My 7 Links

It is Friday, and as you know I am super swamped with wedding prep today. Two weddings in one day = one LONG day but at least it is filled with love!!!

Sooo Alison (- remember Alison) has tagged me in a fun, but super challenging task. Here it goes:

       What you need to do is link:

• Your most beautiful post
• Your most popular post
• Your most controversial post
• Your most helpful post
• A post whose success surprised you
• A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved
• The post that you are most proud of

And then tag 5 people to play along.

Most Beautiful Post:

I am going to say that my 4th Wedding Anniversary post was beautiful, because it reflects on sooo much about who I am today and why.

Most Popular Post:

According to my stats in blogger, my most popular post was Thoughts On Thursday and like Alison, there was only 2 comments (hers being one of them...) I think it is the most popular because my blog post probably pops up for subjects like: porno, recipes, various types of alcohol, shopping, bras, clearance, sewing, and more... (It was a long random post). I would like to think those topics do not "make up my blog" - lol

I am also flattered to share that people have found my blog by googling "life as i know it ashley" the most. Who is it? And thanks friend!!

Most Controversial Post

This one is hard!! Hmmm... I am going to say the Bathroom Etiquette, although all of us, but one agreed and saw the humor in it. But like Alison, my topics are not all that controversial. I suppose this one could be: Life Isn't. I like that everyone gets along on my blog... because I HATE the drama!!

Most Helpful Post

Who I Am Today was my most helpful post according to the comments.

Post Where Success Surprised Me

I have no idea where to take this one.... does this post count.. jk.

I am going to post the "page" House Old and New. Because the success we had at selling out old house and the success we have had a renovating our new one. Each link on the page shows before and afters!

Didn't Get The Attention

I feel that my reflection posts do not get as much attention. I don't blog for attention though, so it doesn't bother me!

Post I am Most Proud Of

I am actually super proud of picking this blog back up after a slow start. I have learned soo much and continue share my life lessons. Sometimes it is nice to have a reminder. But I guess I need to link up a post. I really liked the post on Who I Am Today as linked above... I also liked the So What Wednesday and this one. Okay I liked them all, so just search my blog for them... I think I'll start doing those again!

Now let me see who I can get to do this too.... it was fun... hard, but fun!!! I will pick 5 of my favs and cross my fingers - you should too - its worth it!

Kate @ Every Mile A Memory

Stephanie @ Beautiful Mess
Sara @ Running From The Law
Shalyn @ The Nelson Diaries
Julie @ The Girl in The Red Shoes

Thoughts on Thursday/ Thirsty Thursday

I am working today and then my official holidays start!!! So in honor of that, I am going to do a Thirsty Thursday Edition.

Drink of the Week:

 Pornstar

1/2 oz Sour Puss® raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
4 - 6 oz 7-Up® soda

Pour Sourpuss and Curacao into a shaker glass with ice. Add 7-up or Sprite, stir, strain, and serve in a highball glass.

(link)

I tried to find a picture of one and well let's just say that did not go over very well... in fact DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME... just drink the drink... its purple and cute and delicious!!

Now on to a few one liners last night from this FREAK... aka Lady Gaga on SYTYCD. I don't mind some of her music, but just find her pretty dumb and we won't even touch on the topic of her wardrobe, but I will leave you with my initial reaction "WHAT THE F***", so here are some of her lines from last night:

"It's a fashion catheter, you know so I don't have to leave to go to the bathroom during the show" - referring to her footwear, which were horrible.

"All I could stare at were your legs - how many different positions can you do with those legs?"

"you know me, I love a prop - I love a prop"

she also threw her "shoe" at the stage. "shoe" meaning her footwear - they wouldn't classify as normal shoes by far!

She is crazy...

That's my rant and I am sticking to it and Lady Gaga should like it... lol

It is rainy today and I pretty sure there no complaints here... we definitely needed it, but it needs to stop by tomorrow because I have not 1, but 2 outdoor weddings tomorrow.

I am also planning on dying my hair tonight - what color you ask? Intense Dark Brown

I have a manicure scheduled in the morning tomorrow and then it is just me, the curlers, hair products and my hair... wish us luck!!

I have a FUN post scheduled for tomorrow, so check back. I don't know when I will be back after that, as I have not scheduled any posts for next week, but I am on holidays and the boat is a calling... but I won't be gone ALL week - well maybe... the best thing about having no definite plans is the possibility for change!!

Take care!!! Have a great weekend/week!!!

Love

Well I figure after yesterday's negative Nancy post, I better follow up with a positive Penny post, although truth behold I still have a lot on my mind right now. Maybe August will be better?  But anyways...

Here we go:

• I am loving my husband, even when I get all crazy-like (I know.. who me?) he is there for me and he can bring me back down from crazy land.

• I am loving my crazy cat Lux... he aims to please. All morning he was right by my side, including while I was in the shower, he was sitting on the side of the tub, with the vinyl part of my shower curtain in between us. He definitely displays unconditional love and continuously makes me laugh!!

• I love that my dress has been taken in and now fits for the weddings on Friday!! My sister has also finished my necklace and I cannot wait to see it!!

• I love that M walked/ran to the farm last night with dogs. They were all pretty exhausted when they got there and were happy that I offered to drive them all home when my dress was finished!

• I am loving everything about this song right now by Demi Lovato.

• I love that M and I figured out our holidays for next week, with the sudden change! We will be heading to the lake for a few days on the boat!!

• I am loving this quote:

Pinterest

Tip Top Tuesday

I guess it isn't really tip top, because my weekend was far from fantastic!!

Link

It was soo far from fantastic that I will not be discussing via the blog... sorry friends, I think we all get weekends like this... maybe not.

But I did end up getting really sick. I think it was a combination of pulling an almost all-nighter/stress/the heat/exhaustion. I have not been soo sick in a long time! I was still not 100% yesterday, and only time will tell how today goes...

I have sooo much to accomplish this week before Friday:

• I need to get a wedding gift for my cousin's wedding Friday afternoon
• M needs to pick up his suit Wednesday for M & J's wedding Friday night
• We need to pick up thier wedding gift on Wednesday.
• Get a manicure Friday morning
• Take my dress in... I will be getting Mike's Mom to help me, because I have left it too late!
• Figure out my shoes and hair
• Find a fresh memory card for all the pictures I hope to take on Friday
• Figure out dinner plans for myself on Friday... thanks to some great friends I will not be alone!
• Dye my hair

That is all I can think of right this second, but I am sure there is more!

I did at least request early check in at the hotel!

Irresistable Forces

Today I am linking up with Book Club Friday for the first time!!


Have a book you wanna review? Link up with Blonde undercover Blonde 


I officially started and finished my first TRASHY romance novel!

(Link)

This book was very sexual and trashy. I will admit, there were pages that I skimmed because they were sooo sexual. It was a bit much!

But overall it is a book about a high class business woman who wants a baby. She asks another high class business man to enter a contract to father her baby. They head to an island that apparently helps couples conceive. They are successful. They end up married at the end!

This book was not my cup of tea. It was borderline Harlequin romance... but super sexual... at some points it was like reading porn... if that is possible.

Would I recommend it?

NO!

But it was a quick read, only 137 pages long. Luckily it was a freebie on the kobo, and one I wouldn't have chosen! 

Wedding Anniversary #4

Today I married my best friend,
Our bond complete, it hath no end,
We share one soul, we share one heart,
A perfect time - a perfect start.
With these rings we share together,
Love so close to last forever,
This special day - two special hearts,
Let nothing keep this love apart.

(link)



Four years ago today, at 2:00 PM I married my best friend!! I can look back on 4 awesome years of married bliss, 2 years of engagement/wedding preperations and 4 years of learning about ourselves and each other.

Picture taken by Blair Gable

I still don't feel that we have stepped out of the newlywed stage, because everyday I still get those butterflys. Crazy to believe that M and I have never spent a whole day/night apart since the night before we were married!!

Photo taken by Blair Gable

I promise to give you the best of myself
and to ask of you no more than you can give.
I promise to respect you as your own person
and to realize that your interests, desires and needs
are no less important than my own.
I promise to share with you my time and my attention
and to bring joy, strength and imagination to our relationship.
I promise to keep myself open to you,
to let you see through the window of my world
into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams.
I promise to grow along with you,
to be willing to face changes in order to keep
our relationship alive and exciting.
I promise to love you in good times and bad,
with all I have to give and all I feel inside
in the only way I know how,
completely and forever.

(link)



Photos taken by Blair Gable

And we are still living our fairytale. Still happily ever after!!

Happy Anniversary Mike! I love you, just as I loved you 4 years ago today. Our love could never change!

Although life will challenge us, it will challenge us together, and together we can do anything we put our hearts too!

Photo Taken by Blair Gable

Hand in hand and heart to heart, forever my husband you'll be!

Photo taken by Blair Gable

Blessings

Blessings
By: Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst

This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise?

I saw this post over at Finding Joy Through The Journey and just found it touching.

Enjoy!

Manic Monday

On Tuesday.... I almost posted yesterday, but my pics wouldn't upload!!

Friday: M had ball, they lost and that was it!

Saturday: I dragged my ass all day long, finally got ready to go to Nicole's Bachlorette Party. I actually wore my hair down, but let it go "Au natural", with the help of some awesome hair care!! I stopped and picked up some photography props (baby hats) along the way, stopped at my sister's with my dress for the weddings next Friday so we could match beads with the color of it because she is going to make me a necklace!!!

Off to London I went!!! Overall, we had a great night!! Dinner at Moxies, back to the hotel for cake and then we hit up UP on Carling for some VIP bottle service and champagne in a rooftop cabana!! Here is one picture of the bride to be and I:

I left just after 12, as I was driving home, because we had plans to leave early the next morning for the lake!

Sunday morning came early again, but once we got down to the lake, it was well worth it!! The weather was HOT and beautiful!!! Here is a bit of what went down:

"Well Hello"

" People would kill for hair like mine!!"

"you know you wanna throw it"

"Just came out of the water and I am dry already!!! I love how quick a roll in the sand drys my hair"

"Fine don't throw it... "

"I will just have to resort to making my own fun"

The boat

Boat's name

Lighthouse!!!

M on his seadoo

Us on our way home... don't mind the bad angle - we took it at a stop sign...

I will say that it has not rained in weeks... I actually cannot remember the last time it rained!! It has been BEAUTIFUL and SUNNY and HOT and I LOVE IT, although we could you an overnight sprinkle... my gardens and lawn are lacking.

I got my new HD PVR yesterday!! So now I can watch TV on one channel, while recording another! Plus, that lovely loyalty department gave me another $20 savings/month!! I will not complain about service!! There is something about getting more for my money that I LOVE!!

I spent the day with the girls yesterday, we went to town for some groceries, grabbed some lunch, I had to swing home for the install and then we went for a swim. We decided to pop out to the mall, where I managed to get some hair accessories for the weddings next Friday, now I just have to figure out which one works the best. I had mentioned that I was going to make one for myself and H, but it just seemed like a lot for only 2 and I am on limited time! Then we settled in for our typical girls night.

Bachelorette side note: Can I just say that I am still in love with JP and I am not all that disppointed that Ames is gone....and Ashley still drives me crazy!!

Hopefully I will get all caught up on your blogs today :)

WHY?!?!

Why is life continuously filled with things that should not happen?

When are people who are continuously faced with one issue after the other going to find relief?

How does this make them stronger?

When will it be enough?

Who is in charge of choosing who and how we suffer? How is it picked?

I get that everyone is dealt their share of suffering at some point in life, and I know we are not supposed to compare, but I just feel that some people end up with MORE!

I have been following James story for a while now. My heart goes out to Kara and Matthew and baby James!! NO ONE should have to endure what they have and are about to!

Please take some time and say a prayer for them!!

I know there are things in life that do not make sense and never will...

BUT WHY?!?!

Fill In The Blank Friday

Wanna link up? Head over HERE

1.   I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person): a middle of the day or evening person. NOT a morning person!!! I am getting better though, but I hate waking up!!!

 

2.  My favorite Pandora stations are: well you see... being Canadian and all, we don't have the lovely Pandora... but I do have JANGO. I am going to assume it is just like Pandora, but better in my case because I can use it!!! My favorite stations are: Country Summer Party, Top 100 by Jango, Jango Super Mix, Adele, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, I could keep on going......

 

3.  3 of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are: As long as there are songs from The Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood/Taylor Swift and some Top 40 (newer songs). I am good. I don't have specifics, I just need songs I can sing to!!!

 

4.  My favorite pattern is: I love circles!!!! But now that I am sewing, I love floral and fun patterns!! Can I say Amy Butler?

5.  My favorite perfume is: Victoria Secret: Love Spell and Victoria Secret: Secret Charm

6.  Rules are there for a reason, but some are worth breaking...

7.  My most overused phrase or punctuation is: "seriously", "I am not even kidding!". "Just sayin'" , - on the blog: "!!!!" or "....."

 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!! I also made some plans for N's bachlorette tomorrow!! We will be going to Moxies for dinner, heading back to the Delta for some cake and the hitting Up On Carling - which has one of the best patios in London!! We have decided to take on one of the roof top cabana's, will be sipping champagne and get a free bottle of liquor - oh and no cover to get in!! SWEET!!!

 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

Thoughts/Questions on Thursday

I am actually blogging on a Thursday!!! How exciting.... but don't get too excited, it is because I am working! I actually kind of like taking a break from blogging on my days off, then when I come back I have lots to blog about, which means this post is going to be random, because instead of doing anything remotely exciting, I am working!!

• We got our quote for our window last night!! This is the dreaded window...:

(and no my house is not crooked, my photo skills were... and this picture was taken before we moved in... not that it makes a difference unless you remembered me talking about ripping out that garden below it and replacing it with a patio...)

It is known as a bow window... however we have decided to make it a picture window with an 2 opening windows (one on each side). That is where our friendly argument has began... M wants crank out windows, I want sliders. M's theory, which I agree with... is that it will look better. My theory is that sliders last longer. We have crank outs all over our house and some of them don't work anymore. They will both let in the same amount of airflow... Plus the curtain will cover the sliders anyways, so it would not be a focal distraction... Oh and it is only a $150 difference. (Sliders are cheaper)

What would you do?

• We actually won our baseball game last night!!! It was a great game, the score was 23-20. I can't say that I played awesomely, because I definitely didn't... but overall the team did great!!!

• I am trying to come up with ideas for N's bachlorette party this Saturday. We have dinner plans at 5:00, a hotel room booked and that is all we have planned soo far! Any ideas?

• I am going to attempt to make my sweet niece a  flower headband for M and J's wedding - she is the flower girl... wish me luck and if you have any pointers, please share!!!

I look forward to hearing your feedback on all of these questions!!!

Pinteresting Loves

 

I am going to link up with The Vintage Apple, as well as Jamie this week, because I am loving all of these things:

(Oh and if you are looking for me on Pinterest you can find me HERE)

• I am loving sweet Golden Retrievers!!!

but I also love that this pic is on Pinterest, yet it is also a picture that fellow blogger Sara took of her puppy Sage!!!

• I am loving "Sock Bun Curls"

Everyone is talking about these curls, so I am going to hop on the band wagon and give them a try!!

Stephanie actually just posted about this, so here is her link!!

• I would like to make THESE

All you need is one package of oreos, 5 cups of marshmallows and 4 teaspoons of butter!!! How easy?

Want to find out more? Check THIS out!!

• I also think these look super easy and fun!!

• And I love these quotes:

• I am loving that M's parents are back from their cruise to Alaska!! They had a great time, but decided that cruises are not their thing!! I was surprised by how many pictures they took!! They even had professionals taken!! They did their photo-obsessed daughter-in-law proud!! They also brought me back a GORGEOUS ring!! It is black saphire with diamonds!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! I hope to post a few of their pictures that they got, after I finish editing the pictures for them!!

• I love my husband sooo much!!! He is my rock!!

Tip Top Tuesday - Weekend Edition

Sorry for being MIA yesterday, M was home with me again and we worked on a few things around the

house.

We had a fantastic weekend! It was filled with awesomeness (word of the day right there) right from the start!!! 

Friday night M had baseball and they WON!!! It was actually a pretty good game to watch!! We went over to N & K's for a bonfire afterwards and ended up staying out until 2 AM... YEH that was a bit crazy, but nonetheless fun!!

Saturday morning we tidied up the house a bit, worked on laundry and then our power went out... so we decided it would be a good time to head into town and get some groceries and lunch. We came home to still having no power and it was beginning to get HOT in the house... we had our air on before! So I called the hydro company, trying to remain calm, but made sure that my frustrations were present. I guess a truck took down power lines... he said it would be back by 2:30, at which point I told him I have heard this all before and know that they have no problem bumping the time. I decided I would have a nap, since I could not get anything productive done. The phone rang at 2:30 and we had power again!! M watered both the front and back lawn and then we started packing for the boat.

What I failed to mention on purpose was that M's parents have been away on an Alaskan cruise since last weekend!! They actually got back last night, but they missed Pottahawk weekend! So M and I took the boat out, but took our friends K and S along too on Saturday night. We stayed out on the water overnight Saturday night and headed home around 4:00 on Sunday!! It was awesome weather!! I know I failed to explain what pottahawk weekend is... so here it goes:

Pottahawk is an island on Lake Erie with nothing on it, however boats will go out and anchor around it, as it is shallow. On the 2nd Sunday in July Pottahawk Piss Up happens. It is a MASSIVE boat party that THOUSANDS of boats go to, usually rafting up to each other. It is one of the biggest parties on water. People just walk the shallow water of the island, with music blaring and drinks in hand.

I tried to take some pictures but I forgot my memory card in the camera at home!! Oppss!! A good time was had though, we survived another pottahawk weekend, we had a great time with K and S!!

When we got home we decided the we would just have frozen pizza for dinner, however M insisted on buying buffalo chicken pizza... he seems to forget that buffalo chicken is HOT, as in spicy!!! I don't do spicy... and he has asked me to remind him in the future that he doesn't do buffalo chicken... I have told him this before, but I don't think he will forget again, at least for a while!!

I slept in yesterday until 10 AM, got up and we worked on more laundry, hung curtains in the office and wall art in the mudroom. I really need to get my curtains done!!

Girls night was fun, but can I just say how annoying Ashley is? She has got to be the worst bachelorette EVER!! I still love JP though!!!

Tonight we have dinner with M's parents to hear all about their trip!!

I am also going to try to get motivated on exercising again... wish me luck!!

How was your weekend?