Ashley's Life

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T10:27:00.008-08:00

My sweetheart boys and I got our Valentine's Day started off on a sweet note.

Yummy!!

Charlie's friend Piper, and mommy's friend Emily, joined us for a Valentine's treat.

A real life Prince Charming. They DO exist!!

Oh, Charlie!

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm looking forward to spending the evening with my hubby. I hope you are able to spend today with the ones you love!~

Celebrate!

2012-02-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

Our friends, Zach and Kara, got engaged around the time Charlie was born. I was trying to convince them to reconsider their 2 year engagement, (I was way too excited and wanted them to get married right away), and joked that I could potentially have another child before they got married. Little did we all know that I actually would!

Oh, hey there little cutie!

They're getting married this May, and we had a great night on Saturday celebrating their upcoming wedding. They are an incredible couple and I am so glad that they are part of our lives.

I also saw The Vow this weekend with my friends, Jenn and Emily. I loved it, but it really needed to be about 30 minutes longer. It didn't give me a wedding to finish things up, AND I needed some more Channing Tatum/Rachel McAdams.

I also dropped in to Target for a minute this weekend, and saw the most ridiculously long line for the release of Breaking Dawn. I almost ditched my friends to get in line..but that would have been weird. I'm hoping to convince Noel to watch it with me sometime this week. It is Valentine's Day, after all!!~

Art Project~

2012-02-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

I took the boys to the Art Museum yesterday for a fun, art project.

This project was the cutest. It was geared towards toddlers, so instead of a paintbrush, they gave the little guys a clothes pin and a cotton ball to paint with. Isn't that clever?

The most beautiful piece of art I have ever seen.

It was a chilly day, but the sun was beautiful, so we did a little exploring as well.

Charlie was cracking up thinking that he had locked me out of the car.

Silly.

I hope you all have a great weekend!~

Be Our Guest~

2012-02-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, a certain little mister got hold of this tag, hence the bendage.

When people come over to stay, I like to have some extras around for them. (Mainly so my sisters won't be tempted to steal my razors.) I put together a little under-the-sink guest bundle for them.

Full of all the essential toiletry items you would need for an overnight stay.

I do wish my family lived closer. A month or so ago, while feeding Walker at my parents' house, I was looking out the window at the house for sale right across the street. I never imagined that I would have the thought, "Oh I wish I could live there!", but I did...and I do a lot!

It would be nice to have a quick face-to-face convo with my mom everyday, to take a morning stroller stroll with my dad, to have lunch with a sister, or play video games with my brother....(totally joking about the video games). It would be nice to snack over at my brother's place, though. You know those Little Debbie snack cakes that everyone loves but no one buys because they're so, extremely bad for you? He has a pantry full of them.

This week has been nice. The boys and I got to meet my dad for a Chick-Fil-A lunch on Monday and had a nice afternoon with my mom on Tuesday.

So, until they all decide to move closer to me, they can take advantage of this guest bin should they forget an essential toiletry item. I'm sure the men will especially enjoy the Sweat Pea Body Wash.

Find the Time

2012-02-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

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I found this recently and immediately loved it.

(Since I'm not a coffee drinker, I'll change it out for "a phone call with a friend"!)

I think it's a great idea to "Find the Time".

While taking a walk, Charlie will stop and pick up every leaf, point at every car, touch every crack in the sidewalk, and come to a complete stop if an airplane flies by.

Walker doesn't take his eyes off of me while I rock and sing to him.

Wouldn't it be nice to be more child-like?

Favorite Videos!!

2012-02-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

If you need 2 minutes to

use the bathroom by yourself (door still has to be open, just with no one trying to sit on your lap)
put a toddler's shoes on
use both arms to feed your baby
get an extra minute before the sun comes up (head butting from toddler is still included)

check out these videos!!

They're nice and short and Charlie LOVES them!

We know and perform this choreography on a daily basis. Charlie particularly likes Grover on the roller skates.

So entertaining. This kid is ridiculous! Charlie likes to practice his moves after he watches this one.

I have to admit that this is my favorite of Charlie's picks. Ricky Gervais is hilarious and we like to say "night night" in our best British accents.

There have been 5,696,789 views on this video, and I'm pretty sure 5,696,780 of them have been from us. Charlie can't get enough of this one. The most dramatic song about a truck I've ever heard.

Hope you enjoy!

Having Fun!~

2012-02-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

We were LOVING the beautiful NC weather last week and took full advantage of it.

Charlie and cousin Ande have recently reached the stage where they really enjoy playing TOGETHER. It is pretty adorable. Every time they get together, they run as fast as they can towards each other.

The object of their affection?

A lawnmower, of course!!

Charlie has also started to realize that he is the big brother. He's always noticed that there's been a baby around, but is now really starting to show his love towards Walker.

He kisses him and tells me when the baby is awake, "Boo Boo is awake!", and likes to hand Walker his trucks.

And, because Charlie hates to wear socks, he makes sure that Walker doesn't have to suffer either.

So grateful for my babies. I hope that they will be forever friends.

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The Art of Color: Black and White

2012-02-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

Part 3 of the Mini Series: The Art of Color!!!!

I have searched far and wide for black and white photos that make me go WOW.

Breaking it down.

THE DANCERS

Dance1 Dance 2

All I can do is just stare at this first picture. Isn't it breathtaking??

The second pic is equally as stunning and is of my good friend, Ronnie. LOVE!! He's crazy good and the founder of THIS dance company.

THE FASHION

SJP1 SJP2

Is there really anyone else who could be featured in a fashion section? Love me some SJP.

THE FLOWERS

Flower1 Flower2

I am the stereotypical girl in the sense that I ADORE flowers. These are beautiful pics of my favorites.

THE CELEBS

Ryan Rachel

Gorgeous. Both of them. The perfect duo. WHY are they not still together??

THE DECOR

Living Room Office

If I had my own office, I would want it to look exactly like this. Crisp and clean featuring multiple black and white patterns.

This living room is a little much for an everyday, kid friendly home, but isn't it gorgeous to look at?

THE BABES

Charlie Walker's pic by Amber Adamson

Saved the best for last, of course. Goodness!! Can you even tell them apart? I love these pictures more than I can even express and love that these moments were captured.

There's something so beautiful and classic about a black and white photo.

For the Art of Color: Part 1, click here. For Part 2, click here.

Thanks to my sis, Jessica for helping me with this post!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Cleaning Up the Closet!~

2012-02-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

Something had to be done about all this.

After doing some searching on Pinterest, I found THIS incredible idea.

I found some random shower curtain hooks in a drawer and got to work.

I put each scarf through a hook and tried using a regular plastic hanger.

A little bendy for my taste.

So, then I tried a wooden hanger.

And liked the results much better.

A quick, easy project that keeps my closet super organized.

PS. It helps to have a super cute assistant.

Something to Think About~

2012-02-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

I came across this quote while reading my Parenting magazine. The article was about how to raise a genius, and since my boys are already geniuses (!), I focused more on this particular quote.

Are you doing something you love to do everyday? I hope so.

While we're on the topic of love.....check out this little cutie.

(Excuse my hyper, baby talk, morning voice)

The end of January marks 1 year of me being a stay at home mommy.

And I can honestly say I love it.

I'm a very scheduled person, (no! who would have thought?), and was so used to a bell to bell life (as a high school teacher). Because of this, it took me a minute to figure out how to be a good SAHM.

Just like with school, I think that if you are prepared with a plan for your kids everyday, your day will be much more enjoyable and you will get more done.

So, I use my Lesson Plan book from school to plan my days....

Sometimes I fill it out the week before, sometimes the day before, but either way it's done before the day begins.

I always have a Plan A, but if things change and we have to go to Plan B I'm fine with that!

Doing this allows me to find fun things to do with my boys and helps me get excited for the day ahead.

So, when I saw the quote from Steve Jobs, I felt great that I can honestly say that there is nothing else I would rather be doing that what I am currently doing!

And this whole "spring weather in the middle of winter" thing is really making everything that much more enjoyable!~

Our Favorite Things~

2012-01-30T19:08:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my FAVORITE THINGS from January.

1. Bobbie Brown Hydrating Eye Cream:

Does this actually work? I have no idea. Does it feel amazing? Yes!

2. Laundry Baskets from Walmart:

Snooze alert! I know. But seriously, I am in love with these laundry baskets. Perfect size to organize all the clothes.

3. Kourtney and Kim Take New York:

Don't pretend you don't watch this! (Or good for you if you haven't gotten sucked into it yet) I love this show. These girls are in FALSIES (fake eyelashes) ALL day. How is this even possible? Who cares? I love it. Noel and I watched the movie, "One Day", a few weeks ago. Not to spoil the movie for you if you haven't seen it, but it was hands down the worst, most depressing movie of all time. I couldn't even move afterwards...I was that depressed. Noel suggested I watch K&KTNY. And that is why I married him. It totally zapped my "I want to cry myself to sleep" mood and replaced it with mindless Kardashian material. Perfect.

4. Gerber's Squeezable Fruit:

Charlie can't get enough of this stuff. (So, I guess it should be on Charlie's list). It's super easy for a quick snack. And that's why I love it.

5. You're All My Favorites:

My mom gave me this book several years ago. I've always liked this book, but when I started reading it to Charlie and Walker the other day, I got choked up because it has a totally different meaning now.

While I was making my list, I thought it would be interesting to see what Noel had on his list of January Favorites.

And here they are (with Noel's thoughts).

1. The Alabama Crimson Tide are National Champions:

My favorite college football team played for the BCS National Championship down in New Orleans earlier this month. A lot of people questioned if they event deserved to play in the championship game because their only loss all season came against LSU who was the undisputed "Number 1" team in the country. Alabama's defense put on a show and proved that not only did the Tide deserve a shot at the championship, but that they were the best team in the country when it counted. Watch the SportsCenter highlights below:

2. The Roots album "Undun".

Best album of 2011. Period. I've been listening to this non-stop. Everyone knows The Roots from their role as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC, but they've been making great music for years. This is by far their best work. "Undun" is a concept album told in reverse. It tells the story of a young man named Redford Stevens who makes bad decisions in his life due to the environment he is surrounded by. The first song is meant to be his death and the story goes in reverse from there. While the album has been critically acclaimed, it's not exactly selling out in all the stores. Take a listen and decide for yourself: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/undun/id481840450

3. Clarks Originals Lapland Boot.

I got a pair of these from my mom for Christmas. They might be my favorite shoes ever. They look great with khaki's or jeans. They're dressy enough for work, but casual enough for a Saturday afternoon. I've been rocking' Clarks Originals Wallabies forever, but these have a little bit different flair. Just wanted to show everyone that Ashley's not the only one in this family with some style! Haha!

4. Range Rover Evoque.

It's a smaller Range Rover. It comes in 2 or 4 door models. It has everything you'd expect from a Range Rover (luxury, performance, etc.). Not really much else to say here.

5. All I have to say about my last one is... YO!!!!!!!

We did have ONE thing in common for our January favorites:

Walker's bathtime

I know I keep talking about this, but Walker plus his bath equals some SERIOUS cuteness. He kicks his arms and legs so hard and LOVES that he can control how the water splashes. It never gets old.

Enjoy your last day of January!!~

Soul Mates~

2012-01-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

"She's my person. If I murdered someone, she's the person I'd call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor. She's my person."

Christina from Grey's Anatomy

Erin and I have officially coined the phrase, "you're my person", for each other.

We are 3 days apart and have been friends our entire lives. Not many can say that! Since we both had birthdays last week, I had to bring out the old pictures.

Here are some of my favorites.

Braces(!) and Jenni K bracelets. Gotta love it. Spending the night at Erb's house after Cotillion.

We have danced together since we were 3, but this was our first duet. Titanic. We loved those watercolor costumes.

As 8th graders, we usually didn't wear this much makeup :-), but we had just finished a performance at the Stevens Center with NCSA.

Erin's graduation

We've made crafts together in preschool, had sleepovers in elementary school, passed notes to each other in middle school, danced through high school, helped each other make major life decisions through college, and watched each other get married later on.

How lucky am I to have a forever friend?

The Art of Color: Blue!!

2012-01-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Part 2 of the Mini Series: The Art of Color!!

The color BLUE is known to slow metabolism and produce a calming effect. Ironic since I found all these PREPPY blue items that make me very excited!

Before we break it down, it's very important to understand this:

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I have always believed that everything looks better monogrammed!

Breaking it down:

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Everyone needs a pair of Tory Burch shoes. Aren't these beautiful? Unfortunately, no one has listened to my subtle (ok, not very subtle) hints that I need a pair.

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Look at this little cutie. This was Charlie at 2 months. Out of all the boys' clothes, this has been my most favorite John John. Interested in a mini history lesson? People call shortalls and longalls John Johns because Jackie O dressed her son, JFK Jr (who they called John John) in them. Adorable, classic baby boy.

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While doing laundry the other day I realized that everyone in my household has this polo shirt. I get to wear mine with pearls, though. :-)

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I am borderline obsessed with stationary. I go into Charlotte's just to look at their beautiful selection. I love this blue set. I hate that handwritten notes are a lost art these days.

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Love PB Kids Madras collection. Noel wishes I didn't. I've had so much fun decorating the boys' rooms in this.

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Don't forget to monogram the scarf!

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Cute plates

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The co-owner of Southern Proper, Reagan Howell, is from my hometown. I love her ties! Noel has this one and this one, and my dad has this one.

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Beautiful room

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Handy tote bag

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Vineyard Vines dress that is oh so cute, and a polo for the little guys.

Now, go find your inner prep and get something monogrammed! :-)

(Art of Color: Part 1 can be found here.)

First Trip to the Emergency Room~

2012-01-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

Exhaustion has finally set in.

This week has been very tiring.

To make a long story short:

About 2 weeks ago Charlie had a normal winter's cold. Runny nose, fever, feeling yucky. It was pitiful, but he was over it in a day.
Last Tuesday night, Walker sounded strange in his crib. Called the nurse, (it was 1030pm), she told us to take him to ER.
ER doctor treated him for "minor" croup. (Later found out that it wasn't croup)
2 Days later, Walker wouldn't start screaming. He is typically an easy-going quiet little baby.
Took him to the doctor. Ear infection (cause of the screaming), and upper respiratory issues (from having a cold)
Doctor sent us home with a baby breathing machine (terrifying for both of us) and an antibiotic.

Everyone is fine now. Hallelujah.

Through it all, there are so many things to be thankful for.

Noel was in town. Thank goodness.
The boys got sick at different times. Would have been a nightmare to have them sick at the same time.
Walker's sweet nature at the ER. He sat there and cooed and smiled.
My friend Catherine. Not only did she answer my phone call at 11pm, but she drove over in the pouring rain to come stay with Charlie while Noel and I took Walker to the ER. Amazing.
Bubble Guppies. For what felt like 24 hours straight, before we figured out that he had an ear infection, Walker refused to be put down. So, we sat on the couch. I held Walker. Charlie watched Bubble Guppies.
The Walker blood that runs deep in my veins. I called the dr as soon as they opened (8am). They told me they could fit me in around lunch time. I told them I would be there in 5 minutes. Walker was seen in 15.
My friend Sara. Charlie was wonderful at being independent while we were getting Walker well. Sara came to play with just Charlie while I took Walker to the doctor. He loved it.
Medicine and doctors. Amoxicillin and Tylenol kick in FAST!

After seeing little Walker in so much pain, this adorable face melted my heart.

Isn't he the sweetest little baby? He is 3 months old today!

He has become so aware of everything around him
Thinks Charlie is the coolest (the feelings are mutual)
LOVES bath time. Splashes the entire time
Has started grabbing toys
Loves holding mommy's hand
Has the squishiest cheeks that I love kissing!!

Hope everyone is healthy and happy!!~

Squeaky Clean~

2012-01-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Favorite cleaner for my little guy's shoes.

Found this at WalMart

Look at the difference after just one quick scrub.

And, because this quote is so true...

I use this cleaner often.

The little mister off to explore on a rainy day.

Sibling Dinner~

2012-01-22T18:06:00.001-08:00

Guess who has a birthday this week?

Birthday photo shoot. Hit it!

James, Jessica, Sarah, and I got together for a yummy PF Changs dinner to celebrate my upcoming birthday.

I could not love them more.

The Art of Color: Green!~

2012-01-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

Starting a new mini series: The Art of Color.

It's no secret that my favorite color is GREEN, so that's what we'll start with!

I loved everything about my wedding. Classic black and white. Beautiful flowers, gown, ceremony, reception, everything!

But....if Noel and I were getting married today, I would change it up a bit.

Breaking it down.

The bride and groom.

Gown, Bouquet, Tie

Look at the skirt on that gown!! Simple enough but super sassy. Not too unlike the skirt on my gown. I love simple bridal bouquets so the focus stays on the bride (and the dress!), and a groom in a khaki suit and a plain green tie gets a YES!

The Bridal Party

Tie, Suits, Skirts, Skirts 2

I really like the idea of spicing it up with the bridal party. Groomsmen in khaki suits with polka dot ties, and the bridesmaids in preppy striped skirts.

The Flowers

Flowers 1, Flowers 2

These floral arrangements are very similar to the ones we had at our reception. I love mixing the arrangements up by having super tall designs at some tables and short ones at the others.

Details

Invitations, Favors

I love, love, love this website for letterpress wedding invitations and think these green favor boxes are adorable.

A little tidbit about the color green: It symbolizes balance, learning, growth, and harmony.

So may you have a well-balanced weekend where you learn something new, grow in a certain aspect, and have harmony throughout your days!~

Alphabet Wall~

2012-01-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

This little guy's Alphabet Wall has been up for a while in his nursery.

I really like the way it turned out.

I found all the wooden letters from JoAnn's and Michaels, and alternated between blue, red, yellow, and green paint except for Walker's initials. (WJA)

I started out with a paintbrush, but it took FOREVER! So, if you are wanting to paint letters, do it with this little number.

So much easier!

We've been waiting on Charlie's dresser to come in since September, and when it comes in the boys' rooms will be complete....(for now!!).

Kids' Schedule~

2012-01-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

I found a really cute Kids' Schedule online a few weeks ago and decided to try it out.

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I didn't get pictures from everyday, but here are a few.

Tuesday:

We love story time. Charlie really likes getting a stamp at the end.

Wednesday:

Helper #1

Helper #2

We love baking together. Chocolate Cream Cheese Delight is a favorite because it doesn't have any eggs in it, so Charlie can lick the bowl!

Friday:

If there is a train, Charlie will find it!

We went to the Nature Center with my fam and had a blast.

You should try this schedule one week and see what fun things you can do!

Lovely Looks from the Golden Globes~

2012-01-16T17:17:00.000-08:00

Even though the strapless, fishtail gown was the most popular look of the evening, my favorite look from the Golden Globes this year was the long sleeve.

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Laura Dern.

The color is ridiculously beautiful. The sparkle is a YES!! And the silhouette is to die for. Great choice.

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Helen Mirren.

Always classy. Always elegant.

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Julianna Marguilies

Love the shape of this dress, but mainly love those EARRINGS!! Stunning.

Overall, the dresses this year were....ok. Nothing really blew me away and only a couple of them got a "what was she thinking?"

Did you have a favorite gown of the evening?~

Pullen Park~

2012-01-15T18:51:00.001-08:00

We are loving trains these days.

And had a blast riding one at Pullen Park this weekend.

I fall in love with this cutie more and more every day.

And share that love with this sweetness.

Charlie was excited that he got to ride the train with mommy

and with daddy.

When I asked Charlie if he wanted a train birthday party or a truck birthday party, he said, "race car". :-) I think he'll be ok if we go with the trains.

New Year, New Look!~

2012-01-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Aarean over at LaDitta Design, designed a beautiful, new look for my blog!

She is super talented and was a dream to work with. If you need a new look to your blog make sure you contact her! I think she did a pretty fantastic job.

I hope you all had a nice, relaxing Sunday.

Mr. Man ready for church

Little man excited for an afternoon stroll.

Now, off to watch the Golden Globes!

Roll Tide~

2012-01-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Noel is at the College Football Championship game in New Orleans, so the boys say,

ROLL TIDE!!

Be Happy~

2012-01-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

Do something that makes you happy this week.

I feel that I'm a better spouse, parent, and friend when I find the time to do this.

Yesterday, I went on a date with my hubby, made a yummy dessert with Charlie, and took a snuggle snooze with Walker. Happiness all around!

Sweet, sleepy baby boys. This picture makes me smile.

Bachelor review~

2012-01-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

It's back!

I was disappointed with the 1st episode of the Bachelor last night. The whole episode was slow and boring and only offered us a ridiculous fight between Jenna, the blogger and the really unattractive blonde girl. (Btw, did anyone else go to Jenna's blog? I couldn't even look at it because everyone else in America was doing the same thing.)

Ben F is so adorable.

He definitely got his Jersey Shore on. (Gym/Tan/Laundry). Not sure about the laundry part but gym, yes! tan, yes!

I just kept thinking about how lucky he was for not getting stuck with Ashley.

The girls this season are INSANE.

-We have the 2 obligatory roles filled:

*Shawn, the one with the kid

*Nicki, the one who got divorced for no reason.

-And the most ridiculous name spellings I have ever seen:

*Lindzi, Lindsie??

What happened to the nice, traditional Lindsay or Lindsey??

-The greetings were out of control

-Jenna, the blogger: NEVER try to quote someone, unless it's "never give up". You're not the brightest as it is, and now you totally blew it.

-The "bold move" girl: Walked herself right on past Ben without a greeting, looked like she had been participating in some recreational drugs in the limo...all for NOTHING. Sent home the first night.

-The horse girl? Didn't she smell gross after riding that thing in?

-The dresses, hair, and faces.

-Not.cute. Without question.

-When did it ever become ok to wear a short dress with a see-through long portion over it? The answer is never.

-The pageant sash girl's hair was a hot pageant mess

-Blakeley looks like she could be the mother of any of those girls

-Everyone's dress was wayyyy too low cut. Yes, we still notice your face. Your plan didn't work.

-The personal trainer looked pregnant!!!! Poor wardrobe decision.

The only 3 decent looking girls (who also wore the best dresses) will be top 3.

Guaranteed.

Kacie

Lindzi

Rachel

What did you think about last night?

By the way, if you are currently single, make sure your guy not only supports your interest in The Bachelor, but will watch and comment with you.

Noel, "At least I don't have to hear 'No Doubt About It' a billion times." (Ahem, Brad?!)

:-)

2012 Goals~

2012-01-01T18:11:00.001-08:00

I decided to try something new this year for my New Year's Resolutions.

Instead of making my own goals, I had 5 close family/friends make them for me.

So here goes. Let's see if I can keep them.

Jessica

Jess really liked this idea I had. She gave me the goal of keeping up with writing in the boys' journals and to make a picture scrapbook once a year. I need to get busy making one for 2011.

Courtney

Courtney gave me the goal to attend the temple with Noel once a month. Great goal!

Amber

Amber gave me the goal to thank Heavenly Father for a different thing every single day this year. She's going to try and do the same thing.

Zach

Zach gave me the goal to do something by myself, for myself, at least once a month. Excited for this one!

Amanda

Amanda is my dancing bud. She gave me the challenge to do fouette turns to all corners clockwise and counter clockwise.

Let's do this, Ting! Can I add a double in between each side? Ok, I take that back.

I've actually done the Don Q pas (above) MANY years ago. Let's see if I still have it.

Noel

Noel wants me to join Twitter and actually tweet! My Twitter account is in the making, so when I have one I'll let you know.

Pretty good things I'm adding to my repertoire for 2012.

I'll report quarterly on how I'm doing.

What are your New Year's Goals??

Goodbye 2011~

2011-12-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

You have been so good to me.

You have turned this sweet baby....

into this sweet toddler....

and gave me another little one to love.

I am so grateful for my family and friends. It really does take a support team to raise children and I'm glad that I have a great team.

I had a wonderful 2011 and look forward to an even greater 2012. I've set many goals for the new year and will share those with you on Monday.

Cheers to 2011 and Welcome to a new year!~

2 months of sweetness~

2011-12-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

Sweet little Walker turned 2 months on Sunday!

He is so easy going.

And such an angel.

Jazz Hand!

He has started to smile and "talk" a LOT, which is so exciting.

His favorite part of the day is probably bath time. He just learned how to splash in the water.

Walker loves being snuggled and really enjoys watching big brother run around.

He is sleeping really well at night. He goes to bed between 730 and 745, sleeps for about 8 hours, wakes up to eat, and then goes back down until about 630am. He uses this hour or so to snuggle with mommy.

Best friends

Walker with Grandpa

Wouldn't you love to find a sweet little baby under your tree?!

Snoozing away

We love you Walker!~

Christmas!!~

2011-12-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

We definitely did.

Handsome boys all dressed up for church.

Christmas outfits provided by Auntie Amanda

Holding hands. Adorable. Walker just had to spit up. on his outfit. 2 seconds before I took these pictures.

Christmas Eve was spent with the Anderson crew.

Charlie and cousin Ande.

Charlie was so excited about opening presents this year!

Interested in the same present.

And Christmas Day was spent with my familia.

Me, my sisters, and my mom

Probably Charlie's favorite toy...a bulldozer!

Auntie Sarah and Jessica presenting Walker with a toy. He loved it, of course.

Walker was snuggled the entire weekend.

More snuggling with Great Grandma Hilda.

Cute moment. Charlie and his cousins William, Ashton, Julia, and Colleen.

Playing with cousin Davis.

Being sneaky.

Showing Great Grandpa Walker his trains.

The boys snuggling with daddy.

Walker living the good life.

I love holidays so much and feel so blessed that we were able to spend it with our families.

Another thing I love?

David Yurman. And his bracelets. And my parents for surprising me with this one!!

I'm a Mormon~

2011-12-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

Remember this post?

In our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, boys serve 2 year volunteer missions when they turn 19.

From the mormon.org website about missions:

The Lord's Church has always been a missionary church. Jesus Christ's life was the perfect example of missionary work. During His ministry on earth, he taught the gospel at all times, in all places, and to all kinds of people. Jesus taught the educated men in the temple, the sinners, the faithful and the unbelieving. He also called apostles and other disciples to preach the gospel so more people could hear about the blessings of His gospel. Most of their preaching during Christ's life was to their own people, the Jews. After Jesus was resurrected, He visited His apostles and sent them to preach to the gentiles. He commanded them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

I love hearing stories about people making good decisions.

This guy, Will Hopoate....

is one of them. How sharp is he?! I need to find some contact info seeing that he's around my sisters' ages.

THIS guy we all know, David Archuleta....

I've always loved him. What a beautiful moment when he announces his decision to serve a 2 year mission for our church.

Jesus Christ is the perfect example of missionary work, love, and service. I am grateful that we specifically have this time of year to celebrate His birth.

Have a Merry Christmas dear friends.~

Auntie Love~

2011-12-22T17:25:00.000-08:00

"Only an aunt can give hugs like a mother, keep secrets like a sister and share love like a friend."

How true. And how grateful I am that Charlie and Walker get so much love.

Today, I made a visit to my miracle worker and hair stylist, Jordan.

While I was gone, the babies played with Auntie Jessie and Sari.

Charlie followed Uncle Jimmy around all morning too, so we can't leave him out!

♥

Kindness~

2011-12-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul.

Maya Angelou

I love this quote and find it to be so true.

I have been the recipient of many acts of kindness this week, and all of them have lifted my spirits.

People have brought by yummy treats, opened doors for me (huge deal with the bus of a stroller I push around), and a lady at Old Navy today gave me a 30% off coupon!

I am constantly trying to be better at service, and have great examples of it all around me.

Have you ever heard of the Random Acts of Kindness website?

This website posts a RAOK daily, has stories and inspirational ideas, and has a place to submit your own ideas.

Some examples of Random Acts of Kindness:

*Offer a couple of free hours of babysitting to parents (!)

*Donate used books to your library

*Give the elderly the gift of music

*Make a new friend

There are pages and pages of ideas. How wonderful!

Charlie performed an act of kindness this week by letting Walker play with his toys.

Walker loved it. :-)

I Hear Ewe~

2011-12-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Charlie is pretty tech savvy these days.

He loves looking at videos and pictures on my iPod, and I even found him scrolling through Facebook the other day.

Noel's friend, Greg, told us about this great, FREE(!) app.

It's called I Hear Ewe and it has 2 pages of animal sounds...

and most importantly, a page of "Things That Go" sounds.

Charlie loves clicking on the icons and hearing (and repeating) what each animal and truck say.

(Driving a motorcycle)

What are some of your favorite Toddler Apps?~

Eat, Play, Love~

2011-12-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."

What a wonderful weekend spent with family.

Saturday was spent at my Grandma and Grandpa Walker's house and Sunday was spent at Noel's Granny Anderson's house.

We did a TON of eating, loads of playing, and shared in lots of love.

I love being around my siblings and cousins so much. On Saturday, after eating my Grandma's yummy meal, I realized that I hadn't seen my children in a while. I walked around the house and found my cousin Ava playing trains with Charlie, (Santa aka Mimi and Grandpa came with an early Christmas present) and found Walker snuggling up to my cousin Katie. What a great feeling of love!

Cousin Couture~

2011-12-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

Cousin Couture.

I love this boutique.

The clothes, shoes, jewelry, and accessories are adorable AND affordable.

If you don't have to worry about spit up, diapers, or nursing...you should check out their clothes.

But, for me, right now, I stick with their jewelry. Maybe one day I can wear a silky top...now, not so much.

A few outfits I like....

Love this top.

Love anything and everything that sparkles.

Love red pants. Hopefully Santa will bring me a pair!

You can find them on Facebook.

And, if you're still in need of a girl gift....I'm sure you can find something here.

(Most of the auntie's presents are from here this year)

Have a great weekend!!~

Dance Inspiration~

2011-12-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm ready to get back to dancing again.

Time for a little inspiration from my faves.

Darci Kistler

I love you.

In Central Park as Odette.

If you've ever seen the Macaulay Culkin version of The Nutcracker, she's the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Alessandra Ferri

in Carmen

LEGGGSSS!!!

She's so fierce I can't even stand it.

Desmond Richardson

Perfection

Ballet Company, Modern Company, Broadway...he's mastered it all.

Darcey Bussell

I own a humongous framed copy of this picture.

It's one of the most beautiful dance pictures I've ever seen.

Beautiful dancer. Beautiful costume.

Simple and classic.

Bridget Daily Photography

Hey! How did this one sneak in??

I did a sauté with Charlie in my arms the other day. So random. Great workout!

If you need a little dance in your life make sure you turn it to Ovation this week for The Battle of the Nutcrackers. No one can top San Francisco Ballet, but Bolshoi is up tonight at 8!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISSY, JESSICA!! I love you!~

Pottery Barn Christmas Wreath~

2011-12-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

It's a good day when I get a Pottery Barn Magazine in the mail.

Especially PBKids or PB Holiday Edition.

Charlie feels the same about ESPN the Magazine.

He seriously loves this magazine. He is his father's child.

While flipping through the pages one day, I came across this picture.

Stunning.

White house with black shutters=my dream house.

I love the wreaths on the gate, but they are almost $100 each.

I already had a pretty fantastic Christmas wreath, but didn't have anything to put over the lights around our garage outside.

So, I went to the Dollar Tree and bought a $1 wreath and a $1 package of ornaments.

Got kind of ghetto and used dental floss to wrap the ornaments around the wreath. That stuff is crazy strong, and it doesn't show.

And voila.

A miniature version of PB's Christmas wreath!~

Bossypants~

2011-12-13T11:52:00.000-08:00

Have you read this yet?

When I heard that Tina Fey wrote a book, I ran to the library to check it out....Only to realize that everyone else in my state had done the same thing.

I was number 895 on the list (seriously, number 895) and after 5 months of waiting, I finally got the email telling me that Bossypants was ready for me.

And, it was worth the wait.

Favorite moments of the book:

*Referring to the moment when she knew she had become a woman:

"I experienced car creepery at thirteen. I was walking home from middle school past a place called the World's Largest Aquarium-which, legally, I don't know how they could call it that, because it was obviously an average-sized aquarium. maybe I should start referring to myself as the World's Tallest Man and see how that goes?"

Anyways, she goes on to talk about how some boys cat called her from their car. Not the typical moment when people realize that they are all grown up. I remember mine was at Charlie's first pedes appt. The dr asked what "mom's" birthdate was, and in the second I was trying to remember what year my mom was born, I realized that he was referring to me as "mom".

*She is constantly talking about how she is a brunette in a blonde woman's world and how Joyce Dewitt (from Three's Company) was the only brunette actress she had to look up to:

"And if I ever meet Joyce DeWitt, I will first apologize for having immediately punched her in the face, and then I will thank her. For while she looked like a Liza Minnelli doll that had been damaged in a fire, at least she didn't look like everybody else on TV."

Hilarious.

*Talking about what it's like doing a photo shoot:

"With the wind blowing on your long extensions, you feel like Beyonce. The moment the wind machine stops, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and wonder, 'Why is the mother from Coal Miner's Daughter here?'"

I had to put the book down while laughing at this one. I have no clue what that mother looks like, but I'm guessing she ain't cute.

*On the subject of not being able to breastfeed her daughter:

"I was defensive and grouchy whenever the topic (breastfeeding) came up. At a party with a friend who was successfully nursing her little boy, I watched her husband produce a bottle of pumped breast milk that was the size of a Big Gulp. It was more milk than I had produced in my whole seven weeks. As my friend's husband fed the baby, he said offhandedly, 'This stuff is liquid gold. You know it actually makes them smarter?' 'Let's set a date!' I screamed. IQ test. Five years from today. My formula baby will crush your baby!' Thankfully, my mouth was so full of cake they could not understand me."

The one thing moms can't stand is a parent who runs their mouth about any parenting topic when they know good and well that they are offending the other person. And Tina Fey is calling "that" parent out.

*And lastly, a topic on being a new parent:

"Me Time: Any expert will tell you, the best thing a mom can do to be a better mom is to carve out a little time for herself. Here are some great "me time" activities you can do.

Go to the bathroom a lot.

Offer to empty the dishwasher.

Take ninety-minute showers. (If you only shower every three or four days, it will be easier to get away with this.)

Say you're going to look for the diaper creme, then go into your child's room and just stand there until your spouse comes in and curtly says, "What are you doing?"

Stand over the sink and east the rest of your child's dinner while he or she pulls at your pant leg asking for it back.

Try to establish that you're the only one in your family allowed to go to the post office.

'Sleep when the baby sleeps.' Everyone knows this classic tip, but I say why stop there? Scream when your baby screams. Take Benadryl when your baby takes Benadryl. And walk around pantless when your baby walks around pantless.

Read! When your baby is finally down for the night, pick up a juicy book like Eat, Pray, Love or Pride and Prejudice or my personal favorite, Understanding Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy and Apnea; A Clinical Study. Taking some time to read each night really taught me how to feign narcolepsy when my husband asked me what my "plan" was for taking down the Christmas tree.

I'm pretty sure I've done the diaper creme trick. And the eating your baby's dinner thing, but mine was more along the lines of hiding the dessert and eating his portion.

Even though this book was pretty hilarious, it also had it's rough parts. Her language was pretty bad at times and some jokes were crude. I wish that she had just stuck with being funny instead of thinking she had to add all that.

Next on the list: The autobiography of Condoleezza Rice. I'm not even joking. How extreme can my book list be?~

Celebrate: A workout and a FB status~

2011-12-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

Last week Walker hit the 6 week mark which meant I was cleared to work out.

I celebrated by taking a nice, long run around town.

Totally joking.

I don't run.

Instead, I celebrated by eating one of these bad boys.

Krispy Kreme snowman doughnuts.

I would have taken an actual picture of my snowman, but the doughnut vultures that are my husband and son had already eaten theirs and had decapitated mine by the time I could get to it.

I actually did get my "sweat" on at the gym today, and it felt nice to do some ab workouts for the first time in almost a year.

Another thing to celebrate today:

Best Facebook Statuses of 2011

Next week, I will be announcing the winners of the best FB statuses in the following categories:

1. Least Enthusiastic

2. Most Enthusiastic

3. I confuse my FB with my therapist

4. Best rant

5. The truth about kids

6. Too much information

7. Funniest

8. Best overall

My friend, Sara, has been a big help with this already. I need YOUR help as well! Send me (through comment, FB inbox, or email: ashanderson10@gmail.com) any and all of your own and/or your friends' FB statuses that fall under any of these categories.

I will post them next week!~

All I Want for Christmas~

2011-12-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

It's no secret what my favorite Christmas song is....

Yes. All I Want for Christmas. Yes. Mariah Carey.

I choreographed a Christmas dance for my Dance Company a few years ago and almost sent a student to detention for asking what song we would be using.

Is there a better Christmas song for a Christmas dance?

The answer is no my friends.

Then, I discovered this:

Same song, different artist.

It's incredible. My dad called and said that he bought the entire album.

I will be ~~stealing~~ borrowing that from him later.

M & M are now neck in neck for the favorite spot.

Hope your weekend is full of great music!~

Glee Choreographer~

2011-12-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

I haven't watched Glee in a really long time, but when I did watch it, I was always loving on the choreography.

I was recently reading an article about one of the show's choreographers, Brooke Lipton...

and I have to say....she seems pretty fantastic.

I like that she actually worked really hard to get to the top. It seems like most people expect to get places these days without doing anything to earn it.

Lipton studied every single type of dance, and worked and trained for years in L.A. doing paid and unpaid dance jobs until she finally scored her first big job....dancing on a Britney Spears' tour. Nice!!

You can read more about her and her fierceness in this DTMagazine article, here.

Here is some of my fav Glee choreography:

Love Letters~

2011-12-07T11:01:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to start a special journal for my boys for a while, and this blog post motivated me to take action.

I Heart Organizing

(Pens on the coffee table wouldn't really work over here.)

I went out and got each of the boys a Moleskine Notebook.

I LOVE Moleskines. Even though Stuff White People Like jokes that they make white people feel more creative, they really do (!) make this white girl feel more creative.

Also, the pages are acid free which make the journals last for a really long time. (Make sure your journals, scrapbooks, etc. are acid and/or lignin free)

Every week, after Family Home Evening, Noel and I take a few minutes to write each of the boys a letter. We include things we did with them that week, funny things they said, things they learned, etc.

I hope we can keep this up! I always love reading from my parents' journals about how adorable I was :-) and about their love for me.

One thing that I need to do better is scrapbooking my pictures.

I was REALLY good with Charlie's pictures until he turned 7 months. I would download all the pictures to Shutterfly, have them mailed to me, and then put them in a scrapbook.

I just can't keep up with that method.

Is there a really good online scrapbook system that would make it easier? How do you keep your pictures up to date?

Change of Mind~

2011-12-05T18:00:00.001-08:00

I used to be a JCrew hater.

I thought that everything was WAY over priced and nothing seemed to fit my style..........

I still think they are way over priced, but I'm kind of digging their stuff lately.

Cute tartan shirt.

Link

Bright yellow sweater that doesn't look itchy. Hate itchy sweaters.

Link

The color!!!! Can this coat be any more beautiful?

Link

It's going to be a leggings kind of winter for me and this shirt would be really cute with them.

Link

Love everything green and these pants are no exception!

Link

Obviously this dress would not look cute with spit up on it...but isn't it gorgeous?!?

Link

JCrew's models are often creepy. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to show up to my "family's feast" with that expression on my face. Or with that body language.

JCrew does a cool thing where they have a Shirt of the Month Club and a Jewelry of the Month Club. So if you're in a rut for ideas, check those out!~

Walker's Blessing~

2011-12-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

"A baby will make love stronger, homes happier, and the future worth living for."

We blessed Walker in church yesterday and it was a beautiful day spent with family.

James Derl Walker, Walker James Anderson, and James Derl Walker II

Auntie Love

I am not joking when I tell you this is the best family picture we could get.

Me and Walker with my cousin Brittany and her son, Thomas

Noel and Charlie with one of Noel's best friends, Greg.

Thank you so much to all our family and friends for spending the day with us to welcome Walker into the family!

Sleigh Ride Together with You~

2011-12-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Last night our town had it's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Charlie and I made a date night out of it.

The biggest event of the night was the Sleigh Ride, and I HAD to take Charlie.

I had been talking it up all day about how just Charlie and mommy were going to ride the horsies and see the lights. He was totally loving the idea.

As we were walking the 3 miles to the end of the sleigh ride line, I realized that the rest of the town and all neighboring towns had the same idea as I did.

We were staying, though, because of all the buildup.

If I had to wait in an hour long line to ride a sleigh around 1 block (literally, 1 block), I could not have hand picked better people to stand around.

You know those families who tell you about how their grandma got run over by a horse and how their son had to get 3 stitches from hitting himself in the head with a pair of pliers?

Yeah, that family was in front of me.

How about the family where the husband starts a deep discussion about the Cuban Missile Crisis with his wife, and then immediately jumps to a conversation about the words of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"?

Wife, "He's making a list, checking it

Husband, "Twice"

Wife, "I KNOW THE WORDS, GEORGE!"

That family was behind me.

Super entertaining.

If I had been standing around regular people, I might have ditched the line early.

The whole hour I was there could have been a scene in a movie........

When initially introduced, the people around me were bizarre and comical, but ended up being very kind and interesting to talk to.

A church group clustered together on the corner and told us all that we were going to hell because we were sinners, unless we listened to what they were saying. Then busted out a chorus of "Angels We Have Heard on High".

Charlie ate 2 candy canes while pointing to every single truck and car that drove by.

With about 30 minutes left in line, a lady walked up to me and gave me 2 "fast passes" with a sweet "Merry Christmas!" and we walked straight to the front of the line.

The 10 year old boy with the family in front of us eagerly took 1 of our fast passes since Charlie would be sitting on my lap, and was so excited to go on the sleigh ride with us and the again with his family.

Charlie giggled and smiled the entire ride and I knew right then that I would never forget that moment or the entire night.

Cheeeeesssseee~

2011-12-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

Is this the best commercial of all time?

Yes, yes it is.

The awkward faces that never break character.

The stone wash jeans.

The sudden change of family positioning.

The TEETH.

The lack of breath support.

The fact that I actually know specific individuals who look like every member of that family. (Oh, come on, you know you do too.)

Thank you, Hardees. You have made one thing I actually enjoy.~

Feeling Good~

2011-11-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

If you're stuck in a rut, or feel like you need a boost of energy, here are 5 ways to increase the wonder in your life.

From Oprah's December 2010 LifeClass

*=Ashley's Thoughts

1. SHAKE THINGS UP:

"Awe is a response to things you don't have a mental template for," says psychologist Michelle Shiota. "You have a mental template for getting up in the morning, drinking your coffee, and driving to work, but not for listening to a piece of music you haven't heard before or sightseeing in Thailand."

*Talking to someone you've never talked to before, taking your kids somewhere new, trying a new restaurant...all good things. Sightseeing in Thailand is a bit extreme, but I definitely think that changing routine every now and then is beneficial. Except for nap time...Nap time must be consistent!!

2. GO OUTSIDE:

Nature is the ultimate source of awe. "Just being outside can conjure up feelings of wonder and give you perspective," says psychologist Dacher Keltner. "Or better yet, plan a hike or a camping trip in a spot that's known for its vast spaces or natural beauty."

*Who doesn't feel great after taking a walk or playing outside? Camping?..no. But being outside during the day, yes! Oh, and I was reading in my Parenting Magazine that even when the weather is super, super cold, it's beneficial for your children's health to take them outside for 10 minutes or so.

3. CROWDSOURCE:

Spending time in large groups, whether at rock concerts or political rallies, often stirs feelings of awe. "Ecstatic social experiences have a way of lining everybody up emotionally, and that's very powerful," says Keltner.

*Do I need to remind everyone about my Celine Dion experience? I would say that definitely stirred up some feelings of awe.

4. TURN YOUR GAZE UPWARD:

Whether you're checking out Mars Rover images at NASA.gov or just looking for constellations in the backyard, "if there's anything that illuminates just how much we still don't know about the universe, it's looking up at the nighttime sky," says Shiota.

*Charlie is super in to stars, aka twinkles, these days. The other night was BEAUTIFUL, and we stared at the stars for a while. It feels so great to take a few minutes to enjoy beautiful things we often take for granted.

5. FIND A DAILY DOSE OF INSPIRATION:

Maria Popova, known by her Twitter followers as @Brainpicker, posts a stream of awe-inspiring images on her feed: slow-mo footage of a lightning strike, a sunset seen from space, sculptures carved into a pencil point. "I want people to stop a second and go, 'How amazing is that,'" she says.

*Whether it's a blog/website you read/write daily, a class you take, a series of books that you're reading, or new recipes that you're trying, I think everyone needs a "thing" to keep them motivated. What's yours?

Hope you're feeling inspired to do something great today!!

"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats."

Iris Murdoch

Success!~

2011-11-29T09:55:00.000-08:00

Finding success in the little things......

*The boys have started napping at the same time. Yesterday they both napped for 2 1/2 hours at.the.same.time. Success!

*Every pair of socks had a match in the first load of laundry I did yesterday. When does that ever happen?? Success!!

*I stacked FIVE of Charlie's cars up. You should have seen his face...I was basically SuperWoman to him. Success!

With my success stories came some failures.

*Success=I remembered to floss my teeth. Failure=The floss got stuck in my permanent retainer. Nerd alert!!

*Success=We finally got all of our Christmas decorations down from the attic and have almost everything decorated. Failure=Charlie thought the silver ornaments were baseballs. :/

*Success=Trying a little bit of yoga for the first time in a while. Failure=Charlie thinking I was trying to play horsey with him. Next time I should try that during nap time.

Hope you find much success today! :-)

One Month of Sweetness~

2011-11-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

My little baby boo turned 1 month on Friday!

I can't believe how fast time flies.

Walker is so adorable and sweet natured and is such a blessing to our family.

And, speaking of adorable.......

Just look at that hat!!

My sister in law, Lindsay, made it for my little guy.

She makes THE CUTEST baby hats. Check out her Etsy Shop here.

So, if you're still in need of a Christmas gift for a little one, make sure you get your order in.

(It just so happens that her hubby pulled my name for Christmas, and this scarf, from her shop is on my Christmas list!)

Happy Monday!~

Thankful~

2011-11-24T12:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

From our family to yours!

So much to be thankful for. Enjoy your day.~

The Good Life~

2011-11-23T17:37:00.001-08:00

So excited to be spending Thanksgiving with family.

Charlie was excited about packing......

More excited to ride on the suitcase....

The weather today has been absolutely perfect on the beach.

This is how every Thanksgiving should feel.

Charlie loves throwing the football.

Look at his adorable footprints.

A day on the beach wouldn't be complete without chasing seagulls.

Yummy Thanksgiving Dessert~

2011-11-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite texts from this past week was from my friend Kristen when she asked,

"Do you like cheesecake?"

Umm...Yes, yes I do.

Kristen brought over the most amazing cheesecake I have ever tasted.

Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake.

She got the recipe from the November 2011 issue of Southern Living.

So, if you're still in need of a yummy dessert to make for Thanksgiving, you can find this cheesecake recipe here.

Weekend Fun~

2011-11-21T10:09:00.001-08:00

My weekend got off to a great start with a girls' night to see Breaking Dawn.

The next sibling of mine to get married WILL have these white flowers at their wedding.

So, be prepared sibling.

My good friend, Sabrina's, son turned 2 this week and had a fun birthday party. I feel like he was just born, and now he and Charlie are bouncing in bounce houses!! Crazy how time flies.

Noel and I went to see the Rockettes perform on Saturday night. I didn't think it was possible, but the lady sitting beside me seemed to love them more than I do. I've always wanted to be a Rockette, but my dream was totally destroyed when I stopped growing at 5'4".

My sister, Jessica, performed in The Dance Collective's production of "Cinderella" this weekend. She was amazing, of course, and I'm glad I was able to see her perform.

Great weekend! And today, we're enjoying this beautiful, sunny weather.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving this week!!~

The Men Who Camped Out for Twilight~

2011-11-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

Grantland is one of Noel's favorite websites.

He sent me the greatest article about Twilight the other day.

You can read the article here.

Great pictures of people camping out for the premiere.

I'm going to see the show tonight!! Can't wait!!~

A Girl Like That~

2011-11-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

I love everything about this movie and show.

I used to make my students watch it at least once a semester.

Yes, it's THAT important to know every single line from West Side.

I recently came across an interview with Rita Moreno who played Anita in the movie.

The interview is really interesting; she talks about how she got the role, what it was like working with Jerome Robbins (jealous!!!), and what filming the movie was like.

You can read the interview here.

Also, this month marks the 50th anniversary of the movie. Happy Anniversary West Side!!!

I will be teaching Charlie how to snap and jump at the same time later on today.

So this is love~

2011-11-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the Cinderella song, "So This is Love"?

My dear friend, Amber, took some beautiful, amazing pictures of my sweet babies.

As I was looking through all the pictures, I kept thinking...THIS is love!

".....this is what makes life divine......"

"...........so this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of...."

So this is love...~

Oh no, JLo~

2011-11-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

I do love some JLo.

She now has a new fashion line out at Kohls.

She has a lot of cute things, but some of her pieces are pretty crazy.

One in particular......

The high heel sweater boots.

These are super scary.

Sweater Ugg Boots=Good.

Sweater high heel boots=Bad.

In other news, my fall wreath was selected by Better Homes and Gardens as one of their favorites!

You can click on this link, to vote for my wreath! It's "Fall Wreath with a splash of polka dots".

Thanks everyone!!!~

Changes~

2011-11-14T10:04:00.001-08:00

Before Walker was born, I thought of a few things I would do different from when Charlie was a newborn.

*Hospital Nursery:

Everyone I talked to said to send Charlie to the nursery in the hospital so I could get some sleep. When I brought him home, his nights and days were COMPLETELY turned around. He was the ultimate frat boy; slept all day and partied all night. Looking back I really think the fluorescent lights and loud noises in the nursery contributed to this. So, I kept Walker in my room with me at nights in the hospital. It was great because he learned that night time was dark and quiet, and was only for sleeping and eating.

*Swaddling:

Why did I not swaddle Charlie at first?? Huge mistake. When Jennie was over visiting one day, she had to teach me how to swaddle him, because for some reason having them all tight and bundled scared me. I DOUBLE swaddle Walker just as tight as I can...and he loves it.

*Noise:

Again, why did I not have some type of noise in Charlie's nursery at first? It took me a few weeks to figure that one out. I'm a huge fan of the humidifiers that have a fan type noise with them. My brother sleeps with 2 of the biggest fans I have ever seen...it sounds like a wind tunnel in his room. So, maybe it's genetic, but I think noise is great for sleeping.

Because of these changes, Walker has been a ROCK STAR sleeper from the beginning. I pray that it stays that way. Charlie is an amazing sleeper, but it took us about a month to get to that point.

And now, for some weekend adorable ness.

I was unloading the dishwasher and heard a huge crash. Charlie had taken the bottom rack out and was pushing it around the kitchen.

Such a good helper.

The best Zoolander face of all time. I adore baby faces...especially this baby's!

Ashley's Life

Valentine's Day

Celebrate!

Art Project~

Be Our Guest~

Find the Time

Favorite Videos!!

Having Fun!~

The Art of Color: Black and White

Cleaning Up the Closet!~

Something to Think About~

Our Favorite Things~

Soul Mates~

The Art of Color: Blue!!

First Trip to the Emergency Room~

Squeaky Clean~

Sibling Dinner~

The Art of Color: Green!~

Alphabet Wall~

Kids' Schedule~

Lovely Looks from the Golden Globes~

Pullen Park~

New Year, New Look!~

Roll Tide~

Be Happy~

Bachelor review~

2012 Goals~

Goodbye 2011~

Top 5 Posts~

2 months of sweetness~

Christmas!!~

I'm a Mormon~

Auntie Love~

Kindness~

I Hear Ewe~

Eat, Play, Love~

Cousin Couture~

Dance Inspiration~

Pottery Barn Christmas Wreath~

Bossypants~

Celebrate: A workout and a FB status~

All I Want for Christmas~

Glee Choreographer~

Love Letters~

Change of Mind~

Walker's Blessing~

Sleigh Ride Together with You~

Cheeeeesssseee~

Feeling Good~

Success!~

One Month of Sweetness~

Thankful~

The Good Life~

Yummy Thanksgiving Dessert~

Weekend Fun~

The Men Who Camped Out for Twilight~

A Girl Like That~

So this is love~

Oh no, JLo~

Changes~