Week of Love // Day 3: Rocksbox

This is one of those posts you are going to want to copy the URL and send it to the person buying you gifts this year!

Okay, I'm sure you guys are sick of hearing me talk about my love for Rocksbox.com, but I seriously can't help it. I love Love LOVE Rocksbox. I want every woman in the world to have a subscription to their awesome company. It is such a fun way to try out all of the latest fashion trends without having to commit right away.

Here is my favorite piece from my most recent set:

If you would like to learn more about this awesome jewelry subscription service click here.

Are you more of a "made from the heart" or a "jewelry and chocolates" or a "romantic getaway" type of person? I prefer experiences, so this year my hubby and I will be taking a cooking class! I'm really excited about it. Post a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!

Week of Love // Day 2: Guys and Ties

When I found this company on Instagram I seriously fell in love!

Be sure to visit their etsy site to place an order for the cute men in your life.

Find more details on how to win your very own set of "Daddy and Me" ties just in time for Valentine's Day!

Too often, I think we neglect the men in our lives on Valentine's. The guys need love too ya know! I am literally obsessed with these adorable bow ties. Each design is cuter than the last. 

You can order "Daddy & Me" matching ties for your hubby and for the tinies in your life.

I am thrilled to have been able to work with Guys and Ties.

Their ties are for the little gents and classy misters of the world. They also carry matching options for girls if you would like to add matching elements throughout your family photographs.

Their mantra is: Be Bold, Be You. 

This is evident in their endless supply of classic and vibrant styles. It is impossible to not find a tie in their vast collection that captures the essence of the boys in your home. If you fall in love with a style but want to see a different fabric design, they will create the custom tie of your dreams.

If you would like to learn more about Guys and Ties click here. 

Follow them on Instagram @guysandties for the latest deals and sale announcements.

For a customized tie email guysandties@gmail.com

P.S Thank you to my amazing male models! There are no little boys in our home so I am very grateful to our friends for being willing to take the time to be our muses. Thank you for the fun and laughter filled afternoon!

If you would like to win the grey Cupid's Arrows set of "Daddy and Me" ties (Shown Above) please post a comment below. In your comment include what your favorite candy/chocolate is.

Visit me on Instagram @xoxorachelleblog to learn how to get an extra entry!


Also, I want to congratulate @madeline.miles for being the winner of our iPad 4 Mini and Tory Burch Bag giveaway. Please contact @heartsofgoldblog to claim your prize.
 All of us want to apologize for the delay and confusion in announcing the winner. We had a potential winner that was later disqualified for not following everyone in the loop. That's why it's so so so important to make sure that you are following EVERYONE!

Week of Love // Day 1: Date Night Outfit Ft. RD Style & Rune

It's the first day of my Valentine's "Week of Love" Segment.
There may be plenty of fish in the sea... but these pieces won't be around forever.

Snag this cozy oversized cardigan from RD Style while they last. 
It's seriously my most favorite cardigan EVER!!

It is the first day of my Valentine's "Week of Love" segment.
During the next 7 days you will see products, ideas, outfits, jewelry and makeup that are all Valentine's Day inspired.

I'm never quite sure where my husband is taking me for our Valentine's Day date until a few hours beforehand. I don't like surprises but he loves surprising me. I love the way you can dress this outfit up or down in a few easy steps.

I love pieces that combine edginess and femininity.

That's why I loved incorporating a soft pink cardigan with a zip legging.

If you will be doing something more casual such as a movie or iceskating, simply pair this with knee high boots with cute knit socks peeking out. If you are going to do something a bit fancier- ankle high heeled boots and a statement piece necklace completely transform the look.

Beaded Blouse: Express (old, sold out) // Colton Marled Knit Cardigan: RD Style
// Kiley Ankle Zip Legging: Rune (similar) // Boots: Nordstrom // Earrings: Gift


These photos were taken at Antelope Island State Park in Northern Utah. If you are local and have a chance to go there, I would highly recommend going during the Winter months. The gnats and smell from the marshes are non-existent. There are also less visitors this time of year so the wildlife aren't afraid to roam right by the road. 

Don't forget to check back with us everyday this week to see all of the Valentine's inspired posts!

What do you plan on wearing for Valentine's Day this year? Leave a comment below, I'd love Love LOVE to hear from you!

12 Months to a Better YOU! January // Drink More Water

12 Months to a Better YOU! 
January // Drink More Water

While pinterest-ing (that's a word, right?) I found a fun article called "12 Months to a Better You." The article outlines 12 goals to attain one at a time each month. I loved the idea because I think oftentimes I become so overwhelmed by the concept of New Year's resolutions. I think sometimes we set ourselves up for failure before we even start by attempting to attack our resolutions all at once..
I plan on following the article's outline and wanted to share it with you so that you can do the same if you are interested. To find the original article, click here.

January's Goal // Drink More Water.

I suffered a lot during my pregnancy because I wasn't in the habit of drinking plenty of water. I had a lot of headaches, fatigue and nausea that I'm sure would have been preventable if I was already in the habit of drinking more water. I know you know that drinking water is super important.
I'm not your momma so I'm not going to lecture you about it...
 but you should drink it. A lot of it.

Water :

Makes your skin glow.

Prevents headaches.

Flushes bacteria & toxins.

Alleviates joint pain.

Helps you to lose weight.

Helps with concentration.

Makes you less cranky/agitated.

Some studies even suggest that drinking the proper amount of water can prevent certain cancers.

Lastly, without it you will literally die. That's a good reason for me, lol!

Some Tips :

1 // Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water daily. (If you weigh 120 lbs, drink 60 oz of water daily).

2 // Carry a bottle of water with you EVERYWHERE as a friendly reminder. 

3 // Eat a lot of raw fruits and veggies. They are densely packed with water. You don't have to get your hydration from liquids.

4 // Drink water until you are urinating frequently and peeing a light yellow color. TMI? Get over it.

Don't forget to click on the link to see more articles from getsmartmix.com. 

What do you think about the 12 Months to a Better You Challenge? Will you participate? Need some encouragement? Leave a comment below and we will support each other. I know we are already super awesome, but by this time next year we will be even awesome-er (okay, that's definitely not a word). Until next time!

Win an Apple iPad Mini 4 and a Tory Burch Bag!

Want an Apple iPad Mini 4 and a Tory Burch bag? NOW is the time to enter our Instagram loop giveaway. Find me on IG @xoxorachelleblog 

If you have ever wanted an Apple iPad Mini 4 or a Tory Burch bag? Well, how would you like to win BOTH of them. Seriously, why not have both and eat your cake too!

GO RIGHT NOW TO MY INSTAGRAM AND ENTER TO WIN BOTH ITEMS!

FIND ME @xoxorachelleblog 

Be sure to make your Instagram profile public until the winner has been announced. 

Please, be sure to follow everyone in the loop so you qualify to win. It would break my heart to have you lose out because you accidentally skip a host.

Giveaway will begin 1/13/16 at 7:30pm MST and will end 1/16/16 at 7:30pm MST.

I cannot wait to see who wins!

P.S I also want to announce that @chels_brimhall was the winner my most recent Instagram loop giveaway. She won a $100 gift card to Sephora. She selected a wonderful array of products to kick off the new year! Congratulations @chels_brimhall and thank you all for entering and following.

New Year's Style // Winter 2016 Trends

Let's take a look at Winter 2016 predicted trends. What will you try?

Hi everyone! Obviously I love fashion. Therefore, it has been so fun researching the predicted fashion trends for the Winter 2016 season. Fashion is not about reinventing yourself- it's about becoming your most stylish self. I love taking risks so I am attempting to translate that more into my everyday style. More important than being fashion current (while that is certainly commendable) is being fashion forward. By taking risks I will attempt some looks that will ultimately be duds... but hey, you only live once.

;)

I am obsessed with my cream colored oversized knit sweater from shein.com
The bag featured in the above photo can be found in my "Polished on the Go" post by clicking here.


Here are four Winter 2016 trends you should be wearing, like yesterday:

Shown Above: Turqouise Dress


1. The "It" colors this season are easily found in nature such as claret (shown below), burnt orange, mustard seed, kale, turquoise and raisin (purple-brown). I am looking forward to attempting all of the colors (maybe not yellow-as yellow tends to make my fair skin look corpse-like). I am a down-to-earth girl so I'm ecstatic that this earthy tones will be full throttle this year.

Shown Above: Claret- colored Oversized Sweater


2. Big Easy. This basically encompasses what I refer to as "Grandma Chic." Exaggerated oversized chunky sweaters, turtlenecks, duster jackets and cardigans. The more muted the color- the better. Think your greys, creams, nudes and any color on the color wheel but extremely muted. I love this style because it's incredibly warm, cozy and comfortable.

3. Lingerie by Day. Many of the looks hitting the runway lately look like someone left the house in their boudoir outfits and just paired it with heels and a trench coat. If that's not happening for you (I know I would feel uncomfortable) simply take the concepts of lace, silks, sexy wrap dresses and tousled hair with fresh face makeup. Incorporate the details of those styles into your wardrobe to achieve a similar sultry look without feeling exposed.

4. Art Class. 2016 fashion embraces vibrant colors, geometric shapes, flowy fabric and encourages the mixing of prints. Think abstract or impressionism inspired clothing. To me, the simple fact that this is a trend this Winter 2016 shows me that this year is a year to have fun and take risks.

I am so excited to wear these trends and see if any feel right to incorporate into my personal style. Which ones will you try?! Leave a comment below I would love to hear from you!

My One and a Half Year Old's Resolutions.

Isn't it weird how she came up with these all on her own and with no help from me whatsoever?

I haven't even begun to think about what type of resolutions I am going to epically fail at this year. I've got some resolutions I think my husband should make- like not leaving a trail of clothes from the front door to the bedroom when he comes home from work or pretending to use the bathroom when I know he's in there playing ski games on his phone to avoid changing diapers. But there is another person in my house that needs some New Year's resolutions more than anyone I know. She's more needy than a scorned ex, easy to anger and has the worst communication skills this side of the Mississippi. 

Today, I had a serious talk with my one and a half year old daughter about some life changes she might consider making in the year 2016 to greatly improve her (and everyone else's) quality of life.

Here's what she came up with (on her own of course)...

1. I will stop being so interested in Mommy’s phone. I’m sure there are decent toys available if I would just give them a chance. Perhaps, I should start with the trillions of toys I received at Christmas from my Grandparents?

2. Before I scream bloody murder every time Mom won’t give me something I want, I will stop to ascertain whether there are factors of which I might not be aware of— like temperature, sharpness or potential death.

3. I will accept that bedtime happens. Everyday. Weird.

4. I will expand my daily food journal to include more than just bananas, m&m's, yogurt and rice puff cereal.

5. I will stop breaking my Mom's heart and just wear the barettes, bows and headbands she tirelessly attempts to keep in my hair.

6. During diaper changes, I will remind myself that staying still so Mom and Dad can just do their job will get the poop off my butt much faster.

7. I will stop arching my back, locking my legs or going into full-on tantrum mode every time someone tries to strap me into a stroller or carseat. I’m sure they have their reasons for imprisoning me every time we leave the house.

8. I will realize that exhibiting the same behaviors will not produce different results. Tossing my stuffed cat Gary out of the crib and then crying because I no longer have my stuffed cat Gary is an idiotic exercise that helps no one. 

9. I will appreciate naptime. 

10. After I am done eating my meal, I will suppress my desire to ceremoniously throw the remainder of my food on the floor, no matter how satisfying it feels.

11. I will attempt to learn that life is not always greener on the other side. When Mom or Dad holds me, I won't insist on getting down only to realize, moments later, that being held was what I wanted all along.

12. I will cuddle with my momma more. That's one of the main reasons she wanted to have a baby anyway.

13. I will reset my internal clock so that I go to bed no later than 10pm and arise no earlier than 9am.

14. I will learn that when Mom shakes her head and says, 'no' from across the room that is not an invitation for me to shake my head, say 'no' and continue to do what I am doing.

15. Perhaps mushy, squishy, slimy, sticky items are not the treasures I've built them up to be...

16. I will resist the urge to take the dishes out of the dishwasher that were just placed in there. Apparently, I am just elongating the task. Also, Mom opening the refrigerator is not a prompt for me to climb in.

17. I will refrain from entering a room and running towards that one thing no one wants me to touch.

18. Before I reach for Mom or Dad’s food, I will double check to make sure I have not been served the same thing. Sometimes their food may appear better than mine- but it's simply an illusion.

19. As much as I love Mommy, I will try to make my preference a little less obvious. It makes the one they refer to as, "Dah-dee" feel bad. I will also not run towards the door when that "Dah-dee" dude comes back from wherever it is that he goes and run past his outstretched arms.

20. When I learn a cool new thing and my Mom encourages me to do it in front of others, I will do it. Instead of making her look like a fool and a liar.

Do you agree with these? What would you add? I'd love to hear your comments and funny stories below in the comment section!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

I hope you had an enjoyable New Year's Eve surrounded by those you hold dear.

I just wanted to express my appreciation to those of you who follow me. I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the support I have received. At times this past year, I felt like giving up on my blog and then a few of you would reach out to me and ask me when I would be posting more. It gave me the confidence to pursue what I am passionate about. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This year, I have a lot of fun and creative projects in the works. Please visit often and LEAVE COMMENTS on the posts. I truly value your feed back. I want to improve and find out what you guys want to read about so your comments mean the world to me.

Thanks again.

Shown Above:
We made so many melty beads projects you would have thought we had were starting a sweat shop. Especially since the kids had all the ideas that ultimately we, the adults, had to carry out. 

Shown Above:
So happy that we have the modern technology to speak with our family from all over the country especially during the holidays. 

What did you do last night? I would love to hear all about it in the comment section below!

2015, It's Been Real.

2015 may be winding down, but your party better not. Here you will find family friendly ideas to liven up any party.

Yes, the countdown will begin. Yes, the ball drop. Yes, the party will rage and go down in history. But, how do you keep adults and kids entertained? Here are a few games to play as you welcome 2016 with the ones you love.

New Year's Eve Fill-In

In case you haven't thought much about your New Year's resolutions, it's never too late! Set out a stack of fill-in papers for your guests so they have something to do as the arrival of all your guests  stagger and you finish up the last few things.

Here are a handful of sample questions to include on your sheets:

-A bad habit I'm going to break...

-A new skill I would like to learn...

-A person I hope to be more like...

-A good deed I'm going to do...

-A place I'd like to visit...

-A book I'd like to read...

-A new food I'd like to try...

-I'm going to be better at...

Table Scape
Besides the guest list, what's the most important part of the party? Obviously, the food table! It's important to create an inviting table scape that will encourage guests to sample the food you have been slaving over all day. It's New Year's Eve so incorporating bling, metallics and shimmer into the table scape is key.

Table Scape Details:
Threshold Tablecloth: Target // Lace & Shimmer Placemats: Target; no longer in stock
 // Nate Berkus Gold Plates: Target (on sale) // Chalkboard: Hobby Lobby // Gold Sea Urchin Figurine: Target 
// Pine cones: Hobby Lobby (spray painted, also seen in my Thanksgiving Table Scape post)
 // Square Serving Tray: Tai Pan Trading (In Store Only) // Rectangle Serving Tray: Gift; So I'm not sure! 
// Gold Tree Place Holders: Crate & Barrel (sold out, but they still have snowflakes for $1.97 each)

New Year's Eve Game

Write or type up questions and cut them into squares. Have your guests sit in a circle and select a card one at a time and answer the question. You can have your questions refer back to the past year or about the year to come. 

Here are a few examples of questions you can include:

-Most embarrassing moment of the year.

-Best movie of the year.

-Favorite song of the year.

-Best moment of the year.

-Hardest you laughed this year.

-Best piece of advice you received this year.

-Biggest lesson you learned this year.

-Most memorable trip of the year.

-Day this past year you'd live over and over.

-Best thing you did for someone else this year.

-Most overrated celebrity story of the year.

I hope you enjoy these games as much as my family has in the past. It's a great way to reflect on the past year and make goals for the upcoming one. As for now, our family will continue practicing for the midnight chaos!

Happy New Year!

What do you guys do to pass the time on New Year's Eve? I would love to hear your family's traditions. Please leave a comment below!

New Year. New You. New Outfit.

New year. New you. Start the year off with a look that will have you feeling confident and ready to take on a new year and all those resolutions you've come up with!

I teamed up with an incredible Utah Blogger, Sierra from Sierra Elizabeth to present to you a few New Year’s Eve outfits that are perfect for ringing in 2016! If you are in the mood for astounding style ideas with a side of amazing wit, then her blog is where it's at! Sierra is great. Her blog is great. Follow her blog and IG @sierraelizabethblog so you can look great too!

;)

A well thought out and executed NYE outfit can make all the difference.

Keep in mind the activities you will be participating in. It's important to dress warmly, but you don't want to carry around a bulky coat the entire night or worse feel forced to leave your coat in the car and freeze your bum off!  My favorite part about this outfit is my suede and leather jacket from Kut from the Kloth. I love the versatility of it and also *bonus* it has pockets! It's perfect for holding my keys, phone, some cash and my ID.

After a whirlwind of peppermint and pine trees, I love taking a break and kicking it easy. The outfit I selected is warm, sparkly and comfortable

making it a great outfit for a casual evening with friends.

Outfit Details:

Sweater Dress: Express; sold out // Leggings: c/o RD Style // Jacket: c/o Kut from the Cloth // Boots: old, similar // Earrings: Kendra Scott c/o Rocksbox // Necklace: Gorjana c/o Rocksbox

Use coupon code: rachelleblogxoxo to receive a month of Rocksbox for FREE!!!

Sierra from Sierra Elizabeth

Outfit details:

Sequin jacket: ℅ Shein  |  Faux leather leggings: Forever 21 (similar here)  |  Black Tee: Target  |  Silver pumps: Target (similar here)  |  Necklace: Forever 21

What could be more perfect for any New Year’s event than a sequined jacket? I’m a lover of all things sparkly and I always take advantage of this holiday to bling. it. out. Whether it’s a huge crystal statement necklace or a metallic skirt- now is the time to wear it and not feel too overdressed! It’s a great time to experiment and wear things a little outside of your comfort zone.

Not a fan of being covered in sequins? Try shimmery or glittery eye shadows to add some subtle shine. I know I’ll be rocking a silvery smoky eye this New Year's Eve!

Don't forget the most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence and a smile.

What are your plans this NYE? What do you plan to wear? Let us know by posting a comment below! We'd love to hear from you!!

My 2016 Beauty Resolutions: Enter the $100 SEPHORA Instagram Loop giveaway!

When it comes to planning out your New Year's Beauty Resolutions- $100 to Sephora isn't a bad start! Enter to win by participating in a loop giveaway on Instagram. Find me on Instagram @xoxorachelleblog! 

I hope you all had a Happy Christmas filled with love, laughter and fond memories.

As quickly as Christmas ends, New Years Eve will ascend upon us.

 It always seems to catch me off guard!

My 2016 Beauty Resolutions are to:

1 // Clear out my makeup. Chances are a lot of it has expired. I vow to take the time to go through my makeup bag and update as necessary.

2 // Clean my makeup brushes more often. Not cleaning your makeup brushes enough can lead to clogged pores and gunky brushes. It might be annoying to do but it's worth it.

3 // Try out new trends-even if they make me cringe at first. I consider myself a fairly brave person, but even I get nervous when I watch NY and Paris Fashion Week.. But I promise to try at least 6 new makeup trends before this time next year. Starting with... Coral lipstick!

I have teamed up with 9 amazing bloggers to co-host a

 Sephora Instagram Loop Giveaway worth $100! 

Think of how glamorous you will look this New Years Eve with

 $100 in Sephora products on your side! 

One lucky winner will win! How do you enter?

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1 // Follow me on Instagram @xoxorachelleblog

2 // Like this post (We'll make a list and we'll check it twice)!

3 // Follow the blogger tagged in my post and continue the steps through 

the loop until you arrive back to my Instagram page.

**Details: The giveaway will run for 48 hours and the winner will be announced within 48 hours after the giveaway has ended. Winner MUST have a PUBLIC account so we can verify that you are following everyone in the loop.**

Wishing you all the best of luck!

Festive Christmas Look: Mini & Me

Don't allow the most magical week pass you by so quickly that you forget all about your Christmas attire! If you are stressing out because you haven't found your holiday look yet, this blog post will be of assistance to you!

It is, seriously, mind blowing how fast Christmas will be upon us. I actually prefer Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. There is something so peaceful about the little ones tucked in their beds and watching the lights dance on your tree as you wait for Santa to arrive. It truly is the most magical night of the year.

Seriously, guys, 5 DAYS AWAY!

You can have so much fun getting your sidekicks decked out for the season. The best part is that they are young, so it's okay to be a tad hokey with colors. That's how I came about falling head over heels for this adorable outfit. The Emerald dress not only compliments my daughter's fair skin perfectly, but it also has gold tinsel interwoven into the fabric. I love gold tinsel a million times better than an outfit doused in glitter. 

#glitterfordays

Not as fun as it sounds...

We have plenty of "ham" over here in our household. If you need any, we have tons to spare.

(Outfit Details for "mini me"):

Emerald Dress: Target // Tights: Target // Shoes: Zappos 

Besides Christmas Eve, one of my favorite things about the season is selecting festive fashion pieces for all of the many holiday occasions. When the list of "to-do's" gets long and overwhelming, my solace is found in researching and shopping for clothes. I know, shocker right? Surprisingly, I was able to find my family's quite easily this year. It helps when you plan ahead!

This year I decided to go with a mid length, red Jacquard skirt paired with a delicate ivory satin blouse. In place of bare legs or nude tights, I decided to go with a more classic and timeless black.

When you are wearing such a timeless and classy outfit, you may feel tempted to just slide into a set of pearls and call it a day, but why settle when you can *POP* with a gorgeous statement piece?! That's why I chose these beautiful Slate Skyline Necklace that was sent to me from rocksbox.com.

I am literally obsessed with it. 

PS. If you are looking for a last minute gift this year, try giving someone you love a subscription to rocksbox.com. Use coupon code: rachelleblogxoxo for your first month FREE!

 (Shown Above):

TOP:  Express (similar) // SKIRT: White House Black Market (discontinued, similar) // Tights: Nordstrom // Shoes (not pictured): Calvin Klein // Necklace: Rocksbox

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed holiday! Stay tuned for more "help" this season. I will have a holiday makeup tutorial this upcoming Tuesday, designed with Christmas Eve parties in mind.

I would love to hear all about your holiday traditions. What do you all eat on Christmas morning? Leave a comment below!