fall's must-have accessory

THE LEOPARD CLUTCH

yep, leopard went from being trendy to a staple in everyone's closet in a matter of a few years. and i'm ok with that! i say every girl needs to invest in a leopard clutch for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. you'll get a ton of use out of it and it'll go with damn near everything. 

leopard + chambray + pencil skirt

great for a night out or even a work day. 

plaid button up + statement necklace + leopard clutch

image via prosecco & plaid

my goodness i just love mixed patterns. especially leopard print and plaid, there's just something so perfect about it. plus, plaid is quintessential autumn attire.

jumper + leopard clutch

yes, please. i know it's past labor day and there's an age old rule about not wearing white pants. there's also an age old saying that rules were made to be broken! ammiright?!

flowy blouse + wide leg trousers + leopard clutch

see above comment.

blazer + tee + leather mini + leopard clutch

in my last post i believe i said something about every girl needs a leather mini in her closet. case in point, ladies. 

blazer + tee + ripped jeans + leopard clutch

comfy casual all the way. actually maybe the blazer makes it dressy casual? is that a thing?

fur + leopard clutch

ok, so i guess this is more late fall because typically it's not cold enough for fur, but i couldn't leave this beauty out of the mix. 

comfy sweater + leopard clutch + red lip

image via color me courtney

just perfect. and her blog is insanely adorable.

jean jacket + stripes + leopard clutch

stripes and leopard print go together like sprinkles and frosting.

flowy blouse + strappy heels + leopard clutch

this is a great combination of colors. i love all the neutrals and the way the ripped jeans give the outfit an edge.

all images are found via pinterest unless otherwise noted.

well everyone, i hope you guys like fall as much as me because for the next two months i'll be posting non-stop autumn related things i'm pretty sure. i hope you all had a fantastic weekend! 

 

xoxo, 

ashley

 

 

fashion friday : 10 flawless black & white outfit combos

 

the older i get the more i appreciate the classics and black paired with white is about as classic as it gets.  fall is on the way and that means it's time to pull out some layering pieces, neutral colors and fun coats. (not really for southern california where it's just like one long neverending summer, but hey i can pretend.) fall is my favorite season and i'm sure sad to miss out on that crisp air and those vibrant leaves this year. major sad face over here.

ok, these are just perfect. for work i could totally see someone wearing the esemble on the left and the outfit on the right is so versatile you could wear it for basically anything. ok, maybe a liiiiittle dressy for hitting up the grocery store, but you know.

uhmm...why can't i mix three different patterns in one outfit and not look like a crazy person? i mean, she really nailed it with the outfit on the left. it's so interesting with the layering and pattern combos. it'd be great for work, a date or even a night out at an art show or something. the outfit on the right is easy breezy and works well for a casual workplace or grabbing a drink with friends. i think every girl needs a black leather mini in her closet.

black jumpsuit + cream blazer, yes. and that clutch! either of these outfits would be so great for day to evening outfits. you don't even have to change after work for your date unless you just really want to. 

ripped jeans, i love you. forever. especially when you're so flawlessy styled. i don't know about you, but give me either outfit and i'm as happy as a clam. (where did that saying come from anyway...how are we supposed to know if clams are happy?)

ok, if these don't make you want to run out and buy a cream wool coat for winter i don't know what would. these outfits really show it's all about mixing and matching what you have because the coats themselves are very similar, but one outfit is super girly-chic while the other is a little more tom-boy-meets-NYC-business-woman.

 

and that's it for today everyone. thanks for reading! 

XO, 

ashley

fasion friday : 5 date night outfit ideas

going on a date, especially a first, can be really daunting. nerves can get the best of you and to add to it you may be struggling with what in the world to wear. do i go casual, dressy casual, formal, conservative or just let it all hang out? juuust kidding on that one, but seriously it can be tough. for this fashion friday i thought it may help some of you who are facing this dilemma to put together a little summer cheat sheet. here goes nothing!

flowy midi dress

this outfit is definitely good when you really don't know what the heck to wear. it's pretty versatile and could be suited for a casual setting or a dressier one. pick a flowy midi dress in a colorful pattern and pair with some strappy heels or wedges. a good neutral clutch will look great with this look!

images via pinterest and the lone star looking glass.

patterned jumpsuit

i love a cute jumpsuit simply because they are an outfit in one. you just throw it on with a couple of simple accessories and go! tall wedges really look best with this outfit. you really want your legs to appear elongated for this look so it's not frumpy. you can opt to belt it or not depending on the style.

images via style cab.

nude dress + statement necklace

there's no going wrong with this outfit. it's classic! definitely a little on the dressier side, but still not 'stuffy'. opt for a high neckline in whatever dress silhouette best suits your figure so that the statement necklace really pops. you can go for a fun neon necklace like on the left or a sophisticated beauty like on the right. i'd probably pair this with metallic heels as nude may be overkill. just try a few options and see what looks best though!

images via pinterest and google.

long sleeve romper

whether you want to go with classic black, chic white or a fun pattern, this look is super cute. something about a romper with sleeves is so much more sophisticated to me than without. pair it with some strappy nude heels and a great bag for a great outfit.

images via blush & camo and sazan blog. 

midi skirt + patterned crop top

ok, now if this isn't a fun date night look then i don't know what is. this is for the girl who doesn't take herself too seriously and just wants to have a good time. a white skirt will go well with a lot of things, but since a midi skirt can be on the conservative side i really like them with a crop top and a patterned one at that. you can opt for a fitted top or flowy depending on your comfort level. add some bright lipstick and head out for a night out on the town!

images via the every girl and pinterest.

 

 

10 pinterest recipes to try this summer

we've all been there. maybe you're bored. maybe you have some free time or a day off. whatever the reason, you get a spark of inspiration and decide you want to put your culinary skills to the test at a delicious, albeit kind of intense recipe found on pinterest after waaay too long a browsing sesh. what the hell, you've made a homemade pizza before. how hard could these pan seared scallops with pancetta, pea & mushroom risotto be?  after making your list and writing down maybe twenty-ish ingredients you start to question your decision. but you persevere. you're going to make dinner if it's the last thing you do and your significant other is going to love every bite. you leave the grocery store, head spinning, having spent enough to buy you a weeks worth of groceries under typical circumstances. because who knew scallops weren't in season? not you. 

finally you're home. four hours later your kitchen looks like hurricane andrew made a resurgence from the atlantic and whizzed directly through your townhouse like he had a vendetta or something. all to what end? to find that this recipe was the blandest, yet most expensive meal you've ever schlepped over. you ate crayons in preschool that tasted better.

okay, so maybe we haven't all been through that exactly, but you get the point and to some extent you probably have. so i'm here to save you! here are ten pinterest recipes that are ACTUALLY good!  and easy. and require only a few ingredients. sometimes, simplicity really is best.

COOKIE + kate :

skinny margaritas

don't let the name throw you. these don't taste "skinny". they taste fresh and pack a punch. i personally cannot stand those pre-made fluorescent yellow or green drink mixes they sell in grocery stores. try a fresh squeezed margarita and you'll never go back. in a pinch, i've used honey instead of agave and they turned out great!

pinch of yum : 

red thai curry sauce

i'm a thai food junkie and red curry chicken is my go-to order. i've never been able to recreate it at home though until i stumbled on this recipe. i usually sautee  1lb chicken, red bell pepper, and onion and half a carton of mushrooms together and then add it to the sauce. and serve over rice. 

COOKIE + kate : 

fresh mango salsa

this is great with tortilla chips, as a topping for tacos or served over baked salmon. it's the perfect summer staple.

smitten kitchen :

double chocolate banana bread 

this stuff is heaven. i make this banana bread quite often actually. i somehow always have a couple of bananas lying around that have seen better days and there's no better way to put them to use. it's really good for breakfast, dessert or a snack!

cooking classy : 

avocado hummus

if hummus could be beautiful, this would definitely be beautiful hummus. the creamy texture and color are what caught my eye. my only concern was if this would turn that brown murky color that avocados tend to after a day or two. well friends, i'm on day two and i'm happy to report that it's holding up really well and still looks like a delicious shade of green. 

glorious treats : 

magnolia bakery banana pudding

i made a trifle version of this for a friends wedding shower a while back and it turned out great. the texture was so light and fluffy. it got rave reviews and some people even took some home with them. i'll take that as a compliment!

gimme some oven :

chicken, bacon & avocado chopped salad

this is a great weekday dinner option for someone on the go. it's healthy, yet calls for few ingredients and scores high on the taste charts. i mean anything with bacon and / or avocado is bound to be delicious. ammi right?!

minimalist baker : 

quinoa stuffed peppers

i've had some organic quinoa sitting on my pantry shelf for way too long. that coupled with my no carb kick last week, i decided to give these a shot and boy were they delicious. note, i used chicken broth instead of vegetable to make the quinoa so it had some extra zing. it was a good addition. also, i use pinto beans instead of black beans because i prefer the flavor and i add ground turkey.  these are great for leftovers too!

the cooking jar : 

hash brown egg nests

taste meets convenience. these are so easy to grab on the go for busy mornings! and let's face it that sums up about everyone in america. 

 

 

 

that's it! hope you all are having the very best week. until next time! 

xoxo, 

ashley

fashion friday : cute summer haircuts

happy friday everybody! i hope you all have some great plans for the weekend. i've decided to do a little feature called 'fashion friday' for my blog. it'll be anything from hairstyles to outfits every, you guessed it, friday. i've been toying with the idea of chopping all of my hair off and in the process i've found so many cute styles that i thought i may as well share some of them with you. i know as both a stylist and client that it always helps to have a picture of what you want so maybe this will be just the inspiration you were looking for! 

the classic bob

nothing fancy here, just your classic one-length bob just above the shoulders. this can be styled with a middle part or side part for some variation and looks great straight or wavy. it's just long enough with careful placement of a few bobby pins you can still put it up and out of your face. big plus!

textured bob with full bangs

omg, i love this cut. always have always will. too bad bangs look like an atrocity on my round face or i would go for it. anyway, for those of you without my unfortunate dilemma, this is a really stylish cut that's again still long enough to put back if needed. it's all about the textured ends for this wavy look. you're stylist will know just what you mean.

pixie with long side swept bangs

why don't ya just chop it aaaall off? i mean, a pixie should probably be on every girl's bucket list.  this version gives you length in the front so that it feels feminine and has a softer look.

chin-length bob

i had my hair this length a couple of years ago and i loved it. it's so liberating to have short hair sometimes. none of that getting caught in zippers or seatbelts mess. just me? okay. anyway, this looks great once again wavy or straight. it's really up to you.

super short textured pixie

let's face it. whoever these ladies hairstylists are, they're killing it. i mean really. this is a gutsy cut, i'm not going to sugar coat it. if you have the nerve, as for a textured super short pixie reminiscent of twiggy.

short asymmetrical cut

this my friends, is the kind of haircut a stylist gets excited about. the daring, offbeat haircut request can be few and far between. this style works with lots of hair textures. it's similar to the long pixie, but this is more dramatic. make sure your stylist leaves one side quite a bit longer than the other and emphasize that you want it piece-y. 

the lob (aka, long bob)

possibly summers hottest cut, the lob is flattering on almost everyone. it bridges the gap between short and long. it works on most any face shape and it's most definitely easy to style. 

 

and that concludes the summer cut round up! i hope you all enjoyed these styles!

xoxo, 

ashley