Try a Bow Tie

Hey Preps! 

For those that know me, know I am a huge sucker for bow ties.  They are just a party.  Any guy who wants to stand out in an obnoxiously classic and fun way will rock a bow tie.  I am jealous that men get to wear them...I want one!  

I was reading back through my past posts, and decided it was about time to write about my most beloved men's accessory again.  So, I did a little research, and picked out my favorite bow ties from different preppy companies shown below:

(Photo Credits: Starboard Clothing Co., Carolina Cotton Bow Ties, 

Anchored Style, High Cotton Ties)

1.  Kau'i by Carolina Cotton Bow Ties has a great color combination.  For those gents who rock colored chino pants, this bow tie can be worn in both the summer and winter months...just match it with a pair of red chinos in the winter, or a pair of light pink/green in the winter.  Match made in heaven.
2. Flying Scot reversible bow tie from High Cotton Ties is a perfect summer bow tie that combines classic gingham with a summer plaid.  Now who is ready for summer so they can wear this guy?
3. Lenox Flannel bow tie from High Cotton Ties is strictly a winter tie.  I love bow ties that utilize different fabrics other than just cotton, and this is a perfect example.  Change of the texture of a bow tie to a winter fabric, add a winter plaid, and you have the perfect Christmas bow tie (a little late this year)!
4. Whale Golf Club bow tie by Vineyard Vines, is perfect for those Bubba Watson wanna-bes who have casual summer events they are planning to attend.  I love how VV took their classic whale logo and stuck it on the ends of the golf clubs.  I'm sold.
5. Andrew Howard Tattersall Beau by Starboard Clothing Co. is quite possibly my favorite beau of the bunch.  I am obsessed with pink and green...ya ya...you may be too, but not like me...come to my house and I will prove it to you.  The combination of my two favorite colors in a tattersall pattern.  The sky is the limit with what you can pair this bow tie with.  
6. CPL. Spires Digital Camo Beau is a Special Edition beau by Starboard Clothing Co., and is one of the beaus I have actually purchased as a gift in the past.  It is perfect for any military gent who likes to add a little flare to his wardrobe.  The duck cloth that this bow tie is made out of, gives it a unique feel and look.  Additionally, part of the profits made from this beau is given to the Wounded Warrior Project.  A patriotic-inspired beau that supports are military?  Love the concept.
7. Navy Signal Flag Woven Bow Tie by Anchored Style is perfect for all those sailors or nautical-living gents who lean towards a clean-cut look when picking their bow ties.  Signal flags on a woven tie gives this bow tie a classic All-American feel.  

Gents, don't be shy...try a bow tie!

(I am sitting here laughing at my own little cheesy rhyme I just made...seriously I can't stop...ahh I crack myself up.)

But really, if you want to win a girls initial approval (at least this one's) give one a try!

What is your favorite bow tie?

Have a blessed day y'all!

Margaritas on my Mind

(Easter Sunday Outfit: Lilly Pulitzer Dress, Steve Madden Sling-back Sandals, 

and a Vintage, Changeable, Lilly Pulitzer Clutch)

I love spring, it means Pink and Green!

Ok, so I am just gonna vent for a second.  I am so hungry right now.  I am sitting at work and Food Network is on.  Fried twinkies.  Fried macaroni and cheese.  Everything fried seems to be the theme.  Of course someone would want to be watching the Food Network while they are working out, causing me to reap the cons of such a show.

My training for the marathon is coming to an end.  That means this final month is TAPER.  I love tapering because it means less mileage and a higher intensity.  Go hard or go home type of mindset its needed.  However, what I hate about tapering, is the fact that I have to start cutting back on the calories/fat in my diet.  When you are running 60+ miles a week, it's easy to let your diet slide a bit.  Trust me, I have been an eating machine.

 When your mileage decreases though, the diet becomes more important. This means no drinking in season (there goes my glass of vino until October), eating lean protein, and lots of veggies, limiting my sugar/fruit intake, and keeping the closest eye on my carb intake.  Since I am gluten-free, I turn my nose up at most carbs because of what they do to my body.  Yet, when my aunt makes me G-free Pumpkin Muffins, and it's time for me to cut...it's really not fun staring at them and having them stare back at you.

The month before a huge race is when I start watching everything I consume.  If it doesn't benefit my body in some way, and help to make me a better athlete, I don't eat it.  Trust me, it's extremely hard...and it means denying a ton of cravings and sometimes being a little bit hungry.

Last night I was texting my girlfriend, and mentioned how super bummed I was that my race was the day after Cinco De Mayo.  Kids, I love me some mexican food.  Everything I can eat.  Corn tortillas, rice, beans...it's a carb heaven for G-free people like me.  I also love me some Margaritas.  Mucho grande por favor.  

So, as soon as this race is over, and I am fully hydrated and functioning again.  I WILL have a Margarita, and the biggest enchilada I see.  Then it will be back to training and cutting for Triathlons.

What is the point of writing this?  First, I just needed to express my hunger.  Now I feel much better.  Second, I wanted to stress the importance of nutrition.  It is equally if not more important than your daily cardio and weight session if you are trying to lose weight.  I know it stinks sometimes, and isn't easy to always eat well.  Trust me, I am a huge fan of Skittles and Ice Cream.  However, you have to look at how the food you are eating will benefit or hurt you in the long run.  Doing so, will help you make better decisions.  I promise.

So I challenge you to eat well for a week, deny those processed foods, sugars, and fattening cravings.  You will feel so much better...and be on your way to a healthier lifestyle!

Polo Dresses and Stink Bugs

Hey Preps!

(Outfit of the Day: I love my green Vineyard Vines Polo Dress, it's as comfy as sweats.

I paired it with a Lacoste headband, and Coastal Skimmers from L.L.Bean)

Have you ever seen a stink bug?  They practically invaded Pittsburgh.  Recently I moved into a new house, and we have this little issue with stink bugs finding some way inside the house.  Yuck.  So last night I was reading, and glanced up just to see a stinker scurrying up my wall.  I had a minor freak-out, and calmed myself down enough to grab a wad of toilet paper, gently pluck the insect from the wall, and drown it in a swirling fury down the toilet.  Kalyn 8, Stink Bugs 0.  My count was up to eight in a 24 hour span.  Disgusting.  

Did you know that if you smash a stink bug, that they give off an odor that attracts more of the gross little things?  SEE BUG.  FREAK OUT. SMASH BUG.  It's practically human nature for us to attack at first glance when seeing a bug, yet if we do that with a stink bug, we are fighting an uphill battle.  You must wait for the right moment to snatch it up, and dispose of it somewhere far far away, or do the barbaric thing a flush that sucker out of your house.  

I am the weirdest.  After this post, I am convinced I am...but how many times do our impulses attract more hard decisions in our life?  Impatient and stubborn are two words that I will honestly call myself.  I admit they are flaws of mine.  I have always been one who wants what she wants the second she wants it, regardless of whether it is the right thing in the long run or not.  How many times has that hurt me in my life?  Just like the instant thought to squish a stink bug leads to a much bigger problem?  

Sometimes, we just need to let go of situations, and know that not everything is in our hands.  There is not a single time that you will be in complete control of your life.  Sure, you can do all the right things to prepare yourself in a way that avoids trauma, but in the end nothing ever works out the way we planned it.  

I have always been one to try to take rein of my life.  Every time I try, I am taught to be patient.  It feels really good to say that for the first time in my life, I am fine with letting things happen the way they are meant to be.  Sure, I give everything my very best, but I know that I can't keep smushing the stink bugs in my life...because they will come back to bite me eventually.  

I am currently in the taper stage for my marathon.  I am anxious for it to be over so I can start fully training for Triathlons again...yet I know I can't over train.  How did I learn that?  A past full of shoulder, shin, knee, and ankle injuries.  I now listen to what my body is telling me, and I know the difference between a good hurt and a "I just fractured my foot" kind of hurt.  Sometimes that means not doing everything I wanted to (which is very hard for me to do), but I know that listening to my body will pay off in the end when I didn't over train and hurt something.  

The same goes for careers and relationships.  I kept forcing my last relationship to work, when it clearly wasn't meant to be for quite some time.  I was up late at night in tears waiting to hear from him, exhausted, and mentally and emotionally drained in class.  Why did I stick with something that was making me so unhappy for so long? I was stubborn.  I kept trying to dispose of the stink in our relationship in all the wrong ways.

Now I am so happy.  I am finally doing things I only dreamed of doing.  I have an amazing support network to fall back on if I need them...and I can honestly say that I am just Kalyn.  Just me.  A little girly who loves pink and green, writing, running her feet off, swimming like a fishy, teaching fitness classes, and appreciating the world around me.  

I recently wrote that when you are happy being by yourself, someone who appreciates you for who you are will find you.  Well guess what?  Mr. Makes Me Red in the Face and I are still talking.  We are taking it super slow, and I like it that way.  Yet, he supports me for the freak I am.  He respects the fact I wake up at ungodly hours to hit the pool or go on a long run.  He wants to be there for me at all my races.  My ADHD stories that are overly enthusiastic and detailed make him laugh...and it is great to have someone who does appreciate the weird Kalyn.  I don't know where the future is for us, but I am fine not knowing.  Who knows if we will ever end up in a serious relationship...but never have I spent time with someone who is so grounded in who he is, and so driven to do his best...not to mention someone who is caring enough to listen to me ramble about my distance run and what each mile felt like and the philosophical meaning behind stink bugs.  

I laughed last night as I was leaving his house.  He is a financial advisor, which means suits and ties and brief cases.  I am a personal trainer which means running shoes, kettle bells, and sports bags. As I was leaving, I picked up my lifting shoes (I never wear my running shoes except to run...an OCD thing of mine) next to his dress shoes, my mesh swim bag up that had been covering his brief case, and thought "oh the irony".  He sees me in sweats every single day, and still likes me.  Now that is saying something.  

The point is, we both have our own paths in life.  Striving for the best is something that is important, and the focus and balance between work, athletics, and relationships is evident in both of our lives.  I appreciate him for the person he is (even if he does prefer gory movies and giggle like no other man I know) and he appreciates me.  

For the first time, I feel no pressure to impress a significant other...if I even will call him that one day.  Who knows, I am taking it day by day...but, I will say this:

I noticed this gent when I first started working at the gym.  I can talk to anyone about practically anything, but whenever he would come in, I found him so attractive, I couldn't even make eye contact with him.  I did think it was a hopeless cause until he asked me on a date a few months ago...but the funny thing is, he thought the same about me.  We both had little teenage crushes on each other and were too nervous to talk to one another.  Not only that, but I was dealing with another relationship that was already a squashed stink bug on the wall.  If that stink bug hadn't finally gotten flushed down the toilet, I might still be a mess...and would have missed out on the opportunity to get to know someone who I have the utmost respect for (and find incredibly sexy).  

So my advice to you?  Stop squashing the stink bugs with impulses, and have the patience to wait for the right moment to gently remove them from your life.  Impatience gets you no where in life.  Take the time to grow up, and figure out who you are before needing someone else in your life...appreciate being single, and strive to be the best person you can be.  Someone will find that drive irresistible, and will love the weirdness in you.  You have to just let yourself be weird first.

Stink Bug number nine comes creeping by the window.  Mr. Makes me Red in the Face volunteers and flushes that sucker down for me.  What a gentleman.  

Frozen Boogers

Hey Preps!

(Outfit of the Day: Lands End Canvas Gingham Oxford Shirt, Lands End Canvas Cardigan,

Delia's Red Corduroy Pants, Sperry Top-sider Sheerwater Boots)

My nickname from a favorite college professor is Smiley.

Hmmm I wonder why.

This past weekend I was out with "red in the face" boy,

and someone I know came over to us...and told him

ALL about my huge glasses and retainers that I used to rock in the 90's.

"Red in the Face" boy laughed, and said he really wasn't surprised.

Great. He already knows I'm a freakazoid.  

A freakazoid perfectly happy being who she is. Retainers and all.

Can't you tell from this picture? Or this post title?

It is freezing here in Pittsburgh.  Early this morning, I sprinted to my car to avoid the cold and shivered the whole way to the gym.  I have a secret spot I park in at the gym that is actually a lot closer and cheaper than the meters, but no one has figured it out yet.  I feel so sneaky.  Anyways, I made another mad dash into the gym...and announced to the lady at the front desk that my boogers are officially frozen, as I took a big sniffle in.  She lost it.  I think she will always laugh at me when I make my entrances into the gym now, thanks to my half-awake but blatantly honest comment.  

I feel like I could write a novel about all the things I hate about the cold.  I hate dressing in huge layers and feeling like a rollie pollie all the time, I hate the possibility of wiping out on ice, and I just hate being cold in general.  Honestly, frozen boogers are the least of my worries in the cold.  

Usually on crummy days like this, I just want to curl up into a ball and go back to sleep.  However, today I am just plain happy.  Maybe it was my 'off the cuff' comment that I made, or maybe it's just the balance that I have been feeling to great extents in my life lately that keeps me happy...regardless I cannot stop smiling.  

In my personal opinion, I have found that happiness is something we often lack.  We are always complaining about how tired we are, the to do list we have to accomplish, and anything else.  There are so many days that I hear numerous people make "whoa is me" statements.  We are always making excuses about why we are unhappy; constantly examining other people's lives and wishing we had something they do.  

Why do we do that?

There are so many times I compare myself to others.  Oh I wish I had her pretty curly hair...Oh I wish I was taller...Oh I wish I had (you fill in the blank).  We are always wanting what others have, always feeling as if we are somehow missing the mark in our own lives...and it makes us completely miserable.

Instead why don't we focus on how much we DO have in our lives?  I am blessed with an incredible family who supports me and loves me unconditionally.  My puppy is the best snuggler in the world.  My friends keep me grounded but still know how to have a good time...I am a college student but already have a career teaching fitness classes and just got paid to become a personal trainer.  I can beat the boys in a lot of sports.  I proudly dress modestly and rock side pony tails.  There are so many blessings in my life and so many things I am proud of.  I really need to remember those more instead of focusing on what I am lacking in.

I am not saying that if you are struggling with something that you should ignore improving yourself as a person, I'm saying start appreciating what you have a little bit more! How can we truly be happy if we are always focusing on the negative things in our lives when we really should be focusing on everything we DO have.  

So be happy. Count your blessings...and laugh at your frozen boogers. 

 Life is too short to not appreciate it.

Have a blessed day y'all!

I Believe I Can Fly

Hey Preps!

Yesterday morning started with an alarm clock sounding off at 4:30AM.  Does it surprise you that waking up that early every day is my choice? Don't answer that.  Sometimes it doesn't feel like my choice.  I drag myself out of my bed kicking and screaming, all while trying to dig the yuckies out of my eyes.

"Why am I doing this?  Why am I up so early?"

Sure, there are days where I just want to go back to sleep, but I don't.  I force myself out the door, and into the pool or out into the wild for a crazy morning run.  Yesterday consisted of jumping into a freezing cold pool at 5:30AM.  I got used to doing so my freshman year of college, given I was a D1 swimmer.  I hated it then.  It was a job, but hilarious as it sounds, now that it isn't a job, I love it.  There is nothing better than a hard swim workout...  

Especially if your swim workout involves women who you look up to in so many ways.  The gym that I train at has hosted a great deal of triathletes and successful marathoners.  Many are quite successful in major events such as Ironmans and the Boston Marathon.  These women have careers, families, and are so busy, yet they are waking up at ungodly hours, getting on that bike...and hitting that pool.  Why?  

They love it.  They love the intensity.  They love working towards and achieving a goal that was gleamed impossible...and you know what? I do too.  

Admiration doesn't even describe the upmost respect I have for the women I train with.  I hope that my whole life I will be just as dedicated and committed to my fitness, while maintaing success in the real world like they are. 

I have said this before, but in order to live a balanced life, I need my workouts.  I need those swims that seem challenging at first but result in such a refreshing burst of energy and accomplishment...and more than that...I need my runs.  

Training for a marathon can be just as much a psychological struggle as it is a physical struggle.  I always tell myself the first two miles of a distance run are the hardest, and they truly are for me.  Yet once I reach that two mile mark, my pain and forced running is gone...replaced with pure joy and ambition that carries my legs up hills across fields, and anywhere my heart desires.  

One of my favorite runs starts with a huge uphill battle.  I hate it at first.  My legs burn, and my heart rate increases at an exponential pace...yet overcoming that first hill allows me to have the motivation to conquer the next 10 that follow.  Hill after hill I stride.  Farm land, mountains, and unreal fields decorate my runs, and I am constantly reminded how blessed I am.  

Yesterday after my swim, I decided to go on a distance run.  Sopping wet hair in a matted bun, hat to cover the mess, running leggings, reflective jacket, and my worn down shoes...off I went.  I reached the very top of the last hill of my run and stopped for a second to take the picture shown above.  I was just overcome with the beauty...the beauty of the world synchronizing to the pounding of my tired feet.  The rhythm took me away.  I felt as if I could go on forever.  

I started descending the hill, and couldn't help but spread my arms out as if I were flying.  That's exactly what I felt like I was doing.  My feet, hardly touching the ground, chest open, arms out, and I couldn't hold back my smile.  I was truly happy, and it's moments in my life like that, which I never want to forget.

As I was finishing the last leg of my run, I decided to avoid my normal route because the last street involved happens to be where my "I turn red every time I see you" gent that I am dating lives.  I was proud of myself for creating a detour, but as I ran a road parallel to it, and started to turn back to the gym, who did I bump into other than this dreamy guy in a light blue tie and beautiful navy suit...headed to the office.  

"Oh hey, don't mind me, I am just a sopping wet, sweaty, smelly mess...Great seeing you at this time in the morning, when you look simply sexy and smell delicious, and I am completely out of breath and smell like chlorine and body odor."

Yep.  I guess you can't always stay on the runner's high...sometimes you have to fall back down into reality...or bump into a guy who you adore and it completely flusters your focus.  What am I? A middle schooler again?  That's what it feels like.  

I like when things happen that way.  I love running, and I am glad life doesn't always work out the way I planned...because more often than not, it works out better than I could have ever imagined...like bumping into just the right person at just the wrong time.  Sometimes I think my life is a sitcom.  God definitely has a sense of humor. I like it.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Anchor Yourself to Something Great

Hey Preps!

Kitty always has to sneak into the pictures...

He thinks he's a dog...I swear.

What are your goals?  Do you ever think about them? Sometimes I think we all have dreams that we are too scared to follow.  We get scared we will miss the mark, and fall flat on our faces.  Americans are great at making excuses, and putting on a front of who we want people to think we are.  We are all guilty of it...we want the perfect resume, and are scared to admit failure.  Worse than admitting failure, some of us are so scared to fail, that we don't even try to reach our dreams.  It's really heartbreaking to see.

I will be the first to admit that I hate failure.  I have slight OCD and really hate when I don't achieve a goal the way I wanted to.  Therefore, I feel as if I sometimes shortchange my dreams, and exchange them for second best.  Why?

Furthermore, I constantly struggle with talking about my real dreams.  I am terrified that if I talk about them, put them out there for all to see...that if I do fall short, I will look like I failed.  

So today, I am going to put a few of my life dreams out in the open.  Hopefully this will inspire you to do the same, and give you the heart and motivation to keep striving.  

This past weekend, I was at a Women in Business Conference at Colombia University.  We listened to a panel of entrepreneurs speak, and it was incredibly rewarding.  I have always wanted to own my own business.  I have no clue what that business would be due to the fact I am passionate about so many things in life.  Regardless, I have the heart to be out there in the real world making my mark.  I love working with people, and I can't imagine sitting stuck behind a cubicle desk my whole life.  Actually cubicles terrify me, and I am pretty sure I would be incredibly unhappy if I was squished in one for a career.  

Maybe I am not a normal human being.  I have no clue, but I hate being in solitude.  I would chose a room full of people over a cubicle any day.  Considering these characteristics about me, I know I need to apply this to my future career.  Where do I start though?  I have no clue.  

However the uncertainty is almost exhilarating, and I know that if you give me something I am passionate about, I will ensure that it becomes a success.  Sure I may fail a few times, but through failure, we grow. Failure allows you to step back and look at yourself or your business and see where it is lacking and improve.  

If we always look at failure as something that can help us change for the positive, maybe we would be more vocal about our faults.  Additionally, we might be able to be held accountable to our far fetched dreams.  

Sure, life doesn't work out the way we planned...but in my experience it works out in better ways than we can imagine. So, my advice to you today?  Find something you want to achieve, something you are passionate about...and go for it!  Anchor yourself to the positivity of doing something you love...and forget about the possibility of failure!

(Outfit of the Day: Sweater: Polo Ralph Lauren, Pants: Tommy Hilfiger Chinos

Sperrys, J.Crew Critter Bracelet, Etsy Sailor Bracelet)

Have a blessed day y'all!

Oh, The Places You Will Go!

Hey Preps!

Adventurous red pants and some sturdy boots...and off exploring I go!

Amy Rebekah Photography

(Outfit of the Day: Lands' End Canvas Sweater and Shirt,

Delias Skinny Colorful Cords, Sperry Top-Sider Sheerwater Boots)

Don't mind me, just the queen of being cheesy in pictures.  I can't help it I guess.  Last night I was out with a friend, and was told that I never stop laughing.  Then he said, "you're such a cheeseball".  I died.  Apparently my jokes are only funny when I laugh according to him.  Just your personal cheeseball of a blogger here. 

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?  I don't.  Not a clue.  Today I was writing in my journal, and I made it a point to write out who I think I am as a person, and how I can get to be the person I want to be.  I sat there and made bullet notes of what makes me who I am.  Then, I made a new bucket list.  Do you make bucket lists?  I make one every year, and it's so funny how they change.  Yet, this one is my best yet...why?  Nothing on my bucket list is dealing with pleasing someone else or making my parents proud.  Every single thing on that list is for me.  It's things I want to accomplish in my life, and when I want to accomplish them.  

It's so easy to make a Bucket List, yet so many times those dreams seem farfetched, or we are unsure of how to achieve those dreams.  To reach your goals in life, it takes work...hard work.  Also, reaching those goals takes failure.  Many times we hide our failure.  I am certainly one of those people.  If I do poorly on a test, I am humiliated.  There is a bit of me that is a perfectionist, so when I do fail, I don't like it.  Yet, instead of ignoring those failures, we all need to start learning from them.  I wouldn't be half as strong as I am today if I didn't go through hard times.  I wouldn't know who I am or what I wanted if I didn't try some things I didn't like first.  Additionally, I wouldn't be a fitness instructor or runner if I hadn't gained some weight that made me realize how important healthy living truly is.  

The other thing I noticed that my Bucket List takes is time.  I am an impatient person.  I want things to happen over night.  For example, I got bored with high school, and decided to graduate a year early.  I rushed my last year, and didn't really get to enjoy it because I was so busy cramming two years of classes into one.  I need to slow down.  

Finally, I need to do what I love.  For the longest time, I have forced myself into things I hate.  My major is one of them.  I am stubborn, and never gave that major up.  Here I sit, and I don't want to be in a lab or become a doctor.  I want to write, to work with people, and to be a positive influence on those around me.  Promoting people and their strengths is something I love doing.  Working as a fitness instructor, I have the honor of helping people get back on track with healthy living.  It is awesome to be someone that is inspirational to those I help, and to see people improve and grow in such a short matter of time.  Every day I feel good about doing that for people.  I know that is what I love.

I love traveling, and being outside.  I truly could just travel my whole life and explore if the means were given to me, but they are not.  Which is why there is something called saving money...and something called a Bucket List that will hopefully keep me on track with my world adventures as they come.  

What is my advice to you today?  Do what you love.  Make a Bucket List.  Explore.

...and read Dr. Suess' "Oh the Places You Will Go"

Check out Amy Rebekah Photography on Facebook!

Have a blessed day y'all!

"The World is Mud-luscious and Puddle-wonderful." ~E.E. Cummings

Hey Preps!

(Outfit of the Day: Forever 21 Military Inspired Jacket, J. Crew Flannel Plaid Shirt,

Tommy Hilfiger Corduroy Skinny Pants, Hunter Boots, Polo Ralph Lauren Headband)

Sheesh! I scurried to my car and practically got blown away!  It's ridiculously windy here, and rain felt left out too and decided to add it's touches by ferociously smacking me in the eyes as I made a mad dash to my car.  I kind of like rain.  Especially right now when I'm still a tad bit sad.

So to get back at it, I decided I'd splash in every single puddle I saw.  I was not merciful, oh no...I splashed in those suckers so hard that they dispersed before I could make a second leap.  You know what?  I laughed.  I was there...in the middle of the parking lot... laughing and splashing and people were staring...and eventually cracking up at the silly girl in bright red rain boots splashing in those puddlies like she was five years old.

Laughing is so contagious.  I may be upset or sad, but by watching something funny, or sending Amy a picture of myself in my retainers last night stating, "At least my teefies are gonna be extra straight for the next dude who dares to get entangled in my life", makes everything better.  Sure, this whole ordeal (that I'm sick of writing about, and thinking about, and feeling...and I'm sure you are too) is going to be something I struggle with for a while.  Yet, I know in time it will make me stronger, smarter, and someone who is even more instilled in who I am and what I want in life, instead of having to always try to please others.

For example, this blog was started for my own outlet and enjoyment.  If no one was following me, I would still write in it.  It is simply something I do for myself, and I am very passionate about it.  Apparently someone likes my weirdness too, because I have a great group of followers who I truly am so happy to hear from every day...y'all seriously are the best.

Anyways, something I did do for myself a long time ago was bought a pair of Hunter Boots.  I love them.  They are bright cherry red, and every single girl who I pass by stares...is it envy?  No clue, probably they think I'm weird but it makes me giggle. Watcha looking at girl?  


I made a Polyvore inspired by the outfit shown in the picture above, and included my Westie pup:

An Outfit Perfect for Splashing by pittsburghprep featuring dog boots

You know what else my boots are good for? Walking my pup, Sir Maxwell Smart.  I can endure any terrain his sniffing nose leads us too...I feel like I'm safe in my Hunter Boots, like no snake could get me if they attempt when I'm out in the woods.  They are like my Super Woman boots.  Max likes 'em too.  He says: Let's go check out that bush wayyyyy in the middle of the forest, and there is nothing stopping him.

So the moral of this aimlessly written blog post?  Splash in some mud puddles, buy a pair of fun wellies, and laugh until your sides are sore...even if it is all by yourself.

Below are a few more pictures of my 'Outfit of the Day' that I thought you would enjoy.  Of course the lovely Amy of Amy Rebekah Photography took these as well! Be sure to check out her Facebook page!

Puppy is ready to explore!

Thanks y'all for all of your support, it means the world to me.  Have a Puddle-wonderful day!

God bless!

One of the Boys

Hey Preps!

It is snowing (and has been for the past three days)!  Like I said in my previous post, I hate cold weather...but...that excludes lots of white fluffy snowflakes making those ski resorts ever so irresistible!  I just want to go outside and play all day! Who is with me?!

A side introduction there, but winter for a preppy girl means a few things.  It means Wellies with fleece socks, duck boots, and lots of chunky pieces that include sweaters, heavier polos, corduroy, and tights.  A girl has got to survive in these climates, and for me, surviving them means sitting by my heater most nights, and layering these chunky/boyish pieces.

Did she say boyish?  Yep.  Sometimes a preppy girl is stuck with the predicament of having to wear pieces that look like she's one of the boys.  How then, can she possibly keep her girly appeal?  So glad you asked, because I have the answer.

When Menswear Meets the Girly Prep by pittsburghprep 


Here is a perfect example of pairing menswear with feminine pieces.  Above the 'menswear' pieces are a Rugby Polo shirt, and penny loafers.  Both are known as classic masculine pieces that the ladies just couldn't resist to steal.


To prevent them from looking too manly, an easy way to balance these pieces is to add a classic corduroy skirt to the mix.  I once read somewhere (so it's credible, I just can't credit to the source) that men respect a woman more when she is in a skirt.  Now, I am not talking a hiked up mini skirt that shows all of your goods, I am talking a classic skirt like the one shown above.  So what perfect way to impress the gents than to pair some of his wardrobe favorites with a few girly ones of your own?

The other day, one of my best girlfriends who happens to be an amazing and creative photographer, Amy Rebekah Photography, and I had a play date together.  I put together some outfits, and she masterminded behind the lens.  Knowing I have been dying to explain this whole balance of the gender wearing stuff, I put together an outfit that exemplifies what I wrote about above:

(Polo Ralph Lauren Rugby Shirt)

(Kiel James Patrick's Jephson's Passage Traversed Bracelet

Lands' End Canvas Corduroy Skirt)

(Eastland Penny Loafers)

So ladies, are you willing to give menswear a try?

Hope y'all have a blessed day!

P.S. Be sure to check out Amy Rebekah Photography on Facebook (and expect a guest post from her shortly)!

An Outfit Fit for Santa

Hey Preps!

(Outfit of the Day: Calvin Klein Cardigan, J.Crew Blouse, 

J. Crew Tweed/Sparkly Skirt, Alfani Flats, Sparkly Bow Headband)

I love this tweed skirt.  It is the perfect balance of traditional and festive with the classic tweed combined with a hint of tinsel like sparkle.  I kept my top simple with a white frilled blouse and simple red cardigan (that has crystal buttons...adding to the festive look).  Simple gray tights helped to keep the attention on the skirt, finishing simple black flats with a hint of beaded detail and a sparkly bow headband to keep the holiday look in mind.

Today I was thinking, and here are a few of the things I already am thankful for this Christmas:
Family Christmas parties, Santa appearances, Christmas decorations and music,
Eating too much, Wine,
No school or work, The first big snow of the year, skiing, wrapping presents,
Giving, Snuggling, Singing, Relaxing...
Friends, Family, and my puppy.

That being said...hope y'all are having great times with family and friends,
and that you had a safe a blessed weekend!