Friday's Fancies: {New Years Finest}

Happy Friday and happy almost New Years Eve! With only 4 more days left of the year, I am looking forward to celebrating the end of a fabulous 2012 and the beginning of what I believe will be my best year yet! After many travels this holiday season, Alejandro and I will be back in Philly for the New Year. We have dinner reservations at a yummy restaurant... which will be followed by champagne popping at midnight! Even though our New Years will be a little more low key [my kind of style] it doesn't mean that I am not looking forward to dressing up. Here is my inspiration for ringing in 2013:

 dress // necklace // pumps // clutch

linking up with av's {friday's fancies}

Only a few more hours to {vote} for me in the onlineshoes style contest. I am neck in neck with another blogger and just need a couple more votes to win!! :) Thank you in advance!

Also, check out my {New Years Giveaway} to win a fabulous monogrammed tote! xoxo.

Happy Holidays!

Well, it's official - I am on vacation as of 3 pm today! And... I am not bringing my computer home so I wanted to say Happy Holidays a little early [even though I have been celebrating the holidays for a week now]!! I hope everyone has the merriest time with their family, friends and loved ones. Please try to take a few days off from technology, eat a lot of holiday treats, give and receive fun gifts, count your blessings in your own life, and most importantly take a minute to remember what Christmas is truly about! To leave you with a little extra holiday spirit, here are some inspiring holiday images I love - 

While I am gone... check out my {new years giveaway} and if you haven't already, I would love if you could {vote} for me in the onlineshoes' style contest. Thank you!! xxoo.

images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5/ 6

New Years Giveaway: LBxBLVD Monogrammed Tote

I am very excited to be hosting a New Years giveaway from {Ladybird} - a specialty boutique in Columbus, Ohio!! Allison, owner of Ladybird, and her best friend {Bryn Sanders} co-designed this amazing bag that Boulevard produced for them! The second I saw the bag on instagram, I fell in love! And... one of these beautiful bags can be YOURS! What a perfect treat for the new year!

The LBxBLVD monogrammed bag [$122 value] is sold exclusively at Ladybird Fashion Boutique.

Enter the giveaway anytime between Thursday, 12.20 and Monday, 12.31 using the rafflecopter form below. There are several ways to enter and the giveaway is open to any reader of a {little} dash of ash! One lucky winner will receive this beautiful bag with their initials provided by Ladybird Boutique.  Winner will be announced on January 1, 2013. Good Luck!! xxoo.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sorel Boots Contest

Hi Friends! I have partnered with {onlineshoes.com} and am participating in their monthly styling contest. They generously sent me a pair of {Sorel Conquest Carly Boots} to style - you can see my awesome modeling job below, but please don't judge... this was my first attempt at #ootd!

All I need is your help! Hop on over to the {voting page} to vote for me! I promise it takes only one click to vote - super easy! And, if you want, you can submit your email for a chance to win a pair of your own... only if you want, not required to vote. But, seriously, how cute are these boots?

Funny story - when I received these {Sorel Women's Boots} I was praying for a snow day... I had this entire vision of how I would style these boots while playing in the snow. Well, I got the exact opposite of my "wish" - the day I took photos (the last possible day) it was 70 degrees in November! Seriously?! I swear people were staring at me! haha. So needless to say, these boots would be perfect for any snowy day... or a warm fall day! ;) 

If you get a chance to {vote for me}, please leave a comment on this post! If I win, I plan on giving away a pair of {Sorel Boots} to one of my readers... because, well, you guys are the best! :) xo.

click here to vote

26 Moments...

This was most definitely not my planned post for today -- However, after all of the sadness and heartache America felt on Friday when learning of the attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School, it was nice to come across this {article} that helped remind me that there are still wonderful people out there. While my heart will forever go out to the families and victims of last Friday's shooting, this article truly did "restore my faith in humanity".  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out {here}.  Also, if you are looking for a way to share your good thoughts or prayers for the families of Newtown, check out this page {here}.

26 Moments That Restored Our Faith in Humanity this Year - but here are just a few of my favorites... including a 27th, that was not included in the article, but you can read about {here}. 

the people who helped out any way they could during hurricane sandy

a kind stranger who stopped a day from being ruined

parents of the year award

12th Day of Christmas: {That's a Wrap}

Happy 12th Day of Christmas! And... 12/12/12! And... 12 more shopping days until Christmas! :) Since I have given you over 130 gift ideas, I thought I would share some of my favorite ways to wrap it all up into one pretty gift! I am positive that I love "paper" more than anyone I know, so my gift wrap is just as thought out as the gift itself - presentation is key [for me]! I know, I'm kind of crazy! ;) I blame my Mother and my Aunt who both have ridiculously beautiful gifts under their tree every single year! PS. Here is a {sneak peak} at my wrapping this year - I decided that plaid, polka-dots and {rifle paper co tags} were the perfect combination!

Starting top left: {from santa tag} // {burlap flower} // {red stripe / dot reversible paper} // {red and white bakers twine} // {natural jute rope} // {for you gift tag} // {festive bottle tags} // {chalkboard holiday card set} // {dot kraft bags} // {cute holiday cards} // {red burlap ribbon} // {christmas ribbon}.

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad), Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus, Gifts for the Foodie, Gifts for her Jewelry Box, Gifts for your iFriend, Gifts for the Beauty Queen, My Ultimate Wishlist

11th Day of Christmas: {My Ultimate Wishlist}

Happy 11th Day of Christmas! With my 12 days of Christmas series coming to an end tomorrow, I thought I would share my ultimate wishlist! This is my current dream list... and boy did I realize how old I am getting! I am craving home items and fun kitchen gadgets over clothes, shoes and accessories! Who would have ever thought! ;) But definitely at the top of my wishlist... a new macbook pro and a chance to go to {blogshop}! What is on your dream list?

Starting top left: love these {gold pig bookends} // been dying for a {green KitchenAid mixer} for awhile now // need this {verismo brewer} in my kitchen // how adorable are these {his & her bar glasses} // on my birthday wishlist - a {lo & sons OG bag} in black // this {mason pearson brush} is definitely on my list // i think this {i love ny pillow} would be perfect in my family room // a travel {jewelry organizer} to go in my lo & sons bag // a new {macbook pro laptop} since my old laptop died :( // i would love to attend a blogshop class... hopefully there are {blogshop gift certificates} available // i know this {gold athena tray} has been around for awhile, but i still love it!

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad), Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus, Gifts for the Foodie, Gifts for her Jewelry Box, Gifts for your iFriend, Gifts for the Beauty Queen

10th Day of Christmas: {Gifts for the Beauty Queen}

Hi friends! I hope you had a great weekend!! If you did not finish your holiday shopping yet, today's post can help you finish up any girl [or guy] on your list... yes, I included two gift ideas for the dudes as well! The beauty industry does an amazing job of putting together gifts that are already boxed up and pretty. Last year I got Alejandro a {Kiehl's Men Set} and he loved it, this year I am thinking about giving a {Birchbox Subscription} to one of the ladies on my shopping list, and I absolutely love the philosophy {Christmas Morning Gift Set}! See below for a few other ideas for any beauty queen [or king]! :) xxoo.

Starting top left: sample the best beauty and lifestyle samples with {birchbox} for her + him // nailpolish is the perfect stocking stuffer, i am loving {essie's resort collection} // get perfect skin with the highly coveted {clarisonic mia 2} // my favorite stuff in the world - {benefit porefessional} // how cute is this {philosophy christmas morning gift set} // get beautiful with {nars 'andy warhol' edie gift set} // holiday lips with {lippy by butter london} **on sale // {prada candy} fragrance set // for that special man in your life - {kiehl's men set} // {mor 'sorbet' lip macaron}.

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad), Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus, Gifts for the Foodie, Gifts for her Jewelry Box, Gifts for your iFriend

9th Day of Christmas: {Gifts for your iFriend}

Happy 9th Day of Christmas! Today's gift guide is for those on your shopping list that love their iPhone and iPad! With prices ranging from low to high, you can definitely find something for your iFriends on this list! :) My personal favorites include: the Jonathan Adler iPhone dock (so cute) and the Kate Spade 'knock on wood' iPhone case! But, who wouldn't want to receive a lens for their phone in their stocking?! So fun. Hope you have a great weekend! The last 3 days of Christmas will resume on Monday and end on Wednesday [the 12th day of December] giving you enough time to shop, receive and wrap by Christmas!

Starting top left: the cutest {telephone iPhone dock} from jonathan adler // how perfect are these {ugg tech earmuffs} for the cold temps that are coming? // love the {cell phone lenses} you can add to your phone for the perfect picture // knock on wood anywhere you are with this kate spade {iPhone case} // feeling extra giving this year? anyone would love an {iPad mini} // love this last year... and still love the {photo cube} for printing photos from home // want to carry your phone in style? check out this {iPhone clutch} // polkadot {iPad sleeve} // pop color {phone handset} for your iPhone.

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad), Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus, Gifts for the Foodie, Gifts for her Jewelry Box

8th Day of Christmas: {Gifts for her Jewelry Box}

Happy 8th Day of Christmas! Today's gift guide is for her jewelry box. I love jewelry more than anything and I am positive that any of the items below would make me smile if they showed up under the tree or in my stocking! Especially that first necklace from J.Crew. Another perfect gift for any lady on your shopping list is a gift from the {Baublebar + Essie} collection (nail polish and baubles? yes, please) or a {Baublebar Giftcard} so she can have fun picking our her new jewels! Happy Shopping!! xo.

Starting top Left: j.crew {pearls and petals necklace}, monogrammed {jewelry box} from c. wonder, slim double wrap leather {watch} by michael kors, {inca cuff}, marc by marc jacobs {daisy stud earrings}, 2 in one gift... {friendship puzzle necklace}, {woven gold bar bracelet}, loving holiday baubles like this {pearl bud chandelier}, anything bows please! these {bow earrings} are perfect, for the most fancy ears, check out these {gold and crystal earrings}, stack 'em high with {kate spade bracelets}.

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad), Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus, Gifts for the Foodie

7th Day of Christmas: {Gifts for the Food Lover}

Happy 7th Day of Christmas! Today's gift guide is inspired by the "foodie" in all of us [or at least myself]! Food is the perfect gift because it makes people happy! Some of my favorites below include Jeni's homemade ice cream... I sure do miss living across the street from her shop in Columbus, Ohio (yes, directly across the street - it was amaze)! Cheese of the month sounds amazing and has officially been added to my wishlist! And... anything by McClure's - yummy! Oh, and if you are making holiday treats this year, how adorable are these foodie gift tags! Hope I didn't make you hungry! xo.

Starting top left: the perfect holiday sweets, {jeni's ice cream} holiday collection, a dip-dyed {cheese board} - so on trend, william-sonoma {cookies in a jar} or make your own {here}, the cutest little {salt and pepper cellars}, {cheese of the month} club, please sign me up, the best {bloody mary mix} and {garlic dill pickles} by mcclure's, bouchon bakery {book}, a luxury - {white truffle salt}, the perfect {market tote}, french {table knives} - on sale.

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad), Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus

6th Day of Christmas: {Gifts from Target + Neiman Marcus}

Happy 6th Day of Christmas! This holiday season, Target teamed up with Neiman Marcus for one of their biggest designer collaborations with more than 50 different gifts from over 24 amazing designers! The items launched this past Saturday, 12/1, but guess what... the items are still available for you to purchase at {Target} and {Neiman Marcus}! Below are just a few of my favorites and with the collection starting at less than $10 there should be a gift for everyone on your list (including yourself)! I think I'm going to pick up those Joseph Altuzarra {bar accessories}!! They will be perfect on my bar cart! Did you snag any fun pieces at Target this weekend?

All items are available online at {Target} or {Neiman Marcus}.

I highly recommend you browsing all 50+ gifts!

Happy Shopping!

Previous Gift Guides: Stocking Stuffers for Her, Stocking Stuffers for Him, Gifts for the Paris-Obsessed, Gifts for the Girl with Resolutions, Gifts for Mr. Impossible (aka Dad)