Off the Grid

I have abandoned my blog yet again, though making my way back... again.

 I have since abandoned social media as well, all profiles have been deleted or deactivated - insert shocked emoji here. I was "social media queen" as my friends would lovingly tease. Indeed I liked being constantly connected but it started to feel like more of a distraction from real life. There are times when I miss it.... like when I'm eating and I can't share my delicious looking meal, *wink emoji*. Really though, it's been very freeing not checking my phone a million times a day.

Like breaking any habit it was a little weird the first few days - repetitively pulling out my phone to look at Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, etc. but I've appreciated all the free time I had forgotten I had. Thankfully I enjoy my life enough to where I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

Off the grid with no social media, next step is to move into a tree house!

Let me know your thoughts on social media and giving it up in the comments.

How hard would it be for you to get rid of? Could you, would you do it?

I personally recommend it.

With Her Nose Stuck In A Book

 "The Last Bookstore" is quite literally my favorite place in the world. 

Growing up as a kid with no cable might sound like a tragedy but I enjoyed my escape with my nose stuck in a book. Unfortunately I lost my desire to read while in college due to being forced to read tedious textbooks. In the last year, I've been able to pick up again in my neglected hobby thanks to this store. 

If you are anything like me you will fall in love with the novelty of this place. 

Bookshelves upon bookshelves, a book arch tunnel, the Labyrinth, a special vault for all my favorites like Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other authors of horror, suspense, murder and other worldly. Then there's the classics, historical fiction, celebrity biographies, children's, rare books - the list goes on, you could lose a whole afternoon roaming the aisles. In a world of technology with iPads and Kindles, I absolutely love being able to hold a physical book.

Our most recent haul

Besides the plethora of books, one section of the second floor is dedicated to art and creative shops. There are few art showrooms, displays and an area where occasional classes take place. Not only is it the Last Bookstore it is a place where the creative juices can flow.

If you are ever in Downtown Los Angeles, this place should be one of your stops.

You can thank me later.

 Share with me what you've been reading or dying to read in the comments.

Empty Promises & Daylight Savings are the worst.

Valentines Day Pretties

I feel like my blog has become a bad relationship. Making empty promises saying I will follow through and then inevitably abandon for a few weeks, just to pop back up at the worst time when my blog is over me. Thank God for my "annoying blogging nag" fairy - she knows who she is. 

I've read a few blogs and I realize a lot more are just simple, straight to the point entries. Short and sweet - like me, ha! Maybe that's what I need to do, keep it short and sweet. There I go again with the empty promises, anyways....

Spring is upon us and Daylight Savings is this weekend. Who came up with this idea that we should lose an hour of sleep once a year?! I don't know about you but I have a hard enough time catching enough Zzz's in general.

Soon to be longer days and warmer nights, despite the horrid time change I'm most excited about dusting off my shorts, floral skirts and bright colored tank tops. My girl Tana wrote a great little piece on what the ladies should pull out of their closets for the new season (check here: Spring Fever). The sun just pulls me outside to run to the beach or hike a trail. Unfortunately LA's ever popular and beloved Runyon Canyon will be closed most of the summer but there's always Griffith Park or the Hollywood Trial... OR if you're up for an adventure go on a hunt for the Abandon LA Zoo. If you're really feeling active you can always brave the Santa Monica Stairs, which might kill you if you're not careful - that's my goal for the summer.

What are you all most excited for this Spring? Share with me in the comments.

xx Ashley

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Hair Identity Crisis



"The Flash" Wing

It's not a mid-life crisis but almost as serious is a HAIR Identity Crisis.
I never know what I want and once I've made a decision I see a different style/color/cut to make me change my mind - it is a constant battle I know all women (and possibly some men) are familiar with.
I am currently in the middle of a very painful hair transition.

I mentioned before that 2016 is my "year of transition", I'm growing out the undercut and struggling with going back to my natural roots - not so patiently waiting for my blonde to come back without damaging my hair has become excruciating to say the least. For a little hair history, I began coloring my hair darkest brown/black at the age of 20, so I've pretty much spent all of my 20s as a brunette. As for the undercut, I started shaving the left side of my head in 2011 and continued to do so until July of last year, which is also the same time I decided to stop coloring my locks. I've made it roughly six months. They say hair grows half an inch a month and I'd say my outgrowth is at about three inches give or take a little, I like to give.

Progression Photos:

My brunette to blond transformation:
 

 As you can see it was long and dark and then I chopped it thirteen inches or so and let it gradually do its thing as far as color. I'm trying to decide whether or not to help it along and strip the dark color out and keep it short to minimize damage. My roots always start of a light brown/dirty blonde and lighten as the sunshine gets to it (I am not a towhead). Of course, my roots appear darker when there's product in it or when it's dirty... and to be honest it's usually a mixture of product and dirty. Let's hear your two cents, I usually don't want it but I'm dying to know so help me out. Let it grow on it's own or help the blonde process along??

SHARE with everyone! You know how people like to give their opinions... and this time they're welcomed ;)

Til Next Time,

xx Ashley

Personal update: I got a job about a month ago at a corporate office for a holistic skin care line called Jurlique. I'm enjoying it and you all should check out their products #amazeballs. Also, starting a series of blog posts about "Places to get drunk with your man" - like when you feel like getting turnt up but don't want a whole group... OR your group of friends are being bums so it's just you two. Be on the look out!

LASTLY - Can I just say... At least I did post ONCE in January?
Haha, life is too hectic and I'm easily distracted by "shiny" things.

New Year, Same Me - because I'm already freaking fabulous

Welcome to 2016... MY YEAR; or so I've decided. 

Last year was a whirlwind of unexpected change and I'd have to say overall I thoroughly enjoyed the way it all played out. Starting a relationship was probably one of the bigger changes of the year but finding a someone I truly enjoy spending my time with, doing everything and anything together has been really amazing. Turns out he felt the same for me and we moved in together, an even bigger change for a girl who's never had roommates, and that has turned out to be just as amazing. I wasn't actively looking for or expecting it to happen so I love that it did and I love who it happened with. Next big change would be is I abruptly quit my job that I held for a year and a half. It was startling, even to myself, so this is a year of transition. 

I've been trying to think of a non-cliche way to do a "New Years" post but unfortunately I drew a blank so after almost four days of deliberation - here I am. I hate New Years resolutions, I rarely make them but like most at the start of a new year it feels like starting fresh, somewhat with a clean slate. I usually try to give up my vices and attempt to do certain things (like the gym) more consistently. To start, most of the population can't function without coffee while I have a hard time without a kick in the ass from Redbull. I'm officially a week strong without my "wiiinnnggsss" as of today and I've also gone to the gym four out of the last six days - GO ME!

Here's the remainder of my goals I will be working on throughout the year:

- WRITE weekly or every other week (hopefully I'll have interesting things to talk about).
- Experiment with new recipes
- Learn and experiment with my hair and make up
- Read more! I just finished The Good Guy by Dean Koontz and started the Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
- Hike every other week.
- Try to attend/go to more art shows, concerts, sporting events and museums.

As I mentioned this is a year of transition. I will be documenting my transition from dyed black/dark brown hair to my natural dirty blonde color, I'm extremely impatient so I might be helping it along with stripping the dark color. Also, I have shaved the left side of my head for almost four years and in July I made the decision to grow it out. You will be entertained with photos of the outgrowth and what I do to hide it - it resembles the Flash "wing". If you don't know who the Flash is - Google it, you'll laugh. My biggest and nonphysical transition is looking for a new job. I don't want just a job, I want a career where I can I apply my degree that paid thousands of dollars for, I know I probably shouldn't be so picky but I refuse to be one of those people who aren't working in their chosen field or aren't using what they learned. 

All in all, I'm excited for this year. It's the last year before my thirties and I couldn't be happier at this point in my life even with the hardships. Stay tuned for more and share with me what your resolutions and goals for this year are in the comments :)

Lastly, if you're not subscribed to the blog do it now, it will be fun! Also, if you're not following me already on Instagram or Pinterest - you should be! Click the follow buttons @lapetiteviee

Until Next Time,

xx Ashley

New Year's Resolution 2016

 I'm back!!

Or I'm trying to be... I've been gone since June. Life got busy and I lost sight of what I really wanted to be doing and that was writing and sharing here - my own little piece of the blog world.

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions because the whole "New Year, New Me" thing is utterly ridiculous. I see very few people holding to their resolutions, I generally just aim to grow and be a better person each year. This year I've decided on an actual resolution and it's to start and continue posting in blogs every week; I'm going to start with every other week but I hope to reach once a week before the middle of the year. 

I was talking with my best friend Tana (aka The Styled Society - check her out for some amazing fashion) about being busy and worrying about not having anyone interested in reading what I wrote about... and she's basically told me to "man up" and stop worrying about whether or not anyone is reading it or not; really that's what best friends are for. I've decided to write for myself, I enjoy it and if I'm doing something I enjoy the readers will come. I'm aiming to write something fun and interesting in the New Year.

Until Next Time

xx Ashley

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June Gloom, more like June BLOOM.

Hello lovelies!

This post is a little late since I started writing it 10 days ago & I'm just finishing it at the gym in the bike haha.

It's been about 4 weeks so I'm long overdue. May was hectic - work, work, Dodgers game, work, Exeter Brewfest, work, work, Mothers Day, more work, Boss Lady's birthday celebration, work, my brother's birthday, more work, another Dodgers game, got a gym membership and a boyfriend to finish it off haha. If you follow my Instagram you stayed up to date, if you don't you should so do it now ;) @lapetiteviee... so May was wonderful but quite frankly I'm glad it's over.

JUNE is here! They call it "June Gloom" but I say June BLOOM. It's my favorite month... My birth month. It's never as sunny as I want it to be and my birthday lands on a Tuesday this year but it's the official start of summer which makes me the happiest. #moresunshine I'm ready for shorts and tanks, sundresses and bathing suits on the reg, aren't you?!

I'm going to be talking about a few fun things I like that are going on this month in the City of Angels...

Went to First Fridays in Venice on Abbot Kinney for the first time (6/5/15) and it's food truck bonanzaaaa! My anticipation is particularly high because almost nothing excites me more than food... and food trucks especially. If you have no plans this is definitely the place to be on the First Friday of every month.

Last month Street. Food. Cinema. began... It's pretty self explanatory and down right amazing. Outdoors, food trucks and old movies = my Saturday night love for the summer. Providing the Facebook and website below:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/stfoodcinema?ref=ts&fref=ts

Website: www.streetfoodcinema.com/

Speaking of films... Summer blockbusters are coming out so make sure you get to some pre screenings and premiere, I went and saw the Entourage movie a few weeks ago, didn't go in with high expectations so loved it... I just love the friendships that stick it out through it all & Adrian Grenier ain't bad to look at for an hour & 44 minutes. Next is Sinister 2 is coming out in August, if you know me you know I love horror/thriller anything - books, films, etc. I had to sign a nondisclosure agreement before entering the theater but let's just say, the plot is decent but the ending is eh, not terrible though.

My new obsession is the gym. Finally getting back at it, I'm a little late for the summer bod since the first day of summer is on Sunday, I'm enjoying it though. My body forgot how amazing it felt to get a good sweat on. Anyone have any good suggestions for work out music let me know, I'm caught on the Weeknd Pandora station - kind of random.

To wrap it up, I haven't been to any Dodger games in a month or so, got wrapped up in the end of the basketball season & the NBA Finals. Congratulations to the GSW! West Coast, Best Coast. Finally going back to Elysian Park tomorrow (yay!). I've missed those boys in blue. 

Happy (early) Father's Day to the stand up dads.

Til Next Time;

xx Ashley