That is all.

The one where I go slowly.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:17:00 +0000

I still remember Diana's first post about The Slow Readers Book Club. I quickly signed up, slapped the button on my side bar, and started reading a life-changing book - In Praise of Slowness - so I could understand all that the Slow Movement involved.

I loved the idea of a group of people getting together to read a book for pure enjoyment instead of rushing through in order to cross another book off of our to-read list.

Through the Slow Readers I was introduced to some powerful books that I never would have reached for (Half Broke Horses & Alice I Have Been). The group moved from a forum into a Facebook group, which I thought was really convenient.

When I took a step away from Facebook during the summer, I lost track of the group.

Well, I'm happy to say that the book club is back! The team (full of some of my favorite internet ladies) has asked me to join as an admin. The discussion has returned to the forum setting & new books have been chosen.

Would you like to join? Here are some easy ways to connect -

Newsletter (feel free to subscribe)
Forum
Tumblr
Facebook
Twitter

Can't wait to get started this weekend!

That is all.

The one with the art class.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:35:00 +0000

After the whirlwind that was last week, I was so pleased to wake up on Sunday morning and realize I had plans with a girlfriend for an art class in Alexandria.

I put on my favorite pair of new ankle booties and headed to class.

The picture behind me is in my kitchen. It also served as the inspiration for my painting.

aforementioned new boots. ;)

the beautiful Becky.

getting started.

Becky's masterpiece!

my finished piece.

There was little-to-no guidance in the class, but that suited me just fine. Sometimes it's nice to let your mind wander & create something you are proud of.

I hope this post finds you well & that you have a lovely weekend!

That is all.

The one with the winter polish.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:26:00 +0000

Hi, Everyone!

So during the past year I picked out my favorite polishes for spring, summer, and fall. Would you like to see my winter picks (they are really pretty!)? Check out the latest issue of The Violet!

The entire issue is gorgeous - the perfect thing to peruse while drinking your favorite cup of tea - and my small piece is on page 69. Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More magazine

That is all.

The one with December's favorites.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Hi, Friends!

Today I'm sharing my December favorites...

* Beauty:

* TV: White Collar is on Netflix Instant. You're welcome. ;)

* Blog: Just a Titch is one of the most inspirational blogs I follow. Have you read about her "Fresh on the First" idea? She is unplugging from all social networks on the first day of the month. It was interesting to read her reflections after a day of quietness.

* Drink: After hearing Chelsea order an iced chai at Starbucks a while ago, I decided to try one. Now I have a small problem... ;)

* Music: Thanks to my friend Ashley (who has the best taste in music), I'm anxiously awaiting the January 31st release of Lana Del Rey's album. Her voice is haunting...

Ok! I think that's it for now. Hope you all are doing well. I will have some Christmas pictures up soon. :)

That is all.

The one with my Christmas wish list.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:23:00 +0000

2011 Christmas Wishlist by ashleytia featuring pom pom gloves

A pretty perfume in a pretty bottle.
Naked2. I'm still not sure if I actually need this. I have the original, & how many neutral shades should be in one collection? I will say that the taupey shadows look gorgeous in this palette!
A recipe box worthy of passing down to the next generation.
Sparkly polish. Enough said.
Ok. I would never actually ask for these (did you see that price tag?!), but they were too cute not to include in this list. ;)
I didn't think mittens could get any cuter then they went and added a pompom!
A calendar with a whimsical floral print.
My favorite blow dryer and curling iron are both from T3, so I was really excited when they came out with a hot roller set.
Some colorful classics to spice up my bookshelf.
I've had (& loved) my 3GS for 2 years now. I would love an upgrade for the impressive camera & Siri!

What's on your wish list? :)

That is all.

The one with my girl crush.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:50:00 +0000

My girl crush is hands down Emma Stone. She's talented, funny, pretty, & she's a fellow redhead. I will purchase pretty much any magazine where she happens to be gracing the cover & any movie she's in (how awesome was The Help?).

One thing I really appreciate is her ability to wear tons of different makeup looks. I feel like redheads get locked into certain looks - brown shadows, peach cheeks, etc. At the premier of Crazy Stupid Love she was looking fabulous in pink (yes, pink!) eyeshadow & raspberry-wine lips.

photo source

Here's my take on her look!

Do you have a celebrity girl crush?

The one with November's favorites.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:36:00 +0000

It's that time again! Here are my November favorites...

Makeup/Hair

Reading: In November I took a break between book club books to read Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?. If you enjoyed Tina Fey's, I think you would like this.

Reading: Kara's blog, I Just Might Explode, is one of my favorite daily reads. She is so talented (check out her shop here), and it doesn't hurt that she is a looker. ;) Recommended if you like gingers, stunning photography, fashion posts, crafts, and good music.

Watching: After seeing a lot of you mention it on Twitter, I finally started watching Grimm - so good! Think police drama with a creepy fairy tale twist.

Wearing: Infinity scarves. I have three - a huge chunky knit one for cold days, a light animal print one for the office, but my favorite is a recent purchase from Nordstrom's BP. section. I love the color and the fringe!

What are some of your current favorites? :)

That is all.

The one with the snowflakes.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:15:00 +0000

{Sarah}

This weekend I got together with some friends for a small cookie exchange and ornament-making party (Thanks to Tessica for planning & Lauren for hosting!).

{Rachel}

Lauren provided a delicious brunch, which we enjoyed while discussing everything from Thanksgiving to eyebrow threading to dogs. ;)

After that, Tessica taught us all how to make 3D snowflakes out of wrapping paper. (Some of us needed extra tutelage - yes, that would be me.)

(Some may have turned out better than others. I kid! They were all beautiful in their special way.)

Not only did I have a day of relaxation and fellowship, but I got to take home a huge bag of homemade cookies and brownies!

I am so grateful for the friendships that blogging has brought into my life.

That is all.

PS - if you'd like to try out the snowflakes yourself, Tessica shared this link. :)

The one where I go to a park.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:21:00 +0000

Nothing much to say today except that Virginia truly shines in the fall.

((Photos taken on a weekend walk in Sky Meadows State Park.))

I am enjoying a newfound love of tea and chai lattes, Mindy Kaling's book, long conversations with my mom, season 4 of The Big Bang Theory, Ceremonials, and a new drugstore mascara.

Hope you are finding lots of things to love this autumn. :)

That is all.

The one with the vinyl.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:19:00 +0000

So a few weeks ago, I made a very fun purchase - my first record player. Nothing fancy, but it does the job and looks pretty in my living room.

One day I'd like to be fancy and put the record player on a table like this, but until then I'll be happy with my $9 TV tray from Target. ;)

My girlfriend, Ashley, who is always in the know about anything involving music told me about a great spot to buy used records - McKay's Books. If you live in the NoVA area, you need to check it out! We were only there to browse records, but they have a huge DVD and book area as well.

Here are a few pictures from that morning (which had to start with coffee, of course)...

So we walked away with some Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, Joan Baez, and The Carpenters - all in all a good day.

That is all.

The one with October's Favorites.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:19:00 +0000

Hello, Everyone!

So this month things are going to be a little different. On Youtube, monthly favorite videos are kind of a big deal. I was so excited to film mine (I had a lot of great products to discuss!), but I know not everyone wants to watch me drone on for 10 minutes about concealer. ;) So for you all, skip down past the video for my non-beauty favorites.

Beauty talk:

Sunday night ritual: Ever since reading this post by Sarah on how she organizes for the week, I've set aside time on Sunday evenings for planning out what I want/need to accomplish. Now that I have blog posts and videos to plan, my Erin Condren Life Planner and Rifle Paper Co. notepads have become even more important.

Music old and new loves: Unless you've been living under a rock, you know and love The Civil Wars. They are so popular that I've never thought to include them in a monthly favorites post, but in October Ashley and I were lucky enough to see them live for the second time. Not only was their performance awesome, but their opening act was fantastic. I'm calling it now - Milo Greene is going to be huge once they release their first album.

Blog love: I have been a huge fan of Kelly Ann for forever. Her blog, Flowerchild Dwelling, is one of my favorite places for inspiration. She seriously has the best taste in music. I look forward to Music Monday each week. Check her out if you haven't! :)

Hope you all enjoyed my list! I would love to hear your favorites from October. :)

That is all.

PS - Here are a few tracks from Milo Greene...

<p>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://milogreene.bandcamp.com/album/the-hello-sessions"&amp;amp;gt;The Hello Sessions by Milo Greene&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</p>

The one where I visit Fifteen/Eleven

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:13:00 +0000

The other week I visited the cutest shop - FIFTEEN/ELEVEN is located in Old Town Alexandria, not too far from the water.

It's tiny, quaint, and stocked with unique paper goods. Take a look...

They also offer a wide variety of classes. Click here to register for workshops like Rubber Stamp Making, Holiday Gift Wrapping, and Introduction to Letterpress.

I may have done a little shopping while I was in FIFTEEN/ELEVEN...everyone needs more pretty notebooks, right?? :)

(( a little ban.do love ))

I hope you all are doing well. My reader is over-flowing at present! I'm setting aside time this weekend to get caught up. :)

That is all.

The one with some stunning photography.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Maybe it's because my parents have owned their own business since before I was born, but I have a special place in my heart for small business owners. Their days are never 9-5. Their vacations are few and far between. Their concerns are not only for themselves but for their employees and the next generation.

I've already highlighted some of my favorite Northern Virginian small businesses, including The Shoes, Cups, and Cork Club and The British Tea Pantry, but I want to make an even bigger effort to support local, small businesses. I already have a few lined up (you guys are going to love the tiny shop that I'm showing next week!).

Right now I'd like to introduce you to a very talented lady. Chelsea Diane owns her own photography business where she shoots wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photography.

She is based in Central VA, but travels up to my area often. I'm so excited to have my own session with her!

Chelsea is having a promotion from now until December 10th (Christmas card photos, anyone?!). It's a great value. :) But enough of my rambling....I'll let her work speak for itself.

So who's going to help me decide what to wear to my session?? ;)

That is all.

The one with the sparkle swap.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:24:00 +0000

Last month I discovered a new blog via Sarah called Kaileen Elise. In one of the first posts I read, Kaileen decided to organize a Sparkle Swap! The purpose? From Kaileen's blog - "This swap is all about bringing cheer to a fellow blogger. Send a package with 4 unique gifts — a bit of sparkle, a treat that soothes, something sweet, and a surprise. In return, you will receive snail mail love from a new friend."

I was totally onboard! A few days later, I received the name of my recipient. Sandra and I have a lot in common so it was fun to shop for her.

Bath salts to soothe. Sugar scrub for something sweet.

A smokey trio for a little surprise.

My favorite butter London polish for a bit of sparkle.

All packaged up.

I hope Sandra enjoys this even half as much as I enjoyed putting it together. :)

And then a few days later, my sparkle swap package arrived!

Monique completely spoiled me! Just look at all the goodies she got me...

So clearly, Monique is an overachiever. There is a lot more than 4 things! I love each and every goody she got me, especially the bow ring and teas. I think she may have finally pushed me into becoming a tea-drinker!

I also want to say a big thanks to Kaileen. I'm sure this was no small task. I had a wonderful time and made new friends.

That is all.

The one with the guest posts.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:28:00 +0000

First, thank you all so much for the support you've given me this week. I'm so grateful for each of you. :)

Onto fun things - I've had a few guest posts go up in the past week. If you have time, check them out!

I did a dramatic smokey eye for Katie's blog!

Find out what fall means to me on Hannah's blog.

The one where I join Youtube.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:53:00 +0000

I had a post scheduled to go up today, but I have to wait on something before it goes live. Hopefully it will be up next Tuesday!

So, instead you all get a mini post about a decision I made yesterday... (lucky you, right?) ;)

When I took Elsie's Blog Love course, my biggest takeaway was blog what you love. I have really tried to embrace that during 2011, and am so much more in love with blogging than ever before - it's fun to blog when you love your topic!

One thing I have introduced to That is All this year is makeup - tutorials, favorites, and reviews. You all may know from following me on Twitter that I'm a little obsessed with the Youtube Beauty Community. There is a handful of girls I follow, and they provide a lot of my makeup inspiration.

For the past few months I've been thinking how fun it would be to have my own makeup channel. Putting on my makeup is my favorite morning activity. I'm constantly thinking up new looks. If I have any "fun money" it most definitely is going to CVS or Sephora. I like to think I'm pretty good at applying it.

Then doubts hit - I didn't study cosmetology. There are already so many people making videos. What if they are mean to me? What if I only get "your nose is so big!" comments? And so on...

Yesterday I just stopped thinking and created an account (ee!). I'm officially making the jump from Vimeo to Youtube. My user name is makeupTIA.

((Side note: I love Vimeo and completely recommend that site. The only thing it really lacks is that sense of community.))

Right now I only have a few videos up - tutorials I had previously made for That is All. I am working on some new looks that I can't wait to share.

So, no big changes for That is All. I will probably link to my new videos via Twitter if you are interested.

That is all.

((I may need a shoulder to cry on when I get my first "big nose" comment. Just kidding...but kind of serious.))

PS - Thanks to Katrina for letting me use Pugly Paper over on Youtube! :)

The one with all the books.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:27:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago I saw this link pop-up in my twitter feed. Have you heard about Indie Thursday?

Basically, it's an earnest call to book lovers to support their local, independent bookstores. Shop in your local store. Tweet what you purchased. Spread the love.

I immediately liked the idea, but once I read these reasons to shop indie from Indie Bound, I was hooked -

The Economy

Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.
Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
More of your taxes are reinvested in your community--where they belong.

The Environment

Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

The Community

Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.
Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.
More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community.

So, I headed over to my local store - One More Page Books. The sales associate was super helpful, and she also didn't mind that Gus the Gnome had a mini photo shoot in the store. ;)

Did I mention they sell wine & chocolate?!

So, want to know what I picked up? Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close & Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

I'm really excited to dive into both. :)

Do you have a favorite bookstore?

If you live in my area be sure to check out One More Page! :)

That is all.

The one with September's favorites.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Hello, friends! Today I'm sharing my favorite things from September...

Ok, after hearing so many good things about The Bath and Body Works Leaves candle, I finally picked it up. Oh my goodness - no seriously, it is completely worth the hype. My house has been smelling of fall, and I love it!

Then my girlfriend bought me the WW Applewood Trilogy candle. It has a wood wick and crackles like a real fire.

I have no words for my love of this next favorite. I've been really into makeup for the past few years, but I've only had cheap brushes from CVS. Late in August, I treated myself to a Sigma brush set.

I can't really speak to how they compare to MAC brushes because I don't own any, but they are perfect for me!

I alternated between two eyeshadows in September. The first is MAC's Double Feature 5. That picture doesn't really do it justice. It has a very unique green duo chrome.

The second is such a fun color - Elf's Raspberry Truffle. I wore this all over the lid and through the crease with their eyeshadow Oatmeal in the inner corner and on the brow bone.

My most worn polishes were Wallis and Toff. Check out my Fall Polish post for swatches.

So in September I started a trilogy. I don't want to say which in case of accidental spoilers (made that mistake on Twitter...sigh) because I still have 5 chapters left in the last book.

Are we friends on goodreads?? I love adding to my to-read list. :)

My favorite blog post from September was hands down Amy's on Less/More. Read it and then make a list of your own - I did!

*** On a sad note, my most loved hairspray has been discontinued. Help a (flat-haired) girl out! What's your favorite hairspray?

That is all.

{The cute arrows in the eyeshadow picture are from hellovanny!}

The one where I go to brunch.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:41:00 +0000

top left: Lauren // bottom left: me & Becky // right: Karin

After weeks of tweeting our excitement, I finally met up with a handful of fabulous DMV bloggers on Sunday.

First, I was kind of nervous... so nervous, in fact, that I messed up the white balance on almost every photo I took. Let me tell you, trying to fix white balance stinks! Sorry if the picture quality is a little off on this post.

Second, these girls are incredible!

I got to sit by Lauren who happens to be reviewing all the wineries in Virginia. Sounds like a plan for our next meet up, right? ;)

Karin (pictured above on the right) is pretty much the sweetest - I am so glad that she decided to come. Her blog is filled with lovely photos of Virginia and delicious-looking food.

top: me & Lisa // bottom right: Tessica & Rachel

As soon as Becky walked in, she and Tessica hit it off. All of their similarities are crazy! Check out their blogs to find out more.

At one point the conversation turn to what else - blogging. It was incredible to hear everyone's blogging story, especially Rachel, who is now self-employed and following her dreams. (I swear, bloggers are the coolest people.)

We ate at Le Pain Quotidien in Old Town and after taking a while to decide on what to order, lots of delicious food and coffee were served to our (slightly cramped) table. ;)

bottom left: the Sarah's

Sarah (on the right) is probably the one out of the group I have "known" the longest (this was our first time meeting in person). She and Becky were the main reason the brunch happened. They are both such sweet people, and their personalities were exactly how they come across in their blogs.

And this Sarah is the newest DMV blogger! We found each other through Amy, and I am so happy Sarah started blogging. :)

(side note: I am now hiring Lisa to do all my shopping. How cute does she look?? Her blog is definitely one of my style inspiration spots. She was a great sport and let me photograph her with my special guest. I also completely bear hugged her when she walked in, but I really felt like I knew her already.)

I told the girls that when I first started blogging I was sad that I didn't live in California or Arizona because that's where I thought all the bloggers were.

When I really started looking, though, I found tons in my area! I hope maybe this will inspire you to find people in your town and to start building a little blogging community there.

That is all.

Want to see more photos? Check out the other Bloggers who Brunch posts...

(Did I miss anyone??)

photo templates via the oh-so-talented Katrina.

The one with some unusual art.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:15:00 +0000

Things that are currently making me happy -

My sister's growing Domo collection...

Some unusual art... I worked at The Capital Home Show this weekend, and they hired a professional sand castle artist. Crazy!

Lunch dates... Another great perk of the Home Show is that it is next door to Willard's BBQ, so I got to meet Jer for lunch.

New bloggers... We all know that it takes courage to publish your first few blog posts, so I love supporting new bloggers! Sarah recently started blogging, and I can already tell we are kindred spirits. :)

I actually had the opportunity to meet Sarah and a few other fabulous DMV bloggers, but more on that Thursday!

The Head and the Heart concert at the 9:30 Club... It was absolutely awesome. One of my favorite shows of the year.

New polish... I wanted to say thank you to everyone who tweeted/emailed me about the BOGO sale that Ulta had on the butter London polishes. I made out with 4 polishes - 3 for me and 1 to send to a friend. :)

Delicious gelato... I randomly discovered Plush Gelato & Coffee thanks to their awesome Yelp rating. The people were not exaggerating - everything was delicious.

A visit from a special friend... More on this later.

So what are some things that are making you happy lately?

That is all.

The one where I take a mosaics class.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:19:00 +0000

I'm a homebody to my very core. As much fun as concerts, plays, and coffee dates are, I just love being in my home with a good book, craft, or season of 30 Rock.

One of the greatest truths about friendship that I learned from Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project is simply showing up.

So when my friend Becky forwarded a Groupon for a mosaics class, I jumped at the opportunity to try something new and spend a few hours with her.

Did this take more effort than reading another chapter of The Girl Who Played with Fire in my comfy chair? Sure, but I know that growing myself and taking care of my friendships is more important.

The artwork on the wall was so pretty and inspiring.

Our blank slates.

Cutting the glass.

Working on our designs.

The finished product! (They had to send us home with grout since it takes 24 hours to dry.)

While I don't think I'm going to become a professional mosaic artist anytime soon (it's a lot harder than I thought & gluing all those little pieces takes forever!), I had a wonderful time with Becky.

Have you tried something new lately?

The one with the crepes.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:36:00 +0000

While I love memes and blog series as much as the next girl, sometimes I just like seeing what's going on in my favorite bloggers' lives.

So that's what you guys get to see today - random photos that I've snapped in the past week or so. :)

I'll start with things laying on my dining room table (I know, I need to put away the clutter)...

There are always a few Domo's laying around. ;)

Pretty Orla Kiely stationary.

Getting some packages for a fun, upcoming project.

Multiple Mad Man marathons with Ashley. We are halfway through season 4 - so good!

Made some vegetable-inspired cupcakes for my gammy. Yes, that is a Starburst used as butter - cute, right? Found these recipes in the Hello, Cupcake! book.

Speaking of my gammy - take a look at her garden. The colors are gorgeous! I think the green thumb gene skipped my generation because both Gammy and my mom have the best luck with flowers.

I also had the chance to meet up with Rachel from Rachel's Recipes. We had a delicious crepe brunch at Crepe Amour in Georgetown, followed by a little Sephora shopping.

I finally picked up the Perfekt cheek tint after hearing Sarah rave about it. She speaks the truth - it is an awesome product!

Alright, so that was the most random post, but I hope you each have a wonderful weekend!

That is all.

The one with the fall polish.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:23:00 +0000

It's that time of year again! While others start getting excited about boots, scarves, and hot Starbucks drinks, I'm pulling out fun new polishes. ;)

So here are some of the colors I can't wait to wear during fall...

Ok, when this color first debuted at Nordstrom (you can now find it at Ulta as well), I didn't really know what to think. It's not very "me," but I'm glad I went outside my comfort zone. I'm sure I will be getting a lot of use out of this metallic olive polish during the coming months.

If you happen to be ghostly pale like me, run - don't walk - to pick up a hunter green polish. It is so flattering!

I call this my grandma polish. In my gammy's medicine cabinet she has one lonely, dried-up Rimmel polish from 10 years ago, and it happens to be this exact color - a brownish rose. This color is so lady-like and classy, perfect for work or brunch with girlfriends.

Ah! I'm obsessed with this color. Technically, I believe this came out in the summer collection, but how perfect would this be with a mustard-colored cardigan?

Now this is a polish. Stunning and vampy with some serious sparkle - everyone needs a wine-colored polish for fall.

(Did anyone else think of Peeta when they saw this name? No? Just me?) ;) While it is darker than some of my favorite grey polishes, Petra is more flattering. I think I have that hint of purple to thank.

So now it's your turn. What colors are you loving for fall? Leave me some suggestions please! :)

That is all.

* awesome photo templates via Pugly Pixel *

The one where I go to an orchard.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:10:00 +0000

For new readers, one of the series on That is all is called VA is for Lovers. Basically I live in a perfect little town. If I turn left out on the main street, I end up in the country, surrounded by mountains. If I turn right (and sit in a lot of traffic), I end up in Washington, D.C.

This series gives me a reason to grab my camera and explore Virginia and the surrounding areas in Maryland and DC. (Although my secret desire is to convince my blog friends how awesome it is - come visit me!!)

Last weekend Jer and I went up to Germantown, MD to pick flowers at Butler's Orchard.

Growing up in Northern Virginia I've been to a lot of pick-your-own farms, and I was really impressed with the folks at Butler's Orchard. Probably my favorite part was the farm market they had filled with preserves, baked goods, fresh fruit, vegetables, cider, condiments, and little decorations.

The whole day cost only $5 for our little container of flowers. Such a great idea for a date or family outing!

As we drove up to the flower fields, we passed some pumpkin patches...I think we will definitely be back. :)

That is all.

The one with August's Favorites.

noreply@blogger.com (ashleyTIA) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:10:00 +0000

Hello, hello!

Today I'm sharing my favorites from the month of August...

Makeup:

Revlon lipgloss in Fire
Revlon Brow Fantasy
Liner brush
Smashbox cream liner
Wet 'n' Wild cream liner
Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette (swatches below. click here for the tutorial I did with the palette.)

Music:

Spotify
And here's the link to Kara's twitter & blog.

Books:

Blog:

Angela Hardison

Ok! So there are my favorites. Anything you were loving in August?

That is all.