according to ashley

Anything Less Than I Love You is Lying

2010-01-09T10:12:00.003-06:00

I must admit I have never been much of a John Mayer fan...until NOW. I am hopelessly addicted to his new album and I NEVER push music, but in this case, I just have to. (I bought the entire album on iTunes and I don't even remember the last time I did that!! Probably never.)

Battle Studies is incredible, honestly. It's overall feel is mellow and relaxing and I am so impressed by his writing abilities. You can tell that there was absolutely no intent to produce a "catchy" album or something that would appeal to the masses 'just because.' The lyrics cover every emotion and it relates to pretty much everyone on some level or another.

Check out Edge of Desire if nothing else. The BEST song on this CD.

XOXO Happy Saturday!!

Lovin Lulu's

2010-01-08T12:12:00.002-06:00

I wanted to pass on one of my favorite little addictions, I mean clothing sites. I just can’t get enough of Lulu’s…especially their dresses. Their dresses have the same vibe of some of my favorites from Anthropologie and what’s even better is the price!! Check it out! I posted some that I have my eye on at the moment.

XOXO

Meet My Friend DT (Dial Tone)

2010-01-05T10:45:00.002-06:00

Today I had a revelation at work. I am a grown-up. I guess I have been for a while but as of today, I am completely and positively sure that I am a certified grown-up however lame it may be.

How do I know?? I’ll tell you.

I work in Human Resources. HR = everyone that calls you has a problem and they will blame it on you merely for being the poor soul that answered the phone to “help” them. They will probably not say hello, they will complain about their issue endlessly, they will ask you to break policy or make an exception “just this once” and then when you don’t, the will most assuredly cuss you out and /or hang up on you at some point. It is always the best when they do both, of course.

So I graduated from Texas A&M in December 2006 (WHOOP) and started this HR job of mine in February 2007. I am self-admittedly a VERY sensitive person, somewhat of a pleaser and don’t like to tell people no…or at least back then. When the calls described above happened, I would feel instant terror/tears coming on/visions of quitting and peeling out of the parking lot never to return.

BUT TODAY…a similar call occurred and when they hung up in my face (after saying that I had “no F’in idea what I was talking about,” even though it was clearly the other way around)…I laughed. I laughed my ass off, and it felt good!! That is how I know I have changed incredibly in the last few years.

It is NOT that I don’t care and it is NOT that I have become a cold-hearted freak of a person but it IS because you can’t let people make you feel bad when you did absolutely nothing!!! You have to laugh it off…it feels so much better.

Lesson for the day – laugh your ass off about something. You won’t regret it!!

XOXO

Drum Roll Please...

2010-01-04T14:57:00.003-06:00

And the winner of the *Ring in 2010 Giveaway* is…

GWEN over at Confessions of a Control Freak!!!! Congratulations!! (Feel free to email me at shleeblog {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize and let me know which shade of the Lash Blast Luxe you would like).

THANK YOU ALL for entering…stay tuned…more fun things to come!!!

FOR INSTANCE:

I want to know your most coveted (yet affordable item) that would be perfect for a blog swap!! Put your ideas in the comments and then I’ll pick my top suggestions, take a vote for the fave and then host a blog swap for that item!!

Let me know how it is ACCORDING TO YOU!!

XOXO

Ring in 2010 with a Giveaway!!

2009-12-30T12:23:00.003-06:00

Here’s my New Year’s gift to YOU and I’m making it as easy as possible!!

You DON’T have to become a follower (unless you just want to)…

You DON’T have to post about this on your blog…

ALL you have to do is leave a comment saying that you want to enter the “Ring in 2010” Giveaway!!

*The winner will be announced on MONDAY, JANUARY 4th*

If you win you’ll get some of my Beauty Picks from *this post* - Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner, NARS blush in Orgasm, a mini Photo Finish Light and the Lash Blast Luxe mascara in the color of your choice.

Happy 2010!!

A Horrible Mistake...

2009-12-30T07:43:00.004-06:00

Ya know, sometimes I wonder what the hell is wrong with me. I have done some things in my life but what I did yesterday is beyond. I threw out ALL logic and concern for my own well-being and now I'm feeling the pain. . .

So it's that time of year where everyone starts back on the old (and menacing) fitness train. It's not that bad when you get in the swing of things again but those first few workouts????? Forget about it.

So yesterday was the day. I was going to workout and feel damn good about it!! So my husband has this energy drink mix or "energy sauce" as he calls it (???) and I decided I was going in. Mix one scoop with water, only 25 calories, tastes pretty good - why not??

So I did.

And I did some weights.

And then I decided to get on the elliptical.

And THEN I did a hip-hop cardio/dance video that was free On-Demand.

And then I did some more weights.

Seriously, Ashley?????? First workout in a while and I was so hopped up on energy sauce that I didn't even think of what I would feel like today. Let's talk about that.

So far: could barely get out of the bed, it hurt to climb into the shower, dropped my face moisturizer...and left it there out of redick pain AND now I'm sitting in the computer chair and I'm almost positive I'm just going to have to wheel myself to that bathroom to finish getting ready.

Damn. I had good intentions!!!

Beauty Picks 2009 - Tell Me Yours!!

2009-12-29T07:17:00.003-06:00

Everyone has a favorite beauty product or two (or three, or four, or five hundred) and I want to know what YOURS is!! I picked some of my favorites for 2009 and listed them below and I can’t wait to see what ya’ll pick as the best of the best according to YOU!

*Perfumes*

I couldn’t pick just one as usual, so here are my top two. I just posted the other day about Versace’s Bright Crystal…love it!! My other pick is Lola by Marc Jacobs…need it, go get it.

*Shampoo*

I have said it a thousand times, but I’m just NOT going to spend $1000 on shampoo and conditioner. I have tried them all and although they are nice and smell good and all of that old stuff…they just aren’t THAT much better for me. Hence, the love of my life, Pantene Pro V (so 90’s, I know). I particularly like the new Nature Fusion line, especially the smoothing products. Perfect amount of shine without weighing down your hair.

*??????*

So I know what you might be thinking. Why the $1.00 bottle of Suave conditioner?? Here is why…get rid of your shaving cream NOW!! I have never been a fan of shaving cream in the slightest and let’s face it: anything that lathers is drying to your skin. So toss that old can of shaving cream that you spent $4 or $5 on and go buy a huge bottle of Suave conditioner for your LEGS!! Trust me…this is the smoothest shave you will ever have.

*Foundation Primer*

I never thought primers could actually make that big of a difference but I was dead wrong. Smashbox’s Photo Finish Light is incredible!!! It is oil-free and turns your skin into a silky smooth wonder that is perfection. Your foundation will never look so good! Get it at Sephora.

*Foundation*

Bare Minerals Matte. Enough said. No preservatives, no harsh chemicals, pore minimizing and oil absorbing. The new matte product even has a sifter so no more powder spilling everywhere.

*Blush*

You have probably seen this everywhere…sometimes I get sick of hearing about it myself but it really is amazing. NARS blush in Orgasm (crazy name). The perfect shade for every season, every skin tone with the tiniest amount of shimmer. I’m not talking glitter here so don’t be skerred, I’m talking tiny little luminescent particles that really enhance your skin. Try it along with the matching lip gloss and you won’t be disappointed.

*Eye Shadow*

Can’t get enough of Smashbox. I love their eye shadow trio in Head Shot. They have a ton of other shades but I love this one because it is very natural. Sephora to the rescue again!!

*Mascara*

I have tried every. mascara. imaginable. There are some amazing and super high dollar products out there but I would rather spend my money on clothes, shoes, purses, stuff for the house, nice restaurants…than on a tube of black goop for my eyelashes. Solution? Cover Girl’s Lash Blast Luxe. Super volumizing and does not flake at all. The “luxe” means an added shimmer effect over the original in the orange tube.

So those are a few of my faves...let's hear yours!!!! I can't wait to try some of them!

Martini Monday - Bring on 2010!!

2009-12-28T01:45:00.001-06:00

Can you believe it is almost 2010??? 15 years ago we were consumed by playing with our Barbie’s, Skip-its, slap bracelets and POGS…and now here we are at the start of a new decade!! Unbelievable…2010.

So this week’s Martini Monday is a little different but still very much dedicated to ringing in the New Year with perfection. Only one martini tonight but TWO champagne cocktails that are super easy and over-the-top delicious.

Here we go:

#1. The always popular and endlessly enticing, Flirtini!

I have posted this one a few times before because it is my all time FAVORITE!! Mine will look a little different than the picture due to a small change in ingredients, but don’t worry…it will taste amazing! Perfect for the hours leading up to midnight!

For one martini:

¼ cup premium vodka (use the good stuff; it’s New Year’s Eve!!)
½ cup pineapple juice
Frozen raspberries (how ever many you want…I do 3-4 per glass)

*You can substitute a splash of raspberry liqueur instead of frozen berries if you want*

Shake all of these together but NOT TOO MUCH! Just enough to combine (pineapple juice discolors if shaken too vigorously). Pour into a glass and top with the champagne of your choice. I don’t recommend using Prosecco for this one…stick with good ol’ fashioned champagne!!

#2. Mimosas with a kick!

I love mimosas any old way but this one in particular is really, really goooood.

Mix together your orange juice and champagne as you would for a regular mimosa and add in some Triple Sec for an extra kick. You can use a little or a lot. Float some strawberries for color and for a change, skip the stuffy champagne flute. Choose a more modern glass and party the night away!! Perfect for making in pitchers for larger groups…just set out bowls of fresh berries for your guests to choose from.

#3. Champagne with Berries

This is exactly what it sounds like…champagne with raspberries (or whatever berries you like) thrown into the mix. The berries add a little extra sweetness and some gorgeous color to the glass. This one is perfect for toasting midnight with a twist!!

So there are my picks for New Year's Eve - let me know if you try any of them!!

XOXO

Zappos to the rescue!!

2009-12-27T19:17:00.003-06:00

I was in NEED of red heels for my New Year's dress and had exhausted every store in the Galleria/mall in-store and online.

THEN...

ZAPPOS!!!

These red heels break my heart. I had to have them. New Year's is all about wearing things you don't get to wear just every old day so I ordered them. They are sky high - a little scary but I'm ready for the challenge.

Zappos = fabulous, to-die-for shoes/handbags with FREE OVERNIGHT shipping as long as you make a user account.

Love.

Hate It AND Love It

2009-12-23T21:50:00.002-06:00

I went to Sephora today....sigh. I always end up buying waaaaay more than what I set out for and today was no exception. I ended up in the perfume section (by mistake but not really) and honestly, I really was in the market for a new scent...just not today. :)

So after smelling what seemed like hundreds of scents, I kept coming back to one in particular that I ADORE: Bright Crystal by Versace. It is fabulous, ladies. I had to have it....BUT...the bottle topper was so damn hideous I almost couldn't go through with it. In the end, I bought it and I am SOOOOO in love with it. Smells fab.

So, I hate the bottle but I love the scent! Maybe I'll make that top disappear...

Martini Monday - Happy Holidays!!!

2009-12-21T19:25:00.002-06:00

Happy Martini Monday!! Christmas is one of my favorite times of year - family, friends, fun and FABULOUS cocktails! Here are a few of my Holiday inspired favorites. Enjoy!

#1. Winter Wonderland Martini

I just want to dive into this drink...it's like a cloud I promise you. If you like Pina Coladas, you will love this. A little vodka rather than all rum makes this drink perfect for the holidays.

1 ounce vanilla vodka

1 ounce coconut rum

1/3 cup chilled coconut cream (not coconut water)

Shake the ingredients together and top with toasted coconut flakes. Heaven.

#2. White Chocolate Martini

This is one RICH, DELICIOUS martini, perfect as a dessert!

1.5 ounces of white chocolate liqueur (I LOVE the Godiva brand)

1.5 ounces creme de cacao

splash of premium vodka (or a little more if you're like me)

2 ounces of half and half

Shake all ingredients together and topped with shaved chocolate - dark chocolate is perfect for this because it cuts the sweetness a little. I like to stick a strawberry on the glass as well.

3. Santa's Sleigh Martini

This little baby is eggnog with a twist of fabulous. Cut out the plain old eggnog and surprise everyone with this alternative!

To make several:

2 cups eggnog

1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup amaretto liqueur

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 scoops vanilla ice cream (BLUE BELL!!!!)

Throw everything in the blender and blend until smooth. Poor in chilled glasses and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Yum...

#4. White Chocolate Peppermint Martini

Another perfect dessert martini with a holiday touch.

2.5 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce peppermint schnapps

1/2 ounce white chocolate liqueur

Shake all ingredients together. Glasses are especially pretty when rimmed in red sugar!!

Happy Martini Monday and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

XOXO

Ashley

Christmas Debate ~ Help!!

2009-12-20T10:21:00.004-06:00

I am in the middle of a heated, somewhat ridiculous, very passionate debate...about CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FROM SANTA!!! I thought I would post the situation on the blog and see what ya'll think...

So, question:

When you were little (or to those of us who are still lucky enough to get presents from Santa)...

...were your presents WRAPPED or UNWRAPPED????

Santa presents were always UNWRAPPED at our house so that we could see exactly what they were as soon as we ran down the stairs and over to the fireplace. But I have since been told (psshhh) that Santa presents are supposed to be WRAPPED!!

So which is it? WRAPPED OR UNWRAPPED???

Oh, and for those of you who remember this post, or this post, or even this post... I am proud to say that MARTINI MONDAY will return tomorrow with a special Christmas Edition! Yum...can't wait!!

Have a fab Sunday!!

XOXO,

Ashley

Who's cool and takes pictures with their cats? THIS GIRL!!!

2009-12-19T11:28:00.002-06:00

HEY!!!!!!!!

First things first.

Oh blog, I am so very sorry for leaving you out in the cold for many months without so much as a weekly check-in. I have been selfish, mean and overall a horrible person to you. Please forgive me!! I'll buy you something really, really fabulous??

OK...now that we have THAT out of the way...HOW THE HECK ARE ALL OF YOU????

I have missed blogging soooooo much, I can't even tell ya! To be honest, I don't even have a good excuse for not keeping up with this thing other than the fact that...

TOTALLY...

SECRETLY...

HONESTLY...

BETWEEN YOU AND ME...

I was just on blog burnout!!!!!!!! I had run out of products that I liked and recipes to share and had just given up on blogging 100% and didn't really care about it. But then today, after watching Love Actually (which is another story entirely), I logged on to the good old MacBook and without thinking...clicked on the good old blog.

So it hit me!!!! I don't have to be the perfect blogger...I can write about whatever I want even if no one thinks it is funny but ME!!!

So this is just a start. Not even a real post really. More to come soon though...

I'll leave you with a ridiculously unnecessary picture of me and my cat, Grenade...in a santa hat.

XOXO

Ashley

Remember Me???

2009-09-22T19:28:00.008-05:00

BLOG????? What is that?? Haha...it has been sooooooo long since I have even considered looking at this blog but for some reason, it crossed my mind today and I thought I'd check it out. I will definitely have to write a catch-up post since it has been MONTHS but today, I don't have the strength...lol.

Check out some of the pictures Drew and I took over the weekend! Drew's sister took them and she is amazzzzzing!

Hope everyone is fabulous - I look forward to catching up on everyone's blogs!! XOXO

Sports Gear FAIL

2009-08-10T09:18:00.002-05:00

The front of my new Houston Astros hat...

...the back of my new Houston Astros hat.

What is wrong with this picture?!?!?! FAIL.

Please keep my kitchen from exploding…

2009-07-29T12:06:00.003-05:00

I will be attempting to make a cheesecake for a potluck at work tomorrow and I am scared. Never in my life have I done anything with a cheesecake except eat it so it is safe to say that this will be an adventure.

Apparently, there is a device called a spring pan that I will need to purchase…sounds frightening. I think I have seen my mom with one of these before but have never thought about actually purchasing one. My mom makes the best cheesecake so I will be using her recipe. I must admit I half-way thought about asking her to make it for me but I guess that wouldn’t be right. Feel free to justify it for me though because it is not too late!

I’ll let you know how it goes. If all else fails and the cheesecake blows up, there is always the Cheesecake Factory! ;)

Wishful Thinking...

2009-07-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

I wish I was as good at tennis in real life as I am on the Wii. Sigh…

Martini Monday Returns!

2009-07-27T19:47:00.004-05:00

Man, oh man - it has been soooo long since my last Martini Monday post. To get back in the swing of things, I'm going to post a new creation - the "Arnold Palmer Martini".

So it's summer time and who doesn't have some lemonade just lying around...lol. I am really liking the "Simply" products hence the Simply Lemonade below:

Add another one of my FAVORITES, Firefly Sweet Tea vodka...

...and you've got a fabulous martini, Arnold Palmer style!

This one is perfect for those of you who are not big on the fruity flavors that I usually post. Once again I will give my disclaimer about the Firefly - it is so easy to get carried away with because it doesn't taste like alcohol AT ALL (we don't want another anonymous commenter to call me out for promoting binge drinking like the last time...)!!

So there ya have it! Feel free to play around with the exact measurements since everyone likes things a little different. ;)

Have a great night!

No Shoes, No Shirt – No Service!

2009-07-27T13:42:00.001-05:00

“Ladies” of Sugar Land, Texas:

Please refrain from grocery shopping in black triangle top bikinis and cut-off jean shorts.

Thanks,

AP

Not that this requires any explanation but for your enjoyment, I have decided to elaborate. Drew and I were at the grocery store this weekend and all was going well. We paid for our groceries and were walking back to the car when we saw the most hideous of sights.

To our horror, two young “ladies” (I use this term loosely) were strolling into the store with matching triangle top bikinis and cut-off jorts (jean shorts). You know the kind – the acid washed type that are so short that the pockets hang out the bottom and the butt cheeks hang out the back.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not live in the ghetto – not even close – so why they thought this was acceptable is beyond me. I am all for good self esteem but really??? If you look good in a bikini then by all means, wear one…at the pool, at the beach, NOT at the store. These girls merely thought they looked good – not so much.

Anyway, we got a good laugh out of it so I guess I shouldn’t complain!

Happy Monday!

Show Us Your Wedding Dress!

2009-07-24T18:40:00.004-05:00

Kelly asked everyone to show their wedding dresses as part of her new "Show us Your Life" series - how fun!!

So here it is! I loved this dress but it weighed 100000 pounds and didn't do a very great job of holding my boobs in...haha!

The dresses are beautiful and all, but come on ladies - we can't forget the guys!! I had to add one of Drew and his best man/groomsmen...

Have a fabulous FRIDAY!!!!!! Oh and don't worry if you haven't gotten to the "married part" yet - that just means that you still have one of the best days of your life to look forward to! Enjoy the wait - it makes it that much more amazing in the end... ;)

"I can't make it because...I have to wash my hair!"

2009-07-23T13:47:00.002-05:00

Since we were just on the subject of recommendations…I have another topic to inquire about…

What is your all time favorite shampoo/conditioner?? It can be cheap, it can be ultra expensive – I just want to know!!

It is amazing how many there are out there and I am interested to see if more people go for the cheaper versions or fork out a little extra for the expensive brands. I go back and forth. I still love Pantene as a daily shampoo and probably always will and strangely enough, I really like the smell of the Dove products. For my pricier selections (still not that pricey) I love Sebastian Light. It is perfect for adding shine and volume without stripping color or fading highlights.

So, what is your shampoo/conditioner of choice and why? Maybe I will find some new ones that I haven’t already tried (if that is possible). ;)

XOXO

Name That Scent!

2009-07-22T09:44:00.002-05:00

I love, love, love the current perfumes that I have but I am ready to mix things up! I was hoping ya’ll could give me some recommendations so that I don’t have to go to the mall and smell 1000 different bottles that all end up smelling the same. This way, I can at least know where to start.

Sooooo…what do you recommend???

;)

Gimme a Caboodle

2009-07-21T13:16:00.002-05:00

I have waaaaaaaay too many hair, makeup and skin products. It is actually ridiculous the amount of half-used bottles I have under the bathroom sink. I looked in the shower today and I have 4 different bottles of shampoo and 5 bottles of conditioner – this is in addition to the 2 different face soaps and 3 bottles of body wash. What the hell????

I use the shampoos on rotation, if you will, so I guess I don’t feel so bad about that. The conditioners serve different purposes too (deep conditioner, everyday conditioner…) but what I CAN”T explain is the 1098450293580 bottles of lotion and hair products that I have hidden away under the sink.

Sigh…I need a giant 80's style caboodle to get myself organized! ;)

Steal this!!!

2009-07-20T13:04:00.001-05:00

So guess what - I AM NOT A THEIF!!! (Target, get it right!)

I don’t know what is going on but lately EVERY TIME I walk in and out of said store, I set the theft alarm off. Talk about shame – it makes me feel guilty even though I would NEVER steal anything…NEVER!!! I literally want to melt away…

So it happens….BEEP BEEP BEEP (some stores even have lovely, red, flashing lights…how kind)

It seems like people from all over the store immediately begin staring at me trying to decide what I am attempting to steal. Now that I have realized that it is bound to happen, I pull the old “glance back” move so that it at least looks like there is some mistake and I am checking to see if anyone wants to see my receipt. I figure if I just blow through the doors without looking back, it might actually look like I’m trying to escape the store without getting caught.

I have been narrowing down the common denominators if you will, to see what may be causing this and the only thing that I had with me every time was my purse so I am assuming that the purse is the culprit!!! I have turned it upside down and inside out trying to find something in this purse that is causing me to beep…no resolution so far.

This I know – I am no thief!

Work is no place for an Orgasm (NOT what you think)

2009-07-17T09:19:00.002-05:00

I have told ya’ll before about the fabulousness that is NARS blush and lip gloss and I have definitely mentioned before that my favorite shade is called Orgasm. This has never been weird to me in the past because I have never really said it out loud to anyone…I just go into Sephora, pick it up, buy it and wear it! Easy enough…

Well, this morning at work I made my way to the ladies room to grab some paper towels (after spilling my scalding ass coffee all over my desk/papers/pants/work phone) and there was a lady from another department standing in front of the mirror when I walked in. She commented that she liked my blush because it created a dewey look but wasn’t too over the top.

THEN she asked me what it was. Hmmmm….what to say…

So I told her it was made by NARS and that the blush and the lip gloss were the same shade. I went on to say that it is a good color for almost every skin tone and soon realized I was rambling on about it in hopes that it would keep her from asking about the exact shade. I thought I was in the clear.

NOT.

I turned to walk out the door thinking that I was safe, and she quickly asked if I knew the shade. I couldn’t bring myself to say it so I said that I didn’t know but that I had brought my makeup bag and we could go look. I rummaged around half-way hoping that I had left it at home (and deciding if I should just lie and say that I did) but finally I pulled it out and handed it to her to she could look for herself.

ORGASM. She looked at me, smiled and said pretty much nothing.

Cool.

;)

Take Note

2009-07-16T14:04:00.001-05:00

Note to the universe:

Please refrain from buying a Chevy Impala, Crown Victoria or any other car used as a police vehicle, especially in white unless you are indeed an officer of the law. Do you not realize that every other car on the road will mistake you as an approaching officer and immediately slow down?

There have been times that a whole herd of cars will drive under the speed limit because a white “police car” is speeding up behind them. Sure, it may look like a police vehicle from afar (causing that inevitable sinking, scared as hell feeling) but trust me when I say that your choice of rims and dark as night tint really give you away. You are no cop; you are a poser in a white 80’s model Crown Vic who wants people to THINK you are a cop. No bueno…

Don't Do It!!!!!!

2009-07-14T09:47:00.001-05:00

It should come as NO SURPRISE to everyone that I am not a morning person. I fully admit that I can be a full-on grouch for a good portion of the morning hours and rarely become my usual self until at least 10 or after.

I usually have to peel myself out of the bed…walk directly to the coffee maker…sleepwalk to the shower…attempt to do my hair, makeup, pick out my clothes, etc…drive to work without falling asleep at the wheel (this would never happen, just an exaggeration)…and convince myself to walk into work. This is when IT happens…

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate it.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it is nice to greet and be greeted in the morning and it is polite to do so but can we just say hello or hey or anything besides good morning?!?!?! For some reason I just can’t stand those two words together and no matter how hard I try to resist, they inevitably send me into a deeper state of grouchiness. It almost hurts me to hear these two words.

Is it just me?????

Happy Birthday Drew!!!

2009-07-13T13:22:00.002-05:00

Best friends...

Me and Julia (college roommate and best friend)!

The Original Beeshes - don't ask ;)

Today is Drew’s 26th birthday!!! What a weekend we had…so fun!

We went to Dallas for birthday festivities of all kinds. Saturday morning was my nieces 3rd birthday and all the little girlies were ADORABLE! They got their nails painted, wore pearls and had a tea party – don’t you wish you were little again? ;)

Then we headed to Drew’s parents house for his family birthday party. We had wonderful food, including cheesecake (my weakness) and then opened presents.

THEN…we went to the birthday celebration of a lifetime at our friend’s house!! I cannot believe the shenanigans that occurred and if I told you all about them, it probably wouldn’t be all that funny. But trust me – this was a blast!! Someone brought one of those picture cakes with Drew’s face on it so we all had a good time with that one. We danced in the living room for hours on end (while consuming many beverages) to rap, Michael Jackson, 80’s, and above all else…the ridiculous and now HATED song “One More Time.”

Let me set the scene:

We would all be dancing to whatever song was on….say Beat It, for instance and then all of a sudden out of nowhere, the song One More Time would come blasting on. You know you have heard it and if you haven’t, go listen to it on the internet and then imagine hearing it about 25 times in one night! Needless to say, the dance floor (the living room) would clear out except for the people who kept turning it on – apparently, this was hilarious to them. I have to admit, it almost became funny to me at one point because of the sheer genius/trickery/insanity it took to keep surprising us with it. If I NEVER hear this song again I will be waaaaaayyyyy more than OK with it.

I put some pictures up from the party but will post more later along with more birthday news from tonight and this coming Wednesday!

Hope you all had a FABULOUS weekend!!!!

A Summer Favorite...

2009-07-03T10:45:00.003-05:00

Everyone has a few favorites that really remind them of summer and this post is dedicated to one of mine! When I think of summer, I automatically think of lemonade and better yet, PINK lemonade! Lemonade is perfectly delicious on its own but add a little vodka and you have a perfect summer cocktail that is refreshing and fun at the same time.

I love pink lemonade so that is what I always use. Add a little citrus vodka, a little mint and some sugar on the rim and you will be relaxing in no time. Mix and match the glasses that you have...this looks pretty is anything from your regular glass to a champagne flute. Choose something that goes with your style!

Happy 4th of July!! Have a fun and safe weekend and take lots of pictures so we can all see!!

XOXO

Lately...

2009-06-30T10:52:00.003-05:00

DISCLAIMER: The above picture of me has absolutely no relevance to anything on Earth…I just thought it was funny!

So you might be wondering what the hell has been going on with The Porter’s lately…probably NOT but I am going to tell you anyway! ;)

Life has been wonderful but oh so busy. Things are FINALLY getting back to normal at work so I am hoping (and crossing my fingers) that I will find the time to get back to blogging…I miss it! This is such a fun and creative outlet and it goes greatly missed when I get out of the habit/don’t have time.

Drew has been working very hard, as usual, but he is really enjoying his job which is very cool to see. His birthday is coming up in about two weeks so I am trying to come up with good ideas for presents, dinner, etc. We will be heading to Dallas for his actual birthday weekend to meet up with his family and of course see all of our friends that we miss terribly! Don’t blame us if we party a little too hard and don’t act our age – hey we are still young!! ;)

My cats are still as crazy as ever. They drive me insane a little each day but what can you do? They speed around the apartment, sleep in strange places, refuse to eat their food, steal things out of the laundry, destroy the toilet paper and so on. I try to remember to close the bathroom door to deter them from doing this but I just can’t seem to do it (operative word: TRY). I still think they should get jobs to earn their keep but it hasn’t happened yet…

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT IS ALREADY JULY?? That means that July 4th is THIS weekend – crazy! Drew’s parents are coming to visit us here in Houston to celebrate so we are in prep mode. I have a huge list of things that need to be done before their arrival so I can only hope I can get it all done. It has been scalding ass hot in Houston for the past several weeks (in the 100’s for two weeks straight with no rain). Yesterday, it rained for the first time in TWO MONTHS and it was glorious. Hopefully, things will cool down for the 4th – I also hope the rain holds off on Saturday so that we can blast off our fireworks!

That’s my little recap…more to come. In my absence, I have come across some awesome beauty secrets/recipes (courtesy to my friends at work) so I will be sure to pass those along as well.

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!

Go Get This...Now!!!

2009-06-26T07:29:00.004-05:00

Really quick before I peel out to work...

GO GET THIS MASCARA!!! It is Loreal's Extra Volume Collagene and it is AWESOME! You have to build it and put on a few coats but this is the best volume enhancing mascara that I have used thus far. Check it out...

Oh, and I will get back to regular blogging soon as things at work are FINALLY slowing down. We had been down one person in our department but a new person started this week so things are getting better.

Talk to you soon! Can't wait to catch up on everyone's blogs!!

XOXO

Remember this??

2009-06-05T07:33:00.003-05:00

Yep! Still love it and I don't care what anyone thinks!!! I hadn't heard any of their songs in years and then I stumbled across the video for "I Want It That Way" (best song EVER!) on YouTube...it all came back and I acted like a high schooler all over again!!!!

And to the anon that will blast me for this undoubtedly, you probably liked them too at one point. You, too, were a loser just like all of us so don't pretend like you weren't! lol! Who knows, maybe you are done leaving comments blasting my physical appearance, specifically...my boobs??? Seriously?

And to the rest of the readers.....I HEART YOU and have a fab day!!! ;)

XOXO

Man, I Feel Like a...MAN????

2009-06-04T09:17:00.001-05:00

So I ran out of my shower gel today and had to use my husband’s and now I am paranoid that I am going to smell like a MAN all day! I guess it is pretty funny if you think about it but I have this huge fear of people confusing me with a man!!!! HAHAHA – I know it is ridiculous. I think like this because on two separate occasions (once in college and once recently) someone has referred to me as “sir.” REALLY???? One time I had a hat one so I can KIND OF see that one but the other time I just had my hair back in a bun! I feel like this shower gel thing just adds to my paranoia…I’d better stop by the store on the way home and pick up my usual!! ;)

XOXO

Martini Monday - Bikini Ready Edition!!

2009-06-01T20:37:00.005-05:00

Before I get to the martinis....

Have you ever tried Firefly vodka?? If not, DO IT...NOW!! There are several flavors but my favorite is the sweet tea vodka. You mix the vodka with plain old water and it honestly tastes like the most perfect sweet tea ever!!!! Careful though - these can be lethal!!! ;)

OK, so Martini Monday is back!!! I probably won't have a martini post EVERY Monday but I will try my best to post new recipes as much as possible!!

So, since it is BIKINI season, what could be better then a slimmed down martini recipe? Check out the more figure friendly Raspberry Lemonade Martini!!

Mix together 1 oz raspberry vodka, 1 oz triple sec, 1.5 oz light cranberry juice and 1.5 oz light lemonade. Yum! Not only is it light on calories, it is super refreshing too!

Have a great night!!!

Another Reason to Love Texas!

2009-06-01T09:42:00.003-05:00

This weekend was soooo much fun! I went with Drew and my family to San Antonio, TX - I had forgotten how much I loved it! If you ever get the chance to go, you definitely should. The main attraction is the River Walk and it is fabulous. All the restaurants, hotels and shops line the river so it really is an outside experience for the most part. Ya like Mexican food and margaritas? Well, this is the place to go!

We stayed in a fabulous hotel, La Mansion Del Rio - I highly recommend it. It is directly on the river so it makes for easy access to everything. They have boat tours that take you along and tell you about the city and its surroundings but I'm telling you, the best part is the food and drinks so DO NOT think you are going to go here and be on a diet - impossible!

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Our Hotel

Drew and I on the balcony

On one of the bridges over the river

My sweet Drew P

My mom and step-dad

Me with one of my many margaritas...

My brother and I on the "scary balcony" ;)

Me on the "not scary" balcony

Anyway, I hope everyone has an incredible week and that you all get to do something fun and exciting to get you through to next weekend! I am focusing on getting through this week because next week we are going to the beach!!! Stay happy!

XOXO

Slap me

2009-05-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

Wow…it has been a while since my last post so again, I deserve to be slapped for my blog slacking! Here is a summary of what has gone on…

#1. Last week at work was soooooooooooooooooooo busy. It was almost unbelievable and to add to that we are now down a person in our department so this week has been even MORE insane.

#2. The three day Memorial Weekend was awesome! We did nothing but hang out by the pool and relax. There was a ton of delicious food as well as one of my favorite drinks, rum punch…yum! My step-brother got leave from the Army to come home for a few weeks so we spent some time with him listening to crazy stories and laughing about old times. Here are some pictures of us at my mom’s house.

#3. As of today, I am FINALLY done with Invisalign FOREVER and I couldn’t be more excited! I might as well have a mouth made of gold because many, many dollars have been spent on perfecting my teeth. THANK YOU MOM!!!

#4. This weekend Drew and I are going to San Antonio for more fun in the sun. My mom, step-dad and step-brother will all be there and we are staying in a fabulous hotel! I don’t want to say where are of fear that a crazy person will come find us (me being paranoid) but I will take pictures, of course.

I hope all of you are doing better than ever and I can’t wait to catch up on everyone’s blogs!!! I will be back to regular posting soon!!

XOXO

Bring it Back!!!!!!

2009-05-20T16:58:00.003-05:00

So I was flipping through a cook book that one of the ladies brought to work today when I stumbled across the dessert section. Anyone who knows me knows that I would MUCH rather eat something salty than something sweet but I figured I would give it a look just in case. I saw some pies here and there that looked good…and then it happened.

I saw this JELL-O recipe that looked a little strange, but it sparked an INCREDIBLE food memory for me. Anyone remember JELL-O 123??? It was this awesome thing that came in one box. You mixed it all together and then poured it into individual glasses to let it set up. It had three delicious layers: layer one was regular JELL-O, the second was like a creamy custard and the third was like a JELL-O foam…sooooooo good.

I remember them taking it off the market because I was devastated when it happened but I was secretly hoping that it had made its return. When I typed this into Google, a ton of hits popped up. There is actually a petition to bring it back and the Kraft Company says that this is one of the most asked about products!

I hope they bring it back!!!!

Don't make me do it...

2009-05-20T10:54:00.000-05:00

Must vent…

My apartment complex is gated of course, as usual, and I have not yet bought the automatic gate opener thingie. So, each time I want to go into the gate I have to pull up to the key pad and punch in the code. It might be good to mention that the key pad is WAAAAY up there and my car is WAAAAY down here so it is quite a reach to be able to punch in the keys, especially if I am trying to avoid popping my tires on the curb as most people would.

Anyway, more often than not I will pull up to the key pad, struggle to punch in the code and look to my right only to see cars blowing by me to get into the gate before me. EXCUSE ME?? You are telling me that I have to go through all the trouble to get the damn thing open and then YOU are going to peel out in front of me!! Oh, hell no…

But what am I to do? In my perfectly illogical and irrational dream world I would gas it and cut them off (their car is no match for this V8), all the while smiling of course. ;) BUT this would be rude (hint to the masses) and I would feel bad for doing it, not to mention the damage it may cause. Wouldn’t it feel good though?!?! I guess I just have to let it go but this only confirms that some people are incredibly out of it.

XOXO

My "Blogiversary"

2009-05-19T20:48:00.002-05:00

Silly me, I forgot to celebrate my ONE WHOLE FRICKIN' YEAR of blogging! I can't believe it...I started out strong, had some ups and downs and in the end, I still love this blog and everything that comes with it.

I went from having ZERO followers to 202 and I feel so unworthy!! I have met some fabulous ladies and will continue to do so, I'm sure. So to everyone who reads this little old blog - THANK YOU!!

Check this out! It is my very. first. post. (written May 12, 2008) and one of the posts that means the absolute MOST to me! Go on - check it out!

I Heart "The Mouse"

2009-05-19T10:28:00.001-05:00

I can safely say that it is beyond impossible to choose just one Disney movie to call my favorite. I have often thought about it and have come up with several favorites to choose from but I still can’t pick JUST ONE!

Here are my favorites:

*The Lion King – this ALMOST edges everything out to be the favorite but would cause loyalty issues for me because I love so many others. I have awesome memories surrounding the first time I saw this in theatres so maybe that is why I love it so much – that or because it was ridiculously cool…

*Beauty and the Beast – I wanted to be Belle so badly…

*Aladdin – I love this one for many reasons and none of them make sense…

*The Little Mermaid – this, again, is ALMOST my favorite but like mentioned before, I go back and forth. Ariel was the bomb, I was scared of Ursula so I was happy when she blew up, Sebastian made me laugh and I loved trying to memorize all the songs. I even had the Sing-a-Long-Songs video! I was radical.

Basically, the list could go on and on and on and on and on. I was strictly sticking to animated movies but of course there are many others to consider, including the new Disney/Pixar films. None of those can compare to the good old animated flicks though.

Can you pick a favorite???

Wild and Crazy SNACKS!

2009-05-18T19:46:00.003-05:00

I have already accepted that there are certain food items that I need to stay away from while I am trying to get in better shape. This gives me some excuse to act the way I do, but nothing prepared me for this...

OK, so call me crazy, insane, weird...whatever you got...but I refuse to give up some of my old favorites so today, I invented a more friendly version of lemon meringue pie. IN NO WAY AM I SUGGESTING THAT YOU TRY THIS but it turned out pretty damn good and made me laugh hysterically in the process. Only I would be so ridiculous as to mix together the following:

Ridiculous Step #1: I crumbled some low-fat graham crackers into a bowl.

Ridiculous Step #2: I added in the Yoplait Light (thick and creamy) Lemon Meringue yogurt.

Ridiculous Step #3: I topped it all with my old standby - Fat Free Reddi Wip!

This is silly, I know but I couldn't help myself. Alright, so confess...I know at least one of you has a crazy snack that you eat! Let me hear about it!

The Nail Polish Throwdown of 2009

2009-05-18T14:16:00.003-05:00

A classic case of varying opinions in the office: nail polish at work…yes or no?

The whole thing started because I mentioned that I needed to go get my nails done after work and that I was a little burnt out on the whole French Manicure thing. One of the ladies mentioned that I should switch to painted nails for a time or two which I am not opposed to as long as it is not something extreme. Another lady spoke up quickly and said that it is absolutely unprofessional and rather unacceptable to wear any kind of nail polish to work no matter what color it is.

I have always been told that something light is fine for the office but apparently I missed something along the way.

What do you think? Is it unprofessional to wear nail polish to work??

Random Survey - I've always wondered...

2009-05-18T10:04:00.002-05:00

All health implications aside...

Are you a mayonnaise person?

Or a Miracle Whip person?

I am a die hard mayo fan but that's just me!

Facelift Complete!

2009-05-17T18:38:00.004-05:00

Happy Sunday! I have finally completed my blog re-do with the help of my sweet husband, Drew P! The drill went as usual...I come up with what I want it to look like (the easy stuff) but then he goes to work on Photoshop/Illustrator and creates it all for me (the hard stuff). He is so sweet to help me with all of my "girly blog stuff!"

So, I hope you like the new "summer-ized" version of my blog. Thank you to everyone that gave their suggestions and I hope everyone has a fabulous evening!

XOXO

Ashley

Oh, what you'll sacrifice for a bikini!

2009-05-17T13:42:00.004-05:00

So what I really wanted was a hot fudge sundae from Cold Stone Creamery but instead I came home and had a Skinny Cow Bar...it was really good actually and I feel pretty damn proud of myself!

The chocolate truffle is my fave so you should check it out!!

XOXO

Scalpel!!!

2009-05-14T16:32:00.004-05:00

I have lasted as long as possible...it is time for a new look for my blog! I have kept this look longer than any other but as mentioned before, I am a creature of CHANGE rather than habit.

Here is my problem though - I can't decide what I want it to look like. I'm at a creative dead end and I need help!!! Maybe you can help with a few questions that are dancing around in my brain:

*What colors fit me/this blog? Should I go light and bright for summer or should I stick with the darker shades?

*Should I stick with the "vintagy" look or should I go more modern?

*Any suggestions at all??

Hopefully, someone will mention something that will get my creative juices flowing. AND THEN I will ask sweet Drew P to help me with the old Photoshop and Illustrator...I just now he loves creating blog headers for me! ;)

XOXO

Having Withdrawals...

2009-05-14T11:02:00.002-05:00

OMG. I try to do something to something semi-healthy for once and guess what? IT BACKFIRES!!!! Let’s start from the beginning…

On Monday I decided to stop drinking as much caffeine, in fact I didn’t drink ANY caffeine…no coffee, no Coke, no chocolate…nothing! I was fine at first but then I started feeling pretty bad – headache, my shoulders and arms ached, stomach hurt a little. I didn’t think too much of it at first and then I convinced myself that I was possibly getting the flu.

Sooo…for the last four days I have been pill popping non-stop (only Advil, no need for an intervention) but nothing has worked. Advil never fails me so this time I knew something was up. I have been moping around at work and home because my head/shoulders/arms will not stop hurting and finally I mentioned it to my boss today…a revelation occurred!

She said those oh so obvious words that sent me running straight to Wikipedia. “Maybe you are having caffeine withdrawals,” she said. Hmmmmmm…SERIOUSLY!!! Why did not this occur to me??

So I pull it up on Wikipedia and this is what I find:

“Withdrawal symptoms—possibly including headache, irritability, an inability to concentrate, drowsiness, insomnia and pain in the stomach, upper body, and joints may appear within 12 to 24 hours after discontinuation of caffeine intake, peak at roughly 48 hours, and usually last from one to five days, representing the time required for the number of adenosine receptors in the brain to revert to "normal" levels, uninfluenced by caffeine consumption.”

Needless to say, I went directly to the coffee maker and got a huge cup of coffee. I am feeling better already and I am crossing my fingers that this FINALLY gets rid of this everlasting headache.

XOXO

Biscuit Link!!

2009-05-13T13:20:00.000-05:00

Hey!! Work is soooooooooooooooooo (times 2000) busy today so I am unable to write until later but I did want to give you ladies the link to Paula Deen’s version of “Fudge and Biscuits” since a few of you had asked earlier. I’m not sure exactly how my mom makes it but this looks pretty similar!

Check it out!!!

Chocolate at its finest!

2009-05-11T17:22:00.005-05:00

*Read this too, if you can. You may remember a friend of mine that was new to the blog world over at In My Pink Paisley Boots. She has had a rough month or so and is back on the blog scene. I no longer work with her but I know that she needs our prayers!

yayayayayayayayaya! I am sooooo excited and I can almost guarantee that when I finish writing this post I will want to immediately delete it but I won't! I hope that it makes SOME sense in the end!

So all my life my mom has made something that we call "Fudge and Biscuits" - homemade fluffy biscuits with butter and chocolate gravy on top (the part we call fudge). TRUST ME...I KNOW HOW CRAZY THIS SOUNDS BUT YOU MUST TRY IT!

I have never met another family that makes this but everyone that has ever tried it at our house has absolutely loved it. I have always wondered where on Earth a recipe like this could have come from and I am convinced that it is definitely a Southern thing.

So there I was, watching the Paula Deen show today and low and behold...guess what she makes??? FUDGE AND BISCUITS!! I am so happy - it must be a real thing if Paula makes it. She called it Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy but to me, it is all the same thing. I wish I could eat it right now!

OK, so here we are at the end of this post and I am almost completely sure that no one will care about this particular topic but I just HAD to post about this! No idea why this excites me so.

Anyone ever had this??? Let me know!!

It Never Gets Old

2009-05-11T15:01:00.002-05:00

Dude, I don't care how old I get, I will NEVER stop loving koolaid. Sounds crazy, huh? I know...but it is sooooo good. It is completely ridiculous but I have random cravings for various flavors of koolaid...cherry, lemonade and grape are among my favorites. I used to love the blue flavor but I can never find it anymore. They make little "to-go" packs now that are sugar free to I don't feel quite as childish as I did before.

I loooooooooove it and will not stop!

Any koolaid lovers out there???

Alcohol is my friend...tonight

2009-05-09T19:30:00.004-05:00

Ladies, meet my friend for the evening...margaritas! While Drew P enjoys his Miller Light, I will be partaking in these magnificent creatures!

Happy Saturday Night!!!

The most hilarious outfit ever seen...

2009-05-08T17:42:00.003-05:00

This ensemble kills me!! The GINORMOUS snake skin scarf is especially heinous...

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

Stuffed Animals and Hula Hoops

2009-05-08T10:05:00.001-05:00

When I was little, I used to pretend that I worked at a pet hotel and that I was the receptionist. This, to a little girl of course, seemed like the most glamorous job in the world and besides, what could be more fabulous than working at a pet hotel, right? I would answer the phones (there were a lot of clients), take the payments (our services were expensive), and of course play with the animals (my stuffed animals including a Simba and Mufasa set) all day long.

Now that I am grown and have a “real job,” I hate doing paperwork – I basically despise it! Most things in this day in age can be completed and stored digitally but according to law (who cares) there are some things that must be handwritten and FILED. I can almost stand the writing part but it is the filing that kills me…

I wish I could go back to the days where my job was to play outside all day and pretty much do whatever I wanted. My best friend and I would spend countless hours doing the following:

*rollerblading (while putting on shows for which we charged our families to watch)
*hula hooping (badly)
*swimming (excellently)
*developing a lawn raking service (failed)
*riding bikes (with streamers, of course)
*eating popsicles (delicious)

I wish I would have known then how endlessly awesome all of that was but when you are little, all you want to do is grow up. Maybe I could take a few days off and do all of those things all over again…but I guess I have to work. Forget all that though, that receptionist job paid a million dollars so I should be set for a while. J

But I wanted it...

2009-05-06T14:30:00.002-05:00

So today is my boss’s birthday and to celebrate, our whole department got to go to Maggiano’s! If you do not have one of these restaurants close to you, you need to move…immediately! This is my all time favorite place to eat and I usually can never say no to the obscenely huge BLOCKS of lasagna they serve but today, I prevailed!

I have been doing soooo good with eating right this week. The hardest part is over – you know those first few days that your stomach is just DYING for more food?? I have made it past that and did not want to send myself flying backwards just because of one incredibly delicious yet totally unneeded piece of lasagna…so I got a grilled chicken dish instead.

MAKE NO MISTAKE – this was not at all as delicious as I wanted it to be but I think/hope my waistline will thank me later. Now that we are back to the office (after a 2 ½ hour lunch…oops), I am dreaming of that lasagna and trying to pretend that it is repulsive and never worth eating.

Yeah, right…

XOXO

A Love/Hate Relationship

2009-05-05T10:27:00.002-05:00

As I have mentioned before, I love getting my nails done (solar nails!!) but have I ever told you that I hate getting my nails done? Whoa, hold up – this may sound like a complete contradiction but it is so entirely true for a person like me.

Let me explain…I love the look of having solar nails and they could not be easier. Go in, have them done and then forget about them for 2-3 weeks until you have to get them done again. That last part is the source of all of my anxiety though…the actual sitting there and getting them done part.

This SHOULD be a relaxing experience but for me it is torturous and can literally send me into cold sweats. They use this “buzzer” thing, not sure of the technical term but its purpose is to quickly file your nails down so that they can be refilled. I give the nail technicians major credit because at the place that I go they are VERY careful with this particular tool but in the past I have had horrible experiences with it!!! This little bastard of a tool can seriously cut you if the ladies aren’t careful and believe me, it has happened more than a few times to me.

Picture it…I walk into the nail salon, everyone is relaxing in their massage chairs getting mani-pedis. The lady tells me to take a seat and for a while, until the dreaded tool shows its face, I am OK. The minute I see it though, relaxation is out the window…I sit straight up, monitoring her every move. If I even THINK that it is about cut me I jerk my hand away causing an embarrassing yet hilarious scene which causes me to have to quickly act like nothing happened.

The logical question is this – if I am so scared of having my nails done, then why don’t I just STOP DOING IT?? I can’t…I love them too much. They are effortless, minus this ridiculous reaction they cause, and I just like them. There you have it!

Am I insane?

Honesty - Read All if Any

2009-05-04T18:53:00.003-05:00

A crazy thing happened...I stopped caring about the blog. At all. I was asked today why I was blog slacking and you know what - this is a perfectly legitimate question that should be answered.

Here are some reasons why:

#1. Life/work has been so incredibly busy - not really an excuse but thought I would throw it out there

#2. I lost my inspiration. I got tired of posting about purses and fashion and things that to me, are not all that important in the scheme of things. BUT it seems like every time I posted something less then hilarious or with a slightly unhappy tone or too sarcastic or too personal, I would get horrible anonymous comments that in all honesty, would really piss me off. I know that these people don't really know me and that I shouldn't care but let me let ya'll in on a little secret - I am an INCREDIBLY sensitive person and I really take what people say to heart - even if I don't know them. Everyone has a bad day once in a while and since this is my blog, my place to let it all out, I want to be able to write about things that may be a little less than happy-go-lucky and I don't want to be scolded for it.

In spite of all of this, I want to reiterate how much I love this blog and how much it has allowed me to experience. I have gotten to read about people's happy times, sad times, hard times...you name it. The blog world is HUGE and allows for all sorts of emotions. I have seen people get berated because they wrote about something that went against the grain and I have seen people unite to pray for babies, children, moms and dads and you can't deny how incredible that is.

Sometimes my posts will be thoughtful and other times they will be completely brainless...but they are my posts nonetheless. I am coming back into the blog world with a promise to myself - I will be me no matter what. I will not shy away from posting sad stories nor hold back my happy times in fear of sounding self indulgent. I will post pictures of my husband and I drinking on 6th Street with friends and not think twice about those who let me have it in the past because I had alcohol...God forbid.

My BEST friends in the world read this blog and if they were the ONLY ones that read it I could care less. That said, I appreciate wholeheartedly every single one of you that read this blog and let me be...me. I thank all of you for letting me read YOUR posts and being so brave as to never back down from who you are.

I love my blog friends and I have missed this!! It really is a great part of my life and the perfect place to let it all hang out. Thank you for encouraging me and thank you for reading!

Lemon Cake and a Farmer's Tan

2009-04-26T12:23:00.004-05:00

So my aunt from Washington is visiting this week and we are having a BBQ this afternoon over at my mom's house. The weather is Sugar Land is amazing today so we are all ready to party in the backyard by the pool! My mom and step-dad are making all the food so I decided I would take one of my favorite cakes - lemon cake with raspberry filling.

I know what you are thinking...lemon cake? I hated the thought of it before I tried it, but once I had a bite of this one I was hooked! It is so easy - lemon supreme cake mix, lemon icing, cream cheese icing and seedless raspberry jam. You just make the cake according to the directions on the box and then ice it with a mixture of half lemon icing and half cream cheese icing (add a little lemon juice too). Put the raspberry filling in between the layers and that's it!

And another thing...I think I have a farmer's tan. Boooo. Drew and I went on a date last night and before we left, we took a few pictures. I pulled them up on the computer and realized that my chest and face are horribly white while my arms seem to be more tan. I'm not quite sure how this happened but oh well. Maybe it will even out when the summer is here in full force!

Have a great Sunday! XOXO

Our New Best Friend!

2009-04-25T09:54:00.002-05:00

Yay!! I have been wanting one of these for FOREVER and now, it finally lives in my kitchen! I have mentioned this many times before but Drew and I are coffee lovers...cannot go to work without coffee. Sad but true!

We loved our previous coffee maker but sadly (not really) it broke in the dishwasher this last time around. Perfect reason to buy this little baby, right? It is the Keurig Elite - one of those single cup coffee makers and I loooooooooove it!! You can buy all sorts of varieties of coffees, teas and hot chocolates and the best part - it heats and brews your drink in about 30 seconds. Oh sweet convenience, how I love you! It is perfect for when you have friends or family over because usually no two people want the same thing. They can pick whatever they want and go on with their bad selves. :)

Love it! XOXO

2 things I was better off not knowing about...

2009-04-24T13:22:00.002-05:00

I learned two new things yesterday while attempting to shop at Target:

#1. Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry tastes exactly like… (dun dun dun) Diet Dr. Pepper. I had been soooo excited to try it because of my love for Cherry Coke. I was wrong to think this could pass the cherry test. The only difference that I saw was that the color was a little more reddish than usual…no difference in taste whatsoever.

#2. I have heard some bad ring tones in my day, but the guy behind me in line had a gunshot ring tone. I didn’t know whether to take cover or give him “the look.” Pretty strange if you ask me. I trust that none of you ladies have the gunshot tone but if you do, I sincerely apologize (or not). Haha!

Oh Target – you never cease to amaze me!!

XOXO

Boobies everywhere...pardon the title...

2009-04-20T19:10:00.003-05:00

OK...I have absolutely NOTHING against ladies who decide to get breast implants and in fact, I have already decided that once I get done having all my sweet babies, I will get my boobs put back where they belong no matter what it takes. All I have to say is this...

If you are going to get your boobs done, can they at least be semi believable rather than the triple Z's I see walking around here as of late?????????? I get it...boobs are a coveted thing among women and again, I see no problem with getting implants BUT COME ON!!!!

My friends and I went to the fabulous 6th Street in Austin, TX this past weekend and you would not believe the number of ginormous boobs that I observed. These things were ridiculous. There is a young lady in my office that has gone this route and wears bustiers (sp?) under her suit jackets...triple Z's should not be stuffed into restricting clothing.

Am I wrong to impose such a limit on breast implants??? What do you think??

Tide to the Rescue!

2009-04-20T13:08:00.002-05:00

Looks like my new best friend for the next couple of days is going to be my trusty bottle of Tide. Apparently, I went on a strike from laundry and will now have to spend many nights washing, drying and putting away (the worst part if you ask me) a MOUNTAIN of laundry. My cats have basically made an obstacle course out of the piles of clothes…I am totally to blame!!

Ridiculous!!!!

2009-04-16T13:46:00.001-05:00

Check out this email that was just sent out COMPANY WIDE – I’m saying that everyone in the ENTIRE Company received this (CEO, President, etc):

"Would whoever borrowed the heavy duty 3-hole punch from the Accounting cubicle area (near the kitchen) please return it as soon as possible. We’d greatly appreciate it!

ThanQ!"

As if this is the ONLY 3-hole punch in the building…and check out the salutation…who does that?

People.

Stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-15T15:19:00.002-05:00

Today it was a co-worker’s birthday so our whole department went out for lunch to celebrate…at the Cheesecake Factory! If you have ever been you will certainly understand the way I feel now. I am STUFFED (but happy) and am now in a food induced coma.

First they brought out bread, two different kinds. Then we ordered our entrees which were group under “lunch size specials” (must have been a mistake). Everyone’s food looked delicious but everything was HUGER than HUGE!!

Then came the cheesecake…enough said. We each ordered a piece; I chose the Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake. Yum and yum!!

I think this is a good excuse to take a nap. After all, I do work for a “sleep related” company. ;)

Eyelashes Beware

2009-04-14T10:17:00.001-05:00

No makeup tool scares me more than the eyelash curler. Pardon my language, but ladies, this is one scary ass utensil if you ask me!!! My eyelashes are not straight so I haven’t had too much experience with one of these but the pure thought of the dreaded eyelash curler is enough to make me sick.

I know that if you use it properly there is not much that could go wrong, but one small move, sneeze, cough…anything really…will leave you lash-less in a matter of seconds.

You know what is even scarier?? The HEATED eyelash curler!! Not only can you single handedly pull out all of your eyelashes at once, you have the possibility of burning them off as well.

I can’t do it. I cannot bring myself to use this thing. I refuse.

Twitter Re-do

2009-04-09T13:17:00.002-05:00

I got a new Twitter account (that is SECURED) so come check me out!!! :) The old one had issues...to say the least.

AccordingToAsh!!

Apparently, it is NOT "Just like you like it."

2009-04-08T13:18:00.003-05:00

***Preface – I soooo would not have gone to Whataburger today but I had a meeting that ran way over with another one right behind it so I had to pick something FAST!!***

I kid you not, the following events took place at an H-town Whataburger…

Cashier: Welcome to Whataburger, can I take your order?

Ashley: Hi. I would like a two chicken strip meal with a Diet Dr. Pepper, please.

Cashier: Is that all?

Ashley: Yes, thank you.

Cashier: Would you like to add on an apple pie or a milkshake?

Ashley: No, thanks.

Cashier: Anything else?

Ashley: No…

Cashier: Would you like to make it a large fry and drink?

Ashley: No, thanks, just the regular meal.

Cashier: Is that all?

Ashley: …yes…

Cashier: Can I get you anything else?

Ashley: NOPE. THAT IS ALL. (are you kidding?)

Cashier: Please pull forward to the first window.

………………………pulling forward……………………………

Cashier: Would you like to add on a last minute pineapple turnover?

Ashley: …GAEIUG%*#@AEHN##AIEHN*AEUHRBPA. THE END.

Easter Eggs...Gone Horribly Wrong!

2009-04-07T20:03:00.004-05:00

Hay ya'll!! Can you believe that Easter is THIS Sunday?? WOW...time really does fly! I guess now is as good a time as any to tell about my Easter egg shenanigans of the past.

Who hasn't tried the "latest and greatest" egg dying kits at least once in their lives? I am no exception. One year in particular, my dad got me the tie dye kit and we couldn't wait to try it out. We made a little assembly line out on the porch, the weather was perfect...little did we know about the hideousness that would soon occur.

The way it works SHOULD have been simple. You take your egg, wrap it in a special fabric and then use a dropper to mix and match different colors. The goal is to end up with perfectly dyed eggs, tie dye style!!

This is what the eggs should have looked like...

...but they really looked more like THIS!!!! Boooooooo.

Instead of actually producing the tie dye effect, the colors tend to run together and you end up with ridiculous eggs and a waste of time. In theory, they would have been fabulous!

My solution?? Eggs wraps!!!! They are amazing and couldn't turn out better. I have always dyed the eggs a BRIGHT color (as opposed to the drab browns/greens above) and THEN put on the eggs wraps or "shrinky dinks" as I so lovingly call them. Then you can take it from there and add whatever you want!

Ever had an egg dying disaster??? Ever tried egg wraps??

Down with Taco C...

2009-04-06T18:13:00.003-05:00

I am soooo bad...I haven't written a post since last Wednesday!!! Things have been so incredibly busy.

Tonight was going to be the night that I got back into the swing of things but I just got home from work and I am almost certain I feel the early symptoms of food poisoning brought on by Taco Cabana. Blahhhhhh. That is how I feel - I am so not in the mood for food poisoning.

XOXO

Give Me a Ring-a-ling...

2009-04-01T15:30:00.000-05:00

Yayyyyyy! I am finally up for a cell phone upgrade and I couldn’t be happier. I absolutely love my current phone (Blackjack) which I have diligently kept for two whole years (a feat previously unknown to me!). It has been the perfect phone…until last week when I dropped it. It now sports a fashionable rubber band which is necessary to hold the battery and back onto the phone and therefore necessary to operate my sweet little Blackjack.

So, here’s my question: Which phones do you recommend? I need something Blackberry-like with email capabilities. Do you ladies have phones that you love or even phones to stay away from??

I hate wait to see the suggestions – I need major help selecting a new phone (even though I have my eye on the iPhone if you couldn't tell from the picture above!!).

WOW...is all I have to say.

2009-04-01T11:08:00.002-05:00

Do you need a good laugh?? If so, check out the Anonymous comment on this post.

I have no idea how to respond but apparently I am a GD B*tch.

WOW.

Love Her? Or Not??

2009-03-31T19:44:00.002-05:00

I am about one inch away from being sick of Rachel Ray and I can't explain why. I am fully aware that she has legions of fans so I am prepared for whatever criticism you throw my way...I just have to voice my opinion on the subject.

I was once a huge fan myself. I faithfully tuned in for 30 Minute Meals (which I can still accept) but then there was $40 a Day, and another traveling food show of hers. Then she came out with her own cookware and now she has her daytime "talk show." When will it end??

I used to understand her appeal but now I find her awkward and somewhat crazy. Does she smoke? Not that it matters but her voice has REALLY changed over the years. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she just gets hoarse while taping her multiple shows.

AND, did anyone see the pictures she did for FHM (I think it was FHM)? I give her props...IF she ever really looked like that. The RR I remember was not someone I would picture in a men's magazine. I will stop now...I just cannot figure out what is so cool about her!

Fill me in! What is your opinion on the whole thing?? Are you a fan?? Did you USED to be a fan??

Solar Power

2009-03-31T16:16:00.003-05:00

I am amazed...I got a ton of comments/emails about solar nails! A lot of people had never heard of them and they are definitely one of my beauty faves. I know these exist in the North but they are way more prevalent in the South. Now for my "Solar Nails 101."

*Solar nails are an updated version of acrylic nails and are usually a two step process (which makes them a tiny bit more expensive). Most of the time, I leave mine with French or American manicure and skip the paint...for this, BOTH pink and white powder are used so no need for french paint. Goodbye paint peeling!

*Acrylic nails are more opaque and less natural looking and can yellow over time. It is usually best to paint acrylic nails after your first set for this reason. Solar nails dry crystal clear and do not yellow with sun or tanning bed exposure (perfect for summer).

*Solar nails are much more durable than acrylic so unless a freak accident occurs, you should not expect any breakage. Depending on how quickly your nails grow, you could wait almost 3 weeks before needing a refill - I go every other week but my nails grow super fast.

*Solar nails are much easier to shape. I like mine square/round and usually keep them relatively short.

So there you have it, Solar Nails 101. I thought I would throw it out there for those of you that asked. DO NOT be fooled by the hideous pictures on the web...they are so EXTREME and nothing like what good nails should look like.

XOXO

Rascal Flatts Winner(s)!!

2009-03-31T14:22:00.003-05:00

It is time to pick the winners for the RF giveaway...that's right, WINNERS! I let Random Line Picker pick two lucky winners this time. The CD comes out on April 7 so once they go on sale, I will snatch a couple copies and send them your way!

And the winners are...

Memphis Mama and Meg!!

Ladies, feel free to send your address to shleeblog@gmail.com.

Thanks to everyone who entered!! XOXO

I'm Such an A-Hole!

2009-03-31T10:47:00.003-05:00

Grenade...mid-meow

So obviously Martini Monday did not happen but it was due to my own idiocy!!! Last night, I let Grenade out on the porch because he was begging to go outside…and then I forgot about him!!!! I am horrible.

I don’t know what spurred my memory but all of a sudden it hit me that he had been out there for over an hour. I opened the screen door and he was gone. Initially, I wasn’t too scared but when he didn’t come when I called, I started to get a little worried.

Drew and I looked all around for about 20 minutes with no sign of Grenade! I felt so horrible…if something had happened to him it would be MY FAULT!! My next strategy was to get the food bag and shake it, hoping that he would come running. No Grenade. We called him for a while longer but still no Grenade.

Just when we were getting ready to go back in, I heard a faint meow and I knew it was him. We couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming and it wasn’t getting any closer so we started to think the maybe he was hurt somewhere and couldn’t get to us.

We kept following the meow and FINALLY…there he was. Where was he you ask?? He had climbed to the THIRD floor of the apartment complex and was sitting in the corner soaking wet (it had been raining) and basically crying in the corner!!!!! Nothing was wrong with him; I just don’t think he knew how to get down.

Relief! I felt so bad that I gave him some tuna (his favorite). He went immediately to sleep. I’m a bad mom!!

I’m STILL Mad at J. Crew.

2009-03-30T14:36:00.005-05:00

*I have already received 9 emails asking about the wedding!! haha..a hot topic, I suppose. Hope I don't dissapoint!! XOXO*

Remember the travesty of a dress that J. Crew sent?? I don’t – I have blocked it out of my mind for good. I am still planning on taking a picture of the hideousness that was “the dress” but unfortunately, my camera seems to be dead for good. I guess it was time for a new one anyway!!

I spent ALL of Saturday morning shopping for a “springy” outfit to wear. I shopped until the last possible minute, put the outfit on in the Express fitting room and peeled out to the wedding. You can take a look at it above! I loved Drew P in his pink tie…

The wedding is over and they are…well…married. It was an interesting experience to say the least but I’m afraid to put too much of it in writing since you never know who is looking around at the old blog. If you want to know more, feel free to email me at shleeblog@gmail.com. ;)

OK…back to work. Have a fabulous day!! Martini Monday to come…

I've Made Up My Mind About Summer Time!

2009-03-29T19:22:00.002-05:00

OK ladies, it is soooo time for me to get going on the "bikini preparation." Summer is right around the corner and I refuse to hit the beaches while worrying about how I look in a bathing suit...I want to be comfortable and healthy!!

*You may have noticed the new addition to the top of my blog - I decided to put it FRONT AND CENTER so that I am forced to look at it and hopefully it will help keep me accountable as well. Feel free to send some heartfelt and STERN encouragement my way as it is much needed. :)

*Time for honesty - last year with the help of Weight Watchers I lost 17 pounds but have gained 5 of it back since Thanksgiving of last year. I am now 12 pounds away from my goal weight (hence the tracker above). I feel like this is very attainable before summer!

*I will continue to do my WW, but today I started the 30 Day Shred to help jump start this whole endeavor. It.kicked.my.butt. THE END.

I will post updates on Tuesdays (this is my weigh-in day) and I will hope for the best!! I know I can do it, I just have to start NOW.

Thanks for supporting me on this and let me know if you are doing the same so I can cheer you on!

J. Crew...I will kill you!!!

2009-03-28T07:38:00.002-05:00

J. Crew you better run for your life!!!! The dress I ordered is NOT, I repeat IS NOT, the dress that came in the mail that I was supposed to wear to the wedding TODAYYYYYYYYY! You lied to me and must be punished. The dainty little yellow dress that I saw on your website is a far cry from the 1980's NEON yellow/green reptile-esque print that I opened this morning.

You will receive a roundhouse kick to the head...

I blame myself almost as much. I should have known that the sale couldn't have been that good AND I should have opened the dress before now!!!!!! I got what I deserve, I guess. I will put on the hideous dress later and post a picture but it will NEVER be worn! Ever!!

I am outraged, can you tell?!?! Now I must peel out to the mall for a dress....

XOXO

A Little Bit of Everything!

2009-03-27T13:54:00.005-05:00

A couple of things…

#1. I have this (in black)…

But I want this (in black)!! Donations?? I do love my Mustang, though! Ford – please don’t question my loyalty! I don’t even know why I want it – I have always had a thing for cars that look “modernly vintage” if that exists…

Dodge Challenger

#2. Last night we took Drew P on a shopping spree. It was so cute. He got some new work suits, shirts, ties, etc. He looks great in bright colors which I would usually think were weird for men but he somehow pulls it off and looks totally handsome. He even got a pink tie that I am in love with! I think he is going to wear it to the wedding which is TOMORROW so I will try to post some pictures if my camera cooperates.

#3. TONIGHT is the rehearsal dinner and the weather is looking pretty horrible right now. I hope it clears up before the evening begins or else I will have to go to the dinner with hair like Alf. Haha…that made me laugh out loud…Alf. Wish me luck!

OK, I guess that is it for now. I will check back in after the wedding tomorrow to let everyone know how it went. Have a great FRIDAY!!!!

Deflated...

2009-03-26T20:22:00.003-05:00

I now fully believe that anything that claims to plump your lips is a complete scam!!! Sure, it may make your lips FEEL bigger (enter tingly feeling) but it sure as hell does not make them LOOK any bigger. I guess my lips are average size and don't need plumping but shouldn't products actually DO what they SAY they say they will do??

Anyone ever come across one that actually works?

What to Wear??

2009-03-26T16:26:00.004-05:00

Update: Dress it is! I think I will wear a royal blue dress with a black cropped jacket thingie from Express. Thanks for the advice!

So the wedding is this weekend which means tomorrow night is the rehearsal dinner. Wait – before I go on I should probably mention one tiny detail…

The person getting married in this post is my STEP-BROTHER! Makes things a little complicated, huh?

Anyway, that part has already been decided so I will move on to what to wear for the rehearsal dinner?!?!?! It is at a nice Italian restaurant downtown, Grotto Ristorante, and usually I will wear a dress of some kind. Should I go more on the dressy side or should I wear slacks and a cute top? I am never good with these things so I need your advice.

Whatever I wear, I just hope it all goes well. My step-mom and step-sister have been wonderful and have planned an absolutely fantastic evening that I am very much looking forward to.

Let me know what you think on the outfit dilemma.

XOXO

Drunken Rollercoaster Rampage

2009-03-25T14:26:00.002-05:00

Some how I got signed up for local news alerts (???) via my work email address so every so often, I get a little email filling me in on the day’s events. Well, I’m glad this particular story was grouped in with the “Breaking News” section.

Effective this weekend, Six Flags will begin selling Beer. Radical headline, huh?

#1. Is this really considered breaking news? NO.

#2. Who wants to ride roller coasters and such after consuming numerous beers?

I don’t know about you but I do not want to INCREASE the chance several times over that I will become violently ill on the rides.

Six Flags, how you’ve changed…

Giveaway for my Country Girls!!

2009-03-24T20:38:00.003-05:00

OK, so this may not appeal to everyone (or hardly anyone for that matter) but if you are ANYTHING like me...you kinda, sorta LOVE Rascal Flatts. They have been my favorite for years and they finally have a new album coming out in early April!!!!!!!! They have the kind of songs that you can put on full blast and can get you through almost anything!

I know I'm definitely buying the CD ASAP but I want to give one away too!!

Leave a comment to enter and tell me your favorite RF song while you are at it!!! You don't have to be a follower or anything unless you just want to!! I'll throw in one of my favorite martini recipe books too!!

I'll pick the winner on March 31...stay tuned!

XOXO

Impromptu

2009-03-24T17:00:00.003-05:00

I love this picture and of course, I take NO credit for it.

You know how sometimes you don’t realize how long your hair has gotten until someone tells you or you see a recent picture of yourself?? This just happened to me today! My hair has gotten SOOO long and I didn’t even realize it – I feel much better about it than usual though. For the FIRST time since I was 16, I have absolutely ZERO color/highlights/lowlights in my hair and it feels awesome. I always loved having my hair highlighted but never realized how much damage it was doing to my hair in the long run. My hair is happy with me for once!!

I finally broke down and got my nails done, too. Sigh. I always end up kicking myself for submitting to the solar nails but they are so easy and convenient. I haven’t had “nails” since my wedding in 2007 but I have been keeping up with the whole manicure ordeal. How frustrating is it to get a manicure and have your nails painted the perfect color, only to have it peel off IMMEDIATELY! Solar nails are my friends, ladies…no excuses.

My J.Crew dress came today – the one I will be wearing to THE wedding that I spoke of earlier. Hopefully, my yellow dress will send some cheer everyone’s way and there will be no arguments, embarrassment or falling outs of any kind.

What a random post/picture. Yay for random!

Jerk!

2009-03-24T11:43:00.004-05:00

NOT my cat and NOT my bed - same idea, though!

Every morning he strikes like clockwork. I am unable to sleep until my alarm goes off because of this sly attack and am rather rudely awakened if you ask me. He begins from the bottom of the bed, burrows his way under the covers and makes a beeline straight for the top of the bed. He somehow manages to pull the ponytail holder out of my hair and then sticks his paws into the pillowcase and bangs on my head.

Who could it be? GRENADE of course. Why has he decided to do this? At first, I thought he must be hungry, thirsty or some voracious combination of the two but this morning, I discovered the REAL reason he wants me out of the bed so badly! After pestering me until I finally just got out of the bed, he turned around and WENT TO SLEEP in my place. What nerve! If this cat of mine was not so cute, I would have exiled him this morning.

I think I’m gonna make him get a job…what do you think? :)

An Introduction!

2009-03-23T22:20:00.003-05:00

*First of all - thank you to everyone for all the advice on my earlier post. It is greatly appreciated and I think the right thing to do is to keep it all to myself as much as possible! What a crazy situation!!*

And now for a quick introduction!

A friend of mine that I met through work recently discovered my blog through Facebook and has really enjoyed reading the great blogs out there and after MUCH persuasion, has decided to become a blogger...AGAIN! Yay! She told me she used to have a blog way back when and it got a little too personal for her after some creeps took things a little too far. This time around she is going to be her same sweet, funny self but with a little less detail. I wish her the best of luck and look forward to keeping up with her new adventure! She started her new blog TODAY!

Check her out at In My Pink Paisley Boots!!

Honest ADVICE Needed!

2009-03-23T15:01:00.002-05:00

So…I hope this is not taken the wrong way – I had to put it out there to see what everyone’s opinion would be. I would usually not even question my thoughts on this, but this particular situation is a bit out there.

Here we go. A LONG ONE but hear me out…

Say someone in your circle of friends/family is getting married (very soon) to someone that is not right for them. Their fiancé is not just a little wrong for them but completely wrong for them on several levels. Nothing is good enough for this person, she dislikes most everything, she is selfish, causes arguments in public for no good reason, puts down her husband-to-be in front of his family/friends and is generally hateful towards most everyone. She can beat out even the most demanding of women and does it all with no remorse.

I hate to even THINK it, but what if he is making a huge mistake by going through with this. I know of several people in his close circle that think this is a mistake but only because they love him and want the best for him. I think the husband-to-be has some idea of what he is in for but I wonder if he thinks it will change once the wedding is over.

Now, I am no saint. I fully admit that I have been and will continue to be difficult sometimes but I would like to think that these times would only occur here and there. AND I fully understand the power of unconditional love and the commitment it takes to overcome hard times. BUT what if the whole relationship has been nothing but hard times and it looks certain that it will continue on this path. Can she really love him (LOVE HIM with her whole heart) when she acts this way? It is one thing to playfully joke about someone’s less than desirable characteristics, but isn’t this different from putting someone down (along with their family) incessantly when they are trying their hardest to take care of YOU?

The wedding is soon, and I mean SOON! What would you do?

*Would you say something while fully knowing the person may not listen and therefore be willing to make it worse*

Or

*Would you let it go and hope for the best?*

The question of the century…I hate this!!

Yum to the Max (on a healthy level)!

2009-03-23T13:45:00.003-05:00

OK, so I have made it known before that I am *loving* the Crystal Light on-the-go packets BUT I have a brand new favorite flavor – Pomegranate Lemonade! Ladies, this one is delicious and is solely responsible for the boost in my water intake.

The best part of it all is that this flavor is a member of the “enhanced” series. They have recently added the energy, metabolism and skin essentials flavors, this one being the new skin essentials version. Very yum! You should try it!

XOXO

A Shortie...

2009-03-22T17:18:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. Texas couldn't have been more beautiful today - I went plant shopping with Drew P today and came home with some beautiful flowers for the porch. We got an encore azalea in coral and some impatiens in pink - why this excites me so much, I'm not quite sure. ;)

I hope you ladies got to do some fun things this weekend with your hubbies/families/friends - whatever makes you happy! Have a great evening and I'll talk to ya'll tomorrow!

March Madness Idiocy

2009-03-20T10:06:00.003-05:00

Yesterday at work, I may or may not have entered an office pool related to March Madness (OK, I did, idiotically). I did this with absolutely no, ZERO, knowledge of basketball or which teams are any good, or anything like that – I literally sat at my desk with a co-worker picking whichever team names sounded the most radical.

This morning the results after day one were sent out. I was afraid to open the email because I was sure I was doomed to be the name on the list lucky enough to be sitting in last place. BUT…I am tied for 2nd place!! HAHAHAHA! I almost died.

I know this will change almost immediately but can I not revel in the success for just one minute? I found it pretty comical to say the least. I will have to keep ya’ll updated – look forward to my March Madness demise…

XOXO

Oh, and one more thing, Gig’Em Ags! Whoop!!

Just Say NO!

2009-03-19T13:18:00.002-05:00

This is not something I really WANT to know, but rather something I NEED to know.

Why, in the name of all that is right, do people feel compelled to pick their nose while driving on the open (and fully visible) road? I see it everyday without fail and it is beyond me as to why this would occur. There is no magic shield that keeps us innocent drivers from observing the horrid seen of someone picking their nose so why then, do they think a seat surrounded by glass, is private?!?!

One thing I do know…boogers do not discriminate!!

Men.

Women.

Kids.

People in Mercedes’.

People in Geo’s.

I have witnessed all of these instances in the recent months and I am outraged. Yesterday, a woman in the lane next to me drove for what seemed like miles and miles while picking her nose! What was in there that was so extreme?

The one I hate the most is when you are stopped at a light and you just so happen to glance in your rearview mirror only to see someone picking their nose! I am almost positive that the person in question knows that I have seen them committing this act and then I wonder if they even care. Should they be embarrassed or should I?

HAHAHAHAHA! This is too funny…hopefully ya’ll can relate to my horror!

XOXO

A Virtual Scolding from "Anonymous"

2009-03-18T16:04:00.001-05:00

So I have once again fallen victim to the “anonymous emailer” that seems to have a problem with anything and everything I write about. This time I am promoting a false sense of hope and making women feel that in order to be “complete” they must have a man in their lives. This must be the same person that protested Martini Monday…it makes about as much sense as the first debacle.

Oh well…who gives a damn, right?

Ladies, to be clear, I do NOT think that you MUST have a man in your life to be considered complete and whole and in fact, I fully understand that there are women (and men) out there who are not necessarily seeking love at this very moment. It was a simple post (on MY blog by the way) and it really referred to me more than anything else.

My question is this – If you hated bananas, would you still eat them everyday while sitting around complaining about how much you hate them? I think not. Then why take time out of your day to read a blog that you hate…move on and do something that you DO enjoy!

Sometimes you just have to laugh it off!!

XOXO

Nice Neck, Ashley!

2009-03-18T12:04:00.002-05:00

A small mistake has been made and my neck will pay the price for my night-time lotion lathering.

I have mentioned this before (who am I kidding? I devoted an ENTIRE post to this before) but I HATE, HATE, HATE dry skin of any kind, especially on my face/neck. Once I get the notion to lotion, I will stop at nothing until my mission is complete. Enter hilarity…

Last night I couldn’t fall asleep for whatever reason and I noticed that my neck was feeling a little dry; it was very cold for a few days over the weekend which always seems to dry out my skin. Anyway, I peeled myself out of the bed and roamed through complete darkness to grab the face lotion (or so I thought).

I meant to grab this...

but instead, I grabbed THIS!!

When I woke up my neck looked similar to an oompa-loompa shade of orange. I quickly figured out what had happened when I saw the damn Jergen’s out on the counter – I really slathered it on (and rather unevenly) hence the unnatural skin tone that I am now sporting at work! I tried to scrub it off as much as possible and I did make some progress. Oh well…

Here Comes Goodbye...

2009-03-17T20:32:00.004-05:00

OK, am I nuts or what?? I have had this post written for a week but have been too SCARED to post it and very SCARED of the comments I might receive because of it. Hey, it was on my mind and it is important to me to be real with ya'll. I want people to know the real me, even if it makes me looks CRAZY!!! Haha! It will make sense if you read it all. Feel free to skip this one if you want - it is just a random, yet personal look into my life!

XOXO

Do you remember the first time you had your heart broken - the very minute it was happening? It happened to me during my Junior year of college...I can still picture that exact moment. It was a horrible rush throughout my body, immediate tears, it felt like my "heart" was falling apart from the inside out. I was scared, mad, hurt, confused...I was everything, all at once. A chill comes over me when I think of that moment. I remember laying in my bed at night trying to bargain with God - I would say, "Please, please don't let this be it. Please give me one more chance with him." I had no idea...

I had been with him for four years and he was all I knew. My mom and dad got divorced when I was young and it left me looking for something. Anything. He was what I found. I had no idea that four years later he would be the source of every regret in my entire life - I guess he changed his mind about me after four long years. We said we loved each other but we didn't. I liked the feeling of having something constant in my life and I never considered whether or not we were right for each other. We were so obviously wrong for each other.

It was my 21st birthday and he had recently ended it. My mom surprised me with a trip to New York City...I should have been happy, why wasn't I? I tried my hardest to have fun all the while hoping and praying that when I went back to school, he would be there and he would be sorry and we would be...together. I sat on the plane to NYC next to my mother and blasted my iPod to help me forget what I left behind in Texas. She knew what was on my mind but she let me be.

We made it to New York and thanks to my mom, we were staying in the most incredible hotel. I stood in the lobby wishing the week away - all I wanted was one more chance to make it work. I had almost convinced myself to let it go but then came *the* text..."I met someone" it said. Crushing. That was it...it wouldn't be me. Not this time.

You might wonder why I would ever write something like this. That was the most incredible heartache I had ever felt, why relive it? This is why...my perfect Drew P.

Do you know that I would go through that kind of hurt, that exact rushing moment, for years on end to be with him for even one day. That is love - not the needy, hollow, conditional "love" that I thought I knew all those years ago. That was just a filler. Drew is my heart, my soul, my happy ending, MY LIFE. If I didn't have him - talk about hurt.

I know that many of you reading this will think I am insane for spilling so much of myself into this random post but I needed to do it. I know how real this is for so many of us but we never share the real, down and dirty things that made us who we are. So...this is me.

I am a happy, thankful and totally IN LOVE girl and I thank God that this happened to me. How else would I have known who I am? Things aren't always supposed to be easy...but they will even out in the end.

To a few friends on my mind - it will happen when you least expect it. I promise you. He will come along.

Me - Stripped Down

2009-03-17T19:45:00.003-05:00

There is something so incredibly freeing about driving down an almost empty freeway while the sun sets on a beautiful day. I love to drive the Mustang on days like today with the windows down and the music waaay up...I don't even care how loud it gets...it just feels good. I will *always* be a Texas girl - I love it in every single way. It is just "me" if that makes any sense at all.

It is so easy to get caught up in life and to convince yourself that some things are SO important when they really aren't. I am tired of justifying things and I am ready to say out loud that it is OK to hate work sometimes, and to be overly tired sometimes, and to be so sick of everyday things sometimes...but not all the time, not even most of the time.

How quickly life goes by, almost in an instant it seems. How the heck did I get to be 25 years old and when did I forget to appreciate the little things in life? All of us can count a million reasons why we are incredibly blessed - when will we focus on those things?

I love the new Taylor Swift song Fifteen. The lyrics are so powerful if you really think about it. On the surface they refer to a first love but that's not the thing I like about this song. I like that when you strip it down it is really about how you think you know it all when you are young and you make mistakes because in reality, you don't. I look back on those days and I am OK with all the mistakes I made - I wouldn't take ONE THING back. It made me, me...

"Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you, your gonna believe them, and when you're fifteen feeling like there's nothing to figure out, well count to ten, take it in, this is life before you know who your gonna be."

Have an incredible night and do something fun - live it up!!!! Be free!

XOXO

Flower Power

2009-03-17T11:00:00.001-05:00

Lately I have really been wishing for a flower garden but living in an apartment doesn't allow for much garden space. I don't know anything about gardening but in a dream world, I know exactly which flowers that I would have right outside my windows!

My absolute favorite flower is the Stargazer Lilly - I think it is perfectly made in every way. This was the main flower in my wedding arrangements and I would have never picked anything different! I have these growing in a garden in my mom's backyard so at least I can enjoy them when I'm over there. They only bloom once a year in Texas (Easter) and I have had the same plant for 15 years!!

My second favorite is the Tiger Lilly (can you tell I love lillies?). These are just so pretty to me. So random, but they remind me of an episode of Sesame Street where Burt and Ernie wanted to buy Maria flowers - her favorite were Tiger Lillies. I make myself laugh...

Another favorite of mine is the tulip. The best thing about them is that they come in millions of color combinations. They look so dainty and fab!

Someday I will have a house with a BEAUTIFUL garden no matter what it takes! Those of you with gardens may feel the urge to talk me out of it - I see how much work my mom has to put into hers. What a rewarding hobby though!!

What is your favorite flower??

Martini Monday - St. Patty's Day Edition!

2009-03-16T17:33:00.005-05:00

*Do you Twitter?? Let me know if you do so I can follow - I was finally convinced to join!! Check me out at Ash9999*

So this week's Martini Monday post is geared toward St. Patrick's Day so of course I chose three beautifully green cocktails!

This first one is so pretty because of the little garnish that accompanies the martini. This, ladies, is the Guava Martini! It is another delicious, yet very sweet, little drink but I am in love with it because I drink guava juice even on its own. This one takes vodka, guava juice, a little raspberry liqueur and some fresh lemon juice. Garnish the glass with a slice of star fruit if you can find it. I always find them at places like Whole Foods. Yum and so pretty!

Of course I couldn't pass up the Apple Martini. There are a few ways to make this one depending on your taste:

*If you like a Sour Apple Martini - 1 part vodka, 1 part sour apple Pucker, 1 part apple juice (sometimes I add some sprite/club soda to thin it out and add some fizz!)

*If you like a more natural apple flavor - 1 part green apple vodka, 1 part melon liqueur, 1 part apple juice

*If you like extra sweet (and are BRAVE), you can try the Baked Apple Pie Martini - equal parts apple Pucker and vanilla vodka - add a little Goldschlagar, a little ButterShots and garnish the rim with cinnamon and sugar - like I said, it takes a brave soul! Consume responsibly, haha!!

Last, but not least, the Pear Martini! I have had several versions of this one but there is one that I always revert to according to my own taste. This one is a little bit more specific than most of the martinis I post, but I think it is worth it!

- For multiple martinis -

*4 ounces Grey Goose La Poire vodka (this is about the one and only time that brand matters. There are others out there but this one is THE BEST!)

*2 ounces apple juice

*1 oz Disaronno

*1 oz simple syrup

Important step - don't mix the apple juice with the other ingredients in the martini shaker. Instead, pour the juice into your glass first and then strain the other ingredients (after shaking) over the already poured apple juice!

You can add in a little pear syrup (from the can) if you have it. Garnish with sliced pear and enjoy it!

I hope you have a wonderful evening and an even better St. Patrick's Day tomorrow!! Don't forget to wear green!!

XOXO

Dishwashers Gone Wild!

2009-03-16T16:10:00.003-05:00

One time I heard a story where a man thought that since one bag of fertilizer made the grass nice and green, then surely several bags of fertilizer would make it even greener. I laughed and thought to myself that this was the stupidest thing I had ever heard.

Well, today I became that man only on a different level. I blame the Jet Dry.

It was nothing I hadn't done before. Load dishes, insert soap pack...pour in the monthly bottle of Jet Dry...start dishwasher. I guess I didn't realize that the bottle we recently bought was a little bigger than usual and I poured in the entire thing. I guess it was too much...

This is what I came home to. Not my actual dishwasher - but same exact scenario.

I am STILL trying to clean it up...damn. I was just trying to be cool.

My Fab Weekend

2009-03-15T20:16:00.004-05:00

I had such a wonderful weekend. Even though it was super cold and it has rained for three days straight, I feel so blessed to have had such a perfect couple of days. Friday night we got our new mattress delivered and I am already in love with it. It feels so luxurious - you wouldn't believe how much a mattress can make or break your sleep. I love this new one times 1000 - this is just one of the perks of my job!

My mom was nice enough to take me shopping this weekend - I have the best mother in the universe and not because she takes me shopping but because she is an incredible person. She bought me clothes, shoes, makeup, Bath and Body Works stuff...you name it. I love her and am so very, VERY thankful. They have a really cute free gift thing going on at Clinique right now so that is always fun!

While at the mall with my mom and Drew P, we ran into a friend of mine that I hadn't seen in years! Not just a friend, but my childhood *best* friend. It was incredible to see her - I almost had tears in my eyes! It was so fun to see her all grown up with her own little girl. My mom and I talked about it all day long!

So this is the dress I got at J Crew waaaaay on sale. I'm going to wear it to a daytime wedding in a few weeks. I am in love with yellow at the moment!

I love this one too! It is from anthropologie - all of their stuff is to die for if you ask me!

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and that you did some things to make you happy! Have a relaxing evening and I'll talk to you soon!

XOXO

I am Doomed!

2009-03-15T19:07:00.003-05:00

I am really in trouble now, ladies. A brand spankin' new Charming Charlie opened up in my area and I can already tell that I am going to be doomed beyond belief! It opened ONE week ago and I have already been TWICE. This is the ultimate store for any type of accessory (10,000 square feet worth) - jewelry, bags, belts, scarfs, shoes, martini and wine glasses...they even sell tampon cases. I didn't even know those existed but I guess there is a need for them out there. (???)

The thing that I absolutely love about this store is the fact that it is color coded. You can walk in with a specific outfit in mind and know just where to go to find the perfect accessories. I have already hit up the yellow, red, turquoise and black sections...I have a problem, I admit it! Yellow is one of my spring faves this season. In fact I just bought a yellow dress at J Crew that was originally $98 - on sale for $29.99!! I am so excited. It should be here just in time for me to wear it to an upcoming daytime wedding.

I hope all of you ladies are having a fabulous evening! I will post a weekend update later tonight if I can get around to it!!

XOXO

There's A Counter On This Ball...

2009-03-13T11:25:00.002-05:00

OK, another blast from the past! Remember the Skip-It?? I spent thousands of hours on my driveway with my best friend and our trusty Skip-Its – I want one now!!! I wish I could remember my highest score…

What was your favorite “radical” toy from childhood??