rushley & crew

I met Laura during our sophomore years of college--we happened to be on the same major/minor path and she worked with my best friend, so we had connections. We became friends when we had two classes together in one semester (accidentally) and then we spent the rest of college trying to get another class together, finally succeeding in her last semester (my second-to-last). Today we're swapping blog posts about some of our dating history . . . good, bad, and awkward in between. To read her story, continue on! To read mine, head over to Simpleton Pleasures :) *   *   *   *   * Oh hey! My name is Laura, and I blog at  Simpleton Pleasures . My blog was originally created to document the awkward moments and  accidental flashings  that happened to me as I made my way through college. But now that I've graduated and hopped on the marriage train, I usually just blog about the nonsensical things my husband says in his sleep  and about our prepa...

So the other day, I was over browsing at Tattered to Taylored and I came across this great DIY ! I was in Target shortly thereafter and saw the very same $3 bag, so I decided to give it a try. I won't give you the full tutorial, since Taylor already did a great job of that, but I'll just clue you in on what I did differently. When I gathered all the supplies together (bag, acrylic paint, paintbrush, & masking tape), I remembered how much I love stripes and how I miss that striped bag I didn't buy , so I decided that I would do stripes rather than the color block that Taylor did (though I loved that option, too). I did 3 stripes, each one being 4 rows, with 4 natural rows between each. I left 6 rows empty at the top. Since the bag is made by going around and around with the rows, you can't just stay on your 4 rows. You'll need to choose where you want to make the transition, and then make sure it's gradual. It isn't too noticeable unless you look up...

Guys. You should all head over and check out my friend's blog, Simpleton Pleasures . Laura is super funny and her blog is awesome. And she just so happens to be hosting her very first giveaway right now! So head on over and check it out! :)

one.  R & I don't agree on many boy names for future children. Just one, really [which will remain unsaid in order to not do anything to perpetuate the popularity of that name.]. But then there's another one we both like--Jack. Unfortunately, I already have a nephew named Jackson. Don't you hate it when that happens? Haha oh well, maybe we'll only get one boy and won't even have to worry about agreeing on a second name! :) two. This song is so my jam right now. LOVE IT. three. Tara over at  A Brew of Blessings  posted earlier this week about her  closet . It's so amazing that I'm making it one of my five. Go check it out, and follow her, too, because her blog is fun :) four. I should be excited for the weekend, but I'm not because I have to spend it putting together a project and then writing an 8-page paper about it. Anyone want to trade weekends with me? ;) five. Texas is calling my name. Two weeks til I get to be there with all my...

I was recently over at Life and Love with Mr. Wonderful and she had a post like this. Apparently it's part of a link up put on by Harley and Jane.  So here's ours :) Him: Peanut M&Ms Her: Peanut butter M&Ms Him: Runner Her: Dancer Him: Handy Her: Crafty Him: Salmon Her: Crispy chicken tenders Him: Blue Her: Teal Him: Imagine Dragons Her: Katy Perry Him: Action Her: RomCom Him: Cake Her: Cookies Him: Italian Job Her: While You Were Sleeping Him: Quality time (and physical touch) Her: Physical touch (and quality time) Him: Neuroscience Her: English Language Him: Customer support representative, Data quality reviewer Her: Editor, Tutor, Nanny, Personal Assistant Him: Introvert Her: Extrovert Him: Discovery Channel Her: The CW Him: 3-5 days of adventure and roughing it Her: 7-10 days of tropical paradise Him: 80 degree summers Her: 60 degree springs and falls Him: Love/hat...

one. TGIF, for real. Somehow, even with a day off from work and school, this week has been crazy busy! Too many assignments and upcoming tests. Goodness. Can't wait to see R for more than 10 minutes at a time! two. I've decided there are too many fun blogs in the world, and not nearly enough time to read them all. Some of the new ones I started following this week are Cheers Y'all , Two Thirds Hazel , and Treelined Avenue . Check them out! :) three. I've been reading this forever-long series for almost a year now (nine books, 500-700 pages each). I'm finally  almost done. Just 130 pages left! Maybe I'll get that checked off my to-do list this weekend :) [The series is The Work and the Glory , and it's good, but maybe too long for my liking.] four. Someday soon I really want to learn more about html and photography. And by soon I mean . . . I really hope it at least happens someday . Ha :) five. I really wish I had time to paint my nails ...

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! Weird since it's only been like . . . two days. But I have just been chilling in Boise with my husband and his family, and it's been so relaxing that it seems like forever! Have I mentioned that I love love love holiday breaks? :) This December, I've been reading some posts from The Small Seed , a blog focused on God, faith, and joy. They've been doing a mini series called the  12 Days of Christmas  where they discuss ways to put Christ back in Christmas. As I've read some of the posts, it's made me wonder . . . What can I  do to put Christ back in Christmas? Commercially, Christmas is all about the gifts. But I think spiritually, Christmas is still all about gifts.  The two things that stand out in my mind of how I can turn my focus to Christ during this Christmas season (and those to come) are: 1. Be more grateful for all the gifts in my life. It's been so easy to spend this December thinking about ...

Wahoo! Thanks to Laura Lambert, my blog should now show a comment option!  Let me know if it still doesn't work. That would be upsetting . . . Laura is pretty much a pro blogger, so you should head on over to check out  her blog ! She's quite witty :)  She directed me to  this website  that showed me how to fix my problem. So if anyone else is having problems with a comment box, you can check it out, too! And now, if you feel so inclined, you can go back and show me some love on previous posts, via comments<3 Also, if you read my blog but don't follow it, you should remedy that! Head on over to the right side of my blog and click my stalkers and then hit JOIN! :) **ashleynicole