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!

Stationary Swap: Part Uno

Yesterday, I received the most wonderfully, bight swap package ever. Thanks to Lou Lou in Lilly for hosting such a fun swap, and my incredible swap partner Kate from Nautical by Nature for the AMAZING package!

The blog world never ceases to amaze me! Kate knew how much I love to spend time in the kitchen, entertaining, my favorite colors, and even incorporates Lilly into the package. Look at what all she sent!


On less a less fun note, you have probably noticed that I have been more absent that usual recently. I promise it has not been by choice! With the first day of April being tomorrow, I am in the home stretch of college. This semester is my last attempt to redeem my grades to be able to graduate cum laude. In order to do that, I must maintain a 4.0 in all of my 14 hours. Well, the stress of this situation has begun to take a toll on me. In past semesters, I would have been fine with making an 88 on a difficult exam. Now, I am constantly feeling inadequate about my work, unless it is perfect. In the long run, it probably will not matter whether I graduated cum laude; but it sure would look nice on a resume ;) Hopefully things will calm down very soon with school and I will be able to devote more time to my blogging. I just wanted to let you know why there has been a lack of posting and commenting. Thanks for understanding!!

Founder's Day

This weekend had been filled with both sorority and school. Yesterday, we had a lovely brunch in honor of our sorority's founders. Our chapter and alumni dined on breakfast casserole, hashbrown casserole, french toast, ham, muffins, bagels, fruit, etc. It made me realize how much I miss Sunday brunch after church! Not only did we reflect back on our heritage; but the seniors were acknowledged, as well as academic awards were presents. I was lucky enough to be recognized in both of those categories.

For the seniors, they had our little sisters get up and read letters from our parents. I thought I would share what my mother wrote. (Preface: I was rush chairman and my little sister was the recommendations chair, so we were able to get to share being in charge of recruitment. That was definately a bonding experience like none other!! Not only are we best friends, but our mothers and families are friends as well.)

Dear Lilly P. Wannabe,

Here you are at another milestone, your graduation from college. How proud Dad and I are of your many accomplishments in both school and [your sorority]! How I loved being with you and your sisters during Rush week 2 years ago! [Little Sister's Mom] and I sat on the cooler in the kitchen during the parties taking turns peeping out the shutters seeing you and [your sorority] shine! Enjoy Today!

Love,
Mom

Thank goodness my mother did not write one of the tear jerkers... I didn't wear waterproof mascara! The entire day made me look back on my experience and truly realize how special it was and how different life would have been without being in my sorority. It is also customary for the chapter to present the senoirs with gifts. We got monogrammed aprons!!! And the icing on the cake is that mine is accented with pink and green ribbon :) They know me all too well!


Lastly, they recognized the scholastic achievements of the chapter. There were 5 of us that receieved 4.0's last semester, and we were presented with our Lamp of Knowledge. I was so excited! It took me until the end of my college career to get straight A's. This little addition made me start thinking that I want to make a charm bracelet. I think I am going to get the charms for Rush Chairman and Recommendation Chairman (I was that the year before). Then turn my pin into a charm, and add the lamp of knowledge too.

I am off to read more legal briefs on execution (fun subject, I know!), and put my new apron to use. I am debating between making homemade (of course!) brownies, chocolate chip cookies, or cake during my next reading break.

P.S. Don't forget if you haven't entered The Pair Tree giveaway to do so before Thursday!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

In honor of making it past 100 posts (today is actually 101), there will be a SERIES of giveaways within the next few weeks! So be on the lookout! Many thanks to Mary Ellen of My Pair Tree for sponsoring my first giveaway! The winner will receive one Pair Tree with her choice of the grosgrain pattern. Check out more about My Pair Tree at their website or where I blogged about them.

Here are the ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment here telling me your favorite type of flip flop = 1 entry
2. Blog about the giveaway = 1 entry
3. If you are a follower or become a follower = 1 entry

Please let me know about options 2 or 3, so that I can allocate the correct number of entries for you! Make sure to leave your email address so I know where to contact you when you win. Also, I will be drawing the winner on Friday April 3rd. That gives everyone plenty of time to get your entries in :) Good luck!!!

My Pair Tree

Now that it is flip flop weather, it is time to figure out what to do with all of those shoes that all us preppies are addicted to. I was using one of those plastic shoe holders from Target; but when I spotted this on The Today Show yesterday, I knew that I needed to own [at least] one! What makes this flip flop tree even better?! You get to pick out the grosgrain patten!! Look at all the choices...


Now, you should hop one over to My Pair Tree and grab one for yourself :) They are priced at $13.99, which holds 6 pairs of flip flops or crocs. By far, this is one of my favorite finds of the season!