Monday, December 31, 2012

Your Favorites of 2012

My most popular outfits of 2012

Well, you guys decided that these outfits were my most popular this year!  It's always fun to see what you liked most.  I feel like 2012 was such a great year.  I can't wait to see what 2013 brings and I'm really excited to share the next year with you as well.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Beginnings

stripeddress

Are you ready for the new year?  Honestly, 2013 does seem a little daunting for me.  Kevin and I are (supposed to be) planning a wedding for April or May.  We are looking to own a home before the end of the year.  Plus, we plan on starting a family soon after the wedding.  It just feels like so much change for one year!  While I may be a complete creature of habit, I'm looking forward to the change that is coming... as long as we do it one step at a time :)

Friday, December 28, 2012

Make Me Swoon

pinkdress

Okay, I'm officially back from the whirlwind of celebrations I've had with my families.  I had the chance to be with my side of the family, Kevin's side (which will soon be my side as well), and we also got to celebrate both me and my little brother's birthday.  We happen to be 8 years and one day apart :).  This time of year is always crammed with events so it's almost a breath of fresh air to have it all behind me!  Is that bad?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Flock Together: Have A Heart

Hi guys!  Hope you all are enjoying the holidays with your family.  Just want to let you know that I'm blogging over at Flock Together today.  Rachel of Floral Prints and Common Sense was sweet enough to swap this amazing vintage dress with me and I'm excited to show you how I styled it.

racheldress5small

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!


Hi there!  I just wanted to make a quick video and wish you all a happy holiday.  I feel so lucky to be able to celebrate another Christmas/birthday with my families and I hope you are doing the same.  Much love!

xoxo

Ashley


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Pink Cupcake

polkadot

I don't know if you can tell by this picture, but I'm pretty fond of polka dots :).  This dress was a birthday gift from Kevin.  I sent him a copy of my Modcloth wishlist, and out of the 50-something items on my list, this was his favorite.  I love the color, it reminds me of cupcakes for some reason.  And since Kevin and I are trying to tone up during the holidays, cupcakes are out of the question.  I'd rather look like one than eat one anyway!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Anxiously Awaiting

floraldress

Well, Christmas is a mere five days away and you're either in one of two groups.  The crazed last minute shopper who is willing to fight the crowds for a great deal on some last minute gifts.  Or, you are sitting comfortably at home with everything under the tree.  I can happily say that I'm done with all my shopping and can now enjoy the little bit of holiday season we have left.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Bold As Love

debdress1

You can't tell by the look of these pictures, but it was raining when I took them.  The past few days have been cold, rainy, and miserable but that's no excuse to dress down.  This dress from Debshops is a perfect piece to dress up or down without looking sloppy.  Today I chose to go a little on the dressy side with a few pops of color.  What do you think?

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Like A Diamond

sparkledress4

I really tried my hardest when it came to avoiding the malls and not purchasing anything for myself.  But when I was given a weekday off, I was overcome with temptation and an amazing deal!  I still hadn't decided what I wanted to wear to Kevin's company Christmas party this coming weekend and now I feel like I've found the one.  It was destiny!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Sweetest Downfall

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I'm not going to lie, I totally went out of my comfort zone with this outfit.  Maybe not the outfit itself, but the boots with this outfit.  But I've been really inspired by Jenna of Smitten lately.  I love the way she pairs feminine outfits with her crazy cute studded boots.  So I went out on a limb and tried this look myself.  I may not have to deal with Canadian snow like she does, but I do my best to find an excuse to wear boots with dresses.  I think I love it!
 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Flock Together: Baby, It's Cold Outside

Hey guys!  I'm blogging over at Flock Together today.  Have you ever wanted to stretch your summer wardrobe into colder seasons?  Well I had the perfect opportunity to do that thanks to Hannah, the gorgeous woman behind The Braided Bandit.  She sent me a very cute polka dot dress that I had so much fun styling!   So did Jessica of Midwest Muse, who also showcases her rendition on the blog as well.

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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Can't Get Enough

ombredress1

Today is Sunday and the weekend has officially started for me.  I had to work yesterday and it was just one of those really rough days.  Even though I'm exhausted, overworked, and underpaid, I try my best not to complain.  I feel lucky to have a job and to be doing something that services the community.  So instead, I'm going to tell you about this ridiculously cute ombre dress that I borrowed from Jessica of Midwest Muse :)

Friday, December 7, 2012

Engagement Pictures

Hi there!  I know I've been talking about my engagement pictures for awhile now and I'm really happy that I can now share some with you here.  Our friend Nick Charrow took these pictures for us and we couldn't be happier with how they turned out.  I hope you enjoy!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Let the parties begin...

sequins
 
If you're even somewhat social like me (I only go out on the weekends) then you probably have a few parties to attend this holiday season.  Whether it's a work holiday party, family party, or New Year's Eve party, it can be really hard to put together an outfit on a whim.  And if you're like me, you probably need to spend as little as possible!  So here is my go-to holiday party outfit on a budget aka what I could put together from my closet :)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Take Me Out

horsedress3

I normally don't post brand new outfits the minute I get them.  Sometimes it takes me awhile to build around a specific piece... This Modcloth dress was not one of those cases.  I got this on Saturday (my one Black Friday purchase for myself) and I seriously didn't want to take it off!  I love the horse print and the fabric is really thick and sturdy.  Of course, I love the pockets and the full pleated skirt.  And it fits like a dream!
 

Friday, November 30, 2012

Peppermint Dreams

whitedress
 
Today is the last day of November and I'm pretty much ready for December.  I'm ready to stay away from the mall craziness.  I'm ready for ugly Christmas sweater and work holiday parties.  I'm ready for another birthday (almost).  Oh, and I'm ready to overdose on peppermint lattes, although I seriously don't think I can get enough.  They're delicious!
 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Flock Together: Locally Swapped

Hi guys!  Just want to let you know I'm blogging over at Flock Together today.  My lovely local friend Erica of Sweets and Hearts swapped her super cute pleated dress with me and I'd love to show you how I styled it :)

ericaswap

ericaswap1

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Out on the Town

polkadress

When I first started this blog I was pretty determined not to show you any repeats.  I wanted to challenge myself by trying to wear everything in my closet.  But the more blogs I read, the more I realize that "remixing" the same outfit in different ways is both more challenging and useful.  This dress was first worn on my blog here, and now I'm going to show you more of a dressed down look.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Like Ketchup and Mustard

mustardcardi

This cardigan has been through a lot of life experiences with me.  It's been through more than a fair share of relationships, many moves, and even weight fluctuations (I used to love fast food).  But when it comes time to clean my closet it always makes the cut.  It's just a great staple to have.  The color is fun and it instantly brightens up a drab outfit.  I'm curious to see how long it actually sticks around...  I think it will disintegrate before I make the decision to let it go!
 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Red Friday

reddress

I feel like Christmas came a little early this year when Jessica's dress showed up in my mailbox.  When I saw her style it on her blog (here) I was totally obsessed.  The back of this dress is almost hypnotic.  I feel like it's a statement piece and I was pretty much dying to wear it.  This Flock Together blog has me seriously coveting every girl's wardrobe :)

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I lay here in my pajamas I just wanted to say a few quick things.  I'm super thankful for all my family, friends, fiance, dogs, my stable job, my (almost stable) car, and my home.  But I'm also really thankful for this blog and the friends I've made because of it.  While I haven't met most of my blogger friends in real life, I feel a real connection and bond with so many of you.  Our love for similar things and our compulsion to write about them on the internet has actually bonded us more than I would have ever imagined.  So I just wanted to say thank you for everything.  You guys are seriously the best!


Okay, so enough with the mushy stuff.  I'm just showing you a preview of my Black Friday blog post tomorrow.  It's crazy that this time has come already!  If you are looking for a head start on your holiday shopping like me, make sure to check out Modcloth's 'Tis The Season Sale.  I've already scored a bunch of gifts for 50% off (and a little something for me).  I need to be a little more frugal this year so this sale is perfect.


I hope you enjoy your time with your family and feel just as guilty as I do when I overdose on turkey and ham tonight :)

xoxo

Ashley


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Flock Together: Black and Whiteout

Just want to let everyone know that I'm blogging over at Flock Together today!  I had so much fun styling a vintage skirt from Dusana of Cuddly Cacti.  Make sure you head on over to see our different but very cute ways of styling her skirt.

ashdus

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Ruffled and Bundled Up

whitecoat6

Maybe I just get cold easily.  Maybe I just love coats.  I think it's a little of both.  Either way, I love the holiday season because you get to bundle up in your favorite outerwear.  Of course, I love a great ruffled peacoat so I couldn't wait to get this one out of my closet :)
 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Instagram Roundup

So today is the day!  I will be out in Pasadena with my friend Nick who will be shooting our engagement photos!  Since I don't have time to edit some outfit photos, I'll just keep you informed on what's going on via Instagram.  Oh yeah, and if you don't follow me yet, you can right here :)

 I got my wedding dress!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Taken From The Night

sparkledress5

Ever since I got engaged I realized that most, if not all of my disposable income was going to my wedding.  It really bums me out because that was my shopping/eating/fun money.  So when a friend of Kevin's invited us to a 20's themed party, I was more than happy to hit up the local Forever 21 for an affordable dress.  While this is the one I bought, I ended up wearing an old dress instead.  So it got me thinking: how can I take this relatively fancy dress into a more casual everyday look?  Here's how I did it:

Monday, November 12, 2012

Flock Together: Stripes In All Seasons

Hi guys!  Just want to let you know that I'm blogging over at Flock Together today.  I'm remixing a gorgeous dress borrowed from the lovely Jessica of Midwest Muse.  This has to be one of my favorite swaps so far and who could blame me?

jessicaswap

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Across the Universe

galaxyskirt5

When I received this galaxy skirt in the mail I was both perplexed and excited.  Jessica of Midwest Muse did such a fantastic job styling this skirt on her own that I seriously couldn't think of anything different that would look remotely as good.  So instead of trying to mess with perfection, I just had some fun and added anything I owned that was spiky.  

Friday, November 9, 2012

Getting To Know Me

There's something that's been bothering me for awhile and I just had no idea how to do it.  Other than my outfits, I feel as if I keep everything else private.  I try not to use my blog as an online journal because I like to stay positive and focused on things that make me happy.  So in an effort to let you in, I'm going to give you five facts that you probably didn't know about me:

paczki
Paczki and me in 2011 (I was blonde!)      


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Ruffled Hearts and Polka Dots

ruchedress
 
Okay, so I was originally going to wait until after my engagement pictures to debut this dress on my blog but I'm very impatient.  When I have something this cute in my closet I have no self control!  I'll be styling this dress much differently when our picture day comes (the 18th) so it was the perfect excuse I needed to show you first.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Confessions

floraldress
 
Okay, so I have a confession.  Only very few people know about this (I'm a little ashamed) but I have a storage unit filled with clothes.  Some of them are old, some of them are "off season", most of them I had no idea I even owned at one time.  I think I may have my old cheerleading uniform in there?  Anyway, I rarely visit it because it's in my old hometown and making a trip out there is usually only to visit my family.  But when I do go, it's to take a trash bag filled with clothes and dump it off like forgotten memories. 
 
Well, a few weeks ago I had the chance to go through some of the bags and either trash, donate, or keep most of my hoarded items.  While most things were donated, I did keep this one dress.  I probably bought it four or five years ago and forgot about it not long after.  It's a little big on me these days, but I love the tiered chiffon and the print so I think I'm going to bring this one back to life.

Friday, November 2, 2012

UrbanOG Blogger Spotlight

I'm so excited to announce that UrbanOG has featured me as November's Blogger of the Month!  I've been a long time customer and fan of their website and I was so honored to be chosen.  So please check out my spotlight along with an interview to get to know me a little better :)

Click here for my feature!
 
uobs-ashley_01

xoxo
 
Ashley
 
 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Wishful Thinking

floral

I'm just terribly confused with the weather here in Los Angeles.  Last weekend it was cold and rainy and now it seems to be summer again.  I feel like I'm being messed with!  So even though I want more than anything to wear tights, it's just not practical at this time.  In fall.  In November.  As you can see, I still wore a pair.  If they're fishnets they aren't meant to keep you warm, right?

Monday, October 29, 2012

A Touch of Sparkle


sparkle6

I've become completely spoiled thanks to the lovely gals over at Flock Together.  Basically I get to borrow many of the items I've seen on some of my favorite blogs.  This skirt was one of the things I was dying to style.  Katherine over at Of Corgis & Cocktails did such a great job "styling down" such a fabulous skirt, so naturally, I had to go ahead and do the opposite.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Instagram Roundup

Have you been following me via Instagram?  Well here are a few images that have been in my feed these past few weeks:

 Meeting the lovely Erica from Sweets & Hearts <3

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

My First Flock Together Swap

I have a new outfit post up over on our collective site, Flock Together.  If you haven't had the time to take a look you probably should :)  We have officially started our clothing swaps and it's really fun to see how each girl styles the same piece differently.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Finally Feeling Fall


I was pretty excited Saturday morning when I woke up to a light drizzle.  This was the first time I've seen rain in so long!  Of course, the first thing I did was break out my favorite peacoat, some tights, and boot socks.  I love dressing for fall.  I don't know about you but I love layering and making an outfit come together.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

My Engagement Story


I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who expressed their congratulations and well wishes.  I'm really excited and I can't wait until April (or May) when I become a married woman!  Many of you are asking for my engagement story so I'll give you a rundown after the jump :)

Monday, October 15, 2012

Wedding In Paradise


Thankfully, I had the weekend to recover from the whirlwind of a vacation I had.  Not only did we attend an amazing small wedding, we hung out by the pool, swam in the clear ocean, boarded a yacht and had the chance to snorkel, and yeah, I got engaged :)

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Big News

Hi everyone!  It was a long trip, but I am finally home!  Hawaii was absolutely amazing but I'm happy to be back.  The the best thing that happened?  Kevin and I are now engaged!  I'll have to save that story for another post :)

My first Flock Together post is up and I would love for you to check it out here.  Here is a preview of my outfit:

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Guest Post: A Lovely Little Blog

Hi everyone!  I'm still relaxing in Hawaii but I'd love for you to get to know Lyndsey from A Lovely Little Blog.  I read (and use) her recipes for masks and her beauty tips are always helpful.  I hope you enjoy her post on how to keep your face and hair looking their best!


Hi Lovelies!

My name is Lyndsey and I write a lovely little blog (http://www.alovelylittleblog.com). I was so honored when Ashley asked me to guest post on her blog because I am so smitten with her and everything she does (and wears)! While I do love fashion like Ashley, I asked her if she wouldn't mind me posting about something that was a little more my expertise, beauty! She seemed sold on the idea so off I went on preparing this lovely little guest post on what I do and know best. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my blog and myself let me just give you a quick little rundown on all things lovely; I am a true beauty junkie through and through and love learning and experimenting with everything from polish, to primers, to moisturizers, and everything in between. Every Monday with my followers on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ALovelyLittleBlog?fref=ts) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/alovelylilblog) I do something called Mask Monday, where I share what weekly face and hair mask I am using, and they share with me too.

I am always surprised that more women (and men) don't do weekly or even monthly face and hair treatments, so it's a great way to remind myself and my followers to give your goods a tune-up.

Just like getting your hair trimmed to keep it healthy, or getting an oil change to keep an engine clean, or tuning a piano to keep it smooth, your face, hair, feet, hands, and body need special attention and treatment too! Why? Because we heat out hair with irons and dryers, pull it up in pony tails, brush it, and spray it with hair sprays. We put on foundation, forget sunscreen, touch our face, and sometimes even forget to wash our face. Treating your body to a weekly treatment can help correct and prevent all that damage. For me Monday is my "chill" day where I usually stay in and relax so it was the perfect night for me to paper myself (plus Mask Monday was pretty catchy too), but you can do it whatever night works best for you. Maybe is Tune-Up Tuesday, or Sexy Sunday, or Fresh Friday, whatever it is just make it a weekly tradition to pamper yourself (not to mention it will do your soul good too).

Doing #maskmonday for more than a year now has really allowed me to try so many different brands and products, and I want to share my favorites with all of you! I like to switch mine up but I definitely have my "go-to" stash. I picked my favorite "save" and "splurge" for each as well as my favorite at home recipe.

I am sure most of you know about Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle. It's won countless beauty awards and it a drugstore classic, plus it wont break the bank. - CVS, Walgreens, Ulta, Grocery Store.
Amika is an amazing brand that most people haven't heard of, but I'm letting you in on a secret here. This tub is pricey at $40 but it is BIG. I have long hair, use this a few times a month and have had mine for about a year now. It is totally worth every last penny. - Birchbox, LoveAmika, Folica.

Both of these masks are my favorites and will make your hair look and feel great.

Hair Mask Tips:
Follow the instructions, if it says 3 minutes then only do 3 minutes. If it says 10, then do 10. The most common mistake people make is thinking the longer they leave the mask on the healthier thier hair will look, but many times with very thick or rich masks, even that extra minute will totally weigh down your hair and could make it look greasy.

Always rinse out conditioner and masks with cool water, never hot or warm. Cool water seals the cuticle and locks in all the good stuff you just put on it!

Try your mask 3 times before ruling it out. Sometimes it just takes your hair some time to get used to certain treatments.


I have tried quite a few DIY masks in my time, but these ingredients are my favorite. The good thing is you can skip one, two, or even three of them if you don't have them. All of these are great on your hair solo, so don't worry if you don't have all these handy at all times. The other great thing is there is really no concrete recipe, just have fun and mix till its a consistency you like! I usually do a about a tablespoon of the oil, half the avocado, one egg, and a whole banana all mushed up together. The general rule of thumb for at home masks (unless they include things like baking soda) is 10 minutes. Rinse out with cool water and enjoy! Keep in mind at home masks might leave your hair feeling greasy or filmy but this is normal. Just plan on using them when you don't have plans to go out until washing your hair regularly again.


Formula 10.0.6 is another brand that is kind of under the radar, but it is an amazing brand with amazing products. This Deep Down Detox will really clean out your pores and make your skin feel fresh, without feeling tight and dry. - Walgreens + Ulta
This Ahava purifying face mask is truly a holy grail of face masks. Afterwards your skin will feel clean, soft, and bright! Over time you will see a dramatic difference in your pores. - Ulta, Ahava, Birchbox.

I personally like Mud Masks best so that is why I chose these, but there are so many different type of masks for so many different types of issues. I also rotate a "peel" into my #maskmonday routine as well, this is my favorite peel (http://www.juicebeauty.com/store/skin-care/peels-and-serums/green-apple-peel-sensitive.html).

Face Mask Tips:
Same as with the hair mask, follow the instructions. If it says 3 minutes, do 3 and if it says 10, do 10. The times were tested and picked for a reason.

Rinse off face masks with warm water, and a wash cloth. Always finish with a basic moisturizer, I love this one (https://oneloveorganics.com/shop/skin-savior-multi-balm).

Before ever applying to your face do a "patch test" on the inside of your wrist. Typically if there is no reaction there, your face should also be ok.

Keep in mind some face masks are meant to tingle, or bring blood to the surface and until your skin is used to this it might not always be enjoyable. However if it ever hurts or burns, take it off immediately with cool water.


Same as with the hair mask, I just love these ingredients on my skin. You don't have to use Greek Yogurt but I swear my skin looks better and is smoother when I do. Either way you'll want to make sure whatever yogurt you do use, that it is plain (not vanilla). Same thing goes for the oatmeal, no flavors. I usually warm about 2 tablespoons of honey, mix it into a personal to-go size yogurt (6oz), and then add it oatmeal till it looks ready. Again you don'e need to have all three of these things, and you can just play around with it until you like the consistency. Again general rule of thumb is 10 minutes and rinse off with warm water. I would also do a "patch test" for DIY face masks as well, just to be safe.

So that pretty much wraps it up! I hope you lovelies enjoyed my favorites, my recipes, and pointers. Don't be afraid to pamper other areas too on your paper night, like feet, hands, eyes, etc. Of course I would love for you lovelies to follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ALovelyLittleBlog), Twitter (https://twitter.com/alovelylilblog), or my blog (http://www.alovelylittleblog.com/) so you can join in on Mask Mondays with me, and share what products you're using (use #maskmonday). I always love getting new suggestions, so maybe I will hear from you soon!

Thanks to Ashley for asking me to guest post, and than you to her lovely readers for reading!!

xoxo, Lyndsey


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Guest Post: The Midwest Muse

If you guys don't know already, Jessica from Midwest Muse is pretty much the sweetest, most stylish girl in Ohio.  I 'm always in awe of her outfits (and the backgrounds she shoots them in) and I love reading about her life as a student.  Oh, and did I mention she has amazing taste in music?  Yeah, she does.  I can't thank her enough for taking time out of her schedule to do a guest post for me.  So please enjoy!

Hello Southern (California) Belle readers!

I'm Jessica from Midwest Muse.

I was born and raised in the lovely Akron, Ohio -- all the way in the midwest. It's not the coolest place in the world, but it's definitely interesting. It's the home of the Black Keys, Lebron James, and um, rubber. Yup, that's Akron in a nutshell. So yeah, this dress, this dress was recently purchased from a very lovely Akron based boutique called Noto which is also one of my favorite local spots.

Everyone always talks about the classic black dress and you know what? This was the first black dress I've ever bought. I prefer bright dresses to pair my black accessories with, but this one is pretty special. The back buttons, zips, has cut outs, and is incredibly thick and perfect for all sorts of occasions.

Ashley's a classy lady, so I figured I better wear a pretty classy dress on her blog. It would've been more fancy if I could wear heels, but I'm still fighting a sprained ankle.

Anyways, I hope this holds you over while Ashley's away. Until next time!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Flock Together


flocktogether

I'm really excited to announce that I now contribute to a blog called Flock Together.  We are a group of girls who have a shared love for our cute and quirky styles and have in turn inspired each other.  We will be swapping items from our own wardrobes and show you how each of us style it differently.

I hope you will all take a look at what we've been working on and I really hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Ashley


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