Wordpress vs. Blogger

So far I have spent close to 30 days trying this Wordpress platform and am happy to report that I have more than 30 followers! Before starting Urban Prep, I was already familiar with the features since I had worked with Wordpress for a high school project. I did a lot of research regarding which platform to begin my new blog on and ultimately decided to stick with this host since it seemed more professional. However, I have grown dissillusioned with the lack of content. 
That isn't to say that there aren't thousands of posts each and every day from fellow bloggers, but that they aren't posts in my realm of interest. I know growth takes time, but I really need to think hard about what platform I want that growth to be on. I don't want to spend all this time creating new content if my viable audience uses Blogger. And it seems like everyone is using Blogger! So what should I do next?  For now, I have launched an additional Blogger site and am updating content on each.

Creative Classroom

Zak Peric filmed this time lapse video of his students designing a wall mural entitled, "The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do!" In three days, his students created an incredible mural using only black ink. I think more schools and educators should encourage creative expression from their students, rather than stifle it.

Lighter, Easier Travel

Here's everything it holds, and it includes a pen!

I love to travel, most especially when I am not slowed or weighted down with many belongings.  This summer I spent nine weeks in South America with only a backpack and a handbag.  Admittedly though, I took twice as many belongings for nine days in China this March.

So I haven't entirely mastered the art of traveling lightly... but I have mastered carrying minimal weight onto the plane (as in after checking one heavy bag).  One item that contributes significantly to light and quick travel is a leather passport cover.  Not only does it hold my passport, but also the one or two credit/ATM cards I choose to travel with, my boarding pass, my customs documentation, those pesky immigration papers some countries make you carry throughout your travel (ahem Peru, China), and an emergency Benjamin to pull out in a pinch.

However, I find that it is difficult to remove my passport from its cover first at security, again at the gate, again through customs, and finally at the hotel.  Pulling it out from the main compartement so many times makes it easy for an important document to slip out unnoticed.  So here is the solution I stumbled upon recently: Bellroy's Leather Passport Sleeve Wallet (quite the mouthful).  Bellroy thoughtfully crafted a light sleeve with deliberate slots for all your important documents.  Because the passport resides in the center slot, away from any other documents, you never risk misplacing papers in the airport.

I love that it is thin and that it includes a small pen for filling out immigration forms.  What do you think?


Bellroy Passport Sleeve from Bellroy on Vimeo.

All American Fashion

I could not be more in love with my new white Keds. And what could be more American than baseball, blue jeans, and spiffy white Keds anyways?

I personally think they are the perfect shoe for sporting events, concerts, and quick lunch dates. Sometimes I even pair them with casual summer dresses and skirts to make the outfit more youthful looking. They are über comfy and even more so if you slip in one of those Dr. Scholl rubber arch support pads.

The only draw back is dirt!! I wore mine to a concert when it started to pour, thus creating some icky mud. I can definitely still wash them and take a speck of bleach to the white canvas but be forewarned! If you are a messy soul like me, perhaps opt for navy or another bright color!

Featuring Train and John Legend

Penn sure knows how to throw a party! In celebration for breaking all capital campaign fundraising records, Amy Gutmann, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, decided to throw a spectacular concert in Penn Park.

She invited two Grammy award-winning artists (well one is a band), Train and John Legend to perform for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and their guests. Despite some thunder and lightening at the outdoor venue, everyone had a blast. I even made it up on stage to dance with Train (who I looooooove). I was a happy camper. Check out the pics.

There was a bit of criticism from students who pointed out the sheer expense of the concert and how the funds could be used more constructively. I understand their sentiments, but I think AGutt meant for the event to be a celebration of Penn identity and pride (after all Legend graduated with the class of '99). It will hopefully push more people to donate in the future and continue to strengthen their relationship with Penn even as alumni.

Go Fish DC

 Shrimp and Mahi Mahi tacos

Earlier this week my mind was blown by an incredible lunch that came from a truck of all places.  Now Philadelphia is chalk full of food trucks, but the trend has yet to catch on quite as strong in DC so I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this local delight through Twitter.

The woman who runs Go Fish DC graduated from L'Academie de Cuisine and has put together quite the fare of lobster rolls, crab cakes, shrimp tacos, and daily soups.  The best part about her business is that it moves around the city and through the outlying suburbs of Montgomery County.

I highly recommend the Maryland Crab soup, and the Mahi Mahi tacos are great if you come very hungry.

Go Fish DC Food Truck

Need a Reason to Smile?

As a forewarning, do not watch in an office cube or illicitly during a quiet study hall because you will be peeing your pants trying to stifle a laugh.  Seriously, you won't make it past Tyrannosaurous Rex or whale for that matter.

FilmFest DC 2013

I am a film fanatic.  On an ideal Sunday afternoon you can find me in a Landmark theater with a large tub of popcorn drifting from one showing to the next of the latest and greatest foreign and independent films.  This past fall, while I was still living in Philadelphia, I was fortunate enough to have made it to two films during the 21st Philadelphia Film Festival.  It took me a few months to realize that many large metropolitan areas, including DC, host their own annual film festivals.

On Saturday I went to the Goethe-Institut to catch a compilation of four different international "short" films.  I loved three out of the four that I saw including No Bread (Chile, a commentary on the effect of large grocery chains putting small merchants out of business), Family Dinner (Sweden, a short film about the strains of infidelity on a young family), and Ellen is Leaving (New Zealand, a sweet, sincere story about a young woman trying to find a replacement girlfriend for the boyfriend she leaves back home).

And which others do I want to see?  I list them below:

1. Kings of Summer


2. Paradise Love


3. Paris Under Watch (appropriate after yesterday's bombings)

I cannot wait to attend some of these showings in the next week.  The general public rarely have a chance to see films produced independent of the major Hollywood studios and, thusly, miss out on the creative and provocative films of those directors, producers, and heck even actors who are just making it in film.  If you have a spare night, the DC Film Fest is undoubtedly worth a few hours of your time.

Emerging Musician: Gabriela Francesca

[caption id="attachment_639" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Gabriela Francesca[/caption]

I wanted to share with y'all an amazingly talented singer I met during a short stint a boarding school five years ago.  Gabriela Francesca is currently studying at Berkelee College of Music in Boston and writing (plus performing) some powerful original songs.

I personally consider myself a mega-fan, having watched her evolve from her first Youtube videos to where she is now.  I fully believe this young woman is going places, and fast.

Currently she is trying to secure a spot performing at Bonnaroo (a huge music festival in Tennessee each summer).  If you feel so inclined and like her music then go vote for her here: VOTE.  I've been voting every day!  Gabriela is currently ranked 25th out of over 1,000 others so there is a very real chance that your vote could help.



 

WordPress won't let me post a second video, but check this one out as well!  This is one of my favorite songs that Gabi wrote a while ago.  Found HERE.

Cliffs of Dover Eargasm

Despite having absolutely no lyrics, this Cliffs of Dover is the ultimate "pick-me-up song."  Just listen and appreciate the manner in which Eric Johnson moves his fingers across the guitar, and with such confidence and ease.  I cannot help but smile every time I put this song on.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/15eu7ar5EKM]

Note: if you are short on time, start at the two minute mark.

Picture Perfect Summer Sandals

I decided to call in the expert on this post.  My friend Nicole has a shoe collection that probably rivals Kim Kardashian (I know nothing about the Kardashians but I am assuming they own a lot of shoes).  I invited her to write about her favorite summer sandals and her choices blew me away (hint... 4 & 6).  Enjoy and happy spring!     

I am a complete shoe fanatic. Ask Colleen, my shoe collection is borderline embarrassing. It's gotten to the point where my mother flat out refuses to buy me a pair of shoes. The great thing about them, I've found, is their reliability. Shoes will never let you down, unless you count blisters…but I refuse to. My obsessive collection stems from my need to follow new season styles. As such, I introduce you to my new favorite shoe for summer: the natural, strappy, (not too high) heel. Now the perfect thing about natural heels is that they can last from spring to fall. This style in particular is good for every day use - pair it with a summer dress or flowy skirt, maybe even a pair of white denim shorts (post memorial day, of course). Here are the contestants for my perfect summer shoe.

1.  Dolce Vita "Elka":  The only problem I have with this shoe is its price. If only Dolce Vita's main brand could keep the prices of DV, ah if only. However, the laser designs add a special touch to the shoe, making it particularly appropriate for the summer. I especially love the mirrored heel. Although it limits your accessorizing, I prefer gold for the summer anyways. Think of it as a way of imitating the sun.



2.  J. Crew "Mari": To be honest, I hated these when I saw them online. They look old lady-ish and in no way stylish, but when I saw them in person they were actually adorable. The problem with the website is that they don't show the shoe on a foot, if they did you would get what I mean. The straps add a nice effect to your foot and the color is the perfect tint of brown, (Ignore the fact that it's called Portobello Mushroom).

3.  Rachel Zoe "Brooklyn":  These are very similar to the Dolce Vita ones, but a little more classic. They are very simple, save the buckle, which adds a nice modern effect to the shoe. The mirrored heel has the same effect it does on Elka, but the matching of that to the buckle makes it a little more cohesive. These would be great for a night out during the summer, while Elka would be better for the day. Also, we have the same problem of them being Rachel Zoe, so of course they aren't going to be exactly affordable.

4.  Cole Haan "Minetta":  Ah, Cole Haan. If I could live in Cole Haan's, I would. They are simply the most comfortable, adorable, classic shoes ever. I generally shop at their outlet, because they have less daring styles than the normal shoe, and at a lower price, but here, I've made an exception. These shoes are both daring and classic. The strap over the toes is closer to orange than a brown, adding a nice pop of color to the shoes, while maintaining the natural look. Also, the ankle stapes are very simple and practical. I simply love these.  Colleen here, I added the blue ones despite not being "natural colored" because I love, love, love them.  

5.  DVF "Opal": Now, these have been around for a while, they keep popping up in different colors. They're very trendy, and have a nice modern art look with the tiered wedge. They're not a low heel, but i forgive this, because their wedges. The one thing I have to say about these, however, is hold off until the end of summer, because they are guaranteed to get marked down.

6.  DV "Jury":  Last, but not least, a DV heel. These are the new version of a last season shoe, (which I own). They are the most practical, easy shoes ever. I wear them at least once a week during the summer. They make my legs look amazing and they are so comfortable. I'm not sure about the new style, maybe the silver links are a little much, but if you look at dresses online for the summer (especially on Nordstroms or Bloomies websites) you will see models wearing them, thus proving their versatility. As a plus, they're only $99!!

All in the Details

I created this piece after reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe in high school. It took an extraordinarily long time to create all the details of the gorgeous African woman's hair, but the hard work paid off.

A Disposable Life

Without fail, the morning after any important social gathering, I receive an e-mail from that desperate sorority sister who left her life (also known as her Barbour jacket, camera, left shoe, spare Septa tokens AND her dignity) at whichever club, concert venue, or bar we frequented the night before.

Now I can't keep anyone from losing their dignity, but I can keep people from losing their expensive cameras.  My favorite solution for raucous nights out costs about 10 dollars a pop.  Buy a disposable camera!  Sure your Nikon SD 8000 or your Canon XX 550 takes awesome pictures AND you can hide behind it if things get awkward with your date, but you'd also be devastated if it was lost, stolen, or broken.

A disposable camera has many advantages.

1. You can only store roughly 30 pictures, which means you won't become the designated event photographer and miss out on all the fun.


2. Friends tend to act goofier when they see a film camera because they think they will never see the pictures developed... or on Facebook.  That means you'll get more spontaneous and amusing photos.


3. Finally, if you lose the disposable camera... it probably just means you had too much fun and perhaps you don't really want to see the developed products.

I recently took a trip to Shanghai, a city with an incredible nightlife.  By day, I toted around my standard Canon Powershot, by night, my Kodak disposable camera.  Here are some of the great moments I captured.

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Pump-Me-Up Pop Playlist

{My high school/Penn friend H put this April playlist together and explained her choice of each song.  Enjoy the guest post and Happy Friday!!}

April's Pump-Me-Up Pop Playlist

1.  Runaround Sue- G-Eazy

2.  No Interruption- Hoodie Allen

3.  Eighteen Cool- Hoodie Allen

4.  Apple of My Eye- G-Eazy

I thought I'd start out here with a Hoodie Allen/G-Eazy block for a few years.  First off, I'm going to their concert in Philly this week, so they've both been on my "Recently Played" list as of late.  Secondly, I think more people should listen to G-Eazy.  I've personally been a fan since he featured one of my high school classmates as a backup dancer for three seconds in the "Candy Girl" video in '09; but in recent years, he's moved away from the mass-produced, stereotypically misogynistic style that many present-day hip-hop artists use to tout their own so-called masculinity and toward a more genuine and unique sound.  "The Endless Summer" in particular has a quite different vibe from most current hip-hop offerings.  Dressed to impress as a 50s/60s stud on the album's cover (sporting a varsity jacket, Ray Bans, and a gelled Draco Malfo hairstyle), G samples popular doo-wop from the 50s/60s era in his raps, bringing a newfound authenticity to his music.  Hoodie, on the other hand, is a shining example of the exact opposite of what I like about G-Eazy.  "No Interruption" is a personal favorite because, in addition to being catchy and fun to dance to, it also has the ability to sound completely innocuous until you actually listen to the lyrics -- which are both hilarious and disgusting. I put "Eighteen Cool" on here because Hoodie in fact attended the same university I do, and I think the song exemplifies the self-assuredness, lack of insecurity, and completely non-bitter feelings toward high school that the majority of my classmates possess.

5.  Forest Whitaker- Brother Ali

6.  You- Atmosphere

Here are some feel-good songs to get you going in the morning. "Forest Whitaker" is a truly funny song with a few lyrical gems sprinkled in there -- look out for "to everyone out there who's a little different I say 'damn a magazine, these is god's fingerprints.'" "You" is the type of song that will get you out of bed in the morning. Coming from someone with sleep disorders, that's saying something.

7.  God Loves Ugly- Atmosphere

Also a great song, though not quite uplifting in the same way as the two above. In all honesty I don't have enough good things to say about this song. Slug "held onto the sacred ways of how to play the game" and Atmosphere puts out real music full of double-entendred lyrics and actual meaning.

8.  Let It Be- Dyme Def

New Take on an old classic; a way to enjoy the sentiments of the original when you might not have the relaxation abilities needed to fully experience it.

9.  1- Joy Zipper

Did I hear this song in the Cigna commercial and get it stuck in my head for three days until I finally caved in, looked it up, and downloaded it? .... Maybe

10.  In Step- Girl Talk

In honor of my school's Spring Fling performer this year, I present you with one of my favorite Girl Talk mash-ups.  Look out for the sample of Roy Orbison's "You Got It" and Nirvana's "Lithium."

11.  If I Never See Your Face Again (Maroon 5 & Rihanna) Remix - Paul Oakenfold

Solid remix.

12. In Motion - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

 Phenomenal song to do work to. Not distracting in the least, but intense enough to keep you from drifting. Added benefit of being from "The Social Network" -- also a personal favorite.

13.  Teardrop- Massive Attack

Paying homage to my love of House MD with this one. In addition, also a great song to do yoga to.

14.  TV on the Radio- DLZ

In the theme of "songs I stole from movies/TV shows", did I get this from Breaking Bad? ...Yes.

15.  Sweet Honey - Slightly Stoopid

Chill classic and favorite of bros everywhere.

16.  Obsessed With You - the Orion Experience

This song appeared on my iTunes one day in 9th grade. I'm not sure how it got there (I've speculated that it was either a secret admirer or a friend beginning to pull a prank on me who then forgot to follow through), but this song encompasses all the great obsessive, addictive, unhealthy creepiness that comes along with the initial stages of a crush. Very entertaining.

 17. And We Danced - Macklemore

 Not as well known as "Thrift Shop", but arguably better. It's my life goal to throw a party on par with the one in the music video.

Bringing Back the Penny Loafers

[caption id="attachment_482" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Fall vs. Spring loafers[/caption]

Penny loafers were a huge hit this fall, but why stop wearing them just because its spring?  Penny loafers can easily be incorporated into your spring wardrobe if you pick the right colors.   And who wouldn't want to carry over that trend... they're easy to slip on, a classic prep staple, and if you buy a high-quality pair they get more comfortable better with age!

My favorite pair are the pink ones above on the right, which I bought at the Georgetown Jack Wills store last June, but I have included many others for your enjoyment.  Check out the gallery for the pictures.  Below are the names, links, and prices.

Pour La Victoire 'Bethany' loafer, $240

'Dolce Vita Luna' Loafer from Free People, $49.95

Sam Edelman 'Aster' Snakeskin Flat, $149.95

The many colors of the Cole Haan Monroe Reflective Penny Loafer, $119.95

Vince Camuto 'Lancaster' flat with cutouts, $97.95

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One last thing... if you wear your penny loafers (and heck, even oxfords) as much as I do, you might find yourself wearing down their thick soles.  Fear not, they can easily and inexpensively be replaced to extend the life of your shoes.  How eco-friendly!

PS.  Thanks to N for sharing her favorite fall pair of brown leather loafers!

Spring Sprang Sprung

DC has burst into bloom! Just this Saturday, you could barely find a Cherry Blossom tree in bloom along the Tidal Basin. Now it seems like the whole city has exploded with color! So get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and go find a patch of grass to make into your own personal urban beach.

Walls That Talk: Buenos Aires Street Art

[caption id="attachment_405" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Love story depicted through BsAs street art, found in Palermo SoHo[/caption]

Confession: this urban prep loves street art.  I was fortunate enough to live in Philadelphia, a city renowned for its mural arts program, for close to two years.  I highly recommend taking the Mural Arts tour where tourists can see the crème de la crème along the West Philly SEPTA line in a matter of hours.  But I personally enjoyed experiencing those murals organically, stumbling upon them while wandering into new neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

This past summer I traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina for six weeks to study Spanish with several students from my university.  Within the first few days I was absolutely blown away by the artwork I passed on the streets of the city.  I knew all along that I was experiencing a unique art scene in Buenos Aires, but I only recently grew curious about which other cities, domestically and abroad, are acclaimed for their innovative graffiti and street art.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that BsAs [local abbreviation for the city] often topped those lists.  Other acclaimed cities include Berlin, Sao Paulo, Cape Town, and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

Mid-way through the 20th century, Argentinians used graffiti as a medium of political communication.  Though it didn't take long before that political communication transitioned to artistic expression.  When the Argentine military dictatorship took over in 1976, street art stagnated; however, it made a comeback throughout the 1990s and suddenly boomed when the economy tanked in 2001.  Argentina has become an incubator for street art because there are few regulations prohibiting it and because it is generally look upon by the porteños [population of Buenos Aires, people "of the port"]  as a positive form of urban artistic expression.  In other cities, graffiti artists must work quickly under the cover of night for fear of being punished, whereas Argentine artists can work on the streets of BsAs at any hour of day undisturbed.  This allows artists to use increasingly sophisticated, thoughtful, and refined techniques in their pieces.

Check out some of the pictures I took while wandering through the neighborhoods of BsAs.  Please ask permission before using any of the photos posted below.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="409,406,410,407,408"]

If you are interested in even more information check out some of these links:

While Walls Say Nothing, a documentary trailer by BsAs-based graffitimundo

Graffitmundo, a project records BsAs street art and organizes street art tours

Philadelphia Mural Arts Program website

More news on the history of street art in Argentina (scroll midway down the article)

Long Live Lilly

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It's ironic that my second post ever, also known as my {disclaimer} post, I warned reader's that despite having "Prep" in the title of my blog, there would be no barrage of Lilly Pulitzer pink and green. However, I will unapologetically admit that Lilly creeps in here quite often, perhaps because the clothes (and quite frankly the Lilly culture) was a large part of my childhood.  I remember many summer nights romping around in pink and green shift dresses.  In fact, my first job at the ripe old age of 14 was folding clothes in a Lilly  boutique.

Yesterday, Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau died in Palm Beach at 81 years of age. She brought so much color to my childhood summers that I could not pass up a chance to pay her tribute. I've included a gallery of photos in my Lilly Pulitzer wardrobe. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a picture of me sporting Lilly overalls (both short and long, embarrassingly enough) but I am sure it will surface in the near future. And finally, a quote from Lilly Pulitzer herself, "Make every day a celebration, and every hour a happy hour." May you rest in peace.

[caption id="attachment_509" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Eternal Lilly Summer[/caption]

Art for Mother

My mother turned 29 this week. Here is what I made for her. Of course the inside is filled with wonderfully personal words just for her eyes but its also quite pretty!

(She didn't actually turn 29, but I assume you understood that).

Playing Hostess in DC

As you might have discerned from my enthusiastic post about visiting the White House, I don’t spend a substantial amount of time showing out-of-town guests around the tourist sights of the city.  When I play hostess in DC, I spend an hour or so perusing the Washington Post’s weekend section of the paper (delivered on Friday mornings) circling a dozen new gallery showings, movie listings, and restaurant reviews that will give my guest an entirely unique experience.  I make an effort to explore new places in my own backyard, and in doing so, never get bored or frustrated showing a guest around DC.

Here are my picks for April (and how I spent the past Easter weekend with M).

1.   Start the morning at the Corcoran Gallery at 500 17th St. in NW DC.  In the same vicinity you can find the Renwick Gallery and the Art Museum of the Americas.  Although I personally adore art museums, I don't recommend spending more than two hours in one place.  The Corcoran Gallery is perfectly sized so that you can get through most of the museum in that short period of time and they are constantly changing their exhibits.

2.  Leave the gallery in the late morning and walk around.  If your guest wishes to see one or two tourist spots the White House and Washington Monument are the closest to the Corcoran.  I personally like to skip these monuments, but  do not dare skip the April cherry blossoms.  Year after year, I never get sick of the beautiful pink harbingers of spring that line the Tidal Basin (also close to the Corcoran).  Peak bloom for 2013 has been pushed back to April 6-10 because of unseasonable chilly weather, but I find the cherry blossoms to be particularly gorgeous when they fall and create a soft, pastel carpet over top of the sidewalks and streets.

3.  Next, flag a taxi and take a short ride to Georgetown for a late lunch.  A neighborhood favorite is Pizza Paradiso on M Street.  This popular restaurant does not take reservations, but put you can put your name on their list, get an approximate seating time, and go discover some amazing shopping on M Street while you wait!

4.  After pizza, walk down to K Street and spend some time in the sun at the Georgetown Waterfront Park.  When the weather gets warming rent a kayak for an hour from Jack's Boathouse and get some exercise on the Potomac.

5.  Finally, finish the day with a cupcake from Baked and Wired (don't forget water!) and have a picnic on Georgetown University's Healy Lawn.  I personally enjoy Baked and Wired over Georgetown Cupcakes, particularly because it doesn't have a line that's two blocks long.

And there you have it.  I'll write up my tourist picks for May when N comes down from Philly to visit me.

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ΣAE and AXΩ present: the Preppy Games

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Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Alpha Chi Omega [my sorority] of the University of Pennsylvania have partnered for the second annual preppy games!  This Saturday April 6th at noon it's time to don your preppiest attire and meet on Hill Field (34th and Chestnut, Philadelphia) for badminton, bocce, horse shoes, and croquet.  Tickets are $5.00 and all proceeds go to Children's Miracle Network and Women Against Abuse.  Complete with a DJ, refreshments, and prizes by the event sponsors, Jack Wills and Southern Tide, the Preppy Games is sure to be an amazing event.

Sadly I cannot be in attendance, but I pulled up some fabulously preppy pictures from last year's photo shoot taken by Aperture Photography (album found here).  Aren't the outfits fun?  These shots were taken around Penn's campus, predominately in the quad where a majority of freshman live.  If I was going to this year's games  I would be pulling out my pink Jack Wills loafers, my Ralph Lauren seersucker golf shorts, a white Brooks Brothers polo, and perhaps throw on my Lilly hat to top it off (pun intended).

 

Stumbled Upon the White House

A few days back I posted about visiting the Corcoran Gallery of Art on 17th and E in NW DC.  After zipping through the contemporary art exhibits (they weren't vast but they were of an exceptional quality) I still had an extra 30 or so minutes left of my parking meter.  Since it was such a beautiful early spring day, I decided to keep walking until I stumbled upon something else interesting.

Little did I know that I would find ... *drum roll* ... the White House.  Now, I was born in NW DC and grew up just a couple miles outside the city limits but I can't remember the last time (or first time) I saw the White House.  It seems unfathomable that I can't recall a trip to the White House with relatives on some tourist excursion or with a gaggle of school girls in matching black-watch plaid jumpers back in elementary school (that was our adorable uniform).

The one memory I have of the White House was attending the annual Easter egg roll on the South Lawn sometime during the Bush years wearing an ugly corduroy lavender dress and a Peter Pan blouse... but even then, it was the back exterior of the White House with which I am familiar.

Naturally I geeked out and took some tourist pictures (of which I normally adamantly oppose).    I love the first picture at the top of the post because of the rich colors and the stately silhouettes of the tree on the right.  Oh and in the second picture, how about those floral jeans?  I bought them in Shanghai and they are the only printed pants so far that have been both comfortable and flattering.

Bringing Back the Penny Loafer

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="650"]a
My own Jack Wills pink penny loafers[/caption]

Time to Get a Watch

Balancing school, work, an internship, and my social life can be quite difficult.  I spend my days running driving all around town and quite literally between two states and a district.  Admittedly my iPhone helps me wake up and tells me when my parking meter will expire, but I don't like using it to check the time five times an hour.  My solution?  These adorable watches from a company called TRIWA.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="487"] Alabaster Nevil watch, $305[/caption]

The name is actually an acronym (in some way or another) that stands for "Transforming the Industry of Watches."  This witty and honest quote from their website pretty much sums up their business: "We are deadly serious about being playful and unpretentious and we don’t mind being provocative in a creative, uplifting way."

While the TRIWA watches run at a high cost (roughly between $150-$300), I gravitate toward their classically modern styles and their guarantee of high quality.  I particularly like TRIWA because the company focuses predominately on building durable and creatively designed watches.  TRIWA isn't a spin off of a clothing or shoe line like Burberry or Michael Kors, rather built off of innovation in the watch industry.

My favorite watch is the one up top (also the most expensive, yikes).  Some less expensive alternatives are shown below.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="487"] Hurricane Nibel, $205[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="487"] Aqua Lomin, $205[/caption]

What do you think?  Recommend any other high-quality brands?

Easter in Washington Recap

I had a wonderful weekend in Washington with two of my dearest high school friends who traveled home from their school (the same one) in Pennsylvania for Easter.  The weekend began with spectacular weather on Friday which continued all day Saturday.  Unfortunately, it rained on Sunday, but we were quite thankful for the previous days of spring weather.  Here is a recap of the festivities.

Easter Eggs and Easter Baskets

The top picture in this pic stich (app found here) are eggs that I decorated on Easter morning.  Traditionally, my family decorates Easter eggs on Palm Sunday or just a day or two before Easter, but I did these with my friend A on Easter Sunday.  I really enjoyed this because it brought the whole family (her family) into the kitchen early before the midday meal began to spend time with each other creating fun decorations.  Five of them are mine, the ones that aren't include the pink Easter bunny, the apple tree, and the intricate one in the lower right hand corner.  My favorite egg is the pale yellow, cherry-blossom-inspired egg with the pink flowers.  I first applied blue painter's tape that I had cut into the shape of flowers.  Next I dipped it in yellow dye.  Finally, after drying, I removed the tape and outlined the flowers with paint pen.

The bottom picture is from the Easter baskets I put together for my siblings.  I chose the items, tied all the ribbons, and arranged them... the Easter bunny footed the bill.  I especially love the boys' sand pails which were used instead of baskets.  I actually couldn't find their normal baskets, but this turned out to be a handy alternative.

Easter Finest

And finally, our Easter outfits.  Guess who wore Lilly despite saying here that she wouldn't?  However, I still did choose a sophisticated dress.  M, in the center, decided that she was going to wear my strapless, fitted A-line J Crew dress that I discussed on Friday.  Year after year, it continues to be a timeless Easter/graduation/spring tea party favorite.

How was your Easter?

Watercolor Violet Flowers

I also paint! The colors and watercolor style don't come out quite the same with a scanner, but I wanted to share something I created. My favorite parts of the painting are the transitions between darker and lighter greens with varying hues of yellow, blue, and purple thrown in the mix. Happy Spring!

Wahl's Easter Chocolate

5 boxes stack up for my siblings and me

Every Easter and Christmas for as long as I can remember, I receive a 1 pound box of orange chocolate from my mother, aunt, or grandmother.  I finally asked my grandmother why, year after year, we order this amazingly delicious orange chocolate from Wahl's Candy in Cheektowaga, NY (of all places).

Well here's the story I was looking for in the words of my grandmother: "When we first moved to Buffalo, I was about 7 [1939].  My mother went looking for some good candy, after all, she had worked in a wonderful candy store previously in PA fixing all the window displays.  She was very loved by the owner [of that candy store] and every night he gave her a small white bag with some special treats for my brother and I.  So we were very spoiled and used to the best!"

"After searching Buffalo, we found Wahl's and the tradition started.  We rarely purchased their candy except for Easter and Christmas because it was too expensive and right after the war years when money was still very scarce.  It was only about 2 miles from our home so you can imagine how we wished to go more often."

"I do remember one Easter when I was about ten, we went to the store on Holy Thursday and purchased 4 brown paper bags full, which cost almost 30 dollars (a ton of money at the time).  My mother would take that candy and make the most beautiful Easter bakets you ever saw!  We were the envy of all our friends!  When Pop-pop and I married, we moved to the other side of the city, but would take trips to Wahl's and bring candies to my Mother.  After she passed, your Aunt Lynda would go pick up candy with her boys and sit by Mother's grave, eat the orange chocolate and sponge candy in the grass, and say some prayers."

"End of story- we are still loving it!"

Happy Easter!

This is a photo of my grandmother (center) and her parents circa late 1940s/early 1950s.

Visiting the Corcoran

Although spring began close to nine days ago, the weather has just begun to warm up in DC.  To celebrate the temperature rising of 50 degrees, I drove down to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in NW DC on Friday afternoon.  I was originally drawn to this particular gallery, as there are many in DC, because the Washington Post Weekend section included a blurb about an exhibit, Pump Me Up: DC Subculture of the 1980s, that would be closing the following weekend.

This exhibition, which continues until Sunday April 7th, showcases the vibrant underground culture the blossomed during an era of drug problems and corruption in the District.  The exhibition displays brilliant concert photos (shown below), archival photographs, clothing, instruments and even video loops.

The Corcoran's Rotunda full of neon concert posters produced by Baltimore-based Globe printing press.

After returning back home, I did a bit more research on the exhibit and found this video from Vimeo.  Click on the link to watch.  I highly recommend it!  Curator, Roger Gastman, discusses how individuals have reacted with such pride and emotion after seeing the showcase, particularly those who lived in and around DC in the 1980s.  It truly makes me wonder what things I will remember and associate with my childhood in DC in a matter of 30 years.  If you have time between now and next Sunday, get up and go!  Entrance is 8 dollars for students and 10 for adults.

After viewing the Pump Me Up exhibit and the rest of the museum, I walked outside and ran into the poster shown below, which I thought was pretty interesting.  I don't know much about it, other than it was on a street corner by the Corcoran and seemed like it could have been on one of the walls of the Pump Me Up exhibit.

Pink man on a street-corner electrical box in Northwest DC

And finally, I had to snap a shot of this dejected-looking lion guarding the entrance of the Corcoran.  I have never seen an expression on an animal (not to mention a sculpture) so intriguing or so human.  I wish I could speak with the artist and know what (s)he was thinking when creating this.  You can actually buy the lion as a bookstand here at the museum store, but I don't think the its expression is captured in quite the same manner.

Dejected-lion guarding the entrance of the Corcoran

Easter Fashion

I've always seen Easter Sunday as the weekend when it finally becomes acceptable to pull out those bright sundresses that were stashed for the long, cold winter.  Now as a child, Easter Sunday meant putting on that favorite Lilly dress (even if the temperature never rose above 50 degrees).  Luckily though, the last few Easters I can remember we have had spectacular weather.  In fact, last year I played 18 holes of golf with my father and my best friend after Easter brunch!

At the ripe old age of 19, I have decided to opt for slightly more sophisticated Easter-wear.  This is in part because Easter falls somewhat early this year.  Now I am truly not one to follow the whole "no white before Memorial day rule," yet I feel silly wearing white while its still March [and since we had a snowday Monday].  So with that, here are my picks for Easter 2013.

J Crew Arabelle Dress in Ditsy flower (found here):  This silk chiffon dress comes from the J Crew bridesmaid collection in the wedding section.  Although a bit pricey, the dress fits wonderfully with its A-line cut and fitted bodice with boning.  I've had a similar J Crew dress in a different print for years which I continue to dress up with heels and curled hair or dress down with flats and a loose cotton navy sweater.  It will last you a long time!

J Crew Navy Summer Straw Hat (found here): Less and less people choose to wear Easter hats these days, but they can contribute significantly to the festivity [is that a word?] of an outfit.  Once Easter is over, you can recycle this simple J Crew hat at spring horse races, outdoor graduation ceremonies in early June, and even at the beach to protect yourself from the sun!

Nine West Martina Pumps in Beach Sand Leather (found here): Everyone needs a pair of nude leather or patent leather heels!  The Shanghai nightlife destroyed my shoes (long story) earlier this month, but they are easily and inexpensively replaceable if you live near a DSW or Nine West store.

Jess LC Navy Clutch (clutch and other products found here): I am a big fan of small businesses and try to buy from them when possible.  This store, unfortunately, has recently closed, but a quick "navy clutch" search at etsy.com renders plenty of alternatives.

Jack Rogers Napa Valley Navajo Sandals (found here): I added two pairs of shoes because Easter can often be a long day.  Heels are great at the beginning, but flats are essential so you don't sink into the grass while helping the youngins with their Easter egg hunt.  One of most memorable Easters the cherry blossoms were blooming throughout NW DC so my parents, siblings, and I spent that warm, late-afternoon walking along the Tidal Basin.  I definitely needed flats for that!  These Jack Rogers Navajos are a prep staple, but the cork detailing and gold leather whipstitching takes a
much neededrespectable deviation from the standard pink, green, white, and metallic collections.

Don't Be Fooled

It may look like I haven't made much progress on this whole "blog" thing in the past 24, but don't be fooled.  I spent many hours last night and today researching platforms, themes, host sites, names, and successful female bloggers.  I am here to share the top advice I found out there!

The 33.3% Model

From reading An Opinionated Man [his blog exploded in a matter of three months] I learned of his 33.3% model.  Essentially he discussed how blogging is so much more than just the content that you write and belongs to you.  Rather, he spends 1/3 of his time writing, 1/3 of his time gathering followers, and 1/3 of his time interacting with his followers.  He also added that he hadn't realized how the work load would increase significantly as traffic went up.

Be Consistent

Blogging takes time and significant thought.  It isn't easy coming up with things to say everyday of the week, especially if you don't know if your voice is being heard.  Joanna Goddard [her blog 'A Cup of Jo' receives over 1 million unique visitors a month] points out in her post about blogging as a career that consistency helps your blog grow.  On the one hand it means consistently putting new content out there, but it also means consistently writing about things that fascinate and inspire you.  Which brings me to my last point ...

Blog Like You Mean It

I didn't stumble upon this quite so organically as the last two, but the author, TannerC, offers some intriguing advice.  He essentially said that it's so important to write about those things you are passionate about because it will truly resonate in your writing... but he went on to discuss a time where he was given a topic he was far from interested and how he dealt with the assignment.  Without even owning a TV, he was asked to create a blog on that very topic.  Rather than bore his audience with impersonal content, he made it into something that felt "less like work and more like fun."  By asking the larger questions, which did in fact relate to television, he created an extraordinarily successful blog that discussed television's historical impact on culture.  Now that's something I would enjoy reading more than the latest television star gossip.

Now Help Me Out

What do you wish you knew when you started blogging?  And an even bigger question, why did you start blogging?

Disclaimer

I had a very difficult time coming up with a name for this blog.  I want Urban Prep to be a reflection of who I am and the kinds of things that I like and would confidently recommend to others.  For that reason, I gravitated toward a name that identified with my style, hence the "prep."  That being said, this blog will not fill your reader with pink and green, monograms, lace, and Lilly.

Rather, this blog will be grounded in class and iconic prep styles, while challenging those very norms by creatively incorporating and evolving with modern design and fashion.  I thought "urban" paired with "prep" solidified those goals well.

Introductions

Bear with me while I repeat much of what will be included on my {About Me} page at the top of my blog. I am a 19 year old college sophomore and DC native in the process of transferring from one university in Philadelphia to another back home in DC. I created Urban Prep as an outlet for sharing inspiring and creative fashion, design, art, photography, food, and travel. I hope that someday in the near future Urban Prep will become a hub for busy but creative and curious people who wish to stumble upon new ideas every day without pouring through dozens of blogs on their own time. Finally, I am always open to feedback and would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading.