New blog

Looking for my new blog? Check it out here: Between West and Main.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! It ends November 30. I'm going to stop posting on this blog, so this should be one of the last reminders to head on over to the new blog. Don't want to lose you readers! Thanks!

New post

Hey lovelies... new post on my new blog! Check it out! And don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Don't forget...

Hey everyone! Happy Halloween!

Just a reminder to move over to my new blog, Between West and Main. I'm doing a giveaway for the new Mindy Gledhill Christmas album... go check it out!

New blog!

I've mentioned it a few times now, but I promise it's real! Now you can check it out... my new blog!

Between West and Main

I've got a "launch party" going on at the new blog... enter to win some fabulous prizes! Click on the first picture you see (girl playing the horn) and you'll find more info there. Don't forget to change your feed and start following Between West and Main!

A few laughs for the weekend

Here are a few laughs to enjoy over the weekend...

Source: 9gag.com via megan on Pinterest

This just made me crack up... when I was 15, I totally fell for those emails.

Source: nudelipsbighips.tumblr.com via Ashley @ Between West and Main on Pinterest

Guilty.

Source: weheartit.com via Becky on Pinterest

Source: imgfave.com via Becky on Pinterest

Okay, where do you rank yourself with this? I'm not sure I'm this bad, but... yes, if I lost my phone, I'd be dead.

Um... October?

So, the whole blog launching thing is taking me a bit longer than expected. My apologies. I'm switching over to Wordpress and there was a bit of a learning curve. I think I'm almost there. I'm hoping to have a "launch party" next week. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, can we talk about where October has gone? It is already October 21! Oh my goodness, you guys! We're almost to Halloween... which means we're almost to Thanksgiving... and then it's Christmas time... and then the new year. Okay. Stop, Ash. I'm just taking one step at a time and am looking forward, first and foremost, to this weekend. Why? No reason. Just a chill weekend with The Boy, catching up on stuff around the house, doing some reading for work, grabbing some dinner with my parents, you know, the norm. Basically, I'm enjoying the journey. And I'm happy doing it.

What are you doing this weekend?

Under construction

Please excuse the lack of posting... I'm trying to put a few final touches on my new blog and it is taking most of my "blog time."

In the meantime,

Source: kenzibeans.tumblr.com via Ashley @ Organized Stress on Pinterest

Look Mom! I'm on CJane!

I'm on C Jane today! Scroll down to the picture where she talks about meeting with the people at Deseret Book... I put that meeting together...and she came! I got to meet all of these bloggers:

www.trying2staycalm.com
www.blog.cjane.com
www.shannonmakesstuff.blogspot.com
www.theredheadedhostess.com
www.lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
www.wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com
www.beinglds.blogspot.com
www.chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com
www.jenn-lee.blogspot.com
www.Iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com

We discussed our purposes in blogging and some other pretty great things. (More info on "other pretty great things" to come.) I walked away from that meeting feeling so inspired and motivated to go out and do good. Part of that inspiration was a makeover on my blog. I'm in the process (or rather a good friend's husband is in the process of helping me) of creating a new blog. New name, new design, everything. (Shhh...don't tell Blogger, but I'm even moving to WordPress!) Don't worry, I'll make sure you have links to the new blog when it is up and running. I'm really excited!

Reminder for [me] you

I was talking with a good friend last night about making tough decisions. Don't you love those? Ya, me too. (Or maybe not so much.) I feel like I'm pretty good at making a decision and sticking with it, however, when it comes to really big decisions, I don't want to mess up.

Her advice to me was, "Take it to Conference." (Kind of reminds me of that line from You've Got Mail when Tom Hanks tells Meg Ryan to take her decision "to the mattresses." Also a line from the Godfather, which I've never seen. I digress.)

Lightbulb. Why didn't I think of that? I wanted to share the wisdom with the rest of you and say, if you're struggling with something or seeking answers to questions, start preparing now to listen to our Prophet and the other Brethren and have faith that their words will be an answer to your questions. I know that happens and I know there will be something for you...and me.

President Uchtdorf teaches that “there are messages in each general conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations.” Read more of his words on preparing for Conference here.

The Dirty Dash

Guess what I did this weekend?

The Boy, his sisters, and I ran a 10K in the mud! Have I ever had this much fun getting down and dirty? Nope! The real name for this event is "The Dirty Dash." It's a 5/10K run with obstacle courses throughout the run, and all of the obstacle courses are in the mud. We climbed bails of hay, climbed walls, ran through mud pits, ran through a swamp, climbed through huge muddy pipes, did the tire run, waded in waist-high water and climbed over and under pipes... and slid down a huge blow-up slide. I had mud in every imaginable place, including my teeth, and couldn't have been happier.

Before the run... look how clean we are! Team Bree-Z! (Bree, second from the right, is going on a mission in a couple of weeks so we ran the 10K in her honor.)

After the run... we were so, SO dirty! And yes, we smelled.

 I do believe this will become a yearly tradition for me. I haven't laughed this hard in a very, very long time. And yes, the $4 hot shower was worth it... slightly awkward, but worth it. 

Just a couple hours after the run, I was showered (best shower of my life) and with my mom and sister for the General Relief Society Meeting. I may or may not have been picking up from my nails throughout the meeting. Gross.

Elaine Dalton

I've had the pleasure of working with Sister Elaine Dalton for the past few weeks while she promotes her new book, A Return to Virtue. These are my impressions of her after getting to spend time with her.

Read the rest of my article here.

I'm guest posting today...

Check out my post over at The Readheaded Hostess! I get to participate in this awesome blog hop to celebrate The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

Celebrating the Family

Shannon over at The Redheaded Hostess contacted me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I'd be interested in participating in a blog hop to celebrate families. [Can we do a little celebratory dance together? This is my first blog hop, and, who wouldn't want to celebrate families?]

My post will go up tomorrow - I'll be sure to link to it tomorrow so you can read my thoughts on the following paragraph from The Family: A Proclamation to the World:

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."

Reasons

Really great excuses for not blogging:


1. Work is keeping me insanely busy... lots to read after hours. (Not complaining.)
2. The Boy. (Deeeeefinitely not complaining.)
3. Life. (Okay, I'll complain a little bit about a dirty house, laundry pile, and a sink that is clogged.)


Here's to prioritizing. Sorry Blog, you've been beaten out by a clogged sink.

Is that vintage?

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased this necklace:

There's a story with this necklace. Curious?

Last night I stopped at Whole Foods after work to grab a couple of things for dinner with Boy. The female employee at the cash register said, "I really like your necklace. Is it vintage?"

I smiled and had to bite my tongue a little to keep from laughing. The first thing that popped into my head when she said that was "Harvard Sailing Team + Hipster." I thanked her sincerely and said, "No. I just bought it at the mall a couple weeks ago."

If you haven't see this Harvard Sailing Team episode, watch it now. I hope you chuckle like I did when you hit minute 2:50.(I suggest watching the whole clip, but for the sake of Grandma's fashion and vintage necklaces, definitely watch through 2:47.)

 

Big sigh

I have a couple of (very sigh-worthy) things here for you to enjoy over the long weekend:

Source: justbesplendid.tumblr.com via Katherine Rushforth on Pinterest

Source: piccsy.com via Tracie on Pinterest

Source: wanderlustnix.tumblr.com via Ashley @ Organized Stress on Pinterest

Source: bhldn.com via Sandy on Pinterest

Cinnamon Ink

Okay - have you heard of Cinnamon Ink? Well, now you have. It's a darling blog and the author, Kate, is celebrating the one year anniversary of her Etsy shop by giving away one of her darling prints. Go enter!

The Satorialtwist

No, I didn't spell the title incorrectly. It really is "The Satorialtwist. I'm sure you've all seen the regular Satorialist website, but this little twist of a website makes me laugh. Here are some examples:

Fall fashion

I haven't quite had my fill of summer, but I am getting excited for this:

Source: polyvore.com via Ashley @ Organized Stress on Pinterest

Classy layers...

Source: polyvore.com via Ashley @ Organized Stress on Pinterest

Beautiful peacoats...

Source: polyvore.com via Ashley @ Organized Stress on Pinterest

SCARVES!

Source: polyvore.com via Ashley @ Organized Stress on Pinterest

BOOTS!

Dinner last night

Last night, the Boy and I went to Whole Foods together after work and picked up the fixings for this:

Source: souvlakiforthesoul.com via Noa on Pinterest

Caprese salad, which falls in my top two favorite meals. Main ingredients: tomatoes, fresh mozzerella cheese, fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt. We grabbed a loaf of delicious bread and enjoyed every bite of the meal.

Here's to good food and good company.