Win-Win

Today we were driving on the road near the park.  Suddenly, Friend shouts out "Go Red Team!"  I looked over at the ball field, and sure enough, both teams were wearing red.  Go Red Team, indeed.

Until the Real Thing Comes Along

If I could put myself into any decade in American history, I would choose the 1940's every time. 

I wish I could go back in time and live the life my grandparents lived. To experience the hardships that built and preserved their character and integrity.

I'm fascinated by everything about that era.  The hair.  The clothes.  The history.  

And let's not forget the enchanting music.  If I ever meet someone I'd like to slow dance with, I hope it could be to this classic Billie Holiday song.

Charles and Wilma McKnight 1943

WARNING:  Mary, don't listen to this song unless you have time to play it 50 times in a row. 

Heaven help the man who ever really loves you

Sigh, that famous quote from Captain Rhett Butler.  No girl really ever wants to be proposed to that way:  "You're right, my dear. I'm not in love with you any more than you are with me. Heaven help the man who ever really loves you."  But there is something so fantastically romantic in the idea that it takes a very special kind of man to see you all the way through and love you for who you are.  The irony of course is that Rhett really did love Scarlet, he just couldn't let her know that.

Gone with the Wind

I've heard those simple, precious words, I love you, from a variety of men in my life.  But they were shallow, just as their understanding of me lacked any depth.  I was even told by my last boyfriend that his loyalty was to a fault, past the point of logic.  Almost too loyal.  I'm sure he felt that was true until I got very sick and he got very scared.  Those shallow words held nothing sacred, and all those feelings I had imagined so real, were just as gone with the wind as so many shared sentiments before.  But I digress.

It's kind of exciting to see what God is going to do with this season of my life.  Will there be love and trust?  Will there be freedom and adventure?  Will there be heartache and tears?  Will I laugh more or cry more?  I think of my friend who so well stated, "I'm navigating a new life-stage that I naively thought I wouldn't have to walk alone."  And even though I thought I would be frightened in this circumstance, I'm actually excited.

Does anyone else feel this way?

So Few Followers

Here's the great part about having so few followers, I can pretty much write about whatever I want.  There's really no expectation on what I say and how it may or may not pertain to someone else.  I know that my friends are really just reading it to catch up on my life, not to be inspired or motivated, necessarily.  Of course, if they are, then that's just bonus points.

I think I'm more style/fashion conscious than I've ever been.  (Thanks to Krisina J!)  And I'm slowly becoming this fashion forward girly girl.  (Check out my Stylicious board on Pinterest)  Who knew?!?!  I've come a long way from culottes and camp t-shirts.

Technically this is a vbs t-shirt

So, at the urging of my co-workers, friends, and pretty much anyone whom I've ever breached the subject with, I am considering wearing my hair down on occasion again. 

I started wearing it up as an act of obedience and a symbol of purity for my future husband.  It was terribly romantic at the time...but now...w/o going into uncomfortable and painful details, some of those things that seemed so important before have lost their holy luster.

My hair is semi-down here

Any thoughts from my friends and fam?

iDentity

I think as I've struggled with what and when to post on this blog, I've had somewhat of an identity crisis.

And maybe a blog-dentity crisis.  (Points for creating a new word! Woot!)

What is it I want to share, reveal, and market here?

AshB's Cake Pops?

Or AshB?

Making cake pops is not all of who I am, it's just part of what I do.

And the rest of me, the other 92%, seems to sneak it's way into everything I publish here.  

And I think I like that.

What do you think?

Man Pops....and Happy Birthday

Me and B

Today is my older brother's birthday.  I can't believe he's thirty already...but then there are times when I can't believe he's only thirty.  

 

"Man Pops" until I think of a better name

When I hosted "AshB's Pick Your Pop," my brother made the observation that little dainty pastries on a stick (with ribbons) were not a very manly dessert, and that I would have a hard time marketing them to male clientele.  He told me I needed something more masculine, more guy-friendly, something like "man pops".  

 

The whole fam

So, in honor of his birthday, I have created something new.  I don't think they qualify as "man pops" and I was still very particular about the details, but they are a much hardier dessert.  

Happy Birthday, Brandon.  Enjoy!

And you'll never walk alone....

A walk in the park.

I love this picture.  It looks like it came out of a magazine, but in actuality,  these are my nieces, and my two favorite little girls in the whole world.  I love big sister with her hand on little sister's shoulder.  I love little sister with her hands clasped behind her back. 

The leaves on the ground, the path stretching before them, even a vintage style streetlight seems to whisper peace, adventure, contentment, and everything good.  It makes me want to be in that moment, where possibilities abound and the love of two sisters for one another is the overriding theme.  Each with her own dreams and plans stretching before her, but taking on life together, no matter what.