The Preppy Student

Farewell

2016-01-01T10:29:00.000-05:00

All,

This will be my last post on The Preppy Student. I want to thank you all for the last 5+ years. This blog has provided me with an incredible learning experience and has allowed me to explore the world of digital marketing and brand strategy.

Sincerely,

The Preppy Student

Weekend Sale Round Up

2015-10-17T10:25:00.001-04:00

Happy Saturday everyone!

I wanted to post a short roundup of the sales this weekend.

All new customers can get 20% off at Jet.com up to $50 off using SURPRISE20 through 10/31! (Jet has everything from groceries to FRYE boots)
American Eagle is offering an Additional 50% off Clearance Items. Shipping is free over orders of $50+ or else its $7. 60% off Aerie clearance!
Take an additional 50% off Tilly's sale and get free shipping with the code FS2015 (Great prices on vans & converses)
25% off total purchase at Kate Spade with code INDULGE
Extra 40% All sale at LOFT
Take an extra 60% off on all sale & markdowns this weekend at Ann Taylor
Buy 3, get 3 free sitewide + free shipping at The Body Shop
Take 20% off full price items at Anthropologie
25% off entire purchase at Baublebar
$50 off on purchases of $250 or more at Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF.com)
Take an extra 30% off and free shipping at BCBGMAXAZRIA
10% off entire purchase at Express
40% off entire purchase at GAP
At Lord & Taylor, take 25% off sitewide and 30% off clearance
Extra 40% off sale and free shipping at Madewell
Take $10 of purchases of $25 or more at Origins

I'm sure there are more sales this weekend, but the above should keep you busy :)

So what did I get? I've been loving some of the longer necklaces this season! I picked up a few at Tilly's. (I got 5 for $16!)

My Honest Review of My eShakti Dress

2015-07-25T11:40:00.001-04:00

In October of 2012, I received an email about a company that described themselves as a "fresh concept in custom clothing." The company, eShakti, offered to send me a free custom-made product. It sounded too good to be true, so I thought the offer was spam and never looked at it again.

Now fast-forward to a couple months ago. I started realizing that the clothing I was buying was "perfect... but" meaning that I was always wishing that I could slightly modify the on-the-rack styles at my favorite stores. "How great would that dress be with a scoop neck instead of the v-necklne?" "Ahh.. I wish this dress was about two-inches longer so I could wear it to work?" Sound familiar? So I started looking online for custom made dresses. I ended up finding a lot of online sites that claimed to make copies of famous designs. Those sites all had sorts of terrible reviews. Actually, I would suggest google-ing "custom made fail" if you'd like to get a good laugh...

Not exactly what that customer wanted

Yet, with all of my searches, I did find one store that had positive reviews. eShakti. Since my email in 2012, this "fresh new concept in custom clothing" has expanded their product line and come out with some really cute styles. I absolutely love the mission statement: "eShakti believes that all women have the right to wear affordable fashion that is made for them and makes them look their absolute best." Because of that statement a lot of girls can find solace in finding the perfect garment from sizes 0-36W.

I noticed that a lot of bloggers had the opportunity to review a product from the site, so like any advantageous 20-something I decided to reach out to the company to see if I too could review a product. eShakti responded and let me pick out something to review. I researched past blogger's reviews and decided to not choose something with an elastic waist back and to choose one of the more classic styles because the trendier cut pieces were more hit or miss.

I decided to go with this dress:

I chose a simple black dress hoping that I could wear it to work and just have it in my closet. Since moving to NYC I've been trying to acquire more black clothing pieces.

The way eShakti works is that every item is fully customizable (some styles more than others). You can chose your size and height or put in custom measurements. I actually find that Im a standard size so I chose that size and went with a 5'2" height (I'm between 5'2" and 5'3"). I changed the sleeve length to 3/4 sleeves (my favorite) and I chose the above knee length. I thought it was funny that there was a free option to remove pockets. Who would ever remove pockets from dresses? I'm of the belief that pockets are like the best thing ever.

Two weeks later, I received notification that my dress had been shipped and my dress took another week and a half before it was on my doorstep. 3 1/2 weeks for a custom made dress really wasn't so bad, but it certainly came slower than something off-the-rack.

Now on to my review (and I promise this isn't sponsored- they are my 100% honest thoughts):

The dress is made of a thick jersey knit. I am so so pumped that it is machine washable. There is nothing I hate more than paying tons of money to dry clean something or having to hand-wash a dress that didn't cost enough to be worth the time.

The stitching on the dress is top quality and I like the side zipper.

Here you can see the dress on me. I am so glad I did not go with anything longer. Yes this is above the knee length but I feel like it's still a little longer than I would like. Overall the dress fits me well and I will definitely be wearing it. The waist hits at the right place and this is a go-to style for me. It's super useful and now that I know the quality I might go with something a little more "fun." I also might choose a dress that allows you to choose the neckline. I have no problem with the sweetheart but I might choose a boatneck or a square instead (this neckline is a bit low for work).

The biggest disappointment? The pockets! Who would have known! The pockets are huge which sounds like a great thing in theory but the extra fabric adds weight to the dress and makes my hips look larger than they are.

Overall

The good:

Machine washable!
Quality of fabric/ stitching
Customized for you

The bad:

Pockets. Don't add them unless you want the extra fabric and weight.
Wait time (but its understandable due to the nature of the garment)

Would I order again? I already have! I am now an eShakti girl! Honestly the site always has sales (think first-time coupons, and clearance blow-outs) and for $40-50 for some of the sale styles its ridiculous not to try out the custom made frocks. I haven't yet placed an order for separates but since dress pants are so hard for me I might take the plunge.

I honestly think eShakti is a great site for the right customers. In order to be successful and love your eShakti products, you need to know what flatters your body. Certain cuts are probably not going to work for you no matter how well they are fitted to your body. For me, I know that I need to nip in my waist and that I look terrible in drop-waist and styles that aren't fitted on the back. My other tips? Be detailed if you decide to go with the custom sizing. Don't be afraid to reach out to customer service if you're not satisfied. They actually do accept returns and can help you determine why you didnt like your garment and how to fix the problem for future purchases.

I now follow all of their social media pages: Facebook, Pintere st, and Twitter. I especially enjoy reading reviews and seeing the products on real people on Tumblr. Its amazing to see all the different customizations of the same dress!

I had a great shopping week on ThredUp

2015-05-08T11:24:00.000-04:00

There's no secret that I love ThredUp. I've blogged about the online consignment store several times. ThredUp is one of the only stores I check daily, I have several bookmarks for my favorite brands on the site! Nothing beats finding a holy grail on sale so I often find myself browsing the site.

This week was an exceptional week! I got three awesome deals and I had to share them with you.

This morning I purchased my first longchamp bag! I've wanted one forever but never wanted to spend more than $75 for a nylon bag. I'm still trying to figure out the name of this style. I love the black on black and the size (listed on ThredUp) seems like it is somewhere between the Medium and Large Shoulder tote. I'm sure Ill get some great use out of this next year in NYC. I'm always looking for shoulder bags that zip all the way and can carry a good amount. This bag on thred up was only $59, a steal considering this same bag would cost over $125 online!

I also picked up this great little J.Crew sweatshirt today. I love embellished sweatshirts (cute and comfy!) and this will go with so many of my skirts! For $18, it was a great staple in my closet.

I thought Lilly Pulitzer Wool dress was a great find for less than $40. It's hard for me to find sweater dresses and this one has two of my favorite colors! This will be a great fall dress to own!

Finally, my holy grail purchase! The Lilly Pulitzer Quinn dress is one of my all time favorite lilly dresses. It fits me great (I have it in Yellow/Multi Patch) and it is an effortless chic summer look. Everyone complements me on my yellow one and can't believe this is a dress and not a shirt/skirt combo. I'm debating whether or not to wear this for graduation!

That was my fantastic week of ThredUp purchases. Have you bought anything on ThredUp lately? Use this link to save $10 off your first purchase!

Spring Must Have:: Charles River Rain Jacket from Marley Lilly

2015-05-06T11:54:00.001-04:00

It's May! Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner. I am enjoying the last few weeks of my college career and trying to get the most out of being on campus with my friends. I've been spending a lot of time outdoors and will not let bad weather get me down. It's been raining a lot in Virginia and I need to be prepared for all kinds of weather that will come my way.

That's why my new essential is my Charles River New Englander Rain Jacket. The jacket is waterproof and made with tons of smart features. I love that the jacket is lined in grey mesh which helps for air-flow circulation. The jacket is surprisingly warm! Recently, Ive been grabbing this even if it hasn't been raining because it's still a great summer jacket. The jacket comes in so many great colors but I chose Coral.

Here's the jacket!

You can even get this jacket monogrammed! Marley Lilly is one of my favorite sites to buy monogrammed goods and they have a monogrammed version of this jacket for $55! This is my third product from Charles River brand and Ive loved them all. This jacket will last me a while and Im sure I will put it through some hard times!

I'm sorry for the awkward pictures in my sorority bathroom but you can see the fit on me! Overall, I absolutely love this jacket and can't recommend it enough! I love the color, fit, and the quality!

Let your jewelry shine!

2015-04-28T11:27:00.001-04:00

Just look at these beautiful outfits!

My favorite part? The jewelry! Picking up a few beautiful pieces of jewelry can really change your wardrobe. But, what happens when you get sick of your jewelry? Usually I just put the pieces that Ive worn-out in my jewelry black hole (a.k.a. the back of my closet).

That's why I really love Rocksbox. It's kind of like the Rent the Runway for jewelry! Every month you get three amazing pieces of jewelry for only $19. When you get sick of your pieces or want something new you can return them and get a new set! If you like something- buy it! You even get monthly spend on Rocksbox that you can use towards the purchase of your new love. Ive bought a few gorjana pieces because of my subscription, I hadn't even heard of the brand before getting it.

All of the jewelry in these outfits are featured on Rocksbox! Use the code preppystudentxoxo to get your first month free. What are you waiting for?

Shows to watch! (Or to binge watch)

2015-04-26T18:20:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone! It's crazy to think that I just completed my last full semester in college. Four years just flew by right in front of me! I'll have the next couple weeks to relax and study for the GMAT before my next big adventure. In that time I hope to get some R&R and to watch a few great shows.

1. Mad Men.

Ok, so my suggestion to watch Mad Men isn't exactly new or novel. Mad Men is still my favorite show on television. Yet, my favorite part about watching Mad Men comes after I finish an episode. I've turned into one of the geeky television lovers who read recaps and blog posts about each episodes. Mad Men's costume designer- Janie Bryant- is simply genius. The costumes alone are a reason to watch this show and if you have time I would whole-heartily suggest reading Mad Style or other mad men style related blog posts. The only problem? You can't find the recent episodes on Netflix or Hulu. But if you haven't yet watched the first couple seasons you can find them on Netflix.

2. The Kroll Show & Broad City

I am a sucker for Comedy and I get my fix from shows like the Kroll Show and Broad City. These two shows will make you laugh. That's reason enough to add them to your Hulu queue!

3. Flip or Flop

As I've gotten older, my obsession with HGTV has grown. I love watching Flip or Flop (now on Netflix) as a easy to watch show. Yes, we know what's going to happen (surprise! the gross house becomes beautiful) but it's still a fun ride to see a decrepit house become an expensive home.

4. The Paradise

Ladies! This is what I imagine all romantic historical fictions books to look like. Paradise has elegance and beauty and fun characters. I feel like Ive traveled to a whole new time and beautiful world watching this show. Even though I like the supplemental characters more than the main characters, I enjoy following this story about the first department store. The show is made by BBC and you can find it on Netflix.

5. Shark Tank

Entrepreneurship is pretty cool. Nuff Said.

Still looking for a summer internship? Check out Campus Job!

2015-04-12T15:00:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone has had a great weekend! I am just finishing up my last full semester in college. It's just absolutely crazy how fast four years flew by! I cannot believe that I only have a spring semester left before graduation comes on by.

This year I've been staying in the sorority house (because of my recent presidency) so I've gotten to know and build relationships with a lot of underclassman. I am so sick of hearing some of them complain about not knowing where to look for summer internships! Over the past few weeks Ive been helping some friends with internship searches and I came across this really cool new website- Campus Job!

Campus Job is a cool new venture that hopes to help college students find opportunities and internships. It's really pretty cool! Some of the postings are for cool established companies while others are for new ventures.

If you're a student looking for a summer internship you should definitely check the site out! And if you already have a summer internship, check out the site for a brand ambassador or college rep role for next year. These are great positions to gain some experience and money while in college.

That's it for me today! Hope y'all have a great week!

Kate Spade Saturday:: 60% off and Closing

2015-03-24T10:17:00.000-04:00

In Feb 2015, Kate Spade made the announcement that the company would be closing all Kate Spade Saturday and Jack Spade Stores. As someone who is interested in both Business/Marketing and fashion I thought this was an interesting blog post topic for today.

Let's start with the company. Kate Spade & Company was once called Liz Claiborne. Thats right! Liz Claiborne changed to Fifth and Pacific and then since acquiring their biggest money maker- Kate Spade- the company has changed its named to Kate Spade & Company. In the past ten years the company has sold off other brands it once held as part of its portfolio like Liz Claiborne (pretty funny!), Juicy Couture, and even Lucky Brand. It's focusing on Kate Spade which is a bit risky but an interesting business decision.

In 2013 Kate Spade launched Kate Spade Saturday, but it wasnt until 2014 that the brand really started to appear everywhere. Although many people, including myself, would be interested in a lower line of Kate Spade it was hard to love the boxy fit of clothes and the avant-garde styles in the midst of other conventional choices of apparel/accessories at the same price range. Even though I wanted to love Kate Spade Saturday, I never found anything I really loved at the popup stores or the ecommerce site.

It seems like it's a really rough time for apparel retailers with all the recent closings (everything from "mall stores" like Deb & Delias to online sites like Piperlime) and I'm interested and hopeful for a new retailer or new brands to populate the now smaller market.

So, while Kate Spade Saturday is not yet completely gone, enjoy the 60% off sale thats going on right now. There are still some really good deals! Comment below if you have any opinions on these store closings or even on Kate Spade Saturday!

My favs:: Rocksbox Review

2015-03-15T13:42:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic week. My midterms are finally finally done and it looks like I might have some breathing room before finals come around. I am counting down the days until I go on Spring Break and go on a cruise with my pledge class! I really need some R&R and maybe even some sun.

Today I am so excited to share with y'all my most recent Rocksbox.

If you don't know what Rocksbox is- you're missing out! Rocksbox is one of my favorite subscription services. For only $19/month you become a Shine Insider and get unlimited access to rent from an ever-rotating closet of designer jewelry.

All you have to do as a Shine Insider is take a style survey and add items to the jewelry Wish List. Then, a stylist will review your Wish List and curate a box with three pieces of jewelry. Every set has 3 pieces of designer jewelry and is worth an average of $200 per set. You can return the box anytime and every month you get $10 in Shine Spend to apply towards a purchase of jewelry if you fall in love with any of the pieces.

One of my favorite parts about the Rocksbox is just how easy it is! The packaging is simple and reusable. The box even comes with free prepaid shipping both ways. It's compact and SOOO easy. When I'm at college, its hard for me to get to the post office so the prepaid label makes it super easy to just leave this in my mailbox and know its going to the right place.

I first reviewed Rocksbox back in July. (My review is here!) I got three pieces and ended up falling in love with my Gorjana taner bar necklace. I wear it all the time! Since then Rocksbox has gotten a bit of a style makeover. I adore the new logo and the new website.

So, let's get to my box!

I absolutely love the polka dot tissue paper and the packaging. It feels like a cute little present. There's a personalized that tells you about each piece. I guess I wishlisted the Gorjana necklace so they curated the box around it! Each jewelry item is packaged in its own little black bag.

First up is the Gorjana Geometric Layer necklace. It retails for $80 and the Insiders' Price is $64. I am a huge fan of Gojana jewelry. The pieces always look simple but expensive. I wish I knew the length of this necklace. My only (minor) complaint with this piece is that the length is just a tad too short on me. I wore this out to brunch today and I got so many compliments! I love it!

The second piece in my set are Pearl Triangle Studs from the designer Slate. These retail for $44 and the Insiders' Price is $35. I am always partial to anything with pearls so I was excited to see some pearls in this set. These earrings are a nice size and I think they look great on my ears. They are subtle but on trend and they go with many of my outfits.

thank you to Rocksbox for the complimentary subscription

Finally, I got this beautiful Brianna Bracelet from designer Perry Street. The bracelet retails for $44 and the Insiders' Price is $35. Honestly I was surprised by the low price on this bracelet. It looks SO much more expensive. It's pretty formal IMO and im not sure Ill be able to wear this for everyday outfits. I really liked the size on the bracelet. My wrist is slightly larger than average so some bracelets will fit me but others wont. This fit perfectly.

I really liked this set. I would wear all three pieces and they go well in my closet. I can't wait to wear them these coming weeks and then to swap them for other jewelry looks.

I wore the necklace today!

I would 100% recommend Rocksbox. I think we all get a little tired of our outfits and a different piece of jewelry can really change a look. Use the coupon code preppystudentxoxo to get 1 free month of Rocksbox! So what are you waiting for? Go get some pretty jewelry :)

What to Watch:: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

2015-03-09T11:47:00.001-04:00

Did everyone appreciate the nice weather yesterday? It was so nice to not have to wear my winter coat! This weekend I tried to take it easy because I've been bogged down with so many exams and assignments.

I clicked on Netflix only to find the suggestion to watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I confess I am a bit of a tv lover and have a tendency to binge-watch on Netflix. I am also a sucker for rom-coms and comedies. When I first saw the video (and name) for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt I thought it looked cheesy and whimsical so I decided to watch one episode.

Ahh! It was so good! I ended up finishing the whole first season (13 episodes). It stars Ellie Kemper who I knew from The Office and Bridesmaids, Tituss Burgess, Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) among other awesome stars. The series was written by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

The series is about Kimmy (Ellie Kemper), a young woman who was just freed from a cult where she was in a doomsday cult and did not get to experience life.

The show is quirky, original, and a must-watch! If you ever watched 30 Rock you'd love it as the jokes are of the same caliber and speed. Plus Jane Krakowski is just awesome.

Have you watched Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt yet? What did you think?

Lilly Pulitzer New Arrivals

2015-03-02T10:06:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone!

I hope y'all have been staying warm with these terrible snowstorms. Now whenever I see the word snow all I can see is the word sNOw! I'm sick of the snow and cannot wait for it to be spring. I want to wear dresses and skirts without tights and sandals instead of snow boots!

Lilly Pulitzer just released the Resort collection for this year and just looking at the new arrivals gives me hope of warmer days.

Did you check out the new collection yet? Here are some of my favorite items from the newly released looks.

ALEXA SHIFT IN DOUBLE TROUBLE

SARABETH TOP IN HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE, SHORELY BLUE

MADDEN DRESS IN JUMBO PATTERN, SHORELY BLUE

ELSA TOP IN FIRST IMPRESSIONS, POOLSIDE BLUE

I am loving the colors in this collection. The collection is mostly yellow and blue! Although I tend to buy pink Lilly, I get much more use out of my Lilly pieces that are blue. Im excited to add some of these to my collection! Today, 3.02.2015 you can get a free pair of earrings with any size purchase.

Bauble Bar Sample Sale

2015-02-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

I always appreciate it when my friends let me know about great sales. So I thought I'd share a sale I just found out about with my lovely readers!

Bauble Bar is currently having a Sample Sale with items 50-75% off.

Here are my favorite items from the sale:

Aztec Drops Earrings Now only $15

Cordelia Gem Collar Necklace was $58 now $20

Did you purchase anything from this sample sale? It seems as though online sample sales (like Kate Spade's Surprise Sales) are becoming more and more common. Honestly, I hope these sales don't become what the outlets have- a way in which companies can make lower quality items and sell them as a "sale." In the meantime, when companies are still trying to liquidate their single-line products, Im happy to shop these awesome sales at the comfort of my home computer!

Techie Thursday:: Funny or Die Weather App

2015-01-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

The weather has been so bipolar lately. I have to constantly check weather apps and websites to make sure that I am dressing correctly.

Funny or Die just came out with a humorous weather app that combines two things I need to do daily- laugh and check the weather!

Here's wha the CEO said about the app, ""Smart, accurate weather has always been the number one goal of Funny Or Die, despite what you might have thought," says Funny Or Die CEO Dick Glover. "Funny Or Die cofounders Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are meteorologists first and businessmen second. As California residents, they know all too well the unpredictability of mother nature when you can swing wildly from a 78 degree sunny day to a 77 or 81without reason it can be unsettling. Safe, reliable weather forecasting can add some stability to the uncertain world," he added.

I can't wait to start using this detailed weather forecasts that have funny commentary, jokes, and animation along with valuable information.

What do you think about combining humor and the weather?

Valentine's Day Crafts

2015-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Every so often, I get an itch to craft. And with Valentine's Day coming up- why the heck not!

There are so many great printables and free tutorials online for Valentine's Day crafts and cards. Additionally, there are some great ways to decorate your home or do something small to show the ones you love a great day!

I wanted to highlight a few:

These Valentine Tags from LivingLocurto are modern and fun. I love the idea of putting a cute little Holiday tag with a regular gift to make it perfect for this Holiday.

This heart mirror is made up of little affirmations about why you love (or just appreciate) someone in your life. I love this idea because its so personal and easy to make. I know I'd love this if someone did this for me!

This bouquet of branches with hearts is an inexpensive way to decorate for Valentine's day. This bouquet would certainly be a conversation topic and would work in a variety of colored hearts and locations.

What are you planning on making or doing for Valentine's Day?

Better Breakfasts

2015-01-24T11:26:00.000-05:00

I would consider myself to be a pretty decent cook. At school, I am fortunate enough to not to cook for myself for most of the week. Living in the sorority house and being on a sorority meal plan certainly has its perks!

Yet, I do miss having adventures in the kitchen. I love trying new things and lately I've been checking out Pinterest to get new ideas for breakfast. Specifically, I am looking for quick but filling meals I can make next year.

Here are some of the cool new breakfast's Ive found:

1. Yogurt Overnight Oats

These overnight oats are a way to have a filling breakfast made the night before. I love yogurt and oatmeal together! By leaving the mixture overnight, the oats soak up some of the liquid and taste even better than they would if you made it in the morning.

2.Bacon and Egg Crescent Squares

These cool flatbreads are made from Pillsbury crescents! How cool! I love cooking with Pillsbury crescents because its a quick and easy way to impress guests. These squares look a lot fancier than they are.

3.Nutella Pancake Kabobs

These kabobs are made out of pancakes, nutella, and fruit! These tiny pancakes take less time than full pancakes to make and these kabobs are the cutest!

Do you have any creative and easy breakfast creations? Comment below!

Techie Thursday:: Microsoft HoloLens

2015-01-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

So, we all know Google Glasses. Heck, I've even tried them a couple times! Google Glasses is a cool new technology that allows you to do more with your eyes than just look around. It's fun to take videos and email photos, but I wonder if the glasses will be enough to change the way we use glasses and eyewear.

Recently, Microsoft debuted its version of the tech glasses with HoloLens. But HoloLens are very different than Google Glasses. Unlike Google Glasses that are meant to be worn all day, Microsoft is marketing HoloLens as something to wear for a short period of time.

I can't wait to try these. Im not sure I will get as much out of this kind of augmented reality as the practical features of Google Glass, but nonetheless it sounds pretty cool!

Monday Must Have:: Bourbon and Bowties

2015-01-19T11:17:00.000-05:00

This Monday Must Have is all about one of my favorite new accessories- the Bourbon and Bowties Wire Bracelets.

From their website:
"Bourbon and Boweties is a unique bracelet line that I have created and handcrafted on my own. All the bracelets are made with hand selected semiprecious stones, geodes, smokey quartz, lava stones, shells, turquoise, jade, polished coral, peruvian opal, agates and many more natural stones all wrapped with gold plated wire. Although the stones come from around the world they are all individually “Made by PROUD Southern hands” ........America!"

Although there is one brand that started the wire bracelet fad, you can now find versions throughout Facebook, Etsy, and even Ebay.

I picked up a simple pearl version on ebay a couple weeks ago and I have not stopped wearing it. The pearls go with absolutely everything and I have received many complements on the bangle.

Here are some of my favorite Bourbon and Bowties branded and inspired bracelet stack.

Do you own any of these style bracelets? What do you think?

Techie Thursday:: 3D Printed Apparel

2015-01-15T10:30:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

I know that I have been on another hiatus but I am excited to restart up The Preppy Student. I will be debuting some new kinds of posts besides the usual fashion or deal posts. To start, I am excited about "Techie Thursday" where I will be talking about a new or exciting technology.

Last week was the Consumer Electronic Show and along with new tvs, phones, and games a couple vendors showcased items made with 3D printing. As a fashion blogger who is interested in tech, I was blown away when I saw clothing made with 3D printing!

Just look at these pictures. How cool!

I am curious to see what kind of fascinators these 3D garments have! I understand the idea of 3D shoes, but will the 3D printer also be able to make a zipper or moving parts?

What do you think of clothing made by 3D printing? Do you think it's cool or just weird?

5 Superfoods

2015-01-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

With the new year, my resolution is to eat healthier!

To do this, I am filling my diet with some "superfoods." Eating more fruits and veggies is an easy way to modify my diet without changing anything dramatically. The key to eating healthy is to change your old habits little by little. So lets start by switching snacks with healthy alternatives!

5 Superfoods

1. Avocados:
Although Avocados have a lot of calories, there are plenty of benefits to outweigh the calorie count. More than 2/3 the calories from avocados come from good fats!

2. Salmon
Salmon is a lean fish that contains tons of omega-3 fatty acids and a variety of vitamins. Salmon has proven to be beneficial for many reasons including weight loss. It is one of the healthiest meats you can add to any diet.

3. Beans
Beans vary in calories depending on variety with black beans being one of the most caloric and pinto beans one of the least. Regardless, beans have weight loss benefits from their makeup of being high in protein and fiber. To make sure that beans stay a healthy alternative be mindful that you are eating the recommended portion size!

4. Broccoli
One cup of broccoli is only 31 calories! Broccoli aids in feeling full without over eating, contains high levels of fiber and water. By using broccoli as a side instead of a starch you can easily trim the calories in any meal.

5. Blueberries
Blueberries are one of my first snacks to battle hunger. They are high in potassium, vitamin C and contain powerful antioxidants. They have no cholesterol, sodium or fat which makes them a great way to lose a little weight by substituting high sodium snacks for a handful of blueberries!

My favorite Christmas Craft

2014-12-23T12:04:00.000-05:00

Hope y'all are having a great holiday! I am enjoying spending time with my family on my christmas break.

I just wanted to post one of my favorite new holiday crafts.... the super simple paper stars.

These paper stars are easy to make and decorate any space. You can make them in a variety of colors and sizes and even turn them into ornaments! You can make them christmas colors or even for Hannukah depending on the paper used. Regardless these are great little crafts to have under your belt.

Hope y'all enjoy your Holidays!

Thred Up Thursday: Lululemon

2014-11-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Hope y'all are having a wonderful day.

These past couple weeks I have been pushing myself to go to the gym every "school day" (M-F) for at least 45 minutes. Normally, I find it hard to go to the gym because I hate feeling sweaty or wearing gym clothes as opposed to looking nice in everyday wear. Often, it is when I am in the shower that I realize I should've gone that day!

So, in order to combat my internal struggle to put on gymwear and go to the gym, I've decided to purchase new gym clothes! When I look good to the gym I am more likely to go. But, gym clothing is expensive! I am all about brand names like Lululemon but not about the price tag.

Luckily, you can find some Lululemon and Lucy brand activewear on Thred Up. I've highlighted some of my favorite items on Thred Up right now in the activewear segment.

This Lululemon size 8 top is $29.49

Lululemon cardigan in size 6

Active by Old Navy Tank $8.49

Lucy Activewear Top $13.99

Lucy Activewear Bottoms $15.99

I love Thred Up and if you use this link you can get $10 off your first purchase! Happy Thursday!

Memebox Colorbox #3 Review

2014-10-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone. Hope you had a great week. This summer I got a Memebox to review and it looks like the post never published- opps! Better late than never!

Memebox is the #1 Korean beauty online retailer in the world. The company selects the best Korean beauty products and curates them into theme boxes. I was sent the Colorbox #2 Blue for review. First of all, I got really into Korean beauty products this summer so I was so excited to get the opportunity to review the best Blue products!

The Memebox came in a branded pink bubble sleeve. It was nice to know right away what the package was and something about the brand. The box itself looked like a present and I always love a company that embraces bright pink packaging.

The Blue Colorbox retails for $15.00 and comes with four full size products. Its quite a value!

The first item I got was the magic lipstick. The lipstick was the most expensive item, retailing at $30. The color is blue but once on changes! I loved the purple/pink shade that it went on as. I will definitely be wearing this. The only downsize to this product is the packaging which is a little awkward to hold.

The next product is this beautiful blue nail polish that retails for just $3. I love this "Hawaiian Blue." The ocean blue eyeshadow retails for $10 and is super pigmented. Overall its very high quality for the price.

Lastly I received a gel eyeliner in Aqua deep blue. This is also really great quality for the $10 retail. Unfortunately, I rarely use a blue liner or else Id use this more!

Overall I was really impressed by this Colorbox. At only $15 + $6 shipping it was quite a steal ($53 retail!). I love the color changing lipstick and the eyeshadow and would definitely purchase cosmetics at Memebox.

Dean's List VoxBox

2014-09-27T15:19:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! Long time no post!

Yesterday I arrived home from classes to receive a package from Influenster. I got the Deans List Voxbox! I received: SinfulColors No Text Red Nail Polish, Airheads Bites, Pilot FriXion Clicker 2-pack, KISS Looks So Natural Lashes, Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous Foundation, Softlips Cube and Playtex Sport Fresh Balance.

First of all I love Influenster's packaging. The box always comes stuffed with surprises and I get so excited whenever I qualify for a Voxbox.

Now to the fun stuff- the products!

The first thing I did was try the Airheads bites. Curse you sweet tooth! I have to say I wanted to like these more than I did. Some flavors (Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Orange and Lemon) were stronger than others and I did not like the orange flavor. They were also harder to chew then I would have liked them to be. They do taste Airheads so I think if you like these flavors of Airheads you'd like this product.

I LOVE the Softlips Cube I received. Ive owned several chapsticks from Softlips but this is my favorite. Its supposedly 5 in 1. The product claims to hydrate, replenish, smooth, protect and shine. Im not sure how much it does of each but it was felt nice and nourishing. It applies like EOS and is a bit bulky for me to carry around but I will definitely be using this product.

Before getting this Voxbox I already owned SinfulColors products. The red I got is called "No Text Red" and came with a little card that read, "Paint your thumbnail red as a reminder to not text and to drive safely." I think its a really great campaign but at the end of the day SinfulColors are a value nail polish and not my favorite to apply. I might share this one with a friend!

I have not yet used my KISS eyelashes and so cannot comment. I am terrible with putting on false eyelashes so I might need a friend to help me apply these.

When it is my time of the month I usually use Playtex Sport so I was excited to get a free box of Playtex products. The tampons I got are Fresh Balance. They have odor shield techology to neutralize odors. I dont know how I feel about scented tampons but why not!

The covergirl foundation seems to be a good quality but not my exact match. Thats the shame with foundations- if its not perfect, I have no use for it.

My favorite item from this box were the two FriXion pens I got. They are gel and erasable. I am obsessed! I want more! These are so easy to write with and I love the blue gel color.

Note: I received all of these products free from Influenster

Hope y'all have an amazing weekend!

Review:: Rocksbox, FREE MONTH Subscription!

2014-07-22T17:54:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! I hope y'all had an excellent weekend. I was able to spend some time with my family and to really enjoy Cali. Now I'm back to the grind and work with a little more than a month left at my internship.

I've been noticing how nice everyone dresses in my area of California. The most popular looks is simple but very expensive clothing items and pieces, like a silk top and some leather pants. To keep these minimalist outfits from being boring the ladies here wear a lot of nice jewelry.

I really love jewelry. My problem is that the pieces I love tend to be very expensive. Who wants to wear gold plated when you can buy 14K? Unfortunately, I can't afford my exquisite taste so I end up with either costume jewelry or holding off until the day I can have the real thing. The other problem is that I tend to buy jewelry only to realize I have nothing in my closet to wear it with. I like bold and printed clothing and the same when it comes to picking jewelry which is problematic because they don't work together. What's a girl to do?

Look at Rocksbox of course! Rocksbox is a jewelry subscription box that differs from other jewelry subscription companies. With Rocksbox you spend $19 a month and get three designer pieces of jewelry!

The Rocksbox comes in a super cute little white box with pink ribbon.

So the way Rocksbox works is simple. Every month a designer chooses three pieces of jewelry for you that retail wayy over the $19 cost. At the end of the month you can buy the jewelry items at a discounted Member Price or send it back and get another three the month after!

The first of my three pieces was a pair of Neon and Navy Enamel Earrings from the brand Isharya. This was the most expensive of the jewelry items I received, retailing at $128. Although I like these earrings I had no use for them this month. They are quite long and a bit heavy for my taste. Although I find them beautiful they were too formal for work and I didnt have any formal occasions this month.

The next piece I got was a House of Harlow 1960 Aztec Bangle in Black. This retails for $48 and you can buy it through Rocksbox for $38.40. I mentioned to the stylist that I had a bit larger than average sized wrists before receiving my box. This bangle was huge! You can see how low it goes on my arm! I like this bangle and could tell it was well made. The aztec pattern reminds me of arrows which I liked because of my sorority Pi Phi. This bangle goes with a lot and I'll be sad to see it go.

The last piece is actually my favorite. This taner bar large necklace from Gorjana is simple and beautiful. Its a delicate gold bar that retails for $70. I'm seriously considering buying it for the members price at $56. when I took it out of the box I thought it was a shorter necklace but this is actually very low sitting at right below my chest. It looks expensive and is good for everyday and formal occasions.

Overall I was very satisfied with my first Rocksbox. The pieces all felt and looked expensive and at $19 a month I was excited to borrow such exquisite jewelry!

Have you tried Rocksbox before? You can use this link to get your first box free! What are you waiting for!