Fitness Motivation

Now that I exercise almost every day, I find that I sometimes really have to push myself to exercise. I found this quote on Twitter, and I thought it was the perfect quote to motivate me to exercise. It fits me so well - if I don't exercise when I know I should, I regret it after. If I do exercise when I know I should, I feel great after.

If you need some inspiration and motivation to get you to work out as well, I highly suggest printing out this quote and pinning it somewhere you can see it!

How do you find motivation to exercise?

Splurge vs Save :: Quilted Jackets

One (of the many... #SorryNotSorry) items I'm lusting over this winter is a quilted jacket. They seriously look fabulous with anything - a dress, skirt, leggings, jeans, etc. I did a little researching and found that J. Crew and Old Navy both have quilted jackets, but Old Navy is obviously cheaper. In all honesty, I like the one from Old Navy better. Check out the comparisons below!

Splurge vs Save :: Quilted Jackets

What would you do - splurge or save?

Giveaway :: IDesignThat

What's a better way to start off Thanksgiving than by having a giveaway? Fabulous!!! Jess from That! Design & Creative Co. and I have teamed up to do a giveaway as well. The winner will receive two stationery sets: the first initial with name set and the monogram set.


Lilly Pulitzer Gift Guide Favorites

I always look forward to Lilly's Gift Guides because they have such cute items. I already made my Christmas list, but I think I might just have to add some more items to it after looking at the guide... Check out the items I love below!

Lilly Gift Guide Favorites

What do you love from the gift guide?

Thanksgiving Outfit

I absolutely love Thanksgiving because it's all about the three Fs - football, family, and food. You can't go wrong with any of those! I haven't picked out what I'm going to wear, but I honestly have a feeling it'll be something warm and cozy seeing as I'm working on Thanksgiving morning from 6:30-12:30. Check out this adorable outfit below that I'd love to wear to Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Outfit

What are you planning on wearing on Thanksgiving?

Motivation Monday

Hi! I’m LaTonya and I have a Tumblr called Let’s Grow Together where I dedicate many posts to motivating people just like you. It’s a passion of mine to bring about the best in people and I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my motivations with the readers of Private School Prepster.

Let’s talk about life…It can be a downer. It can really put you in a slump to the point where you're stressed and depressed. I, on the other hand, bypass all of that when I wake up in the morning and I see my Motivation Wall. A Motivation Wall is a surface, preferably one that you see every day, that is plastered with all of the things or maybe just one thing that inspires you to do better and feel better. The key to a great Motivation Wall is not all of the quotes and pictures you can find, it’s “location, location, location”. You have to be able to see your Motivation Wall every single day because motivation isn’t a one time achievement; it’s a daily task that you have to work at.

Motivation Walls don’t exactly solve your problems but they let you see that you're strong enough to fix whatever is bringing you down. Would you like to control your fitness? A nice picture of Serena Williams on the tennis court is awe-inspiring. How about finding a spiritual connection? Gandhi has the best quotes of wisdom. Or do you just need to be reminded every day that you are, in fact, beautiful? I think a picture of One Direction (or whoever you may have a crush on) staring at you 24/7 might make you feel so desirable. At least it does for me.

Motivational Walls can contain quotes, posters, calendars, memorabilia, frames, notes, and anything else you can think of. It’s YOUR Wall and it has to constantly trigger that incentive you felt the very first moment you decided to change your life for the better. I can’t include a picture of my main Motivational Wall due to its massive size on the back of my door and bad lighting in my dorm, but I try to motivate myself anyway I can. So here is a picture of my “Lock Screen Motivational Wall”.
Motivation Wall Lock Screen
Quotes from @DavidRoads Twitter and design from PhotoGrid app

I have quotes that inspire my daily life and stickers that always bring a smile to my face. As you can see, motivation is pretty simple. The wall is just a reminder; and with the year coming to an end and New Year’s Resolutions around the corner, I think it is the perfect time to create your own Motivation Wall or update your current one!

What are some things you would include on your Motivation Wall?

A Week of Exercises



If you've seen my tweets recently, you'll know that I've been exercising more and more lately. I told myself I was going to continue to exercise after soccer ended to stay in shape, and that's exactly what I've been doing. I don't have a gym membership or any gym equipment, so I've been looking through Pinterest and fitness Twitter accounts to find exercises that I can do at home. I've actually been pretty happy with the ones I've found!

If any of you love working out and are looking for new exercises to do, or don't really work out but want to and don't know where to start, I thought I would post a "week of workouts." I don't work out every day; I usually work out every day except Sunday. However, if I have something at night during the school week, such as work, I won't work out that day either. I write out my entire workout schedule for the week and cross it off once it's finished. I usually like to do two or three hard workouts during the week and then three or four medium-leveled workouts.

M O N D A Y
150 jumping jacks, 50 crunches, 20 tricep dips, 15 squats, 40 lunges, 70 Russian twists, 5 push-ups, 30-second plank

T U E S D A Y
20 push ups, 15 squats, 50 jumping jacks, 30 crunches

W E D N E S D A Y
20 squats, 20 walking lunges, 20 hop squats - REPEAT THIS WORKOUT FIVE TIMES

T H U R S D A Y
10 squats, 10 walking lunges, 10 jump squats, 10 step back lunges, 20 step ups

F R I D A Y
"feisty 50" - 50 air squats, 50 burpee push-ups, 50 butterfly sit-ups, 50 stairs, 50 in/outs, 50 tuck jumps, 50 hand release push-ups, 50 Russian twists, 50 reverse prisoner lunges

S A T U R D A Y
50 jumping jacks, 5 push-ups, 20 crunches, 20 mountain climbers, 30-second plank

S U N D A Y
REST!

Which workouts do you love?

Thanksgiving Card

This time of the year is my favorite time of the year because of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving and Christmas is when we reflect on how grateful we are and realize how blessed we are. So, I thought I would make a cute little Thanksgiving card! You can print it out, write on it, give it to friends and family, mail it, etc.

I think I'm going to hand it out to my friends and mail it out to others. The card is below, and let me know if you need me to post a bigger version!

Enjoy! xo

Must-Have Sweaters

Now that the temperatures are dropping more and more, I'm pulling out more of my sweaters to wear. I absolutely love sweaters because they look good with basically anything. Check out the sweaters I'm currently loving below!

Must-Have Sweaters
one // two // three

Which sweaters are you currently wanting?

Review :: IDesignThat

I recently came in contact with Jess Goode, the owner of That! Design & Creative Co., and one of the sweetest women I've ever met! She makes the most perfect stationery, and I wish I could have it all. Jess was so kind as to send me two stationery sets to review!


Both of these sets are just fabulous. They are both in pink, of course! I haven't had the chance to use them yet, but I'm planning on using them for thank-you cards after the holidays. Both of these sets come with eight cards and envelopes in the colors of your choice. The prices are very reasonable, too!

These stationery sets would make the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family. They could be used in a Yankee swap, secret Santa, stocking stuffer, or just a normal gift. Every girl loves stationery and snail mail, and they love those even more when the stationery is monogrammed!

Overall, I was very happy with Jess and the service. She was so nice and sweet in all of her emails, and I her customer service is spot-on. I highly suggest checking out her company!!!

What do you like from That! Design & Creative Co.?

Fall/Winter Bags

Not every bag can be used in every season. There are some bags that were made for spring/summer and others that were made for fall/winter. Bags that are perfect for fall/winter are usually dark and neutral colors, such as navy, black, brown, gray, and tan. Check out these adorable bags below that are perfect for fall and winter!

Fall/Winter Bags
one // two // three

Which bag are you loving for fall/winter?

Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2013 Favorites

When I got the email a couple of weeks ago that the Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2013 line came out, I knew I had to check it out right away. There were definitely some pieces that I fell in love with, but I just can't get myself to buy them yet since winter is right around the corner. Check out my favorites!

Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2013
one // two // three // four // five // six

Which ones are your favorites?

10 Songs To Help You Get Through Any Breakup

Hi ladies! I have a guest poster today. Enjoy! xo
----------------
There is no way around it. Breakups suck. Luckily, there is a breakup song for every situation. It doesn’t matter who dumped who or how your relationship ended. These songs will have you singing along and feeling better in no time!

"Heartbreaker" by Justin Bieber
The Backstory: You have a ton of history with your ex. Neither of you can seem to move on completely, even though you two can’t make it work. The on-again-off-again relationship between you two is a big source of stress. But no matter how much it hurts, you just can’t let go.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “I still believe in love. I still believe in us. I hope you believe in us, the way I believe in us.”

“Loved You First” by One Direction
The Backstory: In this situation, YOU were the one who wasn’t upfront about your feelings. Maybe you were too scared to admit how much you cared, or perhaps you didn’t realize your true feelings until it was already too late. Either way, it’s pretty rough to see someone you really like when they are happily in a relationship.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “Because, I’ve been waiting all this time to finally say it. But now I see your heart’s been taken. And nothing could be worse.”

“Love Will Remember” by Selena Gomez
The Backstory: You thought you had a perfect relationship, but then things started to tear you two apart. You aren’t sure exactly what happened or how you ended up here. Suddenly, you were just fighting all of the time, and it just wasn’t working out. But now that you’re apart, all you can think about is all of the good times you two had. You might need a break now, but deep down, you still believe that you two were meant to be.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “I know it inside my heart. Forever will forever be ours. Even if we try to forget, love will remember.”

“Roar” by Katy Perry
The Backstory: You’ve been dumped. You heart feels like it’s been trampled on. But don’t let that jerk keep you feeling down! Channel your inner girl-power, and take on the world like the independent woman you are!
Lyrics With A Lesson: “Now I’m floating like a butterfly. Stinging like a bee, I earned my stripes. I went from zero, to my own hero.”

“Should’ve Said No” by Taylor Swift
The Backstory: There is, quite literally, a Taylor Swift song for every breakup. This is her ultimate song for anyone who has been cheated on. It covers everything you want to say, but can’t or don’t (or just want to say again).
Lyrics With A Lesson: “You should’ve said no. You should’ve gone home. You should’ve thought twice before you let it all go. You should’ve known that word, with what you did with her, would get back to me.”

“Something We’re Not” by Demi Lovato
The Backstory: You thought you could handle being friends with benefits. But then, it turned into a “I want to be more than friends” situation. Every girl has that one guy friend who wants to be something more. The problem is that hooking up makes things messy. Eventually, one of you is ready to take it to the next level, but the other isn’t. Then, it ends up feeling just like a breakup.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “You wanna be more than just friends. I can’t go through this again. Stop trying get inside my head.”

“U.N.I.” by Ed Sheeran
The Backstory: Breaking up with someone is much harder than most people think. Even though the break was your decision, you probably still miss being together. The relationship just wasn’t working out, and you needed to make a change.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “So am I close to you anymore, now it’s over? And there’s no chance that we’ll work it out.”

“What About Love” by Austin Mahone
The Backstory: Sometimes you’re in a relationship that you think is really going somewhere. And then you get dumped via text. All you can think about is what you did wrong and when. You may never get that answer. Belt out this tune with your friends, and start trying to move on.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “What about love? What about our promises? What about love? You take it all and leave me nothing. What about love?”

“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus
The Backstory: You started out with an amazing relationship, but it has come to a bitter end. Often, both parties blame one another for this outcome. It’s hard to know how to express your feelings of hurt and anger. But you do know that you never wanted things to end up in such a mess.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “Don’t you ever say I just walked away. I will always want you. I can’t live a lie, running for my life. I will always want you.”

“You Will Never Know” by Ariana Grande
The Backstory: You two hung out for months. But the whole time, he was too worried about playing it cool. So he never said how he felt, and he never called you his girlfriend. Deep down, you know that you deserved better the whole time. Even your friends were telling you that all along. But it can be really hard to move on and just give up hope.
Lyrics With A Lesson: “You will never know what we could have been...But if you woulda manned up, put your hand up, stand up, tell me how you really felt, then maybe it’d be different.”

Make sure to visit my blog, That College Girl’s Guide, and let me know what your favorite breakup songs are! And don’t forget to connect with me around the web:


Helpful iPad Apps for School


Now that my school requires each student to have an iPad for school, I have tons of apps that I use for school. If any of you use iPads for school as well, I thought I would share some of my favorite apps in case you would like to get them! Please note that not all of these apps are free.

one // notability
This is my most favorite app by far. It's an app that allows you to take notes. You can type the notes, physically write the notes on the screen, highlight something you have written/typed, and more. You can even create little dividers for each subject to stay organized! Another thing I love about Notability is you can open documents in it. I open a ton of documents in it for AP English when I need to mark up a speech, essay, etc.

two // pages
I don't use Pages too much, but whenever I do need to use it, it's helpful. Pages allows you to basically type anything in a word document. You can then save the document as a Microsoft Word document, a PDF, and more. I used this app when I typed one of my AP English essays in school.

three // quizlet
I use Quizlet in school all the time. Whenever I have extra time in a class, I use Quizlet to help myself study for any quizzes or tests I have coming up. Online flashcards are an amazing invention!!!

four // spanishdict
Spanishdict is a fabulous translator that can translate things from English to Spanish and vice versa. Whenever I'm in Spanish and don't know what a Spanish word means or need to find the Spanish version of a word, I use that app!

Which iPad apps do you love for school? I'd love to get some more!

Instagram Lately

I'm starting to use my blog's Instagram more and more lately, so I thought it would be fun to post some of my favorite pictures from that Instagram! Make sure to follow me if you aren't already ;)





I think I might even have to try Caroline's DIY Instagram coasters ;)

Which Instagram pictures do you love?

Splurge vs Save :: Vests

I think just about every prep has fallen in love with the J. Crew Excursion Vests. They're classic, versatile, and just perfect. However, most preps don't fall in love with the price. I really wanted the vest, but I didn't want to spend the money this time of year because I wanted to save my money for Christmas presents. So, I looked around the internet for a similar vest for a much cheaper price when I found one at Old Navy!

Splurge vs Save :: Vests

Although they're both super cute, I do like the J. Crew one more because nothing beats J. Crew ;) I put them both on my Christmas list though, so it'll be interesting to see which one I get!

What would you do in this case - splurge or save?

Winter Outerwear

Now that winter is right around the corner, I'm planning on purchasing more jackets. There are just so many cute jackets for winter that you can never have enough! Check out the jackets below consisting of outwear that I have and outerwear that I want to get.

Winter Outerwear

What winter outerwear do you love?

Tory Burch Shoes

I've always loved Tory Burch, but I've recently found myself constantly looking through the website just to lust over the shoes. They're seriously to die for. I'm planning on saving up my money after Christmas to get myself at least one of the pairs below!

Tory Burch Shoes

Which Tory Burch shoes are you lusting over?

9 Cheap Leather Finds That Don’t Look Cheap

Hi ladies! Today, Emma from It's Emma Elise is guest posting for me about leather accessories. Enjoy! xo
----------------
This season, leather is back in style! But you don’t need to drop tons of cash to get this look. Here are nine luxurious finds for under $50.

Bow Barrette
Dress up your ponytail, braid, or top-knot with a cute barrette! This little bow comes in 48 gorgeous colors! Try pairing a neutral color bow with an all-black outfit for a look that everyone will love. Plus, investing in a more neutral color barrette will ensure that it matches almost anything in your wardrobe.

Leather Bow Clip in Stone ($16, American Apparel)

Classic Skinny Pants
Even in the dead of winter, real leather pants can easily start to feel hot and sticky! This pair of faux-leather skinny pants look and feel like real leather. However, they’re a bit more lightweight. Plus, they have jersey paneling down the sides, allowing for some extra stretch.

Imitation Leather Pants in Dark Brown ($34.95, H&M)

Flippy Skirt
This skirt has a stretchy, spandex waistband, making it very comfortable! The flippy, faux-leather trim adds a fun and trendy feel.

Lyndsay Ponte & Leatherette Mini Skirt in Black ($20, boohoo.com)

Oxblood Leggings
A pair of leather legging is the trendiest way to keep your legs warm. Pair these oxblood leggings with a big, chunky, knit sweater for the perfect combination of comfy, cool, and cute.

City Slick Leggings in Oxblood ($20, Nasty Gal)

Red Mini-Skirt
Leather doesn’t always have to look edgy and tough! For a fresh, fashion-forward look, try the leather trend in a bright color (like red). Make this bold leather mini the center of attention. Pair it with a neutral sweater and a pair of black booties.

Mini Skirt In Leather-Look in Red ($44.50, ASOS)

School-Approved Sweatpants
These faux-leather track pants obviously weren’t meant for the gym. However, they are an easy way to be comfy, while still looking chic. Polish these pants off with a paired of heeled booties, a form-fitting tee, and tons of jewelry!

Perforated Faux Leather Track Pants in Black ($47.50, GoJane)

Season-Appropriate Shorts
If you’re already missing your favorite pair of denim cut-offs, then a pair of faux-leather shorts will be your new go-to for this season. Simply wear them with a pair of black or patterned tights to make them wearable in the colder weather.

Faux Leather Bermuda in Black ($49.90, Zara)

Sleek & Sporty Hat
What else is on-trend this fall? Hats! Try this leather version of a baseball cap. Its edgy look is sure to make it your favorite accessory this season.

BP. Faux Leather Baseball Cap in Black ($8.98, Nordstrom)

Studded Moto Jacket
This jacket has just the right amount of stud detailing to look cool, but not intimidating! A jacket like this is a classic wardrobe piece, and it will look good with the majority of your closet! Try layering it over a floral dress. For another look, layer it over a graphic tee and some distressed denim.

Girly Studded Moto Jacket in Black ($19.90, Forever 21)

What are your fall-must haves? Let us know in the comments below! And make sure to stop by my blog, itsemmaelise, for more fashion and beauty tips!


Follow me around the web!

Favorite Fall Drinks

Since fall is almost over, I thought I would share some drinks that I've loved drinking this fall! Even though it's cold outside, I still love drinking cold drinks no matter what the weather is like. Check out my favorites below!

Favorite Fall Drinks

What are your favorite fall drinks?

Ralph Lauren Haul

A couple of weeks ago, I didn't have any school, so I decided to go shopping. While I was shopping, I bought not one, not two, but three Ralph Lauren cable knits! A couple of days after I bought them, I couldn't decide if I should keep all of them or return one or two of them since they're all the same exact sweater, just in different colors. Maggie and Rebecca talked me into keeping all three of them because I could get good use of them, and I'm so happy I kept all of them!


Aren't they so cute?! I haven't had the chance to wear any of them yet because of school and work. These sweaters can go with basically any type of bottoms, which I love. My favorite sweater is the white one because it's just so classic and versatile.

Which Ralph Lauren sweaters do you like?

Lilly Pulitzer Scarves

One thing I've fallen in love with lately are Lilly Pulitzer scarves. They add the perfect pop of color to any outfit and remind us of summer! I love that they make winter clothes not so drab. I was going to get one at the endless summer sale, but I felt like I wasn't going to wear it too often, and I didn't want to spend money on something I wasn't going to get good use out of. I totally regret not buying it because I'd kill to have one now!

Lilly Scarves
one // two // three

Which Lilly scarves do you like?

Giveaway :: Miss B

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be hosting a giveaway for Miss B! I absolutely love my dress and sweater. The winner of the giveaway will receive a $50 gift certificate, which is fabulous because then you get to pick out what you would like!



This giveaway ends Thursday, November 14th, at 12:00 AM EST.

Good luck!

Halloween

Halloween is always a huge deal at my school. We get to dress in costumes, and people tend to go all out. If you show up to school in your uniform on Halloween, you really stand out because practically everyone participates in Halloween.

I didn't have much time this year to think of a really good Halloween costume to do with my friends because I was so busy with school, work, and soccer. Everyone else in my group was pretty busy, too. We ended up being army girls, which was simple yet cute! Some groups came up with really good costumes, such as mermaids, emojis, Alice in Wonderland, and more.

Since next year is my senior year, therefore my last time ever participating in Halloween at my school, I plan on really going all out with costumes with my friends!

Alex (a gangster), Kristen (an army girl with me), and me.

Nina (toddlers and tiaras) and me.

Erin (Barney from the Flintstones) and me.

Maddie (a baby), Erin, and me.

Steph (an army girl with me) and me. This is my absolute favorite picture from Halloween!

Gabby (Daisy from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and me.

After soccer practice on Halloween, I went to Tyler's house and passed out candy with me. There were barely any trick-or-treaters because it was raining, but it was still fun!

How did you spend your Halloween?