Warning

Today's gonna be pretty jam-packed. This morning will be spent continuing to pack and getting everything ready to go. And this afternoon and evening will be spent with my boyfriend who is flying in to help me drive back to Utah tomorrow.

I won't have my own personal computer once I'm in Utah, so my time (and blog posts) on the computer will most likely dip in quantity. You've been warned. ;) But, I'll continue to update when I get the time (and computer access).

Thanks for reading my blog! You'll hear more at some point, so stay with me please!

Tomorrow's the day! I'm moving to Salt Lake City! Yay!

Two

As if the countdown at the top of my blog isn't reminder enough, I had to throw this in.

26.2 Laughs

Today has been and will be spent running errands and getting things in order for my move. You're probably tired of hearing about my move, because I'm tired of writing and talking about it. But I'm not tired of the fact that it is really happening! In three days! Yeeeeeeah.

Ready for a laugh? How about 26.2 laughs? Thought so. On your marks, get set, LAUGH!

The Latest

Hope you had a nice Easter yesterday. I did. Went to church and enjoyed a nice sacrament meeting program that the ward choir put on. It was my last Sunday here, so I said a good-bye to the sisters in Relief Society, and gave them a little Easter/good-bye goody. Whoever is called as the next RS president will do well (probably better than I), but I am grateful that I had a chance to serve the sisters in my ward as I did, and for the opportunity I had to strengthen my testimony through serving in this capacity.

This morning I've taken care of a little emailing business and sifted through some old stuff I've been storing in my bedroom closet, trying to decide what to keep, what to throw away, and what to take with me to Utah.

I have a subbing job this afternoon teaching third grade. This assignment will be my last subbing job. Probably ever. Tomorrow through Thursday will be spent packing, and tying up any loose ends before my Ben arrives mid-day Thursday. I'm so excited for him to visit for a little while and to meet my family before he and I drive back to Salt Lake City Friday morning.

It's really starting to hit me now that I'm leaving home, and I know it will be hard to be away from family and friends here, but I'll be in great hands in Utah.

Going-Away Party

The days to my move are winding down! I'm leaving in only five days--FIVE! And I start my new job in eight--EIGHT! I'm so excited and nervous, but mostly excited.

I had a going-away party last night full of games, food, and laughs with good friends from church, and here are some of the pictures to prove what a fun and crazy time we had.



I'll miss these peeps!

Earth Day: Pro Athlete and "Pro" Singer Style

Happy Earth Day! Did you do something to improve her today? Yeah, me neither. No--if you did, thank you. I love the beauty of our earth, and should do a better job at nurturing her natural wonders and resources. You've visited Google today, haven't you? Cool, huh? And here's a pro athlete sharing some Earth-saving pros of his own.



And wouldn't it be nifty if someone made an Earth Day song/video parodying Rebecca Black's Friday? I thought so too. So I looked it up, and this is what I found. Some people are so creative!

Are They Really Blue?



Today, my third-grade friend, Ashly (yes, that's how she spells her name), pointed out something about me that I never knew before. This is huge. She said:



















"You have blue eyes."


Blog readers: Is this even true???

Salt Lake City and Love Love Love



Here are two videos I've recently come across. The first is a segment that the Travel Channel did on that city I'm moving to next Friday. And the second is an adorable and creative music video of Avalanche's City's Love Love Love.

I sure love love love SLC.





And speaking of Utah and love even more, I'm so glad that my dear MTC companion, Ashley (best name), is following my blog now! Hola hermana--necisitamos jugar en Utah!

200!

Happy 200th post, Ashley's Blog! And many more to come!

It's been brought to my attention that there might be some confusion on whether or not I'll have a job upon my arrival to Utah (thanks for allowing me to clarify, Elizabeth). The answer is yes! I was offered a job in Salt Lake City, and I did accept. Just to keep the anonymity of the company (I think it's best not to reveal too much, but if you ask me personally, I'll give you more information), I'll just say that the company is a smaller, family-owned business, and I'll be doing some writing and marketing for it. I'm very excited, and looking forward to using and enhancing my skills.

I noticed that I had a blog visitor from Tunisia. I had to Wikipedia the place, and it happens to be the northernmost country in Africa. Well--hello there, Anonymous from Tunisia!

It had been awhile since I had worked out to one of my Jillian Michaels DVDs, but I did this morning. She sure kicks some boot-ay!!

And this afternoon, I went shopping at Tar-jay with my friend, Jess. I had to pick up a couple of items for my move next week. You know--the move to..........UTAH!!!!

I Can't Even Think of a Title

I'm sitting here, racking my brain for good blog material, but I got zilch. Life is standing pretty still right now. But. But! Give me two weeks, and I should have plenty of goodies to throw out.

Ouch. I just readjusted my left leg, and was reminded of a pretty substantial bruise that is beginning to color on it. I slipped and whacked it against a wooden chair this afternoon while playing with my nephew.

Yes. My life is fascinating.

Good Sunday

Today is my second to last Sunday here at home! Crazy to think that I'll be moving in two Fridays. But I'm super duper excited! This new chapter in the Book of Ashley will bring about many wonderful opportunities: much closer proximity to my boyfriend, a new job, closer to friends who I don't get to ever see and will get to see more often, and many more. I can't wait!

Today at church, I got to hear great talks and lessons today about humility, service, and tithing. This afternoon, I talked to my Ben and to my Sophia (BFF who I'm so looking forward to playing with when I move!) And in about an hour I'm going to a musical fireside to listen to and enjoy the talents of youth from a nearby town.

It's been a good Sunday, indeed. Hope yours is too.

Bzzz

My boyfriend is a total

.

Just one of the billion things I love about him.

Spring Break: Chapter 5

My mom, sisters, and I went to Roseville, California today for some great food and shopping! We first ate (stuffed our faces) at The Cheesecake Factory at the Westfield Galleria, and then shopped there, too. I didn't buy anything (gotta save up as much as I can for my move!), but I sure took a lot of pictures! I'll post some of them here.

This spring break has turned out to be an unexpected, relaxing, and fun-filled one. Glad I've been able to enjoy these last few days.

Spring Break: Chapter 4

Highlights from today:

+ Port of Subs lunch w/grandma and sisters.
+ Full-blown foot rub (with feel-good foot rub products) courtesty of grandma.
+ Shopping for new luggage, purse, and wallet w/mom for my impending move.
+ Relishing in that impending move.
+ Thoughtful and creative mail from my Ben.
+ Will be visit taught later.
+ Listening to and watching this beautiful song and video:



And thanks for following my blog, Brooke! Hope you're doing great!

Spring Break: Chapter 3

I

got

a

job!

I'll be relocating to Salt Lake City soon. I don't know all of the details yet, nor do I want to share some of the details that I do know. But I know that I can tell you that I am so thrilled. I also know that this opportunity is an answer to many prayers and fasts. Thank you for your prayers and well wishing, too. I'm so happy!

What a blessed spring break this is turning out to be!

Spring Break: Chapter 2



I'm lovin' this time off, but I get bored quickly. Didn't do much today, but what I did do was great.

Went on a picnic to the park with all of my sisters, my two nephews, and my brother-in-law. The weather was sunny and nice. We ate and played with the boys, and just enjoyed being outside for a little while.

I finished a little scrapbook project I began yesterday. It turned out pretty cute!

And I napped. I've always been a good napper. I win the gold medal in napping. Future Olympic event?

And I miss Ben. A whole heck of a lot.

Spring Break: Chapter 1

Jess and I before we enjoyed our diner-style lunch!

Did a few things today:

• Went out to lunch and froyo with my friend, Jess.
• Scrapbooked.
• Helped out a friend who's starting up her Mary Kay biz by letting her pamper me.
• Attended a tri-singles-ward FHE.
• Enjoyed my first day of spring break!

Good Sunday

A brother shared this gem of wisdom in his sacrament meeting talk today:

"Believe your beliefs. Doubt your doubts."

I think I'll give that a try. Why doubt that which is good and that which you once believed, and why believe that which may never even come true and only causes worry? I'll choose to believe my beliefs and doubt my doubts. Join me?

Saturday Stuff and New Songs

Today's been really nice. Slept in 'til 8. Took my time to get ready. Deposited a good chunk of money in my accounts at the bank. Set up all of the visiting teaching routes for the sisters in my ward for the month of April.  Fun Grandpa tagged along during these errands. Talked to my Ben for a couple of hours. Went to the library with mom this afternoon. I checked out five CDs there (Amy Grant, Celine Dion, Elliot Yamin, Lindsay Lohan, and Tiffany; fun pop mix, right?), only to really listen to one or two songs from each album. Ha. Enjoyed a root beer float after dinner using the root beer from the Ben-provided pizza delivery Thursday. Going to a wedding reception later. Talking to Ben again later. Ahhhh--Saturday. It's the day after Friday, you know? ;)

Had to throw in a lil Rebecca Black again.

A couple of new songs I've been into lately:

Pizza Gift and Current Job Info

I had a really hard day yesterday. But it was soon forgotten when my dear boyfriend who lives 550 miles away arranged for Pizza Hut to deliver two boxes of pizza, bread sticks, and soda to my house promptly at 5:30. He even asked them to shape the pepperonis into hearts. Oh.my.goodness. Isn't he the bee's knees? So, so grateful for his thoughtfulness. My family was so impressed. And although we were already in the middle of the delicious meal my mom had made, we are saving the pizza treat for tonight, and will enjoy it thoroughly! THANK YOU, BEN!!

And just as an f.y.i., I'm no longer working at my preschool job. I'm back to subbing in the school district. I've actually (gasp!) missed it sort of, and so I'm glad to be back to the random classroom assignments. Today I'm subbing a technology science class at a middle school. Hormone central!

Hope you have a fabulous Friday and weekend!

Wedding Video



I love weddings, and I'm always interested in learning more about the industry. It's just so magical and fun! I really like the blog http://www.snippetandink.com/. The woman who runs the blog got married late last year, and I love the video that was put together of her and her husband and their courtship and wedding experience. Check it out by clicking on this sentence. Wasn't that just the best?! If I can afford a videographer for my own wedding, I'm sure I'll do it. What a neat keepsake!

A Day

I'll just say

it's been a day.

The 'view



Hope I'm the best candidate. Choose me!!

I'm taking big breaths of hope because I scored a job interview via phone (thanks again, Alexander Graham Bell) that'll happen tomorrow. This 'view can change my life. So, dear friends, blog followers, strangers, and boyfriend Ben, I respectfully request your prayers, in addition to mine, for me and this important chat. I'm so grateful that I have this opportunity to quite possibly make my move to Utah. THANK YOU!

Tale of a Jogger



Yeah, I looked something like this. Rawr. Nope.

I was jogging down one of my main neighborhood roads this evening and approached a thug walking in the same direction. He was wearing big, baggy jeans and an over sized black hoodie. His swagger totally complemented our suburban, middle-class 'hood....not.

And, at the very second I ran past the guy, a couple of hooligans in a white mommy Subaru drove by yelling, "WOOOOOOOH!!!" like they were on some Disneyland ride. The guy in the passenger seat stuck his head out the window like some happy dog. Now, as much as I want to believe they were hollering at Mr. Swag, it was probably me, only because I'm a female, and not because I'm a looker. After all, I was wearing black athletic capris and a blue 1999 Youth Conference t-shirt. Yeah, I'm a total babe. Psh.

AGB Made the P So That I Can Talk to B!



Alexander Graham Bell is the man.

I love talking to Ben!

April Fools Day



Watched Tangled for the first time tonight. And I'm all tangled up in Ben...

...which reminds me of yesterday (April Fools Day).

While at work, my sister signed into my Facebook account and changed my relationship status from single to engaged. When I checked my phone before driving home for my lunch break, I had three text messages from curious friends alluding to an engagement. I was confused for 1.2 seconds, and then it occurred to me that someone must have played a little social network prank...and 0.3 seconds later I assumed it was my cunning sister.

I immediately got onto Facebook when I got home, and as you can imagine, I had a nice little nest of notifications. But by that time, my sister felt guilty for her crime, and changed my relationship status back to single.

But I couldn't leave it at that. I changed it to in a relationship, because that's where I'm at. Yes, I'm in a relationship, and that is no joke.

Happy day after April Fools Day!

Dam



As of today, I still have only sent my resume off for 15 positions, and I have heard back from three of them. One-fifth isn't too shabby, right? And there is one out of that three (one-third, or 33 percent for those of you who need a math brush-up) that appears decently promising. They want to see some of my writing samples (the job includes quite a bit of writing), and so I figure that nothing's better than showing off some of my blog posts. I glanced through some of my archived posts this evening, and think some are pretty worthy of sending in. But as a reader, do you have any that you think are ultra-impressive? Do you remember any that sparked your blog-reading interest? I'd love to hear about it. I'm also pretty sure I'll send some of my old college stuff--some artifacts that might up my chances of getting hired.

I'm so eager beaver to begin building my dam in Utah! And so, the hunt for wood (jobs) continues. Please, please, pretty please, give me any job leads. Even if you think it's not "Ashley," send it. I'm open to any opportunities.

Happy Friday!