Leather Backpacks

Clockwise from top left

Abercrombie & Fitch  ||  Asos  ||  Nordstrom  ||  eBags  ||  Kate Spade  ||  Barneys  ||  Selfridges  ||  Last Call

Fall is literally right around the corner. I can't believe it's already September - what the heck?! Western Washington has been experiencing some weird weather lately. It feels like it's late October, with all this rain and overcast! With that and back to school, fall fashion has been everywhere. Boots, sweaters, scarves, and parkas have been flooding wish lists, back to school shopping carts, and Pinterest outfit inspiration boards. 

I have been loving black leather backpacks. We have one at work (the A&F one I featured) that I'm dying to get a hold of! They're perfect for carrying a little more than a traditional purse, while being slightly edgy, but still super trendy and a good staple. Another perk? They range in every budget - the ones I'm featuring start less than $40 (the A&F one online right now!) to $140 (the Barneys one is 53% off - originally $315!!!). Plus, because of their material and color, these will be a great accessory year round - talk about a great summer music festival bag!

What bags are you eyeing for this fall?

Cheers!

Blue-BC

dress  ||  sunglasses  ||  sandals  ||  bag  ||  earrings (Francesca's, unavailable online, similar)  ||  watch  ||  bracelet (Tuckernuck, sold out, similar)  ||  ring (Kate Spade, unavailable)

This past weekend, Chris and I drove up to Vancouver, B.C. to see Nicki Minaj live (totally 100% guilty of loving her) and to tour UBC's Vancouver campus! The weather was perfect and ideal for exploring the campus. We stayed in an AirBnB for the first time and had a great experience! Our condo was on the same block as the arena Nicki was playing at, so we didn't even have to cross a street to get there. I'm a huge fan of Vancouver, so it was nice to spend some more time there with Chris.

While exploring UBC, we found this cute little spot that overlooked some water - I think it was English Bay! It was so pretty so Chris took some snaps of me. UBC is huge. We actually missed our tour (oops!) because we got lost getting there. The campus takes up so much space, but it's right on the water and has a beautiful view! It's definitely a top contender when it comes to schools I'm considering transferring to. We'll see!

This dress is from H&M and less than $20! I probably should have ironed or steamed it before wearing it out though... But it's super cute, comfy, and perfect for casual dress or a nicer occasion! And for less than $20, it really can't be beat.

Cheers!

Seattle Eats: Hot Cakes Grand Opening

Molten chocolate cakes, vanilla ice cream, and creamy milkshakes: what more could you ask for in a dessert shop? Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery, a Seattle cakery known for it's rich, delicious chocolate cakes, just opened a new shop on Capitol Hill in Seattle on Monday. The new shop is much larger than it's first shop, located in Ballard. The new shop offers an expanded menu, including soft serve and an outdoor fire pit to roast marshmallows! Additional seating is offered outdoors, perfect for warm evenings. 

Chris and I visited the shop Monday night for the grand opening. All night the line was out the door and many visitors took their orders to go or settled for standing, as all the seats were taken. This isn't anything new: the Ballard shop is known for having a line out the door most evenings! When we reached the counter, I ordered a s'mores molten chocolate cake (it was #NationalSmoresDay after all) and Chris ordered himself a peanut butter s'more milkshake! For the two of us, that was plenty. The cakes are small, but they're rich. The cakes come with a side of vanilla ice cream, but you can order it without or with a glass of milk instead. I was more than happy with my s'more cake: the marshmallow was perfectly toasted on top, giving it that fresh marshmallow flavor that most s'mores flavored dishes miss out on. Chris' shake also included a toasted marshmallow and crumbled graham crackers, and a delicious peanut butter flavor. If you're not feeling a cake or milkshake, they have other offerings on the menu: s'mores with smoked chocolate (a Hot Cakes specialty - it literally tastes like chocolate made over a campfire!), cookies, creme brûlée, hot chocolate, and even savory options!

The best part? Eating Hot Cakes desserts is guilt free! Ingredients are both locally sourced and organic, supporting the company's care of supporting farmers and being sustainable. 

Ballard Shop 5427 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Capitol Hill Shop 1650 E Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98102

TG

There are few ways to eloquently begin a post on loss. This past weekend, my small(ish) town of Snohomish lost a man that had a much larger impact than I could express. Snohomish is a town that loves tradition, high school football (though our record isn't anything to brag about), and farms - we're the go-to when fall comes around. It's no surprise when you see a giant tractor riding down the street or llamas (alpacas?) in your neighbors yard. Our town has a great community and currently, we're all mourning the loss of Tuck Gionet.

It's hard for me, or anyone really, to convey what Mr. Gionet meant to our community. He was a teacher that everyone respected and looked forward to having, an exceptional track coach that pushed his athletes, a world traveler who encouraged immersing yourself in another culture, and the father of our friends. Knowing Mr. Gionet was invigorating - he constantly questioned you and your choices, but not because he doubted them. He wanted you to understand the whys and the hows, not just the dos. My relationship with Mr. Gionet was funny - his family and my best friend's family were extremely close, so I initially met him through them. His son Kyle and I share a birthday and kind of always used that as what bonded us (haha). Three years ago, I was lucky enough to travel 30 days through Europe with him, on a tour he helped lead every other year so students had the opportunity to travel.

His appreciation and understanding of other cultures was admirable. Anytime I considering traveling, I'm reminded of his thoughts and our month overseas. Even though we were miles away from home, he never let us forget that no matter where we were, we needed to "leave it better than we found it." His leadership went beyond his classroom. Like many others this weekend, I've thought a lot about the memories we've shared. After our group first landed in Munich, we walked over 30 miles in our first two days. His energy and enthusiasm for traveling made all that walking so much easier. We took naps in public parks in Prague after eating lunch, hiked up a Swiss mountain (it was painful and I'll never be doing that again) and along Italy's coast (seriously, we took so many hikes), visited old Sienna, went to a lot of museums (which I have grown to really appreciate), learned to ride subways through cities, were taught how to properly hug a tree (an infamous Mr. Gionet joke that all of Snohomish knows), and were told how to react if someone tried pickpocketing us. There was one day that our group (think: 50~ people) went on a hike in Italy and my small group and I got lost. We ended up on the complete other side of a peninsula (I think...) than we were supposed to be. Even though we knew we would be fine, it was scary and stressful and we were tired and frustrated. When we finally reached the other side of the peninsula(?), I felt a huge relief when I saw Mr. Gionet's face, a little concerned, a little bit of trying-not-to-laugh, but mostly also relieved. 

Mr. Gionet had a quality about him that made everyone feel important. Hundreds of heartfelt posts sharing condolences, photos, videos, and fond memories flood Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, reminding us all how he made us feel. I wish I could share with you all the posts in his honor and how much love they each have. This post is not at all close to the emotion people are sharing and experiencing. Each one of us have had a connection with him that left us a little better than we were before we knew him. He pushed us to do our best instead of settling. He loved to give me a hard time about being an ASB officer because he knew just a title wasn't going to spread influence and make a different in our school (c'mon, we all knew that). Even though I wasn't super close with him, he's a figure that made an influence in my character and offered me experiences I wouldn't otherwise have had. He believed in actions, being on time, and investing wisely. He's the prime example of doing good and leaving behind a positive legacy that will live on and be celebrated.

Rest in Peace Mr. Gionet. After all the hard work you put into Snohomish, our school, our students, and our world, you deserve it. (Also, here's my favorite photo of you. Thanks for the opportunity to explore the world and teaching us all about where we were.)

Name Change + Updates

I love blogging. I love blogging and I love reading blogs. I love following bloggers on Instagram and Twitter, chatting with the girls I've grown close to through blogging (see: Undeniable Report), and working on my Instagram aesthetic (still in the works). But, I've fallen off the radar when it comes to actually publishing posts. I've really put off blogging and felt less motivated to write a post, take photos, and come up with post ideas. I really couldn't figure out why I lost so much motivation, but I recently came to the conclusion of why: my blog's name.

Prep Northwest has been the title of this blog since it began. Originally, Prep Northwest was a blog that focused on the "preppy" lifestyle, while including my college experiences. I started this blog as a way for me to cope with me going to college for the first time - I was attending a college I really didn't want to be at, and needed something positive to focus on. I wanted my readers to think "hey, here's a preppy blog, but she's located in the northwest." I do love the name, but it was really confining. I felt restricted. I'm from the Pacific Northwest and have roots here, and I really think my style reflects that and shines through. What I love about style though, is how no one really has just one style. Mine is all over the place: I can be very preppy with my Lilly, my Jack Rogers, and Vineyard Vines, but I also love my men's flannels, beanies, and dark makeup. I don't identify with just "being preppy," but a whole lot more. The title Prep Northwest made me feel like my blog couldn't evolve in the same ways that I was.

Changing a blog name is tough. I didn't know what direction I wanted to go, but decided to self title it. I want my blog to be a reflection of who I am, what I care about, and what goes on in my life. I don't want to feel restricted on what I share on here and try to live up to this "preppy standard" that I created. I mean, let's be real. I'm not that preppy.

With this name change, I'm excited to introduce new categories, a wider variety of posts, and some guest contributors! My cousin Azrah and my good friend Bayley are going to help write posts and give a different perspective. I'm very excited to include them and to produce amazing content.

Thanks for staying with me and continuing to support my blog. I now introduce to you, constance browne.

Cheers!

Favorite Body + Skin Products

I love skin care products. I'm not always buying new ones, but I have more lotions, cleansers, body washes, and fun luxuries than I really need (or use, oops). Recently I've been buying new items that I haven't used before and rediscovering classics that I'll always turn back to. I've rounded up my favorites to show you, but like I said, I love buying new products, so please let me know yours!

Bath bombs are everyone's favorite. A Lush recently opened in the mall I work at and I've already picked up four items... Oops. One includes this bath bomb, Dragon's Egg, which smells amazing. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any Lush bath bombs. They all smell incredible and all create this fizzy, creamy, silky bath water. My favorite bath bomb of all time is Sex Bomb, but I wanted to branch out and try new ones. I also really like many of their seasonal ones (around Christmas).

Another all time favorite product (or non-product?) of mine is coconut oil. You can find coconut oil at almost any grocery store, health food stores, etc. I've had jars from different brands, but I always get organic! Coconut oil does wonders. It melts at body temperature, so you have to be really careful when scooping some out to use. After I shower, I use coconut oil to moisturize my body, especially my feet! It's also a great facial moisturizer before bed (is that bad for your pillow cases?) because it get absorbed - plus it won't clog your pores! It's also great for hair masks, removing makeup, and cooking, but I keep my beauty and skin coconut oil separate from my cooking coconut oil.

I am a sucker for lotions. Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop, and Lush are my go-to shops for moisturizers. Bath and Body Works caries an aromatherapy line that I'm obsessed with. Chris' mom bought me the Energy lotion in orange ginger because I loved hers so much, and it's amazing. I'm not sure if it really boosts my energy, but the bright scent lifts my mood and makes me feel refreshed. the Sensual lotion, with jasmine and vanilla, is another favorite. It smells a little strong at first, but the way it smells after being on my skin for awhile is wonderful. It's soft, relaxing, and soothing.

The Body shop honestly carries the best body butters to exist! They are so moisturizing without being greasy, but they are pricey (around $21 a piece for the medium size). I bought mine during the Buy 3 Get 3 Free event (don't worry, 4 were gifts!). That same sale is currently happening, so now is a great time to stock up if you're also obsessed with body butters. Hands down, the Satsuma Body Butter is my favorite. Satsuma is the store's scent - they burn a satsuma candle and I love it. I also bought the Strawberry Body Butter, which definitely smells more like an artificial strawberry (but I love it). As gifts, I also picked up Mango, Shea Butter, another Satsuma, and Indian Night Jasmine!

During my most recent trip to Lush, I picked these two little pots up. The first one is a Charity Pot, a lotion that donates 100% of the proceeds to a charity! I didn't pick mine out, the associate just handed me one when I asked about it. I didn't realize when I purchased it, but the Charity Pots donate to over 600 charities! I keep this small pot in my purse so I know I have a trusty lotion on me. The scent is light and clean, which is also important to me. This cleanser, Angels on Bare Skin, is so nice. I was expecting it to be a scrub and was surprised at how gentle it was until I noticed it's a cleanser, not a scrub (I don't know how I mixed that up). The cleanser is dry until you take a small pinch out, mix a little bit of water in it, and use it on your skin. It can be a little messy, so I definitely wouldn't use it over the sink, just in the shower. It smells natural, clean, with hints of lavender, and really love how it makes my skin feel. It doesn't dry my skin out or have that chemical smell that drugstore cleansers have. This is without doubt going to be a repurchase! 

Those are my current favorite skin and body products! Let me know if you use any of these products, and what your favorite products are! I'm always looking for good recommendations!

Cheers!

Stars, Stripes, + a GIVEAWAY!

tank  ||  skirt  ||  sunglasses (from the $1 - $3 section at Target, similar here)  ||  coozie  ||  sneakers

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Happy Saturday! Can you believe it's already the end of June?! I feel like the month has just began. Our weather in Seattle has been amazing. Like, mid to high 80s almost every day - the fourth of July is supposed to be 96! I don't know how I'm supposed to stay cool. But I can't complain, I love hot weather, barbecues, laying by the pool, and waking up to sunshine coming through my windows! 

My brother and I went shopping at the outlets recently, and I found these cute crop tops (here and here) for my sister and I to wear for the fourth. If you have a PacSun outlet near you, definitely check them out for these tops - mine were buy one get one half off! I also bought three other solid tanks that were buy one get two free! I normally don't shop there, but I'm glad I popped in. 

There's nothing more American than a fourth of July party with Coca-Cola, big burgers (veggie patties for me), and wearing red, white, and blue. When I discovered Cruisey, I knew I needed to get myself one of those wearable coozies! They are perfect for enjoying whatever you're doing and not worrying about spilling or losing your drink. Not only do they offer this too-good American flag one, they have plenty with fun quotes (like this Get Nauti one), and an option to personalize one! It's easy to keep your drinks cold and still look stylish. Plus, they're all under $10, which is awesome for stocking up! 

Cruisey and I have teamed up to give one lucky reader a Cruisey coozie of their choice! Entering is easy: just use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway