It's Up To You

One song can spark a moment,

One flower can wake the dream,

One tree can start a forest,

One bird can herald a spring.

One smile begins a friendship,

One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,

One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nations,

One sunbeam lights a room.

One candle wipes out darkness,

One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey,

One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,

One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,

One heart can know what's true,

One life can make the difference,

You see, it's up to you!

A Penny For My Thoughts

If I die young

if i die young bury me in satin

lay me down on a bed of roses

sink me in the river at dawn

send me away with the words of a love song

ooh ooh ooh ooh

lord make me a rainbow I'll shine down on my mother

she'll know I'm safe with you and she stands under my colors

oh and life ain't always what you think it ought to be

no ain't even gray but she buries her baby

the sharp knife of a short life

well I've had just enough time

if i die young bury me in satin

lay me down on a bed of roses

sink me in the river at dawn

send me away with the words of a love song

the sharp knife of a short life

well, i have just enough time

and I'll be wearing white

when i come into your kingdom

I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger

I've never known the lovin' of man

but it sure felt nice when he was holdin' my hand

there's a boy here in town

who says he'll love me forever

who would have thought forever could be severed

by the sharp knife of a short life

well I've had just enough time

so put on your best boys, and I'll wear my pearls

what i never did is done

a penny for my thoughts oh no I'll sell 'em for a dollar

they're worth so much more after I'm a goner

and maybe then you'll hear the words that I've been singin'

its funny when your dead how people start listenin'

if i die young bury me in satin

lay me down on a bed of roses

sink me in the river at dawn

send me away with the words of a love song

ooh ooh the ballad of a dove

go with peace and love

gather up your tears and keep them in your pocket

save em for a time when your really gonna need em.

oh the sharp knife of a short life

well I've had just enough time

so put on your best boys, and I'll wear my pearls

Travelling

I am almost a quarter of a century years old and I have never left the United States. America is the land of the free, the melting pot of the world, an amazing place to live. I just feel so uncultured by never having left here. There is so much beauty in the rest of the world. I want to explore. I want to see the things I have read about. I want to see the history I am so fascinated in. I want to do the things I have only been able to dream of.
I look outside and see the same thing everyday. I see dirt and sun mostly. Houses that in a row look the exact same, "cookie cutter" houses or so my mom used to call them. I am so sheltered in my environment. I see the same types of people, scenery, weather, stores, food, etc.. I am ready for a new adventure in my life. I doubt that I would ever move overseas, but I wish that I had taken up the opportunity to study abroad. I am always so jealous of my friends who have had the guts to do so. I would have done it in a heartbeat if I had the financial means to.

I am such a chicken. I wish that I could pack up my things and backpack through Europe. I would start off in Italy, the place I want to visit more than any. I would go from town-to-town, just living everyday that I could. I would take in everything, try new foods, take pictures, learn new things, have a steamy romance with a man who didn't speak any English, get vintage clothes, oh so many things I would love to do.

I look at pictures and it physically hurts that I have not been able to go. This is at the top of my bucket list in life.

The man I marry better be ready to take an adventure with me, because I will go to Europe many times in my life. I am still young and have many opportunities to still go. I would love to go there on my honeymoon. How romantic would it be to take a gandala boat ride at sunset through the streets of Italy?

I am such a helpless romantic. And Europe allows you to do so. I was meant to be European.

Who wants to start the "Send Ashley to Europe fund?"

Lame Friday Night

I am officially an old, boring woman. I had a day off, a day off I tell you! This is a very rare occurrence in my life anymore. My life that is filled with interning, school, and work, oh my! I am on the go from dawn til way past dusk. I couldn't believe it when I heard I had this glorious day off! So many things I could accomplish! I could see my friends, I could go out, I could go dancing, I could sleep in! Sadly, my pathetic, old self did not do much of anything fun.

I did get to sleep in this morning. It was pure bliss. I got to pay in my soft, warm bed wrapped up in my fluffy down comforter until my eyes wanted to open. I even fell back asleep for a few; just because I could :) Once I finally mustered up enough energy to get up, it was still only 1030am, (not sleeping the entire day away thankfully). I got up, and of course checked the ol' facebook to see if I had any wonderful new notifications, the highlight to any ones day I am sure. I then laid around for a while, putting off the inevitable of having to do something productive. I then saw a commercial for a mylifetime.com makeover! Now, I have been contemplating the idea of doing something drastic with my hair. Call me crazy, but every girl needs a good change every once in a while! So I spent way too much time in my life to create this beautiful masterpiece that once was a picture of little old me:

It looks just like me, right? I think the blue eyes adds a wonderful touch haha. I think it would be fun to go blond, but I am just not sure. The up-keep for it would be insanely expensive, plus I may look like a Mexican Hooker... something to think about. Oh, and plus it would murder my beautiful, healthy hair. But, I could use some fun blond jokes to get me out of ridiculous situations I tend to put myself in. Ahh...

Back to reality. After spending an awful amount of time doing that, I finally got my rear in gear! I got all of my laundry together and headed to my dad's house. Such the inconvenience. Luckily for me, my friend Katrina said she would come over and give me company while I waited for my laundry to clean. We decided we were starving so we went and got Barros. Yum. But, I cannot eat like that again in a long time! I have been so good about being healthy! Also, my wallet is starting to feel the effects of eating out so much. I need to cut back so I can keep that wonderful thing called a savings account a little while longer.

After a phenomenal fatting dinner, I decided to drag Katrina along to help me look at an apartment I had been eying on the Internet. You may be asking why I am looking so soon? Well, I don't want to repeat history and make a bad mistake again! I hate the place I am living in now. I want to be happy where I move because I would like to stay there for a decent amount of time, at least until I graduate from school. I also have things that are a MUST have: washer and dryer, bigger kitchen, no bugs, no ghetto. Simple requests, right? Well, I went and looked at the apartment and loved it! And, there is a place that opens up in December, perfect timing! I just want to go and look at a few more places before just to be 100% positive in my decision so that I am happy. I am glad I have time to make a decision.

At my dad's again. Finishing up laundry and he comes home. I was watching "Say Yes to the Dress", a fantastic show about women buying their wedding dresses. My dad was all "what the hell are you watching?!" I laughed and told him he better be saving up to buy me a wedding dress! He laughed and made sure to remind me of the fact that I am not even dating anyone right now so he has plenty of time to worry about that. Thanks dad. I had totally forgotten that my love life is lower than pathetic right now.. it is non-existent. Lovely.

Back home. At last. Wait, not at last. That means I have to put away said laundry. Oh, and clean! No! Say it isn't so! But, as I said before, today is my only day off, which means I need to do it. So, in true domestic fashion, I put the sweat pants on, roll up my sleeves, and start scrubbing. Literally, I scrubbed the floor. My aunt Cindy would be so proud! 5 hours later... laundry is put away, floors are scrubbed, everything is dusted, dishes are done and put away! My apartment now smells strongly of bleach and my nose is running due to the amount of dust that flew up in it. I should probably do something about that!

It is now almost 1am. Why am I writing a blog? Who knows. I should shower since I smell of lovely bleach and dust. I also would like to go to bed at a decent time since I need to be up tomorrow to do homework that I didn't do today. I also want to continue reading the book "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". It is really good so far and I would like to see what happens next! Sadly, I get about 2 pages done a night and then promptly pass out from exhaustion.

Well blog world. I think it is time for me to continue with my old woman night, shower and lay in bed and read. Hope the rest of you had a banging night (that's what the kids are saying these days, right?)