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by Carly Luitgaarden - March 7, 2021March 7, 2021

Swimwear Trends: 10 to Shop This Season

Hello my Darlings!

It’s already March which means bathing suit season is right around the corner! Before we know it, warm weather will be headed our way and the dreaded swimsuit shopping will commence. Not to worry! I’m here with 10 of the biggest swimwear trends of the year, just in time for spring break and your upcoming vacations! Whether you plan on social distancing by the shore or laying out on your deck, there is a swimsuit for your that fits your style and your at price-point. From floral prints, to ruffles and cutout styles, you are going to love the one piece and bikini sets below!

It’s been a while since swimwear has been mentioned on the blog! My last post on swimwear trends was a few seasons ago now!

Here are some of the top swimwear trends and styles that will be a hit at the beach this year:

Hidden Ties

Hidden ties is trending in swimwear this seaosn. Ties are flattering and perfect for those who are looking to define their waist.

This Tie Swimsuit, $24.95

This Ruffle Strap Tie Wrap One Piece Swimsuit, $34.99

This Plunge Tie-Front Wrap One Piece Swimsuit, $34.99

olive green v neck swimsuit with tie around waist

This Shaping Swimsuit with Ties, $39.99

cheetah or leopard print v-neck swimsuit with hidden tie on waist

This One Shoulder One Piece Swimsuit, $180

Sculpted Underwire

Sculpted Underwire is another trending style you will be seeing more of this upcoming season. The underwire is perfect for those who are looking for support with style.

This Padded Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $19.99 $14.99

This Shirred Bikini Top and Bottoms, $19.99 & $14.99

This Draped Bikini Set

This Animal Print Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $69.00 ea.

brown and white animal printed bikini bottom

brown and white animal printed bikini top

This Gingham Set Top and Bottoms, $110 & $85

Cut It Out

Cutouts were hot last year and the trend continues with new cutouts in both one and two piece options. The cutout style is great for those who want to flatter their figure subtilely.

This Ribbed Bikini Set Top and Bottoms , $14.99 ea.

sporty style black bikini set with cutout style top

This Vibrant Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $90 and $85

This Neon Ribbed Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $90 & $85

Animal Prints

Animal prints are such a fun way to bring some of your own personality and style into your swimwear collection. From cheetah to zebra, animal printed swimwear is so much fun. Perfect for those who want to make a bolder statement.

This Printed Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $17.99 & 14.99

This Rib Knot Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $23 & $20

This Zebra Swimsuit, $47.95

one piece with straps and ruched sides with all over zebra print

Asymmetrical Silhouettes

For those who want to play around with their angles.

This Colorblock One Piece Swimsuit, $29.99

vibrant orange and pink one piece swimsuit with cutout

This Recycled V-Cut Out Swimsuit, $33.95

This Ribbed Cut Out One Piece Swimsuit, $39.99

This Ribbed Leopard Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $49.95 & $29.95

The Everlasting Triangle

The triangle bikini top is a swimwear favorite that never seems to go out of style. The triangle bikini is perfect for those committed to the classics.

This Textured Triangle Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $14,99 ea.

This White Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $38.99 ea.

white bikini set with triangle top and side ties on bottom

Retro Patterns

If you’re looking for a bit of flower power, you’re going to love these retro patterned swimsuits. These vibrant colors and patterns will add a pop of color to your collection!

This Tie Bikini Set Top and Bottom, $29.99 ea.

This Ruffle Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $39.95 $24.95

swimsuit bikini top and flower print and ruffles

swimsuit bikini bottoms and flower print and ruffles

Pretty Pastels

For those that like to express their softer side, the pastel swimwear trend is so fitting. The soft colors, textures, and patterns are stunning!

This Yellow Frill Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $17.95 & $15.95

This Plaid Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $79 ea.

Touch & Feel

If you are bold when it comes to fashion and like to play around with fun fabrics, you’ll be sure to find the perfect swimsuit below! This trend is so adventurous and fun!

This Green Ribbed One Piece Swimsuit, $34.99

This Velvet Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $23 ea.

This Ruffled Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $100 & $95

Brazilian Bombshell

For those who like to live the phrase: “If you got it, flaunt it.”

This Purple Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $17.95 & $19.95

This Ring Detail Bikini Set Top and Bottoms, $50 & $45

Do you have any spring break plans? Or maybe you’re like me, who will be spending the majority of March and April on the couch with Sammy and a glass of Pinot.

What are your favorite swimwear trends? Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and subscribe for more swim and fashion inspo!

by Carly Luitgaarden - February 10, 2021February 10, 2021

Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas

Hello Darling!

Valentine’s Day is this week and I cannot say that I’m totally prepared! I didn’t do a whole ton of decorating this year and still need to get my two Valentines a gift! Tristan and Sammy of course! With the pandemic, v-day is going to look a little different for all of us, but even if you’re staying in your home you can look cute!

I’m going to share a few budget friendly outfit ideas that you can easily pull together in time for Valentine’s Day!

A Sweater and Skirt Combo

Sweaters and skirts are two of my favorite items to pair together. I love this simple pink plaid chicwish mini skirt and this white cozy sweater with hearts on it could not be any more perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Jeans and a Sweater

Staying in for takeout this Valentine’s Day? Throw on your favorite pair of blue jeans and a festive red sweater. This red turtleneck sweater from Chicwish has the cutest heart detail! I also made Sammy a red bandana so he could he festive too!

A Chunky Knit Sweater and Straight Jeans

This outfit is perfect for a casual day date with your Valentine and your pup! The colors and emails on this sweater add a fun element to this look! This sweater is also from Chicwish

A Fun Dress

If you have a date night planned for Valentine’s Day a pink dress would be perfect for your night out! I love this rose colored Chicwish dress because of the ruffle details and wrap style! Pair your dress with a pair of booties or heels and you are ready to go!

What are you Valentine’s Day plans?!

Stay Flawless,

Carly

by Carly Luitgaarden - December 21, 2020December 21, 2020

Cozy Winter Sweaters for Winter

Happy Monday, Darling!

Can you believe how fast AND slow this year has felt? This year I have been questioning why I’m actually enjoying the snow and the cold. I have woken up each morning happy to see snow on the ground which is SO unlike me. But then it hit me, I’m happy to see the snow and enjoy its beauty because I barely ever have to drive in it and actually be outside! I guess that’s one the positives of all of this quarantining!

Like most people working from home, I have been staying so cozy this year and have been prioritizing comfort over anything else. Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite cozy winter sweaters:

This Chunky White Cozy Sweater

I’m obsessed with this chunky knit turtleneck sweater! It has the cutest Pom details that are in heart shapes. Pair this thick sweater with a pair of jeans or a plaid skirt for a complete outfit.

Chicwish white chunky turtleneck sweater

This Soft Sweater with Pockets and a Collar

This spice colored sweater is so unique with its front pockets and collar and is perfect for a casual outfit. I paired this sweater with jeans and a blanket scarf. So cute and cozy!

Chic wish collar and pockets v neck sweater

This White Cozy Sweater with Pockets and a Collar

Okay, I loved this sweater so much that I had to have it in white, too! I put this sweater on with black jeans and booties for a simple winter look.

This Teal Turtleneck Sweater

The color of this teal sweater is amazing! This sweater is more lightweight and can be worn with so much. Try this sweater with jeans, skirts, and even under a jumper. This sweater comes in other colors, too!

What are you favorite sweaters to wear this season? I would love to hear from you! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and subscribe for more travel and fashion inspo!

by Carly Luitgaarden - December 2, 2020December 3, 2020

Entryway Makeover

After reading Homebody, a guide on interior design by Joanna Gaines, I was inspired by the idea that the entryway of your home is the first thing that welcomes you when you walk inside, and is the first thing a guest sees when they visit. An entryway should feel welcoming, “homey”, and have a few things that tell a story about you and your family.

It took some brainstorming to decide exactly what we wanted to do for our entryway makeover. When you first walked into our home you were originally greeted by a plain wall and closet – pretty boring and doesn’t exactly scream “make yourself at home.” I personally love accent walls and thought that having some type of design on the wall would give it some character. I knew that I wanted a ledge to put pictures on, and wanted the wall to be functional at the same time.

We decided to do a board and batten design with a ledge, and added hooks to hang our coats. Tristan actually surprised me with this board and batten wall while I was out of town! He turned our vision into a reality by using scraps of wood and left over paint in the basement. The board and batten on this wall really made it come to life! Here is a tiktok DIY on how we did our board and batten bedroom. You can get as creative as you want with the wood you choose and how you place it on the wall. We used a staple gun to put the wood on the wall and a drill to add the hooks. We added 16×20 photos to the ledge for the perfect christmas decor. The wall color is called Renewed by Magnolia. We got our paint made at Wexford Ace Hardware.

The following weekend we decided our entryway still needed something to be complete, and decided to tackle the closet project. We started by emptying everything out of the closet and removing some shelving that we no longer wanted. I painted the inside of the closet while Tristan went to purchase wood for the bench (we used 10in wide pieces). He also put hooks on the wall inside the nook to make it more functional. Before we knew it, our once ugly closet was turned into an adorable nook that greets us when we walk in the door!

Now, let’s talk about the decor. It’s December, so I have a full holiday theme going on in this entryway. The photos are done by artists on etsy. I purchased my custom “Tree Farm” sign special for my newfoundland because his breed is used to pull Christmas trees! We love going to Christmas tree farms so I felt like it adds a little bit of “us” to the entryway. Here is a link to the pine tree prints, too. For the nook, I have been absolutely in love with these mini houses this season. I have about 30 of them all over my house! The pillows and blanket are from Homegoods. My favorite decoration in the nook is my “home” sign from Wexford Ace Hardware. The “O” in home can be switched out seasonal with all different pictures and items that Ace sells, so it will always be seasonally relevant!

I hope that you enjoyed this entryway makeover! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more fun ideas!

by Carly Luitgaarden - November 30, 2020November 30, 2020

Gabe’s Gift Guides

Happy almost December, Darling!

Can you believe that tomorrow is December 1st already?! Somehow 2020 has been both the fastest and slowest year all at the same time. I’ll be honest, I’m normally someone who waits until the last minute to shop for gifts, and I usually put up my tree pretty late in the holiday season. But this year is different! My tree has been up for a few weeks now, and I have already purchased some gifts for my loved ones! I partnered up with Gabe’s to create some gift guides to help you shop for the people you love, too. They have amazing gifts for everyone in the family including the dog! No matter who you’re shopping for, Gabe’s is sure to have a few things for you to put under the tree this year!

So, here are some gift guides from Gabe’s on a budget!

For Her

The amount of cozy giftable items at Gabe’s is endless! I found holiday themed pajamas, soft robes, fuzzy slippers, cozy socks, comfy hats and so much more! All of these items are perfect to give to the women in your life who love to be cozy. You can cross your mom, sister, and girlfriend off of your shopping list all in one stop. Can you believe the cute Fila beanie is only $5.99? My personal favorite find was the full set of makeup brushes for under $20! These are perfect for the makeup lover in your life.

Robe: 9.99, Slippers: 4.99, Champion Hat: 8.99, Fila Hat: 5.99, Pom Hat: 6.99, Fragrance Set: 5.99, Earrings: 5.99, Guess Jewelry Set: 7.99, Love Signs: 6.99, Sweater: 8.99, Jeans: 14.99, Soap: 3.99, Family Sign: 3.99, Hand Towels: 2.99, Scented Wall Flowers: 6.99, Spa Kit: 9.99

For Him

Whether you’re shopping for your boyfriend, dad, or brother, there are so many great finds at Gabe’s for the guy in your life. Games are great gifts for Dad, and your boyfriend will love the soft flannels and tool bag. Your brother can take the pong game back to school with him next semester!

Flannels: 9.99, Carhartt Tool Bag: 44.99, Game Set: 7.99, Bar Sign: 39.99, Pong Game: 7.99, Champion beanie: 7.99, Beanies: 4.99, Wood Barrel: 14.99

For Your Pup

Call me a crazy dog mom, but the first gift I bought this year was for my newfoundland, Sammy! My dog is one lucky pup who is going to have some great presents under the tree this year! Gabe’s has so many treat options, chew toys, and dog mom related items that are so perfect! All of these gifts for your pup are under $5!

It’s such a relief to have so many gifts purchased by December 1st! Gabe’s has so many amazing items that made shopping for everyone in my family a breeze. Now wrapping all of these is a whole other story…

Who else are you buying for this holiday season? I’d love to hear from you! Be sure to follow me on Instagram and subscribe for more gift guides and holiday tips!

Stay Flawless,

Carly

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

Fall Weekend

Hey Darling,

Sammy hit 10k followers on tiktok this week! Don’t worry, I got him a giant dog treat to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who has shown us some love!

Sammy is only 10 months old so this is his first Fall season and he LOVES the leaves. He was rolling around and jumping in them for a good half hour. This dog loves the cold weather so I can only imagine what it will be like when he sees snow for the first time (I’ll report back!)

We traveled to New York this past weekend to see the Fall foliage and it did not disappoint. The leaves and fall colors were absolutely beautiful! If you’re looking for a quick getaway from Pittsburgh, we only drove about 2.5 hours north!

My hat is under $20 and my sweatshirt is under $40! Linking my whole outfit for you here!

What are you favorite fall activities? Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more travel and fashion inspo!

by Carly Luitgaarden - October 8, 2020

Staple Piece for Fall

Hi Darling,

This week has felt SO slow and I am beyond ready for the weekend. I’m ready to dive in to all things Fall bring apple picking, going to a pumpkin patch, and getting some cider! The leaves changing colors is my favorite part about Fall.

When it comes to Fall fashion, there are definitely some must have staple pieces that everyone needs in their closet: jeans, booties, and sweaters. If I had to choose one staple piece for fall it would be a versatile sweater.

I’m sharing a simple and effortlessly cute Fall outfit today with my personal favorite staple piece for fall. This Chicwish white turtleneck sweater is great because it can go with so many different pieces. For this look, I paired it with jeans, booties, and a leopard print belt.

What are you favorite things to do in the Fall?

For more Fall outfit inspiration be sure to follow me on Instagram

Stay flawless,

Carly

by Carly Luitgaarden - September 26, 2020

My Newfoundland Dog is on TikTok

Happy Saturday Darling,

WHAT. A. WEEK! This week my Newfoundland dog, Sammy, went viral on TikTok with a video I made about his favorite enrichment toy. So far it has 3.4 MILLION views … so crazy right?

This lick bowl is great for keeping my dog occupied. He’s currently recovering from a surgery so anything that keeps his mind stimulated is perfect. I usually use this bowl with peanut butter or Greek yogurt. Here are a few of his other favorite toys.

Okay okay, enough about Sammy and his toys. Let’s get back to talking fashion. This super simple look is perfect for a casual day. All you need are bike shorts, a cute message tee, a denim jacket, a pair of sneakers, and you’re ready to go! I got this whole outfit at my local Tanger Outlets. The shorts are Under Armour and my tee is from HM. The Tanger Outlets have been having some AWESOME sales and is cautious of keeping everything clean so I felt safe shopping there!

Be sure to follow me and my pup on TikTok and Instagram!

by Carly Luitgaarden - September 23, 2020

Lick Bowl For Pets

Hey Darling!

I’m so glad you liked our tiktok! Linking Sammy’s licky bowl and a few other favorites of his here!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram too!

by Carly Luitgaarden - September 21, 2020

Blue Leopard Print

Happy Monday Darling,

Is anyone else a culprit of loving something so much that you need it in every color and style? Well that’s me with this blue leopard print! I love this print so much that I had to have every option in it. These dresses are all affordable and can easily be dressed up or down, too!