Drooling + My First Kiss: 25 Things About Ashley

As if you haven't seen this before :) After being pressured into it via Facebook, I thought you all might care to know 25 Things About ME. I've got to admit, it felt a bit awkward writing out 25 sentences that all start with I!

from a family dinner last night

1. I've become much truer to myself over the past few years.

2. I drool when I sleep. (Ewww!)

3. Running has quickly become one of my biggest passions.

4. I've been a vegetarian since Oct. 2000.

5. I love my 'alone' time.

6. I am doing exactly what I want to do- and I'm pretty happy about it.

7. I'm studying to be a nutritionist.

8. I love making new friends.

9. I miss my friends and family in NPR, even though it's only 1 hour away.

10. I miss the Beanery more than anything. (The Beanery was a coffeehouse my family owned- which eventually led to 4 coffeehouses around Tampa. It was like nothing else- lots of couches, live music and the best people. I met most of my friends there and to this day we all still miss it.)

11. I love cleaning my house.

12. Cooking and baking after a tough day really soothes me.

13. I believe accepting that everything doesn't have to be perfect is the key to enjoying life.

14. I love traveling and can't wait to travel outside the U.S. (to somewhere other than Mexico and Canada!).

15. I clip coupons and it makes me feel so good!

16. I am so thankful for the people who care for me.

17. I am too impatient to read movie descriptions or any important details.

18. I still miss my dear friend Jonathan Williams who disappeared with the Navy.

19. I'm all about simplifying my life.

20. I could live off of frozen mango.

21. My first kiss was New Years Eve when I was 17. It was SO BAD!

22. I've never been to a college football game- and I've already graduated!

23. Out of 13 '2009 Goals', I'm accomplishing 12.

24. David and I have been dating long-distance for more than 2 years!

25. I am so excited about what's to come.


If you would list 25 Things About You, then I tag you! Make sure to let me know if you do it!

Six.

Thanks to Love of Oats and Meals from the Girl in the LBD for tagging me to share six things about myself! (Make sure to check out their blogs- they are super healthy, fun people!)

Here are 6 things you might not have known about me:

1. I swish. Pudding, smoothies, juice, yogurt... I swish it in my mouth before I'll swallow. My family hates the sound!

2. I love dogs. Really, I love all animals, but I absolutely love dogs. Not all people understand the bond you can have with a dog.

3. I still wear my retainer two or three times a week :)

4. I had my first kiss on a New Years Eve. I was 17. It was as unromantic as you can get. (Wait, I don't stick my tongue straight out!?) Poor guy.

5. A few years ago my family was driving from dinner to an ice cream shop. On the drive over, my grandmother applied her lip liner in the back seat. I guess she couldn't see which piece of makeup she grabbed because it was dark, but her lips were lined in dark blue when she entered the shop!

Nana, Mom, me. <3

6. My heart breaks for homeless people. I detest the scammers (the ones wearing a tacky suit with a "Please help poor children" bucket. Yeah, sure.), but I really feel for the genuine people. Usually I will stop to have lunch with them and hear their story. If not, I carry granola bars in my car to pass out to them.

When i was younger my mom stopped to talk to a lady wandering the streets. We learned "Jeanine" had mental issues and lost her home years ago. She couldn't afford any clothes... including a bra and needed orthopedic shoes. We got Jeanine hooked up with an ALF. She came to all family functions.

That's it! Since I am super-late on this one, I tag whoever will share a bit about themselves!

... and the sky is blue!

This was part of my lunch today.. Avocado Salad Roll. It's avocado and fresh veggies wrapped in tapioca paper. I'm going to try to make this at home :) It was so tasty and fresh!

I'm sure I am last to comply, but I've been tagged!

Thanks Melissa and Monica for tagging me!

Here's 5 things about me that you probably didn't know:

1. My emotions are plain weird. I will cry at a good commercial and appear completely emotionless when someone tells me good news. Just trust me- weird.

2. When I was 11-years-old, I convinced my mom that we needed a farm by placing a baby goat in her arms. Needless to say, she fell in love. The one goat turned into 3 goats, 2 pigs, 20 chickens, 30 ducks, 2 lambs, 4 geese, 2 turkeys, 8 cats, 3 dogs, 1 horse... Yes, I am just that persuasive!

3. A few years ago (maybe 5?), my family served as a host family for an exchange student from Germany. Now that I think back on it, it was en enriching, fun experience. But at the time it was tough to be 14 and have all of the attention on a girl who is 2 years older and from another country! It had its hard moments. Just this week she found me on Facebook and she's engaged!

4. I am a total maniac on the road. I haven't lived in NYC since I was little, but I somehow inherited the traits of a very skilled New York City driver! "You don't want to let me in front of you? Oh yeah? WATCH THIS!" (I win!) I am very familiar with my horn and how to use it.

5. In December I will graduate with my bachelors in public relations. I love communicating with people, so my degree suits me well. But my other passion is health and fitness, so my dream is to one day combine the two. This is where my passion for Whole Foods might one day come in! (Do you hear me, WF?!)

From what I've seen on the other blogs, everyone else has already been tagged! If you haven't, consider yourself it!

p.s.- I hit a car today. Unbelievably neither car was hurt. It wasn't me being distracted this time, it was my brakes. Need to get some new ones.... (If you remember, I got in a very costly accident when I ran into the back of a Chevy Tahoe less than a year ago.)

p.s.s.- On my Challenge, I decided to press restart on my eating. Moving on! Now I've sketched out 21 days on my calendar. Other than Fathers Day and a planned trip to Ruths Chris and a surprise restaurant I'm taking David to, I have no reason to get off plan! And...I got my exercise plan together. Here is it:

Each full week:
- 30 min Cardio, 4/week
- 20 min Pilates, 2/week
- 25 min Strength, 3/week
- 8-min abs video, 1/week

Crazy! I can do it. This week is a "do my best" because I'm starting halfway through, but come Monday, that's it. It will rock!

The apartment I'm looking at has cherry wood floors and peach/tan/yellow walls. I have this nice comfy couch with teal fabric that's just not my taste. I tried a slipcover. I'm thinking my colors will be chocolate brown with orange, yellow, white and black furniture. What do you think?

This is what I get to sleep with tonight!