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The Monogrammed Life

//J.Crew tissue tshirt & wools skirt//Vera Bradley clutch, necklace, & bracelets ℅ Rosie Nellies//Bauble Bar monogram necklace//Basghetti Boutique bow belt//Tory Burch Revas flats//MK watch//Old Navy bow ring//


If you know me, it's no secret that navy is one of my favorite colors. Because navy and black are so close in color, it's easy to underestimate them together. Today's post is to share how great the combo can be, especially with a fab pop of color…like this great Vera Bradley clutch and jewelry ℅ Rosie Nellies! 










Written by Jessica from Proverbs Living
Friday, February 28, 2014 11 comments


We've been in the market for a new coffee table for a while and while browsing Pottery Barn's website, I found this gorgeousWood Plank Coffee Table. Then I saw the $700 price tag and just couldn't justify that much for just a coffee table. I knew I wanted a wood plank coffee table and thought what if we just redid the coffee table we already had?  So off to  pinterest  I went to try and find a  refinishing tutorial...

We already had this Target Threshold Avington Coffee Table and decided that we could give our current coffee table a little makeover with a few new boards on top to give it the whole "wood plank" look.

I discovered this tutorial and figured we could get the same effect as the Pottery Barn Table. So we measured our current coffee table and decided how many boards we would need to cover the top.

Our coffee table measured 21"x38"x20" and we calculated that we needed 7 boards going horizontally across the table to fully cover the top. We headed to Lowe's where we picked out our boards which were 4' Pine Planks that we had cut to 41.5" each.

After we got the boards we needed, we also picked up some gorilla wood glue and Minwax stain in Mission Oak, which was as close to the color of our current table as possible.

First the new boards were stained. We ended up putting quite a few coats on..around 6 or 7 to achieve the color we wanted.



When the new boards were fully dried and ready to go, T sanded down the top of our current coffee table so that the wood glue would adhere properly. 



We measured the width and length of the top again to make sure that we placed each board evenly across the top of the table.




We placed a piece at one end and worked our way horizontally down the top of the table.









































Written by Sarah from Belle In The City
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 No comments
At the end of December, we asked YOU, our followers, to apply to become part of our guest blogger program!  We were overwhelmed by the volume of applications and it took us a while to decide!  

We were looking for guest writers that would be featured on our blog on a weekly to semi-weekly basis that come from all different parts of the country and have one thing in common,  a love for monograms and all things fabulous!  We wanted bloggers who wrote interesting and witty articles - the total package!  We are SO excited to introduce the newest faces to our Meet the Bloggers page!  We can't wait to continue working with all of our bloggers in 2014!

Here's more information about our newest bloggers - be sure to follow them on social media as well!


Jessica
Hey guys, my name is Jessica! I am a twenty-something wife and mother from the Midwest. I am an elementary school teacher and worship leader who enjoys all things navy/pink with bows, sparkles and monograms. When I'm not writing for my life+style blog, Proverbs Living, I enjoy playing golf with my hubby and jogging with my little boy and Weimaraner…sometimes to the nearest J.Crew sale rack!
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Kendall
Hi there!  My name is Kendall and I am a twenty-something gal living in the busy city known as the Big Apple.  I grew up right outside Philadelphia, attended the University of Delaware (Go Blue Hens!) then fulfilled my dream of moving to New York City and becoming a Child Life Specialist. I have been bit by the travel bug and my boyfriend and I are always looking to finalize our next vacation.  Some fun little facts about me: I love to cook, recently took up photography as a hobby, have the cutest dog (“Hadley”) in the whole wide world, love monograms on anything and everything, I get asked if I am from the south on a daily basis (and have to sadly decline and follow-up with “I only wish”) and I blog over at StyledSnapshots!
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Rachel
Hi everyone, my name is Rachel!  I'm a Georgia girl with a love for fashion, photography, shopping, travel, and my puppy Jaycee.   I'm a Marketing major and a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.  I am the author and owner of the blog, A Preppy State of Mind, where I live out my motto of "Making life cute."  I believe in pink, always finding happiness in everything, and living life one day at a time.  I'm obsessed with monograms, bows, gold polka dots, desk accessories, shoes, and iPhone cases (you can never have too many!).  I'm excited to be a blogger for The Monogrammed Life.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Ashliegh
Coming to you from the heart of it all (aka Ohio) I am Ashliegh Jarzenski! A senior strategic communication major at Ashland University, I am a sister of Alpha Phi, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, and a pageant competitor. Obsessed with J.Crew, Marshall’s, and vintage jewelry, I’m a major girly girl and believe in the power of a great first impression! I always have pearls on (and a monogram, of course), am a self-proclaimed social media nerd, and love to travel! I am also the creator of The Darling Prepster where I blog about living life to my personal motto, “high heels, high standards, pearls everyday.” 
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Sarah
Hey y'all! I'm Sara, a 20-something college senior from Atlanta, GA and writer behind the blog: Pearls & Curls. I'm currently studying English with a minor in Mass Communications and hope to pursue a career in publishing. Aside from being a student & blogger, I'm a fur momma to the sweetest rescue pup named Baron and rescue cat named Ralph. I'm also an avid sports fan, cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats, Green Bay Packers, U.S. Women's National soccer team, and the Seattle Sounders. I firmly believe that a DryBar blowout can turn a terrible day into a great one, you're never too old for Disney movies, and a glass of red wine is always good for the soul. I'm thrilled to be joining The Monogrammed Life team!
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Mary-Katherine
Hey! I am a freshly employed newlywed trying to learn how to navigate the post-grad waters. A born and bred California girl from Napa Valley, I left for Kansas (of all places) for college and found the cutest guy at the school and decided I would have to marry him! :)  For now, we are settled right in the heart of America but always looking forward to the next trip to take us somewhere new! 
Having just started a career in public accounting, I figured I may need a creative outlet so I wrote my first blog post the day I started my job.  I blog over at "The Gold-Hatted Lover" which is mostly fashion-focused with a sprinkling of stories from my day to day life, my current playlists, favorite reads, really anything that sparks my interest!  I love that blogging has given me the opportunity to "meet" people from all over the country and am excited to see where it takes me in the future!
Instagram

Shannon

I’m a freshman in college attending Furman University in sunny South Carolina and the writer behind Prep Avenue! I love bright colors, anything with a bow, and whimsical accessories that make life so much more exciting. I over plan and over think most everything in my life and practically live out of my Lilly planner. This is not exactly ideal when you’re living as a military brat and anything can change with the wink of an eye or the snap of a finger. I love planning, organizing, and making everything more sparkly. I am a true prep and am a sucker for anything seersucker, scalloped, or sequined. I think high heels are the coolest thing and I desperately wish I could walk in them. I have a deep passion for traveling and learning about other cultures. I believe in the power of pink and the infinite strength of the power of one to ignite change.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Peace, Love & Monograms
Written by Holly from The Monogrammed Life
Monday, February 24, 2014 2 comments
Yesterday I finally found the perfect pair of booties! I was very happy, especially since I'm heading back to school in a couple of days. They're the Milan Bootie from Tory Burch, and the best part was that they were on double-sale! A lot of booties that I had been looking at looked either like I was going horseback riding or they were just super ratchet...not really the look I'm going for! 


milan wedge bootie | animal print sweater | black jeggings | jersey sweater dress | multi-color chandelier earrings | long cardigan | skinny jeans

The three outfits above are my favorite picks for what to wear with booties: going out, with a dress, and casual. I loooove animal print, especially when paired with my favorite gold hoops. To balance out the proportions of the top, wear black leggings or jeggings on the bottom. A shapeless dress with tights and fun jewelry is a really cute look too. Lastly, dress up an oversize, long cardigan with skinny jeans and your new booties!

Have a great day!


Written by Hannah from The Pink & Green Prep
Friday, February 21, 2014 18 comments
The other day, I was so excited to post on the Alpha Delta Pi blog one again.  I wrote a post on time management, so I thought it might be fun to share on my blog as well.

Life is a crazy wonderful show that never stops running…having to be here at this time, having this due by this time, oh wait, and I wantto go here at this time.  When I started college, I thought I had this whole idea of time management under control.  Well, I was wrong.  When I look back at what I was taking on then versus now, I see how much I have taught myself as far as time management goes.  So, without further adieu, here are a few time management tips that I find helpful.

  1. First things first…make sure you have a planner.  Life is simply too confusing to not have one.  My planner is where I list things months in advance.  Birthdays, events, schedules, etc…are all jotted down in here.
  2. I start off each week with asking myself, "What is going on this week?"  I list down events, work, tests, assignments, blog posts, and anything else that may be happening on a blank sheet of paper, which I then place in the corner on my mirror, that hangs above my desk, to remind myself.
  3. With the end of each day, I set goals for the next day.  I list down what has to be done, and what I'd like to get done.  This leads to…
  4. First things first!  After classes, I usually go to work.  After work, I usually am running some errands, working on assignments, etc.  After that, I like to blog, catch up on emails. What I'm getting at is to take on the most important tasks, the things that must be done that day, first!  
  5. We shouldn't overwork ourselves.  You have to take breaks and reward yourself at times.  In between work and studying, I may pop into a favorite store just to rest my brain (I love Hobby Lobby).  While doing homework, I may take five minutes to check Instagram.  After completing some studying, fix yourself a cup of tea…just don't overwork yourself!
  6. If you're feeling overloaded and like you just can't manage your time to get it all done, don't be afraid to ask for help!  There's always someone willing to help you out.  
Even though I'm getting better at it, I'm still learning how to manage my time.  I attempt, and if I fail, I simply adjust something in my schedule to try and make it work.  I believe that one can never truly grasp time management.  We are always trying, learning, and taking on new things to where we can only do our very best.  I still catch myself blogging during the time I should be sleeping (oops), but it's all a learning process.

What are some of your tips for managing your time?
Written by Rachel from A Preppy State of Mind
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 2 comments
I have been absolutely geeking out to the max over decorating my new little nest. Every paycheck I get, I immediately figure out how much I'm going to allow myself to spend on pretty bits and bobs to add sparkle and sass to every surface. And then spend more than that. #sorrynotsorry



My actual obsession throughout my decorating extravaganza has been prints. Prints everywhichwhere. All over. I just can't stop. They're too sparkly and adorable and cheeky for me to resist.


So I obviously have to show you some of my favorites. I mean, right?

Sugar Paper ampersand print

Tortoiseshell Sunnies watercolor print via Waiting On Martha

"life is short...eat more cupcakes" print via Jenny Bevlin

The Perfect Lip print via Ashley Brooke Designs

"She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes" via Amanda Catherine Designs

What Would Carrie Bradshaw Do? via Pearls And Pastries

Girlfriends print via Inslee

She Dreams In Perfect French via Amanda Catherine Designs

Confetti print via Pearls and Pastries

"Pop, Fizz, Clink!" via Jenny Bevlin

Champagne print via Amanda Catherine Designs

And here's my perfect Jenny Bevlin print in action last night whilst toasting to Sean and Catherine's beautiful wedding. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Being there in spirit still calls for champagne, right? #everythingcallsforchampagne 


Happy Monday, darlings!


Written by Mason from Mason..Like The Jar
Monday, February 17, 2014 2 comments
We are LOVING this guest post from Kayleigh's Kloset!  She is a sophomore Alpha Chi Omega at THE University of Oklahoma studying Public Relations with a minor in Marketing.  She's a fashion blogger and contributing blogger for Sorority Stylista who has always had a love for fashion.  She is a Kenda Scott, Kate Spade, and Henri Bendel junkie.  She's a girl with big dreams and an even bigger closet!  We hope you enjoy this guest post about styling one vest, four ways! We LOVE it! 
Sorority Stylista (sororitystylista.com) is the voice of style, fashion, beauty, and philanthropy created by and for women emerged in and inspired by sorority life. If you love sorority life, style, photography, and blogging, you should launch a Style Chapter or become a part of your existing Style Chapter by joining Sorority Stylista. Be a part of the voice and influence sorority style!

I’ve always been a fan of monogram vests, but this Marley Lilly vest takes the cake. This Blush Pink Breezy Vest is the perfect way to always have my letters on me. It’s lightweight and water resistant which makes it perfect for the crazy weather in Oklahoma. It’s perfect for lounging around and going to class, or going out with your sisters! The pink adds a great pop of color to any outfit! It has gathered on the sides and the pockets, making it different from any other vest that I own. I’ve styled it four different ways for you, so you have no excuse to not buy it right now! I can’t wait to wear it to our spring philanthropy event since it will still be cooler outside.
Marley Lilly is the go-to website for any monogrammed goodies! I’ve purchased everything from bags and pullovers to cups and koozies. They have great customer service and low prices, not to mention super fast rush shipping that doesn’t cost a fortune! Anytime I need a gift for a sister or my little I go to Marley Lilly! If you follow them on Instagram and twitter they always update you on their frequent flash sales! I’m currently dying for the Hot Pink Penny Crossbody Wristlet, this Pink Glitter Acrylic Wine Cup, and the Black and White Chevron Bandeau Bathing Suit. Maybe after next payday!
Style Tip: Pair your vest with different prints, textures, and styles that you wouldn’t think of normally! Step out of your comfort zone, that’s what being a fashionista is all about!
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I love navy blue and light pink. So what better than to pair my vest with my navy blue, polka-dotted J. Crew top and a pleated skirt.
I could easily wear this outfit out around campus! The vest adds a pop of color and definitely gives the outfit a “sorority girl” vibe!
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I wore the vest over a textured sweater and a pair of polka dot pants. I added a rhinestoned collared top underneath and a big necklace for a pop of glam!
I would wear this outfit shopping or out on the town! The pink adds an extra girly vibe to the outfit!
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Throwing the vest on over a sweater can make an easy comfy day!
I love pink and grey. So adding a pink vest to one of my favorite grey sweater dresses was a must! I could lounge around the house in this all day or go run errands.
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Last but not least, my Valentines Day look!
Finally, my last look is for Valentines Day. I paired the pink vest with a red and white striped dress. It would make the perfect Valentines outfit for any college girl! I’m obsessed and will be sporting this at our Valentine’s Day date party.
There you have it. Four ways to wear one vest. SO, what are you waiting for? Buy the vest here and check out the rest of Marley Lilly’s website!


Written by Kayleigh from Kayleigh's Kloset
Friday, February 14, 2014 2 comments
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