Bloggers Wanted

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Hey all! Just wanted to let you know that today is the last day of July. Huzzah!

With August gearing up to start, I am in full swing of planning the month's posts. Now, if you know anything of my blogging history, you will know that I tend to make August "Back-to-School Month" because that is what it is to me--and let's face it...I'm selfish when planning content. :)

Anyhoo, one thing that I like to do is turn the reins over to a few guest bloggers near the end of the month (typically the week I am packing and preparing to move back to school) to share their own back to school post. I am currently hunting down those bloggers.

Want to be one of them or know someone who would be great for it? Email me. The only caveat is, the topic will be college specific so you should be in college, about to enter college, or have really fond memories and just love talking about college.

I hope to hear from some of you! I would love to have a full roster!

<3 Ashley

Wanna be my guest blogger?

Summer Getaway

As we are ending July and getting ready for August's last days of summer I am thinking more and more about the coming school year...which bothers me. I have actually one month today left of my summer. I don't need to be thinking about its end yet! There are things to do! My friend and I are still adamant about going on a hike some Saturday before we have to part ways again.

Unfortunately, my plans for the summer do not include an actual vacation. It hurts to admit, but for what feels like the first time--though probably isn't--we are not going on any trips. No Disney World. No beach. I am hanging my head in disappointment as I type this. However, being the dreamer that I am, that fact has not stopped me from pining over everyone else's vacation photos and dreaming up the possible getaways that I could take!

Palm Springs, CA

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Have I ever considered leaving the east coast? No. Would you actually have to pull me away kicking and screaming? Very much so. But seeing Stephanie Sterjovski's photos from her trip to Palm Springs made me thing, "Eh. What's a few days?" :)

Sawtooth Mountains, ID

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To everyone's surprise, I'm sure, one of my dream vacations is to the mountains. I mean the Rockies or something rough, yet beautiful looking. I live basically on the Appalachian Trail and these are some beautiful rolling hills...not what I want to see out of a mountain! Let's just not talk about the snakes that are probably waiting for me on this dream trip, okay?

Key Largo--Key West, FL

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I can just see it: lounging on the sand, watching the sunset while sipping a summer-y cocktail. Sign me up immediately!

<3 Ashley

Where do you dream of getting away to before summer ends?

#SeeSummerBetter

Nothing like a historical hike in Gettysburg on the hottest day of the summer! 

If you know me, you know accessories are not exactly my thing--I'm not typically draped in jewelry or swimming in scarves. However, I do have a penchant for glasses! I have more pairs than are probably necessary and have at least five outfits for each. When it comes to summer, the sunnies come out more frequently (good-bye for now, Pittsburgh winter!) and the warm weather inspires me to experiment with more bold colors and prints.

Between an internship, turning 21 and different adventures with friends, this summer has been an exciting one for me. And of course there should be a different pair of frames for each occasion!

Internship

Skirt | Blouse | Warby Parker 'Piper' Sunglasses | Warby Parker 'Haskell' Glasses

Driving into work in the morning is an absolute nightmare with the sun shining in my face--god forbid I leave my sunnies on the kitchen table! However, these Piper shades from Warby Parker are so wonderfully dark that the light is not as harsh on my eyes. #Blessed, right?

On days when I don't want to wear my contacts (days where there is no sun, therefore no motivation to put them in) I am sporting a pair of smart looking frames. I typically love a classic black frame, but there is something about the clear Haskell frames that I find so wonderfully quirky! And ask anyone I work with...that's how they would describe me anyway. :)

Beach/Pool Side

Swimsuit | Panama Hat | LC Flip Flops | Warby Parker 'Halford' Sunglasses

Pool-side, at the beach, hiking through the battlefields of Gettysburg--yes this one is more specific to my summer--all call for a chic pair of aviators. Plus, how does one say no to a gold rimmed pair likes these?

Night Out

Skirt | Blouse | Sandals | Warby Parker 'Lyle' Glasses

While I do not typically sport frames for a night out with the girls, I may have to start--the Lyle frames with green and yellow hues have me sold. When paired with the right outfit, a colorful pair of glasses are especially fun and flirty!

<3 Ashley

Are you as obsessed with glasses as I am? 

This post was sponsored. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Hometown Hotspot: Miss Ruth's Time Bomb

I have lived in the Carlisle area for pretty much my entire life, but only just recently have I made a point to wander into the shops and discover what the historic town has to offer. One in particular that will forever have a spot in my heart is Miss Ruth's Time Bomb. The Time Bomb is a small consignment shop with a wonderful collection of vintage and vintage inspired pieces.

Every time I go into the shop, you can be certain that I have my mini photo shoot in the dressing area. In fact, I recently took a trip for their semi-annual vintage yard sale; items were marked down to between $1-$10! Needless to say, I found it easy to walk away with a few pieces.

Another thing that I love about Miss Ruth's is how active they are in Carlisle. Their location on High St. is amiable as it is among other great businesses just down the street from Dickinson College. They participate in Carlisle's First Friday evening event, incorporating the month's theme into great sales. They even offer libations to their customers over 21 and a live DJ can also be seen at the events.

Miss Ruth's also runs an event around the holidays for those shopping for quirky gifts. The Market of Curiosities is "an odd market for everyone." The Market takes place in the historic Carlisle Ribbon Mill. The event features "three-rings of shopping, beer tasting and live music." Throughout the market, you will find gifts crafted by a variety of independent artists and collectors an locally crafted beers.

A small fee of $3 is required to enter for individuals over the age of 12 years. Unfortunately, I have yet to make it to the event--I am still in school in Pittsburgh at that time. My eyes are always open, looking for similar events organized by local businesses, whether that be in Carlisle or in Pittsburgh. One great tool that I utilize to find and purchase tickets to local events is EventBrite. It is also a valuable resource if you are looking to organize and advertise your own event you can visit the EventBrite event management page.

<3 Ashley

Have you ever used EventBrite to advertise or find an event? Is there an event in your hometown that you look forward to?

Summer Concert Style

Train is one of my favorite live acts!

One thing that I absolutely love about summer is outdoor concerts. I go to at least one every year--throwback to the year that I managed three concerts!! This summer's concert came early when Train pulled up in Hershey Park Stadium with Matt Nathanson and the Fray also on board. Aside from the music, perfect weather and electric atmosphere that comes along with summer night concert, I also love the style. I don't know about you, but picking an outfit for a concert is serious business--gotta look good and also feel comfortable enough to let loose and have a good time. Here are just a few pieces of inspiration for you:

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<3 Ashley

How would you describe your summer concert style? I tend to opt for a black maxi skirt or dark shorts and a loose top.

Book Club: The Vacationers

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Finally! I have finally gotten around to reading the book that was on everyone's summer reading lists last year (and still a few this year!) The Vacationers by Emma Straub is quite honestly the perfect beach/poolside read as everyone claims. Granted...I did not read it on a beach or pool chair--I read it at work on my lunch breaks. Hey, you take what you can get!

The story follows a family, the Posts, on their last trip together before their youngest daughter, Sylvia, starts college. A lot has gone down in this family in the months leading up to the trip to the picturesque island of Mallorca. Tension has collected between Franny and Jim since Jim's affair with a college student became knowledge. Things are not exactly coming up daisies for the other couples on the trip either. Sylvia is stuck in this house on an island with these couples and their problems all while she is determined to shed the skin of her high school self and embrace college as a totally new person with the help of the hot Spanish tutor Franny hired for her. ;)

I read this on very quickly--I have a feeling that there's a lot of personal drama in a story I will be invested. Every few pages would earn a jaw-drop from me and the words "No he didn't!" I enjoyed reading as each couples story became even clearer with each and every chapter of the trip. The story moved well; each chapter is one day in the trip (14 chapters for two weeks) which made it so much easier to understand how things developed (or fell apart!) as their time in Mallorca passed. I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for a lazy summer read. 

Happy I can finally check this off the list!

<3 Ashley

Have you read The Vacationers? What did you think?

Weekend Wrap-Up: 21

Monday was my birthday, which is why Sunday Brunch was silent. No internet. Just me, my family and my first legal alcoholic beverage. Cue the feeling of liberation and the countless plans being made with friends one month ahead of going back to school--do we have the first two weekends planned? What business is it of yours?

It was a wonderful, relaxing day that I wouldn't have exchanged for any other celebration. That being said, tomorrow we will return to our regular programming; I've got a new Book Club post for you!

<3 Ashley

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Songs of the Summer

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Summer would not be one big party without the right music. Here are just a few tunes on my summer playlist that I have been hitting repeat on:

• "Classic" by MKTO
• "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon
• "Bulletproof Picasso" by Train
• "She's So Mean" by Matchbox Twenty
• "Want To Want Me" by Jason Derulo
• "How You Get The Girl" by Taylor Swift

<3 Ashley

What songs are you listening to this summer?

Step Into My Office

My own teeny-tiny office space :) Gotta start somewhere

In my recent years on the Internet--namely Pinterest--there are several things that I have become obsessed with. To name a few: donut baking, crazy grilled cheeses, pretty flower arrangements, and office decor. I was always one of those kids who enjoyed back to school shopping for new pens, notebooks and folders. I guess that has crossed over into full on office space decor.

Here are just a few pieces of inspiration I have found in my internet travels:

Style Me Pretty

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<3 Ashley

How do you decorate your workspace?

July Letter from the Editor

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Ready for some hopefully not-so-empty promises? It is the dawn of a new month--my hands down favorite month--and I have been thinking up so many fun posts that it will be nearly impossible for me to open my computer and say, "What am I going to write?" That was a big problem this month...lack of motivation and a hefty case of writer's block. But I am back in the game!

This month I am going full fledged summer: summer concert style, summer road trip ideas, fun and inexpensive things to do during the summer, summer menu ideas! Those are just a few things. Then, of course, there is my birthday; I have got some fun ideas for that as well. Stay tuned!

<3 Ashley

Happy July 1st! What are you looking forward to this month?