amerii Rattan Crossbody

I’ve been searching for the perfect straw bag for summer when I found amerii.com.They have a variety of rattan bags that I fell in love with. My favorite is this braided rattan bag with blue detailing. The inside is a fun paisley print and it’s big enough to fit everything you need for a night out. My birthday is coming up next month so I might drop a hint to Justin about this cute clutch. Use the code “EARLYBIRD30” for 30% and free shipping!

Find more cute Spring purses at amerii.com

I’ve rounded up my top eight straw bags for this Spring and Summer. I love the fun shapes and designs. There are a variety of price points from $15 to $55. Comment below, which bags is your favorite? My favorite is #2, I wore it out to a friends birthday and got so many compliments. read more

The holiday season is in full swing with decorations going up and holiday shopping. This year I made a few gift guides that I hope you enjoy and are able to find something you like!

• Monogram Gift Guide
• Home Gift Guide
• Traveler Gift Guide

Monogram Gift Guide

We all have a friend that loves a good monogrammed gift. Here are a few ideas ranging from earrings to stationary.

1  Bauble Bar | Alpha Ice Pendant
2  Bauble Bar |Block Acrylic Monogram Coaster Set
3 Marley Lilly | Monogrammed Reversible Disc Earrings
4 Mark & Graham | S’well Water Bottle
5 Amazon | Kate Spade New York Women’s Initial Thermal Travel Mug Tumbler, 16oz, S (Pink)
6 Paper Source | Monogram Border Stationery
7 Mark & Graham | Dreamy PJ Set, Navy
8 Mark & Graham | Blanket Scarf with Fringe, Ivory and Charcoal Window Pane
9 Mark & Graham|Travel Jewelry Case
10

Marley Lilly | Monogrammed Jewelry Tray read more

Designer Dupes: Love them or Leave them??

I snagged these designer dupe bracelets last spring and wasn’t sure what to think about them. Designer dupes are one of those things that you either love or hate. On one hand, I do love getting a $600 look-alike for $20. On the other hand, the dupe isn’t going to have the same level of quality. What do you think of designer dupes? Comment below! 

These bracelets and necklaces are a great gift for a friend or a nice treat for yourself! read more

I started using Rent The Runway Update back in August when I would walk into my closet and feel like I had nothing to wear. No matter how many clothes you have, everyone gets this feeling from time to time. So instead of heading over to Nordstrom and stocking up on clothes, I decided to try Rent the Runway Update.

To start, there are 3 different options you can choose from Rent the Runway:

• One time rental (Get $30 off your first rental)
• RTR Update
  • $89/Month
  • 4 pieces for a month
  • You can only exchange once a month

  RTR Unlimited

  • $159/Month
  • 4 pieces that you can exchange whenever

  I decided on RTR Update because that made the most sense for me. One thing I really like about RTR is that you can browse all the clothes before signing up so you know if their selection will match your style. I know $89 is expensive, but comparing it to the $300 I spent on 2 dresses for my birthday and knowing I only wore them each twice, the math added up and RTR was a good deal for me.

  Let me give you a few tips for picking out what you select when renting. The first month I made a few mistakes. The first mistake I made was buying a dress because I thought it looked amazing, but I didn’t actually look through my upcoming events and think if I could get use out of the dress. The dress was stunning. Unfortunately, I ended up not wearing it at all because it was a better fit for a trip to Mexico and not a date night in Dallas. The second mistake I made was picking an item because of the price tag and not because I thought I would wear it. Yes, there are a lot of expensive clothes to rent and the idea of wearing a $200 tank top got me excited. In reality, I didn’t wear the tank top the month I had it because it wasn’t my style.

  In summary, when picking your 4 items for RTR think about any upcoming events that you want something special to wear. Also, don’t pick something because it’s unique or expensive, pick it because you can see yourself wearing it and getting use out of it. This is important because at the end of your rental you get the option to send the item back or purchase it at a discounted rate. I really like selecting items I will wear on a day-to-day basis so I can purchase them at the end of the month at the RTR discount rate. See below, here is an example of my current rental purchase options:

  

  Pros

• Great way to refresh your closet.
• Dry cleaning is included.
• Shipping is included.
• You get 30% off one time rentals.
• I liked renting the clothes so I don’t fill up my closet with items I only wear twice.
• When I rented the clothes I actually wore them more, because I knew I had to return them.
• You can cancel at any time, you’re not locked in for 1 year.

read more

This week I found out that you can shop at T.J. Maxx online and of course I wanted to share some of the amazing deals I found. You’d be surprised to find some of your favorite brands at discount prices online. My favorite surprises were Free People clothing, Gucci handbags, and OPI nail polish. Here are my some splurge-worthy finds.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest ! Also, don’t forget to sign up for my email list to get notifications about the latest blog posts.

Best,
Rachel

Under $25

Under $50

Slupurge Worthy

 

 

 

When I first found out about Rocksbox I was skeptical and didn’t know what to expect. Now, three years later I having been using it on and off and love having trendy jewelry for date night or a girls night out. Read my unbiased review and see if you want to try out a month for yourself.

Try your first month free

What is Rocksbox?

“Rocksbox is a subscription-based try before you buy jewelry service. For $21 a month, you’ll receive three pieces of jewelry that are yours to wear and try out for as long as you like.” – rocksbox.com 

How it works

When you sign up for Rocksbox you take a style survey then make a wishlist of your favorite jewelry. Even before you subscribe you can browse the jewelry to see if it matches your style. You have a stylist from Rocksbox that picks out three pieces and sends them to you in the mail. The pieces the stylist picks are based on availability and may or may not be on your wishlist. Before your set is sent out you have 24 hours to swap a piece that you don’t like. When I first started Rocksbox, three years ago, this feature didn’t’ exist and I’m so glad they added it.

The jewelry arrives in about 3 days and you get as long as you want to wear the jewelry and try it out! You can buy an item in your set to keep forever and it is usually at a discounted price. Each month you get $21 of shine credit towards purchasing an item in your set. Some of the jewelry is brand new with tags and some of it is used. The jewelry is always very clean!

Whenever you want you can send back your set for a new one. It’s best to leave comments to your stylist so they know if you have an event coming up or really want a certain item.

My Review

I think Rocksbox is great and would definitely recommend it to a friend. In fact, I have given a few subscriptions to friends for birthday gifts. Like I said, I have been using it on and off for three years and have gotten 27 different Rocksbox sets. I love getting statement pieces and something like a big chunky necklace to wear when it’s in style and then it won’t clutter my jewelry box forever.

When I go jewelry shopping, I catch myself getting a new necklace, wearing it twice, then forgetting about it. Getting a Rocksbox set makes me remember that I will eventually have to return the jewelry and that incentivizes me to wear it more often to get the most out of it.  I do not usually buy pieces from my set unless I REALLY like them since my goal is to declutter. Overall, I’ve bought five pieces of jewelry.

One big room for improvement is the time it takes to return a box and receive the next box. On average it takes 5 days for me to get the next set and sometimes even a week. I wish that Rocksbox would ship your next set, you receive it, then you send your previous one. Shipping time can be different depending on where you live. Also, I try to be strategic and return mine on a Monday versus a Saturday night because it would sit in the mailbox all day Sunday.

To sum it up, give it a try and see if you like it!

Try your first month free

My Past Three Sets 

Now I wanted to share my past three set so you can get an idea of what to expect!

Set #1

For my current set, I received:

• KENDRA SCOTT, Aiden Necklace in Gold
• KENDRA SCOTT, Diane Filigree Earrings in Gold

• RUDIMENT, Salito Bracelet in Gold

Set #2

Last Month I received:

• WILDE, Capri Drops in Metallic Gold
• DUSK, Lyric Stacking Rings
• RUDIMENT, Calistoga Necklace in Gold

Set #3

KENDRA SCOTT, Charlie Grace Earrings

AVA ROSE, Savannah Dusters in Gold and Rose

AVA ROSE, Raleigh Necklace in Gold and Rose Quartz

read more

Having a unique purse makes your night out more fun because your purse becomes a conversation starter!

A year ago I stuck to a boring grey clutches because I was being practical. Then, last month I got this pineapple purse from Shein (Pictured above) and it’s been a game changer. I’ve gotten so many compliments and questions on this purse that I decided to splurge for more unique purse. Luckily, statement purses don’t have to break the bank! I rounded up my favorite purses below, most of them are under $30!

I hope you enjoy this blog post and Shopping! Follow along on Instagram for daily inspiration @Simplysheppard.

XX, Rachel

PIN IT

Having a busy week, running from work to work-out classes, then to dinner with friends can be hectic. I found my self always switching purses to match my outfit for the day and keeping old receipts in my purse for no reason. I decided to put an end to the madness and re-evaluate the original need for a purse.

If you’re familiar with the lean six-sigma mindset and enjoy be organized, then this blog post is for you! I got this cute Dooney & Burke purse from my Aunt for my Birthday and knew right away- this was the purse that would help me stay organized. First let’s talk about the size, if you’re looking for an all-in-one purse to bring with you all day then it needs to at least 10 x 10 inches. Yes, clutches covered in pom-poms are cute, but realistically it’s not going to fit my planner and everything I need for work.

Here’s a rundown of what I keep in my purse on a daily basis to minimize carrying junk and maximize practicality. The most important tip, clean out your purse at least once a week: throw out old receipts, wipe out the bottom that’s collected crumbs, and even run through your wallet and make sure only your essential cards are there. Watch out, the wallet is an easy place to get cluttered quickly. Once a month do big clean of your wallet and purse. Also, polish the leather to keep your purse nice.

Let’s get down to the essentials, here what I keep in my purse;

What I keep in my purse

This Dooney & Burke bag is so cute and the perfect size for my go-to purse.

I love this Kate Spade wallet because of the size and color. It’s bright so I can easily spot it in my purse.

The fur poof and key ring are essential for not losing my keys!

Air pods: I was hesitant to buy these at first, but my boyfriend got a pair and I used them so frequently that he asked me to get my own, lol. These headphones are amazing because of their user friendly design. They connect to your phone when you place them in your ears and pause when you take one out of your ear. They have helped me consolidated and go cordless.

S’well Water bottle: I love the 17 oz S’well because it keeps ice cold all day and it is perfect to keep me hydrated on the go.

Sunglasses: Pretty much an essential for the summer time!

Blue sky planner: I have used this planner for the past 3 years. I love it because of the cost and design.

Cosmetics: Cover girl lip gloss & Tory Burch perfume roller. I don’t bother with makeup after I’ve left the house, but these are

Boulevard Cosmetic bag: I got this as a gift from my friend and have loved using it to store cosmetics so they don’t float around my purse.

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