My Name is NOT Ashley...

...but I still respond to it. I love the beach, but I'm scared of the ocean. I despise fantasy, but I love the Twilight series. I am cluttered and messy, but super clean (if you can find the floor underneath that pile of clothes, it's vacuumed and the baseboards are dusted). Ohh the paradoxes of life. I've realized just hot prevalent they are in my life as of recent.

I've been looking forward to graduating college for YEARS! Now that it's approaching faster than Max Hall's passes can be intercepted, I'm reevaluating my thought process. Bad things about growing up:

1. They stop making everything sparkly (bedspreads, toothbrushes, etc). I may forever be tacky, but my favorite gaudy items are annoyingly inconvenient to find.

Thank you Etsy.com for helping me continue living the sparkly tackiness that is my youth.

2. Santa...well, you know.

3. Ridiculous expenses. Who wants to spend money on light bulbs and paper towels?

4. For reasons beyond my understanding, it's socially unacceptable to send a boy a "check yes or no" note. I still think it would be much more time efficient, easier, and altogether useful. The cootie shot, maybe less so.

5. Jelly shoes got replaced with other fashionably hideous shoes that make your feet smell, like Uggs.

6. You stop growing UP and you start growing OUT.

7. People expect you to be responsible. This outlandish assumption is comparable only to the coming-of-age ritual in which one gets their driver's license at a specific age. Do you think someone should be allowed to drive just because they're 16? Ha. No way. Do you think someone should have to be responsible just because they graduated? Exactly.

8. Spilled lunch leftovers on your clothes aren't as cute anymore, even though there is still a whopping 47%* chance it will happen to you.

*Raises drastically to 93% when wearing white.

Anyway, about graduating...I'm scared to death! I start the beginning of the end in January, when I will be student teaching at Mountain View High School in Orem!! I'm not sure what grade yet, but hopefully I will hear soon. I'm so excited, but so nervous! Wasn't I just in high school? And do I really want to graduate? Maybe I'll take some art, canoeing, and Latin dance classes to postpone graduation/life in general.

I've always wanted to grow up, but who knew it would come so fast?! Hmm (come to think of it, all signs are pointing to some psychological reasoning behind my recent "tutu" birthday party)...

Is it weird to blog about homework?

Sundays always make me miss my family at home! This weekend I've been all alone while all my roommates are out of town. I've missed them, but it's been a perfect weekend for some quiet reflection!

I had to read this book for a class a few weeks ago, and I absolutely loved it! I highly recommend it for anyone with a few hours to spare. Not only does it have a great message, It's a quick, easy read with pretty blatant symbolism. Think fables.

I know, I know...I sound so nerdy. But I truly did find this book inspiring. My copy is all marked up and highlighted now because there are so many great lines in it! It made me consider my current situation in my own life.The Alchemist will give you the extra (and usually much needed!) push to follow your dreams, no matter where you are in your life right now.

Read it over Thanksgiving!