I spent a good hunk of time last night texting with my 14 year old niece, Sarah. We are just SO excited about going to see Taylor Swift tomorrow night and had to chat about it. IDK LOL ROTFL. I don't think that combo make sense but isn't that what makes us older folks charming? ;)
In honor of the show tomorrow night I WILL be listening to nothing but Taylor Swift for the next 24-48 hours. I'll put my headphones on, don't worry.
I have never tried to deny the fact that I LOVE Taylor Swift. Have a problem with that? Well, get your head out of you know where and move on with your life! I'm sure there are more important things for you to hate on. She's a nice girl singing perfectly nice songs about young love and teen angst and other topics that any girl of speaking/thinking age can "like totally relate to." And honestly, I bet that most women even in their silver haired days can still remember when they related to it as well. Also, I fully support the fact that she is not a) addicted to some sort of drugs b) running around town partying and ending up in tabloids or c) pregnant at a too young age.
So yes, for Sarah's 14th birthday I purchased us a nice set of seats to the show tomorrow. It just worked out that it is both a present for her and a total treat for me.
It's funny actually...my sister Kelly is 41 now and her daughter, Sarah, is 14. I'm a month away from being 29. I'm pretty much right between them in age and can completely identify with both of their positions in life. Deep down I still feel like I'm 15. I'm a sophomore in high school: awkward, introverted, lacking self esteem and in love with a boy that I met in the courtyard one day. I so vividly remember those feelings that sometimes I forget that I'm not that person now.
I have been thinking a lot lately about how I wish I had savored those days more...I wish I was actively appreciating them at the time. Instead, you spend your younger days wishing you could grow up. When you're in high school you just want to leave home and go to college. In college you want your own apartment and a real job. Once I settled in to having those things I quickly realized how nice life was before reality took hold of my life. There are things that I look forward to now too, obviously. Buying a house, having kids, taking trips around the world. I'm by no means saying that I don't want my life right now. But, I wish that when I was in high school and college I knew that those were going to be the most carefree days of my life. Instead, I spent my time pining away for worthless guys, worrying about who liked me and who didn't and griping at my roommates to go to sleep and keep the noise down. Lame.
C'est la vie I suppose.
I will say that this perspective makes me very adamant about telling other youngins' to savor the moment. How lame that I'm THAT older person that tells the kids that this is the best time of their lives, stop whining and enjoy it? Owell.
It also makes me very cognisant of finding a way to enjoy and appreciate the days that I have now. So, I will be enjoying my night tomorrow night by partaking in a Taylor Swift concert. I will be surrounded by girls of all ages and WE will all be singing the lyrics to every single song at the top of our lungs the entire night.
Watch this video, the show is going to be AMAZING.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Time Management
With the summer officially coming to a close I've finally been faced with the reality of day to day life. I spent too much time traveling this summer (though, I've got nothing on some of the schedules my coworkers kept) and I feel like the past few months are a bit of a blur. Add to that the fact that we were planning for our wedding before the spring hit and I would say the entire last YEAR is a total blur.
For the past month or so since we wrapped up ACL I've been focusing on how to get my life back in order and on track. What I've decided is that there is just not enough time in the day to do everything that you are required to do (work), everything you should do (cook dinner) and everything you actually want to do (relax? read a book?). I'm not sure how people fit it all in to be honest.
The unfortunate part of this predicament is it seems that the first thing I leave out of my day is doing something that I want to do. This week I printed up a cute to do list type thing for each day of the week and actually put an item on each day that was unrelated to the typical go to the grocery store type stuff. Guess what? I didn't do any of it. Last night I was meant to set aside 30 minutes of craftiness time. Didn't get to it...I fell asleep. What did I get to? Basically just the bare minimum. Sad times.
Let's talk this out because honestly, I don't see how anyone does all of what they need to do.
So...here's my life through the end of the year:
Things I have to do:
8am-6pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 2pm-6pm Wednesdays I work. 40 hours right there.
9am-2pm Wednesdays I do the internship - 5 hours
Saturdays I will usually either be volunteering at the farmer's market or working an event for the internship - could be 2-6 hours right there (maybe I shouldn't think of the market as something I must do but I did make a commitment. maybe I should think of the internship as something I want to do but I also think it's a must do at this point in my life)
All that adds up to between 47-51 hours of work per week that I am required to do.
So now, things that I should do: feed myself and Max in a healthy way while not spending too much money (grocery shopping, constant cooking), keep the house clean, keep the dogs fed/medicated/exercised and away from my shoes/quilts, exercise every day for at least 30 minutes, remember to pay my bills and save money, brush/floss my teeth, take daily multivitamins, keep in touch with family & friends, drink lots of water...I mean this is crazy the list just goes on an on. Just think of all the things you read about on a daily basis that "suggest" you do x, y or z to stay healthy and happy. Think of how many things you don't do that you know that you should. I'd love to say just one or two are my biggest pitfalls but I honestly think over 50% of that list goes undone on any given day of the week. And all of this while I should be getting "enough" sleep.
If I ever get through the list of things that I should do, I have a list a million miles long of things that I want to do. I want to read more, I want to listen to more music, I want to go on hikes on the weekend and eat picnics in the park on beautiful days. I want to make crafts that I read about from Martha Stewart. I want to go to the movies and have dinner with friends. I want to successfully not kill the basil plant I'm growing in the backyard. I want to blog, I want to read blogs and get great ideas. I want a new career but boy oh boy that gets lumped back up in the must do list. I want unlimited blocks of time to stroll around a neighborhood with my headphones on and think like I used to do in New York. But, when was the last time that I had no obligations at all? OK, maybe it was last Sunday when we didn't leave the house at all but I've just been so TIRED lately that I needed that day to rest.
I recently read the book, The Happiness Project. Full disclosure - I am a sucker for self help and self improvement books. I read today that Benjamin Franklin once said, "I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined, but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish." That pretty much summarizes the reason that I love these books. I'm an over thinker, over analyzer and too hyper aware of every move that I make. I can usually work things out on my own but it's so refreshing to read a new perspective on how to be a better person. That is what this book was all about and it totally spoke to me. I have a wonderful life. I have a decent, well paying job, great friends, a wonderful family, a roof over my head, two of the cutest dogs in the world and a completely amazing husband that adores me. And yet, I don't think I enjoy every day as much as I could. I spend too much time worrying about the must and should do items in my life and don't make time for what I want to do...which ultimately are things that I NEED to do to maintain sanity and true happiness.
So, I guess I will just have to try harder to accomplish everything on my to do list...including the items I might consider to be superfluous. Maybe I won't spend this Sunday napping on the couch...and maybe what I do instead will provide me with more of a feeling of rest than actually sleeping would? I can only hope...since I know that with the addition of owning a home and having kids will only come more to do items and less time/money and energy to do everything on the list.
For now, I'll leave you with what I think is the article of the week (because I won't lie, I know very little about Muammar Gaddafi). I think this is something we all dream of when we get married...even if it is totally cheesy. Long-Married couple Gordon and Norma Yeager pass away holding hands.
-Ashley
For the past month or so since we wrapped up ACL I've been focusing on how to get my life back in order and on track. What I've decided is that there is just not enough time in the day to do everything that you are required to do (work), everything you should do (cook dinner) and everything you actually want to do (relax? read a book?). I'm not sure how people fit it all in to be honest.
The unfortunate part of this predicament is it seems that the first thing I leave out of my day is doing something that I want to do. This week I printed up a cute to do list type thing for each day of the week and actually put an item on each day that was unrelated to the typical go to the grocery store type stuff. Guess what? I didn't do any of it. Last night I was meant to set aside 30 minutes of craftiness time. Didn't get to it...I fell asleep. What did I get to? Basically just the bare minimum. Sad times.
Let's talk this out because honestly, I don't see how anyone does all of what they need to do.
So...here's my life through the end of the year:
Things I have to do:
8am-6pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 2pm-6pm Wednesdays I work. 40 hours right there.
9am-2pm Wednesdays I do the internship - 5 hours
Saturdays I will usually either be volunteering at the farmer's market or working an event for the internship - could be 2-6 hours right there (maybe I shouldn't think of the market as something I must do but I did make a commitment. maybe I should think of the internship as something I want to do but I also think it's a must do at this point in my life)
All that adds up to between 47-51 hours of work per week that I am required to do.
So now, things that I should do: feed myself and Max in a healthy way while not spending too much money (grocery shopping, constant cooking), keep the house clean, keep the dogs fed/medicated/exercised and away from my shoes/quilts, exercise every day for at least 30 minutes, remember to pay my bills and save money, brush/floss my teeth, take daily multivitamins, keep in touch with family & friends, drink lots of water...I mean this is crazy the list just goes on an on. Just think of all the things you read about on a daily basis that "suggest" you do x, y or z to stay healthy and happy. Think of how many things you don't do that you know that you should. I'd love to say just one or two are my biggest pitfalls but I honestly think over 50% of that list goes undone on any given day of the week. And all of this while I should be getting "enough" sleep.
If I ever get through the list of things that I should do, I have a list a million miles long of things that I want to do. I want to read more, I want to listen to more music, I want to go on hikes on the weekend and eat picnics in the park on beautiful days. I want to make crafts that I read about from Martha Stewart. I want to go to the movies and have dinner with friends. I want to successfully not kill the basil plant I'm growing in the backyard. I want to blog, I want to read blogs and get great ideas. I want a new career but boy oh boy that gets lumped back up in the must do list. I want unlimited blocks of time to stroll around a neighborhood with my headphones on and think like I used to do in New York. But, when was the last time that I had no obligations at all? OK, maybe it was last Sunday when we didn't leave the house at all but I've just been so TIRED lately that I needed that day to rest.
I recently read the book, The Happiness Project. Full disclosure - I am a sucker for self help and self improvement books. I read today that Benjamin Franklin once said, "I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined, but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish." That pretty much summarizes the reason that I love these books. I'm an over thinker, over analyzer and too hyper aware of every move that I make. I can usually work things out on my own but it's so refreshing to read a new perspective on how to be a better person. That is what this book was all about and it totally spoke to me. I have a wonderful life. I have a decent, well paying job, great friends, a wonderful family, a roof over my head, two of the cutest dogs in the world and a completely amazing husband that adores me. And yet, I don't think I enjoy every day as much as I could. I spend too much time worrying about the must and should do items in my life and don't make time for what I want to do...which ultimately are things that I NEED to do to maintain sanity and true happiness.
So, I guess I will just have to try harder to accomplish everything on my to do list...including the items I might consider to be superfluous. Maybe I won't spend this Sunday napping on the couch...and maybe what I do instead will provide me with more of a feeling of rest than actually sleeping would? I can only hope...since I know that with the addition of owning a home and having kids will only come more to do items and less time/money and energy to do everything on the list.
For now, I'll leave you with what I think is the article of the week (because I won't lie, I know very little about Muammar Gaddafi). I think this is something we all dream of when we get married...even if it is totally cheesy. Long-Married couple Gordon and Norma Yeager pass away holding hands.
-Ashley
Thursday, October 13, 2011
oh, and also...
I should update you on some things I have been working on or gawking at recently.
The Simplifiers: I started an apprenticeship with this amazing event planning company here in Austin called The Simplifiers. I'm not exactly sure what might come of it but I was looking for a change and so far it's doing a great job providing that!
Etsy: Most all of us know and love it. I started a shop after the wedding in hopes of having an excuse to continue making pretty things. I've only sold 1 hair flower so far to a bride but I have faith that when I put more time in, more love will come out. Check out my shop: My Darling Clementine's
Pinterest: Do you know it? Do you love it? I do! I used to love cutting out pictures and letters from magazines as a kid and creating collages galore. Well, with Pintrest, cutting and gluing has gone digital!
Our wedding: I most definitely loved it and spent a lot of time creating it. I was super happy to see that other people appreciated it as well.
We loved our wedding photographer...you would too: Sarah McKenzie's wedding blog
We were featured on Wedding Chicks, now one of my favorite daily blog reads.
A few other sites ended up with pieces from our wedding as well!
My button boutonnieres (2 pics down, 3 over)
Our wedding invitations ended up here and here (#2)
I'm not sure life gets much better than it is right now. I might not be in the exact spot I want to be right now across the board but I have faith that the strong base I have built will get me there very soon.
<3 Ashley
The Simplifiers: I started an apprenticeship with this amazing event planning company here in Austin called The Simplifiers. I'm not exactly sure what might come of it but I was looking for a change and so far it's doing a great job providing that!
Etsy: Most all of us know and love it. I started a shop after the wedding in hopes of having an excuse to continue making pretty things. I've only sold 1 hair flower so far to a bride but I have faith that when I put more time in, more love will come out. Check out my shop: My Darling Clementine's
Pinterest: Do you know it? Do you love it? I do! I used to love cutting out pictures and letters from magazines as a kid and creating collages galore. Well, with Pintrest, cutting and gluing has gone digital!
Our wedding: I most definitely loved it and spent a lot of time creating it. I was super happy to see that other people appreciated it as well.
We loved our wedding photographer...you would too: Sarah McKenzie's wedding blog
We were featured on Wedding Chicks, now one of my favorite daily blog reads.
A few other sites ended up with pieces from our wedding as well!
My button boutonnieres (2 pics down, 3 over)
Our wedding invitations ended up here and here (#2)
I'm not sure life gets much better than it is right now. I might not be in the exact spot I want to be right now across the board but I have faith that the strong base I have built will get me there very soon.
<3 Ashley
New & Improved
Over a year has gone by since my last post and boy oh boy has it been a year to remember! Let's recap what has happened since July of 2010:
1. Max proposed on 7.31.2010
2. We got married on 4.9.2011
3. We got a new puppy named Francie this past June
4. We are in talks about buying a house in the coming year here in Austin
5. Did I mention I got MARRIED?
6. No babies yet, don't get too excited
Ok, so when I write out the big points like that it doesn't seem like much happened but believe me, it did! Many things are also the same: We are still living in the same house, Clementine is still crazy but maturing and being a good big sister, Max and I both still have the same jobs and I still eat, cook and now will get back to writing.
My goal with this blog going forward is to store everything that makes me happy these days. I love wedding blogs, home improvement/decorating blogs, reading, Anthropologie, anything teal, sparkly, shiny or just generally pretty and as always, cooking and eating out in this fabulous town. I hope you enjoy reading but if not, I certainly enjoy writing so that is good enough for me. ;)
Puppy Kisses and Baby Feet,
Ashley
1. Max proposed on 7.31.2010
2. We got married on 4.9.2011
3. We got a new puppy named Francie this past June
4. We are in talks about buying a house in the coming year here in Austin
5. Did I mention I got MARRIED?
6. No babies yet, don't get too excited
Ok, so when I write out the big points like that it doesn't seem like much happened but believe me, it did! Many things are also the same: We are still living in the same house, Clementine is still crazy but maturing and being a good big sister, Max and I both still have the same jobs and I still eat, cook and now will get back to writing.
My goal with this blog going forward is to store everything that makes me happy these days. I love wedding blogs, home improvement/decorating blogs, reading, Anthropologie, anything teal, sparkly, shiny or just generally pretty and as always, cooking and eating out in this fabulous town. I hope you enjoy reading but if not, I certainly enjoy writing so that is good enough for me. ;)
Puppy Kisses and Baby Feet,
Ashley
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