Appalachian Homecoming 2013!

Now that I've shared my guide to the perfect homecoming, I can't wait to tell you what made mine so fabulous!

On Friday, I had to work all day long, and was jumping up and down when five o'clock finally arrived! Katy was picking me up at 8:30 that evening, so everything needed to go smoothly until then. After a nap to recharge, I got ready except for changing my clothes and curling my hair. Katy was nice enough to do my hair at her house, then I put on my outfit.

That night, I wore a black, 3/4 sleeve romper from Forever 21, a cheetah print belt (old), black wedges from Target, and carried my Philip Lim for Target mini satchel.

I loved this outfit because it was the perfect combination of sassy and cute!

Our sweet friend, Ivey came out with us that night, and happened to be turning 21 at midnight! Celebrating her 21st birthday AND Homecoming was double the fun! Here we are getting ready to go out!

We knew that the nearby bars would be super busy since it was Homecoming weekend, so we got there about 10:30. Of course I had to take a picture of the bouncer checking Ivey's ID before getting her first wristband a Tapp Room!

After having a drink and seeing tons of old friends, we made our way to Klondike for even more fun. There, we were able to meet up with Kaitlyn and Grace, who had been at a sorority function earlier that night. We hung out until about one, then headed home to save our energy for tailgate the next day. It was such a fun night!

On Saturday, I got up at 7:30 to start getting ready. On Homecoming weekend, I don't think there's such a thing as getting up "too early!" This allowed more than enough time for Katy to come scoop me up so I could do any finishing touches at their house. By 11AM, we were gameday ready!

For the Homecoming tailgate/game, I wore a black shift dress with a gold overlay from Francesca's, black suede booties, a few Lily & Laura bracelets and carried my Philip Lim for Target bag.

This outfit was super comfortable, and just dressy enough for a girl that loves to overdress like me!

Around 11:30, Katy's family picked us up for tailgate. Here are me, Katy and Kaitlyn in our Homecoming black and gold!

Talk about some good food! Katy's family thought of everything from burgers, to nugget trays, dessert and everything in between. This was my kind of tailgate, and I'm so thankful to them for having us!

After lunch, it was time to visit the sorority and fraternity tents at Duckpond. We made sure to take a picture of the Princess Family at tailgate! Though we're missing a few girls, it was still good to have all of us together again.

Katy's side of the Princess Fam!

After hanging out at Duckpond, we were ready to go into the game, even if if was for just a little while!

After the game, I headed to the nearby bars, to see even more familiar faces. I finished my Saturday night with a fun dinner with a friend from college. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend!

Now that I've finally mastered the art of Homecoming, I already can't wait until next year! There's always fun to be had and black and gold to be worn!

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A Guide to the Perfect Homecoming!

Now that I've experience my second Homecoming as an Appalachian alumna in all its glory, I wanted to put together my personal guide to the perfect homecoming weekend! I've experienced six different Homecoming weekends (four as a student + two as an alumna,) and I think I've finally got the routine down pat!

The Princess Family at tailgate this year!

1. Plan your outfits ahead of time!

If you're anything like me, there's nothing worse than being stuck in an outfit you don't feel comfortable wearing. I felt this even more as an alumna, knowing that most of the people that I'd be seeing, I only see once a year. To make sure the weekend was a success, I picked out my outfits for Friday (pre-homecoming festivities), gameday on Saturday, and Saturday evening way ahead of time. Sunday of that weekend should be left for recovery, so I knew that a sweatshirt and leggings would do the job.

This is the black romper I wore for going out with friends on Friday night. I bought this weeks ago, had it altered and made sure it was ironed and ready way before Homecoming.

This is my the black/gold dress that I wore on gameday. I bought three Homecoming dresses, yes three, but finally decided on this one! I wanted to make sure that I was wearing a dress that I loved, and had Melody written all over it!

2. Don't over-plan your activities!

My best friend Katy (a fellow Appalachian alum) and I had a general idea of what we wanted to do during the weekend, but we also knew that things would pop up that we hadn't originally planned. Keeping this in mind helped us to be a little more relaxed when things changed. If we wanted to arrive super early, or stay some where a little longer than expected, that was just fine with us.

Me, Ivey, and Katy getting ready for Friday's festivities!

3. Touch base and take photos!

Homecoming gives you the opportunity to see friends that you never thought you would. This is one of the main reasons that I love it so much!  Don't hesitate to touch base with people you haven't seen in a while, and snap a photo! I love looking back on how people have changed over the years.

Three generations of the Princess Family out on Friday night!

4. Go to the game!

I've been known to attend tailgate on gameday, and not even go to the game. It's not that I don't enjoy football, I just like the social aspect of it a little more! This year, I made a point to attend the game, even if it was for just a few quarters (we weren't doing so well), and I'm so glad I did. I got to see our awesome stadium looking Homecoming-ready and experience the excitement that is "Appalachian Football!"

5. Make plans for Saturday night!

Before this year, it never occurred to me to make plans on Saturday evening after the game. I had always assumed that homecoming-goers tailgated all day, went to the game that afternoon, and then stayed home to rest that evening. This was absolutely not the case. When I left the game this year, I headed to the nearby bars to see even more familiar faces, and later had dinner with a good friend from college. I would have gone out that night as well, but with no energy left, my bed was calling my name!

Everything went off without a hitch last weekend, and I couldn't have asked for a better Homecoming!

What are your to-do's for the perfect Homecoming?!

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Five on Friday: Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer & Lululemon!

Hello Everyone & Hello Friday!!!

When I leave work on Friday afternoon, it's a completely different feeling from leaving work every other day of the week! I can't wait for that feeling in just a few hours! I've got another exciting weekend filled with family and weddings, but in the meantime, here are my FIVE favorite things from this past week!

[ONE]
I finally went to a Lululemon store! After reading about Stephanie's love for Lululemon products, I had to see what all the fuss was about! Last Saturday, I tried on one of their sports bra, and fell in love! The Energy Bra in Blue Moon would be the perfect top for the Princess Half-Marathon next February. It has a ton of support for a long run, and is still super flattering! I plan on going as Cinderella, and it is the perfect color!

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[TWO]
I've officially purchased my dress for Homecoming this year! At Appalachian, football is a big deal, and Homecoming is one of my favorite events! It's the perfect time to see all your favorite alumni and dress in your best black and gold! I think I'm most excited about this year's dress because it's different from anything that I've ever had before! Here are a few of my Homecoming outfits from years past!

2010

2011

[THREE]

I found out that I get to work closely with Convocation and Commencement again this year! This was huge news for me, and such a relief, that I can be super involved with something that I'm so passionate about! Convocation is on September 10th, while Commencement isn't until December the 14th!

[FOUR]

The Kate Spade Surprise Sale was one of my favorite parts of this week! Luckily, I saw a tweet from Summer Wind to go check it out, and I'm so glad I did! Though I could have spent my whole paycheck, I did make out with one fabulous item! The Eat Cake For Breakfast Gia! Did you scoop up any new Kate Spade at 75% off??

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[FIVE]
I have been looking for an announcement about the Lilly Pulitzer End of Summer Sale basically all summer long! If you've never participated in this sale, it's when most of Lilly's Summer clothing is on super sale, and you can scoop up all of those fun items you've been eyeing, but had waited to purchase! I saw yesterday that Lilly stores are saying the sale will go live on Monday, August 19th and last through the 22nd! Have you got your wish list made out? I know I do! The Lilly Goodie Goodie Necklace is one thing I've got my eye on!

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Have five things you're loving this Friday? Link-up and let us know!
Happy Friday Y'all!

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Tailgate Essentials & a Winner!

Today, I'm on my way to my alma mater, Appalachian State University for Homecoming weekend! Homecoming is a big deal at ASU, as it is for most schools, and I can hardly contain my excitement! There are so many people that I am looking forward to seeing and hanging out with! Fall is beginning to be one of my favorite times of the year!

In the spirit of college, homecoming, football and tailgating, here are my top 5 tailgating essentials!

Made with Polyvore

1. Great outfit: No tailgating experience is complete without a cute dress or blouse and skirt supporting your team! I love to dress up for football games! (It gives me another reason to shop!)

2. Great shoes: I have worn a variety of shoes to games, including sandals, high-heeled boots (big mistake!) Sperry's, etc. Of all the ones I've tried, boots with a low heel, like a cowboy boot style have always been the best choice! They're cute, look great with a dress or skirt and it doesn't matter as much if they get dirty!

3. Great accessories: I always try to pair an Appalachian button/pin or yellow accessories of some kind with my black outfit. It makes your outfit pop and shows your school spirit!

4. Great food/drinks: This should go without saying, but you aren't really tailgating if good food and drinks aren't present! In past years when I tailgated with my sorority, our tents were always catered with good food before the game! So much fun! Drinks are also a must!

5. Great company: No matter where you are and what you're wearing, the people that you tailgate with truly make the experience! I am so excited to see fellow alumni (I've gotta get used to saying that), sorority sisters, old friends, and even some teachers!

I absolutely can't wait!

Also,

I am so happy to announce the winner of my Stella & Dot birthday giveaway!

The beautiful Stella & Dot Luxor Bracelet goes to:

Lucky number 52, Michelle Wong!

Michelle, please email me at sweetlikeasong@gmail.com to claim your beautiful prize!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Life Update!

I assumed that when I graduated college, I would have more time to blog and post about fun things. This is definitely not the case! As many of you probably know, looking for a full-time job is a full-time job in itself, and it's where most of my time is going!

Here's an update as to what my life has consisted of over the past few days!

1. Looking for a job like crazy!

Since I concluded my internship last week, and am no longer required to do office time, I have been looking for a full-time job like nobody's business. I would love to do something marketing, event, social media related, so if you know of something, hit a sista up!

2. Decided I'm going to Homecoming!

Homecoming at Appalachian is a BIG deal,  and I was super bummed when I saw that we had a wedding that day! It isn't until October, but friends of mine are already talking about all the festivities. Last year, I was lucky enough to be on the Homecoming Court, when my parents & I got to go ON THE FIELD! There's still a few details to work out, but it looks like I can have someone fill in for me at work, and I'll be heading to Boone on October 6th!

3. Shopping!

I'm a born and bred shopped, so whether I have a job or not, I'm always looking for a cute outfit for some occasion! Yesterday, I headed to the mall to look for a possible Homecoming outfit! I checked a couple different places, and ended up at H&M! I have shopped in H&M multiple times, but this was my first actual purchase! I scored my cute game day smock for just under $30! Woohoo! Be looking for a post on this later on!

4. Looking at this necklace!

I have seen so many great ways to style this J.CREW inspired bauble necklace, but I don't have one of my own yet.

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That's where you come in! Those of you that have this necklace, I would love to know how you like it!  Is it easy to wear? Heavy at all? Any information would be appreciated!

5. Working more at Sam's!

In the midst of completing my internship and looking for something full-time, I'm working at my restaurant job about 4 days a week now! Though I love everything about Sam's, I'm ready for something full-time, in an area I'm interested in! A salary would be great too!

6. Planning a party!

I am BIG on birthdays, and my 22nd birthday is a mere 29 days away!

What better excuse do I need to put together a guest list, find cute invitations and a new outfit?! While my 21st birthday was like most people I know...a bit hazy, I'm looking for this year to be a little toned down, fun and memorable with some great girl friends! I'm thinking about having dinner at Village Tavern, and then heading to this new bar & grille called The District in downtown Winston-Salem! Have you heard of it?

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about what I've been up to lately! Enjoy your Wednesday!

Homecoming Weekend Recap

Big/Little

This weekend was so much fun, but I am so glad that it's over with! On Thursday night, I was in charge of putting together Big/Little Revealing. This was more stressful than any other event during the new member period, but it was amazing and everyone had so much fun!

At revealing, the bigs dressed up in costumes and covered themselves in layers upon layers of clothes. They each gave their (soon-to-be) littles corresponding outfits and had them wear it to the actual reveal. Groups of bigs went to the front of the room and danced to music, while taking off their layers one by one. When they reached the bottom layer and the little saw who her costume matched with, they ran up to the front and hugged their big! It's so exciting and suspenseful! Here's a few pictures to help you understand.

My littles, Sharyn & Katy, are the two on the left!

 The Princess Family always dresses up in crowns and wings! 

Sharyn & Katy had just revealed to my 4 new g-littles!

The new and improved Princess family!

We love you Kaitlyn, Ivey, Liz & Kim!

Homecoming Function

Friday night we had our annual Homecoming date function. I borrowed a beautiful Lilly Pulitzer dress from my good friend, Alex, and it looked so pretty. Jake and I had so much fun dancing and posing for pictures:)

Homecoming Parade & Game:

I stressed all week about what jacket to wear for the Homecoming parade and game. I tried a ton of options, but nothing looked right. I'm not one to settle if it isn't exactly what I want, so on Friday around lunch, Jake and I hit King Street (the one place in Boone, besides the outlets, that has decent shopping). The first store I went into was Gladiola Girls and Jake spotted this gold coat with a large collar and beautiful buttons. I tried it on and we decided it was perfect!

http://www.tulle4us.com/Products/?grid=1&catid=18&sale=0&sid=0

Thanks to a coupon I had and some help from my mom's sweet friend, Tammy, I got it for a great price! This paired with the black Vineyard Vines dress I picked out, was just the right combination, especially for the 40 degree temperatures the morning of the parade!

Here's Dylan and I in our mustang for the parade!

On the field!

 Oh my gosh! We're on the big screen!

 Mama, Daddy, and I showing our Appalachian pride!

Though I didn't win Homecoming Queen, I had SO much fun! Being part of the court was absolutely amazing! It was a great, eventful, exciting, stressful, exhausting weekend.

What were you up to this weekend?

Sweet Surprises!

I had such an amazing fall break this past weekend, and the funny part is, most of it was completely a surprise! I'd expected that I'd be laying around a lot, finally eat something besides fast food/take-out, and working some hours at my old high school job, but I hardly expected to have so much fun or be so busy!

I left Boone on Wednesday afternoon around 3:30pm headed for home, and after making a quick stop at my favorite consignment shop, I got there around 6pm.

Beautiful leaves along the way!

During my drive, I realized that I'd gotten an email from Appalachian saying that I had been voted onto Appalachian's Homecoming Court! I knew that I was nominated to be put on the ballot, but had no idea I had any chance of making it on the court. What an honor! The top 8 guys and 8 girls were chosen to be on the court and able to come out on the field during the Homecoming game! I'm so excited to represent Alpha Phi & Appalachian. I could care less if I win, I'm just so honored to be a part of it. When we got nominated they took our picture to put online...

Here's mine!

I finally got home and my mom had hot homemade vegetable soup waiting for me! 

Brownies after dinner? Yes, please!

I spent my beautiful Saturday in Chapel Hill. My friend Patrick goes to UNC and he invited me to come up to the football game on Wednesday afternoon, yet another surprise. We had so much fun tailgating and going to the game. 

 Loved this ice cream with blue and white sprinkles!

After hearing about Homecoming, my mom and I were on a mission to find a black and gold outfit. We searched high and low in 3 different towns and found nothing! Apparently yellow/gold is not a very popular color this season! On Sunday, we headed to our last stop, the Tanger Outlets about an hour from my house. I finally found a black dress that I loved at the Vineyard Vines outlet store! We snatched it right up and for additional 30% off thanks to Tanger's Powerful Pink Card that supports breast cancer research. The dress isn't on their website, but I'm super excited to show you the pictures after Saturday.

We also found a great pearl necklace from the J.Crew Outlet and saved 25% with the Pink Card! I thought this added the classic elegance that I love!

It looks a lot like this one! 

www.jcrew.com

This week I have Alpha Phi's annual Homecoming Function on Friday and the Homecoming game on Saturday! Pictures soon! Yay for an amazing fall break:)