Featured Brand: Southern Dignity

Headquartered in Roland, Arkansas, Southern Dignity is a clothier selling men and women's clothing, and accessories. For men, they offer suspenders, neck ties, bow ties, polos, and pocket tees. They also have pocket tees and polos for the women. Southern Dignity offers a selection of croakies, koozies, and car decals, as well.

"Embodied by rich tradition, the south is much more a way of life than the geography that defines it." -SouthernDignity.Com

Marked by the Great Dane logo, Southern Dignity captures the southern culture into a clothing line. As they put it, "what some see as simplicity, those who know it best see it for its subtle eloquence."

To read more about the brand, or to shop around online, head on over and check out Southern Dignity.

Check it Out: Boston Lax

Spring is full swing, which means so is lacrosse season. There's a new website out, dedicated to Massachusetts high school lacrosse. The newly-launched site features stats, schedules, rankings, news, rosters and videos. Definitely worth checking out for fans of lacrosse. Head over to BostonLax.Net.

The Big Three

Women have purses. Who knows what they carry in them. I'm sure there's a lot of variety from woman to woman as to exactly what goes into the purse--some have entire drug stores, some have entire liquor stores, and some have more surprises than Mary Poppins. Honestly, I'm afraid to even ask/look at what most women carry in their purse.

However, men really only have three things that they need to carry with them. Some may have others, like a pocket knife, or other tool, but there are really three basic needs that men have when they go out. Well, the three things they need, plus whatever items a lady has given him to be in charge of for the night. Conveniently, all three of the man needs comfortably in the pockets of any pair of chinos or jeans. A simple tap on each of the three pockets before going out the door is a fresh reminder that you have everything you need. On the other hand, going out without one of these items when it's not needed will be the cause of constant mini heart attacks because you don't have it. Like most things with guys, the reason for needing them is obvious. The essentials:

1. Cell Phone
I keep mine in my front left pocket. Times that it has accidentally been put in the front right pocket has lead to numerous split second freak outs because I thought I had lost my phone. It was immediately returned to the proper pocket. The cell phone is essential because it allows you to keep in contact with everyone (only in emergencies if you're out with other people), and now you can play endless games, watch videos, and surf the web. It's like a hand held laptop that allows you call and text.

2. Wallet
Mine is always kept in my back right pocket. I know a lot of guys keep their wallet in the back left pocket, but since I'm right-handed, it's easier for me to reach for my wallet with my right hand. Having the wallet is important because it holds so much essential stuff: cash, debit and credit cards, ID. I also keep business cards, frequent flyer cards, and a few loyal customer cards in my wallet. Wallets come in many different materials, colors, and styles, but I've always preferred a black (fake) leather tri-fold.  

3. Keys
Yes, if you're wondering, that is a picture of my actual keyring. I keep it in the front right pocket. The keyring holds the keys to my Jeep and my apartment, my rewards program cards (although, I think I can get rid of the Borders one now), and the key chain. Mine is a lacrosse key fob, but the key chain is an chance to have some self-expression in The Big Three. My office keys are kept in my briefcase because I rarely use them, and bulging pockets look good on exactly no one.




The Big Three: don't leave home without them!

Sentry Lacrosse Helments

Back in January, I showed you the helmets that George Washington University club lacrosse would be rocking this year. The same guys who designed those helmet decals, HeadWrapz, are at it again for Sentry Lacrosse. Sentry Lacrosse is a select club team, located in Dallas, TX and got HeadWrapz to design a patriot theme for their Cascade CPX-R helmets. The helmets have a white shell, and blue visor and chin piece. The right side of the helmet features a lax stick wielding Uncle Sam, and the left side has the Sentry Lacrosse logo. The top of the helmet has the stars and bars decal, and the back panel decal has the Sentry Lacrosse logo, as well as a map of Texas. Check out Sentry Lacrosse online.

Syracuse Lax 2009 National Championship Video

I'm not really a fan of Syracuse, but this video still gives me goosebumps when I watch it. It's from their 2009 National Championship game--the game that they scored a goal with 3 seconds left in regulation to tie Cornell, and eventually win in overtime.

Product Review: 8" Thinsulate Bean Boots

Manufacturer: L.L. Bean
Retail Price: $99.00 (www.llbean.com)

I did a post a few weeks ago about the L.L. Bean Bean Boots, better known as the Duck Boot. Prep Essentials: LL Bean Duck Boots. I got my first pair this year, and New England did get a couple of snowy days this year that I was able to try them out.

First off, these boots are extremely comfortable. At first they were a little stiff, but when I took them out of the box, I laced them up tight, and the leather broke in pretty quickly after that. Not only that, but they are also warm. Even on the days that I wore them into work with only my dress socks under them, my feet stayed warm. I felt like a little kid again, as I would trample through snow piles, or walking through rain puddles, just to see if my feet would stay warm and dry--and they did.

Driving in these boots was a little shaky at first. Obviously, these boots are stiffer and bigger than shoes, so it took me a little while to get a feel for the pedals. Nothing too major, but my stops and starts were a little quicker than most passengers would prefer a driver to have. I can only assume that this gets better as the boots break in more.

The boots are available in a wide variety of styles, colors, and insulation materials to choose from. As spring is upon us, and it will inevitably rain, the moccasins could come in quite handy for keeping for feet dry this spring. To see the full selection, head on over to LL Bean and take a look.

Gotta Have It: The iPopper

Reef put them on the soles of their sandals (kind of unsanitary if you think about it), and now you can have it on your phone case: a bottle opener. Available for the iPhone 3G/GS and iPhone 4, the iPopper allows you to make sure you have a bottle opener with you anywhere you have a phone; chances are, that means you'll have a bottle opener with you where ever you go. The iPopper is available online, here, for $19.95 + $3.95 shipping and handling.

Look for a review of this product coming soon!

NCAA Hockey Predictions

The 2012 NCAA Frozen Four tournament starts on Friday. Although only 16 teams make the tournament, it's very hard to predict. With fewer teams making the field, the lowest seed can beat the highest seed in the first round. My Frozen Four consists of Michigan, Union, Western Michigan, and Boston College. I haven't seen Union play, but Michigan, Western, and BC have been playing very well as of late, and I think all 3 teams will make it deep into the tournament.

As you can see, I struggled with BU. They were playing really well at the start of the year, but after losing the Beanpot Championship to BC, they just haven't looked as sharp lately. They also fell to Maine in the Hockey East semi-finals. The team has had a lot of distractions this season (two rape allegations), and ultimately, I just don't see them doing very well this tournament.

What Happened to Abercrombie & Fitch?

Remember, back in middle school, when all the popular kids were wearing Abercrombie & Fitch? A&F used to be the "it" brand, and in fact, back in the day it was very preppy. If you don't believe me, just check out Lisa Birnbach's The Official Preppy Handbook from 1980. It's no longer in print, but you can still find some used copies online if you search for it.

Anyway, here's a brief history lesson: A&F was founded in 1892 by David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch in Manhattan. Abercrombie & Fitch was an elite outfitter of sporting goods, including: pricey shotguns, tents, and fishing rods. Very preppy. In 1976, the brand filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the flagship store in Manhattan closed in 1977. The brand, at that time, was very similar to still preppy L.L. Bean.

In 1978-79, Oshman's Sporting Goods bought the Abercrombie & Fitch name, and their mailing list. A&F was now a mail-order store for hunting wear and novelty items. It also opened stores in Beverly Hills, Dallas, and New York City. The brand was sold to its third owner, The Limited, in 1988.

Now the brand is clothing-only, mainly worn by guidos, preteens, and high schoolers--although their target audience is 18-22 year olds. A big shift in the clientele occurred through the brands advertising: they primarily use photographer Bruce Weber. The style is slightly racy, using gray-scale photos, usually taken in outdoor settings, featuring models who are semi-nude.

The brand has been accused of promoting the sexualization of preteen girls by marketing thongs to 10-year-olds and padded bikini tops to 7-year-olds. It has also gone through lawsuits for discrimination in their hiring. The in-store costumer service reps (called "models") were recruited to work based solely on their looks (primarily they were Caucasian), and they used to have to buy (out of their own pocket) A&F clothing to wear while working.

So, where did the brand go so astray in the prep world? My opinion is the marketing. Going for the hardcore sex appeal is not in line with preppy traditions. Compare Abercrombie & Fitch's marketing to Vineyard Vines or Brooks Brothers. Anyone can see the difference immediately. Preppy women want to feel, and look, classy and sophisticated; the men want to look dapper and refined. The two images simply no longer coincide.

To further drive this point home, just take a look at MTV's Jersey Shore. Many of the characters wear the Abercrombie & Fitch label as they go to night club's, and other places, while getting sloppily drunk, and looking for meaningless sex. The brand has now adopted that image, despite it's preppy, outdoor roots.

And that's what happened to Abercrombie & Fitch.

Spring Proof

Further proof that it is now spring time. Because you never know when you will get invited to go sailing.

Brooks Brothers Light Blue Garment Dyed Chinos


Sperry Top-Sider Classic Brown Leather Authentic Original Boat Shoe

Question 4: List 10 Things You Would Tell Your 16 Year Old Self, If You Could

Here is the fourth answer on my list of Questions.

1. No one thinks you're cool for speeding, and flooring the accelerator where ever you go. In fact, they actually will think you're being a tool.
2. Amanda is no good for you; the sooner you get her out of your life, the sooner you'll be happier.
3. Enjoy high school sports while you can--you will miss them dearly.
4. Don't try to take the Cavalier off-road. You will get stuck very quickly.
5. Your parents are just trying to protect you; they don't make rules just to be mean.
6. Don't spend so much time locked in your bedroom. Instead, spend it with your family. Before long, you'll live 900 miles away from your closest relative.
7. Keep your shirt tucked in--the dress code violations really add up.
8. When you take Sacraments in school, try not to come off so offensive to the teacher in class discussions.
9. With a tiny bit of effort, you can do way better than a 3.0 GPA.
10. Hang in there, have a little fun along the way.

Whalehouse Sale Success

This is why I love the Vineyard Vines Whalehouse Sale. The photo above shows all of the stuff that I got at the sale, but the truly great thing is the price. If all of this were purchased in a Vineyard Vines store or online, the total would've been just shy of $600. Whalehouse prices were roughly around 40% off, and the total at the sale was just over $300.

It gets better! On Saturday, when I went to the sale, everything was 40% off. I was able to get everything for just under $200. It's hard to argue with that type of savings.

Happy First Day of...Pastels

 "As you can see I got a lot pastels. I went to boarding school; we always rocked pastels." -Brantford Winstonworth

Welcome, Spring! Today marks the first day of spring, which, more importantly, also marks the first day of Pastel Season. If you're anything like me, which you probably are, your closet is overflowing with bright (some might say "obnoxious") pastels.

In the form of not only polos, t-shirts, and button-downs, but also pants and shorts, pastels should make up a large percentage of your wardrobe. Wearing Carolina blue plants with a yellow oxford, or Nantucket red pants with a white oxford are classic preppy looks, and will certainly turn heads. To the people that matter, their heads will be turned in a positive look.

J. Crew, Vineyard Vines, and Brooks Brothers all have a great selection of pastel tops and bottoms for the season. Also be sure to check out the selection they have over at Southern Tide.

If you're ever in doubt about what to wear this spring, remember: you can never go wrong with pastels.

Preps by Region: Mid-Atlantic

Here's a look at those preps in between The Southeast and New England: The Mid-Atlantic preps.

Family: Based around Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the Mid-Atlantic prep is from "old money." The money either came from Baltimore's shipping industry, a powerful political career in D.C. It is possible that the political career in D.C. brought on "new money," but the old stuff is more respected. Names like Landon, Tanner, and Bryce are popular for boys, and popular girls names include Avery, Ryan, and Ainsley.

Summers: The Mid-Atlantic prep will summer at Virginia Beach, the Maryland or New Jersey shore; or perhaps North Carolina's Outer Banks, or even the Hampton's. The time will be spent sailing, crabbing, and playing lacrosse on the beach. A common summer wardrobe staple is the lacrosse pinnie. The rarer the pinnie, the more respected it is.

High School: In the Mid-Atlantic, preps will go to lacrosse-factories, known as single-sex boarding schools. Gilman, Boys' Latin, and Georgetown Prep are a few at the top of the list. Other high school activities will include sailing, crew, and some dabbling in football. Crab cakes and lacrosse: that's what Maryland really does.

College: Many of these preps will continue the private school education route in college. If not private, then one of the "public Ivy" schools: North Carolina, Virginia, William & Mary. For the lacrosse players, it will either be a top Division I school, or a Division III powerhouse like Salisbury, Roanoke, or Stevenson. A few will even continue with the single-sex education, and males will enroll at Hampden-Sydney, and females will head off off to Sweet Briar College.

Career: Political and law careers are very popular among the Mid-Atlantic preps. These are the ones who will stay close to home. Others will take careers in finance, prompting a move to New York City, and they will return to the Mid-Atlantic region to summer.

*This article is meant to poke fun and laugh at stereotypes, and not meant to offend anyone.

Question 3: Describe Your Relationship With Your Parents

My parents and I get along very well. I'm sure it helps that my parents are still married and I have rarely ever even seen them argue. We don't talk daily, sometimes we don't even talk weekly, but we stay close. Living 900 miles away from them, we also don't see each other much. A lot of our communication is actually done through text messaging and emails. It's difficult for outsiders to understand how we still keep a close relationship with each other.

My family is not very emotional, and we prefer it that way. We show affection though picking on each other, typically in the use of sarcasm. It fits in nicely with our dry sense of humor. We're able to pick on each other because we show love through actions instead of words. When I was little, I knew that I was loved and cared about, and I still do, even if it isn't expressed verbally. When things get tough, we are all always there for each other, and to me, that means infinitely more than any words ever could.

When I was growing up, they were strict, yet kind, and gave me the responsibility to make my own choices. They always made it clear where the boundaries were, and it was also clear that I would be in trouble if I stepped over a boundary. However, I did have a lot of freedom within those boundaries. When I did mess up, they would give me support, but they always made sure that I still felt the consequences of my actions.

I was raised in the church, and Christian principles were a big part of my upbringing. They taught me how to be polite and respectful, and that I would always have to work hard to achieve the things I wanted to. These principles still guide my life and decisions, and I consider myself blessed that I was introduced to faith at a young age.

If it weren't for my parents, and seeing them apply these principles in their own lives, there's no way I would have achieved what I have in life.

So, Mom and Dad, thank you.

St. Patrick's Day in Boston

St. Patrick's Day is kind of a big deal in Boston. Many Irish immigrants made their way to Boston, and their descendants still inhabit the area. While I typically have never celebrated the holiday very much--aside from going to South Boston's parade every year, I decided to go out this year.

While many people go all out with wearing green on St. Patrick's Day, sometimes including large bow ties, beads, or leprechaun costumes--I choose to keep it simple. I donned a green, with blue check pattern, Brooks Brothers button-down, jeans, Sperry's, and a blue Vineyard Vines hat. Good enough to not get pinched, but still looking like a normal functioning member of society.

After a quick stop at the Vineyard Vines Whalehouse sale in Lowell (more on that later), I went in to Boston and met up with Bill, Pepe, and a group of their friends to do some celebrating. We met up at a bar near Faneuil Hall called Hong Kong. After 45 minutes of waiting to get in, and paying a $10 cover, we hung out in the very crowded bar for a while before deciding to move on.

When we did move on, we headed to Whiskey's, which is in the Back Bay. The line there was even longer, and it took us an hour to get to the door. While waiting in line, a couple of people would run across the street to the food court and the Prudential Center for a little nourishment.

Inside Whiskey's, we did end up getting a table after about an hour, and had dinner there. By the time we were done there, it was around 10 o'clock and most of us parted ways to head home. Sorry that this story was not very detailed (thus, making it pretty dull), but many of the details are best left undisclosed on the internet.

Question 2: Describe 3 Legitimate Fears You Have And How They Became Fears

1. Ladders: I'm not entirely sure how this became a fear. I just absolutely hate ladders. It's really bad; even by the 4th or 5th rung I start getting nervous. Lately I've realized that I do okay on the ladder once I'm not climbing anymore (like if I'm painting and am stationary for a while), but am incredibly nervous if I'm climbing up or down the ladder. I also usually do okay with pretty much anything else dealing with heights. It's weird.

2. Letting Other People Down: Again, I'm not sure exactly how this became a fear. Maybe fear isn't the best word, but I'm going to go with it. It's not that I'm afraid that I will let them down; I actually am very confident in my abilities to follow through with everything, and do what is expected of me. I just know that when someone gives me something to do, or if I give someone my word, I don't want to drop the ball. I do everything I can to make sure I follow through. Maybe I'm just afraid of that person thinking less of me if I do fail.

3. Being Able to Financially Support a Family: This fear started pretty recently. Having a job, and a less-than-stellar economy, I can support myself. I'm just not sure I could support others, too. The job I have now is pretty low-paying, and I see little to no room for advancements/raises. I currently have to pay rent, gas, electric, cable/internet, and a car payment, which I manage, but there's not too much extra spending money left over very often. I don't think I could support others. Plus, my apartment is pretty small, and having even two people living it would be a challenge. I would need a bigger place, and therefore, the cost of rent would go up. Hopefully, the economy will get better and employment opportunities will be better, too.

Product Review: Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Sport Shirt

Manufacturer: Brooks Brothers
Retail Price: $88.00 (www.brooksbrothers.com)

Available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and fit, the Brooks Brothers Non-Iron sport shirt is a must-have for any prep wardrobe.Pictured is the regular fit double-check sport shirt. Brooks Brothers has regular fit, slim fit, extra slim fit, and country club & luxury fits available.

When I first put this shirt on, the high quality of the fabric stood out right away. The shirt was very soft, yet still held the crispness of a nice, new shirt. Also impressive about the shirt was how breathable it was. I wear mine to work, but also when I am just going out with friends. The temperature in my office is set higher than I would prefer, and I feel much more comfortable on the days that I'm wearing one of these shirts.

Many shirts can also be purchased at the price of 3 for $219, which is a savings of $45. I would highly recommend the Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Sport Shirt to anyone. Some of the shirts have the Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece logo, and some do not, which allows you to go more a more formal (no logo) or more casual (logo) look. You will look good and feel good--or feel good and look good. Either way, all is good.

Question 1: List 20 Random Facts About Yourself

A couple days ago, I did a post called Questions. For my readers, I've decided that I will do a post that answers each one of those questions. First up, 20 random facts about me.

1. My favorite color is Carolina blue.
2. My birthday is September 14, 1987.
3. My middle name is Aaron.
4. I've been to 32 of the 50 states.
5. My 5 least favorite cities are: New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Los Angeles.
6. My 5 favorites cities are: Boston, Chicago, Nashville, New Orleans, and Baltimore.
7. My favorite book is The Lincoln Lawyer.
8. My favorite animal is a moose.
9. In high school, my favorite subject was US History.
10. The only place I've been to outside of North America is London.
11. I'm 6'1" tall.
12. I would love to start my own business one day (not sure in what, yet).
13. I once ate 12 Krispey Kreme donuts in 1/2 hour. I don't recommend trying it.
14. The first CD I ever owned was Britney Spears.
15. I enjoy making a competition out of anything and everything.
16. My favorite TV show is How I Met Your Mother.
17. I've started to collect koozies and shot glasses, although neither collection is very impressive, yet.
18. I'm not a morning person. At all.
19. The first person to tell me that I was a good writer was my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Peck.
20. I have a diet comparable to that of a 5 year old boy.

Preps by Region: The Midwest

Here's the third installment of my look at preps throughout various regions of the country. Today, we take a look at the Midwest Prep.

Family: In the Midwest, the preppy family comes from "new money." Most likely, a relative got in at the ground floor of a start up tech company, and rose to the top. The family lives in suburbia, probably even a subdivision, but the parents work in a bigger city. As a result, they will have a good-sized yard, but nothing like the plantation homes in the Southeast.

Summers: The Midwest preppy will summer at the lake. The lake will either be one of the Great Lakes, or a tiny lake somewhere that has good wake. One of the most popular locations is to actually head north to Michigan's upper peninsula. In addition to the summer house, the family will also take a vacation to somewhere in the Gulf region.

High School: In the Midwest, preppies go to a private/prep day school that they can commute to from home. Being the Midwest, it will be a Catholic school with a strict dress code. The Midwest prep will play football, basketball, and either baseball or track. The preppy girls will pick up soccer, volleyball, and cheerleading. A select few will navigate towards hockey or lacrosse, but that is rare.

College: Much like SEC schools call to the Southeastern preps, the Big 10 calls to the Midwestern prep. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Indiana will be the most popular choices. Many will still pledge a fraternity or sorority, but this isn't a requirement. Football and basketball season will be the highlights of the school year activities. They will major in business, or a technological field.

Career: After graduating, Midwest preps will most likely find themselves starting a career in the greater Chicago area. If they aren't around Chicago, they've completely left the Midwest and starting a life somewhere else. Florida, New York, and California are popular destinations lately.

*This article is meant to poke fun and laugh at stereotypes, and not meant to offend anyone.

How to Watch March Madness at Work

If you're like me, you'll find yourself having to work during many of the March Madness games. While I was interning, my boss was just as interested in the games as I was (it helped that he was a Cornell alum and they were playing), so we set up a laptop to stream the games on. I no longer have that luxury and will have to be a little bit more...creative in how I stay up to date with the games. Here are 5 ways to catch March Madness live, even if you're stuck in the office.


1. Download the App: I know it's on the iPhone, and probably most other smart phones: NCAA March Madness Live. This free app allows you to check scores, fill out and follow your bracket, get game alerts, and listen to live game radio. For the price of $3.99 you can steam all 67 games live.

2. Get a Second Monitor: If you have the luxury of having two monitors at your work station (it helps if you frequently use both), just dedicate one of the screens to March Madness. Watching the games on mute will help conceal your actions. If it's like last year, CBS' website had a link that instantly switched the video feed to a hilarious flowchart.

3. Bring in a Small TV: This only works for the games that are being broadcast on a local station, but a small TV should be pretty easy to conceal in your desk.

4. Watch it on Your Desktop Anyway: If no one else can see your screen, keep the games open in a different window and minimize it any time you think someone might be about to walk by. If you get caught up in a game, be sure to hit buttons on the keyboard, or click your mouse a few times, to make it sound like you are working.

5. Call in Sick: If you have some sick days, or vacation days, use them up and stay at home to watch the games on your couch. Or, go to a sports bar. No one can judge you if you start drinking at noon (when the first games of the day usually start) during March Madness.

*Disclaimer: you are NOT allowed to blame me if you get caught trying these tactics. These strategies may lead to disciplinary actions, or even termination from the workplace.

Perspective

Here's proof that I'm an architecture nerd: I'm borderline obsessed with this photo because of the perspective. It is almost perfect, and easily could be perfect had it been centered. Still, it is one of the few photographs I've seen that the perspective lines can be traced to the vanishing point. I also have a strange attraction to columns. Architecture nerd.

Questions

In case you ever find yourself having a lull in conversation, here are some questions to get the ball rolling again. Great questions to ask if you're just starting to date someone, too:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Featured Brand: Lilly Pulitzer

Lilly Pulitzer has become the arguably the most quintessential prep brand; especially for females. Designer and socialite Lilly Pulitzer (born Lillian Lee McKim) has even been dubbed the "Queen of Prep." Lilly McKim became Lilly Pulitzer when she married Herbert "Peter" Pulitzer, Jr., who is the grandson of Joseph Pulitzer (the Pulitzer Prize). They divorced and Lilly married Enrique Rousseau, who died of cancer in 1993.

After the marriage to Peter, the couple settled in Palm Beach, Florida. Peter owned several citrus groves, which Lilly worked at. She frequently would get juice stains on her clothing. In an attempt to mask the stains, she designed a sleeveless dress made of bright colors to wear while she was working. Customers frequently complimented the dress, so she made more of them and sold them at the juice stand. Before long, she was selling more dresses than juice, and focused on her fashion design career.

Lilly became president of Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. in 1959. The main factory was located in Miami, and fabrics were produced in Key West. In the 60s through the 80s, Lilly Pulitzer dresses were worn by many big names, including: Jackie Kennedy, and members of the Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Whitney families. In 1984, Lilly was not having as much fun as she used to, retired, and closed down the entire operation.

The brand was revived in 1993 when rights to the brand were purchased by Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. The contacted Lilly with their hopes of reviving the brand because so many of their mothers and sisters loved Lilly.

Today, Lilly serves as the brand's creative consultant, approving new designs, fabrics, collections, and products. The company has 75 signature stores, or "Via Stores," and is also sold in department stores such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Lord & Taylor.

The company offers men's and women's clothing, home goods, accessories, sorority prints, and more. In 2010, the Bridal Collection was launched. Be sure to check out the Lilly Pulitzer website for more.

NCAA Basketball Predictions

Here is my bracket for the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. I'm usually much better at predicting football games, but we'll see how it goes. My Final Four is Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio State, and North Carolina, with North Carolina winning it all.

The Lorax

"Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, the world's not going to change. It's not." -Dr. Suess

From the end credits in The Lorax

Preps by Region: The Southeast

Here is the second installment of my series on preps around the country. Today we take a look at preps from the Southeast.

Family: The Southeastern prep will also come from "old money," but their family likely has roots in the plantation industry and the money came in from that era. Many of the families will still be involved in farming, raising horses, or some other agricultural field. The family will also spend a lot of time together hunting and fishing. This is the region that makes camouflage a preppy color.

Summers: Where do you summer when you live where the rest of the world vacations? The summer home of the Southeast prep will likely be at Hilton Head Island, the Outer Banks, or Sanibel Island. These places provide plenty of summer employment opportunities with all of the tourists, and plenty of nice weather to relax in on the days and nights off.

High School: While there are plenty of preppies in the Southeastern United States that do attend private, and boarding, schools, the majority will be getting their education at large public high schools. While in high school, the young prep will play football, playing quarterback, and play baseball as nice spring past time, while the girls will take up equestrian. If a Division I opportunity arises, he will take it, but DII and DIII just don't sound as appealing.

College: The SEC is the only way to go. Schools like South Carolina, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Alabama all scream their name. In the fall of their freshman year, the prep will rush and pledge a fraternity, or sorority. College highlights will always be the football games (tailgates), with basketball and baseball serving as time-killers when it isn't football season. They will wear their Sunday best (as long as it is their team's colors) to all sporting events because the Southeast is "God's country." They will major in a variety of academic subjects, but the real major will always be partying.

Career: Thanks to the connections made in Greek life, it is much easier for the Southeast prep to find a respectable job upon graduation. If they don't end up going to work for their father, or some other relative, a fraternity brother or sorority sister, will be there to get them an in somewhere. This is important because raising horses is expensive, after all.

*This article is meant to poke fun and laugh at stereotypes, and not meant to offend anyone.

Vineyard Vines Whalehouse Sale

Preps by Region: New England

Like accents, food, customs, and most other things, preps tend to vary throughout different regions of the country. This is the first installment of a series of posts that will take a look at some of the stereotypes of preppies throughout different regions of the country. Naturally, I'm starting with my personal favorite region in the country: New England.

Family: Most New England preps come from "old money." Somewhere down the line, an ancient relative helped found Boston, or some other trade of historical distinction; probably something nautical. They will be taught proper manners, but as life goes on, they will forget all about these lessons in everyday life, and only apply them at formal functions that they will frequent.

Summers: The New England prep will spend his or her time summering (yes, "summer" is a verb) down Cape (Cape Cod). The ideal spot is Nantucket, but Martha's Vineyard, or somewhere Lower Cape will do just fine. Block Island, in Rhode Island, or the coast of Maine also make acceptable spots for the family to summer.

High School: In the New England states, most preps will go to a prep school. The school may be co-ed, or strictly male or female, but it will more-than-likely be a boarding school. Phillips Andover (MA) and Phillips Exeter (NH) are two big ones with some very distinguished alumni. The preps are likely going to take a liking to sailing, soccer, ice hockey, rowing, and lacrosse. It is also common for the New England preppy to take a PG, or post-grad, year to get those grades up before college, or to look a little more appealing to college scouts.

College: Almost certainly, the prep will go to a small New England liberal arts school, or any Ivy League school. They will choose to major in business, communications, or pre-anything. He or she will also play for the school's DII or DIII sports team; whatever they were the best at in prep school--especially if that sport was hockey or lacrosse. Upon graduation, they will go to grad school, of course.

Career: Once grad school is complete, the New England prep will enter the workforce. The ideal job is in law, writing, medical practice, and finance. A career is needed that will pay well enough for the summer home on Nantucket, and to put the eventual two kids through expensive prep schools. They will undoubtedly find another prep to marry as they approach 30, and kids will be on the way in the mid-to-late-30's.

*This article is meant to poke fun and laugh at stereotypes, and not meant to offend anyone.

Featured Brand: Marley Lilly

Here's a first: a write-up about a store that is targeted at females. Marley Lilly is an online shop specializing in monogrammed and personalized gifts. Marley Lilly is online-only store based in Greenville, SC. Since they are strictly online, they are able to sell for less than their competitors without sacrificing quality.

Pretty much anything you can imagine, they have available for customization on their site. The list includes, but is nowhere near limited to: koozies, croakies, wallets, hats, flasks, blankets, jewelry, and even wayfarers...the list is seemingly never-ending. The only way to really get a grasp on what they offer is to head over to Marley Lilly and see for yourself.

Whatever the occasion, Marley Lilly will have a great gift idea; weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays are all perfect reasons to give someone a monogrammed, or personalized, gift. The website is set up very nicely, and shows an example of all the customization options, so you'll have a clear picture of what you're ordering.

In addition to running the online store, Marley Lilly also runs a blog: The Monogrammed Life.

Remember the Positives

I'm guilty of this too, but you ever notice how people only seem to remember the negative things in life? No one walks into work and says, "Man, I hit every single green light on my way in!" It's always, "Every single light was red on the way in. Took forever." I read somewhere once (I'm pretty sure) that negative events are remembered better because they trigger a stronger reaction in the brain. I don't know if that's 100% true; I'm not a scientist and I don't feel like looking it up, but it makes sense.

On top of that, if you miss the bus, you're going to stand at the bus stop for the next 10-15 minutes dwelling on the fact that you missed the bus and are now running late. Same thing with the stop light example: when you sit at the red light, that's all time spent thinking about how the light is not green. When you catch a bus on time, you walk right on without a second thought.

I think it'll be amazing how much better your days will be when you stop and make a conscious effort to remember the good things. Every time you hit a green light, be sure to remind yourself: I'm really lucky that I just caught that light green. That's 3 in a row! When you do hit a red light, you can tell yourself, "one red and three green lights is pretty good odds." It may seem silly, especially if you take that positive thinking to the I'm-so-glad-there-was-toilet-paper-left-in-the-stall level, but if you actually remember all the good things that happen to you, your whole outlook on life will change.

Your disposition be bright and sunny, and people around you will notice. The worst that happens is that you look silly for getting excited about catching your bus. The more likely result is that your positive outlook will be contagious and the people around you will start to have a more positive outlook on their lives, as well. This, in turn, benefits you: happy people are much more pleasant to deal with. You'll be happy to deal with pleasant people for once, which will make you even happier. It's the cycle of positive happiness. Copyright pending on that term.

Just try it. I dare you.

Schools That Should Add DI Lacrosse

While lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in the country, it has long been plagued by lack of growth at the NCAA DI level. The sport currently has 61 division I teams (Marquette and High Point will join the ranks next season); that's three teams short of even being able to field the NCAA basketball tournament. It was also recently announced that BU will be adding varsity men's lacrosse in the near future.

By comparison, the sport has 189 teams playing division III, and over 200,000 players at the high school level. One of the big reasons for the lack of growth at the division I level is Title IX. Schools with football programs can't make a men's lacrosse team feasible because of Title IX sanctions. Michigan being able to add the sport is a big step. Below are five schools that could add successful lacrosse programs, and why:

1. Northwestern University: The Northwestern women's program has been extremely successful as of late; (6 championships in the last 7 years) so there is clearly a recruiting formula for lacrosse success in Chicago. Illinois is also getting very good high school lacrosse from schools like New Trier, Fenwick, St. Ignatius Prep, and Loyola. Travel to games becomes less of an issue with schools like Marquette, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State relatively nearby. Northwestern would also join Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State as Big 10 schools with lacrosse, making the Big 10 eligible to make lacrosse a conference sport.

2. Wake Forest: Wake Forest could join a competitive ACC, which would attract top recruits right away. Lacrosse in North Carolina is really picking up, and a private school like Wake reaches into the images of lacrosse's prep-school history. The Mid-Atlantic region has plenty of schools to schedule close by for out-of-conference games with Johns Hopkins, UMBC, Towson, and Navy.

3. Boston College: New England lacrosse is growing rapidly, and BC would do well with local recruiting. Schools like Duxbury and St. John's Prep are competitive nationally every year. Schools like Glastonbury, Fairfield Prep, and Hotchkiss in Connecticut produce top talent, as well. If Wake and BC both added lacrosse, the ACC would have a six team conference, making for a much less redundant post-season tournament. They also have a great natural rival already with BU. With BC, BU, and Harvard having lacrosse, Northeastern would be the only school needed for a lacrosse Beanpot tournament.

4. Connecticut: Again, great local recruiting from Glastonbury, Fairfield prep, and Hotchkiss, as well as the rest of New England. Long Island would also be considered local recruiting for the Huskies. UConn would join an a very competitive Big East with Syracuse, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova, Providence, Rutgers, and St. John's. It would be hard for a recruit to say no to a schedule that loaded with top teams.

5. Kentucky: The SEC school is the long-shot of the list. Trinity and St. X in Louisville have some top high-school talent for UK to recruit from, and so does the state of Ohio. Kentucky could schedule Ohio State, Michigan, Bellarmine, Penn State, and Notre Dame without having too much cost on traveling. The same goes for Northwestern's potential team, but scheduling games with Notre Dame will be very tough early on; the potential is there, though.

The Trouble With Girls...

Saturday night was a friend's birthday; I think 22nd, which basically just means it was the first anniversary of her 21st birthday. While out with the group, I noticed that girls have certain social interactions that are played out as perfectly as if they were reading off of a script. It almost gets humorous because every single social interaction involving a group of girls is played out the exact same way. From the outside looking in, here's a typical night out for a group of girls, through the eyes of a guy:

The night starts with each girl getting ready, usually on her own, or with one or two other girls. Each girl has the same end goal in mind with her outfit: how can I dress like a slut without looking like I'm actually a slut? Girls are usually enjoying some wine, or other type of alcohol while they get ready, and I have an idea as to why. The alcohol gives them the courage put on higher heels, and tighter, shorter dresses. The girl isn't finished getting ready until she has a solid buzz going and is feeling in a good mood.

The next stop of the night is at a friend's place for pregaming. It is almost certain that the host will not be ready when the first few people arrive; more than likely, she'll come to the door in a robe, and be looking for help deciding on one of three or four outfits that are laid out on her bed. As guests arrive they are greeted with the loud, high-pitched, "Ahhh! You look soooo good!" The accepted response is an equally loud and high-pitched, "Thanks! Look at youuuu!" More drinking ensues, and suddenly every girl wants a picture with every possible combination of girls: roomies, BFF's, sorority sisters, birthday girls, neighbors, freshman year orientation group love, and on and on it goes. After each picture is taken the following dialogue ensues (thoughts in italics):

Photographer: Wow, you guys all look so good! Maybe if I talk up the picture before they see it, they won't make me take another one.
Girl Who Owns The Camera: Here, let me see. Oh, it does look really good!
Random Girl In Photo: No, I don't like the way my left eye brow looks. Let's take another, but this time I'll switch sides so no one sees my left eye brow. Actually, I don't want anyone to see the huge zit I had trouble  hiding with my makeup, but I don't want anyone to know...
Photographer: Does anyone have any rope so I can hang myself? Okay, ready...1, 2, 3...looks great!
Random Girl In Photo 2: Now take it long ways so you can see our shoes!
Photographer: No one cares what your shoes look like. They all just assume it's slut heels anyway. Okay, ready...1, 2, 3...looks great!

Hopefully at this point, the cab has already been called. While waiting, everyone will complain about how long it's taking for the cab and talk about how ready they are. Once the cab arrives, a chorus of "of, shoot!" can be heard as girls,  who were "ready," struggle to find their purses, phones, etc. and actually get out the door. Five minutes later, after the cab driver was 10 seconds away from just leaving, everyone piles in, and away they go.

Of course, once they're at their destination, the same picture sequences take place, but usually the lighting at the party spot is low so the pictures turn out bad. In this instance, no one is happy with the result.

Prep Essentials: LL Bean Duck Boots

Now that's March, winter has decided to arrive in the Boston area. With the first significant snow since Halloween 2011, it was time to dig into the closet and reach for that prep essential: The LL Bean duck boot. While it is commonly known as the duck boot, it's official name is the Bean Boot, and it has been around for 100 years. The boot got its start when L.L. Bean was on a hunting trip in Maine, he could not keep his feet dry, and, thus, invented the Bean Boot.

Today, the boots are still made by hand in Freeport, Maine, and are dunked in a tank to guarantee they are watertight. They come in a variety of different styles, colors, and insulation options, but overall the boot largely remains unchanged.

For many years, the boot had more of a cult-type following in New England, and especially in Maine, but it is now rapidly growing in popularity on college campuses across the country. Four years ago, the brand manufactured 150,000 pairs, but is expected to manufacture 500,000 pairs in 2012.

Perhaps the greatest point of pride with this boot is that LL Bean is not going to outsource to companies overseas to handle the spike in production. Every single pair will be manufactured in the United States, which means the company is creating jobs for Americans!

Head on over to LL Bean to get a pair of duck boots, find a store near you, or check out their other great products.

*I referenced this Time Article in the writing of this post.