This is Halloween, this is Halloween....

I'm currently watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, thus this blog post's title. I know, it's been a week and a half since the last post. I've discovered that maybe I don't like writing daily. The good news is that I HAVE been applying to jobs like crazy, so hopefully I'll get one of those in the near future. The other good news is that my healthier eating and exercise efforts are actually starting to pay off, and I'm starting to see the change. I slacked off on Saturday because we went to the fair, and naturally, I had to have french fries and a funnel cake. Unfortunately, my boyfriend does not eat either of these foods, so I ended up eating a lot more than I should have. And honestly, I wasn't overcome with the normal satisfaction that I used to get when I would eat those foods. This tells me that I'm making progress in my lifestyle change...though, I still wanted an ice cream sundae yesterday, and THAT was actually pleasing. I have become addicted to exercise, and I'm loving it. I feel guilty when I don't go running, even if I do a workout inside, so it's a good thing that I have UnderArmor for when it actually gets cold enough to need it. Hopefully we can skip the snow down here and I won't need to worry about wet shoes!

Speaking of snow, they already had snow at home, and that just reaffirms my decision not to move back there...I can't deal with that. However, it will be nice to go back for Christmas. Hopefully there's a white one this year!
Also, can I just say that I'm really not a big fan of Halloween. I don't get excited about costumes and dressing up anymore. I'll always love the Halloween movies, though.

In other news, my boyfriend's sister gets married on Saturday, so there's lots of wedding preparation going on, especially getting last minute details settled this week! Hoping that the little warm snap we're having stays through to Saturday and there's nice weather! Pictures from that to follow...

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!!

-Ashley

Wait...Didn't that war end nearly 150 years ago?

Today's post is fueled by something I saw while on my run today. Okay, well, it ended up being more of a walk because I tried to run on a full stomach, but that's beside the point. Also, I just want to preface this post with a warning. I want to be open on this blog and say how I feel. My goal is not to offend anyone, but just to make people aware of how their actions and words have an effect on others...

As I was coming up to my halfway point of the run, I saw the infamous flag of the Confederacy flying in the backyard at a house. At first, I was thinking that this isn't at all a surprise, considering I live in the south. But then, I started feeling offended. Although the flag represents an important time in history and also family history for many, it also makes me think of racism and discrimination. While I realize that EVERYONE who owns and/or flies a Confederate flag may not have the beliefs that once fueled the Civil War, there are still so many who believe that white people are superior, and I'm so sick of it. It's disgusting how many people hate on our President solely because he is black. If you want to hate on the President for his policies or his speeches or his decisions, go ahead...that's your right. And I suppose that you're allowed to dislike or hate anyone that you choose, but don't count on me being your friend for much longer. I'm also really tired of racist people in general. Sorry, but the color of your skin does not make you any better than the person next to you. And I'm not just saying this to white people, I'm saying it to everyone. STOP making it a race issue. Just stop.  I don't want to see your posts about "Black is Beautiful" or you constantly proclaiming your pride for being black on social media. I don't join groups on facebook called "I love being white" or wear shirts that say "White and beautiful"...No. Yes, we can see that you're black, and yes, you're pretty without proclaiming your race on a tshirt. Maybe it's hard for me to understand because I'm not black...and don't get me wrong, I realize that there is a culture and history that I can't begin to understand. But, instead of making it about the color of your skin, make it about your family origin and where you came from and what your family has done to get to where they are today. Be prideful about where you came from, not that your skin color is different from mine.

I'm also tired of people stereotyping the African American race as the ones who are abusing the government "handouts" and not contributing to society. NEWSFLASH! There are people of EVERY race taking advantage of welfare, EBT, etc...HOWEVER, I think that all of these people abusing the system need to be figured out. If we could stop people from abusing the system, maybe people would stop bitching about the amount of money our country is spending to help people. The answer is not cutting the funding for these programs because there are actually people who NEED the help. The solution is in making it more difficult to get the help in terms of qualifications...but more restrictions means more money to enforce the restrictions, and God knows our country is strapped for cash.

I'm not sure if it's just more evident that racism is real now that I live in the south or if I was just a little more oblivious to it before, but I don't know why some people can't look past the color of another person's skin. You might think that it's cool to be a southern "gentleman" and have similar beliefs to your Confederate ancestors, but really, you just come off as an ignorant asshole, and you know what? A lot of your ancestors died fighting because they felt that they were superior to another race(obviously not why all of them were fighting, but...) Maybe you should learn from their mistakes...just sayin'.....

Annnnd, end rant. Sorry, it was random, but just a few things that make my blood boil. Maybe it didn't make sense, and maybe I seem ignorant here, too, but I don't really think what I've said is too crazy...

Oh, and the idiots in Washington finally came to a temporary agreement and the government is back open...in case you hadn't heard.

Have a good one!

-Ashley

So, I've been slacking...

Alright, alright....I know. It's been over a week since my last post. I don't know if it's because I've had a lack of activities to write about or I just haven't had the urge to write. So, I'll give you a quick run down of what's been happenin'...I spent some fantastic quality time with my nephew and sister-in-law last week, which included frosting some of those pumpkin cookies I made with my nephew and making a trip to the doctor's with my sister-in-law to see my soon-to-be niece's heartbeat. That was a pretty cool experience, and I'm excited for her to be here! Let's see...My boyfriend and I also attended his fraternity's Pig Dinner(one of Phi Gamma Delta's ritual traditions), where I had entirely too much fun, but enjoyed a visit back to the ol' stomping grounds at ECU. In other news,  I had an interview on Monday, and I think it went well, but of course, the only way it could have gone the best possible is if I get a job offer sometime this week. Not getting my hopes up, but it would be pretty fantastic! I've also been helping with the logistics of seating around 140 people for a wedding, and let me tell you, that is both frustrating and enjoyable at the same time.

Frosting cookies!

 

Quite the model...who happened to like the frosting more than the cookies!

Along with slacking on my blogging, I have also been slacking on my exercise since last Tuesday. Aside from walking around the UNC medical campus in heels(which might I add is quite exhausting on the feet), today was the first day in over a week that I exercised. Pretty terrible, but I just got busy and there didn't seem to be a good time to go. On my run, I decided that I have to stop making excuses for not exercising or not eating right, and just push forward. I just need to make myself exercise first thing in the morning, and if I wake up late, it just means that the rest of my activities for the day need to be pushed back to make room for exercise. This will work until I can get a job...and then I'll have to come up with a new plan. As for eating better, well...I'm not doing terribly, but there are still those days that everything goes out the window(for example, special events with adult beverages), and I need to stop over-indulging in those cases. I think special occassions present that problem for everyone, but I just need some more self-control. It's a constant work in progress!

Pig Dinner 2013

                                       

Anyway, I hope this post makes up for the last week of slacking...Happy Hump Day!!

-Ashley

America's Got Talent...ehhh, I guess...

My boyfriend and I went to see America's Got Talent Live last night, and both of us were happy that we did not pay for the tickets. The first act was just awful, and while the rest of the acts were talented...I don't know that they did anything that hasn't been done before. The two best acts were Cali Bradley(a very talented singer) and Taylor Williamson(an awkward, sarcastic comedian). I would probably enjoy seeing them again, but the act that won last season's America's Got Talent, while pretty incredible, was not THAT exciting. Needless to say, it was a show worth seeing for free, which is unfortunate for people who actually paid for their tickets.

In other news, I won tickets to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte, but I can't go. Luckily, I found a friend that wants the tickets, so they won't go to waste!  I have been on a bit of a lucky streak within the past week, so I'm going to play the lottery tonight, and maybe I can win a little bit of money? I doubt it, but why not? You can't win if you don't play!

I did some baking today, and both of my concoctions turned out pretty delicious. The first venture was a recipe for Pumpkin Cookies that I found on Pinterest, courtesy of Parent Pretty, and they turned out absolutely DELICIOUS! Here's the link to the recipe: Pumpkin Cookies!
The recipe yields 60 cookies, so I cut it in half...60 cookies would be good if you're having some sort of event or plan on passing them out to a bunch of friends, though! Also, I didn't have nutmeg, so I used pumpkin pie spice from Trader Joe's, which is probably more conducive to a pumpkin pie taste anyway!

This HUGE jar(compared to what you'd normally find) was only $1.99 at Trader Joes! Great find!!

I did find that bumping up the ingredient amounts for the frosting would be helpful, even if you only make half of the batch. Also, the cookies are great without the frosting, but it gives them an added sweetness, so I say go for it!

Yum!

I also decided to make the Baked Brie that I had been wanting to make for awhile. I recieved a brie baker as part of a gift in May, and it was finally used! My Godmother always has brie on Christmas Eve, but I never have it otherwise. I made mine with apricot preserves on top, but there are a bunch of other ways to do it! Here's the recipe I used: Baked Brie

I should have taken one after I cut it! Melty goodness...

After the brie was finished baking, I realized I really didn't have anything to eat it with. However, the recipe suggested apple slices, and that turned out to be a pretty great recommendation!

Now, I just need someone to help me eat this stuff...

Hope your week is going well! At least tomorrow is Hump Day!

-Ashley

Miley's just being...Miley.

I had a pretty laid back weekend, and it was fabulous. The Pirates won on Saturday, and the other two schools that claim that this is THEIR state both lost, so it was a good day. I love college football. 

Anyway, I was watching The Today Show this morning, and Miley Cyrus performed in the Plaza. As usual, she did not cease to put on an interesting performance. She is a talented girl, but I just have a problem with her being a role model for young girls...HOWEVER, her short interview with Matt Lauer did kind of help me have a bit more respect for her. Matt was asking her if this sexual figure was just a phase and if she had planned on offending people at the VMA's. Her response was basically that she's just being herself and that she never means to truly offend people. She said that what makes her who she is isn't what she does on stage, but rather how she treats people when she's not on stage, and she treats people well. Apparently, everyone that works with her off stage has good things to say about her personality and the way she treats others. I guess we just kind of need to realize that everyone expresses themselves differently, and that while WE may not agree with it, it really doesn't matter because it is their choice and image.

I'm a fan of her music, and I'm happy that her image doesn't reflect who she is on the inside. Also, side note, she performed Party in the USA with a bit of a different feel to it, and I have to admit, I like the original version better. In any case, Miley is Miley, and it doesn't seem that anyone will be changing that any time soon.

Tonight is America's Got Talent Live! I'll update on that experience tomorrow!

-Ashley

Here we go, Brownies, here we go!

ANNNNNNNND, the Browns won last night, improving to a 3-2 record! So nice to finally see them with a winning record...In other news, I won tickets to see America's Got Talent Live in Raleigh, so that's pretty cool. I put my name in for the contest online, and won 4 tickets! I really need to play the lottery soon, considering my luck. Now, if only I could be lucky and get a job! The job search continues, and no end in sight. Still applying and hoping for another interview! In the meantime, I have been trying new recipes for desserts and meals...Today, I'm trying out this recipe for baked potato soup...Props to Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour for the recipe, though I found it on Pinterest!

I'm calling it Baked Potato Soup...
Ingredients
1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns

3 14oz. cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. regular cream cheese

In a crockpot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese.  Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.  About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted.  Serve with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, green onions, or whatever else you think would be good!!

I have been eating it with cheddar cheese and sour cream. For whatever reason, the cream cheese didn't melt all the way, but it's still delicious!

Have a great weekend!!

Maybe next year, Tribe...

Well, the Indians lost the Wildcard playoff last night...Lots of upset Cleveland fans, but...There's always next year, right? That's a phrase that Cleveland fans have said year after year, and it would be great if the Browns could win tonight! In any case, the Steelers still have a worse record than the Browns, so we can be happy as Clevelanders. Not much excitedment going on...thus, a short, short post!

Until tomorrow!

-Ashley

Television

So, I never really watched a lot of television when I was in school because I didn't have a lot of time, and I was almost always sitting in front of my computer with music playing. Well, now that I don't have a job, the TV is on all the time, even if it's just background noise. The Today Show is part of my morning routine now, and I have to say that I blame my mom for that one. We used to watch The Today Show every morning before going to work/school. The cast has changed, though Al and Matt are still originals, but I still love the show! On top of The Today Show, I have gotten addicted to old episodes of One Tree Hill on SOAP network, so even if I'm not home to watch the 3 episodes they play each afternoon, I have become a DVR junkie and make sure they are recorded. It's kind of confusing because I never watched the show, so the episodes are all out of order, but I've gotten attached to it and I am sad to admit that it actually makes me cry sometimes. My boyfriend says that the show is terrible, but it doesn't stop me from watching! I've also become accustomed to DVR'ing Bethenny and watching that in the afternoons. I never watched Real Housewives of whatever season she was on, but I am loving her show! It's co-produced by Ellen, so it has a similar feel, but the topics and flow of the show are just WIDE open. I suggest you check it out. I have also been watching The Voice, mostly because I think Blake Shelton and Adam Levine are hilarious together, but occassionally the talent on the show is pretty impressive, and I actually want to know who is going to win the competition. I'm really looking forward to The Biggest Loser(starts on October 8th!), since I use the hard work and persistence that those people exhibit as motivation to kick my own butt into gear. Sometimes I wish someone would take me away and get me to eat better and force me to sweat it out daily, but then I realize that they make a huge sacrifice to be away from their friends and family, and I think I can push myself...and I can!

Speaking of getting motivated, I need to get moving on this to do list!!

-Ashley

A Trip to Greenville...and Happy Fall!

Tonight was Big/Little Reveal for my Kappa Delta sisters, so I decided that I wanted to go welcome the newest members of my enormous family. I started off the trip with a visit to one of my favorite restaurant/bars...Sup Dogs! If you ever find yourself in Greenville, you have to go here: Sup Dogs It's not the best place to go if you're looking to eat healthy, but I encourage you to try a Sup Crush(orange or grapefruit) and if you're really hungry, make sure you double your dog for an extra dollar! Anyway, I went to dinner with 2 out of my 3 littles( my first little lives in San Diego now), and it was great to see and catch up with them.

2 of my littles and I

Then, we went to the KD house to await our EIGHT new family members. We walked up to the back of the house where all of the sisters were getting ready, and one of the girls looked at us and said "Go to the front of the house!", since that's where the new members were waiting until reveal started. All three of us looked at her confused, and then someone had to tell her that we're alumni....HA! Nice to know that I look like I'm 18 years old, but seriously? I got my big in 2007, thank you...So, after that, I just felt really old. I am so excited that my family has continued to grow, and we now have 25 girls. Crazy! Sometimes I miss being an active member(or maybe I just miss being in undergrad), but then I witnessed some of the drama that tends to creep in, and I didn't miss it so much anymore. It's amazing how a few years can really change your perspective in situations. Sometimes, it's just easier to brush it off and move on...and that's what I'm trying to do in my life when things start to bother me...makes for less stress!

My HUGE family...couldn't fit everyone in the photo.

Love my sisters!! And...Fall!! Can't believe it's already October!

-Ashley

An Awesome Weekend in Sports and Oatmeal Cookies

This past weekend was one of the best weekend in sports for my teams in a long time. The Pirates slammed the Tar Heels on Saturday (55-31), beating them in their stadium for the first time since 1975, so that was an excellent start. Then, the Brownies beat the Bengals in Cleveland, giving them a 2-2 record, which is 2 games better than the "Stillers"...enough said. And THEN, the Indians swept the Twins and took over the top AL Wildcard spot...Oh, and the Buckeyes won, too. So, overall, a pretty fantastic weekend for sports. Not a great weekend for my fitness/weight loss goals, as we went out two nights in a row, and that never ends well on the scale...Oh well! Just gotta keep on truckin'! In any case, I made some pretty awesome cookies today, so I'm sharing the link: "Healthy" Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
The consistency is a little different than the typical cookie, though I had to make them without baking powder. I know, I know...what good baker doesn't have baking powder? Well, needless to say, it's on my grocery list for next time! In any case, they were pretty delicious, though I suggest adhering to the directions of shaping them how you want them because they will bake in whatever shape you plop the dough down in!

Here's to hoping the winning keeps going!

-Ashley

Singalongs and a Recipe...Happy Friday!

I was watching The Today Show(I think this is going to become a regular phrase in my blog posts...), and they were talking about how Jefferson Starship's "We Built This City" was voted the worst song ever...WHAT?! I would have to disagree. I realize that the lyrics are not earth-shattering or especially meaningful, but let's be real...there's a lot of music out there that falls in that category. This song became one of my favorite memories from college, and is perhaps one of the greatest songs out there to blare on the speakers and scream out the words. Quite unfortunate that so many people feel it is a terrible song. Another song that brings back memories is Weezy's "Fireman", which is not in a typical singalong genre, but let me tell you...this girl could rap this song. I love to sing(my boyfriend knows that all too well...), and who doesn't love a good roadtrip with a car full of friends blurting out the words to N'Sync or whatever other throwback music you can get your hands on? In any case, singalongs bring people together wherever they are...and that's all I've got. Talk about not tying together an entry with a good conclusion! Oh well, this isn't an essay, people!

Also, I made a super-easy chicken bake last night...It can be found below. I used sour cream instead of the yogurt because I didn't have any here, and it was delicious. I would suggest laying off some of the salt included in the recipe, maybe exclude it from the mayo mixture...

 Creamy Swiss Cheese Chicken Bake

Hope you have a GREAT weekend!!

-Ashley

Going Against the Grain

So, I was watching The Today Show this morning, as has become my usual routine, and I saw another story that is helping me restore my faith in humanity. The story is covered here: Awesome In case you don't want to read it...Basically, a high school football coach in Utah suspended his entire team and made them complete tasks and requirements in order to earn their jerseys and playing time back. They weren't representing their school or team well, so he took charge and put things into perspective for them. It makes me happy to see that there are people out there who encourage our youth to be upstanding members of society. There are a lot of student athletes out there who think that they are "the bomb dot com"(Yes, I just said that) and that they can do whatever they want with no consequences because they play sports. I wish more coaches would teach their players lessons like this guy did...
Something else that happened today was that I got an email from a job that I had forgetten I applied to, and they wanted me to complete and online cognitive test, as well as an online interview. Now, I was thinking this online interview would be set up on Skype or Google Hangout, and I'd actually be talking to someone. I've never had an interview like that before, but I had heard other people talking about it. Oh no, not this interview. This interview was 5 questions long, and each question was asked by someone who had been recorded before today asking the question. How very impersonal! I had 20 seconds to think about my answer to each question, and then the camera would come on and I had about 1:30 to answer it. Let me just say that I hope I never have to interview like that again. I didn't feel like I was able to relate to anyone, so I had a hard time keeping eye contact or really showing off my personality. I guess I just prefer the interviews that become more of a conversation, with dialogue going back and forth, instead of this Q and A stuff the entire time. Oh well, I guess it's an interview!

In any case, I'm still looking for jobs!

-Ashley

Friends Are Awesome.

So, I went to lunch with my one of my good friends who also happens to be a KD sister, and it reminded me that this month has been International Women's Friendship Month. There wasn't always an entire month dedicated to celebrating friends(only one day in September), but why not celebrate friendship every day? Friends have gotten me through some of the most difficult days of my life, and celebrated with me on some of the greatest. It is for that reason that I'm dedicating this post to my friends and sisters. Though I have lost touch with some or am not friends with others, at one point in my life, they were there for me, and they made a difference. With Big/Little reveal just around the corner for my KD sisters, I'm reminded of how wonderful it was to get a big sister(even if we didn't have the best relationship), and how great it was to take TWO fabulous little sisters! I love that my KD family has grown and continues to grow, and that they let this old alum meet the newest additions. I always enjoy thinking back on fun memories from living in the house and talking about how we had more fun than the girls there now...which I am sure EVERY group does once they're alum. Kappa Delta was not about making 70+ best friends because there's just no way that everyone is going to get along...but it is about making a handful of lifelong friends that stick with you, no matter how far apart you may be physically. I met some of my future bridesmaids(God willing I ever get married...) and we'll always share that special bond of sisterhood. Aside from my sisters, I have other groups of friends from high school and ECU that will always be a part of my life, and to stop my ramble...I'm just really glad that I have good friends. I've posted a few "throwbacks" below...

Fall '07 on Bid Day 2008

Sisters at a very rainy ECU game...2009?

Snow Day Running Buddies!

DMB 2008

Pals from High School

Bid Day 2010

Semi-Formal 2008

I love my friends...

-Ashley

Meh.

Today's blog post is coming late because I really couldn't think of much to write about today, which seems like it may be the norm for a lot of days. Have you ever just felt like you're stuck? You're not where you want to be, but you're not where you don't want to be either? That's how I've been feeling lately, and it's really frustrating because nothing seems like it's going to change. I'm just ready to get out of this rut I'm in and move on with my life. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but it's going to happen, and I hope it happens soon. Sorry for the short blog post...again. Maybe tomorrow will bring something a little better...guess we'll wait and see!

Have a good night.

Ashley

Happy Fall!

So, I kind of lied when I said I'd blog daily...I guess I should say every week day, since I'll be skipping the weekends. In any case, lots of excitement in the sports world this weekend. The Indians hold a wildcard spot AND the Browns beat the Vikings for their first win of the season! Fabulous! Guess we didn't need Trent Richardson to win a game! This weekend was full of wedding planning and organizing, but not for my own wedding(don't worry friends, I'm not hiding news). I'm fairly certain that by the time it's my turn, I'll know what I want and what I don't want, which will be GREAT for decision making! I also spent some time practicing my shag moves with Nate, and I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I can't wait for the first time we're out somewhere with beach music! In case you're not familiar with shagging, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGJ2XjQDEBE I really encourage you to try it out of you have the chance!!
In other news...yesterday was the first day of fall, and I finally feel like it's okay to burn fall candles in the apartment...but I'll probably wait until October 1st. October just feels more like fall than September. Is anyone else ready for long-sleeved shirts and sweaters? I know that mine are dying to be unpacked!
Sorry, not a very inspired blog post today...I'm going to try baking some "healthy" peanut butter cookies today. Not sure how cookies can be healthy, maybe they should call them "Not as many calories as regular" peanut butter cookies? Supposedly, each cookie is 36 calories, but I'm not sure I believe that. Anyway, below is the recipe I'm about to use...I'll edit the post with a picture and my review later.
Have a great Monday!!

-Ashley

"Not As Many Calories As Regular" Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut buter
1 cup honey
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the peanut butter and honey together, then add in the egg and baking soda.
Bake for 10 minutes.
(Evidently, they're delicious? We'll see...)

Cookie Update: I only used 3/4 cup of honey because...that's a LOT of honey. They look fairly normal...and they don't taste too bad, either. They're pretty gooey, which may have been avoided with smaller amounts of "dough" for each cookie or MAYBE baking longer, but I doubt it. Even though it makes them less "healthy", I might add some chocolate chips or toffee to the mix for something different. Overall, not too bad, if you don't mind using your entire honey bear to make them. They do expand A LOT, so if you're going for presentation, you're going to want to give them plenty of room(see below).

Happy News in a Sea of Awful

One thing I enjoy about not having to go to work in the morning is that I have time to eat my breakfast and watch the Today Show. I like the Today Show because it gives me the news, weather, and also a talk show atmosphere. I grew up watching the Today Show in the morning with my mom, and though many of the anchors have changed, they're still a fun crew to watch. Some of the stories they have covered lately have been pretty great, and today they shared two that really made me happy.

The first was a story about a Dairy Queen worker who stood up for a blind customer. The customer had dropped a twenty dollar bill, and another customer picked it up to keep it for her own. The worker asked the woman to give it back to the man or she could leave. She refused to give it back, left the store, and then the worker gave the blind customer twenty dollars out of his own pocket. It makes me happy to hear that there are people in our society that want to right the wrong-doing of others, even when it means that they give up something of their own.

The second story that struck me was about a camp called "Camp BroaderWay" put on by Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs. If you don't know who they are, you can easily google them, but they are a married couple that have both had roles in Broadway productions, among other endeavors. The goal of the camp is to give girls from urban communities a place to embrace self-expression and creativity through art-centered activities. The camp works on building self-esteem and other qualities that will help the girls achieve their goals and go after their dreams. The girls get to come back each summer for 4 years, which also allows the older girls to take on greater leadership and mentoring with the younger campers. I love this idea and it makes me happy to see people with awesome talents sharing them with people that can truly benefit.

It's nice to hear news that is uplifting and happy, especially with all of the terrible events that are reported daily in our world. Along with those uplifting stories this morning, I heard about the shooting at a park in Chicago, where 13 were shot, including a 3 year old child. The news outlets are reporting that it was gang-related, which does not surprise me in the least. Thirteen people seemed like a lot, but then I read an article that said that there were eighteen gunshot victims within four hours across the city yesterday. It's really unfortunate that people are shot all over the country and it has gotten to the point where it's no surprise anymore.

I find it hard to understand why people have to resort to shooting others, or violence in general, in order to solve their problems. Granted, my life is a lot different than many of the people that commit these crimes, so maybe I'd think differently if I had their problems...In any case, I think it's something that needs to be stopped, but until our country's government can become a cohesive force to solve problems, I doubt we'll make much progress in this area. In any case, it's stories like Camp BroaderWay that make me realize that there are people in our society trying to help people create better lives for themselves, and these are causes that we all need to support.

Have a great day!

-Ashley

 WWh

Grocery Lists

Well, after yet another TERRIBLE decision from the Browns, the Indians also lost to the Royals, making it a perfect day in Cleveland...if perfect means that all went the way it's expected to go. But, the real reason for my post...This morning, I'm sitting here trying to make a grocery list filled with healthy, practical foods. And then, I remember the 5 million(I may be exaggerating) recipes I have pinned to my pinterest boards. If any of you are avid pinners, you know that sometimes, those recipes can make the grocery list twice as long as when you just listed the things you need. Terrible. However, I'm still excited to try a new chicken bake recipe, and these "healthy" peanut butter cookies. Before Pinterest, I think my grocery spending was less, but my culinary life was much less exciting. 

Grocery shopping has always been something that I enjoy. I can't decide if it's because I love food or because it's one of those things that makes me feel independent...probably both. I always walk around the store looking at all the different foods and ingredients I could use, and I think it's just the pleasure of knowing that I don't have to ask Mom or Dad if we can get a specific item. I started grocery shopping at a very young age, as my dad used to take my brother and I with him to the store on Saturday mornings to give my mom a break from the kids. I sure hope that my husband will do that for me one day...but I'm not sure I'll be so lucky. 

Shorter post today and kind of random, but maybe I'll add more later...As for now, I need to go get some grocery shopping done!

Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

-Ashley

A Cleveland Sports Fan Using the 3 P's

So, last night, I realized that the Indians were playing the Royals in the 2nd game of their series by the time I went to bed, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway, since I can rarely find Cleveland games on television down here. So, I resulted to constantly watching GameTracker on my phone, and hoping that Chris Perez wasn't going to come in to close and Royally(pun intended), screw up...Now, normally, I'm a fairly optimistic person when it comes to life, but being from Cleveland, I find that it's better to have a pessimistic outlook on sports. If I tell myself that someone's going to screw up and blow the lead for the team, then I'm ecstatic when we actually win the game. This time, Chris Perez came through in the clutch, and the Indians won 5-3 over the Royals. I was pretty happy about this, since the Indians were just half a game back from the Wild Card race, but then the universe remembered that it's Cleveland, so naturally last night's win kept them at half a game back. So, the Indians are currently stuck, and the Browns have started off their season at 0-2 with losses to the Dolphins and Ravens. Maybe they can get a win on Sunday against the Vikings? I won't get my hopes up...
In other news, I've figured out that full recovery from tailgate dehydration takes me two days. And with that, I've decided to take a look at myself and make a few changes. I'm tired of starting and stopping my efforts toward goals that I've been making for years, and I'm finally taking charge and pushing through. Being a public health professional(can I still call myself that if I'm not currently an employed individual in the field?), my opinion on the best way to get healthy and fit is probably way different than what others believe is the best way, but then again, each person is different. My belief is that a healthy, well-portioned diet and dedicated exercise is the best way to reach health and fitness goals. It's about making SUSTAINABLE lifestyle changes, and sticking to them.
My problem is that I make changes, stick to them for two to three weeks(sometimes less), and then I'm right back to where I started. It's a frustrating process, but I know it can be done because I've seen proof. I'm calling my boyfriend out on this one because he is a prime example of someone that put his mind to losing weight and did it. His way may not be the best way(in my opinion), but it worked for him, and he lost over 100 pounds. I've seen tons of other people, men and women, who have done the same thing by changing their diets and incorporating more physical activity into their lifestyle.

Marlon Gibson, featured on CNN for his outstanding weight loss(Check out the article: Marlon Gibson's Story)has become a huge inspiration for me. He talks about the 3 P's( Persistence, Passion, and Perseverance), and how important they have been to his success. Luckily, I don't have that amount to lose to meet my goal, but I've decided to use his story and the 3 P's as inspiration for my journey to better health, even if I have no intention of switching to a vegan diet. I think that a lot of people see the infomercials and hear about weight loss programs and supplements, and automatically think that those things will work for them. I was convinced until yesterday that I needed some sort of program to whip me into shape. Thinking about it now, I think I just need to let my self-control out of the closet and push myself. Encouragement from others is always helpful, but at the end of the day, knowing that I did this myself without having to pay for anything other than food(and maybe some new tennis shoes soon...) will be so much more rewarding for me.

I think the 3 P's are important for any goal in life...and Cleveland sports teams and fans use them every season. Persistent...The teams try to have a winning record every year, and sometimes even succeed! I've got to be persistent in my effort to achieve my health goal. Passion...God knows that Cleveland fans are passionate about their sports. If we're not passionate about our goals, what's the point? Finally, perseverance...One day, Cleveland will rise above the rest and bring home a championship...maybe not in our lifetime...And hopefully, over the next year, I will persevere and achieve my goals,too.

Here's to the 3 P's!
Oh, and a Cleveland Indians win tonight!!

-Ashley

First blog post...well, kinda.

I'm going to label this as my first blog post, but really, it's my fifth. I started a blog in the fall of 2011 when  I was beginning my MPH program, and managed to write only four posts. Needless to say, I simply didn't have the time to blog while I was writing endless term papers and working on group projects all the time. 

Well, I now hold a Masters in Public Health, a BS in Public Health Studies, and a high school diploma, and I still have yet to find gainful employment. I have applied to many different jobs, including those that require only that of a high school diploma, and have had no luck. It's really depressing to think about the amount of time I put into earning advanced degrees(not to mention the amount of debt I accrued and continue to accrue), and the idea that I'm still living off of my parents. I know I'm not alone in this predicament, as a handful of my classmates are feeling the same way, but this is not how I'm supposed to be living right now, or maybe it's just not how I imagined I'd be living right now. I suppose I can kind of relate to the recent article I've seen a few people post, about Generation Y, and how we feel we're better and deserve a great job right out of college. (Why Generation Y Yuppies are Unhappy) Well, not exactly. I wouldn't say that I think I'm better than anyone else, though I would say that I am overqualified for many of the open job positions I see, and that being said, I'm also underqualified for many of the positions I see. I think it's really terrible that companies or organizations refuse to hire people that they feel are overqualified because then they will have to pay that person a higher salary. WRONG. If you'd take the time to interview this so-called "overqualified" person, you might find that they're fresh out of undergrad or graduate school, and haven't worked in the "real world"(aside from maybe an internship or assistanceship), and really just want to land that first "real" job. I could honestly care less about making the supposed average starting salary. I just want and need the experience, and some sort of income that allows me to pay my own bills and living expenses. Maybe I'm not like others in my generation, who feel entitled and refuse to take positions that pay less than they're worth, but the employers will never know that if they don't give me a chance to have that conversation with them.

So, that's where I am...stuck in a continuous rut of applying to a plethora of open positions in a variety of fields, only to recieve a plethora of rejection emails. Sounds like fun, huh? In fact, I'm having so much fun that I'm considering a second master's degree and/or going back for a PhD now, instead of gaining valuable real world experience in public health. Yep, that's right, let me tack on some more loans to my current debt. It's the American way, right? Honestly, I just want to teach undergraduate public health students that they have the ability to change the health of our population, and inspire them. Unfortunately, it's difficult to be inspiring when I haven't had many chances to put my skills and abilities to work...

For now, I'll keep applying, and maybe, just maybe I'll get hired to do something I love...by November, I hope.

Here's to hoping your job or job prospects are better than mine!

Ashley