Help Me Decide on a Dress!

I have a big end of year banquet tonight! I have two dress options:

Lilly Pulitzer Kiki Dress

with gold strappy heels

Lilly Pulitzer Vanna Dress

with nude pumps 

If anyone remembers, I've actually polled y'all for my dress for this exact banquet for the last two years!

 The first year I wore this dress:

The second year I wore this dress:

So now this year, I have to decide what to wear next! Help a sista out and pick your favorite! Vote here:

Carolina Cup: It's A Wrap!

CAROLINA CUP WAS A BLAST!

(Photo thanks to the Lilly Pulitzer Instagram, seen here!)

I can't explain how much fun I had! I spent about 2/3 of the day working and the other 1/3 popping around from tent to tent making the rounds to say hello to everyone!

As you can see, the day started out a little wet. And by a little I mean a few raindrops less than pouring. I had my fabulous pink Hunter boots on to stay dry and un-muddy! It worked out perfectly for the morning, but thankfully it perked up a bit and our weather majorly improved!

This is another view of my outfit:

As you can see, once the weather changed for the better, I slipped into my Platinum Jacks and was good to go!

And my Carolina Cup bangle stack:

It was a combo of bangles from my own collection including J. Crew and KEP Designs!

The dress on the left, the Lilly Pulitzer Lottie Dress in the Multi State of Mind Patch was probably the most popular dress that I saw! I don't think I could ever get sick of that patch though because I always learn new things when I see it!

Some of my favorite parts of the day were meeting LBP followers and Twitter friends, like sweet Morgan here! I felt like I knew her already and we both go, "I'M SO GLAD TO FINALLY MEET YOU!!" when we saw one another!

I was also SO excited to meet Sally, our fabulous Lilly rep who has made SO many of my important outfits possible (read: Cup, 21st Birthday, etc.)! How cute does she look in the Ricci shift in that same patch!? Kathryn and I had to snag a picture with her!

I was able to sneak off for a little while to find some of my friends and we all snagged a few pictures together!

All in all, Carolina Cup was a HUGE success! I don't know how I can beat it next year! I can't say thank you enough to all of the wonderful Lilly ladies who took me in as one of their own, LBP followers who came up and chatted, friends who paid me visits, and everyone else who made this such a fun day! This was TOTALLY the BEST CUP EVER!

Until next year, Carolina Cup!

xxKatie

Weekly Gratitude

1. I am thankful for my parents for listening to me complain about the coming week. It's homecoming week here at USC and is very fun, but I'm a homecoming chair, so it's also very VERY stressful and intense. Major props to Brandon, Jenn, and Sara who have all been in my position in the past.

2. I am thankful that this week will be over soon enough. See above point ;)

3. I am thankful that I've found two GREAT fall nail colors to choose from on Sunday! Check them out:

Geranium

Size Matters

4. I am thankful for the WONDERFUL employees/volunteers of Charleston Fashion Week! They have been SO helpful with rescheduling with my schedule and both friendly and flexible. I imagined they would have been rigid but instead CFW was great! (My manicure will occur after the audition so a potentially bright nail color isn't distracting!)

5. I am thankful for the retreat I was a part of on Saturday. It was so nice to be away and out of Columbia in the cool weather as well as on the water. Water and being close to water helps calm me and I believe does wonders for the soul.

6. I am thankful that it's really starting to get cold here in Columbia!! I can transition into full-blown tights and boots and dresses! It's so exciting!

7. I am thankful for all the exciting events coming up before the semester ends! I'm also thankful that this semester of tough lectures and tougher exams is coming to an end. To think that first semester of my junior year of college is almost over BLOWS MY MIND!

8. I am thankful for all the new candles in my room. I find it relaxing and calming which is ironic because my Momma HATES candles! I can't think of very much she hates more than candles!

9. I am thankful that I am almost done using my BlackBerry!!!! I hope I can get an upgrade over Christmas break or after the new year and I can say sianara (how do you spell that??) to this stinky phone!

10. I am thankful that I get to see some of my cousins this week! I haven't seen them in a few months and they'll be spending some time down in my neck of the woods from New York!!

xxKatie

New Friends

Today is a big day in the life of all my University Ambassador friends. Today is our version of "bid day" when we get to meet all the members of the new "cohort"! I am SO excited to meet all our new friends and co-workers for the rest of the year! We only do recruitment once per semester and so this is our big first day!!

Last year we were fortunate enough to welcome the newbies at Williams Brice Stadium! Home YOUR CAROLINA GAMECOCKS!

Here are some of the boys decked out in their best garnet and black!

SO EXCITED!

Right before the big reveal!!

We will be spending a few hours with the new rookies today and then they officially start on next Thursday! I am so pumped to meet all our fabulous new friends and I look forward to getting to know them and helping them along their way as new future tour guides!

xxKatie

P.S.: Don't miss out on your chance to take part in the Scentsy GIVEAWAY by midnight tonight!!

Weekly Gratitude

1. I am thankful for my new job that I love!

2. I am thankful for my friends who really cheered me up this past weekend after getting through a yucky week!

3. I am thankful for all the fun giveaways coming up soon! Y'all are in for some pink and green treats!!!!

4. I am thankful for my fabulous Frye boots for being a closed toe shoe I can wear and still look cute. Otherwise I'm stuck in sneakers...

5. I am thankful for Luke Bryan's new CD called "Tailgates & Tanlines". Y'all this one is a keeper!

6. I am thankful for Papermate Profile 1.4mm pens. These are THE BEST pens out there. I can't take notes well without them. The are seriously the greatest. 

7. I am thankful for the Thompson Student Health Center nurses and LPN's. Without this staff, my toe would probably be the size of Texas and I'd be a sad little college junior. (Did I mention they asked me, "Sweetheart, are you a freshman?")

8. I am thankful for my own Coach and Rookie, shoutout before recruitment starts! If it wasn't for y'all, I wouldn't enjoy recruitment and look forward to all the new kids!

9. I am thankful for all my friends that I got to see this past week! I really think I've seen almost everyone I know and love since I've been back!!

10. I am thankful for the two impromptu singalongs we had this week to "We Go Together" from Grease and "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan. 

Have a great week everyone!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Double Duty

August 24 by letsbepreppy featuring j crew shorts

I wore this outfit yesterday! I was at work for a little to fill out some new-hire paperwork, had class, and had an Ambassador function last night! We're starting our Recruitment process for our new cohort of Ambassadors and we couldn't be more excited! Last night got us SO excited (complete with a group version of Rock, Paper, Scissors that I'm so game for playing again) to bring in the new crop and start giving tours again!

I had two days worth of outfits squished into one! I had my class/work/run errands outfit that I was in until about 6 and then my visitor center/University Ambassadors/tour guide outfit that I wear (a different version of) once a week, for football recruitment, and special events that the University hold that require the aid of student volunteers!

I get a lot of questions about what I typically wear to give tours in so the second outfit is common. We have pretty easy rules to follow: it has to be garnet and black, have Carolina on it somewhere and bottoms must be fingertip length or longer. You also have to wear shoes that you're comfortable giving tours in! This is a pretty common outfit for me to wear until it starts to get colder out here!

Be sure to enter Tuesday's Sassy Palmetto GIVEAWAY too!!

Is it still hot as heck by y'all? I can be in tops like these for the next few months!!

xxKatie

Weekly Gratitude

1. I am thankful for Bodypump. I did it Sunday night and it was a great reality check into how out of shape  (my arms especially) I am. I am making a commitment into going 3 times a week to get my bootay in shape!

2. I am thankful today is my first tour! I am SO excited to get back into the swing of things! This week will be great to finally hit my stride and get into a real rhythm!

3. I am thankful to be working! I am lucky enough to have gotten a job that I am already loving here at school! The ladies I work with have really taken me under their wings and teaching me things I haven't quite learned about Columbia yet!!

4. I am thankful that my parents are coming to visit me soon for the Navy v. USC home opener game! I got a little homesick over the weekend for   a little while and I can't wait to see them!

5. I am thankful to be reunited with my fabulous roommates! It has been so much fun to see them and hang out with them. And I'm pumped we're friends with our neighbors--it's like having 5 roommates instead of 2!

6. I am thankful that it is going to stay summer here for much longer. At first I though I'd hate it being so hot here, but no, this weather rules. 

7. I am thankful I am still staying in touch with my friends from home, the summer, and even last year. Y'all have no idea how much it means to me and how grounded it keeps me. I love each and every one of you!

8. I am thankful that I have FINALLY found some decor for my room!!!!!! I have been on the lookout for something to hang on the walls and I have finally found something that I like and fits me so well! I am getting 4 11x14 posters BUT that's the only detail I am going to give y'all for now! Oh yeah, and it'll arrive with the arrival of my next paycheck! I've desperately needed something to hang to make it feel a little more like me, so this will be the perfect touch!

9. I am thankful for my calendar and agendas that were both organized yesterday!! The new calendar is hung appropriately and color coded for each event coming up!

10. I am thankful that CAROLINA FOOTBALL is right around the corner! We are 12 days away from our season opener!!

xxKatie

Weekly Gratitude

1. I am thankful today is Saturday because thanks to Rebecca Black, we know that Sunday comes after Saturday and I get to leave on SUNDAY!

2. I am thankful that my wonderful, loving parents took me back this summer. I feel like I was so busy I hardly got to take an extra breath, but they put up with me, school, a crazy work schedule and all kinds of girl drama.

3. I am thankful that my sister and I got to spend another summer together. Everything is SO completely different than it was just a year ago and I'm glad I get to spend some extra time with her because before we know it she'll be heading off to college!

4. I am thankful that all my friends are literally going to be within a spitting distance of me in a matter of hours. I plan on seeing everyone within my first week back. Mark. My. Words. Y'all. (Read: you'll get lots of hugs and maybe tears and lots of jumping!)

5. I am thankful for the close friends I have here at home. They have filled voids, made me laugh, helped me through crazy situations this summer, and most of all, listened to me and my craziness. All of it.

6. I am thankful today is my last day of work at the Pink Crab (but I will miss it tons!). I have had the best summer ever working this year, loading up hours! I will miss this place SO MUCH and I'm not sure what I'll do without the lovely ladies that I get to share a store with. I have the world's best boss, a great staff, and fun clothes to sell to cheery people. Oh yeah, and we have a sick view. Does it get better than that?

7. I am thankful for all the packing I've been doing. In the words of my smart Daddyo, "Katie, you can't pull an all nighter Saturday and expect to drive all day Sunday." He's a very smart man.

8. I am thankful for Amazon Prime. I've been looking up textbook prices and it's consistently saving me between 9-32% on every book. And giving me free shipping. But like I tweeted, big girl textbooks mean big girl prices. YIKES! (Thanks Dad!)

9. I am thankful to be going back to a school that I love. Bring me Gourmet Shop chicken salad, sweeeeeeet tea, Bojangles, Cocky, Publix, the VC and my UA family, sweltering heat, Williams-Brice, my little pink and green room, Wal Mart, 1704, Eric San Jose, football, Rosewood Drive, and YOUR CAROLINA GAMECOCKS!

10. I am thankful for Little, my car. It got a lot of work done this week that we weren't expecting and in the words of Jessie James "is lookin' fresh and brand new" for our drive back down South. (Dearest Little, sorry you have to get covered in disgusting bugs in North Carolina. I've never really understood that phenomenon, but it happens trip in and trip out.)

xxKatie

Summer Braids (Formerly Titled: "Long Hair Don't Care")

Let's get one thing straight: I have never ever ever liked having my hair in my face. It drives me nuts. When I take tests, I automatically put it back in a ponytail despite any straightening or styling I've done. I get so distracted by having my hair in my face that it is almost always tucked up or pinned or half pulled back in some way (excuse all the awkward self shots...I raided my profile pictures album):

Tucked back take 1...from Bayside Bride (if I wear my hair down, it typically means just like this)

Half up...from Christmas

Pulled back...at a party

Restrained with a headband...at a football game (I KNOW for a fact this day I put it in a pony because it was SO STINKIN' HOT, but we beat Alabama so naturally my hair-do/overall looks were NOT my priority that day)

Case in point, this summer I've been rocking the braid. Whether it's french braided or a regular fat braid in the back, it has been the perfect way to wear my hair without looking like I just got back from the gym.

I want to master this side/french braid because it's so put together! If only LC wasn't in every "good hair" picture everywhere. Whenever I look for good haircuts she ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS pops up!

I may or may not have googled how to french braid your own hair or something along those lines so I'm not a seven-year-old asking my Momma to help me with my hair...

Anyone else out there rock the Summer braid? Any tips for french braiding your own hair? This girl could use some tips!!

xxKatie

Weekly Gratitude

In my not-so-busyness of being at the beach, it seems that I'm a day behind for my weekly gratitude!

1. I am thankful that I was able to come out to the beach for 4 days! This rules!
2. I am thankful for ROCKING my summer classes and as a bit of a reward my Momma treating me to these babies that should be awaiting my arrival at home tomorrow:

3. I am thankful for Shop It To Me's reward program because I'm getting FREE SHOES! What's better than ordering free shoes? The shoes arriving of course! I'm expecting these espadrilles coming soon (and with free shipping!) from Piperlime:

4. I am thankful for the week off that my hair got as well. No straightening it, no blow drying, just salty air, sand, sun and the elusive, natural, air dry. I'm thinking about getting my hair cut soon but having this super long hair has been really fun! Tough decision...

5. I am thankful for AmazonPrime. If y'all haven't signed up for it and you're a student, YOU NEED TO. It's free and you get free shipping on so much stuff. Besides my Momma ordering those boots with my AmazonPrime account, I ordered a few DVD's with it and they were all shipped FREE! Seriously look into it. Now.

6. I am thankful for Burt's Bees Lip Balm. Big time. This stuff works real wonders. I got some of my topical face gel on the tippy top of my upper lip and this stuff has really helped to heal it! This girl is ADDICTED.

7. I am thankful for some of my new purchases that I've made recently. Recap to come soon. Summer shopaholic? Not exactly. Getting close? Maybs, but a lot of it has been FREE! I heart free stuff as much as the next college kid!

8. I am thankful that my FAHBULOUS manicure from last week has lasted ALL week long with only minor bumps and scratches to speak of. Manicure win thanks to Bella Salon in Annapolis!

9. I am thankful for the beyond perfectly perfect beach weather that I got to share with Momma (and Daddyo for a day) all this time at the beach! I'm talking warm weather, no humidity, beach breeze kind of perfectly perfect. Yeah, that JUST happened.

10. I am SO THANKFUL THAT I GET TO GO BACK TO COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1 MONTH! 1704, GAMECOCKS, VC + UA, DENSE SC AIR, SUN, FOOTBALL, FABULOUS FRIENDS I MISS SO MUCH, AND ROOMMATES, HERE I COME!

xxKatie

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

HAPPY 1 YEAR: Aly and Aldy

Two of my BEST friends and favorite people are celebrating their first anniversary and I couldn't be more excited. I have been storing this up for some sort of honor for them for I don't know HOW long (Aly, this was more intended for the speech before the wedding, but I just can't resist. I've literally been holding onto this quote for MONTHS.)

In the words of famous guido, gorilla-juice-head, Ronnie, "Never fall in love at the Jersey Shore."

 

  Little Jersey Shore

- Watch more Funny Videos at Vodpod.

I couldn't find the REAL clip, so "Little Jersey Shore" will have to do--if you haven't seen this it is pretty funny! To catch my Ronnie quote, wait until the very end!

This one's for you Aly and Aldric--for making us ALL believe that Ronnie couldn't ever be more wrong.

I am SO proud to call y'all my friends and I look forward to making more Pretty Boy Swag videos in your honor. "Dis..right...here..." I'll let you two fill in the rest! Here's to your first year and many many more my friends! Sending y'all one HUGE hug from the third member of your relationship and you know it!

xxKatie

Summer Purchses

My summer purchase list is quickly being filled out! I haven't done much shopping between school and work, but a girl can online browse right? I got about an hours worth of shopping in while I was at the beach, and snagged a new dress from the store but here are a few of my summer snags:

Lilly Pulitzer Ramona Dress

J. Crew Printed Mini (I got another one of these but I can't seem to find the print anywhere!)

J. Crew Carson Short Printed

Lifeguard Press Croakies in "Floaters"

Nike Tempo Running Shorts--ON SALE! I also got another pink/black pair that are very different but equally as fun! Find other colors of this polka dot pattern on sale here too!

I got a lot of summer staples and I have a few extra items on my summer wishlist! I also have a few absolute LUST items on my mental list...those are the real "wishes" that I want! Some also happen to be awfully impractical, but that makes them all the more fun right...? 

What's on your summer purchase list? Any big wishlist items? Let me know!

xxKatie

Hoppy Easter!

I like to be corny so, yes, HOPPY EASTER! Today I'll be heading to Church early, and then getting the dinner ready for a big potluck I'll be going to later tonight. I am looking forward to celebrating with friends! I'm bringing a chocolate chip pie (recipe here) and a brussel sprouts and bacon dish that my mom made for Thanksgiving (example recipe here...I'm going to add garlic). Check out how good these look:

via Completely Delicious

via Food Network Kitchens (minus the nuts)

My mom sent me and my roommate a HUGE easter package! It was a fabulous box from the Easter Bunny and was so big that my apartment complex asked me to come pick it up because it was taking up too much space in the mailroom--I'm so lucky!! Thanks Momma! This is the first Easter that I haven't been home--yikes! Our little potluck will be a close stand in though!

Hoppy Easter y'all!

Banquet Time!

Wednesday night we had our big senior banquet to honor all of the hard work and hours committed to the University. It is an awesome ceremony that includes dinner, dessert and speeches given about all the seniors and then they get time to say whatever they want. We all got dressed up and looked great if I do say so myself! Our typical dress is like this:

March 26 by letsbepreppy featuring a black jacket

We're decked OUT in Carolina gear, and are all donning our best garnet and black. Instead of our usual outfits, we all got dressed up:

Laura, me and Megan--all the new roomies for next year!

This was the bowtie brigade! Don't they look smashing?

Good friend AK went BIG for the banquet! Look at him rocking that seersucker! He's the president of one of the fraternities on campus too--quite the celeb!

These were all of our wonderful seniors that we must bide adieu to in about a week. So excited to see where they all end up, and couldn't be prouder to have them representing us! We have future lawyers, a future PhD candidate, hopefully a future Lilly intern, future architect, future sports psychologist, future writer and everything in between with them!!

I also LOVED my Kendall dress for the night! It was certainly cool enough for the HOT HOT HOT day we had earlier and still appropriate. I am thoroughly pleased with my choice!

xxKatie