snoweekend.

yay for snow!!! when i got up on saturday morning, i was soooo excited to see all the snow!!! first off, i decided to walk to starbucks...it isn't too far from my apartment...maybe 1.5 miles both ways...after i got back, i decided i wanted to walk to my parents house...8.82 miles away. i walked over half of it and mom and natalie picked me up in the gator. it was a fun, but long walk! i would do it again. i got really hot while i was walking and when i got to my parents i shedded my coat and gloves and then the shivers began...over 2 hours later i was still shivering...let's just say, i didnt go back outside. i dont know what came over me, but my body would not warm up. after the crazy ride home with adam...who kept sliding trying to scare me, i nestled on the couch to watch a movie on twc on demand...and it didnt work, so i watched a hallmark movie...which always make me melt. today has been a movie day...public enemies, the hurt locker, x-men wolverine...that's all i have watched so far. i did go outside to scrape the pounds of snow off my window and go for a short walk. i think i did my fair share of walking yesterday. my boss called me and told me i didnt have to be into work until 9 tomorrow. thanks dad!

i cant believe i am already on week 3 of this module...so far, 3 classes, working full time, and doing other stuff is flowing smoothly!!! hmm...maybe ill try 4 next module

dear john.

is anybody else completely excited about this movie? i know most girls are! i cannot wait to see this movie. i am a huge nicholas sparks fan! my granny mailed me dear john, and i absolutely loved it! i remember thinking that it would make a great movie! great thoughts! channing tatum is PERFECT for the part of John...i havent even seen the movie, but when i found out he was John...wow, let's just say...great match! i will be going to see the movie on saturday night the 6th with some people that i graduated with...yay!!! i am soooo excited! i will post another blog after i see the movie!

speaking of nicholas sparks...i am watching message in a bottle :)

worry.

guilty as charged. i am a worry wart sometimes. I know that I shouldn't worry, but sometimes, I just can't help it. Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today" Wow, this verse is soooo true. Sometimes I will look ahead and worry about how I am going to make it, when what I need to do is just focus on today. One day at a time. It's okay to look ahead and prepare, but I need to focus on what is at hand and not what could be in the future.

At church tonight, we were challenged to give up one thing we worry about. i did. i am no longer going to be a worry wart, and am just going to live one day at a time. I know that with God's help, I will no longer be a worrier. why worry about tomorrow??? tomorrow will have its own set of worries, focus on the time at hand. focus on the Lord.

run ashy run.

a few years back i began to train for a marathon. i ran. i ran ALOT. i got up to 18 miles, but then i wasn't able to go...so i basically stopped running as much. well, i am ready to pick up the miles again. i love to run. to be outside. to breath in fresh air. sometimes, when i run, i just keep going and going because i just enjoy it and it makes me feel so good. ive slacked a bit on running this week, but i am ready to get back outdoors and hit the pavement. i will be running and 8k in march, and i would love to run a half marathon and a marathon before 2010 is over. those are 2 of my goals that i am going to reach! i am pressing on towards the goal.

competitive.

when you are a cox, the competitive gene just flows naturally. from sports, to drive times, to getting your work done first...it's always a game. well, maybe just to me in some areas...anyway, when it comes to sports i don't like to lose...AT ALL. if i don't show the anger and unhappiness on the outside, i can guarantee you, if i lost, i am mad. not at the other people, but at myself, cuz i hate losing. i coach soccer...elementary girls...i like to win. if my team didn't win, my family knows i might not be in the most chipper mood after the game. not because the girls may not have played well, but i beat myself up for not being a better coach to teach them to win. it has been a while since i have played on a team...sunday was the first time in a while that i have played on a team. you see, i am on a dodge ball team. i will admit, i was pretty nervous before our game on sunday, but when i got to the gym, my blood starting pumping...my heart was racing, and i felt like the hulk bursting forth with so much adrenaline. i was no longer nervous, but ready to win. no matter what, i didn't want to walk away from that gym with a loss...we won the 1st 2 games...lost the next 3..and then won the last 2. pulling out the big W by 1 game. yes, it was close, but we won. end of story.

my competitive side is very strong. when adam and i were in youth group, we would always play on the same team because we knew, no matter what game we were playing, that our team was gunna win. it would have been to good of a match if we went against each other, so we would join forces and dominate. i am not embarrassed by my nature. i am proud of it. i like to make games out of nothing...it is a push for me...i even compete with myself. if it took me 20 minutes to get to work one day, the next day i would want to make it under that. not exceeding the speed limit too much though ;) even getting ready in the morning is a competition. if i sleep 15 more minutes, can i be out the door at the same time as usual or maybe earlier...it never ends. one more example...when i am making my coffee, i go to the bathroom, wash my hands and still have seconds to spare...quick and efficient. haha

brothers.

i didnt just get one brother, i got two! an older brother, and a younger brother. Daniel. Adam. well, technically i only got adam cuz daniel got me, but we'll just say i got 2. funny. crazy. bodyguard. bully. excellent hugger. great to talk to. and so much more...

Daniel- my big bro. the goof ball. no matter what, he can make me laugh. i can be so mad at him, and he will say something funny and i laugh. i remember when i was in 5th grade and a boy called me a name to which i did not know what it meant...i told daniel and he told me he would punch his face in. no, he never did that, but i remember how my big bro wanted to stick up for me and it made me proud. daniel also gives GREAT hugs!

Adam- my baby brother. but very far from being a baby. more like a twin. being 13 months apart, we pretty much are the same age. if adam could be brave and do the cable drop at tucker lake, then i had to choke back the fear and do it. he is my hero. he is strong and brave. he has seen more than anyone should ever have to see, but he keeps going. he sticks up for me, and he bullies me. he is great to talk to when he wants to talk :)

i am blessed with 2 amazing brothers. it was always fun growing up having someone to play with when amber and i played barbies...daniel and adam would be the g.i. joe boyfriends...i mean, they got to be the knight in shining armor for the helpless barbie...so fun!

i love my brothers.

here is a picture that completely shows how amazing they are...

homework.

it's back. online classes that is. my 2nd semester of college! officially they start on monday, but they opened up yesterday, so i am going to get ahead as much as i can. when i sat down and started working on one of my classes earlier, i almost began to get frustrated. then, i realized what i needed. i needed to be nestled on my couch, with my laptop and books, and a cup of coffee. when i got home i did things that needed to be done and then got all my tools and supplies together and hopped on the couch. that was the solution. everything began to flow the way it should. i was no longer getting a wee bit stressed, but excited! i know that some people need silence in order to study and do homework, but i need is comfort and background noise...whether tv, or people chatting. i am so excited about all 3 of my classes. i know that things are going to go great!

printer.

i bought a printer this afternoon. i need one. for school stuff, and just to print. i am excited. when i got home from work this afternoon i put dinner on and began to work on the set up process. everything was going smoothly...then i had to remember the wep key password...oops. after about an hour and a half of searching and chatting to many different people...i found it on my own. so i entered it, but my computer could not find the printer. needless to say, after 3 hours of trying to set up my printer, i am going to wait on my genius bro n law. he is the master of computers/wireless/techno stuff. so, robert lewis medlin, if you are reading this...HELP!!! :)

guilty pleasure.

okay. I have blogged about tv for a few days...and this will be my last. no promises though :)

Every Sunday night at 9 o'clock I join Gabby, Susan, Bri, Lynette, and all the scandal on Wysteria Lane. When this showed first aired, I was totally against watching it. Then, a lady from work...who was 63 at the time, told me about how she loved the show. So, I gave it a watch. Let me tell you, I laughed. It is a very entertaining and very amusing show! So, I wanted to catch up...I was 3 seasons behind. I bought season 1...watched it in 1 day. I woke up watched 3 episodes, left and coached 3 hours of soccer, and came home and finished it...I was up pretty late that night. Then, I did it again the next weekend...then the next, until I was caught up. Along the way I got my mom hooked. Since I have moved out, I go home every Sunday night just to watch Desperate Housewives with my mom. It is something we love to watch together. Funny thing...when we found out Carl was dead...both our jaws dropped and we said "OH NO"! Even though Carl was not a good guy...we had grown to love him!

Okay...that's enough. I love Desperate Housewives. The Lifetime channel airs old Housewives episodes from 3-6 every weekday!

campfire.

a couple of weeks ago, the gang got back together. we were missing some of the gang, but it was so much fun getting almost everyone back together. we have not all been able to get together in over a year, so when we all agreed on a time...it was perfect! we met at my parents house on sunday night and had a bonfire. adam got the fire ready, and i got all the food! we had a blast. we sat around the fire for a couple hours just talking about old times and making up stories...which were so incredibly funny. after that we all went inside to watch some of the clemson bowl game...which was a great topper to the evening!

i love you guys and am so glad we were able to get together! can't wait to do it again!!!

here are some pictures from our evening...

lost cont.

another note about lost...i just read that Obama might give some speech on the same night as the 3 hour long season premiere of lost...so that means it will either be bumped or moved. i share this because when i read that, i got really angry. oh well, back to work.

lost.

One of the greatest television shows ever created. Lost. Action. Romance. Suspense. It is everything in one show. Ever since Oceanic flight 815 crashed into the island I have been hooked. Last Christmas I decided to watch all the episodes over again before the season. For 2 weeks straight I was glued to the computer re-watching and studying each and every episode. I read blogs, and many different websites to gain more knowledge about Lost. Yes, this is quite absurd, but let me just tell you how fun and interesting it all is. Everything ties together someway. It is so neat how the creators and writers of this show really brought everything together. To give you an example of how glued to re-watching I was...I moved my dad's big computer to my bedroom so that when I went to bed I could still watch Lost. I know some that are reading this (my family) are saying to themselves...Ashley is crazy I can't believe she is sharing this, but I have to get it out there. On February 2nd the last and final season of Lost will air. It is so sad to see this amazing show go. I have enjoyed every episode and all the characters and will miss the island.

If you have never seen Lost go to abc.com and watch it. It will change you. :)

Survivor.

One of my all time favorite shows. Survivor. Season 20 starts in February, and it is going to be amazing! I just saw on tv who the contestants are. This is a Heroes vs. Villains season. Russell, Rupert, Colby, Amber, Boston Rob, Coach, the pin-up model, hottie from down south whose name I forgot but he won a few seasons back, blondie who rides bikes...and so many more favorites. This is going to be the BEST season yet! I am sooo excited!!! One day I will actually submit my application, be on, and win the title Survivor. After watching 19 seasons without missing a single episode, I think I know this game backwards and forwards.

Make sure to tune in to CBS starting in February for SURVIVOR: Heroes vs. Villains

ashy.

On June 4th, 2005, I became an aunt ashy to a handsome nephew. The happiest day of my life! Since then I have been blessed with 3 more nieces. 2 more happiest days added to my book. Will, Lilly, Ava, and Bailey...the best kiddos ever. I love them so much! They all have their own unique personalities, and I love each and every characteristic. I am extremely blessed, and I look forward to another little blessing my sister will add to our family :)

sprouts.

Most of the time when people hear the name brussels sprout they cringe and think ewwww. Well people, let me tell you just how wrong you are. They are AHHHMAZING! Thanks to my sister, I am hooked. When I am hungry it's what I want. I probably eat them 4-5 times a week. First of all, it's a cheap meal, and secondly...did I say how AMAZING they are. Just coat with olive oil, salt & pepper, toss on a cookie sheet and toss in the oven for about an hour...at 350. You may not like the smell...I love it...but, they are soooo worth it. I get so impatient just waiting for them to be done, but you really have to wait until the ends are all crispy.

So, go make yourself some brussels sprouts and let me know what ya think!!!

europe.

i know it is a ways off, but i will be returning to europe at the end of may! i am so excited! this will be my 3rd time chaperoning the seniors from nrca. it is always a fun trip, and i look forward to getting to know everyone! it is an honor and a great privilege to be able to go!

there are so many highlights from the trips...both classes that i have gone with have been awesome, and we have made some amazing memories. from naming people in museums, laughing till our faces hurt, climbing down the eiffal tower, checking out shoes in paris, accidentally tripping an older lady outside of the statue of david museum, lots of stairs, movies on the airplane, tyring to coax ppl into switching seats, and so many more fun memories that if i named, would fill pages. i have made lasting friendships and many memories that will never be forgotten. i am ready to go again...may cant come soon enough!

we will be going to london, paris, rome, florence, pisa...and a few other places. i love everywhere we go, but my favorite places are rome and florence. i love the history of rome, and i love the history and open market in florence. i havent taken many pictures the past couples years, but i plan on taking many more this year!

this is a pic of me and amanda kirk in front of the tower.

Coffee.

What a beautiful creation. I did not come to love coffee until after I graduated high school. I would occasionally drink a cup, but had not developed a love. Well, things have changed. I now am a passionate lover of coffee. I appreciate the different flavors and smells. Yes, there is one particular cup of coffee that a specific someone in the office makes every day and it smells like cat pee...I do not like that coffee. I credit my dad with getting me started on coffee. Every morning before work, he made his way to Starbucks to get a regualr coffee with heavy cream. He planted the seed. Amber and Daniel got me hooked. They always got the same thing as dad...so I followed in their paths. Coffee is such a wonderful treat. A treat that I treat myself to many times a day. I was reading a friends blog...Kara...and she stated that she was going to cup back to 1 cup a day. Kara, my friend, this girl could never do that. I would say my least amount would have to be 2. I need a good jump in the morning, and then a warm me up yummy while I am snuggled on the couch. Of corse, I usually drink another or so in between! As I sit here typing, I am also drinking a most delicious cup of fudge brownie flavored coffee with redi whip on top. It is most satisfying!

Currently in my freezer, I have quite a few bags of coffee. My favorite would be the Coconut Macaroon, by Archer Farms...bought at your local Target! Archer Farms has a delicious selection of coffee...check it out. For real, you will be pleased! Another Christmas favorite has been peppermint by Millstone. A friend at work introduced me to that, and it has been a holiday favorite!

As I sit here sipping the rest of my coffee, I leave you with a picture of my freezer, my spread, and above is the cup of coffee I am drinking...doesn't this make you want to go make a cup now???

Oh yeah...that is my favorite mug!

Sister.

Blessed. Yes, that is what I am. Blessed. I am blessed to have such an amazing sister. She is here for me. She encourages me. She helps me. She teaches me. My older sister, is my best friend. I love her more than words could ever express. We get closer and closer every single day. I love spending time with her, and just sitting around watching football and yacking. We have so much fun!

Amber- you mean the world to me. Thank you for being the best sister in the world. I love you and I love spending time with you!! You are my best friend!

I love this song...from White Christmas.

Sisters, sisters
There were never such devoted sisters,
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir,
I'm there to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing
When a certain gentleman arrived from rome
She wore the dress, and I stayed home
All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain and sun
Two different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one
Those who've seen us
Know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man