A Weekend to Forget

Image: here

So this was probably the worst weekend I have ever experienced! It started out normal with brunch with some people on my floor and the Pitt basketball game. I should have known that everything would go downhill when Pitt lost the game. What started out as a stomachache quickly snowballed into what I can only assume was some very unforgiving food poisoning. I cannot say I have ever been that sick in my life! I spent all of Saturday night running back and forth between my bed and the bathroom and trying to keep at least some Gatorade down--that was pretty unsuccessful.

I think I finally fell asleep around 2 but kept waking up throughout the rest of the night. Sunday was a little bit better, but still no appetite for food. I also had a lovely time trying to study for an exam and write a speech both of which were today. I can say with confidence that I pretty much failed the exam...I failed it hard. As far as the speech goes, my professor was very understanding and agreed to let me deliver it on Wednesday instead so that I have more time to focus and prepare.

Luckily today I do feel a lot better than I did this weekend--just a little tired and still without much of an appetite. I am so happy that it's over and am so grateful for all of my friends on the floor who were constantly checking up on me and making sure I had food and drinks. Thank God for friends!

<3 Ashley

How was your weekend? Hopefully better than this!

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Just wanted to stop by today and drop you all a little love letter since it is Valentine's Day after all! From me to you, here is a loving reminder to love yourself and everyone in your life not only today but everyday after. I adore all of you more than you know; thank you for hanging out and chatting with me! Don't think I don't notice all you regulars. I've enjoyed getting to know you. Stay wonderful, kind and beautiful!

<3 Ashley

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lovely Ladies

 

Such a cute crew!

Happy Monday everyone! I'm not sure how much happier my Mondays are going to be between now and the end of April considering I have four classes from 11-8:30 with only enough time to eat between each one. But I reward myself on Tuesday when I only have one class at 2:30 and can sleep in!

For the first weekend back things were actually pretty tame (for me at least!) Saturday night my friends and I set up a girl's night out--a GNO, if you will--and left Oakland for dinner. As a college student I rely heavily on my meal plan, so dining out has become a rare and celebrated occasion. We decided to travel to our favorite restaurant in South Side Works, Claddagh. We went twice last year and made the promise to ourselves before break that we would definitely make the trip. The four of us always have such a great time talking, joking and poking fun at each other. We've even made plans to live together next year! I can't even express how grateful I am to have developed such a close and fun friendship with people when last year I didn't even know how I was going to make friends so far from home and the people I was already so comfortable with. So, shout-out to the lovely ladies who have agreed that I'm okay enough to be seen out in public with!

<3 Ashley

How was your weekend? Did you spend it with your friends? How do you do your GNOs? 

Weekend Wrap-Up: Friends and Family

Happy Monday everyone!

I apologize in advance for the silence that you will no doubt get from me sometime this week; it's finals week. Today and tomorrow is all studying and then Wednesday is when all the fun starts. I have two exams Wednesday, one Thursday, and two Friday. Sounds like a great time, right? Then on Saturday I get to go home for a long and lovely winter break.

Hands down my favorite room at Phipps. It's always decorated so beautifully.

Santa's workshop!

Steelers v. Dolphins. It was just a little chilly; note the snow.

This weekend was definitely the calm before the storm, and I really appreciate all the fun that I was able to have before buckling down. On Friday night, the ladies and I went to Phipps Conservatory and walked through all of their holiday lights and decorations (which were beautiful as always!) Then on Sunday, my dad came to Pittsburgh and we went to the Steelers game against the Dolphin...which the Steelers lost. It was an absolutely freezing game, and despite the outcome, a very fun one!

<3 Ashley

How was your weekend?

So Secret

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One of my favorite parts of the holidays is the inevitable Secret Santa. We are currently doing one on the floor--gift exchange is this Saturday! I know a lot of people get a little freaked out by it because there is a good chance that you will get someone that you don't know all that well. I think that's the fun part though! That means you can get a little more creative with the gift. Just take one thing you know about the person and go crazy with it!

This year is the first year I've had to shop for a guy, and while we talk and hang out a lot I can't say that I do know too much about him. I do know that he is a Philadelphia Eagles fan though and so with that little piece of information I have gone wild. Every part of this gift has something to do with football, has an Eagles logo or is simply the team colors. I don't think Secret Santa gifts are really the kind that need to be too heartfelt anyway; it's all about fun and surprise!

<3 Ashley

Are you and your friends doing a Secret Santa this year?

Weekend Wrap-Up: Homecoming

Happy Monday everybody! 

I'd say that this weekend was definitely a well deserved break that was used for both relaxation and productivity. I spent the last weekend of September surrounded by friends and fun. Friday night we went downtown for my friend's birthday dinner--we went to Cafe Milano instead of Burgatory like I said before--which was delicious! I will go ahead and recommend the baked ziti. It did take awhile for our food to get to us, but I imagine that was due to the fact that there was a festival/bridge party that night on the Roberto Clemente bridge and everyone and their mother was getting dinner at the same time as us. There was also some excitement for the huge rubber duck that is laying anchor in Pittsburgh for the next 3 weeks. Aside from that, the weekend was spent celebrating homecoming and our victory against University of Virginia!

Partying with Pittsburgh!

Couldn't resist a quick pic with the duck!

Homecoming laser and fireworks show!

Great seats for the game; and we won!

<3 Ashley

How did you spend your weekend?

Weekend Wrap-Up: Nineteen Candles

Good morning (or whatever time of day you are reading this) everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend full of fun and adventure or you at least got to put your feet up and relax. My birthday was on Saturday and I turned--the kind of pointless age--19. After work on Friday a couple of my friends took me to dinner and we had some great laughs and free dessert (for me at least!) On Saturday my family took me to lunch and then we started a weekend long Marvel movie marathon; we finished the marathon yesterday after my grandparents came by to deliver my birthday card. I had a lovely birthday weekend but it has come and gone and now it's back to work. Just five days and we'll be embarking on our--much deserved--beach vacation!

<3 Ashley

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

The Great Gatsby

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As I am sitting here texting a close friend about summer plans, another fantastic advertisement for the new Great Gatsby film (May 10) comes on the television. After a few excited texts we are committing to making this one of our mandatory date nights.

I can't even express my excitement over the release of this film. The book has been a favorite of mine for quite sometime (before it was required reading in 11th grade!) That made assigned reading even easier! That being said, I am also very excited to see Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel--what can I say...I like my superheroes. :)

How stoked are you to see this film? Have you read the book? Are there any other films you are excited to see this summer?

<3 Ashley