Christmas Miracle

In case you didn't know, I am a geek. A really big geek. So this week, as my iPod and camera seemed to be on the fritz, I was more then a little frustrated. I don't go to bad websites. I don't curse electronics. I have good computer karma, so I just couldn't understand what was happening. And then it hit me - my USB drives were fried. Probably a hangover from that studpid wireless internet I had at the beginning of the year. Fortunately, my dad had a spare multi-port. And because of that, we are back in business! I have a working iPod and downloaded pictures from Christmas Eve! It is a Christmas miracle!

Shelli hosted Christmas Eve which was fun and delicious. We played several rousing games of Guess Who, which was our favorite game when we were little. Mom and Dad tried to play, but their eyes are so bad, they couldn't tell which cards had mustaches or yellow hair.

Afterwards, we drove around Alpine looking at the lights and giving out the Spirit of Christmas awards to the people with the best lights. And to end the evening, I watched the traditional Christmas Vacation. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and look forward to a prosperous and adventurous new year!

Thanksgiving Part Deux

Lucky for me, I get two Thanksgivings this year. The first one was actually on Thanksgiving. What did I love about it? No one hassled me for only eating one thing at a time. I had a roll. And then potatoes. A little turkey, and then a little ham. Nothing touched and I got to sit at the big kids table. Of course, I didn't take a picture of the whole spread. Duh. But Shelli and I posed after with our leftovers. Kudos to Shelli for a perfect turkey and the most delicious pumpkin pie cheesecake in the whole world.

Then my brother came home!!! We met at JCW's. And guess what, he's not weird! He almost even asked a girl on a date today, so I think he is getting back into the swing of things. Don't mind the puffy face - for some reason, my eyes started leaking when I saw him...

And then on to 2nd Thanksgiving. This time with the whole family. I am battling a nasty cold, so I didn't stay long. Don't want to be the cause of anyone's untimely death. And good news - no one hassled me about my eating habits! I could squish aunt Dennece's yummy rolls without any funny looks! Love that all the attention was on the boys! But I managed to snag a few pics of, well, Albree and Katie and Shelli... Uncle Randy supposedly has a picture of me and Shelli "posing" when we were little. I guess our family comes by it naturally. I will post it when he sends it. So good to see everyone and Happy Holidays!

Bring me back something French!

So, the family is on their way (almost) to Paris to pick up Matt. A lot has happened in 2 years it is almost unbelieveable. And at the same time, it has gone by so fast. Matt now has a little nephew who is definately not so little. Katie is in college and is a semester ahead of him. And me, well - let's just say that I hope Matt ends up with cute older roommates.

In honor of Katie picking a major (Recreation Management and Youth Leadership), I figured I had better pick one as well. Since pre-law technically isn't a major, I decided on Paralegal Training. Whoopee. However, I do get to take interesting classes that have real-world application - very much unlike every course I took while at BYU all those years ago. However, I need help deciding. I only have time in my life for two classes, but I have three that I want to take that are available in my time frame:

• Legal Environment of Business
• Real Estate Law
• Intro to Civil Litigation

If you would all be so kind as to help me decide which two, I would be forever grateful.

Last but not least, I bought new cute butt pocket jeans. Here is a picture of me, Katie, and Bridgette showing off cute butt pockets. Good news for everyone - once Matt gets home, we will have a lot of pictures that are way more interesting then cute butt pockets!

Bye family! Bring me back something French!

Yeah!! Part 2

I feel like no one got the joke. I bought a camera but didn't add any pictures... funny... Anyway, here we go! Special thanks to Katie and Bridgette for breaking in the camera. Did you know - when you take a picture with this camera upside down, it actually takes a sideways picture. Interesting.

Me, Bridgette, and Katie - excited about watching "A More Perfect Union".

Yeah shoes! Now, when I list my favorite shoes of the week, you can see them here!

Here is my Bruno puppy!

This is my new bulletin board wall. I promise I am organized - I just like tacking things up. Kind of like Mooch the Messy. It may look like chaos, but I know where everything is. Among the things posted on the wall: the opinions I get graded on, my 401k statement showing how much I am losing, and calorie printouts from Chilis.

Yeah!!

I finally bought a camera

Update

I have not updated my blog in a very long time, pretty much because I have no life. My name is Ashley and I work and go to school. I am currently acing ALL of my papers. Granted, they are all opinion papers and I am not short on opinions. But I get an A for having opinions and that is awesome. And there are only six weeks left. Hopefully next semester will be the same. Any suggestions on what classes I should take would be greatly appreciated.

And if you ever think I don't update this with my life story, please re-read this post and know that this is probably how my life is still going...

Oh, one exciting thing. I visited Seattle last week for work and it was awesome. Beautiful fun city.

Back to School Calories

So, I have officially been back to school for a month now and can I just say, I really like it! It possibly helps that I only look about 16, so I don't stand out in my classes as much as I thought I would. My business teacher is my age and has tons and tons and tons of energy. Not much to say about that class. I don't think I am learning a ton in there, but we get to hear lectures from some really fantastic people. Motivation to go out and do great things. Be extraordinary (quote from Grey's Anatomy which is possibly my new favorite show (about 3 seasons later then everyone else. Such is my life)). And for a quick bragging moment: I got 102% on my economics midterm. Sure it was a take-home test, but you all don't need to know that. And it's possible that only taking 6 credit hours compared to normal students who take 16, may give me a slight advantage when grading on a curve. But once again, you all don't need to know that either.

All this extra brain usage got me thinking last week. After finishing a take-out order of Chili's chips and queso, I decided to go online and check out the nutritional information. 1880 CALORIES AND 60 GRAMS OF FAT! Oh, ew, I almost died. Possibly of a heart attack. I post this as a warning. Just because something tastes good, does not mean it is good for you.

And last but not least, the topic of new Fall television shows needs to be discussed. The season premiere of 'Chuck' was on last night. I love that show because it is about a normal guy who gets to become a secret agent for the CIA. Awesome. My secret desire is for someone to walk up to me one day and ask me (seriously) to be a secret agent. 'The Office' was it's normal funny self. 'Fringe' is the X-Files for the new generation and I really like it. I read an article that said it might be cancelled because the audience wasn't quite big enough. So you millions of readers to my blog should tune in. As a side note, I wonder if they count shows that are Tivoed. I hope so, because that is the only way my contribution will count. Funny how I am more concerned about my television habits being rated by Nelson then I am about voting for the next president of the United States... So, what are your new favorite Fall shows?

Elitist

Many of my loyal blog followers (ha ha) may have noticed a friends link on the sidebar to "Jared and Fam". This particular Jared is Jared Southard, a friend from work. By way of quick introduction for those who do not know him, Jared and his wife Diahan live in Saratoga Springs with their three adorable children. Jared is definately my literary superior which makes for interesting/enjoyable conversation. And although Diahan and I have never met, I am sure we could (and should) be best friends. Okay, enough with all the niceties. Jared is an elitist. Let me explain.

Several months ago, they embarked on a journey to try every single flavor of Haagan-Dazs ice cream. Ambitious goal and I applaude the effort. However, on a recent trip to Kohlers to try out the latest recommendation, I was forced to reevaluate my decision. I had $5 cash in my pocket. I could either buy one small pint of Haagan-Dazs Brazilian Acai Berry Sorbet or two half gallons of Western Family. Having recently enrolled in microeconomics, I weighed the marginal costs and marginal benefits. Western Family won.

As I drove home, I was thinking about Jared's blog. Although highly entertaining and informative, it is not really applicable to the median person/family. Most families would choose two half gallons of ice cream over one pint of similar product. So for the rest of us, I have taken it upon myself to review all the Western Family ice cream flavors.

Circuit 1 - Mud Pie and Mint Chocolate Chip

Mint Chocolate Chip has historically been my second most favorite flavor. The base flavor is the perfect mix of mint extract and vanilla flavoring. The chocolate chips are literally chips of chocolate - not miniture Hershey's kisses like some some other brands. The texture was just as ice cream should be - cold and smooth, leaving a delicious film on the top of your mouth that a nice glass of milk just enhances.

Mud Pie was a surprising treat. Having based the decision to choose this ice cream on the name alone, I had no preconcieved notions as I dished two large scoops into my bowl. The first spoonful was admitedly surprising. Mud Pie is chocolate mocha flavored. I have never been a fan of coffee. I think it tastes and smells like dirt. But I was surprised to find that I loved it. The mocha flavoring paired with the chocolate was divine. The texture was, to my enjoyment, the exact same as the Mint Chocolate Chip, but without the chips of chocolate.

The biggest thrill of the evening came as the ice cream started to melt. The mint and the mocha chocolate flavors started to blend, creating a delicious mint chocolate cappachino. I quickly swirled the remainder of the ice cream together.

Ratings (please note the larger sample creating a smaller margin of error):

Ashley: Mint Choc Chip - 4 Mud Pie - 4 Combination - 4.5 (I am saving the 5 for Vanilla)

Katie: Mint Choc Chip - 4 Mud Pie - 2

Mindy: Mint Choc Chip - 3 Mud Pie - 5 (she actually finished the container I think)

Albree: Mint Choc Chip - 5 Mud Pie - 2

Thank you Jared for being an elitist and inspiring me to broaden my horizons!

Hidden Talents

Have you ever meet someone and then later find out they have a hidden talent that is very unexpected and very cool? Well, that seems to happen to me a lot. One example? A guy that mom and dad knew from their BYU ward. His name is Scott and he is a dirt bike racer. So, what did we do this fine Friday evening? You guessed it! Rocky Mountain Raceway!

So, it started a conversation about what our secret talent should become, because obviously we don't have any. At least none as cool as dirt bike racing. Once upon a time, Katie's secret talent was lacrosse, but that is not happening any more. And I feel like any talents I may have just aren't cool and exciting - filing and organizing just is not a cool secret talent. More like a bullet point on a resume. Some secret talents that I think would be fun to cultivate/surprising and fun:

• Ballroom Dancing (very high heels all the time)
• Bass Guitar
• Marathon Runner / Triathlete
• Drag Racing
• DJ
• Painting

That is all I could come up with on short notice. I would like people to comment on what their hidden talents are - something that would make me smile and say, "I never knew that about you and that is very cool".

Oh, and p.s. - the raceway is may new favorite activity. If you thought people-watching was fun at the airport or mall, you are missing out on a whole different segment of the population. Next time, I am wearing heels...

Sans Katie

My home life is officially sans Katie. This is a sad, sad day. There are no pictures today, becacause Katie took her camera with her and I still haven't bought one. But if I were to post a picture, it would be of a very quiet house. Dad upstairs watching TV. Mom downstairs watching TV. And me in my new place (Very exciting. No door yet, but I have walls!) texting Katie all those 20 miles away. So in honor of Katie going away to college, I have compiled a list. Little pieces of advice for my three girls (Katie, Albree, and Melissa) to remember while they are at school:

1. Keep your eyes open for the correct backpack/man combination. You may inadvertantly pass by members of your eternal team if you aren't paying attention.
2. Do not find a boyfriend your first day on campus. Keep your options open.
3. Do not skip school to go to work (I know from personal experience that this is not good for your grades)
4. For the love of Mika, please keep your sense of humor. If any of you three lost that, the world would be a sadder place
5. Do not be a food whore.
6. Lifelines are available any time except Tuesday and Thursday nights. Phone, email, and text are all acceptable forms of communication.
7. Let's be honest. I was not good at college the first time around, so I'm not even going to try and make up anything else. Love you girls and good luck. Keep me "posted" (haha - funny blog joke...)

Katie's Team

Good news. My Internet is finally fixed! So tonight's quick post is just a shout out to Katie's team. Why do I love Katie's team? I am shallow. Can we talk about the amazing streamlined muscles? The abs of titanium (pretty sure titanium is stronger then steel)? The broad shoulders? The line? I know that there is a rule about not coveting thy neighbors team, but Katie, I covet. Shout out to the United States. Take that France!

Office Update

Although there is a mini-blog going under the comments of the last posting, I feel that I still need to add an official post. There have been a lot of topics under consideration. Matt is going to send French fashion pictures, so as soon as I get those, be prepared for "European vs. American Fashion". I am really hoping for pictures of unisex skinny jeans, male chest hair (ewww), and high-fashion high-waisted skirts. There needs to be something said about conversations vs. relationships, but I'm not sure what pictures to add to that posting, so we will have to hold off. I was looking forward to someone being excited about listening to Jonny Lang, but no one was. Maybe as part of my rhythm training, I will add ghetto-tastic music and blog about that...

Until I complete my research, here is the best I can do: The office/gym is finally complete in the basement! Here are a few pics:

The treadmill and stretching space: The desk and gym:

Oh, and so I can fit in with the cool kids, here is a picture of my new school bag: And in case you were wondering, according to the backpack theory, my eternal team is made up of fellow baggers with the possible inclusion of REI backpackers. I feel really good about it.

5 Year Plan

The Quarter-Life Crisis (QLC) is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the ages of 21-29. It is now recognised by many therapists and professionals in the mental health field. Generally NOT characterized by the purchase of a sports car.

I believe I have survived my own quarter-life crisis - or at least my latest one. I now have a 5 year plan. I am going to become a real estate attorney. (See happy picture of me now that I have figured out what I want to be when I grow up) In my head, lawyers were all trial lawyers so I always put that option out of my head. But as I was sitting in the American Fork court (for no proof of insurance when I was rear-ended), I realized my respect for the law. So, I have officially enrolled at Salt Lake Community College. I know - definately not glamorous. But I spent three years at BYU and sometimes glamour should take second stage to reality. I won't get into debt if I restart at SLCC. The end justifies the means.

The second part of the plan is to turn the basement into my own little apartment (see "before" picture below). It is being finished a little at a time, but I hope to be officially moved down in three weeks or so. Kimball: mom is calling you tomorrow to see what your schedule is for putting in a few walls :) Let's be honest - I am going to be single for a while, so I might as well get comfortable. For some reason that I don't understand, I intimidate people. How 5'4" and 120 pounds could intimidate anyone, I don't know. Any thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

I apologize to my loyal readers for not updating my blog more. Now that I actually have a plan for my life, I have been anxiously engaged: Peeling wallpaper, playing Tetris with storage boxes, and reading up on The History of American Law. Plus, I believe blogs need pictures and I still have not bought a new camera. Thank you Katie for letting me borrow yours for the 500th time.

Oh, and on a totally unrelated note, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to Jonny Lang. I have included some of his songs on my playlist below. New favorite! You may have to scroll to find all the songs. The playlist thing is acting funny. If you would like a copy of my new favorite mix CD, please let me know and I would be happy to share his awesomeness.

Love today! I look forward to your comments on my future life!

6 Months

It is amazing how fast time goes by. It has been exactly 6 months since I got divorced. Although the papers were not signed until a few months later, January 9 was the official separation date. And I feel good. No regrets. No bitterness. Although at times I'm sure I come off as a man-hater, hopefully those moments are few and far between. As I have been contemplating this anniversary, there are a few thought that come to mind. Mostly thank yous.

Let's be honest: I was in pretty bad shape when I got home. I was wearing clothes that didn't fit, I didn't own a pair of earrings, and I don't think I had laughed in about 2 months. See the before picture:
But mom and Katie and Shelli took me shopping, encouraged me to be feminine, and most importantly, showed me how to laugh again. They also played "What Not To Wear" with my closet and threw away bags of junk - most notably the shirt I am wearing in the picture above. For that, I am eternally grateful.

I have to of course thank my dad for letting me live at home for six months, rent free, while I try to figure out what to do next. And for letting me have Bruno in the house. That's really nice.

I have to thank Jessica Peterson for cutting my hair and convincing me that I needed bangs. And although not related to anything, we should probably all thank Jessica for cutting our families hair. Katie's hair looks fantastic and anyone that can put up with the hair of four Bailey's definately deserves a gold medal. It's like the hair of fifteen normal humans.

And for two questions that he posed, I have to thank my friend. The first question was back in October. Speaking of being married to Joe, he asked if I would do it again. I didn't think much of it at the time. But when I was leaving the hospital that fateful night 6 months ago, it was the question that repeated itself over and over in my mind. Because the answer was no, I found the courage to do what I knew needed to be done. The second question posed more recently: What would you do if you knew you could not fail? I am still working on this one. It has caused a quarterlife crisis and now three sleepless nights. I will let you know how it turns out.

An obvious thank you to Katie. Thanks for sharing your friends. Thanks for drafting my eternal team. Thank you for introducing me to the amazing world of reality dance contests on television. And how can I forget Biggest Loser. Apparently losing 200 pounds of stress only equates to 5 pounds in real life. We are getting serious starting tomorrow. I hope B won't mind if there are three of us crammed into your dorm room because I don't know how I am going to function without you.

Wow. Sorry for a really unfunny post. Mom is probably crying. I will try to make up for it next week - it usually takes me that long to think of funny things... Love today!

My Favorite Color

While sitting on the front porch this beautiful Sunday afternoon, I was once again harassed about white being my favorite color. I feel like I have had this discussion a lot lately. White is allowed to be a favorite color. Here are some things the internet has to say about this (once again - what did people do without the internet?):

White suggests goodness, purity, naivete, and innocence. Its elusive nature provides serenity and the essence of perfection. The individual who chooses white as a favorite color seeks excellence and enlightenment in all philosophies. Simplicity, purity and recognition are a constant endeavor. White has strong connotations of youth and purity. If you are an older person, your preference for white could indicate a desire for perfection and impossible ideals, maybe an attempt to recapture lost youth and freshness. It may also symbolize a desire for simplicity or the simple life.

Shyness comes with this color but it is not a true shyness. Waiting patiently for others to notice them before they make their thoughts known, they tend to appear shy but in truth, they are very outspoken. Virginal attitudes abound with these people. They feel pure no matter what they do. The virtue of purity is attributed to them by others as well, whether they deserve this characteristic or not. White personalities feel they are right in their belief structures although they are not sure they want to discuss those beliefs with others. The fact that they know they are right is enough for them. The negative implications of white as your favorite color: It can seem plain, boring, or unimaginative.

I would really like to think of myself as simple and in pursuit of excellence/perfection. That is why I believe white is a) allowed to be my favorite color and b) is the best favorite color choice for me. And it may SEEM that I am plain, boring or unimaginative - but I assure you that this is not the case. Okay, maybe plain... My favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla...

Some facts about the color white:

• The human eye can distinguish over 1000 shades of white
• 2nd most common color of new cars
• Too much bright white can be blinding and cause headaches
• The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to ensure pleasant dreams
• White heat is a state of intense enthusiasm, anger, devotion, or passion
• The ancient Persians believed all gods wore white
• A white flag is the universal symbol for truce

I must address the argument that white is not technically a color - it is a manifestation of all color. This is true. But, if you use this argument, there are only three "pure" colors. It is possible that I am choosing white as a favorite color so I don't have to make an actual decision. It is easier to make a decision that encompasses everything instead of just one thing... maybe that is a post for another day.

What Do Shoes Say About You?

I have always been of the opinion that shoes don't say anything about your personality. Take the shoes above for instance. I own them. The reason that I own them? They are interesting. They have really high heels. I needed something to wear with my brown capris. I also own a pair of basic white and blue running shoes, pink converse sneakers, brown high heel loafers, and black ankle wrap stilletos. Also, I have light turquoise cork heels, white eyelet lace sandals, and red flip-flops from Hawaii. The only thing that I think my shoes say about me is that I am short, which has nothing to do with my personality (or does it - maybe that is a topic to explore in another posting).

But of course, I cannot just let a questionable thought ride without doing a little research. (Side note: what did everyone do without the internet?) I came across a quiz that would tell me my "Shoe Personality". Perfect. An answer to the age-old question, if I were a shoe, what type of shoe would I be? Well:

"ash, you're a pointy-toe stiletto/sling back!
The latest fashion magazines are your monthly bible. You love shoes so much that you ran out of room in your closet for shoe boxes, so the oven now doubles as a storage unit. You're always looking sophisticated and polished, even when you have jeans on, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker are your idols. Every seasonal trend is right up your alley, and most trends work back to things that are already in your closet. Looking great was never so easy!"

I rest my case.

Oh, and by the way: Here is a picture of my favorite heels. I have them in lavender.



Link to the quiz: http://www.3smartcubes.com/pages/tests/shoepersonality/shoepersonality_instructions.asp

Swimming

Can you tell which ones of us are dancers and which ones aren't? I've been working on my ballet skills, but obviously they are not up to par. This is at Jessica's in-laws pool. Matt, the Bracey's are on the left. Their daughter Ashley is adorable and we already have a date lined up when you get back!

Beginning

I have used many excuses to avoid blogging: My digital camera is broken; my life isn't interesting enough to post; my friends list is going to be about 1/14th the size of Shelli's. Well, all those things are still true, but I have folded.

If we could live life without firsts, and just skip directly to seconds, the world would be a better place. Dates would be much more pleasant if you could replace the first date small talk with more relaxed and insightful second date conversation. Anxiety would be decreased because there would never be first meetings or first impressions. And blogs would be more interesting because the first post would never have to be written. In place of small talk or insightful thoughts, I thought I would just use this first post to mention a few of my favorite things.

First, is my baby - Bruno. His picture is above. I don't want to be one of those crazy dog ladies. Bruno does not replace human companionship. But he is the cutest dog in the whole world. And until I can find a cute boy that has a lot of energy and loves to cuddle, he will have to do.

Second (did I mention that these are in no particular order?) is my family. This is Katie's graduation. Sad that I am 8 years older and look about 3 years younger. Oh well.

Me and my mom and Katie. Fortunately, my mom loves me even though she hates my purple heels.

Okay, well. That is as far as I am getting on my first post. Check out the music I posted. Katie, I am sorry there are some girl singers. There is one named Katy... maybe I can convert you.