Monday, November 30, 2009

Reveling in Adulthood.

As I type this, it's just after 10pm and I am sitting on my yoga mat in my pajamas after doing Pilates. Before Pilates, I turned the heat up from 65 to 69 after I took a shower. Speaking of the shower, my hair is crazy frizzy, damp, and unruly.

And all of this was after Mike and I went grocery shopping at Whole Foods and threw whatever the heck we wanted into the cart. On the way to the post office, I helped myself to some baguette and sharp cheddar cheese. I just ripped off a hunk of delicious, crusty bread and nibbled some cheese straight from the package.

Mike gave me eyes of judgment that said "That's disgusting, Ashley."

I gave him eyes of correction that said, "No, Mike, this is why being a grown up RULES."

Actually, I said, "If you can't do this when you're a grown up, when can you do it?"

(His parents obviously instilled more manners in him than mine in me. I call the lack of manners a Good Time.)

Sometimes, my 10-year-old self realizes just how awesome it is to be a grown up.

Why?

No bed time. No one to tell you what you should or shouldn't be doing. No one to tell you that going outside with wet hair will make you sick. No one to tell you you can't have that box of Reese's Puffs you're craving like mad. (Hey. Don't act like you're immune to the craving.) No one to say that fudge and bread probably don't make the best dinner.

I remember when I was a kid and couldn't wait for all of this. Sometimes, I complain so much about all the busy-ness of life, bills, and other responsibilities that I forget just how lucky I am.

Now, please excuse me while I go pour myself some more wine into my coffee mug.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Video Blogging: Pre-Hanukkah and Teeny Bopper Shirts.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Thanksgiving + Black Friday in Five Photos.

I am thankful for...

A husband who plays music. (Especially when he learned Falling Slowly for me.)
Yes, My Husband Plays Music.

A husband who can cook.
Yes, My Husband Cooks.

Peanut butter. Chocolate. Especially together and in fudge form.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Fudge

This post-Thanksgiving breakfast.
Post T-Giving Breakfast

A sane Black Friday wherein we got this for $8.99.
Black Friday's Best Find

Enjoy time your family, friends!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Corny, but Still True!

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Piercing Saga Continues...

You tried, didn't you?


So, if you've been playing along, you know that I got my nose pierced this summer and it has been infected and annoying since then.

My piercer told me to just clean it with soap, keep my fingers away from it, and use salt water if it gets infected.

It didn't seem to be working, as my nose was not looking so pretty. I Googled and asked for advice on Twitter about it, resulting in the several purchases you see above. (And the conclusion that Yahoo Answers is a crazy, crazy place.)

I had an entire regimen: spray H2Ocean on the piercing five times a day, dab lavender or tea tree oil on it once, soak cotton balls in hot salty water and apply to piercing for 10 minutes, and apply chamomile teabag to piercing for 5 minutes.

Four-and-a-half-months after I got my nose pierced, I'd had enough. I finally decided to call the piercing and tattoo shop and ask them what I should do.

"Wash it 3-5 times a day with antibacterial soap. And apply a little bit of hydrogen peroxide if you need to."

That's it!? Thanks for NOT being helpful, Mr. Piercing Shop. There is no way that will work.

Except, it did.

Now I just wash it with soap, and cover it at night with a bandage so it doesn't get pulled out again. I changed my clear stud for a sparkly one last night since I'm work-free for six days, and it didn't even hurt.

Nose piercing 0; Ashley 1

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

32 Hours on a Bus Will Do That to You.

Pace. Paz. Peace!

(I always feel like I'm catching up with friends when I click, "New Post" and start typing away. I kind of like you guys.)

After 32 hours in a bus, two days of walking, a bit of rain, and an amazing experience - I'm back and completely rejuvenated and inspired. (Minus my body, which is achy and sleep-deprived.) I don't think I can fully explain what this weekend meant to me. Everything I can think of just sounds like silly fluff. (My attempts? "It was a festival of love and caring of peace; a river of compassion." and "It made me truly proud to be an American and Catholic." See? Cornball City, USA.)

A few things I do want to remember:
  • Such an odd collection of humanity. From young families to aging flower children to older nuns who looked like your grandma to college students with 27 piercings in their face - there were people of all ages, races, and religions.
  • A 4:30am Krispy Kreme donut is equal parts disgusting and amazing.
  • The whole bus singing Let It Be and Don't Stop Believing accompanied by a college guy playing his acoustic guitar.
  • Food Not Bombs providing endless free vegetarian meals to everyone. What an awesome movement.
  • Seeing a dozen of friends from college. It was surreal seeing so many people I knew in a random city in Georgia.
  • I felt an indescribable sense of belonging. Sometimes it can be a bit lonely thinking things like this, but not this weekend. We are one body, for real.
I think, most of all, the generosity, kindness, and openness of all those I encountered impacted me. Although it wasn't the purpose of this weekend, I was really inspired to take a hard look at myself, who I am, and what I am spending my time and energy on. Big questions like, "Am I being the truest version of myself?" and "What do I want from life?" and "Who do I want to be?" are swirling around in my head, demanding I slow down and think.

Meeting people who are unabashedly themselves do that to you.

Heck yes, Veterns for Peace.
See more photos from my weekend here.

Other things to tell you:

- My guest bloggers were awesome, weren't they? Thank you, guest bloggers! You rock. (I'm biased and am totally excited that my little sister did one. Woo!)

- I am insanely excited (and flattered like WOAH) that 20-Something Bloggers picked my post to win the Blogger Carnival: Can't Live Without. My prize is $100 in my Alice.com account. I have an account but have never used it yet, but imagine that this $100 will be the beginning of a long and lovely relationship wherein I can go shopping for organic hair conditioner and fair trade coffee beans in my yoga pants. Sa-weet. (PS: My post is here.)

- My book review of Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties is up at The Greenists. I felt pretty important telling everyone who asked me what I was reading that it was an advanced copy to review. Go check it out!