Favorite Things

Here are a few of my Favorite Things from the month of June!

1.  Coming Home

My NYC trip was fantastic, but coming home to my boys was downright amazing.  I also love how Noel told me, "I don't know how you do it, but I know why you do it."  So glad he took good care of my babies while I was gone.

2.  Fruit Parfait

My afternoon snack of choice would be Dove chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, or something along those lines.  But in an effort not to gain 400 pounds this summer, I thought fruit would be a nice alternative.  This parfait is amazing, with some vanilla yogurt, granola, and fruit.  Yummm!!!

3.  Dry Shampoo by Big Sexy Hair

When I wake up in the morning, my hair is a mess.  A MESS.  It looks like I'm auditioning for the role of Mufasa in the Lion King.  It's that crazy.  I was too lazy to wash my hair in NYC, so I borrowed some of Amanda's dry shampoo.  It was amazing....ah may zing.  I'm ditching my Tressemme mess and getting some of this!

4.  Elizabeth Banks

Love. her.  Over the past few months, I've seen her in Hunger Games, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and Man on a Ledge (funny name, GREAT movie).  She's been beyond fantastic in all of them and I've started getting her weekly emails and hope every day that she will tweet me back...(creeper alert)!

5.   This picture

I'm madly in love with these two little guys and love that they are best friends.


Jan, Feb, March, April, May


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Now, it's your turn!  Link up below with your Favorite Things.  Make sure you link to your actual "Favorite Things" post and not just your blog in general.  Also link back to my blog in your post AND go visit each other!

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8 months of sweetness

Ahhhh!!!!!  Isn't he the cutest, squishiest, sweetest baby of all time?!  Walker turned 8 months earlier this week and he just keeps getting more amazing every day.  He is scootching backwards (only when it's absolutely necessary), loves being in Mommy's lap, and LOVES his food.  The only time he ever really cries (well its more like a scream) is when his food is gone...and then it's very, very bad....and I need something amazing to take it's place...as in a full on musical number with famous actors and special effects.  Usually, though, a toss up in the air will do the trick to get him laughing, and smiling, and being all sorts of happy again.  When I go in to Walker's room to get him from his nap every day, he starts kicking his legs so fast whenever he sees me.  Best thing ever!! We love you so much, Walker.

Tomorrow I'll be doing a link up for your Favorite Things (I'll be doing this on the last weekday of every month.)  You can post about ANYTHING.  Your list can be 1 thing or 10 things.  You can tell us about a favorite picture, recipe, outfit, item you bought, place you visited...whatever!  Can't wait to see everyone's posts!  I won't have a button ready until July's Favorite Things so you can link back to my blog however you want!

Home from NYC

I'm back!  My sister, Jessica and I had a grand ol time in NYC.  We stayed with our friend, Amanda (or Dr. Ting as we now call her) in her beautiful apartment and had a blast during our girls' weekend.  We ate yummy food, saw 2 amazinggggggg shows (Nice Work If You Can Get It and Newsies), saw our friends Courtney and Prentis, took a dance class, and had a blast just being together. Amanda calls me the ultimate "fan girl" and, well, it's true.  I get all kinds of crazy when I see famous people.   Our friend, Robert is in Nice Work and took us back stage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (these exclamation points don't even begin to describe the way my heart was pounding when I stepped on to that stage).  See the picture bottom right?  Yep, that's me....on Broadway. 

 

Heading out.......

Today I'm on my way to NYC with my sister, Jessica for a weekend with friends. My heart is already hurting from missing my babies so much, but I know they'll love every second with Daddy!  Can't wait to see you SJP!!!  (She doesn't know about our meet-up quite yet.)  Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!!  

Fun with the Letter B

The boys and I decided to spice summer up a bit.  

For the past couple of weeks we've been going on "field trips", making crafts, and doing other fun stuff featuring a different letter in the alphabet.  

It's forcing me to be a little more creative and is allowing us to do new things!

This week......we did B!

1.  Bruegger's Bagel: One of our local Bruegger's does a singing time every week.  Charlie LOVEEESSSS this.  When the 30 minutes are over Charlie says "No! Sing!"

2.  Blocks:  My dad recently bought the boys some blocks.  Little did we know that we had to put these suckers together.  But once we did, the boys had a grand ol' time with them.

3.  My friend Sara told me about this amazing website, Starfall.  (I accidentally typed in "Skyfall" at first and got the trailer for the upcoming Bond movie.)  Starfall is a fantastic website for little people to learn their letters!

Click here to see our fun with "A"

 

Weekend Weather

Could this June North Carolina weather BE any nicer?!  We've been enjoying it with family, parks, trains, and lakes...and we even got to see Erin!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend as well.

 

Creating Geniuses

Pinterest Find

So read we will.  Park Scholars don't just make themselves!

These boys do love to read, and I love reading to them.  (I think it's awesome when I "catch" them reading.)

Happy Friday everyone.  Have a fantastic weekend!

 

Fun with the Letter A

The boys and I decided to spice summer up a bit.  

For the past couple of weeks we've been going on "field trips", making crafts, and doing other fun stuff featuring a different letter in the alphabet.  

It's forcing me to be a little more creative and is allowing us to do new things!

We started with.......the Letter A!!!!  Surprise!

*Art Museum:  We've done this before, and I loved it.  Especially since the art project Charlie made so awesomely favors the Harry Potter symbol.

*Apple Pie.  Deliciousness.  Found the recipe here and it is oh so good.  And easy!  The boys love making (and eating) treats.

*Apple Printables:  Free (!)  here.  Charlie loved matching, counting, and coloring the apples.

*A featuring Elmo.  No day would be complete in this house without Elmo.  Short, cute video of Elmo talking about the letter A.

*Applesace:  And the cuteness that it's covering.

I'm going to go ahead and take a guess that we won't make it to Z before the summer is over, but for now we are having tons of fun with our letters!

Seriously, I'm Kidding

A book by Ellen Degeneres is just what I needed.  She is *seriously* a breath of fresh air.  To say this book is hilarious is an understatement.  Like I said before, I would literally throw my head back with laughter.  Here is an excerpt from my favorite chapter, "How to Be a Supermodel".....

"Here are some suggestions, as long as you are willing to be fierce.

One:  The Look

Always look like you're angry at the universe for making you too pretty.

Two:  The Walk

Trot.  Aggressively, like you're a horse that's trying to avoid puddles.

Three:  The Squint

Squint like someone is bouncing sunlight off their watch and directly into your eyes.

Four:  The Pout

Get those lips out there.  Purse your lips like you're tying to sip out of a straw that someone keeps moving away from you.

Five:  The Pose

Be mysterious.  Always pose with one hand in your pocket as if to say, 'I'm so mysterious, this hand in my pocket could be a hook hand.  You don't know.'

Six:  The Breeze

Carry a giant oscillating fan with you at all times.  No exceptions.

Now put it all together.  Trot! Quint! Get the straw! Who's a pretty girl?  You are.  Keep trotting!"

Hilarious, right?  If you need a good laugh (which we all do) read this book!!

Also, I'm in need of book suggestions.  I'll have a few hours to read on my way to and from NYC in a few weeks!  Any recommendations?

 

Distracted

Shirt and Shorts:  Gap,  Shoes:  Tory Burch,  Necklace: Belk

This week I have been so distracted.  I've left my van door open during a dinner out, my garage door open (with the house door unlocked) for hours yesterday morning, and have somehow left several projects unfinished this week (which is actually really unlike me).  I blame my period (because I can) and technology.  The other night I cringed when I realized I was watching television, typing on the computer, and texting...all at the same time.  I hated myself for that.  Next week WILL be better (because I'm going to make it that way!) with less things on my to-do list.

It was nice to slow down for a bit the other day with my friend, Amber.  We had lunch and it was so great to just talk....and talk....and talk.  She also happens to be a pretty fantastic photographer and snapped some pictures of me outside the restaurant.  She suggested these train tracks.  I looked at her and asked "Umm...have you seen Fried Green Tomatoes???"  She obviously didn't care about my safety and we did it there anyways.  I did tell her that I would not spare my Tory Burches under any circumstances.  :-)  Take a second and "like" her photography FB page, because like I said, she's fantastic. 

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Casual Friday Link Up

 

A Summer Day...

I started the other day off by cleaning out my "notes" drawer.  I am definitely a note and letter hoarder.  Do you see this incredible love note that my life long crush, Timour, sent me.  (Ok, maybe it wasn't a love letter......but it totally was.)  I danced in one of his pieces YEARS ago.

I then took the boys to a Movement/Song Class.  The theme was Camping and it was so much fun.  (That's the way to do camping...40 minutes of singing in an air-conditioned room.)  

And later that evening we had dinner with my friend, Anna and her sweetie, Hudson.  After dinner, it was confirmed that I have lost my mind when I saw that I had left my van door wide open during dinner.  Either Cameron Village should be awarded for the safest spot in Raleigh, or no one wanted a few pool floaties and some smooshed up granola bars.  After dinner we went to see the dads play in a kickball game...(never thought I would say that!)

Yay for summer!!

 

Winner!!

I talked myself out of signing up for my own giveaway under the name "Celine Dion".  First that would kinda be unfair, and second, I would totally get busted...(Not that Celine doesn't read my blog...she just rarely comments....)

So, random.org decided the Jennie from the Blocks winner for me!

Congratulations Katlyn!  I will email you with details.

And thanks to Jennie for a fantastic giveaway!

 

Polka Dots!!

Skirt:  JCrew,  Shirt:  Old Navy,  Shoes:  Cousin Couture,  Necklace:  Ann Taylor

Have you ever been drawn to a piece of clothing?  I saw this skirt in the JCrew window and the universe pulled me inside. And then the price tag took me right back out.  But then, the promise of wearing it everyday for the rest of my entire life and passing it down to my childrens' wives, and their children, etc. etc, pulled me right back in.

I am a firm believer that women should be in charge of their own presents; birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, every holiday.  I no longer leave it up to Noel to surprise me with a gift.  I know exactly what I want, and it works out for both of us when I tell him.  This skirt was my Valentine's Day present.  I love it, hon!!  You did such a great job!


If you haven't entered the Jennie from the Blocks Giveaway, now's your chance!  The winner will be announced tomorrow.

 

Anniversary Weekend

Last Friday, Noel and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary!  We wanted to do something fun to celebrate, so we spent the weekend at the Umstead Hotel & Spa.  I wanted to go somewhere pretty close and just LAY OUT.  How long has it been since I've been able to sit by the pool and read a book?  I finished Matched (blahhhh.  even though I will finish the series) and started Seriously, I'm Kidding (so funny, I kept throwing my head back to laugh..no joke) 

Our room was beautiful.  I loved that there were chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling cider to welcome us.  The only weird thing was that there was a see-through door to the little toilet room.  I don't care how long you've been married, a real door is necessary.  

Lovely weekend celebrating 5 years!!  Love you, hon.

PS.  If you haven't done so already, make sure you enter the Jennie from the Blocks Giveaway here.

 

Jennie From the Blocks Giveaway!

Today I am hosting my first GIVEAWAY!!  And what a fantastic one it is.

The oh-so-talented Jennie from Jennie from the Blocks is giving away one of her amazing boards.  Custom made just for YOU!  Head on over to her Facebook page and see which one you like the best.  You can choose from any of the 24"x 7" or 24"x 12" boards.

Here are a few of my favorite.

And you can win in 3 simple steps.

1.  Become a follower of Dancing With Ashley through Google Friend Connect (just click "join this site" on the right side of my blog) OR "Like" Dancing With Ashley on Facebook here.

2.  "Like"  Jennie from the Blocks on Facebook here.

3.  Leave a comment either on my blog or on my Dancing With Ashley FB page telling me that you did the first 2 or you can tell me which board you have your eye on.

Now's your chance!!  This is perfect for welcoming a new baby, Father's Day, or sprucing up a room.

Giveaway will be open until Wednesday, June 6 at 12pm.