Day 27

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Canal Days 2008

Brittney won the title of Olde Canal Days Junior Queen

Amiee, Brittney, and I before the 2010 pageant

I was the 2009 Olde Canal Days Queen during this picture and preparing to pass on my title.

This is after the 2010 pageant. 

Amiee won Olde Canal Days Second Runner Up.

We're just a family of princesses.

I love my sisters! We often fight a lot but we still love each other and I don't know what I would do with out them. 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 26

Day 26 - A picture of someone that means a lot to you.

-Julie-

Julie is my former majorette coach! She is the one person who helped me come out of my shell and become the person I am today. 

All of Julie's baton students at her wedding!

She helped me get into baton, dance, and pageants. 

A woman who has had a great influence on my life is my former majorette coach, Julie. I first met Julie while I was a freshman in high school and she instantly became a huge part of my life. When we first met, I was a shy, insecure, and quiet girl and through the years I transformed into a confident and outgoing woman. Julie is the one person who saw the potential in me when no one else did. She always compared me to a flower, saying “one day, Ashliegh, you will bloom in to a beautiful flower.” With her help, I did. Julie is the woman who helped me get started in pageants and instilled a confidence in me that is unshakeable. 

Julie holds many qualities that make her beautiful from the inside out. She is honest, trustworthy, compassionate, and hard-working. Julie knows everyone in our community and is very involved. She is a majorette coach at the local high school and also teaches elementary and middle school students baton twirling. She also volunteers her talents as a baton coach at a local dance studio and trains many dancers there on baton twirling. Julie is also the director of the Olde Canal Days Pageant and has helped  many girls in interview and modeling skills. 

Throughout the years Julie was not just my majorette coach, but one of my greatest confidantes and cheerleaders. Julie’s friendship on one that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Habitat For Humanity

One of my assignments this semester for my Field Production class was to make a mini-documentary. I chose to do my project on Ashland University's Habitat For Humanity Spring Break trip. While in Columbus, Georgia  I wasn't just building houses; I was also lugging around 3 different cameras for my documentary project. It is finally completely produced and edited so I thought I would share with all of you my mini-doc. Enjoy!

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 25

Day 25 - A picture of your day.

This morning I had my last Writing For The Media class with Professor Matt Tullis for the semester. We're a pretty lighthearted class who likes to joke around and try and make school a little more fun.

Since the class is in the CFA computer lab, students are often found on facebook, email, etc during class (we're horrible students, we know...). Well this morning, Chrissy took a picture of our dear professor while he was going over our exam for next week then promptly posted it on facebook and tagged the whole class in it. Since most of the class was already on facebook (I was not) the class busted out laughing and had a whole conversation via photo comments. It made my morning!

Some Matt Tullis quotes from this morning:

"Nobody ever listens to me..."

"You guys are gonna give me a complex."

Tullis still doesn't know what happened in class today.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 24

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

The ridiculous amount of homework I have this week is something I would change, lol. This week I have Four english papers to write, a feature story to write for the Orientation issue of The Collegian, a package to edit, a vosot to shoot and edit, a music video to edit, and heaven knows what else I have to do!

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 23

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird is my favorite book. I read it for the first time in my sophomore English class back in high school and fell in love with it. The book tells the timeless tale of growing up and the moral issues one faces. I've read it so much that the binding on my copy of the book is falling apart, birthday gift anyone?

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 22

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at. 

I wish I were a better dancer. 

I absolutely love dancing and I think I'm pretty good at it considering how long I have been dancing. Unfortunately, I'm at a disadvantage in the dance world since most dancers have been dancing since they learned how to walk. I started taking dance classes at the age of 14. 

With Love, 

Ashliegh

Day 21

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

I honestly couldn't think of something that I wish I could forget. All the memories I have made, the people I've met, and the things I've done are the things that have made me who I am today and who I will be in the future and I don't think I would want to forget any of that whether it was a good memory or a bad memory. I'm proud of who I am. 

With love,

Ashliegh

Day 20

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you would love to travel to.

Greece

It's so beautiful.

It's full of history.

Greece is such a beautiful country filled with so much history and culture. I would LOVE to travel there someday.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 19

Day 19 - A picture and a letter.

My Dearest Megan, 

I would like to start this letter with I miss you. I miss you a lot. I'm home in Canal Fulton this weekend for the last time for a while and you're still at Miami University. Talk about a sad story. 

Anyways, on with the letter. You're one of my best friends and I don't know how I would have made it through high school without you. 

We've been through good times and the bad times but no matter what we always pulled through and supported each other. We've been there for each other through stupid boys, ridiculous amounts of homework, getting ready together for school dances, Cedar Point trips, canoe trips, New Years Eve parties, and so much more. 

It's been two years since our high school graduation and I feel like we don't talk as much but I know that I can still go to you for anything and we're still best friends, despite the distance between Ashland University and Miami University.

I just wanted to let you know that I'll always have your back and I miss you. a lot. 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 18

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Perfection is a myth; however, I am always chasing for it. For those who know me, they know that I am very hard on myself in every way possible. I expect perfection from myself in every way- my grades, my body, my confidence, my mannerisms, the way I act, my ability to do something. Everything. 

I know nobody can be perfect and I know that I am not perfect. I put on a few pounds this semester that I did not need. My grades dropped a little bit this semester. I flirted too much. I'm selfish. I could have been a better leader. 

I'm okay with who I am and confident in myself. I'm not the type of girl to sit around and complain about my weight or say "I'm ugly" or "I wish I could be so-and-so." However, I still expect more out of myself. I expect myself to do my best and BE the best. 

I guess that is what has been off with me this semester. I haven't been able to do anything perfectly.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

College

I am so happy that I am a student at Ashland University.

I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason (sometimes, the hard part is figuring out what that reason is, though). After graduating high school, a lot of stuff happened and I wasn't ready to go to college. I wanted to be like the rest of my friends- meeting new people and going to college and doing something with their lives. I was really disheartened that I wasn't able to do that. However, now that I look back, taking a year off was one of the best decisions I could have made. Had I not taken a year off, I would have never even thought to attend Ashland University or even be a broadcast communications student. AU has already opened up so many fantastic opportunities for me in so many ways.

I have changed a lot and learned a lot since going to college but I think I will save that for my freshman year review post coming soon. :]

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

The Fall 2010 Alpha Phi New Member Class is a group of talented, ambitious, beautiful, and classy young women. I am so glad that each of them has been placed into my life. Each of them brings different talents, abilities, and traits to the chapter and I believe we will lead our chapter very well in the future. 

My member class inspires me to take the leadership positions I do and to truly live the Alpha Phi values of scholarship, service, leadership, character development, sisterhood, and loyalty everyday. They inspire me to truly leave a legacy in this chapter and to get involved.

Sorority life is all about what you put into it. What you put in, is what you get out of it. These girls inspire me in every way possible and each of them hold a special place in my heart.

AOE sisters.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 15

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

I love travelling but I have never been to a different country before. I took both French and Spanish in high school and love learning about foreign cultures, languages, food, music, etc. So its only appropriate that one of the things I want to do before I die is visit each of the continents or as many countries as possible in my lifetime.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 14

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

My Mom.

Mom, Dad, and I

I love my mom. She is always supportive,caring, and loving and I look up to her a lot. She has gone through a lot in her lifetime and she always maintains herself in a classy way. I appreciate everything she does for me between the little surprises like a reese cup or just showing up on campus to hang out. 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

The Goo Goo Dolls. 

The Goo Goo dolls have been around since forever. Literally, 1986. I love John Rzeznik's voice and the soulful lyrics that all of their songs seem to have. "Iris" is one of my all-time favorite songs. 

Jack's Mannequin

I've been listening Andrew McMahon since his days with Something Corporate and followed him to Jack's Mannequin. Like the Goo Goo Dolls music, Jack's Mannequin lyrics just speak to you. My favorite songs by Jack's Mannequin are "Dark Blue" and "The Mixed Tape."

I highly suggest you readers check out both of these wonderful bands and their music, if you aren't already listening to them.

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 12

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

Well, it's Greek Week here at AU so something I love is Greek Life! 

Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, Alpha Phi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Phi Kappa Psi, and Phi Delta Theta are the different sorority/fraternity organizations on AU campus.

Greek Organizations open up many opportunities, support personal development, and are committed to the ideals of scholarship, service, and leadership. 

The great thing about Ashland University's Greek Life system is that all the chapters are supportive of each other. Although we might be brothers or sisters of a different chapter, we all chose to go Greek and are brothers and sisters in Greek life as a whole. 

Three cheers for Greek Unity!

Good luck to AU Greek Life this week during Greek Week!

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 11

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Ugg Boots

I hate Ugg Boots. I think they are tacky, especially the ones with fur. Sometimes (and I mean, sometimes) they are appropriate when worn with maybe jeans and a parka. But please, this whole lets-wear- ugg boots-with-sweatpants, or worse, let's-wear-ugg boots-with shorts, its gotta end. Please. Stop. Go look in the mirror. You look ridiculous. Change, please, I beg of you.

Don't get me started on the ones with fur. Those are never appropriate. You look like you just got back from mammoth hunting with your lady friends. You look ridiculous. 

I hope I did not offend anyone during this post. Just stating it how I see it. 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 10

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.

Blogosphere, I now introduce you to my guy best friend, Sean. 

Sean and I go way back to 8th grade where I had just transferred to Northwest Middle School from Green Middle School. Sean had been dating one of my new friends, Sydney, at the time but I didn't know who he was. We were all walking in from recess and he was right behind me and for some reason, I turned around and said, "Who the crap are you?" Great first impression, I know, I'm really good with first impressions. Ok, so not really, but they make for great stories. Hahaha

Anyways, we've been best friends since then and ended up dating our sophomore year of high school. The picture above is us before Homecoming. Look at how young we are! Good heavens, we're getting old. 

Sean and I went to our Senior Prom together as best friends :]

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Sean and I have been through a lot and we do a lot of ridiculous things. I know I can be my 100% crazy self around him and he won't judge me (usually :p). We've gone driving at 2 AM to get Taco Bell or IHOP while singing our lungs out and dancing in the car on the way. We went to Florida together with the band in 2007. (Side note: "There are no crocodiles in Florida." Thank you, Sean, I didn't know!)

If I remember correctly, we went to a high school football game after we had already graduated and it started downpouring. We broke out the umbrella and started singing (more like screaming) rain songs such as Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain." Just one of the ridiculous moments during our times together. 

Kidnapping Natalie.

We've been canoeing in the pool in his backyard and we've been on canoe trips down the Tuscarawas River. There were bike rides and zombie-movie marathons. We've been found lost walking aimlessly around Pennsylvania cornfields and played Apples To Apples with his Grandma. (Grandma: "Fuzzy Handcuffs!") And I would like to add that I was the one who convinced him to audition for the musical and Northwest Singers our senior year. :]

So here's to many more years of ridiculous moments and sitting in a nursing home later in life wacking each other with our canes, having wheelchair races, and annoying the other residents (because you know it's gonna happen). 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 09

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

My Family

I don't know where I 'd be if it wasn't for my family. Sure, we put the 'fun' in 'dysfunctional,' and we've been through a lot of weird situations, but at the end of the day, we're still there for each other and I know I can count on them to love me for who I am no matter what and support me. 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Day 08

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

A lot of things make me laugh. So again, I had trouble choosing just one picture to post today, so here are a few pictures of my friends and I that make me laugh. My friends back home in Canal Fulton  and I did some ridiculously crazy things back in the day. We called ourselves "The Front Porch Kids" because after school everyone would come to my house and hang out on the front porch. We would hide bikes in the tree, attempt to get trucks that passed by to honk, trashcan wars and so much more. When I was with them I didn't care what time it was or what still needed done or how ridiculous I looked. We just had fun. 

Haley, Will, and Garrett hiding in my closet

The Front Porch Kids crash Rivertree Church's youth group meeting and bust out Twister

Trash Can Wars

Senior Prom

Scavenger Hunts..Sean kidnapping Alex while Codeman tries to distract Alex by wearing a gorilla mask...and my shirt....?

Haley, Sean, and I canoeing in Sean's pool (BEST PICTURE, EVER)

I swear to God we were sober during all of our madness. 

With Love,

Ashliegh

Weekend Round-up

Saturday was the annual Alpha Phi Formal which I had the lovely opportunity to plan as Director of Chapter Events (aka Social Chair). After months of stressing, planning, not sleeping, having nightmares, the night had come..and it turned out BEAUTIFULLY.

I would like to thank my committee- Jen, Amber, Desi, Kristen, and Brittany for all of their wonderful amounts of help through out the formal-planning process. Jen for helping me get the place together; Amber for her wonderful decorating skills; Desi for doing a great job as VP Program Development and keeping me on track; Kristen for writing the checks; and Brittany for helping with the busing. I would also like to thank you to Michelle and her fiance for coming out at 10:30 A.M. to help Amber and I decorate the Ashland Country Club. A special thank you goes out to my lovely boyfriend, Cody, for putting up with my rants and weird moods due to stress and lack of sleep; thanks for keeping me calm and bringing me back down to earth when I needed it. :]

Center pieces

my lovely date, Cody

The ever-beautiful Amber!

The one and only Brittany!

All my sisters <3

This afternoon, Ashland University held its 24th Annual Leadership and Service Recognition Reception. I had been nominated for the Emerging Leader Award by the Alpha Phi Sorority and the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. I am humbled to have been nominated by these two organizations that are so dear to me and am proud to represent them as the Ashland University Emerging Leader. I am honored to know that I will be leaving a legacy on this campus when I graduate in 2014. Congratulations to all of those who received a nomination and/or were selected to receive an award! You are all dedicated and talented students and were all very deserving of your recognition as a leader on the AU campus. 

All of the students, faculty, and staff who received an award at the Leadership and Service Recognition Reception

Emerging Leader Award

Cody received the Outstanding Male Undergraduate Award, too!

With Love,

Ashliegh