Monday Quote- Rain

I love rainy weather more than any other type of weather, so this quote is perfect for me. Rain is just so calming and the weather is almost always cool during the rain. Rainy days are so uncommon, so they are a treat and an excuse to wear sweaters inside and read for a while. (Who wouldn't want to do that?)

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via

What is your favorite type of weather?

What I've Been Pinning- Umbrellas and Italy

Pinterest is what I do in my free time- it's really a problem now. I usually go on it before bed or when there is nothing else to do during school for a few minutes. Here are my favorite pins from this week.

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pretty plants // via

This flower shop in Paris looks so quaint and beautiful; I would love to buy a few flowers from this shop.

let's go places // via // original

I love the rain and I love fun umbrellas, so this picture is kind of perfect.

let's go places // via

Bri from Design Love Fest posted a lovely post on her blog about her trip to Venice, Italy. I always love seeing old buildings on the rivers in Italy. They have a charming feel to them and I would just love to stay in one of these houses one day.

home is where the heart is // via

I am kind of obsessed with the post about Lindsay Souza's house on the Glitter Guide. This entryway is kind of my favorite part of her amazing house. I'm loving the navy striped wallpaper, the adorable yellow zebra umbrellas, and the Hunter boots. My mom and I have been talking about getting me some rain boots, and I've been wanting some Hunters for a while now. (I'm hoping for the best.)

You can keep up with everything I'm pinning here.

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What are you loving on pinterest this week?

Also, I promise there will be a sciencey post next week. We ran our gels on Tuesday and the gel dryer messed up yesterday and I don't have school until Monday, so that's when I will have pictures for a post.

Monday Quote- I Really Need a Day Between Saturday and Sunday

This quote really reminded me of this weekend. I literally had to schedule yesterday as a relaxation day because Pokemon was coming out (Judge me, I'm a total nerd.) and I really wanted a day where I could play it and just relax without worrying about homework. To do that, I had to start planning on Tuesday; that is how much stuff I have to do during my weekends. It was totally worth it though because yesterday was my first stress free day in months. It was fantastic.
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via

This rings so true for me; I barely have time to finish homework and almost no time to relax.

I would use an extra day to catch up on sleep, play games, and just relax because I need it.

What would you do if you had an extra day on the weekend?

Wishlist Wednesday- Backpacks

I am in desperate need of a new backpack because mine cannot hold all of the textbooks and binders I need to take home. Because of this conundrum, I have made this week's wishlist backpack themed!

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campus // little america // heritage

1. Campus Backpack: This looks like it would actually be comfortable on my back while I am lugging around thousands of pounds worth of books and binders. I'm also loving the pops of orange and hounds tooth on this backpack. $109; Vera Bradley

2. Little America Backpack: I love the color combination of bright salmon (Is that what that color is called? Please inform me if there is an 'official' name for it because I'm making stuff up right now.) and khaki on this backpack, but I'm not sure about its height. It looks like it would be really tall and would be awkward for me to carry around, considering I'm extremely short. $99.99; Herschel Supply Co.

3. Heritage Backpack: I love the classic look of this backpack, but I don't know if it will be any bigger than my current backpack since my current one has a similar shape. I'm loving the yellow and brown color combination. $54.99; Herschel Supply Co.

Which backpack do you think I should get or do you have any backpack suggestions?

Monday Quote- Be Smart

Every Monday, I will be posting a quote I love that inspires or provokes thought.

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via

I love this because A) I own those glasses in black and B) Those words are the easiest advice I have ever given. 

Be Smart.

Do your homework- that's smart.

Stay in contact with your friends- that's smart.

Keep the peace between you and your siblings- that's smart.

Don't change for anyone, except you- that's smart

Do what you love- that's smart. 

What does being smart mean to you?

New Beginnings

If you walked up to me right now, or at any time, really, you wouldn't see a pink loving, tennis playing girly teenage girl. You would see an extremely awkward girl wearing glasses with a genuine aversion to physical activity and an extreme love for science. And that is why I have decided to call this Chemistry and Cardigans, rather than Atypical Prep. I'm not really a prep, at the moment, even though I do love the preppy style, and I don't want to make you believe I am something I'm not, so that's why I have renamed the blog.

Donald Cram // Whoa; I made something in Photoshop! // There had to be a chemistry quote in here!

I love chemistry and pretty much all other sciences, so I'll definitely be posting about sciencey goodness. This is also a place for fashion inspiration (hence the cardigans part of the title), so don't worry about there not being enough fashion. There will still be plenty of Kate Spade posts- my obsession hasn't magically gone away. 

This change has been in my mind for a while, but seeing History in High Heels kind of pushed me to go through with this because I saw that she balances school and fashion and her blog is fantastic, so I figured I can do it, too.

So I guess this is a cheers to a new beginning for my blog! 

It is what it is.

Today, while playing chess with one of my closest friends, he looked at me and said. "You're insecure," as I was thinking about my next move. Those two words punched me in the face. My first thought was, "It is really scary that he is one of the only people that can see right through me." Hours later, I was laying on my bed and realized this is really true. I try to hide it from everyone- I don't wear make up, I could really care less about what my hair looks like, my friend group consists of mostly guys, and I look at myself in the mirror and don't think I'm ugly. I realized that he wasn't talking about what most people tend to characterize insecure people as: self conscious about their body or obsessed with their appearance. He was talking about the insecurities I have. 

I constantly think I am not nearly as smart as my other friends. I always tell people I'm horrible at math, even though I am in Accelerated Math III because I know I have to work ten times harder than every one else. I'm the only one of my friends that has to read notes from AP Biology nightly to get A's on the test. I didn't get any awards for having the highest class average in a class. I had two B's at the end of last year. I'm insecure about my brain.

I got a 97 on a chemistry test about ions. And I complained because I couldn't believe I had gotten questions wrong on a test based solely on memorization. I got a 96 on a lit essay and I still think it is horrible. My lowest grade is a 90 in math. So why am I complaining?

It's because I know I could have done better. I am your typical "Type A personality"/ overachiever. (Minus the part about being aggressive. I don't find myself to be particularly hostile or violent towards people.) It is in my nature. My natural competitiveness is shown whenever my friends and I get a test back, whenever we do labs, and pretty much anytime we can compete with each other about something.

I really need to fix this insecure part of me, so I have found a new mantra:

via

Every time a new grade gets put in the grade book, I have to remember: it is what it is.

Every time I score lower than someone else, I have to remember: it is what it is.

It is what it is.

What is your mantra that helps you through the day?

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xoxo

With a Wink of Wit

I saw Kate Spade's new autumn collection today; let's just say that I'm in love. I saw the pieces in this collection and cried on the inside because I know for a fact that I will not ever have enough money to buy it. I am dying right now because I am in love with it. I mean, what glasses wearing self professed nerd wouldn't love this collection? 

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Claremont Drive Ilana

I am 100 % sure that I have a thing for Kate Spade purses. I always find one that I am absolutely in love with and then obsess over it for weeks. This bag is so adorable and I can see this becoming a classic for me, if I ever get it. (Which will only happen in my dreams sadly.)

Required Reading Bon Shopper

Excuse me while I go buy this bag and then take it to the library. Or to school. Or to anywhere I go, really.

Library Illustration Scarf

I will also be wearing this scarf to the library with my bag. It will be fantastic.

Night Owl Mitten

I'm going to need mittens for this winter because it gets really cold having to walk across campus at school. This also describe me because I am most productive at night, so this is pretty much me, in glove format.

Rumer Dress

This dress is just calling my name right now. I'm more of a pants and shorts kind of girl, but between the gold stripe at the bottom and the jeweled detailing on the collar, this dress is just perfection.

What are you dying for right now from the new Kate Spade collection?

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xoxo

Wishlist Wednesday- Household Edition

I walked into the bathroom I share with my siblings a few days ago and decided I needed to clean it. Immediately. It was pretty disgusting, but it sparked the idea for this post. So, here are my favorite household items I've found online!

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ring holder // trinket dish // pillow // dishes // salt & pepper shaker

1. Ring Holder: I don't have too many rings, but I do have a bunch of completely random odds and ends, like hair ties, bobby pins, extra earrings, and other small things that I always leave in huge drawers in the bathroom, so this cute little elephant would be great! $68; Jonathan Adler

2. Trinket Dish: This adorable crossword themed dish (which matches the coffee mug I'm coveting) would be great on a coffee table, desk, or even at a table by the front door to throw keys, loose change, or even a spare pen. $50; Kate Spade New York

3. Pillow: I love this pillow because I envy the fact that Carly (College Prepster) lives in New York and she makes it sound so magical. She makes me really want to live in the city, so this is a cute reminder of my semi-dream of living in New York. $98; Jonathan Adler

4. Dishes: I love animals, so of course, when I saw these dishes, I fell in love. How amazing would it be to be able to eat off of a set of Dachshund-themed dishes? $50; Kate Spade New York

5. Salt & Pepper Shakers: I feel like I might have a thing for elephants, considering this is the second elephant on my list! Having shakers the color of salt (white) and pepper (black) would help me remember which shaker has which, since I learn best using colors. $30; Kate Spade New York

If you could get one thing for your house this week, what would it be?

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xoxo

Grasshopper Gloves and Bow Bags- What I've Been Pinning

I've decided that I really want to have a weekly column about what I've been pinning since, let's face it, I'm obsessed with Pinterest. It is basically an organization freak's (aka me) dream, since you can categorize everything into different boards. It also helps me remember places with products I like, so I can go back later and buy things, when I have money. So now, on to the pins.

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to wear // j.crew

I am obsessed with this intarsia sweater. It is just too adorable for words.

bag it // via // kate spade

The Kate Spade 2 Park Avenue Beau bag is literally the bag of my dreams. Unfortunately, it costs $498, which is a little (sarcasm) out of my price range and it is leather, which goes against my vegan ways. *sobs*

accessorize // tory burch

I'm probably the only person that thinks this, but these gloves are GORGEOUS. The golden grasshoppers and zippers make these the cutest gloves ever. If you could give me $195 for these, that would be fantastic.

organization is key // design darling

These pencils would be a great pick-me-up while doing the massive amounts of homework I have.

wants // kate spade

I really need my own mug at my house. Everyone else in my family owns one, so I found this and it is the perfect amount of chic and nerdy for me. It's also one of the only things in my price range, so that helps, too.

That's it- if you want to stay updated with what I'm pinning, my pinterest is here.

What have you been pinning lately?
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xoxo

Let's Go to the Beach

I'm going to the Isle of Palms at the end of summer, so I decided to make a beach inspired outfit.

iPhone case - chinos - iPad case

bangle - coin purse - belt

necklace - clutch - sunglasses

shirt - beach bag - towel

I love that Popsicle coin purse; it is so adorable and I'm a sucker for anything cute and useful. I'm also in love with the necklace. The rope on it just makes the necklace perfect. The shark bag is just fantastically whimsical, so I had to include it. If you can't tell, I can't wait to go back to the beach! 

July 4th- Clothes to Celebrate In!

Tomorrow is Independence Day, so what better way to celebrate than in the colors of our nation? 

shirt - skirt - shorts

umbrella - iPhone 4 case - flats

iPhone 5 case - hair ties - belt

bag - print

I imagine this shirt being worn tucked in to your shorts or skirt, depending on your preference. I put in two iPhone cases, so my iPhone 4/4S girls and iPhone 5 girls have a cute case because I know how much it stinks when you want a phone case that's for a different phone. I threw an umbrella in here because it is supposed to rain all day here, in fact it is right now. 

You can't let the rain dull your shine, right?

Welcome!

Welcome to Atypical Prep.

You may have found my blog because you thought this was going to be another"typical prep blog." (Not that there is anything wrong with those blogs, but I'm just not your average prep.) Well, this isn't really your average preppy blog.

I'm getting ahead of myself; I haven't even introduced myself!

I'm Sarah. I am a fifteen year old rising sophomore in high school. I am currently participating in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program at my school. I am a total nerd and I don't even attempt to be "cool" anymore. I have a handful of amazing friends that are all that I could ever ask for. I love animals; in fact, I am a vegan because of this! (Please don't ask me what I eat, just look it up.) I have two pets, a cat named Orange, and an adorable guinea pig named Dougie. I spend my free time at robotics, academic tam, and math team, so I pretty much live at school. I also do way too much homework, but I try not to complain about it too much... I love reading, blogging, whale sharks, choir, science, technology, the color orange, Pokèmon, the ocean, Animal Crossing, cats, guinea pigs, and the internet.

As you can see, I am obviously not a "run of the mill" prep. I'm totally weird, so I obviously chose a well suited name for this blog.

This will be my place to talk about school, clothes, and just my daily life. I also blog about being diabetic on Insulin Pens Don't Have Ink. This is basically the place for me to talk about my life, not revolving around diabetes.

I'll be back soon!

- Sarah