What's On My Kindle? - November Edition

What's Been on my Kindle? - November 2014

What's On My Kindle? by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
The final book of the Century Trilogy, Edge of Eternity, was fantastic. It catches up with your favorite families during the 1960s through 1980s. It follows families across the world through the Cold War, Bay of Pigs, Vietnam War, the presidencies of Kennedy to Bush Sr. and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was perfection top to bottom and for a history buff and fan of historical novels, I could not put it down. Worth every second of your time.
5 snaps for me.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey is an interesting read in that the namesake of the book is not mentioned until you more than halfway through the book. Northanger is the home of the Tilney family, whose son, Henry and daughter, Eleanor, befriend young Catherine Moreland during her visit to Bath with family friends, the Allens. Catherine is ultimately invited for a visit to Northanger but only after you find yourself half way through the book. The Abbey itself has little to do with the story. Instead it is the story of Catherine's coming of age and how she comes to know other young people like the Tilneys and Thorpes. Not Austen's best book. I found it a little disjointed.
3 snaps for me.

Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J. M. Barrie
This is a different Peter Pan story from the one you all know. It doesn't follow Wendy or Michael or John. Peter is not in Neverland, but in Kensington Gardens in London. He lives among the fairies and the birds and is happy and carefree. I could see myself reading this to a child one day as the story is full of wonder and make-believe.
3 snaps for me.

Instagram Round Up

This month's Instagram round up also includes some Halloween shots from last month! Enjoy!!

Softball Does Halloween.

Halloween with some of my favorites.

Cutest Ruffere there is.

Sunset at the Bluffs in Laguna Nigel.

Beach Day to celebrate Laura's Birthday.

Sunrise at Cars Land.

I love The Nightmare Before Christmas.

At the castle.

Heading through Angels Stadium.

Finished! I walked it in 3:30.

Beautiful sunset driving home.

Outtakes from our Christmas Card shoot.

Love this.

Black Friday Shopping Guide

Black Friday Survival Guide by preppy-lizzy featuring holiday gift bags

Black Friday is today and it's a great time to snag some holiday deals. I love to knock out a bunch of my Christmas shopping on Black Friday when the deals go to midday.

I won't be up at the crack of dawn waiting for a doorbuster - I've done it before, but I don't need anything crazy this year. But shopping on Friday has become a holiday tradition with my mother-in-law, cousin and sister-in-law.

There are some great deals and a lot of time I find them by just hitting the mall on Friday. But here are some good ones to keep an eye out for tomorrow (both in store and online).

ASOS 30% off storewide and up to 70% off sale

H&M $4.95 deals and scratchers for the first 100 shoppers on Friday

Joe Fresh 50% off storewide

Tommy Hilfiger 30% off storewide purchases of $150 or more and a free plaid thermos for all purchases before noon

Gap 50% off storewide and for every $50 spent, an entry into the GAP Getaway Giveaway

Forever 21 15%,20% or 25% off with mystery scratchers all day

American Eagle 40% off storewide

Levi's 40% off storewide

Macy's 30%-50% off brands like Lucky Brand, Bar III, Rachel Roy and more

Steve Madden 40% off storewide and free limited edition Alex and Ani Bangle with purchase. Also an Uber voucher for a cab ride home with your heavy bags

Joie 25% off storewide

Theory 40% off storewide

Restoration Hardware $100 off every $500 spent

Equipment 25% off storewide

Baublebar Take 15% off 2 items, 25% off 3 items, and 35% off 4 items

Also Simon Malls have been kind enough to give me a preview of their holiday hours. If you are in the Southern California area, you can shop your heart out at the following locations. If you want more information about holiday shopping hours from a specific location, don't hesitate to ask!

The Shops at Mission Viejo Open 6am-10pm
Brea Mall Open 6am-10pm
Westminster Mall Open 6am-10pm
Del Amo Fashion Center Open 6am-10pm
The Shops at Montebello Open 6am-10pm

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving by preppy-lizzy 

Headbands and Bagels is taking the day to enjoy time with family around the table. Enjoy your dinners and football! See you all tomorrow for Black Friday!

Get Party Ready in Minutes

This post was sponsored by Brandaacker and the KISS InstaWave, but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Headbands & Bagels possible.

I am one of those people that love how curled hair looks but am horrible curling my hair because I either can't keep my curls even or because I consistently burn my fingers over and over. As a result I rarely go through the effort of curling my hair, but when I had the opportunity to try the KISS InstaWave, I jumped on it.

The InstaWave does all the work for you at the touch of a button. All you do is insert a section of hair and either hit the left or right button to have the curler do the rest of the work for you. With two heat settings up to 420 degrees, auto shut off after 90 minutes, and the ability to curl two directions, this is my dream product. It is also super easy to use with either hand so you can't mess up!

I actually used this for our Christmas card picture this year and I was so happy with the results. I decided to curl my hair last second and less than 5 minutes later I was done and ready to go! It is for sure going in my suitcase for the holidays this year!

SCBS Link Up: Being Thankful

Being Thankful by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

Today's SoCal Blogger LinkUp is so appropriate for the holidays. It is all about remembering to be thankful. Every Thanksgiving season I like to think about what I am most thankful for and for the last few years it seems to be the same few things.

I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who is so much more than a mate, but a best friend, a confidant, a cheerleader, a critical eye, and more. It is so nice to come home everyday to a man who is genuinely excited to see me and cannot wait to hear about my day. There is no one I would rather spend my day with.

I am thankful for the wonderful support system that is my family and friends. No matter the hour, I always have some to call to celebrate with me, listen to me rant, or just be there for whatever is going on in my life. I love spending time with my family and friends and I am so lucky to have those people in my life that I genuinely like spending time with.

And I am thankful for a healthy knee! After two years of surgeries and rehab, my knee finally got the all clear about a month ago and it is thrilling. It has been a long two years and it is so exciting to be back to 100%!

What are you most thankful for this year?

Setting Your Gift Budget

Setting Your Holiday Budget by preppy-lizzy 

The holiday season is officially upon us and with that the time to purchase gifts for loved ones. While the holidays bring feelings of love and cheer, many people also experience stress over finances and the cost of the holidays. In an effort to minimize that stress, I've come to enlist a few practices that help keep me focused on the joy and cheer of the season and not the expense of it.

1. If you can, purchased gifts as you come across them throughout the year. I keep a bag in my closet that I can add gifts I come across throughout the year so that when the holiday season is upon us, I can first go through my gift bag to see what I have already purchased. Spreading out my spending over the year really helps me from going overboard at the end of the year.

2. Set a savings goal throughout the year. If you prefer to do all your purchasing during the holiday season (and I get that), put aside some of your income over the course of the year so that you have a predetermined budget at by November. We make sure we save over the course of the year so that when the holidays come we have some reserve funds for gifts and holiday travel and other expenses.

3. Keep a list year to year on who you traditionally gift to and what you bought year to year. This helps me know how many people I am shopping for and set a budget based on headcount. It also helps remind me what I bought year to year so that I don't repeat anything too similar. 

4. Watch sales. Starting at Thanksgiving, watch the holiday sales. Check your emails for sale information from your favorite stores and take advantage of big sale days. I like to go on Black Friday in the late morning (after the crazy rush is over) to snag some great deals on gifts. It may not be a doorbuster, but there will still be huge discounts throughout the day.

5. And Remember the thought is more important than the price tag. Find a gift that means something to the recipient and your relationship. That will mean so much more no matter the cost. 

Maintaining Your Inbox

How To: Maintaining Your Inbox by preppy-lizzy featuring tech accessories

We all live in a digital age where we are inundated with email throughout the day everyday. To top it off we are all subscribed to more email list serves than we probably want to be. I pride myself on being prompt to respond to emails but sometimes, things fall through the cracks when we are overwhelmed. As a result, I find that I try to live by a few rules to maintain my inbox.

1. Important emails and those needing a response get flagged or stared. If you have an email that has important information or one that you still need to respond to, flag it or in your Gmail box, star it. Flagging tools allow you to mark your emails with different color flags to differentiate.

2. Use folders. I move emails to their respective folders as soon as I reply to them to keep the numbers of emails in my inbox to the minimum. When you get a reply it will jump back to your inbox and be coded to the appropriate folder, making it easy to keep on top of it.

3. Use tags. Mark your emails to the appropriate folder even if you don't move them there immediately. The colored tabs will make it easy to immediately know what that email relates to.

4. Use an unenroll program. There are number of programs available that will help you unsubscribe to email lists in bulk. Stay subscribed to only those you care about.

5. Use delete. Every morning I scan my inbox for whatever email I received over the night and do a mass delete for any emails that I don't need that day but don't want to unsubscribe from. Then I can easily tend to the emails I still have as unread.

What are your inbox management tips?

Gym Rat Report: Stunning Shoulders #2

via Pinterest

Gym Rat Report is back with a combined workout today. Not only the second Stunning Shoulders workout in the series, but also the second Legs, Legs, Legs workout. Enjoy!

Stunning Shoulders #2 & Legs, Legs, Legs #2 Workout
1. Yoga Pushup (4 sets, 20 reps/set): Stand with feet hip width apart. Place hands on floor shoulder width apart. Your body should be in a jackknife position. Walk your hands out until you are in a plank position. Perform one pushup. Walk hands back in towards feet. Repeat.
2. Hyper Extension (4 sets, 20 reps/set, 20 lbs): Stand with feet hip width apart and bend at waist. With a flat back, hold a 20 lb. bar across your shoulders. Move to standing position. Repeat. You can also do this without the weight.
3. Plank (4 sets, 60 sec/set): Arms shoulder width apart, place hands on the ground and flatten your back til your body is in straight position (like the top of a pushup). Hold for 60 seconds. Repeat.
4. Dumbbell Row (4 sets, 20 reps/set, 20 lbs): Using a bench or box, Place one hand on the box with both feet behind you in a modified plank position. Engage your core by raising on your toes. With your free arm, holding a 20 lb. dumbbell, pull from a straight arm to a 90 degree bend. Repeat.
5. Dumbbell Deadlift (4 sets, 60 sec/set, 20 lbs): With a 20 lb dumbbell in each hand, stand with feet hip width apart. Keeping your arms straight, bend at the waist keeping your back straight until you are in a 90 degree position. Return to standing. Repeat.
6. Reverse Crunch (4 sets, 40 reps/set): Laying on your back on a bench, bring knees to a table top position. Holding the bench to keep yourself steady, thrust legs out to a straight position. Return to table top and repeat.
7. Pull Ups (4 sets, 20 reps/set, 90 lbs): Using the assisted pull up machine, add 90 lbs. If you do not have this available, go the old fashioned way. With arms slightly wider than shoulder width, pull up til eye level with the bar and repeat.
8. Cable Row (4 sets, 15 reps/set, 17 lbs): Use the cable machine for this exercise. Moving cable bars to 90 degree position, add weight. With feet shoulder width apart and with one foot slightly in front of the other, Pull cable til arm moves to 90 degree position. Return and repeat.
9. Cable Pull Down (4 sets, 15 reps/set, 17 lbs): Moving cable bars to 180 degree position. Sit on balance bar or kneel on padded mat. Pull downward til in arm is in a 90 degree position. Return and repeat.
11. Climbers (4 sets, 60 reps/set): Using a bench, place forearms on bench and stand in a plank position. Bring one knee towards the bench, return to plank and repeat with other leg. Continually repeat on opposite legs for 60 seconds.
12. Dumbbell Pull Over (4 sets, 15 reps/set, 20 lbs): Laying on a bench, hold a 20 lb dumbbell with both hands. Lift over your head and lower to a 180 degree position behind your head. Lift back to 90 degrees above head and repeat.
13. Full Body Stretch (4 sets, 20 reps/set). Stretch it out, you deserve it. Stretch your hamstrings, quads, hip flexors, shoulders, and back.

Short On Time? 10 Easy Cheats

Short on Time? by preppy-lizzy featuring a wine chiller

In this day and age, we are all busy and constantly feeling sort on time. There are a few good cheats I have learned over the years for saving my minutes here and there to catch up on what I need to get done.

1. Pick my outfit the night prior. I am not a morning person so I stress again, picking my outfit out the night before and hanging it on the hook on my bedroom door saves me precious time. I also make sure I pack my gym bag the night before so all I have to do is get up and go.

2. Pack my lunch while I cook dinner. I like to cook dinner almost nightly, so while I have dead time in the cooking, I pack mine and the hubby's lunch. We each have a lunch bag that I can pack and then put in the fridge so its ready to grab in the morning.

3. Prep meals ahead of time. I go once a month to Dream Dinners to prep a number of meals that can be frozen and thawed the week I need them. That one hour a month saves me so much prep time during the week, so that I either need to just throw a pan dish in the oven or get dinner ready in 20 minutes or less on the stove top. This is a huge time saver since I like to go to the gym in the evenings.

4. Constantly clean. This may seem counter intuitive but if I stay up on my cleaning by vacuuming when I see a need or cleaning the bathroom or kitchen when it needs it, I don't need to necessarily do a deep clean every few weeks. A few minutes during a commercial break or while cooking dinner gets a lot done and keeps the amount of time I need to clean for extended periods of time at a minimum.

5. Use your commercial breaks. Do some squats or lunges or crunches during TV commercial breaks, or vacuum the living room, whatever you can do during those few lost minutes makes you more productive during that time.

6. Multitask thoughtfully. Multitasking is not always the right choice and lets be honest some of us cannot multitask, but if you can, do it. I usually get my blogging done or some knitting while I am on the couch with Dan watching TV. Still there are some tasks I wouldn't multitask on, such as work related tasks or whenever I am on the phone.

7. Give yourself routine. I like to read before I go to bed every night so I make sure I give myself fifteen minutes before I want to be asleep that I block out for reading. It is important to me and I do my best to not let anything get in the way of that. Structured routine in my day helps me plan out what I can accomplish with my remaining time that day.

8. Get your rest. A good night's sleep goes a long way. When you are well rested, the more energy you'll have the following day. That's how you'll get through your do to list quicker.

9. Double up your errands. Save time by running your errands when you can knock off a few at once. If I am going on a grocery run, I may also run to do my Target shopping since the stores are next to each other and I can make one trip instead of two. I also try to minimize the runs to the store for just one thing.

10. Keep a list. I have lists everywhere. On our fridge we have a magnetic grocery list pad, so we can keep a running tally of what I need at the store. On my phone I keep a running to do list and notes for shopping lists. Keeping a list keeps me more focused when running errands and saves me time from roaming around the stores.

Race Like An Avenger

Mid race after we ran through Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

This past weekend I participated in the inaugural Avengers Half Marathon at Disneyland. I am a huge Marvel fan so I was stoked to see that Disney was embracing their superhero side and promoting an Avengers race. I dressed up as American Dream - The female counterpart to Captain America and I had a blast. I felt way better than I did after the Lululemon race since my knee got the all clear a few weeks ago.

 

Getting ready for the race to start.

Coming up to the start line.

I wasn't able to train for it like I had hoped but I finished, so that's something. The race started at 5:30am on Sunday morning, which I really liked since the temps stayed low well into the race. Nice for us slow pokes.

 

I really enjoy the Disney races since you get to run through the park and experience Disneyland in a way that most people don't get the chance to. Also since its November, the park was all Christmased out which made my day. I LOVE Disneyland during Christmas.

Cars Land all decorated for Christmas.

Sunrise in Cars Land.

Dan and my mother in law came to cheer me on and drove me down at 4:30am, Troopers! And I am pretty stoked about my sweet medal. I saw my nephews later in the day and they were pretty impressed with it, which is tough with a 12 and 8 year old.

Walked it in 3:40. Pretty happy with that for a walking time!

I haven't signed up for any new races for 2015, but I am thinking about repeating this one or doing the Star Wars one instead in January 2016.

Dan and I after the race. I was puffy and tired!

Wednesday Wishes: Gifts for Your Holiday Host

Wednesday Wishes by preppy-lizzy featuring a gold plated flatware

Garden-in-a-Bag Organic Herb Collection / Food storage container / Cork ice bucket / C Wonder porcelain coaster / Hostess food drink / Lenox gold plated flatware / Glass terrarium / C Wonder red home decor / Hostess body cleanser / Assouline Dinner Diaries: Reviving the Art of the Hostess Book

It's that time of year when you will be attending your friends parties and events, and I like to live by the rule to never go to someone's house empty handed. You can always bring a nice bottle of wine or craft beers, but sometimes it's nice to go the unexpected route, with a beautiful salt set, monogrammed soaps, succulents for their kitchen, a candle, or one of my favorite gifts of all, the Corkcicle. 

What is your go to host gift?

Thanksgiving Cook Off

Thanksgiving Cook Off by preppy-lizzy featuring Jonathan Adler

This post is sponsored by Food Should Taste Good, although I was already a huge fan of the brand. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Headbands & Bagels possible.

It's almost time for Thanksgiving and you may be scrambling last minute for what to bring. When all else fails, a good last minute option is to bring a dip accompanied with some great chips, like those from Food Should Taste Good.

For Your Holiday Dips by preppy-lizzy featuring a food & drink

I had the opportunity to try out my favorite dips with these wonderful chips, that I was already a huge fan of! Two great options to accompany your favorite chips are my cousin Amelia's Pimento Cheese and this Spinach & Caramelized Onion Dip that I found in a Real Simple magazine years ago.

Pimento Cheese

1 lb extra sharp cheddar, grated

2/3 cup mayo

7 oz jarred diced pimentos, drained

1 tsp smoked Spanish paprika

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

salt & pepper to taste

Stir all ingredients but these in a large bowl. Grate cheese in food processor (or buy pre shredded). Stir all to mix and refrigerate. Serve.

Spinach & Caramelized Onion Dip from Real Simple

3 tbsp olive oil

2 med onion, chopped

5/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

16oz sour cream

10oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 tbsp white wine vinegar

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, salt (1/2 tsp), pepper (1/4 tsp) and cook til golden (about 12-15 min). Transfer to a bowl to cool. Add sour cream, spinach, vinegar, salt (3/4 tsp), pepper (1/4 tsp) and mix to combine. Serve.

More recipes can be found from Food Should Taste Good here.

What to Wear: Thanksgiving

What to Wear: Thanksgiving by preppy-lizzy featuring corduroy pants

Gap blue dress / Plus size cape / Pilcro corduroy pants / Tory burch shoes / Splendid ankle boots / Kate spade earrings / Anchor jewelry

Thanksgiving is just a week away, so now is the perfect time to start planning your look. Thanksgiving is all about being as comfortable as possible. It's the holiday where eating is permissible and unbuttoning your pants is common. But instead of having to pop your button, try outfits that are more comfortable. I would suggest stretchy cords with a poncho style sweater or a soft sweater dress with flats. Simple but elegant is a perfect mix for this family holiday. What are you wearing for Turkey day?

Shopping for Affordable Dresses

What I'm Loving by preppy-lizzy featuring long sleeve dresses

H M black beaded cocktail dress / ASOS pencil dress / Topshop print dress / LOFT zipper back dress / LOFT pleated shirt dress / Oasis dress / Faux leather trim dress / MANGO long sleeve dress / Tart

With the holiday season upon us, we all have a string of parties and get togethers where we want to look our best. With that means a dress or two we want to wear. But where can we find affordable options that won't break the bank? Some of my favorite options are LOFT, ASOS, Topshop for Nordstrom, H&M, Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Gap and Boden. Another great option is shopping for dresses on Black Friday. You can grab some great snags!

Where do you shop for affordable dresses.

Top 10 Playlist - November Edition

November Top 10 by preppy-lizzy featuring modern home decor

I am running the Avenger's half marathon today, and this month's playlist is all about songs to pump me up. Fingers crossed this race will be a success!

Pinterest Hairstyle - C'est Chic

via Pinterest

Love this look for the holiday season. So easy to do after a day at work or running errands. Just a little tease and you are ready to go for a night out. Perfect for your work holiday party, cocktails with friends, Secret Santa parties, Thanksgiving dinner and more, this is your five minute undo for the holiday season.

Style Inspo: Twiggy

Style Inspo by preppy-lizzy featuring framed wall art

River Island red sleeve dress, / Oasis peter pan dress / Madeline Girl high heel sandals / Lipsy small heel pumps / B Low the Belt genuine leather purse / Accessorize gold tone chandelier earrings / Wildfox peace sign sunglasses / Curioos framed wall art

Twiggy is one of those style icons that we keep coming back to. Her pixie cut, her doe like eyes, and her simple clothing all make her an icon that women gravitate towards for the ease by style she displayed. I'm having a bit of a Twiggy moment today.

Importance of Laughter

Laughter by preppy-lizzy featuring home wall decor

Someone once said "Laughter is the best medicine" and I have to say it is one of the wisest things I've ever heard. There is nothing that lifts your mood better than a great laugh with your friends. And added bonus, you can burn a lot more calories laughing than crying.

Some of my favorite moments are laughing until my stomach hurts and tears are rolling down my face. There are those people that know how to make you giggle and I think it is essential to keep them close. They find a way to brighten your day.

It is also important to be able to laugh at yourself. That will ensure you can always find a way to get a giggle in and keep yourself smiling day after day. Just laugh it off!

Color Therapy: Navy

Color Therapy by preppy-lizzy featuring ankle boots

Monsoon navy jacket / Orla Kiely knee length skirt / Sole Society ankle boots / C. Wonder Southern Belle Novelty Smoking Slipper / MICHAEL Michael Kors crossbody purse / Forever 21 scarve

If you looked in my closet you would see that blue is the dominate color and of all my blue pieces, navy is hands down the winner. I love navy blue. It is a color that I treat just like I do black. Flattering, Slimming, Neutral, Perfection. Navy blue was one of my wedding colors. I don't think I can go more than a few days without something being navy in my outfit. Do you have any colors that are like that for you?

10 Under $100

10 Under $100 by preppy-lizzy featuring a grey bedding

J Crew lightweight shirt / Lined coat / Wild Diva heels & pumps / Carvela Kurt Geiger satchel handbag / Kate spade bracelet / Mophie tech accessory / NIKE hair accessory / Bobbi brown cosmetic / MAC Cosmetics matte lipstick / Pier 1 Imports grey bedding

Today's 10 Under $100 are all great items that can be easily gifted to those you love or to yourself!

Favorite Black & White Movies

Top 10 Black and White Movies by preppy-lizzy featuring framing posters

I am a huge lover of Black and White Cinema. My parents instilled a love of them early in my life and I often find myself reaching for classic rather than a showy new movie on tv. TCM is perhaps one of my favorite channels. When I lived alone my DVR was filled with TCM movies. It was how I would spend my free time.

Because of that I wanted to share my favorite 10 black and white films. In no particular order of course, well except for maybe my favorite: Casablanca.

1. Casablanca: Can you have a better cast, or more memorable movie lines? This movie is beautifully shot, heart wrenching and humorous simultaneously, and made me dream of traveling to Casablanca. Morocco is pretty high on my travel wish list because of this movie. A classic top to bottom, it is a must watch.

2. The Philadelphia Story: Take Hepburn with Grant and Stewart and you get pure cinematic magic. Katharine Hepburn is my classic girl idol. Cool, sophisticated, feminine but one of the boys, she was pure ya. This black and white comedy is fun, silly and a staple in my house.

3. It's A Wonderful Life: The hands down best Christmas film ever made, I bawl like a baby every time I watch it. Did you know the snow is made of cornflakes and that the movie was shot in the middle of July, so all the actors are sweating bullets when it was supposed to be winter? One of my Dad's favorite movies of all time, it is perfect.

4. Dr. Strangelove: This cold war comedy is one that helps to lighten the intense fear that surrounded the atomic bomb and the cold war. Not your typical B&W.

5. Holiday Inn: More than just a Christmas movie. Holiday Inn is appropriate year round for it celebrates every holiday we know. Also Bing Crosby crooning and Fred Astaire dancing should be enough to make you watch. The Fourth of July numbers are show stealers, let me tell you. This is also the movie where the song White Christmas made its debut.

6. The Song of Bernadette. Follows the story of St. Bernadette, a young girl in France. It is a beautiful film and the acting is superb.

7. To Kill A Mockingbird. One of the few times the movie is on par with the book. Gregory Peck is a heartthrob and you are cheering for him all the way.

8. The Maltese Falcon. Boggie does it again. You want friends that will go to these lengths to help you out. Funny and quick witted, a great classic and why it is on the top of so many film fan's lists.

9. Roman Holiday. Because Audrey Hepburn, the other Hepburn and Grant are just so adorable in this movie. And if nothing else it makes you want to get a way for just a little while.

10. Pyscho. I could make a list just of Hitchcock films. The man who invented the suspense thriller in his most provocative movie he ever made, Pyscho still stands up to contemporary scary movies and wins in my book every time.

Happy Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

Currently... November Edition

Currently... by preppy-lizzy featuring christmas home decor

Menu / Christmas home decor / Candy Corn / Edge of Eternity Deluxe: Book Three of The Century Trilogy - Kindle...

November is here and with it my favorite post of the month. It's time for another edition of Currently.

Reading: Ken Follett's Edge of Eternity. The final installment of the Century Trilogy, I am so excited to see what has been happening with all the characters and what has developed for them and their families. The book opens with the rise of East and West Germany and the Cold War.

Eating: Halloween Candy of course! In particular, Candy Corn. It is my favorite Halloween candy and I cannot get enough of it.

Listening: Work hours seem to be made for the smooth voice of Old Blue Eyes. I've had my Sinatra CDs on repeat for days. Of course this will change about half way through the month when I make the switch to Christmas tunes 24/7.

Watching: Once Upon A Time. How good is the Frozen storyline??? I love the Snow Queen bringing a new evil character to play and that Belle has more to her storyline than just being good. But where is Anna?!

Craving: Good old fashioned H20. I sometimes like to add fruit to it for a spa water effect, but I've been chugging it all day!

Dreaming: Of Christmas lights and decorations. I have that Thanksgiving is so late this year. The tree may go up a week ahead of Thanksgiving to compensate!

What does your Currently look like?

Chandelier Love

What I'm Loving by preppy-lizzy featuring an orb lamp

DwellStudio iron lighting / Jonathan Adler warm white light / Crystal chandelier light / Regina-Andrew Design gold shades / Chain chandelier / West Elm orb lamp / Colored chandelier / Miniature light

While we aren't changing any of the lighting fixtures while we are renting, I recently have found myself inspired by different types of chandeliers. Chandeliers are those fixtures that can instantly transform a room and can set the tone for the entire decor inspiration. I find myself drawn to designs all over the map though and would find it difficult to pick a favorite style.

Wednesday Wishes: Neutrals

Wednesday Wishes by preppy-lizzy featuring petite sweaters

Sandro top / Mint Velvet long sleeve cardigan / Minuet Petite petite sweater / Eastex skirt / Sam Edelman slip on shoes / Lipsy flat ankle bootie / Tory Burch zip wallet / GLEN PRINCE wrap shawl / Too Faced Cosmetics eyeshadow / Essie taupe nail polish

Today's Wednesday Wishes are all about neutrals that I am loving right now. There is something so perfect about neutral colors during the fall and early winter. Are you a neutrals person during the Fall?

Tuesday #Shoesday: Bean Boots

Tuesday #Shoesday by preppy-lizzy featuring waterproof boots

SOREL waterproof boots / Sperry top-sider shoes / Sperry top-sider shoes

Defintely on my wish list for Christmas are a pair of bean boots. I would love them for the fall and spring, especially when we are back east and my winter boots are too heavy. I love the classic navy and brown leather pair from Sperry. Preppy and practical.

Office Staples

Office Staples by preppy-lizzy featuring a bar necklace

J Crew tuxedo shirt / Vero Moda peplum top / Collar jacket / J.Crew capri pants / Uttam Boutique pencil skirt / J.Crew flat shoes / Ivanka Trump pumps / Kate Spade crossbody purse / Olivia Burton watch / DailyLook bar necklace

Today's post is all about what I consider office staples. I work in a fairly conservative environment where I need to be ready to meet a customer at any given time. My office wardrobe consists of pieces that are easy to mix and match and I often find myself with multiples of one style. I think you can get by with a great work wardrobe with just a few pieces.

1. Black Pants. I love the Campbell Capri pants in Tall from J.Crew. They are super comfortable due to the cotton stretch, but retain their shape really well and always look tailored and professional. I have them in 4 colors.

2. A crisp button down. A classic white button down is a staple for any work closet. It can easily be dressed up or down. I like this tuxedo style from J.Crew but any white shirt that is well tailored to your shape will do.

3. A pencil skirt. A pencil skirt in a neutral color like navy is a great option. Just make sure that it comes to your knees and that the kick pleat does not reveal too much thigh when walking. Also make sure it does not ride up when walking.

4. Black blazer. I have a number of blazers in my closet, but I find my black blazers get the most rotation. They can be worked as suits with your black pants or with jeans or pencil skirts.

5. Structured Bag. A structured bag is always a go to choice for the office. It holds it shape no matter what it contains and is more polished than a hobo or soft body bag. I love picking a structured bag in a vibrant color rather than a neutral since its an easy way to infuse personality into your look.

6. Sleeveless Blouse. Sleeveless blouses are a staple for the office because it allows you to easily layer with cardigans or blazers as well as handle fluctuating office temperatures from AC or heat. I like a peplum blouse to balance my hips and show off my waist, but this is where you can pick a style that you are most comfortable in.

7. Simple Watch. Office jewelry should be simple and understated. I love a leather wristband for the office because it doesn't click against your desk when typing like metal styles do and it has a more understated elegance.

8. Delicate Necklace. Like the watch, I go with understated jewelry for work that allows me and my work to stand out in meetings rather than what I am wearing.

9. Flats. I survive most of the week in flats. I usually add color and pattern in my flats to infuse personality without being too loud. I love these houndstooth options from J.Crew.

10. Kitten Heels. Perfect for business meetings and presentations, heels give you an air of authority but kitten heels are more manageable for running around the office! I love Ivanka Trump's kitten heels for style and comfort.

Keeping A To Do List

Keeping a To Do List by preppy-lizzy featuring office accessories

I am one of those people that could not get by without a to do list. It helps keep myself accountable and on track for what I need to accomplish day to day. At work I keep a to do list mouse pad that has each day listed as well as areas for phone calls, emails and notes that I need to be reminded of.

For day to day reminders as well as long term monthly reminders, I use the Reminders App on my iPhone. I can keep a monthly reminder to pay the rent as well as rolling reminders for stuff to do around the house.

Finally, I like to keep a list for the blog. I typically use the Notes app on my iPhone as well as my handy to do list pad on my desk.

How do you keep your actions at the forefront of your mind?