ten guilty pleasures...

While enjoying yet another diet-[UN]friendly handful of what's left of my candy corn today (and by "what's left" I mean the remainder of the 3 bags that I've hoarded in the kitchen... don't act like you're perfect!), I felt inspired to write an entry describing my 10 biggest guilty pleasures.  Although my list could continue for about a mile, I figured that I must cut it off somewhere if I plan on reaching that "2 subscribers" mark sometime this year.  So, consider this my response to a society where I can't find my way through the day without encountering something to remind me about how I should become a quinoa-eating, yoga-practicing, 100% sustainable, electric-car-driving, vegetarian do-gooder who's idea of a good time is hosting a family game night for some good ole' wholesome fun (because seriously... what could be more fun than that?)

1. Baby-daddy episodes of Maury
2. Completely non-complex white flour and starches
3. Retail therapy
4. Sweat pants
5. That area of useless crap that greets you when you first walk into Target
6. Anything shaped like a cat
7. The one-week period after seeing a Broadway show, when you're completely obsessed with it (hence my ownership of both the Jersey Boys and Hairspray soundtracks)
8. The gluttonous moment after Thanksgiving dinner when, in a turkey-induced partial coma, you slump down on the couch for a nap (I'm sensing a pattern with food-related pleasures in my life... )
9. Discovering a random craft idea (Sculpey, homemade children's tutu's, decoupage, you name it), and thinking it's going to be the next "big hobby"... only to try it twice and not pick it up for a month!
10. Blogging... and pretending someone reads it!!!

pumpkin carving = a perfectionist's worst nightmare

If there are any perfectionists out there looking for some form of punishment (perhaps you allowed yourself a handful of candy corn today... a plague on your house), stop by your local farmstand* and pick up a pumpkin.  Next, be sure to refuse to purchase any sort of 'specialized' carving product, because you've got plenty of different sized knives at home, and gosh-darn-it, you "refuse to be one of those people."  Now make sure to hollow it out indoors, for fear of any sort of bug/woodland creature/psycho lurking in the woods (long story...) becoming enticed by the scent of fresh pumpkin, and wandering your way.  Finally, here comes the fun part... you are FAR TOO TALENTED to resort to any type of stencil, so you choose to copy a picture from the computer free-hand, with a black sharpie marker... may some higher being have mercy on you, oh perfectionist.

Needless to say, I somehow managed to create this little darling after 2 hours, a handful (or two) of candy corn, a few sporadic glue gun burns (only to realize that little mistakes can't be glued since the pumpkin is moist), and hands covered in sharpie smears...

I LOVE my siamese kitty... or any Disney cat for that matter (Christmas hints, anyone?)  In case you somehow missed Lady and the Tramp as a child (I'm sorry for you...), take a look at this... Siamese Cat Song Video Link

After watching the video, I was reminded of how many racially-charged stereotypes the cats portray (teeth, eyes, accents, and the ever present 'ba-domp bomp bomp' of the gong...), and I couldn't help but wonder if any of these opinions reflected a general mentality of Americans in 1955.  I didn't realize until afterwards that I actually misinterpretted what I believed to be a tongue in the photo I copied this design from... in all reality, it's a big ole' set of buck teeth!  It's also interesting to note that in the video, the cats are doing everything in their power to be intentionally bad, and get the dog (all-American reference) in trouble.  Interesting political stance, Mr. Disney!  Around this time, the Korean War had just finished, and the Vietnam War would begin later that same year.  I'm curious as to whether a general discomfort with Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia at the time was manifested into a mistaken reference to Thailand  (or if I just think way too hard, and they simply found it funny and politically correct back then). 

Regardless, I'm amazed at how much has changed since the movie's 1955 release, and how society's views on culture and international relations have changed.  And to think, now we live in a time where Cookie Monster eats veggies, since "cookies are only for sometimes..."
  
*...festering boils and a swarm of gnats are coming your way if you went to stop & shop in lieu of supporting a local farmer.  :) 

Bucket List (dun dun dun...)

Well, blogging has certainly proven to be exactly what I feared: ADDICTING.  I'd like to openly congratulate myself on successfully finding another distraction!  A+!  I'm also feeling this light purple color... it reminds me of the color I thought my wall paint would be in my bedroom... It came out closer to this one, though!

Either way, I decided to finally put my tentative (and ever growing) bucket list into words... although I'm positive that I'll find all kinds of crazy things to complete before they're added, as usual, what's life without goals?  Anyway, here goes...

• Attend a Michael Jackson concert (obviously a bit late for that one, but I had to say it... ::sniffle::)
• Visit the "Big Cat Encounters" sanctuary in Nevada... check out bigcatencounters.org.  (side note: it says that it's reserved for VIP types only... I think anyone who'll pay the $500 for one hour is enough of a VIP, buddy...)
• Sky-dive... without someone strapped to my back.  This means that I'll have to do it a few times in order to get to that point, but I've got to do what it takes.
• Visit every continent.  However, I'm willing to forgo Antarctica, and just see more of Europe and Asia as a result.
• Visit more than half of the United States... since many states have little to nothing to see, I'll settle for the interesting ones... (I mean, c'mon... Montana?) As long as there's one in each region, I'm satisfied.
• Fly... as often as possible, and in as many ways as possible.  I didn't waste countless childhood wishbones for nothing.
• Be a contender in a "hot bodies" contest... I don't even need to win; I just need to be an actual, serious contender (and not because I need anyone's validation... this is for me!)
• Get to a point of physical fitness where the previous statement is a possiblity!
• Be one of Bobby Flay's personally invited audience guests on the set of "Iron Chef."
• OR, compete with him in an episode of "Throwdown" for my infamous Red Velvet Cake... (seriously, ask anyone who's had it...) BRING IT, FLAY!
• Make strides in the efforts to cure breast cancer, end bullying, and make sure EVERYONE has enough to eat, and the tools to succeed.  I know you can't help people who don't want help, but those who want to work and change their lives shouldn't be hungry, cold, homeless, or without pride... and I will do everything in my power to give them the tools for success.
• Make my parents and grandparents proud in everything I do, and give them everything they could ever want.  I know I do this now, but I was a tough teenager... I want to thank them, and show them that I was worth the effort <3

That's pretty much all I can think of for now... but I just discovered the 'edit posts' feature, so don't expect this to be it :P

maiden voyage!

   Since every good thing needs to start somewhere, let me introduce myself...  my name is Ashley, and I'm a 24 year old soon-to-be college grad (and when I say soon, I mean SOON... like, December-soon.  I can seriously taste it) with degrees in public relations and management.  I'm applying to m.b.a. programs as we speak, and excited to hopefully make an income that supports my adventure-bug!  Enough of the background info, though...
   I have a passion for experiences... the type of things that happen once in a lifetime, and just move you.  Whether they're funny, thought-provoking, frightening, or just flat-out amazing, I collect them.  I'll try anything once (twice if I wasn't sure the first time... hence many half-completed projects, or equipment that just sits in my room), and I'm a firm believer that the journey is half the fun. 
   I love to travel and explore new things all over, but some of my best discoveries have occured right in my own house.  I've come to enjoy cooking (almost as much as eating), and trying my hand at all different types of crafts.  Some of my mini-projects turn out really well (such as my little Sculpey figures), and some fail miserably (my attempt at gnocchi... ugh.). 
   In summary, it's my goal (or shall I say, my manifesto) to collect as many experiences as possible, and log them here (the whole nitty gritty... not just the fluffy details.  I'll dish out the dirt too!), and remain both inquisitve and curious about this world we're all in.  I'm sure it will be an interesting ride...