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Happy Anniversary....


Five years ago, on this very day...I was lucky enough to marry my best friend. I say lucky, because not everyone finds what they are really looking for in a mate, marriage partner, life partner, father of their future children, etc....

Then, even if you find that needle in the haystack, you might be legally blocked from marrying them. Currently, in the United States, only 6 states plus the District of Columbia legally recognize same-sex marriages.

So many people have heartbreaking stories like this. and bittersweet stories like this. and still more, like this.

In honor of my 5 year wedding anniversary, please take a moment to check out the Human Rights Campaign. If you can give a donation, that would be great. If you get involved, even better.

Let us live and love in a world where equal opportunity is a real thing.



bedtime

holy moly, there is full-fledged 13 yr. old "you ruined it!" cryelling happening in this house.

cryelling---just made that one up. but you know what it means.

Scoutings (pt. III)

Things she's said lately:

While in the bathtub--"I need you to bring me something with more life in it. It has three points like a triangle."

After wiping off excessive amounts of lip gloss---"Awww. I'm not BEAUTIFUL anymore!"

While walking to the soccer game---"Geez MOM!"

scout's favorite number

everything is 49.

Me: Scout, how many bites have you had of dinner?
Scout: um, like, 49.

Jay: How many books do you want to read?
Scout: 49.

Me (at ikea): Scout, what are you doing?
Scout: measuring. it's, like, 49.

Jay: Scout, that's too many books.
Scout: NO! It's 49!!!

Admit to it...

Hi.
My name is Ashley.
And I'm a laundry procrastinator...

geez...

So today, I'm really excited. Actually, I got really excited on Saturday...and rushed out and spent more money on shoes than I've spent in a LONG time...at a running store...on running shoes. I know. First world problems.
But...anyway, I'm excited. Today, we are starting a new round of GAME ON!
So here's my stats:
Weigh in: 143 lbs.
How I'm Feeling: Heavy. My fat jeans have become my skinny jeans and my skinny jeans...well, they've been on their hanger for about 5 months now. The thickness in my neck is making me paranoid....and I know its just a little extra weight.
On giving up coffee: I'm missing it. Horribly. But all this water I'm drinking is helping.
Exercise for today: Running. Gotta get my $ worth, there.

theme park weekday

theme park weekday

Fat Face cross shirt
£35 - johnlewis.com

TopShop hot pants shorts
$55 - topshop.com

Flat shoes
¥17,010 - hfm.co.jp

Becky Kelso 14 karat jewelry
$830 - clay-pot.com

Michael Kors buckle jewelry
£200 - net-a-porter.com

Leaf jewelry
7.95 AUD - funaccessories.com.au

If I were to get married again...inspired by Eastsidebride.com

The following post is inspired by a series on the fabulous blog East Side Bride. Much love.

wedding stuff two.two

I've been married to the man for 5 years this August. We've always been on the fast track...engaged after 8 months of dating, married 5 months later, and pregnant with our first kiddo 9 months after that. So, our wedding was planned in a hurry. We simply couldn't wait to be married to each other. It was a beautiful (small) ceremony in South Austin with a designer dress, 100+ temperatures, oak trees, lemon curd cake, champagne toasts and rented tuxedos.
Our tastes have changed and grown over the years and given that we've recently relocated to Southern California (away from family), I think if we were to get married today...it would go something like this:
4th of July (or some other holiday where fireworks are a given): Georgetown, Tx. My venue of choice would be the family's homestead. My in-laws and their friends built a pier-and-beam house in the middle of 5 acres in the Texas hill country in the 90's. It's a bright yellow thing, with a beautiful porch, long red brick sidewalk, and cedar trees galore. I'd ideally have the ceremony performed on the porch while our guests sat on family quilts (collected over the years) draped over hay bales. I love gold when I'm tan and when I'm not...the color works well with my natural skin tones and blonde hair. So, I chose this gold lace frock with slip and metallic gold woven heels (Prada) for height (my man is 6 ft +, and i'm a short 5'4").I've also included some flats, because nothing is worse than sinking into the ground all night long...and also, I'm a bit of a ballet-flats-kind-of-girl.
I love Kendra Scott jewelry (she has a great shop in the South Congress shopping district in Austin, Tx), so I've gone with her Carmella Earrings in white/gold. I love the woven gold band by Botte Gaveneta. It is simple, yet complicated....much like myself. I tend to wear just my wedding band on the daily, so the oval rose cut red diamond "engagement ring" would look perfect on my right hand. For my "something blue" I've included the blue/gold wide bangle. I'm also a bit of a traditionalist....I like the "something old, borrowed, blue" of weddings. The Maison Michel headpiece is tdf. I love the heavy stones braided and tangled in the wire. If I didn't wear this, my maid/matron of honor would. It's just gorgeous.
The pinstripe trouser (true, it's women's clothing) are a template for what I'd like to see my guy in. Black or navy with gold/taupe stripe....yum. There's just something about tall men in pinstripe suits. Right?
My favorite color is retro-avocado. So, to add that in, I've found these great "picnic" melamine plates from Crate & Barrel. These would absolutely be on my registry.
I'm from Texas. My family raises cattle. There would HAVE to be BBQ. And banana pudding in lieu of a traditional cake. It's just a fact of life. I'd also include some chopped Vegetarian "BBQ" from Jo's Coffee Shop for the vegetarian in-laws and guests.
We have a few friends (being from Austin) that are in the music business, so the shindig following the ceremony would be all about music, dancing and sing-alongs. We'd invite everyone we know, because we miss everyone like hell right now. As the night would come to a close, we'd give everyone the option of riding into town to see the city's fireworks. It would be the perfect way to start our life together...again.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! And happy birthday to my lovable grindad!
We spent our long weekend doing this:

and this:

and also attended fireworks show and soccer game, care of the L.A. Galaxy! Go Galaxy!

The things we wish for.

"Be careful what you wish for!" I remember hearing that phrase throughout my childhood with various intent. It was used as a parental threat after empty teenage angst-y threats. It was used as a warning for the potential of getting adverse results of a wish truly realized.

Even as an adult, we think to ourselves, "I wish..." But, we should be careful what we wish for.

I can't tell you the number of nights I wished Scout could soothe herself to sleep without my having to be right next to her. Never to the extent of that now infamous "parenting book" that shall not be named here...but I always thought it must be nice that Jay got that hour or so of solidarity every night while Scout and I battled it out before peaceful sleep.

Now that we are at that point in her development, I am mourning those nights when we would lie down and talk about our favorite part of the day; when we would snuggle until one or both of us drifted off to sleep. I hug her even more during the day than I used to. I ask her to snuggle with me on the couch in the afternoons and in the morning when she wakes up, she crawls into our bed and cuddles silently for a few minutes.

Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it...

Time apart

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I'm not sure about that, but I know that the absence of my friends and family seems to bring a sort of longing in my heart that can be tangible pain at times. The hardest part of this new endeavor thus far has been the missing of family and friends.

This weekend, I was able to reverse the day-to-day and spend time with my besties and away from my husband and daughter. The excitement of spending two whole days with my friends with undivided attention plus TexMex seemed almost too much to bear. Then, just two days before I was set to return to the land of scorching heat and humidity, the parental guilt kicked in. I felt horrible for leaving J&S and knew I would be missing them the entire time I was gone.

That didn't stop me from having an excellent time.

But it did make for some really conflicting moments of internal dialogue standing in security checkpoints. I almost felt sorry for the guard in Houston who asked me how my day was. I almost came apart standing in front of him--not what he asked for that day when he clocked in, I'm sure. I cried from the minute we arrived at the airport until almost two hours into my flight. I couldn't help it. I missed my friends, and wanted to smuggle them onboard with me.

I love our life here in Cali. I love this incredible opportunity we've been given, but if I could have my friends here, it would be perfect. I'm looking forward to making new connections here with new friends and old.

On another note, while I was gone....someone started going to bed by herself, using the word "Ye-ah" (think flava-flave) and somehow, her hair got curlier. How much fun did they have while Mom was out of the house?! Pirate baths, playdates, new parks explored and bagel Sunday! Luckies!

Things I'm missing:

1. Friends/Family (duh)
2. Queso (specifically, Magmud and Cowboy Queso)
3. Hopdoddy burgers (followed by...)
4. Amy's Ice Cream/Hey Cupcake!
5. Barton Springs on HOT summer days
6. Random nights on SoCo with my besty
7. Chuys

That's all for now.

p.s.: SERIOUSLY. I could cry. right now.

Fashion Files

Scout has developed an ecclectic fashion sense in the last couple of months. Dressing up used to be her favorite past-time. Now, literally dressing herself, is one of her favorite activities in our day. She loves accessories...hats, necklaces, scarfs, and shoes...this girl loves them all. Here are some recent pictures, in various formats.




In honor of one missed...

We are actively fundraising for Relay for Life this year.

The team name is Accolades for Brad.

If you would like to donate follow this link.

Happy Father's Day....

To all the daddies out there. And especially to the one of this girl:

Without whom, I don't know what I'd do.

Hi! Happy Friday!

Anyone else dying to know what Natalie Portman named her baby boy? Just me? Ok...



Yeah, ok...it's none of our business. I can imagine being in the spotlight...how I'd want to protect my newborn child as much as I could from the world of paparazzi, red carpets and gossip mags.

On another note...how did my house get to be such a mess this week without me even noticing? Oh yeah....her!
From

Not so wordless wednesday...

So excited. I purchased a ticket yesterday to fly to Houston to see some friends and to also see this:


Checking things off the list...



Schedules and Star Charts



Any other stay-at-home moms have their kiddos on a schedule? I'm trying to get in some activities every week and have formulated a schedule that was similar to what she did at school. It's not as rigid as it sounds; I think it is honestly more for me than for her. I want to teach her things and the only way to do that is to hold myself accountable with a list.

We've also introduced the idea of a star chart. This is how she was potty trained at school. I don't think she entirely understood it (she was 2 at the time). But we are trying it again with "good behavior," she gets a star. That is, any time we set a task for her, if she accomplishes it without a fit or general bad behavior, she gets a star. We've been having a few of those lately. And by a few, I mean, every time we ask her to rest or get ready for bed, it's an hour of all-out-war. I'm trying to teach her the importance of setting goals with this too. If she gets enough stars, we get to go to Legoland (which she loved).

I'm getting back into the swing of things here!

favorite things

The new condo we are living in has some pretty awesome "old hollywood" details. Built in the 1940's, this building is as sturdy as it comes. Gorgeous refinished hardwood floors, updated fixtures and granite countertops are just a few of the reasons we fell in love with this place. There are some other little details that add some charm to the place. Here they are:


Tiny drawers in the kitchen. Useful for tools, coozies, and parchment paper.


Cool crank-to-open windows and rose bushes all around the front and side of our condo. lovely.


Swanky new sink.


Here's our peep hole. Very cool.


Old school mailboxes. So cool. Also, tiny.


The front courtyard. We're all the way at the back, which is great. Lots of room to play, no street noise, and beautiful landscaping.

evolution

Scout woke up this morning and started her usual "entertain me" antics. We sleepily told her to go draw in her room while we woke up, gathered our thoughts and our coffee, and tackled the seemingly-never-ending task of organizing and putting together our new furniture. She comes in the kitchen and without a word hangs up a masterpiece on the fridge. Jay sees this and asks her what her picture is.

It's a big, scary monster and a rain cloud. Then, picture Jay's jaw dropping to the floor. It is that, exactly.

Exhibit A:



So, being the inquisitive parents we are. We said "hey, scout, can you draw a funny monster?" So, off she runs to her room as we discuss her incredible, overnight ability to draw things with legs and faces and arms, instead of just scribbles and swirls and blobs. How do they just know? Where did this ability come from?
Then, to our amazement, she emerges with this:

Exhibit B:


I've never been this proud in my life. I'm framing her subsequent series of monsters for our living room. Seriousness.

Infertility.

(If this is too much info for you....color me "shocked that anyone still reads this blog")

A few random thoughts about infertility:

*buying (wasting money) on pregnancy tests makes me crazy. The amount of money spent in the last two years equals somewhere around $300. Probably upwards of that. And I'll never shake the feeling that I really want a fruit roll-up after opening the eerily similar packaging.

*initial consultations (not covered by insurance) start at $300. or $100 for 10 minutes up to $550 for an hour plus the cost of all of your ultrasounds ($300 per). And you don't even get free cookies or a commemorative dish or logo-water bottle. Then, let's talk about the costs of IVF, IUI, and other fertility treatments....oy!

*It all sucks, but we do it anyway. The end result is so totally worth it.

Ms. Maebe




If you've ever wanted a dog that could retrieve a ball or frisbee or shoe for 2 hours straight, let me introduce you to Maebe.

We adopted this sweet girl when she was a pup....her birthday is estimated to be Halloween of 2006. She is the kind of dog that can't get enough love from you, but once given the correct guidance and signals, she will find her spot and give you the perfected "puppy eyes" until you give her the "okay" for more scratches behind the ear. She loves hiking and the great outdoors. She is great around kids (lets them climb on her, poke at her with little annoyance), and other dogs. She usually tends to be the least dominant in the room (which is to say: she's a little nervous and shy, but not to a fault). She can be taken off the leash, but does need to be acquainted with her surroundings and owner for a good while before attempting this. She's a retriever at heart and fits the mold pretty much to a "T."
Shots are up to date, but she will require a teeth cleaning from your vet. Loves swimming and bath time as well as grooming. All of her dog gear will go with her wherever she goes. She has a crate, but does not get crated unless absolutely necessary. That is to say, she prefers to be able to lounge and move around during the day. She is good about not chewing on things, but does like to sneak in a couch-nap during the day, if allowed. Leash trained and house-trained, as well as basic obedience training (sit, shake, load-up, down).

We aren't able to bring her to California per our lease agreement and arrangements we've made have fallen through. Please, if you or someone you know is looking to adopt an excellent canine partner in crime, let us know. She needs a very loving home.



*UPDATE* Maebe has found a new home where she's getting LOTS of love, long walks and countless ear scratches. :D She's happy as can be!
also, she's into art.

I love weddings...


Can't help it. Congrats to the Duke and Dutchess.

well, hello there. it's been a while, old friend.

So, what have we been up to since March 10th? Oh, the usual...moving across the country, playing on the beach, enjoying ocean breezes and loving life in general.
Best to do things in pictures.


Saying Goodbye to the LRD for now...


Last Magnolia Breakfast for a while


Middle of Nowhere, TX



Me + Scout, Golfland in Pheonix



8 Am swimming in Phoenix


AZ Cactus


California Wind Farms


Bucket Shopping on the Santa Monica Pier


Scout <3s In-N-Out


Happy Earth Day, everybody.

Mini-Vacay with my love.


Olympic Peninsula, WA - Canon T2i from Jay Holzer on Vimeo.

BIG news.

If you haven't heard through various social media outlets yet....we are moving! Jay and his company have been "in talks" about a move to the Los Angeles area for about four months now, and we've made it official! We move...next month! Ah! April 15th, you'll find us living it up (or pulling our hair out, trying to find a permanent place to reside) in sunny SoCal! More specifically, we're headed to Santa Monica.

How are we doing? Oh, we are losing our minds with excitement. But at the same time, it all seems bittersweet and surreal. We've always talked about a move and said "no, we could never leave Austin. We love it so much." But at the same time, we've always been open to the idea should the situation present itself. We will miss our friends and family most of all. And how.

So, in the next few weeks I'm going to be interviewing moving companies, resigning from my job, packing a month's worth of belongings for three into my Santa Fe and driving West.

It's amazing. It's ridiculous. It's scary. It's exciting.

It's happening.

Feb. 20, 2011


holy moly. you're three.

Things I'm going to do after April 15th.....

*take scout to the beach
*tour houses with amazing views
*be cut/colour model for free @ Vidal Sassoon
*wear sundresses galore
*get some shades
*take scout to the parks
*teach scout to read
*teach scout to tie her shoes
*hike in the palisades
*Cali baby
*call family everyday
*cry a little
*rejoice in the new/now/familiar/strange
*teach scout to ride a bike

The Flu

Scout has "the flu," so I've been home for the last two days with her while she recovers. Which, if this is the flu...I'll take it. Because it hasn't been all that bad honestly. She's had a cough and runny nose, has been REALLY lethargic, achy, and has had a little bit of a tummy issue.....but no vomiting or high fevers. I don't know if her diagnosis was correct or if my kid has a super immune system that fights off the worst of symptoms. Either way, she is appearing to be better (on day 3 now) and has had us watching Wonder Pets and playing board games with her all morning.

On a related note, I always instinctively type "flue" and then also instinctively delete the extra letter. I heart spelling.

Allergen season is on the horizon, people...so be sure to load up on your pollen solution and honey and zyrtec. It is the only thing I have grown to loathe about CenTex. Cedar fever. and Oak pollen. omg. Looking forward to our escape in a couple of weeks to Seattle...snow falling from the sky instead of pollen!

Edge of your seat announcement coming up this week. Keep your fingers and toes crossed. It might be better than Oprah's family secret revelation.

Christmas where it snows





We went to my family's hometown to spend Christmas this year. It was another memorable one for us. So much going on that we tried to capture on film. Scout must have been a good girl because Santa came to see her TWICE on Christmas Eve. She wasn't a bit afraid and even hugged him several times. So much changed from last year. She looks so grown up and is such a big girl. I find myself grasping at those bittersweet moments of fleeting childhood on a more frequent basis. How could anyone not smile just being around this silly little thing?