A Blonde's Moment

Happy Memorial Day

May 30, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you are all enjoying the long holiday weekend! We are currently on our way home from New Jersey after a wedding…trying to beat the traffic! Although it’s still technically the weekend, I wanted to share a few of the Memorial Day sales that are going on today! I’ve include a few of my favorites below to check out 🙂

Ann Taylor: 50% off full-price purchase & extra 40% off sale styles with code SUMMER50. Ends 5/31.

Anthropologie: Additional 30% off sale items. Ends 5/30.

Asos: Extra 20% off with code HISUMMER. Ends 5/30.

Banana Republic: 40% off purchase with code BRTAKE40. Ends 5/30.

J.Crew: 30% off your purchase with code WEEKEND. Ends 5/31.

Macy’s: Extra 20% off + free shipping at $50 with code MEMDAY. Ends 5/30.

Nordstrom: Up to 40% off. Ends 6/7.

Nordstrom Rack: Extra 25% off all clearance. Ends 5/30.

Old Navy: Extra 50% off all tees, tanks, swim & shorts. Ends 6/3.

Pottery Barn: Up to 25% off with code SAVEMORE. Ends 5/30.

Sole Society: 50% off select styles. Ends 5/30.

As we celebrate Memorial Day and kick off another summer, it’s important to remember the servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom and our great country. Each day, I am not only proud and grateful to be an American but so appreciative of those who fought to keep our country safe and free.

Desert Neon

May 26, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

J.Crew Factory orange chevron dress {under $60!} | citron bag, last season {similar style} | Jeffrey Campbell wedge sandals | Karen Walker sunglasses | floral statement earrings, no longer available {THESE would look fabulous with this dress!} | MAC lipliner {barely bare}, YSL lipstick {beige tribute}, NARS lipgloss {turkish delight}

Happy Friday Eve, friends! We’ve {almost} made it through another week and we have a long weekend ahead of us! {P.S. If you are still looking for Memorial Day outfit inspiration, check out THIS post} Today, I am sharing another look that I wore while we were in Palm Springs last week.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, summer is a great excuse to break out the brights and THIS dress fits the bill! Not only is this orange a fun color for summer, I also love the almost hidden, all-over chevron print. But, if this vibrant color isn’t your thing, it’s also available in a sunny yellow and light blue. This dress is also a multi-occasion dress — it worked for a dinner/date night and it would also be a fabulous choice for a summer wedding. And with it’s under $60 price tag, you could even splurge for two colors!

Since we were in sunny and warm Palm Springs, I opted for all neon hues. And when I discovered that these earrings were a perfect match for the dress and citron bag, it seemed only right to go full out with the neon trend! Unfortunately, this J.Crew crossbody bag was a purchase from last spring and is no longer available, but I linked to a similar style and color HERE. I think a citron bag is a necessity in any closet! If you are looking for a more subtle look, I also love this dress with beige, gold or other neutral accessories.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend celebrating Memorial Day! We have family visiting on Saturday and a wedding on Sunday so it will be a busy weekend for us! Follow along on Instagram {@rach.mccarthy} and Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7}.

I’ll be back Monday with a quick post to share my favorite Memorial Day sales with you, but in the meantime, don’t forget to check out the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale that is currently LIVE!

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Summer Accessories

May 25, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

off the shoulder top | cat-eye sunglasses {only $45!} | pink lipstick {divine choice} | essie nail polish {knockout pout — wearing this color now!} | bright statement earrings | round face watch {on sale for $11!} | envelope clutch | wedge sandals, more sizes HERE {obsessed!!} | white cropped jeans

Wednesday Wishes is back this week with a bright bang! One of the many reasons I love transitioning into the summer season is because it becomes socially acceptable to wear bright, loud and fun accessories — since I love wearing these vibrant colors year-round!

I’ve been wearing my citron crossbody a TON lately {last seen HERE} — it’s one of my favorite summer colors so when I saw THESE statement earrings, I knew I had to find a way to include them in this week’s outfit inspiration. And aren’t they just the perfect match for THIS clutch?! It’s hard to see from the picture, but there is zipper detailing around the clutch too — so fun!

A summer outfit inspiration board for me wouldn’t be complete without something off the shoulder {last seen HERE} and I think THIS quite possibly may be my favorite off the shoulder number yet! Not only do I LOVE the print, but the short-sleeve style is perfect for the warmer months and with so many different colors in this pattern, it can be worn with anything.

Last, but certainly not least, THESE wedges. Oh my gosh. I am definitely aware of my summer wedge obsession, but these just took it to a whole new level. The mixed-texture and floral embroidery on the wedge makes this the perfect statement sandal for summer. I probably would have already purchased these if it weren’t for the height — combine the 5 1/2″ heel with my 5’8 height and that would put me over 6’0 {insert shocked emoji here}. Although, I might just have to accept my giant status and buy them haha! Aren’t they so cute?

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks for stopping by! Check back tomorrow for another outfit post from our trip to Palm Springs. Warning: I’m continuing this bright and neon trend!!

P.S. The Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale starts today! I’ve linked a few of my favorite finds below, but you can see the entire sale selection HERE.

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Peanut Butter & Berry Breakfast Smoothie

May 24, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Tuesday! I’m back with another healthy breakfast or snack idea {see my oatmeal bites from a few weeks ago HERE} and stay tuned, I have another make ahead breakfast idea coming up that you won’t want to miss!

You may remember several weeks ago, we took Ella to Rehoboth Beach for her birthday {you can read that post HERE} and I found the most delicious “Healthy Elvis” smoothie. You also may recall my description of the smoothie: a peanut butter milkshake that’s actually healthy! Well, for the past few weeks, I’ve been craving that smoothie, so I decided to {attempt!} to recreate it. And although this smoothie was delicious and super healthy, it didn’t quite taste like the “Healthy Elvis.” I will keep tweaking the recipe to get something closer to the “healthy peanut butter milkshake” but in the meantime, I wanted to share this “mistake smoothie” that turned out not only to be yummy, but filling — making it the perfect breakfast in the car or afternoon snack.

smoothie-with-powdered-peanut-butter-recipe

Peanut Butter & Berry Breakfast Smoothie

{what you will need}

1 small container non-fat plain Greek yogurt {about 5-6 ounces}

1 cup frozen berries {I used mixed berries}

1/2 fresh banana

2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter {I used PB fit}

1/2 cup milk {I used almond milk}

Handful of spinach

Handful of ice cubes

{directions}

In a blender, place the ingredients in the following order {starting at the bottom}: milk, powdered peanut butter, frozen berries, Greek yogurt, banana, ice cubes and spinach. Blend until completely mixed and serve immediately.

Print Recipe HERE

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There is definitely a strong peanut butter taste, but not enough to give the smoothie that taste of a creamy peanut butter milkshake. I’m going to keep working with the ratios and I will report back if I can find a way to recreate that delicious smoothie from Rehoboth Beach. In the meantime, this smoothie will definitely satisfy and keep you full all morning — I’m always looking for breakfasts like that!

Thanks for dropping by and see you tomorrow for an all new Wednesday Wishes!

Vacation Style

May 23, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

black dress {similar style — under $50 & available in 6 colors!} | studded sandals {also available in black} | denim jacket, last season {similar style} | Tory Burch bag | Karen Walker sunglasses via DITTO {first month of Endless Eyewear free with code ABLONDESMOMENT} | earrings | YSL lipgloss {#09}

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Just a quick post today — we are just getting back from California and getting back into the swings of things. With a super busy week at work ahead, the week is sure to go fast.

I wore this look the other night for a casual dinner in Palm Springs — nothing beats a flowy dress for vacation! The weather was pretty crazy in the desert this past week, including some chilly evenings. This denim jacket was my go-to for dinner most of the nights!

P.S. THESE sandals are lookalikes for the designer sandals. I’m super happy with them so far — they are true to size and will be a staple all summer long!

P.S. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Saturday! I can’t believe it’s already been 5 years — time sure does fly!

I shared more wedding photos last year. You can read that post HERE.

Have a great start to the week and see you back here tomorrow!

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palm trees & off the shoulder dresses

May 19, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

best-off-the-shoulder-dresses-for-summer

off the shoulder dress, sold out online more from Everly HERE {similar dress & $68 HERE} | Urban Expressions tassel clutch c/o | pink tassel earrings | white Jack Roger sandals | Karen Walker sunglasses | YSL pink lipstick {#31}, YSL pink lipgloss {#205}

Happy Thursday! Today’s post is coming to you from the desert! We arrived in Palm Springs on Monday, and I cannot believe the week is already almost over! I wore this look to dinner the other night when we went to Las Casuelas for some delicious Mexican food {thanks, Shauna for the recommendation!}.

I found this dress a few weeks ago and it’s already sold out — I cannot believe how quickly it went! Although, if you are looking for cute dresses at a reasonable price, I would highly recommend checking out this brand, Everly. For instance, this dress was only $48. I’ve linked a few of my other favorites from this brand below to check out.

As always, I love to accessorize with pink — I have been wearing THESE pink tassel earrings {definitely worth the wait list!} all the time {last seen HERE}. Also available in turquoise and priced at $24, they are too good of a deal to pass up! And I love how perfectly they match THIS pink tassel clutch…can you tell I am still loving the tassel trend?!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I will see you Monday for an all new post. Have a wonderful rest of the week and a fabulous weekend!

P.S. Head over to cabi’s blog today to check out their travel guide — I’m talking about why Napa is my other favorite summer vacation spot!

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best lip shades for summer

May 18, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Wednesday, friends! I will be back with a new Wednesday Wishes next week, but with Memorial Day and the kickoff to summer less than 2 weeks away, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite lip colors for summer. Changing up my lip color is one of my favorite ways to “accessorize” an outfit and I am always getting questions about my lip color, so I thought I would share with you a few of my current favorites for the new season!

I’ve divided the colors into three categories: blush/neutral, pink and red. As you can see, pink is definitely a favorite since I had a hard time limiting it to 6 of my favorite shades haha!

Neutral Shades

MAC lip liner {boldly bare} | YSL lipstick {beige tribute} | Lancôme Lip Crayon {nothing to wear} | NARS lipgloss {turkish delight}

Neutral shades are by far my most common color to wear. It is what I wear to work daily and even on the weekends. Around Christmastime {you might remember the shade from THIS post} I discovered the Lancôme Lip Crayons. Available in a variety of colors, I instantly fell in love with THIS matte neutral. I’m not a huge fan of matte lipsticks, so I usually like to wear THIS gloss over this particular color. But, as I have mentioned before, what I love most about THIS gloss is that it can go over pretty much any blush, neutral or light pink color or it can be worn alone! Most weekends you can find me in THIS gloss by itself because it gives just the right amount of color and gloss.

For a shinier lipstick I love THIS one from YSL. I like to wear it alone {since it does have some shine to it} or even with THIS lipgloss over it for super shine! But, the most important part of using all these fabulous neutral/blush shades is lip liner! I like to use THIS liner in boldly bare — it’s a great basic nude color.

Pink

Lancôme Lip Crayon {bite the bullet} | Elizabeth Arden {pink pink} | YSL Lipgloss {#205} | YSL Lipstick {#31} | YSL Lipstick {#07} | MAC {candy yum-yum}

On to the pinks! As many of you know, pink is my favorite color, and that’s even true when it comes to lipgloss and lipstick! I have WAY too many shades of pink, but each is so different that it completely justifies having all of them, right?! Since I have so many pinks here to pick from, I will talk about my top 2. Well, maybe 3 🙂 You may remember THIS super bright pink lipstick from a post a few weeks ago. There is no better time to wear this bright color than in the summer and I’ve been wearing it every chance I get! This color really makes a statement and lasts FOREVER too {lip color last seen HERE}.

As for pink lipglosses, THIS color from YSL is my go-to. I bought it last spring and have loved it since. When seeing the color on the applicator, it looks a lot bright than it actually is. I love wearing this alone for a sheer lip tint or over a pink lipstick to give it some added shine. I usually wear THIS YSL lipstick under the gloss {this lip combination seen HERE}.

Red

Lancôme Lip Crayon {#110} | Elizabeth Arden {marigold} | Lancôme Lip Crayon {partner in crime}

Although I don’t wear red as often in the summer months as I do during the holiday season, these are three of my favorite red-coral and red-pink colors. I rarely wear my “red-red/Christmas red” during the summer because it’s a little too dark and holiday-ish for me. Personally, I think these three colors are more suited for the summer months. THIS Lancôme lip crayon is more of a coral red, while THIS lipstick also is a great red that doesn’t scream Christmas. I threw THIS lip crayon into the red category because it’s a pretty good mix of pink and red hues. Not pictured: THIS red liner in “cherry”. It’s the only one I use and it does a pretty good job of keeping the lipstick on your lips, and off your face haha!

Listed from left to right:

Thanks so much for stopping by! See you tomorrow for an all new outfit post!

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Summer Salad: Roasted Beets with Feta & Lemon Juice

May 17, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Beets. Growing up, I could not even stand the sight of this vegetable. I would always get so upset when my mom made these for dinner and refused to eat them! Looking back, you think I would have tolerated them because of that pretty pink/purple color, right?!

Needless to say, my palette has changed quite a bit since I was 8 and now I actually look forward to coming up with new ways to enjoy this healthy vegetable. If you have been following along for awhile, you may have seen THIS recipe from last summer when I combined beets with risotto for a healthy, delicious and quite colorful dish.

If you haven’t been able to tell from my last few posts, I’m ready for the warm weather to arrive here in Virginia. I love that with the warm weather also comes more seasonally-available vegetables, new recipes and new ways to cook the food, ie. the grill! This roasted beet with feta and lemon juice is the perfect salad or side dish for the summer months. And it’s SO simple! With only a few ingredients, this side dish can come together quickly making it ideal for summer cookouts.

Roasted Beets with Feta & Lemon Juice

{what you will need}

3 red beets {you could also use golden beets}

4 green onions, chopped

Juice from 1/2 lemon

Feta cheese for topping {I used low fat}

{directions}

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wash the beets and trim the stem leaving only enough stem for you to hold on to. Wrap each beet individually in foil and place on a baking sheet. Roast for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow the beets to cool. Once cool, peel the beets with your fingers {the skin should practically fall off after roasting for this long} and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Transfer to medium-sized bowl. Add the green onions and lemon juice and stir to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Top with feta cheese and serve cold or at room temperature. Serves 2.

**Note: 3 beets really don’t make a lot! If you are making this as a side dish for more than 2 people, I would suggest doubling or even tripling the recipe!

PRINT RECIPE HERE

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Thanks for dropping by and happy cooking!

Welcome to L.A.

May 16, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

citron cardigan | distressed jeans {boyfriend style – size down if you want a more fitted jean} | white tee | Onecklace monogram necklace c/o | jelly sandals | panama hat | Tory Burch tote | turquoise ring c/o Larimar | Ray-Ban sunglasses | David Yurman link bracket, cuff | Kate Spade watch | YSL lipgloss {#205}

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Today I am coming to you from California! We arrived in LA on Saturday afternoon and yesterday we left for Palm Springs. On our way out to the desert, we met up with Shauna from Lipgloss and Lace and her husband! It was so fun to finally meet Shauna in person — especially since we have been following each other for so long. We have such a wonderful community of bloggers, and I love the support that this group provides. I wish we lived closer, I just know we would be the best of friends! I think our husbands even hit it off, too 😉

When we decided to spend a night in Los Angeles before heading out to Palm Springs, I knew we had to find this pink wall. Not only is this wall a blogger’s dream, but as a lover of anything pink, I was obviously excited! I wish we had something like this in DC, it truly makes the perfect background.

A little about this look: I wore this as my travel day look on Saturday. When traveling, comfort is key {especially when it involves a 5+ hour flight!} I recently bought THESE jeans and I knew they would be a comfortable pant to travel in. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of traveling in jeans, but these are more of a boyfriend style and they are definitely more “broken in”. I went with my regular size because I did want them a little more on the baggy/ boyfriend fit side. I would suggest sizing down if you wanted them to be more fitted. Best part: they are only $88!

Hope you all have a wonderful start to the week! I am going to attempt to not get burned this week. Lots of sunscreen, hats and shade in my future!

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floral summer dress

May 12, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

cabi floral margherita dress c/o {wearing a small} | denim jacket, last season {similar style, similar color} | perforated wedge sandals {love these! I sized up a 1/2 size} | bright citron bag, last season {similar style} | turquoise ring c/o Larimar | crystal earrings | David Yurman link bracelet, cuff | Kate Spade watch | monogrammed necklace c/o Onecklace — wearing XXL size {last seen HERE} | Karen Walker sunglasses | Lips: liner {boldly bare}, lipstick {beige tribute}, lipgloss {turkish delight}

Happy Thursday, friends! How crazy that we are almost at the end of another week! Memorial Day weekend {in case you missed it and if you’re looking for outfit inspiration, check out yesterday’s post HERE} and summer are just around the corner!

Speaking of summer…there are few things that I love more than a summer sundress. Find me a summer sundress that’s floral, flowy and airy and I will love it even more! This new arrival print {also comes in a navy and white print} from cabi is my new favorite summer dress and can be worn with SO many different colors. Take a look at that print: there is citron {always one of my favorites!}, lilac, dark purple, light blue and even a spot of orange. And since it’s not quite summer here yet, I paired this colorful dress with my go-to denim jacket {unfortunately, this jacket is from J.Crew last year and is no longer available — I linked two similar ones above!} FYI: you will more than likely find me in this dress all summer long! It’s everything that I look for in a sundress: cool, comfortable and cute 🙂

As for accessories, I went with my new perforated lace-up wedge sandals, my favorite citron crossbody {similar style HERE} and THIS fun turquoise statement ring from Larimar.com. Since the bag and ring are very much in your face, I went with more neutral shoes. And it was the perfect excuse to break in my newest sandals for spring/summer 🙂 I have had my eye on these wedges since last summer and I never ordered them. When I finally decided that I had to have them, they were backordered!! I waited for about two months for these to arrive and I was beyond excited when they did. They were everything I hoped they would be, even the correct size! I took a chance when I ordered these. I am almost ALWAYS a size 9.5, but I read a few reviews that said size up a 1/2 size and some that said true to size. I crossed my fingers and went with the 10 and I am so glad that I did — they fit me perfectly! I will say they are pretty comfortable too — I wore them for the first time all day Saturday and Sunday and my feet felt pretty good, just tired from being on them vs. tired/hurting from shoe pain 😉 If you are looking for a neutral {they are available in other colors, too!} sandal for summer, I would definitely recommend these!

Thanks so much for dropping by and have a great rest of the week and weekend! As I mentioned in Monday’s post, we are heading to a warm and sunny destination Saturday {which is much needed after all this rain!}, so be sure to follow along on Instagram {rach.mccarthy} and Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7} to see where we are headed! See you back here Monday for an all new post!

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