Fall Flannels

Fall is officially here!! Personally it's my favorite time of the year (other than Christmas). Fall has the best weather because there is a crispness in the air, the leaves look beautiful, and LAYERING, LAYERING, LAYERING!!! Cardigans are a staple for me... however flannels add a fun pop of color and look great with leggings, jeans, and skirts! I have picked out some of my favorites and included links below on where to get them!

     Plaid Flannel Shirt                              Flannel Gingham Button down


Factory Classic Button Down                                   Cozy Shirt       ON SALE!!

I decided to keep it short and sweet with four flannels that I personally own and love!!
xoxo

Carry on essentials

Hey guys! As you are reading this post I am flying to Chicago. I'm so excited to see my family and go to the first Notre Dame game of the season. Go Irish! I always love packing for my trips and usually pack a week in advanced and overpack. Since you can only overpack so much in a carry-on I figured I would show y'all what I packed to give y'all some ideas on things to bring. Chicago is a 2 hour flight from Richmond, but with the time differences only an hour is really lost.




This is an overview of everything I am bringing. I am taking it all in my medium sized longchamp, that I absolutely love. I brought a ton to read because I'm going on a small plane so there won't be wifi.



I brought two magazines because I love to see different fashion trends. Although Elle is my all time favorite magazine. Germs are everywhere in airports so I brought a hand sanatizer from bath and body works. My hands get super dry really easily so a hand cream is neseccary! Mine is from Clinique. I also have an eos lip balm as well. Yorks are my favorite candies so of course they made this trip. Then I just have my glasses, highlighter, and summer reading books to work on at night and on the plane.

Should I say Bon voyage :)
Kara

Guest Post: Olivia

I am so excited to announce that Olivia from blissfullyolivia.weebly.com is here to guest post! And she is talking about everyone's favorite, bags! Olivia is so wonderful and her blog is simply darling. So be sure to check her out!

Bags, Bags, and More Bags

As school approaches for most of us, we are all on the search for the “perfect” bag. It can be overwhelming at times trying to look for a backpack, lunch bag, pencil case, and gym bag all at the same time. I start looking for all these things at the beginning of August, but end up not actually buying in until the week before school starts.  I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite backpacks, lunch bags, pencil cases and gym bags for you guys! 

Backpacks: 

North Face), Vera Bradley, 

Madeline & Company, Herschel Backpack

Lunch Bags:

Tommy Hilfiger Lunchbox, Polka Dot Lunchbox,

Striped Lunchbox

Pencil Case:

polka Dot Herschel ,Kate Spade Gold Dot

Hopefully this gives some ideas on which types of school bags you want

   xoxo

  Olivia Phillips

                                                                                        http://blissfullyolivia.weebly.com

Thank you so much Kara for asking me to write on your amazing blog and sharing it with your readers! It was so much fun to talk to you and I hope we collab in the future again!

Catch up with Kara

Hey y'all! I know I've been promising more blog posts but unfortunately my computer is broken and I am blogging off on my phone right now. A blogger has to do what a blogger has to do to get posts up. Haha. I just thought I would catch y'all up on what I've been up to because all my other blogging material and pictures are on my computer :/ Be sure to follow my Instagram @prepandpeonies because I have been more active on there recently!

School hasn't started for me yet, in Virginia we start after Labor Day. In two weeks I am going to the first football game of the season in South Bend, Indianna for a Notre Dame game! We will also be in Chicago for 3 days so I will be sure to blog about that! I'm so excited because I've only been to one game before but my dad goes with my brother almost every year.

I have been requested so many times to make a YouTube channel. So I finally decided I would make one.! So leave comments on what types of videos you would want to watch because I don't know what y'all are interested in seeing from me! My channel is Kara Lindsey so be sure to susbscribe if you have a YouTube account to get notified when I upload!  My first video will be going up Monday!

That's all for now
Xo
Kara

NEW FAVORITE APP

Hey y'all! Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I have been SO busy which makes no sense because it's summer... But I promise that I will be posting a ton soon!

Today I just wanted to share an awesome new app I found, called shopkick. It was introduced to me about two weeks ago and it's amazing! Basically once you download the app you create an account and earn points or "kicks" just for walking into stores! Different stores offer different amount of kicks and more can be earned by making purchases! Once you collect a certain amount of kicks you get a code for a giftcard, there are so many to choose, I chose sephora! I got a Nars blush for only $5 with a $25 giftcard I earned from the app in little under a month! It is honestly like free money! If you use my link below you to sign up you can automatically receive 200 points! http://get.shopkick.com/broadway58063

What apps have yall been loving lately??
Xo
Kara

Catch up with Kara

Hey y'all. Sorry I been M.I.A. lately, I am currently on vacation at Bethany Beach in Delaware.  Anyways, last weekend I went with my best friend from kindergarten on a girls day. We went to Carytown in Richmond, Va. If you ever find yourself in Richmond be sure to go to Carytown! The shopping and food are some of the best in the city. They have a really cute store called Clementine's and it's a Lilly Pulitzer gold mine, I mean dresses with tags for $60!!

We ate at Weezie's Kitchen which I honestly was hesitant to eat at because we had never heard of it, and we ended up getting pancakes because it was only 11 am and it was raining out. They were the best pancakes I have ever had, and my dad makes some amazing pancakes. They were so light and had a slight hint of vanilla but it wasn't overpowering. AMAZING!

By the time I remembered to take a picture I had almost finished it and I normally never finish anything!

When we were walking around we came across this flower stand. Look at these roses, they were so colorful and full, but we were about to go out of town so I didn't get any (I thought about it though)

Since it was still raining we made our way to Stony Point Mall and wandered into anthropologie, of course. I need this flamingo stuffed animal! It is adorable and so soft.

I also wandered into Vineyard Vines and got this fleece vest for $50!! They retail for $85 so that was a deal! I also posted this on instagram, be sure to follow me if you aren't @prepandpeonies!

xox
Kara

Agendas

Every year my favorite part about july is getting my new agenda! It takes me literally  3 weeks to decide which one I want because it will be my lifeline for the next school year. I, like most people, love the Lilly Pulitzer agendas, however I wanted to share some other adorable options I found.

1. May Designs

This website is awesome to create a totally custom agenda. You get to pick everything from the pattern, border, and you can even add a monogram or your name! Bonus, if you already have your agenda you can customize a journal or stationary! They are small enough to be carried around everywhere!

2. Simplified Planner

These agendas, created by the wonderful Emily Ley, are everything you could want in an agenda and then some. They just came out with a new edition of agendas, smaller and gold binding which makes it look so pretty! All of the Academic Daily planners are sold out but mark your calendars for September 9th when they release more agendas!

3. Kate Spade

Kate Spade agendas are so classic and simple. A part that I really like about them is the binding rings are on the inside almost like a binder, so you don't have to worry about it bending up. They are perfect for if you like to color coordinate everything like I do, thanks to the black and off white theme throughout it. 

4. Lilly Pulitzer

Shocker right, these agendas are my favorite. I love the fun patterns and how colorful they are. This year they updated it some, there is a new travel page and page with the little pocket is now printed instead of white! This years patterns are definitely my favorite! They used a better variety of patterns and included some from their collections, which are always my favorite!

I hope that this insight can help you decide which agenda to get! What other agendas do y'all love to use? Leave a comment and let me know!

xoxo

Kara

USA! USA! USA!

play We Are the Champions by Queens while reading ;)

If you watched the Finals in the Women's World Cup, then you witnessed some awesome U.S. women kick butt against japan with a 5-2 win! 4 of the goals were scored in the first 16 minutes and 3 of those by Carli Lloyd. Additionally the U.S. Women's team is the first to win 3 World Cups. Talk about girl power! These women are so amazing and they had some pretty inspiring things to say about their win and how they accomplished it, so I thought I would share it with you

"I worked on my weaknesses and made them my strengths."- Sydney Leroux

"Every time you fall down, it gives you an opportunity to question yourself, question your integrity. It's not about the actual failure itself-- its how you respond to it."- Abby Wambach

"Excuses are like losses. Everyone has them except champions." -Alex Morgan

"Embrace the opportunity, no matter what it is. Look at everything in a positive light."- Julie Johnston

I hope y'all find these quotes as empowering as I did. And if you aren't watching the U.S. Women's team in their normal season, you should because they are a force to be reckoned with! 

xo 

Kara

DIY Collage wall

Hey Y'all! I am back with another DIY. This is one did a few months ago but I absolutely love it and get so many compliments on it so I decided I would show y'all how to make your own. I just had this awkward wall that is about 3.5 feet, and I didn't know what to do with it. At first I was going to do a collage with picture frames but I wanted to include typography and make it kind of an inspiration wall.

I don't have a specific theme to the wall (think Kate Middleton, Sydney Leroux, and lilly pulitzer prints) not coordinated at all. I went on pinterest and found all these quotes I really liked. I also looked up my favorite celebrities and role models like Amy Adams, Jackie O, Reese Witherspoon, and Blake Lively. Some of my favorite places were included too, New York, France, and Notre Dame, to name a few!

 The J'adore picture above as well as paris map below are starbucks gift cards.They were so cute I couldn't throw them away!

I simply attached the pictures with different washi tapes. I also used scotch two sided glue dots to keep some pictures down in the corners. 

It is currently raining so the pictures look faded but its super colorful and it makes me so happy because it has everything I love! Thanks Dad for letting me use all of your ink :) I hope y'all liked this DIY! It kinda looks like a pinterest feed, but who doesn't love pinterest!
xo,
Kara

Online Shopping

I am finally starting to get a routine down for summer. I just started a job as a nanny for my neighbors, and I am exhausted when I get home! Who knew that a 5 year old and a 3 year old could take so much out of you. So when I get home I go straight to my room, chill on my bed,and online shop (of course)

I think we can all agree that Lilly Pulitzer's collections have rocked this year! The past few previous years I have only liked one or two patterns in each collection, but they made an awesome comeback! A few things I have had my eyes on are this dress, this coverup , these shorts, and this agenda. It took me so long to decide which agenda to get because I always purchased a medium one. However, this year I already know that I am going to be so much more busy with school and other things so I decided I would go big and get the jumbo. Another reason I got the jumbo is because my medium sized one's binding would get messed up from being moved around from my textbooks.

Another store that I have been purchasing a ton from is Loft. I feel like it is a hidden jem because nobody that I know shops there except my mom. Their clothes fit so nicely and the quality is so good (except for the shoes) They are always having sales like 50% in stores right now on everything! It's like Ann Taylor but more casual and aimed towards younger people. I have their cardigans in every color and love them more than the J Crew Claire ones. I really want this dress, and this one (its not as purple in person, it looks more of a maroon) and this scarf (with a navy dress, SO CUTE)

Lately, I feel like everyone has been disappointed with J Crew. However, J Crew Factory, has had everything I've been missing from J Crew at a fraction of the cost. Right now their entire store online and in store is 50% off! This Pineapple Sweater is so cute, I had to get it! I usually don't like maxi dresses but this one is great for summer! And these shorts are great! I have 2 pairs and they are so easy to wear and extremely comfortable! They have become a staple in my summer wardrobe.

What are your favorite stores to online shop at? Leave a comment and let me know!
xo,
Kara

Don't forget to follow my other social medias:
Instagram:prepandpeonies
Pinterest: Prep And Peonies

Summer Skincare Favorites

This is my first official week of summer! I have been trying to find an easy routine for my skincare, since I don't wear makeup as much in the summertime. I have been trying lots of different products and I think I have a pretty good routine down. I have normal skin and only have acne on my forehead. So these products work great for me but I don't know how all of them are with sensitive or oily skin.

In the summer I take my showers in the morning, so when I am in the shower I like to use Aveeno's positively radiant daily cleansing pads. These are so gentle on skin and honestly keep my face matte majority of the day! I found this to be a dupe for the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads. I have never used them but they claim to do the same things and these are working great for me. I would highly recommend them. In addition to the cleanser, I moisturize my face with a neutrogena moisturizer.
At night when I do wear makeup I use the Simple Cleansing Micellar Water to wash my makeup off. This can even take off waterproof makeup and it is super hydrating! When I shower at night (occasionally I get off schedule :) ) I use the Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser. I also use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream when I am staying up late. This stuff is the holy grail and it makes my under eyes so bright.
Whenever my skin needs a little pick me up, or I am breaking out I will use Lush's Mask of Magnaminty. This makes my skin so soft and feels SO REFRESHING after you take it off.

What are some of y'alls favorite skincare products for summer? Leave a comment down below and let me know!
xoxo
Kara

Lilly Pulitzer DIY Mirror

Since school is finally out for me (hooray!) I was trying to come up with a way to make use of my lilly agenda since I only use it for school and not over the summer. I was trying to think of something useful that needed color, and I found my old over the door mirror that I got at Lowes and was just a plain black color. It ended up so cute and adds the perfect amount of brightness to my closet door!

I forgot to take a before picture but here is one of me with the finished product (the picture is a little blurry, sorry!)

Here's how I made it:

Materials Needed:
-An old lilly agenda
-An over the door mirror
-Mod Podge
- a brush

Start off by cutting the tops of the lilly borders in strips. I only used 7 patterns because I didn't care for the rest. Then create some type of pattern with the strips ahead of time (this is so much more helpful when you actually go to glue it down. I chose to do my strips of patterns in threes so it would look thicker and I could get different aspects of the patterns. Then actually go and Mod Podge it. Mod podge is like a glue and sealer so use it to apply the paper strips and then go over top of it again a few times, it also has to be applied with a brush. (It still somehow ended up all over my hands) I opted for the gloss finish but you can also get matte. I was really careful with not getting Mod Podge on the mirror at first but I then discovered, the glue will come off with nail polish remover.

This is what the papers looked like before I wrapped them around the mirror frame.


I hope y'all liked this DIY idea!
xoxo
Kara

Leave a Comment down below on other Lilly Pulitzer Agenda DIYS y'all have tried out and loved!

Summer Opportunities

Being that summer break starts in one weeks for me (thank goodness!) I have been brainstorming ideas of ways that anyone really could make money or get volunteer hours.

Babysitting

This is a great way to make money! I put out flyers in my neighborhood and got lots of people interested. The best part about babysitting is the family usually uses you again and again. 

Volunteering

This summer I reached out to the Alzheimer's Association of Richmond because they are near to my heart, and I wanted to offer my time throughout the summer so I feel productive along with getting lots of hours. Find any place that you are passionate about and just send them an email expressing your interest and they will be so thankful for it trust me!

Another way that I am volunteering is at my local library. This sounds super boring but shelving books for two hours once a week is not that bad, it's peace and quiet. By the end of the summer you will end up with tons of hours!!

Work at your pool
Many pools need lifeguards. It's fun and you can work on your tan. If you don't trust yourself to save people's lives like me, then you could always work in a pool concession stand or be a waitress at your country club. I know that some of my friends get great tips! So if you want a paycheck and additional money definitely check it out. And they get free food!!

Start a Blog
I only have two posts, but writing/ reading blogs is so much fun. It's productive but super fun and you have the convenience of staying at home in your pjs. You can write about anything! As long as you are passionate, you will be successful. Or even aside from being successful do it for you. It is a great way to look back on your life a few years down the road.

I hope this gave yall some ideas!! There is more to come once summer starts on this blog ;)

xoxo

Kara

Pink Palm

This past weekend I went to The Pink Palm, which is the Richmond trademark Lilly Pulitzer store. Everything in this new summer collection is perfect! So when my grandma asked me where we should go shopping for my birthday, it was a no brainer.

My favorite item one of my favorite items that I purchased was this Delia Shift Dress in Conch Republic, The Delia style shift dress always fits me the best and this one is so bright and perfect for summer!




Lilly always thinks of everything, the starfish zipper is definitely my favorite part and the bows are absolutely adorable!

I also got the Tate Skirt  in Bay Blue Coasting Engineered Shells. I absolutely love the way this fits! I tried it on in the Cathy Shift Dress but it was way too long. It looks so cute with their silk tanks. 




While there I got a new pair of Jack Rogers in the Nantucket Carribbean Blue and Gold.
I needed a new pair very badly and they matched my skirt and dress so I thought it was a good purchase.



This is a comparison between my Platinum ones that I have had for a year compared to my new ones... I didn't realize they were this worn until I got a new pair!

The last thing I got was a Kendra Scott Elisa Pendant in iridescent. I have wanted this for a few months, but they don't sell them at my local Nordstrom and Richmond does not have a Kendra Scott store so when I found it I knew I had to get it. It did not show up well on camera because it is so delicate and sparkly. But it matches everything and is great for layering! I have worn it nonstop!

I hope yall enjoyed seeing my recent purchases from Lilly Pulitzer! What stuff have you been loving from there? Leave a comment and let me know!!
xo
Kara

First Post

Hi! My name is Kara and I am a rising sophomore in high school. I have been reading blogs for about two years now and decided that I would give it a try myself! I decided to take this opportunity because I love to write and hope to someday become a writer for a magazine! A few things to know about me include:
- I have a very preppy style
- I love reading and writing as well as playing soccer for my school team and club
- I am the oldest of three children in my family
- My favorite movie is the Silver Linings playbook
- I love shopping! (a little too much)
I am excited to see where this journey may take me, but I am mostly excited to look back at this a few years down the road and be able to read this.

xoxo

Kara