tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51673254921300697992024-03-04T22:22:04.630-06:00A Year in the Life~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.comBlogger460125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-24335794183148908062019-05-26T00:15:00.002-05:002019-05-26T00:15:52.836-05:00A New Place to GoI am excited to let you know that I have a new place for AYITL. You can find it <a href="https://ashnance.wixsite.com/dayinthelife" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Please come and check out some of the new features I will have on the webpage. Make sure to follow & subscribe to the site.<br />
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Taking extra time to celebrate life!<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-84675375392232515022019-02-05T22:38:00.001-06:002019-02-05T22:38:38.517-06:00Pizza AmoreMy fam loves pizza. A few summers ago I think I averaged cooking at least 2 homemade pizzas a week. I like homemade pizzas better because I know exactly what is on it & can load it with different kinds of vegetables & the people will gobble it up. Tonight, I went into uncharted territory. <br />
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Henry is trying to lean up for lacrosse season. Being 16, it shouldn't take him that long. I hate teenage boys. They can burn 1000 calories by just blinking. That's fair, said no momma ever. I've been on a diet most of my life & I'm still trying to lose baby weight I gained when I was pregnant with Henry. Granted he is 16, but I still have about 10 pounds I need to get off. I'm thinking at this point it may just be a permanent part of the bod, boo. Anyway... <br />
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Henry started eating much leaner last week, aaannnddd he lost 5 pounds in one week. (Insert huge eye roll here.) All he did was cut down on his carb intake. Now he does have practice 5-6 days a week & the days he doesn't have practice he goes to the gym to box for 2 hours. He is not lacking in the workout department. But that's beside the point, he lost 5 POUNDS in 1 WEEK. Ugh. <br />
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The one thing he said he was missing was pizza. I mean, it's happy food, who wouldn't miss it? Since Hen is my favorite 16-year-old, I decided to help a brother out, and tonight I made him a pizza with a cauliflower crust. It can't be that difficult right? Here's what I found out. It's not that hard, but it is extremely time-consuming. <br />
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I bought a fresh head of cauliflower, cut it up & steamed it. After steaming it, I had to put the florets into a food processor to make it the consistency of cauliflower rice. This part is not difficult. It is actually pretty cool. It's the next part that is tricky & where I was lacking a little. Cauliflower has a ton of natural water in it. It's a veggie & it's good for you, so that's not surprising. The next step is to squeeze as much of the water out as you can. I realized pretty quickly didn't have the right equipment for it. I needed a cheesecloth bag & the only ones I have a tiny. (Like tea bag tiny) I decided to use a small slotted strainer. It worked ok, but cheesecloth would have been better. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkMAaadE2I7J1pwNTY7MiBpiokKaAy8RidnrJiwuC1OdNMzRGQwGsw8wrDwI21xOU8H3yn8KNUchReTZwSkqQVHWIbjajQYorMPFAweMH3c-6s5Aeg64tWFWBtgqvYRV7T9oVwh1ZcZBC/s1600/pizza+crust.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkMAaadE2I7J1pwNTY7MiBpiokKaAy8RidnrJiwuC1OdNMzRGQwGsw8wrDwI21xOU8H3yn8KNUchReTZwSkqQVHWIbjajQYorMPFAweMH3c-6s5Aeg64tWFWBtgqvYRV7T9oVwh1ZcZBC/s320/pizza+crust.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 pizza crust ready to be topped</td></tr>
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The next thing is to mix an egg, cheese (I used shredded mozzarella), and dried basil in with the dehydrated cauliflower rice & stir it well. I then put parchment paper on my baking stone & spread the mixture on the parchment. One head of cauliflower made enough crust to fill my entire stone. On the recipe I used (which if you know me, you know I use a recipe more like guidelines) it says to cook the crust for 10 minutes. Well, in actuality, I cooked the crust for 40 minutes & could have cooked it for another 20. I'm thinking it took longer because I didn't get all the water out of the cauliflower. It was a little spongy. Oh yeah, there is one egg in it.<br />
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I topped the crust just like I do for any other pizza & put it back into the oven for 20 minutes. I have to admit it smelled pretty good. The big test was going to be when the guys tasted it. I didn't tell Hopson right off the bat, because I wanted to see what he said. He like it & so did Mr. Super Picky (Harry). Henry said he was just thankful to be able to eat pizza. So while it was labor intensive, I think it is a definite do again. I will get a cheesecloth to help me get all the water out of the cauliflower rice the next time I make it though. All in all, not a bad night cooking.<br />
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Here's to healthy eating & being a teenage boy who can lose 5 pounds a week.<br />
Celebrating life!<br />
~ashley<br />
<br />~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-52373691459099527962019-01-05T22:30:00.000-06:002019-01-05T22:30:43.158-06:00No Talk, Just DoI don't make resolutions. I used to, but wisely I quit. I figured when I kept breaking them after a few weeks or months that something had to change, and it had to start with my thoughts and actions. Here are a few of my failed resolutions:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1A1ZRKO3M6zEV15jveYhUlJ9bgtXMpboujTOPeD4cnOGGnTj9BrvijUFzWrVrIFsi_CBSAxaMVM5w3pXDwbgr24EFpSylkKhD3pwXtsRZYUj0eHr3Qs1G21uOtm_tQvgRwPHMTDkK861/s1600/failed+resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1A1ZRKO3M6zEV15jveYhUlJ9bgtXMpboujTOPeD4cnOGGnTj9BrvijUFzWrVrIFsi_CBSAxaMVM5w3pXDwbgr24EFpSylkKhD3pwXtsRZYUj0eHr3Qs1G21uOtm_tQvgRwPHMTDkK861/s640/failed+resolutions.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Don't failures look so much prettier when they look like that? Still, they are places where I fell short, and that is where the most learning takes place. What I really learned is that I needed to be a person of action instead of talk. Talk is cheap. <br />
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It's easy to say I'm going to do something, but the follow-through is another issue. I can say I'll love my fam, but unless I actually do it the words are meaningless. I figured what was the use in making resolutions if it was all talk and no action. I had to make lifestyle changes. <br />
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Instead of just wanting to read my bible, workout & lose weight, I made changes to make sure I did. I started by putting things on my calendar so I wouldn't forget. They say you put things that are important to you on your calendar. How true that is. Many of my most precious events are on my calendar: birthdays, anniversaries, angelversaries, important events.... These reminders that pop up on my phone helped me create new & better habits. <br />
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It takes 21 days to create a new habit. 21 days is doable. 21 days to put a plan into action & make me a person of action instead of talk. 😀<br />
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Here's to 2019. Here's to us being better this year. Loving more, laughing often, having gratitude for the little things, and throwing kindness like it's going out of style. And maybe making a workout or two, and eating more green veggies as well, but especially...<br />
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...Celebrating life & a new year,<br />
~ashley<br />
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~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-10929735432446074472018-12-27T15:34:00.000-06:002018-12-27T15:34:08.121-06:00One Big Happy Family...Again<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-rp7RFfkMQamcBLsa4PzV0gamFh-G3Hne_RgHXzfv9UC7K69jm2BgA64_CbHULBZi0HLmiULB4OdEMvyGLeXS0Y0DwldhWFM4FK7_N3xDW6NCBcmRdLwwrzVOjfSnunu2OJngtv8H9Gz/s1600/IMG_9213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-rp7RFfkMQamcBLsa4PzV0gamFh-G3Hne_RgHXzfv9UC7K69jm2BgA64_CbHULBZi0HLmiULB4OdEMvyGLeXS0Y0DwldhWFM4FK7_N3xDW6NCBcmRdLwwrzVOjfSnunu2OJngtv8H9Gz/s320/IMG_9213.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Harry (22), Elizabeth (18), Hopson (24) & Henry (16)</span></td></tr>
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Christmas season is so wonderful because everyone comes home. It's also great because once Christmas is over they leave. But not this year. <br />
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I was just getting into the habit of cooking for 3. It's a big difference cooking for 3 instead of 6. Henry was <u>loving</u> being an only child. Like really loving it. He had the entire upstairs to himself. He could spread out all his stuff & be king. Last year he moved into Harry's old room & since it wasn't everything he wanted he then moved into Hop's room. <br />
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In September Hop asked if he could move home for a time. His lease was up on his apartment & he wanted to take his time finding a new place to live. We said ok as long as he didn't expect to live at home forever. At about the same time Harry told us he had a Co-Op with a building company in Birmingham. Obviously, we wanted him to live at home. Plus he needs to pay off his motorcycle loan. That, is another story for another time. <br />
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When Henry found out both of his older brothers were moving home I don't think he was too happy. In his frustration, Henry angrily asked when Elizabeth was moving home too. I just giggled. He then remembered he was in Hop's old room & told us he didn't plan on giving it back. It was hilarious. <br />
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I don't think Hop or Harry are enjoying the idea of moving back home. They like the idea of saving money, but they have been on their own for too long. They are used to not having us worry about their every move.<br />
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I've been trying to be a good mom to adult children. I've tried to allow them the freedom to move about and take care of what they need to without me breathing down their necks. It's hard. I still want to dictate where they go & what they do like I did when they were little. But, my children are not little anymore, and it's not all bad.<br />
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Elizabeth told me today she is ready to go back to Auburn. It's her home now & our home is where she visits. I remember the feeling that my 200 sq. ft. dorm room was the best thing ever. I loved it because it was mine. My childhood home was a place I visited. But, right now we are one big happy family, and we will enjoy this time we have with everyone at home. I will also love having 3 of the 4 chicks in the nest for the next few months. :)<br />
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Merry Christmas, Happy New Year & celebrating life,<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-67670603817593373122018-12-26T17:07:00.001-06:002018-12-26T17:07:20.068-06:00That's A LOT of CandlesToday marks the 18th celebration of my 29th birthday. 😁 In case you need a little help in your addition, that makes me 47. 47! Wow, my cake is going to put off some smoke. And yes, in case you're wondering, I do want a cake. Cake makes people happy, especially me. Chocolate on chocolate with raspberry filling. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.<div>
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What have I learned in my 47 years? A bunch of different random stuff. The scary thing is that it's all rolling around in my head at one time. Maybe that's why I walk into a room & can't remember why I walked in it. Or it could be that I have 4 children, 2 dogs, and a husband, and they have sucked all the good brain cells from me. (or killed them, you decide) </div>
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This year also marks the 20th year that I have been the matriarch. It's been a long road filled with mistakes & tons of learning. Many days are great & many days are hard along this road. Most days it's good to be queen. Long live the Queen. Haha!</div>
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Here is a list of things I've learned in my 29 (+18) years. I hope the list makes you smile a lot & think a little. </div>
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Things I've learned along the way:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Love big. You never know when your last day will be.</li>
<li>Faith can move mountains. God's love is an anchor through troubling times & the joy of my heart always. If you don't know Him, send me a message & I'll be happy to share with you.</li>
<li>A grateful heart will get you a long way in life. Be grateful for the little things & let people know when you are grateful for them.</li>
<li>Don't be afraid to give true compliments. You never know when something you said will make someone's day.</li>
<li>Throw kindness around like it's going out of style. Spread it everywhere you go. "Smile, it increases your face value." Toss in a laugh too. It's good for others & yourself.</li>
<li>Marriage is not all teacakes and roses. You have to understand that it takes total commitment from both people to make a marriage work. You and your spouse have to decide to love each other through the ugly days and be willing to work things out. Marriage is about working as a team because one person cannot do it by themselves.</li>
<li>You can't fall into or out of love. It is a decision you make every day. </li>
<li>Love your in-laws. They helped raise your spouse & you have an obligation to honor them. I'm lucky that I have two great ones. </li>
<li>You can have a tidy house with kids. It's hard, but your kids have to be involved in the tidying up process. I couldn't pull it off all the time, but when I did it was great.</li>
<li>A lot of love and a little bit of discipline go a long way with kids. Children feel safe & learn best within boundaries. </li>
<li>You need to like your job & the people you work with. If you don't, you're going to feel horrible & like you're spinning your wheels. I love you Pizitz fam!!!</li>
<li>School is more fun the second time around. It may be because I'm not being tested on anything & just get to take it all in to help my students. I love the classes I'm in. </li>
<li>Wash your hands...often, and cover your mouth & nose when you cough or sneeze. (can you tell I work with children?)</li>
<li>Do something crazy at least once in your life. I have my brother, Cotton, to help me with this. We always have crazy high-risk stuff we do with him. </li>
<li>Love big. Yes, it's on the list twice, because love is good and we need more of it.</li>
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Celebrating my 47 years of life,</div>
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~ashley</div>
~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-14316327984702893402018-12-25T20:31:00.001-06:002018-12-25T20:32:55.643-06:00Why Walk When You Can FlyThis year has been CraZY! Kids moving in, kids moving out, jobs, volunteering & just life, in general, has made this year fly. We did take some time out this Christmas to go visit my brother & his family in Tampa. Every time we go down there I have to remind myself that if Cotton wants to engage in high-risk behavior I will go & have fun & think about potential consequences later. Cotton has a history of having us do dangerous activities.<br />
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What are some of those you might ask? Well, I'm glad you did. Canoeing with alligators, hang-gliding, trapeze lessons, and paddleboarding (potentially with sharks). The main thing missing from this list is skydiving. We knew there was a high probability Cotton would book us all tandem jumps for Christmas. I accepted it, because what am I supposed to do, let my kids go & me not? I don't think so. In the car, we were all in agreement Cotton was going to tell us we were skydiving.<br />
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Saturday we went to the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, Florida. If you are ever in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, you have to go! Order the 1905 salad, because it is just delicious. I had it as my main course. Yes, it is THAT good. We also watched the Flamingo dancers. Again, don't miss it. (they don't perform on Sundays) So talented. Sorry, rabbit trail.<br />
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OK, we're at the table & Cotton hands us all envelopes. We know what's in them because there is very little he does now that surprises us. When we open them, there is just a picture...great...<br />
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfu39FlrzOXoPHlkx0Y1bGk6joFmxwO9f4olmwzLso2AIX3_Lsjw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for cartoon skydiver picture black" border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfu39FlrzOXoPHlkx0Y1bGk6joFmxwO9f4olmwzLso2AIX3_Lsjw" width="200" /></a>The 3 Nance children who were present were super excited. Yep, it's a guy skydiving. I immediately begin thinking that I can do this. What normal person wouldn't jump out of a perfectly good airplane? Cotton was a little disappointed that Hopson & I didn't freak out. He had a whole spheel to give us that he had practiced. Ha! At least I'm a little unpredictable. What we found out was, we were not going skydiving outside, but we're going to an indoor skydiving facility called iFly. Whew! Not having the ground rushing up towards me was a huge relief.<br />
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Can I tell you how much fun we had? We had to sign our lives away, take a brief safety course, and learn how to properly hold our bodies & learn all the hand signals, all before we flew. Even Cotton's almost 7 & 4-year olds flew. We each had 2 1-minute 'jumps' in the wind tunnel. At first, I thought one minute was no big deal. Yeah, I was wrong & I was sweating. It's harder than it looks. You're working with the air to hover & you can't muscle your way into it.<br />
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Our instructor was patient & so fun. In his demo he did for us at the end of our time, he was doing some cool tricks! Cotton also got us all a 'High Flight'. The instructor takes you up & down inside the wind tunnel. You end up going up around 25 feet. It's a rush. I included the video of me flying. You will see Elizabeth first & then I come in, hover & then high fly.<br />
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I found out iFly has a STEM program. Can you say F.I.E.L.D. T.R.I.P.? I emailed the principal that I volunteer as tribute. HaHa! Seriously though, you have major science & math going on in the tunnel. So cool! It was a fun start to our Christmas vacay. How can it not be when family and fun is involved.<br />
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Today is Christmas & it was a quiet day. No more littles waking up at the crack of dawn wanting to see what Santa left. Just a bunch of college kids & a high school sophomore. Easy peasy, but I miss the craziness of Christmas morning. We shared Hoppy this year with his girlfriend's family, so we were down a child. It is an indication of what will be happening for years to come & I am choosing to be ok with it. It is life & life is worth celebrating every day!<br />
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Merry Christmas & loving to fly!<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-84596367629995756712018-07-27T14:44:00.000-05:002018-07-27T14:44:14.713-05:00Take a Deep Breath and Parent OnEach day I check my online news feed. Each day I see some things that disturb me to no end. Can I say there are some very bad people out there who are maiming and killing their children in the most horrendous ways? I don't know if the parents are mentally ill or just tired of their kids, but reading these stories day after day is breaking my mommy's heart.<br />
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I know there are some out there who have children because they want someone to love them. I've heard someone say this before, so I'm not making it up. Anyone who has children knows that your kids do show you love, but they also can be <strike>very irritating, a pain in the booty,</strike> difficult. Ask a mother of a toddler, or a child you are teaching to read, or a teenager. Yeah, the struggle is real. <br />
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What I'm really wondering is, how do these parents think hurting or killing their children was an option when they became frustrated or tired of parenting. With 4 kids, I've been there, but I never considered hurting them an option. I thought of possibly running away, yes, but as far as hurting them, never. For the record, I never ran away, just thought about it once, maybe twice.<br />
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Over the last few days I've read about different moms: one gave her child a toxic level of salt to kill them to get her husband to return to her; in Georgia, a mother was leaving her 2 year old at home alone overnight & subsequently starved said child to death; another mom was upset about her 16 month old crying that she sprayed bleach in his face (he didn't die, but he has chemical burns on his face, back and shoulders); and there are numerous parents intentionally leaving their children in hot cars. These are just 2 days worth of headlines. I keep wondering what tomorrow will bring & I cringe just thinking of it. <br />
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Do I feel sorry for these moms? Yes, because for whatever reason, they were ill-equipped to raise children. Am I extremely angry at these moms? Absolutely. If you can't deal with your children anymore, ask for help! There is no shame in asking for help, ever. (whomever came up with the ridiculous notion that asking for help made you weak is an idiot) You have heard that it takes a village to raise a child, and it is true. If you have no one to talk to, find someone. If you don't have parenting wisdom, find someone you respect & crawl up under their wing & learn everything you can. If you don't have anyone supporting you through your parenting journey, for the love of your own sanity, find someone. You are not alone. We all feel frustrated by our children, even when they are adults. <br />
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Celebrating life & the love of children,<br />
~ashley<br />
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<br />~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-30165228597162643912018-06-20T20:32:00.000-05:002018-06-20T20:32:03.929-05:00Throwing Kindness part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlPKLL3mTKVJ4XeXhEd8v8B2eVBCfNlo098OhTUxN5XPgoJ_7I-DeJfM8LUsKmgetEaLEO6dlWIZhO6R_iwkon2qVnumqtjVgQBnC0hDutQwXFyYT2BU8l7Be3vNEV7tPW1uN9OOl3_OP/s1600/be+kind.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="308" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlPKLL3mTKVJ4XeXhEd8v8B2eVBCfNlo098OhTUxN5XPgoJ_7I-DeJfM8LUsKmgetEaLEO6dlWIZhO6R_iwkon2qVnumqtjVgQBnC0hDutQwXFyYT2BU8l7Be3vNEV7tPW1uN9OOl3_OP/s200/be+kind.png" width="200" /></a>So, I was watching the news this morning. Of course they started talking about national politics and what members in both parties were doing, and I'm just done. The fighting and negativity is uncalled for. These people are supposed to be some of the smartest in our country, but in some ways the are just doltish. <span style="background-color: white;">Here are some things I've learned during my five years subbing & now working in my school.</span><br />
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1. I don't agree with everyone's views on things, and that is ok. What our country has lost is the ability to agree to disagree. I may stand on the completely opposite end of the spectrum on an issue, but I'm not going to hate you for it. That's stupid. We can agree that we stand on different sides of the isle, and maybe we can find somewhere we agree.<br />
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2. "You're never fully dressed without a smile." ~Annie <br />
I love the university I graduated from. I love it for so many different reasons, but one of the main ones is because we had something called 'Hey Day'. All day, students wear name tags and as I would walk to class I would hear, 'Hey Ashley'. Now Auburn students do that anyway, but having a designated Hey Day is fun. Do you ever call out Hey to someone and frown? No! You say Hey & add a smile onto it. Smiles are free & when you freely give them out, it can (not always, but has the ability to) disarm someone who has negative thoughts. It also makes you look prettier. <br />
"Smile, it increases you face value!" ~Truvy in Steel Magnolias<br />
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3. One thing we work on in our classroom is compromise. (I also taught it to my children when they were little.) You and I might want/need different things, but we can work together and accomplish our goals. No one enjoys 'giving in', but as we work through the compromise I might be able to see your side a little better, and you might be able to see mine.<br />
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4. Backstabbing has to go. No one likes to be left out alone and criticized. It's hurtful. The words you say matter. I wish our lawmakers would take this to heart. You can be kind but firm in what you say. You can be kind while you question what someone means. <br />
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We have to model these things for our children. What they are learning right now is to:<br />
1. Pitch a fit to get what they want.<br />
2. What they want matters most whether it's good for the majority or not. <br />
3. I don't have to be kind to you because you don't believe the same things I do. <br />
This madness must stop, and if the adults aren't willing to do it first, who will teach the children?<br />
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Choosing kindness & to speak words of life! (even if we disagree)<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-62667221306703285372018-03-13T18:51:00.001-05:002018-03-13T18:51:41.537-05:00The Happiest Days<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The happiest days are the days when babies come! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">~Melanie from Gone With the Wind</span></b><br />
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Today is a happy day...well it really started yesterday. Yesterday my parent's 7th grandchild was born. My younger brother, Cotton, had his third child. He's now in the big time. It's interesting when you go from man on man to zone coverage. You parents of 3+ kids know. If there is silence, something bad is going down. But I know that the happiest of days are the ones when babies are born.</div>
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I was scrolling through my sister-in-laws pictures and loved seeing all of the ones of their older two with the new baby. It made me think back to when all of my chicks were little. I was fine until I saw one picture. It is a picture that broke my heart. I'm going to admit my selfishness upfront, right now. It was a pic of her mom with the new baby. I realized that it is a picture my mom and dad will never have. And for some reason today, the grief from that blindsided me out of nowhere. They will never cuddle, read to, cheer for, or kiss their grandchildren's faces. No stories will be told, and the only history given will be what we remember. And today, this makes me sad, and I feel their loss so heavily even though we've been without them both for over two decades. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E0-k1Guxx4Zvpq2NTVUyEhKoyEiaNJOh_CXarDB4zD1rPuDc5vMHKAqwJznT_uH1OTQxQ-xbz42QZZUISfkhAUMwJlO-0rjMWVSjOlfI7qBWn1HBPQHRxzhDJ26Wnly6ZMQlktkEVX10/s1600/Autumn_Cherry_Tree_THUMB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E0-k1Guxx4Zvpq2NTVUyEhKoyEiaNJOh_CXarDB4zD1rPuDc5vMHKAqwJznT_uH1OTQxQ-xbz42QZZUISfkhAUMwJlO-0rjMWVSjOlfI7qBWn1HBPQHRxzhDJ26Wnly6ZMQlktkEVX10/s200/Autumn_Cherry_Tree_THUMB.jpg" width="200" /></a>We have a few pictures of my older two with my mom, but she was sick most of the time when they were so little, and she passed away when my oldest was 3. My dad never got to meet his grandchildren. I hope they would be happy seeing how the branches of their tree are blooming. I looked at the picture of my niece holding her new brother and saw my mom's face smiling back at me. I always thought she looked like Leah, my sister-in-law, but I also see my side of the family. She's bound to be mischievous with my momma's smile shining through. </div>
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I'm not writing this for sympathy, it's just a reflection of my thoughts right now. I am writing it for you who still have your parents and children. Hug them all & tell them you love them. I am so grateful to have caring in-laws. I have ones who pass on history to their grands, and have cuddled, read to, cheered for, and kissed cheeks. I want my children to continue their legacy of love and service. </div>
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I pray many blessings over my brother, sister-in-law, and his young and growing family. I pray the branches of their tree become full with life and love. Because, the happiest days are the ones when babies are born.</div>
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Celebrating life everyday & remembering with love,</div>
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~ashley </div>
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~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-45979518876534762782018-02-25T17:17:00.002-06:002018-02-25T17:17:57.812-06:00Throw Kindness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently had to talk to a child at school about her safety. She was afraid that something bad would happen to her if someone dangerous broke into the school. As we talked, I started really stewing about what she was telling me. Here are my thoughts about stopping school violence. I don't have the answer, but I know what my responsibility is as a parent.<br />
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1. I have to teach my children to, first and foremost, be kind. Especially to those who need it most. People say they value kindness, but when I look at the state of our country and communities I wonder how committed we are to it. I walk the halls and am in class with students all day. I have seen the looks and the mean giggles towards some students that a few have thought it was funny to give. How it breaks my heart. The ones they are laughing at need acceptance, but may not know how to ask for it.<br />
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2. Teach your child to stand up for those weaker than themselves. We all must stand for those who are weak; those who don't have a voice. This applies to all of us. I have to do a better job of speaking up for the bullied and those put down by others. I have do it because it is the right thing to do & I want my children to do it too.<br />
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3. Treat others as you want to be treated. Did anyone else hear this growing up? I did, ad nauseam. You know what? It still holds truth today. Many adults need to live by & model this for our children. I'm tired of the arguing and hate spewed like black tar by adults towards each other. I don't care who you voted for; what your background is; the color of your skin; or what your religion is. You are responsible for you. You are responsible for the words that come out of your mouth. Choose to speak life. Choose to treat others as you would want to be treated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPi98P3d-cDrZVU3OxmF-29QYkDHj4gJYLmvlPpyNmHDSpnFCZ4BIIYW91_X1OAUXRLqRc9SPj2_N8pouwtZsgUvl6Ao-WKNazVeQBXapT09PUII4rUG7hogHlvJTwrRMLAMuPb12jtSo/s1600/love+big.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="668" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPi98P3d-cDrZVU3OxmF-29QYkDHj4gJYLmvlPpyNmHDSpnFCZ4BIIYW91_X1OAUXRLqRc9SPj2_N8pouwtZsgUvl6Ao-WKNazVeQBXapT09PUII4rUG7hogHlvJTwrRMLAMuPb12jtSo/s200/love+big.png" width="200" /></a><br />
4. Love big. Love is not a feeling; love is a choice. Everyday choose love. Choose to show someone love who needs it badly. Is it hard some days? Yes, it is, because some people are hard to love. There is usually a reason they are hard to love, but love them anyway. There is are two children at my school who do this so well. I wish I could clone them. They love with everything they are. They are not afraid to step out and help someone who needs it. They make me want to be a better person.<br />
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What I told this child as we talked was that I would do anything I had to do to keep her safe. I know other teachers in our school would do the same. It is a sobering thought. The best way to keep her safe is to help those who might be on the path to hurt others to feel loved. Am I willing to do that? Am I willing to show love and help others? My answer is unequivocally yes. In the long run, it's easier to show love than to carry a weapon or stop a bullet with my own body.<br />
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Making the commitment to throw kindness & love big!<br />
~ashley ~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-52257862692002020162018-02-17T13:43:00.003-06:002018-02-18T17:28:13.900-06:00Never Stop Learning<h3>
And Loving...</h3>
I recently started a new job. Yes, at my age it can be a little scary, but it's been great. Before I go forward, a little back story first...<br />
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...For the last 4 1/2 years I have been a sub in my children's school system. (if you are a mom, love kids, and need a great way to make a little spending money, I highly recommend it.) I loved being a sub! I was able to be like everyone's favorite aunt. You know the one I'm talking about. She the one who comes in and loves you for you. She helps you get through the have to's so you can have a little fun while your mom's not around.<br />
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The way a sub enters a classroom is SO important. You have to be confident, because it's true the children can smell fear, but you also have to be available to the kids: available to offer an ear, extra help, smiles, a few hugs, and maybe even a little discipline in a life-giving way.<br />
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We would play 4 corners if everyone finished with their work. We would listen to music, because these kids are used to being bombarded with sounds while they study. Whatever we needed to do get their work done & have a little fun, I'd be willing to try, as long as it fell within the rules. You know what, I LOVED it! I also loved serving the teachers. I wanted to feel they could trust me with their children and lesson plans. You may think it's ridiculous for a substitute to feel this way, but I did.<br />
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OK, so back to present day. Back in December, the principal of the school I subbed for a bunch asked me if I wanted to be a part of their school family as a paraeducator. Huh, did I want to? Did I want to dedicate my days to one set of children? Part of me screamed no. Part of me said that I couldn't do it at my age. Part of me said that I would royally mess up & the children would be messed up for life. I released my self-doubt. I don't know if I've ever prayed as hard for two weeks as I prayed back in December. I asked God to make it clear. To make a very long story short, He did. He showed me that He had been prepping me for this my whole life, and that I couldn't be afraid to learn some new things. So, I accepted the job.<br />
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I have to say I work with some amazing women. There are four of us in our room and we work as a team. Are their hard days; yes there are. We work with kids, so there are going to be a few hard days here and there. We choose to celebrate the victories big time, and we work through the hard stuff. I am so thankful for the women in 161 and the other classroom teachers I work beside. Y'all are amazing. They have also been patient as I learn how to take notes again & learn how to serve our student population. My heart is so full & I feel blessed beyond measure. I truly work at The Best Middle School in America.<br />
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Celebrating life, the ability to learn & love on kids,<br />
~ashley<br />
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<br />~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-921306378512476522017-12-30T17:26:00.003-06:002017-12-30T17:26:48.250-06:00Another Trip Around the Sun<h3>
Today is a happy day </h3>
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It's Hopson's birthday. He's 29...again. He's off with Harry & Henry hunting in Clarksdale. It's his birthday & I want him to do what he loves. I think he would really love it if it were warm outside so he could sit on the porch at the lake during the gloaming . It's his favorite time of day. He would be drinking a beer & playing Rummikub with the fam. There would be love, lots of laughter & me getting eaten by mosquitoes. For his birthday I didn't spend any money. It's one of the things he always wants. Hopson works hard for our fam & he is the best builder, fixer, ski instructor (water & snow) & manliness passer oner around. <br />
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I did get a chuckle at his expense the other night. He loves to brag about how he still gets carded. We had a Costco date, and as we were checking out, the wine he was purchasing was scanned right over the bar-code reader & no one was asked to provide ID. He of course blamed it on me, or thought about it. I giggled & may have taunted him that he doesn't really look 29. HaHa! Happy Birthday Honey Daddy!<br />
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Today is a sad day </h3>
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Today is 20 years since my mom passed away. Gracious, 25 for dad & 20 for mom. I've been on this train a long time. It's amazing how my heart doesn't hurt like it used to, but I can look back and mostly smile and laugh, and every once in a while cry. There will be a song, sight, or smell that makes me think of my parents. I have more happy memories than sad & I choose everyday to be thankful for those instead of sad. </div>
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The only regret I have is that my parents didn't get to see my children grow up & watch my siblings and me get older. My dad would have LOVED Hopson. The gloaming was his favorite time of day too, and he loved nothing more than being at the lake. </div>
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To all my friends who have just climbed on this train, I promise you will be ok. You won't feel better overnight, but your heartache won't last forever. You wills stop counting the hours, days, and months since your mom or dad passed away. Don't stop living, because they wouldn't want you to. They would want you to remember them with love.</div>
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Tomorrow is a happy day</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry escorted Lowry to the<br />2017 Poinsettia Debutant Ball</td></tr>
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Hopson and I always joked that we never wanted a Christmas baby. Instead we have a New Year's Eve baby. Harry has been such a blessing for me. Having his birthday split my mom's angelversary & birthday has helped me to remember life goes on (whether I want it to or not). Harry makes me laugh. He's not afraid to work hard for what he wants & asks for forgiveness rather than permission. Bright red motorcycle to you...but that's a story for another time. Crazy child, but I love him bunches. Happy Happy birthday Harry my sweet. When I think of my blessings I count you twice. </div>
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I am blessed beyond measure & while there are days I am sad, I have realized that there are too many blessing to count to be sad for long. Thank you also, sweet reader, for helping my cup to overflow! <3 </div>
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Celebrating life & counting my blessings,</div>
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~ashley</div>
~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-59513147237651120862017-11-20T20:45:00.001-06:002017-11-20T20:45:24.350-06:00It's Called Soul Food for a ReasonIt is called soul food for a reason & I have my own definition too. To me, soul food is feel good food. It reminds me of my grandmother's & mother's kitchens. Old school southern cooks are some of the best around. Do you think they worry about fat, sodium, or calories? Um, no. No they don't. They want you to leave full and happy. The biggest insult to a soul food cook is for you to leave hungry. If you want bland, soul food is not for you. Anyway, who wants bland? Not I, said the pig. <br />
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In case some of you are not from the deep south & wonder what in the world is soul food, I found a <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/soul-food-history-and-definition-101709" target="_blank">great website that describes what it is</a>. I love the line that says: "...all soul food is southern food, but not all southern food is soul food". Amen to that. If you've never eaten soul food, I'm so sorry. It's homemade with heaps of love, so you an have happiness on your plate. <br />
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I love collard greens, but they have to be cooked right. (as all soul food has to be) I want to thank Ms. Shaun from the school where I sub a ton for her recipe. I made some tonight & they were delicious! I always thought collards were hard to make, but they weren't. Elizabeth came downstairs from studying & said the kitchen smelled good. Of course it did, I was cooking greens!<br />
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I, of course, forgot to get all the ingredients from the grocery store. I remembered to get the greens, yea, but forgot the salt pork or ham hock. For the love. (Insert eye roll here.) Luckily, I have bacon grease in my fridge, and I knew it would work in a pinch. I like lots of pot liquor, so I added more chicken broth than she recommended. I have the recipe below in case you want to try your hands at some feel good food.<br />
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Celebrating life & good food,<br />
~ashley<br />
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Collard Greens<br />
1 bag collard greens, washed & cut up<br />
2 cups chicken broth<br />
1 large smoked ham hock (or if you're like me, bacon grease)<br />
pepper<br />
salt<br />
creole seasoning<br />
garlic powder<br />
onion powder<br />
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Combine everything but greens & bring to a boil. If you use a ham hock, allow to cook down. If you use bacon grease, you will need to let the ingredients boil. Add greens, turn heat down to medium to medium low. Place lid on top of boiler & cook until reduced down and tender. Serve with corn bread.~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-91475892141601767342017-10-28T12:10:00.002-05:002017-10-31T09:27:02.018-05:00New Recipe!!! It's Thai...Ok, I have a new recipe for y'all & I'm so EXCITED. I know that I should post it on a Measure of Joy, but I haven't posted anything on there since 2013. Wait, what? That's 4 years. Yikes! I'll post it there too. OMG.<br />
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It has finally cooled down from the raging summer we had this year. We had a few weeks of cooler weather in, I think, early September, but that was a joke. It happens to us every year. We have a cooler spell for about 2 weeks & we think fall is here! Then we act shocked when it shoots back into the 90's or high 80's until November. (there's usually humidity that goes with it and makes it feel like you're walking around with a wet towel on your head.)<br />
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With the cooler weather brings, for me, soup season. My people are sick of the same old soups though. Chili, a southern staple. We also have wonderful variations of white chicken chili and taco soup. I make beer cheese soup, vegetable soup, vegetable soup with beef, and butternut squash bisque. I branched out this year & made my mom's Brunswick stew, but one of the people in the house informed me he didn't really care for it. Thanks, it only took me ALL DAY to make it. Does anyone have a brick I can borrow so I can beat my head against it? Tough crowd.<br />
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I have been <b><u>craving</u></b> Thai coconut soup. When we order Thai food from our favorite restaurant here in town I have started ordering that by itself. It's warm and it makes me so happy. Yes, food makes me happy. I thought, I bet I can make that & then I can have it any time I want. Well friends, today was the day! Can I tell you how excited I am??? It's cold and rainy & I have a small pot of it waiting for me to scarf down. :) I'm going to give you the version below that will feed a family of 6. I have big eaters, so what I made today will be big enough for Elizabeth and me. If your fam is not a group of big eaters, I would do 2 of everything & 12 of the ginger.<br />
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Here's the recipe. I found everything from my local WalMart grocery store. I'm serving mine meatless today, but I've had it with chicken & it's not too bad. I bet you could make it in the crockpot & it would be a.ma.zing. I took this recipe, & changed a few things (shocker), from myrecipes.com.<br />
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Y'all stay warm & dry.<br />
Celebrating life & enjoying my Thai Coconut Soup!<br />
~ashley<br />
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PS~ I just added some rice to make it a little thicker & more hearty. Oh yeah, it was good!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thai Coconut Soup</b></span><br />
3 cans (14 oz) coconut milk<br />
3 cans (14 oz) or 6 cups chicken broth (I use bouillon cubes & water)<br />
18 quarter-size slices fresh ginger<br />
3 stalks fresh lemongrass, cut in 1-inch pieces (I used lemongrass paste & it was fine)<br />
3 pounds chicken cut into 1-inch pieces (optional)<br />
3 cup sliced mushrooms (I forgot these, so if you don't like them, leave them out.)<br />
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice<br />
3 tablespoons Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)<br />
3 teaspoons sugar<br />
3 teaspoons Thai chili paste (I made mine heaping, but I like spicy things.)<br />
fresh basil & cilantro to garnish<br />
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<li>In a saucepan, combine coconut milk, broth, ginger, and lemongrass. Bring to a boil over high heat.</li>
<li>Add chicken, mushrooms, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar & chili paste. Reduce heat a cook slowly until chicken is firm and opaque. DO NOT BOIL chicken. </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnGDQA9ObpHNvg0m6mGXqixHhtMOvft7uRVVPgn8Es6M4fyzNIkdXAXjAdFNMAk9mqcfHOra7TB5htzIRNOcKtB-DxdXJhjGAkRWunxMveyGsnHJOfewSBN8crjVH94KUa3tH6RYutqtJ/s1600/thai+soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnGDQA9ObpHNvg0m6mGXqixHhtMOvft7uRVVPgn8Es6M4fyzNIkdXAXjAdFNMAk9mqcfHOra7TB5htzIRNOcKtB-DxdXJhjGAkRWunxMveyGsnHJOfewSBN8crjVH94KUa3tH6RYutqtJ/s400/thai+soup.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For real, this is all I used to make this soup. So good!!!</td></tr>
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~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-37246179022989793212017-10-11T21:32:00.000-05:002017-10-11T21:32:19.470-05:00The House that Love Built A friend from grade school was going through old pictures and found a picture of the house I grew up in. I have wonderful memories from that home. We played football in the front yard, swam in the pool, built homecoming signs, and watched movies and the 1984 Olympics. My parents let me invite the entire 8th grade over to swim the day we officially became 9th graders. That house is filled with laughter. <br />
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My parents didn't care about your background. They didn't care what kind of home you came from. They wanted you to feel loved and accepted when you came over to our house. It was a house that love built. <br />
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It's funny looking back. You think that some kids have it all together just to find out they saw themselves as misfits. I was always the one who felt like I was on the fringe. Not cool, not as smart as I wanted to be, not a lot of things. I wonder how many other kids felt & feel like that today? Social media allows kids to only show the best of themselves & some just can't live up to it. The human touch has been replaced by likes on a screen. <br />
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What we really need is more houses that are built on love. (not on popularity) Places where kids put down their devices and talk, kid around, swim, play football in the front yard, have water balloon & shaving cream fights, and help each other through their fears. These times made me realize I wasn't alone in my dorkiness. I had friends who saw my dorkiness & loved me in spite of it. <br />
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I was able to go through my old house about 10 years ago. I could close my eyes and see my high school friends. I could hear their laughter and chatter. I saw them swimming in the pool & running down the back staircase. (You didn't dare go down the front, because Linda would wear you out with a switch.) It was a beautiful thing to remember, and I am thankful for those days.<br />
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If you spent any time at my house growing up, thank you! Thank you for being part of my happy memories. I hope you felt loved and accepted. May we all have homes that are built on love and acceptance!<br />
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Celebrating life, love & friendship!<br />
~ashley<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94gpmIlR1RuUhHUU4UeISIrt3yLMPwnmxSOnO95GzpQcxsQODVAf67COOwAc9skSA054qbDHOTphf6gFP-1WLa-A2o8fIj4W9DZ3cMbZLb0CdcHLV929pI9rz6QJSdVs8Eg9pJ28cMwYL/s1600/old+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94gpmIlR1RuUhHUU4UeISIrt3yLMPwnmxSOnO95GzpQcxsQODVAf67COOwAc9skSA054qbDHOTphf6gFP-1WLa-A2o8fIj4W9DZ3cMbZLb0CdcHLV929pI9rz6QJSdVs8Eg9pJ28cMwYL/s640/old+house.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo creds: Chris Fegin</td></tr>
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~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-13286371501545466402017-07-12T12:20:00.001-05:002017-07-12T12:20:41.918-05:00It's Time to Man-UpCan I tell you how <strike>upset</strike>, <strike>frustrated</strike>, angry I am? I am tired of adults, men and women, having children they are not willing to take care of. I don't care about the circumstances you had your children under, what I care about is that you man-up and take care of them. It's time for you to stop saying you want to be an adult and just act like one.<br />
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I was reading an <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/07/12/surprising-numbers-kids-at-risk-for-toxic-stress-damage.html" target="_blank">article</a> online about the surprising number of children who are at risk from toxic stress. They are saying this stress can "change the brain and it can interfere with learning and lead to disease in adulthood". This is not normal stress: homework, activities & school. This is children seeing and experiencing things a lot of adults haven't been through. The numbers listed in the article are staggering.<span style="color: #110000;"> </span><br />
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Here's what they say & this is directly quoted from the article:<br />
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<li>More than 1 in 4 U.S. kids experience a serious traumatic event by the age of 16, including abuse, neglect and household or neighborhood violence, according to the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.</li>
<li>More than 1 in 5 children have experienced at least two of these traumas and are more likely than others to have school difficulties, along with health and behavioral problems, a 2014 study found.</li>
<li>Nearly half of U.S. children younger than 18 live in families at or near the poverty level, U.S. Census data show.</li>
<li>The number of U.S. children in foster care climbed steadily after 2011, reaching nearly 430,000 in 2015, the most recent government data show. Neglect was the reason in nearly two-thirds of cases, with most of the rest due to drug abuse, according to a 2016 government report. Authorities believe the opioid epidemic has contributed to the trend.</li>
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<span style="color: #110000;">All of the factors listed can be traced back to mom & dad not doing their job. It's not a child's responsibility to take care of themselves, it's ours. This is going on in every neighborhood in our country & it's time for it to stop. Come on mom & dad, you can do this. And if for some reason you can't, don't be afraid to ask for help. There people out there who want to help you help your children!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #110000;">Ok, rant over.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #110000;">Celebrating life & the blessings that I call my children,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #110000;">~ashley </span></div>
~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-21388656480230259992017-06-29T15:16:00.000-05:002017-06-29T15:16:04.786-05:00Don't Tell Me You Love Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkcxSzZ42_69PnbWIbcXGbP26OLYwKeR0bIk35uLJayo7BWzWt-SpAt6WzaORBlmKCA_uhhw4a3LdZphp8BTceWTVkmfVXsJdRQDpu6LSC8Nt0ELCCzJmtGg5AAF60NGvfBqwMq8tBZEH/s1600/vows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="556" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkcxSzZ42_69PnbWIbcXGbP26OLYwKeR0bIk35uLJayo7BWzWt-SpAt6WzaORBlmKCA_uhhw4a3LdZphp8BTceWTVkmfVXsJdRQDpu6LSC8Nt0ELCCzJmtGg5AAF60NGvfBqwMq8tBZEH/s400/vows.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">There are so many who make these vows, and then quickly forget them when the difficulties of life hit the proverbial fan. It's easy to love when the going is easy. It's another when your slogging your way through life, marriage, and children. I have been blessed to witness so many whose vows were a way of life. They weren't words; they were actions.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Today I went in to get my crazy hair cut and highlighted. I'm sitting there with my hair pulled through a cap (I look like a lionfish), bleach smothered on my hair and cap, and a clear shower cap on top. Yeah, it's a rockin' look. We're all talking and I look over to see an older lady shuffling towards a chair get her hair washed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is a common sight because there are women of all ages who come into the beauty shop. It's what happened afterward that had me in tears. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As she is walking, I noticed she had a belt on and her husband, a younger woman along with the hairdresser helping her into the chair to get her hair washed. Not only did they have to help her walk and sit in the chair, I noticed that this woman looked frightened. Her husband had both hands on her face while talking to her & gently kissing her lips as they were reclining her back to put her head in the bowl to wash her hair. It was one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful things I have ever witnessed in my life. He continued this reassurance the entire time she was in the chair. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I asked Monika (my hairdresser) and Lisa about this couple & they said the woman has Alzheimer's Disease. The only way to keep her from screaming was for her husband to be there reassuring her. I've seen another husband who makes sure to put earrings in his wife's ears because he remembered she always wore them before she became sick. To me, this is love. This is for better or worse. This is love in action. The husband didn't have to bring his wife to get her hair done. It would have been less stress in his day and hers, but he probably remembers a time when she enjoyed going to have her hair fixed, so he does it to hopefully spark a memory. Maybe he does it so he can remember a time when he would come home and notice her hair was just the way she liked it. It doesn't matter, but it was the gesture that made me think.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I want to be for better or worse. I want my love to be actions and tangible. I want to be like the husband who puts his hand on his wife's face to reassure her it's all going to be ok, even when it's not or when I can't fix it. I want to remember what it felt like when my love was new and the possibilities were endless. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Celebrating life and love to last a lifetime,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">~ashley</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">PS ~ I know for many, marriage is not ideal or even ok. There are things that cannot be overcome and there's no way to fix them. I was not writing this to make anyone feel ashamed or guilty, I was writing in hopes that we all can claim a love like this couple.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-22236327337452718992017-06-27T20:50:00.000-05:002017-06-27T20:50:51.118-05:00Hi, I'm Ashley,<h2>
and I think I have OCD.</h2>
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The older I get the more I like things 'just so'. Well, maybe a little more than just so. </div>
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I had to run to the grocery store to get some noodles for tonight's dinner, because of course I forgot to get them yesterday when I went to the grocery store. The joys of getting older & speed grocery. We have a grocery store that has smaller carts that I have fallen in love with. I only have two chicks at home, so I don't need a ginormous cart anymore. </div>
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This isn't so much about the carts themselves but about the cart return areas. One a side note, I'll admit I'm somewhat lazy. I don't park my car closest to the door to the grocery store, I park by the cart return. It's also a habit. Ever tried loading four littles into the car, putting all your groceries in the car & then returning the cart before your children die from a heat stroke & everything frozen melts? Good times. The way I fixed that problem was to park by the cart return. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvrkXghn237KKxxIjrdQ6-KmzCZwIFX6YiMhPC74X_KVGY5SAiBtGIAK159rdsh0E9j4vR1OpI2YjYP_jeylg8Q9moaMMMOTVzMRHUH__E45_sTkzr2xG8zJU4wYmpBlIzb1ZKgcYLZsp/s1600/carts+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvrkXghn237KKxxIjrdQ6-KmzCZwIFX6YiMhPC74X_KVGY5SAiBtGIAK159rdsh0E9j4vR1OpI2YjYP_jeylg8Q9moaMMMOTVzMRHUH__E45_sTkzr2xG8zJU4wYmpBlIzb1ZKgcYLZsp/s320/carts+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The carts in question by the old family truckster.</span></td></tr>
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Back to today...I'm getting out of my car to go into the store & I look over & see three carts in the cart return. Now, I'm not a genius, but I do have common sense. I also try to think of the people who work in the store who have to come out and get the carts to return them to the store front. For the love of all that is good and holy, if you have a full size cart, don't park it right behind the a little cart or vice versa. I mean, seriously y'all. How hard is it to push your cart all the way in the return and over to one side. That way if someone has a different size cart they can go to the other side. It is not rocket science, but makes everything orderly. :)</div>
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You'll be glad to know after I put my groceries in the back of my car I fixed how the cart return should look. Whew, I did my good deed for today. Now if I could get all of you who leave your carts in the parking lot to put them in the cart return we'd be golden. First world problems.</div>
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Celebrating life & having everything where it should be,</div>
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~ashley </div>
~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-81791051727898453442017-06-21T15:32:00.001-05:002017-06-21T15:32:07.709-05:00I Asked for a Virgin I even asked nicely. I have sacrifices I need to make. Just kidding. In case you didn't know, I'm allergic to alcohol. Yes, it includes all kinds of alcohol. Even if it's clear without sulfides I will have a reaction. It's really pretty. Think temporary hives & swelling. Yeah, it's great.<div>
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Last night I went out to dinner with a group of girlfriends. It was hot & humid...duh, it's summer in Alabama. My hair was exceptionally big, but that's another story. I asked my waiter if I could have a <u>virgin</u> margarita. It's a limeade with salt, but hey, I was in the mood for it. It was so pretty when he brought it out. It was limey & I really wanted to use the glass as a salt lick, but decided to use my manners instead.</div>
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The first sip was so refreshing. After about 3 sips, I started wondering if there was some alcohol in the drink. I was starting to laugh a little more, and I noticed a little buzzed feeling in my head. One more sip & that was all I needed to know, this drink was for sure alcoholic. I looked over to the people on my end of the table to ask if my face was getting red. They didn't need to say a word, their eyes gave me the affirmation I needed. Fun times. On top of my face becoming hivey, my neck becoming splotchy as well. Needless to say I didn't finish my drink, but instead chugged four glasses of tepid water with melted ice. Humidity.... </div>
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People on my end of the table asked me if I needed a ride home. I said I was good, but for them the good news is that Fun Bobby had now arrived! Do you remember Fun Bobby from Friends? He was the guy who was only fun after he had consumed a few adult beverages. Yeah, Fun Bobby is great. Fun Ashley can be pretty crazy. I'm crazy enough without any alcohol in my system. I laughed a little longer & louder, talked a little more, and had even stronger opinions than I usually have. This was from 4 sips of my margarita. Oy vey, you can't take me anywhere! No worries though, I'm all good today. </div>
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Celebrating life & making sure I ask for a VIRGIN margarita a little more loudly next time!</div>
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~ashley</div>
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PS ~ you'll be sad to know my FitBit died a horrible death last night. No it didn't drown in my drink, but died trying to update. Thanks FB, it was working great even with the tape on it. :( Notice I upgraded to electrical tape. It blended much better. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIP FitBit, you were a great motivator. :(</td></tr>
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~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-7822591911414331822017-06-20T15:00:00.000-05:002017-06-20T15:00:12.909-05:00I Think I Changed My MindTime, ugh. I picked up E's senior pictures today & then I started looking through pictures trying to find one of Elizabeth when she was little & found a bunch when all of mine were small. I don't remember them growing so quickly. I know didn't want them to grow up quite so fast & I think a small part of me has changed my mind. There is a little piece that misses the crazy schedule and all the teaching moments ahead. It seems they were all here & now most of them are gone. It's funny because this is how I still see them, not how they are today. I'll be ok...maybe the next time I see a screaming toddler, or a child that has projectile vomiting. It has been a great ride so far & I will appreciate every second I see all my crazy kiddos no matter how old they are.<br />
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Celebrating Life,<br />
~ashley<br />
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<br />~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-84303526963677984352017-06-19T15:21:00.000-05:002017-06-19T15:41:41.348-05:00Because I Said So<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The "most dreaded" phrase for all children and teenagers. There are many who feel this phrase should be not used when talking to children. They say it's vague and authoritarian. I had an epiphany this weekend about what 'because I said so' really means & what it should mean to our children when we say it.<br />
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When parents use 'because I said so' the first thing we want you, our children, to do is to have trust that the decision we have made is in your best interest. Sometimes we don't have time to sit down and explain every thought that went into our final decision, but we need y'all to understand we have your best interest in our hearts. <br />
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We need you to know we have <b>years</b> of life's experiences under our belts. We understand that in your teenage minds you are already grown-up, but let me assure you, you are not. Oftentimes we will consult with other adults (some older & some our peers) to get to our decision if we are vacillating or just have a funny feeling about something. Living life teaches you a lot, and we pull from that worldly knowledge to make decisions. <br />
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Your age is a factor in why we will use 'because I said so'. We may not be able to explain our decisions to you because you are not ready to hear the 'why' yet. When we explain something to you, we want you to be able to truly comprehend what we are saying. We're not going to tell you something that is inappropriate for your age, and we're not going to lie to you. (well, we won't mostly lie.) 'Because I said so' allows us the ability to keep you innocent a little longer.<br />
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Parents get frustrated and angry. I know, you're shocked. If we have told you to do something about 1,000,000 times, and given you the reason behind doing said thing, and you don't do it for various reasons, you will hear 'because I said so'. In a perfect world, you would do what we ask, the first time we ask it. We don't enjoy repeating ourselves day after day. You know what you should do, and we don't need questions or any lip. Just do what you're told and all will be good. ;)<br />
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We are trying to prep you for when you grow up & enter the work place. Do you think your boss is going to explain every little thing you have to do? No, they aren't. You need to be like Nike & 'Just Do It'. You get your 'just do it' training from 'because I said so'. See how well that translates? We are molding you into adults who will make a difference in your homes, work places and communities. 'Because I said so' preps you very well for those three places. What can we say, we're just givers. You're welcome. (you're singing the Moana song aren't you?)<br />
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Dearest children, please be patient with us. You did not come with manuals, and we are doing our best. We want you to be happy, but we will put your health and safety above your happiness. (And if you are a Christian, we will place your growth in Christ above all else.) We love you with every ounce of our very beings, and would lay down our lives for you without batting an eyelash. We're called to love and teach you to become independent, and sometimes when words may fail us, 'because I said so' is the best we can come up with. <br />
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Celebrating life & random phrases that help us parent,<br />
~ashley<br />
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~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-83247170209092489152017-06-15T21:19:00.001-05:002017-06-15T21:19:22.521-05:00Cry Me a RiverEveryday women are amazing. I know many people look up to celebrities, but honestly, I know regular people who are incredible mothers and professionals. They get up everyday, grind it out, and don't expect special treatment for doing the normal. Family and friends are the ones ordinary women lean on, because no one thinks twice about the normal. Everyday things accomplished by a non-celebrity go unnoticed, but you have a celebrity talk about or do <i>anything</i>, and people lose their ever-loving-minds. It's nuts, and pregnancy is a big one.<br />
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Have you seen some of the names celebrities come up with for their kids? Just Google it...yikes. There are those women who love being pregnant. Their skin glows; their hair is silky smooth; and their nails are super strong. They can eat what ever they like and they sleep beautifully. Yeah, I don't like those people. Just kidding; really am just jealous. I fell into the lucky 10% of all other pregnancies.<br />
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I hope you didn't think I was pregnant. Thank you Jesus, I am not. With kiddos ages: almost 23, 20, 17 & 15 the only babies I want are grand babies, but I'm a few years from that yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSR7OUdSzQ3AA29LFhcoAtUiakmvGUxnWXYseDObqJCLmxn7mn06-M6p0Ll9zea407XDYcm7rLYYYEgXU-pGv8asdD9O5GyqVDj7wmhUcCHGbB2a56kj64fl44dAjcStMp44ZqNCrdw_Q/s1600/throw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="120" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSR7OUdSzQ3AA29LFhcoAtUiakmvGUxnWXYseDObqJCLmxn7mn06-M6p0Ll9zea407XDYcm7rLYYYEgXU-pGv8asdD9O5GyqVDj7wmhUcCHGbB2a56kj64fl44dAjcStMp44ZqNCrdw_Q/s200/throw.jpg" width="200" /></a>Anywho, like I was saying, the lucky 10%. Pregnancy for us is horrible. Sick, and sick and more sick. Having only morning sickness would have been great, but most of us have all day sickness. Imagine having to grocery shop and cook while needing to, and then throwing up. Raw chicken is the grossest thing to smell or deal with when you're sick. We don't complain too much about it. Our husbands go to work and do their thing. We go to work, class, or take care of other children. Life doesn't stop because we're sick. So I had to giggle a little when I read an <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/06/15/david-arquette-wife-christina-recall-struggles-with-second-pregnancy-it-was-just-really-tough-time.html" target="_blank">article</a> about David Arquette's wife Christina's sickness with her 2nd child. Yep, she was in the 10%.<br />
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Nutshell, she couldn't believe she felt so bad after a great first pregnancy. They tried everything but nothing helped. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt...4x. That's 36 months of throwing up, everyday, all day long. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it. Back then, my doctors didn't give me meds, they told to eat more. Sure ok. Ever thrown up from simply talking about food? Yes, I did that. It's ok to laugh now, it was over 23 years ago, but at the time it was not funny.<br />
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I know the Arquette's are trying to bring "awareness" to the 10%, but really? It's kind of silly. The current 10% is out there, sucking it up and trying to make it work in spite of feeling terrible. Every time I see celebrity "awareness" articles I think to myself: "for the love of all that is good and holy, just cry me a river". Real people don't need awareness, they need a hug, and maybe for you to bring their fam some dinner or play with their kids. Either one of those things is huge! The everyday person's awareness is: sorry, you're having a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad pregnancy. It happens to some of us. Is it fair, no, but life isn't fair. We get on with life because we don't have a choice. <br />
<br />
If you find yourself in the 10%, I am so sorry! Know it does end, I know you feel like it won't but you will be fine. (after the baby is born) And you'll love that sweet baby & have hilarious throw-up stories to tell them when they're older. Each of my kids has at least 1 throw up story, and it's one of their badges of honor. Look at it from a different perspective, there are a ton of women who would give anything to be able to be pregnant and be in the 10%. Perspective, it's a wonderful thing.<br />
<br />
Celebrating Life!<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-44944586713748793692017-06-14T15:55:00.001-05:002017-06-14T16:00:25.785-05:00Live.Love.Dance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jQ7L9h5zbmZF1Z1oORalF8v3mx_jf_ESAJrbUicYrbpedJoqAPDHafgs9f30WX-iaYhjbrlmfs4dFhcjwmRrD0KqVEhlFRmAUaVNjt3JmSDDXhrmUWgP4IRGpXaH9_6gP8fCMMzaPoQm/s1600/live+love+dance+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="68" data-original-width="224" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jQ7L9h5zbmZF1Z1oORalF8v3mx_jf_ESAJrbUicYrbpedJoqAPDHafgs9f30WX-iaYhjbrlmfs4dFhcjwmRrD0KqVEhlFRmAUaVNjt3JmSDDXhrmUWgP4IRGpXaH9_6gP8fCMMzaPoQm/s400/live+love+dance+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: lighter;">dance</span></div>
<div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<div class="lr_dct_ent_ph" style="color: #222222; font-size: large;">
<span class="lr_dct_ph">/dans/</span><span class="lr_dct_spkr lr_dct_spkr_off" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQlfQBCCYwAA" jsaction="dob.p" style="display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 5px; opacity: 0.55; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Listen"><input height="14" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAQAAAC1QeVaAAAAi0lEQVQokWNgQAYyQFzGsIJBnwED8DNcBpK+DM8YfjMUokqxMRxg+A9m8TJsBLLSEFKMDCuBAv/hCncxfGWQhUn2gaVAktkMXkBSHmh0OwNU8D9csoHhO4MikN7BcAGb5H+GYiDdCTQYq2QubkkkY/E6CLtXdiJ7BTMQMnAHXxFm6IICvhwY8AYQLgCw2U9d90B8BAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" style="font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="image" width="14" /></span></div>
<div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;">
<i>verb</i></div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="-1" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b><b></b></div>
<ol class="lr_dct_sf_sens" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_sen vk_txt" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="float: left;">
<strong>1</strong>.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px;">
<div class="_Jig">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
<span class="vmod">"their cheeks were pressed together as they danced"</span></div>
<span class="vmod">
</span><br />
<div class="vmod">
<table class="vk_tbl vk_gy" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;"><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="sway" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIKDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">sway</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="trip" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIKTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">trip</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="twirl" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIKjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">twirl</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="whirl" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIKzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">whirl</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="pirouette" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoILDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">pirouette</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="gyrate" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoILTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">gyrate</span>; <span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="lr_dct_more_btn" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; padding-left: 4px;">More</span></span><br />
<div style="display: inline;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<div aria-hidden="true" class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><i style="padding-right: 4px;"></i><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="bop" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoILzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="disco" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIMDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="rock" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIMTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="boogie" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIMjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="mosh" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIMzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="groove" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoINDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span></span></div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<div class="vk_gy">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: -13px;">
<ul style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: max-height 0.3s;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_subsen" style="display: list-item; font-size: xx-small; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 25px; padding-top: 5px;">
<div class="_Jig" style="font-size: small;">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
</div>
<span class="vmod">
</span></div>
</div>
</li>
<li aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: max-height 0.3s;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_subsen" style="display: list-item; font-size: xx-small; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 25px; padding-top: 5px;">
<div class="_Jig" style="font-size: small;">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
</div>
<span class="vmod">
</span></div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_sen vk_txt" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="float: left;">
<strong>2</strong>.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px;">
<div class="_Jig">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
(of a person) move in a quick and lively way.</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
<span class="vmod">"Sheila danced in gaily"</span></div>
<span class="vmod">
</span><br />
<div class="vmod">
<table class="vk_tbl vk_gy" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;"><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="caper" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIODAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">caper</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="cavort" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIOTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">cavort</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="frisk" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIOjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">frisk</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="frolic" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIOzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">frolic</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="skip" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIPDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">skip</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="prance" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIPTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">prance</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="gambol" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIPjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">gambol</span>, <span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="jig" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIPzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">jig</span>; <span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="lr_dct_more_btn" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; padding-left: 4px;">More</span></span><br />
<div style="display: inline;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<div aria-hidden="true" class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="leap" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIQTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="jump" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIQjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="hop" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIQzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="bounce" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIRDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span></span></div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<div class="vk_gy">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: -13px;">
<ul style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: max-height 0.3s;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_subsen" style="display: list-item; font-size: xx-small; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 25px; padding-top: 5px;">
<div class="_Jig" style="font-size: small;">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
</div>
<span class="vmod"></span><br />
<div class="vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;">
</div>
<span class="vmod">
</span><br />
<div class="vmod">
<table class="vk_tbl vk_gy" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td style="padding: 0px;"><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="flicker" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIRjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="leap" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoIRzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="dart" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoISDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="play" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoISTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="flit" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoISjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="quiver" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoISzAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="lr_dct_more_btn" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; padding-left: 4px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="display: inline;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<div aria-hidden="true" class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="twinkle" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoITTAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="shimmer" data-ved="0ahUKEwjE07_smL7UAhUDfiYKHRwzBSYQ_SoITjAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0"></span></span></div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="lr_dct_more_txt xpdxpnd xpdnoxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<div class="vk_gy">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd" data-mh="-1" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: max-height 0.3s;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_subsen" style="display: list-item; font-size: xx-small; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 25px; padding-top: 5px;">
<div class="_Jig" style="font-size: small;">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;">
<i>noun</i></div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="-1" style="color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;">
<b></b><b></b></div>
<ol class="lr_dct_sf_sens" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_sen vk_txt" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="float: left;">
<strong>1</strong>.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px;">
<div class="_Jig">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I grew up dancing. There is something about telling a story through movement and music that is cathartic and beautiful. The story is told from the dancer's finger tips to the end of their toes. Dancing requires core strength, bursts of power and balance. Like all great athletes, good dancers make it look very easy.<br />
<br />
Old dancers don't truly quit dancing; they will find some way to move their bodies. Were you a dancer & have you ever danced in your kitchen or den? My body doesn't move like it used too, which is very frustrating, but I still enjoy doing what I can. I keep thinking some of it will magically reappear, but the crucial flexibility and power for high jumps and any kind of extension is just gone. My dancing is limited to different aerobic classes, so I enjoy watching others do the really hard stuff.<br />
<br />
I'm a sucker for a dance video, and could watch them for hours. I appreciate all forms of dance from ballet to hiphop. I was looking for a friend's email address on FB (because the site I usually use was down) when someone posted a video of a beautiful dance. It's a story of a relationship burdened with addiction. It's by Art Buzz & it's called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/artbuzzz/videos/10155386804659299/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED" target="_blank">Medicine</a>. There's another one that's a few years old that features Sergei Polunin to Hozier's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-tW0CkvdDI" target="_blank">Take Me to Church</a>. He's called the bad boy of ballet. He's bad alright...and totally amazing. Yesterday I watched <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83fgbkbU2OM" target="_blank">GRV</a>* for the first time & can I tell you they have amazing body control. (*WARNING, this video contains songs that are explicit.) One more & I promise it's the last one...well sort of. It's any of the videos from a great choreographer: Kyle Hanagami. Here's something he did to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v5s0wDbEik" target="_blank">Say You Won't Let Go</a> by James Arthur, but feel free to watch any of his stuff; it's great. (check out videos from Millennium Dance Complex too.)<br />
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The most important thing about dance at our age is for each of us to do our individual best & not worry about everyone else. One of my Dance Jam instructors said in class last night "what if I didn't even try". The fact we made it to class & are moving is a victory in and of itself. The body may be slowing down, but I'll keep dancing until I just can't any more, and I'm going to love every second of it. Now, I'm going to ice my knees.<br />
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Celebrating the dance,<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-73612574662954950782017-06-12T14:26:00.002-05:002017-06-12T21:33:58.215-05:00Call Me MacGyver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Syq5kywE_wnh-Bxwuc7kbJGYHTVj9UwjJacRhwJq29AtvH5zAwPaMPeP0ZuqoCeciQ47cgfE93tnA-Qch1BCLxXUDZsoCcSotc8_oVrv1r4gJqY0l9fFYgWUykzUTr_ic7w-cAUGv4FO/s1600/IMG_6517%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Syq5kywE_wnh-Bxwuc7kbJGYHTVj9UwjJacRhwJq29AtvH5zAwPaMPeP0ZuqoCeciQ47cgfE93tnA-Qch1BCLxXUDZsoCcSotc8_oVrv1r4gJqY0l9fFYgWUykzUTr_ic7w-cAUGv4FO/s320/IMG_6517%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm hard on my stuff. I don't mean to be, but I am. I guess I fall into the work hard/play hard category. (or at least that's what I'm telling myself.) It's something I didn't mean to pass onto the chicks, but I did. Ugh, can we have anything around here that's not chipped or broken? Feel free to giggle at the pic on the left, because it's pretty funny when you see it for the first time. <br />
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Speaking of chipped or broken stuff...I have a love/hate relationship with my fitbit. It's great because I roughly know how many steps I take a day & the amount of calories I burn. I'm super competitive and it allows me to compete against others while making me get off my booty to do it. At my age I need all the exercise I can get. The muscles are not holding their tone as long as they used to, and they have to be worked pretty hard. My first fitbit I had wouldn't keep a charge after a few months so the company sent me a replacement. It was pretty cool. I've had this one about 6 months, and in true to me form, I have cracked the back panel. <br />
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I didn't notice the crack in my fitbit until I tried to recharge it. It wouldn't charge at all, and when I checked it the back came right off. Boo. I was going through my mind about how to fix the back of my watch when I remembered I had some black duct tape. Love me some duct tape. I think you can fix just about anything with a screwdriver and duct tape. I figured duct tape was better than super glue or hot glue. I know it looks hilarious, but I can't justify buying a new one when this one works just fine in spite of the crack. :) I wore it to a high intensity dance class yesterday & the duct tape held, so I think I'm good to go. If the tape comes off at some point I'll just put some new tape on it. Just call me MacGyer. If you need something fixed let me know & I'll come over with my screwdriver & duct tape.<br />
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Celebrating 12K steps today & counting!<br />
~ashley~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5167325492130069799.post-64266800309865563432017-06-11T20:50:00.000-05:002017-06-11T21:12:19.667-05:00A Happy Surprise<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcJzCyGwbK4TscPK_wt_xfg7HKNJt440J13rWaeR5h8Gsc-YMLCSNikjWTtN_EAbZo065OG43jSvs33U1FsoOdy3fInjgPX7Uthxyl4290njxCNBpGWTJIx_A59LZIPSwp-8DPmstlraL/s1600/IMG_6512%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcJzCyGwbK4TscPK_wt_xfg7HKNJt440J13rWaeR5h8Gsc-YMLCSNikjWTtN_EAbZo065OG43jSvs33U1FsoOdy3fInjgPX7Uthxyl4290njxCNBpGWTJIx_A59LZIPSwp-8DPmstlraL/s200/IMG_6512%255B1%255D.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ugh<br />stained sink</span></td></tr>
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This weekend our fam of 6 was able to spend some time together. It's getting harder, but those moments are wonderful. I talked to Harry earlier in the week and he wanted to know if I had some of that 'oxy stuff' that could get stains out of his shorts. He wore them to work and got grease on them. NOOOoooo! Of course they are his nice shorts; and he probably tried washing and drying them to get the stains out; but set those stains right in. Great.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuKi6-jhv4DJYaNxII1ktKSUY82idc6p3P05AjOUydj5QOHLcNozDLBO2CTraIF12OapBt3Dnx3kXjRyum_SPAZ-vKe-08qeyyb_ALlO1WCum_3PwzuWOaTFr8KDMGmptFDYbL4K0Ge81/s1600/IMG_6514%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuKi6-jhv4DJYaNxII1ktKSUY82idc6p3P05AjOUydj5QOHLcNozDLBO2CTraIF12OapBt3Dnx3kXjRyum_SPAZ-vKe-08qeyyb_ALlO1WCum_3PwzuWOaTFr8KDMGmptFDYbL4K0Ge81/s200/IMG_6514%255B1%255D.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oxyclean and<br />very hot water</span></td></tr>
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I pulled my Oxyclean off the top of the dryer & went to my porcelain sink to soak them in very hot water, because that's supposedly how you remove grease stains. A side note about my sink. I think it's the original to the house. It has seen its better days. (I would love a copper sink, but am not willing to spend the money to get one; there is too much money going out.) One of my children, and I won't name which one (cough, Hopson) left dirty pans in it when he was living there after his freshman year of college and badly stained both sides of the sink. I have no idea how long he left his dirty dishes in the sink, but they set-in. I have tried many different ways to get the stains out over the last four years with no success, until yesterday. I personally have a phobia about leaving dirty dishes in the sink, and not making up my bed. <b>Every-time</b> I have done either one of those things bad things have happened. I will be late somewhere rather than leave those two things undone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVrqgJ5k-xvbvbSUy0OrEHgWGZQbj5KutFc4PqeO7F6z3H39VZz7TL7kXN7QEr124w9becGfb8K6SsexIAjHRw3lN7mA5esm271IQ2uI1SsbWbF01XGpLQ8xHEN4eSMvcepdAQujjD-X1/s1600/IMG_6515%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVrqgJ5k-xvbvbSUy0OrEHgWGZQbj5KutFc4PqeO7F6z3H39VZz7TL7kXN7QEr124w9becGfb8K6SsexIAjHRw3lN7mA5esm271IQ2uI1SsbWbF01XGpLQ8xHEN4eSMvcepdAQujjD-X1/s200/IMG_6515%255B1%255D.JPG" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So pretty. :)</span></td></tr>
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I soaked Harry shorts in the hot water with Oxyclean for about an hour. Once the water was finally cool enough for me to put my hands in it I really scrub them. I then put some more Oxyclean on them and I scrubbed them some more. Unfortunately, all the stains didn't come out, but after I rinsed all grime out of the sink, it shined like the top of the Chrysler Building! Not one four year stain to be seen. It was a most happy surprise!<br />
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Because it worked so well, this morning after church I decided to soak the other side. I didn't soak it as long, but I had the same results. I heard a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vZpb9wFPx0" target="_blank">trumpet fanfare</a> and it was fantastic. I wanted to share it with y'all just in case you have a porcelain sink that might need a quick whitening. <br />
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Celebrating Life & clean sinks!<br />
~ashley<br />
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<br />~ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11514332167868815499noreply@blogger.com0