To make you think, laugh, smile, and "awwww"

Have you ever had one of those  lazy enjoyable Sunday afternoons where all you wanna do is watch youtube videos? 

Duh. Of course you have.

Well this Sunday was one of those awesomely lazy ones.

I found some gems that I just have to share.

You know how sometimes even though chocolate is AMAZING you crave something fruity? (Let's be honest though...when do I not crave chocolate?)

Or those days when instead of sweet, you crave salty? 

Lucky for you, I have videos to suit everyone's taste-buds .

1. If you are craving a game-changer, this video is for you.

So the "I hate when I chew mint gum and my ice water is too cold" comment....has definitely been said on more than one occasion by yours truly. Hearing my subconscious thoughts in this context really made me think about all the annoying little things, that really aren't so bad after-all.

2. If you are craving something to make you laugh:

Am I the only person that falls asleep listening to the lull of Liam Neeson's voice?! It is like a freaking lullaby!



  3. I you are craving something to make you smile, look no further!

Wasn't that awesome! Seeing the creativity of others never ceases to make me smile in amazement. Our bodies are indeed beautiful, powerful things!

4. Last, but certainly not least, here comes the "awwwww".

Warning: Baby hungry folks beware.

Why don't I look this cute when I am sleepy?! 

I hope you guys are all having an awesome Tuesday! If not, I hope these videos made things at least a tiny bit better :)

Quote of the Day:

                                                                   Source: girlmeetsbanjo.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

10 things that make me happy

1. The color yellow

-Sunshine, lemonade, daisies...many of my favorite things are yellow. This color never fails to put me in a happier mood.

2. Babies

-My friends can attest to the fact that I am baby-hungry. So baby-hungry in fact, that thoughts of kidnapping getting married and having my own bundle-of-joy, occur after seeing cute babies. True story.

                                                                    Source: hongkiat.com via Ashley on Pinterest

3. Chocolate

-Need I say more? Didn't think so.

4. Baking

-There is nothing like baking something delicious, even if your pale, flour-streaked face afterwards, reminds you of Edward Cullen.

                                                                            Source: google.com via Mindy on Pinterest

Blue-steel face included.

5. A break from school

-Can I get an AMEN?! But seriously, this semester has been rough! Here's hoping that I dominate this next one. fingers crossed....toes too.

6. Being home and having a momma to take care of me

-This twenty-going-on-twenty-one-years-young girl will always feel like a little girl upon arrival at home. There is something about a long absence that makes one's mother want to spoil them....not that I'm complaining :)

7. My DSLR camera (nickname pending)

-I have so much to learn, but I am already having tons of fun experimenting with this little wonder. Modern technology is amazing folks!

8. Painted fingernails and toesies

-Red, plum, blue...you name it! Painted nails instantly make me feel prettier and more polished (no pun intended). 

                                                                           Source: weheartit.com via Meagan on Pinterest

9. Soft leggings

-I have been living in them for the past two weeks and they are amazinggggg! I can now see why people wear them as pants...but let me reiterate...LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS! 

                                                                        Source: google.com via Adrienne on Pinterest

Major fashion no-no peeps.

10. Rainy days

-Now, you may be scratching your head thinking,"umm didn't you just say you love yellow because of sunshine?" and while you are correct...I LOVE rainy days! I feel that I would love living in Washington..the cozy atmosphere just seems like it would scream romance...and romance is my most favorite thing in the world!

Quote of the Day:

We make our own happiness.....so, what is on your happy list?

So long summer

Tomorrow is the official first day of fall.

I'm so freaking excited people!

When you ask most people what their favorite season is, the common answer is Summer.

I can understand that because summer is fun.

School is out, tans are in full-fledge, and warm nights are spent hanging out with friends, blasting music, and starting up that perfect summer romance. 

I love the beginning of summer, but towards the end, I am so over it!

1. I am finished with arriving at my classes, only to have the shiniest face ever from walking around in the heat.

"Hi. My name is Ashley and I look like I doused my face with olive oil. Nice to meet you too!".

2. I LOVE fall fashion. 

Out come the adorable boots, curve hugging jeans, luscious non-frizzy hair, comfy sweatshirts, beautiful scarves, and layers.....ohhhh so many glorious layers!

3. I love fall colors.

I love seeing the gorgeous red/orange leaves and feeling them crunch under my feet. The air is perfectly crisp, but not cold. You can get by with a light jacket or sweatshirt.

 (cue Miss Congeniality flashback)

4. Halloween. I love Halloween. 

I love hayrides and carving pumpkins. I love apple cider and warm doughnuts.

And come on, what could be better than passing out candy to adorable children in costumes?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

5. I love the smell of wood-burning fireplaces and the coziness of snuggling up with a great book....or with someone special ;)

6. Lastly, fall brings about one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving.

I love the warmth that this holiday brings. I love the food, traditions, and family togetherness.

So...as all of you mourn the passing of summer, be excited!

All of the seasons are amazing and fall is a personal favorite.

Quote of the Day

What do you love about fall?

Happiness is...

.........sharing cupcakes with your roommate.

Not just any cupcakes though, The Cocoa Bean Cupcakery cupcakes.

I introduce you to the Ultimate Brownie Cupcake. It is heaven, in cupcake form.

Alexa let me try her Lemon Raspberry Cupcake...and oh boy was it good!

Too good.

Quote of the Day

I hope you all have amazing plans for the weekend...but don't get too crazy :)

I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!

My life is complete.

A mere 10 minutes ago, the mailwoman made my life the happiest it's been......today.

She delivered a package that contained a watch and a textbook.

Not just any watch and textbook though.

The watch is one that I have been coveting for a while.

Normally I am not a fan of buying something that everyone and their dog has, but I made an exception for this little beauty. 

I am definitely lovin' the white watch trend. It looks a little bigger on my wrist than I was  anticipating...but I actually like the little touch of bling that it has. It is perfect for day, or night :)

And what was the book you might be wondering?

My favorite book of the semester:

Interiors. I am beyond stoked (do people say that anymore?) for this class! I love decorating and it is a little dream of mine to one day be an Interior Designer. I'm also excited to learn about more than decorating, but architecture as well.

The three of us (Mr. Watch, Textbook, and I) are pretty much in love.

Pure bliss.

Expect a wedding invite in the mail any time now. I better recieve r.s.v.p's from all y'all!

Quote of the Day

Haha I will so be that mom.

Jane Austen, you are a genius

Jane Austen books make me want to be in love. 


I'm not talking, "we've been dating for a little while and I think I love you" love. I'm talking, "I don't want to live without you. Ever" love.

Those who know me really well, go ahead and laugh. Come on...permission granted. 

I know you're dying to, because you cannot see how anything could make me more boy-crazy, or love-obsessed than I already am.

Folks, there is no limit to my love of everything romantic....and Jane Austen books-turned-movies get me every time. 

Seriously. After I'm done watching, my face hurts from smiling so darn much!

Now, I'm probably being a stereotypical girl, but one of my favorite chick-flicks is Pride and Prejudice. The new one. 

I'm sure some of you are gasping in horror over the fact that I would dare choose the new version over the classic. 

Sorry, but I do.

There is something about the gorgeous scenery and music in the movie that makes me feel all warm and giddy :)

I love P&P because of the way Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy start out. It is not your typical boy meets girl, boy and girl fall madly in love, and live happily ever after type movie.

They test each other. Annoy the crap out of each other.

 Then they grow to love each other.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good sappy movie every-now and then, but they are not realistic for me. 

What is realistic is friends that become lovers (not in THAT way folks.... Keep it clean). 

Love is not instantaneous. It is worked towards. Discovered even.

I love that Elizabeth just starts to realize that she is madly in love with Darcy towards the end of the movie. She thinks about how they compliment each other, instead of being polar opposites like she believed before. 

She realizes that she has been wrong about him. That she has judged him so harshly for things that she did not understand. She discovers that he has done so much for her, and for her family.

Mr. Darcy is not the arrogant, cold-hearted person that she imagined him to be. He is warm, loving, and kind.

I want that. I want to challenge my partner, and I want them to challenge me. I want us to have playful banter. I want someone that is looking for a girl with not only looks, but brains. 

Looks fade...but chemistry and friendship can last forever. Isn't that what love is all about? Finding someone that makes you feel whole? Someone that makes you happy and inspires you to be your best?

So, while I love Disney movies with their messages of true-love and happily ever afters, I appreciate realistic movies that promise a forever-love where your life can be happily ever after.

 Not because you never have any problems....but because despite them all, you love that other person more than anything and you are both committed to each other; no matter what.

Mr. Darcy: And...what should I call you when I am cross? Mrs. Darcy?

Elizabeth: No! No. You may only call me "Mrs. Darcy"....when you are completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy.

Mr. Darcy: Then how are you this evening..Mrs. Darcy?

That line gets me every time.

Quote of the Day

If you want to be in love, you have to work for it.

What movie/book makes you look forward to your own forever-love?

I’m hungry…for Peeta!

*Josh Hutcherson aka. Peeta Mellark*

Ok, so I know that I’m all tardy for the party and everything……but I LOVE The Hunger Game series! For those of you that live under a rock and have not heard of this series, or the movie coming out in March… (imagine that sounding loving like it was intended to be…not harsh haha) they are a trilogy that center around a girl’s struggle to save her family, friends, and freedom.

The plot involves a country called Panem that exists where North America used to be…but this new country is controlled by a powerful, ruthless city called the Capitol. In the books, “The Hunger Games” are an annual event..think Olympic games…only every year, oh and deadly!

In The Hunger Games, the Capitol chooses a boy and girl from each district to fight each other to the death. Seriously. They must do this in order to be able to provide for their families, their districts, and to avoid being hurt, imprisoned, or killed by the Capitol.

So if you are anything like me, you are reading this thinking “what the heck? Are you for real right now?”….because that is totally what I thought when people described the books to me and told me to read them. Finally, I agreed to read them and skeptically started.

 My main goal was just to see what all the fuss was about and I’ll admit, I was determined to hate them. I’m the kind of girl that loves romantic, thought-provoking books. Some of my favorites include To Kill A Mockingbird, Gone With The Wind, Tuesday’s With Morrie, The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants, Pride and Prejudice...you get the idea.

People let me tell you, once I got past the first chapter, I was hooked! This book has action, humor, romance (a love triangle), and a good dose of reality. It made me grateful for the country that we live in and for the freedom that we enjoy. Reading these books and hearing about what these kids go through having to kill in order to survive made my heart hurt! It made me hate the Capitol just as much as the main characters did.

Ummmm did I mention that the movie cast includes hot guys like Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson….what I didn't? A girls gotta have eye candy :)

{SPOILER ALERT! If you have not finished all of the books, or have not started them at all..PLEASE stop reading this post now because I do not want to ruin the ending for you or spoil any of the suspense. But please, please, please read the books! I know they sound kinda weird, but trust me, you will love them.}

Was that dramatic enough?

Ok, so I literally just finished the third book like 10 minutes ago, and I was in tears at the end. I was soooo happy that she ended up with Peeta and that they were able to start a life together. My favorite lines in the book come at the very end where Katniss talks about when she came to realize that Peeta was the one for her….yeah, yeah I’m a sap! But you all should know that already…..my blog name speaks for itself :)

Katniss realizes that what she needs:

“to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.

So after, when he whispers, “You love me. Real or not real?”

I tell him, “Real”.

AHHHHHHHH! So freaking adorable. I cried. Yes, I cried! I loved this part because how often do we struggle to express or even understand our feelings for another person. But before we know it, one day we just realize that we cannot imagine our life without that special person. We cannot even remember what life was like before they existed.

Too often we think that we need to find someone that is our perfect match. Someone that always agrees with everything we say and that is of our same temperament. To a certain degree this is true, but in a huge way, it is not. We need to find someone that challenges us to be better and someone that compliments us. Katniss realized that Peeta grounds her. He makes her want to be better, and he loves her inspite of her shortcomings.

So to make a long story short, I am obsessed with Peeta Mellark….yep…I’m a weirdo. While we’re on the topic of my eccentries, now is the perfect time to tell you that my first crush when I was little was Shang from Mulan. True story.

Quote of the Day

Please tell me that you love The Hunger Games too!

My favorite store EVER is.....................

Drum-roll please...................Babies"R"Us. Ok, it may not be my absolute fave store, but I promise you, it is top 10 fo' sho' :) Today my mom, grandma, and I went out to run errands. While we were waiting on an order to be filled, we decided to go into the Babies"R"Us store that was next door. I almost died upon seeing the teeny tiny clothes and the teeny tiny babies that filled the store. For those of you that know me, you know that this is perfectly normal behavior for me. I love kids and drool over anything baby related. As we were walking around admiring all of the cute little gems, my grandmother turned to me and informed me that I need to hurry up and have children so she can spoil them. While her sentiment was sweet, there is one minor problem......I'm not married! My mom with a worried look on her face quickly reminded her mother of that little requirement. Normally, this type of conversation is reserved for married children that are slacking in the baby department. How is it fair that I already have this pressure?! Apparently my job this coming school year is to get married AND have a baby! I am going to be on a veryyyy tight schedule :p I actually did have to restrain myself from buying anything. I used to think it was crazy when people talked about buying things for their future children when they weren't even married yet (ahem...Amy :P ) but now, it totally makes sense! How do I know that when I have kids that cute little ducky onesie is still going to be there? How do I know that stores will still be selling little baby converses? I thought about how in my Psychology class, I learned that men are the hunters and women are the gatherers. Wouldn't I just be fulfilling my role as nature intended by stocking up on baby essentials? It would be a shame to pass up on a good deal :) As soon as my reasoning reached this point, I decided that it was time to leave the store. I realized that I was acting like a crazy person. I guess BYU culture is really starting to get to me. Once I was thinking clearly again, I applauded  my resistance. I realized that I do not want to take the fun out of that future moment when I am actually pregnant and get to experience actually being able to shop at baby stores. Until then, I will continue to love children and enjoy being a part-time mother to the babies of friends, relatives, and employers.

Look at those gorgeous eyes!

I love her curls! I hope my children inherit my curly hair :)

Am I the only person that is baby crazy?!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things......

One of my all-time favorite old movies is The Sound of Music. Whenever I hear Maria singing about her "Favorite Things", I stop to think of mine.


MY Favorite Things

• Bright Colors
• Decorating 
• Getting dressed up
• Missionaries 
• Jesus Christ 
• Thomas S. Monson
• Shoes
• Helping others 
• Quotes
• Reading old texts
• Sunsets
• Dancing
• BABIES
• Having a new crush
• The Scriptures
• Baking
• Pearls
• The Parent Trap
• Crying (before you get all worried...it's therapeutic) 
• Cute old couples that are still madly in love
• Being clean and organized
• Being on time
• BYU
• Great books
• Crafty blogs
• The Temple
• Laughing until I cry
• Breakfast
• Jimmer Fredette (I had to, I bleed blue)
• Country Music
• Headbands and hats (they help on the rare almost daily bad hair day
• The smell of clean laundry
• Holding hands
• My friends
• Back-rubs
• Cleaning
• Disney World
• Thomas S. Monson's talk called The Divine Gift of Gratitude 
• Spur of the moment ideas
• Driving with no destination in mind
• Slurpees
• Vanilla Twilight by Owl City
• Thunderstorms
• Tuesdays with Morrie
• Forever Strong
• My family
• The beach
• Men's cologne 
• Buying/making presents for the ones I love
• Being a June Baby (first day of summer....hollaaaaaa!)

I could go on forever! What are some things that you are grateful for?