SB Bound

Hey cuties--

I'll be out for a few days while I am visiting my sis in Santa Barbara.

Have fabulous weeks!

♥, Ash

The Races

An excuse to wear a dress and a big hat? YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!

A couple of weekends ago, my buddy Rachel and I (and a few other superstars) went to the racetracks at Del Mar. It's been there since the early 1900s, and funny-enough, I had never gone after all these years of living in San Diego.

Rachel's boyfriend Zach and me hattin' it up.

Sad Story: The first race I watched (thus, my first race experience), one of the horses tumbled on the track in the final 15-feet to the end. As the crowd was scouring the scene for the jockey, who popped up with a bit of a limp, we all then noticed the poor horse, who lay lifeless on the track. Not a good way to start out!!!

But...the rest of the races went smoothly (no more dying horses) and I even gambled a little. Spending $10, then winning all your money back is not too bad. ha.

Dresses + hats + a bit of beer + good friends = a good day :)

Everyone should go to the races for a bit of nostalgia and a small sense of history (as much history as California can provide!).

I Miss You

That "You" I'm talking about is old R&B, from the 90s and before...

and



and



and



Is there even a such thing as R&B anymore? Do the acts even sing anymore? Because all I hear are machines, auto-tuners and synthesizers. I miss the days when singers had to sing...

Favorite Thing Thursday: Because I'm the Sweetener

For those of you that don't now, right before the photo challenge, I had begun a series of posts called Favorite Thing Thursday in which I showcase a favorite thing of mine. So far, I've blogged about my love of fortune cookies, my zeal for road trips, and my exploration into old tunes.

To preface this week, let me say that my whole life I've been called "sweet." It is apparently the number one word to describe me. This might be a combination of my niceness and shyness, who knows! That is why my next favorite thing might be contradictory to my personality.

It's not so much a favorite thing; rather, it's a preference:

As I've gotten older, I realize how much I like things unsweetened. A list:

• Ice Tea! SO GOOD with just a lemon slice. I can hardly choke down Southern Sweet Tea.
• Yogurt. This has probably stemmed from my many visits to Turkey, and the consumption of a lot of good, healthy, tasty (!) plain yogurt. They even have yogurt drinks in Turkey! I look at the back of some yogurt cups (ahem, Yoplait...) and see that they've added 20 grams of sugar. It's just not necessary!
• Coffee. I add sugar sometimes, but very little. My coffee addiction has produced an appreciation for the taste of pure coffee (cream is still a must).
• Juice. Like yogurt, why add all that damn sugar? It angers me a little.

My conclusion? America is over-sweetened and needs to calm the sugar habit a little.

MacBook Photo Monday & ♥

Hello to my lovelies! With this "MacBook photo, " I'm simultaneously giving out a questionnaire for some of you fine people to fill out and spread the love!

But really, we are going to SPREAD the freakin' love!

So here it is, 3 simple questions I will be forwarding:

1. What makes you beautiful? Yes, YOU.

2. Name YOUR three best features (I'm talking about physically, so don't chicken out).

3. Pick one blogger friend and say what you think makes them beautiful.

My answers:

1. My caring ♥. I feel like I have a lot to care about in the world.

2. My legs, my eyes and my imperfect, but lovable curly hair.

3. I pick Krystal over at the Village. After reading her blog for a few months, I can clearly see that she is a giver. The way she is able to build lasting relationships online shows that she must have even stronger relationships in person. I find her modesty endearing, and how great are her posts on pretty things? Well, I've got news for you Krystal, you should post about YOURSELF because you. are. pretty. (yep, inside & out).

I'm tagging 3 other people to do this: Krystal, Emily, Stephany.

I made this little thing because I hear too many chicks bad-mouth themselves and their bodies...we all need a little love up in here! For once, lets not talk about how much weight we need to lose, or how many body parts we need to change...let's appreciate what we have. It is extremely fulfilling to accept the natural.

Now, pay it forward!

Photo Challenge Finale (with a side of philosophy)

Day 19 - A favorite picture of yours

my nephew, Sebastian :)

Day 20 - Any picture that you want!

The picture above is of St. Germaine in Paris. It was my favorite part of the whole city.

St. Germaine doesn't have any flashy clubs or excess, it isn't overly pretentious or trying to be something it's not; it just is. I find places (and people) like this to be the most beautiful--a natural beauty that is comfortable. You walk around this place and your soul is content and at rest, because this place is content and at rest.

I want my life to embody this very idea. I want to possess a real beauty; meaning, I want my life to unfold naturally, not as a result of planned events (oh, I must get married at this age, have this type of job and drive this sort of car). I'm not interested in formulas or age limits; although, it's easy to get wrapped up in this if not careful.

What are all these labels we stamp upon each other? Adult, adolescent, cougar, middle-aged man, quarter-life crisis and so on, and so on until we start choking on our words, because we realize that no one can truly fit any of these molds. Like, what does it mean to be an adult? My answer may vary from yours, but we sure know society's answer--marriage, kids, job.

I am simply concerned with living my life the way that works the best for me. Let's call it the Ashley Route.

***

How did I get to all this from a picture? I've been doing this photo challenge for so long, I haven't had a big meaty post for awhile, and I guess I had to spill this out of me. Especially after reading all these recent articles on what it means to be a 20-something.

Why is that even a relevant question? The question should be, "What does it mean to be a person?"

With every year, I find that people can only truly live if they are free to be unique. It's the difference between St. Germaine in Paris, and the Paris Casino in Las Vegas--one has followed its own path, and the other is just trying too hard.

Day 18 - A picture of you and a best friend

This was a hard one to choose. I have several best friends, and several good pictures with all of them.

But here is why I choose the one above:

• This is one of my favorite pictures ever of me and a friend :)
• Ali (the chick I am kissing), has recently moved away, so I miss her.
• This best friend was also a roommate of mine for 2 years.
• I ♥ her enough that I took a road trip to see Lance Bass at a book signing. Ok, I wanted to go too, but it was mostly her idea.

And Ali, if you read this, know this, my friend--you are beautiful and fantastic and I believe with every ounce in my being that you will do great, be great and live great. With a heart such as yours, there is no denying the love you will one day receive. I am praying for everything you are going through, and while tears are allowed, dry them quickly with the knowledge that "you need to swim through the moat to get to the castle."

You'll be wearing that crown, soon, sitting atop your kingdom, all the more glad you swam through that damn moat. And that will make it all worth it (as you do a happy dance in your Cinderella dress). ha.

You'll do it all, kid.

Day 17 - A picture of what you wore today

Ahhh!!! It's been a busy week...and I am need of some major rest! But here is my picture:

Clearly, this is not what I wear everyday. I do not profess to be a real-life fairy. However, because you're so nosy (:P), I'll have you know that today was Peter Pan Day at the summer camp I work at. And here you are looking at 2 Tinkerbells! Yes 2. Because, well, one isn't enough! And yes, we had a Captain Hook, Tigerlily and all the main characters...even the crocodile.

Actually, it was pretty brilliant, and I encourage all adults to play a bit of dress up whenever possible. Because being five again is the BEST.

Yep, this is ACTUALLY what I wore today. It's kind of baller status.

Day 16 - A picture of you more than 10 years ago

^

Me circa 1986 (estimate).

:)

Day 15 - A picture that you edited

This is me wanting to be all vampire-y. It's all the rage to suck blood right now, right? Actually, I took this photo long ago, so I started the pale craze, k?

Day 14 - A picture taken with your cell phone

The Notre Dame in Paris, France. Need I say more? I think this is a bad ass cell phone pic!

And, I had the urge to do a little questionnaire that Krystal did:

1. What current style do you think will end up being a fad?

2. What's your guilty pleasure?

3. What made you decide to start a blog?

4. Favourite Past time

5. Do you have a job or are you a student?

6. Favourite Chocolate Bar/Candy?

7. Money/Love?

8. Favourite Music & Movie Genre?

1. Those boyfriend pants. I get it--they're pretty popular and probably comfy. But I think they're extremely unflattering. Even on you, Halle Berry.

2. Annoyingly bad pop. I blame my inner fourteen-year-old that is not so dormant. I can even appreciate a couple Justin Beiber tunes. Yeah, I admitted it.

3. I thought it would be fun and my creative writing teacher told us we should start writing everyday, so I did. Online. I've had this blog for 5 years!

4. Toss up between watching movies, going to the beach and reading blogs.

5. I have a job. I am a camp counselor for the summer, which means lots of shenannigans.

6. REESES. HANDS DOWN.

7. Love. Who the heck would actually answer money? I mean, seriously!

8. Motown and romantic/nerdy, witty comedy all wrapped into one. My very favorite? High Fidelity. Ohhhhh yeahhhh.