Favorite Thing Thursday: 2010 Favorites

2010, You definitely brought me some favorite moments, experiences and things. And here they are:

1. 500 Days of Summer

Have you ever watched a movie that spoke directly to your soul and caused you to reevaluate your life, and even prompted you to make some changes?? YEAH, ALL FROM A MOVIE.

Despite the fact that I'm a complete sucker for art in all its forms, I know a lot of people that feel the same way about this film. It is now in my Top 5 Favorite Films List, right behind High Fidelity (for all the same reasons). And yeah, I know it came out in 2009, but I watched it 2010.*here's my review for the movie.

2. Cruisin'

2010 brought my first adventure on the high seas with my friend (and travel buddy) Colleen! It was the best cheesy fun I could have had: learning the Thriller Dance on the Lido Deck, eating buffet style with married couples by our side, having a few too many drinks and braving karaoke (to the tune of "The Way You Make Me Feel").

Some of the best moments included an uncoordinated Ashley trying to balance on heels while the ship was swaying (ha, that was a challenge). Even though I spent about 2 weeks battling vertigo after the cruise, it was still worth it! *here's my full post on my cruise adventures.

3. Letting Go of Baggage (Slowly)

Yes, this is most definitely a favorite thing of mine, and one that I've done pretty well in 2010. If you've read this post, then you know where I'm coming from. 2010 has been the year that I really started to let go of a past heartache. I've come to the conclusion that my letting-go process is much slower than the rest of the world's. I cannot jump from man to man without damaging myself; rather, as an introvert (refer to # 8) I need time to think and unload all my thoughts and feelings. And when it's over something so big and profound as an emotionally-draining relationship, then for me, it seriously takes years. Well, this was the year that I've been able to "brush that dirt of my shoulder." (Thanks Jay Z).

4. The Return of Captain E.O.

My favorite 3-D show at Disneyland returned in 2010 in honor of Michael Jackson's death. In March, as a birthday present to myself, I took a trip to Disneyland pretty much solely for this 80s dance-extravaganza masterpiece. It. Was. Exhilarating.

Captain E.O. STILL dominates!!!!

:)

5. Learning to C.A.R.E.

This was the first year that I joined a ministry at my church I could really stand behind, the Cancer C.A.R.E. (Compassion, Awareness, Resources, Encouragement) Ministry. It is a simple, yet essential idea: we fix the cancer patients meals, take them to appointments, pray for them and lend an overall support during a devastating time. I have never felt so needed, or so helpful in my life. This is a ministry in where we are truly God's hands. People worry about SAVING THE WORLD and all the complexities that comes with such a bold statement. My response is, start small! I have a small part in healing the world's problems, and it feels good.

6. Sexy Pointing

Let it be known that in October 2010 Adam Levine pointed at me from the stage at the Maroon 5 concert. Yes, I will always remember the time I was sexily pointed at from Adam, and you can't take that away from me!!!!!

7. Miss Dior Cherie

I have been in love with this perfume ALL YEAR. When will the love affair stop?!?

8. Having An 'A-Ha' Moment

This has been a year of great self-discovery. One step closer to enlightenment, right? I learned this year that (one) I am an Introvert, (two) there's nothing wrong with that and (three) this explains SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF. Thanks Emily Jane for posting on this :) Read my full Ah-Ha moment here.

9. My Best Friend's Wedding

My Homie got married this year!! I got to give it up for a beautiful relationship and the celebration of that love!

Going to see Jack get married in Nashville = one of the favorite things of my life!

10. This Blog (& All of You)

I heart you. Please stay around, my friends! And thanks for listening to worries about Turkey, love rants, rantings in general (I love that soap box), fears and the MANY MANY MANY thoughts (I'm an introvert, remember?) that I post on this here blog. What a fabulous experience having a blog is (and will continue to be).

Raise your glass to 2011! I'm ready for the ride...

My One New Year's Resolution:

Think Less, Do More.

Do I really have to add more to that?

Feliz Navidad

I'll be gone for a few days visiting family in Santa Barbara.

Until then, here's a video from the last taco tuesday I went to (with my mix of crazy/shy/audacious friends).

Merry Christmas!

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's very acceptable:

• to chuckle when you realize even the credit card companies know you are a travel junkie, sending deals for frequent flier miles and travel cards. Look, MasterCard, Visa and Discover...you are tempting me too much. STOP FEEDING MY ADDICTION!! CAN'T YOU SEE I HAVE A PROBLEM?!?

• to cringe every time I hear a Ke$ha song. I even cringe writing out her stupidly-spelled name. How does she manage to make glitter look like dirt?

• to not let a guy love me until he really tries. This heart is not given out easily.

Favorite Thing Thursday: Making the World My Karaoke Stage

Let me preface this post with this one fact: I really can't sing worth a damn. Right, so now that we have that squared away, let me continue...

I BLOODY LOVE SINGING IN PUBLIC! (don't know why I feel like being British today...maybe it's because I'm secretly in love with Jax). I don't necessarily need to sing on a karaoke stage. My theory: why not make the world your stage? Here is a compiled list of places I have sang outloud, in public:

• in a Target with my good friend whom I call my Zero. We belted out "Me and Mrs. Jones" to a group of onlookers in the movie section. It was fantastic.

• in an art museum...hey, it was the art's fault. There was a Toulouse Lautrec exhibition, so of course an assortment of Moulin Rouge songs popped into my head. I think it made the art experience more authentic for the other museum-goers. No?

• In any bar where beer, a juke box and an unlimited selection of Michael Jackson tunes are involved.

• Walking around London with a group of friends...it was such a magical moment in where a street musician was playing "My Favorite Things" on his accordion and we all sort of joined in. Oh wait. I have a video of this one. mwahahaha! Lookie for yourself:

Oh, and the hot asian in the video, that's Jax. Understand my crush? haha.

I need to stop the lesbian jokes on here!!!!

I digress...

Bottom line: I love being in real-life musicals. That's what it comes down to. Despite not liking too much attention on myself, I'm perfectly fine with singing in front of random strangers. For some odd reason, it brings joy to my heart; thus, making it a favorite thing. No pun intended!!

Now if only we could get the whole 'breaking into synchronized dance while singing' down, my real-life musical dreams will be reached!

Second Chances

Alright, alright, alright.

I take part of that last post back...kind of.

The guy I mentioned, who will go by Mr. Hot Chocolate (haha...yes, he's african american), has changed his tune today. He's admitting that he indeed has feelings for me...and being incredibly persistent about it. Sooooo...I'm not gonna take his word for it, I'll let him show me.

If his actions show that he cares enough, then we'll see where this may go.

I'm learning that sometimes you just gotta give second chances (if it feels right in ya soul).

You know what I'm proud of myself for? Not compromising, standing up for what I believe in and being genuine.

That is the best I can do in my life and with my heart.

P.S. I probably shouldn't post about every little personal twist and turn, eh...but whatever. Might as well be open with my emotions. It feels good to let it out.

MUSIC ORGASM!

Just thought I'd put something a *little* more light-hearted on my blog.

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GROUP (from the show, Sing Off):

This is officially my new favorite show all about real acapella groups battling it out on stage.

LOVE.

Watch Your Thinking Change

I found at last week that my dad's cancer has come back, after about 3 years of being in remission.

Now, the first time that I found out about my dad having cancer, I was beyond distraught. Standing at the threshold of death is both terrifying and other-worldy.

This is because we have almost convinced ourselves that we are somehow invincible, that if we distract ourselves with enough work or technology or nonsense, surely death will get lost in the busyness of it all. But when it does find you, let me tell you, it is the biggest and most sobering slap in the face. As John Mayer has once sang, "You know it's nothing new/ bad news never had good timing/ but then the circle of your friends/ will defend the silver lining."

And there is always a silver lining. What's the word for that? Oh yes, hope. Shall I pull out another quote? Yes, I shall: "Hope guides me, that is what gets me through the day and especially the night. The hope that after you're gone from my sight, it will not be the last time that I look upon you." (Thanks, A Knight's Tale).

We knew that my dad's cancer would come back, it was just a matter of when. I should confess that my dad is one of the lucky ones, finding a treatment that works well for him--a treatment that is not invasive, and has little side effects. But there will come a day when the treatment will no longer work (who knows when that is?)...when his body becomes immune and the cancer cells can no longer be outsmarted.

This, of course, is hard to think about and internalize.

Hello death, we meet again.

But this time, I am not distraught. The last cancer scare was a huge life weight to lift, and I have got some major spiritual, mental and emotional muscles on me now--I am all the more strong. The best I can do is shape my mind so that it no longer obsesses about the presence of death; rather, I vow to hold onto the presence of life while it's still here.

"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." --Revelation 1:17

"Watch your thinking change."

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's acceptable:

• to burst out laughing during a very serious moment in where a child upsettingly tells you and your coworker that another child stole his "cheese stick and rubbed it in their butt!" It's too hard to keep a straight face while hearing said sentence. And while the coworker and I discovered this was most likely a ploy by the kid to get another cheese stick, we still felt bad at laughing at his apparent misfortune.

• to blush about 12 shades of red when a guy tells you that you're a "very good kisser." (winky emoticon). I've still got it.

• to like "Baby, It's Cold Outside," even more once you fully realize just how dirty that little Christmas song is! You know, dirty in a sneaky way [insert evil laughter here]. I'm a good girl who happens to like very naughty humor!

Fasulye (Turkish Green Beans)

I'm all about easy, tasty recipes. I'm much too lazy to try to do the hard stuff. I'll leave that to Jackie. (and while you are at it, go check out Jackie's blog, and vote for her in a foodie competition she's in...just do it!).

Well, here is the simple recipe to a simple Turkish side dish:

1 pound of fresh green beans
1 big onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp tomato paste

1 cup water

salt

1. Clean and trim green beans.

2. Heat olive oil in a pan, add onions and cook about 5 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes and tomato paste, stir and cook for about 4 minutes.

4. Add green beans, water, sugar, salt and bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until beans are VERY VERY tender, about 45 minutes.

5. Serve cold and add fresh lemon wedges as a compliment (I swear, everything in Turkey is either served with lemon or yogurt).

This is a healthy way to eat green beans, instead of adding all that Campbells soup! :)

A Cold Beach Day

Sometimes, I really enjoy wandering on the beach on cold days...

Days like these are the best kind of days for thinkers and dreamers, for which I am both.

Favorite Thing Thursday: Holiday Rituals & Giving Thanks

The holidays are officially here, and there are a few traditions I always have to implement right around this time.

In no particular order, here are my favorite holiday rituals:

• Watching The Holiday, Love Actually and most importantly, A Christmas Story. I love all three movies immensely. The Holiday surprised me with how damn good it was. Love Actually has become a modern holiday staple. A Christmas Story is hands down the BEST Christmas movie EVER. No, there are no debates over this subject. This is my blog and what I say here goes. ha.

Best Xmas movie ever!

• The purchase and fast consumption of Peppermint Mocha Creamer. OH YEAH BABY.

• December Nights in San Diego. It is an annual festival of food, dancing, twinkling lights and free admission to museums in SD's historic Balboa Park. I adore it. And guess what? There is a little multicultural food area where Turkey is represented. What, What?! Chicken Döner Kabab here I come!!

A pic of me on the bridge heading to December Nights last year. I love the energy of the whole festival :)

• Painting my nails some kind of Santa, holly-berry red.

• SWEATER AND SCARF SEASON! And can I say, I love seeing men in sweaters! Adorable.

• Hot Chocolate by a fireplace. Yeah, OK. San Diego doesn't get as cold as, let's say, D.C., but we still like to pretend it's winter here!!

• A few listens to "All I Want For Christmas is You," (Mariah Carey version), "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," (YES, by *NSYNC--still a fan) and "Oh Holy Night," (any good version) because it's my favorite Christmas song.

You know you wanna buy the album (wink).

Well, anyway...I realize that today is Thanksgiving, so can I just say that I'm thankful for you? Because I am. Thank you readers, comrades and friends, for being a virtual ear...listening to my irrational worries and ramblings right here on this blog. Thanks for your support, thanks for your friendship, thanks for your community.

I heart you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Love, Love

I had another friend that got married about a week ago, so I wanted to share come lovely photos of the wedding (set at a winery).

The cute-as-a-button couple ♥

Fun shots by the winery!

:-)

Candace and "Pilot Man"

The cute cake (they also had cupcakes).

Time with friends, watching other friends get married.

Good wedding...yet kind of trippy to see all these friends of mine get married. Well, it's weird and not-weird at the same time. Each individual couple is ready at their own rate, yet what's weird is seeing some people that you've known for years move from one stage of life (college and being a twenty-something wanderer) to GETTING MARRIED--a very monumental stage of life.

And so, all these weddings I have been to have been trippy in that sense, because I am so not in that stage of life.

This is not a good or bad observation; rather, just an observation on how we (or I) perceive changes. Yeah...I think that sums it up!

Book Nerds

I got this from Michelle's blog.

Have you read more than 6 of these books? The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here.

Instructions: Copy this. Bold those books you've read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish or read an excerpt. Tag other book nerds. Tag me as well so I can see your responses!

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible - Too Many Cooks
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert X
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Inferno – Dante
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

I've read 12/100. And I just wanted to say, I'm surprised A Farewell to Arms is not on this list. I want to read more on this list (and classics in general) for sure!

How many have you read?

Not So Good News

I've been terribly sick the past few days. So much for saying that I don't get sick often...these past few months it's been the opposite. I've sounded like a frog (croak-a-licious) recently. Good thing I don't have to talk on this blog. ha.

Also, I wasn't going to post about this...but I think it's good to let out my anger over it, so here goes:

A close relative of mine was in a domestic abuse situation last week. I was shocked over it, and kept teetering between emotions of anger and worry. Long story short, she's doing fine, but the family is a mess right now, and everything is up in the air.

It makes me livid that there are men (and even some women) that will resort to violence when angered.

What's different about this case, is the husband had never been violent before (in a 13 year marriage). This raises the question of mental health issues. He's in his 60s, so dementia is a possibility. It's all so complicated.

Is it bad that I'm still angry at him, even if there are possible mental health issues in the mix? I just can't help it. What's worse is, the children witnessed the altercation.

I guess there's nothing more to say on this issue. What bugs me is I can't do much to help here. I can offer support and sympathy, but not much more than that.

At least, this guy will be going to a psychologist soon...and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, that will help.

Favorite Thing Thursday: Hot Adam!

*credit*

I've been in a Maroon 5 mood ever since the concert, and it's really hard to ignore the frontman (especially when he points at you...I still can't forget about that!).

Is it really pathetic to have a school girl crush when you're 25? Wait, don't answer. Although I have a very mature side, this is my very immature side. But I don't care. LOOK AT THAT HUNK-A-BURNING LOVE!

Why I swoon over Adam Levine:

• that unusual, pierce-your-ears, soulful voice.
• the way he handles his microphone. That is not an innuendo you DIRTY thinkers!
• he's brooding, like Marlon Brando. Gotta love those ones.
• his sexual prowess on stage...watching him is...um, an experience.
• his simple-and-truthful song writing...he says what he means and means what he says.

To finish, I found this clip of a show I would have sold my left kidney to go to. But really. I died when I saw this. JT and Adam Levine on one stage??? I can't take the sexiness!!!!! HOT-BOY OVERLOAD...cannot...write...anymore...go to clip!

Alright alright alright...I'm done with being 14 for the moment. But Adam Levine, you are the sexiest pointer EVER.

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

You know it's acceptable:

• to make a line from Glee your new mantra. That being, "Give me some chocolate or I'll cut you." Sounds about right. :)

• To be furious enough to cuss out your television, when the outcome of a certain show was ludacris! MONDO SHOULD HAVE WON PROJECT RUNWAY! NOT GRETCHEN-STUPID-FACE!!! GRRRRR....*breathe* Ok, I'm done. But really...am I crazy for yelling at the TV?

• To overplay a song ("Whip My Hair") from a 9-year-old prodigy-of-sorts (Will Smith's daughter). Willow Smith, you make me feel slightly unaccomplished for my age, but I can't help but shake it to your cute song with a great beat. SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE HER DAD!

Within Reach?

Bodrum, Turkey--A picture I show a lot here on this blog, because I adore it. Let's call this my happy place.

*sigh*

I'm really wanting to get to Turkey.

I feel like I'm playing too much of a waiting game, but I'm too careful and levelheaded to just fly to Turkey and look for jobs in person. I've always tried to play it safe with my money, because I don't want to have to struggle while I'm there.

But I just. want. to. get. there.

I know I'm being whiny in this post. Forgive me.

POSITIVE THINKING: Rev Run (on twitter) said Focus: (F)ollow (O)ne (C)ourse (U)ntil (S)uccessful.

Word, Rev.

Quote of the Day:

"I always fall in love with an open door, with a horizon on an endless sea." --Death Cab For Cutie

Just wanted to post these lyrics, because they are so me.

Favorite Thing Thursday: Big Daddy

Who's your daddy?

The only answer should be God, the ultimate "Big Daddy." My favorite thing pick of the week today is God. YES, as in the one theological being that created everything.

DISCLAIMER: I don't always talk about my faith here, but it is a big part of me. I don't like to cram religious ideas down peoples' throats; however, days like today I feel refreshed and inspired by God, and it's only natural to share something that moves me. Whether it be Justin Timberlake, chocolate, coffee or God, I have no choice but to share what makes my heart beat with utter joy. And seeing as God created ALL of those things, I think he deserves his own post. God is a favorite thing of mine.

I'm not going to ramble on and on about theology, doctrine, rules and regulations; rather, I want to talk about the very core of my religious belief. That being, I've found that a life without God is no life at all.

A favorite pastor of mine, Erwin McManus, has a quote that perpetuates that thought. He says, "We weren't created to exist, but to live."

In other words, too many of us are the walking dead, accepting to only exist in a mundane cycle we call life. I fall back into that cycle all too often.

The true breath of life lies with God, and I'm trying to breathe it in.

To end, here is a song that somehow fits in with this post and my ideas about life and God. Enjoy :)

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's very acceptable:

• to be a little scurrred when you're sitting next to man reading a magazine about guns and killing deer (on a plane). So what, is there a rifle in your checked luggage? And why you gotta kill Bambi? There are other "sports" to take up...I hear cricket is a nice one to play, where you're not SHOOTING THINGS.

• to have an "awwwww" moment when a 7-year-old boy starts talking about the functions of important body parts, elaborating that "brains are for remembering things and hearts are for loving somebody." I wasn't gonna correct him. :)

• to be true to your heart and not date the guy mentioned in the last Perfectly Acceptable Ashley. Because after a few dates, it wasn't right. Although said guy may make a good friend, it's always acceptable to go with that innermost, almost-primal gut instinct. Because the old adage, "you know when you know" works both ways. You also know when it's a NO.

And I said, what about, Breakfast at Tiffany's?

My dear friend Bethany called me a prostitute on Halloween, to which I replied, "Hey!" Then I remembered, I was a prostitute for Halloween: Holly GoLightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

I realized that I will miss the whole Halloween extravaganza when I move to Turkey, but hey--I'm ok with sacrificing an American tradition for a plethora of new Turkish experiences.

About Turkey, since some of you asked, I'm still chuggin' along and applying, and some places are starting to look very promising. So I'll keep you all updated.

Anyway, onto my photos from Halloween!

We went to a street fair where there were multiple creative (and inappropriate) costumes. If you can name the costumes shown above, you get extra points. I was super excited to see them!

Bethany was Lady GaGa from the "Telephone" video, and Christian was an urban cowboy. I told Christian to watch out for gay boys that would inevitably hit on him. haha.

The following night (actual Halloween), I took my nephews out for trick-or-treating. Like the zombie makeup job I did on Brendan above?? He loved it. Anything to score cool aunt points.

How was your Halloween?

My 'Ah Ha!' Moment

I feel like this has been a groundbreaking week for me, for a couple reasons.

First, it started with Emily posting on an article she read, called "Revenge of the Introverts." Now, I never thought of myself as an introvert before, and this is because I had the wrong definition of what an introvert is. After reading excerpts from the article, it it so damn clear: I AM AN INTROVERT! This explains SO MUCH of who I am and my behaviors, that I can't believe I didn't realize it before.

I feel enlightened.

As Emily and the article explained, introverts are not shy, we just "recharge" by having some alone time, whilst extroverts recharge by socializing. In the past, what people took as my shyness was actually my brain shutting off after too much socializing. It's extremely draining for me to hang out with someone ALL DAY LONG. I start to get a little moody, and on top of that, I just. don't. want. to talk anymore! I want to think think think...

This leads me to what else has made this week eye-opening. I took an IQ test (administered by my psychologist friend Bethany) and it revealed a lot about my personality. I scored 108, which is an average score; however, that score is actually an average between a verbal and performance score.

So get this, I scored 122 (well above average) in the verbal section, but only 94 (on the lower side of average) in the performance section. This means I think about EVERYTHING. And I think SO MUCH it is almost a brain overload. This affected my performance score (where I had to put things together and such) because I would second guess myself by thinking too much.

While having high verbal scores shows that I'm excellent at writing, understanding and explaining (anything logical), having low performance scores shows that I can be apprehensive about doing things. This includes taking chances, or being spontaneous.

This shows me that I need more of a balance. Life is about balance, right?

Bethany said that one great thing I am doing to achieve that balance is my Turkey plan. Going to another country, living there for a year and literally pushing myself out of my comfort zone can only make me more well-rounded. Because for once, I'll be doing something BIG without over thinking and talking myself out of it.

So, those were my revelations this week...and they've helped me to realize that there's a reason I am the way I am. Simply, this makes me smile. For once I feel like I'm not abnormal; rather, I belong to a big group of people who are just like me...and we matter just as much as the extroverts.

My Homie's Wedding ♥

Everything I could say is better said through pictures:

Jaclyn's dog Frankie :)

Hangin' with Elvis in downtown Nashville.

Very beautiful bride!

Back of the dress.

Bride and the Maid-of-Honor, October 23, 2010

Happy Couple :)

A game of pool after the wedding. hehe.

Pack My Bags, Head to Nashville...

(a picture of me and Jac, circa 2006)

A friend of mine told me, "One thing I don't get is someone that hates country is going to Nashville."

I know, RIGHT? But it's not by choice!

I kid, I kid. I'm sure I'll like what Nashville has to offer, but what I'm really going for is my buddy Jaclyn.

JACLYN IS GETTING MARRIED AND I AM THE MAID OF HONOR!!!! AHHHH!

The day has come for me to witness a best friend marrying. weird. But exciting!

So as you all have probably figured out, I'll be gone for a few days. See you all next week!

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's very acceptable:

• to steal food off someone else's plate (when going to dinner with them) because you believe in the preschool motto "Sharing is Caring" and hey, you just wanna be adventurous and try different foods. What's NOT acceptable is to call me a 'mooch' because of my curiosity :P

• to make a HUGE DEAL when Adam Levine points at you from the stage at a Maroon 5 concert. So yeah, he's just a person. But let's break it down: He is a hot, sexy man-singer with gyrating hips, and he can point at me anytime he'd like to!!

• to consider dating a great guy that you've met, even knowing that you may be leaving for Turkey soon, making the timing a little inopportune. However, I never date, because I'm too analytical, and I think too much...and so...I believe it's perfectly acceptable to go with the flow without trying to plan too much. I might write more on this later...but that's all I'll say for now. My lips are sealed!

• to sing along with this song:

hahahaha!

ONE Heck of a Saturday!

I am VERY giddy this morning, especially after last night! Here are the reasons:

• It's raining outside. YES! San Diego has actually been getting fall weather!

• I'm drinking Peppermint Mocha Creamer. AHHHHHH! My favorite! You don't get it--I wait for this creamer to come out all year long. It makes the mornings actually enjoyable!

• I went to the Maroon 5 concert last night and it was OUTSTANDING. OUT-STAND-ING. Easily in my top 5 favorite concerts. Adam Levine channeled Mick Jagger last night with his dance moves, and was a deviant little sex fiend on stage...and the ladies in the audience ate it up! ha.

• I got in free to said concert last night. How? I volunteered for a cause that Maroon 5 supports, and Bono helped start. It's called ONE. Check it out, it's definitely a worthy cause that's trying to end world poverty and the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies (mainly in Africa). After volunteering, my handy little wristband got me 5 rows back from the stage. FIGHT WORLD POVERTY AND THE SPREAD OF HIV? Check. GO TO THE MAROON 5 CONCERT? Check. I think that's a pretty productive night :)

• Oh! And because I was wearing the ONE t-shirt at the concert, and so darn close to the stage, I pointed to Adam Levine during "Sunday Morning," to which he pointed right back at me, after seeing me represent his cause! I GOT POINTED AT FROM SEXY ADAM LEVINE. HECK YEAH! It was like a "Thank you" and "I see you!" all wrapped into one. hahahahaha! (I sound crazy).

Pretty damn good Saturday night, if I do say so myself.

Favorite Thing Thursday: YouTube Make-Up Gurus

Whoa, I am majorly hyped up on coffee today....weeeeeeee! But, I'll save my love of coffee for another Favorite Thing Thursday post.

Today's subject is a little more unique than coffee, it's about a specific genre on You Tube that I have come to love.

Ok, some background on me and make-up. I love make-up. I have always loved make-up. I remember putting on lipstick one day in the fourth grade (some outrageous color, no less). My mom took one look at me and smirked, and the kids at school had a laughing fit, but I didn't care. Make-up was a newfound love.

Middle school brought on the obsession with glitter rollers (oh god!) and well, glitter EVERYTHING. High school is really where I started to learn the tricks of make-up, and always had fun applying my blue mascara (which is suddenly back in style?).

Nowadays, I don't wear a ton, and I totally believe that girls should accept themselves the way the are, and all that inspirational talk. But, MAKE-UP is FUN! You can't beat a simple, sultry red lip, or a beautifully defined eyebrow.

Although I have an apparent love for all things make-up-y, I still don't know everything about how to apply it. That's where the make-up gurus come in! I first stumbled upon a make-up guru by accident, typing in some word into YouTube, and having her come up in the results. Ever the curious girl, I decided to click her video. "What's this?" I thought to myself as I watched the girl give a make-up tutorial.

I loved every second. I copied the look on my own. I had found a new hobbie.

For any blogger out there who loves make-up, and may want to learn a thing or two, I highly recommend watching these fun videos. What's cool is many of these girls have gone on to start a business because of their video queen statuses. I'm gonna have to say it: Girl Power!

Wow, I have regressed back to the 7th grade in this post. ha.

Here are my two favorite YouTube Make-Up Queens:

1. Bubz Beauty

My favorite "guru" because of her super cute personality and really good make-up and hair tips. She's kind of a genius!

2. Pixiwoo

I love these two English Chicks. They are funny, inventive and true experts working in the make-up field.

Ahem...

Don't mind me changing around my layout...it's not done yet, so forgive the messiness!!

P.S. The tile in the background is a traditional Turkish tile, in case you are wondering why I chose it. ^_^

My Oven GF

I wanted to do a quick spotlight on my friend Jackie's blog, because she is in a food competition and needs some votes!

BELIEVE ME, she is a cooking master and deserves the support.

Read her blog (with delicious recipes) here, and vote for her here.

:)

Cemiyet (Part Four): Not-So-Plain Jane

I haven't done this series in awhile, but it's still alive!

Cemiyet, which means community in Turkish, is a series I started long ago in which I showcase a blogging friend of mine and everything that makes them great. It's also so you all can meet each other and find each other's blogs...because every blog I showcase here is a gem, of course. Without further adieu...

Not-So-Plain Jane

Meet Jane.

See Jane write. See Jane showcase her clothes. See Jane crack hilarious jokes.

Jane is not just a fashion blogger, she is a funny fashion blogger, a rare find indeed! I found Jane's site, What Jane Wore, randomly...so random, in fact, I don't really remember how!

Jane is so friendly, she commented on my blog numerous times, sharing silly You Tube videos and and just conversing with me as if she had known me for years. She's got a down to earth kind of humor, and I find her completely relatable in all her posts. Not only does she talk about fashion, but she slips in a few comments on life in there. I find her to be an excellent writer who produces easy, fun reads. I always enjoy my time on her blog, checkin' out her outfits, and checkin' her out to boot! *whistles*

She's cute, she's fun, she's great to add to any community. Thanks for joining mine, Jane.

You can find her in my side bar under "Jane's Addiction," since I like to rename all your blog titles. heh heh.

The Little Ashley That Could

I am finding a way around the problem of a seemingly jobless Izmir. I've been messaging EVERYONE in Turkey through Couchsurfing.org and asking them if they know any language schools or anyone working at a language school.

(p.s. I LOVE Couchsurfing.org for so many reasons!)

And did you know? Turkish people are so damn friendly that they've not only responded to me, but they've been talking to their friends for me about possible jobs.

I will find a way. I will get a job. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

And can you tell I've been antsy this week? I've written a post everyday to release some tension!

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's perfectly acceptable:

• to forgo the gym and instead have a piece of coconut cream pie for breakfast. Mwahahaha! Mmm...I ♥ coconut.

• to be a girl who knows how to jump start a car, change a tire and do an oil change. Yep, I know how to do all three. Ladies, it is MORE than acceptable that you learn, too.

• to support Joey Fatone's campaign in getting *NSYNC to have a guest appearance on Glee; furthermore, it is even MORE acceptable to still love a long-gone boy band.

Are We There Yet?

*sigh*

I'm going to come off as a little moody here (since I was all excited last week), but oh well.

So as I have been applying to jobs in Izmir, Turkey, I'm realizing that there are not a lot of job opportunities in that specific city. I've also gotten one rejection from a school that said I didn't have enough experience. Fair enough. I'm just a little sad about not getting an interview with that school, because it's a good one!

So...although my plan was to just stick with Izmir (for MANY reasons), I think I'm still going to apply to places in Istanbul.

My cousins warned me about the chaos of such a large city and how it might wear down on me. I don't disagree with that assessment. Did you know that Istanbul is the 5th largest city in the world and has a population of 13 million? THAT'S HUGE. In fact, that's the whole reason I was looking to stick with the smaller city of Izmir.

However, as I'm noticing my job prospects shrinking in Izmir, and my growing desire to live in Turkey, I'm going to include Istanbul on my list.

Advice from my family on where to apply is going to be crucial, as they know the good and bad areas of the city. And any advice from you all is appreciated. Especially you, Emily--since you've been through all of this!

I'm a little anxious right now about all of this. I have a frantic want to just do this already! But I know I need to take caution and be patient when choosing something so important.

Overall, I know that I think too much...and I need to just let this process unfold the way it is supposed to. It's just so hard when you want something SO BAD!!!

The Brilliance of The Social Network

I was enthralled by this movie. Yes, completely enthralled.

This is not a film about facebook. It's about the creator of facebook and his twisted, sad life propelled by his want for acceptance. This is also a film about human nature, greed, and how we react when money is added to the equation. More specifically, this about the lawsuits filed against Mark Zuckerberg and his billion-dollar empire--even his best friend sued him!

(credit)

I'm not sure how much of the movie is true, or if Mark Zuckerberg is that much of a lovable asshole in real life. I say "lovable asshole" because as you watch this movie, you both hate and love Zuckerberg. He's a megalomaniac, yet he's highly relatable--this is because the very thing that haunts Zuckerberg at the end of the night is the very thing that we all want; of course, to be loved.

Highlights of the movie:

• Amazing script! Since we are all literary lovers here in blog world, you'll appreciate how superb the writing is.
• Great acting that had me on the edge of my seat (seriously). Even from Justin Timberlake (why is he so talented with everything?)
• Philosophical aspect that was intellectually stimulating.

My rating: ★★★★ <---the last four-star rating I gave was to (500) Days of Summer, which was kick ass, so this is a big deal!

Favorite Thing Thursday:

Justin Timberlake. Jimmy Fallon. Dancing and singing together. Nuff said.

P.S. It's raining today!!!!! (I adore rain). Today is a randomly awesome Thursday!!

P.P.S. I've had TWO dreams about Justin Timberlake this week. WTF?!? Last time that happened was when I was a 16-year-old teenybopper. So random.

P.P.P.S. While we are on an *NSYNC subject (kind of), check out my friend Ali's blog, about the time we both met Lance Bass. She's just created a blog for the first time a few days ago :)

I'm Proud of Me

Passing my TEFL exam has made me pretty proud of myself (and thankful to God).

Not because it's an exam I got a passing score on. I've done that plenty of times. Rather, it's because I am actively pursuing something that I have always wanted to do, and I am actually making progress at achieving it. This is big for me, because the last two years since graduation, I've felt like I've been unmotivated, or stuck, or whatever kind of a funk you want to call it. I've enjoyed my job working with children, but right now it's not my dream job, or dream life.

Now, teaching English in a different country--that's not a 'dream job' of mine. But, it is a challenge, which excites me. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can be exciting and thrilling. Moreover, add that to moving to a different country, and that has always been my dream. There is something quite fulfilling about going after a 'dream,' and watching it edge toward reality.

This makes me feel extra alive. And in more control of my life. There's no real profound way to simply say, I'm feeling really good about all of this. I. Feel. Good.

So what's left is to spruce up my resume and apply, apply, apply like crazy all this week. And then I'll play the waiting game. So wish me luck, and thanks for all the "congrats" from the other post. I appreciate all your support and love. And hey--I love you back, little blog community of mine :)