Nail It November: Weekly Mani: Graphic Art

   I've been so busy lately I've barely had time to post! I know I'm behind but here it is:
This week for Nail It November; Weekly Mani; I've decided to try out one of the many kits available to make life a little easier when it comes to having cute tips but not enough time to spend trying different looks. I went for the Graphic Art design, with a pop feel and a hint of nostalgia.
    This kit has everything you need except the top coat. It is made by a company called Fing'rs and it's around $7-$8 depending on the kit you purchase. This brand has a few sub-brands and the brand for the kit I bought is called EDGE, which has a more grown-up feel than their other brand Flirt.

Here is what the kit looks like:

 The kit includes; two shades of nail polish: a newspaper white and a grey, and three designs of nail transfers: newsprint text, bright multi-colored zigzags, and maps. The directions are on the side of the box and are straight forward. You choose whichever color you'd like, paint two coats of said color and allow to dry completely. Once dry you select nail transfer design and dip in water, then press onto nail for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, slowly peel back the transfer and let dry. Seal with top coat and enjoy!
    I like to mix and match the designs and ended up with this:

    The only downside is that some of the transfers fall apart easily, and you're left with weird pieces- luckily this is easy to disguise with another transfer on top ;) I also think you could cut up the transfer into different shapes and get a more uniform look.

Thank you for checking out this weeks' Nail It November mani- Remember, you only have 5 more days to enter!

Tweet pics via Twitter: @Ladydunn42410
Email: aadunn42410@hotmail.com
Comment with links right here on my blog!
    XOXO, Ashley

Just Keep Swiping! Mascara Tips

"Just keep swiping, just keep swiping, swiping, swiping!"

    Today we're talking about mascara and the best tips to achieve the look you crave.

The way mascara looks depends on a few factors:

•  The brand you buy
•  How much you use
•  How you apply it
•  And of course, your lashes

 The Brand:
    I have to admit, when it comes to mascara, I haven't ventured very far into the vast sea of brands and I've only tried a few different types. Once I find something I like, I'm pretty leary about trying something else.
    Some people swear by spendy brands of mascara, while others- myself included- are satisfied with department store brands. What ever you decide to budget for your mascara needs, most brands are going to deliver good looking lashes.
    The best thing to look for is a formula that doesn't dry out, and wont clump- obvious right? Right. The quicker it dries out, the more uneven your applications will be. I don't even think we need to go over how horrendous clumpy mascara is, luckily eyelash separators help remedy that whenever you do encounter them.
How much and How to:
    I personally love Lash Blast Fusion by Cover Girl, it's a good product and not very costly- around $8 where I live. It goes on easily and has rubber like bristles instead of those like a brush that make it easier to separate lashes for a fuller, more even application. It doesn't clump easily and I like that I can add multiple coats instead of just one. It adds great depth and volume with just one swipe and extra swipes, of course add more depth and volume.
    I like to apply my mascara by starting at the base of my lashes and making a wiggling motion while rolling the wand outward. It may sound like a lot of work but it's worth it. The wiggling back and forth helps to further separate lashes, it's also the same for the rolling.
    After the first coat, I continue the application with three or four swipes- depending on the look I'm going for.
    If I'm going for a more natural look I will just use one coat. If I'm going to work, I go for more impact and add 2-3 coats. On date night, depending on if it's casual or more formal- usually more formal- I go for a more dramatic look. I swipe on 4-5 coats and lightly coat my bottom lashes, as well as using a lash curler.
Your Lashes:
    Every one is born with different lashes; length, color, thickness, and fullness all play a part in how mascara looks on us and how different techniques yield better results than others might.
    Once you have taken a good look at your lashes, it's easy to see what you are working with. That doesn't always mean it's straight forward and with anything- practice makes perfect. It's a good idea to try several different techniques to find what looks best on you, whether you're experienced in make up- or just starting out.

Tips:

• Try more brands. Don't be shy about trying something new, and try a variety. Some from department stores, and some from make up counters. Different styles of wands and different formulations. You never know what you might find!
• Look up different techniques and try several. Even if you have a regular routine, it never does any harm to learn something new.
• Asses your eye lashes, this will help when you try out new brands and techniques for application.

 I hope you enjoy these tips! If you have questions, or additional tips feel free to comment!
Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

Nail It November: Weekly Mani: Lilac Snow

    For this weeks Nail It November mani, I've decided to go with something simple and understated. The finished look is called: "Lilac Snow". I chose this design because where I am there's fresh snow on the mountains and the mountains themselves look a beautiful shade of purple. Lilac is more relevant to the icy tones of the oncoming winter, however, so I thought it fit perfectly!

    Here is the final product:

To achieve this look I used the following products:

410 I Lilac You by Rimmel London, 101 Snow Me White by Sinful Colors Proffesional and some white iridescent craft glitter.

 -Start with 1-2 coats lilac on each finger and thumb until desired coloring is achieved. I used 2.

 -Then, add a 3rd coat of the lilac on ring finger and quickly pour small amount of glitter over polish to coat well. I recommend putting a piece of paper down to catch the glitter that falls so you can pour it back into the tube afterwards.

 -Using your other index finger, gently dab glitter onto remaining fingers. Note: This should not smudge your polish as the previous applications should be a little more than soft set, although excessive force will cause mistakes.
 -After the purple has dried on your thumb, add a couple coats of the white in your preferred method to achieve a french mani, with lilac tips. I just brush from the base of the nail, up until I've got an amount of lilac showing that satisfies me. After this has also set up for a while, I pressed a little bit of the craft glitter onto the polish.
 -Lastly, add a top coat to all fingers except your ring finger. I haven't added a top coat at all and am fine but you'll want to add it at least on your other nails. If you desire to add something to ease your mind and make the glitter on your ring finger stay put, you can add a few drops onto the glitter. I feel that adding too much of a top coat on this finger takes away from the texture appeal of the amount of glitter.
There you have it! A fabulous look in no time at all.
   I hope you enjoyed this mani as much as I have and I can't wait to see more entries!
Don't forget; you can post links to your blog with your entry, or Tweet them to me! My Twitter handle is @ladydunn42410 You can also email me: aadunn42410@hotmail.com! Keep them coming! We'll pick a winner at the end of this month!
 Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

Nail It November!!!!

    It's November and you know what that means! Time to rock those new mani designs you've been thinking up because it's Nail It November and I want to see what you've got!
    Last year I asked you to share pics of your hot little digits and this year I'm upping the ante! That's right this is going to be a contest! Every week I'll be posting my latest mani, including a how-to and brief review of supplies used to create the look. I'll be looking over each submission and at the end of the month I'll draw a winner at random.
    One winner will recieve a grand prize; including products from Incoco, OPI, Sally Hansen, Essie, and much more! In addition; two second and third place winners will also be drawn from remaining submissions.
    Submissions can be posted daily; here on my blog via comments, or to my Twitter handle @Ladydunn42410. One submission per day. Contest begins November 7th 2013 and ends 11:59pm PST November 30th 2013.
    I can't wait to see what you come up with!
 Get those submissions in quick!

    Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

Current Obsession & Summer Staples

    It's seems like summer just started yesterday and now it's already starting to get chillier here where I live. When I broke out my usual summer wardrobe I started thinking that since I've resumed working in retail: I should try to mix up my wardrobe more this summer. That's where working at a trendy boutique really comes in handy ;)
    I got my first pay check I did what any sensible, responsible beauty blogger would do and went shopping! I tried on dozens of flirty sun dresses and flow-y blouses and after a while settled on two dresses.

The 1st one is by Angie and is so much fun to wear! I love pairing it with with light brown gladiator sandals and a simple top knot since the print is so lively and upbeat.

 
                                                                                                                                                            

    This dress/tunic is by Love Stitch and I pair it with leggings and canvas shoes. Since it is more understated I love either curling/scrunching my hair and adding a blazer or a statement necklace.
  
    It's nice to spruce up your wardrobe every season, even if you only add a few new pieces to fit in with what you already have. Of some items I consider summer staples, gladiator sandals is a major must have. An easy piece that goes with virtually everything- from sun dresses to cut-offs and maxi dresses. Another summer staple and current obsession; a fitted blazer or jacket. This is one of my favourite articles to throw into my wardrobe because it can also go with anything! Talk about a multi tasking duo! I love to put blazers with my sun dresses if I'm going for a more professional look. Blazers are easy ways to dress up casual wear, or dress down more formal attire. My last two summer staples are belts and chunky necklaces. Never underestimate how easily your outfits will be pulled together by adding either a belt or chunky statement necklace- or both! I love trying to phase these different staples into my wardrobe in different ways. It's fun experimenting with new looks!
    What are your summer staples? Current obsessions? How would you implement these picks into your wardrobe? I'd love to hear your ideas! Until next time! Thanks for reading, XOXO Ashley

MIA!!!!

    I can't believe the last time I blogged was just over a month ago! I've had a lot going on lately but I'm sorry for going MIA!
    So I guess that means it's time for an update post. Here we go!

• Back in March my baby turned 1 year old!
• In April My husband and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary.
• In May I started working in a hot boutique!
• And this June I will be heading up the social media department for 4 separate stores!

    In other news I've also gotten an offer to write for a local magazine that puts out two issues a year. I'm going to submit my ideas and see how well that goes over, but I'm excited to say the least!

    Regarding beauty blogging and the like, I've stepped out on a limb and bought a couple new eye-liners that I've never tried before and will be reviewing them soon, as well as a bottle of Essie nail polish in Naughty Nautical that will also be reviewed. In addition, I've added to my wardrobe and will post pictures as soon as I can!
    Thanks for catching up with me I'd love to hear what you've been up to!
 Stay fabulous! XOXO, Ashley

New Hair Cut! Before and Afters

    Every once in awhile I crave a change in my look, this usually ends up in a haircut or new outfit- this time it was a haircut. Not just any haircut mind you, one I've tried several times but never quite liked the results. I was reluctant to try this style of haircut again since every other time I'd gotten it I ended up absolutely regretting it, yet in spite of that I sat down in the barber's chair and explained what I was looking for and hoped and prayed it turned out at least halfway decent. I was amazed when I was allowed to look at the final work! Finally someone had given me exactly what I wanted and I was ecstatic!

    Rewind and I'll start at the beginning. It all started out with me polling friends on where they went to get their hair done. I was tired of trying chain stores and was hoping to find a great hairstylist. I received dozens of replies and recommendations and after a bit of thought, I decided to go see Darcy at Headlines in Sandpoint, ID and boy am I glad I did. She did a wonderful job. She let me explain what I was looking for, show her the reference picture I had, and she listened gave me her input and set to work. There really isn't much more to explain about it so I'll just let my pictures speak for themselves.

This is what I was looking for, I love the piecey, beachy look and this is exactly what I wanted.

 The before shot

 After my haircut. A pretty drastic change huh?

A bit of color, it's a lot closer to my natural color and I like that.

    My advice for going in to change your look, especially when it is such a difference, is to have a picture. Definitely beyond a doubt, have a picture. It might take a little bit of time to find just what you're looking for, but it is worth it. When you find your picture, study it a little bit and think about what you like the most about it, that way when you go to the salon you can better explain to your hairdresser exactly what you are looking for in a haircut. Showing them a picture is great but since it can be interpreted so many different ways, it's best to have a concise explanation. It can feel like you are being picky or bossy, but if you keep a friendly tone about you, it will be easier. The hairstylist will appreciate your thorough explanation because it decreases the chances that you won't be happy with your haircut.

    Leave room for error and correction. I got my haircut and colored before my anniversary and birthday, but not too close to them that if there was a mistake, or something I'd want to change, I could without worrying about possibly looking bad on those days. If you get an appointment too close to a special occasion or holiday there may not be an appointment available to fix it before hand.

    All in all never be afraid to try something different. If you own it, you'll look good no matter what anyone says. There are people that might not think it looks that great but it's what you think about it that matters, your confidence in yourself is what is important.

 Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

First Fashion Don'ts

    When I was a little girl, 5 or 6 at the time, I lived close to my cousins and we would frequently spend time at one of our grandparents house together. We are all fairly close in age- my cousin Alyssa and my younger sister, Lindsey, are about a year younger than myself, which is fortunate because it makes it a lot easier on cousins and siblings to play together since we're apt to like the same things. One particular afternoon Lindsey, Alyssa and I, decided to cut each other's hair. We probably started out playing with dolls and who the mastermind behind the idea of giving each other makeovers was I can't quite remember, but one thing lead to another and soon enough we were cutting hair. Lindsey and I helped cut Alyssa's hair, and then Alyssa and I helped cut Lindsey's hair and it was around that time that we were caught. I somehow managed to get through that day, hair untouched, and it was a good thing too! If I had picture's I'd post them, lucky for those two I don't ;) It was somewhat of a task for whoever had to try and fix our mess and both of them ended up in bobs, and it was rather cute in the end.

    Have you ever tried to cut your own hair? Did it turn out? What was your first fashion don't?

Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

Fast Cellulite Fix

    With Summer on it's way we're all looking to get fit and bikini ready. There are beauty tips to read, swim suits to try on, work outs to complete, and with all that- anyone that has even the slightest cellulite problem would be well on their way to being rid of it. Sounds promising, and that's because it is. Working out and staying fit is the best way to combat cellulite and stretch marks, however, for those of us who'd like a little extra help in that area, there's Toning Body Butter by Passion Parties- part of the Romanta Therapy line of beauty products.

    This lotion is amazing! I have it in Coconut Lemongrass and it smells delicious! It is thick and ultra moisturizing and a little goes a long way. I use it on my stomach since I'm still trying to tone up. It is infused with caffeine to help fill in the divots caused by cellulite and is the perfect thing to take with you to the beach. The bottle is pretty average sized so it's bigger than a hand cream, but will easily fit into your beach tote. I know I'll definitely be taking it with me to the beach, even after I reach my fitness goal!

    Romanta Therapy Toning Body Butter goes for $20-$30 bucks. It seems steep for lotion but it is so worth it. I've had mine for a few months now and haven't even made a dent in the bottle! You can order it from a Passion Parties consultant in your area, or online at www.passionparties.com I will warn you, this is a site for adult products and while you all may wonder why I'm familiar with this company, it's because my sister-in-law is a consultant. Don't be shied away from ordering their beauty products if you're sketched out by the toys- the lotions, body scrubs, and shower gels are truly top of the line :)

    Still thinking it's too good to be true? Here's proof; 

This is my stomach! Like I said, I'm still trying to reach my fitness goals but as you can see- this Toning Body Butter really works! If I can post these work-in-progress pictures, you know it's worth it!

    Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

The Anti-Anti-Glitter

With all the nail art out there it's a lot more fun to paint our nails and try new things- especially the glitter craze. Yes with different holidays suiting so much glitter it only makes sense to want to try it in every shade, shape, and form. Then comes the time to try and aimlessly remove every speck of glitter from tips and toes, and a grudge starts to set in. You know the one, the I-will-NEVER-paint-my-nails-with-glitter-polish-AGAIN! grudge? Yep, that's it! Well fear not! There is an unsung hero for nail art and glitter polish lovers everywhere! Dundada dun! Introducing: The Anti-Anti-Glitter: FELT!!!! Wait, what???!! Felt? YES, felt, ladies and gents.

    I recently tweeted someone's find on how using felt helps remove glitter polish and have tested the technique myself. Here's how to:

You need:

• 1-2 sheets of felt. This can be found at local craft stores for relatively cheap
• Scissors
• Small container to hold felt strips

Step 1: Cut felt into strips, about 1 inch wide. You get more if you cut them from the length of the felt.

Step 2: Cut long strips down into smaller strips- about 2-3 inches.

Ta-da! The perfect tool to remove glitter polish, just dab with polish remover and voila! I found that alternating between up and down and side to side scrubbing helped as well.

Hope this helps all of you out there who feel constantly caught up in a love-hate feeling with glitter polish. I know I'm certainly glad to have tried it! And hey, if you end up trying it and not liking it, you're only out about $1 right?

 Thanks for reading, see you next time! XOXO, Ashley

Pink- Fresh and Clean!

A lot has been going on lately and I've been without a computer for what seems like ages, although it's only really been just shy of a month! Just goes to show how much quicker life goes by when you're a beauty blogger!
    Moving right along; today I've reviewed a 3 piece set from Pink by Victoria's Secret, in Fresh and Clean!

    Victoria's Secret has become so much more than just lingerie and pretty panties. Their merchandise ranges from clothes, shoes, swimsuits and a whole array of beauty products. Among those beauty products, Pink has been one of my favorites.
    After a while away from shopping at the mall, it seemed so much about one of my favorite stores had changed, although I must say- for the better. I was glad to see a whole section of Victoria's Secret devoted to beauty products and when I found a 3 piece body set of my favorite scent I couldn't refuse!
    Pink in Fresh and Clean smells exactly like what it's called. You get a fruity, citrusy, floral scent that just screams spring! The greatest thing is that the scent stays with you all day! I also love the fact that a quarter sized amount of lotion is enough to coat both of my legs, and one spray of the body mist is all I need in the morning- I know I know, for as much as I love it I sound pretty thrifty but you'd never want to run out of this stuff it's that great!
    The set contained 1 Body Lotion(3.4 fl oz), 1 Body Mist(2.5 fl oz), and a 2-1 Body Wash/Scrub(3.4 fl oz)- all in a cute carrying bag! At around $25 for it all, I'd definitely call that a splurge worthy find!

Next time you're in Victoria's Secret, see if they have a beauty department and scope out this amazing buy!

 As always, thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley

Right Now I'm Loving...

Right Now I'm Loving...
  EOS Lip Balm!

This stuff is a lip saver!!!! And that's no joke! It goes on smooth and melts right into your lips. They are not only cute and keep your pout looking soft and kissable, they're almost completely organic, 100% natural, AND paraben and petrolium free! You can't beat that. I have one in Sweet Mint and another in Pomogranate Raspberry and they both smell fabulous! Girls, I definately reccomend the one in Sweet Mint because your guys will even use it- we all know nothings worse than scratchy, chapped lip kisses. If you're not digging the round sphere design, they do come in the regular tube, which is good to know especially if you want to carry it in a small clutch or in your pocket.

 Well thanks for reading beauty babes! XOXO, Ashley
See you next time on, "Right Now I'm Loving..."

Hot Spring Nail How To

I have been seeing all sorts of great nail art on the web and I thought, "It's been too long since I've posted any cool nail pieces." So today I'm going to show you how you can get this look:
 

Trust me, it's easier than it looks!

 

 

All you need is:

• One package of Nail Dress by Kiss in peacock design as pictured below.
• One Sinful Colors Professionals in White
• One glitter polish that matches color scheme of peacock design; I chose one by Ice as pictured below.

First, paint all your nails with one coat of the white nail polish- except your ring fingernail.

While that dries, apply the Nail Dress according to package directions- you will need to pick one that looks slightly larger than your nail surface, otherwise you'll end up with a gap on the edges. If you aren't able to find a suitable size, paint the ring fingernail white and pick a size that is closest. The white will camoflauge any gaps.

Now that the white polish has dried, apply a coat of the glitter polish in a rounded triangle shape. It helps if you have a detail brush to use instead of the regular brush it comes with.

Allow to dry and then coat with a clear coat and voila! You've got fabulous nails that everyone will be falling for!

Thanks for reading! XOXO, Ashley



Right Now I'm Loving...

Right Now I'm Loving... Olay Luscious Embrace body bar with massaging design!

 If anything could get me into a springtime state of mind- this stuff could! This body bar by Olay is incredibly fragrant and moisturizing, and with jojoba butter and crushed orchid extract it should be! There is nothing better than waking up in the morning and sudsing up with a nice floral scent to make you feel like you're on spring break, but Olay goes above and beyond with their massaging design. I love using this after a long day on my feet, or after my Insanity workouts. The one downfall is that the nubs on the soap go away too quickly, but it's certainly not a deal breaker for me!
 I have been searching for this product for a while after reading about it in a magazine and I thought it'd been discontinued, that's how long I've been looking! I finally found it at Fred Meyers in a four pack for around $6.00- that makes each bar right around $1.50 and that's not bad.
 Whether you're looking for a great scent, something moisturizing, or a quick massage for achy muscles- this body bar has it and I definitely recommend it!
 Thanks for reading another "Right Now I'm Loving..."
XOXO, Ashley

Why I Did Boudoir

    For those of you who know me, you would never guess that I'd agree to, and pay, a stranger to come into my house and take boudoir pictures of me. I even still have a difficult time changing in the locker room at the gym if there are people I know around. It's so far out of my comfort zone, thinking back on it, I don't know that I would have done it if it weren't for my sister-in-law bringing it up to me. I mean I'd just had a baby under a year ago and I was no way near my goal weight, not to mention the stretch marks on my chest and stomach that wouldn't be hidden even if I had achieved my goal. So why did I do it? What's the big deal about it anyway?
    I was sitting at home watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my daughter, when I got a text message from my sister-in-law telling me we had to do "this." What was this and why did we have to do it? Then she sent me a text message containing an ad for a Valentine's Day special for boudoir photo shoots. Yes, you read correctly; boudoir photo shoots. At first I thought she was joking, but when I realized she was serious, I knew I was in trouble. I had always wanted to do something like this for my husband, however, with all the scams out there and all the stories about naked pictures leaking onto the Internet, I wasn't convinced. I told Aubry, my sister-in-law, that I would think about it, and I wasn't sure if I would go through with it- but she talked me into it. So we got together and began planning the ultimate Valentine's Day gift.
    We usually work out every night, but we felt like we needed to gather info fast. We had no idea what to expect so we perused Pinterest and Google for ideas. How should we pose? Should we use props? What should we wear? All these questions had to be answered, after a glass of wine, and a couple of hours- we were feeling pretty confident. We had decided on poses, props, and what prints we thought we would want.
    Other than educating ourselves on boudoir, we needed to prepare physically. Instead of just three or four days of doing "Insanity" videos, we kicked it up a notch and committed to work out to them everyday. Anyone with kids will tell you it's a difficult thing to do and it is. We would work out at nap time, or at night after the kids were all put to bed. It wasn't an easy task but boy was it worth it. In addition to exercising everyday, I took it upon myself- beauty blogger that I am- to dig up all the tips I could find that would help us look extra sexy. Pouring over magazine after magazine, I compiled a list of tips to get us gorgeous head to toe. All in all it was a lot of hard work, but it was exhilarating, and made the weeks leading up to our photo shoot go by quickly. We went shopping for everything we needed, worked out everyday, and had the perfect list of tips to use for the big day. We were pretty prepared right?
    I don't think we could have been any more nervous, a few weeks before the photo shoot we were bursting at the seams with excitement and couldn't wait till we could finally tell our husbands the big secret! The night before, we finalized all our plans and it was perfect. Both of our guys would be away from the houses first thing in the morning and had agreed not to come back until we called them and told them the coast was clear. That morning after Aubry text messaged me that it was safe to come over, I grabbed my VS tote and packed it full of all the make-up, and hair products we could possibly need- not to mention two boxes of rose petals and some baby snacks. I put my daughter on my hip, picked up my box fan and headed over to her apartment. We were advised not to wear tight fitting clothing since it could leave impressions on our skin, so we just wore night gowns and robes. We knew we were really nervous when we began to feel our body temperature spike- even with minimal clothing, at 8 am! We giggled as we finished getting ready and anxiously awaited our photographer; Marie-Dominique Verdier, or Do (like "doe") for short. Sure enough, about 30 minutes later there was a knock on the door. I swear our hearts were pounding out of our chests, we were really going to do this! Aubry quickly let Do inside and got to work. Most of Aubry's shoot, I was taking care of my daughter, but it wasn't long before it was my turn- and I couldn't wait.
    After we finished at Aubry's apartment, we all headed back to mine- which luckily, is just around the corner in another building. Once there I put my daughter down for a nap and set everything up for my photo shoot. We moved furniture, hung up a sheer curtain, opened the windows- we were just about ready. I stripped down to nothing but a necklace and lace panties and asked where Do preferred me to be. We started in my bedroom, then moved out into the living room. I posed in many positions with numerous props; pillows, rose petals, a large mirror, and my wedding gown. It seemed like Do had taken a million pictures and it's difficult posing for so long, not to mention when you're half naked. However, as far as awkward goes, the bulk of that wore off in the first ten minutes. Marie-Dominique prefers to work with natural lighting so we had to work quickly and that didn't allow for being sheepish. It was easy to be myself because I knew I wasn't being judged. Do also made an effort to make us smile and laugh throughout the shoot, all while remaining very professional.
    When Do had finished taking pictures, I quickly dressed myself and cleaned up any evidence. We'd already worked so hard on this surprise, it couldn't be ruined by leaving any clues behind. We paid Do, scheduled a time to view our edited pictures, and said our good byes.
    A week or so later we visited Do and discussed which pictures we wanted to order, and it was a tough decision! Do edited ten photos for us to choose from and they looked amazing! She had managed to take pictures of us in a little less than fair lighting, tight spaces, and turn them into magnificent masterpieces. Every problem area that we worried about was no where to be found- we looked gorgeous. That's not to say that she changed how our bodies looked or made them appear fake, but rather helped us see ourselves in a better way.
    I had no idea what to expect when I scheduled a boudoir photo shoot. I was excited, and very nervous at the same time. After seeing some of the shots she had taken, I knew I'd made no mistake and that after I received my prints- I'd have a very grateful husband. After doing a boudoir photo session, I have far more confidence in myself. I feel so empowered and it makes me want to help other women see themselves in that light. Do did a great job, and turned something that was always sketchy and uncomfortable to me, into something to be proud of. I hope that every woman decides to have boudoir pictures taken at some point in her life. Will I do it again? You bet! ;)

You can check out Marie-Dominique's photography at: http://www.mdvphoto.com/

Why I did a Boudoir Photoshoot

    For those of you who know me, you would never guess that I'd agree to, and pay, a stranger to come into my house and take boudoir pictures of me. I even still have a difficult time changing in the locker room at the gym if there are people I know around. It's so far out of my comfort zone, thinking back on it, I don't know that I would have done it if it weren't for my sister-in-law bringing it up to me. I mean I'd just had a baby under a year ago and I was no way near my goal weight, not to mention the stretch marks on my chest and stomach that wouldn't be hidden even if I had achieved my goal. So why did I do it? What's the big deal about it anyway?
    I was sitting at home watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my daughter, when I got a text message from my sister-in-law telling me we had to do "this." What was this and why did we have to do it? Then she sent me a text message containing an ad for a Valentine's Day special for boudoir photo shoots. Yes, you read correctly; boudoir photo shoots. At first I thought she was joking, but when I realized she was serious, I knew I was in trouble. I had always wanted to do something like this for my husband, however, with all the scams out there and all the stories about naked pictures leaking onto the Internet, I wasn't convinced. I told Aubry, my sister-in-law, that I would think about it, and I wasn't sure if I would go through with it- but she talked me into it. So we got together and began planning the ultimate Valentine's Day gift.
    We usually work out every night, but we felt like we needed to gather info fast. We had no idea what to expect so we perused Pinterest and Google for ideas. How should we pose? Should we use props? What should we wear? All these questions had to be answered, after a glass of wine, and a couple of hours- we were feeling pretty confident. We had decided on poses, props, and what prints we thought we would want.
    Other than educating ourselves on boudoir, we needed to prepare physically. Instead of just three or four days of doing "Insanity" videos, we kicked it up a notch and committed to work out to them everyday. Anyone with kids will tell you it's a difficult thing to do and it is. We would work out at nap time, or at night after the kids were all put to bed. It wasn't an easy task but boy was it worth it. In addition to exercising everyday, I took it upon myself- beauty blogger that I am- to dig up all the tips I could find that would help us look extra sexy. Pouring over magazine after magazine, I compiled a list of tips to get us gorgeous head to toe. All in all it was a lot of hard work, but it was exhilarating, and made the weeks leading up to our photo shoot go by quickly. We went shopping for everything we needed, worked out everyday, and had the perfect list of tips to use for the big day. We were pretty prepared right?
    I don't think we could have been any more nervous, a few weeks before the photo shoot we were bursting at the seams with excitement and couldn't wait till we could finally tell our husbands the big secret! The night before, we finalized all our plans and it was perfect. Both of our guys would be away from the houses first thing in the morning and had agreed not to come back until we called them and told them the coast was clear. That morning after Aubry text messaged me that it was safe to come over, I grabbed my VS tote and packed it full of all the make-up, and hair products we could possibly need- not to mention two boxes of rose petals and some baby snacks. I put my daughter on my hip, picked up my box fan and headed over to her apartment. We were advised not to wear tight fitting clothing since it could leave impressions on our skin, so we just wore night gowns and robes. We knew we were really nervous when we began to feel our body temperature spike- even with minimal clothing, at 8 am! We giggled as we finished getting ready and anxiously awaited our photographer; Marie-Dominique Verdier, or Do (like "doe") for short. Sure enough, about 30 minutes later there was a knock on the door. I swear our hearts were pounding out of our chests, we were really going to do this! Aubry quickly let Do inside and got to work. Most of Aubry's shoot, I was taking care of my daughter, but it wasn't long before it was my turn- and I couldn't wait.
    After we finished at Aubry's apartment, we all headed back to mine- which luckily, is just around the corner in another building. Once there I put my daughter down for a nap and set everything up for my photo shoot. We moved furniture, hung up a sheer curtain, opened the windows- we were just about ready. I stripped down to nothing but a necklace and lace panties and asked where Do preferred me to be. We started in my bedroom, then moved out into the living room. I posed in many positions with numerous props; pillows, rose petals, a large mirror, and my wedding gown. It seemed like Do had taken a million pictures and it's difficult posing for so long, not to mention when you're half naked. However, as far as awkward goes, the bulk of that wore off in the first ten minutes. Marie-Dominique prefers to work with natural lighting so we had to work quickly and that didn't allow for being sheepish. It was easy to be myself because I knew I wasn't being judged. Do also made an effort to make us smile and laugh throughout the shoot, all while remaining very professional.
    When Do had finished taking pictures, I quickly dressed myself and cleaned up any evidence. We'd already worked so hard on this surprise, it couldn't be ruined by leaving any clues behind. We paid Do, scheduled a time to view our edited pictures, and said our good byes.
    A week or so later we visited Do and discussed which pictures we wanted to order, and it was a tough decision! Do edited ten photos for us to choose from and they looked amazing! She had managed to take pictures of us in a little less than fair lighting, tight spaces, and turn them into magnificent masterpieces. Every problem area that we worried about was no where to be found- we looked gorgeous. That's not to say that she changed how our bodies looked or made them appear fake, but rather helped us see ourselves in a better way.
    I had no idea what to expect when I scheduled a boudoir photo shoot. I was excited, and very nervous at the same time. After seeing some of the shots she had taken, I knew I'd made no mistake and that after I received my prints- I'd have a very grateful husband. After doing a boudoir photo session, I have far more confidence in myself. I feel so empowered and it makes me want to help other women see themselves in that light. Do did a great job, and turned something that was always sketchy and uncomfortable to me, into something to be proud of. I hope that every woman decides to have boudoir pictures taken at some point in her life. Will I do it again? You bet! ;)

Right Now I'm Loving...

Right Now I'm Loving... Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream by Garnier

    Weather is getting warmer and the changing of the seasons, for many, often calls for a change in beauty products- especially cleansers and moisturizers. When it's summer time I prefer a gel cleanser/moisturizer set, and a cream cleanser/moisturizer set in the winter. Gel like products are typically lighter, and refreshing- while creamy products tend to be heavier and soothing. If you've never tried switching it up when the weather shifts; now is a great time to  explore you're choices, but above all, stick with what you are comfortable with. Especially if your skincare routine is dictated by a dermatologist- ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR DOC!

    Moving right along, this is an amazing moisturizer, especially with summer coming up. It has a smooth gel texture, is refreshing, and soaks right into your skin. I use about a dimes worth for my whole face so you know it goes a looooong way! It's around $6 dollars and that's a pretty great buy.

    As I mentioned before, if you're used to creamy moisturizers, try switching things up and use a gel product. You never know, it could just be what your skin is dying for! I would definitely recommend this product and will use it again, especially during the hot summer months. This stuff has my seal of approval!

    Thanks for joining in on another weeks' "Right Now I'm Loving..."

xoxo -Ashley

Right Now I'm Loving...

Right Now I'm Loving... Instant Freeze by Aussie!

This hairspray is maximum hold and boy does it work! Nothing and I mean NOTHING can get my hair to stay in curls- that was until I found Instant Freeze from Aussie! Now I can have great curls that literally last all day long. From 8 am to 6 pm and then some, and that's real holding power!
 You use like any other hair spray and voila, great hair. It can feel crunchy but it wont look crunchy, and if you don't want it to feel crunchy then you can rake your fingers gently through your hair or separate your curls a little bit.
 I love this hairspray- it smells good, lasts long, and the best part is that it's right around $4! As many of you know, I am all about getting a great beauty product for a steal and with this one you definitely can't go wrong!
 Thanks for tuning into this weeks Right Now I'm Loving...
See you next time! xoxo Ashley

Right Now I'm Loving...

Introducing a new feature called "Right Now I'm Loving..." where I weekly discuss and review what I am infatuated with at that time! There will be a new post each week on Friday. Hope you tune in and enjoy the new posts!

 So, onward with the post! Right now I'm loving... Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub! I bought a trial size version of it right before I ran out of my usual facial cleanser and it's amazing!
 It's a creamy cleanser with mild, gentle exfoliating beads. It contains salicylic acid to help fight and prevent acne and is quite effective without being over-drying. As mentioned before I bought it before I finished up the rest of my usual cleanser, 360* Clean by L'Oreal, and when I started using it I put it on my scrublet just like I normally would. It helps exfoliate better than my fingertips do so I like it even more.
 I will most likely repurchase this cleanser because it has a lot of qualities that I like in a facial product; a little goes a long way, it's effective, and doesn't dry out my skin. It also doesn't come with too spendy a price tag either, and you can't go wrong with that!

 Thanks for reading! xoxo, Ashley

When Two Polishes Collide- Making Colors Work

Good Evening Lovelies, long time no blog! Tonight's post is about nail polish- rather the unfortunate event that occurs when you purchase polish and the color isn't what you thought it was. Luckily, there is a solution! So stop throwing away your misfit nail polish and sit tight because I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.

   We've all been there before, you're perusing the nail polish in the beauty department and behold! Before you lies what seems to be the most amazing color you've ever laid eyes on-just what you've been looking for. You snatch it up, finish your shopping, and quickly return home so you can test out your shiny new lacquer. After cleaning your nails you carefully swipe on the shade, only to be sorely disappointed. Yes, it happens to the best of us.
   With Valentine's day coming up I've been looking for the perfect deep red shade to grace my tips and toes. Alas my search has so far been in vain and am currently trying to find that elusive romantic red. About a week ago I thought I found it, it was a feeling of love at first sight. I headed home and tried out my polish and it turned out to be a dark, rich brown color. Lovely shade but not quite my cup of tea and certainly not what I was hoping for. So I put it in my stash and tried to think of other uses, accent for nail art perhaps- who knew. It was a few days later that I- again perusing the beauty aisle, thought I spotted a red that would hold up to my standards and be the perfect polish to don on V-day. So I purchased it and again was let down. Why there couldn't be a great red anywhere near me was unfathomable. I was about to give up when a thought occurred to me that I might try topping my rich brown with my bright, fierce red. It was a big hit, and here's the proof;

Both colors are by Sinful Colors Professional. On the left we have Rich in Heart- believe me, in the right light it looks like a deep, tantalizing red. On the right we have Sugar Sugar- reminds me of the candy Red Hots, just in polish form. All around they're both nice colors, just not exactly what I was looking for.

The remedy: I decided that since I didn't want to throw these shades out, it couldn't hurt to try layering them together. While you don't always need two coats of color, I generally opt for two anyways so it works out to just use both. One coat of the dark brown, and one of the red.

Here is the brown on it's own:

Here is the red:

The completed look:

The difference:

    I started out with one coat of the brown. After that dries I added the coat of red on top of it, achieving that vavavoom red I've been after.

    You can add as much or as little of the red as you'd like depending on the look you're going for. I prefer an even coat of the red on top, and only one application, so that the brown is still somewhat visible. You can try this technique with just about any color combination to find just the right shade you're looking for. The end of throwing out nail polish is here. Give it a shot- you might happen upon an even better color than you thought!

 As always, thanks for the read! Enjoy! xoxo