farewell, my friend.

a wise woman once said, "devote today to something so daring even you can't believe you're doing it." now, i don't know about "daring," but i'll be doing something later on today that i can't believe i'm doing- watching this woman's farewell show.

oh oprah, how do i begin to convey my feelings for you to my blog readers?

i'm not exactly sure when or where this obsession started... but the farthest i can trace it back to is early middle school. i remember coming home from school almost every day and watching the oprah winfrey show with my mom- it became our bonding hour. and in 8th grade english class, we had to write a professional letter to a company. i wrote one to harpo asking for tickets to the show for my teacher and myself. (although we never heard a response, i got an A). then freshman year, leah and i were absolutely thrilled to meet Stedman Graham when he came to speak at bonanza. i will never regret ditching class for him. i still smile when i think about the fact that i've hugged someone Oprah has hugged.

it was very exciting. even more exciting than the night leah called me and told me that her mom was staying at the same hotel as oprah in hawaii. oh what i would have given to fly there and stalk her down. then sophomore year came around, and i was assigned an 8 page biography on anyone i wanted. you guessed it: oprah winfrey. as if i didn't admire her enough before, writing the biography changed everything. i learned specific details about her humble beginnings and childhood that i had never heard. i learned about charities and scholarships and service projects that she put on without even announcing on the show. she gives so much more than we know. she truly is inspirational. i wrote all of this in my paper, and then emailed it to oprah. even after my multiple letters/emails to her, i never made it on the show. so this is the closest i've gotten to her:

a wax figure. i guess it will have to do. junior year reminds me of watching oprah with friends. one of my favorite episodes is oprah & gayle's road trip. the fab five and i had a party to watch the road trip episodes together! oprah and gayle are so funny, we were all laughing the whole time. and when we found out oprah and gayle had matching pink crystal pinky rings, leah and i bought ourselves some matching pink crystal pinky rings. leah is my gayle. year after year, we watched her favorite things episode and envied every person in the audience. senior year, oprah was a vital part of my daily routine. with most of my friends gone for college, who better to turn to than opie? (that's her childhood nickname, incase you were wondering). then i moved to college, and realized that my life was lacking without oprah due to my tv-less dorm room. i ripped out a picture from her magazine and thumb tacked it to the wall on my desk. the picture was of her at the very beginning of her career. i kept it there all year to remind me that i can do anything i set my mind to. it made me work harder. i know this is dumb and cliche and weird, but in a way i feel like i grew up with her. yes i know she is 37 years older than i am. but i remember her 50th birthday celebration, and she inspired my ideas for girls camp as youth camp director. i wrote poems about her in high school, and she introduced me to dr. oz. we laughed together, we cried together. she shared her "ah-ha moments" and i read the O magazine monthly. i was there when she found out she had a half-sister! she may not know it, but i say we have a pretty solid bond. some of our favorite things are josh groban, the color green, ipads, chicago pizza, chips, playing scrabble, and ugg boots.

i can't believe today marks the day of her last show. no doubt this will be a day i remember for the rest of my life. everyone remembers significant days like this. "where were you when the berlin wall fell?" "where were you when you heard the news about 9-11?" "...when princess diana died?" today can just be added to the list. sometimes i hope that an "OWN network 2" will come out and just be reruns and reruns of oprah shows. did you know she has recorded over 5,000 episodes? they should be compiling them into a multi-disc collection like they did for the 20th anniversary. and when they do, i'll be first in line to get it. but until then, i say farewell to oprah. it's been a great 20 years. don't laugh at me when i bawl my eyes out watching the final episode later on today.

love you long time.

more lovin:

http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/what-she-has-meant-to-me.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/business/media/23oprah.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

third time's a charm.

the past 6 months and 2 weeks that i've been engaged have been quite busy to say the least.

every couple weeks or so my main priority changes.

for a while it was a dress.

photographer. (shout out to STEPHANIE PATTERSON!)

hoop skirt.

food.

colors.

food.

dj or no dj?

you get the point.

there are about a billion things left to plan and i keep jumping back and forth from cakes to colors not having any idea what to do.

last month's plan of attack was to find the perfect shoe.

once upon a time in march, i fell in love with this beauty.
gorgeous right? i have been obsessing over these glittery pumps since the second i laid eyes on them. however, slight problem. i had to use every ounce of self-control inside of me to refrain from buying these shoes. i try so hard to save my money... but somehow it all disappears. this summer i've made a goal to only buy things that i need so i can make better use of the money later for things like food, or rent. i figured these $100 could be spent somewhere else, and i would sacrifice for a more frugal shoe.

not to fear! my personal-shoe-expert/best-friend leah found these online for a steal! what do you know? the same thing for half the price. genius. the only thing missing was the enzo angiolini stamp of awesomeness, but i can live with out that. perfect, right?

wrong. apparently i have a horrible sense of guestimation in size/scale... if you get what i'm saying. show me a picture of a building and ask me how tall or wide it is and i have no freaking idea. ask me how many people are in a room- i dont know. i have issues with estimating things. so if you looked at this picture and thought "that heel is really high" you are one step ahead of me. the heel was insanely high. high enough to make me taller than scotty, which is not okay in my book.

so in my pseudo goldilocks and the three bears scenario, i move on to the third choice.

from target.

a whopping $27.

perfect height.

and juuuuuust right.

i have a feeling my glitter pumps and i will live happily ever after.

mommy

happy mothers day, all.

if you haven't met my beautiful mother.... your life is probably significantly suckier than mine.

remember this? and number two in this list? oh and how could we forget this one?

my mom is the best. if that's not enough evidence for you, fear not. i could keep going for days.

first of all, look at how cute she is

she's so pretty. i know, i know. it's hard to believe that she's my mother when she doesn't look a day over 25.

i love the weird crap we do together. we used to love going to the gym together. we love talking about going running together. we love ice cream/fro yo. we love costco trips. we love laying out together. we love watching oprah and ellen together. we do stupid things like the master cleanse and are each others support systems. she is my biggest supporter. she is always so good about pushing me to do school work, real work, and to not drop out of college.

she is the best advice giver. i tell her my problems and she can always fix them. i love that about her.

she is so cute. she is always talking to hummingbirds outside or our turtles. she has names for all of them and we like to make fun of her (but only because we love her)
we love how she gets a weird british accent when she's mad.
she's always been such a great example to me. she has such an amazing testimony and is so faithful. she has taught me how to serve others. my mom is the most selfless person i know. i have so many memories of her taking food to people, or dropping her plans for the day to go help someone in need.

so to my own personal and all-time favorite chauffeur, cook, alarm clock, nurturer, teacher, doctor, cheerleader, financial adviser, photographer, friend, and secret keeper: HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

my light at the end of the tunnel

i've decided over the past few months that the law and legal work is not my favorite.

don't get me wrong, i am really enjoying my new job. it's busy, i feel important, and i love the people i work with.

however, it can get really frustrating and overwhelming. every court in every county has a specific way of assembling papers- and they're all different. some things need to get filed electronically, some things get hand stamped. some packets need to be mailed certified, some need to be delivered in person. and all of these rules can change at any given time.

there's a lot to keep up with.

and since our firm deals mostly with debt collection, we do a lot of dirty work. we garnish a lot of people's bank accounts. mind you, they are the ones who put themselves in debt in the first place, but it still makes me uneasy. it breaks my heart when i'm receptioning and i get a call from a crying father asking how he is supposed to pay his rent, or from a mother telling me she won't be able to purchase food for her family this week because we've taken money out of her account. calls like these really get to me. its hard to keep my composure and sound professional when i'm answering "mam/sir, i can't do anything for you- let me transfer you to someone in our collection department."

so this morning i was running around like a chicken with its head cut off- going to court, delivering something, then back to the office, picking something else up and delivering it back to court. i was really stressed. i had lots of different packets to deliver all over the court house- one in particular needed to go in a box on the 16th floor. in the mornings the elevators are crazy busy. traveling from the 1st to the 16th floor without at least 5 or 6 stops is out of the question. so i speed walked to the elevators while dreading the thought of wasting my precious time taking an elevator up 15 floors and back down again just to put a stupid packet in a stupid box. the whole situation put me in a bad mood. i got inside the elevator, and in annoyance wondered how many times i would be stopping before i reached my destination. and then, at that very moment, something great happened.

on the 3rd floor the elevator made its first stop to pick people up, and when i saw who would be accompanying me my entire face lit up. it was a whole group of elementary school students on a field trip! i know this is ridiculous, but i was giddy. we immediately began conversing and they were so interested in every little detail. "why isn't there a 13th floor?" "what papers are in your bag?" "have you ever met a judge?" in return, i was equally curious about them. "you guys are on a field trip!?" "what grade are you in?" "what have you learned today?" sadly, they parted with me on the 11th floor. but somehow the 8-floor-long ride that i had with them completely turned my day around.

seeing those 15 (give or take) kids in that elevator totally motivated me. i was all pumped up and ready to deliver my stupid packet, because that's what i needed to do! i need my job so i can have money for tuition, and if i have money for tuition, that means i will most likely graduate. and that my friends, is exactly what i thought of when i saw those little field trippers.

i want to be a teacher so bad.

for as long as i can remember, i've wanted to teach in elementary school. i love teaching. i love being in front of a group and sharing with them. i love writing on whiteboards. i love the tiny desks. i love pencils and paper. i love helping people understand things. i know i'll regret saying this later, but i am secretly really excited to spend hours upon hours grading papers. i love grading papers. it honestly is a hobby. i used to beg friends to let me proofread their papers. i love lesson planning.

so even though i suck at law and i would make a horrible lawyer, this is what my job is for the time being. and in approximately 2.5 years, i'll be sitting in a room full of 8 year olds and loving every second of it.

i can't wait.

and that's how ash sees it.

i love holidays.

i love the decor, the meals, the activities, the traditions, the presents, the whole shebang.

but if there's one thing i love it is the CANDY.

i take after my mother in the fact that i have a sickening obsession with candy.

i love ALL kinds of candy.

just the mere word makes my mouth water.

mmmm... candy.

anyway, i feel like holidays are the prime time to purchase candy. but hands down, without a doubt, easily and indisputably, my favorite holiday candy selection falls at easter time.

my heart jumped for joy the first time i saw easter stuff in vons! i've waited 11 months for april to fall again for this very reason. easter candy is superior to all others.

so without further adieu, here is my guide to easter treats as an expert candy connoisseur- the good, the bad, and the dangerously addictive.

1. the classic chocolate bunny.

look at it.

how can you not enjoy taking a bite out of something so cute and creative? i've gotten my own personal one of these beauties every year since i could chew. whether it's hollow, not hollow, or eaten with a spoonful of peanut butter, I LOVE.

2. oh gosh. as if the reeses trees at christmas and the pumpkins at halloween weren't good enough- AN EGG! i am obsessed with these. the big ones, the small ones, doesn't matter. all i know is that reeses were brilliant to begin with, and now this giant egg-shaped form only enhances the eating experience.

this treat is an all-time favorite. i've been consuming one a day throughout all of april thanks to a secret stash in my office. sometimes two a day. or three.

3. peeps. whose sick ass came up with the idea to create this "treat"? and i'm not talking "sick" as in cool or awesome. i'm talking "sick" as in i'd rather puke. i hate peeps. i can tolerate eating one, but after that i feel sick to my stomach.
gag. the goo, the little grimy coating on top... yucky.

4. sweetart and starbust jelly beans.

LOVE. i usually get them mixed together in a plastic egg, so i figure i can combine my reviews. i love the starburst because the red, green, and pink beans are amazing. they are all strongly flavored and almost juicy. the sweetart ones are a more pastel color, and the outer layer brings a slight crunch that the starburst can't offer. both are delish.

5. the gummy bunny.

i wouldn't particularly call these my favorite candy, although they are tasty. however, once i put one in my mouth i cannot stop. they are so addictive! my sweet fiancee bought me a bag of these and they were gone by the end of the night. the purple and orange ones are a little on the iffy side, but the pinks are to die for.

they fulfill my craving for sweet and sour.

6. cadburry mini eggs.

all i can say is mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

i love the crunch of the outer shell, and the smooth milk chocolate on the inside. i love the small bite-sized shape, perfect for popping a few in the mouth at a time.
shout-out to my homegirl brenda jacobson who made some chocolate cookies with crushed mini eggs in it. definitely a fave.

7. but when the mini eggs just wont do it for you, the geniuses in the hershey company fashioned an egg that meets all needs. the milk chocolate shell has grooves in it and the creme filling is thick and rich.
however, don't eat too many of these ones. i know from experience that 1 or 2 is good for a while.

8. i saved the best for last.

sweetart chicks and bunnies.

absolutely perfect for any glovebox, nightstand, or purse.

i LOOOVE these. i'd have to say that these are my favorite favorite. i eat them for a month straight and then they're gone for a whole year. it's heartbreaking, really.

but don't worry, i purchased my third bag today.

here's the thing. i love sweetarts as it is. but take three of the top four best flavors, and mold them into chicks and bunnies... and you have a work of candy art. i love looking at a little pink chick and then popping it in my mouth. i like them to crunch, and i like them to suck on. and i like when i leave them in my car and the blazing hot sun makes them soft.

well world, there you have it.

i like my chocolate and i like my sweetarts.

easter candy is the greatest so take advantage of the next week while you can!

... and that's how ashley sees it.

dear haters.

Dear haters, judgers, and doubters,

Hello! I know we talk every day, but I just wanted to write you this quick letter to tell all of you (and believe me, there are plenty!) how I feel. I’d like to start off with a big thanks! I think it’s great that you care so much about me and my love life. I appreciate your concerns and advice. As most of you know, I am engaged. I could tell from the disgusted look you gave me when you saw my ring that you disapproved. It wasn’t hard to tell exactly what was going through your mind when you asked, “wait… how old are you?” or “aren’t you a little young?” Oh! I’m sorry… did I miss some sort of rule? Because as far as I’m concerned, the state of Nevada said I was eligible for marriage at age 16! Seeing as how I turned 20 last year, we can cross that problem off the list. But wait- you know someone who got married young and it turned out horrible? Yeah, I know couples like that too. However, I also know of couples that got married in their later years and ended up in a mess. And on the flip side, I know couples that were married right out of high school and are still going strong! So perhaps the outcome depends on variables other than age.

Listen, I know divorce rates are high. But does that mean that nobody in the country should get married because other marriages aren’t working out? Have a little faith. What ever happened to finding your true love and growing old together? Sitting on the porch swing watching your grandchildren? I’ve waited 19 years to feel this way about a guy, and I’ve finally got it! There is nobody in the world that I’d rather spend every day of my life with. He’s all I think about and it breaks my heart saying goodbye to him every night. I’m in love! Scotty is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, so it just doesn’t register in my brain why you would want me to postpone marrying him. Waiting until November already seems like torture! Will it make a difference if I marry him in 6 months or in 2 years? If anything, we’d be ahead of the game if we got married sooner.

Wait… you just reminded me that I haven’t lived my life to the fullest. While a lot of my single girl friends may be out studying abroad, going on cruises, or other fun single activities, I’d trade all of those for Scotty. You’re saying I should go to a foreign country and have random adventures, and then it’s okay for me to get married? I say you should go to that foreign country and stay there.

Oh yeah, you tell me this one a lot too: marriage is hard. Well, duh. I can’t imagine being cut off from your parents, living with a member of the opposite sex for the first time, sharing a bathroom, joining a bank account, and being dirt poor is a picnic. I'm not taking this decision lightly, and I don't know why you think I would. I've thought long and hard about what getting married means. I want you to know that I'm not just a silly little girl getting married because I'm caught up in the excitement. I know there will be hard times when we can barely pay our apartment rent, when we want to punch each other in the face, when we have a filthy house and no food, and when I want to run back to my mom crying. Here’s the thing: if I could change one thing about Scotty… I wouldn’t. Back when I was 14, I started a list that has been added to for the past 6 years of what I want in a husband. Boyfriend after boyfriend, nobody matched up to the list until last year when I met my handsome husband-to-be. So if I’m going to be suffering through hard times, there is no one (NO ONE) I’d rather be with than my sweet fiancée who makes me laugh and brings me happiness. I would rather have a husband to help me through all these grown up problems than be on my own.

So whether you think I’m too young, too immature, too naïve, or too financially unstable, it doesn’t matter. We’re getting married. You can put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Yours truly,

The future Ashley Marx

afton girl

it seems like just yesterday i got the text message saying that my new cousin afton was born. i drove straight from the hospital after school to see her!

she has been adorable from day 1.

even when she was going through her mean stage and hated my guts... i still loved her. and now she is 2!! i can't believe how big she is.

jenn threw a cute party with the theme "afton's not blue about turning 2!"

so EVERYTHING was blue

so fun.
scotty was so cute with the little boys... they all liked playing with him (nice shot of james shoving something between scotty's legs hahaha)

fortunately, afton got over her hating phase with me and we are besties.

she is so smart. i need to start writing down jenn's mothering techniques so my kids can be like her. and i cannot get over how cute JACK is!!!! basically i need to stay away from the westra's house. because it's just making me baby crazy.
happy birthday afton girl... i love you!