ASHLEY.PHOTOGRAPHER

Yesterday I did something very stupid.  But not on purpose.  J and I had some friends over and we were all cooking dinner in the kitchen.  Well, actually, I wasn’t really cooking.  I was just doing clean up duty.  Because J is not really the clean as he goes kind of guy.  Although I must note that he was making an effort to clean while cooking yesterday.

J accidentally dropped a few kernels of corn on the floor and when I spotted them, I just had to pick them up.  So I squatted down to get them and just before I was about to toss them in the nearby trash can, I stood up and smacked my head into an open kitchen cupboard.  Graceful, I know.  I flipped out, as usual, and immediately iced it and took 2 ibuprofen.  I didn’t really care about how much it hurt, I just wanted to make sure it didn’t end up looking as bad as it felt.  And as per the usual protocol, I called my mom and asked her to tell me how I’d know if I had a concussion.  My pupils looked like they were the same size, but I had no idea what else to look for.  Because a small bump on on the head is never a small matter in my world.

I’m happy to report that it didn’t result in a concussion and no major bruising has occurred.  There’s a small bump on my forehead, but it’s hard to see.  Hallelujah!  I was going to take a picture of it, you know, for posterity’s sake, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t even be remotely visible.  And you all would think I’m a wuss.  Even though you all already know that I am!  But hey, at least I can own up to it.  And, I’m blogging about it.  That has to count for something, right?

On a more positive note, I got to test out the Canon 35mm 1.4 last night.  You know, after my potential concussion occurred.  And without having ever shot with it, I knew it would be amazing.  I took it outside in our backyard for about 5 minutes, hopped on J’s shoulders, and snapped this picture of the moon.  

There was just something about how green the trees were and how blue the sky looked and the moon just sitting right in the middle of all of it.  And thanks to J’s height, I was able to really see it all.  It’s moments like these that remind me that even though it’s my job to photograph people and things, it should also continue to be my hobby as well.  I need to shoot for myself a little more.  The way that’s worded kind of makes it sound selfish, but I really believe that doing so helps to keep the passion and interest alive.  Here’s paying attention to the beautiful things around us, even when we ourselves don’t feel so beautiful!

To be perfectly honest, this week has been slightly heinous.  And the phrase TGIF is really ringing true right about now!  I’m struggling to find the right balance between work and my personal life and I have yet to find the happy medium.  And there are so many moments when I feel like I’m letting everyone down because I just don’t have enough time to do everything I want to do.  My mentor in college always reminded me that graduate school is a jealous mistress.  And once I finally arrived there, I definitely found that to be true.  But now there’s a new jealous mistress in my life.  And it’s owning my own business!  And the hardest part is that I really enjoy it.  I don’t dread going to work every day.  And the perfectionist in me is constantly trying to make things run even more efficiently.  And J is along for the ride.  He gets home from his 9-5 every day and shifts into photography mode.  He helps me more than I give him credit for.  And I’m so blessed to not only have a job that I love, but a husband that I love even more.  I’m confident that I will find a better balance eventually.  I just have to keep working at it!

That being said, I think I’m long overdue for a cup of tea.  Because thinking about your favorite things always makes things better, right?  At least that’s what Maria says.

1.  Bath and Body Works PocketBacs

Good heavens.  These things are my new favorite thing in the entire world.  Being the slight germ phobe that I am, I always carry around hand sanitizer.  And up until now, I was never satisfied with the alcoholish scent and the size of the containers I found at Target.  But these are tiny and smell amazing when they dry!  Right now I’m using Island Nectar and I find myself smelling my hands every time I use it.  Not that smelling your hands all the time is very attractive, but you’d be doing it too if your hands smelled that good!

2.  Plain Jane

I was slightly annoyed when Olivia was chosen as the new face of Elle.com instead of Louise Roe, but clearly, Louise has moved on to bigger and better things.  It’s your classic makeover show, but not just from a superficial standpoint.  And while I always love watching hair, makeup, and clothing transformations, I also love seeing how Louise helps young women build confidence.  No, this show isn’t groundbreaking, but for some reason I’m hooked.  And don’t tell him that I told you, but J likes to watch it too.  Maybe it’s that he likes to spend time with me, but he is the one who found it on TV.  Either way.  I love the show and I love watching it with him.

3.  z pizza

Why didn’t anyone tell me about this place sooner?  I’ve known it exists for a while now, but I had no idea how good it is.  Not to mention that they serve pasta too.  And I feel like it’s healthier than most pizza places.  Maybe it’s not, but that’s how I feel.  And perception is everything!

4.  My new desk!

Is it possible that a desk can make you want to work more?  Cuz this one has.  Seriously.  IKEA must have seen me coming and sprayed some workaholic spray onto this desk.  My personal life should have warned them.  And the best part?  Procuring organizational accessories.  I have no idea why that’s so exciting for me, but I was a happy girl when I walked out of the office supply store.  And the fact that I don’t have a massive pile of cords hanging out on the floor anymore makes me feel like it’s my birthday every time I sit down at this desk.  Anyone want to buy my old desk?  I still love it, but I just needed something with more surface area and unfortunately I don’t have room for it anymore!  It’s chillin in my living room right now and I’d love you forever if you took it off my hands!

Just look at all that space!  Don’t look at my old school mac keyboard though.  I’m saving for my upgrade.  Cuz when you get a bigger desk, you need a bigger computer monitor, right?

No, they’re not the fanciest desk accessories in the world, but I love them.  Especially the drawers.  Happy Friday everyone!