The Conservative Prep's Holiday Gift Guide

Okay, it's been a while. A lot of positive things have kept my life very busy in the last few months and I can hopefully share that with you after Christmas, but with the holidays fast approaching (I was completely not ready for them), I have been keeping a small gift guide in the back of my head. I recently bought my first pair of Stubbs and Wootton and have been contemplating my second pair...What's on your Christmas/Holiday list?

The Conservative Prep's Holiday Gift Guide by theconservativeprep featuring an opi nail lacquer

Brooks Brothers

I don't know about you, but I've always loved Brooks Brothers for classic wardrobe staples that will last a lifetime. I received a promotion in the mail for 40% off one item and I've cut down my list to five finalists. Help me decide:

The Gingham shift is really calling my name...

Outfits of the Day

I'm not a fan of taking pictures in mirrors. It reminds me of those horrific MySpace profile pictures, so I'd rather just take pictures of my outfits laid out.

Here are mine for the week:

Shirt: J.Crew || Shoes: Bloch (similar) || Sunnies: Warby Parker || Watch: Michele || Ring: David Yurman

Shirt: J.Crew || Skirt: J.Crew || Shoes: Tory Burch (similar) || Sunnies: Warby Parker || Bag: Louis Vuitton

Sweatshirt: J.Crew || Denim: J.Crew || Sneakers: New Balance Alpine 574 || Watch: Michele || Jewelry: David Yurman

Shirt: J.Crew || Skirt: J.Crew || Flats: E. Porselli || Watch: Fossil || Sunnies: Prada

Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Who doesn't love Wes Anderson?? Seriously...let's be honest. When I was back in high school, a cross country friend of mine suggested the film Rushmore to me as it depicted a precocious Max Fischer as he navigated through extracurriculars and relationships while letting his schoolwork fall to the wayside. After finishing Rushmore, I was hooked on Wes Anderson.

The Life Aquatic, The Royal Tennenbaums, and Moonrise Kingdom are my most viewed DVDs and I cannot tell you how many times I made the kids I used to nanny watch The Fantastic Mr. Fox, but after heading downtown to Boston to see The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson has topped himself. I have never laughed so hard during an Anderson movie in my life and my husband even enjoyed it. This fast-paced adventure follows a hotel concierge and his lobby boy as they try to prove the innocence of the concierge in the murder of his former lover.

I hope this movie does well during the next awards season. Ralph Fiennes brought a certain finesse to the character M. Gustave H., but Adrien Brody stole every scene he appeared in as the villain Dmitri. I recommend this film as a great date night movie as opposed to the cliché romance films.

Step Into Spring

I'm seriously tired of wearing boots. Cold mornings sometimes still call for them, but I've been able to wear flats for the last weeks!! Can summer hurry up already??

A few of my favorites for Spring:

Step Into Spring by theconservativeprep

Friday Five

1. Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2014

Oh Ladies of the Pink Palace, do you know what you do to my heart and bank account? I'm obsessing over the new dresses and prints, but unfortunately, I am saving up for a new pair of E. Porselli flats. My only reprieve about the new arrivals is that I do not see a revival of the original classic shift design.

2. Half-Marathon Training

I have always been interested in minimal/barefoot running since I read an article years ago from a tall height runner like myself with knee issues take up minimal running after he read and researched a couple of South American tribes that still practice barefoot running today. Research shows that barefoot running helps keep a person in their own proper alignment as everyone is built differently, so I bought a pair of Vibram Bikila FiveFingers to try it out. I was worried about potential pain, but the exact opposite helped. Hint: take it slow and get used to the shoes. If you can only last five minutes in them, then only wear them for five minutes.

3. March Madness Update

My Cardiac Louisville Cards won thanks to powerhouse Montrezl Harrell and Cool-Hand Luke Hancock...wore the accessories I that I had on during the 2013 Championship game plus my red and black E. Porselli. New superstitions arising...

4. Sporty Trend

I am trying the sporty trend because I consider myself "athletic" and it is super comfy.

5. Smoothie Recipes

Does anyone have any good smoothie recipes they want to share? I like to enjoy them after a workout.

J. Crew April New Arrivals

Can we talk about the amazing-ness the are the new April arrivals at J. Crew? I started shopping at J. Crew my junior year of high school as American Eagle wasn't doing it for me anymore. When I started shopping there, J. Crew offered a large selection of casual prep wardrobe selections. I still have many dress that I still wear and refuse to give anyway.

With April's new arrivals, J. Crew has returned to its old glory days of bright "go to hell" colors and fabrics. I'm currently obsessing over these items (All photos belong to J.Crew):

I want to head down to Fenway in this for a Red Sox game.

Great A-line dress for a date night!!

For all my fellow private school preps who can't part with tradition.

With dressy black shorts and pumps, this shirt can be a new kind of formal.

The perfect length for a spring skirt.

Counting down the days until I'm on the beaches of the Cape and Nantucket...

All J. Crew needs to do is bring back its Repp stripe headbands. Jenna Lyons, please head my words.