A Good Reminder

I absolutely love these quotes.. It is so true that in todays world we get so caught up in the little things that mean nothing in the long run..We worry too much about what we should do to impress others that when it comes down to it, who would you impress if nobody could see? So what if nobody sees your posts or that you didn't get 200 likes..They mean NOTHING. 

 I sometimes get so caught up in posting that lately it has kind of freaked me out. I love Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat etc..But do they really define who I am? It freaks me out that I sometimes feel like I can't go a day without looking at social media..Don't let it be the boss. Don't be enslaved to your phone..

The other night I was thinking of ways to improve this and trying to think of the people I most admire and why people admire them. I thought of a few women in my life and the first thing that popped into my head about all of them was that they never have a phone or other distractions in their face.. They LISTEN and truly care about you when you are with them. They aren't constantly looking at a screen. They serve others and aren't busy checking instagram. They are also very confident with themselves and do not compare themselves to others.. In the moment you are with them all that matters is YOU. Another thing that I realized was that they NEVER had phones or social media growing up..not to mention they still don't even know how to use it which is bizarre for our age but to me that is so admirable. I know that if I were blind these women would be just as beautiful as I could imagine. 

Ive realized that a lot of girls are down on themselves because they look at instagram and other things all day..well duh you are going to feel that way when thats is all you do! I have felt like that too! Its hard not to when you see those girls with perfect skin, hair, clothes etc. But you know what? It doesn't matter OR define who YOU are.. and you can't really change to look like them so stop waisting your life wanting to live someone else's. People will be drawn to you if you serve others, smile a ton, truly listen, and not care about what others think. You don't have to impress anyone. A goal that I have set for myself is to get ready in the morning, look in the mirror one last time and then for the rest of the day not care what I look like but put other people first. Its easy to forget others when you are just worrying about if your hair looks good or not.

 The second quote really speaks to me. We do not need to shine with glory on Instagram or Facebook so that others can be envious..When I put it that was that sounds terrible!! Why would we want people to be envious? Or the other way around, why should we put ourselves down and be envious? Each time we look down on ourselves it makes our heavenly father sad because he was SO excited to create us and thinks that we are all beautiful..It's like saying that Heavently Father is a bad artist or something… All of his creations are beautiful and we are one of them. Sometimes we need that reminder that this world is not made for those things.. They are distractions that can make us forget why we are here. I am not saying they are all bad..I use them as well and that is how our world is communicating. Its pretty cool! So many people run businesses through social media, have gotten a lot of opportunities and have met people through social media and heck even the missionaries are spreading the gospel through Facebook. Oh and I am ON the internet writing this right now so… Hah! 

Sometimes when we get too caught up in it we need to think of the BIG PLAN. If Heavenly Father came to your home unannounced what would be the first thing you would do? You wouldn't pull out your phone and do a snap chat video saying, " GUYS look who is at my house right now!!!" You wouldn't DARE tough that thing..So sometimes I have to think of that..It's just a tiny box. 

People who are happy and filled with the gospel have an overall light about them that makes everyone wonder what it is that makes their eyes sparkle. That sparkle doesn't come from having a successful 201 likes on Instagram or a new follower..It comes from someone who is filled with the light of the gospel and has found that true happiness..If people are going to be envious at least let people be envious of that..and they will realize that they can feel that same way and will discover the gospel. 

My goals for this week is to unplug more and to only check my social media once a day and to spread kindness and the gospel through social media more. I need to make an Im a Mormon profile! 

Ashley 

Wish list...

Here are a few of my MUST HAVE spring looks for this year! 

 Okay how cute are these shoes?! At first when I saw people wearing them I thought they were hideous and it was a stupid trend…well I am obsessed with them now..whoops. I have found a few cute ones at American Eagle!

 I am in need of a cute and MODEST skirt…Actually I am in need of multiple long skirts. Either I grew or my skirts shrunk..( or those are excuses and I thought they were flattering in high school ) because I have just felt uncomfortable lately with how many short skirts I own! Not to mention when I get married they will all have to be burned ( maybe donated) because of my g's. I would love a few new skirts. I have been scouting out Anthropologie mainly to buy one soon..yes they are expensive but I would say its a good investment. The quality is awesome and they all go pretty long. Plus SO CUTE! You can buy cute and modest skirts..they don't have to look like grandma hand me downs. Another good place would be Down East..obviously!

 I am IN LOVE with denim on denim lately! Plus, how cute are those shoes?! I need some cute comfy shoes because I just go to my american flag boots every single day…Its pretty bad. Anyways, I love this outfit because its cute and comfy! Ive found a few cute denim button ups at Urban Outfitters and American Eagle.

 I am in need of a hair change… I hate dying my hair lately.. I throw it up into a bun or pony tail every single day anyways and curl it occasionally..It has gotten so healthy because of that. Now all I need to do is get rid of the dye and it would be awesome just saying haha.. I hate having damaged hair! My natural hair color is brown so I would go all the way brown again but I can't do it..Last time I did that I absolutely hated it. So the result would be this! Just a natural dirty blonde melt and then maybe in the future it would just go all the way brown but I would be able to adjust to the change a little better than I did awhile back. I don't want to dye it a ton over the summer because bleach and a lot of sun just kills your hair..What do you guys think? Also, short or long?! I just about chopped it the other day but pretty much had an anxiety attack in my chair and told her to stop right as she was getting the scissors.. I think we talked back and forth about cutting it for maybe 20 minutes.. So instead we just cut the dead ends to help it grow…but now I am regretting it. I miss short hair! HELP.

 Ahhh isn't this swimsuit to die for?! Its from Anthro…You don't want to know the price.. One day.

I'll go with this one..Its a little bit more reasonable.. Still super expensive.. Putting it on the wish list.

There ya go! Probably the most boring post ever but I wanted to jot down the things I want and put it on a wish list over here on the blog so I could remember. Maybe you guys will like these too. I am so excited for spring!

Ash 

Hey Y'all

Hey! I haven't done an update in a while so here ya go..

Lately I have been stressed OUT OF MY MIND. Not necessarily a bad stress but more just busy and kind of crazy with job changes. Life is about to get crazy..at least it is to me. Obviously stress isn't always a good thing but being busy and active actually is healthier for you! Fun fact: People that work every day live longer. One day I will work every day as a mom! That will be nice but still a very BIG job.

I get way more done when I have a tight schedule rather than nothing…usually I will have a long list of things I need to get done but if I don't have work or something I forget to do them..But if I am at work I am thinking about what I need to do when I get home and get it done because I know I will have work the next day so I get it out of the way. Does that make sense? I don't even think that does haha but it made sense in my head.

Recently I just started working with Albion fit! I absolutely love it! It's dangerous working their because their stuff is so cute. If you don't follow them on instagram stop reading for a minute and do that..or if you are a super social media human and probably have your phone while looking at the computer screen at the same time you can do both at once! We sell fitness wear and adorable swim wear! Not to mention we have the cutest MODEST swimsuits. Your days of long hard searching for that cute AND modest swimsuit are over..Seriously this world has come to almost wearing nothing while taking a dip in the pool..Lets stay covered. Go check out albion :).

Hear comes the stressful yet exciting news..I now have a second job as a nanny for the two most amazing kiddos I have ever met! 

So I am now taking on 25-30 hours a week at albion while a nanny on Mondays and Wednesdays ( Some Fridays) from 8am-5pm! Whoohoo! BRING IT ON.

I need to remember one important thing though…I WILL NOT stress myself out..That distracts me from the gospel, my family, and myself..Sometimes I get so absorbed in other peoples needs that I forget to take care of myself..Thats sounds sort of like a good thing but its not..I will be too stressed and worry more about the importance of the job that I am not being myself, smiling, laughing, and not having family time. So I just say that I am not stressed. Sometimes you tell yourself, " Oh my gosh I am so stressed." When really people have it way worse than you do. So I remember my dad who goes to work every day for us, my friends who are going to school right now plus 2 jobs, and the president of the united states ( Yes Obama is probably very stressed too..most of the time when he isn't golfing in hawaii)

The second thing I need to do and what everyone should do when they have a tight schedule is to meditate, exercise, laugh more, and READ YOUR SCRIPTURES!! In the morning before you start your day and at night before you go to bed no matter how late it is..It really does help me.

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it..Even if it is 5 minutes in your car before work..Just breathe. Sometimes I will do yoga before I go to work and after work I go and walk around the salt lake temple. I also got a gym membership at the city creek gym so that if I have any time after work I can get some exercise in. Even if its short it really does help.

Also, this is a very big thing.. Instead of getting frustrated with things I am learning to just laugh it off.. Some things will ruin your entire day unless you just decide to shake it off.. ( T swizzle knows) because really its pretty funny. I have laughed at myself so many times this week..Wanna hear about a few?

1. Locked my keys in my car after FHE..After looking for 20 minutes I checked the car and yep there they were right on the driver seat, doors locked. Ahui had to drive me all the way back to daybreak ( 40 minutes away) to get my spare keys and then drive all the way back so that I could get my car and drive back to daybreak once more. I got home at 2 am. But after all of this Ahui and I just had to laugh because really this would happen haha.

2. My girlfriends and I have a big group text every day and we were in a deep conversation as I was getting ready to shower…I got in the shower and I had brought my stupid phone in with me and didn't realize I was texting while under the shower head until I needed to grab the soap and my hands weren't free…Social media fast coming soon? Seriously. But I did laugh at loud that I would do that..Time to unplug!!

3. Got in the shower fully dressed..

4. Struggling to get clothes on one of our mannequins at Albion and I broke off her hand and leg… She looks kind of weird. Don't worry I fixed it..

5. Found a dog at the store and tried to put it in my car because I thought it was lost…then its owners came out and asked what I was doing.. I just started laughing and said wow your dog is so obedient! Sorry I tried to kidnap him!

6. Walked into the gym…Got hungry..Walked out of the gym.

7. Went to my guys house and they didn't have toilet paper so we went to the store and bought a toilet paper role just for me to go to the bathroom at their house..Ugh. Hahaha. But the highlight is I saved all of the other girls going over there later.

So there ya go. My life is about to be pretty hectic..But it is alright. I love my work, I love my family, I love my girlfriends so much that I can't get away from my phone even for a shower, I love these cute kids, and I love life!

Ash

Things that keep me going:

 Pottery throwing! 

 Silly brothers.

 My besties.

 This cute girl.

 My favorite boy

Minutes before I discovered my lost keys.

Ahui trying to set me up with our cousin?? Its fun to be best friends with your family<3