A Blonde's Moment

Bright Orange in LA

June 1, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve, friends! Today is our last full day in California, but I wanted to share this look that I wore for our travel day out to the west coast last week. I mentioned yesterday that I was all about the brights and I have been loving this bell sleeve and peplum number.

Bell Sleeve Top: Gibson {under $50 & available in several colors!} | Jeans: Vigoss {almost identical HERE} | Necklace: BaubleBar, sold out {similar HERE} | Bag: Mix No. 6 | Watch: MICHELE | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Wedges: Jeffrey Campbell | Lipstick: #47

I bought this top awhile ago when I was preparing outfits for our trip. I love this bright orange color — it’s vibrant, fun and perfect for summer. Now, there are several colors available in this design {including hot pink!!} and I think I will be adding another color or two to my closet. As for the details, it’s under $50 and runs TTS — I’m wearing the medium.

And since this orange is such a bright hue, I decided to pair it with this turquoise necklace. Unfortunately, this exact necklace is sold out but I did link a similar one HERE. It was only after I had this outfit planned that I discovered this amazing wall. LA has such fabulous murals, and this is just one of them!

Any fun weekend plans? We are taking the red eye back to DC Friday evening so our weekend will be spent getting back on east coast time and catching up on laundry and sleep! I hope you all have a great rest of the week and weekend!

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Summer Pink

May 31, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Pink Summer Outfit Inspiration @rachmccarthy7

This might not be a newsflash, but I love pink year round. However, there is something about pink shades in the summer. And after being in California for the past week, I am ready to break out the bright colors for summer…especially all this fun pink!

I wore a similar pink dress out here in California {I will be sharing the post on the blog soon} and I can’t even tell you how much I love the style. There is something about pink and off the shoulder that makes my heart skip a beat!

As for accessories, I went with more statement pieces for this collage: these colorblock sandals would be the perfect accessory for a sundress and I love this floral statement necklace. Although the necklace is on the larger side, I think it would dress up a plain t-shirt or casual dress and give you a fun summer look.

Lastly, a home item that I was so excited to see, I couldn’t help but share it with you! These adorable popsicle molds would be perfect for a party or just a summer treat. I haven’t made homemade popsicles since I was little so when I saw these, it brought back so many memories. And I love the fun shapes!

We are wrapping up our time in California on Friday so I will finally have some time to edit photos today so be sure to check back tomorrow for an all new outfit post! I have taken a serious break from social media and a lot of things associated with the blog. Although I was still posting a normal schedule for the past week, this is the first time since I started ABM in 2013 that I actually stepped away from social media. It was so wonderful to enjoy a vacation without constantly being on my phone trying to document each bit of our time away. Unplugging from social media and technology is truly a wonderful thing! And although it was great to step away, I’m so glad to be back!

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Healthy Sweet Potato Nachos

May 30, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Sweet Potato Nachos Recipe @rachmccarthy7

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. I could eat Mexican food everyday of the week. But like with so many of the recipes I share, I try to make favorite, not so healthy food a little healthier. For today’s post, I’m substituting sweet potatoes for tortilla chips for a healthier take on a Mexican favorite: nachos!

print recipe

Sweet Potato Nachos

by Rachel McCarthy May-30-2017

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes, sliced 1/4″ thick
1 avocado, diced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup cotija cheese, or any other Mexican cheese

Instructions

Slice the sweet potatoes 1/4 inch thick. Fry in a deep fryer or bake in the oven. To bake in the oven: preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss the sweet potato slices in olive oil and spread onto baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with salt. Once the chips have cooled, transfer to serving dish and top with desired toppings. Serve and enjoy!

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Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

This post is linked up with: Tasty Tuesdays | Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday | Two Cup Tuesday | Weekend Potluck | SITS Girls

Memorial Day Sales

May 29, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Memorial Day, friends! Just a quick post today to share a few Memorial Day sales that are currently going on this weekend! I’ve included some of my favorite finds from the sale below. They are some super colorful pieces!

BaublebBar: up to 70% off

Forever 21: 30% off sale with code EXTRA30

H&M: 20-30% off & free shipping

J.Crew: 30% off with code SWEET

J.Crew Factory: 50% off everything

Nordstrom: Half Yearly Sale up to 40% off now through 6/4

Nordstrom Rack: additional 25% off clearance & free shipping on orders $100+

Pottery Barn: up to 25% off & free shipping with code SAVEMORE

Williams-Sonoma: 10% off 250+, 15% off $500+ with code SAVENOW

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day! We are still in California so we have plans to spend it by the pool, if it’s not too hot! It was over 100 yesterday, which for me, is too hot for the pool! But we had lunch with Shauna from Lipgloss and Lace and it was so good to catch up! We both agreed that California and Virginia should be closer so we could see each other more than once a year.

Thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow!

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cabi Blogger Day

May 25, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

On Monday, I spent the day at cabi‘s home office to tour the office, get a behind the scenes look at cabi and celebrate cabi blogger day with a few other fabulous bloggers from around the country. Here is a quick overview of the day and a look at what I wore for the event!

We started the day with a welcome and champagne toast. The office was decorated with the most beautiful flower arrangements, peonies included of course. While enjoying breakfast, we had the opportunity to meet with several members of the cabi team to learn more about the business.

Other activities included touring the warehouse — it’s like cabi heaven – and learning more about the design process. From mood boards to seeing how the design process works, it’s amazing to see how these pieces start as an idea and in a few short months end up in your closet. The new fall line (which looks absolutely fabulous!) will be released in July and it might be my favorite collection of cabi I have seen yet. I’m always drawn to fall clothing: faux fur, jackets, layers and cozy knits are just a few of my favorites. Let’s just say this collection doesn’t disappoint! You can see a sneak peek of the collection HERE.

No blogger day would be complete without a photo shoot to end the day! From makeup and hair touch ups to a professionally styled photo shoot, we had so much fun.

It’s not often that you have the opportunity to see a “behind the scenes” look at a company, how they work, operate and meet the faces behind the brand. I have always loved clothing from cabi. Between the styles, functionality and quality of the clothing, it’s hard not to love these clothes. To me, versatile is cabi’s middle name: not only do the colors match from season to season (you can have a pair of navy pants from a few seasons ago that now match a jacket from the current season) but the clothes can be worn for both work and play. This has always been an important factor for me when shopping for clothes. Spending five days a week in the office, it is not economical or practical to buy a ton of clothes that are “weekend only.” I wear most of my cabi clothes to work!

Pink Floral Halter, Blush Sweater & Grey Jeans: cabi c/o | Bag: Mix No. 6 {only $30!} | Watch: MICHELE | Heels: Ivanka Trump | Sunglasses: Le Specs | Lipstick: creme cup & turkish delight

As for my outfit for the event, I knew I wanted to go with something comfortable since it was going to be a long day. These grey jeans are a new favorite, I can’t even begin to describe how soft and comfortable they are! Since they were longer, I cuffed the bottom with a larger, more trendy cuff.

You know I never say no to pink, so when I saw this floral top and blush pinksweater, I knew it would be perfect with the grey jeans. The floral top is actually a halter top with a tie at the neckline. I paired it with the sheer sweater over top for it to be a little more weather and office appropriate. As for accessories, I went with these block heel blush pumps {I wear them every chance I get!} and this new blush tote. I used this as my bag for the flight out to LA and it holds a ton. And it reminds me so much of the Givenchy bag, but it’s only $30!

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and see you back here on Monday for a round up of the best Memorial Day sales! Thanks so much for reading!

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Summer Essentials: Splurge vs. Save

May 24, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

With the unofficial start to summer less than a week away, I brought back the always popular splurge vs. save to round up a few summer essentials.

I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready to break out my summer clothes…and have them stay out! Here are a few of my favorite summer essentials, at both the splurge and save price points:

Summer wouldn’t be the same without off the shoulder dresses and tops. I love the color of both the splurge and save orange dresses, it’s the perfect bright shade for summer. Another trend that I have been loving all spring is the eyelet detail and both the splurge and save version of the eyelet off the shoulder top is such a pretty and feminine top that could be dressed up with a skirt or down with jeans.

You can’t start summer without a new swimsuit! I have been lusting over this splurge scallop swimsuit for over a year — I can never say no to scallop edges! But when I spotted this save version at a fraction of a fraction of the price, I couldn’t wait to share it with you! I think a black one piece swimsuit is so chic. And add the fun scallop details and you have a sophisticated yet fun suit to spend a summer day at the pool.

I took the red eye flight from LA Monday evening and arrived back in DC early Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, not much sleep happened on the flight and I spent yesterday packing to head back to California today. I know, totally crazy, right?! I honestly have no idea how I’m still awake!

Be sure to drop by tomorrow for an entire recap of a fun event I attended in LA on Monday! Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

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Mac & Cheese Spaghetti Squash

May 23, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

My love for comfort food {mac and cheese in particular} runs deep. And as much as I love this “not so good for you food” and would be fine eating it most days of the week, that can’t actually happen in reality. Instead, I like to come up with ways to make comfort food not so guilty. I’ve tried cauliflower mac and cheese {recipe HERE} and zucchini mac and cheese {recipe HERE} so I figured it was time to try another vegetable: spaghetti squash.

Waffle Knit Cardigan

May 22, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful
weekend! I was busy running around all day Saturday for a pretty busy week. But
more on that later. Today’s look is all about spring and summer layers.
Although the temperatures can get pretty warm in the D.C. area during the summer months, there are some
cool nights when a lightweight cardigan is the ideal accessory.

Waffle Knit Cardigan: Free People | White Tee: Nordstrom | Jeans: Articles of Society {under $60!} | Espadrilles: Marc Fisher | Bag: Tory Burch {new version HERE} | Earrings: Sheila Fajl | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lipstick: #47 & #200

I wore this cardigan for my flight out to the west coast
yesterday and it was SO comfy. I saw it online a few weeks ago and knew I had
to have it. This waffle fabric makes for the perfect sweater for spring, and
even as we head into summer. Also available in a gorgeous coral, I personally couldn’t
resist this green shade — it’s such a fresh color for the season. I just love the way it looks with all white and the tan
accessories, too. One more piece to note before I wrap up today’s post: I had been
looking for a pair of distressed white jeans for the majority of spring and I came
across these about 2 months ago. They are under $60 and are so soft and
comfortable – it doesn’t even feel like you’re wearing jeans! As for sizing, I
went down a size and they fit perfectly.

I apologize for the short post — I am typing this from
35,000 feet on my way to LA for a special event that I cannot wait to share
with you on Thursday! If you want a peek ahead of time, be sure to follow along
on Instagram {rach.mccarthy} and Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7}. Have a great start to the week and see you
back here tomorrow for healthy spin on a favorite comfort food!

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Spring Favorites

May 18, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve, friends! Did this week go crazy fast, or was it just me?! A little bit of a different kind of post for today — it’s something I’ve been wanting to compile for awhile now and I’m finally getting around to it. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite finds of spring and giving a full review on some new beauty products that I have tried and fell in love with. I’m hoping to share posts like this more often — I’m thinking every other month? — so stay tuned for more. Without further ado, let’s start the reviews!

HAIR PRODUCTS

drybar Triple Sec: A relatively recent discovery that I use almost daily, this “3-in-1” formula can seriously work wonders on your hair. This product promises to texturize, amplify and refresh and they aren’t kidding. I’ve been limiting my days with my flat iron since January so I’ve been wearing my hair in curls a lot more often. I spray a little of this on in the morning — on both sides of my head and in the back — before curling my hair and the amount of volume I get is amazing. I’m mean “big hair don’t care”. Not only does this spray give you some serious volume, it is also a clear dry shampoo that effectively absorbs oils. Oh, and the best part: the smell is amazing. Think amber, coconut and vanilla. My mom tried some the other week and the first thing she commented on was the scent. As she said, you don’t even need to wear perfume when you spray this, it’s that good! Since I am in the middle of a lot of traveling, I knew I wouldn’t want to be away from it for too long, so I just bought the travel size, too. The travel size is also great if you are interested in trying it out. Once you fall in love with it, you can move onto the standard size 🙂

Elizabeth Arden Liquid Highlighter Review

MAKEUP

Elizabeth Arden Illuminating Liquid Highlighter c/o: I had been looking for a highlighter to try since the beginning of the year and hadn’t had much luck. Personally, highlighter isn’t something I wear everyday, but mostly when getting dressed up or for special occasions. I will say that when I first opened the jar, I was a little worried. It seemed a little too gold for me and I was afraid that it would appear “cakey”. But wow, was I wrong! What is so great about this highlighter is that it’s definitely buildable. The first time I used it, I was super cautious when applying and didn’t add that much to the tops of my cheeks. But as I got more comfortable with it, I realized that it added the perfect amount of shimmer. With it’s unique mesh touch dispenser, you can easily apply the highlighter not only to your cheek bones but also to your eyebrow bones for added shimmer. The only disadvantage I can think of is that it is unfortunately a limited edition item so be sure to scoop yours up fast. I’m hoping Elizabeth Arden decides to restock this highlighter, it’s quickly becoming a favorite.

IT Cosmetics Confidence in Your Glow Instant Nude c/o: I’m sure you know by now that I’m a huge fan of IT Cosmetics products. After discovering the brand almost one year ago, I have continued to use several of their products daily {my top two favorites that I use every single day: Bye Bye Under Eye – I wear “light” – and the Superhero Mascara}. I was anxious to try their bronzers because in the past, bronzers have been difficult for me to wear. My skin is super fair, most bronzers I try make me look orange. Not a good look! I have been using this bronzer in the “instant nude” shade and have really liked the results. When I swipe the brush across the palette, I’ve been stopping before I get to the darkest color since my face hasn’t got too much sun yet. And if you are looking for a great brush to use when applying the bronzer, this one-step brush is the one I have pictured here.

Original post HERE

Original post HERE

SPRING SHOES: SNEAKERS

Converse Slip On Sneakers & Gold New Balance Sneakers: Sneakers have been my go-to lately. I don’t know if it’s the rise in athleisure clothing or the comfort factor, but I have been finding all new ways to style sneakers that use to be outside my comfort zone. The gold New Balance sneakers are a few years old {but are still in stock!} and they were my first pair of “dressy” sneakers. I have plenty of tennis shoes and running shoes, but with the retro style and gold details, it was easy to pair these with casual weekend outfits like jeans and even dresses. The slip on Converse sneakers are a more recently purchase and I wear them any chance I get. As I mentioned yesterday, I love wearing red, white and blue during the warmer months and these sneakers are the perfect accessory for nautical clothing. And you can’t beat the slip on style!

THE LIPGLOSS YOU NEED

the lip slip by sara happ one luxe gloss: If you have been following along for awhile, you probably already know that I love lipstick and lipgloss and one of my favorite past times is matching my lip color to my outfit! This spring, I’ve been wearing a lot of nude colors on my lips — my two favorite are Kim KW {a creamy, light blush} and YSL #48 {soft beige} — and I always like to wear a gloss over my lipstick, especially when it’s a lighter shade. I just bought this lipgloss the other weekend and have worn it just about everyday since. It is so universal — wear it by itself during the day, over your favorite lipstick or even put it on before bed to hydrate you lips. Worn recently on the blog HERE.

Original post HERE

Original post HERE

SPRING DRESSES

Orange Swing Dress & Coral Midi Dress: I’ve always been a dress girl, but this spring, I’ve been wearing them a ton! Since we have had a pretty mild spring, I was able to break out the spring and summer dresses a little earlier than usual. This orange dress has quickly become one of my favorite purchases from this season — I’m so excited to wear it again this weekend when we go out to dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary! Not only is the swing style light and fun, I love the pleats and of course the bell sleeves. This coral midi dress was a favorite dress from last summer and I was so thrilled that it came back in stock this year — and in more colors! The length, color and cut are all perfect for transitioning from a day at work to date night. With it’s price tag of $68, you can’t beat this staple spring dress.

Purity One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths Review

SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Last, but not least, a few of my favorite skincare products I have found, tried and loved during the spring season:

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Lotion: I have been using the same moisturizer/moisturizing oil and foundation for a few years now. As I have mentioned before, with super sensitive skin, I tend to stick to what I know works instead of branching off and trying new things that could give my skin a bad reaction. With all the traveling I have this spring, I was looking for a travel-friendly moisturizer to replace my oil {I never have luck when traveling with liquids and I knew a glass bottle filled with oil could be a disaster!}. I was at Target the other week picking up other travel supplies when I discovered this day cream. It’s hypo-allergenic and good for normal to dry skin so I figured I would give it a try. I also picked up this Youthful Replenishing Facial Oil to replace my usual oil for when I am home since I was almost out. Can you believe I have used this No7 oil everyday since?! I typically get a reaction when I switch up products but it never happened with this day cream or oil. My skin feels so soft and hydrated after using both of these products, I was truly shocked by the results! I will definitely be re-purchasing both the cream and oil again.

Shea Moisture Hand and Body Scrub: Speaking of moisture, I first discovered this brand from my blogger friend Jalisa. After her rave reviews, I decided to give it a try. I went with this extra moisturizing version — my skin is dry 365 days out of the year and had been looking for months for a body scrub. After using this just once, my skin was so incredibly soft, I seriously couldn’t believe it! No amount of lotion was helping the dry skin on my legs and after that first use, it was gone. I’ve been using it once a week or every other week {I sometimes forget!} and have noticed that my arms and legs have been staying more hydrated since I started using it. I have tried several scrubs over the years and this is my new favorite!

Purity Facial Cleansing Cloths: Finding these face wipes was all thanks to the traveling I’ve been mentioning! I use THIS foaming cleanser on my face every morning and night but it was too many ounces to travel with for carry on luggage. I picked up these cleansing wipes a few weekends ago to take on my trips after reading countless reviews. One of my biggest pet peeves is taking my makeup off at night. I cannot stand the feeling of makeup stuck on my face, so I typically use a wipe to remove the makeup and then wash my face to ensure everything has been removed. All the reviews I read said these Purity wipes worked wonders — 1 cloth to remove all the makeup and dirt leaving your face feeling completely clean. I was pretty skeptical of this given my obsession with a clean face, but after using these wipes all last weekend, I can say it really does work! Available in 15 and 30 count sizes, you could easily keep them in your purse or gym bag for a quick face clean up, too.

Whew! Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to provide a thorough review of each of the products. Let me know if you have any questions about the products I mentioned. I’ve linked all products I talked about in the post in the tool below for you to check out.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend!

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Memorial Day Outfit Inspiration

May 17, 2017 by Rachel McCarthy

ruffle sleeve top | star beaded earrings | wide brim straw hat | bow ankle strap sandals | chambray bow shorts | lipstick {mangrove} | wicker handbag | stripe sandals | embroidered pom pom cover up | watermelon trinket tray | red stripe swimsuit | sunscreen | pom pom beach bag

A little Memorial Day outfit inspiration for today’s Wednesday Wishes — I’m on a real kick this week with Memorial Day-inspired posts {you can see yesterday’s healthy take on potato salad HERE}! Whether you are spending this Memorial Day by the pool or BBQ, here are a few of my favorite perfectly patriotic pieces!

I always get excited for this time of the year — red, white and blue is one of my favorite color combinations of the summer and we are getting close to the unofficial kickoff! I put together two different outfits for today’s post — one that would be festive for a cookout or picnic and the other if your Memorial Day plans include the beach or pool:

I have been eyeing these chambray bow shorts for awhile now — they are also available in other colors/prints — and when I saw this cute ruffle sleeve top, I knew they would look so cute together. I can’t resist the combination of ruffles and bows!

To complete the red, white and blue look for a cookout, I’ve included these star beaded earrings {could they be more perfect for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day?!} and these ankle strap sandals. You have all the colors covered in this outfit without looking over the top.

As for a day at the beach or pool, I love this stripe swimsuit with the bow straps — I know, more bows! Paired with the embroidered pom pom cover up, this pool look was made for the patriotic holidays. And although this watermelon trinket tray isn’t totally applicable, I couldn’t help but share it given the recent news: Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s brand, is now available at NORDSTROM. Hold. The. Phone. You may remember I wore the cutest green green dress from Draper James for Easter {see post HERE} and I raved all about the print, details and style. You can see the entire Draper James collection at Nordstrom HERE.

Lastly, I have include this sunscreen, a summertime essential. Given my recent experience with the sun at my cousin’s graduation last weekend {I swear, I may be burnt forever!} I picked up some of this sunscreen for our trip to California next week. I’ve heard so many great things about the Supergoop brand, I’m looking forward to trying it out. I will keep you posted!

What are your plans for Memorial Day weekend? I would love to hear in the comments section below. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

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