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The Monogrammed Life


Sunday in DC was absolutely beautiful. Sunny and warm with just the right breeze to really make you believe spring is on its way. I’ve confessed numerous times on {Twitter} how I am daydreaming about spring outfits and mentally putting together pastel ensembles.
Although not quite pastel, I do love {J.Crew Factory’s scalloped lace tee}. Its feminine simplicity makes a piece ideal for both work and play. I could easily style it to fit both aspects of this DC girl’s life and you can, too!
For some inspiration…
Eyelet Blouse Styled Twice
Play: Skirt / Sandals / Bangle
Work: Skirt / Ballet Flats / Bracelet 
{The chain link bracelet} works with either outfit and I would actually complete the look by stacking it with the outfit’s respective bracelet.
How would you style the scalloped lace tee for the office and weekend?
Keep up with DC Girl in Pearls: Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram

Written by Lauren Anne from DC Girl in Pearls
Friday, March 29, 2013 No comments

Hey Ya’ll !



We just wanted to share our favorite Derby Day looks with you! We love these fun, bright, and adorably classy, but trendy ensembles that were just made that much better with a little touch of Marley Lilly Monogram!!







Marley Lilly Derby Days by marleylilly





Marley Lilly Derby Days by marleylilly featuring a checkered belt




Marley Lilly Derby Days by marleylilly featuring baum und pferdgarten




Marley Lilly Derby Days by marleylilly featuring boho style dresses




Marley Lilly Derby Days by marleylilly featuring chrono watches


We want to wish you all a fabulously monogrammed derby day!

Want more??

Make sure you are following us on Polyvore

Click the image below for link



Peace, Love, & Monograms

Marley Lilly
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 No comments

I am always caught rummaging around in my purse looking for the same items over and over again- you’d think by now I would have learned to always keep them with me. Anyways, I have come up with a list of things I think are essential to girls to keep with them at all times. Grab a cute cosmetic bag and fill it up, keep it in your purse or schoolbag so you’re never without these essentials!
Cosmetic bag: this is the first step, find one you love that way it will be more appealing to you to carry it with you all the time.
Q-tips: they can be used for so much! I tend to wear bright lipstick so I always need to have a q-tip with me in case of a smudging emergency. They also come in handy for fixing eye make-up.
Band-aids: between blisters, paper cuts, running into something, I am a mess. I always need to have band-aids- I usually also have the blister kind and some neosporin as well.
Money: always keep an extra stash of cash with you in case of an emergency (no, not a shopping emergency…) This is something my mom has always encouraged me of, keep some cash on you at all times, you never know what life may throw at you.
Hand cream: this might be my biggest essential, especially in such dry weather.
Pain Reliever: I am very prone to headaches so I always try and carry a bottle of some kind of pain reliever with me so that I don’t end up in agony.
Nail Clippers & Tweezers: Hang nails or broken nails are my worst enemy, I can’t leave them alone so I really need to have nail clippers (and a file) with me all the time. Tweezers are usually a summer carry along item for me, I am always the one designated to pull out a splinter so they are a necessity.
Lipstick: if I didn’t have the option of re-touching or applying lipstick on a moments notice, I might not be able to get through a day. It makes me smile a littler brighter, so yes I cannot live without.
Tissues: another versatile item, be it a runny nose, a make-up blunder, or a tear catcher.
Chapstick: In the winter I use a medicated chapstick, and in summer one with a high SPF.
Hair Ties: I love wearing my hair down, but I get annoyed with it very quickly, and if it’s windy, forget about it. I have jumped on the fabric hair tie bandwagon and I have to say I love them. They are more gentle and don’t leave that mark in your hair.
Mints: I am not a gum chewer, in fact I sometimes recite the Willy Wonka quote “Chewing gum is very gross, chewing gum I hate the most”. I am a mints girl 100%.
Written by Samantha from Subtly Famous
Monday, March 25, 2013 4 comments






Top- Old Navy / Cardigan- J.Crew / Pants- H&M / Shoes- Forever 21 / Scarf- Forever 21/ Clutch- Marleylilly.com / Sunglasses- Ray-Ban
 Written by McKenna from McKenna Blue
Friday, March 22, 2013 No comments


Today I'm linking up with Katie and Steph for their  Saw it, Pinned it, Did it link up! I love this link up because it gives me an excuse to do all of the holiday crafts I pinned and would otherwise probably never get around to doing.

It also just so happens that today is not only this fabulous link-up, but the day Bennett is arriving (my worries in this post came true, and she was delayed a few days), AND her 24th birthday! So I knew her present/welcome basket had to be extra special.  Since this is the first time I am seeing her in exactly a year and a half (to the day) I figured a basket with throw backs to our college sorority days was in order.
Do you know what that means?
Cheap wine and glitter.  And lots of it.
So, when I saw this on Pinterest I knew it had to be part of her basket.
It was inexpensive, fun, and so easy (which is a must for me)!


Glitter Wine Glasses!
All you need are wine glasses, modge podge, a brush, and the glitter of your choice! You can also seal it with a layer or two of lacquer to make them hand washable.

First, paint the portion of the glass you want to glitterify with modge podge.

Then, sprinkle the glitter with reckless abandon :)
 Leave to dry over night and you're done.  The next morning, spray with lacquer to seal it all up.


Just add wine, and you're really good to go!


Photobucket

 Written by Robin from The Sunshine Diary
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 2 comments
Every month my mom and I scurry on over to Costco to buy our stack of magazines for the month. (Ehem Costco sells almost all magazines for 30% off!) As always, I take home my all time favorite mag, People Style Watch. And after the long wait, I finally had the beautiful spring issue in my hands!!

One of the parts of People Style Watch I love is the trends. I thought I would share with you some of my favorite trends I discovered in it!

1. Silver

I am a long time lover of silver. A silver charm bracelet or bangle adds so much to an outfit, and I am so glad it is finally "in". (Silver vs. Gold. What's your fav?)


 2. Pastels
Although pastels don't look great on me (they tend to wash me out), I still love these Eastery colors. I'm really loving the blue bag!

 3. Pointed Toe
I think the pointed toe is a super elegant style and can dress up jeans and an oxford or be great with a cute cocktail dress!


What are your favorite Spring trends? 
xoxo,
cYa

 Written by Caroline from Citrus & Style 
Monday, March 18, 2013 No comments


The Shamrock Shake…… For many people, the annual McDonald’s offering is more tantalizing than the McRib, and for good reason. Not only is it a delicious way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but it also reminds us that Spring is just around the corner.
Now imagine that delicious green milkshake in cupcake form. That’s right,Shamrock Shake Cupcakes! These mint-infused, bright green treats are the perfect addition to any St. Patty’s day celebration. And don’t worry, I won’t be featuring McRib cupcakes any time in the near future :)
To make Shamrock Shake Cupcakes, you’ll need the following ingredients. Key ingredients include green food coloring and, of course, some mint extract. Be sure to set your ingredients out for 30 minutes prior to making the batter to allow them to reach room temperature. Yes, this means butter, milk and eggs, too!
Click below to Read the entire recipe.

Shamrock Shake Cupcakes


INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp mint extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
First thing you want to do is mix the butter on a low speed and then add the sugar a little at a time until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then add the eggs one at a time. beat after you add each one until the batter is creamy.

Now you can add the vanilla extract and mint extract.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl using a whisk. Add about 1/3 of dry ingredient to butter/egg mixture and mix. Then 1/2 of the buttermilk and mix again. Add another third of dry ingredients, mix until mostly combined. Add remaining buttermilk. Whisk gently. Add rest of dry ingredients and whisk just until all ingredients are incorporated. Be careful not to over mix.
Then add green food coloring until you get the desired color and gently stir it in.

Pour batter into lined cupcake tin, filling each one about 2/3 full. If you over fill them, you’ll get the mushroom shape at the top and they’ll be harder to frost. It’s OK if you get a little batter on the baking pan. Just be sure to wipe it off while the pan is hot or you’ll have some scrubbing to do!
Bake the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean (crumbs are fine, batter is not). Allow the cupcakes to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes after baking.

All that’s left to do is ice the cupcakes. Mix green food coloring with the icing and frost your cupcakes. I used a piping kit — available on Amazon for only $8.00 and a wise investment – to give the icing some extra body. An optional straw can also be added to complete the Shamrock Shake-meets-cupcake look!

Recipe and Photos from I Am That Lady

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 No comments


St. Patrick’s Day is about a week awhile so DC Girl in Pearls is going green this week!  I started yesterday with a {Bailey’s themed Thirsty Thursday} and today I’m focusing on style.   According to tradition, you’ll be the target of pinching if you’re not wearing green on March 17th.  Green is a big color in my wardrobe (right after pink and blue) but if you’re looking to add the color to your repertoire, here are some items to style for St. Patty’s Day and beyond!
Wearing of the Green
Shirt / Top Earrings / Middle Earrings / Bottom Earrings / Flats / Pants /Necklace / Nail Polish
For more St. Patrick’s Day ensemble inspiration, check out my post on my {pistachio color crush}!
What will you be wearing for St. Patrick’s Day?
Keep up with DC Girl in Pearls: Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram
 Written by Lauren Anne from DC Girl in Pearls
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 3 comments
If the thought of road trippin' with your significant other gives you anxiety, then you need to check out this amazing post from Robin over at The Sunshine Diary!  She has a ton of great tips to make your trip memorable and easy for both you and your love!  Be sure to check out her blog and enjoy!  Happy Travels!

My boyfriend and I love to travel, and just got back a few weeks ago from traveling around Europe- 6 countries in 6 days (you can see recaps of the trip in my Travels page)!  This was our first time traveling long distances many days in a row, and I learned a lot about spending hours in a cramped space without killing each other...and making it fun. Here are the 10 most important things we found:


1. Share the driving.  We did not do this and I regret it.  Dom rented a manual car, which I can't drive.  What I didn't plan on was that since I was not driving, I was putting myself in danger of almost dying driving up the wrong mountain.  These are not things you think about when deciding who is driving, but let me tell you...the more you drive the less likely you are to die.  Also, your man might decide to drive 220 KPH on the Autobahn.  If you can't drive? More gray hairs for you.

2. Say "No" to renting a Smart Car.


I know they're cute.  I know they're irresistible.  But 10 minutes later I promise all you will be thinking about are your poor cramped legs. Even if it is pink.

3. Learn to keep quiet. Now, I don't mean singing here.  As the passenger, I took it as my responsibility to sing loudly to every song that I knew.  Dom would never admit it, but he loved it deep deep down. But really, since I wasn't behind the wheel I would notice roads coming up we were supposed to turn on, and if Dom missed it I would immediately yell, "We were supposed to turn there!" or "wrong way!"  I didn't think much of it.   Then I realized that was actually stressing him out more.  He was driving in a foreign country with crazy (or nonexistent) road signs, and focusing on keeping us alive.  The last thing he needed was for me to start yelling if we made a wrong turn.  So, I started keeping quiet.  After a wrong turn the GPS would recalculate, and we'd get back on track.  It sounds silly, but being on "a team" on this adventure made it more fun and less stressful on both of us.  I trusted that he would get us there safely, and he did! So what if we made a few wrong turns? They became something to laugh about, instead of apologize and feel guilty.  Much more fun that way!

Note: If you start to drive the wrong way down a one way it is 100% acceptable to speak up.  Quicky. Another lesson learned. 

4. Kissing the driver on the cheek is always a good idea. Enough said.


5. Pack lots of bite sized food.  I don't care how long your trip is, if you have snacks you will be happy.  Erin and I are both huge fans of candy, and that's what I always want to bring on road trips.  Bad news bears.  On a short trip? Perfectly fine.  After you have been in the car for a long time you will feel gross and icky no matter what.  Might as well pack something healthy so you don't feel like a gross, icky, slug when you arrive.  The delicious gas station food looks amazingly tempting, but you will regret it, I promise you! We packed nuts, granola bars and water (boring) but we always reached our next country refreshed and ready to explore! Why bite sized?  Your significant other will always claim he doesn't want anything...until you're eating.  Make sure you're eating something you can feed him!

6. Make a super cheesy playlist.  Sure, you can listen to the radio, but making a funny playlist of songs you both love, meaningful songs, or 90s throwbacks will make the time fly so much faster.  Laughing and waiting to see what song is next makes all those miles that much more fun!

8. Pee. Always.
 Photo Source
This sounds basic, but sometimes people don't think about it until you're in the middle of nowhere.  On a different excursion, I was driving and had to pee so badly I actually thought I would explode.  What did Dom do? He tickled me.  And video taped it.  Just to see if I would pee my pants! (I didn't) Don't put yourself in that position.

9. Take a picture on the top of every mountain.


10. Expect the Unexpected.  Leave early.  Have that extra time so you're not rushed.  Take the few extra minutes to drive down the road all decked out in Christmas lights.  Drive by the water.  Explore a little town's charm.  Make it fun. The road trip doesn't need to be a means to an end, it can be one of the most fun parts of the adventure!

Photobucket

 Written by Robin from The Sunshine Diary
Monday, March 11, 2013 2 comments

It's March - the month of Spring Break!  Being in the working world, we no longer get the perks of having a week off of work unless we take vacation days - so we are living vicariously through you all!  We love this post from Carolina over at Citrus & Style showing some Spring Break Essentials!  Have fun and be safe on your Spring Breaks this year!  Be sure to send us pictures of you wearing your Marley Lilly products at the beach!  Peace, Love & monograms! 

I am super excited because my Spring Break is in a few weeks. After debating for a long time, we decided to do our usual trip to Florida. I can't really complain because as long as there is sun, I'm in! 

During Spring Break I do a lot of lounging around the beach and pool, going out to dinner and a little adventuring here and there. That being said, here are my Spring Break Essentials: 


White Oxford
This is one of my favorite things to bring. It can double as a cover up or a cute top to pair with shorts. This is a must!

Comfy Chino Shorts
I absolutely love the J.Crew chino shorts. I prefer the 3'' ones and think they are the perfect pair of shorts. I have collected quite a few pairs over the years and they are good as new. 

Denim/ Chambray Shirt
This is another must have-- a clean denim shirt looks great all the time and is light enough for the humidity.

 Sunglasses
I have gone through so many cheap pairs of sunglasses throughout my life and I was close to splurging on Ray Bans but just couldn't. Sooo, I am sticking to cheaper ones. I asked for monogrammed ones for my birthday so fingers crossed!

Hat
Although I said the white oxford was a must have, a hat tops that! No one wants to have to stay inside after having a long day in the burning sun. A hat is the perfect solution that keeps you stylish but safe from the light. 

Bathing suit
No explanation necessary here. I have a really cute one I scored on sale last year from Landsend Canvas but J.Crew's are super cute as well. I just can't justify spending $70 on a bikini top though....

Plain tee
Whether you are making a quick trip to the nearest Walgreens for some extra sunscreen or throwing it on over a swimsuit, a plain tee (or a few of them!) is definitely necessary. J.Crew's are great and come in a plethora of colors but Target, Old Navy and Gap have some great less expensive ones.

Beach bag
Are your arms too full with your water bottle, phone, towel and sunscreen? Invest in a quality beach bag! I have the good old Landsend one and have no complaints. Oh how I wish I had gotten it monogrammed when I purchased it in 4th grade.... 

Flip Flops
Eager to show off your new "Bikini so Teeny" pedicure? Flip flops are another must. I have a pair of the Tory Burch ones that I got for my birthday last year (thank you mom for finding them on sale!!) and they hold up great. I asked for Jack Rogers for my birthday this year so maybe I'll have to add those onto the list if I get them...? 

What are your Spring Break essentials?

xoxo,
cYa

 Written by Caroline from Citrus & Style 
Friday, March 08, 2013 3 comments
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The Monogrammed Life

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Welcome to The Monogrammed Life, a fashion and lifestyle blog owned by Marleylilly - Monogrammed Gifts! Thanks for stopping by! We hope you'll stick around and find some inspiration here. Peace, love, and monograms!

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