Behind the Preppy Look: It's All Business

What is it about garish pink and lime green that makes for the preppy look? What is it about using a salad fork that speaks to a student's education? Are docksiders and penny loafers still the mark of a man of distinction – or, let us ask, a young man of means?

And how should one pronounce the word thermos, anyway?

The answer to all the above is yes, except for pronouncing thermos. This is an oddity among the prepster world and it is hard to name a preppy accent, but thermos does stand as a one-word litmus test. So, let's try to get it down on paper, as it were.

“As it were,” by the way, is a very preppy expression.

Back to thermos: It must be said as if a thermos was something you were fond of, even though the it is said with complete disdain. First and foremost, it rhymes with squirm. Second, you have to remove the letter “R”. The word is then spoken in the manner of a slide trombone that happens to have a British accent.

What needs to be remembered, of course, is that a prep school student is someone preparing for college and that must be more than a fact: It has to be a given, an assumption, a birthright. It is assumed that you will be going to your father's alma mater and that the said learning institution is an Ivy League school. Further, it is assumed you will protect the family legacy, which means you will more than likely go into business to protect the family assets.

Hence, to be a preppy, you are, essentially, embracing a business style but one that assumes success. 

Because preppy clothing makes use of styles that are timeless, they are viewed as conservative, given a trend setting, modern, outlandish style is not what the bankers want to see. They do not embrace risk. In fact, if you want to dress preppy, pretend you are about to go visit a bank and ask for a million dollar loan to start a business. That's how you will dress – business like, staid and slightly elegant.

This doesn't mean fun clothing is out. Preppies have off days, as well. They own old sweatshirts, hand me down sweaters with holes in them and plenty of faded blue jeans. But they also have a set of pressed pants hanging in the closet and a Navy blue jacket on hand, because it tends to go with a lot of different ensembles.

You can wear knock-offs, too, but they should be conservative. Preppy's on any given weekday wear button down shirts, pleated khakis, shined shoes and conservative ties.

On time off, they wear polo shirts, rugby shirts, shorts, sneakers, loafers. But the overall look remains conservative. Think Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth.

Money is the path to the exception. What do wealthy people do on their time off? The go on safaris, so safari outfits are instantly preppy. They might go surfing, so derivatives of surfer wear are permitted. Styles that come off a tennis court of a golf course are acceptable. Those double-breasted jackets you might see on a yacht are well received in the land of the prepsters.

Preppies have a reputation for being color blind, especially those that combine lime green with a garish pink. Let the women keep that territory for themselves. One color pink or yellow button down shirts are permissible for men, as are quiet stripes and checks, such as tattersall.

But to go preppy without trying, just think about dressing for a business day. Imagine you are going to spend the day on Wall Street and that you can say any sum of money without the words catching in your throat. That will get you part way there.

Utoria BYOB Recap

On Sunday, I attended Utoria BYOB, and it was a blast. I had been following Tori on Twitter for a while and begged her to bring BYOB to Massachusetts - she's my age and a successful entrepreneur, so she's a huge inspiration to me. When I found out that she was coming to Boston, I was thrilled and immediately bought a ticket when I could!

BYOB (Become Your Own Boss) is all about helping you build up your own business. The conference was held at Babson College, which is actually my dream school! The event ran from 10 AM-4:30 PM, and it was full of non-stop girl power! When it started, we enjoyed a continental breakfast (could not stop eating the coffee cake!) and a coffee machine (I had one too many cups of coffee... Oops). Then from that time until 12:30, we learned so much stuff about what it means to own a business, how to network, etc. Lots of grueling but important stuff!

At 12:30 we took a lunch break. The lunch was fabulous! I had steak tips, chicken teriyaki, Caesar salad, and roasted potatoes. Then I followed up with a dessert of mint chocolate chip ice cream - my favorite! After lunch, we headed back to our room and really got down to business. Two other girls attended the conference with me, so the three of us sat down with Tori and dove into working on our own businesses. We figured out how we're going to find clients, how we're going to market our business, what our rates are going to be, etc. It was awesome!

The conference ended at 4:30. Everyone had to get back home, but I didn't have a certain curfew since I only live around 35 minutes away from Babson. So Tori and I decided to go to dinner! It was so nice to be able to just chat with Tori about anything. She had to go back to her hotel that night, but I'm hoping I get to see her again soon!


If you have ever thought about owning a business, I highly suggest checking out Utoria! It helped me so much. Tori will be doing a spring tour, and she's planning a conference in Tampa in January and a big three-day conference in Disney in June! Definitely get in touch with her to see if she's coming somewhere near you.

Navy & White

One color combination I have been loving this fall is navy and white. I'm always attracted to the color navy (#navyornothing!), but now I'm starting to swoon over the way it looks against white.



vest ℅ // shirt // jeans // riding boots

I got my Marley Lilly vest about a week ago, and I have been loving it! I've always wanted a white jacket, but I never got one because I was always so afraid that I would spill something on it. I decided to take the risk this year and get one, and I'm so happy that I did!

How do you style navy and white?

Vineyard Vines Sale Picks

Just like I mentioned in yesterday's post about the Kate Spade sale, I love a good sale! So when I found out that Vineyard Vines was having a sale as well, I got super excited. Unfortunately, I am unable to shop the sale because I need to start saving my money for more important things. But if I were to shop the sale, here's what I would pick!

Vineyard Vines Sale Picks
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What are your favorites from the sale?

Kate Spade Sale Picks

When I found out on Friday that Kate Spade is having a sale, I freaked! I live for good sales, especially if they're from one of my favorite companies. I (obviously) have a large list of what I would like from the sale, so I'm hoping to get at least one thing! Check out my picks below:

Kate Spade Sale Picks
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What are your favorites from the sale?

Socially Sound

As many of you know, I have been wanting to start a business for a while. I've spent hours and hours jotting down multiple ideas into various notebooks of possible business ideas, but none of them seemed to stuck. But then I thought of Socially Sound, and I knew that was the one.

After starting this blog, I developed a huge love for social media, mainly Twitter. I became obsessed with networking with so many different people over the Internet and sharing my thoughts. I did that social media internship last summer because I had the extra time and just loved social media. So it's even better that I'm finally able to turn that into a business!

Socially Sound specializes in copywriting, scheduling, management, and analyzing. It focuses on helping its clients' social media platforms reach their full potential in order to apply to a certain audience and help their social media presence grow.  The clients can be anybody from events planners to companies to bloggers. I already have a couple of clients, which is so exciting! I'm hoping to get as many clients as I can, and I can't wait to see where this business will take me.

Do you need social media assistance or know someone who might? Check out Socially Sound!

New Business Cards

As some of you know, Private School Prepster is getting totally rebranded by the fabulous Breckenridge, and I could not be more excited! After blogging for more than two years, I felt that it was time to splurge on a new blog design. I chose to go with Breckenridge because her work is amazing, and I wanted to help out a fellow blogger!

After going through some changes, I have finally decided on an image that is right for me! I decided to get business cards because I have been attending more and more blogging events lately, so business cards would come in handy. And with my own business launching soon (stay tuned!), I felt that having business cards was necessary.


I am so obsessed with the way my business cards came out, and I can't wait to see what the rest of my blog design looks like too!

Do you have business cards?

Why You Should Choose J. Crew Factory Over J. Crew

J. Crew
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I rarely buy anything at J. Crew because I always buy items from the factory store. I've always preferred the factory store over the regular retail store, so I thought I would share why I feel as though it's better to go factory!

one // it's cheaper
Prices at the factory store are obviously way cheaper than they are at the retail store. As a high school senior with just a part-time job, the factory store fits my budget better than the retail store does! I find that I'm able to afford things more often with the factory store, and the sales make it even better.

two // the items are cuter
I don't know why I feel this way, but in my opinion, the factory items are cuter than the retail items. There are some factory items that I like that are either the same as or very similar to retail items, which is awesome! But, I often find myself not liking much of the retail items while loving a majority of the factory items.

three // there are always sales
It seems like I'm getting emails from the factory about sales on a weekly basis! There are always great sales that I can never seem to pass up. Although the retail store does have great sales too, the sales don't happen as often.

Which do you prefer: factory or retail?

Shopbop Sale

Shopbop is having a 25% off sale from now until the 16th! Use the code FAMILY25 to get the discount. Check out my favorites from the sale below!

Shopbop Sale Picks
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Parkas are fabulous for chilly weather, white tees are always practical, the clear trench coat is just unique and fabulous, and baseball tees are always a classic piece!

Which are your favorites from the sale?

Uses For Notebooks

Uses For Notebooks
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I always love having notebooks on me, and I can never resist buying pretty notebooks! Notebooks are an easy and organized way of recording your thoughts, goals, plans, etc. I have multiple notebooks that are piled on my desk, and I have all different uses for them!

one // to-do list
Ah, the classic to-do list. My to-do list notebook is my life and probably my most important notebook! Everything I need to do, whether it be assignments for school or errands, is recorded in that notebook. Basically if it's not in there, I completely forget about it. This notebook keeps me sane and reminds me of everything I need to get done!

two // journal
I do keep a journal of my life because I think it would be so cool to look back on my life when I'm older and read what my thoughts were as a teenager. Although I don't write in it every day, which is something I would like to do, I do write in it once in a while. I have been journaling since fifth grade, so it's actually kind of funny to read back on what my life was like almost seven years ago!

three // blog
The most important notebook after my to-do list notebook is my blog notebook. It keeps track of all of my ideas, outlines what I want each post to say, and indicates when I will post each one. I always have so many post ideas floating around in my head, so it would be super hard to try to remember them all. My blog notebook helps me to do that!

four // job
If you have a job or internship, it might be helpful to use a notebook for that depending on what your job/internship is. You can use it to keep track of important dates, take notes at meetings, right down ideas, etc. I use a notebook for my social media business. This notebook consists of when I need to post, what I need to post, who my clients are, and more!

five // life plans & goals
We all have so many plans and goals for the future. Whether it be to travel to Italy or own a business, write it down! It'll be cool to look back on these plans and goals one day and see if you still have those plans and goals. It can become your bucket list!

six // accomplishments & gratitude
Sometimes we just have really bad days. Days where we feel unimportant, worthless, and not good enough. Whenever you accomplish something, write it down in a notebook no matter how small it may be. When you're feeling like you can't do anything right, look back at these accomplishments and you'll be reminded that you have succeeded before! If you have something you're grateful for, write that down too. When you feel like you have nothing, you can look back and realize you have been blessed with some pretty great things!

What do you use notebooks for?

J. Crew Factory Sale Purchases

The J. Crew Factory sale was so good this past weekend that I just couldn't get myself to pass it down! It was the perfect opportunity to stock up on some clothes for this fall and upcoming winter. After looking through my favorites from the sale, it was so hard to choose just a few! I ended up picking these three lovely pieces below, and I cannot wait for them to come in.

J. Crew Factory Sale Purchases
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You can never go wrong with a navy shirt! #navyornothing, am I right? ;) The red sweater will be perfect for the holidays. And I am already planning on wearing the "cheers!" sweater on New Year's Eve. Perfect!

What did you purchase from the sale?

J. Crew Factory Sale Picks

For the past couple of days, J. Crew Factory has been having a 50% off sale for almost all women's items in honor of their second birthday! I've been so busy that I haven't even had the time to look through anything until today. The sale ends at 11:59 PM EST tonight, so get crackin'! I've picked out my favorites below.

J. Crew Factory Sale Picks
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What are you planning on getting from the sale?

Fall Jackets

Fall Jackets
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One thing I love about the fall is the outwear. I love picking out jackets that are warm yet cute! I've picked out my favorites for this season above. I'm head over heels in love with the Barbour one... I would kill to get it for Christmas! And I'll let you in on a little secret about the Marley Lilly monogrammed vest - you'll be seeing that in a post soon ;) The Burberry trench coat is fabulous! And of course, the J. Crew puffer vest is always a classic. As for the North Face rain jacket, you can never go wrong with that! I use mine all the time in the fall when it's raining.

Which jackets are you favorite for fall?

Think Pink

I love that one of my favorite Lilly quotes is so relevant to the month of October. As most of you know, October is breast cancer awareness month. This month is always important to me because I've had a few family friends who have had, and luckily survived, breast cancer. October is meant to be thankful that your loved ones who survived breast cancer are live and remember your loved ones who lost their battle to breast cancer.

My boyfriend's football team all bought a ton of pink accessories to wear during their practices and games, and I think it's the sweetest thing ever! And I have made sure to somehow incorporate pink to my outfits and accessories every day. So here's a goal that I want all of you to follow for the rest of the month: wear pink and make the boys wink.

Magazine & Cookie Drive

Every year, my school hosts a fundraiser for magazine subscriptions and various cookie doughs. Because I go to a Catholic high school, my school heavily relies on any type of donations and fundraisers to lower our tuition. Each student actually pays $1,000 less per year than what it costs for them to be there! That is because that extra money comes from fundraisers.

I would love to help my school raise as much money as possible, and I'm asking for help from all of you too! If you are interested in purchasing a magazine subscription or cookie dough (the cookies are delicious!), I would love it if you could help my school and me out.

The best part about the fundraiser is it can even be done from a computer! The process is super easy, too. All you have to do is click here: http://bit.ly/1EqgFkx

Then when it asks for a school code, please write 2499481 and the name Ashley Mason. Please let me know if you end up getting anything! I really appreciate it!

Reward Yourself

We often face situations that cause a ton of stress and really wear us out. Whether it be studying for a test in a hard class, planning an event, or something else, it can really drain the life out of you. But one of the best feelings is the feeling of relief that comes once you know you aced that test or the homecoming dance that you helped plan turned out to be a lot of fun.

I truly believe that rewarding yourself is one of the best things you could do for yourself. Rewarding yourself is an awesome way to realize that you did in fact get past whatever obstacle you were facing. For me, one of my favorite things to do is stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way home from school on a Friday and get a coffee and a donut. After a super long and tiring week, it feels awesome just to get those two things! It can be something simple you do every week like that, or it can be something big for a long-term achievement, such as getting that Kate Spade bag you really wanted after getting all As on your report card.

No matter what it is, always remember to treat yourself because we all deserve to be congratulated for getting over the obstacles we face.

Pretty Notebooks

Pretty Notebooks
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One thing I can never resist buying is a pretty notebook. I always love having extra notebooks at my desk just in case I may need one for something. Obviously I love to make sure the notebooks I buy are fun colors and prints, so of course the Kate Spade ones above are some of my favorites!

Which notebook is your favorite?

Fall Bags

Fall Bags
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I have come to the realization that I desperately need a bag for the fall. I could use my Ralph Lauren cross body or my navy Longchamp, but the cross body is sometimes too small and the Longchamp is sometimes too big. So I have picked out some lovely options for some medium-sized bags! I'm obsessed with all of these, and I hope I can get at least one.

Which bag do you have your eye on for fall?

Fall Shop Favorites

I have finally updated my shop to include my fall favorites! I am absolutely lusting over these, and I'm hoping I can get my hands on at least a few of them. Check them out below!
Which ones are your favorites?

Fall Bucket List


Now that it's officially October, I'm so excited to start working on my fall bucket list! Fall is my favorite time of the year because of the adorable clothes and fun activities. I plan on doing all of these with Tyler and some of our friends! It'll be super fun to cross these off and do them throughout this whole month. I can't wait to get started!

What's on your fall bucket list?

Fall Shoes

Fall Shoes

I absolutely love getting cute fall clothes, and it's even better when I have adorable shoes to match them! I've picked out my favorite fall shoes that I'm hoping to get this season.

one // Bean boots
I was supposed to get Bean boots for Christmas last year, but then they became backordered all the way until the beginning of March! I didn't see a point in getting them then because it becomes too warm to wear them in March. They're perfect for chilly weather!

two // riding boots
I got a pair of Steve Madden boots about a month ago that I love, but I'm absolutely obsessed with Frye boots! However, I just couldn't justify paying $348 for a pair of boots as a 17-year-old ... so maybe next year! Riding boots are the typical boots for fall, and they look fabulous with pretty much anything.

three // moccasins
Moccasins are great for chilly weather because of the fur on the inside. Pair them with jeans or leggings and they'll look awesome! However, be really careful when wearing them because they easily get dirty.

four // loafers
I have recently become obsessed with loafers, but it's been so hard to find a pair that I love. I was so happy when I came across those studded ones because they would go well with so many of my outfits! Loafers would look fabulous with a pair of rolled up boyfriend jeans.

What shoes do you like for fall?

Making Your Fall Coffee Healthy

pumpkin caramel swirl black

After seeing Sydney's post about making your fall coffee healthy, I became inspired to write my own because I actually made mine healthier too! Fun fact: I've never had a PSL from Starbucks. Ever. I know - how can I be a blogger without having one?! To be honest, the closest Starbucks is about twenty minutes away from me, and I just don't see the point in traveling the distance just to get a drink. My fall drink obsession then? Pumpkin caramel swirl coffee from Dunkin Donuts!

I used to get my coffee made extra extra, but it wasn't until the end of the school year last year that I switched to just milk. I know, it's such a drastic change! Although getting a coffee made extra extra makes it taste really good, working at a coffee shop made me realize how much cream and sugar is actually put into that coffee, and it actually disgusted me that I was basically drinking more cream and sugar than I was drinking coffee!

So I made the switch to just milk, and it still makes my coffee taste really good. But since the pumpkin caramel swirl coffee I get from Dunkin Donuts is made using two sugary syrup swirls, I came to the conclusion that getting it made with just milk is even a little too sweet for me. So I changed it to getting made black! And it's still delicious.

I love getting this as my fall drink since pumpkin is only seasonal, but I did not like the calorie and sugar count that came with it. Getting this certain coffee made black is a much healthier version of a delicious drink!

How do you get your fall coffee made?

Blog Help Links

Although I really enjoy planning my dream wedding and future house on Pinterest *sigh*, Pinterest can be really helpful when it comes to finding tips, tricks, and information. I have a whole board dedicated to blogging that has tons of helpful links. I plan on reading through all of them at some point when I have time, but these are some that I plan on reading!





Which posts do you plan on reading?

Homecoming Dresses

Homecoming Dresses
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October arriving in just a couple of days means that homecoming is right around the corner! I always have so much fun shopping for homecoming dresses. I usually like to stick to black/navy dresses because 1) you can accessorize them with anything and 2) they are darker colors that would look good for fall/winter weather.

Although I already have my homecoming dress (the first one!), I love the three other choices as well. I like to stick with simple yet stylish dresses for homecoming, and all four of these are perfect for the occasion.

What do you have in mind for homecoming dresses?

Turn Bad Days Into Lessons

I'll admit that I had a really bad day yesterday. Like probably one of the worst days I've had in a while. It would be too long to go into details, but here is a summary of what happened.

one // I'm pretty sure I literally got a 0 on my AP English pop quiz because we were allowed to use our notes that we took on the article we read, but the notes had to be separate from the article and not on the actual article itself. I had spent an hour the night before reading the 17-page article, highlighting important information, and writing notes on the sides of the papers. I had no idea we couldn't do it on the actual article, so I had no notes to use and therefore could not retain any information about the article. Luckily I wasn't the only one who did this.
two // The last time I had Spanish before yesterday was on Tuesday. We had a Spanish test scheduled for yesterday, but my teacher said on Tuesday that he didn't think the test would end up being on Thursday and that he would push it back. So I didn't study at all on Wednesday night because I was planning on studying Thursday. Guess what happens? I walk into class yesterday and have to take the test, EVEN THOUGH HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE ON THURSDAY!!!, and didn't feel that prepared. Great.
three // The period before I had Spanish was study. I was planning on spending that whole time studying for Spanish, not knowing the test was going to be that day, but then I got a pass to go to guidance because my counselor wanted to talk to me about colleges. I ended up only having 15 minutes of study because the rest of my time was spent in guidance, which means I barely got to study for my test. Great.

So yes, it was a really bad day. And yes, my boyfriend felt really bad so he ended up buying me an iced coffee and a donut before his football practice after school (he's awesome!). Anyway, I'm usually a super optimistic person, so I started thinking to myself, How can I learn from this and make sure it doesn't happen again? And I came up with great plans for all three of my bad situations.

one // From now on, don't take notes directly on an article/piece of literature you're assigned for a class. Always take notes in a separate document on your iPad or in a notebook. You never know when you might get a pop quiz on the info and will be able to use your notebook!
two // Even if a teacher says the test will be pushed back, still study for it as if it will still be on the original day. In fact, start studying subjects right as you get information so you will be prepared for any test and any quiz at any time.
three // Don't rely on your study/free period to get assignments done because you never know if you're going to have an interruption. Get the majority of your homework done at home, and do what you can't do at home in your study. Or even better, do next week's assignments in study after you finish the assignments for this week!

I think that we are all able to take any bad situation, no matter how much it sucks, and learn a good lesson out of it. Turn your mistakes into tips and make your past your companion.

How do you learn from bad days?

Internship


I am so excited to announce that I am now a fall intern for Brittney Cardillo! Brittney is an events planner and the lifestyle blogger behind Hosting & Toasting. Her blog is amazing, and she is so sweet! I had been following her on Twitter for quite a while because she is friends with Carly Heitlinger, so when I saw that she tweeted about needing a social media intern for the fall, I jumped at the opportunity!

I love social media and managing different social media platforms, just like I did for my internship last summer. I have only been an intern for Brittney for a couple of days, and I already love it! I'm so excited to get the experience and learn new things.

Three Years


Today marks mine and Tyler's anniversary, which means this is our third anniversary together! It's so weird to think about how we met the second day of freshman year, started dating three weeks later, and have been together ever since. It's even more weird to think about how we have spent legit all of high school together!

These past three years have literally been the best three years for my life, and I have T to thank for that. So excited to see what the future holds for us!

Wedding

On Saturday, I went to Tyler's uncle's wedding! After knowing him and his fiance for the past three years, it was so nice to see them get married. The actual ceremony was in a gazebo by the water, which was really pretty. It was super windy!


The reception was at a restaurant in another town by the water. The restaurant was actually right on the water, so the view was amazing! We went outside to take pictures, but it was even more windy there and absolutely freezing.


The wedding was so much fun! I just love weddings in general because it's amazing and heartwarming to see two people who love each other make it official that they're going to spend the rest of their lives together. At first I was iffy on wearing black to the wedding because it's technically not fall yet, but I knew I made the right choice when I got there because a ton of other girls/women were wearing black too!

Have you been to any weddings recently?

Two Year Blogaversary

It's so crazy to think that two years ago to this day, I first started my blog! My blog has come a super long way that day, and I love the way it is now. I can't believe that it has already been two years, but time flies when you're having fun ;)

I'd like to personally thank all of my readers, followers, and sponsors. My blog wouldn't be where it is without all of you! I appreciate your loyalty to my blog.

Cheers to many more years!

Advice For New Bloggers


When I first started blogging, I didn't have the intention of other people reading my blog. It was just a way to share my thoughts and ideas and have a creative outlet. Once I started coming across other blogs that I liked, I wanted to interact with other bloggers and actually have other people read my posts.

There wasn't any type of guide for me to follow to help bring up the readership on my blog, so I basically had to figure out ways for myself. As a new blogger, it can get very frustrating when you see that each post is only get three page views! So, I worked really hard using the tips below to get people to notice me and have a successful blog.

one // email other bloggers
The first thing I did when I find other blogs I liked was emailed all of those bloggers. Emailing other bloggers is a great way to get advice on how to promote your blog, and you get to build relationships with other bloggers. I also found that once I contacted those bloggers and told them what my blog link was, they usually checked out my blog and followed it!

two // get on social media
I have a personal Twitter and Instagram, but I didn't want to get it all mixed up with my blogging stuff. So, I decided to make a Twitter and Instagram specifically for blogging! I followed a ton of bloggers on both of those, and being on social media helped to promote my blog because so many people use social media.

three // keep ideas fresh and new
Always post about unique and fresh ideas. It's great if a blogger's post inspires you to write a certain post, but make sure you make it your own. Keep your mind open to new ideas, and always have an idea ready ot post about!

four // join groups
There are so many Facebook groups for bloggers. The groups can be based off of where you live, what type of blog you have, etc. Join any group that you qualify for or any group that interests you! Most groups allow the members to share links to blog posts, social media sites, etc., which can be really helpful in getting your blog passed around.

five // stay organized
Staying organized when it comes to blogging is very important. Get a blogging notebook to keep track of all of your post ideas and when you'll be posting them. This is super helpful because then when you sit down to write posts, you'll have ideas to use!

six // promote other bloggers
One thing I always do is promote other bloggers. If I read a post that I really like, I tweet a link to it. Most bloggers want to get their blog noticed as well, so it's really nice to share a post that you may like! And doing so may even result in someone tweeting a link to one of your posts as well ;)

seven // wait for sponsors
Although getting free products or money in exchange for a blog post can be super exciting, wait before you start to email companies about sponsoring. Companies usually prefer a certain amount of followers, average page views per month, etc. Work on really getting your blog noticed and up there, and then search for possible sponsors!

eight // post consistently
The more you post, the bigger your audience will get. Come up with a consistent posting schedule and stick to it! I've always posted every day, except when I've been so busy that I just couldn't post at all. Posting every day has worked out really well for me! However, if you post every day, make sure the posts are meaningful and unique. If you feel as if your posts won't have much quality if you post every day, then post every other day or something like that. Do what's best for you!

These are just some of the many things I did as a new blogger to get me where I am now. I've received multiple emails from new bloggers asking for advice, so I thought a post would be a great idea. If you need more advice, please feel free to email me!

How did you get your blog to be successful after being a new blogger?

Apps for the Working Girl


The older we get, the more tasks we start to take on. Not only do we get jobs, but we also participate in activities and organizations that require lots of organization.

Like every other girl my age, my iPhone has become super important to me. I'm constantly replying to emails, networking with people on Twitter, texting my friends, etc. However, there are some apps that I've come to realize are super important for any working girl to have.

one // Gmail
Most people have a Gmail account. I used to just use the regular Mail app on my phone and iPad, but then I decided to give the Gmail app a try. I fell in love with it! I love that you can have multiple accounts hooked up onto it at once and you get notifications for each email that comes in. I'm then able to reply to emails quickly and efficiently. It's also really easy to use! For some reason, my emails don't send in my school when I use the Mail app. However, when I use the Gmail app, they send right away, which is awesome.

two // Hootsuite
A lot of bloggers use Hootsuite to schedule posts on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. I don't schedule any social media posts for my blog, but because I'm the manager of Undeniable's Twitter, I use Hootsuite every day to schedule tweets. If you have social media platforms that you would like to schedule posts on, Hootsuite is the way to go! It's super easy to use, and you can have multiple accounts hooked up to it.

three // Bitly
Whenever I use a link, I always use Bitly. Bitly takes a link and shortens it to make the link look cleaner and more organized. You can even customize the link URL to what you want. My favorite thing about Bitly is being able to track the links. It allows you to see how many times the link was clicked and when it was clicked, which is awesome for statistics! This is really helpful for when I tweet links to my blog posts because then I can see how many people clicked on the link in the tweet.

four // Twitter
Most people have a Twitter, but my Twitter app has three different accounts on it: my personal Twitter, my blog Twitter, and Undeniable's Twitter. I mostly use my blog Twitter and Undeniable's Twitter, so having the app easily allows me to reply to tweets and post tweets. I do a lot of networking on my blog Twitter, so that Twitter is the most important to me.

five // calendar
Each iPhone comes with the calendar app - so use it!!! Put any tasks, events, appointments, etc. that you may have into it. I don't use the calendar too much because I always have my agenda with me, but I love that it sends you alerts when you have an event for that day.

These are just five of many apps that have made my life ten times easier when it comes to handling my blog and Undeniable's Twitter. Society now mainly focuses on technology, so being up-to-date with it will really help you out in the long run!

Which apps do you think are perfect for the working girl?

Pinspiration






School Essentials


When school comes around, I always rely on the same six essentials to get me through the school year. They help me to have a successful, organized year and make my life ten times easier!

one // agenda
I would be lost without my Lilly agenda. I carry it around with me everywhere, and I use it to keep track of important things such as when I'm babysitting or working, when assignments are due, when I'm having a test, etc. I've used the calendar on my iPhone before to keep track of things, but I've always preferred using an actual planner.

two // notebooks
I always have tons of spare notebooks hanging around my desk because you never know when you're going to need a notebook! One notebook that I always have with me is my to-do list notebook. I use it to write down reminders, assignments I need to do, tests I need to study for, etc. Notebooks can also be used to keep track of ideas, such as my blog post notebook! Maxie McCoy also came up with five lists that each girl should be keeping, which are great uses for notebooks.

three // pens/pencils
I usually use pens to write because it makes my notes look cleaner, and pen sticks out to me more when I'm studying. I always use pencils on quizzes and tests so I can fix any mistakes I may make!

four // highlighters
Highlighters are so beneficial to me. I use them to cross off tasks I've already done and make important points in my notes. They're a lifesaver when it comes to studying!

five // coffee
Coffee is literally my best friend when it comes to doing homework. When I'm doing homework on Sundays and start to feel myself getting exhausted from the long week I had, I make myself an iced coffee with just milk! This gives me more energy and makes me feel motivated.

six // iPad
I've mentioned this a couple of times before, but my school requires each student to have an iPad. The majority of my books and notes are on my iPad, so I'm always using it in school and while doing homework. So basically if I lose my iPad or it breaks... I'm screwed. Anyway, it's super helpful to have around while doing homework and taking notes!

What are your school essentials?

Pumpkin Spice Season


Tis the season for pumpkin spice, fa la la la la la la la la! Once September hits, I immediately get into "fall mode" and start to obsesses over pumpkin spice products. I think it's a great way to welcome fall, so I picked out some of my favorite pumpkin spice items!

What are your favorite pumpkin spice products?

A Peek Inside My To-Do List Notebook


Because I am always looking for and thinking of new ways to stay organized, I decided to modify my to-do list notebook. I wanted to get a cuter notebook to make the to-do list more fun, and what was better than this one?! I also needed a new way to write and cross off my tasks. I found that the way I wrote my tasks was too vague, and highlighting them once they were done made it seem like I had important things to do.


So I came up with this method! It's really similar to my blog notebook setup. I number all of the tasks to separate them from each other. Next to the number is basically the main idea of the task. If there is anything else I need to remember or do for that task, I write it in bullet points underneath. Then if there is a certain due date for the task, I write it in parentheses next to the task. That is super helpful for when I have homework assignments to do or tests to study for! Lastly, once the task is done, I highlight the number to indicate it's finished.

This has worked really well for me so far, and I can't wait to continue to use it!

How do you organize your to-do lists?

Review // Nuts For Paper


One thing I've been obsessing over lately is my new notebook from Nuts For Paper! I chose the "my dreams will come true" notebook because the quote is so inspirational and motivational. The ladies over at Nuts For Paper picked out the color for me, and it's absolutely perfect!

I plan on using my notebook for writing down my entrepreneurial ideas and notes. I think it's the perfect notebook for that because the quote completely reflects an entrepreneur's mindset! The notebook is also the perfect size for throwing into a purse or backpack.

Along with quote notebooks, Nuts For Paper has travel books, list books, dream books, cook books, matchbooks, and calendars/planners. I love the fact that everything is handmade! I'd love to get a planner because you can never have too many of those, right?

What do you like from Nuts For Paper?

Disclosure: I was provided with a notebook, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Utoria BYOB


I'm so excited to say that I'm attending the Utoria BYOB fall tour in Boston! Utoria was founded by Tori Molnar, a seventeen-year-old entrepreneur whose life mission is to help other young entrepreneurs reach their goals. I have been following Tori on Twitter for about a year now, so when I found out that she was coming to Boston, I freaked!

Utoria BYOB stands for "become your own boss." The tour is a one-day event full of activities to help the girls with planning out their business. This tour includes pre-planning before the event on business ideas, and there is also one-on-one mentoring with Tori for four weeks after the event. Only ten girls can attend each event, so I was very lucky when I was accepted!

Ever since I was little, I've known I've wanted to do something in business when I'm older. It wasn't until this past year that it dawned on me that entrepreneurship is exactly what I want to do! I want to be an entrepreneur because I've always loved the idea of owning my own business. I used to obsess over having lemonade stands in the summer when I was younger because I loved the thought of making my own money. I've had tons of different entrepreneurial ideas running through my mind, and I would love to make one (or maybe even more!) of them a reality.

I feel that Utoria BYOB is the perfect next step for starting my own business because it's such an awesome support system. Being an entrepreneur can be super overwhelming, so it's so helpful to have Utoria to help you map out your business plan and put your ideas to life. It's also amazing for networking because you get to meet successful entrepreneurs and other young girls who are working on becoming entrepreneurs as well.

I seriously can't wait to attend the tour! If you're interested in entrepreneurship and attending Utoria BYOB, you can read more about it here. The Boston event still has some spots left, and it's also going to Virginia Beach and Atlanta. Apply for entry ASAP!

Have you heard of Utoria BYOB?

Mermaid Mania

shirt: Lilly Pulitzer // shorts: Lilly Pulitzer // shoes: Jack Rogers

I picked up this pullover at the After Party Sale, and I've been in love with it ever since! It's the perfect shirt to wear when it's a little bit cold out, which is exactly why I wore it.


I'm obsessed with the mermaid embroidery. So cute and such a perfect touch! I love that although this will be worn in the fall or winter, it adds a summery feel because of the mermaids.

How do you style nautical clothing in colder weather?

What To Consider In Colleges


Now that I'm a senior in high school, the college search is even more important. There have been a number of factors I've looked into while touring colleges, and I felt that I should share them in case there are any other juniors or seniors who are doing the college search as well!

one // price
Price is probably the biggest factor. All of the schools I'm looking at are ridiculously expensive. I'm hoping to get some financial aid and scholarships! Price can either make or break a school. If money is a big problem, it might be better to choose the school that is the cheapest or gives the most financial aid.

two // distance
Distance is probably the next biggest factor for me. I don't want to leave New England because I want to be able to easily travel home if I need to, so I haven't even bothered to look at schools outside of New England. If you want to stay close, look at schools that are only a few hours away. However, if you want to go far, look wherever you'd like!

three // majors
This is obvious, but look at schools that have what you want to major in unless you're undecided! It would be best to look at schools that focus on your major or have a good program for it.

four // perks
I have been focusing a lot on the perks at each school I've been looking at. Some perks I've paid attention to are how nice the gym is for working out, if free rides are offered into the city, and any coffee shops that are nearby.

What are things you've been considering in colleges?

Statement Necklaces

An accessory I'm starting to obsess over lately is statement necklaces. They are such classic pieces that can really add the perfect touch to an outfit! My favorites are from J. Crew factory because they are adorable and such a great price. I tend to buy plain statement necklaces so they can go with any of my outfits!

one // two // three

Which one is your favorite?

Major Wishlist

Just like almost every other teenage girl, online shopping kills me. I'm always looking at different websites and finding the cutest clothes, perfect accessories, and amazing things. I have a little wishlist of major items I want that will most likely be turning into my Christmas list in a couple of months!


I'm so obsessed with all of these and hope I can get at least one of them!

What's on your wishlist?

Undeniable Report


I'm going to be writing for the Undeniable Report, and I can't wait! I'm going to be writing for the business column, which is so exciting because I love business. The Undeniable Report is a lifestyle website created for girls that will feature articles about business, wellness, travel, and more.

Along with writing for Undeniable, I'm handling the Twitter account! I love social media, especially Twitter, so I was thrilled when the opportunity came across for me to manage the account. Be sure to follow it!

If you are interested in writing for Undeniable, please contact Mack, the VP of Undeniable Resources, at thetotalprepster@gmail.com.