Dressed for Autumn...Finally!

Sunday, September 29, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

We've had some amazing fall days here lately. The air so is crisp, the temperature is perfect, you need sleeves but no jacket. You are neither hot nor hot. Just comfortable. You wake up, smell the coolness in the air, see the leaves changing and think: Perfect fall day!

And then if you are me you get ready for work and you do not get to enjoy said fall days. All of my days off have been the Indian Summer days, where it's 80s and 90s. I'm thinking light layers and deep jewel tones, and I get up and have to wear shorts. Then we had a day where it was 70. Fine, I'll take it! I still had to work, but I threw this on in honor of autumn to run errands.

I paired this t-shirt thin sweater with brown (formerly khaki-I dyed them!) cords, and a cobalt blue bubble necklace and poppy print blue tassel loafers with my monogrammed Coach totes.

It was comfy and colorful and perfect for fall!

 What do you think? Perfect for fall?

Top: Loft, Thrifted via Goodwill
Cords: Hand-me-down from a friend, and DIY dyed
Loafers: Merona, Thrifted via Goodwill
Necklace: Catos
Bag: Coach

41 comments

Pencil skirts are not just for work

Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

So. Let me just say that I was whistled at, hooted at, had horns beeped at me, you name it, in this outfit. Why? I have no clue. I'm not even wearing heels. I suppose it's the red pencil skirt. It is a beacon to strange men, it's like a siren call. Red screams "Stop! LOOK at me! My booty is fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine." So they do stop and look at you. I have minor cleavage in this striped top, but other than that I do not find this inherently sexy. Do you?

I actually had a "5 ways to wear" post planned for this skirt BUT I have had a serious lack of photographers lately. My 7 year old took these. Perhaps when someone becomes available or I buck up and use the remote and tripod I will post the "5 ways to wear."

*This one ^ is my favorite :)

I took an office-worthy red pencil skirt and striped blouse, and to dress them down I topped them with my thrifted denim jacket, bottomed them with my start-studded moto boots, added my thrifted white bag and my agate collar necklace and boom! Done and ready to rock-n-roll. 

P.S. Check out the cute back of my top!

Did I succeed in dressing down my office worthy top and skirt? Do you find this sexy at all? I don't. I just think I look kind of bad a$$. The best part? MY TOP AND SKIRT WERE ON CLEARANCE AT WAL-MART! Wal-mart, of all places. I went looking for light bulbs, came back with a bunch of clearance office worthy pieces for my wardrobe.

Jacket: Calvin Klein, thrifted via Goodwill $4.99

Top: Wal-Mart clearance, George brand, $2.99

Skirt: Wal-Mart clearance, George brand, $2.99

Belt: Dots, 3 for $5.99

Moto Boots: K-Mart, Selena Gomez brand OLD

Bag: Thrifted via Goodwill, $5.99

Necklace: Gift from Roger $0.00

Total Cost: $16.96 (pre tax)

26 comments

Last bit of summer?

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

The maxi is back! We had a week of 60 and 70 degree weather followed promptly by a return to the 90s. So I brought my trusty black maxi back. Perhaps for the last time? Who knows. Crazy ass weather!

Man i need some lipstick! I wore my maxi with the halter string tied under the bust so I could show off my fringed necklace. I've been surprised at how versatile this is. It really goes with everything! I added my nail polish enhanced bangle, a big yellow bag, and to keep the summery theme my beaded sandals.

My sister braided my hair too.

While I am happy I'm getting additional wear out of my sandals and such I'd really like to get into the fall stuff BEFORE it's winter. Last year the summer feel stayed until the first week of November, and  we had oh, about a week of fall before the weather turned FREEZING. Actually, I'll be happy either way as long as the weather picks a temp and sticks with it. The fluctuating is killing me and my sinuses.

Maxi: Old Navy

Sandals: Dots, thrifted 

Necklace: Amazon

Bracelet: DIY (using nail polish!)

Bag: Thrifted, Goodwill

Rings: Glitter

34 comments

Five Things

Five things

Sunday, September 15, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Five Things

So Ally from Fever Thrift tagged me in one of the blog question games!I've played similar games before but the theme of this one is "5."

Five things I'm passionate about?

1) Children. I love kids! My kids, my nieces and nephews. They all want to spend the night at Aunt Ash's house. I don't mind noise and I love to play. Kids love me and I love them.

2) Reading. Put down the video game and pick up a book! Stimulate your mind, don't zone out!

3) Cooking. I love to cook. My bff text me one day (she lives five hours away) and said "I miss you." And I'm like "Aw I miss you too!" So she said "But I miss you for selfish reasons." I replied "?" and she said "I'm too lazy to make dinner. I miss you cooking for me." So either I'm a good cook or she's lazy. or both. :) But I love it.

4) Thrifting. I love getting deals. My cashmere J.Crew sweater was $3.00. My monogrammed Coach tote? $12. My vintage Dooney and Bourke Doctor tote? $6.00 on 1/2 off day. This is why I thrift. I'm a Walmart Mom. I can't afford J.Crew and Coach and Dooney and Bourke!

5) Pop Culture. I'm seriously a pop culture junkie. My bff and I could tell you any song from the 80s, who it was by, what day the video premiered, and what number it got to on the charts. We know all the celebrity's babies, the day they announced their pregnancy, what reality show starlet is currently in rehab, and we know what Lindsay Lohan is doing AT ALL TIMES. We are real-life, walking, talking, VH1 specials.

Five things I want to do before I die?

1) Take my children to Europe.

2) Win a national singing competition.

3) Become fluent in French and Spanish.

4) Own a yacht and sail it all over the world.

5)Be truly loved, like I'm in a Nicholas Sparks novel. But not get cancer or end up lost at sea or any of those terrible endings. I want to end up happily every after. So combo Disney Princess-Nicholas Sparks, IRL.

Five things I say a lot?

1) "What?" I constantly need people to repeat themselves. I think I have a hearing problem.

2) "It's from Goodwill!" < Naturally, I wear the items I buy from Goodwill. Sometimes people just can't believe it.

3) "I'm sure." "Oh really?" "DUH" and "O-Kayyyy." I'm naturally very sarcastic. I'm working on this.

4) "My pleasure." I work in hospitality. EVERYTHING is my pleasure to assist you with. When I go to the gas station I'll hold the door open and people will say thank you and I say my pleasure.

5) "I love you." I tell my family, friends, and kids I love them every time I greet them and every time we part. If something ever happens to me, they know how I felt about them, always.

  Five favorite movies?

Cry Baby

Mary Poppins/The Sound of Music

Cinderella

Fight Club

American History X

Five favorite thrifted items?

1) J.Crew sweater

2) Apt.9 cashmere sweater

3) Dooney and Bourke Doctor Bag

4) White Lace Dress

5) These LAuren Conrad Brown High Heel Sandals that my lovely puppy, Rain, recently had for dinner. So Sad!!!!

The next tag?
Rachel from Rachel's Look Book

22 comments

Inspired by Boho

Wednesday, September 04, 2013 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I was at Goodwill on half off day, putting the gift card I won to use and I spotted this fringed, geometric, super soft, huge Forever 21 top. $2.99 and 1/2 off to boot. I put it in the cart to try on, but I didn't think I'd get it. Once in the dressing room, I fell in love. It's so, super soft. I'd wear it for pajamas! The fringe is playful and fun. But the fit is supposed to be baggy, and aren't curvier people supposed to wear more fitted pieces? I bought it anyway, resolving to wear it with skinny jeans to balance the flowyness of it.

Well, I tried it on with skinny jeans and it wasn't so great. I looked like a fringed potato on tooth picks. So it stayed in the closet while I did some research. I went to the logical choice, Kacie's blog, and began combing through the archives, searching for a way to try and wear this top.   I came across this post from a few weeks ago and knew I found just the way to style this shirt! Here's the inspiration:

I took the baggy top and paired it with flared jeans, strappy heels, a structured bag, red lips, a wooden cuff, a myriad of rings, and this beaded fringed necklace (that I actually bought because I liked one Kacie has that is similar!) I am extremely happy with how this turned out. The flared jeans balance the baggy top, the strappy heels give me height and length, creating an overall hourglass silhouette. Initially I thought I had to go with skinnies because flared jeans and a fringed top would look like a costume. I am happy to admit I was quite wrong.

Do you "define" your style? I've tried, but for me it's hard. I buy what I think looks good on me and I wear it. I think most people do that. I'd say I like comfortable,  classic pieces that can be worn around kids and to work with minimal effort. There are many things I'd LIKE to wear, but that I end up deciding I CAN'T wear. For example, I really, really love the vibe of bohemian inspired pieces and I've bought quite a few things that I never end up wearing because I feel like I'm in costume. Floppy felt hats, prairie skirts, lace shirts, fringed boots. I feel like an extra on a movie. So not stylish right? I've never managed to capture that boho essence, be comfortable, and not feel foolish. Till NOW!Though I didn't straight up copy the look, I took the shapes and ideas to create an ensemble with a similar bohemian vibe that I'm comfortable wearing while also maintaing my Ashleighness.

Do you think I've finally managed to showcase my inner boho?

Fringed Geometric Top: Thrifted Forever 21 via Goodwill

Flared Jeans: Burlington Coat Factory

Heels: Thrifted Merona via Goodwill

Necklace: Amazon.com

Bangle: Thrifted via Goodwill

Bag: Burlington Coat Factory

Rings: Kmart, Amazon, Yardsale, Meijer

39 comments