family.

(photos via instagram - taken by me)

well, it's tradition.
(cue fiddler on the roof music....)
every year my family takes the trip to SLC to go to see
temple square lit up with all the pretty christmas twinkle lights.

we went up to slc and it was 19 degrees.  it was FREEZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
but so worth it.
we ate on top of the joseph smith building in temple square and had a magnificent view of
downtown Salt Lake City y'all.
great food (i had chicken with veggies).

we then walked around and froze our buns off.
my 3 siblings and i even hooked arms and walked around.
total cheese fest my dears.  total cheese.
we had so much fun though - the whole family was together.
it'll be the first christmas in 2 years that everyone is together for the season.

i love christmas time.
mostly because it allows me to reflect on the birth and life of my savior, Jesus Christ.
i'm one blessed lady and i couldn't ask for more!

what fun holiday traditions

 do you have, dear reader?!



Made Out Of Real Things

My darling darling darling friend, Nicole (did i mention she's DARLING)
we have been friends since like...maybe jr. high or high school?  i can't really recall now...it's been a long time though.
i've considered this girl to be like a sister to me. she is incredibly talented at hair and makeup and one of the most beautiful people i know.


she also is hosting the most bomb GIVEAWAY over at her darling (yes, darling again!) blog.
her blog is called "Made Out of Real Things" and i highly recommend you go pay her a little visit.
i secretly wish you wouldn't enter the giveaway because it's something that i want to win!


it's a bare minerals brush set and darling silver clutch.
who wouldn't want to win this.
you'd be out of your flippin' mind to not go pay her a visit.

what are you waiting for?

go be blog friends with nicole.

oh, and maybe become a follower of her so you can win this fabulous prize.

if you win, you have to promise to split those brushes with me, deal?! :)

just teasin...kinda.

*

*

*

and just a reminder for those who are interested in the vintage garland, there's still time to enter that giveaway i'm hosting!

to enter, click on the link here

weekend fun

yeah, it's wednesday...but i wanted to show a sneek peek of what
the gals and i did over the weekend...

watched the biebs on the lighting of the Rockefeller tree.

wow. my white trash neighbors have outdone themselves....

pretty nativity scene.

nothing says happy christmas like cocoa from a

jack skellington mug.

peppermint = heaven.

sweet tooth fairy visits. make me happy.

ok, so like i said, i know it's wednesday, but that means we're only 2 days away from the weekend coming up. 

what did you do over the weekend that was spectacular?!

or

what will you do this weekend that is going to be amazinggggg?

God said "no"

I asked God to take away my pride,

And God said, “No.”

He said it was not for Him to take away

but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,

And God said, “No.”

He said her spirit is whole,

her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,

And God said, “No.”

He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation,

it isn't granted, it's earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,

And God said, “No.”

He said he gives blessings,

happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,

And God said, “No.”

He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares

and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow,

And God said, “No.”

He said I must grow on my own,

but he will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loves me,

And God said, “Yes.”

He gave me His only Son who died for me

and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others,

as much as He loves me,

and God said,

“Ah, finally, you have the Idea.”

                   -Claudia Minden Weisz

i heard this poem from a friend in church.

it was too lovely not to re-post.

i hope you had a lovely weekend my dears!

HAPPY MONDAY!

giving.

ok, i love to be crafty and make stuff.

i had a lot of compliments on my homemade paper garland i made a few weeks back.

one of my fave bloggers even asked me if i would do a giveaway.

so guess what?  because today is December 1st (the month of giving, not receiving) 

i have decided to giveaway a pretty little garland. 

pretty, huh?

to enter: you must be a follower of All Things Ashley 

and leave me a comment on your favorite holiday dessert

* extra entries *

1 - blog about the giveaway

2 - facebook about the giveaway

pretty simple my dears!

if you like vintage-esque and homemade things, this giveaway is for YOU!

bijou.

the girls and i went to the bijou market a few weekends ago (yeah, i'm behind on this)

i got a few pairs of earrings and a headband, but i wasn't too overly impressed with everything that was there.  it was fun, but nothing worth raving about.

i've heard from friends that have gone before that this one wasn't as great as one's in the past...kinda disappointing, but the company was fun!

we went to lunch afterwards at TWO JACKS PIZZA in Provo.

they have some of the best cheese bread and dinner salad around.

if you're in the provo area i suggest going there.

you'll love it.

love these girls.  

we call ourselves "the gorgeous bunch"

not that we're stuck up or anything...no, never! 

who's been to bijou before?!  

were you as disappointed as i was?

joy.

i love coldplay.
made me so happy to hear this song pop up on grooveshark.
i love chris' voice.
love this song.
love any song with gorgeous piano music.
this is a win-win for ashley.
take a listen.



oh, and guess what?
i got the bug.
the decorating bug that is.


nothing bad to have....but i went a little crazy.
had fun decorating my lovely home the other night.
aren't the holidays just the best?


yeah, i broke my own rule.  i set up my christmas tree before thanksgiving was over.
waddayagonnado?  sue me?

becoming selfless

ok, ok i know that thanksgiving is past and gone, but there is never a need for an excuse to give thanks.

last night i had a visit with some of the guys in my ward from church and we chatted about the Christmas season and how we could better remember Christ during the holiday season.

we talked about getting rid of the commercialism that comes with the hustle and bustle of the season and decided that we should try to do one thing nice for someone else every single day for the month of December.

so, that is my challenge for myself that i am sharing with you.

TRY TO DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TODAY

it doesn't have to be life altering or huge, simply try saying hi to someone who needs a smile today.  try listening to your co-worker with more patience, hold the door for someone who is running late.  be the answer to someone's prayer today.

hope you have the best Tuesday ever my dears!

pay it forward, what will you do for the better today?

fotos de mi vida

* prepping my lesson for Sunday *

* throwback photo - NYC trip Fall 2009 *

* Indian statue in my g-gramma's house *

* my pup snoozin on my lap - she's so lazy *

* the vintage globe my grammy gave to me *

* grandma hands - so sweet to me *

thanksgiving plates

this first plate of thanksgiving feast comes from my dear friend Lindsey over at

My Life Is Wherever I am.

please please please go check out her blog, tell her that Ashley sent ya!

(doesn't her food look yummy! - look at her darling name tag - she MADE those bad boys people.  she is the crafting goddess.  i love her genius!)

this is my thanksgiving plate.  i've wised up in my 23 years on this earth and realize that i need to sample EVERYTHING that the thanksgiving feast has to offer - i try everything.  i didn't even get sick this year!

this photo comes from my dear friend Becca from the blog Derek & Becca Smith

she is so darling - she was worried about the lack of food, but i love the whole 

table layout.  she is a homemaking queen - be jealous!

i couldn't help but show this photo - thanks instagram.  

my sweet nana made these for the table.  aren't they purty?!

thanks Linds and Becca for sending me your photos of your thanksgiving day plates!

if you're interested in being featured on my blog with your thanksgiving plate, it's not too late!

please shoot me an email with your photo you'd like displayed.

send to: ashley.warner88@gmail.com 

hope y'all had a MARVELOUS thanksgiving day!