Princess of Printed Pants

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Okay, so I'm not REALLY the princess of printed pants. I only own four pairs, and two pairs are leopard print. When I saw these gray and black printed ankle pants at Goodwill for $10 (or were they $8?)  I knew I wanted them. I tried them on (I ALWAYS try on pants at Goodwill. Plus size pants are hard to come by in used clothing stores.) and they fit, perfectly. Perfect length, perfect everything. Smitten! What to wear with such bold pants? Duh. Bubble Gum pink, of COURSE!

(That's my son and nephew back there. I couldn't edit them out without cutting off my head. :/)

I added my Vintage Dooney & Bourke purse, my black bubble necklace and plain black flats. Since I had on the printed pants and bright top, I didn't want to over-kill my ensemble with accessories.

There's the print. They are Merona ankle slacks, a Target buy out.

Overall, I love the streamlined look the pants give me. If they had these same pants in a non-printed version, like black or gray, I'd buy those too. The pants just fit so well and look/feel so nice on! Next time I'll dress them up with a fancy top and some heels and we'll see how different I can make them look, but for now I am completely satisfied.

THE CLOTHES:

TOP: CROFT AND BARROW THRIFTED/ GOODWILL

PANTS: MERONA THRIFTED/GOODWILL

FLATS: FADED GLORY FROM WALMART

BAG: VINTAGE DOONEY & BOURKE/SIN CITY ANTIQUES

NECKLACE: PIPERLIME

BANGLE: THRIFTED/GOODWILL

23 comments

Baubles and trinkets and treasures, Oh my!

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

I've seen many posts where people show how the organize and store their jewelry, so I thought I'd share my (slightly out of control) storage systems as well.

This is half of it.

Box of bangles.

Stud/post earrings and clip ons, and pendants.

Brooches and rings and pins.

Statement necklace board. I used door knobs and drawer pulls and spray painted a cork board pink.

I made this, but I need to add more knobs for my necklaces. I'm in the process of making a bigger one.

This case houses dainty necklaces. When they get mixed in with the chunkier pieces everything gets tangled. It's way easier to get them separated.

This is the top of my mantle (and my vanity below.)

The Power Puff Girls jewelry box was a gift from a friend when I was 13. It holds bracelets. The earring tree holds larger earrings.

I didn't take a pic inside, but this holds MORE necklaces that are too dainty to get mixed in with bigger pieces. I keep them separated in sandwich baggies.

This lady was a gift from Roger's Mom. She holds beaded necklaces.

This jewelry box was hand made for me a few years ago by someone I used to know. They decoupaged pics of my kids as babies on there. Inside it are a pair of Logan's baby booties. Oh and that's my Daughter's fascinator in front of it.

And finally the Eiffel tower that houses my other mdium and small sized dangle earrings. I got it at St. Vincet De Paul for $3.

So that's how I house the insane amount of jewelry I own. How do you keep showcase yours?

-Ash

25 comments

A Four-Way

Friday, March 22, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I've had this nude leopard print Torrid dress for about 2 and a half months but I have not worn it yet. Not only because it has been too cold, but also because it kind of intimidates me. Also I bought it a size bigger than I should have. But seriously. NUDE. Nude is just like white. It gets DIRTY. I don't do dirt. But today was such a lovely...dare I say it, SPRING-ESH day. It was warm and breezy and perfect dress weather. I reached for this dress and it no longer scared me, it excited me. Then I had a different problem...I had endless ways to style this dress! Why had I not seen the possibilities before? I solved the too-big problem with a simple pin and came up with a plan: I would wear the dress and style it four ways, and document it for ya'll. I remembered when Kacie over at Shy Girl Loud Voice had done a similar post featuring a favorite shirt she loves. (Have you been to her blog? Go check her out. She is awesomesauce in a bottle.) This seemed like the way to go!

LOOK ONE: WORK

 For a work appropriate look I paired the dress with a black sparkly cardigan, a thin black belt, black wedge heel pumps and this coral cross body bag that holds everything I need for work. I kept my necklace and earrings simple and just added this peacock ring and stone bracelet for pizzazz. Depending on the dress code at your office you may have to add a camisole underneath.since the dress has quite a deep v-neck.

LOOK 2: DATE DAY

For the Date day look, I removed the cardigan, swapped out my earrings and necklace for bling-yer ones from Banana Rebulic, traded my black belt for a more colorful one and added brown leather high heel sandals. I also kept to bag from the previous look for a pop of color. I would wear this for a Brunch date with my Husband or girlfriends.

LOOK 3: KID FRIENDLY

*Photobombed by a lady in pink!*THE LADY IN PINK IS MY YOUNGER SISTER.)

For this look I had to make this light colored dress kid-friendly. I added a matching black and cream cardigan, my Converse sneakers, and this large vintage Dooney & Bourke bag. It's the perfect bag for holding all of my stuff plus all of my kid's items too. I removed the earrings for safety reason but kept the Banana Republic snowflake necklace. I actually wore this look for the remainder of the day. We traipsed the trails at the park, so I know for a fact it is a kid-friendly look!

LOOK 4: DATE NIGHT

For my date night look I swapped the cardigan for this black blazer, traded my beat up sneakers for these sexy, sophisticated stilettos, added fun, colorful jewelry and a vintage gold envelope clutch. The clutch is made of these tiny metal sequins and tied in perfectly to the gold metal heel on my stilettos. The Blazer looks a little corporate to me, so in hindsight I'd probably add my black leather bomber jacket and Hollywood wavy hair to amp up the sexy appeal. But since I never, ever do my hair I am still satisfied with this date night look. I would wear this for dinner and drinks with my Husband OR out dancing with my posse, (Yeah. I have a posse.)
***UPDATE: SINCE THIS POST WAS WRITTEN I WORE THIS BLACK BLAZER TO A BAR AND SOMEONE STOLE IT. I AM VERY UPSET, BECAUSE IT WAS MY FAVORITE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES.**

So what do you think of my Leopard dress? I think I shall call it the Chameleon dress instead since it turned out to be so versatile! How would you style it? 

-Ash

BREAK IT DOWN LOOK ONE:

DRESS: TORRID VIA 10DOLLARMALL

BLACK SPARKLY CARDIGAN: GAP

BLACK WEDGE HEELS: PAYLESS

THIN BLACK BELT: DOTS

BAG: H & M

EARRINGS AND NECKLACE: TIFFANY & CO.

RING: BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY 

STONE BANGLE: THRIFTED /GOODWILL

LOOK TWO:

SAME DRESS

NECKLACE AND EARRINGS: BANANA REPUBLIC VIA GAP OUTLET

BELT: TARGET

BAG: SAME AS ABOVE

HEELS: LAUREN CONRAD/THRIFTED/FACEBOOK YARD SALE

LOOK THREE:

SAME DRESS

CARDIGAN: CALVIN KLEIN/THRIFTED/GOODWILL

BAG: VINTAGE DOONEY & BOURKE/THRIFTED/SIN CITY ANTIQUES

SNEAKERS: CONVERSE

NECKLACE SAME AS ABOVE

LOOK FOUR:

SAME DRESS

BLAZER: DOTS (RECENTLY STOLEN.)

BAG: THRFITED/LAURA'S CLOSET (ACTUALLY BOUGHT IT FOR MY DAUGHTER LONDON AND SHE LET ME BORROW IT.)

EARRINGS: AMAZON

BRACELET AND BANGLE: THRIFTED/GOODWILL

HEELS: WET SEAL

18 comments

Thrift Store Scores

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Went to Goodwill, poppin' tags. This is what I got!

This Bubble Gum pink sweater. The black trim has tiny white polka dots and there is a teeny tiny bow at the neck, $4.99.

There's the bow.

This awesome black and cream cardi. It reminds me of a letterman's sweater, minus the letter. Kind of like the letterman jackets that were so popular last fall. AND...

It's Calvin Klien. It was NWT (new with tags!) and only $4.99. (And a size small.This is why you try whatever you like on. It may fit!) 

Printed Merona skinny ankle pants. They were a Target buy out, new with tags, and $8.00. I tried them on with the bubble gum pink sweater and I LOVED it. You will see this combo soon.

This is the pattern on the pants.

Lauren Conrad brown leather high heeled sandals. Technically these are from a Facebook yard sale. i've already worn them. The heel is sooooo high! They didn't even look like they had been worn. Anyway Facebook yard sale, $10.00

A few bangles. These were kinda expensive for Goodwill, like $3.00-$4.00 each.

I feel like I made out just fine! What do you think? 

-Ash

14 comments

Au Zoo

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

I finally got my gold pass to the zoo in the mail and could not wait to go! It was a lovely day too. I was almost too warm in my thrifted J.Crew sweater. I put my new camera to good use and finally got to use my HD mega zoom lens (you know, that is the technical name of it.) I got pictures that I never dreamed possible before. I saw the inside of the lion's mouth with this lens! It's so crazy what a nice camera can do for you. I got the camera, two lenses, a bag and SD card for about $1000. That's a lot of money but hey, it was my tax refund money. Money well spent! I should really get around to reading the instruction manual, and use it to it's full potential. Anyway, what I wore to the zoo:

I wore my thrifted J.Crew sweater, ruffled polka dot blouse, super duper old Gap boyfriend jeans, slouchy brown boots and toted my coral H & M cross body bag. Easy for a day of walking and being with kids.

Now for some gratuitous shots of animals!

Elephant.

Dueling Polar bears! Seriously, they were wrestling and having fun. It was awesome to watch.

This handsome guy. 

He was SO tired.

Those white Tigers were sleepy too!

The Snow Leopard. It's my Husband's favorite animal. I did not get to see my favorite animal, the Okapi. Don't know what that is? Look them up, they are so totally cute.

This pretty lady just had a baby! But he was not on display. too bad :(

BREAKING IT DOWN:

SWEATER: J.CREW, TRIFTED/GOODWILL

TOP: CROFT AND BARROW THRIFTED/LAURA'S CLOSET

JEANS: GAP 

BOOTS: THRIFTED FACEBOOK YARD SALE

BAG: H & M (STILL IN STORES!)

26 comments

Karaoke Style

Friday, March 15, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I went out with my younger brother, his girlfriend, and my sister in law to sing karaoke the other night at a local dive bar. It's definitely not a va-va-voom 6-inch heels and a mini skirt bar, just a place where people go to hang out and drink. I wanted to be comfortable and not look like I was trying too hard, so I wore jeans and a t-shirt and had fun with the accessories. Here's the look:

I wore an ACDC 3/4 tee, my boyfriend jeans, wedge heel bondage booties, long chain earrings, a sparkly cuff, a sparkly ring, and a thrift purple leather envelope clutch ($2!)

My only gripe is I wish I had worn a brighter colored shirt. It's kind of all one tone.

I also wanted to wear my hair up to show case my earrings but I thought it was more rock n roll to leave it down and slightly messy.

I'm still not sure how I feel about my new glasses. Sometimes I LOVE them. Other times I feel like they don't go with certain outfits. I'm going to get new lenses in my old glasses so that I have options.

I love these shoes. They add an edgy look to anything you pair them with!

What do you think? Perfect for a dive bar? I just wanted to drink my vodka and cranberry and wait my turn to belt out my all-time favorite karaoke song. "Total Eclipse of the heart."

(I also sang "Picture" ,"Sin Wagon" ,"This is how we do it" ,"Un-break my Heart" "Stay","Foolish Games", "If I die young" ,"Ignition: the remix" and "Bump n Grind." (What can I say, I like everything.)

Break it down:

ACDC TEE: HUSBAND'S (IT SHRANK SO NOW IT'S MINE)

JEANS: OLD NAVY

BOOTIES: DOTS

GLASSES: C/O FIRMOO

EARRINGS: DEB

CUFF: DOTS

COCKTAIL RING: GLITTER

ENVELOPE CLUTCH: THRIFTED VIA GOODWILL

14 comments