Modcloth Fit Shop: Visiting San Francisco

One of my favorite shops of all time is ModCloth. Which is no surprise, I love that they update their website every. single. day. (10:00am Pacific Time) with new seasonal clothes everyone with a cute name and description. I love that they have so many reviews on each product which helps me to know what size and fit is best for me. There customer service is freaking amazing! Someone always gets back to me immediatly and my shipping has been upgraded a number of times. They are AWSOME! end of positive rant lol ;) Paul and I were in San Francisco this last weekend I was attending the Blogcademy and he had a meeting at Skywalker Sound... (proud wife bragging) Since I new I was going to be in San Francisco I wanted to check out ModCloths first FitShop. I was so disappointed when I saw that they intended on closing September 7th but was super excited when they decided to extend their stay until after the holidays!... if you are in the area you HAVE to go check it out. I made an appointment and was able to try on one of the dresses >>> The Guilded Grace Dress in champagne >>> I constantly drool over it was so fun and now I know how it fits. I am thinking of this dress for Christmas, actually, with some red accents.

We had an absolute blast in San Francisco! and although we are SO tired from all the things we packed into 3 days it was well worth it. Stay tuned for more posts from our trip. 

3 Year Blogaversary Celebration!

T oday charcoal and ash turns 3 so you guys get triple the pics! I have loved every minute of my blogging experience and I am so excited that I found a hobby where I can let my creative side flourish. That being said I am ready for this blog to be more than just a hobby and that's why I have chosen today the anniversary of the beginning of it all to announce that I will be attending my first ever professional blog conference in San Francisco this September. I will be attending the The Blogcademy taught be three sassy and successful headmistresses Gala Darling, Shauna Haider of Nubby Twiglet, and Kat Williams of Rock n Roll Bride. I am beyond ecstatic to be participating in this game changer of a conference you can check out the Blogcademy promo video below. (I don't think it is sold out yet, so check it out!) Ahhh did I mention how excited I am? I mean like really excited! I am already planning my questions and outfits! I can not wait to gather new ideas, gain business advice, and meet other bloggers! I'm also excited to bring the quality of my blog to another level for my amazing readers... I know I have just a few but I appreciate every one of you. You deserve to have exciting, intriguing, and gorgeous photos and content to discover ever time you visit this blog. Thanks for being here! If you have not done so already I would like to invite you to subscribe to charcoal and ash to receive updates, previews and more exciting things in the near future.

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Modcloth Style Gallery - Click to Shop!

leather jacket and necklace / Sheinside

dress / Modcloth

tulle skirt / DIY

A big thank you to my husband Paul for always supporting me in whatever crazy thing I come up with! I love you so much and feel truly blessed to be married to someone who loves all of me during the good times and the bad.

This photo shoot was done at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. I was really lucky because the tulips were almost 3 weeks early this year so there were not a lot of visitors yet. Normally these fields draw thousands of people to the area at the beginning of the tulip festival starting April 1st. I highly recommend visiting especially if you are a photographer! The contrast of the blue mountains, fields of gold daffodils and fuchsia tulips is unreal. If you do end up visiting bring boots! it is really muddy and be sure to stop by the Calico Cupboard Cafe on your way out they have the best locally grown food and a huge selection of glutton free bakery items. Another fun thing is the giant flock of snow geese that roam the area. You can see the giant flock in the background of the last few photos of this post - I totally had the urge to run towards them to make them fly. 

 

Sparkle in the New Year!

Happy 2015! I am so excited for another year full of adventure, excitement, and new hopes and dreams. I could list all of my New Year resolutions but I think I will just keep them to myself and vow to work on them as hard as I did last year. This photo shoot was done at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington. Paul and I visited family at one of the beautiful rustic cabins. I am still in awe of the gorgeous view of the mountains that surrounds the entire community. I felt sort of weird doing fashion shoots like this, but then I ask myself why? I love fashion and I love designing shoots. I guess it's just the fact that I am NOT in anyway a model but that really should not stop anyone from feeling gorgeous or worthy. There is this beautiful quote that I read somewhere that talks about this and I thought I would share it going into the New Year.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

 
-from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.

Modcloth Style Gallery - Click to Shop!

scarf | Found in Paris

shift dress | Lulu's

shoes | ModCloth

cardigan | Target

The Birthday Girl Post

W
ell, my Birthday Week is over I made it another year... and what a wonderful one it was. I really feel like I made a lot of progress in life this last year with my personal goals. Out of the "26 before 27 goals" that I made for myself I met over half which I am pretty excited about. I will not be sharing because #1 they are personal (lol I don't know why that's stopping me) and #2 somethings don't need to be a reference point for others. Really you just have to asses your own life, where you want to go, and create your own list. You got this! This next year is going to be packed full of change and growth I can just feel it. Over the last two years I was really limited as to what I could do because of my commitment to Graduate School, but that is over and I am FREEEE... so there will be much traveling, lots and lots of projects, plus a mini life makeover. My job hunt is still NOT over, but you know what? It's ok! I am really loving the time I am able to spend with my family and the creativity that has seemed to have taken root in my mind since I have been freed up. That being said I actually found a silver lining to this whole unemployed never-ending job hunt and that is that I feel more strongly about my career path and have narrowed it down even more. It just feels good to be able to think about your future career and know that it is not a shot in the dark but something you really like doing. So there's that!

Modcloth Style Gallery - Click to Shop!

cardigan | Target
scarf | Found in Paris

dress | Modcloth

tights | Target

shoes | Modcloth

About the last few days... Paul and I really had fun together we took the Ferry over to Poulsbo to walk through the town. Paul loves it because there is an awesome Bakery called Sluy's Bakery. I love it because the little town is just cram packed full of inspiration! EVERYWHERE! Ideas for projects, and rusty thrown out items that have so much potential to be something new and beautiful. I am working on a Annie Sloan paint project right now which I cannot wait to share with you! I purchased the paint at a store called The Vintage Housewife, actually it was one of the reasons we went to Poulsbo because Annie Sloan paint is only sold at specific vendors in order to support small businesses which I LOVE and totally admire. I opened the paint can and brushed on the first coat, and I died a little inside... that's how insanely gorgeous this piece of furniture is gonna be so stay tuned.

Ok end of birthday post! on to another unforgettable year in Ashley adventures...

Fall in the Pacific Northwest

Modcloth Style Gallery - Click to Shop!

hat | Modcloth

duster | Nordstrom

scarf | Found in Paris

boots | Target

dress | Target

F

all is in full swing in Seattle, we have already had our first big storm of the season and the aftermath has left a colorful display of leaves everywhere. Paul and I decided to take a hike today around Kelsey Creek and were able to play in the leaves a bit. Fall always reminds me that the best things in life can't be bought. Walking around with Paul, my husband and best friend in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest forrest is a real reminder that nothing man-made can beat Gods creations. These last few months have been a real reminder for me that I need to have faith. I am still on a never ending job search which is sort of well necessary for me to accomplish first before I can start on any of my other goals. So, yes it has been frustrating but I know that there is a plan and all this time I have had of unemployment has been a chance to really truly realize and count my blessings.