the big 3-0

Remember that show called Thirty-Something? I was like nine when it was popular but my parents used to watch it and I could hear the music as I was on my way to bed. I always thought that when I was "old" (in my thirties, of course) I would watch it too. (I still think it might be fun to rent it even though I really don't know what it's about other than a group of couples in their thirties.) Anyway, I can now join the "old" people.

My birthday was fun. First of all, I woke up to this:


Truth be told, I happened to glance out my bedroom window the night before my birthday, mostly to see if our cat was out there still, and saw two people running down the street with stuff in their hands. Wendel and I went out there and found the sign. I decided to leave it up and enjoy the honking for at least a little while. (I later found that the culprit was Crystal and her cousin. Aren't they nice to not put any "over the hill" signs up?)

We planned to meet Crystal and Tyler at The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. When we got there, I was surprised by a room full of my friends. (I think this is my first surprise party of all time...wait, I'm remembering one from when I was 15 and moving from Arizona to Utah, but it's been a while.) Crystal is so great to coordinate this for me! What a sweet friend!

Here are some pictures from her camera:

Crystal and Me

All of us: (Left to right) - Dodie, me, Wendel, Crystal, Claire and Jocelynn, Tyler, Chris, Melanie, Aleisa (holding Russell), Kevin (even tough you can't see him), Janey, Jamie, James, Josh, Laurel, Anna, Olivia, Kaitlin and Adam. It was so nice having all of you there!

I had to throw this one in there of Wendel and Tyler comparing their phones. Wendel recently got a Blackberry (for $40 of course).


I got some lovely things for my birthday. Dodie and Melanie gave me beautiful flowers. Our home smells so good! I can even smell them from the top of the stairs upstairs.

Do you remember me blogging about three adorable pillows that I loved and would buy if I had extra money to spend on such things? (#3 on this post) My mom ordered them right then and has been saving them for me for my birthday! Don't I have a great mom? I love that they add some color to our front room. So cute!

My brother, Tyson, got me a new flash because I recently lost ours. I was so sad about it and I'm so excited to have a new one! Whew! Wendel got me a light meter, which is something we've both been wanting for a while. I also got a gift card from my grandma to Olive Garden, a gift card from Josh and Laurel to my choice of four restaurants and an oil warmer from Crystal, as well as cookies from Amy, a fun blanket and movie tickets from my sister-in-law, Britney and some sweet cards in the mail.

I feel so loved and spoiled...what a great birthday!

here we go again...

Sorry for all of you who are sick of hearing me complain about looking young. Actually, it's not so much complaining as it is me finding the humor in it. Oh, you couldn't tell? I also think my posterity might get a kick out of it, so I must record moments such as this:

I was at my internship yesterday, talking with the director and one of my co-workers. The director made a comment that she's been in this field since 1973. My co-worker said, "That's the year I was born." The director said, "I bet Ashley's parent's weren't even born in 1973." (Are you kidding me?) "Actually, I was born in 1979," I told her. My co-worker turned to me and said, "Are you kidding me? You look like you are twelve years old!" (Thanks.) My director looked pretty surprised when she realized that I am 29.

I'm laughing my head off over here, I tell you. On the inside.

chopped

For those who gave me advice on this post, I decided to take it. I chopped my hair! Wendel had already set up an appointment for me at Seven Salon in Seattle, so I decided to just do it. I have never had my hair this short so I was a little nervous, but I like how it turned out. By the way, have any of you ever been to Seven before? It is pretty cool. They have a dj playing music in the middle of the salon. They give you a robe to change into when you first get there, and then they take your drink order and give you chocolate. It is pretty nice. Anyway, Daniella, the stylist who cut my hair, was great. I told her I wanted to look older and to do whatever she thought was best. I think she did a good job and going short wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. So here are some pictures of my new hair cut, taken in the bathroom mirror tonight when I got home (ignore my messy counter). Hopefully I look a little older.




(That little note on the mirror is from Wendel. It says Hey Friend. It makes me smile so I haven't taken it down yet.)

I just finished writing a long paper. Tomorrow is my last day of class for this quarter. Two more to go. I can almost hear Pop and Circumstance now.

Also, today is my sister's birthday and tomorrow (technically today, the 3rd) is W's birthday. Happy Birthday to two of my favorite people!

same old complaint

I have to wonder if there is anything I can do to look a little older (in a good way). You may wonder why I complain about this. It is just really frustrating not being taken seriously. Some recent examples: 1. I was applying for a position a while ago and the person interviewing me asked me how I got to the interview. I told him I drove. He was very surprised. "You can drive?" He thought I wasn't even 16. When he found out I'm married, he was completely shocked. 2. I was at my internship, sitting in my supervisor's office, working on a project with her. One of our co-workers came in the room and asked my supervisor, "What are you doing for l-u-n-c-h?" My supervisor asked her why she was spelling it out. She said, "Because there is a little rabbit with big ears in the room" and looked right at me (there was no one else in the room). 3. Wendel and I went to drop something off at a friend's house last week and their teenage son's friend answered the door. Our friend later told us that the kid told him, "There's a guy and his daughter at the door for you." I saw this same kid tonight at their house, and he said he was sorry for the misunderstanding "but with the way you wear your hair parted like that, you look like a little kid."

So...I am asking any who read this blog if there is anything you think I can do to look a bit older? I have an appointment to get my hair cut on Tuesday. Any specific cut that you think might help? Anything at all? Anyone?

really?

Just another example of what I was talking about here, tonight W, my mom (who is visiting from Utah) and I went to see Mama Mia. I told the man selling tickets, "Three for Mama Mia." The three of us were standing there in front of him. He said, "Two adults and one child?" Are you kidding me? I should have let him think I was twelve and taken the discount but I think he read on my face that I thought he was crazy. I really don't feel like I look like a little kid...any tips for looking older?