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Leg Day, Bro.

I MISS LAST WEEK WHEN THE WEATHER FELT LIKE SUMMER! Remember when we didn’t all have seasonal depression for two days? Remember when we went out wearing dresses without tights or coats because it was legitimately 80 degrees? MAN. Those were the days.

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DRESS || SIMILAR FLANNEL || SHADES || SNEAKERS || NECKLACE || RINGS

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This is how all outfits should look; no layers! Well, I mean, technically the flannel was a layer BUT I didn’t even have to wear it because it was no joke 80 degrees. In February. It’s kind of exciting but as I was literally laying out on my back deck in a bikini I couldn’t help but think… ok yes the Earth is definitely in trouble. Also worth mentioning about this dress, I’m wearing a medium. It runs a little on the smaller side and I was way worried about it shrinking the first time I washed it.

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My brother turned 32 last week (I think he’s 32….? Yes I’m 30 so that must be it) anyway… we went out for a quick drink at our local dive bar which apparently turns into a friggen college club now on Tuesday’s. It actually hurts my heart. I spent my 21st birthday at this sports bar and now there’s a DJ, fist pumpers, girls dancing on the bar in items that I wouldn’t even classify as clothes, napkins being thrown in the air. It’s ABSURD. AH. I digress. The point of that story was that this is what I wore that day and night. I ran out of the house with a coat on because I expected it to be freezing and the air was still warm. It made me so so so so happy, for two days, and now it’s back to big puffy winter coats and boots. BLEH.

So on my instagram this week I went on a little rant about body image, and what I decided was that I am going to stop tweaking my photos to make myself appear to be physically different. I’ve only ever done this to my hips and butt area, really, (maybe a little smoothing of the skin up close) but it’s got to stop. I’ve been working very hard on my body in the gym and while I have a long journey ahead of me before I feel like I’ll be completely happy with my body, if that ever happens, I am so happy with where I’m at today. It is SO EASY to beat yourself up and compare yourself to others, ESPECIALLY if you are a blogger. It used to be oh she has more followers than me, she gets more likes than me… and then it snowballs into her boobs are bigger, her legs are longer, she has a thigh gap, her hair is perfect, she’s also had two kids and she doesn’t have any stretch marks or that extra saggy skin around her mid section that won’t. fucking. go away. It started to drive me insane. I became so fixated on how I don’t look that I wasn’t appreciating how I do look. I shit you not, it was one of the biggest factors in why I stopped blogging in October. The pressure of comparing myself to others became way too much for me. I took a little step back from social media and blogging and started working on myself. Not only physically but mentally as well, really accepting who I am and what I bring to the table. I’ve had two kids… and sometimes I’m like well jesus Kennedy is almost 4 there’s no excuse to still look like this! But then I’m like jesus Kennedy is only almost 4 and I’ve come a long way from where I was! I can’t compare my body now to the body I had when I was in college. I can’t compare the body I have now to someone else’s body who may or may not have had kids, who may work harder than me on getting the body they have, who may eat all the right things and never touch a doughnut. I am who I am and I’m working with what I got but I am going to try my absolute hardest to keep it 100% authentic moving forward. No more making my ass look thinner in my photos. What you see is what you get from now on!

xx

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Wednesday Worst

Hola friends! So on Wednesdays I am most likely going to be sharing things that I am less than pleased with. They will, for the most part, be beauty related purchases. I might throw in some clothing items and whatnot, but the main focus will probably be beauty and wellness items. First off!

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EOS body lotion. Let me first start off by saying that I am a big fan of most EOS products… their shaving cream is amazing and I live for their lip balms… so I was quick to grab this off the shelf when I was in the market for a new body lotion. (I don’t typically like to buy the same product twice in a row unless I absolutely love it). 

SO anyway. The lotion started off pretty good, nothing too magical about it… however I guess I expected more from an eos product. AND THEN after like a week or two of using it, it just stopped coming out. Maybe I got a faulty bottle?… but the pump mechanism on this particular lotion blows. It just stopped pumping. I was like…. there is no way I went through an entire bottle of lotion THAT quickly… and sure enough, I did not (obviously). The bottle is completely full. And you can’t even pop the top off to dump out the rest of the lotion if you had to, because once the pump comes off there is no opening to the rest of the bottle, it has to come through the faulty pumper. WHAT THE EFF. The lotion itself also felt like it was basically water. Maybe it’s supposed to be suuuuper hydrating, but it didn’t feel like it was settling into my skin at all. Overall, I would not recommend this product to anyone, for the sheer fact that the bottle is terrible, lol, but also the lotion isn’t that great either.

My mom had purchased a bottle of O’Keeffe’s Skin Repair Body Lotion and holy hell, that stuff works. I am quite a fan! I’ve used their hand lotion before at work since being a server and a bar tender your hands are always in water and lookin kinda scary and I loved the stuff. I was unaware they made actual body lotion until last week, but it gets my vote!

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Dead or Alive

You ever have one of those treat yo’self moments? Well duh, of course you have. Mine usually come when I’m buying donuts, to be quite honest, but every once in a while I like to treat mahself to something I feel like I might live in. This Skull Cashmere sweater was definitely one of those things.

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SWEATER || LEATHER LEGGINGS || SIMILAR SHADES || SIMILAR HAT || BOOTIES similar here, here (also OBSESSED with these!)

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I purchased this sweater between my birthday and Christmas and really had no where to wear it for a while. I begged people to take me out so I had an excuse, LOL. Now I pretty much wear it once a week. I throw it on with these leather leggings or black skinny jeans. When the weather starts to get a little warmer I foresee myself wearing it tucked into a black mini-skirt with my over the knee boots. Soon guys! So soon. (we hope!) It’s cashmere, so it’s obviously soft AF. I bought a size medium so it hangs a little loose. There is nothing I hate more than a tight uncomfortable sweater and I like the way the baggy tops look paired with leather leggings.

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Friday Favorites

HAPPY FRIDAY! We made it! Give yourself a pat on the back for making it through the week. Gold star for you! I used to do this thing on the blog called ‘Wednesday Worst’ and ‘Friday Favorites.’ This was waaaaay before I blogged my own personal style.. I used to follow red carpet trends and post my least favorite celeb looks and then looks I loved. It was exhausting, haha. I’m still going to post my Wednesday Worsts and my Friday Favorites, but now I’m going to focus more on fashion and beauty related items that I have personal experience with. STARTING WITH…

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VII code oxygen under eye masks. GUYS. This is the stuff dreams are made of. I promise you the skin under my eyes has never felt softer or looked more energized. I’m a shit sleeper. I work until 3am sometimes and wake up at the butt crack of dawn with the girls, and when I’m not working until 3am I’m still awake until at least after midnight every single night. By law, my under eye circles should be out of control, however, I’ve been using these beauties recently and the difference is noticeable. I felt softer skin immediately after the first use and I can see the skin under my eyes brightening after 5 uses. I have 3 sets left and I’m torn between wanting to use them all the next 3 nights or space it out and save them so they last, hah. These are great because they are made to be slept in. You stick them right under your eyes, push a little bit to keep them in place, and slumber away. I will say the first time I used these I woke up and one was missing. I have no idea how long it stayed in place for, but my under eye did feel soft and smooth, so long enough I suppose. It does not say on the package how often to use these, but after a little searching on the website I found it says to use them 2 to 3 times a week. So one box of 8 should last you at least a month. OH MY GOD I just realized I only have one set left while counting how many came in a box!!! Oh man… this is sad news guys. SAD SAD news. Click the link above to get more details on these little life changers and of course, to buy a box of your own. You will love the results! Image-1 (2)

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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!

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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.

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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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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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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!

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

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

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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!

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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!

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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…

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

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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!! ;]

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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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