Hello, hello lovelies! I hope you all had an amazing Valentine's Day full love and all things chocolate. I bought myself a bag of Dove dark chocolates and ate the entire bag in two days... #noshame As much of a sucker as I am for all things pink, red and burgundy, I decided to opt out of the typical 'in your face' color scheme. Sometimes, a little pop of color is all your need to stay festive! This outfit was the perfect amount of chic and somehow managed to also look relaxed, laid back and holiday appropriate in the process. Talk about a win-win scenario!
This dress was gifted to me by Sammy Dress for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This kimono incorporates the floral aspect of Valentine's Day, while still remaining relatively relaxed and overall neutral.
Current thoughts: "Is that a cat? If so, can I pet the cat??"
You all know by now how much I love Sammy Dress. I've found so many on-trend pieces from this site that I've been able to create multiple outfits with, which is so important for me. For those of you who've been following along with my Instagram Style Party, you know how crucial it is for me to have strong base pieces that I can use to create multiple looks. There's nothing worse than buying a shirt or a dress or what have you and only getting a few wears out of it. I want something I can wear over and over again and still feel the same excitement I had when I put it on in the store.
Now, that's not to say I don't love my fair share of completely unique pieces, but finding wardrobe additions that can last the test of time is my fundamental goal.
On top of being a great stand alone outfit, this elegant yet simple dress is a beautiful layering piece. Not only does it look great with this kimono, but I can also see it looking great with a leather jacket or a cute relaxed cardigan. And the simple round neck collar allows you to get creative and play around with different jewelry--my favorite!
**an actual view of how I look at my lovely best friend & boyfriend
Since we are talking about Valentine's Day and love, I just wanted to give a shoutout to my amazing boyfriend, Mason, who took these picture of me. He has been so unbelievably supportive and this blog would not be possible without him. He's the best Valentine I could ask for. :)
If you like what you see, be sure to check out Sammy Dress!
Hello & welcome back friends! I hope you are having a fabulous February and enjoying the Instagram Style Party! I am excited to share with you a few of my favorite Valentine’s Day inspired hairstyles. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been collaborating with Remington and their blog, Remington Ready, for a while now (see here, here and here) to bring readers different hairstyles to try out. Today, I am bringing a hairstyle tutorial post straight to Rachel Lynn and showing you a few of my favorite Valentine’s Day inspired hairstyles to do with a headwrap.
Whenever I think of headwraps or headbands, my mind immediately goes to the queen of all hair accessories, Blair Waldorf. That girl seriously knew how to pull off anything. If I’m being honest, sometimes I can get into this mindset where I convince myself I can’t wear a headband. I’ll go weeks without one and then one day I’ll decide to be a little adventurous, get up the courage to wear one and I find it adds so much to my style. Headbands and headwraps are the perfect accessory to take your hairstyle to the next level.
This post has been sponsored by Remington Products for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Style 1:
This first style is by far my favorite. I’m honestly not sure why I’m drawn to this particular style so much, but there’s just something about the simplicity of it, paired with the pop of the headband that I love.
For this style, I will be using a headwrap. You can use a headband if you like, but I’ve found that the wrap adds stability to the look. Personally, I find them easier to style.
Start by curling your hair in loose waves. You can also create this look with straight hair, but curled hair gives it a more romantic feel. I used my Remington TStudio Thermaluxe Curling Wand to create this look. Then, position your headwrapover your hair and a little further back. You want to give some space for the front section of hair. Slowly take all of your hair out from under the wrap (as your normally would) except for a front section of hair. This front section of hair can be as large or as small as you’d like!
Take that front section over the headwrap and to the side, pinning it down towards the back. You can use a bobby pin if you’d like, but if you’re wearing this style on a date, I would recommend dressing it up with a pretty barrette or clip. And there you have it! I like the looser look, so I usually pull my hair out a bit from the pin. This style is subtle, but it does an excellent job framing your face and the hairwrap gives beautiful dimension to an otherwise simple look!
This second style piggybacks off of the first one. Starting where we left off, take your hair and position it in a low ponytail.Then, wrap a strand of hair around the hair tie. Whenever I’m going out and wearing a ponytail, I like to wrap my hair around the hair tie. This gives the look a more elegant, pulled together feel.Now you have a look that still gives dimension to your hair, but is more laid back for those casual Valentine’s Day dates!
What I love most about headbands and headwraps is that they elevate a simple, everyday hairstyle into something chic and new. This next style gives the typical curled hair a cute, “girl next door” feel. If you’re constantly curling your hair and want to do something different with it without having a ton of time to create a complex look, this style is for you. Simply curl your hair and add a headband! I used a darling maroon headwrap to keep with the Valentine's Day theme without being too loud. God knows Blair rocked this style time and time again on Gossip Girl and there's no reason why you can't, too. Chic, simple, elevated, elegant.
Hello, friends! I hope you are all enjoying the February Instagram Style Party. I'm already so pleased and amazed with the feedback. I love seeing all of your outfits and how you're taking on the prompts! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for inspiration & use the hashtag #stylepartyfebruary to share your own inspiration! As hopeful and as ready as I am for this month, there are still a lot of things I discovered in January that I am ready to share with you!
1. A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
Wow, fam. Just wow. I read this book series religiously as a small child. I even started reading them to my little sister (when I was still a small child myself) because I wanted an excuse to read them again. (I was very dissapointed when she wasn't as excited about the series as I.) For those of you who aren't familiar with the series, it's about three orphans whose parents have recently perished in a fire. (Or at least that's what you're told) The series follows the orphans from guardian to guardian, and misfortune to misfortune. They're also followed by the evil Count Olaf, a local actor who uses disguises to insert himself into the children's lives at every step of their journey with the ultimate goal of stealing their fortune.
There was something about the children working against all odds and always coming out on top that I loved! (Even if they went straight into another unfortunate situation.) I absolutely loved the underground society aspect of the series. Such a mystery. The movie was definitely a let down, but the Netflix series is ON POINT. Neil Patrick Harris is phenomenal and his take on the series is seriously spot on.
At first I honestly wasn't about it. I didn't understand what they were trying to do and was thrown off by the caricature aspect of it, but after a few episodes I was absolutely about it ! I love how they created a world that was almost real and slightly cartoonish. And there are so many references hidden in each episode. I absolutely LOVED when Count Olaf (played by NPH) messed up a quintessential theatre tongue twister. It was so small and unimportant, but the theatre nerd in me was obsessed with that moment.
The series perfectly found a way to stay true to the original intent of the children books, while also appealing to the adult audience, now watching, who grew up reading the series. It is seriously the best & I can't wait for the next season! If you read these books as a small child, or just want to see an AMAZING Netflix series, you should 100% check this out.
Ironic, considered NPH is known for his long-term television roles!
2. PINK STATIONARY
Or really just any stationary in general. I can't get enough of it. I don't know why, but I feel so motivated when I write in all of my pretty stationary. And I can definitely say I'm more organized with all of my agenda's and notebooks surrounding me with inspiration and tasks to complete. TJMaxx always has the best stationary & for hella cheap, too! I constantly find myself in their stationary section looking for new things that I definitely don't need. #oops
3. PARKS AND REC
When I was home for Christmas, I started watching Parks and Rec on a whim one night to introduce my family to a new tv show I thought they would like to watch. I had honestly never seen all of the series--only bits and pieces. After watching a few of the first episodes, I realized I was missing out on a lot. I watched this series all January long. I'm actually watching it right now. I have 5 episodes left and I'm actually really sad it's almost over. Leslie Knope is my spirit animal & Andy is absolutely hilarious!
In a short summary, P&R follows Leslie Knope, a loyal public servant who works in the Parks and Recreation department, throughout her daily life. She's fiercely passionate about everything she does, but this passion often gets her in trouble. If you liked the Office, and strong female characters, you'll love this show!
4. JUICY COUTURE - VIVA LA JUICY
This perfume is perfect for any time of the year! It's light enough for the summertime, but still sophisticated for the winter months. TJMaxx is almost always selling this, so no need to pay full price! It also has the cutest packaging. I'm such a bow girl, so I knew it was meant to be when I saw it. 10/10 would recommend!
5. ED SHEERAN
Ed Sheeran released two songs from his new album (dropping in March) - Castle on the Hill and Shape of You. I've been listening to him on Spotify on repeat lately. I forgot how amazing he is! I'm officially obsessed and need to see him in concert on this next tour. Just listen to these amazing songs and you'll understand why!
6. CHROMECAST
This invention is the best thing ever. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it's still 100% worth your investment of like $35 (what a steal!!). I love that I can play Spotify on my tv while I'm blogging. It's been such a game changer and helps to get me into the blogging mindset. It was very easy to set up and I can cast everything I want to watch or listen to from my phone! If you follow me on Snapchat (rgolden75) or have seen my Instastories, I'm constantly snapping songs while they play through my chromecast. & even better, now I can watch all of the Parks and Rec or Series of Unfortunate Events to my heart desires and I don't have to worry about splitting my computer screen or stopping work to do it!
7. ISSUES BY JULIA MICHAELS
This song is absolutely phenomenal. Julia's voice is so beautiful and the song is hella catchy! Just listen, you'll be hooked!
Hello, everyone! Today I am so excited to finally announce my much anticipated style project! One of the reasons I started this blog was share my style journey with others and hopefully inspire others along the way. Recently, I've been following Hilary Rushford on Instagram and I feel a renewed vigor to reinvent my style, share this process with you and invite you to do the same!
Which brings me to today's post. I want to jump start my style journey by reinventing my closet. Typically when I think of reinventing one's closet, I think of someone going out and buying a whole new wardrobe-- or at least something involved a decent amount of shopping. However, this recent grad's bank account cannot handle that kind of stress. So I've decided to reinvent the things I already own and this style party helps me to do just that!
Your wardrobe should always make you feel warm and fuzzy. The possibilities should be endless--mixing patterns and textures is my idea of a perfect time! And this kind of bliss should not be held back by your wallet. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh look at the things you have to give you a little pep in your step!
Starting tomorrow, I invite you to join me in rethinking the wonderful things you already own. We all have those central pieces we just can't get enough of. Whether it's that's chic, little black dress or your go to oversized sweater, we all have those pieces we gravitate towards.
But what about those pieces that get pushed around every time we pull out our favorites? I know I'm guilty of constantly thinking I have nothing to wear or fearing that I'm wearing the same things over and over agin. I'm sure I would not have these thoughts nearly as often as I did if I stopped to rethink those left behind! But, girl, I know it's hard to find inspiration in those pieces we see over and over with no hope of revitalization.
This style party is designed to help you rethink what you already have! Whether it's forcing yourself to pick a color you don't usually wear or designing an entire outfit based on one of these themes, you will soon start seeing your wardrobe in a whole new light!
FEBRUARY INSTAGRAM STYLE PARTY RULES:
1. There are no rules
- Seriously, fam! This party is just that, a P.A.R.T.Y!
You can do as much or as little as you want. This is completely up to you :)
2. I encourage you to use the wardrobe you have
- This style party is all about rethinking the things you already own.
If you find yourself stumped one day, don't automatically run out to pick something up.
Be as inventive & creative as possible!
3. But, at the same time, if you're particularly inspired to invest in something you've been dying to get your hands on and feel it would be perfect for a certain day, that is totally your call!!
- You do you, girl!
I will be posting my journey on Instagram for everyone to follow along (@rachellllynn5) and would love if you all posted as well! I'll also be posting to Insta-stories with some inspiration and guidance, so everyone can follow along there for a more personal experience.
Experiencing a day when your outfit is seriously on point? POST IT!
Feeling discouraged? Vent about it!!
Loving how creatively and boldly you've taken on that day's prompt? BRAG ABOUT IT!
I want this to be as interactive and exciting as possible!
Invite you mom, your bestie, your sister-- anyone and everyone.
Style and fashion are many things, but first and foremost they're about having fun and expressing yourself.
And don't forget to use the hashtag #stylepartyfebruary to inspire others with your fashion!
"Daily inspiration to explore, discover & recreate you."
This has been such a big secret and a lot of planning went into this project & I am so excited to see where this party takes us.
Happy Hump Day! I hope you are having a fabulous week! On Monday, my immune system decided to grace me with a ridiculously strong cold. That morning I gave myself some Nyquil and proceeded to take a 5 hour nap. (oops) But it did the trick! So now that I'm feeling almost 100% I'm motivated and ready to take on the rest of the week.
With each day we get closer to February and closer to the launch of my new project. Guys, I know I keep teasing you about this launch, but I am seriously giddy with excitemtent. I really don't know how everyone will respond to it (which is hella nerve-wracking), but I think it will be an awesome opportunity to connect with my readers on a more personal level! Get your closets and camera's ready!!
Speaking of closets, today on RL I'm sharing with you my newest addiction: the modern box cut sweater.
This sweater was gifted to me by Sammy Dress for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you've been around Rachel Lynn for a while now, you already know that in the winter I live in sweaters. I love them oversized and in every color possible! This oversized lavender sweater is the perfect blend of cozy and chic. I love how it seamlessly integrates the choker trend into the actual sweater! One less accessory I need to worry about, while still staying on trend. The v neck cut is also a playful take on the typical box sweater. I can show a little skin & feel a little sexy without sacrificing comfort (or the ability to hide foodbabies). #priorities And who doesn't love unnecessary zippers? Amiright, ladies! :P As a side note, I did order mine a size up. I'm all about oversized sweaters and if you're like me I would definitely recommend sizing up.
This sweater can be worn dressed down for a lazy day at home or dressed up for a shopping trip ino the city. Or, if you're me, you could just wear this sweater for five days straight and sleep in it the other two. A serious 10/10 in 'comfortable chic'!
If you like what you see, be sure to check out Sammy Dress!
This dress was gifted to me by Zaful for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This floral dress is everything.
A little tidbit: when I was home for the holidays I went shopping for this dress. I didn't know at the time that I was looking for this dress, but the second I saw it I knew. I had found a darling black, shift, floral dress last year that I have severely overworn and I wanted to find something similar. And the kicker?? I didn't find this in stores. I went home empty handed.
I couldn't find ANYTHING. I went to all of my favorite stores, scoured the racks and still came up empty handed. It's naturally when you want to spend money and find a cute outfit that you can never find what you want. #firstworldproblems
It was honestly meant to be, though, because a few days later I found this beauty. If I could be a dress, I would be this dress. A floral print with bell sleeves and a cross, lace up front? Perfection, ladies -- p.e.r.f.e.c.t.i.o.n.
But the best part about this dress is how it makes me feel. A dress should make you feel comfortable and confident in your skin. We all know that feeling when you slip on the perfect dress. You don't have to constantly check yourself in the mirror or even think about it at all. All you need to worry about is being in the moment and enjoying yourself.
There is no better feeling than finding the perfect dress.
Okay, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but the point remains! Fashion is all about confidence and when I find an outfit (or a dress) that makes me feel comfortable and confident I have it on repeat all year. And the same applies for everyone.
When you find something that makes you feel beautiful, it's okay to wear it as often as your heart desires! And it doesn't have to be a dress! It could be your favorite cardigan or that pair of jeans that hugs your curves perfectly or even a scarf that always makes you feel safe. Find new ways to style it, be creative and have fun, because confidence & comfort never go out of style.
So, not only does this make me feel like a million bucks, but this lightweight dress is perfect for any occasion. I've already worn it as a shirt & paired with jeans-- it's thin enough that you can't even tell! I styled this dress (as I often do) with a simple nude heel, but I can see this dress going beautifully with a pair of riding boots. Dressed up or dressed down, I'm all about having a versatile wardrobe and this dress fit the bill to a T!
"Where comfort and style meet the practicality of life."
Zaful has a ton of cute clothes perfect for any versatile closet. If you like what you see, be sure to check them out at their links below! If I haven't sold you on this adorable dress, they're sure to have something to make you feel confident and beautiful.
Happy Wednesday! I don't know about your corner of the universe, but Pittsburgh has been feeling a lot like Spring lately. I don't want to get too excited because it is quite literally the middle of Winter, but a girl can dream, right??
If you haven't already picked up on the theme, January's posts have been focused around reflecting on the past year and planning out success in the new year. (or at least that's the goal!) I've been reading up on business plans and sitting in on different webinars to help me formulate my own thoughts to figure out the direction I want to take RL in 2017.
So far this month, I've been making moves to create a more organized blog. Part of that for me includes keeping clear objectives for each day, week, month and quarter. (yeah, I'm hella determined) I've already felt more focused and motivated and really hope that shows in the type of content I'm creating.
Fingers crossed!
So, if you've been around Rachel Lynn for a while now, you already know how much I love setting goals and sharing them with you! I feel so much more accountable when they're posted up for all my readers to see. One of the best feelings is reviewing the previous month and having all of my goals (or almost all of the goals) complete.
This post will give me something concrete to look back on--something I can revisit each quarter to make sure I'm on track. I also love reading posts like these & want to inspire my readers to live an "intention driven life", which is my overall goal for 2017.
Because what this all boils down to is creating the life you want to live. I want to create a life that I will love each and every day & not just the days I have off of work. I want to look back on 2016 and 2017 knowing that all of the hard work was worth it.
#dontquityourdaydream
amiright, ladies?!
Quarterly Goals: Q1: Refresh & Renew New year, new blog, who's with me?? In my mind, there's no better way to start the new year than refreshing. The hype of the new year has everyone's head in the "changing" and "revamping" game. What motivation you didn't have at the end of the year has suddenly reincarnated on January 1st. Crazy how that works!
So I've decided, while I have all of my revamping motivation, to do all of the things I wanted to accomplish *logistically* with my blog but never actually got around to. As you can see, I've already gotten a few of those goals down (i.e. my personal domain name and blog graphic), but there are two more pivotal items I still have to finish off. 2017 is all about making Rachel Lynn more professional!
Q2: Work/Life Balance One of the biggest failures for me in 2016 was finding a work/life balance. When I graduated, I threw myself into blogging. Which was fine, because, at first, I had all of the time in the world. But I got a job and suddenly I had half of the time I used to but still trying to do the same amount of work.
Not a smart idea.
Now that I know this is a quarterly goal I want to accomplish, I can already feel myself making positive changes this month to bring good work/life habits (i.e. writing posts ahead of time & cutting back on the amount of time I spend on menial tasks). But I still definitely have room to grow. I really don't want to stay up the night before a post should go up working on finishing touches. It's better than waiting until the morning of (like I used to do), but I want to move towards having things all wrapped up and ready to go at least a day in advance.
"Life is a balancing act."
Q3: Scale It Up
This quarter is just what it sounds like. After I have renovated everything that needs renovating and after I have found balance in my work & personal life, I want to focus on scaling everything up. I want to figure out what projects I can dive into that will put Rachel Lynn on the maps.
I already have a project in the works for February (which I am so FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT!), but I want to do more. I want to bring my readers products & take webinars and online classes-- I want to do things take Rachel Lynn to the next level.
Q4: Time to Shine
This quarter is admittedly the least planned out, but it's the one I'm most excited for. This quarter is where I want to take all of the work I've done over the past 9 months and gear that towards starting projects and taking all of the knowledge I've just learned to grow.
This quarter is also the same quarter where my blog started to stumble a bit in 2016 and when I had to take a break. In 2017, I want to have secured a strong enough base throughout the rest of the year to take this last quarter by storm.
