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You Could Say it's an Obsession: Anchors

You Could Say it's an Obsession: Anchors

Anchors Away!
We have a running joke in one of my classes that for graduation the class is going to get together and buy me a sailor hat because I'm constantly sporting clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc.  with anchors on it! It's comparable to where's waldo, minus the waldo, and with achors incorporated into my outfits instead.

 I don’t quite know if it’s physically possible to demonstrate my love for anchors in a blog post. I know recently anchors have become all the rage but, I just have to admit, that I did like them before everyone else became obsessed with them. Just call me trendsetter! I understand though, I mean they’re just so easy to fall in love with.

 I’m sure as time goes on you’ll learn I have many obsessions and anchors are just the beginning. 
There are tons ways you can go about adding a nautical touch to your outfit without going (no pun intended) overboard. Here are some of my favorite looks. Check out my OOTD’s to see how I incorporated anchors into my everyday looks.
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Honestly, the list goes on and on. I found so many things with cute little anchors on it from socks, to scarfs, to phone cases, and necklaces. And remember, a well-worn pair of Sperry’s is ALWAYS a great addition to any outfit with anchors on it! My collection of anchors just keeps growing and growing, and well, I'm not complaining. Bottom line: anchors are literally perfect for every season of the year!

Always remember,
Cheers!
Shannon
 P.S. If I was bought a sailor hat, I think I’d want it to look something like this…

Via



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College Application Tips!

College Application Tips!

So, after submitting 11 applications, I repeat 11 applications, I feel like I could complete an application in my sleep! As a senior I feel like my world revolves around college applications. Sometimes I feel like it’s all I talk and think about. As stressful as this time period can be, there are some really important tips that can be extremely helpful in the process. I apologize in advance for how long this post is!



1. When reviewing your essay for your application ask yourself, “Could anybody have written this?” If so that’s a sign you need to make it more personal! If you’re writing about what success means to you, add some flare and let your personality show through! I was recently talking with a college admissions counselor and she told me that her favorite essay to date was one telling the story of how his life paralleled Calvin and Hobbs! So make the essay yours! It’s the only way college counselors can see some of your personality come out!

2. START EARLY. I really cannot stress this enough. The worst feeling in the world is waiting until the last minute and feeling rushed and overwhelmed with stress. And trust me, that’s the last thing you need! Usually college applications come out around August 1, and I suggest hopping on the bus right away and trying to get as much as possible done before school begins.  Once school starts, the  stress of homework and studying also begins.Prior to August 1,  you should make a list of all the colleges/ universities you plan to apply to!

3. Stay organized. As simple as this sounds it really can make all the difference. There are a few essential things to keep track of when taking on the daunting task of applying. For example, what deadline are you applying for? Every school has different deadlines to pick from!  Before I started this whole process there was NO WAY I knew the difference between early action and early decision. Well for all those high schoolers out there, here’s a little key!

Early Decision- BINDING. Binding means that you sign a form saying that if you are accepted into this school you are for sure going there. You will then have to decline all other acceptances and withdraw any pending applications. This means you can only apply to one school early decision. I only suggest doing early decision if you are 100% for sure that is the school you want to go to. You should also remember that with this agreement, you are commiting to this one school before you find out if you will receive any financial awards.

Early Action- The title kind of says it all! Early action means you turn in your application usually a little earlier and you find out earlier than regular decision. Early Action is non-binding which means you are not committed to going there if you get in, but you still have the convenience of finding out a bit earlier!

Regular Decision- Regular decision is also nonbinding and is the last deadline. You find out a bit later than the other deadlines, but you have the luxury of having more time to complete your application!

I also made a small spread sheet that you can easily download and print out to help you keep track of all of your applications and stay organized! It’s great to fill out and keep with you. I still suggest writing every deadline in your planner just to be sure!



4. Make a resume. Having a resume complied with all your achievements, awards, activities (sports, community, and clubs), and volunteer work will be extremely useful. I really cannot emphasize this enough. Every application I completed asked me at the minimum what activities I have done throughout my four years and what volunteer work I’ve done. Having a resume makes it so easy to resort to, so you don’t have to come up with a list every time! If there are any freshmen out there reading this, it’s never too early to start a running list! I guarantee you four years later when you’re trying to put together a list of your volunteer work, you are not going to remember that bake sale you  worked in September of 9th grade!

5.Preview your application. Often times before you press submit there is a preview button, almost like a print preview! It’s a really good idea to preview your full application before you submit for a few reasons. The way you preview it is exactly how the college is going to view it. Occasionally, the way the applications are formatted by the college can cut things off! By previewing your application you can double check (or triple check) to make sure nothing gets cut off and everything essential is there!

It’s a stressful time but I promise you if you use all of these tips the whole process will be a whole lot easier! Good luck to all the seniors out there! And for you freshmen, sophomore, and juniors, it’s never too early to start thinking about college!

Always remember,

Cheers!

Shannon


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Senior Pictures!

Senior Pictures!

All of a sudden you’re a senior. Without warning or anything, it’s thrust upon you when you least expect it. I know for me senior year came entirely too fast. We knew in advance that my senior year would get extremely hectic, just like every other school year really, but this year in particular I had a lot more on my plate. I had to worry about college applications, my demanding class load, scholarship applications, lacrosse, and all the other added stress that comes along with senior year. Because of all of this we scheduled my senior pictures the summer before to ensure that we would have time to fit them in.

Did I mention, summer in North Carolina can be excruciatingly hot? And of course the day my senior pictures rolled around it was painfully hot (over 100*F), which I might add, does not mix well with thick blonde hair.
Heat+ my hair = MAJOR FRIZZ.
Aka, "The Afro". So because of this my hair wasn’t exactly how I would have liked it but, overall I think they turned out pretty well.

Before my shoot came around I spent hours scouring the Internet to get ideas so I would know exactly what I wanted my pictures to look like. I thought uploading my senior pictures may give others some ideas for theirs!

Let me warn you, I tend turn extremely awkward the second a camera is pointed at me. I tense up and don’t have any idea where to place my hand, how to position my arms, or how I should tilt my head. I don’t see a model career in my future!

On that note, here are a few of my favorites!













This last one I did to please my mommy. She has always wanted a picture of me holding this picture that was taken at my preschool graduation. Knowing her I’ll probably end up posing with it on the day of graduation too!


Always Remember,



Cheers!

Shannon

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Shiver in Style

Shiver in Style

It seems like once the New Year’s rolls around everyone’s mind’s shifts from “winter mode” into “spring mode”. All the stores start to receive their spring collections, which completely throws me off and gets me way too excited for spring. When in reality we’re only about half way through winter! It doesn’t exactly snow here in Raleigh, but it definitely gets chilly in the mornings! I think the cold weather is such a fun excuse to buy adorable hats, scarfs, mittens, and don’t forget the ear muffs! These are a few of my favorite winter essentials from this season!


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These pieces are such a fun way to spice up an outfit in the cold, dark, winter months. I mean how could not be happy with cute polka dot ear muffs on?!

1. This hat is from one of my favorite stores, Tuckernuck! It’s a classic hat that can go with almost any outfit. The penguin is such a cute addition to the hat too! I can imagine myself wearing this hat with a big chunky sweater, jeans, and bean boots!
2. Infinity Scarfs are definitely big this year. They are a perfect addition to any winter outfit. They serve double duty too, by keeping you warm and spicing up outfits!
3.These Kate Spade gloves I’ve been dying for since they came out. They’re also on sale right now, bonus! They are tech gloves, so they are perfect for texting. I always get super frustrated when I’m standing in the freezing cold and desperately trying to send a text and I’m forced to take off my gloves just to send a message! I think I just convinced myself to buy splurge on them!
4.Just looking at these earmuffs makes me happy. On top of the fun black and white polka dots, they also serve as head phones! Perfect for waiting in the cold for the bus or simply walking in-between classes!
5.I own this scarf and I absolutely love it! It’s pretty thick so it really keeps me warm. You can check out what I wore it with in my OOTD’s. You can’t go wrong with the pink and navy combo either, I mean could it get more preppy than that?
6.I thought this hat was so perfect in every way. I basically love everything Fair Isle and this hat fits perfectly into this category! It would be super fun with a red bright sweater or jacket.

What cute winter accessories keep you warm in the cold winter months?

Always Remember,



Cheers!

Shannon
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Colorful Jeans

Colorful Jeans

So I can’t say I was always keen about the idea of colored jeans, but now I have to admit I am head over heels in love with them. They’re perfect for winter when you want to mix it up a little and add a pop of color to your outfit. I know in winter I feel like I’m restricted to only jeans because it’s too cold outside for skirts or dresses! Luckily, good ole’ J. Crew completely changed my feelings about colored jeans. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them now! I currently own mint, peach, coral, and even polka dot (my favorite)! I’m working on expanding my collection too. :) Check out my OOTD’s to see what I paired them with. I own the tooth pick jeans and they are the perfect length for flats. They always seem to go with so much more than I expect too! I’m telling you, you have to get a pair.



They’re really “in” right now and I totally understand why! I mean if you can wear color on the top, why shouldn’t we wear it on the bottom?! If all else fails they look super adorable with a plain white oxford! I also recently got my hands on polka dot pants. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I got so many compliments and they’re just so stinkin’ cute! I mean look at them!


I got them from…. (don’t laugh) crew cuts! I am fortunate enough to be able to fit into their kid’s sizes. I paired them with a plain white button down and brown flats! I would wear them every day of the week if I could. They now have them in regular adult sizes, unlike when I bought them!

Do you own any colorful jeans? How in love with them are you?

Always remember,

Cheers!
Shannon
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First Impression

First Impression

As of a couple of months ago, I finally have my very first painted bedroom.

You might wonder why this is such a big deal for me.

Generally, I’m not allowed to paint my room. I have lived in military housing for almost my whole life and due to the many rules and regulations; we’re not usually allowed to paint. So I went all out and painted my first very own bathroom a bright turquoise color and my bedroom with a chalkboard wall!

I love bright colors, anything with a bow, and whimsical accessories that make life so much more exciting. I’d like to think I’m a spontaneous person, but in reality, I over plan and over think most everything in my life and practically live out of my Lilly Pulitzer planner. This is not exactly ideal when you’re living as a military brat and anything can change with the wink of an eye or the snap of a finger. I’m also a Taurus which helps to explain why I’m an organizational FREAK. Being organized is a vibrant part of who I am and has allowed me to pursue my true passion for leading.

We moved to the hustle and bustle of the Raleigh area about 16 months ago from a Marine Corps base on the sunny beaches of the east coast of North Carolina. Moving to a non-military community the summer before my junior year definitely has been a hard adjustment for me. This was my 6th move and I was not exactly open to leaving all my friends right in the middle of my high school career. Moving to a suburb of Raleigh has been hard and I’m definitely still working on making the adjustment.

Although, it’s been a difficult change it has motivated me even more to chase my dreams and go after exactly what I want. I hope one day to become an event planner for a preppy fashion company! I love planning, organizing, and making everything more sparkly.

I am a true prep and am a sucker for anything scalloped, seersucker, or sequined. I think high heels are the coolest thing and I desperately wish I could walk in them. My ballet flats will have to do for now!

I have a deep passion for traveling and learning about other cultures. The greatest three years of my life (so far) have been spent living overseas in Germany where my dad was stationed. We spent every possible free minute traveling and the adventures we experienced were truly unforgettable. There is so much in the world to be seen and I can’t wait to start exploring.

I believe in the power of pink and the infinite strength of the influence of one to ignite change.

So I’m starting this blog in hopes of documenting all the blissful memories to come and create once in a life time opportunities. I always imagined my first blog post to be some magical piece of writing but in reality it turns out the first post parallels the exact feeling of your first tweet or instagram post.

Equally parts awkward and stressful.

So if you’ve made it this far I applaud you. Give yourself a pat on the back. That was extremely long and I’m surprised I don’t have carpel tunnel by now.

Thank you so much for giving my blog a chance! It means more to me than you will ever know.

Just remember,

Cheers!
Shannon

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