Calling All Bloggers!

Hello there. Hopefully everyone made it through the night and Sandy's wrath okay. I know power has not been completely restored back home, but people are working hard to get things back to where they were a few days ago. Just saw the pictures of NYC and was shocked by all the damage! Thoughts and prayers to everyone who has been so greatly affected by this storm.

Now we blaze onward with today's business. I love seeing all of your blogs and reading about all the great things you do and all of your fantastic ideas. I would love to see some more blogs! If you have a blog or know of any great blogs that you would like to share, just drop a comment! I am always looking to follow more and become even more involved in the blogging community.

Also, on a semi-related, semi-not related note I have resuscitated my Tumblr account! So if anyone has a Tumblr, follow me here and I will definitely follow you back! Thanks!

<3 Ashley

Read any good blogs lately?

Fun Things to Do For Halloween

Just days away from Halloween, the east coast in currently being smashed by hurricane Sandy. Luckily I have moved to western PA, so I won't feel it as hard. We are just experiencing some rain at this point. Everyone else who is living in these harder hit areas, please be safe and smart. 

I will carry on with the topic of today's blog entry: Halloween. I know where I am, both location wise and age wise many do not really know how to celebrate anymore since an age seems to have been put on going door-to-door in costume asking for candy. Here is a list of a few ways to celebrate this year:

1. Haunted House

Going through a tour at one of these haunted house attractions or something like Field of Screams (for those of you in the Lancaster area!) can be a good way to get a good fright for Halloween. Grab some friends and go through it together and see who the scaredy-cat is in the group.

2. Horror Film Marathon

Personally, I always go this route. I love the horror film genre (only the good, non-gorey stuff!) Go for the classics like "Frankenstein" or "Dracula." My personal favorites are the movies in the "Halloween" series. You can run as fast as you want, he'll always walk faster!

3. Costume Party

Throw a good, old-fashioned costume party with some friends! I love seeing all the scary, creative, and hilarious costumes people come up with. You can have a costume contest for the scariest, most creative, and worst costumes.

4. Ghost Tours

Whether you're a believer or not, a ghost tour can be really fun. While this is something that you might have to put in reservations for months in advance (Gettysburg ghost tours fill up fast!) they are historically informative and maybe you will even get lucky and experience something!

...and for those of us college students.....

5. Dorm Trick-or-Treat!

Don't let anyone stop you from dressing up and getting that candy! Organize a trick-or-treating event on your floor or, if you can, your whole building! You will get that Halloween experience we grew up loving and it is also a great social opportunity. If you live in a large dorm like I do, you don't know everyone. This is a cool opportunity to see everyone!

I have yet to decide how I will be spending my Halloween night but, I assure you, it will probably be one of the above or a bit of everything. :)

<3 Ashley

How will you spend your Halloween?

It's Friday!

...and you know what that means...PINS! Here before you are the pins that caught my special attention this week. :)

Fashion

Shoes

Accessories

                                                Beauty

Home

Food

Travel

Humor

Remember that you can follow my boards on Pinterest and see everything that is still pinworthy but just doesn't make it to my "Pins Of the Week." Follow here.

Have a great weekend!

<3 Ashley

Fall Faves

Getting this entry out of the way early today since I have a couple of papers to finish, one more class later, and tonight is Nightmare in the Quad! I have to go down for that early to help with costumes and makeup. Picture it: Last night. My dorm. 2 hours of me learning how to make someone look like a zombie. I feel like I might be prepared now! Hopefully I can go through Haunted Holland (my dorm's haunted house!) I have heard it is actually pretty creepy since it is set up in the tunnels under the quad. Spoooooooky!

Since we are well in to the autumn season I will embrace all cliches and announce to the masses what autumn means to me and why I find it to be an absolutely lovely season in this top 5 list.

5. Riding Boots

I love a good boot! It just doesn't feel right wearing them any other time of the year. 

4. Scarves

As I have stated before in the a blog post dedicated entirely to the scarf, I find them to be essential at this point in the year both aesthetically and for warmth. Fashion and function!

3. Leather Jacket

I like these because they aren't too heavy (not like a big winter coat!) They are more appropriate for the crisp, not so freezing weather that comes with autumn. Plus now, you can get them in so many colors!

2. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Really...what kind of human would I be if this wasn't on the list? I am not a massive flavored coffee fan but I would do some crazy things to get my hands around a warm cup of this! Starbuck's PSL is my Klondike Bar!

1. A Great View

Pitt in fall! I get to walk to class like this? I'm okay with that I guess. :)

Basically, I have just painted for you a picture of my ideal autumn moment. What I would be wearing, drinking, and looking at. I love this season so much; it's just so beautiful.

<3 Ashley

What are your favorite this about autumn?

A Little Housekeeping

Good evening/morning (depends on where you are!) 12:15 AM here!

I would just love to let you all know, and I think many will be proud of me, I have a new organization system for this blog. Often, I do not know what to write about and feel like I have to write something just to keep things up and current. I also often fall off the face of the earth and ignore the blog completely for long stretches at a time. NO MORE! :)

I have a new planner (as provided by the university) and have taken to filling up the calendar with entry topics and fun ideas for the coming months. Get excited for one cookie recipe a day in the month of December! This will definitely go into effect after Halloween. I will try my best for the rest of the month to keep things up, but November 1st is where you can definitely expect me to be 100% attentive to this blog.

Also, I am playing with the idea of a new look for the site. Any cool suggestions or design tutorials that you know of? So excited for the changes to come as we wind down this crazy year.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, gripes, qualms, suggestions, or cheesy jokes please feel free to contact me!

<3 Ashley

Happy Pinning!

Another week gone. I can't say I am too upset to see this one go though. Tomorrow I will be up bright and early for the Pittsburgh Make a Difference Day event. For about 5 hours I will be joining the rest of the university community in one of various volunteer opportunities (I have yet to find out what my floor is doing!)

This week has equal parts stressful and relaxing. Plenty of pinning has been done, and here I present some of my favorites to you!

Fashion

Shoes

Accessories

Beauty

Home

Food

Travel

Humor

I hope that you have enjoyed this weeks pins. Just as a side note, the one food pin is a pumpkin pie dip that I thought you might enjoy. Perhaps it could be an addition to your holiday spread this year! Click here for the recipe! 

<3 Ashley

Scarves, Scarves and More Scarves!

While sweaters, skinnies, boots and pea coats always have a special place in my heart (and closet!) I must say that my absolute favorite fall piece is the scarf. Whether is is a lighter fashion scarf, or a heavier knitted that keeps my neck warm in the bitter cold (and it's getting there, Pittsburgh!) I can't get enough of them.

They come in so many colors, fabrics and prints, and depending on where you buy them, are relatively cheap. I brought my three favorite scarves to school with me (three others are at home waiting.) One was a gift from my aunt and uncle from New York & Company. It's various shades of blue and green and is soooo warm! I also have one gifted from an uncle that was made in Scotland. It's various bright colors. Another is from Tommy Hilfiger that I bought for my senior week at the beach. 

<3 Ashley

What are your favorite autumn accessories?

Holiday Eats!

Here on this lovely Sunday afternoon I find myself sitting up in the lounge waiting for the first load of laundry in the washer to finish. Football is on the television (still mildly bitter about our homecoming loss) and I am scouring Pinterest aimlessly. I really should be studying for my philosophy midterm, shouldn't I?

Anyway, I happened to find myself on the food section of the site (which shockingly isn't a common thing for me!) As I started to scroll through these glorious, appetizing photos I noticed a lot of holiday pins. That got me thinking about all of the delicious things I have waiting for me at home in the coming months, and I thought I would share these with you.

One tradition that I have taken myself to starting (and refuse to let die) is that I make the pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner. I absolutely love doing it! I like to keep it traditional though. I tried a Bobby Flay recipe one year that had this strange cranberry cookie topping that everyone ended up scraping off. Lesson learned: when it comes to pumpkin pie, people like it classic, and traditional.

At the same time, my aunt makes her ever yummy apple pie and my grandmother offers her always loved and fought over pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I die for the cookies, honestly. I always love the holidays with family, and I also love the food that we all dine over and share together. I know this year will be just as amazing since I will be back home for the first time since starting school. Holidays are about to get that much more special.

<3 Ashley

What are your favorite holiday desserts? Does your family have something special that you eat?

TGIF Pins

Here are my pins of the week! Two entries in one day?! Someone write it down in the books!

Fashion

Shoes

Accessories

Beauty

Food

Home/Decor

Travel

Humor

There you have it. :) If I can say, my favorite has to be the old Cosmo cover. I think it is so funny if you read all the lines. Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest! 

Happy pinning!

<3 Ashley