March Madness {Lillybee University}

Hey y'all,

For those of y'all that don't live in the Tar Heel State, March doesn't just mean nice weather, but in fact means lots and lots of basketball with March Madness. March always kicks off with the Duke/Carolina game followed by the ACC Tournament and Selection Sunday determines the NCAA tournament members on March 15th. I've been so proud of the way my Tar Heels have been playing in the ACC Tournament, but since it's called March Madness we all know the NCAA tournament always has some very interesting games.

While a preppy dress code of sundresses, sandals, and boots are expected for Southern Football games, I find it very hard to determine what to wear for basketball games while maintaining a preppy style. It can be especially tough when your school colors are so specific, like UNC's Carolina Blue. Lots of students wear Carolina t-shirts and basketball jerseys but that isn't necessarily my style and now that I don't make it to the Dean Dome often I look for Carolina items and accessories that I can incorporate into my entire wardrobe. 

Enter Lillybee University who reached out about their College and University line and I knew I had to share them with y'all. Some of y'all might have seen the photo I posted already on Instagram but I was sent the University of North Carolina Flats and I am in love. They are so comfortable and will work perfectly for going to the game or supporting my Heels from afar. I wore my pair to a friend's house to watch the Duke/Carolina game this past Saturday and I was so comfortable and got so many compliments on these flats. I know I will be wearing them to other Carolina games whether baseball, football, or basketball.

For those of you with a similar preppy style I thought I would share a few different outfits from casual to professional to showcase how versatile these flats are and how you can continue to show support for your school no matter if you have to be in the office or are front row at the Dean Dome.

 Game Day.

Top/Sweater/Jeans/Flats/Bow Clips/Bag

Since the Dome can get pretty warm I try to go with a cami and sweater combination. I love this Vineyard Vines tote that can fit in everything while still showing my support. I also love that you can add on bow clips to the Lillybee U flats so at the game everyone knows you cheer for UNC.

 Dressed to Impress

Dress/Necklace/Flats

I would probably rock this outfit for work or even Carolina Football games but I had to include it for those that like to be a little more dressed up at the game. 

Fan from Afar

Top/Pants/Scarf/Flats

For those of you not in the area or who work and still want to show off their love of the Tar Heels, I love pairing this Carolina Blue top with the flats for a subtle support look.

Casual Friday
T-shirt/Jeans/Scarf/Flats/Bow Clips

I am currently rocking this look for casual Friday since the ACC Tournament is going on and it's Spring Break on Campus.

Lillybee University has so many color options and styles so no matter if your school is listed I am sure you can find a style to fit your gameday look. I personally am eyeing the UNC wedges for the spring game and for early fall football games. I mean, how cute would they be with a little white sundress?

What do you wear to basketball games?

What do you find difficult in dressing to showcase your school spirit?

 (Mine is always finding Carolina Blue items)
Who are you rooting for in the upcoming NCAA tournament?

*This is not a sponsored post. I did receive the UNC flats for review but as always I only post items I am passionate about and will always share my opinions completely.*

Tuesday Topic {I'm a Bridesmaid}

Hey y'all,

This past weekend, one of my sorority sisters and best friends,lSc, asked me to join her bridal party! I'm so excited for her to become Mrs. R next June but until then there will be lots of planning and parties and I will of course bring y'all along the way. 

So quick background: I can't remember how I met lSc, seriously, it feels like we have been friends forever. I know she joined Phi Beta Chi the Fall of our sophomore year and we were pretty much inseparable that whole year. We share a love of monograms, Disney, weddings, and so much more. We had some rocky years but by Senior year we were back to normal. lSc is the one that forces me to Barre 3 classes, will totally drink a glass of wine with me whenever I need it, complain about my hometown and how there is nothing to do there(she went to high school in my town), or is there for a good laugh.I'm so excited for her and Mr. R and seriously might have screamed a little when I got the "We're ENGAGED" text.

 Now that you are all caught up, I thought I would share how I was asked to be a bridesmaid this past weekend. lSc sent us all invitations to meet at a building on UNC's campus and wait for all to arrive before meeting her at the Old Well. It was nice to catch up with friends as we headed her way, as well as meet her cousin AP. We excitedly made our way to the Old Well where lSc and her parents were waiting for us. After hugs, we all got monogramed boxes and were told to all open them at the same time. 

Inside the boxes were vintage handkerchiefs, a sweet card, pictures of us (mine included pictures of lSc and I at sorority functions, waiting in the cold for Carolina basketball, and a photo of when we climbed the Bell Tower), some idea of the dresses she likes, and then cards filled with information including the date of the wedding, information on our attire, our responsibilities, information on the groomsmen, and a sheet about us for those who don't know each other well. 

After taking some photos and lots of talking we made our way to TOPO (Top of the Hill) where we sipped on mimosas and had brunch, catching up and talking about the wedding. It was the perfect way to round out the celebrations. 

Since it was also the date of the Duke/Carolina game when we were leaving TOPO, we spotting the Travelocity Roaming Gnome on the elevator. Well, one of the bridesmaids, ES, talked about wanting to find him and take a picture so when we spotted him we went on a mini adventure around Franklin street to stop the Gnome and grab a picture. Here is a photo of all of us and the gnome.

After our impromptu adventure, we headed back towards campus and stopped in at the Yogurt Pump (aka YoPo) for a sweet treat before heading home.

It was a great Saturday (well until the Carolina-Duke game that night) but I loved spending it with some sweet friends. Now to plan a movie night to watch Bridesmaids together.

Have you ever been a bridesmaid?

If you are a bride, how did you ask your girls?

100 Random Questions {Part 2}

Hey y'all,

If you didn't get a chance to read the first half of this post, I am trying to share more with y'all. Weekend updates and lifestyle posts share a small part of my life however, these questions share a couple of random things I'm not sure you would know about me. I know I have quite a few more new faces around here and I found the 100 random questions tag and split them into two posts. Here are questions 51-100. You can read part one here.

Q:  Ever used a gun? 
A:  Nope.

Q:  Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? 
A:  A headshot for work in December, and then composites for PBX were just a few weeks. YAY advisor photo.

Q:  Do you think musicals are cheesy?
A:  NO! I love going to musicals. I actually have season tickets to the local theater so I have seen Dirty Dancing, Phantom of the Opera, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Annie, Motown, and Wicked since August.

Q:  Is Christmas stressful?
A:  It can be. I try to focus on the main reason for the gifts and remember that my family and friends love me no matter the gifts.

Q:  Ever eat a pierogi?
A:  Not that I can think of. I'm a picky eater so I doubt I will ever eat one.

Q:  Favorite type of fruit pie?
A:  Apple!Its actually the only pie I like. I love apple pie at Thanksgiving with vanilla ice cream and cool whip.

Q:  Occupation you wanted to be when you were a kid?
A:  Teacher. I actually taught my baby sister, kDi, how to read before kindergarten by playing teacher on our little chalkboard.

Q:  Do you believe in ghosts?
A:  Nope.

Q:  Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?
A:  Yes.

Q:  Take a vitamin daily?
A:  Yes, women’s one a day gummy vitamin. I get really nauseous taking the pill form of vitamins.

Q:  Wear slippers?
A:  Occasionally. I tend to be barefoot around the house mostly. However, I love my Minnetonka slippers and sometimes even wear them out since they look like moccasins and have a nice hard rubber bottom.

Q:  Wear a bathrobe?
A:  Occasionally when I want to delay getting ready.

Q:  What do you wear to bed?
A:  Old Navy PJ pants (I'm currently loving the bumble bee ones) and a tank top or old t-shirt.

Q:  First concert?
A:  Tait. They were a Christian rock band that went on hiatus since Michael Tait is now the lead singer of Newsboys.

Q:  Wal-Mart or Target?
A:  Target of course.

Q:  Nike or Adidas?
A:  Nike. Although my current running shoes are Brooks.

Q:  Cheetos or Fritos?
A:  Cheetos crunchy.

Q:  Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
A:  Peanuts & Sunflower seeds both in trail mix.

Q:  Ever take dance lessons?
A:  Yes. I took ballet lessons from the age I was three until I moved to Germany and couldn't find a studio back in middle school.

Q:  Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
A:  I think he will be someone in the business field but who knows.

Q:  Can you curl your tongue?
A:  yes.

Q:  Ever won a spelling bee?
A:  Nope. I don't have the spelling gene but my baby sister has and my bestie, aMl, was in the national spelling bee so there's that.

Q:  Have you ever cried because you were happy?
A:  Yes.

Q:  Own a record album?
A:  Nope

Q:  Own a record player?
A:  Nope

Q:  Regularly burn incense?
A:  I burn candles!

Q:  Who would you like to see in concert?
A:  Hmmm. Pretty much any country music star. I would love to see Tim McGraw.

Q:  What was the latest concert you saw?
A:  Blake Shelton.

Q:  Hot tea or cold tea?
A:  Both. Cold in spring/summer. Hot in fall/winter.

Q:  Tea or coffee?
A:  Tea.I don't drink coffee.

Q:  Sugar or snickerdoodles?
A:  Neither. I am more of a chocolate chip cookie kind of person.

Q:  Can you swim well? 
A:  I can! I began swim lessons at the age of two and swam competitively in elementary and middle school I quit before high school though. I have had my lifeguard certification as well.

Q:  Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
A:  Yes

Q:  Are you patient? 
A:  I try to be. I can get impatient though, just like everyone else.

Q:  DJ or band at a wedding?
A:  I think it really depends on how the couple has created the atmosphere of their wedding I have gone to ones with bands and ones with DJs and had a great time at both.

Q:  Ever won a contest?
A:  A couple. Not for any huge item but a few through blogs and things. My baby sister won a Samantha American Girl doll from our local book store when the Samantha movie came out and I remembered thinking she had the best luck. I have won off of scratch off tickets and raffles.

Q:  Ever had plastic surgery?
A:  Nope

Q:  Which are better black or green olives? 
A:  Black.

Q:  Can you knit or crochet?
A:  I can crochet a tiny bit, it has been a really long time. I cannot knit though. I have been taught a lot of times but I have never got the knack of it. Most of the women in my family can knit but I don't have the hand eye coordination.

Q:  Best room for a fireplace?
A:  Living room. However, I am not the biggest fan of fires. I am more of a fire pit outside by the pool kind of gal. It might be because I live in the South and fireplaces in the home are not the most important. I also have had friends and family work with burn victims in the hospital so I am fearful of large scale fires.

Q:  Do you want to get married?
A:  Yes!

Q:  If married, how long have you been married?
A:  N/A

Q:  Who was your high school crush?

A:  I had a couple different crushes but they didn't go anywhere. #shygirlstatus

Q:  Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your way?
A:  No, as a 25 year old that would be embarrasing.

Q:  Do you have kids?

A:  No

Q:  Do you want kids?
A:  Yes I do, someday.

Q:  What is your favorite color?
A:  Pink

Q:  Do you miss anyone right now?
A:  Yes, I have a lot of friends and family all across the nation and would love to travel all over to see them and give them big hugs.

Which question in this series has been your favorite? 

Any other questions you want to ask me?

Sunday Sayings {Colossians 3:12}

Hey y'all,

As usual, I like to take my Sundays to reflect on the past week, plan for the upcoming week, and dwell in verses and sayings that inspire me. This verse from Colossians has been on my heart as a list of virtues I want to strive for. When someone wants to know about me I want my friends to list me as compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. This verse just laid on my heart heavy since the past few months I have let other things come before my service to others and I am glad that I have service built in to the weekends of March. 

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What has been on your heart lately?

February Favorites {2015}

Hey y'all,

I have seen a few bloggers post about their favorite things and I have always loved watching beauty bloggers post their monthly favorites so I thought I would join the band wagon.

Knit Infinity Scarf. This past month has included some crazy weather in North Carolina (think 6 inches of snow) so I have been loving the super warm scarf my bestie, aMl, got me for Christmas. It is so soft and warm and has made these freezing temperatures bearable.

Hard Boiled Eggs. I recently got back into eating hard boiled eggs. I love boiling them on Sunday evenings and storing them in my fridge for the week. They are perfect to top a salad or to make deviled eggs with. 

Kodiak Cakes Pancake Mix. Y'all, the Kodiak Cakes Power pancake mix is delicious and has a ton of protein in it so you will feel nice and full all morning. This has been so handy since one of my favorite snow day traditions is making pancakes. This mix just requires water so it's so simple. Check out Target to find the mix!

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Patagonia Fleece. For Christmas my parents got me my second Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T pullover. These fleece pullovers are perfect in the winter and I wear both of mine constantly. I have a berry colored one as well as a royal blue one. Since Patagonia just released their spring colors in the Re-Tool Snap-T Pullover, a lot of the past colors are on sale, including the blue one I have. Check it out here.

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Lips are Moving Station. Thanks to Dorothy's post a while back I created a "Lips are Moving" Station on Pandora. It is the perfect station for working out to. I love creating Pandora Stations and then taking those songs I like and making a full playlist on Spotify.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. During my snow days and delays, when I wasn't cooking up a storm, catching up on netflix, or working out I did a couple different beauty things like painting my nails, taking a bubble bath and falling back in love with the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. This minty masque is under $5 and really helps your skin by absorbing excess oils.

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My last favorite of the month are my parents. They were so sweet to visit and celebrate my birthday. I felt completely spoiled and very loved and I had so much fun just catching up with them since I hadn't seen them since Christmas time. 

What are your favorite things/events from February?

100 Random Questions {Part 1}

Hey y'all,

As I continue to work on the vision of this blog I thought I would do a couple get to know you posts over the next few weeks. I saw this post of 100 random questions and thought this was a great jumping off point. I mean, you can read the Meet Jessica section so here are some things you might not know about me. Since 100 questions would make for the longest post I have written to date I thought I would break this up into two posts and you can read questions 51-100 next Monday.

Q:  Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
A: I think it tends to be open. I always sleep with my bedroom door closed but the asjoining bathroom and closet doors remain open.

Q:  Do you take the shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels?
A:  No. I tend to bring my own shampoo and conditioner to hotels since I have thick curly hair that needs all the moisture ever.

Q:  Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? 
A: In. Fun fact, I rarely sleep under the sheets. I sleep under the comforter but the sheets are so restricting that I tend to leave them be.

Q:  Have you ever stolen a street sign before? 
A:  No, I have never heard of the appeal of stealing street signs. Sorry.

Q:  Do you like to use post-it notes? 
A:  Yes! My work desk is covered in them and I might have an entire drawer full in my desk at my apartment.

Q:  Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? 
A:  Yes. I love coupons and I try to use the ones I cut but sometimes I'm not the best at check on them. I do recommend the Southern Savers website for help getting into couponing.

Q:  Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? 
A:  I would go with neither but if I have to choose I guess bees?

Q:  Do you have freckles?
A:  Yes. 

Q:  Do you always smile for pictures? 
A:  I try to. I don't think I look great in a serious face mode and then there are the silly pictures which I tend to make a fish face for.

Q:  What is your biggest pet peeve?
A:   I have a handful of pet peeves. I hate when people are late without sending a polite text stating they are on their way. I have a bit of road rage when people drive dangerously. I also hate people who call single initials, monograms.

Q:  Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

A:  I tend to count them when going up stairs. For regular walking, I have a Fitbit Flex that tracks my steps.

Q:  Have you ever peed in the woods?
A:  I think I have way back when I was a little girl scout camping, but that was years ago.

Q:  Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing? 
A:  All. the. time. I'm also a big car dancer so I hope people are entertained when we sit in traffic.

Q:  Do you chew your pens and pencils?
A:  No! Gross!

Q:  What size is your bed?
A:  A Full. It's just me and it's the perfect size.

Q:  What is your song of the week?
A:  Hmm. I am really loving Lonely Tonight by Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe.

Q:  Is it ok for guys to wear pink?
A:  I think it's fine. I think it needs to be done well.

Q:  Do you still watch cartoons?
A:  Not unless I am babysitting. I do however, still go to the movies to see kids films. Over Thanksgiving, my family went to go see Big Hero 6 together and the youngest of us is 22.

Q:  What is your least favorite movie?
A:  Pretty much any movie that is what I consider "stupid humor." I don't like the Hangover series or Dumb and Dumber.

Q:  Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
A:  I can’t tell!

Q:  What do you drink with dinner?

A:  Water. I haven't been a soda drinker for over a year now.

Q:  What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
A:  BBQ or Ranch

Q:  What is your favorite food?
A:  Beef Stroganoff. My Mom's recipe is the best. It is more of a tomato cream sauce than a gravy. I can post the recipe if I get a lot of requests.

Q:  What movie could you watch over and over again and still love?
A:  Pride and Prejudice (2005).

Q:  Last person you kissed/kissed you?

A:  My last kiss was actually my first kiss. Since I don't kiss and tell I will leave you with that.

Q:  Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
A:  I was a girl scout. I started as a Brownie and quit after I bridged to Cadet.

Q:  Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
A:  No. I have some major standards of modesty in my life I would like to uphold.

Q:  When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
A:  I didn't get around to Christmas cards this year so the last note I sent off to a friend would have to be in late November??

Q:  Can you change the oil on a car?
A:  Nope, but the people at the Toyota dealership are more than happy to help Cora the Corolla.

Q:  Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
A:  No and lets knock on wood that it doesn't happen!

Q:  Ever ran out of gas?
A:  No and it's a fear of mine that it could happen.

Q:  Favorite kind of sandwich?
A:  This is tough. I'm partial to clubs and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Q:  Best thing to eat for breakfast?
A:  For the weekdays: greek yogurt and fruit. For the weekends: scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes!

Q:  What is your usual bedtime?
A:  10:30pm is the goal. I have to be at work at 7:30am so I try to get a good amount of shuteye.

Q:  Are you lazy?
A:  I don't consider myself to be lazy although we all have those days.

Q:  When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
A:  A clown, a gypsy, a hippie, a ballerina, etc.

Q:  What is your Chinese astrological sign?
A:  The Horse.

Q:  How many languages can you speak?
A:  One. English. I did take five years of French and three years of German so I can comprehend them a bit but I can't really speak them.

Q:  Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
A:  I don’t currently. I had one that I let run out. In the past I've had Vogue, Self, and Seventeen but I wasn't reading them enough to make it worth it.

Q:  Which are better legos or lincoln logs?
A:  Legos!

Q:  Are you stubborn?
A:  Yes. It does cause some tension sometimes, especially if you ask my Mom about my stubbornness.

Q:  Who is better… Leno or Letterman?
A:  Fallon. Although, let's be honest. This girl doesn't stay up past 10:30pm most nights so I mainly watch clips from the shows.

Q:  Ever watch soap operas?
A:  Yes. When I was in middle school, I watched Port Charles but I never got into General Hospital or the rest of the Soap Operas.

Q:  Are you afraid of heights?
A:  Yes. I don't do roller coasters, hate flying,  and I didn't even go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I am a big fan of being on the ground.

Q:  Do you sing in the car?
A:  YES!

Q:  Do you sing in the shower?
A:  Not usually. I sometimes sing when I have the ipod going while taking a bubble bath but I tend to only sing along, not just sing to sing.

Q:  Do you dance in the car?
A:  Yes! My sister and I might have a few coordinated dances to songs.

Stay tuned for next week for the other half of the questions.

What was your favorite thing this past week?

Sunday Sayings {Rest}

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Hey y'all,

Thank you for allowing me to take time away from my blog and coming back now that we are all back on schedule. We can often get bogged down with various commitments and work but it is most important to remind ourselves to recharge and relax. Some of my favorite ways to relax are to go to the gym and sweat it out, to take a bubble bath, to paint my nails, take a nap, open up a book. We must remember to put down the phone and shut down.

What's your favorite way to relax?

Dropping the Ball

Hey y'all,

I am so sorry for going radio silent since January. Work has been crazy and we have had three snow storms in the last two weeks alone. I mean, I live in North Carolina for a reason. I love the snow but being an adult requires driving in some bad conditions if your office doesn't close and driving in the snow is not fun.

Over the past few weeks I have contemplated giving up on blogging but I love the community that is here on the inter-webs. I thought about all the various things I foresee for this blog and I think I am going to do a couple tweaks. I mean, I will have graduated three years ago in May and I have learned a lot in the past few years. A few of my sorority sisters who are current seniors, KR and AJ, joked that they need lessons on adulting and that I should teach them all I know. I figured that I might start a small series on things I have learned over the last few years called Adulting 101. Things like, how to budget, meal planning for one, creating a work wardrobe, etc. So if you have any ideas for this series of what you want to see go ahead and place them in the comments below.


So now for a quick update of fun things that happened while I was away.
 

Gracie Gold warming up before the Free Skate

I spent four days in Greensboro, NC volunteering and attending the US Figure Skating National Championships. It was a lot of fun working backstage and seeing a lot of important figures in the figure skating world. One day when not volunteering I went up to watch the Senior Men's practice for the long program and attended the Senior Ladies' free skate. It was so cool to be in the arena and you can feel the energy supporting the beautiful athletes. I even was retweeted by Smuckers, one of the main sponsors of the event and my tweet was on the jumbotron.

I found the elusive Strawberry! 

I turned 25! I am officially a quarter of a century old! My birthday weekend actually had some kind of last minute change of plans since my baby sister, kDi, ended up moving to Ohio my birthday weekend so my parents visited me the following weekend. 

For my actual birthday, my roomie rHm got me some Dunkin Doughnuts munchkins and then we headed off to a cycle class. After getting our sweat on, I went to the Carolina Inn for afternoon tea with my roomie as well as part of my sorority family (one of my littles, mGk, and one of my grandlittles, kBm). It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend going to tea at the Inn if you have a chance. I had the Strawberry Delight tea and it was delicious along with all the treats that came with the tea including the best blueberry scones. After tea, I rounded out my birthday with a nice casual dinner at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar with a few friends. It was the perfect way to round out a fun and busy birthday!

The following Saturday, my parents had returned from Ohio and they took me to the local outlet mall for some shopping. It was a great day and we found a lot of deals. After shopping for a few hours, we drove back to the Triangle and headed to the Angus Barn with my roomie. If you have never gone and live in North Carolina, make a reservation and go. The Angus Barn had delicious food, great service, and an amazing atmosphere. Perfect for celebrations. 

Happy Birthday to me!

Between all the celebrations I have been busy babysitting, running (I'm training for the Tar Heel 10 Miler), and dealing with the busy start of the spring semester at work. 

However, last weekend, I took a mini break from all of my errands and typical weekend duties and I ran the Shamrock 'N Run 5K in Chapel Hill presented by Kappa Delta. It was a very cold morning (think 20 degrees before wind chill) but aJe was a wonderful running buddy and I was able to run a personal record. 

What have y'all been up to? What do you want to see for this blog?

Outfits of the Day? Adulting 101? Lifestyle? Workouts? Recipes?