Quotes

Quotes can offer guidance, inspiration, and wisdom in times of need. They can also make you laugh, cry, or think. My mom shares little inspirational quotes on Facebook all the time - some people think it's annoying. But, many people have thanked her for sharing them; you never know who needs to hear what you have to say (or what you have to "share"). 

For a long time my favorite quote was by a famous dancer, 

"I do not try to dance better than anyone else, I only try to dance better than myself"

- Mikhail Baryshnikov

I think this mantra can be applied to all parts of life - don't try to be better than the kid next to you in class, or your coworker, or anyone else - just try to be better than YOU were the day before, and you will continue to improve.
That said, a little healthy competition never hurt anybody, it's a good way to push yourself.


I also really enjoy this quote by Dr. Maya Angelou.

Perhaps this quote came at a good time in my life - though I was happy with my life - I was living at home after graduating from college, and not necessarily working in my "field."

But, per this quote - I liked myself, what I did, and how I was doing it. So therefore, at that time - I was successful in what I was doing. 

Another quote I enjoy comes from another wise man;

"And though she be but little, she is fierce."

-William Shakespeare

I think this one is obvious why I like it...

And lastly, who doesn't love a good Dr. Seuss quote

"Today you are you, that is truer than true, there is no one alive that is youer than you!"

Again, just something to remind you that you don't have to be anybody but yourself.

Getting Back in the Saddle

The time has come (again) for me to try to blog more regularly (...again)

This time I've found a handy  "31 Day Blog Challenge" to give me conversation starters and keep me going. 

My name is Ashlyn! I recently graduated from college with a BA in Dance. Right now I'm working as an Assistant Manager at Planet Fitness and I also teach dance classes. I absolutely love both of my jobs. I plan to move to Nashville, TN in the fall - so right now I'm just saving up money! 

I GOT A NEW CAR... and a loan to go with it.

What do I do after graduating from college and acquiring millions of dollars in student debt? (Okay, not millions...)
Take out a loan for a new (to me) car.

A little bit about my decision to get this new car, as well as what it's like to change up what you drive...

My old car (Speedy Claxton) is a 1992 Buick regal that was hoovering my bank account for repairs. It still "works" but I had just put brakes on it for the umpteenth time, and it needed a new strut. Plus it was always stalling for no reason (no "fix" any repair men made actually fixed it). So, I was fed up with the thing.
Then, my dad was saying he had seen an '09 Honda Civic when he went in to test drive a car earlier that day. (I was hoping to purchase a Honda due to their longevity). So I looked at it online, and IT HAD A DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER! Which Speedy Claxton also had and I was disappointed to have to give up when I made the leap to the current millennium of cars.
So, I went and test drove it. Judging a book by it's cover - or car by its looks - I loved it. Love at first drive, however? Eh.
It was a bit awkward at first. I could actually touch the pedals (unlike Speedy), so it was more sensitive to my foot movements. And the steering wheel was smaller than mine so it seemed awkward at first.
But, still, I knew. I knew I wanted this car. I knew I would grow to love it. (And I have!)

So after all of the financing and such - I drove home my Honda Civic that following Monday evening. It took some getting used to, and still does. I went from a 2-door to a 4-door, I went from a boat to a Matchbox Car, I went from a broken antenna to a working radio, I went from having to try three times to get Speedy started to always *knock on wood* starting on the first try. Overall, I would say I "upgraded," but some of these changes did take some getting used to. And watching my 15 year old brother driving for the first times, I realized that driving was awkward at first - and I'm sure it will be awkward each time I get into an unfamiliar car.

So, if you're looking to buy a car - it might be kismet, AND you might have to learn to love.

Doing Nothing and Organizing...

Not surprising, I'm still working on unpacking from moving home after graduating college. I'm trying to purge as I go (I'm getting better at letting go of birthday cards from when I was 14...) as well as pack away things I don't need until I move out (toaster oven, pots, pans, etc..). So, it's a slow process!
I also house sat for a week, which put a "pause" on the unpacking while I was staying with their dogs and cats!
Here are a few helpful tips/ideas that I think could help anyone!!

Doing Nothing
It seems like a dream, right? "A WHOLE DAY TO DO NOTHING!"
That's what I thought...
But, let me tell you - it was horrible. I didn't actually do nothing; I knit, I read, I took care of the animals in the house I was house sitting... but at the end of the day - I felt like crap!

A few days later I had another day with "nothing" to do. But, I made sure to shower, get dressed (in a new pair of sweats anyway), and stick to a somewhat normal schedule (for meals). It helped! Even though I still knit, read, took care of the animals, etc... doing it in an organized way made me feel less groggy at the end of the day!

So, the next time you are SO excited to do nothing - DO SOMETHING! :)

Organizing 
I'm not the most brilliant "organizer" and I probably read this idea on Pinterest once upon a time. BUT, here's what I did with all of those extra/little things you find when organizing!

Every year when I moved in to the dorms (I lived in the dorms all 7 semesters I was in college) I would receive a bunch of samples - face wash, dish soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, you nanme it! Personally, I think that samples aren't really going to do anything - how do you know if a product works for you by using it once?! You can't!
Anyways, so I have a bunch of samples just sitting in random bins in my room because I always say "Oh, yeah, I'll use that" - and then never do.

Here are a few close ups of samples I found:

 

Overall, I found shampoo, conditioner, heat activated hair product, body wash, body lotion, feminine pads, a lot of face wash, and a few facial moisturizers. I also found travel sizes of  body wash, lotion, and body spray.

So, that's what I did! This thirtyone bag, which I only use to carry toiletries when travelling, became my storage place for all of them!
In on of the zipper pockets I put all of the small samples. In the elastic bottle holders I put the travel size body wash and lotion.
In the side mesh pockets I have the body spray and a bottle of Pure Romance Coochy conditioning shave cream. (There's still a tiny bit left of the shave cream - but I have a newer one in a scent I prefer in my shower).
In the front zipper compartment I put a travel kleenex and some feminine products. Seriously, never travel without some feminine products - even if your "time" is like clockwork, you might save someone else by having it with you!
In the large center compartment I added a couple more travel size lotions and body washes (not pictured) as well as a travel pack of Q-tips!

Now, next time I go on a trip or just away for a night, I don't have to stress about packing! I can throw in my toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, and makeup! I suggest if you have a certain bag you always use, and if it's already taking up space - use the inside of it as well!

Google Maps, purging, and "Chicken and Peppers" - The first 6 days of 2015

Like I promised, here's a brief summary of what I did during the first six days of 2015! And see the corresponding numbers below for tutorials, tips, tricks, recipes, and other fun facts! 

1. Had dinner with some family friends.

2. Took a dance class in Minnesota. 

3. Went to an empowerment workshop with Madre.

4. Enjoyed dinner with my boyfriend's family.

5. Organized (and purged) all of the papers I've been hoarding.

6. Made a really delicious meal!

2. My first post-college dance class. I would suggest reading any directions a place provides for you before typing it into your GPS (or google maps app). Google maps got me there, but failed to mention that I had to turn into a little driveway and go to the building behind the Subway restaurant. 

But actually, when driving somewhere new (even if you're familiar with the area) I would suggest looking at the map ahead of time. So you get a feel for where you're going. Especially if you're driving alone - it's no fun to be going highway speeds and trying to glance at your phone telling you which exit to take! 

5. I will admit many of the papers I threw away were actually (somewhat) necessary up until I graduated. But, I completely reorganized my file folder with important documents. And I plan go through my 3 different "dance" binders next. 

My suggestion when going through anything is to ask yourself "do you actually need this?" and "is there another place where this information is available?" For example - credit card statements. I receive mine in the mail, but can also access them online. Therefore, once I look at them, there's no need to keep the paper copy! 

6. RECIPE! I call this "Chicken and Peppers" but maybe you're more creative...

I'm giving amounts that I make for myself - which usually is one or two servings depending on my hunger...

Ingredients

4 oz Chicken breast 

1 Bell pepper

1 serving Pasta sauce 

1 serving Pasta (any noodle will do)

Olive oil

Garlic

Salt

Pepper

Directions

Put water on to boil for the noodles. And start heating some oil in a pan.

Cut pepper(s) into small pieces.

Cut the chicken into bite size chunks.

Add peppers to pan when hot

Season with salt, pepper, garlic (I sometimes do an Italian seasoning as well)

When fairly cooked, add chicken (should be right around the time the water is boiling)

Add seasoning as desired.

Add pasta to water when boiling, cook as directed.

Continue to stir both the pasta and the chicken/peppers.

When chicken is cooked through, add pasta sauce and stir.

Strain pasta and add to pan with chicken, peppers, and sauce.

Stir.

Serve!

Another New Year

Well, it's that time again. Time for people to make resolutions that they'll forget (not that I'm guilty of that or anything...). But, here's a reminder: each day is a chance to better yourself. Don't let January 6, September 15, or July 27 keep you from being a better person - the "New Year" is just one of 365 chances to make your self a better person in 2015!

With that said, I do have two resolutions for 2015.

1. BLOG. I'll admit, I had this one last year and I didn't follow through. But, I'm hoping that without school (YAY, I graduated!) I will be able to focus on myself - and therefore blogging - a little bit more in 2015.
My goal for this is to blog at least once a week. A diary, if you will, of my experiences. In addition, I hope to add some tutorials, reviews, and other bloggy things to make it more interesting than a reiteration of every moment of my life!

2. Live in the moment. Now, this doesn't mean I'll be making rash decisions in 2015. But it does mean I hope to put down my phone more. Candy Crush and Facebook can wait until I'm done experiencing life!
My goal for this is to check my phone for texts/emails in down time. And check social media only 3-4 times per day - when I wake up, lunch, and before bed. Now, this has been a struggle thus far, but it'll only get better.

Does anyone have tips for making either of these goals happen?
What are your new years resolutions?

The Unveiling

We often portray an image or persona which we feel is acceptable or desirable in society.

This is our external self.

We also have an internal self.

Only certain people are allowed to view this private unmasking.

When we unmask, we let people in.

They see our true colors, our internal selves.

I may appear to be one thing, but really I am another.

But how hard is it to leave the mask off?

Why not let it lie?

It’s a security blanket, this mask.

Like a shield – protecting us from judgment.

Masks come in all shapes and sizes.

From a simple “I’m great!” on a shitty day, to a completely second and opposite personality.

The “unmasking” doesn’t have to be a dramatic event.

Sometimes you slowly shed small pieces of your mask, letting people in one shard at a time.

Whenever we are in a new and unfamiliar environment, our mask becomes thicker.

I want to be liked.

I want to be accepted.

I don’t want to be judged.

But aren’t you judging them by saying they’ll judge you?

What are other peoples’ masks?

Do you know when someone is wearing one?

Do you know how thick it is?

How do you know when they’ve completely taken it off?

Is the layer underneath your mask constantly changing?

Mine is.

But my mask is constantly updating and evolving as well – to new situations, new information

Is it possible to show someone your partial unmasking and still remask?

Or are you forever without that part of your mask in their eyes?