Flower Child

There are only so many ways that you can style bean boots. I mean, they are so practical and awesome in this weather. That being said, the snow can go away now. I like snow, but only as long as it doesn't get in my way...I also prefer it to happen before March. Seriously weather, a March blizzard in Virginia?!?!
Well, I am ready for spring, even if Mother Nature isn't. I painted my nails a bright color yesterday and decided to rock a floral print today. It is time for spring and shorts with sweaters weather...I love shorts and sweaters weather!!!
Also, the centerpiece of my Monogram Monday post for next week as well as the stuff for the DIY I want to do tonight came in today! I am so excited!

 dress: Target (a couple years ago) // belt: Francesca's // cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft // bracelets: GroopDealz (similar, also cheaper than J. Crew) // boots: LL Bean

xoxo,

SSP

SNOW DAY

A touch of Lilly in a winter wonderland

As I mentioned in my morning post, today is a snow day. I was up until 3:45am cramming for a pair of exams at my sorority house (I knew I wasn't going to want to have to walk back and forth between my dorm and the library/class in that weather) and basically praying for classes to be cancelled. Lo and behold, when I woke up from my nap at 6 and looked at my phone, I found classes to be cancelled for the day. This effectively begins my spring break since those were the only big assignments this week.

leaving the sorority house...thank God, Starbucks was open

this was at 7am...glad I changed from my duck boots to my wellies!

I decided to leave and head back to my dorm right then, because the snow showed no signs of letting up and I really wanted to just curl up and go back to sleep...but in a bed this time.  After trudging across grounds through the snow, and taking a bazillion pictures along the way, I finally made it back to my dorm only to find that we were out of power and my phone was at 4% battery. So there I was, in a dimly lit dorm with an almost dead cell phone, in a blizzard, on the outskirts of a college campus...basically this is what horror movies are made of so I decided that I was not going to be staying there.
I am writing this post sitting in the hallway of one of the few buildings with power watching "A Philadelphia Story" (one of my all time favorites), charging my phone, and munching on animal crackers (thanks for the care package, Momma!)...can't really complain too much, except that my butt is kind of going numb from sitting on the hard ground here for so long (probably TMI, but whatever).

painting my nails "Turquoise and Caicos" during a blizzard...yay, irony

I should probably venture out and try to find food soon, there is a dining hall open but it's the only one and it has a line that makes waiting for a ride at Disney World look fun. For the record, I did come to college prepared with food, but said Macaroni and Cheese/popcorn/grits requires electricity to heat up.
I hope some of you are getting to enjoy a snow day as well, maybe one with electricity.

xoxo,
SSP

Update: I got food. Yay for the drunk muchies 24/7 diner being open! And I am finally posting this from my room and guess who still has no power or wifi?...yay snow storm (yeah, that's sarcastic). At least I have 3G so I can post this! Right? 
Update 2: the other dorms have had power for 3 hours now and it is 1am and we still don't...this might be because they forgot about us all the way out here in the boonies?

Afternoon Showers

First of all, YAY for snow days when you are supposed to have two exams that were going to be really hard!
Okay, now that that's taken care of, on to yesterday's outfit. I don't know about y'all, but I hate when the forecast is "possible afternoon showers." Like what am I supposed to do with that when I leave my room at 9 in the morning? I am going to look out of place all morning in my wellies, and then if it ends up not raining, I am going to look really dumb. I don't know, it bothers me. Plus, I hate wearing real pants when it rains...there is nothing worse than wet denim.
Well, yesterday, I was pretty sure they were right about the whole rain thing because the prediction was for a blizzard to follow that (both happened). I stuck with my Bean Boots and bootcut jeans in a "simple and I almost cared" approach to dressing.

top: Ann Taylor Loft (similar) // jeans: Gap // headband: Vineyard Vines (similar) // necklace: eBay // belt: not sure, had it forever // boots: LL Bean

http://instagr.am/p/We-ArzSAcm/

xoxo,

SSP

Monogram Monday: It's Happening

Last week I debated if Monogram Monday was a thing, or if we could make it a thing. I ended up deciding that, regardless of its status, it should become a thing. So here we are, today is the second Monogram Monday and I am really excited about it. Sadly, I am not wearing a monogram today (I really need a monogrammed necklace!), but I have plenty of other monograms and ideas.
Today's monogram isn't one item in particular, but actually about how easy it is to monogram everything. I can draw a circle block monogram, but if you ask me to do any other style, my lack of artistic ability comes out and it's just a big scribbly mess. How do I overcome this so that I can monogram everything that isn't moving? Enter the vinyl monogram sticker. It comes in all fonts, colors, and sizes. It can be applied to almost any surface, and they are super inexpensive.
I am not exaggerating about this either. You can monogram everything from your wall to the home button on your iPhone. Personally, I have my laptop, planner, water bottle (well, had...I lost it this fall) and backup iPhone case done with these vinyl stickers. I also monogrammed Lilly Pulitzer shopper totes for my littles during Big Sis Week. Yep, I overcame the time crunch and gave them personalized goodies. These things are the bomb dot com.

Favorite Monogram Sticker Sites:

Etsy Marketplace (knock yourself out)

Lulu and B (great iPhone button ones)

Marley Lilly (is any monogram list complete without this gem?)

my laptop monogram (old pic...the stickers around it have changed a bit)

Now that I am talking about them, I am thinking it is the perfect time to order a couple more. As Reese Witherspoon says, "If it isn't moving, monogram it."

xoxo,

SSP

Craft On

I crafted a lot for big sis week. I have twins which is amazing and wonderful and they are the bees knees, but I wasn't preparing for two until about a week before the baskets started. Suddenly, my perfectly laid plans of crafting a bit each night for my little turned into big projects every night of the week. I pulled three all-nighters in a row during Big Sis Week, only sleeping for brief intervals in the afternoon, but it was totally worth it.
I don't know how Big Sis Week is at your school, but here it is a production and a half. We don't just give them a basket every day, we plan activities for them to do every. single. day. I mean we send them on dates, to get manicures, paint wars, swing dancing, etc. I wish I had my big sis week here, seriously, they are so spoiled (and we love spoiling them).

Dorm Rooms are not designed for BSW (featuring my momma)

We only got to give them 3 baskets this week and then give them a small gift on the fourth day this year, but don't worry, it didn't hurt how much they got!
These are the two unique canvases they got. One is based off of a Lilly print from a couple of seasons ago and my other little got an Old Bay inspired board because she's from the great state of Maryland.

Old Bay Inspired

Lilly Pulitzer Inspired

xoxo,

SSP

Compulsive List-Maker

If you follow my Instagram, you may have noticed this line in my biography. Quite frankly, I think that little bio blurb on Instagram sums up my life pretty well. List making is something I got from my momma. She is an expert list-maker and for as long as I can remember told me to write out my chores, packing list, stuff I needed for the store, etc. I used to think it was a frivolous task, I mean, if I need it, I will remember it, right? Yeah, wrong. Stuff always slips through the cracks. I always forget to dust, or to bring your toothbrush because it seems insignificant compared to the big ticket items like laundry or pants. I hated having to make these lists, but now I owe Momma for making me do it.

I rediscovered my love for list-making in college. In High School, when I forgot something at home, Momma could remind me or run it up to school. These days, forgetting to bring your homework means a 20 minute walk back to the farthest corner of grounds (not kidding) to retrieve it. I make at least one list every day now, I sometimes run multiple lists at once and even reference cross-listing in my lists. Now, I am not saying that you need to become an OCD list-maker like me, but I definitely think it helps. I haven't quite mastered the "time-management: there are only so many hours in a day" concept, but baby steps for now. Mastering time-management is actually one of my resolutions this year.
I prefer to have a hard copy of my list because I love the feeling of crossing items off as I complete them. Regardless of your preferred medium, here are some tips I have come up with for making your to-do list!

• Cute Stationary: I am a huge fan of school supplies (my momma only lets me start to buy them after a certain date before each school year) and I love cute stationary.  A cute notepad makes the five-mile long list a tad less daunting
• Write in Black or Pencil: Why? This makes it boring! Yes, yes it does, but only until you take a bright colored pen and put a big line through it. There is nothing more rewarded than crossing something off your list
• It Needs to be your Shadow: If you don't want to carry around a notepad all the time, that is totally understandable, just put it on your iPhone or Blackberry.  Always make sure you have it to reference and update.
• Be Realistic: You will not write a 10 page paper, read 500 pages, work out, and have coffee and lunch dates in one day. I mean, if you think you can do that, snaps to you...but, for most of you, keep it realistic.
• Keep the Tasks Small: This is totally a personal preference thing. I love crossing items off my list so, when I am doing something big, I break it down into a couple of parts so I actually feel like progress is being made. (i.e. a 100-page reading becomes 4 25-page reading)
• Don't Skimp: Not only is your list a great way to organize, but it's a super helpful reminder.  There are days where I have so many things that I forget about big commitments, like class! Write down even the things you do routinely so that you account for them when realistically structuring your day. Plus you get to cross off more items and feel extra productive!

Now that you know how I like to make lists, and are probably judging me a bit, here are some of my favorite tools!

take note by sugarsnappearls on Polyvore

Kate Spade Notepad // Anthropologie Notepad // Lilly Pulitzer Notepads (3-Pack) // "Crap" Notepad // 18 Color Le Pen Set

xoxo,

SSP

Prettier, Smarter, Funnier, Younger.

There is always going to be someone prettier, smarter, funnier, and younger than you. I call them my littles. TSM
Yes, this is a post dedicated to being a big. As I have mentioned before, I am a transfer student this year and one of the only things that has been consistent for me is Chi Omega. I joined at my old school and I re-affiliated here so I now I get to network with a whole new group of sisters and start my own family! I absolutely love my chapter at my new school, I was really worried about it when I was transferring because I had heard that sometimes transferring chapters wasn't very smooth, but I could not be happier here.  From my first impression of Chi O meeting Lindsay for coffee to touring the house (which I love) with Sarah, I knew I was home.  There was only one thing missing, my family.  To be honest, my big kind of stopped talking to me and I was feeling a bit lost without that bond.  Then all of the sudden, I get not just one, but two perfect littles.  Getting the phone call from our pledge mom was beyond exciting.  I burst into my friend's room freaking out so much she thought something was wrong and literally couldn't fall asleep that night. These girls are amazing and I am so blessed to start my family with them here. 
Big Sis Week was crazy busy for me, but it was totally worth it.  Of course, Emily caught me leaving her room the first day (not smooth, Erin, not smooth at all) but I had Meghan fooled through Friday when I revealed to them that they were twins.  How did I reveal that they were twins? With monogrammed bows that I made, naturally.  I have actually had several suggestions to name my family the monogram fam...wonder why.  

traditional standing above them pic...yeah, I am up on a bench #ShortGirlProblems

How cute are my chapter's letters? Lilly makes everything better!

I love my littles. They are the best. Okay, thanks for bearing with me while I gush!

xoxo,

SSP