Obsession: Monogrammed Jacks

Hi everyone!

I recently got a pair of monogrammed Jack Rogers for Graduation, and I can't get over how cute they are! I literally wear them everywhere! I have two other pairs of Jacks -- one pair of wedges and one pair of flats -- but I wear the monogrammed ones more than both pairs combined! They go with everything...they look like flip flops so they can be super casual, but they're obviously nicer than flip flops so they can be dressed up too!

These are mine! My parents even got them in black and white so they'd go with my game-day dresses next year!

Have a lovely day!

XO,

Carson

How to Write a Great Thank-You Note

Hi everyone!

Now that all my friends have opened their graduation presents, I've been getting a steady stream of thank-you notes in the mail. Most of them are sweet and heartfelt, but today I got one that was really bad. It was from a boy, so maybe he can't be held as accountable because they aren't as good as we are at these things, but I know this boy has a way with words that is much more eloquent than what I just read! For goodness sake, I've known him for what feels like forever, yet he ended it with "it's been really great getting to know you." No. That is not okay. The thank-you note is a staple of Southern culture because it is sweet and personal, but you must end it with just that: something sweet and personal! That made me feel like he wrote me the same note he wrote the cousin he just met at his graduation. And, just in case he sees this, I'm not mad...this is a learning experience! So, here's how to write a really great thank-you note.

Dear So-and-So, (if you have a nickname, i.e. Big Daddy for my grandfather, feel free to use it here)
Thank you so much for the (insert gift here, and be specific!) It is so (insert adjective here) and I just love it! I can't wait to (insert how you will use it, and be specific!)...you really knew exactly what I needed! Thank you also for thinking of me at this special time in my life; it meant so much to me! As I move on to this next chapter in my life, it is so great knowing I have an amazing (grandfather/friend/etc.) like you! Thank you again for the (insert gift) and for your amazing (friendship/etc.)
Love, Carson (feel free to use the nickname the person you're writing to calls you!)

So, since that is a little vague, here is a sample thank-you note that I would send my best friend, Taylor.

Dear Tay,
Thank you so much for the gorgeous golden heart necklace you sent me for graduation! It is so dainty and beautiful, and I just love it! It will go perfectly with all of my game-day dresses for next year, but I'm going to have to hide it from Reeves so she doesn't steal it! Thank you also for remembering me at my graduation! It was such a nice surprise to see a present from you waiting for me in the mail; it really made my day! I'm so lucky to have such an awesome friend (even though you live 800 miles away!) and I hope we stay just as close as we move on to college...even though you'll be going to Florida. Thank you again for the necklace and for your amazing friendship!
Love, Cars.

One other mistake the above guy friend made? He addressed it to my parents but wrote the note to me! Make sure you eliminate silly mistakes like that! Also, the note should be neatly handwritten on your stationary in dark ink. Pencil will melt if it gets wet.

See? Not hard! Just keep it short-ish and personal, and the person who receives the thank-you note will feel extra-special! It's a skill all good Southern girls (and good Southern boys) should know!

Have a lovely day,
XO,
Carson

New Obsession: Lilly from Lifeguard Press

Hi everyone!

Since Graduation, I've been slowly collecting things I want to take to Athens with me in the fall, and I found a bunch of cute Lilly stuff on Lifeguard Press! I've already put the photo album in an earlier post, but there's so much other cute stuff on this website! I love the earbuds and the highlighters especially, but here's a look at some of the other goodies they have!

Have a lovely day!

XO,

Carson

Top 5 Concerts I Want to See This Summer

Hi everyone!

I love going to concerts, and I'll see just about anybody. Seriously. Last summer, I was offered free tickets to Pink Floyd, who I didn't know a whole lot about, but I went anyways. I was kind of scarred (there were these freaky blow-up puppets), but we sat five rows back, and I had a blast! So naturally, I can't wait for the summer concerts to start up in Atlanta! I have always preferred outdoor shows to indoor ones, but I'll take what I can get. I love going down to Lakewood with all my friends, people-watching before the show, and then late-night gossiping about all the drama that happened...but I promise I go for the music too! Here are the top five shows I can't wait to see this summer in Atlanta!

The Killers: August 15, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

 First, I am absolutely dying to see The Killers! I've been waiting for them to come to Atlanta since I was thirteen, and this is the first time they're coming in a long, long time! I know all the words to most of their songs, and I can play a few on the piano. Unfortunately, I'm still trying to negotiate with my parents on this one, because they're performing on the third night of school, and for some reason they think I need to be there...

 Keith Urban: July 27, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

This will be my third time seeing Keith Urban, and every time I've seen him before, he's been absolutely amazing! I adore his Aussie accent, and he is such a good guitar player! I dragged Cooper, who hates country music, one year, and even though he won't admit it, he had a good time. 

 Luke Bryan: July 14, Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood

I saw Luke Bryan when he opened for, who else, Keith Urban, and he was so much fun! Besides the fact that he is undeniably attractive and puts on a good show, Lakewood is one of my favorite venues, so I am really excited to see this one!

 Kenny Chesney: August 3, Georgia Dome

I have never seen Kenny Chesney, but without fail, I end up playing his songs all summer. They're so beachy-fun, they just make me want to have a good time! I missed him last summer with Tim McGraw because I was at the beach, but I will not miss him again!

Cute is What We Aim For: June 14, The Masquerade

The final band I want to see is a little embarassing. I may be the oldest one there, but I can't wait to see Cute is What We Aim For! I was supposed to go with a friend freshman year, but their show ended up being the first night of exams, so my parents definitely put a stop to that. Still, I always feel the need to sing along to "The Curse of Curves" when it comes on in the car, so I feel like I have to go!

There are so many other fun concerts I can't wait to see! Although, I'm not sure they'll live up to the best one I've ever been to: Childish Gambino. I gave someone tickets for his birthday two years ago, and when we went, Donald Glover (his real name) was so funny and genuine, and he was so good at getting the crowd into his performance. It also didn't hurt that we were only three feet back from the stage at the Tabernacle!

XO,

Carson

My Favorite Coverups

Hi Everyone!

I've already started planning for my family's annual Sea Island trip, which is still over a month away, and one of the things I have to do is find a cute coverup! I just have so many options! I don't know if I want something cute and girly to go with my cute and girly bathing suits, or something lazy-comfy. I may have to get one of each to go with my moods, because I usually just end up wearing my coverup and bathing suit all over the island that day!

1. Lucky Brand -- I love this cute strapless romper, and pretty much anything by Lucky!

2. Nautica -- Fun zipper that can be zipped up or down depending on how modest (or sunburnt) I'm feeling

3. Lilly Pulitzer -- Y'all know I couldn't resist picking out a Lilly one! I love the ruffles -- they make it look like a dress I could wear out running errands one day!

4. Aerie -- I love the color on this one, as well as the flirty hem and sheer fabric

1. Nike Shorts -- This is what I usually end up wearing over my bathing suits because they're cool and dry fast if they get wet.

2. Wet Seal -- Is it a shirt? Is it a dress? I don't know, but I love the sheer animal print!

3. Oversized T-Shirt -- One of my guy friends once said that the hottest thing a girl can wear is a bathing suit and a boyfriend-sized t-shirt...

What else could I do for cute coverups?

XO,

Carson

How to Wear Cowboy Boots

Hi everyone!

One of my favorite items in my closet is my cowboy boots! I wear them everywhere, even though my mother hates them. They're so comfy and such a Southern staple -- you can't go anywhere in the South without seeing people wearing them! Here's how I wear my cowboy boots:

My go-to outfit during summer is a sundress and boots. I love sundresses because you don't have to worry about putting a whole outfit together -- it's all right there! With cowboy boots, I like a swingy, slightly short dress, and I really love the flirty key-hole on this white one! I like neutral bags and jewelry that just add a little shine so the boots are the star of the show!

(Dress: Windsor, Boots: American Rag, Bag: Kelly and Katie)

I have been known to wear this outfit for pretty much anything -- running errands, school, study days, dates...I love the easy comfort of this simple outfit. I usually wear bootcut jeans with my boots, and I hardly ever tuck the jeans in. I like the old-fashioned, relaxed look of just the toe poking out. Also, bootcut jeans are so much comfier than skinny jeans...no squeezing required! I put a white t-shirt in this set, but any casual top could work, and I complete the look with my monogram necklace, charm bracelet, and Longchamp bag.

(Jeans: Joe's Jeans, Boots: Old West Boots, Bag: Longchamp)

The final way I wear my boots is when I go out at night with friends to concerts and other fun events. I love my boots at concerts because my toes never get stepped on! I usually wear my booties instead of my boots because they were much less expensive (so I don't really care what happens to them) and they don't get as hot as the boots. I adore wearing my black bandage skirt with a fun, flowy top and simple jewelry. I almost never take a bag to concerts and parties -- it's just one more thing to keep track of, and you can always sweetly ask a boy to hold your phone and keys!

(Top: Club L, Skirt: Donna Karan, Boots: Dorothy Perkins)

So, hopefully this showed my mom that there is, in fact, a way to wear cowboy boots for every occasion, which is her main argument against them ("Carson, they're just not appropriate!"). Whatever she says, I still adore them.

Are there any other ways to wear my cowboy boots that y'all can think of? Let me know!

Have a lovely day!
XO,
Carson

Summer Playlist

Hi everyone!

I had absolutely nothing to do today, so I laid out by the pool! That's not to say that I tanned too much (curse my fair skin), but I did get to relax and listen to my favorite summer songs! Here is my list of the top ten songs for summer:

1. Summertime -- Kenny Chesney
2. Red Solo Cup -- Zac Brown Band
3. All Summer Long -- Kid Rock
4. Come and Get It -- Selena Gomez
5. A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got) -- Fergie, Q-Tip, and GoonRock
6. I Love It -- Icona Pop
7. Can't Hold Us -- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
8. Summer Nights -- Rascal Flatts
9. Toes -- Zac Brown Band
10. Knee Deep -- Zac Brown Band

I know it's a lot of country, but summer puts me in a country mood!

Have a lovely day,

XO,

Carson

Graduation!

Hi everyone!

I can't believe I officially graduated from high school yesterday! Our service was held in a gorgeous church in Atlanta, and though the graduation party that followed kind of sucked for me (it's a long story), it was such an amazing feeling waking up this morning knowing I am 100% done with high school! The graduation presents were a lovely bonus as well! Here are some pictures from all the graduation ceremonies!

 There's me getting my diploma and my Bible!

 The whole family at the post-ceremony reception

 Me and one of my best friends, Charlotte

Me and another bestie, Abigail

I still can't believe I'm officially an alumna, but I'm so excited to start my new life at UGA in the fall!

XO,

Carson

Rush Outfits

Hi everyone!

I've started getting ready for Sorority Recruitment, which starts in a little less than three months! One of the first things I've started doing is collecting ideas of what I'm going to wear for each round!

First Round at UGA is Open House. I love this sundress because the color is amazing and the straps will prevent it from falling down, which is always a serious concern for small-chested girls like me! Comfortable sandals are a must as well, because we walk everywhere and all day long. Literally. 7 AM until 5 PM I will be on my feet, and it will be a hundred degrees outside. I also like sweet, simple, and sophisticated jewelry like this necklace and watch, and the bag is big enough to keep a little "rush mini-mergency kit." 

(Dress: Nine West; Sandals: Dolce Vita; Bag: Oliver Bonas)

 At UGA, second round of Rush is House Tours, and everybody wears nice shorts and the Rush t-shirt. I love these Lilly Pulitzer shorts because they're long enough to be acceptable, and the scalloped edge is very trendy right now! I also plan on wearing my Toms because they are so comfy, and again, I'll be on my feet all day. 

(Shirt: House of Frazer (UK); Shorts: Lilly Pulitzer; Shoes: TOMS)

 Third Round is supposed to be slightly more formal since it's skit night! I adore this sunny yellow dress! It's fun and lady-like, but still conservative. Accent with black accessories and pearls -- I really like the vintage-y feel of the long necklace with the high neckline!

(Dress: Tara Jamon; Sandals: Tori Burch; Bag: Chanel)

The last night of Rush is Preferential Round, and it's the most formal. Everyone wears black dresses, and since you'll only visit three houses, most girls wear heels. I especially love the fun back on this black dress -- it adds an individual touch to a typical LBD. I think gold jewelry adds a classy, not too sparkly touch to an all-black outfit.

(Dress: Cynthia Rowley; Shoes: Badgley Mishka; Bag: Chanel)

Have a lovely day!

XO,

Carson

Top 5 Books I Can't Wait to Read This Summer

Hi everyone!

I officially finished school today (yay!) and now I have lots of time to read all the books I want to! I love to read -- I've been known to go through between two and three books a week over the summer! Here's the first five books I'm going to tackle with my newfound free time!

 The first book I plan to read is Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy. According to Goodreads (a website I highly recommend to anyone who likes to read), it's about the drama that unfailingly follows that girl who is only friends with boys. Ever since I was thirteen, I've one or a few guys that I feel like I could talk to about anything. That's not to say I don't have girlfriends -- I definitely do! -- I'm just also comfortable with boys, and I like being friends with them.

 Second is The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg, the author of Gossip Girl. It looks almost exactly like Gossip Girl, which I loved, but set against the world of competitive horse showing. I have been showing horses on the hunter-jumper circuit since I was ten years old, and it's something I really love doing. The A Circuit will satisfy my chick-lit guilty pleasure and my horse-crazy side all in one story!

 My third book I've already read once, but I love it so much I just have to read it again. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is probably the most iconic Southern novel ever written, and, as y'all know, I love the South. When I was little, I used to think I would grow up to become Scarlet -- now I think I'll be Melanie instead!

 I promised my best friend, Taylor, that I would make time to read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It's apparently the "best book you'll ever read," but it sounds really depressing, so I'm not sure how much I'll like it. Still, I did promise her, so maybe it'll surprise me.

Finally, in honor of the release of The Great Gatsby (which is awesome, by the way -- Leo is way hot as Jay Gatsby) I want to read Vixen by Lila Fine, which follows three girls in the high society of the Roaring Twenties. I always love a little scandal...

I can't wait to get started on my summer reading, especially since, for the first time ever, I don't have any required books disrupting my fun! It may be a while until I can get started, though, since I still have 800 pages left in the last Game of Thrones story, A Dance With Dragons.

What other books am I missing on my summer reading list?
XO,
Carson

Happy Mothers' Day!

Hi everyone!

I would like to wish all moms out there, especially my own, a happy Mothers' Day! Everyone make sure to thank your mama for all she does for you!

My mama, daddy, and I at my school's Closing Chapel yesterday!

Have a lovely day!

XO,

Carson

Study Tip: Exams!

Hi everyone!

In Atlanta, exams start for underclassmen this week (sucks!), so I thought I'd take a moment to share the study system I use for exam time! I would just like to note before I start, though, that since I didn't have to take exams this semester, I don't have any pictures!

The first thing I do when studying for exams is set up a folder for each class. Mine were always Lilly Pulitzer file folders, but pocket folders for each class or one large binder with dividers for each class could work too! Inside the folders, I separate notes, handout (more in history and English classes where certain articles may be on the test), and tests and quizzes with binder clips. I usually retype my semester notes before putting them in the folder.

I usually spend about three weeks re-reading my notes and doing the review packet if the teacher gives me one. I always do my review packets three times through -- the first time, I go through in one color and answer every question I can without any help; the second time, I use a different color and my textbook/notes/friends to answer the questions I couldn't the first time; the third time, I use a third color and check my answers with the teacher's key. This way, I only have to study the things in the second two colors! This involves re-reading my notes and the textbook for that section extra carefully, and going over any questions or practice problems at the end of the chapters.

The night before exams, I always made sure to pack a bag with everything I could possibly need. I always include lots of pens or pencils, my calculator, my notes for last-minute studying, a snack for afterwards, and a book in case I finish early. When you get to the exam, just relax and know it'll be over in two hours!

XO,
Carson

Senior Week!

Hi everyone!

I was super busy this week with Senior Week activities at school!

 Monday was College T-Shirt Day -- we had to have a picture with everyone in my class going to UGA next year!

 Tuesday was Occupation Day -- one of my best friends, Charlotte, and I dressed up as Toddlers and Tiaras.

 Wednesday was Senior Chapel, where we all got to wear dresses to school.

The last day of Senior Year was today, and it's a tradition at my school that the Senior class jumps in the pond in front of our school! We all brought floaties and tubes so we could float because the water was disgusting! Seriously, I used an entire bottle of antibacterial surgical scrub after I got out!

I can't believe I've had my final days of high school! It went by so fast, and I'm going to miss everyone in my class next year, but I'm definitely ready for summer and to move to Athens!

XO,

Carson