Cabin Fever

Generally speaking, I hate winter.

I miss the sun, I don't like being cold, I get sick of snow after Christmas, and I hate how dead and gray everything looks between January and late March. I'd always rather be poolside with a boat drink in one hand and Jimmy Buffett on the radio.

I have found the bright side, however. I've discovered that winter acts as a sort of cocoon for me. I'm holed up inside with nowhere to go and nothing to do, so I begin to look for new and interesting ways to occupy my time.

Last year, this cabin fever resulted in my first gym membership. I've stuck with it and still go at least once (preferably twice!) a week.

This year, I bought an 'ukulele.

Yep. An 'ukulele. They're charming, sound adorable, and the size is perfect for me. (I'm a tiny little thing---a full-sized guitar is too much for me to handle!) I found a great starter Uke for $60 on Amazon (a Lanikai LU-21 Soprano, for the curious), and she arrived yesterday.

I've only played with her for a few hours so far, tuning the strings and getting a general feel for her. It's been an interesting thing to learn. I've never owned or played an instrument before, so I'm starting from square one. (Did you know that you're supposed to press the strings BETWEEN the frets and not ON them!? I sure didn't... :P )

Here's hoping I take to and stick to this as much as I did to the gym!

Happy Halloween!

I just had to share this. I found it via Tumblr earlier this week and have been smitten by it ever since!The colors! The shapes! The silly yet entertaining truth to the image! I could stare at this for hours.


Today is going to be great. I made pumpkin spice cupcakes last night. This morning, I'm going to take a trip to the gym, then shower, frost my cupcakes like brains, and get ready to go to a party at my friend's sister's house. I plan to make my gym trip obsolete by eating myself into a stupor.

Have a Happy (and SAFE!) Halloween, everyone!!

Happy Halloween (almost)!

A lot of time has passed again!

I am finally re-employed! I am now a Media Assistant for a local textbook publisher. I love absolutely everything about my job! (In addition to being a perfect fit for me, it is so close to my home! The commute to my last job was an hour. This time, it's only five minutes!)


Halloween is fast approaching! I absolutely love this time of year, despite the chilly temperatures. The trees look absolutely breathtaking this year, and I'm considering it Nature's apology for such a chilly summer.

Today is the perfect pre-Halloween Sunday. Mother and I are going to make our first pumpkin pie of the season! Then I plan to carve my pumpkin, bake the seeds, and do a trial-run of treats I'm considering bringing to a party next weekend.

(The image I used today is from a Tim Burton directed photoshoot for Harpar's Bazaar. Isn't it incredible!? More images here!)

The End of Summer

Banner by Bella Sol

Goodness it's been a while! Shame on me, but the excitement of summer petered out with the less-than-desirable weather and I started living in a bit of an uninspired little rut!

No worries though, the Summer of Ashe was a success. I got to see Jimmy Buffett in concert, and we're finally hosting our giant annual Family Picnic this weekend!

Labor Day will mark the end of my summer however, and I'm actually alright with that for once. I'm back on the job hunt and very excited for fall food, weather, and fashion.

The combination of these things brought up an interesting revelation: I needed new clothes. Almost half of my wardrobe needed straight-up replacing. Many items were childish leftovers from college and my super-casual last job. The dressier items (meaning anything remotely appropriate for wearing to job interviews) were grossly oversized on my current, trim figure. I'm a size 5 now, but my black pants were a size 9!

However, I was smart and reasonable about my new wardrobe. I shopped around for the best fits at reasonable prices. In this economy, who can afford to drop $50 on a pair of black trousers? I found my new pair for under $20 and they fit like a dream!

Thanks to stores with nice pieces at good prices (notably H&M, Forever 21, and JC Penney), I've come away with three dress shirts (white & black & purple), black pants, a black pencil skirt, a black cardigan, two layering tanks, new flats, and a smattering of accessories for just around $150.

As a bonus: I'd fallen in love with a $400 Helmut Lang jacket I spotted in last month's Vogue. Last weekend, I stumbled upon a suitable replacement for a whopping $15 at Burlington Coat Factory. I loved it so much and the price was so irresistible that bought it in both black AND in grey :)

I still have a few items left on my shopping list (long-sleeve t-shirts for layering, a well-fitted suit jacket or two, a new red coat) but I think I'll let my bank account rest and worry about that next month.


Coming up next: My fall Fashion Inspirations. Purple and red and leopard print? Yes please!

Photo Blogging on Tumblr!

Photo taken by me!

I know, I know, I'm way too full of links lately.

However, I wanted to put it out there that I've been updating my Tumblr page with daily images! I post something to capture the spirit of the day. Usually it's a photograph, but I occasionally do something else, like a video or screen shot.

Follow me and drop me a comment or two! I'm looking for people I can follow back!


In closing: Have a happy 4th of July, my fellow Americans!
Stay safe, eat too much, and don't blow off any fingers :)

Wine for the Confused

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON HULU!
Hand-in-hand with my fascination with mixology comes a fascination with wine. I've always wanted to know more, but the subject matter seemed so intimidating. I had no idea where to start!

Last night, I stumbled upon a 45 minute documentary titled Wine for the Confused, written and hosted by John Cleese. I sat down to watch it this morning and loved every minute of it!

Cleese keeps the topic very light and friendly, quickly sucking all tension out of the topic. The film is out to prove that wine doesn't have to be intimidating or uppity at all, and it succeeds quite well! The doc is smart, very informative, and I couldn't have picked a better host.

If you have a curiosity for wines but don't know where to start, this is a must-see.

Check this out... issuu.com!

Check this place out: issuu.com

This place homes all sorts of magazines and publications across every topic imaginable (and yes it's free)! You can bookmark pages or issues you especially like, and you can even download entire publications.

http://issuu.com/widgetoc

I have an account and uploaded my portfolio :)
Check the site out (and friend me when you inevitably get an account)!

Summer Sun

Image from sxc.hu

I keep joking with people that this is The Summer of Ashe, like the Summer of George from Seinfeld. So far, it's all I dreamed it could be!

Today was brilliant! It was HOT out. (The heat index was over 100!) I spent the morning with some fresh fruit, lunch with my best friend and our moms, and the rest of the afternoon in our perfectly warmed pool.

Heaven!

So far this summer, I have:
- created new art for my walls
- visited Vegas for the first time
- updated this blog MUCH more often
- spent quality time in the pool
- read several books (from beginning to end, in that order)
- considered a new line of work to start myself down the path to a long-term goal

Things I have yet to do include:
- more cooking
- having my ex-coworkers over for a mini party
- spending more time in Chicago (which will happen Monday!)
- more reading.

Oh, and hopefully those bartending courses :)

What summer plans do you have?
Any suggestions I simply MUST add to my to-do list?

Back to School?

Image from sxc.hu

I have always found mixology absolutely fascinating.

I love the endless options. The colors, the flavors, mixing and matching to strike perfect harmonies. I love odd ingredients (raw egg whites!), new flavors, old classics, fancy garnishes, presentation... there’s just so much to it!

I did a big of research and discovered a reputable bartending school campus less than five minutes from my house. The cost is reasonable, and I'm thinking about enrolling in a month or so!


Before you poo-poo my adventures, I must make a disclaimer: Yes, I have read quite a bit that bartending school is hardly worth the cost, and that the field revolves more around experience than anything else.

Personally speaking, I don’t care! I'm taking the courses for the fun of it, not with the intent to start a new career. I don’t know even the most basic recipes; I just want to learn! To me, the cost is worth it for my own personal growth and enjoyment.

Admittedly, yes, I may make an attempt at a bartending job if this design slump continues. However, I have zero experience with food service or alcohol in general. I need to start somewhere, and hopefully the bartending school will be enough of a boost to help me get a start somewhere.

One of my long-term dreams has always been to retire to a beachy area and have my own little bar where the regulars and I know each other on a first-name basis. Every day would be filled with new jokes, stories, and laughter. I’m unemployed and having no luck, so what’s stopping me from getting a start on my dreams?

Carpe Diem! Cheers!

The Little Things

Banner by Bella Sol

I've had a lot of little things bringing me joy this week:

• A bottle of Perrier to turn a normal day into a fancy one
  
• Turning the pretty green bottle into a vase with fresh garden flowers
• Coffee and a decadent pastry for lunch at Borders
• Finding a book I've wanted on the bargain rack ($4 instead of $15!)
  
• Fresh cherries
• Finishing one library book and jumping immediately into another
  
• Starting a painting for the first time in FAR too long

What little things are making your days brighter this June?