And Now For a Commercial Break

Hello there guys and dolls.  Who are we kidding, it's mostly dolls.  Today I want to talk about something I know a lot about.  Not only was I an advertising major, but I am a television junkie.  Put those together and you get self determined commercial expert. 

Okay, actually I kind of hate watching commercials.  Lately though, I've been catching some commercials that have left me with some different feelings.  Watch these and tell me what you think!




Let's start with the Forevermark commercial. The first time I saw this little gem, I cried. It may have been because I was recently single, hormonal and it was about 2 PM on a Saturday and I was still in bed... yeah that was probably it. Even so, every time I watch this commercial I fantasize about my future husband saying these very word.





Okay, let me talk about this one. Sure at first glance this commercial is SUPER offensive. I mean seriously, what women notices a guys hair first?  Don't they know women at all?  Plus it kind of weirds me out to see boobs with feet. But, overall, I kind of like it. At least I remembered it, right? What do you guys think about this one?



The commercial I hate most in the world, even more than those obnoxious Quizno's Rats from a few years back is the Chanel No. 5 commercial with Brad Pitt. It's hard for me to say that since I love me some Brad Pitt, but seriously Brad? This commercial doesn't make me want to buy Chanel it makes me want to turn the channel. This is the longest journey of my commercial watching life Brad. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. 

Finally, while watching all these commercials and typing this post, I caught some actual television programming in the form of E! News.  There was a Jonathan Adler quote that I just had to share (and make a little pretty)!

 

I Caught the Fever

My married best friend is having a baby...
My boss's daughter is in labor as I write this...
Some of my single girlfriends are knocked up...
Some of the women I stalk on Facebook are picking out cribs...
Jessica Simpson is preggers with baby number 2...
Yes kids, everyone is pregnant but me.

Now before you freak out, I want to acknowledge a few reasons I have no business dreaming about babyland.

1. My beautiful lady parts (my gyno told me so) are only 27.  Despite every television show pointing out that I'm only 3 years away from being short 90% of my eggs, I don't feel like my clock is ticking.
2. I am super single- not even a prospect of a husband or a baby daddy.
3. I am far from any semblance of financial stability.  The only thing I own is my car and my bedroom set.  Both of which were purchased with small loans from the lenders with the best rates (my grandparents).
4. I drink wine almost everyday and while wine is great to cook with, I hear it's not so good for baking babies in your tummy oven.
5. If I had to take a pee on a stick right now, I would be praying for a not pregnant (because digital is the only way to go) and that is just not the initial thought I want to have about my first born. 


I love little ones!  I can't wait to be a mom- someday. Somehow, I've managed to block out the traumatizing images of both my sisters and one of my brothers being born (Do you want your 13 year old to keep her legs closed out of fear?  Let her watch a live birth).  Somehow I have forgotten about the crying, the peeing, the pooping, the crying, the umbilical chord just falling off, the pooping, the wobbly necks, the breast pumping, the crying.  No, I didn't forget, my hormones just covered all those images up with cute little baby bumps, chubby little faces blowing spit bubbles, cooing, Cute little miniature tutus, hats and bow ties, baby smiles, baby giggles, baby shoes... I could go on.

In my mind, I will be married and able to stay home and raise a couple babies in a house I own with said hubs and a dapper little Corgi.  This perfect dream bubble also allows me to work from home doing something creative and lucrative, but not time consuming.  Dream mom Ashley goes to mommy and me workouts, play dates and her babies never cry in restaurants.  She also looks like a total MILF and always dress her child up in adorable outfits at Halloween.  I know Dream mom Ashley sounds pretty awesome. 

Realistic Ashley has a plan.  She is paying down debt.  She is pursuing her passions and being selfish because she can be.  She knows she will get married again someday. She is trying to get fit so that not only will she have super toned arms in future photo shoots, but also so she might have one of those perfect basketball bellies when the day comes. 

Hormonal baby fever Ashley is thinking things like, "Oh my gosh, this laptop resting on my tummy is probably zapping my eggs like a microwave."  "I will probably be single and alone forever."

I don't know why I felt like sharing my inner baby turmoil.  Maybe its because I have had an actual fever for a few days and I'm not thinking clearly, maybe its because I want to know that there are other single late-twenties girls out there that like their lives just they way they are but obsess over other people's little nuggets.  I don't know, just tell me I'm not alone.  Until my IUD is replaced with a little nugget of my own, I will keep filling up my pinterest board with cute babies.

Don't worry, I wouldn't let you leave this post without a picture of a my dapper dream dog.

 

See, I told you dream mom Ashley is awesome!



Did you think I abandoned you?

Well, I kind of did.  Since I was spending the holiday pretty much alone, I kind of shut myself off from the majority of my online social home too.  I didn't read any blogs, I didn't write any blogs and I didn't do much of anything except cook an exceptional meal for one and watch a lot of movies.  Then I got the flu.  I'm still in the recovery process, because let me tell you, this strain of the influenza virus was terribly wicked.  I have been in bed for the last three days.  Tomorrow my life will get back on track as well as my blog.

I hope everyone had a happy holiday and didn't spend the weekend in bed like me. 

Why Women Love Twilight- Yeah, I went there!

Nerd Alert!!!!

Yes, I like Twilight.  Make fun of me if you want to.  I don't care.

After having seen the final installment of Twilight this weekend, and leaving the theater with my heart broken because Edward Cullen still doesn't exist, I decided to break down all the reasons that I(and all women) love the central themes of Twilight.  Judge me all you want!

First lets talk about Bella.  Whether you are a fan of K. Stew or not, Bella is the every woman.  We're all a little clumsy.  We all wonder why that guy would like us.  Her family isn't perfect. We all want to be hopelessly in love.  Even though we are strong independent women of the 21st century, we kinda like being saved, especially by the man we love.  We have all felt the hopelessness of a broken heart.  We all want a guy to want us so desperately he refers to us as his own brand of heroine.  We want a guy that will lay there all night while we sleep on his chest (and not move just because he's not that comfortable. When I fall alseep on you, you stay put!)    We all want to be young forever.  We all want to be beautiful forever.  She reminds us of the best version of our 18 year old selves.  Yeah, that Bella is one lucky bitch.

Edward:  What is it that is so hot about Edward?  Oh I don't know, how about everything?!  And I am not talking about his looks.  He has the manners of a true gentleman.  He is protective and tough and ridiculously thoughtful.  He is ironic and funny.  He has incredible strength but is always so gentle with Bella.  He's not afraid to love.  He loves in the way every woman wants to be loved- out loud and without concern for what others might think.  He says all the things every woman wants to hear from her man.  Sure the danger is a little sexy and so is the rock hard body, but it's the way he loves Bella that makes us melt.

The Cullen Family:  Who wouldn't want to be a part of that family.  You have the super cool, sweet and stylish Alice.  The slightly creepy but comical Jasper.  The sassy but loving Rosalie.  Everyone's favorite older beefy brother Emmett. Plus Carlisle and Esme are like the coolest adoptive parents ever!  Everyone dreams of marrying into a family that is as open and accepting as the Cullen's (Rosalie as the initial exception).  Plus they have each other's backs.  Spending a lifetime with your family wouldn't sound like such a punishment if your family was as cool as the Cullen's.

Jacob:  Again, what's not to love about two men fighting over you?  Jacob is all protective and angry and strong.  He represents adventure.  Unfortunately, he doesn't have the wisdom that comes with decades of life.  He's a little too cocky for my taste. (obviously I am team Edward).

Love: If you aren't in love, you want to be in love.  If you are in love, you want that intensity to last forever.  Bella and Edward get to have that. We want a man with the looks of an 18 year old but the wisdom of a century.  We want a love that overcomes every challenge life throws at it.  We want to have vampire sex.  (Don't pretend that you didn't suffer through reading New Moon only to be disappointed that the sex didn't show up until Breaking Dawn.)  We all are enthralled by a good love story.  Edward and Bella's story encompasses all the good parts of any great love story.  It's hard not to wish for your own epic love story.

Glitter:  Remember back in high school when you bought glitter Mac Lipglass and used so much off that True Colors high pigment glittery eye shadow that your eyes looked like bright purple diamonds and your parents cut you off?  Okay maybe that was just me.  I still use a glistening highlighter on my cheekbones.  I want to sparkle damn it! 

Anything I missed?  Why do you think women can't help loving Twilight? 

7 Days of Hair- a week in the life of my head!

Like most of you, getting ready every day can be daunting.  Don't get me wrong, I love to feel pretty and put together, but I also like to hit snooze and go back to sleep. 


So I did a little project with myself and had what I'd like to call 7 Days of Hair.  Seven days where I actually got up early and did something special with my hair, you know, something more than throwing it up into a knot on my head and calling it a day.  Here is how it turned out. 

 

Here's a few links on how to do these pretty things yourself from some of my favorite bloggers.

 

Milkmaid Braid Tutorial from Gal Meets Glam.  Isn't Julia just gorg?  She has tons of great hair ideas!

 

Fishtail Braid from Running on Happiness.  Katie also has some awesome hair tutorials!

Twisty curls from Marci at Waking Up to this (and don't miss the tutorial she did for me on a braided side bun)


How do you like to do your hair?  Share your hair secrets with me!

Endings and New Beginnings

It's been an interesting couple weeks. 

Certainly not the worst couple of weeks, but not the best either. 

The boyfriend and I called it quits.  He says its for the best and I agree, most of the time.  The ending is always hard, no matter the circumstances.  I have a hard time letting people go.  I hate that you lose your best friend when a relationship ends, but I don't think that can be avoided, at least for a little while. 

The good thing about being single is that I can really focus on personal growth.  Isn't that what everyone says?  I tend to force myself to seek out happiness whenever my mind wander to the man I miss.  I know there are more relationships in my future.  I know I will find relationship bliss again.  I also know that right now I am sad it's over. I know I won't be sad forever.

A perk from my divorce, I know I can survive.  I know I can handle even the worst breakup. This is not the worst.  I'm sad that its over but happy that it happened and that I can grow from it.

Hopefully I'll find what I am looking for.  Hopefully I will fall in love again.  Hopefully I will fall in love forever. 

Here's to hope.  Here's to love.  Here's to happiness.

Mulling Around

So anyone who follows me on twitter, knows I love my wine.  I have been a wine drinker for all of my adult life- and by adult life, I mean that I was past the point of using a fake ID, chugging goldschlager or any pink concoction served in a giant tub and buying giant bottles of vodka made out of plastic.   I usually choose a nice white wine and have a red on occasion. 

Something people find a little strange, is that I prefer my wine out of a coffee mug.  Sure I have plenty of lovely wine glasses, but they lack the stability and size a wino such as myself really need.  I'm sure there is a reason to drink wine from a glass.  Something about the tannins or the notes, but I don't really care,  I like my wine with a handle. 

Why did I start drinking wine from a coffee mug?
Mulled wine. 

If you are not familiar, I want to introduce you all to a holiday favorite of mine.  A couple of years ago a friend brought some mulled wine to a potluck and my life was forever changed!  It's like wine infused with Christmas!

Okay, so first off buy yourself a bottle of red wine (by the way, you can also use apple cider).  It doesn't have to be the best and it can even be the worst.  I usually go with a 2 buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. 

I like to buy a prepackaged mulling spice from Williams Sonoma or Trader Joe's (although, I have been stalking TJ's for a month now and it's not in yet), but you can also make your own by combining cloves, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and orange peel.  Here is a good recipe from Sheknows.com

 

Then empty your wine into a pot, put the spice into cheesecloth (or you can just put the spices straight into the pot and strain it at the end, but I like the cheese cloth option better) and warm it all up.  You don't want it to be boiling, but you do want it to be steaming,  I usually just heat it up in about 6 minutes and then turn it down to low and let it sit all night (for the next hour while I finish it off).  Meanwhile, you kitchen will smell absolutely divine!

You serve it warm, hence the coffee mug.  It's absolutely perfect for a chilly night or a holiday celebration. Get a full cup, this stuff goes fast!

Give it a try and let me know how you like it.  If you end up drinking all wine out of a coffee mug, I'll totally understand!

Paris and Vegas

Michael Kors Paris Runway Watch

Isn't she beautiful? 

I have to say that MK watches and I have been in relations for a while.  Mostly I was kind of a stalker that would stop by and visit regularly until I got one for my birthday this year.  I am happy to say we love each other dearly, but that doesn't mean I'm not open to adding a few more MK's to my wrist.  I'm like a watch polygamist.  The Paris Runway watch is the perfect rose gold secondary companion.  And, it has a diamond.  Who doesn't love a diamond?

Imagine my excitement when I saw Niki of Glossy Blonde is partnering with MK to give one away on her blog.  Are you imagining?  I was practically jumping up and down, and by practically, I mean actually.

So I started to think about how I would wear this beauty and my trip to Vegas immediately came to mind!  In just a couple months I am headed to The Vegas for a bachelorette party, but I am going to need a couple fantastic outfits for two ridiculous nights out on town. 

Here's what I came up with!

Do you want a chance to win?  Head over to Glossy Blonde to find out how to enter!  If you don't want to enter (and I'm not sure why you wouldn't) at least keep your fingers crossed for me! 

Said No Woman Ever...

"Ugh, he sent me flowers again.  He's too darn thoughtful!"



"What does a fat day feel like?"



"Cramps are awesome!" 



"Screw the new Channing Tatum movie, let go play Call of Duty."



"I'm not really thrilled about being pregnant, but boy I can't wait to give birth."




I couldn't resist!  Have a good day everyone!

Yum: Easy Breakfast Casserole

For Christmas and special days, I like to make a super delicious, super tedious breakfast casserole.  It's delicious but takes at least 2 hours to make and has to sit in the fridge overnight.  Ugh!  A couple months ago I learned how to make this super easy and almost as delicious version, including cooking time, this one takes 45 minutes or so.  I like to throw it together while I am making dinner because I am not a morning person!!  Ready for some deliciousness?  I thought so!

 

 

A square glass baking dish

1 Package of crescent rolls

6 Eggs

1/3 cup of Milk (not pictured)

1/2 cup of cheese

1/3 cup chopped onion

A pile of breakfast meat, I chose sausage.

Salt and pepper to taste

 

 

1. Spread out the crescent rolls so that they cover the whole glass baking dish, you may have to tear some off and patch up some spots.  Oh, go ahead and preheat the oven to 350 degrees while you're at it.

 

 

2. Cook up the breakfast meat of choice and the onions.  The smell will be mildly intoxicating!

3. Add the onion and meat mixture to the glass dish and sprinkle some of the cheese on top.

 

4. Mix together the eggs and the milk. Add some salt and pepper.  I like to do this while listening to Salt N Pepper, but that is just personal preference.

 

5. Pour the mixture over the top of the dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

 

6. Then roll the sides of the crescent roll down to form a ridge.  This won't make it taste and better, I think it just looks prettier, and I'm all for pretty food!

 

7.  Remember how you preheated the oven?  Go ahead and pop this sucker in for 30-45 minutes.  You'll be able to tell its done when the sides are golden and the middle isn't all wibbly-wobbly.  This is pretty scientific, so I won't blame you if it's a little wibbly-wobbly your first time.

 

 

8.  Let cool and serve.  See, I told you the edges look pretty!

 

 If you're like me and you hate waking up early just to feed yourself, this is the perfect solution.  It lasts me all week and I just pop a piece in the microwave each morning.  Delightfully Delectable!

 



Miss Me?

...because I missed you! 

Seriously, taking time off from social media is hard.  Let's get real, I caved on Facebook after like two days. 
Self control? It's something I'm working on. 

So, I took a few days off. I needed to refocus, not just my blog, but my life in general.  It's all still a work in progress... but doesn't "work in progress" really define life anyway?

You're gonna see some changes around this joint, all for the better.  In the meantime, bear with me while I teach myself how to design and code and all kinds of good stuff!

Here's a little quote that I also happened to read in a book this weekend.

Hair Tutorial: Low Side Bun

Remember how I was taking a little blog vacay to "reboot" myself?  Mission accomplish and I am excited about some things I have coming down the pipeline!  In the meantime, I invited Marci to take over my blog for the day to share a little everyday glamour!
Enjoy!

Hello to all you lovely bloggers over at Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs! I'm so excited to do a guest post today for the always fabulous Ashley. My name is Marci and I am visiting you from Waking Up To This, my little ole' blog containing all things fashionable, yummy, and beautiful!

Today I decided to share a super fun and easy updo with you. I am a hairstylist and a mom so making my hair look put together {and preferable gorgeous} in 5-10 minutes is a must! Even if you aren't a mom, do you really want to be spending an hour on your hair every morning? I think not. I normally style my hair like this on day 2 or 3 after washing {I have really dry hair so I can go awhile without washing it}. Here is all you need!

Styling Tools:

Curling Iron {I use a 1 1/2 inch but I have really long hair}

Hair Brush

Teasing Comb

Bobby Pins

Rubber Band

Dry Shampoo {if needed}

Hairspray {if needed}

Directions:

Here is what I look like this morning after putting make up on {I didn't want to scare you since it's not Halloween anymore} and getting dressed.

First, I took my hair down and brushed it out. Then I went through my whole head and curled really big sections. This shouldn't take you very long because you just want the curls really loose to give your hair texture.

Since I didn't wash my hair today and it was a little greasy at the roots, I used my amazing dry shampoo. I seriously couldn't live without it! If you haven't tried it yet go buy some right now. The only thing to be careful about is that some brands can leave a little bit of white powder on the hair. For blondes, this is a plus.....for brunettes, don't worry, just brush your hair from root to ends so that it spreads throughout your hair. 

Then I teased my crown area and pulled it all into a low side ponytail with a rubber band.

Now tease the pony tail to give it some volume.

Next, braid the ponytail and twist is around in a circle over the rubber band. Use the bobby pins to secure all the way around and make sure it feels tight. 

Yay we're almost done! Finally I pulled some pieces out around my face to soften the look because I have face framing layers and they are short enough to blend with the style. You can also recurl them if needed. Now it's time for hairspray to finish off your look. My hair holds really well so I typically don't need any.

This updo took me a total of 10 minutes to do from start to finish. It doesn't get much easier then this for a style that keeps all your hair up, looking fabulous, and out of your face. I hope everyone enjoyed this post and come check out my other hair tutorials and all things fashion at Waking Up To This. Stay gorgeous dolls!!!