Friday's Letters...Tattoos, Dancing & Baltimore

Dear Friends....so many of you complimented "my tattoo" in Monday's post. I probably should tell you this is a stock photo but, after all the flattery, maybe I should really ink my tootsie :) Dear Kelly and Derrick...You gave one of THE most beautiful performances I have ever seen in my whole entire life. 

Dance starts at 2:20

Dear Kids on my street...how long do you little muffins have to go to school? Every morning I come home from the gym and there you are, standing on the corner waiting for the bus. I hope summer comes for you soon. Dear Marriott....It cracked me up that you had a lifeguard on duty...for your 5 foot wide pool.....at 11 pm at night. Dear Baltimore...you are so much more beautiful  than I thought. Dear Memorial Day Weekend....you are going to be glorious. 



What are you doing for Memorial Day?!
XO, A 

Highlights...Lowlights...and we're not talking hair

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the amount of people that unfollow me on twitter due to excessive Bachelor tweeting is equivalent to the amount I gain because I am hilarious.:)

The same can be said for award shows...of which I'd like to discuss today. Specifically, the highlights and lowlights of the Billboard Music Awards

HIGHLIGHTS:

Taylor Swift's performance. This one is a "gimme" on this blog. As sure as Channing Tatum will wake up still being hot tomorrow, you know I will heart Taylor's performance. But seriously, whether you love her or love to hate her, girl puts on one heck of a show.

Selena Gomez' performance of Come and Get it. This moment may be tied to the fact that this is my current favorite song and I have visions of flash mobbing it in the gym....but I thought she knocked this one out of the ballpark.

The pan to Selena Gomez every time Bieber took the stage and the look of sheer relief mixed with disgust and heavenly realization that she is single.

LOWLIGHTS:

Justin Bieber winning awards. The end. Just kidding, I actually like the Bieb's music....I just think he's pretentious. Someone should really alert him to the fact that he is a 100 pound white male and not a 200 lb black football player with a rapping career on the side.

Madonna staring at the microphone that was 4 inches below her mouth and saying THREE times that "they" must think she's shorter than she is and she was "not happy about it".....those scheming evil microphone prop people....gah.

Madonna (again) wearing fish nets and a garter belt. Is there a petition we can sign somewhere to force her into early overdue retirement somewhere. #desperationatitsfinest

Nicki Minaj and Weezy. There's talent....and then there's these two....singing about "asses" (half of which was bleeped out) and ending their "performance" (I have never used a word more loosely) with a lap dance.

  

But the best moment....


the biggest Highlight...


I mean by FAR ya'll.....

are you ready?

Taylor Swift's reaction to the Selena/Bieber reunion.

Best ever!

Did you watch? Who is your favorite performer?

(Hopefully it's not Nikki Minaj #sorryi'mnotsorry)

XO,A

I Confess....Playing hooky, surfing and other weekend things

I Confess....I got my first pedicure in three years on Saturday. Why the long void you  may ask? It just so happens that this is the first time in three years that I had all 10 toe nails and, none of them were bruised black. #runnerproblems 

I Confess...I ditched work Friday afternoon to go lay by the pool. 

I Confess...This did not turn out well for me as the pool Wi-Fi was not working and my team was emailing me to review different projects. In my three hours at the pool, I made 5 trips back to my apartment. 

I Confess...I watched Blue Crush for the first time this weekend and now I want to quit my job and learn how to surf the pipe. Who's with me? 

I Confess....I painted for the first time this weekend....like an actual house....and I have to say, I kind of rocked it. I did back into the wall I had just painted at one point....but that just means I have official painting clothes now. It also means I had to endure hours of ridicule and people pointing out I had "paint on my rearend." 

I Confess, I'm obsessed with this Selena Gomez song - When you're ready come and get it 



What do you confess?
XO, A

Friday's Letters....Spaghetti Squash, a Motherland Feast & painting

Dear Spaghetti Squash...You are my new favorite go-to meal. You're healthy, you take 10 minutes to make and your recipe doesn't start with "remove plastic film from berry dessert." Dear Work....You are having a "Motherland Pot Luck Feast" today but, considering I just noticed this event on my calendar, my "motherland" is apparently going to be represented by whatever the Publix bakery has on hand. 

My "motherland"

Dear Candace....you did it! #Beaufortlove Dear weather...I hate to harp, however sunny all week and then rain every.single.weekend. This is basically my worst form of torture. Dear Katie...I volunteered to help you fix up your mom's house by painting  tomorrow but you should probably know I've never painted before. #pleasedon'tputmeonyardworkduty Dear Apartment....three fire alarms weekend before last. THREE. Thank you for choosing the weekend I had company too. We were real excited to roll out of bed at 3:30am for an imromptu meet the neighbors block party 

Dear Friends...what are you doing this weekend? 

XO, A

The One In Which I Reviewed TRX

I took my third TRX class last night and I think I officially reached obsessed, addicted, need-this-in-my-life status. 

So just what is TRX you may be wondering? It's this:

TRX is suspension training and, I'm not even going to lie and say when I first saw this, I thought "ooohhh fun workout" - kinda like gymnastics or acrobats. 

I was wrong. 

TRX was developed within the Navy SEALS and is a unique training tool that allows you to use your own body weight and gravity as resistance.I have to say I'm a bit of a cardio junkie so, I do this in addition to my normal workouts but this is an awesome workout to develop lean muscle, build muscle and even lose weight. And while you may not sweat like you would on an outside summer's run, this workout is HARD. Your muscles are quivering by the end of the workout...which I find to be awesome. 

But the best part? We do fun moves like "the superman" and "the crocodile" and "atomic push-ups." 

and the even better part? My friend Danielle.....yep, this little blonde cookie...is an instructor so when we take class together she's basically my personal instructor. 

With traffic, it usually takes me over an hour to drive the 3 miles to the TRX studio after work BUT it's THAT worth it. I love how strong I feel afterwards. 

So, have I convinced you to run to your newest studio? Have you tried TRX before? 

XO, A

A Prom Confession

Want to know something?

I never went to prom. I've never even been to a school dance of any kind. No homecoming, no spring formal, no turnaround dance....nada.

But every time April rolls around, I have the biggest desire to don a long sparkly dress, pile on some fake lashes (ok let's be real, I have that desire every day) and style my hair with impressive voluminous curls. 

And since my god-sister, Angel, recently went to prom, the desire this year was even stronger.

How amazingly gorgeous was she?!

So even though my prom days are several years behind me, I decided to peruse prom dresses anyway. Here are some of my favs.






AND my favorite....

obsessed with the dress on the right

I basically need to go 4 proms now. 

So if anyone wants to re-live their high school days with a dinner at the Olive Garden and a swing around the dance floor, I'm your girl. 

But what about you? Did you go to prom? What did you wear? 

XO, Ashley 

My Mom

Mom.

It's funny how you're just one person but over the years you've been so many things to me - "mama," "mommy," "mom," vomit bucket holder and band-aid-applier, slumber-party-host, hand-holder, teacher, listener, meal-maker, encourage-er and challenger, ear-to-listen and shoulder-to-cry-on, shopping buddy, fashion consultant, furniture mover, advice giver and best friend.

You've taught me everything from shaving legs and buying bras to knowing about God's grace. 

And I am forever thankful that out of all the kids in the world, only Shannon and I get to be yours. That's pretty special. I love you so much.

XO, A