slightly elegant

Daniel has allowed me to help him decorate the bachelor's pad he and his school chum will be sharing for the next two years of their college careers.  Truth be told, he (and I!) doesn't like the idea of giving off a "bare college kid apartment" kind of feel. He was it to be a place of studious work and a place of gathering for friends and family. I absolutely obliged to his request for coziness. I am on a mission to help make his new home as home-y as it can possibly be. Ashley

.......................... After a whole year of being a chemistry major, I have grown less and less excited about being a chemist, and have grown more and more interested in my mathematics courses. So, after lots of consideration, I've decided to change my major to math! One of the big reasons I'm able to make this decision is because of Miss Ashley's support, and her willingness to accept that I might have to spend an extra semester in school. I'm awful grateful that she's willing to stick with me through any sort of change-up, and that she's always such a good sport! Life is so much better when you have the right person with whom to share it. Daniel

································  I sure do miss this wonderful guy.  I sure do love it when he plays guitar.

My sweet Daniel is 19 today! Happy birthday, my love! Here's to you, and the many more birthdays I will spend with such a wonderful person as you! Ashley

If I don't have the best boyfriend, then I don't know what I have! Yesterday was our seventh month anniversary since we've been dating. Daniel texted me to come by his dorm room, because he has something special for me. When I got to his dorm, I found some daffodils in an old Starbucks cup and him playing his fiddle. Gosh, I love him! Ashley

I. The banner Ashley made (and incidentally, biplanes). II. The Brad Mehldau trio. III. Wool socks. IV. Rooibos. V. Physics. VI. Having facial hair again. VII. PBS's "Downton Abbey". VIII. Roman Numerals. IX. The fact that Billy Collins is doing a poetry reading at our school. X. Ashley. Always Ashley. Daniel P.S. Bonus points if you can spot the teacup!

I love my handyman!

One of my favorite things about Daniel and I is our comfort with each other. Normally I'm really camera shy when it comes to posing for a picture, but I can do it with him taking the picture. I am also like that he lets me take pictures of him!

Yesterday, Daniel and I took a trip down to Chattanooga, TN. I brought my camera, but unfortunately forgot my SD card was still in my computer. So, no pictures of our trip:( But, we plan to go again, and I will definitely make sure I have it for next time. We spent our day antique shopping at Knitting Mills Antique Mall and browsing the little shops nearby, which is where I found my cute little drawing book in a design shop. If your ever in Tennessee, stop in Chattanooga!

Here are some questions that Daniel and I answered from the lovely Katie . These were so much fun to answer! Enjoy! A. Age: Ashley: 18 Daniel: 18 B. Bed size: Ashley: The best queen pillowtop ever! Daniel: Twin. C. Chore that you hate: Ashley: Dishes and cleaning the bathroom. Daniel: Watering animals D. Dogs: Ashley: Uhhhh...they're scary, unless they're really, really small. Daniel: Love 'em. E. Essential start to your day: Ashley: A shower. Daniel: Hot beverage and a text or call from Ashley. Ashley: His answer makes me sound lame ↑ F. Favorite color: Ashley: Yellow and blue. Daniel: Burgundy G. Gold or Silver: Ashley: Ehh... Daniel: Silver is the classiest color. H. Height: Ashley: 5'6” Daniel: 5'9.5” I. Instruments you play: Ashley: None (sad face) Daniel: “Lies! She plays 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' on...

Last night, my family went to Jennifer's, Taylor's mother, (you can read Taylor's story here ) wedding. She looked so pretty, and so did the ranch she had it on. Daniel and I had fun daydreaming about what our wedding will be like!

Saturday, Daniel and I went to Noah's birthday party. His birthday party was Thomas the Train themed. During the course of his birthday party, Noah made me "Percy the green train" and he was Thomas. But, then gave the name to his grandma, revoking my privledges of even being a train! He was the cutest little thing with his new doctor's set and scrubs that he got as a present from his grandmother. She made them so he could work at the hospital just like his dad! So adorable! And, I had to take a picture of sweet Molly, Noah's baby sister! Such a sweepy wittle baby! Oh, and he named his new lion "lion noah." :)

This has been the most exhausting and enjoyable weekend of my life. Daniel's older brother, Aaron and his wife, Lauren, moved on Saturday. So, I spent the day helping Daniel move them in their new home. Although it was extremely hot and humid, I very much enjoyed daydreaming about a future of a newly married life, and moving into a new home...I can foresee it with Daniel! Daniel and I have been spending time together since May, but decided to take things slow, and didn't make our relationship official until last Thursday. On Sunday, we went on our first official date as a dating couple. It was the most lovely and adventurous thing I have experienced, thus far! I set my wallet on the top of my car while getting gas, and I forgot about it and drove off. Daniel and I sent about an hour or so in the blistering heat looking for it after I finally realized it was missing. Luckily, a lady found it and brought to my house while my mother was home. Afterwards, we went on a picnic to ...

You know they say laughing adds time to your life? At the rate I'm going, I could live to be an old, old woman. An old, happy woman at that! Daniel makes me laugh (and cry happy tears, too!).  Before getting to know Daniel, the thought of putting myself out there and trying to date again was a little bit scary. I mean, I thought I wouldn't find someone who I was comfortable with and could completely be myself around at all or I'd have to wait until I was 30 or so to find someone who was ready to commit to one person. As time went on, my dream of being happy, young, and in love seemed a little far-fetched. But, after the first couple of times I spent with Daniel and the more I got to know him, he changed my mind that such people DO exist. Daniel and I have so many things in common, everything from views about life, right down to the small things. The best thing about him, the thing he wants most in life...a family. When I heard him say this, I couldn't ...

I had the most wonderful day today! First kisses, dancing, and racing up the steps are only a few highlights of my day spent with Daniel. I loved it.

Handsome, isn't he?! I think so. I don't even know where to being this post, because I am still in complete amazement and at a loss of words. Last night, I made plans with Daniel to go on a small road trip to see a sunflower field that he knew about. The area we drove through was absolutely beautiful! After passing the field with no sunflowers planted this year, he decided to make worth out of the trip and show me where he had grown up. The place he had spent his childhood seemed like a place you'd only see in movies. Seriously! It was a small town, with a cute little white house close to neighbors and a general store (ha, yes! A general store!). One the way back, his car kept making a scratchy/grinding noise. I looked in the side mirror only to find that his back tire was wobbling really bad. So, he pulled into a driveway, and he did the manly thing of tightning the bolts on the tire, and hoped it would be the fix of his wobbly wheel problem. We got back in t...

The lady that took our picture told me she got three shots, she actually got two. One of Daniel's feet, and one of me talking. haha! Today was a rather marvelous and eventful day! My friend Daniel invited me to go kayaking with him. We started off our small trip by meeting each other around lunch time. I brought the lunch, he brought the kayaks! While on the river, it began to storm, so we pulled in and waited the storm out. I got to hear some of his interesting stories and beliefs. After the storm passed, we continued on down the river and I got ran over by a canoe! Literally. The people in the canoe capsized my kayak, so when I went under, so did everything else. I lost my sunglasses, shoes, and Gatorade down the river. However, I found my shoes and Gatorade, but I wasn't so lucky with my sunglasses. Even with the rain and attacking canoe, it was still a lovely day. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and his company. I'll be sure to take more pictures next tim...