She is beauty, she is grace, she just fell flat on her face

Anyone else feel lied to?

I feel like the whole human existence is kind of a big, fat lie. I know.. dramatic. But hear me out:

I remember as a child thinking that the kids in high school were so cool. They “just had their life together.” They were going to college and they were going to pursue careers. Their parents were proud. Shoot, they were proud.

Plus they could drive. The world was literally their oyster.

Then I remember sitting in high school and thinking “wow, college kids REALLY have it all together.” They are on their way now. They have goals, they have ambitions. They are creating and constructing the building blocks of their future.. and what a beautiful, picture-perfect future it was going to be.

Then after undergrad, all I could think was “oh my god, look at all these young professionals, paving their particular path in the world” whether it was through their career or grad school. They were organized. They were disciplined. They were making a difference.

Even now, any time I see a peer in a new house or with a second, third, fourth child, I’m struck by how “put together they are.” They have achieved at life so well that they are bringing more life into this world. They are so put together, they could write an instruction manual on how to properly “life” and “raise life”.

However, I have never, once, in my tenure of being me, thought to myself “damn girl, look at you go, you are organized, disciplined and really have it all together. People are probably looking at you as the pinnacle of human existence.”

In fact, I would argue the opposite. I spent high school scrambling for good grades and good deeds to get good scholarships.

I spent undergrad switching from one major to another – until I settled on English, because it was easy for me. Never mind the fact that there aren’t a lot of careers that demand an extensive knowledge of William Shakespeare’s works (if they are even really his?).

I went to law school, amongst all my driven, disciplined, and determined peers, because I wasn’t sure what to do next. Law school seemed like a good (albeit expensive) way to postpone the inevitable “oh my god, I have no idea what I am doing with my life.” At the time, I remember thinking “at least this is forward movement.”

And I have spent the last 20 or so years, flabbergasted on when everyone got their shit together and wondering why it seemed the “shit-putting together” fairy missed my house. Presumably, I was out of town when she stopped by, but I most certainly, do NOT, have my shit together.

I think social media can give you that impression though. I know it has given me that impression of my fellow human beings. Happy, happy all the time – at least, that’s what Facebook says.

I’d argue the opposite (again). Life is messy and hard. We are all floundering, just privately. No one wants to show the bad side of life, or hardship.. or really even anything that hints to them having things even slightly less that “totally put together.” It is just not our nature. To be completely transparent – even my social media is a gigantic, curated, glimpse into only the brightest moments of my life. And who can blame me? No one wants to hear about how many times I have checked that the oven was off, because my OCD is out of wack.. again.

I’m tired of the facade. I want to be authentic and I want to have authentic conversations and friendships.

So, I’m coming to you live, from my bathtub, to tell you that yesterday, in the middle of a packed restaurant, I slammed face first into a wall of windows, thinking it was the door. The windows were the type to not be trifled with.. and I kind of bounced off, rebounding, as the reverb echoed in this restaurant. Everyone went silent.

The door was right next to the wall of windows, of which, I threw my face. And food. And drink.

Here I was, a young, presumably capable, attorney, on her lunch break and I have no doubt that I was giving off the aura of complete control. I am sure I looked like I had it all together, but in reality… I body-slammed a window.

She is beauty, she is grace. She just fell flat on her face.

So, step one to authenticity: admit you totally missed the door, caused a scene in a busy restaurant, spilt your food all over yourself, shook it off in front of everyone like it was fine.. and then cried about it in your truck. Because, life isn’t so picture-perfect all the time.

It doesn’t get much more “not put together” than that.

Sunny daze ahead, my sweet friends. Be well 🌞

She is beauty. She is grace. She just fell flat on her face. 🫣

Real sentences.

I have been trying to figure out how to best sum up the last few weeks, because it’s been pretty wild. I went to Scottsdale for my bachelorette with SEVENTEEN girls and finally got my wedding dress! 🤗 We are getting there guys, and what better way to describe the last few weeks, than to give you direct quotes from the last few weeks. 😂

“Why are there so many shades of white?” – regarding wedding veils.

“I could just try it on in the bathroom.. or in the corner” – regarding my wedding dress 🙈. Turns out you have to have an appointment to pick that puppy up. Bridal fail.

“Lucy (the dog), just threw up in bed. Don’t worry.. I caught it” (IN MY HAND). *immediately moves in for a high-five for saving the sheets*

“What do you mean, when you say we have to write our ceremony?” – me to Matt, upon finding out that there’s not a pre-written wedding ceremony.

“ANOTHER ONE”

“ANOTHER ONE”

“another one”

“Please no more” ⬆️ a live feed of my response to strangers buying me shots at my bachelorette. It started fun… but took a turn quickly.

“No, I actually always sleep on the floor” – me trying to play off sleeping on the floor instead of bed..

“No.. I want cow print on my nails. It’s my final hoe down throwdown” – me to my poor, innocent, nail tech.

“Yes, perfect, just need to run that by your sister..” – to my client that did not know he had a sister.

“Ew it tastes like cookie dough in a bad way.” – my response to the cookie dough whiskey I have been dying to try. 🤣

“Please don’t destroy anything I love.. especially bed” – me to Zeppelyn, before leaving for the bachelorette.

“I think I sunburnt my nostrils” – my response to desert living 🤣

“Don’t forget to feed my fish” – me in response to an “I love you” from Matt.

“PUT MY FIANCÉ ON YOUR FACE”

“YES, MATT WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR TRAMP STAMP”

“YES. THIS IS MY FIANCÉ ON MY FACE.. AND HER THIGH” ⬆️- all regarding temporary tattoos of Matt’s face we got for the bachelorette.

“Can this be my carry on?” – regarding a life-size 3-D poster of my dogs. Happy note: it made it home safely.. and it wasn’t even my carryon.

“Oh look, there’s a family of squirrels out back.”

“Oh no, Lucy just spotted them”.

“Oh god, there went grandma”.

… 5 minutes later.. “oh no, they are back looking for grandma squirrel”. ⬆️ all regarding a squirrel murder I narrated to Matt this morning.

“They just don’t make grocery bags like they used too”. – me, after spilling groceries for the 90th time.

“The police pony wants my love” – my response to seeing mounted police. Update: they didn’t want my love.

“Guys! Watch me work out!” – me as a fell on the ground trying to demonstrate a single donkey kick.

“What is this massive bruise on your butt from?” – Matt to me.. post-donkey kick situation. 🙄. I think he was hoping for a spicier story than that.

“Gosh, I hate to waste all these gift bags” – me, channeling my inner-mother, trying to reuse the shit out of gift bags.

“Anyone else think horse poop smells relaxing?” – it’s true. I don’t know what it means to “smell relaxing”, but it certainly is a comforting smell. Where are my horse people at? Back me up. 😬

“Watch how low I can go… oh god, I’m stuck” – me dancing. 🙈

“You should come on our family honeymoon” – me to any stranger while under the influence.

& yes, we are going on a family trip for our honeymoon. Get at us. 😂

“I think I want to do a first reveal with my dog” – me to the wedding coordinator 🤷🏻‍♀️

“We don’t need a rehearsal dinner.. everyone has been walking since they were like one. It’ll be fine” – me upon deciding that we will not be rehearsing our nuptials 🥴

“Oh no, there’s a poop on the floor” – just… Zeppelyn.

“I scheduled a car appointment today, but I took my car to the wrong place” – explaining to my father why my truck is still in a disheveled state. 🤣

“I LOVE DESERT PONIES!” – blurted out upon actually riding a desert pony.

Ya’ll, it’s been wild! What have you been up too?

There are sunny daze ahead, I promise. It’s almost SPRING. 🌞

Yup. That’s Matt on my face. 🤣

The intricacies and the oddities 🧐

Hi frannnnsss! Recently, my blog has started to gain some traction! I’m gaining new followers on WordPress and Facebook on the daily lately (and while it is awesome), I have to admit, I have no idea what changed.

Like most of my technological exploits, unless the answer is to turn it off and then turn it back on, it’s likely I have no idea what is going on or how to fix it. I can confidently say… I have no idea what is going on. That being said, I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE! Happy days! Sunny days! Sunny Daze, if you will!

I thought I would take a minute, via a blog post, to introduce myself to anyone who is new here… or just wants to know me more. As with most things, I will probably not conform with your general introduction expectations. I don’t conform often – you should get used to that.

But to start, I’m Ashley. I’m a 20-something, dog-mom, lady lawyer. I am a daughter, a sister and a fiancée. (I will forever say finance instead of fiancée – I just can’t unsee it).

I’m deeply terrified of butterflies.

I am convinced that I am going to die in a car fire. Hopefully, not soon.

  • It’s kind of a long story really, but just know.. I have seen an INORDINATE amount of car fires in my lifetime.
  • I’m stressed enough about it that I bought everyone I love a car fire extinguisher for their own vehicle for Christmas. 😅

I have a lot of unpopular opinions:

  • Bacon. What is all the rage? I don’t get it. Sure, it makes a lovely club sandwich! It’s not bad wrapped around vegetables. But am I going to eat it plain? Absolutely. Not.
  • Bacon jerky? Completely different story. Same with bacon bits. 🤷🏻‍♀️. I don’t know, I have some weird complex about warm, whole-piece bacon, I guess.
  • Condiments? Again – wtf! Ketchup 🤢, mustard 🤢, ranch 🥴, barbecue sauce 🤮 (I know, bad Kansan), Buffalo sauce? No thank you. Marinara for cheese sticks? WHY ARE YOU RUINING FRIED CHEESE?
  • I can’t watch made up shows like Criminal Minds when I am trying to fall asleep, but I find the true stories depicted on Forensic Files to be adequately soothing for sleep. 😐
  • I think lunch is the most important meal of the day.. but I’m not willing to fight over it.
  • I don’t think I could identify a single sports car in a parking lot if my life depended on it.

I really use words like “neato Cheeto” and “snazzy” and “delightful” in my day-to-day conversations.

I find selfies so odd. I mean, I’ve done them.. I’m guilty. But isn’t it odd to take a picture of your face and assume everyone else wants to see your face too?

I was kicked out of Girl Scouts as a child… couldn’t stop fighting people. 🤣 No, I’m kidding. We were on the horseback riding unit, and I was a real horseback rider, and our troop leader kept calling all the equipment by the wrong names. Obviously, I was not going to let that slide. MY PEERS NEEDED EDUCATED. I was asked to leave.

My dreams of being a doctor ended with a frog. My dreams of being a animal lawyer ended with a lobster. And so now, I read contracts – and oddly, I kind of like it.

There is absolutely 0% chance you will ever hear me utter the words: “wow, I wish we could climb that mountain.. for fun”

I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie. Like a full-blown movie.

Actually, I can’t remember the last time I went to a movie theater, either.

  • Funny story: one of the first times that I was allowed to go to the movie theater with my friends (I was literally probably 17 (or an adult) because my parents helicoptered… I mean, watched us closely), I accidentally let someone in the side door of the theater. I recognized him, and without thinking, I just opened the side door and he walked in… and then snuck into a theater.. without paying. I was so distraught that I had allowed this behavior to happen that I told the security guard on myself and called my dad on myself🥴 even the security guard was like.. it’s really okay.

BUT ALAS, my compass of right and wrong was especially sensitive back then and I absolutely needed to go to my room and think about my careless actions and bad behavior!

Now, my moral compass is still pretty strong, but I agree, there can be some gray areas. I don’t think that there any gray spots in how you treat others, or your family, or the type of employee and friend you are.

…But I do think that bringing home (ie taking) a little ramekin from a restaurant with “Yum-Yum” sauce may be necessary if you have no other options. They should work on that.

Math is hard, numbers give me anxiety, and my OCD has me obsessed with dates. But weird/morbid dates. Like I can tell you the date and time my horse stopped breathing. Or I can tell you the day that I walked out of my last pre-med lab class with the dumb frog.

Day to day, it’s not so clear. For instance, I have thought for the last three days it has been Wednesday. I believe we are finally here. It is Wednesday, right?

Once, I was in a spelling bee. My parents came to watch. My dad took time off work! I stumbled over the first letter, laughed, said “can I restart” all in violation of the rules and was promptly disqualified. It’s not my proudest moment, but it is a moment.

I used to not eat beef because cows were too closely related to horses in my mind.

So yeah, that’s me. I think that sums it up pretty well. 🤣. Tell me some need-to-know, strange fact about you and then we will be well on our way to best friendship on the interwebs.

A selfie! For your uncomfortable viewing pleasure 😝

There are sunny daze ahead, sweet friends! I just know it!

I’m not going to be sad tomorrow.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Eve. More importantly, happy March 16th. March 16th is the day before March 17th and March 17th is a really, really special day. March 17th is Star’s birthday.. and Star is my horse.

Or.. she was. As you may remember, she’s dead now. Dead as a door nail – 100 pounds of ash stuffed in a wooden box. There’s an entire blog post dedicated to the whole chaotic catastrophe that was the end of her life, but that is not the topic for today. Today, we talk about the day she was born.

Star graced the Earth with her presence on St. Patrick’s Day, in 1996, most likely like a freight train – loud, heavy, and a force to be reckoned with. (I assume, I wasn’t there). She entered into the universe ready to show the all the cowboys and cowgirls exactly what a wild horse looked like, untethered by rules or any form of training. She spent her days demonstrating her utmost independence, her general distaste for rules, and her undeniable zest for life… and eating. She was wild, and a little spastic, and free. Star was a star in every sense of the word: beautiful, bright, hot (tempered), and easy to fixate your eyes on. She was the star of my show, the star of my entire universe, and honestly, she was the star of her own universe as well. Star loved Star, her BFF Susie, and maybe me.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I loved her a lot. I loved her for more than half of my life, more than half of her life. We shared 15 adventure-filled years together – celebrating her birthday and ignoring every single St. Patrick’s Day, as if I am not at least 50% Irish. (😬, sorry grandparents – priories, ya know?) I have always loved celebrating my friends and she was no different.

So yes, tomorrow is her birthday and she won’t be here for it. But, I’m not going to be sad. Actually, there are several things that I will not be doing:

I’m not going to undermine her life. I’m not going to downplay her loss because she was an animal and animals die every day. I’m not going to tell myself “she was just a horse”, because to me, she was so much more. She was a friend and a safe place.

I’m not going to compare – I know that there are people in our world that have unfortunately lost parents, and children, and spouses. I know I am blessed that by all of life still around me. But today, I’m not going to let my many, many blessings convince me that I do not have the right be sad about her loss. I am not going compare my loss of Star to someone else’s tragic loss, or allow myself to believe that she is somehow less of a loss, because she was a horse. The enormity of her life and her impact in my life was simply too profound to reduce to “she was just a pet.”

I’m not going to feel guilty. I am not going to chastise myself for feeling like my world came crashing down with her loss sometimes, even though there are people all over world that are losing their family, friends, homes, and countries.. right this moment. I’m not going to tell myself that I have to feel guilty for missing Star and wishing she was here, because there is hardship, illness, and strife taking over the world. I am not going to let the ugliness that is the world take away from the beauty that was her life. It’s two separate topics that do not coexist in the same realm. I am going to allow myself to be sad because Star is not here, and be sad that Ukraine is under attack, and not categorize one as more heartbreaking. They are both heartbreaking, but differently heartbreaking.

I’m not going to tell myself how lucky I was to love and be loved by her as a way to take away the detriment of her absence. I refuse hold myself hostage to our 15 beautiful years together, 15 birthdays. Her life is so much further reaching than 15 years and her lifetime, and while it is true that I had 15 years with her, and 15 birthdays with her, tomorrow is her birthday and she won’t be here. Those 15 years, while amazing, don’t take away the fact that she is not here. Right now. I’m not going to tell myself that they somehow erase the pain of her loss.

She was a huge part of my life and I’m not going to feel bad that I miss that part of my life and her existence on this planet. But, I’m not going to be sad.

That would not be what she would have wanted for me, and honestly, that’s not what I want for myself. I may be nostalgic. I may be reminiscent. But I won’t be sad.

Star made me happy, she made me feel comfortable and accepted. She made me feel unique, and adventurous, and brave. I have seldom felt as in control of myself and my mind, as I did on her back. She was safe. I lost that when I lost her. I have, and always will, chase that feeling every day for the rest of natural my life. In the two and half years that she has been gone, I have yearned for this feeling again – the feeling of carefree, relaxed, bliss.

Random acts of kindness bring about this kind of joy and a Star-brand of contentment. When in doubt, Act of Kindness it out (I am so going to coin this as my personal motto)! So that’s what I have decided to do for her birthday this year – to honor her and her memory. I have an entire day of small acts of kindness planned. Being kind, and surprising others, and making people smile, exactly like Star always did for me.

So no, I’m not going to be sad. I’m going to be kind, I’m going to be brave, I am going to smile and remember all of the good memories. I’m going to chase that feeling of pure, unadulterated, joy that she always brought out of me..

and I know she’ll be right by my side, in the spirit world, probably trying to kick me or steal all the treats.

Happy birthday, Star. I am not going to lie and say I don’t wish you were here, but I am going value the time spent, the love shared, and all the messy memories in between. I’m not sad today. I love you, my baby, forever.

There are sunny daze ahead my sweet friends, EVEN tomorrow. 🌞

The dream team. No actually, right after this photo, she dumped my ass on the ground, in true Star fashion ⭐️

If I could have told you so..

Hi, hi, HI THERE! Long time, no write. I’m stumbling, humbly, back into your feeds with my infinite words of wisdom… or possibly just random thoughts. I guess it’s up to you- take from it what you will or take away absolutely nothing at all. No pressure either way.

I’ve missed writing, but I have struggled to know what to write. To be honest, adult life is kind of boring, planning a wedding is kind of boring, caring for an ailing dog is kind of boring. Don’t get me wrong, boring is good. It means everyone is healthy, and relatively happy, and functioning.. and we are! Even Lucy! Boring is good, but it doesn’t really inspire blog writing.

It does, however, inspire reflection. I don’t know if it’s the pending life changes, like I don’t know.. freaking MARRIAGE.. or what, but I have been spending a lot of time in my head, just kind of ruminating.

I’ve been thinking about younger Ashley, the person I used to be and how, specifically, I got here to this exact moment – 3 months out of marrying my best friend, surrounded by an entire herd of dogs, in Nebraska of all places. It hasn’t been a cake walk. There have been hard times, but there have been innumerable good times. There have been memories -some fantastic, some.. less than fantastic. There have been regrets, there have been choices, and there have probably been some mistakes. But there has also been joy, and immeasurable fun, and incredible growth. I’ve been blessed, and truly, I don’t think that I would go back and change a single thing. It really is like that Rascal Flatts’ song, all of these moments have lead me directly to this spot, today. I like this spot. I’m proud of this spot.

But that’s not to say that I don’t wish I could tell my younger, more naive, sometimes too trusting and hopeful, version of myself, a little about life.

If I could go back, and talk to that girl, I would tell her that she has value… and it’s not monetary. I would tell her that her friends that love her, will love her for who she is and what she stands for, not for what she can provide. I would tell her that there is a difference between having a giving heart and letting yourself be walked on… and to stop being a doormat. I would tell her that she has more to offer than things… important stuff like love, and support, and companionship. Her friendship will be enough for the right people.

I would tell her that there is more to life than good grades and accolades. I would tell her that one day, her score in biology or her score on the LSAT really isn’t going to matter, but the type of person that she is, and has been, will always be important. No one remembers who got the top score in the intro to chemistry, but everyone remembers the person that was their friend when no one else was, that helped without being asked, and that who was true, to themselves and to others. I would tell her that it’s much more important to be a good daughter, a good granddaughter, and the cousin that is there for anything and everything. It’s more important to be the friend that loves wholly, supports endlessly, and can be counted on. Sometime, like in your late twenties, you won’t have the student “role” to fall back on. It will ONLY matter what kind of person you are and were. Make sure you’re proud of that person.

I would tell her to start practicing saying no now, because if she doesn’t, she’ll be 28 and struggle with boundaries. (😅) I would promise her that anyone that is worth having will respect those boundaries, and anyone who doesn’t, isn’t worth having. I would look her in her big, brown eyes and remind her of this often, especially when she’s convinced I’m lying. I would tell her that no person is worth violating those boundaries. I would reiterate that there is no love shared, no trust gained, and no relationship cultivated, when you’re uncomfortable and pretending to be someone you’re not. Respect your boundaries now, so when you’re 28, you know how to tell your friends, your coworkers and your family, no. No, with no explanation. No, with no excuse. Just no, it doesn’t serve me and that is okay. Then, I would stare her down and BEG her to take this advice, because future Ashley really needs her to become sound in this practice. Future Ashley would beg younger Ashley to do the work, so she doesn’t have to.

I would remind her to not take everything so seriously and that not everyone will want to play house at age 19. It’s not a personal attack. Some relationships are meant to last and some aren’t. The right one will always find its way and it won’t need to be forced. Hell, you may even yell at him for blocking your view at a concert 🤷🏻‍♀️. Crazy things will happen, and it will feel like your heart is breaking, and you will be disappointed and you will be let down, but you will always pick yourself back up. I would remind her that it is always worth it to pick herself back up. I would emphasize that her knight in shining armor is waiting and every step on this winding journey will eventually make sense. I’d advise her to take those relationships, and friendships, and experiences, and use them to make herself better. Every instance, every heart break, will shape her into the person she are meant to be. Embrace the journey, love wholeheartedly and unabashedly, and be excited to see the person, and friend, and partner that you will become.

I would tell her to be authentic, to herself and to others. I would tell her to feel pretty, to smile big, and to eat the damn carbs. I would tell her to hug her family tight, hug her dogs tight, and hug her horse even tighter, because there will be a day that those hugs aren’t there waiting for her. I would tell her to take the jump, to trust herself, to believe in herself, and to be confident, always. I would encourage her to watch her mouth and to speak kindly to herself and others. I would remind her to manifest goodness and to always see the goodness in others.

I would tell her to love herself and remind her that she has a good heart. I would tell her that these hard moments and these tough experiences will inevitably shape her into the person she becomes. I would tell her to be brave, to be strong, and to embrace the challenge. I would warn her that the time goes by, regardless of her attitude and her mood. So, I would tell her.. to just enjoy the time. And I would promise her that she turns out to be a pretty cool person. At least, I like her. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh and I would tell her to suck it up and eat cream cheese like an adult.. it’s going to change bagels forever.

What would you tell your younger self, if you could?

Sunny daze ahead, my sweet friends. Love yourself, old and new. 🌞

Up. Forward. Onward.

2022 UNunrecommendations

WordPress reminded me today that it’s been exactly one year since I started Sunny Daze🌞. What a journey! I love having this space to say what’s on my mind and I really, really love being surrounded (metaphysically) by fellow writers, poets, creators. WordPress is a good place to be.. me. I’m accepted for who I am and what I say, even if it’s a little crazy, or opinionated, or just plain ridiculous. I’m so thankful for this space. So thank you! 💕🥳

That being said, I took the time to scroll through my blog today and WOW, how things have changed. There have been little changes, big changes, and some serious internal changes. I think these changes needed to happen. I like me more today than I did a year ago.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw my first ever blog post was entitled “2021 unrecommendations.” While there was some good advice scattered in there, I can’t help but think that blog was the perfect summarization of what was going on with me internally. I didn’t think I knew a whole heck of a lot, and anything I did know, I figured I learned in a negative way. Thus, those were my unrecommendations… my attempt to stop you from making the same “mistakes” that I made.

Mistakes are funny like that though – a kind of necessary evil. I regret changing my medication around, but I will never regret all that I learned about my mental state and my mental fortitude. I probably didn’t need to drink a gallon of water a day.. but man, did my kidneys perform at top notch for like a week straight. 🤣.

All of that is to say, I’m in a different place now. I trust my head and heart. I trust my intuition. I trust myself to have decent advice. So, without further ado, please see my 2022 UNunrecomendations (also known as “recommendations”).

First (and this is important), I have seen a lot of people posting about not claiming 2022 as your year.. or to “tread lightly”. People are requesting a sneak preview to 2022, before they full blown commit. Undoubtedly, the last year, or two, have been hard, challenging, and isolating; and in some cases, lonely and heartbreaking. I don’t want to understate that, because it’s the truth for 99.9% of us.

I, also, fully want to acknowledge that the majority of these people, sharing the “tread lightly” sentiment, are joking. At least, I think they are. 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I cannot imagine a worse way to go into 2022 (hear me out!).

I’m not recommending that everyone disregard all CDC guidelines, county mandates, and go out there (into society) willy-nilly, like there isn’t a pandemic going on. But I think at this point, we all know our comfort level. We know when we don’t feel well, when we need to be more protective and preventative, and when we need to take care of ourselves… even if it’s for others.

So, my advice? Live with your whole heart. Work hard when you are at work, but remember to balance that with some serious play time. Throw yourself into your hobbies and find out what you are good at (and even bad at), and get better. Nourish your body with good food. Enjoy good meals, without guilt, and in good company. Prioritize your health, but don’t compromise your happiness. Stay active. If you are able to be around friends and family, be with them… wholly. Enjoy the conversations, absorb the lessons, memorize the stories. Be present. Take it day by day, because honestly, that’s all we are promised.

Instead of treading lightly into 2022, I recommend busting in, full force, and ready to live. Here’s the thing, the time is going to pass regardless. This is not to be read as a “screw all of society and be selfish” directive, but really.. a reality check of sorts. The. Time. Will. Pass. Regardless.

Secondly, I advise that you use judgment. You’ll notice I didn’t say to use good judgment or bad judgment – just judgment. Sometimes, I think you need to make the bad choice. Use your brain, make a decision, and stand by it. You can always use different (potentially, better) judgment to get yourself out of jam. Trust that old noggin of yours, you’ve made it this far, so you must be doing something mostly right. Use judgment, because those are the lessons you’ll remember and they are the experiences that stick with you. If you do something dumb, fix it and move on. Your judgment will only get better over time. Allow yourself to grow.. through all the good choices and the sometimes bad choices.

Thirdly, invest in yourself. The only person that you are truly always going to be surrounded by is yourself, so you might as well be someone that you like. Habits are hard to break, but it’s even harder to be in a state of mind or be a type of person that you cannot stand. . I’m here to tell you, it’s much easier to be around someone you like than someone you dislike.. especially if it’s your own mind that you dislike.

What does that look like? For me, it’s consciously choosing to program and reprogram (and reprogram again) my thoughts. I’m tired of being negative. I’m tired of expecting the worst and assuming the worst. My mind isn’t always a fun place to be, but I’m determined to change that in 2022. I am unfollowing social media accounts and people that bring me down or bring out the worst in me. I’m cutting out toxic friendships and relationships. I am working on controlling my initial thought pattern, from something negative to something positive (or at least less critical and harmful). I am cultivating the friendships that bring out the best of me. I am spending time figuring out what I like to do, whether it be running (seems unlikely 🤣), reading murder mysteries, climbing back on the horse (literally), cooking, or taking the time to snuggle my pups. I’m investing in myself, after all… I am my own biggest investment.

Fourthly, take time to rest. Some would probably tell you that I have resting DOWN… and really don’t need to work on “improving this skill”. It’s true, I do love bed. But I mean a different kind of rest, one I’m not so good at. I’m working on taking time to rest my mind. I am giving myself a break, from my to do lists and my work stress. I’m taking a break from the planning for the future and goal making. I’m resting my brain. Sometimes, you just don’t need to be racing from one thought to the next. I’m trying to learn to enjoy the quiet… but I’ll admit that it’s the work in progress. Quiet mind, quiet heart, less anxiety… at least, I’m assuming.

So.. that’s it, at least for now. These are my UNunrecommendations. Run into 2022 heart and head wide open, expectations high, but also curbed and realistic. Invest in yourself and your mental well-being. And rest, do a lot of authentic resting.

At least, that’s what I am doing. 🤷🏻‍♀️. We will see how it goes. I have to admit, I made chicken tamales today.. and that always makes me feel like I really have my life together. 🤣 Maybe we should talk about this again tomorrow.

Happy 2022, sweet friends. Thanks for being here. And remember.. there are always sunny daze ahead 🌞

HEY, HEY, YOU, YOU.. IT IS MY FREAKING WEDDING YEAR! 💕🎉

1-800-Got-Junk: the best business model

Any one else guilty of following the 1-800-Got-Junk people around their house screaming “PURGE, PURGE, PURGGEEE?!”

No, just me? It’s cool. Today is one of my favorite days of the year. IT IS JUNK PURGING DAY, BAYBAY.

First, if you’re not familiar with the 1-800-Got-Junk business model, let me enlighten you with what I consider to be singlehandedly the BEST business model I have ever seen/experienced. It’s literally a dump truck, that shows up to your house empty, besides two burly men (I assume women work here also, but I’ve never witnessed it). Then you show said burly men around your nasty, junk-filled house, and they take all of the crap you point out to them to their truck to NEVER be seen again.

IT IS THE GREATEST THING EVER. They charge you by the amount of truck you fill up and we normally spend anywhere between $300-$500.. and I swear it is by FAR the best money we will spend in 2021. (Minus wedding stuff – do not panic, parents!) Total time spent? 30 minutes or less. I am not playing, it is the most bang for your buck that you can get out there… in the ENTIRE world.

You are probably starting to think that 1-800-Got-Junk is sponsoring this blog post. But no, I am just really this big of a fan 🤣. Plus, I’m not sure this blog has the type of pull that gets sponsorships. But 1-800-Got-Junk, if you’re out there, and you want a dashing review, you are FREE to pull any of these words and slap them on your website. Consider it my gift to you, you little peace-bringers. 😘

With that all aside, you are now probably really starting to wonder how two people (Matt and I) really create that much “junk” that we need this to be an annual occurrence? The truth is this… ONE of us, who shall remain unnamed, apparently does not believe in garbage cans. So much so that if the other ONE of us did not exist, our house would be one minuscule step away from episode of hoarders. We already collect dogs 😉 Regardless of who’s fault it is (Matt’s 🤪) there really is nothing better than taking a day and getting rid of old crap. It’s cleansing for the house, it’s cleansing for the soul.

So.. what did we get rid of? Our couch. Literally, we now just have an electric fireplace and a massive dog bed in our living room. It creates a certain ambiance… the type of ambiance that says “do not come over, we do not have seating for you, but please send your dog.” We got rid of doors and their casings, 5 of them to be exact, which were just sitting in our extra room.. collecting dust and stressing me out. We got rid of our giant collection of tree limbs that we had trimmed off our trees in APRIL. Also, I finally gave up on Matt’s pipe dream of having a bonfire for him. I’ve been with the man for 4.5 years, we’ve been prepping for a “bonfire” for the entire duration of that time together, and today… today was the day we kissed that dream goodbye. I am not sad. Oh, and we got rid of all our broken porch furniture. 🤷🏻‍♀️ sorry neighbors, we’re about to be respectable human beings here any second now.. brace yourselves!

It’s stupid. I mean, I know that it’s just stuff, but seeing it go, feels like a weight off my chest. I know we could dump it ourselves, and if we did, we could get rid of the junk sooner, but… let’s be real, that takes a level of adult-functioning and organization that we are simply not partaking in at this juncture in life. We have things to do, cleaning up tree limbs is not part of the daily grind.. at the moment. If that’s ridiculous to you, I agree… it is ridiculous, but it’s also honest, sincere and genuine. I don’t want to do it.

So instead, we call 1-800-Got-Junk, they show up, and they take 30 minutes out of their day to change my entire life outlook. Sometimes, it just feels good to purge. 🤷🏻‍♀️

As I sit here, watching them carry our tattered furniture out of the house, I have to admit, I fueled a fire within me. I have already gone through clothes/closets, but next on the list… junk drawers. It’s trash day on Tuesday.. and junk has got to go. We are going to be sitting in an empty house by Tuesday at the rate my brain is going.

Not to get overly meta on everyone, but I’ve also been thinking about a mental purge. Like, using this instance/experience as a visual representation of purging my stress, my anxiety, and all the things that are beyond my control, from my brain. I can’t help that Lucy is sick, and worrying about it, just steals the happiness of our days left. I can’t help that our builder may never show up again and we may have lost all that money on our doors/trim, but I can help my attitude about it all. There’s a lot of things beyond my control, that take up a lot of space in my brain, that really just do not belong there. I am a hoarder of mental “junk”. It’s time to purge all of that “junk” too.

So that’s what I did, between screaming “Purge, Purge, Purge” and pointing out junk, I dumped my own junk in that dump truck. I had to do it secretly, of course, because I cannot have the 1-800-Got-Junk people thinking I am crazier than they already do, but somewhere in that dump truck, wedged between chewed couch cushions is a bucket of work stress. Somewhere in that dump truck, maybe under the pile of tree limbs, is canine lymphoma. Somewhere in that dump truck, probably stacked between broken chairs, is the daily bullshit my mind likes to obsess over – things like fear of loss, fear of being a disappointment, fear of failure. Then the dump truck just drove off – no heavier with my “added junk”, and yet somehow, I am so much lighter.

I purged the junk. I don’t know how long this visual representation will do the trick for me, or if it will last at all, but I plan enjoy every second of peace that it has brought me in the right now. The dump can have that junk, it does not benefit me. We may be down furniture or “junk”, but we are up so much more in free space, less clutter, and less odor retention (our couch was NASTY, y’all!). All of those things bring me peace of mind, comfort, and a tiny bit more mental stability.

I’m telling you, you gotta get the stability where you can. Call 1-800-Got-Junk, get rid of the junk, and feel BETTER. You are your only hindrance (screaming this at myself, I promise).

Sunny daze ahead, sweet friends (most likely). 🌞

THE BEST OF THE BEST
Soul = cleansed

A lawyer: 3 years later

Facebook memories have a way of building you up, tearing you down, or just plain kicking your ass. Or sometimes, they just…really, really age you. Facebook reminded me the other day that it’s been 3 years, THREE YEARS, since I was sworn into the Missouri bar. While it was one of my life highlights, and one of my best days, it still absolutely blows my mind that I’ve been a lawyer for three years. More importantly, I have been fixing real peoples’ real life problems, for THREE YEARS. I’m still not convinced that I have the knowledge, the wherewithal, the experience, or the talent to help anyone, let alone a bunch of strangers… but here I am: 3 years out.

If I could go back to little fresh-faced, angel baby, newly minted-attorney Ashley, this is what I would tell myself:

1. Confidence will take you far, even fake confidence. You don’t have to be positive that you are right, you just have to say your decision or conclusion confidently. Really sell it. Afterwards, run to the internet and pray to the Lord that your confidence paid off.

2. Speaking of internet, the internet is your friend. It is insane how much law you DON’T know. You’ll seriously question if you learned anything in law school.. frequently, but you’ll come to realize, you learned how to find information. Lawyers find information, digest information, and throw it up in a comprehensible blob of helpfulness. At least, hopefully.

3. Traffic laws should have been taught in law school. WHY ARE THEY NOT TAUGHT IN LAW SCHOOL?! 98% of the questions that will come your way will be about how to get out of a speeding ticket or lessen a DUI charge.. and you’ll be none the wiser. Again, the internet IS your friend.

4. Speaking of friends, they’ll come out of the woodworks. Truly. It’s amazing who suddenly wants to be friends when they think free legal advice may be an added perk.. especially when they are in a wee bit of trouble. It never hurts to be a friend, even with someone who has just so conveniently decided they liked you for the first time in their life. Good karma is a real thing – be a helper.

5. Speaking of friends again, don’t burn bridges – especially professional bridges. As many lawyers as there are out there, the lawyer-world really is so small. Everyone knows someone, and at least half of the someones out there, are important… and potentially hiring. Be on your best behavior. Always.

6. The customer is not always right; however, it is in the best interest of ALL parties if you pretend like they are. Pretend the customer is right and can do no wrong, then clean up the mess later. Preferably when no one, including the customer, is still involved.

7. No one should be able to contact you and receive an immediate response. Ever. The sense of immediacy that our world is subject to is concerning, and honestly, a little heartbreaking. A voicemail never hurt anyone… especially when you aren’t ENTIRELY sure what someone is calling for to begin with. Listen to the voicemail, collect your thoughts, and then call back. Whatever you do… do not answer and start rambling.

8. You’re a lawyer, get the contract in writing, you know better. Trusting that humanity is going to do what they say they are going to is just naive, and I promise you, it’ll end up kicking your ass. Just ask me, I’m 6 months out of a “house project” that hasn’t been completed and I still have NO doorknobs. I knew better. I know better, but here we are 🤷🏻‍♀️. If law school teaches you anything, it is to trust no one, especially mankind.

9. Law and Order really isn’t that bad of a resource. At least to a contract attorney that practices literally no litigation whatsoever, it seems pretty spot on. I know more about objections and hearsay evidence than I ever did in evidence class.

10. The best way to handle a client that is not being “all that patient” is to continually thank them for their continued patience. No one knows how to respond when they are getting thanked for something they KNOW they are not worthy of being thanked for. It works. I promise. People inherently don’t want to be dicks.. at least, I don’t think so.

11. People aren’t kind. I refuse to believe that the world, as a whole, is generally unkind, but there are several people out there that are not kind. It has less to do with you than you think, don’t flatter yourself. Suck it up, staple on the fake smile, and be kind anyways. It never hurts to be the bigger person.

12. You’ll be wrong. A lot. In fact, if you follow my advice, you’ll be CONFIDENTLY wrong. Be equally as confidently humble and as confidently ready to learn more. Confidently admit you’re wrong or you missed the mark, and move on. You win some, you lose some. It’s a way of life.

13. There will always be work. Always. There will not always be perfect rottie mix rescues, or your parents, or your fiancé and vacations. Separate them. Two separate worlds for two completely different times of day. Honor both/all roles you play, and play each one of them, 100%. Work hard, but leave work at work.

14. Common sense will take you as far, if not further, than confidence. Use your brain. It’s an underutilized tool in today’s day and age, but it’ll rarely steer you wrong. Use it as a basis for all your communications and all your argumentation. The entire world would benefit from more usage of common sense, so don’t be afraid to lead by example.

15. Breathe. The situation is never as bad as it seems, the solution is never as far off as it seems, and you’re more capable than you believe. After all, you’re the professional here.

I don’t have it all together. In fact, I’d be willing to bet I have it together less than 20% of the time. But I’m a scattered, confident mess, that always wants to get better. I can admit I am wrong, and I want to know how to be and do better. Being an attorney is hard work, but it’s important work, and inspiring work, and humbling work. I am proud of myself – there has been a lot of growth in the last three years.

So, if you’ve ever considered it (it=being a lawyer), I guess I recommend it. If nothing else… it’s a good mental exercise. You’ll learn a lot about yourself.. and who doesn’t want to know more about themselves? Am I right, friends?

There are sunny daze ahead, my friends (probably). I’ll see you there. 🌞

Sunshine and Rainbows

I wish I could say that life has been sunshine and rainbows since my last post (which was kind of a bummer- sorry about that btw), but alas, THAT WOULD BE A LIE. My dog has tried dying on me, twice, in the last week.

No seriously, turns out her “kennel cough” symptoms were actually signs that her chest cavity was filling with fluid, surrounding a probable tumor, in her lung. We thought we were going to lose her Friday. Then, today was the “we need to see improvement or we need to discuss quality of life” day.

AND WE SAW IMPROVEMENT. 👏🏻

Lucy is still very sick, but she’s improving. We are hoping to get the fluid out of her chest cavity so that we can get a good look at what is going on with her lungs. It is only after that that we will find out if there is anything we can do. So yes, if you’re curious, I’m exhausted. We have been in full blown CRISIS mode for a week now and it has been a roller coaster. But like, not a fun one.

So no, I’m sorry to say, it has not been all sunshine and rainbows over here. At the same time, it also hasn’t been torrential downpours of endless bullshit 24/7 either, and I think that needs acknowledged.

When we got the news that Lucy’s chest was filling with fluid, my mom dropped everything she was doing and drove straight to Omaha… and has not left. My mom is my absolute favorite person (don’t tell Matt or my dad), so this a big win. It is hard to beat coming home to your THREE (Matt, my mom, and Lucy) best friends and spending quality time together. Plus my mom cooks for us.. and cleans.. and basically is just an angel. The world is a better place because my mom is in it. She is sunshine.

Wedding planning is happening, like it or not! I do.. like it… by the way. We have a date ☑️ we have a venue (I literally want to live at our venue) ☑️. The groomsmen have been identified ☑️. I have asked all my bridesmaids to participate (and importantly, they all accepted) ☑️. We have a photographer, a videographer and a DJ ☑️. The bachelorette party is planned ☑️ the bachelor party is… meh.. I think they need a little help🙃🤣. We are reviewing menus as I type and engagement photos are scheduled. I meet with a florist next week! Basically, despite it all… things are happening, and it’s exciting! This is one gigantic rainbow of relief. 🌈

Also: have you seen the new fad where people are having their grandmothers be their flower girls?! I NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. Granny, while a ray of sunshine, might kill me when I ask. ☺️

I got off soda.. FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH. ⭐️ yup, the girl that drinks like 64 ounces of Mountain Dew a day, kicked the habit. Lost 10 pounds. I have to admit, I’ve picked back up the habit (it’s a comfort for me) in the midst of all of this Lucy drama. But I know I can do it, and I will do it again, and it will be great. That is pretty, damn, sunshine-y to me.

My truck got “broken into” in the work parking lot in the middle of the day. I use the phrase “broken into” EXTREMELY loosely, because my dumb self left the door unlocked. I know this seems like a rain cloud, but truly, the thieves got like $3.00 in change, earrings I’m allergic to (and that are fake), a few disposable masks, and the coin holder in my center console. I would have given them the money, but I wish I didn’t have to replace the center console thingy. I have a feeling Ford won’t be entertained by my “I’m so silly, I left my door unlocked because I trusted humanity” story.

Regardless, how lucky am I? That’s ALL that was taken. I cannot tell you how many times I have kept important/life documents in my center console.. or a bunch of cash. It could have been worse. Plus, these thieves were kind of sweet and considerate, they left all my handwritten notes from my dad in my passenger seat. They had to take them out of the coin holder, which I know took a small version of effort, and I appreciate that. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thieves with half a heart? I’ll take it. If that’s not at least a little rainbow-y to you, then you are just looking for the rain.

I went to the dentist for the first time, in over 3 years, expecting the worst.

1. I hate the dentist

2. My teeth hate me

But, in a reverse psychology, “I love you , Ashley” move from the universe, I had no cavities and only have to get ONE tooth fixed. This tooth has been broken for years (dentists out there, don’t hate me 🙃, I promise I’ll be better). Again, I’ll take it! I felt like Oprah, handing out rays of sunshine to all after this victory!

Yes, work is hard, but I have a job, which THANK GOD with these vet bills. Watching Lucy struggle more than normal is tough, but she’s medicated and comfortable (the vet promised me – we take quality of life very seriously in this household), and now we get bonus time. I have vet bills, but it’s because my Lucy is still with me and still fighting. My schedule is packed, but it’s because I am planning what promises to be the most beautiful and fun wedding. My mouth is sore, but it’s clean and healthy. I am down a coin dispenser, but I’m up a valuable lesson on LOCKING YOUR DOORS. I’m tired, but I’ve spent more time with my mom, Matt and Lucy than I normally do.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows friends, but it doesn’t all suck either. Sometimes, I need the reminder. Here is yours, you can thank me later. 😉

Now, cuddle those pups and say a quick prayer for mine. 💕 That is what I will be doing. We’re all about cuddles and people food snacks at this house at this particular moment. Give yourself, and others, a little grace, times are tough.

There are sunny daze ahead friends, I promise. But in the meantime, you may have to look extra hard for those sunshine rays and those mini rainbows. They are there, whether you recognize and appreciate them or not 🌞🌈

My sunshine 🌞

heaviness

Everything is heavy right now. The world is just heavy. You can’t turn on the tv, or scroll through Facebook, without being reminded of that absolute terror and shambles half our world is stuck in. I mean honestly, it’s a constant stream of vaccination debates/booster debates, a seemingly never-ending list of virus variants, the contentious mask debacle, alarming death rates… and that’s just covering the COVID drama. Then we have Afghanistan, and the Taliban, and differing opinions on how the current president is handling things. Add in the anxiety for the trapped Americans, our stuck allies, and the concern for the well-being of all women and children in Afghanistan, and pretty soon, your stomach is in knots over the entire Middle East. All of that heaviness isn’t even considering poor Haiti, and the utter destruction that they are living in, since the earthquake ravaged their country. More than half of the Haitians that were displaced by the earthquake.. ARE STILL DISPLACED weeks later. Who knows if they have clean water or access to medical care?

And… if you’re like me, it’s heavy. The struggles of others and the plight of some of our fellow human beings physically HURTS my heart. Part of me feels guilty, because I am truly taking these events to heart and it is negatively impacting my mood, yet I have a home over my head, I have medical care as needed, I’m permitted (and encouraged in my country) to be educated and to have a profession. I have my independence, I am a free thinker, and I have privileges that I try to never take for granted.

And.. if you’re like me.. this guilt is just so incredibly heavy too. No one likes a person with the victim mentality — and here I am, heart hurting like I AM the victim.

I’ve come to realize, some hearts just feel more. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I do believe that there are some people who take on and grieve for others, even unknown, because that is simply the inner-workings of their soul.

Instead of feeling guilty about my heart, I’m embracing it. Instead of trying to remind myself that I have no reason to hurt and no reason to grieve, I’m letting myself feel the feelings. I am sad for all of the loss and anxiety that Covid-19 (and variants) have caused. I’m sad that Covid-19 had divided our country, that friends are being lost over vaccination statuses and mask preferences. I’m sad that some of my dearest friends have lost loved ones to this illness, and right now, the situation doesn’t seem to be improving. A solution feels so far off.. and that makes me sad.

I’m heartbroken regarding the state of affairs in Afghanistan. I think no matter what side you align politically, the situation is devastating. I’m worried for our military and our veterans, I’m worried for our military families. I hate that they are in this position and I feel so incredibly sick to my stomach imagining how they must feel. My heart breaks for our allies, who very well may be in danger now, simply for helping us for the last two decades. I’m worried for their well-being and I don’t even know them. I am absolutely crushed to read about the conditions that women and children may face in a Taliban-ran Afghanistan. Tears well up in my eyes when I think about women being afraid to go outside or destroying evidence of their hard-earned education.

The tears have openly flowed for the Haitians, because I want to be able to help, but the need for help is so much greater than me. A lump catches in my throat when I think about the displaced families, and the lost family members, and the injured or ill. I feel breathless when I think about the absolute atrocity their country is facing and what their children must be witnessing. The devastation is unimaginable, and that.. is heartbreakingly heavy.

It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to be worried. Even if you are crying in your perfectly air conditioned home, that is stocked with good food and clean water, and living an absolute blessed life. For me, the trick is to feel all the feels and then… let go of the heaviness. It is not mine to carry. At least, not long term.

And carrying it around doesn’t change anything. It just causes anxiety and fatigue. It causes stomachaches and heartaches and all other kinds of aches. It causes loss of perspective, and a failure to exercise gratitude, and morale plummeting. You start to believe the worst in humanity and lose faith in what you know to be pure and true; things like love, and kindness, and equality. You lose sight of what matters, and the acts of kindness you witness, because all you can see is hatred, and heartbreak, and devastation. You forget your blessings.

Put down the weight, it’s not yours to carry. At least, it’s not solely yours to carry. Take care of your heart, friends. Feel the feelings, worry, pray, well wish, empathize, volunteer, donate, and do whatever you can to help, but don’t try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s much too heavy.

And in the meantime, I’m here for you. ❤️

Sunny daze ahead, sweet friends (probably).