Uncategorized – Page 2 – The Rachel Whatever…

February 21, 2018February 21, 2018

Walk in the Sunshine

We have had two freak days of very spring-like, damn near summer weather this week. It gave me the itch to grab some things to throw in my closet for when the weather really warms up so I’m not unprepared when it happens! Also I couldn’t resist wearing them immediately… I’m weak!

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TOP || JEANS || HEELS || BAG || SHADES || RING

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I follow The Salty Blonde on Instagram and she is my life inspiration. She is always in a bikini, or crop top and wide leg pants, big hat, basking in the sun in Hawaii. Who wouldn’t want this girl’s life? I’m also obsessed with her style, and I’m finding myself going more out of my comfort zones lately… as this is not exactly something I would typically wear, but something she might be found in on the reg. When I see things like this on other girls my first thought is usually… wow I love that but I could never wear it. No more! I’m wearing whatever I want now. Trying to make the Salty Blonde herself proud.

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Not gonna lie… I’ll probably wear this exact same outfit today. I’m really feelin it. It felt SO GOOD to step outside without a coat on, bare toes… sunshine on my face. I might shed actual tears when the temperatures drop again this week. However I am looking forward to doing a little spring shopping the next month or so. I need new shoes. I am OBSESSED with these pink heels from Old Navy. They will most likely be my next purchase. I also need a new bag. I buy like one a season and I can’t remember the last time I purchased one. Someone send me some suggestions for a cute springy bag, please and thank you!

February 20, 2018February 20, 2018

Emotionally Unavailable

If you have never heard of this company Wicked Clothing you realllllly should check them out. I have a little bit of a…. shall we say…. a wicked sense of humor myself, so their clothes really speak to my soul (or lack there of).

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T-SHIRT || SIMILAR COAT || PANTS || SHOES || HAT

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This was one of the many t-shirts they carry that aren’t on the fucked up side, haha. I also bought this one. You see what I mean about their branding? It’s hilarious and messed up all at the same time, I love it. I got my bestie a few of their t-shirts for her birthday too because we have a veryyyy similar sense of humor. Not everything they carry makes you go, “oh my goodness!” either. They have a bunch of t-shirts and sweatshirts that speak to current events and feminism. It’s pretty fantastic. Visit their site to browse all of the fun stuff they offer.

February 19, 2018

All About My Hair Extensions

It’s no secret that my hair has died and gone to blonder pastures. I’ve put my hair through some shit the past few years, and no amount of biotin can save it fast enough for me. So when a friend of mine approached me about being a test model for one the girls in her salon to put Great Lengths Hair Extensions in my hair, I didn’t hesitate to say YUP.

I had Great Lengths hair extensions once before while I was in college and I was obsessed! As far as extensions go it doesn’t get any better than bonded ones… in my personal opinion. While I do enjoy clip-in’s, they give me an awful headache if I wear them for too long. They sit really heavy on your temples, so it’s easy to feel the weight sooner rather than later. If I wore them into the city while I was working, I’d be clawing them out of my hair on the train ride home… while popping advil at the same time. The whole process of putting in the extensions takes a long time. I arrived at the salon a little bit before 10am, and I didn’t leave until after 5, only taking a quick lunch break. So if you’re planning on taking this step, make sure you have a full day to dedicate to the process. Your stylist will most likely have you come in ahead of time to color match extensions to your current hair color to get the most natural look possible. Just a heads up, if you weren’t already aware, they are expensive. The hair itself is costly because it is real human hair, and the longer the length the higher the bill. The installation process is obviously quite lengthy, so that time will run you up a high tab as well. You’re looking to spend anywhere from $800-$1500, depending on how many bundles of hair you need and how long the hair is. Yeah… start saving your pennies. Like I said, this was a worthy investment for me because I can’t wear the clip-in extensions anymore. I am way too prone to migraines and bonded extensions do not sit as heavy on your head at all. If you take care of your extensions they should last you about 5 months.

You also need to invest in a boars hair bristle brush (I think that’s what it is?? hah) so you can brush through the bonds to prevent knotting without pulling on the extension and ripping it out. You should also be brushing your hair at least twice a day. I wash my hair about twice a week, as usual, and blow dry it with the extension brush rather than a round brush. I might go over the very top layer with a flat iron just to smooth it out, but other than that it dries very straight overall. My favorite way to style it right now is with a curling iron, the curls come out bouncy and smooth. Sleep with your extensions in a loose braid to keep them from getting tangled up.

I think I covered all the bases but if you have any more questions feel free to leave a comment below!

Northern Lights Salon

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February 13, 2018

Throwback Tunesday

Happy Tunesday! This is something I used to do on the blog all the tiiiiime. I rarely listen to the radio or keep up with new music. Throwbacks are kind of my jam… in this case… my Jock Jam. So I enjoy sharing what I’m currently listening to with you guys each week.

Dance parties are pretty much a constant part of our days at home. Making dinner? dance party. Getting ready for bed? Dance party. Bath time? Serious dance party. That said, I’m a music snob and I guess I’m raising my kids to be the same, so we don’t listen to cheesy kids music when we’re having said dance parties. What are we rocking out to now, you ask? Why Jellyhead, of course. The 90’s were hugely impactful on my musical life. The first CD I actually bought was Aqua… from Coconuts. Remember that place? Time warp! Jellyhead came out in the late 90’s and I fell in love with it when it was featured on one of the Jock Jams albums. It came on my iTunes about a year ago and the girls freaked out. They loved it! It’s become one of their top 5 favorite songs and I’m not mad at it. So this past weekend we had a dance party to Jelly Head while cleaning the house. That’s a lie. I cleaned. They danced. So sit back in your inflatable couch, get some bubble gum and bright blue eye shadow, throw on your best Limited Too strappy tank top and enjoy the sounds of my youth.

Side note: this is the Jock Jams version, so it’s just a picture video. The “official” video is for their album version, but the original song is a god awful song, haha.

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February 12, 2018February 12, 2018

Guess Who’s Back? Back Again.

Rachel’s back. Tell a friend! Just kidding… but not really because I am back on the blog after months off and you really should tell a friend to come check it out. :] I’ve taken a few months to myself to basically get my shit in order, for lack of better terms. In every aspect of my life, not just blogging, but including blogging. I had to kind of remove myself from everything to be able to start fresh, and I didn’t have the energy or focus, or passion really, to put into my website anymore. I’m happy to say I am back and feeling recharged and better than ever. So here we are, let’s dive right in!

ON ME: VARSITY JACKET (similar here, cheaper option here) DRESS, SOCKS, BOOTS, HAT

ON CHARLOTTE: DRESS (similar), JACKET, HAT (similar)

My poor little love. She has been sick for weeks now! She is basically fine now, but has one of those coughs that will not go away no matter what. Aren’t those the most frustrating?! She actually came home from school early this day, and you can see it in her eyes. Meanwhile she refuses to sit out of pictures, lol. Please ignore the obvious stains on her dress. She realized she had a dress that matched mine and insisted on wearing it with me, even if she had to take it out of her hamper. Listen guys, if you’re a parent you know, you have to pick your battles. This was one I did not have the energy to fight. So here she is, back on the blog, sick and wearing a dirty dress. But it made her day so what-ev-er!

I showed this outfit on my Instagam before it landed on the blog and a friend of mine messaged me saying she had a similar jacket forever but never wears it because she was unsure how to style it. Let it be known that any day it’s not absolutely freezing or nasty out I am wearing this jacket. I wear it with little dresses, as shown above, or with black skinny jeans and booties. You’re probably going to see it on the blog a bunch moving forward. Sorry not sorry. Another thing you’re going to see me wear as a repeat offender; this hat! I haven’t taken it off since I bought it. I love it so much I’m considering getting the yellow one for spring.

So I will be doing a few things differently on the blog now. I used to incorporate a lot more content before it became just a personal style blog. I might throw in some more beauty posts, more mom stuff… maybe even some recipes again. We’ll see! If there is anything you guys want to see more of be sure to leave a comment and let me know!

October 25, 2017October 25, 2017

My Color of the Season

When scrolling through my pictures recently, or thumbing through my closet to pick out an outfit, it has occurred to be that I seem to be gravitating towards one color lately… olive green. Which is weird, because the term “olive green” doesn’t sound that attractive to me, but it’s basically all I own right now soooooo. Yeaaaa…

H&M DRESS (similar) & JACKET || STEVE MADDEN HEELS || DIFF EYEWEAR SHADES || CUSTOM NECKLACE || LINEA PELLE BAG

I love this necklace so much because I designed it! A couple years back I was working on co-designing a collection with a jewelry company I love, and this was one of my ideas. I was lucky enough to snag the sample for myself… haha! I love it because it’s a 3-in-1 look, you can wear each piece separately or together as a set. I also love it because no one else has it, of course. I hope some day this becomes a thing and you guys get to grab one for yourselves! For now though, it’s mine all mine!! ;]

When I was shopping for shoes like these I loved them so much I bought them in two different heel heights! They were on sale guys, it’s ok! I wore these shoes (and this entire EXACT outfit) to the city when I was filming my promo with Ancestry DNA and Annastasia. I’ll have to do a full post on that soon… I met Grams from Dawson’s Creek! She hugged me. She was the actual sweetest human being on the planet. I had no idea she plays the grandmother in the play as well. Needless to say it was an amazing day and it deserves its own blog post, so I’ll do that soon! Anyway! I wore the shoes that day, and this past weekend to my best friend’s wedding and I danced the entire night. I think I only sat down to eat, honestly, and my feet felt 100% fine! I love having comfortable shoes that don’t look frumpy and boring. I could not be happier with this purchase! I also snagged the Irene, which is the exact same shoe but with a shorter heel height, which I figured will be perfect for work and other occasions when I’ll need a more practical shoe. Y’all should get yourself a pair… of either. Or both… just saying!

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October 19, 2017

No Funny Business

My hair has finally faded… and guess what I did? I dyed it again! HAH. This time I tried to do a bit of a pink to purple ombre but the pink didn’t show up on my hair at all! I mean maybe it did a little bit, but it is nowhere near as vibrant as the purple was. It’s ok though, it’s pretty much the exact shade I thought the purple was going to be when I did it originally. Anyway! Back to the clothes…

FOREVER21 DRESS (similar) || PRIMARK TOP || PAYLESS HEELS (similar) || CHANEL BAG & SHADES (similar) || URBAN OUTFITTERS CHOKER

I got this cardigan about a year ago when Primark first opened in the Freehold Mall. I typically wear it as shown here… it was a staple when I was working in the city. I am not usually one to wear prints like this, but there is something about this top I love! I think it was only $20 or something crazy like that too… I love Primark’s prices. Seriously. It was particularly hot the afternoon we shot this outfit, so when I got home I threw on cut off shorts, a white t-shirt, this top, and my vans sneakers.

I’m not really sure what’s happening with this weather… it’s freezing in the morning and we’re digging for our winter coats while the girls wait for the school bus in the morning. But by the afternoon? Heat stroke. It’s a confusing time to be a blogger!!

October 6, 2017October 6, 2017

The Giving Keys

I want to start out by saying this is not a sponsored post. Sometimes us bloggers really do just post about things we like and want to share with you without getting paid to do so. Say whaaaaaaa? True story.

FOREVER21 SWEATER || PRIMARK JEANS (similar) || FOREVER21 BOOTIES || THE GIVING KEYS NECKLACE || LINEA PELLE BACKPACK || RETRO SUPER FUTURE SHADES

Fun fact… it was a million degrees when we took these pictures and I was DYING! I mean I’m trying to stay relevant with the fall outfits since it’s October and all… but it has been damn near 90 degrees. Can you see me sweating in the close-ups? It was awful! I do love this sweater though. It’s somewhat on the lighter side (but not for 90 degrees) and the detail on the back is a fun and unexpected twist.

So! Now for the gushing. These necklaces by The Giving Keys are pretty amazing. I stumbled upon their website completely by accident last year and fell in love with their mission. Essentially, they create pieces of jewelry featuring a lock or key of different sizes and colors, (I chose the black matte because it goes with pretty much everything I own) with a different message on each one, like breathe, inspire, courage, create. You pick one and wear it until you feel it has fulfilled you, then you pass it on to someone else who you think might need a little encouragement. For example… I chose Let Go. I had been going through a pretty challenging time in my life and while I do my best to keep a pretty icy exterior, tough times take a toll on anyone. I chose Let Go because I genuinely felt like I needed to let go of certain things that were holding me down or just adding a little extra sadness to my days, you know? As you can see… I’m still wearing the necklace so I haven’t really let go of shit yet. LOL jk. Not really. But also I don’t want to pass it on to anyone yet because I really love the actual necklace. However, once I feel good about my life and where I’ve come and that I’ve left the past where it needs to be, I’ll pass this necklace along to someone else who might be struggling as well. Pay it forward. ALSO! The best part of this companyyyyyyy though?? While some of their pieces might look like they come with a higher price tag, they are doing UH-MAZING things. Every time you purchase an item from The Giving Keys, it supports job creation for people transitioning out of homelessness. Like I said… amazing!!! There are so many things to love about this company. If you haven’t had a chance to check them out yet, please do, and help someone in need. Even if that person is you. ;]

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October 2, 2017October 2, 2017

Just a Casual Monday Look

I was showing these pictures to a girlfriend of mine last week and our exact conversation went; “is that a body suit?” “Yup. And leather shorts.” “Oh. Casual.” “Just a typical look to run errands with the girls in.” And then we laaaaaughed and laughed.

SHEIN BUTTON DOWN (similar here, here, here) || AMERICAN APPAREL BODY SUIT || H&M LEATHER SHORTS (similar here, here) || TARGET HEELS || QUAY SHADES

Obviously I’m not taking my kids to school dressed like this. There aren’t many places I would go in this, really. However, every once in a blue moon I do enjoy a good night out that’s not at a local dive bar and this is most likely what you’ll find me wearing. Bodysuits have become my absolute favorite item of clothing. I legitimately cannot stop buying them. I think it’s becoming a problem. BUT GUYS. They’re the best! They make bodysuits that look like t-shirts now so they don’t have to be all fancy and flirty but you can get the t-shirt look without worrying if your crack is hanging out every time you bend or sit down and I LOVE THAT. Peace of mind.. that’s what I look for when I’m buying new clothes. God bless you, bodysuit trend. God bless you.

So it officially felt like fall this weekend and I think my days without pants and jackets are numbered. I realized over the past few weeks that summer really is my favorite season. I LOVE being able to wake up, throw on a bralette and little sun dress, flip flops and go about my day. Having to put thought and energy into my outfits regularly is exhausting. Anyway. Have a good week, babes!

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September 27, 2017

The Military… So Hot Right Now

If you don’t live under a rock, although I’m sure many of us are actually wishing that is exactly where we live these days, then you know all about the drama happening in the United States with peaceful protests and Nazis and baby presidents, etc… well… I’m not even going to come close to touching on any of that on here. If you want to know my thoughts just read my tweets. *DISCLAIMER: there’s A LOT of F Bombs. However, with all this talk about the military I feel like it has certainly brought military fashion back into style and that I can get down with.

J CREW SHIRT & SKIRT (similar) || FOREVER21 BACKPACK || PRIMARK BOOTIES (similar) || RAYBAN SHADES || URBAN OUTFITTERS NECKLACES || FOREVER21 HAIR CLIPS (similar) || MADEWELL RING & CUFF

About a week ago my best friend & I decided to dye my hair light lavender… that’s what it said on the box anyway. When I flipped my head over to towel dry my hair I saw this shocking purple color and legitimately screamed out loud, haha! It was so much more purple than we thought it was going to be! It quickly grew on me though… about as fast as it started to fade. Womp womp. Now it really is the perfect shade of lavender and I love it! I may have to keep up with it… or let it fade completely and play with a new color. I can’t decide! What do you guys think?

I’ve tried to wear this outfit a few times this past month. I’m only like 10% mad it’s been too hot out to wear a heavy long sleeve button down. I’ve spent the past week at the beach and it’s been pretty fantastic. When the weather does start to actually seem fall-like, though, this will be the first thing I throw on for sure! The skirt I’m wearing here is from J Crew, but it’s a few years old, so I linked to a similar style above. I need to find a skirt just like this in black I think. I found this adorable little backpack at Forever21 while doing a little back to school shopping for Charlotte. They have a pretty cute girls’ section. With that said.. I was feeling inspired and obviously needed to buy myself a new backpack.. because why not? Duh.