Tag Archives: cute

New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails!

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New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails!

Helloooooooo everyone and happy weekend! This Thursday I got my nails done and holy moley am I obsessed. Seriously, this just might be my favorite fill of all time. Because I always opt for black on all of my talons but two accent nails, I try to make those two nails extra fun. Errr… I pick out the polish and my nail tech, Steve, does a brilliant job of making them look extra fun. Like my previous nail tech, Vinny, Steve spoils me rotten. I’ve been going to Steve’s salon (he is the owner) for the better part of two years so he always makes sure to spend lots of time making my nails look fierce. Take a look at his latest creation:

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^^^ LOVE!!

For my accent nail this time around, I knew that I wanted it to be red but I also didn’t want it to be plain. After spending some time at the polish rack while Steve was at lunch, I found this super great top coat that has glitter and confetti hearts and stars in it and I was sold. It was admittedly kind of a pain in the butt for it to be applied because if it wasn’t done right, the confetti would just clump together. But Steve made sure that I had an accent nail with expertly placed hearts all over it. What a guy!!

Every three weeks I go to Empress Nails to get my talons fixed up and I am never disappointed. I have no problem shelling out about twenty-five bucks a month to get my nails looking right, all while having an hour or two to myself to relax. My acrylics are my ultimate TREAT YOSELF accessory, but they make me happy and their gorgeous appearance is always well worth the price!

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So there you have it, my New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails! How do you treat yoself when it comes to getting pampered? What color of nail polish do you have on right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Secret Life Of Cats

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The Secret Life Of Cats

We all want companionship in our lives, and so for many of us, the option to get a pet seems like a great idea. For those of us that are infatuated with felines, we will immediately think about adopting a cat. Compared to other animals, cats are considerably low-maintenance and are easy to transport. In fact, some people love them so much that they decide to give several felines a forever home!

It’s likely you are reading this blog post because you are putting serious consideration into adopting a cat. But, before you start looking for potential new feline friends, you should think about what a day in the life of a pet cat is like from an owner’s point of view. If you’ve never owned a feline before, you need to do plenty of research on the subject so that you can make an informed choice.

In today’s blog post, you will learn more about the “secret” life of cats and the impact it has on their owners or people visiting them in their homes. Here is what you need to know before bringing a kitty cat home:

Cats have individual personalities just like we do: Some people are under the illusion that animals we keep as pets generally behave in the same way. The thing is, cats have unique and individual personalities just like human beings. Some cats might be docile, others feisty, and some are just plain scary!

When you go out to look at potential cats to adopt, you need to find out about their temperament from the adoption agency or seller. It’s even more vital that you do this if you’ve got other people living with you, especially children and babies. The last thing you want is for your family to get mauled by your new pet cat on a daily basis! It goes without saying that you should only get a cat if there is a strong likelihood that they will “get on” with your existing pets.

Always remember that your cat might not have nine lives, but their personalities are for keeps! We have all heard the nine lives expression before but if you are curious, you should try to convert your cat’s age to human years – it’s interesting for adults and children alike!

Cats need looking after: No-one should expect a cat to fend for itself on a daily basis, whether it roams within the confines of your home or out on the street during the day. You need to be a responsible cat owner and ensure that its health and welfare is your top priority.

That means giving your feline friend access to the right food and plenty of fresh water. Plus, cats that roam outdoors during the day need flea protection. Products such as Advecta 3 are suitable for keeping flea infestation risks to a minimum. Also, it goes without saying that you should ensure that your cat lives in a sanitary environment. In other words, you must keep your home and their favorite hideaways as clean as possible.

Cats will do things that annoy you: You can try to train your cat as much as you like, but we all know that they will just do their own thing! With that in mind, you must make your home cat-friendly as much as possible. Try not to be angry at them for doing things like:

  • Wrecking your Christmas tree during the holidays;
  • Going to the toilet in places other than their litter tray;
  • Bringing back “presents” for you (i.e. dead mice and birds);
  • Sleeping in your bed!

They will also dig their claws into your furniture, especially carpets. For that reason, it’s crucial that you buy them a cat scratching post, such as the Purrfect Post.

If you’ve made it this far and are still determined to adopt a cat, you will at least know more about what to expect when you live with one. Good luck and congrats! 🙂

Featured Image By: Pexels

Accessory Story: Houndstooth, Honey Edition

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Accessory Story: Houndstooth, Honey Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new and very fun edition of Accessory Story! This post is really special to me because it is compliments of the newest business venture of one of my dearest, darling blogging BFFs, Angela. You might recognize her name as she is the creator of my signature scent, Ruby Tulip, which will be coming soon to lifewithlilred. When Miss Angela isn’t busy mixing up amazing bath and body care goodies, she is dedicated to getting us ladies divafied on her new online jewelry boutique.

Angela’s jewelry website boasts gorgeous jewelry for a totally reasonable price. Not only are the accessories not going to break your bank BUT you also get free shipping with the purchase of one of her jewelry sets! It’s such an amazing deal and her shipping is extremely reliable. All of my jewelry from the Houndstooth Elephant Necklace Set arrived safely tucked in beaucoup bubblewrap and the most darling cosmetic case that looked EXACTLY what Ipsy would send in their monthly makeup subscription.

Seen below are a few quick pics of yours truly sporting my accessories from Angie’s Jewelry Boutique:

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What I love about the jewelry from Angie’s Jewelry Boutique is that it’s fun and flashy without being too much. All of the pieces on her website look amazing worn as a set but they also work so well individually. I’m not a jewelry set girl, myself. I prefer to mix and match pieces as I go along and I am super excited to incorporate the accessories from my Houndstooth Elephant Necklace Set into my every day outfits.

It’s hard to pick a favorite from my new set but I freaking love the rhinestoned orb ring. Huge statement rings are a major component of my accessory arsenal so I can’t wait to wear it and add some edgy glam to my outfits. And, of course, the ring looks fabulous with my talons! ❤

But what about the elephant adorned necklace and bracelet, you ask? Well, the necklace is going to be perfect for spicing up a T-shirt and jeans or a work ensemble while giving a little safari touch of adventure to the day. And as for the bracelet, I absolutely love charm ones and my favorite way to wear them is paired with some plainer, non-bangle bracelets to make the adorable elephants and houndstooth baubles pop. Throw this little beauty on to show off smooth summer ready arms or wear over a long sleeved shirt for those chilly March days ahead.

No matter how you style your set from Angie’s Jewelry Boutique, you are sure to end up with a sassy chic new look every time. Now, get to shopping! And remember, the shipping is free with every set purchase!

So there you have it, the latest issue of Accessory Story: Houndstooth, Honey Edition! What is your favorite piece of animal themed jewelry? What is your favorite set on Angie’s Jewelry Boutique? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Spring Surprise

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Spring Surprise

Hiiiii! This morning as I was leaving the house, I caught a little pretty something out of the corner of my eye while I was in the car. Among all of the brown leaves and dry grass, a little yellow crocus was popping out to say an early spring hello. I didn’t have time to snap a quick pic then but as I was taking the dogs out this afternoon I just had to take one! It was so cute and wittle and it made me so happy to see! Take a look:

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After kind of a blah few days, it was so nice to see a tiny pop of color as a Spring Surprise and a preview of hopefully some lovely blooms to come. There’s nothing like a brave little crocus showing off its petals to brighten your day and get you hyped for warmer weather, all floral everything, and a new spring season here on lifewithlilred!

Happy Tuesday!

Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

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Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! I hope all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing Sunday! Yesterday, a quick stop to TJMaxx got me a super cute new floppy hat by Nicole Marciano for a whopping four dollars. Thanks to a ten dollar off coupon compliments of their credit card, I was able to snag this little beauty which I am SO stoked to sport this summer. Take a look:

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^^^ So. Fun!

I have quite a large hat collection due to a love that I developed from my grandma who had over one hundred of them! I love, love, love floppy hats but all of mine are either felt or wool which is fine for fall, winter, and the spring but not so much for summer. I’ve wanted a big, floppy, straw style hat for a while now but never managed to find one that I liked enough to purchase. They were all either too big, too small, too blah, or the shape wasn’t to my liking. Seriously, some of the floppy hats that I’ve encountered were HUGE which would result in the hat to droop in an unflattering sad elephant ear style that was just…no.

But, I absolutely LOVE this little Nicole Marciano number. It’s big without being gigantic, the shape that the hat takes when it’s actually on is quite attractive, and the “bonjour” detailing was just too darling to pass up. And for four dollars?! Hello! This hat is going to be so charming with a little sun dress, chunky wedges, and “don’t look at me” sunglasses for a glam but fun summer time look. It will provide me with the perfect shade and a touch of Paris chic for a day of shopping at my favorite outdoor mall, a trip to the zoo, or simply reading the latest issue of Cosmo on my deck. Just thinking of it makes me more than ready for summer!

Hats Off, indeed, to this cute as can be Nicole Marciano piece! What is your must have accessory for spring or summer? Who else has a hat collection of their own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Getting Off To The Best Start With Your Pup

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Getting Off To The Best Start With Your Pup

Welcoming a new dog into the home should be and is a joyous occasion. Then, the honeymoon period quickly starts sharing room with the realization of the demands that a pet brings with them. Whether you’re a new owner or this is your first new dog in a while, it’s important to get a refresher on how to turn them from little strangers to a family member in no time:

Make Sure You’re Ready For Them: It’s vital that you take your responsibilities as a dog owner as seriously as possible. They have needs and they look solely to you to help them fulfill them. You have to know what those needs are before they come in the home. Who is going to feed them, walk them, and play with them? Do you have the budget to take care of all the costs in food, bedding, and vet visits? We don’t want to put anyone off getting a dog. However, if your family isn’t ready for them, then you should reconsider for the sake of the animal and the family.

Welcome Them In The Home: Having a space for the dog is important. You need to think about how much space they’re going to take when sleeping and make sure that you get a bedding area that’s both big and comfortable enough. You also have to know that dogs, young pups especially, are going to try to get into just about anything. For that reason, pet-proofing the home is vital. You need to make sure that no food or dangerous little odds and ends are in reach of them. You should also make sure that your houseplants are not poisonous to your new pet.

Get Up To Date On Their Health: Finding a good veterinary surgeon as soon as possible has to be on the agenda. Not only because you want someone who you can go to in an emergency but you also need the sources that can keep you up to date on all the essentials of keeping the pup healthy. Their immunizations, regular pest control treatments, getting them microchipped, and so on. Keep a schedule of those essential visits and don’t be afraid to ask the vet for any advice that you might need.

Don’t forget regular cleanings for their teeth and nail trimming too. Your vet will have the best veterinary dental equipment to be able to treat any major issues or can recommend you to a great groomer for maintenance visits.

Train Your Pup: It’s just as essential that you make sure your dog is becoming the kind of family dog that you want. Early habits like potty training and chewing on things aren’t the only habits that you should be concerned about. Many people neglect to get their dog properly socialized, which means that they can bark, jump up, and even display aggressive behavior to new people and animals alike. One of the habits that the humans in the relationship need to make sure that they don’t get into is feeding the dog scraps. Doing that too often can make it so that the dog’s palate doesn’t quite enjoy dog food the same way and instead they spend their free time looking for even more treats. It might be endearing, but when they’re constantly trying to jump up to your dinner plate, it can get old very fast.

Taking care of a whole new creature brings with it plenty of challenges. But do it right and you’ll end up with one of the most loyal friends your family could have! <333

Totes Adorbs Featured Image By: Pixabay

DOGS!!

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DOGS!!

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I realize that it’s been a long time since I’ve blessed all of you with some precious pics of my pooches so I figured that now would be a great time to do so! Our darling Golden Retriever, Gem, and Terrier mix, Ollie, are doing just swell and are as cute as ever. We are all currently itching to give both of them a new little brother or sister and by we I mean everyone but my dad – but we’re working on him! But, of course, we are perfectly happy with our two pups because two is company and three is a crowd. 😉

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^^^ I LOVE THEM!!

Pic #1: Gem and I just chilling and watching My 600 Lb. Life. *insert cool emoji with sunglasses here*

Pic #2: So my mom taught Gem this trick where she’ll “clean up” her toys and put them all into one spot, which is usually her doggie bed. Of course we reward her for this sweet ass trick so now Gem will just sit there with a toy in her mouth until we give her a treat and it’s basically the most ridiculous and adorable thing ever.

Pic #3: Ollie just snuggling up to Patrick Starfish! A weird fact about my family is that we’ve legitimately had that stuffed animal for well over thirteen years and, I kid you not, it has been sitting on that freaking chair THE ENTIRE TIME. Lol, Patrick has become a signature staple of our living room, like our Christmas tree that we still have yet to take down. I like to think that it just adds to our quirky charm! 😉

You guys already know how much I love my DOGS and now I want to learn about yours. What kind of dog do you have? What is his or her name? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Doggy Daycare: A Day In The Life Of A Pampered Pooch

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Let’s face it, some pooches are so wonderful that they just deserve a day (and lifetime!) of pampering and luxury! Happily, there are plenty of products, places, and activities out there that can help you to make this happen. So read on for some fantastic suggestions of how to pamper your beloved pupper and make a wonderful day of it for the both of you:

Poodle Parlor: Number one on the list of things to do when you are pampering your pup is to take them to a grooming parlor. This is where they can get their coat trimmed, nails clipped, and get a nice bath, so that they are all ready to look their best on their special day.

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SO CUTE!!!

Canine Boutique: Of course, once they are all spick and span you are going to want to take them to the boutique, so that they have something nice to wear. Popular choices are a new collar or two. If your dog is particularly glamorous, they may appreciate one with rhinestones on it! Diva alert! Or perhaps it’s your dog’s birthday or gotcha day, so you’d like to buy them a whole new outfit, in which to be the bell of the ball? Hey, some people are really in to dressing their dogs!

Doggie Massage: Now, all that fun can be tiring for your pooch, so make sure that he gets a nice rest before you go on to the next part of the day. Perhaps a little nap is in order? Or if you want to go the whole hog, how about getting him a doggie massage? Just think if he enjoys a pat, he is going to adore a proper massage! You can have a go at this yourself with the help of this tutorial, or take him to a professional if your budget allows.

Treats and More Treats: No doggie pamper day is going to be complete without plenty of delicious treats for Fido. There are savory treats, sweet treats, and dog breath freshener treats available. Which are a treat for you, too! Remember, though, your pooch should not be eating human treats! Especially not chocolate as this is super dangerous for them and needs to be avoided at all costs! A trip to the vet should never be a part of a doggy pamper day.

Fun Activities: Once your puppy is refreshed and awake, then it’s time to show off their new haircut and clothes, and burn off some energy by going for a long walk. But if you think that you are limited to just walking your dog around the block where you live, then think again. There are a lot of activities that you can do to exercise your pooch. Including hiking, country walks, and even allowing them to go for a dip in the sea! Although if you choose the latter, you’ll probably want to wait to get then groomed after, not before.

Delicious Meals: Lastly, no perfect pup pampering day would be complete without a delicious meal or two for your dog. You can buy them their favorite pre-made dog food. Or you can cook them something special. You can even get chefs that specialize in dog food to whip something up if you’re feeling that way inclined and extra fancy. 😉

Dogs are the best thing that ever happened to humans, so make sure that you celebrate your pets properly every day with lots of love!

Zara Shopping Trip

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Zara Shopping Trip

Hey everyone and happy Thursday! So this Tuesday I made a trip to Beachwood mall which is about a thirty-five plus minute trek for me. Normally I wouldn’t venture this far to go to a mall but I needed to be in the area to get dinner with a friend who works close by. And, of course, I really really wanted to try my hand at shopping Zara for the first time! Beachwood is the only mall near me that has one and after browsing on their online store, I came to the realization that I would have to try their clothes on before making any purchases.

I’m not going to lie – I was nervous. Literally for every ten online reviews that I had read about shopping Zara in store and online, there were nine and a half negative ones. But, I swallowed my fear and entered the store anyways because there was a shirt that I wanted desperately that they had available. My first impression of the store was that it was HUGE! My second impression was that the clothes were all very cute. And my third impression was that the employees seemed kind of snotty.

When I had approached them about the shirt because when I called the store, I was told that it was in supply in their stock room, they acted like it was the biggest inconvenience in the world to get to the bottom of it for me. I then waited around for ten minutes or so and was basically instructed not to move until they figured things out but that didn’t stop me from awkwardly browsing my surroundings anyway. With every interaction that I had with an employee, I tried to be nothing but nice because who knows, maybe the whole store was having a bad day? Haha, whatever – it could happen!

Finally, I was approached with my shirt by a worker and after expressing my gratitude and making a little small talk the girl who I was primarily interacting with seemed to lighten up a little. Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering what this shirt looked like that I went through all the trouble to get and here it is:

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Ahhhh! It’s so cute! I am so excited to wear this top with my velvet skinny jeans from Loft or tucked into my mustard yellow H&M skirt for work. And for play, I plan on wearing this top over shorts with my pair of army green BCBG heels or with a thick pair of tights and knee high boots as the top is long enough to be worn as a dress if paired with the right bottoms. I LOVE IT and it was definitely worth the trip out there to finally have the top that I was lusting over online in my wardrobe.

After trying the top on and having the young lady who had helped me ring me out, the snottiness was gone. I don’t know if she was just one of those people who took a minute to warm up to someone or what but, to be frank, every employee in the store seemed to be one of those people. Lol, it wasn’t the worst customer service that I had ever encountered but it just seemed a bit off in a retail environment. Absolutely not saying that I expect employees to be shoving rainbows down my throat but it’s nice to interact with people who are pleasant and don’t mind helping you considering that’s what they’re there for!

I would definitely shop Zara in store again but I don’t know if I trust their online shopping experience enough to make purchases off of the world wide web. Seriously, Google their reviews and you’ll see what I mean because it sounds like a straight up horror story if you order from them online and, god forbid, the clothes doesn’t work for you. I didn’t have very high expectations of customer service walking in the store to begin with but at least it’s nice to know about it now so it isn’t a big surprise the next time I can make a trip out there.

While I was at the mall, I was also able to put the last of my Forever 21 gift cards to good use so be on the lookout for a post about my purchases from there, too!

So there you have it, my Zara Shopping Trip. It wasn’t the best but certainly not the worst either. What is your impression of shopping with Zara? Has anyone had a fabulous or totally awful experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nasty Gal Purchases & Review

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Nasty Gal Purchases & Review

Hi everyone and TGIF!! I hope you all have some fun and exciting plans lined up for the weekend! During my graduation ceremony evening, I was chatting with the girl beside me about online shopping because she complimented my heels and we got to talking about ModCloth which is where they were from. She told me how much she liked the site Nasty Gal so I figured that I would take a look at some point because I could tell that she had great taste.

A week or so later, I decided to take a look see and, for the most part, really liked what I saw – asides from the super sexy pieces which just aren’t me in the slightest. I liked the edgy, glam looks and although the prices were kind of steep, they had a great sale section to browse through which I was thankful for! After a look over of the website, I ended up with two moto jackets. One was funded by my mom for Christmas (thanks, mommy!) and the other was a total treat yoself piece that I planned on using my graduation cash to purchase. Take a look:

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First of all, let me start with what I liked about Nasty Gal before I delve into some of the not so great stuff. As a first time shopper, I ultimately ended up happy but there are some things that I need to bear in mind if I purchase from them again.

What I Liked:

The Clothing Itself: Both jackets that I received are simply to die for. I love both jackets and I think that they were well worth the price. I have been looking for a super cool black moto jacket for a long time and I finally found it in the patched back jacket featured first. And, of course, the olive green butterfly patched moto jacket was so sweet that I couldn’t not get that one, too! I have received endless compliments on both of them already and I’ve had them for about three days total. I also love that these are pieces that not everyone is going to have which makes them even more special to me.

The Customer Service (Kind Of): When I first received my black moto jacket, one of the patches on the back was nearly falling off. Instantly, I ran to the laptop and pulled up a chat with a Nasty Gal agent to ask how to go about receiving a damaged item. She told me to take pictures of the damage and then send it on over via email. I quickly snapped some pics and emailed them over and then waited anxiously to see what they say so I could get a replacement which I was super keen on because I loved the item.

About two and a half hours went by and I heard back nada which I thought was weird because someone was able to chat with me so quickly. So, I decided to just bite the bullet and call them and after seeking them out they addressed the problem. I was told that I would receive store credit to purchase a new one as soon as they got the notification of my return and was provided with a shipping label and a free shipping code to rebuy the jacket.

I was so pleased and figured that my credit should be on my account the following day after I dropped off the UPS package. Four days went by and I heard nothing and at this point the jacket was marked “low inventory”. I was annoyed, for one, and also worried that my coat would be sold out by the time that my credit was applied. Once more, I pulled up a chat and told the agent the problem and then it got fixed promptly.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that their customer service is good if you seek them out but I genuinely feel like if I didn’t, my problems still wouldn’t have been solved. I have always had online shopping experiences where issues were solved quickly after they got word of it so actually having to seek out the help that I needed again after no initial reply was very off putting.

What I Didn’t Like:

THE SIZES: If you plan on shopping at Nasty Gal and are reading this, please heed my warning when I say: DO NOT TRUST THEIR SIZE GUIDE. Their sizes seem to run one size to a size and a half smaller than what they say. Let me explain – I fit very comfortably into a size small eighty percent of the time and an extra small the other twenty percent. And according to their size guide I would be a perfect small but that simply wasn’t the case.

I originally purchased my black moto jacket in a small and my butterfly one in a medium because I read that it fit tightly in the comment section. Had I known that the black patched jacket was going to be some Baby Gap size in a small, I would have purchased the medium first. The small was tight and it was just strange to me because their size guide said that a small would be just right, like it normally is. I didn’t even think to size up in it because I was so confident that the small would be great because I was nowhere close to a medium according to their guide.

Frankly, if I order from them again, I plan on just sizing up in everything and not even acknowledging their guide because it is so skewed. It wasn’t until after I placed my order that I Googled Nasty Gal reviews and saw that literally everyone said that their sizes were jacked up! This was admittedly my bad, I should have done this before placing my order but it was still annoying just the same to have a size guide be so very misleading.

Don’t get me wrong, I am, in the end, really happy with my purchases BUT unless I see something there that is absolutely to die for, then I don’t plan on shopping Nasty Gal again. Originally, I thought that it could possibly replace ModCloth for me but, let’s be real, that wasn’t ever going to happen anyways.

My advice for people who plan on shopping there is to be very careful of their sizes, read the online reviews (there are a TON), and continuously seek out their customer service if you have a problem because I don’t think that they have any intentions of accommodating you otherwise.

So there you have it, my Nasty Gal Purchases & Review! Has anyone ever shopping Nasty Gal before? What did you think? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah