Oh hey...

Oh hey....

how's it going?

Good? Good.

Didn't mean to step away from blogging last week but I didn't make my usual weekly schedule and it threw me all out of sorts. I still haven't made a weekly schedule for this week, but I plan on doing it first thing in the morning (pinkie swear husband) so hopefully this week is a little more productive and less chaotic than last week.

No real direction for this post, just a general sort of updates post with terrible transitions.

TRANSITION!

Last week I received an unexpected care package from my lovely sister-in-law. I am absolutely digging this new trend of people mailing me random gifts. Please continue this!!

I got some sweet pictures from my niece and nephew, Trader Joe's 'Just Mango' fruit slices (so delicious), beauty samples she had hanging out in her house, some fabric she thought I would like and an adorable running skirt.

Seriously...how cool is she? I am actually eating the last bit of those mango slices right now and you all need to go get yourselves some asap.

Also on Friday, I got another care package from my mom (well....it was mostly for my husband) but it included a box of wine (she knows how much I love myself some boxed wine) and some chocolates for me.

I ate all four pieces of chocolate in the time that it took me to find my camera and take a photo.

I inhaled it.

TRANSITION!

Thursday we headed back to Savannah for the weekend. Man oh man....did we miss it.

Friday I had a business meeting in my favorite place in the world.

Can I just go ahead and live in a yarn store now?

My husband and I like to play a game called, 'when we have money' and my future is always revolving around owning/working at/sleeping in a yarn store.

After my business meeting we went to the mall to buy my husband a new suit.

Did he need a new suit? No.

He has four perfectly good suits at home.

But during the packing of his clothes for this trip, he needed to bring along a suit for a fancy cocktail dinner on Saturday with the law firm he worked at over the summer.

He grabbed from his closet his pinstripe navy blue dress pants, his brown tweed wool dress pants and a different shade of navy blue sports coat.

Once we were unloading the car in Savannah at 11pm on Thursday we noticed the mistake and that he would look quite ridiculous in any combination of the three things, so we were faced with the dilemma of a 9 hour car ride or spending $160 on a new suit.

So we got to spend Friday doing his favorite activity ever (HUGE SARCASM) and buy him a new suit.

TRANSITION!

Saturday I did my hair for the first time since March. Meaning I spent 45 minutes blow drying and straightening it. Hair is so much work!

Since we had that fancy cocktail party to go to that evening, I didn't just want to throw my hair up in its usual ponytail. I wanted to look all pretty and grown-up.

We arrived at the cocktail party looking all fine but I was soon agast to learn that we were spending the entire evening outside.

OUTSIDE!! In 95% humidity.

My hair quickly went from sexy and sleek to this....

TRANSITION!

Last night we spontaneosly decided to go see some live music and we were rewarded with seeing the best concert of our lives from a band we had never heard of before.

Sorry Backstreet Boys concert from 2000. You've been replaced in my heart.

The group was 'Band of Heathens' and the two main guys from the band were giving an acoustic performance last night and it was so good. Their voices were incredible and the song writing was top notch.

Here's a little taste...

The opening act was amazing too. The bass player was the absolute most happy guy that I have ever seen on the planet and watching him dance around and have fun was so contagious. John and I both had smiles on our faces after watching them for a half dozen songs.

TRANSITION!

Today we got our AC fixed. We actually haven't had AC all summer long and while it wasn't fun, we looked at it like an opportunity to cut our summer electricity bill a bit (glass half full kind of folks).

We had ceiling fans and one little fan we moved from room to room (a little white trashy we know) so we weren't too bad, but it was always around 82 degrees in our place.

We finally asked to get it fixed yesterday after coming back from our weekend away and being hit by the sticky heat of our home. The AC guy came today while I was out for my long run and I can't tell you how pleasant it was to come back home from an 11 mile run and to be greeted by a wave of cool air.

The AC confused my body though because I got all chilly while getting ready for work (it was set at 67!) so I left the house in jeans, a sweater and a hat and then looked like the fool walking around Atlanta when it was 80 degrees out.

TRANSITION!

Today was John's last first day of law school. Only one more year to go!

I bet it is going to go by incredibly fast.

Well....for me I guess since I don't have to do any work. Probably not so much for him.

That's about all the updates I have here. Linking up with Sami for her weekend shenanigan's.

Have a great night everyone!

~ With Love, Ashlee ~

Weekend Shenanigan's

This weekend was fun. Like a lot of fun. 

We did a lot of new things and it felt great to get out of the house and explore our temporary home.

* Friday *

Friday night we went out to dinner with some of my in-law's friends and had a blast listening to live music, drinking and eating delicious food. 

After my husband told everyone at the table that I am a wanna-be ghost hunter, I got invited by one of the couples to come and explore their house which used to be the naval morgue during the Spanish-American war.

* Saturday *

We stopped by the Forsyth Park Farmer's market in Savannah and it didn't disappoint.

 

We picked up some fingerling potatoes, banana peppers, hot peppers, a big bag of South Carolina peaches, green onions, vidalia onions & some swiss chard.

After the market, we stopped by Green Truck Pub for some delicious veggie burgers. 

via the Green Truck Pub website

We waited over an hour to get seated due to the SCAD graduation that day, so when our food arrived, I inhaled it and didn't even think about taking photos until it was completely in my belly.

Hence the picture above of a meat burger that I took off their website. 

John had a veggie burger with avocado, black beans, and corn salsa on top. I had a veggie patty with locally made vidalia onion chutney on top. 

Delicious.

Also, their fries might be the best I ever had. They make their own garlic ketchup too and I seriously could have done shots of that stuff. Crazy good.

Saturday night we drove about two hours west of Savannah to go to a BBQ/pig picking at one of John's boss's house. This house was gorgeous and dubbed by the owners as 'The Swamp Palace.' 

It sat on a few thousand acres of land, right on a giant river and just had the atmosphere of a perfect Southern cabin. 

Everyone drank, picked at the the freshly cooked pigs and I had something that was not vegan, but oh so delicious ... and weird. 

 Enter in the strawberry cheese ring. Distinctly Southern with a strange combination of flavors but seriously good. 

I may have eaten my body weight in this cheese, onion, pecan, strawberry jam monstrosity.

Here's a link to a recipe I found in case you want to know what the hell I ate .... recipe

 * Sunday *

John's dad took us out on the marsh in their boat and we spent a few hours exploring the waterways, sitting on a beach, drinking (see a theme this weekend??) and watching dolphins play. 

Once again I didn't take any photos (see another theme??) but it was a beautiful day with clear skies, lots of birds everywhere and plenty of sun. 

Speaking of which....I found out where I forgot to apply sunscreen today. 

 Apparently the toes on my left foot missed out and now I will be spending the next few days avoiding socks and shoes. 

I forgot to put sunscreen on John's shoulders which he discovered this morning, but unfortunately he can't walk around all day at the law firm shirtless. 

Hope you all had a great weekend! 

Linking up with Sami for this edition of weekend shenanigan's! 

~ With Love, Ashlee ~

High Five For Friday!

It's been a few months since my last 'High Five For Friday' post despite the fact that I have been known to enjoy a Friday or two in the past. 

So here are my top five things I am excited about today...

1/ The Farmer's Market!

Tomorrow the husband and I are going to our first Farmer's Market of the season and 

I 

am 

 e.x.c.i.t.e.d. 

Maybe its because we are pretty much vegans and love our veggies, maybe it's because I have an 'official' farmer's market dress that I only wear at one, or maybe its because I want an excuse to buy stuff.... but man oh man, I am stoked for tomorrow morning. 

We are visiting a new farmer's market that's big and supposedly has farmers selling out of their goods around 10:00am, so I am going to be there bright and early with my reusable bags, sun bonnet and smugness-in-hand, ready to buy local, organic food. 

And this is my farmer's market dress...

what...don't you have one?

2/ Exploring...

After the market we are going to go explore Savannah looking for possible neighborhoods we might like to live in once he is done with school next year. 

It's kind of weird to think we might be living permanently in Savannah this time next year, but I should be used to it now as we tend to be pretty mobile people. 

In the last five years we have lived in Colorado, Virginia, Back to Colorado, Washington DC, Athens Georgia, Atlanta Georgia, Decatur Georgia and maybe soon Savannah Georgia...

3/ The Beach

I already hung out on the beach for an hour earlier today, but I think it might be fun if we have a picnic and hang out at the beach on Sunday. 

John hasn't really had a chance to go the beach yet despite the fact we are currently living .5 miles away from it. 

And I refuse to go in the water without him standing by as my lifeguard. 

4/ Ice cream  

I will have some this weekend. 

Believe me, I will....

 

I went to Leopold's last week in Savannah after discovering they are the 5th best ice cream shop in the world. 

I found out this fact and within two hours I was experiencing their deliciousness. 

The long line at the shop was worth standing in, but next time I am not going with the Chocolate Raspberry Swirl (shown above). 

Thinking something nutty and with caramel next time.

5/ This weather. 

When we first moved to Georiga in early May three years ago, it was easily in the 90's every single day. 

I remember thinking at various outdoor events that there was no way I would ever survive the heat and humidity that summer. 

I easily lost my body weight in sweat that month. 

Now...82 degrees every day. 

Seriously....2013 May weather.... you rock. 

July....I know you are going to be extra awful to make up for May's laziness.

~ With Love, Ashlee ~

Blog Vomit

I haven't been around these here parts for a few days and have lots of little updates, but nothing that I could really write a whole blog post on. 

Also, I have been suffering from a serious case of insomnia lately and am taking matters into my own hands by drinking wine at a very early hour tonight in hopes of getting sleepy and not falling asleep at 4am and waking up at noon.

So...being coherent right now isn't easy thanks to my 'medication.' 

So here is my blog vomit. Everything that comes to mind....

1) The winner of the $25 blog giveaway was Liz Lorent! Congrats girl! Be sure to check your email soon for the giftcard!! Thanks so much to everyone who entered.

2) This past weekend was the husband's 30th birthday and it needed proper celebrating. I got to watch him play in a law school basketball tournament. If there is anyone who knows how to play basketball it is certainly a bunch of second year law students. 

We also ate until our belly's burst at various places around town (burgers, pizza, bbq). I literally can not fit into my 'fat' jeans right now due to our delicious/unhealthy/delicious diet as of late.

 Birthday's boy dinner. 

Grilled cheese buns, two fried eggs, 1/2 pound of sirloin, six slices of cheese, six slices of bacon.

3) Today I almost electrocuted myself. I was toasting some bread, chatting to my mom and noticed that for some reason that there was a rubber band in my toaster oven which was dangling down. I exclaim to my mom about my utter bafflement as to the rubber band's presence and proceed to jab a knife in and out of the toaster trying to retrieve it. After about a minute of this, my mom had enough sense to remind me to unplug it.

4) I feel like when I am walking Cooper around my neighborhood, I am just begging in my head that he doesn't do anything that makes me look like a jerk to everyone around. Cooper is a 75 lb black lab and adorable, so stinking adorable, but he is a total ass to walk. 

He loves to lunge at people/pets/squirrels. He has a big smile on his face, but still a strange big dog lunging at you is scary. 

 I spend half the time that we walk apologizing to anyone on wheels. 

'So sorry ma'am. He just seems to love your motorized scooter.' 

'It's okay little boy. My dog just jumped at you because you have such a cool bike.'

Cooper also pees like a girl so every time he pees it looks like he could be pooping. I hate that he does this because then I look like a big old jerk who doesn't pick up their dog's poo (which I am not) from people's yards. I really need to train him to lift a leg. 

5) I ate all the girl scout cookies in the house this weekend. No shame. 

6) I have six loads of clean laundry on my bed that need to be put away but I probably won't until tomorrow. Maybe even Friday. Please don't judge me. I just don't want to do it right now and it is a chore my husband doesn't do. 

7) During my late nights this past week, I finished and read 'Gone Girl.' I won't say much because I think this book is one of those that is better if you go into it not knowing too much of what it is about. I found it to be suspenseful and really had a hard time figuring out how it was going to end. I felt the ending was too quick, too neatly wrapped up and wanted that part to be extended a bit longer. I definitely would recommend this book though. It's one of those guilty pleasure/easy to follow reads. 

8) I went running today for the first time in two weeks. I ran 20 miles two weeks ago to the day and haven't moved since. Today's run felt like this...

(source)

I wouldn't recommend my training regimen if you are considering running a marathon anytime soon. 

I would recommend googling 'Fat kid running' though.

Blaugh. Vomit completed. 

~With Love, Ashlee~

Grown Up Things

Today was a day filled with doing all sorts of grown-up things that you never want to do.

The type of things that you write on a to-do list and transfer over to the next day's to-do list for a whole month.

Today...

I used the extender thingy on my vacuum and sucked up cobwebs in the corners and got peanut butter M&M's out of the crevices in my couch.

I called a company and got put on hold for 35 minutes. Once I got through, I spoke to them in my adult voice and told them how my bill was wrong for the third month in a row. Even asked to speak to a manager after the representative was no help.

I washed pillows and cushions and blankets and rugs and sheets and towels.

I used fabric softener for the first time during the wash cycle (thanks Downy for the free sample).

I put little wool pads on the bottom of my furniture since I have hardwood floors now.


I fixed a table (and by fix, I mean I slathered the broken part in gorilla glue and hoped for the best).  

I did accounting and filed important documents.

I cleaned all the weird parts of the coffee machine.

I laughed until I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched America's Funniest Home Video and drank a glass of wine.

Today made me feel old, boring, accomplished and satisfied. 

Giveaway Winner!! aka - Shame on Me

Oh my goodnessssssssssssssss.

(Just a photo of me on Easter that I haven't shared with you all yet). 

First off, hey hey hey! 

I know that I have been pretty absent for the last two weeks and I really apologize. With my new part-time job and the husband doing his law school finals, its been a really weird/crazy schedule these past few weeks. I am still trying to learn how to balance everything and hope to get it all normal again soon. 

It's a lot more challenging than I thought it would be to take on a part-time job, and still do everything I want to do with my business. I feel a little naive right now :)

Secondly, so remember when I did that giveaway for a $25.00 gift certificate to my store? Well, I have been a silly goose and never announced the winner. So I apologize for the delay, but I used random.org and it choose entry #9, so a huge congrats are in order for reader KNC!!! 

That lucky reader gets $25.00 worth of goodies from me to share or keep for their very own.

KNC - Send me an email at mysweetnomsa@gmail.com so I can get you your gift certificate!

Third, I am not sure if any of you have heard of this book series called, 'Harry Potter.' It's about a boy wizard and a dark lord and all the kooky adventures they have battling each other. 

O.M.G. 

I just finished the fifth book and why didn't anyone ever tell me how awesome this series is?!?! When I am not working, I am reading HP (nickname us cool kids call the books) and when I am working, I am thinking about Hogwarts and all the mischief this kids get into there. 

I totally get why everyone loved these books and am currently trying to restrain myself so I don't read the next two over the weekend (I really want to, but I know I am going to be so sad when they are over). Also, I have to work, so it cuts into my reading time a bit.

Fourth, I have not watched the Voice yet this week and probably won't get a chance to do it until tomorrow, but I assume that I am going to watch Jamar preform, watch his mama beam, and then I will cry. It's happened every single week he has sang, so I figure why break a tradition. 

 via

I hope you all are having a great week so far, and tomorrow I will share with you some of my favorite things I found on Pinterest lately!

High Five For Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!! I am linking up with Lauren at the 'From My Grey Desk' blog to feature five things that I am excited about on this wonderful Friday!

one.

I discovered the most beautiful neighborhood about two miles from where I currently live. In the last 24 hours, I have walked my puppy through it three times and each time I feel all creepy because I am just stopping to stare at all the architure/amazing landscapes. 

It has seriously become my dream neighborhood. I am planning on taking my camera there sometime in the next few days to show you guys how amazing these houses are. 

I saw a 'for sale' sign in the front yard of one and went online once I got home to check it out and gasped at the price tag .... $750,000. 

I told my husband he better be studying really hard for the next month for his law school exams. 

two.

These shoes....

one / two / three

I bought these three shoes online from Target yesterday. Thanks to a gift card from Christmas, a 50% off shoe sale, and free shipping.... all three of these babies only cost me $4.00. 

$4.00 for three pairs of shoes!!!

three. 

My husband found out that he is going to be on the mock trial team for his law school next year. He had the try-outs last weekend and did awesome. They only accepted 16 first year students and him and his bff are two of them. I am pretty darn proud of him. 

four. 

Since my husband is busy studying for his law school finals, I have complete control over the netflix queue. These came in the mail yesterday...

via

via

Oh yeah....I've got big plans this weekend.

five.

The puppy and I have gone into some quite intense training sessions this week and I think we might be making progress. I think I have taught him 'turn-around' (walking around in a circle) and now he can lay down and roll over and speak pretty well. 

Besides being cute, he might actually be somewhat smart too. 

Happy Friday Everyone!!

General Updates

A few things...

1) Thanks so much to everyone who helped me decide on a ring. We seem to share the same taste as most of you liked my favorite ring as well.

I bought this beauty earlier tonight...

onegarnetgirl

In a few weeks I am going to be waving my hand all in the air and making all the boys sad that I am taken. 

2) I have been slowly updating/fixing up my blog. I am learning html code and what-not for it, which is totally not my thing, so it is a little slow going at times. Keep your eyes peeled for small changes that I introduce over the next few weeks. 

Something that I have finally finished is my 'About Me' and '52 in 2012' sections at the top of the blog. 

If you want to learn more about me, check out the 'About Me' section for some facts about me and my family. 

I also created a '52 in 2012' tab which has 52 things I want to accomplish in 2012. Since I am just getting this list up and going this week, I have to do double-time for a few weeks to get caught up. This week I am hoping to accomplish...#44 & #51.

3) Over the past three days, I have watched Season 1&2 of 'Toddlers & Tiara.' 

(Curse you Netflix!!)

Besides having my husband think less of me because of this, I have also had my brain start to ooze out of my ear. This here is an actual quote from an episode today...

Pageant Director (talking to camera): "For the swimsuit competition we have girls in both one and two piece bathing suits. We don't allow thongs because really none of them would be able to pull it off. You really need to have a perfect body for a thong and none of these girls have that."

Cue head explosion and me staring jaw-dropped at my computer screen. 

Yet I still watched another five episodes, hating myself every minute of it, yet loving it. 

Btw...doesn't TLC have the best reality TV shows? Can I get a what, what for any fans of 'Sister Wives?'

4) Tomorrow is the last day of my spring cleaning sale, so head on over to each of my stores to check out what I've got going on. I have been adding new items like a mad woman, and some of them are pretty darn awesome!

 

**Click on the above photos to be taken to the stores**

Here are some of my new items...

**Click on any of the photos for more information**

Have a great night everyone!!

I am not my hair....

My hair and I have had a bit of torrid history (like a lot of women). It really revolves around me having naturally fabulous hair but no knowledge or desire to learn how to tame it. 99% of the time you will see me in a bun, attempting to restrain the awesomeness of this beast on my head. I have gone so far as to shave my head in a sad attempt to cover up my rowdy locks. Well no more.... next Tuesday I made an appointment at a fabulous hair salon in town and am going to regain control of my hair. I have been to this hair dresser before and she worked magic, so I am hoping that lightning strikes twice.

I have no idea what I am going to have done with it, but I signed up for highlights and a cut. I am feeling a little bit daring so I think I am going to hand over the reigns to the hair dresser and have her do what she will with it. And brace yourselves.... I am going to buy product. Perhaps a few different kinds! I don't EVER use product in my hair, but I think I might start doing it. I have not a clue as to what to buy or how to use it, but I am going to be honest with my hair dresser, explain my ignorance on the subject and be an absorbing pupil.

In other hair news, Republic Salon (the salon which I frequent) is now selling some of my hair accessories and jewelry. The owner reached out to me after seeing my article in the paper this last Sunday, and I am so happy she did! I am really looking forwarding to having my items there and I think that it is going to be such a great fit! So if you ever getting your hair 'did' at the Republic, look for my items near the register!



For anyone who is curious, that is me shaving my head for a cancer fundraiser in 2007. I highly recommend to everyone that they should go bald at some time in their life. Also, if you click here, you will be taken to my old blog where I wrote some impressive haiku's about being bald :)