The Countdown has begun!

Wow...In 18 days we will be getting married!

So you understand the reason for my absence in blogland. We have been wrapping things up and trying to make sure all our checklist are complete. I can't wait to see everything all put together. October 24 is going to be here before I know it!

Also, we have been house hunting. We found one house that we both loved only to find out halfway through the process that the seller had not been honest on the disclosure and we withdrew our contract. Hopefully we can find another house that we love soon.

I have been keeping up with all of your blogs through my reader and I apologize for the lack in commenting.

In other news I have decided to return to school in the Spring. It's been almost 5 years since I was in college. I have decided to get a degree in Graphic Design. I am beginning to think that this lay off was God's gift to me. Giving me the opportunity to plan our wedding and figure out what I wanted to do as a career.

I'll leave you with one more picture.....so sweet :)

Photo Credit: Jessica Meinardus Photography

Been Awhile...

Wow....Does anyone still read this???

I haven't blogged in nearly a month! What's wrong with me!  I managed to keep up with all of you through my reader but just haven't been motivated to make a post.

Nothing too exciting has been going on lately.  Just busy! 

Let's see in the past four weeks I have had Etsy orders to fill, spent time with close friends, wedding planning and traveling. AND oh yeah, We have been house hunting which has filled most my days!

House Hunting summed up in one word - STRESSFUL!  There is so much to think about (area, resale value, what we really NEED) and so much to do(appointments, offers, reading a zillion pages of a contract) and the bad stuff (waiting on offer to go through, being rejected).  Our heads are still up (after a day of pure depression :) ) and the hunt continues.

Wedding planning was put on a short hold for house hunting, but with only 104 days to go I need to be getting busy!  

We went camping on the 4th (my first camping experience ever) and it was pure bliss.  hehehe yeah right.  Anyone who know me knows that is not the true.  It was fun but I will not sleep in a tent ever again!  Post with pictures to come soon.

Other than that life is moving by way to fast.  When I go to sleep tonight I will wake up and it will be Wednesday already.  Anyone else feel like that?

Off to bed I go...back to wedding planning tomorrow.  Lots to still get done!

Weekend Getaway

A couple weekends ago Will and I took off for Branson, Missouri. We left out Saturday morning and came back on Sunday evening.  Also Logan and Mandy (Will's brother and wife) were in Branson.  So Saturday we met them for some retail therapy at the Outlet malls and then headed out to dinner.

 I am so upset that I didn't take any pictures but these two.  Sorry Logan and Mandy!  After dinner we headed to the race track - go carts that is.  We had a blast!  Although the seatbelt rubbed the threads on my shirt and ruined it.  

Sunday Will and I did a little more shopping, some putt putt and eating.  It was a great little getaway and we plan on doing it again soon.

Crafting...

Lately I have been crafting every day. I am attempting to clean out my supply closet before I start on wedding projects.

Here are a few things I've done lately...

Cross Canvases - 

This one is for my friend Leah for her kitchen - 

This one will be for sale in my Etsy shop

Initial board - 

Hairbow Holders - 

Abstract Canvas - 

This is also for Leah for her bathroom. (work in progess)

Door Hangers - 

This one is my fav!  It has a front and back!
Name Plaques - 
Custom Orders Etsy Bulletin Boards - 

Whew!  Still tons more to come...Stay tuned!

Engagement Pictures Preview!!!!

I am in LOVE with our Engagement Pictures.  

I have uploaded the pictures to our wedding blog.

To see, click here.

Can't wait to see what our awesome photographer does with our wedding.

All photos were taken by Jessica Meinardus of Jessica Meinardus Photography.  She is located in Van Buren, Ar and is incredible.  Check our her website and blog here.

Visiting

My great, wonderful friend Leah came up to spend a few days last week.  Main objective - Get Ashley a wedding dress!  Leah was a college roommate for a few years, one of my best friends, and also a bridesmaid in our wedding.  

I was so excited for her to get here!  It seems like everytime we plan to get together something happens....Snow storm, Poor Alex gets sick (Leah's son), Leah gets sick, I get sick, and so on. But this time it worked and she got here on Wednesday.  

We went and toured the location where we are getting married after she got here.  Thursday was full of dress shopping and we found the ONE!!  I love it!!  I cooked two wonderful dinners (insert big grin here) and enjoyed getting to catch up with my friend.

Here are some pictures from our adventures - 

Trying on dresses

Gavin wasn't so sure about this one

Will enduring our hours of girl talk

Thanks for coming up Leah!!  See you soon!

Been Awhile...

Whew...It's been awhile since I have even opened this blog.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Let's see, I have been job searching, crafting, cleaning, visiting, traveling, cleaning again, wedding planning...and tons of other good stuff.

I have lots to blog about but just wanted to say a quick hello tonight.  More updates this week I promise :)

Wreaths now available at SimplyAsh

Everyone needs a wreath on their door for Spring!

These cute Spring wreaths are now available at SimplyAsh.

 Hydrangea Goodness

Gorgeous Gerbera 

Pretty Pastels

More designs coming soon. 

Photography

I just love when a photographer takes "ring shots."  The one below I attempted to take in my backyard.  I think that it turned out pretty good...not to match a professionals version though. :)

Any wedding shots that you absolutely love and suggest?

Bargain Find Part II

I was so happy to find my bargain bench at a sale a few weeks ago.  See this post for the original bench.

Well here is my finished product...

I just love it!!  It matches perfect in the office.

Engagement Pictures

We are having engagement pictures taken on the 16th of this month!  I can't wait to meet our photographer and see what she is going to do.  She has already mentioned a nice waterfall picture setting.  

Now on to what to wear....I am thinking about one of these...

Just have to figure out solid or pattern?  Color?  What to get Will to match in??

Anyone have any favorite engagement poses?

Giggin'....Interesting Experience

I went giggin' Saturday night.  First experience.  Didn't quite know EXACTLY what giggin' was until then.  I knew the basics but had never seen it before.  For those of you not in the South. Giggin' is when you get in a boat at night with heavy duty bright lights.  And when I say boat I'm not talking about your deluxe party barge...I'm talking a flat-bottom tipsy turvy boat. No cushions here.  

Ok moving on...once in the boat, someone drives slow while two giggers (fishermen) stand at the front and throw a javelin/pole/pitchfork into the water at fish.  See Below...

Good Job Babe!

Well for a newbie sitting in the middle wasn't so smart when Will caught/stabbed his fish and then procceded to throw it in the boat right in front of where I was sitting.  That thing started flopping around and water/blood splashed my jeans and face.  Next time I will know to close mouth/eyes and turn around when this occurs.

We had fun laughing and visiting.  We went with Will's cousins Ethan, and Jake and his wife, Megan.  

Jake and Megan

Not sure why Will is so serious in this picture...

Proof that I did in fact go...

Just when you go...make sure your generator and lights don't go out and you have to float blindly back to the place you need to dock.  Yes this did happen.  Darkness, bugs, critters, unfamiliar noises and Ashley do not mix.  

Curtis - If you are reading this....I can't wait to go with you next time :) hehehe

Till tomorrow-

Ash

Wedding Bootcamp

Today is the day!

Wedding Bootcamp!  Day 1!

Time to eat healthy, drink water, and EXERCISE.

Must get rid of jiggling thighs, flabby arms, and spare tire by October!

Just keep remembering....No Pain, No Gain.

Ugh..Help!

Ash

Race for the Cure

Oh 4:30 is so early!!!  But up I was Saturday morning and headed to meet for the Race for the Cure.  Genia (my future MIL), Crystal (my future SIL), and a friend of theirs from work, Terri were off to do some racing at 8:00 AM! 

(Genia, Me, and Crystal ready to start)

We had a great time.  I did not have such a great time Sunday morning.  You would have thought I had never walked in my entire life!  

The Race had a great turnout (18,000) and raised a lot of awareness and money for the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Along the way Ronald McDonald was spotted racing and the Chick-fil-a cows were there to cheer us on.

Hope to make this a yearly tradition!  Next year maybe I should walk some beforehand. 

Wedding Plans

Wedding plans are coming right along smoothly.  In the past week we booked our location, set our date, booked our reception, got our invitation copy ready and got the majority of vases for the candy bar.

We are getting married October 24!  We chose a Botanical Gardens location.

Last week I got to have a great visit with my parents and grandparents.  Us ladies did a little shopping at T.J. Maxx and had a blast.  Love you all!

Checklist for this week:

Meet with florist options

Start looking at dresses

Look up location approved caterers

Finish wedding party (Will!)

Check with Rental companies

Might as well do all that I can while I have the time...

Have a great day!

Ashley

Bargain Find!

Friday I went down to the Dogwood Festival (local Arts & Crafts).  On the way to town I saw a side-of-the-road sale.  You know those that don't qualify as garage or yard sales...just side-of-the-road sale.  Well being unemployed and all I wasn't pressed for time so I decided to stop.  They had beautiful flowers for sale and lots of odds and ends.  As I was searching for new crafts to do I came across this:

(notice it is already in the back of my car)

A small bench that someone has graciously already taken the bench seat off of.  I carried it around for a few minutes trying to find whoever it was that I was needing to pay. 

$5 dollars later I had a new bench to paint and recover.

I already had the paint and Wal-Mart was having its Fabric Sale that day too.  Could this all be a sign?  Off to Wal-Mart I go...and find this for a $1.50/yd and all I needed was one yard:

So cute fabric to match all the bright colors of the office.

I started the project on Friday night with a little help from my wonderful fiance.  Here he is pulling the billions of tacks someone put in this seat.

Watch for completed $6.50 project post coming soon....

Ash

Flowers...Help!

Anyone know what this is????

**UPDATE**  Just met with the Florist.  She says it is a piece of sod with trimmed grass wrapped around a floral wreath with "s" rings.  I am hearing a DIY bell in my head!

Wedding Blog!!!!

I didn't want to turn my craft blog into a wedding blog so I have started a new blog, Journey from Miss to Mrs. I plan on documenting our planning experience and thought this would be a great venue to get additional ideas and advice. This wedding has lots of DIY and crafting going on! All you followers and my good blog friends go on over check it out, leave advice, and follow that one too!

New Week

  WooHoo for a new week.  I am excited and have lots to do this week.  I have three job leads to tackle and several craft projects!  I have seen lots of new craft ideas lately.  Some are wedding related and will be featured on my new blog for our wedding ideas and designs.  

  This past week we have purchased several items for the wedding (some DIY supplies) and I can't wait to share pictures!  Right now everything is just thrown in what was my home office.  I plan on cleaning the house tomorrow from top to bottom and maybe rearranging that room to be my craft room!  And finding some type of storage solution for all this wedding stuff.  It is so exciting but I have a feeling that storage might be an issue.

  I hope everyone has a great Monday and I hope to have some new pictures soon.

Spring Craft Time

Crafting again...

I thought I needed some new Spring decor.  I went over to the Dollar Tree and got all the supplies to make the following items.  I think they both turned out great!

$15 bucks = tablescape and wreath....not too shabby!

Have a wonderful day!

Ash

Wordless Wednesday

I am agreeing with Gavin's attitude today...Is it seriously only the middle of the week????  HeLp!

Spring Swap

I participated in a Spring Swap earlier and am being such a slacker posting about it.  Jenny at Simply a Family sent me a wonderful box of goodies.

Thank you so much Jenny!!

Happy Spring!

Ash

He ASKED..I said YES!!!!!

We are ENGAGED!!!!

Friday night, I was surprised with a perfect proposal from a perfect man with a perfect ring!

I am so thankful and excited that I met Will.  He is truly the ONE for me and my complete match. Our whole relationship has been amazing.  We are so excited to be on our way to Husband and Wife! We spent this weekend relaxing and enjoying telling our family and friends the news....and a lot of Smiling!  I think I still have a grin stuck on my face :)

Cute Cute Tote!!

I got a package this week!!!  Missy at Simply Red sent me this great bag she made out of a placemat!  So talented that one...

She held a Craft it Forward post awhile back and I was one of her first three commenters.  I am just thinking of all the things I can carry in this cute bag!

Thank you Missy!

Happy Crafting!

Ash

Decorating a little more...

When my friend Kara came up last weekend, we knew we were going shopping.  Well Saturday morning we woke up to a minor blizzard outside.  We decided to go anyways.....like all shopping women!  Leaving the house, I made a comment that I was looking for a table to fit under this awkward art niche in the hallway.  Well what do you know....second place we went...SCORE!!!  I just love it and the tiles on top match the tiles on my glass coffee and end tables....that was just the tables way of saying I need to go home with you.  Working with a few new things and some old...here she is making her blog debut (I am sure she will be on here much more with different Holiday decor!).

What do you think?  Personally I just love it and yes I realized after I took the picture that she needs to be adjusted to the center! :)

Happy Saturday!

Ash

Lamps, Lamps, and More Lamps

I have a new obsession...Lamps

We have a store here that is basically a wholesale buyout warehouse.  It is awesome!!  I just love it.  For you local ones, I am referring to Oops in Tonitown. 

This past weekend my good friend Kara came up and spent the weekend.  We stopped at Oops and she ended up buying these great lamps.  Well I thought and thought about it and they would look wonderful in the Master bedroom and spare bedroom.  

The Master is done is blues, greens, creams, and browns.  Don't you just love this lamp??

The Spare bedroom is a "hunting/lodge" theme.  This lamp almost looks woodgrainy (I think I just made up a new word).  I love it!

Also found this one for the bar in the kitchen...Cute!

(Please ignore the dirty kitchen in the background)

The best thing of all.  Oops has these huge lamps (the first two) and they are a steal!  These would regularly be $70-$100 a piece.  They are at the warehouse for only $21!!!!  The last one I bought at Hobby Lobby at their 1/2 off lamp sale for only $12.  I was so excited.  I just love how a lamp lights a room!

Have a good day!  Happy Friday!

Ash

Laid off...Any leads?

Hello blogger friends...

I am writing this post today to ask for any help and prayers you can send my way.  I got the call this morning that my office was experiencing more lay offs...well this time I was included.  I have until the 14th till I am unemployed.  I think that all will be ok and God has a better plan for me.  I know He will not let me fail (or sleep on the streets).  This just came as a huge shock.  I didn't think I was completely safe from being laid off but I felt as if I had some security for the job that I do (no one else know how to do and the only person that did resigned last month).  

I am looking forward to what is in store for me and can't wait to see what is going to happen. Like the tagline for my blog - "Life is ever-changing and new adventures are always around the corner."

Now on to the plea for help.  I work in sales, marketing, and advertising.  If you know of any job openings or leads in the NW Arkansas area please email me at atumlison@aol.com.  I would appreciate any leads or prayers.

I also have an Etsy shop, SimplyAsh, if you wouldn't mind passing on the word to friends that might need a custom canvas.

Thank you all!

Ashley

I am a proud proud Aunt!

Last Friday I took the day off and headed down to see my niece, Brittany, at school and help my sister remain sane while we got Brit ready for cheerleading tryouts.  She was a cheerleader last year and is really good!  I may be a little biased but I think she is just beautiful!  

Brittany and her favorite Aunt

I didn't get to stay for the results due to the 2 hour drive back home but I did get a phone call letting me know she made the cheer team for 8th grade!  

Congratulations Brittany!  We love you and are so so proud of you!

Aunt Ashley & Will