Cherish the Season

This is the part where I apologize profusely for not being around much this holiday season. I feel badly about it, but decided to take what little time away from work and errands and chores to celebrate the season with my loved ones, and it was so worth it. As I mentioned at Thanksgiving, it's been a year of gratitude and with that, I've cherished so many moments and have tried to really live the meaning of that word.

When we set out to create our Christmas card this year, I hadn't even browsed for templates before we started and after I uploaded the pictures we took on the beach at the end of our street (which I totally cherish), I popped onto Tiny Prints, put a few favorite shots into the site and voila, this one was staring me in the face. I'm so pleased with how it turned out because it really means so much to me on all fronts: being squeezed by my honey, standing in one of our favorite spots, cherishing this life we're lucky enough to live.

From the bottom of my heart I wish the the happiest of holiday seasons, safe journey's, lots of warm hugs, full tummies and memories to cherish a lifetime.

Have a very Merry. See you next year my dears.

xoxo,
Ash

P.S. Last year's card, and 2010's, too!

All Of The Lights

Last weekend we took a Holiday Lights Trolley Tour (also, BYOB as you may have noticed on Instagram) in Chicago with some friends. Ugly festive sweaters were involved and though there were four stops along the way, as you'll find below, I took most of the pictures at Zoolights (like I haven't been there six times before). What can I say, it just never gets old.

Festive activities are my favorite. What did y'all get into this season?

Christmas Crib 2012

While decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving might have been new for me this year, theme-ing up for Christmas is an old standard. I used the same pink glitter deer I made last year and added some sparkly poms to use in place of bows, to add some pop to my gallery wall, and string around in various spots. I'm quite pleased with the amount of glitter and shine in my condo this Christmas and the silver pouf and white deer were my two favorite new home additions in 2012.

P.S. Christmas Crib 2011.

Holiday Links

An outtake from our Christmas card "faux-to" shoot :)

(It's faux because we use a tri-pod and remote, fun stuff.)

Just popping in with a few holidays links for your Wednesday...

The unofficial tour of some the best holiday windows.
Remember my vintage hair moment? Here's another easy peasy tutorial just in time for fab fetes.
This song. (It's my favorite this year.)
Sweet mini wreaths, that I bet would smell divine!
This year I used sparkly poms on strings in place of ribbons and bows.
And a festive frock that's a no fail for New Year's.


How's your season going so far?

Yay for Emerald!

I'm super squealing over Emerald being named Pantone's Color of the Year for for 2013. This rich, green hue is one of my favorite colors, especially in jewelry. I don't know about you, but the last two choices (Tangerine Tango and Honeysuckle) have been uninspiring in my opinion. I can't wait for more Emerald products to start popping up, perhaps this necklace is still available?

P.S. Emerald jewels and emerald dresses!

P.P.S. More Pantone/Product pairings.

Of course.

It's the mooost wonderful tiiiiime of the yeeear. And if you work in any form of retail, it's also the most stressful/exhausting time of the year!

My mom e-mailed this print on one of my busiest days last week and it perfectly capture's my career in one sentence. I love this always changing industry, but man is it crazy at Christmas!

It's been wild this week, as will the next one, so I apologize in advance for the disappearing act around here. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely excited and feel beyond blessed to have a busy social calendar, a job that I love in the industry that I love, an entire month of travel plans (more on that later), and the joyous holiday season ahead. But if you're like me and the of fear forgetting something is as real and akin to the fear of say, heights or spiders, then you realize the planning that goes into such situations. My spreadsheets of lists (yes, plural) rival that of the U.S. Constitution in detail. No task left behind!

Hope you're all well and I hope to be back in spurts to spread some holiday cheer. Happy weekend!

P.S. Rules for a successful holiday.

Holiday Hair: Finger Waves

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

I've been trying to do more than a bun with my hair lately... I've done a few braids which I'm really enjoying, and now I'm ready for something a little more dramatic, just in time for the holiday's! The finger wave is such a classic, but the modern twist is a little softer. From dressy to daytime, it's a versatile 'do that looks just as amazing with a sweater as it does with sequins. And did I mention it works on any hair length? I tried this tutorial once and it's actually easier than I thought, the hardest part for me was waiting on it to dry. So I guess, the biggest skill of all is patience. Who'd have thought?

I'm definitely having a vintage moment with hair. Have you tried anything new lately?