Guest Post - Colleen

Cardigan: Express
Shirt: F21
Skirt: F21
Footless tights: Target
Socks: Target
Boots: Famous Footwear (Mudd)
Necklace: F21

Hey guys, since Ashley is enjoying her vacation, I’m guest posting for her.  It is nice to meet you. I’m Colleen from Scrap and Run.  I’m a 27-year old Engineer who pretends she can have a style blog and running blog all in one.  I’ve taken my daily picture for almost 6 years now.  It was only this past summer that I realized other people did the same. My life has been happier ever since.  I love getting inspiration from everyone out there, especially Ashley. I love her anecdotes. It is definitely my number one blog I read so I jumped at the chance to guest post for her.

Sometimes Ashley does a brain dump post and since you don’t really know me I won’t bore you with a long story from my life, I thought I’d do a brain dump.

• Why is it that when I volunteer for something, I volunteer for too much all going on at the same time?
• Why am I still sitting here in my workout clothes instead of in my pajamas?
• How can my husband go to the grocery store and spend $100 and still not buy any food for meals?
• Why do people from Pittsburgh say gum bands, pop, jumbo, and yinz?
• Why are all my brain dumps questions so far?
• I used to constantly have something happen and think about how I will write an email about the thing but now I think how I will blog about it.
• I have a severe backlog of blog topics.
• I am very pale that in a lot of pictures people think I’m overexposed but then they realized that just how I am.
• While on the topic of being pale, my gym teacher in high school made fun of my pale legs. She also made fun of my log arms. And they say kids are the bullies.
• Why do I care so much about watching so many TV shows? I mean I have come to realize I don’t remember details from many shows at all so what’s the point?
• Also why do I have a nice new TV with a DVR in my craft room/office and I rarely even remember to turn it on?

Well I hope you enjoyed my brain dump. If you didn’t, you’ll have to wait a few more days until Ashley returns to get a post from her.   I can’t wait to see all of Ashley’s outfit photos from vacation.

3.23.11

Target Sky Blue Tee (similar here)

J.Crew Bell Skirt in Faded Black (similar here)

MIA Brown Wedges (via Endless, buy them here)

Forever 21 Peach Necklace (similar here)

Hey guys! By the time this posts I'll have landed in London...and will be waiting in a customs line, I'm sure.

Anyway, I just wanted to get one last post out before I left so I have less of a backlog later.

Also, I wanted to do a little mini-review for you guys!

I'm sure you've heard about the Sally Hansen Nail Effects - they've been all over the blogosphere lately. Everyone said they were great for travel and scent-less, so perfect to use on an airplane.

Well, I am here to tell you that I would absolutely not use these on an airplane. They definitely have a nail polish smell. It's not super noticeable or nearly as strong as actual nail polish - you could get away with using them in a large public space (like an airport). Using the strips in the small, recycled air confines of an airplane? You might be getting some dirty looks from those with sensitive noses.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the product - so easy and quick to apply, and the transfer is pretty durable (As I write this I'm on a day two, with a shower in there, with only one tiny chip). Also, the "stickers" are really thin, which makes application a breeze. If you pick a transfer that is too big and it over laps your finger, you can just poke at it with the included orange stick and it separates. Also, if you get a little fold or bubble on the sticker, it just absorbs into itself, if that makes sense.

I've used the Sephora nail effects before, and in my opinion, these Sally Hansen strips are MUCH better (plus they're cheaper - about $10/box, but they've been on sale and coupons are everywhere!). Go buy some!

(and I wasn't paid to do this review or anything, I just wanted to share!)

3.21.11

Loft Dusty Blue Top (similar here)

J.Crew (outlet) Pencil Skirt (similar here)

Banana Republic Beaded Necklace (similar here)

Forever 21 Nude Belt (similar here)

Antonio Melani Nude Peeptoes (buy them here)

Well guys, it's almost here. I'm all packed (I'm only taking TWO pairs of shoes!), have my outlet converters, and everything else I could possibly need (all in one carry-one - I'm so proud of myself). My parents are terrified of terrorist attacks (always a sign of a good time) and my mom sat me down and gave me trip advice yesterday. Some of my favorite words of wisdom were

"Don't go to a pub and get drunk by yourself. You know how Europeans are"

and

"Don't set your purse down and walk away from it"

Gotta love it.

I do have some silly goals for my trip, though.

1) buy a pair of Hunter Wellies or a Liberty print silk scarf (we'll see if I can release the cash from my grips!)

2) find/identify some street art (preferably by Bansky or Space Invader) and take a picture (Um, I just watched Exit Through the Gift Shop)

3) Buy some REALLY cheesy souvenirs featuring the Royal Wedding for my friends

4) NOT take a picture in a phone booth (I'm cliche, but not THAT cliche)

5) Take a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower

6) Successfully order a meal in French while in Paris (pain au chocolat and chocolat chaud count, right?)

7) Not get lost...and if I do get lost, not freak out about it.

8) Take some time to just enjoy the experience and not fret about seeing every site - there's no way I can!

9) Send my mom a bon anniversaire card while in Paris (maybe postmarked at the Eiffel Tower?)

10) Buy the Royal Mail Magik stamp collection (I'm a nerd, alright?)

3.25.11

Heritage 1981 (Forever 21) Paisley Dress (similar here)
Old Navy Khaki Cardigan (buy it here)
We Love Colors Rust Nylon/Microfiber Tights (c/o WLC, buy them here)
Steve Madden Gold Flats (similar here)
Banana Republic Goldenrod Belt (similar here)

So on Sundays I have a bit of a ritual. I wake up early (my little brother gets up for work at 6am, which wakes me up), catch up on all the TV shows I missed the previous week on hulu, read the posts I have in Google Reader, watch my work's TV show, eat breakfast with my dad (my mom also works Sundays), do my nails, and then do a face mask. Thrilling, yes?

I always use the same face mask - the cheapy Queen Helene's Mint Julep mask. I've got dry skin, but HUGE poors, so I use that, then I mosturize like crazy and have better skin.

So yesterday I started my regular routine...only when I rinsed my normal face mask off, my face was BRIGHT red. Like RED RED. And puffy and HOT. Which isn't really the look I'm going for. Absolutely not cute. Thankfully after a few cold washclothes and a benedryl the redness and swelling was gone, but dang!

Also!

So remember way back when we We Love Colors provided a few FBFF bloggers with a pair of tights to review? Well, I emailed them and told them how much I appreciated it, and they responded offering me another pair of tights to review.

I chose the Nylon/Microfiber tights in Rust, which isn't a red, ruddy rust color, it's more of a bright rust - I would say the picture above is true-to-color to a bit bright. For being such a bright color, they're surprisingly easy for me to style - they work really well with earth tones and shades of red.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that the first pair of tights that was sent to me was damaged - however, I emailed my contact at WLC and they were quick to send me another pair out, no questions asked. Customer service like that is hard to find, and I really appreciate the friendliness of the WLC staff.

The damage must have been a freak accident, because I've since ordered several pairs of WLC tights (that I've paid for) and I've had absolutely no problems with them.

But back to the tights - I've said it before and I'll say it again - you can't beat the softness of the WLC tights - they're so snuggily and comfy - I'm actually a LITTLE sad that tight-wearing weather will be over soon for me.

Thanks so much to the staff at We Love Colors for offering me these tights to review - I really appreciate it!

3.20.11

Forever 21 Salmon Top (similar here)

Gap Sexy Bootcut (their name, I swear) Jeans (buy here)

Gianni Bini Fringe Wedges (via Dillards, similar here)

American Eagle Sunnies (similar here)

It is freaking SNOWING this morning. You think I'd be used to it since I've lived in Missouri my whole life, but considering I took my winter coats to the dry cleaner earlier this week, I was not a happy camper scraping 4" of snow off my car in my thin little trench coat.

Ugh.

Anyway.

If you haven't heard, the '70s are back in style. And it is awesome. I bought these jeans last week with the 40% off on Wednesday coupon Gap always offers and could not wait to wear them. I love skinny jeans, and they definitely have an important place in my wardrobe - but man, some bootcut jeans are nice every once in a while. I tried the super wide flares and trouser style jeans that are really much more on trend, but I felt like they didn't work on me, so here we are in 'Ole Faithful, the bootcut.

Also! These wedges. I got them two years ago and wore them to death the year I got them...the last year they were never touched. They actually had DUST on them! I think fringe is pretty darn '70s, so I will be rockin' these babies like crazy this summer....or once it finally stops SNOWING.

3.18.11

Land's End White Shell (similar here)

H&M Olive Drop Pocket Skirt (similar here)

Charlotte Russe Navy Cardigan (similar here)

Target Teanna Heels (no longer online, but probably still in your store! similar here)

Brown Braided Belt (similar here)

American Eagle Gold Hoops (similar here)

You guys, this is the beginning of an exciting era over here on Ashley Getting Dressed - these are my first pictures with my new camera!

Previously, I'd been using an Olympus camera that was gifted to me in college - I ABUSED that camera, and it still works wonderfully, but it just wasn't giving me the quality I desired, and it was missing out on a few features I thought would be helpful (namely it could only take one timer picture at a time - SO annoying!).

Now, I say I abused the camera and I am not lying. It was the fist fully waterproof and shatterproof camera on the market, so I took it snorkeling with me within weeks of owning it. It's also preformed a few bar tricks or two, taking dunks in pitchers of beer, cups of Long Island Ice Tea, and who knows what else. It's survived WAY too many frat parties, chilling on the edges of nasty beer pong tables. It even lasted through TWO trips to Vegas, and a fall off the third story of a parking garage onto a sidewalk.

So yeah, I recommend Olympus cameras.

I just felt like I wasn't ready to upgrade to a dSLR (HELLO, did you just read what my last camera went through?), so I upgraded to a "premium" point and shoot - the Canon PowerShot S95. I've been using it for a few days now and I LOVE it - the pictures are SO bright and clear and really capture true colors. Plus, it allows me to take up to ten pictures at a time with one self-timer! It was definitely a little pricey (and to be honest, I feel a little silly spending so much money on a P&S when a dSLR would have only been a few hundred more), but I was able to order through Best Buy, where it was on special, with eBates, using a $25 Rewards credit I had from buying my computer, plus I used the money I had hanging out in my PayPal account, so it really wasn't that bad. Plus, with Site-to-Store pick up I had it later that day!

Also, this outfit is 100% inspired by E. over on academichic. When she posted her outfit during their Banana Republic week, I knew I had to try my hand at it - it combined one of my favorite colors (navy!), with one of my favorite things (belting cardigans!), with one of my difficult-to-style items (the skirt!). The outfit was true love.

3.17.11

J.Crew (outlet) Lime Tee (similar here)

Anthropologie Alena Skirt in Navy (similar here)

Nine West Snakeskin Flats (similar here)

The Limited Gold Belt (similar here)

Forever 21 Lucky Charms Earrings (buy them here)

This is what I wore on St. Patrick's Day! Haha, yup, even though that was a week ago. I have absolutely zero Irish blood in me (I'm German through and through), but since my work is really close to Dogtown, an Irish-y neighborhood in St. Louis, I felt as though I had to wear a bit of green on St. Patrick's Day, so I went with the loosest interpretation of the color with this lime tee from J.Crew, topped off with my appropriately-named Lucky Charms earrings from Forever 21.

So yeah, my work gets INSANE on St. Patrick's Day. People go to the parade, drink, and then decide to come to my work - we had just under 30,000 people go through our gates last Thursday, which is WAY above normal. There were people tailgating in our parking lots at 5:30am. Crazy stuff.

Speaking of crazy stuff, check out that chair in the picture behind me. How on earth did it end up wrapped around that pole like that? I mean, obviously someone did it, but why? People's stupidity will never cease to amaze me.

3.16.11

Anthropologie Climbing Cowlneck in Pink (similar here)

Urban Outfitters Grey Accordion Pleat Skirt (similar here)

Old Navy Floral Cardigan (similar here)

Unlisted Grey Pumps (via some random shoe store, similar here)

Happy Tuesday! Just think, it's basically the weekend. Because you're already awake for today, Wednesday's almost here, and let's be honest - Thursday might as well be Friday so it's pretty much the weekend! Right?

So last night I stopped at the grocery store to grab dinner for my dad, brother, and myself. I really wanted one of those delicious rotisserie chickens, but when I got back to the deli they were all gone. Usually they'll have more in the back so I asked the deli boy, and he told me they were out.

After I pondered that depressing situation (because really, there are few things worse than really having your heart set on eating something and then not being able to eat that thing), I decided I'd get one of their fried chicken meals with mashed potatoes and stuff. Only the guy tells me they are out of mashed potatoes.

I just stared at him with my mouth open. I don't understand how a grocery store hot foods counter runs out of DINNER food right before dinner. I feel like they should expect to sell a lot. Luckily the deli manager was there and said he could get me some mashed potatoes out of the back, so all was not lost. But seriously. Out of chickens AND mashed potatoes? Not good. Not good at all.

(okay, where does this rank on the scale of most boring blog posts ever? Because I feel like it should be pretty high up there)

3.15.11

Forever 21 Teal Dress (similar here)
Target Black Opaque Tights (similar here)
Charlotte Russe Feather Flats (similar here)
Forever 21 Disco Ball Necklace (buy it here)

Happy first day of spring, everybody! I'm so excited - I'm definitely a spring chicken - this time of the year just makes me so happy! I thought I'd list off some things I'm excited for about this spring:

- being able to label my outfits "spring" instead of "winter". I think I have a backlog of 4 more outfits before I can officially switch over, but I'm excited to do so!

- my trip! Ahhhh I've been waiting FOREVER and now it's NEXT week!

- my birthday! Even though it's been overshadowed by my trip, I turn the big 2-4 on April 6th! I'm taking the day off to recover from jet lag, so my mom and I are planning on shopping and maybe getting pedicures together.

- and on that note, pedicures! My birthday is my official day I start allowing myself to get my bi-weekly pedicures - I feel like they're a waste of money in the winter, so it's a seasonal luxury I truly enjoy.

- the smell of freshly mowed grass

- spring veggies! Fresh lettuce and spinach from the garden, yum yum!

- floral prints and bare legs

- lunches outside! My office suite doesn't have any windows, so when it's finally warm enough out to eat outside I take advantage

- hanging out on patios

- afternoon ice creams with my coworkers - one of the benefits of working at my organization is that we have a Ben & Jerry's stand, multiple Dip'n'Dots stands, and a whole ice cream shop right on our grounds. Afternoon ice creams and strolls to check out the elephants are a great stress reliever.

- bunnies!

- shirtless men jogging in the park I work at (haha, it's true!)

What are you looking forward to this spring?

For Japan

donate here

As natural disaster survivor, I can truly empathize with the people of Japan. My heart goes out to them. Please donate if you can. Every little bit helps.

3.12.11

Forever 21 Brown Tank (similar here)

The Limited Skinny Jeans (cuffed! similar here)

Old Navy Yellow Cardigan (similar here)

Target Teanna Heels (buy them here)

Forever 21 Lucky Charms Earrings (their description, not mine - buy them here)

There are some things I just don't get.

Like those sunglass things that clip on the the front of eyeglasses.

People who put pictures of themselves (or anything, really) on their resumes.

Online shoe shopping (I want to like it, I really do, but the shoes NEVER fit!).

Missouri weather (in snowed Monday and is 70 degrees today).

My boyfriend's obsession with football.

Paying more than $20 for sunglasses or umbrellas.

There are some things I do get, though.

Like big 'ol heels, cuffed jeans, and a bright cardigan for a trip to Target. Because what says "watch out, Saturday morning bargain shoppers, Ashley's here!" better than 4" heels?

3.9.11

The Limited Pink Sweater (similar here)

Marshall's Black and White Skirt (I'm slacking today because I can't find anything similar)

Forever 21 Goldenrod Tights (similar here)

Charlotte Russe Flower Necklace (similar here)

Sometimes I get bad ideas in my head.

Like, "hey, getting my belly button pierced would be totally cool and unique" (no, no, and my parents would have killed me, so it never happened)

and "I'll bake all 12 people in my department their own individual loaf of cinnamon swirl bread for Christmas in one day" (I did it, but I was baking from 7am until 11pm.)

and, my personal favorite, "I can totally steam this skirt with my super hot steamer....while wearing the skirt" (burns happened. Not cute, and having to bandage burns is definitely not a time saver.

One of my ideas last year was that since I love yellow and all shades of yellow so much, I would buy some yellow tights and wear them ALL.THE.TIME.

Except my skin is basically the exact same color as these tights, so I've worn them twice now.

But one of the best ideas I've had is to pair them with this pink sweater.

Why?

I don't know. But it kinda works.

3.8.11

H&M Ugly Shirt (similar here)

H&M Peach Skirt (similar here)

Target Black Opaque Tights (similar here)

Charlotte Russe Black Booties (similar here)

So you guys know how I call this my Ugly Shirt?

Well, I wore it the other day (obviously), and I guess it was the first time my boyfriend saw it.

Direct quote: "What's with that shirt? It kinda looks like my grandma's couch....only worse"

And that, my friends, is why the Ugly Shirt is awesome.

3.7.11

Heritage 1981 (Forever 21) Navy Confetti Dress (similar here)

We Love Colors Nylon/Microfiber Tights in Amytheyst (buy them here)

Anthropologie Gift Bow Belt in Neutral (similar here)

Old Navy Leopard Print Flats (similar here)

Okay, so I really liked this outfit - it was awesome and bright and fun.

And now I'm looking at these pictures and I feel like it looks like I am a character actor for a four-year-old's birthday party.

But whatever.

Would you guys like a real life story from my life?

You would?

Okay.

So, last year on New Year's Day my mom and I left the house to go to town (uh, we live it the country. So we get to call trips "going to town") to get dinner. It was 5:30 or so, so it was pretty dark. Because it gets dark in the late afternoon in January.

So we were driving down our two lane country highway, and I saw a guy laying on the side of the highway. No joke. Just laying there, half in the ditch, half on the shoulder of the road. I screamed (typical), and my mom turned the car around to run the guy over.

Just kidding.

So we pulled over, and I walk up the hill a bit so I could get a cellphone signal and call 911 (because again, we live in the country and we don't get cell service everywhere). In the meantime, another truck drove by at stopped.

The guy had a hoodie on and was laying face down, so we couldn't tell if he was hurt or dead or what....and I wasn't gonna be the one to touch potentially dead guy. The people in the truck were a lot braver, though, and pulled the potentially dead guy's hoodie back...and we saw dead eyes.

Seriously.

Blank, empty, open eyes. It was terrifying.

We checked the guy's pulse, though, and he was alive, so we covered him up with blankets that were in the back of my mom's SUV while we waited the 20 minutes for the ambulance to show up.

A few days later we saw the police chief in the gas station and asked him about it - apparently the guy had decided to go for a little nighttime stroll, slipped on some ice, and whacked his head when he fell, making him unconscious. They said he was majorly suffering from hypothermia and had probably been laying there for an hour or two before we stopped.

In the words of my buddy Enrique Iglesias "I can be your hero, baby"