Strolling in a Sea of Sunflowers

July 26, 2017



















{Outfit Details}
Blouse: Target (here, my exact print is sold out. Love the light green available though. It runs big. I am wearing a xs here).  // Shorts: Zara (no longer online, similar super cute pair here) // Sandals: Target (here, also available in tan which I love!) // Tote Bag: Draper James (here) // Necklace: Target (here)


Happy Wednesday lovelies!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. It feels so surreal to type this, but today I had my very last clinical day as a family nurse practitioner student. As I have mentioned before, I have been in NP school the past 2 years and it seems crazy, and wonderful, that this journey is coming to an end. God has been so faithful. As you know, many of life's biggest blessings and rewards do not come easy. However, I am fully convinced He places dreams in our hearts and when we have faith, step out on a limb, and TRUST in His plan, He helps us achieve these dreams and goals (even though sometimes they may not be the exact way we originally planned them or on our own timetable). I have had a dream of working in the medical field since I was in the 6th grade. I did not know exactly where my place in this field would be, but I had the vision in my head and passion in my heart of caring for patients. Here I am, 16 years later (whoa...I feel old! lol), and I see God's plans coming to fruition. Being patient is not easy!! It takes time but God's timing is THE absolute best timing.

 "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. 

I just wanted to share that with y'all because as I am nearing graduation, I have been reflecting a lot on what all of this means to me. If there is one message I have learned over my journey, it is that God is faithful and never leaves our sides. Whenever the road seems fuzzy or unclear of the direction we should go (which has happened many times throughout my journey on my career path and I know we all have our own personal journey where we experience this)... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The sunflower pictures above remind me of God's promises!! How beautiful He made the fields and how He cares for them (just as he cares for the lilies of the fields in Matthew 6)...exactly how He cares for us!!!

Last weekend, we drove to find the famous sunflower fields that have been all over my Insta and Facebook feed lately. Hubby and I knew we just had to go there to take some pictures! The flowers were even MORE gorgeous in person. It's amazing to look out as far as the eye can see and to see a sea of sunflowers....wow! A real beautiful sight & a sweet reminder of God's love! For my #ootd for our sunflower outing, I chose to wear this adorable, preppy top I recently scooped up at Target....my go-to place for so many trendy yet affordable pieces!! If you notice, 3 pieces of my ensemble consist of Target finds. Seriously, Target is the practical fashionista's one stop shop, y'all!!!

To complete the look, I paired this top with some of my favorite Zara shorts (you may remember seeing this same pair of shorts in pink in this post here) and my new pearl Target sandals. Those shoes deserve a post of their own, for real y'all (I may or may not have been obsessively posting about them on Instagram already though lol). They are SO comfortable and are a $25 dupe for a more expensive Steve Madden version. Not to mention they have PEARLS. And matched my pearl necklace. Seriously I can't even!!!

I want to say thank you for each and every one of you who reads my blog. It means the absolute WORLD to me. I appreciate y'all more than you know!!!

XOXO
Ashley

A Pretty Paisley Maxi Dress

July 23, 2017













{Outfit Details}
Dress: Studio 6 (to order, check out their Instagram page by clicking here)  // Bracelets: Studio 6 


Hi dolls!

I hope y'all had a fabulous weekend. There's something about opening up a fresh blog page that just feels so therapeutic to me! I absolutely love writing on Ashley's Passion for Fashion and bringing to y'all cute, affordable fashion that the every day girl can wear. 

If y'all follow me on Instagram (which it would make my day if you would, click HERE to follow me!), I discussed my photo shoot I had last Monday with the oh so talented Savannah Seals (check out more of her work here) for a local store here in Chattanooga called Studio 6. It is seriously SUCH a cute boutique store with so many trendy yet affordable pieces. I wanted to share one of my favorite looks I wore during our shoot that is the perfect dress for a summer date night or girl's night out! 

I am convinced that every girl can wear a maxi dress! I love that it gives such a put together, glam look yet it's SO easy. Literally, one piece of clothing and you're good to go for the day (or night)! I LOVE the print on this dress! Paisley is so southern and classy. I also love the contrast of the dark navy dress with the light paisley print. It really makes the print pop! Not to mention that it's off-the-shoulder: one of my absolute favorite styles for a dress or top.

No matter your height, don't be intimidated by a maxi dress. I have to admit I am rather short (5'3") and sometimes maxis can be a bit long on me. However, do not fear, there are always solutions for the short girl (trust me, I've got this whole short girl fashion thing figured out lol): 1) pair your maxi with wedges (as I did in this outfit above), 2) take it to a seamstress for it to be hemmed (or sew it yourself if you're able), or 3) knot the hem on one side (works best for maxis that have a slit). Speaking of slit....another reason I absolutely loved wearing this dress! I joked with the photographer that I felt like Angelina in this dress...who else remembers her famous pose in that long black dress with the slit on the Red Carpet a few years ago!? #goals 😉

Anyone else love a maxi dress as much as I do? Leave me a comment so we can bond over our maxi love! 

Thanks so much for reading; I appreciate each and every one of you as always. 

XOXO
Ashley

Photos by: Savannah Seals 

My Favorite White Top with a Pop of Pink

July 13, 2017














{Outfit Details}
Top: fab'rik (here on sale for only $20!, or contact the local Chattanooga here via direct messaging to reserve your size) // Shorts: Zara (no longer online, SUPER similar from J. Crew here for only $41.70 // Wedges: fab'rik (no longer online, love these here) // Sunnies: Kate Spade (here)// Earrings: Belk (here, only $15!) // Handbag: Louis Vuitton (here



 Happy Thursday, dolls!

I hope y'all are having an awesome week so far; it's almost Friday-woohoo! Tonight I wanted to share a summer look that I have loved wearing lately: high-waisted shorts! When we were in LA a month ago (I can't believe that was already a month ago, time is flying!), we shopped at Zara and I picked up 2 pairs of these shorts I'm wearing above in classic white and this adorable hot pink shade! I absolutely LOVE the bow because it adds such a feminine touch to the look. My favorite thing about high-waisted shorts is wearing them with a top tucked in to really show off the shorts!!!

So white tops, you seriously can never have too many. They are such a basic because they go with literally everything, but having different styles of white shirts ensures that no 2 looks you wear are the same. The white top I'm wearing in this #ootd is one of my absolute FAVORITES. I love that it is off-the-shoulder, lace, and has ruffles. Seriously it doesn't get any cuter! It pairs perfectly with these feminine pink shorts, but I also love the way this shirt looks with jeans. A white top with jeans is a timeless look!

Well it's 9 pm EST....Big Brother time y'all! I've been watching this show since I was 11 years old. It's  definitely my all-time favorite and this season has not disappointed so far! Anyone else watch!?

Thanks so much for reading dolls!

XOXO
Ashley

Casual Weekend Style: Leaf Print Shorts

July 6, 2017















{Outfit Details} 
Top: H&M (no longer online, but super similar here, & love this top here) // Shorts: fab'rik (here, or contact the local Chattanooga store via direct messaging their Instagram account here to order your pair) // Earrings: Belk (here, on sale for only $15!!) // Sandals: Kino (from Key West, but can order online here. LOVE them, so comfortable!) // Sunglasses: BP (here, only $12!) // Hat: Wal-Mart (here in "Natural2", literally only $7 right now!) // Wristlet: Target (No longer online but love this here)

Happy JULY y'all!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to July so far and had a happy July 4th! Tonight I wanted to share with y'all one of my favorite go-to looks this summer.

My sweet hubs took these pictures for me last weekend when we went to have brunch with some of our good friends at the new and upcoming "Station Street" in downtown Chattanooga. It was just a LITTLE (cough cough a LOT) humid that day which reminds me of this quote I saw on my favorite Draper James Twitter account the other day that said "You don't know what humidity is until you've spent a July down South."  Who else of my other Southern ladies & gents can relate to this!? Woohoo, it's HOT! Which brings me to my next point, how much I love these shorts for this type of weather (and a hat to cover up any humidity-inducing frizz 😉  haha!)...

I scored these shorts at my new favorite store fab'rik a few weekends ago before our LA trip. I wore them for a long day at Disneyland in Cali, and they definitely passed the test of being cool enough there. Annnd they are also definitely cool enough for the Southern humidity as well especially since these are light-weight 👌  I also love a bold print shorts for the summer. Don't get me wrong, I def have my "staple" shorts in basic colors (denim, black, white, khaki, etc). However, it's fun to mix your wardrobe up by wearing a bold print short; not to mention it's also incredibly comfortable! These leaf print shorts are also incredibly versatile since they are black & white. While I decided to pair it with a white blouse here, these would also be cute with a bold color top! Not to mention, this is one of my FAVORITE tops this season. I love the off-the-shoulder trend. This is also a light-weight top. This whole look is just airy and summery! I loved this top so much that I also bought it in pink! I took it on our honeymoon & it's been another super versatile wardrobe addition. I just love items that are not only cute but versatile! I feel like I get the most bang for my buck that way, who can relate?!

Thank you dolls SO much for stopping by and reading!!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Hubby & I are seeing some of my besties this weekend and I'm SO excited!

XOXO
Ashley
Copyright © Life with Ashley Joy
Design by Fearne