Tag Archives: fun

Jun8

THANK YOU!!!

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THANK YOU!!!

Hello!!! I just wanted to write a quick post to thank each and every one of my darling readers for all of the happy birthday wishes. I had an absolutely fabulous 23rd birthday yesterday and am looking forward to continuing my celebrations with friends and family throughout the rest of the week.

I got to spend my birthday morning with my beautiful sister (who got me concert tickets to see my favorite band, AFI, at the House Of Blues!!), my afternoon with my boyfriend who drove from North Carolina to make it for my birthday, and the evening with some of my best friends at my favorite bar, the Cashmere Cricket. Today, one of my girlfriends is taking me out for lunch and then I get to spend the evening with my beau. Tomorrow, I’ll be celebrating with my family. And finally, over the weekend, my boyfriend has a bunch of birthday surprises for me! So, obviously, I have a really good rest of the week in store!

I am so thankful to all of my friends and family who reached out to me with well wishes whether it be on the blog, Facebook, text, phone call, or email and all of you truly helped make my 23rd birthday a special one! I LOVE YOU GUYS! ❤ -Sarah

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Jun7

Happy 23rd Birthday To Me!

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Happy 23rd Birthday To Me!

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day but more importantly – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! Today is my 23rd birthday, and I’m going to be honest with you: I am so not excited about it. Guyyyys. I feel old. *Let the eye rolling commence*. But seriously, 22 was a good year and I’m not happy about it being over. 23? Oy. That’s half way to 25, which is half way to 30, which makes my heart hurt to think about!

Do I sound like I’m complaining? I swear – it’s not just me! I’ve heard this thought process from SO many of my friends who were super stoked on 21 and 22 and then had the proceeding birthdays feel totally lackluster. So there. BUT, despite not being thrilled about adding another year under my belt, I do love birthdays! Wait…what?

Lol, yeah I love birthdays. The presents, the dinners and drinks out with friends, the overflow of birthday well wishes on Facebook. I love it all! It’s just the aging part that I freaking despise! Honestly, I’m one of those people who celebrate for the entire month and starts saying “it’s my birthday” a week or so before my actual birthday. But, come on. Who doesn’t love having the attention on them from family and friends? And, this year, I really need to embrace the fun side of birthdays to keep me from feeling down about turning the big 2-3. Smh.

So, Happy 23rd Birthday To Me – I guess. -__- I look forward to telling all of you about my birthday celebrations as the month goes on! How did you celebrate your last birthday? What is one of your favorite birthday memories? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun5

Monday Update: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

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Monday Update: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

Helloooo everyone and happy Monday! This past week has brought so many fun posts compliments of my talented blogging darlings for my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. I had such a blast working with all of my lovely guest bloggers and I want to give them all one last thank you shout out!

Thank you all so much again for making my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series so successful. It was an absolute blast working with all of you either again or for the first time. Each and every one of you is always welcome back on lifewithlilred so don’t hesitate to get in touch – especially when my fall themed series rolls around! ❤

Jun5

Money Management For Summer Fun

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Money Management For Summer Fun

The summer season is unquestionably the greatest time of the year. It offers the opportunity for non-stop fun through a wide array of activities. Sadly, though, those ventures can hit your wallet hard. So, needless to say, finding the right balance between amazing summer adventures and not breaking the bank is essential.

Summer is the perfect time to start generating savings at home because with vacas and day trips, you won’t be there as often. However, you will still be there sometimes, which is why you need to have some entertainment features on hand. You could probably cut down your TV package without noticing the difference, I’m sure there’s countless channels that go unused! Try downloading the Cinemabox movie app for access to the latest films and shows. Not only does it save money, but it also gives you the option to watch from the back yard hammock or on the move.

Speaking of the back yard, that could be one of your greatest assets throughout this part of the year, too. Nothing beats relaxing on the patio with rattan furniture. Whether it’s a relaxed evening with a book or spending family time together in the evening doesn’t matter. Those joys are better than anything offered during the colder months. Best of all, enjoying the garden is virtually free. Your lush back yard could even become your new place for social activities. Invite friends over for a summer BBQ or garden party, and it’ll be far cheaper than heading out to the local bar. And, let’s be honest, this option sounds like a lot more fun!

There are many other ways to save money at home during the summer. This is the ideal opportunity to complete various home upgrade tasks for long-term rewards. Increasing the home insulation will work wonders that will truly pay dividends in the winter. Meanwhile, looking for cheaper energy quotes can help decrease the bills even further. Growing food and generally living a greener life should bring ample rewards, too. Of course, it might be a bit late in the year to start with certain fruits and veggies. But that’s okay! Do your research and learn what types of produce grow best for this time of year and in your area and you’ll be well on your way to delicious summer salads in no time!

You will still inevitably go out on various occasions – it is summer, after all. The key is to make smarter choices. Leave the expensive internal activities for the autumn through spring. The summer months should be filled with hikes, sports, and exploration. I’m sure we’ll all be longing for those opportunities once the weather gets worse.

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Pretty!

Vacations are another crucial part of the summer. Most families have their big trip of the year during this time. Be sure to follow these ideas for a non-budget breaking holiday so that you can score the best deals during your big vaca. Money shouldn’t dictate every decision that you make in life. But maintaining a greater sense of control over your finances will enhance the summer and the rest of your year. If you can generate those savings without sacrificing your enjoyment, then you’re in for a fabulous summer, for sure!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun1

Ford And Fiat Battle For The Ultimate Small Summer Car

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Ford And Fiat Battle For The Ultimate Small Summer Car

Let loose the rays of ultraviolet, may the buds that sprout shoot into blossoming flowers that drench the world in their splendor, and may the sound of puppies playing and children laughing swamp the world. Summer is finally here – and about time, too. The wind, rain, and unpleasant gray clouds all have bowed to the supremacy of the sun and ran away. Times like these make you want to go on a holiday with your best friends and never come home.

Nothing can replicate the feeling of a summer vacation that’s totally in your own hands. No scheduled flights to catch, no delayed trains, no sleeping on the floor of some godforsaken terminal somewhere. Now, all you need is the perfect little car to drive you to all of the vacation hot spots. But If you’re in the market for a small car, which one should you pick? The honest answer is that there are a multitude of choices but none of them dominate the others in the field; it’s all relative. However, here are two of the totally beach ready cars that you can consider:

Dancing With Urbanity: Fiesta de resistance. Ever since Ford shrunk their Focus model and the Ford Fiesta was born, they’ve made a perfectly reliable, fun, scoot-mobile. The design is really quite unique as the car’s rear is taller than the front and has a sweeping slope angle towards the front of the car. The indented lines run from the trunk, down the side doors, and onto the top of the bonnet and into the headlights. The Fiesta is a four door car with great legroom for your friends in the back seats. It has a peppy little 1-liter Ecoboost engine which has great low-rev grunt, which makes it the obvious choice for little streets which require a decent amount of torque for quick bursts of acceleration.

Drinking and driving is a very serious issue and some people can get carried away on holiday. If you know someone who may fall prey to vaca temptation and you can see they need help, you could reward them with a road trip holiday in one of these cars after they’ve been to a place like https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/alcohol-abuse/. Nevertheless, Ford have always made strong and sturdy cars, and the little Fiesta is no different with the Euro NCAP crash tests giving it a staggering 91% protection rating for adults and similarly astonishing 86% for child protection. When you’re driving in countries you’re unfamiliar with, knowing that you’re safe behind the wheel should an accident befall you is something that travelers are understandably putting high up on their list.

Italian Magnificence: The Fiat Punto is one of the iconic cars of the latter part of the 20th century and now is a staple car for those looking at an affordable little zipping machine. Pointy, small, agile, and totally adorable – the Punto uses a 1.2 petrol engine. Italians are known for their automotive engineering and this little car is no exception. The engine has as strong block, so it will tend to rev out a lot. But most small cars are made to be loud shouty things when you really put your foot down! The style is very sleek and curvy, perfect for the voguish girl who wants to make a statement driving through town. The proportions are incredibly well sized and timed; the Punto wouldn’t look out of place driving through Monaco. And get this, it has a combined 60 miles per gallon capability; that means more miles as you navigate through the city.

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Pretty!

A vacation isn’t complete without a cool car to drive around in. And with so many new options on the table – the problem won’t be finding one but deciding on one model!

Featured Image By: Cherylholt

May31

Summer Bucket List Ideas

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Summer Bucket List Ideas

Hi everyone and welcome to day two of my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series thanks to the darling Charlotte of CharlieeStar. Charlotte is one of the most sweet as can be girls that I have had the pleasure of working with and her blog is a real treat! She is just starting out in the blogging world, so please make sure to check out her page and give it some love! In this post, Charlotte is going to provide us with some super fun Summer Bucket List Ideas, so take a look and enjoy:

Summer Bucket List Ideas

Hey guys,

After reading that Sarah (lifewithlilred) was looking for summer guest writers, I jumped at the opportunity! So before I get into my post I’d like to say a thank you to Sarah for letting me appear on here! Anyways, who am I? Well I’m Charlotte from CharlieeStar. I’m a UK blogger focusing on lifestyle, beauty, and relationship posts! Seeing as summer is just around the corner, I thought that I’d do a post on potential Summer Bucket List Ideas. Basically, these are the things that I think I would like to do this summer and I thought that you might be able to take some inspiration from them, too! I think I’ve done enough rambling now so let’s get into this!

Beach BBQs:

Luckily for me (or unluckily depending on how you look at it), I live about 15 minutes away from the beach. This means, that in the summer I have a pretty obvious area to hang out. But don’t be fooled, the beach is always mobbed by tourists. This is why the first thing on my bucket list takes place in the evening. BBQs on the beach sound so basic, but they’re such a great way to hang out with your friends and enjoy the warmer summer evenings. By the evening, the gathering tourists will be heading back inland for dinner or whatever it is that tourists do. Meaning the beach is quiet and the world feels like yours. There’s no limit to this just being a beach activity though! If you don’t live near a beach, then you could hold the BBQ in a nearby field or even in your back garden.

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Catch Up On Some Reading:

I love reading but never seem to have enough time for it! That’s why this summer I want to take some time to read. I’ll be publishing a ‘What’s on my summer reading list’ over on my blog so please feel free to follow me and look out for that if you are interested!

Star Gaze (With Haydn):

My boyfriend (Haydn) and I are a long distance couple so we don’t have endless amounts of time together, but a peaceful night under the stars together listening to music and eating snacks sounds perfect to me. If you’re not in a relationship, you could totally do this with your close friends, your dog, or even just you. Although, if like me you do live in the UK, you’ll probably need to take some blankets so you don’t get hypothermia.

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Enjoy The Area:

This probably sounds really old person like, but I want to make better use of the area I live in. I love going for walks or riding my bike, so this summer I want to do more walks around local rivers and in the countryside or take my bike out. Even on days where my friends are busy, I still want to motivate myself to actually do something with my days. Contrary to popular belief, you can have too much Netflix – trust me!

Work On My Blog:

Of course, one of the main things that I love doing is blogging! I started in January as a way to do something more productive with my spare time. I haven’t grown a ton (as I’m writing this I have just over 100 followers), but I’d really like to. Over the summer, I’ll hardly have any school work so I want to use some of my free time to learn about how to be a better blogger! (If you’ve got any tips please let me know! You can comment down below or message me on Instagram @charliestarblogs) If you haven’t got a hobby or want to put more time/effort into the ones that you do have, summer is the perfect time to work on them.

Movie Marathon:

I know that I just stated how much I love being outdoors, but I’m a ‘homely’ kinda girl at heart and a movie marathon is likely the only marathon I’ll ever complete! Either with my girls or on my own, I want to put my pajamas on, snuggle under a duvet, and binge watch a good series (TV or movies). Does this count as something to go on a bucket list? I think so!

Feel Body Confident:

This is one that I thought a lot about before putting it onto my list. I mean, it’s not something that you can do for fun in the summer but it is something that I want to feel? IDK. This summer, I want to stop worrying that my boobs are too small to wear some of the cute crop tops out there or that my back acne is gross so I shouldn’t wear low backed tops. I want to wear the clothing that I think looks cute and feel confident doing it! After all, we’re all beautiful in our own way and someone will always love the flaws that you hate.

Thank you guys for reading my little list. I think I broke a lot of the bucket list rules but that’s okay, we’ll just roll with it. These are all of the things that I want to do/achieve but what about you guys? Let me know in the comments below! Once again thanks to Sarah for letting me appear here on lifewithlilred!

*Pretend my sign off is cool*,

Charliestar xoxo

Blog: CharlieeStar

Instagram: @charliestarblogs

Thank you so much again to Charlotte for sharing her Summer Bucket List Ideas with us! What are your summer goals? How do you plan on spending your summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

7 Simple Ways To Say I Love You A Little More

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7 Simple Ways To Say I Love You A Little More

The secret to any relationship is communication. It’s one of the five secret ingredients to love; respect, friendship, understanding, companionship, and communication. Without this, relationships cannot grow and when it fades, the rest follows suit. But while talking about the small things in life is important, showing that we love the gorgeous special someone in our life is crucial. It is a way of helping them feel your love more deeply. It is a way of kicking the emotional guessing game to the curb and showing them how much you love waking up next to them, how much you enjoy being in a relationship with them, and what it means to fall asleep with your fingers interlocked with theirs. Check out how with these simple steps:

Stare Into Their Eyes: There is nothing that says love like staring into your SO’s beautiful eyes whenever you compliment him/her. It takes your simple words and gives them show-stopping power. Don’t believe us, then the next time they bring home a bouquet of flowers, don’t just say “I made pizza rolls for dinner,” pause for a second, put your hands on his face, look him in the eyes and then say “I made pizza rolls for dinner”. Works like a charm.

Help Him/Her Reach Their Dreams: Think back to the last time you found yourself in hot water or a situation that makes your chest feel tight, and then think about who helped you out of this sticky situation. It was your SO, right? Well, a person is only as strong and successful as the woman standing by them, so give them that confidence to reach their goals. Offer help, support, and words of encouragement whenever you can.

Suggest Some Friend Time: We all need to unwind once in a while, whether it is alone or with our friends, so try encouraging your SO to do this. Encourage him or her to go out and do something that they enjoy with their friends, whether it be hiking, shopping, whatever. They get some time away and you get some down time. Total win/win.

Surprise, Surprise: It could be something small like reaching out to their  love of grooming and buying their favorite scent, or bringing home a takeaway and selection of movies. Or it could be a more experience style surprise, which makes the perfect gifts for men who have everything. It is the little things like this that always make us feel loved, appreciated, and warm n’ fuzzy, especially when they are unexpected. It also shows you know exactly what they’re in to. Bonus points right there.

Wear ‘The’ Outfit: All people are similar in that they all respond to visual stimuli. They are so predictable in that sense, and this is especially true when it comes to the SO in their life. Every person has a favorite SO outfit; there’s no doubt about it. They may have voiced it or hinted at it, so wear it now again. It could be that figure-hugging dress, those bootylicious jeans, or those cheeky pajamas; whatever it is, wear it now and then because they’ll know it’s just for them.

Take A Genuine Interest: Everyone has interests and hobbies in life and your SO is no different. It could be books, films, football, nature, anything. Whatever it is, though, try getting more involved in it. Start taking an interest and let your SO see that you want to make an effort to learn more about them and change your attitude towards the things you may not be naturally interested in. Not only is sharing hobbies a great way to strengthen a relationship, but it’s a great way to try something new and have some unexpected fun.

Ask For Advice: One of the easiest and best ways to make your SO feel more loved and appreciated is to ask for their advice. It could be advice about a business idea, how to overcome a problem in your friendship group, or what you should do about this or that. This will make their chest swell like an alpha pigeon and make them feel great that you trust their opinion and judgment. You’ll also see your SO start to open up to you more and start asking you for your own advice on the day to day.

When your relationship starts feeling a little lackluster, spice things up with the above tips and show your SO that they’re your number one!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May29

Monday Update: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers Series Lineup

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Monday Update: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers Series Lineup

Hello everyone and happy Monday! This week is a fun one because tomorrow is the beginning of my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series! With the change of the seasons, I love inviting my fellow bloggers to join me on my page to celebrate their favorite parts of that time of year. It’s a joy to see the tips, fashion, beauty, and hang outs from all over the world, thanks to the wonderful ladies that bravely volunteer to write an article for lifewithlilred. Chit chatting over email with all of my girls always makes my day and each of them have come up with a wonderful and unique article to share with all of you. So let’s get to the lineup:

Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers:

As you can see, I have a fabulous lineup in place for this guest bloggers series and I cannot wait for it to start tomorrow with a gorgeous OOTD compliments of K.M.! Thank you to all of my amazing guest bloggers for participating in my Salute To Summer series – I so loved working with all of you. And, of course, you are welcome back on lifewithlilred any time!

What is your favorite part of summer? What is the summer weather like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May26

Warby Parker – ROCI N’ Roll

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Warby Parker – ROCI N’ Roll

Hi everyone and TGIF! I hope all of you are having a fabulous day so far! So, if there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, its sunglasses. From my beloved and battered frames from when I worked at PacSun almost three years ago (yikes!) to my Chanel pair randomly given to me by my nail tech, I truly treasure my sunnies. I probably have over twenty pairs of shades for any given occasion and, yes, I’m totally aware that that’s a little excessive!

But, guys, hear me out: sunglasses are seriously the best accessory on the planet. Not only do they shield sensitive eyes (like mine!) from the harsh sun, but they instantly transform an outfit. Whether you’re covering your face with oversized frames because you decided not to wear makeup or you want something bright and fun to wear while lounging by the pool – there’s a pair of sunglasses for you. From “don’t look at me” diva shades to a pair of crisp aviators or even a cat eye if you’re feeling saucy, there is a sunnie style for you to fit your mood (or moods!) that day.

And guess what? Cute, chic, throw your face back at the sun you emblazoned goddess sunglasses can all be found if you shop with Warby Parker. Warby Parker, the little brand that could, developed from the brain blast of college students who were sick and tired of paying a pretty penny to replace their glasses and sunnies every time they got lost. Hey, I feel it – you know that your girl is constantly ballin on a budget!

Anyways, fast forward to present day, about seven years after the brand first launched and you will find that Warby Parker is up to a world of good. Did you know that one billion people worldwide lack access to prescription glasses? That’s why with every pair of Warby Parker frames sold, a pair goes out to someone in need, thanks to collaborations with non-profits like VisionSpring.

Oh. And did I mention that another part of Warby Parker’s world of good comes with the fact that their glasses and sunnies are seriously cute? Yeah. Let’s get to that. Warby Parker has just launched their summer collection and I am in love. We’re talking 1960’s mod inspired shapes with a bright but slightly sun faded color palette to give you dusky hues in an array of gorgeous shades. Hello, fun in the sun.

Along with Warby Parker’s summer collection comes a fabulous collaboration with artist, Robert Rauschenberg. A legendary artist, in his own right, Robert Rauschenberg is known for his creative spirit and a life dedicated to activism. He truly is the perfect person to pair up with Warby Parker for a limited edition collaboration. Drawing colors found in one of four paintings from Rauschenberg’s ROCI (Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange) project, the “there for a short time only” frame is available in four different colors. And the name of this stunning brand new collaboration, you might ask? ROCI, obvs! Take a look:

With stained sea glass hues sweetly contrasting from the frames to the sides, it’s no wonder why the ROCI collection is a major hit! The muted yet vivid tones of these frames will pop beautifully against a summer tan as you strut your stuff on the boardwalk or beach. Or, if you’re sporting the pasty pale look, like me, all summer, you can wear your new ROCIs while jamming in your car to AFI as you’re on your way to a sold out show at your favorite venue. House Of Blues, anyone? That’s how I ROCI N’ Roll.

It’s a no brainer to see why I simply adore the new ROCI collab with Warby Parker and Robert Rauschenberg. Art truly has met fashion with this limited edition collection, which is nothing short of inspiring. So, now, let me inspire you with some of my favorite frames from the Warby Parker summer collection so that you can start day dreaming about your next summer fun adventure:

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Seen From Top To Bottom:

  • Laurel in Espresso Tortoise
  • Clementine in Espresso Tortoise
  • Nancy in Coral

When I shop sunnies, I normally always opt for a darker colored frame. With bright red hair and red lips, a colorful pair of sunglasses can be, well – a bit much. That is why I am totally in love with the Espresso Tortoise hue seen above, particularly in the Clementine frame. Black, browns, and tortoise shades make up a majority of my sunnies collection and the Clementine frame just speaks to me as something that I love enough to want to wear on my face!

So, if I love dark colors on my sunglasses so much, why would I choose the Coral colored Nancy frames? Well surprise, surprise I actually really like that shade! Once long ago I had the most gorgeous circle shaped pair of sunnies from Aerie in almost the exact Coral color as the Nancy frames. I wore those sunglasses everywhere and I loved how chic and elegant they made me look. After years of wear and tear, my beloved shades finally fell apart and I miss them every day. The Nancy sunglasses from Warby Parker’s summer collection would be the perfect replacement for my fallen friend. Revel in this, because this is the only time I’ll admit to liking a color other than black!!

Are you drooling yet? I think it’s high time that you head over to Warby Parker’s website to start some shopping of your own! What is your favorite frame from their summer collection? How many sunglasses do you own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

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Vaca Style Tips For Every Occasion

So, you’re a traveler? You love to jet off to new places and foreign lands and have a good time? That’s awesome, because there is nothing better than broadening your horizons and enjoying life. But, before you leave, you need to make sure that you’re ready. Nope, that doesn’t mean that you have your passport and visas in order, although that is imperative! In this sense, we’re talking about style. After all, you have to look good while you travel, or else that holiday romance might never happen! Hello, European boys!

Luckily, you can always turn heads while traveling with these tips:

Pack A Series Of Outfits: Naturally, there is never enough space when you start to pack. But, that isn’t an excuse! For centuries, travelers have been finding new and creative ways to jam things into their rucksacks, and you can do the same. Nay, you should do the same. If you’re away for a while, the outfits that you pack will get to feel weathered and tired. As a result, you might begin to develop the wardrobe blahs, feeling like you lack that little something something. By taking everything from sundresses to hot pants and all of the pieces in between, your wardrobe won’t start to feel boring while you’re away.

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Be sure to pack some sunnies!

Only Wear Casual Clothes During The Day: Another reason clothes start to feel old is because you are wearing them too much. While you’re away, you won’t think twice about wearing an evening outfit during the day. Indeed, it might be necessary if you haven’t got any clean clothes. The problem with this, is that they lose their shine a lot quicker as a result. The solution is simple: keep evening wear for the evenings. Then, when you get ready, you will have the same feeling like every other time you go for a night on the town.

Take Accessories: Just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean that you can’t accessorize. In fact, you should do it more when you are in a foreign land. What do you know about accessories? Well, the first and main thing is that they are style enhancers. That means that they are the perfect side dish to making an okay outfit look great. Seeing as your outfits are bound to lose their appeal, a few accessories could help you step up your game. All you have to do is pack a handful that goes with most items. A word of warning: don’t go overboard and pack them carefully to avoid them getting tangled. No one wants to spend a morning in Rome undoing a necklace knot!

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Pretty!

Refresh Your Style: What you take with you isn’t what will come back. Most people throw things away and buy new things while they are on the move. And, it’s an excellent idea. Okay, there might not be an H&M on the high street if you’re thousands of miles from home. Still, the local markets always try and cater to the tourists, so there should be some cheap items that catch your eye. In fact, they’ll be dirt cheap if you learn how to haggle properly.

Style is important when you’re traveling in a new place. It will take you from the girl sightseeing to the sight that people are gazing at! Happy travels!

Featured Image By: Flickr