Tedious, but necessary...

Hello all. Sorry for the little hiatus. As of now, I still do not have a computer and it's so difficult! I've never gone this long without my computer and trying to do the rest of my summer work has been beyond irritating. On top of me having to do summer work and pack to go back to school, my mom is out of town and my dad is the most forgetful person on the planet. I start field hockey in 8 days and I don't have cleats, shin guards or goggles. I need supplies for my dorm and last minute school supplies. Oh, and I have yet to order my textbooks. I'm stressed out about everything in my life and junior year hasn't even started.

On top of all of my problems, my family is going through a lot of hardship right now. Nothing seems to be going right. All I've been doing is praying and working and hoping everything works out. I rarely ask others for help because I'm obsessed with doing things myself, but I'll definitely be asking for some prayers within the next week. When I'm going through times like these, I start to wonder if God hears me asking for help. I know He does, but while I wait for the Lord to answer my prayers, I'm uncomfortable. I'm just going to continue to pray for the grace and strength that I need to get through this tough time and I know that God will take everything into His hands and everything will be alright.

As I anticipate my return to school and prepare as best I can, I'm really trying to remain calm. I need to keep calm and carry on regardless of everything that's going on in my home in order to start the year off on the right foot. It's hard, but a fact of life is that balance needs to exist for everyone. As I try to balance, I'll continue to do everything with poise and grace because in every trying situation I've ever been in, the Lord has given me strength through all of them. Strength and grace.


Signed,
Penelope P.

Out to Lunch!

Out to Lunch! by penelope-phillips featuring essie nail polish

Topshop crop shirt
topshop.com

River island
$28 - riverisland.com

Keds shoes
$31 - newlook.com

Blue Nile sterling silver earrings
bluenile.com

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics gel eyeliner
sephora.com

Essie nail polish
beauty.com

My computer is in the shop!

Hi everyone. Yesterday, I took my computer in to Staples to get the screen fixed and I have limited computer access until I get it back, which will be in about 2 weeks. I'm really sorry! I have to get it fixed before I move back into school, which is August 29th. I may be blogging here in there within the next couple of weeks, but don't be surprised if I completely just seem like I've fell off the face of the Earth.


Signed,
Penelope P.

Honesty.

There's an old saying that says that honesty is the best policy. I could not agree more. If one is honest, they have a less chance of having enemies, are trusted by others and logically, though I don't know every single person in the world to know that this is an absolute truth, should feel less guilt than people that tell a white lie every once in a blue moon.

I know that I haven't lived the cleanest life possible. I've told my fair share of yeah-I've-done-my-homework lies and I'm ashamed of that. On top of that, I'm a very guilty person. I hold things over myself when it is absolutely not necessary whatsoever and it effects my life. Lately, I've been trying to forget about the dishonesty that exists in my life at times and just move on. But it's hard.

My point is writing this is that I want those of you that haven't been completely honest in everything that they do to relax a little bit if you feel bad. Everybody makes mistakes and, unfortunately, time machines don't exist. Deal with your dishonesty accordingly and from this point forward, make more of an effort to be an honest person in your life. Honesty is the best trait a person can have.


Signed,
Penelope P.

And last but not least, style icon #3!

Drum roll, please!

Norma Jeane Baker, otherwise known as Marilyn Monroe.

For me, this icon is more of a mental one. What I mean by that is that I don't really look to her outfits much for inspiration. I more admire her personality and attitude toward life. I know many think that because she was sex symbol, she should never be someone to look up to, but she did her own thing with her life and I really admire her for that. 

Before she was Marilyn, she was Norma Jeane, a simple girl from Los Angeles. She was bounced around from foster family to foster family and says that the only time she truly felt stable was with her Aunt Ana. Norma Jeane had big dreams to make it big in Hollywood, but judging by her family situation, she was never expected to reach them. Though she was doubted, eventually, with the help of a man named Ben Lyon, Norma Jeane became Marilyn. 

Her success didn't come easy. Numerous people told her off, saying she was too this, too that, not good enough, but she persevered. Ms. Monroe enrolled herself in acting and singing classes and updated her look. What puzzles me is her love life. I think, and I honestly feel like I have no right to an opinion on this, that because of her instability as a young girl, she longed for someone to truly love her. To love her and protect her. She married three times; once as a teenager to avoid being a warden of the state any longer and twice as an adult. I wonder whether the lack of stability in her love life led to her death. I personally believe that she committed suicide. 

Despite Marilyn's difficult journey as a performer and the critics constantly getting on her back for being "too sexy," she was the best actress that she could be. She made sure that the people that loved her were pleased with her work. I mean, she never let me down! I truly admire her ability to keep going when times get tough. Though, as I said, I believe that she ended her own life, when she was alive, she was phenomenal. Yes, some may say that committing suicide is giving up, but I believe that she just went on to a better place. A place where people didn't punish her for being herself.

I really hope you all liked the little series that I did!! I will be having more fun posts coming up soon--I have a lot of ideas up my sleeve :)

Signed,

Penelope P.

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Travel.

I've always wanted to travel--just find a flight, pack a bag and jet off to some place other than here. Don't get me wrong, I love where I live and all it has to offer, but I find myself longing for some place new. I've lived here all my life, and though I am exposed to many different people of many different backgrounds, I want to be able to experience that first hand. I've been out of the country once--I went to the Bahamas for a school trip in 7th grade. It was amazing. A friend of mine said to me once when I was telling her about it, "Maybe you're just so in awe because you've never been any place else." I didn't know how to take that really. I didn't know if I should feel awful because she's making it clear to me that I haven't seen anything of the world and that she has, or if I should feel neutral because it was just a comment. In the end, I tried hard to take it with a grain of salt, but it's always in the back of my mind when I get on Pinterest and see all these beautiful, colorful places that I've never seen in person.

I feel limited. I feel like there's an entire world out there that I haven't explored yet. And, of course, I know I'm young, and my life isn't even half over, but in the world I live in (remember? the shiny new Bentleys?) people are able to just get up and say, "Hmm, maybe I'll go to France," and they just go. It's actually quite fascinating knowing that these people have that much money at their fingertips to spend whenever they want. It's fascinating, but I feel left behind. I feel left behind and, quite honestly, poor. I'm far from poor and my family does have a lot of nice things and nice opportunities, but the cost for seven people to go to, say, Italy and sight see for a week would be astronomical. Our vacations take lots of planning no matter where we go just because of the sheer number of us!

Though I feel left behind, I know my time will come to go to the beautiful, awe-inspiring places that I dream of. And while I'm here waiting, I try to culture myself as much as possible--going to new restaurants, visiting the museums in my city and asking the many people I know from different countries what their lives are like. So, if you're not able to just find a flight, pack a bag and jet off to some place other than here, find some things in your own backyard. Museums, restaurants, and most of all, people are some of your best resources to "visit" a place you've never been before.


Signed,
Penelope P.

Introducing style icon #2.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, also known as Jackie O, is my style icon #2.

I can't remember the first time I encountered this lovely woman (well, not in person, but you know what I mean). I think it was a gradual process--enough history classes plus an interest in fashion just led me to her. I can't help but notice that she and Audrey Hepburn (see previous post) had very similar style. They were at their peaks at almost the exact same time and, though they created their own style for themselves, they were similar in a lot of ways in my mind. She also possesses a strong sense of grace and class, but in the more political spotlight. She was, after all, the first lady.

Absolutely love this one! I don't have the privilege of seeing this photo in color, but I can clearly see the square print, light trim and simple strand of pearls. I think that this number perfectly describes Jackie O's style--trim silhouettes, classic patterns, and of course, the signature pillbox hat! She also is donning a pair of white gloves and over-sized, black sunglasses. The white gloves give a certain ambiance to the outfit. That's quite vague though.... What I mean is, I feel like the outfit would've been missing something if she hadn't worn the gloves. It would've been missing something and, in my opinion, it wouldn't have looked as lovely. They gives the look of I-may-not-be-going-to-church-but-I-can-wear-my-white-gloves-because-I-wear-what-I-want.

Jack and Jackie in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts circa 1960. I would say that this is a more casual number--a tea length, floral, sleeveless dress. The waist is cinched, which you know I love and the neck is appropriate, which you know I love also! You can see that she is holding light rimmed, cat-eye sunglasses. I like this look because, though casual, she still manages to look elegant and glamorous. When people think of glamour and elegance, they think of diamonds and pearls, swanky parties and champagne, but here, it's the exact opposite. I think that Jacqueline Kennedy's elegance was engraved into her--it wasn't something that she was faking. She was a genuine classy person and that shows in this shot of her and her husband just acting casual.

This is the most formal look out of the three that I am presenting to you. Mrs. Kennedy wore this apricot beauty on a boat ride in India in 1962. Can you imagine wearing a silk zibeline, which is a heavier feeling silk, dress with gloves on a boat ride in Indian heat? I would be dying, so I definitely admire her for this one. I particularly like the bow that ties at the waist and the A-line skirt. You may not know this, but I am absolutely obsessed with bows. I can't even explain to anybody how much I love them. They are definitely worn with 95% of my outfits, so I love how this dress is accented with one. Once again, the white gloves are like instant elegance. Put on a pair and mind your manners and you're on your way to being a tad more posh (we can talk about what makes a classy person in my own opinion later.

Stay tuned for style icon #3! And I may start a back to school series. However, even if I don't, I will definitely be making a back to school outfit post for you.

Signed, 

Penelope P.

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Introducing style icon #1.

I'm pleased to announce my first style icon in my style icon series...Audrey Hepburn!

I fell in love with Ms. Hepburn at first sight. I really did. I know, it sounds crazy, but her slightly mysterious allure and undeniable class made a significant impact on me. At the time, I was going through some really big changes; high school was fast approaching and that summer, I was determined to reinvent myself. Watching Breakfast at Tiffany's, I began to think, "Well, if I'm going to reinvent myself, why not be like her?!" So I started my little journey to imitate the class, grace, and elegant style of this iconic actress.

Oh, the famous Oscar dress. This off-white, high neck, Givenchy beauty was worn by Audrey at the 1954 Oscars, where she won the award for Best Actress for her role in the film Roman Holiday. I love this because of the high neckline and the cinched waist to make her look quite slim. I personally am not a fan of lower necklines on myself just because they're unflattering on me, so I love how this dress covers the entire chest. The waistline is perfect as well. I think that a nice belt at the waist and a fuller skirt create for a very tailored, slim look.

Another great one: the dress from the opening scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Though this was a movie and she didn't wear this in real life, I think it describes her style quite well. It's Givenchy, which was a designer she particularly adored. She liked clean cuts and simple colors. Once again, the high neckline caught my eye! I also am loving all the accessories. I think it's always great to have a simple base to your outfit (white v-neck, medium length khaki shorts) and accessorize like crayyy-zy.

This is a more casual look of hers. Ms. Hepburn was very active at the beginning of the mod era, in the early 60s. Hence, the shift dress and short hair. I love this summery ensemble because once again, it's simple. Audrey was a huge fan of simple and easy, which we can clearly see by the outfits that she stepped out in. This dress doesn't overwhelm her and the stripes don't make her look wide (like they tend to make people look).

That's it! I could go on and on and on about Audrey Hepburn, but I don't want to be unfair to the other icons whom I'll feature in the next couple of days!

Signed,
Penelope P.


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What makes a style icon?

As my previous post on Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, touched on her personal style a bit, I'd like to delve more into the topic of the style icon. I personally believe that a style icon is someone who stretches the "boundaries" of style more than the average person. A style icon is the person that doesn't conform and wears what he or she wants to wear, regardless of the trend or not. They do this and manage to look fabulous.

I have several style icons in mind to share with you all, but how in the world will I be able to put them in one post? I don't think I will, so I introduce to you my style icon series! No less than every other day, I will make one post per icon including a mini profile, photos of memorable, iconic outfit ensembles, and what I think of each ensemble. Why am I doing this might you ask (haha, or not)? Because I feel like it and I think it'll be fun to share with y'all who I think has had a grave impact on the fashion industry over the years.

Feel free to offer up your opinions!

Signed,
Penelope P.

Is anyone as excited for the Prince of Cambridge as I am?!

At 4:24 PM London time Monday, July 22nd, the future King of England was welcomed graciously by millions into the world. I'm American. I have no royal ties whatsoever, but I am overjoyed by the birth of this baby boy! I have been following the Royal Family of the UK very closely since Prince William and Duchess Catherine announced their engagement in November of 2010. I remember getting up at 5:30 in the morning on the day of the wedding in April of 2011 to watch the regal (I mean, hello?) event take place. I was absolutely mesmerized by the dress, how beautiful Westminster Abbey was, and by the fact that before she was Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, she was Kate Middleton, an ordinary woman from Newbury, Berkshire. The Duchess definitely serves the young women of today as a positive role model.

I think the Duchess of Cambridge has provided the world with a sense of grace and class. She seems so go about life in such an organized, elegant fashion, but she still is, in my eyes at least, human. I think that so many people are under the impression, subconsciously, that the Royal Family are not human because they're royal! I've found that people tend to think this about celebrities as well (well, the Royal Family is a family of celebrities). They think that celebrities and royals are so perfect that they can't possibly be just like them. Of course, they have different responsibilities than we have and live drastically different lives, but inside, we're all the same. When I was little, I had my fantasies of becoming a princess and living this lavish life, but now I see how ordinary the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge actually are. They're people just like you and I, and that's why I think that girls should look up to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She's real, honest, and makes sure that the fame doesn't get to her as it has gotten to many other people.

All in all, I think I will always look up to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, because she's transitioned from common person to royal with grace and poise, all while keeping her true self in the light of fame, which 99.9% of people love (I have never heard of a person who doesn't like her and I can't imagine why they would.).

Long time no blog!

Hey everyone!! I'm really sorry that I haven't been blogging lately. I've been busy preparing for school and transforming my life and I have been clearly slacking very badly on blogging. I feel bad not blogging because it is something that I like to do, but school does take priority over anything else, so that's just something I'm going to have to adjust and work with as I go along.

Just a little update on what I've been doing lately:

• SAT/PSAT prep work! - I re-take the PSAT (which is also the qualification test for National Merit Scholarships) in October and I'm trying very hard to get a better score than I did last year. This means lots of tutoring and memorizing and studying etc.
• Chinese! - I told you guys a while ago that I was trying to learn Chinese and I'm still trying! It's also a lot of work.
• Summer work! - I cannot believe that I have as much summer work for school as I have. I have work in five out of my six classes and I have to read four books. It doesn't seem like much when I say it, but when you're as busy as I am, it's hard to find the time.
• Working out! - I set a goal for myself to be able to run two miles by the end of summer (which for me is August 29th. That is when pre-season starts.) and I've been going to the gym six days a week to work on that. I'll make sure to do a post on goals because I think that goal setting is a very important aspect to life. 
• Beach! - I went to the beach with some friends for my friend, Priya's, birthday. We had loads of fun and I got a tan, which is really nice because I was beyond pale before I left!
• Work! - I've been working a lot lately, i.e. babysitting. Back to school shopping is always a burden on me because, going to boarding school, I need a lot of stuff. My parents try to instill in me the value of a dollar and they make sure that I work hard for what I have, therefore, I buy a lot of the things that I want/need. I also feel a lot better buying my own things because my parents have a lot of other things to buy for my siblings and for themselves, so I make sure to work very hard for my money.

That's pretty much it! Once again, I'm sorry I haven't been blogging at all, but you can see why. I hope to be blogging more in the next couple of weeks and I'll definitely keep you guys posted on the things that I buy for school (I plan to get some super cute stuff!). 

Signed,
Penelope P. 

Embrace.

Shabbat Shalom!!! I'm not Jewish, but my family just feels more of a connection to Judaism to the religion that we are now, so I know a lot about Jewish customs and such. Shabbat, which is a day of rest, begins before sunset on Friday when the candles are lit. You're not supposed to work on the Sabbath and should be peaceful, though partying is expected.

This post isn't about the Sabbath, so I don't know why I told you that! Regardless of what religion you are or if you even identify a religion within yourself, it's good to know. This post is supposed to be on the topic of embracing new experiences. I have had the opportunity to try many new things in my life and I am forever grateful for that. The ability to be able to travel (though mine has not been extensive, seriously), experience new cultures, people and things is invaluable. The education that I have received throughout my life has been the absolute best and I thank my parents and the schools that I have attended for accepting me and molding me into the young woman that I am.

I had the chance today to try something new and I did. Not because it was something to check off my bucket list, but because I truly wanted to do it. It did take me a while, and by a while I mean months to convince myself that this was a good idea, but I got around to doing it and it felt good. I felt at peace and I felt "full" knowing that I had done this thing that I have been afraid of doing for as long as I could remember. Peer pressure didn't plague me, my parents didn't force me, I did this myself and it honestly felt good. 

My point in this post was not to tell y'all about my new experience (clearly, I do not want to. I'm not comfortable sharing things that are that personal to me on the Internet, even if I am anonymous! I may reveal my identity later on). It was to share why you should embrace new experiences even if you're afraid. I'm known for being the scaredy cat, the girl that never takes risks for fear of embarrassment, failure or, I don't know, arrest (hey, I don't think jumping off the house into the pool is legal...is it?), but once I took this chance today and really looked back on it, I was happy that I did it. I was happy that I made this decision for myself and I felt better than awesome at the end of the day. So I leave you with this--don't miss out on those wonderful opportunities that are presented to you. Take that class you want to take. Buy that beautiful bag that your friends don't like, but you love. Bungee jump for all I care! All I know is that if you don't take that chance, nothing is going to come out of it and you'll be stuck at that point in your life that you've been dying to leave behind.

Signed,

Penelope P.

Chinese!

Hey y'all. I was having a lovely day until I began my Chinese learning. Some background on why in the world I would want to torture myself by learning this language first, though!

I like to call myself an inexperienced linguist. I've been taking French since I was 5 years old and I just started Spanish this past school year. I can hold a conversation in French about anything, so I guess you could say that I'm fluent (besides the frivolous grammar mistakes. *cough* passe compose versus imparfait *cough*). I was advised not to take two languages at one time because I would not have a free period and I would get confused...fast, but, being myself, I went against everything everyone said and took both because I really wanted to learn Spanish! The culture, the language and the people seemed were so intriguing, I just had to take a stab at it. No, I didn't have a free period, and yes, I experienced many cold, late, dark (see previous post on why it was dark) nights in my room, but it was so worth it! I love Spanish and I love being able to communicate with my Spanish speaking family not using English. I'm glad I now am at least a tad experienced in Spanish because it made me realize some career paths that I may want to take! I love learning languages and they're definitely my favorite subjects!

Okay, back to Chinese. My dad had to learn a little for a business trip to China back in September, so we have some books lying around not getting any use. In order to get something out of this summer besides fun and relaxation, I think learning Chinese would be good for my brain. Good for my brain and also something small to make me happy. As I said, I love learning languages and other cultures are fascinating to me. That absolutely does not exclude Chinese language/culture. As much as I want to learn the language, it's hard. It's beyond difficult actually. I'm one of those people that gets very discouraged if they don't get something right away, so after about 45 minutes, I closed the book, took a deep breath and decided to do something else for a little while.

Tomorrow, I'll definitely sit down again with the book and the CD and recite some more syllables, but in the meantime, I'm trying to relax a bit and remind myself that nobody is perfect and nobody understands everything right away. I try to go against that and name people in my life who are "perfect" and do everything "perfectly," but that's clearly negatively effecting me. It negatively effects everyone! Just a little life lesson that may seem obvious, but I fail to see it quite frequently: Nobody is perfect, nor should you be!


Signed,
Penelope P.

Did I tell you about boarding school? A quick day in the life!

A minor detail I forgot to mention right off the bat about my life--I go to boarding school! I cannot believe I forgot to say that because it's a huge part of my life. I'm not home during the week and I only go home when I can on weekends. I'm a local boarder, which is really nice because if I forget something at home, my mom or dad can just drop it off. I'm so fortunate to be able to have the boarding option because I absolutely love my school and the traffic where I live is out of control, so I can't drive everyday. Sure, it's all-girls and I have forgotten how to talk to boys when I see them in person, but the atmosphere, the amazing education that I'm getting and the people all make up for that. Below, you'll find an abbreviated day in the life of moi at school. Bear in mind that this was sophomore year and my schedule will be somewhat different next year.

6:55 (it was really 7:10)--Wake up!

7:40--Breakfast with friends in the dining hall (COFFEE.)

8:00-3:05/40--Class

4:00-6:15 (on days I wanted to stay for private instruction)--Dance

6:05 (on a typical day)--Dinner

6:45--Shower

7:05--Start homework/chat with people in the dorm/talk to teachers, house adults etc.

7:30-9:30--Study Hall (either in the library or my room; it's required for everyone besides seniors)

11:00--Lights Out

As you can see, everyday for me is very strictly scheduled. I must stay on this schedule or I get all off! However, that was abbreviated, as mentioned, so I do a lot more and am actually a lot busier that it seems. It's far from fabulous sometimes, but when I graduate and move on to the next phase in my life, I'll look back on my experience at my school and offer my greatest thanks to everyone that made it possible. Hoped you enjoyed this little glimpse into my life!

Signed, 

Penelope P.

My Babysitting Nightmare

Hey y'all! Hope your day has been treating you well (mine hasn't). I'd like to share with y'all a little story about my day--hope you enjoy!

I woke up this morning at around 11. I'm on my first two weeks of summer vacation and I dare someone to tell me to wake up before 9. I woke up, got dressed in my workout clothes and went downstairs to begin making my breakfast. Considering I was on a tight schedule, I was moving pretty fast and just ready to get my behind to the gym for a good workout. This tight schedule was all due to the fact that I had to babysit at 4 o'clock the three boys on the corner of my street. Now, I had been dreading this job all week. Why, you ask? The eldest is in 5th grade I believe and can take care of himself (which his mother made very clear to me), but the two younger ones, aged 6 and 4, are a handful. They're fun and adorable, so I do love watching them from time to time, but this was the first time I had had to deal with bedtime. Oh, the dreaded bedtime. I was told to brush their teeth at 7:45 and put them in their beds at 8, but the 4 year old was so not up to doing this task. As soon as I told him he had to brush his teeth, he got the I'm-about-to-start-bawling look on his face and said in a whisper-y voice, "Do I have to go to bed?" It was terrifying to say the least. He did start bawling and I had to call his mother, who then had to speak to all of the boys. I eventually got the two youngest in bed and did their dishes for them to make up for the fact that earlier, the youngest had been playing around and hit his head on the wall, leaving a huge bump. I mean huge. I iced it and was petrified of the mom that would see the bump and think her baby was abused by the babysitter. At the end of the night though, both the parents returned home and I told them everything that happened. Yes, this saved me from never being hired again indefinitely by not telling the parents about their son's injury, but it didn't save me from the embarrassment I felt, one, not being able to put the kids to bed, and two, not being stern enough with the youngest. On top of my embarrassment, I felt like I had let down not only the parents who had paid me to watch, entertain and protect their sons from any harm, but myself for not doing better.

All in all, it was a nightmare, and I need to get my babysitting skills together because, let's be honest, we're in a recession.

Signed,
Penelope P.

I workout.

Second post of the day--WEEEEE! Haha, anyway, I want to talk about my obsession with the gym (which may or may not be unhealthy yet. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.). I've been going to the gym near my house since Saturday. Yes, I know, it hasn't been long, but I go every other day and I feel ahhh-mazing! I love the feeling after a good workout and I never thought I'd ever say that considering where I was a couple of months ago (I used to despise the gym. Despise). I love the sweat coming down my forehead knowing that I worked a heck of a lot harder than the people sitting on the couch!
I'm a dancer. I've been dancing since I was 3 and I love it so much. It is my life. However, I've come to the realization over the past couple of months, after knee and ankle injuries kept me off my feet for a couple of weeks, that the favoritism in my studio is not to my liking. I hate the fact that I don't get more opportunities to dance just because my director likes some other girls more than me (and this has more to do with my insane schedule than my dance ability because, I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I'm good). Therefore, this upcoming fall, though I will still be dancing a little bit, I've decided to take up...drum roll, please...field hockey!
I've never been an athletic person, to be honest, but my school is very big on all the girls (if you didn't read my first post, I go to an all-girls school) trying something new and different and not feeling self-conscious about it. My best friend played field hockey for the first time last year and she loves it. My older sister plays and she loves it, so I thought, why not give it a try. This led to my first trek over to the gym to jump on the treadmill because I cannot run to save my life. Seriously. If a bear were chasing me, I'd give up and take that as a sign that God was ready for me to leave this Earth.
Along with my obsession with working out comes my obsession with workout attire! Look, lululemon is expensive, but their workout gear is actually beautiful. It's beautiful and I believe it's worth the price. Below are some things that I'm currently lusting over and that I'll gladly save up for!

Energy Bra

Flow and Go Tank II

Scoop Me Up Tank II

Run Inspire Crop II

Beach Runner Crop

Signed, 

Penelope P.

Welcome to My World.

Greetings (does that sound too cheesy?)! My name is Penelope (okay, we're gonna get this straight right now, my real name is not Penelope. I'm operating this entire blog off of pseudonyms for privacy reasons!). I'm 16 and live on the East Coast fairly north, but I'm more of a southern girl at heart. I go to an all-girls prep school and live in a world of shiny new Bentleys and Beemers, beautiful homes and perfectly manicured lawns with white picket fences. I decided to start this blog for a couple of reasons, as follows:

1. There is so much more to this world than shiny new Bentleys and Beemers, beautiful homes and perfectly manicured lawns with white picket fences, and I feel like I am surrounded by many people who do not understand that. I want to be able to voice my opinions about real issues that happen in this world while letting y'all know how fabulous life can be.
2. After one heck of a sophomore year, I need to de-stress and I think the perfect way to do that is write, which perfectly segues into my next reason...
3. I love to write. I may not be the best writer (haha, clearly), but I love it so much and I want to be a journalist one day.
4. Its about to be an insane summer. Some wise seniors at my school told me that junior year is going to be one of the hardest years of your life, so I should have an eventful summer. I want to share with people what this teenager is doing to occupy her summer time (besides the pile of summer work that needs to get done before August 29th...), and the crazy things that I may, or may not do.

Well, I think that's enough to start with!! I mean, I don't believe anyone is reading this so what the heck am I doing....

Signed,

Penelope P.