GROOLEST APP..EVER!

Mean Girls reference, duh!

Since I've just been blogging about everything preppy lately...I ain't stoping now!

I wanted to let you guys know I discovered the coolest app. Ever.

download 3initials on your iPhone

...

...

I'll wait.

Still waiting.

Not convinced?

Basically this app walks you through your customized monogram background!

You add your initials *Make sure you put your last name in the middle if you want it like that*

Then choose font/background colors, as well as background design (checkerboard/polka dots/stripes/etc.)

You can also drag/resize to place it where you would like.

I tried it out a few times. Still struggling with the colors I like but it's a really awesome app!

....You downloaded it, right?

**

In other news, yesterday I wasn't feeling too great and didn't want to get out of bed (eventually I did) but this is what B said to me, which I found funny because we rarely talk about my bloglife (because he doesn't understand it). HE ALSO (tried) TO MAKE A MEAN GIRLS REFERENCE, which is rare because he always references movies I never understand: 

Happy weekend!

Public or Private?

Somethings, without a doubt should be kept private. But my question for you is, do you tell your "real" friends about your blog? What about your parents/boyfriend/3rd cousin that lives in another country?

For me, very few of my friends know. I either told them because they told me they wanted to blog, or it just so happened to come up in conversation. A good amount of my close friends know I blog, but when it comes up in conversation I just want to run away and hide....

That super awkward moment when I freak out because I get such a nice email from a new blog friend aka Lauren and freak out a bit only to realize the group of friends I'm sitting next to have zero clue as to why I'm so happy to receive a friendly email and can't wait to respond.

Obvi, I shouldn't be embarrassed it's my life. Wait but sometimes my life can be a bit embarrassing.

Like that time the other week when I was walking out of a local building I always go to (sort of like a YMCA) and was walking out with my friend. Someone waved to her and I totally forgot they were friends but I looked at her and she waved. So I obviously waved back, thinking I was important. Sike...wasn't for me at all. 

YEP. still think about it. probably will for the rest of my life.

Ultimately, I want to know if many of you guys keep your blog life private or public!

Tuesday Tunes

Freshman year. In frat basements. #Classy

Being in the car with my mom as a kid.

Things songs a bit weird, but it always relaxes me. My dad ALWAYS played this as a child, and I still love it. It makes me want to close my eyes and fall asleep.

JUST WHO DOESN'T LOVE THIS SONG. Single or not, you better be jammin'. Reminds me of summers with friends blasting it. Always always always.


Reminds me of happiness. The Lizzie McGuire Movie is my happy go-to movie!

beachin' it

Friday: Beached it. Ate icky fried beach food (always good at the moment, not so much after...). Ran into B on the beach. Yes, ran into. You'd think we'd be in touch but I went on a 6 mile walk and he saw me on the beach. (*screams YESSSSSS on the inside*)

Saturday: Put my DIY tote into good use. I love it! Also it totally matched my nails. and bathing suit. definitely feeling teal to be my summer color. Ended the night with Chinese food and photo shooting with the baby bro.

******

In other news...

I got my monogram pullover! 

I am reuniting with my 'birthday twin' from NY for a night at the shore. A little party never killed nobody

My bestie, is driving with her boyfriend from Boston to stay with me for the night and bought me tickets to Dave Matthews Band on saturday. SO excited.

Monogram Beach Tote (DIY)

So I want this.

But don't want to spend the money sooooo I made my own. 

Thank gosh for crafty people in the 21st century. 

What I used:

-Beach Tote Bag (bought at dollar store for literally like $1.50)

-Felt Marker/Sharpie

-Paint (Any craft store)

-Computer

-Paper & Pencil

-Font

1. So I started out making sure I found the perfect font. At first I wanted a loopy font but then as I searched through fonts I found my match. Mongolian Baiti (A preinstalled font on my computer). For me though, it did the job. I made sure the middle initial (for my last name) was in the center. and Bigger. I made the R and D size 400, while the G was 600. 

2. Then I took a pen and paper and traced it on my computer. I mean thats probably not the brightest idea right there but I do it all the time and have yet to see a problem. After, I went over it with sharpie and was ready to get to work!

3. I found the color I wanted (teal), and painted using a smaller brush. The tote I bought is not high quality made so I had to do a few coats of paint to get it to darken. 

Voila! A beach tote. Check my instagram this weekend to see when I put it into good use!

Happy weekend!

Preppy on a Budget

As I had about 12-15 tabs open of items I wanted from Marley Lilly, I narrowed it down to these. See, as I was looking through the prices I was thinking, "ooh! I just got a paycheck I can spend it all on Marley Lilly!!!" WRONG RACHEL. You. Are. Wrong. Luckily, I was smart enough to put my debit card down and proceed on with my day.

I went back on my computer, too soon and came across the idea of searching for these items on Etsy.  Guess what? Well, not a good idea for my debit card but I found all the items I wanted, FOR MUCH CHEAPER! The greatest part about Etsy, in my opinion, is that there are different 'shops' to choose from, that price things different. I put on my thinking cap and searched far and wide to find my cheapest options. 

1. Iphone Monogram Home Button

If you are looking for one, I highly reccomend MEEsDesigns. I placed my order and received it within 5 days. But want to know the best part? $2.90, including shipping. WOO. Count me in. It's been on my phone for a little under a week now and I've received so many compliments. Even my dad thinks it's the bee's knees.

Best picture I could take, sorry! ...But it fits perfectly!

2. Circle Monogram Window Decal 

Ever want to monogram your car? Because I sure did. I was SO excited when I received this in the mail! I knew I would love it from the start. I got it within a week and as soon as I picked it up from my mailbox, it went onto my car. No hesitations. Only $5.95, too!

Other items I ordered but have not received yet!

-Monogram Pullover & WindBreaker. Currently on their way but I luckily was able to save a few bucks here and there by not buying from Marley Lilly. There is nothing wrong with their products, but being on a budget makes it harder to buy from them!

What are your favorite monogram items?

Look out for a DIY post on friday!

Measure a year.

Nah, sorry this isn't a post about Rent, although I do love some La Vie Boheme.

I'm talking about my life in the past year. A lot has changed. And I mean, a lot. Read on, you'll see!
First off, I graduated high school a year ago today.

1.B and I have grown so much closer, since last end of June we were still in the one month phase.

2. I lost my best friend, due to a falling out. It was tough since we did everything together but life goes on.

3. I realized who my true friends are, behind everything.

4. I pursued my dreams and applied to participate in Miss New Jersey Teen USA pageant.

5. Hair color. From blonde to light brown to brownish red (what I'm stuck with now). I vow to not dye my hair for the rest of the summer. (I hope)

The only thing the same? Still jobless.

And the winner is...

If you ever are extremely bored and want someone to talk your ear off, contact me and ask about pageants. I am obsessed. I was rooting for Alabama from the start and she was only the first runner up. Congrats to Connecticut! I, like many of my other friends, did NOT see that coming.  

If you ask any of my friends, they will tell you I am crazily obsessed with pageants. As well as damn proud to be Alyssa Campanella's number one fan! 

So sometimes I think I'm funnier than people think I am...

...After loosing three followers, I want to share with you all my favorite tweets of my own from the night.

1. whoever let PA in was drunk #sorrynotsorry.

2. You can go shave your back now, Bye texas.

3. It's ok. I hate all my tweets too. I just can't help my over excitement. I love pageants, incase you had no clue

4. Shout out to the 3 people that unfollowed me during #missusa. You're loss, kiddos. Welp here's til waiting til August for Teen USA tweets!

My friends posts about me:

1.Happy I'm not with Rachel watching Miss USA....still recovering from Miss America

2. Ok it's official Rachel has the best pageant tweets

Thought Alabama had it in the bag the whole time. Oh well.

So here's to waiting 365 more days until Miss USA 2014. On the bright side, Miss Teen USA is in August! 

Also check out/advertise with Pageant Spotlight. A website great for businesses or people to get their names out there, as well as an opportunity for pageant girls who need help to cover pageant expenses.

I know you might pass by and think, psh they don't need my money. But they do. If you can even donate a few dollars to the person of your choice (once their applications are loaded), you are helping change a girls life. 

Daddy day!

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."

Dear Dad,

Although you will never read this (maybe it's a good thing), I just wanted to thank you for ALL you have done. Every day, you always amaze me with how much you care about me, and I appreciate it, although you don't think I do. Thank you for teaching me about boys, confidence, feeling good, and even money, although I cringe and cry at the thought of it. You're the greatest. Xo.

cue all the dad pictures on every social media site! 

Unless your dad is Dennis Quaid in the parent trap, I really don't care much. 

M.I.A, and some favies of mine

psh. please don't tell me you've never heard anyone abbreviate some words to make them sound like a total girl (read: totes, legit, fabbyfab, ya get the point). Hi! After some roadblocks and by roadblocks I mean brain farts for blogging, and a busy week, I am ready to relax.

1. beach day: got so lucky! Didn't read past page 8, but it will become my summer read!

2. twins: what do you think? (we're not actually related...)

3. change: of hair color as usual. You can't tell but it has a super red tint to it which is odd because the box said dark brown. yooooooou liaaaaaar!

see what i've been checkin' out this past week:

-Miss USA for PETA. they're all just really great people, and I think if you don't appreciate animals, you need to look more into this and STOP wearing animals!

-Wanna go to Disney? Me too. 

-Old school Fall Out Boy. YEEEEES. cue my weird scene wanna be days

-Best vines. Wasted away a good hour watching these. Sadly, some of them are hilarious too!

-I've been eating cowtales (super yum) and craving some chocolate covered gummy bears (a must have)!

**

My butt will be glued to the couch for ever on sunday. Miss USA. 9PM. Be there. or be me, and wish you were there. 

Chug a beer with Miss Illinois (JK)

Alright if you know ANYTHING about pageants you know that girls during pageants cannot drink. Silly Luke Bryan! But it's ok Luke, I still think you're hot anyway and I'd sit in Suntan city catchin' these rays with you.

ANYWAY...this upcoming weekend (Sunday night) is the Miss USA 2013 pageant. *Screams like a little girl on the top of her lungs* Yea, I'm beyond excited. Last year, it was during prom weekend and I made everyone watch, even the guys. I let them poke fun about it at dinner before hand, but before I knew it, there boy eyes were glued to the screen. Yuppppp, just what I thought!

This year, there themed photo shoot was The Great Gatsby. Fadil Berisha is a photo genuis. They all looked so beautiful. If you are interested you can check out their headshots here to judge for yourself or wait til show time and see my obnoxious freak out tweets via @rgord. I've lost many followers this way and I'm damn proud of it. 

Here's who I like (based on their photos), and in no order:

 Michigan. Hellooooo eyebrows! I want!

New York. Graduated from the school I'm transferring from. 

She is gorgeous though! I'm so excited for her!

Oklahoma

Idaho

Rhode Island

New Jersey. I'm a jersey girl so this is basically obligatory...but she does look gorgeous!

Hope you tune in sunday too! Who do you think will win?

Heyyy Alyssa (Miss USA 2011)...how did you get here? :P

What would you do with 20 seconds?

Alright. Think about it. And I mean think about it. 

Don't just scroll through this post like its no big deal.

Have you ever wanted to do something but couldn't muster up the confidence (Cue tears for its a Teddy Geiger 'For You I Will' reference)?

stop being lazy and do something!

Here's what I would do...

Well first let's get me out of my bed. or off the sofa scarfing down a tub of Ben and Jerry's peanut butter world ice cream. YUM. Maybe I'll somehow get the courage to be really aggressive and find a job, since my dad lives by the motto of if you aren't aggressive then people see you really don't care. 

With all this courage I hope to learn how to budget and not spend every paycheck the instant I get it (which I just did). In no way am I spoiled, I just stink at saving my money. need to learn, NOW. 

Sooooo I've gone ranting and made it from courage to Teddy Geiger lyrics to trying to tell you that I am not spoiled. If you're still here...hi! Normally don't just post about nothing interesting soooo here's the picture of the type of puppy I want.

ULTIMATELY, what would you do if you mustered up the courage to do something and didn't look back? I hate how with girls, including me, we let how people perceive us, or the silliest of things that don't even matter really affect us. 

*P.S: I appreciate YOU if you've made it through this post because this is utter nonsense and I've had a writers block for days...Any advice?*

Marley Lilly & "Blacations"

OOTD / Bracelet from B for our one year :)

---------------------------------------------

Soooooo getting paychecks is great right? Yea. Weeeeellll only when you can splurge a bit aka what I'm doing with my paycheck this time. oops. 

Besides ordering expensive pictures from the phillies game because I'm annoying, and trying to remind myself I am infact on a budget, why not check out some Marley Lilly?

1. Pullover Rain Jacket. Alright I really have zero of a purpose to get one of these gems. I just think there uber cute and I would like such a sorority girl/jap rocking these with some hunter rain boots. #Notsorry. Also what I totally just hashtagged on here. Turning into weird social media guy from the Bachelorette. $44.99

2. Car Decal. BUT WHO DOESN'T JUST LOVE MONOGRAMS? Yea. Exactly. So preppy. $14.99

3.Baseball Hat. After reading Robin's post on her Marley Lilly hat....I need one. Side note: I also need Robin to come back into the blogging world because I miss keeping up to date on her daily life but hey everyone needs a blacation. (yes, just made that up AKA blog vacation) $24.99

4. Boat Tote. Totally will admit I would have judge these bags as mom bags when I was a youngin' because my mom had one of these and made me lug them to camp at the wee little age of five. She also used to dress me in Lilly and I would die from the embarrassment. People change, huh?! $29.99

5. iPhone Button Decal. Probably one of the biggest wastes of money but who doesn't ever want to pimp out their phone???? If I had money to blow, I'd spend it on this. $13.99

What pointless yet amazingly awesome things do you keep buying just because you don't want to part ways? (no matter how dumb) 

**Starting to design blogs too! Cheapest package is ONLY $12! 

I love blogging so no blacation for me. But a real vacation would be nice!

Right Reasons

Finally caught up with The Bachelorette! Here's what I thought...

Brooks: Way cute date idea minus the cheesy-ness of sitting on the Hollywood sign. Totally would have loved a private concert from Andy Grammar. 

Ben: He played his cards right, for freakin' sure. I thought he was going to be a really sweet guy blah blah blah he had his little man come with him for the first time he stepped out of the limo. He causes drama by stealing Des away and all the guys have found mutual hatred for him. I was honestly disappointed he's a jerk. He reminds me of what will be the guy version of 'Tierra'.

Mikey T: I am suuuuuch a Mikey T fan. I don't know why. He seems sweet (for now) but  he seems like he genuinely cares. I'm fully rooting for the man

Bryden: I didn't think he had much of a personality at first but on his date with Des it seems like they really had hit it off. Except when he pulled out pictures from his accident. Literally LOL WHAT. Ya know its casual to carry those pics around on the daily.

But wait....what was the point of that music video????? Hi soulja boy.

The actual music video here

Change of plans

Totally wasn't going to blog today. Aka play hookie from the blog world.....but THENNNN I remembered I need to Link up with Lauren for Tuesday Topics!

8 goals for this month:

1. Find a job. Now now now now. This should really be my only goal.

2. ROADTRIP. or plan one to see friends I haven't seen in a year. 

3. Work out. Granted, I doubt I'll achieve this goal but that would be awesome.

4. Be more athletic! I started to be in May, with warmer weather and all and it's a lot of fun! Many of my friends and family are actually shocked with my athletic ability. (read: they all think i'm very lazy)

5. To not be so uptight and to let things happen. Yea right. I'll be lucky if I achieve this goal!

6. STOP SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON CLOTHES, RACHEL! YOU HAVE ENOUGH, said the angel on my shoulder. 

7. Learn to stop worrying so much about the future. Everything happens for a reason

8. Rewatch Greek. YEP, no shame. I finished all four seasons in two weeks so theres that...

 

June isn't that exciting of a month for me (as of now) so stay tuned!