Ridiculous

Oh friends, so I have such a treat for you today! No, you don't  get one of those delicious cupcakes I showed in my last post. You get to see this picture of me in this ridiculous dress:

 You're welcome.

I got this dress from a neat thrift shop in Portland. Yes, it's kind of horrific as is, but I was really attracted to the print and couldn't pass it up (it was only $5, after all).

The problem with the print, though, is just that there's way to much of it. It's a busy, busy piece of fabric, and  an entire dress made of it is a nightmare. So I did the sensible thing and reduced the amount of the print by over 50%.

And voila:

Earrings and Ring: Handmade --- Top and Skirt: Thrifted --- Shoes: Seychelles via Amazon

 Now I have the fabulosity of the print in a pint-sized version of the original piece. It's a great, floral, summery piece that I can wear with a variety of tops and accessories...

... and all it took was a pair of scissors. Somewhere in the world, the old lady that owned this dress before me is rolling over in her grave.

Well, the time is drawing near for me to move out and on to the big cit of Portland! School starts on Monday, so I'm starting to get my stuff together. The only catch is that I don't actually have a place to live yet... I looked at a few places but they didn't work out. I have one more place to look at this Friday, so I'm super hoping it will work, or I may have to live in a box on campus. Hey, the rent would be a great deal, no?

I just hope wherever I end up living will have a semi-decent kitchen so I can keep up my new-found fascination with cupcakes. Look at what I made today:

Ghirardelli Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Ganache.

Get. In. My. Belly.

COOTD: WHERE'S ASHLEY?

Here I am!

Right HERE!

I didn't leave you all, I swear.

I've just been busier than my wee little self can handle.

That's a lie. I've been really fucking busy, but not to the point of not being able to have a life, just to the point of not having time to blog or even prep-posts to be blogged at a later date and time.

Please don't think that this is me complaining about being busy. In no way am I complaining. I am extremely fucking excited about being this busy!!! The new job is going well, I've just completed my first week. Rugby practice has started again--THANK GOD! I'm training a new guy at the liquor store/night job so that I can finally have what resembles a life, and not have to work 6 nights a week in addition to the day job I work. I've been a busy little bee, and it is A-Okay with me.

With that said: how about a COOTD post to make up for my absence?

Would you like that? I sure know that I would.

Here are a few outfits from my first week and second week (this week) of work (I forgot to take pictures on the other days, but I'll try to get better with it once I get into the new morning routine that I'll be starting this week--it includes the GYM in the AM before work. We'll see how this goes.)

// Top: Forever 21 // Pants: Banana Republic // Shoes: Flats from Alloy //

(who is excited about the new full length mirror at the new job/bathroom?? MEEEE)

// Top: unknown via Marshalls // Skirt: Gap // Shoes: Lands End Canvass //

// Top: H&M // Skirt: GAP // Tights: Hue //

 // Scarf: Vintage from my Uh-Uh // Tank: GAP // Jeans: GAP // Sandals (in hand): Target //

// Blazer: GAP // Shirt: Old Navy // Skirt: Marshalls (I think) // Shoes: Kenneth Cole //

 // Top: New York & Co // Scarf: Vintage from my Uh-Uh // Skirt: Marshalls // Shoes: Lands End Canvas (not pictured) //

I hope you all have a great weekend!!!
If you happen to be on the East Coast I hope you all are staying dry and that your neighborhoods aren't flooding!
Things are getting pretty crazy out here in MD!

Adios!

#ARMPARTY OF THE DAY

Today's #armparty is brought to you by the fantabulous @MichaelKors watch, a @GAP braided bracelet, an unknown green shell bracelet, and vintage multicolored bangles from my Uh-Uh.

Are you rocking an #armparty today?

Share it!

The Last Hurrah

I'm just going to tell you right now that I got a little crazy editing pics today. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Today I'm wearing my oh-so-glorious Kork-Ease, and let me tell you something: my feet are happy. Who knew that such clunky shoes could be so comfy? Also worthy of note is the skirt, which while strikingly similar to this skirt, is not the same. I decided that the other one was probably a little too yellow for my skin tone, so I went back to the fabric store and got a more neutral tone. It's a bit more easy on the eyes, I think.

Cardigan: Target --- Top: F21 --- Belt: Thrifted --- Skirt: Handmade --- Shoes: ShoeBuy.com --- Purse: Etsy/Bombshell Bettie's Vintage --- Rose Brooch: Etsy/Brydferth --- Ring and Earrings: Handmade

I wish I could report back to you guys that I stayed strong in the face of temptation and didn't buy any of the shoes in my previous post, but that simply would not be true. I did decide, however, that the pair I treated myself to would be my last. OK, so not forever, but at least for a while. I have practically every color and practically every style of shoe there is to own, so I'm biding farewell to shoe shopping. I've just added a little text box in the sidebar to keep track of how long I last. Wish me luck, and above all else, DO NOT send me links to any cute shoes. :)

PS. Don't forget to enter the Brydferth giveaway!

Bombshell

Top: Charlotte Russe --- Belt: Thrifted --- Skirt: Etsy/bomshellbettiesvint --- Shoes: GoJane --- Clutch: F21

I got this skirt a few days ago from Bombshell Bettie's Vintage on Etsy. That means I'm a bombshell, right?* It's super lovely and has the cutest purple and pink-ish floral design on it. My favorite part is that the background is gray, so I'll be able to wear this one year round because it fits into practically any season. I follow Nicole's blog, and I was lucky enough to spy her post on a 50% off sale, so I got it for a great price. 

*It's OK, you don't have to answer that and hurt my feelings. :)

If you haven't yet, check out the Brydferth bobby pin giveaway. 1 week left to enter!

It's Memorial Day weekend, which means there are sales out the wazoo right now. That darn Joni James found the Earthies I've been lusting after on Piperlime for nearly 50% off and just had to send me the link, so now I'm having a mental war waging in my head over whether or not to get them.

here

3. Then I was looking at Michelle's blog and she posted about some cute shoes at American Eagle that are already on sale, and American Eagle is having BOGO 50% off on shoes, PLUS they're having a 30% off everything and free shipping sale this weekend. So I could get 2 pairs of these cute shoes, which were originally $50 each, for $31.46 total. Normally I wouldn't be too tempted by American Eagle stuff, but the colors of these shoes are freaking adorable. I'm thinking about getting the red and mustard pairs:

here

Long story short: I am addicted to shoes. I'm really hoping I resist, but I'm not feeling particularly willful this morning. Pray for me, friends.

Frilly

When I picked out outfits to wear this week, I ended up picking out a bunch of rather girly and frilly tops. Yesterday I wore pink, today I'm wearing lace and poofy sleeves, and the next two outfits I have planned are both pink and one has frilly shoulders. What's happening to me? Next thing you know I'm going to start wearing curly pig tails and pink lip stick. Beware.

Even though it's more frou-frou than I'm used to wearing, I really do love this top. It was $7 at the thrift store, but it was a white tag sale day so it was 50% off. I know I use this word a lot when referring to thrift store finds, but I'm going to say it again anyways: score.

Top, Belt, and Skirt: Thrifted --- Necklace: F21

Shoes: GoJane --- Purse: Etsy/58bluebirds

Thank you to everyone who gave me eyeshadow suggestions yesterday... I made a list of the ones that were recommended and will be doing a bit of online shopping/price comparing today to decide what I'm going to get.

Tomorrow I'm not working, so in the absence of an outfit post I'm going to be hosting a giveaway! So far on on my blog I've only given away jewelry from my shop, but this time around a dear Etsy friend of mine was sweet enough to offer a piece from her shop. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see who/what is, but I just wanted to let you know to keep an eye out for it (especially if you were getting bored of jewelry giveaways).

COOTD COURTHOUSE ROUND-UP

This week at the courthouse was a bit sporadic for me.

A CRAZY police filled night on Tuesday, resulted in a long evening/morning for Wednesday... This morning I got the flat, and didn't even make it in, and tomorrow I'm off for pre-planned reasons.

I feel like such a bum.

Buuuutttttttt on the days that I did make it to the courthouse, and on the days that I managed/remembered to take photos, I sure as hell didn't look like a bum :)

You bet your ass!

I would like to admit that this COOTD caused a little bit of a twitter confusing-frenzy...

because it is NOT a dress :)

Instead its a combination outfit.

Skirt: Marshalls

Top: Vintage from my Uh-Uh's closet

Belt: Sale from GAP a few weeks ago

This outfit IS a dress :)

Dress: Sale from GAP a few weeks ago

Shoes: Lands End Canvas

Belt: Forever 21

Tights: Walmart

Cardigan: Old Navy

And that's all she wrote.
Lame I know.

This is Not a Dress

Necklace: Handmade --- Top: Zara --- Belt: Thrifted --- Skirt: Etsy/58bluebirds --- Clutch: Etsy/LookBackCloset (closed) --- Shoes: Target --- Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Today I had a dilemma about what shoes to wear. See, I just wore these ones like 3 days ago and I usually try not to wear the same pair more often than once a week or so. But no other pair looked right with this outfit so I eventually decided to wear them anyways. But if the biggest dilemma I have today is about what shoes to wear, I suppose I should thank my lucky stars and quit whining.

At first glance I think this look could almost pass for a dress. When I was trying to pick a shirt to wear with my new vintage skirt (is that like an oxymoron or something?), I was running into trouble left and right, but when I saw my striped white and navy top I knew it was too good to pass up. So yeah, it's a lot of stripes, but how could I resist wearing these together?

Anyhow, I wanted to share these freaking adorable stickers I got from Miss Courtney of My SoCalled Denver. She posted them on her blog and offered to send a few to anyone that wanted some, and of course I jumped at that. Seriously, I <3 Vintage. Love these things. I love them so much I'm having trouble deciding what to put them on. Suggestions?

Also, as if she wasn't sweet enough for sending me freaking awesome stickers, she also included this super cute little necklace with a shiny gold oval in the front. I am totally in love with the mixed metal look (the chain is antique brass).

By the way, Courtney has a really awesome Etsy shop where she sells vintage accessories. I am madly in love with the vintage clutches and purses she has there, especially these three:

1, 2, 3

Gorgeous, am I right?

COOTD GRANDMA BOOTS

My Uh-Uh, if you don't remember her--read up about her here, had some serious ass kickin' style back in the day.

I can just go ahead and check owning a pair of vintage booties off my list.
I just need to get these suckers REsoled... the bottoms are pretty much WORN OUT.
I need to figure out how much that's going to cost --eek--

Any who... back to the outfit:

"OFF with her Head!"

Thanks Sister-Cousin... you're photo skills are epic as always.

Ahhh, that's better.

Top: Old Navy V-Neck

Tank: Old Navy Shelf Tank

Shorts: DKNY (purchased at Marshalls)

Boots: Uh-Uh's Closet :)




To catch up on my Uh-Uh stories..
 the sweater that triggered it all
part i
part ii
part iii
part iv 

and this...
bc it made me remember the last time I saw her before I left for my time in GA,
AND, because she was right.

Plain Jane

Top: Target --- Necklace: Forever21 --- Belt and Skirt: Thrifted --- Tights: Kohls --- Oxfords: UrbanOg --- Vintage Purse: Etsy/58bluebirds

Well friends, I had to get my tights out again today. It's raining. Hard. On April 29th. I am near tears. The dull weather carried over to my outfit today, I think, because looking at this picture now I'm not sure why I thought this was an interesting outfit when I originally picked it out. But alas, I carry on.

I got this purse from 58bluebirds on Etsy. It's super cute and in nice condition. She's got a few other purses I'm eyeballing... if I make some sales soon I may just have to snap them up!

I'm going to be applying some changes to my blog today, so if you are here and everything looks funky, I promise it's only temporary! Well, at least I hope it will be temporary. I have a feeling I will probably screw something up, so keep your fingers crossed that that's not the case.

Outfit: Greenery

Headband: DivineBijoux --- Earrings: Handmade --- Vera Wang Top: Kohls --- Belt: Thrifted --- Vintage Skirt: mellowdayss --- Tights: Kohls --- Oxfords: Payless --- Purse: Forever21 --- Rings: Handmade

This is the attempting-to-get-a-cool-spinning-picture-but-failing Picture

Green Ring, Purple/Pink Ring, Butterfly Ring

It's Saturday! I hope you all survived your partyin' partyin' (YEAH) yesterday and are looking forward to tomorrow (which is Sunday, in case you didn't know).

This skirt has been out of commission for quite a while due to that fateful day when I busted one of the buttons, probably due to some shoddy workmanship or something like that. I finally got around to whipping out my mad hand-sewing skills the other day, though, and now the button is securely back in place and will likely never pop off again. Unless I exhale.