my week in pictures

If you're following me on twitter you may have seen some of the photos I posted via yfrog recently. I'm posting a few of my favorites from this past week and some that I didn't post online.

I went to Twin Falls last weekend to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday. Saturday I ended up at Shoshone Falls, which happens to be taller than Niagra. Unfortunately the only camera I had was on my phone. I got kind of snap-happy, but it was so gorgeous.

Lots of birthday celebrations (and dessert!).

On the way home: the Idaho desert.

We stopped at Lowes (at Overland and Cole in Boise) on the way home for the Wish Granters playhouse raffle. Every ticket is $1 for the raffle. This particular playhouse is part of a silent auction. It ends this Sunday (June 19), so there's still time to get your tickets! Check out Wish Granters on facebook.

Yesterday I ran errands with my mom and aunt and we stopped at Starbucks. There's nothing better than an iced caramel macchiato on a summer day!

Hope you've all had a great week! It's almost the weekend! :)

Wardrobe Wednesday

I wore this outfit on my birthday, Sunday, to church. I was rushing around to get ready and just threw it together. It's simple but classy. These aren't the shoes I wore to church, but decided to wear them for this post.

Top: Express

Skirt: Forever21

Shoes: Forever21

Black Bangle: Forever21

Music Monday: Britt Nicole

It's Britt Nicole's birthday today! Happy Birthday!! This is her new single, Hanging On. This isn't a music video, just the song with a picture. Enjoy!

25 before 26

You may have seen Heather's post yesterday, which makes me not even want to post because hers is so awesome. We also have a lot of the same things on our lists (I'm such a copier). Anyway, I posted back in December my list of goals, 24 before 25. I might have done about half of it, I admit I didn't try very hard. I really like my 25 goals before 26 and will definitely try harder to get EVERYTHING done.

1. Take a trip (or two) to Georgia to visit Jenny

2. Meet Amanda irl

3. Read the complete works of Jane Austen

4. Get out of debt and save money

5. Move out of my parent's house

6. Get another tattoo

7. Get current on photo albums

8. Run a 5k

9. Go on a date

10. Re-watch and catch up on Grey's Anatomy

11. Go to Coachella in Indio, California

12. Have some of my pictures on display at a store, coffee shop or library

13. Schedule one photoshoot each month (total of 12+)

14. Get A's fall and spring semesters

15. Work on my thesis proposal and find my emphasis for the remainder of my grad program

16. Get a more permanent job

17. Maintain a good workout routine, 4-5 times/week

18. Go to a Barcelona show (it's been too long)

barcelona source

19. Read all of Jodi Picoult's books

20. Read the Bible cover to cover

21. Go to Tablerock

22. Go on a hike

23. Work on two personal photo series outside of school

24. Start a vintage camera collection

25. Live simplier and greener by repurposing, diy-ing and thrifting

Some of these things are obviously a little more challenging, but I'm up for it. I don't know what this next year is going to bring, but I'm going to make the most of it!

photo source

25

I really can't believe it's my 25th birthday. Or maybe I can. It shouldn't be different than any other birthday, its just another year. But for some reason, maybe it's just me putting pressure on myself, I feel like it holds more weight than other birthdays I've had.

It's a little depressing that I'm turning 25 and I'm living at home (at least I currently have a job), but I have no idea what I'm doing with my life. This is not to disregard what I've done up until now. I mean, hi, I grew up with an amazing family (and twin sister, Happy Birthday Heather), went to a fabulous college, moved to California, had an amazing time there and started grad school.

I just feel lost right now and "this birthday" almost feels like someone rubbing it in my face that I'm not "doing" anything with my life. There are many people I know (it's hard NOT to compare) who are the same age or younger than me, who have fabulous jobs or their own companies, boyfriends, husbands, babies or babies on the way and I have none of that. I'm not trying to make this a depressing-woe-is-me-post (sorry if that's how it sounds).

I guess I'm trying to talk myself into not seeing this birthday as a HUGE thing, but turn it around and thank God that he's given me such an amazing life. Because I truly am thankful for all that He has given me, especially my family, my awesome twin sister Heather and my wonderful friends. I'm trusting God and holding onto His promises, claiming Jeremiah 29:11-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

I really am trying to end this blog post on a happy note. Here are some pictures of Heather and me growing up. I might have lied on who is who when we were little, because honestly my mom is one of the only people who can definitely tell us apart as little ones. I also don't know our ages in the first pictures, we were babies, that's close enough.

Babies: Ashlee and Heather

Baby Heather

Baby Ashlee

Babies: Heather and Ashlee (maybe), omg shoes

Age 2: Grandpa, Heather and me

Age 2: Dad, Heather and Ashlee, we love to accessorize

Age 3: Heather, Mom and Ashlee, birthday at Chuck E. Cheese (I love this picture, btw)

Age 3: Ashlee and Heather, that's how we roll

Age 4: Heather, Dad and Ashlee, birthday Chuck E. Cheese, we loved that place

Age 4: Heather and Ashlee

Age 6: Heather and Ashlee

Age 7: Erica, Hayley, Heather and Ashlee

Age 11: Heather and Ashlee, BANGS

Age 16: Heather and Ashlee, Family trip to Disneyworld and Disney Cruise to the Bahamas

Age 19: Heather and Ashlee, Family trip to Disneyworld

Age 21: Heather and Ashlee, Cheesecake Factory with friends

Age 22: Ashlee and Heather, Dinner at Orrapin with friends

Age 23: Jenny, Ashlee and Heather, Hollywood night at The Knitting Factory

Age 24: Megan, Janelle, Veronia, Ashlee, Jessie, Aimee, Heather and Jenny, Vegas trip with the girls

Pretty Things & Birthday Wishes

Heather and I leave in the morning for Seattle and I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to see my girls and celebrate Jenny's birthday this weekend! Happy Birthday my Jenny-Boo, I love you!

source: ffffound