Thanks-giving v. Thanks-getting

As the saying goes it is far better to give then it is to receive however this Thanksgiving I received so much more to be thankful for. I am thankful every day for all that I have and all the people that are around me and as I've gotten older the more I appreciate the smaller things. This years (as many others in the past) I had to work on Thanksgiving but I felt different about it this year. I was happy to come to work on a holiday, I was honored to be apart of these boys lives while others have failed to give them a second thought. Then Friday I got to spend some good quality time with people that mean a lot to me. Briefly got to see my best friend and my godson and for the record this kid is hilarious. I just love the conversations I have with him and the amazing things his little 3 year old brain comes up with. It was a quick visit but I got some good food and a handful of good laughs. Then I was off to see a friend I hadn't seen since my birthday and after another plate of food from her house I was off to spend time with my uncle. Spending time with him was also amazing and we had dinner together in front of the TV. Probably not the most ideal setting for most people having a holiday meal together but it worked for us. We watched Spongebob and a show called Kevin Spencer and laughed until there was tears in my eyes. I appreciate that I am an adult now and that I am able to have adult conversations with my uncle and at the same time be relaxed and enjoy cartoons...... FRIDAY was a wonderful day

Late Saturday afternoon I went out to take some Christmas pictures of some awesome little boys and spend time with a good friend. Her boys are too cute and too funny. After pictures and dinner and random conversation we decided to make a butter tart....man oh man did we take this idea and run with it. An hour and many google searches later we had made a butter tart, her sister baked cookies and we made peanut butter chocolate bars. This whole adventure started after 11pm and yes we were so serious about baking all this stuff. We even found alternatives for things we didn't have or ran out of.
...if you are out of butter you can use 3/4 cup of oil for every cup of butter
...you can make your own sweet condensed milk
1 cup of milk (boiling)
3 tbs butter
2/3 cups sugar (i think) lol
it is pretty thin compared to whats in the can but if you let it sit for awhile or stick it in the fridge then it will thicken up

It was the greatest time ever and I didn't leave until 2am

The happiness that I have received these past few days have been amazing and make me glad that I have some very awesome people in my life

Another year older, another year wiser??

Saturday was my birthday!!!! ( I will post pics when I get them from someone else since I was not photographer that day)

This year I decided to throw myself a birthday party and when the thought first came I was super excited and then as it got closer and closer I got a little nervous. Then Friday morning I woke up extra happy and extra hyper for no reason (which is a good thing) and that gave me enough energy to power through the weekend. I had lunch with my dearest friend and he listened to me vent as well as spent time joking around and then I was off to get ready for the big day.....

Saturday I entered into a cupcake decorating contest and won 2nd place (huge deal for me) and then I went and had a late lunch/early dinner and drinks with some friends. It was a little embarrassing once our server found out it was my birthday but I made it out alive. The party had a bit of a slow start but it turned out great and I was truly touched and happy by the people who can to help me celebrate. Although all things didn't turn out exactly how I would have liked it was still an awesome birthday and I totally look forward to celebrating many many more.

~Peace~

Project 50-50

I totally saved this post and then thought I posted and never did so here ya go (sorry)
Oh and the date this took place was Tuesday October 4th

Tuesday morning was one of the greatest mornings that I have had by far. It sort of started out with me waking up to a bad headache and not wanting to get out of bed. However I had previously planned on meeting up with some people in Hartford before work. 3 wonderful people were in Hartford waiting for me and I couldn't let them down. These 3 people (Shay, Shane & Rob) are living in their trucks and traveling through all 50 states in 50 weeks to help the homeless. They donate all sorts of things to shelters and people on the street and such and I think it is absolutely AWESOME. I found them through twitter which is actually quit unique because I never even wanted to have a twitter page and I signed up to shut people up basically. But I have done some great networking and ended up following @project5050 and learning all about the project and what they did and how it worked. I was so excited when I found out about the date that they would be in CT and knew that I couldn't pass on such an awesome thing. The first day they were here I had to work and couldn't get out to them but the second day I changed my hours and met them downtown. We had a brief talk over coffee and instantly I felt like I had known them forever. We walked back to the cars and then decided to walk through the park and there we met 2 gentleman who we gave socks to and have a great conversation before it was time for me to head off to work.

This day was such a humbling day for me and meeting these people was such a privilege that I can't even begin to put into proper words right now. If you have twitter follow and if you get a chance to meet up with them and help out then please do not let the chance pass by. I almost stayed in bed because of a headache but my day was 100 times better because I decided to get up

Love & Peace

OCTOBER

Ummmm where did the time go? Can't believe that it is October already. Excitement is in the air. October is my favorite month for many reason but reason number 1.... MY BIRTHDAY, yes I am an October baby and #teamLibra... Oct 15th at 2:47am I will be another year older. But besides that it's finally fall time and I love it!!! I love hoodies and boots and the smell that's in the air...not to mention I live in New England and it's beautiful to see all the leaves change colors. I will most def be outside as often as possible with my camera. Also.....HOLIDAYS seeing as how my family isn't in CT with me anymore the holidays are a little tough but they still make me smile and I have tons of plans this year to keep me busy so stay tuned.....

Manic Monday

Soooo it has been awhile since I posted a manic Monday. Actually truth be told I think I only posted one and then never again but mentally I post one every week. So I really don't like Sundays (now I know why people hate Mondays) because coming back to work is no fun, not to mention the past few Sundays I have switched shifts with people so I haven't really had this "start of the week" feeling. It was not a good "monday" though, I got to work to find a nice yellow envelop in my mailbox------INSTANT ATTITUDE for all those who do not work with me let me tell you what this means 1. copy of my review 2. a write up and since I know when review time is this YES it was a write up. This totally put me in a bad mood because if you know anything about me and my job I put my heart and soul into what I do (literally) and I always go above and beyond. SO this write up was for "failure to document" so I know sometimes I miss a log or two but I always make sure it is taken care of asap and if I have already left work I call and how someone complete it for me. So I go back and check the book....Yep! log filled out, go back and look at the date on the right up...Yep! correct date, so WTF am I getting written up for? Now if I truly didn't do what I was suppose to do then I would absolutely take the write and lesson learned...it happens but NOPE work was done and write up was given so I have been upset all day. Not to mention that this manic Monday started off crazy way before I even got to work but at the end of the day whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger right?

Peace & Love

Truth is....

.... I am afraid of the dark

.... when I paint my nails I do both feet but only 1 hand

.... If I'm extra nice to you and you NEVER see attitude or sarcasm then chances are HIGH that I don't really like you

.... I'm a hoarder

.... If given a deadline longer then 2 weeks I WILL wait until the last day to get it done

.... I have a closet full of clothes but find myself always wearing the same thing

.... I post more personal feelings/thoughts on twitter then I ever would on facebook (follow me @ladyashley1015)

Stay tuned for more...
Have a GREAT weekend!

Oops!

So I just realized that I was suppose to post pictures from my downtown photo shoot and never did so I just I will do that now. Tyshawn was a great sport during the whole shoot and we had a wonderful time. 3 hours and 264 pictures later it was time for a much needed nap. Want to know more about Ty? Follow him on twitter @royal860 or add him on FB Tyshawn <--- Click there

Enjoy!!

Dreams

Recently I have been having some very "real life" type dreams and it has been a bit spooky. For example I dreamt about a church a few weeks ago. A church I had never seen before with very unique structural features that I had never seen in any church. A few days after this dream I had to go and view the church of a bride to be and it was the same exact church in my dream. I also had a dream about having a conversation with someone about a guy I know last name (which I didn't know) and then yesterday I asked him and it turns out that the name I dreamt about was actually his last name. This new found voyage in dream land freaks me out a little but at the same time it interests me. Not all my dreams are like this and actually usually shortly after waking up I can't remember what the dream was even about unless I say it aloud right away. Now with all this stuff coming true in my dreams I have decided to keep a dream journal. Maybe I can get a bit of insight on what's going on and maybe even figure out some things in the "not so real life" dreams that I am having my looking into a dream book.

*sweet dreams everyone*

Manic Monday

Short blog post tonight but wanted to post before I went to sleep... had a very buys weekend but thankfully this "manic monday" wasn't so manic (yes I know its Sunday but for my work week Sunday is my Monday) however I had today off (which was great) it was a bit of a waste of a day off but its all good. More important is that this weekend I got to do an awesome photo shoot with my friend Tyshawn aka Royal. We were downtown for 3 hours and took a total of 247 pictures (some were just scenery but most were him) I would post my fav but I want to get his permission first and since its 1am I will wait until I see him at work tomorrow. Planning a photo party for later on this month and then 2 weddings in September.... I am super excited about where all my networking and hard work is taking me. Stay tuned for pictures and new blog posts but for now I will leave you with a picture of the flowers outside the office door at work

"happy Monday all" (on and happy 4th of July)

Home-Sick....

Being at home makes me sick... lol not really but I have realized that I get less things done when I'm at home. Some of you may be thinking "duh....cuz you need to go out and run errands" but I mean even with things that most people would do at home....for example I have recently started couponing and I would say that most people do this at home but for the few months that I have been doing it I have never done it in my own home. Most of it has been done at work (ssshhhhh don't tell my boss) especially when I pick up an over night shift.
Not that there is ton of interesting things to do at home that keeps me busy so I don't really understand what the problem is. I also have been doing a lot of arts and crafts and making jewels for my locs and I just can't seem to focus when I'm at home to get it done in a good timely manner. (note to all my readers....I have issues) Same thing when it came to doing homework...never got it done at home. Would go to a coffee house with wi-fi or go to a friends house or do it at work...etc but hardly ever at home.
So with that being said I'm currently not at home so I have to finish up and package some loc jewelry to send of (way later then I wanted it to be)

*smooches*

*pause*

Sooooo I am a little hesitant to write this post but ooohhhh well here goes.....

At almost 1am my phone rang and my first thought was "who is calling me right now" honestly thought it was my cousin or my best friend and to my surprise when I looked down it was neither of them but a smile came across my face (all parties will remain nameless)

After the initial greeting "he" stated "I haven't called you in awhile" and I all of a sudden felt so special. Him and I do communicate (mainly through text) but there is something about a voice conversation that is so more meaningful then a text.
We have known each other since I was 12 and back there there wasn't text and facebook and all the stuff there is today and we use to spend hours on the phone (mainly with me not saying much which has def changed) so tonight was a extra special treat.

We talked for awhile and caught up on recent things and it reminded me so much of when we were younger and I honestly couldn't keep from smiling. I felt like such a little girl with a crush. This guy is such a great friend and I am so happy that after all these years and all of our ups & downs and life in general we are still such great friends. We can talk about life's most important things, life's dumbest things, or be in a comfortable silence all while remaining true to ourselves. Friendship like this is hard to come by and even harder to keep a hold of. So we've made plans to hang out this Thursday and I'm excited about it and looking forward to it (not sure when's the last time I felt this way)

Plus he called me after midnight (which is his "bedtime") so it was a double special moment :)

Alright before I get all girly & mushy....good night!!!!

photography

As most of you may know I have been a photographer for many many years but nothing really on a professional level. I have worked in a couple studios and have my own work on the walls in my apartment but again nothing too serious.
I did some work for my "mom" and have taken many pictures of my sister and my godson but now I have the chance to branch out and become serious. Photography has always been a passion of mine but I am very nervous about doing it on my own on a professional level. I went to the castle not far from my house and did a few landscape shots and one of my co-workers really likes the one he saw and wants a copy. He has also be asking me for a few weeks now to do a shoot with him and this Saturday is d-day..... I am so super excited about finally being able to do it but also very scared. However it is time for me to start taking my own advice and but like Nike and "just do it"

I will try to do another blog post shortly after Saturday to tell you all how it went but in the meantime enjoy the waterfall from my trip to the castle

EST

sooo IDK why my blog is not on the Eastern Time zone..... that is all

What's In My Purse

Okay sooooo what girl doesn't like to have a collection of hand bags?? I have many color many sizes (mainly medium-large) and am so eager to go out and buy some more. However I find myself always going through it and dumping things out because it gets too heavy. With that being said lets all take a trip through my purse (even I might be surprised)

In the two outside pockets:
- a lens to my sunglasses that kept popping out
- a pair of scissors (don't worry this was a just added addition because I wasn't sure if they would have some at work)

In the inside zipper pocket:
- my "like" list of the wines from a tasting I went to in FL
- a quarter

In the main purse: (prepare yourself)
-a journal
-a day planner
- phone charger
- check book (people make fun of me for having a check book)
- a book "What's Up Down There" (go out and get a copy)
- a headband
- not 1 but 2 black clutches (long story short my wallet was stolen and I never got a new one and I've been using clutches as wallets and just throw them into the big bag we won't go into why there is 2)
- a can of tuna fish (working in the middle of the night means I can't go out for food ::dare I add a lunchbox to my things to carry::)
- 1, 2, 3 different chap stick & lip gloss
- travel size lotion
- deodorant
-gum
- various ponytail holders
- hand sanitizer
- black eyeliner
- eyeliner sharpener
- excema cream
- flash drive
- camera memory card
- bobby pins
- nail file
- an ink pen (I'm shocked there's only 1)
- nail polish (clear w/glitter)
- tampons
- an assortment of coin change
and there was headphones but I'm currently using them

....now I ask myself can I survive without all these items?? I'm sure some of them can go and I'm sure I can think of a few things that can be added but for the time being it's all staying. Usually the clean out comes when it's time to switch to a different bag.

until next time
Love Peace & Hair Grease

?????

I'm sad and I don't know why (single most suckiest feeling ever) and I want to write but nothing is coming to mind (yea that sucks too). It's 1:15am and I am at work trying oh-so very hard to stay awake. Why did I think 3rd shift was a good idea?? Good news is I filled out a letter of intent and so after my trip to FL in a couple weeks I will be transferring to a house closer to home and it will be 2nd shift ( I really wanted 1st) and I will be able to sleep at night again....
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guess I'll go read my book now

*love peace and hair grease*

40 days to give up something...what shall it be??

So today is Ash Wednesday (well technically yesterday was since it 12:06) and I have never in my life given up anything for lent but I woke up this morning very motivated to make changes in my life so what a perfect day to start.
So to be 100% honest I don't know all the rules but I know people fast and give up meat on Fridays and so on and so forth....but I also know that some people decide to give up other vices in their life as well. With technology these day people have decided to give up facebook & twitter and such things so I had to find something to change.
So I thought taking the facebook app off my phone (but as sad as it sounds this is how I find out some important stuff about family not in CT) so decided not to delete
...no more drinking alcohol--sounds great but then I realized I don't really drink (maybe drank 3times this year) so that would be wayyyyyy to easy
....considered sex (don't make that face we are all grown) but that is also something that would be way too easy [without going into detail of my sex life]
...then it hit me I'm always talking about how I don't throw away anything and how my house is so cluttered and how I don't want to end up on A&E show Hoarding: Buried Alive. This is something that I really seriously struggle with (don't worry you can see the floors in my house) but I have a hard time getting rid of things. I hold on to things that people give me ( I feel so bad letting it go even if I don't use/want it) don't want people to get mad at me although I'm sure they won't.

So with that being said I have decided to give up the clutter for lent. I will throw away 1 bag of trash or donate 1 bag of clothes or clean out 1 box of clutter...etc every day until lent is over (or until my house is empty)

What are you giving up for lent??

until we meet again.....

QVC v. HSN

HSN sucks.... that is all

In all seriousness though. I have ordered a few things from QVC and never had a problem and recently I needed a new camera. HSN had a slightly better price so I decided to set up an account and give HSN a try. I figured same concept so there shouldn't be a problem right?? WRONG!! Order was canceled 3 times and the last time I called customer service the guy said "I really don't know what the problem is ma'am I suggest you just stop trying to order the camera and go somewhere else" .....really guy?? really???

So we went back and forth since about the first week in February and still no camera....
...until I went back to what I know and ordered from QVC. I placed my order late Sunday night/Monday morning and it was delivered on Tuesday... (I missed it though and got it Wednesday)

so excited to have my new camera and I LOVE QVC

Get your house in order...

Before going on with this post be advised it is a bit emotion and will most likely stir up lots of thoughts but please continue one...

... On Tuesday Feb 22 2011 a man that I met in High School and since then I have considered to be my grandpa left this earth and passed on. Of course there is the initial sadness and emotion but this death was unlike no other that I have dealt with yet. I have been apart of the family like I said since high school so the very next morning I went to go check on mom and make sure she was doing okay and to offer my condolences and support. Since she was handling everything and I was there for her I felt like I was handling everything indirectly. Usually when someone passes unless you are the spouse or immediate next of kin....you hear about the death....send your condolences....and show up to the memorial services. You don't see the "behind the scene" occurrences. Yesterday I was "behind the scenes" I went to the funeral home to do a walk through. I was there when all the phone calls were made to cancel things and notify people and end his chapter in this world. Being the person having to do all this sort of puts a hold on the mourning process. I am so glad that I could be there for mom yesterday and offer my help even if it's just moral support but it does make you think. If I was to leave this earth today would someone be able to locate all the necessary paperwork to cancel everything. Would this be something they can handle without going crazy trying to figure out everything? Is there a will in place?
This is just something that is on my mind and needed to share and vent.

...until next time

Has winter ended??

Connecticut was hit hard this winter with tons and tons of snow. Although this is New England and snow is what we expect the past few years have been a walk in the park. However this year immediately after Christmas snow came and it kept on coming. Every single week we had a storm and some weeks we had more then 1 storm. I stopped keeping track but last total was 71.1 inches. However we have gone longer then a week without another storm and its been so warm out (slightly above 30degrees lol). I am beyond ready for Spring time and this Friday its suppose to be 60 degrees out. Time to go shopping ;-)

Ill try to post some snow pictures later on

Until next time...stay smiling

Quickie Post

So my last post was last year (around this time actually) not too sure why I haven't been posting but time to start again.

Not too much in this post since I can't sit for too long. Just got off work a couple hours ago and I am exhausted but I'm trying to stay awake so that I can make it to church this morning. Working 3rd shift is no joke and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but for right now it's going to have to work for me.
Looking around right now and realizing that my house is a MESS...I always envision ending up on A&E show Hoarders and that is so not cool. I have tons of things and I need to clean and I'm always thinking about total, complete clean out but it just doesn't happen. This is also a set back from working 3rd shift. I feel like I haven't completed anything since my schedule has changed. Today however I'm going to work on it. So going to end my quick little post and clean the living room instead.

*Happy Sunday Lovies*