Flawless Darling

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

chocolate covered strawberries

Happy Friday Eve Darling!

I know that I usually write about fashion, but I did promise to talk about all things Valentine’s Day, and what is a V-day without chocolate covered strawberries?

If you are “fresh” out of ideas for bae, or want to do a little something extra, make him or her chocolate covered strawberries. They are SO easy to make and are a heck of a lot cheaper than buying them. Plus, they’re from your heart!

Here’s what you will need:

How to make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

First, wash the strawberries and stick them right in the freezer for about 25-30 minutes. This helps the chocolate to harden quickly while dipping them.

For the last few minutes that your strawberries are in the freezer, start to melt the chocolate morsels with a tiny amount of vegetable oil (just enough that the morsels are slightly coated in oil). I used about a half bag of morsels and microwaved them in a glass bowl for about 20 seconds at a time until they were full melted. Of course, you can use milk chocolate if you prefer.

Once you take the strawberries out of the freezer, start dipping them into your chocolate generously and lay them on your parchment paper. After you dip your strawberries, it’s time to start decorating! Because I’m obviously an amateur, I just used a sandwich bag to decorate by filling the bag with chocolate and cutting a small part of the corner off. Add a few drops of red food coloring to your white chocolate chips and you’ll have the perfect shade of pink! You can easily drizzle your strawberries and draw hearts like mine! I found some sprinkles in my cabinet and added a few! If you are going to use sprinkles, make sure the chocolate hasn’t fully dried so that they will stick.

And that’s it! They are that simple 🙂

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

February Flowers

February Flowers
February Flowers
February Flowers
February Flowers

The Flawless Darling mini blog series on all things Valentine’s Day continues! Welcome back to my blog 🙂 By now, you have some inspiration for both casual and date night looks to wear this Valentine’s Day.

How perfect are these red, white, and pink roses? I got them at Trader Joe’s for $6 a dozen! These beautiful flowers are the perfect way to treat yourself and add some color to your kitchen.

As for my outfit, I am wearing my favorite ripped skinny jeans with my heart sweater from Marshall’s. My pink trench coat actually came in my Stitch Fix. Use this link to sign up without a styling fee for your first Fix!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Valentine’s Day Date Night

Date Night
Date Night
Date Night
Date Night
Date Night

Happy Monday Darling!

Only 10 days left until Valentine’s Day! Last week I shared some of my favorite pink sweaters for casual V-Day outfit options. Today, I thought I would share some budget-friendly date night outfit inspiration for Valentine’s Day.

If you are anything like me, you love to dress up but don’t love the money that goes along with our expensive hobby. Being able to find a full outfit for a speicial occasion without breaking the bank is the best feeling. For a Valentine’s Day date night outfit, I challenged myself to find a full look under $50. Thanks to Gabe’s, I had a few dollars left over!

My dress and purse combined are under $30 from Gabe’s. This wrap dress has a gorgeous floral print and the style is flirty and fun. This is actually an Express dress (originally $60) that I scored for less than $15 at Gabe’s. I had so much fun shopping through the purses and accessories that it was hard to choose just one. I decided on the pink crossbody purse because it matches the flowers in the dress. I got this adorable purse for only $12. The shoe selection at Gabe’s is also amazing. There are SO many options that include several name brands.

I recently cut off 11 inches of my hair and am still learning how to wear it. I used a flat iron to create some simple waves and a little volume. I don’t wear jewelry too often, but a gold necklace would have been the perfect way to accessorize this look, and Gabe’s had several to choose from.

Keep checking back for more Valentine’s Day related blog posts this month!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Pink Sweaters

Pink Sweaters
Pink Sweaters

Happy Friday Darling!

I am SO excited for the weekend! I’m currently on my way to Phoenix for the Waste Management Open. I know absolutely nothing about golf, but am so ready to get out of the cold weather for a few days.

As promised, the next few weeks on the blog are going to be dedicated to all things Valentine’s Day! Only 14 more days until v-day, which means only 15 more days until I go to the candy section of Target and buy all of the chocolate that I can.

I thought I would start off this month of pink-ness by sharing a few of my favorite pink sweaters under $75 that will come in time for the 14th! My Barbie sweater is currently sold out but I’ll keep checking back!

Here are 5 amazing pink sweaters that will be perfect for your casual Valentine’s Day Plans:

  1. This geometric sweater

This sweater has fabulous details and will be perfect with a pair of light jeans and booties or flats.

Pink Sweaters

2. This oversized turtleneck

An oversized sweater is my favorite go-to item in the winter. The color of this sweater is amazing and it is beyond cozy with the chunky turtleneck.

Pink Sweaters

3. This chevron sweater

This sweater is so much fun and is so festive for Valentine’s Day.

Pink Sweaters

4. This cropped cardigan (on super sale!)

Okay, I think this one may be my favorite of all of them. The deep v and buttons add fun details. This will look cute buttoned up or left open.

Pink Sweaters

5. This cable knit sweater

Oh my gosh I have all the heart eye emojis for this cable knit sweater. It will be perfect for Spring, too!

Pink Sweaters


What are your Valentine’s Day plans? Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Maroon Jacket

maroon jacket
Jacket |Jeans | Boots

Happy Friday Eve Darling!

Is it just me or does it feel like we are always counting down to the weekend. I don’t think that I have any plans this weekend which is actually amazing news. It can be so nice to have nothing going on. I am going to Marie Kondo the sh!t out of my place this weekend while I watch my new favorite binge-worthy show on Netflix, Tidying Up. I have so much stuff that just seems to accumulate so I am really looking forward to going through everything (and thanking it in Marie Kondo fashion).

As for the things in my life that I am 100% keeping… this fuzzy maroon jacket! It just went on major sale and is now under $20! When Tristan and I were shopping for Christmas presents for our families, I snuck this maroon jacket into his shopping cart (sly face emoji).

The weather has been oddly warm overall this month so I have found myself wearing this jacket a lot. It is the perfect jacket to throw on and go and is also on trend with all of the fuzziness I have been seeing this season.

As for my boots, I have had these for 5+ years and they have held up amazingly. They are truly worth every penny. These boots got me through college walking to class in the snow and are still my winter go-to boots a few years later. I wear them every day when I let McKinley outside. The other day, I had on a dressy-ish outfit and forgot to take them off until I was driving… whoops!

What are your weekend plans? I would love to hear from you!

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by Carly Luitgaarden -

Monday Outfit

Sweater | Shoes

Happy Monday Darling!

Woof is right! Mondays are the worst. I don’t know about you but it can be so hard to wake up on Mondays and start your week. We can still look cute even if we are running on coffee and dry shampoo, so I am writing about this perfect Monday outfit.

This outfit is perfect for when you oversleep by 30 minutes (guilty!) but still want to look put together. The best part is, this look is super easy: wear your favorite pair of jeans with a plain white tee and add a cardigan for an extra layer. Put on a trendy pair of flats and you are ready to go. If you want to accessorize, try adding a fun scarf into the mix.

I am not quite sure what to call my cardigan/jacket because it is sort of an in between! Personally, I mostly wear it as a cardigan and keep it on all day long, but it can be worn either way. I got it at Versona along with my flats (under $30!).

Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Faux Shearling Moto Jacket

Faux Shearling Moto Jacket
Faux Shearling Moto Jacket
Faux Shearling Moto Jacket
Faux Shearling Moto Jacket

HUMP DAYYYYYY! Half way to Friday Darling, we are almost there!

Holy moly, I do not think that I have ever loved a coat more than this Faux Shearling Moto Jacket. It’s so… FLUFFY! This specific jacket I’m wearing has sold out, but I found a similar one that is just over $100 here!

Winter can make it tough to be both warm and cute so this moto jacket is perfect. I paired this adorable and cozy jacket with a pair of jeans and booties, but it can easily be dressed up too! The ivory color is amazing for winter and the side zipper adds a fun detail.

Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Three Ways to Wear Leopard

wear leopard
wear leopard
wear leopard

Happy New Year Darling!

You have cat to be kitten me right meow! How is it January and I am not wearing a jacket? It has been SO warm out. Leopard is my favorite color! I thought I would share three different ways to wear leopard this season.

1). WITH A POP OF COLOR

I paired my leopard skirt with a solid black long sleeve tee, but it is also super cute paired with pink or red for a fun pop of color. Try wearing a leopard skirt with a red flat or a pink denim jacket.

2. AS AN ACCENT

If you love leopard, but don’t want to wear it all over, trying using it to accessorize. With a pair of black jeans and a chambray shirt, add a leopard scarf like this one under $20! Or, try wearing a leopard belt like this one also under $20.

3. ON YOUR FEET

Wearing leopard print shoes is such a fun way to incorporate the pattern into your everyday look. Leopard booties or flats are perfect to wear with black pants, blue jeans, or solid colored dresses. This pair of leopard flats are less than $20 and are perfect for both work and the weekend. These leopard print booties would pair great with a black shirt dress.

What are you favorite ways to wear leopard?

Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts!

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Steel City

Steel City
Steel City
Steel City
Steel City
Steel City
Steel City

Happy Woofin’ Holidays! I know that I am not the only one out there that hangs a stocking up for my pup! Santa Paws always comes to our house, and no matter how many times McKinley tries to drink out of our kitchen sink (yes, he is that tall) he is always on the nice list.

This year I had to give McKinley a few of his presents early because I truly could not wait! These Steel City collars and leashes are so much fun and are perfect for any Yinzers who love the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Steelers. 

I am a big believer in shopping local which makes Steel City that much more awesome. How cute is my Steel City tee? I love it because I can get away with wearing it to any Pittsburgh game or event (go sports!). 

Check Steel City out at their downtown location and follow them on Instagram. If you don’t live in Pittsburgh, be sure to check them out online. 

Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to subscribe for more styles and posts! 

by Carly Luitgaarden -

Warm & Cozy

By now you all know my obsession with Versona, my favorite store. I went in last week to find a few gifts for the amazing ladies in my life and hark the herald… I found SO many cute things! With Christmas right around the corner, I put together a quick gift guide with my favorite warm and cozy items under $25 currently at Versona.

For the flamingo obsessed


These slipped are so flockin’ cute. Everyone knows someone who loves flamingos so these slippers are perfect.

For the coffee lover 

Does this one look familiar? This gift is not only packaged adorably but ear muffs and a cute tumbler is so practical for winter. This gift set is a great go-to for a coworker! 

For the wine lover

This t-shirt is not only hilarious it is super soft. Buy this t-shirt for your bff or let’s be honest… yourself (because I did!)

For the dog lover

This large mug is way too cute and paw-fect for the dog lover in your life! If your dog loving friend prefers wine to coffee, check out this equally adorable wine glass.

For the one who is always cold

This pom beanie is a winter must-have! It is seriously the coziest. If your friend made the nice list this year, buy her the matching scarf, too!