Summer Style

So I noticed that recently haven't done a lot of style posts--which I used to be committed to doing at least once a week. Anyway, since I seem to be supremely overdue for one I thought, "What better day than today?" My summer style is really nothing fancy or anything to be completely falling over...but I think I do alright ;) I get pretty simple and wear a lot of basics; it's not like fall/winter where I get creative with layering and scarves and such. While it may be basic, I always like to have an accessory to catch the eye. Currently I am loving my chiffon floral headwrap from Forever 21 (it's $3.80 so get on that!) I like it best with a white or off-white top and dark shorts or, as I am currently wearing it, my coral capris.

You can shop this look and other outfits and pieces in my closet on Stylitics. Check out my profile here or you can access it by clicking on the widget in the sidebar!

<3 Ashley

What does your summer style look like? What kind of accessories do you go for?

Summer Beauty Essentials

Evian Mineral Water || Olay Moisturizing Lotion for Sensitive Skin || Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer || Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation || Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Sunscreen

I've talked so much about summer-y accessories and maxi dresses but I haven't given much attention to beauty--namely skin care. I'm not much of a skin pro, but I do know what has worked for my skin and so today I will share the few products that I use during the summer. Basically what you see here...this is it. I don't use much else besides face wash (twice a day followed by moisturizer!) In the mornings before I put on any make-up--if any!--I apply primer and foundation. I keep a bottle of Evian Mineral Water spray in my bag in case I feel my face getting a little gross from the humidity. And don't forget the SPF! I've done well with the Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch and it has a nicer scent than most sunscreens.

<3 Ashley

What beauty products do you use during the summer?

Review: Revenge Wears Prada

Image: here

At the end of Lauren Weisberger's "Devil Wears Prada" we saw Andrea Sachs leave Runway and its tyrannical editor Miranda Priestly in Paris and begin a bit of her own freelance writing in hopes of being published in The New Yorker. "Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns" opens a decade later as Andy exchanges vows with her love Max (read: not Adrien Grenier or Simon Baker) Andy and Emily--remember Miranda's first assistant--have launched a wedding magazine The Plunge.

There is a lot going on in this story--wedding, business, baby, all sorts of relationships--but what I assumed to be the big conflict does not actually rear its head until well into the book. Elias-Clark, the publishing company that Runway operates under has interests in acquiring The Plunge which would doom Andy to working under Miranda again who is head publishing editor or something.

In my opinion, the book was not at all horrible; it was just a tad predictable. The character of Andy also annoyed me more as the book progressed, often coming of as short-sighted and a bit irrational. I thought that the first book was much better, but obviously I'm not going to tell you to read this book or not. I just had some difficulty thinking the same way as the story's protagonist.

<3 Ashley

Are you a fan of "Devil Wears Prada?" Have you read this sequel? What are your thoughts?

TGIF Pins

Oh so many different feelings this week. Relief at a short work week, happiness of the 4th of July, and frustration/hatred of technology and everything around it. More phone troubles for me! But my contract is up on the 19th and from the sound of family conversations and the voice in my head I will be taking another step toward adulthood and choosing my own carrier, plan and phone...yikes! But I think I have a plan set in motion after tons of research that I feel somewhat comfortable with. I will be researching further and finalizing my decision this weekend and will hopefully be going to the beach with a new phone! Speaking of weekends, it's another 3-day one for me followed by one of the shortest work weeks I have ever worked (2 days) so I am hoping to get a hair appointment in as well. Anyway, enough about me; it's Friday, so here are some of my favorite pins this week!

Fashion

Shoes

Accessories

Beauty

Home

Food

Travel

Humor

I hope you all have a great weekend!

<3 Ashley

Any fun plans for the weekend?

Happy 4th!

Image: here

Happy Independence Day, folks! I hope you have fun plans made for your celebration today. I'm staying home with the family today and we're having a little cookout. If the rain holds off I would like to eat outside but these grey clouds do not bode well. And what is 4th of July without fireworks? While we won't personally be setting any off, I can be confident in saying at least two people around here will be setting them off.

Have fun celebrating America's birthday!

<3 Ashley

What do you have planned for the celebrations?

Recipe: Homemade Pasta

Photo and Recipe: here

If you know anything about me you know that love pretty much any pasta dish. Whenever I eat out I go straight to the pasta selections of the menu with the confidence that you can't screw it up (I was proven wrong last night by a pretty mediocre chicken parm!) I have also taken to whipping up a quick and easy pasta meal with lunch before work. After a discussion with my mother about food and health--these convos happen more often then you would think--I began researching homemade pasta recipes.

I found one on All Recipes that seemed very easy and I can say that for the most part it was. The only real tedious part was cutting the pasta since we don't own a machine to do it for us. This pasta was DELICIOUS! I highly recommend trying it, so here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (I added this since the mixture was originally pretty dry)

What to Do:
- Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the flour and add the egg, mix. Dough should be stiff. If needed add water. Dough will probably still be dry so add olive oil.

- Kneed dough on lightly floured surface for about 3-4 minutes. Roll to desired thinness then cut to desired width (I tried to cut fettuccine sized)

Then you can dress it up how you like. I added olive oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and parmesen cheese. Yum!

<3 Ashley

Are you going to give this a try? What's your favorite pasta dish?

Separate announcement: I was recently invited to create a profile and closet on the site Stylitics. The site compiles trends in the closets of its users to report what people are wearing. You can also shop the closets on the site (including Marilyn Monroe's!) You can click on the widget in my sidebar to check out my closet and explore the site!

Weekend Wrap-Up: Summer Start-Up

Image: here

Happy Monday, folks; and a happy first day of July! July is always my favorite month of the year not only because of my birthday but because July feels like the definitive summer month to me. June is nice but summer doesn't officially start until the end and August is a close runner up but school starts at the end so it's really not a complete summer month. So in my mind, July = summer. Believe me...this sounded even more intellectual when I made this mental assertion in the 5th grade. 

Anyway, this weekend was a laidback but eventful one as well; a good way to start the summer. Friday after I got off work I did some self-justified, well-deserved shopping. I certainly didn't get too crazy, but I did manage to find some really nice pieces for the beach. On Saturday the whole beach crew got together this weekend to discuss the finer points of the trip (read: food) and have a little evening cook out. So now that's pretty much all planned; all we need to do now is load ourselves in to the car and GO! GO! GO! On Sunday we went to a picnic that is hosted every year by some friends of ours which was very nice considering the rain that probably should've happened but ended up going clear around us. This kicks off a very short work week for me and of course 4th of July. I plan on this being a very good week. :)

<3 Ashley

Did you do anything fun this weekend? What fun do you have planned for July?