Hey, Penelope Design Giveaway

Born in the Boot Shirt

c/o Hey, Penelope Design

Express Shorts

Cowgirl Boots similar 

Need these boots 

Brown Belt (similar) from TJ Maxx

Ray-Ban New Wayfarers

Silver Coin Earrings 

Y'all know I love everything Louisiana, and I basically can't get enough of this adorable shirt!  It's from Hey, Penelope Design on etsy by the amazingly talented Desiree.  Desiree is a graduate of SLU with a Bachelor's in Art // Graphic Design.  She started designing invitations and prints for friends and fell in love with it.  She decided to start up her own business and it is steadily growing. Inside her etsy shop, you will find everything I love :)  Louisiana shirts/tanks (both LSU and Saints related, and some crawfish too) pillow cases, totes, and adorable chevron and cupcake prints! Even if you aren't a Louisiana fan bless your heart she has something in her shop for you! 

Recently her  'just nap it out' Pillowcase was  featured in Shop Til You Drop Magazine in Australia

Desiree is going to give one lucky Ash Ann Pow reader a $25 credit to redeem in her Hey, Penelope Design shop! The winner will be verified, so please be honest!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I had some little friends come visit during my shoot

My favorite thing about Fridays

I have to keep it country this week again.

My favorite Jason Aldean song ever.

This pretty much defines where I was born in LA and where I grew up in NC. 

p.s. #30dayssober begins tomorrow for me! 

Update on Monday and again every Thursday!

Paleo Diet #30DaysSober, Just Because

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This little Paleo thing, let's talk about it.  I'm clearly late to the party, but it's only a party when I show up..so let's get to it!

I would maybe consider myself somewhat healthy. I know that no magic pill, no body wrap, no smoothie is going to make you shed the pounds.  Can it help you? Sure, but the only way to keep the weight off, tone your body, and stay healthy is through your diet and exercise.  Now, I must admit I live a sedentary lifestyle despite all my knowledge.  My husband has his Bachelors degree in Sport in Exercise Science from UNCP and I'm currently working on my Bachelors in Science of Nursing at AASU, so I'm not ignorant by any means.  I know how the human body works, I know what has to be done to live life healthy. 

Therefore, I've decided on June 1st I'm cutting out all harmful foods, chemicals, and substances from my daily life.  No processed foods, no alcohol, no cigarettes, and no chemicals (except for the few medications I take ).  Yes, you read that right. I'm not going to drink any alcohol. WTF am I thinking? Seriously though, I'm going to eat all healthy, natural foods and drink nothing but water for at least 30 days.  

I plan to blog about this little adventure of mine in which I will call it #30DaySober, so if you already do this or are interested, please leave me some advice and tips on how not to go crazy the first couple weeks.  I'm also going to continue on my fit-naaasssss. To be healthy and strong again is all I'm after, not skinny.  Feel free to follow me on Instagram and Twitter in addition to this blogblizzy for more updates beginning June 1st. 

#30DaysSober, let's do this

God made my favorite thing in just 2 days

If there's one simple thing I love in this beautiful life, it's seeing the sun hit a body of water. There's just a feeling of complete joy or fullness when I see this sight. Every drive home from Georgia, when I drive over South Carolina's largest lake, Lake Marion I know I'm half way home.  It's usually as the sun is rising, and on the drive back to Georgia it's when the sun is setting.  I take a picture no matter what.  I can't tell you how many pictures I've posted on Instagram of this lake, it's absolutely breath taking.   This particular landmark is a guarantee every drive on I95 and my heart is happy when I get to it.

 It's always the same bridge, the same water, the same sun...but always a different day. A different picture always results.  And I love everything about that.

Power lines when you drive North

Double bridge when you drive South

Living in the Savannah area the past few years, I've been fortunate to see my favorite site at different locations.  The Savannah River, the Ogeechee River, Tybee Island, and Dutch Island just to name a few of my favorites. 

The Ogeechee River

Dutch Island

One trip to DMV, my sister took me National Harbor and we had dinner on the pier at Mcloone's Pier House.  It was one of the most beautiful dinners I've ever had.

National Harbor 

'Merica. 

Might I add, the Chardonnay and Jameson we're just lovely. Oh, and I had the crab cakes too. 

Another one of my favorites was the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea while Rob and I vacationed at St. Lucia this past Christmas.  I was so sad because it rained a lot at night while we were there and in the morning it was cloudy, so I worried I would never get to see it.  But, one of the last nights we were there the sun showed it's face through the clouds a little. Even though it didn't reflect off the water, it still was enough for me. 

Halcyon Beach,  Sandals St. Lucia 

La Toc, Sandals St. Lucia

But there's a couple things I know for sure about St. Lucia...

The sun is still beautiful, even through the clouds

and the water is still beautiful, even if the sun doesn't reflect off of it

Grande, Sandals St. Lucia 

Grande, Sandals St. Lucia 

Grande, Sandals St. Lucia 

I can't wait to go back someday and I can't wait to see a lifetime of sunrises and sunsets over water.  Thank you, God.

DMV up.

Oh HEY FRIDAY! 

I'm extremely excited it's Friday because I'm just a few minutes away from hoppin' in Papa Smurf and hitting I95 for DMV.  No, not the Department of Motor Vehicles.

District of Columbia 
Maryland 
Virginia 

And I'm also extremely aware of how much I am a white girl. But there's something about listening to the Go-Go music knowing you're going up there.

Memorial Day Weekend will be spent with my Sister, Brother-in-law, and Daddy at Fed Ex Stadium to see Mr. Kenny Chesney and Eric Church.

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What? Yep. That's right, I can switch it on 'ya real quick. I'm just that versatile and amazing.
You probably didn't know this about me. Actually, you probably did. I've got a wide range of likes over here and I ain't afraid to let my crazy flag fly.

So, for #backthatazzup Friday, I'm giving you 2 awesome jams. You're welcome.
One for the DMV and one for country soul.  Either way I'm backing that thing up, beliedat!

Enjoy and link up with my girl Whit-naaay!

I really would like to take the time to say a special thanks to our military for all they do.  Without these brave men and women, we wouldn't be able to celebrate in the amazing country we live in.  I would also like to thank all of the family members who lost someone and know that somewhere someone is thinking of you and your sacrifice. Remember them all, not just today.

All gave some, but some gave all. 

God Bless America,

Ipsy May Glam Bag Vlog Review

It's Random Wednesday, and well how other random can it get when I set up to do this video with my coffee in arms reach I realized how much I look like an anchor woman.  Perhaps, a Kelly Ripa in the making?

Just kidding.

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So here ya go bishes. Enjoy :) 

P.S. Another random for you. 

I'm thinking about doing a special Q&A post soon. 

Thoughts? 

Monday, I really wanted you!

Mondays we usually hate, right? But today, that wasn't the case.  I enjoyed my last two weeks of amazing obviously.  Nappin', Netflixin', DCin', sippin', and just jumping off some docks with my main few.

And if you know me, I can't relax for long.  I'm so go go go! Today marked starting back to school for my summer semester. Although, for now it's just an online class...I was still ready to go! The weird thing about me is as much as I complain about being in over my head, having to study day in and day out, never catching a break, etc. In over my head is just where I want to be. I love school. I crave the structure and organization. It's the one thing in my life I, without a doubt, control.

I logged in and started doing all the first day stuff, printed my syllabus and started writing assignemnets in my planner, created a little organized binder week by week. Then, I click on my first assignment and...

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I tried every possible thing that I could do as a slight closet computer 'masterer'. Check configuration, change browsers, delete cookies and caches. I triiiiied, but I had to end up calling tech services on campus.  After I explained I did all of those said things you usually tell a woman when she calls about something not working, the phone call ended with "I'm going to have to put in a request for IT to take a look at this case, ma'am.." Oh thaaaaank you, young man!

This is probably a good time for me to step back and reflect for a Motivational Monday. Something is actually out of my control, school related.  It's probably important to remember this with everything too, not just school. 

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See the good in everything. 

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You can't control everything, Ashley.

Not even the alignment or placement of that text. 

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Priorities & Time Management 

even when things become out of your control

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When YOU can't change it, change how YOU look at it. 

Most importantly, 

remember what you love.