Whippy Cake Giveaway

I know, I know. It's been far too long friends. I'm sorry. I have plenty to inform you of. Stories upon stories of enlightenment and entertainment, but first I need to let you all know about the Whippy Cake giveaway.

You might be thinking What the heck is a Whippy Cake, Ashley? And to that I say you must see it to believe it. Go here. Watch the video and look through the different (and scrumptious sounding) headbands.

Did you do it? If yes, here's the link to the giveaway. If you haven't checked out the Whippy Cake website yet, you can do it later. It's a easy as whippycake.com!!

Thanks for dealing with my shameless plug :)

Unrelated Things Part 1

I haven't been blogging lately. I think blogging everyday was becoming a burdon for me. Today, however, I have two completely unrelated things I want to get off my chest.

First and foremost, today would be my friend Carly's 21st birthday. Unfortunately, she celebrating in heaven without us. As I recognize this day, I find myself falling right back into a deep sadness. Though I try and act like everything is okay, in all reality I am still broken because of this tragedy. I can't understand how someone so beautiful, so talented, so loving, so loved, so nice, so strong in faith, and so perfect in my eyes could be in so much pain to take her own life. I sit here and think how I have none of that. I'm nothing in comparison to Carly, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't stay here. Why can I? What am I doing here!? Why can't I be a better person like Carly? I miss her so much. Her death, while many great things have been done in here name, continues to hurt me. In some respects, it helps me to remember her, but I need some form of closure with her.

Writing this, confessing this, and overall realizing this has been the hardest thing I've done in awhile. I haven't cried like I've cried while writing this is for too long. I do have something more to talk about, but at this time, I need to take a break. I will attempt to write about that second thing tomorrow.

Love you Carly!!

Internet Sabbatical

Pardon my absence yesterday; I was on a bit on an internet sabbatical. I realized that too often I find myself just sitting on my laptop reading my friends blogs, looking at wedding blogs, or of course online shopping (more like online wishing). So yesterday I did not open my laptop once. I did make a twitter update via my phone yesterday as I felt it was much needed.

I'm really glad I did this though. I spent a lot of time reading (shocker!) instead. I ran errands with both my roommates and ended up spending money on things I don't necessarily need (classic. I'm a recovering shopaholic.  :) Don't hate) But beyond that, I found ways to use my time more productively. Heck, I even cleaned my room!

This weekend, as the 4th of July approaches, I can't guarantee a daily blog post. I'll be spending some much needed time with my cousin and her family; I cannot wait! I love them all. I'll be heading over there sometime today, maximizing my time with them. :) Have a great long weekend

Newly Updated

So today I made some updates to my blog. I'm not sure that I love them just yet. Let me know what you think about it. I would like to try and switch out that picture to the right of this post maybe every week, or every other week. What are your thoughts?

Also, blog post from yesterday which was put up this morning...that was due to a blogspot fail. I had it ready to go and then it kept telling me error error error for too long (then I gave up and went to sleep)!

Cars 2 and A Song

We went to see Cars 2 tonight with the youth group; I wasn't super into the idea of seeing this movie. However, I laughed a great deal during the movie. There was a lot of subtle adult humor, mainly stereotyping and pop culture references. I liked it. I can't recall Cars that much, but I know that this storyline was more centered around Mator than Lightning McQueen. Overall I'd say Cars 2 is the Fast and the Furious of Pixar movies.

Also, I've been in a Brett Dennen mode all day, playing the Loverboy album nonstop. First when I listened to this album I thought that it was terrible. The more I've been listening to it though, I realize how much I like it! Check out the song Dancing At A Funeral by Brett Dennen, I'm real into it right now: 

Seattle Public Libraries

Today I got a library card for the Seattle Public Libraries. No, I didn't have one before. Yes, I'm being serious. However, I did have a King County library card growing up, which was rarely used. I just was never interested in the library. I barely ever went to the library at school, only when my class would go, but never for fun.

I nanny two girls who love to read. They really inspire me to want to read (I'm inspiring them to like math since their mom is making them do 2-4 pages a day all summer) because they do it so often...by choice! I was never ever ever like that as a child (or as an adult!). It's so cool and a little odd to see them enjoy it so much because it's something I don't like at all. Like I mentioned in a previous post, it's probably because I'm not good at it. Being with the girls and having them reading all the time, really leaves me only one choice, join the club. So I've been reading a ton (relative term) lately and I want to keep reading.

When the girls and I first went to the SPL near us, I was astonished by the size, variety, easiness, and so much more. We found some books to take with us and we put some books on hold for them. I went back today with my roomie Olivia, got a card, placed a book on hold, and we checked out 4 movies! The librarian said they have new releases come too and that I should check the catalog online for a full list of DVDs. The library is a completely different place than it used to be. Heck, I even checked out a non-fiction wedding book that I'm actually EXCITED to read.

Who am I and what had happened to the old me...?

Postcards

Today I received a postcard from a good friend of mine who is spending a month of her summer studying abroad. She sent my postcard from Cape Town, South Africa. Within the past year or so, I've developed a great love for postcards. When I went traveling a few years ago, I thought postcards were lame. I don't recall sending them to anyone, but my friends with me were always sending them out. Now, I love getting them!

I think postcards are such an interesting way to share an experience with people. Last year, I got a postcards from Athens, Uganda, and Kenya. (not to mention the postcards Grace and I got on our road trip from every state we went to between WA and MI)  I like reading the little blurbs written on them; I feel like I'm there living it as well. I have given my address to many friends who have plans of studying, missioning, or just traveling abroad. I can't wait to see where my postcards will come from!