Monday Insperation # 15: Pre Raphaelite

Sorry this is so late. I was actually productive today (well marginally productive) and just got around to checking my email right now. Points of Order:

1. I am going to be doing a giveaway/contest/enticement to get readers and comments here very soon (and by soon I mean after The San Francisco trip which is in ONE WEEK!). For people in the good ol' USA (pronounces ooo-sa), part of the giveaway will be the $5 gift card to old navy that I got, and yes I actually got it, so it wasn't a scam. Now to see if the modelquins die. But back to the point. There will also be a pair of earrings included made by yours truly. Now I have a few people who read this outside the USA (again ooo-sa), so the gift card ain't gonna be much help, unless like me you are a online shopper, however with the value of the American Dollar dropping, you'll probably be able to buy something for your equivalent of a $1.50. Thus I would like to have two winners, one who'll get the gift card and earrings, and one (not from the ooo-sa(that's just easier)) who'll get the earrings and __________. So what is my point? What do you people want? I do live in the Golden State* and can thus send you my weights worth in sand if you really want, or an orange**, but what would you gals like to get? Let me know. Also the Giveaway will be a fashion challenge so just be prepared.

2.When I was younger and discovered google images I became obsessed with Pre Raphaelite paintings. I love the softness or them, yet the dark themes and often colours. They're like fairy tales. Romantic, beautiful, dark, brooding. I think they are absolutely beautiful. So this weekend I was going through my pictures and found some old ones. For your viewing pleasure:

I want her hair and dress. Even if it is purple.

So here is a beautiful woman in a beautiful dress, in a beautiful forest, sleeping peacefully, with deers surrounding her = my dream life.

This reminds me of my mom for some reason. Not that she is angry and bites on flowers, it just looks like her.

This one and the one below are both of Ophelia. I love Shakespeare, and Hamlet and the name Ophelia. I think drowning is a romantic way to die. I'm a little bit morbid.

*Until last year I thought we were the sunshine state, until I called it that and someone told me that was Florida. Frankly I think Sunshine and Golden are the same thing, so whatever. We should really be the Silicone State, but who am I to talk, I just live here.

**Incidentally, Riverside, the hellmouth I'm writing from, was actually a British "colony" in the early 1800s who became famous for growing oranges (suck on that Orange County), and put California on the map as far as orange growing is concerned. Our Old Spaghetti Factory is in and old orange packing house (apparently a several generations back grandmother of mine worked in one and until I was about fifteen I was convinced it was the same one as Spaghetti Factory, but that is not the case), and Where Magnolia Avenue, and Arlington Avenue meet there is a gated placard-ed Orange tree that some claims is the first in Riverside. We also invented the Navel Orange (which until recently I thought had something to do with sailors ans scurvy(which is not the case)), and there are these strange mosaic-ed shiny orange statues that are littered throughout the city, and are quite obnoxious. There used to be and Orange Blossom Festival that was horrible and made traffic a nightmare, and got my brother hit by a car. It finally got shut down ofter the cops got tired of having to go in and bust up all the gang shootings that happened every year. I once had to sing for some high Riverside mucky-mucks, which was a block from my old house and I was walking home at like ten at night and some guy was beating the crap out of this lady, and I had to call 911, but they were so backed up with all the other calls that were coming from the Orange Blossom Festival, that it took them an hour to get there and because I was the one who had called I had to stay. The lady was fine, but the guy stole her car and $60. It was fun. We also had a Chinatown that burnt down in like 1903, and all that is left of it is the brick wall that was built into a new building, a plaque, and the street that is named Wong Way. No Joke. I've seen it. It's really called Wong Way. Oh Riverside... (also don't ask me why I know all this, but I actually am incredibly well versed in Riversidian history. I used to spend alot of time in the old book section of the Public Library. Apparently "Old Book" in Riversidian-ees means The Complete and Accurate History of the City of Riverside and some old slides of newspapers from the 1900's. in 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Horace Walters announced the engagement of their daughter, Sylvia Walters, to Mr. Edmund Gaffer III, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Gaffer II. Why do I remember this?

I'm just that awesome

I was going to post pictures of what I looked like today, but unfortunately I didn't get any. I'll try tonight. But know I looked cute.

So remember back in December when I told some old client lady that I was a ninja for no apparent reason? So those same clients came in today. We got a call from the receptionist (the hamster looking one) saying they (the really old people clients) were here. I was writing three emails at the time, and not really paying attention to what was going on. So then about ten minutes later I was finished with my emails and suddenly I remembered the old people clients who as far as I knew were still waiting up at the front. So I yelled to my dad.

"Hey aren't there old people still waiting for us?"

Jess and Michael turned quickly with shocked grins on their faces and exclaimed "They're in there!"So in an epically genius save I said:

"Yeah the old people who are always outside.. waiting for us... y'know..."

To which Michael and Jess just started laughing. At this point I expressed some annoyance with the fact that they came back here and didn't make their presence known, then Jess told me that apparently they waved at us and said hello.

And this is how I fail at life.

On a similar note I was contacted by old navy last night via email. Someone had chosen me to be some receiver of kindness (giving a sucker punch in the gonads to that whole Karma theory) in the form of a $5 gift card (way to go all out Old Navy). This is the email exchange that proceeded:

"Hello Ashley,
I am reaching out to introduce myself and let you know that Old Navy has chosen you for this week’s kindness appreciation! We’d like to offer you a $5 Old Navy gift card to show our appreciation for keeping a positive outlook on our brand.
As the Old Navy brand ambassador I am required to surf the Internet to handpick fabulous fashionistas who love Old Navy. You are one of them! By the way, I found your e-mail address on your blog. Hope you don’t mind that I contacted you.
ndd"

To which I replied:

"forgive me if I seem rude, I'm just wary of virus scams. Are you a real person, who actually found my blog, or a computer-bot who is sending this out to try and kill my computer? My computer is crap, but it's what I've got. I'm very protective. If you are real then I am very honoured, and thank you kindly. If you are a virus-bot, then I'll probably have to come after you.
also if you're real, I hope I don't come off as a rude snot. I really do talk like this.
yours,
Ashley"

To which she replied:

"Hi Ashley,
LMAO, I am a REAL person! I’ll give you the link to my Facebook profile if you’d like. I totally understand why you are protective so I didn’t think you were being rude at all.
If you are still interested in the gift card just send me your mailing address and you will have it by early next week.
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
ndd"

To which I replied:

"Okay awesome. Sometimes people think I'm not so nice because I say things and they take it the wrong way. I can never be to careful.
I'd love the gift card! I was mostly suspicious because I've never been given anything through my blog before. But I would be very happy to take any free money you want to offer.
My mailing address is as follows:
Miss Ashley Barrett
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah (Not really in the email)
Riverside, California 92508
Thanks alot! I knew my shopping addiction would pay off in the end...
quick note though, as much as I love Old Navy, could you pass along to someone that the stupid "modelquin" things are just creepy and not funny. I mean, it's on the same creepy scale as the King from the Burger King commercials and that thing gives me nightmares.
~Ashley Barrett"

Yep. That just happened. Sometimes being me is awesome, and sometimes, it's really awesome.

By the by I am playing again tonight and my thumb seems to be recovering quite jollily. I broke a blood vessel so that's great and has led to my hand being discoloured, but other than that it's much better. It's still very sore, but I'll live.

On a not totally similar, but pretty close note, I went to go meet my voice teacher today to pay him and I walked to the door behind which he was standing and leaned over it (it's one of those dutch door things where the top half opens separate from the bottom) and my blouse popped open. I don't know if he noticed, but I did everything in my power to button it back up and keep from blushing. Awesomest day ever.

Yesterday was not exactly the happiest day on earth.



It all started at 2:35 am. I had a dream. A dream about someone I do not particularly care to dream about. A dream that made me wake up and cry. A dream about things that I thought I'd moved on with. A dream that made me angry that I haven't moved on with it. And a dream that was just downright mean for my dumb subconcious to dig up. It was horrible and annoying. And despite the fact that I wanted to jump in the car and go punch someone in particular in the face and tell them to get out of my head, and life (which I had thought they were until then), I forced myself to go back to sleep and think of something else. Which of course didn't happen, and it just kept repeating the same thing over and over again until Grace came in screaming about how she was four now. So when I woke up I was determined not to let it effect my day. I was going to Disneyland, the happiest place on earth, and I was going to be in a good mood even if it killed me.

I did a pretty good job until we got to the parking structure to park.



My Disneyland adventure began with my becoming left handed. I've been right handed all my life and never really wanted to change that. So yesterday Eric began attacking me while being spazzy and suddenly as I put my right hand out to defend myself, my thumb nail was touching my wrist. He bent my thumb all the way back spraining the damn thing into eternity. It's still about four times it's normal size and bruised and throbs. I've had to relearn to do everything with my left hand. A.Noy.Ing. It hurt all day, tear inducing, shooting pain, all day. So I was a little annoyed/miffed/not really in the mood to deal with stupid tourists, but I put on a smile and went on, because I was going to be in a good mood dammit.



Then we ate and went to go get on a ride, which I didn't end up going on because I went to meet Bri and Michael in one of the shops. We did some shopping, which was all fine and dandy. Bought three really cute things. Then we met my parents again. By then it was nearly nine pm, and we went and got ice cream as Gracie's "cake".



There are some things I really, really don't like about Disneyland, and most of them happen in the summer during tourist season. People are just plain stupid, mean, rude, and idiotic. They don't know how to walk, think that just cuz they're at Disneyland they must form lines everywhere they go, and expect that because they are the tourists we should all bow to them to make their experience brilliant. It's Disneyland. There are going to be running children, loud noises, lots of people, and an occasional traffic jam. If you don't like it, go home.



So after ice cream, Bri, Michael, and I went to go to Downtown Disney becuase Bri wanted to go to Sephora. Now I don't really wear makeup. I wear some liner, mascara, and powder, and that's about it. If we're going out for something special I sometimes wear eyeshadow, and lipstick, but mostly I stick with chapstick and mascara. I bought three things at Sephora. And spent....



$107.66.



$107.66!!!!! WTF! Seriously! For a bottle of cheap perfume, some face tint, and mascara??? I don't think so! So I'm taking it all back. I don't wear makeup enough to justify it. Mascara goes bad after two months no matter what the quality, so yeah I'd rather spend seven dollars on it then 19. And I wear so little powder that I keep a compact for 6 months, so I don't mind spending 10$, but not $42. I was so mad at the damn total I sat mentally spewing evil thought the whole car ride home. And it didn't help that I couldn't move my thumb. Then I came home and had an email that something was messup with my bank account, and I just about lost it then.



It wasn't a horrible day, but did make me realize that I really need to watch my spending much better. I really didn't over spend (other than the dumb sephora crap), I just lose track, and I'm so dimwitted when it come to numbers that I have a hard time tracking it all again. Tonight I'm going to sit down a build myself a real, honest to goodness budget. If I ever hope to get out of here, I'd better get cracking on it.



In other news, my birthday is in two months, and I am debating between having my parents buy me a plane ticket to go up to Portland for the weekend, or the new Scotty-dog print dooney and bourke bag. I mean I'd never pay that much for a bag, but if they want to buy me it, go ahead. Also I happen to love scotty dogs more than anything. Honestly though I think Portland is going to win.



Also I leave for San Francisco in 13 days!! eek!!! I'm so excited/slightly stressed over getting things done before then. I think I'm going to be in for a busy weekend.



Sorry if I sounded so nasty at the beginning of this post, it was just one of those days and I was frustrated. But hey It's Chipotle wednesday.

"Ash, in our band, I play da Guitar, and you play da Microphone"

Happy Birthday Grace!

Despite the fact that you woke me up at 7:30 on my day off to announce to me that you were no longer three, I love you oodles kiddo!!! (The title was what Grace told me when she announced that we were going to write a song together)

We're off to Disneyland and as Grace says: "We're gonna ride rides, and I have to pick, cuz it's my birthday. We're gonna eat at the space restaurant, cuz I want noodles. And maybe we'll see the Jonas Brothers."

Yesterday she held up two fingers to Delaney and said: "how many fingers do I have up?"

Delaney replied: "two..."

Grace nodded her head and said: "good. I was just checking to see if you were on crack."

She's so my little clone.

Eventually I'll post pictures of all the recent projects I've been working on, but until then, have a wonderful day!

Monday Inspiration #14- Summer time and the livin' is easy

I'm pooped. Yesterday was a really wonderfully wonderful day, but I am super wiped. We went back down to Oceanside with my family this time and surfed, and ate, and played cards, and walked to get ice cream, and ate fish and chips, and bought coffee and played at the little kids park, and...

I know I'm not a summer person. Never have been, never will be. That said I really love the idea of summer things. So this week I complied a list of my favourite summer songs. Sure, Videos in blogs are annoying, but honestly some of these songs just make you so happy, or really capture the idea of that "California Summer." (which by the by, is nothing like it's romanticized to be, but I'll forgive them and just post the songs)

#5- I wish they could all be California Girls- The Beach Boys
I know. But it's a great song.




#4- California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade- The Decemberists
If you've never driven up the 101 then listen to this song. It IS the 101 in song form.




#3- I'm Yours- Jason Mraz
No explanation needed.




#2- I Know Where the Summer Goes- Belle and Sabastian
This is like the perfect song for a movie montage. It would be one of those 80's does the 50's teen summer romance movies.




#1- Beach Baby- The First Class
This song just makes me smile to no end.



Have a wonderful day! Tomorrow I have lots to show you!

She stood staring out at the blue-grey sea, peaceful and at one with nature. Then nature dumped a wave over her head.

So here is a word (or several) of wisdom:


If you have not been surfing in four months, and then suddenly decide you are going to go surfing while at the beach with some friends on a day when the tide is really high, the surf is super rough, and the undercurrent is incredibly strong, do not expect to come home unscathed.


I re-broke my toe.

My shoulder, and thigh are pretty bruised.


There are several fin slices on my legs.

Every muscle in my body wants to fall off.

The top of my right foot hurts oddly.

This is basically what the end result of the above conditions. And yes that is me, upside down, face slamming into the board. It was fun.

But it was actually really fun and relaxing. Oddly enough, it was 90 in Riverside, and when we pulled into Oceanside the car temperature thingy said it was 69. When we pulled off the 15 and onto the 76 the sky was suddenly overcast, and black. It really wasn't that cold down there. I loved it, while mostly everyone else complained a little. But we all had a good time, and got to eat fish and chips and I had this giant chocolate covered eclair with my cafe mocha thing that was huge. Good times.

Oh great. I just now found out that we're going surfing tomorrow for Father's Day.

My poor muscles...

B-JAM

I meant to post this earlier and forgot. This is a little drawing I did yesterday when I got bored at work. We made our summer schedules the other day and came up with the system of B-JAM to make it easier to understand. I have no drawing ability, and my ahdn writing is crap, but it came out kind of cute. Michael's not really some Amazon, I just have no concept of persepctive.

Click to enlarge.