Working On the Website With DailyLook: The Little Black Dress

     Sometimes the most interesting things happen. Today, I received an email from DailyLook to create a Spring look using the classic Little Black Dress (LBD for short).
     As you know, I like to keep my looks classic and elegant. I just love dressing up for fun! Call me crazy, but whatever, I like it. Since Spring is "here", but then again not really here, I thought it would be fun to glide it with some pastels. Add some color, but keep it light enough that it still fits with the current weather patterns. Here in Utah, you can almost expect just about anything at a moments notice. For example, it's April yet that doesn't matter, it decided to snow this morning...SNOW!

     So, if you must walk out in a dress to give yourself a nice layer with this pink trench coat and give your look that statement with some silver heels! Let's be adventurous! Black heels with your LBD are so last season, jazz it up a little bit. Love me so silver heels. And of course, pair it up with some matching jewelry, but don't let it over shout your dress and heels. Now, you need something to carry around those essentials, so I paired it with a matching pink clutch, or you could even go neutral with a beige or black clutch. I love pink, so I thought it looked very nice and dressy. What do you think? Too much? Too little?

Easy Pastel Spring with the LBD with BLESS'ED ARE THE MEEK ARCHWAY, DailyLook

My five for the day of course include:

1. Creating a look with LBD for DailyLook

2. Getting inspiration for my own Spring wardrobe

3. Only a week and a half of school left!

4. Oreos are my favorite cookie

5. Can't wait to play with my shadows to see what awesome Spring look I can create this weekend!

Happy Thursday!

Jessica Ashley

My Website Is Up! Also, Something Strange About Carmina Burana...

     Well, I did it! The 100 day challenge has started and my blog site is up! On there you will find everything from updates that have anything and everything to do with makeup and fashion. Yes, I decided it would double as a fashion blog since I can't get enough of that already. Heehee. Gah!! I'm so excited that I'm actually do this. It's going to be so fun y'all!

     Ok, ok. I'll take a breather. I just can't wait to see how much fun this is going to be. :) My twin sister told me our younger sister wants to do a photoshoot this weekend and she mentioned the word colorful. So, naturally she comes to me since I'm the one with colors galour of eyeshadows. She's basically stolen my entire collection until we can regather this weekend.
     If I'm not mistaken, she's going to let me help her with this look she's working on and she even agreed to put on some fancy falsies for it!! This is so fun! Can't wait to post about it.

Here is my new website!: http://makeupfanaticme.wix.com/makeupfanaticme

     Guess what's weird? I actually quite enjoyed my music class today. Why? Because we spent basically the entire time talking about Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana". You know the song I'm talking about, just google it and give it a listen. You'll want to give yourself a palm to the face for being so silly for having not recognized it right off the bat. Not only did we listen to the piece today in class, but we also listened to a fair share of covers made off of it. Including some silly dude who thought he could pull off a cover of this amazing piece on the banjo...right. No.
     I was also shocked to learn what this piece was all about. When my professor said that the best group to ever perform this would be The Mormon Tabernacle Choir I thought, "Yes!" but then he said we could only dream. As if they would ever do a piece like that. Why, you make ask? Because apparently this piece is all about fate, alcohol and sex. What?? I immediately became slightly embarrassed for my own participation in the performance of this piece a few years ago my freshman year in college. Why does it have to be about that?? It sounds so cool!! Oh well, it sounds awesome, and we all had a good laugh in class. Haha.

My five for the day:

1. The sun is out today!

2. My hair only took me about two minutes to do this morning AND its down today

3. Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" is officially my favorite piece now

4. There were doughnuts in the office today

5. I would LOVE to do a video of my own crazy color look!

It's halfway through the week, we're almost there!

Jessica Ashley

The 100 Day Challenge Is Here...Tomorrow!

     I will ease your minds by telling you now that I did NOT conveniently title this post as to what it is, because I'm procrastinating my challenge another day. It simply will not begin until April 1, 2015. You may all breathe a sigh of relief. You're Welcome. As to WHAT my challenge will be, well there are just SO MANY things I could do, it's still kind of in the air.

     I do need to try and make it something in which I could work on while in the hospital for two weeks. Yeah, remember that surgery that's about to happen? Right. So, it can't really be "go running two miles every morning". If it something I can work on, conveniently holding it in my lap, whether that be a laptop or a book that would be nice. I already want to knock off some really good books this summer, so I thought I'd put that aside, as it's something I've done before and I want to explore something new.

     So... I thought I might venture into the unknown. What something I haven't done before? Well, I kind of miss working on my beauty blog and making videos, why not try to expand on that? Hey, I even thought I might make a website to put all my photos, videos, and blog links on. Whoopee!! I'm bouncing in my seat as I'm writing this. I can't want to start it up again! We'll see if this blog suffers because of it, I hope not. Haha.
   

      What do you think of my intended challenge? I'm excited and guess that's what's important, right? If you're motivated to do it that's good, right?

My five for the day:

1. There's only two weeks of school left!!!

2. It's NOT forecast to snow on Thursday anymore!

3. A toasted bagel with butter for breakfast is actually very yummy

4. I can't wait to start my 100 day challenge!

5. Being motivated for something makes me feel good

Do you think my enthusiasm is too much? Ha. Well, I don't care, this is going to be awesome!

Cheers to a good week! :)

Jessica Ashley

Pedestrians Are People Too, Drive Safely Please

     Interesting thing happened today. I finally ventured onto YouTube to view the video #WheresJenny2015. That hashtag has been written all over the sidewalks I take on my way up to campus for weeks now. So, I thought I'd finally see what it was all about. It seems a few BYU students took it into their hands to make a sort of public service announcement of some sort.
     It's all about this girl named Jenny that leaves her apartment in the morning, but for some reason isn't seen all day anywhere. She even misses a hot date! Finally at the end of the video you find out why. I won't spoil it for you, you can relieve your suspense by your own powers of choice and agency.

Here, I'll make it easy for you, check it out:

     I am a strong advocate of driver awareness and safety myself as I have my own personal, unfortunate experience. That's another story you may or may not have already heard. 

    A couple years ago I was walking home from work, it was at the beginning of summer, so still pretty light outside even at later hours. It was raining lightly, and I was wearing pretty bright colors. Teal, orange, white and carrying an open neon pink umbrella. When I came to the last street to cross, I looked both ways TWICE and saw no cars so I began crossing. Next thing I know, I'm waking up on the street with a policeman over me telling me not to get up or move, there's an ambulance coming. What?? I don't know where that car came from or what she was doing. From her alibi statement she said she only HEARD something, and only realized she'd ran over someone when she looked in her rearview mirror. If you have to look in your rearview mirror to realize that you just ran over a human being, there is a problem with your driving.

     Needless to say, it's a miracle I'm as alive and well as I am and that I healed as well as I did. 

     In short, be aware and be careful. You are NOT king of the road (as you think you are) just because you are in a two-ton hunk of junk.

On a HAPPIER note, my five for the day:

1. My class was cancelled today!

2. I ate an entire sandwich for my lunch, which is weird.

3. Pesto pizza is the BEST and I could eat an entire pizza myself (I'm sure...)

4. Only two more weeks of school!

5. I'm excited to be able to start my summer reading list.

Happy Monday!

Jessica Ashley

Talking To My Younger Self. Keep Going!

     You know how to tell one of the ways you're not so bad at life as you think you are? You're different from the person you were a year ago! Which if you are in fact different this probably means you've gone through some changes. Whether they were hard or easy, sad or exciting they were changes nonetheless. You might have a few scars or bruises that came from it all, but hey, you're still alive, which says something about your strength. Right? That's right. You're stronger than you think you are.

     Take me for example, a year ago I decided I didn't want to be a Psych major anymore (I know, weird...), so I went looking for something that would let me use my creative juices a little more and for something that didn't have so much pressure put on Grad school. First step, I went into the career center and took an aptitude test. After a couple strenuous semesters, some hard work and disappointment I've been accepted into the journalism emphasis in The School of Communications! I'll tell you this, I didn't see that one coming. Cool though, right?
     You know what else happened? I decided to see where I could take my makeup skills and I enrolled in an online makeup course over the summer and got certified! I've been more focused on my academic schooling for the most part, so there hasn't been much going on in that department for awhile, but soon. :) So there's more proof I'm growing. A year ago, I wasn't certified in anything! Wow!

You can look at my progress and success here: makeupfanaticme.blogspot.com

     Oh, how about this. I spent that last part of my Christmas break in the hospital hooked up to a machine for a few days. electroencephalogram. Try saying that three times fast...Ha. You just tried it, didn't you? What for? All in preparation for a nice big surgery. Yeah, I know it's the funnest thing in the world, but sometimes that's what happens.

Yup, they call it an EEG for short, or an

     Wow, so let me see that's a new major, makeup artist certification, and brain surgery prep all from just ONE year?? Believe it or not, yes.

     So, if you can name of one or two things that have changed who you are from the past year, then you're not a failure. You're a perfect success!! Keep that chin up and keep the goals on the board, because you're not finished yet! You can do it! 












So, five for the day...

1. Funny, I'm pretty sure the future of dating rest in the hands of women. Yup, we're the ones who will be doing the majority of asking now. Booyah!

2. Chocolate is the best thing ever!

3. I've got three of my four classes registered for the Fall. Only one more, hope it works out.

4. I'm beginning a list of books I want to read this summer, and it's just exciting. Any ideas?

5. The sun is out today AND it's my younger sister's birthday! Shout out to Madeline, she's turning 20 today! She's an awesome writer, check it out! mynameismadeleine.blogspot.com

Loves,

Jessica Ashley

Okay, I Need a Distraction. The 100 Day Challenge!

     The realization that the semester will be over in three weeks just isn't good enough anymore. Gripping onto that hope isn't working. I need a distraction now. I did try to pour myself into all my homework and assignments and just cruise through that, but I'm still antsy. My cranium needs the stress relief sooner rather than later. A movie? A new dinner recipe doused in bacon? What should it be?

     I can't do anything by myself, that just no fun. I'm one of those strange people that can't really have fun all by themselves, I need company. I need actual, real people that respond to things I say, and give me something to react to. But stress is not one of those things I can just get rid of all by myself.
     I'm good at giving myself things to do, but that is just busy work, not necessarily stress relief. Thus, why the homework idea didn't work. Oh! How about this? The 100 day challenge!
     Really how it works is you pick something you want to work on, a habit you want to break, or a new hobby you want to get into, or something you want to learn (playing the guitar, speak Spanish) and you spent at least 30 minutes on it each day for the next 100 days. If you are consistent then by the end of the 100 days you should discover that you broke the habit, mastered the hobby, or whatever it is you set out to do. Even doing half-hour of community service a day! Anything you want to do, you name it, set out to do it. To make it easy to track, the challenge can start at the beginning of the next month (in this case April 1st), and really you basically work on your challenge every day for the next three months. How about it? I want to try it. :)

My five of the day:

1. I find it hilarious that even in college you find people passing notes, just like in middle school. Hey, you don't ALWAYS have that person's cellphone number.

2. I love bacon, it's my favorite.

3. Goldfish crackers are a wonderful munching snack

4. I'm really excited for the 100 day challenge. I think I will either practice more guitar or pick up Spanish!

5. The sun came out today!

Here's to a wonderful week!

Jessica Ashley

A Bad Dream and a Frosty Morning, But Nothing Girl Scout Samoas Can't Fix

     Ever had one of those nights when your sleep cycle is working just fine, except you don't really appreciate the dreams you're having so when you wake up you kind of feel like you got no sleep at all? Yeah...last night was one of those nights. Besides the bad dream, sleep was grand, but then not so grand at the same time. BUT nothing Girl Scout cookies won't fix right? Wait, correction, chocolate. Am I right? Whether that be ice cream, or brownies, or your favorite candy bar, chocolate can really boast your day. :)

     A strange thing happened this morning. You know how it's been really nice mornings for about the past week? Well, I didn't check the forecast before I stepped outside today. I just picked out what I felt like wearing (no, I do NOT stand in front of my closet for 20 minutes deciding) and I proceeded to get myself ready for the day. I even went as far as to take some extra time to straighten my hair. I almost never do that anymore.
     After eating breakfast, and brushing my teeth, I opened the door with keys in hand to lock it after myself, I gaze around the neighborhood before me to realize there is frost on every single car and I can see my breath! Weird! Of course like every other girl out there, okay maybe not every girl but a majority, I keep in mind the thought that it will get warm later in the day and do my best to ignore the cold temperature, and continue my hike up to campus without a coat. It worked! My fingers were a little tingly by the time I got to the top of the stairs, but I still have all ten, AND it is in fact warmer outside now. Hallelujah!

     I finally broke open my box of Girl Scout Samoa cookies last night. Good thing I did, because it wasn't the best night ever. I'll save you the drama, but thank goodness my twin sister was there for me AND to help me share the cookies. Otherwise I might, no, I KNOW I will eat them all myself.
     That girl is such a busy bee with her senior project, yet she took an evening to be there for me and be my little coach! Thanks sis, it means a lot. :)

Hmmm...so my five of the day.

1. I CAN, in fact, walk to campus in 38 degree weather without a jacket.

2. Girl Scout Samoa cookies are the best

3. Twin sisters always have your back, even when you don't know it. :)

4. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has some of the BEST experiences to help you understand life's lessons. Always a good encouragement.

5. Writing really does make me feel a little better. :)

Cheers,

Jessica Parcell

Some Warm Weather With No Sun

     You know what's weird about today? I walked out of my apartment this morning at 8:30am, the sun was not out, BUT it was really nice weather! It was that kind of cool that doesn't freeze your limbs off, but you can tell the morning is still fresh. It was obvious by the dew droplets on car windows and wet stains on the sidewalk that it had rained a little the night before. What a lovely way to walk to class. :)

     I got my favorite bagel for breakfast this morning, you won't believe it, but it really is tasty. Spinach Parmesan, and with Philadelphia original cream cheese it's delicious! Just warm it up for about eight seconds (yes, just eight) and it's the best. My tummy was happy. :) Don't you just love it when you have a fulfilling breakfast, and you feel ready to conquer the world. An amazing feeling, let me tell you.
     As I emerged from the basement of JFSB it was sprinkling, but not pouring, which is a blessing, because I forgot (or rather chose not to) bring an umbrella with me to campus. Strangely, I didn't count on it raining even though there were clouds everywhere. Ha. Silly me.

     Guess what I remembered to do? I FINALLY bought my own box of Girl Scout cookies! Yep, the best ones, Samoa. I understand your opinion may differ from mine, but the perfect combination of cookie, caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut is delicious. Funny though, I haven't opened my precious box yet. Haha. Don't worry, I'll dig into them tonight. For sure. :)

     Oh, guess what else happened? So, whenever we let Henry's, my baby brother, hair grow out it gets REALLY curly. In fact, he quite enjoys it. He'll sit there on the couch twirling it while he drinks his bottle. Alas, my mom decided he was beginning to look more like a girl instead of a boy. So, out came the shears. First, she tried cutting his hair with some traditional scissor shears, but he wouldn't stay still enough, so she switched to "electric" shears.
     Of course, I was a little nervous. I kept thinking, "Just wait 'til dad gets home and let him do it." But, she persevered and came out on top. She left the top hair of his head a little longer so he still has something to twirl. A nice little "swoop" in front.

After, we gave him a bath to wash off all the yucky hair bits all over his back and arms, which he kept getting in his mouth...

Isn't my sister a wonderful photographer?

credits to mynameismadeleine.blogspot.com

My good five for the day are...

1. Girl Scout Samoa cookies are AMAZING!

2. My baby brother's new hair cut is SO perfect

3. Spinach Parmesan bagels are the best

4. A fresh rain morning is the best way to start your day

5. Home-cooked meals beat ANY food from any gourmet restaurant. At least with my mom's cooking.


Have a good week!

Jessica Ashley

Happy Hump Day!

     Let´s see, so...I went bowling again last night. Ha. Yes, I went on a double date on a TUESDAY! Weird, I know, but I need the distraction. School is stressful, and obnoxious, and almost over for the semester! Yay!!!
     Guess what's weirder though, I actually was pretty good. Even got a few strikes. Ha, no way! Yes, way...look at me, oh yes. We all decided to make bets and wage if we won. Our winner's wage was the losers had to eat a tablespoon of cinnamon...BUT then we played for all or nothing, and someone else won. so, then we were all assumed safe, but one of us, for some reason unknown to me, STILL  wanted, HE WANTED to eat the cinnamon. So we hobbled back to my dwellings and I handed him a tablespoon of cinnamon and we got the video camera ready.
     Immediately upon placing the spice inside his mouth he spoke with puffs of cinnamon, "This is awful." Haha, and it continued in this manner, with moans and groans of suffering until he had swallowed it all. Of course, he insisted upon the need for a glass of water, and swore he'd never do that again! It wasn't so much the burn of it that hurt, but how dry his mouth went right after the pile of spice made contact with his tongue. The poor thing...he asked for it though. Literally. Though, it was still very entertaining.

     For the second time this week I have been able to walk out my front door WITHOUT a coat! The day is so nice and sunny, and warm! It's grand. I'm so excited for Spring, and of course for my next Stitch Fix box. I wonder what will be inside!
      I love shopping, I really do, I just don't seem to have time for it, and when I do I don't know what I want to look for. I mean, the most organized thought in my head is: "Something cute that I would wear". Not very organize and concrete, is it? So, I turned to Stitch Fix, and so far, I really like it. Girls, try it out, I think you'd love it. For those of you who are stuck with the same conundrum. Pictures this time around, I promise. :)

My five of the day...

1. Sunshine is lovely and gives me so much more energy! I don't understand you people from Oregon who don't appreciate it as much as I do.

2. Reese's Peanut Butter Oreo's are actually really tasty. Though I still prefer the original oreo any day.

3. Whenever your teacher inserts a video in with the lecture it makes the hour so much more bearable. Love it!

4. Bowling is more fun when you keep practicing

5. Food is amazing. Don't take it for granted.

Happy Hump Day! Friday is almost here!

Cheers,

Jessica Ashley


   
   

I Made a March Madness Bracket!

    You won't believe it, but I made a bracket. I never do that, this is the first time I've ever been motivated in any kind of fashion to do such thing. It's weird, because for the most part, I'm not into the whole basketball season. Football in the Fall is more what I pay attention to in sports if anything at all besides my homework projects. Ha.

     I don't know, my uncle just sent me the link to the website for a family group. We're all in competition against each other apparently. Every man/woman for him/herself! But now I must know, what's the prize? Really. If you're going so far as to make a family competition, there's got to be some loot of some kind for someone to collect in the end. Right?...

Until I know the end results it's enjoying the Spring weather and  updating my wardrobe with my Stitch Fix box pieces. My next one is coming in a couple weeks! Yay!

Here is my list of five for the day!

1. The weather is SO nice outside today! It's supposed to get up to 73 degrees today!

2. I LOVE it when I only have one class out of three to go to. Two of my classes were cancelled today!

3. Writing is really fun, I love it when the words just flow right off my fingertips. :)

4. I watched "The Sandlot" last night. One of the funniest movies I've ever seen.

5. Only four weeks left in the semester!

Heres to another great week!

Cheers!

Jessica Parcell

Happy Pi Day!! Bowling's Not My Sport. I Learned How to Throw a Punch and a Few Kicks

     Happy Pi Day! Yes, it is Pi day. No, I don't mean pie pie, even though I actually, kind of, really do mean pie pie, but I mean pi as in the number pi. You know, 3.14...whatever. It happens every year except this year is particular is really special. Yup. March 14, 2015, because guess what the next two numbers of pi are? That's right, you guessed it. 15! It's a big deal all over facebook, go take a look, if you care. Ha.
     OR you could take the easier route and switch "pi" for "piE" and stuff your face with your favorite evening-time dessert, or have pie for dinner (yes, pizza is a pie too).

     You know something I've noticed? Bowling's not my sport. It's quite hilarious actually, and yet I still participate. Ha. Today, I got to go bowling with some people from work, and the Elder's Quorum President from one of my coworker's ward's. He calls himself Ritzpapy. Apparently, one of his cousins gave him that nickname as a kid, and it stuck. Something else too, he's a bowling king. He denies it, but he slaughtered everyone...strike...strike...you know what I'm going to say.
     I've been bowling a total of three times in my life. Three. So, you can imagine how easy it is to laugh at myself, and my score, as I "roll" the ball down the lane. Quite entertaining. Can't tell you how many gutterballs I got. BUT hey, I had fun anyway, and there was pizza pie. :)

    Want to know what else I did today? I took a self-defense class (you're welcome, Mom). Well activity, it was an activity the girls in my ward put together. It was cool. It felt kind of silly at the beginning, making guterol noises matched with a kick or a punch in the air, in a completely harmless environment. BUT I learned to do some neat things that I hope I will never have to actually use, because that would mean I actually found myself in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. Nice to know them though, just in case.

Boys, you have been warned.

Did you know that yelling "Fire!" is more likely to get you the attention you need in the event of an attack than "Help!"? Yeah, neither did I, but good to know.

So, my list of five:

1. It was SUPER warm outside today! It was lovely!

2. I got some homework done today. There really is benefit in making a to-do list and prioritizing it correctly.

3. There is a certain kind of gratification I feel in being able to deliver a punch with effective force.

4. My sister's blog posts are HILARIOUSLY entertaining to read. Make me laugh every time. :) (mynameismadeleine.blogspot.com)

5. After an afternoon of homework, it's nice to get myself ready for the day, even if I'm not really doing anything. I just like looking pretty.

Overall, it was a good day.

Cheers

Jessica Ashley

Day #7: School Papers and Poorly Misunderstood Friendliness

     While all my other friends at neighboring schools, university level or not, are off to Spring Break, I am nestling down and tackling about six different school papers I need to write. Fun right? Haha. All semester long, you think you got it, you're pretty organized, haven't missed an assignment, and then you look back at your calendar and realize that there are all these dates you didn't look at. Oh...oh! That means I've got two due at the beginning of next week! Okay...guess I better get to work...oops. Oh well, I'll get it done. No biggie. I like writing anyway, can you tell?

     My latest adventure has been one that concerns misunderstood social interaction. Ever have that problem where someone thinks you're totally into them, and trying to flirt when really all you meant is you're trying to be friendly? Ha. Story of my life...now, how to fix that. Right, still haven't figured that one out, because it keeps happening! Obviously... Anyone got any bright ideas?
     Until then, this person continues to text me with messages SATURATED in winky faces and smilely faces; which either means they're trying to make sure I understand their sarcasm, OR they are WAY overdoing it on the flirtation. Which is strange, because I never text with any of the kind. Yet, the hint is never picked up...Hmmm...

     Well, until then...here is my list of five for the day.

1. The sun came out today.

2. The TA in my music class today actually made sense! :)

3. Playing pranks on my fellow coworkers is actually quite enjoyable

4. Friendly students you don't know that talk to you on your walk to campus are a nice "Pick-me-up" to the start of your day

5. Spring is almost here!

Happy Adventures!

Jessica Ashley

Day #6: Doctor's Appointments and Baby Brothers

     It is day six on my quest to be "complaint-free" and today has been pretty good. For the first time this week I got to get up at 7:45am, and go to my 9 o'clock class. Which was actually quite nice. We talked all about Elder Richard G. Scott and his focus on trusting in the Lord. Isn't it so true? I can't do everything by myself, what better person to trust?
     Of course, my teacher had to bring up how much emphasis he places on expressions of love, and how his wife is brought up in basically every, single one of his talks. Really sweet honestly. :)

     After that I went and sat in the Benson building for the next hour 'til it was time to leave for my doctor's appointment. Yes, I was catching up on class reading. Ah, Greek literature, so thrilling. Today, I was privileged to be reading Herodotus and Thucydides, both of which are actually Greek historians, no poets. Ha. With how many times they brought up the Trojan War and Helen of Troy, and Priam, they didn't really sound like credible historians to me. But hey, I'm not they expert. I was simply doing my best not to fall asleep while doing my reading. That seemed like quite the challenge today for some reason. I literally felt like I had accidentally swallowed a Benedryl with my morning medication dose, or even worse, some Adavan (which, by the way, has the simple purpose of "shutting things down" just so you know).

    But I succeeded. I caught up with all my Greek literature reading just in time, then it was onward to Salt Lake City. Of course I was thrilled when I got there and they handed me this thick chunk of paper work, BUT it was okay, because most of it I got to hand to my mom to fill out. Haha, ain't she the best?
     It was pretty awesome discussing the various procedures and ways in which they would be digging into my head this coming month. Oh, did I not mention I'm having surgery? Yeah, it's pretty great, always an adventure, let me tell you. Of course, during this entire discussion my baby brother (he turned two just yesterday) is having the time of his life using the removable tray of his stroller to catapult his toys over to the other side of the room. Orchestrating some lovely noise to talk over. Thankfully he stop soon after and resorted to throwing his toy around manually including throwing a book at the doctor's foot, to which the doctor playfully responded, "Ouch!".

     On the way home My mom and I tried to feed my brother an apple slice that he kept refusing while occupying himself by tossing his toy trains all over the car. After giving up on the mission, my mom handed my a homemade granola bar with a whole bunch of good stuff in it, including pumpkin and chocolate and cranberries. You won't believe it, my brother wouldn't take the apple slice, but he pointed directly at my hand and said, "Some. I some." Really... You want this concoction of pumpkin, oatmeal, cranberry, and chocolate? But you won't take a typical child's food of apple? I shrugged, and broke off a piece for him to chew, and that next thing out of his mouth? "I like it! I like it! I like it!" Of course this completely amused my mother, driving in the front seat. Clapping, and laughing, and howling, the whole deal. My brother knows what's good for him, I guess. See mom? Your kids know what they're talking 'bout. Next, I simply put my baby brother to sleep by giving him a head massage rolling the wheels of his toy trains over his head, and he promptly went to sleep. That was easy.

You know what time it is? That's right, time for my list of five. Drum roll please.

1. This morning, and the entire day has been really warm. Don't even really need my coat!

2. Pumpkin-chocolate granola bars are the BOMB

3. My baby brother, Henry, is the cutest! Even in his terrible twos...

4. Tomorrow is Friday!

5. I'm SUPER excited to get started in the journalism program!

Cheers!

Jessica Ashley

Day #5: Good Day of Five List and Chocolate-Covered Cinnabears

     I love chocolate-covered cinnabears. They are delicious. Even though they are QUITE full of sugar, they are actually quite filling. Really! I forgot my lunch today, BUT I munched on a couple of those and I feel a lot better! Not saying they substitute for a meal, but they carry you over until your next one. :) Needless to say, my tummy is happy. :)

    Today is my baby brother Henry's birthday. Guess what? He's two! Yes! Which means he is officially a toddler, AND has his own attitude...yup. BUT he's still cute. :) Thankfully, I remembered to get him a present (yay me!).
     He's doing A LOT of talking, hasn't said my name in awhile, BUT I still love him. :) His favorite words all have to do with emergency vehicles or aircraft. "'Copter" or "fire" (in which case he is referring to a firetruck). And whenever those sirens go off, yup. He wants to chase them. Unfortunately, that is not legal. So, he chooses to ride all the way home in tears. Poor little guy.
    He operates my mom's iPad like a boss. I can't believe how well he knows how to use that thing! He wants to watch Thomas the Train? No problem, he knows exactly where the icon on the screen is, and how to navigate through the list of PBS Kids shows. Wow.

Aren't my sister and brother adorable??

Here is my list of five for the day!

1. Again, no seizures today!

2. My teacher gave me an opportunity to redo an assignment for FULL credit.

3. March Madness is starting, news flash, I'm actually kind of excited!

4. My second favorite team (besides BYU Cougars) is Arkansas Razorbacks.

5.  Chocolate-covered Cinnabears are amazing!

Keep smiling!

Jessica Ashley

Day #4: This Is Not Going How I Hope...

     Well, I broke again yesterday. Unfortunately I chose to vent (again) about how frustrating my personal life is, BUT hey I was looking for advice and inspiration! This particular girl is wonderful and helping me through the tough times (she knows who she is). Needless to say, I got some good advice, and feel a little better in spirits now. :)

     I should stop coming up with excuses though. Pushing through this is how I'm going to end up achieving my goal, not by making exceptions.

With no further ado:

1. I woke up today with no seizures bothering me!

2. I had a delicious turkey sandwich on an everything bagel for lunch today.

3. The sun is out today!

4. My scars are healing up nicely, and now I get to start using vitamin E oil on them. That helps them even more! :)

5. I'm STILL excited to get my NEXT StitchFix box. :)

Happy Adventures!

Jessica Parcell

    

Complaint Restraint Day #3: The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

     Wow, I know I said that I was going to do my best to try and quit all complaining, but then what happens when you're not really paying any attention to the objective? Yeah, you don't really get anywhere...right. Unfortunately in this case, I didn't even realize it 'til late this afternoon. Don't get me wrong, my day was still pretty dang good, but I still had some complaining habits seep through the cracks. Sorry. :/

     It started when I let the feelings of others get to me, then of course being a woman, I just HAD to rant and let it all out, but I didn't pay attention as to HOW I was letting it all out. No, it wasn't any kind of "productive criticism", just start out complaining. Aw man...
     Oh well, what happened in the past I can't change, so I smply need to march forward in the best way I know how, right? Right.

So, with no further ado, here is my list of five for the day:

1. I had the most INGENIUS breakfast burrito this morning for my first meal of the day. Complete with tomatoes, bacon, avocado, caramelized onions, and cheese. My tummy was happy. :)

2. Watching my favorite '90s sitcoms is one of the best was to start my day, and it doesn't matter where in the series I start. What better way to begin than to laugh?

3. A messy side bun is actually quite nice looking, plus it's easy to do.

4. Lil' Caesars Bacon Crust Deep Dish is AMAZING. I recommend it to any pizza and bacon lovers out there.

5. No matter how your day went, a nice hot shower really helps you pull it back together. At least a little bit. :)

6. Yes, this is a bonus one. "The Other Guys" is one of the funniest and most enjoyable comedies I've ever watched in my life!

Cheers to a better future!

Jessica Ashley

(P.S. Daylight Savings Time is starting and we're all losing an hour, BUT just think, it's getting light outside AND the day will be longer. :))