Beaus and Ashley - Fashion Blogger | Lifestyle Blogger

Tulum Travel Guide

Posted on March 26, 2018

Tulum Travel Guide

We have been traveling to Tulum regularly for about 6 years now and it is so crazy to see how much it has grown. The word is officially out on what I used to refer to as our “hidden gem” spot. We have a friend that has lived there for 8 years now and helps us out in finding the latest and greatest spots. I lovingly refer to Tulum (and Vail) as my “happy place.” I can go there and truly let go and relax. It only made sense for me to put together a little Tulum travel guide with the favorites from over the years.

For this trip we went to the Hard Rock first for a show one of Trey’s bands played. We had limited time in Tulum because we had to get back to our babies, but it was worth every second of travel for the short time we had there.

HOW TO GET THERE

Tulum doesn’t have a direct airport. You will need to fly into Cancun and then either rent a car or secure a driver to take you directly to Tulum. It’s about an hour and a half trip. Once you get to Tulum, you really don’t need a car unless you decide to drive to the Cenotes, Ruins or float the canals. (You can also get a taxi for these destinations.) There are tons of bikes, and it’s the best way to get along the beach road.

WHERE TO STAY

I’ve gotten to stay at so many amazing places in Tulum from Mezzanine, Encantada, La Zebra, etc.

The hottest spot to stay right now is Casa Malca. It truly embodies everything that Tulum is. It’s eco-friendly, packed with local contemporary art, serves locally sourced cuisine and has ocean and jungle views. Leo Malca, a popular art dealer, renovated the estate that was once owned by Pablo Escobar. The decor is the perfect mix of natural and organic to magestic and quirky. Truly design perfection in my opinion.

Be Tulum. It’s rustic charm at it’s finest. So beautiful. The cuisine here is top notch. Everything that comes from the wood burning stove is devine. (The octopus was incredible!) Also, as a self proclaimed guacamole connoisseur, this is the best guac I’ve ever had.

Mezzanine. This was the first hotel we ever stayed at, and even though Tulum has grown so much it still holds up. This is if you want the more rustic experience. (No electricity…) It’s an open loft with candles and very rustic but serene and beautiful.

WHERE TO DO

There are just so many incredible places it’s so hard to narrow it down. One of my absolute favorite things to do in the world is to float the Si’an Ka’an. It’s hard to put into words how cool this is, but it’s truly a magical experience. You take a boat through a lake and into the reserve. The absolute best part is when you reach the Mayan canal. The Mayans hand carved the limestone, and the water is perfectly clear. You can then free float down stream through the canal just wearing your life jacket. It’s unbelievable. The boat can bring you all the way until you reach the sea. No people, no buildings, just the purest and most beautiful views you could imagine.

Snorkel in a Cenote. A cenote is essentially a natural sinkhole where the limestone has collapsed. It creates a beautiful blue water and you can snorkel around and check out the cave system underneath. (You can dive this as well.) There are over 7,000 cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. My favorite that we have tried was the “Dos Ojos”. This one is located about ten miles south of the beach road in Tulum.

The Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza. It’s a bit of a drive, but the architecture is something to see. The El Castillo Pyramid was even named one of the “new” 7 wonders of the world.

Shop your heart out! There is one long beach road that makes up a lot of the best shops, hotels, restaurants, etc. As a lover of all things neutral, shopping in Tulum was a dream for me. There are open boutiques lining the road filled with artisan-made goods. So many hand woven maxi dresses and tops, hats, and carefully crafted jewelry. You can even pick up a hammock to bring home and remind you of the simpler days back in Tulum. The hand painted home goods are next level. Mr.Blackbird is one of my favorites!

WHERE TO EAT

SO.MUCH.GOOD.FOOD.

Lunch at the Nomade. It’s right on the beach and fab!

Lunch at Be Tulum (mentioned above.) This one has a beach view as well.

If you’ve checked out another Tulum travel guide or two you have probably noticed lots of hotel restaurants. (They are all pretty damn amazing!) I’m just going to include a few that aren’t quite as “known” just yet. (I’m sure it’s only a matter of time!)

* Kitchen Table– (AKA The Jungle Restaurant.) You feel like you are dining in a treehouse in the jungle. The cocktails were amazing here too! The food is simple, but fresh and just perfect. I had the ahi tuna, and it was one of the best ways I’ve ever had tuna prepared!

* Hartwood. This one isn’t on the “beach road”, but is quite the experience. The menu changes daily as they harvest and source all ingredients from local Mayan farms. The restaurants focus is on sustainable fishing methods, and eco-friendly everything. All the cooking is done on an open fire with their hand-made oven and grill. The attention to detail and work that goes into each dish is undeniable.

WHERE TO DRINK

Gitano. Holy amazing. I felt like I was in the movie Havana nights. HA! When you walk through the front entrance you would never imagine what is all in the back. I love that they left the trees and built the walls around them. The tile is beautiful. The drinks are delicious. (Spicy margarita for the win!) Make sure to walk all the way through the restaurant and to the back bar and outdoor space. Also, as strange as this sounds, check out the restrooms. They are all mercury glass everywhere with beautiful candles lit to lead the way. The entire place is incredible!

Azulik. The upper bar is all made of hammocks. The most perfect picture worthy spot!

Be Tulum. Can you tell I loved this spot? The upper bar has telescopes so you can view the stars over the beach. It’s filled with comfy couches everywhere.

WHAT TO PACK

I kept it super simple for this trip. Everything on a carry on. Tulum isn’t about being pretentious. It’s artistic and beautiful in the most beautifully rustic way. Swimsuits, sandals, cut offs and easy breezy tops and maxi dresses.

Here were my favorite pieces from this last trip.

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Best Moisturizers (Especially For Dry Skin!)

Posted on March 25, 2018

Best Moisturizers For Dry Skin

About 6 months ago I jumped on Instastories and asked for recommendations on the absolute best moisturizers out there. I decided I would do a little experiment and try all the different types that were recommended as well as some I found on my favorite beauty bloggers and youtube accounts. Each week I tried a new product for the last 6 months.

Some were great, some were just ok, some were just plain not worth the money. I wanted to try the full spectrum from high end to drugstore. Really dig in and try to find some hidden jewels and the best moisturizers out there!

For reference, I have very dry skin. It’s not overly sensitive, but it is excessively dry.

I’m going to break this down by overall favorites, best for the price point, a total list of everything that I tried and some various “awards.”

I’ve jumped head first into this skincare world in the last year and love trying new products and finding what works. If you have any other suggestions I would love to hear them!

P.S. Some I did just try from friends or the sample size so that this project didn’t cost the price of my child’s future college tuition…. It was still a small fortune, but skincare is worth it to me!

You can click on any of the below best moisturizers to purchase or find out more information on them.

MY TOP 5 BEST MOISTURIZERS

(What I will continue to use now that this experiment is over..)

1. Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream– It’s just that…magic. I LOVE this stuff. Gold in a jar. Totally worth the price. It can be worn underneath your makeup too. A makeup artist friend of mine uses it on every client he has under their makeup and swears it’s what keeps them coming back time and time again.

2. Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream – I honestly didn’t want to like this one as much as I did. It’s a bit on the pricier side, and a cult favorite. But it truly is so good. It’s formulated without the use of parabans, sulfates, phthalates, etc. The cream is thick (which I do really like) so it takes a minute to truly soak into the skin. I used this when my skin was so dry it was itching and hurting. It acted as a healing cream, not just a moisturizer.

* I also did try their new Moisturizing Cool Gel Cream . I did love the texture and the cooling affect it had. It too took a minute to soak into the skin, but really hydrates. I thought my skin had a better glow with the creme de La Mer than the cool gel. This does feel so refreshing going on the skin!

** Yes, I know that these are very pricy. I truly wanted to hate it for that reason and find much better, but it’s just that good.

3. Tatcha Water Cream – This was one of the last moisturizers I tried and I’m truly impressed. For the price point, it’s hard to beat! It’s much lighter than a lot of the other moisturizers that I tried, so I didn’t think it would be as powerful as it is. This is actually great for wearing under makeup. My skin was so smooth directly after use. A little goes a long way with this one. I didn’t notice ANY “oily” after math on my skin what so ever.

*Also, I love Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. It’s a mist moisturizer (in my opinion it should not replace a moisturizer) that I like to use AFTER makeup use. It really does the best with creating that “dewy” look.

4. Tarte Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost Moisturizer – If you have been following along you know I LOVE Tarte’s products because they are made ethically and free of all the “bad stuff” out there. This is a cooling mixture like the last La Mer, I just talked about above. It is lighter that that mixture, but still feels so refreshing going on. It leaves my skin so soft. This price point is MUCH lower, and truly works great! This one is really quick absorbing. It gives you a bit of glow with no grease.

5. SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator– This was recommended to me by Dr.Biesman and I think so highly of him! I love SkinMedica products! So this one has a much different texture than a lot of other moisturizers. It is not thick and creamy, it goes on very fluid. This product is very long lasting. At the end of the day my skin is still so soft after using this one. (I only used one pump.) I noticed a difference in fine line wrinkles with this one as well. It is scent free.

6. . Egyptian Magic- This was another one that I hadn’t heard of, but was recommended multiple times! It can be found at the drugstore, so it’s a great price point! It’s INSANELY hydrating. It’s a miracle worker and I had to include it in the top 5 because the price point is so good and it works like a charm. If you are dry…this will cure that right up!

Honorable Mention..

* IT cosmetics confidence in a cream – I like that this was a thicker mixture but not greasy. It’s very hydrating and soft. It’s a fairly good amount in the jar for the price too. I loved the slight smell of this one!

Best Moisturizers For the Price

1. Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream – I do love good ole Kiehls products. I actually purchased Trey ALL the Kiehls mens skincare lineup for Christmas and I have noticed such a difference on him since he started using them. You can find that one HERE. This one is lightweight and really hydrating. I like that this one has essentially no scent to it.

2. Neutragena Rapid Wrinkle Moisturizer with SPF – I liked that this one had SPF and it works great under makeup. I did notice that this one smoothed fine lines. It’s not as hydrating as other ones I tried, but does leave a great smooth face and slight glow. It’s a drugstore product and a good product for the price!

3. Pond’s Moisturizing Cream – So many of ya’ll told me about this one! So I will say it does truly really hydrate and left my skin really smooth for under $10. However, it has a very distinct smell. I’m not a huge fan of the smell, but if you can get past that it does an amazing job at a REALLY great price.

4. CeraVe Facial Moisturizer– This was an under $20 Target find. I actually had a dermatologist reach out to me about this one! She sells high in products, but recommended this as well. I used this one at night. It’s lightweight yet packs a hydrating punch!

5. L’Oreal Age Perfect Cell Renewal Day Cream with SPF– If someone took the packaging away and you tried this.. never in a million years would you believe it’s $7. It smells fresh, provides that dewy look and is ultra hydrating! I was shocked with this one.

Not Worth The Price

1. Doll Face Beauty Nourish Anti-Oxidant Protective Moisturizer – I tried this as one of my first one, and the packaging was pretty. At first I thought it was decent because it was one of the earliest ones that I tested. After trying so many others I realized it just doesn’t compare, and you absolutely can’t warrant the price for the results.

2. Kenzo Moisturizing Skin Garden- This one is very thick and refreshing, but I noticed it didn’t stay at all. I loved the way it felt going on and honestly bought it for the name. It’s not TERRIBLE, by any means, but not worth the money either.

I tried 25 total moisturizers to find the best moisturizers out there! Some others that I tried….

* Tula Hydrating Day & Night Cream- I actually really liked this one as well. It’s made with probiotics and is ultra hydrating. This one was close to making the top list, and I will continue to use this one at night.

* Olay Orignial Hydrating Cream

* Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Cream– I did like this one as well!

* Christian Dior- Hydra Life This one is similar to the Tarte in texture and hydration, just a little pricer.

* Belif- The True Cream Aqua Bomb – I did like this one too, not a top 5 contender but good!

* Caudile- Premier Cru Rich Cream – This one was very hydrating! On the pricy side, but I did love the hydration it provided.

* Shiseido Essential Energy Moisturizing Gel Cream– Did have the typical cooling and refreshing feel of a gel cream moisturizer… I just didn’t think it was as great overall as the Gel by La Mer or Tarte.

* Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer

* La Roche Posay Double Repair Moisturizer

* Raw Sugar Complete Facial Moisturizer – wasn’t as hydrating as others, but I do LOVE other products by this company like their hand wash.

* Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

* Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer

Remember, all skin types are different. What worked for me and my skin, might not work as great on someone else. Hope this helps guide you in your search for the best moisturizer for your skin!

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By Beaus & Ashley

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Spring Family Activities
Posted on March 23, 2018

Spring Family Activities

On Me: Floral Button Down Dress

On Boys: Bunny Hoodie

If you are anything like my family, you are ready to get out and about in some spring sunshine! My boys are so much happier when we are outside, and there are so many fun spring family activities to keep them entertained, learning and in good spirits.

SPRING FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. Take a walk. So simply, but just going for a little stroll (babies in wagons, strollers or walking) is great! Just breathing in fresh air and exploring the simple things outdoors right around you is great!

2. Picnic outside. I love doing this! Pack a blanket and some fun picnic friendly foods.

3. Head to a park. Swings, slides, play tag.

4. Do a scavenger hunt. The boys are still so young, but the other day I just hid big items and had G go find them. He loved it!

5. Kick a ball in the yard.

6. Sidewalk chalk!

7. Paint outside. Set up a big huge roll of paper and let them go to town. Then have a big tub of water outside to clean up after so you aren’t worried about the mess.

8. Grab a blanket and a book and read under a tree.

9. Blow bubbles. You can even get a bubble machine and really go crazy. We got this one HERE. (Under $15 and works like a charm!)

10. Go to the Farmer’s Market. For little ones it can be a great learning opportunity to learn different fruits, vegetables, colors and shapes.

11. Let the kids help you wash the car. (Or play in the water…)

12. Build an outdoor fort… (or Pitch a tent to play in outside!)

NASHVILLE SPRING FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. Eggstavaganza is at the Nashville Zoo on 3/31/18. So many fun activities. You can see when all the Egg Hunts are and all the info
HERE.

2. Cheekwood! We love it here. There are so many beautiful tulips now and they are celebrating “Cheekwood in Bloom.” They also have a fun spring art hop on 3/31 with food trucks, a beer garden for the parents, egg hunts, face painting, rabbit petting, song time, etc. You can find the info on that HERE.

P.S. I’ve got a whole bunch of Easter/Spring home decor, baby goods, spring dresses, and so many other spring goodness up HERE.

By Beaus & Ashley

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An Organized Home: How To Create An Organized Pantry
Posted on March 20, 2018

An Organzied Home: How To Create An Organized Pantry

I’ve teamed up with Alesia at A Well-Organized Home here in Nashville to organize my pantry and in turn my life. HA! Sounds dramatic, but it’s really not. Keeping my home clutter free makes everything function more smoothly, and ultimately keeps stress down.

Spring cleaning time is here! It’s so important for me to keep this new house is the best functioning order I possibly can. Two babies and working from home is enough on my plate. I don’t want to constantly be in choas on top of that.

The hardest part is truly just getting it all started. Once everything has it’s perfect place, it’s much easier to maintain. That’s where Alesia comes in.

When I asked her what A Well-Organized Home is all about she told me…

“Put simply, a well-organized home makes home more peaceful. By helping others organize their homes, I want to help bring peace into their homes. As moms, we’re often the ones who are expected to know where everything is in our house. How many times a day do we answer “Where is {insert item here}?” When we can answer this question quickly, without having to search ourselves, it takes just a little stress out of our day. Even better, when we have areas organized and labeled, oftentimes we can avoid this question altogether because our families know that items have a “home.” I want to help the overwhelmed moms and families that are going a million miles an hour in fifty different directions feel just a bit calmer and at ease when home. Home should be a place where we can exhale, not a place where we get stressed out by opening the pantry, linen closet, master closet, etc. The best thing a client can tell me is that by organizing a space, it has brought more peace to their home and family.”

I mean.. I just love this on so many levels.

TOP TRICKS TO ESTABLISH AN ORGANIZED PANTRY

1. Use acrylic bins and a few different styles of baskets. Acrylic bins are great for grab-and-go snacks, and baskets are great for items that you want to keep in their original packaging.

2. Clear canisters are great for decanting more than just your pantry staples. They can be used for any product that you always have on hand, like cookies, crackers, pasta, etc.

3. Label, label, label – Labeling makes life easier on you and the rest of your family. Now everyone doesn’t have to ask where something is!

4. Always have an “extra” bin. We all have a tendency to overbuy something, so having a bin to keep the “extra” in helps corral those items in one place.

5. Take stock of your pantry before going to the grocery store. Take five minutes to quickly look over your pantry before going to buy groceries. Then you’ll know what you actually need and won’t overbuy.

I also asked Alesia to break down the process of having her come into your home and help you jump start your organization. (Whether it be a pantry, closet, office, etc.)

She explained the process like this:

*Initial consultation at no charge, with no obligation

*During the consultation, I come to your home, take a look at the space or spaces you want organized, and ask a lot of questions. I want to know who all uses the space, what you like about it, what you don’t like about it, how you’d like it to function, how often is it used, etc. I ask a lot of questions because there is no one-size-fits-all for organization. For me to get the space functional for you and your family, I need to understand your family and your family’s habits, so that’s why I ask so many questions.
I’ll also take photos and measurements during the consultation. I will also look at what organizational products you already have in that space (if any) and talk to you about if you want them incorporated or if you want to start from scratch.
The consultation can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the size and number of spaces you want me to look at.

*After the consultation, I take all of the information I’ve gathered to create an estimate. I’ll break the estimate down by space and also by organization service and supplies. All supplies are a pass-through, meaning you pay exactly what I pay for them. Organization service is on an hourly basis I usually base it on a range within an hour or two (i.e. 4 to 5 hours, 8 to 10 hours, etc.). I’ll email over the completed estimate (usually within 24 hours).

*Once you’re ready to move forward, we’ll settle on a date or dates to complete the project. Clients can be home when I actually do the organizing but they don’t have to be. It’s whatever they feel comfortable with – I’m fine with either!

SURPRISE! We are also giving away a complete organized pantry makeover to one lucky winner! You can head on over to Instagram to enter and for further details. Check that out HERE.

STAPLE ORGANIZATIONAL PRODUCTS

By Beaus & Ashley

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NEUTRAL SPRING OUTFIT, MAKEUP & HAIR EDIT
Posted on March 12, 2018

A neutral spring outfit, makeup and hair look!

High-Waist Cropped Jeans | Striped Crop Top | Duster | Bracelets | (You can use code BEAUARROW25 for 25% off bracelets..)

Does anyone else get in a rut with all the dreary weather? It’s been rainy and cold over here in Tennessee and I feel like the boys and I have been cooped up in the house for what feels like forever. I truly love staying at home and soaking in all the sweet moments with my babies, but when the weather is like this it puts me in a funk. The cure for that? A coffee date with friends and dreams of sunshine and spring outfits!

I’ve been seeing this adorable coffee shop, Coffee & Coconuts, pop up on my Instagram feed and it did NOT disappoint. It’s something straight out of a magazine and has such a California cool vibe. The most picture worthy coffee shop ever and the avocado toast and homemade organic coffee syrups were equally as incredible.

Katie, with Beauty By K2, was one of my first “Nashville friends.” It’s been so fun hearing her talk about her dream of starting a makeup business and going to esthetician school to watching her turn that into a thriving reality. We decided to team up to bring a neutral spring look and head out together for a little coffee date after. Much needed girl time!

These jeans might just be my favorites I’ve ever had. They are high waisted, but super comfortable. The waist is the perfect length to wear the crop top trend but not show any belly area. (Perfect for mamas that aren’t really wanting to show it all..) I loved the busted knee, and the crop is great for spring. They run true to size. I couldn’t resist this neutral striped crop top ! The straps are removable and it’s light weight, but not sheer at all. It’s still cold so I paired it with my absolute favorite thing I own… THIS DUSTER. It comes in three colors (I own them all…) It’s something you can wear year round, and it amplifies any outfit. It literally feels like you are wearing a robe. Totally worth the splurge. (Size down…)

Katie created such an easy neutral look that I will be re-creating a LOT this spring. We both are all about prepping our skin before we start. It’s ALLLL about the skincare (huge post on that coming next week.) Directly before we used Tarte’s H20 moisturizer. It’s got a cooling affect and soaks into the skin. Your skin feels so soft directly after use which I love. Then we did a few sprays of Urban Decay’s Quick Fix hydrating prep and prime spray. (I have dry skin.) It reduces pores and hydrates to help makeup look more flawless. My go to foundation has been Tarte’s Amazonian clay. It’s a full coverage, and has SPF. (SO important.) The Naked Palette has been a long standing favorite of ours for YEARS. She used shades “buck” in the crease, “half baked” on the lid and smog in the outer corners. These three together are a neutral (but still glam) dream. The perfect amount of shimmer.

She used Anastasia Brow Powder in medium brown for a thick and nautral looking brow. A strong brow can make such a statement!

With this neutral look, the perfect nude look keeps the whole face fresh and clean looking. We used the Urban Decay in “stark nude” .

She finished the look with some blush. Spring is all about a beautiful blushed cheek! Katie blended Mac’s powder blush in the shade “melba” on the cheekbones.

Spring is all about the braids! She whipped this look up in under 5 minutes! The key to creating braided looks is pulling the braids with your fingers and making them appear wider and slightly “undone” or “messy” looking. She left room and looped my braid through to give extra dimension. (Does anyone else remember the red topsy turvy braid from their childhood!? My mom used this on us ALLLLL the time. We hated it because she would do it sooo tight.)

I’m ready for all the spring outfit looks, braids, sunshine and flowers!

Check out another neutral pretty spring look HERE.

SPRING OUTFIT

SPRING MAKEUP ESSENTIALS

By Beaus & Ashley

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A Modern Easter Tablescape, Baby Easter Outfits, & Dresses
Posted on March 9, 2018

All the Easter Inspo! Easter tablescape, baby outfits, dresses & decor.

We have a lot of upcoming travel, so my family will be joining us in Nashville this Easter! It was exciting for me to go get the decor to set up and make everything beautiful for our first Easter in this home.

Now don’t get me wrong I love a good theme, but I wanted to choose pieces that could be used again and again. I just added in these adorable hip hop hippity hop print napkins that were under $3 a piece. I love that they don’t SCREAM easter like little chicks or bunnies, but adds the perfect touch. Ditch the script texts napkins and this goes from Easter tablescape to spring tablescape. I added in a striped grey napkin on the inside to make them very “full” looking.

These beautiful magnolia napkin rings are under $5 and can be used all spring. They bring so much life to the table, and I love that they help to fill the space. I’m not a fan of everything looking too “matchy-matchy”, but I just could not deny these painted magnolia wine glasses. Since the magnolias were such a statement, I wanted to keep the rest of the table simple. (I also wanted our marble table to be able to show as well.)

These rustic white wood chargers are great for year round. They are on sale right now, and I plan to use them for everything. I’m already planning on using them with some emerald green, grey and gold for Christmas time. (9 more months, but who is counting?!)

I plan to serve Easter lunch family style, so I wanted to leave plenty of room in the center of the table. Some fresh flowers in a vase and a small candle finished out the look. If you follow along on my Instastories you may remember how I make these arrangements so inexpensively. I just grab a few grocery store flowers (these were $5) and then also grab some sort of green stem. (Eucalyptus is always great!) On the vase I take scotch tape and make a grid. (Two horizontal strips of tape and two vertical strips of tape.) You then just fill in the grid with the florals and greens and it creates an easy arrangement!

EASTER DECOR

Here are some other Easter/Spring themed decor items that are just adorable, and can make your home the perfect amount of “modern festive.”

EASTER BABY ITEMS

I also wanted to share some of the adorable baby items I’ve picked up for G and Wilder. It’s easy to go overboard with the littles on holidays, but I tried to find items that (mostly) can be worn all spring.

EASTER/SPRING DRESSES

I love a good floral print, but typically steer clear of it on myself. EXCEPT for Easter, and the spring really just makes me want to throw on a floral dress! Here are some of my favorites!

By Beaus & Ashley

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Win Diapers For A Year With Incredibundles!
Posted on March 8, 2018

Win Diapers For A Year With Incredibundles!

Meet, Kristee! My sister is three years younger than me and after many years of fighting over clothes and well, just about everything, we are now truly best friends. She’s expecting her first baby, Bo, in May. (On Trey and I’s anniversary!) G and Wilder are excited to be big cousins, and I’m so excited for her to join the mom club. Since she’s been pregnant and moved to South Carolina, we have become even closer. We talk every single day, and typically a FaceTime or two as well.

Kristee is the most innately mothering soul I’ve ever met. She lives for babies and children. Not only is she a teacher, but she also spends her free time working with kids in after school programs at the Y and various other organizations. Kristee is not a “show up and get out” kind of person. Each child is so special to her, and she makes deep connections with them and their families. I’m proud of the woman that she has become.

Unfortunately, teachers don’t make even close to what they are worth. It blows my mind that the people that shape our children’s future are so financially undervalued. If you are a parent you know, diapers are NOT cheap. I heard about Incredibundles I knew that I had to nominate her and help her try to relieve the financial burden and win diapers!

Here is more information straight from them, if you would like to enter for yourself or someone special that you know!! I mean, who doesn’t want to win diapers?!

IncrediBundles.com – the home of the bestselling Year of Diapers babygift – wants to make life easier for one mom by giving her A Year of Diapers! We want you to nominate a mom (can be you, a friend, coworker or family member) and share a photo or video of them on Instagram using the hashtag #WinDiapers telling us in the caption what their story is (why did you nominate them? what makes them the best mom ever?). The post that gets the most likes wins! Giveaway starts on 2/26 and ends 11:59pm EST 3/11. Follow Incredibundles.com
for more chances to win!

Want to know more about giving a Diaper Subscription from IncrediBundles.com? It’s the foolproof baby gift chosen by thousands of gift-givers across the country. IncrediBundles.com is the home of the ultimate baby gift – a Diaper Subscription where your recipient gets to choose the brand and size diapers they would like to receive each month. Gift-givers can give a 3-Month, 6-Month, 9-Month or 12-Month Diaper Subscription. Check it out: HERE.

Here’s how an IncrediBundles.com Diaper Subscription works. Upon your purchase of a 3, 6, 9 or 12-month Diaper Subscription, IncrediBundles.com sends an adorable announcement package featuring a beautiful plush teddy bear nestled in one of the company’s chic, trademark storage containers. The teddy bear holds a certificate that announces your gift. This certificate features a unique code your recipient will use to activate her subscription. Then, each month, your recipient can log in to their subscription and select the brand and size diapers they would like delivered straight to their door that month. IncrediBundles.com features all of the major brands – Pampers, Huggies, Luvs and Members Mark.
IncrediBundles.com can send the announcement package directly to your recipient or to you, the purchaser, to present at a baby shower. It’s that easy!

You can see my entry for my sweet sister on Instagram HERE. . I’d love it you would “like” and help her win diapers!

By Beaus & Ashley

Uncategorized
Spring Style Edit | Shopbop Sale
Posted on February 28, 2018

Spring Style Edit & Info on the Shopbop Sale

Elephant T-Shirt | Ivory Jeans | Hat | Heels | Earrings

Spring is on the horizon and I’m oh so ready for it! I’m so excited to start rocking some new spring (lighter) looks. Ya’ll know I love a good white on white, but this updated ivory on ivory is even better!

I’ve started to stock up on some staple pieces that I wanted to share! These ivory jeans are an update on the white jeans that have been popular for awhile now. The distressed hem is great, and they are such a good price point. ($78) They fit true to size. This neutral hat is perfect for lighter color threads in the spring/summer. (It’s also a great price point at $58!)

I know I brag about Spell & The Gypsy Collective all the time, but they are such a great company. This graphic t-shirt is great, because it’s light and neutral and also something slightly different than the band tees.

Shopbop is one of the best retailers for designer pieces (and some great reasonably priced one too)! They are currently having their best sale, the buy more, save more event. Perfect time to stock up on some spring style essentials. This sale gets me.. every dang time! It’s 15% off of orders $200+, 20% off orders $500+, and 25% off of orders $800 and up.

UNDER $100 SPRING ESSENTIALS

SPLURGE WORTHY STAPLE PIECES

I love a good designer piece as much as the next girl, but hate paying full price. This is the best time to stock up on some staple items that you can where on the regular. (I swear by my Golden Goose sneakers for example..)

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By Beaus & Ashley

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A Luxe French Themed Baby Shower
Posted on February 26, 2018

A luxe french themed baby shower!

I had so much fun designing and co-hosting a beautiful baby shower for my sweet friend, Mallory Ervin.

One of the most crucial things when planning an event is picking the right vendors, and let me tell ya……. we nailed it! If you happen to be in Nashville, I couldn’t possibly recommend these sweet ladies any more.

Mallory and Kyle are waiting until their sweet babes arrival before finding out the gender, so we wanted to find a theme that was very gender neutral. She also loves everything French inspired and even studied abroad there, so a Parisian Chic look was the perfect fit.

Noelle Nashville is a hot new hotel in Nashville, and this ballroom is DREAMY. It has beautiful herringbone wood floors, sky high ceilings, unique light fixtures, and the prettiest natural light. We also were able to get the food and drinks through the hotel. Their staff is incredibly accommodating and made everything as easy as possible.

Please Be Seated is always my go-to for rentals. Mary, the owner, is so fun to work with. She has the greatest eye. I brought her a mood board, and the picture I found on Pinterest ended up being an event that they did! I knew I wanted to do something a little different, and wanted to utilize tall benches since the ceilings were so tall. With the french baby shower theme we wanted to do a mix of glam pieces, with some rustic touches. The velvet benches on one end were so glam, and the wooden chairs provided that small touch of rustic. We kept the tablescape very neutral with grey linens, and marble chargers. The gold flatware really popped on the table, and the vintage glasses and candle votives filled the table so nicely.

We also wanted to create a comfortable “sit and stay awhile” kind of vibe. Please Be Seated has so many beautiful furniture set up options, that we utilized a couch, chairs and beautiful marble end tables. The vintage layered rugs are from one of my favorite shops in Nashville, Apple & Oak. They finished out that space perfectly!

Keeping that mix of glam/rustic balance throughout the florals there were roses, but also lots of eucalyptus and thistles. Foxglove and Heather created the most perfect florals I have ever seen! If you are getting married, having a party, or whatever it may be in Middle Tennessee….she’s unreal! And so sweet and amazing.

Sincerely Hope Designs created this banner that read “For this baby I have prayed” in French. She also did the calligraphy for all the acrylic sign boards, and the invites. I love a good theme, so it was important to me to keep that throughout. Since they don’t know they gender, one sign had a place for guests to take their guess with either, “rose” or “bleu”. Next to the cake and macaroons the sign read, “oui oui cherie.” (“yes, yes darling” in French.)

The “mom-osa” bar was adorned with a gold “bonjour bebe” to match the invite and continue with the theme. It featured fresh squeezed orange, grapefruit, and pomegranate juices with fruit toppings as well. It’s such an easy touch to add to an event and it looks as great as it tastes!

It was such a fun day filled with so much love and light. As a new mom, I just know how much of an exciting time this is and it was great to be able to play a role in helping to celebrate that!

Some Inspo For Your Own French Inspired Party:

By Beaus & Ashley

Uncategorized
Healthy Living: 5 Ways to Start Living A Healthy Lifestyle
Posted on February 19, 2018

At the beginning of the year I made a pact to bring more purpose and intention to the blog. Living a healthy lifestyle is important to me, but not easy.

Camel Duster | Leopard Booties | Gucci T-Shirt (for size XS/S and fitted) | Gucci T-Shirt | Black Denim | Fringe Bag- Jennifer Haley

Let me preface this post by saying I don’t always live a perfectly healthy lifestyle. I fall off the wagon and struggle. However, recently I’ve been more successful with it and it’s all about a mindset change. It’s important to me to implement this healthy lifestyle to our children so that they don’t develop bad habits. Also, I’ve noticed my productivity, mood, energy, and overall demeanor is just better off when I’m ON the wagon.

With that being said… here are 5 tips to Star living your best life. NOW!

1. Start Now, Start Small

Start today. Don’t wait until the New Year. Don’t wait until the weekend is over. Don’t wait until after a trip. Just pick a small change you want to make, and start NOW. You could start with something as simple as cutting out soda completely, taking a multivitamin everyday, going for a daily walk or jog. Whatever it is, once you implement a healthy habit into your life you see the effects that is has on you. Once you see those effects, you want to incorporate more!

2. Practice Makes Perfect

It is unrealistic to think that you will be great at any given change right away. “Diets” are fads. They don’t work. If you want to truly change your lifestyle that involves forming habits. On average, it takes a little over two months before a behavior becomes automatic. Be kind to yourself and allow room for mistakes and growth. Nothing worth having is easy. It is not easy the change to living a healthy lifestyle. Practice those habits until they become second nature.

3. Find Your Balance

It is unrealistic to think that you will stay on the straight and narrow all the time. Balance is the key. (As is life…right?!) Everything in moderation, including moderation. I’ve chosen a couple things that are pretty much hard “no’s.” Soda, for example. Then there are things that I really enjoy and do not want to deprive myself of, pasta for instance. On Sunday’s we like to cook a “feel good, comfort meal.” Finding whatever balance works for you. Decide on some things that you will essentially complete cut out, what you will limit, and what you can’t give up.

4. Enlist the Help of a Partner/Motivator

Everything is more fun with a friend. Self control is not an easier thing, but it sure is easier when the people closest to you are there for moral support. For me, it’s next to impossible to eat healthy and exercise when my husband is on the junk food wagon. Right now we have committed to living this healthy lifestyle together and it’s made it a million times easier for me. If you have that friend that you can text to talk you off the chocolate ledge, reach out. Enlist their help to motivate and keep you on track. It also helps for you to be that person for someone else. Simply hearing yourself speak to them is also reinforcing those thoughts to yourself. You are what you think. Your thoughts become your actions. When you tell yourself you can do it, you’ve won the battle.

5. Plan Ahead

When I sat down and really evaluated why I was struggling with eating unhealthy and not sticking with a exercise routine it all boiled down to planning. With two babies under two, my days are hectic. Most of the time I just didn’t have the time to go to the grocery store so I would get the easiest delivery at the final hour when I was so hungry my stomach felt like it was eating itself. With just the littlest bit of time management and planning life has been SO much easier. Sundays are a great day for me to sit down and find some recipes to try and plan out what I need to get from the grocery store. If you can meal prep for days that you know will be hectic, even better. Making planning out your week a priority keeps you going down that healthy lifestyle path!

And of course.. outfit details. Tip: if you wear a size XS/Small you can get a boys size 10 or 12 and save TONS on designer finds. ThisGucci T-Shirt has quickly become a closet staple for me and I was able to save several hundred compared to the women’s version. (It’s the size 10 for reference, it’s snug and fits as a fitted shirt would.) I LIVE in this Duster. It runs a bit oversized so I sized down. It truly feels as if I’m wearing a robe, and makes the simplest outfit a little more chic. These leopard booties are my new favorites! You can totally treat leopard as a neutral. The block heel makes them super comfortable which is key for me these days….

P.S. Read more on saving on key designer pieces HERE.

P.P.S. Iced coffee with some almond milk or coconut milk is a great healthy alternative!

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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