Music...Thursday?: Aaliyah

I know I usually put out new music I like on monday but there wasnt anything new that I have been feeling lately. When I realized today marks the 10 year anniversary of Aaliyah's death I had to blog about it.

Aaliyah has been one of my favorite singers since I was in elementary. I remember me and my friends LOVED her. She passed away when I was in 7th grade but she definitely made an impact in my life. Not only were her songs great but she seemed to have an amazing personality and had class. She was one of my first celebrity role models.

I love that her songs are still relevant today.

My all time favorite song from Aaliyah is Dont Know What To Tell Ya

Here are some of her other hit songs

Try Again

Are You That Somebody - I learned the dance moves to this song and now every time i hear it I have to do the dance moves with it lol

4 Page Letter

More Than A Woman

We Need A Resolution

Back In One Piece

Never take life for granted because you never know when its your time...

Ashley

xoxo

Style Influence: Whitney Port

Whitney Port is the designer for Whitney Eve. She was an intern at Teen Vogue, Women's Wear Daily, and W. She has also worked for Diane von Furstenberg. Most of us who watched MTV would know her from The Hills and The City. Her clothing line, Whitney Eve is becoming a big name in the fashion industry. I read her book True Whit and it is a great book for those who want to learn more about the basics of fashion, make up, and even home decor. Whitney did an interview with Style Bistro and this is how she described her style...

"I think that my personal style is pretty eclectic depending on my mood. I think when I was living in New York it was a bit more sophisticated and businesswoman-ish. Once I moved back to LA it became more easy going and comfortable. For the most part these days it's all about comfort. When I have to get dressed up I do, but I feel like a pretty good mix of New York and LA."

She usually doesn't dress edgy but this biker jacket with the leopard top and jeans is a really cute look. Its very different from what she normally wears.

I personally love when people wear stripes with jeans. The blazer with the ripped boyfriend jeans is a casual and trendy look.

I love that she wore the bold blazer and kept everything else neutral. This is something I would do.

First of all, I love the cut of those shoes. The blouse being longer than the blazer is what I love about this outfit.

These pastel colors look gorgeous on her.

Mixing patterns is something daring to try out but Whitney pulled it off pretty well.

This is a pretty basic party outfit but I think her hair is what makes this look extra spectacular. But I do love that skirt.

This isnt something I would particularly wear but this gives me that girl next door with style feeling, which is totally her personality.

I love this dress and I love that she paired it with those blue shoes. This is a very chic outfit.

Whit is definitely not afraid to mix patterns and prints. I would never guess to mix a polka dotted top with a floral-ish skirt but this outfit makes me want to try different styling different prints together.

This is a cute casual look. She looks casual, comfortable and stylish at the same time.

Whitney's style is more on the casual side but she knows how to give it an extra umph so it doesn't look so bland. She is my style inspiration because her style isnt really similar to anyone else. She keeps it simple but adds her on special touch on her outfits.

What do you think about Whitney Port's style?

Also check out

Wardrobe Basics: Shoes

Style Influence: Rihanna

photos from www.whitneyport.celebuzz.com and www.people.com

Ashley

xoxo

Wardrobe Basics: Shoes

Shoes were first designed to protect your feet from the elements (especially in the days when majority of the people did manual labor). Now shoes have become more than something to protect your feet, shoes can show your societal status, what your day may be like, or could be depending on your mood. Shoes are something that can make or break an outfit. Depending on how you wear them and what you wear them with. The right shoes can make an outfit amazing.

The shoes I will mention are things you should collect over time, if you don't already have them. Fashion and style is something that can be twisted and molded into however you like. These are just some of the basics. I believe you should spend a little more on the basics because they are staples in your wardrobe...but that doesn't necessarily mean you should break the bank, it means you should pay attention to the quality of the item.

The 6 must have shoes in every woman's wardrobe are:

Flats

Flats are one of the most comfortable shoes on the earth (lol), next to sneakers. They are usually worn with more of an in between casual and dressy look. Below are a few ways I wear/would wear flats. Flats are perfect to keep in your purse if you are wearing heels. Occasions flats can be perfect for: shopping, going to school, travelling, church,etc...

Sandals

Sandals are great for the warmer seasons of the month. Sandals are for more casual occasions. They're perfect for just running errands, shopping, and going the beach.

Sneakers/Tennis Shoes

Sneakers are pretty comfortable shoes and worn during casual occasions. Depending on how you style them they can be a nice style piece for a casual look. Sneakers are great for working out, shopping, going to school.

Heels

Heels can easily pull a look together. They're perfect for going to work, a date, church, going to a club/party, or even if you just want to dress up a pair of jeans. I think these heels should be a classic look so they can be worn with just about anything.

Wedges

This is my favorite type of shoe. Wedges can be comfortable and a little edgy. Sandal wedges are perfect for summer and spring and I think they look really good with a maxi dress. Closed toe wedges are great too because they can be worn throughout the whole year. Wedges are pretty versatile and can be worn in many different casual occasions. I think the first outfit below would be a cute outfit for a concert or a casual date.

Boots

Now boots are something I don't know a lot about being that I live in Florida and we would don't even really need boots lol. Boots are perfect for the colder months and they look really chic. Bootie heels are great for a more polished, dressy look and can be great for going out. Boots are great if you are doing a lot of walking and you need to be cute and comfortable.

Dressy Heels

These heels are the most fabulous. Im sure most of us who arent celebrities or going to events every week will rarely need these. These are different from your average heel/pump because they are for events, galas, balls, prom, homecoming, new years eve party etc.

I made these outfits with polyvore so some of the items in these outfits may be labels or brands that are somewhat expensive. You can definitely find shoes like this in many different brands of all prices. The outfits are the way that I would wear or style these shoes. Depending on your lifestyle and location will depend on which of these you will REALLY need.

What is your favorite shoe style?

Also check out

Style Influence: Rihanna

Asian Shrimp Salad with Feta Cheese

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips Review

Ashley

xoxo

Style Influence: Rihanna

Rihanna has only been in the music industry 6 years and has made a major impact on not only music but fashion as well. She seems to have a "break the mold" attitude about her personal life, fashion, and hair. Her looks, no matter if it is an award show, concert, or travelling, seems to be very daring and sexy. Rihanna's personal style is ever-changing, just like her hairstyles. She rocks feminine, rocker, and sexy looks.

Rihanna is my personal style inspiration because she challenges me to think outside the box when it comes to fashion. Now I don't know if her style is completely hers or a mixture of her and her stylist nonetheless, it is great. You don't have to follow the norm and it is okay to mix textures and prints.

The layers of pearls really make this Alexander McQueen jumpsuit 10x better. This outfit is just sexy.

Rihanna is one of the first people who influenced me start wearing beanies. I love that she mixes the corset with a a beanie and jeans.

These Givenchy printed leggings she wore were ah-may-zing. I just love this outfit. I think it would've been even more bomb if she wore a colored top or shoes but its still cute. Plus look at that blush.

This Balmain jacket is a great touch to this pretty simple outfit. The combination of the jacket and the hair give me a Michael Jackson vibe.

I love that the romper matches the shoes but in a subtle way. And the romper looks super comfortable.

This looks is pretty simple and cute, especially with the bow headband in her hair. Her hair really makes this Kos skirt pop. The Zambesi corset is adorable as well.

This is a perfect spring and summer look. She is definitely not afraid to mix patterns, which is what I love about her style. The fedora and the Louboutins definitely top this outfit off.

This is how you do a clown outfit the right way. This D&G one shoulder jumpsuit is loud and bold, just like her personality. I love that she kept her shoes and jewelry simple.

Leather jacket + vintage inspired hair + the nude shoes + the feminine dress = a great look. The mixture of all these different styles came out pretty good.

The tshirt and the puffy skirt is a different look that most would probably be to afraid to wear. The mixture of the different textures and looks is daring.

Color blocking gone right. Just like the previous outfit, most would think this outfit is too daring. I love it. The cropped sweater is by Maria Luisa, Pants are by Cacharel and those bomb gold shoes are from Giuseppe Zanotti.

What do you think about RiRi's style?

Ashley

xoxo

*images from Eonline*

Asian Shrimp Salad with Feta Cheese Crumbles

Now I am not a cook nor do I know much about cooking. I was hungry and decided to whip up some concoction for lunch.

Ingredients:

* of course you can substitute for whatever you want or however much you want *

cooked medium sized Shrimp (maybe 10 pieces)

Kraft Light Asian Toasted Sesame salad dressing

Lettuce (from a bag lol I don't know what kind it is)

Crumbled Feta Cheese - Reduced Fat

Balsamic Vinegar

Since the shrimp were already cooked, I just put them in a pan with balsamic vinegar for maybe 5 minutes to brown them a little.

I am not sure if this has any cohesiveness but it turned out pretty good. I usually use blue cheese crumbles on my salad but this time i decided to use Feta cheese. Salads are pretty fool proof. You can add whatever you want to make it your own.

I know the pictures of the shrimp don't look as appetizing but it was really good. Depending on how much salad dressing you use this can be a pretty healthy lunch.

What do you like to put on your salad?

Ashley

xoxo

Also check out these other posts

Blue Hawaii

Style Influence: Alexa Chung

Sally Hansen Nail Strip Review

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips Review (Plus Update)

I've always seen these in stores but I was hestitant about trying them. One day I just decided to give in after seeing a few youtubers do videos on them. They made them look very easy to use and they turned out great on them. You can get them for around $7-$10 depending on your local store.

I chose the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Houndstooth.

First let me tell you about the application. It isnt difficult at all. You have to make sure your nails are clean and your cuticles are pushed back so the nail strips will look natural on your nails and last longer. You basically pull off the bottom and top layer of plastic and mold it onto your nail. If you make a mistake you can situate it a few times. Most of them were almost 2 times the size of my nail so I could cut it in half (length-wise) and use it for a smaller nail (like my pinky or pointer). You should try to do this so you will end up having more because the set only comes with 16 so you are guaranteed only one application.

I've had them on for a week now and I have to say that I really love them. I did make a few mistakes and they dont look perfect but nonetheless, they are great. Next time I will definitely put a top coat on because the tips of them did chip. The instructions didnt say anything about putting a top coat on so I decided not to. BUT i noticed these do not chip on me as much as regular nail polish does. When I wear regular nail polish it begins to chip on the third day and by the 5th day it just looks like a hot mess. Also you can see that they grew out, so depending on how long it takes your nails to grow will also depend on how long they last.

I love the print on them, The houndstooth is really cute and stands out.

I would give this product 4.5 out of 5 and I would definitely repurchase. I cant wait to pick up other designs.

I wish they weren't as expensive or even make it $12 and come with 20 strips (so you can use them two times).

I wanted to do this review so others could get a first hand opinion on how they work and how they turn on.

I purchased these in my Colorado haul, click here to see what else I picked up in that haul

Have you ever tried nail strips?

Ashley

xoxo

UPDATE

So when I took these nail strips off my nails, my nails were super sore. They felt really brittle (similar to when I get acrylic taken off my nails) and I hated that. I have pretty strong and healthy nails and my nails haven't felt like that in a LONG time. Maybe it was just me but I figured I'd just warn you guys.

Also.... I had about 6 nail strips left that were not used and I wanted to use them....but nope. I even put them in a zip lock bag so they would last but they didnt. They were like dried up stickers. So its obvious you can only use these once, regardless of how you try to save them.

Just thought I'd let you guys know if you're thinking about getting them. I have another package of these in yellow, hopefully I'll have a better experience.

Style Influence: Alexa Chung

I first fell in love with Alexa Chung's style when she had a show on MTV called Its On with Alexa Chung. Most television hosts dont have much personal style and she did, which made her stand out. Alexa is mainly known for being a model and fashion icon. She has a Mulberry bag named after her and in 2010 she received a British Style Award from the British Fashion Council. I interpret her style as being a mix of masculinity, femininity, street, and rocker chic.

I chose a few looks of hers that I absolutely adore but there are so many other images that show how great her style is. I think even if you don't particularly like her style she is definitely an fashion inspiration.

What do you think about Alexa's style?

Ashley

xoxo