My New Year's Eve Nails!
December 28, 2011
Hello lovely readers! I hope everyone is having a great week so far! Who is ready for New Year’s Eve (NYE)?! One of the reasons I absolutely love this holiday is because it is totally acceptable to wear tons of sparkles, sequins & glitter….all of my favorite things! To be completely NYE ready, it is totally necessary to have nails that sparkle and shine!!!
As you can see, I got a French manicure with 3 coats of silver glitter on the nail bed and black on the tips. On my ring fingers I used black on the nail bed (with 1 coat of silver glitter) and the silver glitter (3 coats) on the tips.
Nothing says NYE to me more than black and silver glitter so I wanted to combine the two instead of having a solid glitter nail! In particular, I wanted a French manicure using silver glitter and black. The silver glitter I have on is from Essie’s Luxeffects Glitter Topcoat Holiday 2011 Collection called “Set In Stones.” Check out the collection HERE….it is SO fabulous. Essie’s “Set In Stones” is a different look than OPI’s “Crown Me Already!” (which is also a silver glitter I had on my nails HERE) in that the Essie glitter particles themselves are bigger so it creates an overall shinier look. The black color I used is OPI’s “Black Onyx.”
Here is how they turned out:
As you can see, I got a French manicure with 3 coats of silver glitter on the nail bed and black on the tips. On my ring fingers I used black on the nail bed (with 1 coat of silver glitter) and the silver glitter (3 coats) on the tips.
So are you going to have a sparkly nail look on NYE?! Leave me a comment & tell me your favorite NYE nail look!!!
Thank you for reading!!!
Xoxo,
Ashley
'Twas a Fashionista's Christmas
December 27, 2011
Good evening dolls!
Here is my OOTD for Christmas Eve at Nana’s pictured with my adorable new niece:
When it was time to open presents, I was SUPER excited to receive a Clarisonic Mia from my Nana. If you don’t know what this is, it’s a motorized brush that cleans your skin 6X better than manual washing…which therefore cleans your pores better & allows for your products to absorb easier. I will definitely do a review of this in a blog post in the future...but so far I absolutely LOVE it!!!!
And finally I thought I’d leave you with a pic of me and my nephews (they’re cousins…in matching PJ’s, how cute are they!?) hanging out on Christmas day:
So what are some of your favorite things you received for Christmas?! Leave me a comment and let me know!!!!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Tonight I wanted to do a little Christmas recap and show you my OOTD’s and also some of the goodies I received from Santa & my family!
Every year on Christmas Eve I spend the day at my Nana’s house! I am super close with Nana (my dad’s mom) and love going to her house (the same house she’s lived in since I was born). We always eat a delicious meal and then exchange gifts. Every year our family gets bigger and this year I was so excited to have my brother’s NEW fiancée (he proposed on Christmas Eve!) and her daughter (my new niece!!!) with us!
Here is my OOTD for Christmas Eve at Nana’s pictured with my adorable new niece:
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| Dress: Pink Rose at Macy's Booties: Old Navy (remember them in this post HERE) Necklace: Stella & Dot |
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| Check it out online by clicking HERE |
I was also SO excited to find a brown and white striped box under the tree…which is the signature wrapping for any Henri Bendel gift. This is an upscale department store in NYC but they recently opened a store in Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta. They are famous for accessories that are unique to their store. Thank you to my aunt and uncle from ATL for this awesome gift! Here’s a collage of me opening my Bendel’s box (just a tad bit excited if you couldn’t tell):
I love waking up on Christmas morning & seeing what Santa brought me! This year he left me some clothes from from H&M and Macy's (he has such good taste!)….
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It’s a snakeskin clutch/wristlet. I absolutely LOVE it and know I will use it so much…especially when I go out with friends!
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I love waking up on Christmas morning & seeing what Santa brought me! This year he left me some clothes from from H&M and Macy's (he has such good taste!)….
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| 4 new shirts for layering from H&M...I kind of love stripes if you haven't noticed from some of my past OOTD's! lol |
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| A new pair of winter shorts from H&M. I love the orange belt that came with them! |
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| I got 4 new pair of pants which is a huge deal for me because usually they are WAY too long, but these fit perfectly! 1) H&M khaki corduroys 2) H&M black skinny corduroys 3) Jessica Simpson forever skinny jeans 4) V Cristina grey jeans from Stein Mart |
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| 3 new dresses! 1) Pink H&M zipper dress... love the zipper detail! 2) Navy H&M dress...will be great this winter with tights, booties & a sweater but I will also be able to wear it when the weather gets warm again! 3) Sweater dress by BCX from Macy's |
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| What was in my stocking! Bracelets to make an "arm party" (I will do a post on this in the future!) and an OWL-dorable owl necklace! lol |
So after a fun morning/afternoon of hanging out with Mom, Dad, & Nana it was time to go to my brother’s house & see what Santa brought my sweet little nephews for Christmas!!! Here was my OOTD/OOTN on Christmas day:
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Top: new navy/white striped from H&M
Blazer: H&M (Click HERE to read about the shopping trip when I bought it)
Jeans: Jessica Simpson Collection
Boots: Nine West |
So what are some of your favorite things you received for Christmas?! Leave me a comment and let me know!!!!
Also don’t forget to “LIKE” my blog on Facebook by clicking HERE!!! I appreciate your support so very much!!!
Xoxo,
Ashley
Holiday Hairstyles!
December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas Eve!
To go along with my post on My Favorite Holiday Dresses, I wanted to do a post on some of my favorite holiday hairstyles to complete your holiday party look. A hairstyle can really complement an outfit: for instance, if your dress has a lot of detail around the neckline, an up-do may be appropriate to show the dress off, whereas if the dress is covered in sequins, a no-fuss hairdo will keep the attention on your dress.Here is some celebrity hairstyle inspiration for various hair lengths:
Ponytails
Sleek & Sophisticated
To me there is nothing more sophisticated than a smoothed-down hairstyle with soft waves or straight and curled on the ends. Also, a sophisticated updo like a top knot or French twist can really complement a nice evening dress. The celebrities in the following photos exude sophistication:
To go along with my post on My Favorite Holiday Dresses, I wanted to do a post on some of my favorite holiday hairstyles to complete your holiday party look. A hairstyle can really complement an outfit: for instance, if your dress has a lot of detail around the neckline, an up-do may be appropriate to show the dress off, whereas if the dress is covered in sequins, a no-fuss hairdo will keep the attention on your dress.Here is some celebrity hairstyle inspiration for various hair lengths:
Ponytails
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| One of my absolute favorite Reese Witherspoon's looks. I love a ponytail that sits high on the crown of the head with loose curls throughout. Image source |
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| This shows how versatile a ponytail can be. I love this "messy" ponytail Carrie Underwood is wearing! Create this look by placig it slightly lower, tease the hair at the crow of your head, and pull out a few face-framing strands. Image source |
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| This is a cute ponytail for girls with shorter hair and also a great idea for how to wear a ponytail with bangs! Image source |
Sleek & Sophisticated
To me there is nothing more sophisticated than a smoothed-down hairstyle with soft waves or straight and curled on the ends. Also, a sophisticated updo like a top knot or French twist can really complement a nice evening dress. The celebrities in the following photos exude sophistication:
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| I love Carrie Underwood's face-framing layers with the curled-under ends. This would be a no-fuss yet sassy hairstyle to wear with a little show-stopping sequin number! Image source |
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| This shows that the curled-under look works with shorter hair! Also don't forget that a fun hair accessory (like Carrie's rhinestone bobby pin) can add some glamour to your outfit. Image source |
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| Mila Kunis looks absolutely GORGEOUS with this beautiful French twist. I love how her hair is pulled back off her face with some volume on top. So sophisticated! Image source |
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| Another beautiful look is retro waves like January Jones is wearing here! Again I think this would look simple yet super classy with a sequined dress. Image source |
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| Retro waves also look great if your hair is a little longer like Leighton Meester's. Take a cue from her and pair it with a bold red lip! Image source |
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| Another great option if you're looking for a sophisticated updo is a top knot. LOVE that Sienna Miller's hair is pulled back and sleek but still has a little element of fun in the top knot itself. SO pretty! Image source |
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| Another great option for a top knot. Kate Bosworth's is a bit more full & placed a little higher on the crown of her head. This would look SO cute with a sassy short cocktail dress...think Audrey Hepburn a la Breakfast at Tiffany's! Image source |
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| I included this picture to show how a pulled-back style is often a great option if you have a dress with a lot of detail along the neckline like Julianne Hough's. Image source Braids
Braids are definitely having a moment right now and I love it! They are so very versatile because they can be incorporated into an updo, worn with your hair down, or just worn as a single braid by itself. Braids are a great option if you want to add a laid-back element to a fancy party dress.
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| Blake Lively's braid is such a pretty touch to her updo. It looks effortless yet very chic! Image source |
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| In cotrast to Blake Lively's braid, another option is to make your braid more prominent like Sarah Michelle Gellar's by braiding the hair that frames your face. Image source |
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| A single braid like Nicole Kidman's is a great alternative to a ponytail. Image source |
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| And my final favorite braided look is worn by my girl Kate Hudson. This just shows how versatile braids are...a single braid worn with the hair down looks FAB if you ask me! Image source |
Romantic Curls and Waves
Finally, my list of holiday hairstyles would not be complete without my own go-to hairstyle: curls and/or waves. All you need is a curling iron (check out the one I use here: Curling Iron Hot Tools) and some patience (curling my hair takes FOREVER…of course this will depend on your hair length) and you will have yourself a feminine hairstyle that will look FABULOUS at your holiday parties! Check out some of my favorite styles…
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| I LOVE when Carrie Underwood wears her hair this way....I love the fullness & cascading curls. Image source |
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| A great alternative to Carrie's big curls are Juliane Hough's softer waves (also love the hair over one shoulder! So glam!). Image source |
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| Charlize Theron shows you don't have to have long hair to wear curls. Curls look absolutely ADORABLE with short hair as well! Image source |
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| Blake Lively's hair looks great with soft curls but is also full of body. It is a stunning hairstyle for a strapless dress! Image source |
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| And last but not least, the always beautiful Rachel McAdams looks STUNNING with loose curls. Gorgeous! Image source |
I hope this post has given you some holiday hairstyle inspiration! I would love to hear from you so leave me a comment & let me know what style you’ll be wearing this holiday season!
ALSO, many have told me they’ve had trouble following my blog via Google Friend Connect so I’m going to try to post a tutorial on how you can follow me next week. In the meantime, I’ve created a Facebook page for my blog so you can follow me there... be sure to like it by clicking HERE.
Thank you SO much for your support and for reading! I wish you a very Merry & blessed Christmas!!!!
Xoxo,
Ashley
My Favorite Holiday Dresses
December 22, 2011
Good evening darlings! I hope you’re having a lovely week. Can you believe Christmas is only THREE days away!? One of my favorite parts about this time of year is getting dressed up for holiday parties…including Christmas AND New Year’s Eve!! With that in mind, I first wanted to share with you a few party dresses I’ve recently purchased to wear this season and also show some of my favorite holiday dresses in stores right now!
Now to show you some of my favorite dresses at many different price points. I’ve grouped them by three of my favorite looks: feminine sophistication (bows, ruffles, or lace), the classic little black dress (LBD), and fun & festive party dresses!
Feminine Sophistication:
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| White cocktail dress by B. Darlin from Macy's |
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| Pink sequin dress from Forever 21 |
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| Black lace dress from Forever 21 Buy here: Sweetheart Lace Dress |
Now to show you some of my favorite dresses at many different price points. I’ve grouped them by three of my favorite looks: feminine sophistication (bows, ruffles, or lace), the classic little black dress (LBD), and fun & festive party dresses!
Feminine Sophistication:
A look I love for holiday party dresses are feminine details like lace, bows & ruffles! Wear your feminine dress with soft curls for a sophisticated and romantic look.
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| GORGEOUS lace dress by Milly! $435 Check it out here: Milly Celia Lace Dress |
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| This Jessica Simpson Collection lace dress would look SO lovely with a strand of pearls! On sale for $79.99 Buy here: Jessica Simpson Lace Tank Dress |
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| I LOVE the navy color of this Alice + Olivia Felicity dress along with the ruffled skirt. $597 Find here: Alice + Olivia Felicity Strapless Party Dress |
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| This dress makes such a statement in bold red with the ruffled neckline! $480 Find here: Carmen Marc Valvo Ruffled Dress |
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| I absolutely ADORE this ML Monique Lhuillier dress! It's perfect. $498 Check it out: Monique Lhuillier Strapless Dress |
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| The feathers on the hemline of this Theia dress are so flirty! Gorgeous. $650 Find here: Theia Feathered Dress |
Little Black Dress (LBD):
When in doubt on what to wear to a holiday party, you cannot go wrong with a little black dress! The LBD is so classy, versatile and a great investment. When styling your LBD think ACCESSORIES…dress it up with bold jewelry, statement shoes or a clutch.
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| This is a fresh-twist on the classic LBD with the beautiful beaded neckline. Robert Rodriguez dress, $312 Find here: Robert Rodriguez LBD  On sale for $69.99 Buy here: Floral Trim Strapless Dress |
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| Love the neckline! $198 Buy here: JS Collections Strapless Chiffon Dress |
Fun & Festive:
When I think of New Year’s Eve I think of sequins & lots of sparkle! All of the following dresses would be SO much fun to wear to ring in the New Year. Just remember to let your dress steal the show & keep the rest of your accessories simple.
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| LOVE the deep purple shade of this sequin dress from Express. $64 Buy here: Express Purple Sequin Dress |
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| This gold sequined dress from Cache is so pretty! $168 Find here: Cache Sequined Dress |
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| I love the combination of stripes with sequins $128 Buy here: White House Black Market Sequined Striped Dress |
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| I absolutely love gold sequins on this Kay Unger New York dress! $450 Check it out: Kay Unger New York Gold Sequined Dress |
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| Navy is a great option for evening wear and I love the cut of this dress. $178 Find it here: Cache Open Back Evening Dress |
So what are you wearing to your holiday parties?! Leave me a comment and let me know!
I appreciate you reading!
Xoxo,
Ashley
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