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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

Oh Monday!

Happy Monday!

Who says that?!? 

Trust me I am nowhere near as chipper as that sounded!

Let me just start by saying my weekend FLEW by!

I love & hate weekends like that...

You know, the ones that are jam packed full of fun and relaxing,

and then before you know it its Sunday night and you realize you have to go to work the next day!

Heres a recap of our weekend:

 Friday was my sisters birthday... here she is with her presents sent from Utah!

Friday night we went to Red Robin for her birthday dinner.

Now some of you may be wondering 'why would you go to Red Robin' 

(trust me I was too)

Well, the answer is that there were 13 of us, and children were involved, 

so this seemed like the easiest most kid friendly environment.

Well, my sister told me to be at the resturant at 7pm

When Alex & I got there, most of her party was already there, but because when she called at 6:30

to do call ahead seating, the staff told her not to worry since they were not busy! 

PLEASE, its a Friday night at 6:30 you are gonna get busy!

Anyway, since our party was so large we had to wait over an hour to get a table...

This whole little story leads me to the next picture up there :)

By the time we got seated I needed a drink,

I decided to do something different & ordered some thing new called the Electric Watermelon...

It was NOT good!

I know, I usually don't like the new drinks that I try, and I should just stick with what I know!

And this is how Saturday morning was spent!

As if I didn't get enough of cleaning last weekend!

Since Alex was home this weekend, I made him help me move the couches

so that I could get all parts of the living room clean.

Please lets not talk about the 1970's wood wall in the picture, 

its awful, I know, but we rent!

(also not pictured is the really ugly floor to celine drapes on the window)

Moving right along...

Alex needed to go to Fry's on Saturday & I couldn't resist taking a picture of this TV!

Who could resist this face?!? 

'You talkin to mee??'

I felt the need to document the fact that I went to Sam's Club,

by myself, with only two things on my list & ONLY bought those two things!!

And, finally, how I spent my Sunday evening...

How was your weekend??

Only 4 more days until Friday!!!

Have a GREAT day...

XOXO 

                         ~ Ashley

Dear Friday

Dear Friday...

Thank you sooo much for finally getting here! Is it just me or has this week crawled by at a snails pace?!? 

Dear Apple Macbook...

I cannot express how happy I am that you are now in my life... I didn't realize just how much I would love you until you came into my life!!

Dear Commuters in the Greater Sacramento area...
Can we please learn to drive a tad bit better? And on that note can we please all agree not to freak out next time it rains & drive just like any other day? K? Thanks!

Dear Fur Babies...
Can you please let your mom & dad sleep in this weekend? (I don't know about you guys out there, but my babies can't seem to understand that the weekend means we can sleep longer!)

Dear Food Truck Mania...
Last night was awesome! Great food and people! I, of course, forgot to take any pictures of this event... So you will just have to wait until next month, sorry...

and finally...

Dear Monday...
Can you figure out a way to rearrange your schedule so that we get more than 2 days off? Thanks!

Until next time!!

XOXO
~Ashley

One of Those Days!!

Well, it has definitely been one of those days!

You know what Im talking about...

One of those days that starts all wrong,

One of those days that makes you want to go back to bed and start again!

One of those days that you cant wait to be over!

Let me 'splain how my day started...

I had EVERY intention of getting to work early today (so I could leave a little early), but my sleep had other plans for me!

My normal 20 minute commute then took me 1 hour and 15 minutes (if your on the ball you know that this made me late for work)

You see here in Sacramento, when water falls from the sky, people suddenly don't know how to operate a vehicle anymore...
 

 

One: The view from my side mirror; Two: The line of cars waiting to merge onto the freeway with us; Three: My TOP speed!!!

The only thing that made this commute bearable was this:

If you havent heard this version yet, you need to!

(I may be a little biased since these are 2 of my favorite performers!)

Oh, and maybe the satisfaction that most of the people on the freeway with me are going to be late for work as well! (That was mean I know!) 

Any way! The good news about today is that tomorrow is Friday (See Im trying to find something positive about today) and tomorrow is my sweet sisters birthday!

Another good thing about today is that tonight is Food Truck Mania night! More on this in another post...

Plus... Alex is off this weekend and for once in a loooonnnggg time we don't have ANY plans!

Well that is all for today...

XOXO

                         ~ Ashley

TV Tuesday

Happy Tuesday! We are one day closer to Friday!!

Nothing exciting going on around here... Today I thought that we could discuss some TV...

Alex & I DVR almost all of the shows we watch, a lot of this has to do with the fact that we are too busy to actually sit in front of the TV every night to watch all the shows we like & my dislike for most commercials . Some of our favorites include NCIS (original & LA), 2 Broke Girls, Whitney, Duck Dynasty (you get the point)...

And then there are the shows that I record and watch all by myself...

I know Im not the only one who watches this! This show tugs at all my want to be country girl (but living in a city) heart strings! 

If you are not watching this show you should be! NOW!

I love this show, but Alex has grown tired of it and has stopped watching it with me.

I understand, he likes to know that a show will continue, but this show seems to have the same story line in every episode! I am still holding out hope for it!

I love the pace of this show. I love Olivias character.

I love that the first lady has FINALLY told the president off!

Sorry if you haven't watched the latest episode...

This is my some-what guilty pleasure.

This show is at the end of its second season, but a few weeks ago I was sick & spent the day catching up on Netflix!

First off who doesn't love Rachel Bilson? She is adorable!

I love the big city girl in small town Alabama!

Now this show just started about a month ago... 

I recorded the first few shows & Alex didn't want to watch.

So this past weekend, while Alex was out of town I decided to finally watch it.

The first episode pulled me in & I couldn't stop watching,

Unfortunately, I didn't set up the DVR to record all of the episodes so....

I spent Sunday morning finishing up my laundry & watching the last 4 episodes on Hulu!

So, what shows do you watch??

xoxox

~Ashley  

Things Im LOVING

Well hello! I know its been a while. Im not sure where my head is with this blogging thing. I really like to read everybody else's blogs but not sure if Im up for doing my own! This post is just going to be something light, so with that being said, here are some things that Im loving right now...

These 2 candles from Bath & Body Works... LOVE!

I personally stocked up on them since the sale (2 for $22) was ending soon, plus anybody that shops at BBW knows that this is what you do when the 3 wick candles are on sale!

I CANT wait for the weather to get warmer so that I can wear these shorts that I just picked up from Khols. 

These 3 fur babies! (L-R: Leia, Yoda & Roulette)

Alex was out of town on Saturday & then had to work on Sunday, so we spent the weekend at home!

Finally...

What I have been in L-O-V-E with for the last week...

My new Apple Macbook Pro! 

Let me tell you, I never thought that I would switch from a PC to a Mac.

I grew up with PC's but have always lusted after the Mac's whenever I was in in the store.

I found out that my job offers this program where you can purchase a computer (or tablet) and the money is deducted from my paycheck for 1 year.

Of course I jumped on it because for a low $90 per check I have a new computer (and some software that I wanted) with no interest charges!

I had already started to save for one but now I have my computer (much faster that if I had waited until I saved up all the money).

Since Im new to the Mac world (not apple - I have had an iphone for years & last year Alex bought me an iPad) any good suggestions for apps?

HELP

This will be short...

Im new to this blog thing & while trying to spruce up my blog I somehow lost the ability to add followers....
Everytime I add the widget through blogger it seems to work but when I view the blog its just a blank square. If anybody out there knows how to fix this I would love the help!

Thank you sooooo much!!

Ashley

WHY?

Hello guys and gals!

Its Wednesday! And while I try to get on somewhat of a routine around here, that means....

RANDOM WEDNESDAY!!

Today I find myself asking WHY?

WHY do I need to go to starbucks in the morning?? (Especially when I have coffee at home and work!)

WHY can I not get outta bed in the morning to workout?

WHY cant I find the motivation to workout after work?

WHY does the government take sooo much outta my paycheck for taxes?!?!

WHY cant my family live closer to me (or me to them)?

WHY did I have to be stubborn for all those years and not talk to my dad?

WHY didn't I spend more time with my grandparents while they were still here?

WHY?

I didn't intend for this to get so deep there at the end... but I guess those are questions that will always linger in the back of my mind.

With all that said I leave you with this:

Until next time...

Ashley

Hello all!!

I know, I know...

I shouldn't be surprised by this day of the week anymore

but I am!

I don't know what it is about Monday's but we just don't get along.

I guess its my lack of planning for the work week on Sunday...

This weekend was no different!

I got up early on Saturday to drive Alex & a friend up to Auburn

(They were going to be drinking) 

and then picking them up later in the afternoon.

While I had planned to clean the house while he was gone for the day

I sad to say that when I got home my book was MUCH more interesting than cleaning the house!

I did, however, clean out the hall closet! (Wish I had taken pictures)

It had become a mish mash of stuff that I didn't want to look at anymore

AND on a positive note I found the charger to my clarisonic in there!

That was the extent of my cleaning though...

I still have a basket full of clean clothes to put away

and ALL of our laundry still sits waiting to be washed!

Now you all know what I will be doing tonight :)

And now I leave you with some inspiring words:

Until next time!

Ashley

Another Random Wednesday!

Hello all!

Sorry its been a few days...

Just have a lot going on right now!

Anyway... its Wednesday, so that means another totally random post...

This is actually something I think about from time to time,

Do I live where I should??

I don't mean in the home I live in, I mean the 

city, state, area, etc...

I was born and raised in Sacramento.

And this is the capital of the state but sometimes

it doesn't feel like I should be here.

While I know that I hate living in the "country"

Where you have to drive 30 minutes to get to the closest grocery or gas station.

Sometimes I feel like I was meant to live in the midwest or the south.

In a smaller town, where the pace maybe a little slower but its a community.

Sacramento is a BIG city... not like LA or New York,

but I don't know my neighbors,

we don't have community events (at least not that I know of)

we don't have that one place that everybody goes.

I am a book lover and in books that are based in the midwest or the south,

sometimes I find myself wishing thats where I lived.

Now I know that in a book the author is making the area sound the best for the book.

I also know that the grass is not always greener...

But sometimes I cant help but wonder...

And to leave you with something totally unrelated to this post:

I LOVE this movie!!!

XOXO

Ashley

Its Friday ~ With a PSA

So I had planned a fun post about last night

and I still plan on giving that to you,

but first I have a little PSA to give.

PLEASE drive safe out there!

This morning on my way to work,

while wishing I was still in my bed

a MAJOR car accident happened right in front of me.

Without going into too many details,

driver A turned left from a side street not seeing driver B

Driver A sent driver B flying across the street where she landed on

her roof.

This literally happened 100 feet in front of me!

Luckily driver A was fine.

Driver B was pulled out of her car, after using the 'Jaws of Life'

and seemed to be okay.

PLEASE be aware on the road...

I know that Im not always the best driver, especially if Im in a hurry,

but after seeing that accident happen I promise I will make an effort to be better!

~~~

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming :)

Last night me, Alex & my parents went to see the king of country,

George Strait.

For those of you that don't know this is his farewell tour

 as he is not going to tour anymore.

Well thats the word right now at least!

Let me tell you it was amazing!

The wonderful Martina McBride opened for him, 

and I never considered myself a fan of her music,

but she is AMAZEBALLS in concert!!!

The set was very simplistic, but hey that true to George!

The show started right on time with Martina singing for about an hour.

Then they took down her music instruments & set up Georges...

George then came out and sang for almost TWO hours!

During his set he stopped and a retired General came up on stage 

on behalf of the Wounded Warrior project 

and they gave a Veteran a new home!

By the way, a country concert in Sacramento, California is a fun place to people watch!

There was the two guys in the row in front of us that looked like they would rather be anywhere else, plus one of these guys actually fell asleep!

Then there was the guy in section next to us that was escorted away by the sheriffs BEFORE George even came out on stage!

Plus, the guy next to me that kept moving & almost fell asleep himself!

Oh wait that guy was with me... haha...

Country is not his music preference but wanted to go anyway!

Here are some pictures from last night...

Sorry about the crappy quality, but I forgot my camera & had to use the trusty iPhone!

I really didn't mean for this to be this long....

Have a great weekend!!

Ohh ~ who is everybody picking for the superbowl this weekend??

Until Monday

XOXO

Ashley

SPD: Pineapple Angel Food Cake

Its Thursday, so that means its time for this weeks Saw it. Pinned it. Did it!!

My SPD this week was actually done over the weekend :)

Alex was gone for a guys camping weekend & I was trolling pinterest 

{Shocking! I know}

Anyways I came across this pin:

 

This looked soo good, and I had a sweet tooth going on...

So I jumped into the car and went the the store

{luckily for me the grocery store is just around the corner}

Heres what you need

~ Angel Food Cake Mix

~ 20oz can Crushed Pineapple (in the juice)

~ 9x13 baking pan

~ preheat the oven to 350

Thats it! Seriously!!

All you do is mix the cake mix and entire can of pineapple together

When you do this it makes this bubbly fluffy mixture (make sure to use a bigger mixing bowl)

Then pour the batter into a 9x13 baking pan

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

And voila you have cake!

It was really good too!

The only thing is that it makes alot of cake 

and I found out the next day that Alex doesn't like pineapple

{How did I not know that? I mean we have been together for almost 6 years}

Well I hope you like it!!

XOXO   

Ashley

Being a Grown Up! WTH?!?

Two posts in one day! 

Who woulda thunk it?!?

This is gonna get serious!

With the new year, and my upcoming 30th birthday in a mere 18 months,

I have set myself some goals.

ONE: I would like to get my financial self in check!

Yes, I know at 28 this should have already happened... 

But it didn't so dont get crazy on me!

TWO: I would like to get rid of some of this weight that I seem to carry around year after year. I've seen the results from Stephanie & Kristen's blogs & I am seriously considering this whole yeast free diet. I dunno know ~ I really love carbs and sugar, but hey who doesn't?

THREE: I would like to be a better friend (to my girls) and girlfriend (to Alex).

I personally think Im a GREAT girlfriend, but there is always room for improvement.

FOUR: I would like to accomplish some of the things on my 30 before 30 list ~ more on this at a later time!

I think four is a good number of goals to have for the next 18 months!

I have already started on number one...

I sat my self down and had a serious conversation about my spending habits.

When I realized how much I spend on non essential things and how little I spend on the important things its no wonder that my savings account doesnt have very many digits in it.

So I made my self a budget for each month for the entire year on 2013! 

Now obviously this is just a rough estimate for the year, but I am the type of person that has to have everything planned out (money wise) or I will spend the money because its there.

I know, not a good thing!

 Also, as a way to help me stay on track I started using Mint.com

This website also has an app on iPhone so I can take it with me anywhere.

With this handy little helper you can link your bank & credit card accounts so that it will tell you you balance & transactions, it will also tell you when payments are due.

Plus you can set up budgets for all the different categories you need and it tracks your spending in these categories.

Also you can set up goals, like pay off debt or create an emergency fund, and it will calculate how much you need to pay & to which cards or how much you need to save per month for you emergency fund.

Ive never been so excited about budgeting before! 

Now looking over my finances I know that the next 6-8 weeks are gonna be kinda hairy, but after that it looks like blue skies and clear sailing

(I know, lame puns but I needed something cheery to end this with)

Until next time, its just one day at a time!!

XOXO ~ Ashley