Senior Year

I cannot even believe the day is finally here... Senior year starts today! As much as I'm dreading going back to school, it's my last, first day of school and even saying that feels so weird. I'm stuck between wishing I could skip this year and go straight to college, but at the same time having what everyone calls the best and most exciting year of high school. Even though I definitely would go right to college this minute (living in a dorm sounds like the best thing, ever), I'm really excited for everything this year has in store. Being the captain of my tennis team, senior privileges, fun adventures with friends, finding out where I'm going to college, being able to wear patterned button downs to school, senior photos (which I took yesterday - pray they turn out!)... I have a feeling this year will be one for the books. 

I'm thinking about sharing the bucket list my friends and I made with you guys. We would love your help with what to add! 

xoxo

Friday Fours

It's hard to believe this is the last weekend before school starts Monday... I don't know whether I'm excited for senior year to officially begin or dreading having to actually do homework again. It's kind of bittersweet, you know? I'll definitely be taking advantage of my last hours of freedom! 

::one:: 

Oh. My. Goodness. Ever since my new Columbia pullover came in the mail, I have only taken it off a handful of times. I've been wanting to buy a Patagonia, but didn't see the need to spend so much money considering I wear my Shep Shirt a lot. This (monogrammed) pullover was the perfect alternative and just as cozy. Definitely check out the other colors too - I couldn't decide which combo I liked best! 

::two::

The other thing I can't get enough of? My new planner for 2015-2016. I'm obsessed with the pretty pink exterior and love the inside set up. See an inside peek in this post!

::three::

I'm taking my senior pictures this weekend and am so nervous for how they're going to turn out. Having a blog, I'm super picky when it comes to taking portrait pictures, much less one that will be in the yearbook forever! Fran shot some practice ones for me in the location of this outfit post, and I think I found the ideal pose I want to do. Wish me luck!

::four::

Lastly, from the archives! I've really been trying to think more strategically with my blog and write posts that you guys want to see. Whenever I come up with an idea for a blog post, I think to myself: "is this something I would like to read?" in order to keep c&s as authentic as possible. I would so, so appreciate it if you take the below feedback survey - it would be really helpful for me :)

{ Take the survey here }

That's it for me lately! What is one thing you're looking forward to this weekend?

I'm excited for a dinner at a rooftop restaurant with friends tonight - let's hope it isn't rained out!

xoxo

B2S: First Day Outfit

converse // military jacket // pink striped dress // tassel loafers // distressed boyfriend jeans// striped oxford

How can my first, last day of school be in less than 4 days?! It's so crazy to think about and as much as I'm dreading going back to school, I can't wait to make my senior year the most memorable one yet. Even though I have a dress code, I thought it would be fun to do a first day outfit inspiration post to hopefully get you back into the school mindset. A look I've been loving lately is giving a more girly outfit a boyfriend vibe - basically, add a military jacket on top of a pink striped dress, throw on white converse and you're good to go! If you're feeling a white jeans ensemble, pair it with an oxford and some tan loafers for a cool schoolboy look. As a senior, I'm so excited to be able to wear solid color button downs (and eventually patterned shirts second semester!) as opposed to just white ones, so the striped oxford button down is a must in my book!

If I didn't have a uniform, I would definitely wear something along these lines for my first day. What are you planning to wear (if you haven't started already!)?

Let me know what other Back to School (aka B2S) posts you want to see - I think a "What's In My Backpack" post or video is up next! 

xoxo

What To Eat During High School Sports

As an incoming senior and what you may (loosely) call a high school athlete, you could say I've sort of mastered what you should and shouldn't eat before and after sports games and matches. Tennis especially is sort of tricky to eat for, especially when you have a day full of matches and you have to eat a little bit here and there to make sure you have enough energy to last you all day. Read about my tips and tricks (mostly tennis specific) for what to eat during high school sports below!

The first thing that's important to cover is sports practices. During the summer, I've had practices from 12-2 so I eat a light late breakfast consisting of an omelet or cereal and fruit so that I have a satisfied but not overly full stomach that will last me until 2:00. You don't want to eat right before you go either because sometimes we will run right after our warm ups and I'm pretty sure sprinting after eating something heavy is actually the worst thing ever! As for the school year, I'll have practices at 3:30 (I get out at 3:15) so rushing to the courts, I often make sure to pack a granola bar or piece of fruit. I'm not always hungry at this time, but something quick and easy is nice if I need a little boost of energy to get me to dinner around 5 or 6. 

Now onto tournaments and matches. Last week, I had 2 or more matches everyday and I was gone from 8 am to 6 pm. It was hot, I wasn't getting much sleep and I ran out of energy pretty quickly. Needless to say, food (and water!) was an important part of my day. Having some carbs in the morning is always smart, so a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese was perfect. Before my matches, I would have a few grapes or a go-go squeeze apple sauce (best. things. ever.) so my stomach wouldn't growl on the courts. For lunch, I would either have a pita with hummus, fruit and veggies or a salad with chicken or a peanut butter and jelly on whole grain bread. It's crucial to avoid as many sweets as possible (fruit snacks and Twizzlers always seem to get me) because you will have a temporary sugar high and crash pretty soon after. And of course, staying hydrated with a giant jug of water is just as important as well!

Let me know if you have any tennis or sport related posts you want to see - I love writing about these kinds of things!

xoxo

Outfit: Beach Printed Shorts

shirt (similar) // shorts // tote (new version) // sandals // watch (similar) 

When I saw these Lilly dupe shorts from Old Navy near the middle of the summer, I knew I had to have them. The vivid colors, fun beachy print and great price were too good to pass up and I'm so glad I snatched up a pair before they sold out online. This summer I tended to dress super casually as much as I possibly could (read: nike shorts and oversized tees), but when Fran and I went to a coffee shop and blogged one day, I thought I would dress up a bit more than my usual apparel. As we move into fall, my goal is to wear less of the "wait is she going to the gym or is she just being lazy" look and dress a little nicer. I felt so good and ready to conquer the day when I put on a more structured pair of shorts and a flowy tee and to transition to fall, I'm thinking skinny jeans, a great top and booties would be perfect. After all, as Reese Witherspoon says: "you've got to always show your best self!" :)

xoxo

Transitioning to Fall

one // two // three // four // five 

As we approach the beginning of September and August comes to a close, I absolutely love transitioning my wardrobe from bright chino shorts and button downs to skinny jeans and sweaters. I've spent a ton of time on Pinterest and other blogs taking a peek at new fall trends, and I'm excited to incorporate a few different things like white jeans, riding boots, tan leather, olive green (especially in the form of a military-style jacket), gingham... the list goes on and on. I'm feeling so inspired to stock up on fall pieces and can't wait to take advantage of the end of summer sales at the same time!

Are you excited to transition to fall too?

xoxo

Friday Fours

Happy Friday! I've been super busy with my first real week of tennis (think tournaments every day but Thursday... phew!) and am excited to spend my second last weekend of summer out in the sun. 

::one::

We've been going to our family's lake house almost every weekend and it's so fun to catch up with everyone, make a delicious lunch and soak up some rays. 

::two::

My friends and I went to brunch yesterday morning and opted for items on the healthier side menu. How delicious does it all look?! The multigrain pancake is next on my must-try list :)

::three::

This tote never fails to amaze me and every time I take it out after not using it for a while, I forget how perfect it is! The size, color, tassel detailing... it's seriously so versatile and functional. See a similar one linked in this post!

::four::

And since it was her 17th birthday yesterday.... HBD Fran! So happy you can (officially) see an R rated movie with me :)

I hope you all enjoy your weekends!

xoxo

My Forever 21 Picks

Whenever I've shopped at Forever 21 in the past, I've found a thing or two I ended up loving but that I wouldn't necessarily initially pick out for myself if I saw it on a crowded rack in the store. It wasn't until I started looking online that I really started to love their pieces, especially for fall! Below I've picked out a few of my favorite pieces (divided into shoes & accessories and clothes), all totally on trend for the new season and at really great price points. I've noticed that a lot of these items are popping up in different stores, so if you're wanting to buy a trendy item but don't want to spend a lot of money, I totally recommend going to Forever 21!

Which is your favorite piece? Have you found anything good at Forever 21 lately?

xoxo

10 Ways to Entertain Yourself On a Treadmill

Lately I've been trying to run a lot more to build up my endurance and get back into good shape for tennis season. Even though tennis isn't a lot of running, spending some time on the treadmill makes it easier to sprint to balls across the court (not to mention it makes our surprise timed miles slightly less stressful :). The only problem is I get so bored while running which makes me want to stop a lot sooner, which is definitely not ideal when you're trying to build up your distance. Soo after a bit of brainstorming I came up with some ways to entertain yourself on a treadmill! Listening to fun music is always a great idea, but I've noticed that when I forgot my headphones I zoned out and could run a lot longer because I lost track of time. See my 10 other tips below! 

*via

1. Race the people next to you.

2. Make up elaborate back stories for all the people in the gym around you. 

3. Watch a TV show.

4. Think of something fun to do the next day. 

5. Think about the delicious and healthy food you are going to eat after your workout.

6. Pretend you are running in an Olympic race.

7. Bring a friend with you and catch up.

8. Plan out your meals for the next day.

9. Think of all the cute clothes you're going to wear after you shred some calories. 

10. Mix up your playlist and jam to some new songs.

Share your tips in the comments below!

xoxo

Outfit: Summer Casual

button down (similar)  // shorts // tennies // watch (similar) // tote (similar)

If I were to choose one outfit that I go to most frequently in the summer, it would definitely be something like this one. The chino short + button down + converse look is so classic and preppy but able to be worn different ways with fun colors and patterns. Lately, this striped shirt has been in heavy rotation and I think it is the ultimate shirt for summer, don't you? Not to mention, it looks perfect with a pair of neon shorts (coral and pink ones are my favorites!). Throw on a tan tote and you have the perfect look that's ideal for running errands, and really comfortable too!

Do you have a similar outfit like this?
xoxo

B2S: 6 Pencil Cases I Love

Happy Monday! With school right around the corner for many people (unless you are someone who has started already #sendingprayers), I am excited to announce that I am launching a Back to School Series (aka B2S) for the next few weeks as everyone transitions back into the school mindset. This summer to fall season is my favorite time of year and I love sharing all my tips and tricks with you, especially since this will be my last year before college! Expect a post or two every week, all tagged with B2S so you can find them all easily. First up? Pencil cases! 

three zipper tribal pouch // gold with orange trim // gold dot // I am very busy // light blue // pink + white stripe 

Pencil cases are one of my favorite parts of back to school shopping because I feel like they are the perfect way to fancy up your studying.  I like a nice balance between storage and easiness of sliding it in and out of my bag, all characteristics these pretties have. I personally switch between a SCOUT cosmetic bag and an old Lilly Pulitzer pouch, but I just ordered the 3 zipper tribal one in the bottom right and can't wait to see how it is in real life! It's kind of bright and different, don't you think? 

What kind of pencil case are you using this year?

See what's in my pencil case here!

xoxo

Friday Fours

TGIF! It was so exciting to start my last season of high school tennis (this time as a captain!) this week and I can't wait to bond with all of my teammates at our annual tennis barbecue tonight. Tomorrow is my last day at my job for the summer which makes me so, so sad but I'm eager to start working again when I graduate in the middle of May (an entire month earlier than last year... woohoo!) I hope you all have a great weekend.

::one::

What I would give to be back in the Hamptons right now... It's crazy to think that school is starting in just two short weeks (and that this is my last first day of school)! 

::two::

Lately I've gotten into a really bad habit of staying up until 1 or 2 am watching Netflix and Youtube videos and while it's one of the best parts of summer, it's hard to transition back into going to bed at a decent hour. Not to mention, on days when I have something earlier in the morning, I can barely get out of bed. I'm thinking about doing a post or two on sleep - would you be interested?

::three::

I was sporting one of my white school button downs this week and it made me realize how much I miss wearing this simple, structured top everyday. During the year, I can barely look at an oxford shirt because it reminds me of my uniform. Buuut, I forgot how nice they look with a crisp pair of chino shorts and a pair of fun sandals! I'm so happy because as a senior, I can wear colored button downs and then second semester we can also wear patterned ones. I may or may not have to stock up on a few more pretty color shirts :)

::four::

I'm so excited to go to our family's lake house this Sunday for one of our last trips of the year. I've gone every summer my entire life and while this year was different, I'm so grateful to be able to spend time with family and friends to forget about the stresses of busy schedules and the future ahead. 

What are you up to this weekend?

xoxo

My 2015-2016 Agenda

It's no secret that I'm a school supplies junkie. Stocking up on notebooks, folders and pens for the new school year ahead as we transition from summer to fall is probably my favorite time of year, but the best part in my opinion is choosing a new planner to use. It's such a personal thing and I feel like everyone has different elements that they find necessary in an agenda. I've had a few different kinds over the years, but I've found that simple yet preppy and bright ones are my favorite. So when Day Designer offered to send me a planner through BlueSky.com, I knew I was in for a treat. I was a big fan of my black and white striped planner from last year, so I nearly died when I saw the adorable pink and gold detailing on the 2015-2016 version. 

Isn't it just the cutest?! The cover has to be my favorite part. I love the soft feel and how slim it is - perfect to slip in and out of my backpack without getting caught and ripping like a different style.

The set up in the Day Designer is so ideal. Aside from the monthly calendar views, there are spacious pages for each week. I love how there are two boxes for each day: one for your plans/ events and then one for your to-do's (with boxes to check, one of the most satisfying things ever!!).

 Definitely check out Day Designer's awesome selections for the next year - there are so many pretty ones to choose from and I wish I could use more than one! 

Which agenda are you using this year? Comment below!

xoxo