I'm Inspired

Feel free to listen to the above while you read!  

I love this song. It always makes me think about how good friends 

never change after time and distance. 

I first want to say that I'm extremely overwhelmed with the flood of responses that we've had in the past 24 hours.  I called out to my bitches to introduce themselves in our facebook group and boy did we ever get some introductions!! I've learned more about some of our members in these posts than I have in actually meeting them in person.  I am so proud of all of you!

I am literally obsessed with my bitches.  This little group that we started almost a year and a half ago, on my front porch, has become my extreme passion.  I live for it!  I want this community of women (and our man-bitches) to grow and mature into something so beautiful and so strong.  We have such talent amongst all of us. And some of us don't even know it.

This group is meant to be a positive thing. To encourage us. To give us strength when we need it. To inspire us to try new things. To meet new people. To expand our way of thinking.  This group is not just for ME, (Ashley-Anne).  It's for all of you, muh bitches! My dream is to build the ultimate networking system for you guys.  You are all so talented and I want to see you shine!

As unfortunate as it is, I don't know everyone in the group.  I know we've got members who were added by a friend and they didn't know why.  And they don't contribute.  Or they sit back and watch me post randomly. Or they're shy and think we're all NUTS, (I think the cat is out of the bag by now... I am a little bonkers!)

I want to know you! I want to know what you're passionate about.  I want to help you reach your goals! I believe that everyone that gets involved will come away with something!  It may be a new friend, a new appreciate for pastry puffs, a new hobby or maybe you find that you just enjoy the company of some bitchy women and a glass of wine! Whatever it is, you don't walk away empty handed.

I honestly get so excited when you guys get involved.  To see people get turned on (wink wink) to new things is like my drug!! I'm addicted to it and I constantly want more of it! I want to be your pusher too!  I want to push this awesome creative vibe on to everyone.  And I'm not sorry for it!

I encourage you all to take advantage of this group.  We are not just limited to arts and crafts here. If you need a friend, a last minute babysitter, a new dinner idea, help with a move or you need to bitch about your spouse, that's what we're here for.

As always, I love you muh bitches!

Ashley-Anne

Really Not My Strong Suit

I'm not the best person to keep up a blog.  I envy those who can do it daily!  You'd think that with as much time as I WASTE on facebook that I'd be able to update every once in a while.  I keep telling myself I'm just going to do it.  But alas, I fail every time.

Lately I've been a bit on the ill side.  I've not really been able to keep any food or liquids in my system.  It's been a ton of fun, (NOT!)   Today has been the first day in a few days that I actually feel like I have a little energy. So, while I've holed my self up in the basement, doing laundry and playing bejeweled, I've decided to take advantage of the slight motivation I have.

 ATLANTA

Duh and Me in Atlanta

Duh and his Dad

The last time I wrote I was getting ready to go to Atlanta.  It was amazing! We had the pleasure of sharing a very special day with some of his long time friends.  I also had the pleasure of getting to drive through the mountains of Georgia.


 

I got a little taste of what his family does down there.  Which is quite a bit! I hope we can make it down there again just to spend more time with them.  While we were up in the mountains visiting the family work shop I got to see this really awesome VW Bug.  This was all air brushed by hand.  No stencils.  It was extremely beautiful work.  I really would have loved to have met the artist.   I also got to see some really beautiful glass art. Again, I really wish I could have met the artist.  There were some really neat and delicate pieces in her studio.  I didn't take any pictures because I didn't have her permission. I really wish I could share it though!

KITTENS!

Malcolm

 Not too long after Atlanta, I brought home the most adorable kittens in the world! Simon and Malcolm.  Poor Duh, I told him we were getting a kitten.  Not plural!  I secretly knew all along we'd get two (sorry Duh!).
We named them after a few characters from one of our many favorite SYFI TV shows, Firefly.  We are huge fans of Joss Whedon. It only seemed fitting that we name our cats after his characters.  We named our dog Boomer after a Battlestar Galactica cylon.  Gotta keep with a theme!
 

Simon

They are much, much bigger now of course.  However I love pictures of cute kittens!  And they were so cute!  They are now large and in charge! AND CRAZY! The laser pointer is a huge hit in our house!
 
I could probably blog about how cute they are everyday.  In fact I've thought about being one of those people who makes their cats famous thanks to youtube videos.  But when I asked the boys how they felt about it the ran into the other room with a quickness.

Florence + The Machine

Florence + The Machine

 Next on my list to blog about is FLORENCE!!! One of the highlights of my summer for sure!  I'm a huge Florence + The Machine  fan!  I've been in love with her for quite sometime now. I'd missed her concert the year before. And I kicked myself for it afterwards.  This year, it was a close call!  I thought I'd bought tickets online. But never finalized my purchase!  WHOOPS!  It was a sold out show!  I had to go on an intense hunt for tickets!!  I made it though! And I'm so thankful I did.  It was an amazing show!!  I was able to spend this blissful night with my dearest friends and our men folk.

 Piece of Paradise

First of many Canoe Trips

Tent City

 This summer was probably one of the best summers I've had in a long time.  My dearest friend lives on a great little piece of property down by the Blue River.  And no, it's not a van!!  This little Piece of Paradise (aka POP) has been my sanctuary.  Nothing beats floating on the river during a hot summer day. I understand why they live here. It's beautiful.  It's just far enough away from the city.  But just close enough!

Peanut Butter and River Sandwich

Duh and I mildly entertain the idea of moving closer to them so that we can have our own little POP.   I don't know if the city girl in me could do it. We don't have kids yet, and we have a pretty active social life.  The selfish part of me is by no means ready to give any of that up. But the wanna be mommy in me says it's almost time! (If you know me well, you know that's a BIG statement)  But my dearest is always talking about how adorable her boys are.  And I can agree with her.  Hearing her talk about her family has been encouraging to say the least. 


Maybe... soon(ish)!!!  Maybe!

Let Us Get Down to Business 

Craft Table Madness

Ok.  I've gotten the little bit of my personal life out there.  We all agree that I'm not the best blogger!  I'd love to have more of muh bitches write for this blog, (hint hint!)

This summer we had our first retreat.   We didn't have nearly as many people there as we wanted. But it was a great weekend regardless. We had this event down at the POP.  And it was perfect!!  We got a ton of crafting done during the day.

Barn Siding Frames - made by Ashley

 Ashley Made these really awesome custom picture frames out of old barn siding.  The siding she used that day was from her family's farm. So there was a lot of meaning behind it.  She has sense gone to get MORE!! This turned out really well.  I'm excited to see what else she comes up with.

Libby

Libby was able to come down and spend some time with us before she had to go off on one of her countless adventures.  She's a busy bee that Libby Jay!   I believe she is painting her ever famous Ketchup painting in the picture to the left.   You can find this painting hung in her apartment.  Someday it may be worth a ton of money.  At least that's what Ashley's husband, Jesse, said.  And if Jesse says it, it must be true!
 

The picture to the right is one of Amy's creations from that weekend.  Our dear sweet Amy is the Goddess of Crafts in my opinion.  She creates some of the most beautiful mixed media art.  This piece isn't finished in the picture.  I can never wait to see what she creates.  She inspires me on so many levels, it's unreal!

Ashley, Ashley-Anne(me), Amy & Glow in the dark bubbles!

The real fun didn't start until later in the evening when Amy busted out the glow in the dark bubbles and bubble machine.  We played out in the yard for what felt like hours with these bubbles.  They've now become a camping favorite of ours!  No camp out session will ever be complete without the glow in the dark bubbles.

That night we also slept out in the middle of the yard. I didn't even bother setting up my tent!  I just blew up my air mattress and slept on that.  The night sky was beautiful!! And the owls that come out to sing to us at night ... oh it's bliss!!

I wish I hadn't shattered my old phone.  I would have been able to share the video of us discovering the mice in the Cricut escapade that we had that weekend.  Poor little family of mice decided to take up residence in Ashley's Cricut! I can't even put into words how funny that whole situation was.

Last but not Least

Not too long ago a new chapter of DBWP was formed.   I had no idea this was evening happening.  From what I can tell they are off to a GREAT start!  I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting any of them. But I hope that soon we can combine forces and really have our little bitchy community grow!  

The holiday's are also right around the corner.  So that means it's time for a Holiday party!!  Last years Holiday event was hosted by our dear friend Alice and her husband James.  It's where we learned about one of our favorite games: Cards Against Humanity   I say we keep building our traditions and have an all out bash this year!!

Until next time muh bitches!! (hopefully it's not another 7 months!)