Spring Cleaning

I would be lying if I told you that my spring break was all laziness, hanging out with friends, and waking up at the crack of noon. I have actually devoted this week to performing some major spring cleaning on my room! Before I had gotten back, my dad rearranged the furniture in my room and pulled out a bunch of bags of junk from underneath my bed. Luckily, I have finished going through these - most of it was indeed garbage. Now I am on to giving the rest of my room a refreshing clean. My room feels small enough without all of the clutter. My goal for this week is to get rid of so much and really open up the space a bit. Also, I need to make sure that I have logical places to put all of the stuff I have at school - moving back home in just 5 weeks!

I'm sure that if you haven't started yet, spring cleaning is just around the corner for you. Here are just a few of things that I have taken to doing to make my system just a little less disorganized and stressful:

1. Designate piles! This applies mostly for clothes. Make a pile for items that you plan on definitely keeping, a pile for things that are damaged - yet totally fixable! - that you would definitely like to wear again, a pile for items that you never wear and are ready to part with (give this to a community thrift store) and a last pile for items that are stained or ripped beyond repair that you can just throw away.

2. Commit somethings to storage. Especially for my situation this works. I am moving the remainder of my childhood stuff out to make room for my current possessions (books and movies) At the same time I do not really want to give them away so I am putting them in organized boxes and storing them in the attic. All of my childhood books - A Series of Unfortunate Events was a favorite - are being saved for my own children.

3. Be realistic!  Do you REALLY need this or that? If you have not touched something in a very long time and cannot think of anytime that you will need it again soon, toss it or give it away. Spring is all about starting fresh, so don't save anything that will simply remain clutter.

That being said, I am attacking a bulk of my room tonight - closet, bookcase and desk. Wish me luck!

<3 Ashley

Do you have any tips for major spring cleaning?

Shopping Tips: Too Expensive?

Can I just say how glad I am to finally be on break?! This was definitely a well deserved treat. Yesterday was dubbed my "comeback tour" by my mother as I was driven from house to house to see all of my family in the area. The rest of this week will be incredibly laid back - though I will try my hardest not to sleep through it all!

This weekend - and through this week - a lot of shopping has/will be done. My mother even splurged her Christmas money on a bottle of Chanel No. 5 (the jealousy I am feeling is unexplainable!) One thing that surprised me was how worried she was to find out the price of what the bottle would be. Once the cosmetics counter associate left to scan the different sized bottle was my mother turned and expressed her concern with find out the price and finding out it would be too expensive. I have run into this issue a few too many times - I obviously need to find some different places to shop!

So this post today is just this piece of advice from me to you. In a store where the associates help you directly through pretty much your entire search - commitment - purchase process, they can sometimes come off as a little intimidating, pushy, or judgmental as your face displays that feeling of defeat after learning the price of your potential purchase. White House | Black Market was my place of defeat. What I have learned to do is to not be completely honest with them. If it something that I cannot afford I simply ask them to put it on hold for me, or to just put it back so that I can shop around a bit more. Stores will typically agree to put an item on hold for at least the day. That way the words, "No thank you, it's not in my budget" don't actually have to come out of your mouth. If you can say it with enough confidence the salesperson shouldn't even bat and eyelash.

<3 Ashley

How do you deal with this kind of dilemma?

TGIF Pins

Fashion

Shoes

Accessories

Beauty

Home

Food

Travel

Humor

Getting ready for my last class before I embark on Spring Break! Wanted to get this in early since I probably won't be on again until later tonight! Have a great weekend everybody!

<3 Ashley

Anyone else on Spring Break yet?

Spring Inspired

Well, it's Wednesday - I think we all know how I feel about Wednesdays by now...not a fan. But there is only one day standing between me and Spring Break at this point. I can taste the freedom! There is so much I want to get done in just next week alone (a lot of it is recreational reading and a lot of sleeping in!)  So because there is not very much to report on and in lieu of Spring Break, I thought I would access my Polyvore account again and give you some spring inspired looks by me! There's only a couple since I probably should do my last bit of big work - due tomorrow! - before I mentally check out! 

I think that both of these looks say something about some part of me. I love the colors in the first one (sometimes you just have to be bright!) and the other half of me loves the more neutral vibe of the second outfit. Maybe it's more clear cut for you?

<3 Ashley

Which look is your favorite? What spring/summer pieces are you most excited about breaking back out of the closet?

Decisions

So I feel like maybe I jinxed myself with that last entry about studying abroad. Now I am back in that place where I am thinking about London again. I definitely need some more time to decide! London would be the more practical decision of the two, since my major has a program there and I can get an internship as well - something that I could do in Italy only if I master three more semesters of Italian.

I feel bad though since my friend and I have been talking so much about going to Florence together. I did talk to her about it. We agreed that no matter where I go, we would still do the extra few weeks after the semester together to do whatever we wanted. I just don't like how quickly this change came.
But I have to do what's best I guess, right?

<3 Ashley

How do you deal with the changes in your plans and decision making?

A Liebster Award for All

I know that I already did this, but I thought that since we are limited to 11 bloggers to nominate, I would do it again and nominate some of the other blogs that I didn't last time! I received this Liebster ("sweet" in German!) Award nomination from Emily at A Pile of Good Things, so I would like to extend a thanks for that.  Go ahead and check out her blog!

As I explained before the rules are as follows: state 11 facts about yourself, answer questions asked by the blogger who nominated you, ask your own (11) questions, nominate 11 bloggers to continue the award circulation.

11 Facts About Myself:
1. Shoes are my true weakness.
2. I love writing.
3. My favorite color combo is black, white, gold, and pink.
4. My favorite beverage is hot chocolate.
5. My favorite thing about the weekend is Sunday brunch with the girls.
6. I treasure any alone time I get.
7. I can speak Spanish almost fluently.
8. My favorite sport to watch is football (American)
9. I love sewing and knitting.
10. I have high-fived a member of the New Kids on the Block (be jealous!)
11. I still love buying CDs rather than making iTunes purchases (though I must say, Spotify is becoming something that I consider to be a gift from the gods!)

11 Questions Asked by Emily

1. What is your favorite book?

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

2. What's the worst part about blogging?

Constantly worrying about keeping up to date and not being able to post as much as I would like to.

3. What's your favorite place to shop at?

Francesca's or Forever 21.

4. How do you get the hang of Thursdays? (I'm sorry, this was an essay question and I couldn't resist. Be creative!)

I just keep telling myself that the week is almost over. Thursdays really aren't that bad for me. I just remind myself that it's not Wednesday (that day is awful)

5. What's one makeup/beauty product you can't live without?

Moisturizer. I have one color of nail polish ( Elle Tropical Blush) that I am obsessed with. Lipstick is a constant as well.

6. If you could see anyone in concert who would it be and why?

Train! I have seen them already. Best concert I have been to so far. But I have been told that Coldplay live is a pretty life changing experience.

7. What would you say to someone who wanted to start blogging?

Dooooo iiiiittt! What do you have to lose? As long as you have an interest and an aptitude for writing or photography, you will gather some kind of following no matter how small in the beginning. But it does require that you devote a good chunk of time to it.

8. What's the best part about you? (No skipping this question)

My hair. And my sense of humor :)

9. What scares you the most about the future?

Not knowing exactly what I'm going to do. Being a twenty-something right out of college really does terrify me.

10. Where's Waldo? (See 4)

Right next to me.

11. If you could relive one day over again, what day would it be and why?

Thanksgiving this past year. For some reason it was so much different from all of the other ones before.

11 Questions by Me

1. What is your favorite movie?

2. How would you categorize your blog?

3. Mint or cinnamon gum?

4. What is one place you would love to travel to in the world?

5. What is one bad habit you would like to try to get rid of?

6. Who is your favorite fashion designer?

7. What is your favorite blog to read?

8. What do you drink for breakfast? Coffee? Orange juice?

9. Who inspires you most?

10. What is your favorite day of the week?

11. What would you want to be your last meal?

As far as blogs I nominate, I nominate everyone reading this! If you have a blog that you want to advertise post the link down in the comments. Go ahead and do what I did here on your blog and nominate some of your favorites! 

<3 Ashley

Going Abroad!

Happy Monday, everyone! Just 4 days until I board the bus back home and needless to say I am so excited to be going home. The past couple of months have been so busy and at some points I have felt just a bit overwhelmed. I will be totally embracing this break, despite pretty much being the only one home for break - my friends don't come home until two days before my own break is over!

Something else I am VERY excited for is a little further away than 4 days. It has been decided and agreed upon that I can study abroad for my spring semester junior year! My friend and I want to study together in Florence. I have been flirting with this idea for awhile. While there is a program within my major to study in London, I cannot take my mind off of Italy. Part of my family is from the Veneto region and I have always wanted to go. So after break we will be taking a walk up to the study abroad office to pick up some information about the process. I really hope this comes together well and that I can share all of my experience with you as the process goes on.

<3 Ashley

Where in the world do you want to go?