August 27, 2015

Exciting Things To Come!!!

Hello friends!

Just a quick note to say that we haven't forgotten about you! We are in the process of making some BIG changes here for the blog. We have had numerous convos recently about where this blog is going to go in it's next chapter so you will be seeing some new content soon!

xoxo

Ashley

July 29, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Our weekly roundup of our fave reads from the internet! Enjoy!

 Photo: Jonathan Lovekin © 2014

We have never though about roasting lemons for a salad! Can't wait to try this one.

Ashley has to admit that she is a little excited about Fuller House on Netflix, but this news got her even more pumped for the remake. 

We can't wait to try some of these top San Francisco eateries.

Goodbye Birkin? Why Jane Birkin wants to disassociate herself with one of the most famous bags in all of the land.

Thinking about solo travel? We sure are, here are the best places for women to solo travel. 

What goodies did you find this week on the internet? Let us know in the comments

Make sure to follow along on Instagram and Twitter

-A&K





July 28, 2015

New Fave Podcast - Mystery Show

This past Friday night I hosted a girls night with some friends. We were all chatting about our weeks and catching up on life when my friend told me about a new podcast that she had been listening to, Mystery Show. She knew I was a HUGE fan of Serial (because she told me about that one as well) so she told me about her newest obsession. I love listening to Podcasts when I walk to and from public transportation for work, while I am on public transportation I read. It's a little schedule I have going for myself. Anyways, I started listing to Mystery Show and it's great. Each episode they dive into a mystery that "cannot be solved by going online". I love this because I think it is a great way to remember that not everything is searchable online and sometimes you have to step away from the computer to find things out, anyone remember encyclopedias?


There are 5 episodes so far and each is very unique, from celebrity heights to licenses plate meanings this podcast does not disappoint!

Have you followed along on Twitter or Instagram yet?

-A


July 21, 2015

Ashley's Obsessed - Oliver Gal

Recently I have been making a lot of changes around the house. I have been thinking of painting my kitchen, I've been planting a lot of new flowers, and just reorganizing. One of the easiest ways to change up a room is to add a new picture. I have recently become obsessed with Oliver Gal's prints and artwork. I just purchased three for my bedroom and I'm excited to get more for other parts of the house! Take a look below at the three prints that I purchased below and some of the homes that I am interested in getting soon! 

Art for the fashionistas 

 

 
 

Are there any pieces that you are interested in getting? Let me know in the comments! 

-A



July 15, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Happy Wednesday everyone! Trying to get back into a regular posting schedule after many exciting changes and vacations (more info to come!). Take a look at our favorite links from the past week!


Ashley is so excited for this new movie, she read the book and can't wait for it to come out! Kate Winslet AND Liam Hemsworth (with his Australian accent). Perfection.

An interesting read about why flowers really do make us feel better. 

We had the best lobstah rolls when we were in Cape Cod, we can't wait to recreate them.

Ashley is making one of these benches soon to have in her backyard! Wish her luck!

Nick Offerman is hilarious, he's all about eating healthy in this clip.

What did you find this week? Let us know in the comments!

-A&K

July 14, 2015

Ashley's Summer To-Do List

Almost ready for the surf & sun! Just a couple more essentials ... #alwayssomethingnew 

I can't believe we are almost half-way through summer and I feel like I haven't done everything I want to do yet! This past weekend I made a list of all of the summer-filled activities that I still want to partake in. I did this last summer and it was a great way to stay focused and find fun things to do. I highly recommend doing one for each season. Below is a sampling of some of the items on my list; 

1. Go to the beach 

2. Host a BBQ with my extended family 

3. Take a walk with friends by the bay while eating delish ice cream 

4. Make pineapple margaritas for a girls night

5. Go wine tasting in Napa 

6. Go to my cabin for a weekend with friends 

7. Spend a day reading in the park 

8. Try out a new restaurant with an outdoor patio 

9. Plant some new succulents in my yard (California drought friendly!)

10.  Visit a county fair or festival 

What are some items on your list? 

-A


June 18, 2015

Picnic Essentials

We love outdoor parties and BBQ's. Seriously I think is every party was a day rager we would be thrilled. Below Ashley has rounded up some of her fave items to make any picnic, BBQ, or outdoor party extra special!


Picnic Essentials



Picnic baskets are a great way to transport your items and to bring a classic nod to the event. I love Turkish towels, they are light weight and come in so many great colors. For serving the food I go with mason jars and outdoor plates, recyclable and easy to use! Bamboo cutlery and serving spoons are light weight, perfect when you are carrying stuff to your desired location! I want to make sure that I bring fun to the event so, an outdoor speaker is ideal. Pillows are a great way to make your guests feel comfortable and to bring some extra color to the overall look. Don't forget the wine and corkscrew that you can bring in this adorable watermelon cooler! Lastly, a cutting board is something that almost everyone forgets, it can double for a serving platter as well! 

What do you like to bring to your events? Let us know in the comments! 

-A

 

June 3, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Some of our fave read from this past week! Enjoy and let us know if there are any articles that you like (from blogs) that you would like us to feature in the future!



Thank you Lauren Conrad for making this change on your website, it is needed more often in American society.

We are already booking our trip for LA! Harry Potter forever!

 Speaking of trips, here are some that we want to go on via Travel + Leisure 

Some helpful "tips" on tipping that everyone should know

We love San Francisco, but prices are insane! If you are thinking of moving here maybe one of these castles is more in your budget.

Have a fantastic day!

-A&K

May 28, 2015

Fashion Fridays: Nashville Inspiration

Happy Friday y'all! I am in Nashville this weekend which you can follow on Instagram. For all of my trips I try to stick to a certain "look" to make packing easier. I try to follow these key things:

1. What is the vibe of the city - high fashion like NYC or LA or laid back like Napa or Tahoe?

2. What will I be doing while I'm there - relaxing, site-seeing, shopping, wine drinking?

3. What colors remind me of this place - Nashville feels feminine, and lightly-colorful so I wanted to bring that out in the clothes that I brought.

Below take a look at some of my fashion inspiration for this weekend getaway!


Nashville

Girls Trip : Nashville

 

Hey y'all! (That's a southern thing right?!) This weekend I am heading to Nashville with my college roommates. We did some traveling together in college but since we have graduated we haven't been anywhere together. We are hoping that this will be the first of many trips!

We are going to be using Kira's posts about Nashville (which you can see here and here) as our guide!

Looking forward to enjoying some good southern food, wine tasting, country music, and lots of shopping.

Tomorrow check out the blog to see my packing inspiration for this weekend getaway and next week I will have a photo round up of the trip.

Make sure to follow along on Instagram and if you have any tips of things to do while I'm out there feel free to leave it in the comments below!

-A


May 27, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Happy Wednesday! We hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend, which is making this week fly by!
 
Image via jockington.com

Warriors game 5 is tonight, we love The Currys!

This is a great read about how to keep yourself informed about  your finances 

By Friday it is easy to sleep in extra late here are some healthy ways to start your day! 

Some great tips on how to trick yourself into working out - helllooooooo summer body!

Speaking of a summer body, why not go on a free trip with your new summer bod!

Enjoy your reading!

-A&K

May 26, 2015

Peach Pie

For Mother's Day I whipped up this amazing Peach Pie! Peach Pie is my Grandmother's favorite so I told her I would make it for her! Let me tell you, it looks nice but it is a labor of love, as it took a long time to make. I used a recipe that I found on Pinterest from Natasha's Kitchen and adapted it a bit It was a great recipe and Grandma approved!


Peach Pie

Filling

4 lbs of peaches, pitted, peeled, and sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Crust

2 cups plus 4 tbsp flour
2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
6 oz cold cream cheese cut into cubes
3 tbsp cold heavy whipping cream

To make the crust you will  whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. I stuck my butter and cream cheese into the freezer for 30 min and them cut it into cubes. I then mixed this into the flour mixture until it was coarse and was in little pieces (they looked like peas). Then you want to mix in the cream and mix until it is moist. You will them separate it into 2 flat disks, cover in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.

The filling was a little bit harder. I started by washing the peaches and blanching them. I boiled a large pot of water and boiled them for about a minute. I took them out and placed them in cold water so they would be easier to peal. They were still a little too hard to peal so I placed them back into the boiling water. I kept them in there for about 5-7 mins and they were a lot easier to peel (still pretty hard but easier than before). Once they have been peeled and cut I mixed in the sugar, flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

You will then take the crusts out of the fridge and roll them out to about 12 inch circle. Place one on the inside of your pie pan (I sprayed mine first with cooking spray). You will then fill it with your peach filling and place the other crust on top (I did a lattice which you can learn how to do here).

You will bake it at 425 for 20 minutes and then lower the heat to 375 and bake for another 35-40.

Enjoy!!

-A

May 12, 2015

We're Headed to Boston!!


 Image via Social Adventure Partners

You heard right! This 4th of July we are heading to Boston with our group of friends. We are so excited to see all that this city has to offer! Looking forward to eating lobstah and Boston Cream Pie, maybe catching a Red Sox game and celebrating the 4th! Neither of us have been to Boston before - so we are asking all of you, any must see's/do's/eats in the city? We will also have a couple of days after the 4th in which a day trip or overnight somewhere close would be fun, any tips are welcome!!!

-A&K

May 7, 2015

Monthly Mood : May


 image via Google

Can you believe that May is here? We definitely can't! Where has this year gone? A new month brings new fun and adventures! Take a look below to see what we are loving, doing, and blogging this May!


We're Loving

With the weather being so nice it has been great to spend time outside, we are both really enjoying morning  and evening walks in our neighborhoods - get outside!! Speaking of being outside, nice weather also means we can enjoy happy hour/meals outside with gorgeous views. Ashley is also becoming re-obsessed with Gary Clark Jr., we have seen him in concert twice and we are both huge fans. If you haven't listed to him check him out!


We're Doing

Ashley's trip to Nashville had to be push back, but she is headed there at the end of the month, make sure to follow along on Instagram and look forward to some posts when she gets back!  May is Kira's birthday month!! We will be celebrating a lot, 25 is a big year!! We will be spending time with our Mom's in honor of Mother's Day, make sure to send your Mom and all of the other Mom's in your life lots of love this Sunday. With summer right around the corner we are also trying to feel healthy, healthy eating and squat challenges are on our list!

We're Blogging

Lots of this and that this month! Ashley is whipping up some spring time recipes including a peach pie. We will be doing lots of blogging about Kira's birthday festivities and the best outdoor party essentials. We are in the process of planning a trip to Boston with our friends and we will have some trip planning tips and how to plan with such a large group of girls. We will also be diving into this blog world that we are in! Stay tuned!

Follow along on Instagram and Twitter!

-A&K

May 6, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Happy Hump Day!





Did you get a chance to look through all of the Met Gala fashion yet??

Have you tried dry brushing? Ashley has just started an loves it!

Loving Resse Witherspoon's new brand, Daper James

Kira's birthday is at the end of the month, here are all of the great freebies she can get on her birthday!

This rolling pin would be such a great Mother's Day gift!

Any other great links that you have found this week? Let us know in the comments!

-A&K

May 4, 2015

BOWDOWN

Beyonce at the Met Gala  tonight was everything! There is really not anything else to say...



Love Bey's look but it's more than worth mentioning that Left Eye 
sported a very similar look almost 20 years ago! Left Eye you're amazing! RIP 

-K

April 15, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Happy Wednesday!






Yesterday was National Equal Pay Day. Yup women are still being paid less, see how this store does its part in closing that gap!

SFhas amazing food! Here's a great list of what to eat & where! 

Everyone dreams, but what are they really all about? This article might help crack some of the mystery

Gammar is not my jam but it is important! Make sure you're not making these classic mistakes!

Summer is almost here! Can you smell it? It might smell like this..Check out these great summer scents brought to us by W Magazine 

Hope your taxes are filed!
-A&K

April 14, 2015

Ashley's Obsessed: The Layover


 

This past weekend I had a major "Ashley weekend". I cleaned out my closet, did some reading, cooked, hung out with my Mom, and watched a ton of Netflix! While a lot of my time was spent watching old episodes of Parenthood and finishing up season 3 of House of Cards I found myself wanting to watch something about traveling. I ended up watching hours of Anthony Bourdain: The Layover. He's incredibly honest (sometimes brutally honest) about the places that he goes and the tourists that visits there, but it is incredibly refreshing. The Rome episode brought be back to the summer I spent there, the San Francisco episode truly highlighted some of the great parts of the city and the other episodes made me wanna hop on a plane!

If you ever want to travel from your couch/bed/iPad I highlight recommend joining Bourdain on his adventures!

What travel shows do you like to watch?! Let us know in the comments!

-A

April 9, 2015

Afternoon Tea

This past weekend my went to afternoon tea with my college bestie Amy and her younger sister who was here visiting. Amy made reservations at Dartealing in SOMA in San Francisco. We had such a fabulous time and the tea house was too cute for words! The decor was girly without being too in-your-face and everything was super Instagram worthy! Take a look below for the adorable photos!


Pinkys out!!

We all loved how all of the china was mismatched, felt like you were just at a friend's house!

Being super arty with our photos

 We decided on the Taste-tea service for three, it was the perfect amount of food for lunch


We also  chose two teas, to be honest it was hard to decide, we finally selected the Jasmine & Jade and the Pinky Minky. They were both fantastic and complimented each other well!



The main event! I was so happy that I was able to see Becky! I first met her when she was only 6 and now she is all grown up and is so insightful and beautiful!

If you are ever in the city and wanting a fun girls afternoon definitely head here, if not for the tea then for the photos you will take!! 

-A

April 6, 2015

Good Morning!

Hello everyone and happy Monday! We had a great weekend spending time with friends and family ans while weekends can be so much fun, you always know that eventually Monday will come. Here are some of the ways that I make Monday mornings (and every morning) a little bit better.

 

1. Set your alarm a little early to make sure you get up on time

2. Relax in bed for a few minutes, check your Instagram, read a couple pages of a book, or turn on a good song. I'm not one of those people who can immediately get up

3. Drink a glass of water to get your body moving and hydrated for the day

4. Take a couple of seconds to yourself once you are more awake, sometimes I stretch or think about what I have to look forward to that day, most of the time this is while I'm doing my hair/makeup.

5. Go on a walk! I walk to public transportation to get to my job, but even just a short walk around the block can clear your mind, give you some exercise, and wake you up!

What are some of your morning rituals? Let us know in the comments! 

-A

April 3, 2015

Fashion Fridays: Mad Men Fashion

Since it originally started I have been obsessed with Mad Men. I've watched the entire series 3 times and have loved every moments of it. Don Draper is one of the greatest characters on television and the show itself has a enough plot twists as a day time soap opera! If you have been living under a rock for the past 8 years Mad Men follows an advertising agency in New York in the 1960s through all of the ups and downs and shake-ups along the way. This Sunday marks "The End of the Era" as Mad Men will premier it's final 7 episodes. If you start now you (and don't sleep) you might be able to catch up in time for the premier. While Mad Men has introduced us to some great characters over these past years the show has also provided us with some major fashion inspiration! 


Don Draper could never go wrong with a classic suit; black, blue, brown, grey- you name it he wore it


I know many people are not Betty Draper-Francis fans, but she is my favorite character. She always looks put together and is so true to herself. I love when she is all dressed up for cocktails but I think I like casual Betty more. I am so inspired by this pastel color palette and white sunnies, truly displaying that less is more. 


Joan is by far the most fierce woman on this show and her wardrobe showed that. I am always inspired to show off my curves and to try monochromatic jewel tones. The woman could also rock a broach and silk scarf. 


Megan's fashion has always been someone edgier than the other ladies on the show. See through dresses, bold prints, and mini skirts totally worked with her character. This muted pink shift dress and chevron print coat is by far one of my favorite outfits ever on the show. 


Since she is my favorite character I have to talk about Betty's dress. This dress has inspired me to find floral vintage prints. Such a classic look - I think I had a Barbie that had this dress. Bold florals are always in for Spring and Summer but now I am craving some light gloves and a matching handbag.

You can binge watch Mad Men on Netflix and catch the premier on AMC on Sunday!!

-A

April 2, 2015

Monthly Mood: April

 

We're Loving

Spring and all the great-ness that comes with it! Fresh blooms at Trader Joe's, fresh produce at the Farmer's Market, and sunshine! April really feels like the start of great weather and care free weekends so we are looking forward to taking advantage of that. Ashley is super excited about the return of Mad Men and is looking forward to being inspired (again) by all of the flawless fashion on the show. We are also loving working out outside (morning walks are the best)!

We're Doing

We are all over the place this month. Ashley is headed to Nashville with her college roommates at the end of the month for a little girls-getaway! We have some birthdays to celebrate, so looking forward to spending time with friends as well family for Easter and Passover. Planning some upcoming summer trips is also an exciting project for us in April!!

We're Blogging

This month on the blog you have some fun to look forward to! Ashley will have a few Spring-time recipes for you including a DIY Mojito Bar! Since summer is upon us we are trying to get a little more active and healthy, so look forward to some health-conscious posts. Kira is doing some Spring Cleaning this month and will give you some tips on you to de-clutter your life.

What are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Follow along on all of our adventures on Twitter and Instagram!

-A&K

April 1, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Happy Wednesday and April Fools Day! Check out some of the best links from the week below!


 
SpongeBob has the best pranks! 

Ashley can't wait to make these deviled eggs for Easter on Sunday!

I think everyone can agree that Pac Man is the best work distraction

This list of designer's favorite Ikea pieces is inspiring us to redecorate

Loving these Turkish Towels - perfect for upcoming picnics and beach days

This list of songs makes us want to get in the car and go!!

What links did you find this week? Let us know in the comments!

-A&K






March 26, 2015

Fashion Friday: Kira's Spring Wishlist

Spring Wishllist



Spring Wishllist by akablog 


Spring is here!  Let there be shorts and dresses! This Spring I'm ready to be all about simplicity, light layers, and being comfy but put together! I'm on the look out for a great striped shirt dress and easy comfy pieces that are as effortless as the Spring breeze. I'm very excited to do some Spring cleaning especially of my closet and to make room for new pieces. Wednesday we did a great Interweb Goodies on Spring cleaning that has got me super motivated. I have also been doing well selling my unwanted items on Poshmark! AKA I'm making room in your closet and making money! What could be better? 

Happy Spring!


-K

We're Obsessed: 50 Shades of Grey Soundtrack

The past Valentines Day we went and saw 50 Shades of Grey with one of our friends. We were super excited - Ashley has read the books and Kira had been avoiding all of the trailers to go in completely unknowing of what was going to happen.

We had some wine beforehand - and got some at the theater (seriously if you are in the Bay Area go to the El Cerrito movie theater, it's great). We wore different shades of grey and got settled in for the film. 

We both really liked it and one thing that made it even better was the great soundtrack! We love it. The Weeknd croons, Ellie Golding kills it, and Beyonce is of course flawless!

Take a listen below and become just as obsessed as we are! 




A&K

March 25, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Spring is here! Let's Spring clean!



Lucky brings us two great articles to help you get that closet conquered, Check them out here & here!

Elle also dishes out some great tips on how to get your closet ready for new Spring styles

Now that your closet is tackled, here is how you can get the rest of your house in order.

This article will give you a checklist and a plan for every area of your home

Not so amped to clean, check out some of these great apps to get you motivated!

Go forth and clean!


-A&K

March 20, 2015

Fashion Fridays: Ashley's Spring Fashion Buys

Ashley's Spring Fashion



Happy First Day of Spring!! Something about Spring makes me want to go through my closet and really decide want I want my look to be for these upcoming warm months. I recently took a look at my closet and decided what I want to completely update my wardrobe! 

- Floral printed pants - perfect for work or the weekends, paired with a basic white button up or t-shirt
- Statement earrings - I think they would be great to pair with a more basic outfit to glam up my look
- Black maxi dress - I have a black maxi dress that I love, but I think it's time to update it
- Floral romper - I'm loving the idea of a light weight floral print romper for parties and brunches
- Simple grey dress - Perfect for running errands on the weekends with a pair of sandals
- Nude envelope clutch - Great for have for going out with friends
- Simple rings - I don't want my jewelry to be too fussy in Spring and Summer, simplicity is key
- Light sunglasses - These would add a touch of glam whenever I put them on
- Striped Espadrilles with laces - Super specific but I think they would be great for day trips!

What's on your Spring Fashion list? 

-A

March 19, 2015

Throwback Thursday: Ashley's Ireland Adventure

The summer before my Senior year of college I studied abroad in Rome. It was a glorious summer and I cherished every minute of it. You can read all about it here! While Italy truly captured my heart, I also spent some time in Ireland and Scotland before stating my program. Every year around this time, because of St. Patrick's Day I become incredibly nostalgic about Ireland and the time I spent there getting back to my family roots!


 

Exploring Malahide just outside of Dublin

Castles were the norm in Ireland, so gorgeous!


Malahide also had beautiful beaches, who would have thought?

Spending time on Howth, a small fishing village

A trip to Ireland is never complete without a lot of Guinness and Jameson, I was able to take a tour of the Jameson distillery and became an official Jameson taste tester!

 
Spent a lot of time wandering around Dublin, where I stayed, and found beautiful old churches!

 
Exploring the countryside with my person! 

 
The Cliffs of Moher were a dream - and so windy!

 
 Beauty scenes were around every corner! 

If you are ever given the opportunity to go to Ireland - do it!! It is a beautiful country filled with friendly people! Dublin was a fun city with great nightlife - Temple Bar is just as cool as it sounds! Take advantage of day trips while you are there, it was a great way for us to see all that it has to offer! 

My Top Things To Do: 

1. Have a Guinness everywhere and anywhere! 
2. Take a day trip through the countryside
3. Spend a day wandering around Dublin - you never know what you might find. Old churches, street performers, delicious food! 
4. Talk to people - everyone is so nice in Ireland, you will meet many new friends!
5. Go to The Confession Box on Marlborough Street. We went on our last night in Dublin and let me tell you - it was an experience. It was filled with there little old men who go to drink there every night. They were so friendly and loved to talk. It was one of the funniest nights of my life! 
-A

March 18, 2015

Interweb Goodies

Another Wednesday, another round up of fab links!


Check out this epic reading list! Ashley and I definitely have plans to tackle this list together!

Nobody likes stress yet everyone experiences it. Check out these great tips on how to destress hour by hour!

Everyone also likes to be HAPPY too! Here are 5 easy habits to get you feeling happy!

Kira has recently become obsessed with broad city and you should too! Watch full episodes and clips here!!!

I had no idea what this link was at first when Ashley suggested it, but it quickly became apparent! She recently fell in love with Andrew J. West at Walker Stalker Con when we met him - he was so nice!! You can check out our post about that here.

This link however will take you to his gorgeous wedding. These photos really are stunning as is the bride and groom!

Enjoy your Wednesdays

-A&K