the ABCs [of Ashley]

I stole this straight from Heather @ Live.Love.Laugh - check her out :)

I had to take this opportunity to share with you..

drumroll please...

A - Age: 25.

B - Bed size: Queen [need a king!].

C - Chore you hate: folding laundry.

D - : Dog's name: Piper Anne.

E - Essential day-starter: coffee.

F - Favorite color: purple or pink.

G - Gold, Silver or Platinum: silver.

H - Height: 6'1"

I - Interests [other than blogging]: coaching, anything outdoors, working out.

J - Job title: Physical Education Teacher.

K - Kids: two please. [both boys, thanks.]

L - Living arrangements:  we throw our money away monthly rent a house.

M - Mom's name:  Patty.

N - Nickname: Ash, Becky, Ashley Marie, Pookie, Honey, Baby, Sweety [FH never just calls me Ashley, and that's ok with me ;)]

O - Outside or inside: outside for sure.

P - Pet peeve: chewing ice, mouth noises, popping gum.

Q - Quote from a movie: "Don't act like you're not impressed..." ~Anchorman

R - Right or left handed: righty.

S - Siblings: 3 brothers - Austin: 26, Caleb: 22, Cody: almost 21.

T - Time you wake up: 6:21 [well that's when I start pressing snooze].

U - Underwear: AE boy shorts.

V - Vegetable you dislike: lima beans.

W - Workout fav: the elliptical.

X - X-rays you've had: my R knee [I completely tore my ACL playing college volleyball].

Y - Yummy food you make: everything I make is yummy! I love cooking!

Z - Zoo favorite: elephants.

i am...[a child at heart]

I give myself stars for working out. Seriously.

I get one today. After a full day's work,

and coaching a volleyball match...

I still worked out.

[and I thought blog-land should be well aware]

.:Ash:.

tomorrow [the workouts begin]

The FH & I got ourselves gym memberships today :)

We are naturally fit people [he is a retired profesh. football player, and I'm a former college athlete & current PE Teacher].  However, South Carolina happened, a move across country, and we got out of our natural routine. We are very healthy eaters, and rarely almost never eat fast food, so I suppose we are off to a good start.

Starting tomorrow, this will be me:

[image compliments of Google Images: workout girl]

I just want to be very toned in my strapless wedding gown.  You know, I don't want to have flabby arms to show up in every picture! [that's not too much to ask, is it?!]

What fitness thingssss are you doing to get ready for your big day?

.:Ash:.

saving face.

seriously. I'm 25 and STILL getting zits.

they always manage to pop up at the most inopportune times,and stay for far too long. Recently, I started cheating on my loyal Clinique lady, and I am currently paying a huge price. zits. everywyere. [gross x10]

so today, I took it upon myself to return to what works. [I have even tried proactiv, did not work.] You know, my big day is about 2 months off, and I need to be on my best regime well before I walk down the aisle! I pay my respects to the loyal Clinique Acne Solutions:

source

And my go-to OIL-FREE moisturizer:

source

So hopefully from this day forward, we will remain loyal to one another.

What is your go-to facial care?

meet Piper [our puppy love]

I have shown several pictures of her on here...but let's make it official.

Meet Piper: Miss Personality.

She is our full-of-love-and-energy miniature daschaund.

&& she is precious. Most of the time she is acting like a ham, chasing a toy or being cute to earn a treat.  She loves peanut butter, long walks & the puppy park. 

We rescued her from the Humane Society in August of 2008 and she has been a great puppy for us since [I will probably always call her a puppy].  She was a stray, wandering the streets -- who knows what the poor dogs at the HS have been through.  If you are thinking about a dog, look at the local Humane Society!  She was fixed & caught up on all of her shots when we got her [SUCH an expense with a puppy].  We were really lucky to get a purebread, and a dog with a personality that suits us so well!  She is such a joy, we love her so much!

Do you  have any pets?

the dress [bustle extravaganza]

I bought my dress off the floor at David's Bridal.  I'll admit, it's not a place for everyone, but for me & my budget, it was perfect.  I had a great consultant and tried on several dresses.  My mom, FMIL, Grandmother [the only one I have left] and two of my bridesmaids went.  Having the girls there was such a blessing for my moms, they helped me in and out of each dress.  It was a really fun day.  I tried on TONS of dresses at a few different places, but ended up going back to David's to get the one I originally teared up trying on.

So I found the perfect dress, all I needed was a bustle.  PERFECT.  I have a seamstress [hey, when you're 6'1", you need one!].  So this summer while I was in Ohio, we got to work.  I jumped into my dress, with my slip, strapless & wedding day shoes...and we bustled...

and bustled...

and bustled [not gonna lie, I might have been saying a prayer]...

and ran into a length problem.

[[AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!]]

Once I put my shoes on, and paraded around the house, and looked into the mirrors [several times, like a little ballerina] it was too short.  I was in a panic!!  I SWEAR it was long enough before...maybe on the pedistool at the salon barefoot made THAT much of a difference... Anyway, I put my wedding shoes on...[yes, they're flats]...and you could see my toes! Not just my toes, but if I was standing in front of the church, on the end of the step [you know, when they pronounce us husband & wife]...you could see my whole foot.  I could just picture it all in my head.  I almost didn't believe it was happening. [[BRIDAL MELTDOWN #1]] I'll admit: I was frantic! I HATE, HATE, HATE things that are too short. 

THANK GOD I have a good seamstress, and a dress with pick ups & a bubble hem.  Easy fix.

[[deep breath of fresh air.]

Now, I can't wait to get it on and twirl around like a little princess. I am SO EXCITEDDDDDDDD!!!!

.:Ash:.

Myrtle Beach [Labor Day fun!]

so what if it's been a while...

Labor Day Weekend:

My future in-laws came down to visit us from Ohio.  We had a weekend planned in Myrtle Beach.  FH & I have lived here for quite sometime now, and had never been, so we figured it'd be wothwhile.  If nothing else, a relaxing week away from home :)

And it was!

with our puppy love on the beach :) [please excuse the beach hair!]

taking a walk...

Boardwalk at Broadway, Myrtle Beach

All in all, we had a great time and it was a nice little vacation!

Next vacation [or break from work & stress]: OUR WEDDING!!

holy 73 days! [i remember when it was 376!]