Since I essentially live in a bachelor pad with the BF and Wonder Dog, I have to voice my decorating style on the sly. Slowly, I have been sneaking the lime green and sunshine yellow on the walls, transforming the BF’s brown-on-boring house into one of my budget coastal design. After scouring the Pottery Barn catalogue for ideas,  I went to IKEA and stocked up on jars, vases, and candles. I’m not an interior designer by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought these beachy accents made a huge improvement in the home.

To disguise the ugly glass table lamp, I added a few jars stuffed with sea shells

Candles and Shells add some serenity to the mess I call "The Mail"

a good way to store all of your sea shells from past vacays

Pussy Willow Branches in a large vase

French fries and the smell of the ocean air brings back fond memories of living at the beach, one of the great rites of prep passage. Not every prep spends a summer at the beach, and a few lucky preps have yet to return, ala Jimmy Buffet, but one thing is for sure, most preps wish they summered at the beach.

The ideal age to live at the beach is the summer after your freshman year of college. At this point your parents are just happy you survived freshman year, a few months at the beach with your friends can’t hurt, right?

The Digs:
A big beach house on the ocean is always preferable and great for throwing late night soirees. Wishful thinking, I know. Any beach shack will do, as long as there is a roof over your head, a bed to sleep on, and a working fridge.

Want some useful tips on decorating your beach bungalow? Here is my list of beach house essentials.

The Daily Grind:
The ultimate beach job is working the umbrella stand, followed by selling telescope photos. And finally there is waiting tables, sigh, not a beach job, but a good way to make some cash and score a few well-cooked meals.

Nightlife:
The beach bar scene is usually out of the question for young preps. The preppy social life revolves around parading the boardwalk and attending parties the cute lifeguard’s house. Not a bad way to spend the summer. With any luck, you will meet a co-ed from a nearby prep school.

With this advice in mind, you are all set for a preptastic summer! ; )

Upon turning 16, the most desired car is your parents old BMW, Volvo, or Wagoneer, however; anything with four wheels and a motor will work just fine. Volvos are the “liberal” car of the bunch, the next time you are watching a movie about prepsters, notice how the ex-hippie turned father ALWAYS drives a Volvo. Newer cars include VWs, Audi’s, Ranger Rovers (wishful thinking), and Jeeps.

Color:
Silver is considered the preppiest color, it matches Mommy’s tea set. Black and white cars are runners up. Navy blue is always a “nice” alternative, however its hard to find, except in German cars. Red is only appropriate for convertibles and Daddy’s mid-life crisis car.

Stickers:
It goes without saying that you put your prep school bumper sticker on the rear window of your car–even if you are in college. Even better if it is your school’s parking sticker. Stickers supporting your school’s lacrosse team work just as well. Avoid political bumper stickers, unless they are blue in nature.

Hippie preps are known to plaster their cars with stickers of their favorite band. Moe, Phish, Grateful Dead and Widespread Panic are all acceptable options. Steer clear from any emo, christian rock, or Justin Bieber stickers, no matter how much you secretly like it.

Contents of the Trunk:
True preps always keeps the following sundries in their trunk–you never know when you will be taking an impromptu road trip to the beach when a lacrosse game breaks out.

• Lacrosse Stick & Balls – essential preppy props
• Bathing Suit – its better than wearing a birthday suit
• Beach Towel – For those late night skinny dips
• Blanket – For sitting out under the stars
• Flashlight – Because your daddy said you needed one
• Snacks – in case you skipped breakfast

With these preppy guidelines in mind, its time to get out an enjoy the open road!

I’ve noticed that when I take my dog on a walk, people are 10 times more likely to talk to him than me. For a dog that is scared of most people, he is quite a popular guy. Dogs have always been a essential part of my life, there is nothing better than being greeted by their smiling eyes and unwavering love. I have had Ranger for about a year and a half and over that time we have become inseparable. A quiet listener who prefers large comfortable sofas to the floor. He is one part running buddy, one part protector, and one part chaser of squirrels; the reluctant rock star.

I adopted the Lone Ranger last January, after I had to say goodbye to my childhood pet of 19 years, a fearless Cairin Terrier with a penchant for scrambled eggs and mischief. A few months later, my friend’s childhood pet was put to sleep. She called me before it happened, we spent a good hour crying into the phone, mourning our losses and that last connection to childhood. There is nothing harder than saying goodbye your four legged friend.

“When the Man waked up he said,
‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’
And the Woman said,
‘His name is not Wild Dog any more,
but the First Friend,
because he will be our friend
for always and always and always.’”
- Rudyard Kipling

After a couple of days of trudging around in the cold rain, I saw the silver lining. On second thought, plaid lining is more appropriate. I rediscovered Burberry. Cue EC’s “Hello Old Friend.” After a summer of beach fun, I had forgotten about my favorite fall staple; the Burberry trench coat. Originally designed as a British Officer’s coat, this preppy icon has been around for nearly one hundred years. My mom brought back two Burberry’s from her years abroad in London. Her gabardine trench circa 1974 is still the coolest coat I have ever seen.