My CRAZY Week

Via

This week has been CRAZY to say the least. All week I have been working on a project which I have had the whole summer to do, but waited until the last week #GoRachel. The project's deadline is tomorrow at midnight, and I am almost done. Praise The Lord, I  actually pulled everything together and got what I needed to get done, done. 

Because I have been working at this project all week I haven't had time to get posts up, and no I don't regularly schedule posts. It feels more genuine when I sit down at write a post and then directly after upload it. Expect posts to be back to normal come next week! 

xo,

Rachel

Sweet Summer Slumbers

Summer is all about doing the things you can't do from September to June, at least that's what it's about for me. Everyday(for the most part) from September to June I wake up at 5 am, and I love it. I like waking up early and getting my day started, but that means that I get less sleep and that's never a good thing. Summer is the best for me, because I can take my 5 am wake up and change it to a 7 am one. The one thing that always makes my slumbers(however short) delightful is a nice pair of pajamas. I don't know what it is, but there is something about a classic pair of pajamas(preferably cotton for summer)that excites me like nothing else! Everyone needs at least two sets of pajamas, one for winter and one for summer. I linked a few of my current favorites down below and shocker four out of the eight are from none other than J. Crew.

xo,

Rachel 

Make a Statement

Lately I've found myself looking at necklace and earring sets from J. Crew. I mean we all know how much I adore J. Crew and J. Crew statement necklaces, but never the earrings and necklace. I love how chic it looks when the necklace and matching earrings are paired together! I have linked a few down below, and guess what, they are all from none other than J. Crew. If you fancy to buy one, just click on it and bam you can buy it! 

p.s. the first set is my favorite! 

xo,

Rachel 

Matchbook Mag

Matchbook Magazine is an online "field guide to a charmed life" as they like to say, and in all honesty that is precisely what it is. Now I do wish that I could hold the fab magazine in my hands each month, but it's only available online. Don't fret though, you can read all of the issues your little heart desires with just a few clicks of the mouse, and you can even buy the things you see! Now down to why it is so delightfully fab. 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

   

THE MATCHBOOK GIRL

VIEWS THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE COLORED GLASSES •

 loves to throw dinner parties, but has been known to burn the roast 

• VALUES ECCENTRICITY OVER CONVENTION •

 is the first to laugh at her own bad jokes 

• KNOWS THE CHA-CHA, THE CHARLESTON, AND THE TANGO •

 paints her nails bright coral when she's feeling blue 

• IS INFINITELY CURIOUS •

 could happily live off of red velvet cake 

• PENS HAND WRITTEN NOTES TO HER GRANDMOTHER •

 has a signature shade of lipstick 

• SECRETLY THINKS SHE MAY BE BABE PALEY REINCARNATED •

 received an ipad for her birthday, but will never give up her library card 

• HAS A BUCKET LIST A MILE LONG AND DREAMS A DIME A DOZEN •

 is smart, but never a show-off 

• LISTENS TO THE DAY'S FORECAST, BUT TRUSTS HER OWN INTUITION •

 never says no to a sunday matinee at the theater 

• IS QUICK TO BLUSH, BUT NEVER SHORT OF A WITTY REPLY •

 has a skip in her step and a twinkle in her eye 

• ALWAYS SHARES HER LAST PIECE OF GUM

                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

                                                                                                                                                                                  

xo,

Rachel 

*all information via matchbook mag*

FAB Girl Bloggers

We all know of my obsession with the word FAB, so when Ashely emailed me about the new blogger community she started I couldn't say no! The idea she has it just as brilliant as she is; bringing blogger girls aged 13-22 together, without having them joining a "network" that gives them guidelines to follow. What could be better? With this idea in mind, Fab Girl Bloggers was born! I myself am a member(here I am) along with Sammy and Caitlin, two of my "bloggie besties" if you fancy! 

Q& A with Ashely

                                                                                                                                                                             

Who can become a member of Fab Girl Bloggers?

Any girl blogger between the ages of 13-22 can become a member of Fab Girl Bloggers! They can be any type of blogger, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, preppy, etc.

What does being a fab girl blogger mean? 

Being a Fab Girl Blogger means loving to blog, establish connections with other bloggers, and grow their blog.

What are your hopes for Fab Girl Bloggers in the future? 

My hopes for Fab Girl Bloggers in the future are to have brand opportunities and a huge amount of members. The teenage blogging community is huge, and I would love to see a majority of it come together and meet!

How did you get the idea to start Fab Girl Bloggers? 

 I've been a blogger for almost two years, and I've realized that there either aren't many teenager blogger communities or aren't any that I like. I love to meet new bloggers and help my blog grow, so I felt that creating a community for every teenage blogger would be the best way to do that.

Why should girls join Fab Girl Bloggers? 

Girls should join Fab Girl Bloggers because it's an excellent way to meet other bloggers and grow their own blogs. The Fab Girl community is all about having fun, broadening your blog, and making new friends!

                                                                                                                                                                                   

With all of this being said, I encourage each and every one of you to become a member of fab girl bloggers! 

xo,

Rachel 

Head Over Heels

Lately I have been LOVING heels, but not for the special occasions I usually reserve them for. I love the idea of dressing up and outfit with a pair of heels, especially in the summer. I am not one to love the white jeans and wedges look, it's been done before, but I do love the white jeans and silver metallic heels look. Sadly these darling J. Crew heels are sold out in my size! Luckily I found theses ASOS look-alikes! Until I find the perfect silver metallic high heel sandal, I will be stuck in my jacks, but that's not a bad thing! 

The next pair might be a bit too early to talk about, but how could I not love these ASOS tortoise heel sandals? They are the perfect little pair for popping around town, they'd be great for brunch, a dash into J. Crew(I can't help myself) or even for hosting a dinner party! The heel isn't too high and the tortoise is oh so chic. To be completely honest I could see myself strutting the halls of my school in these. 

All in all I think it's safe to say that I am head over heels about heels! 

xo,

Rachel 

xo

xo, something that I have a tendency of saying quite a lot. I know the term is usually reserved for love birds, but that won't stop me from saying it. It's a perfect way to end a text, an email, a blog post, or anything for that matter. It's so very simple and short but still conveys the aspect of I love you without actually saying it. What could be better? Maybe my obsession hit when I found myself looking at xo tattoo's, but don't worry I won't be  inking myself anytime soon, at least not with permanent ink! 

xo temporary tattoo

xo,

Rachel 

The Pink Palace

If you are not familiar with the glorious place called The Don Cesar, you are missing out, big time. Not only is it a Lowes hotel, my favorite, but it is also pink. I mean you can't ask for anything better. In all honesty I LOVE the don, it's one of those places that feels like home away from home! Luckily, whenever I go to Florida, I stay minutes from the Pink Palace. Having a best friend living in Florida has it's perks, especially when she lives a short walk from the hotel! Needless to say whenever you get the chance to visit the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Pass-A-Grille area, do yourself a favor and take a trip to the Don, you won't regret it! When you're there take a photo so you can have a memory of that fab hotel! 

The nickname "Pink Palace" is a true fit! Being a historic landmark, the hotel has to be painted a certain color, but maybe that's not a bad thing! 

The rooms are just as chic as the hotel, the whole place got a revamp just a few years ago and it's looking better than ever! On a side note, it is rumored that F. Scott Fitzgerald himself spent some time roaming the halls! 

Lastly, the selling feature of the hotel. If you look past the pink and the glamorous guest list, you will see that the view is to die for. It's truly gorgeous.

xo,

Rachel 

P.S. The lovely Dean from Proper Kid Problems spends many of his getaways here! If it's got his seal of approval then it has to be a hot spot! 

summer heat & sweet treats

I recently came across this photo on Pinterest, and had to share it with you. Tell me that I'm not the only one who things these coconut and blood orange popsicles look to die for! They are the perfect thing to reach for on a hot summer day. Put down the artificial food coloring nightmare and pick this up instead, your dentist will thank you later! If you want the full how to check out Fork Knife Swoon, while you're there you will find loads of other great recipe's! 

xo,

Rachel 

Top Knot Knowledge

The perfect, easy, carefree, cute hairstyle. The hairstyle that will not cooperate with my hair, or maybe that's the other way around! Let me break it down: my hair will not go into a top knot. Many hours have been spent in front of a mirror with many hair ties and bobby pins. I simply cannot make a top knot. Why is this effortlessly chic style so hard to achieve? If anyone knows where I can get some help with my lack of top knot abilities, please let me know. In the meantime, I'll be trying to perfect my sleek pony!

xo,

Rachel 

New Blog & New Beginnings

AAHHH I'm so excited! If you cannot tell, the new blog is up! This is so exciting! I am now the proud owner of my very own domain! Share the big news, tell the world, I could not be happier about having a place that's all my own! Don't fret, Lake Shore Prep isn't going away, it just got a little revamp! I'm still the same person doing the same blogging, only under a different blog name! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave them below! 

xo,

Rachel

P.S. everyone go thank Gabi from The Lobster Polo for making this gorgeous header! 

Where I've been

Something seems to be reoccurring here, I always say that I'm going to post this much or on this date and guess what? I never do. I hate to be the one that says "Oh I'm to busy" but in all honesty I AM too busy. I rarely get the time to sit down at the computer and just be free to blog. I miss the days when I was able to just take time out of my day to do what I love! This time I'm not going to say when I will be posting next, I'm afraid I'll jinx myself! So just look out for posts, and if you really want to be in the know, sign up for email subscriptions in the sidebar! I have to go, again. I have attached some 4th of july weekend photo below! I spent it with my pal, Em! It was a fab weekend! Hope you had a great holiday like I did!

xo,

Rachel 

Fashion Essentials: Beach Edition

{Hello Everyone! Rachel here, today the lovely Raquel came on and talked about her beach essentials with a 4th of July twist! Hope you all enjoy her post and check out her lovely blog, Simply Raquel Collette} 

Is there anything better than a day spent at the beach, basking in the sun? I can't think of any at the moment, but maybe I am a little biased because there is only one more workday until 4th of July weekend! I am going to be spending the long weekend up at my cottage, and you better believe I will be at the beach constantly! One thing that is definitely not on my agenda? Being unprepared for a long day spent in the sand! I always like to make sure that I have everything that I would need at the beach, but I never want to feel weighed down. There are certain "essentials" that I always bring with me, and of course they are totally 4th of July themed!

1. Oversized Beach Towel (monogram optional, but oh so adorable): I don't know about you all but having a towel that is super big is a must for me. Although I do love me some sand, I do not like it on my towel. Having room to spread out comfortably is totally necessary for a long day at the beach! PS, how cute is this monogram at the end?!

2. Festive Bikini: Yes, I am totally one of those girls that goes all out on the 4th of July regarding clothing.. bikinis are no exception! I love that this one still reflects the holiday but isn't in your face. I love that this bathing suit is not just your everyday striped one, but has adorable little ruffle detailing! Something I love even more? That these separates are both from Target, score!

3. Patriotic Cover Up: There is nothing more that I love at the beach than a good cover up! Especially when it is in the form of a striped Oxford. This is perfect to throw on over a bikini when it gets a little windy, or when it starts to get chilly later in the day.

4. Retro Sunnies: What is more American than a good old fashioned pair of sunnies? This pair is so fun and definitely has a little teeny bit of a Cat Eye going on. A complete Forever 21 steal!

5. No Burns Here: This may be the most important thing on my list: good old SPF! Whether it be moisturizer, BB Cream, or all over body cream, sun screen is a must for me. Especially when I know I am going to be at the beach and in the sun all day. This girl does not want to face a sunburn!

6. Happy Hair = Happy Raquel: Okay I thought of one thing that I dislike more than sand on my towel...the way the wind gets my hair all knotty. Ugh! Anyone else hate that? To combat having to brush my hair out for the remainder of my trip, I have my handy (and adorable) floppy hat and gingham hair tie. Whichever I decide to use, my hair will be out of the way!

7. Lippie (Pomegranate Raspberry flavor of course): I always make sure that I protect my lips as well as my face. This little eos is so convenient to throw in my bag and super easy to find because of the bright color!

8. A Good Read: For me, if I don't bring a book to the beach with me, I might as well not go! I am definitely not one of those girls who can lay on the beach for hours doing absolutely nothing. Plus, there is just something so calming about sprawling out, laying in the warm sun, and reading a great book.

9. Oversized Headphones: And this is to block out all the screaming kids when I am trying to take a little nap! Because that is what we all really go to the beach for, right?!

10. Fav Lilly Tumbler:  Call me crazy, but there is something about using a straw that makes me drink way more water than normal! Keeping hydrated is one of the most important things next to keeping skin protected! Plus, this is probably the cutest cup I have ever seen.

11. Carry It All Tote: And this gorgeous polka dot tote is what I carry my life in! This tote is just big enough to carry all my necessities but not too large that it's a pain to carry everywhere! Thank The Lord for Target!

With my tote bag full of goodies I am ready to take on a day at the beach, and just about anything the day might have in store for me! What are your beach necessities?
                                                                    xo, Raquel

pleased as punch

Via

I have been waiting for an email for the past month and it has been driving me absolutely mad! Today I finally got it, and I'm cheekier than ever! This girl is now a loop writer at Smart Girls Group! I could not be more excited! I can't wait to get into doing one of my favorite things, writing! It has always been something that brought me solace(yes that is from The Great Gatsby). Look for my name on the big screen aka your computer screen. Now that I'm a part of the fab community of smart girls, you should be too. Click the link below to browse their website, I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do!

xo,

Rachel