National Cat Day

Today is my day, literally my day. Today like defines my whole life and existence and purpose. Today is probably the second most important holiday of the year, (the most important being my birth week or Ashley Week, as it is commonly called).  I'm sad I didn't get to stay home and lay in the sun with my cats all day, but since it's almost Halloween and Coraline is a Halloweeny movie, here's a cat quote to start off with:

“What's your name,' Coraline asked the cat. 'Look, I'm Coraline. Okay?'

'Cats don't have names,' it said.

'No?' said Coraline.

'No,' said the cat. 'Now you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names.” 

This is a quote from a kids movie and it's so powerful, we are all so unsure of ourselves but cats are so sure of themselves. They do what they want and live their lives for themselves. Us humans should take note of this and live our lives accordingly. 

Anyone who is regular reader knows that most of the time I write about my cats and share lots of cute cat pictures. I've always had cats, so my obsession grew as I got older because they were always around. I'm also someone who hates sleeping alone so cuddling with my cats at night is my favorite. Cats make the house not so empty and when you're alone in your room frustrated with your life you can scream and cry and they'll meow at you and let you lay your head on their stomach. Fun Fact: The more you talk to cats throughout their life the more social they are and the more they'll talk back.

A lot of people see cats as being independent animals who don't see us as equals but more as giant cats who they have enslaved. I think this is false because it all depends on how you raise your cats. I've trained Otto (pictured left) a lot of different tricks and commands. Cats are really cool because they are super smart and capable of learning things like using a toilet and following commands. 

I've had both of cats for a really long time, they lived through the death of my great great aunt, Jailene meeting her husband, my depression, two moves, the birth of Dj, my high school graduation, and so many more significant events. I've cycled through friends but my cats have remained a constant. Maybe it sounds lame but my cats really are my friends. They cuddle me when I'm feeling sick and sometimes they let me hold them so I can give them a hug. If a dog can be a mans best friend then my cats can be mine.

Cutest kitties in the world

So in dedication to national cat, here's to all the cool cats who sleep all day and cuddle all night. You can read my last blog post here and until next time!

XOXO 

Ashley

A Day with Mickey

Me and the birthday boy

Although the title could be deceiving, I didn't spend the day at Disneyland; I went to my cousin's first birthday party. Little Austin turned one on the 21st and I thankfully got the day off of work to hang out with him and the rest of my family today. 

Austin has always really liked me so I owed it to him to buy a new outfit just for this occasion. I looked cute as hell and got tons of compliments from the family. Inside we had a lot of adults yelling at the tv because the Raiders were so bad and outside all the kids were playing in the pool and up at the tables the grandparents gossiped about everything that was going on in our lives. Of course I was a hot topic as usual, I just can't help being the family favorite. 

Dj mid throw

Austin made his party as glamorous as he could by making three outfit changes and eating his cake in the slowest way possible then ending with a bang. Dj sort of paid attention to me when he wanted food and he threw his cupcake at me when I tried to take his picture.

Kaitlyn and I

I got to catch up with Kaitlyn and Gary, although I didn't take a picture with Gary because he doesn't read my blog. Also he took 330 pointless pictures on my phone that I had to delete. When my grandpa reads this I hope he immediately finds Gary and hits him or something. Overall I was disappointed with the party because the watermelon wasn't cut into Mickey head shapes and that was lame. I mean they (JOSH) could have put a little more effort into making the food look nice. And I hope my Auntie April doesn't completely kill me for saying that last bit, it was a joke I promise!

BONUSSS

Jonah, me, and Bianca. AKA
The Fab Three

When I got home I got to go out with two of my best friends and we had a grand ole time eating pizza and catching up. Even though I'm in college and I have "adult responsibilities" I still have some love for my high school friends. Once again I will not be ending with  a picture of my pet cats because I have a picture with these cool cats *sunglasses emoji*. You can read my last blog post here and until next time!

XOXO 

Ashley

2 Months In

I keep looking back at this photo and I don't actually think it's real but somehow it is. I know the scale has already told me this but physically seeing the difference is a whole other story. The picture on the left is August 6, a few weeks before school started and the picture on the right is October 16 which was last week. In a little over two months my body looks completely foreign to me. Clothes fit differently, I'm more comfortable and I sleep better. Fitness has become such a big part of my life in college. I take a spinning class and I'm constantly on my feet at work, and don't even get me started on all the stairs and hills at CC. 

Motivation is huge, once of the last quotes my spinning teacher gave us before going on maternity leave was, "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in the person's determination". Confidence and motivation are a huge part of my road to health. Without confidence I wouldn't be able to do it, and without motivation I wouldn't have the confidence to get it done. The amount of confidence I have now is crazy because I was already a confident person so I didn't really think that I could feel even better about myself. I almost wish that I started this sooner but I'm also glad that I've matured enough to really appreciate the hard work an commitment I've put into changing myself. 

One key thing to help control to depression is diet and exercise and this has honestly helped me tone down and be more comfortable. During high school it got so bad that I couldn't be near people, I couldn't bear to get up in the morning. I started mimicking emotions to get through the day and I just turned into a zombie. Diet and exercise has helped me feel more alive and like a real person again. It's also a hugeeee stress reliever because I have 18 units of school and I work 5 days a week and I also try to sleep and eat and make sure that my blog doesn't completely suck. 

My cats hate pictures together so they are a bit pissed

Also I'm just going to say it again I keep looking at myself because I mean look at me, I think I look great and by this time next year I honestly won't be the same person at all and that completely freaks me out but makes me really happy at the same time. Loving the way I look makes shopping a lot more fun plus I have a lot more options when it comes to getting clothes. I challenge you all to be healthier and happier because I feel great so I think we all deserve to feel great! You can read my last post here and until next time!

XOXO

Ashley

fridAy

I finally got a day off of work and I did more Friday then I've in my life. I got to go shopping, see my family, go to a football game and  randomly meet a star, and end the night with fright fest at magic mountain.

If any of you watch Pretty Little Liars then you'll understand why last night was one of the coolest nights ever, here I was at my uncle's high school football game in Valencia and THREE rows in front of me is Sasha Pieterse and I got to meet her and talk to her and she is literally so nice. Besides cats and Kanye West I am also obsessed with Pretty Little Liars. 

I got to go shopping Friday morning with one of my best friends Valerie, I've low key mentioned her in a few posts before. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures with her but I have plenty of pictures on this post already so it's okay. We both have an obsession and love for shopping and I'm pretty sure that's all we do every time we hang out. We went to Heavenly Couture (my new favorite store), H&M, Forever 21, and oddly enough Old Navy. I bought the blue and white striped shirt that I'm wearing throughout this post, and I'm already planning on wearing it about three times a week.

Here's my uncle and I after his game, I know it's a little funny to have an uncle who is younger than you but you get used to it after 15 years. Although the game wasn't ideal I stilled cheered my butt off for my favorite little uncle. I even wore some Saugus blue to cheer for the Centurions, even though I literally only know one person on the team. 

I got to visit with a bunch of family during and after the game, family time is my favorite. Honestly everyone in my family is super cute so we all picture well together, it helps make us look put together even though we're not. 

So Fright Fest was way scarier than I was expecting and although Kaitlyn looks happy in this picture she's actually really annoyed with me because I freaked out so much that I made her buy me one of those flashing lights thingys so I wouldn't get scared. One of the moss bush guys called me a weenie and one of the freaky clown girls called me shiny. I mean I'm supposed to be the adult here but that shit is freaky. They have those guys everywhere and they have these little clicker things on their hands and they get really close to your face and they literally all need some breath mints or gum or something. I think it's really sadistic that these people get enjoyment out of scaring people. You can read my latest blog post here and until next time!

                                                      XOXO

                                                      Ashley

P.S. Sorry about the missing cat photo, I unfortunately wasn't with my cats all day so I got no pictures with them :(

Tips Your Hats to Old Uncle Sam

Ladies and gents, it is not hunting season nor is it award show season. Disclaimer: It may be either of those seasons, awards shows never end and I know nothing about hunting. No folks it is voting season. I took a class my senior year, as previously mentioned here, that was called American Democracy. I learned so much about the government and the way it operates. One important thing that stuck with me was when my teacher, Mr. Bisson, lectured us about the importance of getting involved and being politically aware. I was moved by that class and it made me open my eyes to how much we can impact the outcome of our country. 

I got the opportunity to work as a poll officer this voting day (November 4), I’m so excited to vote and help other people vote. Everyone who is able to vote this year should be voting!! We as young adults are getting less and less money towards our college tuitions and financial aid. This is happening because we are not voting, the people who are voting are older than us and money for college is no longer a concern for them. Instead they are voting to have money go towards their social security and retirement. Guys honestly I don’t know about you but I want that money. 

Vote yes on cats

Although one vote alone doesn't change much, all of our votes can really make a difference. The week I turned 18 I filled out my voter registration, I was so excited. I think the only adult thing I was really ready for was voting. I would hate to be a politician and work in that field but I think it’s pretty neat that I can do my part here at home. 

Vote and vote only for the things you understand. Research what’s going to be on the ballots beforehand and make logical decisions and don’t just fill in blanks. In America right now we are getting some of our freedom taken away from us. People have our information and can invade our privacy in a few clicks. We can make changes to things like this because we are a democracy. We are in charge of our country, we can make what we want to happen, happen. You guys can read my last blog post by clicking here and until next time!

XOXO

Ashley

Let's Be Real

“We accept the love we think we deserve”

Be comfortable with yourself,
I look like a freak and I'm still okay

I may not be the prettiest or the smartest and sometimes I make bad decisions, but all of those are why I love being human. We get to be different from everyone else in the world. I hated myself for a long time I thought I was too ugly and too fat and too smart. I look back now and I see that by trying to hide myself I really just made myself stand out even more. About the time I was 14 or 15 I said F the baggy clothes, and screw wearing my hair in a dumb ponytail everyday.

It honestly didn’t happen all at once but once I started changing I started getting more compliments and I got noticed more. Let me tell you I loved the attention. I was born to be the center of attention, I just had to hit a bump in the road in order to realize it.

Now I’m going to address something I don’t actually ever say out loud, a topic of conversation I can’t even talk with my family about. Yes, I want to lose weight and it took a long time for me to get the motivation and really really want it. I’ve been waiting for college my entire life, it has made me grow up and change so much. Since starting the semester I’ve lost about ten pounds and I didn’t even notice until I weighed myself for a project. And even though I want to lose weight and change myself, I’m doing it out of love not out of hate. I love myself enough that I know that I deserve than to be what I am now.

It's important to stay Beyonce fierce
all the time

I think that loving yourself is something most teenagers and young adults struggle with the most. I don’t care if people think I talk too much or if my mom thinks I should do the dishes more than once every six months. I’m still going to do what I want and I don’t want to change for anyone but myself. I own like ten cats shirts and some sweaters and shoes and I will wear them everyday and you just have to deal with it.

It's okay to be silly, even
if your cat hates it

I’m selfish, I’m going to think of my happiness first because I spent a lot of time unhappy. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m a mean person because I do think I’m quite nice, it just means that most of the time I’m going to put myself first. This isn’t a bad thing, you aren’t living for other people you are living for yourself. Be happy, be healthy, be fierce and buy a cat 

or two. Check out my last post here and until next time!

XOXO

Ashley

Slightly Awkward

Daniel and Valerie, two people I'm
still super close with who also
were in my Kindergarten class

I lived in a town where the people you had in your kindergarten class were probably going to be all the same people that you sit next to everyday until you graduate. I made friends when I was five and then after that I didn’t have to try so hard to be liked. But who wouldn't want to be friends with me?

Bianca and I spend our time
together watching HSM and
going to Dodger games

I wasn't ready for college. Before coming here I knew two people that were in my classes beforehand. If you’ve ever read my Instagram/ Twitter/ Tumblr bios you know that they say “almost funny and slightly awkward”. But guess what guys, it is a complete lie. I’m completely awkward, lets just rewind back to when I met Karen and Melanie at the Vaquero Welcome. They greeted me when my mom and I walked up to the table and asked if I was interested in writing a blog. And I shit you not, the only thing I did was stare at them. For a really long time. So eventually my mom speaks up, I stare at them some more and then my mom talks some more. I say like three words and BOOM two weeks later I’m a blogger. Karen remembered during the group interview how much she liked me, and heres a word of advice. When meeting strangers don’t say a word and let your mom do all the talking. And if you ever take this advice seriously maybe you should be back in high school.

Sean Paul, one of my favorites

So back to what I was saying I’m a selfish spoiled brat who loves cats way too much and I have a hard time making friends. I have a total of FOUR phone numbers from new people I just met and three of them were forced to give them to me because they are in my English writers group. 

I see people around school that know each other and laugh and talk and hang out and it makes me a little sad because all of my friends go to school at a different time then I do so I don’t get to have fun with them. I don’t want this to sound like a sob story because even though I sit alone sometimes I get to go home to my cats and my mom at the end of day so I’m not that lonely. 

And of course my two main homies

I think college is all about making new friends and being yourself and growing. So yes, I’m sorry to break it to everyone but I am not perfect. Making friends is one thing I need to work and I’ll get around to it eventually. But for now I’m sticking with my three solid friends from home and I hope everyone else is having a better time meeting new people. Check out my last post here and until next time!

XOXO 

Ashley

Throw It In The Bucket

After donating blood in high school, I also went to
high school in paradise if you haven't noticed

Since my near rush with death this week, totally kidding I didn't almost die but I did freak out when the pain in my side started getting worse. I may or may not have a tendency to overreact. The first thoughts that came to my mind were I have a tumor and what if this is cancer? I can’t remember the last time I felt this much pain. It made me take my bucket list so much more seriously because before and while I was in the hospital I seriously didn’t know if I would be able to finish everything. And I know thats a huge overreaction but the doctors were throwing around things like surgery and gallbladder and I didn’t understand anything. So this post may look long but I’m just giving you a little peak inside my bucket list.


1.Start A Charity
I think that it would be fun and make me feel better, I try to donate blood twice a  year because it makes me feel good knowing that I could be saving someones life. I was even in charge of the blood drive one semester in high school. So I think that starting a charity would be so empowering and you can never have too many charities out there.

2. Meet Kanye West
I feel like this one will make most people hate me but I think he’s so great, I am obsessed with him. His music just makes me feel peaceful (strangely enough) and if you ever catch me listening to music I’m probably listening to some Kanye. 

3. Record an Audio Book
It literally doesn't even have to be published but I’ve wanted this ever since I was a kid in elementary school listening to those little books in class. My voice probably isn't soothing and no one would want to listen to it but that’s just something I always thought would be cool.

4. Skydive
The most cliche of them all, I’ve done the dive devil at six flags a million times but skydiving would be so fun! I don’t even need an explanation for this, I’m sure most of you get it. 

I am a born model ready for the red carpet

5. New York Fashion Week

I guess I’m kind of into fashion, but it would just be a fun thing to say you’ve done. Like, “Yeah I watched the Givenchy and Marc Jacob shows in New York last week, no big deal.” This one also speaks for itself.

6. Walk the Red Carpet
A little similar to fashion week except I want to be the one that everyone is looking at. It would be so cool to have people shouting my name and wanting me to smile for them. ONE red carpet would be a dream come true, I mean I wouldn't mind a few red carpet trips honestly.

7. Go to as Many Countries as I Can
This is one of those things that won’t end, I don’t think I’ll ever cross this off I’ll just get closer to finishing it. I want to live my life and start my career before settling down so I definitely want to try and travel as much as I can before that.

8. Get Insulted by Simon Cowell
He’s creative, he’s fun, who wouldn't want this? If Simon took the time out of his day to creatively insult me I would die.

Me as a cat killing it before prom

9. Graduate from College
Last but not least, of course this is one of the most realistic of the things on my bucket list but hey I like to aim high. I’m planning on graduating Spring 2017 so I’m hoping to cross this one off of my list real soon.

I know my dreams are so far fetched but hey who cares, right? Here’s to life. Check out my last blog post here and until next time!

XOXO

Ashley

Hospital Blues

Just being cute like always

I know I just posted yesterday but I promised my sister a blog post for her 21st birthday. Yes ladies and gentlemen my sister is 21, you know what that means *wink wink*. Four more years and she’ll be able to rent a car! Wow she’s growing up so quickly! Jailene may be my older sister by a mere two and a half years but she’s my biggest inspiration. How many people do you know that are married and have a toddler while maintaining good grades at a university AND have a full time job. My sister has secret magic powers that allow her to conquer the world. 

My lovely IV

Today was supposed to be all about Jailene but like usual I had to make today of course about myself. This morning I was admitted into the ER because of severe pain in my side and I had to lay in an uncomfortable bed with an IV and I also had my first ultrasound and let me just tell you they are not gentle. I was hungry and they wouldn't let me eat or drink anything so I was pretty cranky, BUT when I was finally released I got to eat and drink all the water I wanted.

When I called Jailene to tell her happy birthday we told her about my hospital visit and being the amazing sister she is she drove down and met us at the hospital. Even on her day my amazing sister came to make sure I was okay. 

Too early for ugly hospital
pictures

Baby Dj came to pick me
up from the hospital,
too bad he was sleeping

This post was supposed to be how great I think Jailene is and how cool she is and all the great times we've had together but the pain medication has been slowly wearing off and today has been completely exhausting. Plus I'm only allowed to eat bland food and after a day in the hospital I just want some Raviolis. Take care of yourselves guys, keeping up your health is so important especially during these stressful and busy times. Check out my last post here and until next time!