J'ADORE

January 23, 2017












{Outfit Details}
Sweater: Kohl's (last year, but ADORE 😉  this one here)
Jeans: Lucky Brand (here, and similar here and here)
Heels: BCBGeneration (via DSW, here)
Choker: Forever 21 (here)
Wristlet: Target (here, on sale for $8.48!)


Happy Monday, dolls!

So I know this may sound silly to some, but Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. Basically because it combines all of the things that I absolutely love (no pun intended haha): pink, red, hearts, candy, flowers, and LOVE (my man!). 😍  Heart-eye emoji x one million y'all! Since I love V-Day so much, obviously I had to share a Valentine inspired look (with hopefully more to come!). 

The outfit I'm wearing above would be perfect for a casual date night on Valentine's Day! Like a dinner & a movie kind of date! I bought this sweater last year from Kohl's, mostly because I have an obsession with the French language (I took it from 7th grade through my freshman year of college)! Unfortunately it is no longer online but I linked a VERY cute one similar to the one I'm wearing in the link above. 

So let's talk about these heels!! I have that loving feeling for sure over these beauties! I know y'all are familiar with the Valentino Rockstud pumps (see them here) and that they retail for $995. However, don't despair. When I was in DSW a couple of weekends ago, I saw the heels I'm wearing above by BCBG, for only $70...AND they were on sale! They are THE perfect Dupe for the Valentino Rockstuds. Not to mention, they are surprisingly comfy! What more could you ask for in a pair of heels!? 

To finish my look, I accessorized with this super cute wristlet from Target. I love that it is black with gold studs, as it tied in well with my heels! I have an obsession with all things black & gold AND this is on major sale right now! 

What are you planning on wearing for Valentine's Day this year!? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Thanks SO much for reading, dolls! Have a fabulous week!

XOXO
Ashley

Boyfriend Jeans + Bodysuit

January 15, 2017










 {Outfit Details}
Bodysuit: Forever 21 (here)
Jeans: Forever 21 (similar here)
Shoes: Steve Madden (not online, love these here and here)
Moto Jacket: BP by Nordstrom (similar here)
Leopard Clutch: Purple Peridot (here)

Happy Sunday, dolls! How was your weekend!? We just relaxed, studied, wedding planned, etc. My sweetie had his wisdom teeth removed a few days ago so we took it easy!

He did feel good enough to get out one day, and take these pics for me real quick...I know, I'm a lucky girl! 😍 

It was surprisingly and abnormally warm this weekend (unlike the freezing temps from last weekend!), so I was able to wear this bodysuit that I originally blogged about in my F21 shopping haul here. It was nice to shed the jacket for a few pictures with temps in the mid-to-upper 60's! 

Bodysuits are a trend that I absolutely LOVE. I like the contrast of a bodysuit with a looser, baggy fitting pant (like these boyfriend jeans!). I was so in love with this bodysuit, I also bought it in a nude color. These are also perfect to pair with skirts. Another huge advantage of bodysuits?? You aren't constantly tugging on your shirt to make sure it stays smoothly tucked in your pants or skirt. Huge bonus in my fashion book!

I bought these studded Steve Madden shoes last weekend from DSW and I couldn't wait to wear them. Detailed sneakers like this tend to "dress up" jeans and make your outfit less boring. I loved the way they gave an edgy vibe to my overall look along with my moto jacket. These will also look SO cute paired with a dress this spring!

Did y'all have a good weekend?! I hope so! Thank you SO much for stopping by and reading. I appreciate each & every one of you. Have a fabulous week!

XOXO
Ashley

Must-Have ($20!) Boots & Scarf

January 12, 2017







{Outfit Details}
Boots: Target (here, seriously on sale, only $20!)
Scarf: Ilymix (here, use my discount code "Joy20" for 20% off your order. The code never expires!) 
Jeans: Articles of Society (here
Sweater: Old Navy (old, similar here and here
Hat: Target (here
Sunnies: BP. (here)

Happy Thursday gorgeous readers! One day away from Fri-YAY...can I get a woohoo!?

I am so excited to share this outfit with you today because it has 2 of my new favorite pieces I recently added to my wardrobe! 

I would first like to introduce you to my new favorite pair of OTK boots. Target's winter boots are on major sale right now, as in I bought these boots for only $20! They were originally $50. Still at their original price, they are an affordable dupe for higher-end designer OTK boots (like these). I absolutely loved the color & chunky heel on them so it was a no-brainer that these beauties had to be my newest wardrobe addition. Also love the distressed toe! Not to mention, they are surprisingly super comfy! It's a win-win in my fashion book! 

This blanket scarf from Ilymix is serious OBSESSION! Like, y'all need to order one right now...just sayin'. The color online (and the one I linked above) says "brown" but in reality it is more of a burnt orange. However, I LOVE it. The material is SO soft and super thick. It's definitely a higher quality scarf at a reasonable price. I styled it above as another one of the approximate one million ways to wear a blanket scarf: as a wrap! I thought this would be a chic way to wear my new blanket scarf with my boots & hat. Ilymix reached out to me so my readers could also enjoy a scarf for themselves. Head to their website HERE and use my code "Joy20" for 20% off your next order!! They have some of the cutest things. Not to mention that their packaging is totally adorable...just look: 



Last but not least, I had to top the look off with my trusty wide-brimmed hat! There's nothing better. 

What are your most recent fashion finds?! Be sure to leave me a comment & fill me in. This fashionista loves a good deal, haha! 

Thanks so much for reading, dolls!

XOXO
Ashley

Engagement Pictures: Part 2 (Plus Some Engagement Picture Tips!)

January 10, 2017







{Outfit Details}
Hers
White Dress: Free People (here)
Maroon Dress: Old Navy (exact dress not online, similar style but different colors here)

His:
Gray shirt: J. Crew Factory (here)
Maroon Shirt: J. Crew Factory (no longer online, similar here)


Hi dolls!

The wedding countdown is seriously winding down and I am on cloud 9 with excitement. Yes, there is a lot left to do, but I am seriously just SO excited to be this guy's wife & knowing that at the end of our wedding day, that's what I will be, gives me the greatest joy!!!! So y'all have probably seen my Engagement Pictures: Part 1 post HERE, and when I wrote it, we were 199 days out. It is so fun for me to look back on that post, because now we are approaching being LESS than 100 days away....like double digits!!! I can't believe how fast the time is flying by! 

For our engagement pictures, we were lucky enough to be able to have time for 3 outfit changes. As I have already shared the first look with y'all (the more "formal" look), the pictures above are our two more "casual" looks. From going through this process, I wanted to share 5 tips with y'all when planning your engagement pictures sesh. These are just my own opinion (as this whole blog is) but I found these ideas very helpful! 

1. Take a family heirloom and make it your own. 

Do you have a favorite family photo? Or what about a favorite antique/piece of jewelry/etc? For me, it was the picture below that has been a longtime favorite of mine:


That is a picture of my grandparents circa 1944. It has always been one of my absolute favorite pictures of all time, and honestly looks like it could be on the cover of a movie! I even have it framed in my room. Soooo I wanted to create a replica of this picture with my love, so that one day we can show our own children & grandchildren. We showed our photographer, and he loved the idea, and I think he definitely nailed it!!! Here was the final product:



2. Think of a location that represents you as a couple & has a special place in your heart.

We decided to do our engagement photoshoot at my family's little lake property! We have spent family get-togethers at this location, and we knew it would be the perfect backdrop for pictures. Also....I knew it would be ideal for the recreation of my grandparents' picture 😍  So it definitely had a personalized, "us" feel. And, just a side note,....the dock that we are standing on for some of these pics is one that my grandfather built. Seriously makes my heart melt! 

3. Color-coordinate outfits.

Of course, since this is a fashion blog, my fashion piece of advice is to color-coordinate outfits for your engagement pictures. They don't have to be matchy-matchy or anything, but we tried to pick outfits that coordinated. One way we coordinated outfits was by pairing light and dark colors together. So as you can see above, in one outfit, I wore a white Free People dress, and he wore a darker maroon shirt. In the other outfit, I wore a darker maroon dress and he wore a light gray button down. So, we definitely tried to color coordinate in a way that would come across well in photographs! We also tried to pick styles that are classic/timeless, and that won't be completely out of style 20 years down the road. Button downs and sundresses definitely fit this requirement! Side note about the white Free People dress I am wearing in these pics: y'all NEED this dress! I first bought it in black and I loved it so much that I went back and bought the white version for our engagement pictures. The back is SO cute (it has a cut-out) and it's perfect for warm days as it's light-weight and flowy. See how I styled the black version I own HERE

4. Bring back-up supplies.

So since this was a family property, we were able to set up a makeshift "dressing room" for me in the little house on the property. We brought a full-length mirror and I also packed a bag with my makeup/curling iron/etc in the event I needed to do any touch-ups. We also packed a little cooler so we had drinks on hand. It turned out to be a hot day, so we were all glad to have some water to cool off with! Even if you aren't making the 

5. Relax, have fun, & most importantly, SMILE! 

Relaxing can be easier said that done when you know you have the pressure of being photographed; however, our photographer made us feel SO comfortable! He really encouraged us to focus on each other and basically "ignore" him. He gave us direction when we needed it, but after our first few photos, the nervousness washed away and we had fun being able to just talk to each other and laugh together (while having our picture made in the background). It was honestly the perfect day! I have to give all the credit to Imago Photography for making this experience wonderful. Be sure to check them out. I'm so excited to have them photograph our wedding day as well!

Sooooo I hope these tips are helpful if you're planning on taking engagement pictures any time soon! 

Thanks so much for reading dolls, hope y'all are having a fabulous week!

XOXO
Ashley


Winter Staples

January 8, 2017










{Outfit Details}
Sweater: Old Navy (not online, similar here)
Jacket: Free People (bought last year, similar here)
Beanie: Burton (Similar here)
Bag: Louis Vuitton (here)
Scarf: Unknown brand, love these color block scarves here and here
Jeans: Old Navy (here)
Boots: Ugg (here)


Hi dolls! 

Happy Sunday! How was your weekend!? We had a very easy-going one! Those are so nice every once and a while! We (finally) had time to take down Christmas decorations, spend time with family, and we took a ton of blog pics (thanks to my amazing fiancé! He is going to make the best blogger hubby ever, lol). It snowed a little bit Friday night, but melted quickly when the sun came back out on Saturday morning. However, the temps were literally in the 20's all weekend long! Talk about chiiiilllyyyy.

The look I'm wearing above features some of my favorite "winter staples." First of all, a chunky cable knit turtleneck is a must-have for your winter wardrobe. They are essential in my book for super cold days (enter: this weekend's 20 degree temps!). I bought this one at Old Navy (which my exact one is not currently online, but I linked a similar one above that I love!). 

Next on the list, a nice, not-so-basic jacket with pretty details! The one I'm wearing above is by Free People and I am obsessed! It has zippers on the sleeves which not only adds some interest to the look, but it also is practical because...hello, has anyone else had the problem of a jacket fitting snug over a thick sweater?! Un-zip the sleeves a little bit, and it's way more comfortable because it gives your thick sweater sleeves a little room to breathe! 

Scarves, scarves, and more scarves. Yes I know I blog about scarves A LOT, but it is because they are seriously an essential to my every day look during the winter months. They are the perfect way to stay warm, but added bonus: it can make a sweater you have worn a million times look like a brand new outfit. I firmly believe in the power of accessories!!! They are total game-changers & outfit remixers, ladies (& gents)!

A pair of warm boots are a winter must-have. Yes Uggs have definitely had their "moment" but no matter where you look, stores still sell them & there's a VERY good reason. They are seriously the warmest things you will ever put on your feet! I have around 8 pairs of different kind of Ugg boots, but I have to admit...these sequin ones are some of my faves! They are on sale where I linked them under my picture, so check them out! These definitely run true-to-size and are perfect for the cold temps. Your feet will thank you! 

Last, but definitely not least on my list, is a winter hat. The pom pom beanie is one of my favorites. They provide warmth, and, BONUS: they cover up a bad hair day too, haha! There are soooo many cute ones in stores now & they are relatively inexpensive, so it's an easy way to once again remix an outfit. I love color coordinating my scarf & beanie as I did in my #ootd above. 

What are your fave winter staples!? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Or, find me over on Instagram HERE and tag me in your winter outfits! 

As always, I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to read my blog. Love y'all!!!

XOXO
Ashley

(PS: Check out this link-up here to see other bloggers who have some awesome style!). 

After Party Lilly Sale: Final Hours!

January 6, 2017

Happy Fri-YAY dolls!

Have y'all heard the commotion in the fashion world!? Or were you one of the ones who waited in the virtual line of thousands Thursday AM on the Lilly site for their twice a year After Party Sale to begin!? 

I will be honest, I was in class all day on Thursday and did not get a chance to shop the sale until I was on my way home from Nashville. I did all my shopping from my phone (don't worry, my Mom was driving lol) and I have to say their mobile website is VERY easy to navigate & worked superbly well! I seriously cannot wait for my purchases to arrive in the mail!! I'm wanting to do another "haul" type post when they arrive, what do y'all think!?

One of the purchases I'm most excited about is a white dress that I will be able to wear to one of my bridal festivities coming up (wedding shower, rehearsal dinner, or bachelorette party...maybe even the honeymoon!?). In my honest opinion, Lilly has THE absolute CUTEST items for special occasions where a fancy sundress makes the perfect ensemble (I'm talking: showers, Easter, brunches, bridal events, graduations, and even the Kentucky Derby---yes I wore a Lilly dress when I went a few years ago!) 

What is a post about shopping without leaving y'all with some of my favorite picks from the sale!? I tried to feature some items that there are still plenty of sizes available. I can't wait to share with y'all what I bought when my items arrive!

Lilly After Party Picks!
One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight

This sale ends at 1 pm EST on Friday, so hurry on over to the Lilly site by clicking HERE (or click any of the links above) and get to shopping, fashionistas!!!

Also, just a tip: they keep adding new styles throughout the day, so keep checking back! Just this morning they had amazing beach totes (but naturally they sold out FAST). There is no longer a virtual line so it's pretty easy to just refresh their site to check for new items.

I hope y'all have an absolutely fabulous weekend! My Mom and I are headed to look at a local for my bridesmaid luncheon & I am so excited! This wedding planning thing is really coming along!! 😍

Thanks so much for reading, dolls!
XOXO
Ashley
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