*puts ‘can run in heels’ on resume*

Here are words that I wrote about things I like. Feel free to read them.

[ganseyblues]

[sihlvers]

[infiniety]

and so the adventure begins

[simpleisnewluxury]

[infiniety]

and so the adventure begins

[withloveandredlipstick]

15 Under $50 - Fall Haul

It doesn’t feel like fall yet. 

But it’s coming, I promise. I’ve already lit the pumpkin candles and bought the candy corn (don’t judge my love for candy corn). I’ve pulled my sweaters out of storage and come to the annual realization that I need more. Over these past few year, I’ve felt that Fall has been so short, but so sweet. I try to soak up as much of the season before the bitter cold of Winter comes far too soon. So I’m filling my shopping carts with my new Fall Essentials before the temperature even dropped below 70. Let’s get into it. 

1. Chunky Cable Knit Cardigan by DREAMERS BY DEBUT at Nordstrom- $49 with Free Shipping

Fall means layering and neutral layers are the key to putting the comfiest and most stylish outfits together. This chunky sweater is available in all sizes and another trendy fall color, mustard. 

2. Felt Beret by Urban Outfitters - on sale for $15 

So I’m currently in the process of making my Fall/Winter travel plans and I’m buying a beret. In a vague attempt to not jinx where I might be headed for my 22nd birthday, I have been wanting a beret for a while I think that they are the cutest accessory to wear wherever you may end up this Fall fingers crossed I’m under a very specific Parisian Tower

3. 'purity made simple' one-step facial cleanser by philosophy at Nordstrom- $20.40 15% off

I’m going to admit it, I never really had acne. So I’ve lived my life pretty clueless when it came to skincare. I have normal skin, that rarely breaks out, but to keep my skin hydrated and healthy I have used purity face wash since I got the travel size as a free gift from Sephora. It smells amazing and is a 3-in-1 cleanser, so it a huge time saver. It’s an investment, but worth it in a way I can’t describe. 

4. Gale Jacket by O’neill at Nordstrom - $35.70 at 40%

This year’s Fall color palette is to absolute die for. I have worked very hard to build a wardrobe and aesthetic and I have never branched out, but these wine colors make me feel so undeniably fall, y’know? Light jacket weather holds so much potential for Fall activities and this jacket is perfect for the apple picking/pumpkin carving/scarecrow building/pie making... I’m getting carried away. This jacket just makes me excited. 

5. Faux Fur Throw Blankets by Threshold at Target - on sale for $24.49

Home decor on a budget is hard. I fall in love with so many seasonal pieces in department stores and can't justify buying all of them if they are just going to be obsolete in a few months. This faux fur throw from target will definitely add a cozy cabin feel to any home or apartment and it can transition from Fall to Winter. It’s also available in grey and white that can be used year round! 

6. Caramel Apple Halloween Kit from Target - $4.99

Speaking of Fall activities, what a fun way to getting ready for Fall then spending the day trying out new recipes that you can share with your family and friends. This kit at Target has everything you need for a day spent making fall themed caramel apples. Definitely Pinterest worthy, Instagramable moments to be made. 

7. 35O Nature Glow Eyeshadow Palette by Morphe at Ulta - $23.00

The ultimate fall palette. Seriously, 35 fall shades with a mixture of shimmer and matte textures that can be used for so many different looks. I am a huge Morphe eyeshadow fan and think that the shades are super blendable and pigmented. I have also used this palette throughout the year for everyday and glam looks. If you order this palette now, you can also get a free deluxe sized Nars Climax mascara. 

8. Double Duty Beauty The Lip Sculptor Double Ended Lipstick & Gloss from Tarte at Ulta -  $24.00

Of course there is a lipstick fall essential. This Tarte Lip Sculptor is half lipgloss and half lipstick bullet with super hydrating coconut oil. It’s super long wearing and available in neutral and fun shades. How great is it that you can have one go to lip product for 3 different lip looks?

9. Jeffree Grey Plaid Ruffle Mini Skirt from Lulu’s  - $34

Plaid is always on trend throughout fall. This grey mini skirt with the ruffle detail is the perfect combination of girly and chic. Like I said, while we might all be feeling fall, the Mother Nature isn’t exactly following through. This lightweight skirt is the perfect way to feel like fall, but not overheat in the “fall” heat. 

10. Joelle Camel Suade Loafer Slides from Lulu’s -  $25

You’ve got plans this fall! You only have a few short months of that crisp, yet refreshing fall weather to pack your entire fall bucket list into. Slide right into the biggest Fall footwear trend and get to your nearest Farmer’s Market. These slides are available in three different colors, but sizes are running out so just click the link now before you regret it and have to waste time lacing up your booties. 

11. Our Wonderful 1 1/4” Sideways Initial Necklaces in Gold from Zoky Doky - 50% off $24.00

I love these necklaces. I think they look so minimalistic and chic. I was the biggest monogram advocate, but I think I’m just a personalization advocate. Almost every letter looks adorable sideways (Sorry W, X, and L). These are available from different retailers, but I’ve found this site to be great and theres a 15% off code if you sign up from their newsletter. 

12. Pumpkin Pecan Waffles Single Wick Candle from Bath and Body Works -  $8.00 (!!!!)

Are we kidding? $8.00 for the best scented Fall candles. I honestly don’t even feel like I should have to type out why I put this on the list. Fall candles are everything. Pumpkin scented candles are everything. Bath and Body Works is   e v e r y t h i n g. That is all. 

13. Rfid Power Bank Zip Around Wallet by BOC by Born  from TJ. Maxx - $12.99

TJ Maxx has online shopping. This is a fact I found out pretty recently and I am the opposite of mad about it. I love the treasure hunt that is Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Home Goods. It’s the thrill of the good deal and now I can do that through my laptop. The important thing about this Fall Essential is that it charges your phone. Apple orchards don’t have outlets. Football stadiums don’t have outlets. But your clutch will. I think the color combination is perfect for fall and you’ll be able to capture every autumn memory without missing a thing because of low battery. 

14. Cuffed Crop Skinny Jeans by 1822 Denim from Nordstrom - $42.00 with Free Shipping 

Everyone needs good Fall denim. Can’t you just see yourself in these... and the chunky sweater and the loafers... see what I did there? There are certain fall wardrobe staples that I buy more of every year because I know that they will get such good use for the whole season. These are so comfortable and fit true to size. 

15. Wilson Square Frame Sunglasses from Top Shop - $20.00

I don’t spend money on sunglasses. I don’t ask for sunglasses as gifts. I lose, break, step on, sit on, throw out all sunglasses. There is absolute no point in me having expensive shades. These tortoise shells will get me through the few and far between sunny days of fall and won’t cause me to have buyers remorse when they end up on the bottom of my bag or the backseat of my car. 

Feel free to leave a comment below which trends your loving this fall and which fall essentials you picked up for the best season of the year. 

Always, 

[withloveandredlipstick]

15 under $50 (summer style from Nordstrom)

The fashion community has been spiraling over the past few weeks. With new spring pieces being released and the weather getting warmer here on the east coast, our wardrobes have been begging for a change. Thankfully, the Nordstrom Half Yearly sale has been the answer to our prayers with some of the best designers being marked down to 40% off. While there have been times when I have looked at a price tag at Nordstrom and shed a single tear, during this sale, so many adorable pieces fit right in my price range. So I compiled a list of a few of my favorites to share with you guys. 

Also, if you are joining me from Instagram, hi! I’m Gill. I enjoy margs with rocks and salt and long walks down the makeup aisle. Feel free to let me know if you came here from the personal or blog insta  and I’ll make sure to give you a follow back! 

Now... shall we?

1. Half Moon Crossbody Bag - Steve Madden $68.00 $40.80 40% off

There is nothing like the high of finding the perfect bag. I am extremely picky when it comes to accessories, but this cross body is the perfect size, color, and price to carry with you for pretty much any season. There is something to be said about a classic bag. While this may lean on the more casual side, this could definitely be taken out at night to hold everything you don't want to forget at home. 

2. Marigold Strappy Sundress- RVCA - $45.00 $26.98 40% off

When the first string of sunny days arrived here on the coast, there was a single mantra running through my brain, ‘It. Is. Sundress. Season.’ This airy sundress is great for shopping, the beach, the boardwalk, pretty much every summer day-dream day-trip that you've been planning since February. This faded floral pattern is true to size, but unfortunately it is selling out in most sizes to this should go to the top of your shopping cart. 

3. Zocalo Slide Sandal - Jeffrey Campbell- $64.95 $48.71 25% off

I really don't want to be that person but, I totally liked rose gold before it was cool. Just saying. (I’m going to say the same thing about millennial pink too, but that’s a story for another time) That’s why when I saw these sandals go on sale I put them in my cart immediately. Everyone needs a cute pair of sandals for the summer that can be dressed up or down. If you aren’t into rose gold (like why?) they also come in two other colors and most sizes! Make sure to size up though because they run small. 

4. MAC x Patrickstarrr Eyeshadow Palette in Glam Af-  MAC Cosmetics- $19.20

Did you really think I wasn’t going to include at least one beauty product in this list? My guilty pleasure has been and will probably always be YouTube tutorials. They are so mind-bogglingly relaxing. I love that so many YouTubers are getting chances to work with brands to design their own lines, Patrickstarr’s collab with MAC is divine from the line of lip products to the two eye shadow quad palettes. I also extremely appreciate the mixture of both matte and shimmer shades. Clearly someone knows what they’re doing @Patrickstarrr 

5. Monogram Stripe Canvas Tote - Cathy’s Concepts - $31.20

I have been dying for a beach day. If the rain clouds would just clear over the Jersey Shore for like more than one day, maybe I  could finally get my wish before I have to throw myself into my internship. Cathy’s Concepts released her bags in Nordstrom in different sizes and a few colors and plenty of initials to match your first or last. The one I ordered is extra large because I have a tendency to overpack no matter where I am going. 

6. Double Breasted Blazer - Leith - $75.00  $44.98 40% off

I saw this blazer on the sale page of the website and saw so much potential for a cute summer outfit. Whether you throw it on over a nice dress to go out to dinner or wear it with some nice jeans or shorts it can really add some class to any summer style. If you’re feeling especially dangerous it also comes in red. All sizes are available and it does fit true to size. 

7. Crop Terry Jogger Pants - ROOM SERVICE - $48.00 $28.80 40% off

Now as much as we all want to spend all summer in a bikini and a tan on the beach with a marg in our hand, my summer will always include a few Netflix binge days. These joggers are the perfect binge pants. End of story. And if you really feel like you must venture outside to, I don’t know, replenish your snack supply before you start the next season of The Crown, no one will think twice of you leaving the house in your pajamas because they are just so darn cute. 

8. Ruffle Halter Bikini Top - Chelsea28- $49.00  $29.40 40% off

You know what I love about living in New Jersey? I get the best of both worlds. I spend my weekdays working in the greatest city in the world (I'm referencing and if you don’t get it we can't be friends, well we can but I’m going to have to seriously educate you) and my weekends at the Jersey Shore, Bitch!  So when I am soaking up the sun, I will definitely be wearing this adorable set from Chelsea28. And please don’t yell at me when you see that there are very few sizes left in the beautiful blush striped top, there are plenty of tops in the same style in ivory! 

9. Grommet Faux Leather Skirt - Topshop- $65.00  $32.50 50% off 

Remember the time I said the fact that I was totally was into Millennial Pink before the rest of the world was was a story for another time? This is the time. Everyone looks good in this color! And you can put any color hardware with it and it will still look good! It is the best color in the world and when the rest of the bandwagon fans move onto another color (my guess is that yellow is going to make a huge comeback) I will still be here supporting my OG trend. Also, remember that Topshop started out across the pond so size DOWN one size. 

10. Tie Sleeve Kimono - Band of Gypsies- $49.00 $29.40 40% off

Kimonos are a spring and summer essential. I find that they can really pull an outfit together or work as the perfect cover up when strutting through a beach town. They are extremely versatile and that is key when it comes to picking out an outfit in these topsy turvy late spring/early summer months. The rose print on this one is adorable for the summer. This kimono is basically true to size, but if you are between sizes make sure to size up. 

11. Jersey Wrap Cover-Up Romper - Topshop- $40.00  $19.99 50% off

Let’s face it. Some days you just don’t feeling like putting together a whole entire outfit. That is why God (or Winston Churchill? no seriously google it) invented the romper. These beautiful creations are perfect to throw up when you  have been sitting on the beach or by the pool all day and need something to cover up before you head to the nearest ice cream parlor or Surf Taco. This particular one coms in black and white, but why not just get both because its a whole 50% off. Remember the whole Topshop sizing down rule before ordering and also, please don’t ask us romper-wearing girls how we pee in them, its a process we try not to think about or go into. 

12. Knotted Waist Midi Dress - Dee Elly - $55.00  $32.98 40% off

So as I have entered into the first yeas of official adulthood, I have begun to realize that Summer isn’t just beach season, marg season, and the season for huge box office and slightly underwhelming movies. It is wedding season. Which means that not only do you have to buy toasters and stuff, but you have to buy a dress. I found this one during the sale in peach and lilac, two perfect summer wedding colors. It comes in junior sizes as well as women’s sizes, but they do run small so order a size up so that you can be floating across the dance floor all night and not too constricted to really get into that bouquet toss. 

13. High Waist Culottes - Leith - $55.00  $32.98 40% off

Update: gauchos are back and they are being called culottes.Personally, I am into them. I think they make any girl look just a tad taller and who doesn’t want a few extra inches. I found this pair in the sale and thought that they could be worn for work or play. They are also great because while the matching top is really cute,you don't have to buy it to complete the outfit. The pinstripes are going to make you look long and lean and true to size. 

14. Print Faux Leather Wallet - Violet Ray -$24.00  $11.98 50% off

Everyone needs somewhere to keep their Summer babysitting money and boardwalk ride tickets, right? I don't have much to say about this wallet except that it’s perfect, it’s 50% off and it also comes in camo. Violet Ray, did you make this for me personally because it sure feels that way. 

15. Paperbag Waist Stripe Shorts- Socialite- $42.00

Did you ever hear the expression, “You’d look good even if you were just wearing a paper bag?” Well, these shorts are called “Paperbag Shorts” and I’m pretty sure they were named after that expression because I think anyone would look good wearing these. As I get older, I find it increasingly hard to find shorts that are cute, comfortable, and not too inappropriate (There is a time and a place for my Daisy Duke shorts and the community pool surrounding by parents and children does not make the list). These shorts are perfect for a summer afternoon and I know that they are going to be a huge trend this year so I’m stocking up on all sizes and colors. They fit true to size for anyone wondering. 

Feel free to leave any questions on any of the pieces in the comments. Making this list has gotten be so excited for all the different summer adventures I am going to be taking in the next few months. Between the city and the shore I am going to be exploring and eating and drinking and shopping and working and living everyday...

[withloveandredlipstick]

mirror selfies. (and other things i did not master my junior year of college)

hi. allow me to reintroduce myself. my name is gill. spelled with a g. i am 21 years old. sagittarius. slytherin.

and if you had asked me this time last year if i knew what i was doing... in college, on this blog, with my life, i would have said (with far too much confidence for someone with subpar winged eyeliner), YES.

shall we flash forward to today?

today i arrived back in my apartment. in pennsylvania. from spending last night in my hometown in new jersey. after being interviewed for a job in new york city.

three states in 24 hours.

spending the night in my childhood bedroom, shopping with my friends from high school, and revisiting so many places from my past.

coming back to this apartment, packing up my clothes in boxes, getting ready to move back to the place of the past. and i’m reflecting on this year. the 21st year of my life. this time last year if you asked me if i knew what i was doing my life, my resounding yes would have thrown you. almost as much as this year has thrown me.

here are some things that i haven’t mastered that maybe i should have by now, maybe not, maybe i will soon, maybe never but it’s only been 21 years...

1. corporate finance- am i still a little bitter that i have to take a college class that is going to have very little to do with any career i have in the future twice? clearly. but everything is a learning experience. and if i’m going to have to learn how to calculate time value of money calculations twice, let’s hope somewhere down the line some one wanders into my cubicle and asks “if i invest 5 dollars now with an I/YR of 10% what would the Future value be in 10 years?”

2. not bringing my debit card out to the bars- tabs are dangerous things disguising as convenient ways to get drinks faster at the bar. the truth is, you will get drinks faster, you will get more of them, and you will forget how much each one is until you are standing there in the brightness of the ugly lights scribbling you name and drunkenly trying to calculate how many meals you have to now skip to pay your rent.

3. winged eyeliner- i mentioned this in the second paragraph, but i’m slowly making progress.

4. cooking- another thing i am slowly making progress with. so far my menu includes toast, frozen pizza, eggs, and buffalo chicken dip. @hellofreshusa sponsor me in my future endeavors.

5. not expecting people to treat me the way i treat them- yes i know this is the 24k golden rule, but as much as we are forced to repeat it in grades k-12, people forget. they don’t celebrate your success, when you throw confetti for them. when you ask them about their day, they don’t ask “and yours?” even when you need it the most. they assume, they judge, they ignore, they don’t think that some words aren’t better left unsaid.

6. fornite- to be fair, i didn’t make it past the home screen.

at lastly...

7. mirror selfies- it’s all about the angle and the filter and the caption and the chosen social media platform it gets posted on. it’s a lot of planning.

so here’s to the boxes waiting by my door to leave an apartment that felt like a cage. here’s to the bar tabs that i’ve racked up while me and my friends OWNED the corner booth at the bar. here’s to people that taught me things like communication and elvis songs and corporate finance. here’s to the things i haven’t mastered yet and the idea that i have plenty of time to.

here’s to me and new york city and an end to our long distance love. i’ll see you soon nyc.

[withloveandredlipstick]

So... I may have taken the summer off, but in no way did I take the summer off.

I am writing this post from my room in my new/first apartment. Crazy right?

I cannot begin to say how guilty I feel for not keeping up with L&RL over the summer, but my absence wasn’t due to lounging on the shores of Jersey or binge-watching FRIENDS again. And while I may have spent a week soaking up the rays on South Carolina beaches, this summer was the absolute most busy, most stressful, most rewarding, certainly most adult summer of my entire life. And here’s why.....

When I came home after an extremely loaded semester of study, work, and play, I gave myself a week off. Just a week. I slept in, I ate Taco Bell, I watched every episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch (very underrated and available to all Amazon prime members), but after a week I knew I needed to get out of my funk. So I took to LinkedIn and decided I was going to get myself an internship. Little late to the game, but I held onto the hope that there would be something out there for me. I went on interviews with fashion design companies, technology startups, and even a few fellow bloggers that were looking for freelance work. Nothing was panning out. 

I finally found a position available for a production intern at an Art Magazine in SoHo. And other than the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about art, it seemed like the perfect fit, and let me tell you, it was perfect. 

I learned so much in the short, few months that I spent in the SoHo Building. I got to explore all my graphic design abilities. I got to speak with clients and learn to negotiate. I got to see a publication go through every step from start to finish. I got to see my name in print. Working in New York, has always been a dream of mine and fingers crossed, I got to take a peak at my future this summer. 

But there are dreams and then there are pipe dreams. The dreams that for most live quietly in the back of your mind, the ones your day dreams are about. When I was sixteen, I was given an amazing opportunity to join a team of songwriters and musicians to create my own demo. And for that year that I spent in studios and writing sessions, I created a pipe dream of being able to share my music. But as life usually does, it came knocking. At 17, I chose college instead of music and I thought that was the end of my music career. It took me a while to come to terms with that fact, but I eventually did. I got into a great school, I packed up my life and moved from my hometown, just a few steps away from my favorite city in the word, to Pennsylvania. It wasn’t easy, and at times it felt like it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But dreams, even pipe dreams find you eventually. A friend of mine from back in the musical days of 2014, called me and reminded me of my dream. The NASH Next music competition happens every year and, he thought that this year, I should enter it. After explaining to him that I had been away from the music scene for far too long to get back into any studio, he sent my my demo and the contest rules. There was really no reason that I shouldn’t enter, so I did. I made it past the initial judging to fan voting, then past fan voting to the national judges. If those judges decide that my song isn't for them, then that’s okay with me. But I got a chance to explore this pipe dream of mine for a little while. And it was fun. That’s all I can ask of life. 

I have so many more dreams and if this summer has taught me one thing, it’s that the only thing keeping me from achieving them, is me. Life is far too short to be anything but busy. There are so many things I want to do in the short time that I have in this college, in New York, in my twenties, on this Earth. And you probably already know, but I’m going to be doing them 

(Oh before I go, here’s a little peak at what else I did this summer LOL...)

[withloveandredlipstick]

What/Who is a #Girlboss? (And why is Gill freaking out about it?)

I have been inspired. So much so that I have decided to alter my weekly/biweekly posting schedule during one of the most stressful weeks of my entire academic career in an attempt to inspire you all as well. Today begins the first day of #GBxRL, Girlboss in Red Lipstick! Come back to this blog everyday this week to find out more on how to let your #girlboss flag fly! 

As I have stated in previous posts, I feel that it is important to have women in your life to model yourself after. In the turbulent times of my early 20s, I have a select group of women that I look to when I am in need of inspiration. I look to my mother and her strength, Audrey Hepburn and her kindness and poise, Emma Watson and her sensational wit and now I look to Sophia Amoruso and her story. That’s right, my friends, I have a girl crush on the OG #Girlboss. I will be posting a full summary and opinion piece on the book #Girlboss on Friday (the day that the new Nextflix Series premieres and the finale of this series of blog posts), but today I would like to introduce you to a few people. 

1. For those of you who don’t know the story of Sophia, she is the founder of Nasty Gal. Amoruso started the now, multimillion dollar clothing company as a small eBay story selling her vintage finds. She grew, she made decisions, she risked, she succeeded. She writes in her book that she is not telling her story in order for girls like me, to do exactly what I’m doing, model themselves after her, but her story inspired me on a level in which no single woman has ever inspired me before and for one reason only, she stumbled. She writes in the book that the path to success isn’t always the straight and narrow. At a time in my life when I feel as though I should have every hour of my future planned down to the 20 seconds it is going to take the Dean to hand me my diploma, it is so refreshing to read the behind the scenes-unscripted version of what it’s like to be a woman in business. Sophia’s story of odd jobs and eBay comment wars reminds readers that success isn’t something that I’m going to read about how to do in my Marketing textbook. I’m going to get hired, I’m going to get fired, I’m going to have to figure it out. If you are dedicated and find something that you love and fight to make it what you do everyday of your life, you too can become a #girlboss. 

2. This is me.... and I am a #girlboss. You might recognize me from previous posts, my social media, and the picture of myself on the top corner of the blog homepage.  Well, technically, I guess I would be a #GBIT, #girlboss in training. When I started this blog, it was a decision that came from a drawn out argument I had been having with myself. What would people think of me if I started publishing my thoughts? It’s like there was a peanut gallery in my head that looked like every girl I went to high school with screaming “Who does she think she is?” Well, I think I’m a writer. I think I always have been. I think that the minute I stopped caring about what other people would think and say about me, I became the most “me” I had ever been in my entire life. I’m following  in the footsteps of Sophia’s platform Birkenstocks. I’m being so unapologetically myself and I’m the happiest and most successful I have ever been. I am so excited to what the future has in store for me and I’ve learned to be open to new opportunities, especially ones that I didn’t originally see. Life is about making the most of the days you’ve got. 

3. I figured this would be the best way to see your reflection in your phone, computer, what ever device you’re reading this on. But let me introduce you to the newest member of the #girlboss (or #Dudeboss) community... You! If I’ve learned anything from reading Sophia’s story it’s that we all have an inner #girlboss that is just waiting to conquer the world. There is so much more to life than simply surviving the day to day. There is passion and dedication and rewards for hard work. Your inner #girlboss is inside just waiting for the spark to ignite and the rest of your life to start. 

The #Girlboss movement is so inspiring and fit in perfectly with the theme of this blog. You can purchase your own copy here and find out more about the upcoming Netflix series here . Not caring about what other think and pursing what you love to do is most definitely living

There is going to be 4 (count ‘em!) more posts this week all centered around helping #girlbosses thrive! There may or may not (may, definitely may) also be a surprise announced on Friday so stay tuned! 

Always,

[withloveandredlipstick]

Attention all shopping addicts: You’re welcome.

I am always looking for apps, websites, and social media outlets that aim to make my life easier. I love that Uber can supply me with a car to pick me up from work within 7 minutes. I love that Spotify creates a new playlist for me every morning based on the artists I have recently listened to. I absolutely love that the Google Maps app can get me the fastest walking route to Penn Station to catch a train when there’s a parade running straight through Midtown. For all of the changes occurring in society due to technology, it is making my life a lot simpler. But that might be an unpopular opinion. 

Another unpopular opinion I might share with some of you is that I absolutely hate online shopping. In no way, shape, or form do I find the idea of browsing hundreds of sites for hours trying to compare styles, prices, and sizes attractive. Then, of course there’s the fact that I am incredibly indecisive and hundreds of online retailers x the hundreds of styles they offer = too many choices and an empty shopping cart. While my bank account is surely to take a hit due to my new found favorite app, my closet is getting a makeover! 

Allow me to introduce you to your new obsession... Keep.com 

Keep--Addictive Shopping is a website and free app that may have revolutionized shopping... at least I feel like it has for me. Keep allows “Keepers”  to discover the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and home decor and create collections inspired by new lines and other Keepers. It is a fashion and beauty blogger’s dream. Have you ever saw something whether it was an outfit, beauty product, or accessory and just felt deep down in your heart that it was made to be worn by you? Or maybe it was the other way around and you felt that you were solely put on this planet so that you could carry the purse, wear those heels, or hang that picture on your wall. That is literally how I felt about every...single...product on this website’s home screen when I first signed up. I don’t mean to be dramatic, but Keep.com has restored my belief in falling in love at first sight. 

I want to talk about some of my favorite features on the app. When you first open the app after logging in, you will be brought to Keep’s “Trending” page. This page is a combination of products from all genres that are popular with other Keepers at the moment. Here you can also find any new stores that have added products to Keep’s database. 

After scrolling through the latest trends for a few minutes (hours... I have literally spent the past two days glued to this app), you can swipe right and find Keep’s complimentary “Gift Guides”. These range from holiday gift ideas, to age specific gifts, to gag-gifts. For anyone who needs some inspiration for Mother’s Day... there are beautiful Kendra Scott earrings that come in all our mom’s favorite colors listed in the Mother’s Day gift guide. (Here’s hoping my own mom doesn’t read this). The guides make shopping for people who don’t necessarily have the same taste as you so much easier. You can simply select the category for whom you are shopping and Keep provides you with hundreds of ideas. 

The next page users encounter when swiping right again is the “News” category, which you might already assume is pretty self explanatory. Resident Keepers who have vast experience in the world of shopping have put together articles for you that include a break down of this season’s trends and sales that are all offered on the app. They try new beauty products and rate them so you don’t have to. They put together outfits using pieces that you can buy through the app so you don't have to! These stylists are literally taking the most stressful  parts of being a beauty and makeup geek in their own hands and providing you with results. What more could you ask for? 

The final tab that Keepers encounter on the swiping journey across the screen, is the “New” category. When brands first arrive on Keep or when brands supply new collections to the app, they will have a spot on this page as well as in the rotating bar on the first screen. Here, you can find more brands that are added to Keep regularly and explore the collections they have to offer.  Brands that are currently featured on this page include, Ted Baker, H&M, ASOS, and Nordstrom. 

Trust me, I know that I have already sold some of you on this app and I will not be personally offended if you have stopped reading this post to download Keep from the app store, but for those of you still with me, I have saved some of the best features of Keep for right now. 

In order to keep users coming back daily to find new products, Keep offers a one of a kind feature called Keep it. Toss it.

Welcome to Tinder for your new wardrobe! Would it be considered a bad thing if I would much rather sit all day swiping through pictures of shoes and makeup products than college guys whose bios are cheesy pickup lines? This post is just filled with unpopular opinions today. Keep it. Toss it. provides Keepers with a few pieces a day that are similar to ones that have already been added to their collections. Keepers can choose to keep the products and it gets added to a separate collection that is strictly for products introduced to the user in this feature. Or a user can toss the product and keep will remove similar products from the feature for future reference. I think this is a brilliant idea that really helps companies tailor the needs of their consumers to the products they should be providing to them. 

Now, the brands that are featured on Keep.com range from inexpensive companies to high-end luxury brands. Some of the products you will fall in love with might not be in your price range right now. Good new is... that’s okay! The Sale Alerts feature on Keep.com has your back... and your wallet. 

Keep.com will alert you when brand that are featured on their website are having major or daily sales. They provide you with the code needed at checkout and a link to the site. Keep will even go a step further and alert you when individual items that you have added to your collections go on sale. So that bomber jacket from Misguided was too pricey for you prior to your last paycheck? Guess what? It just went on sale and keep let you know just in time to grab one before they went out of stock. You are welcome. 

And lastly, i want to point out that there are endless ways that Keepers can organize their collections. I, however, find it easiest when my collections are organized like my closet, by seasons. Below I have included the collections I have made in the past two days. 

There’s also a few subcategories that I couldn’t resist making a few collections for...

I have been having a fantastic time exploring everything this site has to offer and I’ve been spreading the word about Keep like crazy. My profile is https://keep.com/u/gill_readie/ . Feel free to poke around at the products I’ve kept. 

I feel that when you find a treasure it deserves to be shared with the people that will treasure it with you. Anyone who is an avid fashion, makeup, fitness, or even interior design fan would absolutely love this app. I just want to spread the love with all of you because when the people I care about are happy, I’m happy. I hope you find some keepers. 

As always I write to you...

(L&RL for short xoxo),

[withloveandredlipstick]

Boss like a Kloss

As a girl who grew up loving all things beauty and fashion, I looked for my role models on covers of magazines. While some (uninformed) individuals might argue that idolizing supermodels is superficial, today the women who grace the covers of Vogue are far from just  pretty faces. Many of the highest paid supermodels contribute towards several humanitarian causes such as being Goodwill Ambassadors and advocates for clean water in countries all over the world. In their spare time, many models such as Tyra Banks, Giselle Bündchen, and Heidi Klum are investors in huge companies. Girls who are growing up today are able to see these women confidently posed for covers and also pursuing careers in other industries. 

One face of this generation has used her super model status as a tool to empower other young women to pursue their careers of choice. Karlie Kloss has taken the fashion industry by storm in her short 23 years. She has been on covers of Vogue all over the world, a Victoria’s Secret Angel, and even nominated for a Video Music Award for her guest starring role as ‘Knockout’ in bestie Taylor Swift’s music video for Badblood. Karlie has taken breaks from print and runway modeling to run summer camps all over the country for girls who are interested in one of her biggest hobbies, coding. Kode with Klossy camps are run in major cities all over the country for girls who are interested in learning how to computer code, no experience necessary. These camps have sparked her catchphrase “Like a Kloss” which is the inspiration for her new clothing line for Express. 

Karl’s line was released on March 31st and there are already so many things that I love about it. I am a huge fan of minimalist style. Karlie’s clothes stick within the neutral color schemes so that the pieces can be mixed or matched. 

Karlie has designed some very basic, yet feminine pieces that any girl could wear. They can be dressed up and down, worn to lunch or business meetings, work or a night out. Versatility is not always showcased in celebrity fashion lines, but it is definitely appreciated by consumers. 

While the array of white and black sweaters, skirts, pants, and dresses are perfect to mix and match, lets get to the fun part... statement pieces! Not only does Karlie add an adorable bomber jacket to the collect, she makes it reversible. The satin revisable bomber jacket is perfect for spring and it’s basically two jackets for the price of one. 

Another  piece for your spring wardrobe is the mock neck lace blouse.  I am always looking for pieces that can be dressed up or down so adding a skirt and heels to this top or adding jeans and nice flats could give you two completely different outfits. 

You can find all of Karlie’s collection on Express and in stores!  

I knew that as soon as I found out that Karlie was releasing a clothing line that I was going to love it, given how much I love her street style. She lives her life as an eternal optimist and ray of sunshine. She preaches to the younger generation to explore the fields they are interested in no matter what anyone says. She is definitely high up on my #WCW list because its very obvious that she is living her life...

Exhibit A:

Always, 

[withloveandredlipstick]

Spontaneity is key.

I remember to this day, sitting at the counter of the restaurant where I worked as a waitress in my hometown in New Jersey. I would sit there waiting for the phone to ring so I could take the orders and run them into the kitchen. While I waited, I would text my best friend and just vent for hours on end about how the borders of our hometown felt like they were caving in on me. I would write paragraphs to her about how I just wanted to pick up and leave and travel and see the world. So a few years later when that same best friend texted me on a cold night in January and asked if I could be ready in an hour to buy tickets to Key Largo, Florida, I screamed. Then said yes, of course.

I don’t know about any of you readers, but I have always found that the best memories were made when we didn’t know we were about to make them. Life just happens and those nights playing cards in your best friends garage or singing 90s country music in the back of your mom’s mini van become permanently etched in your brain. Memories you never intended on making. Days that were supposed to be just another square on a calendar. The last week of my winter break was supposed to be just that, days on a calendar. But they were so much more.

Key Largo was so good to me. The food was good, the weather was good, the people were good, everything was so so good. And for the first time in a few weeks everything just felt good. I had never been so satisfied and content then I was in the Florida sun. There is a certain peace in the air that I can’t feel in the New York Metropolitan area. The best part of the entire vacation was the fact that there wasn’t a detailed itinerary or wake up calls. We didn’t spend weeks on end planning every second of our trip, hell I didn’t even pack until the night before. The spontaneity of the week was the beautiful part. We blew with the wind. If I can offer you my first piece of advice of 2017, just go with it. Go with the ups, go with the downs, go with the mistakes and the failures. Because life goes on. As always, I write to you....

[withloveandredlipstick]

A Promise to 2017

2016, you have been so good to me. 

2016 has been a year of starting over. I feel like I say that every year, though. This year gave me so many things that I am so thankful for and even though 2016 will never read this, I want to tell it how much my life has changed because of it.

 It brought me a solid group of incredible friends. In 2015, I packed my life in boxes and moved out of state to start the first chapter of my adult life. To say that those last few months of 2015 were rocky would be an understatement. Those last few months for me were a constant state of moving forward and just waiting for the year to end. January came around and so did a group of girls from a part of Pennsylvania I had never heard of and slowly but surely, I realized how much better they made my life. They are all beautifully different in their own ways. They are kind and smart and always up for adventures. I really couldn’t ask for anything more. 

It brought me strength. There’s a quote that says, “You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” Bob Marley actually said that. 2016 wasn’t all smooth sailing. The summer of 2016 tested how strong I could be as a daughter, sister, friend, and person. I learned this year just how strong I was physically, psychologically, and emotionally. And I firmly believe that I came out of that summer a changed person for the better. 

It brought me my hobby. When I got home for summer break in May of 2016, I walked into an Ulta. I’m not really sure what clicked in my brain the day I bought my first Anastasia liquid lipstick, but it did, and I became hooked. Makeup isn’t a chore for me. It’s become my favorite part of the day. It’s almost therapeutic for me to sit at my vanity every morning and plan my day while I do my makeup.

It brought me closer to goals. Prior to 2016, when anyone had asked me about my future I would respond with something along the lines of, “Oh, I’m a business major.” and if they asked me any follow-up questions, I would probably mumble something about Marketing and try to change the subject. This year, I have had the opportunity to really explore what I want to be doing in five, ten, or fifteen years. Brand marketing and public relations have become my goals and this is one huge step into preparing for that future, so without further ado welcome to...

This blog is something that I have been wanting to do for a really long time and I am so excited for the things that I have planned. My promise to 2017 is to make progressive steps towards the future that I have in mind. I promise to rid as much negativity from my life as possible. I promise to try to live every day with love... and red lipstick.