HELLO 2014!!

Hello again! I have been gone for far too long!

I meant to just take a quick break, being new to blogging, it was kinda overwhelming. But that quick break turned into SEVERAL months. Those several months were filled with all kinds of wonderful things that I don't even think I can remember all to document. However there are just a few that I would never forget! 

In November Alex asked me to marry him! Now I wish I had a romantic story to tell you, however, its not! He asked me while we were at a bar with 4 of our closest friends to watch my Saints stomp all over his Cowboys. And since no one knew he was going to do this (I think himself included) I have very few pictures! However, he did think ahead enough to call my parents!

(This was snapped moments after)

(I don't even have the picture of us with the ring! Grr!)

(PS on a worse note, after only having my ring for 2.5 weeks a diamond fell out and it is currently being fixed! They have had my ring for over 3 weeks now and I am starting to go insane without it!!!)

So now onto the new year ahead of us... I have never been one to make resolutions. Mostly because, lets be honest, I can never stick to them! So instead I have decided to make goals for myself (besides goals sound better than resolutions), both for the year and each month. Now I wish that I could tell you that this is totally out of my own brain, sadly its not. You see I have read the sweet sweet blog of So Shay for close to a year now and she always inspires me when she posts her monthly goals at the begging of each month. Not only does she post new goals, but she accounts for the goals from the previous month, completed or not! So here goes....

My Goals for 2014

• Make goals for each month
• Continue to pay off debt (and not add more)
• Move to a new home?!?
• Take the national Mammography test (I've been trying to do this for 2 years! Lets get it done!)
• Stress less, relax more
• Take a girls vacation somewhere warm
• Appreciate each day for what it is... A Sweet New Day!!

My Goals for January

• Get up early 3 days a week
• Floss every day
• Drink more water, less soda
• Take my lunch to work at least 4 days a week
• Finish cleaning out the spare room and start on the hall closet!

And I think I should take it slow this month and see how things go!

Bloglovin

This will be short & sweet...

Since google reader is closing & I am sooo behind the times around here. Follow me at Bloglovin...

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Decisions

Hello all!
I know I have been a way for a while...Sorry!

There has been a lot going on.
I have had some management changes at work, and yes I have to admit that I have personally been in a funk and slightly bitter since I did not get the promotion I interviewed for. (Part of this bitterness is because of the person who is now my lead.)
Also, work has suddenly become busier, which is GREAT but its taking some getting used to.

I have also started studying (again) for yet another board certified test.... Totally thought I was done with school and tests a few years ago, but this one is my fault for not doing earlier!

I felt the need to document my studying for all of you!!

Anywoo... We have some decisions going on at home too!
Alex & I have somewhat decided that we would like to move out of California.
Part of this is that I, personally, am sick of living here.
The cost of living is high, the taxes are high, and I have lived here my whole life.
As an x-ray/mammography tech I can basically work anywhere in the US (just might need to take another state test depending on where we end up)!
So now we are starting  to research... where to live, where to work, where we will get the most bang for our buck!

This is a slightly nerve wraking process, especially since all of our immediate families live here... I have some family in Utah and Georgia.

At this point I am taking any and all suggestions as to a good place to call home. Our only requirements are not in hurricane or tornado country!

Until next time....

XOXO

                         ~ Ashley

FAMILY

I really don't understand why family has to be soo  difficult sometimes!!

Ok, I may or may not be having a rant here but I just need to get some of this off my chest....

Alex and I have been together for SIX years next Tuesday & we have lived together for 4 of those years. With that said this year has been extremely difficult for us to plan holidays with our families. Trust me I don't know why this year is any different than the previous 5 years, but it is! For the last 4 years his only sibling (older sister) was in the Air Force and stationed in Washington and she would usually come home around Thanksgiving for a few weeks. While she was gone she came home & got married to her long time long distance boyfriend (he stayed here while she was gone) and she had a baby. Last August she came home for good, and I think that is when the holiday scheduling became an issue... Now I am in NO WAY saying this is her fault, but suddenly both families have become needier. 

Last Thanksgiving I went and changed everything by going with my sister to see some our family that lives in Utah. BUT, Alex & I hosted an early Thanksgiving at our (very small) house for everyone. Then there was Christmas, I talked my mom into doing a brunch so that we would be able to go to Alex's parents for dinner. I know what you are thinking "whats the problem?"

Well, Easter came around, and I wanted to go with Alex to his parents since there are kids on that side of the family, but my mom was doing something at the same time and nothing else worked out for them. Now, this weekend is Mother's Day. I kept telling Alex 'Call you mom to see what they are doing'. Oh, don't forget that Alex works at a hospital and works every other weekend, and guess what.... YUP he works THIS Sunday! So my step dad tells me on Monday that they are going to BBQ on Sunday at 4. Ok, no problem. Then I get this text today from Alex's sister:

I think what set me over the edge was that it wasnt a question of are we able to come. It was just already planned and decided that we were coming!

Then this is the follow up conversation with Alex:

Sorry that this is so long! I needed to get this off my chest and not to Alex! HAHA

I already feel better, and thanks if you read this whole thing!

XOXO

                     ~Ashley

Monday, Monday, Monday!

Why o why do you always seem to sneak up on me?
I understand that you have to come after Sunday, but every Monday morning I seem to be asking myself, why?
I think part of this might be from the fact that Alex is off on Mondays...

Anywho!
How was everyone's weekend?

I have to say that this is the first weekend in a LONG time that I didn't feel like it went by in a flash!

Last week my girlfriend Amanda got some bad news, so to cheer her up her sister (Sarah) & I took her out for the day on Saturday.
We started with brunch at the wonderful Tower Cafe!
Let me just say that it was delicious!!

Sadly, this is the only picture I took ALL weekend!!

Then, our plan was to go to the river, but we ended up just going to the pool at Sarahs apartment!

Saturday night I spent at home with my love watching.... wait for it.... NASCAR!
**SIDENOTE: Not sure that I have told you all about my love for NASCAR.... I think this deserves its own post!!**

Sunday Alex had to work (the joys of working at a hospital, it NEVER closes!)... I am lucky in this, since I work in outpatient, my job is Monday - Friday!! :)
Anyway, since he had to work, I spent Sunday running errands, cleaning the house, doing laundry, you get the point!
We decided to have a little bar-b-que on Sunday evening with my sister & her husband & a few friends... The weather was so nice here all weekend & it was the perfect way to end the weekend!!

Now, if the next FIVE days could just get outta the way, we have a busy weekend (that I have been looking forward to) to get started!!!

XOXO

                     ~ Ashley

Monday Mornings

Who ever decided that we should work 5 days a week and only get 2 days off is CRAZY!!!

Clearly I do not like this idea!!
This Monday morning has already been a rough one for me...

• I woke up late! 
• Left my phone at home! {Lucky me Alex is off today & is going to bring it to me}
• My work computer decided it wanted to be like one of its ancient relatives & be slow as a dinosaur this morning!

I really am hoping this day gets better at some point!!

Anywho...

What happened around here this weekend?
All sorts of FUN!

Alex was gone clampin (no thats not a misspelled word, more on this another time) again this weekend... So what do us girls do when the boys are gone for 3 days? We have a girls night!!

To start the weekend off right, I only worked a half day on Friday (WOO-HOO), went home to clean the house, give the dogs a bath, get ready for the girls to come over!

Roulette discovered (after 1.5 years) that there is a window above the sink! 

Crazy dog!

After finally getting everything ready I realized that we were going to be having a liquid diet that night!

There really was food in there too!

If you cant tell there are 6 bottles of wine, who knows how many beers, and in the top corner 3 bottles of moonshine!

***If you guys havent tried that Redds Apple Beer, YOU NEED TO!!!***

And, now this is where I tell you that there are absolutely NO pictures of the decor or us having fun! I know I'm awful at this picture taking thing... Its something that Im working on!

Saturday was spent relaxing... I mean what else was I supposed to do?!? 

My house was clean, laundry was done, dogs had gotten baths... So I headed to the backyard to get some sun!!

Obviously Roulette needed to join in!

*Drink recipe*

Smirnoff Whipped Cream Vodka
+
Orange Cream soda
+
Ice
=
DELICIOUS summer drink!!

Saturday night was spent watching all the girly movies that I had been wanting to watch, but Alex didn't!! 

I must say I was VERY disappointed with Magic Mike...

Sunday Alex came home, we ran some errands & then were lazy and caught up on things that were recorded on the DVR!

Oh I almost forgot!

It took me 20 minutes (and I was on the website at exactly 10am when they went on sale) but I got us Kid Rock tickets for this July!

This show is going to be amazing, I hope! 

Plus ALL tickets, no matter where the seat, are $20!! 

Who could pass that up?? Not me!!

How was your weekend??

XOXO

                      ~ Ashley

TV Tuesday... Country Style

Yesterday was a very happy day around here...

Yesterday, I opened up blogger and had a HUGE surprise waiting for me...

I have my VERY FIRST FOLLOWER!!!!

HUGE shout out to Ashley over at Social Graces! You have no idea how much that little '1' up there means to me!

Now I have another little confession for you all...

I have a secret celebrity husband. I share this man with not only his wife, but thousands of other women around the world (ok maybe just nation, but you get the point)! 

So, when said person was hosting the ACM's this past Sunday, I was in heaven!

Oh, by the way if you haven't figured out who it is yet...

LUKE BRYAN!

Let me just say, his acceptance speech was perfect. What true emotion!

Moving right along now...

Luke & Blake hosting the ACM Awards was adorable. They were awesome together!

Some other key points of the night:

• King George... LOVED the fact that everyone stood during his entire performance! #60for60 if anybody deserves something like this it is him! Oh, and talk about watching history, his performance with Garth... amazing!
• Carrie... She was gorgeous as always. Her performance of Two Black Cadillacs, perfect!
• Florida Georgia Line winning New Artist of the Year! I heard on the radio yesterday, that last year they were at home eating pizza, watching the ACM's on TV.
• Finally seeing Eric Church without his signature sunglasses & hat, although he did put them back on when he accepted his award
• Jake Owen's plaid tux... I mean come on, who else could have pulled that off?
• Finally, as if George & Garth were not enough... The amazing Stevie Wonder performed not once but twice!

All the performances got me soo excited for all the concerts this summer! 

Have a great Tuesday!!

XOXO

                        ~Ashley