Ruger vs The Vacuum

Vacuum: 1
Ruger: 0
Yes the dog hides when we vacuum.
I think he's going to have anxiety when we finally move lol

Staging a Home

Have you ever had to do this?  I don't mean to obsess about what is going on with us,...but I started last night. I took stuff off the walls. It was so weird. Not having crap on the walls makes the whole place look different; which I know is the point but it is surprising.  Maybe it is because there has always been stuff on the walls...J had stuff up when I moved in.  He had one room dedicated to Scarface stuff and posters and pictures.  He says the movie is a classic.  I fall asleep EVERY. TIME. I try to watch it. I don't find it that entertaining...in fact it is a little boring. Oh well -- he can have his man room in our next home and have all of it back on the walls.

They tell us to take all our personal items down, family pictures, knick knacks. It is supposed to help people come in and not be distracted by your things and be able to visualize their own stuff in the space. WHAT am I supposed to do with all our stuff that is supposed to be hidden?!

Thank GOODNESS we have family in the area.  We will be storing a good amount of our personal things and wall hangings at my parent's house.  Tonight I am going to spend a lot of time going through the craft room. I have to organize the space and de-clutter-fy it.

I'll post some before and after photos of the space.  You are going to be shocked and I am going to be a little ashamed as the room has become our 'catch-all' over the past couple months with everything else going on. I just haven't had time to be in there.

I have a puppy and ice-cream date with my Medium-Friend on Sunday that I am looking forward to. Saturday is going to be time with The Husband and probably more cleaning --woo. MAYBE we can take a lake break =)

Have a wonderful weekend! Happy Friday!

Sometimes Life Gets In The Way

Of EVERYTHING. At least this 'road block' is actually a good thing.  It is a step in the direction we want to go. 

I have been SO busy -- I got a promotion (Yay me!) So I have kept my head down at work getting into my new role.

We are also in the process of staging our home....that's right. We are selling our house. It scares the daylights out of me but I am so excited at the same time.  The agent is going to come by next week to take pictures and list the house.  SO that means I have to deep clean the house along with all the other things I need to get done this weekend.  I have no idea how I am going to fit it all in!! I will need help from J in a big way! We have to remove most of the person items from view and organize all the closets.  Have you ever looked at a home where someone was currently living?  You know you opened closets and cabinets.  So we have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.

So if my posts over the next week plus lack a little substance or I don't post at all, please bear with me, Life is happening!

Have you seen this blog -- Ana White: Homemaker?!  It is amazing!! SHE is unbelievable!! She DIYs all kinds of furniture.  THEN she posts step by step instructions on what to do, what you will need and the estimated cost! I LOVE it! One of my co-workers introduced me to it.  They made the bed:  Instructions & Co-Worker/wife result

I have high hopes of making a few pieces for our next home. I can't wait!! I don't know how excited J will be when he sees the few I have already selected but I can do it myself if he isn't interested haha!  Here are the few projects I have selected:

DIY Filing Cabinet

Craft Table

Nightstand

This matches what J bought but he only bought 1 at the time lol

OR THIS nightstand -- it is cheaper lol BUT it won't match...unless I make 2....hmmm all the decisions!

 But like I said, before we can really get into any of this, we have to stage and sell our current home. First, we need to clean.  I have to figure out how to prioritize everything...invitations HAVE to be out by next week. Jewelry needs to be finished soon so I am not crunched for time.  I re-designed it and it is beautiful BUT now each piece will take longer to make.  I also wanted to make a dress for my cousin's wedding...that may have to be the very last thing I try to get done . =( that is SAD haha!

I am trying to keep up with all the blogging going on, but with everything else going on, something has to give and unfortunately it is blogland =( I will keep up as best as I can and hopefully get everything finished quickly.

In the meantime, check out Ana White -- she is a ROCKSTAR.  She also has a 'brag blog' where individuals who have used her design/instructions have posted pictures of THEIR results. Have fun!

PRAY in the meantime that I get everything done and can be back to 'normal' by next week =)
HAPPY FRIDAY EVE!

Roll Over! & Tail-Wagging Tuesdays

I have always wanted a dog that could roll over.  I don't know why, it has just always been a thing. So right around Christmas, I set out to teach Ruger a new trick. 

This weekend, after several months of working with him and lots of laughing, he FINALLY did it on the first try! 

I took a video this morning and wanted to share -- our Ruger-dog can ROLL OVER! YAY!

I thought this was a pretty awesome thing for our pup as he is almost 3 -- that's 21 in people years!!! So I guess it was like Doggy-College haha =) Maybe I'll host a little puppy graduation....J would seriously think I was ridiculous! Maybe I'll just settle for some Frosty Paws and a scoop of peanut butter =)


For this edition of T.W.T. we are sharing the pup's beds.
I DIY-ed Ruger's bed; The tutorial I posted can be found here.

He loves his bed -- which is actually bigger than it appears.  He usually curls up into a little ball of puppy in the middle and has more than enough room.  Although, there was one day that he was especially exhausted and this is how he ended up lol

Head over and link up with Cmae for Tail-Wagging Tuesdays!

Miscellany Monday

One.

Welcome Back to Monday!!! Who's excited?! I'm not going to lie -- I could have used one more day at home with The Husband. At least he won't be gone this week so I'll have nights all for me!

Two.

I have been daydreaming about redecorating and repainting.  I refuse to make any changes to our current home as we are looking to buy, so I dream about what I'll do. I have our bedroom figured out for the most part -- black, gray and white with yellow accents.  It is going to be AMAZING! I have been dreaming about my new craft room.  I quickly outgrew the one I redid at our current home. I can't wait to get into a new home!

Three.

I have to get the invitations for my sister's bridal shower and bachelorette party finished in a hurry! I want to have them mailed out by Monday!!! I only have one designed and UN-printed and the other I haven't started! EEK!! Oh how I wish I wasn't such an amazing procrastinator!

Four.

I have 2 weddings to go to this month -- my cousin, whose invitations I made and a very sweet friend of ours, who is getting married the following weekend.

Five.

I am planning a 'date' with a very sweet lady this weekend...I have to just get the Husband to change his work day this weekend -- Chick-fil-a isn't open on Sunday =/ Yes food is the reason I want my husband to rearrange his whole schedule =) Quality right?!

Six.

Along with the invitations -- I have other projects to complete before the pretty girls of my sister's bridal party show up in June.  I keep putting it off but 2 of the 4 weekends in May are booked with wedding stuff so those are out!

Seven.

I am making a dress for my cousin's wedding next weekend.  I better hurry and get a move on!

Eight.

I gave the dog a bath this weekend. That's quite a feat but I must say, i'm a big cheater.  I don't take him to a groomer, I take him to the lake.  Yep, I trick my sweet pup into thinking we are playing a swimming, meanwhile I bathe him with eco-friendly pet shampoo. I throw the ball into the lake, he brings it to me, I soap him up and throw the ball again. Its painless =) AND its play time for him!

Nine.

I'm sleepy. I can't wait to go home and get into some comfy clothes and cuddle on the couch!

Ten.

Don't forget to link up for Miscellany Monday!

Happy Endings

Thoughts??  Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

.....

.......

EW! What?! NO!!!

Not THAT kind!!

I'm talking about the show on ABC that just started last week...

Anyone watch it?? I have watched one episode...I think its pretty hilarious!

In the ONE episode I have seen, the husband finds out that his wife went to a marriage counselor...just to see how they were doing. BUT she never told him.  He found out anyway and by the end of the episode they agree on talking to one another before speaking to a counselor.

That got me thinking about a post by Kate over at Every Mile a Memory called Are You Your Husband's Girlfriend? 

I really enjoyed her post about continuing to do the little things that were important long after the 'newness' of the relationship wears off and once he puts a ring on it. Part of what she talks about makes me think of communication and how it is so important to maintaining the friendship that started before the romance did...for most anyway =)

I talked to J about it the other night as we cuddled on the couch.  The term Kate used was 'Forever Girlfriend' -- J thought it was so cute.  I know over the past year since the wedding I HAVE slacked in my overall attempts to be a 'girlfriend'.  He, without a doubt, still loves me and thinks I'm 'The Hot-ness That Is' but I know he loves when I make an effort. I still try to dress up (or get dressed at some point for those days on the couch) and I spritz some perfume/body spray every morning.  But I am not talking ONLY dressing up or being presentable but also in my attitude.

I have lately been very quick to get frustrated when The Husband isn't seeing my perspective or understanding my POV. It use to be I was patient and would attempt to explain myself in a different way so that we were on the same page as far as what I was trying to convey.

Stress or not, I know I need to make that effort.  When I am frustrated so is he and vice versa.  It didn't use to be so but it is nice for someone to share in the same emotions.  On the other hand, if he is pouting about something that I think is silly, I may start pouting because he is being a brat...OK that scenario is usually the other way around, but whatev =)

The point is that YEARS from now, I want to have an even happier and healthier relationship with the man I call Husband than I do today. 

I promise not to take myself so seriously; be more patient about everything; play his silly games, even if they are annoying at times -- ESPECIALLY since he almost ALWAYS plays mine; be passionate about us and our relationship.

The explanation/equation Kate gave to help all the women out there really understand what was going on with their man was:

Always remember that men need to feel admired.

Pride + Ego = Man

Feeling admired is a male need.

Being needed is a male need.

Are you YOUR Husband's girlfriend?

Go on, go get your happy ending!

STILL not talking about THAT kind!!

Happy Friday!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: LOVE

 

     

♥ There is nothing more amazing than the love we share as Husband and Wife ♥

My Name is Ashley and I am a Shoe-aholic

This is no laughing matter. This is serious. I have a probl....

OK it isn't THAT serious but my mom pointed out to me the other night that if we count Christmas, I have purchased or received.....8....yes EIGHT pairs of shoes...all since December 25.  How could someone POSSIBLY need so many pairs of shoes in such a short time period?! To that, I have no answer. But here is a list and some pictures of the shoes I have received/purchased:

Black

the dog chewed the originals of these and I LOVE these shoes.  So my mom got them for me for Christmas

Tan

Christmas from Mom -- I LOVE these.  I didn't have a pair of shoes to wear with brown of any kind so CLEARLY i needed them

Gray Boots

Christmas from Mom-- I had black and brown boots but nothing cute and these were a GREAT price..plus they are slouchy

Sparkle

 

Chrstimas from Jess -- they are so amazing! I LOVE them!!

Pink

Christmas from MIL -- I didn't have any - and what girl doesn't need a fabulous pair of pink heels?!

Red

Christmas from MIL-- needed NICE red heels.  I use to have hooker-ish red heels that were patent red and NOT comfortable...I finally gave them up about a year ago when I realized that I NEVER wore them because they were so uncomfortable

White 

 

Necessity for Christina's wedding

Champagne

Necessity for my sister's wedding

Yellow 

replaced the blue anniversary shoes that J bought me that didn't fit

Now I know I have another problem -- I can rationalize each unnecessary pair of shoes.

Due to some recent events, I am now banned from purchasing shoes...for a while. No I wasn't caught smuggling shoes out of a store in my purse or under my shirt, I just don't need to be spending money on superfluous items.

But I LLOOOOOOVVVVE shoes! I get so much use out of them! Shoes are SUCH a great purchase for me -- I wear shoes every day. =)

This post did show me that I can still acquire amazing shoes through the help of my family who live me and are, apparently, willing to feed my shoe hunger =)

Now this may or may not seem like a lot of shoes in a short period of time. The PROBLEM I have is that I TALK about shoes...a LOT. I share them here; I talk to J about them; I talk to my friends about them; I talk to my family about them; I'm obsessed and I don't want to stop. I can ALWAYS use another pair of shoes.

In order to really kick our butts into gear, J and I are devising a STRICT budget to live on for the time being, which doesn't include a shoe budget.  I know in the long run this is the best thing. But right now, I'm pouting. A lot.

A Pitcher of Margarita

Happy Monday All!!! 

This past Saturday we celebrated my birthday with friends at my Black and Pink party.  It was such a success!! All the guys wore black and the girls wore pink! We all looked great together. 

A few friends met at our house so we could ride together, have fewer cars out and less d.d.'s required

We went to Adobe Gila's for dinner and drinks.  My favorite part, of course are the pitchers of margaritas they sell.  AND they are SO yummy!

 

 

 

Christy is SUCH a doll -- she surprised me with cupcakes for dessert at the restaurant! It made me feel so warm and fuzzy AND everyone sang to me! AWWWW!!  

 
After that we headed to Howl at the Moon - which is a dueling piano bar. Needless to say, I was feeling VERY good by the end of the night haha. Thanks to several other drinks that were purchased for me by my friends: vodka/cranberry, Washington Apple shot (my fave!) and an appletini (YUM!).

These pictures are the end of the night -- which explains the sunnies on at midnight and the headband OVER the hat haha =)

   

One of my favorite birthdays to date! My friends are all amazing -- we all had such a great time!

How was your weekend? Did y'all get into anything fun?

J & A Chronicles: Wedding Part IX Reception: Dancing

Well y'all -- this is it...after this, you will FINALLY be caught up on our relationship. I'm kinda bummed...this has been so much fun for me to look back on all our adventures and pictures.

WARNING: this will be a serious picture overload because I don't want it to end lol!

The last thing I wanted to share with you are pictures of everyone dancing and having a blast together.

Our wedding day is seriously one of my favorite memories!

                 

We also got some amazing pictures of us with family and friends that I really love looking at:

      

   

Thanks for sharing this with me -- I hope you have enjoyed it all!

 

Happy Friday everyone -- here is to a fast day and sweet weekend ♥