It's finally the holiday season! I'm so excited! It seemed like it really snuck up on us this year... I feel like it's barely October! Anyway, I'm happy that the weather is getting cooler and I can start doing fall and winter things. Like making pie! This morning, I made two pies which will hopefully be enjoyed tomorrow, Thanksgiving day. First, I made the classic: Pumpkin Pie...

Pumpkin pie is easily my favorite pie. A lot of pies are too rich for me, but pumpkin pie got it just right. I'm not sure that there's anything pumpkin-based that I wouldn't be a fan of...

For example, my second pie of the day: Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake...

Yum yum yum! Can't wait to eat it!

I can't wait to have a family, if only so that I'll have more mouths to feed. I love making pies, cakes, cookies, etc., but the problem is, it's just me and Paul here to eat it all. And I don't like letting food go to waste.

So, there you have my accomplishment of the day.

Let's take a look at what Paul's been up to ALL DAY...

A new video game came out this morning, Gran Torismo 5. He's been waiting for it for years, he says. It's a racing game. He did warn me that he'd be playing all day. I should have known to take him seriously. Oh, all the great things he could do with his time if it weren't for video games...

Lindsay and Mike's wedding shower is this weekend. I hope it's as great as my bridal shower was. It will sure be different.

I can't believe how fast these past few months have gone by... It's almost December! It will be our first married Christmas. Let's just pray that we have enough money to actually buy each other presents...

Money is annoying.

Okay, so I got that job I interviewed for. and then Paul interviewed for the job and got it, too! And then I quit the job. Ha. It really wasn't the job for me. Actually, up until my second interview for the job where I spent the whole day out with a Sales Consultant, I didn't even know what the job was! And, by the end of the day, I was really unsure if I even wanted the job. In fact, when they sat me down to talk about the day, I was planning on declining the job if they offered it, and hoping that they wouldn't. But, they did and I just couldn't say no. So, that is just my explanation of how I wasn't crazy about the job from the beginning. I feel pretty guilty about quitting, so I have to keep convincing myself it was the right thing to do. Anyway, Paul has the job now and he likes it! In fact, he's out on a business trip this week in Palm Springs. He left early this morning and won't be back until Thursday or Friday. So, I'm home alone all week with no real obligations. Pretty lame. This will be our first night apart since we've been married. :( Well, that's not counting the handful of times he stayed up all night playing video games... But, at least he's making money! He said he made a pretty good amount of money today! Go Paul! So, I'm jobless again. I feel pretty pathetic, but I'm confident it will turn out for the best eventually.

As far as loosing weight, it was going pretty well for a while, and then I bought Halloween candy. I bought it for the trick-or-treaters, but we ate a lot of it before Halloween night. And then it turned out we didn't even get any trick-or-treaters. So, we just ate a lot of candy. Mostly me... bad. So, Halloween wasn't very eventful. We spent the whole day watching football. I'm really starting to get into football. I never thought this would happen. Really. Never ever. I'm watching it right now. By myself. Crazy crazy.

I miss my Pauly.

Well, time has been flying by! Kind of. Still no job! But, I do have an interview on Monday. My first interview so far, after 6 weeks of applying to dozens of places. So, I suppose my unluck so far is why I'm not holding my breath for this job. But, we'll see. We're coming up on our 8-week anniversary tomorrow! Married life is pretty awesome so far. I am getting tired of being home all day every day without a car, though. The only complaint I have about the past 8 weeks is that I've gained about 10 pounds! I can't even believe it. It makes a lot of sense, though. Eating is just so much fun. Especially with Paul. Anyway, I've had my fun eating and I'm ready to lose the weight now. Actually, I'd like to lose more than 10 pounds if possible. We've been eating pretty terribly and exercising very little recently, so there are some clear changes that can be made that should make a difference. Anyway, I'm excited to be skinny again! Hopefully it doesn't take too long and it won't be that difficult. I used to eat very well and exercise pretty often before I met Paul! Ha... Not that I'm blaming him or anything... So, I'm making a nice dinner tonight and I'm excited. I really want to keep up with this blog but I keep forgetting about it! And it's not like I don't have the time!

Here's something new to explain how I've been spending some of that time:

Throw pillows! They actually only took a few hours. Hopefully I'll be able to make some more soon when I can get more fabric. Anyway, I'm proud of them and they really spice up the living room.

So, now I'm just waiting for Paul to get home. It would be pretty cool if this was my last week of doing this every day! But, I really shouldn't be getting my hopes up... and I can't end this on a sad note, because I'm definitely not sad! So... uhh we're going to a friend's wedding this weekend and all my family is going too so I'm excited to see them and celebrate marriage! Hooray!

Okay, okay! We're married!!! And we've been married for just over a month! I sort of forgot about this blog for the past 2 months, but I want to continue writing, so this is my effort. We still haven't gotten our pictures, but it should be soon! :) We are living in Upland, Ca. I don't really wanna give out our address to the world wide web, but if you want it, you can have it!! So, I could write for days about what's new since I last wrote, but I'll try to keep it short... the wedding was better than we could have ever asked for, the honeymoon was fantastic, and we're loving our new lives together. Our apartment is almost all set up, short of a few small things. Paul found a job last week working for a congressman in the area. But, he's already getting a little bored with it. I, on the other hand, would do anything for a job right now. I've applied to all the banks around, an insurance company, and a few stores here and there, and so far, all I've gotten is rejection e-mails. I can't believe I went to college for four years and I can't get hired at Kohl's. It's extremely discouraging, but I'm confident that it will be worth the wait, and I'll land a good job eventually. Paul finally found out the other day that he will be in the Army reserves, so that gives us a good idea of what the next few years of our life will look like. We're excited! But, there's still quite a few things to figure out. As for now, Paul's at work, and I'm at home all day without a car to go anywhere. But, I'm working on thank you cards from the wedding, and we're so grateful that we have A LOT to write, so that should occupy me for a while. Okay, more later!!

Day -31

One month! One month from today, we will be Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ward!

Day -37

Some things I've been working on for the wedding:

table numbers

homemade jam for the favors

Day -42

It's been a whole week without Paul! This week wasn't so bad. I hope the next 3 weeks continue to go by quickly. I've been writing him every day since Saturday, when he left. And yesterday, Friday, I got a letter back! It was from his first night there, so he didn't have too much to say about what he's been doing. But, it was just really awesome to hear something from him. It made me really happy. I hope I get more soon! But, I look forward to writing him a letter every night and making it pretty with stickers and things, so, there is an up-side to this separation! I get to write pretty cards! I joined 24-hour fitness, and I've gone a few times and I'm really glad I did it! They have a hip-hop class on Wednesday nights, and it was a lot of fun! I'm excited to go to that every Wednesday. I haven't danced in so long! But, I'm hoping to tone up for the wedding, but more importantly, the honeymoon (Cancun), where it will be hot enough that I'm sure we will be spending most of the time in our swimsuits. :)
I can't believe it! Just 6 weeks from today! Okay, I can believe it. I'm so ready for this wedding!

Day -49

I just got back to San Diego after dropping Paul off at the Ontario Airport at around 4:30 this morning. We arrived a bit later than he meant to, because we got a flat tire just as we got onto the freeway. I was glad that it happened when Paul was with me, though. Otherwise, I would have been a little afraid... trying to figure out how to change a tire on the side of the freeway at 4am by myself. But, Paul was there to save the day. I miss him already! He will be gone for four weeks in Fort Lewis, Washington for an Army training/evaluation course. Then, when he's done, we get to go up there and watch him commission on July 24th. It's Day -28 on that countdown...
I sure do like that Paul. Can't wait to hear all about his time there. I've found, while waiting for this wedding, that it helps to find little things to look forward to along the way. So I just need to find some things to look forward to between now and July 24th and it will make the time go by quicker! Then, once he's back, it's just 3 weeks then a wedding!! Yes!
I'm looking forward to our friends, Brandon and Mary's wedding in July! And of course my bridal shower tomorrow! And I got a call a few days ago that my wedding dress is ready to be fitted! So many good things to come. When I got home this morning, I had two boxes waiting for me. One with some stationary I bought, including the cards I will be using for thank you cards. They're so pretty! I can't wait to write thank you cards!! Plus, some notecards I bought to write to Paul. Again, suuuuper pretty! It's funny how excited I really got about these cards. The second box contained the shoes I bought to wear with my wedding dress... on my wedding day! And I love them! They're not what you think of when you think of shoes to wear with a wedding dress. But, that's part of why I love them. And, they are partially blue, so that covers the something blue, and the something new is of course my dress. Now, I still need something old and something borrowed. But, I've got a little time to figure that out.
I'm starting to make a scrapbook/photo album of pictures of me and Paul. A collaboration of us pre-marriage. I'm excited about it! More to come on that...
Oh, we made the wedding favors last weekend! They're so awesome. Really. Be excited.
That's all for now.

Day -60

Well, this is a bit embarrassing... but I'm not making the bridesmaid's dresses anymore. They just weren't good enough. So, we're buying them instead. I was excited about making them, but with the way it turned out, I just wasn't convinced it would be worth it. Anyway, the new dresses are super cute and the bridesmaids will look beautiful. You just wait and see!
Paul leaves in about 10 days. I'm sure not looking forward to that. He will be gone for 4 weeks in Ft. Lewis, Washington. It was really hard for me when he went away for the same amount of time 2 years ago. I only got to talk to him a few times on the phone the whole time he was gone. But, I remember it getting easier as time went on. I think I wrote to him every single day. Even though he will be gone at a very inconvenient time, I'm predicting it will be easier for me this time. But, we'll see about that. And he says he'll be able to write back to me this time. But, he won't be able to call, which might make it harder. I really like that boy!
The invitations were sent out a few days ago! We've already received a few RSVPs! Exciting!
I can't believe how little we know about what we'll be doing after the wedding. Meaning, where we will be living and what we will be doing. We know nothing! And we won't know until probably no earlier than 3 weeks before the wedding. If that. Not easy for someone who likes to plan way ahead.
Alright, well, things are coming along smoothly with wedding planning! But, there's still quite a lot to do! But, we just passed the 2 month mark, so the end is in sight! Or, the beginning... Hooray!

Day -85

Didn't go outside today. But, look what I did do!
I had to use the flash, so the colors are a little weird.

It's even fully lined!
If you're not impressed, you really should be.
This is dress number one. And it will probably need some tailoring. And, actually, it's not done because I'm going add a few embellishments. So, I've got a lot of work to do...

Day -95

Hey, look! The invitations came in the mail today. I wanted to make the invitations myself. But, then I found these. I'm really happy with how they turned out. Hopefully we'll have them out early in June. Be excited!!

Day -96

Well, we graduated! As of last Saturday, May 8th, Paul and Ashley are college graduates! We spent all day Sunday cleaning out our apartments and moving home. Paul is back in Yucaipa for a few months and I'm down in San Diego. I told Paul before graduation that my life was officially about to transition from being a student to being a bride. I don't have a job. A fact that I hope to change, but as of now, wedding stuff is all I've got to do with myself! But, there sure is a lot to do!
A lot is still up in the air regarding post-wedding plans. We don't know where we'll be or what we'll be doing. I'm trying to just give it up to time, but I gotta admit, it's stressing me out!
Well, I miss Paul already! I hope this summer goes by quickly...

Day -116

We booked our honeymoon!
Can't wait!

Oh, and I found a dress, too! It's really happening!

4 months!
4 months 4 months 4 months!!!

Day -144

Save the dates are out!

Here is the front and the back of the card that I made:

Thank you to Lindsay for helping with some of it!

I'm really glad to be done with them. The P&A thing on the back is a sticker, by the way. I wasn't sure how obvious that would be. You can stick it on the date of August 14th on your calendar or planner! Anyway, hopefully they all reached everyone okay. So that is one thing to check off of the list. Except, it isn't even on the list in my wedding book. Lame.

So, we got some news that my twin sister, Lindsay, is now engaged to her boyfriend (now fiancé) of over 5 years! What a wonderful thing! I've been looking forward to that so that Lindsay and I could wedding plan together. And for other reasons, too. Anyway, I got to go home and do stuff with Lindsay and my mom a little over a week ago and we figured out what the center pieces are going to look like (mostly). I'm really excited about it. But, I'm wanting a specific kind of table cloth, and we can't seem to find it anywhere. I'm trying to not give anything away about the wedding cause I want it to be a surprise to everyone that comes! If I tell you what we have planned, you might feel like you don't even have to come. But, you do have to come. So come.

I'm planning on making the bridesmaids dresses. I have 6 wonderful bridesmaids so that means 6 dresses. I have never made a dress before, so once I begin this project, I might end up feeling a little ridiculous and embarrassed for really thinking it was possible, but we'll just have to wait and see. My roommate, Emily, one of the bridesmaids, is going to go with me today to try to figure out exactly what I want them to look like. Hopefully we will figure something out.

It's the last week of school before spring break and I have so much to do before Friday. And all I want to do is think about this wedding and being married to the most amazing man I've ever met.

Okay, that's all.

Our Homemade Wedding

Things are coming along smoothly!
Save-the-dates will be going out soon. Hopefully this weekend. I think our main focus right now is getting through school. And (hopefully) graduating. Less than 2 months! I can't believe how much time has been spent on these save the dates. And they're just the save the dates! I hope everyone likes them and will come to the wedding because of our incredible save the dates. We're still working on the website, also. Actually, we're still working on finalizing our wedding party. This Sunday marks the 5 month mark! According to my wedding book, there are tons of things I'm supposed to have done by now. Yikes. I still haven't picked out a dress!
Anyway, amongst the stress, I'm getting very excited for this wedding! We're trying to do as much as we can ourselves. A homemade wedding. I have so many ideas. I can't wait until I have more time to make things! Alright, I'll keep you posted.