Tag Archives: style

If The Shoe Fits – Apt. 9 Edition

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If The Shoe Fits – Apt. 9 Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to a new edition of If The Shoe Fits – Apt. 9 style! I got these beauties for an incredible bargain while shopping at Kohl’s and they have become one of my go to pairs of heels – especially since my beloved Vera Wangs are not what they used to be. Take a look at my shoe babies and then let’s discuss:

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If there’s one thing that you guys should know about me by now, it’s that I love a bargain! Target, Kohl’s, and TJMaxx are my favorite stores to ball on a budget at and my Apt. 9 wedged heels were no exception! These shoesies were purchased with my shopping partner in crime…My mother. We always have such a blast when we go out together and I vividly remember our shopping trip that resulted in my Apt. 9s like it was yesterday.

Kohl’s always has the best end of season sales so my mom and I had a mother daughter rendezvous at the end of April. Usually when we go shopping together we divide and conquer the store and then meet up in a place we can enjoy as a pair…the shoe department. :*) Not gonna lie, the shoe section was looking a hot mess because of overzealous shoppers but we perused the aisles and found multiple winners to try on. I locked eyes on two gorgeous Juicy Couture heels (which I ended up purchasing) and I was so focused on them that I almost left the shoe sanctuary altogether because I thought I had found “the ones”…

Little did I know, one of my favorite pairs of shoes would be found after one last look around of the shoe department before we checked out our goodies. I scanned through the aisles, rejecting the pairs that I deemed “shameful” before and giving a slight nod of approval to the shoes that I thought were cute but not cute enough to try on. That’s when my slight nod at my Apt. 9s turned into a shake of disapproval that I hadn’t plucked them from the shelf earlier. I don’t know what made me shy away from them before – they have everything that I like! A heel, zippers, and most importantly – they’re black! But better yet, the price was only seventeen dollars! Seventeen. Freaking. Dollars. That’s when I knew that they were coming home with me.

I sat my sweet ass down, pulled off my shoes one last time, and gave the Apt. 9s a try…and they were fabulous!! They reminded me SO much of my beloved black lace up Vera Wang wedges but they were still unique and cool in their own right. I only needed about a thirty second inspection in the full length mirror to know that my edgy wedges would be an excellent addition to my collection. I returned to the bench and added the Apt. 9s to the pile which resulted in three pairs of shoes for under one hundred dollars! #SCORE

My pretty babies truly are my Vera Wangs reincarnated because I seriously wear them everywhere now. They were my first day of school shoes this semester as well as my go to-s for running errands, date nights, hang outs, and concerts. You name it, I’ve probably worn them for it! I loveeee wearing my Apt. 9s with my black skinnies from H&M which can be seen in my featured image photo. They have zippers starting at the bottom of the jean that go halfway up my calf and it makes such a rocker effect to have the zippers from the jeans and shoes staggered on each other. When I want to sport an All Black Everything look, pairing my outfit with my Apt. 9s is a no brainer!

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits – Apt. 9 Edition! What is your favorite pair of shoes that you got for an amazing deal? Who is your favorite person to go shopping with? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dresses For Sale!

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Dresses For Sale!

Hey guys and TGIF! I recently went through my seasonal purge of my closet to prepare for fall and there were three particular dresses that I really do love but just don’t do it for me anymore. I wanted to give all of you lovelies the opportunity to add one or all of them to your wardrobe because they really are cute as can be! Take a look and if you’re interested in any of them, please shoot me an email at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com so we can negotiate a price and shipping:

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Dress #1) Modcloth, Hot & Delicious, size M. This sweet little number is honestly one of my all time favorites but it unfortunately does not fit as well as it used to in the bust. I love the bubble skirt and it’s in wonderful condition, however, there is a slight ring of color on the inside of the collar from hair dye/makeup. #fakehaircolorproblems

Dress #2) PacSun, LA Hearts, size S. Once again, I really like this dress as well but the fit is just not up to par on my body type. Usually if things don’t fit just so, I shrug it off, but I’m becoming such a stickler for fit that if it isn’t perfection then I won’t stand for it! But it’s a sweet summer dress in great condition. #fashionistaproblems

Dress #3) PacSun, O’Neil, size M. The fit issue on this dress is actually all my fault. I bought this beauty without trying it on and naturally the size was too big and I never bothered fixing it. Because I rarely wore this, it’s in awesome condition! #lazygirlproblems

As I said, I think these dresses are just too darling to not try and hand them off to the capable hands of one of my very stylish readers! And as I also mentioned, you can reach me at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com, leave me a comment, or friend me on Facebook at Sarah Mushenheim if you are interested! THANKS. ❤

Woman Crush Wednesday: Julianne Hough Edition

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Woman Crush Wednesday: Julianne Hough Edition

Heyyy everyone and welcome to the newest edition of Woman Crush Wednesday – Julianne Hough style! The darling and newly engaged Miss Hough has been the apple of my eye ever since her Dancing With The Stars debut so it only seems right to feature her as Lil Red’s #WCW. Take a look at my all time favorite dance that she ever performed on DWTS and then let’s discuss:

Dear Julianne Hough,

Oh Julianne, you precious tiny dancer, you. I admire your immense talent on the dance floor so very much. You make the most difficult dances look effortless and I had a blast watching you win the Dancing With The Stars mirror ball trophy with Apolo Anton Ohno and Helio Castroneves. It’s a family tradition over at casa da la Lil Red to watch DWTS together and we always rooted for you! I am so happy that you’re back on the show to share your expertise on the judges panel and to occasionally grace the dance floor with your presence. It has been such a joy to watch your transformation from a sweet young woman to a sassy and fabulous goddess! I love your elegant yet fierce style and your ever changing hair! You are just SO beautiful – hubba hubba, lady! Thank you for allowing your bubbly personality into our homes every Monday night during Dancing With The Stars. And most importantly, thank you for being such an amazing role model and inspiration to performers (and people in general) everywhere. I LOVE YOU!!!!

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^^^ OMG, could that pic of Julianne cuddling a puppy be any more adorable?! I think not!

So there you have it, this week’s Woman Crush Wednesday: Julianne Hough Edition! Who is everyone’s #WCW this week? What is your all time favorite Julianne Hough moment on DWTS? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Woman Crush Wednesday: Anne Hathaway Edition

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Woman Crush Wednesday: Anne Hathaway Edition

Hellooooo everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Woman Crush Wednesday – Anne Hathaway style! The lovely Miss Hathaway has been one of my all time favorite actresses since her Princess Diaries days, so let’s discuss my woman crush:

Dear Anne Hathaway:

Oh Anne…sweet, sweet Anne, I just adore you. I vividly remember the Princess Diaries being one of the first movies that I saw in theaters when I was just a wee Lil Red. As I sat through the movie all I could think about was how I wanted to be just like you – and guess what? I STILL DO! One of my fondest memories was going to see The Devil Wears Prada in theaters with my mom, grandma, and sister. We had such a beautiful afternoon together and when I think of my beloved late grandma, I often think of that day. The video that I picked to honor you is one of my favorite scenes in the movie, when Andy gets her makeover. I loved watching your character transform into a poised and perfect fashionista. My young self also loved the royal transformation that you received in the Princess Diaries. Your entire career has been a metamorphosis of a young adult star to an iconic woman, that feels fresh out of one of your films. It has been nothing short of a joy to watch you breeze your way through Hollywood with such grace and charm, which is a rarity in the celebrity scene these days. You have had so many amazing style moments as well, my favorite being when you debuted your pixie haircut! SO cute! You are so gorgeous and I admire you so much. I LOVE YOU!!!!

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^^^ Oh my goodness, that smile!!!! She’s flawless. ❤

So there you have it, this week’s Woman Crush Wednesday: Anne Hathaway Edition! Who is your #WCW this week? What is your favorite creative endeavor by my woman crush? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits – Vera Wang Edition

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If The Shoe Fits – Vera Wang Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the newest edition of If The Shoe Fits – Vera Wang style! If you’re familiar with lifewithlilred in the slightest, then you’ll know that I talk about these shoes a lot. My Vera Wang black lace up wedges are the epitome of “old faithful”. As you can see by the following pics, they’ve had a bit of wear and tear to them BUT they’re still fabulous! Let’s discuss:

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Like many of my shoes in my wardrobe boutique, my Vera Wang’s are from Kohl’s. But unlike many of the pieces in my footwear collection, these babies have been with me for years – well over five, I believe. I’ve had a lot of amazing moments in these shoes and some not so good ones, but no matter the mood at least I know that my wedges looked awesome every time! Now let’s talk about the story behind my OFFF (Old Faithful Fabulous Friend):

So if my Vera’s are five-ish years old, then that means that I was sweet sixteen when I got them. I can picture young Lil Red ambling through the Kohl’s shoe department right now. What attracted my sixteen year old self to these shoes? What made my teenage self say “these are the ones that I’m going to love and cherish until the end of time”? Knowing that my attitude about personal style has been the same since I could dress myself, I’m guessing I loved these wedges because they were unique. I know for a fact that I didn’t have any pairs like it in my collection at the time, so I knew that I had to have it. Like everything in my closet, these Vera’s had the edgy rocker vibe that I yearn for in whatever I buy and I knew that I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t purchase them and become their new mother immediately. #motheroftheyear

Once my Vera Wang’s were safely in my possession, they became my go to shoes for everything. School, concerts, hanging out with friends, work, running errands, dates, going grocery shopping, going to auditions – literally anything you could imagine a sixteen year old doing, I was probably doing it in these wedges….Uhhh….Anyways, they were my favorite and they are still my favorite to this day. I feel invincible when I wear these shoes. Depending on what I style them with I can go from feeling sexy and dangerous to feminine and sweet in a matter of seconds. There’s seriously nothing better than having pieces in your wardrobe that give you such versatile emotions and styling options.

I wore my Vera’s every chance I could get and I wore them with every outfit you can imagine. Girly dresses, not so girly dresses, body con skirts, mini skirts, midi skirts, maxi skirts, short shorts, normal shorts, skinny jeans, leggings, slouchy but sexy pants – you name it, I’ve worn my wedges with it. There’s no denying the beauty of the shoes but they are also SO functional as well. The height of them is just right – it gives whatever you’re wearing that little extra oomph, but they’re not so high that you’re tottering around like a baby deer when you’re being a woman on the go. #perfection

What truly breaks my heart about these shoes is that they’re getting old. My darling Vera’s are becoming broken down and flimsy so I wear them very rarely now. These shoes have been my fashion lifeline for five years and counting now and I don’t think that I could ever part with them. Not only do my wedges hold a special place on my feet but they’ve left a permanent foot print on my heart as well. I’ll never forget all of the crazy times I’ve had in my beauties and I know that until the right time comes to wear my worn down wedges again, they will be holding sentinel on my shoe wall with an ever watchful eye on their beloved owner. ❤

So there you have it, the newest issue of If The Shoe Fits – Vera Wang Edition! Does anyone have a relationship to a pair of shoes similar to that of mine and my Vera Wang’s? What is your most loved pair of shoes? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

My Issues – Teen Vogue Edition

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My Issues – Teen Vogue Edition

Whatsup everyone and happy Saturday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful start to your weekend! So I’m not gonna lie, as a twenty-one year old adult, I still enjoy flipping through the pages of Teen Vogue…but after my latest encounter with the teen mag – not so much. As I skimmed over the pages, I realized that I had a problem with so much of what the magazine was preaching. Allow me to explain:

First of all, the articles of clothing featured in the magazine are so ridiculously expensive – what teenager other than the filthy rich have the money to purchase clothing like that? Teen Vogue is teaching young women to idolize material goods and vapid celebrities rather than teaching them how to make a look that is uniquely their own. I would much prefer to see a teen magazine that’s teaching young folks how to manage their money and one might say “ball on a budget”. Yes, the clothes shown are great inspiration, but they’re just so unattainable to the point that it doesn’t seem fair. With the Kardashian girls seen on almost every page it almost feels like the only people who are worthy of great style are those who are famous simply for being famous. How can a teenage-something girl achieve a lifestyle like that? Making a sex tape maybe? #burn

My second bone to pick with the magazine is actually something that I’ve mentioned on lifewithlilred before but is worth talking about again. I am SO beyond annoyed with Teen Vogue for consistently lumping the way the “punk” or an “All American Girl” should be dressing just by the stereotype of how people assume these styles are dressed. Spoiler alert: Punk does not mean gothed out girls with black lipstick and clip in piercings. The “American Girl” does not equal a blonde haired blue eyed beauty in cutoff shorts and a flannel knotted at the waist. There are countless ways of outfitting different styles without giving in to the norm that everyone is familiar with. The best part about fashion is playing with it, not dressing up in an over exaggerated costume because a magazine suggests that that’s how it should look.

As I flipped more angrily through the pages, all I could see were caricatures of styles according to a looks stereotype. What “sporty” girl runs around town in her sports bra for every day errands? NONE. How in the hell can young girls develop a personal style if they are dressing exactly how a magazine thinks that they should look? Featuring slender models in high end couture clothing is NOT the way to teach girls how to dress. The more I looked through Teen Vogue, the more I felt that the originality of my own style was being sucked away from me as my grungy/rocker look was categorized into a costume.

Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe my opinions are not how everyone else feels. But I literally got so worked up after I slammed the magazine shut that I had to go write notes about the thoughts that were going through my head as I perused the pages. Magazines, especially ones directed towards young people, should be focusing on the cool and creative not the celebrity cookie cutter version of fashion. My teenage self loved Teen Vogue, but looking at it from the perspective of a young adult definitely made me see things from a more critical eye. So I say, screw the message that that magazine is sending out. Focus on staying true to yourself in your personal style and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. The end. *Drops mic*

So there you have it, My Issues – Teen Vogue Edition. Has anyone felt similarly to me while looking through fashion magazines? What is your message for young people developing their own style? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

It’s In The Bag – British Invasion Edition

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It’s In The Bag – British Invasion Edition

Hey everyone and happy Sunday! It’s time to debut a new segment on http://www.lifewithlilred.com, which is appropriately entitled “It’s In The Bag” for obvious reasons! If there’s one thing that I know every girl loves, it’s a great statement purse, and now I’m here to discuss some of my personal favorites from my wardrobe boutique with all of you! Take another look at my go to handbag and then let’s discuss:

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I’m very particular about all of the pieces in my closet and purses are no exception. All of my purchases have to have just the right touches of edgy rocker chic and nothing does it better than this fab find from Charming Charlie! For those of you who are unfamiliar with CC, it’s a huge accessories store – we’re talking purses, jewelry, hats, scarves, clothing, the whole shebang. I don’t venture into Charming Charlie very often, but when I do, I always manage to find some fun new goodies!

I found my British Invasion purse during a shopping trip to Crocker Park, a gorgeous outdoor mall in Westlake, Ohio. Crocker Park offers a huge Charming Charlie that has so much cuteness it’s almost overwhelming. My (ex)friend and I entered the store and the first thing that caught my eye was my studded bag baby. Usually I’m not one to go completely gaga over a purse but I just couldn’t help myself – this one was special. I plucked the bag from the display and power walked my sweet tookus to the closest mirror possible and it truly was perfect. It felt so right flung over my shoulder or clutched in my protective hands. I remember that I was wearing all black that day (as usual) and the bag simply popped against my blank canvas of an outfit. It had to be mine.

Not only is this purse stylish but it’s also very functional, which is something that’s very important to me. When I’m in need of a new bag, the size has to be just right. I don’t want anything too big, like a hobo bag, and I can’t do anything too small either, like a clutch. My ideal purse has to have enough room to fit my wallet, car keys, cigarettes, lighter, lipstick, and any other odds and ends that I might need. My British Invasion purse fits everything comfortably and still offers additional room if I need to throw anything else in. Despite the Lil Red Approved size, I still manage to have difficulty finding my things in there…Go figure. -_-

In all honesty, I’m not a girl who’s one for designer anything, especially when it comes to purses. I’d prefer to find a unique piece that I know not everyone will have and most importantly, I prefer to find it with a reasonable price tag attached. I scored my Charming Charlie British Invasion purse for thirty dollars and to me, this is such a steal. I like to use the “cost per wear” method and the amount of times that I’ve used my bag baby has paid for itself a hundred times over. This purse is sharp, sleek, and so damn cool! I get compliments on it wherever I go and I feel awesome strutting about with its beautiful little self casually hanging over my shoulder. It’s in the bag. ❤

So there you have it, the first edition of It’s In The Bag – British Invasion Edition. Now I need your help! What purse should I write about next? Your choices are between my Betsey Johnson telephone purse or my Target animal skull satchel. I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Woman Crush Wednesday: Stevie Nicks Edition

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Woman Crush Wednesday: Stevie Nicks Edition

Hellooo everyone and welcome to another edition of Woman Crush Wednesday – Stevie Nicks style! The music of the lovely Miss Nicks was a big part of my childhood and every day life now because my parents instilled a love of Fleetwood Mac in me from a young age. So here’s to you, Stevie, because you’ve earned a coveted spot as Lil Red’s #WCW! Let’s discuss:

Dear Stevie Nicks,

Oh Stevie, you gorgeous music/fashion/American Horror Story icon, I just adore you. It only seemed right to post the taping of a live performance of “Sara” as the video I chose to honor you because my parents would always play it for me when I was little. To this day it still remains one of my favorite songs. Your strong and unique voice inspires me with the spirit of pure girl power and you are one of my fashion idols. I have been so obsessed with everything boho rocker chic as of late and I think of you whenever I’m sporting one of my floor length kimonos. In fact, every time I wear one of my flowy favorites my mom will request that I “twirl around like Stevie”, which I happily oblige to! Your cameo on American Horror Story: Coven was one of my top highlights of AHS in its entirety and I really think you are too cool for words. I hate using the word “cool” to describe people but it just fits you so well! Your incredible presence and effortless style scream cool to me, in the best way possible. As a child I wanted to be you when I grew up and here I am as a twenty-one year old who still is waiting to be you. I LOVE YOU!!!!!

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^^^ Oh. My. God. She’s seriously flawless and I am SO in love with the black and white photo!!

So there you have it, this weeks Woman Crush Wednesday: Stevie Nicks Edition. Who is your #WCW this week? What is your favorite creative endeavor from my woman crush? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

If The Shoe Fits – Guess Edition

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If The Shoe Fits – Guess Edition

Helloooo everyone and happy Thursday!!! Welcome to another issue of If The Shoe Fits – Guess style! I purchased my army green beauties a year or so ago and they slowly but surely became one of my favorite pairs of wedges. Take a look at some pics of these funky shoes and then let’s discuss:

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This cool pair of wedges came into my possession during a shopping trip to TJMaxx with my mom. We always spend a lot of time in their shoe department because we both have a deep love for all things footwear! While we were browsing I looked at these wedges a few times but didn’t try them on. I actually didn’t really plan on it either until my mom pointed them out and insisted that I give them a try. I figured “why not”, so I slipped them on and of course I fell in love. What initially turned me off about these shoes was the cut out design but as soon as they were on my feet they just looked so darn good! These wedges were definitely a case where they look much better on the foot than on the shelf. After strutting about the shoe department hallway, I knew that they had to be mine so into the cart they went!

If it wasn’t for my mom, I would have never given these shoes the time of day and that’s actually quite shocking to me. Usually I know what I love and what I completely hate. As I glanced at the wedges while shopping around, I really did want to love them and thanks to my mom giving me the push to try them on they are now a tried and true favorite in my massive shoe collection. There are very few items in my wardrobe that were bought because of other people and I never really give them credit for helping me add to my “could be a boutique” closet and shoe wall. So this post is not only a shout out to my fabulous green Guess-es but also to my darling mama for knowing her daughter well enough to see that the wedges were meant for Lil Red!

Once my wedges were safe and sound on my shoe wall after the TJ’s trip, I couldn’t believe that I almost didn’t try them on. The more I looked at them, the more I loved them. The unique shape and color grew on me like a fungus of similar color and I can’t picture my life without them! My Guess-es fit like a glove and my style savvy mom knew that they fit my fashion personality to the T as well. I love wearing my bad boys with literally EVERYTHING! From dresses and shorts to maxi skirts and jeans, these shoes are my go to-s to add a little extra oomph to my outfit. In fact, I just recently sported my shoe babies to my brother’s graduation in May and they were a hit! Take a gander:

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^^^ Looking good feeling great! #Ihatemyself ❤

I can’t put my finger on what made me shy away from my shoesies during that fateful TJMaxx trip but I can only hope that my Guess wedges will forgive me…I was just playing hard to get! 😉

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits – Guess Edition! Now I need your help. What shoe should I write about next? Your choices are between Elle floral print heels, Guess wedged combat boots, or Calico primary color kitten heels. I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Woman Crush Wednesday: Kate Middleton Edition

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Woman Crush Wednesday: Kate Middleton Edition

Helloooo everyone and happy hump day! Welcome to this weeks edition of Woman Crush Wednesday – Kate Middleton style! The lovely Ms. Middleton has been the apple of my eye ever since she tied the knot to Prince William so it only seems appropriate to show her some #WCW love! Enjoy this silly video of some friendly competition between the happy couple and then let’s discuss!

Dear Kate Middleton,

Oh beautiful Duchess Kate, I admire your grace and charm so very much. You entered into a family of royalty with so much poise and elegance and I think your sophistication is something that women everywhere can look up to. My beloved late grandma and I always enjoyed raving to each other about your gorgeous wedding and fabulous London chic style. You handle being in the public eye so well and it has been such a joy watching you embark on the journey of motherhood with your precious George and Charlotte. Whenever you and Prince William release family photos or pictures of your little ones I get so excited! They’re just so darn cute! I envy all of your clothing like no other – whether you’re dressed up for an event for one of the many humanitarian groups you support or are just out and about with the kids, you never cease to look amazing! I like how your smart and sharp style is composed of classic pieces that ladies across the globe can easily find, like your staples of a great pair of jeans or a pea-coat. I adore your sweet and silly personality and I thank you for giving all of your fans the opportunity to see your children grow as well as your relationship with Prince William! You two look so happy when you are seen in public together and I think you are both doing such a great job as parents! You are the definition of class – and did I mention how stunning you are? Hubba hubba. I LOVE YOU!!!!!

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^^^ Oh my goodness, I can’t handle how perfect she is!!! ❤

So there you have it, this weeks Woman Crush Wednesday: Kate Middleton Edition! Who is your #WCW this week? What was your favorite fashion moment of my woman crush? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah