I'm Going to Disney World!

Ladies and Gents,
It is that time of year again.  The time when families bring out their secret recipes, everyone gathers around the TV, and we all eat more than we care to admit.  No, it's not Thanksgiving, it's Super Bowl Sunday.  
I have a mild obsession with sports...just a little.  For example, most people go to Florida for spring break with their friends and drink boat drinks, I go with my dad to watch the Yankee's Spring Training. But today is one of those days where it doesn't matter what you care about the other 364 days of the year.  Today everyone is a sports fan.  Whether you are cheering for a team, a particular player, or just for the clock to wind down so you can see Beyonce tear up that stage at halftime, you're cheering for something.  This year I am going to be a Ravens fan, seeing as my beloved Redskins fell in the playoffs after a miracle season behind Robert Griffin III and I am going to miss the Ray Lewis dancing. Update: after getting an upset text from one of my best friends (Steelers fan...from Baltimore) I have decided that I am more cheering for Ray Lewis, a great game and a killer Beyonce halftime show than the Ravens in particular (happy, shannon? haha) Let's be real, I'm sad the Redskins aren't in it, and thrilled the Patriots can't win it.

And, trust me, even if you think you don't know football, you know more than some people.  In high school, I had some of my girlfriends over for the game and one of them asked me: "What is it called when you run into that big area down there with the logo?" yeah, she was asking about a touchdown. I thought hoped she was kidding when she asked...oh dear.  Just in case that stumped you as much as it did my friend, or you think that American football and soccer are the same thing, here is a link that should teach you what you need to know before you watch the game: Beginner's Guide to Football
Even someone who doesn't get the game can appreciate other parts of Super Bowl Sunday.  One of my favorite parts of Super Bowl Sunday is the food.  I love bar food, simple as that.  Put some nachos and wings in front of me and I am all set.  Today, though, is one of those days where you can have fun  and mix up the bar food since you're the chef (unless you watch the game at a bar, I guess).  There are so many great recipes out there, and I am sure that most of you have already planned yours and are not a procrastinator planning to go to the grocery store on game day, like me.
And you don't have to wear a jersey to get in the spirit, either.  Although I am debating wearing my old-school Darrell Green jersey, I will probably just try to represent the ravens with a cute outfit.
Don't know what colors the teams are? Don't worry:
Ravens: Purple, Black, Gold, White
49ers: Red and Gold
Seriously, don't wear red if you're in Baltimore or Purple if you're in San Francisco unless you love that team, you WILL piss off the die-hard fans.

So throw together some nachos, potato skins, wings, chill those brewskis and wait to see which Quarterback is going to Disney World.

xoxo,
SSP

Glitter Me Gold

Last night while I was working on my homework, my computer decided to shut down on me and I took that as a sign that I was done with homework for the night. Instead, I broke out my craft boxes and got to work on a bit of crafting for my future little! I have so much stuff for my little, not even including what has yet to be crafted! One of the projects that I did last night was to glitter a mason jar.  It is amazing how glittering one or two things can result in my room being absolutely covered in glitter...I mean, I will be wearing if for a week.  There are a few ways to glitter things that I have tried and this was the first time I had done it this way.

Glitter Techniques:

• glitter paint: this works best with glassware (i.e. wine glasses) and you dab it on using sponge brushes
• modgepodge glitter mix: mix about 2 parts glitter and 1 part modgepodge together and just paint on. the modgepodge dries clear so all you can see is the glitter, this is the technique I used on my iPhone case and picture frames.
• glitter on modgepodge: coat the surface in modgepodge and then pour glitter over it...this one needs a top coat because it is more likely to shed.

mason jar project: http://instagr.am/p/VJrYUJSAXv/

For this mason jar I used the third technique, except I glittered the inside because I want to be able to easily paint my little's monogram on one of the sides. I covered the inside of the jar in modgepodge, dumped glitter inside, covered it, shook it up, and then dumped out the extra. I am either going to put some fake flowers in it or use it as a pencil holder.

My basic, durable $20 Target case is now chic!

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for other crafts I can do for my little, I'd love to hear them! You can comment or email me at sugarsnappearls@gmail.com.

xoxo,
SSP

Knot-ically Nautical

Yes, I caved and went with a more summer-y dress, but it's not my fault that today is another warm day! Of course, it is supposed to rain this afternoon (I have an umbrella just in case...it takes up less room than my rain jacket) but I am totally enjoying this weather while I can. I'm loving it so much that I even put on a dark pink nail polish last night, which I almost never do in the winter (I like to get full use of my red pallet). I have to repaint my nails today though, because shortly after I put on Essie Plumberry, I decided that I would craft a bit for my little. Two hours and a room covered in glitter later, I successfully covered my polish in so many other colors of paint and glitter that I decided my nails looked better bare.
Are any of y'all crafting for your littles? Anyone have ideas for me to do? I don't think I could ever spoil her enough...even though I don't even know who she is yet haha.

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer // Earrings: J. Crew (they're on sale right now!) // Belt: from Momma // Bracelets: knot- Kiel James Patrick (from The Lucky Knot); watch- Target // Shoes: Steve Madden

http://instagr.am/p/VHEVyByAe7/

xoxo,

SSP

P.S. thank you all for reading my blog, yesterday I noticed that it already had 1225+ views and I could not be more shocked and excited. Never in a million years would I have guessed that it would take less than a month to have readers like y'all and I am so grateful for your support!

Eskimo Kisses

So, right as I was putting the finishing touches on the rainy day post, it started to snow! I am hoping that writing this post while it is snowing will cause the weather pattern to take a turn for the warmer (fingers crossed!). It has been so cold here the last few days, like, "I have not left my house without my long Eddie Bauer down jacket" type of cold.
Cold in college is different than cold at home. For starters, some people venture to places that are way colder than where they used to live (I do NOT miss the weather from my old college), but most people just spend more time outdoors. There is a huge difference between leaving your heated car and making a mad dash for the school each morning and standing at a bus stop then walking to class. In college, you feel the cold more just because, it's inescapable.
Now all you little freshman, I am going to teach you how to avoid being easy to spot when this weather hits. BE PREPARED...every year there is a handful of freshman who end up basically being a walking billboard for the bookstore because they were not prepared for the weather and that is the only place that they could venture to without getting hypothermia.
First, jacket-wise, I go back and forth between a LL Bean Barn Coat, pea coat, my Eddie Bauer down jacket, and (for those warmer days) a down vest. There are tons of options out there though, Barbours, Carharts, etc., it's totally up to you and your preference/budget. Personally, i would kill for a Barbour, but I totally cannot afford it right now and my Barn Coat is pretty similar to it.

Barbour

Eddie Bauer

Banana Republic

Secondly, wear good shoes. Buy bean boots and wellies. I don't care how "unique" you want to be, there is a reason that everyone is wearing them...they're the best. My friend actually just got a pair of boots that are really similar to bean boots for $25, so there is no excuse not to have them.  And if you don't want to have to buy bean boots and rain boots, get Hunter Wellies.  They are perfect for all weather and, if you throw on some Welly Socks, they're super toasty on a cold day.

LL Bean

Wellies and Welly Socks

Lastly, gloves and hats and scarves galore. They are your friend. There are even gloves with special tips so that you technology addicts can play on your iPhone without getting cold. Personally, I don't like hats too much (although my friend just knitted me THE CUTEST hat for christmas, so I wear that one) but I really like ear warmer bands. I have a couple from Target and I wear them all the time, plus that way if it falls out of my bag one day, it isn't the end of the world that I lost it. As for scarves, keeping your neck warm is SO important to surviving the cold, plus they can be super cute and (in my case) add a pop of color to the puffy black coat you're wearing.

Etsy

Kate Spade

Piperlime

Oh I almost forgot, learn to drink hot drinks. I don't care if it's coffee with 50 packs of sweetener, cider, tea, or whatever. If you have something warm to hold it makes the walk better, plus they taste so much better when they warm you up.
Thats all for now, although that last comment makes me want to do a post about my love of hot drinks and my Keurig...

xoxo,
SSP

Rainy Day Blues

Okay, I have been planning this post for 5 days. I decided to do it in the middle of our rainy first week of class when I was slightly concerned I was going to have to start constructing an ark, but life got in the way and I didn't have time to finish it. Now that we have finished recruitment and have 43 beautiful little baby hooties, I am back to having a bit of free time.
Well, in the middle of the stormy week, my umbrella decided that it was going to break. This led me to look for new umbrellas (still don't have one because I forgot I have no money haha).
I feel like as much as I love cute, preppy umbrellas and how they pop against the grey sky, they just aren't that practical on a college campus. At my old school, it rained in circles so an umbrella would not protect you from anything, and at my new school the sidewalks are so dang crowded all the time that they get caught on each other and you end up late to class. I still carry an umbrella when it is absolutely pouring, in an attempt to keep my bag sheltered from the rain, but I don't like having to rely on it to keep me dry. 

Lilly Pulitzer

Target

Most of the time I just wear a rain jacket with a hood. Of course, the one I wear right now is from my 8th grade field trip to Yellowstone and I had to get a women's XL because it was the only one left in the store at the time, so I have been shopping around for a new one. I am obsessed with monogramming things (hey, I want people to know it's mine, not theirs) and therefore I love Marley Lilly (basically the mecca of monograms). They have a monogrammed Eddie Bauer rain coat that I am asking my dad for. Even if you don't like monograms there are tons of cute coats out there!

Modcloth

Marley Lilly

Also, rain boots are a must on a college campus. As beautiful as the the grounds of my school are, and they really are beautiful, there is simply too much concrete for the water to be absorbed and run off properly. Therefore, instead of trying to shimmy around and hop over the infinite number of puddles, you are better off just wearing your boots and trudging along. Quite frankly, I love trudging through the puddles and occasionally my inner five year-old comes out and I splash in them (when no one is around, obviously). I have two pairs of rain boots but I only bring one to school and those are my tried and true Hunter Wellies. I love these boots more than I thought it was possible to love rain boots. I have the shiny black ones and I have 4-5 pairs of Wellie socks that I wear with them to change it up. They are great as snow boots, rain boots, or for just when it's really cold and you want to wear fleece socks that come up to your knees. I see girls in them all around grounds and I love the bright boots too (coveting the Tiffany Blue or Bubblegum Pink ones right now).

Hunter Wellies

Target

Everything that I listed in this post comes in bright happy varieties that can make a rainy day less dull, and quite frankly a cute pair of Wellies and raincoat nix the leggings, sweatshirt, and messy ponytail that we all like to wear when the weather makes getting out of bed an impossible task. So, next time it rains, throw a little sunshine in your outfit, make your day better and splash in a puddle.

xoxo,
SSP

Black Friday

So today is a sad day, I am officially broke. Like, actually flat broke. It's okay because Ramen Noodles are yummy, right? Well, let's just go with that logic for now. Anyways, as I said yesterday, I had to wear all black again today for recruitment and yet again, I don't have time to change between classes and meetings and having to be at the house in an hour and a half. Also, again, I am using a scarf (yeah, not actually Burberry...I wish!) to add some life to my Johnny Cash look. I love scarves, you will probably start to notice that trend as my outfits go on, they're just so easy to throw on and make an outfit look more put together in seconds (this is prime for girls like me who are especially lazy in the morning).
I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and if you are starting/continuing rush this weekend, good luck, be yourself, and don't stress too much!!!

Top: Ann Taylor Loft // Jeans: H&M // Flats: TJ Maxx // Necklace: Ann Taylor Loft // 
Scarf: ?!?!

http://instagram.com/p/UortCiSAfJ/

xoxo,
SSP

syllabus day

today is the first day of classes of this semester for me! I have decided that I am going to start a tradition of wearing Lilly Pulitzer on the first day of classes (I wore a skirt and top on the first day of last semester) for a couple of reasons. First, I love Lilly and second, it gives me an excuse to get new Lilly something a couple times a year (Momma, I know you are reading this...sorry, hehe). Anyways, it is drizzly and grey today. You know, the type of weather that makes getting out of bed an impossible task, so I am really glad I planned my outfit last night. But as much as I love my outfit, I ran into my friend, Katie, on my way to spend my entire savings on textbooks, and her rainy day outfit trumped mine. I should have taken a picture of it because she has totally inspired me to rock my bean boots with tights and a dress next time it rains. Also, if her necklace suddenly goes missing...I probably have it.

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer (similar) // Tights: TJ Maxx // Boots: Etienne Aigner // Necklace: Charming Charlie // Belt: Francesca's // Other Stuff: Starbucks reusable cup (costs $1 and you save $0.10 every time you use it...GO GREEN), Lilly planner, and a note pad because I don't like notebooks for some reason

http://instagram.com/p/Ud3A0pyAXq/

xoxo,
SSP