Back to School

Okay...let me tell you a little secret...I really want to be back in school. I am the first one to admit that I am pretty jealous of everyone going back to school, going through recruitment, and preparing for a Fall of football tailgating (GO CARDS!!). A former History major, I used to loooooove to write papers and research historical events. I wish everyone luck as they start their Fall semesters while here is my list of items that should be on everyone's school list:

Back to School by theconservativeprep

ONE || Chacos are pretty much my favorite sandal ever...yes, they are pretty granola crunchy, but I found them to be more supportive and durable than the traditional Rainbows a lot of girls wear. Listen to the Conservative Prep, buy the Chacos.

TWO || Find a good umbrella that will cover both you and your backpack. I have seen too many girls wear cute outfits to class on rainy days just to get completely soaked with their dinky $10 umbrella from Walgreens. Save yourself the trouble, buy a hair mask with that $10 at Walgreens, and go to Dicks Sporting Goods or anywhere that sells Vera Bradley and buy a golf umbrella.

THREE || I don't feel like I need to discuss how awesome Emi-Jay hair ties are...they just are needed for late-night study sessions or for intense intramural basketball/volleyball/floor hockey games.

FOUR || I am a Patagonia person married to a North Face person...somehow, our relationship works, but let me rave how much I love Patagonia pullovers. The nickel one shown above matched with some Lululemon Groove pants or black leggings would be really cute for cool nights walking back your dorms/sorority house from the library. I found my Patagonia pullover on eBay because I like the old vintage colors.

FIVE || I remember my first thunder storm during college...then I went directly to J.Crew to buy some old Wellies. In high school, I was not allowed to wear rain boots due to our strict dress code, but in college, I wore them on rain days and to muddy football games. Invest in some Hunter Boots...love my Smoky color ones.

SIX || Planners are very important in college. I lost mine for two days sophomore year and I was lost for a long time. Lilly Pulitzer made one in Tusk in the Sun and I suggest that all my conservative friends buy that one.

SEVEN || I have to admit that I had a hard time finding a suitable backpack/tote bag during my college days. I usually interchanged my Longchamp Le Pliage and L.L. Bean lime green backpack (from the sixth grade...that's how durable they are). My sister Caroline used one from North Face (I'm surrounded by North Face people.) and she loved it. The North Face is currently offering free shipping on their backpacks.

EIGHT || I am picky about pens...and USB ports. I like pens that are .05 width. Therefore, my pen case was filled with Pilot Precise V5 and Le Pens. The boutique at Design Darling offers the Periwinkle ones, a personal favorite. As for USBs, Lilly and Kate Spade offers some really cute ones that can attached to keychains.

Summer Days Off of Work

Summer Days Off of Work by theconservativeprep featuring kate spade watches

Snow on the North Shore and the Debt Ceiling

Hello readers,

I woke up to snow this morning and was really surprised to see it since it has been soooooo warm on the North Shore lately. Since I do not get to dress up for my job as a swim instructor, so sometimes I show up for work dressed to the nines because I enjoy it. This week I will be wearing the outfit below for a Child Abuse Prevention meeting in Haverhill. I tend to always be warm, so it would have to be very chilly for me to wear an actual coat. I love Patagonia's Los Lobos vest that I got for my birthday due that fact that one can dress it up (cords and oxfords) and down (over-sized long sleeve tee and leggings) for winter.

Snow on the North Shore by theconservativeprep featuring stud earrings

                               

Over the past couple of months, I have been loosely following the Fiscal Cliff debates in D.C. I have been disappointed with both the Republicans and Democrats over their tactics in coming to a solution to this economic problem. The person I am most disappointed with is President Obama. We get it. You won the 2012 Presidential election, but you don't have to act like a bully to the Republicans to push through your economic policies in this Fiscal Cliff debate. Republicans in Congress know Americans will blame them if this issue is not resolved properly, but the Democrats (under Presidential leadership) don't understand how to stop ridiculous government sending.

The tune of President Obama's song regarding raising the debt ceiling has changed for the last seven years. In 2006, Senator Obama stated that "Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally....Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren." In January 2013, Obama's tune changed to raising the debt ceiling and that he will not pay the GOP a "ransom" to raise it. While I agree that the United States not paying its bills to be "irresponsible", calling out Republicans is not necessary to the solution to the Fiscal Cliff. While many are proclaiming Obama to be a strong leader because of these statements, I do not believe him or Congress (regardless of political party) to be at this moment. Leaders solve problems without "calling out" their dissenters or laying blame. Remember, everyone elected official D.C. represents the American people. We can easily not re-elect them.

Words of advice for D.C.:

 SOLVE THE PROBLEM!! STOP LAYING IMAGINARY BLAME!!

Sources:

1. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324734904578243573783663786.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

2.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/04/obama-2006-vs-obama-january-2011-vs-obama-april-2011-on-the-debt-ceiling/

An Inclement Halloween in Salem

Happy Halloween!!

One of the first things people said when I moved to Salem, Massachusetts was that Halloween and the week before was insane...They were right. My husband and I walked a mile into Salem on Saturday afternoon to see the sights, which were the Salem Witch Museum, various cemeteries  and of course, the people in costumes. My favorite costumes were a group of friends that dressed up as the entire faculty of Hogwarts and stayed in character the entire time. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy passed through since Saturday. (Please keep all those who were affected in your thoughts.) My husband and I were okay. We live only a mile from the coast in the North Shore, but the South Shore shielded us from most of the storm. Well, since we still are getting rain from Sandy, but going into Salem for Halloween, here is my Halloween costume for tonight:

An Inclement Halloween in Salem by theconservativeprep featuring pearl jewelry

J Crew cashmere sweater
jcrew.com

Bardot mini skirt
$93 - bardot.com.au

Hunter rubber boots
$135 - johnlewis.com

Michele photo jewelry
bloomingdales.com

Givenchy pearl jewelry
nordstrom.com

Cat Treat Bag
$17 - potterybarnkids.com

Some pictures I took over the last four days:

The Salem Witch Museum: When I was in college, I took a class called Constitutional and Legal History I, which studied the legal history of the United States. We read a book on the Salem Witch Trials and discussed the "spectral evidence" used to condemn many innocent people of being a "witch."

Complete History Nerd Alert: I love a good museum and historical area. That's why I love Massachusetts so much. All historical buildings and places are protected. This house is a reconstruction of the houses in Salem around the time of the Salem Witch Trials.

My husband and I drove around on Monday night when Sandy took a break from hitting so hard. We drove from Nahant to Marblehead to see any damage, but we did not see a lot. I took this picture near a great restaurant in Swampscott.

Remember to vote on November 6th!!