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