Week in Review

This is my second installment of these "Week in Review" posts.  So, just like last time I'm going to list my top -ings for this past week.

Preparing
Preparing for school, that is.  School starts one week from tomorrow for me and I've decided I'm not really looking forward to it.  I would much rather spend my days well quite frankly, being a lazy bum than doing mundane classwork, but nonetheless it will begin either way and I've been both shopping and gathering supplies (see my Getting Ready For School post).  In addition I've been thinking about what outfit to wear for the first day of school.  I'm sure I'll post my #ootd when it comes the time.  Basically I'm physically prepared for senior year, although I'm not quite sure if I'm mentally prepared.

Major #tbt from 6th grade graduation (I'm on the right)

Reconnecting 
This past Friday I did a lot of reconnecting with an old friend that I've had since elementary school.  Recently we've fallen out of touch.  A.k.a. we haven't talked since before Christmas.  It was so nice to see her again.  There was so much to talk about and catch up on, such as our plans for this year and a lot of talk of college.  She has two younger brothers who are getting so big.  Let me tell you little kids grow so fast, especially if you don't see them every day.  Friday was great and one of my favorite days of Summer.  I strongly urge you to go and see that person you've fallen out of contact with.  Believe me, we all have someone.

Reading
I've been doing a lot of reading newspapers and magazines this week, but not in the typical format.  Instead I've been using a recent favorite app called Flipboard.  It is an accumulation of a bunch of your favorite magazines and newspapers.  I use the top stories part of the application which allows me to skim through short pieces from Vogue, The Economist, USA Today, and many others.  It is a great way to learn about the happenings of the world quickly and conveniently.  Since I'm always on my phone anyway (guilty as charged), I like to do a little bit of catch up during car rides or when I'm waiting on my family or friends to go somewhere.  Definitely a must have for any smartphone.

So that's my short Week in Review.
What -ings have you been loving these past seven days?

xx Brigitta

The September Issue

Have ever wanted to work at Vogue, or at the very least wondered what happens behind the scenes of the biggest fashion magazine in the world?  Look no further than The September Issue.  This film documents the putting together of the 2007 September Issue of Vogue which believe it or not begins more than 5 months in advance.  The movie is stunning and provides great insight into the inter-workings of the fashion world.  As they say its the "real Devil Wears Prada."  I highly, highly recommend it.

xx Brigitta

p.s. The only flaw of the entire documentary is that its not on Netflix.

Out of Stock

Three fateful words that no one wants to read.

OUT OF STOCK

I'm currently faced with a dilemma.  As made evident by my last couple posts, school is starting back up and I've been dying to purchase a new backpack.  Not knowing exactly what I wanted, I googled "preppy backpacks" which lead me to a Pinterest page which then lead me to this beauty.

The Neon Colorblock Backpack from Vineyard Vines

Literally perfect in my opinion (minus the really steep price tag but nonetheless).

Only one issue: It is OUT OF STOCK.  Yes, those three words in that order.  A shopaholic's worst nightmare.  I really don't want to settle for a mediocre JanSport (my second option, although not quite my style).  So my decision is to wait.  Vineyard Vines will email me when it goes back in stock and hopefully I don't die of anticipation before then.

xx Brigitta

p.s. If you know of other preppy backpacks please comment them down below.

Getting Ready For School

As much as I love denying it, school starts back up in 10 days.  Instead of moping around I've decided to make the best of my situation by de-cluttering my desk and ordering some adorable school supplies.

Here is my school supply checklist:

• Spiral Notebooks (with homemade monogram stickers, of course!)
• Folder for loose papers
• College Ruled Paper
• Lilly Pulitzer Agenda
• Pencil Pouch
• Mechanical Pencils
• Wooden Pencils
• Pens
• Highlighters
• Flash Cards
• Calculator (Mine is the TI-89.  I'll need it for Calculus 3)

Going into my senior year I'm hoping I can get away without needing bulky binders and one million spiral notebooks.  At my school after about a month you usually don't need half of the supplies teachers tell you to get on the first day.

xx Brigitta

p.s. Normally Cute Backpack would also be included on my list of Must-Haves but I haven't come across the perfect one yet.  I'll be sure to keep you up to date on that matter.

Preppy Girl Tag

I decided to write out my favorite tag video from YouTube. The Preppy Girl Tag of course!

1. What is your definition of preppy?
  Preppy to me is structured, classic, and elegant.  Basically dressing like you go to a prep school.

2. What is your all time favorite brand?
  I would have to say J. Crew and more specifically J. Crew Factory because I find it has a more casual style and definitely better prices.

3. Show us your favorite Lilly item/ What is your favorite print?
  I only have one Lilly Pulitzer clothing item (at the moment) which I love to death.  It is the Delia Shift Dress from the spring collection this year.  Yes, the same one that everyone and their mother has.  As for my favorite print, either Lobster Roll (Spring 2014) or Jellies Be Jammin' (Summer 2014).

4. Who is your favorite preppy YouTuber?
  I'm going to be cliche' here and say Sarabelle93x just like literally everyone else says.  She is the one who introduced me to the "preppier" style.  Brands like Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines I had never heard of before her videos.  Since then I've been watching other preppy YouTubers and other favorites I would like to mention are glamourkate08 and PrepInYourStep.

5. Jack Rogers or Sperrys?
  Sperrys.  Although I like Jack Rogers I don't actually own a pair.  On the other hand, I wear my Sperrys multiple times during the week in the school year because they are easy, casual, and match with literally everything.

6. Jeans or Khakis?
  Jeans.  I do love Khakis but when faced with the choice I have to go with Jeans.  Just like Sperrys they are more casual and match with everything I wear.

7. What is your opinion on oxfords?
  I love oxford shirts.  If I could only wear one shirt for the rest of my life it would be a button up, no questions asked.

8. Duck Boots, Riding Boots, or Hunter Rain Boots?
  I own 6" Duck Boots and navy Hunters.  Since I don't own riding boots they are clearly out of the question.  I would have to go with Duck Boots because they are such a unique pair of shoes and it doesn't necessarily have to be raining or snowing to wear them.

9. Navy or Black?
  Navy.  Hands Down.  Its scary how much navy is in my wardrobe.

10. On a scale of one to ten, how much do you love J. Crew?
  Um... 20

11. What is your favorite Ralph Lauren clothing item?
  I have two items from Ralph Lauren.  They say if you love something buy it in multiple colors.  Right?  I own the Ralph Lauren Sport Polos in both white and blue.  They are the bomb diggity.  Definitely one of my more recent obsessions.  My summer wardrobe can be summed up in three words: Printed Chinos and Polos.

12. Pearls or Bows?
  Pearls.  I may or may not wear my pearl earrings every single day.

xx Brigitta

p.s. I don't know if the Polos linked are exactly the ones I own.  Those were the closest ones I found online.  Personally mine were purchased from Marshalls and T.J.Maxx.

The Week in Review

This week was just a typical summer week filled with laziness and relaxation.  Here are my top -ings.

Brother's Closet

Organizing
My parents are paying me to paint the eleven closets in the house and with that comes unloading and reloading their contents.  Since I don't have photographic memory and most of the closets are just filled with a humble jumble of things that are semi-related, I've also taken on the task of reorganizing them.  I love organization and making my home look like it belongs in a real simple magazine or my closet look like one of the top pins on Pinterest.  This has made the whole painting project slightly more enjoyable (esp. for the closets that require three coats! ugh).

The Berry Pie 

Baking
Although I didn't do one of these posts last week I can tell you the number one thing on that list would've been Cake Bossing (that's a verb... right?).  Let's just say I've watched one too many episodes of Cake Boss on Netflix.  Its only 20 minutes long and there is no story line to follow so you can jump in whenever.  Of course in all honesty, I binge watch it.  Therefore the episodes are in order and I spend a lot more than 20 minutes watching people decorate cakes.  This has definitely inspired me to fine tune my baking skills.  This week I made rice crispy treats covered in homemade fondant (easier than it seems), brownies, and there is currently a berry pie in the oven.  Baking is one of those things I do when I have nothing to do.

All 1000 pieces together

Puzzling
Whilst reorganizing the closets I stumbled upon some 1000 piece puzzles and decided to pull one out and venture upon its completion.  Along with my dad's help and a little boredom and a lot of Gossip Girl it was complete within 3 days.  It was surprisingly really tricky yet fun and rewarding to finish.

Can we talk about Blair's perfect outfit?

Gossiping
They say the first step is admitting you have a problem.  Yes, I may have watched all 21 episodes of season 3 of Gossip Girl in 3 days.  Yes, I do realize that is absurd.  To justify, it is summer and without a job I can use my time however I please.  Honestly Gossip Girl is the best show ever created, shot in the best city in the country, with the best wardrobe department on TV.  Really, you should just watch it, because who doesn't want to be Blair Waldorf.

Family on one of many hikes this summer

Hiking
Last but not least I've been hiking.  Since I live in Florida, by hiking I mean walking/jogging various nature trails.  This past week at a local park I found a new trail that is called The Workout Trail.  It is composed of 20 stations with various exercises such as push ups, crunches, and jumping jacks.  I believe being surrounded by nature makes exercising substantially easier.

So that's my week in review.
What -ings have you been loving these past seven days?

xx Brigitta

Senior Year

Eek!  The Common Application opens today which means senior year and all the stress that comes with it is officially upon me.  I am honestly excited for the whole figuring out my future process but there is quite a bit of anxiety along with the excitement.  My college applications have to be perfect and the best overall representation of myself.  So as I embark on this journey wish me luck in highlighting my strengths, downplaying my weaknesses, and standing out in the best possible way.

xx Brigitta

p.s. Good luck to my fellow seniors.

DIY Pocket Tees

After seriously considering shelling out $35 for a Fraternity Collection pocket tee, I decided to embark on a little DIY.

Supplies:
-plain t-shirts (Michaels: $3 each)
-quilting fabric quarters (Joanns: $2 each)
-thread
-sewing machine

note: You could sew by hand, but ain't nobody got time for that.

Process:
1. Sketch pocket pattern
2. Pin pattern to fabric and cut accordingly.
3. Fold over edges.  I recommend ironing afterwards so the edges are crisp.
4. Stitch edges of pocket on to T-shirt.
5. Wala! You are done.

I love the way mine turned out.  They are so personal and definitely more budget friendly for the same look.

The Pocket Pattern

xx Brigitta

ps. I got a little fancy with the tulip and swan stitching.

Room Redo/ Room Tour

I have an obsession with house remodels.

About four years ago my family gave up cable to save money and I've learned two things since that decision. One, TV doesn't really matter that much.  There are so many channels that post their shows online plus there is Netflix which is a lot cheaper and just down right awesome.  Two, I love HGTV.  Whenever I stay somewhere with cable I automatically go to HGTV.  What could be better than watching people buy and remodel houses?  I'm obsessed with home decor and I cant wait till I have my own house/apartment to remodel and decorate.

 Till then, I have my room.

For Easter, instead of a gift, I asked my parents for a bucket of paint or two.  The following week, with the help of my lovely mother, I repainted my entire room from obnoxious blue and green to pale pink.  It was quite the process, but in the end I love it.  With a fresh coat of paint on the walls I redecorated to my liking.

Now the flow of pictures:

Yes, I keep my Hunter rain boots on display

Wooden letters from Micheal's covered in card stock Lilly Pulitzer print

Clothespins also covered in different Lilly Pulitzer prints

Inspiration Board with Instagram photos

Calendar printed from offline and then framed 

My awesome full length mirror from IKEA

xx Brigitta

Update a.k.a. Word Vomit

I'm baaacck. :)

This post is designed for me just to word vomit, as classy as that sounds.

My last post was right before I took the ACT.  I got my score back and it was pretty good. (Read: really really unexpectedly good)  I scored an overall 35 out of 36.  Needless to say I was really proud and my friends were so supportive.  I told 6 people my score (4 of them being immediate family, the other 2 being my loud mouthed friends) and two days later my entire school knew.  Getting congratulations from classmates I hardly even talk to was a great feeling.

Another important part of my life that I should probably share is my work, part of the reason I'm back.  About mid-March I switched jobs to a different day care so that I could work directly with the children as an assistant teacher (my previous job was basically 'janitor').  I loved the children and my job but the people who work there just aren't good co-workers.  As of Wednesday last week, I no longer work there.  So now I'm looking for a part time retail position for the Summer and possibly into the school year.  

Since I have more time, I figure I'll blog again.  Also today is the first Monday of Summer 2014, a.k.a. the three months with no school  wasting six hours of my day.  So if I really want to do this blogging thing, now is the best time.  I can really devote time to writing and such.

Here goes try number three.

xx Brigitta

The ACT

On Tuesday I take the ACT.  If you're not aware the ACT is a standardized test taken by high schoolers mainly to be used for college admissions.  A big part of one's college acceptance rides on one's ACT score.  So basically, I'm freaking out.  I've been studying all week. (Yes, I only started this week because I'm a huge procrastinator.)  Fortunately Tuesday isn't actually the end all be all, although I envision it as such. One good thing about the test is that you can take it as many times as you desire and colleges only really look at the best score.

Here's the thing.  I'm pretty smart, (not trying to be cocky) so I will pass and get good enough scores to get into a decent college.  But the problem is I don't just want to get into a "decent" college.  I want to get into Columbia University and if not, then I want to do the best I am physically capable of.  I want to know I gave it my all.  Yes, in summary I should get back to practicing.

xx Brigitta

My First Lilly

Friday night I was walking through Dillards in search of a backless bra and I stopped in my tracks.  There was a dress inside one of the window displays and I told my mom, whom I was shopping with, "I need to find that dress."  It was a dress I had seen all over the internet through Pinterest, Youtube, Instagram, and my favorite blogs.  It was the Delia Shift Dress from Lilly Pulitzer.  We saw someone who worked there and asked them right away.  I just couldn't leave without trying it on.  The lady helping us grabbed my size and walked us over to the dressing room.  Right after slipping it on I was in love.  So as you can imagine I justified shelling out the $198 to purchase my first Lilly piece and I am obsessed!

@sarabelle93x

@collegeprepster

In the dressing room at Dillards

Hopefully there will be more Lilly to add to my collection in the future :)

xx Brigitta

Someone's Getting Married In the Morning

Ding dong the bells are gonna chime!  (If you don't know the reference its My Fair Lady.)  Tomorrow my Uncle is getting married in my backyard.  Basically, I'm completely stoked!  I've only been to one other wedding in my entire life.  I was one.  So, as you can probably guess I've been looking forward to this day for quite sometime.  To be honest, since they announced it last Thanksgiving.  Just like most teenage girls I love weddings.  There is this fairy tale aspect about them.  You get to watch "Cinderella" take her Prince Charming to live happily ever after till death do them part.  I guess weddings help to keep the dream of finding Mr. Right alive.
All my fantasies aside, it also is an excuse to get dressed up and you can never have too many of those.  It's an outdoor spring wedding.  Could it get any better?  Obviously this is a pretty special occasion for me and therefore I had to splurge on the perfect dress.  After scouring Pinterest and my favorite boutiques I found it.  The dress I bought is from Asos, first seen on my favorite youtuber Sarabelle93x.

My sister and I on Valentine's Day

Me showing off the dress poolside

Cant wait for tomorrow!

xx Brigitta

iPhone Cases

As of recent I've been on the look out for a good iPhone case.  I want something cute, preppy, classic and actually somewhat protective.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Marry Me iPhone 5 Case from Kate Spade

Patchwork iPhone 5 Case from Vineyard Vines

Robinson Saffiano Hardshell Case from Tory Burch

True Navy Tiger Lilly iPhone 5 Case from Lilly Pulitzer

xx Brigitta

One Year Later

So it has been almost a year since the last time I posted on this blog.  I've recently decided to try out blogging again and instead of starting a whole other blog I felt like it would be easier just to continue on with this one. (Plus I still think "fashionably innate" is pretty clever)  So two questions:

Where did I go?
Well a lot has happened in the past year.  I traveled the world (week long cruise around the Caribbean and two week stay in Germany).  I got a part time job working at a day care.  My dog that I've had since I was two passed away.  My brother went off to college leaving the house a lot quieter.  I got my license and have been driving pretty much every day since.  I sorta kinda might think I know what I want to do with my life...ish. (That sounded reassuring didn't it)

Why am I back?
This is probably the more important of the two questions.  I'm back to blog.  Wow.  That was really insightful.  Anyways why now, why today? Three words: The College Prepster.  Whilst flipping through the latest Teen Vogue issue I stumbled across her and from there found her blog and my life will never be the same.  She is amazing to say the least.  I'm obsessed with her style and all her posts are flooded with inspiration.  So basically one day I decided I want to do what she does.  And here I am.  But honestly I really love blogging.  I didn't stop  a year ago because I was bored with it or really for any sensible reason at all.  I stopped for the same reason I couldn't keep a journal as a kid, for the same reason I have trouble finishing books, one day I just stop opening the journal/book and I never come back.  But I dont want to do that anymore.  I want to write every night for the simple joy of writing.

So here begins a new chapter in my life.  Ideally I hope to be able to blog every night about fashion and lifestyle.  I want to make it a habit like brushing my teeth.  Something I do every night and if I skip a night it feels weird and uncomfortable.  Lets see where this goes.

xx Brigitta

ps Go check out The College Prepster:  www.thecollegeprepster.com