Saturday, August 29, 2009

married!!!!!

hello! wow, i'm so overwhelmed (in a VERY good way) from all of the congratulatory messages and well wishes for peter and myself in regards to our very recent marriage. it came as a shock for a lot of people (probably just about everyone but peter and myself) so i thought i'd give y'all the details :)

peter and i met october 12, 2008 and started dating october 23, 2008. we were pretty much inseparable after meeting and we just fell in love quickly. we lived together in charlottesville, then moved to maryland and now we are starting another new chapter in michigan. we had planned on having a traditional wedding but with limited resources, we wouldn't be able to have the wedding that we wanted until at least 2011 if not later...

earlier this summer, we talked about getting a legal marriage (courthouse) sometime in the coming months and then having a wedding ceremony with friends and family later. we probably started having these discussions around may. fast forward to august...i interviewed and accepted a position as the director of residence life at madonna university. to live together, peter and i have to be married.

we had planned on peter living with his dad about 70 miles away until we could get married, like we had planned on anyways, and had even set the tentative date as october 23...which would have been exactly a year since we started dating.

we were excited about this plan and knew that we could make the couple months living apart work, but then we were talking monday night (aug. 24) and decided we wanted to get married before leaving maryland! we weren't sure if this would even be a possibility with such a short time frame, but we decided to look into it. i went tuesday the 25th and applied for the marriage license and we were able to schedule our marriage ceremony for thursday august 27th.

soooooooooo, we went and looked and picked out our beautiful rings on wednesday. wednesday is also the day we made some nerve-wracking phone calls. peter called my mother to ask her permission to marry me. after she said yes, we went on a walk and that's when peter officially asked me to marry him!!!! it was sweet and of course i cried. then, we called some more of our immediate family and let them know that we were getting married the next day.

had circumstances been different and we had the resources, we would have loved a medium sized wedding to share our love with those who mean the most to us, but since we couldn't do that at this time, we decided we wanted to share that moment privately. the only people there when we married were us (obvi) and the officiant.

was it a traditional fairtytale wedding? not quite, but it was romantic and special and absolutely wonderful for us. we are so ridiculously happy! after gettin' hitched, we went and picked out a nice cake at a local market, got a VERY tasty bottle of bubbly then went and walked around a pretty pond to just enjoy being husband and wife :) once we got home, we also shared a first dance to keith urban's "only you can love me this way."

that's our story. sometimes life takes us down paths we didn't even know existed.

OH, side note: some of you were asking how to pronounce my new last name. phonetically it is: wiz (like wiz kid or cheese wiz)
ness (like va-NESS-a)
key (like the they key you unlock the door with)
wiz-ness-key:) aka wisniewski

*love and hugs*

Thursday, August 20, 2009

"the key to change is to let go of fear."

hello hello!

i figured this was the best and easiest - and fastest - way to mass distribute my exciting news!

i got a job!!!! i'm going back into student affairs and i couldn't be happier at the thought of what i'll be doing!

i am the new director of residence life at madonna university in livonia, michigan.

mkay and now for the questions:

1. but ashley, i thought you had a job?
i do have a job, but it's a temporary position with my uncle's company. he could use my skills at a time where my other contract was running out at uva prompting peter and i to move to maryland. he knew i was actively looking and was fully supportive of me finding a position allowing me to use my student affairs education and experience.

2. but ashley, michigan is REALLY cold and REALLY far away!?
yes, it's cold - but this is a live-on position thus i have no commute to work. aka no bad ashley driving in the snow. and yes, it is far away. i will miss my family and friends so much that it hurts to think about it, but they know and i know that this is what is in the best interest of my career. it's about eight hours from livonia, michigan to winchester, virginia. i will have the traditional academic breaks plus vacation to use to come back and visit.

3. what exactly will you be doing?
there are approximately 165 students that live on campus (capacity is 200). i will be directing the activities of the residence hall, the residents and resident advisors. i will supervise a staff of six to eight and have a very hands-on experience as the university is making many changes to the residence life experience at madonna. i'm excited to share my experience and really make some great changes and learn so much about the field in the process.

4. tell me a little bit about madonna university.
madonna university is a small, private, catholic university located about 20 miles from detroit and ann arbor. while i am not catholic, i still value the schools mission and will work to promote those values through my work with the students and faculty. i have often been very vocal about accepting other views and opinions and to have an open mind. i consider it me broadening my own personal beliefs of diversity.

5. what about peter?
it won't be ideal, but we can't live together in the university apartment until we are married. he has family about 75 miles from where i will be located. as a couple, we've been through quite a bit in our time together and i am confident and excited about our future together.

6. when is the start date?
here is where it gets a little sticky...my official start date is september 1st. it's a lot to take in and i have a lot to do between now and then, but i'm working frantically to get everything accomplished. my last day at work in maryland will be next week and i will drive to michigan on monday, august 31st. feel free to call me that day as i will have about an eight hour drive.

7. are you keeping mollie?
as residence life live-in postions sometimes allow pets and sometimes they don't, this was something that i had to talk with them about and YES i will be able to have my darling baby. i couldn't have moved that far away and not have my dog. she can be a brat, but she's my brat and i love her.

8. additional comments?
i am so thankful and appreciative of the kind words, phone calls, emails, etc. of my friends and family and of peter's family. this was not an easy decision for us to come to in terms of moving, but it is one that will help us meet and exceed our long term goals. please know that while i might not be able as physically accessible as i have been, i am only a phone call away. with the detroit airport so close, travel by plane will be easy (and hopefully affordable). also, i can make it back home by midday so this isn't goodbye, this is hello to the next chapter.

i think the best quote to sum up this new adventure is (of course) from sex and the city:

"maybe our mistakes are what make our fate. without them, what would shape our lives? perhaps if we never veered off course, we wouldn't fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are. after all, seasons change. so do cities. people come into your life and people go. but it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart. and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."

as always, *love and hugs*

Monday, July 20, 2009

today's a great day to make a fresh start!

so, i knew it before i stepped on the scale. partially because i hadn't had a good week and partially because i got on the scale last night to prepare me for what number i might see this morning. and i was right - i had gained this week. when you are trying to lose weight, gaining weight isn't really the result you want to see...

BUT, there's always a but, i think it gave me an added motivational boost. when i went to my weight watchers online tracker and recorded my weight, it told me this: today’s a great day to make a fresh start. how very, very true!

i have a new sense of determination and i'm excited about my weight loss again. i woke up this morning - at 5:45 - and went outside for a run/walk. and by run, i mean i ran for 4 minutes and 24 seconds, and then walked the rest but whatever - i still did it! and i plan on going and building on that a little bit each time.

also...although i did gain a bit the rest of the week, i had a mini-accomplishment earlier in the week: the dress actually went ON. in may, when i tried on the dress at my parents' place with my mom's assistance, the bridesmaids dress wouldn't even actually FIT on my body. last sunday i was able to put it on! now, zipping it is another story but that's not the point. the wedding is still ten weeks away so i have plenty of time to make it fit comfortably :) yay yay yay!

i have a long way to go, but i'll get there. slowly.

so now it's time to make some new goals:
-go running/walking at least twice more this week, each time adding a bit more to my time
-stay strict to my weight watchers points and be very diligent about tracking

mkay, i think that's enough rambling for one morning.
*love and hugs*

Monday, June 22, 2009

monday, hard to wake up...

ugh. mondays. it is so freakin' hard to get out of bed after two days of relaxing/not having to be on anyone's schedule but my own...

...but the "fun" part of monday mornings is weigh-in time! wow, yup. i just called weigh-in time fun.

last week at weigh-in i had gained .8 pounds, so i was a little discouraged, but i also expected it. peter and i had ordered pizza later in the evening on the sunday preceding so i wasn't sure my weigh-in last monday would be accurate.

so i was super excited to weigh-in this morning and even more excited to learn that i had lost 5.2 pounds since last week's weigh-in! woo hoo!

so that brings my total to 17 pounds lost :) AND, when i put that in online, i got a cute little "yay for you 5% of your goal lost" so far star.

i wish my clothes would start feeling like i've lost something...peter says he can tell in my face, which is nice to hear. stay tuned for the next update!

*love and hugs*

Monday, June 8, 2009

so, i'm kind of a slacker...

...and i haven't been providing weekly updates as i thought i would. opps?

things are progressing. slowly.

i am up to 12.6 pounds lost, which is good, but not great. but i'm also not complaining.

i haven't set any "pounds to lose this week" goal recently because i find them discouraging if you don't meet that goal; however, i have decided to challenge myself. i am hoping to lose 7.4 more pounds before july 4th. if i manage to do that, i'll be down 20 pounds since really committing myself to my goal.

that's really all for now. i felt like a slacker that i wasn't holding up my end of the reporting bargain.

oh! i've also been slacking on the working out, so i'm going to make three small goals this week:
-go to the gym twice
-keep track of my weight watchers points each day
-stay within my points allowance for the week

*love and hugs*

Monday, May 11, 2009

week "one" reporting :)

mkay i say "week one" reporting because while it's my first week of "reporting" i've actually been pseudo-trying for about three weeks prior to this week. in those three weeks, i managed to lose 4.8 pounds, but then ended up gaining 5.4 pounds meaning i was up .6 pounds from where i started!

BUT...
i lost 10.4 pounds last week!!!! and yes, i know: this is not healthy or normal; however, it is not uncommon to see a substantial weight loss your first week of hardcore dieting - especially when limiting your carb intake. and yes, i also know that i need to be very diligent this week to a. keep off that 10 pounds and to b. lose another couple of pounds.

so, that means my "total" weight loss since starting is actually 9.8 pounds!

*update on goals from last week*
-stick with south beach phase one: sorta. i ended up having some things that are phase one allowed, but still healthy (aka strawberries, carrots, weight watchers ice cream bars)
-keep track of my weight watchers points: i kept track of every single thing i ate last week using my online weight watchers point tracker
-do not exceed my weekly points total: i still had approx eight weekly points left over, plus the nine activity points i earned!
-to look towards the positives and not dwell on the negatives: this one will always be a toughy, but i every time i wanted to give in, i stayed strong!
-work out twice: i went to the gym tuesday and wednesday!

goals for monday, may 11th through sunday may 17th:
-i lost a weight watchers point for going down in weight, so i need to be diligent this week to stay within my daily and weekly points totals.
-work out three times - i am going to a wedding this weekend so any extra workouts will be moer than helpful!
-to be mindful of what i am eating and drinking at the wedding as to not derail my weight loss efforts
-i already drink roughly 75 ounces of water a day, but i am aiming for 125 ounces a day this week!

again, thank you so much for all the positive feedback from last week's blogs; that encouragement was awesome and it definitely is a HUGE help on my journey!!!

*love and hugs*

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

the no-no list...

so, as a follow-up to my just posted, 'attack of the bridesmaid's dress...' i have created a no-no list, aka the things that i am going to try my hardest to avoid:

1. regular soda
2. actually, diet soda as well (sigh, i love you coke zero...i will miss you the most)
3. french fries (hi, my name is ashley and i am a french fry addict.)
4. tortilla chips...and the rest of the chip world
5. fried foods in general, including, but not limited to:
a. mozzarella sticks
b. fried chicken
c. cheesecake bites (sooooooo good! try them so i can live vicariously through you)
d. fried shrimp (i know, we just met and you are so good, but sooooo bad for me!)
6. sweet tea (and since i'm in the north now -ha- this won't be as hard as previously thought)
7. ice cream
8. rita's italian ice (thankfully, they have sugar-free when i'm ready to face temptation again)
9. any type of yummy, creamy dips: spinach, buffalo blue cheese, etc.
10. white bread
11. pina coladas (this one makes me cry a little inside)
12. any frozen yummy concoction, with or without alcohol
13. alcohol (temporarily. i will miss you, coconut rum. we'll meet again soon, have no fear.)
14. baked, yummy goodness. i.e. muffins, cookies, cakes, etc.
15. excessive usage of ranch dressing
16. restaurant pizza (trust, this is just a temporary seperation)
17. garlic butter sauce from said restaurant pizza chains
18. chicken philly sandwiches
19. juice and drinks that aren't sugar-free or diet
20. croutons
21. garlic bread
22. restaurant foods that i can't find the nutritional info on to calculate points
23. restaurant foods that are above a healthy points value

this list shall be updated from time to time...

attack of the bridesmaid's dress...

so, i'm in my dear friend christa's wedding in september. i ordered my dress february 17th with the hope of losing a few pounds between then and when it arrived.

well, it arrived. and according to my mother (as i had to dress shipped to her house knowing that i was moving but not knowing where to at the time) it is cut kinda small. awesome.

as anyone reading this blog and knows me knows, i have always been battling my weight. as you as four i remember having a weight problem and it has continued to be a constant battle. i think the first entry i made in this blog was about my weight loss goals, which, by the way, have continued to fail.

but that's the great thing about trying - you keep trying and eventually, hopefully, you will get it right. peter and i started south beach yesterday. i'm using that as a way to hopefully jump start myself, even if i don't last the whole two-week of strictness. at the same time, i'm still using my weight watchers tracker. so, really i'm doing a low-carb weight watchers system - which could be perfect for me. thus, after the strict (no carb, no nothing but veggies and protein) part, i'll transition easily into adding carbs and things back into my diet - but staying within my points.

i love south beach because the you can see results in two weeks. when i lost my previous 40 pounds plus some, i was doing the south beach diet. it's tough, but it works. this time, using the weight watchers system, i'll hopefully be able to actually keep it off longer than a year.

i am also going to try and be better about writing in my blog about this. i think it will be helpful and show some accountability on my part, as well as be a reminder of the struggle and battle when a. i reach my goal and start slipping and b. when i need some encouragement along the way!

plus, i'm tired of sounding like a broken record. i LOVED getting new clothes and outfits when i was smaller; i'm soooooooooo looking forward to that again!

when i first started this blog, i had small goals for each week...well, i was supposed to! so that being said, my goals from now until sunday, may 10th:
-stick with south beach phase one
-keep track of my weight watchers points
-do not exceed my weekly points total
-to look towards the positives and not dwell on the negatives
-work out twice

oh, by the way, the wedding is september 26...which is 21 weeks and four days away!

*love and hugs*

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

"This is a tragedy in American history. so for today, forget any and all of your college affiliations. For today, We are all Hokies."

My heart hurts.

I really can't explain the amount of pain the events that happened at Virginia Tech truly caused. I know there are various levels of grief and I wonder if I'll ever move past the "shock/not being able to accept" phase...even two years later.

My dear sweet Hokies, while you are with us in spirit, you have so many friends, families, strangers who wish nothing more for you to be with us physically. To my friends, Ryan, Caitlin and Erin, I've had dreams where you are alive and well...waking from those dreams causes an eerie sense of reality. Ryan, to hear your outrageous laugh, would literally be music to my ears...

There's just so much pain that simply won't go away, and it never will. The Hokie Spirit and community is one of pride, but we still feel so much pain. The Hokie community, one that is so loving and warm, was struck with an enormous amount of evil that shook each of us to our very core.

The questions that linger...all of the "whys" and "what ifs," that might never have an answer. The fact that one individual could take the innocent lives of 32, injury 23, disrupt the peace of a school community of 28,000 and to make the world look at Virginia Tech in sheer and utter disbelief.

One. One person. One individual. One former student, who walked our halls, our campus, shared in our community. One.

One. One school. One spirit. One legacy that will not compromised by the actions of one.

I miss you, Virginia Tech.

We use this quote a lot in sorority life, but to those who are severely immersed in the Hokie culture as a student, alumni, faculty or staff member - the love that we feel towards our sweet Virginia Tech - rings true more and more each day, "From the outside looking in, you don't understand and from the inside looking out, you can't explain." There are simply no words to explain my love and adoration for the campus and spirit that was my life for five years and that continues to stay with me.

When I say that I am a graduate of Virginia Tech – a proud "double" Hokie – I say that with so much love and pride. When people give me the sad, "Oh I'm so sorry" look or don't really know how to respond, I sometimes just want to say: April 16th is NOT Virginia Tech.

The students, the resilience, the Hokie Spirit, the academic excellence, the community, the mountains, the Drillfield, the residence halls, the outlaying area, the cheers ringing out from Lane Stadium, the thunder of a new sense of belonging for our basketball team, the overall athletic and academic prestige, the research, the amazingly gifted and talented students and faculty, the reasons that I could go on for days with this list – THIS is Virginia Tech.

We will NOT be defined as "the school where the shootings happened." We will be remembered for all of the greatness and esteem that our traditions, spirit and continued excellence exude.

This has been the longest but at the same time shortest two years. I still remember April 16, 2007 like it was yesterday...

Ashley had come to visit me for the weekend in Blacksburg and she was going to leave on Sunday, the 15th but ended up staying until Monday. I was going to go into the Theme Housing Office but was actually going to go to Charlottesville that day. As she was about to leave, everything began to unfold. I remember her calling me when she was on the interstate saying there were police cars and ambulances coming in every direction.

I turned on the tv in shock and disbelief that there was a shooting in West AJ...the same West AJ that the year before I had worked inside of as a community advisor and as advisor to some of the residents in that residence hall. Then the phone calls, emails and ims began saying that one of friends and an RA had been shot, but that he would be pull through...unfortunately, that was not the case. You probably say Ryan's beautiful smile plastered on your tv; oddly enough I had been prepared to see that smile in person later that evening at a special program devoted to the ten-year anniversary of the Imaginarium (special RA programming and resource room on campus).

The nightmare didn't end there and we all know the rest of the awful story. I remember watching some of Caitlin's residents on tv being interviewed and saying that they were worried about her and hoped that she was safe...only to find out that yet another beautiful Hokie, a student I had meetings with and had a working relationship with, was also taken from us.

The following day all of the names had not been identified but the lead facilitator to the freshman class I co-taught sent an email to each of our students making sure they were safe. Later, I went into the theme office and one of my former colleagues asked if I knew the news. What news? Two students from the WING (the theme program I co-taught) had also died. I remember screaming right then and there when she read Erin's name.

I feel like every single time I think, dream, read, etc. anything involving the tragic events of April 16th that I am in a really, really awful movie. There are some wounds that never heal. While we try our best to move on, it is an image and constant reminder to the pain, terror and fear that we lived.

Alesha and I went to Poor Billy's for dinner the same day all of the additional information came out from NBC and there were reporters every where. One lady tried talking to me us, twice, and thankfully Alesha was composed enough to tell her nicely that we weren't interested in talking because words were not coming from my mouth, only sobs...

Nikki Giovanni's poem at the Convocation Ceremony was beautiful. As she said, "no one deserves a tragedy." It was poignant and thoughtful but also filled with strength and passion to begin the long road to recovery.

"We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. we are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning. We are Virginia Tech."

Dr. Zenobia Hikes did so much for our Hokie Community to help us regain our sense of belonging, even though we had lost our beautiful innocence. She was a powerful woman in a petite frame and lead us in a much-needed round of "Let's Go Hokies!" that day. She too, is missed as she passed away a few months ago due to a heart condition, but she is a permanent fixture in our Virginia Tech family.

My heart hurts, but my love has never been more powerful. Leaving Blacksburg has been - and continues to be - one of the most difficult situations for me. Not because of what happened in April, but because of all the beautiful, exciting, wonderful experiences that happened in the years that I spent in Blacksburg.
Thank you, Virginia Tech.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

apartments, and jobs and headaches - oh my!

hello! i feel like it's been for-freakin'-ever since i updated or wrote anything. i have so many people asking me about the move, what's going on, etc. that i felt it was easier to write it in a blog.

first, thank you for the sweet messages and comments! it's nice being cared about :)

soooooo, sometime in february i went up to maryland to meet with my uncle who has his own company. he had an opening and since my contract with uva was up in may, and i was job searching, it seemed like a great opportunity. so, shortly after meeting with him, i gave my two weeks to uva. my last day at uva was march 5th!

short blurb about uva - while i enjoyed some aspects of working at uva, the job was not a good fit and most of the past year i've been job searching/unhappy. we all know that uva isn't my cup of tea and that blacksburg/virginia tech is a much better place for me :)

sooooooooooo peter and i went up to maryland this past sunday to look for apartments with a super, super nice realtor. he took us around and showed us the area and some good places.

the first place we saw we loved, but found out it already had an application out on it :( talk about a bummer. it was the cheapest (it had been sitting for awhile, although i don't really know how) yet nicest place. sigh.

so fast forward to tuesday. peter had to work, but i left at 6:50 in the a.m. from charlottesville to meet up with said realtor in maryland and we spent another day apartment searching. we found a nice back-up place, but once again, i fell in love with a place that was in the same area as the first one that left us discouraged.

so after running around, getting offer letters from the job, getting a certified check from the bank after finding out you have to buy a money order with cash not check, getting the run around like whoa, i made it over the the property management office who controls the property we want and HOPEFULLY this means we have that apartment. we'll find out a definite answer today, but it looks good. if not, we do have a backup that actually would allow us to move in this saturday.

i can't believe how stressful it has been to find an apartment. i feel like it was easier to buy a condo in some aspects!

so recap:
-moving to germantown, maryland
-will be working in rockville, maryland (office is located in rockville town center)
-will still have an extra bedroom so we expect visitors :p
-moving the weekend of the 20th
-starting work: march 23rd

whew.

*love and hugs*

Saturday, February 21, 2009

♥ two peas in a pod ♥

25 Things - Couples Addition

♥ How long have you been together?
it'll be four months on monday - seems like so so much longer!

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
we met october 12th...started dating october 23rd, but we've been inseparable since about october 17th :p

♥ Who asked who out?
it's the cutest story ever and he's gonna be so mad at me for telling :p but i'm telling anyways! we were hanging out and i was going to winchester for something and jokingly asked him what he was gonna do without me around since he didn't have any friends besides me in charlottesville. he said, "well since i don't have any friends, i don't know." and i said, "well i'm your friend!" and he said, "i want you to be more than my friend." (super cute, i know) so i played the girl card and said, "what do you mean?" and peter said, "i want you to be my girlfriend." makes my heart melt each time i think of that story :)

♥ How old are each of you?
24...his birthday is august 5th...mine is november 5th...and for good measure, mollie dog's birthday is march 5th :p

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
mine since my brother is only two hours away...unfortunately his awesome siblings are all the way in michigan

♥ Do you have any children together?
children aren't our favorite accessories right now, maybe they'll be in style in about five years?

♥ What about pets?
we have our little mollie dog

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
hmm, we've both been in some pretty crummy situations with people who didn't treat us, so we're both a bit insecure, but we're getting over that and it's been so amazing to be in a loving, healthy relationship where we can actually talk about the future and talk about what's bothering each of us

♥ Did you go to the same school?
negatory, but i'm turning him into an honorary hokie :)

♥ Are you from the same home town?
nope. not even from the same town...he needed a country girl, apparently i needed a midwestern boy :p

♥ Who is smarter?
he thinks i am because i have a master's degree but i completely think that he is smarter...he knows the most random information and just has the most extensive body of knowledge, it's incredible. i learn something every day from him.

♥ Who is more sensitive?
oh me, fo sho.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
we have a lot of fun places to go, but he's also helped me become a better cook because i like to come home and make him dinner

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
michigan!

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
hmmm, craziest? i know that i have the most ridiculous, hateful, womanizing exes of basically anyone i know, ha

♥ Who has the worse temper?
neither of us really has a 'bad' temper, but we're both very passionate and protective about what and who is important to us - especially regarding each other.

♥ Who does the cooking?
i cook more than he does because i get home earlier than he does

♥ Who is more social?
oh me...i'm an extreme extrovert. i like talking to strangers.

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
oh totally him. exhibit a. he cleaned our kitchen while i was at a conference all day a few saturdays ago and the next day i came home and somehow the kitchen wasn't so clean so i asked, "what happened?!" and he says, "you happened." and when my aunt and grandmother came to give us a table, my aunt told me i needed to have peter around sooner because my place had never been so clean :p

♥ Who is the more stubborn?
he says that i am...i asked why and he said, "because." hmmm.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
apparently i do. but he's totally a cover-stealer.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
peter during the week, most certainly me on the weekends

♥ Who has the bigger family?
i do...my immediate family and extended family is huge and i love it!

♥ Do you get flowers often?
i got hokie colored roses for my birthday and i looooooooved them

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
we split them...thanksgiving with my family and christmas with his family...it was wonderful!

♥ Who is more jealous?
i think it's a toss up...we're both not a fan of the others' past experiences

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
not long at all considering we met in october and spent the holidays with each others' families

♥ Who eats more?
he does :p but we both enjoy our share of food

♥ Who does/did the laundry?
we still kinda do our own laundry but we do a couple things for each other now and then

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
i think he is...he does the spy sweepers and things. i definitely play on the computer more though.

♥ Who drives when you are together?
oh does...i'm not much for driving...he drove all the way to michigan and back :p

Monday, February 16, 2009

...a grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart...

i wrote this on february 1, 2007...exactly a year after my grandfather passed away. i don't know if it's because there are so many changes going on, or because i'm coming off of my meds, but today is his birthday and i miss him more than usual (if that's possible...)

i wish every child could have the type of bond i had with my grandaddy...


"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal."

I was in my apartment and my aunt and her husband knocked on the door. I remember asking Lisa (my roommate last year) if she had someone visiting her because I was wishing, hoping, praying that she did and that the knock wasn't Tammie because I knew if Tammie was at my apartment then it could only mean one thing.

I had talked to my mom about 15 minutes before Tammie came over, so I automatically knew it was her. It takes about 15 minutes to get from their house to my old apartment. I was uncontrollable. I literally couldn't breathe. I hid in the bathroom for a little bit and finally came back out and went to see my Granny.

I truly don't know if there is any greater pain than a broken heart. There is so much love and hope and faith you carry in your heart for a friend, a significant other, a family member and when that person is no longer there, a piece of your heart – your love, hope and faith – literally breaks and you really can't get that back. I look at pictures and I think to myself, he's not really gone, he's not really gone…

Maybe I'm over dramatic, maybe I'm acting like a little girl, but it's really hard for to accept the fact that he's gone. A year later and I still can't figure out how to move past the fact that my Grandfather is gone. People try to say that when a person dies he or she becomes their guardian angel and that person is with you in spirit. Hearing that and knowing that doesn't make the pain any less.

The ONLY only only way I've been able to not go completely crazy without my Grandfather is that I know that he's not suffering. It was heartbreaking to see Grandaddy go from being his strong, independent, handsome, gentle self to a dependent, sick, frail, pained man. I hate cancer. There are very few things, if any others besides cancer, that I hate. But I do - I hate cancer.

Right before I was born, my Grandfather had some pretty serious heart issues. I've always been told that I helped my Grandfather "get better." I was his heart, his pumpkin, his sweetie pie, his little girl…

I will always be a GranDaddy's Girl. Whenever I had a fight with my mom or Granny, I went to him. Whenever I was being silly or had a bad day, I went to him. And now when I need him the most, he isn't here…

I keep half expecting to one day pick up the phone and hear his voice. I have his Atlanta Braves hat sitting on my dresser and it no longer smells like him. I realized that two days ago and it really really upset me. In my head I can still hear his voice.

One of the hardest, weirdest and challenging parts about someone's death is realizing you will never see that person again. That was the hardest part for me to grasp/understand at the funeral. I walked in with Granny and we went to the casket and I kissed Grandaddy on the cheek. It was difficult to do that because that was the last touch of my Grandfather and it was cold, when every other hug and kiss had been warm and full of so much love.

His death has made things a little awkward in my family. I know my Granny is heartbroken, my four year old cousin misses her Grandaddy. Sometimes she likes to talk about Grandaddy and I can't even really listen to her because I can't listen to her talk about him and know that he's not here. And Baby Adisun (my youngest cousin) will never know the wonderful man who meant so much to so many people.

His birthday is/would have been February 16th. He died fifteen days before turning 80. The few months of life he had before his passing were spent mostly in the hospital with a few weeks spent at home. It's really hard for me to be in Charlottesville right now for this interview because the last time I was in Charlottesville was to visit Grandaddy after one of his surgeries for cancer.

Grandaddy, I miss you. I love you. My life, my heart, my everything is not complete without you. We had a closeness that very few grandchildren truly have with their grandparents. I would give anything, and I literally mean anything, to see you right now. For one last hug, one last I love you, just to pick up the phone and hear your voice saying, "hey sweetie."

When I Get Where I'm Going Lyrics…
"...I'm gonna walk with my Grandaddy,
and he'll match me step for step,
and I'll tell him how I missed him,
every minute since he left.
Then I'll hug his neck…"

Side note: some of y'all might be wondering, "geez Ashley why in the world did you write that? It's depressing." It's not meant to be depressing, it's not meant for anyone to feel sorry for me. As much as I enjoy talking, there are some things I can't talk about very well and well, this is one of those topics.

And lastly...songs are great when trying to say what you feel without being able to find the words...
"...If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
How I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again..."

In loving, loving and peaceful memory of Robert Clinton Blake, February 16, 1925-February 1, 2006.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

you marry a role and you give up your soul 'til you breakdown...

perhaps, "starting over, yet again" would probably be a better title for this post. i forgot how hard the weight loss journey can be...and things have not been going well so far BUT i feel as though things are about to get better, friends!

last week, i talked to my doctor and she wants to pull me off one of my medications (i say 'one' like i take many meds; i take two: an anti-baby pill and a happy pill). she and i decided that it would be best for me to start going off of my anti-depressant (aka happy pill). i've been on it since about june or july of last year...and it's caused a 40 pound weight gain in six months.

because of the weight gain, i think that the medication has had a negative impact on my mental well-being and happiness. i was doing a little research online and found some interesting things about celexa (the medication i was taking):

If you're experiencing extreme weight gain while taking celexa, you're not alone. Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of celexa. And sometimes the weight gain becomes extreme.

The extreme celexa weight gain can most likely be attributed to two causes:

1. Celexa causes strong food cravings in some people who take it.

2. There's a very good chance that celexa has lowered your resting metabolic rate.

yup. sound about right...so, if i seem a little emotional/odd for awhile, it's because my brain chemistry is trying to get back to the pre-medication state. thankfully peter is very loving and understanding; i truly don't think i'd be going off of them without him in my life - wish me luck!

*love and hugs*

p.s. name that song and/or band and you win bonus points in my cool book :p

surveys = lame, but oh well :p

You and your most recen​t ex run into each other​ you:
I stop and ask myself, "why is that mother fucker still alive??" (haha allen, your answer just made me laugh in hysterics because i could see you doing that)
...my response? hmm, first, define ex, that would be a good start :p

Are you happy​ with the way life is going​?​
other than the job situation, the family being a little bonkers, the medicine causing extreme weight gain...everything is fabulous :) i love my life because i love the people in my life

What did you do today​?​
lucky me, i woke up at 5 a.m. but that's because i'm excited about pictures today with peter

How are you feeli​ng?​
fine thanks for asking :)

What time did you wake up this morni​ng?​
damn you survey...5 in the a.m. is not a good look or time for me, especially when peter and mollie dog are still sound asleep

Last perso​n to text you?
peter yesterday

What'​s your bigge​st conce​rn right​ now?
hmmm, wednesday's interview/meeting because it could literally change everything else that i have concerns about...

Are you keepi​ng a secre​t right​ now?
yeah, no, secrets aren't really fun for me but i keep other peoples' secrets quite well

Is there​ anyon​e you want to come see you?
wh yes, yes...all my favorite HESA kids...ashley...michelle...haily baby...laura

Do you miss the way thing​s used to be?
the only things i miss about the past are mostly family related...i miss and will alwaysalways miss my grandaddy...i miss the relationship my mom and i had prior to her accident and surgeries...

What are your plans​ for the weeke​nd?​
let's see...probably taking a nap later :p picture time with pete pete at 10, cleaning our condo, calling christa belle to get details about the bridesmaids dress i need to buy, taking mollie on a long walk since the weather is going to be beautiful!

What was the last reaso​n why you were mad?
hmmm, mad is not an emotion i like to feel, i get upset more than anything...but mad? i'm sure it was work related

Can you recal​l the last time you since​rely liked​ someo​ne a lot?
aww it's like we're thirteen :p and yes, yes i can...every moment of every day since october 12th :)

Are you slowl​y drift​ing away from someo​ne?​
nah i'm good

Do you think​ relat​ionsh​ips are ever worth​ it?
Well of course sometimes they're worth it. You just gotta go through hell until you finally get to the one that is. (allen, you are so wise!)
my answer - yes, yes they are :) this is the first time it's ever been worth it for me

The last perso​n you share​d a bed/​couch​ with mean anyth​ing to you?
yup :) if by anything you mean everything...

Your most recen​t ex says he/​she hates​ you, you say?
the feeling is mutual? nah that's too mean for me to say, but of all the negative emotions and actions he's capable of, i don't think hatred is one of them.

Have you ever falle​n aslee​p on someo​ne?​
every single night :)

What are you liste​ning to?
ah, "listening to" makes me wanna cringe a bit, but i'm watching 'the bachelor' from monday night...i heart dvr.

What was the last thing​ you put in your mouth​?​
water

Is there​ a big diffe​rence​ betwe​en "i love you" and "luv ya"?
well again, i'm not thirteen so i'm not big on the 'luv ya' but i do say love ya on occasion because it seems girly to the girls :) but i'm more of an "i love you" or "love you" type...

Are you the same perso​n as you were at the begin​ning of 2009?​
well let me check...considering it's been a month and a half i'm gonna go with yes

What poste​rs do you have on your wall?​
no posters, but back in the day (read: middle school) my walls were covered with 98 degress and Grant Hill posters/memorabilia

What are you doing​ Frida​y night​?​
that's a week from now :p

Name what you did yeste​rday?​
worked, counted the minutes until 4:00 so i could come home, waited for peter to come home, went to dinner, watched family guy, fell asleep.

What are you doing​ right​ now?
Wasting precious minutes of my life filling out these surveys written by incredibly stupid teenagers (allen = hilarious. the end)
...and watching the bachelor, duh! deanna was SOOOO ridic last season for not picking jason!

What color​ are your eyes?​
boring brown :p.

Do you like anyon​e?​
i'm a people person, i like pretty much everyone :)

Are you datin​g the last perso​n you kisse​d?​
why yes, yes i am :)

Who is the last perso​n to messa​ge you?
on here? miss erica

Who knows​ a secre​t or two about​ you?
ashley knows everything about me since circa 1994

Did you have a nap today​?​
not yet but i see it happening later :)

What do you wear more,​ jeans​ or sweat​s?​
jeans...but when i'm lounging at home i'm either in yoga pants or a pair of pet'ers shorts...i'm such a clothes stealer.

Where​ did you get the shirt​ you'​re weari​ng?​
umm, it's just a tank top from target

Have you ever wante​d to be a teach​er?​
no, i'm not exactly the most kid-friendly person and i have a lack of patience so me being a teacher isn't really in anyone's best interest

Have any regre​ts?​
regrets are silly and vaguely pointless because if it's a regret, that makes it sound like it's not changeable

Where​ were you 1 hour ago?
sleeping. that was nice...this is now.

Has anyon​e ever told you that they like you more than as a frien​d?​
has anyone ever told you that i can't stand when people incorrectly use singular/plural nouns?

Is cheat​ing ever okay?​
absolutely not. what also isn't alright? getting another girl pregnant while you are supposedly dating someone else, that's super fun. or finding out that your so-called boyfriend was dating two other girls (at least) besides you. also super fun.

Who is the last perso​n you rode in a car with?​
peter

What are you looki​ng forwa​rd to?
picture time!!

Do you still​ have pictu​res of you & your ex?
silly silly, there's a reason some people from your past don't make it to your future and there's no need for reminders of old mistakes :p

What do most peopl​e call you?
pick a name: ashley, baby girl, ashley pie, ashley jo, crockett, crockstar, shley, a c rocket

If you could​ pick one perso​n to disap​pear from the plane​t,​ who would​ it be?
only one? damn. jk jk...umm, i'm sure everyone has a purpose and point for being on this earth, i just don't need certain folks in my life :)

Are you upset​?​
nope

Have you ever cried​ becau​se of somet​hing someo​ne said to you?
ha i'm a girl, yes

Ever kisse​d two peopl​e in one night​?​
oh, college...

Do you like to cuddl​e?​
yes and yes

Are you a good drive​r?​
good is such a relative term...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

next on the "25 random things about me" bandwagon...

well, since emily, beth, mia and lisa (amongst many others) jumped on the "25 random things" bandwagon...alas, i shall also put in my random 25 cents (ha, i find myself amusing). oh and side note: due to being sick and having my schedule thrown off, tomorrow's update will actually occur for next week (februar 5th) if you are keeping tabs on my weight loss blogosphere :p

25 random things about moi - enjoy :)

1. umm, well, i'm kind of an open book so anything you need to or want to know, you probably already do so this is gonna be kinda tough. i like sharing information and stories with people and find that i sometimes tell more than i need to about myself, oops. does that count as one?

2. i like when my water bottle matches my outfit and/or other accessories, although i've recently tried to get out of this trend. i had a full cabinet of water bottles and had to make some room, so i threw out probably 15 or so water bottles.

3. i get super annoyed when people incorrectly use your/you're but i get the MOST frustrated when people use singular and plural words incorrectly. for example, "every one should follow their dreams." no kids, no. bad bad bad. don't do it. "every one should follow HIS or HER dreams." yes, then you would get a gold star.

4. most people know this by now but i danced on stage with vanilla ice circa 2006. it was pretty badass, not gonna lie. ha.

5. i love stars (as in the shape). love them. all three of my tattoos have stars involved somehow. my momma gave me a pretty necklace with stars from tiffanys when i graduated from grad school.

6. i also love martini glasses, decorate with martini glasses and think they are adorable; however, i don't really enjoy drinking martinis.

7. it's super easy to make me cry sometimes. call it being a girl or being overly sensitive but man, my tear ducts work all too well...

8. i absolutely love virginia tech. love it love it love it. and yes, i was there in april 2007 when everything happened and it was the most traumatizing experience of my life. i lost three friends/former students...i still have nightmares about the entire situation.

9. i type how i talk and while i complain about people using incorrect grammar, i still enjoy typing how i talk - which isn't using incorrect grammar, mainly really really bad sentence structure, ha.

10. i looooooooooove quotes and song lyrics and use them whenever possible. i have a random document on my computer of quotes - if you have any favorite quotes, i'd love to add them to my list!

11. i'm a total concert groupie. outdoor country concerts are the best. sundresses and cowboy boots, mojitos, making new friends, singing at the top of your lungs to your favorite artists performing live...ah, the life.

12. duke basketball was my first favorite sport/team all because i was mildly obsessed with grant hill. i still love my bluedevils! coach k = amazing. i have a goal to make it down to cameron indoor stadium for a game at some point in my life. and duh, i looooooove hokie football! i probably like sports more than most people and i'm totally fine with that.

13. by the time i was 22 i had two degrees, my first 'grown-up' job and bought a condo. i finished a four year degree in three years. i sometimes question if this was a good decision. i also question if going to graduate school was a good decision, although i love my friends that i made and wouldn't miss out of those bonds for anything!

14. i love perfume and can't stand when people wear gross perfume or cologne. my favorites include body by victoria, j'adore by dior, the one by dolce and gabbana and be delicious by dkny; however, i only own the first two. i'm working on being able to afford the one when i have some extra money (hahaha funny thought).

15. i'm very uncomfortable with my body and my weight. unfortunately, this has been an ongoing battle since i was about four years old. i've tried many diets, had a breast reduction surgery to lessen the load on my back, various gym memberships, etc. and nothing seems to be successful long-term.

16. i miss my grandaddy every single day. i never met my so-called biological father, so for me, my grandfather was the person i looked to as a father-figure. my mother married my stepdad when i was nine and i love him as a father, too, but my grandaddy and i had a very special bond. some girls are daddy's girls, i'm a grandaddy's girl...

17. i've had the same best friend since fifth grade. i still remember our "best friends" necklace and it was in the shape of a phone, ha.

18. i never thought i'd be in a happy, healthy, 'grown-up' relationship with a man because i'd never had a positive relationship experience. that all changed when i started dating peter and together we've shown each other what it means to truly be love and be loved in return.

19. i'm ready to settle down, get married and start a family. yes, ladies and gentlemen, i actually do want a child someday. gross, i know. i think when i temporarily thought the worst case scenario situation last year when having some tests down as well as falling in love have changed my views on children. i'm terrified of raising a child, but at the same time, i think i have a few motherly qualities - just a few.

20. speaking of motherly qualities, i love to take care of people. it's kinda my thing. i like sending cards, or making cookies, or showing up to sporting events to cheer on my friends. i like feeling mildly needed or wanted and i also just like doing random, nice things for people for no reason.

21. i am borderline obsessed with my dog. mollie will be four on march 5th! she's fun and silly and i know i will be absolutely devestated when something happens to her down the road.

22. i have always been a britney spears fan, even when she was going through her phases of not doing so well. i'm ridiculously excited to see her in concert in march!!!!!

23. some children wanted to be doctors, or teachers...i wanted to work at espn even as a child. somehow i ended up in student affairs and i'm definitely ready for a career change. i am ready for financial security, being able to save money and job satisfaction.

24. i threw shot and discuss in high school and still wish i had continued on and tried to throw in college. i wasn't the greatest but i think i could have worked hard and threw for the women's team at tech. i miss throwing and sometimes want to throw just for the fun. weird, i know.

25. i have an issue with people's teeth. they must be perfect or at least mildly straight. it probably comes from the fact that i spent three and a half years dealing with braces and all of the fun things associated with that process, including: headgear, a pallet spreader, rubber bands, etc.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

weight loss update numbero uno

well, i failed. at least i can be honest.

i was very sporadic with my food journaling, and i only made it to the gym once, not twice. i ended up not being as healthy as i had hoped and the first week on my journey was not one of motivation as i had hoped, but one of complacency which i am desperately trying to avoid.

so, there's my update.

HOWEVER...(this is me, you know there's always a 'but' or next phase)

i did at least attempt journaling, i made it to the gym once and i tried to make better choices on more than once occasion which is a step in the right direction.

for the upcoming week, i'm raising the bar. from january 22-january 29, i commit to:
-keeping my food journal and tracking my weight watchers points
-more positive self-talk aka instead of calling myself fat, focus on the healthy and good parts of my body and fitness
-go to bed and not fall asleep on the couch and disrupt my sleep patter; poor sleep patterns can in turn have a negative impact on weight loss and energy
-do the bally 3-day a week fitness schedule:
  • 5-10 minute warm-up
  • 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity
  • 5-10 minute cool-down
  • 10 minutes stretching
  • strength training: leg extension, leg curl, chest press, shoulder press, seated row, bicep curl, tricep extensions and crunches
last week, i didn't put a "weight loss" pound amount. i know some of you are going to think this is a bit far fetched but since it's my first week of really getting down to business, i'd love to lose five pounds, which is not completely unattainable. while one to two pounds of weight loss is healthy, when you first begin a diet and exercise regime, you can lose a few more pounds the first couple of weeks (mainly water weight). so those are my goals for week two.

i will be more successful than week one!

also, random side note ~ thank you so much to everyone who takes time to read this silly blog o' mine as well as the beautiful, motivating and ridiculously kind comments and messages regarding my 'painful truth' blog. it's so wonderful knowing i have so many awesome people behind me :) thank you!

*love and hugs*

Sunday, January 18, 2009

100 useless bits of info about moi

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
open, i've never really enjoyed sleeping with the doors shut, although i hear you're supposed to keep them shut in case of fire or something like that


2. Do you take the shamp
oo and conditioner bottles from hotel?
not really because i need special, kinda pricey shampoos to tame this mess


3. Do you sleep
with your sheets tucked in or out?
well i don't sleep in my sheets. it's weird. in the past few months i just started sleeping under my comforter. baby steps


4. Have you ever stole
n a street sign before?
no, but i bought two when in new orleans: one that says 'margaritaville' and the other that says, 'rue de bourbon' aka bourbon street


5. Do you like to use post-
it notes?
like it's my job

6. Do you cut out coupo
ns but then never use them?
hmm, sometimes?

7. Would
you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
hmmm, i'm gonna go with neither, but a bear would at least be cute and maybe i could charm it with my adorable personality? ha, jokes. i've never been stung by a bee, no need to start now. not that i've been attacked by a bear either...


8. Do you have freck
les?
not so much

9. Do you alway
s smile for pictures?
usually...but pictures of me are often hilarious because i make weird faces on accident


10. What is your bigge
st pet peeve?
oh jeez, i have a ton! liars, grrr. what's the point? people who drive worse than i do. people who incorrectly use "your" and "you're" as well as blatant bad grammar. i could go on for days.

11. Do you ever count
your steps when you walk?
haha i have


12. Have you ever peed in the woods
?
yup..."a country GIRL can survive..."


13. What about
pooped in the woods?
umm, no, that's definitely not my style

14.
Do you ever dance
even if theres no music playing?
of course :)

15.
Do you chew your pens and penci
ls?
nah

16.
How many peopl
e have you slept with this week?
aren't you nosey :p i'm going to go with the literal meaning of this question, i cuddled up with my boy and my puppy last night as i do every night :)

17.
What size is your bed?
king

18.
What is your Song of the week?

hmmm, anything britney spears related

19.
Is it okay for guys to wear pink
"and on wednesdays, we wear pink." and yes

20.
Do you still
watch cartoons?
dude, tom and jerry is where it's at apparently haha! family guy is a regular occurrence these days

21.
Whats
your least favorite movie?
hmmm, mayhaps bad santa?

22.
Where
would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
hmm, then bank :p

23.
What do you drink
with dinner?
water...coke zero...whatever

24.
What do you dip a chick
en nugget in?
bbq sauce

25.
What is your favor
ite food?
chips and salsa, restaurant ranch, papa john's cheese pizza with garlic butter sauce, french fries...

26.
What movie
s could you watch over and over and still love?
sex and the city, mean girls, 40 year-old virgin, knocked up, love actually

27.
Last perso
n you kissed/kissed you?
a very handsome man :)

28.
Were you ever a boy/
girl scout?
'twas

29.
Would
you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
ashley and i used to say we wanted to go to kentucky and do an amateur night, ha. i think it would be awesome to pose in playboy; however, that's not something i would do anymore

30.
When was the last time you wrote
a letter to someone on paper?
hmmm, i send cards in the mail ALL the time, i love it!

31.
Can you chang
e the oil on a car?
ha, nope!

32.
Ever gotte
n a speeding ticket?
i've been pulled over twice. once when i was 16...i was swerving so much the officer thought i was drunk (i hadn't even tasted alcohol at that age) and again when i had a tail light out

33.
Ran out of gas?
thankfully no, but i thought i would a few times

34.
Favor
ite kind of sandwich?
mmm, one that's hot and melty, yum yum

35.
Best thing
to eat for breakfast?
spinach and artichoke egg souffle from panera...deeeeelightful!

36.
What is your usual
bedtime?
it varies

37.
Are you lazy?

i used to be MUCH more active, gotta get back into that

38.
When you were a kid, what did you dress
up as for Halloween?
i honestly don't remember

39.
What is your Chine
se astrological sign?
according to blogger, rat

40.
How many langu
ages can you speak?
supposedly i can muster a few sayings en francais

41.
Do you have any magaz
ine subscriptions?
cosmo, fitness

42.
Which
are better legos or lincoln logs?
eh neither are really my style

43.
Are you stubb
orn?
i can be

44. Who is bette
r...
Leno or Lette
rman?
i don't really watch either

45.
Ever watch
soap operas?
i have...cbs soaps are the way to go

46.
Afrai
d of heights?
not so much

47.
Sing in the car?
every single day

48.
Dance
in the shower?
hmm, i don't think i wanna break my neck so that's a no

49.
Dance
in the car?
well, duh :)

50.
Ever used a gun?
ha used? i have fired a couple guns at a few beer cans

51.
Last time you got a portr
ait taken by a photographer?
probably when my momma took me to sears after graduation to have pictures done in my cap, gown and hood

52.
Do you think
musicals are cheesy?
nah, hello - moulin rouge?! amazing.

53.
Is Chris
tmas stressful?
with my family? yes. with peter's family? nope :)

54.
Ever eat a piero
gi?
hmm, if this is what i think then yes! and yum yum!

55.
Favor
ite type of fruit pie?
apple and pumpkin

56.
Occup
ations you wanted to be when you were a kid?
ha, i wanted to be a broadcaster for espn. i knew i didn't wanna be a doctor because i can't handle blood and icky things, and i didn't want to be a teacher like every other little girl because i don't like children enough for that business

57.
Do you belie
ve in ghosts?
nope

58.
Ever have a Deja-
vu feeling?
yes and it's super weird!

59.
Take a vitam
in daily?
well, i try and remember...but i usually forget

60.
Wear slipp
ers?
no but i should

61.
Wear a bath robe?

when i get out of the shower and i'm too lazy to get dressed right that minute, yes

62.
What do you wear to bed?
ha, i have a habit of stealing peter's shirts, oops?

63.
First
concert?
hoobastank with imarobot

64.
Wal-
Mart, Target or Kmart?
taaaaaaaaaarget!

65.
Nike or Adida
s?
nike

66.
Cheet
os Or Fritos?
hmm, depends on my mood?

67.
Peanu
ts or Sunflower seeds?
hmm, how about the NUT-rition mix by planters, yum yum!

68.
Ever hear of the group
Tres Bien?
nope

69.
Ever take dance
lessons?
when i was a wee tyke

70.
Is there
a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
owning his own dealership or dealer group :)

71.
Can you curl your tongu
e?
yes, and not that anyone asked but i can tie a cherry stem with my tongue although it was much easier to do so before having a tongue piercing

72.
Ever won a spell
ing bee?
no. and i totally remember in fourth grade, i had to spell the world bridge or judge, but i said the "dge" part so fast that they didn't think i spelled it right and i got the boot. grrr. that was not cool.

73.
Have you ever cried
because you were so happy?
yes :) time for a sappy story: so peter and i are at my friend's wedding and we're dancing to 'amazed' and he totally started singing it to me and i cried like a little baby. hmmm, don't tell him i told that story to the internet world :p

74.
Own any recor
d albums?
i DO! kelli gave me a britney spears vinyl!

75.
Own a recor
d player?
ha, i do not :p

76.
Regul
arly burn incense?
nah, but i do burn candles, but only candles that i like...i'm kinda picky about them which is weird

77.
Who is your favor
ite actor?
hmm, i don't really have one? but i want to see every movie seth rogen has ever filmed. i just decided that when i read this question.

78.
Who would
you like to see in concert?
oh geez, umm, everyone?! i'm a concert groupie. my top two that i want to see that i haven't already seen are eminem and britney spears AND i'm GOING TO SEE BRITNEY MARCH 24th. HOLLA!


79.
What is your favor
ite song?
ha jokes, i can't pick just one

80.
Hot tea or cold tea?
mmm, sweet tea, just a bit of ice and a slice of lemon. heavenly. another side note: when we were in michigan i couldn't even get sweet tea at popeyes! super sadness.

81.
Tea or coffe
e?
tea

82.
Sugar
or snickerdoodles?
snickerdoodles

83.
Can you swim well?

it's not my favorite activity but i can make do

84.
Can you hold your breat
h without holding your nose?
yes

85.
Are you patie
nt?
ha jokes

86.
DJ or band,
at a wedding?
hmm, probably dj, but the band at kmal's wedding was borderline amazing

87.
Ever won a conte
st?
i have...best contest i ever won was in eighth grade and it was a story telling contest and i got to fly down and get filmed reciting my story, in costume. i know, badass :p

88.
Ever have plast
ic surgery?
technically, yes. but not to enhance or make a feature better, if that makes any sense

89.
Which
are better black or green olives?
hmmm, black on pizza (papa john's garden vegetable is on point) and green ones to eat plain

90.
Can you knit or croch
et?
i can knit, just not well

91.
Best room for a firep
lace?
ooooh living room, family room or den. i want one!

92.
Do you want to get marri
ed?
of course :)

93.
If marri
ed, how long have you been married?
not married...yet :p

94.
Who was your HS crush
?
haha who didn't i have a crush on in high school...and what girl didn't have a crush on lang? i mean, seriously.


95.
Do you cry and throw
a fit until you get your own way?
haha, no. but sometimes i pout just a bit and apparently i have eyes "that make people feel bad" according to someone from high school


96.
Do you have kids?

i have a mollie dog :) that's kid enough for me right now

97.
Do you want kids?

one day. love makes you want crazy things :p

98.
Whats
your favorite color?
duh, pink!

99.
Do you miss anyon
e right now?
always. i can't believe it's coming up on three years since i lost my grandaddy :(



100.
Are you in love with anyon
e?
yes i am. happily in love is a fabulous place to be. thank you for asking :)