Tote Bag Coolers

I just ran across these coolers from Land's End! Who doesn't love a good tote bag?! And the combination with the insulation will make these perfect for tailgating in the fall and beach week in the summer. I think I am going to start out with the pink in the medium size and get it monogrammed with navy on the pocket. Don't forget to check out the lunch tote too!

Tote Cooler in Green

Tote Cooler in Pink

Mini Lunch Tote

My Preppy Easter Egg Tree!!

Here are the pictures yall have been waiting for! I could not have been happier with the way that it turned out. I do admit that it does look a little different from Martha's tree, but it has a fun college spin on the traditional. Anyone recognize that tree?! Yes, I recycled my Christmas tree! This project was so much fun, and I think that even little children could have fun with it. Not only was it simple to make, but the result really brightens up any Spring home!


I found these little chicks at the checkout at Michael's yesterday (for around a dollar), and I just could resist. They are nestled throughout the tree an just give it a little bit of whimsy. These are the best upclose picture of the actual finished eggs. You can see that the holes don't even show at all (yes, the perfectionist in me was worried about that)!


Of course, I had to finish it off with a big hot pink bow! Although... the craft store kind of ripped me off. I got home and the ribbon had been cut about a yard from the end and stapled back together?! No clue what happened there but the bow turned out to be fine with only 2 yards.


Here are my ribbon choices. Originally, I was just going to do pink and green; but I decided that it would look really cute with all of the spring colors. I would make sure to use at least 5 different ribbon choices so that it adds enough variety to your tree. Also, the yellow ribbon (50 cent kind from the craft store) you will probably need more than one spool. To make the tie you just loop the ribbon around 4 of your fingers and tie a knot. Then tie a little bow. I cut the ends of the ribbon on a diagonal to add a little visual interest. You will hot glue the bow to the egg and then hang by the loop. To attach the ribbon around your egg, I just used hot glue on both ends and made sure that the ribbon was tight and straight around the egg.


This was the first batch of blown eggs (notice the ones missing?! they went to chocolate chip cookies!). I had to go back to the grocery when I realized that this many eggs would only decorate one side of my tree! Just make that you make the top hole fairly small and that the bottom hole punch allows all the "guts" of the egg to come out. Also, I used a paper clip to break the shell, and it worked just fine.

Ghost of Girlfriends Past

Anyone that loves Matthew McConaughey should be looking forward to a new movie where he is co-starring with Jennifer Garner. Here is the trailer... it looks like it is going to be a good one!

Decorating Easter Eggs

Since, I am not quite finished with my Egg Tree, I thought I would share some ways that you can decorate your own Easter eggs. I was amazed at how many fun things that I found at the craft store to decorate eggs. It's not just about the dye anymore! All kinds of things can be used to jazz up your eggs!

Here are some ideas that I found from one of my favorite sites... All Recipes!

Flower Vase Egg

Use a blown egg; dye desired shade. Gently expand opening at the top of the egg; glue a small flat rock to the bottom as a base. Hide glue seam with ribbon or beaded chain. Use hot glue to affix silk flower into eggshell--flower should just peeking out the top of the egg.

Dot Egg

As simple as it gets: pick your dot color and place tiny dot stickers on a white or dyed egg.

Flower Power Egg

Dye egg. Use glue gun to attach flower sequins in a matching color (red on red, blue on blue).

Royal Egg

Dye egg. With glue gun, attach large and small necklace fasteners to add a royal touch.

Charm Egg

Dye egg desired shade; glue ribbon around its middle. Insert small tag or charm in blow hole and affix with hot glue gun. (The charm in this egg says, "Thank You!")

Disco Egg

Dye and dry a blown egg. Dilute craft glue with an equal amount of water and paint on egg. Roll in superfine glitter and let dry.

Chick Egg

Broken eggshell? Don't throw it away: dye the entire shell. With a hot glue gun, affix fuzzy chick figurine inside.

Word Egg

Die-cut stickers come in many different word themes. Mix and match words and themes to cover a plain egg.

Bedazzled Egg

Beads aren't just for clothes anymore! Dye egg in a bright color; glue faceted bedazzle beads in rows on half of the egg.

Bumpy Egg

Using a hot glue gun, place glue dots all over egg. Let dry, then dye.

Time to Get Crafty

For those of you that keep up with my blog, you know that I love decorating for holidays! Not only does it spice up your life, but it is also a fun way to change the look of your house in a small way. I came across this Egg Tree on Martha's website and I knew that I would have to make it my own. So I am devoting today to making a preppy Easter egg tree. Here is what I am using as my inspiration...

From Martha

In Germany and Austria, it's customary to celebrate Easter by hanging hollow eggs from the branches of trees. This year, bring the tradition indoors by creating a unique display for your blown and decorated eggs.

Fill an ice bucket with floral foam, then insert grass and pussy willow branches. Or place pebbles and water into a vase, and make an arrangement using any type of fresh-cut branches, such as flowering quince, magnolia, forsythia or cherry blossom.

To thread and hang the eggs, center a slipknot on a length of ribbon, and thread the ribbon ends through a large-eyed needle (or fashion a needle by folding a 12-inch length of 27-gauge wire in half; use the loop end to thread ribbon). Gently pass the needle through the holes at each end of the egg, and pull ribbon through. Before inserting the needle, decide which end of the egg will be the bottom; the hole from which the ribbon ends protrude will be the top of your egg. Double-knot the ribbon above and below the egg, then tie the loose ends to a branch with a bow.

Drum Roll Please...

And the winner of the My Pair Tree giveaway is A Prep in the Big Apple!! Thanks to everyone for getting your entries in. I was overwhelmed with the number of people that said Rainbows and Reefs were their favorites. Neither of those brands are part of my flip flop collection, and I am convinced to give both of them a try!

Polo Palooza

I am a firm believer that you can never own too many polo shirts. Recently, I discovered that one of my favorite companies, Southern Proper, now carries women's polos!! Their description of the shirts are "blending classic style with casual sophistication, our proper polo collection presents a charming take on this southern staple. The unique, tailored fit and high quality craftmanship will make each shirt seem like like it was designed personally for you." Southern Proper... you sold me! I cannot wait to give these a try.

This is pretty much my exact "uniform" for both work and play!

Retailing at $59.50, these would be a great addition to any wardrobe. There are tons of colors in the men's line, but bere are the colors that are available in women's.

Knot Navy

Kelley Green

White

Belle Blue

Azalea Pink

I am currently contemplating between which to choose... I have all of these colors in my closet already, but I think my navy is looking a little dingy (because I wear it all the time!) so I may start there!