Need I say more?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
"Ashley! You need to post!"
My Mac is on its way out the door. The poor little thing has hung in there for some 4+ years, and just recently I have started to make some funeral arrangements. So sad :(. One of the major issues is with iPhoto. I no longer have any room for anymore pictures and I don't even have that many pictures. I believe that this is my Mac's way of letting me know it's on its last leg. Ahh!
So... lack of posts. Here's why. One, I am forgetting to post. I said it! Two, I want to include some of my favorite pictures from my past two getaways and I can't because of Mr. Mac. But because I want to hold onto YOU my followers... I am going to post anyway and you will all have to forgive me for my lack of interesting photos. Deal?
Ali and Marisa, this is for you! Love you girls!
So... lack of posts. Here's why. One, I am forgetting to post. I said it! Two, I want to include some of my favorite pictures from my past two getaways and I can't because of Mr. Mac. But because I want to hold onto YOU my followers... I am going to post anyway and you will all have to forgive me for my lack of interesting photos. Deal?
Ali and Marisa, this is for you! Love you girls!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Summer Getaway #3: Mooresville, North Carolina & The Western Caribbean
Thursday, July 8th: Sacramento to Mooresville, North Carolina
Friday, July 9th: Cohlmia Estate
Saturday, July 10th: Cohlmia Estate
In Mooresville, North Carolina we got to spend time with our dear friends the Cohlmias: Jane, Brad, Alex, and Carrie. Jane Cohlmia as a matter of fact is the "Jane" I love and adore and always wanted to be named after! And the story comes full circle... haha! While visiting we got stay in their beautiful home located a hop-skip away from Lake Norman. All day, each day, was spent at the lake, on the boat, basking in the hot hot East Coast sun. So good. Needless to say, it was bittersweet having to leave them behind for a cruise. Oh how how we wish we did not live so far from them here in California.
Sunday, July 11th: Fly to Orlando to board the "Freedom of the Seas" in Port Canaveral, Florida
Monday, July 12th: At Sea
Tuesday, July 13th: Labadee, Haiti
Wednesday, July 14th: Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Thursday, July 15th: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Friday, July 16th: Cozumel, Mexico
Saturday, July 17th: At Sea
Sunday, July 18th: Back to Florida and the journey to HOME!
And the best part of the whole trip...
Kissing a stingray in the beautiful and gorgeous Grand Cayman= seven years of good luck! This very moment is by far one of the highlight moments of my life. Absolutely amazing!
This family vacation was awesome! We had such a great time. Such good family time with lots of laughs and hilarious stories to tell.
Toward the end of the cruise we did "high's and low's" as a family. My high of the trip was Grand Cayman and this moment captured in the photo above. After our stingray excursion we went to the 7 Mile Beach (which was actually 7 miles of beautiful beach) and ate lunch at a little beach hut. Not expecting the food to really be much, much to our surprise it turned out to be so good, and the "Caybrew", the island's number one beer, was another delicious little treat there in paradise. I could have stayed in Grand Cayman for some days. It was exactly what I was hoping for on this vacation.
Low of the trip: Jamaica. So sad because we all had such high expectations for Jamaica and it just wasn't a good stop at all. Very touristy, very poor, very sad... just not good. Jamaican's haggle you on the streets big time, follow you, and hound you to get in their taxis so that they can show you the "real Jamaica". Sounds like a great idea, and if you hate tourism like myself... it sounds like an even better plan, but oh boy was it a sketch situation. Just walking down the street one felt very taken advantage of and very uncomfortable. I don't know how else to explain it and I so wish I had better things to say. I do want to go back someday, and I want to do my research ahead of time. I know Jamaica has a lot to offer and is a really neat place... and my hope is that I can one day experience that "real Jamaica".
And as the Jamaican staff on board our cruise ship (some of the most awesome people in the world by the way) would say, this trip was "so, nice. Nice, nice."
Friday, July 9th: Cohlmia Estate
Saturday, July 10th: Cohlmia Estate
In Mooresville, North Carolina we got to spend time with our dear friends the Cohlmias: Jane, Brad, Alex, and Carrie. Jane Cohlmia as a matter of fact is the "Jane" I love and adore and always wanted to be named after! And the story comes full circle... haha! While visiting we got stay in their beautiful home located a hop-skip away from Lake Norman. All day, each day, was spent at the lake, on the boat, basking in the hot hot East Coast sun. So good. Needless to say, it was bittersweet having to leave them behind for a cruise. Oh how how we wish we did not live so far from them here in California.
Sunday, July 11th: Fly to Orlando to board the "Freedom of the Seas" in Port Canaveral, Florida
Monday, July 12th: At Sea
Tuesday, July 13th: Labadee, Haiti
Wednesday, July 14th: Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Thursday, July 15th: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Friday, July 16th: Cozumel, Mexico
Saturday, July 17th: At Sea
Sunday, July 18th: Back to Florida and the journey to HOME!
And the best part of the whole trip...
Kissing a stingray in the beautiful and gorgeous Grand Cayman= seven years of good luck! This very moment is by far one of the highlight moments of my life. Absolutely amazing!
This family vacation was awesome! We had such a great time. Such good family time with lots of laughs and hilarious stories to tell.Toward the end of the cruise we did "high's and low's" as a family. My high of the trip was Grand Cayman and this moment captured in the photo above. After our stingray excursion we went to the 7 Mile Beach (which was actually 7 miles of beautiful beach) and ate lunch at a little beach hut. Not expecting the food to really be much, much to our surprise it turned out to be so good, and the "Caybrew", the island's number one beer, was another delicious little treat there in paradise. I could have stayed in Grand Cayman for some days. It was exactly what I was hoping for on this vacation.
Low of the trip: Jamaica. So sad because we all had such high expectations for Jamaica and it just wasn't a good stop at all. Very touristy, very poor, very sad... just not good. Jamaican's haggle you on the streets big time, follow you, and hound you to get in their taxis so that they can show you the "real Jamaica". Sounds like a great idea, and if you hate tourism like myself... it sounds like an even better plan, but oh boy was it a sketch situation. Just walking down the street one felt very taken advantage of and very uncomfortable. I don't know how else to explain it and I so wish I had better things to say. I do want to go back someday, and I want to do my research ahead of time. I know Jamaica has a lot to offer and is a really neat place... and my hope is that I can one day experience that "real Jamaica".
And as the Jamaican staff on board our cruise ship (some of the most awesome people in the world by the way) would say, this trip was "so, nice. Nice, nice."
Summer Getaway #2: Portland, OR
That's right! I went to visit Katie and Wes. And here's the kicker... I got to be with Katie on her birthday! This trip folks was a win-win.
Highlights of my time:
-Going to Palios
-Cooking a magnificent dinner-Shopping, rain and shine!
-Saturday market, driving over the bridge accidentally when trying to find parking, Kenny and Zukes, and our kind of/ sort of trip to the rose garden...... and temporarily parking in a handicap parking lot to view the roses/eat our picnic from afar!-Slappy cakes
-Great conversation and catching up for 5 days solid. Mmm mmm good.-Hiking Multnomah Falls and witnessing some very strange and mysterious things. Ie: man burying something and a young child's sweatshirt laying in a nearby bush. We filed a police report.
-Tasting and liking agave syrup. Yumm.-Eating Lebanese food. So good.
-Drinking wine and eating cheese at the Avignon Bar.-The Laura Mercier make-up counter.
Check out this rad blog for some really great pictures of my time spent with Katie.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Summer Getaway #1: McGregor Bay, Canada
(I wrote this blog a month ago and forgot to post it.... so here it is!)
Well, I am back to reality! Back to Pacific Time, cellular telephone reception, TV, wireless internet (actually having to check my email...), and the only thing that I really missed, my pup! That being said, Canada was incredible. Knocked my socks off and totally spoiled me. We had beautiful weather every other day. The weather worked like clock works. One day it would be gorgeous, sunny, and 24 degrees Celsius (ohhh Cananda), and then the next day it would be rainy, windy, stormy, and cold. So we planned accordingly and totally let the weather plan the day. On the nice days we laid out, swam, paddle boarded, kayaked, went on boating adventures, and indulged with gin and tonics. On the icky days we did a lot of reading, playing cards, sleeping, sitting, eating, and more eating! Both kinds of days included wine drinking as I was introduced to two new red's in my world, the Shiraz and Malbec. Oh yum yum yum!
And now for the results of my photo challenge! Here are some of my favs that were taken by my very own self on my very own camera! It is moments like this make me so glad that I took my own pictures because now I have something of my very own to share.
We stood out like a sore thumb. "California Girls we're unforgettable!" haha!
Little Blue
Wonderful Friends... miss you girls!
The start of our journey to the BEST fish and chips ever!
The island!
Boat rides and crazy hair!
And there you have it my friends... Canada. Such a great time. Soooo many memories! Now up next on my travel itinerary is Portland, Oregon!
Bon Voyage!
And now for the results of my photo challenge! Here are some of my favs that were taken by my very own self on my very own camera! It is moments like this make me so glad that I took my own pictures because now I have something of my very own to share.
Our Super Minivan That Saved Our Lives
The Beautiful Taggart Cottage 
Sunset
"The Beer Store"
Sunset
"The Beer Store"
We stood out like a sore thumb. "California Girls we're unforgettable!" haha!
Little Blue
Wonderful Friends... miss you girls!
The start of our journey to the BEST fish and chips ever!
The island!
Boat rides and crazy hair!
And there you have it my friends... Canada. Such a great time. Soooo many memories! Now up next on my travel itinerary is Portland, Oregon!Bon Voyage!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Blog followers, eh?
Disclaimer: I haven't posted in a long time and I am fearing that I am becoming a forgetful and neglectful blogger. Don't judge me yet! I'm new at this..... ok?!
And now for the much needed post [FROM CANADA!!!]...
You know that feeling of being looked at by someone in the distance? You feel their eyes penetrating you and so in your wanting to slyly and covertly make sure you look real good, you quickly adjust the clothing, stand up straight, and tossle the hair.... You basically want to make yourself look like Ms. "Sexy can I" in this very moment because all of a sudden you are very aware of the fact that someone is looking at you! Well... in my adjusting of my clothing, straightening my posture, and tossling my hair I am writing this itty bitty post because I am now being followed! Not by one, but TWO followers both of which happen to be two of my most wonderful and dearly beloved best friends! My blog link has been posted on my facebook for sometime as my attempt to release my blog in an im-so-cool-here's-my-blog-im-going-to-keep-it-a-secret kind of way.... I am so weird! But I have been found and the secret, that did not need to be a secret, is no more. Alas!
So hello to you my loves! And since you two got me on here to post I shall give a mini update in your honor, and I thank you. I am in Canada with my 4 fabulous roommates and Mr. and Mrs. Taggart (Anna's Parents), and we are living it up McGregor Bay style... which means we wear our pajamas/bathing suits all day, we read all day (2 1/2 books down and 1 to go!), we have fires, we eat yummy food, we laugh, we play cards...all kinds of cards, we boat around, we paddle board, we kyack, we stay up reallll late, we wake up realllll late, we admire God's amazing creation, we swim, we take pictures (just you wait!), and we find the time to just simply BE. This place is beautiful and these 2 weeks have been and will be, I know, beautiful. We have dial up internet which means that it is not fast and is only able to be in use when we are sure the land line phone won't be needed. No cell reception. No TV of any way, shape, or form. Basically, I am on vacation old school style and I love it!
During this vaca I have put myself on a photo challenge/campaign... whatever you want to call it! This challenge of sorts that I have instilled upon myself is to take at least 5 pictures a day with MY camera. I am notorious for snatching pictures from people I am on my trips with and leaving them with all the work and effort of documenting the trip for me. Something wrong with this picture?! I think yes. So, I am now taking my own pictures and setting a challenge/goal of 5 a day. I am learning that it takes EFFORT to make this happen. I need to carry my camera with me all the time and I need to be intentional. Baby steps yes in deed...this is new to me! Everyone is holding me to my challenge and so far, so good. So let this be a little promo for my next post to come! Pictures and even more of stuff about my two weeks in Canada! Be very very excited. It's nice and juicy.
And now for the much needed post [FROM CANADA!!!]...
You know that feeling of being looked at by someone in the distance? You feel their eyes penetrating you and so in your wanting to slyly and covertly make sure you look real good, you quickly adjust the clothing, stand up straight, and tossle the hair.... You basically want to make yourself look like Ms. "Sexy can I" in this very moment because all of a sudden you are very aware of the fact that someone is looking at you! Well... in my adjusting of my clothing, straightening my posture, and tossling my hair I am writing this itty bitty post because I am now being followed! Not by one, but TWO followers both of which happen to be two of my most wonderful and dearly beloved best friends! My blog link has been posted on my facebook for sometime as my attempt to release my blog in an im-so-cool-here's-my-blog-im-going-to-keep-it-a-secret kind of way.... I am so weird! But I have been found and the secret, that did not need to be a secret, is no more. Alas!
So hello to you my loves! And since you two got me on here to post I shall give a mini update in your honor, and I thank you. I am in Canada with my 4 fabulous roommates and Mr. and Mrs. Taggart (Anna's Parents), and we are living it up McGregor Bay style... which means we wear our pajamas/bathing suits all day, we read all day (2 1/2 books down and 1 to go!), we have fires, we eat yummy food, we laugh, we play cards...all kinds of cards, we boat around, we paddle board, we kyack, we stay up reallll late, we wake up realllll late, we admire God's amazing creation, we swim, we take pictures (just you wait!), and we find the time to just simply BE. This place is beautiful and these 2 weeks have been and will be, I know, beautiful. We have dial up internet which means that it is not fast and is only able to be in use when we are sure the land line phone won't be needed. No cell reception. No TV of any way, shape, or form. Basically, I am on vacation old school style and I love it!
During this vaca I have put myself on a photo challenge/campaign... whatever you want to call it! This challenge of sorts that I have instilled upon myself is to take at least 5 pictures a day with MY camera. I am notorious for snatching pictures from people I am on my trips with and leaving them with all the work and effort of documenting the trip for me. Something wrong with this picture?! I think yes. So, I am now taking my own pictures and setting a challenge/goal of 5 a day. I am learning that it takes EFFORT to make this happen. I need to carry my camera with me all the time and I need to be intentional. Baby steps yes in deed...this is new to me! Everyone is holding me to my challenge and so far, so good. So let this be a little promo for my next post to come! Pictures and even more of stuff about my two weeks in Canada! Be very very excited. It's nice and juicy.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I'm a Grad Student!
That's right! This morning I finished my graduate application for Point Loma's MAT Graduate Education program with an admissions interview... And I was admitted!! Happy day :) The summer can NOW officially begin!
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