Category: Fashion & Beauty

My Battle with Hormonal, Adult Acne

 How many people spent their teenage years with the occasional zit or two, praying for the day they could be an adult and have their hormones balance out? Yup, that was me. In my mind, adults didn’t have acne, and acne was a rite of passage that all teens needed to face.

I’d like to think that I was pretty fortunate during high school and college when it came to acne. A few spots here and there, usually triggered by *that time of month* and a mountain of blackheads on my nose that would be a dermatologist’s extraction dream, yet I never faced cystic full-face acne with damaging scars. Not until I hit my early 20s.

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20 Gingham Summer-to-Fall Transition Pieces

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Give me gingham or give me death! In recent years, gingham has taken storm in the fashion industry attracting a variety of styles including rustic country, rock grunge and my personal favorite – classic, preppy. Once appropriate for only milkmaids and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, I love that this iconic pattern lost its “folk country” stigma and re-emerged in present day fashion. 

Gingham, also called checkered, is one of those patterns I believe is appropriate and in style every season of the year. Originally influenced by tartan and plaid, brands have been printing this pattern in a variety of colors on dresses, tops, pants and accessories as well as home goods since the 17th century. While pastel pieces may go out of style after Easter and red and country blue may resemble that summer picnic tablecloth, there’s nothing more classic than the original black-and-white or navy-and-white checkered design. And thanks to Joanna Gaines and her modern farmhouse style, classic black and white gingham is becoming an even more popular design for not only clothing but also home decor and rustic winter holiday decorations. 

I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite gingham pieces that you can easily transition from summer to fall (and maybe even winter for a few!)

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Floor Length Dresses Under $100

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Let’s talk about formal dresses – are you Team Buy or Team Rent? Personally I love a good floor length dress or ball gown, but not the price that comes with it! For so long, I’ve rented dresses for formal occasions thinking I’m saving myself money, considering the use and practicality of a gown hanging in my closet. However, after our third black tie invitation this year, I decided it was time to invest in a formal, floor length dress for my closet – without breaking the bank.

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Save Money with Honey: Web Browser Extension

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Raise your hand if you like paying full price? I hope the silent, yet still 100% unanimous answer is, “heck no!”

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved the thrill and joy of getting a good deal. I remember clipping coupons from the elementary school entertainment book we carried around in our car, understanding at that young age that clipping coupons was the responsible thing to do. As I got older, I remember my mom teaching me tricks to determine percentages while inside Limited Too. I know she was tired of me nagging her, asking her each price of every item I lusted over, but I know she was also setting me up for success as a conscientious, discount shopper. And trust me, that couponing and quick mental math applies to more than just clothes, but also grocery shopping. Nick gets so embarrassed when I pull out my wad of coupons or fight the cashier on gas points, but what’s wrong with saving a few dollars here and there! My Giant grocery store receipts show how much money we’re saving this year and I’ll continue to coupon away. 

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Amazon Finds: Spring Fashion Under $50

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Spring is finally in the air and I LOVE it! The temperature is rising, the sun is out in full force and everything around me is blooming. Honestly, as beautiful as spring is, it’s my least favorite season of the year due to my horrible allergies, but I love to enjoy the beauty from my window until the wave of yellow pollen passes over our neighborhood. As long as I have enough Claritin and Zyrtec in my system, I can venture outside for a few hours to enjoy a family hike or a round of golf, but believe me when I say I can’t wait for May when blooming season is over!

My favorite thing about spring is being able to wear comfortable dresses, opened toe shoes and bright colors after months of being bundled up in dark, drab clothing. But like clockwork every year, I hate all of my warm weather dresses and tops that have been packed away since last season. Anyone else feel the same way?! I’ve always been a department store gal through and through, but recently I love adding cute, spring pieces to my wardrobe from Amazon! Amazon Fashion can be hit or miss when it comes to sizes, cuts, and the fabrics – but there are hidden gems online that are great additions to your closet! Plus, Prime Wardrobe makes it easy for you to try items at home before you buy! 

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President’s Day Sales You Can’t Miss

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My “No Spend January” has come and gone, and I can happily say that I didn’t go binge shopping that first week of February! But now President’s Weekend is here with markdowns on everything – clothing, shoes, home goods, skincare and haircare products. With coupons in my wallet, Nick and I ventured out this weekend in search of the best deals and steals on every day items we need, as well as items we simply want. I can happily share we each spent under $300, scoring 5 pairs of shoes, athleisure, stemless wine glasses (6 pairs for $8 at Marshalls!!), a few pieces of workwear and some items for our furry best friend.

For those of you who didn’t make it out this weekend, I’ve sourced some of the best sales from my favorite brands and stores that you can still get online. If you’re reading this and don’t have my sense of style (preppy, classic may not be your thing and that is a-okay!), I highly recommend using HONEY when online shopping to ensure you get the best deal possible. HONEY is an online browser extension that takes the search out of bargain hunting and automatically finds and applies the best coupons currently available. I promise you it will be a game changer for your shopping experience.

Kate Spade Surprise Sale –

Enjoy 75% off a variety of Kate Spade classics, from handbags and wallets, to jewelry and clothing! I got a new wallet for just $49 and a coin purse for $29. If you’re new to Kate Spade or looking to expand your collection, now is the time!

Favorites under $100 (yes, Kate Spade under $100!!)

 

 

Mikas Pond Lacey Wallet || Felicity Street Karla Tote ||

 Magnolia Street Izabella Crossbody || Hayes Street Vanessa Bucket Bag  ||

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Mustard, Not Just a Condiment

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I feel like I have been saying this for weeks, but I swear in one weekend, summer has officially gone and fall has permanently moved in for the season. The temperature has finally dropped, the leaves are starting to change and it’s time to officially transition my closet from maxi dresses and sandals to sweaters and corduroy. Brands have been rolling out their fall and winter capsules for months but I am just now appreciating all the rich and colorful pieces – burgundy, emerald green, burnt orange, dusty rose and my new personal favorite, mustard.

I’m naming mustard the unofficial color of fall 2018. Everywhere I look – magazines, clothing stores, random strangers in the Lehigh Valley – I’m seeing pops of this color in light yellow to dark rust-yellow and to be honest, I’m LOVING IT. As a redhead, I always thought I needed to steer clear of yellows, oranges and reds, but I’m throwing my wardrobe rules out the window and embracing these warm, fiery tones.

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