here i am with open arms.

it's official, three of my prints were picked to be displayed and sold in a local store here in tulsa.  a year ago i would have never believed i would be labeled "an artist" by an artist and paid for my photography.  wild.  i actually cried after my review {happy tears from all the praise}.  what an amazing thing to find something you LOVE in this world that people are willing to pay you to do.  truly amazing.

i don't know that i have ever really talked about my real job.  i am a metabolic dietitian.  i have to say it is getting hard to do everyday.  we have lost two children in the past two months.  both eight years old that i have cared for the last six years.  nothing can prepare you for the death of a child, sick or not.  most days i love it; it challenges me and is about the only setting where i can really make a difference in someone's life but other days it sucks.  okay, moving on.

cake balls.  the birthday boy requested cake balls.  food network won't be calling me up for a decorating challenge anytime soon but i am okay with this.  cake balls are so much fun to make!  {tip: use a melon baller if you want uniform shape and size.  i am good with my homemade look so i just rolled by hand.}  they are a little too rich for me but i was in the minority, they were devoured in no time.

okay, i will answer two recent questions.  i guess it is always interesting to know more about random strangers...

the vegetable garden.  oh, the vegetable garden.  it is one of my proudest accomplishments as of late.  completely worth all of our hard work.  it is BEAUTIFUL.  so healthy.  and flourishing.  i will take photos soon to share.

what television shows i watch?  well, i don't really watch any live tv with the exception of the weather channel {i know, i'm a freak and may be a meteorologist in my next life} and spongebob {i know, i'm an "adult"}.  so, when i do watch television, i mostly only watch whatever is recorded on the dvr.  here is a list of my shows currently recorded on the dvr.
deadliest catch. the planets. chuck. pride & prejudice. mythbusters. fairly oddparents. america, the story of us. other random history channel. watch what happens: live. the office. friends. random food network. real housewives of ny, oc and nj {i know...}. sci-fi science. random dinosaur and ancient egypt & greece. scrubs. the notebook.

i will answer more questions in the next couple of days.



"it's a f*cking tragedy is what it is."

my darling, my sweetheart, i am in your sway.

i figured i would blog while i am getting my hairs done.  i only have one thing to say, see bridesmaids.  {sookie + no make-up + male clothing =HORRIFYING}

here are some from last weekend's shoot.

new bon iver.


"i was only trying to spell a loss"

most days i'm just looking for the air to breathe.

my day started with a stranger calling me a "complete vision of loveliness".  then i found a sd card i lost months ago.  definitely not a bad way to begin a day.

YES!  love this SO much.

gorgeous baby girl.

{love}.

i heard this earlier today and was overcome by so many memories.  some that had no connection whatsoever with this song.  strange but not a bad thing.

sorry, more fleet foxes.  i can't help myself.

"all you need are a pair of moccasins to go along with those braids and shirt and then i would have my own, real-life indian princess."
"don't tempt me."

yesterday's just a memory.

please excuse me while i ramble on for the next few minutes...

running group: it was a bitter-sweet run last night.  it was my last night with P2.  i can officially call myself a runner!   it's not over though, i am just graduating to the next group.  i love, love, love my current coaches but it is time to move on.  now i gotta work on distance to get prepared for the tulsa run and route 66 this fall!  i can't even believe that i am considering a half marathon.  i am really only planning on the quarter but there is already pressure to just go for the half.  i must have lost my mind at some point.  

"embrace the suck" and "train your brain"

annoying but true.   

research: my name was included on two abstracts submitted by our residents.  it would be so awesome for them {and me :)} if they were published!  our team is also starting up a research study on some of our kiddos.  i was promised research opportunities when i was hired.  only took six years. 

garden:  a frost warning on the 2nd of may??  thankfully the garden survived.  we ended up with eight {8} tomato plants, two {2} zucchini, two {2} squash, two {2} bell pepper, two {2} jalapeno, two {2} okra, three {3} asparagus, one {1} cantaloupe, three {3} cilantro, one {1} blueberry and one {1} blackberry.  okra was just added.  when it was suggested, i responded with "duh, i love okra!"  i have a way with words.  i'm cool like that.

house:  the entire interior was painted last week!  i finally have colors everywhere!!!  i have wanted a chocolate brown accent wall in the bedroom for YEARS and it is finally happened.  it turned out just as beautiful as i imagined it would be.  and the kitchen....so dreamy! 

weekend: gonna be incredible.

music: new appreciation for the steel guitar and banjo of all things.  still loving the addition of a harmonica.

photography:  things are progressing.  i have a friend who works for fox in tulsa and they have their own "groupon" and he is trying to talk me into advertising through them.  i haven't decided on this yet.  i feel like i am pretty busy as it is for now.  maybe in a couple of months.  i have a mini-engagement and a 3 month old in the next couple of days. and, here is my favorite from last weekend.  goofball.

 

"when someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.  You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

i’m a scholar. i enjoy scholarly pursuits.

the girls.

a little "gift" i got...  

i can only laugh because i know it is very true.

new find.  dried cherries.  yum.

"what if i said i did..."

you're my favorite daydream.

we FINALLY built the garden yesterday.  we settled on using old railroad ties {uh, who knew how heavy those things are?!!?} and i love it!  what a perfect way to honor earth day too.  it started raining soon after the dirt was spread out so i haven't put the plants in the ground yet.  maybe this afternoon between the storms.  more photos to come once it is all finished.

{again, taken with my phone so forgive the quality...  and, the fence will be moving in the next week or so}

this rain canceled my plans to go listen to some bluegrass in jenks this morning.  sooo, i guess i will just stay under this blanket and catch-up on mythbusters.  maybe a little harry potter too.

"but everything looks perfect from far away"

i think of you lonely.

this is the week of old school cooking.  i have been making all my old favorites.  and i haven't made burritos in FOREVER.  i missed them.

ingredients: garlic, cilantro, salsa, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, turkey, refried beans, onions, salt, lettuce, more garlic and extra cilantro

emphasis on the garlic and cilantro

{please excuse the picture quality.  taken with my phone.}

salsa.  with added garlic, lemon juice and cilantro.

very important part of this meal.  do not skip.

 cilantro.

 onion and garlic.

 assembled.  

{skipped the meat cooking.  not really appetizing.}

tasty.

note: make sure anyone you are spending time with also eats them.  :) 

"call me in the morning so i can hear your voice."

you asked me if i missed you.

breaking news: i ate the tomatoes and mushrooms on my salad friday night.  i'm a big kid now! {hehe}

here are a couple more from monday night...

forty bulbs, three hydrangea plants, eight seed packs and thirty-five {not a typo} bags of mulch later = a very successful outdoor weekend.  now we just need to finish building the raised beds.

this song for this weekend...


i have most likely posted this one before but i love it {as i love all bon iver}.  it does something to my soul.


"i sat in our spot and thought of you."

how's it going to be when you don't know me anymore?

day off agenda: windows open. doggies outside. lunch date. pandora on the speakers. tree planting. lafortune. online ikea. garden tending. dinner on a patio.

man oh man, do i ever love what we got monday. i have been trying to discover myself as a photographer and i think i am about there. and these are the first ones i am editing in lightroom and photoshop {yay!}. on the mac they look amazing however i was looking on my coworker's pc yesterday and they looked completely washed-out! boo. sooo, this means that most people are seeing them as an over-exposed mess. i think i will have to print some off and see. {i now have a photo printing company! hooray!}

is it weird, or maybe, am i weird that i am overly excited for the new harry potter dvd coming out next week?  even more, is it okay that seeing the next movie's trailer made me a little teary?  maybe not.

i am being teased about the purchase of 2 more cardigans this week. a girl {or boy for that matter} can never have too many though. i wear them with almost EVERYTHING. tees, dresses, tanks, dressy tops, and even on the 2 days i have to wear scrub bottoms to work. example: today i am wearing a {pinkish} purple dress, capri leggings, {mustard} yellow sandals and a black cardigan.

oh, and i have to report the shellac manicure is still perfectly intact.  i have NEVER had a manicure last more than 4 days before chipping.  hope this isn't toxic because i am going for another one sunday.

okay, enough rambling. here are a few from monday. more to come once i figure out this editing.

"and through the leaves and concrete you're gonna grow into something death can't steal"

no, that's him. the real him.

Meet Tyler.  I loved his photoshoot last night on his family's land.  It may be a few days before I get to go through the rest but here is one to share.  Tonight I am shooting the most adorable couple, mother-nature permitting.  If the wind doesn't improve we may be making other plans for the evening.

"When I first knew I was in love with you?  We had just spent the evening with your family and we were sitting in your car in the empty parking lot.  I was teasing you about that old picture and when I looked up at you it finally hit me.  It took me by surprise.  I felt overwhelmed.  Giddy.  Completely happy."

laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night.

Here are just a few from a sweet teenage girl I photographed last week...

1.  I am looking for some good cooking blogs. 

2.  I had to ice my shins for 30 minutes last night.  After a 40 degree run this sucks.  Big time. Cuddling under a big blanket helped with the teeth chattering.

3. I got my first shellac manicure this weekend with Lindsay.  I am sold.  And, one of the guys there used to do my toes in Norman.  :)

4.  The garden is ready to go: tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, asparagus {a first for me}, garlic, blueberries, blackberries, and herbs-galore!  I REALLY wanted to do eggplant but can't do it all.  Next year.

5.  I finally slept past 6 am for 3 days straight!  {this is a big deal}  Unfortunately, that pushy bitch, 4 am, tried to be friends again this morning.  Ugh.  This is the time when I watch my dinosaur, universe, etc. shows on netflix or catch-up on my dvr.

6.  I have the wild idea that I should make the mutts homemade food.  One is allergic to the world and while the current food works pretty well maybe all natural would be better??  I might be crazy.

7.  The Office made me laugh and cry.  It's been awhile.  

 "Home is wherever I'm with you."

a simple plan, we'd be different from the rest.

*a few of my running must-haves*

self-explanatory

fun tees and tech pants

{note the versatile Zelda shirt - can be worn running or with a black sweater and skinny-legs for a casual night out}

My name is Ashley and I am a tech pants and socks convert. 

Nike+ GPS app

love. love. love.

(only $1.99)

just one of the neato features

 *I was fitted for compression sleeves yesterday.  They didn't make the list since I haven't worn them yet but I have heard they are fantastic.

 

"Flower boxes? I will build you flower boxes."

he broke his own heart and I watched as he tried to reassemble it.

Here are some recents of a couple of cute munchkins. I have continued to stick to just photographing friends and friends of friends. I keep saying I will "advertise" myself and try to really do this but I feel self-conscious about putting it out there that I think I am good enough to do this as a business. So, practice more I will.

Lately I have been craving some home-time. I seem to be so busy lately that I almost never just come home and breathe in the quiet. Part of this can be blamed on my running group. It is totally paying off though, my fastest run time this weekend was a 9.3 minute mile and tonight was 9.4. We were a little slower because Mondays are hill night {aka hell night}. My butt was happily kicked.

Oh, and I have to share my new camera bag. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. So girly. So me.

 {I will look great hiking around the wildlife refuge and tall-grass prairie with this the next couple of weekends}

Sufjan...

"Come with me my love to the sea, the sea of love."

happy birthday, my sweet boy.

Can it be that this tiny baby is five years old today?  

Happy Birthday, Dilly!

“Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”

we passed each other when the sky was pink.

Some exciting little news. A local store has asked to display and sell some of my prints. I think we will start with these two and see how it goes. 

{Two of my favorite things: peonies and fall.  The first one is printed on canvas in my living room and the second one is framed and hanging in my entry hall.}

Ohhh, hours spent with this album, rat bones, a DEXA and microCT...  I heard this on pandora and was instantly back in that place; back in 307.

"kiss my eyes when I sleep and carry me back home if my dreams will allow"