try a trend: half moon nails

over the last month or so i had been seeing this new technique on different blogs and pictures from fashion week . last week i came across this tutorial on how to do them yourself! i am such a sucker with anything having to do with nail polish . i am still anxiously awaiting the new OPI by katy perry black shatter polish to make it's way into and onto my hands . Here is my version of half moon nails : 

used: sally hansen extreme wear "in the navy" & wet n' wild metallic silver

new.

the reason i have been MIA lately is because i have started a brand new chapter of my life. at a brand new school, in a brand new apartment, with a brand new roommate. i think i am loving it all a little too much to tell you the truth . i love azusa pacific! my classes AND professors. . . .what?! i also love going to a private christian school that is faith integrated. i am so glad that i had the experiences i did all thru my public school and community college days because i think it makes me appreciate this even more! the people here are great and it is so cozy in our little ikea decorated one bedroom apartment, just brooke and i. we are definitely glad it's just us 2. haha. don't fret we still feel like we have other roomies because the 5 guys that live next door to us like to play electric guitar and unknowingly serenade us with savage garden and miley cyrus songs at night. . . i don't think they have come to the realization yet that we can hear them thru the walls. can't wait to hear what they have lined up for tonight ;)

update to come on adventures in azusa!

a case of the martha's

these past few weeks i have had a case of the martha's. martha stewart that is. i have baked two things in the last week. . . which is more than the usual once in one month. i think it's because i know i am leaving and want to use he kitchen to my full advantage. haha. 
one night i made homemade english muffins. odd right? soooo good though! i honestly didn't even realize you could make them at home until i came across this recipe on cupcakes and cashmere! they turned out super yummy and it made about 18 of them, so i popped them in the freezer so there would be more for later. 
yesterday i made champagne cupcakes for new years using this recipe and they turned out good! they were like vanilla cupcakes with a hint of champagne. . . . a perfect treat for new years!

let me teach you my ways young grashopper

My name is Ashley, well Ashlynn actually, but I also go by bargain queen. I figured I would share a couple of the tricks of the trade and some new info that I found out, that just HAS to be passed on. . . it's THAT good $ Do you have a few places that you always go to? OR stores that you absolutely adore but don't always have the budget for them? Anthropologie. cough. cough. Well, here are a few pointers that work for almost every store : 


-Browse the front, but always stop by the sale or clearance racks! Usually in the back (so you have to look at all the tempting new stuff). Let me tell you it is worth the walk . . . and the treasures you can find! I usually have a "sale walk" that I do in every store. Go ahead. Judge me. But tell me what you paid for your outfit and then we'll talk. But this way you scan every department for the best deals!
-See if they have a rewards program! Things are moving up in the world people . . . it's not just Golden Spoon giving you little stamps for your purchases. Some stores that do this: Sephora, Regal Theaters, & Starbucks to name a few. 
- Get on the e-mail list. I know it may sound like a pain in the butt, but I will graciously take 2 minutes out of my day to go thru e-mails each day if it means a good deal. You get e-mails on what is new in the store, or info on online deals! For example, Sephora sent an e-mail to me last week for 15 dollars off a 40 purchase. Hello!
- This is a site I JUST found out about it and it's great! Ebates.com is a website that you create an account for and login. Then, when you are doing online shopping you go thru this site to the ones you want. Why you ask? You get cash back! For every purchase you make thru this site you get a certain % back from your purchase a few months later in a check! It's literally like you are getting paid to shop in your pajamas. 
-For all you beauty product lovers out there . . . mygiftwithpurchase.com will tell you which department stores are giving gift with purchases at the different make up counters!


These are just a few tips that I wanted to pass along, especially during the holiday season! Happy shopping and happy saving! 

in case you haven't heard . . .

in case you haven't heard . . . i drool over blogs on a daily basis. here are a handful that i am head over heels for :


The Daybook
My Edit
Kendi Everyday
Sterling Style
Cupcakes and Cashmere


check em out. you won't regret it.

there's something about sundays

ok so i'm not sure what it is about sundays, but they make me want to be creative! i think it is from my nursing classes. honestly. after studying all day sunday i would reward myself by grabbing a coffee and walking thru joanns to clear my head. weird right? so this saturday night i came across this blog and of course my creative brain started spinning right before bedtime. this blog has different templates for planners. . . . for free! after browsing through them until the wee hours of the morning i knew what my sunday would be occupied with $ so. . . . this is what i came up with :

here is the planner

then the month pages (with a to do list section too)

then these are the weekly agenda pages!

here is the breakdown- the binder was a paula dean cookbook that i got on sale at michael's for around 2 bucks. (you could use the small binders at staples too) then i got one and a half yards of muslin (i got extra in case i messed up) and then an eighth of a yard of patterned fabric and went to staples to have the calendar pages printed off on cream cardstock.  i just googled "how to sew a book cover". technical, i know. mind you, i have minimal sewing skills so the seems turned out a little curvy and there are some loose threads . . .but who cares?! sometimes you have to embrace the little imperfections in life.

I am looking forward to using it! there may even be a few felt embellishments that just may make their way to the front cover. not sure yet.  

on a different note, i am loving this actual "season" that has decided to visit orange county. who knew orange county could actually muster up some fall weather?! it also reminds me that january is just around the corner! i am getting so anxious to move out and start a new chapter in my life! on the agenda this week : ikea trip. yay! 

my fall obsessions

here are a few things that i have become infatuated with over the last month:

-essie nail polish in sew psyched. It is the perfect fall color, and i searched high and low for it. winner: planet beauty at the spectrum. 

-gingerbread lattes with the creme brulee topping of course (it's this crunchy goodness that is like caramelized sugar)...perks of being related to a barista? i get these nice little insider secrets :)

- my wonderful boots that came in the mail this week. idea courtesy of my cousin, and now a few other friends may have already put them on their list for santa. 

- ok so the daybook, courtesy of my cousin (again). haha. has become one of my biggest obsessions to say the least. i have this unhealthy infatuation with her clothes slash i kind of want to be her. it is a totally inspiring blog that makes you look at your closet in a whole new way. she is adorable and her little stories about married life are just precious. you can visit her site here! ps-it's no coincidence that she is wearing the boots i just bought...see i told you it was an unhealthy obsession ;)

- taylor swift. duh. i mean who isn't?! yes...she may not have the best voice out there, but i believe her songwriting skills make up for that...she wrote the whole album by herself. get it girl. and i think she is one of a handful of celebrities out there in that age group that handles herself with such grace and sticks to her morals, and most importantly is true to herself. 

- instyle. where have you been all my life and why hadn't i started reading you years ago?! 

- nars blush in orgasm. yes, i splurged. $26 later it was well worth it, and plus i haven't even put a dent in it! i think it's the perfect blush and so does everyone else, it's won tons of awards from different magazines! it has a rose color to it, with coral undertones and gold shimmer...all in one! 

- fleur patchwork quilt from urban outfitters. my newest purchase for my apartment, which should be arriving any day now. and the bonus about it? i can use it as a throw or accent piece when i enter the real world and get my own big girl dollhouse. aka apartment. 

gosh, i'm such a girl.