Carry me away with Shanna of BSSS

I hope you all have been enjoying the guest bloggers this week! As not to disappoint, today I've got Shanna from Because Shanna Said so here. If you don't already, make sure to check out her sweet blog- filled not only with a lot of fashion, but plenty of hilarious stories of her two little girls. Shanna's here today to share her favorite summer bags, so take it away Shanna!
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Oh hi, Beauty & the Beard readers! I am Shanna from Because Shanna Said So. I blog about fashion (a.k.a. my personal outfits), beauty obsessions and random life happenings. I try not to take myself too seriously and from time to time, have no problem making fun of myself.

I was so excited when Miss Laura asked me to fill in for her while she is off on her camping adventures. She is one of my most favorite bloggers and I can always count on her to give me the scoop on the cutest Esty shops, styling ideas or dee-lish recipes.

Since the summer months typically mean vacation time, I thought I would share with you a few fun and affordable traveling bags I found at my most coveted store, Forever 21. If you know me, you are well aware that I have a slight problem, borderline addiction and almost monogamous relationship with this store.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 

I just had to let you ladies see for yourself all the adorable bags they currently have online and perfect for your next travel adventures. All of the ones featured have a cross body option which is super convenient for airport travel, especially if you always run late like me and have to race to catch your flight. Want to know the BEST part? They are all $35 or less. So, go ahead and scoop up two or three!

Which one do you want to carry on your next trip? I must say, the orange and creme color block weekender stole my heart from the get-go!

Thanks again, Laura, for inviting me over today! I hope each of you stop by and see me sometime! 

I love making new friends and discovering new blogs!

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Blog

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See, what did I tell you, the girl knows her stuff!


Which bag would you like for the summer?
I'll take the one with the polka dots please!


xo,lp

Necklace Must Haves with Angela of HTTC

Another day, another great guest post!

Today you all are lucky enough to hear from Angela of Head to Toe Chic. I had the pleasure of meeting this lovely lady in person before Michael and I moved away from Virginia- and I can assure you she's as sweet and fun in person as she is on her blog!

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Hi everyone! I'm Angela from Head to Toe Chic and I'm so excited to be guest posting for Laura today while she's camping!

 Laura and I are jewelry twins and have a serious addiction to statement necklaces. I wanted to share with you today my favorite necklace styles and colors for the summer. Even though some people might think it's too hot to wear jewelry in the summer, I definitely disagree and I don't feel like my outfit is complete until I have one of my many baubles on. This summer I'm absolutely loving bib necklaces in blue, pink, orange/coral, and purple. I've had my eye on numbers 6 and 7 for quite some time. Let's see how long I can hold out before I place an order.

 Thanks for having me today Laura!

1. Kendra Scott, 2. Nordstrom, 3. BaubleBar, 4. Forever 21, 5. H&M, 6. Modcloth, 7. BaubleBar, 8. BaubleBar

Which is your favorite statement necklace? Don't forget to stop by my blog and say hello!

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Naturally since I'm a bad influence I'd say GET  6 & 7 NOW Angela! 

Me? I'll take 3 & 8....

Now go over and say hi to Angela!

xo,lp

What to wear: Summer shindigs with Lauren of LPF

Happy Monday everyone! I'm off camping most of the week, so I'll have some lovely bloggers filling in for me! If you're looking for a new blog to read that is full of a little bit of everything, you have to check out La Petite Fashionista. Lauren covers everything from fashion to food & decor. We've actually met and now live in the same town- so of course I'm biased at how awesome she is...

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 One of my favorite things about summer is that you don't need an excuse for a party. All you need is a little summer sunshine, craft beer and a few friends for a fun evening. I've got you covered for outfits for any occasion; a wine tasting party with friends (http://lapetitefashionista.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-host-wine-tasting-party.html), an all american summer cookout, or just a get together with friends with a bonfire and some beer.

What to Wear: Summer Shindigs by lapetitefashionistablog featuring party shirts

  The key to dressing for summer parties is staying stylish & comfortable. If your party is outside, save the heels for another night. Stick to breezy sundresses and cute crop tops to beat the heat!

 Thanks for letting me guest post Laura, hope you're enjoying your camping trip!

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Thank you Lauren! On a side note- Lauren is the brains behind LPF magazine-and the first issue comes out soon..and you might even see an article in there by yours truly :) For updates check out @LPFMag on Twitter!


I'm loving the Saturday Cookout outfit, which is your favorite?


xo,lp

Guest Post: Lauren from Pink on the Cheek

Hope you're all having a relaxing Memorial Day! I'm working a full day- but I'll mentally be right there with you at the beach. Instead of a post from me today- Lauren from Pink on the Cheek is stopping by to share her favorite supper makeup with y'all! Lauren's a past Richmonder- so you know she's a good egg....
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Hello sweet B&B readers!I am Lauren from Pink on the Cheek, or POTC for short. 

I am so amazed by Laura's talent, I cannot imagine more creativity coming from her!So that makes me really happy to be on her blog today. 
I wanted to share some of my favorite makeup with you that will be perfect for the summer.I know that RIC can get pretty hot during the summer months, I experienced it myself!With the humidity, sudden storms, heat lighting, and more...you need to look good for all conditions.
 First off:Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

This cream is a 5 in 1 secret. It is a moisturizer, primer, concealer, foundation, and even has SPF 35. This is my go to item on my days off from work when I need some quick cover up.Perfect. 
The next item is a bright lipstick.

I am wearing Electric Pink by Smashbox.I have good luck with matte lipsticks. When you find a great one like Smashbox, it just glides on easy and just sticks. No smudges, no check ups during the day, you are good to go!
Next is a great lotion. You are going to be wearing shorts and skirts most of the summer.With shaving your legs constantly, you want to keep them smooth but not have that sweaty feeling.

Source: kiehls.com via Lauren on Pinterest

 

I am in love with this lotion because it goes on quickly and it not sticky.

You feel moisturized the whole day PLUS  it smells great!

So those are my summer must haves. You shouldn't be doing too much makeup while you are in the sun because the most important thing to wear is sunscreen!

Plus having lots of makeup sweat off your face is not a good look.

I hope you stop by my blog after reading this, I would love to have you!

blog//tweet//facebook

xoxo,

Lauren

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Thanks for taking over for me today, Lauren! (Make sure to show her some love, my friends).

We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.Until then, have a cold one for me.

XO, LP

V-Day guest post #4: {a simple affair}

Oh folks, it's the last of the wonderful V-day guest post series. I know, I know, you're all sad about it too. Don't fret, we're going out with a bang kids.
The lovely and talented Carly is here to share some perfect Valentine's get ups, and she has positively outdone herself. Carly and I went to college together, and the strange and fun blogging world has brought us back together- great stuff, no? Somehow I've managed to mention her fashionable and witty blog often, but have never had her do a guest post- which is beyond ridiculous because it would do me some good to get her fashion advice more often. Enough of my babbling, check our her awesome outfit ideas:
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Why hello B&B readers!  Carly here from {a simple affair}.  I was so flattered when Laura asked me to guest post in her amazing Valentine's Day series.  I think I could actually talk about how cool Laura is for days.  However, I know I'm limited on space, so we'll just say she's my daily DIY/recipe/everything inspiration. 

Today I'm bringing you three different Valentine's Day outfits.  Now, this was tricky because I know some ladies love to wear pops of red + pink on Valentine's Day, while others may think it's cheesy.  I personally don't go all out red and pink, but do prefer a little pop of color somewhere.  I created two "little _______ dress" outfits and the last outfit can be mixed and matched however you so choose.

Classic Glam

Dorthy Perkins Black Fit & Flare Dress // Vince Camuto Rose Gold Earrings // Envelope Clutch // Jane Hollinger Necklace // Zara Heels // REISS Ovoid Coat

Modern Glam

Naven Party Dress // Marc by Marc Jacobs Earrings // nOir necklace // Kate Spade 3-in-1 Bangle // Clutch // Jessica Simpson MADGE Heels

Cozy Chic

Outfit One: blouse // pants // flats

Outfit Two: blouse // pants // flats

Outfit Three: sweater // cropped pant // flats

Remember-you can always swap pieces from one outfit to another! These outfits are not set in stone.  I just had to incorporate three polka dot tops though because I love the pattern dearly at the moment.

How dressed up will you be getting this Valentine's Day? Do you like to wear red and pink? Give me the details, ladies! I would personally love nothing more than to be in outfit number 2 on this Valentine's Day. I also think I love the Little Red Dress (LRD) as much as the LBD.

Thanks again for having me, Laura! Happy Valentine's Day to you and the Beard! xo

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I know what you're all thinking, and NO, I didn't pay her to say any of those nice things. We just happen to be pretty great friends, what can I say? Thanks for the impeccable outfits Carly, I will absolutely be taking the cozy night in approach..now I just need to find a good polka dot sweater! 

V-Day guest post #3: Schue Love

Happy Tuesday everyone! From all the comments I know you all enjoyed the guest posts last week...I know the ones this week won't disappoint. Today we have the lovely Natasha from Schue Love sharing a deee-licious Valentine's Dessert....

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For me, Valentine's Day is all about everything red, pink and sweet!  Cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts, so I thought these red velvet cupcakes would hit the spot!  

I love the combination of the chocolate cupcake with the savory cream cheese frosting.  I don't make my frosting too sweet so that they're not overly rich.  I thought these turned out perfectly...and how festive are these for Valentine's Day?

Red Velvet Cupcakes

{Barefoot Contessa's How Easy is That?}

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
• 1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• Red Velvet Frosting, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed for 1 minute, until light. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients alternately in 3 parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and mix until combined. Stir with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is mixed. Scoop the batter into the muffin cups with a 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop or large spoon. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool completely in the pans and frost the cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting.

Red Velvet Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (3/4 pound)
• A couple drops of pink food coloring

Place the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix on medium speed just until combined. Don't whip! Add the sugar and mix until smooth. 

 Add a little heart to make it that much more festive!  :)

Thanks to Laura for having me today!

xo natasha

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 For some reason if you don't already follow Natasha at Schue Love, make sure to head over and check out the blog. She cooks up some delicious meals and puts together some flawlessly fashionable outfits-- all while  featuring her growing baby bump with cute updates each week!
Thanks so much Natasha, it was wonderful having you....and I can't wait to try the recipe!

V-Day Guest Post #2: {long distance loving}

You didn't think I'd stop at just one guest post, now did you? No way! Today we have the ever talented {av} from {long distance loving}, and I know you are all going to LOVE what she's come up with for her V-Day gift guide. If you don't already link up to her Friday's Fancies- check it out this Friday-- if you see it and love it (which you I'm sure you will)- join the party! Okay, I'll stop with the shameless plugging, and let {av} take it away!
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Hi friends! It's {av} from {long distance loving}! I am so thrilled Laura asked me to pull together a fun little Valentine's Day gift guide for long distance couples. My husband, {cv}, and I spent three February 14ths in different cities during our distance years. I tried to pick gifts which would make his life easier or make him think of me.  My best prezzie for {cv}? Engraved collar stays with little messages he could read as he got dressed for work every day. Here are a few every day items which should make your significant other smile...

{glasses: his + hers | keychains: his + hers | wallets: his + hers}

Many thanks to Laura for having me today! Hop over to {long distance loving} for other ways to love from afar :) Have a great Thursday! xoxo {av}

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No, thank YOU, {av}! Love the idea of the engraved collar stays...so sweet! 


Do y'all have any other great Valentine's gift ideas that are practical and thoughtful like these? 

V-Day Guest Post #1: Living Savvy

Remember when I promised I'd have some of my favorite bloggers stopping by for Valentine's day? Well, I wasn't lying! Today's guest post was written by the brains and beauty behind Living Savvy- Tiffany! 


For the month of January Tiffany has been doing her No Spend Challenge (link below) - and I knew she could come up with a great V-Day themed craft without spending a dime. Not surprisingly- she delivered something completely creative!
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Hello, Beauty & the Beard readers!  I am Tiffany from Living Savvy!  I was very excited when Laura asked if I would be interested in doing a guest post about my No Spend Challenge.  Then she told me it would have to be a Valentines related project.... EEK!  I might be the ONLY girl on the planet that does not like or celebrate Valentines day {I know the horror!}  But I was sure I could come up with something that would fit my style!  I was excited for the challenge!

After poking around in my closets and cabinets looking for some inspiration I found a bag of toilet paper and paper towel rolls I had been saving.  A few months ago I pinned a couple of art pieces that were made with toilet paper rolls that I just never got around to making. 

I started by cutting the tubes up.  I just eyeballed the size... maybe 1/4" to 1/2" rings.  I think I used about 4 paper towel tubes and 6 tp tubes... approximately!

I then laid out my heart design.

I used hot glue to attach the rings together.

Once the outside was done I filled in the heart.

I had a weird opening left so I made a heart but I didn't glue it in.  I spray painted the heart and hand painted the small heart, then glued it in.  I looped some ribbon through one of the rings and hung it over my mantel.

As I was hanging it I asked the hubs if I should title the post "I left my heart in San Francisco"... he just rolled his eyes as he made the punchy drum joke noise!  I have to say, I love it!  It is perfect little addition to the mantel for Valentines day... even if I don't celebrate the day!  

Thanks Laura for getting me to think outside my box!  

Be sure to visit Living Savvy today and link up your No Spend Projects!  

There should be a lot of inspiration to be had... all for free!!

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Amazing, right? Thank you so much for the awesome craft Tiffany- I can't believe I'm saying this- but I legitimately wish I had toilet paper rolls around to make one of those! Oh- and for the record folks, she MADE that amazing gold leaf tray. (Find how HERE)Yeah. Tiffany- if you feel like making another and sending it my way, feeeeel free.!

***I guess Tuesday is just a guest post kinda day- You can find me over on RunDreamCook today talking about my DIY inspiration. Make sure to stop by and share your take on the best way to go about DIY projects!***