"Oh Yeah, Money Maker..."

Well hello everyone! I just finished my second shoot.  I took two friends downtown St. Paul and we walked for about three hours and I just had them posing all over! I am excited to show you fresh pictures because I think these turned out sooo well!

"Say Cheese"

As a follow up blog to my last one...I have finally started using my camera and I am loving it!! My friend Kayla and I have started taking pictures and have decided to make this a full on business.  We are in the works right now of pricing, name, logo, etc but we do already have about three or four clients booked.  We are going on a "practice" shoot again this weekend to see what we can create.  It is amazing how creative you can be with a camera (and a little bit of editing too, I guess) 

So if you have any ideas for a name for our up and coming business, we would love to hear.  :)

With that said, we took my brother Austin out for some senior pictures.  This was funny because he woke up that morning not know what he was going to wear.  If you know my brother, he is a full on hockey player.  He doesn't EVER dress nice.  And when I say nice, I mean a polo and khakis.  His typical day attire consists of a hockey tournament tshirt and gym shorts.  So needless to say his outfit needs a bit of work but we are taking him out a few more times. 

So please, enjoy!

Sayy Cheese

I have always been very interested in looking at photographers portfolios/blogs with all there different ideas and creations that they have done with just a camera and a couple editing tools.  I feel like when an event is taking place, whether it be a girls night out or a wedding, there should always been documentation. 

I really enjoy taking pictures but have only had my Canon Powershot camera, which I really enjoy but I wanted to expand my horizon.  So today, I am the proud owner of a brand new Nikon SLR D3000.  I purchased a case, a memory card, and a new big lens to go with it.  I feel like if I enjoy admiring other people's work so much, I should just dive in and see where my interest leads me. 



I just signed up for a Photography class as well with one of my best friends who just got a new Canon SLR camera.  I can't wait to learn everything about it and be able to proud of my creations. 

So once it gets all charged up, I will be snapping away and will share them with you all.  I am making my brother be a model for me right away...He is not too happy about it but he will live.

Well it's time to start learning about my camera. If anyone has any tips or ideas for me, please feel free to share!

 Have a great weekend!

Chef Ashley

I have a request for anyone who is still reading my blog. My Dad came up with this brilliant idea the other day.  My brother has been working a lot of nights up at the bar in town and it has been kind of a nice break just to be able to sit down with my parents after work and have dinner and just talk, ya know, about adult stuff.  As we were preparing dinner my Dad says to my Mom, "Hey, I have a really good idea.  How about once a week, Ashley prepares dinner." My Mom instantly starts laughing and I of course do the typical eye roll and say, "Yeah right. I don't know how to cook."  He says, "Exactly, its your chance to learn." 

This is going to be very interesting being I just learned how to brown hamburger about 2 years ago.  But I think I can do it.  So, what I am asking you is to send me any recipes that you may have for good dinner ideas.  I believe this will start next week.  Give me a week or so to prepare for this madness. 

I better go purchase a chef hat.  It's only fitting.

"Can Someone Grab A First-Aid Kit?"

Being I am back home, I decided to join a softball team for the summer.  I have played softball my whole life and had given it up for a couple years being away for college.  But I'm back and it feels so good to play!  Last week was a very interesting start to the season.
My story begins here....

Every Friday night we play double headers and get drunk.  Its pretty fun.  I was a little nervous to play because I hadn't thrown a ball in like two years.  In reality, I outplayed myself.  I wasn't doing too bad.  We lost our first game because we couldn't get our bats going but we did really well in the field.  Second game we switched fields and some of us were feeling really good.  I was second batter up and we were feeling great about this second game.  I walk up to the plate...swinnnggg....hiittt. "FOUL BALL".  In this league you are only allowed one curiosity foul.  I knew I had to hit this one, and for it to go somewhere or I was heading for an out.  This pitch was low and had a weird spin on it...so I really dug for it...swinging really low to try and at least pop it up and follow through like I'm golfing.  I hear it hit the bat and then I had no idea where it went... I was waiting for the call and heard nothing. I looked back and the umpire is laying on the ground with his hand over his face and blood everywhere.  Little ole me split his lip open and moved his tooth.  It looked pretty nasty.  I instantly drop the bat and ask if he was OK and don't get an answer. I then yell "Can someone grab a first aid kit?"... no one moves.  I look up at everyone just standing and staring and yell again, but even louder and a little more intimidating, "CAN SOMEONE PLEASSEEE GRAB A FIRST AID KIT?"  Everyone hustles around.  We get him all situated and off the Emergency Room he goes.  Because of me. 

The verdict of the hit was...well there was no verdict.  Half the people I talked to said the bat hit him in the face and the other half said the ball hit him.  Either way I sent an umpire to the emergency room.  I screwed up someones face.  I felt so bad. 

So as he walked away to go to the doctor, I cracked open a beer and asked "Does that count as an out or do I get to try again?"

"These cards have my name on them..."

I have yet to tell everyone about my new job that I started three weeks ago, today.  I work in Bloomington, MN and get to experience traffic everyday which is very unusual coming from Grand Forks, ND.  My building is connected to four others and they are all connected by sky way.  My building is the tallest and I work on the 18th floor.  When you walk in, the building is unreal.  All marble floors, walls, ceilings, you name it.  All you can hear through the halls are the clicking from business women's heals and men talking on there blackberry's.  My company has the whole 18th floor but we are divided into the Pension side and the Health side.  I work on the Pension side.  I have my own office with my name on the outside and today I even received my own business cards.   Yes, I said business cards. 

Every other day I help out the lady that works at the front desk with covering her breaks.  Today I went to go sit at the desk so she could take her afternoon break and I noticed a box had came from the mailman.  As I kept looking at the box, I noticed that my name was on it.  When Patsy's came back I said, "These cards have my name on them."  She notified me that they were my business cards.  I looked a little concerned, "I get business cards?"  I guess I forget that I am a professional now. 

My new job is very different from anything I have done in the past, but I am excited about my new future with the company and am confident that I will be able to grow and take on more important roles in the years to come. 

Alright, its time to watch Krisite Alley shake her stuff on Dancing with the Stars, I'll blog ya later :)

On the Road Again....

Well, well, well....I'm back.  Yes, I know you all have missed me, but my life has been a little hectic lately.  In the last week I have quit two jobs, moved to the Twin Cities, gotten situated back into my parents house, and started a new job.  I have been so busy that I haven't even had time to think.  A lot has happened so instead of making this an extremely long post, I might make them into a couple separate posts. 

So, lets start with the move....
I never realized how much crap I had.  I don't think I could fit one more thing in my car.  I honestly looked like a hoarder rolling down I-29.  Here is a picture of every hanger that came out of my closet.  I did donate some clothes to the Salvation Army, so you can eliminate about ten hangers from that pile, but still, that Gap discount came in good use. UFFDA.

Here are some (not all) of my suitcases and crap piled up outside my door.  My roommate, Jill said I need to learn how consolidate.  In reality, I just don't know how to pack very well. Lori never taught me. (that's my excuse)

The move itself was sad.  I cried a few times saying goodbye to everything and everyone, which seemed to shock a lot of people. Some people don't think I cry apparently.  Its weird that I won't see everyone that I have seen for the last four to five years everyday.  Its weird not having to work two jobs everyday and its weird not being in Grand Forks.  I didn't think I would miss it, but I do.  I knew I was ready for a change though and so far so good.  I wish everyone the best of luck in all your endeavors.  I think the things I will miss the most is driving through the crazy college town and watching every person in that town, old or young having so my pride in the town, school, and sports.  Everyone was so dedicated and I truly miss seeing the Sioux logo around everywhere :)

Here are just a few pictures I took before I left.  Things I drove by everyday that made me smile

The Skyway.

The Ralph Engelstad Arena

 

"Out of Service -Mgmt"

I will be out of service for the next couple of days...I need to pack up my belongings because I am moving on Thursday morning back to the cities.  Its Tuesday night and I have yet to start packing...offda. 

I saw this sign on the bathroom stall at a bar at my going away party this last weekend, and I thought it was only fitting for this situation.

Out of Service

-Mgmt.

New Orleans: A Place Where Dreams Come True.

I just recently got back from a trip to New Orleans, LA.  By far the best place I have ever visited. I flew down with my friend Emily and we met ten of our sorority sisters. (I bet you can imagine how stereotypical we looked down there)  The reason for our adventure was our good friend Lindsey was getting married to our other friend Ricky.  Let me tell you, the best wedding I have ever been to. As we were at the wedding and all ten of us girls were sitting in the same row passing tissues and sobbing on each others shoulders, I couldn't help but notice how in love these two were in.  Ricky couldn't even speak because he was so nervous and Lindsey was just so happy to be marrying the man of her dreams. It made me realize that "love" was a truly amazing thing. 

This leads me to the realization of the love I found down in Nola. The love I found was not for a guy or an animal (there were a lot of horses and mules there) or my growing love for my friends.   It was for a street.  Bourbon Street.  This place is like no other.  I swear this place makes up holidays just to have an excuse to throw a party or parade everyday.  The last day we were there was "I Love Being Italian Day".  Why wouldn't anyone love this place?  But the thing I fell in love the most there was my gallon daiquiri that I ordered. Yes, I said a gallon.  At about every street corner there are daiquiri shops that produce about twenty different flavors and you can mix and match and create concoctions.  The night of the wedding my friend Megan and I walked up and I asked the guy if I could create a strawberry pina coloda...he proceeded to say "yes" and asked what size I wanted....being the crazy blonde I am, I said "Give me the biggest size you got!"  He started chuckling and walked away in the back. He then has to walk around the bar and give me the tallest glass I have ever seen.  My eyes got huge and my throat started to hurt because I knew this would give me MAJOR brain freeze.  He assured me that it had a neck strap so I could just hang it from my neck.  What he didn't realize is I'm 5'2" and this thing was about the size of me, there was no hanging involved.  I told him to get me a few straws and I made my sorority sisters help me out.

Lets just say, my love for that place grew a tremendous amount that night.  Love, what a beautiful thing :)

Introduction.

Well, the day has finally came where I finally grew some balls and made a blog.  I was worried about starting one because I thought no one would read it.  There loss I guess.  This is my first post so I thought I would introduce you to many people in my life that you may be reading about, often.

1. My Mom:  My mom's name is Lori and she is a character.  Her and I are total opposites and tend to bicker here and there.  She is a nurse but was recently laid off so now is unemployed.  This gives her A LOT of time on her hands and her recent hobby is trying to set her daughter (me) up with a man.  Lets just say, her picks haven't been the best.  

2. My Dad:  My dad's name is Dion and has a very laid back personality.  He is a salesman and travels A LOT.  (Hence why my mom has a lot of time on her hands and why we bicker often)  My dad and I's personality are very similar and when all four of us are at home together our famous motion is the "eye roll"  He likes to say that him and I are the only voice of reason in our household, and I'm afraid he is sometimes right.

3. My Brother:  My brother's name is Austin.  He is 17 years old and thinks he knows everything. He's a hockey player which naturally pegs him as a "pimp daddy".  He recently got his first job at the local bar in my hometown as the dishwasher and the pizza maker.  I guess we all have to start out somewhere.

As far as myself, well I recently just accepted my first job offer in the Twin Cities and I will be packing up in a week and moving home for the time being.  Everything has kind of happened so suddenly that I really haven't had time to think about packing or anything.  My mom is beyond excited for me to move back to the homeland.  My brother on the other hand is not....He has had the house to himself for the last five years of his life and isn't thrilled about having my make up spilt all over the bathroom counter or my car parked in his garage parking spot.  He'll get over it.

Let the new adventure begin!