A is for Ashley...

This fall, the 1960s Collegiate Prep look is really in.  I am really into it.  I was browsing on Forever21, and found some things that were made specifically for me.  Yes, Forever21 thought "What can we make for Ashley that she would absolutely go crazy for???"

I need an "A is for Ashley" letterman jacket or sweater.  Truthfully, I am super in love with the pullover with the huge "A" in the center.  This shirt will be mine.  Oh yes, it will be mine.  But I don't want to spend $20 on it.  Luckily, my smart roommate Kyla says "Ashley, you know how to sew...Why don't you make it!"  Why didn't I think of that?!  Friends, I am making myself this sweater this weekend.  I know, I know.  I can hear what some of you guys are thinking "Ashley, you are going to look like a lost Weasley kid, especially with your red hair!" or "Ashley, you are not a Chipmunk!"

My response to those statements: I don't care!  This is happening.  I'll just be really easy to spot on campus/in public.

The fall weather that we've been having the past couple of the days has put me into a Fall Frenzy.  I want to wear cardigans, knitted caps, and comfy scarves to class.  I want to drink pumpkin spice lattes while eating apple pie.  I want to wear an "A is for Ashley" shirt while drinking a pumpkin spice latte.  I absolutely love fall.

Anyone else crazy for a ridiculous trend?  Or is as excited as me about fall?

I Love:

Via ssilverspoon.tumblr.com

Its Thursday!  And this week I have a LOT of love to share!  I am feeling much more invigorated and healthy than last week (No longer sick! No flat tire! Not sleep deprived!)  Without further ado, here are the things I love this Thursday:

*I went home over the weekend to spend time with my family and friends.  It was great to see everyone and eat a ton of delicious food (guys, I did eat approximately 2,000 lbs of food).  Its always sad to leave after a weekend of fun, especially when the time was not long enough to spend with everyone!  But I did see a lot of people that matter a lot to me!

*Fourth of July shenanigans!  Kyla and I decided to dress for the occassion (it wasn't a hard decision to make).  I was America, and she was a Firework!  I wish I had pictures of our outfits, but I do have a picture of my Rosie the Riveter hair that I did five minutes before leaving!

We Can Do It!

Video I watched and learned from:

*Getting closure.  I was having doubts about making the right choice, and after having a long discussion, all uncertainty was erased.  Closure is always a good thing!

Small Fun Things:

Hula Hooping/Jump Roping to Disney Dubstep * Feeling productive at my job and internship * Greek Yogurt in bulk * Walking a lot * Nicki Minaj * Fake Tan (as always) * Finding a face scrub that I like * Videos by Jenna Marbles * Lunch with Celia on Saturday!!! * Letter making with Kyla and Sarah! * Plans for myself * Hello Giggles

I think a lot of my loves are repeats, but its always worth mentioning again!  

Also, you should follow my tumblr if you don't already.  I adore tumblr!

TILT - Growing up, making changes, and dreaming of Paris!

Paris

This week has been a very good week.  Its been very busy, but I feel like a lot of good things are in store.

The first thing I am most excited about is Apartment Hunting!  I have been saying this a lot, but its super fun and exhilirating!  I like being able to chose where I want to live and going through the process of touring the different complexes.  

Second, I am excited about everything that follows afterwards: job opportunities (and taking them), internships, finishing up classes, finally getting serious about applying and getting into graduate school!  Its all happening quickly, and I can't wait  for all of these changes!



Super dark!



Third exciting thing: Personal changes.  Over the past two weeks, I have felt extremely optimistic and utterly happy.  I have a lot of motivation for the future, and I have the thirst for change!  So, I changed my hair color.  I am no longer a red head!  Over the weekend, I watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs a few times and gawked at Zooey Deschanel during my free time, so that inspired me to go dark.  Well, dark is definitely what I got.  It came out a LOT darker than I anticipated.  At first, I was really upset with how it came out, but it has really grown on me.  I have gotten a lot of compliments and a lot of other people really liked the change.  Also, in the mail today I got one of my birthday presents I ordered for myself: Philosophy's Field of Flowers.  It smells just like it sounds! I absolutely love it!  The best part is that the perfume came with a lotion, all for the low price of $35!!!  I love getting deals!

Lastly, I have had the most ridiculous dreams!  The other night I dreamt that a friend's family offered me to go on an all expenses paid trip to Paris for spring break because my friend could not go anymore.  So, the dream was me wandering around Paris, eating delicious food, and looking at beautiful things.  I was so disappointed when I woke up.  I also dreamt that I was on Glee, and I was annoyed that everyone on cast had an opportunity to sing a solo except for me.  Weird, huh?  I rarely remember my dreams these days, so I am excited that I could remember these!

I may have listened to this a lot this week:

I hope everyone else had a wonderful week full of love!

Things I Love Saturday!

This week has been crazy busy for me.  I cannot even put into words the type of week that I had.  BUT, there is always time to reflect on things that I love, even if it comes late.

Hey, guess what?

In case you didn't know, I am beyond obsessed with Valentine's Day.  Its one of my favorite holidays for sure!  It has all of my favorite things: pink and red hearts, glitter, candy, pink pastries.  What isn't there to love?  I love it whether I am single or taken!

I sent this card to Matt.  FOR REAL.

This year, I celebrated with my boyfriend Matt, who is my first ever repeat Valentine!  We got celebrate on Tuesday (the day after Valentine's), and I had a master plan up my sleeve.  All month, Matt was trying to get out what I was going to get him for Valentine's, and I felt pretty proud of myself for keeping it a secret.  I decided that I was going to make Red Velvet Cupcakes and surprise him at his apartment with them.  In order to do this, I had to get help from Matt's roommate, Alex.  Alex happily obliged.  On that Tuesday, I knew when Matt would be in class, so I headed over there during that time period.  I decorated the cupcakes there and let Alex taste-test them for me (thumbs up, by the way!) and then I got the rest of Matt's present (Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Heart and a pack of Boddington's Beer).  The hardest part was to get Matt back to him apartment because he thought he was going to pick me up at my place.  He was grumpy from class and did not want to drive back there, but eventually he did after finally convincing him to do so.  BUT when he saw all of the cupcakes and me all dressed up for our date, he quickly forgave me for driving out of the way to pick me up ^_^  Matt got me a box of Godiva truffles, and they were amazing.  I just ate my last one for breakfast today.  After exchanging gifts, we went to eat.  Dinner was fantastic; we ate at Gallery Bistro, a ten table Modern American joint, and it was delicious.

What I wore:

 I couldn't get a good full body picture, so only webcam pics of my hair and makeup!

Other things that I Love:

Candy on sale everywhere * Girl Scout cookie season! * feeling financially stable and responsible * Apartment hunting and finding a place that we like! * Buying Birthday presents for myself with a gift card * Getting the poison out of my life * "How you doing Miss Venom?" * Sushi lunches * Impromptu BBQs * the lovely Spring-like weather * Constantly being excited about the future * Loving the present moment * Perfecting the fishtail braid * Ch-ch-ch-changes!!!





What's good in your life???

I Love Braids!

Since my hair has been getting rather long, I have been trying to find new things to do with it.  My latest obsession are braids.  And not just the typical "three part down the back of your neck" braid.  Braids are definitely a hot trend right now, and there are so many different ways to wear braids.

"Braids are SO HOT right now"

Over the summer, I experimented with the French braid along my crown (a la Lauren Conrad).  This worked very well with my hair even though I did not have a lot of length.  I also never knew how to french braid until then!  Thanks to the magic of YouTube, there are many tutorials on how to do anything to your hair!

My favorite braid at the moment is the "Fish Tail Braid."  I kept seeing pictures in magazines of this peculiar braid, and I did not understand at ALL how to make my hair like that.  Thanks to YouTube, I found yet another tutorial on braiding!

Me with a FishTail Braid

The fishtail braid looks complicated, but its actually really easy to do!  Its a little bit more time consuming than a normal braid since the strands are a lot smaller.  After I finish the braid, I like to pull at it to make it look less neat and more thick.  

My hair inspiration

Another braid I found that I like a lot is called the "irregular braid."  It looks thicker, and you can even weave in fabric into your hair!  I tried it without the fabric, and it still looks great!  Again, after I finished the braid I pulled at the hair to make it look less neat and more full.

I am totally loving this trend.  How about you???