Appreciate Every Day.

I had a different post lined up for today, but due to recent events I wanted to publish the thoughts that have been swarming around in my mind since yesterday. Two nights ago, a train heading from Washington DC to Philadelphia careened off the tracks while going around a bend, killing 7 people and critically injuring a number of people. One of those people who died was a man that lived in my town, and whose son I went to school with. After reading the story, I found myself shaking. I could not even imagine being one of those poor people who lost a family member or friend. I wondered why terrible things happen to good people.This whole situation, especially since it affected someone in my school, completely changed my perspective. Here I was, stressing about anything and everything, when someone had just lost the most important person in their life. It really made my "problems" seem trivial. After seeing this quote on Pinterest I got a few ideas in my head. 

Love Your Life

1. Be grateful for everything, everyday. You never know when it might be gone. Appreciate the little things in life, and find something to be thankful for at the end of everyday. It could be taken away instantly. We need to be more appreciative of the world around us!! 

2. It may sound cheesy, but live every moment to the fullest. Having no regrets will ensure the most satisfaction in life, which once again could be taken away in a second. Allow yourself to embrace every opportunity and soak in the reality of that moment.

3. Spend time with the ones you love, and let them know how much you appreciate them. I know there's mornings I run out the door without saying goodbye to my mom or sister-what if something happened to me or them? I don't even want to think about that! Taking the extra 3 seconds to kiss/hug someone goodbye makes all the difference.

4. Do the things you love. Pretty self explanatory. 

5. Never take anything for granted. Everyday, my dad goes up in the air and I take it for granted that he'll make it safely back down every night. That's a blessing in its self, and I realize that now. 

T

his terrible tragedy, although deeply saddening, has increased my appreciation for my family, and urged me to really appreciate every moment of my life- the good and the bad. 

My heart goes out to all of the families affected by this disaster. Please keep them in your thoughts. 

Article: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/us/amtrak-train-derails-crash-philadelphia.html?_r=0

-Ashley Ann 

Spring Inspiration: Mood Board

Seriously, this weather is crazy! It went from 45 degrees to 85 degrees in about two days. I feel like we skipped spring altogether and went straight to summer, but that's fine with me! It is quite beautiful. Flowers bloomed quicker than normal, the trees are green and lush- basically it's amazing. I adore spring clothes because there's tons of different outfit options. It's still cool enough to be able to wear pants, but you can also whip out those summer dresses/skirts. There's millions of different options available, however I tend to go for simple, and comfortable. I put together an array of cute spring pieces that I am totally in love with. Seriously about to order everything.

bucket bag//tortoiseshell sunnies//scalloped dress//fluted skirt//bow studs//navy bow hat//pink pants

Isn't everything just adorable? 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

New Hair!

Lately, I've been feeling pretty down. I don't know what it is-end of school year jitters, AP Exams, SAT's, ACT's, finding a job this summer, golf-you name it, I'm stressed about it. It's been really hard for me to find even just a second to relax! (Blaming that one on my Type A personality.) Every since January, when I cut my hair into a long bob, or "lob", I've had an itch to chop it even shorter. Like, really short. 

My inspiration for this hair was (let's be real) all Lauren Conrad. She is without a doubt my biggest girl crush! Her hair seems to always, always, always look perfect. If you check out my beauty pinterest board, you'll see for months I've been pinning her hairstyles, as well as some other short cuts. 

My hair came out a little shorter than expected... but I love it! I feel so free. I can literally wake up and walk out the door without doing anything-and it still looks acceptable. I highly recommend chopping your hair for the summertime if you've been on the fence. It keeps you cooler, plus to anyone in school: none of your classmates will see you if it turns out bad!

Now for the big reveal... 

I feel super sassy with my new hair :) 

The first snapchat taken right after I got home from the salon... Infamous.

Basically this haircut is going to be a godsend during the summer. I've curled it once since the cut and I love the beachy waves I achieved with this curling wand set. 

Anyone thinking of cutting their hair soon? 

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

A Pop of Color

Short post today, but just had to share these adorable aqua blue adirondack chairs my mom and I picked up yesterday! We've been looking for a bright set of chairs to put under the oak tree in our backyard, and these ones take the cake with a whopping $18. Adorable, right?

Ah, the perfect color for spring/summer. Get them here.

Aren't these just the cutest?

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

Great Food in a Great Place

I adore Washington DC. It's my favorite city! (New York is obviously runner up). I especially love Georgetown. The shopping is great, the food is delicious, and the overall vibe is amazing. I went back to DC (again) to look at Georgetown University and George Washington University over my spring break. Let's just say I ate a lot of great food while I was there.

Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons hotel is fabulous. The food was so good I could hardly stand it! They bring out an adorable french fry sampler as an appetizer-they're so delicious and crispy!

This salad was delicious! Not your typical salad- it was sans lettuce. 

Ended the night with a savory steak. The plates came out so hot, I couldn't even touch it! 

Both mornings we ate in at our hotel. I really wanted to get a late brunch, but our schedule unfortunately couldn't allow it. Next time. However, I did have a fabulous waffle with mixed berries on top! (As well as a healthy fruit salad the second morning to detox my body from all the french fries!)

I really recommend Cafe Milano to anyone visiting Georgetown. It's your typical fine Italian dining. I got this great pizza with buffalo mozzarella. 

This may be just me and my picky eating habits, but I absolutely cannot eat tomato soup unless I eat it with grilled cheese... Call me crazy but I just don't like the taste of tomato soup on its own. 

Lots of delicious foods this time around! (P.S. I stopped in at Shake Shack for lunch one day as well, I couldn't resist.) I can't wait to come back to Georgetown soon! 

What are YOUR favorite spots to eat in Georgetown?

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo,

Ashley Ann

Weekend Looks.

This weekend was absolutely beautiful. It finally started to feel like spring (it's about time)! Sunny and in the 60's, my kind of weather! Saturday I just relaxed outside, playing with Max and riding my bike. Today, I got a little more dressed up and I think I'm going out for ice cream later! It was a great way to end my spring break after getting back from DC Friday night (but I'll save that trip for another post).

Friday

I love this outfit! It's so simple and comfy, but cute at the same time. It's perfect for a warm but breezy spring day. 

Oh goodness, I love this necklace. I purchased it at a boutique near my house last year, so unfortunately you can't get this exact same one. It's so cute for the spring and summer, and I love the green stones in between! Here's a starfish necklace from J.Crew that's also cute.

I kept things casual with no makeup and a not-so-cute messy bun. My shirt is from J.Crew! I got it last year and love it-especially the zipper detailing on the side! (similar)

My jeans are the comfiest in the world. They're from American Eagle, where I get most of my jeans. This type for some reason just fits me really well! 

Lastly, my beautiful sneakers! They're white converse and can be so versatile. Wear them with a dress, or jeans like I did! I love the bright white. 

It got a little chilly at night so I threw on this striped jacket from the Loft and let down my hair. The jacket keeps you warm without being too heavy for spring time. 

Saturday

This look is so fun! I talked about this skirt in my last blog post, and purchased it the next day! The eyelet pattern is so cute. I love the pop of neon yellow even though it's not something I would normally go for.

I put my hair into a tiny low bun, with a gorgeous headband from the Loft. I don't think they sell these anymore, but when I was in the store the other day I fell in love with this one! My shoes are plain nude flats by Bandolino, a great affordable shoe brand.

I paired the skirt with this navy polo from Old Navy, but it would look great with a white or chambray shirt! 

I popped my collar shortly after we took the picture. It's a great way to make a look a little more casual! 

I have on my favorite pair of Raybans. They feel light on your face and I wear them all the time!

What did you guys do this weekend? 

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo, 

Ashley Ann 

LOFT Sale!

Right now, The LOFT is having a huge sale! 50% off on everything online, plus an extra 25% off if you are a new customer. I've been eying a few of the pieces on their website for a while now, and have waited for a great sale like this to place my order. Here are the things I love:

1// Pink Scallop Dress

This dress is to die for! Love the cropped illusion and the unique back.

2// Windowpane Skirt

After seeing Carly Heitlinger wearing this in a blog post, I fell in love with the skirt and needed to have it! Perfect transitional piece from winter to spring.

3// Geo Eyelet Skirt

Okay, normally I'm not one to go for a bright neon color but I completely adore this skirt! It would look so cute with a simple white tee tucked in and a pair of esperadilles wedges.

4// White Scallop Shorts

I looked at these shorts and immediately thought of summer, going to the beach, and getting ice cream. One of my summer staples is a good, comfortable pair of scallop shorts. Also, they're about $40 cheaper than the Lilly Pulitzer ones!

5// Striped Dress

I also love this dress! LOFT has been coming out with some amazing spring pieces, but I think this would look just as cute in the summer time with a pair of cute sandals or wedges.

Are any of you guys going to be placing an order on LOFT? I know I will!

Thanks for reading and see you soon! Xoxo,

Ashley Ann