So here we are, one more week closer to Viva.

I am happy to report that even with a small hiccup in the form of a weekend trip to Middle Tennessee .featuring tons of delicious food and homemade wine, I had no trouble getting back on track this Tuesday, when I returned home.

Food: I'm keeping my calorie goal at about 1600, which is what My Fitness Pal claims is ideal for maintaining my 129 lb weight. I am not currently compensating for burned calories by taking in any extra so if my workouts begin to result in weight loss, I may have to add another snack. I drink one Green Smoothie a day, using leafy greens like spinach and kale to increase my vegetable intake. I plan to purchase some protein powder this weekend because it's really the only thing my shakes are missing. I drink the smoothie at either breakfast or as an afternoon snack for an added energy boost. My meals focus on clean foods and I'm trying to keep them low in fat as well.

Exercise: I've increased my Wed-Fri workouts to 45 minutes each, to maintain my fat burning zone a little longer than previously. However, once a week (usually Tuesday)I still do the 30 minute 100's workout because I really think it is a great challenge to jumpstart the week. Mondays are busy for me so I force myself to walk or take a bike ride so that I am still doing something active.

Results: I have not yet lost any inches and am down from 131 to 129 lbs. I have noticed that my clothes fit tighter in my butt and I think that this is due to the squats and other leg exercises I've been doing. I don't anticipate it becoming a problem though since I am not working to 'build' and this increase is rather just a result of toning the area. I have always been known to have a square butt so a little roundness there can't be a bad thing!!

Til next time,
So Long, Dearies!!
xoxo
Ashley

This week is 'shaping up' nicely. See what I did there? ;-)

I started out the week with a busy Monday that didn't allow time even for a work out. I soothed myself by eating healthy and trying my best not to slack up.

Thankfully, Tuesday-Thursday have been right on routine and I've been staying within my nutrition goals as well as spending a good 30-45 minutes exercising. I have been struggling with how much to alter my calorie intake according to my fitness goals. I've done some research and find that if I keep my calorie intake to 'maintain' my weight and 'lift heavy', I would lose inches instead of pounds. Unfortunately, it isnt in my budget to purchase weights so I'm sticking to strenuous calisthenics for now. I'll be wrapping up my week with Pilates. So its three days of cardio and two days of resistance training for now.

We'll see how that goes.

So far, no inches lost...2 lbs down.

Til Next time,

So Long, Dearies!

xoxo
Ashley

I,like everyone else in the universe, have decided to get 'fit' this year. I find that although my calorie intake is very low and I remain pretty active, this simply isnt enough anymore to keep the inches away. I have gained inches since my 'detox cleanse' post and it's most disconcerting. Mostly, I think this is due to a high-stress busy lifestyle that makes taking regular meal breaks 'inconvenient' and therefore I tend to push all of my calories in, at the end of the day. Even if you are keeping your calories down, this is never a good thing, and prevents your body from recovering and using those nutrients as it should.

So my new goal for the year is eat smaller meals and make healthier choices, in addition to exercising in a more focused manner.

When it comes to diet, I don't necessarily feel that a drastic lifestyle change is in order, nor do I feel inclined to start eating Vegan or Gluten Free. I do my research, I buy organic when I can, I make balanced meals, and I try to do all of this on a tiny little budget. I have started incorporating Kale Smoothies in my diet, which give me tons of energy, and are an excellent way to get my veggies since I'll admit to being lazy bout expanding this part of my meal planning. Every week, we have a grill night, a taco night, and a soup night. This makes menu arranging much easier and Pinterest comes in very handy for finding recipes that meet these categorical requirements but also feature new and interesting veggies. It's how I discovered how much I loved grilled brussel sprouts and homemade fish tacos. So I do feel that this part of our health is headed in the right direction and as long as I don't keep candy and chips around the house, I think I can keep things under control. My main issue, like I said, is pushing eating to the side until I'm famished, which will naturally result in my eating far too much and too quickly.

photo by Celeste Giuliano

When it comes to exercise, I have not been as focused as I should be. I allow things to get in my way far too often and I don't have specific goals. Therefore, I think keeping my goals small and my workouts more 'pointed' when it comes to reaching that goal, will be the key. I will be continuing to utilize the 100's workouts, which boast excellent results, alternating them with my favorite trainer, Cathe Friedrich's, fitness videos.

Every Thursday, I'm going to try to check in here, to report changes in inches, weight, or routine. Hopefully I can stay on track and not lose steam, especially since Viva Las Vegas is in April and provides a really good 'checkpoint' to work towards.

Right now, my weight is 130 lbs.
My bust measures 34 inches
My waist is 30 (the largest it has been since my children were born)
And my hips are 39.

I don't have much faith that my bust measurement is likely to change much, so I use a padded bra and inserts to bump it up to 36. But the waist and hips are more manageable and hopefully can be whittled a bit.

My goal is to get my waist down to 28 and my hips to 38. I'd like my weight to stay the same; around 128-130 is fine with me. This definitely isnt a journey of weight loss. Just inches.

Til next time,

So Long, Dearies!!
xxoo,
Ashley

And here we go...another year is nearly over and it's time to do the year-in-review, Lisa Freemont Street style. I realized when making this list that I am really out of touch, when it comes to a few things, and more in tune with others since my move to Memphis.

Starting with:

Product of the Year:

SAHAG SCULPT NOURISHING MOUSSE:

For the first time, a styling products gets top honors! This mousse by Sahag, is a dream setting lotion for my current high humidity location. See my full review below:




Blog of the Year:

STRAWBERRY KOI

photo credit Strawberry Koi

I have been following Aya on Youtube and her blog for years, but this year especially, the blog stayed a favorite. The photography is always top notch, the fashion is inspiring, and the whole site just has an airy atmosphere of cozy comfort. The inclusion of recipes and the creativity of her children only serve to make it one of my favorite places in Internet-Land.

Favorite Book:

I did not read a single book this year. I am so ashamed. I've read lots of magazines and re-read a bunch of styling books...but I really dropped the ball when it came to reading books. Things to fix next year...

Favorite Album:

CLUTCH: EARTH ROCKER

A fan of Clutch since the early 90's, I'm always a little giddy when they release a new album. This one is especially dynamic and full of great memorable riffs and Neil Fallon's expressive lyrics. The Face may be one of the best songs of their long career. To be so prolific, its amazing to me that not only is the lineup still original, but the inventiveness seems never-ending.


Favorite Television Show:

DEREK

I enjoyed a lot of great tv this year, but this little show (exclusively available on Netflix, for US audiences) is my favorite. Ricky Gervais stars as Derek, a simple fellow who helps out around an independently operated nursing home in England. The supporting cast includes Karl Pilkington (of An Idiot Abroad) as the bitter and pessimistic maintenance man Dougie, Kerry Godliman as the home's self sacrificing proprietor, Hannah, and David Earl as 'Kev', an unsavory and hygenically challenged fellow who spends all of his time at the home because he has nothing else to do. The manner in which the show delves into the lives of these characters and their relationship with the patients at the home is nothing short of genius. Every episode brought me to tears and every one was life affirming in a different way. I can't praise it enough.

Favorite Live Musical Performance:

LES MISERABLES: PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE, MEMPHIS TN

photo courtesy The Commercial Appeal

Since I live in Memphis now, I've seen a lot of great live music over the past year. I also make the yearly trip to Viva Las Vegas in April as well as the Muddy Roots Festival in late summer. So it was surprising to me when I thought over the past year and found that the local theater production of Les Miserables deserved this honor. I've attended the show multiple times at many different venue sizes, as well as on screen, so I did not expect this cast to measure up to the others Ive enjoyed. It was the best cast I've seen. Phillip Andrew Himebrook particularly is an extraordinary talent and the way that the director utilized the small space to create the same mood that is conveyed in larger theaters using more elaborate sets, was impressive, to say the least. I can't wait to see more productions there in the future.

Favorite Movie:

GRAVITY

I saw a lot of movies this year at the theater but this one was the best. It was not only a cinematic achievement when it comes to direction (Alfonso Cuaron)but it made me take notice of Sandra Bullock as an actress, seriously, for the first time. Both she and Clooney had the difficult task of carrying this movie and they both did an amazing job in their respective parts. The idea of being literally 'lost in space' is quite terrifying and this movie brought that home with resounding force. Even the 3D worked to add to the sense of panic that such a situation would entail. I thought it was a flawless accomplishment on all counts.

Favorite Clothing Purchase:

Last year, Whirling Turban made me several dresses to wear to Viva Las Vegas and this year, I also had the privilege of representing the brand. This time, Katherine utterly outdid herself when she made me this phenomenal 'Peggy Would' style 1950's authentic dress in a luxurious black rayon crepe. To add even more glamour to the dress, a dragon was hand painted onto the neckline, embellished with jet black beads. The placement was perfect. I wish I could wear it all the time...

Favorite Photo:
Another shot at Viva, when the best photos tend to come out. Photos of my husband and I are so rare that this one is easily my favorite of the year.

Favorite Beer:

STONE ESPRESSO IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT
I am not even a fan of stouts, usually, but this one was so amazing, I changed my tune. The charred fragrance reminded me of Memphis bbq and completely belied the taste, which was similar to unsweetened swiss chocolate. Rich, heady, completely surprising. I was blown away by this one.

Favorite Moment :
As a Jehovah's Witness, I can't think of anything more special this year than the release of a newly revised edition of New World Translation of the scriptures. It was released worldwide at a special meeting and came as a complete surprise to all in attendance. I did not take photos, but I was overwhelmed with gratitude towards everyone who put such hard work into creating an edition of the bible that is so easily understood and so readily available. That's all I'm going to say about that. :)

Favorite Tutorial of Mine:

AUTHENTIC PAGEBOY TUTORIAL



I was so happy that the lighting and everything was finally good for this long requested tutorial. And thank goodness it turned out okay.

Video Tutorial of the Year:
GOLDIE STARLING'S JARETH-THE GOBLIN KING-LABYRINTH TUTORIAL

I've always been a fan of Goldiestarling but this video gave me such a thrill. I was geeking out, fan-girling, laughing, and singing along so much on the first view, that I had to instantly go back and watch it again just to enjoy the actual tutorial. :)

So that's it, for this year!

Til Next Year,

So Long, Dearies!!

xxoo,
Ashley

In working as a consultant for Whirling Turban, I get to follow brides from the idea of their wedding dress, all the way through to its completion. Most of those brides have something remarkable to share about their dress or wedding vision, and if we are really fortunate, we are treated to gorgeous photos like these after the event has passed. These things are what keep our designer Katherine motivated, as well as the rest of the team, and that's why I feel sharing these testimonials with all of you is important. Although ordering a dress online can be intimidating, hopefully stories like this one will help you look into companies like Whirling Turban as a viable option for fulfilling your vintage wedding dreams.

As told by: Victoria Foss
From: Dorset, UK


My husband's name is Neil Foss and we met at a mutual friend’s party, at the age of 17. After getting on very well and meeting on a few more occasions, he invited me to his school prom and that's when we started dating. We married on June 18th 2013 at the age of 30!

The Proposal
I was never bothered by weddings and never wanted to get married, but one sunny summer day Neil and I were sitting in a pub garden enjoying a glass of wine while discussing the idea of a big road trip holiday in the USA. I jokingly suggested getting hitched in Vegas and we both agreed how fantastic and different that would be, but (it seemed) we both soon forgot about the idea and continued with our normal lives.

However, unbeknownst to me, Neil continued to consider the idea and a couple of months later, he served me breakfast in bed for my birthday, and on the tray was a little box containing a beautiful ring! Neil isn't great with words and never actually 'asked' me to marry him, but he casually brought up the conversation about getting married in Las Vegas. It was lovely and the ring was a beautiful diamond in an art deco clasp chosen all by himself, which he had already had fitted to my size by carrying one of my rings to the jewelers.

My Wedding Vision:
Given that it was to be a Vegas wedding, and with my love of everything vintage, I needed to find a vintage reproduction dress. I searched the web and found Whirling Turban... and that was it. I was in LOVE with their website. Nothing else I saw gave me that feeling,and I thought the dresses were quite unique! I also found out that they were couture dresses that were sewn to fit your every curve. This made the idea very personal and special to me.

I picked the Suzie's Cream Puff dress because I felt that it was less traditional and I really loved the gold fabric and puff bodice. I just thought it was beautiful.

My Dress Experience:
I was really worried, to begin with, that ordering a dress abroad would be a disaster in the waiting. I expressed my concern in an email before placing my order and was extremely impressed with the help I received from the team. The ordering process was very professional with a user friendly and easy-to- understand ordering page that kept you informed and up-to-date with the progress of your dress. They don't just make you a dress; they advise you on all the fine details too, for example the underwear you will need, to enhance the dress's full potential. The team were superb in their response time and made me feel reassured and confident, even when I ordered a second dress that I wanted for after the wedding. They said they could deliver it to me in time, and I was over the moon when I received the dresses on the exact date that they said to expect them!

I carried my dress around in its box, showing everyone! I was so happy with it! It fit so perfectly; I adored it. My mother and mother-in-law came to visit one night before we left for the states to see me in my dress, as they were not to be at the wedding. It was a very special day :)

I tell everyone about my lovely dress and experience; also I encouraged my friend Alex to buy her wedding dress from Whirling Turban. She has ordered the fishtail dress, which is stunning!

To cut a long story short, Whirling Turban wants you to look good and love your dress! And you will!

To follow the rest of Vickey and Neil's USA road trip adventure, visit their blog here.

Now that Winter has finally settled in here in Tennessee, it's inevitable that the cold-weather-friendly clothing options come out. I'm not a fan of cold weather fashion in general...I get depressed in the chilly dampness of this southern winter. But there are some things I love about the season and one of these is COVER-ALLS! Coveralls and overalls are different in that the former is meant to be worn over your clothing instead of alone. It might be a familiar thing to those of you who work in the automobile industry or the like.

Ladies who went to work to support the war effort in the 1940's were known to wear coveralls while they were on the job and keep their hair out of the way with a snood or scarf so that it could be let loose for a evening on the town. Not that all working women were single, but those who were did not allow the situation of the world to prevent them from dancing the night away!

For super cold winters, the old fashioned style of coverall is still available for hard workers who need clothing protection and warmth. But for a simple style choice that is also utilitarian, My Baby Jo offers an adorable option that is thin enough to dance in, but thick enough to provide some cozy coverage:

They're adorable with Chucks, Oxfords, or heels and compliment all sorts of vintage hairstyles and accessories. Owner Darla was wearing a pair at Viva Las Vegas a couple of years ago and she looked so comfortable and at ease the entire time...I was instantly a fan and decided to invest in a pair myself. Unfortunately, I've as yet been unable to acquire them, but they're again at the top of my list.

For more 'one-piece' winter friendly options, consider classic denim overalls and jumpsuits! My favorite denim options are by Freddies of Pinewood. They're extremely authentic to the era and have a flattering feminine fit.

Queen of Heartz also makes an adorable pair with some stretch it them. They're perfect for those of you who appreciate the addition of a little 'support', in that regard.

Jumpsuits are also making a comeback, even in popular culture. Katniss was seen sporting a fashionable one in the movie Catching Fire, and I couldnt help but wish I had it:

But for a sexier version, don't overlook Whirling Turban! This amazingly crafted jumpsuit worn here by model Mosh, is the bombshell take on Katniss' look. It features a warm bodysuit underneath, a stunning pair of heels, and a striking belt at the waist.

Winter doesnt have to get you down! With 'cover-alls', you don't even need a lot of foundation garments to make them super feminine and seasonally appropriate.

xxoo,
Ashley

As a vintage enthusiast living in a modern society, I embrace new products that make a vintage aesthetic easier, as youknow. But I also am a late-thirties lady, and I find that wearing my favorite authentic red lipsticks can be a bit more tricky these days. The main cause of this is that naturally, over the course of time, the lips can start to develop tiny (mostly) undetectable lines that cause red lipstick to feather. My lips also tend to get very dry when I wear a normal matte formula for any length of time.

A cream lipstick is a more desireable option, and Nyx Snow White is my favorite red lipstick of this formula, but if your lips tend to chap, a cream lipstick is usually too slick to provide any kind of real hydration, and therefore wearing red lips in the winter can be especially difficult.

Revlon Lip Butters have, for the reasons above, become my lip color of choice for everyday use. Especially in cooler weather.

They have a great balmy quality but provide excellent color pay-off, for the most part, and the reds are just lovely. They make my lips feel plump and soft as they wear off so there's none of that drying effect of a highly pigmented lipstick, and the finish is very forgiving, which makes the product easy to apply. I always recommend it to maturing ladies, when they express concerns with feathering red lips in the day time.

One thing I've noticed: Although the Lip Butters are really easy to apply, they don't go on at full color after just one swipe. I usually put two coats on, to get my best color result.

Of the ones I've tried, my favorites so far are Red Velvet (a mulberry red), Cherry Tart (a true red), Candy Apple (a bluer red), and Juicy Papaya ( a pinky coral).

So although the jury was 'out' a very long time on these things, I'm definitely a fan now.

xoxo,
Ashley