doused in pink

Red White & Blue Outfit Ideas

dousedinpink — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I am so happy summer is almost here! Since we’re heading into Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial kickoff to summer, I wanted to share some red white and blue Americana outfit ideas that feel stylish, effortless, and comfortable. Perfect for whether you are heading to a backyard barbecue, a parade, or simply relaxing with friends. And because spring weather is hit or miss in Chicago, I have a mix of options, whether it’s warm or chilly. Each of these outfits features one key piece in red, white, or blue that brings the patriotic vibes. These are outfits you can actually wear all summer long, not just on the patriotic holidays. Red, White and Blue Outfits Striped Tee + Denim Shorts You can’t go wrong with a classic striped tee. This one has red, white, and navy stripes and instantly feels festive without trying too hard. I paired it with high-rise denim shorts, white sneakers, and a sporty denim cap. It’s the kind of outfit you can throw on for a morning walk, a picnic in the park, or casual hanging out at home. Striped T-Shirt Dress A t-shirt dress is as easy as it gets, just throw it on…

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How to Wear Shorts Without Looking Too Casual

dousedinpink — Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I’m always excited to start reaching for shorts again when the weather warms up, and, this year I wanted options beyond my default denim. Knowing how to wear shorts without looking too casual comes down to a few simple things, and I think this look is a good example of how to pull it off. Simple Ways to Wear Shorts Without Looking Too Casual Start with the shorts. Not all shorts read the same way. A pleat detail, a clean hem, or a slightly longer inseam can take a basic short and make it feel like an actual outfit. The fabric matters too. Something lightweight but structured will always look more polished than a basic casual short. Pair them with a knit. Open weave sweaters are still very much trending and I can see why. The texture alone adds so much visual interest to an outfit, and they are the perfect spring layer, giving you coverage on a cool morning without feeling heavy by afternoon. The key is keeping the knit relaxed in fit so the whole look stays easy and not overdone. Go ahead and be matchy. I leaned all the way into dusty rose here across the sweater,…

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How to Make Spring Dressing Feel Easy Over 40

dousedinpink — Thu, 07 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Getting dressed in spring should feel like a relief after months of heavy layers, but somehow it never quite does. You open your closet, everything feels wrong, and you end up reaching for the same things you wore all winter. Learning how to make spring dressing feel easy over 40 starts with having the right tops. Not complicated, not trendy for the sake of it, just tops that look intentional the moment you put them on. I photographed these tops with jeans, but every single one works just as well with shorts, a linen skirt, wide-leg trousers, or whatever you reach for when the weather cooperates. What Makes a Spring Top Actually Work Here is how to make spring dressing feel easy over 40; start with tops that have something going for them. A ruffle, a stripe, a print, an interesting sleeve. Something that makes them feel considered without requiring much from you. 10 Spring Tops Worth Adding to Your Closet Right Now Blue and White Striped Ruffle-Sleeve Shirt A striped shirt is a spring wardrobe staple, and the ruffle sleeve and henly cut is what makes this one worth buying. It elevates the stripe past basic without veering into…

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Travel Friendly Skincare Tips: Keep Your Glow Wherever You Go

dousedinpink — Fri, 01 May 2026 23:19:33 +0000

The summer travel season is exciting, but it can also disrupt your usual skincare habits. Changing weather, long travel days and time outdoors can affect how your skin looks and feels. The good news is that maintaining healthy skin while traveling is easier than it seems. With a few smart habits and the right essentials, you can stay hydrated, protected and glowing wherever your summer adventures take you. These travel skincare tips will help you care for your skin on the go without overcomplicating your routine. *Guest Contribution Keep Your Routine Simple While Traveling When packing skincare, focus on the basics. A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen and one reliable treatment product are usually enough to keep your skin balanced. Your skin is the organ that’s constantly interacting with the environment, so travel can further stress it due to changes in the climate and your surroundings. Keeping your routine simple also lowers the chance of irritation, so it’s best to avoid experimenting with unfamiliar products while you’re on vacation. Skincare is one of those instances where less is more. Interest in skincare continues to grow as more people focus on healthy, long-term skin habits. Projections suggest the skincare industry will grow to…

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Unique Mother’s Day Gifts

dousedinpink — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Finding unique Mother’s Day gifts sounds simple until you’re staring at another generic “World’s Best Mom” mug wondering if you can do better. You can. This year’s roundup skips the predictable and leans into gifts that feel personal, useful, and genuinely special, whether your mom is the cozy-night-in type, the one who’s always on the go, or the creative who just needs the right project to dive into. Storybook DIY Kit A miniature bookshelf scene she builds herself, complete with tiny lit rooms and hand-painted details. It’s part craft project, part home decor, and completely unlike anything else on this list. Mama Necklace Delicate gold script on a dainty chain. Simple, wearable every day, and one of those pieces she’ll put on and forget to take off. Custom Super Mom Book A personalized illustrated book starring her, complete with her name on the cover. It’s the kind of gift little kids can give that feels extra special, and one she’ll want to keep long after they’ve grown up. Birth Month Flower Grow Kit Two glass grow kits seeded with her birth month flower, ready to plant on a windowsill. It’s a thoughtful twist on the usual bouquet that she can…

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Before and After Dining Room Remodel

dousedinpink — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We love our home. We really do. But if I’m being honest, it has always had one significant drawback: the layout. Our house is boxy, the rooms are small, and entertaining has always felt like a bit of a puzzle. If you have been following along, you know we have been chipping away at this house for years, and this before and after dining room remodel is the next project I’m excited to share. We’ve looked at other homes in the neighborhood here and there, but nothing compares to our lake view. So instead of moving, we keep making it work. The dream has always been to open up the wall between the living room and family room. That wall, unfortunately, houses all of our HVAC, and relocating it would be enormously expensive and would likely steal square footage from another room in the process. So that project stays on the wish list. What we could do was open up the dining room. And that decision led to the most satisfying before and after dining room remodel we have done in this house. Here’s what it looked like before. That standard 40 by 96 inch doorway was doing the space…

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Sephora Spring Sale Guide

dousedinpink — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

The Sephora Spring Savings Event is underway and runs through April 20th. If you’re a Beauty Insider, this is the time to stock up on your favorites, finally try something you’ve had on your radar, or splurge on something you wouldn’t normally buy at full price. I’ve rounded up my picks across makeup, skincare, and haircare, so keep reading to see what caught my eye this year. Use code SPRINGSALE Not a Beauty Insider yet? You can sign up for free and still take advantage of the savings event. Members also get a free birthday gift, sample rewards, and exclusive offers, so it’s worth it even if you’re not a regular Sephora shopper. Makeup Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation — This foundation gives you nice medium coverage that feels like you’re wearing nothing. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm — Not sticky at all, and it works great on its own or layered over your lipstick. Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil — Glides on, stays put, and comes in a really beautiful range of shades. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Lip & Cheek Cream Blush Stick — This is a repurchase for me. It’s extremely pigmented, blends seamlessly, and…

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How to Thrift Jewelry and Spot Quality Pieces

dousedinpink — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:18:14 +0000

*Guest Contribution Thrifting jewelry is having a major moment right now, and once you start, it’s easy to see why. You can find unique pieces, save money and build a collection that feels completely personal. Whether you’re browsing a local thrift store or scrolling resale apps, knowing what to look for helps you avoid junk and score pieces you’ll actually love wearing. You don’t need to be an expert to know how to thrift jewelry successfully. You just need a few simple tricks, a little patience and a good eye. Why Thrifting Jewelry Is Worth It When you thrift jewelry, you’re treasure hunting. Many secondhand pieces offer better craftsmanship and more unique designs. Materials like silver and gold have been used for centuries, and their durability makes them ideal for reuse. There’s also a sustainability benefit. Mining companies around the world, including those that mine gold, dump 180 million tonnes of toxic waste into rivers, lakes and oceans every year. Even when they don’t dump it directly, things can still go wrong. If structures like tailings dams break, those harmful materials can leak into nearby waterways anyway. Buying secondhand is important because it keeps materials out of the waste stream.…

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How to Clean Out Your Closet: A Simple Three-Day Challenge

dousedinpink — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

April is here, which means it’s time to rotate your winter clothes out and start bringing in your spring pieces. It’s also the perfect time to learn how to clean out your closet in a way that actually sticks. If you’re still sharing closet space or working with a smaller space, you know exactly what I mean when I say the seasonal swap is a whole production. For years, my clothes lived in bins that I rotated in and out twice a year. It worked, but it also meant I was constantly dealing with stuff I should have gotten rid of a long time ago. When I finally created my own closet room, that problem went away. Everything is accessible year round, which honestly made it easier to see what I actually wear and what’s just taking up space. But here’s the thing. Even with a dream closet, letting go of clothes is hard. We attach meaning to things. That top you wore on a great trip. The jeans that fit perfectly five years ago. The dress you spent too much on and wore once. Getting rid of something can feel like letting go of a version of yourself, or…

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Skincare Empties Review

dousedinpink — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I’ve always thought skincare empties tell a better story than first impressions. Anyone can love something after a week, but finishing it means it actually earned its place. So here’s an honest look at what I’ve used up lately, what delivered, and what I wouldn’t buy again. For context, my skin runs dry, especially in winter, and I’m always focused on barrier support, fine lines, and uneven tone. One Skin Face + Eye Topical Supplements I tested the One Skin Face and Eye Topical Supplements together as a PR set, and both surprised me in different ways. The face topical is lightweight and absorbs fast, which makes layering easy, and I noticed smoother texture and a brighter look over the two months I used it. There’s also a nice instant glow effect that made my skin look more awake even without much makeup on. Would I repurchase? Honestly, yes and no. I loved my skin while using it, but it’s pricey enough that it would need to fit comfortably into the budget rather than being an automatic restock. The eye topical, though, felt like more of a clear win. The brightening and hydrating effect around my eyes was noticeable right…

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