Happy Easter!!

{via}

First and foremost, I hope everyone has a blessed and lovely day with their families and friends! I'll be going to mass with my family and then to brunch. Then it'll be back to the house for homemade cupcakes and I'll be catching up on some homework (oops!).

Also, how excited are y'all to finally bring out all of your seersucker and white? I know I sure am!

Happy Easter, y'all!!

XO

New Lilly!

Soo I may or may not have mentioned that I received a new shipment from Lilly earlier this week. In it was the phone case I talked about earlier, as well as two new dresses!

Last week, I found out that I was accepted into my school's chapters of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude! The induction is next week, so of course I needed a dress for that, and with Easter this weekend, I figured that the dress should be able to do double duty. I chose the Freja Dress in the Everything Nice print:

This print is so bright in person; perfect for the beginning of spring!!

I love the back detail too. The cutout is just enough to be fun, not skanky.

I also was in need of a white sundress to wear for the Honors and Awards assembly for our seniors in May. It's a tradition at my school that female elected Student Council officers who aren't seniors present all the awards in white dresses. Enter Nina. She's business in the front...

...party in the back!

How presh are these pink seersucker bows??

And the scallop detailing on the hem? So sweet. This might be my new go to shift.

Whenever I shop Lilly, it's my goal to get the free gift with purchase. This time around, I got an adorable sunhat with a printed sash. I'm so excited to wear it to the beach this summer!!

Mama claims that she's done buying me Lilly for the year...The Summer Collection will be out in May. We'll see ;)

Have you picked anything out from the Spring Collection?

XO

Current Obsession: Lilly Pulitzer iPhone Case

I'm always on the lookout for new phone cases, but I never actually get any. It's just like I see them and go "Oh, that's so cute!" and never follow through. I shattered my Tory Burch striped one that I loved in the airport in Orlando coming home from Nationals and I've been using a silicone case from Kate Spade that, while it's super cute, has become super stretched out, to the point where people have started to ask me "Is this a case for a 5?" No, it's not, and I have an iPhone 4, y'all. These have been desperate times.

The other day, I got a pretty big shipment in from Lilly (squeee!! More on that later!). Included was a new case in the Chin Chin print, which I am in love with.

So much pink and green = happy Gabbi. And how presh are the pink elephants? My favorite animal in my favorite color. Sigh.

{Sidenote} While we're loving the case, let's love on the Chin Chin print. It's like a secondary obsession.

{Nina Dress}

{January Skort}

Besides the cute print, there are more reasons this is possibly the best case ever. It's all one piece, like your typical soft case, but hard and super protective. It's also lined with silicone for extra protection, but because it also has a hard shell, it won't stretch out! Best of both worlds, no? I love that it's one piece because that means it's super easy to take off and change out. A one piece case also means that I won't have to deal with gathering multiple pieces when I drop it (on the reg, mind you). And speaking of dropping it, the case has passed the drop test and seems to be durable and relatively shock absorbent without chipping. Win!

I'm seriously considering getting a second one in the Water Wings print:

Soo summery! It just makes me want to be on a beach!! Weird feelings from a phone case but I'll take it.

What's your favorite case? Do you love Lilly cases too?

XO

Five Mile

Remember last week how I was stressing about getting a great present for the boy? I knew I'd be making him cookies (because really, what guy doesn't love baed goods?), but I couldn't settle on a real gift for him, especially since he insisted on me not getting him anything. But he deserves it, and a small something was in order, I just wasn't sure what. I put so much time into picking a gift, consulted so many people, and ultimately found him a perfect present!

I love that this Brooks Brothers money clip is so different from your usual silver or leather money clip. It's a very classic, understated look that's perfect for him. And he loves it!!

Guys are so hard to shop for, aren't they? Earlier this morning, I found out about a great place to buy gifts for all the guys in your life. The best way I can describe Five Mile is as Rue La La for preppy guys. They have very similar online sales that last a few days with items selling for awesome discounted prices!

Currently on Five Mile:

Southern Point Sport Shirts for $44.95, normally $95

Strong Boalt Swim Trunks for $79.95, normally $145 – Perfect for spring break!

Like Rue La La, the sales are different every day and you need a membership to shop. Get yours here!

Happy shopping! 

What's your go-to place for guys' gifts?

XO

Friday Five

1. Yikes to the fact that I've only done one real post between this post and my last Friday Five.

1.5. Because that wasn't a real fact, I'd like to share that today I was told by one of my guy friends that he "didn't know Elle Woods was celebrating St. Patrick's Day." My outfit? 

I guess he had a point.

2. Today we had executive board elections for Student Council. It was a close race, but unfortunately I did not end up being elected for my dream post of Executive VP. While I'm not particularly happy, I'm taking it all in stride, because I know that God has a great plan for my senior year. I trust that the elected Executive Board will do a great job next year. Campaigning this week and gaining so much support from the entire school was such an incredible experience and I will definitely be running for one of the Senior Class Board offices!

3. I'm obsessed with this wallet from Kate Spade.

4. I'm still in love with Hoodie Allen's second album, Crew Cuts. 

My favorite cuts are "Good Intentions" and "Fame is for A**holes." You can download the full album here.

5. I need good birthday gift ideas for my boyfriend! Any and all ideas are much appreciated!!!

Have a great St. Patrick's Day weekend!!!

Liebster Award

I feel the need to start off this post with a disclaimer. I think (read: think) that I may have been nominated for a Liebster Award in the past. I read all your comments and emails, but since I'm always on my phone, I've developed this bad habit of reading something and saying "I'll respond later, when I'm on my computer." So that's what happened with those.

However, I've just been nominated by Hannah from The Pink and Green Prep! Thank you Hannah!!

What the Liebster Award is: "Liebster" is a German word meaning kind, sweet, or generous.

• Once nominated by another blogger, the blogger has to answer a set of questions asked to them by the person who nominated them, and then pass it on to other blogs they think would deserve the award if they chose to do so!

• List 11 facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions asked to you, write your own 11 questions, and nominate 11 other up and coming blogs.

• Also in the post, you should thank whoever nominated you and attach a link of their blog, out of courtesy.

• It is a great way to acknowledge other awesome blogs and bloggers and to get to know fellow bloggers better!

Facts About Me

1. I am a dancer on my high school's varsity dance team and at a local studio. I hope to continue dancing on a college team as well! 

2. I wear pearls almost every single day.

3. I want to attend the University of Alabama and major in Telecommunications and Film with a Sports Emphasis.

4. I am dying for warm weather. Dying.

5. I love crafting!

6. I've always wanted to be a blonde.

7. I hate running, love the elliptical.

8. I have a weakness for guys in bowties.

9. I've always wanted to attend the Kentucky Derby.

10. I have an obsession with baseball caps.

11. My initials in monogram order spell out GOP. (How fitting that I'm a Republican, am I right?)

Questions for Me

1. What's your favorite vacation destination? I went to the Turks and Caicos when I was younger and I loved it! But I'm headed to the Bahamas (hopefully!) for Spring Break, so my answer may very well change.

2. Coke or Pepsi? Coke. Diet.

3. Favorite childhood TV show? Drake and Josh!

4. What's your pump-up song? "No Interruption" by Hoodie Allen

5. What's your favorite accessory you own? My pearl necklaces!

6. What's your guilty pleasure? Mississippi Mud Brownies and Betches Love This.

7. What's your pet peeve? People who don't pull their weight on group projects.

8. City or country? Country, definitely. It's so much more relaxed.

9. What's your favorite monogram style? Ooh, this is tough. I'm gonna have to go with diamond on this one.

10. What's your go-to drink at Starbucks? Venti skinny vanilla soy latte. I swear I'm not high maintenance.

11. What are you most excited about for spring? Warm weather! And finally being able to wear Lilly sundresses, seersucker, and white again!

I Nominate...
Bowtiful Life | Miss Southern Prep | Peppermint + Ivy | Southern.Preppy.Chic | 
Mrs. WASP | Summer Wind | Let's Be Preppy | My Life as a Young Southern Prep
Nautical by Nature | Blonde Southern Lovin' | Southern Curls & Pearls

...To Answer
1. Are leggings pants?
2. What's your favorite hairstyle?
3. Jackie or Marilyn?
4. Were you/are you/will you be in a sorority in college?
5. What's your favorite type of exercise?
6. What got you started blogging?
7. What's your favorite blog to read?
8. Favorite place to shop?
9. Who's your favorite singer?
10. What's in your purse right now?
11. What's one makeup product you can't live without?

XO

Friday Five

1. I made it into my school's production of West Side Story as a dancer!! So so so excited for this!

2. Today I chaperoned a field trip of freshmen to a smaller, less fortunate Catholic school. The trip was open to the entire freshman class at my school, who visited various schools with less funding and resources to read and encourage literacy and learning. It filled me with such joy to see how much the kids on both sides enjoyed themselves. At the end of our time there, no one wanted us to leave and it was definitely hard to go!

3. I'm running for next year's Student Body Vice President! After two years on class boards and a year on Student Council, I can't wait to serve on the Executive Board. My campaigning is in full force–elections are next Friday!

One of my friends decided to run for president, so of course we are campaigning together! How cute are these frockets we designed?

4. I have a huge research paper for APUSH due in less than two weeks on the influence of Jackie Kennedy on fashion. Such a typical topic for me, right? And so typical that my procrastination on this huge paper is at a high. I'll be working hard on it tomorrow!!

5. Sometimes you need to just take a night to relax. Earlier this evening, I attended my best friend's birthday dinner at one of our town's country clubs, but I unfortunately had to leave early to go to a babysitting job I had booked previously. Turns out, unwinding while the kids are asleep is just the perfect thing for me! I've been watching the Blackhawks game and getting a headstart on homework, thank goodness.

XO

Turnabout 2013

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my school's Turnabout dance for the first time! My freshman and sophomore year I ran into other obligations the weekend of the dance (like a family friend's wedding), so I was lucky to be able to go this year with my wonderful boyfriend!!

For Turnabout, the girls ask the guys, so I knew I had to come up with something clever. I used the game flip cup to ask him. For those of y'all who aren't familiar, flip cup is played at a long table with two teams of people. Each person has a Solo cup in front of them with a small amount of water, juice, etc. and it's basically a race down the table to see which side can finish their cups and flip them off the edge of the table first.

One of our friends was having a party the weekend before the dance, but I wasn't able to go because of my involvement in the Variety Show. But I was able to sneak away during the second act when my obligations were fewer and ask him quickly. On the way, I called the host and explained that I was coming and asked him to get my boyfriend to start playing flip cup.

{from my Instagram}

I timed it perfectly and walked in right in the middle of his game!

And now, the big reveal of my dress! This is definitely my favorite dress I've worn for a dance so far, and I will absolutely be finding more excuses to wear it again.

It's the Lilly Pulitzer Payton Dress! Best part, some of the flowers have pearls right on them. So perfect. I die.

We clean up good, don't we? :)

Quite possibly the most dysfunctional group picture I've ever been a part of.

The girls!

We started off the night with pictures at a country club, then took our party bus to dinner and then to the dance. After the dance, we went back to one of the guy's houses for our afterparty and all went to breakfast the next morning.

XO

Snow Day!!!

I'd like a round of applause for Winter Storm Saturn swooping in and giving my town the snow day we've been waiting for all year. I can't even describe the happiness and relief I felt when I received a mass text from my school district last night letting us know that school would be called off today!!

So far today, I've worked out, run some errands, and now I'm getting ready to catch up on a little studying while listening to Dave Matthews and the snow plows outside. After that, I'll be spending some quality time cracking into Season Three of Gossip Girl with a big bag of Orville Redenbacher.

How do you spend your snow days? Have you been affected by Saturn?

XO

Today

Not a terribly busy day, but a super fun one, no doubt! I got my nails and spray tan done yesterday, so all I have to do is figure out how I'm doing my hair for tonight. We're doing pictures at a country club and then going to dinner and the dance on our party bus. After that we're headed to our group's after party!!

On my nails: Essie Hard To Get

This color is something of a standby for me, the perfect shade of light pink. Bonus points that it matches the underside of my dress almost perfectly!

As far as my dress, y'all know I won't show you until after the dance, but I will give you some hints: it's Lilly and it's pink! I actually had a bit of a dress emergency–the LBD I ordered turned out to not work out at all. Once again, Lilly saved the day and delivered my perfect dress just in time! I can't wait to show y'all!!

XO