Yankee Candle. Amazing.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
I just realized that I am beginning to sound like a commercial or advertisement for Yankee Candle. Eek! I mean, if Yankee wants to give me free candles for writing this, e-mail me for my address! ;-]
Posted byAshley C. at 9:46 AM 2 Love Notes
Labels: fall, Spring, summer, winter
Take me home
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
There I was, cruising along with my shades on heading to Milwaukee for my class. I noticed that nearly every car heading South was covered in snow. The only thing I thought about was, Wow, these Wisconsin drivers haven't dug out their cars since the last snow storm a few days ago? I was about three-fourths of the way there when I hit a little cloud of snow. I drove about 5 more minutes down the road and ran into a blizzard! I was amazed how much of a difference a 35 minute drive makes! I was sitting there on the interstate, in a traffic jam, driving 25 miles an hour; it was horrible! I was complaining to Josh about how I couldn't even see the car in front of me and the roads were so slick, my tires wouldn't grip, it was a mess. He told me to just turn around if I couldn't handle it. I wasn't even close to being to school yet so I pressed the "Take me home" button on my GPS. When I pulled over onto a side-street I called my teacher's home, left a message and then sent him an e-mail. I guess the storm was heading South because I was driving back home, on the highway, only 25 miles an hour. In addition to that, Josh was heading to class and even admitted himself "Yeah boo, this is really bad." It took me about 2 hours to get home! At least I didn't crash my car because the road were horrible and had not a lick of salt on them either.
Posted byAshley C. at 5:45 PM 0 Love Notes
Labels: winter
I need to get out of here.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Since Wednesday, I've felt drained and tired with some congestion. As the week progressed, I began to have a majorly stuffed nose, very sore throat, and pounding headaches, so yesterday I went to the doctor. He said that I "have enough systems to treat this as strep throat." I have antiobiotics and have just been hibernating since.
This morning, Josh called me at noon to wake me up (yes, noon). He told me that there was no family dinner today but his dad is grilling out. I don't know what got into me, but I sprung out of bed and immediately went into the kitchen to find the ingredients to make tuna salad. Got 'em all. And baked beans, too! While I was at it, I found some lemon cake mix (my favorite!) so I decided to make that, too. I told myself that I was just going to eat grilled food, baked beans, a can of pop and some cupcakes . . . the ultimate Summer dinner minus the watermelon . . . and not look out the window in order to convince myself that it's Spring. In fact, I am going to paint my nails pink today, too. I am sooo over this cold weather! It is making me sick and I am freezing. I cannot wait much longer for Spring to get here. I am ready to just sleep with my window open, wear nothing but a shirt and jeans, and go rollerblading. If our credit card had enough money available, I would buy Josh and I tickets to Florida for a week. I need to get out of here. Oh, wait, I wouldn't be able to because we are supposed to get a foot of snow tonight! Aye-yi-yi.
Posted byAshley C. at 12:48 PM Post a comment (1) Love Notes
Labels: Health, Spring, winter
My financial breakthrough (soon!)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I think I've had a breakthrough. I love spending money, a little too much. But, I have been doing a lot of thinking. I mentioned before that I have begun clipping lots of coupons. Now, I am thinking differently; I want to take a "financial freedom" class (Dave Ramsey) but I think that will be a better idea for me and Josh to do after we get married. I just want to make sure that I am not going to be a money-spending wife that doesn't care about her husband's hard work (or even mine for that matter). I am no longer going to spend money like crazy and buy all of those "must-haves" when I see them. So, that's my idea. :-] I'm sure that it will help my future marriage.
On another note . . .
For some odd reason, the heat in our house isn't working. It wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a snow storm going on right now. I looked at the thermostat and it says 57 degrees. That's 13 degrees lower than what we usually have it set it. BUT . . . I must admit, it isn't bothering me so much because I have a nice high-tech space heater in my room that is currently at 73 degrees. Mmm Aaahh so warm. :-] My sister (not at home right now) says that the only thing I need to do is use a lighter and light up the heater in the basement, but I've seen my stepdad burn hair off his head doing that and I'm sorry, but I'm not that serious about warming up the other parts of the house hahahaha! So, until I have to go workout in 30 minutes oh, shoot! I will stay here, in my cozy room.
Posted byAshley C. at 9:25 AM Post a comment (1) Love Notes
Labels: coupons, finances, random, winter
Christmas parties and homework
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Am I the only one wondering where all the snow is? Attending Christmas parties while the green grass is showing just is not the same thing as lots of snow. This weekend, I had two Christmas parties to attend, so I've been pretty busy. On Friday, me and Josh made some Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies and homemade hot chocolate mix for my family Christmas party. I'm not one that likes hot chocolate, but the stuff we made was delicious! We needed to make 10 gift things (2 for each adult couple in the family), and it was pretty funny . . . we ran out when we only had 8 made. You know how there is always that one person in your family that . . . well, nevermind. Theirs isn't quite "homemade." Shh. But, I wish I had taken pictures of everything because it looked so pretty! I was very proud of the work we did.
Now that it's Sunday afternoon, the pain and teeth-pulling begins. Homework. And lots of it. 10-page paper and 14-page paper. But hey, guess what?! This is my last week of school! I'm really excited because of graduation and because I will have a whole week off of work. I thought that after 17 years of school, I deserved a little pat on the back, eh?
Well, here's to getting all of my homework done today so that I can focus on studying for exams!
Posted byAshley C. at 11:00 AM Post a comment (1) Love Notes
Wisconson vs. Illinois
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
I'm not saying that I'm the best driver, but man, Wisconsin drivers, well . . . suck. We are expecting a huge snow storm today through tomorrow that will result in 10-12 inches of snow. I'll admit, that's a lot of snow, but what we had on the grounds as of 2 hours ago is not. I drive about 25-30 minutes to school from Illinois to Wisconsin every day. Lately, I have been saying how bad Wisconsin drivers are and today definitely confirmed it.
When it is snowing and the roads are salted (or slushy), what is so hard about driving in the existing tire tracks, getting off the gas when you start to slide, and keeping a decent distance between you and the car in front of you? Nothing at all. I do not understand why Wisconsin drivers think it's necessary to drive 15 under the speed limit when you are easily capable of going 5 over like Illinois drivers do/would. People say that Illinois drivers are bad and that we drive dangerously and don't use our turning signals, blah, blah, blah, but hey, at least we drive! Although, I do disagree about the dangerous driving. I feel like I'm part of an elite club when I ride into Wisconsin with my Illinois license plates. When someone is driving pretty well, I can spot it out and think to myself, "Hmm, I bet they're an Illinois driver." They always are.
I must admit, if I ever have to move to Wisconsin, I am afraid. Very afraid. It seems that once you have that ugly Wisconsin plate on your car, you're under some kind of curse. I vow to never become like "them."
Posted byAshley C. at 10:43 AM 0 Love Notes
Banner update
Sunday, November 22, 2009
I told you all that I'd have pictures for you of the Michigan Ave. Yeah, I gots none. Not a single one. Evidently, every other person in Illinois decided to blog about the hype and go out and capture it on camera. There was way more traffic than normal. Normally, I don't mind sitting in traffic, but I was gettig frustrated and getting a headache from all that was going on. We didn't see the tree. No, we didn't see the lights, either. We have decided that maybe we'll give it another shot in a couple of weeks.
Tomorrow morning before school, me and Josh are going to work out, go for a walk at a park, and then grab some breakfast. We have never gone for a walk in the morning and I'm really hoping that it actually happens. This week, I had an idea. A brilliant idea. You know that photo banner of mine at the top of this page? I have been wanting to change it for a while now because it just needs to be updated. Well, I love that picture too much to just add it to a file folder and never see it again . . . so, I think we are going to take that same picture with the same background but for each season. It will be fun! We are going to that park tomorrow and hopefully we are able to recreate it. :-] Obviously, I am going to change it again once there is snow on the ground, but we just need to add a fall photo, too. We'll see what tomorrow brings! :-]
Posted byAshley C. at 9:23 PM 0 Love Notes
Labels: fall, fun, Josh, winter
Capitalist Christmas
Thursday, November 5, 2009
I cannot believe that it is already November. I don't know if I'm the only one that is noticing, but Christmas stuff is up already! I love Christmas; it is my favorite holiday and that season is just wonderful. I love the feeling, the warmth, the time off of school, everything! But . . . why is Christmas stuff up already? Halloween was just last week. Macy's already has their big Christmas hoopla going on, Target has Christmas music playing and the trees up already, Black Friday sales ads are out. What in the world, Halloween was only last week! I have only one answer for that: Capitalism! Because all of the big companies are suffering from people holding back on their spending, I'm guessing that they are just getting everything started sooner. More time, more money. I love walking into a store, smelling the pine, hearing Christmas music, but when I know that the world around me doesn't see Christmas for what I see it as, it kind of lessens that "Christmas feeling."
Speaking of Christmas, does anyone else read the Farmer's Almanac? They give 3-month weather predictions and if they're right, Northeastern Illinois will be having a white Thanksgiving! That means snow will be on the ground in 3 weeks! Oh. I see, no one else is excited about this. But I love, love, love the snow! It's beautiful and calming. If it's going to be freezing weather, it might as well snow!
Posted byAshley C. at 5:43 PM 0 Love Notes
Love in Full Bloom
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Love in full bloom. That's what I have been feeling a lot the past few days. Maybe it has something to do with the weather. There is something so much more different from winter and summer and the feelings the two seasons bring.
Today me and Josh were supposed to just go to the park with our bucket of baseballs and two bats. One of which is probably two times the size I should use. We make do with what we have . . . I guess. We planned on going and hitting around some balls and just have fun together. Of course, those plans didn't go through. Instead, we decided to pack ourselves a lunch and go have a picnic instead. Again, those plans fell through as well. I had to hurry to get to class, so we just set up our lunch on the back patio and enjoyed it there instead. Before we started eating, I felt like something was missing on the table. "Close your eyes. Promise you won't open them." I told Josh. So, I snuck over to the lilac tree, cut him some lilacs, and brought them to him. He deserved something sweet for once. Even though they made his allergies flare up. 
The weather has been so beautiful and so fresh lately that it really has forced me to look at me and Josh's love a little differently. I truly do believe that love goes through its seasons. Summer is the best. Both in the actual seasonal meaning and in the relationship sense. Why summer? Because not only is it a time for couples to be able to enjoy each other in the beautiful weather, do enjoyable things, but most of all, my favorite reason: it's temporary. If summer were summer all year round, it wouldn't be what it is. Summer is a time of renewal, fun, and freshness. I look at summer as a representation of a dimension of love. Of course, there are 3 other seasons and love needs that. Love needs a time of hardships, dryness, and storms. If it didn't, love wouldn't be what it is. Love needs a summer time for the reconnection of the two and as much as I don't want to say it again, but a refreshment of the two souls. Even though summer is a more enjoyable time, it's opposite, winter, needs to be embraced, as well. When winter comes around, it really is a hard time for all living things like plants and animals to endure and push through this kind of weather. Not all living things get a chance to see summer again, but if they are strong enough to get through the craziness of winter, they are sure to see summer. This is so much like love. Not all couples are strong enough to persevere through hardships, but when they do, they are going to have so much more beauty to show off in the most beautiful seasons of life.
I am so grateful and thankful that God has placed an amazing man like Josh to go through life with. Anytime I need Josh, he is never behind me watching me experience life, he walking beside me, hand-in-hand experiencing it with me. I couldn't ask for more.
Joshua, I love you and I appreciate you more than I could ever express. We have the most beautiful love I know because we have been able to endure the hard times and embrace the good. Let's enjoy our summer together. I can sleep well at night knowing that I have the most amazing man to hold me through winter's nights.
Random fact: The original name for a butterfly was a flutterby.
Posted byAshley C. at 9:13 PM Post a comment (1) Love Notes
Labels: beauty, fall, love, Spring, summer, winter
