Summer is finally here. Let’s head to the beach without a moment’s delay.
Time to stick your feet in the ocean and taste that salty spray.
We have been good all year, so now it’s time to play.

Pass the sunblock and get me a boat drink!

For more beach bum inspired posts check out Packing the Beach Bag and Living at the Beach: A Prep Rite of Passage.

The Preppy Girl is going on a much needed vacation! Time to escape the Baltimore winter and feel some warm Mexican sunshine. I am especially excited because I am staying at the J.W. Marriott before checking in to my fam’s time share…But what to pack? I’m so glad you asked.

Sparkly Flip Flops and a big straw hat

A little black dress

More bikinis from J. Crew

pink polos and madras

Wonderpup vs. the World

With much sadness in my heart, the BF, the dogs, and I crammed into my car on Friday to drive to Ocean City, MD for one final beach weekend. I love October in Ocean City, no crowds and dogs are allowed on the beach. Mr. Ranger and Miss Penny spent hours frolicking in the sand. However, as much as I enjoy the off season, I hate to see the end of the warm weather.

Penny is ready for a nap

Outlet Shopping:
Of course, we had to go to the Rehoboth Outlets, three massive shopping centers featuring tax free shopping…I love Delaware.  As usual, J. Crew was super crowded, however; I managed to purchase a beautiful gray, ruffled sweater and a pair of matchstick jeans. After missing out on running this year’s Baltimore Marathon, the BF and I stocked up on winter running gear from Nike and Under Armour. Next year, no excuses. And finally I “picked out” a hot pink handbag from Coach that was hiding on the clearance table–a future Christmas present from my parents. I also stopped by Kate Spade, Lennox, Brooks Brothers, and White House Black Market.

The spoils of shopping

time to start marathon training

October is an “R” Month
The best part of the trip; oysters are finally in season. My dad bought a peck in Cambridge on the way down and BF bought 4 dozen driving home, so good!

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! ; )

The preppiest beach houses are usually passed down from generation to generation, think Kennedys’ Palm Beach house. From 10 bedroom estates in the Hamptons to quaint shacks tucked away on the Outer Banks, the summer home is a beacon of preppydom.

Beach House Essentials:

• Sand – preppy beach houses have sand and lots of it. Who can resist coming in from the beach and curling up on a nice sandy sofa.
• Oil Painting of the surrounding dunes – Nothing says “established” more than a painting of the the surrounding beach– before everyone else built their house
• Sea Shells – piled high in assorted baskets
• A shaggy dog with a bandanna tied around its neck.
• Grandmummy’s patchwork quilt – the cutest beach blanket
• A bar sign quoting Jimmy Buffett, such as “it’s five o’clock somewhere”
• Pineapples and Palm trees. Both pineapples and palm tree motifs are extremely popular with preppies.

Palm trees and Pineapples, what could be preppier?

And remember, refer to your beach house as a “cottage” no matter what the size.