Junebugs and Georgia Peaches: California Cuties

Happy Monday!  Sammi of The Soubrette Brunette and I teamed up to do a guest post on the Junebugs and Georgia Peaches blog today.  It was perfect timing, considering we had the opportunity to take pictures together during her visit last month.  We decided on some super cute and corresponding outfits, make sure to click HERE for the full post, more pictures, and all the details!


xoxo

Ashley

Junebugs and Georgia Peaches: Sun Jellies Bag Swag

I'm guest posting over on the Junebugs and Georgia Peaches blog today!  June, Amelia, Sammi, and I each had the chance to decorate and style a different Sun Jellies bag.  Hop on over to their blog to see how we paired up our outfits to our unique bags!


xoxo

Ashley

Junebugs and Georgia Peaches: Pink Elephants

Happy Wednesday!  I'm guest blogging for Amelia and June over at Junebugs and Georgia Peaches today.  I'm featuring a gorgeous Bernie Dexter dress too, make sure to check it out HERE!

xoxo

Ashley

Junebugs and Georgia Peaches: Bernie Dexter On A Budget

Happy Tuesday!  I'm so honored to be guest blogging over at Junebugs and Georgia Peaches today.  If you didn't already know, June got married on Saturday and I was overjoyed to take over while she enjoys life as a newlywed :).  I'm talking about different ways to get a Bernie Dexter dress at a discount, so be sure to check it out HERE!





xoxo

Ashley

Guest post: Crossed Lines

Happy Friday!  Just letting you know that I guest blogged for Ashley over at The Tiniest Firecracker this week.  Click HERE to check it out and have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

Ashley

Guest Post: Marlen of Bear and Twine

Hi guys!  Today I'm letting Marlen of Bear and Twine take over my blog today.  Not only does she have a wonderful blog, but she also has an online store filled with vintage and thrifted gems.  She's also a fellow Flock Together member.  Seriously, she is one busy/talented lady!  Okay, I've done enough gushing already, I'll just let Marlen take it from here :)

Hi guys! My name is Marlen and I'm the mastermind behind Bear and Twine.

For me, clothing isn't just the stuff you sleepily pick out in the morning and shrug into. Instead, it's a story, it's a feeling, it's a soundtrack and a hope you want to live out for the day. Which is why I opened up my little shop. 

With Bear and Twine, I'm not just selling clothes. I'm giving you carefully curated moments: Wednesday date nights, afternoon trips to delis to read your newspaper, walks in the park just as spring turns into summer, and balcony lunches with your friends and leftover pizza.

There's a feeling, a vibe to each piece. Each sweater will help you live out the adventure of that day and each dress will help make a moment wonderfully memorable. And that's why each grandpa sweater and pleated dress is special. That and that they're the best ones you'll find this side of the Mississippi ;) 

I hope you pop on over to my store and check it out!

And make sure to follow Bear and Twine on Facebook and Twitter for special coupon codes ;)

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

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!

Guest Post: Of Corgis and Cocktails

Hello everyone!  For those who don't know, I'm away on a week long vacation in Kona, Hawaii.  I didn't want to leave my blog unattended all week so I had some of my favorite fellow bloggers fill in for me.  These girls are the absolute sweetest and I appreciate them taking time off their blog for mine :)

Katherine and her blog Of Corgis and Cocktails is one of my favorite reads.  She always has great stories, amazing printed dresses (seriously), and two cute adopted pups.  I am more than excited to have her as my blogging guest and I hope you enjoy her Hawaii themed post as much as I do!

Hi, I'm Katherine, and I blog at Of Corgis & Cocktails where I like to wear cute clothing, make a lot of recipes, and talk about my dog every now and then. That's me up there last year in Hawaii, back when I had long hair and no blog. When Ashley asked me to do a Hawaii themed post I was super excited - visiting Hawaii was an amazing experience and I am anxious to go back. When my husband and I do go back, here are some of the foods we will be tracking down and eating again.

one. get a pineapple

Seriously. you need this. I suggest trying to buy one at a local market if possible and getting them to cut it for you. It was the best thing we did.

two. hawaiian shaved ice!

Mmm!! We tried out Uluani's Shaved Ice in Kahului. It was delicious - I got mine topped with Li King powder - a dried plum powder that was tangy and salty and unlike anything I had ever had before. I personally love it.

three. pineapple juice.

I didn't think this was a big deal, until I drank it. It was amazing. I still haven't found one as good as this one. I regret only drinking one during our week there.

four. banana bread.

Ah. Again, here I am typing this drooling and wishing I were eating this. There are many local banana bread stands to try out - we ended up at a small place called Aunt Sandy's as it was a scheduled stop on our tour bus for the Road to Hana. While I suggest the banana bread, I urge you to not ride around on a tour bus (or a car because all the cars seem to hit things or forget road rules except locals) for 9 hours on the road to Hana. My husband and I chalked that up to the worst vacation experience ever.

five. kona brewing co. 

If on Kona, I cannot stress enough how you need to visit the Kona Brewing Company. They have beers on draft there that are only available at this location - like the Hula Hefeweizen - which was my favorite beer ever.

Some other delicious treats on our trip included macadamia nuts (my husband is allergic so I took some home to eat later), kalua pig, and many coconut treats (again, my husband is allergic, so I only had one or two things). The food is really amazing in Hawaii and there is a lot to experience - next time I will stay inland and not do a cruise ship so I can really get a feel for all the food. Here's to hoping Ashley has an amazing time (she will!) and gets to try lots of yummy local foods.