Black Friday Boxycharm Unboxing

Hello and happy Black Friday! Hope you enjoyed lots of food, family and friends this Thanksgiving. I was fortunate to spend time with local and out of town family this week which is always good for the soul.

Family is everything

As I was planning for the blog this week, I saw a ton of great gift guide, Black Friday and Cyber Monday post that a lot of bloggers who have done great research (here are some of my favorites: The Small Things Blog, Fabulously Average, 52 Thursdays, and Lauren Loves). Instead of adding to those already amazing post, I thought I’d do my BOXYCHARM unboxing to help anyone who has been thinking about adding it to your holiday wish list or as an idea for a significant other.  You can purchase (1, 3, 6 and 12 month options) from the comfort of your own home avoiding the sales craze.

November BOXYCHARM – Sweater Weather

Cover | FX Illuminating Setting Spray [$31]

Cover | FX is a well known brand and I love trying different setting sprays.  Especially an illuminating one as we head into these dry winter months. It touts being quick-drying and the mist is very fine which bodes well.  I haven’t used it yet but I’m very excited about this product and will report back.

Illuminating Setting Spray

Luxie Beauty Quad Eye Travel Set [$32]

Looks like Luxie and Boxycharm partnered up for this collab.  It’s an adorable travel set of eyeshadow brushes. I don’t know how often I’ll use these shorter handled brushes but I love getting brushes from BOXYCHARM since I never seem to buy them for myself. The synthetic brushes look perfect with their rose gold touches to throw in a makeup bag for a quick weekend away.

LUXIE x BOXYCHARM | Quad Eye Travel Set

Laqa & Co. Cloud Lips [$17]

Described as a full coverage matte long-lasting lipstick that is light as a cloud. *excited* I received the color STORM which initially looks dark brown in the tube but came out a beautiful deep berry color that I  l o v e.  It’s not kiss or transfer proof but the formula was creamy and I can see myself wearing frequently!

Laqa & Co. Cloud Lips | Storm

KNC Beauty Collagen Lips Masks [$15]

To be completely honest…I’m very very excited about these. I’ve seen celebs used these on Instagram and have always wanted to try them out.  A jelly mask for my lips…very intrigued. Plus, anything that says it’ll boost this 32 year olds collagen then sign me up.

All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask

Winky Lux Kitten Palette [$25]

A nine pan eyeshadow palette with four finishes: holographic, matte, satin, and glitter.  I initially wasn’t that excited but after swatching these colors I can’t wait to play with them on the eyes.  They swatch okay on the arm with some fall out but the collection of colors and finishes should be fun to try some complete looks.

Overall, I am excited to play with this box.  Which is exactly why I love boxycharm.  You get 4-5 products (typically full size) for only [$21] a month.  This month’s box product value totalled [$120] which is an amazing value! Hope this unboxing helped you learn a little more about BOXYCHARM.  Do you like these BOXYCHARM unboxing post or prefer them on Instagram Stories or Snapchat? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time my friends…stay happy, healthy and smiling!

 

 

Healthy Holiday Travel Tips

Hello Friends!  Can you even believe Thanksgiving is Thursday?!? Where the heck does the time go these days? Even though it’s hard to believe, holiday season is in fact upon us!!!  Whether you’re traveling via plane, train or automobile below are my top 5 tips to staying healthy during this busy time of year.

Hydrate

Being dehydrated can lead to feeling tired, sluggish, irritable and overeating. All things we’re trying to avoid this holiday season. Solution…drink water, water and more water.  I carry a 40 oz water bottle everywhere I go. This helps me stay on track and I always have water on hand. Try to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces a day (ex: if you weight 160 lbs. you need to drink 80 oz. of water daily.) Staying hydrated also helps with that holiday hangover. I got this water bottle from Costco (you’ll soon learn I’ve have a costco obsession) but also found it on Amazon.

Hydrate

Make Healthy Decisions

This is inevitably the hardest thing to do over the holidays or really any time of year.  Life is all about balance.  We know delicious decedent food is ahead of us at all the holiday gatherings, so while you’re on the road, in the air or on the tracks, make those food decisions healthy ones. Fortunately there are healthy options out there regardless of your mode of transportation. If in doubt, prep and packs snacks!

Breakfast at the airport

Snack

I’m sure you’re asking yourself how snacking could be on this list but here it is. Healthy snacking before heading to a gathering helps fill you up with a healthy option before getting to the land of temptation. Eat some trail mix, granola and yogurt, berries, a protein bar or shake. Healthy snacking can make all the difference. A few of my favorites are tone it up, square organics, and lara bars.

Healthy snack option while on travel

Move

Be active! Whether you’re able to get up for a turkey trot, a jingle all the way 5k or a quick workout, do something to get your blood flowing and your body moving. It doesn’t have to be hours of work but a quick sweat session will have you feeling your best before indulging.  One of my favorite quick workouts are the Tone It Up 5 daily moves. On the go? Another option…take the stairs through the airport, in the mall or at the office. What about squats or lunges in the kitchen or through the airport. All of these options are free and barely take any time out of the entire day.

Completing a run with friends

Enjoy

The biggest piece of advice is to enjoy! This is a special time of year where family and friends are around that we don’t get to see very often. Take time to enjoy the memories being made and know that if you slip up on the healthy scale, tomorrow is another day. Just because you ate half a pecan pie yourself…what, don’t judge…doesn’t mean your healthy lifestyle is ruined forever. Enjoy, savor, and move forward with your healthy mentality.

Family Thanksgiving

Family Christmas

So there you have it….my top 5 healthy holiday tips. Leave me a comment below of your own holiday tip.  I’d love to hear what you’re doing to stay on track during this wonderful time of year!

Feeling very…At Home

Happy Friday Friends!!! I’d like to introduce you to my “what I’m loving” blog series. The name of these posts is pretty telling on what type they’ll be.  Come along with me on what I’ve been loving lately!

At Home

Guys…have you heard of the store At Home? In their own words, they “offer the largest & freshest assortment of home décor at the lowest prices in the industry – for both inside and outside your home.”  In my own words, this store is AMAZING!

The hubby and I went last weekend on the hunt for some picture frames for our master bedroom.  As soon as you step inside you’re excited at all the possibilities and overwhelmed as the sheer size of this store.

Chrismas decor

lamps on lamps on lamps

room decor preview

At Home has everything…holiday décor, chairs, picture frames, moc rooms plus all the knick knacks for bookshelves, counters and the spaces in between!

After recently falling in love with Mr. Kate, my outlook on design and home décor has completed shifted. [Seriously, if you haven’t checked out Mr. Kate’s YouTube channel do yourself a favor and binge.] Although we were just there for picture frames, I could see myself getting lost in the wonder of this store for hours on end.  If you haven’t been…go…run…don’t delay…and take me with you!

all the knick knacks

great prices on wall art

even stuff for our furry family members

OUR BEDROOM DECOR

When we got engaged we talked about updating our bedroom from college furniture to adult married couple furniture. The first piece to the puzzle was updating our old queen bed to a king.  We searched high and low for the right bedroom set and ended up only buying the bedframe and mattress.  We figured that when we buy a house in 2018 we’d complete the bedroom furniture puzzle to fit that space instead of our rented one.

Since then it’s been a bit of a task to fit our current pieces, buy other decor and update the room to work for what we need right now.  This search lead us to At Home last weekend in hopes to complete our headboard/above bed space.  I was inspired from blogger Lauren Loves wedding gallery wall to do something similar in our bedroom on a [much] smaller scale.

We originally ordered these frames from Ikea. They weren’t my first pick  as I wasn’t the ones Lauren used on her wall but they fit the budget and could be shipped to us. Well, when they came in they didn’t ft what I had envisioned. I chose the wrong size.  I went with 16×20 picture with a mat.  The frame was too thin and the mat took away from the statement I was trying to make with the photos.  So, off to At Home we went on the hunt for the perfect frame wedding photo prints.

*we also choose to get our print from costco, 16×20 in their luster finish

BEFORE

What do you think about how it turned out?

AFTER

The room still needs some work like adding bedside table lamps, moving the wreath up (which is from our wedding made by one of my amazing bridesmaids) and continued improvements but I really like how it’s coming together.  Makes me feel like a real adult when I walk in and that, I love!

 

Fall Food…Shopping and Staying Healthy

Fall weather is here and so is all the delicious fall harvest foods. Sweater weather typically calls for hearty, warm, comforting food but that doesn’t mean it has to be unhealthy.  Now is the time to take advantage of all the fall healthy options your grocery store has to offer.

Here are my top 5 tips for shopping the stores this season.

1. Shop the perimeter

You’ve probably heard this before but I find it to be so true.  Fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, and protein are usually located along the border of the store. Sticking to the perimeter helps me avoid the processed temptations lurking within the aisles. It’s the best way to take advantage of local finds and healthy fresh unprocessed foods.

2. Look for Local

This time of year a lot of grocery stores in my area get produce from local farms.  This guarantees fresh produce while supporting the local economy.  Another way to take advantage of this is by creating a specific list and visiting a Farmers Market. What a great fall outing that’s fun for the entire family.

3. Make a List

My husband and I spend time making a list because it helps us stick to what we need not what our hungry bellies are telling us while shopping.  A time-saving tip is to rewrite your list and group items together based on where they’re located in the store to keep the trip short.  I mean, who wants to spend their entire Sunday morning at a store…not us!

4. Take Shortcuts

We get it…life is busy! While fresh is always best sometimes you need a little help.  Find a store that will do some of the food prep for you. While the cost is at a premium price for these items, if it helps you get a fresh and healthy dinner on the table when you wouldn’t otherwise be able to or reduces your stress level…I’d say it’s worth it.

5. Root, Root, Root for the…Veggies

Keep an eye out for root vegetables on sale this time of year. You can buy in bulk and keep in a cool, dark, humid location (i.e. pantry).  Fall is when these root vegetables are at their peak. Full of nutrients and hearty enough for your favorite fall stew.  A current favorite is the curried butternut squash soup by the Minimalist Baker

Thanks for taking a stroll around the grocery store with me. Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re prepping for a trip to the store and let me know if they helped.  I’d love to hear from you!  Comment below on what are your grocery store tips and tricks are and what you want to see next!

Hi…I’m Ashley

Hi…I’m Ashley and this is my first blog post.

I’m excited, nervous, anxious, terrified but overall thrilled!

As I was on my way into work this morning, almost at the end, listening to Mel Robbins: 5 Second Rule I found myself asking…what are you waiting for?  Find something you’re passionate about and do it! So, here I am…writing a blog. I’m starting a blog for a creative outlet and to try new things. If you haven’t read/listened to this book, I recommend it.

I’m a recently married (3/11/17) cat mom who loves food, beauty products, restaurants, As Seen on TV items and fun fitness activities! I’m willing to give pretty much anything out there a try…at least once!

This blog will be a place to share thoughts and insights on recipes, products, workouts or anything you’re interested in me trying out before you take the plunge.  Hints the name…ASK ASH [aSk is my new married monogram so that’s also a fun play on letters]

Look forward to sharing myself with you.

Leave a comment below on what you want me to try next…Can’t wait to see what it is!

[Photos by Pattengale Photography]