Actually, the elevators in the Blount County Justice Center are pretty bad…
I swear this is not turning into a blog about my dogs, but I just can’t resist their cuteness!
This was part of my backyard at about 3:30 pm today. And it hasn’t stopped raining yet! try house-breaking a new puppy in this!
The holidays were wonderful here in East Tennessee. My sister and her two adorable children and one rotten dog stayed with me for Christmas. Buddha had so much fun with Kane (the afore-mentioned rotten dog) and after they left Buddha pouted for days. That made me realize it was time to grow the family and yesterday I brought home a surprise:
Kamma! A 10 week old, 12 pound, Australian Cattle Dog and German Shepherd mix. Let the fun begin!
For those of you who have known me for the last 10 or so years, you know that I have only had my hair cut professionally about three times. not that my hair hasn’t been cut, I would just do it myself.
Well since I am on a quest to get my hair past the middle of my back, I have found it incredibly hard to trim it myself. Luckily, my office neighbor is Lisa Thomas Salon. Double luckily, she has good hair and is always busy with clients with good hair. Thankfully, I was able to get an appointment today. And I love the results! What do you think?
Yes, I never seem to post ‘resolutions’ at the start of the year. And as I have mentioned many times before, I don’t do ‘resolutions,’ I do goals. But before posting my goals for 2010, I’d like to review my goals for 2009.
Back on January 9, 2009, I posted my nine goals for 2009. Makes me think I should post 10 goals for 2010 on January 10, but I will be running my first marathon that day and might find myself slightly side-tracked…
Looking back over the last year, I accomplished two of the nine. Being the glass-half-full person that I am, I am very proud of that accomplishment! Most people don’t finish the year with one completed. So 2/9 isn’t too shabby. And I would easily say that another three made it awfully close to completion.
1. Race in a half marathon. – ACCOMPLISHED
I raced my first half marathon on March 29th in less than 3 hours. And in less than a week, I will be racing in my first marathon. Mission definitely accomplished.
2. Reach a healthy weight. – Almost there!
I have lost weight this year, mainly thanks to all the running. So while I am not at my optimal BMI, I am at least in a comfortable place.
3. Write my 500th blog post. – Not exactly…
Well I broke 400, but anywhere near 500. At least I blogged a fair amount, though still sporadically as the year went on.
4. Own a home. – ACCOMPLISHED!
June 11th I closed on the house I live in now. Yeah!!!!
5. Be recognized as an attorney who takes care of her clients, always having their best interests in mind. – I believe that I’ve accomplished this one.
I have received ‘Thank You cards,’ referrals, hugs and holiday well wishes from clients current and past. So I like to think that at least the people who I have worked for would considered this complete!
6. Create a cookbook with my family’s favorite recipes. – Oops…
Sorry Stacy! I’m still hoping to get this accomplished. I really need Granny’s cookie recipe…
7. Take a portrait with the Husband every month. – Not. Even. Close.
For various and sundry reasons this did not happen. I think there are four months where we appear in the same picture. I guess that’s what happens when you both are traveling and one of you opens her own business…
8. Make time daily for prayer, reflection and meditation. – Yes and No.
I pray daily, but nearly enough reflection and meditation as was intended when I made this goal. I really believe in the power of meditation so I hope to continue to work on this one too!
9. Learn to spend and save within a budget. – Budget? What is that?
Yeah… nothing more to say about this one…
So all in all, not too many complete failures. Stay tuned for my goals for 2010!
Being that I haven’t been grocery shopping in almost two weeks, dinner this week has been coming out of the back of the pantry and the depths of the deep freezer. Tonight was Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, always a comfort food favorite. Sadly, I was so hungry, I didn’t think about how hot some fresh-out-the-pot soup would be. I poured it in my mug then took a big swig… and scalded my throat! Comfort food gone wrong for sure!
Good news is that I finished off the Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream while watching the last of the David Tennant Doctor Who espisodes. All ends well!
Today is the first day of 2010, or as I like to call it “The Year of Ashley!” I mentioned this to my Dad today as we were sitting in the theater waiting for Avatar to start and he responded: “I thought every year was ‘The Year of Ashley!’.” Oh, Dad!
In a way he is right. I want every year to be my best year yet. Better than the year before. I like to think this year is special as I will be turning 30. Turning 30 creates a need to complete inside my head. Complete outstanding goals and lists. Because turning 30 means that I have definitely lived 1/3 of my life (and the way health problems run in my family, I might even be closer to the half-way point than I think).
But I have a month and a half before I hit the big 3-0, so lets focus on the now!
Last night I was blessed to have friends with whom I could ring in the New Year.
It was a blast to hang out with Erin and everyone else to see the ball drop in Market Square in downtown Knoxville!
Then today, it was off to the movies with the family and then running on the Greenbelt. What a great way to start 2010! Hope your start to the New Year was as great as mine.
Taken with my iPhone.
Welcome to ashleystravel.com
Introducing Ashley
is about life in Blount County, Tennessee. Here are my joys in life and the lessons I learn. Some kitchen triumphs and tragedies. Go on a trip around the world or just in my backyard. My goals and dreams plus a photo along the way.
This is my life.
