New Year's Resolutions

Wow. It's been so long since I've posted (slaps wrist). What was I thinking? In the spirit of New Year's, I thought it'd be fun to post about resolutions (the first being to start FINALLY posting on here regularly). I've never been one to make New Year's resolutions because, well honestly, I always thought they were stupid. Sorry, it's the truth. But now that I am getting older (because 23 is oh, so old) I'm learning the benefits of resolutions. With the promise of a new year comes the inspiration to begin a new self. We all have a few things we could stand to change about our lives, and what better time to kick off a new self than with the new year?

The problem with resolutions, I feel, is that people always set these lofty, reach-for-the-stars goals that are almost, if not absolutely, impossible to reach. This causes them to get discouraged and quit. My goal for my goals (my high-school English teacher just cringed at that horrid sentence structure): make them attainable. They need to be easy enough to achieve within a reasonable amount of time, but not so easy that they don't feel like a real accomplishment.

Keeping with the theme of Pretty Sweet Style, these resolutions will all be beauty and health (body, mind, and life) related.

So, here they are. My 2012 New Year's Resolutions:

• Straighten-up my room at least once every two weeks. (Believe me when I say it needs it much more often than that. But we're setting realistic goals, remember?)
• Go running at least twice a week.
• Choose a healthy snack (fruit, vegetables, etc.) over candy, chips, etc. more often than not.
• Cut waaaaaay back on the dairy. (Hello, I am a lactose-intolerant dairy-addict.)
• Wash my make-up off every night. (This does not have to include my regular cleaning routine. On nights when I'm super tired, I can just run a make-up removing wipe across my face and call it even.)
• Fully use up a product before I buy more. (Ex: Buying a new type of shampoo and conditioner just because I'm interested in it before finishing the products I have in my shower. This will cut back on wasting my money, products, and counter/shower space.)
• Allow myself to relax before bed by reading every, single night. (I've actually been doing this for a few months now and it has helped me sleep so much better. Most nights, I read less than 10 pages. Just enough to help me wind down and make me sleepy.)
• (Finally, a blog related one.) Post on here at least once a week. It can be about anything at all, I just have to post something. This little space has been gathering dust and cobwebs and is getting really lonely.

How do you guys feel about resolutions? Are you pro or con? What are some of your success, or horror, stories you've had with them? And, if you are a champ at sticking to your goals, what are some of your tips and tricks?

P.S. I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family! :)

Pretty Sweet Style Joins Facebook

It's been a long time coming, but Pretty Sweet Style has finally joined Facebook. There you guys can share tips and tricks. You can also let me know what kind of things you all would like to see more of (or less of) on the blog! Invite your friends and have fun!

NOTD: OPI "Make Love" and Butter London "Rosie Lee"

I know one of my favorite parts of reading other blogs is seeing everyone's Nail of the Day (NOTD). I love seeing new colors and combinations, reading the reviews, and getting the skinny on colors that I've had in mind and wanted to buy but wasn't quite sure of yet. I figured if I loved reading these posts, then you guys would, too (write about what you love, right?).

So, here's Pretty Sweet Style's first NOTD: OPI "Make Love" and Butter London "Rosie Lee." I absolutely love painting one or both of my ring fingers a different color to spice things up once in a while. Generally when I do this, I use a glitter to make things extra special. Last night, while I was watching re-runs of Boy Meets World and Friends (come on, you know that sounds like a good night), I decided to experiment with different pairings and techniques. "Make Love" isn't a new color to my collection but I thought it deserved to get out and stretch its legs a bit. "Rosie Lee," on the other hand, is a new addiction addition (it might as well be an addiction, too!). I thought these two complimented each other so well.

"Make Love" is a wonderfully soft and feminine pink. I think every girl should have a color like this in their nail polish collection. It's a girly go-to for me when I want to feel extra girly. The formulation is great, but it is a little on the sheer side. It took me three coats to get this completely opaque, but if you like a sheer look, you could always just stick with one layer and rock it!

 "Rosie Lee" is a polish I had my eye on since I first spotted the Butter London collection at Ulta. There's a special place in my heart for great glitters (probably the 5 year old in me coming out) and this particular one is at the top of my list. The only downside is that it is a little bothersome to work with. It took me four coats to get an even application and, even after that, I still had a few bald spots, especially near my cuticle. But, Butter London did a great job adding enough glitter in the bottle to make it worth the trouble. Plus, it is just stunningly gorgeous! All in all, completely worth it.

What do you guys think? Would you like to see more NOTD's? Also, what are some colors you ladies (or gents, if polish is your thing :) ) have been ranting and raving about? What are some current favorites and all-time loves? I'd love to hear!

Falling for Autumn

Laaaame title. Yea, I know. But what can I say? I love Fall or Autumn or whatever you want to call it. I "fall" in love with it all over again every year. (See what I did there? Yep, another lame pun.) I fall in love with the sound of the wind through the fallen leaves. I fall in love with the crisp air and the way it stings my lungs as I breathe it in. I fall in love with all of the festivals, and apple cider, and pumpkin spice lattes, and Halloween, and hayrides, and corn mazes... I fall in love with all things Fall.

But what I love most of all is breaking out my boots and scarves. If I could wear my same pair of boots and a different scarf every day for the rest of my life. I'd die a happy woman. I love doing all of the Fall things in my boots and scarves (Wouldn't it just feel wrong to carve a pumpkin or drink hot chocolate in a summer dress and flip-flops?).

What seasons to you guys absolutely fall head over heels for? What are your favorite things about that season (fashion OR anything else)? I'd love to hear!

P.S. We're essentially experiencing a monsoon where I am right now, which is making it hard to get out of this house to get a delicious pumpkin spice latte. So, someone enjoy one for me. By the way, Brett over at The Crumberry Bake Shop has perfected a flawless at-home pumpkin spice latte recipe (How many times can I say "pumpkin spice latte" in one post?). Try it out.

Gross-out at Mac

Yea, the title alone makes you not even want to know what happened. It. Was. GROSS.

I decided to take a peek at what was going on at Mac a few weeks ago. As I was halfway through my browsing, one of the employees rushed by and looked at me saying, "I need to put on my lips. There's nothing on them!" I figured she would just pull something out of her personal make-up bag or even get a tester brush and swipe on some lipstick, but no. What did she do? She picked up a lipstick from the most current collection and... wiped it across her lips. No brush. No cleaning it off with a sanitizer and a napkin afterwards. Ew. Ew, ew, ew. From now on, I'll be keeping the lip-product testing strictly to the back of my hand.

Has anyone else ever seen something like this happen? Did you notify someone or did you just let it slide?

Birchbox! Well, Almost.

I subscribed to Birchbox over a month ago and, because of the timing, this is the first box I am getting. If you've never heard of Birchbox, you should totally (talking like a high school girl here) check out their site. It's awesome. It's a $10 (free shipping) a month subscription service that puts together and delivers four to five deluxe size samples of different products and, sometimes, snacks. The products range from face cleanser samples all the way to full-size Nars, Stilla, etc. makeup products.

Imagine my excitement when I got this email when I got home this afternoon. I've been anxiously awaiting this package and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. I should be getting my box in the next week. When I get it, I plan to make a video of me opening it for the first time to share with all of you. (Yay! for videos.) In the meantime, check out Birchbox.

If you decide to subscribe to this AMAZING service, click on either one of the links I've posted in this blog and it will send an extra 50 points my way. Spread the word and ask your friends to subscribe through you so you can get your extra 50 points as well! It's all about spreading the love.

Update: New Benefit Addition

Hey all! Sorry for not posting the tutorial yet, but it's on its way! : )

On a side note, I bought my first ever Benefit product (and I have my eye on at least 10 more things... Can't help it. Everything is just so wonderful). I'm going to do a review on it very soon (maybe tonight, even). I'm not going to reveal what product it is that I bought quite yet, but it's one that many of you ladies will absolutely love.

Stay tuned!

New Burberry Scent (FREEBIE!)

I found out via Fleur De Force that Burberry is giving out 40,000 30ml of their new fragrance "Body" to celebrate its launch on September 1st! All you have to do is "Like" the Burberry facebook page and click on the sample request button. Hurry though! There's only 40,000 their giving away and this is an international give away so you know it's going to go fast.

Hautelook and Stila

If any of you are like me, then you love getting an AMAZING deal on quality and sometimes expensive/hard-to-find products. Here's where Hautelook comes in. They offer deals on high quality products that usually cost an arm and a leg (ex: Philosophy, Stila, Macadamia, etc.) but at an extremely discounted price. But you have to hurry because these deals only last a few days (usually around 3 days).

I've been occasionally browsing through sales on Hautelook for a while now but never bought anything. A few weeks ago, I spotted that they had a sale on Stila cosmetics. I've been looking for a really good quality concealer but didn't want to shell out the money just to try it out. So, I was elated when I saw that the sale also included Stila's Cover Up Stick. I haven't been using it too long so I can't give a proper review, but so far so good. It does what it says it will and covers well. PLUS, it is oil-free and dries to a matte finish (which is perfect for those of us with oily skin). All in all, I feel like I completely lucked out ($20 concealer for $8? Yes, please!).



















So, if you have a few free moments, check out Hautelook. If you don't see any sales today that interest you, they keep a running list of the upcoming sales for the next three days (new sales start at 8am Pacific time every day) so keep checking back!

"Bling" Nail

Tired of plain nails? Add a "bling"nail for fun.

(Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac and Set the Stage)

Tutorial Tease and Treat Yourself Tip: Hair Mask

Wow. That's a mouthful of a title. Well, I finally have the time that I have wanted to devote to this blog. I'm so excited about it. I'm also tossing around the idea of starting a YouTube channel to host all of my tutorials along with beauty tips, tricks, and discussions.

But today, I'm leaving you with this: a tutorial tease and my first "Treat Yourself Tip." I'll be filming and editing my first tutorial this week (hint: you'll get multiple wears out of it) and then uploading it either at the end of this week or the beginning of next. To hold you off though, I bring you the Miracle Hair Mask.

This hair mask adds shine and nutrition to your damaged, thirsty locks. Because of the amount of saturation it gives though, this is meant to be a once a month treat for your tresses. To make this hair mask, whisk together 5 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 large eggs and 2 tablespoons of honey. Then, lean over the tub and coat your hair. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or a shower cap and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Your natural body warmth will warm up the concoction and work its magic. (NOTE: I was surprised by how strong the scent from this mix was. It wasn't too strong to prevent me from using it [considering how amazing all of the ingredients are for your hair] but I definitely did hold my breath for most of the application.) After your 30 minutes are up, wash your hair and rinse thoroughly.

I hope you all had a lovely summer weekend (my last before school starts back up). I'm excited about the upcoming tutorial and I hope you are too! Oh, and if you try out the hair mask, let me know what you think about it (I have it in my hair as I type this : ) ).

Back on the Horse (Figuratively, of course)

*Aw, cute. The title rhymes. (Gah, I might be lame.)

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here (I'm so sorry about that, guys). But, since the summer is almost over, I will have a more consistent schedule (meaning more consistent posts!). I think my problem last time was that I was hurrying to post something instead of making time in my day to make this blog a priority. I'm going to start doing that, especially because I don't want to let any of you down.

That being said: I finally have my room clean and organized (but I haven't decided if that means I'll be starting a new 30 for 30 or not). But, I am going to be working on my very first tutorial this weekend. I have never done one before so if it's super awkward, just bear with me. It's going to take a little practice and getting used to but hopefully I can make a few tutorials that you will like.

Wish me luck! I'll see (well, you'll be seeing me at least) in a few days. In the mean time, did any of you start and finish a 30 for 30? I'd love to hear about it!

Update

So, here's the low down. I've been super crappy at keeping up with the 30 for 30 because my room has been such a wreck. After moving back home from school two months ago, I realized that I owned too much stuff. So I set out on a mission to clean out everything that wasn't necessary. Little did I know that, between a full time job and spending time with friends, this would be a lot harder to get accomplished. I had high hopes and good intentions, but the disorganization is taking its toll.

Here's where that leaves Pretty Sweet Style and me: I'll be posting tips, tricks, and maybe the occasional tutorial until I get this room tackled. I'm planning on having it done very soon so that we can get back to business. I'll be choosing a brand new 30 pieces and starting completely over on the 30 for 30 (I want to give this the best shot possible).

Thanks to my readers that have been so consistent in visiting. I have loved all of your sweet comments (they really make my day!) and I can't wait to get back on track and hear more from you guys.

Something Daring

Today's post was a treat for me. Instead of having to take my own pictures with my tripod and camera on a self-timer, a co-worker used his new lens he needed to experiment with and super nice Canon.

Posing is starting to get less awkward, too. I've decided to just have fun with the camera and try new things instead of posing in the normal positions. I really enjoy candid pictures and they're a lot easier than worrying about how I look.

I didn't try really hard on today's outfit (sorry, just being honest), but I am really loving it. It's so simple (like the majority of my outfits) but I really like the ruffle on the tank, tiny strappy sandals, and fun floral sunglasses. And, if I can be honest again, I was really nervous about wearing this shirt today. I struggle with my stomach a lot and so I tend to stray away from things that cling to my body. But today I decided dared myself to start learning to combat that and defeat it. No more shame. I am learning to become more comfortable with the body that was given to me and how to carry myself better.

On a less serious note, I'm planning on taking some really fun pictures of my outfits this weekend (maybe more than one outfit per day!). Friday and weekend outfits are always my favorites. What about you guys? Do you tend to have more fun with your clothes on the weekend too? Remember, those two glorious days are moments to go crazy and hold nothing back.

Challenge: Do something daring this weekend. Now is the perfect time to try something new.

* Sorry for the inconsistent posts this week. I've had some serious camera issues. Doesn't life seem to go that way? Silly things happening at the most inopportune time? You just have to remind yourself that life isn't what happens to you, it's what you choose to do with what's given to you.

Around Town

 

I took a day off from the 30 for 30 yesterday to spend the whole day in my pajamas (and it was wonderful). But, today I needed to run a few errands. Today didn't merit anything fancy, but I sure felt great in this outfit. It was so simple and easy to put together, and I even got a compliment on it (isn't it funny when someone says something nice about an outfit you feel like you just "threw" together?).

When I'm not planning on doing anything special, I love to throw on a skirt and tank. I know that a lot of planning and effort didn't go into it, but no one else does. Double points for high messy buns being in style right now. Zero effort, one hundred percent adorable. What's your favorite easy outfit or hair do?

These Little Wonders

Ever have those weeks where you feel like your life is, for lack of better words, blah? When I have weeks like those, I like to make the effort to notice the beauty in everyday things (usually by way of my cellphone camera) and appreciate the little things like:


the fact that my boyfriend brought me yellow daisies for no reason at all, except to show me that he was thinking of me and loves me,




kicking my tail and getting healthier with an absolutely wonderfully painful two-mile run,




seeing these kinds of views while running,





getting random text messages that make me feel like a million bucks,




seeing this gorgeous sunset pick through after a torrential downpour,




and finding both ends of a rainbow.

Fashion and Farming

Someone must have not wanted me to take pictures yesterday because everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Well, not everything. And I did end up getting to take pictures next to my very favorite fields. (See? Things happen for a reason.)

As usual, I was running late to work again and had to throw together a quick outfit. Luckily, I had written down the list of my 30 items. (Which I promise I will be posting this weekend. Be just a tad bit patient with me... that closet has been a beast to clean out.) I've been wanting to wear these white jeans for months now, so I threw them in the 30 for 30, that way I am forced to finally wear them again.

I absolutely love this shirt. I added it to my 30 because all of the jewel-tone colors would go great with so many things. Whenever I'm running a little behind, this is one of my go-to shirts. Do you have any go-to pieces? The ones that you know you'll look and feel great in?

* A farmer came out on his tractor while I was doing this shoot. Other than the fact that I looked crazy balancing my camera on my purse and windshield wipers because I lost a piece of my tripod after my other camera died and I couldn't find the cord (told you things went wrong), I bet he thought I was a little weird posing outside of his chicken houses. Only in the South.

Standing on the Rooftops

The internship I am at this summer has the most amazing rooftop. Three of us decided to take a quick break from our work and explore for a little bit. Then, there was an impromptu photoshoot thanks to Clint, who just happens to be a professional photographer as well as a designer I work with. (Thanks for the awesome shots, Clint!)

I'm slowly learning how to pose for the camera. It's honestly kind of awkward for me because I've always been the one behind the camera, not in front of it. Hopefully, I'll learn a lot more over time. Anyways, I was slightly rushed this morning so Day 1 of the 30 for 30 isn't the most exciting outfit I've ever put together. But, at least it has CTPS. I wear these skinny jeans all of the time, but I still decided to include them in my 30 items (I love them so much). I'm also including my favorite flats (the ones I'm wearing), this very light blush pink tee, and one of my favorite cardigans.

I'm so excited about picking the rest of my 30 items tonight. I'll be sure to take a ton of pictures and show you guys. Let me know what you think so far! I'd love feedback. And, if you're following along and doing the 30 for 30 too, how's it going so far? What are you already learning?

Stay tuned...

Day number three of Pretty Sweet Style and I'm already behind. (If you know me, this doesn't come as a huge surprise. I am the procrastination queen.) With that said, I'm sorry for not posting any pictures yet. I've been needing to do an overhaul on my closet before choosing my thirty pieces for the 30 for 30 (some which I already have in mind). I had planned to do said overhaul last night and post pictures this morning, but we had such a bad storm yesterday that it just wasn't safe to be on the second floor of the house. So, tonight I will be cleaning out my disaster of a closet and picking out my thirty pieces. Stay tuned and don't give up on me just yet because there are good things in store.

Getting Dressed 101: CTPS

Color + Texture + Pattern + Shine = One stellar get-up.

That’s it. This is one of several formulas I use to get dressed (most) days (the other days are when I have about 5 minutes to get my teeth brushed, clothes covering my body, and across campus at 8:00 in the morning… those days it’s sweats [gross.]). If you have ever watched What Not to Wear, then you’ve probably heard Stacy or Clinton mention this “style equation.” (See? Actually listening to what they’re saying while you’re just laying around with that bowl of Ben and Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch in your college-ephemera sweatpants instead of just zoning out can do you some good. [No, I don’t know this from exact experience.*])

*Yes, I do.

This equation is pretty simple and straightforward. If your outfit has one of each of these things (a pop of color, an interesting texture, a pattern, and a little shine), then you have a fool-proof ensemble. Well, maybe not completely fool-proof, but you’re headed in the right direction.

What’s even easier, and more fun, is that you don’t have to limit yourself to where each of these elements comes from. One day, your color might be your shirt, your pattern in your shoes, your texture from your skirt, and your shine, that delicate necklace your parents gave you for your sixteenth birthday. The next day, it could be a mixture of completely different things: color - your new favorite nail polish (I love experimenting with new colors on my fingers and toes), texture - a funky pair of tights, pattern - a striped blazer you got way back in high school that you just can’t seem to part with, and shine - that pair of metallic gold peep toes with the studded bow you got at a steal.

You can play it safe and simple with minimal amounts of color, texture, pattern, and/or shine or you can be wild and adventurous with bold elements. (Just make sure that only one or two of the four elements are bold. Mixing too many strong pieces can feel overwhelming and busy and leave your ensemble looking less put-together than you intended.)

The most important part of this lesson? HAVE FUN! Don’t be afraid to mix your clothes, shoes, and accessories in daring new ways. Set aside an afternoon to pour yourself a glass of wine, turn up the stereo, and try on mountains of your clothes. It can be a freeing thing to revisit your old favorites and try mixing and matching them with new finds. Experiment and try every idea you have, and if an outfit is a flop… well, no one is there to judge.

That is my challenge to you guys (and me too) for this week: try to create a few new outfits with what you already have in your closet using this simple “style equation.” You’d be surprised what you can come up with.

The "Want" List

I am a shopaholic. There. I said it and the first step is admitting you have a problem. Shopping isn't necessarily the problem, it's spending too much or wasting money on something that I know I don't need or that I am not going to get a lot of use out of. So, to combat this, I've started making a "want" list. (I thought about calling it a "need" list, but let's be real, most of us don't really need more clothes... it's all want.) I'm learning that, much like when you make a trip to the grocery store, if you create a list of the things you want and stick to it, you are much less likely to overspend (well, at least not overspend as much).

Creating your want list can be a lot of fun. I keep a bulletin board on the wall beside my closet and, along with sayings or sweet notes someone has written me, I like to pin up things I see in magazines that I like and would love to wear. I maybe never, and usually never, get anything that I put up there, but it serves as another form of inspiration. I might particularly like one piece in the outfit I pin up and after oogling it for weeks, decide that I would love to have a similar piece in my wardrobe... so begins the want list. (I'll be posting my want list here. Mainly because it really helps me to see links/pictures of things I have my eye on all in one place.)

But wait! Don't add things to your want list just for the sake of adding something or because you just have to have it. Assess what you already have first. Maybe you're lusting over an elegant black top to wear on a date night, but hey, remember that black shirt you wore one time a year ago? It's still sitting at the back of your closet waiting for another debut. So, break it out. Pair it with pants, skirts, shorts, anything, and see how you can make it work for you. It might not match the style you were going for, but at least you gave it a try. Or it could fit exactly what you were looking for and you just saved yourself time and a pretty penny. It's not about over-consuming or denying yourself. It's about assessing what you already own and trying to make it work for you first before you decide to spend money.

I am in the middle of doing just that: assessing what I already own. Especially after this morning. I woke up late, changed outfits at least five times, and still left the house not loving what I decided to wear. I was left with an intense desire to go shopping. Instead, I reminded myself that 1) "You don't have a single dime to spend on clothes right now," and 2) "If you would just organize your clothes and try things in new ways, I bet you'd find an outfit you'd love even more than a new one."

That's my goal for this week: to go through the things I already own before buying anything new with my upcoming paycheck. That way, when I do decide to go shopping, I won't end up spending money on things I don't need or already have and I can have a little more room to buy things that I have had my eye on for a long while (the Gladious skirt at Anthropologie, anyone?). I challenge you guys to do the same. What things have you had your eye on that you might already own? How can you make what you already have work for you?

Hi there, I'm Ashley.

Welcome to Pretty Sweet Style everyone!

I’ve been planning on creating a style blog for quite some time now. The problem was that I didn’t want to be just another girl in the blogoshere posting pictures of her daily outfit (although, it would certainly include some form of daily [almost daily] pictures). I wanted to contribute something and share tips, tricks, ideas, and inspirations. I am still learning a lot about fashion and my own style, but it has certainly gotten easier once I started finding consistent inspiration and a little help.

I feel like so many women, including myself, struggle with feeling beautiful. Yes, yes… we all know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that it’s the inside that counts. But, in a society that values outward appearances over a loving heart and beautiful personality, reminding ourselves daily that we are each gorgeous women in our own lovely ways can get a little challenging. Plus, why not have a little fun with colors and textures and patterns and metallics every morning? When you are confident about your outside, it is easier to stop fidgeting, tugging, readjusting, and worrying and let your inner beauty shine. (Come on ladies, don’t we all remember how it feels to wear that one outfit that makes us feel like a million bucks? Remember how much more self-assured and strong you felt in that ensemble?)

Here’s where Pretty Sweet Style comes in: I want to offer to other girls what has been helping me form my own personal style. I want to show women that getting dressed in the morning, whether you are pressed for time or not, isn’t nearly as hard as it seems. Once you learn a few simple basics, it’s even fun!

So, style challenge number one: the 30 for 30. (I read about this over at Kendi’s blog.) You can read more about it here, but these are the basics:

1. Take 30 items in your closet.
2. Make 30 outfits.

It’s that simple (okay, maybe it’s easier said than done, but at least we have some sort of starting point). For the next 30 days, I am going to be (slightly consistently) posting about the whole experience: my 30 items, the 30 outfits (or more) I created with them, the outfits in action, and what I am learning (the flops, the struggles, and the successes).

I hope I can inspire you guys to hop on board or simply to reevaluate the way you look at your closet. I’m learning that it’s not just a place to store my things, but an extremely valuable and lovingly cultivated resource. It’s your own personal shopping mall, ladies (and everything, hopefully, fits and you love everything that’s “sold” there because, well, you did pick it out).