How To Wear: Boho Chic Style

I am doing this series for those who want to experiment with different fashion styles. Almost everyone has their set style to what they stick to almost most days, but this is way for us to just branch out and try different styles. 

*These are my personal opinions and taste, this is in no way "the law" on how to dress boho chic*

Boho Chic is usually 60s and 70s inspired and comes from the word "Bohemian". It includes more earthy tones like browns and tan. This style is all about effortlessness and being a free spirit. Most of the time when you see someone who is wearing a "boho" inspired outfit, it is not perfectly put together. This style is about trying but not trying at all. This is great for casual occasions like shopping, going to the beach, or even a casual date. This style is my personal favorite but I do not incorporate everyday.

The tops are usually flowy and not form fitting, like "peasant tops". Maxi dresses are also incorporated into this look.
Bottoms may include peasant style skirts, Flared jeans, or jean shorts.
Shoes may include sandals, boots, and/or platform style shoes.
Accessories: headband (across the forehead), bangles, Hats (Fedora), handbags (with tassels), and big sunglasses.

This style reminds me of what someone would wear to a music festival in the summer, like Coachella or Woodstock decades ago. This style looks very effortless and laid back. Mary Kate and Ashley, Sienna Miller, and Nicole Richie are known for wearing these looks a lot. 

Below are some ways I personally would wear/style this "boho chic" style. 

boho chic 1 by ashleyraelyn featuring shoulder handbags

boho chic 2 by ashleyraelyn featuring quilted bags

Jane Norman bohemian top
£15 - janenorman.co.uk

YMI embroidered shorts
$28 - tillys.com

Maison Martin Margiela motorcycle shoes
$855 - monamoore.com

Dorothy Perkins quilted bag
$135 - dorothyperkins.com

Miss Selfridge wood jewelry
$22 - missselfridge.com

Dorothy Perkins gold hair accessory
$6 - dorothyperkins.com

boho chic 3 by ashleyraelyn featuring crossbody bags

What do you think about the boho chic style? Is this your style or do you just experiment with this?


Ashley

xoxo



Also Check Out

Revlon Lip Butter Review

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Feb. Haul 

I'm Addicted To Revlon Lip Butters: Lip Butter Review

When I first heard about these a few months ago, I thought they would be just another phase in the beauty world. After seeing swatches and reviews of this product, I had to try it out for myself. Just like with every other review, these are just my personal opinions and thoughts. 

The four colors I have are:

Tutti Fruti (15) which is an orange.
Cupcake (55) which is a muted bubblegum pink.
Berry Smoothie (50) is a berry red.
Pink Truffle (001) is a brown with a hint of pink/red. Pink Truffle is my favorite because it is like my lips but better.








Pros

• Great pigmentation. I thought they would apply sheer, but they are actually pretty pigmented. (Depending on the intensity you want is how much you apply)
• Affordable (compared to other lip products). Most drugstore lipsticks/lip glosses run between $7-$13. I've seen these lip butters anywhere between $5-$8. If you use coupons, you could get it for even cheaper. 
• Creamy consistency (hence the name) which leaves your lips feeling moisturized. They are not like some lipsticks that leave your lips feeling dry, it almost feels like you have on a chap stick. 
• Easily Accessible (at least in the US). You can find this at just about every drugstore, supermarket, or any place that sells drugstore make up. Or you could even find it on ebay or amazon. 
• Comes In Many Different Shades. There are bold colors like reds and pinks and subtle nudes and sheer tones. 
• Goes Well With Darker Skin Tones. I noticed all four shades I have, go pretty well with my skin tone and blend well. the "cupcake" shade may not blend as well with darker tones but worn sheer, it can work.

Cons

• I wish the packaging was a little nicer (but of course this is just my personal opinion). But I'm sure that plays into why it is pretty affordable. 
• I notice it tends to wear off a little quickly, so you will need to carry it with you and reapply if you intend on wearing it all day. 

Final Thoughts: YOU definitely need one of these. lol. They are reasonably priced, pigmented, and they leave your lips feeling like butter. I would recommend this product to anyone, especially those who are not really into lipstick (like myself). I definitely plan on getting more in other shades. 

Below are swatches. I wanted to show you guys what it looks like on my lips and on a blank white paper, so you can see the true color it is.



Tutti Fruiti



Cupcake



Berry Smoothie



Pink Truffle

Have you tried these lip butters? If so, what is your favorite color (so I can run out and get it lol).


Ashley

xoxo



Also Check out

The Hunger Games Review

Feb. Haul

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Organix Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner

I will say that these two have become part of my favorite hair care products. I've always seen Organix in stores and never really gave it a second thought because it is slightly more expensive than most drugstore hair products (and I'm pretty cheap lol). I've been using these consistently for about 2-3 months and I am finally done with the bottles. I wanted to take the time to give a thorough review for those who are interested in these products or those who are looking to try something new.

These two products are Sulfate free, Paraben free, not tested on animals, Safe for color treated hair, made in the US, and the bottles are made from recycled products. These probably are not the most eco-friendly/natural products, but they are pretty close.



First the shampoo. Oraganix Coconut Milk Shampoo. This is different from most shampoos I use mainly because it does not have sulfate (which means it doesn't lather).

Pros

• Sulfate free (sulfate can have the tendency to dry out your hair and dryer hair means your hair is more susceptible to breakage) Of course this is a personal preference though.
• Leaves hair soft because of its creamy consistency, unlike most shampoos
• Easy to find. You can find this in most stores in the United States
• Great Smell and it leaves your hair smelling great afterwards

Cons

• Not sure if it thoroughly cleanses hair. Maybe it is because we are taught to believe that a lather means the hair is clean but I almost feel like it just makes my hair soft but not clean. I could be wrong and this could just be my own mind. 
• I feel like I have to use a lot of product to get it evenly distributed and it seems like the shampoo does not spread well.

Overall, the shampoo is decent but I will not purchase it again. It leaves my hair with a soft feeling but I just dont feel like its the best shampoo. I do say this to say you should test it out for yourself.

On the other hand, The Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner makes up for what (I feel) the shampoo lacks.

Pros

• creamy consistency which leaves my hair super soft. This conditioner is one of the best ones I've used when it comes to the softness.
• Great Smell
• Great for a deep conditioning treatment. The bottle says you can leave it on for 3-5 minutes but most of the time i leave it on for 10 minutes - 1 hour. 

Cons

• I can honestly say I cannot think of one con to this conditioner and that is rare lol but if I had to say one negative thing then I wish the bottle came with more product in it. I find myself trying to keep this as my "good conditioner" so I wont use it up as fast as my other conditioners. 

Final Thoughts:

(the thicker, white product at the top is the conditioner and the clear, more liquid one towards the bottom is the shampoo)

The conditioner is something I would recommend everyone to try, of any hair type. I love this conditioner so much that I have 2 more back up bottles in my bathroom lol. The shampoo just does not do it for me but if you happen to try it and love it then great. I do love that these products are designed to add protein and moisture to your hair, which are the two of the things your hair needs to stay healthy. 

Organix is becoming one of those brands that I like. I also did a review on their Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment (click here to read that)

Have you ever tried any Organix products? What are your favorite shampoos or conditioners right now?

Ashley

xoxo

Also Check out

Jan. Favorites

The Hunger Games Book Review

Feb. Haul

February Haul

Here are most of the things I got during February...well so far. Most of these things I got from couponing or they were on clearance. The reason i do these hauls is to share what I got for someone who may be looking to try new things or looking for something specific.

Hair L to R:



Aussie 3 Minute Miracle deeeeep conditioner - Cant wait to try this. It was around $3 at Walgreens

Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol - I have used this product since I was younger. I like to get these cheaper conditioners to mix with my higher quality conditioners.  I think I got this from either Walgreens, CVS, or Sally's Beauty. I cannot remember lol sorry.

Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque - I used this Monday and it was okay. I didn't notice a major difference in my hair but it seemed to be pretty good. I purchased this from Walgreens

Skin Care:



Jergens Night Repair Nightly Restoring Moisturizer - This is on sale at Target right now for $3.00ish. I used a coupon and got this for $2.ish. It seems to have a really good smell to it.

CVS Cleansing & Makeup Remover Towelettes - These were less than $2 at CVS. Great for just quickly removing make up

Yes To Carrots Super Rich Body Butter - I got this for absolutely free from Target. This is on sale in the travel section for $2 and there was a $2 coupon on "yes to carrots" Facebook page which makes this free. To add, this body butter is so rich and creamy. When I am done with this trial size I almost want to purchase a larger container. and it does not smell like carrots lol

Eye shadow and Blush:



I've always wanted to try this Wet N Wild Eye Shadow Collection in "I heart Matte" - This was around $3-5 at Walgreens and it was well worth it. I plan on doing a separate review on this product.

Revlon Matte Eye Shadow in Vintage Lace (001) - Only a few bucks at CVS

This was also another great discounted item. Almay Smart Shade Blush in Pink Rose. There was a $3 coupon on Target's website and this product was on sale for $4.40 which made this $1.40. Great buy. The bad thing is when I swatched it, it barely showed up on my skin :-(

Nails:



Wet n Wild Megalast Salon Nail Color in Club Havana (211B) - Walgreens for $1 or $2

Beauty Secrets Top Coat from Sally's Beauty Supply. Now....I tried this on my nails for about 3 or 4 days and my nails chipped. I do not know whats wrong with my nails, every top coat I try seems to make my nails chip faster than when I do not have on a top coat.

Lips:



Chapstick was free at Walgreens. It is on sale for .99cents and there is a $1 coupon in Walgreens february coupon book.

This Nivea Milk & Honey Soothing Lip Care is on sale 2 for $5 at CVS this week and next week. If you have coupons you can get it for even cheaper. This smells really good too.

Both of these L'Oreal Lipsticks were on sale for $2.80 and I had two $1 off coupons which made each $1.80. The shades I picked up are Eva Longoria's Caramel (836) and Linda Evangelista's Beige (809).


I've been going Lip Butter crazy lol. I want to get all of the shades but thats not practical. Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie (050) and Tutti Fruitti (015). I got these from CVS and Target for around $5-7.

Face Products:



Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup in Tan. Target for $6.40ish I used a coupon and it made it $4.40ish. This color is a little light for me but will be perfect underneath my eyes to brighten.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Dull Primer was $5.ish at Target and I used a $2 coupon from L'Oreal's website which made it $3.ish.

These two Covergirl Concealers in #6 is a great buy at Target. They were on sale for $3.ish and I used a $1 off coupon on each. I have two more of these in my make up collection already but these are pretty good concealers to have. They dont give full coverage but they're good for the price.

Foundations/Powders:



Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Pressed Powder in Honey - $3.74 and used a $1 coupon. A little light for my complexion but great for under the eyes for me.

CoverGirl TruBlend Pressed Powder in #6. This one was on sale too but I cant remember the price and I also used a coupon which made it a better deal.

L'Oreal True Match Roller Foundation in C5-6. This one is a light for my skin but great under the eyes or to highlight certain areas.



Wow that is a lot of products. I will try not to do anymore shopping for the rest of February lol. If you have a Target in your area you should definitely check to see what products they have on sale. I have noticed many stores have had a lot of cosmetics on sale since the end of December. The value of these products are well over $120 and I would say I spent about 1/3 of that or even less. Now is a great time to buy discounted cosmetics. I also noticed that many of the darker shades are discounted as well, great for us darker girls.


What are some new things you purchased? Also, If you want me to do swatches or reviews of any of these products let me know.


Ashley

xoxo


Also Check Out

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Jan. Favorites

The Hunger Games Book Review

The Hunger Games Review

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 





"Winning Means Fame and Fortune. Losing Means Certain Death. The Hunger Games Have Begun..."




*There are no spoilers in this review, if you want to know what happens you MUST read it lol*





"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love."




I've heard about this book for about the past year now and it has always intrigued me but I never took the time to pick up a copy and read it. After seeing the trailer for the movie at the end of 2011, I decided I had to read it and I have to say I am glad I did. This book is not like any book I have read before, mainly because it is a sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia novel. Before reading this book, I never had a taste for that genre of novels.


This is probably one of the best books I've read recently. This novel is geared towards young adults but I think anyone of any age would enjoy. I will say, I took me about 3 weeks to read this because the beginning did not keep me engaged. Also because the beginning of the book was a little depressing. Just the way that this society is, its just horrible. Once I got to the "meat' of the book (which is the actual games), I could not put the book down. The story line definitely keeps you engaged when it comes to the action and suspense. 


I loved that the plot was not predictable like some novels can be. There were many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I also loved that this book provoked emotions in me, especially when it came to the Gamemakers and the Capitol. It really shows that their world is really messed up and we could be in the same situation if we keep making the decisions we are making as a society. 


I know that this is a fiction novel BUT I think there were numerous parallels to our world today. How we are such a consumer society and do not even realize that there are people in other parts of the country or world who are having financial hardships and some of us do not even care. I love that this novel showed how reality television and entertainment is taking over and it can be detrimental to our society. Although The Hunger Games showed reality television on an extreme level, there were many things that were a reflection of how our reality television is today.  I do not remember where I heard this, but the author (Suzanne Collins) got the idea from the book from seeing a reality television on one station and then flipping the station and seeing people in the middle east at war 




This is one novel I would recommend you to read. It was a great read and I cannot wait to see the movie and also to read "Catching Fire", which I know will be great. 


Below is The Hunger Games Trailer for the movie which comes out March 23







What books are you guys reading?




Ashley


xoxo






Also Check out another book review I did months back


Midnight and the Meaning of Love

Music Monday: Young, Wild, and Free

Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and Bruno Mars- Young, Wild, and Free

Im not usually a fan of Snoop Dogg or Wiz Khalifa but I love this song. This sounds like a great spring/summer song for just having fun and living life lol. The video is super fun too.



Whats your favorite song right now?


Ashley

xoxo

January Favorites

I only have a few favorites this past month, but I'd thought I would share what those things are.



This candle was my most recent purchase in January. I saw it on sale at Target and I had to pick it up. I doubt I will even light it, it will most likely stay on my night stand as decoration...or maybe on my dresser (I haven't decided yet lol). If you are really into decor, you should go to your local target and see what things they have on sale. They had a lot of nice things for a real cheap price.




Another product that I got on sale was this EOS shave cream. I am in love love love with this product. I will most likely do an in depth review of this product in the next coming weeks. The main difference between this shaving cream and others is this one is more of a lotion consistency. This is a great product, I've used it a few times and I love it.





Genesis Today Super Fruit Omega 3 Gummy Vitamins. I ran out of all my other gummy vitamins so I picked up these from Walgreens around the middle of January. I've been taking these for a couple weeks and they are the bomb.  I have a mini review of the vitamins I've been taking coming up this week so look out for it. These are mango and peach flavored (and I hate both flavors) but surprisingly, these taste great.





One product I've been dying to try was the L'oreal The Balm lip colors. I will say I was a little disappointed with the color pay off but it is great as the title says, a balm. Maybe it is just my lip tone, but it applies very sheer. The color I got was Caring Coral, I didn't bother swatching because it is so sheer.





Now drum rolls....

My favorite product on January was the Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle. I freaking love this thing. I know I was a little late to come onto this but I loves it. I want to buy a few more shades because it is that great. It is the perfect color for my skin tone. It has the right amount of brown and the right amount of pink without washing me out.





What were your favorite products on January?


Ashley

xoxo


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