Home Sweet School.

I have been severely lacking on the blog posts lately. But really, what's new?

Actually a lot is new. I'm back at school. Moved into my apartment. Starting student teaching to Kindergarteners on Tuesday. Things are moving at their unusually rapid pace once again.

I swear, the days go by so much faster in Minnesota.

I miss home too. I am always so torn between where I want to be. I don't want to be home, working, missing my friends and Noah. But I also don't want to be here, away from my family and familiar home and surroundings. I guess both places are home and yet both places are not. I am content in both places and yet I am discontent in some ways. But I am trying to live fully in the moment, wherever I am, and I am thankful for this place I call my home [right now]. Our apartment is the cutest ever (pictures to come...as long as things stop falling off the walls.)

I am very nervous about school and the upcoming semester, but just a little bit ready for it to be in full motion.
This is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. The cooler, cozy weather. The celebration of mine and Noah's 3 years together. Mine, my roommate's, and Noah's birthdays. New beginnings. The state fair. Changing colors. Football and soccer games. School being too new to resent. I love it all. And knowing that this is my last year to ever be a student is a bittersweet feeling.

I know this is going to be my best year yet.

I hope all of you are enjoying this season as well, whether it brings new things or continues in a predictable pattern =).

xx,
Ashley

Always a Bridesmaid

In the next few weeks I am going to be in two weddings. It's a really fun and exciting time, and I'm looking forward to all of the events that are going to be taking place. I'm also getting ideas and supplies for styling myself. I've always had a trying relationship with my hair, so I am thankfully able to have other people do it for me for the big days. Doing it myself would probably end in some sort of tragedy. Here is some bridesmaid hair inspiration I've been loving:









So, so pretty! I can't wait to get all dolled up =)

xx, Ashley

Style File: Crazy BirdLady

It's no secret that I have been lacking in the field of creative blogging. I just haven't had anything I felt the need to share, and I didn't want to overwhelm the blog with wedding plans. Especially since I am trying to keep most things secret.
That being said, one of my favorite things about the blogs I read are the outfit posts. I love seeing how people put together their style, and it inspires me when I get ready in the morning. I thought it'd be fun to do a few style posts every once in a while on here. I definitely don't have the skills of the ladies I follow when it comes to putting together outfits, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway.


Today I decided to wear a wrap dress since it's pretty hot out and I might be attending a picnic in the evening. I love wrap dresses like this one because they are so easy to wear and comfortable. I also love this dress because of it's unique and slightly weird print. Definitely something that I get comments about :)












Dress: Thrifted
Sunnies: Cynthia Rowley
Necklace: Vintage
Shoes: Target


One thing I am looking forward to about these posts is their motivational factor. Since working at Perkins and wearing a uniform almost every day, it's hard to find the motivation to get dressed much less in a cute outfit. Hopefully this will help me step it up a bit.

And while we're at it, here are some fashion blogs that I love to read:

Bleubird Vintage
A Beautiful Mess
CaliVintage
Orchid Grey
LuLu Letty

xx, Ashley

Ain't No Cure For The Summertime Blues

I am not a country fan whatsoever...but I can relate to that song.
I have been quite absent from here lately, and believe me it has nothing to do with being too busy. I'm not too sure what has kept me from blogging, but I just haven't had the motivation.

So let me catch you up.
Lately I have been

working here...and not really loving it.


I got a gym membership for the summer. Surprisingly the classes are kind of fun.


My blanket is coming along splendidly, although I'm starting to regret the color choice. (The above picture is not my blanket, fyi)



And I've been skyping with this guy, who the other day pointed out that I have never mentioned his actual name on this blog. I guess I'm just keeping him anonymous ;)

And let's not forget the endless amount of wedding planning going on here. Or should I say brainstorming. The frustrating reality is that we have made hardly any concrete plans. Everything relies on someone or something to make it work, and we are still having to figure out all our possibilities. The biggest challenge was a venue. We have finally settled on one, but it is a public park and therefore presents many challenges as well. I am already praying for good weather because if it rains the day is going to be crazy!
We have a potential band, potential caterer, potential dessert idea, potential decorations, and a potential date. I am so ready to have some plans set in stone I'm going insane! Let's hope that since the venue is chosen some things will fall in place.
I don't want to make this blog entirely dedicated to wedding things, but it's probably going to consume most of my time this summer so there might be a lot of inspiration on here :)

Speaking of wedding things, I made some votive candle holders today based on this post on one of my favorite blogs.


So simple and yet so pretty!

Finally, something is getting done :)

I think this has gone on long enough,
XO Ashley

Sporting Bling

Well, this news isn't really all that new anymore but I have been away from the blogging world for quite a while...
I'm engaged!
This means that my summer, along with a desperate attempt to make some money, will be filled to the brim with wedding planning!
The wedding date will not be until summer of 2012, but I'm beyond thankful for the 12 months I have to plan. It is going to be a huge task.
One of the biggest feats before me is finding a dress. Honestly, I am at a loss. There seems to be no such thing as a dress under 1000 dollars that isn't heinous. I want something vintagey, somewhat unique, simple, and timeless. Is that too much to ask?
But seriously, I HATE poofy, princessy, tulle-explosion dresses that make the bride look like a spectacle. It's a dress, not a fabric store. I refuse to shop at David's Bridal, so I suppose my shopping is going to have to take place over the internet. And don't even get me started on all the problems that go along with that.
But enough of my ranting, here are some dresses that I love but am simply too poor to afford!

Dresses by: Saja, Ivy & Aster, and BHLDN

Sigh...

Stress-Mania

Let's just say I have finals next week, homework this week, and an 10 storage boxes and a car to pack all my belongings into.
Soon my car will be looking like this

and my room will be looking like this


I am a little on edge these days.
So here are some things to brighten my day (and maybe yours)

Cute literary tshirts introduced to me by Miss Emily Petzel

Old people that are adorable.


This beyond adorable dress.


I would get this shirt for my summer job hunt...except I have no money.


These are the cutest. I will be making some of these for our apartment next year!


I love these handmade stamps from pictures! I want one of me and Noey ♥

There now, I feel better.
Now back to homework.

XO, Ashley

Collections

Hello there! Today I would just like to share a few of my collections (or things I would like to start collecting). My mother would probably call me a pack-rat, but I would prefer to call myself a well-rounded collector :) Here are some of the things I am acquiring...

I have a slight obsession with photobooths. I try to get pictures whenever I find one, which can be difficult since they seem to always be out of order! I have about 9 pictures so far.

Recently I began collecting vintage viewfinders. I like the idea of having them around my place for people to look at when they're bored, kind of like coffee table books. I have two finders and am now collecting the reels to look at.

My Buns of Steel collection began when my roommates and I decided to do the original Buns video. It really does work! I highly recommend it...Anyway, I now own all of the collection except for a few videos, including the pregnancy one and men of steel. It took me almost a year and a LOT of thrift store browsing to find them all!

I would definitely consider my shoes a collection. I have soooo many it's astounding sometimes...I don't even really like to show people how many I have. The dropped jaw gets a little old sometimes.

Blame this on my future profession or not, I love children's books. This is also a practical collection because my children can use it one day and my classroom. So far all I have are a few of the classics...I have to make sure my collections don't get out of control since I have no room to store them anywhere.

My vintage Pyrex collection was a big obsession last year, until I ran out of cupboard room and had to stop. The collection is still on hold due to my current living situation, but all of my dishwear is stored safely away in my shed at home :) I looove hunting for pretty bowls and dishes with patterns from the 1970's. They just don't make Pyrex like they used to...

I have a very small collection of records currently, mostly due to my financial situation. Yes, it is easy to find cheap records, but I want to make sure my collection is filled with vinyl I really love rather than just whatever I found at Electric Fetus or the thrift store. I currently love all of the albums I have. My most prized possession is the complete works of Simon & Garfunkel.

A few years ago my grandma gave me all of her vintage teacups. I also have those stored away at home. So far I haven't added any to the collection-once again because of the difficulty of storing and transporting glass cups when you move twice a year. I can't wait to have some means to display them, they are all so pretty!

I have such a love for antique tins, but so far I only have one. I want to develop this collection so badly, but these little gems cost nearly 60 bucks a tin! Ridiculous I know! I hope to find some for very cheap when I head home and hit up some second hand and antique stores...so far my search has been in vain.

Aaaand finally my pipe collection. This started out with just regular pipes, but my friend Emily gifted me a pipe hand painted from Africa, and my parents gave me one as an Easter present this year from El Salvador (how cool are my parents?)! They are so awesome...I'm thinking I might need to start a new collection of pipes from foreign countries? : )


Obviously I need an intervention. I've had many other collections including cards, paint by numbers, locket rings, and many more, but right now most of them are on a halt until I have my own place. I'm not sure if it's the thrill of the hunt or the actual treasure that I admire most. Do you have any collections?

XO, Ashley