Army Wife Ashley

He still give me butterflies!

2010-08-06T10:55:00.002-05:00

This is officially my stomach self portrait of the past two days...My soldier is on his way home to me for a glorious two weeks!!! I leave to pick him up at the airport in an hour, I can't believe it's finally here.

I kinda wish I'd found this shirt sooner to go with my whole "you still give me butterflies" theme to pick him up at the airport...but it's hot and humid and I am going with the ever so cute and casual graphic tee, shorts, and strappy heel sandals...with the most perfectest bracelet I picked up last night at the Underground art show. But that friendlies is for another posting! Off to see my soldier I go :)

Things are "Zoe" Perfect!

2010-06-06T23:05:00.007-05:00

This is bound to be a random post as I haven't been in the blogging swing of things for a while and we have a bit of catching up to do!

First...I recieved one of the best compliments ever. A co-worker was trying to describe me to someone and she decided the best illustration of my personality would be a disney princess.
This cracks me up because when Enchanted came out I went and saw it with my bestie and future boyfriend now husband...both of them were saying after the movie "OMG that girl is you"

If three people say it then I am going to own up to it...I am a disney princess! Yes, good or bad I tend to address things that come my way in song. Yes, I will always have a tinge of niaveity when surveying situations, sometimes completely unintentionally omitting the negative and focusing on the glimmer of silver lining no matter how small. Yes, I am a dreamer. Yes, I love little animals and wouldn't mind carrying on a conversation with one or two from time to time.

Secondly, I love love love me some Rachel Zoe (isn't it about time for another season of her show yet!?)
Mainly because I love people who are or do things that I can't...I mean you gotta show respect when you look at someone or something and think "I can't even do that." Mrs. Zoe is short and skinny, two things I won't ever be. I'm 5'10. Don't get me wrong I still love my heels but I have always wondered what the world must look like from her perspective. I'm also a curvier girl and while I get on my work out kicks I like my curves...so being mistaken for a stick figure isn't in my future. The thing that I absolutely love most about her is she gets OBSESSED with things. Like goes all sorts of BANANAS when she sees a couture dress, fashion is her passion and it moves her.

I love that part about her because I CAN DO THAT...and do on an almost daily basis, except not with fashion so much as furniture. I l-o-v-e furniture, duh it's in my career path but it's also just a part of my life that no matter what I am doing during the day or where I am I simply can not flip off the switch in my brain that is constantly craving another furniture fix.

So here are a few of my latest obsessions...these days it's all about color. Go bold or get out of the game. Color makes me happy especially when it envelopes you, grabs you, makes you look at it and love it. A fun funky full of color piece can get you a ton of mileage in a seemingly neutral space. Not to mention tie together a look...who doesn't appreciate a nice eclectic space? When nothing looks like it should go together but it somehow looks flawless then you have got my dream room.

Squint! If/when I go to Europe you can bet this little furniture boutique will top the list. And I would probably drop a couple house payments on any of the following...it's just that amazing that I'm sure if you saw it in person it'd be really hard to live without. I mean these pieces are looking up at you with luxurious patchwork puppy eyes saying "take me home with you!"
Metallic. If there is one trend that I am all over right now it's the metallics...you can mix and match and never have enough of it. Every room should have a glimmer of glamour in my opinion.

It's soooo pink. And this silhouette is to.die.for. Seriously. "Hi I belong in your personal homage to Carrie Bradshaw of a closet."

Look at all that filigree detail scroll work...it's hard to beathe, it's that beautiful.

Black and white with pops of red. This is so my self portrait in the form of a sofa.

This bed is sooo Jonathan Adler in that Barbie Suite he did...it's just begging to go be some little girls princess bed...it's beyond fabulous. I also love this pic because you can see the fabric treasure trove in the background, I could get lost in those swatch piles for days.

So as always, I hope you are feeling inspired if not by the things I am in love with, then at least at the idea of being in love with something of your own. I have quite a few followers these days...some of whom I don't know in "real life" how exciting! I am literally obsessed with something new like everyday so tell me what your current obsession is and check back as I have officially jumped back on the blog-wagon!

A very merry UNBIRTHDAY...

2010-05-20T23:36:00.004-05:00

Almost every military wife that I blogstalk talks about hitting a "wall" during the whole deployment rigamarole. I thought because I was approaching the half way mark (fingers crossed) I was out of the woods...Wrong! Majorly, horribly wrong my "wall" was stupid every day, mundane, simple tasks just got completely overwhelming. Packing Joel a care package which I did every week to two weeks suddenly takes me a month. Why? I don't know, but mentally I just wasn't up to the task. Laundry...wall, bills...wall, working out...wall! All these things I've been doing day in and day out and bam all of a sudden I just couldn't do it anymore. It was seriously the wierdest most frustrating thing EVER!

So it's my husbands birthday and I am glued to the internet and my phone as much as possible without totally annoying those around me. I really really wanted to get to wish him happy birthday on the actual day if at all possible. I get the chance and we facebook chat for a whopping 2 mins before he gets kicked off...thank you facebook, you are meant for more important things than just getting Betty White on SNL! (though in all honesty I hoped you all caught that episode because it was hilarious)I am at work just working along when I see a florist van in the parking lot outside my work. As soon as I am free I go up to the front counter and sure enough there are flowers! for me, from Joel, on his birthday!

My guy sent me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. He had typed up the sweetest note saying how he wasn't just celebrating his birthday, but celebrating the fact he was born during my lifetime...and that now he wasn't just getting older but growing old with me and he couldn't wait to grow old together (It's his first b day since we've been married). I realize some of you just threw up in your mouths, but I LOVE that my husband still loves and pursues me. I am one lucky, lucky lady. Thank you God for whatever I did in my life that you saw fit to bless me with such and incredible husband, he never ceases to amaze me and even from half a world away I love him a little more every day.

And what do you know? My "wall" phase has come and gone...deployment bring it on I am counting down the days until I get to see my favorite soldier, I can do this! This could be my most favorite birthday of all, even though it wasn't mine:) I'd share more about what I did for Joel but I haven't gotten a call from him saying he's gotten his birthday pkg yet and I don't want to ruin the surprise. So stay tuned for that one...

Add a dash of ADLER...

2010-04-28T08:20:00.000-05:00

So sorry for the lull in both posts and comments, I had a bit of blog drama and felt rather burned by the whole thing...I took a break and have realized that to many good things have come out of this to allow one negative one to stop me! I love you all and I am here to stay...

Here's a little something that always brightens my day, the ever so witty Johnathan Adler!

THE BEST MANIFESTO I HAVE READ TO DATE... Thanks to Ethel Goodstein Murphy I have read every architecture movement's manifesto from 1890 to 1960...none of them rang as true to myself as this one... Now I just need to hurry up and make my first of many millions so I can invest in the following! (Forget you stock market, I can't cozy up with a good book in you or use you as a conversation piece at a swank dinner party...Why be wealthy with money when you could have a wealth of fabulous furniture? Just sayin')

And please please don't forget to check out a project he will undoubtedly be remembered for and probably my favorite the I didn't think my humble like blog could quite do it justice!
BARBIE DREAM HOME

6 months in...already!

2010-03-15T23:20:00.003-05:00

The official 6 month deployment update...
I am fully aware of the fact my significant other seems to have fallen off the face of both the earth and this blog. He's still on deployment but it is of a rather secretive nature. So it's hard to update you on him because I really only know three things for sure.

1. He's safe (as safe as one can be while our country is STILL at war)
2. He's happy (he chooses to maintain a positive attitude)
3. He's healthy (no more mono :) yay! I was worried it might relapse but so far so good!)

I tend to pray that God would give him wisdom to make decisions quickly and that he would feel surrounded by God's mercy, grace, and love. Deploying is never "easy" but my handsome soldier is doing just about as well as one could hope.

Whenever the phone calls got stretched out to a bi-weekly basis and the internet access became hit or miss I decided to take up an old school handwritten journaling habit. Voicemails, e-mails, texts...they have nothing on putting a pen to paper. Anything I would tell him at the end of my day winds up on the pages. It's almost like a running one-sided conversation with the full intention that once the journal is full I'll send it to him and he will get insight into all the little daily details of life back home. The Journal I chose to fill up first is 100 pages and I haven't really talked about it to anyone for fear of jinxing myself and never finishing it. I am only mentioning it now because I know if I continue to write at the pace I have been I will have it all filled up by some time next week!

Here's a small excerpt from the entry I wrote today:
..."There's a song that's on heavy rotation on the radio by the Script called "Breakeven". It's about a break up but there is a lyric that always stands out to me "What am I supposed to do when the best part of my is always you..." Everytime. EVERYTIME! I hear it I instantly think of YOU. You are the best part of me...the happy side, the snuggly side, the don't worry things will sort themselves out with time side, the confident side, the sun shine side. You enhance every positive quality that I currently have or could ever dream of possessing. I am quite simply a better person when you are in my life. Hence, I married you so I could be the best version of myself for as long as we both shall live. May you never tire of the phrase "I Love You" and may I never do anything to cheapen it's meaning. This way every time I say it you will know that I mean it. Forever yours-Ashley

P.S. I Love you!"

Making Rube Goldberg Proud!

2010-03-12T07:49:00.003-06:00

Allow me to introduce you to a man named Rube Goldberg...a famous cartoonist known for making complex inventions that would through a sequence of events perform a simple task. For example wiping your mouth with a napkin.

I remember studying him way back in Gifted and Talented and thinking he was pretty much the coolest person ever. Enter the band OK GO, also a talented bunch of individuals who are famous for their you tube treadmill song. Now mix that band with the inventive spirit of Rube Goldberg and you get the following music video...absolutely amazing!

My favorite part has gotta be the rotating guitar...talk about perfect timing!

Step right up!

2010-03-09T08:15:00.001-06:00

One of my bloggie friends asked me awhile back about what my dream home would consist of...I started to write her back, after several long paragraphs I thought I would just make a post about it...it was a super long post! So I have decided to break it up into little tid bits and make it a series of posts.

Basically there are elements to a house that I know I want so I will be sharing them with you...the first element is (drumroll....) STAIRS.

I think stairs can go beyond the function of directing traffic between two floors and with some thoughtfulness and design savy become quite the stunning statement. Not to mention I love playing up the architectural elements of a home, design shouldn't just be in the additive elements but in the structure itself.

Glass stairs...my internal modernist LOVES glass stairs, my husband who freaks out when I get to close to railings to look over however wouldn't be a fan I have a feeling, he's that hardcore protector and I kind of love him for it.

Floating and Spiral Stairs...again no so much practical as just freaking visually stunning. Just goes to show it doesn't take a huge bulky chunk to equal a stair though...minimalist at it's finest. Growing up I was fascinated with spiral stairs seeing them seems so inviting you want to climb them and see what lies ahead. spirals are also incredibly space efficient, which is something else I would really like my home to be.

Book Shelf stairs or as some call them a stairCASE...like a book case, clever.

Kid friendly stairs...I realize most if not all my stair options are not really conducive to a young growing family. My wanting to someday be a cool mom side likes these last few options...I mean the whole neighborhood would think we had the "blank check" house of their generation! (is it bad that the waterslide was my favorite part of the movie even growing up I was an interiors nerd...)

This is one of my all time favorites allow me to introduce you to the Audrey Hepburn of stairs...black and white sleek, sophisticated, classic. If I were a staircase I hope I would look like this lovely.

YOGAHOLIC...

2010-03-03T06:00:00.004-06:00

Let me say that I love God with all my heart and should really talk about Him more because too much is never enough. He's blessed me beyond what I deserve. Secondly, I love love love my handsome soldier, but due to the nature of his job for the time being I have to be kinda hush hush about him. He's my hero and I am so proud of him!

Lastly I am unashamedly a YOGAHOLIC...google it, they do exist and not even kidding I am pretty sure I am one. Whenever you are looking at your work schedule and thinking I either got to make it to class or find a new job then you could very well be a Yogaholic. If yoga comes up in conversations on a daily basis you could be a yogaholic. If yoga is the answer to just about any problem people bring your way...you might be a yogaholic! (Though I stand by my stance that it would be leaps and bounds in the right direction towards world peace if everyone gave it a fair shot...just saying.)

So my wise words for Wednesday's post is dedicated to none other than...YOGA. You don't even have to practice or like it to enjoy some of these quotes though...sort of yoga-lite.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. ~Author Unknown

If I'm losing balance in a pose, I stretch higher and God reaches down to steady me. It works every time, and not just in yoga. ~T. Guillemets

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured. ~B.K.S. Iyengar

You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside. ~Unkown

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. ~Jack Kornfield

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. ~Swedish Proverb

Wise Words for Wednesday...

2010-02-17T08:02:00.002-06:00

You've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice. ~Steven D. Woodhull

HOT YOGA!

2010-02-16T22:23:00.004-06:00

I went to my first ever yoga class last night...for years I have been curious to try it but never got up the nerve to follow through. With the help of my good friend Rachel we went to a Bikram yoga class also known as "hot yoga" it's taking Hollywood by storm so I hear.

Basically, you go in this room that is between 90 and 105 degrees for an hour to an hour and a half...the heat makes it easier to stretch your muscles more deeply with less risk of injury. Also you sweat a ton, like droplets of it are falling off my face except I was not coordinated enough to catch it like Tom Cruise in the matrix.
They told me it was really hard and either you get done with your first session and love it or hate it...I LOVED IT. I just felt so good and also really hungry, like starving (my googlings show you burn between 700 and 1000 calories in a single session)!

So anyways I can check that off my life list...I have been to yoga and I am now in love and hope (work schedule permitting) to get to go back at least once a week.

Here is a pic of a hot yoga group doing the one of the poses our group did last night...if you have a place near you I highly encourage you to give it a try!

Such a tease...

2010-02-11T08:05:00.003-06:00

Some days I am just flat out exhausted...

This particular day (earlier this week) I was happy because it was a good hair day despite yucky weather and because I am working on a surprise for my favorite soldier (more about that in a post to follow!)

So there you have it even on crazy-stressed-to-the-max-broke-a-nail-hate-my-life-kinds-of-days...just look for the silver lining... it's there if you look hard enough.

Have a fabulous day!

Wise Words for Wednesday...

2010-02-10T08:26:00.004-06:00

In my head I immediately start singing that Kenny Chesney song "Cause it's the first long kiss on the second date, momma's all worried when you get home late...yeah that's the good stuff"

Especially when the person you love the most is a world away...it's the moments you spent together that you value most.

-The 100 degree non air conditioned car ride
-Seeing you trying to "get" abstract art that summer
-Flavor explosion hamburger helper
-Kisses on the forehead
-Jumping into your arms at the airport
-Attempting to beat you at any video game
-Our first Christmas...all that frantic shopping :)
-Watching movies all curled up
-Bumping in your ride and laughing cause my sternum is throbbing...literally
-our first date to a seafood place...I hated seafood. ha ha ha
-The canoe trip last summer
-sleeping in your army shirts cause they still have your smell

That's the good stuff to me.

Hey MR, I miss you so much...YOU are the thing in this world that matters most to me!

No one rocks a fedora like Bogart

2010-02-07T21:23:00.005-06:00

A special thanks goes out to Jaci over at Perpetual Newlyweds for giving me my first blog award!

How fitting is this...I LOVE CASABLANCA!

This is called The Bogart.
It means you're really going places, Baby.
You'll still be blogging about your great adventures 10 years from now,
and I'll still be reading them.

The Rules:
Link back to the blogger who sent you the award.
Post where you would like to be in 10 years.
Pass this on to 10 other special bloggers.

So here goes...

WHERE I'D LIKE TO BE IN TEN YEARS...
- still happily married...to the extent it's obvious to those around us, complete with a once a week date night :)
- have kiddo or two (did I just type that!? *slightly hyperventilating*)
- one trip to Europe under my belt
- in a custom built home that I designed and Joel helped build :)
- to have lived in another city...probably back to Dallas because I claim it to be the city where we really fell in love and it holds a special place in both our hearts.
-To be sitting in either an Eames lounge or Panton chair while blogging...
*warning the following images may cause heart palpitations and excessive drooling...or maybe that's just me?

- heavily involved in church and community...because your memory is only as strong as the things you leave behind
- have a bridesmaid dress hanging in my closet, is it weird that I actually want to wear one of those hideous dresses?...actually it's more that I still want some of my amazing friends to get married and I BETTER BE IN THE WEDDING WHEN YOU DO! ha ha ha
- To still be in love with my job...whatever job title I tackle isn't as important as the fact that it's something I am passionate about.
- Happy...living in the moment not the future...content...

So stay tuned you countless tens of blogstalkers out there I've got quite the journey planned for this next decade or so...

And I hereby pass along my Bogart award to:
1. Mrs. Weinke (my most dedicated commenter)
2. Hannah Michelle (here's your reason to start blogging again!)
3. Kirsten @ It's such a perfect day
4. The Lawyer and the Teacher
5. New Girl on Post (most recent blog friend slash fellow military wife)
6. Eric and Caroline in Columbia
7. Anna Marie Jarrett
Slots 8 through 10 are open...I'm not sure who else reads my blog, but if you want to participate go for it, if you read all my nonsense you kinda earned it!

When life hands you buckets of snow...you should turn it into a three day weekend!

2010-01-31T21:36:00.004-06:00

I seriously needed a break...I was go go go at work, home, with friends. Who has time to sleep when you can be awake attacking a Mt. Everest of laundry anyways? So it snowed and I stopped. I just took a deep breath and chilled out. Amidst my craziness Joel also left the country...nothing like knowing your husband is in a war zone to stress ya out a tiny bit.

Deep breaths...oxygen...and popcorn, and movies, and snow-cream, and choc chip cookies, and running on the treadmill, and time with my doggies, and a warm fire, and catching up on all things internet, and reading a smidgy in Lolita (book clubs latest read), and one Skype call from the husband later (Yay yes wha-hoo yippee jumping up and down...maybe even a jersey shore fist pump?) I am good to go for another few months at least :)

Among the plethora of movies I vegged out watching this one took the cake...
I know right..."who hasn't seen this movie"...me until like yesterday! Clint Eastwood is a B.A.M.F. if you haven't seen it or meant to and then totally forgot all about it like me...SEE IT! 'nough said.

The Grammy's are on tonight...I am totally crushing on Jay-Z and his power couple wifey Beyonce. Her dress of the ones I have seen is def my fav...

Lastly I have to say how overwhelming it has been every time I have looked at my phone or e-mail or facebook I have someone else who is reminding me that they are praying for my soldier...It's such a comfort to know that he is in the thoughts and prayers of sooo many! He reminds me literally almost daily that he's got on his "Jesus Shield" and that's really the only armor he needs...I tell him to go ahead and put on the bullet proof stuff anyways cause it's a good weight training workout. :)

I can knot knit!

2010-01-25T12:17:00.009-06:00

So I always like finding new and outlandish things...alas I bring to you the world of "extreme knitting"...I personally can not knit but I think if I could I would totally make one of these pouf things

I am loving this urban knitting movement, where they go out and knit in a graffiti public expression sort of way...

It's also an interior accent...
I am loving how organic the all white knitted cave looks...I mean for real that would be a totally different experience to walk through.

And looky here it's got it's place in the fashion realm as well...av-ante guard-ism at its finest!

Oh to walk the streets of NY or LA where you can get away with wearing anything...Southern American conservatist bible belt, not so much...we're more straight up gap ads than anything else but if I were really channeling my inner hippy or willing to day trip it over to Eureka Springs I think I could maybe get away with this...

This movement like any other has it's rock star leaders knitting the way for others to follow... but for anonymity's sake shall remain nameless, we can't have them getting a big head over their new found fame and exposure here on my blog

Not going to lie I kinda wanna curl up on this sofa...

And if I could knit cool stuff for like christmas presents and all that Jazz I would totally make one of these necklaces for my dear friend Hannah who can pull off any look...literally she's amazing at fashion

Oh yeah and now knitting in the art world is considered sculptural...

Extreme can also take on other forms like really tiny...

Or you can love something to the extreme...

Last but not least (in fact probably my favorite!)a man named Dave Cole used knitting as an extreme display of patriotism!

So there you have it a something new for the day...Extreme Knitting!

Color me inspired...

2010-01-19T23:05:00.007-06:00

It just felt like there was nothing to blog about in the abyss that has passed since my last entry...

Some of you out there are like "daily" checkers...I promise to get my act together shortly!

This is in fact month old news as her book was released in early December but it was new news to me and thus it became worthy of it's own posting...Kelly Wearstler has a new book out called HUE!

One cover is limited edition the other is for all interiors lovers everywhere of all shapes and sizes...the limited edition is for rich skinnies with thier celeb chefs and maids who do their laundry, so their husbands aren't all "do you even know how to iron?" and i'm all "thats what the fluff cycle on the dryer is for :)" This had a point besides that I hate ironing but was blessed with an awesome husband who does it for me...ahhh yes some of us will not get our paws on the one book cover shown, but if given the choice between that and a husband who irons, I am happy to choose the latter.

This little lady has a definitive taste that pushes the envelope...I don't know that I'd want to live in one of her spaces but it definitely pushes me as a designer (which I have decided I will always claim to be despite job titles...because those four years of school and little paper on the wall say otherwise!)

Kelly interiors:

It's as if nothing intimidates her not color, scale, spatial planning, to much, to over the top...she just rocks it all and it works!

Kelly fashion:
She can pull of any look...very Rachel Zoe if you ask me

Kelly with the kiddos:

I mean I don't want kids for like forever, but she makes it look so graceful and pulled together. I want to read bedtime stories to my kids before Joel and I head to the opera or better yet Met Costume Gala!

Kelly even sits cool:
...enough said! look at all the ways she can perch on that pa-tootie of hers

So there you have it, if you want to inspire this girl just design flawless interiors, have impeccable fashion sense, be an amazing mom, and sit in randomly cool poses like everyday is a photo shoot for vogue...that isn't asking to much is it?

New Year, same me

2010-01-03T10:55:00.004-06:00

So I took some time away to focus on me and my soldier while he was in town...such a blessing to have some time with him even if it was an amount of days that can be counted on my fingers. We had a very Merry Christmas with our two families...the snow was like icing on the cake straight out of a christmas card kind of perfect if you ask me. Joel was all "you call this snow?" I guess when you come from a place that measures it in feet instead of inches it lacks the same magnitude, plus I think he was wanting to be rid of snow while in town...I am happy he brought some with him instead!

I got some yummy presents of course

Joel got me this Judith Jack(my favorite jewelry designer) script necklace that says peace...but from far away it's just swirly and fun...absolutely perfect!

I also got the Jay-Z cd Blueprint III...what can I say he's always been my favorite rapper and I've been craving his music lately. Just this morning I ran across his music vid for the new single...talk about some visually artistic avaunt guardism...Loves it!

This holiday season was photo light...in fact I can't remember taking a single one, I was to busy just living in the moment and soaking it up. All in all perfect start to the new year with a Hug and a Kiss from my favorite Soldier :)

It's baaack and better than ever!

2009-12-19T14:34:00.006-06:00

I know many of you also mourned the loss of your favorite magazine this past February a.k.a. DOMINO when you received a little notice that this would be the final issue...My eyes literally welled up with tears no joke it was THAT GOOD. Well good news people that search to fill the tiny magazine shaped void in your heart may finally be over. Allow me to introduce LONNY mag, from the former editor of domino...It's a paperless online edition which is so enviro chic (or if you are instantly obsessed like me you print out your copy and go get it bound so you can add it to the never ending mag stash that is my bottom bookshelf slash three foot tall pile next to said bookshelf...is there some twelve step program I should be looking into?)
It is absolutely delightful totally my style cheer-you-up-even-on-the-longest-and-cloudiest-of-days-kind-of-magazine-I-kid-you-not!

In other news my Job is AWESOME! I love love love merchandising it's like painting with oils you can constantly go back and re-work things...we get a new truck full of stuff weekly so my "paint palatte" per say is constantly changing keeping me both challenged and inspired. I am blessed that our store works as a team, we have an awesome team which makes my job easier. I have gotten a-lot of positive feedback about the stores "look" since coming on board which is always nice to hear when you are having one of those days where you question yourself and think you are just plain crazy or a little to out there for other people to really "get it". So knowing that I get the opportunity to inspire people to take on projects in their own homes is pretty much the greatest feeling in the world. I can not put into words how blessed I feel to have I job I wake up and look forward to going to every single day of the week.

So here are some of my "favorites" from there...true to my taste and classic pieces you could have in your home forever.

I love this sort of vintage glamour chair that's aptly named "The Monroe" soooo pretty, perfect for a little reading nook or the corner of your closet for a little splash of luxury...

Have you ever wanted to hang a mirror in a certain place but HATED the reflection it would leave?...This little item is perfect! We hung one by fishing line over a mirror to break up the large pain of glass and it's a total conversation piece...something unexpected. It's just a metal art panel that can hold it's own no matter where you place it...loves

I love this table it is so sleek and I am all about the clean lines :)

Love the contrast of these with the table and the fact that they are leather and thus super easy to clean if you have kiddos (that's so far away it isn't even a factor really but whatever)

With such simple pieces I like really colorful large scale art to counter-balance...nothing like a healthy pop of color these canvases are 5 feet tall by 3 feet across and just perfect.

This chandelier has stolen a little piece of my heart with its overlapping metal strips the texture is just right for something a little funky and different

We have a ton of lamps but this is my favorite I love metallics and the fact that the base is chunky.

The lamp would look perfect on this little chest/nightstand...I love the texture of this piece with it's simple silhouette...flawless. If we had our own place this would for sure be in the entry way I think it would make a great first impression.

My Modern Christmas

2009-12-13T08:56:00.010-06:00

Day 72

I know I haven't written in a while but I haven't had much free time...this lack of free time also resulted in little to write about. Alas Christmas time is upon us! So here is my little blog dedicated to "if I had a place of my own it would surely look something like this" because where I live currently is small and undecorated for Christmas as my husband begged me to wait for him to come home so we can do it together (he is amazing I know!)

First we have stockings:

These were the stockings that I wanted to get for us but they were sold out by the time I found them...a total steal at west elm for only 12.99!

I looooovvveee the branch as the mantle for the fireplace...tres chic

I love the poinsettia and stripped ones especially because there is a little place to put a picture of the stocking recipient

Second we have Wreaths:
I liked this one because it would last forever and you could change the color of ribbon you used to hang it with for the seasons...

This is the ultimate eco friendly wreath...a recycled sweater! Just cut some old sweaters into squares string onto wire and viola an easy "green" wreath

Next we have Ornaments:
I lie the simplicity of a clear glass ornament...maybe tied onto the tree in

I mean the anti storage and clutter minimalist inside me is jumping for joy the ornaments above collapse to flat for itty bitty living space...now thats what I'm talking about.

The Trees:

Had I been spending this christmas away from Joel this care package friendly little fellow might have found it's way to my handsome man...

This one is sooo cool on so many levels (at least 4 if you count up the shelves)...think what mileage you could get out of wrapping your presents/decorating your tree at the same time! :)

Llast but certainly not least...some overall inspiring photos

One day awesome room photo you will be mine and I will live in you and you will be all modern and fabulous and loved by your homeowner who promises never to clutter you up or over accessorize...I mean I NEED to live in a space like this, it's gotta be like bad for my health or something not to

All photos were taken from the internet :) how's that for photo cred...

Looking forward to it...

2009-11-30T23:31:00.003-06:00

This is sooo my kind of movie, I can already tell click here to watch the preview :)

I have a really busy week ahead but I wanted to let you know that Mom got a good report at the Doctor. She's going to have a lot of adjustments but things are looking good...thanks for keeping us in your prayers!

Studying the Battle from inside my otter box

2009-11-28T23:14:00.006-06:00

Day 56 (wow where did such a big number come from!? we're half way to one hundred already)

So it's been awhile...Work is going great, it's taking up lots of my time and proving to be just the happy little distraction that I need in life right now. My co-workers make me laugh daily, they are chill and have pretty awesome taste in design...best of all they hate drama so what more could a girl ask for?

My Mom is really sick...so sick that nearly two weeks later we are still waiting on a phone call to determine just exactly how radically all our lives will change. Please keep her in your prayers.

Thanksgiving is a feast for most, and I jokingly call it my "Thanksgiving fast" there is nothing about this holiday food I enjoy. NOTHING. Turkey, stuffing, casseroles, green beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie...no thanks, pass, nope, nada, nill. However I got to spend this favoritest of Joel's holidays with his family because as newlyweds that is what we decided to do, Thanksgiving with Joel's fam and Christmas with mine...all other holidays can be on rotation but we get to spend each of our favorites with our own family significant other in tow...I decided Husband or not I am sticking to that plan.

In the biggest and happiest of news...JOEL IS COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, and that's in an as-sure-as-you-can-be-with-the-army sort of positive. I jumped up and down and did a touchdown happy dance when he told me...I was all "I thought you told me to wait to send your Christmas Presents till to be determined date once safely in country?" So anyways it looks like I will get one more week with my favoritest person in the whole wide world to get me all ready to tackle 2010 Mrs. independent style :)

I'm also obsessed with John Mayer's latest and greatest album...Battle Studies. It's mellow, and obvi he was hit hard after Jen Aniston as it's mostly about heartbreak but his lyrical genius and wicked riffs you can't get out of your headness continues. I was a bit skeptical upon first listen, but it grew on me, and now it's all I listen to anywhere...yes even trumping Kidd Kraddick on the morning drive to work...it's that good! I would list my favorite song but it depends on my mood and the day, so I would end up listing them all if given enough time.

Lastly I am jumping on what I am pretty sure is near the caboose of the I-Phone band wagon. Yeah that's right I bought one, complete with an otter box defender case...which I have been informed in some circles would ensue oohing and awwwing. Apparently the company is known for their virtually indestructible cases for technology devices.

Dearest Otter Box,

Thank you for keeping us "less than graceful" in mind (If you have fallen UP stairs rather than down consider yourself a part of this group). While you're making these highly durable containers might I suggest developing a line of indestructible boxes for military spouses hearts? I mean some sort of little case for mine would come in so handy on those no phone call no update days...Or MAYBE just make a box for a certain man of mine to reside in while he's over there, whichever is easiest and quickest to produce will work for me!

Clumsy on the outside but graceful as Ginger Rogers on the inside :)
-Ashley

Let's hope I write again soon shall we?

Thank You Military Past and Present

2009-11-11T22:40:00.003-06:00

Day 39...

Thank you to My Grandpa and Joel's Grandpa
Thank you to My Uncle
Thank you to My Cousin
Thank you to My Friends/ Former Classmates
Thank you to My Husband :)

You have given so much and the coolest part about that is YOU CHOOSE TO...no one makes you be a hero, you just know that someone has to step up to the plate, so you do with humility, grace, loyalty, and courage. You are amazing and "Thank you" doesn't even begin to cover it.

I borrowed this from one of Joel's buddies' myspace page but I love it because it rings so true...

There he is folks my handsome miltary man!

One of my favorites of him

Ha Ha back when I was crushing on him hard right before he left for basic...still a little "private fuzzy" as they call them

Thanks for the sweats MR. I still come home most days from work and snuggle up in them...they aren't nearly as good as the real thing but they"ll keep me warm through the winter :)

I have a JOB!...in this economy (I know right?!)

2009-11-09T23:40:00.005-06:00

Day 37...

This is just another one of those instances where I really feel like God has blessed me beyond what I deserve. The job hunt was discouraging and really tedious but in the end things fell into place and I was able to land an interview at a place where I wouldn't simply have to ride out said economic downturn but could actually (dare I say it) pursue my career path? YES! It is with a place that I have loved for years prior to my employment so I really and truly think this is a great fit for me...I mean look at the little slice of heaven I get to call my workplace everyday.

If you do something you love you will never work a day in your life...I totally subscribe to this theology. Here's the bonus part or the icing on the cake if you will, they are really focusing on developing their eco friendly lines including the chair at the top of my post. Still just getting my feet wet, about to start day three so I will tell you all more later I am sure...

In other news Joel and I were both a little under the weather last week, it turns out he has MONO! Yes, I have already had mono so it poses no threat to me but needless to say he is more than bummed at his current state. At this point we do not know how this will effect his deployment but please keep him in your prayers. He has a lot on his plate right now and is feeling a little overwhelmed with is lack of energy.

Dear Month One...You are now Done!

2009-11-06T11:08:00.003-06:00

I know I am a little late in posting this but...I am going to anyways.

It has been over a month since I dropped Joel off for him to serve his deployment. The first week was torture I said "See ya later" not knowing when that later would be, fortunately for me that would be in 6 days but I did not know that then and the first week was hard...really hard. I couldn't say Good night to end a phone call without bursting into tears, my heart ached at the thought of facing so much time apart. I gave myself that first night to cry and eat junk food and watch girly movies with friends...shortly after I joined the gym because what better way to burn off some nervous energy than at a gym. I love work outs now, I haven't been able to say that in a good couple of years, I think the fact that I have Mrs. Wienke there suffering through the work out rigmarole helps...A-LOT!

When I finally did get to see Joel the following weekend it felt like I hadn't seen him in a good three weeks. I am very lucky to have such an understanding unit that gets the fact these guys need the support and love from the families. I got to see him every weekend this first month, I have never spent so much time in a car by myself...but after all of this I feel much more confident in my road tripping abilities and had only one slightly scary run-in-with-a-homeless-man-at-a-gas-station incident. This was a really nice weening away phase because I always had to mentally prepare myself that I wouldn't see him again so when I would get that late night phone call on Thursday or Friday I was always ecstatic. We called it "bonus time" and it really helped me to think of it that way, I wasn't entitled to see my husband but I was given the opportunity so we always just made the best of whatever last minuteness things we could.

I learned a good deal about myself this first month. I tend to be an independent individual anyways, which is a trait I consider blessed to have because it makes things so much easier...I just viewed things as personal challenges that I was meant to step up and conquer. Mostly my first month conquers were things to do with the car like getting the oil changed, airing up my tires, changing the windshield wiper blades, replacing the headlights etc. I have always leaned on Joel or my dad to do these things that are car related but I am happy to report I am perfectly capable of most, all on my own! I learned I can take multiple 6 hour car trips and navigate quite nicely, I can only take partial credit though because I honestly think that John Mayer and Gavin Degraw helped me keep my sanity. There was one time I took the wrong way home...I still got home but I had to call Joel crying before doing so (no one is perfect). There were just lots of little moments where I thought this is something Joel would do, but I did it this time, and then I did a little victory dance in my head.

I also learned a lot about our marriage. Being apart isn't easy, not being able to talk for more than 5 minutes a day can make it harder. You have to be selfless, understanding, and willing to put in the hard work it takes sometimes to continue to maintain good communication. Going into a deployment with barely two months of marriage under our belt is a challenge, but I know that when we reach the other side of deployment we will have a relationship so much stronger than some that have been together years longer. I am thankful to have a partner who is determined that this experience will strengthen us and not weaken us. Yeah, every day isn't perfect but the ones that aren't you just chalk up to learning a lesson and keep on going. I love Joel more every day, and everyday I see more how God made him perfectly to fit what I needed.

I learned about God...HE IS IN CONTROL. Everyday this first month I woke up praying that God would have control over everything, I put my trust in that, and anything that tempted me to worry throughout the day I let go of because it isn't up to me. There are so very many stories I could tell you about how God has blessed us so far, He truly has His hands even in the little details of life. When you are where you know God wants you to be there is an indescribable peace that comes over you. So I am thankful that God has blessed me in so much, and thankful that I know I am where I am supposed to be.

So big milestone for little Mrs. Ashley...she can now say she's made it one...whole...month!

"Eye" Love It!

2009-10-29T23:32:00.007-05:00

Day 28 of 730...

For those of you who aren't obsessed with Project Runway...I don't expect you to understand my obsession with Tom and Lorenzo's Blog, but it's definitely a daily read even when I don't actually have time to get on the internet I make time for my Project Rungay fix!

Today they were featuring this little number courtesy of Fabulon or something like that...just look at it

I am beginning to notice a pattern in my taste for ceramic hands that double as ring holders, eye pillowcases, glass heads and the like...this blog history is spattered with things I am like oddly drawn to, but I think it's more because it's sculptural and kind of unexpected...eyes in the back of chairs I mean really who can resist these?

Anyways now to another little tid bit, my mom recently returned home from business travels to a city that beholds an Urban Outfitters...Loves. I seriously have been known to sway family vacations in the direction of such cities with extremely selfish ambitions of visiting said Gallery of all things amazing (I have been able to partake in shopping here first hand multiple times for myself but I can never get enough). So dearest mumsy, I know that they shoo'ed you out the door because someone accidentaly left the door unlocked when showing up to work early and you didn't get to shop because it didn't actually open until your plane was set to take flight...but IF you had been able to peruse a bit longer I would like to entertain the notion that you would have brought home for me one of the following souveniers from your journey.

You could have looked at the above pictured wall hook systems and been like "That's so Ashley" because yeah, it has a function in that it holds keys and jackets, but come on. It has to make some sort of artistic statement if it's going to occupy valuable space upon my wall.

Or you might have looked at this pillow and thought perfect punch of red and it makes a statement...what more could a girl ask for in her accent pillows? Not to mention I have a solid red pillow with black headphones graphic that is desperately seeking a buddy :)

Oh, oh! If you put them next to each other on say, my grey sectional couch which I intend to someday own, it would look like Love and listening to music... which I totally do! So this pillow pairing speaks to me both stylistically and symbolically, just saying.

If all else fails I know that I KNOW you would have brought me this little eco friendly stapler...because let's face it, my eco-savyness has rubbed off on you and grown exponentally. And who doesn't like a gift that means you never have to dig around in your junk drawer for a broken bunch of refill staples, I know I do!

Pulling a Britney...really!?

2009-10-29T10:45:00.003-05:00

Day 27 of 730...

Job Interview Update:

I go in to the store today to show them my skills of design and merchandising, this is a one hour timed test. It is also interview part 2 of 3 I believe so I am really approaching this job like survivor, if I can get them to see that I am a fun person to have around and can do a good job for their company then they HAVE TO vote me in right? Let's hope so because I really really love this place even before I knew they were hiring and it's totally a place I could work at for years and be perfectly content at, and what young professional doesn't want that?

Pulling a Britney:

For those of you who do not know I do a little babysitting job once a week for a local church along with my sister in law. We watched 4 kids under the age of 4 last night, hilarious. Until I smelled something so I asked the little darlings if anyone needed to go potty and one little one enthusiastically replied "yes! Pee PEE Peeee" something about small children (in this class at least) makes them repeat the job they intend to do or have already done when so prompted. So we head into the restroom to sit on the potty when...um NO UNDERWEAR, NO DIAPER, NO NOTHING! the mother of this child had been in a car wreck that day bless her soul and was a bit frazzled that said I had a total britney situation on my hands. Of course she already peed in her non exsistent undergarments so we got to change and all that good stuff...It was just comical and unexpected as was another kid in the class chanting Poop POOP POOOOOOOOOOp POUP poooup and then when I go to change they started giggling and kicking their feet into the Poop pooop poup pe doop. If you hold one feet in each hand you are left with zero hands to wipe toushies and change diaper with O-M-G don't get me wrong I love these kids to death and it's so fun to watch them learn and grow from week to week but I could go without all the body functions olympics...Needless to say Sara and I laughed a ton last night at the various situtations we kept finding ourselves in but thank God for Teamwork.

Golden Birthday

2009-10-27T10:25:00.004-05:00

I celebrated my 23rd birthday on October 23rd apparently this is called a "Golden Birthday"...

Dear #23,
I hope you are as fun and eventful a year as #22 was, but you have very large shoes to fill.

I got engaged and later married the man of my dreams this past year
I graduated from a 4 year major that pushed me harder than anything I've ever come up against (at least until this deployment business came along)
I worked at my first job that paid SALARY instead of HOURLY :)
I later quit said job for a beavy of resons and during unemployment learned how to rearrange some priorites
I became independent from my parents in more ways than one
I watched friends get married and have babies
I felt like a full fledged grown up...thank you responsibility.
I gave advice to those younger than me...and felt REALLY old in doing so
I threw a dinner party (yay me!)
I traveled...

It was a hard year filled with a roller coaster of emotions and it is incredible to me to look back on what a mere year has brought and realize that I grew so much because of it.

And now to the fun stuff...PRESENTS of course

Joel is attempting to win husband of the year award and he is doing very well I am sure because he got me a Blue Tano Purse and Grey Tall Classic Uggs...YAY!

My friends are equally awesome shout out to Monica for getting me hooked on Pandora jewlery by purchasing me my charm bracelet and first charm. After years of begging my bestie hannah to paint me something (just kidding!) she did an awesome pop art black and white close up of a girls face on a huge canvas...I kind of am obsessed with huge canvases and collecting original art so perfect present award for her too.

Last but not least in more current news, I went on a job interview! Fingers crossed they call me back for the second round of interviews slated to happen end of this week or early next. I won't jinx it by spilling to much details now but if/when I get said jobbie you can be sure I will brag to you all about it.

Solitary....

2009-10-19T22:46:00.007-05:00

Day 17 of 730...yay for double digits!

So I got in one last "bonus time" session in with my husband on saturday...it was like 14 hours and most of that he wanted to sleep but like a trooper he watched the movie 12 Rounds and took me for some ICE-CREAM (I oddly crave ice-cream when it's cold outside...and NO I AM NOT PREGNANT!)I have also mastered the art of the military goodbye hug and kiss I guess third time really is the charm because I didn't sob uncontrollably in the car after he walked off.

My Monday was the best yet since he's been gone...I don't feel like there is some raincloud over my head and I am ready to accomplish, accomplish accomplish. And speaking of accomplishments I am quite proud of myself for starting one of those pull string mowers today. All.By.Myself! Looks like all those weights in the gym are beginning to pay off in fact I bumped up my bench-press 10lbs since starting on it last week. I even worked on the good old job search a little today...watch out world Ashley is going back to work! Being unemployed for roughly two months has taught me a lot about myself and my priorities, namely that a job/career/whatever can't be your life or the thing that defines you but merely something that plays a part in it.

My Soldier is doing well thank you for all your prayers please keep them up...right now he's in a 5 minute phone call a day phase as they keep him busy for long days and nights. These times are rough on both of us, but they should slack off and I may even get some more skype dates soon...I Love you Skype and your virtual games.
Joel and I both like the games. I enjoy backgammon while Joel enjoys hangman, mainly because he googled a list of "statistically impossible to guess words in hangman". Yes, said list does indeed exist and if he has to resort to cheating to defeat me in the game well then I take that as a compliment of my skill level...

And now a confession and time to reveal the reason behind the title of the post, no I am not moping in loneliness (at the moment anyways) thanks to Hulu I have been watching a little known show called Solitary! It's totally my guilty pleasure, I love all reality shows but this takes it to a whole other level.

Below is a picture of the "pod" each contestant lives in for like a week...they never meet the people they are playing against and only communicate with a computerized voice named VAL who gives them the tasks and challenges they must compete...Most of them are played until someone gives up by pushing the red button which signifies they surrender, the problem is the people in the other pods can't see this and have NO IDEA when their competitors quit. So it's more a battle against yourself than against others. I have really enjoyed watching it because it is dramatic but not in a cat fight kind of way but more of a "Oh-my-gosh-that-dude-quit-two-hours-ago-quit-struggling-to-eat-junk-food-at-a-rapid-pace-and-give-up-too!" (Actual challenge to eat as much licorice, malt balls, donut holes in set amount of time...round, after round, after round, one girl consumed like 2800 calories of that crap!)

Basically I am addicted to this show and as an interior designer I must say the concise space is well planned spatially. That bed in the center of the room pushes up into the wall leaving them a 10 foot diameter space in which to dwell:)

Bonus Weekend with my man!

2009-10-16T10:04:00.006-05:00

Day 14 of 730...

So I was crazy busy since I last wrote...

I was so beyond excited that I got to spend a "Bonus" weekend with Joel, plans changed every hour as to where I was driving, and where we would meet up, but finally last minute arrangements allowed him to come all the way home to me! He got in around 10:30 on Friday night and me being all anxious decided to wait to eat dinner until we could be together, at which point we were both so exhausted from our days we decided to indulge in one of Joel's favorite eateries the ever luxurious MacDonalds. Alas all my fries were crunchy not a "mushy one" (my favorites) in the bunch, but I didn't let the waste of calories ruin my fun.

We had to/ self afflicted choose to wake up early Saturday morning and surprise Joel's sister at her work for breakfast. She didn't know Joel was back in town and she's been like my cry buddy through this whole thing so I'm glad she got in some bonus hugs too. I Felt a little awkward crying in the middle of chick-fil-a but hey it was totally a touching family moment that no one else in the breakfast line was privy to, shoulda let a few more on-lookers pass us in line because we missed the 100th customer free meal by ONE! Chicken minis ain't cheap people! but they are sooo worth it, if you haven't tried them or heard buttered roll with chicken nugget in the middle and thought "gross" well hold your tongue and give them a chance because otherwise you are missing out on some magical mornings at the good old drive through window pre-stressful day to follow...I'm just saying, choose carefully.

Then we went to the football game with Stephanie and Patrick, who generously gave us their extra tickets! It is ironic that Joel grew up in a college town and never once attended an event. Me being the sports lover that I am sat out to right this matter and thus Joel attended his first ever College Football game on Saturday...could this weekend get any more awesome? Yes! our little team of underdogs WON, I totally let Joel have the credit as good-luck charm seeing as how it was his first game and all. You should know Joel was hesitant about this whole football event thing at first, in fact he actually "shushed" me for cheering to loudly in the first quarter (My response was obviously hysterical internal laughter and the thought "Oh Mr. you don't even know"). By the end of the game he warmed up to the rowdy loudness and was all up on his feet yelling at the refs clearly blind penalty calls (converted sports fan, check...)

Exhausted from our busy morning we came back home and Joel took a nap, which was more of a coma because after a week of 4 hours of sleep a night he definitely made up for lost time. I prepared his favorite dinner and probably the most complex thing I have mastered thus far into married cooking life Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo from scratch ;) Then my awesome Husband took me out for a movie I've been dying to see...

COUPLES RETREAT!!!! It is a great date movie with comedy for the sexes, I laughed a some parts, he laughed at others, and we both died during the "yoga" scene...that's all I'm going to say about it because everyone should go watch it.

Joel and I were unable to leave the country for our honeymoon because of military orders so we decided when he got back we would go someplace fun...enter the latest contender for get-away spot, none other than the filming locale for this movie... The Tahitian Island of Bora-Bora!

I know right...who wouldn't want to stay in an over-water bungalow?

Anyways last but not least, I hate to make this sooo long but I also hate to keep you in suspense about how my foray into diaper cake making....so here ya go

This was a TON of fun to make and the best part is everything on it is re-useable for when little baby arrives. This was for a little boy and we decided to do and animal theme for the shower. If you guys are really interested in it I'll dedicate a whole post to it...

Exciting News!

2009-10-09T02:47:00.003-05:00

So after a little under a week...Like 6 days that felt more along the lines of 21 to be exact. I found out....

that....

I GET TO SEE JOEL AGAIN/TOMORROW!!!!

So in reality to most people I know you're probably like sheesh, already!? But when you say See-Ya-Later to someone and you have literally no idea when that later will be it feels like an eternity.

Me and my lonesome are headed out on the open road for a good 5-6 hours depending on how much I stretch my teeny pea sized bladder in between sketch-ville gas station breaks. I just found out a few hours ago, but now I am far to excited to sleep. Not to mention a girlfriend of mine was coming for a cheer up visit this weekend and I was slated to host a baby shower on Sunday for a girl I've been friends with since the age of 4. I am lucky that both love me enough to be understanding of my situation...out of town visitor coming again in a few weeks to help celebrate my birthday, while baby shower friend will love me to pieces once she lays eyes on the diaper cake I made for her. Since I couldn't sleep I figured it was a wise investment of three hours to knock it out tonight. Not that a diaper cake should take three hours, but lets just say old perfectionism habits die hard for a former interior design girl used to pulling all-nighters in studio because good ideas do come last minute especially on a 48hour long sugar binge and such ideas ought not be denied....It was a love hate thing really, studio that is...the diaper cake on the other hand was all love. I can't wait to show you on here, but I am not sure if she reads my blog and it'll be much cooler if it's a surprise so sorry your readership will have to wait.

In other an yet almost equally exciting news...My friends and I decided to take a step into our grown up sophistication and start not only a Book Club, but a BOOK AND WINE CLUB! Me and Steph instantly had this brilliant idea over endless cheese dip at girls night tonight and squealed with excitement (much to the pain of everyone elses ears around us I am sure)...it's going to be amazing. Each participant (most likely 4 girls to start out) will have a turn to select a book for the group to read. When we meet up to discuss the book the book selector also brings a bottle of wine (their favorite, one that compliments the mood of the book, from the same country of origin as the book, etc.)We've decided our start date will be November as we are all currently involved in our own books so stay tuned for postings on the book club or keep your eyes peeled for a new blogger friend who may start an official book club blog to review both readings and tastings.

I will go ahead and reveal our first book however The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

Sorry for the over use of exclamation points and building up anticipation of multiple future posts but life is crazy, busy, fun like that and it's just too much for one comprehensive post to handle.

Also if I fall silent for a few days on here it's cause I am spending some good ole quality snuggle time w/ my soldier, not to mention cashing in on some of those massages he promised my newly worked out aching muscles...I am pretty sure he promised thinking it'd be so long before we saw each other that he'd get the brownie points for the thought and I'd forget, or that offering one would get me to quit complaining about how I can't walk or fully extend my arms, silly man a lady never forgets a back-rub or not in my case anyways!

I'm off to attempt sleep like a kid on christmas eve...

My Modern Halloween

2009-10-07T00:05:00.017-05:00

Day 20
Here's the thing...I don't really care for fall it is probably my least favorite season in fact, because in the seasonal calendar you are as far as possible from summer (my absolute favorite) furthermore, the season does not contain the holiday Christmas so it loses.

Everyone goes overboard decorating with pumpkins and all that Jazz during this time and alas I still do not have a place of my own to decorate (yet) but if I did it would probably look like this...enjoy!

Up first on my list is of course the pumpkin:

If using a real pumpkin I much prefer to glam one up right with Sequins, Metallic Paint, and/or Glitter :)

Or if I were to carve one it would be something unconventional...probably not a face

My favorite environment friendly thing to do would be something enduring and simple that could be brought back year after year and dressed up with colorful ribbon, leaves, or vines

I'm dying with the endless creative possibilities these iron pumpkins bring...indoor, outdoor, table center pieces LOVES IT!

These white ceramic pumpkins are so chic, I need them in my life. I also need this little ghost because he's soo stinking cute, and I don't even like ghostie things.

Next to make the proper first fall impression you have to have a door wreath. Again I like something that you could hang on the door year round and just update for each season/holiday...so space efficient for a clutter hater slash way to obsessive storage organizer like myself. Not to mention, I'm a sucker for the endless blank canvas.

Here are some that are a bit more traditional but still unique enough that I would claim them as mine...

While we are still on the front porch no yard is complete without a scarecrow but I think mine would prefer to be called "sculptural person" note: while scarecrows may not have brains(see wizard of oz) they totally do have feelings...

And now for the one and only thing I actually do posess on this list...my glass head! :) I love him, he was purchased for $12 at my dear friend Pier 1 last year and currently holds the starring role of book end on my shelf, but I think it might be fun to fill this guy with candy corn and use as a centerpiece.

Or maybe get him a friend, is it weird that I kind of like collecting these glass heads? I'll play it off as all in the spirit of Halloween I guess.

I think I would also sprinkle some skeleton keys about the house

I also like the idea of a simple branch centerpiece year round with little accents to make it more seasonal

Or this candelabra guy...also love candelabras I could own a million of them if my pocketbook would so allow

I am a hardcore believer that good design is in the details and while I might not let this guy reside on my kitchen counter all year long, he might be a fun conversation starter if brought out at halloween. Or he could always make an appearance at those murder mystery dinner parties my friends and I keep meaning to throw.

If all else fails maybe I can convience Joel it is an appropriate time to purchase these "ghost" chairs I've been dying to own...

Day 4: out of 730

2009-10-06T23:33:00.013-05:00

Today I awoke to no electricity...This was fine by me because, twist my arm, looks like that mount Everest of a laundry pile will just have to wait till tomorrow.

I felt spoiled getting to talk to my man three times today! I am a face time kinda girl, so I hope the skype or whatever video chatting stuff works out but it was nice to feel like we had some time to actually converse today.

I am sooo sore, I wanted to cancel working out but I stuck to my guns and went to the gym for "arms and abs" day. I'm glad I went let's just hope I still feel that way tomorrow. If I had to name a specific area of most weakness (seeing as how I'm pretty much a weakling all over at this point) it would be arms. I have always wanted and never had toned arms...that my friends is about to change thanks to such glorious contraptions like that of the assisted pull up machine. You put your knees on this platform and it basically makes it where you only lift a portion of your body weight so you can gradually get stronger and increase the amount of reps you do while also increasing the amount of your own bodyweight you lift....I think right now I lift myself minus like 20lbs or something like that. Anyways, I am really excited at the thought of being able to walk up to my in-laws pull up bar that they have installed on the back porch and actually being able to do a few...I'll keep you posted.

In other news all this arm work got me to thinking about modern gym equipment...you know me, never one for the "average run of the mill". I have decided to share my findings with you

The X-O dumbbells by Philippe Starck

I like the fact that these look both travel worthy and yet you could rest them on your coffee table like a sculptural piece of art...If you are going to leave your work out equipment lying out in plain sight I think they should at least be fun and worthy of starting a conversation.

The Revolution Dumbbell

found here
These guys actually allow you to twist the digital dial to adjust the weight of the device...amazing! Great if you just want to keep up with one set versus having differing weights for different exercises.

The Crystal Dumbbell by Alex Undall

found here
The guy designed them with stylish bookends in mind, I think they are pretty glam myself.

The Extract Dumbbell from Nike

Simple and yet still sporty...
Vita Handweights

found here
I like the sleekness of this design...which brings me to the best for last! My favorite set of dumbbells via my internet pa-rousing the Menu Magnetic dumbbells...

Day 3: out of 730

2009-10-05T22:47:00.004-05:00

I wish I could say I've gotten into a groove by now...but that would be lying. Fall came suddenly, rather than slowly, for my part of the globe and with it came allergies which mixed with a lack of sleep left me feeling knocked out most of the last few days.

However, I did venture out of the house to meet up with my awesome work out buddy Mrs. Wienke! Today we did legs and back...OMG! Ashley isn't used to weight training so much as the kill yourself with cardio method...I decided a mixing up my technique couldn't hurt anything, I was wrong every muscle below my belly button hurts.

I would like you to meet the death of me...also known as the "leg press machine" I don't know if I'm not flexible, or not strong enough or what but I put 50lbs of free weight on this bad boy and I thought it was going to pancake me, or I was going to look like a cartoon accordion thing or something. Rachel my workout buddy offered laughter as support, I then died laughing...weights and laughter do not mix, I managed to free myself from beneath the death trap prior to pancaking, remove the free weights and even the with bare equipment I struggled. Hello, my name is Ashley, former nickname in high school weight room Kitten...I kid you not.
But no time like the present for change so I'll keep you posted on my new work out regime...
I am excited to go back tomorrow though endorphins are supposed to do the body good!

Joel Update:
I got to talk to him today...they were serious about the whole kiss him Goodbye in October and his butt is ours for the next two years. He definitely (at this point unless a miracle happens) will not be coming home before the leaves to go overseas. Not only that but only about 1/3 of the guys will get to come home for R&R, there will be a lottery, so because I don't support gambling I'm praying God wants me to get to see MR. as bad as I want to see him! So due to all this lack of any face time to look forward to currently please join me in praying that he will have internet access where he gets stationed so I can at least video chat with him sometimes.

He's doing really well aside from the trying to take care/ provide for me from afar. He cares about me so much and it's hard for him leaving responsibilities to various familiy members so hopefully with time that will get easier on him to.

Ashley Update:
I've yet to say Good-bye or Good-night without crying when I talk to him on the phone...Geeze girly emotions get a handle on things already! I'm sure hearing me cry only makes it harder on him but I can't help it I miss my bestie, snuggle buddy, constant comedian, rub my feet at the end of a long day AWESOME husband.

Day 1: out of 730

2009-10-04T22:47:00.010-05:00

Did you know two years equals 730 days...you do now! I dropped my guy off for his two year deployment yesterday. Keep in mind the two years is "as firm as jello" ha ha ha I've already learned the lesson to hope for the best (a 12 month or 18 month deployment) but prepare for the worst. This is also why I will feature a count up clock instead of a count down because I have NO IDEA what to count down to.

It was one rough day...I had noooo idea one could produce so many tears. Thankfully my sister Lindsey and Sister-In-Law Sara came to visit me that evening for a girls night. I highly intended to pigout but I was sooo stressed out and my tummy was upset all day so my pigout turned into half the portion of a normal meal ha ha but it was yummy food and a good cheer up anyways.

I took a picture of me in his patrol cap before he headed off to basic per his request, so he'd remember me after meeting me and hanging out for the first time ever just three days prior! Here's my attempt to re-create my famous look...

I've heard about a gazillion times "I don't know how you do it" or "I could never do what you are doing right now" or some form of the idea...I'm not doing anything people except praying daily, and lately hourly you get the idea...I'm leaning heavily on God to take over. I'm a planner by nature who has little to no answers from my soldier, this isn't a typical thing for me either but I have faith in someone bigger and stronger than me (1 Corinthians 10:13), so now you know my secret THAT'S HOW I DO IT!

I am thankful that I have been able to tell him "Good-night" two times in a row! The hardest part is when he has to hang up for a formation, lights out, whatever...he says "Good-bye" and I get all choked up and can't say it back. I miss him like crazy but I've filled my plate up with A-LOT... this un-employed work-a-holic has to have something to keep her occupied!

Tomorrow's To Do List:

-Meet Rachel for a workout
-Follow up on Job interview
-Follow up on website for client I've been working with
-Go get "established" with my new Tri-Care Prime Physician :)
-Locate Ribbon for Diaper Cake for Baby Shower a week from today (pics of this creative attempt will follow I promise)
-And like five more things I can't even remember thanks to being exhausted

How I'm coping:

Obviously I'm Keeping busy or at least attempting to for now...and my awesome mother took me by Barnes and Noble to stock up on some good old fashioned burying my nose in a book...So here's what I'm reading

Army Wives by Tanya Biank

Married to the Military by Meredith Leyva

American Heroes by Oliver North

and a fun fictional read...

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

I'll probably stick to more of a daily update at-least for now so check back often :)

I'm all chill bumpledy goose pimpledy after this one!

2009-09-11T12:27:00.002-05:00

So as I sit here in the hotel room while the army guys are training and I have three days of briefings ahead of me about deployment...I'm watching all the 9-11 stuff and thinking how 8 years later it's still effecting families, including my little new one! To those that have lost, sacrificed, heroed, re-built, defended, and protected...I can't shake this video I saw this sunday from my brain, it's been an amazing comfort to me to remember the power of the one who holds ultimate control.

It's just 3 minutes but it gave me chills...

My prayers and thoughts go out to all those who still feel the effects from 9-11.

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S!

2009-09-01T16:27:00.002-05:00

I love you polyvore

Girls Night Out by aodglen featuring Roberto Cavalli accessories

I'm in love with the Cavalli animal rings and check out that Alexander McQueen Clutch...I would own these items if I lived in a city with appropriate places to wear them out to!

The most perfect day thus far...

2009-08-30T21:35:00.003-05:00

Well I've officially joined the married life ranks. Still waiting on "official" wedding pictures so I'll show those off a.s.a.p!

I love married life...it's absolutely the best. I haven't been keeping up with this much because I've been soaking it up. So I'm back for now to brag about the wonderful man I'm married to!

So the other day Joel had the day off work and I am currently unemployed so we were both home trying to tackle the mountain of to do's that follows getting married and moving in together. I was overwhelmed as I'd been working on this list for days and making little headway. Joel pulls me aside gives me a big kiss and says drop everything we are just going to have fun and relax today...twist.my.arm! It was the most perfect day we watched movies, snuggled, laughed, talked, just enjoyed each others company doing fun things the ENTIRE DAY. I know we have a lot of things on our plate to get in order before he goes on deployment, but I wouldn't trade that day for anything! :) I really feel like the luckiest girl in the world everyday Joel makes me feel loved, appriciated, cared for, protected he's just the greatest...

Engagement Photos and 11 days to go!

2009-07-27T10:24:00.007-05:00

We were blessed to get to take engagement pics even with the crunch time to the new wedding deadline. Alana Damron the brilliance behind A.D.D. photography took these. I have LOVED working with her she has an artistic view of the world similar to my own so she was able to capture things perfectly with a unique twist...I wanted something you don't see everyday and she delivered!

A week ago today I shot my bridal pictures which are equally amazing but those will have to wait until after the wedding to be shown because Joel sometimes wonders over to the good old blog.

Our whole dating relationship has been a bit old fashioned for the modern times...from getting to know each other writing letters snail mail style to bumping up the wedding date so we can get married before he's off to war, it's been an incredibly romantic ride and I wouldn't have it any other way. This sort of old fashioned idea led the shoot...a lady and her soldier.

I always have a creative vision so shooting these was no different. I knew from the begining that I wanted to try to replicate "The kiss on Times Square" turns out when I ran the idea by Alana she's all "OMG I was so about to ask you if you wanted to shoot something like that!" so here's the real deal and our spin on it!

Fashion.BUZZ.kill.

2009-07-23T12:32:00.003-05:00

Apparently Barney's in NY decided these were a little too much for the public to handle. I'm all about design with a concept behind it (shout out to professors Cat and Jen!). The idea driving Helmut Lang was "dressed to kill"...I LOVE IT! James Bondesque black dress mannequins...I always catch myself saying How I would dress and act if only I lived somewhere like NYC because it's a little to much for small-town-bible-belts-ville, but apparently even some stuff is to on the edge for them sometimes.

I will forever love the out of the box artists who dare to push buttons and limits because they make us question, think, evaluate, have an opinion, take a stance,

Art that evokes action is priceless in my book so high fives it Helmut!

How Patriotic are you?

2009-07-11T09:54:00.003-05:00

This fourth I celebrated our nations freedom with my family and all the normal rigamarole that the holiday entails...Cooking out, over indulgence in hot dogs, playing in the pool, overly competitive family members during games, trying to remember where you put your personal plastic cup for the day, good music, and fireworks. However this year the price of that freedom hit a lot closer to home, yes there are good men who fight to keep us free but what if one of them is your own husband? What if you don't get to see the person you love most in the world for a year or more so that we can protect and take pride in that word, "freedom"...talk about a test of patriotism!

July 1st I got a call at work from a Sargent...I knew that I was listed on Joel's emergency contact list, and immediately I knew something was up. In the few months shy of two years that we have been together I have never received a military call on my cell phone. That night Joel was on the phone on and off and finally he sat me down and told me he needed to tell me something. They had posted the list of soldiers set to deploy this fall and his name was on it. I couldn't talk. I couldn't cry. I couldn't do anything because it just didn't seem real, we were supposed to be spending the next year in the honeymoon phase of our marriage nauseating people with how much we loved each other and couldn't keep off each other, not continents apart.

At first, we didn't tell anyone because there were still alot of technicalities that could mean him not going and the last thing either one of us wanted to do was worry our friends and family over a "false alarm." But by day two it was all but set in stone he was going to go. I cried alot the first couple of days because my heart ached while he was away for two short weeks in the same state as me, I can't imagine him being gone a year or more, halfway across the world. Then I went to church on sunday and the sermon was all about how to pray, something that I had been doing constantly since I learned the news. In between different segements on the aspects of prayer we would sing worship songs relating to that portion of prayer.
"Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God"

That's when God really hit things home for me, if he can tell a lightning bolt where to go, couldn't he also direct a bullet, bomb, grenade, whatever? God is soooo powerful He has control of this situation, in fact, He is the only one with control. Who am I to worry about the power of God and what He can handle? Mr. Ellenbarger pulled me aside and thier family's fourth celebration shortly after hearing the news and said to me "Ashley I am so happy for you guys to be getting married, and you to be joining this family. I know it is hard knowing that Joel will be over there but in all actuality he is just as safe there as he is here, when it's God's time to take you home it doesn't matter where on this earth you are. I know with our human minds it doesn't seem that way and where he is going seems alot more dangerous but he is just as much in the arms of God there as he is here." Did I mention what an awesome future father in law I have? :) So all that to say at this ponit Joel is going to be going overseas, I will not be able to post many details on here for obvious security reasons.

We did decide to move up our wedding date to August 8 2009! Joel will be in and out of town between now and then on various training meetings. Being on depolyment is hard for any marriage, I am so thankful that Joel and I have done some pre-marital counseling and tried to build the foundation of our marriage on the things of God. We will continue with the help of our pastor to do some correspondent counseling while Joel is away to continue to try to grow in each other and God while he is away.

This past week I haven't slept much not because I am upset but because I am getting married in less than a month and have an entire wedding to plan. I have been so blessed to have such a large group of friends and family willing to help us during this hectic time. It's funny I was talking to my grandma this morning and she has her feelings hurt a little at the small amount of things I have asked her to help with...What a good problem to have! Theres so much to do and yet more people willing to do them I can't keep some people busy enough to satisfy themselves.

I had wanted to post alot about the wedding as planning progressed but with our new dealine my plate is kind of full so no promises, but I do look forward to sharing in celebrating our special day with you. Please keep Joel and I in your prayers over the next few months as we trust in God in all He has in store!

1/2 way to a new pair of shoes

2009-06-23T13:20:00.002-05:00

Ok so if you know me I'm not internet savy but I'm learning. A friend reffered me to this site called SEND EARRNINGS...basically we all get junk mail in our inboxes an it sucks! Now you can get two emails a day and all you have to do is open and scroll to the bottom and confirm that you "read" it. It's only like 2 cents per e-mail but in less than a year that's like 35 bucks for taking a measley ten seconds to scroll to the bottom of a page. Anyways I've got the link below for you to click on that I reffered you and you will get like an extra 5 bucks for signing up. Just trying to pass a cool something along to anyone who happens to stumble across this page...

I can't take a job for Granite....ha ha ha

2009-06-13T14:51:00.013-05:00

So I've joined the working world! I'm lucky that I get to do something somewhat related to my major of Interior Design. I mean after all the blood(thanks exacto knife) sweat(thanks old building with crapped out A.C.) and tears(thanks critiques that boil down hours of sleepless nights to score cards) I feel like I've earned the right to pursue a career in this field. So for now I'm in the wonderful world of Kitchen and Bath Design, working in a showroom, primarily working with custom home builders and remodeling homeowners. The Sucky part is that it is partly commission based the amazing part is how God has sent so many amazing clients my way!

The main material I work with is granite...I had no idea how much there was to learn about this stone. So here's a little about granite which you may or may not care to know but it's my blog so I'll write what I want to.

MYTH #1 GRANITE IS UGLY SPECKLEDY STUFF...

New Venetian Gold

Tan Brown

It's only partially true. Some colors are speckled but many are not and this doesn't necessarily have to do with cost.
There are three main types of granite:
1. Builder's Grade-typically made up of small colored flecks...normally most economical
2. Mid grade- some color flecks and some "movement" or "flow"...moderately economical
3. Exotic- mostly "flow"...sky is the limit to cost here!

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO EVERY RULE!!

This is Verde Butterfly it's one of the least expensive kinds of granite right now and it's beautiful...in person it literally looks like butterfly wings are suspended in the stone. So this is my example of a beautiful builder's grade color. Side note:Builder's grade has NOTHING to do with quality and EVERYTHING to do with quantity... the more plentiful a stone color is the less demand is on it and therefore it has a less expensive price point.

MYTH #2 GRANITE IS HIGH MAINTENANCE...

Facts:
Granite is heat resistant...yes you can put a hot pot directly from the stove onto it and it will not damage your counter surface
Granite is scratch resistant...you can use your counter as a cutting board, it shouldn't scratch the surface though repeated use might dull the sheen of the factory polish.
Granite is easy to maintain. Yes granite will need to be sealed from time to time. How often, you ask. It depends on the level of use but a good way to test this is to pull a glass of ice water on the counter let it condensate for maybe ten to fifteen minutes. If the glass leaves a ring on the counter then your seal is allowing moisture to get in and needs to be re-sealed. *Don't worry about the water ring it will evaporate* Sealing granite consists of a spray bottle called granite sealer you can pick up at just about any home project store like Lowes or Home Depot etc. You spray it on, let it sit, and then wipe it off, alot of people would compare it to windexing a window super quick and easy. As far as day to day use you should use plain old hand soap and water...anyone who tells you differently is just trying to sell you their product.

So I have bored you enough with all the facts...now time to look at some of my favorite colors and slabs I would totally drop the cash on if only I had a place to install it!

This color is called Bianco Antico or Linnen, it's black and white with sections that are flecked and crystalized, while other portions look like sand flowing through the stone...it's perfect for a black and white kitchen...such a dramatic look!

Silver Waves...another lovely example of movement or flow in stone

This one is Van Gogh...ha ha no wonder I LOVE IT!

This last one is called Black Marinace...it makes me think of a river bed I would love to build a modern kitchen around this stone.

K enough for now just had so much info I had to store it somewhere and share it with someone.

Disclaimer: All of the above is strictly opinions of the blog writter and her employer is in no way responsible for the material published here...thanks!

La la la la life is wonderful

2009-05-30T12:26:00.002-05:00

So I could spend a gazillion hours updating you on my life as of late but it's to much for me to type at this point, I'm so behind...suffice it to say I've graduated college, have a job which carries on a love/hate realationship with me. As a perfectionist workaholic it has instinatiously filled that void of all nighters in senior studio which I both stress and obsess over and at the same time it makes me happier than just about anything and I can't believe I get paid to have fun all day...my idea of "fun" is twisted I am fully aware but I have come to terms with this. I am intense at times, I will bust my butt to get things done, and even when I am not at work I will dream about work, talk about work, and think about work. Hopefully soon I'll get to post some pictures from my pretty kitchens and baths I've been designing, consulting homeowners, and coordinating install dates with the various peoples involved.

Enough of that for now...I've finally caved to the amazing polyvore...I knew if I ever started it would never stop because I love this type of thing but here it goes...this isn't really my style but if I could step outside myself for a day and just do something totally off the wall and be suuuppper skinny this is totally an outfit that I would rock.

Oh to be an Olsen Twin by aodglen featuring Alexander McQueen shoes

Enjoy the sunshine hopefully soon I can tell you all about my amazing float trip I am embarking on tommorrow to celebrate Joel's 21st birthday! :)

ABC's of procrastination

2009-04-24T19:46:00.003-05:00

The ABC's of procrastination....why oh why can't I write a stinking paper about Jan VAN ECYK??
A - Age: 22

B - Bed Size: Queen

C - Chore You Hate? IRONING!

D - Dogs Name? Comet

E - Essential Daily Items? shower, cheese at a minimum of one meal

F - Favorite Color? red

G - Gold Or Silver? silver

H - Height? 5'10"

I - Instruments You Play? the piano only for a few months with the intent of learning fur elise and when I realized that would be years away I stuck to playing the radio!

J - Job Title? Full time student, part time sales/ in house designer

K - Kids? gimme 5 years then we can talk

L - Living Arrangements? chilling with the grandparents in an underground home...learning alot about life through the eyes of those nearer the end of it

M - Mom's Name? Candy, for real, not Candace just Candy she hates it but the name suits her because she's seriously one of the sweetest people you could ever know

N - Nicknames? the ever popular Ash-hole, and smart-ash

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth? nope, did spend most of the daylight hours there after a heart/head thing over spring break this year...good times good times

P - Pet Peeves? nothing in particular mostly obscure things that wouldn't bother most

Q - Quote From A Movie? "You can never be the JELLO!"

R - Right Or Left Handed? Right

S - Siblings? 1 lil sis...Lindsey

T - Time You Wake Up? 5:45 it's bad, I can't even sleep in when I want to at this point

U - Underwear? Victoria's Secret

V - Vegetable You Dislike? Broccoli, cliche i know

W - Ways You Run Late? traffic, trying to figure out what goes together and makes me look more like a grown up and less like a highschooler...i can be sooo plain jane

X - X-Rays You've Had? Back... for my old school chiropractor

Y - Yummy Food You Make? Fettuccine Alfredo from scratch, Brownies

Z - Zoo Favorites? Cheetahs, Zebras but most of all Giraffes!

click on the link below to see the 3-d abc book in action...I love that the simple things fascinate me so

I've only been waiting like 4 months for this...

2009-04-22T15:04:00.003-05:00

Finally this weekend the new Channing Tatum movie "Fighting" is coming out...if I can pull myself away from the computer project long enough I am soo going to be front and center at the movie theater...Here's some pics from the movie

...pretty sure that one guy is James in twilight, he looks familiar.
Only three more days till the weekend it's all down hill from here!

Sunny side of life...

2009-04-21T18:45:00.006-05:00

So school is winding down, well should be shortly it's a mere 17days to graduation and more importantly 9 days to my last I.D. deadline ever! The weather is lovely I can't wait to get to go outside and soak up the sun but until then I found this pantone yellow room...which according to my googlings is a hot color for '09.

I myself am thinking come apartment/condo shopping time the very least Joel and I can do is paint the place...no neutral for this girl it's all about going big or going home...Saturated Colors are on the brain as of late we'll see if I still like the idea come September and I can get fiancee to buy into the idea.

So that's all for now...I told myself I wouldn't blog until everything was turned in but I just couldn't stay away...but stay tunned this blog is about to go into hardcore wedding mode! I've had to put off planning until school gets done, as a perfectionist I know better than to put that much on my plate! Just wait though can't wait to show you guys all the goodies and ideas I have in my head...

Forty Nine...is whatever you make it

2009-04-16T11:04:00.006-05:00

So I go to class the other day, you can't even imagine how ready I am to never say that phrase again but never mind...I was debating going because I am exhausted from the stress and work and blah blah blah senioritis. I end up going because let's face it perfectionists don't skip a single class without battling some case of remorse. I SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE TO CLASS! It.was.horrible. I went because we were getting our papers back in my gender studies class and I really wanted to know my grade going into finals time. Our professor was disappointed to say the least at our level of work. In fact she equated it to that of 7th and 8th grade work in schools "on the coasts". She proceeds red faced from the heightened volume level of her voice to go on a verbal rampage for the remaining 89 minutes of the class, which for all intensive purposes felt more like hours. "No wonder you are 49th in everything!", she exclaims exasperated by her own discovery and tired of carrying the intellectual charity case weight of this little intro level course. I to this day am not sure how that was supposed to be a productive use of mine or her time when the conclusion of her heated speech was simply that we aren't intelligent, the education system has failed us, we are "effed" bottom line, period, exclamation point, the-end.

Listen lady, just because we don't invest our lives and belief systems in the things that we read. Just because we don't buy into everything you tell us doesn't mean that we are of lesser intelligence, perhaps we are more discerning? no? Since when do we let a number define who we are as persons? How is letting that "49th" title define us any different from letting the words woman, black, white, blue collar, or any socially constructed term which you have taught us not to take at face value. Just because something "is" doesn't mean it "has to be"...isn't that the whole point of your class? Swimming through the massive scholarly texts racking our brains to make sense of it all against what we have previously been taught? You.have.failed.us. not by dolling out what you deemed charity grades after bleeding all over our papers with your red pin and using be-littling language. But by the fact that you sat in class for an hour and defined us as 49th and wanted us to accept it for what it is...

Well, 49th is what you make of it...and just because it is something doesn't mean it has to be. I'm proud of the place that I am from, the hard work it has taken to reach this point, and the promises of where that hard work allows me to go in the future. I will not sit and wallow in a title of 49th IN ANYTHING!

Sorry to subject you to my rant, but this seemed like as good a place as any to vent.

These are a few of my favorite things...

2009-04-08T16:21:00.010-05:00

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm constantly hermitish locked up in the studio for weeks on end, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad. Praise'em the biggest project of my life thus far is coming to completion...I thought it was pretty much downhill to the end of the semester I mean we are talking a mere three weeks or so folks. Ha ha silly girl school is for constantly challenging and pushing you to your limits there is no early time off NO NO NO I have construction documents to do now...So world I am sorry, I made a bajillion promises to myself and others of things I would do once the freedom over my own life was restored to me and unfortuneatley I am yet to shake the shackles but for real and all seriousness may 1 is my final due date so stick with me the end is in sight...senioritis be gone from me I have to finish my work so I can in fact gradutate.

Anyways I miss getting to procrastinate via blog so today I went shopping for things that I love and wish desperately to buy but alas I've spent all my dollars on my senior project so these items will have to wait...

I.am.in.love. Eye pillowcases how snazzy would these look with my black and white lacquered headboard as a backdrop...fabulous I tell you just plain fabulous and only 14.99 at urban outfitters.

This accordian style table also from urban outfitters $60.00 I love its architectural joints.

This coffee table is amazing how fun would it be to have a colorful stack of magazines under there on that zig zag shelf? Mimosa table $200.00 urban outfitters.

I swear I'm not gothic but black stuff is super classic o.k.? This faux chandelier is a mere $36.00 at once again urban outfitters...can you tell i'm obsessed with them?

And Lastly some art...I spec'd some of her art for my hotel and the more I look at it the deeper I fall in love with it...If jazz music was a painting I'm pretty sure it'd look like the artwork of Jennifer Scott McLaughlin so enjoy!

And last but not least the piece that started it all this was her first piece I saw and probably still my favorite...LOVE

Stressed to the MAX!

2009-04-03T21:59:00.005-05:00

So I'm blogging in hopes that it will serve as a mental break from all that is autocad slash google sketch up land...My project is due in under 48 hours...yikes! This has been my baby for over nine months and while all my hard labor will not produce a human it's producing something pretty dang close on the scale of fabulousness...so here you go to all my friends a sneak peak of what is to come. Because when this is done after the laughter and tears and martini I will so be coming to blog about all that is my little boutique hotel by the name of "Adam Hats"

I know most of these are dark because I'm learning a new light rendering program known as podium in the real world and "save my butt I'm so getting an A and going to graduate" as we seniors like to call it...enjoy!

Alarm...what alarm?

2009-03-11T17:46:00.002-05:00

So it happened to me this morning...I wake up to my alarm, then I magically black out only to wake up on my own. I don't know about you but I religiously rely on my alarm clock and if I do happen to wake up without the frantic beeping of my cell phone for assistance I instantly go into panic mode. Which is exactly what I did and realized that yeah I must have hit "dimiss" instead of "snooze" and I have 15 minutes until it's my normal time to leave the house, and I'm thinking it's going to be o.k. no one will notice you running slightly behind schedule except that my store has a staff meeting first thing wednesday mornings at a table directly in front of my desk! YIKES! So I improvise and try to look like I didn't throw on clothes that were lying on the floor and I did shower because I can't go without that no matter how late I am. Presto-change-o I am walking out the door 20 minutes after the waking up on my own fiascoe! At first I am relieved, and then I'm thinking to myself how is it I take over an hour on a normal morning to get ready for the day but when really pushed I can throw something together in a cool 20 minutes? Maybe I will just start waking up on my own every day...Only Joking blogworld, only joking.

Style Identity...It's just what I've always wanted!

2009-03-09T15:54:00.006-05:00

So I was out there blog stalking and I decided to take this quiz meant to show you your design style. As a designer I'm INCREDIBLY picky I mean it varies piece to piece color to color architectural style to the next what I absolutely adore and those things that make me cringe in digust at the thought of having to inhabit a space with it...

So without ado here are my Styles...I'm not surprised I scored evenly in three things but it sums me up nicely...

Hollywood Couture 34%

"Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream?" That's right, it's time to roll out the red carpet and get ready for the sparkle of crystal and all things flashy that make up Hollywood Couture.

Glam style originated in high-end lifestyles that made up the years between the roaring 20's and the swinging 40's, where it was important to bring a feeling of glamour to the home when the world outside may have lacked it. Nowadays it's scratching a similar itch in the sense that it's bringing a sense of opulence to a world that seems to have forgotten how much fun it can be!

The great thing about the updated version of the style is how versatile it is. You can take it in any direction and add almost any style into the mix — perhaps a contemporary leather sofa paired with lacquered Louis XIV chairs that have been upholstered in lush velvet. The key is that each item feels as rich and over-the-top as possible and yet everything still seems livable. It's not a space that screams: "do not touch" - rather it almost dares you to experience its luxury.
***I blame this style primarily on watching Netflix movies set in the 1920's-1950's its an addiction that is manifesting itself in an alteration of personal prefrence...that's how badly I want to live in the time of Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra, in all seriousness can you blame me though?***

Modern Elegance 33%

Variety is the spice of life! And nowhere is this truer than in the design of your home. You may love contemporary, but wish it wasn't quite so cold and austere, or perhaps you're drawn to traditional rooms but you'd like to create a less cluttered and busy space. Transitional Style is here to marry those apparent contradicting designs.

And guess what? It's the contradictions that make the mix of contemporary and traditional so successful. The result is an elegant room that appeals to young and old alike. A sofa with modern lines blends seamlessly with a pair of traditional chairs. New fabrics work so well on antique pieces. It turns out that modern art looks even more exciting above a collection of traditional pieces. The room feels simple and sophisticated, elegant and hip.
***It is all about the prevention of cluttered space...I await the day when I have more storage than the trunk of my car and can actually return to the less is more mentality***

Vintage Modern 33%

Flea Market, anyone? You know you are drawn to modern furniture and interiors, and yet you don't like a space that feels cold and sterile. And who could blame you? That's why Vintage Modern is so appealing to you. Though the backdrop of the room, the walls and windows, are many times white or monochromatic, the furniture and accessories have the color, shape and texture to bring the warmth into the space.

The great thing about Vintage Modern is ease of mixing different styles in the one space. You can have a new modular sofa mixed with a great pair of chairs that your grandmother purchased in the late 1950's. The new and old work appear as though they were destined for each other. Even if you don't have time for swap meets and garage sales, so many of the mid-century pieces were so great that they have been remade and mimicked year after year.
***This taste comes from my love of the chair you see in the picture...that my friends is an EAMES LOUNGE at for a cool 7 or 8 grand you too can be the proud owner of such a great piece of history from the great era of quality affordable furniture production...forget the midlife crisis sportscar convertable my eyes are squarely set on owning one of these!***

Now that you've endured reading about my style so find your own...http://www.sproost.com/StyleEngine

19 out of 20

2009-02-26T10:55:00.004-06:00

So I asked Joel the list of questions and I only missed one! :) It was the very first question about what he would be watching on t.v. and in my defense I did put down his answer only to backspace it and put my final answer...He would've said G4 the television station ha ha.

This week has just been a little hectic the place we were thinking we would get married at has fallen through but the old original option maybe back in the picture thanks to the most determined, helpful wedding coordinator ever! But in other exciting news I pick out my dress this saturday like final decision money down the whole she-bang...I didn't know I could be so undecisive...I was told as a rule of thumb to try on one of everything because you never know what you'll like on vs. on the hanger so that's what I did and I fell in love with three totally different dresses...I know the one I pick will kind of set the tone for the wedding stylistically so it's not a matter of not being in love with a dress but rather being overly in love with three different ideas of how our day could go...ANYWAYS wedding planning is still happening just in little bursts as I am fighting off a nasty case of senioritis only destined to get worse through May 9th.

In other news I missed the oscars on Sunday...I can't name another time in my life I missed this night I mean you mix my love of movies and fashion into one big dramatic event why in the world would I miss it? NASCAR! That's right you heard me say nascar. Joel and I went over to his Aunt Cathy's to watch the something 200. I'm all about sports though so now I have a newbie to add to the reportoire and all in all it was so much fun hanging out with my future family and pretending there was no such thing as homework if only for a night...

Hope everyone is enjoying the week the weekend is so in sight it's not even funny and it couldn't get here soon enough I feel like there are friends who are becoming figments of my imagination it's been so long since we've hung out!

Oh the sacrifices we make for love...still can't believe I spent a whole afternoon watching this...

And I totally missed this showdown years in the making....

I don't know we will find out...

2009-02-19T17:14:00.003-06:00

I found this posted on face book about “How well do you know your husband?” and since I am going to have one of those pretty soon I thought it’d be fun to put my knowledge of Joel to the test.

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Heroes! If not that then Grey’s anatomy, Family Guy and stolen movies from the internet etc.

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? RANCH!

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Tie at the top with Chili and Spaghetti! Ha ha I learned this one the hard way as they were the first two meals I cooked him when he came home on leave. I didn’t find out until New Years when one of his sisters was joking with him about it…I wanted to be a puddle on the floor I felt awful for not knowing.

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order? If it didn’t kill your nervous system and he wasn’t marrying me who loves him and his nervous system staying healthy he’d get Diet Coke…due to the rules above I’m guessing regular coke, cherry coke or Dr. Pepper depending on his mood.

5. Where did he go to high school? Springdale High

6. What size shoe does he wear? 16…Mr. Canoe Shoes as I like to say 

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? I’m going to go out on a limb and say d-day paraphernalia since if he could go back in history it’d be there…so why not recreate it with a collection eh?

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? A Spam-which! Ha ha no seriously I think he’d eat about anything with a lot of meat on it.

9. What would this person eat every day if he could? Johnny Carino’s and Chili’s

10. What is his favorite cereal? Dog food bag version of cocoa puffs…I think they are called coco roos

11. What would he never wear? Dark jeans until he met me! (They are my favorite thing on a guy) So now I would have to go with he would never wear his hat sideways…it was a phase he wants to move away from far and fast it seems ha ha

12. What is his favorite sports team? He isn’t into sports but it’d have to be OSU since that was his dream school for forever.

13. Who did he vote for? He didn’t! just kidding…McCain I’m pretty sure 

14. Who is his best friend? Me hands down he makes sure I know that by reminding me every day, (aww isn’t he the greatest).

15. What is his heritage? German! When he answers the phone and it’s his brother he always says DA…I think that’s german for ” yes”.

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? Red Velvet

18. Did he play sports in high school? Nope he was too busy working for his grandpa building houses after school everyday…he started out when he was like nine.

19. What could he spend hours doing? Talking/Snuggling with me or video games and lately I’d say playing some texas hold’em poker

20. What is one unique talent he has? He can flip his eyelids inside out…totally grosses me out so I ask him not to flaunt that skill to often…sorry folks

Well this was really fun to fill out…hopefully Joel will check my answers and tell me how I did…I’ll post my score once he tells me.

Pretty sure there is something wrong with this picture...

2009-02-19T10:33:00.004-06:00

So the other night Rachel and I had a girls night in at her house...most of the time we get kicked out so the guys can have some peace a quiet for their video games, so me and Rachel were most excited. With good intentions we had scheduled this day to go walk the loop at Lake Fayetteville, but then the weather looked bad and it was almost dark before I was free to meet up so we nixed that for cooking. Rachel and I are the most awesome team at making Fettucini Alfredo from scratch EVER! I mean I'm not trying to brag but she stumbled upon a recipie that we have perfected to amazingness...I will give you the recipie if you like, just ask because it's one of those that's better explain in person. Anyways after cooking some alfredo we collapse on the couch to watch some T.V. more specifically the Biggest loser.

Tangent Sidenote: One time my mom and I watched the show together and the next week she was all Ashley let's watch "Big Fat Loser" after an uncontrollable fit of laughter I explained to her it's actuall name. I love my mom she is so ditzy sometimes but alas the apple falls not far from the tree so what can I do but laugh at her because eventually the laughter is bound to be directed at me.

Back to the original story...So were watching Biggest Loser and I'm like falling in love with the Brown father/son team. The dad is so big and he's trying but he can't like do anything to work out really so the son is carrying the weight of the team (no pun intended) and they kept playing slow music and I was like seriously teary eyed everytime they focused on their story. So now I'm hooked and I hope Brown wins the whole thing!

So basically I ditched working out to stuff my face with carbs while watching people struggle to lose weight and feeling no remorse for my actions...ha ha ironic sequence of events don't you think?

Anyways update on the rest of life...it's just pure chaos! It looks like after all my plans thus far we are going to have to change the venue for the wedding which like changes everything else because alot is determined by the size and aesthetic of your setting if you are an o.c.d. attention to detail 4 years deep in interior design kind of girl like myself then you understand what I'm talking about here. But I know that God has a plan and His historically have always proven better than mine so alas wedding plans back to square one we go!

V-DAY

2009-02-15T15:24:00.009-06:00

I remember when I used to call valentines day "V-day" you know similar to D-day because I dreaded it...Single girls just hold out because there's still a good guy out there for you. One that will never let your hand touch a door handle, pull out your chair, offer to pray before every meal, tell you that you look pretty when your lounging around in sweats, show up on your doorstep with chocolate in hand because it's that time of the month and snuggle with you while you watch chick flicks and old movies. They may not be numerous but they do indeed exsist and I know this because I am marrying one in September, am I a lucky girl or what!!

Friday night we went to our Church's "Love Lockdown" with the Wienke's :) There was free dessert, music, dancing, and a little gameshow known as the newlywed game...
They seriously asked the following questions!

Guys:
What's the most annoying habit your mother in law has?
Other than the answer nothing what would you change about your wife?
After you were married what was your first fight about?

Girls:
I wish my husband would stop ______?
If you could change something about your husband's body what would it be?
How many times have you made "whoopie" at your parent house?
It was hilarious. I am so blessed that Joel and I have found such an amazing church home where we can grow spiritually and have fun together.

As for actual valentines day Joel and I took a break from wedding planning, work, school, and everything else that busy's our lives and had a nice relaxing dinner at Johnny Carino's.

Then we went to the movie He's Just Not That Into You...so funny! Girls you can totally drag your guys to this one, they may put up a fight but I promise the ones in the theater that night were laughing just as much and hard as we were. I would post pictures from our date but both of us thought the other one said they were bringing a camera hence no camera was brought with...ha ha.

For those of you who don't know already, Joel booked our honeymoon! :) He got to do this part with very little imput from me and he did an awesome job it's modern, warm, sunny and on the beach what more could a girl ask for?

The Beach Palace in Cancun, Mexico

I know I've been slacking in the blog world lately but I'll try and get back in the grove of things shortly but in between posts please remember I'm trying to graduate college, plan a wedding, work, and maintain some sort of balance to the mix with friends and family. Life isn't the easiest it's ever been but it's definitely the funnest/ most rewarding, I can't wait to see what else 2009 has in store.

Electricity E-lec-tri-city

2009-02-02T16:22:00.005-06:00

So I along with the whole metroplex I live in fell victim to the ice storm of the century...Meaning we had NO ELECTRICITY which means no heat, no internet, no television, no way to warm food, or do laundry. It's a classic example of ya never know how good you got it till it's gone. Thank goodness Joel's family was nice enough to take me in and give me a warm place to sleep. It was fun playing card games with his sisters and helping them with homework during the day while the boys were working on the generator and cleaning up the yard and pulling people out of ditches. Ellenbarger men are seriously the nicest hardest working guys you'll ever meet!

So after nearly a week of tests and trials here's a list of some great games if you're ever looking for a good time and a cheap night in...it was kinda a blessing in disguise because no where was open to spend money I saved major mula in the whole ordeal :)

http://www.bkgm.com/rules.html

NERTS!!! This is my favorite fast card game you just need decks with different color backs on them...

http://www.pagat.com/patience/nerts.html

Life Twists and Turns

And to conclude a little funny story:
So one night I run out to my car to grab my car charger. The car was major covered in ice so I had to melt the door seam to get it to open...The next morning I went to open the door again and the handle of the door just kept going as I pulled...I guess it was soo cold it broke clean off! Yeah thank you car I have no passenger side door handle now. I didn't know ice made them so fragile...but that's so a story that would happen to me :)

Happy Groundhog Day

Gray Monday

2009-01-19T16:32:00.002-06:00

Ok so there's this song that I kept hearing in the background of movies and t.v. shows... and I'm one of those people who pays attention to the seemingly insignifigant background items, be it songs or throw pillows, on a regular basis just blame it on a rare form of a.d.d. slash love for details
Anyways for like literally years I kept hearing this song but I could never remember the lyrics enough to google it. So I'm hanging out at the Weinke's and amazingly just by humming the few bars I knew, Rachel found it on like her second guess...literally amazing! So here it is mystery solved an oldie but a goodie This Years Love by David Gray

THE KAPPA POOF

2009-01-13T11:07:00.005-06:00

As they say in the south "The higher the hair the closer to God!" I'm not one for poofing my hair because it always ends up looking like a deformed chia pet but to each her own...that is until it affects my ability to see in class!

So here I am just sitting in my lecture class having the syllabus read verbatium from the big screen at the front of the room which was kind of ironic because he was talking about how we are all adults and should be able to exchange ideas as such during the course and yet he's reading to us like we're 5! Anyways, I can't see the screen because somebody decided a 9:30 A.M. class is the perfect time to look like your going out for a night on the town hair, heels, the whole she-bang sitting directly in front of me...

This is a close representation to the front of her hair...

And this would be the back only hers was shorter like a spikey tuft of death waiting to harpoon my eye...

This was a rather unfortunate series of events because there are two type of students the lean forwards and the lean backs...She is a lean back relax feign as though your half paying attention to the lecture type. While I on the other hand am a lean forward take notes I don't care if it is just over the syllabus type. This meant her hair kept hitting me in the forhead all pokey from hairspray and just kind of annoying because look if you wanna dress up for class by all means go for it, but don't poke me in the face and block half the lecture screen with your hair! Ha ha it really was a funny experience because seriously that girl's do was all up in my grill...

You can just call him ROCKY!

2009-01-11T11:16:00.002-06:00

So as many of you know a week before my 22nd birthday I moved in with my grandparents (please refer to post "I live in the urban outfitters house"). Its been a great learning experience living with people in a different stage of life who just celebrated thier 50th wedding anniversary last year. Unfortunately this past week my grandpa was diagnosed with throat cancer which brings him to bout with cancer #4! That's right FOUR... Stomach cancer, Lung cancer, return of lung cancer and now throat all since 2000. He's a fighter though if any man could take a licken and keep on ticking it's my grandpa. He was watching one of the Rocky movies and theres like a million of them and it kind of made me think of Him. No one is supposed to live through the things He's lived through so far but I give credit to His unshakeable faith in God and his amazing since of humor. Currently he can't talk because he's in recovery from a biopsy on his vocal chords so he has a dry erase board. My cousin calls to check in and find out the news to which grandpa writes on his board "tell him it's going to turn my into a shetland pony!" He was reffering to the radiation treatments he'll be undergoing but my aunt and I were a bit confused at his comment so then he proceedes to write underneath it "you know, a little horse!" ha ha because the radiation will be targeting his throat...that pretty much sums up my grandpa even in a time of what would seem serious to everyone else he's looking for a laugh. Please keep him and my grandma in your prayers thankfully he will be seeing a doctor with a 90% sucess rate at eradicating the cancer so good Lord willing he'll pull through this!

Sorry for not keeping up with this the past couple of weeks but life has been crazy with the holidays and living in a house with internet that's slow as molasses most days I haven't found the time or patience. :) But good news school is starting back which means there is plenty of things to procrastinate and avoid through the medium of the blog so I shall return in full force tomorrow I presume.

Throwing some glitter in the air...

2008-12-17T01:02:00.005-06:00

...because I'm officially done with school for the semester and have been for a few days but I've been swamped with things to do, and still am for the most part except now lucky me stuck on the couch, running a fever and hoping and praying it's not the flu because I still haven't gotten my shot!

I did however get to catch the hills for the first time in I can't remember when :)

So here's my take on the whole spencer/heidi situation or "spidey" as celebrity names go...their celeb name is lame and spiderman should be collecting royalties off them because that's all it makes me think of when I hear it but whatever off my soap box I go...I'm just over these two and the amount of screen time consumed with their fakeness and heidi's total lack of class let's get totally sloshed and then down the isle i go routine...pure nastiness. Classic part last night though had to be when justin bobby goes "we should probably post some signs" ha ha ha if anyone remembers that part.

Anyways I'm just happy that good things are happening for whitney...she's been such a fun girl to watch and she gives lauren such great advice I'm always yelling at the screen "listen lauren she knows what she's talking about!" ha ha yeah I really am that into the hills but I'm guessing things are winding down for now and possibly, heaven forbid,... ever! So I'll just have to turn my eyes to whitney to keep living a vicariously younger more catty drama filled version of sex in the city...

She goes around in circles till she's very very dizzy...

2008-12-11T22:59:00.006-06:00

Wow busy day at work...but those kinds are the best kinds because they go so much faster than the slow days where you look at the clock seemingly every hour only to realize it's been ten minutes! Alas it is the christmas season there isn't a slow day in sight.

So I'm up on campus printing out study material for my architecture test...can I just say senior level modern architecture don't play! So I'm sitting here feeling a little overwhelmed at my inch (not joking literally an inch!) pile of study material in front of me complete with four page single spaced study guide...One final left right!? I can do this, I can do this, but I thought I had the hang of things and this final final would be a breeze...this stack of papers turned me all upside down and backwards I think this pic sums it up best...

So I'm like two seasons too late to be fashion forward but this is from Marc Jacobs spring 2008 line and his concept was all about flipping reality and doing things backwards in a forward thinking way (if that even makes sense)...actually it's one of those creative genious moments in fashion if you ask me but that pretty much sums up today and probably tomorrow I'm going forward but it's all a little backwards to me! Ahhhh real world I can't wait to be working in you everyday and be done with this monotony...

Less of a Marilyn, more of a Jackie...

2008-12-07T12:52:00.002-06:00

O-M-G! Guess whats on tour and totally hitting up the Walton Arts Center next summer!? Yup folks legally blonde the musical! I liked the movie, Reese was a flawless Elle Woods but seriously if you missed the MTV special of the broadway musical then you've missed out. No worries though, because it's coming here to our little town....I just had to spread the good news because I would have died if I missed out on this little tid bit of info. Below is the opening number from the show...gotta love it!

I heart Van Gogh...

2008-12-03T15:43:00.008-06:00

Well it's about time I explained the title of this blog...If there was one artist I had to pick from the many many many that I've come to know and love it would be this guy.

Yes, I know he was crazed and cut his ear off. But he can paint! Expressionism, Impressionism put him in whatever category you like but he had the eye that can't be taught...either you got it or you don't and only a few people out of each generation ever really get it and get it right. I'm a very detail oriented person, when I look at stuff and recreate it even sketchy it's got a level and layer of detail that I can't simplify beyond...that's the main reason I admire him so much is because I can't paint the way he does the rythmic, simplistic strokes it's so lovely. Plus his art makes me happy, want to contribute my own art, makes me think, makes me smile...if I had that wish to meet people dead or alive, it could be a sort list even and you would find his name on it.

Now to the art! This is my all time favorite piece I've seen it in person and it's cliche but somethings are better in real life and this is one of them so imagine the awesomeness times like a thousand when viewing...Cornfield with Cypresses

Then there's this...The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night...I love the colors in this one it's just a lovely composition if you ask me, I'd love to design a room in my house with this painting as inspiration...stay tuned you never know!

And I didn't know until recently that the paiting above is a place that's still standing today and now the cafe is called Cafe Van Gogh...eating here someday is definitely on life's to do list...

And lastly the interior designer in me LOVES this, there's alot of theories when you "look deeper" into a painting. For the most part I think it's people who want to feel and sound important but I like the idea that this is a sort of self portrait...It's meant to describe the person by the items in the room and also the lack of other items in the room. I won't go into it further than that for the sake of boring you but it's worth looking into if you are so inclined. However, your environment should describe you and that's what he was trying to do here...Bedroom Arles

See now isn't this an artist worth naming a blog after? I think so! I'll leave you with a song about Vincent...I knew a guy who used to sing it at coffee shops and I think he did better than the original but alas this will have to do.

Try to hold a candle to this...

2008-12-02T08:44:00.003-06:00

Here it is folks my latest find the world's most awesome candle sticks...
These candlesticks also taught me a valuable lesson which is LOOK AT THE PRICE TAGS!
I was just flipping through one of those awesome magazines in which you think you can afford nothing when I ran across these for 24.99 I kid you not! See for yourself http://www.1ofakindstuff.com/Loop-Candelabra.html
Obviously this is going on my christmas list because you could have one or put them all together for a tangled mess of awesomeness...basically it's one of those possibilities are endless pieces and I like that sort of thing.

Sidenote: Anyone who knows me knows that it is litterally impossible for me to be on time to anything...and it isn't like I don't try it's just that fate simply won't allow it. Case in point I wake up unchartristically (sp?) early because I have to Little house on the prarie it up this morning and throw wood on the stove which heats all the water and air in the house...this must be done twice daily in the winter for all inhabitants of this house to stay toasty warm...I kid you not! ANYWAYS, I wake up like extra early all excited to make it early to my 8 o'clock class only to get stuck behind a wreck and then my professor decides to start class early so he can let it out early...destiny is against me people and try as I might you cannot fight your predestined fate and my fate is to be late...always.

Paris Holds the Key to my heart...

2008-12-01T16:35:00.011-06:00

Happy Monday everyone! It's dreadfully cold outside...to me anyways because I'm trapsing here and there and everywhere across campus, thank goodness for fuzzy boots. It's weather like this that makes me think of locations I would rather be in than my current one...Today and almost always that place is PARIS, FRANCE!

It all started I think, when I was little and watched a movie about a little girl who thought all of life's questions would be answered if she went there...that movie is one of my all time favorites and you should totally see it sometime when your babysitting or chilling with younger cousins etc. etc. because apparently few grown people can find appreciation in such movies without blaming it on younger counterparts...so whatever just rent it eventually when convienient.

Anyways I want to eat at the restaurant in the Eiffel tower and watch the lightshow at night...

Thanks to Lance Armstrong and his tour de france like a million times in a row victories I learned about the Champs Elysees (don't tell me you don't feel cool saying that word) so I'd have to take a bike ride or atleast a leisurely stroll along that....

Then I would take a two maybe three day trip to the Louvre! I mean people it's the worlds like biggest collection of art...that equals disneyland to designers. Maybe I could pull a Mixed Up Files of Basil E. Frankwielier move and just live there for awhile.

Last and certainly not least I would have to stop by the Fashion House of Coco Chanel of course gotta soak up rays basking in all the glitz and glamour that is the classiest of class while in Paris....

And hopefully I would run into this guy...

Karl Lagerfeld folks...the man behind Chanel, he's probably one of the creepiest, bad ass old guys you could ever meet. I read alot about him in Mary-Kate and Ashley's book INFLUENCED...I liked him before the interview, I LOVED him after the interview. Learn about him he's got a brilliant innovative mind, and honestly who doesn't love that!?

Ok, ok enough daydreaming for one day...thank you blog for making studio speed by and keeping me from ripping a whole roll of trace to shreds during a frightful battle with sketchers block...

Let the Registry begin!

2008-11-30T19:58:00.004-06:00

So my Thanksgiving was wonderful as I hope everyone else's was...A little different this year as Joel and I get to do the whole split between families marathon thing but one holiday down and we managed to balance it quite nicely so far. I can't wait for Christmas though because my side was a little on the skimpy side as far as attendance was concerned I think it was the smallest gathering we've ever had.

In other news my Grandmie hasn't been feeling well...turns out she has pneumonia. As a side effect or something she woke up Tuesday morning and had completely lost sight in her right eye! After multiple trips to the eye and family doctors and one needle in her eye...ouch...she found out the damage is permanent. This is hard news for anyone to hear and a hard adjustment to make as she had no warning this was coming. I can't imagine waking up and literally half my world being gone forever! I'm a visual person my sight means alot to me and seeing someone so close to me lose it makes me thankful for something I more than likely take for granted on a daily basis. My Grandmie is the sweetest woman you will ever meet and a trooper so I know she's going to pull through but you're prayers would be a great help! :)

Sorry I'm off the Debbie Downer soap box and on to story time...Joel and I started a Registery for our wedding this past week...WHAT AN ADVENTURE. For me the more minimal and modern the better I LOVE LOVE LOVE MODERNITY IN IT's ENTIRETY and after spending two weeks shy of a college semester studying the movement in relation to architecture dare I say I am even deeper in love with modern things than ever. Joel on the other hand is mr. traditional, he likes the ornate stuff and while it has it's place I always saw that place being primarily outside of the four walls in which we will reside...anyways he got to hold the gun and scan so I think he had some fun but it was kind of an episode of designing for the sexes and we got to practice alot of good old fashioned COMPROMISE...never the less it was fun, He can make just about anything fun and I love him for that! When it came to kitchen stuff the sales lady who was helping us was all "Do you want a supercalifragelisticexpyalidocious!?" and we were like "What does is it and what does it do?" Then for the most part we were like "Nah!" but it was funny I didn't realize there was a whole language pertaining to kitchens and their serving pieces! And while I do want to entertain friends in my home my chances of ever becoming fluent or even familiar with proper kitchen terminology are slim and none...so don't say I didn't warn you...and one day if you do like something in my kitchen and you ask me "Hey what is that?" please note my reply will most likely be..."Um...It's Cute!"

Seeing the light and new shoes...

2008-11-24T12:58:00.006-06:00

Sooo better late than never as they say...I did it...I saw twilight and I broke the ultimate rule and saw it sans reading the book, pretty sure I'm going to library hades or something like that. But upon seeing the movie and loving it...I'm reading the books I'll finish book one on day three and start book two tommorrow I'm pretty sure, nothing like the winter time to make you crave curling up with a good book turning off the t.v. and just reading with something hot to drink...loves it!

Also I bought a new pair of shoes! I love you forever 21 and your twenty something dollar amazingness shoes...here's what they remind me of...

and here they are folks...now all I need is a reason to wear them, or if worse comes to worse I can wait till next year but I WILL ROCK THESE SHOES!!

STARBUCKS AND SUNDANCE...

2008-11-18T11:28:00.007-06:00

So last night the FFFers had a photo shoot ala Alana… Afterwards a few of us went to starbucks to look at the pictures and chat and catch up a bit seeing as how me and Hannah had gone into voluntary hermitage per our programming document slash longest most intense paper I have ever produced in my life! Actually I’m still working on it we’re at 45 pages and counting…it’s due tomorrow so you’re sure to get another jubilations post tomorrow so stay tuned for that…ramblings entirely beside the point…
THE POINT IS we met JELLY BEAN…

I get my hot chocolate and go to sit down and join my group of girls at Starbucks to see that another member has joined our group…an older member, a stranger to me and everyone else member but alas she wasted no time making herself not a stranger to us.

It all started with some independent film which she saw about how coffee shops are a social place and yet no one socializes with people outside their little circle so she has set her mind to change this trend and we are her pet project for the night. JELLY BEAN…that’s her nickname. She has a real name and while she said it more than once she also told us about her running nickname which was JELLY BEAN and much to her dismay someone had once confused it with Banana Peel which is in her opinion highly offensive. However she ran the Ironman competition in Hawaii back in ’78 I think she said and has run at least one race a year for the past 30 years…amazing lady or pathological liar or just plain sketch but the story continues so no worries you still have plenty of time to make up your mind.

Then we started talking about online dating which in her opinion is just a prime source for murders…morale of her story don’t try the online dating game or you’ll end up dead. But she’s had her fair share of the dating pool as of late...She dated some younger guy and got called a COUGAR which we thought was hilarious and were all like’ “how demi moore of you!” Well the mention of Demi reminded her of the time that her daughter and Roumer Willis (Demi Moore and Bruce Willis oldest of three daughters for those of you who don’t religiously keep up with celebrity blogs the way I do…) anyways apparently her daughter and rumer are like best buds slash almost college roommates but then her daughter chose the non famous friend roomie instead….oh no no the fascinating story continues…

Then we get back on the subject of dating after she falsely assumes she is talking to a group of 19 year olds who are in reality 21, 22, and 28 but it’s o.k. because Jellybean is so colorful you can’t hate her at this point…Anyways she’s dating this guy and she being progressive and all got her AIDS test but he won’t because he’s older (different dude than the cougar guy) and lame…we concur with her if they’re gonna be all up in each others space He should consent to being tested…actually we either laughed or nodded or a combination of the two at the fact that after only a few moments we were gal pals discussing her sex life…we’re ladies of the south not sex in the city this simply isn’t done for the most part…anyways this guy is sooo great he’s taking her to SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL because his daughter is some writer and has connections like that…well after all this chit chat our time is up but what a night suffice it to say if you drink star bucks you could in fact wind up at sundance…dare to dream you too could find yourself here...

Anyways here are some pics from the photoshoot isn't Alana amazing?!

And then I took over for a couple of shots...Alana saved them and doctored them up so they look professional too!

"Everything I do has to be visually appealing to me..."

2008-11-11T09:05:00.005-06:00

That quote is ala Ashley Olsen and ever since I read it, I've just been like "that's so my life"...because it doesn't matter what I am doing, wrapping and present, writing a letter (yes some people still do that!), working on a project for school, a resume, taking notes, writing a blog I am always thinking about it's visual appeal...probably I sign that I am either in the right major and/or highly superficial but I tend to lean toward the first idea over the latter...
This brings me to one of my heroes...Frank Gehry he's an avant garde architect of sorts and has an amazing nack for turing little sketches into full blown works of art buildings...I LOVE HIM!

These are just a few examples of his work my favorite project is his museam in Bilboa Spain...google the amazingness

Anyways I don't have much time I'm off to class but thought I'd get in a quick post this morning in between classes!...If you really like this guys stuff check out a movie called Sketches of Frank Gehry...it's great...and availlible on netflix! ha ha :)

Let's go to the movies, let's go see the stars!

2008-11-08T14:11:00.002-06:00

If there is one thing I love it's cuddling up on the couch for a good movie probably one of my favorite things about cold weather is the excuse to have a movie night in. For date night Joel took me to see FIREPROOF. I loved it! Yes the acting in parts is cheesy and you can tell it's not an A-list movie but the message behind it was great...I'd had the movie recommended to me by several friends and I would reccommend it to all of you, and for you criers take a kleenex you may need it. I didn't have any kleenexes so Joel used my sweatshirt sleeve for his tears, I might have cried in the movie but when I saw him crying it made me laugh...we are so opposite sometimes but that's what keeps us balanced! :)
Anyways I love love love movies I have a netflix account that I use religiously and I would reccomend it to anyone whose gotten burned by blockbuster on the late fees...I HATE LATE FEES! One time blockbuster threatened to turn me into a collection agency over a $0.26 late fee. Another time they tried to charge me to replace a movie which I had turned in...I had to go into the store and get to movie off their shelf to prove I didn't have it in my posession anymore, thank goodness it was the only copy they carried. Anyways there's like 20 movies on my netflix waiting list to be sent to me and it's like christmas when you check the mail there's actually something fun amidst the bills! The other great thing about netflix is the plethora of old movies...Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelley, Audrey Hepburn the list goes into the hundreds and I've probably seen like 3/4s of them by now ha ha. A few of my favorite old movies are Royal Wedding, Funny Face, Guys and Dolls, Oceans 11, Casablanca, From here to Eternity, Top Hat, How to Marry a Millionaire, Diamonds are a Girl's best friend, and How to Steal a Million.
Hope everyone's enjoying the weekend I'm spending most of it hermitted away trying to make myself work on my 50 page or so programming document for my senior project which is due in a week and a half! Why is it so hard to type on a paper and yet so easy to procrastinate by blogging?

Voting and Halloween

2008-11-04T08:47:00.005-06:00

Happy Election Day everyone! I hope you all get out there and excersize that sacred right that so many have fought for. Can I just say how super proud and patriotic I feel because this is supposed to be the biggest voter turn out in history...so good jobbie fellow Americans!

My friend got these shoes from a friend of hers as a gift and I think they are super-cute! I don't own any Toms myself but I hear they are great...Now on to Halloween things

For Halloween Hannah (pirate), Nathan (afro baskeball star), Greg(bye bye birdie, Alana (Elphaba from wicked she should've won a trophy for her awesome costume!) and I (cowgirl a.k.a. broke and trying to save money so trying to wear something I had in my closet :))dressed up and went to see my friend Alex in the play "I'm Sorry the Bridge is Out So You'll Have to Stay the Night!" It was really funny probably wouldn't have taken like a little kid to see it but it had all the traditional halloweenish characters such as Frankenstien, Egor, Dracula, anyways cute play it's every halloween so maybe check it out next year...And as soon as Hannies posts pics I'll try to put some up because my camera's battery was "dead" guess that's the only thing it could think to be for halloween! ha ha...

I'm going to be an ARMY WIFE!!!

2008-10-29T21:40:00.000-05:00

That's right Joel proposed and of course I said YES! Who would have thought a little over a year ago when my friend Hannah told me I just HAD to meet this guy it would turn out like this...He was about to leave for basic in like three days but never the less we hit it off right away and after 3 months of writing letters we went on our first date, and one pretty much every night he was in town over the holidays before he left for another 5 months of training...My parents surprised me with tickets for a family trip to San Antonio for springbreak to visit him and I was so happy I cried, not being one to cry often it hit my Daddy how much Joel really meant to me at that point...As soon as Joel was back in AR I was weeks away from moving to Dallas for a summer internship, but God was good to provide and Joel was able to find and job and a place to stay so we got to spend it together and had a blast. By the end of the summer and after much hopeful prayer God confirmed this was the man I was going to marry...so we moved back to school for Joel to begin college and me to finish it...

This brings us to my brithday which I thought was going to be just another one to chalk up in the books but Joel had a surprise in store! He told me for our birthday date night He would cook and we would chill and watch movies...but when I met him he greeted me by handing me a blindfold...

Being the curious person I am and always up for a challenge I immediately try to figure out where we are going...eventually my sherlock skills paid of and I momentarily got to take the blindfold off. Until we got to his friends house then it was back on with the blindfold while Joel put the finishing touches on a very yummy dinner of chicken fettucini alfredo.

So the blindfold comes off and I see written in candles "I love you" and then I started laughing at the MOUNTAIN of food on my plate. Joel thought 2 people equaled 2 boxes of noodles and then he split the amount he made between us. So I ate my food and he sort of watched me eat but I thought it was because he was worried about if I liked it or not. I have got to be one of the most oblivious people on the face of this earth sometimes because even when he said I have something I want to say I still didn't think he was about to propose! He asked me to face him so I turned my head and looked at him but he wasn't satisfied with this and was all "Here let me help you" he turned my chair out from under the table and the next thing I know he was down on one knee he said, "I love you, will you be my wife?" To which I put my face in my hands and started shaking my head in disbelief and excitement but he was like "ummm i'm guessing that's a yes!?" and then I said of course and proceeded to call everyone we knew with the good news...

Me calling my Mom and Dad...He did ask for their blessing so they knew it was coming but not the exact day.

The happy tears hit me while talking on the phone with my sister, Lindsey.

Our first picture as and engaged couple!

This was an attempt to get a close up of the ring...it's perfect I wanted something simple and classic I couldn't have asked for anything better my man did a good job!

So here we go I start a blog about my unengaged, unmarried, unchild filled life and I made it three posts in before converting...ha ha isn't life funny.

I want to end with the verse that's been the focus of my studies lately with all the craziness that's happened in the past couple of months it's been a great encouragement to me...
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jer. 29:11

I live in the Urban Outfitter's house...

2008-10-23T14:11:00.000-05:00

First and foremost Happy Birthday to me...I can't believe I'm 22. Granted everyones continuum of "what is old" is different but to me 22 seems old, I know when I'm 25 heck maybe even when I hit 23 I will look back and think "why was I freaking out?" but never the less, I will celebrate the double douces with style and go out three nights this weekend as I already have outfits planned and will have my pomagrante martini in hand at 9 o'clock tonight if nothing else than for traditions sake...it's pink and pomagrante people try one you too will fall in love.

Now on to the title of this post...I do in fact now live in a house decked out in "urbanoutfitteresque" items top to bottom. Due to a random and GOD's grace circumstance of events I am living with my grandparents for the time being. I am so thankful for thier generosity as this was a rather spur of the moment event but can I just say that I never really realized how awesome thier house is!...Urban Outfitters has been a favorite of mine for a long time it's one of those stores that when you go to a new city you look for and if they have one you HAVE to go by and browse around for a good couple of hours kind of stores...really quirky, artsy vintagy types of things in there mk? The great thing about living with grandparents is that it isn't something new trying to look like it's from the 60's it really is from the 60's they even have wedding gifts from 50 years ago in this house how awesome is that?
Case in point my grandma has this ceramic hand that holds all her jewlery, it's white and the fingernails are painted red...it's a gorgeous statement piece on her dresser...well looky what I found online and totally bought in like 2 seconds earlier today...

Yay I have my own hand now, sort of a happy birthday me present...we all need those don't we? :)

The Night I Look Forward to 364 days a year!

2008-10-18T10:50:00.000-05:00

It seems like it was only yesterday I was watching Wendy Pepper and wondering how a designer deemed "farty" and "doudy" from Michael Kors himself found her way into the main tent at Bryant Park...No fears Mr Jay McCarrol pulled out a fabulous line who can forget those headphones!?

Needless to say I am a faithful follower of the AMAZINGNESS that is project runway...My wednesday nights revolve around it! (just ask joel he wasn't a fan at first but he's learning to embrace my imperfection or obsession however it may be viewed). This past week was the finale which I LOVE because I want to see who wins, and it's the ultimate reveal of what these designers you've come to love/hate are capable of...and yet I hate it because it means the season is over (was it just me or did this one seem ridiculously short I mean where was our reunion episode?)and you have to wait FOREVER before there will be new episodes and exciting challenges and "how did three designers end up with the same fabric?" drama.
I liked our fellow Arkansas native Korto...she was creative and fun and dare I say it wearable? I mean that first look she had with the supermarket challenge was so chic, granted she had her moments of over the top and out there but at least she took risks and when it worked, it worked...

I was sad to see her lose but she was a close second and I'm sure she will go on to do great things just look at Austin Scarlett and all he's been able to do and he didn't even make the final three!
So now on to the winner, little LeAnne...she was on the chopping block early on but she stepped it up and really improved over the course of the show and her final line was innovative, a little one note with the petals, but begrudgingly I will admit it deserved to win...

But what happens now? Prjoect Runway is going over to lifetime...I just can't see it having the same edge with cheesy slow piano music background songs ala lifetime I guess we will see.
And lastly, who doesn't love Tim Gunn? What I wouldn't give to eat lunch with him at some posh New York eatery with my dictionary of course becuase I love his vocabulary "Mitigating," "Consternation," "Circuitous," "Egregious," who throws words like that around these days I wish I did! He's so put together even at 5 in the morning to wake the designers for thier challenges. I just love him, if I could wish for one new addition to my bestie collection he would be it! I think that's enough for my sophomore attempt at this blog thing so as for me I will be in rehab watching episodes of Rachel Zoe and trying not to go into severe withdrawls until next season.
I would love to hear your comments any other P. Runway fans out there?

Here goes nothing...

2008-10-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

Well I'm jumping on the band wagon...I figure if I'm going to keep following other people's blogs then I should put something of my own out there for people to read. Life's kind of crazy right now I just returned from a summer internship at an interior design firm in Dallas, TX to finish up my senior year which includes a thesis project (o the joys). I'll be turning 22 later this month I'm not quite sure how to react since all the exciting milestone birthdays where you earn something cool are behind me a.k.a. getting drive, vote, and legally drink pomagrante martinis! Basically I'm trusting God, trying to take it a day at a time and not get to wrapped up in my own plans because I have alot of big decisions ahead of me...

My little sister turned 18!
I feel like she shouldn't even be driving still but she's growing up and as an older sister sometimes it's hard to watch and not interject your opinon every two seconds only to realize you sound like a mom all "when I was your age" and everything...but I love my sister she's got a good head on her shoulders and I'm excited to see what God's got in store for her. Anyways we celebrated her birthday this past sunday by throwing her a surprise party! She thought we were going to birthday dinner (a b-day tradition in our family) but mom called to tell her she "accidentally" locked her keys in the car and she needed Lindz to bring her the spare set. We had about 20 of her closest friends at Wilson Park for a cookout and when she pulled up her jaw hit the ground. Her response to the surprise was, "Wow I wish I would've like showered this morning!"...classic. So we gave her a digital camera for her present and then proceeded to break the friends into teams for a photo scavenger hunt where you had an hour to take pictures with as many things from the list as possible...everyone had a blast and the winning team got tickets to the movies. The highlight of the night was the "take a picture in the back seat of a police car" challenge, for the most part the policeman just laughed and after calling it in let us snap a quick pick. Lindsey was mad at me because our team got the hot policeman and he would only let one group get a picture but hey you snooze you loose! :) Anyways all in all it was a great party and we pulled it off she was totally shocked and everyone's sides hurt from laughing at all the picture stories...Here's the whole list from the scavenger hunt we thought 20 things in one hour would be enough that you wouldn't be able to get them all but all the teams completed the list!

1. a pumpkin
2. a VW bug
3. at old main
4. with a razorback hog
5. a fire hydrant or truck
6. an orange construction cone
7. a bald man
8. a train car
9. a red door
10. political sign for a candidate
11. In the back seat of a police car
12. on a motorcycle
13. your group on a slide
14. with a statue
15. with a live animal
16. sitting in orange chairs
(if your not sure try looking where lots of books live)
17. a tiny space…port-a-potty, photo booth, etc. the smaller the better
18. with a worker at the drive through window but NOT IN A CAR!
19. a number “18”
20. spell out LINDSEY using people (think the Y.M.C.A. song) **worth 2!

Enjoy your week and I'll try to figure this blog thing out be patient with me...