Pumpkin Party!

Tomorrow night will mark the 3rd Annual Yazzie Pumpkin and Chili Party! I am so very excited that we've kept this tradition alive. I make vegetarian chili, cornbread and have tons of accoutrement to garnish the chili with. After lively conversation and seasonal frivolity we carve pumpkins and have a contest. We vote via secret ballot, so really it's anyone game. My theme for decorations this year is Dia de los Muertos, or day of the dead.

I'll let you know how it goes. I'll be taking tons of pictures and documenting the festivities. Oh, and please enjoy the above invitation that my Bunnie created. I know, I know; he's easy on the eyes and talented. Let's just say I married up! {wink, wink!}

Love My Body Now Series: Dressing Your Body Type

I've consulted with countless women on how to dress for their body type. Each of them were exasperated as to why they had a closet full of clothes that didn't look or feel good on their bodies Just like algebra, there's a fool proof formula to follow. Your personal formula ensures that you are dressing in figure flattering styles. This will take the mystery out of shopping frustrations. Take a look at the above chart and determine your body type. Need help? Ask a friend to tell you what your figure most closely resembles. Once you've determined your type, the fun begins!
 

HOUR GLASS:
 

This is my body type. And I used to hate it because I couldn't figure out how to make it work for me. Now I know my formula and feel empowered by my little secret! The secret? Play up the waist at all times. 

 

Wear:  

1.  Fitted clothes that show curves 

2.  Pencil/Slim Skirts 

3.  High Waisted skirts/Pants/Jeans 

4.  Wear a heel whenever possible 

5.  True waist (not hip) belts (I wear a waist belt with everything!) 

6.  Vintage: try 50's to early 60's styles

 

Avoid:
 

1.  Baggy/loose fitting clothes 

2.  trousers
long skirts/dresses
 

3.  tunics (unless belted and paired with skinny pants)
 

PEAR SHAPED: 

Pear shaped women are all about finding balance. You want to give the appearance of a wider shoulder and a bigger bust to counteract your lower half.

 

Wear: 

1.  color on top (focus brought to face) 

2.  dark colors on bottom 

3.  wide neck lines 

4.  flutter sleeves 

5.  detailed blouses
accentuate waist 

6.  A-line skirts 

7.  wide legged/flared jeans darkest denim possible

 

Avoid: 

1.  lighter colored denim 

2.  clingy skirts 

3.  lighter colored bottoms 

RECTANGLE:

Rectangle ladies want to create the appearance of curves. Look at Cameron Diaz for ideas. She doesn't have a curve on her body. But she knows how to create the allusion that she has curves for days.

 

Wear: 

1.  necklines below the collarbone 

2.  blousy shirts that soften shoulder/arms 

3.  tops that cinch at the waist
shirts with pockets at bust line
4.  fuller sleeves 

5.  empire waists

 

Avoid: 

1.  cuffs or rolls on pants/jeans (makes you look stocky/stumpy) 

2.  skinny jeans 

3.  pleats at waist 

4.  belts at waist

 

INVERTED TRIANGLE:

Triangles should play down the top part of their body and focus on their smallest part: their bottom quadrant. Create an optical allusion that will make you seem in perfect proportion!

 

Wear: 

1.  bottoms that flare 

2.  tops that show off thin arms 

3.  darker colors on top 

4.  lighter colors on bottom 

5.  tops that cover hip areas 

6.  boot-cut and flared jeans

 

Avoid: 

1.  less detail and focus on top
pocket-less jeans 

2.  skinny jeans 

I hope this gives you some ideas to play around with. I want every woman to learn how to accentuate their positive assets and play them up! We are each beautiful and extraordinary beings with limitless potential. So let's dress like we are ready to tackle each possibility that comes our way!  Love, Ashley 

Picture Credits:
hourglass: keikolynn.blogspot.com
rectangle: halfclub.com
other pictures: unknown

Triumphant!

Remember the WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

contests that Bryan and I entered {here?}

Well, I didn't win.....but Bryan did!

He won third place in his company

for his brilliant interpretation of the concept.

I'm so very proud/excited for my bunnie!

Accentuate the Positive.

I love being a positive woman. {go figure!}

I've observed that many people are negative Nellies.

Which is to be expected, sometimes its
hard to find good in the bad.

I've always thought the world was divided in two types of people;

Half Full and Half Empty.

But guess what? There's worse than half empty!

There's 1/4 empty.

I had a woman snarl at me a month ago to refill her literal

glass that was missing only 1/4 of ice tea.

I was shocked; she must frequently be disappointed by life.

And what good sprouts from negativity?

I choose silver lining.

I choose a positive outlook.

I choose smiles + giggling.

My positive moments this weekend?

1. Taking Soba to the dog park.
2. Filming a NEW MOON spoof.
3. Divine food.
4. Delicate flowers.
5. Spiritual refueling.
6. My new dress.

Quotation.

What do I have to offer?
What do you have to offer?

Polaroid Exhibition: Florals.

What I love/hate about polaroid photography?

The unpredictability. When I think to myself,

"This is going to be a good one."

It actually pops out hexed. Then when I just

go for it, the photo develops heavenly.

Go figure. Isn't that a microcosm for life?!

This is a floral expedition Soba and I took this week.

Macaron Miracle.

Yesterday was the best Monday I've had in such a long time!

Firstly; Soba and I took lunch to Bryan and visited his store.

Which was such a superb outing for each of us.

Secondly; when we returned home I received a call

from my friend Elizabeth. {She's a talented pastry chef}

And she offered me her surplus of macarons.

She knows that I'm obsessed with the little darlings.

Elizabeth was kind enough to drop them off,

and oh, my goodness they were heavenly!

The brown was a chocolate hazelnut and the

orange was pumpkin. Sensational.

What a wondrous way to start the week!

Bow Tie.

This weekend was most cherished and well deserved I....

1. wore green eye shadow and my bow tie.
2. saw WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE {adorable}
3. purchased a couple of fall wardrobe necessities.
4. replaced the lipstick my puppy chewed up.
5. cooked/baked.
6. took a long nap with Husband + Soba.

How was your weekend? What did you do?

Thoughts.

"If your right hand is causing you pain;

cut it off, cut it off." -Bloc Party

Love My Body Now Quandary.

If you were given the choice would you rather:

A: be tragically beautiful and wear average clothes your entire life {or}

B: be average looking but have an unparalleled wardrobe?

Think about it, and tell me what your true answer is.

For my money, I would rather be average looking and have the awesome wardrobe. Many people are rediculously good looking thanks to their genetics. But not everyone has a polished, fun sense of personal style and understands how to fully punctuate their assets. This is the next phase of the Love My Body Now Series: learning how to enhance what your mama gave ya in every color, shape and size.

Image from the Sartorialist.

My Fort Update!

Oh, my word! Remember my entry {here} for the

Where The Wild Things Are fort contest?

Well, I made it onto the site! I doubt I'll place

because there's so many extraordinary forts, but I'm

oh-so pleased that I was recognized! Hooray! Check out

my photo and browse other incredible entries {here.}

Table Top.

I'm just loving fall.

And so is my dining room table.

And the city of Los Angeles:

We finally have rain!

Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing.

Bryan and I both participated in different WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE contests. I entered a fort making contest in anticipation for the flick. And Mr. Yazzie had a company contest for Urban Outfitters. He had to build the rootin' tootinest Wild Things concept possible for his store in Studio City. I think the Yazzies held their own for both contests. But I'll let you be the judge of that! Click on images to enlarge.

Ashley's Top Secret Fort.

Let the wild rumpus begin!

Bryan's wild front window.

Don't you love the wind blown tree?

I love the blossoms he made from cash wrap tissue!

Post Script: DO NOT tell Bryan that I posted this. He will absolutely slaughter me if he finds out I stole his pictures and exploited them. But I couldn't help myself, I think he did a brilliant job. He's so freakin' talented it makes me a little bit sick....and proud.

Rated Arrrrrghhhhh!

Does anyone remember this issue of DOMINO?

I loved this pirate ship chandelier oh, so much!

This weekend Bunnie and I went to Z-Gallerie,

and I finally realized from whence it came.

Don't you want a cozy nook exactly like this?

El Anorak.

Thanks to a little Birthday cash,

I was able to buy this dandy jacket!

I am so excited to wear it.

Although Los Angeles has mild weather in comparison

to the rest of the world, it still gets nippy here.

Is it getting chilly where you live?

me gusta!

After finding this little gem, I decided I needed one too.

I asked Mr. Yazzie to make me one someday.

He said, "Okay, I can do that." Aren't you dying?

You can buy one right {HERE.}

Love My Body Now Series: Erin Interview.

"I did it,” said Erin with a weak but triumphant voice. Her mother and best friend smiled and cheered her on in chorus. Erin was being wheeled on a gurney to a post operation recovery room. The young woman had just undergone a complicated Gastric Bypass Surgery. Erin had recently reached her heaviest weight of 347 pounds. She knew that she must make positive changes or die as a consequence. The idea of death frightened Erin. There was much she wanted to experience in terms of life, love, family, and motherhood. This phobia animated her feet and heart into action when mustering the courage to call on her physician.

Erin wasn’t always overweight. In fact she described herself as, “under weight and the smallest in her class.” It wasn’t until she was twelve years old that she began to put on the pounds. Stressors at home contributed to her battle with food. Erin’s father was an alcoholic, although she never saw him lift a bottle to his mouth. He would hide his addiction by getting drunk at local bars prior to going home. Although Erin was young when the problem came to a head; she felt instinctively that her father had a severe problem. The tension continued to reverberate causing her mother to work around the clock to keep the family afloat. Which sent little Erin to a string of baby sitters whom she resented and hated. The weight began to steadily increase, thus causing additional anxiety and stress.

The pattern of over eating went from troublesome to problematic after Erin's father died. “I would go into panic attacks if I couldn't control things. After my dad died, I thought that if he could die (which was out of my control) then anything could happen. I became scared of everything.” Erin turned to food as a comfort. She could control the food she ate, frequency, and the experience or high she felt as direct result. Food became a drug for Erin. She no longer ate for nutrition but consumed food to fill the pain she continually endured. Erin gained 65 pounds while coping with her father’s passing.

Soon Erin’s weight climbed to 200 pounds, then 250, followed by 300 pounds. Every time her weight spiked to another fifty pound increment she would say, “Well I’ll never get to 250 pounds, that’s just crazy.” But she did gain the weight, and gained more and more, finally reaching her climax weight of 347 pounds. She couldn’t believe she had let her weight wildly slip out of grasp. Erin knew she must change internally and externally. Her primary solution was the surgery, but that was just the first step on a long journey she would have to make for recovery.

Two years later Erin weighs one hundred pounds less than the day of her surgery. She freely admits that she still has much to do in terms of her goals, but she’s working on reshaping her relationship with food. Erin is a member of Eaters Anonymous and attends meetings three to four times per week. She has sworn off certain foods that sent her into past frenzies, namely fast food and doughnuts. Erin understood immediately through her E.A. program that food isn’t just vitamins and nourishment to certain people, and that she is among those numbers. “People don’t realize that food is a drug. I still ‘use’ food and have a hard time. I have anxiety about it, but it’s getting better.”

Erin’s advice to women who struggle with their reflection is to seek a higher power for courage, and share thoughts and feelings with others. When Erin opened up about her fears and struggles, she grew closer to her friends and was inspired by their stories. Swiftly she realized that no one is perfect. Every woman has their personal battles to combat. Through borrowed strength, she was able to share her story and learn from others. On perseverance Erin shares her current view, “Some days I’m still hard on myself, I feel like I could do better. But then I think I’m doing all I can, and that’s all any of us can do.”

Inspiration Board: October

On Saturday night I felt quasi uninspired.

Therefore I immediately created a new
inspiration board.

It is oh-so much fun! The process brings out the kid in me.

{Click on photo to enlarge.}

Where do you draw inspiration from?

tea for two.

Last night Bunnie and I had a moonlit
indoor/outdoor tea party.

I brewed the tea and made a picnic in the
center of our living room.

We haven't had a midnight tea for 2 years,

why did we ever stop?

A tree stump stool served as our table.

A solitary candle was lit.

I pulled back all of our curtains and turned off the lights.

Bryan put on some soft music.

Lastly, I opened the screen door,

allowing the autumn chill to circle us.

Mimicking an outdoor, midnight picnic.

The moon light danced above our heads.

We sipped tea;

sugar for him,

honey for me.

We talked.

We laughed.

We kissed.

We dreamed.

Then we laid on our backs upon the blanket,

with tiny, silk blue pillows beneath our heads.

Side by side we held hands and pretended to see stars.

Maybe we did.

1st photo: taken last night.

2nd photo: taken this morning. {I didn't want to take it down, it was too much fun!}

Animagus.

In the world of Harry Potter certain special

wizards can turn themselves into animals. They are

known as 'Animagus.' If I were an Animagus

I think I would be a Flamingo.

I will forever cherish these two polaroids.

I was lucky to capture these scenes as if they were

plucked right out of their natural environments.

In short, they are simply magical.

A Scoop of Thom Yorke.

Weekend Roundup:

1. mom and sister came to town. {sister started FIDM L.A.}
2. mom and I haunted Farmer's Market, lovely shops & brunched.
3. we watched inspiring words on the telly.
4. mom+bunnie+me went to SCOOPS click {here.} an amazing, unorthodox L.A. ice creamery. I had pistachio fig and mocha molasses. It was odd, but sensational.
5. bunnie painstakingly scored 2 tickets for us to see Thom Yorke at the Orpheum Theatre {he's the voice behind RADIOHEAD} The event was magical, Bryan couldn't stop smiling. Thom Yorke is so incredibly talented. I shall never forget how he bunny hopped all the way across the stage. Lovely. Now we are ready to see RADIOHEAD. A band on my list to see before I die. {Prince is also on this list!}

one lump or two?

Tea anyone? Isn't this lovely?

Don't you want to frame this?

Don't you want to have a reusable bag

with this print all over it? I do.

Buy a print {here.}

Last Saturday.

Last Saturday at this time, my hair and make-up was

being applied by Bridgett the Turkish goddess. Through a

referral from my friend Stacey Lynn, I was fortunate

enough to book a small role as a hostess in a darling

short film entitled BOYSENBERRY PIE.

The set was inside the Starlight Theater off of Sunset/Ivar.

May I confide in you? It felt most prodigious to be

doing what makes me smile. I felt like the shiniest star.

{above is a chair from the starlight theater}

Farmer's Market: Silverlake, CA

Bunny just taught me how to scan!

This is one giant leap for Ashley-kind.

Above are 'roids taken 2 weeks ago at market.

It was boiling hot that Saturday.

I bought beautiful marigolds for my kitchen table.

Fresh cut flowers are always the way to my heart.