Beaus and Ashley - Fashion Blogger | Lifestyle Blogger

Panama City Beach Travel Guide

Posted on September 4, 2018

Panama City Beach Travel Guide

We have spent so much time in PCB that I can’t believe I haven’t put together a Panama City Beach travel guide until now! My husband grew up an hour and a half north, and would come to his parents beach house every weekend. Now we get to bring our babies down and create the most precious beach memories. PCB is not the spring break craziness you may think. The places we go are extremely family friendly. What I love is the easy and care free atmosphere. I never put makeup on. Everything here is casual and easy. No fuss. It’s truly a time to recharge our batteries. Also, October is a great time to go. You practically get the place to yourself, and the weather feels amazing. It’s noot just a summer spot!

HOW TO GET THERE

For my Nashville friends, this is such an easy trip! There are always great deals on flights, and the duration is 45 minutes. Typically that is the route we take! However, if you like to drive it is about 7 hours south of Nashville. Not terrible. It is also only 20 minutes from the start of 30A. If you are looking for a more affordable option where you can stay right ON the beach, and not have to walk and drag the kids stuff all the way there, this is great! It’s easy to get to 30A for a nice dinner or drink night.

WHERE TO STAY

PCB has so many affordable condo or rental house options! I strongly suggest this route so that you can eat some meals in after long days in the sun.

WHAT TO DO

One of the best parts of going to the beach is the amount of activities! We can go all day long, and the boys are just exhausted and ready for a good night sleep at night.

Go To Shell Island

We are fortunate enough to have a boat down there to use, but it’s so easy to rent a pantoon for the day. Take it to shell island. The water is shallow enough to stand and have a drink. The kids can swim around or play on the sand. Be sure to walk through the dunes to the other side and you will get a nice piece of beach to yourself. 🙂

See The Dolphins

You can take a guided tour or when you have a boat just go out and look for them on your own. You can even jump in and swim around them! It’s so fun to see them all around you. A great spot for dolphin sighting is right outside the pass. (Either on the shell island side or PC side.)

Take The Kids On A Pirate Ship– You take a cruise on a realistic looking pirate ship. The kids get put to work cleaning the deck, look for treasures, and fire off a cannon. The adults can sip on some rum.

Beach Day- – The obvious choice, but you can set up shop and enjoy the beach for a day.

Pier Park– We honestly don’t go here much. We stick to the bay side, but fun for kids. For older kids the giant slingshot is a huge hit!

WHERE TO EAT

I’m all about the dives when we go to PCB. Just great, fresh seafood in a casual atmosphere.

* J.Michael’s- Always our first stop when we get into town. It’s become a tradition. Now warning, it’s a total dive. BUT SO GOOD. The coldest mugs in town! Grab a beer on draft, some cheesy baked oysters and enjoy. This place is super kid friendly. They have a children’s play table with toys and colors. Pro Tip: Get a table right next to the kid area. You can actually enjoy your meal while the littles play.

* Captain Anderson’s- Look for Trey’s picture on the wall. HAHAHAHA. But really, it’s a staple in PCB. The grouper imperial is great! I’m a HUGE fan of the Johny salad special. The sauteed crab claws are excellent as well.

* Firefly- New favorite. This is a little bit nicer, not a dive. However, still not stuffy. The sushi here is so yummy! They also have a ceaser salad that’s served in a parmesean crisp bowl with lump crab on top. (You can eat the bowl…) Delicious!

*The Yard Milkshake Bar- Good for a speacial treat. They are giant milkshakes with allllllll the fixings on top! Fun for kids.

*Shrimp City- Ok so this is a little different. Sometimes after a long day on the water, you just want to eat in your pajamas and not go to a restaurant. You can go to shrimp city and they will steam and season shrimp for you. Easy to make some potatoes or corn with and have a shrimp back. (We like to tell them 1/2 Ole Bay and 1/2 Tony Chachere’s seasoning. Delicious!) Then get a tuna dip for an appetizer. IT’S THE BEST YOU WILL EVER HAVE!

WHERE TO DRINK

* Schooner’s – Grab a bushwhacker and you can walk right out onto the beach. (Not my favorite food in PCB, but great location and fun for drinks.)

* Flip Flop’s- It’s a pool/bar…with a Froze machine.

WHAT TO PACK

The best part, you don’t have to dress to impress here. I live in a swimsuit and cover up or cut offs and t-shirts. For dinners you can throw in a breezy maxi dress.

P.S. The cover ups in the shots that I love are by Pondichérie and Cynthia Collins. Breezy, lightweight, and easy.

It’s too much fun dressing the babes alike at the beach… some of our favorite looks:

BEACH BEAUTY

Keep it simple! Of course, sunscreen! I’ve been addicted to my SkinMedica Sunscreen. Also, for my lips I use Supergoop with SPF 30. Tarte’s H20 Moisturizer is super nourishing to combat salt water. A little sweatproof mascara, tinted BB cream (with SPF), and you are good to go!

P.S. If you are looking for a really EPIC beach vacation, check out my Tulum Travel Guide HERE.

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Hair 101 with Celebrity Hair Stylist Marissa Martin
Posted on August 30, 2018

Hair 101 with Celebrity Hair Stylist Marissa Martin

Tank and Leopard Cami are by Chaser Brand.

At the beginning of this year I shared with you my resolution to live a more intentional life. (You can check that post out HERE.) Being more intentional about what I wanted the branding of Beaus & Ashley to be was very important in that. I’d love it to be a more communal space with references on everything you could need in beauty, fashion, home decor, healthy living, mom life, positive living, etc. An approachable way at living a luxurious and happy life (realistically). With that came delegating out areas to the PROS. I’m excited to start this series of bringing on guests that are at the TOP of their field, and picking their brains to share their knowledge with ya’ll!

With that being said…. first up is the hair queen herself, Marissa Martin!

Ok ya’ll I am EXTRA excited Marissa generously agreed to share her wealth of knowledge on hair color, products, tools, and so much more. She’s the genius behind the color of Carrie Underwood and Jessie James Decker. (Amongst countless other celebs..) I thank my lucky stars she squeezes me into her books at Parlour 3 and she has transformed my hair.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLOR

Ok this one is tough, because it is such a case by case basis.

BLONDES- First off, blonde is YELLOW. Toners always fade. Something that can help to uphold your blonde is a filter in your shower. Besides that, smoking, self tanner, excessive product build up and air pollution will all dull out your color.

You can use a purple shampoo. BUT… a purple shampoo is just getting rid of the yellow. A common misconception is that it makes it “brighter” and that’s not the case. It just ones down yellow undertones.

BRASSINESS- (This was one of the most asked questions..) This applies to red heads, brunettes, or blondes. To combat brassiness you can tone once a week with a purple conditioner, put a filter on your shower, and make sure your stylist is lightening light enough in your appointments. Note… if they can tell that your hair can not handle going that light, make sure to respect their professional opinion. Breakage and fall out is not cute. If a brunette has balayage pieces or highlights they could use purple shampoo to tone down the yellow. If a brunette doesn’t like their version of brassiness (which is orange.)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR CUTS

The frequency in which you need to cut your hair is another one of those case by case scenarios. If you are trying to grow your hair out you don’t necessarily need to cut each visit. This is dependent on products used and heat usage in between appointments. If you are using heat daily, yes you will need to cut each time.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR CARE

You know those directions on the back of the bottle where it says rinse, rather, REPEAT? Yeah, really do that. Shampoo twice. Especially if you go more than a day in between a shampoo and if you use products. The first one will cleanse your scalp (get in there and scrub) and the second one will provide the “benefits”. The protein, moisture, etc.

Don’t use a handful of shampoo. It takes so much less than you think. It’s dependent on the amount of hair you have, but most people can get away with a nickel size each time. (All the more reason to invest in good quality hair products…. they will last much longer than you think when using the right amount!)

When you are conditioning your hair put it into a ponytail with your hands. Only the ponytail and down should have the product on it.

When brushing your hair (which you should daily) make sure to go from the bottom to the top.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRODUCTS

Marissa’s Favorites

Shampoo: Kerastase Force Architecte

Conditioner: Kerastase Force Architecte

Purple Shampoo: Redkin Purple Extend Blondage

Dry Shampoo: Oribe Dry Shampoo

Texturizing Spray: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Heat Protectant Spray: Redkin Iron Shape 11

Gloss Shine: Kerastase Oleo Relax

Detangler: Oribe Run Through Detangler

Wave Spray: Oribe Wave & Spray

Hair Spray: Oribe Freestyler Working Hairspray

First off, when you are purchasing products be careful where you buy. If you see a great deal on Amazon, it’s probably too good to be true. They can be expired products or fake products. Make sure you are purchasing from a verified vendor.

PRODUCT TIPS

*Purple shampoo should only be used once a week. (Max.)

*Dry shampoo should be sprayed and then let to set for a minute. Then you can comb it through.

*Always use a heat protectant prior to using any heat tools on your hair.

*A wave spray is a quick and easy way to style your hair. Spray it all over (let set) and sprung though the hair. It gives hair that shiny pieceness.

*When it comes to styling, products are the most important part. Don’t skip them! The type of product that you need will depend on your hair texture.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR TOOLS

Marissa’s Favorites

Blowdryer: Dyson Blowdryer

(A splurge, but worth the investment. There is a reason it won the Allure Beauty award!)

Curling Iron: Hot Tools 1 inch & Hot Tools 1 1/4 Inch

Flat Iron: Sam Villa Straightener

Hair Brush: Wet Brush

Tips on Tools

*How often can you use heat tools? Never. HA! No, but really, use them as little as possible.

*ALWAYS use a heat protectant.

*Use a brush to assist in blowdrying your hair. (Don’t do the ole head flip, ladies…)

WHAT YOUR HAIR STYLIST NEEDS YOU TO KNOW

Magic doesn’t happen in an hour. Let your stylist take the appropriate time it takes to create the hair of your dreams! Sometimes it will take more than a single appointment to get the correct color you are trying to achieve.

Magic doesn’t happen for $100. Great colors take time. Great colors take multiple techniques and processes, major thinking and an education. Don’t under value that!

Filters don’t exist in the real world…. if you’ve seen a picture that has a filter on it, it’s just not realistic.

Use pictures for inspiration, but focus on finding pictures of people who look like you. If you go in and ask for Jessie James Decker hair, but you are a natural blonde with blue eyes…… it’s not going to have the same end result.

When looking for a hair stylist, go by pictures of their past work. Lots of hairstylist have IG accounts or representation of their work on social media.
** P.S. You can follow Marissa on IG HERE.

By Beaus & Ashley

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Casual Cool Fall Fashion With Nordstrom
Posted on August 29, 2018

Casual Cool Fall Fashion With Nordstrom

Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I may receive a small commission from items purchased from affiliate links.

Silk Leopard Joggers | Ribbed Knit Bodysuit | Leather Moto Jacket | Nude Mules | Studded Belt Back | Sunglasses

It’s no secret one of my absolute go-to retailers is Nordstrom. The customer service is always great, and they have the easiest shipping and return policies. I was SO excited to partner with them to share some easy ways to pull off that “casual cool” look for fall.

My number one styling tip would be to invest in a few high quality pieces that are versatile and can carry you from season to season. When deciding which pieces to invest in, look at the CPW. (Cost per wear.) When an item can be styled for casual or formal wear than the CPW is typically pretty high and it’s worth the investment. These are the items that build a capsule wardrobe and will eventually eliminate the “I have nothing to wear” mentality.

These silk leopard joggers were one of those capsule wardrobe pieces for me. Anytime I “have nothing to wear” they can be a go to item. They feel like you are wearing pajamas. When working with leopard (or most any animal print) you can treat it like a neutral. Leopard is EVERYWHERE this fall!

I styled it with this super affordable ribbed knit bodysuit. It’s comfortable and keeps the look nice and casual. Top that with an easy over the shoulder moto jacket, and some nude pumps and you’ve got an effortless and super comfortable look that works for any occasion.

A great leather moto jacket is another one of those items you can wear over and over. It’s the easiest way to achieve that “casual cool” look. Another easy way to style it is editor style (over your shoulders.) This is great for fall transition when the weather is in between needing a jacket or not.

These nude mules are so comfortable and easy to wear with anything. I’ve worn this exact same look with sneakers as well. These mules are still casual, but elevate the look just a bit. Mules are trending going into fall as well. SO much more than a “summer sandal.”

Whenever an item is really trendy, I like to find it at an affordable price point. That way I can stay on trend and have some fun with accessories, but guilt free when it doesn’t become a closet staple. The belt bag trend is EVERYWHERE for fall. I prefer to wear it over my arm. It instantly gives that “cool factor.” I found this studded belt bag at an amazing price. They also have it in red or leopard which would be so fun as well!

5 Styling Tips & Tricks for effortless “Casual Cool” Fall Fashion:

1. Find pieces that have both formal and casual elements. (Example, these pants are a silk material which is on the formal side, but in a jogger cut. Joggers make them more casual.)

2. Find a fun print. Leopard is all the rage so this is my go to. Herringbone and plaid are also in and give that instant edge to any look.

3. Throw a moto jacket over it. You can pretty much wear one with anything! A maxi dress, or graphic tee with maxi skirt. It is casual, but adds that edginess.

4. Find items that are comfortable to wear. (These pants truly feel like pajamas…)

5. Mix and match fitted and looser fitting items. A blousy top paired with a pair of leather leggings, a fitted silk skirt with a looser sweatshirt, a wide leg pant with a bodysuit, etc.

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Fashion For A Cause with ABLE (And The Fashion Industry’s Dirty Secrets…)
Posted on August 8, 2018

Fashion For A Cause with ABLE (And The Fashion Industry’s Dirty Secrets…)

V-Neck Tee | Denim Jacket | Tote Bag (Color Fog) | Mule Heels

Sometimes I wonder what the heck I am doing in this crazy blogging world. Other times an amazing company comes along with an incredible mission, and I remember why I do this. I love finding companies with amazing missions and helping to spread the word. It feels great to feel great in clothes, but it feels better to know that you are choosing sustainable options and empowering the lives of others in the process.

ABLE is a fashion line I absolutely adore for good quality, staple piece items that live in your closet from season to season.

Everybody needs this denim jacket. The distressing and fit are perfect. It’s one of the most used items in my closet. (I’m wearing the small in these photos for size reference.)

They make the SOFTEST shirts ever. I’m wearing the v-neck version that you can find HERE. It comes in several colors and a great price! I love their cropped tees as well.

ABLES’s bags are SO GOOD! They are made so well and just really versatile. I loved the coloring and size of the Mamuye Tote. I can fit SO. MUCH. STUFF. in it. It’s also great for travel! BONUS: They are giving $20 off this tote if you use code: ASHLEY20.

I could go on and on about their pieces and how great they are, but more importantly they are a lifestyle brand with a mission. ABLE employs women who have overcome extraordinary circumstances. Rather than being a “charity” they provide women a job with dignity. They manufacture directly in communities that they hope to impact. This creates jobs, and ends the cycle of charity dependency. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!

ABLE chooses to work with women because when women thrive, so do the economies in which they operate.

They chose to INVEST in women. As they have grown, they have decided to bring even more awareness to the fashion industry. They’ve developed #accoutABLE which is essentially a reporting system that provides transparency reports of the social impact of the fashion industry.

As pretty as our clothes are……. a lot of times they come with a dirty secret. The unethical treatment of the employees that make them. The #accountABLE system allows the customer to see the good and bad of these factories so you can make informed decisions on the brands you chose to support.

Now they are taking their mission even further, and becoming the first fashion company to publish their wages. So many times the items you wear and love are made by people who can’t support their basic needs. They are on a mission to change the game, and make this a common practice. The goal is that it will be as common as seeing the nutritional facts on your food.

They are doing this to protect and empower women and equip consumers to demand more.

ABLE is headquartered here in Nashville. If you are a local or ever visiting… stop by and give them a visit. Or shop them online HERE.

I couldn’t possibly speak any higher of this company, their mission, or the impact they have made in the industry. Fashion for a cause is so much more important and sustainable than a cheap piece of clothing that was unethically produced.

One of the quotes that they had posted in regards to the #shesworthmore campaign has truly resonated with me, and I wanted to share.

“We are hopeful, and we believe in progress over perfection. We’re not perfect, but we want to be perfectly transparent.”

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Best Nightly Skincare Routine
Posted on August 1, 2018

Best Nightly Skincare Routine

Skincare is the most important beauty regime for me. As I age, I realize that taking good care of your skin is SO important. If I could only go back to college age me and make sure I took all my makeup off after a night out… cringe worthy now.

Don’t get me wrong I love makeup, but good skin makes you glow from within. There isn’t much time for makeup these days, but I MAKE time each night for skincare. It seems like a lot, but I can complete this routine in about 10 minutes.

A few months ago, I reviewed a different moisturizer for a week each for six months. (You can find that HERE. )

After that experiment I was even more motivated to find the best possible skincare routine for hydrated and younger looking skin. I jumped on Instastories and asked for recommendations, and tried SO many of them.

Dr.Biesman is an amazing doctor here in Nashville that has previously done my Botox. (Along with so many celebrities!) His office recommended SkinMedica products, and I have LOVED them. The biggest difference in my skin started after implementing them into my daily/nightly routine.

BEST NIGHTLY SKINCARE ROUTINE

I start with removing my makeup. The simple makeup remover wipes are a drugstore/Target find and work great! For times when I had a lot of eye makeup I will use First Aid Beauty’s Micellar Makeup Melter. It is gently and not too greasy.

After removing all the makeup thoroughly, I use the Korres Greek Yoghurt Cleanser. You can keep this in the shower as well to incorporate into your shower routine. It has a great lather to it that isn’t too “soapy”, but leaves my face feeling so fresh and clean.

About two or three times a week I partner the cleansing with the Clarisonic. I was so late on the Clarisonic train, but I totally see why everyone loves it. Allure has a “best of beauty” awards and this is always on it. It helps to even out your skin, with firmness and with fine lines and wrinkles.

Anytime my lips are dry or flaky I will add Tarte’s Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant into the routine. I just add it on my lips and exfoliate and remove with a cool washcloth.

After fully cleansing my skin I move on to correcting. The TNS essential serum is the product I believe has given my skin the biggest difference in tone and texture. It contains antioxidants, peptides, and other age defying ingredients. It lightens age spots and helps foster the skins ability for cell renewal. It’s the product that gives me the most “radiance.” I know this one is on the pricier side, but I HIGHLY recommend.

Since my skin is typically dry and lacking moisture I double up a bit in this department. I start with SkinMedica’s Dermal Repair Cream It’s a really thick moisturizer so I like to do this one at night. It’s a bit too thick to wear under makeup for my daytime routine, but perfect at night. This one is blended with hyaluronic acid so it locks in that moisture.

Then I put on the most magic of creams, Charlotte Tilbury’s Night Cream. It’s thick and I wake up with the softest skin you could possibly imagine!! SO. DANG. GOOD.

The last step is Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This facial oil restores your skin while you sleep. It has lavender, squalane and evening primrose.

This has been the best nightly skincare routine I’ve found to date! I’m sure I will be switching it up and adding in products as I find great new ones, but it’s working so well for me currently!

I know it can be overwhelming when it comes to skincare. It is important to layer your products in the proper order. If you don’t it can cause some serious breakout and waste the product.

You can copy this to your phone if it helps!

Proper Order of Nightly Skincare Routine

1. Makeup Remover
2. Cleanser
3. Toner (I left this one out of the post, because I am still trying to find the perfect one. Lately I’ve been using Tarte’s Knockout Tingling Treatment. IT IS STRONG.)
4. Treatment Products
5.Night Cream
6. Eye Cream (Charlotte Tilbury’s is GREAT! You can find it HERE. )
7. Moisturizers
8. Facial Oil

Also, I will do masks or scrubs at night on occasion. I recently discovered the BEST. MASK. EVER. La Mer’s The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask. It has a full ounce of the treatment lotion in each mask. It’s so luxurious feeling and hydrating. It feels like you received a high end facial when you pull the mask off. If you are traveling or have a big event I would HIGHLY recommend using one of these. SO DANG GOOD!

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Wilder’s First Birthday Party & DIY Balloon Garland Tutorial
Posted on July 23, 2018

Wilder’s First Birthday Party & DIY Balloon Garland Tutorial

Time truly flies with young children. I can’t believe we just celebrated Wilder’s first birthday. It feels like yesterday I was sharing his birth story. (You can check that one out HERE. It still makes me cry every time.)

We have had a hectic summer full of travel, work, and everything in between. I honestly dropped the ball when it came to party preparation. Everything was thrown together last minute, and I utilized a lot of things we had along with some fun DIY projects, since I didn’t have time to order. It ended up turning out great! This goes to show that you do not need to spend a ton of money to entertain. I’ve become somewhat of an expert procrastinator since having these babies. Not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing, but I have some tricks up my sleeve in the party planning department to share.

HOW TO THROW A LAST MINUTE THEME PARTY

1. Pick a theme and a staple piece and run with it.

The “Oh baby, baby it’s a wild world” sign is hanging in Wilder’s nursery. It provided the perfect staple piece to center the theme around. We mixed in wild animals with the world/travel theme.

You can always mix themes! An easy way to keep things cohesive is to stick to a neutral color palette. I found a neutral leopard print as well as a vintage map as inspiration and went from there!

If you are working with vendors print out your inspiration colors or prints. It gives them a great visual to go off of, and makes it easier for them to see your vision.

2. Don’t be afraid to DIY.

The high chair banner was a last minute DIY. The grey garland I found HERE. (It was in store at Target as well.) I used a thick textured card stock paper and free hand drew the one and simply cut it out. (Thanks to my sister for the help on that!) The palm leaves were print outs from the computer. Voila!

The banners above the fireplace were part DIY part and Etsy find. The month to month banner can be found HERE. (Bonus..I took them off the string and put them straight into his baby book.)

I worked with what I had when it came to the tablescape. Neutral plates and chargers are an awesome thing to have on hand. Then you can easily switch up center pieces and napkins to go with the theme. An easy way to add your theme into the table is with some fun printed napkins. Fabric remnants make perfect napkins and are very inexpensive. I mismatched some leopard with some tribal, but kept them all in the neutral color scheme.

3. Don’t be afraid to delegate.

Baking a cake is not my speciality and when it comes to a first birthday party, that is the main event! I knew I would have to outsource this one.

Nashville locals….. Copper Whisk Cakes is undeniably the BEST cake ever. Lizzie is so sweet and I told her my theme and let her run with it. We typically get her sea salt caramel, but went with a cookie dough flavor this time to keep it fun and whimsical.

4. Find things that can be used in multiple ways.

This giant tiger really made a statement in the decor, but was also one of Wilder’s birthday presents.

You can easily do this by wrapping presents in a paper that matches your theme and using them as decor.

I found vintage world map wrapping paper, and used that for his presents. They played double duty as decor on the cake table.

5. Have a fun activity for the kids to do.

We had inflatable globes as party favors that made for a fun play toy as well. We set up a “water park” outside that kept them entertained for hours!

What is a first birthday party without balloons?! For Georgie’s birthday I had a local company do a huge balloon install in our dining room. It was such a hit, but was quite pricey and took calling a few weeks ahead to have it made. I was afraid that a DIY version would just not turn out, but decided to give it a go. It was SO SIMPLE, inexpensive, quick and made a huge impact on the overall decor.

DIY BALLOON GARLAND TUTORIAL

You will Need:

* A sewing needle
* Fishing Line
* Multiple color balloons
* Superglue or a low heat glue gun
* Command Strips

1. Blow up the balloons to various sizes. (You can use a balloon pump like this one HERE to make that task quicker and easier. Having a few printed balloons along with a few colors is great!

I used these safari themed ones here.

2. Take a sewing needle and thread through your fishing line.

3. Lay the balloons out on the floor or table in the general area you’d like them to be. There does not need to be a rhyme or reason to this.

4. Thread the fishing line through the balloon right underneath the knot. (Be careful not to get the needle to close to the top of the balloon or it will pop.) Keep them as tight on the string as possible. They can go in various directions.

5. Take superglue or a low heat glue gun and put any balloons together that need to be. (Do not use a typical glue gun or they will pop.) Not all of the balloons will need to be superglued together. Hold them firmly in place until the glue as dried.

6. Place the command strips where you’d like to hang the garland. (Or skip this step and use the garland as a table runner!) Wrap the fishing line twice around each command strip.

We just love our sweet little Wilder so much. He is a loving little guy that laughs at his big brother, loves to say “dada” and gives out hugs generously. It was great to celebrate him at his first birthday party this past weekend, and shower him with love.

Happy party planning!

By Beaus & Ashley

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Best Podcasts & Books on Positive Thinking
Posted on July 19, 2018

Best Podcasts & Books on Positive Thinking

Band Tee | Cut Off Denim | Hooded Moto Jacket | Bag | Aviators | Sneakers

I’ve found myself being overwhelmed lately with mom life, events, work life, etc. It was time for me to reel it in and get back to the basics so I started re-listening to The Secret. Instantly my mood changed. I was more patient with my babies, inspired with my work, and more happy in general.

My friend Caroline Hobby is such a joyful person and once told me that you get to choose what you think. You can choose to think positive thoughts or you can choose to think negative thoughts. It’s so simple, but powerful. What you think becomes what you are. (P.S. Be sure to check out her podcast Get Real with Caroline Hobby.) Sometimes you just need a kickstart to adjusting those thoughts. If you need a place to start this list is great!

Not complaining and maintaining a really happy attitude does not come naturally for me. Sometimes you just need to get in the right headspace.

Best Podcasts & Books on Positive Thinking

* The Secret – If you read one book it should be this one! I’ve read and listened to this multiple times. If you’ve wondered about how powerful positive thinking could be, this explains everything. It’s powerful stuff!

* The Lively Show- Jess Lively – She’s all about intention. There’s a reason she’s had over 10 million downloads. If you need to re-adjust your mindset into thinking of “why” you are doing things and be more purposeful than this is for you.

* Julie Solomon- The Influencer Podcast – This is my absolute go-to for all things “influencer”/blogger/entrepreneur. She’s positive and to the point. There are so many powerful women as guests that bring knowledge and insight into this field. I’ve noticed that each guest she’s had has a common theme, and that is their positive attitude towards their business.

* Oprah Winfrey’s The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights From Super Soulful Conversations – Oprah is the Queen. This audio book focuses on opening your heart and being truly present in your life.

* The Gratitude Project – Living a positive and happy life is rooted in being grateful for what you currently have. This is such a cool podcast that was inspired by Georgian Benta’s goal of inspiring 100,000 to change their lives through gratitude. Gratitude is a habit, and this podcast dives deep into that aspect.

P.S. This hooded moto jacket is such a good fall staple item from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale . It runs true to size, comes in three colors and is $65. (Looks SO much pricier.)

By Beaus & Ashley

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5 Birthday Activities To Do In Nashville
Posted on July 16, 2018

5 Birthday Activities To Do In Nashville

Jumpsuit | Purse |

30 was quite the year for me! Becoming a mother of two under two was the most exhausting and difficult thing I’ve ever done. This year was filled with many sleepless nights, tears, mom guilt, diapers, and the fullest heart I could ever imagine.

I’ve learned the true meaning of patience. Since I don’t have much free time, I’ve learned that the quality of a friend is far more important than the quantity. I value family time over everything. I let go of the comparison social media game. (You can read more about that HERE. ) Concentrating on gratitude, building other people up, and positive thinking will take you much farther!

One thing I’ve struggled with this year is self care. Showers are considered a luxury these days. Birthdays look quite different as well. My birthday wishes were to take a nap, take a shower alone and eat my husband’s mashed potatoes. (My favorite food…) George jumped in the shower with me half way through, but I’ll still take it as a successful birthday! I did get a day to grab some flowers from Amelia’s flower truck and grab a coffee with a friend. That is so precious to me these days.

It reminded me that Nashville has so many fun and special things you can do with girlfriends besides all the amazing restaurants. With so many bachelorette and birthday trips to the city, I thought it’d be fun to share some of my favorites.

5 BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES TO DO IN NASHVILLE:

1. Grab Flowers from Amelia’s Flower Truck. (It is often parked in front of Imogene + Willie, but you can follow along with them on Instagram to find out where they are!) It’d be fun to grab some and make flower crowns together as well!

2. Lemon Laine Oil Bar. You can set up a group party (champs included) to create your own oil. Since everyones skin and needs are so different, they cater the oil to what is best for each person.

3. The Candle Bar. Make your own candles. SO COOL. Paddywax candles smell next level amazing, and you can create your own. (P.S. some of them are also on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale . You can get a great deal on THIS ONE and THIS ONE.

4. Boutique hop. There are so many great boutiques around Nashville. Several feature tons of Nashville based designers or curate locally sourced goods. Some of my favorites are Imogene + Willie, Hero, H. Audrey, Emerson Grace, White’s Mercantile, E.Allen, fashionABLE, Posh, Elle Gray, etc.

5. The Nail Bar. It’s exactly what it sounds like and it’s amazing! There is a huge bar where you can get manicures and pedicures and drink. You can bring in your own wine or they have some there as well. The one in Green Hills is my favorite! It’s so beautiful inside.

P.S. Last year I loved doing 30 Random Acts of Kindness for my 30th (you can find that list HERE. Instagram to join in!

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By Beaus & Ashley

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018
Posted on July 12, 2018

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018

It’s here!!! There are NOT many things I would stay up until 2am for these days.. but Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018 is underway and I could not miss out!

I know it can be overwhelming since there are SO.MANY.PAGES. to sift through. No worries, I got you! After hours and hours and hours of checking out each and every page I’ve gathered the best deals in each category.

If you are wondering what all the craziness is about, I’ve explained the full sale in a previous post HERE.

I’ll also be doing tons of try on sessions so that ya’ll can see how things fit and look in person over on my Instagram account on the stories. You can follow me on that HERE.

Items sell out quickly and sometimes restock. I’ll be sure to update accordingly!

If there’s any specific questions you have or something that you are looking to find… I’m happy to help!

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE 2018

OVERALL BEST DEALS

**(Click on any image in the collage to be directed straight to that item.)**

SHOES

ACCESORIES

HOME

BEAUTY

TOPS AND SWEATERS

JACKETS AND COATS

BOTTOMS

MENS

BABY AND TODDLER

By Beaus & Ashley

Uncategorized
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tips & Tricks
Posted on July 11, 2018

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tips & Tricks

Rolling Stones Tee | Black Denim Shorts | Golden Goose Sneakers | Aviators | Handbag |

If you aren’t familiar with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale…. you are missing out!! Take it from a level 4 Nordstrom shopper (I know, I know, it’s a problem…) this is the best way to shop the upcoming fall fashions. I’ve got tips and tricks to help you save the most and navigate through the sale.

Why this Sale is Different

This sale is different from most sales in that these are the upcoming fall season’s hottest pieces put up at majorly discounted prices rather than sizes that didn’t sell from a current season. Once the sale is over, whatever is left is then marked back up to MSRP. Pretty dang awesome.

Important Dates/Cardholders

From July 12-19th Nordstrom cardholders can shop the sale before it opens to the public. This is important because tons of the items will sell out before the public gets access to them. I’m not a big fan of store credit cards, personally, because it makes self control a little hard. However, they have an option where you can get all the rewards and it connects directly to your debit card! I love this option. If you have better self discipline with your spending, they have credit card options too! You can sign up HERE. If you are approved for the card, you receive a $20 Nordstrom note to use during the sale.

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens to the public from July 20th-August 5th. Prices go back up to normal MSRP on August 6th.

Items Sell Out…Fast.

Everyone loves a good sale and quantities are limited. SO… things sell out fast. Anyone remember the Topshop striped cardigan last year? People were selling it on ebay for triple the price because it was so hot.

A couple things you can do to make sure you secure the best deals:

1. Apply for the card so you can shop the early access.

2. Shop online first, and then in store. There is always a better chance of the item being available online. You can also buy online and pick up in store.

3. Buy first, return later. Ok, so I’m not a huge fan of having to return items. I’ve worked in retail and know the hassle. However, this is an exception. Nordstrom has one of the easiest and best return policies in all of retail. Go ahead and purchase the item and if you decide it wasn’t a great fit, or was an impulse decision, it is extremely easy to return. If you wait to think on it (which in most normal situations I would suggest) there is a great chance it will sell out.

4. Restocks happen frequently. They do restock items throughout the sale, so continue to go back to Nordstrom.com if you happened to miss out on something that you really would love.

How I can Help You

I’m pretty much a complete crazy A$$ when it comes to this sale. Early Access starts during my birthday week. I take that as a sign that I’m supposed to use that opportunity to the fullest. Year after year, I do. When the sale first goes live, I spend hours and hours browsing nearly every page for the best finds. (The sale spreads from women, baby, men, home, etc.) I typically look for classics that you can get tons of use out of in each category. They always have a killer leather jacket, great designer denim deals, designer handbags at majorly discounted prices, a beauty kit, booties/boots for fall, great staple coat, etc. This year I was able to get my hands on the media PDF’s and I’ve been creating lots of collages with breakdowns of the best deals in each category. Let me just tell you, it does not disappoint.

I’ll also go to the store the first day and check out everything in person. Be sure to watch my Instastories to view the items. This way if you have questions about quality or something similar, I can do my best to help you out. I so look forward to this as I don’t take nearly as many styling jobs as I did before the boys were born. It’s truly so fun for me!

Triple Point Day/Card benefits

If you decide you do not want to become a cardholder, you can still join Nordstrom Rewards. With the rewards program you will get 1 point for every $1 spent. I HIGHLY recommend doing that.

Cardholders rack up points quicker gaining 2 points for every $1 spent. (This applies to Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, HauteLook and Trunk Club.) You get reimbursed in notes for alterations as well. Throughout the year, there are double points, and triple points days. These are great times to make larger purchases as the notes can really add up quickly!

You also get to choose a triple point day! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is absolutely the day to do that. Not only are you saving money from the discounted prices, but you also are making money from the notes to spend later. They don’t expire for a year. I typically majorly stock up during the sale, and get a ton of $20 notes. It’s hard to do, but I try to save those notes for Christmas time. I then use them for gifts. Around that time, it’s always great to have that option!

Hope this helps! If you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact me HERE. . Happy shopping. 🙂

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By Beaus & Ashley

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Meet Ashley
Hey ya’ll! I’m Ashley Wilson, publisher of Beaus & Ashley. I’m a mama of two littles, wife, fashionista and travel enthusiast.

Beaus & Ashley is a community where I share my take on a “lazy luxe” lifestyle. Fashion, home decor, and cooking can feel luxurious, but with an easy and laid back approach.

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