Finally Football Weather

For the first time this season, Hogs fans might have to break out the jacket for tonight's game. It was a chilly 45 degrees this morning, which in southern-speak translates to "cold".

It also translates to, "Leslie will be listening to the game from the comfort of her kitchen, whilst baking cookies and enjoying a quiet Saturday evening at home."

I'm extremely cool. I know this.

It's funny, if you'd told me 5 years ago that I would opt for baking sweets and watching Ghost Whisperer re-runs on a Saturday night over fighting nauseating traffic and trapsing through soggy grass in ridiculous stilettos all for the sake of southern-style tailgating...well, I'd have called you crazy.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I did the tailgating thing last weekend at the Ole' Miss game and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. But yeah, most of these days, I'll take boring/warm over exciting/frigid anyday.

In summary, GO HOGS! Let's beat Vandy, boys.
P.S.- If you're still looking for something cute to wear to the game tonight, go visit the sweet girls at Maude Boutique on College Ave. in Fayetteville...my fav local clothier. They will hook you up with a fab-tastic Homecoming outfit.

Still LOVING my Razorback dress I wore to the Ole Miss game last which I bought there...got tons of compliments and it's super comfy for long tailgating days!
Be blessed, lovelies-

All Hallow's Eve, Eve



via Cupcakehead Loves Evil

Happy Friday, Blonde Ambitioners! It seems we have made it to Halloween Eve, Eve : ) Since I don't typically post on the weekends, I thought we'd take today and celebrate the scary, sugary goodness of what has to be the most ridiculously fun holiday of the year.

Here are some nifty questions for y'all to answer in the comments field below, if you feel compelled to share:

1. What was your most favorite Halloween costume?
2. What is your favorite Halloween candy?
3. What was the worst thing you ever received in your trick or treat bucket?
4. Fav scary movie?
5. Fav scary movie villain?

via Martha Stewart

Because I know everyone is beside themselves with anticipation for my answers, here goes:

1. Probably the year my mom and grandma spent like a month making the PERFECT Princess Jasmine outfit for me. Blonde and blue-eyed, I'm about as far from an exotic, Arabian princess as one gets, but hey, I rocked it anyway. Freckles, southern accent and all.

2. Reese's Cups or Pieces. Anything that involves that precious peanut butter encased in chocolate is gold in my trick or treat bucket.

3. An apple. Surriously? Not a caramel or candy one, just a plain ole' Granny Smith. I had 364 other days of the year to worry about getting my recommended fiber intake...geesh.

4. It would be a 3 way tie between The Shining, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with Mr. Depp and The Others with Nicole Kidman.

5. Probably either Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson's character from The Shining) or Freddy Krueger, not because I find him that scary, I just think he's misunderstood and in need of a hug.

Anywho, have a safe and Happy Halloween. Eat lots of candy and watch something spooky on TV, if the mood strikes.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Trend Watch Wednesday: New {Up} Do

Greetings, friends. Welcome to this hairtastic edition of Trend Watch Wednesday. Grab your teasing comb and bobby pins and let's get started!

As a girl that almost never wears her hair down during the week, I'm loving that this season is all about "up" hair. Don't get me wrong, I love having longer hair and enjoy fixing it cute on the weekends, but during the work week, I do well just to get out the door in time.

Here were the standout hairstyles on the Fall 2010 runways:

Extreme Side Part

Whether you wear this with a low pony or a nape-of-the-neck bun, a defined side part looks very polished and preppy this season. Jason Wu apparently loved the style so much he featured it in his latest runway show (pictured above).

To get the look, products like Sebastian Professional Potion 9 Lite ($9) and Sebastian Professional Shaper Zero Gravity hairspray ($21) tame flyaways and give your mane a frizz free finish.

Low Bun

Oh me, how do I love this look? Let me count the ways...As a matter of fact, I am sporting this 'do today. Simple, chic and great for days when you don't have time to wash your hair, this style is PERFECT for we ladies on the go.

To get this look, try Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightner ($21) to get a smooth finish, Rusk W8less Hairspray ($14) to hold hair in place, Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream ($32) to give a shine boost and Ricky's Bungee Double 2 Pack ($3.99) to fasten hair into place.

Top Knot

My boyfriend's sister had her hair in an adorable top knot on Sunday and it looked so effortless and cute! She definitely inspired me to try this look on myself soon. Celebs like Cameron Diaz and Sarah Jessica Parker have been spotted rocking the top knot lately to resounding applause from beauty and fashion critics.

To get this 'do, you'll need...barely anything! A clear ponytail will hold hair in place for a base, then bobby pins or a tool like the Goody Spin Pin will help you make the "knot". You can finish it off with a spritz of your favorite hairspray. I like Redken Forceful 23, but any kind will do.

Deconstructed Pony

Gaw y'all, I love this too! Stars like Emma Roberts and Rachel Bilson (both pictured above) love their messy ponytails and so do I. Especially great if you have curly or wavy hair, this style works best with textured hair.

You will likely need a curling iron, (1 inch barrel or larger) if you don't have curly or wavy hair to give your mane some texture. If you've already got it, just gather hair into a low pony, then spritz with hairspray and pull a few pieces out around your face. Done!

Poofy Ponytail

Of course I saved the best for last : ) Anyone who knows me in real life, knows that I LIVE in this hairstyle. I don't use a Bumpit, because I have massively thick hair. I just tease the crap out of it and call it good.

Apparently stars like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Ripa, Eva Mendes and Jessica Simpson all love their poofy ponytails too!

I'm actually thinking of doing a video tutorial on how to properly poof sometime soon...is that something y'all would watch? Eh?

Alrighty, so I gotta know...what "up" hair 'do is your fav?

Be blessed, lovelies-

Gold Standard

Good mid-morning, fair maidens. How's everyone feeling in blogland today?

Instead of killing y'all with Halloween posts right off the bat, (I'll wait until later in the week for that madness), I thought we'd take a look at my metal of choice for fall this year.

Actually, gold is pretty much always my metal of choice for fall. Because it's warmer than silver and tends to go with brown a bit better than silver. And brown dominates 3/4 of my closet during autumn. So there you have it.

It's funny, I actually prefer silver or white gold when it comes to rings and brooches and such, but as far as costume jewelry is concerned...gold all the way!

Anywhozit...aren't these necklaces just so darn pretty? Well these and everything else in this post from Planet Blue. Yeah, I want it all, too. Sigh...

There's something about gold embellishments that just makes me want to join a caravan, jump aboard a wagon and ride off into the sunset with a band of gypsies.

Ok, maybe not. Who am I kidding? I'm way too attached to my electrical outlets, Chi iron, Real Housewives of D.C. re-runs and daily Starbucks trips to live such a nomadic lifestyle.

Other things gold makes me think of:

-Stevie Nicks (once again, goes back to the whole gypsie, carefree attitude thing...dunno why)
-Flavor Flave
-Austin Powers Goldmember (obvi)
-Princess Jasmine from Aladdin
-spitoons (...or were those brass?)

In summary, I like gold this fall. And you should too. Well, far be it of me to tell you what you should like, but I suggest you give it a try. You might just find something about this heavenly metal that melts your butter. Or floats your boat. Or whatever.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Currently Loving: J.Crew

Hoooo-weeee, I am one sleepy girl today!! As per usual on Monday, I am dragging this morning despite having downed two cups of coffee already. Oh well, I guess that just means it was a good weekend, right? Haha!

Friday my boy and I went to one of the best restaurants in downtown Bentonville called Table Mesa, a Latin fusion eatery with a cool atmosphere and super-delish food. It was sort of an early birthday celebration dinner for him. If any of y'all live in Northwest Arkansas and are semi-close to DT Bentonville, I would definitely recommend stopping by sometime - just make reservations, it can get a little crowded on the weekends!

Saturday, we did some tailgating at the U of A for the Arkansas/Ole Miss game. The Hogs prevailed, beating Mississippi 24-38! Go Razorbacks! And for inquiring minds out there, yes, I did wear my Razorback dress that I wrote about on Thursday, but  it POURED all day. Thankfully we were nice and dry under a pavilion.

Yesterday we spent some time with my boyfriend's family for his b-day, (his mom made the BEST homemade spaghetti and meatballs...YUM!), and topped it off with a cherry birthday cake! His sweet sister was kind enough to take some pics of us, so hopefully at some point this week I can officially introduce you guys to the wonderful man in my life : )

I know Mondays are typically kind of "blah", but I thought looking at some lovely pics of J.Crew awesomeness might perk things up a bit. Am I right or am I right?

J.Crew is one of my fav stores and, although it's a little more expensive, I'm always willing to save up in order to purchase their items for a special addition to my closet now and then.

I was flipping through their "Looks We Love" book online this morning and fell head over heels for pretty much everything there.

I've come to the conclusion that this season, I could easily make shorts, tights, hoodies and 3/4 sleeved blazers my uniform of choice.

Oh and don't get me started on the messy bun hairstyle. Any 'do that involves not spending hours on styling one's hair is a winner in my book.

Are you as into this stuff as I am?

Be blessed, lovelies-

Sweet Spot

One of my favorite things about fall.......

Oh wait....hold the phone.....

IT'S FRIDAY!

(Happy dance ensues.....)

....ok, as I was saying....

One of my favorite things about fall is whipping up sinfully sweet baked goods in my kitchen. During the months of October through December, the oven is my BFF. I guess that would make Starbucks my other BFF. Which would make the gym that girl we love to hate.

Anywho.

As much as I'd love to be one of those women who can whip up a flawless flan without so much as glancing at a recipe, well, I ain't.

Newp. I am most decidedly a cookbook kind of gal.

A few of my tried and true favs:

Tartine Cookbook

If I could only have one dessert cookbook in my archive, this would be the one. To say I'm a super-fan would be a tragic understatement. For starters, the book is just plain pretty. The cover is a beauteous collage of pastries and sweets and it's chock full of appetite-inducing photos. Oh, and the recipes are easy to follow, too.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

Just like many of you, I'm a devout reader of Ree Drummond's blog, The Pioneer Woman, and quite frankly, I'd follow this woman to the moon and back. Drummond has a knack for making traditional, American comfort food look oh-so-appealing again. The book is gorgeously illustrated and Ree's signature humor is everpresent.

Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook

The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook is based on the sweet treats sold the the Hummingbird Bakeries in London. Sixty different recipes are shared within its pages from cupcakes to pies, all super easy and totally delish. This is also one of my favorite cookbooks to display on an easel in my kitchen.

Paula Deen's Just Desserts Cookbook

Oh Paula. Y'all know how much I love her, so it should go without saying that this is one of my favorite dessert cookbooks. The best part about any Paula recipe is that you can buy the ingredients at any small-town grocery store in the middle of Arkansas. You won't find any fancy schmancy spices or $30 cheeses in these recipes; only good, old-fashioned ingredients.

So those are a few of the tomes that I turn to when in need of a good baked something-or-other...but what about you? What is your favorite dessert cookbook?

Lastly but not leastly...(yes, I said leastly...it's a word today.)

Happy 2 day Early Birthday to my wonderful, sweet, handsome amazingsauce boyfriend. He makes my world a better place. Happy 26th, S. And many moreeeee.....

Now ya'll stay out of trouble this weekend. Don't do anything I would do.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Your Weekly Randomness

Each week, I like to dedicate a day to Randomness.  My life is positively full of it and personally, I like it that way.

So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a comfy chair and prepare for your mind to be blown. In no particular order, here is your weekly dose of random:

1. Ghost Adventures-
I'm a huge dork and super-fan of movies like Ghostbusters and Poltergeist. I also lurve this time of year and all the spooky awesomeness that comes with it. Lately, I've been tuning into Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel and frankly, I can't get enough. True, the host is sort of an embarrassing mixture of Criss Angel and The Situation (bless his heart), what with his black spandex shirts, thumb rings and faux-hawked coif. Nevertheless, a great show if you want to get in the Halloween mood.

2. Foley + Corinna Styling Contest-
The chic peeps at Foley and Corinna are hosting a styling competition to celebrate their launch on ShopStyle.com last week. If you love this brand as much as I do, go check it out and enter by October 25th for your chance to win your own F + C goodness.

3. Razorback Dress-
What do y'all think of the dress below? It's from a shop called Maude in Fayetteville and I may just be wearing it to the game on Saturday if it doesn't rain. How do y'all think it would look paired with leggings, ballet flats, a houndstooth scarf (like in the pic) and a long black or gray cardigan. Eh?

4. Personal Styling-
Much to my delight, I've gotten several emails this week about styling appointments! Yay! One question I seem to be getting frequently is if I do gift cards. The answer is an emphatic YES! A personal styling session is a great gift for a girlfriend, sister, mom or BFF who wants to add a little flair to her life. Once again, just contact me at askblondeambition@gmail.com with the words "Style Me" in the subject line. I'll be happy to help you give the gift of personal styling attention to you and yours for the holidays : )

5. NeedtoBreathe Bound-
So it's official...my boy and I have tickets for the now-SOLD OUT Needtobreathe show at the Ryman in Nashville on November 18! Excited doesn't even begin to cut it. I saw them two years ago in Fayetteville when they opened for Gavin DeGraw and, simply put, they floored me. To any of my bloggy pals out there that live in Nashville or Jackson, give me a shout if any of y'all are going to be attending the show...I'd love to meet you!

Hookay...that's about it, I guess. Riveting stuff, isn't it?

See you back here tomorrow; same place, not sure what time.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Trend Watch Wednesday: The Rider

In the words of Shopbop, "Good breeding is back." This fall, designers are paying homage to the classic blueblood style of the American artistocracy.

Shearling bomber jackets, tailored turtlenecks, pleated skirts in a variety of tweeds and sturdy, leather boots are just the ticket to accomplishing this style.

To keep the look from becoming to prim or stuffy, try mixing more structured pieces with funky items, like vintage cocktail jewelry, corsets or daring, sky-high boots. Adding a touch of the risque to this style brings it into 2010.

BB Dakota Cartersville Leather Jacket in Taupe; Cole Haan Camden Alexis Crossbody; Gabor Jenny in Basalt brown distressed leather; Juicy Couture leather gloves

Tailored styles in tartan plaids are a clever alternative to the leather mini we've seen this fall. I'm personally loving that skirts have made such a comeback this season. In fact, skirts with round silhouettes paired with fitted sweaters are becoming the new daytime dress.

I for one cannot wait to try my hand at replicating these outfits at home.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Photo credits: Shopbop.com, collage by A Blonde Ambition (please do not re-use without permission)

Foley + Corinna Fall 2010

Hello gorgeous peeps...so glad you stopped by on this Tuesday edition of A Blonde Ambition.

Today's post is light on verbiage, heavy on eye candy; typically my favorite kind of post.

It's rainy and dreary and a wee bit chilly here in Northwest Arkansas today, which usually makes me want to crawl back into bed. However, the gorgeous items offered up by Foley + Corinna for their Fall 2010 Ready to Wear line pulled me with almost magnetic force to the computer screen early this morning.

F + C is known for their brilliant use of textures and needle-sharp attention to detail. With this collection you'll notice lots of fur, embellishments and layers...all great things when it comes to fall fashion.

I'll take one of everything. Please and thank you.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Legwarmers: Eh??

Greetings, ladies. Hope y'all enjoyed a fantastic weekend wherever you reside, doing whatever you do on Saturdays and Sundays in your neck of the woods.

Per usual, mine went by WAY too quickly, but that's just how the cookie crumbles when it comes to weekends. On a positive note, we'll be enjoying another weekend blitz in just four short days...hallelujah.

I was going to write about something deep and profound and possibly life-altering today, but thought I'd write about cozy autumn accessories that originated in the 1980s instead, (insert tongue in cheek.)

Ok, don't hate me for saying this, but I kind of, might, sort of, maybe just a little, perhaps, possibly want some legwarmers for this fall....

Go ahead....fire the emails away.

I can't help how my heart feels about these though. My inner Jennifer Beals just wants to pull on a pair of these puppies and dance like a maniac around my apartment to "What a Feeling".

I saw these on Etsy this morning and thought, "Hmmmm....???"

All Flashdance references aside, I'm actually really into these. I mean, with a pair of cute leggings and stilletto heeled boots, I think they'd be just precious.

Thoughts??

Photo credits: Lesha's Workshop on Etsy

What Fridays Are Good For

Happy Friday, chicas! Can I get a woo woo? To me, this day of the week is reserved for one thing and one thing only…having fun and eating bad stuff.

And really, what’s more fun than a Salted Caramel Brownie from the Pioneer Woman?
 

via Pioneer Woman


Heavens, y’all.

Let’s just pause for a moment to consider the rare beauty of those three words all together: Salted Caramel Brownie

I’ve never heard of this concoction before, but it sounds like the culmination of every PMS dream I’ve ever had. Go here to get the recipe and make some for yourself. And please invite me over when you do.

On to the next…

What’s also more fun than a post semi-solely dedicated to Halloween costumes? Because I haven’t done one yet and frankly, didn’t have a darn thing else to write about today.

I’m deep like that.

Planet Blue, a super cute online store, came up with their very own Halloween-inspired lookbook. The cool thing about these “costumes” is that they’re not really costumes at all. The pieces individually would be totally wearable long after trick-or-treating season is over. My favorites were the Black Cat, (even though we know how I feel about kitties), and the Captain Hook ensemble.

I must get my hands, er stems, on some of these leggings STAT.

Finally, never one to pass on an opportunity for shameless self-promotion, I thought I’d pass the word along about my latest little endeavor. I was recently asked to do some personal styling for a lovely girl up here in NWA for an engagement photo shoot. She was then kind enough to pass my name on to some of her friends who have just asked me to style their wedding shoot! So if you’re in need of some personal styling, closet reorganization or just general style advice, see my pages here and here or shoot me an email. I’ll be happy to help and I promise I'm cheaper than Rachel Zoe : ) There. That’s all. That was painless, right?

Y’all have a great weekend.

Be blessed, lovelies-