June 2020 - Flawless Darling

by Carly Luitgaarden - June 23, 2020July 17, 2020

Summer Steals You NEED in Your Closet

Hello Darling!

Sometimes all you need to brighten up your day is a cute outfit and a little makeup. I went for a simple and comfy look today, but the fact that I didn’t put on sweats is a big deal! This outfit is effortless and cute all in one. In this post, I’m going to share some simple summer steals you need in your closet!

Before I share some summer styles I have a secret… these are PANTS! They are incredibly comfortable and make for an elevated look at the same time. I paired these black palazzo pants with a white woven cami and tied it in a knot to make it more of a crop top. As for my feet, I’ll be honest… I had every intention of wearing heels, but I took the dog out in my white Birkenstocks and forgot to change them! Whoops! I actually think the look is adorable even with the birks!

Here are some summer steals you need in your closet:

These Green Pants

These green pants are the same ones that I have in black. They make such a fun statement and are under $50. They are currently on sale!

This Blue Day Dress

This blue leopard print is just way too cute to pass up and the perfect day dress. If you love this print as much as I do, you can also get it in the short sleeve version. They are both under $50. (Yes, I got both!)

by Carly Luitgaarden - June 16, 2020June 16, 2020

White Chicwish Dress

Hello Darling!

Calling all of my brides-to-be! This is the most perfect white dress and I am in LOVE. The ayelet and ruffle details are so darn cute I can hardly stand it! This Chicwish white dress is a peplum wrap style with a v-neck and puffy sleeves. I wore this dress flower shopping in town with my mom and got so many compliments on it. This dress would be perfect for a bridal shower, brunch, or even a summery date night. Pair this dress with a pair of wedges and a textured bag like this one and your look is complete!

Here are a few more of my favorite white dresses for Summer:

This Matching Set

This white dress set has ruffle details and is an easy go-to for a simple summer look. Layer this look with a denim jacket and put on a pair of wedges

This Ayelet and Ruffle Dress

This white dress looks similar to the one that I am wearing only it has an open back and a slightly different design. Try wearing this dress with fun gold accessories and heels.

This Cute and Classy White Dress

This asymmetrical dress is such a flattering style and would be so cute for an engagement party, shower, or rehearsal dinner. Try this dress with nude heels and a statement necklace.

This Stunning Strapless Dress

Holy Moly… This white dress is a stunner! The strapless style with the asymmetrical details is fun and fashion forward. Wear this dress with a pair of ankle strap heels for a chic look.

What are some of your favorite dresses to wear this summer?

For more bride and summer styles follow me on Instagram and be sure to subscribe!

by Carly Luitgaarden - June 12, 2020October 14, 2020

Wedding Decor DIY

Hey Darling!

So remind me why we even bought 2020 planners this year? If you follow me on Instagram, you may already know that Tristan and I had to postpone our wedding in May… and again in June… and now we have completely canceled our plans and are back at square one! Starting the wedding planning process all over has brought us all kinds of emotions from feeling refreshed to plain old stressed out. On the bright side, I’ve been having so much fun brainstorming wedding decor ideas!

I’ve been rethinking this whole fancy shmancy wedding thing and am leaning towards something a little more casual. While I was out and about with my mom the other day, I came across this old typewriter for $20. I thought it would make for some super cute wedding decor so I decided to go for it! With some help from my local Wexford Ace Hardware, and some fun finds around my apartment, this inexpensive project took me about an hour to complete and will be such an adorable display at our wedding!

If you are unable to find a typewriter at a local antique or thrift shop, try checking out Craigslist or eBay!

Here are the steps I took to give this old typewriter a serious glow-up!

Step 1: Clean it up

First, I took some Mrs. Meyer’s Mutli-Surface Cleaner and wiped my typewriter down to remove all of the dirt and dust. This only took about five minutes and helped my final product look clean and neat.

Step 2: Tape and Prime

I used masking tape to cover parts of the typewriter that I didn’t want any paint to touch. I used two coats of this primer from Ace to help my pink paint adhere to the metal typewriter.

Step 3: Paint!

Painting my typewriter was fairly easy and painless! I chose Benjamin Moore paint in the color “Pink Harmony” from Wexford Ace. To get the perfect shade and coverage, I used three coats of paint. I removed the tape and wa-la!, a perfectly pink typewriter!

Step 4: Decorate!

Now it’s time to get creative! Decorating was my favorite part of this whole project! I used flameless candles from Wexford Ace Hardware, mini frames I bought at a garage sale, and fake succulents from Home Goods. For the finishing touch, I used this Etsy Shop to add the CUTEST letter to my typewriter.

Watch a 30 second video of my project here!

If you try this DIY be sure to tag me on Instagram and be sure to subscribe for more wedding DIYs!