As promised, this part of “my story” is going to talk about the past 1.5yrs of my life.
Our Story:
I left off with Chris + I getting married. Here is a little history of us…
We met our sophomore year at Ohio State through a mutual friend. We were pretty much inseparable after our first date [we went snowboarding!] Chris was a large part of my success in school. He kept me calm and confident. He reassured me when I thought I was doomed at my next architecture review. I think we have a great balance in our relationship and that is why we work. We both LOVE the outdoors and being active [among many other things], which let’s us share a lot of amazing experiences together. We do have our own likes + dislikes though. Chris is more into cycling, and I’m more into running. I like going on walks + painting, while Chris enjoys reading. We do both enjoy photography too, but different types [food + landscape]. I know I wouldn’t be as far + happy in my life if I didn’t have him by my side.
Chris asked me to marry him on our 4th year dating anniversary, in Charleston, SC. We were both 24 and the wedding was scheduled 1yr + 4 months later, after I was finished with grad school. We really tried to put our own creative spin on our wedding day.
Travis from Fuse Photographic took these photos. Travis + Laura normally shoot as a team, but Laura was in my wedding 
Honeymoon to Ireland = The most amazing trip ever
Desk Job For a Year:
I found a job at the end of that summer with an architecture firm in Charlotte, NC. The day I started working there, Chris was laid off. He is a civil engineer, which was a field that was quickly drying up quick in Charlotte. We had been wanting to move to Colorado for some time, so Chris started searching for jobs in NC and CO. I started searching for jobs in CO, while maintaining my job in Charlotte.
Later that winter [‘08] is when I started the ota.bar business, decided to run a 1/2 marathon and take my LEED AP test. Phew! Oh yeah, and I completed a design competition with Laura just for fun. I was busy to say the least!
Running:
I really started running in late summer of 2007. I have always worked out a lot but never enjoyed running, at all! Before this, I had run 1, 5k while at Ohio State. One day I just decided I was going to like running and soon after I actually did! I started out s.l.o.w. Even though I was in shape, I wasn’t in running shape! I literally couldn’t run more than 1/2 mile without stopping to walk. I would do 5min running, 5min walking for 30min or so to start off. I slowly increased the running and decreased the walking. I signed up for the Susan G. Komen 5k [in Charlotte] with a couple girls. We ran together a few times, which really helped keep up the motivation.
At this point, I still wasn’t sold on running. I remember completing the 5k and thinking it was SO far Well, after that, I continued running and upped my mileage to 4miles and then 5! I couldn’t believe my progress. [I run at about a 10min mile pace] So, in late winter of ‘08, I was thinking I would try running a 10k but I could already run 5 miles and didn’t think it would be a hard enough challenge. Half marathon anyone? I signed up and never looked back. I trained by myself and couldn’t believe my progress. Each Sunday I would run 1 mile further. I remember my mom was in town when I had to run my first 6 miler. She came to the park with me and walked while I ran and we met after I was done. I could NOT believe I ran 6 miles.
My parents came down from Ohio, for the race. Chris was there too and a bunch of friends met me at the finish line. I finished!! With no problems! What the heck!? Here I was, 8 months prior, running 5min + walking 5min. It is so much about mental stamina with these types of challenges. I hope to participate in more races in the future. I am not sure if I’ll be signing up for any marathons but you never know. For the past year or 2, I have had a sprint triathlon on my mind. The part that scares me the most is biking!!
To the West we go:
In the summer of 2009, we finally made the decision to just pack up and move to CO, with or without jobs. We loved Charlotte and loved our friends but knew it was time for a new adventure. We decided to move in early September and Pat + Natalie [Chris’s bro + wife] were kind enough to let us move in with them until we got on our feet.
It was a crazy summer with my full time job, the ota.bar business, and looking for new jobs in CO. We were unsuccessful with the later but moved out anyway. The past few years have been anything less than predictable, and we’re learning to be okay with that. We try not to get ahead of ourselves and take things one step at a time.
Photos, thanks to the always fabulous Fuse Photographic!
As always, thanks for stopping by!!
Ashley
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[...] Fast Forward [...]
hey you! i love you and your story!! you are beautiful!!
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Ashley Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:45 am
Thank you!! <3 yOU!
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Sounds like a great adventure that you are on… I cant wait to hear that you and your husband are both employed and loving the jobs that you will have!! I also really love your determination to not have a remedial life where you have a never ending cycle of going and sitting at work and coming home and sitting. It sounds like you want to have some fun in life!!
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Ashley Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:44 am
Thank you SO much
I cannot wait for the day we are both employed either!! I decided awhile ago I can’t just “settle” with my job. It’s scary but feels good at the same time!
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Hey there! I saw your link posted on KERF this morning and I’m glad I clicked on it because your blog is beautiful! I’m interested in reading more because I live in CO as well. Just moved here last August and I’m in LOVE. Such a wonderful place, isn’t it? Can’t wait to read about more of your adventures!
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Ashley Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Oooh awesome! I’m having a blogger meet up at my house on Feb. 13th! If you’re interested in coming let me know! I’ll have more info in the next week or so…we’re going to have a potluck.
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Katie Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
hey-
i also found your blog through KERF! i’m curios to know where in CO you moved and how you like it so far? i often think about how great it would be to move out west
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I also linked here from KERF and really enjoyed reading this. What would you consider your perfect job? I live in Boulder. : )
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Ashley Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Oh my gosh…perfect job? I don’t even know how to wrap my head around that question right now, haha
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Hi Ashely, saw your link from KERF, lovely pics. looking forward to reading more of your blog. thanks and hope you both get a job of your choice soon!
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hey ashley – found your blog through kath, and as a fellow architect [and big 10 alumni!], i can totally relate to much of what you said here – sitting behind a desk for 8hrs a day just doesn’t seem as fulfilling as i thought it would be. good luck figuring things out!
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Ashley Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Heck ya, archi big 10! Thanks!
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I absolutely loved reading your story. You and I are in a similar boat, as far as leaving a job to do something else, etc etc. I work out of my home and it’s definitely not the most lucrative thing I’ve done. I will definitely be following your blog. I’m looking forward to see how things go for you. I wish you tons of luck, my friend.
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Wow, it’s almost surreal how much your story parallels mine and my husband’s. Congrats to you on your {inner} journey. Your food pics are amazing, as well as your recipes. So glad I stumbled upon your site.
Take care.
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Hello. I stumbled across your blog from tastespotting.com. I love it…so fresh. I’m glad that you are liking Colorado. I moved here several years ago myself. I live in Longmont. I’ll check back on your posts. Chris
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Ashley Reply:
February 4th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Awesome! Thanks for stopping by!
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ASHLEY! Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog! I love your story, and do wish we could have met while you were in Charlotte. NoDa is my favorite place, so jeals ya’ll lived there.
And packing up and moving cross country is so awesome. I hope I have the guts to do that someday.
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Hello, I’ve just stumbled upon your blog and it’s a treat
Such gorgeous photos and delectable (and healthy!) eats 
That’s quite an inspiring story too, I wish you all the best and brightest for the future 
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I can so related to never feeling 100% happy with myself. I think we all understand how hard it is to find a good job, be a good wife, be a good mother, etc. It isn’t easy but you seem to be doing a great job! Beautiful photos.
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Ashley Reply:
February 28th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Thanks girl!!!
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I just laughed so hard at the “what do I do all day without a job?” part because I’m in the same boat. Secretly, I love funemployment + freelance writing. Sometimes. I just posted today about my next step to figuring out what the f I am going to do with my life haha… I wish you the best of luck in figuring that out for yourself, as well
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Ashley, I love your outlook on life! I, like Sarah above, got a giggle out of the “what do I do all day without a job?” part.
Following a recent move with my husband, I took on a part time job teaching because it was the only one available that I liked. My husband and I joked about what I would do with “all my free time.” Now that I’ve plunged into the blogging world, I see how I could easily be occupied with no “real” job at all!
Congrats on the great work!
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Hi Ashley – I am SOOO glad I found your blog! Your photography is to die for – total eye candy
I feel like I associate with you so much – I just quit my job last week because it is just not right for me, so come next week I will be unemployed but ready for the adventure of finding something I am passionate about!
I’m looking forward to following you on your journey!
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Ashley Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Thanks!! Likewise to you!
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It’s great to read about your running/wedding/moving stories! I remember the first time I ran 7 miles in college I was ELATED! What a great feeling.
My hubby and I honeymooned in Colorado this summer. I’m so jealous you get to live there!
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Wow, you have an awesome blog! I’m glad I stumbled across it (got here through Heather’s Dish). I wish you the best of luck in the future & can’t wait to read more of your bloggie
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I stumbled across your blog while I was doing a random search for a recipe and I have to say that I’m glad to have found it. I can totally relate to you in so many ways. I also attended architecture school, am a “lady of leisure” a.k.a unemployed, am a wife, a health nut, and am starting to develop a love for running.
I’m excited to have found your blog and I look forward to reading new post/recipes. Keep up the awesome work!
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Ashley Reply:
April 2nd, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Aw thanks so much girl. We do sound really similar!!
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Hi! I’ve been lurking for a while and finally decided to say hi. I loved reading your story. I’m sure you get this a lot, but I felt like there were a lot of similarities with your story and mine. The blog and food are great too. Will definitely be checking in often.
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Your story is absolutely amazing!!!
Love your blog!
And I completely agree with your philosophy on food and I eat about the same way
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Ashley Reply:
April 13th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Thank youuuuuu
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hey girl -
love your blog! you are gorgeous by the way!
quick question – do you count calories? i think you have a pretty good idea of calories when you pack your food by reading your posts, but i was wondering if you know how many you eat, being so active. i recently lost a lot of weight, and am now just trying to maintain, and i have no idea REALLY how many calories i need and would love another bloggers opinion. the online calculator things are so inaccurate, and i don’t want to get that obsessive with it.
thanks girl for hearing me out!!!
-r
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AWESOME STORY! I just read the whole thing. I’m glad that you are happy with your life despite not having a job right now. It’ll come. Meanwhile, like you said, enjoy living life!
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Loved reading your story! I can’t believe I haven’t found your blog sooner. A lot of your story is similar to mine. Looking forward to keeping up with your blog.
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Ashley Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Thanks for checking out my blog!!
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Oh my goodness! I just found your blog! I absolutely love it!! I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to find it — but I’m glad I have now! I loved your story and look forward to reading your posts as well
Yay new blog friend!! hehe 
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Ashley Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Thank you so much!!
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I’ve been reading your blog for the last 20 minutes and I LOVE it. Your story is so incredible. Can’t wait to read more! I’m hooked!
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Ashley Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Thank YOU!
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I enjoyed so much reading your story about life/food/running/career… it’s so inspiring!!! and your pics are gorgeous!! I’ll definitely read more
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Ahhhh HERE’s where I saw those FUSE photos. They are amazing! I wish I had the courage you two had to just pick up and move. To free yourselves and seek out happiness. That’s something we’re trying to work on. Even though we just want to move one hour away, it seems impossible! Some days it makes me want to cry how I can’t just be free from what’s making me feel awful (my job, my city, not having many friends who live in my city, etc.). You’re such an inspiration, Ashley!
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I’ve been reading your blog for a while and am now just commenting! I find you so inspiring and love all your barefoot posts!! I’ve just gotten into the barefoot/VFF running and have been LOVING IT! My husband and I will be moving to CO this January and it’s been so nice to see some pictures and hear things about Denver!
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Ashley, I can’t believe I’ve never been to your blog before! But so glad I found it! You are an inspiration to us all
Love your about page! How gorgeous you were on your wedding day!
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Ashley Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Thank you so much. Your sweet comment means so much!!
Thanks for saying hi too!
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Hi Ashley! I’ve recently stumbled across your blog and have been hooked since! I love finding other CO bloggers, and you have such a great writing style and awesome photos! I can’t wait to read more
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Ashley Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Thanks for saying hi and for the flattering complements. Much appreciated!
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I can’t believe it took me this long to find your blog! I live in Boulder.
I’ll be sure to keep reading.
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Ashley Reply:
September 30th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for saying HI Clare!
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first time visitor…love your blog! I can relate to the staying at home/blogging/baking/ thing…I do run an artisan baking business from my home now, which is a dream come true!
Love,
Cathy B. @ brightbakes
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Ashley Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Thanks for saying hi!! Ooooh, your baking business sounds amazing..I must check out your blog!
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we have so much in common, I am actually from Columbus (my dad works for OSU) and I am moving to Denver in may! I am so glad you’ll be going to fbzfest, it’ll be great to meet someone who lives where I am moving! Love the blog btw
Whit @ Amuse Bouche
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Ashley Reply:
October 14th, 2010 at 9:39 am
That’s crazy! Can’t wait to meet you!!
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I’m binge reading your blog. Thank you and goodbye.
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Ashley Reply:
October 18th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
LOL!!!!! I love you already
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I just found you- love your blog- I am currently in Cleveland:)
Go Bucks….
Anyways…Curious on your training method for the 1/2 marathon- I am right now comfortable with 5k…
Ansy help would be great!!
Thanks
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Ashley Reply:
October 24th, 2010 at 10:28 am
YAaah, go bucks! I basically just looked up different plans online and kind of merged 3 together. I new it was doable once I could run 5 miles. Just start with a beginner plan…I remember one plan I looked at was Hal Higdon’s. I ran the 3-4 mile distance for a few months to get my body used to running and then tried the five miles and went on from there!
Good luck!
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Awww. Love your revamped About section. We’re trying to do something different, too. I always forgot how close in age we are! Like 25 days apart. Woah. And, you two are adorable. That photo of you atop the mountain looks like it could be in an adventure catalog. <3
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Aww do you have a Boxer?? My husband and I are looking to get one soon. I am head over heels in love with them! These seem like amazing dogs.
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Ashley, your story is really inspiring and hits home with me. I’m currently working part time and planning and dreaming about finding the job that’s right for me. It’s amazing that you and your husband left ‘home’ to start fresh. I love a good adventure!
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Ashley Reply:
January 6th, 2011 at 12:23 am
Thanks Lisa! I’m still on the search…we’ll both figure it out one day!! All the best to you!
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Aw, I used to frequent Tailgate farmers market! Wonder if you were there then… so neat about your Ota bar business! Also, I am a runner too, and loooove it! Gives me such a peace of mind… I bet the running out west is fantastic! All those views…
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Ashley Reply:
January 10th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
How cool!! I looooved that market! I was there in summer of ’09.
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So lovely to read your bio and hear about your thesis. I’m a landscape architect, and I too see fascinating correlations between the industrialization of landscapes/architecture and the modernization and destruction of our food source systems. In the five years since college and marriage, I’ve been at a landscape architecture firm for my day job, and then I’ve been using extra time to help form a network of local women who are journeying together and learning about holistic/sustainable food choices. It’s great run across your path out here on the www. Keep up the good work!
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Ashley Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Thanks for reading!! What you’re doing in your spare time sounds completely fabulous!!!! Very commendable.
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Bethany ~ Sustainable Food For Thought Reply:
March 4th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Thanks so much
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Ash! I had NO IDEA you were an Ohio girl! I went to OU! I am so inspired by your travels, just up and moving. I see myself doing that for sure…sista needs to evolve and change.
Anyway, love love love your blog and your beautiful spirit!
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Ashley Reply:
March 10th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Yaaah! Awesome! Thanks so much Kailey…too sweet!
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Hey Ashley….
I can totally relate to your story!!!! My god, it’s like reading about me. Yet I am Dutch and living in Milan. All crazy things. Just set up my own blog but that I would like to share with the world. it’s an international cooking club.
if you feel like joining… have a look.
until then i will follow your blog! hope we can cook or run together some day.
baci from milan Steph
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Ashley Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
That sounds awesome! I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for saying hi!!
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you are so beautiful inside and oat!i absolutly love colorado and cannot wait to move there when I graduate!
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Ashley Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Thank you so much. Your comment means a lot!
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Hi Ashley! I was curious if you could share your training methods with me! I am currently trying to become a better runner and I am like you were when you first began, not able to run more than 1/2 mile without stopping to walk! I know I can get better just looking for a little motivation and training tips!?! Thanks!
Dakota
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Ashley Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Hi Dakota! You might want to check out the “couch to 5k” program. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Basically it helps you train from not much exercise to being able to safely run a 5k. I basically made sure to get out and run every other day, and I would run that 1/2 mile at a time, then walk, then run more. But since I couldn’t track my distance I used time. So I would run for 5min then walk until I caught my breath…about 2min. Then I would run another 5, and so on. Every week I slowly upp’d the running time more and more, until finally I didn’t need to talk and could run for 2 miles. In the same year I ended up running a half marathon! This is just what worked for me. I’m not a professional trainer, so take my advice with caution.
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Just found your blog and you are adorable! Looking forward to going through older posts.
Come say hi!
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Ashley Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Aw, thanks Dana!! I just checked out your blog and found Ashley and her “shine” project!! SO cool…I’m ordering two necklaces!!
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Oh my goodness I am loving your blog! I am from CO (I live in Loveland!!) and definitely share your passion for this gorgeous state
so glad I found your bog!
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Ashley Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Thanks for saying hi Jordan!!
Gotta love Colorado!
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I just love that your name is Ashley and your husbands name is Chris. My name is Ashley and my husbands name is Chris
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Ashley Reply:
July 31st, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Oh now that is just too funny. We know SO many Chris’s…it’s kind of ridiculous!
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What a coincidence! Several years ago I hauled off to Denver without a job too! ( I live in NYC now). I hope you guys are taking advantage of the glorious weather, amazing skiing/boarding and frizz-free hair days!! Looking forward to reading more from you:)
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Ashley Reply:
August 26th, 2011 at 12:27 am
We definitely are!!! We love it here and spend a lot of time outside. Definitely love the frizz-free hair!
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You live in Denver?! Ahh! Me too. Love, love, love it here.
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Ashley Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
OMG…just looked at your blog!! I LOVE IT. We need to meet!
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