J.Crew-Fall Line

Firstly I just want to shoot out a quick update on the Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes I made the other day. So.Yummy. They turned out so much better than I expected and everyone at the bake sale loved them! The only change I made to the recipe was adding in a bit more chocolate and margarine to the frosting to thicken it up a bit. The texture of the cupcakes themselves is a little unexpected -- it feels more like a muffin than a cupcake -- but they were delicious nonetheless!

And now for the main event. J.Crew's Fall Line. I love it. Absolutely love it. Here are a few of my favorite pieces.

I really like these chinos, and it's about time I got a proper pair of pants.

However, I'm having a bit of a dilemma deciding between the chinos and the Minnie pant in twill. Advice anyone?

You could say that I like sweaters...

And skirts. I like me my skirts.

Can you say love?

Is it weird that I really like red pants?

XO

North Shore Prep

Coral and Navy

I've been sitting here thinking about how much I am love, love, loving the color combination of coral and navy right now, so I just had to post about it. I guess you could say I introduced my obsession in my post about outlets. It all started with a sweater.... But seriously guys, these colors are going to carry me straight from summer into fall. Here are some of my picks of the moment.

Oh gosh, another coral and navy sweater. But it's a cardigan this time, and argyle instead of stripes. Love it. $148 at Lilly Pulitzer.

This beaded necklace is perfect for a punch of coral when you're in a rush. $14 at Nordstrom (Juniors Section).

This dress is perfect for something a little more formal...I'm thinking Homecoming? $93 at Lulu's.

More coral and navy:) $40 at Lulu's.

Also makes for a great design scheme! Massucco Warner Miller

Since I am posting about coral AND navy, I figured I'd throw in some navy for good measure. This cardigan looks so soft and chic! $148 at Brooks Brothers.

This skirt is so unexpected and fresh. $135 at J.Crew.

Yes, another skirt from J.Crew. $98

The Vineyard Vines Shoreline Polo. I've already got it in Flamingo, but Confetti is so cute! And it comes in navy:) $65

Also Vineyard Vines. So cozy! $98

And my new favorite color from OPI's Touring America Collection, "I Eat Mainely Lobster." Available at Ulta Stores.

What are your favorite color combos? Are you feeling coral and navy as much as I am?

XO

North Shore Prep

Outlets

Firstly, my sincere apologies for my unexplained absence. My cousins are in town and this week has just been SO hectic. I'm predicting a return to regular posting Monday.

But while I'm talking about my cousins...they are seriously so cute! The girl, J, is 9 (or as she always says, nine-and-a-half!) and the boy, N, is 7. We've been having so much fun this week going to the park, walking Lola (my maltipoo:) See my profile picture...what a cutie!), and yesterday involved a surprise trip to the Premium Outlets! Because of where I live I can easily get to the ones in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (it's right on the Illinois-Wisconsin border) and the ones in Aurora, Illinois. Yesterday I was at the ones in Aurora, which I actually like more. More stores and more savings make for a very happy North Shore Prep.

The first store our shopping militia (Mama, Titi B, J, N, and me) hit up was PacSun. I got this sweater, but in cream with navy stripes.

But what I really wanted to tell you guys about was my absolute HAUL at the J.Crew Factory Store. Which, oh my goodness, you can shop online. With FREE. SHIPPING. But anyway, I got so much stuff, it's crazy.

This tissue tee, which I love. I walked in, saw it, and knew I'd be walking out with it, no question.

This sweater, which I love. I almost got it in black and grey too. I'm totally obsessed with the combination of coral and navy right now, as well as orange with navy. You'll be seeing a lot more of it, not from this trip, but from future ones, I promise :)

Shorts. I already have these in navy, khaki, and peach. These were the only black pair left in my size (fate? Absolutely.) so I figured I'd get white another day.

There's not much to say about this shirt, other than that it's super comfy and Mama got it in grey. Stealworthy? You bet.

The Schoolboy Blazer. If you don't own one currently, get on that, stat. I think I might be accidentally quoting College Prepster when I say that this blazer is love, but it's so true. Normally retails for $188, but with my discount and it's reduction to factory prices, I got mine for about $130. This is possibly the best purchase I've ever made in my life. It looks great with everything, and I am totally predicting that I'll be throwing this on over absolutely everything.

Mama got some things too, which I will definitely be, ahem, borrowing. We also went to the True Religion outlet where I scored a $273 pair of dark wash straight leg jeans for $129.99, and then Mama shut me down for the day. But on my trip back, I'll be checking out Polo Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, 7 for All Mankind, and Coach Factory Store.

When shopping the outlets, it's very important to make use of all your resources. Join the VIP Club and print out your online coupons and your voucher for a coupon book which you can pick up from the manager's office. Said book got me 10% off at J.Crew. In addition, most stores are running promotions all the time to increase savings. At J.Crew, my sweater was 40% off, the tissue tees were 20% off, and all shorts were 30% off. Can you say huge savings? Have a plan of action, and don't go to stores you haven't previously decided on before showing up. It's really easy to impulse buy at an outlet as it's easy to believe you're saving tons of money.

What are your favorite outlets and factory stores? And what are your tips for shopping the outlets?

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

Post Birthday Shopping Spree

As a gift for my birthday, my parents very generously gave me a (read, much-needed) gift card to  J.Crew. Shopping time!!

I love these shorts! I already own them in khaki, navy, and that fantastic honey tangerine color, so I figured it was time for some more...playful colors. I chose African Violet...

...and laquer yellow. It's like sunshine on a short!

This dress should be a staple in every closet. So versatile!

Same goes for this sweater. It's light enough that you wont boil in the summer heat, but it'll still keep you warm when the sun goes down--and keep your arms safe from mosquito bites!

I'm really into this sweater with those yellow shorts, wedges, and a braided brown leather belt.

What do you like to spend your birthday money on? And what are your summer must-haves?

XO

North Shore Prep

Happy Birthday to...Me!

I love having my birthday the weekend of the 4th. I really do. Everyone's already in party mode, there are fireworks ON my birthday, and it's SO nice out. I spent today quietly with my family, they got gourmet cupcakes that were absolutely gorgeous and now I'm going out to porch it with some friends and neighbors. I'll be super celebrating Tuesday night when Best Friend gets back from Lake Geneva and when I get my permit! Yes, that's right. Clear the roads, because I will be legally allowed behind the wheel of a car. But honestly, I think I'll be a pretty good driver. Yeah. 

I feel like I haven't posted anything in forever, and it's true, but I have good reason. My school dance team was at UDA Elite Camp, and we qualified for Nationals!!! That means that in February, I'll be having fun in the sun at Walt Disney World in Orlando! And dancing my heart out for a finals ranking :)

So I guess this is the part where I get to gush about all the great gifts I got. I'm not really one for that, but I will just say I'll be hitting up J. Crew, vineyard vines, and Rugby by Ralph Lauren in the very near future. I recently donated a ton of old clothes to my church, so I'm a bit lacking in the polo and oxford department.

What do y'all do for your birthdays? I'd love to hear!

XO

North Shore Prep

It so does not feel like summer on the North Shore

Even though I've been out of school for four and a half days, I'm still not feeling too summery. Maybe I just haven't fallen into the swing of things yet (I'm still waking up automatically at six--YIKES) or that it. Is. Not. Warm.

Yes, you read that correctly. As I write, it is 74 degrees and partly cloudy outside my window. And while I should be craving a raspberry iced tea with a splash of Perrier, I'm more in the mood for a hot chocolate. Or, better yet, a White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks. Venti, please. I'm freezing. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but you get my point.

Welcome, friends, to the absolutely unpredictable weather of the North Shore, where you can expect sunshine and temperatures in the mid-80's and be rewarded with low-70's and clouds. I don't know if I can deal with this anymore.

Anyway, to get myself in a more summery mood, I did what any smart girl would do. I went shopping.

Before you guys get your hope up though, this was not one of those hijack-Daddy's-credit-card-and-go-absolutely-crazy-and-spend-five-thousand-dollars-in-one-store type things. Because as much as I love those, I do like to practice a little bit of self control every once in a while. This was definitely one of those times. I got what I absolutely needed: shorts.

And where else would a preppy girl like myself go for shorts? Yes, J. Crew, I'm talking to you. (Besides Lilly Pulitzer, where I still MUST go. Hello, Walsh Shorts with, my goodness, are those sailboats? http://www.lillypulitzer.com/view-all/walsh-short/invt/13201/&bklist=icat,4,shop,sportswear,womenspants) I honestly couldn't decide between about 15 pairs of chino shorts in assorted colors, and have you seen the ones with the rhinestone minnows? OBSESSED. But the minnows will wait until the next time I babysit. Instead I grabbed a pair in khaki (classic), navy (also classic), and this adorable pair in honey tangerine, which I'm currently wearing.

(J. Crew 3" Chino Short in Honey Tangerine, $42.50)

And there were tank tops on sale---2 for $20, it's almost like stealing!---so I picked up some of those too.

Oh, look! That's a $15 Von Maur gift card from my birthday, last July! I can hear headbands calling my name.

XO

North Shore Prep