{2 fabulous things }

this is what i did yesterday::

a lovely full day at the Salt Lake LDS Temple with my great ward

a great evening at the Aggie basketball game against UNR with a great friend:

{ happies / sads }

#1:: My "Dopplehanger/Dinglehopper/Wamplehammer/WTHTAI:

Christina Hendricks: My celebrity look-a-like. Eh?

#2:: i figured i'd combine my happies and my highs/lows this evening. :) enjoy!

happies...

. LOST has returned. i could end now.

but i won't

. Have I mentioned recently how much I absolutely Love Love  Love my job? I do.

. I appreciated being able to create schedules & the opportunity I have to manage my time and talents in an organized fashion. Makes my life so much happier.

. Yogi Tea bags: they have wonderful sayings on them, which I only recently discovered. A few favorites: "Happiness is every human being's birthright." And "Happiness comes from contentment."

. People watching at the gym will really never get old. Seriously.

. "Hot Bod in a Box." You heard me. HOT BOD in a Box. Thank you Jillian Michaels. You've transformed my self-inflicted torture sessions... I mean, my workouts. Get it. Love it.

. Reading in bed.

. Great friends who are not fake :) who truly care about individuals' needs, who know what you're thinking without even talking, girl chats at any hour, and being an answer to my prayers.

. Talking to my nephews on the phone.

. The Temple. "Holiness to the Lord.

Lows...

. I hate that my body prefers getting to bed early and if I don't do just that, I absolutely cannot wake up the next morning.

. Filling up my gas tank nearly every $ingle week. Ouch.

 . Realizing (through much prayer, thinking and tears) that the person you really like (possibly love...) is not the one with whom you are supposed to spend your life with. Wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy.

That's all I got. What about you?

{ movie review:: coco before chanel }

I don't have much time tonight... it's already nearly an hour past my bedtime, but I had to post something before the week completely ran away from me.

Some of my girlfriends and I went to see "Coco Before Chanel" last Friday evening. Prior to seeing the movie listing on the theatre's website I had never before heard of this film. I read the synopsis and it sounded interesting so I decided to get a group together. 

It. Is. Amazing.

It's definitely on the "Ashley will be purchasing this from Amazon when it's cheaper" list.

Audrey Tauto is simply stunning in her role as Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. 

{4 out of 4 stars from me}

{ wedding pics:: g i u l i a & d a v i d }

giulia & david's pictures are finally done!!!

See them at LemonDrop Creative

Enjoy!!! :)

{ bringin' back the fringe }

This was my brother C and I circa 1986.

Please take special note of

a) our extremely blonde haire,

b) that we're holding hands (aren't we so cute?!) and

c) the interesting bowl cut mom was notorious for during our childhood!!

Wow... those were doosies.

Also, please note those bangs I had goin' on, compared to what I now have today:

Wednesday evening I brought the fringe bangs back in a moment of weakness at 11:00pm, with my own scissors.

It's taken me a few days to get used to them, but I'm definitely liking the fact that I have reverted back to 1986, that I really do look more similar to Christina Hendricks than I did 3 days ago, not to mention the great comments the guys at work have been making this week. Their wives have definitely trained them well and I immensely appreciate them for that.

Also... check out my cute office: pink and green are great, right? :)

{ book review:: "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

The past two weeks I have been glued to Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones" in glorious anticipation of the movie finally out in theatres. It has been so refreshing reading books that are not school or textbook-related... sigh. I didn't want to see the movie prior to finishing the book so I've dutifuly diverted my eyes and attention when a trailor came on the television or when friends spoke about the movie.

Last night I literally had 2 pages remaining and even though I really wanted to finish, my eyes had another plan. So, after 2 weeks' anticipation, I finally polished off the final 2 pages this morning after I woke up.

Overall, my cover-to-cover reaction is a 3 of 4 stars.

Sebold's storytelling was compelling, character development was superb and narration from the main character, Susie, was captivating. For me, two specific incidents in the book were completely bizarre and did not mesh well with other events in the story.

Things I loved about the book:

. Unique story line told through the narration of a 14-year-old girl who is mysteriously murdered

. Excellent character development... these characters felt real to me, like I could reach out and touch them or call them on the phone.

. Believable character voice... the way Sebold wrote in Susie's 14-year-old voice was amazing. I felt like I was actually Susie, or actually seeing the world through her eyes.

Things I didn't love about the book:

. Random events... 2 things occurred at the end of the story that did fit nor add to the overrall picture of the book. Other than these, I loved the book. (It was  unfortunate they both occurred in the final 20-ish pages... left a wierd taste in my mouth.)

So, yes... I do recommend reading this book, and would invite any of my faithful readers to join me in seeing it in the theatre sometime soon-ish!! :)

{ my new diggs }

As most of you know, I moved a few months ago. In October, actually, and I'm just now postin' these beauties. My sincere apologies. I know I've been promising them for a while now, but I couldn't post any pictures of my blank walls!

My walls are no longer blank and my office area is nearly organized... but only since Saturday. :) I do miss living with amazing women, but I'm loving living by myself and having my own space.

Enjoy!!

{entry / dining room / kitchen }

 My lil' 1-bedroom is small, but it's pretty roomy. I do wish the kitchen was just that much larger, but it definitely works! Top Left: That cute vase was a gift from my Jon when I moved. It makes me happy to see it greet me each day when I come home. Top/Bottom Right: My fabulous 50s diner table!!! The best online-classifieds find I've ever found. Makes my heart soooo so happy.Bottom Left: View from my front door to my lil' cooking nook and my "monster phone."

{ living room }

I should have included a picture of my gas fireplace but I forgot to take a picture, sorry. It keeps me warm, especially when I take naps on my newly carpeted floor. Mmm.... :) I really like my built-in bookshelves by the back door. My old classics and photos feel at home here. And, Miss Audrey loves chillin' with the NYC Depression-era construction workers and my own picture of the NYC skyline.

 { my bed.... sigh... }

 I absolutely LOVE my bedroom. I am a nester and have always needed to get my room situated before any other room in other places I've lived. There's something about having my happy place that makes my home--regardless of where that may be--home. My new diggs were no different. My friend K made me get my room setup while everyone else was organizing my books and kitchen when I moved in. I love her dearly for that. These cute curtains have been with me for three years now, thanks to a good $5 purchase at K-Mart; that fabulous cranberry red lamp shade and black wrought-iron lamp were DI finds from nearly 5 years ago (sitting atop a 60s DI end table from 8 years ago) and my bed. Oh my bed... it is really my heaven on earth.

{ bathroom / closet space!! / bedroom }

The only thing I haven't liked about living in old homes was the severe lack of closet space. A closet that is 24 inches wide just doesn't cut it! I now have two... yes 2! closets that are 6 FEET wide and offer all the storage space I need. And, I don't have as many clothes as I thought I did. Shoes, yes... but clothes no. :) And there's room for my camping gear, laundry hampers, and for my coats and boxes in the front entry closet... Sigh... I love it.  And, this cute lil' dresser was "borrowed" from my parents' house :) It's the third of my three pieces of furniture in my room and I love it.

And there you have it. My home. I love love love it.

Feel free to stop by and say hi. I'm home from 9pm to 7:30am. :)