Sunday, June 29, 2014

Scene and Believed

Bernie Dexter Scene and Believed Dress

I did it!  I finally went and took some pictures outside of my property.  This gorgeous lake is right across the street from my old family home and it seemed like the perfect spot to showcase this Bernie Dexter dress.  Bianca went along for the shoot and was a perfect little baby while I set everything up.  I guess the stars were perfectly aligned because the weather, lighting, and baby were all wonderful.  I'm hoping this will be motivation for me to get out more often.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Inspiration: Fourth of July

I know I can't be the only one who enjoys a good theme outfit!  Every fourth of July I find a cute and equally patriotic outfit to wear.  We usually stay home on this holiday so I'm always on the hunt for something that's casual and can handle the insane heat we experience every year.  Here are my picks from Modcloth that would make your outfit the talk of the party :).



Modcloth Captain's Blog Dress
Can you blame me for falling in love?  This is the perfect patriotic  dress.  Plus, you could proabably get a great twirl effect from it.  Am I the only one who thinks about that when purchasing a dress?


Modcloth Bow to Stern Scarf in Crimson Stripes
You can wear a scarf so many ways, but I think this would look best as a headscarf.  Perfect for holding your hair back on a hot summer day!


Modcloth Chalk of the Town Dress in Plaid
I love the modest cut of the Chalk of the Town dress (yes, it comes in more than one print!).  This plaid pattern is patriotic and reminds me of a picnic.  I think that's a great combo!


Modcloth United We Step Flat
As a mom, I'm big on wearing flat shoes these days.  These are ridiculously cute without having to sacrifice any comfort.  Who wants to wear heels to a BBQ anyway?


Modcloth No Ifs, Ants, or Buts Dress
Get outta here with the ant print dress!  Yes, the print is adorable but the matching belt and strawberry buttons on the shoulder really got me.  Oh, and pockets.  Need I say more?


Modcloth Keep Your Friends Cloche Hat
This hat is seriously swoonworthy.  It's casual enough to wear with an everyday outfit but pretty enough to stand out in the crowd.  This needs to get into my closet now!


Have you chosen your outfit for the 4th?  Whatever your outfit plans are, make sure to wear sunscreen!

xoxo

Ashley

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

I Want It All

pink ruffled dress 7

I've had this dress in my closet for four years and this is only the second time I've worn it.  It's not that it gets lost in a sea of dresses (although it actually did) but it just hasn't been out for alterations.  Honestly, I don't know what I'm waiting for because I feel like it's a few tweaks away from the perfect summer dress.  There's something about vintage clothing that makes it hard for me to alter.  I feel like I'm taking away from the original design and it brings on feelings of guilt.  I've said it a million times before, I have weird emotional attachments to clothing and I guess this is a perfect example of it.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Our Little Family

In my last post I promised I would share a few shots from our little studio shoot yesterday.  Well, here they are!  I hope you enjoy :).

Family portrait

Family portrait

Family portrait

Family portrait

Family portrait

Family portrait

Family portrait

Bianca did such a great job showcasing her personality.  She can be a handful at times (what baby isn't?) but she makes me laugh all the time.  It's amazing how even at five months you can already tell what she's going to be like.  Being a new mom is so rewarding and I love being able to not only enjoy these moments with her, but to share them with you as well.

xoxo

Ashley

Friday, June 20, 2014

Walk on the Stars

pink floral 12

I love pink (obviously) but sometimes I feel a little hesitant when I'm about to wear it.  It's hard enough with the hair to avoid looking like a cartoon character, but matching everything to it makes me think people assume I do it on purpose.  I can't help that I'm attracted to everything pink, which is probably why I couldn't wait to get my hands on this dress.  It's so pretty that it's worth getting the comments from random strangers.  It's still a little tight in the chest, but I think that will change once I stop breastfeeding.  I'm holding onto hope!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Full of Joy

daisytop 6

Am I the only one obsessed with the crop top/high waist bottom this summer?  I rarely wear anything but a great dress, but this combo has me exploring other options.  Thanks to Kristian, I got to wear her gorgeous circle skirt during one of our triple digit days.  It goes quite perfectly with a petticoat but it was much too hot for that many layers.  I like to keep it simple when it comes to sweltering heat!

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Dinner Party Darling

modcloth dinner party darling dress 3

I've been on an organizing kick lately and the first place I wanted to tackle was my closet.  I usually have to comb through it about twice a year.  Bags get thrown around, jewelry is unorganized and shoes are shoved in there on a whim.  Once I get things looking presentable I try and color coordinate my dresses (OCD, anyone?).  One thing I noticed this time around: my abundance of blue dresses.  I didn't even realize how much I gravitate to blue until I had about twenty dresses neatly hanging next to each other.  So what did I do last week?  I swapped a former love for yet another blue dress.  This one is special though, promise!

Friday, June 13, 2014

What's On My Radar: Current Loves

I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise but I'll be focusing on summer staples this month!  Because of the warmer days I find it difficult to layer my dresses.  So here is my list of great summer pieces for your wardrobe (and your summer activities):

modcloth Redefine Radiance Dress
This floral printed drop waist dress is the perfect summer staple.  I love the bright colors and I think it's a great dress to wear over your swimsuit.  Pair it with some cute sandals and a floppy hat and you're ready for the beach!


Opening Your Heart Fan from ModCloth (2)
This fan is the perfect accessory for a beach trip or a picnic date!  I've never seen a fan in a heart pattern before and I think the polka dots are a cute touch.


modcloth ignite wedge
I happen to hate flip flops, so a cute sandal is my go to shoe for the summer.  I love these strappy wedge sandals.  The pastel rainbow of color matches pretty much everything in my closet, and that's where these sandals belong :).


Mmmm, Donut Pool Float from ModCloth
How cute is this inflatable donut?!  I live walking distance from my pool and I'd love to bring this along with me.


modcloth Oh Classy Day Hat in Scarlet
Maybe it's because I bought a red swimsuit this year, but I'm dying to get a matching red hat.  I like that the brim isn't too big so you could also wear it on a non pool day.


modcloth a piece of the sky dress
A pretty blue gingham dress screams summer, doesn't it?  I love the dainty collar with the hint of lace.  It would look wonderful with a yellow belt and wedges!


How do you like to add extra flair to your summer outfits?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Fly Away With Me

modcloth on a barrel roll dress 8

Is it summer in your town yet?  We've had summer weather here for about six weeks now and this heat is crazy!  It doesn't help that the air conditioner in our home is about thirty years old.  It's one of those things that needs to get replaced, but the thought of spending five grand reminds me that maybe it isn't too bad yet.  I mean, it still works, right?  We're just lucky to have ceiling fans in every room.  It helps, but nights upstairs in our bedroom (aka the hottest room in the house) are rough.  On the up side, there's no need for cardigans with my dresses anymore!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Flock Together: Blue Lagoon

Happy Monday!  I'm over on the Flock Together blog today wearing a gorgeous dress from Hannah.  Check out this outfit and a special appearance from Bianca (and her outfit) by clicking HERE!

swap with hannah 3

xoxo

Ashley

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Five Months

It's insane to think that Bianca has been with us for five months already!  Her personality is developing and shining though everyday.  It's always a joy to wake up in the morning because I know she will be doing something new.  She's really funny and outgoing, but gets very shy when we have someone over.  Kind of reminds me of myself as a child!

Bianca 013

Last month Bianca had two teeth, this month she has four.  We had about a week of a "normal baby" before her top two front teeth started pushing though.  These last few weeks have been a little crazy, but I can tell she's starting to feel some relief.  She still wakes up about every hour at night, but I think I've gotten used to it.  What I'm not getting used to?  Being bitten during feedings!  I know she doesn't do it on purpose but I yelp in pain which scares her and makes her cry.  So I get hurt but I end up consoling her.  She already has me wrapped around her finger!

Bianca 032

She now rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy.  Last month she had only done it once.  Now she's doing it like a pro!  She also army crawls all over the place, but she has yet to learn how to use her legs to actually crawl.  That's okay with me though, I think we can wait another month or so to start babyproofing :).

Bianca 003

Bianca already loves music.  I think it's in her blood!  She loves listening to it and then singing along.  I posted a video on Instagram and I think it's pretty much the cutest thing ever.  If she's with me, it's all about The Pixies, The Beatles, Beyonce, and Fiona Apple.  If she's with Kevin she gets heavy doses of Tool, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Nine Inch Nails.  I guess she already has a vast taste in music.

Bianca 056

Somebody's chunked up this month!  We haven't had an official weight at the doctor's since last month (11lb 1 oz) but I think she's closer to 13 pounds now.  Her legs look bigger and she finally has a bit of a belly!  I can probably thank the solids she's been eating lately.  Since she has teeth she's no longer exclusively breastfed.  I replace one of her breastfeeding sessions with oatmeal (or prunes if the oatmeal has constipated her) and she's taking it pretty well.  I think she prefers the breast but she loves to play with the spoon.  She doesn't like the prunes though, she shudders every time she takes a spoonful!  It's pretty funny to watch though.  She won't be going back to the doctor until the beginning of July, but by then I'm hoping she gets out of the second percentile for weight.  The doctor hasn't been concerned, but of course, I have.  I always will be!

xoxo

Ashley

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Products for Maintaining Color Treated Hair

Last month I shared tips on how to maintain pastel hair.  This month I'm talking about what products I use to keep my hair healthy.  I've been dying my hair since I was in the sixth grade.  My mom started lightening my hair because my once sandy blonde hair became ashy and brown.  Since then I've gone through pretty much every color in the rainbow and I've had minimal breakage throughout these stages.  While it's mostly about being smart about what processes your hair can handle, a large part of it is how you treat it between those processes.  Here are my (not so) secrets:

Buy Good Quality Shampoo and Conditioner
I'm not saying you need to spend a bunch of money on the highest quality products, but a step up from the supermarket brand is ideal.  What you're looking for is a sulfate free shampoo.  When you wash your hair you want to clean it, not strip it of the good stuff too!  You can be a little less picky with your conditioner, but you want something that will compliment your hair.  For example, I have thin hair so I try and find something that isn't too heavy and provides volume.  Right now I'm using a shampoo and conditioner from Kevin Murphy.  I was lucky enough to get this as a Mother's Day gift from my mother in law so I didn't have to buy it.  If you're looking for a good but cheaper brand, I would go for Pantene's sulfate free shampoo.

beauty products 4

Leave In Conditioner is a Must!
I put a leave in daily.  I wash my hair twice a week so a leave in is great for those other days.  Make sure you buy a leave in conditioner that can be used on wet and dry hair though, I've made that mistake before!  Right now I'm using another Kevin Murphy product, thanks again to my mother in law.

beauty products 3

Keep the Heat to a Minimum
I have stick straight hair so I never blow dry my hair.  It's unnecessary and causes so much breakage!  But like most straight haired girls, I don't actually like wearing my hair straight.  I use a curling iron, but only twice a week (usually on my shampoo days).  I curl it pretty tight, so the curls eventually loosen over a few days.  If this isn't an option for you, I'd suggest a heat shielding serum like this.

Treat Yourself to Hair Masks
I try to do a hair mask once every two weeks.  I'd prefer to do it once a week but I never get around to it.  On a night when you're staying in, keep your mask in for as long as you have time.  Your hair will instantly feel baby soft!  I like to use a Moroccan Oil hair treatment but you can easily make one from scratch.  Pinterest has a million different homemade masks!

beauty products

I don't worry about color processes to my hair (including the double bleaching when I went from brown to pink) because I make sure to take really good care of it after.  As someone who gets their roots bleached once a month, it's absolutely important to maintain a healthy head of hair!  Do you have a favorite product?  Maybe a different way to keep your locks healthy?  Let me know in the comments below!

vintage polka dot dress 12

xoxo

Ashley

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Like A Blush Cabbage Rose

bernie dexter veronique blush cabbage rose dress 3

Oh Bernie Dexter, I feel like you make dresses just for me.  I love how they're made of breathable cotton and how they're modest but sexy at the same time.  This particular dress has the prettiest floral pattern and the perfect amount of pink.  Of course, I'm a huge fan of the signature full skirt.  This dress is a statement on its own!  I almost paired this dress with some pink heels but I decided to go for blue wedges instead.  You can't be matchy matchy all the time!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

From The Back Bayou

vintage polka dot dress

Who doesn't love a good theme party?  When a very close friend sent me an invite to his black and white birthday party I was immediately on the hunt for a perfect dress.  I checked though my favorite shops but I just wasn't finding exactly what I was looking for.  I then scoured the stores on Etsy and found this gem.  It's vintage, has boning, and was the perfect length.  I knew it had to be mine!  Jenny over at Back Bayou Vintage has such an eye for great vintage, it was difficult to restrain myself from buying a few things.  I'm trying to keep it in my closet until the day of the party but I keep putting it on so I can admire its perfection.  It's definitely love!

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