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!

Cold Blooded but Fashionable

Hey Preps!

OOTD: Sperry Sheer Water Boots by pittsburghprep featuring patch pants

It's January, and its 41 degrees here in Pittsburgh today.  Trust me, I am not complaining (matter of fact I am currently sitting indian style on my bedroom floor situated no more than half a foot away from a space heater).  Warm weather is better in my opinion.  I love the snow, and skiing is a lifetime passion of mine...however aside from skiing and the first snowfall, I could probably live without it.  Matter of fact, that is one of the deciding factors that ended me up in North Carolina for my first two years of college.  The winters here make me question my decision to move closer to home again.

For example, today the skies are gray, it's rainy, and in Kalyn terms; it's frigid outside.  I swear I have reptilian tendencies, one being I am cold blooded, the other being I am a good little swimmer.  Like a fishy (yes I know not a reptile...science major...I get it...but just hear me out) but more aggressive like an alligator who sneak attacks from behind.  RAWR! Ok, maybe that was a bit far fetched but that is the type of swimmer I was, a sneak attack from behind while you are slow on your flip-turn kind of competitor.  Anyways, the point is I am always cold.

So what's a girl to do when she always has cold feet?  Perhaps score a good boyfriend who is a good Christmas present shopper? Or be a good Christmas shopper for yourself if your not as lucky as I am.

Boyfriend decided to get me a pair of Sperry Top-sider Sheer Water Boots.  If you look at my last blog post you can see a pair of plaid ones I have.  They are cute, fun, but can only be worn with something simple.  So I was looking for a pair of boots that were similar to my Bean Boots, but a different color and Boyfriend beat me to it.  I love how they have the same feel as traditional duck boots, but are given a modern twist with the perfectly quilted material lining the top of them.

I am completely into things that are cute and, more importantly, practical.  These boots are both.  The quilted material gives them a regal feel while the rubber soles (a Sperry trademark) and grippy bottoms make them comfy, they are waterproof, and wool on the inside keeping my feet toasty and dry.  Nothing better than that.

Above, I made a Polyvore of an outfit similar to the one I am wearing today, I will describe it below:

  1.  Barbour Jackets are a classic staple.  Quilted, warm, and traditional, the Barbour Jacket brand is well known for their long lasting quality and fashionable attire.  However, what inspired me to wear this jacket were my quilted boots.  Don't you think they are a good pair?

2.  Polo Ralph Lauren designed a pair of corduroy pants that are inspired by riding pants.  Some may be skeptical, but I love them.  They add a twist to anything you pair them with...especially a quilted down jacket and duck boots.  Not lying, out here in Pennsylvania, this outfit is quite a common one worn among the preps.

3.  Sperry Top-sider Sheer Water Boots.  I explained above.  I love them, they are practical.  Wear them.

4.  I am a huge fan of finding vintage purses on Ebay, especially Dooney&Bourke ones.  The purse shown above isn't the least bit vintage, but I love the caramel leather color of it, and think it looks great paired with the coloring of the cords and boots.

5.  Michael Kors makes a great watch.  Any chunky watch would be great with this traditionally classic and practical "mucking" around outfit.  It just adds a touch of girly.  Agree?

Hope y'all had great breaks, and are getting back into the swing of things.  I am doing so at a sluggish pace!  Thanks so much for your support!

P.S.  get ready for some great posts ahead!

Snow is Like Resolutions

Hey Preps!

(Plaid, Sperry Top-sider Sheerwater Boots)

It's a New Year...that has been welcomed with a snowstorm.  It got me thinking kind of reflectively and philosophically, and I thought about how I define snow.  In a big snow, the flakes blanket the earth with a fluffy white.  The trees that once looked lifeless after losing their leaves completely transform when snowflakes line each branch.  There is something, so pure, and so beautiful about a fresh, untouched snow.  Something that makes you a child again, yearning to stomp around in the wet, cold stuff.  Yet, what happens several days after a snow?  It melts, cars drive through it, and it turns into a muddy, brown mess.

This thought got me thinking about our own lives.  Every year, we tell ourselves that we are going to achieve something...lose weight maybe, or get better at finances, yet often times that pureness of intention in our hearts often fades away into the muddy, brown, messes of our every day lives.  Instead of cherishing what we have, we envy others, or discredit those things.  Why do we wait for the holidays to make resolutions?  I'm not bashing resolutions by any means...I think they are fantastic, and we all do need to take the time to reflect on ourselves and the things we need to work on in our lives.  However, I think it needs to be a daily event...not something we do half-hazardly once a year with no real accountability or ambition to change those things.

Just a thought.  I'm just bursting at the seems with crazy thoughts right now.

I will leave you with a favorite quote of mine:

"Let us live, so when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry."

-Mark Twain

Hope y'all have a blessed 2012!

The History Behind Our Beloved Sperry Shoes

Hey Preps!

Today is Semi-Wordless Wednesday (although I may be using more than usual)! Let us travel back through the history of one of the preppiest inventions in history:

First designed by Paul Sperry in 1935, His successful design was inspired by the pattern of grooves or cracks on his dog's feet and combined a leather upper-shoe with a herringbone pattern of grooves on the sole. It the first boat shoes introduced to the boating market, and have never left since.  

Original Sperry that allowed the safety of many sailors while manning slippery surfaces while at sea.

In 1939, The United States Naval Academy negotiated the right to manufacture Sperrys and issue them to their sailors.  (Pat was issued a pair his plebe year at the academy) As a result of the Navy's manufacturing, Sperry Top-siders was purchased by the U.S. Rubber Co.

In the 1950's Sperry sneakers and boat shoes became very popular due to the restrictions of leather during World War II.  They skyrocketed in the 60's when America idolized the Kennedy family's All American style featuring their sneakers.  

Now worn by preps across the country, in a vast variety of styles, colors, and conveniences.  (I have the boots above) Shown in a previous post....and below. Sperry is now known as an All American family company, with it's comfortable soles and good quality.  Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, and other preppy brands have also adopted Sperrys into their clothing lines.  

It now is the sponsor of many sailing excursions, races, and competitions.  

This is the 75th anniversary shoe released last spring (2010)

Love this ad! 

 Bringing it home, the first picture, Pat and I in Annapolis (the exact location of the Sperry craze beginnings), where I am wearing pink and brown, plaid, duck boots from Sperry Top-sider.  The next picture, Pat and I are in Shady Side, where Pat is wearing his issued Sperrys from The Naval Academy.

Sperry Top-Sider Ad Campaign for Spring 2011

Two Sperrys in my collection.

What are your favorites?