Justin Timberlake

 Plan & go on a girls trip

Here's to more of my 26 before 26!   

1. Watch 3 classic love story movies2. Go to Jerusalem
3. Eat in every night for a month
4. Read a book on my book list
5. Learn how to make freezer jam
6. Sew a dress
7. Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover.
8. Explore a new city or town that I’ve never been to before.
9. Plan & go on a girl’s trip.
10. Finish my denim/jean quilt.
11. Run a 5k
12. Go on an overnight camping trip.
13. Refinish a piece of furniture.
14. Finish the Harry Potter series.
15. Lose 30 lbs.
16. Plan & shoot a stylized/themed photo session
17. Go Canoeing
18. Take a dance class
19. Get a regular blog series up and running
20. Make pasta from scratch.
21. plan a trip to visit the central perk set from F.r.i.e.n.d.s
22. Re-learn how to crochet
23. Learn how to play chess
24. Keep a consistent journal
25. Throw a dinner party
26. Print some of favorite photographs I’ve taken..

After our Thanksgiving dinners we hit the road for St. George to start our girls trip! About five months before this trip we all found out that Justin Timberlake was going to be in Vegas so we thought why not make a little weekend trip out of it. It was a  fun trip watching girl movies, staying up late talking, playing games, eating out & most of all going to my all time favorite concert to date. Literally Justin blew me away. It was unreal. His voice was so clear and I got the chills the moment he walked out on the stage. He sang all of my favorite songs & played for THREE straight hours. The singing,  the lights, the dancing, & the presentation of each song just amazed me. He even sang an Nsync' song, an Elvis Presley song, a Michael Jackson song & even did a song just on the piano. His voice was beautiful and so was he. I loved every single minute of the concert! Thanks for a fun weekend girlies! 

2012 recap

january:

 

january was filled with dark hair, bangs, finding my favorite mascara, work, school, lots of art projects, snow, getting my plastic framed glasses, and obsessing over my new lens.

february:

february was full of art history, hunger games, dallen, movie nights, soel blogger meet ups, how i met your mother marathons, and valentines day.

 

march:

march was all about my kind of march madness aka themed outfit days. it was successful and made me be creative and wear things i normally don't put together. my life was forever changed in march with the purchase of my iPhone:) my car got booted, i met eryka and i visited the planetarium.

 

april:

 

april was the sick month, bowling with the nieces, living the the guest bedroom, going back blonde, planning my nyc trip, more of HIMYM, easter, rollerblading,titanic 3d, bachelor nights, & grilled cheese sandwiches.

 

may:

 

 bex and i took an amazing trip to the city. we ate like queens, saw the empire state building, moma,walked the brooklyn bridge, went on a food tour,attended three broadway shows (newsies, phatom & memphis) rode the subway, walked until i thought i was going to die, shopped, ate the best cupcakes & cookies, grand central station,bus tour,pedi cab through central park, world trade, people watched and just soaked the city in. the big apple changed my life.

 

june:

 

june seems to always be packed with fun! hiking, wedding dress shopping,starwberry pies, canyon drives, chris young concert, weddings, girls nights, birthday parties, fireworks, parades, sisters coming to visit and moving! oh, and i may or may not have spent every second in between playing and working at my pool.

 

july:

 

july is always my favorite month because of my favorite holiday ever and my birthday of course. july was spent well with family, bbq's, fireworks, st.george/vegas, laying out and cheesecake for my birthday! this is the month i got hooked on colored skinnies. yes, please!

 

august: 

 august was the month of mint green, maxi skirts, blonde hair,mike,utah lake, baby showers, taking pictures, weddings, city creek,working out,angels, yogurtland,got called to the relief society presidency, and more laying out!

 

september:

 

september was full of changes,shoe shopping,girls nights, fires,batting cages, ombre hair, inpsiring talks, games, red lipstick, leaves changing, trials, friends & the canyon.

 

october:

 

 

october=halloween parties, scarfs,soups,blogger bowling,going to idaho to visit courty, my own photoshoot, good things utah,haunted houses & visiting my sister in texas!

 

november:

 

visited the beautiful state of georgia to see anastasia, temple trips, thanksgiving, went back to my natural hair color, being grateful, new outlets, hale center theatre, voting, blind dates, watching jazz games,&vampire diaries.

 

december:

 

december is always so insane and i loved every minutes of it.

family parties, drill team get togethers, blogger parties, st.george, dance recitals, christmas parties, lots of editing, new years eve, christmas shopping, and ice skating!

 

if i could break 2012 down into three words they would be airplanes, atonement, & aspire.

 

airplanes: i was lucky enough to travel a lot this year!

vegas, st.george (three times), texas, georgia & new york.

i had a great time at each of these places. i was able to see so many amazing sites, eat wonderful food (oh, and i think i've turned into a foodie this year) and soak in each location. i literally fel in love with traveling and can't wait to travel in 2013!

 

atonement: this past year i have gained a deeper appreciation for the continuous atonement of christ. he is so merciful and so loving. his plan is so perfect. he is always there for me and loves me no matter what. i am thankful for my knowledge of this and the strength my faith brings me. 

 

aspire: i have learned that whatever i aspire to be, i can be that. it takes hard work, faith and sometimes sweat. but i am glad that this year has molded me into who i have aspired to be. sometimes life gets tough but i know if i keep plugging through and remember that whatever i set my mind to i can achieve it.

 

this year has made me stronger & made me realize what i am grateful for.

 now i am going to close this chapter of life..

 

goodbye 2012,

hello 2013!

 

 

Guest Post: Eryka from ABCDE

Hi Absolutely Ashley readers, I'm Eryka from ABCDE. I blog about my life as a wifey, as well as blog things I love and that inspire me. You probably know me since Ash and I have a weekly link up series on our blogs. Well,  Ashley is off having the time of her life on vacation.. I am so beyond jealous but, she already knows that. Since she is gone she asked me to take over her blog for the day. Of course I said yes. Ash asked me a few questions so here are my answers! Enjoy! 

1. Tell us about you:  

This is always so awkward telling people about myself. I never know what to say. I was a born and raised California girl, got married in March 2011 and now I'm a Utah girl. I honestly love Utah and only miss Ca sometimes. Weird huh? I'm a wifey to my awesome hubby Daniel. I love Pinterest. I am like a total pinterest a holic. I get way too attached to book and tv characters. Like, its sad sometimes I feel like they are real. So ridic huh? You can read more about me here. 

2. Why do you blog?

  I started this blog as a way to update family on my life a few years ago. Now its a place where I share my thoughts and feelings. It is pretty much my journal. I also share things I love and things that inspire me. I love blogging. It really has become a part me. I love it. I have made some awesome friends from the blogging world. Even Miss Ashley! We feel like we have known each other forever and really its been a few months. Don't you love when that happens in the blogging world?! I do! 

3. What do you look forward to most this Summer?

 I am not really a summer girl. I prefer to be cold. But, I do love summer for a few things. Swimsuits, Sno cones, Tans, Flips Flops, and the warm summer nights. Dan and I have decided this summer we want to do more things outside. That means, camping, road trips {planning one to vegas}, BBQs, and walks. One thing I am looking forward to that is happening this summer. Is my bestest friend/my real life cousin Annie is finally getting married!! :)

4. What is something random that you normally don't tell people?

  Hmm, let's see. I was a cheerleader in High School. Well it was the POM squad. We mostly danced. Shocking huh? I really can't stand cheerleaders now but I have decided if I have a daughter some day I would totally support her if she wanted to be one. But, I would suggest maybe dance instead. Wink Wink. I tried to find a picture of me and my friend in our cheer uniforms but I think they all are gone. Sad day! Sorry! 

There you have my Q&A. I hope you enjoyed it. Don't be shy, come on over to my blog and say Hi! I love new friends and hope you all have a wonderful day! 

You can find me here: Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Tumblr and on Instagram @erykaann

XO

Thanks E for taking over the blog! 

everyone head over to Eryka's blog and say hello. She is so dang cute and hilarious!

& she is just as cool in person. we had quite the shopping extravaganza at city creek.

Hope you all are having a lovely day.

fill in the blank!

1. My favorite place I've ever traveled to is anywhere. I haven't traveled too much. I do love each place I have been. But favorites include Southern California

2. France is somewhere I'd love to go someday.

3. I pass the time on a plane (or bus, or car ride or train) by listening to good music, reading books, or singing out loud :)

4. My three must-haves when I travel are my phone, my ipod & dr pepper.  

5. My favorite travel companion is my dad.

6. The craziest thing that ever happened to me while traveling is when my friend Linz and I were traveling to Vegas through the gorge we ran over a tumbleweed and almost ran into the side. It was so scary!!

7. The most exotic food I've ever tried while traveling is eh.. this one has not happened yet!

8. If I could live anywhere else, I'd live in San Diego. No question.

9. I have been to 12 states in the United States.

Link up with LAUREN!

goodbye.

My mother just text me and said,

"Happy last day of summer!"

Today is the last day of summer. It has been a great one. Some of my favorite memories include Kaylie's wedding, camping, my birthday, my logan trip, visiting e town, slurpie runs, going up the canyon, going to the movies, having a sleepover with my cute nieces, taking pictures, road trip with the rents, starting and finishing the 30 for 30 challenge, gno's, renting a tandem bike, picnics, reading Harry Potter, road trip to Vegas, and lunch dates! Needless to say it has been a splendid summer, but I think that I am ready for fall! Bring on the hot cocoa, fall drives to see the leaves, jackets, candles, leggings, sweats, fires, pumpkin pie, cuddling, hats, & boots.

Say hello to fall tomorrow!

fill in the blank

1. This weekend I'm going to summerfest which is my favorite of all favorites besides the 4th of July. its pretty much a holiday. and I have a fun family photo shoot planned!


2. My last vacation was a road trip to vegas for miss linz's wedding! with kati jo.


3. My next vacation will be in a few weeks. hello west coast. you are calling my name :) i. can't. wait!


4. My favorite way to relax is getting a pedicure. dinner with good friends. shopping. or watching a flick.


5. When vacationing one should always leave your world behind. aka blogging. email. facebook. (i have a hard time really vacating myself.. but this is a true vacation!)

6. When vacationing one should never be stressed or worry about things back home. vacate yourselves ppl!


7. The best part about a vacation is how it gets you through life til your next vacation ;)

happy friday ya'll.

vegas 2011 part dos

the rest of the trip. we partied it up at the wedding. linz looked so pretty! then we got lost. made a lot of u turns. ended up at a barnes and noble. read mags. enjoyed the afternoon. ate at a local place. went to the reception. then spent the night out on the strip. rode new york new york. finally found doctor pepper! (for some reason they don't sale it anywhere!)walked around all the shops. and made our feet hurt.

we headed back to utah the next morning and stopped in st. george at our fave mexican place. it was a fun and fast trip and so nice to get away for a little bit and relax!

what is your favorite mini vacation locations?!