Balance: A sponsored post

Monday, February 24, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

I was thrilled when Anjolee sent over this bracelet for me to review, but when it came to styling it, I got stuck. I've always, always wanted a diamond tennis bracelet (mine is actually high-quality cz for review purposes)as they are such a classic piece of jewelry. Timeless really, and they go with most anything. My dilemma wasn't actually my gorgeous bracelet, it was reconciling the two different sides of me. The first side, classic, preppy, loves diamonds and cardigans and topsiders and sunny blond sleek hair, shops at the mall and Target, loves Coach bags. The other side, my inner bohemian, that loves knit/crocheted vests, distressed denim, vintage leather, and lace dresses, buys handmade items form unknowns on Etsy. I first wore my bracelet out on my birthday with a LBD, heels, and red lips. However, when it came to posting it for the blog, I wanted to be able to show that I could wear my classic diamond Tennis Bracelet and satisfy both of my sides, the prep and the bohemian. I threw together this outfit and tried to bring together elements from both of my favorite fashions.

I wore a classic leopard cashmere cardigan, a cream colored ruffled blouse, distressed/cuffed boyfriend jeans, my thrifted camel booties, a vegan fringed bag, my Anjolee bracelet, my usual rings, and my hand made necklace (I made it.) The top is all classic, while the bottom is boho and the accessories mix the two and tie it all together I think.

My favorite thing about my bracelet besides that it is stunning? I can put it on with one hand because it has one of those clasps that you push in and flip down. I hate wanting to wear a bracelet and having to take it in my pocket to work so someone can help me put it on!

I think I was able to pull together my two sides and create an outfit that is very Ashleigh. If you love my classic tennis bracelet as much as I do, be sure to visit Anjolee and browse their selection of customizable diamond and gem stone jewelry. Don't forget there's free shipping!

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

Top: Converse from Target

Jeans: Mossimo from Target (and they fit! I've never fit into my size in Target jeans!)

Booties: Old Navy Thrifted via Facebook Yard Sale

Bag: Birthday gift, Mossimo from Target

Bracelet: c/o Anjolee

Heart Necklace: Gift from Roger's Aunt

Jade Necklace: Made by me!

 Earrings: Old as hell. Forever 21 I believe.

*Please note: This is a sponsored post. However, besides the bracelet I was not compensated for my review and all opinions are my own.

26 comments

Winterized Boho (belated Valentines day look.)

Monday, February 17, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Did anyone else get 6 inches of white death on Valentines Day? That lovely bit of snow coupled with me being at work meant we celebrated V-Day Saturday. I wanted to look romantic and sweet, but not decked out head to toe in pink or red since I pretty much wear those colors all the time anyway. We were just doing dinner since my 28th birthday is on February 20th.

 I chose my new whimsical wonder maxi dress from Forever 21, an old lace cream cardigan, a new pink scarf from H & M, my hat and tights and ankle boots, as well as arrowhead earrings, a rose gold tassel necklace from Target, and a small cross body bag with rose gold chain strap. The pink scarf, sheer skirt, and lace on my cardigan are all Valentine's day appropriate while my boots and hat are a nod to the ever present Winter season, and the dress grounds the whole look because it's black.

I even waved my hair for a romantic touch. BTW we went to STAPLES after our dinner. Romantic? Yes. I totally love Staples! :)

Hat: Target

Scarf: H & M

Cardigan: Old, thrifted

Dress: Forever 21 (Still available!)

Tights: ...Walmart?

Boots: Payless

Bag: Dots

Earrings: Forever 21

Necklace: Target

Bangles: Dots

Also FYI I used my Naked 3 palette for the soft, pretty eye. Gotta love Urban Decay!

45 comments

First Fashion Post 2014

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Hello people! It's been a really long time. I finally have the computer back up and running! So, onto the outfit.

This is a very neutral outfit for me. I don't usually go with earth tones. My army green shirt dress paired with chocolate tights and leopard flats. Even my scarf is a muted canyon red-y beige paisley. Originally I was wearing my black jacket and black tights, and then I ripped my tights and had to change. Although even with black it's still neutral. This is why I added hot pink lips! 

You can see my gorgeous crystal drop necklace peeking from beneath my scarf. I wear it so, so much! I'm happy it finally made an appearance on the blog!

I love this and I will definitely wear it again, however NEXT time I will not forget my belt. This dress begs to be belted and when  I had to change I forgot it. Also, I will take photos before I run my errands as this dress likes to wrinkle.

Dress: Merona, thrifted via Goodwill

Tights: Forever 21

Flats: Merona from Target (on sale now!)

Scarf: Thrifted via st. Vincent De Paul

Necklace: exact from fennofashion.com

Bag: Christian Siriano for Payless

36 comments

Thrift Haul

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 | Posted by Ashleigh | Edit Post

Hello all! I've missed you. I've missed blogging. I've missed thrifting! I am 100% recovered from surgery! Unfortunately it's winter and hard to get around with only one vehicle, plus my Momtographer has had some medical issues of her own AND I have to get a new computer. The sum of that equation = not a lot of blog things happening! 

However, if you don't mind iPhone photos, I do have a thrift haul for you. I've been getting some deals! Let's begin!

Men's Invicta Russian Diver's rose gold watch. Retail over $300. Mine via Facebook yardsale for $50 AND they delivered it to my house free 😀. 

Gray merona mid calf cowgirl booties, NWT via Goodwill, $7.50. I can't wait to wear these! 

Tall gray Michael Antonio boots, NWT, $10.00 via Facebook yardsale. 

Gold tassel earrings, $1.50, brown wreath looking earrings, $1.50, tree necklace $2.00 all from goodwill on half off everything day!

Awesome gold chain disc buckle belt, $1.00 on goodwill 1/2 off day.

Tan Loft poncho, $3.00 via goodwill.

Gap Gray asymmetrical faux-wrap dress, $6.00 @goodwill. 

Brown Loft 100% silk blouse, $6.00.

Velvet mini dress with pockets, $5.00 via Facebook yardsale.

Navy blue wool coat with awesome anchor buttons, $10.00. It's a little big so I belt it with that gold belt!

Idk what stone these are made of but it is heavy! Eiffel Tower bookends, $8.00 via Facebook yardsale. 

Key holder, $1.00 on goodwill 1/2 off day. Mine broke so this will do for now. I may paint it. 

Pineapple candlesticks, $2.50 via goodwill. Pineapples don't technically go with my decor but I needed candlesticks and they are gold, which does match my decor. Also, I'm in the hospitality business and pineapples are the international symbol of hospitality! 

Tinkerbell keepsake light up lantern. $4.00 @ goodwill. When Captain Hook captures Tinkerbell he detains her in an old fashioned lantern. London HAD to have it, so it's her new night light. 

What do you like? My favorite is the watch. Such a really good deal and I've been wearing it non-stop. And the belt over my coat. Such a statement! 

-ash

28 comments

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