Things I Love Thursday - The End is NEAR!

Source: fromupnorth.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Hi Friends!  This week has been really busy and productive.  This is the first time in a while that I felt truly in control of everything.  Its been a fantastic week!  Here is what makes my heart race faster:

* Exploring Graduate School options.  I have changed my list, guys.  University of Hawaii is my first choice.  Can you imagine living in HAWAII???  I think this would be a great experience for me, and it will last two years!  Another school I added is Florida State University.  Do you notice a trend? Endless summer and beaches!  I am tired of snow and cold weather.  I am perfectly fine with 60-90 degree weather all year round.

* Waking up for my 8:30 class everyday this week!  Guys, its been hard waking up for this class; I cannot function before 9:30...at the earliest!  I only have two more classes at 8:30 for the semester, and I'll never have to take an early class EVER AGAIN.

*Writing new goals and getting rid of any of the negativity in my life.  This semester has been really hard, and I have found myself throwing lonely pity parties for myself which is NO GOOD.  I have stopped this behavior and have added healthy, positive thoughts and actions back into my life.  Also, knowing that this semester from hades is almost over makes everything a lot better, too!

Smaller things:
* My horoscope on Tuesday: "Your love life has been a bit disappointing lately, Aquarius, you may want to assess some of your choices..." * Positive tarot readings * Fake Tan!!! * Getting my housing placement for the summer! (its the building I hoped for!) * White teeth * Planning things to cook in the apartment! * Dress weather! * 1960s Pop music * Being charming and meeting charming people * Secret (and not so secret) plans for myself *

Links I Liked:
Sex in the movies
Easy Retro Hair!
Are you a scanner?  I am!





This Movie:

Art Monday

In order to continue my journey of being blissfully happy, I am going to post something every Monday that inspires me or makes me happy.  It may be a painting, a photograph, a song, a poem, etc.  For this first post, I am going to share a poem by E.E. Cummings.  Cummings is probably my favorite poet and this is one of my favorite poems:

i like my body when it is with your
body.  It is so quite new a thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body.  i like what it does,
i like its hows.  i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss,  i like kissing this and that off you,
i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh. . . . And eyes big love-crumbs, 

and i possibly i like the thrill 

of under me you so quite new

Happiness Manifesto

I want to be blissfully happy.  I deserve to be blissfully happy.  I deserve happiness in every aspect of my life.  I have been dealing with some unhappiness for a while now...and that needs to change!  I have always been capable of manifesting happiness for myself and achieving whatever I desired.  So, I am making some changes and remembering what makes me happy.  Its easy to get caught up on the not-so-great things that go on, but staying positive makes life a whole lot better to go through.

Source: sayingimages.com via April on Pinterest

I am happiest when I eat well.  I am happiest when I try new things and go on adventures.  I am happiest when I meet new people.  I am happiest when I am surrounded by good people who I care about and whom care about me.  I am happiest when I am organized and on top of things.  I am happiest when I create.  I am happiest when I do things that scare the shit out of me.

I do not need to deal with the negativity that surrounds me.  Therefore, I am cutting that negativity out of my life.

Source: one-happy-mama.com via Kristi on Pinterest

April 21st - Things I Love Thursday

This week has been a very good week for me.  Nothing spectacular has happened, but things just feel good.  I think the fact that this week is a three-day week is a definite mood booster!  So, here are some things that I LOVE:

Lovely voicemessages from one of my BFFs Stephanie.  I got it when I got out of class on Tuesday, and it made me smile from ear to ear.  I'm glad to have the friends that I have!

Vignette, an application I downloaded on my phone this week.  Its a camera app that allows me to make the image look vintage.  It has so many settings and different ways to customize each setting; the possibilities are seemingly limitless!  Also, I only have the demo version!  I almost want to purchase the full version!

My Flowers with the Toy Camera setting.

Becoming tan without the harm off laying out in the sun/in a tanning bed.  As a pale woman, I have never really had the ability to obtain a tan.  I burn and peel.  But thanks to a self-bronzing lotion, I am slowly becoming tan!  And, I do not look orange at all!  I'm excited about being tan and not risking the chance of getting melanoma.

Getting out of my funk, finally.  I feel like myself again, and I feel fairly optimistic about the rest of the semester.  Thank goodness!  What goes down must come back up, and I am definitely on the up and up!

This song:


Other things:
THIS article on choosing not to have children (Kara, I thought of you when I read it!) * Sorority Girl stereotypes * Taupe nail polish (last year's trend that I like a lot!) * Productivity plans * Spring beverage plans (Watermelon Lemonade, I'm looking at you!) * Braids braids braids * Sleep in time * Easter candy! * Chinese Food

Reminder:

It's really easy to get caught up in the negative and want to throw an immense pity party for yourself (believe me, I KNOW).  STOP IT.  Follow this mantra:

Source: summer-salts.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

It's FRIDAY

TILT - Powering through April 14th

Source: None via Lauren on Pinterest

This month has truly been a challenge for me.  Its been difficult for me to stay motivated and productive through this semester.  Its almost over, but I still have so much to accomplish before finals!  Luckily, there have been some good things to keep my chin up!

This past weekend, I went home for a baby shower.  However, I was able to squeeze in some time to see some of my favorite people!   We went to Boogaloo for tasty beverages and some catch up time, and then we went dancing at Mandarin.  It was a great time, and I really needed to cut loose and not think about school or work.  Apparently, Single Ashley is more fun than Taken Ashley.  Who knew?!

Appreciation Flowers

I received Appreciation Daisies on Monday, which made my day a lot better (that day consisted of a TON of crying and sleeping.  Not a good day for me).  Daisies are my favorite!  So far, they are still alive, which is great.  On Tuesday I thought they were already dying.  But, I have revived them!

I had the opportunity to participate in a Safety Video for my school.  I volunteered, and I was casted as the antagonist for the film!  Basically, I made Boomer (our school mascot) miserable by stealing all of his stuff.  At one point I got to threaten him with a baseball bat!  Intense! After filming, I had to attend class, and I was escorted via golf cart to my building!  Oh, the perks of acting!

Today, I started the preleasing process for the apartment!  My roommate and I will know by Monday the next steps for the process!  Its very exciting!  I feel like such an adult!

Itty Bitty Things:

* Thinking about my post school life (Chicago? Seattle? Hawaii?) * Nail Polish indulgence * Flirting with Men * Movie and Gelato dates with friends * Dress weather * Limeade * Using glitter whenever possible * Clean Laundry * My Lia Sophia jewelery *

Mermaid Nails!

I kinda LOVE this music video.  I really like the costumes and makeup.

TiLT - April 7th 2011

Via Flickr

I haven't been able to write anything for this blog in the past week and a half.  I have been experiencing some new and unexpected changes in my life.  I haven't felt this uncertain about my future in a long time.  This semester has been full of trials and tribulations, and I am trying my best to keep my chin up.  Although things have been rough, I still have a list of wonderful things to love!

* My friends and Mom.  They are my greatest support and they are always looking out after me.  I will be spending some time with my mom and St. Louis friends this weekend, which I am excited about!  I have also been spending a lot of time with my Springfield friends, and that has been fantastic as well.  I have watched a lot of movies this past weekend including one of my favorites: Pee Wee's Big Adventure (Seriously guys, I love this movie!)

"I'm a loner Dottie.  A rebel."

* I enjoy sleeping in and writing at my own discourse.  I've started a personal project of things I love that is more personal.  I just don't want to forget certain things that are so perfect and wonderful.

* Buying new music.  I am OBSESSED with Matt & Kim.  Lets be real, I have been for a while, but the obsession has now reached a new level.  I mean, so obsessed that I am seriously trying to find a way fund a trip to see them at Bonaroo!!!  I've always wanted to go, and Kelli wants to as well!

*I am OBSESSED with Rhett & Link.  I am IN LOVEEEE.  Watch all three of these videos, you won't be disappointed.

Small Things:

* Miso Soup * Movie Binges * Shopping Binges and getting BARGAINS! * Dressing like a gypsy * head scarves * Disney Pandora station * Beautiful weather * Going out and being RIDICULOUS * Finding things to put cayenne pepper on  (answer: everything!) * Freshly dyed hair * "ALL boys are weird!" "That is an UNDERSTATEMENT!" *