Stylized Wannabe: 2014

Style My Christmas (I need a little help)

Sunday, December 14, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Hello loves! I have a little dilemma. I know I want to wear my Love Alana Designs champagne sequin maxi skirt

for my MIL's annual Christmas Eve party. However, I'm at a loss on how to style it. I've worn it once to a play and I went edgy, wearing it with a faux-leather tee and open-toe booties and a chunky chain necklace. I don't think faux leather is very Christmas-y, so help me style this! What would YOU pair it with? I need a top and shoe options, and perhaps scarf or necklaces or any other accessory you can think of. I am already going overboard with just the skirt, as most of the other attendees wear nice tops with jeans or sweater dresses and leggings. I don't want to be super over-the-top but all suggestions are welcome. (Links to things are especially welcome!)

Thanks so much!

Love,
Ash

11 comments

Lazy Dressing

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I am cold. And bored. The white death is upon us. What is a girl to do? I have been stuck inside since Sunday, now it's Tuesday. The roads are fine now. I want to go out and go shopping! But I have a dilemma...I don't want to get dressed. Solution? I didn't.

Okay, I did, but it's an illusion.

I just threw my eShakti trench over the pajama top and jeans I was already wearing, added a necklace and wedge booties that were right in front of my nose, and carried the same bag I've been carrying all week, Viola, I am dressed in 2 minutes, I look sane and not like I'm in pajamas in winter lol.

If you're wondering, I was already made up, my ipsy bag came in the mail and I let my 8 year old, London, do my makeup. She's pretty good, isn't she? :) We learn from youtube videos. I did the lips with the JCat Beauty lip tar wannabe that came in my bag. I don't know if I like it, but I like the color.

Trench Coat: c/o eShakti (old)

Top: Pajamas, gift from one of the guests at the hotel.

Jeans: Merona Boyfriend Jeans from Target

Wedge Heel Booties: FREE from K MArt

Necklace: Purple Peridot

Bag: Michael Kors

52 comments

My New, All-Natural, Organic Skin Care Routine!

Monday, November 10, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I am a beauty addict. When it comes to new beauty trends, I am the first one to try them. Like when Shailene Woodley mentioned eating clay to help balance and detoxify her body, I jumped right on that. Oil-pulling (swilling coconut oil around your mouth for 20 minutes a day) I STILL do that. (Though admittedly it's just routine now. It makes my mouth feel cleaner but the whitening benefits have plateaued.)

There was actually a point last year that I tried coconut oil for everything. Hair moisturizer, facial moisturizer, teeth whitener, natural deodorant, all that. However, my skin doesn't like coconut oil. It gave me little, underneath-the-skin white bumps. I've still not gotten rid of some of them near my mouth :( So I started looking into other natural beauty solutions online and there are tons!

Here's what I've been doing lately:

Cleansing:

I use rose hip seed oil to oil-cleanse my face. You simply swipe the oil all over your face and let it set for a minute. Then you go back and completely wipe it off with a cotton pad or soft cloth. It pulls out debris, dirt, makeup, black heads. It may seem odd do use oil to cleanse, but it's GOOD oil. It has properties such as vitamin C and lycopen, which rejuvenate skin. (the first time I did this was after I washed my face with my regular cleanser and it got off SO much makeup! After I had already washed my face!)

Scrubbing:

I use a basic honey and sugar scrub to slough off all my dead skin cells. Be sure to get all-natural, certified organic honey! just mix it together to form a paste and rub in small circles on the face, lips, and neck to brighten, tone, and get rid of your dead skin cells! DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR EYE AREA.

Toning:

I use Moroccan rose water as a toner. I pour it on a cotton pad and give my face and neck a thorough wipe-down, focusing on where I get the oiliest, really saturating my face. Afterwards I pat it dry.

Rose water can benefit all skin types. It soothes and cools, balances and dries oily skin, rejuvenates, softens, revitalizes and adds a lovely, natural glow. Rose water also has a myriad of vitamins and antioxidants, so it helps nourish and it is a natural antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and has anti-bacterial properties. And you only need a bit to saturate your face!

Moisturizing:

It took a bit for me to find an all-natural oil that didn't irritate my skin, like the coconut oil (which I still love and use, just not on my face!) I ended up with trying a sweet almond oil and avocado oil, and I like them both so much, now I mix them together. I just apply them like a regular moisturizer all over with my finger tips to my face, lips, eye lids, under eye area, and neck. Both are infused with lots of vitamins (a, b, c, d, e, and k) and really nourish my skin. I find, after applying my makeup that I don;t even need foundation anymore, and when I wear it over these two oils it gives my foundation a wonderful luminescence! An added benefit? Sweet almond oil smells AMAZING! I get asked all the time what I'm wearing and I'm like...Um you're smelling the oil I use to moisturize my face.

Night

After I cleanse and tone, I just slather on liquid form vitamin E on my face. It's great for your skin! However, it is sticky and thiiiiiiiick. Thicker in consistency than honey. Pull ALL your hair back if you do this, you do not want to have to wash that out! And sleep on your back or your pillow will get all the benefits of this nutrient and not your skin. This is messy and annoying so I actually only do it every couple of days.

Tips:

If you are interested in trying to go all natural with your skin care regimen I have a few suggestions.

1. Do a test patch! Just because it's all-natural and organic, doesn't mean YOUR face will like it! Avoid a bad reaction all over your face and do a small test patch on your jaw where your hair can hide it if your skin doesn't like it.

2. Unless otherwise stated, store your items in a dry, room temp space away from sunlight. They will keep longer this way.

3. Purchase a bunch of spay bottles. Or use a scoop or pour your things into a small container when you're preparing to use them. This way, you aren't contaminating your products with your dirty hands.

4. Drink lots of water. Hydrated skin is happy skin, and good skin begins with what you're putting into your body!

I bought most of these items at the grocery store, but if your grocery store doesn't carry them, try amazon.

That's what I've been doing to attain a glowing, mostly blemish-free complexion lately! What do you think? Will you give it a go?
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26 comments

A Million Things

Wednesday, November 05, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

You know, life can get in the way of things you love. Like blogging, I have a new job, plus I'm part time at my old job, two kids, a Hubby, two dogs, two cats. Too much family to numerate. A house to pack up and move (yay!) There are a million reasons not to blog, namely that my DSLR was stolen.

But now I have two new reason to blog. I have a new camera that my 8 year old can even use on days without a photographer, and my blog was selected for our local news program WCPO's The Grid Blogger Network as a featured blog. A requirement? I have to be actively blogging. Glad to be back folks!

Onto the outfit, I am pretty much living in plaid flannel. With jeans tucked into boots, over leggings with wedge booties, open over thin sweaters. It's warm, it's on trend, and there is an abundance of it in my closet, in stores, and better yet, in thrift stores.

I've also been considering adding a beauty element to this blog. My most liked IG photos by far are my makeup #motd posts, and I feel like I am getting quite good at doing makeup. I recently learned to curl my hair (I know, I'm almost 30. About damn time.)

I've also been experimenting with natural beauty and skin care. I've been toning my face with rose water, oil cleansing with coconut oil, and moisturizing with sweet almond and avocado oils. My face smells amazing! It did react a bit to the new regimen but it's under control now and I must say the texture is great and my break outs are minimal. Anyone interested in that kind of thing?

Flannel: Gap Outler, last year

Orange Sweater: Loft, thrifted at Goodwill

Jeans: Target

Boots: Kmart and they were FREE and if you ask I will tell you how I got 2 pairs of boots free, because it's brilliant.

KY state initial necklace: Etsy

Bag: Michael Kors, swapped.

42 comments

Perfect Autumn Additions

Monday, October 20, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

The great thing about autumn is that the skirts and dresses that I've been wearing all summer can easily transition into the new season with just a pair of tights and a cardigan. Not only will you look cute with minimal effort, you’ll have another excuse to shop the summer sales!

Here are my picks for bringing a bit of warmth into your wardrobe:

Let’s start by picking out our dress! Macy’s has a ton of cute dresses on sale right now, so here are a couple of fun ones:

The best way to keep a versatile wardrobe is to embrace layers! A cute denim jacket and a blazer are two easy and classic ways to wear layers. Here are my top two picks from One Stop Plus:

Don’t be afraid to get a little loud with your tights. Here are two funky pairs from Modcloth that’ll look great paired up with the cream colored dress from earlier:

How do you transition your summer pieces to fall?

Dresses : A-Line Dress, Lace Three Quarter Dress

Denim Jackets: Denim and Twill Jacket, Cropped Stretch Jacket

Tights: Peacock Feather Tights, Roses In Bloom Tights

39 comments

Copy Cat: Old Navy Cargo Vest with a T-shirt and Shorts

Wednesday, August 06, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Today's OOTD is a copy cat look. I spied this on Lauren of Fizz and Frosting today and was like "Aw, cute!" I was already wearing this tee shirt and jean shorts, and I just took the added step of finding my cargo vest and poppin it on. Easy.

Now I'm not a totally adorably preggo 20-something (thank goodness. I'm too old for that.) But I think I did this justice. I wore my cargo vest with a pink tee, denim shorts, beaded sandals, a striped straw tote, and blue beaded jewelry.

I'll tell you something else, I almost didn't post these photos. I also considered photo-shopping them, and aside from occasional teeth whitening, I've never done that. I just hate my legs. I'm fine below the knee, but my thighs, UGH. Then, I saw a funny meme on Facebook that said "My thighs are so sexy they can't stop touching each other!" I posted it on instagram and so many people responded! I'm not the only thigh-conscious girl out there. It made me feel better, so here are my white, white, white, white, thick legs for your viewing pleasure.

I love these earrings!

Do you ever have those moments like I did today?

Tee Shirt: JCP

Cargo Vest: Same and on sale!

Shorts: Same and on sale for $12!

Beaded Sandals: Simple and Cute

Earrings: The City Flea

Necklace: Same

Bracelets: Made by me!

Bag: Forever 21. Cannot find it online anymore :(

59 comments

Forever 21 Maxi with a T-Shirt

Tuesday, July 29, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I am elated. I adore this skirt! The colors, the silky texture, the...swishyness. It has many gorgeous colors but I paired it with a very old black tee from Target and played up the blue with this spiked necklace. Don't forget to check out the shoes! I mean, let's face it, forever 21 doesn't always carry items that fit me, but THIS! This skirt is perfection.

The shoes are great too. Another Forever 21 buy, the reviews said they run small but I got my regular size and they're fine. Can we talk about how comfortable that six inch cork heel is? Plus, the ankle strap and narrow peep toe keep my feet from sliding around. I hope thick heels stick around. They are majorly comfy.

Earrings: Forever21 Regal Filigree Drop Earrings

Tee-Shirt: Similar, mine was borrowed from Elise and never returned 8 years ago.

Necklace: Sira Mira Royal Spear Necklace

Skirt: Forever21 Free Spirit Maxi Skirt

Shoes: Forever21 Retro Ankle Strap Sandals

Sequin Bag: Thrifted via Goodwill

I promise this wasn't a Forever 21 sponsored post! Usually I try to incorporate more thrifted items but sometimes when you get your new things in the mail you want to wear them all at once! I've actually had the necklace for two weeks and the earrings since February. It's just their first time on the blog.

I wear what makes me happy :) and I am VERY happy right now.

41 comments

Fancy (Jogger) Pants

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I have been on the jogger pants bandwagon for quite some time, however since I'm not a good blogger they've only been documented on instagram. I own three pairs of joggers, these, leopard and giraffe print ones. They are so silky and loose but the tapered leg looks great with heels. They are perfect on muggy days because they float around your body rather than cling.

I paired mine with a thrifted J.Crew tank, H&M coral clutch, gold tassal necklace, pointy toe gold flats, and coral lips and nails. I went old school. MY nails, my lips, and my bag alllllllllll match.