Sister Shout-out

Today is my wonderful big sister Chelsea's birthday! Being only 15 months apart, we have always been close and only grow closer the older we get, no matter how crazy we make each other somedays! Here are some shots from our trip to Annapolis....Love ya sis!

Happy Birthday Chels!
xo Lindsey

Inspired by PIPERLIME::New Years on a Budget

In search of something to use my 50% Gap coupon on I stumbled onto Piperlime and found their "Girl on a Budget" page. I was shocked to see some really great stuff! I haven't really shopped with Piperlime before and I was very impressed. I've (already) been on the hunt for the perfect New Years Eve ensemble and as I scrolled through I found so many amazing options! What's great is that all the pieces are under $100!!! Check out some of my favorites....

(Polyvore)

What are you wearing for NYE 2014??

xo Lindsey

Fall in Annapolis

Yes, I realize Fall is practically over. I've been crazy busy the past few weeks and am just now getting a chance to do some blogging! A few weeks ago I spent a weekend in Annapolis to visit my brother who is a first class (senior) at the Naval Academy. We spent lots of time shopping and taking in the gorgeous scenery and of course had to fit in a photo session! Here are some shots courtesy of my sports photographer Dad turned fashion photographer ;)

I absolutely LOVE this bag. I purchsed it in store and just saw online that it comes in more colors and I am sooo tempted to purchase more! Perfect size and the genuine leather is super soft!

(Purse-Gap, Bracelets-Target, Inital Rings-Lou Lou, Bow Ring-Groopdealz, Polish-OPI Jade is the new black)

(Sweater-Gap/Similar, Denim-Loft Factory/Similar, Boots-Sperry Top-Sider, Necklace-J.Crew)

I promise not to be so absent in the next few weeks ;)

xo Lindsey

All about food!

Lately I have been all about cooking. My coworkers are amazed at my "fancy" lunches (they're not actually fancy) but really its simple. I like to cook. Its a fun way to spend free time and it typically produces delicious results! I have been into Clean Eating for the past year or so and love experimenting with "clean" alternatives to some of my favorite recipes. Most recently I have been quiche crazy! Tiffany over at The Gracious Pantry has been a healthy eating/cooking inspiration to me for some time and she is always my go-to for new healthy recipes.

I found this super easy quiche recipe and have made a few varieties using this simple guideline. She even has a super simple crust recipe! Be sure to check her out and snag some yummy clean recipes!

Ponte Pant Love

My new favorite Fall piece is the ponte pant. I have been drooling over J.Crew's Pixie Pants for months but just couldn't justify paying the $98 for them. I'm not usually a fan of Old Navy but recently I wandered in on a whim and found SO many great things!! I probably looked like a mad woman racing around the store so excitedly! Their version of the ponte pants fit perfectly and didn't leave a hole in my wallet. For $30 I am so pleased with my purchase. I have already worn them tons of times. I love that they can be dressed up or down. Here are some ways I would style them. Have you fell victim to these fantastic pants?? 

{Polyvore}

{Polyvore}

xo Lindsey

Two Bloggers: One Fab Shirt

I am so excited to be teaming up with Lauren of Style of One's Own for my first collaboration! A week or so ago all of Instagram was buzzing about this J.Crew inspired Elle top from Kohls. Once I saw it on Lauren's Instagram, I had to have this top! Since she was the one who lead me to it (and because she has great style and a gorgeous blog) a collaboration was a must! I'm loving Lauren's almost dressed down yet fancy ensemble! I think she is (again) influencing me to invest in some olive pants ;) 

Don't forget to head over to Style of One's Own for her outfit details!

{Top-Kohls link above, Skirt-Banana Republic, similar here, Shoes-Nine West, similar here}

Have a great day!

xo Lindsey

Going to the Chapel...Part 1

It's officially wedding season! This past weekend marked the first of many stretching from the Fall all the way through January. My favorite boutique brand Ya Los Angeles strikes again with this gorgeous coral lattice back dress. This gem was purchased at Nephew's of Mackinac Island on a recent vacation. The shop is adorable and has such great deals! Check out their Facebook page!

I added this great J.Crew Factory necklace that I snagged during their Labor Day sale for 50% off and a borrowed Ann Taylor bracelet!

{Dress-Nephew's, Shoes-Kenneth Cole from TJMaxx option, Necklace-J.Crew Factory, Bracelet-Ann Taylor}

Photos graciously taken by This Cute Guy I Know ;)

xo

Lindsey

::When in Doubt:: Wedges

Here we go with part two of When in Doubt Wednesday! This week is all about wedges. Where to begin? I don't know what started this, maybe one too many twisted ankles in gorgeous stilettos caused this but I am in love with wedges. They are much more stable than typical heels and for my weak post-cheerleading ankles that is a must. I frequently don my favorite black suede wedges but they're starting to show how much I've loved them. This summer I have been so so lucky to find amazing bargains at Target on wedges. With Fall fast approaching I will soon be in need of some new Fall wedges! I'm flirting with the idea of booties and am still skidish but I I have found several super cute ones that I'm willing to give a try. Even TOMS makes wedge booties! (See bottom left) Who knew?! Check out some of my picks for wedges for Fall!

Whats your go-to Fall shoe?

xo Lindsey

Overly Enthusiastic + A Giveaway!

Ok, so I have to admit that I am known to be overly enthusiastic. That being said, I am genuinely absolutely thrilled about my newest find. ACI Gelous Nail Gel. I am a sucker for a gel manicure but at about $30 a pop this real life girl can't exactly justify a manicure every few weeks. (Thanks to Steve-my super practical Dad)

Enter ACI Gelous Nail Gel. When my coworker told me about this product last week I figured it was worth a try. We scoured the shelves at CVS on our lunch break but it was nowhere to be found. Thursday night I finally found it on Sally Beauty Supply's website. I immediately (no, really. right that second) went out to get it. With help from Reese Kistel's post here, I had a gel manicure that evening. It was insanely easy. No joke. No UV light required, just a few coats of the gel, your favorite nail color, a swipe of top coat and voila! Gel nails that lasted waaayyy longer than a standard manicure! By standard I mean the manicure I give myself that starts to chip the next day (grrr). On day 4 I had only a few chips and could have left it for at least 4 more days! My OCD tendencies didn't allow me to leave it, however, because I would have picked it all off (not good). 

I just took it off and it was a million times easier to remove than regular gel and my nails felt really healthy!

Before I ramble even more, let's get to the point. I love this so much that it inspired me to do my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY! I'm giving away a bottle of the ACI Gelous Nail Gel and Essie "Madison Ave-Hue", an adorable dotted bobby pin case, cute 'hello' stationary and a fancy glittered nail file!

Instructions: 

1) Follow @lindseyb_rlf on Instagram

2) Repost the giveaway picture, include #RLFGiveaway and tag @lindseyb_rlf

3) You may receive additional entries by commenting on this post after you complete the first 2 steps :)

Giveaway ends next Wednesday August 28th at 10:00pm ET A winner will be chosen at random and announced via Instagram and the blog!

Good Luck!!

xo Lindsey

Looking Forward to Fall

This weather this past week was absolutely beautiful. Beautiful weather to me includes cool, breezy days with hints of warm sun. Last week was just that. It got me so excited for Fall! Fall is my favorite season. I love the comfy sweaters and natural colors, crunchy leaves and pumpkin lattes. This great Fall weather inspired me to go on a Pinterest binge for Fall outfits. Check out my 'Clothes' Board for some Fall inspiration.

My Fall wish list :) 

1. Black Jeans

2. Scarves!

3. Comfy sweaters with unique details

4. Anything Oxblood!

5. Ankles Boots

I'm also looking forward to wearing my Sperry Avon Boots again this season! I got them late last year and didn't have a chance to wear them often. They are super comfy and casual and they have a really cute sparkly liner that makes them a bit more fancy.

{Sperry Top-Sider Avon Boot- Similar Here}

I've been swooning after this J.Crew Field Jacket since they got it, which seems like forever ago! I always wait for things to go on sale but after waiting this long I may break down and buy it at full price. That's how much I love it! This is how I would style it

{Polyvore}

::When in Doubt Wednesday::{Leopard}

Welcome to 'When in Doubt Wednesday'! This is the beginning of what will hopefully become a weekly post. I have found recently that I have several fashion go-tos, items or styles that I lean on when I am at a loss for something new or just don't have the time to dress up a simple outfit. This first post is my absolute favorite 'When in Doubt' style: LEOPARD!! My mom can vouch for my obsession with leopard from an early age. From pajamas to even a comforter (terrible I know!), I loved leopard everything!! I have since become a tad more sophisticated ;) and have several more fashionable leopard accessories.

Leopard is practically a neutral! I know some will disagree but I would argue that you can pair leopard with any color in a casual or dressy ensemble. Those of you who follow me on Instagram may notice that my little leopard flats from Target have been on repeat for some time now! They are a great way to toss some sass into a plain outfit! Here are some of my favorite leopard accessories courtesy of Polyvore!

Feeling bold? Leopard patterns are also fantastic in color!! I love these Gap pants that I found thanks to Karri at House of Tubers! 

{Again, be sure to check my Polyvore for the sources of these images.}

I also love these Kate Spade earrings that my mom found for me! Unfortunately they are sold out...

Whats your favorite way to wear leopard?? Link up in a comment!

xo Lindsey

Weekend Recap & A New Adventure!

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of celebrating this lovely girl's last night as a single lady! We met in college and graduated together from the same program. She is super sweet and I can't wait to see her walk down the aisle! (Sorry in advance for my grainy iPhone pics! I thinks it's time for a camera!)

 {Aren't her chevron pillows adorable?!}

 

{My signature squinty eyes}

{Outfit Details: Top-Target old, Skirt-TJMaxx, Necklace-borrowed :)}

Over the weekend I also decided to take on the adventure of becoming a Mary Kay Consultant! I am excited and a little nervous to attempt this new venture. Any seasoned consultants have advice? 

xo Lindsey 

Bridal Shower Attire: Polka Dots and Presents!

One of my very good friends from college is getting married! I could not be more thrilled for her! I love weddings. What girl doesn't?! Here's what I wore to her bridal shower this past weekend.

{Dress: J.Crew Factory, Shoes: Target, Belt: TJMaxx, Bracelet: Target}

Brights & Bangles + An IG Meetup!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting up with two wonderful ladies that I met via Instagram. The first, Meghan of Everyday Fashion and Finance, has been an inspiration in the blogging world and I was thrilled to meet her in person and get some blogging wisdom! The next, Rachel (IG @rayannlacasse), is super sweet and has tons of great fashion posts on her page! 

Here's what I wore for our night out!

{Top TJMaxx-Old, Skirt-J.Crew, Clutch-Nordstrom, Bangles-Target, Shoes-Target}

Don't forget to check out Everyday Fashion and Finance! Have a great weekend! 

(We forgot to take a picture but will post one next time we meet up!)

xo Lindsey

Kate Spade Inspired Wall Design: DIY

When I moved into my new place I was excited to have a fresh start in decorating. As I perused Pinterest I stumbled upon this post from Christine at Just Bella. I was instantly reminded of the gorgeous Kate Spade dinnerware (below) that unfortunately is no longer available.

Christine's post led me to Urban Walls, a great company offering tons of different vinyl wall decals, quotations and even chalkboard decals! I was so excited when my Gold Dots arrived and couldn't wait to put them up. I was preparing myself for a tricky process and lots of frustration. I was pleasantly surprised when after about an hour I had completed the entire project! Urban Walls included easy to follow instructions and the process turned out to be a breeze! See below for the final product!

Yes, my bed is a mattress on the floor. I'm still getting settled, don't judge ;)

Do you have a designer inspired decor item?

xo Lindsey

Cocktail Party: My Fave LBD

This is by-far my absolute favorite little black dress. Typically when I buy a dress its for a specific occassion but when I found this gem at my favorite Annapolis boutique, Lilac Bijoux, I knew it was a keeper. The matte sequins give it just enough sparkle without being too flashy. I paired it with a simple neon necklace from Loft (old and no longer available) and these fantastic wedges from Target! I apologize in advance for the poor quality photos-it was an impromptu iPhone photoshoot ;)

{Ya Los Angeles* from Lilac Bijoux}

*Unfortunately you aren't able to shop online for this brand (Ya Los Angeles) but I have noticed that several boutiques carry their items.

{Sam & Libby from Target-Now on Sale!}

Close up of the dress...

  

Vacation Style

I am finally back to the real world after a whirlwind of a vacation to Mackinac Island with my family and some friends. Packing has always been a struggle for me so I was on a mission to pack efficiently yet still be stylish. I found the trick: Solid tanks, statement necklaces, comfy versatile shorts and fancy flats. Here is an overview of some of what I wore and some ideas if you are headed on vacation soon! 

For those of you who haven't been to Mackinac Island, there are no cars. Yup. No cars. Therefore, bikes are the preferred mode of transportation. For someone who is addicted to dresses and skirts this poses quite an issue! Leave it to J. Crew to solve my problems with these adorable shorts!

J. Crew Pleated Short in Structured Cotton

These shorts are fantastic! They are a little extra fancy and high waisted. 

     

J. Crew Faille Pull-On Short 

These are a must have in several colors. They are pull-on, elastic waisted which you would think would be semi-juvenille but I fell in love with them! They are super comfy and the ruffled waist gives them a bit of flair.

When bike-riding fancy flats are also a must! My addiction to Target never fails me in this department! 

I have the Striped Dolce Vita version by the * 

I also got these great neutral wedges at Target which could be worn to dress up any of these fancy short combos!

Whats your trick to vacation style?

xo Lindsey