2011

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe it is already 2011. I started my Friday morning off by doing inventory at work (boo). Then Neal and I headed to Austin, Texas to ring in the New Year! We bought tickets to a party at Abel's on the Lake next door to Hula Hut. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it turned out! The tickets included unlimited drinks, appetizer and dessert buffet,  a DJ upstairs, a band downstairs, champagne at midnight and a beautiful fireworks show on the lake! Unfortunately, during the finale of the fireworks show, a piece got a little too close and caught the roof of Hula Hut on fire! It was very sad to see it burning, but the fire fighters were able to get to it before it was completely demolished. News reports say there were $75K worth of damages. We ended the night waiting for our taxi driver Emily (I can't believe she came back!) and walked the streets of Austin until we finally hailed a cab at 4:30 in the morning. The cab ride home is what made the night. We had an awesome driver who listened to Bob Marley, explained life (according to a cab driver in atx), made an instrument using only his hands, and then left us with two high fives.

Saturday morning, afternoon rather, we ate at one of the most amazing vegan restaurants in Austin, Veggie Heaven. I've been begging Neal to try it every time we make it to Austin, and with almost every other restaurant closed, I finally got him there. The place is very small, with random posters and decorations. You sometimes have to wait to be waited on, but I guarantee a satisfying meal. My favorite is the Spicy Soybean Tofu served with brown rice. Try it. And needless to say, I was right again. Neal loved it. ;)

We met some friends at Union Park (a bar off West Sixth) and drank pink prickly pear mimosas until the sun went down. After some rest, we ate at another super awesome outdoor restaurant called Cazamance www.cazamance.com. This place was amazing! Check it out. We stayed on Rainey street and visited some old houses that have been turned into bars. It was so relaxing and fun. We played Jenga at one of the cute bars. I picked a wood block that said "Send a picture to 512-XXX-XXXX with the title 'Drunk Jenga!'"So naturally, I did. Here is the original picture...

After a little while the girl wrote us back, "F yea! Have a blast, you guys are the s***!" It made me very happy that they responded. And then they sent us a revised picture of our original, which again, made me even more happy!

What an amazing way to end our New Year weekend! I am so lucky that I got to spend such a special night with so many people I love! 

I hope you all had a safe and memorable New Year as well. One of my resolutions is to write more often, so check back soon. 

xo, ash.

graduation! birthday!

well... I DID IT! I finally graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Business. It seems like yesterday that I was graduating from highschool. I'm not sure that it has hit me yet though. I guess it just feels like a typical Winter Break from school. Except next year, I won't be driving 2 hours every day back and forth from San Marcos. (phew!)

It was such an amazing and special day. My brother and his girlfriend drove down from Houston with my nephew, my parents (of course), my boyfriend and my three best girlfriends all made it out! I couldn't have done it without their support over the years. You all have no idea how special you are to me.

Not only was Friday a BIG celebration, but Neal's 27th birthday was on Sunday! I started the morning off by picking up some Bill Miller's breakfast tacos (the best) and had breakfast in bed while he opened presents! Later that afternoon we saw Tron in 3D and in the DBox seats! Amazzzzzzzing! We finished the evening off at Paesano's with Sea Bass and wine! Mmm! Perfect day! I love you bby. I hope your day was extra speical, xo.

Thanks for all the memories and for such a blessed weekend with everyone I love. Until next time...

xo, ash

Giving Back

I was reading my Self magazine the other day and came across some new iPhone apps. Most of them were Calorie Counters, Style Guides, and Fashion applications, but I was curious about the last one called Cause World. If you know me, you know that I can't help it when it comes to donating to charities, so you can imagine my excitement when I found this app.

First and foremost, this app is FREE so there is NO excuse NOT to get it. All you have to do is "check in" to certain businesses that you are in or around and you receive "karmas." These karmas add up and then when you have collected enough, you can donate them to any charity you would like! The businesses that are associated with CauseWorld are the ones who donate the money and/or time to these different charities. Charities that range from planting a tree to helping cure cancer.

I think this is such a wonderful idea and it makes me even more happy to see ALL the small and huge businesses that are a part of CauseWorld. If you are a business owner, you can visit this site to get your company on there too! www.causeworld.com

I am almost positive you can access this on any phone, so please check it out and start  donating without any effort.

Thanks everyone!

xo, ash.

apple of my eye

so i was searching recipes the other night (not uncommon), and i came across a website titled "we are not martha, but that doesn't mean we aren't going to try!" www.wearenotmartha.com this website makes me really happy. not only do these girls test and try all those products we're unsure about, but then they tell us how spectacular they are and why they love them! i was wondering how my recipe search got me to this website when i stumbled across recipes! neal was sighing every time i got excited about another good vegetarian recipe and pulled him away from his basketball game. but then i came across what read "apple, sunflower seed, and cheddar cheese sandwich." WHAAAAAT!! i love ALL those things! so you can guess what happened next... grocery store!


here is what you need:
green apple
cream cheese
sunflower kernels
white cheddar cheese
bread (i use and love Oroweat multi-grain Sandwich Thins)


now watch, learn, and make immediately...

i put the sandwich (open-face, no top) in the oven on broil and watched it until the cheese melted (2-3 minutes). 


neal asked me to rate this sandwich on a scale from 1 to 10 and without hesitation i rated it a 10! i made him one after that and he couldn't have agreed more! (thank God. because i plan on making this sandwich every day for the rest of my life!) all the flavors compliment each other so well. 


ok ok, get out of here and get to the grocery store. and wipe that drool from your face too ;)

xo, ash

laughter is the best medicine

i used to dread my birthday every year because it seemed like something bad happened or that i was just in a bad mood. this seems like typical behavior for people and birthdays, but this year i was really not looking forward to it. don't get me wrong, i had an awesome weekend planned, but i was thinking about where i "thought" i would be when i was 25. there are some old "ten year plans" i filled out once or twice that stated by 25 i would be graduated, married, with a kid and plans for another! but when i woke up friday morning, next to my boyfriend, i couldn't imagine being anywhere else. maybe i haven't walked the stage, or have a diamond on my finger, but i do have a beautiful life that i wouldn't trade for a kid or a degree. (right now)

neal sang happy birthday to me all morning while i planned the day ahead.. mom stopped by the house to feed me breakfast tacos and bring me starbucks.. we hit the road for the beach and so began one of the best birthdays a girl could ask for. i don't think i have laughed so much on a 3 hour car trip... and at Sushibar http://sushibar.tv/ that evening, i laughed until it hurt.

i believe that laughter really is the best medicine. think about the last time you couldn't control your laughter or the last time you actually "laughed out loud" ... it makes you smile. it's those moments when we really don't think about anything else. no one can take them away. i feel sorry for people who don't have this in their life- that is why i surround myself with people who keep a smile on my face. i try my best to be that person for other people too.

next time you are down, just remember what remedy i suggest...

xo, ash

 

it's my party...

my 25th birthday is on friday, october 8th. i have made numerous lists over the years of "things to do before i'm..." this blog was one of them. i haven't completely decided what this blog will be about, but i want to share with you (whoever you are) the little things that make me happy. whether is it a new recipe, a new outfit or a new song i come across... if it makes me smile, then i'll do my best to share it. my goal is to look back on this blog in a year and see how i have (or haven't changed).

i have grown up and learned a lot in the past year. one thing i will leave you with today is "appreciation." i have an amazing family, great friends and a beautiful boyfriend. i have learned that it's the little things that let us know we are appreciated. i try my best to have the house clean when my boyfriend gets home, or make enough food to share with my family when i cook- because it's those sweet little texts that read "the soup was amazing" or "the kitchen looks great, thank you" that warm my heart and let me know that i am loved. if you get a chance, do something small for someone, or send an unexpected text to an old friend or loved one. let them know that they are appreciated even if it just says "thank you" or "i love you." like the old saying goes- it's the little things.

my brother recently sent me a nice, unexpected text..

and my boyfriend responded to my sweet note...

i'll continue to share my smiles, 

xo, ash.