365 Instagram Posts in 2017 Challenge

Here's my biggest problems when it comes to marketing, building an online presence and creating social media relationships with my readers and clients: lack of consistency and an anxiety towards "putting myself out there."

Subsequently, my photos and posts often go unpublished, and I believe that I'm losing out on plenty of great opportunities and connections. But I want to change!

There's this fear of being judged, whether it's good or bad, that holds me back from posting on my various social media outlets. I worry that people will find me vain or selfish. Or I worry someone will get the wrong impression of me. It's this silly constant struggle that I am determined to overcome.

So in an effort to create some good social media habits, I'm going to commit to a year long challenge in which I'll post an Instagram photo once per day minimum, and in the process, build a healthy online presence and hopefully make some meaningful connections with people along the way.

Two thousand seventeen is almost here, and I've got big aspirations for this year. What do you think, could you commit to 365 Instagram posts in a year? I think you should join me. Comment below if you're up for the challenge!

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Merry Merry Christmas!

Finally Christmas has come! Or at least it has for you! Technically I'm sitting down with my first cup of coffee on the morning of December 20th. So really, I'm still five days away, giddy and waiting, whereas the fun has already begun for you, dear reader.

Mmmm coffee...

I can't even describe to you how much I love having a Christmas tree up. The ambiance can't be compared. Christmas 2013, we left out tree up until February. No lie. Partly because I had a 3 month old and couldn't be bothered, but also because I spent many a quiet mornings out here in the living space, cozied up with a sweet little baby enjoying the holiday glow. Almost until Valentines day!

There are so many nostalgic memories that resurface around this time of the year. Hauling out all the stockings and Christmas decor. Hanging up the Santa Clause countdown and buying chocolate advent calendars. Especially now that I have a child, Christmas has taken on a totally new meaning. This is the first year since Sawyer was born that we are staying home for Christmas and not traveling up North to visit my family, and I'm so looking forward to starting some new traditions.

Who doesn't look forward to Christmas baking? Sawyer and I went to town on some sugar cookies the other night, decorating to our hearts content. I also made a double batch of black bean dark chocolate and sea salt brownies to stash away in the deep freeze until company comes. Not to mention the unfortunately addictive Nuts & Bolts that we've already made and consumed. To be fair, a large portion of it was given away as gifts, but that's not to say Dan and I didn't get into those freezer sized bags of pretzels and cheezie gold goodness late a night.

As mentioned, with company coming this year, and Caitlyn moving into our basement, we are likely to have a full house! So long as the weather stays decent and the roads are good. Mom, Perry and quite possible, my brother Brandon, his wife Megan and their sweet little munchkin of a daughter Isla, are coming up North to spend post Christmas day with us, arriving sometime between the 25th and New Years for a short and sweet visit.

I sincerely wish you the most magical of holidays, hoping that you're showered with love and laughter, and always surrounded by the people you cherish the most. Keep keepin' those wolves at bay. Cheers to you!

Love Ashley, Dan and Sawyer

Merry Christmas!

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The Monday Reflective | life lately

It seems we're once again being blessed with a warm and sunny Spring. We've spent the whole last week in the backyard doing and around the house, doing some cleaning and yard work, prepping the vegetable beds and potting my seedlings.

Dan was able to whip up a seedling shelf window hanger for me over the Easter long weekend. So far it's been filled with tiny pots containing the seeds of cauliflower, cabbage, peppers, corn, scallions, onions, squash, tomatoes, lavender, chamomile and sunflowers.

Sawyer's been showing a special interest gardening lately too.. If gardening means he gets to pour water with the watering jug. He's a helpful little guy though, he always wipes up his messes... Almost always.

Meanwhile outside in the yard, we've added a few new decorative additions, extra thrifty like. We bought some red bricks from a guy who'd gotten them from the Fire Hall, they'd been leftover from when the new building went up last year. And then we slapped together a cement slab X river rock step surrounding the composts... I think I'll plant some sedum between crevices.

We got our fire pit emptied, cleaned, and reset in the centre of our circular stacked log wall. We had a smokie roast and enjoyed the sunshine and hotness. I'm pretty amped up on this new lettuce wrap craze my gf Cait's got me on. And the goodness of wieners and burgers, with so much less guilt and bloated-ness. And I gotta tell ya... I've been feeling bloated and mushy lately. Which is why we've been on a mega health kick since Easter long weekend.

It's been detox salads and clean eating for this gal. Cait, Devrey, Juice and I have been leaning on each other for support using our group text messages.. being accountabilibudies.. chatting first thing in the mornings when we wake up for our miracle mornings, checking in, sending motivational pics and what not. It's actually quite amazing how much being accountable to others can help kick your butt into action.

Another reason to be active, we recently bought a toddler carrier for hiking and Sawyer loves it! We've taken him out to the Community Forest for several long walks now and each time he happily jibber jabbers away in his half english half baby talk.

Throwing out the intention... this is going to be a fit Summer!... Who's with me?

And what's a fit Summer without plenty of red wine? Antioxidants. It's justified.

Cheers,

- A

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Afternoon Scenes from my Kitchen

This Summer we're going to paint the walls, in the kitchen, refurbish the cabinets and cupboards and overall give the space a total update. It's one of the last big rooms in the house that we still need to renovate and definitely the most outdated.

But even though it's totally not the style I want, it's become our kitchen over the years and we've made it home, so I do still like it. Which is why I didn't want to take ugly "before" pictures that didn't do it any justice once we finally do destroy it.

Cheers,

Ashley

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Little Sawyer the Snow Bunny // Kids Lifestyle Photography // Ash Tree Photoshop Actions

Sawyer's hair is getting so long and I just don't know what to do with it. I'm so torn! Part of me wants to cut it into the shorter on the sides longer on the top style, but another part of me loves loves loves his long hair, and think I should just get it trimmed...

Especially because lately he's been twirling it. And it's ridiculously cute. He's always been a thumb sucker and an ear puller, like King John in Disney's Robin Hood cartoon, but now he sucks his thumb and twirls his hair. Seriously, I could die.

- ash

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