I hope everyone had a great week! Today’s favorites is dedicated to getting fit and fabulous for summer. Remember ladies Bikini Boot Camp is still in session… 

Favorite Tip: 

Favorite Quickie Workout:

Favorite Energy Smoothie Easy Energy Almond Shake:

Favorite Anytime Anywhere Workouts:
 

Are you going to give any of the above a try?

Have a happy—and healthy—weekend!

XO Lauren

P.S. Check here for more: Friday Favorites

Photos: Fit and Happy sizezeroismyhero.tumblr.com Babble

When it comes to looking and feeling your best it’s amazing what a difference a good manicure can make. Having well-lacquered tips can take even the simplest look from ordinary to outstanding. And for that reason it’s with great pleasure that we’re spotlighting LaurenConrad.com user Cristolrom and her dotty digits as this week’s newest Chic of the Week! 

We’re totally taken with her use of color and her playful paint job—so fun and on-trend for spring. She even incorporated Lauren’s favorite spring shade!

Thanks Cristolrom for showing your spots!

How are you painting your paws this season? Show us your manis a la mode by uploading photos and linking to them in the comments below.

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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If you have a tough time sticking to a healthy diet I suggest keeping a food diary. It may sound like a crazy nit-picky thing to do but it really helps. Even if you do it for just one week you realize what you are or are not putting into your body. Furthermore it’s been said that people who keep a food journal tend to lose more weight than those who do not. It makes sense when you think about it. After all those cookies and sugary Frappuccino’s don’t look so appetizing when they are staring back at you in ink…

If the pen and paper method is not for you there are actually several great apps you can use to track your daily food intake. They are really easy to use and have a huge database of food and their calories. A few of my favorites include Calorie Tracker app Calorie Counter and Lose It.

How is everyone doing with my Bikini Boot Camp Plan? If you’re having trouble sticking to the plan try this trick and let me know how it works out for you. Better yet include your workouts in your diary as well.

Do you have any helpful tips to keep you on track for a healthier lifestyle?

XO Lauren

P.S. The notebook pictured above is from here.



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Trends may come and go but one major piece is always going to be a style staple: the dress. Dolled up or toned down a simple sheath or full-length stunner can change your entire attitude not to mention help you stand out in any social situation. Of all the styles on the market there are a handful OK two handfuls of classic silhouettes that should always be present in your closet. Click through to see and shop the 10 frocks you can't live without.

The LBD...
This sleeveless iteration is easy to dress up or down — pair it with tights and ankle booties for the office or sexy strappy heels for a night out.

Theory Halleli Dress 355

A Classic Shirtdress...
Cool and confident with a decidedly borrowed-from-the-boys feel.

Boy by Band of Outsiders Chambray Shirtdress 525

The Colorful Daytime Maxi...
The colorblock trend has yet to wane and this cool maxi is your best bet for throwing on over a swimsuit or just wearing to the office on a warm day.

C&C California Colorblock Maxi Tank Dress 98

The Sexy Sundress...
This citron-hued dress can easily go from daytime shopping spree to evening cocktails — plus it's a snap to accessorize.

Alice Olivia Ashton Dress 370

Check Out No-Fail Outfits for Any Occasion

The Wrap Dress...
Take a cue from the ladies who lunch and slip into a pretty wrap dress.

Tibi Arizona Wrap Dress 385

The LWD...
A pretty Spring partner to your little black dress a short flirty white frock screams sweetness.

Topshop Mesh Insert Skater Dress 90

A Statement-Making Party Dress...
Sequins a short hemline? Perfect for a party.

Parker Sequin Blocking Racer Dress 352

The Ladylike Knee-Length...
You'll need one of these for those office parties family gatherings and any other events that require a polished professional look.

Jason Wu Belted Leather-Trim Dress 1895

The Flirty Floral Dress...
Spring simply can't start without a girlie printed dress. Wear it with flat sandals or a pair of sky-high wedges.

Milly Floral-Print Silk Dress 385

The Go-To Evening Dress...
Did somebody say "black tie"? Pair this gorgeous gown with pretty earrings and a simple clutch for any evening soiree or wedding.

Alice by Temperley Moonlight Crepe-Jersey Gown 585

Which look is your favorite?

XO TeamLaurenConrad.com

More fab stories from FabSugar…
May Must Haves!
Look of the Day: To the Max
Our Ultimate Spring Dress Guide!
Spring is the Season for See-Through Accessories

Photo: Madame Figaro

While many consider New Year’s as that special time of the year to set goals and navigate down new and exciting avenues I've always found spring to be the season of renewal and regrowth. With fabulous fashion on every street and delicate flowers blooming all around us it's easy to see why spring is often the backdrop to some of life's most transitional moments. Whether you're preparing to graduate from high school or college or putting the final touches on your upcoming wedding spring is one season every girl should take full advantage of and with summer just around the corner it's time to soak up the year's most delicate season for everything it's worth. 

First on my fash checklist add a hint of neon to your ensembles. Whether it's a heel a girly clutch or an eye catching bright pink blazer no spring wardrobe should be absent of this season's loudest trend. 



Below are a few of my absolute favorite spring must-haves… 

Playful Pastels

1. Put your best foot forward with these adorable and equally affordable pastel flats from Le Bunny Bleu. 
2. Let your hemlines rise with the temperatures this spring with this girly color-block dress from Kensie. 
3. Add a dash of fash to your spring wardrobe with this peachy pastel blazer from the LC Lauren Conrad collection. 

Pretty Prints 

1. Every spring wardrobe needs a maxi moment try rocking this Bar III maxi dress for your next outdoor lunch. 
2. For the girl on the go looking to stay stylish yet still comfy this spring try sporting these fabulously floral shorts from the LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s. 
3. Add a little extra coverage with this comfy chic J.Crew cotton crepe cardigan.

Lacey Things

1. Be a standout this spring with this bold neon lace flippy dress from Topshop. 
2. Add a little spring to your step with these classic lace sling backs from Zara.
3. Keep it classy in these stunning scalloped lace shorts from Forever 21.

For more spring style tips be sure to check out my survival guide for spring hair as well as my pastel trend report.

Which spring trend will you be carrying into summer?

xoxo
Anna
Fash Boulevard  

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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Last week I attended the reopening of David Yurman’s flagship boutique in Beverly Hills. It was a lovely event and it was nice to see all of the new additions to the collection. Because the event was held on a warm spring evening I kept my look light and airy. I color-blocked a solid silk maxi skirt by Paper Crown with a pastel tank from Topshop and finished off the look with an oversize vintage clutch and a gorgeous David Yurman bracelet. 

Style Tip: Maxi skirts work for most shapes and sizes. Most would think that they look best on particularly tall women but I would beg to differ. They can be incredibly flattering even if you are on the shorter side. When worn at the natural waist or higher they can actually have an elongating effect. To maximize this illusion of added height pair the maxi with a top in a similar shade as well as heels. 

What do you think about my outfit? Where would you wear it?

XO Lauren


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I thought it would be fun to do The Fame Game as our next LaurenConrad.com Book Club read. This way you guys can ask me questions about the characters or storyline and I can ask you your thoughts on the book as well! What do you think? 

For those of you who are going to participate read up to chapter 14 by Wednesday May 30th if you want to participate in my first question and answer post. And be sure to tune in on the 30th because I will also be letting you know the date of my live chat about the book.

The chat is going to be an extra special one because I will be doing a video chat instead of a text chat in celebration of the successful pre-order campaign and the book release! Get excited and mark your calendars :-

Are you going to read The Fame Game?

XO Lauren

P.S. If you have an eReader be sure to take advantage of this sweet deal:
 

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Photo: Harper Collins

1. Divided Tapestry Bikini
2. 3.1 Phillip Lim Bandeau Bikini
3. Tori Praver Betty Ruched Bikini
4. J.Crew Polka-Dot Bikini
5. Madewell Telegraph-Stripe Tanksuit
6. Opening Ceremony Balconette Swimsuit
7. Mara Hoffman Embroidered Bikini
8. Fluorescent Throwback Bikini
9. Chloe Scalloped Bikini
10. Poolside Glow Bikini

Which one is your favorite? 

Or if you found another cute swimsuit that’s reasonably priced elsewhere share the link in the comments below. Your fellow readers will appreciate it!

XO Lauren

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UPDATE: We have our winner! Congrats to our winner Emily Kate O'Shea! Enjoy the cleanse and let us know how you do.

Summer time should be a happy time with sunshine warm nights and a new wardrobe of color. But it can also be the dreaded season of bikini shopping and allergy attacks.  Don’t avoid the outdoors any longer: Improve your health and secure your summer bod with Kaeng Raeng cleanse! 

Kaeng Raeng is an all natural meal replacement cleanse program that helps jumpstart weight loss improve digestion cut cravings relieve allergies and give your skin a natural vegan glow. Just drink one meal replacement pouch 3 times per day for 3-6 days.  The best part? You can eat as many raw fruits and veggies as you want! KR contains no artificial colors flavors sweeteners or preservatives and no laxatives or stimulants.  

Want to know more? Hear from founder and CEO Lindsay Reinsmith on the creating of Kaeng Raeng:

When I formulated Kaeng Raeng I wanted to maintain the principles of a raw vegan diet but in a form that was convenient and easy for everyone. I had some serious criteria for Kaeng Raeng and I know you’ll love the finished product.

It had to be simple: So many cleanse programs are completely impractical whether they require fasting contain harsh laxatives have long commitments and complicated instructions or cost 100/day. We know that’s not for everyone which is why we created a simple meal replacement system starting at 17/day. No pills no starving no headache.

It had to taste good! I personally created Kaeng Raeng as something I would like to drink and I’m pretty picky!  We use more than a full serving of real fruit in each pouch with no added sugars or flavors so it’s got a natural simple taste.

It had to be good for you and the environment: Kaeng Raeng is 100 vegan and is the only cleanse endorsed by animal rights activist and best-selling Skinny Bitch author Kim Barnouin. Each pouch contains a serving of fruit fiber 15g of lean protein 2 billion live probiotic cultures and daily vitamins. We source all of our ingredients from local farmers and use environmentally friendly practices to bring healthy living right to your doorstep.  

I had to be made with YOU in mind: No two people are going to do a cleanse program the same which is why KR is customizable for your specific goals and needs. Choose Beginner for first time users Veteran for those having done at least one cleanse or vegetarians or Master for experienced cleansers and health nuts. KR is also completely vegan dairy free gluten free caffeine free and peanut free.

As a small business we’re dedicated to helping our customers get healthy in a safe and natural way. I personally use Kaeng Raeng every year to alleviate my allergies and jumpstart a healthier summer. Check out this video about Kaeng Raeng or watch our full length commercial here. 


Want to win one?

Our last giveaway was so successful we decided to do it again! Just comment why YOU want to try a vegan cleanse by midnight tonight and you’ll be entered to win a free 3-Day Beginner program.  

Can’t wait? Use code LAUREN15 for 15 off at kaengraeng.com. Offer good through May 21 at 5:59PM PST. 

KR ships anywhere in the US and several countries worldwide! It’s also available at select Whole Foods Market stores in the US. Check with your local store for availability.

If you want to get beautiful on the outside you’ve got to get healthy on the inside. Try Kaeng Raeng today! 

• You must be a registered LaurenConrad.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to US residents 18 years of age and older. 
• Winners will be contacted via private message to their LaurenConrad.com inbox and by email. If our team does not hear back within 24 hours a new winner will be selected in your place.
• Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
• This giveaway ends at 11:59 PST on May 14 2012. 

Today’s post is brought to you by
 

Every once in a while a truly fabulous pinch me moment has the power to completely consume you allowing you to forget everything except the gratitude and excitement that's running through your body. It was this exact feeling that I was experiencing as I gazed out of the taxi window on my way to the Kohl's design center in New York City. Forty eight hours earlier I was walking down the aisle in Destin Florida and now I was moments from getting a sneak peek behind the curtain of the fabulous LC Lauren Conrad brand. With no sleep and no voice left from our super fun reception I was a total ball of nerves. Thankfully every ounce of nervousness vanished when I stepped off the elevator twenty floors up and was greeted by the incredibly sweet and super talented Katherine Ogle who works hand in hand with Lauren on the the LC Lauren Conrad collection... Eeek. 



First up was a fitting for the July 2012 collection where I was able to watch the design team make minor adjustments to the garments while I mentally took note of what pieces I needed to add to my summer wardrobe. After the fitting Katherine gave me a tour of the entire design center introducing me to crucial members of the Kohl's team that help run everything from home décor to other celebrity lines. Friendly faces and genuine personalities filled each department and really gave the feeling of a truly fabulous dynamic. Not to mention the incredibly breathtaking view from nearly every desk in the building.

Once we hit the bottom floor I was instantly thrown into all things Lauren Conrad. The majority of our day was spent in the LC Lauren Conrad conference room where Lauren meets with the Kohl’s team every two months to approve the upcoming collections. Divided by a long conference table the left side was plastered with inspiration boards for spring while the right side offered an exclusive peek at their fall 2012 collection. Start saving now ladies you’re going to want every piece. From color palettes to prints to patterns and fit it was great to hear from the designers just how incredibly hands-on Lauren is with each and every detail of the brand. I was completely enamored when I got the opportunity to see the creation of a print. I adore the feminine floral prints and patterns that adorn the LC Lauren Conrad collection and getting to see them on a computer and later translated onto a garment was seriously fascinating. After chatting for almost two hours about the design process my admiration for Lauren and swapping personal stories one thing was for sure... I was head over heels in love with everyone behind the LC Lauren Conrad brand. Thank you ladies for making this day so unbelievably special. This is one experience I will never forget.  



For the remainder of my trip I was determined to experience everything that this fabulous city has to offer. 


From a stroll in Central Park to a photo op at my favorite Sex and the City locations it’s easy to see why millions hold New York City so close to their hearts. 


What are some of your favorite places to visit in NYC?

xoxo
Anna 
Fash Boulevard 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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Shot the holiday lookbook for Paper Crown. Here is a little sneak peek:

A little post-work celebration…

Celebrated my friend’s birthday:

Well hello there handsome!

Ready. Set…

Had a date night with Jilly :-

Woke up to this beauty beside me. Love this…

I’m a little teapot…

No joke. They called and asked for Joy… First name Almond?

Stacked.

A little something to wake me up…

What’s your favorite bit from last week or the weekend?

XO Lauren


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Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful mother. And wishing all of you and your mother’s a very happy Mother’s Day as well!

What are you doing to celebrate today?

XO Lauren

P.S. In case you missed it last year I posted a some old photographs of the two of us. Enjoy the last bit of your weekend everyone :-



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Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a wonderful week! In proper Friday fashion here are a few of my favorites from the last week… 

Favorite Snack:

Favorite Smile:

Favorite App It's called "Make Change Not Waste" and it's by BlueAvocado Whole Foods. Now you can get rewarded for living green! Definitely worth checking out.:

Favorite Bracelet Anita Ko Spike Bracelet but here is a more budget friendly version: 

Favorite Décor Idea:
 

Favorite Daydream:

What are you daydreaming about?

Tell me about it in the comments section below… 

Have a great weekend!

XO Lauren

P.S. For more favorites go here: Friday Favorites

Photos: thesetingstaketime.com Pinterest The Tell-Tale Girl

It’s May ladies. And this can only mean one thing: Bikini season is upon us. Yikes! If you’re like me you are probably thinking that you could use a little toning before slipping into that two-piece over Memorial Day weekend. Or perhaps you’re a procrastinator and keep telling yourself that you will work out…tomorrow. No matter your attitude toward fitness it’s safe to say that we should all aim to be the best versions of our selves: Fit healthy and fabulous. That’s why I am sharing my Bikini Boot Camp Plan with you guys… 

When bikini season is on the line fasts and fad diets may be tempting. But don’t fall victim! Instead dedicate yourself to a healthy lifestyle. That’s how you will get the best results. The cherry on top? Your results will actually last! I enlisted my trainer Jarett Del Bene to share the best exercises to get your body fit and toned for that two-piece and have put together my favorite healthy meals too. My Bikini Boot Camp Plan is similar to my 7 Days to Skinny Jeans one so hopefully this will get you back on track if you've strayed since earlier this year. Remember stay focused on eating healthy and dedicate yourself to exercising regularly. So here’s the deal…

My Bikini Boot Camp Plan:

The Rules

• This is a lifestyle change so do not think of it as a diet. Try to stick with this as long as you can! 
• Don’t lose sight of your goals. You can do this!
• Drink lots and lots of water. Jarett’s Tip: “Drink one ounce of water for every pound you weigh per day. For example if you weigh 120 pounds drink 120 ounces of water throughout the day.”
• As soon as you wake up have one cup of lemon water. Make sure you drink it at least 30 minutes before you eat.
• Pick one exercise to do every day save one day for rest. Need a little inspo? Listen to my workout mix! Jarett’s Tip: Have a power snack before your workout such as sliced apples dipped in some all-natural peanut butter.”
• Do all of the exercises listed under “Everyday Exercises” each day in addition to your selected workout.
• Pick one meal from each category for each day.
• Pick one snack for each day. 

The Off-Limits List

• No candy baked goods or ice cream. Ideally no sugar!
• No soda or flavored drinks.
• No white bread or rice.
• No eating 2-3 hours before bed. 

Breakfast Options

• Any of the breakfast options from my 7 Days to Skinny Jeans Plan
• 1 slice of whole grain toast with one scrambled egg and half of a grapefruit
• Banana Oatmeal Smoothie: Blend together one banana 1 cup ice ¼ cup cooked oatmeal 1 tablespoon chopped almonds ½ cup milk of your choice I prefer almond milk pinch of cinnamon
• Low-fat yogurt with 1 sliced banana ½ cup of fresh berries and a drizzle of agave nectar
• Egg whites served with a slice of toast with ¼ of an avocado mashed on top with chili flakes or a pinch of garlic salt

Lunch & Dinner Options

• Any of lunch/dinner options from my 7 Days to Skinny Jeans Plan
• Chicken Wrap with Mango Basil & Mint
• Baked Tofu Veggie Rolls served with a ½ cup of brown rice 
• 1 cup of your favorite low sodium organic soup served with a side of steamed vegetables
• Salad with mixed greens ½ avocado 1 handful of cherry tomatoes 1 sliced cucumber ¼ cup slivered almonds ½ cup cooked quinoa mix together olive oil balsamic vinegar lemon salt and pepper for the dressing
• Spinach Swap Pasta

Snacks

• Grapes & Grahams
• Pear or apple with string cheese
• Greek yogurt with pomegranate seeds
• Hummus and veggies
• Raw vegetables 
• Any of the snacks listed in my 7 Days to Skinny Jeans Plan

Exercise Options

• Run for 45 minutes 
• Alternate sprinting and walking for 60-90 seconds for 30 minutes
• 1 hour of yoga kickboxing or Pilates
• 45 minutes of spin
• Circuit: 10 pushups 30 lunges 30 bicycle crunches jumping jacks for 60 seconds plank for 60 seconds repeat 2x
• 20 minutes of cardio of your choice Make sure you break a sweat!
• 2 sets of my arm workout 30 squats 30 lunges 30 leg lifts for each leg
• Any of the exercise options from my 7 Days to Skinny Jeans Plan

Everyday Exercises

• 50 crunches in the morning 50 crunches at night
• 60 second plank in the morning 60 second plank at night Jarett’s Tip: “Make sure your core is engaged by sucking in your belly button towards your spine.”

If you follow this plan strictly for the next few weeks you will be in great shape by Memorial Day weekend. Just remember to keep your eyes on the prize and to focus on your goals: Getting toned healthy and fit! Most importantly listen to your body drink lots of water get at least eight hours of sleep every night and stick to your workout plan!

Over the next few weeks I will be checking in with you to see how you are doing. I will also be sharing exclusive exercise tips from my trainer Jarett along with more flat-belly friendly foods. Get excited! Get motived. And get ready to confidently slip into your favorite summertime swimwear!

Are you going to join me in my Bikini Boot Camp Plan? Let me know in the comments below!

XO Lauren

P.S. I always find it easier to get back in shape and eat healthy when I buddy up with a friend... Share this post with your bestie and get fit together!

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Photo: Glamour

Every few weeks I check my inbox here on the website and while I cannot respond to each and every message I thought it would be nice to offer advice and answer questions in a new blog series called Ask Lauren. To kick things off I decided to answer a question that a member messaged me. For the sake of privacy she will remain anonymous. Today’s topic is one that I think a lot of us can relate to... 

My best friend chose her boyfriend over me and we've been best friend since seventh grade. We don't talk anymore or anything; she has changed her entire self for her boyfriend… How do I deal with losing my friend?

I think this is both a difficult and common situation that best friends often find themselves in. It can be really hard to be the number one priority in someone’s life and then suddenly feel like you have been replaced. 

Speaking as someone who has been on both sides of this situation I can understand why your feelings would be hurt. I think the most important thing to remember is that when you are young guys come and go but real friends are forever. Sometimes we have to let our friends enjoy the beginning of a relationship knowing that we won't get to have as much time with them. 

It took me a while to learn this but its something that will be returned when you meet a great guy and want to be swept away for a while. My advice would be to do your best to be happy for her and just give her a little time. Then if nothing changes just be honest about the way you are feeling. Let her know that you miss her.

Do you guys have advice on this topic? 

Also if you need advice on a sticky situation leave me a comment below. Or if you’d rather your question be answered anonymously send me a private message by visiting my profile page and clicking “Send private message.” 

While I cannot answer everyone’s questions I’ll do my best to pick topics that you will be able to relate to.

XO Lauren



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Photo: Infotainer-dk
 

We love that she perfected the rosy frock with delightful details—the neutral toned flats paired with the structured tote and belt give the look a clean polished look; the stacked bangles and jean jacket keep it young and fresh. And don’t even get us started on her adorable cap-toe flats. She gives new meaning to pretty in pink! 

Judging by her photos Simmy’s an old pro when it comes to dressing her best. Check out her other looks here. We are so thrilled to dub her this week’s Chic of the Week! Congratulations Simmy!

What’s your favorite daytime look for spring? Show us the sunny ensembles you’re wearing these days by uploading a photo and leaving the link in the comments below.

Have a fun weekend!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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And here are a few exclusive behind-the-scenes post-punk photos:

Are you going to watch Punk’d tonight?

Also what was your favorite old school episode of Punk’d? I remember thinking the one where Justin Timberlake’s car got repossessed was pretty good… Poor Justin!

XO Lauren


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Photo: MTV

1. Spoon your flavored yogurt of choice into your plastic bag. 
   
    

   

2. Cut a small hole in the corner of the filled bag then squeeze dots onto your cookie sheet and place in the freezer.
   
    
3. Wait about one hour and enjoy!
   
    

We can’t wait to make this a snack time standard for balmy summer days!

Cheers!

We love discovering sweets and treats from within the LC.com community so if you have your own DIY Good Eats please share it with us!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

P.S. If you’re not sure how to submit your recipe or photos click here to learn how.

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Photos: © 2012 One Good Thing By Jillee

There’s no question that us girls LOVE to post pics on Facebook. Pics of nights out days at the beach our dogs our clothes our BFs or BFFS the list goes on and on. That’s waaaaaaay too many for anyone to look through and the best ones could be buried in the middle! 

Well the Pheel the Moment app makes it easy to share your favorite moments by creating a video using your Facebook pics. You can then post the video to your wall and inspire your friends to create one themselves.

Life is full of rich moments worth sharing and the app pulls in Facebook photos from all of them: birthdays vacations weddings holidays and just general fun times with friends. It’s so simple to make an amazing video!

Want to put a more personal touch on it? After your video plays you can name it and select different images or themes. Browse through your Facebook photos to create a personalized montage of moments you’ll never forget.

Visit the "Pheel the Moment" page to make your personalized photo video and spread a little love today.

Today’s post is brought to you by
 

Powder room soaps are always a lovely gift especially when you add your personal touch by making them yourself. We love this recipe which uses fruit to give fabulous freshness and pretty fragrance. To create your own collection of pretty handmade soaps all you need is:

• Glycerin
• Assorted citrus peels berries and fruit of your choice. We like to use berries with seeds exfoliating! and lemon but use whatever fruit is your mom’s favorite.
• Clean dry containers like yogurt cups milk cartons juice concentrate cans etc. Get creative with your shapes and sizes and mix it up for a pretty assortment!
• Heat-resistant glass measuring cup or bowl
• Vegetable oil cooking spray or petroleum jelly
• Spray bottle
• Rubbing alcohol
• Paring knife

First thing’s first: make your purees. After washing and drying your fruit mash and blend it until you make a fruity puree paste. If you have a food processor or blender it might come in handy here. Once you have your puree set aside. 

To determine how much glycerin you need fill your mold with water and measure the amount. Once you’ve taken note of the amount dry your mold completely and evenly coat the inside with cooking spray or petroleum jelly.

Chop the glycerin into ½ inch pieces and microwave it in your heat-resistant bowl in 30 second intervals until it’s melted but not boiling. Remove and stir until smooth and let cool but not solidfy.

Once the glycerin is melted and free of lumps mix in your yummy purees. Start with 1 teaspoon of puree per cup of soap – you can add more from there – be patient though: the color will intensify as the puree steeps. 

Almost done! Now all you have to do is pour your soap into the molds. You can fill the mold partially for 1 bar or fill completely to slice into several. Spray the surface with alcohol to prevent bubbles from forming. Now it’s just a waiting game – let the soap form for about 20 to 60 minutes depending on size then transfer to freezer for about 2 hours.

Once your soaps are good and solid tear away the cartons or pry soap out. Neaten the edges with a pairing knife and put them in a pretty package lined with tissue paper for a lovely heartfelt gift!

Dip-Dyed Stationary and Cards

Elegant stationary is a ladylike essential so supply your mother’s correspondence collection with original dip dyed note cards and stationary. All you need is:

• Plain white stationary or notecards of your choice. We recommend purchasing your cards at an art or craft supply store where a salesperson can recommend card stock that will hold dye best.
• Plastic storage bin or galvanized-steel bin
• Stir stick
• All-purpose liquid or powder dye
• Paper towel to test out your dye

This crafty card trick is surprisingly easy. First fill the plastic bin with at least 6 inches of hot water. Stir in the dye adding it little by little and using the paper towel to test the color. If you go overboard you can always add more water. Once you’ve perfected your color let your mix settle for a minute so that no more air bubbles rise to the top.

Next holding your paper level and straight dip it into the dye to the desired line. Keep it submerged until it has gotten dark enough then hang to dry. And that’s it!

Etched Glass 

Did you know that etching glass is incredibly easy? All you need is an adhesive stencil etching paste and a little patience to personalize any piece of glass. You can really get creative with this but we think personalizing a baking dish or set of glasses is a pretty and thoughtful way to show mom you care. Here’s how:

Adhere your stencil to the glass making sure there are no air bubbles near the area to be etched. Using a small brush apply a thick layer of etching cream and allow it to set for about 30 minutes. After a half an hour rinse off the etching cream under running water then wash with soap wear gloves!.  Et voila!

We hope you give these fun and thoughtful gift ideas a try! If you do be sure to upload photos and share your experience with us! To learn how to submit photos click here.

Cookbook

This is one of Lauren’s favorite ideas: Create a cookbook for your mother. Include all of your favorite recipes that she makes along with a few new ones that you think she would like to try. Leave a few pages blank so she can add more in. Each year you can provide her with a new recipe to add to her collection. Better yet offer to make one of the recipes with her when you give it to her on Mother’s Day.

What other DIY gifts will you be giving mom this year? Tell us about them and how to do them! in the comments below.

Also let us know if you’re going to give any of the above crafts a try!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

P.S. Don't forget to check out Lauren's complete Mother's Day gift guide too!

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Friday Favorites

Photo Credit: MarthaStewart.com 4.bp.blogspot.com Elle Decor A Better Bag of Groceries

1. Pair a LWD with some flashy tangerine t-strap platforms like these beauties from Zara.
2. You don’t necessarily have to wear the tangerine trend—you can carry it too. This chic wallet from American Apparel is the perfect fashion-forward accessory for spring and summer.
3. Pair a lightweight tangerine blouse like this one from American Apparel with cropped pants or layer it over a fitted dress and cinch the waist. 
4. Layer on a cute cardigan like this one from H&M for a laid-back take on the trend.
5. Make a statement with a bold melon necklace like this one from J.Crew.
6. If you’re hesitant to try the tango trend start by glossing your nails with an orange polish. Nail polish is my favorite way to test-drive new colors.
7. Get shorty with tangerine cutoffs like these by J Brand. Pair them with a neutral top or color-block with a contrasting solid colored blouse.
8. Add a taste of tango by sporting these gorgeous stud earrings by Elizabeth and James. The unexpected pop of color is sure to liven up any outfit.
9. Pull off two trends with one top by wearing this adorable tank from Zara. The tangerine hue and peplum detail are a seriously stylish combination. Talk about a fashionable one-two-punch…
10. Tango to the beach in an itsy-bitsy tangerine bikini like this one from J.Crew. I love the polka dot versions too!

All in all this juicy orange hue is a great way to revamp your closet for spring and summer. If you feel like your wardrobe has gone a bit stale try adding in one or two citrus infused pieces for an instant update. And remember it only takes a touch to tango… 

Which tangerine piece is your favorite?

XO Lauren



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Serves 10

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon butter melted plus more softened for skillet and serving
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup blueberries plus more for garnish
• Pure maple syrup for serving

Directions

1. Sift together flour sugar baking powder and salt. Whisk together buttermilk eggs vanilla 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoons oil; whisk into flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Set batter aside.
2. Heat 1/2 teaspoon butter and remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour in 1/3 cup batter. Cook until small bubbles form about 3 minutes. Flip; cook until golden brown about 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter adding butter as needed. Serve with butter and syrup; garnish with berries.

Are you going to give this recipe a try? Also what's your favorite topping for pancakes?

Special thanks to Martha Stewart Living for sharing this fabulous recipe with us today!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

P.S. We noticed that many of you are wondering what the difference is between a flapjack and a pancake... A flapjack is generally thicker than a traditional pancake but in the end it is actually still a pancake! How's that for a fun fact? 

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Source: Martha Stewart Living April 2005

1. Exfoliate exfoliate! I recommend Fresh’s Brown Sugar Body Polish or making your own. A great scrub will slough away dead skin cells leaving your legs polished and primed for increased moisturizer absorption. To make your own simply mix together olive oil and sea salt with a squeeze of lemon juice until it's a thick paste. 
2. Moisturize. Twice a day—once in the morning after you shower and once at night before bed. 
3. Be mindful. Especially with what you put in your body! Before a big event and during the summer season I aim to really cut down my intake of salt and refined sugars. Staying hydrated is also really important if you want to reduce bloating and water retention. 
4. Lunge lift and squat. To keep your legs lovely year round get in the habit of squeezing in a few sets of lunges leg lifts and squats every day. This will totally pay off come summertime.
5. Keep it tan. Nothing slims your legs like a great tan! My favorite sunless tanner is by Kate Somerville but I hear L'Oreal has great options too.

Speaking of sunless tanners what's your go-to sunless tanning product?

XO Lauren

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Photo: BohemianSpirit 

1. Let the bride-to-be wear white. It’s a subtle way to let her shine on her big day. Personally I would even steer away from creams and ivory as well. Nude shades and white dresses with colorful prints are fine but solid whites should be reserved for the star of the show: The Bride. 
2. Stay away from red. It may seem trite but red is considered to be a “vulgar” hue associated with adultery. Not exactly appropriate for celebrating your friend’s upcoming nuptials. Red is also a “look-at-me” color. Again let the bride bask in the spotlight. Save your LRD for that hot date you have planned…and wear that LPD instead. 
3. Try not to wear black. This is a completely personal opinion but I wouldn’t recommend wearing black to a bridal shower. It reminds me of mourning. Instead wear a pretty color or print to show optimism for your friend’s new beginnings. 

Well that’s it for bridal shower wardrobe etiquette! Now for the fun part… Here are my top picks on what to wear to a bridal shower:

If you’re the bride-to-be wear white. I like both of these little numbers…

Theyskens’ Theory Dystie Dress

J.Crew Eyelet Dress

If you’re attending a shower try one of these paired with a nice cardigan and heels or pretty flats… 

H&M Short Dress in Mint

LC Lauren Conrad Ruffle Hi-Low Dress

H&M Powder Pink Lace Dress

Anthropologie Macquarie Dress

Vanessa Bruno Silk Dress

LC Lauren Conrad Polka-Dot Pleated Dress

Anthropologie Burgeoning Hypericum Dress This is the dress I actually wore to my friend’s bridal shower.

Which dress is your favorite?

Also if you have any fun game ideas for bridal showers let me know in the comments below!

As far as what to wear on the big day be sure to check out my wedding attire style guide!

XO Lauren



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Distracted at work…

I learned exactly how long it takes to get “impulse pink” out of my hair…

Oh my Essie!

Celebrated the beautiful Stephanie Pratt’s birthday last weekend…

Flew out to NYC to work on my collection for Kohl’s… Went out after work and ended up here:

Then it was back to work… These hair accessories and jewels made me happy:

Stole these rose gold beauties from the office. Love love love…

Here’s an up-close look at the heart bracelet:

Owls are having a very fashionable moment if you ask me…

The. Best. Macarons. Period. 

There’s really no better way to spoil your dinner :-

Snuck in a little bestie time with my Paper Crown partner Maura…

Then I flew back to LA…and fell in love with these two little guys:

And this is pretty reflective of my current state of mind right now… 

What was the highlight of your week?

Have a great weekend!

XO Lauren


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Favorite Dress from H&M: 

Favorite Easy Party Treat Pina Colada Trifle via Recipe.com:

Favorite Polish Look golden tips:

Favorite Trend head-to-toe pastels: 

Favorite DIY confetti plates via Beau & Arrow: 
 

Have you done any fun DIYs lately? If so upload a photo to your profile page and share the link in the comments below… You know I am always looking to spotlight someone.

Have a beautiful weekend kiddies!

XO Lauren

P.S. Check here for more: Friday Favorites

Photos: Le-Minimalist.tumblr.com Pinterest 
 

When it comes to prom dresses finding the perfect little number is no easy feat. You want something original and fun that makes you look and feel great all night long which can be a hard balance to strike. So when we set our sights on LaurenConrad.com user Steph’s pretty prom ensemble we were so impressed!

We adore the soft ivory color that’s perfect for spring but that goes without saying. The length and one-shoulder cut make this BCBG frock fun and young while the structured bodice and draping make it incredibly flattering. We also love the sleek pony and minimal accessories – simple and beautiful. Tres chic! She has a great photograph with her friends too who also look lovely—check it out here. Congratulations Steph on being our new Chic of the Week! 

What are you wearing to prom this year? And if you’ve already had your prom show us by uploading a photo and leaving the link in the comments below.

Have a fabulous weekend! 

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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What do you think?

I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I am about this book. Although it was truly a labor of love it was well worth the hard work. My number one goal when putting Lauren Conrad BEAUTY together was to make it your go-to guide for all things beauty. This book is an opportunity for me to pass on all the things I've learned along the way and share some of my missteps. In the book you will find everything from my favorite beauty tips and tricks to step-by-step tutorials and more. I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Lauren Conrad BEAUTY will hit stores in the on October 16th of this year which happens to be the same release date as my next book in The Fame Game trilogy Starstruck!

Let me know what you think about the cover in the comments below.

XO Lauren



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Cinco de Mayo is this Saturday and I thought it would be nice to share a fun recipe that’s a total palate-pleaser for the holiday: Corona Cupcakes! A friend of mine showed me the recipe and I couldn’t resist sharing it with all of you… While there is an endless variety of recipes for this beer-based cupcake online my friend suggested I use this one from Erica’s Sweet Tooth.

I gave the recipe a try and sure enough they turned out as yummy as they sound. The taste is very interesting—it has the sweetness of a normal vanilla cupcake but the flavor is amped up a notch with hints of lime and Corona. I know it sounds strange but they are really great! Trust me. 

If you’re planning on celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend I suggest whipping up these bad boys for your friends and family. I promise they will be a hit with everyone! 

Here is the recipe from Erica’s Sweet Tooth adapted from Miss Make…

Makes 24 cupcakes

Ingredients for the Cupcakes

• 3/4 cups unsalted butter room temperature
• 1-3/4 cup sugar
• 2-1/2 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 eggs room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp lime zest
• 1 cup Corona beer plus more for brushing on tops
• 1/4 cup milk
• Lime wedges

Instructions for the Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together flour baking powder and salt.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add eggs beating after each addition then add the vanilla and zest.
5. Combine milk and beer and alternatively add this mixture and the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture with the mixer on low speed starting and ending with the flour.  
6. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 18 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. I made a batch of full size cupcakes and a batch of minis too. For some reason everything tastes better when it's small! If you do make the mini version bake for half the time and check them frequently since they cook much faster.
7. When cupcakes are done poke holes in the tops of the cupcakes with toothpicks and brush some beer on each while still warm.  

Ingredients for the Citrus Frosting

• 12 oz cream cheese cold
• 6 tbsp butter at room temperature
• 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions for the Frosting

1. Cream together the cream cheese and butter in an electric mixer until smooth and creamy about 2-3 minutes.  
2. Add the citrus juice and zest and gradually add the powdered sugar until combined.  Beat until smooth for about 2 minutes.
3. Load frosting in a piping bag fit with a large star tip and pipe cupcake tops once cooled. I only ended up putting a little squggle of frosting on my final batch becuase the frosting was so rich so just test it out and see what works best for you!

Serve the cupcakes with a cold Corona or a tall glass of milk and enjoy! 

Are you going to give these boozed up cupcakes a try?

XO Lauren



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This story is from our partner FabSugar! Twice a month we’ll share FabSugar’s best fashion tips and shopping guides. Today's post teaches you how to style neon accessories written by Marisa Tom of FabSugar:

3 Neon Accents 6 Outfits to Take You From Work to After Hours

We're all for putting our colors on blast read: neon wares but depending on the scene it's just not feasible to rock our fluoro-flair to its fullest potential. Thus we've selected three brighter than bright statement accessories — a necklace a double-banded cuff and drop earrings — to pair with both work-appropriate and after-hours pieces. The result? Six outfits ready to be worn from day to night with just a quick wardrobe change. From an electric yellow necklace set against a sweet Phillip Lim frock to a bright red beaded cuff worn with bold Dries Van Noten graphic-printed pants your Spring style will get the vibrant boost it deserves effortlessly. Just click through to see how we've styled these three neon pieces six ways.

Bring on the bold...
Let this bold Tom Binns-inspired necklace take the lead. Don a light orange-hued shift dress with nude wedges for day. Then turn up the slick factor for evening with a darker-hued mini and edgy black sandals.

Adia Kibur Multi-Strand Necklace 174 Work: 3.1 Phillip Lim Short Faded Orange Silk Dress 495 Marais USA T-Bar Wedge in Smoke 160 Play: Issa Ruffle Knitted Dress 600 Alexander Wang Nadia Sandals 525

Mix in your colors... 
We love a subtle pop of color and these Tom Binns earrings are the perfect way to achieve this exact effect. To make sure your work attire doesn't distract opt for a gray blazer and floral skirt duo but remember to wear your hair pulled back! For happy hour drinks slip into something slinkier like a lacy LBD and pair it with a beaded clutch and bright blue wedge sandals.

Tom Binns Neo Neon Flower Earrings 195 Work: Bless Tank Scarf 353 Paul Smith Navy Floral Skirt 445 Repetto Vintage Silk Ballet Flat in Black 265 Play: Vanessa Bruno Athé Sleeveless Lace Dress 384 J.Crew Ready or Not Suede Sandals 228 Forever 21 Bead & Sequin Stripe Clutch 23 

Check Out the Look of the Day: Shades of Weekend Mint

Go from sweet to exotic...
Cuff the sleeves of your mohair sweater to show off this double-banded neon red cuff but keep your daytime outlook simple. For your nighttime activities try a cool graphic-print trouser and exotic-textured sandals.

Bex Rox "Alabama" Cuff 338 Work: Topshop Knitted Rib Mohair 76 Sandro Mint Skinny Pants 225 Robert Clergerie "Jilic" Oxfords 575 Play: Dries Van Noten Printed Pants 995 Diane von Furstenberg Issie Draped Silk-Charmeuse Top 95 Bottega Veneta Karung and Metallic Leather Sandals 820

Which look is your favorite?

More fab stories from FabSugar…
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There’s no arguing that Victoria Secret models know how to look good on the beach. To compliment their bathing suits in the 2012 photo shoot the ladies wore vibrant Pura Vida Bracelets on their sun-kissed wrists. If you’re a regular LaurenConrad.com reader you know all about these popular accessories by now. 

Colorful Pura Vida Bracelets are a great way to make your tan pop while you’re soaking up the rays on the beach this summer. Slip a few on your arms and be the most stylish girl on the sand. They even make neon headbands and hair ties to really complete your look.

The last time we were featured on LaurenConrad.com we sold out of a bunch of styles so make sure to snag yours quickly.

Want a deal?    


Get your Pura Vida Bracelets items online at 20 off just for being a LaurenConrad.com reader. Head over to PuraVidaBracelets.com today and use code SUMMER20. Hurry this offer ends tonight 5/4 at 11:59PM PST. 

Don’t forget to tell your friends about Pura Vida Bracelets too. You’ll be the hottest group under the sun!  

Today’s post is brought to you by
 

Pastels are having a very fashionable moment this spring and beauty is no exception to the trend. Peachy pouts and cheeks were all over the Spring 2012 runways with designers like Phillip Lim Carolina Herrera and Marc Jacobs embracing the feminine and subtle look. 

Pretty peach makeup is perfect for sunny spring days and it’s subdued enough for the office or classroom. To test the trend try a creamy peach blush such as NARS’ Orgasm blush What a name right? or a fresh lip-gloss like Stila’s Peach Lip Glaze. Peach nails are also a great way to go for a pop of flirty color. Personally I like Essie’s A Crewed Interest. It’s a luminous shade of peach that’s as pretty as it is on-trend.

Peachy makeup is a great look to try if you like to keep your beauty routine minimal or tend to err on the side of subtle rather than bold. Pair your peach blush or lip with dewy foundation and a sweep of mascara for a perfectly flirty yet feminine finish. 

Are you feeling peachy keen this spring?

XO Lauren

P.S. Don't forget to install the "Pin It" button into your toolbar so you can pin things from my blog posts! 

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I guess Jilly should stick to her day job :-

Our other favorite game to play is “Who Am I?” It’s hands down my all time fav. It’s always so funny and leads to great conversation. If you don’t know how to play already here’s how:

1. Each person I suggest a group of 5 or more picks the name of a famous person historical figures celebrities animated characters etc. for the person sitting to their left and writes it down on a sticky note. Don’t let anyone else see what you’ve written down until the game begins…
2. Stick the note onto the forehead of the person to your left. It will be their job to guess “who they are.”
3. Now for the rules… Each person gets 20 “yes or no” questions in order to figure out who they are. For example “Am I a man or a woman?” or “Do I go to the Grammys?” While sitting in a circle each person asks the group and the group provides an answer. The first person to guess who they are wins! 

So as you can see I was Bill Clinton. 

Have you done a game night with friends? What games do you like to play?

Tell me in the comments below. I’ll feature my favorite suggestion in a Member Spotlight post!

XO Lauren



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1. Love Knot Necklace… for a little extra sparkle.
2. Monogrammed Buckle Shoulder Bag… for the mom on the go.
3. Enamel Initial Cuff… for a stylish statement.
4. Monogram Cellphone Cases… because personalized is always better.
5. Cook’s Books Set… or better yet sign up for a cooking class together.
6. MicroGreens Windowsill Grow Box… for the mother who loves to cook.
7. Gift Certificate for a Mani/Pedi… so she can be queen for a day.
8. ModClotch Apron… to stay chic even in the kitchen.
9. Printed Summer Scarf… the perfect addition to her spring wardrobe. 
10. Brown Sugar Body Polish… for a touch of luxury.

Do you have any creative Mother’s Day DIY gift ideas? If so share them in the comments below. My team will spotlight the best ideas in a follow up post next week!

XO Lauren 

P.S. Don't forget to install the "Pin It" button into your toolbar so you can pin things from my blog posts! 

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The things you keep on your coffee table say a lot about who you are and where you’ve been. And mine is a pretty good example of this… Coffee tables are the centerpieces of most homes. It’s a place where friends and family gather round to catch up unwind and unplug. In a way the coffee table truly is the pinnacle locale for socializing within the home aside from the dinner table of course. That said I thought it would be fun to share what’s on my coffee table at my Paper Crown office. Take a look:

1. D.L. & Co. candle in Peony Delight. I adore these candles. The scent is lovely and not too overwhelming. I usually buy them on sale when they are on One Kings Lane or Gilt. 
2. Yves Saint Lauren: Style. Aside from the fact that I adore the cover the contents are simply breathtaking. 
3. In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine. If you’re a fashion enthusiast like me this book is essential to your collection. When I’m feeling uninspired I love to flip through the pages and get lost in the Diana Vreeland era… 
4. Mercury glass votives. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for mercury glass. There’s something so charming yet simple about it. I found mine at a flea market. Cheap and chic.
5. Vintage glass tray. I love picking up pieces from local flea markets such as my glass tray. I keep candles and other miscellaneous trinkets on it since it makes the tabletop look less cluttered and more organized. 

Capturing your style sense in a coffee table may seem intimidating. For that reason I’ve put together a little guide to help you master the art of creating a perfectly personalized tablescape. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Ambience is everything so keep a few of your favorite candles on deck.
• Add a few decorative accessories that reflect your personal style. Pieces from your recent travels are always a good idea.
• Keep things organized in a tray.
• Pile on a few of your favorite books. Not only are they lovely to page through from time to time they will also likely spark conversation when guests are in tow. 

What’s on your coffee table?

Snap a photo and upload it to your LaurenConrad.com profile page. Click “Submit this photo” for a chance to be featured on the site!

XO Lauren


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While hellos and handshakes used to be the way to greet and goodbye hugs have become the new norm in recent years. I think it’s interesting because to me hugs signify affection not “hello.” I hug close friends and family but nowadays that’s not enough. After researching the topic of “hugging” for this blog I learned quite a few unwritten rules about hugging etiquette. Here’s what I learned:

When it comes to good friends… If you are good friends and haven’t seen each other in while: hug. The same goes for saying goodbye. If you are not going to see the friend for a long time give them a hug. If you see one another regularly hello and goodbye will suffice.

When it comes to acquaintances… A simple hello or handshake will do. However if you spend an extended period of time with an acquaintance it makes sense to depart with a hug.

When it comes to greeting a big group… If you arrive somewhere to find a big group of friends and acquaintances shake the hands of those you are just meeting and hug your friends.

When you are in a professional setting… It’s best to err on the safe side and not hug unless you are at an after-hours function or holiday party and the occasion seems appropriate. Regardless it’s always best to ask when you find yourself in a work-related setting.

When you are the host of a party… It’s generally expected that you hug friends upon arrival and departure and greet new faces with a kind and inviting handshake.

General Rules of Hugging

1. Never assume.
2. Take a cue from body language.
3. Consider the setting and the frequency.
4. Be considerate of other peoples’ boundaries.
5. Types of Hugs: For family and close friends two arm hugs are fine. For everyone else it’s best to give a one-arm hug. Be careful not to linger with one-arm hugs—2 to 3 seconds is perfect.

Have you had an awkward hugging moment before? Tell me about it in the comments below…

XO Lauren

P.S. Going on a first date soon? Click here for my full breakdown on the dos and don'ts of first date etiquette!

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Photo: Flickr

With her effortless feminine appeal we crown Jacy our Chic of the Week! Congratulations! This outfit is the perfect inspiration for a balmy day at work or school and we love the subtlety of nude paired with pastels. To see even more of Jacy’s adorable style check out her “Outfits” album here we’re also big fans of her Easter ensemble! 

What do you like best about Jacy’s chic warm-weather look?

Happy happy weekend to you! 

XO Team LaurenConrad.com 

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Favorite Dose of Glitter Miu Miu high-tops: 

Favorite Print for Spring polka dots!: 

Favorite Hairstyle for a Breezy Spring Day: 

Favorite Spring Treat Lavender Cupcakes with Honey Frosting via LaurenConrad.com member Jessie Roberts:

Favorite Laugh:

What is your favorite springtime treat? 

Share the recipe in the comments below or upload it to your profile page for a chance to be featured on the website! Click here to learn how to upload and submit recipes. 

Photos: A Beautiful Mess We Heart It Net-a-Porter

Who says your gorgeous arrangement should be limited to a vase? Get creative and try placing your flowers in a mason jar ceramic bowl or even a teacup! 

2. Stabilize 


To make your life easier place clear cellophane tape in a grid across the top of your bowl vase or jar. This is especially important if you’re working with a wide-mouthed bowl or vase because the flowers will have a tendency to fall over otherwise. 

3. Snip Your Stems 


To keep your flowers healthy snip the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle before placing it in your vase. This step allows the flowers to absorb the most water possible. And if you really want to make your arrangement last cut the stems every few days. 

4. Play with Texture 


Uniform arrangements of one type of flower make a lovely and bold statement but if you’re mixing multiple types bring in a variety of textures to give it more dimension and interest. Try bunching dense flowers with pops of airier sprigs sprinkled throughout like the arrangement above. 

5. Consider Placement


To help your gorgeous arrangement last longer keep it off televisions appliances or heating or cooling units which give off heat and wilt flowers. The ideal spot for your arrangement is somewhere out of direct sunlight and away from hot or cold drafts. 

When in doubt think simple and classic and just have fun with it!  

Have you tried your hand at flower arranging? 

If not give it a try by following my suggestions outlined above. And snap a photo of the finished product and upload it to your LaurenConrad.com profile page for a chance to be the Chic of the Week. 

XO Lauren 

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Photo Credit: Oh Joy Martha Stewart Real Simple Photobucket Reason to Breathe Beandseecreative.blogspot.com BHG.com Pinterest Dreamy Whites

Alice Olivia Tibby Petal Dress
LC Lauren Conrad Ruffle Chiffon Dress
Paper Crown Wilde Tiered Mini

Paper Crown Angelica Dress
Guilia Illusion Sequin Sheath Dress
MICHAEL Michael Kors Paillette Dress

Zara Strapless Peplum Dress
Paper Crown Bellflower Dress
Haute Hippie Flutter Sleeve Lace Dress

LC Lauren Conrad Accordion Pleat Maxi Dress
Zara Dress with Front Opening
Adrianna Papell Beaded Gown

Which look are you?

Whether you went to prom or not the looks listed above are a great guide for any special events you may have on your calendar for spring or summer. Wedding season anyone? 

Also if you did go to prom and you’re not sure what to do with your old dress check out this blog I wrote about a wonderful organization that donates used prom dresses to girls that otherwise couldn’t afford a dress for prom. 

XO Lauren

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Photo: Lauren Conrad Style

Quick! What do you get when you mix a high-energy workout with a shopping trip to Nordstrom besides a brain-load of mood-boosting endorphins? How about the second annual Zella Day of Movement! That's right it's happening again and if you missed it last year now's your chance to take advantage of this amazing free in-store event.  

On Saturday May 5 participating Nordstrom stores all over the country will host one-hour mat classes under the expert guidance of local fitness instructors at no charge to you. Once you've stretched and toned your muscles to a higher state of physical grace let the very cool cool-down begin with some post-workout Zella shopping. Check out this 'it' brand's latest activewear in addictively comfortable silhouettes and fabrics—and get a surprise fitness gift with your 40 Zella purchase while supply lasts in stores on May 5 only. What could be more rewarding than that? 


If you're not already familiar with Zella fitness gear you can check it out at Nordstrom.com. Available exclusively at Nordstrom Zella's figure-flattering designs are hallmarked by innovative tech fabrics right-on-trend colors and edgy detailing—and the price point is unbelievably affordable. 

So if you love shopping and working out grab a couple of friends and get in on the super-fun action. Just be sure to RSVP to your local Nordstrom store ahead of time because the class times vary by location and space is limited.

Today’s post is brought to you by
 

Last night was the final stop of my book tour for The Fame Game. Seeing as it was the finale to a long tour I decided to pull out all the stops. Okay maybe not all but I did debut a freshly painted pink ponytail. I figure that I might as well have fun experimenting while I’m still young. And it’s only temporary so it’s really not that big of a commitment... Fashion is about having fun and taking chances. Plus the pink tipped pony added the perfect pop of color to my otherwise monochromatic look.

In case you’re wondering what I wore the top is actually from Urban Outfitters; it’s the Sparkle & Fade Studded Collar Button-Down Blouse. The skirt is Paper Crown and the heels are from my LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s. I like contrasting tough pieces like the studded collar top with more feminine items such as the full skirt. The pairing is unexpected but it still works. 

Style Tip: When mixing defined looks like I did tough girly be sure to keep proportions in mind. If you are wearing a short skirt offset the volume with a modest close-fitting top and vice versa. Most importantly remember this: Fashion is not only fun—it’s a balancing act too. 

What do you think about my playful pink-tipped look?

XO Lauren



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Lately I’ve been wearing OPI “Thanks A Windmillion” nail polish. The shade is from OPI’s Spring/Summer 2012 Holland Collection and I can’t seem to get enough of it. The polish is a lovely creamy sea green. The delicate hue is perfect because it compliments all of the neutrals and pastels that have recently overtaken my wardrobe. But the thing I like most about this polish is that after just two coats the color looks just as it does in the bottle. Don’t you love that? 

Here’s a snapshot of the polish on my nails:

What’s your favorite nail polish for spring?

XO Lauren



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Saw this and just really liked it. 

Finally got to Chicago and loved these ladies’ homemade tees. 

Got this cute friendship bracelet at one of the signings… 

Then I was off to Texas. I felt pretty tough with my spiked collar…though it may have been offset by my headband and tweed shorts.

Isn’t that the truth? Especially if it’s early in the morning… :

Wore denim on denim… I think it’s a definite do so long as the denims are contrasting shades.

And a little something to remember me by Dallas…

This watch was water resistant. Unfortunately it wasn’t Lauren-proof… 

Well hello gentleman…

And goodbye. Man-eater!

Yum! Nothing beats old-school tots…

Watched this beautiful sunset on the flight home…

Back in LA at last! Stopped by On Air with Ryan Seacrest to say hi…

Then I was off to Chelsea Lately…and this happened:

Did you come to one of my signings? Or are you coming to my LA signing tomorrow? Let me know in the comments.

Also what do you think about the denim on denim look? Do or don’t?

XO Lauren 

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Each towelette is paraben-free and has a really nice self-tanning formula that leaves my skin with a lovely sun kissed glow. Surprisingly the towelettes make application quick and easy. The tan typically takes a couple hours to develop and I have yet to have any serious mishaps with streaks. As long as you wipe the towelette over the entire surface of your skin you are good to go!

Just as body lotions are formulated slightly differently than face lotions sunless tanners vary as well. That’s why I’ve started using Kate Somerville Self Tanning Face Pads. The pads have built-in exfoliators to ensure streak-free coverage and peptides that smooth out the surface of your skin. I absolutely love them!

Typically I use the body and face tanners once a week depending on my weekend plans. If I want to be extra tan for an event I’ll apply a second layer the night before. Using the towelettes and face pads have just become part of my weekly beauty routine now that my days of lounging poolside and tanning are long gone... 

Both the face and body Somerville 360 products are must-haves for me. Especially as hemlines rise and bikinis become more and more of a reality as summer nears. Since I know many of you are getting ready for warmer temps as well I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway!

Do you want to win a pack of Kate Somerville 360 Tanning Towelettes Face Self Tanning Pads?

Then tweet or pin yourself tan! Here’s how…

1. Tweet or Pin. Tweet or pin either of the above images the following phrase: Hey LaurenConrad I’m Loving the new LCGiveaway! http://bit.ly/LCgetglowing
2. Comment. Leave one comment below with your Twitter handle or the link to your Pinterest boards. 
3. Wait. I’ll announce the 5 winners on May 1st!

Good luck!

UPDATE: We have our winners! Congrats to Nichole Handshy Alison Candance and Christine Stirrat!

And a very special thanks to everyone over at Kate Somerville for making this giveaway possible. Thank you!

XO Lauren

The Small Print:

• You must be a registered LaurenConrad.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to residents of the USA only.
• Winners will be contacted via private message to their LaurenConrad.com inbox and by email. If our team does not hear back within 24 hours a new winner will be selected in your place.
• Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
• This giveaway ends at midnight PST on May 1st 2012.
• This is not a sponsored giveaway in any way.

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Photos: Sephora

You know that moment when you discover something so cool yet so simple you just want to tell everyone you know about it? Well ladies I’ve struck domestic goddess gold… How you ask? A friend of mine taught me 10 great alternative uses for dryer sheets. Yes those inexpensive scented sheets you throw in the dryer to reduce static can be used for a multitude of things. Read on and get ready to be amazed…

1. Cure clingy clothes. With the swipe of a dryer sheet you can do away with clingy static-ridden clothes in seconds. I suggest carrying a dryer sheet in your purse to avoid said situations. It will make your bag smell nice too. 
2. Scent your stuff. I like to tuck a fresh sheet into my drawers. I love the subtle fragrance they lend to everything stashed away with it. This is also a good trick for gym bags suitcases or even smelly sneakers ew. 
3. Tame frizzy hair. Don’t you hate it when you’ve just blow-dried your hair smoothed on some anti-frizz serum and yet your strands are still determined to go haywire? Static hair is never a good combination. To combat Medusa-like strands simply run a dryer sheet over your tresses. Trust me it may seem odd but it works like a charm.
4. Wipe away pet hair. Forget your lint roller. Dryer sheets are great for doing away with unwanted pet hair and lint on clothing furniture—you name it. How do you think I get Chloe’s coat off all of my black pants?
5. Repel bugs. I learned this trick while I was traveling in Tanzania sadly I didn’t have any dryer sheets with me at the time: If you loop a dryer sheet around your belt or put one in your pocket it will repel mosquitos and bees. Sweet. Wish I had known this in kindergarten during recess… 
6. De-squeak Your Feet. Are those new rubber-soled shoes squeaking all over the office? Quiet them down by rubbing the bottoms with a dryer sheet.
7. Freshen your ride. I don’t know about you but those scented pine trees on a string tend to give me a headache. Instead slip a few dryer sheets under the seats in your car. It will keep your whole car smelling so fresh and so clean. 
8. Dust it up. Dryer sheets can be used on nearly any surface to do away with dust. 
9. Help your hairbrushes. Clean brushes mean clean hair. Fill a bowl with warm water add a couple dryer sheets and then place your hairbrushes and combs into the mixture. Let it soak for a few hours. Rinse. Dry. And voila—your brushes are like new!
10. Ditch deodorant stains. Use a dryer sheet to wipe away unwanted deodorant stains on your clothes.

Are you completely inspired to put your dryer sheets to work now? I am… 

If you know of some more alternative uses for basic home items share them in the comments below! I love this sort of stuff… 

XO Lauren



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Photo: James Baigrie for Real Simple

We all know that a LaurenConrad.com reader can appreciate a gorgeous designer handbag. We bet you can appreciate a FREE designer handbag even more! SHEFinds Portero and Pretty City have teamed together to bring you a very luxe giveaway! 

Sign up for SHEFinds before April 30th and you could win a Louis Vuitton Trevi GM handbag valued at 2400! To enter to win just click here!

What’s SHEFinds you ask? 

SHEFinds is a FREE fashion email for women. Maybe you don’t have a lot of time to shop or at least not as much time as you’d like and scouring the Internet for deals can be time consuming! But you still want to look good and stay on top of the trends right? 

Enter SHEFinds the source on everything that is hot. Let us do the browsing for you. We hunt for trends finds sales plus we let you know where you can find it – all for FREE! 

All you have to do is sign up! You’ll be automatically entered to win the Louis Vuitton handbag and you’ll start getting hot styles and deals delivered right to you inbox. For FREE! 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up now! You could be slinging that Louis Vuitton bag over your shoulder before you know it. 

Today’s post is brought to you by

 

It has been a long and arduous competition but I am pleased to announce the winner of the Kohl’s Blogger Contest. The decision was not easy. But after reviewing the past challenges as well as the results from the poll it was clear we had a winner: Congratulations to our winning blogette Anna Hodge!

Anna your style and aesthetic are just lovely. My team and I were very impressed with the creative ways you executed each challenge the way that you styled all of the LC Lauren Conrad pieces into your looks as well as the personality exuded by your final writing sample. We’re also avid readers and huge fans of your blog Fash Boulevard. Your tenure as the official LaurenConrad.com Guest Blogger will begin May 2012! And our team will be in contact with you about your trip to the Big Apple. Congratulations!

Here are Anna's outfits from the competition...

From the get go I knew this would be an impossible decision. All of the initial entries were so impressive. We’ve got some insanely talented and chic blogettes here on LaurenConrad.com!! At first I couldn’t imagine narrowing it down to just five—so of course we did six. When we did finally narrow it down to six ladies I couldn’t image cutting anyone. Katie Manwaring Christina DeFilippo Julia Renkert and Maria Scala—all of you are so great and I wish you all nothing but the best. I wish I could have picked each and every one of you but as with all contests we had to pick just one winner. Thank you all so much for participating in the competition and for bringing your amazing style to LaurenConrad.com. Thank you thank you thank you! 

And to our fabulous and oh so talented runner-up Jeanette Scott.  Jeanette – you are an amazing blogger and I wish I could have chosen two winners!  I wish you the best and congratulations for making it into the top 2!! I know that you’ll go very far and that you have a ton of supporters here at LaurenConrad.com 

Stay tuned for more updates about Anna’s trip to the Kohl’s Design Center in NYC where she’ll get a glimpse into what happens behind-the-scenes of the LC Lauren Conrad Collection as well as her first official guest blog!

And last but certainly not least I want to thank all of YOU—the voters—for helping me pick our Guest Blogger Anna!

Would you like to see more competitions like this here on LaurenConrad.com? Let me know in the comments below. Or if you have any fun ideas tell me about those too! 

And let’s give Anna and our five other finalists Jeanette Christina KatieJulia and Maria a big congrats!

XO Lauren

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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For her other project she recycled old fast food containers and made them into beauty organizers. How’s that for thinking outside the box?

Do you have any creative DIYs that recycled old used goods? If so share your ideas in the comments below. Or better yet—upload a photo tutorial like Supartita did to your LaurenConrad.com profile page for a chance to be featured on the website.

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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It’s a very exciting and special day around here: LaurenConrad.com is celebrating its first birthday! We cannot believe it’s been a year since Lauren first welcomed readers to her new website but it has been a thrilling ride since then. Thanks to you the LC.com community boasts more than 53000 members and that number is climbing every day. 

We’ve covered everything from dress codes to boy bait to ladylike laws and of course kept up with Lauren’s adventures every step of the way. 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to each and every reader that’s contributed to this fabulous community and made LaurenConrad.com such a lovely place to chat learn and share. 

As we head into LC.com’s second year let us know what your favorite posts have been and what you’d like to see more of in the comments below.

And if you haven’t already don’t forget to sign up. It’s easy. Click here to learn how. 

Happy birthday to us! Cheers to another wonderful year!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com 

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Photo: The Light Fantastic Print avialable on Etsy here
 

We’re a little bit obsessed with peplums right now. Not only were they peppered throughout dozen’s of designer’s Spring 2012 collections they’re also feminine chic and the best way to cover up the bloat of an overindulgent brunch woops. When we spotted LaurenConrad.com member Casey Lynn’s peplum skirt and striped shirt we had an instant style crush and knew she needed to be crowned the Chic of the Week! 

Congrats Casey Lynn! We love your classic feminine look and the turquoise necklace is a killer touch. To check out all of her outfit details including where Casey Lynn picked up all of these enviable pieces check out her profile! 

We’re curious are you crushing on peplums this spring? Let us know below. 

Happy weekend—may it be filled with good style and lots of laughter! 

XO Team LaurenConrad.com 

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Favorite Décor Idea a big mirror to open up a small place:

Favorite Flashback How charming is this photo of a young Kate Moss?:

Favorite Spring Cocktail Champagne Mint Lemon Sorbet = Amazing. Click here for the recipe!:

Favorite Man of the Moment Titanic in 3D anyone?:
 

Favorite Words of Wisdom:

What’s your favorite quote? Fill me in below! 

Have a fabulous weekend! 

XO Lauren

P.S. Check here for more: Friday Favorites

Photos: Fresh 365 online Pinterest Pinterest Nadhira-ak.tumblr.com Daisy Pink Cupcake

UPDATE: And the winner is... Karie Stansbury! Congrats Karie. Hope you love the dress as much as I do! XO

It’s hard to believe we started Paper Crown a little over a year ago. I absolutely love working on the collection. It’s really everything that I ever dreamed it would be: Feminine and modern but with a classic yet effortless twist. The line has continued to grow and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come. In honor of the new Spring 2012 collection I thought it would be fun to giveaway one of my favorite Paper Crown dresses the Violet Mini Dress in Moss; available in sizes small medium and large.

The Violet Mini Dress is the perfect spring staple that can even be worn well into fall provided you pair it with tights and a jacket. For spring wear it with neutral heels for a night out with friends or even a date night or pare it down with simple flats and an oversize cardigan. The Violet Mini is a no-fuss dress that you can easily throw on when you’re not sure what to wear. And I love it!

Do you want to win the Violet Mini Dress?

Here’s how to enter…

1. Follow. Make sure you follow PaperCrownLuvsU on Twitter. If you don’t have Twitter you can “like” the Paper Crown Facebook page instead.
2. Comment. Check out the Spring 2012 lookbook and tell me what your favorite look is in the comments below along with your Twitter handle or link to your Facebook page.
3. Wait. I will announce the winner on Wednesday April 25th.

Good luck everyone!

XO Lauren

The Small Print:

•    You must be a registered LaurenConrad.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
•    This contest is open to everyone including international members.
•    Winners will be contacted via private message to their LaurenConrad.com inbox and by email. If our team does not        hear back within 24 hours a new winner will be selected in your place.
•    Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
•    This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 24th 2012.
•    This is not a sponsored giveaway in any way.

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How is everyone doing on leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle this month? Based on the results of the poll I posted a few weeks ago it looks like most of you pledged to use reusable water bottles unplug electronics when not in use and opt for reusable shopping bags. Good stuff!

Helping doesn’t stop there though. There are plenty of ways to get creative and make a difference. Take this guy for example:



Pretty cool right?

Since Earth Day is right around the corner I thought it would be nice to tell you about EarthDay.org which is a great website that provides helpful resources so you can get involved. There are so many ways to make a difference and I encourage all of you to get out there and lend a hand. Even if it means doing just one thing like picking up trash on your local beach planting a tree or using all reusable products for one day. 

How are you going to help out on Earth Day?

XO Lauren

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for updated about my collection for BlueAvocado by clicking here.

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Photo: SweetAndLovelyThings

It's safe to say printed pants aren't going anywhere soon so let's embrace our wild side from all angles. Feeling a more casual vibe? Go with a silky blue tank a cozy ivory scarf nude-toned sandals a colorful army of friendship bracelets and a slick carry-all bucket bag. If you're ready to dress up your printed look opt for a collared silky dark top cool cocktail rings and metallic heels.

Vanessa Bruno Athé Printed Bourette Silk Pants 345 Day: Alexander Wang Silk Tank 375 Topshop Cream Twist Fringe Scarf 15 J.Crew Olympia Leather Wedges 198 Billabong Skylar Bucket Bag 44 ASOS Eclectic Mixed Friendship Bracelet Pack 17 Night: KORS Michael Kors Atherton Sandal 275 Henrik Vibskov Spitfire Blouse 106 Mulberry Cookie Mini Leather Shoulder Bag 435 LowLuv by Erin Wasson Wide 14K Plated Black Ring 130 Lois Hill "Deco" Granulated and Hammered Bangle 298 House of Harlow 1960 Aztec Bangle With Coral 80

Work your Little White Dress... 
Put a deconstructed spin on a Spring-perfect LWD. The sliced asymmetric sides and subtle back cutout give it cool flair with a minimalist's touch. For daytime jaunts add a bright satchel two-toned flat sandals and a geo-shaped necklace. And to transition seamlessly into your evening affairs switch out your flats for geometric-print sandals and an exotic clutch.

T by Alexander Wang Cuout Crepe and Jersey Dress 115 Day: Tibi Amber Flat 130 Persephoni Geometric Necklace 459 Vince Camutp Kristen Cross Body Bag in Yellow 198 Sandro Denim Jacket With Black Leather Sleeves 400 Night: Burak Uyan Stitched Colorblock Sandal 1295 BCBG Max Azria Harlow Python Clutch 88 Philippe Audibert Silver-Plated Swarovski Crystal Earrings 130 Eddie Borgo Gunmetal-Plated Crystal Pyramid Bracelet 375 Karl by Karl Lagerfeld James Satin Twill-Trimmed Crepe Blazer 310

Check Out Eco Fashion For Earth Day 2012

Bring on the funk...
One-part sporty one-part bold and one-part quirky — this season's high-low hem is flirty versatile and easy to wear for any occasion. We love this red version for an extra dose of bright color and dramatic undertones; plus the styling possibilities are endless. For an off-duty luxe look pair this skirt with asymmetrical-strap sandals and a cool striped top. For an amped-up evening ensemble keep the two-toned heels but add some height. Similarly inject flirty details via a lace-infused top with sheer insets chunky gold accessories and a slick patent-leather clutch.

DKNY Draped Stretch-Silk Skirt 195 Day: Quiksilver QSW Summer Sun Stripe Tee 48 Pierre Hardy Two-Tone Leather Wedge Sandals 775 A.L.C. Jewelry Resin & Silver Large Screw-Top Cuff 375 Kate Spade Chandelier Earrings 98 Night: Michael Kors Leather Cuff Sandals 945 Anya Hindmarch Patent-Leather Envelope Clutch 350 Collette by Collette Dinnigan Cotton-Lace and Mesh Top 245 Oscar de la Renta 24-Karat Gold-Plate Link Earrings 245 Arden B Cut Out Metal Cuff 24

Which look is your favorite?

More fab stories from FabSugar…
How to Wear Sequins for Spring
Pretty Scarves for Spring
Look of the Day: The Fresh Little White Dress
Exposed Bra Trend for Spring 
 

The Sedu Revolution 1” Flat Iron is both chic and strong. Sedu seals in hair moisture to give you extra shine and luster. Unique curved edge plates allow the styling freedom of creating any look you want! From straight and sleek to sexy waves to mega curls this tool does it all.

If you’re looking for even more of a selection head on over to our list of the top 10 pro flat irons that are eligible for 40 off. You’re sure to find one that fits your style and budget.

Save your hair and the planet. Recycle your old appliance for a new one today.

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by
 

Though some of us might look back at our prom pictures and wonder what were we thinking the night always remains one of those classic high school experiences that every girl should have the privilege of enjoying. Unfortunately prom is not a reality for everyone. In fact 1 in 4 American families can’t afford to send their student to prom.

Thankfully one organization is looking to change that. DoSomething.org has launched its first Prom for All campaign to collect thousands of dresses for girls who couldn’t otherwise afford to go to prom. Every dress collected will be given to a local girl to wear on her big night. 

The campaign officially starts this Sunday April 22nd and runs through June 22nd. Start cleaning those closets out now... I know you have some cute forgotten frocks in there! You can donate at a local dress drive or organize a drive yourself. Consider this a great way to jumpstart operation organize for a wonderful cause—it’s a win win! 

Do you have any tips for the girls getting ready for prom this year? 

XO Lauren 

P.S. If you’d like me to do some blogs about prom let me know in the comments! Also don't forget to share this post with your friends and family. Let's the word about this great cause!



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As I’ve mentioned before my friends are seasoned Coachellers…always with a camera in hand:

Coachella here we come!

Go big or go home…

You don’t say…

My bestie Jilly enjoying the scene… Click here to check out the sweet Coachella mix Jilly put together for me. I still cannot stop listening to it.

Hanging by the pool at the Lacoste Live event. Yay for pool-chella!

Embracing body paint and temporary tattoos… 

Much better than sitting on the grass…

This may not have been my best look but I was toasty all night!

Love this.

Jilly took a quick nap-chella… People were not kidding when they said Coachella is a marathon. I am wiped.

Life is good.

Oh hey!

Bright idea…

Here we go again…

Off to the festival… 

Just converse-ing with some old friends :-

Loved Gotye!

All in all I had the best time at Coachella. I ran into so many friends and really enjoyed myself. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal for day one I cannot complain. The cooler temps were probably much more favorable than the sweltering heat of year’s past. The silver lining? I finally got to wear my rain boots…

Of all the bands Gotye was definitely a highlight for me. 

Who is your favorite band or musician from the Coachella lineup?

XO Lauren

P.S. If you heading out to Coachella for weekend two click here to check out my style guide and here for my favorite festival friendly accessories too. 

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Who doesn’t love scrabble? This app lets you play up to 20 games at a time! Challenge any of your friends but beware it gets addictive…

2. Camera Plus 


This is a great app if you take a lot of pictures with your iPhone like I do. You can play around with filters anti-shake features and use the countdown for self-portraits no more MySpace mirror shots please!. 

3. Pinterest 


I totally love Pinterest and the app is easy to use when you need a little pin-fix on the go. 

4. All Recipes 


Not sure what to make for dinner? This app that has over 40000 recipes for you to choose from! You can search by ingredients prep time dish type or choose “spin” to get a random selection of dishes and ingredients. 

5. Pandora 


Pandora is great for discovering new music within your favorite genres. Plus the app allows you to create your own free custom radio stations. 

6. PocketBooth


Take1950’s-esque photobooth pictures that you can share or print with just a few clicks! This is a great app to have for a party or get-together with pals. 

7. White Noise


This app works like a charm when I’m traveling and have to get to sleep in a noisy location. 

8. Instagram 


Instagram is another cool app to edit and alter pictures. But word to the wise: everything you upload to Instagram gets published on your Instagram profile so adjust your privacy settings if you want to keep your images personal. 

9. Sig Alert 


I wish the freeways in LA looked as green as they do in the picture above! Just once. I use Sig Alert to help me ditch traffic all the time. Hello side streets!  

10. Draw Something 


This drawing and guessing game is one of my more recent addictions and it keeps me entertained for hours. 

Did any of your favorite apps get left off my list? Let me know in the comments! 

XO Lauren 


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Photos: iTunes

UPDATE: We have our winners! Congrats to the following ladies... Stephanie McDonnell Melissa Panici Carla Azevedo Vanessa Gatlin and Gilda Castro! 

We’re all used to applying our makeup with brushes and sponges but imagine if there was an easier quicker way. Airbrush makeup isn’t just for salons and professional makeup artists to doll-up celebrities. You can enjoy the benefits of it right at home with Dinair:

1. It Lasts

Tired of fussing around with your standard foundation and eye shadow? Dinair's makeup lasts on the face all day leaving your skin with a flawless natural finish.

2. It’s Quick

After a little practice you can complete an entire makeup look with precise control in about 10 minutes. That leaves more time in the morning for a coffee stop!

3. It’s Safe

It’s silicone and paraben-free non-comedogenic water-based hypoallergenic and dries on contact so it won't sink into your pores. Plus no finishing powder is needed and since you don’t apply it with sponges or brushes you won’t transfer any bacteria to your face and body.

4. It’s Fun

With the personal compressor that comes with all kits you can apply makeup airbrush tanning and hair and body art and Dinair has a full line of stencils to help you create the perfect look.

Want to win your own kit?


Dinair is giving 5 lucky Lauren fans the chance to win a Personal Pro airbrush makeup kit!

To enter:

1. Like us on Facebook.
2. Comment below on why you want to try airbrush makeup.

But this contest is only 24 hours so hurry!

How about an awesome deal too?

With the purchase of a Personal Pro Kit Dinair is offering FREE shipping! Just use promo code laurenconrad at checkout. All international orders can get 10 off shipping with promo code laurenconradint. This offer is valid through April 22 2012.

Are you going to give airbrushing a shot?

• You must be a registered LaurenConrad.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to everyone including international members.
• Winners will be contacted via private message to their LaurenConrad.com inbox and by email. If our team does not hear back within 24 hours a new winner will be selected in your place.
• Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
• This giveaway ends at 5:59AM PST on April 17 2012.

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by
 

Anna of Fash Boulevard says…

Girly colorful and fun not only describes my personal style but also my outlook on life. I have fallen in love with the flirty and versatile LC Lauren Conrad collection at Kohl's. With an array of on-trend designs like the Platform Dress Sandals and gorgeous Filigree Cuff Bracelet the collection not only blends seamlessly with my wardrobe but also offers accessible affordable designs that can add a little Cali chic style to every girl's life. Growing up on the east coast I often found myself feeling restricted by the small town style that surrounded me. During high school I remember watching "The Hills" wide eyed imagining a life I never thought was possible for myself. When college rolled around I decided to major in fashion and turn what seemed like an impossible dream into the adventure of a lifetime.

After school I was lucky enough to land an internship in LA which led to a dream job. Unfortunately the week before Christmas they let our entire team of girls go and I was suddenly stranded. Determined to not give up on my dream of becoming an author and accessory designer I launched Fash Boulevard as a way to document my journey. This is only the very beginning of my adventure and every day I wake up excited for the opportunities that each day may hold. I've always seen Fash Boulevard as a platform to share my story while illustrating seasonal trends and providing affordable pieces to help recreate popular celebrity ensembles. My goal is to help my readers find their unique style and achieve a truly fabulous wardrobe that will give them the confidence to chase their dreams. The fact that I'm on a website ran by the girl who inspired me so many years ago only further proves that dreams really do come true. 

Jeanette of J’s Everyday Fashion says…

I’m J and my blog J’s Everyday Fashion is all about making fashion accessible realistic and something all of us feel welcome to enjoy! As a little girl I was completely enamored with magazines and in college I majored in journalism. I started J's Everyday Fashion because I’m passionate about bringing more realistic resources to fashion media and I wanted a place where women could get free help with their style questions. I lost my corporate marketing job due to the economy about a year ago and I've been doing J’s full-time plus freelance writing and fashion gigs ever since. There is nothing I love more than empowering women to try something new and to look and feel their best! 

When it comes to my personal style I love color and I love experimenting with trends! The LC Lauren Conrad Collection is my go-to when I want a girlie ballet-inspired or boho look. My favorite pieces are the ruffled tops and flowy skirts and I like pairing them with structured pieces from my closet. Living in Florida I'm always in skirts platform heels and a blazer or long sleeve top to balance out short hemlines so you will see me rocking an outfit like this one often. The LC Lauren Conrad Platform Dress Sandals are ideal for this outfit because they are comfortable and the neutral color balances out the bright tones. They feel like “me” and are the perfect addition to my closet!

Who’s bitty-blog outfit photo did you like best? Vote for your favorite in the poll below:

Based on the results of the poll I will work with my team to determine the winner! Stay tuned because I’ll be announcing the winner next week…

Also as a thank you for to all of YOU for voting I’ll be giving away another 50 Kohl’s card this week!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Comment. Leave one comment below telling me about a style topic you’d like to see the Guest Blogger cover during their tenure on Team LC.
2. Tweet or Facebook. Tweet the following phrase highlighted in pink at me or post it on my Facebook page: Just voted for my fav blogette in LaurenConrad’s Kohls Blogger Contest! http://bit.ly/LCbc416 You should too! 
3. Wait. I will announce the winner next week!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered this contest and has participated along the way. It’s been a long journey and I am looking forward to finally picking a winner!

Best of luck to both Anna and Jeanette!

XO Lauren

P.S. Last week's Kohl's card winner is Amy Breckenridge! Congrats! 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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Congrats Kelsey! We love the way you styled the playful polka dot print LC Lauren Conrad blouse with skinnies and nude shoes. This is the perfect style inspiration for a casual day in the office or a sunny spring weekend! 

Want your style to be featured as our next Chic of the Week? Don’t forget to upload photos of your favorite spring outfits to your LaurenConrad.com profile! 

Are you into pastels and polka dots this spring? Let us know how you’re wearing them in the comments. 

Happy weekend! 

XO Team LaurenConrad.com 

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Favorite Giggle:

Favorite Spring Flowers love how these tulips are bunched in complimentary colors:

Favorite Flirty Bikini it's from here:

Favorite Tabletop Idea: 

Favorite Foodie Find click here for the recipe:

What was your favorite find this week?

Have a wonderful weekend! And for those of you heading out to Coachella stay cool! :-

XO Lauren 

P.S. Check here for more: Friday Favorites



Photos: Food Flowers and Gifts Martha Stewart Weddings ShopBop.com Buzzfeed Cooking Classy 

Let there be ruffles! And lots of them…

When I design for my LC Lauren Conrad collection for Kohl’s I like to incorporate a few themes to carry throughout the season. For spring I decided to emphasize a feminine flirty and fun theme by working in plenty of ruffles bows and lacey details. 

As you may already know I have a slight infatuation with ruffles this spring as evidenced by the Ruffles & Tulle Dress I blogged about a couple weeks ago. That said I think ruffles are a really nice detail. To me they embody relaxed California chic—which is why I absolutely love the Ruffle Front Tank.

The Ruffle Front Tank has the best of both worlds: Ruffles in the front delicate lace detailing in the back. I especially love the shark bite lace detailing on the back of the top. The lace is just so delicate and I love how intricate it is. I typically include a lot of crochet and thicker laces in my LC Lauren Conrad collection but when I laid eyes on the lovely shark bite lace—I knew we had to use it. 

As if the ruffled front and lacey cutout back isn’t enough to make you swoon the bright coral color should seal the deal. Coral is a universally flattering hue. It looks beautiful on everyone—regardless of your skin tone. And it’s a must-have shade in my book… 

In terms of styling I like to wear the Ruffle Front Tank with skinny jeans since it already has a lot going on. I almost always wear my hair up with it too because I like to show off the back. Sometimes I wear it tucked into a skirt. But since the top is such a statement piece it doesn’t need a lot. 

I think it’s nice to have a top like this—it’s not just about the back or the front—both have something special about them. And they don’t compete with one another. All in all the Ruffle Front Tank is the perfect top for making an entrance and an exit. 

To complete your spring and summer wardrobes click here and order your Ruffled Front Tank today.

You can bet I’ll be wearing mine all year long weather permitting of course. 

What is your Kohl’s craving this week? Tell me in the comments below for a chance to win a 50 Kohl’s card. I’ll announce the winner next week!

XO Lauren 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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Sugarbird Sweets & Teas for the gourmet marshmallows. They were so yummy and so cute.

Frosted Cupcakery for the wonderful min-cupcakes. These were definitely my weakness of the night… Too good!

Jackson Shrub Supply for the striking topiaries and hedges… It’s all about the details and these really tied the venue together.

A Candy Store for the fabulous assortment of vintage and modern candies. For me good candy is a party essential.


Omega Cinema Props for the great set pieces that made the photo booth a total hit!

Classic Party Rentals for providing the glassware and the lovely black carpet so fitting right?.


Cocodot for the cool e-vites! I am a big fan of paperless invitations and love the digital selections Cocodot offers.


DJ Johnny Knight and Jilly Hendrix for spinning such a fun set. You guys had everyone dancing late into the night including my parents!

And last but not least Kate Martindale for her design expertise and wonderful art direction.

Thank you all for making it such a special night!

For those of you who live in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend any of the vendors listed above. They are all such a pleasure to work with and I am clearly a big fan of their services.

If you have a great venue or vendor recommendation to share from your town put the info in the comments below! I’m sure plenty of your fellow LaurenConrad.com members will find the information useful as well…

XO Lauren



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UPDATE: The winner is Hudy Rosenberg! Congrats!

Shopping with the girls is always more fun!  You spot an item you think is fab and your super chic friends help you decide whether to take the plunge.   

That’s why Little Black Bag is so exciting! LBB creates a fun experience where you can shop online with friends. 

Here’s how it works:        

You start by taking a very cool style quiz to help LBB determine your look.  Are you hipster boho or downtown glam?  After the quiz you pick the 1st item in your very own Little Black Bag from a dazzling collection of accessories jewelry handbags and cosmetics.  Then the LBB stylists fill your bag with 2-4 more stylish baubles from over a hundred brands such as D&G Cargo Cosmetics BCBG and Betsey Johnson – all at up to 70 off. 

And the best part?  Little Black Bag has taken shopping and added the thrill of trading! You can browse the LBB gallery and if you discover something you love even more you can swap your items with other members on the site – all online. Now here’s where your friends come in.  You and your fashionistas friends can vote on what to keep and what to trade and you can share your bag with your Facebook friends.    

Once you’ve put together your perfect bag hit “ship” and voila your Little Black Bag is on its way!

Want to win a chic Z Spoke by Zac Posen bag? 

To enter simply head on over to LittleBlackBag.com and create an account. You can even invite your friends to join in on the fun. Earn one extra entry for each friend who registers for LBB!

The winner will receive a Z Spoke by Zac Posen Ostrich Leather Satchel valued at 425!

Contest ends April 21 2012 at 11:59PM PST. 

Good luck and remember Little Black Bag when you’re trying to find the perfect birthday gift.  

• You must be a registered LittleBlackBag.com member to enter. Click here to learn how to sign up.
• This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
• Winners will be contacted via email to the email used to register on LittleBlackBag.com. If the winner does not reply within 24 hours a new winner will be chosen in his or her place.
• This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on April 21 2012.

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by
 

One of my favorite ways to update a space is with paint. It can completely transform a room and it’s relatively inexpensive if you do the painting yourself. For most people though the challenge isn’t the actual painting it’s picking the color.

A few days ago I was talking with an interior decorator that said before she paints someone’s home she goes into their closet and looks at all the colors they wear. Because we tend to buy colors that compliment our own skin tone we also gravitate to similar shades when decorating our home. Based on the colors she discovers in their closet she is then able to help them select the perfect paint color. This makes sense because if you’re going to be surrounded by a color it’s going to reflect on you a bit. And who doesn’t want to look their best in their own home? In a nutshell you should pick paint colors that compliment both your skin tone and your closet.

I thought this was really interesting and figured you might find it helpful too. I honestly never thought of it! Once I finally selected a paint color for my room guess what I did? Went into my closet to make sure it went with all my clothes of course…

What color are your walls? If you were to paint them a color what would it be?

In case you’re wondering I went with a really pretty blush color. Surprise surprise… I’ll post a photo once it’s done.

XO Lauren



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Serves 4

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 shallot
• 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Freshly ground pepper
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves about 12 ounces total

For the dressing

• 1/2 shallot
• 1/2 mango peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

For assembling

• 4 lavash breads 3 1/2 ounces each
• 1/2 mango peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick spears
• 8 fresh basil leaves
• 8 fresh mint leaves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the chicken: Finely chop garlic and shallot in a food processor. Add basil and oil and process until mixture forms a coarse paste. Stir in salt and cinnamon and season with pepper. Make a few shallow 1/2-inch slits on both sides of chicken; rub all over with the basil mixture. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake chicken until cooked through 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely then shred into small pieces; set aside.
2. Make the dressing: Finely chop shallot in the clean bowl of the food processor. Add mango and process until smooth. Add the lime juice and cayenne and process until combined.
3. Assemble wraps: Spread about 1/4 cup mango dressing in center of each lavash. Top with chicken mango and herbs. Roll up diagonally to form a cone. Wraps can be refrigerated wrapped in parchment and plastic up to 4 hours.

Are you going to give this recipe a try?

We gave it a go last week and brought it into the office the next day for lunch. It was so good! And healthy too.

Special thanks to Martha Stewart Living for sharing this fabulous recipe with us today!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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Source: Martha Stewart Living September 2006

At the end of this week I will be putting on my finest hipster attire and heading out to the desert for three fun-filled days of music dancing and other shenanigans in honor of Coachella.

If you haven’t heard of it before Coachella is a three-day music and arts festival that takes place just outside of Palm Springs. Everyone from The Black Keys and Miike Snow to Florence the Machine Avicci and Girl Talk will be performing. And I cannot wait! I haven’t been to Coachella yet but I’ve heard nothing but good things so I am really excited to finally go. A bunch of my friends have been faithful Coachellers for years so I feel fortunate to be going with a group of seasoned attendees.

While packing is definitely one of my 1 priorities putting together a killer Coachella playlist is just as important if you ask my friend Jilly. And she’s got a point. It’s a music festival! Thankfully Jilly has us covered with a great Coachella playlist. Whether you’re heading to Coachella or not this playlist is the perfect upbeat mix to take your through spring and summer…

But first a little note from Jilly:

My favorite time of the year is quickly approaching. It doesn't involve cakes and white dresses; only flowers love and music. Also known as Coachella. I put together a list of 10 artists I'm most excited to see. I hope you enjoy!

1. Kaskade - Move for Me 

2. The Horrors - Still Life

3. Grouplove - Tongue Tied

4. Madeon - Icarus

5. M83 - Reunion

6. Martin Solveig - The Night Out

7. SBTRKT - Wildfire

8. Calvin Harris - Feel So Close

9. We Are Augustines - Chapel Song

10. The Shins - Simple Song

Which song is your favorite?

Also let me know if you’re going to Coachella this year too—or if you have any other music festivals on your calendar too!

XO Lauren

P.S. To check out more mixes Jilly put together for me click here and here! And don't forget to follow Jilly on Twitter JillyHendrix.



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Photo: Coachella.com

UPDATE: We have our winners!

Congrats to Melissa Litchfield Alissa Dodson and Rebecca Bakofsky! 

Here is what they said about their biggest fashion dilemmas...

Melissa said "My biggest fashion/beauty dilemma is my hair! I can never seem to get it right and I usually still to the flat iron or pulled back pony style! Sometimes I debate getting hair extensions because the length of my hair only goes to my shoulders. I have attempted to braid my hair but I always screw it up! I need to have some sort of lessons or something from a salon. I would love to attempt the chunky high bun but my hair is too short! Help!!"

Alissa said "My biggest fashion dilemma is finding jeans that are low rise but don't give me a "muffin top" or "love handles" yes even small girls get this ladies. I love low rise skinny jeans but sometimes when they are so tight they push everything up!"

Rebecca said "My biggest fashion dilemma is that I am always staying safe. Nine times out of ten I will navigate towards an outfit that I have already worn or a color combo that I wear a lot. I go with what is easy when I want to step out of my comfort zone I always ask my mom or sister for help. I would just like to do it by myself. Here is a link to my Pinterest account I just made it!!"

Today is a very exciting day. Not only is The Fame Game officially available for purchase the paperback edition of Style was released today as well!

In honor of the paperback release of Style I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway.

Do you want to win a signed copy of Style in paperback?

I’ll be giving away three signed copies to three lucky LaurenConrad.com members.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Comment. Leave 1 comment below telling me about your biggest fashion dilemma.
2. Follow. If you haven’t already follow all of my boards on Pinterest by clicking here.
3. Wait. I will announce the three winners on Tuesday April 10th!

Good luck!

And for those of you who didn’t pre-order your copy of The Fame Game click here to snag you copy today!

XO Lauren

• You must be a registered LaurenConrad.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to everyone including international members.
• Winners will be contacted via private message to their LaurenConrad.com inbox and by email. If our team does not hear back within 24 hours a new winner will be selected in your place.
• Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
• This giveaway ends at midnight PST on April 9th 2012.

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Anna Hodge of Fash Boulevard

&

Jeanette Scott of J’s Everyday Fashion

These two blogettes will compete in two more challenges until one of them is crowned the winner. As a reminder the winner will receive…

• 500 worth of clothing from LC Lauren Conrad
• An all expenses paid trip to New York City and a visit to Kohl's NY Design Center where the winner will get to see where the LC Lauren Conrad collection comes to life
• behind-the-scenes of the LC Lauren Conrad collection
• A day of pampering in New York City
• Personalized signed copy of Lauren Conrad Style
• And best of all… The winner will serve as the official LaurenConrad.com Guest Blogger for 3 months!

The stakes are high ladies! Over the next couple weeks I’ll be looking to you for your help in deciding who the winner will be. So without further ado here is the next Kohl’s Style Challenge...

We asked the bloggers to create two different looks using three pieces from the LC Lauren Conrad items from the selection of pieces my team sent them. The catch? They cannot use any of the items they previously wore in the last Kohl’s Style Challenge. The two looks we asked the girls to create are as follows: One outfit for a day of shopping with friends & another look that would be appropriate for a girls’ night out. 

Here are the outfits Jeanette and Anna put together:

Anna of Fash Boulevard says…

A day of shopping with the girls is a weekly occurrence for me which means comfy chic ensembles like this are a fashion must. For a flirty look with just the right amount of edge I layered on my LC Lauren Conrad Faux-Leather Motorcycle Jacket over my Bow Colorblock Top and bright colored Skinny Ankle Jeans. For a fashion meets function look I rolled up the denim along with the jacket sleeves and finished off my ensemble with some girly flats a colorful scarf and a bright green bag to add the perfect pop of fash to my mall-bound ensemble.

Sipping wine and having endless conversations with my besties always results in the perfect weeknight girl-fest. For this event I accentuated my Bow Colorblock Top by layering a lace blouse overtop to showcase a hint of textural contrast. For a feminine touch I added a flower pin which offered a dash of spring against the edgy faux-leather jacket. To complete my nighttime look I rolled down my skinnies added a pair of sky-high pumps and an eye catching glittery clutch which helped to perfectly transition my LC by Lauren Conrad pieces from day to night.

Jeanette of J’s Everyday Fashion says…

For this challenge I imagined packing for a girl's weekend. What items could I bring to save space in my suitcase that I could wear for both shopping with my besties and a girl's night out? I decided to "pack" neutrals that could be dressed up in different ways. I chose the white Pencil Jeans the gray Lace Poncho Top and the Filigree Cuff Bracelet. For shopping with my besties I styled these neutral pieces into a 70's boho look by adding a knit vest plenty of fringe accessories and a braid in my hair. For a girls’ night out I went for Miami glam by adding a sequin jacket neon accessories and hot pink shoes. Each look has a totally different vibe proving that these three pieces from the LC Lauren Conrad collection really couldn't be more versatile!

Based on the photos and comments above who do you think pulled together the best looks? Vote for your favorite in the poll below:

Once the votes have been tallied we will ask both girls to do one final challenge. Depending on how well they did with today’s challenge as well as the next task we will finally pick a winner!

So what’s in it for you? How about the chance to win a 50 Kohl’s gift certificate?! 

Here’s how to enter:

1. Comment. Leave one comment below telling me your favorite memory from a recent girls’ night out. 
2. Pin. Pin your favorite dress from LC Lauren Conrad collection with the hashtag LCKohlsFav in the description. 
3. Wait. I will announce the winner in next week’s Blogger Contest post.

Thanks again for voting!

XO Lauren

P.S. Last week's 50 Kohl's card winner is Nicole Taylor! Congrats!! 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by
 

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Lauren stopped by Bookends in Ridgewood New Jersey where she kept it simple and wore a boho-inspired Heartloom dress with loose waves and a fresh face… While Lauren looked stunning we must say that this surprise sweet from Cake Dreams by Deb and Dinacakes quite literally takes the cake:


After Lauren bid farewell to Ridgewood she made her way to Boston where she greeted guests and signed more copies of The Fame Game for fans… Singing aside we are completely obsessed with Lauren’s short suit look. Take a look:

The white blouse is Madewell which she paired with her Reformation shorts and a dainty watch and Anita Ko bracelet. Tres chic!

And don’t even get us started on her makeup. You can never go wrong with red lip…


Which outfit is your favorite?

We’ll post more updates soon!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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Photos: Jeremy Smith Ryan Miner

And wow. Received this amazing cake from Cakedreams by Deb and Dinacakes… It’s too pretty to eat!

I’ll post another update soon! In the meantime click here to see what I wore to my signing in NYC… My team will be updating the site with more photos later today too about my outfits. 

Are you coming to any of my signings for The Fame Game? Or did you already? Let me know in the comments below.

If you did stop by be sure to upload and submit a photo to your LaurenConrad.com profile page for a chance to be featured in a Member Spotlight post. Leave the link to your photo below so I don’t miss it…

XO Lauren



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Earlier this year I made some “green” resolutions. And I am pleased to say that I have stuck with them. Personally I am a firm believer that awareness breeds change and since Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd I figured now is a great time for our community to band together and spread the word about simple ways you can live a greener lifestyle. 

How are you going to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle this month? Tell me by pledging below:

I’ll check back in with all of you later this month to see how you did!

Did you make a pledge to a greener lifestyle this month? If so let me know what you are going to do in the comments below!

Also be sure to sign up for updates about my collection for BlueAvocado by clicking here. 

Happy almost Earth Day!

XO Lauren

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Photo Credit: The Neo-Traditionalist

Our new Chic is ready for spring! So fun right? Are you ready?

Do you have a Chic-worthy spring ensemble? Snap a photo upload it to your LaurenConrad.com profile and click “Submit this photo” for a chance to be our next Chic of the Week.

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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Is it really April? Someone pinch me! I cannot believe how quickly 2012 is flying by. I guess it’s true what they say… time flies when you’re having fun. Anyway here are a few of my favorite things from this past week…

Favorite Laugh If you haven’t already you must check out this website. So funny!:

WHEN I SEE A GIRL WEARING…

Heeled rainboots:

Jeans without back pockets:

Anything Ed Hardy:

Favorite Spring Trend points:

Favorite Hair Trick flat iron braids for quick waves:

Favorite Smile:

Favorite Treat cheesecake-stuffed strawberries courtesy of member Brittany Ibsen:

What's your favorite treat this week?

Share a link or upload a photo to your LaurenConrad.com profile page!

Have a lovely weekend!

XO Lauren

P.S. This is my 50th Friday Favorites post! Can you believe it? Take a look back at my very first one by clicking here.

Photos: Pinterest Pinterest and Pinterest

Besties <3

Here I am with my book editor Farrin… Love this!

Ha...

Just hanging around reading... 

I had such a great time looking through all of the photos and I love how they all turned out… If you ask me no party is complete without a good old photo op for guests to shine.

If you’re hosting a bash I highly recommend setting up a backdrop and a camera on a tripod along with some props so guests can snap pictures throughout the fete. For all of my tips on creating your own DIY photo booth click here. 

Which picture is your favorite?

XO Lauren

P.S. A very special thanks to everyone at LA Photo Party for making it such a wonderful night! The photos came out beautifully and the “booth” was a total hit at the party. 



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Last year I shared a fun Spring-themed treat with you guys: Sweet Peep Sushi or “Peepshi”! It’s simple cute and relatively easy to put together. This year I decided to do another twist on traditional Easter sweets by sharing a fun little last minute not-so-healthy snack you can whip up for guests kids or even yourself… Ladies I present to you Peep Kebobs! 

Simply pick your favorite soft spring candies I used Peeps and Reese’s and string them onto a bamboo skewer. Present them on a platter for guests and voila—you have yourself a festive sugary springtime snack in minutes!

Whether you celebrate Easter or not Peep Kebobs are the perfect treat to satisfy your spring sweet tooth. They’re a surefire crowd pleaser plus they’re ridiculously easy to make too. 

Do you have any ideas for fun spring-themed treats? If so share your ideas in the comments below!

XO Lauren

P.S. Not a Peep fan? Check out my favorite Sunday brunch recipe for Blueberry Boy Bait!



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We've been seeing short suits everywhere lately — on the runways on the red carpet and honestly in our dreams — and it's a sharp stylish look that we're hoping to channel ourselves for Spring. Designers like Carven Jill Stuart and Cacharel all sent sexy short looks down their runways and celebs like Amanda Seyfried and Michelle Williams have made them look totally effortless — but when it comes to actually purchasing one it can be hard to achieve the look without breaking the bank. So why not shake things up and save money in the process by mixing and matching your short suit pieces? Not only will you score a trendy look without going breaking the bank it'll look a little more original and a lot more personal. We've put together five blazer and short combos that look sweet charming and undeniably cool — click through to see and shop them now.

Go bright...
How gorgeous is this bright blue blazer? We love how it looks paired with floaty floral-print shorts.

Rag & Bone 42nd Street Blazer 450 Chorux Anna Shorts 165

Keep it fresh with a white blazer... 
Nothing says Spring like a fresh crisp white blazer — and these longer-cut printed shorts have a bright melon hue that pairs perfectly.

French Connection Cass Cotton Jacket 238 J.Crew Pebble Print Bermuda Shorts 70

Check Out the Look of the Day: Spring Charm

Bring out your wild side...
Hot pants and a fierce leopard-print blazer may not be an everyday look — but if you're feeling bold this is a great alternative look to the LBD.

Tibi Printed Sateen Blazer 420 Topshop Rib Panel Knickers 40

Charm yourself...
We love the schoolboy charm of this piped blazer and the striped shorts are a cute nod to nautical.

J.Crew Schoolboy Linen Blazer 185 Markus Lupfer Striped Cotton Shorts 220

Keep it chic...
Yellow and navy always make a great color combination and this blazer-and-short pairing is chic and subtle enough to wear to the office.

Vince Camuto One-Button Blazer 165 Old Navy Perfect Khaki Shorts 20

Which look is your favorite?

More fab stories from FabSugar…
Get Spring's Edgy-Cool Look For Under 100 
The Prettiest Sexiest Spring Lingerie to Slip Into Right Now 
The New Way to Stash: The Girly Lightweight Knapsack 
15 Kicks-Infused Looks to Pump Up Your Weekend Style 

Photo: Getty

Summer music festivals bring out the hippie in everyone. Feathers bright colors headpieces and fringe are just a few of the styles that you might expect to see at Coachella or any other outdoor concert. Pura Vida Bracelets is stoked that summer is almost here and wants to make sure you look totally hip while gettin’ down to your favorite bands.  

By now you probably know all about colorful Pura Vida Bracelets. Maybe you’ve even bought a few for yourself and your closest friends. Well we think that’s far out and want share with you another couple of groovy fashion accessories that you’re sure to dig.  

Pura Vida Bracelets also makes vibrant hippie headbands that go along perfectly with our bracelets and will complete your boho-chic look! 


Handmade in Costa Rica by the area's finest artisans Pura Vida Bracelets spread peace and love while still looking wicked.

Get your Pura Vida Bracelets items online at 20 off just for being a LaurenConrad.com reader. Head over to PuraVidaBracelets.com today and use code MUSIC20. Hurry this offer ends tonight 4/4 at 11:59PM PST. 

Have a groovy time out there at those music festivals. We’ll catch you on the flip-side. 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

Be the first to watch this exclusive behind-the-scenes video from my Glamour cover shoot where I talk shop about dressing for first dates and how to master the balance between looking sweet yet totally sexy…

What’s your go-to first date outfit? Let me know if you want me to put together a post about it too!

XO Lauren

P.S. Click here to see what I wore the my book signing in NYC last night!

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Team LC here! Since Lauren is busy on her book tour today we thought we’d update you on one of her latest looks from the road! If you would like we can continue to do so too—just let us know in the comments below.

Last night Lauren held a book signing at Barnes & Noble Union Square in NYC in honor of the release of her newest novel The Fame Game. But enough about details let’s get to the good stuff: Fashion!

Lauren wore a lovely little boat neck dress by Lela Rose paired with sky-high nude platform pumps by Casadei. She finished off the look with a tousled up-do and perfectly polished red nails… Love it.

Book signings aside we think this would be a great look for a bridal shower if you’re the bride to be—we hear it’s rude for guests to wear white an upscale brunch a springtime sorority event or even a hot date oh la la. What do you think?

Where would you wear this look? Say that 10 times fast...we dare you.

Also don’t forget to let us know if you want us to keep posting updates about Lauren’s latest looks from the road!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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KAIN silk tank Paper Crown Metallic Knit Top Topshop crochet vest Textile Elizabeth & James Zuma Tank 

You can’t go wrong with these perfectly adorable flower child shorts…

H&M crochet shorts; Topshop neon hotpants; Victoria Beckham denim shorts; KSUBI cut-off denim shorts 

And these lovely summer frocks will keep your look relaxed but oh-so-chic…

Nastygal Almost Innocent Dress; Anthropologie Sundown Crohet Maxi Dress; Topshop strappy button sundress ; LC Lauren Conrad polka-dot bow dress  

Last but not least—footwear. Opt for comfy and versatile options such as these booties and sandals…

Opening Ceremony Coachella ankle boots; Topshop booties; Dolce Vita gladiator sandals; Topshop cross strap sandals

What are your festival fashion essentials? If you’re going to a music festival or even an outdoor concert let me know what you’ll be wearing in the comments below.

XO Lauren

P.S. Click here to see what I wore to my book signing in NYC last night!



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I know the cover shot was a risk but I think they did a lovely job making it tasteful and fun. I’m usually pretty shy when it comes to showing skin but I figured that I might as well show what I’ve got while I am still young!

Also here’s an exclusive outtake from the shoot… 

In the photo above I am wearing a pair of my favorite heels for spring from my LC Lauren Conrad collection as well as a dress by Paper Crown. I think it’s a fun shot.  

As you can see from the photos it was really windy and pretty cold too. It was kind of funny how windy it got. I thought we were all going to blow away so I took this little video on my phone so you can get a sense of how windy it was and you can see what it's like on set too:

The issue hits newsstands next week so be sure to pick up your copy and read my interview where I talk cellulite life after The Hills and more…

What do you think about the cover shot?

XO Lauren

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We are very excited to let you know that LaurenConrad.com has a brand new email newsletter! The newsletter will automatically be emailed to every LaurenConrad.com member once a week you probably got one today! and will keep you up to date with all of the latest happenings and top stories from LaurenConrad.com. Consider yourself LCVIP.

As always thank you for supporting LaurenConrad.com and keep an eye out for the latest newsletter today!

If you have any site suggestions or blog requests leave them in the comments below. After all this website is all about you!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

P.S. As always if you’d rather not receive emails from LaurenConrad.com simply click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of the newsletter! Also you can update your email notification preferences on your profile page under “Edit My Profile”.

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Nurturing and protecting your skin is part of your daily routine. You love it and want it to look healthy so you care for it. Kind of a no brainer. But what about your furniture? You put a lot of time and thought into picking the perfect pieces. Maybe you bought them new or found the cutest coffee table just sitting on the side of the road. Either way if you want your furniture to look its best and last for years consider giving it a beauty routine of its very own. Furniture’s beauty routine mirrors beauty care regimes like sunscreen and concealers including: cleansing polishing and of course covering those tiny imperfections.

1. Remove the dust. Use a non-scratch cloth like the Guardsman Ultimate Dusting Cloth to lightly remove dust once a week.
   
   
2. Clean up your furniture. Can you remember the last time you gave it a good scrub? The Purifying Wood Cleaner by Guardsman is the perfect furniture facial. It quickly removes dirt grime fingerprints food and beverage stains and films on wood.
   
   
   
3. Now that it’s clean it’s time to polish & revitalize. When you use Guardsman’s revitalizing Wood Polish with UV protection you’re enhancing your wood’s natural luster and helping banish the effects of time by concealing fine surface scratches. It also helps to protect your furniture from sun damage.

These Guardsman products only cost around six to seven bucks each so it doesn’t take much to show your furniture some love. 

The secret to beautiful furniture is simple… “Stop Cleaning. Start Caring™” That’s why Guardsman has teamed up with TV design star Tracy Hutson to help spread the word. You could win a 1500 room re-accessorizing and shopping experience with Tracy along with a suite of Guardsman products. 

Go to Guardsman.com to share a story about your favorite piece of furniture and make a promise to care for it in the same way you care for other things you love. Hutson will select one lucky winner with the best furniture story.

To launch the campaign Guardsman is donating 25000 to Habitat for Humanity to help build simple and affordable homes in partnership with low-income families.

Are you ready to show your furniture what its been missing? You don’t have to tend to it everyday like you do your skin but don’t wait until it’s too late. Coffee tables don’t like blemishes or spots either.

For more ideas and great products visit Guardsman.com.

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by Guardsman.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void in Alaska Hawaii and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia 21 years of age or older. Sweepstakes begins at 10:00 AM ET 03/28/12 ends at 11:59 PM ET 04/30/12. For Official Rules and free alternate method of entry visit Guardsman.com. Sponsor: Valspar Corporation.

Lauren is on the road and has kicked off her book tour for The Fame Game by stopping by The Wendy Williams Show to chat about life love and of course her new book! In case you’re wondering what Lauren wore we’ve got you covered…

Lauren’s top is LC Lauren Conrad as are her black heels. Her shorts are Reformation and her jacket is by Paul & Joe. We love how she paired black edgy shorts with a feminine lacy blouse and finished off the look with easy breezy waves. If you ask you you can never go wrong with dress shorts tights and sweet blouse…

In case you missed it here’s a preview of Lauren’s appearance:

What do you think about Lauren’s look?

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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Photo: Celebrity-Gossip

I’m thrilled that my new book The Fame Game finally hits stores tomorrow! I can’t wait for you to read it and let me know what you think about Madison and her new castmates. I’m also excited to announce that because so many of you decided to pre-order The Fame Game I’m going to participate in an exclusive Livestream event so I can chat directly with you and answer some of your questions about the book! Keep checking back here on LaurenConrad.com for more details on when the event will take place.

Thank you for ALL your support! And for those who haven’t pre-ordered no worries— The Fame Game is available everywhere books are sold starting tomorrow.

Thank you again and stay tuned for more details about the Livestream chat.

In the meantime if you have any questions you would like to see me answer during the Livestream leave them in the comments below! Who knows I might give you a shout out and answer your question during the live video chat.

XO Lauren



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Photo: Harper Collins

1
Jeanette Scott of J’s Everyday Fashion

2
Anna Hodge of Fash Boulevard

3
Christina DeFilippo of Oh So Glam

To amp up the competition I asked each of the bloggers to participate in a Kohl’s Style Challenge. But first a little background…

Each blogger was sent the exact same set of nine items from my LC Lauren Conrad collection for Kohl’s. For the first challenge I asked them to create two looks using three of the LC Lauren Conrad pieces they received from my team. For the first look I asked them to put together an outfit that would be perfect for a casual day of sightseeing. As for the second look I had them put together an ensemble for a romantic dinner. The challenge? Use the same 3 LC Lauren Conrad pieces in both looks.

Here are the outfits the blogettes put together:

Jeanette of J’s Everyday Fashion says…

For this challenge I picked my three favorite pieces to style! I was excited to experiment with the Hi-Low Chiffon Maxi Skirt a trend I haven’t tried yet and the Faux Leather Motorcycle Jacket and the Platform Dress Sandals are staples that can be worn in tons of different ways. For my sightseeing outfit I paired the feminine skirt with a masculine muscle tank and leather jacket. I love gray and brown together so I added more brown to my outfit with a thick belt and purse. For the date look I went feminine with a silk ruffled shirt and girlie pops of color. Before this challenge I wasn't completely sold on the hi-low skirt trend but now I’m loving it! Paired with other staples in this collection it's quite versatile and definitely makes a statement.



Anna of Fash Boulevard says…

As a former East Coaster Cali sightseeing is a weekly must for me and for this particular trip my LC by Lauren Conrad white Pencil Jeans Platform Dress Sandals and gold Filigree Cuff Bracelet created the ideal base for a breezy spring ensemble. The white skinnies make a bold statement while blending seamlessly with my bright pieces and striped handbag. With the addition of a flowy blouse for comfort and a blazer for added coverage I'm officially set for all of LA's best attractions.

For a romantic dinner date with my fiancé I decided to dress up my white jeans with a blush blouse and an oversized blazer which offered a classy dash of dazzle with its stunning metallic threads. The gold cuff and sky-high dress sandals were the perfect compliments to my flirty extras like my ballerina bun and flower headband. These LC by Lauren Conrad classics make it super easy to pull together a fabulous date night ensemble with just the right amount of girly touches.



Christina of Oh-So-Glam says…

For this style challenge I was immediately drawn to the Hi-Low Chiffon Maxi Skirt and loved that it incorporated the high-low trend that is huge this season! It seemed only natural to pair it with the Floral Mixed-Media Racerback Tank since the colors complimented each other so well. The Platform Dress Sandals are the perfect balance of dressy and casual—anything that's versatile becomes a staple in my wardrobe! For a more casual look I paired these three pieces with my favorite denim jacket aviator sunglasses and a matching brown bag for a day of sightseeing.  I took the daytime look to GLAM by piling on the bangles and jewelry using a matching brown clutch and going with a red lip for a romantic dinner on the town. 

Based on the photos and comments above who do you think pulled together the best looks? Vote for your favorite in the poll below:

With you votes in mind I’ll work with my team to narrow it down to two blogettes who will face off in another Kohl’s Style Challenge.

In the meantime enter for a chance to score this week’s 50 Kohl’s gift certificate…

1. Comment. Leave 1 comment below telling me which blogger you’re rooting for and why.
2. Pin. Pin your favorite your favorite piece of jewelry from my LC Lauren Conrad collection with the hashtag LCKohlsFav in the description.
3. Wait. I’ll announce the winner in next week’s Blogger Contest post.

XO Lauren

P.S. Last week's 50 Kohl's card winner is Stephanie McDonnell! Congrats! 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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Me vs. Jetlag

At a Paper Crown fitting for our Holiday collection… Love.

Sported silver Mickey Ears for the Disney Store’s 25th Anniversary…

My favorite :-

Don’t forget!

Just hanging with my peeps… Actually I was working on another fun Peep project for Easter. Blog coming soon!

What did you do this week?

Have a great weekend!

XO Lauren



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1. The floppy hat. Wrinkles don’t look good on anyone. Protect your beautiful skin and keep it chic with a floppy hat like this yellow trimmed option.
2. Stylish sunnies. One of the biggest perks of daytime parties? Wearing your favorite sunglasses! These round-frame glasses by The Row have a subdued retro vibe that we love.
3. Haute headbands. Unfortunately high temps mean there’s a high chance you’ll be sweating we prefer the term “glistening”. Combat excess glimmer by keeping your hair off your face with a cute headband like this coral flower headband by Dorothy Perkins. 
4. H2O. It’s important to hit the water bottle as much as possible when you’re hanging in the sun all day. This cute Bobble bottle is the perfect way to stay hydrated in style. 
5. Booties. We’re not ones to advocate practicality that often but comfortable footwear at festivals is seriously necessary. No ifs ands or buts about it. Keep the sludge off your toes with booties like this versatile pair. 
6. Crossbody bag. You’ll need full dancing abilities so don’t even think about lugging a cumbersome shoulder bag around the festival grounds. A crossbody bag or backpack is a must. If you ask us we like this coral crossbody from Topshop.

What’s your number one festival or spring must-have?

Are you going to any music festivals in the near future?

XO Team LaurenConrad.com



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How adorable is her high-waisted skirt and mismatched stripped clutch combo? We are kind of drooling over it. Note to self must get a sage colored striped clutch stat! We love the whole look! To see more of Rachel’s stylish looks click here and check out her amazing “Outfits” album.

How do you like to wear florals?

Have a great weekend!

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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I hope everyone had a great week! I cannot believe March is basically over… Where did the time go? Anyway as always here are a few of my favorite finds from this past week. Hope you enjoy! And don’t forget to share your favorites in the comments too.

Favorite Quote:

Favorite Combination knit gold:

Favorite Recipe Cream Cheese Pancakes… Zero carbs and gluten free! Sweet. Click here for the recipe.:

Favorite Laugh reminds me of someone…:

Favorite Manicure so cute right?:

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

What’s on your nails right this moment? Snap a photo and upload it to your LaurenConrad.com profile page. If you click “Submit this photo” you will be entered for a chance to be a Chic of the Week!

Can’t wait to see your manicures ladies!

XO Lauren

P.S. Click here to learn how to upload and submit photos to the Gallery!

P.P.S. Check here for more: Friday Favorites

Photos: Pinterest I Can Has Cheezburger Lyndar the Merciless

When I design for each season of my LC Lauren Conrad collection there is always a story behind it—an inspiration. We put together “trend pages” that are essentially inspiration boards. For March the idea was summed up as “Malibu doll.” Think dressed up but with a girly and flirty innocence. Lots of delicate lace and tulle details bows vintage prints and ruffles. If I had to pick one piece that embodies “Malibu doll” it would be the Ruffles and Tulle Dress. 

Here's a peek at my March 2012 inspiration board:

I absolutely adore the Ruffles and Tulle Dress. It’s one of my favorite pieces in the March collection—it’s just so pretty! The ruffled front adds a light feminine flair that’s contrasted by the flirty cut and vintage-inspired print. I particularly love how we blended two materials chiffon and tulle to give the dress a bit more depth.

I designed the Ruffles and Tulle Dress because I always have a tough time dressing up for daytime occasions. While it’s easy to dress up for night it’s tough to do for day! Whether it’s a wedding shower a special brunch graduation or something that requires you to dress up a bit more during the daytime I think the Ruffles and Tulle Dress is perfect. Simply pair it with a neutral shoe like I did see photo at top and you’re ready to go. Needless to say the Ruffles and Tulle Dress is not solely for dressed up daytime wear—it is very versatile. I also like to wear it with ballet flats and a cardigan for more casual outings. Or I pair it with neutral heels and an ivory blazer which is perfect for a breezy spring or summer night.

If you love the Ruffles and Tulle Dress as much as I do click here to snag your own and order today!

What’s your Kohl’s craving this week? Tell me in the comments below for a chance to win a 50 Kohl’s gift certificate. I’ll announce the winner next week.

The winner of last week’s 50 Kohl’s card is Kristin Albrecht. Congrats!

XO Lauren

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

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Photos: Kohl’s

• Atlanta         AMC Phipps Plaza 14                            
• Boston          AMC Boston Common 19                   
• Chicago         AMC River East 21                      
• Dallas          AMC Mesquite 30                
• Dallas          AMC Grapevine 30                       
• Los Angeles             AMC Burbank 8                 
• Orange CA              AMC Orange 30                 
• Santa Monica    AMC Broadway 4                 
• Miami                   AMC Aventura 24                        
• Miami                   AMC Sunset Place 24                            
• New York                AMC Empire 25                  
• San Diego               AMC Mission Valley 20                  
• San Francisco   AMC VAN NESS 14                        
• San Jose                AMC Mercado 20         
• New Orleans       AMC Elmwood Palace 20

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And Alexandra Vavrdova’s high-waisted look is perfect for almost any occasion…

Kayla Queen’s mix and match manicure is genius!

Could this be more perfect? Seriously head over heels about Brittany Ibsen’s fishtail braid…

We are salivating over Amy Breckenridge’s recipe for Cookie Dough Filled Cupcakes. OMG.

Pin It

And we cannot wait to get home so we can whip up Chloe Willers’ Asparagus Chicken recipe. Yummy and healthy? Score.

And we’re so proud of Carley Ogea! She went skydiving after foot surgery… Now that’s fearless.

We love seeing our members having fun with the girls. Check out Kellie Norton’s night out… Love the outfits ladies!

This is definitely our next DIY: Amanda PeQueen sprayed “adhesive Epsom salt and white spray paint on old beer and champagne bottles.” Love this! It kind of reminds us when Lauren did those DIY glossed candlesticks.

Last but not least you need to check out Holly’s brilliant paint job. Who needs a fancy headboard or artwork when you’ve got paint?

Thank you so much to everyone that’s uploaded and submitted things to the Gallery! We hope you remember to take a peek through it once in a while. We have some pretty stylish creative and just plain amazing members on here and we like to think of the Gallery as our little place to show them off!

Remember to upload and submit your photos and videos to the Gallery! Click here for all the details.

Which photo do you find most inspiring?

XO Team LaurenConrad.com

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One of my New Year’s resolutions is to organize my closet once a month. It’s the only way I can keep my closet in check. Otherwise things get out of hand…or lost. Below I’ve put together a few of my best tips for getting your closet in order to kick off your spring cleaning:

Once a Month: Organize! By the end of the month the contents of my closet and dressers look like a bomb went off. It’s not that I’m intentionally messy; I just forget to fold things when I’m in a rush. Plus I don’t always put things back in their proper place. Needles to say when I organize my closet once a month I find that my closet is easier to navigate. I put together better outfits because I can find and see everything too. I like to organize the hanging pieces by cut color and length. As for my folded items I group things together based on cut.  

Every 6 Months: I suggest going through your entire closet every 6 months or so. Try everything on. If something is permanently stained or ripped trash it. If you are unsure about something ask for a second opinion. That’s what friends are for! Just channel your inner Bradshaw:

Once a Year: It’s time to break up with the old and make room for the new. Donate things or organize a clothing swap with friends. I realize that breaking up with pieces you’ve had in your closet for years can be tough. Nevertheless it’s important to remember that sentimentality should not warrant a precious piece of real estate in your closet. Another idea is to do the "switcheroo." At the begining of the year turn all of your hangers backward like this. As you wear items turn the hanger back around so it's facing the right way. By the end of the year you will see which pieces you wore and what you can get rid of. Easy!

Do you have any space saving tips for your closet? If so share your suggestions in the comments below!

XO Lauren

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As some of you may know I finally got a Pinterest account. I am absolutely positively head-over-heels in love with it too… Honestly I could get lost on Pinterest for hours. And I usually do!

If you’re unfamiliar with Pinterest it’s basically an online bulletin board where you “pin” all of your favorite online finds with photographs or videos that link directly to the source. It’s a great place to create inspiration boards and keep track of things you discover online or offline. If you have a great personal photo that you want to add to the mix you can even upload it straight to your boards just click the “Add” option in the upper right corner of the page.

I love Pinterest because it’s very visual and easy to use. I’ve divided my boards into different categories such as “wear” for all things fashion “primp” where I stash all of my beauty finds and  “dine” for recipe ideas. You can check out all of my boards by clicking here.

Do you have Pinterest? If so what’s the most pinteresting thing you’ve discovered? Share the link to the pin in the comments below! Who knows...I might feature you and your "pin" in a Friday Favorites!

One of my favorite recent finds was this. Great idea right?

XO Lauren

P.S. If you don’t have it already you must add the “Pin It” button to your bookmarks bar… It will change your life!

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1. Roll-on glitter. You could never have enough…
   
   
   
2. Scrunchies. If Clarissa wore it it was a hit in my book…
   
   
   
3. Butterfly clips. The more the better!
   
   

   

4. Brown lipstick. No comment. Mother: Why?
   
   
   
5. Soda can tabs. No accessory was complete until it was adorned with one of these guys…
   
   
   
6. Slap bracelets. I think these are illegal to bring to school now.
   
   
   
7. Tattoo-style chokers. I used to buy these by the bushel at Claire’s…
   
   
   
8. Spice Girl inspired footwear. Not sure how I convinced my mother to let me out of the house in these things…
   
   
   
   
9. Best friend necklaces. Funny I’m still best friends with a few of the girls I shared these with…
   
   
   
10. Last but not least… Jelly shoes! Okay these definitely pre-dated middle school but I couldn’t resist including them.
    
    
    

What’s an old fad you cannot believe you loved from your elementary or tween years?

XO Lauren



P.S. If you thought this post was as fun as I had putting it together share it with your friends! I bet they’ll get a kick out of it too… Use the social media buttons at the bottom of this post to send it around!

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