Like TOTEally

In anticipation of the new school year, it's about time for me to start looking for a new tote to add to my collection (it's a bit of a North Shore Prep tradition, I add a new bag each year and then have more to interchange. I like totes. Go ahead, judge me.)

Last year, my new tote was a Longchamp Le Pliage in Bilberry.

Though it doesn't look it, it's super sturdy and always seems to have plenty of room for all of my things. It's also water resistant, and the dark color never appears dirty. When it does get dirty, I can just wipe it off with a wet cloth.

At the top of my Necessary Totes list is the LL Bean Boat and Tote.

My apologies for the tiny picture, it was the best I could find. The original tote bag in every way, LL Bean's creation is incredibly sturdy and pretty much guaranteed to last forever. I like it for school in the Extra Large size with long handles. And obviously the pink one is my favorite, but I also really like the turquoise, navy, and lime green.

Vera Bradley Dockside Canvas Large Tote

Perfectly honest, I'm not a big fan of Vera Bradley when it comes to totes. But this one is so different for them and I'm actually quite impressed by it. Large Yellow, please.

Juicy Couture Gen Y Je T'Aime Tote

A few years ago I purchased a pink and green canvas tote from Juicy. It's so sturdy and roomy and while I don't use it for school anymore, I use it all the time in the summer and out of school for trips to the beach and pool, babysitting, dance, and going to the gym.

Scout Original Deano

Adorable and affordable, though I can't say much about durability, as I've never actually seen one in person. Definitely worth a shot though.

What do you carry for school?

XO

North Shore Prep

Off to the Beach!

It's gorgeous on the North Shore today! Can you say 83 and sunny? So for a native California girl like myself, the first thing on my mind is getting to the beach for some sun and sand.

In my tote: (which is, by the way, a light pink canvas Juicy Couture tote with the words "Juicy Sweet Couture" across the front in lime green. I used to use it for school until I got my Longchamp, so now I use it as my all purpose summer tote)

My absolute favorite beach towel. It was a giveaway from a friend's party a few years ago and I still love it!

My iPod Touch, loaded up with my fantastic, if I do say so myself, summer playlists (a post on that later).

Ah, Coppertone 8. I'll say it right now, I'm not the poster child for sun safety. Far from it. But I've never burnt in my life and I love being tan. But hey, at least it's something and it's not spray on oil!

I haven't started it yet (I just got it from the library yesterday!) but I'm totally looking forward to it.

Also in my tote: phone, keys, beach pass. But duh.

I'll be sporting my new Vineyard Vines coverup:

My favorite bikini from PacSun (unfortunately, no longer available. I really wanted it in purple too!) I couldn't find a good picture of the bottoms, but they basically look like normal bikini bottoms, with a silver ring on each hip.

The sailor rope bracelet that I, ahem, borrowed from Little Sis. Hey! She never wears it! (It's been on my wrist for the past three days)

And rounding it out, my oh-so-comfy leather flip flops:

XO

North Shore Prep

Breakfast Obsession: Parfaits!

Yogurt parfaits are my absolute favorite breakfast item. Ever. They're so delicious and healthy and SO easy to make. Here's my recipe for my favorite parfait right now.

North Shore Prep Parfait

~1 Container of Dannon Light and Fit Vanilla Yogurt

~1 Nature Valley Oats 'n Honey Granola Bar (crushed)

~2-3 Strawberries (cut into quarters)

~SMALL (read: itty bitty) handful of Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels

Mix all of the above in a small bowl. Enjoy!

This particular parfait gives me so much energy to get through the first half of my day until lunch, and is a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Other combinations I like: Vanilla Yogurt, Blueberries, Strawberries, + Granola; Blueberry Yogurt, Strawberries, Blueberries, + Granola; Blackberry Pomegranate Yogurt (Yoplait!), Granola, + Fresh Blackberries.

What's your favorite breakfast food?

XO

North Shore Prep

Anchors Aweigh

I'm feeling so very nautical today, inspired mostly by Kate, over at Nautical by Nature. So I've pulled together some of my very favorite nautical-inspired pieces this season. Ahoy!

(Victoria's Secret)

(Sperry Top-Sider)

(More Sperry Top-Sider)

(Still feeling the Sperry Top-Sider)

(Don't you love it when you find great stuff at Target?)

(Forever 21)

(Also Forever 21. Couldn't help myself.)

(I actually almost bought this skirt about a month back. Should have walked out with it. Forever 21)

(This charm would look fantastic hanging from a thin chain as a necklace. Juicy Couture at Revolve Clothing)

More items I JUST saw:

(All Tiffany & Co.)

XO

North Shore Prep

I'm Back!! Adrenaline Nationals Recap and My New Dancewear Obsession

It has been FOREVER since I've posted here. My apologies. All this week I've been at the Adrenaline Dance National Convention, conveniently located twenty minutes from my house. Let me just say it was an incredible experience. If you dance, you need to go to an Adrenaline convention. I got to take five master classes every day in different styles from amazing, and some quite well-known, teachers. First thing in the morning on Tuesday: Contemporary with Justin Giles.

Yes, Justin Giles who choreographs for So You Think You Can Dance (including this piece from this season.) Oh. My. Goodness. Not only is Justin a wonderful choreographer, the guy knows how to teach. Before Adrenaline, I had never taken a Contemporary class in my life, but I loved Justin's classes and was, thankfully, able to pick up the material and understand it pretty well. And the way he holds your head when he hugs you after class and replies to your thank you with "You're welcome, hon" in that adorable Southern drawl? I should stop now.

I also got to take Jazz twice from Caroline Lewis. Now first of all, the girl is jacked. Everything: arms, legs, abs, it's all rock solid. First things she had us do when she walked in were ab exercises and push-ups. And I absolutely loved both combinations she taught: a fast, hard hitting, and slightly sexy piece to "Toyfriend" by David Guetta and Afrojack and a slower, softer piece to "This Bitter Earth" by Dinah Washington. The pieces were polar opposites, but I loved the versatility in her choreography and the honest way she spoke to and taught all of the dancers. I also got to learn a third combo from her for the scholarship auditions.

I met tons of incredible dancers this week, and besides their dancing ability, most of them had one thing in common: at least one item from Jo + Jax. Possibly some of the cutest dancewear I've ever seen in my life. It's unique, it stands out, and is totally worth being slightly on the pricey side.

I love the Tri-Top. Here's the back in magenta....

and the front in turquoise.

The Ruffle Top. Love it in black and purple. Comes as a leotard and a unitard too.

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was rocking unitards this week. I like the Mesh Back (shown above) and the Ruffle (below).

XO

North Shore Prep

Vineyard Vines Whale of a Sale!

Oh.My.Goodness. Vineyard Vines is having an absolutely fantastic sale. FORTY, yes, 40, percent off all sale items. Seriously. Not one to miss. Let the stocking up begin.

I love, love, LOVE this coverup. So cute! Comes in blue too, but knowing me, I'm obviously going for the pink. Originally $79.50, reduced to $59.99, Whale of a Sale has this for $36.00. Maybe I should get the blue too.....

This hoodie is so cute. Perfect to just throw on. A steal at $35.99.

Not included in the Whale of a Sale, but an essential that I've been meaning to add to my closet. Flamingo, Vineyard Navy, White Cap, Lime Ice, and Cottage Blue are my favorites out of the colors available, and Lime Ice and Cottage Blue are available for just $49.99.

In other news, Wednesday's country club lunch went very well. I met some of my friend's friends and had a great time hanging out by the pool and talking. My second club lunch this week (earlier today) at a different club, with a different guy was definitely more of a date, and still very nice. We ate by the lake and then played some paddle tennis. I had fun, but I'm not sure if I have any real interest in either of these guys yet. 

XO

North Shore Prep

Country Club Lunch

One of my friends is taking me to lunch at his country club today. Thought you guys might want to know what I'm wearing:)

Dress: J.Crew; Flats: Tory Burch; Watch: Movado (my great-grandmother's); Belt: taken from Mama, no tags; Necklace: The John Hopkins University (my great-grandfather's); Bag: A gift from a friend, who got it at an art fair.

I'll let you know how it goes!

XO

North Shore Prep

Preppy Room Makeover

So I might have gotten a bit carried away when Mama told me I could order new bedsheets...

But my room currently looks somewhat like this. (As far as the bed and wall color goes.)

But personally, I think it's time for a change of pace. My walls have been purple since I was 6 and I'm a bit bored with it as of late. I'm feeling this color from Benjamin Moore. I'd love to do that color with a white stripe about a third of the way up the wall and separate it from the solid color on top with white molding. EDIT: Actually wait, as much as I do like that color, I'm thinking it might be a little bit much, as far as the pink goes. I was just complaining about how I thought I was growing out of the purple right? So maybe something like this?

So keeping the bed I have (PBteen):

Let's go with some crisp white sheets

And this duvet and the matching shams:

In pink of course, with the monogram (duh!):

And while we're going crazy, throw in this chair, yeah?

With this pillow on it, please.

And this desk:

I'd love a whole mess of these bins, in both sizes :)

And oh my, a matching pin board:

And I'm almost done. Let's top this off with this vanity:

And oh gee, that means I need a stool for it, doesn't it? Well, if you insist...

And a makeup caddy?

And a bedside table! How could I forget?

Okay, I'm done. That was fantastic. Wait. Drapes.

Alright, now I'm done. Thoughts?


XO

North Shore Prep