Confidence is Beautiful

Lately I've been a little down on myself, comparing myself to others and generally feeling like I am not enough. And unfortunately all for reasons I really can't explain.

But something in me snapped this week. On Monday, I took one final look at myself in the mirror and I knew it was NOW or NEVER: 

Now or never to get the body I want

Now or never to build my confidence

Now or never to gain the education I want 

Now or never to build my strength and courage

Now or never to trust. Period!

Now or never to shine and let BEAUTY take over!!!

I happened to see this and thought it was the perfect inspiration.

You know why???

Because it is so true!!!

There is nothing more beautiful than a girl or woman who is ...

Confident - in her ability to make the world a better place

Happy -  quick to smile and laugh

Anxiously engaged - brings positive energy everywhere she goes

Empowered - takes action every day to make a difference in the lives of others

 

These are my goals and it is my hope that you all will also strive to be confident, happy, engaged, and empowered in your daily life because if you don't feel that you are then it is time for change because it is NOW or NEVER!!

 

There is no more time for us to allow those around us to take away from our general self-esteem. Or to foster a habit of comparing ourselves to others in order to define and quantify our beauty.

 

Because....

Beauty is not perfect.

Beauty is knowledge.
Beauty is funny faces.

Beauty is the innocent face of a newborn child.

Beauty is tiny hands and feet.

Beauty is, wrinkles and silver hair.

Beauty is the love of parents.

Beauty is family gatherings and family laughs.

Beauty is the sunshine.

Beauty is the air and the wind.

Beauty is freedom and love.

Beauty is flowers blooming.

Beauty is the sand between your toes.

Beauty is loving and helping others.

Beauty is, loving you for you.

Beauty is, being comfortable with who you are.

Beauty is unique in everyone.

Beauty is in everything and everyone. its all around us.

BEAUTY IS CONFIDENCE!!!

AWESOMENESS!!

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story." -Barney Stinson

 I am not sure if any of you watch the television comedy, 'How I Met Your Mother' or not but if you don't, you should because it is beyond hilarious. I don't believe they are making any more seasons, but I do know that you can watch ALL the the reruns on CBS, Channel 5 in the evenings and it's the perfect show to watch when you get home from work and wanna put your footsies up. It's funny, I promise!

ANYWAY.....

This silly show has this "awesomeness" poster that hangs in one of the characters offices

.... See Below....

Yeah..this one! Shaynold and I always joke about his "awesomeness" and it's so appropriate since the poster has a jet on it, RIGHT???

So a little while ago I made him some of his very own motivational posters that are full of their very own awesomeness.

I definitely had a lot of fun making them and I'm excited to get back into creating fun artsy things like painting and whatever else I can get my little hands on, because I'm just a nerd like that. Shayne makes fun of me for it, but it's okay because it makes me happy and secretly he likes my nerdiness, I know it.

It's the simple pleasures such as this that make me remember who I am and why we should not ever forget the things we enjoy doing or that which make us full of happiness.

So with that being said......

What do you enjoy doing? What are your hobbies? And I'm not going to except, "I don't have any" because deep down there is something, simple as that. hahahaha

My <3 is full when I:

• Read
• Blog & Journal
• Create fun crafty projects
• Paint
• Decorate aka "Nesting"
• Chat with Friends near and far
• Hang out with Shaynold
• Spend time with my AWESOME family
• Bake

It's that snazzy?!! Yep, I'm REPRESSSEENTIN' ME, YO!

Happy HUMP Day...woohoo!!



XOXO

Tara Ashley

Eternity

Today I was looking through some old pictures and while I began to feel a little nostalgic, I remembered my trip I took to Utah and my wonderful visit to the Salt Lake Temple and the beauty and spirit that surrounds it.

It made me realize how much I love my church and how blessed we are to have the guidance and wisdom of our priesthood and the amazingly strong, beautiful women that make up the relief society across the world.

ETERNITY

What does that word mean to you??

To me it means that families can be sealed together forever, that the love you share never has to be broken and that it doesn't have to end after life here on Earth.

"....Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is your goal, and self-discipline will surely be required if you are to achieve it.” Thomas S. Monson

Sometimes the struggles we face to achieve this end goal can be a little overwheleming and to remain on  the straight and narrow path is not exactly a cake walk either, but that's what makes everything so worth it, because we learn from every mistake, including the small ones. We are all here in this together and with the support of those around you and strong determination we will all get there someday and Heavenly Father is going to be so very proud of all that we have accomplished.

“Under the plan of heaven, the husband and the wife walk side by side as companions, neither one ahead of the other, but a daughter of God and a son of God walking side by side. Let your families be families of love and peace and happiness. Gather your children around you and have your family home evenings, teach your children the ways of the Lord, read to them from the scriptures, and let them come to know the great truths of the eternal gospel as set forth in these words of the Almighty.” Gordon B Hinckley

I  would love to have the opportunity to be sealed to my future husband for all eternity and have the comfort of knowing he will always be by my side forever & always!! And that our children will always be apart of us. I do hope deep down that this could one day be a possibilty. <3 *Fingerscrossed*

I do believe it's time to plan another trip to Utah very soon, possibly even for General confrence next month. Great idea?

I KNOW SO!!

UTAH or BUST!!!

XOXO

Tara Ashley

Love.Anyway

My pilot is so AMAZING and I can't imagine my life without him!

Today is our official 2 month anniversary (HAHAHAHA it's a BIG one, I know) I have known him since the end of September 2010, but I honestly feel as if I have known him forever. He's become my best friend and I am so lucky to have him in my life.

Funny story about when we met.....

YEAH...I wanted nothing to do with him! Can you believe that?? And you wanna know why? Because he was a pilot in the Air Force!! HAHAHAH and all my friends who have been or are in the AF always warned me about these egotistical men....well, they had one thing right, they sure are egotistical and their erroneous behaviour is beyond anything I can describe to you. But these men and their wives have become like family and I wouldn't change them for anything. And I especially wouldn't change My Pilot and the person he is. I can't believe I almost missed my chance with him. People I seriously ignored his every text and avoided hanging out with him at all costs. And I can't really blame it all on the fact that he was a pilot, it was also because I was single and living the dream and doing me. And let me just tell you the day that we met, I was supposed to be flying to NC, but had decided against it do to a few things that had come up at the time. Crazyness!!! So, when the end of October 2010 came I finally gave into his piloty ways and happened to hang out with him and we have honestly been inseparable ever since. It took quite a bit of convincing for him to catch me, but he will tell you there is no way I could resist his awesomeness for much longer. Oh brother, right?!

Well, these crazy men had quite the party on Friday and let me just tell you I have never seen anyone as drunk and wasted as all of them were. They had what they call a naming party where they are all given some ridiculous call sign that they use when flying. The names and stories behind them are all quite entertaining too! Shaynold's call sign is, are you ready for it.............."Valdez" like the worst Exxon Valdez oil spill back in 1989, yeah, we are not exactly sure why this name was given to him, but the names that he was almost given are by far the best.

1. Le Douche-which I will call him always hahahaha

And the one he hated the most

2. Miata-yeah just like that car!! LOVE IT!!

Us girls had a great night out too while the debauchery commenced and I am so happy to have met some awesome chicks!!

At the end of the month we will know their next assignment and base they will be stationed at. It's a nerve racking time for us all, but in the end it will all work out and hopefully everyone will be happy.

Shayne really wants to go to Korea which is a smart career choice, so I hope that for his sake that dream comes true for him.

As for the two of us and our relationship we have talked about things and are going to enjoy every minute of each other and see what September brings us. We still have some time so I will follow my heart with the risk of heart brake, but it is so worth it and as Martina McBride sings in her song,

" You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons and in a moment they can choose to walk away....LOVE THEM ANYWAY!!"

I will do just that and I know that Heavenly Father will be watching over us as we venture down this path together. I pray that in the next months we can only grow closer and understand more about each other. New relationships are always fun and exciting and I just know that this is the relationship that is worth taking every risk for and I am ready for it and don't want to do anything to jeopardize everything we have together.

XOXO

Tara Ashley



Unanswered Prayers

Just the other night a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be


She was the one that I'd wanted for all times
And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again


Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers


She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn't much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all


And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thankedd the good Lord
For the gifts in my life


Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers


Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers


Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
_____________________________________________________________________
 

As 2011 starts I can't help but stop and be thankful for all my unanswered prayers throughout the past year as well as the answered too.


I have never felt as humbled and grateful for anything in my life as I have the past couple months and I have every intention of keeping it just that way.


I am so excited and pumped for the new year and I can't wait to see what it brings.
Because baby this is my year!! WOOP*WOOP*

Who am I?

I often become so wrapped up in life and everything that is happening around me that I sometimes forget who I am and what I stand for. And I think now is a better time than any for me to remind myself just that!

AND

I challenge you to take time today and really listen to your heart and remind yourself WHO YOU ARE, too!!

Relief Society Declaration:

We are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ
through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the
promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening
marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood
and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood
as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple,
understand our divine destiny,
and strive for exaltation

I am a Christian and I love being LDS! I yearn to be closer to Heavenly Father and be an active member of the church. I'm a twenty-something year old young lady with the world at my finger tips, I have the ability to become whatever it is I choose. I'm a Daughter, my Mom's Baby, a Sister, a Cousin to many, a Best Friend to few, and an Auntie too!! I adore my family and friends and am passionate about helping others. Whether it be in the medical field or just in every day life, it gives me a sense of purpose that keeps my clock ticking.

A little Bit About Me:

Birthday: December 15th

Hometown: West Side, Arizona

 Favorite Colors: Pink, Turquoise, Purple ohh and Green too!!

Favorite Movies: Sweet Home Alabama, The Notebook, My Best Friends Wedding

Dream Job: Nurse / Ultrasound Sonographer / a Mom / a Wedding-Party Decorator

Favorite Food: Mexican Food

Favorite Dessert: Oreos!!!

Hobbies: Crafts, Decorating, Journaling, Reading, Spending time with Family & Friends, Dancing, Boating, Duning, Swimming, Working out, Watching my favorite TV shows

Favorite Thing to do with Friends: Sit around doing nothing and chat about anything that comes to mind

A Little Bit About What I Want to Be:

The Best Wife My Husband EVER had!

A Patient, Loving, Super Clean, Fun Mom

Fitness Guru / Health Nut Too

Organized Woman

A Role Model to those around me

A Best Friend- the best you could have

An Amazing Listener, that's always there

A Well Educated and Wise Lady.

A Giver-of my time and love

A Gracious Receiver

A Traveled Woman

Life goes on!!!

I guess things happen for a reason, tears eventually fade and one day everything will be exactly how it's supposed to be. MOVING ON is a process and you have to PROMISE YOURSELF that you are really READY TO LET GO!

And a life support of family and friends helps too!!!

So.....

As Rascal Flatts says, "I'm Moving On"

I'd say that this year has been one of the hardest in my life thus far and I don't ever wish to be here again. I've been in the darkest of places for far too long and I've come to realize that just because one person doesn't love you like you want, it doesn't mean that at one point they didn't love you with everything they had. A year ago I would never have imagined I'd be where I am today. I've loved, I've lost, I've hurt, I've learned, I've forgiven and been forgiven and I've done many things I promised myself I'd never do, but the fact is, I did!

And you know what??? God is still there!! He as been holding me up this whole time and for that I am thankful.

 I've learned to actually DEAL with the pain, the loss and the regret instead of putting it in the back of the closet because "it is too hard to deal with." I know far too many people who brush everything under the rug and pretend everything is "okay." They become something they aren't and end up hiding there "skeletons in the closet" and with Halloween right around the corner, I don't think I can handle any ghosts!

I've learned that IT'S OKAY TO CRY when your sad or hurt and its ok to not be "perfect" all the time, because everyone has something going on in their lives and believe it or not if you just sit down and talk to someone around you, they possibly have gone through something very similar or are going through their own rough patch. I can definitely say that I have made more friends this year then ever before. All the while finding out who my real friends are. And I want to tell them all THANK YOU!!! You have helped me more than you will ever know, I am so thankful to have people there to lean on. That goes for my family too...I don't want to say that they haven't been there for me because they certainly have.

The most important words I've learned this year...

LIFE.GOES.ON! 

Believe it or not, it does! It goes by so fast too that's why you can't waste time on the ground, you have to push through the adversity so you come back standing stronger then ever before.

And that's exactly what I'm doing!

I'm moving on with my life because you can't live in the past and keep wishing things could have been different and there certainly is no Hot Tub Time Machine here. Haha!

So here I go living for the present and the future...I'm not promising that everyday is gonna be rainbows and butterflies, but it has to be brighter than yesterday.

Here is to...MOVIN' ON & holding true to the promise I have made with myself  because I can't share my life with anyone until I find myself  lost in my own happiness.