twenty-two years of bloom

When you are younger, there are balloons. There are the days of wrapped presents decorating the side table in the living room and the staunch, "no snooping!" as a new one is left.
There are whole weeks of eagerness, of telling everyone, "Fourteen more days!" and counting down each one the moment your eyes open in the morning.
Planning your cake, making a wish list, and pretending to not overhear whispered secrets and plans.
When you are younger, your birthday is no less more important, but it is more....festive.

I turned twenty-two today.
It isn't a big deal, not like being sixteen, or twenty-one. There are no great societal landmarks being passed with this birthday, no permit I'm looking forward to obtaining. This birthday just is.
So, with the grand ages of being young and having new experiences being opened to me now past (whats the next goal? Turning 40-something so I can reach the age where I can legally run for president??), I think there is no better birthday to just exist than this one.

The day is still young, but I have already been up since 3 am. You see, when you are an adult, you don't get as much special treatment on your birthday as you did when you were a kid. As such, I still had work to do and I happened to be scheduled on a very, very early morning shift (5 am - 9 am), which really did test my limits of wakefulness for the majority of my shift.  I think I had two coworkers say "Good morning!" only to be initially ignored by me for thirty seconds until my brain fog allowed me to respond back.

A lot has changed since I first entered my twenties, and yet....nothing has really, truly changed.
When I turned 20, I was working for a newspaper as a community/front page reporter. It was a job I had gotten by chance...and I loved it. Since that birthday, I have moved, left my newspaper job for a daycare job (not by choice, but rather caused by the move), left the toxic environment of the daycare job for my current retail position, and now, within the next two weeks, I will again be employed by a newspaper, causing everything to come a full circle. 

Just, let me say, getting back into journalism was completely unforeseen and unexpected by me! It happened really by complete chance and, its a godsend. I cannot be more excited with how everything is turning back and I'm being allowed a second chance at a job I truly, deeply, am passionate about. Be prepared to hear a lot of posts regarding this topic in the future! 

I have developed a lot of new views, some that differ from my family, some that don't, and I have become more of myself. 

I have made new friends through coworkers, online connections and I have found my heart in a city I once wasn't certain of. I've explored in order to find little nooks in which to lose myself and tiny cafes in which I pen all my words.

I am two years into my twenties, I don't feel nearly as "grown up" as I thought I would have, but the truth is, I don't think I'd want to. I don't think I ever want to.

All of my life, I have been a flower looking for the sun, turning towards the light, and spreading deep and strong my roots.  Some years, the light has been scarce and the growth stunted. Looking back, some years have been more of withering years than growing years, but even that, in turn, has given me the strength to be hardier, stronger, and grow more resolved in future years.
Like a flower, I've bloomed, and I am still blooming.  To finish blooming, to reach the end, is not so much a goal or a journey, but an eventual process and time that I will eventually reach.

Until then, I'll bloom slowly. I'll find more about myself, I will reach up, towards the warm light, and spread my roots into the soil I am planted.

On the twenty-second year of my life, I propose to never be adult enough, to never finish blooming, not until my petals are complete and the light has been reached.

Photo by Lizzie on Unsplash

the pandora box of ugly thoughts

I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and you laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.
- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

facebook has that nifty memory-sharing widget (forgive me, i forget its name) and on february 11, i looked through all the memories that i had posted on that day, or that friends had posted with me in mind.

february 11 is my birthday.

image is mine. please ask permission if you intend on using it.

you know, ive never felt myself aging.  ive never felt the slow growth that getting older provides. ive never felt older. ive never felt like im becoming more than i was before.

but as i scrolled through the memories, the birthday wishes and photos of the years past...

i could see it. 

on my 16th year, i thought i was so grown up.  i had everything that i needed to make my own way in this world. sure, i was a self-conscience baby who wasn't so certain about how to link my own fears and insecurities to the fact that i felt like i should've been complete by now.  i still had acne, wasn't that supposed to clear up by the time i was an 'adult'?

on my 17th year, i realized how young i was.  16 is a step forward and 18 is a step forward...but 17 is just...there.  and thats how i felt. just there. i suffered feelings of self-worth. i let myself bully myself.  i let myself hold myself back.  'i can't wear that, it makes my arms fat'.  'i cant wear my hair up, it doesn't hide my acne'.  oh beautiful girl.  why do you punish yourself for something you can't control?

this is also mine.

on my 18th year, i lifted my head up and stepped over the physical insecurities. 'you don't get to get me', i said.  but lo, i discovered a new insecurity.  i started nannying, and as good as it was for me, the fear of failure wrecked me.  i kicked myself for every wrong step i made and bullied myself even harder as name calling slipped into my head. 'you are so lame' i said to myself as i served leftovers to the children when i had wanted to make home cooked soup, but between errands, school, ballet classes, karate lessons, playing at the park, homework, or whatever it was that day that stole my attentions...i never had the time.  i feared judgement that i wasn't good enough, and in a way, it was worse then the crippling physical insecurities...because there was no outward sign that i was suffering from it.

on my 19th year, i learned to bottle the insecurities that told me i wasn't good enough, that i was a failure.  i learned to wait to open them until i couldn't contain them anymore. i made a pandora box in my soul, a nasty thing of self-hate that i refused to touch until i couldn't hold back anymore.  it kept me happy, it kept me smiling...until it was opened. i allowed myself to have a nasty little bit of my soul so that the rest of me could pretend to be alright.

on my 20th year, i hope to cleanse out that box.  i hope to deal with every mean thought towards myself, each cruel thing with a swift spray of soul-cleanser.  i hope that in my 20th year, i learn to treat myself as i would treat others.  to remember that its ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them, it is alright to not finish everything on your list as long as you aren't giving up and to open myself to the sun without hesitations or fear of failure. 

i will treat myself kindly. flowers don't bloom without sunshine.

two days of the before

 

in two whole shining days, i will join the league of mostly adults. 

it has me mostly positively terrified. 

in less than 48 hours, i will no longer be a child, i can legally run away and elope (ok, well...if i wanted to. which i don't). i will have the power to help the community decide who we will be minions of (i can vote),  i wont be able to sing '16 going on 17' the same way, because i will be older than even rolf.
my parents have also declared that after the age of 18, there will be no more birthday parties unless i pay and arrange them.

this is the two days before i say goodbye to 17, and totally unprepared am i, timid and shy and scared am i.

you would think i would be spending these two days preparing for adulthood (even though i am 100004589% sure that im not going to actually be an adult until i am aged 152 exactly, and even then it is debatable, because i may just be a late bloomer and become an adult at 200).  but i am not.
i think i have taken up a ostrich's view, if i don't think about it, then it wont happen. 

growing up is not something i am ready to accept. 

i'm not doing much in the way of readying myself for the end of a child's journey and the beginning of a young woman's.  
and that, my dears, is how it comes to be two full days before my birthday before i fully realized, "oh, i get presents soon" (that was humor, my actual thought was, "hot diggity, is today the 9th already?").

my parents plan to give me a final birthday party on the 15th, since on the 11th, my actual birthday, i will be working.
i know.
how very grown up of me.

on my actual birthday, i will drop my nanny kids off at school, then promptly drive to coldstone creamery and demand my free ice cream (nicely and probably mumble and keep my eyes to the floor because im introverted that way).   then, to a cupcake place because i have wanted a cupcake for like 4 months now and i just forget how much i want a cupcake each time im in a position to get a cupcake and even though i get the cupcake i dont appreciate how much i wanted a cupcake and then finally got one.
or maybe i just always want cupcakes.
thats probably more likely.

and then do you know what im going to do?
go to coldstone again.
because i cheated and signed up at two different locations, and so therefore i have two different coupons to two different stores and that means, double the ice cream!
oh its good to be a cheat, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. you get free stuff.

(that is actually a slightly falsified truth. what actually happened, is ashley's mom had her already signed up to get ice cream from ABC's location, and ashley, not knowing this, signed up to get free icecream for XYZ's location, and therefore, she accidentally ended up with two coupons. it was entirely an innocent happenstance.  but i would not put it past her that she might have signed up to the second location even if she had known about her mum's signing her up, because she can actually be a cheater. don't tell the people she plays monopoly with)

 

so that is all the planning i've done. does it surprise you that it involves only unhealthy food?

well, i'll be spending my actual birthday working. 

i can eat whatever i want for lunch thank you very much.

but, i may go shopping at antique stores as well  (i saw two the other day that looked darling. and by darling, i mean, falling apart and owned by old old ladies).  

im going to regret all the money i'll spend, but heh. i do what a want thor/bank account. 

and now i must fly, for my volunteer duties calleth me. (i volunteer at a center for woman that supports prolife and helps mothers who choose that route of life).

and in case you were wondering why there are food gifs for pictures, it is because it is two days from my birthday, it is my post, it is my blog, and i wanted food posts. 

also i am hungry for cupcakes. 

signing off while singing "i'll make a man out of you" because my little sisters are watching mulan and i cant help but sing that song in the best attempt at a man's voice each time it comes on,

ashley the almost birthday girl.

rhythm of love

So, Meghan asked us to talk about our favorite, "Silly love songs" today. Not, silly silly, as I first thought (I even had a silly, like, truly silly, love song picked out. ho hum oh well) but ya know, 'silly love' songs.  The song isn't silly, it's that ol thing known as love that is...

anyway, this lass be a ramblin'.

I actually listen and love quite a lot of love songs, it's the majority of what is on our music selection these days. or anydays...if you think about it.  There just seems to be something endearing and lasting about singing about love and it's effects.
But, for today, I'm going to try to keep my favorites at a minimum, as I can't go listing off every love song I've ever heard....

{Note: These aren't arranged in any particular order. so, the first ones aren't any more favorited then the last ones..I just remembered them first...O////O)

"As Long as Your Mine" from...oh will you look at that....Wicked. 

I love love songs that tell a story, and musical love songs...well.. it fits. And as Fiyero and Elpheba are (one of) my favorite fictional couples, their song always has me in throes of happy agony of feels.  It's so sweet....and perfect...and well, I like it.

Favorite line:

"Maybe I'm brainless,

Maybe I'm wise

But you've got me seeing 

from different eyes"

-Fiyero my Hero sings this part..♥ 

"Accidentally In Love" By Counting Crows (?).

A lot, ok, most, of my adoration for this song has to do with is that it's the theme song for one of my characters couples, and I love them.  I can't help but seeing Vice and Emi when I listen to it.  It's catchy, it's fast pace, and...I just like it. 

Favorite Line: 

These lines of lightning
Mean we're never alone,
Never alone, no, no

 

"Love is not a Fight" by Warren Barfield.

You know, most love songs, it's about feelings, it's about the days when you just adore that person.  But, it's rare to find a love song about staying. About true love. About the nitty gritty of love. As the lyrics themselves say: "To some, love is a word that they can fall into, but when they're falling out, keeping that word is hard to do"  I love this song..because it's beautiful without being mushy and all about the emotions of the moment.

Favorite Line:

Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
And then commit to never leave
So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees

"Loch Lomond" by Some Random Soldier About To Die

 My first introduction into old celtic love ballads was with Loch Lomond. And after I looked up the story behind it, I was nearly in tears over the beautiful sadness of it.  And though years has passed, this tale of a soldier and his farewell to his love remains a favorite.

 Favorite Line: 

'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomon',
Where in purple hue the Hieland hills we view,
An' the moon comin' out in the gloamin'.

"Comes Along Love" by Kay Starr

 Ah! So you knew there was retro swing in there somewhere. ;)  

Favorite Line:

Comes along a love suddenly
Every dream you had becomes ignited
You just began to live
Comes along love

"Deer In the Headlights" by Owl City

I l.o.v.e Adam Young. Like...a lot. But, Deer in the Headlights is probably one of my favorites...probably because..well...the anonymous girl and I are much much alike. If I carried Pepper Spray, I might very well grace strange men who came and told me "Hello" in parking lots.

Unless, of course, they were Adam Young, because then I would hug them.

Favorite Line: 

Met a girl in the parking lot,
And all I did was say hello.
Her pepper spray made it rather hard
For me to walk her home,
But I guess that's the way it goes.

And, pretty much anything Frank Sinatra. I just don't have time or space to list every single song of his.  And, my song favorites tend to change quite often, so with the exclusion of Deer in the Headlights, and Love isn't a Fight, most of these will have been replaced in a week.

And next month, they will be my favorites again. ^_^

So, Cheerio me ol cre-

Oh! Guess what today is?

Moi birthday!

I'm 17.

Like...wow.

I'm 17.

Dear Peter Pan:

????? uh, late much?

-Sincerely, The Girl Who Waited.

And waited.

and waited.

and waited.

and is STILL waiting.

Evan- Mighty Warrior

My first brother.

Evan took Cream Cheese frosting, and Eriked himself. 

My Nero.

Ok, so maybe Evan isn't THAT bad, but when we were little kids, he tormented me.  Sat on me, hit me..yeah. I forgive him, now.  Revenge is sweet, though. Daddy used to let me sock him in the nose whenever he tormented me.  Of course, I was a little dainty thing, and I rarely hurt Evan, since he was a big, hulkish boy.  

His favorite Music Is anything techno.  His playlist is filled with Star Wars remixes. He revels in  Transformers, Star Trek, And pretty much anything awesome.

(And a fluk interest in POTO....just like his big sister! *wink*)

Spitting Llama! 5 stars if you got that.

Today, he turned 14.

In a year, he will be driving.

Heaven, Help us.

He already has a car.  Sure, its a fixer uper. Yeah, it doesn't run.  But he paid cash for it.  It's his baby to fix and dandy up at will.

He'll probably see this, as he goes to my blog at least 3 times a week (And blares my playlist all over the house.  Can't guys be satisfied just to listen to music? They don't have to share it!!).

And I'm just saying right now, Happy Birthday.

Peaches.

(Our nickname for Evan is peaches.  Now you know. And I'll let you guess why that might be his name....)

Being Sixteen {and a present to my Followers}

I am now Sixteen.

When I was little, I would look up at the age 16, and think, "When I'm 16, I am grown up!".
Now, I look up, and say, "When I'm 20, I'll be all grown up".
16 seemed to be the grown up age.

I dreamed of singing ♫I am 16, going on 17♫.

I figured that when I was 16, I could do whatever I wanted (oh, the innocence of childhood! lol).

I could go wherever I wanted.

Now,  I laugh at myself, and say, "Oh, I was so cute!"

I am sixteen, and I tell you, it's not all that grown up!

Anyway, a big thing on this birthday, was getting my own iphone!  Oh, yes.  My/own/iphone.
This is truly a big event in my life.
I've been having a blast with apps, and everything.  I have a kindle/nook app on it, so I've downloaded 'Alice on Wonderland' by Lewis Carrol, 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell, and 'The Time Traveler' by H.G Wells to be read.  I am really enjoying this.

Me and my Dad went out for a Father/Daughter's date, and our first stop was to watch a movie, which was 'The Phantom Menace' in 3D. Oh my goodness, I'll never watch it 2D again. The depth, and clarity just couldn't be beat.
1) I think Senator Palpatine is pretty amazing.  Outside of being a Sith, and the Jedi not detecting you, he seemed a pretty nice guy.  I would've fallen into the group of those followers of his, and voted him on to higher ranks.
2) I would be a Sith.  The reasons are, One, I'd get a red Saber.  WHY CAN'T JEDI HAVE RED?!?! and Two, I wouldn't like not being able to fear, hate, love.  Those are emotions, and I'd display them often.

Anyway, after the movie, we made a few other small stops, and then Daddy brought me to this REALLY nice Restaurant called 'Captain Anderson's'.  It was nicer then anything I've ever been to.  They had, like, 2 full pages on the menu of just wines.

The outside of the restaurant, pic not mine.

The servers all dressed like Sailors.

 

And the lobby felt like I had just stepped into Captain Nemo's Nautilus.  The lighting was a blueish color, and there were all sorts of old ship relics. 

The old diving suits were my favorite.  They looked so...real.

While we were there, Daddy gave me another present.

A Purity Ring.

It had a Amethyst (being my birth stone on it) on it, and had silver and gold mixed into the metal part.

I had a very blessed birthday, as once we got home, Mama had organized a surprise party for me!

She did really good hiding it from me, as I normally would win a nosy award.

I've found out about presents, and pretended not to know about them before.

Anyway, the surprise party.

She had invited all my friends (and their families, of course!) and dressed the dining room up in pink and white.  

As long as my memory shall last, I will remember that day.

Now, I want to give some of the blessing poured into me, to you all.

4 beautiful sponsors have agreed to donate some of their lovely wares for a birthday giveaway.

Shall we begin?

Carolyn from Sweet Tea Linen has donated this loverly:

 

If all you do is look at my blog, you realize I am a fan of all things British, and this little pillow warms my heart.  Oh, I'd love to enter this giveaway myself, but that wouldn't be fair, now would it?

Lori from Lori's Jewelry box has donated this:

 I'm trying not to turn green with envy...Just kidding! Really, I am most pleased to offer these squeal-able Phantom of the Opera earrings.

Mikayla? Sarah?  you know you want them.

Judi Ann from Sleepy Mouse Designs is giving this:

 

Shall we scream our love for Paris? This darling journal is adorned with France's jewel, the Eiffel Tower.  I could honestly run around laughing right now.

Kasia from Black Cat and Raven is giving 2 items:

 This Fae bracelet, with it's simply beauty.  Which, I always think, it the best kind.  Not lavish, and gaudy, but simply charming.

And these pink Sapphire earrings.  Personally, I have grown to love this blue a whole lot more ever since reading Eragon.  Anybody with me?

To Clarify, there will be 4 winners.

1 for the pillow.

1 for the POTO earrings.

1 for the journal.

and 1 for the Fae bracelet and Pink Sapphire earrings.

Of course, y'all would like to hear how to win, no?

{MANDATORY}

Follow this blog.

AND

Tell me, If you won, what item would you be most interested in? 

One comment with these please.

(note, if you do not do the mandatory entry, all other ones wont count. In short, you can't win unless you do these 2)

{EXTRA}

Heart each shop on Etsy (1 comment per shop)

Add each Sponsor to your Etsy circle (1 comment per sponsor added)

Comment and tell me your most precious birthday memory (2 comments)

Tell me what your favorite item from each shop is (1 comment per shop)

Blog about this giveaway (5 comments)

Do you have a purity Ring? How was it presented to you? (1 comment)

There, is my birthday gift to you.

Loves, and and best wishes.

Yours till I'm not:

EDIT:
Since Julia hasn't emailed me yet, I had to pick a new winner...
THE WHITE QUEEN!
Can you believe it, Jo?
I swear, it wasn't intentional.
Anyway, I'm not sure I have your address, so could you text it to me?

All For Now.

Ma Journee {entry 3}

Hello again, fair readers! I know, this is technically my second post for the day, but we shan't worry about that, ok?

Today, was fun.
Tomorrow, will be fun.

Today me and my dear Mama (I'd insert a picture here, but alas, Mama doesn't like pictures of herself, so I won't annoy her by showing you one) went on a girl's shopping night! 


Our small town hasn't got much clothing stores, much less a mall, outside of Wal-mart and Bell's outlet, you can go to Goodwill or some other thrift store.  But, today, we only went to Bell's.  Let me say, I fully adore Bell's outlet.  Their clothing selection is so chic, and comfy, and 70's, and...and..and awesome.  I walked out with 3 shirts, one nice dress (it is a dress, but it is shorter then I'd wear alone, so I plan on wearing dress pants under it.  In fact, I'm wearing it now.  Due to trying it on to show my Dad, and just being to lazy to change into something else until bedtime.), and 3 pairs of pants (one of which are jeans), and an Owl ring.  I shall post a picture of it later.  Perhaps tomorrow.

Oh, and a bag of Jelly Beans.  I adore Jelly Belly's.

So, anyway.

Then, after about, what, 3 hours? In Bell's, Me, Mama, Miss Shiloh May (who, being a 5 month old baby, just had to tag along.  Not that we minded) and Ruby (who, being a 4 year old girl, didn't need to come along, but she doesn't get to go places with us a lot, so we let her come) got ourselves downtown to Zaxby's.   I had Chicken wings, that weren't hot, because I'm 'wimpy'.
I had 2 cups of Coca Cola...Wuv.

And,  Then we went home, and we just finished watching the Star Trek Episode, 'Drone'.

Oh, what a bitter sweet episode that is!

Seven:  "YOU WILL COMPLY!"
One: "I wont!"

"The EMH tried to treat One's injuries, but One refused to allow this; he knew the Borg would hunt Voyager to assimilate him for his technology, and One was a grave risk to the ship as long as he was alive. Seven displayed a closeness with One, much like a mother; after One died on the operating table, Seven was greatly saddened by his passing"

Poor Seven. 

Well, that was Ma journee....don't expect to hear from me tomorrow, as I'll be having to much fun!

♥Ashley♥

P.S
Look at the time!  It's Feb. 11th, 12:29.....

Hello, I'm sixteen.

Bedazzle

Last year, I was really in a money pot hole.  Actually, it went further then that, for close to 3 years, I've been in the tight purse group.  I spent money on birthdays, and I went as tight as I could on that too.
This year, I wanted to be different. 
So, I had two different prospects, jump in the Photographer's world with a splash, which I still plan on doing! But getting your name out locally when there are already two bigger photographers filling the need can take a while.
But, the second idea, was to branch out my love to create jewelry.
So, with a little bit of pushing from my Mom, I'm about to open Avalyn (Beautiful bird) designs!!!

*recorded applause*

I'm not yet ready for a grande (P'tack, you word check.  I say this IS the proper way to spell grand) opening, I thought I'd show you my favorites...

 Kes.  I made these, and while holding them at arms length, thought, 'These remind me of Kes!"  Kes' personality is bright, cheerful, and very fun.   Do these earrings not reflect that style?
(I can imitate the way Kes talks...don't tell anyone! Shhh!)

Renaissance.  Inspired by Tudor style  The crackled red, and the ruby charms....Can you say, "Lady Jane Grey" with me?

Lady Emma.  At first, I planned to call these just plain Emma.  Don't ask how I came up with the name. It just popped up lie random inspiration always does. But after thinking, just 'Emma' wasn't elegant enough.  Add 'Lady' to something, and you add instant elegance!

So, these are just my favorites.  I have close to 15 Earrings, and two more necklaces.

I should open my Etsy shop before March, but it might (just might) open in the beginning of March.  I pinkie promise (and I take them seriously!) to let y'all know the minuet it opens!  AND< once the shop is open...I'd be interested in giveaways...just saying..

 

P.S Happy 200th birthday of Charles Dickens!! Has anybody looked at Google's homepage yet?

"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before--more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle".  - Great Expectations

P.S.S For Nova: CLICK HERE.

P.S.S.S

I apologize for the lack of a post yesterday.  Truly, I didn't know what to post about.  Outside of getting our livingroom painted lovely coffee brown, having a massive headache that refusesed to respond to Ibuprofen,  and starting to potty train Titus, nothing really exciting happened.  

You have my formal apology.

P.S.S.S.S

My birthday is in 4 days!!! AND< the giveaway ends in 4 days. AND< I have ANOTHER giveaway planned in 4 days.

Thoughts of spring Blog party! And a birthday wish.

 There is a blog party going on at 'Dancing Barefoot' (there are WAY to many 'barefoot' blogs...) I thought it looked neat, so here I go!

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right?

A: um...I don't know....I have had some people say meek, but I DO NOT think I am meek...I would say I am more like 'creative'.

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?
 Natalie Portman.  Without a doubt.


Who is your favorite blogger? Why?
I have to many to post here. Okay, well, I guess a few are Shaynie, Qui, Leia, Jo, Emily, Autumn, and Ellyn.  There are tons of other cool girls...I don't follow blogs unless you're awesome! ;-)


What is your comfort food/drink?
 CHEESECAKE.  I have a pretty big weakness there...but does that count as comfort food? If not, maybe Chicken noodle soup.



Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.
weird and random...I have PLENTY of 'random' things, but weird?  I guess that I have always wanted to be Darth Vader for a costume party....does that count though?   Okay...I want to dye my hair black or red as well. But not at the same time.

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres?
 All.  That is it, If it is a movie, I'm happy.  That is, as long as the music is good in it.


Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?
 Fiction. Or Sci-fi. 


Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?
Film score, country, Christian rock and maybe some classic rock, all depending on the song itself.

If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?
Buy a Canon mark 3.  Then I'd buy a Thunderbird Convertible.


Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).
 weakness....Music....Cheesecake....Vintage clothes....High heels....movies.....Accents...

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?
 Ireland, or Paris.  Most likely Ireland though. If I lived in Ireland long enough, could I get an Irish accent?


Strange Talent? Can you juggle basketballs, put your legs behind your head or perform some other strange feat?
I'm perfectly normal...thank you!   I can make a fairly decent Aussie accent though.

What’s something you consider yourself to be good at? (Don’t worry, it’s not bragging, it’s acknowledging a God given gift).
Photography is my talent. Writing is my hobby.


What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?
Vanilla icecream scented candle and maybe a crayons too.  Yeah, I said crayons.

When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less? 
 Probably the less.




If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in?
 Cato, other really cool Vintage, retro stores.


What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?
 I don't truly have one. well, I'm kinda shy to folks I don't know.





What is your greatest accomplishment?
I haven't done much in my 15 years of life....




What are your favorite animals?
 Goats and Horses.


Are you a hopeless romantic?
uh, maybe?  What is a hopeless romantic?




What movie or book character can you most relate to?
 Jo from 'Little Woman'.  I share SO many things with her...


Your turn!




Before I get off, I'd like to wish my friend Emily a happy birthday though......

 HAPPY

 BIRTHDAY

 EMILY!!!

 Here are you some cupcakes...

And some cake!

Have a fantastic day....JUST LIKE YOU!

My friend is awesome. Period.

I met Joanna only a few months ago.  I hadn't met her IRL yet,  but we met via email.  We worked on a magazine that she had started (with others, of course!).

When we got to FINALLY meet, I was so happy!

My birthday was on the 11th, as I said earlier.  Can you guess what my awesome friend got me? 




Well? can you?

♥♥♥♥

Joanna bought this for me!!!!

She saw I had liked it, and bought it for me!!

I own something from Flukestore!!!

Jo is on the left, with Caleb, her incredible crazy (LITTLE) brother on the right.

Yes, My friend is awesome.♥ awesome. ♥Awesome.♥ Incredible.♥ Sweet.♥ Fun.♥ awesome♥. Did I say that already? I'll just say it again. AWESOME!

If you don't have a friend like I do, I pity you. 

♥I own something from Flukestore!♥

HAPPY birhtday to MEEEE! {Giveaway}

I'm 15.  Wow.

How come 15 sounds so much 'bigger' then 14, if it is only a year apart, funny how that is, huh?

To celebrate my fifteenth birthday (and my upcoming learners permit!!!!!) I'm hosting a giveaway, now isn't that fun? 

My sponsors (who are GREAT by the way...) Are Artemis  for Servas gshaeft  and Makenzie From Sour patch sweet and sour creations. Without these twos quick responses and awesome products, I wouldn't be hosting this right now!

WHAT YOU COULD WIN

 These oh-so-yummy earrings, aren't they just CUTE???  they look SO realistic! These are from Makenzie. She says "This sweet pair of mini muffins is handmade by me with nontoxic polymer clay and each one is apprix. 1/2 of an inch tall. These little treats come securely attached to new and clean silver dangle earring findings (made with sensitive ears in mind!) and are painstakingly sculpted to resemble the real thing as closely as possible. Complete with teeny tiny blueberries, these earrings are ready to be worn any time of day!"

Soap. I'm drooling. I have been known for coming close to licking soap. I don't refer to the smell as 'fragrence' but as 'flavor'. Say it, I'm weird.  this is SO cute and SO yummy and SO creative!! ♥

The kind of cake it is modeled after is an Austrian specialty. They are called "Punschkrapferl".

Artemis provided these awesome soap/yummys.

(I love the little clear 'candy' drop on top! ♥)

HOW TO WIN:

I'll make this as clear as possible, alright?

PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH THING YOU DO!

Mandatory:

Follow my blog.

AND (there is an 'AND)

Go to each shop and come back with what your favorite item is.

(if you do not do the mandatory entries then none of your other entries shall count)

Extra entries:

Go to Sweet and sour creations and tell us (in a comment) what food you'd like to see as a charm or other jewelry in the future. 

(1 comment)

 Follow servasgschaeft on Facebook.

(1 comment)

Follow my writing blog.

 If you already do, say so.

(2 comments)

Heart both shops on Etsy. Say which one you hearted (you will need an etsy account to do this)

(1 comment for each shop)

What is your favorite dessert?

(1 comment)

Post about this giveaway on your blog. 

(2 comments. Include post link)

Tweet and FB about this giveaway.

(1 comment)

Take my giveaway button!

(1 comment)

CODE:   

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GIVEAWAY ENDS ON 2/18/11, WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOMETIME AROUND THEN! HURRY BEFORE THE TIME RUNS OUT!

Thank you all, my dear readers and dear sponsors!

Happy birthday TOOOOO MEEEE!!!

(P.S I didn't say so yet, but I think Artemis' name is so cool. )

New life. August....how do they go together?

In one way...Birthdays.

Mama began on 18/8 (not tellin' what year..haahaa!)
Zeb began on 3/8 (this is sad, I think it is the third...oh well, you get the point, he is the August clown!)...

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I'm gonna out this in caps, be prepared.....
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I'M GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY SIBLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


........





New life, A new baby, in a 9 months, I'll be holding the Lil darling, be it boy or girl. (I am wanting a certain 'type' ~sounds like I'm ordering a product,~ but I'm not tellin' which until it is seen whether it will be it or not, you'll just have to wait. )


I'm so 'appy.


I might just go write a poem.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

"Daddy, don't you know, Daddy, your the only man in my heart"  (not written by me!)

Happy 35th birthday Daddy!

D-ebonair
A-wesome!!! (really AWESOME!)
N-atural
I-nconceivable! (say it like vizzini now!)
E-ntertaining
L-aughter maker

Favorite quotes:
"If I were a rich man"~ fiddler on the roof
"INCONCEIVABLE!" ~The Princess bride
Happy birthday tooooo YYOOOUUUU!Love ya!d


 

"COMING SOON"

Today Zeb's birthday presents came in the mail!! (Mama's and Daddy's part did, Us children bought him 4 decks of cards about a week ago, which he had stated that he wanted.)
it is already 9:09....so you can have the pictures tomorrow..or the day after that...or whenever I get to it! ;-)

Not much today....

There isn't much going on today, Zeb's b-day is in 6 days, So I helped him look on Vision form to create his b-day list, it now has a total of like 22 items!
I have some pictures that need to be downloaded so you can see more pics of my adorably cute baby brother!!!! ;-)
gotta go now, I have to go drag meself to eat. ;-)

today is Kyla's b-day!

Today is Kyla's Birthday, Already 6!
I tried to make a cake for her, but it called for egg whites, and I did not know that egg white cakes are much more...oh, whats a word for it?
uh....soft?
Breakable?
and when I tried to move it the cake crumbled!
We ate what was left as a snack, but I will have to make her a real Birthday cake before this weekend, that is when We will celebrate her birthday.
She says she want to go to Kids kastle (I know I wrote that wrong...that is how it is written on there sign, so there!!;-) it seems like every time the little girls have a birthday they want to go there, but things interfere and they suit for something like a tea party! (which is fun, and hey! you learn better manners too!).

Lots of love,

Ashley

lets hope these pictures load!!

Hmm...it doesn't seem like it will let me...lets wait and find out!

nope...this is getting annoying!!!!!!!!!!
oh well...guess you will STILL have to wait!

and I don't think anything interesting has happened.....hmm....let me think..

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....Kyla will be turning 6 on the 14Th...

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...for mother's day We got Mama a ottlite (she has been wanting one for a LONG time, weellll not THAT long, but long enough) and a mat to go under her sewing chair, then We also visited our Grandparents, Nana got a Mother's day card from each of us, and some bored little girl may have made extra too ;-).
Daddy made BB (BB stand s for Boston butt) and hamburgers and his smoker for lunch there.
Nana and Poppy went ahead and gave Kyla her B-day presents, a snow cone maker, snow cone cups, straws and flavoring, it has been gotten used TONS ( can you say, snow cone a day?) the boys have been having fun mixing flavors!!
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for memorial day We are having my aunt Peggy and Aunt Thelma over (there families too of course!) so, that will be fun!
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.Sebastian is back to normal, except he has a chunk missing out of his tongue. :-( but he is getting used to it being missing!.
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is that All??
it seems like once you get to thinking it seems like you can think and think!

OH!
last night We went Grocery shopping, Two buggy's got filled, but then again We only go food shopping once a month. It sure is good to have a full fridge and pantry!!

today for breakfast We had waffles and even though it is 2:30 We haven't had lunch ( We usually Don't have lunches) and tonight We are going to have beans and rice or soup ( I think)

I am not liking this heat!!!!!!!!!!
I prefer cold to hot, you can put more things on to keep warm then you can take off!
thankfully today isn't TOO hot, wish We could go swimming though .

I am still waiting foe my pen pals letter to come.

Hmm....I believe that is all......
What has y'all's week been like?
(Hannah, I know you where in Destin!)

Sickies and more

Will this ever end??????????


Last night We ate at Pizza hut for Annaruth's birthday dinner, and guess what??? Yep, if you guessed that Benna got sick at the restaurant then you are100 percent right! she was acting OK, considering, but just as the poor waitress came to bring our food, out it came, the poor lady placed the food on the table ( the clean end) and ran for napkins, she dropped a handful of napkins on the table and scooped up the mess, how wonderful of her, so I hauled Benna off to the bathroom, and when I came back We all ( except Benna, of course) ate a few Pizzas then left, how frustrating! I can hardly wait for this to be over!!!!!!!!!!

I'm tired of posting about sickies, but other than that, what is there???

OK, let Me think.............

Well, the puppies are growing fast, so is Princess' kittens, They wont come inside when they decide to be born!!

RooRoo got a bike and 'chutes and ladders' from Mama and Daddy, Puzzles and a dollar from Nana and poppy and Zeb gave her a ball from Pizza hut. Her cake is premade from Wal-mart, it is white and has her name on it She can hardly wait to eat it, but We are going to wait until Benna feels better, poor Baby, at Pizza hut while We where eating Benna was saying "hey!" (yes, she can say that now!) and had a confused look on her face.

I am reading about Susanna Wesley.

still haven't finished our garden.....we will sometime soon, We are determined to do so!

So.... I guess there is something else to say..... well...got to go, I guess.

Bye!

Eveything and Anything

I'm feeling Nasty, I feel weak, and My throat Hurts too,
Well, lets get on A happier note,

The Dimarco family gave me Martyr's Mirror for My Birthday, it is a REALLY long book!
I intend to read it all! I am close to being down with my Camera's directions!! (YAY!!) I can hardly wait! I found out that my camera has Color swap! and it has Color accent! I LOVE my camera! it is a lot heavier than Mama's, but sometime Mama wants to get a camera even BETTER than mine, Daddy says no other children will hold or use it, I, Daddy, and Mama are to be the only poeple to handle it.

Also, Today is Evan's 11Th Birthday! the Dimarco's gave him a 20 dollar bill to spend at Bass pro shops, I do not know when we intend to go.

What else???

the Puppies are growing Quickly! Mama says they have about 2 more weeks to go! so, anybody want a puppy???????

Katie and Princess are pregnet, again, ( Wan't a Kitten?) We are NOT keeping ANY!!

well, that is that,

~Ashley~

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS HERE!!!

My camera!!
I was hoping it would come today, not tomorrow,

Well, gotta run, need to get ready for town.

OH, my Penpals letter came today, I'm almost done with my letter to her.

BYE!!


ETA:

I opened it up, but can't use it until I've read all the instructions :-(