Gimme That Feedback

 

I promise to pay attention to all...this was just too funny!  

"New year, new me." <--- This is what I've been hearing constantly around this floor. Everyone has vowed to change for the better. The new year has not only caused me to think about making personal changes, but also changes to the blog--what better time to do it, right? So what I want to know is what have you liked about this blog, what would you like to see more of? Any design tips? Fill up the comments with your feedback! It's always appreciated!

<3 Ashley

New Year's Resolution

 Image: here

Happy New Year everybody! I know I'm about a day late on that. Work has been consuming most of my days; but my last day is tomorrow!!!

My New Year's Eve was spent in with my family, cooking food and watching the ball drop on TV. The food was fantastic and carb-loaded and the company was more than entertaining--my brother actually spent the evening watching a documentary about Africa and came into the room once in awhile to tell us something he had seen. Next year I think I want to go out though. I love staying in, but I also love the idea of going somewhere different to celebrate.

Anyway, the new year is all about the new resolutions that we all have, giving us something to work toward for the next 365 days. However, the resolutions we all have may have become less and less original. Raise your hand if last year you promised to eat healthier and workout more...I'm included in that group myself. While I did do quite well with it, I still don't feel like I've accomplished anything. This year I am going to make my resolution a little less specific, but also a lot more meaningful to me. This time around my New Year's resolution is to be the best me that I can be and not worry so much. While this does seem general I believe that knowing this is my promise to myself will prompt me to stop and think about my actions and really decided whether or not it's really best for me.

Happy New Year, and here's to finding success in our new resolutions!

<3 Ashley

What is your New Year's resolution?

NYE Heels

1.) JUNO by She Palace (www.shepalace.com)
2.) VOGUE by She Palace (www.shepalace.com)
3.) Kiss Party Queen Shimmer Black by Shoe Diva Boutique (www.shoedivaboutique.com)
4.) Gold Pumps by SCHEE Footwear (www.whoisschee.com)
5.) Dragon Spike Black by Shoe Diva Boutique (www.shoedivaboutique.com)
6.) SAMBA by She Palace (www.shepalace.com)

Well, unfortunately someone has to say it...Christmas is over! It kind of came up on me this year and now all of a sudden it's over. However, it was a great day with family--also my brother's birthday! Anyway, on to our next big adventure: closing a great year and welcoming in another! Sadly, I will be working on New Year's Eve, but many of you won't and will be enjoying yourselves with friends at NYE parties. When I think of New Year's, I think of sparkles, sequins and glitter; it just seems like that kind of night, right? Pretty Living has put together a collection of shoes that definitely pull together an outfit making it the quintessential NYE look; a few you may recognize from Shoe Diva Boutique which I wrote about in this post. 

 My personal favorites are the Vogue booties by She Palace  (2) and the Gold Pumps by SCHEE Footwear (4).

<3 Ashley

What is your NYE style?

Style Culture

Good morning! (At least it's morning now...I'm sure that when I finally hit the publish button it will be well into the evening.) I figured I would start writing this one at the crack of dawn since I have a total of four classes today, three of which occur one after the other. I am interested to see how I get from the 23rd floor of one building to the 4th floor of another in 10 minutes.

Anyway, my class schedule is not the topic of today's entry but rather style evolution. It's something that I have been thinking about pretty often the past few days and thought the topic fit well with the New Year; you know...new year, new you, new style. As I have been putting my closet on a diet and looking for newer items to add to it I have marveled at how my taste has evolved in just 365 days. Colors and shapes that intrigued me last years baffle me now.

One thing that I learned in my communication class this semester (two days in and I am learning things already!) is that culture has to change and adapt in order to thrive and keep going. Now, our closets may not be a widely practiced culture, but the same thought can be applied. In order to maintain excitement and a fresh appeal we must change; it's inevitable. We may not notice right away, but with closer examination we can look at ourselves in the past few years and see how our own personal styles have evolved I look back and see the slightly hippie stage I went through, the '70s glam inspired pieces that do work their way into outfits now, the sky-high heels that did not make it through homecoming, and the comfier pieces that I tend toward a lot more now.

The moral of the story is: think about how you and your closet have evolved. Which styles have survived and which ones have gone extinct?

<3 Ashley

How has your style changed over the long term or even the short term?

Essentials for the New Year

Happy New Year! Sorry, this is a bit late in the day; I had to work! But I am home now and I finally have a day off tomorrow. Finally time to get my hair done and do a little shopping. I have decided to immediately implement my resolution for more organization and made a list of the absolutely essential things that I will buy. This is part of my attempts to be financially responsible (oh, the plight of the college student!)

So here is my list of the essentials that I think we should all have in our closets if you don't have them already:

1. Black blazer

However you like your blazers (tailored, fitted, cuffed sleeves, etc) they are a great way to pull an outfit together and dress it up.

2. LBD

The Little Black Dress has been a staple in closets for decades; why mess with a classic? A simple dress can be perfect with a jacket, some jewelry or stand alone. 

3. Jeans

Everyone needs a good pair of jeans. They are almost mandatory and there are so many fits and cuts to choose from. I am currently in the market for a pair of skinnies and a pair of bootcut (these look the best on most figures, I think)

4. Black pumps

These are great for any outfit really. Paired with skinnies or a dress, they are simple and virtually flawless. I am also looking at nude pumps.

5. Great White Shirt

The GWS is great no matter what look you are going for. You can dress it up, go more slouchy, or lounge around at home in it. 

Those are my essentials for revamping your closet for the new year. This isn't everything you should have, but it is a good jumping off point. We need something to start with, right? 

<3 Ashley

What are must-have pieces in your closet?

Promise?

It's that time of year again....December 31. New Year's Eve. Made your resolutions yet? What are resolutions? They are the promises we make ourselves (and maybe secretly others) at the end of every year to better our lives the following year. However, they do not always stick as we have found out year after year. We have a white hot, new gym membership January 2nd that gets thrown aside by February 2nd. I find that we set the same goals for ourselves every year: general, a little far-reaching, and, if I do say so, a bit generic.

There is nothing I want more than to go a year with at least one of my resolutions still intact. So here's my idea for a fix: No more of "cut out junk food" or "go to the gym every other day" because let's be real...neither of those is going to stick very long with me. The awful truth is that as much as we want to say we do, our will power is not that strong. So instead of asserting these powerful promises tonight I will still make the generic resolutions, but not treat them as the end-all-be-all of my 2013 lifestyle. Baby steps will be my method.

Instead of completely cutting out junk food, I will set guidelines. I will taper off and hopefully by summer I will only have one day when I treat myself to a sugar-y sweet. Instead of going straight for the equipment at the gym, I will start small with an easier workout routine that I can do in my dorm until I am comfortable shedding the sweatpants for running shorts in the outside world.

In my view, the resolution a goal that you should work towards during the year, not something that you are going to force yourself to do. That's my thought at least. I am excited to hear what all of your resolutions are going to be for this coming year. Here are mine:

- Put more effort in a healthy lifestyle
- Try to put myself in someone else's shoes to understand them a little better
- Really try to discover what I want out of life (no, I still have not figured this out yet)

Those are just a few. I might think of some more at work...I do a lot of my thinking there ;)

<3 Ashley

What are some of your New Year's resolutions?

It's That Time of Year...for Reflection

Home sweet home. That's right, after a stressful week of finals I am sitting in front of the Christmas tree with my mother, eating cheese and crackers, and watching Finding Bigfoot (recommended ;P)

Since I have met my the end of my first semester of college and almost the end of the calendar year, I thought that this would be the proper time for a time of reflection (New Year's Resolution post will come later!) As a student going into her first year of college I think that I had a lot of fears and expectations. I thought I would not be able to find people who were interested in the same things as me and led to some pretty solid friendships. I thought I would get overwhelmed in my classes. I thought that I would be faced with the pressure to do things that made me kind of uncomfortable since these people did not know me.

Let me break down the facts. I did make friends who were had very similar interests and senses of humor. We often hang out late into the evening. Never once did I feel overwhelmed in classes. I actually think that this semester helped out my time management since I often had long sections to read for a certain class and multiple papers to write at a time. It taught me to prioritize my work. The professors were also super helpful and willing to answer any and all questions a student had. As for the pressure, I really do not think it ever came. I was asked if I wanted to join people, but I would just answer honestly and no one batted an eyelash. They were very accepting.

This semester was my first time away from home. It was very difficult at the beginning, but contact is everything. I call my parents on the weekend and we text various times throughout the week. My friends and I have to Skype's #1 customers at this point. We chat nearly every other day. In all, college is proving to be very comfortable and livable for me, which is what my concern was all along. I hope this leads you to do some reflection of your own within the next couple of weeks as you formulate your New Year's resolutions. And for those of you considering colleges, let me know if you have any questions. I have only a little experience but would love to help :)

<3 Ashley

Will you reflect before the New Year?