Weekly Round-Ups

I completely freaked out at the beginning of this week, when I realized that it's my last full week of summer. How has the time flown by so fast?! I literally feel like I was just wrapping up final exams and packing my things for the beach! But, I can't keep the summer from ending, no matter how much I want it to stay this warm forever. I go back to school on Wednesday, and have been making the most of my last few "endless" days of summer: at the beach almost every day, late night swims, all the ice cream! I also need to schedule quite a few personal appointments: nails, eyebrows, hair, massage... Some major work is needed before I go back, haha. I was pretty low-maitenance this summer in terms of beauty. No plucking my eyebrows, rarely putting on makeup, and neglecting heat on my hair. Although I am excited to get back into the swing of being "put together," it has been nice to kick back in the beauty department! 

Now onto my weekly round-ups (a whole bunch this week!): 

1. Mistakes you're making in the shower. 

2. Some great tips on how to network with confidence! 

3. Love this fun & preppy off-the-shoulder look. 

4.  Tempted to pick up some of these natural beauty products in the nearby future...

5. Take a peek inside Lauren Conrad's new home- to die for! 

6. Obsessed with this white accent table- it's currently on sale 10% off. 

7. Pretty excited for the new Instagram update...

8. 2 videos: this helpful college organization advice, and this adorable engagement! 

9. I literally could not stop the tears of laughter as I read through this hilarious article! 

10. How cute is this merino wool striped dress?! 

11. Pineapples & pinstripes, ya'll.

12.  How to stop being late all the time.

13. Loved seeing all these photos from the KJP crew- really wanted to play croquet after scrolling through the pictures! 

14. 11 basic planner types and what they say about you (FYI, I'm the Lilly Pulitzer & the Day Designer!).

15. Rounding out everything with a sweet gingham and scalloped look! 

Hope everyone had a great week! 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

All The Things

As summer is coming to a close, I'm looking back on the crazy whirlwind of activities, work, and relaxation. I managed this summer to find a nice balance between everything, and spent a lot of time by myself, getting to know myself better. Reflecting on all the things I did over vacation is a tradition of mine every year before I go back to school. This year, I have a list of things that I enjoyed so much doing, and habits that I got into that will stick with me into the start of school. All the things I've done this summer:

-Weekly brunches with my sister 

-Started drinking regular coffee (!) 

-Watched a meteor shower at midnight on the beach 

-Stargazed from my pool at night 

-Ate lunch al fresco at least 3 times a week 

-Went on a mini vacation 

-Read a ton of books and generally got back into my love of reading 

-Worked on improving my blog 

-Spent an entire day at the beach without moving from my towel 

-Caught up with relatives 

-Ate a lot of ice cream and french fries (my summer favorites) 

-Studied for my subject tests 

-Took a pastry cooking class

-Tried beach yoga and loved it! 

-Watched the sunset on the beach 

-Saw fireworks multiple times 

-Rarely used a car 

-Made working out a priority 

-Drank more water 

-Did some shopping 

Probably the best thing I did this summer was going to observe the meteor shower at night. We packed up blankets and towels around 11 pm, headed on over to the beach, and stayed there until 1 in the morning! It was truly a defining moment of my summer. I can't begin to describe how beautiful the sky was; it's quite hard to put into words how small I felt looking up at the night stars. A lot of people were there on the beach with us, but it was nice because nobody was loud. Everyone was enjoying the moment just like us! (Although occasionally there were a few oohs and ahhs when there was a particularly big shooting star). Even though these extra special meteor showers only happen once every some twenty-seven years, I think any night where there's a ton of stars in the sky is just as beautiful. Definitely try going to the beach late at night to stargaze-you won't regret it! 

What are all the things you did this summer?!

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

P.S. A lot of these moments were documented on my Instagram page!

Favorite Princeton Spots

Only just recently in the past few years did I learn to really appreciate Princeton for everything it has to offer. I've lived outside of Princeton my whole life, and sort of took it for granted. The shopping, the 5 star restaurants, the events, the ice cream! There's a million things to do, and more! If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend walking around the town and seeing the sights. Make a day trip out of it! My favorite part of the sleepy yet bustling town, is all the little nooks and crannies. Adorable hidden alleyways lead to restaurants, shops, and penthouse apartments. As someone who's been familiar with Princeton for 17 years now, here's my recommendations: 

To Eat: 

La Mezzaluna: Hands down my favorite restaurant in Princeton (and maybe ever?). It's a really beautiful Italian restaurant with a gourmet twist. The menu is small, so it's not like one of those "how do I choose something" restaurants. Everything is fresh, locally grown, and delicious. My favorite dish there is the chicken marinara (like a fancier chicken parm). And don't even get me started on the chocolate fritters they serve for dessert! Boy, are they amazing. 

Teresa's: Another great Italian restaurant, and definitely the most Instagrammable! It's great for a cute lunch date out on the terrace, or a swanky date night inside. Delicious pasta and pizza await. The restaurant, like La MezzLuna, is also on the higher end/gourmet scale of Italian food.

Mediterra: a super fancy restaurant with an amazing Mediterranean menu (hence the name). I always went here as a kid with my parents! They changed the menu a couple years back and we've only been once or twice since, but I hear it's gotten even better. 

Agricola: A relatively new restaurant that I haven't tried yet- but it's on the top of my list! I hear the food is to die for. It's all fresh, organic greens and natural ingredients. Sign me up! 

Halo Pub: If you live in the Princeton area, you know that everyone is split into thirds in terms of ice cream preferences. There's the Halo Pub goers (that's me), The Bent Spoon ravers, and Thomas Sweets addicts. Everyone has the one ice cream place they will always be loyal to! I adore Halo Pub. I truly think they have the best ice cream in town. Far better than the Bent Spoon! Thomas Sweets is a close second, but Halo Pub simply has that natural, home-made, creamy deliciousness I crave. 

PJ's Pancake House: A classic Princeton watering hole that's been there for AGES. It's really, really good comfort food. I find myself drifting there for a stack of pancakes sometimes in the middle of the day. But I can also never say no to their grilled cheese and fries!

Terramomo Bread Company: The closest thing to a bakery in France! I love their baguettes, they're seriously amazing. The store is tucked away towards the beginning of Witherspoon street. The inside is tiny, but the food payoff is huge. They also have perfectly fluffy croissants!

Olives: A really great little lunch "to go" place. They make a mean tomato and mozzarella panini! There's so many different options: soups, pastas, sandwiches, salads... All made fresh right in front of you to order. They also have a bakery by the checkout line, so you can get dessert along with your sandwich! 

Conte's Pizzeria: This one is right outside downtown Princeton, but has a special place in my heart. I'm not even joking, this will be the best thin crust pizza you'll ever eat! The tiny dive is in an old, mundane building. Sure the place isn't the newest, cleanest, or most charming restaurant around, but it has some pretty good pizza. Don't ask for a menu, there's only a few things on it. Pizza, meatballs, and 1 kind of salad (ice berg lettuce & a tomato) are your options. Hands down my favorite spot for pizza! 

Thomas Sweets: Now, there's two locations of Thomas Sweets in Princeton. One is the ice cream shop, and the other is the chocolate/candy shop. I personally love the chocolate shop, because I never really had a need to go all the way to the ice cream location down Nassau Street (I mean, Halo Pub?!). It was a real treat when my mom bought me and my sister a candy fruit slice! 

Lindt Chocolate: Pretty much the best chocolate you will ever consume, guys. Better than Thomas Sweets, this chocolate comes right from Switzerland. The milk chocolate and hazelnut truffles are my actual weakness. I may or may not have a rewards card that currently has 2,300 points on it!!! (Not ashamed). 

Other favorites include: Yankee Doodle Tap Room, Panera, Witherspoon Grill, 30 Burgers, Starbucks, The Alchemist and Barrister

To Shop: 

Palm Place

JCrew 

Ann Taylor 

Brooks Brothers 

Ralph Lauren 

Kate Spade 

J. Mclaughlin

Barbour

Lululemon 

Blue Mercury 

Origins

Alex and Ani 

Paper Source

Labyrinth Books

To See: 

Grounds of Princeton University

Palmer Square

Live music at Halo Pub 

Princeton University Art Museum (always worth a walk-through)

Hamilton Jewelers 

Carnegie Lake 

Funhouse mirror inside Thomas Sweets 

To Do: 

Night time walking ghost tour around the University (so fun & creepy!) 

Movie night at Princeton Garden Theatre 

Communiversity (once a year, like a street fair)

P-Rade (also once a year, a fun parade & celebration) 

Around: 

Peddler's Village 

Grounds For Sculpture (a must-see!)

Terhune Orchards

Hopewell 

Lambertville

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann

Room Inspiration

Even though we moved into our new house 10 months ago, my bedroom is still nowhere near decorated. I continue to sleep on a bed with no bed frame, papers and books on the floor with no home, and a vanity being the only piece of furniture in the space. It's time for an upgrade!!! I've been obsessively pinning things to my decorating board, trying to find some inspiration on how I'm going to put together a functional yet preppy space. I think the final color scheme is down to this: navy and white with pops of pink and gold throughout! Now that I have a color scheme in mind, I've also kept my eyes open for literally ANYTHING that will get the ball rolling. The only things I have right now are these 2 pillows: 

One from Target, and one from Bed Bath & Beyond. It's not much, but it's a start! Now I have something to go off of. I wanted to share some decorating pieces I've been coveting and that I think will look great in the new space. Here's what's been inspiring me! 

This classic navy and white bedding: 

I might order two of these to make for a fun set of bedside tables! 

I want to order a bunch of these cute "catch-all" trays from Design Darling:

This monogram slip cover chair is what I'm leaning towards for my new desk chair:

Fun gold office supplies for my desk is never off the table: 

I reaaaaaally want this pink flamingo print to start a gallery wall above my dresser! (Other prints on the list include this, this, this, and this.)

Speaking of dressers, I'm thinking of buying two of these Ikea dressers to stick them together and make one long dresser: 

Aren't all these pieces so fun?! I can't wait to begin this process, and blog the progress every so often. To see more things inspiring my room, you can check out my "decorate" Pinterest board! 

What do you think of the color scheme? 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 
Ashley Ann 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann

Tips For Getting A Better Night's Sleep

It's no secret that ever since I got mono, my sleep schedule has been seriously messed up. You guys, it's BAD. Sometimes, I feel like I'm never going to fall asleep. Other times, I feel like a sleep machine that can never be woken up! However, I find now that most of the trouble comes in when I CANT fall asleep. I used to lay in my bed for hours with my eyes open, begging somehow I would be able to get rest. By changing a few simple things in my night routine and lifestyle, my sleeping habits have improved immensely. For the most part, I am able to fall asleep easily now- except for some rough nights occasionally. My tips for getting a better night's sleep: 

Water // Drinking water has surprisingly helped me a ton. Obviously, staying hydrated has numerous health benefits. I took it one step further and always drink 2 glasses of lemon water after dinner. One right when I'm done with dinner, and one about a half hour before I go to bed. It makes all the difference!!! I wake up feeling refreshed, and without a dry mouth. 

No electronics // This was probably the hardest transition for me, but I try (for the most part) to stay off my electronics after 8:30 pm. It's been proven over and over again that making your brain go to work right before bed completely ruins any hope of falling asleep. As soon as you turn on your bright screen, your eyes become strained and you instantly perk up. I try to get all emails, blog posts, and Instagram time out of the way before 8:30. That way, I know for sure I'm in for a relaxing evening without the added stress of social media. I do let myself watch TV, though. I watch a little bit around 9, for an hour or so- it helps calm me down and take my mind off things! 

Reading // No objection here to this welcome change! I love to read, and carving out specific time in my day to curl up with a book is the best thing in the world for me. Reading instantly puts my mind at ease, makes me sleepy (but not in a boring way!), and gets my brain ready for sleep. Sometimes I have to catch myself though- if a book is too interesting, I have the urge to stay up late and finish it! My Kindle is off-limits at this time of night (sticking with the no-electronics rule). Hardcover or paperback only! 

Skincare // Going through my skincare routine at the end of the night immediate starts to wind my body down for the day. Something about ending the day with my skin signals it's time for sleep. Take the time out to thorough cleanse, tone, and moisturizer your skin- not only will it keep your skin clear, but it's very calming/luxurious. 

The 4-7-8 Trick // I recently discovered this sleeping hack while browsing Pinterest to get ideas for this post. I tried it one night and it completely works wonders. Basically the idea is that you breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold your breathe for 7 seconds, and exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds. Apparently this certain combination of seconds slows your heart rate and immediately puts your body into "rest mode." I couldn't believe how well this simple trick worked! Honestly give it a try- I was skeptical at first, but I now do this breathing routine every night in bed. Unless I'm completely and utterly not tired, it always does the trick. 

Melatonin // If all else fails, melatonin! It’s a natural supplement that works for most people. I pick mine up at CVS (no prescription needed). At night about a half hour before I go to bed, I’ll take 10 milligrams. It works wonders, and doesn’t make you feel drowsy when you wake up (like some sleeping pills might). But I only use melatonin as a last resort. I don’t like using pills unless I absolutely cannot fall asleep. 

Those were my tips for getting a better night’s sleep! 

Do you have trouble falling asleep like I do?! 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

Weekly Round-Ups

I finally got to one thing on my to-do list that's been number one for awhile- school supply shopping! Shopping for back to school supplies is honestly the thing I look forward to the most come end of summer. I went to Target, and spent an hour sorting through everything! I found some really adorable things that I cannot wait to use this school year. 

Went back home for an impromptu lunch with some friends! Panera was the unanimous vote! 

It was also my Dad's birthday- Happy birthday Dad! Love this picture of us that I posted on Instagram. 

Now onto my weekly round-ups: 

1. Recipe for penne, eggplant, and mozzarella. 

2. I've been adding a ton of new pins this week to my Pinterest boards! 

3. This TV show has been at the top of my list every week- I'm completely hooked! 

4. On Instagram, the summer you're not having. 

5. For number 5, here's 5 summer beach reads.

6. Love the way this classic Vineyard Vines tee was styled in a new, fresher way!

7. The cutest agenda with the best spread. 

8. Love Jessica's new website design!

9. Another great post from the College Prepster: love this follow up to her big move.  

10. 5 natural headache remedies. 

What are your weekly round-ups?!

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

Splurge Vs. Save

More often than not, I find myself wishing I didn't spend the money on those shoes, or that dress I had to have. I'm constantly searching for "dupes," or cheaper versions of expensive items. I rounded up a few splurge-worthy fashion items, and found pretty identical versions for a way cheaper price! Hopefully, this will help some of you on a strict budget to still maintain that preppy look without breaking the bank. 

White Espadrilles: 

Splurge: Kate Spade, $118

Save: Target, $17

Leather Cross-Body: 

Splurge: Tory Burch, $425

Save: Old Navy, $23

Boater's Hat: 

Splurge: JCrew, $45

Save: Forever 21, $15

Tortoiseshell Cat Eye Sunglasses: 

Splurge: Kate Spade, $145 

Save: Forever 21, $8

Stripe Dress: 

Splurge: Saint James, $175

Save: JCrew Factory, $70

Pinstripe Blouse: 

Splurge: Ann Taylor, $80

Save: JCrew Factory, $35

What are some of your favorite "save" items?! 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

Sailboats by the Seashore

I'm back today with an outfit post on something I've worn at least once a week this summer. I picked up this Lilly skort a few weeks ago and have seriously fallen in love! Hands down the best new print they released this summer was the sailboat pattern. I already picked up an agenda, a phone case, and pants in the pattern!  

Yesterday, we visited some friends down at Lavalette beach for the day! The tiny beach town is so cute- little boutiques up and down the road, and the classic Kohr's soft serve ice cream at the top of the street (yum). I was in a bathing suit for most of the day, but after we swam for hours in the ocean it was time to change into actual clothes! I wore this hanging around the house, and back to the beach at sunset for some impromptu photos. The sky was too good to resist!!! I love summer sunsets so much-half my camera roll is pictures of the sky.

Whenever I wear a bright Lilly skirt, I tend to gravitate towards a simple top. White and navy are my go-to colors to pair with Lilly patterns because they'll always look good with any print. Depending on my mood, I go dressier with a polo or blouse, or dress it down with a classic tee. 

Today, I obviously opted to go casual! In my opinion, that's the best way to go. I love this blue tee shirt I've had for years from Loft. The blue pairs perfectly with the skirt!

One other thing: you may notice the flash tattoos all over my body, ha! My sister bought these at the store and brought them to our friend's house. We all had the best time picking out the coolest ones to wear. Now, I would never even consider getting a real tattoo, but this was too fun. Everyone had to drag the sheets of tattoos away from me! I couldn't stop putting them on ;) Even I will admit I went a little crazy... I have 8 on now! But they only last for a few days, so it's ok! 

Shoes were optional!

Tee (a similar v-neck option) // Scalloped Skort 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

Big Brother!

I wanted to do a quick post today on something I've seriously been obsessed with for the past month: Big Brother! If you don't know what that is, it's a reality TV show that takes place over the course of the whole summer into September. Basically, 16 people (called "houseguests") live in a house on a soundstage without any outside communication, internet, or forms of entertainment. There are cameras in every corner of the house 24/7 watching their every move! Each week, one person is evicted from the house by votes coming from the other houseguests. To win the game of Big Brother, you need to be the last person in the house and you'll then win $500,000!!! In between an eviction every week, there's a few different competitions.

 One, is the Head of Household competition. Whoever wins that gets to stay in the nicest room of the house for the week and must nominate two houseguests for eviction. Then, there's the Power of Veto competition, where the nominees, the HOH (head of household), and 3 other random draws compete to win the golden power of veto. Whoever wins that game gets the chance to "veto" one of the nominations for eviction, therefore saving them from being evicted from the house. 

Those are the basic rules of the game, but there's different twists and turns throughout as the number of houseguests becomes smaller and smaller. I only started watching Big Brother this season and was completely new to it! I caught on very quickly so I do think that anyone can watch the show even if they don't know anything about it. 

My favorite part of the show is getting to know the different people inside the house and all. the. drama. It's hilarious to watch how things play out between different alliances (where people form bonds of trust to ensure that they won't get voted out by that party, or decide to work together to get another person out of the house). There are "showmances" between players- I give them credit seeing as they spend 24 hours a day with the person and still manage to like them! 

             As for my favorite player on the show? A toss up between Jonny Mac (!) and Meg. Jonny Mac is easily the most lovable person in the house with his spunky attitude and goofiness. Meg is a close second- I think she's adorable and fun. I hope the set of them make it to the final two. There's a set of twins on the show as well, Liz and Julia. I absolutely cannot stand Liz, partially because she has a showmance with Austin. (Their whole relationship just makes me shudder). Her twin sister Julia however, is awesome and totally sassy. 

The whole show is entirely addicting. The fights that break out sometimes are intense, but it makes the show so much more interesting! I cannot believe how invested I've become in this show... I also cannot believe that I never started watching until this summer! I think if there's one show you should really give a chance, Big Brother would be it. It's more than just a reality TV show- it technically is just a game show with some drama/betrayal involved, ha. Definitely try watching the first episode, even if you don't like reality TV! 

Who are your favorite houseguests?! 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

Palm Place End of Season Sale

In New Jersey, there are 3 Lilly Pulitzer signature stores- meaning, they sell other brands besides Lilly, but most of the store is the Lilly Pulitzer brand. These stores are called "Palm Place." Conveniently, all three stores are close by to my beach house and regular house! Since the two at the beach close down for the winter, there's always an end of summer sale with great prices/deals. I'm counting down the days until the sale begins! Here are some pieces I'm hoping to get my hands on: 

For a classic nautical look that can be worn everyday:

A silky top in a fun print: 

 A beautiful pair of statement shorts: 

Deep ocean blue that would look great dressed up or down:

Get out of your comfort zone with a bright neon number:  

What are your favorite pieces from this post?

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann