Take Me Back to ACK

As I write this blog post, the North Shore of Boston is getting snow again...ugggggh, I'm tired of this, but I can't wait for June when my Momma and sister come to visit. Besides missing them terribly, I can't wait for Caroline and I to complete our first half-marathon and then vacay on Cape Cod/Nantucket. I sometimes like snow, but please take me back to summer on ACK.

Take Me Back to ACK by theconservativeprep

Eye Issues

Doesn't everyone love a new pair of glasses?? Whether it be regular prescription glasses or sunglasses, I love how glasses can play up a new outfit. As for prescription glasses, I have a pair of Ray-Ban New Wayferers in tortoise. I personally wanted the old school Wayferers because I like the structured look of them, but my husband said I looked like a huge dork in them. (Thank you, my lovely husband.) 

About two years, I had a serious eye injury where I had to purchase prescription sunglasses as I could not wear my contacts for two weeks. Unfortunately, my last optometrist did not correct my Rx sunglasses for my astigmatism and I got headaches while wearing them. I recently decided that I needed a new pair, but did not want to pay $250+ out of pocket. While reading other blogs, I discovered Warby Parker with their large selection of glasses and sunglasses that range from $100 to $250 including the prescription lenses. I hopped on a train immediately to head down to their Newbury Street store to try on and purchase a pair. I was shocked at how simple and easy the process to buy a new pair was.

The prescription sunglasses I chose are the Reilly in Marzipan Tortoise because I like that the glasses cover a significant portion of my face. I have a true affinity for large sunglasses. I think my next pair of regular Rx glasses will have to be the Marcel or Winston. If you do not live in a city with a Warby Parker store, then you have the option of getting five pairs of your choosing sent to you to try out for a week and the order a pair for yourself. You can't beat $100 for a pair of glasses. A few of my favorites that I have tried on:

Eye Issues by theconservativeprep showing how to wear cocktail glasses

Pardon My French

I have to admit something I find very embarrassing: I believe I have lost my French fluency. After taking twelve years of French in school and one year in college, I was conversationally fluent to the point where I could think in the language. Yet, over the years since graduating college, I have not been challenged to keep my fluency. My husband took Spanish, which in a completely snobbish way, I was never allowed to learn by my Cajun mother and grandmother. 

About two weeks ago, my best friend Lauren suggested I download an App called Duolingo to help regain my French fluency. Duolingo is a very easy to use App that employs both grammatical and conversational exercises to learn a language of choice. Over the course of completing a few exercises, I realized that lost that much fluency as I haven't been challenged. I recommended it for people who want to practice their language skills in about five minutes a day. That's really all you need.

Meanwhile, I am loving all the shirts and sweatshirts with French phrases on them. Just remember, it's not "trés chic" to Instagram yourself in one of these shirts with coffee and macaroons unless you can back it "en français, s'il vous plaît." 

Pardon My French by theconservativeprep showing how to wear white linen tops

Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2014

Massachusetts is currently getting another snow storm...yay for another five to eight inches. While I am waiting to be called off from work and pulling out my tall L.L. Bean Maine Hunting boots, I decided to browse through the Spring 2014 collection for Lilly Pulitzer. For the past two years, I have been slightly disappointed the majority of what Lilly Pulitzer had to offer. Being a huge fan of the old style shift, I have been rummaging through eBay and Re-Lilly on Facebook for any of the shifts made from 2000-2010 and the Lilly Originals Collection (Anyone have the Lilly Originals Worth or Bel Air shift in Stuffed Shells size 8 they are willing to sell me?? I'll pay top dollar.) My personal collection from that time period is almost complete with a few favorites from the past three years that are not too revealing or too bright. Lilly is supposed to be bright, but I am not supposed to worry about the hemline being too short, which has been shortening in the last few years.

When I went home to Louisville for Christmas, I stopped by my trusted Lilly store, the Peppermint Palm, and immediately asked for the "Book", which contains the next season's collection. The new store girl who I did not recognize knew what I was talking about as I have a loyal customer of The Peppermint Palm since high school. As I was flipping through the Book, I was pleasantly surprised that Lilly Pulitzer is finally heading back towards the basics, such as their classic prints and dress styles. Although I am not a huge fan of the Delia style (I was the designer would rise the dip in the back.), I am dying over the Bright Navy Fountain Hopping print in general.

Here are a few of my favorites and hope that Lilly puts out many more similar classic styles:

What are your favorite pieces from the Lilly Spring 2014 collection?

Staying in on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is fast approaching...and honestly, some couples and singles make way too much of a big deal out of this "holiday." I should not need a "holiday" dedicated to "love" to show my husband, Chris, how much I care for him. I know how much I love and he knows how much I love, but Valentine's Day also marks a day that I have been waiting for all year...Netflix releases the second season of House of Cards.

I am not kidding when I say that I am very excited for this show. Like most Netflix Original shows, I get hooked and marathon them to the end. *cough cough* ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK *cough cough*...House of Cards is different. Maybe it's the way I silently cheer on Frank and Claire Underwood as they scheme for revenge over a shared cigarette or the meat allusions Frank Underwood uses when he breaks the fourth wall, but I know all I want to do is have a viewing marathon of the second season on Valentine's Day.

As for gifts for the honey, I don't need or want anything other an Mexican take-out and my fill of Kevin Spacey's Frank Underwood, but those glitter Charlotte Olympia are mighty fine...

Staying in on Valentine's Day by theconservativeprep

Winter Storms and Fitness Goals Update

Hello my lovelies,

Winter Storm Janus has thrown a wrench into my schedule. I work in the afternoons and prefer to work out in the morning, but unfortunately, I will have to push that back to this afternoon before I start work. I am a stickler to my schedule, but instead of digging my car out of the snow super early this morning, I decided to take it easy and enjoy being stuck due to the weather. Therefore, I got some very important shopping done, gave myself a fresh manicure, and am currently marathoning Parks and Recreation. 

Hurry up, ladies. J.Crew is currently offering 40% off sale and free shipping. Although I am pretty sure I purchased the last Fluted skirt in Poppy, there are other great pieces on sale and you can't beat free shipping. Treat yo self.

Update on my fitness goals: it's official. Kaitlin is back being obsessed with running. I took a few years and feel refreshed. Since I am currently stuck to running on a treadmill due, I beat getting bored by downloading new episodes on to my iPad to watch during my runs and speed intervals (be careful to maintain proper running form while doing this). 

Also, remember that it is also very important to properly hydrate before and after being active!!

New Year, New Fitness Goals

Around Christmas, I try to come up with a new fitness goal for the next year. My sister is a runner and potentially wants to run the Boston Marathon in the near future. She mentioned to me and my husband about running the Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon. I haven't been a avid runner since high school when I ran cross country for two years, but in all honesty, I miss the runner's high I used to get. Therefore, fitness goal #1 will be to diligently train for this half marathon to prove to myself that I can actually do it,which also leads into my second fitness goal. I was planning on participating in the Nantucket Triathlon last summer, but unfortunately, when I moved to the North Shore, I could not bring my road bike. My Mom brought it last summer 20 days before the race and I did not feel that I could properly train for me. This summer, I am going to prepare to own that race.

New Fitness Goals:

#1: Train and participate in the Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon.

#2: Complete the Nantucket Triathlon

Here are some fitness goodies I own to help me get the best work out in:

If you have any advice on training, please share!!