Lucky Seven...

Last summer when Jonathan and I took a quick trip to D.C.,  we stopped at a huge mall somewhere in Virginia (you know me and my mangled sense of geography) and that mall, unlike any near us, had an H&M. Up until a year or so ago, I had never even been in an H&M, much less purchased anything from one, but I was always seeing really cute stuff from there in magazines and it was inexpensive. (You know me and my cheapskate mentality.) Anyway, long story unnecessarily longer we hit the jackpot at this particular one and I found some really awesome deals. One of them was this dress, which I absolutely love and have worn in fall, winter, and spring... a real winner.

Seven dollars, folks. A mere seven dollars for this lovely dress I have worn at least seven times. A dollar cost per wear? Done.

I love the colors and the shape and the sleeves and well, everything.

Also, I saw this necklace at Target a few months back and knew it would eventually be mine. I have seen a bunch of teardrop necklaces floating around the internet but I wanted one that was a little more substantial and, let's be honest, one that didn't look exactly like every other one I'd seen floating around the internet. This one was perfect. I love the color (more of a mint than how blue it looks here) and it was worth using a gift card on, for sure. The wedges are from Target too and aren't wedges just the best for wearing a dressier shoe without wanting to amputate your toes at the end of the day? Yes, they are.

Also, I would love your advice on a matter of great importance. (Clothes, naturally.) I bought this skirt:


....last week at Belk and it is every bit as bright and sunshine-y as it looks. It's a true neon yellow and I have tried lots of different tops with it (yes, including chambray, everyone's Plan B these days) and most of them don't look bad but I haven't loved anything yet. The pattern is noticeable enough that I feel like a patterned top is a little much. My ideal choice would be a simple gray t-shirt (like zis outfit from Kendi) but mine is in the laundry so that outfit may never see the light of day. Just kidding... but seriously. Any suggestions?

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! Two more days until school's out... I think I can, I think I can. =)



Ash


P.S. Linked up with Lindsey!



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Memorial Day...

Our Memorial Day, in pictures....



Mamaw and Aunt Peggy


I love these ladies!


One of my favorite people, hands down.


Mamaw grabbing some corn...


The grill master!


Uncle Walt!


Love.
*Not pictured: a trip to Old Navy. =)

 On a day like today, when we are able to be off school/work and spend time with family, it's easy to get sucked into the barbecued, discounted-shopping frenzy that is an American summer holiday, but think about it: we can cook out in our backyards without fear because our country is free and safe. Why? Because men and women have died to make it that way and keep it that way. We can shop with reasonable peace of mind because somewhere in a foreign country, or on an aircraft carrier, or stationed in a tiny, obscure military base there are people whose round-the-clock priority is preserving our national "peace of mind." 

 To those who serve, and to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, thank you. Words do not... cannot... express just what your lives- and deaths- symbolize. 

 The home of the brave, indeed. Happy Memorial Day.
Ash
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Just What the Doctor Ordered...

You know what's worse than falling asleep worrying about something? Waking up worrying about the same thing. Yuck. 

 So, I was a little down (worrying as only I can) last night, and it carried over into this morning, and I just needed a little cheering up. Knowing this, my sweet husband took me to Morehead City this afternoon. What's in Morehead, you might ask? Shopping... not any shopping to write home about, really, but better than the shopping situation in New Bern. Jonathan knows that when I'm sad/mad/upset/any type of melancholy that shopping is just the thing to lift my spirits. So, shopping was in order and shop we did.

 We drove down and he proceeded to willingly walk through Hobby Lobby and Michael's with me, braved Belk with about a zillion women crowded into a teeny tiny area stuffed with clearance racks, and even ventured into Ross and TJ Maxx. He also waited outside several dressing rooms to offer his opinion, bought me some new things, and helped me pick out an awesome picture for our living room wall. Oh, and we even went to Lowe's to get paint to (drum roll.....) FINALLY paint our dining room table and chairs. Woohoo!

It's probably a good thing that it's a bit of a drive to the nearest Hobby Lobby, because I would be sorely tempted to spend lots of money and time there.


Choosing just the right paint for the table makeover...


Oh, I didn't even mention that Jonathan knows my love language is Panera. (What, that's not one of the five? Oops.) We ate an early dinner there and a broccoli cheddar bread bowl will perk me up when nothing can. My goodness, it is heavenly.


He's a good man, that husband of mine.

This turned out to be a really swell day. There really is a little truth to the term retail therapy, you know? Oh, I hope every one of you has a fantastic Memorial Day. Only 4 more school days before I'm free for the summer (free to work on other things, of course, but at least grading tests won't be one of those things.) 

What's your definition of an ideal Saturday? Mine is a day spent with my husband (including, but not limited to, shopping and Panera.) Looks like we got it all covered today. =)



Ash


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Gimme Five...

So, let me be the first to tell all of you lucky people who got out of school today- I hate you. Just kidding! Happy summer to you... enjoy your first week off while I don't. =) Really, we only have 4 days left (3 of them half day, praise God) so I can make it. It won't stop me from being jealous, though, no sir. Anyway, I had all kinds of post ideas this week and even drafted a couple of them but HA! Last week before finals/program practice/after school help class/general pandemonium and that didn't happen but soon I will have more time on my hands and will hopefully get around to posting some more interesting content other than how crazy my life is (which I'm sure you never tire of, but still... variety is the spice of life.)

 SO on to some happiness from this week (other than the passing of each day bringing me closer to summer- given). 

1. My new floral espadrilles from Target were... wait for iiiiit.... one dollar! They were on sale for $5.98 and I had a coupon for $5 off Merona shoes so, these were indeed a score. Yay!


2. If you don't love Ben and Jerry's then I guess we're still friends but I'll have to ask myself if I ever really knew you. This is my very favorite kind of B&J...my cousin Rachel used to buy it years ago and she would sometimes generously share with me (probably because I begged) but it's so good. It was also comforting the other night when I unable to sleep and found myself on the couch at one am eating ice cream and pondering things that you ponder at one in the morning. 


3. We hit single digits in the countdown to summer on Wednesday. Woohoo!


4. My poor dining room table, a garage sale find right before we got married, desperately needs to be painted because the legs are navy (and news flash, everything else in the room is red and black. Major clashing going on.) But to make it prettier while it awaits a makeover, I found this awesome runner at Target the other day on clearance. Black and white stripes? Obviously it was made for me.

5. And it case you were lacking some unbelievable adorableness in your life... I am ready to fill it.
This girl is sooooo cute. Seriously, I can't stand it. I love my Leslie! (And her ever-fattening brother that I need to see asap before he loves his other aunties more than me. Okay, too late.) 

Happy Friday, friends! Summer is so close I can just taste it (and it tastes a lot like Hawaiian Shaved Ice and homemade ice cream, so it needs to get here quickly.)


Ash

P.S. Linked up with Lauren!
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Throwback (Waaay Back) Thursday...

Apparently it's a thing on Instagram to post an old picture on what has has become known as "Throwback Thursday." (Other photo opportunities of this nature include "Selfie Sunday" and "Man Candy Monday," neither of which I have been a participant of.) Anyway, I do enjoy "#tbt" because one of my very favorite things to do is to look at old pictures. Every time I am home I try to find time to dig out at least one big box of them. And while digital photography certainly has its advantages, there's just something about holding an actual picture in your hand. I don't know, call me sentimental (which I am.) I just like it. 

 Some other blogger friends have been participating in what is called "Blog Every Day in May" (clearly I didn't jump on the bandwagon, since I have not blogged every day this month) but I enjoyed looking at the post prompts and one of them was "a favorite photo of yourself and why." I came across this picture on our stone-age laptop (the one I cheerfully use at school even though it doesn't print regularly and loses my lesson plans all. the. time.) 

(No, my eyes aren't brown... I had to do a quick red-eye touch-up since this was taken with  a... Wait for it... Disposable camera. How's that for a throwback?)

Why do I love this picture? 
1. This was taken at the probably the peak of my obsession with American Eagle graphic tees, and this shirt was my faaaavorite. I was learning to play the guitar that summer and thought the shirt was the coolest thing ever.
2. I am (comfortably) wearing what I remember to be a size 4 skirt and I'm pretty sure it was loose on me. Oh, for the days.
3. That ancient flip-phone wasn't even mine; it was Amanda's, I believe. I was one of the 3 seniors in high school in America without a cellphone. 
4. I was talking to my boyfriend (at the time) and that smile was as genuine as it could be. (The head cocked sideways might have been a bit much, but that was how I rolled back in '07.)

Do you have a favorite old picture? I definitely have my share of oldies that make me cringe, but this one makes me smile. Still love the shirt, and the guy on the phone. =)

Happy Throwback Thursday to you!


Ash

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An Obsession (but the Good Kind)...

You may have noticed if you follow me on Pinterest (or Instagram) but I have a bit of an obsession with stripes. This causes me to be inexplicably drawn to any and all striped items when I'm shopping (and also causes my husband to roll his eyes whenever I insist that I neeeed yet another striped shirt or whatever.) Nonetheless, I have made several striped purchases in the last few months (how I ended up with three black and white striped dresses is a mystery, I swear!) and I would say I regret it or it's too much or something but, I don't and it's not. 


I snatched this skirt up back in January (when Target teasingly puts our their spring clothes while everyone's still bundled up) and wore it with a sweater and boots but (warning.. "23-19! We have a 23-19!" name that movie!) the static cling was out of control so it sat tucked away in all its cuteness in my closet for a few months. Now that it's warmer I felt I could wear it without going crazy and I did this week and I pretty much love it. Chevron? Hello... best skirt ever.


This dress, thanks to Kate, was brought to my attention and I just HAPPENED to have a gift card and (gasp!) I paid full price for it and I really love it. I do not love the picture above in which I look like a shower curtain (hips, much?) but it's so very comfortable and it has a slit to the knee on one side which makes it much cooler for our wretchedly hot summers here in the great North Carolina. (Oh, and Grace commented on the 'gram and said that this looks like something Kendi would wear so of course I love her even more than I did before, which was a lot.) 
AND sweet Carrie, according to Instagram, has the exact same outfit! Great minds, folks. (BTW, check out her shop for some great jewelry She runs the best deals!)

Don't you just love stripes? Of course you do. (Also, it occurs to me that I could have also written this about obsession with bubble necklaces, but I suppose that's a post for another day.)


Ash
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Procrastination and a DIY...

Remember many, many moons ago when I resolved to actually make/wear/do things that I pin on Pinterest? Well, and I say this shamefacedly, I didn't exactly get around to all of that. However, a few weekends ago I did finally bring myself to make a Michael's run and buy some fabric paint so I could recreate this awesome graphic T that Merrick made a while back. I followed her tutorial and met with semi-sketchy results (since I am still a total crafting novice/ utter spaz) but regardless, I am pleased with the outcome.

The stuff: a paintbrush, freezer paper, fabric paint, and a plain white t. (Literally, not the group.)


A helpful husband with better scissor-using skills than a kindergarten student (unlike yours truly) is a plus. 


The finished product.... perfect for my love of nautical things.


So my lines aren't perfect and it's a little crooked. I'd hate for the work to mistaken as someone else's. I'd put a picture of Merrick's but that would make it glaringly obvious that my own is more than marginally inferior to her perfect results. =)

I won't even attempt to give you directions, but follow Merrick's tutorial and you'll be all set. I can definitely see myself using freezer paper/fabric paint for other projects. It's really fun and cheap and pretty easy (especially if you have any measure of talent in this type of thing, which I don't.) Now go forth and craft! (Wow... words I never thought I'd say/type. There's a first for everything.)


Ash

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