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 Shenanigans: Ghost and Beach Edition

I feel like a weekend must have been good if it takes you until Wednesday to plug your camera into your computer and sort through the events. 

What I liked the most about this past weekend is that we did things with people. 

(After I typed that sentence, I realized how vague that was but I am just gonna roll with it.)

This past weekend, my husband's BFF came into Savannah with his lovely girlfriend (both of whom are law students) and we had a fun time exploring the city on Friday and relaxing at the beach on Saturday. 

Too often we just get meals with friends, but don't actually do any other activities together (at least as a couple).

Don't get me wrong, I love eating. A lot. And I love eating with friends a lot.
But when you are constantly surrounded by law students and aren't one yourself, the conversation is typically law related and I find myself having little to contribute around the dinner table. But when we are doing things and experiencing fun activities together, I feel more involved and find myself enjoying the occasion more.

So back to my original statement, 'what I liked the most about this past weekend is that we did things with people.'

Be forwarned....I took a lot of photos when I actually remembered I had a camera with me so be prepared for a lot of similar photos. 

Drinking some wine while waiting on pizza to arrive at our table and giggling to myself as my husband has to figure out how to type on his new smart phone with his sausage fingers.

Hanging outside, waiting to get our ghost tour pub crawl on. 

The ghost tour started outside one of our favorite pubs which we visit often thanks to fond memories of eating brie and drinking wine during our honeymoon on their patio. 

Our ghost tour guide was from Boston and absolutely hilarious. We heard maybe two ghost stories in the 2.5 hour tour, but got lots of dirt on his ex-wife, laughed at stupid things people say to him while he gives a tour and heard lots on how he is a terrible horse carriage operator. 

I definitely captured a lot of 'orbs' while taking photos at the Colonial Park cemetery in downtown Savannah. 
NBD but I am a little bit of a ghost hunter. 

After the tour, we headed to a rooftop bar in Savannah which overlooked River Street and the Savannah River. The sight was gorgeous. 

Saturday we headed down to the beach undeterred by the cloudy skies and the possibility of rain. 

Joe brought along a deluxe kite and I watched three law students attempt to build it and fly it. Even though it did end up flying after a few unsuccessful tries, I don't have any photographic proof, so maybe it didn't really happen after all. 

We sat, had some drinks and swam for the rest of the day. And yeah, thanks to open container laws and no glass on the beach laws, I poured myself a giant sippy cup of wine before we left the house. 

 

After having a bit of sippy cup wine, I ended up with a series of photos like this one below, which I have a very vague recollection of taking. 

Saturday evening consisted of lots of eating, playing a ring toss game with a lot of kids at a local restaurant and talking into the wee hours out on my in-laws patio.

Sunday was spent eating lots of grease and recuperating.  I didn't move very much that day and definitely didn't take any photos of my hungover self.

Even though it is Wednesday, I hope you all had a great weekend. I am linking up with the hilarious Ms. Sami to share these shenanigans. 

Have a great day everyone!

~ With Love, Ashlee ~

High Five For Friday!

Hey hey hey!

So it's Friday again and this weekend is packed with people, places, things.

The usual nouns I suppose.

But gosh darn it, I am so excited folks about a few things that are happening around here.

So here is my 'High Five For Friday!'

/one\

I drank the Kool-aid everyone.

With the arrival of our new smart phones a few days ago, the first application (or should I use the word 'app?' Is that what the kids are calling it these days?) I downloaded was Instagram.

Guys....it's awesome.

I have only done four photos so far because I am still getting use to documenting all the food I eat for everyone and making sure you all realize how cool my life is, but don't worry...

I will become a full fledged instagram user soon.

Check me out (do we follow on instagram?) under the username 'mysweetnomsa'

/two\

During our honeymoon in Savannah, on the first evening that we were husband and wife, we went on a ghost tour pub crawl with my family. 

Thanks to the city's open container laws, we walked from pub to pub throughout the city, drinking alcohol (shirley temples for me as I hadn't yet developed my taste for wine), hearing scary ghost stories and capturing orbs on film. 

Tonight we are going on another pub crawl ghost tour with my husband's bff and his girlfriend who are visiting us for the weekend in Savannah. 

I will be sure to update you all on how many orbs I capture on film. 

/three\

Alright, now before I share this next thing, just a disclaimer....

I was completely and utterly obsessed with John Travolta as a child/teenager/young adult. 

Like full on, watching every damn movie he was ever in, dressing up like him for the 4th grade talent show, writing him fan mail, obsessed. 

Him as Danny Zuko in Grease was sheer perfection for me and I feel in love with him as only a pre-pubescent teenager can.  

With that said....is he not getting so incredibly creepy? I mean really John Travolta? Do you have to always act so weird now? 

Last night, he was on the David Letterman show and we were watching it before bed and I swear to you, my husband started giggling so hard at him during this interview. 

I posted the full-length video below but just start watching around the 5:08 minute mark. The giggling will start right around 6:15. 

/four\

Tomorrow, rain or shine, we are having a beach day gosh darn it. 

/five\

I got to try out new Jamberry nail wraps today. An old friend is a consultant with the company and I received a sample to try them out. 

It's my first time rocking a statement nail and I definitely love it. 

I have used Sally Hansen nail wraps before, but Jamberry uses heat to seal them to your nails. I use my nails so much making jewelry that my nail polish chips within a few days, so I can't wait to see how these hold up. They are a lot thicker than Sally Hansen and seem like a better quality as well. 

I am loving all of their different designs. These are some of my favorites...

 

1/2/3/4

Oh and one other great thing is that the nail wraps are extra long, so you can cut them and use each strip for 2-3 nails. So for the $15.00 nail wrap sheet, you are getting 2-3 manicures.

So, that's what I am excited about this Friday? How about you!

~ With Love, Ashlee ~

High Five For Friday!

For the past few years (ever since I graduated college and became self-employed), Fridays lost a little bit of their appeal.

Their zest if you will.

Without classes and a boss other than myself, along with the husband being incredibly busy with law school, all the days seem to roll into each other, making some sort of week-long blob. 

(how's that for a run-on sentence?)

But ever since John started working a 9-5 this summer (more like a 7:30-6:30) and has weekends mostly off, Fridays are a lot more exciting around these parts.

So I am linking up with Lauren for 'High Five For Friday!'

/one\

Tonight we are having a picnic in one of the squares in the historic district of Savannah, followed by a book reading by one of my favorite podcasters/storytellers. We are going to see Dan Kennedy from the Moth Podcast talk about his new book, American Spirit and regal us with tall tales and charming antidotes. 

 via

Sidenote: I have to leave in 45 minutes to go get John and I am still unshowered, in my workout clothes. I may have been caught up in a game show about musical chairs and I lost track of time. Whoops!

Double sidenote: If my mom was here right now, I know that she would say that I got 'tv hypnotized' and then start shouting '45 minutes!!' She likes it when people stay on track and get out the door on time.

/two\

I finally got to pick up a copy of the June issue of Southern Living Magazine. 

 

I found it, in all places, a gas station in the middle of nowhere Georgia.

One of the boutiques that I sell at had a little shout-out in it, so I wanted to purchase it, hoping that my jewelry items would be in the photo. 

No such luck, but still pretty awesome that it was mentioned as one of the best places to shop in Atlanta. 

/three\

Tomorrow I have big plans to go running for the first time in forever. I think I have ran once, maybe twice, since the marathon in mid-march. I'm only going to go for 2-2.5 miles and with the summer humidity and heat, that is already seeming like a lot. 

With all that said though, I am looking forward to starting to run again. 

/four\

Tomorrow morning we have an excursion planned to the Savannah farmer's market again. 

Every Friday they send out an email letting you know what's going to be there and I saw today that someone is going to be there tomorrow selling some watermelon juice. 

My favorite fruit of alllll time and I can eat it in public without looking like a pig. 

/five\ 

I finished the hat that I was knitting for John. 

You know, the totally necessary, completely useful, 100% wool hat for summer. 

 Maybe I can get him to model it before October, but not very likely. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

~ With Love, Ashlee ~

PS... I now have 25 minutes until I have to walk out the door. Showering might not be an option anymore.

 

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 ~