We present an ab initio theory of core- and valence resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) based on a real-space multiple scattering Greens function formalism and a quasi-boson model Hamiltonian. Simplifying assumptions are made which lead to an approximation of the RIXS spectrum in terms of a convolution of an effective x-ray absorption signal with the x-ray emission signal. Additional many body corrections are incorporated in terms of an effective energy dependent spectral function. Example calculations of RIXS are found to give qualitative agreement with experimental data. Our approach also yields simulations of lifetime-broadening suppressed XAS, as observed in high energy resolutionfluorescence detection experiment (HERFD). Finally possible improvements to our approach are briefly discussed.