Hello Monday! First off, I hope you all had a lovely weekend filled with good food, friends and family and tons of candy of your choosing. I had a jam-packed weekend that started on Friday, and did not stop until last night. I celebrated a friend turning the big 3-0, got to meet another friend's baby for the first time, and then celebrated Easter with my entire family. I've never had such a busy weekend where there were things back-to-back and frankly, it is A LOT. As much as it is so nice to be invited to things, I'm now ready for everything to go back to normal, So to start the week off right, here are some fun things that I've come across over the past week or so. Enjoy!

  • Does anyone else watch Brooklyn Nine Nine? I have been binge watching Season 2, and now 3, and it's SO FUNNY! Each character is so unique and they're just a huge family. I just heard it got renewed for Season 4, so WAHOO!
  • This Wrap-Front Dress by H&M+ is so beautiful. 
  • I am so excited because NYX Cosmetics is coming to Mall of America, and they are throwing a celebration weekend filled with prizes, bloggers and so much more. Of course, I will not be able to attend because I'll be in Chicago, but I know it's going to be a blast.
  • Rainbow hairstyles that you can pull off even after Easter? SOMEDAY THIS WILL HAPPEN!
  • The fairest of them all, indeed!
  • Shop & Apparel finally released a limited-edition extended size collection on their site. I want this, this and this..
  • Drew Barrymore is the cover girl for the Marie Claire April 2016 issue. She looks beyond gorgeous, like she does not age.
  • Bonlook has some of the most beautiful glasses. Time for a new pair, yes?
  • Can't get this song out of my head.
(PHOTO VIA: Mejuki)

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Always,
Mostly Lisa
Ever get the itch to finally start wearing dresses appropriate for the season you're in? Well, I was totally feeling it over the last week or so, but Minnesota weather just had to go and ruin it. Not only was I going to be doing a photoshoot yesterday for a Fashion Friday post in a dress, but it was supposed to be completely spring related. It did not happen, as we received a day's worth of snow yesterday that does not look like it will be going anywhere soon. Mother Nature, what are you doing? So to ease the pain of not doing the photoshoot, I thought why not share some dresses that can at least still get me in the mood for my favorite season. Shop all the links below!
1. ASOS Curve Skater Dress with 3D Embellishment ($136): How beautiful is this dress? It's the perfect mix of flirty and elegant! With 3D floral embellishments, it is bound to be the hit dress at whatever soiree you are attending. It moves and flows really nicely to whatever body type you might have, as well.
2. Eloquii Studio Ruffle Shirt Dress ($119): It might sold out online again (it's just THAT popular) but I had to include it in my selection. The perfect dress for spring, this simple yellow dress has just the right amount of detailing that make it special. A fit and flare silhouette makes for a great way to transition from day to night. Here's hoping it comes back!
3. Old Navy Midi Cami Dress ($28): A dress I can say I actually own! This dress is a lot of fun and the print is definitely the perfect way to celebrate spring. I love that it is a midi silhouette, as it is quite flattering for my figure. Can't wait to wear it when I'm in Chicago, and make sure to look for it in the Fashion Friday post I'm working on!
4. Torrid Texture Skater Dress ($59): Who doesn't love a dress with a peter pan collar that you can dress up or down? And it's a fit and flare, and it's the perfect length to go from spring to summer as well! The options are endless!
5. Lane Bryant Midi Sleeveless Jacquard Dress by Adrianna Papell ($269): Another insanely beautiful dress that I could only dream of owning. I've never own anything that used jacquard fabric, but I can definitely tell that it would be something worth investing in. You could literally wear this to any fancy event you wanted to during spring and summer, and you'd be the talk of the town. Everyone would ask, 'Who are you wearing?'
6. Target Women's Plus Size Midi Shirt Dress - Who What Wear ($40): A chambray midi dress that can go with practically anything? Sign me up! How comfortable does this dress look? I love that it comes with a belt, to really accentuate your curves. A+
7. Addition Elle L&L Embroidered Boho Dress ($120): A good bohemian-inspired dress can make anyone feel light and breezy, and when the sun is beating down on you, you want to feel that way. This dress in particular has beautiful embroidery and a scalloped hem.
8. SimpleBe Cape Jersey Maxi Dress ($108): The minute I saw this dress I said, 'Oooh, pretty!', so I had to include it. I am always on the look for a maxi dress that will be flattering, and this one might just be the ticket. Another breezy and light fabric to make spring extra special.
9. SimplyBe Little Mistress Lace Detail Dress ($113): I'm obsessed with the simplicity of this dress, and how romantic it is. Blue can go so far and I really like that you can dress this up or dress it down like several other of these dresses.

10. CityChic Faux 2-Piece Chevron Maxi Dress ($169): A bit of a splurge, but definitely worth it! This evening wear dress is special because you can make it into two different versions, as a two-piece or pairing it with a belt to make it into one-piece. 

Which one would you try for spring? 

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Always,
Mostly Lisa
Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! It might be a little late to pick out all of your four-leaf clovers from your Lucky Charms box when you read this, but I still wanted to share this luck-filled recipe that you could even try this weekend! I was trying to decide what would be the best thing to end my #weekofgreen series, and I instantly thought of baking something! I have always wanted to make something with cereal, so after researching online, I came up with these Lucky Charms cupcakes. You've probably seen this recipe around the internet, so these three places were where I found the inspiration to do them myself. They were so much fun to make, and I hope you have just as much fun seeing the results!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • (1) box of Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ yellow cake mix
  • (1) cup of water
  • (1/2) cup of vegetable oil
  • (3) eggs
  • (1) container of Pillsbury™ Creamy Supreme® Vanilla Flavored Frosting
  • (3) cups of Lucky Charms™ cereal
  • (24) cupcake liners in various rainbow colors
  • Cupcake tin

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. Place cupcake liners in cupcake tin
  3. Mix together cake mix, water, vegetable oil and eggs for two minutes until it is a smooth consistency
  4. Fill cupcake liners with cake mix
  5. Bake for 17-20 minutes
  6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes
  7. Frost cupcakes with frosting. Top each cupcake with cereal to your liking
  8. Enjoy!
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Always,
Mostly Lisa
Ireland is one of the most magical places in the world, and I am lucky enough to have visited it once before in the past. It is a continuous wish to go back and see this place from a different perspective, and I truly hope that I can see it again before I'm old and gray. In the spirit of my #weekofgreen series, today's post features five places that you must visit when you journey to the Emerald Isle! I've been to four of the five of these places, so I promise they are worth seeing when you visit.
1. Cliffs of Moher: The first of five places to visit in Ireland is the Cliffs of Moher, a very obvious choice, and something you have to see in person. Standing at 702 feet at their highest point, they stretch for five miles along the Atlantic Coast of County Clare in the west of Ireland. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, and it is something to experience once in your lifetime. In this instance, photos can do justice of the Cliffs but you must see it in person!

2. Kylemore Abbey: The one place on this list I have not been to, but have seen in literally every book of Ireland I've read.  Kylemore Abbey is home to a community of nuns that went there in 1920 after their abbey in Belgium was destroyed in WWI. Located in Connemara in the west of Ireland, the abbey is now one of the number one tourist destinations in Ireland. Could you imagine taking photos here? It'd be like capturing a painting with each shot from your camera.
3. Muckross House: Another favorite part of the trip I went on, was being able to visit and play a concert in the garden of Muckross House. Built in the nineteenth century, this Victorian mansion is apart of the Killarney National Park in the west part of the country. It was built for the Herbert family, and was passed down after each generation. With an extensive garden, grand entrance and sixty-five rooms, this mansion was a sight to behold.
4. Ring of Kerry: As part of the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry is just another magical part of the country that spans County Kerry. It's a popular tourist spot, but definitely worth checking out as almost every part is unspoiled and features several different landscapes. It literally features a million shades of green!
5. Dublin: Being Ireland's capital has its benefits, and Dublin takes great advantage of it. There's music, pubs, street culture, great food and so much more at your fingertips. I was really bummed to not have experienced this place as much as I would have liked to, being in your teens on a group trip is not always what it's cracked up to be. Nonetheless, we still got to explore most of the city during the day and see some of what it had to offer.

What do you guys think? Would you ever venture to Ireland in the future? Let me know what you think in the comments!

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Always,
Mostly Lisa


To keep the theme of green going all week, and to honor the color of luck, today is all about things inspired by the color. Choosing a variety of mediums that all use this dominant color was not very hard, as I actually have a lot of things that use it. I didn't just want to feature fashion in this, so there are books, paper goods, bath bombs, jewelry and even something to drink out of! This is slowly becoming one of my favorite colors, and I love how appropriate it is for St. Paddy's Day.

  1. Classic Long-Sleeve Twill Top in Army Green - Old Navy: It may no longer be on the website, or even in stores, but this was such a brilliant find. Not only is it light enough to wear with layers, but it can so easily be worn by its own. I've worn it quite a few times, and it's a go-to when I'm feeling the need for army green in my day. 
  2. Secrets of A Charmed Life by Susan Meissner - Barnes & Noble: "She stood at a crossroads, half-aware that her choice would send her down a path from which there could be no turning back. But instead of two choices, she saw only one—because it was all she really wanted to see.." I'm currently on p. 258 of this novel, and am so intrigued. It was a bit of a slow start, and I wasn't entirely sure which direction it was going to go into, but I'm now in the thick of the story and it's so good! If you enjoy stories about 1940s England, and people surviving such atrocities, this is definitely something to check out. 
  3. 'You Look Great' art print - Thimblepress x The Glitter Guide: An original, hand-drawn  print that offers words of encouragement. Had to include this!
  4. Claddagh Ring Mug - Minnesota Renaissance Festival: This mug might look a little familiar, as I used it a lot last year, but it's one of my favorite mugs to get in the spirit of the holiday. It's a pretty special mug to own, since it was handmade as well.
  5. Ireland from the Air by Peter Somerville-Large - Amazon: A pretty spectacular coffee table book to own. Every photo captures the beauty of Ireland in magnificent detail, so much so that it actually feels as if you're flying over every picture. Another benefit? It's literally only $1 now to purchase.
  6. Sinus Congestion Relief Bath Bomb - Rejuvelle: I usually use Lush Cosmetics bath bombs, but my sister purchased this brand over the holidays for me. This bath bomb comes in a gift set, with a variety of different scents, and this one was definitely my favorite. It immediately helps with your sinuses and you feel refreshed once you step out of the tub. 
  7. Sister Cameo Necklace - Etsy: Another gift I received from my sister, and it's so beautiful! Finding it on Etsy made it extra special, since she was able to engrave it with a saying on the back. 

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Always,
Mostly Lisa
I am beyond excited to share today's post, for two reasons! The first reason is because this is the beginning of a series of posts that I will be doing  in honor of St. Patrick's Day on Thursday. The other reason is because I FINALLY HAVE FANCY PHOTOS to put up! This is such a big deal because I have been searching and searching for a way to incorporate better quality photos into the My Style File + Fashion Friday series I do every now and then. I have not been able to find the time, the money or the person to help me with this venture, but I do now! Thanks to Jo from The North Nabe for helping me set this up, and for taking such gorgeous shots.
Since this week is going to be about all things Irish, I had to start with the color that evokes the feeling of the holiday and the history of the country. My favorite shade of green has to be army green! It's neutral, versatile and definitely surprising when it comes to what you can pair it with. I am a bit basic when it comes to wearing this shade, and tend to gravitate more towards wearing black, white, gray, or navy. So this army green vest/jacket that I found a few years ago at Gap (similar) was an instant must in creating my overall look. I then paired it with a basic white cotton t-shirt from Old Navy, a pair of  AVA and VIV black ankle pants and black lace-up flats (similar). Finally, I accessorized with a beautiful 3-leaf clover necklace I bought when I actually went to Ireland back in 2005! It's my favorite part of this outfit, and I will be wearing it all week long.
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Always,
Mostly Lisa

With the week ranging from the 70s to low 50s, I am now officially itching for breaking out my spring wardrobe. Putting away heavy layers and bringing color back into daily outfits, and also accessorizing with fun hats and comfortable sandals. Almost every retailer now has their spring collections out, and I am so excited to see what I can find when I start browsing. ASOS Curve has some beautiful maxi dresses, Old Navy has a pair of block-heel sandals that were beyond comfortable trying on and Addition Elle has a new spring dress collection by Nicolette Mason! Shop all of spring picks below!
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Always,
Mostly Lisa


I mean, what a collection. Dolce & Gabbana completely surprised me with their Fall 2016 RTW collection during MFW, and it was the best surprise I could ask for. Being storytellers in their own right, their take on a modern fairytale included 'Who Is The Most Beautiful?' adorned on black velvet dresses, with bags showing frogs to kiss and chandeliers to dance under. I will never tire of designers showing their version of what being a Princess is, especially if it's something as beautiful as this collection. I CANNOT wait to see some of these pieces in editorials for fall.
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Always,
Mostly Lisa

This month always tends to be one of my favorites, as it is almost the beginning of transitioning into spring. I begin to get out of my winter mood funk, and start feeling a little normal again. There is also the beginning of editorials featuring Spring 2016 collections in magazines, and there's an overall sense of being renewed. I don't know what this month is going to bring to me this year, but I'm hoping it will be something good. Maybe I'll plan a trip in the coming months, maybe I'll find a new full-time job or maybe I'll even meet someone that I could fall in love with. The possibilities are endless, and I am happy to say that because I haven't felt that way for the past two months.

(PHOTOS VIA: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9)
(PHOTOS VIA1 2)
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Always,
Mostly Lisa