Katie Rudder South Carolina I'm a Senior Marketing major with a minor in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior at University of South Carolina! Go Gamecocks! In addition to writing Let's Be Preppy, I am active in the Carolina community, work at a South Carolina Lilly Pulitzer store, serve as an marketing intern for the American Red Cross and lead tours for prospective students at USC. Any questions or comments? Email me: katie@letsbepreppy.com
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and frequently makes discoveries that she brings home to her friends.
A handbag caught her eye, and within a few hours
Nancy had negotiated an order with tons of color combinations.
Hand stitched in Bangkok, it takes an artisan 3 days to complete a bag.
These amazing sisal purses really POP with vibrance and fun.
Limited quantites and varied color combinations! These bags would make a great gift for anyone on your Christmas list! Think Moms, Aunts, Grandmothers, Sisters, anyone!
Please feel free to contact Nancy:
FancyNancyPearls@gmail.com
Are you headed to a vacation this Christmas? What about into the New Year? These would make FABULOUS beach bags, travel totes and an awesome addition to your vacation!
I'm a HUGE "How I Met Your Mother Fan" so I like to throw in any kind of HIMYM pun whenever I can.
Anywho, I'm headed to the beach today! Best. Feeling. Ever.
What's a must have at the beach? Bathing suits of course!
My absolute go-to for swimwear is TARGET! Y'all might laugh, but I swear they have ones that LAST, clean well, and fit great! Whoever they've got working on their suits they need to keep!
This one really has Victoria's Secret look to it! The sheen adds a little bit extra to it as well!
Are you a mixer-and-matcher? Target has TONS of options for mixing and matching swimwear too! Integrate swimsuit pieces you already have with new ones for a fresh update!
I LOVE this one! It has a chevron-y look to it without being exactly horizontal. Plus you could push the strings down and wear it bandeau style as well!
Coral is so on trend these days! I love the delicate ruffle at the top. Try a tankini if you don't want to go full blast bikini but still want color!
One word: OBSESSED! Plus right now, pieces are only $10 each online!
If one-pieces are more your speed, this one looks straight out of J. Crew! I love thew blue jewel tone this one dons!
Do y'all have a place that you can rely on for bathing suits? Do you frequently visit Target like me?
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!
By the time y'all are reading this, I will be en route to Murrells Inlet! I can't wait! I'll be spending it with two fabulous friends! This is the first real vacation I've been able to take and I'll be there to celebrate July 4th! My summer class is officially over, my grade is done, and I am so excited to relax at the beach!
Any must-go-to spots in Murrells Inlet? Let me know!
While I will be bringing all the Gamecock pride that I can handle, I'm heading off to Cleeeeempson, SC this weekend!
I'll be heading to the backwoods to go visit this wonderful Clemson Tiger (there are a few that I like...wouldjabelieveit?) for the weekend! Kate came to visit me for the Carolina/Clemson game (we all know how that turned out...) and we had a great time! We'll be a house divided, but I'm really looking forward to my next roadtrip! Y'all know how I love a good roadtrip and with that, roadtrip playlist!
I've never been to Clemson, so I'm looking forward to it! I know I have some fabulous, preppy Tigers out there, so what are some of the must-do's while there? Any tips or suggestions?
I have a big ol' CLEMSON written in my planner, and I even added a little tiger paw right next to it--in orange too! Again, wouldjabelieveit?I do have to say, GO GAMECOCKS, but I'm pumped to be headed on my next trip!
I'm not talking about the famous Dr. Seuss book, but rather one of my new favorite Lilly prints!!
Where's your patch?
The Maryland patch features black-eyed Susans, our state flower, and crabs! I'd like to think too, that the blue and yellow is a little homage to Navy too!
The South Carolina patch has the yellow Jessamine, our state flower, a pig for barbeque, a Clemson Tiger paw (eww--but pretty cool for Tigers at the same time!), and the Great Carolina Wren, which I'm going to think of as a Gamecock! ;)
Where's your state on here? Do you love the special symbols and meanings?
So I made my own adaptation of the Jay-Z and Kanye song just for the bowl game! I'm officially on my way by the time that y'all will be reading this!
Here's my Capital One Bowl Game Playlist:
(Warning: this is a pump-up playlist after all, beware of some lyrics!!)
1. My Time by Fabolous and Jeremih
2. My Kinda Party by Jason Aldean
3. Carolina by Eric Church
4. All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled
5. On to the Next One by Jay-Z
6. "Ball So Hard" by Jay-Z and Kanye West (that's not the real name...)
7. Bang Bang Pow Pow by T-Pain featuring Lil' Wayne
8. Dixie Lullaby by Pat Green
9. Love in a College Town by Luke Bryan
10. Good Morning by Chamillionaire
11. Get Buck in Here by DJ Felli Fel
12. Rock Out With You Gamecock Out by Dinobrite Productions
13. You Be Killin' 'Em by Fabolous
14. If You Ain't Here to Party by Luke Bryan
15. This is Why I'm Hot by Mims
I'm not 100% sure if you'll be able to hear the Gamecock song or not, but check out the rest of the playlist here on Spotify! (Shout out to whoever suggested I start posting my playlists!!! Kudos!)
"Hallie, we're not like sisters, we're like TWINS!"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!
I can't wait to celebrate tonight!!
One of my favorite nights with ya bitty!
From trips to the Cape, to Columbia, to Krispy Kreme, to the VC here's to your best year yet!!! I am SO EXCITED for the rest of the year and to celebrate tonight with you!!!
This was my traveling outfit for my flight up North on Monday! I hate traveling sloppily and I wanted to be warm in the morning when it was still dark out! Dad and I left SUPER early Monday morning and it's always chilly in the morning and on airplanes so I wanted to be prepared!
I wore Jacks because I'm most comfortable in them. They're easy to take on and off at different security checkpoints and look better than regular flip flops! I donned my gold ones because they match the little bits of lurex in the Karen top and it really pops!
In an attempt to travel light, I'm not checking a bag, but instead carrying on a big duffle and my purse tucked into a medium duffle. I'm a HUGE packrat and I like to have options so I always always always over pack!
Anyone else out there a heavy packer? ...Hopefully this trip I did better!!!
I couldn't WAIT for this week to be over because it meant I was getting closer to vacation!!
1. I am thankful for Southwest! They are getting me TO vacation!
2. I am thankful that my parents were in total support of my roadtrip take 2 this summer!
3. I am thankful to (hopefully) be escaping the hot hot hot weather of Maryland for a few days!
4. I am thankful to be a part of G4 (that's what's up!) of the Robitaille clan. Family reunion like you'd see on tv: LET'S GO.
5. I am thankful that I get to go back to school in 2 weeks!! I will be back in my happy little house, in my pink and green room (to be rearranged) with my fab roomies and new neighbors!
6. I am thankful for chilly sweatshirt weather in the summer. Perfection!
7. I am thankful for all the new music I've downloaded for my trip! Such entertainment for the flight...and my iPod vice: Fruit Ninja.
8. I am thankful for packing. Even if I'm really really really really really bad at it. #packingwoes It gets all my stuff to my vacay destination, and if I'm especially lucky, it'll be organized.
9. I am thankful for the above Disney commercial. We joke in mu family before nearly every vacation that "We're TOO excitedtasleep!" One of my favorite commercials ever!!!
10. I am thankful for Miss Colleen and Miss Tori for being my FABULOUS hosts and coming to get me at the airport! By the time everyone is reading this post I will be over Delaware-New Jersey-Somewhere flying due North and landing promptly at 10:00 am in Bahstahn!!!!!
Me and Colleen (my lovely host up in Cape Cod) at Relay for Life, this is one of our FAVORITE pictures ever together!
So in preparation for all my travels this week, I've been busy cleaning (maybe), packing (sorta), and getting excited for VACATION! I have almost fully neglected myPod, but I'm working on a travel playlist!!
1. Vacation by the Go-Go's: Obvious pick, easy, fun vacation song!
2. Coastal by Kenny Chesney: Because y'all, I'm GOIN' COASTAL!
3. Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift: What's a good vacation with out T-Swift? Plus I'm loving the resurgence of her newest single!!
4. Loverboy by Billy Ocean: This one's for Ca-lean...she'll know why.
5. My Kinda Party by Jason Aldean: Vacation IS my kinda party. Riiiight?
6. Cheesburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet: Really, what's a vacation playlist without Jimmy? Come on!
7. Good Life by OneRepublic: Usually they sing such sad songs but this one is upbeat and lively and perfect for sitting on the beach or by the lake!
8. Bring 'Em Out by T.I.: I am, after all, going to watch some baseball games while I'm in the Cape and this is my ABSOLUTE favorite pregame-team-runs-into-playing-arena song. "Bring em' out, bring 'em out!"
9. Dancin' in the Moonlight by Toploader: I just love this song and it's on oh-so-many of my playlists! Certainly adding such a fun song to a jetsetting playlist!!
10. Hey Daddy by Usher: This is yet another song for me and Miss Colleen--our fave!
Any great songs for a trip? I'm up for suggestions!!
Summer is gearing up and I haven't made a playlist in awhile! Saturday nights during the summer are prime time to do just about anything: sit and chat on the back deck, hang out by the pool, pop in a movie and snuggle, go out, eat a delish dinner, pick crabs, I could go on forever...in that case, here goes the playlist for the beginning of my summer!
To note: I've mostly been listening to "The Drifters" station on Pandora recently. That's my playlist BUT there's no good way to track do what I've been hearing on there. I find myself thumbs-up-ing everything!
(Miracles, see #3)
1. Oh, Tonight by the Josh Abbott Band: this is just a great all around song. Love it for driving, listening to while blogging and rockin' out to. Thanks to Miss Skyler for the heads up.
2. 1,000 Faces by Randy Montana: I heard this on the new country night on my local station. 93.1 WPOC plays a lot of new country and I love hearing it! This talks about the thousands of faces of love...so sweet. Check out the music video too!
3. Miracles by Norwegian Recycling: This is from the "What's In My iPod" list from @CollegeTownLife on twitter. They featured a Memorial Day Weekend playlist and this is by FAR my favorite song on that list! It mashes up 16 songs...I had to look it up!
4. I Want Brooklyn Back by White Panda: another mashup. White Panda has an unmistakable formula...and whatever they're doing, they're doing it right. Give this baby a download and you'll rock out to it for summer. I'll never get sick of that Jackson 5 tune...toss in Jay-Z and you've got a summer JAM right there!
5. Ain't Nothin' Bout You by Taylor Swift: I featured this Brooks and Dunn cover on my facebook page a little while ago. Still love it from that B&D tribute concert that was televised awhile back!
6. Love Owes Me One by Ronnie Dunn: On that note of Brooks and Dunn, this is my favorite Ronnie Dunn solo song. It's not officially out until June 7, so check it out here on YouTube.
7. Dancin' Shaggin' on the Boulevard by Alabama: My friend have to tell me to stop shagging...it's becoming an issue. #sins I'm shagging in Maryland...I'll teach you...takers?
8. Somewhere Else by Toby Keith: I love this man. I love when this man puts out new songs. Downloaded? Immediately.
9. Dirt Road Anthem by Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert: YES, THIS IS THE REAL ONE. "Jack and Jim were a few good men..." always reminds me of the quote from Coyote Ugly too.
10. When the Sun Goes Down in Georgia by Corey Smith: Corey somehow always makes the list. This has been a feature in the past, and I still love it. Always has a little spot in my heart!
11. Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer by Billy Currington: Nothing says summer quite like this!
12. Rain is a Good Thing by Luke Bryan: Again, I never really get sick of this song. I was browsing my Summer 2010 playlist because the CD that was in my car bit the dust. I played it too much, almost everyday, gave it to too many people to copy, and ran that guy into the ground. Miraculously though, I didn't delete the playlist...what good foresight I had!
13. Shark in the Water by VV Brown: Nothing quite says "Degrassi the Boiling Point" like this song, and I probably heard it 8,000 times last summer but it's catching on again. My sister informed me I've been singing about 20% of the lyrics wrong, so it's almost like a new song, right?
14. On the Street Where You Live by Willie Nelson: You KNEW I was gonna bring out a classic. I can't help but smile when I hear this!
15. Coastal by Kenny Chesney: Really this song is just a stand-in for every single single on Hemingway's Whiskey. Also how can you not LOVE a CD named "Hemingway's Whiskey". Basically I love all the songs and this one is just so happy and summery! Catch a marlin, catch a tan, catch a local cover band...
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!!
So over spring break I ended up reading 3 books and knocking out a lot of my Economics homework!
The first one I read was The Secret Lives of Dresses. I would TOTALLY recommend this book, 5 out of 5 stars. I even made my Momma read it and she liked it. It was SO cute and I think you all should go out and buy it/download it/ebook it! This was such a cute, quick, light-hearted read that it's so worth it and you'll want to pass it onto your friends!
Next I read There's Cake in My Future. 5 out of 5 stars...not so much. This book is why books like He's Just Not That Into You were written. It was too "ladies novel" and cheesy. I do like the idea behind the cake pulls and it really had a lot of potential, but the characters were pretty silly and boy-obsessed. Wouldn't necessarily recommend this one, but I did finish it.
Finally I ended up buying House Rules right before I left from our school bookstore. This is the 10th Jodi Picoult book I've read and definitely one of the best. For the first time I saw the end coming because you get a "preview" about halfway though. This book has a longer lasting trial portion than most of her books, but if you're an avid Jodi reader, this is definitely a good one.
Anyone have any suggestions for my next reads? I'm not planning any trips soon, but I'm certainly up for any recommendations!!
I know it's only Monday, but I sure do have a lot to thank, all vacation related:
1. Aruba for being off the grid and not allowing any of my family use of cell phones.
2. Aruba for reuniting my family and giving me 168 entire hours to hang out with them non-stop. I had an awesome time and I think they did too.
3. Aruba for having some weird deal with the US for not having to go through customs on the US end. I loved having a few extra non-stressed minutes to say my goodbyes.
4. to the nice US Airways man who helped me find my bag. I thought I wasn't gonna see it again and panic ensued.
5. to my little frog that I sleep with. He didn't make it on the trip but made my first night back in my bed even better.
6. to my boat shoes for being great travel shoes. They slip on and off easily and are very comfortable.
7. to my camera for documenting all the awesome stuff that we got to do. (Read: to capture the moments when my sister and dad in tandem fell off the tubing tube on our last beach day.)
8. to Publix for helping me restock my house after I came home to a fridge full of onion dip, apple juice and ice.
9. to my computer for calculating the Econ answers that my professor assigned OVER. SPRING. BREAK. #yourelame
10. to my awesome parents for still including me on family vacations and thinking it's still cool to hangout with their 20 year old.
I love packing, but for beach vacations, a good beach bag is essential. How else would you cart everything that you need AT the beach TO the beach? Carry it, I think not. I have a few bags that I consistently rely on as beach bags!
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, Open Top, XL
These bags are great. You really can't go wrong with any of the Boat and Totes from LLB. I have the XL and it's great for fitting towels, snacks, books, everything that you'd need for a quality day at the beach with you!
Victoria's Secret Leopard Tote
I got this tote for FREE! Using the FREESWIM coupon code I found online, I snagged this tote along with free shipping (now you can't combine codes...sorry). It's a canvas bag that's been treated with a plastic outside so it's great if you're plopping in the sand all day. All you need to do is brush it off and you're good to go!
Vineyard Vines
I use one of my VV totes that's pretty old on vacations. It's almost 6 years old and is fraying where the straps hit the silk. The inside has all kinds of pen marks inside, and I don't feel bad lugging it around on the beach. If it was brand new, I certainly wouldn't waste it with the salty air and sandy surface!
I know I always bring a ton to the beach, so I have to be well prepared! Do you have any good bags for the beach??
In my house photos are never in short supply. My mom's biggest hobby is taking pictures and I'm so thankful. Every big event, family trip, and school production have been recorded in photos. Spring Break is another place to snap as many photos as possible!
Arizona
My sister took the best picture of my dad and I after we climbed Cathedral Rock. I had a Rocky pose going on and he's just up there with me, but it's one of my favorite vacation photos:
Turks & Caicos
That Ellery dress is one of my faves and how cute does my sister look in Coral Me Crazy?!
Good ole' fam shot
This year we'll have to get a good family picture too! I love that all of our fun times are documented thanks to my mom, sister, and I all being shutterbugs! I'll have to add my camera to my list of things that I MUST remember!
I always make a list of the "extras" I always seem to forget. The little things, the overlooked things.
1. Swim coverup:
I got this from Target the other night from the Juniors' department. It's the perfect length for throwing over a bathing suit to grab lunch or just stay out of the sun for a little while. It came in a multitude of colors to choose from too!
2. Hat
I'm not big on wearing hats, but they are a MUST on sunny vacation trips! I got this one at the beginning of the year from our school bookstore. I love it! It fits well and isn't too sporty for a girl!
3. A sweatshirt
Even in warm weather destinations, I always bring a cozy sweatshirt or fleece. You never know if it'll be cold one night or just for hanging out in the room before bed!
4. PJ's
Because I tend to forget coverups, I always end up using my reserve of PJ t-shirts for beach shirts and then I'm left with no PJ's! Oh no! This time I'm going to beat it though!
5. Chargers
Even though I won't really be able to use my phone much, I'll still need my charger for when I return home!
Are there any essentials you forget? Any god way to remember them all?
First of all, please forgive the lack of posting this week! The wonderful folks over at Blogger HQ have been helping me update my blogger dashboard! I've been having muy problemos with logging on/posting/saving drafts/etc. so they were great! We're back up and running now! I will be spending all weekend with these few things:
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aka all day today I'm a busy bee and I'm ORGANIZING, ORGANIZING, ORGANIZING! I have a super busy week ahead of me (two midterm and two projects) and so I'm getting ready for break this weekend! Last night I headed over to Target to get some travel essentials: books (look for a post on my two books tomorrow), sunscreen, lotion for sunburns, a swim coverup, and a few other necessities! I can't wait to see my family and relax in Aruba!
