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