tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46996747884585994062024-03-13T07:52:29.396-07:00My Cottage RamblingsAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-59768032631506863642013-02-14T12:17:00.002-08:002013-02-14T12:19:40.309-08:00Hey GirlIt's Valentine's Day! And to show my love for my honey he is getting "Hey Girl'ed." You know those "Hey Girl" memes with pictures of Ryan Gosling saying things like "Hey Girl. I hope your sewing table is pretty sturdy?" Well, if you have no idea what I am talking about then you should definitely Google it--we're talking hilarious! Taking the "Hey Girl" meme a step further, the ladies over at <a href="http://www.viewalongtheway.com/">View Along the Way</a>, <a href="http://decorandthedog.blogspot.com/">Decor and the Dog</a>, <a href="http://www.twotwentyone.net/">Two Twenty One</a>, and <a href="http://blissranch.blogspot.com/">Bliss Ranch</a> decided to have a link party where readers shared their own version of the "Hey Girl" meme featuring their significant others. Obviously I had to participate so I created some "Hey Girls" featuring my one and only. I mean what else says love than a sexy photo of your man saying sweet things (even if those things exist entirely in your head)?<br />
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So, without further ado (and permission from my boyfriend who is such a good sport) here is Erik in all of his "Hey Girl" glory:<br />
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Are you dying? I'm dying--I love this man so much! I'm so lucky he is my Valentine.<br />
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Happy Valentine's Day everyone!Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-30197022451195025202013-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:002013-02-05T08:26:02.429-08:00An UpdateSo it's been almost two years since I closed on my house (February 11, 2011)--whoa, right? And although I am most definitely not the most dedicated blogger in the world, I thought I would try to bring those of you who might be interested up to speed on the happenings in my little world over the last few months.<br />
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This past fall and holiday season turned out to be very busy with some expected and some unexpected travel. My mom and I took a fantastic trip together to Arizona and were able to explore Phoenix, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon. It was an unforgettable trip that I will cherish always for the time I got to spend with my mom.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and I at the South Rim</td></tr>
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No sooner had I come down from the highs of a fun vacation when tragedy struck my family. The Monday before Thanksgiving my grandmother (on my mother's side) passed away very unexpectedly while my mom was vacationing at our family beach house. We aren't completely sure of the cause of death, but we think it may have been a heart attack. It was very shocking and devastating to lose her so suddenly especially so close to the holidays. Despite the circumstances, our family pulled together and we all pitched in to make Thanksgiving dinner and give thanks for my grandmother's life and her role in shaping all of us. She will definitely be missed--I know I think of her on an almost daily basis in one way or another.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandmother when she and my grandfather first married</td></tr>
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With both of my grandmothers passing away in 2012 (within 7 months of each other) Christmas was a different affair, but my family got through with spending time together at my parent's house in St. Louis. My nephew was a bright spot of constant entertainment--especially when Uncle Andrew decided to show him how to use a whoopee cushion.<br />
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So that brings us up to this past month of January. Erik and I both had birthdays--he turned 33 on Jan 19th and I turned 31 on Jan 21st--and we had a great time celebrating with family and friends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthdays 31 and 33!</td></tr>
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Overall, I have been feeling pretty good about the year so far, I have really been hitting the gym and trying to stay healthy. I'm hoping I'll have some more good motivation soon (engagement ring? wedding dress shopping? hint, hint. wink, wink). I don't have any major plans for the house this year because that would require something we call money which I don't have any extra of at this moment but hey, I could win the lottery or something so there is that (chuckle, chuckle). But seriously, I have been checking on the HGTV website on the regular for shows that are filming in Atlanta for backyard makeovers so if anyone hears of one please let me know!<br />
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That's about it for my-life-to-date. I'll try to have some posts coming in the future--especially on my favorite new project. Can we say Little Free Library?? : )<br />
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<br />Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-63294937246974681892012-09-17T12:50:00.000-07:002012-09-17T12:50:50.679-07:00Adventures in Manual Photography--Commence!Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a photography class for novice DSLR users and I think it may have changed my life. Well maybe not my <i>life</i> but definitely my life as it relates to photography. I know most of you who are reading this blog (or who have read this blog in the past) remember <a href="http://mycottageramblings.blogspot.com/2011/03/fantastic-housewarming-gift.html">this post</a> that I wrote describing the incredible gift Erik gave me when we first started dating--the ultra new, super sweet Nikon D7000 SLR camera. I have loved photography for years and have always wanted to take my hobby a little further (i.e. beyond point and shoot) so I was very excited to get this new toy. However, despite my best intentions for learning the ins and outs of my fancy new camera, I had yet to advance past the "auto" setting (basically point and shoot). Well I am proud to say that I have (finally) taken the next step (<strike>we won't mention that it only took me a year and a half</strike>) and learned the basics of manual photography. Yay!<br />
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I have always been a visual learner so the books I had purchased when I first got my camera just weren't cutting it. I knew that I needed to actually have someone show me the basics. The class that helped me get there was taught by <a href="http://www.digitalphotoacademy.com/DpaObjects/viewInstructor/25399">Jen Kolb</a> through the<a href="http://www.digitalphotoacademy.com/"> Digital Photography Academy</a> which is based out of New York but has instructors all over the country. I first found out about Digital Photography Academy via Living Social and a deal they were offering for a Composition in the Field class. The price was right and my friend Monique said she would join me so we signed up to see what we could learn. After signing up for the class, I got an e-mail from DPA with some additional classes I might be interested in taking, one of which included an Intermediate photography class for DSLR users. I figured since I knew essentially nothing beyond point and shoot it might be worth my while to take this class--maybe get a leg up for the Composition in the Field class. The cost was $65 for a 4 hour class which I thought was very reasonable.<br />
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I went to the class yesterday not really knowing what to expect and was blown away by my instructor and her knowledge. She combined a PowerPoint presentation with a lot of hands on instruction and a couple of breaks to go out and test the skills being learned in the classroom. We learned about Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO settings, and setting up/programming our cameras. The instructor had a lot of really helpful tips and tricks and was really good at answering our questions (there were only 4 people in the class including myself so I think everyone was able to get plenty of individual attention and instruction). She had us shoot in Aperture mode, shutter speed mode, and then finally (dun dun dun!) manual mode.<br />
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I will say right now that when class began and we were told that we would be comfortable shooting manually in just 4 short hours I was very skeptical. Imagine my surprise when 4 hours later I am bouncing all over the place shooting manually and completely LOVING it! Turns out, with just some simple instruction manual is really not so scary. Of course I have a lot of practicing to do but I think I can safely say that I will never be going back to auto mode again. Oh and I am really looking forward to the Composition class in a couple of weeks! So without further ado, here are some photographs I took yesterday in manual mode (my apologies to those of you who are my Facebook friends and have seen these already):<br />
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<br />Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-30937225017280888292012-08-31T08:17:00.001-07:002012-08-31T08:25:00.464-07:00I Have A Book Problem<br />
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It will come as no surprise to those who know me well but
for anyone who is reading this blog and has never had the privilege (yes,
privilege I say) of making my acquaintance there is something you should know
about me—I am a complete and total nerd when it comes to books. I love to read
and always have. Ever since I can remember I have always had shelves full of
books surrounding me. In fact, while most young children sleep with stuffed
animals, I would actually sleep with my books when I was little (which, from
the stories I am told about my childhood was probably one of my lesser oddities—thank
goodness I am <i>completely</i> normal now--heh).<o:p></o:p></div>
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So before I could afford spending large amounts of money on
books I used to love going to the library where my mom worked for a short time—browsing
the shelves and always coming home with a stack full of books. I was so excited
about the books I read that I wanted to share them with everyone and I even
created a small library in room where my family and friends could “check out”
books from my own personal collection. I was always getting free pizzas from
the school <a href="http://www.bookitprogram.com/">BookIt</a> program and one of my favorite shows was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_Rainbow">Reading Rainbow</a> (<i>"Take a look it's in a book of Reading Rainboooow..."</i>).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Perhaps one of the best childhood stories about my
book-loving obsession that my mom likes to tell is how I totally (at least I
think unknowingly) gave the figurative finger to some haters at the new school
I started when we moved from Georgia to Pennsylvania in the first grade. See,
the Pennsylvania educators didn’t believe my test scores were as good as they
were since all southerners<i> must</i> be
dumb hicks (which, okay, Honey Boo Boo Chile is not doing us any favors in dispelling
that myth) so they gave me several of their own IQ tests. When they were
finally satisfied that I wasn’t completely ignorant , I drove the I-told-you-so
needle in even further by politely asking “now can you please show me to your
library”? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why tell these stories? Well I’m hoping that they will help
you understand the confession I am about to make in that while (I admit) this
problem I have is completely ridiculous it does have some historical bearing.
It’s not pretty and I am not proud of it but I feel as if it is an omission I
must make to control the madness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a book buying problem. As of today I have about 80
books in my house that I have not read (but bought with the good intention of
reading) and for whatever reason I keep buying more. I know what you’re
thinking—I must be broke from buying books. Well no, not really. I buy most of
my books when I am out thrifting at Goodwill so most of the time I get them for
about a $1-$1.50 each which, you know, isn’t too bad in my opinion. A lot of
the books I buy are classics that I feel I should be reading but there are also
a lot of fiction books, some nonfiction books, and a few beach type reads that
I think would be good guilty pleasures (in my crazy mind my unread books should
have variety to accommodate whatever mood I might be feeling when I am never
reading them). <o:p></o:p></div>
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I realize that there is a simple solution to this book
obsession I have—stop buying books until I have read the ones I have--easy,
right? Okay so I have tried that in the past and it lasted for maybe a couple
months. The problem is that I am a slow reader and combined with work and
everything else going on in my life I wasn’t making much progress. Then I would
see a book at the thrift that I had remembered wanting to read and I would be
like “it’s just <i>one</i> book, it’s no big
deal.” Or “but it’s a classic—classics are different than just buying some
trashy literature.” Thus the vicious cycle would begin again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The whole problem really sucks –I like physical books and I
like having them around me. There are worse things to be addicted to right? But
in the sense of practicality and the fact that my current house does not have
any extra room for a library (oh someday) I realize I have got to do something.
I don’t really know what that something is but I am open to suggestions. One
possible solution I have thought of is to publish my list of unread books on
this blog so that you readers can give me the thumbs up/thumbs down on any that
I either <i>must</i> read or ones where I shouldn’t waste
my time. I purchased all the books on my list thinking they might be good so if
there are any that you all out there have read that totally suck I would love to know. On the other hand, I would also love to get excited
about any on the list so if there are some that are truly amazing
must-read-right-away books, please do tell!<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, in all it’s glory I give you Ashley’s Unread Booklist (try
not to be too judgey ok?):<!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span>
LINK Excel.Sheet.12 "C:\\Users\\regan\\Documents\\Book List.xlsx"
"Sheet1!R1:R81" \a \f 5 \h <span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>\*
MERGEFORMAT <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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<td class="xl66" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 207pt;" width="276"><b>Book
Title</b></td>
<td class="xl66" style="width: 149pt;" width="199"><b>Author</b></td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Sweetness at the Bottom of
the Pie</td>
<td> Alan Bradley</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The River King</td>
<td> Alice Hoffman</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Made in America </td>
<td> Bill Bryson</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Rocket Men </td>
<td> Craig Nelson</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">A Heartbreaking Work of
Staggering Genius </td>
<td> Dave Eggers</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Naked </td>
<td> David Sedaris</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Story of Edgar
Sawtelle </td>
<td> David Wroblewski</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Age of Innocence </td>
<td> Edith Wharton</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The House of Mirth</td>
<td> Edith Wharton</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Seamstress of Hollywood
Boulevard </td>
<td> Erin McGraw</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">A Good Man Is Hard to
Find </td>
<td> Flannery O’Connor</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Love in the Time of
Cholera </td>
<td> Gabriel Garcia Marquez</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Middlesex </td>
<td> Geoffrey Eugenides</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Waiting</td>
<td> Ha Jin</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Atonement </td>
<td> Ian McEwan</td>
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<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Grapes of Wrath </td>
<td> John Steinbeck</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Freedom </td>
<td> Jonathan Franzen</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Postmistress </td>
<td> Sarah Blake</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Pride and Prejudice and
Zombies</td>
<td> Seth Grahame-Smith</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Vanity Fair </td>
<td> William Thackeray</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Their Eyes Were Watching
God </td>
<td> Zora Neale Hurston</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Innocent Traitor </td>
<td>Allison Weir</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Saving Fish From Drowning </td>
<td>Amy Tan</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Pilot’s Wife </td>
<td>Anita Shrieve</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Run </td>
<td>Ann Patchett</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Magician’s Assistant </td>
<td>Ann Patchett</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Shipping News </td>
<td>Annie Proulx</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Nickel and Dimed </td>
<td>Barbara Ehrenreich</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Animal Dreams </td>
<td>Barbara Kingsolver</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Stone Diaries </td>
<td>Carol Shields</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Heart is a Lonely
Hunter </td>
<td>Carson McCullers</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Lady Chatterly’s Lover </td>
<td>D.H. Lawrence</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Balzac and the Little Chinese
Seamstress </td>
<td>Dai Sijie</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Snow Falling on Cedars </td>
<td>David Guterson</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Outlander </td>
<td>Diana Gabaldon</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Fiery Cross</td>
<td>Diana Gabaldon</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Little Friend </td>
<td>Donna Tartt</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Angela’s Ashes </td>
<td>Frank McCourt</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">When Everything Changed </td>
<td>Gail Collins</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Madame Bovary </td>
<td>Gustave Flaubert</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Collapse</td>
<td>Jared Diamond</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Eyre Affair </td>
<td>Jasper Fforde</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Namesake </td>
<td>Jhumpa Lahiri</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Strange But True </td>
<td>John Searles</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">A Civil Action </td>
<td>Jonathan Harr</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Kite Runner </td>
<td>Khaled Hosseini</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Inheritance of Loss </td>
<td>Kirin Desai</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">War and Peace </td>
<td>Leo Tolstoy</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Master Butcher’s Singing
Club </td>
<td>Louise Erdrich</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Tara Road </td>
<td>Maeve Binchy</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Blind Assassin </td>
<td>Margaret Atwood</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gone With the Wind </td>
<td>Margaret Mitchell</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Stiff </td>
<td>Mary Roach</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Omnivore’s Dilemma </td>
<td>Michael Pollan</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">American Gods </td>
<td>Neil Gaiman</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ender’s Game </td>
<td>Orson Scott Card</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Cotton Queen </td>
<td>Pamela Morsi</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Good Earth </td>
<td>Pearl Buck</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Constant Princess </td>
<td>Phillipa Gregory</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Boleyn Inheritance </td>
<td>Phillipa Gregory</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Watership Down </td>
<td>Richard Adams</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">A Reliable Wife </td>
<td>Robert Goolrick</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Satanic Verses </td>
<td>Salman Rushdie</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Shalimar the Clown </td>
<td>Salman Rushdie</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Birth of Venus </td>
<td>Sarah Dunant</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">In the Company of the
Courtesan </td>
<td>Sarah Dunant</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Affinity </td>
<td>Sarah Waters</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Little Stranger </td>
<td>Sarah Waters</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Fingersmith </td>
<td>Sarah Waters</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Adam and Eve </td>
<td>Sena Jeter Naslund</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jane Slayre </td>
<td>Sherri Browning Erwin</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jonathan Strange and Mr.
Norell </td>
<td>Susanna Clarke</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Bell Jar </td>
<td>Sylvia Plath</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Once and Future King </td>
<td>T.H. White</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Sarah’s Key </td>
<td>Tatiana de Rosnay</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Things They Carried </td>
<td>Tim O’Brien</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">The Girl with the Pearl
Earring </td>
<td>Tracy Chevalier</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">In Cold Blood </td>
<td>Truman Capote</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Life of Pi </td>
<td>Yann Martel</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">White Teeth </td>
<td>Zadie Smith</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]-->Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-4891153973460028872012-08-28T11:03:00.001-07:002012-08-28T11:26:39.204-07:00Hello blog world! I realize I have been on a bit of a hiatus for the last 5 months and whether anyone really cared or not, I don't really know (crickets?)....at any rate I have decided to attempt to blog regularly again so woo-hoo and here we go...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Top 10 Things That Have Happened in My Life While I Have Been Too Lazy To Blog:</div>
<div>
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<div>
1. My grandmother (on my dad's side) passed away at the end of April. Although my family was deeply saddened by the loss of such a wonderful lady we had the great opportunity to visit with her up until the very end and create some truly beautiful memories. We sang songs, looked at old photos, and made sure she knew how much she was loved. It was hard to let her go, but I know she is dancing with my grandfather somewhere and watching over us all.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vg2I_9nVhg/UD0FVjnhRfI/AAAAAAAAAkM/10JoNttkURA/s1600/gambride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Vg2I_9nVhg/UD0FVjnhRfI/AAAAAAAAAkM/10JoNttkURA/s320/gambride.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandmother on her wedding day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SS3Gajcw9jc/UD0FVw3zQXI/AAAAAAAAAkU/J2-kh4nRJ-4/s1600/love+letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SS3Gajcw9jc/UD0FVw3zQXI/AAAAAAAAAkU/J2-kh4nRJ-4/s320/love+letters.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading love letters we found that my grandfather had<br />
written to my grandmother during WWII</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. My cousin Veronica graduated from the College of Charleston in May and Erik and I were able to visit with her, my aunt, my uncle, my other cousin, and my mom's parents. This was the first time Erik met my aunt, uncle, and cousin Carter, as well as meeting my my grandmother and grandfather. It was also his first time visiting the family beach house in Isle of Palms.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45hBzsvbqZc/UD0FVNlJvbI/AAAAAAAAAkE/1ZuPZWCmJuE/s1600/erikiop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45hBzsvbqZc/UD0FVNlJvbI/AAAAAAAAAkE/1ZuPZWCmJuE/s320/erikiop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time at IOP! Ahhhhhh...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
3. My washer decided to breathe it's last breath in June and my kitchen sink sprouted a leak in the same weekend. Therefore, I spent a small chunk o' change to buy a new washer and new sink. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. A good family friend got married at the end of July here in Atlanta and my mom and dad came down from St. Louis so we could all go to the wedding. We had a great time (maybe a little <i>too</i> good of a time--Erik ended up passing out on the couch and sleeping with one eye open! Seriously, I have the video to prove it).\</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5. Lulu turned 1 in May, but we have officially been her parents for 1 year as of July 31st.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sGdnmnzYDZI/UD0GalEm3aI/AAAAAAAAAk0/Vx0FPqR6My4/s1600/famphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sGdnmnzYDZI/UD0GalEm3aI/AAAAAAAAAk0/Vx0FPqR6My4/s320/famphoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First "Family" hiking trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
6. I finally bit the bullet and joined a new kickboxing gym in Atlanta. It is expensive, but has totally been kicking my butt. Definitely worth it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
7. Lots of babies being birthed! Erik's sister had her second baby, a son named Parker in April and my best friend Lauren had her second baby, a daughter named Charlotte on August 6th. Although they are both super cute I can't say I am anywhere close to wanting one of my own yet--I'm having quite enough fun being a doting aunt!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEQHP6vpnRc/UD0FUWsjCyI/AAAAAAAAAj8/tPWo_wWr1h0/s1600/erikandparker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VEQHP6vpnRc/UD0FUWsjCyI/AAAAAAAAAj8/tPWo_wWr1h0/s320/erikandparker.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik and Little P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
8. Erik almost died from an infection as a result of a chipped tooth. I am not exaggerating. OK, well maybe a little--but it was really, really, bad! After an ER visit, a couple shots, a serious round of antibiotics, AND a root canal he is doing much better now. A lesson to all--do not neglect your teeth!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
9. Erik and I have been participating in a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) so we have been getting all kinds of farm-grown, organic veggies every Wednesday. While totally awesome, it has also been quite the challenge for me cooking-wise as I have had to be inventive with some of the more random vegetables.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpVN4KR3kvc/UD0FXogj2fI/AAAAAAAAAks/RDE5C9qS0gw/s1600/summerveg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpVN4KR3kvc/UD0FXogj2fI/AAAAAAAAAks/RDE5C9qS0gw/s320/summerveg.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A summer vegetable saute I made up with some CSA veggies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
10. My sweet nephew Regan turned 1 in July and is currently riding out his first hurricane in New Orleans (stay safe everyone!).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJmN49uNm9Y/UD0FXTOvXZI/AAAAAAAAAkk/JcuOWllw5bw/s1600/reganfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJmN49uNm9Y/UD0FXTOvXZI/AAAAAAAAAkk/JcuOWllw5bw/s320/reganfood.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regs! Always ready to party! : )</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So that about gets you all caught up on the recent happenings in my life. Hopefully you will forgive me for being gone so long (those of you who noticed of course) and I promise to be a little better about keeping things updated!<br />
<br /></div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-63636262380420071622012-03-30T08:17:00.001-07:002012-03-30T08:27:55.487-07:00Finally Free (Happiness is NOT Overrated!)<div class="MsoNormal">I read a lot of blogs. Some are written by close friends of mine and others are by people I have never met before in my life. Some of the blogs focus on home improvement, some on family and marriage, some are just hilarious encounters occurring in everyday lives, and of course we cannot forget the juicy gossip blogs (I know gossip is <i>bad</i> but whatever—everyone has their guilty pleasures). The variety of blogs out on the interwebs is endless, I tell you. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Recently I stumbled across a blog that has really touched me and made me think. While perusing one of my favorite gossip blogs <a href="http://laineygossip.com/">Laineygossip</a>, I discovered a blog called <a href="http://www.hisgiantmistake.com/">His Giant Mistake</a>. Lainey was discussing the topic of cheating and whether it’s ever okay and if one ever happens to fall into that circumstance of my-partner-cheated-on-me if it is ever really possible to forgive. The author of His Giant Mistake, Cleo, is experiencing this situation as we speak and she is blogging about it in real time. Last fall she discovered her husband was having an affair which all started with what she calls “the pocket call” while he was out of town on business. Her blog details every emotion she felt as she has felt it and focuses on how she is dealing with the situation today. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop—the way she writes about her experiences is so beautifully expressed and I have to say that I felt immediately connected to her, this person I have never even met. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">See, a lot of the emotions she writes about were the exact same emotions I felt when breaking up with my ex. Yes, technically he may not have cheated on me but the betrayal and hurt I felt by him were very, very, real. Here was this person I trusted who kept feeding me with false information of a proposal year after year and despite warnings by family and friends I made excuses for him. What I failed to realize was that he had checked out of our relationship a long time ago, he just couldn’t bring himself to let me know. He lied to me and others—giving me false hope when deep down I know he knew the truth all along. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For a while I was very bitter and angry about the situation. Angry that he had wasted my time and angry with myself for putting up with it for so long. I commented on one of Cleo’s posts on HGM, telling her my story briefly. She responded and it felt good to communicate with someone who understood what I had felt. She also brought up a good point—how do we let ourselves get strung along in these relationships that are so obviously toxic? There are always warning signs. Why do we choose to ignore them?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For me I think the blindness initially began because of my love for this person (which I believe is very common) and eventually I think it just turned into this personal quest to prove to everyone how wrong they were to question if a proposal was ever going to happen—to question “our” love. Of course I realize now that I was deluding myself and I almost laugh at the hilarity of it all. I mean, what the <i>hell</i> was I thinking??? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At one point in her blog, Cleo states that her ex-husband, “The Genius,” probably gave her the greatest gift by having an affair in the end because she was able to re-discover what it meant to love herself and be true to her wants and desires. I cannot agree with her more on this point. I almost cry when I think about what my life would be like today if I had stayed with my ex. The fact is that no one should have to put their lives on hold to wait for anyone. Relationships are meant to be experienced together and if you are not on the same page as your partner (and it doesn’t look like you ever will be) for god sakes move on! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I cannot even begin to express the difference there is in being in a relationship where you genuinely love and care for someone and a relationship where everything is focused on selfishness. Relationships don’t work when there is someone who is constantly saying “well this is what <i>I</i> want” and “this is what <i>I</i> need” and “why can’t you just change.” It seems so logical but, take it from me, you would be surprised what you can convince yourself of when the mind is willing. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I still see myself bracing when I’m with Erik whenever I say certain things or do something silly that would have gotten eye rolls or started some dumb fight when I was with my ex. Instead he just jokes back or does something equally as silly. Even though we have been together for over a year I am constantly amazed that he doesn’t find my sense of humor corny and annoying or see my playfulness as “too cutesy” and “not sexy enough.” Everything is about <i>our</i> future and <i>our</i> wants--<i>our</i> desires. With my ex everything was always split right down the middle—this is yours and this is mine. Whenever we bought something it was always split in half even though we had lived together for almost 3 years (this is a huge red flag btw ladies). I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to be with someone who actually sees the future as “us”, “we”, and “ours.” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So today I say thank you to my ex. Thanks for letting me be free. I am so much happier than I was 2 years ago and I am pretty certain you probably are too. I forgive you for your selfishness and your cowardliness because it has allowed me to finally know what it feels like to be truly loved and desired. I think I have finally gotten to the place where I can wish you the best (a year and a half is what it takes I guess). And to Cleo (if you ever find my tiny blog)-- thank you for sharing your story. I think it is so important that everyone know how to love themselves first because, ultimately, you are the only one responsible for your own happiness. Don’t <i>ever</i> wait on someone else. It’s cliché but life really is too short! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to check out HGM you can find Cleo <a href="http://www.hisgiantmistake.com/">here</a>. I suggest starting from the beginning. <o:p></o:p></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-71429820283893990992012-03-25T12:08:00.002-07:002012-03-26T06:28:00.561-07:00State of the House Address 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So I know it's been awhile since my last post--please forgive me--and I don't even really have much of an excuse. I guess you could say I've just been living life. Suffice it to say I missed documenting my 1 year "blogaversary" (oh the shame) and the 1 year anniversary of when I moved into my house. Oy vey! I am indeed the worst blogger ever. <br />
<br />
So to make up for missing this auspicious time in (my) history I thought I would give an update on the state of my house. This time last year I had just finished painting inside and out, was finally clearing away all the boxes from the move-in, hanging pictures, patiently waiting for my new couch to arrive and preparing for my sister's baby shower. I had also bought a couple of new appliances (a sweet Kitchen Aid dishwasher and an over-the-oven-microwave), installed new gutters, and cleaned up my horrendous backyard. Looking back, I realize now that I did quite a bit up front. Unfortunately that meant I exhausted my "home improvement" budget pretty early on. Therefore, other than buying a lawnmower, adding some weather stripping to the doors and planting a couple of flowers here and there not much in the way of home improvements have really happened in the cottage over the last 6 months.<br />
<br />
Thank goodness it's another year and with it comes some extra fun money in the form of a government tax return. Yay for owning a house and getting money back! After paying off a couple of credit cards (Macy's you are the devil) I have a small pot of money to put into completing some much-needed house projects. Number 1 on the list was adding some insulation to the attic. I've known since I moved in that this needed to be done (it was noted in my home inspection) but after a year of ridiculously high energy bills and what is looking to be the beginnings of a hot summer I figured I would go ahead and get 'er done. So, Erik and I made a trip to Home Depot today and picked up about 20 bags of cellulose insulation and were able to rent the blower to install the insulation ourselves for free. We decided to go with cellulose because it is a "greener" option (made of 85% recycled material) and it is more fire-retardant than fiberglass. We also learned that rodents don't like it as much as fiberglass so that's always a good thing.<br />
<br />
It took us two trips to get all the equipment back to the house but the set-up was pretty easy and once we got started it went pretty quick (I would say we did all 20 bags in around 2 hours). The process is a 2 person job--Erik was up in the attic blowing the insulation while I stayed outside and loaded the bundles of insulation into the machine. I have to say that both jobs were quite messy and if you are attempting to do this at home do not ignore the warnings to wear a mask and safety goggles. This stuff is dusty!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpwP4hx3zJw/T29gcZ9r0cI/AAAAAAAAAfo/lDUJ43QnjOg/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpwP4hx3zJw/T29gcZ9r0cI/AAAAAAAAAfo/lDUJ43QnjOg/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My job was to load these 20 bags into the machine (right) while<br />
Erik blew it into the attic</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dr9x4KZPEPc/T29gfuRGNwI/AAAAAAAAAfw/vigAaCHYWAs/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dr9x4KZPEPc/T29gfuRGNwI/AAAAAAAAAfw/vigAaCHYWAs/s320/134.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The attic before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OImBFozxHSU/T29giPQzQZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/b3i6BoVo748/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OImBFozxHSU/T29giPQzQZI/AAAAAAAAAf4/b3i6BoVo748/s320/141.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another before. It is recommended here in GA<br />
that you insulate to the R30 mark. As you can see<br />
we were nowhere close with the current insulation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dx_ytXT59vc/T29gkor-kkI/AAAAAAAAAgA/5EQ6_qPA8g8/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dx_ytXT59vc/T29gkor-kkI/AAAAAAAAAgA/5EQ6_qPA8g8/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This paper indicated the last time insulation was blown in was in 1999. <br />
I'd say it was about time for the update.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uFcX6TX3nc/T29goS5agWI/AAAAAAAAAgI/8oaVNuX3ATE/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uFcX6TX3nc/T29goS5agWI/AAAAAAAAAgI/8oaVNuX3ATE/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The machine at work. I unwrapped each bale and broke it into big chunks<br />
which the machine then broke up into smaller bits.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T84aXUHobr4/T29gsKBMEtI/AAAAAAAAAgU/nBXGiudi8zY/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T84aXUHobr4/T29gsKBMEtI/AAAAAAAAAgU/nBXGiudi8zY/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very dusty job, but unlike fiberglass this doesn't irritate your skin.<br />
I also found it smelled like old books.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oHcuXxZLBTs/T29gvSXw5UI/AAAAAAAAAgc/iqE2rue6ltA/s1600/148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oHcuXxZLBTs/T29gvSXw5UI/AAAAAAAAAgc/iqE2rue6ltA/s320/148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The attic after 20 bags of insulation. We are now close to the R38 mark!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dacBnD73g4/T29gyziJ3JI/AAAAAAAAAgk/wc67K0p4PmY/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dacBnD73g4/T29gyziJ3JI/AAAAAAAAAgk/wc67K0p4PmY/s320/149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another after shot. So much better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As you can see from the before and afters there is a significant improvement. I can only hope we put enough down and that we start seeing some lower energy bills soon. Fingers crossed!<br />
<br />
Next up on the to-do list (currently in progress actually) is re-grouting in the bathroom shower and gluing back some loose tiles. This is just a temporary fix until we can get together some kind of guesstimate as to the cost of re-tiling the shower and floor because in addition to the shoddy work the previous renovators did (we have discovered rotting boards and some other construction errors) there are several cracked tiles that just look like crap.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2iYV63dqwQ/T29iRJVnrpI/AAAAAAAAAg0/MBk4DZjWNO8/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2iYV63dqwQ/T29iRJVnrpI/AAAAAAAAAg0/MBk4DZjWNO8/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik working on the tile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6-Q8iQkcLc/T29jTXiY4bI/AAAAAAAAAiM/iCQSgoj7Yow/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6-Q8iQkcLc/T29jTXiY4bI/AAAAAAAAAiM/iCQSgoj7Yow/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gross rotting wood that will need to be replaced when we re-tile</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Luckily Erik is pretty experienced with laying tile so in the end we should be able to do the whole re-tile fairly cheaply. I just need to decide what I want to put in (be ready for some tile selection posts in the near future). Fun, fun, fun!<br />
<br />
So those are the top 2 things on the priority list right now. Other things we would like to do in the near future include re-painting the exterior of the house (the guy who did it so I could get FHA approval did a complete shit job but I didn't really have a choice in picking who did the work), fixing some woodwork on the laundry addition, cleaning up the flower beds in the front yard and building some raised beds for the backyard. I would also really, really, REALLY, love to build a patio or deck in the backyard but limited pool of money=only the necessities right now. Boo.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqDqAsUc-WI/T29j2vMcW3I/AAAAAAAAAiU/hEcW0_dCLxQ/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqDqAsUc-WI/T29j2vMcW3I/AAAAAAAAAiU/hEcW0_dCLxQ/s320/094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've had some squirrels scurrying up into the roof of our laundry addition<br />
so we are going to have to remedy this situation. Luckily this portion is not attached<br />
to the rest of the roof so as far as I know we don't have any critters there. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vNbDYstvew/T29j5tZ0m-I/AAAAAAAAAic/4ArPZRk7OKI/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vNbDYstvew/T29j5tZ0m-I/AAAAAAAAAic/4ArPZRk7OKI/s320/096.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken board under the bathroom window</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nZYXKLFVeZM/T29j8e6UE2I/AAAAAAAAAik/VndeJWTXouY/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nZYXKLFVeZM/T29j8e6UE2I/AAAAAAAAAik/VndeJWTXouY/s320/098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry rot and crumbling drywall under the loose board. Gross. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnQqhygj9ag/T29j--vQwKI/AAAAAAAAAis/fh1711ciB_M/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnQqhygj9ag/T29j--vQwKI/AAAAAAAAAis/fh1711ciB_M/s320/099.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obviously need to fix this. Who knows what happened.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kP9TERBPe0/T29kB5VFNsI/AAAAAAAAAi0/MCFkzJxrqeU/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kP9TERBPe0/T29kB5VFNsI/AAAAAAAAAi0/MCFkzJxrqeU/s320/101.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a little something the painter left. Nice, huh?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzrDuZqUPoQ/T29kGqfP5WI/AAAAAAAAAi8/TzjBbwJQtG4/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzrDuZqUPoQ/T29kGqfP5WI/AAAAAAAAAi8/TzjBbwJQtG4/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik plans on redoing this section of the roof on the laundry addition.<br />
It looks pretty rough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1hzBN0iRHk/T29kJyyBl0I/AAAAAAAAAjE/MY3vzlAxrcs/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1hzBN0iRHk/T29kJyyBl0I/AAAAAAAAAjE/MY3vzlAxrcs/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More shoddy paint work. Le sigh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4AUoEUcOXE/T29kN0DvpBI/AAAAAAAAAjM/Y2Al25ArxWk/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4AUoEUcOXE/T29kN0DvpBI/AAAAAAAAAjM/Y2Al25ArxWk/s320/113.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to sneak a Lulu pic in here. She kept me company while<br />
we were trying to get the insulation done. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lBS5b23RZHE/T29lsJh1LGI/AAAAAAAAAjc/D7KTodz7CvQ/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lBS5b23RZHE/T29lsJh1LGI/AAAAAAAAAjc/D7KTodz7CvQ/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She brought me lots of sticks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And there you have it. The state of my house as of today, March 24, 2012. Here's to lower energy bills and a newly tiled bathroom! (I hope!)Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-44511827674390428142012-02-17T08:20:00.002-08:002012-02-17T08:22:27.256-08:00Reason #108: Why I Love My BoyfriendBecause we can exchange Valentines like these on Valentine's Day:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlMAQEl2VsY/Tz59S-MLuvI/AAAAAAAAAfI/o6V2T45IYGg/s1600/bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlMAQEl2VsY/Tz59S-MLuvI/AAAAAAAAAfI/o6V2T45IYGg/s320/bear.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik's Valentine to me. Courtesy of this <a href="http://i.imgur.com/6HxYf.jpg">link</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2meVjuL9myg/Tz59UFmb-gI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/rn7cMpSq0Dc/s1600/honey+badger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2meVjuL9myg/Tz59UFmb-gI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/rn7cMpSq0Dc/s320/honey+badger.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Valentine to Erik. Courtesy of this <a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/703756161694987_9YERJVxS.jpg">link</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Weird, yes, but strangely romantic. Don't you think? Nothing beats a Valentine greeting with the word "shit" in it--especially when combined with a cute and cuddly honey badger.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-44120749263032187732012-02-16T12:36:00.001-08:002012-02-16T12:37:41.354-08:00Pinterest Recipe ReviewsI know I said back in January I would try incorporating some <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> inspired forays into the blog and so here goes the first of what will more than likely be many posts on this glorious website (because I, like probably all females with internet access, am addicted to Pinterest. Admittance is the first step right?).<br />
<br />
*By the way if you don't know what Pinterest is click <a href="http://pinterest.com/">here</a> (just don't blame me when you look at the clock and begin to wonder where the last 4 hours went. Just a friendly warning).<br />
<br />
Two of my favorite categories on Pinterest are the recipe boards and the DIY boards because I love to cook and love to craft on occasion. Since I have been more successful in trying out recipes that is what I will be sharing today.<br />
<br />
Because I'm trying to be healthy (re: back on Weight Watchers) I have been testing mostly low-cal recipes. The bulk of these have been dedicated to my new best friend quinoa. If you've never had quinoa before it is what they call a "superfood" which means it is a whole grain packed with all kinds of nutrients and protein. To me it looks kinda like couscous and you cook it pretty much the same way you cook rice. The best thing about it is that 2 cups of dry quinoa makes about 6 cups of cooked quinoa. So if you make a batch at the beginning of the week you can use it for all kinds of things throughout the week. Simple and quick. Oh and I should mention that these recipes are all boy approved (Erik was forced to go vegetarian with me the week as I tried these recipes out).<br />
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*Just an FYI, all of these recipes can be found on Pinterest or you can click on the recipe name below and it will take you to the website that posted the original recipe.<br />
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Recipe #1: <a href="http://eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/love-my-quinoa-burger/">Quinoa Burgers</a>--This recipe was delicious! I served the burgers with this creamy greek yogurt style dill and feta dip (made by Marzetti I believe) and they were amazing. Highly recommend.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eO-i0l8Q7oI/Tz1l8TqByII/AAAAAAAAAew/vkbVhMVK32A/s1600/quinoa+burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eO-i0l8Q7oI/Tz1l8TqByII/AAAAAAAAAew/vkbVhMVK32A/s320/quinoa+burger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quinoa Burgers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Recipe #2: <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/18/healthy-mac-cheese-makeover/">Quinoa "mac and cheese</a>"--I had high hopes that this would satisfy my lusting for mac and cheese but alas, I was a bit disappointed. It tasted great but there really was no confusing this dish for old fashioned mac and cheese. I would say go ahead and try this recipe if the idea of quinoa and cheese excites you but if you are really carving mac and cheese just bite the bullet and eat the real thing. You will probably be much more satisfied.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPePqnXafbg/Tz1l9GyaxRI/AAAAAAAAAe4/_bqoQ_jz5IQ/s1600/quinoa+mac+and+cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lPePqnXafbg/Tz1l9GyaxRI/AAAAAAAAAe4/_bqoQ_jz5IQ/s320/quinoa+mac+and+cheese.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quinoa Mac and Cheese</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Recipe #3: <a href="http://eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/">Broccoli, Cheese, and Quinoa Casserole</a>--Another very good recipe. I added chicken to mine to add a little extra protein. It was filling and was very comfort food-like.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hwp1yF_HMA/Tz1l6Lj17fI/AAAAAAAAAeY/hVWwaQth9HA/s1600/broccoli+quinoa+casserole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hwp1yF_HMA/Tz1l6Lj17fI/AAAAAAAAAeY/hVWwaQth9HA/s320/broccoli+quinoa+casserole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quinoa Broccoli and cheese casserole</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Recipe #4 (moving away from quinoa) <a href="http://www.snackpicks.com/en_US/recipes/details/multi-grain-crackers-with-white-bean-spread.html">White Bean dip</a>--I made this dish as a healthy alternative to take to a superbowl party and I was very pleasantly surprised. It was very easy to make (uses two cans of cannelloni beans + various other ingredients) and had the look and consistency of hummus. I served it with the Special K crackers but it also tasted very good with baby carrots or you could even use pita bread or pita chips.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jGodlrj9S4/Tz1l9n-9QaI/AAAAAAAAAfA/m5LmeJ0X4ZQ/s1600/white+bean+dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jGodlrj9S4/Tz1l9n-9QaI/AAAAAAAAAfA/m5LmeJ0X4ZQ/s320/white+bean+dip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Bean dip</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Recipe #5: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/lemon_dill_chicken.html">Lemon Dill Chicken Breasts</a>--I made this last night for dinner and served it with whole wheat orzo and mixed veggies. I really loved the lemony-dill sauce that goes over the chicken. It has a nice flavor and for under 200 calories it was a very satisfying dish. Both Erik and I took leftovers for lunch today and it re-heated nicely.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TfWY8zQ8OPc/Tz1l7-wyIOI/AAAAAAAAAeo/GyyaLYcVBpI/s1600/lemon+dill+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TfWY8zQ8OPc/Tz1l7-wyIOI/AAAAAAAAAeo/GyyaLYcVBpI/s1600/lemon+dill+chicken.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon and dill chicken breasts</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Recipe #6: <a href="http://www.mamalovesfood.com/2011/10/corn-and-potato-chowder-recipe-for.html">Slow cooker corn and potato chowder</a>--So this recipe may not technically be healthy but it was damn good--especially on a cold winter night. Not to mention you make it in the crock pot which is the most amazing invention ever (well...almost). This is a must-make blog friends. Try it very soon and you won't be disappointed!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKSnIw6ImFw/Tz1l7c1WyuI/AAAAAAAAAeg/avsoCyDBAA8/s1600/corn+chowder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKSnIw6ImFw/Tz1l7c1WyuI/AAAAAAAAAeg/avsoCyDBAA8/s320/corn+chowder.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potato and Corn Chowder</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Well there you have it. I could go on but six is a nice even number so I'll stop there for now. Hope you enjoy these and let me know if you've tried any good Pinterest recipes lately.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-4681173822935625912012-02-14T13:26:00.000-08:002012-02-14T13:26:15.792-08:00Filing This One Under: "Yes, that really just happened"Happy Valentine's Day all you friends, family members, stalkers, etc! Hope it is filled with flowers, candies, jewels, sweet cards, romantic moments, and lots of love.<br />
<br />
My Valentine's Day agenda includes bowling this evening (Erik and I are members of a bowling league sponsored by my company. We even have our own custom made bowling balls! It's super klassy.) followed by me trying to force Erik into watching one of my favorite movies of all time: When Harry Met Sally. Or maybe we will watch something else I haven't decided yet. I have been joking the last couple of weeks about making him take me to see The Vow but then I don't really want to be THAT girlfriend dragging her guy to a sappy movie on Valentine's Day. So Erik honey, at least you lucked out on that one.<br />
<br />
Anyways.<br />
<br />
The real reason I am posting is to tell the story of how I realized this morning that I am fully capable of taking down criminals in my sleep (even if they turn out to be imaginary). This realization proves to me that 1) I need to watch less violent shows before bedtime and 2) you can feel like a complete badass and a complete dumbass at the same time.<br />
<br />
Let's rewind to about 6:45 this morning.<br />
<br />
I'm in the midst of a dream where I have just been robbed. Everything in my house is gone except for some things in my bedroom. I am pissed and completely freaked since this robber stole virtually everything of value that I own. All of a sudden I have this realization that I may have hidden some of my valuables in my closet so I am on my knees tossing things around before I happen to see that yes! I did hide away a few precious things.<br />
<br />
Just when I have this realization I feel this thump to the middle of my back and the air rushes out of my lungs. I know immediately that the robber has come back and has just seen this secret hidden stash. In my head I am thinking "fight back" but at the same time I am hurt so I'm having difficulty moving. So with all the strength I can muster I roll my body backwards seemingly to hit the robber with my arm and try to hurt him when...<br />
<br />
Crash.<br />
<br />
I find myself tumbling over the side of my bed and crashing onto my hardwood floors scaring the crap out of my poor cats (and myself for that matter). For a second I couldn't understand what was happening and I thought that maybe I had accidentally hit Erik when he was trying to kiss me goodbye as he left for work but thankfully he was nowhere to be seen. I may have muttered "oh god, oh god" a couple of times before I crawled back into bed a little bewildered by the fact that I had believed what I was dreaming so much that I literally flung myself out of bed.<br />
<br />
It's still one of those things that I am remembering now that seems so hazy and foggy like "did that really happen"? But oh yes, blog friends I am afraid that really did happen and I am pretty sure I will have the bruises to prove it later. The funny thing about all of this is that Erik was in the house when all this was happening but he didn't hear <i>any</i> of it. I can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing because I could have really hurt myself but it was totally mortifying when I realized what had actually happened as I was sitting on the floor. At any rate I told him that he should be careful because I am now prone to physical violence of suspected imaginary robbers in my sleep, to which he replied, "It's okay. I think I accidentally hit you in the face last night."<br />
<br />
Now that's love.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-84963549118579695962012-02-09T10:19:00.000-08:002012-02-09T10:22:26.389-08:00Blue February<div class="MsoNormal">I have hit that point in the New Year where I just want to boycott life-as-usual. They say that the most depressing day of the year is about the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday in January (“Blue Monday”) but this isn’t so much of a problem for me. Since my birthday is January 21<sup>st</sup> I am usually feeling pretty darn good come that Monday (we’ll see how that one changes as I get older heh). For me, Blue Monday was February 6<sup>th</sup>—and it has just carried on into the rest of the week. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Right now I have ZERO motivation to do anything. I stayed home from work on Monday, I refused to go to my Weight Watchers meeting on Tuesday (mostly due to post-Super Bowl food guilt but it did feel strangely good and rebellious to boycott the scale for the day), and I just can’t seem to get my ass off the couch to make it to the gym. To top it all off I [willingly and/or stupidly] went and had a lipids profile done today only to find out that I definitely fall into the “needs improvement” category. Oh yeah and my cats have fleas (most likely brought in by the dog) which have been feasting on me as of late—so there’s that too.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gross. Gross. Gross. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have, however, managed to write this blog post so hooray for small victories?<br />
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Needless to say, I am ready for this week to be over and maybe try to dig up some motivation this weekend. Anyone else having a “blue” February so far? Any suggestions for perking up?<o:p></o:p></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-67287068522048014842012-02-03T07:24:00.000-08:002012-02-03T07:24:46.759-08:00Post January Re-capSo now that the hoopla of turning 30 is behind me it's time to focus on some real issues like who do these mortgage people think they are and why can't they estimate my taxes and insurance correctly??? But we'll get to that.<br />
<br />
First, here are some photos of how my 30th birthday went down. The day involved horrific rain and thunderstorms (and more than 1 tornado warning) here in Georgia along with Erik and I attempting to leave the house for a few hours to grab some breakfast, run some errands, and then make it to dinner reservations in the evening. It wasn't quite the day I had planned, but what can you do?<br />
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*Bear with me--all of these photos were taken on my iphone*<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nyiqtgm9uz8/Tyv37nTmV7I/AAAAAAAAAdw/75qSdK3t9Xk/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nyiqtgm9uz8/Tyv37nTmV7I/AAAAAAAAAdw/75qSdK3t9Xk/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents surprised me with a dozen roses at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2MlSS1aqLc/Tyv38If9FPI/AAAAAAAAAd4/GCrhIWd-S7E/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2MlSS1aqLc/Tyv38If9FPI/AAAAAAAAAd4/GCrhIWd-S7E/s320/photo+(3).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes at Stone Soup Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8AlU9TD_Hjs/Tyv38TWDavI/AAAAAAAAAeA/jA9FXnVu_CU/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8AlU9TD_Hjs/Tyv38TWDavI/AAAAAAAAAeA/jA9FXnVu_CU/s320/photo+(4).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my fave stores The Beehive in Edgewood was<br />
having a warehouse sale just for my birthday (think Etsy in a store)! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMd_oUn2TgE/Tyv381XMBSI/AAAAAAAAAeI/Hx0IrPPp0zU/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMd_oUn2TgE/Tyv381XMBSI/AAAAAAAAAeI/Hx0IrPPp0zU/s320/photo+(5).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scallops at Tantra Restaurant </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SpzudoUvMlY/Tyv3-2mSJbI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/m01rnetYVuQ/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SpzudoUvMlY/Tyv3-2mSJbI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/m01rnetYVuQ/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik and I after dinner--welcome to 30!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>(I have a cake photo or two that I will post eventually when I stop being lazy and actually download pictures from the Nikon. My brother made me a super yummy red velvet cake that didn't last long between my friends, Erik, and I).<br />
<br />
So now that I am 30 and officially an adult (haha) I had another first-time homeowner moment. I got a letter from my mortgage company letting me know that I had a shortage in my escrow account and that I owed them $102. They also informed me that my mortgage payment would go up and I had the option of it either going up $1.33 if I paid the escrow shortage in 10 days or $10 if I wanted to pay the shortage in 12 installments.<br />
<br />
I'm dumb when it comes to stuff like this so I asked my older and wiser co-workers about it and they informed me that yes, this happens when the mortgage company does not estimate taxes or insurance payments correctly. Sometimes there is a shortage and sometimes there is an overage (and they cut you a check). I grumbled about it a little (c'mon peeps--get it right!) but I sucked it up and went ahead and paid the $102. It could've been worse I suppose but it was irritating that I had to spend money I wasn't planning on spending just so my mortgage payment could still be increased.<br />
<br />
Guess this time around it is mortgage company: 1 and Ashley: 0. Guess I'll know better for next year.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-53634741255816477762012-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:002012-01-13T13:25:25.410-08:00Thoughts on Turning 30<div class="MsoNormal">It’s Friday the 13<sup>th</sup> and among other potentially scary thoughts this marks the 8 day countdown to my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday. Hard to believe.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But as I sit here and reflect on this “milestone” birthday I feel more happiness than sadness in saying goodbye to my 20’s. This might be a strange thing to say considering most 20-somethings consider 30 to be “old” (I could include myself in that category. When I was 25, turning 30 couldn’t have been more frightening), but I can safely say that the older you get the less scary these things seem.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The new definition of scary to me now is trying to find that first job, struggling financially, and going through dating and relationship hell—all of which occurred in my 20’s. Sure I had a great time in college but there is a whole lot of uncertainty that comes with being young, immature, trying to assert yourself and determining just what you want from life. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can’t say I have it all figured out now (not by any means) but I definitely feel as if I have a better grip on who I am and who I want to be as I enter into my 30’s and to me that is a very comforting thought. 30 isn’t old to me anymore, it’s the beginning of living my life as a fully capable adult. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you were to ask me when I was 20 where I would be when I turned 30, I would’ve said that I would be married with at least one kid. As you readers know, neither of those things have happened to me and honestly I couldn’t be happier. I am so glad that I didn’t get married young (not to say there is anything wrong with that of course) because if I would have gotten married to the person I thought I should’ve married I know it would have more than likely ended in a bitter divorce and who wants that? I know way too many people who are my age and have been married/divorced and have kids in the whole equation and it’s just one big nasty mess. When people tell you that you should wait until 30 to get married it really is no joke—and I am not just saying this because that happens to be my current situation, I’m saying it because I have seen it first hand with people who are close to me. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But I digress.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what am I looking forward to in my 30’s? Here’s the shortlist:</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ol><li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Being able to take care of myself financially</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Feeling comfortable and capable in my chosen career</span></li>
<li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Being in a relationship that is based on love, not selfishness</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Getting married and possibly starting a family</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Taking every opportunity to be the best aunt ever</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Traveling</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Living healthier than I did in my 20’s </span></li>
<li><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Finding balance with life and who I am as a person</span></li>
</ol><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I guess you could say that I’m an optimist. At the very least I hope that I can look back on this list when I am 40 and know that I set some goals and tried to live the last 10 years as meaningfully as possible. It seems to me that the future doesn't appear so scary if you are hopeful. <o:p></o:p></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-48010226658182260272011-12-29T12:00:00.001-08:002011-12-29T12:10:15.638-08:00Christmas Recap<div class="MsoNormal">Just a little post-Christmas update here—the last couple weeks have been crazy in my house. It seems I haven’t stopped shopping, baking, wrapping, cleaning—basically MOVING—for days. However it was all worth it to be able to spend some time with my family and Erik’s, share holiday traditions, and just enjoy each other. We spent Christmas Eve with Erik's family and had a fantastic time (Erik's mom outdid herself with the food and Erik's nephew got a visit from Santa) and Christmas Day was at my house with my parents who drove all the way from St. Louis to be with my brother and I. The only people we were missing we my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew who were up in Ohio celebrating with my brother-in-law’s family, and Erik's sister Lori and her girlfriend (both of whom I haven't met yet) who were vacationing in Ireland. <---ugh, can we say jealous here??<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have to admit that I was a little nervous about hosting my first family Christmas at the house—mostly because my mom broke her arm a few weeks ago and wasn’t going to be able to help me with cooking and baking which meant Christmas dinner was up to me. Yikes! I wanted everything to be perfect for a couple of reasons: 1. My mom always makes Christmas so special for us at her house and I wanted to do the same for her and my dad, and 2. Erik’s parents were going to be joining us for dinner and it would be the first time our parents would meet. All in all I think everything went very well. Dinner was pretty easy-- I bought a Honeybaked ham (always delish), cooked green beans, a squash casserole, an orange jello salad (a traditional Christmas dinner item in my family), and my mom was able to throw together her yummy scalloped potatoes. Erik’s mom brought dessert—an amazing white chocolate bread pudding that was too tasty for its own good. Everyone ate and chatted and seemed to have a great time. The parents got along well (which I wasn’t too worried about if I’m being completely honest) so I was really happy about that too. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The only misstep that occurred this Christmas was mostly my fault. I made the mistake of giving the same Christmas list to my mom and Erik’s mom. As a result we got 3 immersion blenders (Erik bought one for me having not even seen the list—he just knew we needed one), 2 griddles, and 2 blue-ray dvd players! Admittedly this is not a bad problem for Erik and I as the receiver of these gifts but I did feel bad for both moms. Next year I guess I will need to focus on preparing 2 different lists. Lesson learned. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Oh and just so you readers know the immersion blender was not the only thing I got from Erik. He also gave me an awesome Kindle Fire. Just felt he might want you to know that.)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So with Christmas behind us Erik and I are looking forward to celebrating the New Year together (god, can you believe it’s almost here??). We’ll be partying with my brother and some friends playing games, eating finger food, and praying that 2012 will be full of jobs, good health, and lots of love for everyone. Oh and did I mention it will also be Erik and I’s one year anniversary? That’s right—we had our first date New Year’s Eve last year. Can I get a collective awwwww? It’s almost hard to believe because I feel like we’ve known each other forever. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found such a fantastic, sweet, wonderful, loving, and caring person. You know it must be love when you can’t even think about the person without smiling to yourself…but enough of this gooey gushing. I only wish that everyone could feel as loved as I have this year. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And with that, I hope everyone out there has a fantastic New Year! See you in 2012! : )<o:p></o:p></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-5795500900258278482011-12-12T07:48:00.000-08:002011-12-12T07:48:17.881-08:00Christmas Up In Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As promised here are a few pictures that capture the Christmas spirit I have tried to invoke at the house. My apologies for the picture quality--it is taking some practice to get good indoor shots. Hopefully this will improve will time and practice (and taking the time to learn Photoshop--sigh). Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Zfu_m2yqQ/TuUjpVP-1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/3-cVw7bh4kQ/s1600/DSC_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Zfu_m2yqQ/TuUjpVP-1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/3-cVw7bh4kQ/s320/DSC_2111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mantle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iy5eEiYE5jA/TuUjp9BaUyI/AAAAAAAAAcY/SUq4ZNOroTw/s1600/DSC_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iy5eEiYE5jA/TuUjp9BaUyI/AAAAAAAAAcY/SUq4ZNOroTw/s320/DSC_2125.JPG" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Christmas tree--an eclectic blend of<br />
ornaments from my mom and grandmother. Interesting fact:<br />
the icicles were my grandmother's from the 50's/60's and <br />
they glow in the dark . Random and a little creepy, I know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FcAPkpjg53U/TuUjqi2KBLI/AAAAAAAAAco/pI4XO97ssTE/s1600/DSC_2132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FcAPkpjg53U/TuUjqi2KBLI/AAAAAAAAAco/pI4XO97ssTE/s320/DSC_2132.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornament my mom gave me to commemorate the first year<br />
in the new house.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eCQ_o-KXwNo/TuUjsUv0KmI/AAAAAAAAAdI/_Au5WV0AUKU/s1600/DSC_2162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eCQ_o-KXwNo/TuUjsUv0KmI/AAAAAAAAAdI/_Au5WV0AUKU/s320/DSC_2162.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table Decor</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLih0B5HNFc/TuUjsnqAd6I/AAAAAAAAAdM/xG35MeSv4WI/s1600/DSC_2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLih0B5HNFc/TuUjsnqAd6I/AAAAAAAAAdM/xG35MeSv4WI/s320/DSC_2165.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side note--the contraption to the left is a stove top espresso maker <br />
that I found at the local Goodwill. Haven't tried it out yet but I love the<br />
way it looks with my vintage Santa Christmas card!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-69667910322198552242011-12-11T13:39:00.000-08:002011-12-11T13:40:26.219-08:00Sunday ProjectToday I decided to tackle a project that I have been avoiding for weeks: cleaning out my linen closet. Check out these before and after pictures:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqv5J1y5xtY/TuUhSwoM3MI/AAAAAAAAAbw/3khZti_hTC0/s1600/DSC_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqv5J1y5xtY/TuUhSwoM3MI/AAAAAAAAAbw/3khZti_hTC0/s320/DSC_2218.JPG" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: an embarrassing disaster.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TXEJIAK2hBo/TuUhUPzyIXI/AAAAAAAAAb4/4ZMgShAuZzw/s1600/DSC_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TXEJIAK2hBo/TuUhUPzyIXI/AAAAAAAAAb4/4ZMgShAuZzw/s320/DSC_2223.JPG" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: All fixed up!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All it took was a few storage boxes I picked up from Target and filling up 3 bags of old linens to donate to Goodwill. I'm so glad its all finished though--no more panicking every time I open the door! Hooray for small victories!Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-55737198510976346292011-12-10T10:14:00.000-08:002011-12-10T10:15:22.001-08:00I'm Baaaack!Hello blog world! No I did not fall off the face of the earth--let's just say I took a little breather from writing to tend to what has been an interesting (but ultimately good) fall.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>So what I have been up to lately? Well a lot of work, shopping, decorating, and a little vacationing. I had 3 big projects going on at the same time for work all of which needed to be completed by the end of October and 1 report that needed to be sent out before Thanksgiving. AND my department held a company wide meeting where each member of our team was responsible for a presentation. In my case I had two, both of which were updates on programs I have been working on for the company. Now, generally I will avoid public speaking like the plague (I hate getting in front of a crowd) but since I had no say in the matter I put on my big girl panties and rocked the heck out of my presentations (my boss actually complimented me afterwords--score!). So, yes work has been busy.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In terms of the house, the small budget has limited me from doing any big projects but I have my sights set on purchasing a leaf blower for Christmas (woo-hoo for grown-up presents) to tackle the insanity that has become my backyard. I've decided I hate trees--but only the ones in my backyard. However, in my attempts to forget about my yard I did get the inside of my house ready for Christmas. I'll post some pictures of my tree and mantle later (they're nothing fancy, but I think it looks pretty). Erik keeps joking that I have too many ornaments on the tree. Since when can you have too many ornaments on a Christmas tree??? I have also been hard at work making some homemade Christmas gifts which I am very excited to handout (hopefully the recipients will love them too)! I'll be sure to blog about them after Christmas because they're super cute and very easy.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In other news Erik and I went to my parents house in St. Louis for Thanksgiving. It was the first time he was exposed to my family for an extended period of time with no escape (haha) but I think it all went well. Lots of good food, football, and sleep. Oh and this insanely cute little human being to entertain us all:</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7949DyTouk/TuOgrZwAljI/AAAAAAAAAa4/1Zpfpojs-Oc/s1600/regsthanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7949DyTouk/TuOgrZwAljI/AAAAAAAAAa4/1Zpfpojs-Oc/s320/regsthanksgiving.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regan!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div>We weren't able to take Lulu with us (due to many factors) so we boarded her at this local doggy daycare called <a href="http://www.barkatl.com/">Bark ATL</a> which offers cage-free boarding, 24 hour staffing, and web cams. The webcams were great for us because even though she didn't know we were watching we were able to get some comfort by checking in on her everyday. She was a little confused when we picked her up and brought her home ("what did you guys just put me through???") but after slipping into a doggy coma (I am not kidding when I tell you she pretty slept for the next 3 days) she was her old self again. I guess I can't blame her though-- she had never spent the night away from us before and with all the constant stimulation of being around other dogs 24/7 I know she had to have been exhausted. She was a trooper though and it's hard to believe she is going to be 7 months old next Monday. She is definitely getting big--33 pounds at her last doctor's appointment--but she is very tall and lean. It's amazing that she has gone from this:<br />
<br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zymP2ED1uTU/TuOfwxKnIJI/AAAAAAAAAag/Z5_Cx1dJPUw/s1600/DSC_1642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zymP2ED1uTU/TuOfwxKnIJI/AAAAAAAAAag/Z5_Cx1dJPUw/s320/DSC_1642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> To this in only 4 months:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NluBQaIt5_E/TuOf1yX56VI/AAAAAAAAAao/uNA6qaEvTX4/s1600/DSC_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NluBQaIt5_E/TuOf1yX56VI/AAAAAAAAAao/uNA6qaEvTX4/s320/DSC_2175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWzzTPnJGbU/TuOf3SC9E4I/AAAAAAAAAaw/nKxkl9_ffD4/s1600/DSC_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWzzTPnJGbU/TuOf3SC9E4I/AAAAAAAAAaw/nKxkl9_ffD4/s320/DSC_2181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div>So that's my life in a nutshell right now. I promise I will try and check in more often (since I know you all missed me soooo much-hehe). My goal for the New Year is to concentrate on my photography so I am going to try and accomplish various photo assignments--playing around with shutter speed, aperture, and all that good stuff so stay tuned if you're into that sort of thing. I also hope to blog more about DIY projects since I have become addicted to <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> and what's the point of pinning all of these awesome ideas if I am not actually going to try some of them? Bring it on 2012!</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-90248454892205709412011-10-31T12:57:00.000-07:002011-10-31T13:00:57.665-07:00Happy Halloween and The Walking Dead<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VTA6ARXIDXM/Tq7-YZXrIgI/AAAAAAAAAXU/OnuUqf3wWDc/s1600/walking+dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VTA6ARXIDXM/Tq7-YZXrIgI/AAAAAAAAAXU/OnuUqf3wWDc/s1600/walking+dead.jpg" /></a></div>So yeah, I've been horrible about blogging this past month. Sorry about that. I wish I had a good excuse but alas, I don't. We'll just call it a combination of laziness and being a glutton for perfect fall weather. <br />
<br />
That being said, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!<br />
<br />
Halloween is one of my very favorite holidays of the year. I love the magic of it all--especially the fact that it's the one day of the year it is socially acceptable to be someone (or something, hehe) else. <br />
<br />
In the past, Halloween has always meant dressing up and parties for me but this year has definitely been more low-key. Yes, I've decorated the house and bought some candy for any potential trick-or-treaters (since this is my first Halloween in the new house Im not sure if we'll have any kids come by so I was kind of conservative in my candy purchase) but I didn't get a costume and did not attend any parties this past weekend.<br />
<br />
Instead, Erik and I decided to thoroughly creep ourselves out by watching the first season of The Walking Dead on AMC. If you don't know about this show, I'll try to give a basic summation without giving too much away. Basically the show follows a group of people who have banded together outside of Atlanta, GA mere months after the Zombie Apocalypse. The city has been overrun by "walkers" (a.k.a zombies) and those who have survived are either hiding out in abandoned houses/buildings or camping in the woods. It seems as if no one really knows what has caused the zombie epidemic and there is definitely no known cure at this point. All the characters in the show know for sure is that: 1. don't get scratched or bitten. This leads to a fever, which leads to death, which leads to reanimation, which equals zombification. 2. The zombies are attracted to light 3. The zombies are also attracted to loud noises which means gun shots, yelling, and screaming are all bad ideas when trying to stay hidden.<br />
<br />
The first season of the show is only 6 episodes and they are gory (do not watch if you have a weak stomach). The main characters find themselves in numerous terrifying situations including being trapped in a department store with the "walkers" breaking down the doors, and the infiltration of their safe camp in the woods (because of course the zombies are hungry and having eaten everyone in the city are now migrating to the country). Now I am no zombie apocalypse expert but I do have a few issues with the show thus far:<br />
<br />
1. How are the Zombies able to rip into animals and humans with so much ease? Does zombification include superhuman hand and jaw strength? <br />
2. In the first episode of season 1 (spoiler alert) the characters cover themselves in zombie guts in order to escape the city. It seems to work until a pop-up rainstorm washes the dead smell off of them and the "walkers" catch on. Rainstorm aside, this method seemed to work pretty well yet the main characters never really use this tactic again to escape from any other close calls (ok yeah I realize its horrifyingly disgusting but its called SURVIVAL right??). What's up with that? If it works it WORKS.<br />
3. There isn't enough backstory on the characters themselves. The show gives snippets here and there of some of the characters pre-ZA life but not enough to make me really care about what happens to any of them. This is especially true in season 2 so far. Watching the characters get out of run-in after run-in with the "walkers" is really starting to get old. Also 3 episodes dedicated to a missing girl and a boy needing surgery for a gunshot wound is a little much. This is the Zombie Apocalypse for goodness sake! There is no time for that!! There needs to be more substance. <br />
4. Finally I must mention the Farm of Doom in Season 2 (a.k.a the Greene farm out in the GA countryside). Something weird is going on here. How do they still have electricity and hot water? And how are the zombies not attracted to the lit up house at night? And what's with the fat guy? We're talking several months of scavaging for food and running for your life--how is this guy still overweight?<br />
<br />
I know this is just a show and for entertainment value purposes (and a good Halloween scare) I would definitely recommend it. However, can those of us who are watching agree that there needs to be some plot movement (and answers) soon? Things are getting just a bit ridiculous...<br />
<br />
Speaking of ridiculous (and scary tv shows) who out there has been watching American Horror Story?? It's a train wreck but I can't stop watching!<br />
<br />
Happy Halloween!!Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-1701574168025706452011-10-04T08:19:00.000-07:002011-10-04T08:27:39.671-07:00Welcome Fall!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you know me then you know that I live for this time of year. I love fall--especially the month of October. The weather is perfect, the leaves are beautiful, pumpkins are in season (which means pumpkin pies, breads, coffee...), and there is nothing better to come home to than a cup of hot cider. Oh and it is also the month of one of my favorite holidays--Halloween!</div><br />
So in honor of my fav time of year here is what my house is looking like these days:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f1sn9pztlnM/TosjlbQesqI/AAAAAAAAAWc/EH2fIwkLH2I/s1600/10.4.11+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f1sn9pztlnM/TosjlbQesqI/AAAAAAAAAWc/EH2fIwkLH2I/s320/10.4.11+016.jpg" width="212" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mums, pansies, and pumpkins!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hw_MHOIuZW8/ToskwWmxI2I/AAAAAAAAAWg/Xvr_E3FE2Kg/s1600/10.4.11+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hw_MHOIuZW8/ToskwWmxI2I/AAAAAAAAAWg/Xvr_E3FE2Kg/s320/10.4.11+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mantle</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_6UmDzSzBE/TosRqwZqAMI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/pSanjx65b38/s1600/10.4.11+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_6UmDzSzBE/TosRqwZqAMI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/pSanjx65b38/s320/10.4.11+005.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love these retro Halloween greeting cards!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qy5XhwPbRjw/TosRD_omZoI/AAAAAAAAAWA/lmvfMCAllUM/s1600/10.4.11+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qy5XhwPbRjw/TosRD_omZoI/AAAAAAAAAWA/lmvfMCAllUM/s320/10.4.11+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't pass up this cute little sign I found randomly at Barnes and Noble</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JurhNS3zig/TosRQm-W0hI/AAAAAAAAAWE/7wwQGDy0ACs/s1600/10.4.11+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JurhNS3zig/TosRQm-W0hI/AAAAAAAAAWE/7wwQGDy0ACs/s320/10.4.11+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The Dining Room--my pumpkin tea light centerpiece is from Home Goods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAINsW68Bmw/TosRcOkXmeI/AAAAAAAAAWI/LKFtdWnm5AI/s1600/10.4.11+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAINsW68Bmw/TosRcOkXmeI/AAAAAAAAAWI/LKFtdWnm5AI/s320/10.4.11+022.jpg" width="212" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My cheap (but effective) candle decorations</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCWKXQux454/ToslfTxSx5I/AAAAAAAAAWk/4HvXTAVYRhI/s1600/10.4.11+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCWKXQux454/ToslfTxSx5I/AAAAAAAAAWk/4HvXTAVYRhI/s320/10.4.11+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin candle and Haunted House luminary I scored from<br />
Bath and Bodyworks last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-10425924958662775362011-09-30T11:59:00.000-07:002011-09-30T11:59:19.337-07:00Lulu UpdateIt's been a few weeks since we started Lulu on antibiotics for what we hoped was a UTI so I thought I would give you all an update on how the little girl is doing.<br />
<br />
After we finished her medication a week or so ago she started peeing in her sleep again. Of course this was very frustrating for both Erik and I. Since we definitely couldn't afford a $500 test to determine whether her incontinence was due to a birth defect or something else I decided to call up the Humane Society, plead my case, and hope that they would help us out. Thankfully they offered us assistance and told us we could bring Lulu in and they would run some tests for us. The doctor I spoke with at the Humane Society clinic seemed pretty confident that we didn't have anything to worry about.<br />
<br />
Erik took her in on Wednesday and left her for most of the day. When he went to pick her up he was told that they did not see anything that would indicate she had an ectopic urethra (yay!) but that she did have a significant UTI (apparently the drugs we were giving her didn't complete knock the infection out). She also said that size-wise her bladder was pretty small in comparison to other puppies (like her I guess?). At any rate they gave us some steroids called Proin to get rid of the UTI and strengthen her bladder muscles. We are supposed to continue this treatment for 20 days so hopefully she will get better. Poor girl--a UTI for over a month?? Ouch!<br />
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So it was definitely good news for us on the puppy front--no more worries other than trying to teach her to walk correctly on a leash and not to jump on people (which we still haven't mastered). I think I'm going to sign us up for obedience classes at Pet Smart because I know that I could use some instruction on how to get her to respond better to my commands. I'm hoping it won't be a total train wreck because she is always great at home but once we leave the house all bets are off. <br />
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In other Lulu related news, she weighed in at 24 pounds at the doctor's office on Wednesday (that's up 14 pounds from when we adopted her 7/31)! She has added shake and wait to her repertoire of tricks and has developed a lovely singing voice. No really...she talks all the time. And howls, and yips. She'll have a whole conversation with you especially when she has misbehaved. It is the oddest thing. Even the vet told Erik we had a very vocal dog. The good thing is that she doesn't really bark a lot, except at the cats who still see her as the antichrist.<br />
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So that's it for now. Here are some 4 1/2 month pics for your enjoyment:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-84Iis_lxOaw/ToYQWKNvwGI/AAAAAAAAAV0/IDujIazJjnM/s1600/9.30.11+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-84Iis_lxOaw/ToYQWKNvwGI/AAAAAAAAAV0/IDujIazJjnM/s320/9.30.11+036.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcskpoO_7xo/ToYQWpR7FaI/AAAAAAAAAV4/YdWXOESeAP8/s1600/9.30.11+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcskpoO_7xo/ToYQWpR7FaI/AAAAAAAAAV4/YdWXOESeAP8/s320/9.30.11+044.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Erik</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ziGhi49oURk/ToYQXa90MZI/AAAAAAAAAV8/nUVPItv9qk4/s1600/9.30.11+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ziGhi49oURk/ToYQXa90MZI/AAAAAAAAAV8/nUVPItv9qk4/s320/9.30.11+051.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-58463771323529907662011-09-27T12:26:00.000-07:002011-09-27T12:26:29.541-07:00Life is Funny<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In the last year I’ve had a lot of change in my life. I went from being in an 8 year relationship to being single to meeting a wonderful new man. I became a homeowner for the first time. I sold my old car and bought a new car—on my own—for the first time. I adopted my first puppy. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There has been so much new in my life lately that I feel as if I’ve hardly had time to reflect on how these changes have affected me emotionally. It almost feels as if I started running last October and haven’t stopped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while this past year has been in many ways one of the best years in my life it has also been very, very tough. I’ve struggled financially—trying to balance living on my own with homeownership has not been easy. I’ve struggled with letting go of a past relationship and opening up my heart to someone new—also not easy. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So yeah, there have been some major challenges for me this year. Deep down I knew I probably wasn’t dealing with all these changes in the most up front manner but I was coping. I would handle the situation at hand and then move on. Until this past weekend I thought I was doing okay and then I had an unexpected run-in with my ex and his girlfriend.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It was Sunday afternoon and Erik had picked me up from a girlfriend’s house (I had spent the night with some good friends after a girls night out on Saturday) and wanted to stop by the pet store to get Lulu some dry food. The pet store we go to is a small locally owned business in Grant Park. As we walk in the first thing I notice is a chow dog staring me in the face. I look up and immediately recognize the person attached to the chow dog as my ex. I look further beyond and see my ex’s girlfriend chatting with the store owner. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now, you may wonder how I know that this is my ex’s girlfriend. Well, funny little side story. The ex’s new woman used to be good friends with my brother. When my ex and I were together we would hang out with this girl for game nights, drinks out, and other such festivities. This continued, at least for my ex, the entire time we were trying to work things out in our relationship. He would go out and spend weekends and evenings with this girl, sometimes not coming home until 2 am, and wonder why I would be upset. On one occasion he actually blew me off on a Friday night to hang with her. He said they were “just friends.” Which, to give him some credit, I’m sure that nothing was going on between them physically at first but if there was such a thing as cheating on someone emotionally I would say he had hit the nail on the head. I mean what guy goes and hangs out with another single woman until 2 am and expects their ex to believe that nothing is going on—even if it is just "intellectual conversation"?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So at any rate, they were together pretty much the second our break-up was official which I gleaned from Facebook--pictures of road trips to Charleston, Ohio, and kissy pictures from Curacao were dead give-aways. I was not “friends” with him at this point but I think we all know how things get around via friend of a friend comments—someone that we were mutually friends with would comment on a photo and then it would show up on my newsfeed, etc, etc. But back to my original story…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">When I first saw them I didn’t know what to do. My first instinct was to run to the car and hide. Then I thought better of it and decided that I was bigger than running away and hiding and that I needed to confront this situation head-on. Yes, I know this wasn't entirely necessary but did I mention that this wasn't the first time I had seen them out and about together? Atlanta isn't that big and it was bound to happen sooner or later so why not get it over with? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We were the only 4 people in the store and the ex’s new lady was getting the low down on products from the sales clerk. Erik and I were ready to check out almost immediately but had to wait for the clerk to finish. Eventually my ex and I made eye contact, there was an awkward smile and nod of acknowledgement but I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. Should I say hello? Should I introduce Erik? No that would be weird. We hadn't communicated with each other since March and I can't say that converstaion ended well. This internal debate raged for what seemed like hours (but was probably minutes) and then the clerk finally came over, rang Erik and I up, and we walked out. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">After we left I felt a whole range of emotions. First I was angry—why did this have to happen? Isn’t the city big enough that we should never have to see each other? Then I was sad, but only because of the situation. I mean I was with this person for 8 years—we lived together and loved together and yet we couldn’t even look at or speak to each other? Very sad. Finally I was relieved. Relieved to have had this run in past me and know that I am better for it and that I am happier now and in a better place (and I'm sure he is too). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">***</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On a side note (if I am being honest) I didn’t know whether I should write this post because I didn’t want to come across as the bitter ex-girlfriend because I am most definitely not. There is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no</b> part of me that wishes I was still with my ex or that wishes him ill will. I was hurt by someone I loved and trusted and (sadly) that takes a while to heal. I lost a family and friends when that relationship ended and I don’t know many people who can fully recover from that type of loss in a month, 6 months, or even a year.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Luckily for me I found a very understanding guy when I met Erik. He knew that I was carrying along some baggage and he respected the fact that I had just come out of a break-up. He gave me the space to figure out that I could fall in love again and the courage to trust my gut feelings, which were huge steps in my personal recovery process. Oh and he also has a wonderful family and friends who have so lovingly embraced me so that helps too. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In many ways it has been a year but it has <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i> been a year. So long that I feel as if my ex and I broke up years ago but so short that I have to remind myself it is okay to still grieve a little and continue to let the past go. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Life is funny like that. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Seeing my ex this weekend was a small reminder that I am still healing and that every now and then you have to stop running, reassess, and move on. It’s okay to be sad—acknowledge it, don’t beat yourself up, remember what has come from that sadness, and embrace all that is currently good. And there is a lot of good in my life and a lot to be thankful for even if it is sometimes easy to forget. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-13568925228570670672011-09-23T11:05:00.000-07:002011-09-23T11:14:10.506-07:00Enough<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This is going to be a short post—a quick rant if you will—to say that I’m exhausted. Mentally, physically, emotionally—you name it. A lot has been happening in my life recently and it seems like none of it is good. Every time I turn around something terrible is happening to someone that I know or love. Job losses, premature babies, divorces, and even the death of a 9 month old to brain cancer—the bad news just keeps on coming. I feel like I’ve been living in an alternate universe, kind of like in Back to the Future 2 where Marty goes to the alternate 1985 that Biff has created and everything is completely trashed and wrong. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Where did this black cloud come from and can I go home yet? Please?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I hate that not only have things been kind of shitty in my life but that my friends are going through such difficult times a well. I wish there was something I could do to make things better for all of us. It just doesn’t seem fair. I'm well aware that we all face hardships and that things could always be worse, but is it really necessary for everything to happen all at once? I mean really??? So, I’d like to take this moment to say please, if there is a God out there who cares at all, can you give my friends and I a break? I've had really difficult winters the last couple of years and was sort of hoping this one would be different.<br />
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Thanks. Pity party over. </div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-72168131454464039082011-09-16T16:53:00.000-07:002011-09-16T16:53:04.971-07:00Today I'd Rather Be...Here:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDMbquMxn8k/TnJSP21Kw3I/AAAAAAAAAVY/jHwMFxuxXIM/s1600/DSC_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDMbquMxn8k/TnJSP21Kw3I/AAAAAAAAAVY/jHwMFxuxXIM/s320/DSC_1837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4ut8iqlhWE/TnDpWWlk6jI/AAAAAAAAAVA/94N_JxyFR0M/s1600/DSC_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4ut8iqlhWE/TnDpWWlk6jI/AAAAAAAAAVA/94N_JxyFR0M/s320/DSC_1799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
"Here" is Isle of Palms, S.C--the beach my family has been visiting for many, many years. In fact, we love this beach so much that my grandparents decided to buy a beach house here about 25 years ago. I was little, but I remember the excitement of having an actual house to visit and the thrill of knowing my family owned a little piece of an island.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tL3_VP0prOs/TnJSTVCZ4lI/AAAAAAAAAVc/UUBvdA-5zlo/s1600/DSC_1865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tL3_VP0prOs/TnJSTVCZ4lI/AAAAAAAAAVc/UUBvdA-5zlo/s320/DSC_1865.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beach house</td></tr>
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Throughout the years I've seen the island change and the city just across the bridge (Mount Pleasant) grow into a popular tourist retreat because its right in between the beach and Charleston. I remember when there was only one way to get onto the island--an old school draw bridge--and how it took a beating when hurricane Hugo tore through South Carolina in 1989 (thankfully our little beach house was spared, and along with some other minor damage only lost a portion of the roof). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--jbHPGdOxDw/TnJR0py74EI/AAAAAAAAAVI/bk0wWLBrNSg/s1600/scan0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--jbHPGdOxDw/TnJR0py74EI/AAAAAAAAAVI/bk0wWLBrNSg/s320/scan0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole fam circa 1987-1988</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I remember taking trips every summer no matter where we lived, often meeting up with my other set of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (who made the drive from Kansas City). I loved these summers because we so rarely saw the KC family and they always made everything so fun. I remember taking trips to the old Slave Market in downtown Charleston, visiting the Yorktown submarine (and the Hunley when it was discovered), taking sunset cruises on the intercoastal waterway, playing card games into the night, and of course having at least one big shrimp boil. I remember the many times we had to board up the beach house and "evacuate" due to a tropical storm or hurricane and how much fun it was to go down to the beach and let the wind whip our hair and the water knock us down. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xDxk4H8JKPQ/TnJRzO8SEUI/AAAAAAAAAVE/NxW6G6hrc2c/s1600/scan0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xDxk4H8JKPQ/TnJRzO8SEUI/AAAAAAAAAVE/NxW6G6hrc2c/s320/scan0005.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother and I--we look so innocent but don't be fooled</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq9pGoJwH80/TnJSBB_0_GI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/1Fi0sPqSgL4/s1600/scan0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq9pGoJwH80/TnJSBB_0_GI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/1Fi0sPqSgL4/s320/scan0067.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the KC grandparents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSaLLWd3Zw8/TnJR7OG203I/AAAAAAAAAVM/-Pgt36D7yf0/s1600/scan0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSaLLWd3Zw8/TnJR7OG203I/AAAAAAAAAVM/-Pgt36D7yf0/s320/scan0063.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother and I with our mom (this looks like about '98 or '99)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agJN6U2uEGU/TnPgisNP0II/AAAAAAAAAVw/qWAAbbpEkCg/s1600/beach+2004+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agJN6U2uEGU/TnPgisNP0II/AAAAAAAAAVw/qWAAbbpEkCg/s320/beach+2004+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister and I looking hot in 2004</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I remember taking friends for weekend trips and spring break getaways in college, and then later bringing a special boyfriend or friend along for family vacations (which I'm sure they loved but only because they wanted to be with me--hehe).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBvUkIcIa2U/TnPdJdIfz0I/AAAAAAAAAVk/EPoGBp6sPHA/s1600/Beach+2008+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBvUkIcIa2U/TnPdJdIfz0I/AAAAAAAAAVk/EPoGBp6sPHA/s320/Beach+2008+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhhhh...relaxation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The beach is my retreat both mentally and physically. It's the place I think about when I am anxious or stressed out, but also the place I know I can always run away to if I need to get out of town for awhile. It reminds me of my family who I constantly miss and all of the past summers we spent together laughing and having fun. I'm so lucky that my family has this special place and I hope that someday my kids will get to create memories there with their aunts, uncles. cousins, and grandparents.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cX7o0CRzJvY/TnJSMQcrA3I/AAAAAAAAAVU/zhnhrlVlyBE/s1600/DSC_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cX7o0CRzJvY/TnJSMQcrA3I/AAAAAAAAAVU/zhnhrlVlyBE/s320/DSC_1783.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nephew Regan's first time on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-57272545642343338702011-09-11T09:04:00.000-07:002011-09-11T09:04:31.364-07:00RememberingLike everyone else in America I am sitting watching the TV and remembering the events of September 11, 2001. I can't believe it has already been 10 years.<br />
<br />
10 years ago I had just started my sophomore year at Mercer University. Tuesday, September 11, I woke up early to make it to an 8 am class (a religion class studying the New Testament with Professor Wilson). Class went by as normal and I remember being excited that we got out early--I was tired and wanted to take a nap before my afternoon classes. I left the classroom and headed over to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat before heading back to my room in the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority house. The Mercer cafeteria had TV's which were on all the time but there was no sound. I remember glancing up and seeing a skyscraper burning and thinking "Oh man. That really sucks." I am ashamed to admit that I didn't recognize that the building was one of the twin towers and since there was no sound I had no way of knowing what caused the fire--for all I know it just looked like a really bad accident. Today I wish that I would have gone back to my room, turned on the TV, and gotten more information but since I didn't realize the significance my desire to sleep trumped any curiosity I might have had. So off I went to curl up and go to bed.<br />
<br />
The next thing I knew one of my sorority sisters was waking me up saying, "Ashley, we're under a terrorist attack." I jumped out of bed and ran to the common room to watch on TV with the rest of my sisters as both the Twin Towers collapsed. I was shocked and stunned. Surely this wasn't happening. It was so surreal.<br />
<br />
The University cancelled classes for the rest of the day and students gathered in groups to mourn the terrible loss of life and the great tragedy that had befallen the country. I remember the day as being very somber and sobering.<br />
<br />
Seeing the coverage today still makes me tear up. I can't imagine how it must have felt to have lost a family member or friend to the greed of heartless terrorists. I hope those people can find some comfort in the fact that we all grieve with them and know they aren't alone.<br />
<br />
Although I don't necessarily support the idea of war or all of the politics that transpired directly after the attacks, I appreciate those men and women who have fought and given their lives to protect our country. I don't understand the logic of terrorists or why men like Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein felt the the need to take innocent lives to push a certain agenda. It's sick and I feel so sorry for those who continue to be brain washed into believing they are dying to serve some greater good.<br />
<br />
Today I remember with the rest of the country and mourn for those who gave their lives. I continue to wish for peace, believe in the good in people, and hope that someday we can find a way to not hurt each other out of spite or greed or hatred.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4699674788458599406.post-37140558619863953812011-09-08T11:33:00.000-07:002011-09-08T11:33:04.402-07:00A little PerspectiveA lot of really crazy things are going on in my life right that make me want to hop in the car, drive to my parents house, curl up in my mom's lap, and pretend I am 10 again. This is probably greatly illustrated by the strange dreams I have been having lately where I have been running away from evil beings like bloodthirsty aliens and deranged video game characters (please, don't ask). The internet says that dreams like this indicate there is some problem or issue that I don't want to face and that I should think about what the things chasing me symbolize. Bloodthirsty aliens=something foreign I have no control over? Deranged Mario Brothers=your guess is as good as mine. <br />
<br />
Of course I don't put too much stock into the meanings of dreams because there are so many things that can influence our subconscious. However, given the way things have been going lately in my life maybe the dreams I've been having aren't too far from the truth. Maybe there are some things, past and present, that I just need to embrace and not be afraid of. <br />
<br />
To put this into perspective I offer a conversation I overheard at the doctor's office today (where I was diagnosed with stress-related stomach issues, go figure). First let me say that I really love my doctor. She is always very nice and personable and so easy to talk to. Her specialty is family medicine (as are all the doctors in the office) but when I go in there I never see families, or young people, or anyone under the age of 65 for that matter. I feel like I somehow picked the geriatric doctor and everyone is secretly laughing at me when I walk in thinking "bless her heart, she doesn't know." I've tried to convince myself that its the time of day that I'm going or that maybe there are just a lot older people in that particular neighborhood but really, I think its's the doctor's office for old people.<br />
<br />
Not that I have a problem with old people at all. Some people are squemish and don't know how to act around the elderly but I still have 3 out of 4 grandparents, knew both my great grandmothers, and have happily visited many a nursing home in my day. The only thing that does make me feel uncomfortable is that I feel like these people are looking at me all young and (relatively) healthy and that I am somehow making them feel sad because they no longer have their youth. It's silly but I actually feel guilty about this even though I know that there is probably a 95% chance that these people are perfectly happy and are glad to have lived long and successful lives (at least I hope this is the case).<br />
<br />
But to get back to that conversation I overheard...<br />
<br />
I was sitting in the checkout area of the office waiting for the woman behind the desk to call my name so I could pay my co-pay and get back to work when I began to listen to the conversation of two men next to me. One of the men was 79 (we'll call him Man B) and Im not sure how old the other man (Man A) was although he said he had a brother who was 88 so Im guessing late seventies, early eighties as well. Man A was discussing a recent episode where he temporarily lost his mind and had to be hospitalized. Apparently he was lashing out at nurses and doctors and didn't even know where he was. Man B was listening to his story and commented about how he was glad that medicine was able to bring Man A back to life. Then the men started talking more about their health and this is when Man A mentioned his 88 year old brother and how he was in such great shape for a man his age. Man B mentioned that at 79 he was grateful that he was in the shape he was in and that anymore, a man who can live past 75 should be grateful because he's made it past the average life expectancy. All the while here I am, this 29 year old trying to pretend like I'm not listening to these men while on the other side of me there is this older woman clutching her diabetes testing monitor and smiling at me like old people do when they see a young person, and all I am thinking is that things could be worse in my life. I could be these people, sitting in the doctor's office, discussing how I am lucky to have reached greater than average life expectancy, be in good shape, and thanking god for all of the medicines that are keeping me kicking. <br />
<br />
Well played God. Well played. Way to give a girl some perspective.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126364677602459739noreply@blogger.com0