Send In The Clowns

I'm not going to lie, I am terrified of clowns.  They were always my least favorite part of the circus and I didn't find their shtick endearing... At all.  When I learned Pinup Girl Clothing's 2016 Mary Blair collection was going to include a clown print, I figured my wallet was safe.  Boy was I wrong!  I love the bright colors, the striped background, the border print, and the fact that you can't really tell it's a clown.  Even if you spot it immediately, it's just ridiculously cute and not scary at all.  I can guarantee that this will be the only clown print I consider cute!











Top- Pinup Girl Clothing
Skirt- Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Hat- Pinup Girl Clothing

For the first time in ages I've featured a swing skirt without a petticoat or underskirt.  The new Jenny skirts (specifically the clowns, the boats, and a very special secret skirt coming to the site soon) are a bit shorter than the rest, which allows the skirt to carry its fullness on its own.  I'm very comfortable wearing something under my skirts for fullness, but I sure appreciate it when I can go without!  The cotton in this skirt has a smidgen of stretch, so the waistband is fitted yet comfortable.  I found this skirt to be true to size and the perfect addition to my Mary Blair collection.

Things at my home have changed a lot over the week.  For one, my mom and her husband moved in.  They're currently relocating back to my hometown, so they'll be staying with us until they sell their home.  It's definitely a change from our normal routine, but they've been incredibly helpful and I now have a full time Bianca sitter!  My mom and I also decided to start going to the gym, which actually makes me really happy.  Before I had Bianca I considered myself to be a yoga nut, so I'm more than happy to get back into the practice.  I don't know how long this arrangement will be but I'm looking forward to having my family close again!

xoxo

Ashley

Under the Sea

I can't even explain how happy this dress makes me!  Jackie, the genius behind Atomic Jax, takes vintage bed sheets and turns them into beauties like this.  I originally commissioned her to make me a Beauty and the Beast set (seen here) so I'm super excited for the opportunity to show you one of her new dresses!  Read all about it below!











Dress- c/o Atomic Jax
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Underskirt- Pinup Girl Clothing
Hair flower- Niccoco Creations
Earrings- SparkleLux

The structure of this dress is nothing short of amazing.  Not only is it lined and boned in the bodice, it also has adjustable straps to ensure a perfect fit.  Seriously, I can set this dress on the floor and this bodice will stand on its own.  On the interior there is a band at the waist with a hook and eye closure for a nicely nipped in waist.  The skirt is nice, light, and full and it's finished with a full back zip.  I love a dress I can step in to!  Considering I had these exact sheets when I was a kid, I'm pretty sure this dress has quickly worked its way into my favorites.  If Ariel isn't your thing, Jackie has lots of other sheet set dresses to offer and she takes custom commissions as well.  You're bound to get something you want with the perfect fit!

Today is Pinup Prom day, which means I'm both stressed and excited!  I'm spending the day getting primped for the big event.  To get an exclusive look at tonight's festivities, make sure to follow me on Instagram!

xoxo

Ashley

Enchanted Rose

It's been a crazy few days for me and honestly, I wasn't super excited about blogging.  A massive brush fire erupted in my town on Friday afternoon and completely devastated beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and even homes.  My favorite nature preserve, which I also use as landscapes for many of my outfit photos, is gone.  It's hard not to feel sadness for these things, even if my family is safe.  That, along with the terrible air quality, has kept us inside.  I'm happy to report that things are looking better and more controlled, but that could change at any minute.  Here's to hoping that the worst is over and that our hard working fire fighters will get home soon!









Dress- Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes- Bettie Page
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Bracelet- c/o Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski

I'm going to be completely honest: this is way too much boob for me.  Pinup Girl Clothing has something for everyone and the Lydia is for the ladies who love to show cleavage!  I got this beauty at the Yard Sale with the intention of turning it into a skirt, but I figured I should blog it once before it goes in for its transformation.  I love the rose border print, it reminds me of something Belle would wear.  This dress is a size larger than I normally wear, but since it's only large in the waist (and the bodice is being removed), I wasn't too worried about it.  I can't wait to feature this piece again, once it's been altered!

Anyone here in the LA area going to Pinup Prom on Friday?  I can't wait to get all dolled up, it's my favorite summer event!  You can find all the info on Pinup Prom HERE.

xoxo

Ashley

How To Achieve A Long Lasting Red Lip

Everyone loves a classic red lip, am I right?  It's my go-to hue and appropriate for a fancy date night or trying to disguise the rest of my makeup free face.  The biggest problem I've encountered with wearing a bold red lip is getting it everywhere.  Eating, kissing my husband, child, or dogs, or just plain forgetting I have lipstick on...  I always end up looking a mess.  I've been trying to nail down the perfect routine for my favorite lip color for months and I finally have the perfect combo!  Read my step by step tutorial on how to create a long lasting red lip below:



Step1: Exfoliate
I can't stress this one enough!  You need to start with a blank canvas, and if you have dry lips like me, that doesn't come naturally.  I like to use Sugar Lip Polish from Fresh.  It uses sugar to exfoliate and hydrate your lips.  It smells amazing (and maybe tastes good too)!  You need just a small dab on your finger to get that much desired blank canvas.  While you can technically move on to step 2 from here, I like to apply a thin coat of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.  It gives me the extra moisture I need, especially when using a liquid lipstick.

Step 2: Prime

I like to use a primer every time I wear lipstick.  It sets the stage and locks in your lip color, whether you use a long lasting lipstick or not.  My personal favorite is Lip Insurance Lip Primer from Too Faced.  It leaves a nice, quick dry finish.  Perfect for the mom on the go!

Step 3: Line

If you're a makeup maven (aka not me) you can probably skip this step.  But I like to line my lips before adding the actual color.  Because I'm using a liquid lipstick that dries quickly, having my lips lined really helps me define the area I need to fill in and decreases the chances of having an "oops" moment.  My favorite red liner of all time is MAC Lip Pencil in Cherry.  I've been using it for many years and I have yet to find something else on the same level.  I feel like the cupid's bow is the hardest to define naturally, so I like to draw an "X" before I start lining everything else.  Because I already used primer, lining the lips can be a bit more difficult, but I prefer struggling and having those defined lines. Again, this is a personal preference.  You can prime without lining and line without priming, I just like doing both.

Step 4: Fill

Last but not least, time to finish off your look with your favorite lip color!  For this tutorial, I'm using Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Cherry Red, but you can use whatever you want.  I've almost forgotten how to use normal lipstick because I love the long lasting effects from Anastasia's Liquid Lipsticks.  Since my lips are already lined, filling them in with my color of choice is both easy and relatively mess free.  Once it dries, your perfect red hue is locked in!

Tips:

• Lines aren't perfect like you want?  Nothing a cotton precision tip can't fix!  If you work quickly, you can easily erase your mistakes with these fine tipped beauty tools.  If there is still lipstick residue, apply concealer with a brush to cover the area.  I like to use Amazing Costmetics concealer paired with their concealer brush.
• Does your color look a little dull after eating/longtime wear?  While I'd suggest removing everything and starting over to avoid feathering, applying a thin coat of chap stick can help.  I'll blot off with a napkin and then apply the lipstick again.  It works for a quick color refresh!
• Having a hard time getting your lipstick off at the end of the day?  While makeup wipes are great, they can be expensive.  I like to take a dab of coconut oil and rub it on my lips (it can be solid or liquid) and it comes off with ease!

Have any questions for me?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

Lilac Atomic

Okay, who completely freaked out over Trashy Diva's new Lilac Atomic print?!  My love for mid century modern prints and anything in a purple hue have joined forces and created a monster.  A beautiful, squeal inducing monster.  I normally treat myself to one piece in every new Trashy Diva collection (if I'm a fan of the print/fabric), but I couldn't help myself this time around.  I ended up with this circle skirt and the new Debbie dress.  Since it's been ridiculously hot and I wanted to showcase a more casual outfit, I decided to blog the circle skirt first.  Read all about this beauty below!











Top- Trashy Diva
Skirt- Trashy Diva
Shoes- Pinup Girl Clothing (on sale!)
Underskirt- Pinup Girl Clothing

As much as I love the 40's inspired prints and styles, I'm a 50's girl at heart.  I love a twirl-worthy skirt!  The Lilac Atomic collection embodies all my favorite aspects of 50's fashion but in a modern stretch cotton.  The fabric is light, breathable, and provides a bit of stretch when you wear it.  The circle skirt is true to its name with no gathers or pleats.  It has a nice wide waistband and large pockets on the side.  I'm usually a 2/4 in Trashy Diva clothing but I always take a 4 in the skirts.  This skirt was no different and it fits like a dream!  I've also paired it with one of Trashy Diva's classic tops, the Trixie in black.  I love the adjustable straps and the amazing support it creates in the bust (you can go braless!), but I wish it were just a smidge longer.  It's too long to be a crop, but too short to tuck into my skirt.  These are the everyday problems a long waisted lady must deal with!

Today my mother in law is taking Bianca for some grandmother/granddaughter bonding time and I literally do not know what to do with myself.  It's been entirely too long since I've had time alone and I don't remember how to act accordingly!  I'm thinking I'll get some coffee, maybe take a walk around the lake, get my nails done?  Any suggestions?

xoxo

Ashley