ESPN College Gameday

The long-awaited OFFICIAL announcement was made a few days ago by ESPN and College GameDay! They are en route to Columbia, SC!

If you live under a rock (or just aren't of the football persuasion) you wouldn't know that the USC-UGA game will be among the biggest, most important football games that us current Gamecocks will ever attend in our Gamecock careers.

This ESPN College GameDay marks the 5th time that they will be in GAMECOCK COUNTRY!

via

I say this every year because every year there's a BIG game that somehow gets topped the next year, and I swore it wouldn't happen this season, but NO, the Gamecocks are at it again:

Freshman year: USC vs. Ole Miss (biggest upset we'd had until...)

Sophomore year: USC vs. Alabama (officially crushed #1)

Junior year: USC vs. Clemson (I've never been a part of a more energized student section)

Senior year: USC vs. UGA

I love that this series of different games has also been a different opponent each year. Traditionally, we've played UGA much earlier in the season, but I am so excited!

There will be so much going on during the day and weekend and I think I can speak for most Gamecocks in saying that we are SO ready for it to already be SATURDAY! Too much waiting and anticipating (considering we've been waiting for this since oh, last season ended...) to even believe!

If you will be in town here's a schedule of game-related events:

1. Southern Proper & Gridiron Belles/SoLeague Magazine Shows at Pink Sorbet on Devine Street Friday

2. Vineyard Vines Tailgate (location, TBD but check facebook!)

3. Jason Aldean/Billy Currington Concert @ 5:00 day of game at Gamecock Walk

More events to be added as I hear!

xxKatie

U-S-C GOOOOO COCKS!

TONIGHT YOU CAROLINA GAMECOCKS TAKE ON THE VANDERBILT COMMODORES! 

Gameday is like Christmas for any SEC student except it comes once a WEEK instead of once a YEAR!

Cheers to the first Gameday of the season and to many many more to come for Senior year!

U-S-C GOOOOO COCKS! I can hear that fight song humming in my head right this second!

xxKatie

Tailgate City

In form following Luke Bryan's "Suntan City", I feel like this post could come out on his "Spring Break 5" EP!

Football season is right around the corner and is just about the only thing on my brain until school starts. We're figuring out which games to make roadtrips to, which games we're definitely going to, our tailgate spots, you name it, if it has to do with football, we're talking about it. 

The question is though, where to get all your tailgate supplies? For the amateur, you can go to WalMart or Publix, but for us tailgate veterans, I love browsing all the fun things Swoozie's has to offer. (To all my friends, I really should rename this post, "How Katie is Going to Pimp Tailgate Spreads")

I think everyone will want one of these...

Redneck Sippers...enough said

As a matter of fact, this is already in my Swoozie's shopping cart! I have a few friends who would enjoy this too much!!!

"How to Really be a Gamecock"

A WILLY B platter?!?!? YES.

What are your tailgate essentials? I have a fun list of other essentials (food, drinks, etc.) that I can't wait to share with y'all once tailgate season gets closer!!

xxKatie

Columbia Style Week 2012: Finale

Saturday night was the finale for CSW!

This MayaQoba dress was my favorite piece in the entire show! I was breathless when I saw it and squealed to Mikelle who was sitting next to me! I REALLY need it!

Both of these Lauren Devaughn designs were also among my favorites. I liked everything in this material really. They were great pieces that I loved!

This Luis Machicao set has my name all over it. That coral liner was such a fun pop of color and I was just thinking how much I want a white work-appropriate shift dress. Adorable!

This was another LM dress that I really liked! the ruffle was cute and that hidden color was fabulous!

There aren't many photos of me at the Finale event, but you can see me and the crew I was lucky enough to hang out with right there!

I loved Mikelle's Instagram caption of "Carolina Fabulous"!

I had a wonderful time being a part of Columbia Style Week 2012 and I look forward to working again with them in 2013 if I'm still in the area! A huge thanks to all volunteers, organizers, models, designers, VIPs, and everyone who attended CSW2012 and made it such a fun week for people like me!

xxKatie

Outfits of the Days: Columbia Style Week

Today begins the first post of a few recapping Columbia Style Week!

I had a wonderful time with all the folks who attended the first CSW! I'll have the first run-down of this series of posts about CSW events posting tomorrow--get excited!

June 5 by letsbepreppy featuring a one shoulder long sleeve dress

This was the first night of CSW! It was a kick-off party and crowned Columbia's Top 25 Most Stylish People! I had a blast and even got to network a little with the panel of industry experts. I don't want to give much away, but the industry expert night was DEFINITELY a highlight for me! I, of course, had to wear Lilly since I was representing the preppy population of Columbia!

June 9 by letsbepreppy featuring kenneth jay lane earrings

The second event I went to was called "Wedding 101" hosted by a local wedding planning company--Wedding 101--on behalf of CSW. It was really fun and the crowd was a bit different than the usual CWS event crowd. I got a chance to meet a few bloggers whose blogs I've been reading for awhile and was a bit starstruck when I met them! It was a blast!

June 9 by letsbepreppy featuring print dresses

For the finale event, I wore this dress that I've been lusting over! I added a pink crossbody for both events on the 9th and it was great! I didn't have to hold a purse and could still take tons of photos so easily! I snapped 100's of photos and even a few videos to put together for everyone to see! It was a wonderful night and I was able to hang out with the same crowd from Wedding 101! 

All in all, Columbia Style Week was a BLAST, and I hope y'all are looking forward to the rest of the detailed posts--you're in for a treat! 

xxKatie

A Gift: Amanda C. Bee

As a surprise for my sister and I, my sneaky Mom asked good friend, Amanda Bee to do a few custom pieces for us! I've been itching to show y'all!

This is a custom copy of a photo from MANY MANY years ago of my sister and I:

How sweet did it turn out?! We LOVED the Amanda Bee version! My Mom gave Amanda a few more original photos and this is what Amanda came up with:

A lot of my facebook friends will know this photo from when my sister visited me for the Auburn game!

Y'all have ALL seen this one as well before on LBP--a few of my faaaavorite Baaaaaay ladies! All us Annapolitans just swoon over these Amanda Bee portraits!

Have you wanted Amanda to do one of yours? I know she's done a few for some other fabulous bloggers--be sure to check her out for a wonderful gift or memento!

xxKatie

"I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night..."

While I'm not quite doing the Kiss cover, I AM Relaying for Life tonight!

Relay for Life is one of my favorite events of the year! It's a great bonding time for everyone involved and really is SO much fun! There are all kinds of events at the Relay at USC including Mr. Relay, early morning Zumba (I'm talking around 2 or 3 am!), fun mini fundraisers and there have even been raves in the past!

I stocked up snacks and all kinds of goodies for our team and I can't wait to start Relaying! I'll be part of a team from 7pm-7am, so if you're just sitting watching TV late at night or getting ready for work in the morning, just give us a little thought or prayer!

xxKatie

USCFW12: It's a Wrap!

I can't explain how much fun USC Fashion Week 2012 was! I hardly ever consider myself a "fashion blogger" in the traditional sense, but it was fun to network and meet a lot of Columbia's student fashionistas and fashionistos! I'm sure it was extremely stressful for the organizers (major props to Melissa K. and Mikelle S. as well as all the student designers themselves!) but I'd call it a huge success! There were so many moving parts that went into this week, I'm so excited to be considered a part of it!

The first night was the student designer competition! There are tons of photos online, but if you'd like to see all the collections in their entireties, check out The Fat and Skinny on Fashion's videos:

Student Designers:

Sponsor Showcase:

I wore a few different looks for all the week's events! 

The first night, Tuesday, I was lucky enough to be part of two student designers, James Matthew Teague and Jessica Argoe:

James Matthew Teague

Jessica Argoe 

It looks like I was a little tired, huh?! Jessica was being interviewed at this point--and my look was her featured design! Also, look at the fun decorations, they were whimsical and fun and I loved walking through it!

The second night, Thursday, we wore ensembles from local sponsors! I wore LaRoque and Bohemian, both local women's boutiques in Columbia.

LaRoque

This outfit was two pieces: a quintessentially LaRoque silk wrap top with a huge bow and long hostess skirt! (I'm trying to find some pictures without watermarks, but thanks to Cinhte Mag for snagging some photos!) Here's a better view of my awesome LaRoque skirt:

(via facebook)

Bohemian

By nature of the name, this store had fun, trendy pieces in it! I couldn't believe how much of a departure from my normal style this outfit was! That sweater was like full length and I had this crazy cool pink leather wrap watch!

What was especially fun was being able to share this week with one of my closest friends, Aly, who was also in the show! Here's a cool behind-the-scenes photo of her getting ready! (RMS, right Miss Aly?)

All in all, USC Fashion Week 2012 was an absolute blast to be a part of and I'm already looking forward to next year! The organizers will have big shoes to fill and I can't thank Fashion Board at USC enough for including me in everything!!

xxKatie

USCFW12

Monday kicked off USC Fashion Week 2012! I'm excited to tell y'all that I'm a part of it this year and couldn't be more excited! Since Columbia has gotten a little bit more of it's own "fashion scene" this year, it's exciting to be a part of such a fun week on campus!

Last night was the student-designer competition! The above photo is from the designer's personal Instagram account. He did ALL OF THOSE designs! They're even more incredible in person. I'm all the way on the far left, and my dress was constructed in less than a week if you could EVER believe that! He scrapped my original look citing, "I just ended up hating it!" and opted for this second dressier look. 

More designers included Ashlyn of Southern Beaus, we had a giveaway with her, and Emma Mahon of Emma Graham Designs, another LBP fave! It was such an action-packed night of hair, makeup, and designer fashion! You can see the fabulous designs and judges' table! That's Emma on the far left!

Thursday is the next night of events that I'm involved with and is the night of sponsor designs! Big on the blogger scene, I'll be wearing an AMAZING LaRoque look that may or may not include the coolest hostess skirt and ruffle top combo that y'all will FLIP over! The above look is one of my most recent favorites from the LaRoque storefront!

I'll be sure to keep everyone updated with USCFW12 happenings!

xxKatie

Hibernation

Last week was crazy. 

I mean CRAZY. I don't think I've ever been so stressed in my life. There was so much going on, I was stunned. A few nearly sleepless nights, and cramming for tests and prepping for homecoming, BUT now it's over. 

I think I'm ready to hibernate. 

Instead of "Spring" I'd just like it to say January 7th. That way I'd be awake in time for my birthday--January 8th! I could primp and get all set and be ready for my birthday. 

I do, in a sense, feel like I'm about to hibernate though. All I have to do is make it through the end of the semester--through exams, finishing up group projects, and crossing the fall semester finish line. Then, I can take it easy for a month, end that month long break with my birthday and start (literally, the next day) the new semester feeling invigorated.

To all my fellow college readers, how many of you feel like you're ready to enter hibernation mode?

xxKatie

Tailgates and Tanlines: Luke Bryan Concert!

Last night was the UNREAL Luke Bryan concert! Never in my life have I been to such a good concert! He was GREAT live. You know how sometimes the artist doesn't sound as good live? Well, there was almost no difference except the different live changeups they made in the songs (read: all the mashups he did including but not limited to Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Vanilla Ice.)

We had SUCH a great time at this concert!

Colleen and I went together and got there VERY early. The people watching was a lot of fun and we got great spots. There was no sitting (the "venue" was a parking lot) so we wanted to make sure that we got good spots! I wore my Finn Shift in Navy that I got during the online Lilly sale with my Frye cowboy boots. Cowboy boots (or as I called them for all the men wearing them, Cowmen boots) were certainly the shoe of choice for everyone! I wore my navy Fornash clover earrings with the dress too!

One of my favorite moments was the Clemson/USC dance battle that Luke Bryan hosted on stage! He really did his homework for our college town cracking jokes about Stephen Garcia, the USC/Clemson rivalry, and congratulating us on our win yesterday. HUGE props to him for being invested in our little college town! We were instantly won over with all the Gamecock stuff he added into his songs like "Carolina girl shake it for me!" and adding in "Carolina" almost every time one of his songs says "Georgia" instead. 

OH BOY, Luke Bryan was a DRRRRREAMBOAT. We were swooning with that million-dollar smile and dance moves all night long! We joked that he must have been a dancer in a former life, he was so smooth!!! We had a GREAT time and I will happily attend another Luke Bryan concert in the future!

xxKatie

Giveaway: Stadium Stompers!

For any of y'all that follow college football, you'll know we started LAST weekend for most of our schools! For all my Carolina Gamecocks, we are just itchin' to get a real home game in Williams Brice like nobody's business! This week the Gamecocks take on the Georgia Dawgs between the hedges down in Athens. I have a lot of friends going and they are going to have a blast!

Knowing typically Southern weather it's going to be crazy hot and insanely humid. The worst though, are games when it rains. There's nothing worse than looking fabu in your Gameday dress and having to tote a yucky raincoat around just in case. Well, that is until now:

Want to win a pair?

My personal favorite--South Carolina!

They literally make pairs for all of the following schools:

Tennessee, UVA, Ole Miss, Auburn, West Virginia, UNC, LSU, Richmond, Alabama, (dare I say it) Clemson, UGA, Texas A&M, USC (the real one AND the other one), and MANY more! There are so many combinations and you can shop by color or product!

Here are ALL the ways you can win:

1. For 1 entry become a fan of Stadium Stompers on facebook  

2. For 1 additional entry (2 total) become a fan of Let's Be Preppy on facebook

3. For 1 more additional entry (3 total) follow Stadium Stompers on Twitter

4. For 1 more additional entry (4 total) tweet about this giveaway!

5. For 1 more additional entry (5 total) post about this giveaway on your blog!

6. Leave all entries in ONE comment on this post!

Enter by 11:59 by NEXT Friday! Can't wait to see which girl from which school wins! Go Gamecocks! Go SEC!

Good luck y'all!

xxKatie

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

Boo Boo

The scene of the crime!

I am more than glad to have this week in my rearview mirror! It was quite the week and I did a ton. In the midst of starting school, the clumsy girl that I am fell going up concrete stairs on Wednesday and ended up having to be in emergency care in our health center. I had gotten to our business school around 3:30ish for class at 4 and about 30 seconds after being dropped off, basically in front of the door, I fell big time and busted my big toe. I thought I was ok, but instead, sliced off the bottom of my toe. STOP READING IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH. I started bleeding a lot (after having broken and finally ruined my Platinum Jacks once and for all) and realized I wouldn't be making it to class. A saint in the closest office offered to drive me to the health center where I wobbled in and they took me immediately. And when I say immediately, I mean, didn't get any of my information beyond my name and any medications I was currently taking.

The stairs farthest to the left were the ones I tripped all over. #wompwomp

I spent about 2 hours in the health center and got out close to 6:00, but I couldn't be released because my blood pressure was too high! Scaredy cat Katie over here heard "you might have to get stitches" and apparently couldn't shake it because they had to test my BP 3 more times before it was low enough to release me!

I had a crazy week after that big ol' boo-boo, but this weekend was a lot of fun! We had a great time, complete with additions to our ShakeWeight competition! (Yes, my apartment is home to a ShakeWeight competition) but I am ready to have all this crazy toe-injury stuff behind me!!

Have you ever done something like me? Is ANYONE out there as clumsy as I am? (Bueller....)

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