charlotte, nc.

charlotte, nc.

What do.... Joe & Joe, a mountain top, chocolate peanut butter cake and Charlotte, NC... have in common?
A birthday-reunion-weekend of course!

Joe's best bro-friend, Joe, turned 24. (Confusing, I know.)
So we ventured to the super adorable Charlotte town to celebrate in Joe's honor, hike a mountain top and (literally) race through town in time for frozen yogurt (insert fatty jokes).  We had so much fun that I didn't even bother to take any REAL pictures with my REAL camera.  iPhone pics, y'all.  Whoops.
'Twas lovely.  We love these two.

Crowder's Mountain and State Park

This girl can pack a mean picnic.

I can't stop laughing at this. BROMANCE, right here.

Cake for breakfast, dessert and snack? Okay.

The only thing I love more than a skim capp, is a pretty capp. ;)

Pretty church, sound truth.

And if you're wondering, you should totally visit Charlotte.  I think I may have fallen a bit for it's antique, "low country" charm. The South wins me over yet again!

golf cart chillin'.

golf cart chillin'.

Ever heard of The Villages, Florida? No? Well, feast your eyes on the below.  It's all the rage for retirement: Haagen-Daz, Palm Trees and the highest percentage of golfcarts on any given street at any given time. Ever.
And my grandparents now reside in this very place.

Dad and my sweet Meme (grandma) being cute.

Momma and her "favorite son-in-law".

They. Are. Everywhereeeee.

Oh, you didn't know he played? Well, he does. Just look at him....

Really busting out the Garth Brooks on the ol' ivory keys.

Jk, he can't play. Nor can he or I take ourselves seriously.

A sweet and sunny new abode.

YES, there is a surfboard AND a hula girl on/in this golfcart.

We'll be back Villages, even though you'll force us "under 30s" to swim in the family pool.  We'll be back indeed.

insta-lately.

insta-lately.

Love Day lovelyness.

From school...

From Mr. Blossom...

For Mr. Blossom...

For...myself? Whoops :)

Interested in the above Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe? Find it here.  Beware: easy but super, super rich.

Lesson I learned this week: Valentines Day is awful as a teacher.  Too many sweets, too much chocolate.  Too many jittery, sugared-up tiny people. It can certainly make a V-Day Scrooge outta you.

I hope your Love Day was Scrooge free and chocolate full. :)

25 years of love.

25 years of love.

You never have your camera at the exact moment you wish you did.
Murphy's Law, I guess.

Because, last Saturday this happened....
(and I was reminded why I have the cutest parents. Ever.)

25 years ago on Valentine's Day, my parents were married.
Years in between, Mom lost her wedding rings.
This past weekend, for their anniversary, Dad gave her a new one.
She cried, I cried (and screamed for Joey to grab the camera) and all was just lovely.
It was so cute watching my mom be so surprised and lovestruck.

Newlywed or 25 years in, love is still love.  And just as beautiful as ever.
Happy 25th to my sweet, sweet parents!

insta-lately happy list.

insta-lately happy list.

A PUNny note on a pile of hangers
Pretty sunlight on new shoes
A thoughtful husband who buys flowers
A lazy afternoon lunch with friends followed shortly by a yummy cappucino

How crucial it is to see the beauty in each day.
God gives so much and places so much beauty around me.  It's only when I breathe in deeply and actually notice His beauty that I can revel is how beautiful the everyday truly is.

And when I see this beauty, I'm less likely to snap a sassy comment to the overbearing bikers who holler "move to the left" on my running trail.  Because who knows, you might find yourself in a pleasant conversation with some so-called "bossy bikers" mere minutes later. (THAT HAPPENED.)

And when I see this beauty, I'm more apt to smile and laugh with a classroom full of hormonal preteens, to sing hymns at the top of my lungs and to really breathe in early morning Atlanta skyline.

vintage. awesome.

vintage. awesome.

There's something so lovely about this photo.

Do you think we look alike? That's my grandma. :)

These photos are of my sweet, lil grandma (Jacklyn) and her family in the 1950s.
Does it get much better than this?
Old cars and close friends.
Pencil skirts, flats and thick-rimmed glasses.

I just love it.

Here's to much simpler times. 

insta-lately

insta-lately

Happy Things.
Lovely Things.

1. Flying home to Georgia after a beautiful wedding.
2. Froyo date with my love. Enough said.
3. Finishing an entire pot of French Roast. Alone.  Hello, I'm Ashley and I have a problem.
4. Husband brings home surprise flowers for no reason at all. (Swoon.)
5. Could this Saturday morning breakfast be more beautiful? Nope.  Again, credit to Mr. B.
6. Rainy/cozy GA days.
7. I can buy my cousin's From Frank cards in Atlanta.  I mean, seriously, how many people have their own card line?  Go read them, you will giggle.

Happy February, y'all!
(Yep, I can say that. I live down south.  Nevermind that it's totally still awkward and unnatural.)

P.S. An update on the brown paper packages post from Christmas...
ALL neighbors replied with handwritten notes of thanks and small Christmas-y gifts.  How sweet, right?