2013 Top 20

Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I didn't do a review post last year so I knew I was definitely going to this year! Because I cut back on blogging when I got sick over the summer, it wasn't too hard to narrow down. Though I tried to choose an outfit from every month September did not make the cut. Oh well! Enjoy!

Winter

Spring

Summer

End of Summer/Fall

Fall/Winter

Most of my favorites include heels, dresses, color, pattern, texture, a hat, or a bold lip. I feel like I've really grown style-wise this year. I have always loved vests, but I never would have worn a denim vest with a pencil skirt. I never would have bought gold glitter loafers or worn my cowboy boots with a lace dress. Many of these outfits were my interpretation of another blogger's look or style. This summer and fall I really embraced my inner bohemian as inspired by my friend and bloggy buddy Kacie Cone at Shy Girl Loud Voice. I bought a few accessories like a hat, a fringed necklace, a multi-layer beaded necklace and some ankle booties that really changed up my look! 

In 2014 I hope to continue to grow in my style, post more content for ya'll, meet some of my bloggy friend IRL, and actually learn to use my DSLR properly. I hope you will continue to stop by my slice on the internet and I will definitely be stopping by to see you!

What's your favorite look this year?

-Ash

71 comments

I've been on hiatus.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Hello all! I've been off the grid for a bit, except for posting pics of my cats on instagram lol. Let me catch you up to speed!

I had my gallbladder removed on December 5th! Finally! So very happy to have that evil thing out of me. However, because only I can make routine outpatient surgery complicated, I was not fine after the surgery. My Mother woke up from a similar surgery (she had laproscopic gall bladder removal and I chose to go with the DaVinci robot removal method) woke up, and had a Big Mac! I woke up and got sick all over a nurse, choked and couldn't breathe and was flailing my arms and legs wildly about. I kicked the poor nurse in the face :(. They had to velcro me to the bed so I wouldn't hurt myself or others. Anyway, I was violently ill for the entire week afterwards. Moving, eating, drink all made me so nauseous. The anti-nausea medication did nothing to alleviate this.
Two days after surgery was the kid's 8th and 6th birthday party for which I was passed out the entire time. I felt like a bad Mom.
 I finally went back to work the following Friday and...
THEY SOLD THE HOTEL.
I had to fill out new-hire paperwork as if I were...well, a new hire. We had heard rumors of the sale but nothing was confirmed or anything. I found out that I'm not receiving a pay check until the Friday AFTER Christmas. I wasn't planning for that so now I'm angry and just ugh. Plus, we have no clue if they will keep us or not. It's like visiting an alien planet going from privately owned and operated to corporate policies. We were spoiled. It's no longer about the employees or creating the best experience we can for our guests. It's about making money.

I've been feeling so blah. I get up and roam about in sweat pants. With the exception of taking my daughter on her field trip. Anything that touches my belly button is uncomfortable. So I do not have outfits to post and content is seriously lacking. I'll be back soon, I promise. Now you know why I've been away. I am spending tonight and tomorrow reading and commenting the 358 blogs in my bloglovin' feed so I can see what YOU'VE been up to. I apologize for not staying current with your blogs. Like I said, I've felt like crap.

Thank you as always for stopping by and reading. I love my blog and the blogging community in general. I've made some real friends here.
I hope to have some fashion posts for you soon.

35 comments

Spelunking

Monday, December 02, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

*It's hard to take pictures inside. No flash photography allowed. But this gives you a good idea on how massive and beautiful it is in there.

I bet you didn't know this about me, but I am an avid cave enthusiast aka a spelunker. My Husband and I wanted to go somewhere for spring break our first year of college but we had no money for Cancun or Panama. We had about $300. I suggested we have a staycation here in lovely KY. There's many places to visit here. I picked Mammoth caves, since neither of us had ever been. We stayed the weekend and fell in love with the darkness, rocks, and mysterious quiet and we've been doing it ever since.

We recently headed back down to Mammoth Caves (Cave City, KY) For a short weekend visit again. For some reason, every time we've gone we've never taken the cave history tour. It's one thing to know the history but another to see it and watch it come alive. It's about 62 degrees all year round in the caves, so I wore light layers and set out for some fun!

I love myself in beanies. I am meant to have a hat on my head.

Just rolling back my hoodie sleeves and folding the flannel cuff over them makes this instantly fashion-y rather than lumber jack-y.

I love all of these photos! I love this super soft, super CHEAP (hello, $6.99 Gap outlet flannel) flannel/plaid shirt. I love my old, worn in and perfect thickness for layering Old Navy hoodie. I love my bright red Dooney and Bourke bag and I LOVE my brand-new Gap "the perfect skinny" skinny jeans. They are the perfect amount of distressed and....a SIZE 10! Boom. I haven't been a 10 since before Logo. I'm very happy and these jeans are perfect. I wear them nearly every day. I'm in a really loving mood these days!

Beanie: Gap via The Gap Outlet $3.99

Hoodie: Old Navy (really old, from 2006.)

Plaid Flannel Shirt: Old Navy via the Gap Outlet $6.99

"The perfect skinny" Skinny Jeans: Gap via the Gap Outlet $9.99 (told you I'd find some $10 jeans)

Boots: Merona thrifted via Facebook yard sale $10.00

Necklace: Online. Coupon code from PPF. Why can't I remember where I got this??? Oh, yeah. It came in the mail the day I wrecked. #headtraumaproblems $20.00

Purse: Vintage Dooney & Bourke gift from Roger's Grandma via his Great Great Aunt. $0.00

57 comments

BA Star Star Dust Loose Shadow Review

Thursday, November 28, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Hello all! Do you remember when I reviewed the BA star eyeshadow palette? I'm back with another review, this time of their loose shadow.

My loose shadow came in a lovely coppery-gold color, with an eyeshadow primer/glue. Everyone hates loose shadow, me especially, so I was wary. My tip? Use the smallest eyes shadow brush you have, pick up some product, tap off the excess, and PAT the color onto the lid, then use a blending motion after to even out the texture.

The color goes on very pretty and silky on its own, but be warned when you put it on over the primer it will have that wet look if you try to put in on in a sweeping motion. Remember to pat it in the lid, not swipe. Another note, it can be hard to add additional products/other shadows after you've applied this over the primer, say if you want a smoky eye. However, my amethyst liquid liner went right over it and I think the colors were very complimentary.

The shadow primer/glue was really good! It basically glues the shadow to your lid. I had a hard time taking off my shadow at the end of the day and had to kind of scrub, which wasn't particularly comfortable. If you are looking for a long wearing primer/glue, reach for this one.

Shadow swatch.

 Top:shadow w/o primer, bottom shadow w/primer.

Pros: Long wearing, silky texture, very pigmented.

Cons: Can be hard to add additional products with it, primer lasts a really LONG time, creased a bit.

I think you definitely get what you are paying for and it is a lovely little addition to anyone's make up collection. The shadow singles and the primer are $8.75 each, so they are very much on point, price wise and quality wise, with drug store kings like Cover Girl and Maybelline. Enter code BBDUST at checkout to receive 50% off!

*I was offered this product to review for my blog, however aside from the product there was no compensation. All opinions are my own.* 

Has anyone else tried these? Opinions?

19 comments

This is what I was wearing in the car crash

Monday, November 25, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

This post should be to introduce you to my DIY'd army vest. I was so excited when I finally go the vest exactly how I wanted it. It started off as an army jacket remember? Then I removed the sleeves and took it in a bit on the sides. However, I didn't like the long length; it went down to my butt! FINALLY I chopped it at my waist and viola: my very own, DIY'd army vest ($10 total.) Then I was going to meet my cousin Jamie for lunch/photo session and WHAM! I am knocked out and wake up in my wrecked car. TOTALED.

Everything happened so quickly, which is so cliche but so true. I was wearing my seatbelt, but the car smashed into the retaining wall on the highway on the driver's side. My face smashed into the driver's side window and I got a black eye and sore jaw, and the impact broke two of my ribs. The lovely necklace in the photos cut my neck pretty good too. I am A-Ok now (just sore in the ribs still) and majorly pissed about my car.

BUT you just can't keep a fashion obsessed girl down. I made Jamie take my pictures after they released me from the hospital. All the nurses complimented me on my perfectly in place make-up. Primer, ladies. Primer is key.

 I was SO sore. I couldn't lift my purse or hardly do anything, but this outfit was still cute and needed documentation. Plus, I was on painkillers and I was determined to see my day's plans through to the end. (Before Jamie took me to the hospital we went and had our Mexican food because 1. I was starving and 2. I was convinced I was just bruised. The insurance adjuster called and lectured me into going to the hospital. I didn't go from the scene of the crash because I crashed in Ohio, but I live in KY and if I had to go, I wanted to go at home.)

 P.S. Jamie doesn't know how to use a DSLR.

                   

And a bonus:

I couldn't pick up my bag, I was so sore. So I stretched myself and heard my ribs pop. End of photo shoot.

So do you think I'm nuts? I kinda do too. In my own defense, I had a shitty day, and I used the thing I love (fashion/my blog) to cheer me up.

Thermal: Gap

Vest: Army/Navy surplus store/DIY

Jeans: Old Navy

Peter Pan Boots: Selena Gomez for Kmart. (I think they are from her first line for them.)

Necklace: I do not remember, it came the day of the crash and I got the coupon code from Kim at Penny Pincher Fashion. Anyone else remember?)

Bag: Melie Bianco thrifted via Facebook yard sale

42 comments

She stole my Hat!

Monday, November 18, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Stopped by and had my Mom take some blog pictures and my fabulously fall dressed favorite niece photobombed me, and stole my hat. She is truly adorable. Her name is Andrea and she is seven, just like my daughter London. In fact they are 10 days apart in age! London, Andrea and I are besties. If you ask each of them who their best friend is they will answer with my name, and each other's. I hope we are all besties forever. I adore my girls.

Hat: Target

Long Cardigan: NY&Co. Thrifted via Goodwill

Top: Thrifted via Goodwill

Black Skinnies: Dots

Boots: Target

Bag: Banana Republic via Gap Outlet

Tassel Necklace: Deb

56 comments

Black on Black on Vintage Levi's Denim

Monday, November 11, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

There was sort of a formula to this outfit. I wanted to wear my favorite polka dot dress but it's a thin chiffon type material, ergo I needed some tights. My tights were not dry yet so I reached for my leggings. My hair was 2 days dirty and I used the last of my dry shampoo but it wasn't quite enough. So up it went into a messy "blogger bun." From there it was simple. Since my hair was up, I could add a fun, vibrant scarf, since I was wearing the scarf I added the tiny tree earrings instead of a necklace. To counterbalance all the black I added this awesome vintage Levi's jacket. I've been wanting to pair my booties with a dress so they were a no-brainer, and the bag was chosen because it had silver hardware. It sounds like this was a process but it literally took about 3 minutes.

                  

                    I picked the fuchsia lippy to match the colors in my scarf.

I get so frustrated when I review photos and realize something was off. In this case, my belt was askew the entire time. Oh well. I'm human and sometimes  I forget to reposition my belt when I get out of my vehicle. I'll live!

Did I succeed in transitioning my light layers into fall? Do you like that I matched my lippy to the color in my scarf? Is this way too much black (I still think so.) Let's discuss!

Jacket: Vintage Levi's, thrifted via Goodwill

Scarf: Wet Seal spring 2011

Dress: Forever 21 spring 2012

Belt: Gap via Gap outlet

Leggings: Dots

Booties: Target

Bag: Banana Republic via Gap Outlet

Earrings: Bought at a booth during Goetta Fest 

Would any bloggers be interested in a Style Blogger Secret Santa? And would anyone be interested in organizing it with me? If you are interested please e-mail me your name, address, and blog links. We will give your info to another blogger and they send you a Christmas gift. They would peruse your blog to get an idea of what to send you. You would get another blogger's info and send them a gift. The "Secret Santa" is revealed upon receipt of your gift by the sender. Everyone would then post what they received and a link to their Secret Santa's blog on their own blog on the same day. Send me an email at iamwindchakra@gmail.com if you are interested!

44 comments

Ladylike

Wednesday, November 06, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I thrifted this LC Lauren Conrad festive cardigan the other day because the detail on the shoulder was just so pretty to me. It's actually missing all the closures, but I don't care. It looks great worn open. The pearls and bows made me feel very ladylike, so I added this thrifted lace top, my pearl necklace, and these gold scroll earrings to echo that proper/ladylike tone. I didn't want to be TOO fussy and frilly, so I choose my polka dot jeans for a whimsical touch and then my slouchy boots and heavy Melie Bianco bag for a slightly rugged, masculine appeal that I believe balanced out the upper half's girlieness. It sounds like a lot of thought went into this outfit but I picked it all out in about 5 minutes, excluding the debate on necklaces.

*My camera was on a weird setting when Mom took them. Photos are kind of grainy.

I also decided to try an "arm party." I know everyone else does it but I'm just not a bracelet person, though I have many. I like bangles, but that's about it. WHY do you pile all these on your arms ladies? I know what you're doing. The minute you have to sit down to work, say on your computer at work, you take the arm party off because it drives you nuts trying to type with it on. Admit it!

I quite like this outfit and will be wearing it again. If I changed out my jeans for my brown slacks and maybe some leopard loafers this would be totally office appropriate. Or you could add a pencil skirt for the office, maybe a pink one for a pop of color. Perhaps a full or a-line skirt in a fun floral for brunch. There are a myriad of possibilities!

Cardigan: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls, thrifted via Goodwill

Lace Top: Apt. 9 (Kohl's brand) thrifted via Goodwill

Polka Dot Jeans: LEI brand, Walmart

Slouchy Boots: Merona, thrifted via Facebook Yard Sale

Earrings: Forever 21

Pearls: Gift from Roger's Grandma

Bag: Melie Bianco, thrifted via Facebook Yard Sale

48 comments