It's a Prep World: From Paris to New York

Hey Preps!

Today is a very exciting day in American history.  For today, known All-American Preppy designer, Tommy Hilfiger is bringing his collaborated project (with True Prep's, Lisa Birnbach) from Paris to New York.  The Prep World Pop-Up has now touched down on the good ole' US of A's soil!  Are you as excited as I am?

I recently blogged about Prep World.  To get the inside scoop, I highly recommend you check out my old post by clicking here.  The Prep World is a Time Capsule collection, and is worth while investigating!

Here are some of the amazing pictures from the Pop-Up in Paris!  So excited to see what New York Holds!

Amazing right?  Stay tuned for my weekend plans!

Also please do me a huge favor and vote on your favorite outfit for croquet!

The Reversible Bow Tie

Hey Preps!

Wanna know something?  I am obsessed with bow ties!  Yep, I wish every guy on this planet would wear one daily.  I just love em'.  You can see my love for them by checking out my post: Bow Ties Make Me Swoon.  Today I was browsing Brooks Brothers' website, and came across their new Spring 2011 Social Primer Collection.  Guess what they have?  (If you couldn't already tell from my post title)

REVERSIBLE BOW TIES!  I honestly want to buy every single one for Pat.

Brooks Brothers, you have done it again.  This collection sticks to the classic patterns that we all love; such as madras, seersucker, classic stripes...etc.  yet mixes these patterns in a playful and inventive way.  This collection is a collaboration with Social Primer.  We all know Social Primer sticks to tradition.  Brooks Brothers takes this tradition and turns it into a key summer piece that every classically dressed boy will be dying to have.  Just in time for summer too!

Here are my absolute favorites from the collection:

Satin Twill Rep Stripe and Anchors

Perfect for a Naval Academy Mid?

Oars and Blue Rep Stripe

Blue Rep Stripe and Blue Plaid

Framed Split Stripe and Seahorse 

(love the pink and green)

Repp Dot and Madras (one of my absolute favorites)

Pink and Green Repp Stripe and Seersucker...

favorite!

Framed Split Stripe and Gingham 

Seersucker Stripe and Madras

Aren't these just divine?  I DIE. 

To the gentlemen who read my blog...please do yourselves a huge favor and invest in one (or all) of these!  They make me envious I can't properly wear one!  

Thank you Brooks Brothers and Social Primer for such a wonderful collection!  

Two of Pat's friends and fellow midshipmen:  Gray and Ty

Ty has a great blog...called The Hunter Hampton Collection

perfect for all you classy gents out there. 

A Little Croquet...Eh?

Hey Preps!

"The 27th Annual Annapolis Cup-a croquet match between St. John's College and the U.S. Naval Academy—promises superb intercollegiate competition and a festive lawn party where watching the spectators is as much as the croquet. It's also a bargain for the families and community members who attend. The event is free. Spectators dress in styles reminiscent of "The Great Gatsby," bring champagne picnics, dance to music, and watch the match unfold. It's good old-fashioned free fun."

-St. Johns College

_________________________________________________________________________________

That is right, my Saturday will be spent watching the Midshipmen take on St. Johnnies in a competitive Croquet Tournament.  As of right now, I have finalized my outfit to two front runners.  Which one do you like best?  Vote on this post!

So, as I do need to freshen up on the rules of Croquet, I thought I would do so, with some of my favorite pictures:

Alice in Wonderland...my introduction to croquet.

I swear I thought they actually used flamingos as a little girl.

That did not go over very well with me.

History of Croquet: Croquet has been traced back to the 1300's. It is thought that it may have been an in-door version of lawn-bowling to be played in times of inclement weather. It was then played in more confined spaces. The players enjoyed it enough to bring it back outside for the summer. Originating in France, the game was called "paille-maille" which means ball-mallet. 

Shortly after in France, a doctor changed the rules of paille-maille slightly and recommended it for his patients. He called the new game, "Croquet" after the crooked stick used to hit the balls through the wickets. It then migrated to Ireland where it was called "Crooky". From there it came to England where it supplanted "pall-mall".

Croquet became popular throughout the British Empire. It gained such tremendous popularity that an association was formed at Wimbledon and formal rules were laid down in 1868. Many fields were dedicated to Croquet. But this popularity was to be short-lived. 

The game of tennis hit England in general and Wimbledon in particular. Most of the croquet fields were turned into tennis courts.

Even so, croquet has survived as a sport and is even gaining in popularity today as a rather high class sport on the level of badminton. On any given day in the summer, people can be found in their back yards or at the local park roqueting to their heart's content. There are associations throughout the English-speaking world where competition is fierce and standards high. This is a game or sport that will continue to be played for fun or sport by all age groups.

Amanda Seyfield in Vogue...

after she starred in Alice in Wonderland

The Setup: for croquet is fairly simple, it requires only an open field and a croquet set comprised of two stakes, nine wickets, along with a couple of mallets and balls.

The infamous Chuck Bass

Rules:

• Ideally the field will be 100 feet by 50 feet on relatively even ground. However, this is not strictly required. Almost any terrain may be used (within reason). The layout should be made in a manner as close as possible to that shown on the diagram to the left.
• The game was designed to be played with four or six balls. Yet it may be played with two to six players. Generally, two teams are formed. If there is an odd number of players, the extra player may play two balls. Players may also play "cut-throat" where each plays one ball and scores for himself.
• The order of play is determined by color and where that color appears on the end-posts. The player with the colored ball at the top of the post goes first and then down the post. Players on opposing teams should hold alternating positions in play. For example, the player who is first should be allied with the third and fifth player. While the second player should be allied with the fourth and sixth.

Simply Madras

Winning:

• To win at croquet, a player or team must score the highest number of points. One point is awarded for every wicket passed through in the proper direction and proper order. (That means there are two points awarded for five of the wickets, 1 point each for four wickets, and one point for each stake for a total of 16 points).
• Each player must drive his ball around the course in the order indicated on the diagram at left. When all the players on a team have completed the course, the game is over and the points are tallied. Thus, one team will get the full number of points available, while the other team will achieve something less.
• When a player hits the final stake he ceases to take turns. It is sometimes to a team's advantage for a player to pass through all the wickets, but not hit the final stake in order to return to the field to help his team-mates. However, this player must eventually hit the final stake in order to ultimately win the game. A player from the other team may actually roquet such a player into the final stake just to get him out of the game.
• I could explain Roqueting, but it gets quite complicated

So Who is Ready for some Croquet?
Here are some pictures from past years' Annapolis Cups:

St. Johns...they typically dress up to mock the Midshipmen 

The Midshipmen...in Varsity Navy Sweaters

Typical Dress of the Annapolis Cup

Let the Games Begin!


Be sure to vote for your favorite outfit that I will be wearing to the Annapolis Cup!

She's Country

Hey Preps!

How was everyone's Easter?  Mine was filled with lots of family, friends, and food.  I love Easter because often in holidays like Christmas with all the gift buying and events, we lose sight of the true meaning.  Easter always is such a great reminder of how much God loves us.  It makes me want to show the same self-giving love to everyone around me...and to constantly strive to be one step closer to the woman God has created me to be.

Saturday one of my best friends from high school and I got together.  She just got an amazing SLR camera with a zoom attachment.  Given that I do a little bit of modeling here and there, she wanted to test-run it on me.

We went through country roads, taking pictures, catching up...and having way too much fun considering.  It was one of those days you just wish you could replay over and over again.  We ended up at my great grandma's farm.  She passed away when I was in high school at the age of 96.  To the day she died she took care of the farm.  We couldn't even try asking her to help with things because it was always denied.  She knew how to live.  From knowing everyone, to loving everyone...to her independence... to her love of God...I hope one day I am half the woman she was.

It was a great day.  Here are the pictures from it:

Cheesin' 

Deserted barn...just decided to stop here

I'm allergic to dandelions.  Bad idea.

I am the happiest girl.

Being an airplane for Pat

Typical childhood outift: Princess dress and Wellies

Tricked the horses into coming over...promise I will bring treats next time!

I love how he closed his eyes in this shot.  So gentle.

Eating the fence...trying to break out!

Yum?

Yes...my best friend is an amazing photographer...anyone in PA...

if you ever need a photographer... I will hook ya up! 

Wish I had my real wellies...these were just in my trunk (I wear them on my way to the gym)

LOVE this one.  

Childhood dream:  Wanted a horse.

Was part of the Rolling Rock hunt when I was young

Every Christmas would ask for a horse. 

There was a car coming...I live on the edge, what can I say

Perfect day

Kate Spade sunglasses...attitude

True Life:  I WISH I WAS A HILFIGER

I Love This Road-Emerson Drive...

At my Great Grandma's farm

The Chicken Coop!  

These are my roots...this is what I love

Inside the barn

This is where I learned to be the girl I am...

and saw the woman I want to be

Favorite of the day.

Which one is your favorite?  Isn't my friend an amazing photographer?  Once she gets a website up...I will link it!  Hope y'all are having an amazing start to your week!

Four days of classes left...

Then Finals...

Then I'm a senior?

Where did the time go?