Ashten, Plain and Tall

I'm not sure what kind of day this day will be, and I say that because I spent 20 minutes looking for a jacket that was hanging in my closet and spilled coffee three times in a matter of 30 minutes.

Have you ever spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for something you couldn't find, and then you find it in the exact place it should have been? I swear I looked in my closet for the jacket three times. Never saw it. I touched every piece of clothing. Didn't see it. Looked again for the fourth and final time, and there it was just hanging in my closet.

How did I not see it? Maybe it was adjustment? (Have you seen The Adjustment Bureau? If you haven't, rent it tonight.)

As for the coffee spillage, it's the story of my life. If I had a dollar for every time I spilled coffee on me or in my car, I'd be a millionaire. End of story.

Switching gears: My mom came to Little Rock to visit me...well really for a dentist appointment...but I like to say to visit me. We go to the same dentist. I just went on Monday for a teeth cleanting and check-up. And yesterday was her turn.

So we had dinner at Cafe Prego, a little Italian place in the Heights. And while we were talking, she told me about the dental assistant asking about who I was and what I looked like. Now keep in mind, my mother has looked at me for almost 24 years now.

Per my mom's description: Well Ashten is very little. Like teeny tiny. And she has long brown hair. Like really long brown hair.

....cricket...cricket....

I sat there waiting for the rest of the description, but that was it.

Could I BE any plainer? (Friends reference...If you don't get it, I'm sorry for you.) I was instantly reminded of the book Sarah, Plain and Tall, which I read in elementary school. I feel the need to teach my mom some adjectives to help her out next time.

I'm not upset about her description because what she said was all true, although I don't think I'm teeny tiny...I would prefer just the right size for me. But I do find it interesting that I'm put in such generic categories. Tall. Long, brown hair. Skinny. Blah. Blah. Blah. Boring. Blah.

When it comes to describing someone, we always go for the looks first and personality traits second. Not saying it's a bad thing, but it's something. I find it really interesting that we don't really get creative with our descriptions of others.

I mean really. Think about it. Think about someone you see every single day. How would you describe that person to someone who has never seen them before? Your mind automatically goes to looks first...Unless, on the rare occasion, a personality trait stands out stronger than any one physical feature.

I didn't mean to get all psychological on you. I just really think it's interesting. I'm totally ok with my generic description. Tall. Long, brown hair. Teeny tiny. Whatever, whatever.

In the words of the great Boom Kinetic, "Ordinary people. Ordinary people. Doing ordinary things. It's not good enough for me. I am extra ordinary. Extra, extra ordinary."

What's your generic description?

How's your day going so far?

It's a Revolution

I started this whole running thing with the idea of toning up. And the hopes of liking something I haven't been known to enjoy.

This is week two. And thanks to my shoes and mom I'm starting to like it more than I thought I would.

Apparently these posts about what I'm doing and how I'm liking running or not liking running is having an affect on other non-runners.

Case in point:

Logan.

She and I have been friends since forever, but I think we really became friends in high school. She turned 16 on October 6 of our sophomore year, and I didn't turn 16 until February 6. So she would pick me up for school, and we would ride around the "cool" part of town before we had to be at school. (Did I mention that she lives right down the street...about three houses to be exact.)

She had this boyfriend. A boy I was basically in LOVE with. He was the prettiest boy I'd ever seen and the son of a family friend. Needlesstosay, he was never interested in me that way, and after a while I got over it. (We were more like brother and sister towards each other.) But I never got over how pretty he was.

Anyway, he was a freshman at ASU in Jonesboro. And every morning I would get in her car to listen to them yell at each other. It's funny now to think about it, but back then I was a little nervous. And every day the fighting would always end the same way.

After 15 or 20 minutes of her yelling "Tyler, GO to clean-up," she would look at me and sigh. Ashten doesn't want to listen to me yell at you anymore. So please just get up and go to clean up...Ok....I will talk to you when I get out of school...bye. But on the very rare occasions, she would just simply hang up.

Toward the end of our junior year in high school, Tyler, her boyfriend, was in a car wreck in Jonesboro, and he died. It was hands down the hardest thing I have ever went through. He was my first friend and person close to my age that died. I was 17.

After he died, my friendship with Logan changed. I'm not really sure how to explain it, but I think we both realized what we had lost. And this horrible thing knit us together for life.

Once the hype calmed down and her real grieving process began, people stopped coming over to check on her. But I didn't. I would got stay at her house on nights when she was home alone and didn't want to be by herself. And eventually, time heals all wounds, even though a wound like that can only heal so much. We are both still and will be forever scarred.

We both went to college; she in Fayetteville, and I in Conway. But our friendship has always just picked up from the last place it left off. And that's what I love about her as a friend.

When I moved to Little Rock, we began talking more and more. And planning hang-out dates, dinners, and drunken nights where we've tried to remember old cheerleading dances to songs we can't really remember.

Yesterday she sent me a text message that said Make me run!!!!!!!!! I said Get your shoes ready. I will pick you up tomorrow. We are going around 7.

And that was it. A revolution has begun. She has made it well-known to me throughout our friendship that she is NOT a runner. In fact, she told me yesterday that she can run to the mailbox and back, but that's about it.

She wants to run, and I want to help her run. All it takes it a text saying we are going here at this time, get your shoes on, I'll pick you up in 10.

This is what friends do. Support other friends. I told her it would not be a bed of roses. It's going to be sweltering hot, sweat will pour, and she will probably hate running and me at first. But it will get better. She will get better.

It's all about accountability and a little self-motivation. You have to want to do it before you can actually do it. And it helps to have someone there to push you along when you really don't want to do it.

So today, Logan and I will run. It will be the start of something new and good for her. And it will be the next chapter in our friendship. Yippie. I've got a feeling this will be good. So stay tuned for Logan's post-run update tomorrow.



The 100th Post: Recipe, Running, and Reflections

Another successful run down the tube. And this one was much more enjoyable since I didn't try to be a hero and run during the peak heat. Thanks to my sweet momma, I solved the car key issue after a purchased a 1990s style stretchy bracelet. Or I should say what I thought was a bracelet. When that didn't work out, I took my momma's advice. (Dang her for always being right about everything.)

Car keys tied to the shoe made me super nervous. And even though I double knotted my shoe, I was terrified my keys, especially my clicker, would go flying in the Arkansas River. Thankfully that didn't happen. But I kept a watchful eye on those keys.

The views from the River Trail were gorgeous.

7:30 - 8:30 P.M. is the time to go run. It was hot, but manageable. Lots of people were there, but I still managed to keep a nice steady pace, which I think increased from Tuesday's little heat jog. Baby steps. Always with with baby steps. And I didn't leave there looking too beat up, just a little sweaty and splotchy.

Don't mind the double Nike. Just trying to be "cool." Just kidding, but really. I didn't realize the sportsbra's logo would be so prominent. Oh well, there are worse things.

On to the recipe: Eggplant Lasagna. Now don't knock it til you try it. Very tasty, and you hardly miss the meat because the eggplant is so filling.

You will need:

1 Large eggplant (or 2 small ones)
Lasagna noodles
1 Cottage cheese container (low-fat)
1-2 Jars of Ragu - Tomato, Onion and Garlic flavor (depends on how saucy you like it)
1 Large packet of Mozzarella cheese
9"X13" pan

Picture is blurry, but I want you to see the label and know the flavor. It's the best.

Soak the eggplant in salted water for 30 minutes. This will remove the bitter flavor that can be associated with eggplant if not prepared correctly. Sidenote---Eggplant floats so you will have to stir them around and push them under the water every now and then. If the pieces look too big, cut them smaller so they will fully cook in the oven.

In a sauce pan on the stove, heat the Ragu while your eggplant soaks. Once the eggplant has soaked for the full 30 minutes, drain water and pat dry. Then layer the following:
Sauce, eggplant pieces, noodles, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese.

Repeat until the pan is full. Top with remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes with the pan covered in aluminum foil. After 40 minutes, remove foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes. The finished product should look like this.

Looks good?

Saucy, cheesy, healthy, yummy.

Try it. It's pretty tasty. If you have questions, feel free to ask me. This is just an alternative to classic dish, and it is delicious. If you try and make it, let me know what you think or the changes you make. Make it you're own.

Thanks for reading my first 100 posts. Here's to 100 more. Yippie.

Damn the Dam Bridge

Brace yourself. I have quite a bit to fill you in on since it was Memorial Day weekend.

I spent half my weekend in Stuttgart to have some quality time with the madre and padre. The roommate had her wisdom teeth taken out last Friday so we did not get to go on our usual lake vacay to see her Meemaw and Pawpaw ( I like to call them Joe and Sue). I'm really sad we didn't get to go to the lake and kick the summer off right.

But I do have other stuff to tell you about like my wreath-making experience from Hell and our new patio make-over. And my first running/jogging/butt-kicking since my wisdom teeth surgery. As I said, brace yourselves.

I thought yesterday afternoon would be the perfect time to go for a little jog. So I left my apartment at 6 P.M. to avoid the traffic.....(did you get that? It's Memorial Day...there is no traffic. People aren't commuting.)

As I cross the 430 bridge, I get excited. It is beautiful outside. A little hot, but still beautiful. I gots my new shoes laced up tight and my playlist ready, and then I realize I don't have a place to put my car keys. Does anyone know how to solve this problem? New runner here. And please don't say fanny pack....

And now I must rephrase when I said it was a little hot to it was FREAKING HOT. End of story. My little 30 minute routine turned into 30 minutes of self-torture in the blazing sun. And it never fails that the last leg of my jogging routine happens on the upward slope of the Big Dam Bridge.

I have never been so thankful to see the top of a hill in my life. I was huffing and puffing. Pretty sure people I was meeting thought I was going to die. No pictures were taken of the aftermath which was myself sweaty and overheated.

As the bridge levels off the BEST breeze blew right in my face. I had to stop and enjoy the view.

The view to the East.

The view to the West. BEAUTIFUL. One of the best views in Little Rock (in my opinion), but I also love the views from the top of Pinnacle Mountain.

While it was super sweltering, I would have much rather ran the Big Dam Bridge at high noon than spend the afternoon making a yarn wreath.

The roommate and I are currently in the process of decorating our patio/balcony. As of yesterday morning it consisted of this:

Our patio furniture from our old house painted a nice shade of UCA purple. Go Bears. (They use to be a stained brown color, but the sun faded them over time. So my sweet grandma painted them purple for me.)

And the old school flower wreath. Now this wreath has treated us well, but I saw my friend and fellow blogger Shanna at Keepin' Up with the Moody's new wreath and thought I could make that, too. She made a sweet yarn wreath for her front door, and a bunch of her friends sent her pictures of their yarns wreaths. Check out their wreaths.

Since I am not married, I had to get creative since I couldn't use an initial. But I think it worked out for the best. This is how door swag should be represented. Bold and beautiful.

Let me just say...They seem easy, but don't underestimate this time consuming craft project. Just wrapping the yarn took me two hours. I had to take frequent breaks because my hands cramped up and the yarn got tangled.  But I think the outcome was TOO CUTE.

What do you think? It's handmade (well except for the flowers and the bird.)

I love my new front door swag. Pretty cute. My favorite part is the burlap bow, but the sunny yellow daisies are a close second.

Now stay tuned. There is more patio reveal coming your way tomorrow, as well as my first recipe post. Here are some clues for the recipe: cheesy, saucy, healthy, yummy.

Happy Tuesday friends!

Credit to The Big Guy Upstairs

My life has been go go go since school is out. I think I've been trying to cram in so many fun things before next semester that I forgot to check my final grades for the semester.

So this morning I checked it. And my screen looked like this.

This girl got that fat 4.0. Holla. I was too excited. And had that one professor from last semester given me an A, I would have a 4.0 overall. He's a fool with a stupid name. (end rant.)

And this was me after checking grades.

Pretty excited. (Don't mind the under-eye circle. They are from my lack of sleep due to a huge face after oral surgery. I'm trying to not be self-conscious about my left cheek still feeling like it looks like a balloon. And also today is my "Casual Friday", hence the work polo and messy bun.)

I felt like I was going to get an A in my history class because I knew I put in the work that deserved an A.

I also knew I was teetering on the A/B line in Processes and Effects because most of my grades were low A's and high B's. I guess the final paper I wrote pushed me to the A side. (But I bet she doesn't know I wrote that 15-page mammoth over the course of one afternoon...A.K.A I bs-ed it.)

The PR Class was up in the air. Lady's grading was crazy hard in the beginning, but then she lightened up closer to the end. Based on the e-mail from her (feature below), I'm pretty sure my Case Study and presentation earned me an A.

From the PR professor regarding my case study and presentation.

Thought from the beginning that this was one of the most innovative and original case study ideas presented. Your presentation and your report didn’t let me down. Your written report was one of the most thorough – if not the most – I received, right down to analyzing the types of crises that faced J&J. Your analysis of the public relations issues was as comprehensive and insightful as I’ve seen in this class (or others). Only a few – very few – writing issues popped up. The thoroughness of your presentation complimented your written report. In fact, the only fault I can find is this: don’t play with your hair while you’re giving a presentation. Other than that – Bravo!
Grade 248/250

Moral: Nervous habits (like playing with your hair to help you focus on what you are saying) needs to be checked at the door. But she still said I was the most innovative and original, which was nice for the ego.

So basically all the crying, worrying, stressing and angering paid off. (I know angering is not a word. Just trying to keep things parallel. Grammer is important, you know.)

The credit for this one goes straight up the the Big Guy for hearing my prayers and the prayers of those closest to me to could feel my stress.

Thank you Jesus for carrying me through when I was too tired to walk this semester. Thank you for the extra brain power and will to keep hacking away at that stacks of homework and projects. Thank you for surrounding me with incredible classmates --- Megan, Beth, Carmen, Lauren, Mike, Ginger, and Kristin --- incredible teachers --- Zacher, Drale, David Keith, and Donna Stephens --- and my family and close friends --- too many of you to name.

It feels good to see the fruits of your labor. It's things like this that keep us motivated. Your motivation may be different than mine. But I promise your motivation is there. You just have to look for it. So open up those peepers and see what's out there.

Happy Thursday, friends. Love jus guys.

Waiting is for the Birds

What's your thoughts on waiting? In the doctor's office? Before class starts? While class is in session? At work?

We are in a world full of waiting. Waiting to do something. Waiting for someone. Waiting to be ready for something. Always waiting.

Some people wait patiently, and others not so much. I am in the latter group where waiting is a chore. My patience is something I work on every day, and it is a time consuming battle.

I feel like I've been doing a lot of waiting here lately. Waiting for school to be out for summer. Waiting to get off work. Waiting for something fun to do. Waiting for that oh-so-special someone.

Waiting is for the birds.

But what if we all became proactive, instead of reactive? What if we made change, instead of reacted to change? How would we be different? How would the world be different?

We wait for something to happen; we expect it. We get blind-sided when we don't expect it.

Here's where I'm going with this. I want to be blind-sided by life (but in a good way). Waiting makes me feel ever-expectant. I feel like I'm always waiting.

But what if I stopped waiting? Just completely stopped. Life would just happen spontaneously, and it would be wonderful (or terrible). But let's go with wonderful.

The best things in life come when you least expect it. I got my job because I was recommended by a faculty member; I didn't apply for it. I feel like more things could be like that if we would just let it be. Expecting is how some people get hurt.

Here is my goal for the summer: To become less expectant of myself and other people. To let life happen. To live in the moment, good or not-so-good. To minimize disappointment because of the high expectations I hold for myself and others.

It sounds kind of negative to say "I'm becoming less expectant of myself and other people." I am not giving up my morals and values. I'm just not going to wait around and expect something to happen. It either will or it won't. Me toiling and boiling over it will have no effect on the outcome.

This will be a huge challenge for me. Probably more challenging than the running goal. But I feel like it will help me out in  the long run. I'm just going to give my self a "break", along with everyone else.

No more waiting, now it's doing. Let's make the magic of life happen, people. Let's get inspired and do something without waiting.

We could stand on the edge of this cliff our entire lives...but let's just not. Isn't jumping half the fun? It's time to scare ourselves ALIVE!

Just make it work for you. Until next time...(or I should say don't wait til next time....)

A Hillsong Day

A lot of discussions about Jesus and religion come up in this office where I work. We get on tangents, and by the time it's over we are pumped up about Jesus and what He's doing. Today was especially true.

So this brings me to Thursday's video medley. A tribute to Hillsong United.

Challenge of the day: Let the music move you. Don't really watch the people. Just listen. Close your eyes if you have to. Feel it. It will blow your mind. Take it in.

"It's Your Love"

"With Everything"

Hope you have a blessed day. This is for all the people in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and anywhere else people are recovering from serious storm damage. This is for all the people in need of a little Light in their life. This is for my family. And for Uncle John who is chatting it up with the Big Guy.

Sometimes we forget there is something bigger than us. Much bigger. With plans that are not what we plan. His plans will happen. And we won't expect it. That's life. God is good. All the time.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what His plan for me is. Bet it's better than I could ever imagine.

Until next time...