tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89998314651100086262011-11-27T20:21:28.705-05:00musings on lifeAshleynoreply@blogger.comBlogger541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-77173453414603274952010-07-01T17:31:00.001-04:002010-07-01T17:31:35.683-04:00All one has to do is spend one hour in a food bank. Look into the eyes of the mothers, fathers, grandparents and especially the children who are waiting for assistance. Feel their pain, their shame at not being able to provide for their families. Do this and then tell me that this is not a growing epidemic that we MUST stop. Now. Our people are starving and we have the means to help them. Start now. Volunteer your time at your local food bank and raise awareness of the work they do every day for our country.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vicki-b-escarra/responding-to-uninformed_b_622468.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-7717345341460327495?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-50832587830932596222010-02-12T13:04:00.000-05:002010-02-12T13:04:05.316-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span>I was in shock when I read the news on Twitter yesterday. Such a horrific tragedy - my heart goes out to his family, friends and staff. The fashion world has lost a true genius.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I found this image on a post over at <a href="http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/">Tom and Lorenzo</a>&nbsp;and it just really struck me - not only is it pure genius but the foreshadowing of the snakes overtaking the model is just a bit too real:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fashionverbatim.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/mcqueen-ss10-adcampaign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.fashionverbatim.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/mcqueen-ss10-adcampaign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Image via <a href="http://www.fashionverbatim.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/mcqueen-ss10-adcampaign.jpg">here</a>)</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5083258783093259622?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-60281459702890129632010-01-02T18:18:00.000-05:002010-01-02T18:18:59.903-05:00I spent the last night of 2009 with my brother and husband doing some truly Detroit activities!<br /><br />We watched the Detroit Red Wings crush the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 at Joe Louis Arena!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5755/754717927_wKNUP-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5755/754717927_wKNUP-M.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5759/754716284_RxnVS-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5759/754716284_RxnVS-M.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Following the game we introduced my brother to the best coneys in the world at Lafayette Coney Island:<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5760/754716060_yLKpL-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5760/754716060_yLKpL-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After demolishing the coneys, we headed home to celebrate with the pup, Kathy Griffin, Anderson Cooper and CNN:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5762/754715477_g3uN8-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5762/754715477_g3uN8-M.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5766/754714465_84zZv-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5766/754714465_84zZv-M.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reilly made sure to be wearing his party hat:<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5767/754713938_f5PeG-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5767/754713938_f5PeG-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5768/754713618_ePZQb-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Family/Spencer-Henri-Visit-December/IMG5768/754713618_ePZQb-M.jpg" width="212" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6028145970289012963?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-56848352427992000332009-12-29T00:37:00.000-05:002009-12-29T00:37:19.853-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Nature/Summer-2009/IMG4960/613459352_YEUPQ-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Nature/Summer-2009/IMG4960/613459352_YEUPQ-M.jpg" width="213" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jenni over at <a href="http://www.jenrem.com/">Absent Minded</a>&nbsp;had the fabulous idea of making a list of memorable moments in the last decade being that it's the first decade of the new&nbsp;millennium. Thinking this was a great way to spend a Monday night, I decided to play.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Decade List:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I graduated from high school.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I graduated from college.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I lived in Bremen, OH; Detroit, MI; Warszawa, Poland; Alexandria, VA; Farmington Hills, MI; and Dearborn, MI</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I met the other half of my soul</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I married him.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I became the proud parent of a turtle named Sir Rupert Sheldon</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I adopted Mr. Reilly Patrick - my fave pound puppy!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I worked about a million jobs.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was laid off...twice.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I changed my name.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had two passports issued to me due to said name change.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I lost a grandparent.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I lost a good friend to stupidity and a shotgun.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I laughed.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I cried.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was the shoulder for others to cry on.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I watched the WTC fall in the middle of campus with about 100 others.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I joined a sorority.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hung out with fraternity boys that I now consider some of my very best friends.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I watched so many friends get married and have babies.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I watched a good friend get divorced.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made friends for life.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I lost friends due to no fault of my own.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I voted in historic elections.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I watched my country go to war while living in a country that was violently opposing the war.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I contributed to the saved lives of countless greyhounds.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned more about myself than in the previous decade.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I maintained a 19 year friendship with my Best Friend even though we haven't lived in the same city for more than 4 months in the past 10 years.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I met my hero, Steve Yzerman, more than once.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have shaken hands with past and current sports figures, including Mr. Hockey.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I watched the Stanley Cup Banner raise to the rafters in Joe Louis Arena.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I watched #19 retired to the rafters in Joe Louis Arena</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was in&nbsp;attendance&nbsp;at Superbowl XL in Detroit; the 2006 World Series in Detroit; the past four Preakness Horse Races at Pimlico; and countless other sporting events.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've traveled around the US, Poland, France, Germany, Luxumbourg, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas</span></li><li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most of all, I've lived, I've loved and I've laughed.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What's your list?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's to a spectacular next decade!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Other/Dearborn-Homecoming-Fireworks/Dbrn-Fireworks-004/350473844_4kSmF-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Other/Dearborn-Homecoming-Fireworks/Dbrn-Fireworks-004/350473844_4kSmF-M.jpg" width="305" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5684835242799200033?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-65881191156219080572009-12-25T09:07:00.000-05:002009-12-25T09:07:48.705-05:00Merry Christmas! I'm sitting in a hotel room in Grand Rapids, MI typing as the icicles drip and form pools of icy patches on the sidewalk - in other words, winter on the West Side. We are 2/3 into our annual "criss-crossing the Mitten Christmas adventure" wherein we take two days (one for each side) and do a whirlwind visit to the family. It's a duet of family gossip, lots of ham, random and sometimes thoughtful gifts, hugs, eggnog and cookies. I love it &nbsp;but also love that it's only once a year and it only lasts two days.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Holidays/Christmas-2008/XT-021/247401154_BJuw9-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/Holidays/Christmas-2008/XT-021/247401154_BJuw9-M.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo copyright MyrtleArt Photography</i></span><br /></div><br />So here's to family, food and fun. Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukah/Merry Festivus/Happy Kwanzaa!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6588119115621908057?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-6279422959736314222009-12-21T11:30:00.000-05:002009-12-21T11:30:11.983-05:00Former Red Wing, Igor Larionov's daughters are not only gorgeous, they can actually sing too! This year they teamed up with the Hockey Fights Cancer Foundation to record a holiday song and music video to benefit the organization. <br /><br />I'm LOVING the video that features fans and NHL players holding signs that show what Christmas means to them. The song is also available on <a href="http://www.itunes.com">iTunes</a> as a download but I've embedded the video here for some holiday cheer. Enjoy!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wMyl9hSn8ho&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wMyl9hSn8ho&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-627942295973631422?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-8735970490131969172009-11-10T10:56:00.000-05:002009-11-10T10:56:35.224-05:00Anyone who knows me but at all will tell you that I've been a Detroit Red Wings fan since birth, literally! My parents watched the Wings on tv and listened to games on WJR before I was born and throughout my lifetime. When we moved to Ohio, we would all gather around my dad's ancient AM radio where we could just barely get the WJR signal and listen to games...my friends in hockey-less Central Ohio could never understand why I couldn't come out and play during hockey season! Steve Yzerman has been my hero since he was drafted - he was the first person outside of my family that I could identify (at 3 yrs old, mind you) by sight. Now that I'm a "grown-up," I have season tickets to the Wings and live in Detroit. You could say my obsession knows no bounds.<br /><br />This is the pre-game video for the 2009-2010 season. I think it's the best I've ever seen. Maybe I'm a nut that everytime I watch it I get chills and tear up. No? Good.<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fd3tNhsADlI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fd3tNhsADlI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-873597049013196917?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-61857192091955814242009-11-09T12:39:00.000-05:002009-11-09T12:39:05.268-05:00<a href="http://www.greatworkmovie.com/">The Find Your Great Work Movie - by Michael Bungay Stanier</a><br /><br />Thought provoking and some great choices - Where/How will you find YOUR Great Work?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6185719209195581424?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-57831004206818370762009-11-07T19:42:00.000-05:002009-11-07T19:42:00.421-05:00Al Gore and Stephen Colbert recently debated the cost and impact of global warming with Al Gore and Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report. Hilarious!<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial; width: 360px;"><tbody> <tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Colbert Report</a><br /></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c<br /></td></tr> <tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/255173/november-04-2009/formidable-opponent---global-warming-with-al-gore" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Formidable Opponent - Global Warming With Al Gore</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.do"></a><br /></td></tr> <tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align: right; width: 360px;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.colbertnation.com</a><br /></td></tr> <tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="301" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:255173" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="360" wmode="window" />><br /></td></tr> <tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a><br /></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor</a><br /></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/254015/november-02-2009/sport-report---nyc-marathon---olympic-speedskating" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">U.S. Speedskating</a><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table></td></tr> </tbody></table>&gt;<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5783100420681837076?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-64759990669080260712009-11-02T20:09:00.003-05:002009-11-02T20:10:54.689-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kdz555JBIwY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0xcc2550&amp;color2=0xe87a9f&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kdz555JBIwY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0xcc2550&amp;color2=0xe87a9f&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;">I love this and I love that people are FINALLY waking up and speaking out in their own way.</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6475999066908026071?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-12453788993875432052009-11-02T16:52:00.001-05:002009-11-02T16:52:12.786-05:00Finally some good news from a region desperately in need of a positive change! My hat's off to Skateistan, Architecture for Humanity, Nike and all those involved for working so hard to give these kids something to be happy about!<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cameron-sinclair/skateistan-opens-afghanis_b_342730.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-1245378899387543205?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-57723730545292771152009-10-28T15:26:00.001-04:002009-10-28T15:26:11.871-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/113969/thumbs/s-MADONNA-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/113969/thumbs/s-MADONNA-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>Madonna,<br /><br />As a long time fan of both your music, I applaud you for utilizing your celebrity for a higher cause. Your dedication to this country and to these children is beyond admirable. I would, however, like to take the chance to second Cameron Sinclair's comments. The essence of architecture is to create a structure that ultimately improves the lives of those experiencing it while being mindful of the environment in which that structure is built. Think of how many MORE lives you could improve if a model was created that could be replicated throughout not only Malawi or Sub-Saharan Africa but the World? Please continue to use your influence for the good of the World's children.<br /><br />Respectfully,<br /><br />A fan (and architecture major) in Detroit<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/madonna/raising-malawi-will-you-j_b_337190.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5772373054529277115?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-8065748132157034922009-10-15T23:49:00.003-04:002009-10-16T00:20:44.081-04:00Climate Change. <div><br /></div><div>These days those two little words can cause a myriad of reactions, a multitude of emotions. Whether you believe in global warming or you think former Vice President Al Gore is full of it, no one can argue that our climate IS changing.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the past two days, I struggled with what to write about for my Blog Action Day 2009 post. Maybe it was the 8+ hour drive through the Allegheny foothills and mountains of Ohio and Pennsylvania in the rain or perhaps the visit today to the <a href="http://www.aqua.org">National Aquarium</a> in Baltimore; whatever it was, through the rain this afternoon I came up with an idea for my blog: the effect of climate change on our oceans.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jellyfish are an indicator of global warming and the effects are becoming disastrous. In previous ecological cycles, fish eggs were laid and would hatch prior to the warm season which would allow the baby fish ample time to hatch and grow before the jellyfish moved in to feed. With the indisputable warming of the Earth's oceans, the jellyfish have been moving into fish hatching grounds earlier and earlier which means that the fish don't have the chance to hatch and grow before they are eaten by the jellies. Big deal? Well, if you like seafood, YES!</div><div><br /></div><div>Approximately 75% of the Earth is water and yet only 1% of that is potable or drinkable. This, in and of itself, is a staggering statistic. When you factor in the rate at which the human race is destroying the biodiversity of our oceans and impeding the cycle by which water is created, it's a sobering thought. The more CO2 we release into the atmosphere, the more contaminated the rain that falls and feeds the Earth's freshwater sources. We are quickly running out of water as our populations swell.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what can we do? Think, for one. It's amazing to me that change can come with such a small effort and most people are unaware and/or unwilling to make a change. What can you do?</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Buy less Plastic. Every molecule of plastic ever created is still in existence and much of is is floating in our oceans and waterways. For every plastic bag you turn down, every pop bottle you recycle, every metal water bottle you carry rather than buy bottled water, a sea creature is saved.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Carry your own shopping bags. This goes along with #1 but is worth repeating.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Buy and eat sustainably fished seafood. Visit the <a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx">Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch</a> website to download handy pocket guides to sustainable seafood - hell, download them for your friends! You can even visit them via your blackberry or iPhone at mobile.seafoodwatch.org to have a pocket guide wherever you go!</div><div><br /></div><div>4. BE INFORMED. Knowledge is power and the more you know, the more you can do. Pay attention and think before you act. Remember, one person CAN change the world. All it takes is the first step!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Note: pictures to go along with this post soon - sorry!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-806574813215703492?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-26597557976082365562009-10-12T21:31:00.002-04:002009-10-12T22:13:22.902-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/392573811_7p6NG-S-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 157px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/392573811_7p6NG-S-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Baltimore Inner Harbour (copyright MyrtleArt Photography)</i></span></div><br />We're out of here on Wednesday! Mini-vacay/Road Trip/Fun here we come. We're driving down to Baltimore to visit friends and go to the <a href="http://www.aqua.org/">National Aquarium</a> then it's off to Washington D.C. to visit the family, and visit the requisite museums. <div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/608619760_y8zvs-S.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>National Building Museum (copyright MyrtleArt Photography)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div>We have a member preview tour of the new "House of Cars: Innovation and the Parking Garage" at the <a href="http://www.nbm.org/">National Building Museum</a> on Friday. Sunday the husband is working the Redskins game and I think I'm going to check out the new Man Ray photography exhibit at <a href="http://www.phillipscollection.org/">The Phillips Collection</a>. Sunday evening we're heading back north towards Pennsylvania. Monday we'll make a pilgrimage to Frank Lloyd Wright's <a href="http://www.fallingwater.org/">Fallingwater</a>!<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/392564276_iuTn9-S-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Tian Tian @ National Zoo (copyright MyrtleArt Photography)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In honor of the trip, I've dug out some of my favorite Baltimore/Washington D.C. photos to get me in the mood. Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/608608757_LecAn-S.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 300px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/392569180_MGCT7-S-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/608603905_wrtDg-S.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>(L to R) National Cathedral, U.S. Capital Building, D.C. Neighborhood (copyright MyrtleArt Photography)</i></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-2659755797608236556?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-33137902834471871682009-10-02T13:20:00.001-04:002009-10-02T13:20:59.649-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/108783/thumbs/s-OLYMPICSBIG-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/108783/thumbs/s-OLYMPICSBIG-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>I'm shocked and saddened - the Olympics would have been a huge boost for the Midwest.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/2016-olympics-vote-chicag_n_307736.html?igoogle=1">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3313790283447187168?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-42652230269574454632009-10-01T12:13:00.003-04:002009-10-01T12:14:25.302-04:00This is amazingly beautiful - the joy in peoples faces as thousands upon thousands of paper airplanes fly over Monroe Street is pure happiness. If this doesn't win the Art Prize, it should at least get an honorable mention!<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MXxJ9i91vfE&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0xe1600f&amp;color2=0xfebd01&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MXxJ9i91vfE&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;color1=0xe1600f&amp;color2=0xfebd01&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-4265223026957445463?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-740764064878165252009-09-29T13:10:00.001-04:002009-09-29T13:10:18.453-04:00Some amazing ideas - love the recycled chopsticks accessories!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/chopstick-shop#IBShareLinks">Ideal Bite | Chop(stick) Shop</a><br /><br />Shared via <a href="http://addthis.com">AddThis</a><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-74076406487816525?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-64148125874496461132009-09-28T16:27:00.004-04:002009-09-28T16:35:15.754-04:00It has been a while since I've watched this video but the effect it has is the same. Chills. <div>Just imagine what can happen when you empower a girl. Imagine the impact a single ray of hope can have on a person. On a community. On a country. On the WORLD.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; "><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WIvmE4_KMNw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WIvmE4_KMNw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span><object width="445" height="364"></object></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6414812587449646113?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-46039227117185757822009-09-23T08:14:00.001-04:002009-09-23T08:14:03.861-04:00Even saying "we NEED to do SOMETHING" feels cliche when faced with the facts. One would hope that those in positions of power would cease to point fingers and begin a contingency plan. The time when we could point the finger of blame at one group or instance is past - NOW is the time for solutions. NOW is the time to put aside petty differences regarding race, religion and creed and come together as a species to save ourselves.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/justin-mundy/the-security-implications_b_294851.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-4603922711718575782?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-78287739016183932692009-09-21T15:12:00.003-04:002009-09-21T15:15:33.108-04:00Social media is a revolution. More and more, we are getting our news from the internet rather than the newspaper or a magazine. Application such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc are changing the way we interact with the world. Take, for example the fact that the Huffington Post is now connected with Facebook. Look at how anything you read or watch on the internet can be shared with anywhere from 3 to 30 social media applications. Case in point is this video on YouTube:<div><br /></div><div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fVXKI506w-E&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fVXKI506w-E&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-7828773901618393269?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-1335305751313874952009-09-16T09:15:00.001-04:002009-09-16T09:15:38.365-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/104569/thumbs/s-MICHAEL-POLLAN-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/104569/thumbs/s-MICHAEL-POLLAN-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>The food system in this country is so far off base it's no surprise that our health care system is also a mess. What boggles the mind is that while there is a tremendous uproar over health care reform, there is barely a peep in mainstream media regarding food production and food security in America. Even if we provide everyone with access to health care (and let's be straightforward, I'm a fan of this idea) if we do not address the causes of increased need for health care, we're simply entering into a viscious cycle that can't be broken. Pollan hits the nail on the head here with the seeminly simple concepts that we 1) are what we eat and 2) all the health care in the world cannot help the man/woman/child who doesn't have access to proper nutrition or even food! It's time we stood up and took control of our futures and it all begins with food.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/michael-pollan-says-healt_n_286311.html?igoogle=1#postComment">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-133530575131387495?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-61125590146572521202009-09-15T19:52:00.001-04:002009-09-15T19:52:33.939-04:00I think the sentence that most sticks out for me is this "What good is building a zero energy, carbon neutral complex if unethical labor practices are jeopardizing the lives of those who build this architectural wonder?"<br /><br /><br /><br />A building fulfills the basic human need of "shelter." But what good is a shelter if it causes harm over good? We have a responsibility to design and construct structures that not only shelter a community but nurture that community. As a society we need to have a more holistic outlook - there will always be a take for every give. What matters is how you balance that give and take in order to give more than you take. Net zero footprint should mean more than energy efficiency.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cameron-sinclair/dying-to-work-human-traff_b_286770.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6112559014657252120?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-34212480669107373872009-09-08T11:37:00.001-04:002009-09-08T11:37:55.391-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/102889/thumbs/s-CINDY-ZAMBIA-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/102889/thumbs/s-CINDY-ZAMBIA-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>Great article and perfect timing with the Architecture for Humanity announcement today regarding education. Education of girls has, sadly, been constantly on the back burner if existant at all on the world stage. Fortunately, wonderful organizations such as Camfed, Oxfam, Pathfinders International, etc have taken this cause and launched it up to a level of consciousness in our society where we must take notice. When you educate a child, when you educate a girl, you change the world.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julia-moulden/when-you-educate-a-girl-e_b_277412.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3421248066910737387?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-21230940472462069512009-09-08T11:15:00.001-04:002009-09-08T11:16:00.087-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/102656/thumbs/s-BACK-TO-SCHOOL-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/102656/thumbs/s-BACK-TO-SCHOOL-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>Education IS a basic human right and no child should be told they cannot learn due to sub-par facilities. It is our job as designers and as human beings to create spaces that are functional, beautiful and affordable for the communities they serve so that no child will grow up without an education. The only way we will life communities and countries out of poverty is through education. It's such an easy thing to do and Architecture for Humanity and the Open Architecture Challenge are doing it - Bravo Ladies and Gentlemen. Bravo and Thank you from my children's children.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cameron-sinclair/architects-go-back-to-sch_b_278997.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-2123094047246206951?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-47589339771907097862009-09-02T22:29:00.001-04:002009-09-02T22:29:37.478-04:00This is fantastic! When major entertainment venues make a significant policy change that in turn forces their vendors to also make the same or similar policy change, it proves that we, as socially/ethically conscious consumers, are making a difference. Every small act inspires another small act and around we go until corporate giants such as the USTA and Levy Restaurants are forced to stand up and take notice. Way to go USTA!<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-lehner/greening-the-us-open_b_275629.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-4758933977190709786?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-24989103320809358832009-08-27T21:05:00.002-04:002009-08-27T21:21:03.076-04:00I've been thinking lately about going back to school - question is, MBA or Master's of Project Management or maybe UDM's Master's of Community Development? How do you choose what you want to be when you grow up? I feel like I should know by now - aren't you supposed to have this all figured out by the time you turn 28? Maybe it's 30? There are so many things I want to do before I turn 30 - I only have two years! Ahh! But then, am I really worried? It's not like the world ends at 30...or that life ends at 30...maybe 30 IS the new 20...hmmmm.<div><br /></div><div>Off to ponder life's lessons whilst watching Project Runway - maybe it will inspire something creative...</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/615335953_suxgi-M.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of MyrtleArt Photography</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-2498910332080935883?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-13148096788578495362009-08-02T21:02:00.003-04:002009-08-02T21:25:42.894-04:00I notice that it's been an obscene amount of time since I have blogged in this space. I'm not really sure why that is - except that I kind of do know...and it's silly.<br /><br />I psyche myself out about blogging.<br /><br />Silly, right? I read so many amazing blogs from people whose lives seem so incredibly more interesting than my own that I feel inadequate. Even though I know that I'm the only one reading this blog, I feel that every post needs to contain some significant pearl of wisdom or witty story so when I am unable to think of a topic that fits this "requirement" I feel it's not worthy of time in the blog and thus I do not write. Like I said, silly. This so goes against the very idea of a blog. And yet, I cannot seem to rid myself of this delusion.<br /><br />I have started Twittering. A lot. I find it to be quite addictive. I also think that maybe Twitter will work as a sort of antibiotic for my blogging insecurities. If I can Tweet several lines of text per day perhaps I can build up to a blog post every few days? Or am I kidding myself?<br /><br />Why do I find my life so uninteresting? I'm not dissatisfied with my life, per se. Of course there are things that I wish I did or could do, but who doesn't? I don't hate my life - I'm pretty content most of the time. Sure I wish I could just travel around the world for a living. Sure I wish I could just take pictures and eat and drink with the locals and get paid to do this full time. But I do enjoy my job most of the time. I love my dog and my turtle which I couldn't have if I lived out of a suitcase. I like my house although I sometimes wish I lived in some modern loft (or Mies townhouse in Lafayette Park, sigh) with a fabulous view of a skyline. I think I just have the grass is greener syndrome - we all want what someone else has...that's life. I have a good thing going here, I really do.<br /><br />I just need to work on this blogging thing. Maybe if I actually wrote about what's going on in my life, I would find it's not that boring. Or maybe it is but at least I'd be doing something!<br /><br />Mid-year Resolution: Blog, damn it!<a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/558669974_cHhiz-M.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 600px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/558669974_cHhiz-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Riverwalk (c) MyrtleArt Photography</em></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-1314809678857849536?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-76504846442350088582009-04-26T11:50:00.003-04:002009-04-26T12:14:02.163-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521298093_fgG8r-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 232px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521298093_fgG8r-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Magnolia Blossoms outside the Dearborn Library</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Image copyright MyrtleArt Photography<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Being that Saturday was such a lovely, sunny, gorgeous day, it seemed a shame not to take the Schwinn out for a spin. Of course the camera came as well and this is the result - a tour de force of Dearborn on a sunny, pre-summer day:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521287300_cJL5e-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521287300_cJL5e-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Sacred Heart Catholic Church<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Image copyright MyrtleArt Photography<br /><br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521288321_YygrW-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 245px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521288321_YygrW-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521292808_256zt-S.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 244px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521292808_256zt-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521292808_256zt-S.jpg"> </a><br />Ford Historic Homes District | Nona Street<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Images copyright MyrtleArt Photography<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521295094_BrRFT-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 192px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521295094_BrRFT-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /> </a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ford Historic Home</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />Image copyright MyrtleArt Photography</span></span><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521293733_3htTM-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 284px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521293733_3htTM-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521290489_eDeaU-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 287px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521290489_eDeaU-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ford Historic Homes</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />Images copyright MyrtleArt Photography</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521295952_zmqvy-S.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 232px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/521295952_zmqvy-S.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Dearborn Public Library | Bryant Branch<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Image copyright MyrtleArt Photography</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-7650484644235008858?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-39697565945424400882009-04-19T16:09:00.003-04:002009-04-19T16:28:14.463-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512113685_hHU9y-M.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 381px; height: 254px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512113685_hHU9y-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Bicycle as art...or spring has sprung! In honor of the weather finally warming up (albeit in fits and starts), I brought the Schwinn out for a little photo shoot. I really think she needs a name...hmmm...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512111156_sivWg-M.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 298px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512111156_sivWg-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >New Tires, New Basket, Ready to Ride!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512111156_sivWg-M.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512118436_vtKvo-M.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 376px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512118436_vtKvo-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Made in Chicago but she's all Detroit Class now!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512112526_kuPMP-M.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 424px; height: 283px;" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/512112526_kuPMP-M.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >The bell is from Oldenburg, Germany where biking is a way of life</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photos copyright MyrtleArt Photography</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3969756594542440088?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-66221146754690126522008-09-27T21:23:00.003-04:002008-09-27T21:35:11.859-04:00The weather has been gorgeous lately (minus today) and after getting my morning skinny vanilla latte at <a href="http://www.stellacafe.com/">Stella </a>I keep running into this adorable bike locked up outside of the Fisher Building.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SN7fIHuuw-I/AAAAAAAAAEg/3pKeBVsm7Z4/s1600-h/Wed+Bike+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SN7fIHuuw-I/AAAAAAAAAEg/3pKeBVsm7Z4/s320/Wed+Bike+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250879546167575522" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SN7fAJkr3PI/AAAAAAAAAEY/VUUEyF7R1G4/s1600-h/Wed+Bike+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SN7fAJkr3PI/AAAAAAAAAEY/VUUEyF7R1G4/s320/Wed+Bike+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250879409223359730" border="0" /></a><br />It's so happy and carefree and just makes my day!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6622114675469012652?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-23085346995128376492008-09-05T23:23:00.003-04:002008-09-05T23:40:51.637-04:00After a week full of more political hot air, it was so refreshing to see this recently renovated gem emerge from the Twin Cities courtesy of <em><a href="http://www.swstir.com/use.do?method=exclusive&amp;id=723">STIR</a></em> magazine.<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_7.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_7.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">Rising 447 feet above Minneapolis since 1929, the Forshay Tower was recently purchased and renovated by the Starwood Hotels &amp; Resorts folk. A historic site designated by the US National Parks Service, Starwood did an amazing job of integrating gorgeous 1920's details such as this plaster ceiling:</p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_11.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_11.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">with the sleek and contemporary look that we all have come to cherish in a Starwood property.<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_9.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_9.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />I love the use of the slate and khaki neutral palatte with punches of fushia and blue that seems so Art Deco yet very posh. This lounge is just begging me to meet up with the girls for martinis and stilettos.<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_8.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.swstir.com/assets/723_8.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />Wonder if there are any conferences in Minnesota coming up???<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photos courtesy of Sherwin Williams "Stir"</span></em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-2308534699512837649?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-24925126291867979812008-08-29T18:46:00.003-04:002008-08-29T19:06:46.567-04:00I haven't ridden my new(old) bike in a while - really I think I've ridden it only twice since buying it in July - and being as it's a relatively nice evening and Tim was playing video games, I thought I'd take the Schwinn out and go for a ride. Apparently although the gods of weather were giving me a reprieve from the muggy, cloudy, slightly rainy day, the bicycle gods decided that Schwinn tires circa 1973 should not hold air and thus prevent me from my joyfully anticipated ride. To be fair, the tires were looking a little tired when I picked up the bike and the Craigslist guy did say they were a bit old and offer to sell me new tires. Being stubborn however, I declined saying "I'm sure they'll be fine!" Got two rides on the "fine" tires. Brilliant.<br /><br />As anyone who knows me at all will tell you, I'm a HUGE advocate of Detroit and supporting local business so I'm really excited to have recently discovered (although have yet to visit) <a href="http://www.wheelhousedetroit.com/">Wheelhouse Detroit</a> on the Riverwalk. Wheelhouse is a rather new bicycle rental, repair and retail shop located on the Riverwalk downtown. I love that the whole country seems to be re-discovering bicycling (I know the Europeans have done it forever and are shaking their heads in amazement and this "new movement" in America but hey, at least we're on the boat - late, but on the boat!).<br /><br />My dream is to one day be able to either ride my bike to work or at least ride my bike to the train station and take a commuter train (hopefully coming soon) to work. Driving is so stressful, not to mention the evils to the environment and I just think that biking and mass transit are so much lovelier options.<br /><br />Tomorrow we're off to the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City for the long weekend and to celebrate out 2 year anniversary...<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/350473889_jiP8h-M.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/350473889_jiP8h-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><em></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Dearborn Homecoming Fireworks (c) MyrtleArt Photography</em></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-2492512629186797981?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-66605370585728432502008-07-15T23:21:00.005-04:002008-07-15T23:26:36.097-04:00A new vehicular era has descended on our household - we say a fond farewell to the Jeep Cherokee and bid the Taurus goodbye (traded in and donated to Habitat for Humanity respectively) and hello to the newest member of the clan: <div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SH1p22bt6dI/AAAAAAAAAEA/BKUeZ33R94Y/s1600-h/Escape+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223447533865265618" style="WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px" height="134" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SH1p22bt6dI/AAAAAAAAAEA/BKUeZ33R94Y/s400/Escape+1.jpg" width="261" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SH1p7UeLK0I/AAAAAAAAAEI/ZCmb26qmjUo/s1600-h/Escape+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223447610648111938" style="WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 157px" height="156" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SH1p7UeLK0I/AAAAAAAAAEI/ZCmb26qmjUo/s400/Escape+2.jpg" width="258" border="0" /></a></div><div>Still not quite as fun as the Schwinn but I love it nonetheless!</div><div> </div><br /><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6660537058572843250?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-12571432931309424192008-07-10T17:27:00.002-04:002008-07-10T17:45:59.128-04:00<div><div><div><div><div><div align="justify"><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329326129_dgBRD-S.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329326129_dgBRD-S.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last Thursday we spent the day in Grand Haven at the beach. It was a perfect day - sunny and warm but not humid with a few cloud puffs in the sky. Of course I brought the camera out to play...<br /><br /><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327001_zWX8L-S.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327001_zWX8L-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327437_QBCmW-S.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327437_QBCmW-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327226_78vSW-S.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327226_78vSW-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pronto Pups are a Grand Haven legend - where else can you get a homemade corndog for $1.75?<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327613_WENtJ-M.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327613_WENtJ-M.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327696_dbnRu-S.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329327696_dbnRu-S.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>These guys were also out enjoying the weather on their electric beach bikes! Love the crates on the back to carry a towel and good book!</div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329326402_cXXRC-S.jpg" border="0" /> Nothing beats walking on the beach with friends...<br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://myrtleart.smugmug.com/photos/329328269_2Y9Qv-S.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-1257143293130942419?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-56310863912707302492008-07-02T22:26:00.006-04:002008-07-02T22:52:08.938-04:00The latest love of my life (I'll admit there are a few) is slightly older, infintely more graceful than I, and goes by the name of Audrey...meet my "new" 1973 Schwinn Suburban 5-speed:<br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SGw7xLgLiuI/AAAAAAAAADs/Qs2rxAc1FUY/s1600-h/bike1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218611784302955234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SGw7xLgLiuI/AAAAAAAAADs/Qs2rxAc1FUY/s320/bike1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SGw7_rNBceI/AAAAAAAAAD0/prNOUWFf7-Y/s1600-h/bike2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218612033330704866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" height="241" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SGw7_rNBceI/AAAAAAAAAD0/prNOUWFf7-Y/s320/bike2.jpg" width="300" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><br /><br /><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/SGw7_rNBceI/AAAAAAAAAD0/prNOUWFf7-Y/s1600-h/bike2.jpg"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Admittedly the pictures don't do her justice but more to follow. I'm so excited to start riding but between rain and crazy schedules on a short work week, I have yet to do so...hopefully this weekend will allow some quality "get to know you" time with my new ride.</div><div> </div><div>The next big decision is how best to personalize/customize my bike - I definitely want at least a front basket and rear rack but then come the hard choices: wicker or metal? rear basket or panniers? what colors? oh the humanity of it all! I've been reading all of these delicious bicycle style blogs recently (see my faves on the right) and never realized that a bicycle could be such a fashion statement!</div><div> </div><div>In other news:</div><div>Tomorrow we are heading west to <a href="http://www.visitgrandhaven.com/">Grand Haven</a> for a day of beach fun with one of Tim's good friends from boy scouts and his wife. Friday is a big family bash with the in-laws in Sand Lake/Grant. Saturday we head home with Tim's sister Kristin (a stop on her way home to North Carolina). On Saturday we'll take Kristin to <a href="http://www.comericacityfest.com/">CityFest</a> in the New Center where Detroit DJs Stacey Pullen and Derrick Mays are spinning that night - good food and good techno in the D, can you think of anything more delicious?</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5631086391270730249?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-75002435071358435542008-01-05T10:02:00.000-05:002008-01-05T21:46:11.883-05:00<a href="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ=up6RKKt:xxr=0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t=zrRfDUX:eQaQxg=r?87KR6xqpxQQoGxolGxeaPxv8uOc5xQQQG0oJJ0nlnoqpfVtB?*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ00Rup6lQQ/of=50,590,442"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQoGxolGxeaPxv8uOc5xQQQG0oJJ0nlnoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ00%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" border="0" /></a> The alabaster steel wings rise over Milwaukee's lakeshore like a gull, poised for flight. Tension wires shimmer like gossamer strands, straining to hold back the impending journey. It is at once structural and organic, geometric and flowing, a stroke of genius in this brewery town rising to the occasion, a gem on Lake Michigan's western shore.<br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQQGx0oJxJ0GxQQQG0oJJ0GonlqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ0o%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" border="0" />Santiago Calatrava's first US commission, the <a href="http://www.mam.org/">Milwaukee Art Museum's</a> futuristic addition perched on the lakeshore. The original MAM building that still houses 90-95% of the collection is a prime example of '70s architecture - precast concrete panels creating "floating" cubes of dark wood, few windows and exposed structure. That Calatrava seemingly ignored this existing building yet connected the two seamlessly is a refres<a href="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ=up6RKKt:xxr=0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t=zrRfDUX:eQaQxg=r?87KR6xqpxQQoGxolGxeaPxv8uOc5xQQQG0oJJ00eanqpfVtB?*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQoeRup6lQQ/of=50,590,442"></a>hing look at the architecture of additions.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQoGxolGxeaPxv8uOc5xQQQG0oJJ00eanqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQoe%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>Calatrava plays with light and space throughout this building, expertly marrying geometric angles with organic curves and beautiful details. The placement of a brightly colored Chihuly chandelier in the stark white lobby mirrors Calatrava's use of shape and arrengement to create a truly ethereal experience.<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQQGx0oJxJ0GxQQQG0oJJ0G0QQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ0n%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="351" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQQGx0oJxJ0GxQQQG0oJJ0G0QoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ0e%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="396" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDPfRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQQGx0oJxJ0GxQQQG0oJJ0G0QJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQol%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="318" alt="" src="http://render-2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6lQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3Axxr%3D0-qpDofRt7Pf7mrPfrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQQGx0oJxJ0GxQQQG0oJJ0G0PoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gX0QQ00%7CRup6aQQ%7C/of=50,332,442" border="0" /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-7500243507135843554?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-18960569809686533812008-01-02T21:59:00.000-05:002008-01-02T23:27:39.051-05:00<div>The frigid air hits your face as you leave the protective terminal and get in the (thankfully) warm rental car. Heading west on I-94 to north I-43 the lights of Milwaukee quickly fade to black. The aging two lane highway can seem desolate but offers a great opportunity to be alone with your thoughts...or '80s pop blasting from the Sirius radio. There is nothing like rocking out to Guns 'n Roses - Sweet Child 'O Mine as I try to stay within the (slow by Michigan standards) 65 mph speed limit - no tickets on this trip!<br /><br />A short hour later, the car pulls into the outskirts of Sheboygan and the hotel. After the dark car, the light from the lobby causes temporary squinting as I make my way to the desk and get my key. The room smells slightly of a bad nursing home but then the scent vanishes and I notice the two double beds that suddenly look so much smaller than my queen at home - good thing this is a non-husband trip!<br /><br />My stomach rumbles and I remember my last meal was five hours ago - as my choices are Arbys or Chili's, I opt for an over-cooked steak and wilted broccoli - at least the potatos were mashed to perfection. Dessert was an apple from the hotel lobby as I settle in for some surfing of the World Wide Web and mindless television drivel in the backround.<br /><br />What will tomorrow bring?</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151102211768834434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3xkK3412YI/AAAAAAAAADE/sdPySf_pCUE/s200/of%3D50,590,442.jpg" border="0" /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-1896056980968653381?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-68827835121798590392008-01-01T12:51:00.000-05:002008-01-01T12:52:57.948-05:00<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3p91X412XI/AAAAAAAAAC8/pR8RbiXqcGE/s1600-h/Happy_New_Year_by_clwoods.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150567479750547826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3p91X412XI/AAAAAAAAAC8/pR8RbiXqcGE/s320/Happy_New_Year_by_clwoods.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6882783512179859039?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-66744658508961135292007-12-30T17:10:00.000-05:002007-12-30T17:21:11.284-05:00<div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3gY5X412WI/AAAAAAAAAC0/youkt1ccQA8/s1600-h/Canon-EOS-350D-Digital-Rebel-XT-Silver.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149893547842197858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3gY5X412WI/AAAAAAAAAC0/youkt1ccQA8/s200/Canon-EOS-350D-Digital-Rebel-XT-Silver.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Best Christmas present this year, bar none was the wonderfully generous gift from my husband - a Canon Digital Rebel XT, 8 megapixels of pure joy!</div><br /><div>He also bought me a bag, extra battery, 2 gig memory card and a 75-300mm zoom lens.</div><div> </div><div>I've been playing with the camera since the week before Christmas (we opened gifts early to have time to ourselves) and will post pictures soon...</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6674465850896113529?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-39951709926708934132007-12-29T23:23:00.000-05:002007-12-29T23:56:04.843-05:00A free weekend would not be complete without a trip to the mothership. And my mothership I of course mean <a href="http://www.ikea.com/">Ikea</a>. Dearborn to Canton is a mere 20 minute trek, filled with anticipation of the joyous shopping to come.Today's mission: FINALLY get a real bed! Not that the boxspring and mattress on the floor, as we have been sleeping for the last 3 years, isn't sufficient - but let's face it, we're grownups now, we need a real bed!<br /><br /><div>2 cinnamon rolls, 2 hours and several dollars later we had MOST of our bedroom - we were seconds too late from picking up the last headboard and footboard in Aisle 30, Bin 17 but are assured that four more are on the truck unloading tomorrow morning so at 10:00 am we'll have the whole bed!<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149620950562887922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="273" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3cg-H412PI/AAAAAAAAAB4/9kalmWAwGJw/s320/hemnes+bed.jpg" width="290" border="0" />Since you can't have a bed without a place to put all of your books and...well...general junk, we bought matching sidetables in red:</div></div><br /><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149621337109944578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="218" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3chUn412QI/AAAAAAAAACA/NMLPqzX6Crw/s320/hemnes+side.jpg" width="261" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><p>Light is usually helpful when reading said books - found these really cool brassy table lamp bases and shades (we bought the top shade, white with off-white stitching):</p><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3ch8X412RI/AAAAAAAAACI/TxN2R4IwdFo/s1600-h/ekarp+base.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149622020009744658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" height="203" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3ch8X412RI/AAAAAAAAACI/TxN2R4IwdFo/s320/ekarp+base.jpg" width="191" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3ciMX412SI/AAAAAAAAACQ/KGKQ3FzR598/s1600-h/shade.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149622294887651618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="206" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3ciMX412SI/AAAAAAAAACQ/KGKQ3FzR598/s320/shade.jpg" width="251" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p>Now if I could just find someone to paint upstairs - of course that would mean I would have to have picked a color!</p><br /><br /><p>Oh, and we also bought this great duvet cover (to match the tables of course!):</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149624296342411602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3ckA3412VI/AAAAAAAAACo/RNEVEA1Eiy8/s200/duvet.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/R3cjSH412TI/AAAAAAAAACY/4hXBZaeTuMg/s1600-h/duvet.jpg"></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3995170992670893413?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-35096425590775253102007-08-04T16:30:00.000-04:002007-08-04T16:48:25.550-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">The New York Times had a great <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/08/01/garden/20070802NEWPORT_index">article</a> this week on John Peixinho, a decorator that is ever so gently updating the fabulously waspy homes of Newport's elite. There was also a beautiful slide show of homes/interiors, my favorites are shown below (you can see the rest <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/08/01/garden/20070802NEWPORT_index.html">here</a>...)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/01/garden/02snewport11.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photos: Tony Cenicola/New York Times<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />What I love about Mr. Peixinho's work here is that rather than the rather popular "gut and redo" method, he made minor changes to these interiors - new paint here, slipcovers and draperies there, re-arranging furniture and re-using heirloom pieces. Very classic and chic.<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3509642559077525310?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-37757484471266086642007-07-28T08:57:00.000-04:002007-12-30T17:09:17.954-05:00I want to put a chandelier in my office at home (Tim thinks I'm crazy). I've always wanted a pretty chandelier and think that they instantly turn a space, when done correctly, from blah to wow. The problem is finding the right one... <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Here are a few I've found:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://aplusrstore.com/photos/medium/brass_garlands.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/59280_PE165082_S3.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 217px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/59280_PE165082_S3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kristaller from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/">Ikea</a><br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/images/us/local/products/productsall/p239025f.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 329px" alt="" src="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/images/us/local/products/productsall/p239025f.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/images/us/local/products/productsall/p239025d.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 327px" alt="" src="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/images/us/local/products/productsall/p239025d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Teardrop Chandelier from <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/">Urban Outfitters</a><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">And the search continues... </div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3775748447126608664?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-26205148701616264362007-07-25T23:03:00.000-04:002007-07-25T23:20:17.141-04:00I've noticed a trend towards birds in design lately. Kind of a throwback to kitsch with a modern twist.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.cb2.com/is/image/CB2/SparrowPillow11x23JungleF7?$lg$"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 316px;" src="http://images.cb2.com/is/image/CB2/SparrowPillow11x23JungleF7?$lg$" alt="" border="0" /></a>Love this trio of olive sparrows from <a href="http://www.cb2.com/">CB2</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.potterybarn.com/pbimgs/ab/images/products/200728/0003/img78l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.potterybarn.com/pbimgs/ab/images/products/200728/0003/img78l.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Even Pottery Barn is jumping on the wagon with this spin on traditional patterns.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/5/5ab/237/il_430xN.9534929.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/5/5ab/237/il_430xN.9534929.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/5/5ab/237/il_430xN.9534929.jpg">.</a>Love this pillow made of vintage handkercheifs by seller PleasantView on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/files/t_17259.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 128px;" src="http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/files/t_17259.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I also love these jade bird bowls from the fabulous<a href="http://www.jonathanadler.com"> Jonathan Adler.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-2620514870161626436?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-38640881457645947682007-07-25T22:25:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:44:45.935-04:00As I was perusing the blog world, I came upon <a href="http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/">Desire to Inspire </a>and a great post of Todd Oldham, designer extraordinaire, as photographer. Photos are courtesy of <a href="http://marekandassociates.com/index.cfm">Marek and</a><a href="http://marekandassociates.com/index.cfm"> Associates</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://marekandassociates.com/_assets/8/A1E848.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://marekandassociates.com/_assets/8/A1E848.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I love the use of repetitive patterns and melding of the bright colors that somehow should clash but do not.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://marekandassociates.com/_assets/8/AAD853.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://marekandassociates.com/_assets/8/AAD853.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The stripes on the walls are classy but playful and the pink and yellow are fabulous!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://marekandassociates.com/_assets/8/9968F5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://marekandassociates.com/_assets/8/9968F5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Todd Oldham for the New York Times Magazine. Organized chaos in the pantry.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3864088145764594768?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-51374785108083570232007-07-15T12:42:00.000-04:002007-07-15T12:55:31.709-04:00I woke up around 9:30 and let the dog out. Breakfast consisted of warmed up waffles from yesterday's sumptuous breakfast of waffles and bacon (we usually have waffles or pancakes, homemade of course on Saturday and/or Sunday when we're home). It is now almost 1pm and I have been leisurely perusing the internet after finishing my new <a href="http://www.dominomag.com/">Domino</a> that came yesterday. I finished my new <a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/">Marie Claire</a> yesterday. These are really the only magazines that I get although I'm debating a subscription to <a href="http://www.vogue.com/">Vogue</a> simply for the pure indulgence of it all. I've been sitting on the sun porch with a cup of coffee, now cold, and just enjoying the gorgeous weather. There is a gorgeous breeze coming in the slider doors and the gentle twittering of the birds who have found my newly filled bird feeder and are bound to empty it today! I am really learning/beginning to enjoy these lazy weekend mornings - it is so peaceful and calming. Especially after the ever increasingly stressfull weeks at work (and of course the klutz incident of this week!). I think that I am finally coming to terms with myself and my life and beginning to enjoy myself. It is strange to think that it took me this long to really love where I am in life - for so many years I felt so transitory and uprooted which I've discovered is not good for the OCD girl hidden inside of me! Now that I have "roots" or a place that is really mine (or ours I should say) I am just enjoying the calm. And for the first time since starting college, I am learning to NOT feel guilty that I'm doing nothing! No homework/studio work that I'm just putting off until the last minute, nothing hanging over my head that HAS to be done. I can just relax. It's a novel concept but one that I intend to indulge. Often.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5137478510808357023?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-38389466125696548492007-07-12T18:17:00.000-04:002007-07-12T18:30:10.208-04:00I've always been a bit of a klutz...my friends are rolling their eyes right now because we all know that I'm more than a "bit" of a klutz. Never has this been more true than today...<br /><br />I was letting Reilly out one last time before we went to work this morning, all dressed (cutely too I might add) for work. My heel caught on the sliding door track and down went the Ashley - down two steps and right onto the new patio! Of course my neighbor was in his back yard and calls out "you ok?" What do you say but "Yes" resignedly as you pick yourself up and go inside to cry? I hobble inside and take stock of my injuries -much less skin on my left arm and left shin. Nice big bruise already forming on my right shin and lovely gash on the right palm. And to make matters even better, it pains me to put weight on my left foot. Lovely.<br /><br />Long story short, Tim sets me up on the couch with a bag of ice on my elevated foot and my computer and cell phone by my side and heads to work - one of us has got to make some money today! When my foot still can't seem to bear any weight around Noon, I google the nearest<br />Urgent Care center and hop to my car, drive down Ford Road and hop into the center.<br /><br />The ladies at the Urgent Care center were so nice - even got a wheelchair to push me around from the lobby to the exam room to the x-ray and back so I didn't have to hobble around! X-rays show that I did NOT break anything (BIG sigh of relief here!) but just induced some nice trauma to the foot. There's no need to wrap anything as I didn't hurt a joint, just need to try and stay off the foot as much as I can and take some nice Darvoset!<br /><br />Well, kids, darvoset is really nice in that it makes you nice and sleepy...I just woke up after a quick 2 hour nap with my computer on my lap, meeting report mid sentence! Can't wait to see how easy it is to work tomorrow on the stuff...either sleepy or in pain...should be fun!<br /><br />At least it's not broken...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3838946612569654849?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-56538635831310098282007-07-09T21:38:00.000-04:002007-07-09T21:48:06.205-04:00So I'm totally in love with Clotilde Dusoulier's blog <a href="http://www.chocolateandzucchini.com/">Chocolate &amp; Zucchini</a> and today's post was for "Biscuits Epeautre et Miel." Basically, if you've ever had those lacy oatey cookies at <a href="http://www.ikea.com/">Ikea</a> then you've basically had them. The recipe sounded so good that I had to make them for myself...they're in the oven as I type! Even though it is now 9:45 and probably later than I should be eating cookies or any sweets for that matter - you know I'm going to have at least one before bed! Check out Clotilde's blog and definitely buy her book, also entitled "Chocolate and Zucchini" - You'll fall in love too!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-5653863583131009828?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-3542621143143648772007-07-07T17:55:00.000-04:002007-07-07T18:21:29.451-04:00So the great "build a patio over the July 4th Weekend" adventure began on Wednesday. We obviously had the day off but took Thursday and Friday off as well just to ensure we had enough time to do this seemingly mundane task of building a patio. It should be easy right? We had the stone - two large piles of sandstone and blue slate from the neighbor behind our house who was "just going to throw it away." The neighbors to the west had loaned us a rake, sod cutter and another shovel. We knew where we wanted the patio to be located. How hard could it be?<br /><br />Apparently VERY hard!<br /><br />Wednesday consisted of 2 or 3 hours of removing all of the sod and relocating it to the large bare patch of earth in the back west corner of the yard. Now when I say sod cutter, I mean a half moon shaped spade on a curved metal rod attached to a shovel handle. So we're talking full manual labor here folks! This of course deserved an end of the day trip to a co-worker's house to mooch some time in the pool!<br /><br />Thursday was dirt day. After taking Reilly to the Vet to get re-tested for Heartworm (That's a whole other post!) we spent a good 4-5 hours removing an endless amount of dirt from the sod-less ground. This of course resulted in huge piles of dirt moved from the side of the house and sun room to behind the garage - what will happen to it next is unknown. The evening was spent on a long hot shower and comfy sweats...and a sore body...little did I know that the best was yet to come!<br /><br />Friday - ouch! Friday morning we made two trips to Lowe's for gravel. Let me tell you that after you load 40 bags of stone (50 lb each might I add) onto a cart, into a Jeep and then out of the Jeep and onto the driveway, your body simply won't work anymore! Of course it doesn't just stop at unloading the stone... you have to actually pour and spread the stone over the freshly raked dirt and of course make sure the damn stuff is level! Once the stone is level, the real fun begins...tamping. We tamped that stone until our hands were shaking...all by hand of course! Friday we didn't work as long as the other days as we drove to Ann Arbor to meet my high school friend Sarah, her husband Mike and daughters Maria and Rebekah for dinner. Considering I hadn't seen Sarah and Mike since their wedding 2.5 years ago, it was a welcome and deserved break in the action!<br /><br />Saturday. Today. Well, we worked harder today than the other days combined I think! After a trip to Lowes for 20 bags of sand and 10 more bags of stone (like we didn't get enough of the stone yesterday!) we said goodbye to our (now former) roommate Jessy :-( and got to work. Finished leveling and tamping the stone and then on to the sand. The sand seemed to actually go faster than the stone although it certainly wasn't easier on the old body! Once we had sufficiently leveled and tamped the sand it was jigsaw puzzle time. At several times during the process we both wondered aloud if we were going to have enough stone. We had made the patio area a bit larger than originally discussed so we came frighteningly close to running out. We mad it work, however, this may have been our undoing. The middle of the patio is all smaller stones and we realized as we were fitting stones together that alas the stone was of varying thickness. Of course it was too late to stop now and even if we did, would it help? So we pressed on and filled in the whole space. Swept more sand over the area to fill in the cracks and then decided to hose the stones off to see how it looked. It looked better before the hosing! In a somewhat defeated moment, decided to let the sand dry and hopefully settle a bit and see how it looks tomorrow. Basically we're exhausted, our bodies ache and we're hoping we didn't just spend four days building something we're going to hate or have to redo.<br /><br />Hopefully it's better tomorrow...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-354262114314364877?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-80962999174716584602007-06-20T19:56:00.001-04:002007-06-20T20:04:55.767-04:00Tonight it's just me and the pup. Tim is in Port Huron at a work function (that, despite working at the same company, I didn't get to attend) and Jess is at work. It's weird being in the house by myself...I kind of feel like there is stuff I should WANT to do but I feel a bit lost and also tired. Would I be a loser if I went to bed at 9:00? Probably.<br /><br />I went to English Gardens on my way home from work, they're having a HUGE sale, and bought the fixings for a little herb garden. I purchased a gorgeous ceramic pot for 50% off, potting soil, more fungicide for my poor rose bushes, and herbs: French Lavender, Arugala, Sweet Basil, Oregeno and Rosemary.<br /><br />After a quick dinner of chicken whole grain rice with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce (don't ask, I'm strange sometimes!) I put the sprinkler on in the front yard and set to work. The plants all fit although I'm sure once they start to spread I'll need a bigger pot or a couple of pots. I planted the Rosemary in the middle and arranged the others around the outside of the pot. Let's hope my luck with plants changes and my little container herb garden thrives - I can't wait for fresh herbs to cook with!<br /><br />Now I'm off to move the sprinkler...have to water evenly!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-8096299917471658460?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-65307154064978789122007-06-15T22:22:00.003-04:002007-06-15T22:33:24.526-04:00I think I've always wanted to throw a <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/gift/thm/THMHTN/index.cfm">Sangria Party</a><a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/gift/thm/THMHTN/index.cfm"> </a>but just didn't know it! Something about just saying "sangria" sounds like summer. And even though I've never had sangria...I know that it would taste of summer...taste of fruit and heat, freshly cut grass and the pavement after it rains, of sweet and just a bit sour...summer.<br /><br />I've recently discovered that I'm not an adventurous cook...I seem to always gravitate towards the foods and ingredients that I know and take my chances when I bake. I love to read new recipies and watch the Food Network and I want to cook different dishes but somehow do not.<br /><br />My goal this summer, along with working on the house of course, is to try and cook at least one new dish a week. That shouldn't be too hard right?<br /><br />I've also decided that my dream, never going to happen, job would to be a freelance Travel/Food writer. It would combine my two favorite things, traveling and eating/cooking...so if anyone knows of a job opening in the field of traveling foodie writers...let me know!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6530715406497878912?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-2257975441585108272007-05-16T22:23:00.000-04:002007-05-16T22:38:56.202-04:00<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">So the big move happened on Saturday and we are still trying to resurface amidst the piles of boxes in the new house. I don't know where, in 2.5 years, we accumulated all of this "stuff" but my was it exhausting to move it all! Two trips with the "medium" size Uhaul, four cars and one small truck load later the apartment was a vast wasteland and the house was a maze of cardboard, furniture and garbage bags loaded with stuff.<br /><br />I've set the lofty goal for myself of unpacking at least 1-2 boxes per day...an edict I think I have already failed in following! Sunday was a good day - after 9 or so hours the kitchen was at roughly 90% completion. After calling in sick on Monday, I spent part of the morning at the dentist and picking the dog up from the kennel and then unpacked some more...I think it's safe to say the kitchen is probably at 99% now...and the bathroom and hallway closet are pretty much done now too.<br /><br />Next up is the Dining room (so we can eat at the table rather than on the sun porch) and my office. Really the Dining room consists of carefully unpacking the china and servingware and gingerly arranging it all in the buffet. The Living Room is easy...we just need to get bookshelves from Ikea and get all of the books out of the boxes and we're good to go on that room!<br /><br />It seems quite daunting at times but it really is fun to arrange things exactly like I want them and to be able to FINALLY design and decorate without feeling temporary or that I don't dare ruin the walls...they're my walls now and I can do what I want...it's a heady feeling, this freedom!<br /><br />The big Housewarming is scheduled for June 2nd and I'm really hoping that the house will be in some sort of order by then! We are in Baltimore this weekend but I still have all next week, Memorial Day Weekend and the following week so I'm not panicking yet...yet!<br /><br />Speaking of the party...all jokes aside I do really need to start planning the menu...do I do finger foods accompanied by burgers and dogs on the grill? Do I stick with a theme or do a combination of favorite hors d'oeuvres? Decisions, decisions, decisions...<br /><br />I think Reilly is definitely enjoying the freedom of a backyard - Finally! And living in a REAL neighborhood where we can take real walks! We took a great walk today with Jess and Andrea (who actually is renting a house just a few blocks away surprisingly!) and it was met with much tailwagging and excited sniffing!<br /><br />It's now 10:38 and this girl is exhausted so I'm off to bed...another new thing I'm trying...going to bed earlier in hopes of not being so tired all the time...<br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-225797544158510827?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-66047093401474067882007-04-21T08:52:00.000-04:002007-04-21T14:38:06.788-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’ ”<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~ "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater or Pearls Before Swine" by Kurt Vonnegut<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6604709340147406788?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-68920065846869164282007-04-07T07:53:00.001-04:002007-04-08T09:01:31.048-04:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So having just bought a house, we are in the throes of painting. We are basically re-painting every room except the kitchen and it's definitely harder than I thought. Painting is not really physically hard (other than your hand cramping) but it's exhausting! I think that the ceilings were the hardest...our living room and dining room have these beautiful coved ceilings that I LOVE but man are they hard to paint!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm still a little apprehensive about color - don't get me wrong...I love the colors we've chosen but they're bright and bold and it's quite a chance we're taking here! Especially because paint is NOT cheap and I don't have the time or energy to repaint!<br /><br />This is our basic living room colors in a sample room...I think the red is a bit more red than in this picture though:<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RhjnVZDx7UI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ZD2drOYfM-8/s1600-h/livingroom7-330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RhjnVZDx7UI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ZD2drOYfM-8/s320/livingroom7-330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051041336786021698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RheMdZDx7TI/AAAAAAAAAAk/FkJ-T8HL0Fc/s1600-h/livingroom7-330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RheMdZDx7TI/AAAAAAAAAAk/FkJ-T8HL0Fc/s320/livingroom7-330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050659943690136882" border="0" /></a>Our dining room is also the same red...the first coat of the dining room went up last night so I'm anxious to see how the first coat dried...it was pretty bright when we left but not as scary as I thought it would be!<br /><br />Last thought: Why is it snowing in April???<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-6892006584686916428?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999831465110008626.post-30165947978011995632007-04-06T13:04:00.000-04:002007-04-06T13:19:23.962-04:00<div><br /></div><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So this is not my first attempt at a blog...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Blog Experience #1 - Hosted by a site whose name I cannot completely remember...ejournal or eblog or something to that extent. I kept it up for awhile but got bored pretty quickly when my friends stopped posting and I eventually forgot about the site...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Blog Experience #2 - The famous (or infamous) livejournal.com. This one I maintained for about 2-3 years or so until life inevitably took over and I forgot about that one as well...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This will be my third attempt and hopefully the "third time is the charm" right? I can't promise that what I write will be interesting or even the slightest bit funny but then again, I'm not sure that anyone besides myself will even read this thing so there you go!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I won't do the usual introduce myself and list all of my favorites...if you really care you'll find out eventually or if you know me (as I'm sure will be the only people reading) you probably already know and don't care! I will post a few pictures as way of an introduction:</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">My Husband and I at our wedding reception on Belle Isle in Detroit:</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050364681868406018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="191" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RhZ_65Dx7QI/AAAAAAAAAAM/SJUU3UsZs6M/s320/DSCN0476.JPG" width="276" border="0" /></span><br /></div></div><br /><p align="center">My pup Reilly:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050365124250037522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RhaAUpDx7RI/AAAAAAAAAAU/86KpvtnNg00/s320/Reilly.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">And my Best Friend:</p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050365527976963362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yc6CAr4SJYc/RhaAsJDx7SI/AAAAAAAAAAc/dbzishMiRvw/s320/Chihuahuas.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p>This blog is mainly my way of teaching myself to better record my thoughts and to document a life...<br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8999831465110008626-3016594797801199563?l=meditationsonmyrtle.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ashleynoreply@blogger.com0