The Blonde Starfish

It has been raining non-stop for the past two weeks due to the hurricane that is offshore. As much as I dislike rainy days, I always try my best to brighten them up! While I can't exactly bring the real sunshine out, I try to do so though brightly colored rain accessories. I tend to see quite a few black rain boots and raincoats on rainy days, but I do not fall into this category. Instead my rain accessories are bright pastels along with fun prints.  All of these accessories are sure to keep you dry and cozy. And more importantly they will turn a gloomy gray day into a bright one. Monogram Raincoat / Lilly Pulitzer Rain Boots(old)/ Yellow North Face Raincoat / Lilly Pulitzer Umbrellas / Vineyard Vines Rain Boots / LL Bean Socks

I truly can not believe that tomorrow is October! It's definitely cooling off outside, and Autumn is about to be in full swing. Unfortunately that means packing up summer tank tops and sandals. But on on the plus side it also means time for pumpkins! When I say pumpkins I'm not referring to the spice latte kind, but we'll talk about those another day;) I'm taking about the kind of pumpkins you decorate and display around your house until Thanksgiving. While the traditional Jack-O-Lantern is a classic, I love crafting up things that go with my decor.  Since I am living in an apartment this year and have no cute front porch, like this , to display pumpkins on, I will have to decorate them for my living room instead. Because my pumpkins will be indoors I am going to be getting fake plastic pumpkins instead of the real thing. As much as I want to go to a cute farm and pick out precious pumpkins from the field, I don't want rotting pumpkins in my apartment. But all ...

Snacking can sometimes get a bad reputation. However, I have learned that having small and healthy sacks when you find yourself hungry between meals will actually be of benefit. This is because it will keep you from eating too much at mealtime. ~Apples ~Celery ~Assorted Nuts ~Grapes ~Carrots with Hummus or Lite Ranch ~Strawberries ~Hard Boiled Egg ~Lowfat Yogurt ~String Cheese ~Protein Bars

T-shirt dresses are so versatile and ever so comfortable. They come is various sleeve lengths as well as endless patterns and colors. They are perfect for cookouts, birthday parties, baby showers, and even just to wear on a normal day of the week. Pattern dresses can be worn by themselves, but it's always fun to add accessories here and there. And of course a solid t-shirt dresses is just begging for a fun pop of color and texture.  It probably comes as no surprise that some of my favorite t-shirt dresses are from Lilly Pulitzer. I love the fun prints they have and all their t-shirt dresses are super soft and comfortable. I add some of the same accessories to my pattern dresses as I do my solid dresses, but I usually add more accessories to the solid color dresses. Here are some of the main accessories I like to pair with my t-shirt dresses. While it's pretty clear that I love gold, you could easily swap in silver if that is more your style. Additionally, the...

As the season are changing over from summer to fall the weather is getting cooler. Even though it's not cold yet, it its much cooler in the morning and evenings than during the afternoons. This is a fun time to mix long sleeves with shorts as well as short sleeves with long pants or jeans. One of these combinations that I love includes a spirit jersey with shorts. It allows me to wear my favorite Lilly Pulitzer shorts  past the summertime.  The spirit jersey is always a cozy option because they are thicker than a t-shirt but not as thick as a sweatshirt. They are typically worn oversized so this allows for them to be extra comfortable. So even when I wear shorts, I am still able to stay warm enough throughout the day.

Actually it's likely a well known fact about  me that I love elephants. I'm not sure exactly what it is about them that I love so much, but I do! I wouldn't say I'm crazy about them or anything like that though. I have heard stories though about how elephants have similar emotions to humans, and I think that is really interesting.   Here is a great article that talks about it.  To go along with my love of elephants I figured I would share some of my favorite elephant items! Because looking at cute pictures on national geographic's Instagram is just not sufficient. Salt&Pepper Shakers / Mug / Pants / Plant Pot / Tea Pot /  Shorts ( Similar )/  Ring / Crop Set / My Dream Trip I dream of riding an elephant one day in someplace like Thailand. But until then I will just have to stick with precious elephant trinkets and clothes.

Although I do buy full price Lilly Pulitzer items in store from time to time, a fair amount of what I buy comes from eBay, Buy/Sell/Trade groups, and Instagram. eBay is fairly easy to explore while BST groups and Instagram are a whole other animal. Some people may be hesitant to buy from eBay as items are generally used conditions. However the majority of Lilly items, unless current season, are going to have to be bought gently used. Also depending on the item, gently used items tend to be less expensive than full retail items. One feature that I love about eBay it their "followed" search option. While you can do this on your computer, I find it easier and more user friendly on your phone with their app. Once you search an item you can then click the follow search feature. This will then put this specific search onto your followed searches list. From this list it will give you an icon next to the followed searches that have new items listed that you have not viewed yet...

Personally I love being able to get into the gym and get a good workout completed. In the future i'll show y'all my usual workout routine. But today I just had to share this great core workout. Recently I have been working my core especially because it is my "target area". Everyone may have different target areas, but working on your core is beneficial to everyone. c/o pinterest This workout targets all areas of your core to give you a complete workout of your abs. This workout is also great because has a good amount of various exercises. I enjoy various workout like these as opposed to repetitious exercises with little variation. So go to the gym and try this workout! That positive feeling you have when leaving the gym is truly the best!

It's hard to beat the coziness that fall footwear brings! Sandals are enjoyable in the summer, but you have to keep your toes nicely polished. In the fall your toes are covered so I don't have to worry about that! From tall boots to booties to flats there's such a variety of shoes for the fall season. Riding Boots / Leopard Flats here(affordable) and here(splurge) / Tory Burch Flats / TOMS /  LL Bean Boots / Two-Toned Boots

Whether you are a clothes lover like myself or just pick out what's clean, life is truly made easier when your closet and clothes are organized. There is no reason the clothes in your closet need to be in a huge wrinkled pile only to result in an avalanche every time you open it. Having a small closet this year forced me to be extra organized with my closet. I started by hanging up all of my tops and dresses. I find it convenient to put my tops in rainbow color order and by sleeve length to help me find tops easily. Matching a top to a pair of printed Lilly Pulitzer shorts is made easier by my closet being in color order. My dresses are all to the right and are organized by occasion going from t-shirt dresses over to more dressy maxi dresses.  In the top drawer below my closet I keep all of my shorts, tank tops, and swimsuits. In the bottom drawer below my closet I keep a few pairs of jeans as well as couple sweatshirts. In a separate set of drawers is where I keep al...

Unlike other holidays, birthdays occur 365 days a year. That being said, I feel as if another one of my family members or friends are always having a birthday. While giving presents is not the only way to show someone how much you care for them on their birthday, giving them a little surprise gift is always exciting no matter how old they are turning. The gifts in this guide are for the women in your life and can be for any of your friends or family members. Just think what they enjoy most and maybe even gauge it based on how old they're turning. Koozie / Scarf / Tumbler / Wristlet /Sign Box/ Cooler Bag / Sunglasses / Candle

Now usually people talk about having Summer bucket lists or Fall bucket lists, but this is my September bucket list. This is different because its technically still Summer until September 23rd, however September is a month of transition into fall activities with the continued warmth of summer. I'm not quite ready for the cool of fall to begin, however I am looking forward to the fun happenings the fall has to offer. Photo c/o Evelyn Henson This Evelyn Henson print matched my thoughts exactly. Instead of croissants, I plan to find the best bagel place in my small college town. My idea of a journal is continuing with my blogging that I love so much. Shopping for fall accessories is easily one of my favorite tasks. I don't generally love fall colors, but I do like to incorporate a few of my summer colors with almond tone clothing during the month of September. Trying a new cocktail is always great fun that it should truly be on every monthly bucket list. Stocking up on ...

I love a good piece of funky jewelry or a colorful statement necklace, but in the end it's always the same few pieces that get worn the most. Everyone is different but my go to metal is certainly gold. The following five pieces of jewelry are my essentials: a watch, monogram necklace, pearl earrings, tassel necklace, and geometric gold ring. ~Watch~ A watch is a great statement piece the most importantly tells time! I love this gold watch with a neutral band because it matches everything I wear. The fact that a watch tells time is obvious, but it's use in the professional setting is key as it keeps you from pulling out your phone to check the time. ~Monogram Necklace~ A monogram necklace adds a simple and personalized touch to each outfit. It can be worn with a t-shirt to go out to lunch with a friend or it can be worn with a sundress for church on Sunday. ~Pearl Earrings~ Pearl earrings are a every southern girls go-to earrings. They are a cl...

I enjoy wearing makeup everyday that I go to class as well as work. The only days I do not wear makeup are on days when I'm just staying home all day or am just running a few errands. I enjoy wearing makeup because I think that it gives my face a put together and polished look. On special occasions I will wear additional makeup, but the following makeup if for my daily routine. ~Concealer~ Concealer is the first thing I put on when doing my makeup. I use a Maybelline cover stick. I like that it covers dark circles well and evens out the color under my eyes. ~Foundation~ The second thing I apply is my foundation. I've used Bare Minerals true match mineral foundation for as long as I can remember. I like how light it is on my face and still allows my skin to breathe. It also has an spf of which keeps my face safe from UV rays thought the day.  ~Blush~ The third thing I apply is my blush. The blush that I currently use is the Palladino mosaic mineral palette...

Being that this is my last year I undergraduate school and I am preparing to take the GMAT for graduate school I have more than normal levels of stress. However, I know that I do not need to allow my stress to consume me. I use the following methods to combat my stress when it creeps up and starts to get the better of me.  ~Make a Plan~ Being the overly organized person that I am, I love a good laid out plan. Wether the plan is an outline for a paper or a planned out weekend that includes study and social time,  both will get me on track to succeed and alleviate some of the stress of making sure everything goes smoothly. ~Clean/Organize Your Room~ While not everyone enjoys cleaning their room like I do, I think everyone can agree that a clean room is more enjoyable. More importantly, a clean room is less stressful that a mess room. When everything is put away and cleaned up you can find things easier and function better in your space. ~Exercise~ I am a f...

I have this theory that we should all be kind to the environment, because if we don't who will? There is no need to add more unnecessary items to landfills than we have to. Also for the sake of the animals that live in rivers and near landfills, we have to look out for them. Here are a few simple ways you can be more green in your day to day life. ~Use Reusable Bags~ Using a reusable bag when going to the grocery store should be common practice by now. All of those plastic bags ending up in the landfill is truly unfortunate. I like the Lilly Pulitzer reusable market totes because they hold a good amount of items, but can be put on your shoulder so that it does not feel as heavy. ~Recycle Paper~ You would think that everyone recycles paper by now, but surprisingly that is not the case. It is very simple to get a cute little paper tray to put in a desk drawer to put unwanted paper in. Whether it be an envelope or unneeded copy paper, its so easy to just throw it into the...

Professional (similar)/ Weekender (Old, but this is an alternative)  / Beach / School / Everyday (similar)/ Purse (similar) I am always a sucker for a new tote bag! While I wish that I could by every cute bag  I see, I know it's important to only buy totes that I am going to use frequently. There's no reason for me to buy multiple of the same function tote, because then my closet would be floor to ceiling in bags. One thing I do to keep my totes to a minimum is I try and purchase neutral colors that will match the majority of what I wear. ~Professional Tote~ This tote is great to have for important meetings, interviews, or for when you have a big presentation. More than likely you are dressed very professionally for this function, so its important to keep your outfit cohesive by having a nice tote. I like the red Ralph Lauren one that I have because its a sleek look and the leather will hold up for years to come and I can transition it into my career wardrobe af...

I am beyond excited to be living in an on campus apartment this year! I have my own room and share a bathroom with just one other person. It's extremely nice to have a room all to my own, but better yet it's nice having a full size kitchen and living room in the apartment as well. Another great thing about my apartment is that because it's on campus I can still walk everywhere I need to go. The theme throughout my room is the beach. As my blog title suggests, I love how peaceful the beach is and all the beautiful sights the beach has to offer. The light blue I used throughout my room is so tranquil, and I enjoyed including different starfish and sand dollar accents. Although my room is not very big, I still enjoy having a space of mine own that I was able to decorate how I wanted to. For many years I thought I wanted to be an Interior Designer, and to this day I still enjoy interior decorating whenever I get the chance.  I enjoy having an organized desk bec...

Sticky Notes / Agenda / Simple Pen / Pencils / Colored Pens / Calculator / Pens / Book Bag /                     Pencil Pouch / Folder / Spiral Notebook The first day of class is fast approaching for me! But luckily I have all the essential school supplies that I need to start on the first day of class. Ever since I was in elementary school I have loved shopping for school supplies. Theres just something about having your favorite pens, a new notebook, and a fun new backpack to make going back to school more exciting. Even in college I still enjoy having fun school supplies to make my classes more bearable.  ~Sticky Notes~ These are essential for things like writing a quick to-do list or a quick reminder to yourself to turn in an assignment online at a certain time. I also use them in my agenda pretty frequently for important things I need to remember. ~Agenda~ As I stated in the Back To School Tips post here ...

Yay for a surprise Monday evening post! It's safe to say that I throughly enjoyed Lilly Pulitzer's Semi-Annual sale this year! Although the line system they had did not make any sense, I still managed to have some success. I had to wait a little while to get into the sale on my computer, but I was able to shop from the mobile app a little easier. I was also able to snag some great deals from 6pm . This was the first year I shopped outside of Lilly's website, but I was surely glad I did. Here are all the items I was able to score between Lilly Pulitzer's website  as well as 6pm website . The top six items were from Lilly's website, and the bottom three were from 6pm. As you can probably tell, shorely blue was most definitely a favorite of mine(: But lucky for you both sites still have some amazing deals, so be sure to check them out if you have not already. I'd hate for someone to miss out on these amazing deals(:

Being the southern girl that I am, I love having things monogrammed. Ever since I got my silhouette machine I have been making monogram decals to put on everything. The possibilities are truly endless! I am not currently selling any of these vinyl monograms, but I may consider an Etsy shop in the future if time allows.  Here are a few places I have put my monogram(: So you may be wondering why monogram everything? I think its nice to put your own "brand" on something instead of it just being plain. With monograms things can be uniquely yours. Also if it is something that other people have, like a phone charger, it helps to identify yours from someone else's.   The font options are truly endless, but these are a few of my favorites. I also love all the colors and patterned vinyl that can be used to make monograms.

Each year Lilly Pulitzer does two huge sales, one in January and one in August. These two sales are the only times that Lilly Pulitzer has  online  sales. They do not announce the dates until about a week before, but I like to be prepared for when they do announce it. I have been shopping their sales for a few years now and have learned quite a few things through my experiences. For the August sale they will likely include items from Fall 2014 through beginning Summer 2015. However, in the past they have been known to throw in a few older items into the sale on occasion.  ~Have An Open Mind~ Lilly Pulitzer does not specifically state what will be in each sale. That being said I do not recommend waiting for the sale to buy something specific you have been dying for. If you have been dying for it I recommend you buy it now, because there's no guarantee it will be in the sale. However, having a wish list is something I recommend. Items on your wish list can be s...

Growing up in the south we are just born to love apple pie. While most people consider this to be a winter dessert, mainly because apples are a winter crop, I think that a good apple pie is just as perfect year around. When making this pie in the summer its nice to have a light dinner of various veggies, maybe even some baked chicken. By having a lighter dinner you allow more room for the pie. Ingredients 2 Premade pie crusts 3/4c Brown sugar 1/4c All purpose flour 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg 6 Medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced 1 Tbsp water 3 Tbsp butter, diced Egg wash, for brushing Sugar, for sprinkling The apples that I choose to use were golden delicious as well as one granny smith. Directions Preheat oven to 450 degrees F Mix together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. In another bowl, sprinkle apples with water and toss. Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat ...