Ashley's Big Secret Blog

Seeing Double on Highway 50 - our tax dollars at work, times two

2009-09-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

As we drove to lunch on Sunday, we noticed that every road sign for over a mile was duplicated. Not one or two, but every sign had its exact double next to it.

The stretch of Highway 50 with the double signage was resurfaced and the signs, even though most were clearly not needed, were added as, after all, it wasn't their money.

On Monday morning, shortly after these pictures were taken, the highway crew chopped down the older of the two signs, leaving just one sign. However, as these pictures will attest, most of the signs did not need to be replaced.

Milton Friedman once described why government does not spend taxpayer money the same way you or I would spend our own money.

Milton said that if you are spending your own money for something for yourself, you care about the quality of what you are buying and the cost of it.
If you are buying something for someone else with your money, you care about how much it costs, but not so much about the quality.
However, if like the government, you are buying something for someone else with someone else's money, you are not overly concerned with how much it costs or how good it is.

I guess Milton knew just how the Highway Department could replace all the signs on Highway 50, even the ones that you cannot tell the difference between the new and the older signs. The Highway Department is just spending someone else's money on something for someone else.

Such waste does not seem a smart way to stimulate the economy or run a Highway Department in tough economic times.

Pictures from the CME video shoot

2009-02-22T18:05:00.001-08:00

What an amazing experience!

Last week, we shot a three-part video series on learning to trade sponsored by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. I read my script from a teleprompter, was filmed on two cameras while wearing makeup. The entire video was taped in a studio in front of an infinity wall. For a young guy from Indianapolis, this was pretty heady stuff.

The three videos cover:

Part One: Getting started - My theory of trading and three setups I like

Part Two: Developing your trading plan

Part Three: The why and how of using a trading simulator

The CME contracted 7th Wave Communications, a world-renowned video production company, to produce the videos. Thanks to the CME's desire to produce a series of videos with the highest production values and Seventh Wave's expertise, the three videos will very likely be the most professional futures training videos made to date.

For me, this was the experience of a lifetime. Thanks to Brain Burkhart and John Timmerman from 7th Wave and John Conolly, Paul Hayward, Bob Guardi and Liam Smith from the CME, along with my partner and wife, Toni, we have created something special that will set a new standard for professionalism in trader training. I am proud to have been part of it.

The videos are set to be released in late March or early April.

Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Quinto

Yesterday was a glorious day in Lake Geneva.

2008-12-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

My wife and I took a walk on the lake path and I took a few pictures. There is no trading lesson to be had. Just some pictures of a beautiful place on a perfect winter day.

The first picture is of Toni and a wood spirit.

Yes, I said wood spirit. When we pass it, we touch its nose for good luck.

Does it work? I cannot say for sure, but it couldn’t hurt.

How I lost the piano wars

2008-05-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

My youngest daughter started taking piano lessons when she was five years old. She started learning with a Suzuki piano teacher in Kansas City. When we moved to Chicago, we found one of the leading teachers and our daughter became one of her star pupils.

I used to love to see her perform at recitals, usually held on in an elaborate recital hall at the Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago.

The only problem, and it was a real problem, was that although our daughter liked the attention she got at her recitals, she hated practicing. This problem was exacerbated by the fact that her teacher insisted that she practice several hours a day.

The teacher said our daughter had real talent.

Insisting that she practice started our, now-infamous, piano wars.

We would ask, beg, cajole, threaten, and, lastly, scream at our daughter to get her to practice. Our daily emotional outburst would result in either our daughter grudgingly practicing, or my wife and I exhausting ourselves explaining the importance of the piano practice.

Even with her uneven practice schedule, she became quite an accomplished piano player.

My wife and I were happy.

We traded in our baby grand piano for a grand piano. We envisioned our daughter some day thanking us for forcing her to learn to play the piano. Our efforts seemed worth it.

Our daughter became so proficient that her teacher insisted she enter a citywide piano competition. Our daughter was 12 and would compete against the best in her age group from around the greater Chicago area. The competition was held at Triton College, somewhere in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Because I did not know where Triton College was, we arrived late and mistakenly sat in the room with the 14-16 year old pianists. As we missed our daughter’s age group and she was two years younger than the children in the group, they let her play.

When her time came to play, she was amazing.

When she finished her performance, I clapped so loud that I thought they might ask me to leave. She came in second in the citywide 14-16 year-old age group.

That was the last time I heard her play in public.

We still have the grand piano and somewhere we have her awards, but she quit because, as good as she was, there was no joy for her in her playing.

I lost the piano wars because I failed to appreciate that excellence in anything should bring joy, as well as awards. Whatever you do may be hard, but it also needs to be fun.

No one can reach and maintain the high level of performance necessary for excellence in anything unless what they are doing brings them joy.

This is why we emphasize that the ideal of success in Transformative Trading is to be a Successful Really Happy Trader, or SRHT as we call it. Unless there is joy in what you do, any monetary success you attain will be incomplete and will not last long.

If you are a serious trader, your trading should bring you joy – the kind of joy that comes from doing something well - the kind of joy that comes from effortlessly executing your plan and knowing that if you just follow your plan and make good trades, the market will reward you with profits and joy.

Your goal should be to advance your trading to the point where trading is joyous.

Wishing you joy in your trading, Jeff

Copyright ©2008 Jeff Quinto
All rights reserved

Old home week at Childrens Memorial Hospital

2008-04-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Most of you reading this will remember the difficult summer we had in 2006 when we almost lost Creighton. He was in the hospital for a total of four and half months, including two months in the Intensive Care Unit at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where he arrived by Life Flight Helicopter from Wisconsin on June 19, 2006.

On Friday, Creighton had similar symptoms and, after eight hours in the emergency room in Wisconsin, he was driven, this time, by ambulance to Children's Memorial Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. By the time he arrived, the nurses who remembered Creighton were at the ready. Denise had left a note and Dana, one of Creighton's favorites, had finagled her way to being his nurse on his arrival. Later, his all-time favorite, Heather, became his nurse and we knew everything would be fine.

It was great for all of us to see the doctors and nurses who had, literally, saved Creighton's life the year before on the job protecting him from harm, this year.

Luckily, for us, Creighton's condition, today, is nowhere near as critical as it was in 2006, so we are assured of a good outcome, this time.

Amazingly, my memories of Creighton's hospital stay in 2006 are all positive and life-affirming. He received world-class care. Our Aetna Health Insurance did its part and Creighton left the hospital in his best health in years.

Every time I hear politicians talking about our broken health care system, I think of our experiences and wonder what they won't do and what they won't say to get votes. They are very likely to ruin a working, albeit imperfect, system and replace it with healthcare on the model of the postoffice.

As for Creighton, he ordered Toni and I out of his room, this evening, when the pretty new nurse arrived for her shift.

Quite Something

2008-03-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

Leslie Russell
1930-2008

When I started dating my wife, Toni, I was shown pictures of her mother who was a twin. It was easy to see that she was beautiful and I was told that she was quite something, although quite something was not clearly defined.

About a week before I met Leslie, I met her twin sister, Debbie.

The first thing that Debbie told me was that although she and Leslie were twins, they didn’t look a bit alike. When I finally met Leslie, contrary to what Debbie had told me, I realized that she and her sister looked exactly alike. Even though they were identical in every way, or perhaps because of it, they alternated throughout their lives between being inseparable and not talking to each other.

Leslie prided herself with never giving in and always doing what she felt best. She was not easy to be around during the early years, but time made both she and I calmer and I grew to cherish her friendship.

She loved people, places and things either intensely, or not at all.

She loved bingo.

I remember one night when we were broke. Leslie had won the big pot at bingo and woke us up after midnight as she spread hundred dollar bills on our bed. She was excited because she was able to give us money that she knew we needed. She was completely, totally unselfish.

She loved politics.

She had been some sort of Republican Party official in Iowa, but, as she grew older, she favored a more liberal version of politics and delighted in watching MSNBC and CSPAN. In the early days of our friendship, she and I used to argue about politics, she taking the liberal view and me the other view. I never changed her mind on anything I can remember, but I respected her opinion, and she mine.

She loved games.

She and Toni would play Rummy Cube for hours. They must have played thousands of games with the scores about split between Leslie and Toni. Leslie, also, loved crosswords and she would randomly ask people questions about history, geography and sports, not to engage them in conversation, but in the hope that their answer could help her solve a crossword puzzle.

She loved her family, especially Creighton and Ashley.

Ashley recently confessed that Leslie had bought her beer for her Junior Prom party. I was not surprised. The party was just a few kids in our home. No one had a car and nothing bad was going to happen.

As for Creighton, she loved him through everything. They were a team - Creighton and Grandma Leslie. Creighton was a challenge and Leslie proved herself to be “quite something” in her love and support for him.
When Leslie was first diagnosed with bladder cancer, we went to what we were told were great doctors in Chicago. Leslie was not satisfied with these first doctors and asked for another opinion. I thought this was just Leslie being her irascible self. Then, we found a doctor who was actually a great doctor. He is recognized as one of the leading, if not the leading, bladder cancer specialists in the world. Once again, Leslie was right in not accepting what was not right for her.

As her disease progressed, she fought bravely. She never complained and she was happy to help in whatever way she could. She and Toni continued their marathon Rummy Cube games and she continued her crosswords. She sat daily by the fire that we kept roaring day and night as long as she wanted to sit there watching politics on TV or listening to country music.

She left us peacefully after a final, brave fight. We shall never forget her.

She was quite something.

Ashley's Big Secret plans first ever trip to New Glarus!

2008-03-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our official Ashley's Big Secret cartographer, MJ!

Ashley's Big Secret buys new limo - trades in heterodoxmobile

2008-02-15T18:24:00.000-08:00

Here it is.

The new Ashley's Big Secret limo with Secret Keepers , Ashley and Toni, and ace limo driver, Jeff off on a jewelry buying trip.

What's next - an Ashley's big secret corporate jet?

Stay tuned.

Our thanks to MJ in Muncie.

Featured Artist of The Week: Jason Collett

2008-02-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

On our podcast this week we featured Jason Collett- he's AWESOME! We are definitely digging this song. Click on the arrow below to download it for free!

Jason Collett
"Charlyn, Angel of Kensington" (mp3)
from "Here's To Being Here"
(Arts & Crafts)

More On This Album

Featured Artist of the Week: Phantom Blues Band

2008-02-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

This song was composed by Ray Charles, and is really one of my new faves! Download it free below!

Little Mack Simmons
"Hooked On Your Love" (mp3)
from "The Best of Little Mack Simmons: The Electro-Fi Years"
(Electro-Fi Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at GroupieTunes
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

Featured Artist of the Week: Teuber, Peterson, Johnson, Bishop

2008-01-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

After hearing the song, Greensleeves, played on a flute roughly 548 times today, I thought I'd have it as the featured song on our podcast. As it turns out, this is a pretty cool recording of an old song. Enjoy!

Hans Teuber / Dave Peterson / Jeff Johnson / John Bishop
"Greensleeves" (mp3)
from "Winter - An Origin Records Holiday Collection"
(Origin Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at mTraks Download
More On This Album

Two stories - A great sparkling wine for under $20, actually, under $4, and great place to eat on the Rhine River if you look trustworthy

2008-01-02T05:41:00.000-08:00

First, I love not knowing the price of wine I drink because it allows me to taste the wine without any preconceived notion created by its price. Sometimes when I find out the price I am disappointed that so much was spent on something so dismal. At other, better, times, I am blown away with how wonderful a wine is at such a reasonable price.

Elke, a friend of ours brought three bottles of Schloss Biebrich Sekt (Sekt means sparkling in German) to us on New Year’s Eve. As she is from Germany, her bringing a German sparkler was apropos. Germans drink more sparking wine per capita than anyone else, and, along with their fame in white wines, it only makes sense that a German sparkling wine should be good.

The Schloss Biebrich Sekt Elke gave us compares to any under $20 sparkling wine in taste and at $3.99 at Trader Joe’s it is an extraordinary value.

As you can see from the label, it is a serious looking wine, as well.

It is made outside of Wiesbaden, Germany where there is a castle named Schloss Biebrich, which is pictured on the label. Wiesbaden is a great place to start visiting the vineyards of the Rhine River Valley. It is 30 minutes from Frankfurt airport and a world away from the commercially-oriented Frankfurt.

My favorite memory of the Rhine River wine region was when we were trying to find a suitable place for lunch with a view of the Rhine River one fall day several years ago. We kept driving up to likely looking restaurants and I would jump out of the car and open the door of the restaurant only to find it jam-packed with Germans – imagine that!

After going through all of the restaurants in three little towns, all packed with Germans eating lunch, we saw a sign for the town of Piesporter. I headed for it because Toni and I (mostly I) drank gallons of Piesporter Goldtropfchen, an easy to drink, pleasant, low-alcohol, low priced German white wine, when we were younger.

On the way, up the hill from the Rhine River Road to Piesporter, we saw a small hotel; that advertised a restaurant, the Burg Schwarzenstein. As you can see the hotel sits among the vineyards and, as you might imagine, the restaurant is something very special.

We sat by the window looking at the vineyards and the Rhine beyond and made friends with our waiter who was excited that we were Americans so that he could practice his English. He explained that all of their wines were grown on the estate and suggested a variety of wines over the course of a two-hour lunch that culminated in our drinking wonderful sparkling wine, the first German sparkler I had ever tasted.

After our wonderful meal, we were presented with an appropriately large check for all of the wine, food and fun for the four of us. My friend Dennis and I fought to be the first to hand the waiter our credit card, but he told us that they did not take credit cards, only cash. As the bill was several hundred dollars, in German Marks of course, we told him that we did not think we had enough cash to pay for the meal, as we always used credit cards.

The waiter told us that our lack of cash was not a problem as we could write a check for our lunch. We explained that we did not have a German bank account, as we lived in Chicago. He said that they would gladly take a US check from us, as we seemed like such nice, trustworthy people.

As luck would have it, we were able to find enough German Marks between us to pay for our lunch and we left with a wonderful memory of German sparkling wine and German hospitality.

Happy New Year, Jeff

P.S. Just so you know, we do take credit cards at Ashley's Big Secret and we have a great selection of gifts you can give yourself. After the holidays, you deserve a gift, or two, or three. You have been nice to everyone else, now be nice to you.

Featured Artist of the Week: etypejazz

2007-12-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

For my good friend Kyle, I wanted to find a great song to play on the podcast: this version of 'Little Drummer Boy' couldn't be better!

Download this song free by clicking the arrow next to "Little Drummer Boy".

etypejazz
"Little Drummer Boy" (mp3)
from "HOHO Volume Two"
(Etypejazz)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album

Win This: Snake Charmer Bracelet!

2007-12-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

Starting today, you can go over to theBudgetBabe.com and enter to win this completely fab Snake Charmer Bracelet!

I totally love theBudgetBabe.com, and am so excited to be collaborating with this fabulous chick on a contest! Give her some love!

Here are some other fun snake things we love:

Sizzling Snake Ring: ON SALE $28.00

Snakeskin and Chain Bracelet: $18.00

Sizzling Serpentine Necklace: $18.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Dramatic Winter White

2007-12-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

I am just crazy about lucite sets for the holiday season. They are festive, versatile, and fancy! Finding just the right accessories for winter white can be tricky- especially if you don't want to spend a lot of dough.

Clear Crystal Set $22.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Trend Update: Bolero Jacket Bust!

2007-12-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

As originally posted here, I saw this bolero jacket at thebudgetbabe.com (new favorite blog!) and became OBSESSED with finding a bolero jacket of my own.

So I went over to Target to try the exact bolero jacket in the picture, and it was a total bust. Literally. I was WAY too busty to get that thing buttoned. Undeterred, I went to four different stores on my mission to find one that fit and looked good. I finally found one in a black and white houndstooth at Maurices that I thought would do the trick.

I wasn't quite sure about it, so I tried it on in front of the Style Council, which consists of:
- my mother (style icon, fashion buyer and fashionista, aka Toni of the Ashley's Big Secret Podcast)
- my boyfriend (perpetual nice-guy, incapable of saying anything negative about my appearance, possibly out of fear)
-my father (maker of infuriatingly correct, if unspecific fashion critiques, such as 'something about that just looks... wrong')

The verdict? An overwhelming 'that jacket makes you look like a giant houndstooth barrel'. Apparently, this one just isn't a trend for the busty.

So I bought this to make myself feel better:

Black Tie Optional Ring
Originally $72.00
On Sale Now! $57.20

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.
© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Ashley's Faves: Classic Rope Set

2007-12-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

I'm totally loving the conservative, chic look of the Classic Rope Set ($27.00). With parties, people to impress, and so many places to go, I definitely need something versatile, classic and pretty. Loving it!

Classic Rope Set $27.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Christmas Gift Update: Frank Sinatra

2007-12-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

Here's my sketch of Frank Sinatra for Mr. Wonderful's christmas present. It's part of a set of three styalized portraits of the rat pack. See Dean Martin here.

I'll post the completed version shortly. Wish me luck!

All my other holiday shopping is done here, of course!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Let True Beauty Shine Through!

2007-12-03T05:09:00.000-08:00

I am just LOVING this commercial! It's so important to teach young girls that they don't have to look like a supermodel. How long did it take you to realize that it was much more important to find a flattering look for you instead of beating yourself up about your hips/cellulite/skin/grey hair/breasts?

While I'm on my soapbox, kudos to Seventeen Magazine. I still read this mag every month to stay on top of trends, and have taken note that they now have style tips for fuller figured girls, something I would have loved (and really needed) when I read it as a teenager.

Accentuate your natural beauty!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Sparklers and Sparklers, Part Deux

2007-11-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

This is the season each year when our family gets ready for the Holidays in every conceivable way, and several inconceivable ways.

For my part, I do two important things:

I put enough Christmas lights on the trees in our front yard to assure that our house is visible from space; and

I pick up our supply of sparkling wine for the Holidays in three categories (good, better and best, but more on that later).

As for the lighting our front yard, I believe that if a few lights are tasteful, then thousands of lights must be, well… really tasteful.

At last count, we have over 4,000 small lights on the trees and bushes in front of our house. I am about 2/3s done, but my budget for lights has already been depleted. Based on this year’s budget overrun, we may, or may not, break the 5,000 light barrier before 2008.

In a perfect world, we would get some sort of honorable mention for our lights based on the fact that we are spending hundreds of dollars in electricity so the 4-5 cars that drive in front of our house every evening will be amazed. Based on the lack of traffic in our neighborhood, our display is nothing if not exclusive.

As to my theory of Sparking wine for the holidays, I believe that you should have good inexpensive sparkling wine (under $10) for your everyday holiday drinking. My favorites in this first and least expensive category are Domaine Ste Michelle Blanc de Noir (white made from red wine grapes) and Cristalino, sort of a baby Kristal for $390 less per bottle than the more expensive, similar sounding Champagne.

I use the second category in holiday sparkers, the better wines, as a prelude to nice dinners with friends. My all-time favorite under $20 sparkler is the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Non Vintage Proprietary Blend. This is Roederer’s California vineyard in the Anderson Valley, north of Sonoma Valley. It is a beautiful winery producing a beautiful wine and Roederer is one of the premier champagne producers in the Champagne region in France. This is the same winery that makes Kristal, mentioned in the previous paragraph, which runs a cool $398 a bottle. The $20 Brut is phenomenal, without being phenomenally expensive... just like you-know-what.

As for the extra special Champagne, I like the same wine that Winston Churchill drank (why not?) - the Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill Cuvee. It is a spectacular high-end wine that is wonderful to drink for a special occasion. It is a bit pricey ($198 a bottle), but what the heck, if you shop at www.AshleysBigSecret.com, you will save enough money on gifts for your friends and for yourself, that you can easily afford to splurge on a bottle of Champagne that is both wonderful and a bit of history.

Most importantly, as Sir Winston used to tell all of his friends, “shop online at www.AshleysBigSecret.com for the best in high-end costume jewelry at unbelievable prices.”

Wishing you Happy Holidays,

Your pal, Jeff

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Cool Holiday Hairdo: Gwen Stefani's Look

2007-11-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, so after my last post, if occured we might actually need some holiday hairdo ideas that were actually do-able. I think this would look so awesome at a holiday with a little black dress and a funky skull and cross bones necklace. ($12.00)

New Idea for My Holiday Look

2007-11-29T12:13:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't want to look their best during the holidays? Do you think I could get away with showing up Christmas morning with my hair done like this?

I didn't think so either.

Funky looks that won't make your grandmother have a stroke are good, too!

Crystal Clear Set $22.00

Grandpa Rapping

2007-11-29T11:27:00.000-08:00

For the record, this is my actual grandpa.... He's an entertainer at heart, and cracks us all up!

Look fabulous for your next holiday gathering!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Go Ahead and Tell Me This is Not Your Mother

2007-11-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

I was flipping through The Pile Of Purge Blog that The Daily Purge boys write, and thought I would fall off my chair. Seriously though- tell me this is not your mother at Christmas time. Not only do I know it's my mother, but I know it will be me in about 2 years.

Look nice for the tree!

2007-11-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

I am just LOVING this fabulous combination! Something about this time of year makes me want to wear lots of gold and brown... but I'm not to be boring!

These fabulous earrings are Jungle Fabulous Earrings, and are only ten bucks!

The necklace is our Dramatic Gold Circle Necklace for $30.00.

Loving it!!!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.
Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.
© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Tip from Toni: Beauty Is...

2007-11-27T11:48:00.001-08:00

When I was in my thirties, I was lucky to meet and become friends with a very beautiful woman. She was well traveled, well read, and very interesting to be around. She attracted people like a magnet because she was such fun to be with. She had flaming red hair, beautiful skin and a great figure. Her stories of her life were vivid, funny and exciting. She lived in Texas and carried a parasol to keep the sun from her face. Carrying a parasol to match her outfits did not seem odd at all but rather a reflection and an extension of who and what she was. She was in her late seventies and I wanted to be like her.

I have reflected over the years why I was so taken with this woman. And I continue to emulate her to this day. She was not young and beautiful like the models in magazines of the time. She had wrinkles and arthritic bony hands. She dressed elegantly but quirky. But she was the complete package. She was herself, comfortable in her own skin. I adored her.

Beauty is what we love about our husbands, our children, our best friends. It does not matter if they are short, tall, thin or fat, have curly or straight hair. It does not matter if they are rich or not. What matters is that we have peeled away the layers to find the things we really like about the person.

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

Bring out your true beauty!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Christmas Gift Update: Dean Martin

2007-11-26T15:26:00.001-08:00

Ok, so my portrait (for Mr. Wonderful) of Dean Martin is basically done- as promised on the podcast, here it is. My goal is to do Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. in this style, I'll keep you posted.

All my other holiday shopping is done here, of course!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Holiday Obsession: Decorations!

2007-11-26T15:20:00.001-08:00

As mentioned in the podcast, here is the arbor in front of the house, all decorated for the holidays! Mom made poinsetta garland and wreathes... doesn't it look nice?

Don't you look nice!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Featured Artist of the Week: The New Bethlehem Ensemble

2007-11-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

I'm playing this song on the podcast this week so Mom knows that I might have spent Thanksgiving with the BF, but I wouldn't miss Christmas with her for the world!

Download this song free by clicking the arrow next to "I'll Be Home for Christmas".

The New Bethlehem Ensemble
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (mp3)
from "A White Christmas"
(Ultraviolet Productions)

Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Travel in Style: Bentley Taxi

2007-11-26T05:45:00.000-08:00

That's what I'm talking about! I love taking taxis no matter what, but how nice would it be if all our taxis were luxury cars? All would be right with the world...

More luxury car taxis here

Look like you're used to rollin' in a Rolls here

Thanksgiving Shopping Event!

2007-11-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Ashley's Big Secret will be open 24 hours a day from now through next year and beyond. Our servers stand ready to take your order and our elves have agreed to send out all Ashley's Big Secret packages instantly and, even better, the elves have agreed to ship all orders over $50 free! No lines, no tax, no charge for shipping!

Look great for the Holidays, let everyone else fight the crowds. You are not like those other people who can't wait to stand in line and pay more than they should. You are a diva and divas do not stand in endless lines.
For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

New Favorite: The Budget Babe

2007-11-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

You know I love smart, money-savvy fashionistas. What could be more beautiful than a fashion-forward woman with a good head on her shoulders and enough money left in her wallet to put into her 401k?

So I just found theBudgetBabe.com, and am completely obsessed. She picks out affordable, fashionable stuff, finds deals, and keeps her readers up on the latest trends. LOVING HER!

The jacket above is from target's Erin Fetherston collection, and I am definitely going to go over and check it out. I've been looking for something like this for awhile, and heaven knows I'm not going to spend a small fortune on something that (let's face it) will be embarrassingly out of date in about a year.

Maybe I can wear it to Thanksgiving with the BF's family. I'd pair it with a big bracelet, like our Snake Charmer Bracelet ($24.00), the uber classy Toni's Choice Necklace Set ($23.00) and a Brown and Black Nicole Purse ($81.00) and call it a day.

Ashley's Faves: Big, Bold and Bright!

2007-11-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

I'm in a fantastic mood today- I'm smiling about as big as our model! Of course, I want my jewelry to match my high spirits! So today I'm wearing some seriously bold and funky stuff.

Everytime I wear my Bubblegum Beads, people come up to me to tell me how cool they look, and I intend for today to be no exception! Pairing them with some Retro Star Earrings makes it a smash hit!

Purple Bubblegum Beads: $15.00

Green Retro Star Earrings: $7.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Tip From Toni: Dare to be Different!

2007-11-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

Are you the kind of person who always looks the same? Same hairdo, same style of clothes, same color of nail polish, same jewelry, same style of shoes, etc.,etc. Why do you think we are so interested in the celebrities and what they wear, their new hairstyles, or in their lives in general?

We look and read about new styles, new trends but rarely change ourselves. I have come across countless women who say "I can't wear big rings, my fingers are too fat, my hands are too ugly; I can't wear necklaces, my neck is too fat, too short, or I have too many wrinkles; or the best yet" I don't' wear any jewelry, it is just not me".

Cleopatra knew what it was to be an alluring, confident and a beautiful woman. She practically invented eye shadow and lipstick. She wore a lot of jewelry. And we all know who Cleopatra was!

Just for fun, I dare you to try one thing that is different for you and see what your friends say. Change your nail polish from neutral to bright red. Change your lipstick color from pink to orange. Part your hair on the left instead of the right. Purchase a cubic zirconium ring and wear it as if was a diamond. Wear big earrings instead of small earrings. Wear some bling on your wrist.

Pretend you are book. Imagine how bored your significant other, your friends and your family would be reading the same chapter over and over and over again! Try one simple change in your appearance and find out how fun and exhilarating it can be. In other words, dare to be different, different from you.

Accessories are to a woman what salt, pepper and spices are to food. Do you know of any chef that prepares food without spices? Isn't all food preparation individualized by what is mixed and matched in recipes. Perhaps there is something to be gained from the quote "variety is the spice of life".

My tip du juor is to "spice up your life today with some variety."

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Ashley's Faves: Orange Delight!

2007-11-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

I'm just feeling so cheery today! And my jewelry matches! I'm wearing jeans, a purple button-down shirt, and this fun orange set!

Orange Artsy Fartsy Beads: $16.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Daily Dose of Dita: Red Accessories

2007-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Oh, Dita! So flawless! I am loving the red accessories!

Get Diva Dita's red accessory look!

Get Diva Dita's red accessory look!

Federline to Subpoena TMZ Tape?

2007-11-14T05:28:00.000-08:00

ok... so Ferderline's camp is saying that they might subpoena the tape of Britney's questionable driving. There's no 'might' about it! Kevin, keep your kids safe!

Look better than Brit-brit (and more savvy, too!) for under $30

What ever happened to smart, beautiful, successful young women? Save Money. Look Fabulous.

Ashley's Faves: Turquoise Stephanie Beads

2007-11-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

It's feeling like a casual day, isn't it? This set is just so easy to throw on and make yourself look put together- just what I need today! On days like today, when I am running all over and surviving on what must be dangerous levels of caffeine, I need a very realiable set that I can just throw on and look good!

Turquoise Stephanie Set: $24.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Christmas is Coming!

2007-11-12T12:26:00.001-08:00

As promised on the Podcast, here's the ROUGH sketch of the Dean Martin painting I'm thinking of doing for Mr. Wonderful as a Christmas gift. In theory, (aka time permitting) it's part of a series of Rat Pack black and white portraits. I'll let you know how it goes.

Christmas presents for everyone on your list at Ashley's Big Secret!

Ashley's Faves: Classy for Thanksgiving!

2007-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

I am feeling classy and sophisticated today- probably in large part because Thanksgiving is sneaking up dangerously fast and I need an outfit that says "class, sophistication and style" while whispering "expandable waist line".

I'm LOVING this combo of the Pearlene Heart Set ($31) and the Gold Flower Pin ($20) as a coordinating accent. This pairing could even make sweat pants look rich.

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Featured Artist of the Week: James Morrison

2007-11-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

This song is so delightful! Try to be in a bad mood after hearing it... I dare you!

Download this one for FREE by clicking on the arrow next to "Joyful, Joyful".

James Morrison
"Joyful, Joyful" (mp3)
from "James Morrison: Gospel Collection Volume One"
(Classic Fox Records)

Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Odd/Crazy Ways to Land the Job

2007-11-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

As discussed on the upcoming podcast, here's a great story about how to land a job with a (very) risky gimmick. Freelance Folder.

Look successful and professional for your interview: try Kissaka Pearls at Ashley's Big Secret.

Britney does WHAT?!?

2007-11-12T07:21:00.000-08:00

TMZ is has video of Britney running a red light while text-messaging with her kids in the car AND the court appointed monitor!

Side note to Brit: The court appointed monitor really is judging you. Be on your best behavior!

See the video here. It's pretty staggering.

What ever happened to smart, beautiful, successful young women? Save Money. Look Fabulous.

My Night Out: The Joans!!!

2007-11-09T10:05:00.001-08:00

I'm almost rediculously excited because tonight, I'm going into Chicago and will get to see The Joans- a rock band composed of people dressed up as Joan Crawford at various stages in her career singing songs where the lyrics are her most famous cinematic lines. Can you handle it???

Look as fabulous as Ms. Crawford... without the wire hanger hang-up.

Annie Lennox: Bad Dreams Are Made of This

2007-11-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Annie, what happened? I always thought that you'd age gracefully! Practice smiling in the mirror like the rest of us!

Look GREAT at any age! Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Zumba! I did this at the 'Y' yesterday!

2007-11-09T09:54:00.001-08:00

I went to the YMCA tonight and was able to try a Zumba class- SO MUCH FUN! It was difficult not to smile, and the workout was fab!

Other FAB things at Ashley's Big Secret!

Amy Winehouse Bouffant 'Do How-To

2007-11-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have used this space recently to talk about how awesome Amy Winehouse is- her music is awesome and no matter whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit that her look has a style quotient not easily attained by the average person.

I saw some pics of a friend of mine recently taken at her brother's wedding- she had her hair (clearly) professionally styled, and it was in a sleek, modern mini-bouffant that looked gorgeous. She wore a purple vintage looking dress and classic accessories. It looked awesome! Here's some video that I was pretty happy to find because it goes through how to get this look. And I was doubly delighted at how easy it is.

If you try it, let me know how it goes. I need to track down some of that $1.99 fake hair before I do it- but I'll post pics here when I do.

Think about going all Amy Winehouse with this Skull and Crossbones Necklace for $12.00 or go all glam with these $22-35.

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Christmas is Coming!!!

2007-11-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

It's official- Christmas is on it's way!!! The star for the top of the tree at Rockefeller center has been unveiled, and to my delight, it's ginormous and sparkly!

Compete with the star for $33.00!

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

The DELI Diet®

2007-11-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

I have a plan for the future, my future.

I intend to lose a meaningful amount of weight by Christmas.

I have targeted a loss of 13 pounds.

If I lose 13 pounds I will reduce my weight to the point where I was several years ago when I thought that I was fat. So, I am reducing my weight by one fat increment. When I am done, I will still be fat, but I will be only as fat as I was two years ago, not as fat as I am today, err, last month.

My secret, which I share with you now, is very simple. So simple, in fact, that I am registering it so that I will be the one to earn a Brittany Spears-sized income with about the same amount of effort that she puts forth.

I am hereby announcing The DELI Diet®.

It will be the latest rage and supplant the South Beach Diet, the Adkins Diet and all other diets promoted by people who were always thin and never needed to lose any weight anyway.

This is a diet so easy that even a complete imbecile can do it.

I am calling it The DELI Diet®!

To take advantage of my new-age, ultra-scientific diet research, all you need to do is Don’t Eat Like an Idiot.

I have been strictly seriously somewhat following the diet for nearly four weeks and I have lost five pounds. At least, I had lost it this morning before I single-handedly ate about half a large pizza. This is the reason that I am writing this tonight before my morning weigh-in.

If you agree that The DELI Diet® is a revolution in weight loss, proven beyond a shadow of doubt by my own weight loss, you can be part of this life-changing revolution. You do not need to spend your hard-earned money on books or ab machines, all you need to do is send me $5 to my address, below.

After you have sent the money, I will send you an e-mail with your own personal weight calculating/losing graph. Once you have the graph, simply fill it out in whatever way you think appropriate and, most importantly, you will feel so much better about yourself.

As for me, I will feel infinitely better about myself for inventing The DELI Diet® and, at the same time, finding a way to get people I don't even know to send me money.

Your pal, Jeff

Copyright © 2007 by Jeff Quinto
All rights reserved

Fun Links

2007-11-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

-You know your Holloween costume was really good when this happens.
-Airbrushing Clay Aiken has gotten out of control.
-Illegal Bathtub Cheese. 'Nuff said.
-Weddings I will not be attending.
-Deal of the Day

Recipe for Disaster: Winehouse and Doherty Duet

2007-11-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

Someone over at MTV is either drinking at lunch, or remarkably brilliant. My girl, Amy Winehouse, and Kate Moss's drugged out ex are doing an on-air duet at the EMAs this evening in Munich. Pete Doherty is a darn mess, lets just say that. Amy's got her problems, but I tend to stick up for her because it takes a lot of guts to wear a beehive hairdo in this day and age AND her music is to die for! But lets call a spade a spade, shall we? Doesn't this duet sort of
spell R-E-L-A-P-S-E?

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Devastated! Sabrina, We LOVE You!

2007-11-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

Who didn't mope around for hours after seeing Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday? I'm not going to lie- I went into a mini-depression. I know, it's silly to get overly emotional about a TV show; but this was Dancing with the Stars and it was my girl, Sabrina! Sabrina! She was supposed to win!!!

I might have to buy myself something pretty to ease the pain. Try not to cry. This will make you feel better.

Shop Ashley's Big Secret!

Daily Dose of Dita

2007-11-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

I feel like I look like Ms. Dita today! Isn't she flawless! I am out promoting Ashley's Big Secret today, and my makeup has been done, my hair has been styled to within an inch of it's life, and I am wearing one of my favorite pieces of jewelry, the Fauxture Pink Pearl Charm Set.

Maybe I don't look exactly like this, but I sure as heck feel good!

And you thought you spent a lot of time on your hair!

2007-10-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

Every year around this time, I am strangely drawn to pictures of the World Beard and Moustache Championships because... well... these guys make some of my higher maintenance girlfriends look like hair-care slackers.

And I'm kind of fascinated by people who go out of their way to make themselves essentially undate-able. Ponder it.

Look much, much better than this. Shop Ashley's Big Secret!

Warms the Heart!

2007-10-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

I love seeing young people do good deeds! This one is very touching.

Beautiful inside and out at Ashley's Big Secret!

Fashion News: Fendi Runway Show

2007-10-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

This is just so cool! Fendi held their fashion show on the Great Wall of China. AND they got it to glitter.

I would wear this to the Fendi show- I want to sparkle, too!

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Pumkin Fever: Going all out

2007-10-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when one West Virginia man had 3000 pumpkins and a little too much time on his hands.... See more photos of the Great Pumpkin House Here.

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Featured Artis of the Week: chris and thomas

2007-10-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Loving it- very mellow! Download this for FREE below by clicking on the arrow next to 'Take These Thoughts'

chris and thomas
"Take These Thoughts" (mp3)
from "Land of Sea"
(Defend Music Inc.)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Napster
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Curly Hair Tips!

2007-10-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Oh, my curly haired sisters- didn't we have a hard time growing up? Seriously, when I was younger, the only thing I ever wanted was stick-straight hair. I had NO IDEA what to do to make curly hair look good. When I found it, I thought I'd share it with you:

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Celebrity Deliciousness: Halle Berry

2007-10-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

ok, so she's pregnant, and still looks fabulous- especially her boobs! But that sweater thing is totally distracting... and why are her legs a different color than the rest of her?

Lesson Learned: Spray Tan everywhere!

Look 'Red Carpet' gorgeous for less! Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

Flawless: Dita Von Teese

2007-10-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

I positively LOVE Dita Von Teese- she's totally vintage cool, and she always looks SO flawless! (If you aren't familiar with her, she is a famous burlesque dancer, and was married to Marilyn Manson. Side note: she's pretty darn classy, so I prefer to ignore that last little factoid.)

Occasionally, when I'm all dressed up, I just assume I look exactly like this:

I recommend the Pink Teardrop Necklace for $18.00 to look like Ms. Dita!

My Future 1st and 2nd Husbands

2007-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

The Affleck brothers are just sizzlin'! I figured you might need a little dose of double trouble....

Side note to Ben and Casey: Please propose with THIS. And FYI, I'm a traditional, down on one knee kind of girl.

Shop Ashley's Big Secret now!

OMG: J-Lo is having TWINS

2007-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Oh. My. Gosh. Jennifer Lopez is having twins, it's confirmed! Here's the press release:

Ashley's Faves: Big, Bold, and Utterly Fabulous

2007-10-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

What a fun and funky combo! I am totally LOVING the big heart necklace. Here it is shown worn short, but its just as good at it's full length, which will put the heart about half way down your torso.

Here's one of my favorite tips: If you're big chested like me, wearing a long necklace like that will cut the visual lines and make you look more proportionate. I love that!

Gigantic Heart Necklace: $48.00

Fancy Rhinestone hoops: $14.00

Talented Women: You have just got to see this!

2007-10-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ok- this is amazing! Over at stylehiveblog, they're running a contest to see who can come up with the best wedding dresses made entirely out of toilet paper! Apparently, this is big at wedding showers, and to be perfectly honest, I would totally wear some of them down the aisle!

Invisible Mirror

2007-10-20T22:01:00.001-07:00

This is simply hysterical! It's not even in a language I can understand, and I am still cracking up!

Featured Artist of the Week: Norton Buffalo

2007-10-17T11:37:00.001-07:00

We just LOVE this song- and so perfect for pumkin fever!!!

Norton Buffalo
"Sweet Little Pumpkin" (mp3)
from "King Of The Highway"
(Blind Pig Records)

Buy at eMusic
Buy at GroupieTunes
More On This Album

Pumpkin Fever: Part 1, the CARVING!

2007-10-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is my good friend Phil's fabulous pumpkin- he is a total traditionalist, and every cut was made with alarming precision.

I on the other hand, tried to be artsy-fartsy. It's a lady in a long gown giving a toast at a window.

Ashley's Faves: Feeling Fancy!

2007-10-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

I'm totally feeling fancy today, and nothing could be better than gold and glam! These two go so well together! (And no one will ever believe you paid these prices!!!)

Long, Gold and Dangly Earrings: $16.00

Gold Choker with Fun Dangles: ON SALE $14.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina answers a question

2007-10-16T09:27:00.001-07:00

Miss South Carolina! Come on! Brains and beauty don't have to be mutually exclusive!

Featured Podcast Artist: Laura Knight

2007-10-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

In today's episode of our podcast, we were very proud to play Laura Knight's new single, Sunshine. Check it below! It's awesome!!!

Laura Knight
"Sunshine" (mp3)
from "Sunshine"
(BNM Productions Pty Ltd.)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Ashley's Faves: Silver Goddess!

2007-10-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am adoring this combo because it will take you from the board room to a PTA meeting to a night out, and will look smashing (and perfectly fitting) just about anywhere.

I'm feeling the versatile goddess thing lately- we all wear different hats depending on the hour. Today, I will be a working girl, a running errands girl, a doting granddaughter, and an out-on-the-town girl. And I certainly won't have time for costume changes!

Pebble Circle Necklace: $16.00

Dangly Heart Earrings: $9.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Rambunctious and Red!

2007-10-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling rowdy and rambunctious today- this beautiful weather is making me want to wear some fun, bright colors. These fabulous shades of red are just gorgeous! They are perfect to put some pizazze into my jeans and black button down shirt outfit... and I do intend to turn some heads!

Red Cross and Earrings Set: $16.00

Red Jade Bangle: $24.00

Red Petal Purse: $60.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Pumkin Fountain, Baby!

2007-10-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we celebrated fall by making a pumkin fountain! We were pretty ambitious, but we finally did it- and it is so cool! Our good friend, Marcia, (pictured above) helped us out. It definitely took three people to make it happen!

We started with three pumkins of various sizes, and 1 gigantic banana gourd. Once the fountain shape had been acheived, we ran a small fountain pump from the bottom pumkin up to the top, and let 'er rip.

Water flows gently up from the middle of the top pumkin, and cascades down to the bowl at the bottom.

To make sure the water flowed where we wanted it, we made small ridges in the sides of the top two pumkins. Admittedly, there were a few balancing issues, but we were able to solve them by sticking barbecue skewers in at strategic points.

We just think this is the coolest project we've ever embarked on- and boy, is it awesome!

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Ashley's Faves: Sparkle!

2007-09-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling totally funky-fab lately, and these three pieces are enough to make it a great look! They are sure to get you noticed!

The bracelet, particularly is super cool! It looks so gorgeous, and gives a sort of super woman vibe. Loves it!

Rockin' Heart Necklace: $21.00

Snazzy Jazzy Ring: $20.00

Swanky Silver Bracelet: $21.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Fancy and Pink

2007-09-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's time to be totally girly and completely fancy! I've picked these delightful items for their delicate and feminine looks. Throw these on with a little black dress, and you've got yourself a fabulous look!

Striking Silver Hoops: $15

25" Simulated Pearls: $30

Bow Tie Pink Evening Bag: $60

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

2007-09-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

With fall coming in with a bang, I am loving the combo of these brown and gold hues in these two pieces. Delightful!

Brown Nonpareil Set: $15

Petal Bronze Purse: $60

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!
For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.
Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.
© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Ashley's Faves: Pretty, Pink Party Wear!

2007-09-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

So with September and it's chilly weather rolling in, I'm in the mood to start going to parties again! And I mean parties! The summer is done, and so are barbecues; I'm ready for champagne, hors d'oeuvres and little black cocktail dresses! And believe me ladies, I'm in a totally glamorous mood! I love the idea of a simple LBD (little black dress), and these show-stopping pink accessories for a totally dramatic, divalicious look!

Pink Rhinestone Square Necklace: ON SALE! $6.00

Pink Party Clutch: $49.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Fake It In the Kitchen: Fresh, Homemade Cheese!

2007-09-10T13:43:00.001-07:00

As promised, here is my recipe for fresh, homemade cheese. It's terribly simple, but it's one of those recipes that will make you look like a kitchen allstar with a minimum of effort. Just don't let any one know how easy it is!

Combine the following in a big pot:
1 qt. buttermilk
1/2 gallon whole milk
1/2 gallon heavy whipping cream
5 cloves minced garlic
At least 5 tbsps salt
At least 4 tbsps fresh ground pepper

Throw on medium-high heat, and with a candy or meat thermometer, heat milk mixture to 185. Once it hits 185, start timing it. You'll want to keep an eye on it, and keep the temp between 185 and 200 for 25 minutes. DON'T STIR!

While mixture is heating up, prepare a colander with 2 sheets of cheese cloth so that the cheese cloth drapes over all sides of the colander. After 25 minutes of heating the milk, pour the mixture through cheese cloth and colander. Don't scrape it from the sides.

Allow to drain for about an hour, then serve or refridgerate. It'll be good in your fridge for 7-10 days.

Enjoy!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Ashley's Faves: Orange you happy you found Ashley's Big Secret?

2007-09-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'll admit the title, "Orange you glad you found Ashley's Big Secret?" is a little bit cheesy, but I am loving the orange stuff right now! This fabulously funky combo is easy to wear, and will set you apart as a total DIVA. Orange is hot, hot, hot right now, and it helps us reclaim what's left of the summer!

Retro Orange Diamond Shaped Earrings: $7

Orange and White Polka Dot Bangle: $12

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com.

Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

2007-09-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Which character in Casablanca are you?

You are Ilsa Lund Laszlo. You are beautiful and brave but not good with firearms. You look good in big hats and have a thing for tough American barkeeps. Too bad you married a European dude.

So totally LOVE this quiz! Of course I'm Isla... but really- must I be instantly classified as bad with fire arms? {Surely they make those things with pink rhinestones, right? right?}

But this thing is seriously psychic, because I do look totally awesome in big hats!

Kisses, ladies!

Ashley

As Time Goes By

2007-09-02T22:10:00.001-07:00

A true classic.... SUCH a great song- but why can't I look that fabulous (even heartbroken!) in real life?!?

Ashley's Faves: Funky and Pink!

2007-08-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to discover that my favorite pink beads, (my signature beads!), match our Retro Heart Earrings perfectly! Together, they are funky, fun, and totally hip! I am wearing them today with a simple, dark purple top and jeans. I am actually making up reasons to get out of the office so I can see people while I feel and look this fabulous! Of course, to top it all off, I couldn't resist adding the Sequin Fabulocity Purse for some added pizazze!

Retro Heart Earrings: $7.00

Pink Bubblegum Beads: $15.00

Sequin Fabulocity Purse: $45.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!
For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Fun, Funky and Fancy!

2007-08-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

I am totally loving this combo! It is so fun, funky, and fancy!!! These oversized accessories are SO in right now! They will be flirty and fun through the end of this fabulous summer, and will carry you through to fall and winter. I like to wear this combo with a simple black T-shirt and indigo jeans for an easy to put together, yet wonderfully stylish outfit. Fabu!

Big Heart Necklace: $21

Gigantic Rhinestone Hoops: $16.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley Needs Your Help!!!

2007-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm going to a party held by an old flame of mine at the end of August.... I am SO, SO nervous! I need a fabulous look to blow him away, and would love it if you would help me out! Take a look at the following options, then VOTE to the right to let me know which one I should wear. Ladies, I need to look fabulous!

Here are the options:

OPTION 1:

Here I am wearing a new black and white shirt, indigo capris, and the following jewelry:

White and Black Polka Dot Bangle: $12.00

White Irredescent Rhinestone Bangle: $18.00

Pink Rhinestone Bangle: $18.00

Princess Crown Necklace: $30.00

OPTION 2:

Option 2 is what Mom picked. Here I am wearing a Jones of New York white and red striped top with white bermuda shorts, red kitten heels and the following jewelry:

Festive Ballsy Cuff: $27.00

Faux Lucite Bangle: $15.00

Linda Lucite Bangle: $9.00

White Delicato Necklace: $15.00

OPTION 3:

Here I am wearing one of my favorite flowy, most comfortable black shirts and indigo blue capri pants wearing the following jewelry:

White Irredescent Rhinestone Bangle: $18.00

Pink Rhinestone Bangle: $18.00

Princess Crown Necklace: $30.00

Ok, everybody... now go to the right and VOTE! I swear, I will wear the winning outfit... just make sure to pick a good one for me!

I'll let you know how it goes!

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Eve Pearl Makeover

2007-08-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

Mom and I were totally enamored of a make-up artist, Eve Pearl, who has videos out showing her totally transforming normal women into glamorous, gorgeous Divas. [See OMG! I love this lady!, July 2, 2007] Of course, we want to be glamorous and gorgeous, too, so we bought the DVD at http://www.evepearl.com/ for $30- kind of a splurge for us, but what the heck- right?

Now, we may have splurged on the DVD, but you know we're not going to go out and buy a bunch of expensive makeup, right? Everything we found we bought at Walmart or on sale at Walgreens. (Because no normal woman on a budget- especially me- is going to spend $45 on a tiny thing of blush.)

Below are the results of my At Home Makeover using the techniques in the DVD.

Ashley Before:

Admittedly, I'm wearing some eye makeup- but this is how I would normally leave the house. After about an hour, a WHOLE LOT of makeup, and using Eve Pearl's makeup techniques, here's what I emerged as:

I tried my best to use here techniques for defining cheek bones and making my tiny eyes a little bigger. I love the after picture... HOWEVER, and that's a big old however, I really felt like I was wearing a TON of makeup, probably more than I would ever wear out of the house, especially for every day. And under normal light, I sort of felt that the darker makeup used to create a cheekbone looked like I had been rolling around in dirt.

The next day, though, I used basically the same techniques but toned way down and went to a party to see if it worked for something other than a head shot. The result was wonderful- I didn't feel like I was wearing too much makeup- but did feel like a hot, hot mama.

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

Reba McEntire feat Kelly Clarkson

2007-08-05T16:24:00.001-07:00

We adore this video! Kelly and Reba are both so flawless!

Mom and I as Pop Singers

2007-08-03T23:58:00.001-07:00

Seriously.... Don't you think?

Ashley's Faves: Big and BOLD!

2007-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am LOVING the combination of these two bolder than bold items! Talk about attention-grabbers and compliment-getters! As you may know, I really like plain outfits (cheap, easy, no fuss) with bling-bling accessories (also cheap, easy, and no fuss), and I think I'm going to put this combo in my permanent collection. People are always telling me how fabulous I look- I dont tell them it takes me all of 5 minutes to get ready in the morning!

Big Honkin' Bangle: $24

Sequin Fabulocity Purse: $45

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

New Products, Sale and Podcast! Wowza!

2007-08-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

This month, we have a whole bunch of new products! And they're bolder and flashier than ever! As always, we have a fabulous sale going on to help you save big!

In other HUGE news, we have a new credit card processing system in place! Paypal is still a payment option, but we are now accepting Visa, Mastercard and Discover- all without having to leave our site!

Mom and I are very excited to be working on a new Podast! We will be launching in iTunes very shortly. If you'd like to be on our podcast, call our listener line at 206-600-6298. Leave a message, and we'll play it one of the debut episode of our podcast!

Have a wonderful August, and happy shopping!

Ashley

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

© Copyright 2007. Ashley’s Big Secret, Inc.

View from the other side

2007-07-30T04:13:00.000-07:00

One rich lady comes up to another rich lady at the Country Club and offers her condolences on the recent death of the first oady’s husband.

The first lady says, “Thank you for your good wishes. We gave my late husband quite a sendoff. In fact, I spent $50,000 on his funeral.”

Amazed at the amount spent, the second lady says, “My goodness, $50,000. That is a lot of money. What did it include?”

The first lady says, “Well, I spent $5,000 on the coffin, $5,000 on the cemetery plot, $5,000 on the interment and $35,000 on the stone.”

The second lady says, “That must be quite a stone!”

At which point the first lady holds out her hand, displaying a huge diamond ring saying, “thank you, it is quite a stone.”

There is a point to my story, believe it or not.

You don’t have to say goodbye to your husband and you don’t have to spend loads of money for flashy, fabulous, fashion-forward fun jewelry. Just go to www.ashleysbigsecret.com and pick out anything in Ashley's online store.

It’s such a good deal and, for $35,000, you could buy more than one medium sized bauble. You could buy everything in the store and still have money left over to do your nails, buy a year’s worth of snacks, and, still, have enough left over to take a trip around the world.

Jeff

Ashley's Faves: Pink, Pink, Pink!!!

2007-07-26T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's no secret- I totally ADORE pink! And with the sparkly new merchandise in, I'm in heaven!

My newest style trick is to take a really, really simple outfit (plain jeans and a plain black or white shirt) and jazz it up with some fun, ostentatious jewelry. I get a ton of compliments on my outfits, and I don't have to spend more than a few minutes throwing it together.

Fauxture Pink Crystal Beads: $17.00

Pink Rocker Bangle: $7.00

Pink Rhinestone Bangle: $18.00

For a grand total of $42, you'll look like a million bucks!

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Fancy Gold Jewelry

2007-07-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm feeling fancy! I'm loving gold and sparkly combos. They are just so delightful! And with so many weddings and posh summer parties coming up, I'm going to need them!

Flashy Gold Rhinestone Cuff: $26.00

Ritzy Rhinestone Necklace: $19.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

We are super excited about...

2007-07-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Shannon Sutherland!

Ms. Sutherland is a fabulous, New York-based comedienne who does a riotous blend of fashion and comedy- what could be better? We just adore her! She's absolutely hysterical, yet down to earth... and LOVES pink like us!!!

We are very, very proud to have sponsored Ms. Sutherland's latest show by donating a few fabulous items for her and a lucky winner in her audience!

Go check her out at shannonspassions.blogspot.com or on her myspace page and give her some love!

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Princess Ring

2007-07-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's no secret that I fake it! (See: DoYouFakeIt.com) There is an art to faking it well, and rings like this are some of my favorite secret weapons! Made with 18KGE and Cubic Zirconias, it gives real-diamond-divas a run for their money! And for $27, how can you pass it up?

Princess Ring: $27

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Pink and Gold

2007-07-16T08:26:00.001-07:00

Ok, so my new favorite combo is Pink and Gold. They look positively delicious together! Ok, ok, so you know I love pink, and of course I do love gold- but together they look rich, classy and utterly fabulous!

The two items shown, Pink Circle Shell Earrings and Pink Sparkly Beads, are my faves because they combine both fabulous colors in one item. However, I have also been wearing monochrome gold accessories with pink blouses and jeans- I feel like a total rockstar!

Pink Circle Shell Earrings: $8.00

Pink Sparkly Beads: $21.00

Start shopping Ashley's Big Secret now!

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Ashley's Faves: Big, Beautiful Beads

2007-07-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

I adore this necklace set!!! Big, bold colors are all the rage, and this is the perfect accessory for those loud hues. With enough style and substance to hold their own, they also go with just any bold color you can come up with. Loves it!

Big, Beautiful Beads: $22.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ashley's Faves: Golden Heart Necklace and Bracelet

2007-07-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Nothing says elegance and style like a really pretty matching set. To start off our Suzzling Summer Sale, we've put two of our best sellers on sale!

They are fun, easy to wear and make a lovely, classic addition to a day or evening outfit.

Golden Multi-Strand Necklace with Heart: ON SALE $16.00

Golden Multi-Strand Bracelet with Heart: ON SALE $14.00

For fabulous accessories, visit AshleysBigSecret.com. Please feel free to comment here, or give us a shout out at writeus@ashleysbigsecret.com.

OMG! I love this lady!

2007-07-02T13:51:00.001-07:00

In this video, Eve Pearl shows how to correctly apply celebrity-style makeup. I'm so in love! I just went over to www.EvePearl.com and bought the video. I'm SO hoping I can make it work! I'll post pics when it arrives!