My Life: According to my iphone

Just a few random snaps from the ol' phone...

There is nothing that screams "Summer!" more than sunflowers. I have been all about spreading the sunny flower love around my home. 

iced Green Smoothie from TJ's 

This sweet little pup is our fur-child Luna, she is one loved little pittie! 

Fresh white nails for summer

a quick couple's car selfie before dinner last night...getting a pic outta this guy is like pulling teeth ;) thanks babe! 

Pinterest-ing Fridays

Just a few Pinterest favorites from this week…

How fun is this cozy kitchen nook? I am a huge fan of eclectic décor for the home and this shot from designer Michael Dawkins is exactly that. Love the mix of the chairs and huge unexpected piece of art. 

How STUNNING is this shot of LA stylist Simone Harouche and her son Dash? some serious baby fever just from this photo happening over here....Found this photo on Pinterest and had to find the source, which took me to The Glow. If you are wanting to see some beautiful mamas with their kiddos, check this site. :) 

Loving this bucket bag. Perfect boho summer sack IMO

Alright ladies... let's face it, we have all tried dozens of Pinterest recipes and actually liked, what? maybe a handful?!? THIS banana Ice cream is a winner!! and shhhh...don't tell tell your significant other that it only consists of 1-2 ingredients (2 if you love peanut butter) ;)

Are you following me on Pinterest? If not, please do! If there is one thing I can promise, it is there will be new pins everyday. My name is Ashley. and yes, I am a pinaholic... 

Summer Whites

I love how crisp white looks in the summer, and there is just something so chic about a head to toe white ensemble. I am definitely on the hunt for a few key, white pieces this season that are on trend but also timeless and can be incorporated into my closet year round (I am a firm believer in white after labor day;))

 1. a white blazer 2. a white jumpsuit 3. the perfect pair of white denim. 4. a crisp white button down. 

Here are a few images from Pinterest Land that are inspiring this hunt....

If you have your eye on summer whites as well, check out the below accessories and clothing options in stores now, and all under $300! How are you ladies incorporating white into your wardrobe this season? 

More Rachel Zoe...

What's On My Plate Wednesday: Lentil Beet Bowl

As of almost a month ago, I decided to make a change in my diet, cutting out all meat. Many vegetarians and vegans have their reasoning for why they choose not to eat animal protein, whether it be for animal rights reasons or for health benefits. My reason was as simple as I felt my body wasn't functioning optimally. Having been raised on a low-fat "well-rounded" diet consisting of meat since I was a child, I have always considered myself extremely health conscious. Yes, I will admit I am a calorie counter through and through! Even with my efforts to eat clean and exercise, I wasn't happy with my figure and had struggled with a lack of energy for quite some time...literally wanting to crawl back into bed the minute I got home from work, having neither the energy or want to go to the gym. This wasn't the life I wanted to be living. Having had mono as an adolescent, I always just blamed the illness on my lack of energy.

A vegan friend of mine was always speaking so highly of the health benefits of nixing animal products as well as the benefits to the planet. So...I decided to try it. While many people slowly start cutting out certain foods, I went cold turkey and can honestly say I haven't had a shred of meat in almost 30 days. My energy levels, skin, mood and body have changed drastically. The most prominent change being my energy. While before I couldn't imagine a day with caffeine, I now feel just as energized in the morning as I do in the afternoon and evening. THIS is HUGE for me. While I would never push a lifestyle change on anyone, I highly recommend researching and trying a new diet. It is amazing what your food choices can do for the mind, body and soul. 

With all that being said...today I am featuring a protein rich, earthy, warm Lentil and Beet bowl I made Monday night for dinner. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I am a "bowl" lover. Throw a bunch of stuff in a bowl, mix it up, and voila! Meals don't get easier than that! 

ps...can we just talk about the colors in this meal?! I mean come on, so pretty! If your plate has every color of the rainbow on it, you know you are doing something right! 

Below are just a few Trader Joes ingredients that I picked up for this meal. I love that TJ's has such great ingredients that are pre-cooked and ready to use, such as these lentils and beets. Saves some serious time! And I HIGHLY recommend the Cruciferous Crunch salad...so YUM!

What you will need: 
1-2 cups of Kale salad mix
1/2 cup of cooked lentils (warmed)
1-2 cooked beets
1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese
1/4 cup of raw pecans
1/2 cup of shredded carrots
1/4 cup of diced red onion

Dressing: 
1 T coconut oil 
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T crushed garlic
sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:
Add all of your ingredient to your prettiest, deepest bowl while heating your dressing over medium heat until oil has melted and mixture is bubbly. Pour warm dressing onto salad, MIX and ENJOY! 

Splurge vs Steal: Black Ankle Strap Heels

You will soon come to find out that I am a TOTAL bargain shopper. Although I lust after high end brands, leave it to me to find the exact look for half the price. Of course I am a believer in spending more on quality pieces you will wear over and over again, some things I just can't justify.

Normally shoes are something I tend to hawk up the cash for but while in Palm Springs we happened to make a quick trip to good ol' Targét. Because it is inevitable that you leave with much more than you intended to buy at Target…I left with not only sunscreen but a great pair of simple ankle strap black heels. SCORE! I had had my eye on many a pair of black "summer" heels during that time so seeing these there with one pair left in my size and an enticing price tag of $29.99…was I going to turn them down? Absolutely not. So now I own a pair of Target heels and ladies, I'm not even mad about it :)

Mossimo 

Below are a few inspiration styles along with some more bargain versions...

Splurges: 1 /  2 / 3 / 4
    Steals: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

What pieces do you ladies splurge on and what items do you bargain shop for? 

Destination: Palm Springs R&R

For a native Oregonian, there is nothing more necessary than an early Spring getaway to somewhere dry, and with an average temperature higher than 50 degrees. Last month, Jake (my bf) and one of my best friends and her bf took a little mini vaca to the land of mid century desert awesomeness also known as, Palm Springs California. We happened to be going during festival season, not intentionally but the fashion inspiration was rampant non the less. 

This vacation was mainly a trip of relaxation and sun worshiping...under a few coats of SPF of course;) We enjoyed many a homemade margarita (which happens to be my inner-mixologist specialty) as well as some fantastic food from local restaurants such as Farm, Birba and Warehouse Kitchen and Bar. 

Here are a few images from the trip...

My girlfriend and I decided while the guys were out golfing we would enjoy a "ladies who brunch day" we did exactly that at Farm...this is a shot from one of the many tiny dinning rooms decked out with beautiful eclectic decor. The charm was real people! 

This is another interior shot from Farm, amazing right?!

The lemon crepes @farm were to die for. literally speaking....I would die for these...just sayin'

love to add bling to tees, here I paired a chunky necklace with a crop tank from F21 for a day of shopping

Before Dinner @ Birba, Jake and I ventured off on our own for a tasty Serrano chile margarita @Workshop Kitchen and Bar. The interior of this spot was also so chic and minimal, another look that I love. 

A little selfie action on the patio @Workshop

Birba was another fantastic Italian restaurant where we indulged on some delicious wood oven fired Pizza and of course I continued the jalapeno margarita theme;)

Where is your go-to getaway when you need some R&R? 

My Life: according to my iphone

Welcome to THE Plum Bucket. Blogging isn't something new to me...in fact I have off and on blogged for a few years now. And just as you occasionally have to do in life and love, sometimes, you just need a fresh start. So here we go....

Since I first started blogging a lot has changed, including my perspective and style. If you are a lover of fashion, food and all things beautiful, your at the right place... Here you will find homemade healthy dishes (mostly vegetarian), fashion on a budget, home inspiration and a whole lot of everyday life happenings. 

Let me introduce you to The Plum Bucket with a few snaps of my life lately according to my iphone.

I LOVE to cook, and you will soon find out I am a "bowl" adict anything you can mix together in a bowl is a-ok with me. I am also a new vegetarian, stay tuned for recipes and other healthy diet posts. 

Wet Spring streets in Portland cant keep me from wearing my favorite budget friendly open toed heels and boyfrind jeans...also knows as my "uniform"

My love and I in Palm Springs, stay tuned for more on this trip! 

These Sam Edelman beauties are everything! I was inspired by one of my favorite bloggers to make this purchase and I am so glad I did, I imagine these will go with everything in my closet... well worth the money if you ask me! 

I am in LOVE with fresh flowers and Trader Joe's literally forces me to purchase blooms every time I go there. CANT.STOP.WONT.STOP

I hope you will follow me on my fresh start and gather inspiration from The Plum Bucket just as I do from all of you lovely bloggers, this community is such a great place to interact with fellow bloggers, do please dont be shy! Introduce yourself and leave your blog link in the comments, cant wait to check out your blogs as well!
xoxo, Ash