Simplify Your Life #3

I have another dose of simplicity for y'all! {see here and here}

Salsabol

Have you ever dipped a chip into a bowl and came up with one chunk of salsa on your chip?  Solution: the salsabol.  With a curved shaped to its rim, the salsabol is the perfect salsa and chip bowl.  The salsabol makes for optimal dipping, whether it is salsa or queso.

Watermelon Knife

I can attest to the fact that cutting a watermelon is not the easiest task.  I cut one up this past weekend.  I swear it is near impossible to cut one in a straight line and right in half.  The watermelon knife with its serrated blade cuts smoothly through my favorite summer fruit.  Thought, it is cut with is watermelon design, I believe I can find a cheaper serrated blade knife.

Does anyone else salt their watermelon like me? 

{someone gave me the weirdest look this past weekend at a cookout when I salted my watermelon}

Chalk Jar

Have you have ever looked at a tupperware container and wonder what was in it?  Chalk and chalkboards are having a renaissance of sorts.  Chalkboard calendars and chalk paint are popping up all over the place.  Why not take it to the fridge?  The chalk jar allows for easy labeling of leftovers and who's who's in the fridge.

Hope everyone had an amazing Memorial Day weekend!

Soulfully,

Ashton 

Happy Memorial Day!

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Happy Memorial Day!

Thank you to all that have served and continue to serve in our armed forces!

As many of us head out to soak up some sun either on the beach, boat, or by the pool.  As we spend the afternoon with family and friends and enjoy a delicious spread from the grill.  As we relax and kickoff the official start of Summer 2011.  Please take a moment to appreciate the simplicity of these things and know that these freedoms came at a high price.

I wish everyone of you a wonderful day spent with family and friends!

Soulfully,

Ashton

Friday Fancies: Carolina Girls

It's Friday!! Woot, Woot!! It's Memorial Day Weekend!!

I have been waiting for this weekend to get here since probably October!

Two of my favorite people will in Charleston in a few hours.  Being reunited with my Carolina Chi-Os is the best feeling.

Me, Kaley, and Diana

I have seen Kaley since October, but not Diana.  I got to celebrate with Kaley the night she got engaged in Charleston back in December and we rang in the new year together. {see here & here}  Diana moved back to Dallas in August last year.  She came to the Georgia and Alabama games.  We g-chat and talk on the phone at least every two weeks.  I have been friends with these girls since my freshman year of college.  I meet Diana our second day at Carolina.  We ran into each other throughout Recruitment week.  We were delighted to see each other outside the Chi-O house on pref night.  Kaley was there, too.  The three of us were fast friends.

This weekend will be pretty much the same as last weekend.  Lots of sun, fun, good friends, and plenty of laughs.  I don't hate it.  But isn't that what summer is for anyway?!

Tonight, we are going to Red's for a chill night and to listen to Homemade Wine.  The rest of the weekend will be spent either on the beach or on the boat.  Probably grill out at sometime.  I am just looking forward to be with "old friends."

If money was not an issue, this is what my Friday Fancies would be.  Head over to {Long Distance Loving} and tell {av} what you are fancying this Friday.  I know {av} is going to love this cobalt blue dress. ;-)

Amanda Uprichard Lindsay Dress

Hildas Hip Belt

Rolling Gems Ring

Hue Pop Wallet

Jack Rogers Navajo Mid-Wedge Gold

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Soulfully,

Ashton

title: General Johnson & The Chairman of the Board - Carolina Girls

Summer Essentials

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Since Memorial Day Weekend is the first official weekend of summer, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of my summer essentials.  More like my summer sun survival products.

I tan very easily and rarely burn.  I can be in the sun less than thirty minutes and will have tan lines.  This does not mean that I skimp on the sunscreen.  I use mostly Coppertone products.

It is nice to have a sunscreen specifically for your face.  It is less oily and doesn't cake on like other sunscreens.

Coppertone Sport is great for those sweaty days or just days when you might forget to reapply.

Speaking of reapplying.  You need to reapply every couple of hours for it to really work.

Even when trying to bronze, you need to wear something with a little SPF.  Believe the sun will get through.

If you do get too much sun and look like a human lobster, make sure you have a good after-sun lotion with aloe.  Aloe is a natural burn healer.  True Story: When I was 4, I put my whole palm on a hot iron.  My nanny luckily had an aloe plant.  She broke open one leaf and pour the pure aloe on my hand.  It prevented me from having any scars from the burn.  I like Banana Boat Aloe After-Sun lotion.

Being outside and in the sun as much as I am throughout the summer and the rest of the year, proper eyewear is a must.  I honestly cannot be outside without a pair of sunglasses.  I swear by my Costas (aka Frat goggles).  If you are going to be out and about on the water, I suggest you invest in a pair of polarized sunglasses.  Once you go polarized, you will never go back.  They are a little more expensive, but they are worth the money.  I promise!

I typically wear a hat when on the beach or on the boat just to shade my face.  I am not a huge fan of floppy hats.  I am more of a baseball hat wearer.  No one said it couldn't be cute.

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Happy Sunning!

Soulfully,

Ashton

Carolina Fan Fest

Last week, Elizabeth and I attended Carolina Fan Fest at the Joe.

We both were in Garnet & Black heaven!

Us with Cocky.

We got to meet the Ole' Ball Coach.  He signed by poster schedule for the upcoming season.

SEC East Championship Trophy

For those that want to know, there is less than 100 days until kickoff! =)

I got my signed copy of Gamecock Glory written by Travis Haney.  It tells the journey of the 2010 National Championship team and the inspirational tale of Baylor Teal.

National Championship Trophy

I wanted to go play in the Carolina themed jump castle so bad...

Afterwards, I got to meet up with one of my favorite blog friends, Cambron.  She and her boyfriend were in town visiting his family.  We met at the new Mellow Mushroom in Avondale West Ashley.  Her boyfriend was also meeting up with some friends that he went to high school with, so we had a fairly large group.  Half-way through dinner and drinks, her boyfriend looks over at us just chatting away and ask how we meet/knew each other?....awkward pause...

"Oh, we just met and we know each other through our blogs!!"

He was very taken back at the fact of two complete strangers meeting for dinner and chatting away like we have known each other for years.  Needless to say, it was wonderful meeting Cambron and her boyfriend.  They are coming back to Charleston for the 4th of July and we are already planning a second get together.

Soulfully,

Ashton

Movie Reviews

While I was home the other week, my mom and I saw Water for Elephants.  We both loved it.  I will admit that I shed a few tears.  I don't do well with cruelty of any kind.

First of all, I was so nice to see Robert Pattinson as a "normal" character and not pasty white.  Reese Witherspoon was stunning as usual.  She definitely captured the glamour of the 1920s and 1930s.  Being a history buff, I loved the time period.  As we were walking out, I told my mom that I wanted to go to the circus.  She said I am such a little kid.

Last night, Elizabeth and I saw Something Borrowed as part of our recovery from the weekend.

This movie was like watching my future self.  Favorite line of the movie: "You are not old, you are just a lawyer."  Is that what I have to look forward to? Gah!  True Life: Single, Thirty, and No Prospects.  Lets hope not.  I loved all the law school references and witty banter.

I wonder who my "Dex" will be?

I recommend y'all go see both movies, if you have not seen them.  If you have seen them, what are your thoughts?

Soulfully,

Ashton

Birthday Celebrations

After a weekend long birthday celebration, I have gotten some much needed rest today.  The themes for this weekend were sun, fun, and beer.  I love celebrating birthdays!

Round 1 - Lowcountry Boil dinner and a little Harbor Lites action for midnight birthday shots.  Yeah it is still fun to do midnight birthday shots even when you are not turning 21.

Best picture of the night...Jesse and I playing Connect Four at the bar.

Round 2 - Riverdogs game and karaoke at the Lites.

Birthday balloons and a surprise visit by the BF...awwww!

Is this Harbor Lites or Trio?

I, honestly, could not ask for better friends...

I love America!

Round 3 - Beach day followed by Margaronasss

Heather sporting her sweet Folly Beach birthday t-shirt I got her. 

Out later that evening.

Dancing Queen

Heather and Eddie had a wedding to attend on Saturday night so this missed out on Round 4 of the weekend.  Saturday was another beach day.

Two amusing photos from Saturday...

Oh hey small ceramic bird on the beach.  It is an inside joke of two my friends.  I turned around in my chair and this was staring at me.

One of the guys with us was easily entertained by feeding the seagulls.  Literally, he ran around with my bag of Chex mix and tossed pieces for them to catch.

Wonderful weekend filled with lots of friends and plenty of laughs.  I hope everyone else had great weekends and even got some sunshine.

Other big news from the weekend...

South Carolina clinched the SEC Championship on Saturday by defeating Alabama 3-2.  I am excited for another thrilling post-season of college baseball!

Adrian Morales and Matt Price after the final strikeout.

Post-game huddle.

photos courtesy of Gamecock Central.

Who is ready for Monday?...Yeah didn't think so!

Soulfully,

Ashton

Friday Fancies: Beach Day

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I will be beaching it up in just a few minutes.  Literally as soon as I finish this post, I am off to the beach with some of my favorite people.

This Friday Fancies will be short and sweet.  Head over to {Long Distance Loving} and tell {av} what you are dreaming of wearing this Friday.

Shoshanna High Tide Bikini Top

Shoshanna High Tide Bikini Bottom

Shoshanna Eyelet Floral Cover-Up

Striped Farmer's Market Tote

Havaianas Gold Flip Flops

Off to Round 3 of Heather's birthday!

Have a wonderful weekend ladies!

Soulfully,

Ashton

I Want To Go Fast!

Here it is ladies!  The long awaited NASCAR post.

I have been busy doing random things and getting my bronze on that I have not really had the time to sit down and blog.

I went to my first NASCAR race when I was probably in middle school, so 12ish we will say.  I have been to several since then.  I even went to the July Dayton race for part of my 16th birthday.  No shame.

Few things about races, everyone should know:

1. You need to pick a driver.  It will be boring otherwise.  You need someone to root for.  There are 43 drivers in a race.  So it is like having 43 different teams competing at the same time.

2. Don't be concerned with your attire.  Anything goes at a race.  You will see every creed, color, and lifestyle represented at the race.  We all went as "redneck" as possible, but when it got chilly halfway through the race we all pulled our our North Faces and Patagonias.  Everyone then knew we really didn't "belong."

3. You get to bring in a cooler.  So pack your beverages of choice and a sandwich for during the race.  NO need to spend money at the concession stand.

4. You must know who Dale Earnhardt, Sr. is.

5. Bring earplugs.

6. Lastly, come with a good attitude and be ready to have fun.

We left Charleston at 9:30 and got to Darlington at 11:30.  We got tailgate set-up {right beside a tractor trailer} and the festivities were underway.

America.

Brent, Elizabeth, and I

J. Spitz

We were trying to be "green," so Sara crushed all our cans.

Graham is ready for the race...scanner and all.

They handed out American flags to everyone.

Wardrobe change.  I had to rep my driver, Dale Jr.

Cars coming off Turn 1.

We all had a great time.  One of the girls that went with us had never been to a race before.  She loved it!  I wish I could have captured her facial expression the first time the cars went by at full speed.  Priceless.  If you have never been to a race, you need to go just to experience it.  Put it on your bucket list!

Soulfully,

Ashton