Miss Me?

...because I missed you! 

Seriously, taking time off from social media is hard.  Let's get real, I caved on Facebook after like two days. 
Self control? It's something I'm working on. 

So, I took a few days off. I needed to refocus, not just my blog, but my life in general.  It's all still a work in progress... but doesn't "work in progress" really define life anyway?

You're gonna see some changes around this joint, all for the better.  In the meantime, bear with me while I teach myself how to design and code and all kinds of good stuff!

Here's a little quote that I also happened to read in a book this weekend.

Giant Birthday Giveaway

Today, August 20th, is my 27th birthday!  I am actually traveling across country today for work, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to have an AWESOME birthday.  Why you ask?  Well today I am hosting a HUGE giveaway for my readers! 

I have always been more concerned about putting together the perfect swag bag for my party guests than what I am going to get as a gift, so in true Ashley fashion, (and thanks to some awesome Birthday Swag Bag sponsors) I am giving away possibly the greatest birthday swag bag ever to one lucky reader! These goodies value over $300!   And for your gift to me, all you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter drawing below (and maybe become a follower too?). 

Here are the details:

Niki from Gumdrops and Gloss is giving away a $25 gift card to Sephora. (Reason enough to enter right there, but oh my friends there is much more!

Erin from Living in Yellow (don't you just love her?) is giving away a medium ad space on her blog!

Jen from That's What She Read is giving away Gone Girl- Check out her blog.  She is newer to the blogging scene, but super great!  Super.

Tammy of Lemons Avocados & The Bay is hooking someone up with a small ad!

Jenn from Party of One is giving a $15 gift card to H&M!

Melissa from The Life Of A Not So Ordinary Wife is giving away a $10 credit to her Not So Ordinary Shop!  Check it out, cute stuff!

Neely, one of my absolute favorites from A Complete Waste Of Makeup is giving away a $25 gift card to Starbucks AND a medium ad space!  She's one of your favorites too now huh?

Courtney from Courtney Cakes is giving away a Scentsy Plug in (I picked it out!)

With all these ads you'll have, you'll need a button design!  Janna, from Perception is Everything is going to design a button for you!

Molly from That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi is giving away some of her favorite things, including nail polishes, Burt's Bees products and some delicious almonds.

Have you met Mary from A Happy Wife In New Orleans?  She is giving away an ad space on her blog.

Laura from Under the Suburban Sun is giving away a Seche Base and Top coat polish. Jealous!

Jenni from Story of My Life is sending you some adorable note cards




Natalie, from Urban Anthropology is giving away $15 to Anthropologie

Holly from Running In Stilettos is hooking some lucky reader up with a few of her favorite things


Plus I am giving away a surprise prize pack of my favorite things valued at $55!!!! 

Okay so you totally have to enter like a million times! Good luck and thanks for helping me celebrate my birthday!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6fd0310/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas In July

When I found this little Blog Swap, how could I not participate?  Who doesn't like getting gifts in July, for no reason?  So I signed up expecting to get some silly little thing to enjoy.  Our hosts matched us up and I may be a little partial, but I am pretty sure I got the best blog swap partner ever! Laura from Under The Suburban Sun is wonderful and not only did I get a blog swap partner that it appears may know me better than I know myself, but I added her blog to my weekly reads!  Oh, and if you want to check out what I sent Laura, go to her blog to see her sweet post!)

Check out this swag!

I mean did I get an awesome box of goodies or what?!

Laura must have done her homework because she sent me things that are just soooo me! 

The flower hair clips came in handy at the beach this weekend and I already rocked the blingy ring at work! The calming hair treatment is awesome because the last couple weeks I have been a total stress ball.  I love the scent of the lotion- It smells like a tropical vacation.  The nail polish she chose is a perfect summer color.  With all the craziness of the past week I haven't had a chance to get my nails done, but you can bet that polish will be joining me at the salon very soon!  Have I mentioned how much I love the beach before- oh yeah, maybe a few times.  She sent me Ocean Breeze candles.  Not only do I adore them, but my the boyfriend says they smell like home (he's from San Diego) and keeps lighting them when I am not around.

Not that I don't love everything, but this is my favorite part of the package.  Parisian stationary!  You open the beautiful box and there is this quote:

"Dream your dreams with open eyes and make them come true"-T.S. Lewis

Isn't that perfect?  I am so torn between using them or just looking at them forever.  Don't you hate that, when you get something awesome, but it's so awesome you don't want to use it?

Whose hosting the next blogger swap, I'm addicted!



Current Crush: Work Clothes

Holy Macaroni am I crushing!  So, I decided to link up with Danielle at Framed Frosting (Doesn't the title make you think of something absolutely adorable? Well she is- check her out!) to share about my recent obsession.  Work Clothes.

I know, it's weird to be really excited about new outfits for work.  It's not like I just got my first "big girl" job or something.  I have been a working adult for over 5 years.  But all of a sudden I love shopping for work clothes.  I have been playing with color a lot more than I ever have before and these days, I just love getting dressed for work.  Does this mean I am becoming more of an adult?  Here are a few pics I've been using as inspiration on my shopping trips (thanks Pinterest).   And by the way, if you are looking for affordable, but super cute work wear, Check out New York and Company.  A friend introduced me a few months ago and it has become my number one stop for new work outfits.  Plus right now they are having an super- fantastic-uber sale! 

Giveaway: MK Lip Gloss Duo

Alright my lovelies, it's time for my very first giveaway!! I've already told you about how I adore the Michael Kors Very Hollywood lip gloss and EDP duo here.  Now I want to give one lucky follower the chance to get their very own!  All you have to do is become a blog follower and post a comment below (with you email address).  One lucky follower will get their very own MK duo!  Yay!  Trust me, you'll love it! I will randomly select a winner on March 15th!   Good Luck!

Congrats to S Travis. I will be emailing you!

Product Love

Michael Kors Very Hollywood Eau de Parfum Rollerball & Lip Gloss Duo

During the holidays, alumni members of my sorority have a party every year. This party includes a cut throat gift exchange. We truly test the bonds of sisterhood by stealing gifts from one another until the best gifts are out (only 2 steals per gift). This year, I was thrilled to end up with the Michael Kors Very Hollywood Eau de Parfum Rollerball and Lip Gloss Duo! I use it almost every day, to either give myself a scent spruce or an a tint to my lips. The color is a perfect nude. If you are looking for something compact, perfect for you clutch or for quick fixes in the car, get yourself one of these! It’s fairly reasonable at $22 and last a long time. Like I said, I use mine almost daily and I have barely made a dent in the perfume and still have a way to go on the lip gloss. Besides, it’s a good excuse to go to the Michael Kors store and look at all the fabulous watches, handbags, clothes and shoes! If you go to the Scottsdale Fashion Square store, ask for Meagan (she’s one of the managers and the sister that brought the duo to the gift exchange). Enjoy a lovely scent and perfectly shaded lips!

be-HOT ... because I said so

Okay, have you ever gone into GNC looking for a multivitamin and walked out with a slew of vitamins that are, according to the sales person, going to make your body a calorie burning, metabolism boosted, insanely healthy, vitamin filled super-human? Yeah, I did that about 2 years ago. I went in looking for a good multivitamin and left with $200 dollars worth of super-human fuel. I ended up never using half of the stuff and now it’s expired. What I did use was the be-HOT vitamin packs. Last week I decided to go back and get another package of them. I remembered always feeling great when I took them, so I thought I would give them another shot. This time I managed to get out with just my vitamin packs and a couple of bags of Omega-3 sugar-free citrus chews (which by the way are delicious). Boy am I glad I gave the vitamins another try! They actually do make me feel a little super human!

be-Hot Excercise Enhancing Turbopak

If you haven’t been to the gym in a while, hit a plateau or just struggle to find the energy to hit the gym after a long day, go buy the GNC WELLbeING® be-HOT™ Exercise Enhancing Turbopak. It really makes a HUGE difference. I know because I forgot to take it today. I struggled with my usual workout. I was making deals with myself just to get through my 30 minute run. My distance was significantly shorter and I felt like a mere human. Basically I will never forget to take them again!
Each Pak Includes:

• be-Defined™- Toning & sculpting formula- this is basically just potassium, electrolytes and antioxidants. The combination of the three help to enhance athletic performance, making your workout more beneficial for your muscles. Could you probably eat a banana, electrolyte water and green tea, probably, but I think swallowing two pink pills is easier!
• be-Energized™- Calorie burning formula- this is a mostly natural energy supplement. It’s got a lot of extracts like green tea and black pepper in it. It claims to help boost your metabolism so you burn more calories both throughout the day and during your workout. The grape seed extract also helps improve circulation. I always have cold fingers and toes so I figure circulation improvement in two orange pills can’t hurt me.
• be-Enhanced™- Diet supporting CLA complex- This gold pill is a blend of fatty acids. You know, the ones that make your hair skin and nails awesome? Yeah, those! They also support your metabolism and provide a healthy source of energy- the good fats!

I’m not kidding when I say this vitamin pak makes my workout easier, allowing me to work harder, burn more calories and get better results for my time spent at the gym. Don’t believe me? There are well over 200 reviews on the GNC website and the product has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I may not be-Hot yet, but I certainly feel like the be-Hot vitamin paks are helping me get there!