Black Friday Madness 2010

As November rolls around each year, I have so many things to look forward to. I have a birthday, and alot of my friends share birthdays around the same time. November gets started off with birthdays for Jessica and Timmy first then comes my own birthday, Brians follows and Heather wraps it up.

I also get to look forward to family thanksgiving dinners, and lastly I would say my third favorite day of the year BLACK FRIDAY!!

This year Black Friday came a little early for me. Jesse and I originally planned on getting a new T.V. on black Friday but because Jesse refused to get into the Black Friday Madness we took a trip Tuesday to Best Buy. We went in just to get a new T.V. but my husband ended up talking me into purchasing a 46" Sony TV, a playstation 3, and a wii :) which I love by the way!! He was too cute, like a little kid in a candy store.

After that we had wonderful family dinners which I always look forward to because I don't hardly see any of our family members except on occasions like these....however, in my opinion I think thanksgiving dinners should be different every year because the Turkey and Dressing gets really old really quick to me...but I guess everyone else enjoys it so it always stays the same!!

Just about every year we have the same game plan for black friday, but this year the sales switched times and we had to go about it a little different.
We started off leaving the house at 10:45PM, we arrived at wal-mart around 11:00PM. I really didn't find anything great except for some really cheap DVDS which worked out great for me since I just got my T.V. After we left there it was like 12:45 AM so we decided we would go to the Waffle House to kill some time before heading over to Belk.

The Waffle House was extremely crazy. I felt so sorry for those poor employers. There was only 3 waitresses and 1 cook and every seat in there got filled at about the same time. You could totally tell that The Waffle House hasn't had that much traffic since who knows when and those girls were running around like they was lost and didn't know where to go!!

So after we got out of there we headed over to Belk. I thought since Belk didn't open until 4AM then I could get a little power nap in before we had to get in line...however, I was wrong once again. We arrived at Belk around 1:30AM and there were people in chairs at the door wrapped in Blankets waiting in line. I told my mom that I was not getting out of the car and waiting 2 1/2 hrs. So we stayed in the car until around 2:30, then the line started backing up so I told everyone that we should just get out. It was soooo cold, and my mom forgot to bring her jacket. So me and my mom decided that we would get back in the car for a bit and Cheryl and my sister stayed in line. As soon as we got in the car it started raining. Right then I decided that I was not going to get the flu over no $5.00 gift card and I told her we should just stay in the car. So around 3:15AM it had stopped raining and my mother and I decided to get out of the car. The line had now filled up the inside of the door, came out the doors and went all the way down the sidewalk to the end near where the trash cans are.

As I got out of the car I could hear people yelling at each other about passing in line. Now let me remind you I am walking in the parking lot...not even near the line looking for my sister and Cheryl and this man looks at me and says "Ladies...the line is back there" I about flipped my lid on this old man. I looked at him and said "excuse me but I am not trying to pass in line...and I have been here since 1:30AM...do not tell me where the line is. It is a $5 giftcard and if it means that much to you I will give it to you."

I mean people like this is what ruins Black Friday for me. I mean come on people this is the start of the holidays. There is no since in being rude. It should be a glorious day of shopping and buying gifts for people but instead people act like there going to kill someone over something that usually is not really that good of a deal.

So anyways after being really annoyed...with no sleep included I continued to get in line and talk about how rude and stupid people are. To my surprise 4AM came around rather quickly and I got in the door and got my free gift card and it was for $25. SCORE!! I really wanted to go and find that old man and shove it in his face...but I took my card and started shopping around trying not to let that old man ruin my day.

Belk was like a mad house on crack. If you didn't know, everyone was after those $19.99 boots they had on sale and the shoe section was a mess. People were throwing shoe boxes. Shoes were laying all over the floor, you could not walk without hitting someone or knocking something in the floor. I mean really it was pure madness!! And I tried on those $19.99 boots and to be honest I would not have paid $5 for them. They were so crappy and I could tell that they were going to be REALLY REALLY uncomfortable. But I got a few gifts and since I got that $25 giftcard I treated myself to a new fossil wallet which I love!

So we left Belk around 6AM and headed on to the next place. The Gaffney Yellow Mall!! We arrived there around 7AM and there was like no one there! I went in to any store I wanted didn't have to wait in line hardly at all and found a few good things. I did not find a whole lot of stuff, but Gap had there fleece sweaters for $10, and Bath and Body Works had a few good things for like $2. I was however, so sad because A. American Eagle didn't really have anything worth buying, and B. Juicy Couture had an awesome sale of 30% off the whole store, and you got a free gift for purchasing over $100. But unfortunately I could not shop for myself like that so I had to pass on that awesome deal!!

We wrapped it up at the mall around 8:45AM and I had to go intervene at Starbucks and get some caffeine in my system. I mean I was starting to feel my eyes close as I was walking around and I had been up for pushing around the 26 hour mark. We ended the shopping trip by making a stop at The Jesus Shoe Store...and this store never disappoints. They had 15% off the whole store, but I had a coupon for 30% off my entire purchase so I used that. Girls were flocking over bins full of UGG Shoes, but as you know I just bought a pair so I wasn't interested. I did however find me a pair of Black Jessica Simpson flats for $17.49, and a pair of Nine West Flats for 13.99! (I know I am not supposed to shop for myself on Black Friday but I could not say NO to that).

After we wrapped up there I finally got home around 1:00 PM which made my time being up 29 hours. I was totally dysfunctional and could not keep up with anything including what day it was. I have not been up all night like that in a really long time.

So as Black Friday came to an end. I have decided that next year I will try maybe South Park, where JUST MAYBE people will act like they have got some since!! I really hated all the rude people, and I didn't really find anything to amazing to go back to the outlets next year.

So I hope everyone else had a blessed time on Black Friday and I can't wait to hear other Black Friday Madness stories from other people!!

Until Next Time,

Ash B :)

What are you thanful for??

So as Thanksgiving has quickly approached this year, the question that always remains is What are you thankful for?

I have to say God has blessed me so much in my life that I have Tons and Tons to be thankful for.

This year has been so BIG for me, I got married to the most wonderful man in the universe (most of the time) :) I have got the best family and friends that anyone could ask for. My Grandmother is strong and healthy, and I inherited the best two new sisters there could ever be!!

I have a great job working with my husband, and to be honest I never thought it would work out. But so far so good!

I don't have a great big mansion but I have a roof over my head, food in my cabinets, and a dependable car that gets me where I need to go. And God has blessed me with the best Dog Child I could have ever found, and I am so thankful that she is here with me today.

Now most importantly I am thankful for the life that God has given me. I am so glad that he does not judge or look at me for the things that I have done wrong but he looks at me with love and kindness just like he looks at everyone else :) 

So my wish for everyone on this Thanksgiving Holiday, is that everyone is truly thankful for what they have, their health, their life, and their happiness!! And as Christmas quickly approaches that everyone remembers the reason for the season!!

Love you guys,

Ash B

Pure Bliss

To start this blog off I want to say RIP to my Great Uncle George Lancaster. After battling separate cancers for over 7 years, he passed away early Sunday morning around 4:30 AM. I also would like to ask you to say a special prayer for his wife, my aunt Colleen, that she will find peace in this time of troubles.


Now on to a happier note. This weekend I got to do what everyone knows that I love, and that is going shopping.

My real birthday party was a day of shopping at the most wonderful place in the Carolinas South Park Mall Charlotte, NC. With my two favorite people, Whitney and Cheryl!!

Now I don't know about you other girls, but when I walk in a mall, everything that I am feeling at that moment is no where to be found. I can only think about all the pretty stores and windows, and all the gorgeous new stuff that is out and what is coming in for the new style of the current season. If I am stressed, sick, unhappy, troubled, or just in a bad mood, once I get through those doors it is all left behind for me to think about another day :) and once the purchases begin its just pure bliss and that is the only way I can describe it!!

So anyways, I didn't want Whitney to have to leave Asheville at the crack of dawn so we could get to Charlotte early so our first stop of the day was Lunch, and if you don't already know where we ate, it was The Cheesecake Factory!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Cheesecake Factory. I wish that there was one a little closer to where I could eat there way more than I do, but since its a good 1hr 1/2 away I only get to eat there about every 6 months or so.

Whitney and I had the Pasta Da Vinci, and Cheryl had The Chicken Alfredo!! The Pasta Da Vinci was delish, but I tried Cheryls Chicken Alfredo and OMG is not even the word for it. The Alfredo sauce was out of this world and it melted like butter in your mouth. I have never tried that there before and I will tell you next time I go that is def. what I will be ordering. I mean my Pasta Da Vinci was great but the Chicken Alfredo make it look like trash LOL!!

So on came dessert and I had my usual Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, Whitney had the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake, and Cheryl had The Ultimate Red velvet Cheesecake. The Godiva Chocolate is of course to die for, its rich chocolate is like rich greatness in a plate, The Chocolate Raspberry truffle was to my surprise a very pleasant surprise. I am not one for berries really, but after a taste of it I was like "wow, that is really good" but in reality what is not good there!! and last, The Ultimate Red Velvet, I have never had anything that has tasted as good as that one. I thought Godiva was the best thing on the cheesecake menu, but I was wrong...way wrong and The Ultimate Red Velvet was out of this world greatness :) Just thinking about it makes me want to go back ASAP!!! Like I said LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!


So on to my shopping experience I was there to really only buy one thing and that was my new pair of Uggs, I love UGGs, I have two other pair but they have got way past the wearing point and I was def. overdue a new pair. I tried on like 4 different styles but I went with these:

They are so comfortable, and warm!! I don't think I could ever survive the winter without them :) and I love the buttons on the side with the fur coming out of each one!!


But let me tell you...I just about scratched the Ugg idea for a pair of the most beautiful heels I have ever seen!! and if I could have found a pair in my size, the Uggs would have stayed and I would have been a proud owner of Sam Edelman's most brilliant shoe ever Lorrissa!!

They are to die for!! Extremely Bananas!! And the picture doesn't even do it the justice it deserves!! It is fashion beauty at its highest point!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! I was so sad that I couldn't find a pair to fit me :(

So then on to other great birthday presents I picked up a fantabulous bag at Aldo that I saw on Opra called Cyphert!!

and my new most favorite Item to wear at home is my new Victoria Secret PINK Bathrobe :)

I also picked up a few other things that were on Clearance, I got a to die for black dress at Urban Outfitters for $10, and a cute little tank from there for $4.99 I was thrilled for that one :) I was actually surprised at all the good deals I found. I didn't really think that anyone would have any sales since Black Friday is T-minus four days away, but I was completely wrong AE had their redlines an extra 30% off the marked down price and Gap had everything in the store 40% off. It was a really really really good day :)

After I got home I got to go to the tailend of our friend-family thanksgiving dinner and I got to hang out with the bestest of friends ever!!

So now its on to trying to get through the next two days with the funeral and all, and thanksgiving thursday!! And my second favorite time of the year BLACK FRIDAY!!! I already have my gameplan down for the day...and I hope if your reading this that you do to!!

Just in case:

If I don't get to blog before thursday I hope everyone has a Wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to thank god for everything that he has given you to be greatful for :) And of course ENJOY Black Friday!! Be safe and enjoy all of your purchases!!

Till next time,


Ash

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to!!

So, it feels like I haven't posted anything in a really long time; however, it really has only been like a week. I have so so so much to talk about.

First off on the agenda I finished Misguided Angel last week and OMG it was amazing. I have to admit it started off kind of slow but once you get through the first 100 pages it picked right up and I couldn't put it down.

Like I said before if you have not read any of the Blue Blood Novels it is a MUST on your book read list. They all are soo good, and the more they go on the more you want more LOL..

But I cannot understand something. Melissa just released Misguided Angel mid October. She will release the next book Bloody Valentine (which I cannot wait for) early December. Then the next book will not come out until like November 2011. Why would you do that to your readers. Two great books in less than 3 months and then a whole year until the next. I am kind of pissed off at whoever had that not so brilliant idea. Sorry I got off subject a little but I had to get that off my chest.

So done with that book and on to the next.

The next book I let my hand pick up is one I have read before but as the movie is less than 12 hrs. away from premiering I am giving it ago and reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

Now I have to admit I am not one for the  Fantasy books like The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and other similar Novels. But when I was in the sixth grade my teacher Mrs. Flack (which I could not stand by the way) made us read Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone as a class. I can remember thinking this is going to be the stupidest book but it ended up being the best book ever, and I have read all the others ever since. So that goes to prove once again Don't judge a book by its cover!!

The Harry Potter books always remind me of my teenage years and lets me escape to those years everytime I pick one of the books up. And did I mention that I am SUPER SUPER SUPER thrilled about the movie. I cannot wait. I have been waiting for this movie for a really really long time :)

So now on to the title of my blog. As we all know I celebrated my 25th birthday on Monday. I was totally dreading the whole 25 age thing and I have to say it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be until The Birthday Curse hit me once again :(

So now I am sure everyone reading this is like what??? Birthday Curse. There is no such thing but for the past 3 years now I have experienced it.

It all started 3 years ago I had this wonderful birthday dinner planned with my bestest Whitney. We were going to meet up and go to my fave Bonefish Grille to eat but Jesse and I decided to go to Gaffney to do some early bday shopping the night before.

Well we got to Gaffney, I bought a pair of shoes and all of a sudden I felt like I was hit with a TON of bricks. I barely made it to the truck and I was freezing and sweating at the same time. It was the longest ride home ever. I finally got home and for 12 hours straight I threw up non stop and ended up in the Emergency Room on my actual Birthday. Talk about a really good way to celebrate, I was sooo sad. Plus what was so funny was I got to the ER and they hooked me up to some morphine and I remember saying "Jesse I feel much better now, I think we are still going to be able to go tonight" and then as soon as I got home I started feeling like death again :(

So bad luck once...well not exactly!! The next year 1 week before my birthday I suffered 4 days of a urinary track infection that I thought would not let me make it to my 24th birthday, and then just as I thought I had missed the curse this year at 3AM tuesday morning I woke up with a fever and Chills, and had a sore throat with my butt on the couch for 2 days.

So yes. I believe that I have been cursed. It always happens. and here I am once again :)

But on to happier moments I had an absolute incredible birthday. I went out with some friends to Outback Sunday I had dinner with my family and then Jesse's mom made me dinner on my actual birthday, and the best is yet to come because Harry Potter movie tomorrow, and Saturday I am going to The Cheesecake Factory for some bday Cheesecake, and some much needed retail therapy thanks to my hubbys birthday present, at south park.

So I guess that is all for today. Until the next time...

Ashley B :)

It's All about the MUSIC!!

So everyone knows I love to shop, watch T.V., and hang out with my awesome friends and family. But what many people don't know about me is I love music. Especially Country Music.

I love to sing and dance around when no one is watching. So this blog is all about the music. All about new music. I have went out and bought Jamie Johnson "The Guitar Song, The Band Perry, and Jason Aldean's "My kinda Party. So I want to give you my review!!

So lets get started. I love the feeling when I go in a store and purchase a CD not knowing if I am going to Love it or Hate it, but either way every time I get all happy feeling when I start to rip open into a CD (which by the way they make them impossible to get into) and get it in my CD player ASAP!!

So first off lets start with the best of the best Jamie Johnson. This CD is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves Old Rebel Country as I like to call it. Its like putting a CD in and going back in time 20 years. You just feel the oldness of the music he is producing. The greatest part is that not only do you get one fabulous CD with purchase, but you get two!!

The album is split into two CDs, the first a black one and the second a white one. Now I have to admit the first few times I put both of these in and listened to it I thought the second album kicked butt!! But as time has went by the first album which is the black one has grown on me just as much as the second.

With songs like Macon, Thats why I write songs, Front Porch swing afternoon, and my Favorite of them all I remember you, and every other great song on this CD. It has a little of a unfair advantage when it comes to the black CD. But don't take that as its terrible because it has some great songs too like a cover of Playing the part, That's how I don't love you, and my fave Mental Revenge.

Like I said before this CD is surely not to disappoint anyone who loves country.


Now on to the next one; The Band Perry, now I have mentioned them in my blog in an earlier post and I was so disappointed when it was sold out. But I picked up a copy a few days later and I have to admit I was just a little disappointed with the outcome. I love The Band Perry and I think that the reason of why I am disappointed is because the best song on there is If I die young. I just personally hate when an artist releases their best song. In my opinion that makes all the other songs not compare to that one, and there is no point in listening to the rest.

Now don't get me wrong this is a good CD, but you can tell this is their first one and it has some of what I like to call corny songs that like to talk about eating ice cream cones, and going to the county fair and stuff like that. But along with that, they have great songs like If I die young, All your life, walk me down the middle, and Lasso.

So I would personally recommend downloading those songs to your i pod and forgetting about the rest of them!! 

Now on to my highly anticipated album that I have been waiting for forever is Jason Aldeans My kinda Party.

Not only is he great to look at he is fabulous to listen to as well. I am not going to get all excited and say its better than Jamie Johnson's CD, but it is his best one yet. And with songs like My Kinda Party, and Country Boy's World it throws me back into my college memories when it was all about bonfires, hot boys and muscadine wine. He has some great songs on the album that include Dirt Road Anthem, Church Pew or Bar Stool, Days Like These, and one of my faves Don't you wanna stay which is a duet with him and the one and only Kelly Clarkson!! So if your a fan of the New Country Era then this is the ticket for you!!

So there are my music pics of the day. Now I am going to have to go grab my hands on a copy of Taylor Swifts Speak Now and let you guys know how that is. Which my ENews is saying that Dear John is written to John Mayor it makes me want to go pick up a copy today :)

Until Next time...I'll see you when I see you!!

Family Pictures Excited...YES...Jen "NO"

So yesterday I wanted to do my first Family Picture since we have been married and include my precious little girl Jen!

I was totally excited until I woke up at 6AM with a massive migraine, and Jesse woke up throwing up because he decided to have a little to much to drink the night before (yes I am calling him out on this :) even though he denies this is the reason).

So we had to do pictures at 2:30 and we didn't even make it there until 3:00...we just had a time! Jen decided that while I went to eat at my grandmothers house for lunch that she was going to get a early start on rebeling the pictures by chewing up a yoo-hoo box on my couch that I left on the coffee table!! Thank God my cushions remove and I can wash them, but I wasn't happy to do that with all I had to do that day!

So I finally get myself ready, Jesse ready, and get Jen up and brushed out for the pics. I would have loved to put some cute little dress on her but then she would have been even worse that she was because she has an issue with clothes.

So we arrive late, and Jen gets pissed that we are taking pictures. She kept putting her head down, and would not even LOOK at the camera. Jesse would try to hold her and as soon as she heard the camera start going she would try to run away. Yes I know I have a very spoiled dog, and for those who are wondering why not give her a treat for being good...well she doesn't do anything for treats, that just makes her mad.

But with me having a Migraine, Jesse being sick, and Jen not exactly wanting to cooperate, we did get a few good pics:

Thank you Cheryl for being very patient with us being late, and Jen being a brat!! But what can I say...that is my family :)

The aftermath of P90X

Ok, so as I have said before November is going to be a great fun filled month for me. I have so many things that come into play this month and it all leads up to Christmas. Who isn't excited about that LOL!!

But in trying to get a head start on all the Holiday Festivities and all the great food, I told you that I was going to get a head start and start working out to prepare LOL!! Little did I know how intense I actually would be working.

Michael and Dawn have been doing P90X for about a month and asked us if we wanted to join in! I thought it was a great idea and OMG is ALL I have to say. To give you some background I have NEVER in my life worked out before. I have been used to eating what I want, when I want, and having no consequences. Now having said that, I may have not really gained any weight with that, but bless myself I can't walk down the drive way without panting like I'm going to have a heart attack. I am SOO OUT OF SHAPE! So I thought this little exercise video was just the key.

Well just let me tell you P90X is no little exercise video. It is very extreme and I have only got through day 2!

So what is P90X exactly??? It is a set of DVDs that you are supposed to do everyday for 90 days and getting ripped up like nobody's business is supposed to be the out come. But on another hand I don't know who in their right mind could even do it everyday. But like I said I have never worked out before so I am only going to do it 3 days a week...I mean its motto is "do your best and forget the rest" right. So 3 days a week is my best LOL!!

So on day 1 we started out with the Chest, Back and Ab Ripper. This video wasn't really bad...it was no piece of cake by no means but it was just a whole bunch of push-ups, and pull ups. Now I don't have a pull up bar so I substituted the pull ups for push ups which is probably why I didn't think it was so bad.

Now on to Day 2. The Day 2 Video was called Plyometrics. Now I didn't even know what that meant, and really I wish I would have never figured it out, because it was the hardest thing ever. Its a total Leg work out and its a bunch of Jumping, and crouching up and down. Plus you hardly get breaks and they are only 30 seconds.

It started out on this video and I was like oh I'm going to like this I can jump up and down and hold my legs in place and this will be a piece of cake...UM NO!!! 30 minutes in I was ready to be done. I couldn't breathe, I felt like my heart was going to pop out of my chest. It was VERY painful, and by then end I could barely jump 2 inches off the ground LOL!!! But I did finish the hour and I am very proud of myself for doing that!

I tried finding some pics of the videos so you could see some of the moves that you have to do:

The Yoga Part

This is a very painful exercise but I have to say I have enjoyed doing it. Even though my body feels like its about to shut down LOL!!! I will keep you guys posted on how the rest of the videos go.

The Epic Events of the Halloween 2010 in Cane Creek!!

So after concluding my most favorite time of the year, I have plenty of stories and wonderful pictures to share!

Friday night we kicked the Halloween Festivities off with going to eat dinner at Mi Publitos in Rutherfordton, had a small bonfire and ended the night with watching some of the famous scary movies for Halloween...Halloween, Halloween H20, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Fun Fun Fun times :)

Then Saturday we got in full crazy mode (or should I say I) running around town getting last minute Halloween Candy for trick or treaters, stuff for the party, and trying to find Jesse a LAST minute costume because he failed to get one (what a man for you LOL)

I went and helped Cheryl a little bit, went to my grandmothers house to give her her treat bag, went back to my house and had the 3 most precious little babies come visit me and get their trick or treat candy. (Sorry my camera batteries were dead and sadly no pics of the best dressed trick or treaters of the year).

Then it was off to party hardy with the bestest of friends!

The Girls Halloween 2010

We had great costumes from a pregnant pumkin, a bumble bee, a devil, Miss Duncans Creek, a Peacock, a Jason, a little person on a horse and many more.

We sit around a bonfire and ate some good food, socialized and had a wonderful time.

I had thought about going out to a party like the grave diggers ball but I am so glad that I didn't because I had the best time with the best people. There was no obnoxious drunk strangers, no one was spilling beer on anyone, and there was no loud music where I couldn't hear myself think little alone talk to someone.

Here are some more pics from the party:

My family

Trina

Heather, Adrienne, and Miss brooklyn

Voted best Girl Costume :)

Cheryl (Miss Duncans Creek), and myself

Me, Heather, and Cheryl

Me & my Honey Bun :)

The Guys

Charlie

Voted Best Guys Costume

Trina & Dawn

Devin & Tracie

Cheryls great center piece

All the yummy food :)

Girls acting crazy

Heather

Justin

Mike & Dawn

It was freezing!!

I was up until 4 AM...can't say I have done that in a LONG LONG time but it was so much fun!!

And to end the wonderful weekend I decided to spend the actual Halloween Holiday and I watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show...and all I can say is OMG...I have never watched it and when Glee did their episode I decided I would watch the real thing. So it started and I was like what kind of weird stuff is this. I could not believe my eyes. Especially knowing that the movie was made in 1975, I cannot imagine what viewers were thinking back then. So after Dr. Furter seduced both Brad and Janet...I cut it off. I just couldn't finish it!! It was a little TOO crazy for me! So then I ended my night by having friends over for dinner and going to bed at like 9:00PM.

So now let the end of year festivities begin :) It is officially November and I have tons of stuff to look forward to starting off with my butt is getting in gear and Jesse and I will be starting P90X tonight with friends to get a head start getting in shape for the new year, my birthday is this month, thanksgiving and my ABSOLUTE fave day of the year BLACK FRIDAY!!!! Cannot wait so many exciting plans for the month :)