A. American flags" and only ones made here.
10. I am thankful that I am an American and am able to safely, excitedly, and patriotically celebrate the 4th of July!

xxKatie

Can Someone Help This Girl Out?

About a month ago a girl walked into the store with the best croakies I've ever seen:

I am obsessed! I can't seem to track them down ANYWHERE though! I even emailed Chums yesterday to inquire where I might be able to find these. My new Harpoon sunglasses from Costa del Mar are just CALLING for these!

In the meantime, I've settled on finding red Chums for my pair which are proving to be nearly as hard to find in person. I may just resort to buying them online, but I'd much rather walk out of a store with my new goodies in hand, just that kind of shopper! Effectively I'd be wearing these:

I love the red for summer but also may end up buying a Navy pair since they'd probably match more or another Palmetto pair like the ones I already have from OOPS. 

Has anyone ever seen these before? In the midst of searching for all of these, I had the brilliant idea of a Port/Starboard combination! This, however, I believe hasn't been created yet. 

I know they're also Christmas colors, but most avid sailors/people who live in a sailing town (like me) would know what this really means! Just a thought for all those fabulous sunglass retailers out there!!

xxKatie

Happy Birthday (Party) Day, Miss Skyler!

So y'all have heard me always include Miss Skyler in my posts! Today is the start of her birthday festivities! Her birthday begins tonight when the clock strikes midnight (Cinderella style...except maybe a little later...) and will last until however long we decide!

How adorable is she?

Anyway tonight is her birthday, just a small gathering of family and close friends at a local restaurant and I'm SO looking forward to celebrating. Because I haven't gotten her gift from the mail yet, here are some clues to what it might be:

 AND

for a special little basket of goodies that screams sCe!

Cheers to you, Skyler! Can't wait to celebrate tonight!!

xxKatie

Memorial Day

I hope everyone find themselves in good company on a day like this!

In the words of Brad Paisley on May 2, "If you see someone in a military uniform tomorrow, for heaven's sake give them a hug. Or a drink. Or a new car."

xxKatie

"Yes, Mom. You're Right, Mom. You Know Everything, Mom."

That was the mantra my mom made me learn and repeat as soon as I turned 13. Turns out, it's a good one. My mom usually is right. She knows a lot. She's very smart and she worries a lot. For me and my sister and my dad and everyone else. She's great. And could own your mom in a fight. Just kidding. Let's just say that I am beyond lucky to have my mom as my Momma. This is the first year I won't be home to celebrate Momma's Day. Here's to you Momma R, I miss you and love you so much and can't wait to see you! You have helped make me into the awesome kid I am now, and yes I'm still a kid. Without you I don't know where I would be. Thanks for putting up with me and letting me cry on the phone and thinking of me with all of your care packages and pink duck shoes. I can't wait to see you on Wednesday (and Dad and Grace...fam shoutout whattup!) and we can celebrate our own reunion! Remember: read the cards in order.


xxKatie

Let's All Tumble

Tumblr.

It's the new blogging. It's like combining Twitter + Blogger. I love it. It's taken me awhile to get the hang of it (and remember I have one) but it's all the rage. I've been tumbling for awhile on and off but I'm really going to try to make a better effort to tumble more over the summer. (I have a HUGE summer to do list, look for a post coming up soon.) It's like a stream of consciousness of things you see and can immediately post. Here are some of my tumbled faves:

(this is my current BBerry background...#SINS if this is a picture of you...)

You can post a lot more than pictures on Tumblr, but it's harder to transpose the quotes, YouTube videos, and song lyrics on here! Check out Tumblr and let me know if you have one so I can see all your tumbles in my dashboard!!

xxKatie