Well hello there! I’m glad that you’ve decided to join me once again for another wonderful installment of Diva Lessons! I guess you truly understand that it is the most important education of all! This is the ultimate truth. For this post, I want to tell you all about Thanksgiving. In order to be a Diva, you pass a lot of little people beneath you. Sometimes, you might step on some people, but such is life. Other people will help you along your journey, and these people will be there to lift you to your true potential. That’s why this week’s lesson is so important! It’s all about giving thanks to those who have helped you, in any way, to get where you are and what you have today. So, that’s why this lesson for this post is Diva Lesson #14: Give Thanks.

On Tuesday, I went home for the first time since August. It was really nice to be home, and my dad and sister came to pick me up. When I got home, my grandma was there! It was great to see her, since she was visiting from Florida for the holiday. I went and got a haircut, and obviously I went to Starbs too. I finally was able to buy the reusable drink sleeve that I’ve been hunting down for weeks! It was wonderful. That night, I saw my cousin and some friends, and we went to Chili’s. We usually have this waitress who looks like Uma Thurman, but she wasn’t there for once that time! Mixed emotions on that one. On Wednesday, I got to spend some time with friends, and went up to the high school for an event with one of my old teachers. It was nice to be back, but it sort of felt weird to see all of the younger students there who I didn’t recognize.

Thursday of course, was Thanksgiving. My uncle, his wife, and my cousin all came down from Boston to be with us, and my grandma was with us too. My grandpa, aunt, uncle, and cousin who also live on Long Island came over to my house, and we were all together there. It was a seriously classy affair. I was using a Waterford goblet, and it was wonderful. It was so nice to be surrounded by family, and people who care about me so much. The whole atmosphere of the house is wonderful on Thanksgiving. The smells, the food, the family, and everything else. Of course, I had to make a trip to Starbs as well. Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like a latte, if I do say so myself. Thanksgiving was pretty uneventful overall, but it was so nice to just be surrounded by my family and be able to be home and relax. That night, my sister and I watched Rabbit Hole. Nicole Kidman was flawless in it. The movie was super sad, but it was done so well. Loves it. It’s a winner, as long as you don’t mind crying a bit.

The next day was Friday! Gotta always love Friday. The day was pretty much uneventful. I pretty much spent it doing homework and laying around the house, enjoying my time off. I watched some Skins, which is one of my favorite tv shows, and spent more time with my family. That was pretty much it. What can I say? Not every day can be eventful! Saturday was a wonderful day though! I started out by doing some homework once again. It was great to be so productive! Then, my dad and I got lunch from a local sandwich place, and then I went to Best Buy with him to do some shopping. I bought Black Swan, and I also managed to sneak in Charlie St. Cloud (what can I say? I can only resist Zac Efron for so long, and I finally had to cave.) After that, we went to Starbs (obviously) before heading home. Once we were home, we had a great family dinner, and then I got to spend some time with my friend Erin. We took a trip to Starbs (yes, I went twice in one day. Do not judge me, I am aware I have a problem.) The barista remembered my name and everything. It was pretty hilarious and ridiculous. We watched Black Swan together, and it was perfect (sorry, I couldn’t resist making the reference). It was a pretty wonderful day, to be sure.

Finally, Sunday came around and it was time to head back up to school. Kyleen drove me back up, and we were able to spend some time listening to music and catching up with each other. Due to traffic, it took us a little while to get back. When I got back, I obviously immediately went to Starbs and had a lovely conversation with the barista there about Women’s Studies. Then, I went over to my friend’s suite and spent some time with Sarah and Jon, and just hung out with them for the night, waiting for Lindsay to come back. Then, it was back to the regular routine with an advocacy committee meeting, and back to classes on Monday!

We’re in the homestretch of the semester now, with only two weeks left of classes, and then only finals after that! I so look forward to being able to spend a greater amount of time, and spend some much needed time with friends from home who I haven’t seen in a long time too. It’s just about getting my game face on, and making things happen. Keeping up is going to be key. It’ll be worth it though, I’m sure. It’ll be interesting to see what the rest of the semester has in store.

Over the course of Thanksgiving, it was wonderful to be able to spend some time with my family and the people who care so much about me. It made me think about how thankful I am for all of the great people and things I have going on in my life. It’s so important to be thankful, especially when you’re a Diva. Always remember the people who help you reach your true potential, and to become a full on Diva! That’s why this lesson is titled Diva Lesson #14: Give Thanks. See you next time!

Extra Credit!!

Count the amount of times I went to Starbs over Thanksgiving break! I’m sure it’ll be a ridiculous amount.

If you haven’t seen any of the movies I talked about in this post, or Skins (the UK one of course), watch them all immediately if not sooner.

I have an OL staff meeting tomorrow!! I’m looking forward to see everyone. The staff meetings are always a lot of fun, and I think we’re getting holiday cards to send out to our students.

I have a lot of work to catch up on still and complete, which I’m not looking forward to, but I’m just trying to do the best that I can, and making it through.

Finally, this is a very exciting and important weekend! It’s my friend Sam’s birthday on Friday AND the one and only Britney Spears is turning 30! Celebration plans are still in the work, but I know it will be phenomenal.

I am so sorry I have not been able to upload this any earlier as I had said I would! It took forever to upload an 11 min long video… Anyway, I hope some of you find some comedy/craziness in this! Black Friday 2011 @ midnight @ Walmart. <3

Seeya soon!

PS GO TO CONDOM CASINO TONIGHT. It is sponsored by the Residence Hall Student Association, and it is from 8-11 PM in the Student Union Multipurpose Room!

CLICK ME! —> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oki_2SKY9Dk

Hellohello everyone! We’re back with another installment of the Diva Lessons! I know you’re all excited, so gear up for it! Once again, I am here to share with you my infinite knowledge in all things Diva! (Don’t hate, appreciate!) This week, I want to focus of the importance of a positive mind set. Having a positive mind set is so important, because when you stay positive, you can accomplish anything! That’s why this week, I bring you Diva Lesson #13: Be Positive!

Last week and the week before, I was a little in over my head. Lots of things were going on, and I had some quick catch up work to do before heading home for the holiday break. This meant switching it into hyper gear (also known as Tyra-gear) quickly in order to push through and get it all done. A key to working this way in being time efficient. You think that Tyra made it to all of her go-sees to get recruited by designers by slacking off and getting behind?! Think again. You have to work through it. You stay on top of everything, and get through it in the best and most time efficient way you can. But that’s just the start.

Now here at Diva Lessons, we aren’t tryn’a front. We always keep it real. Realness is essential. When I was trying to get everything that I needed to done, it would have been easy to feel overwhelmed. At times, I did feel that way a little bit. But that’s what this lesson is for! The most important part of working through these moments, in being positive. In a positive mind set, you don’t let yourself get down, or worry too much about things. This may be true for many of you, because I know it’s true for me: Your biggest critic is that Diva looking back at you in the mirror. Sometimes, it can be hard to live up to our own expectations, especially when you have such high ones for yourself, as any rightful person who considers themselves a Diva, or even Diva-In-Training (you think the Dreamgirls got where they did without high expectations?! I should say nay!) So sometimes, we just have to be a little bit easier on ourselves. We have to consider all that we do, or try to do, and know that we are trying our best and working to the best of our ability. Nothing else matters.

Let’s take a moment to consider a real life Diva example! Take that Diva Britney Spears for example (who, I might add, is turning 30 on Friday! This is a big deal, in case you haven’t realized) Obviously, she had her moment and hit her low. We all remember when she shaved her head, and went on a rampage doing crazy things like smashing minivans with an umbrella. Those were the dark days (conveniently, he album around that time was called Blackout. Go figure! Maybe she was planning it all along). But you know what? She didn’t stay down. You can’t keep a good Diva down! She picked herself back up, grew her hair back, and then came back with two wonderful new albums (Circus and Femme Fatale) and had phenomenal tours to go along with them as well! I think this is because she remembered to stay positive. She didn’t let herself get defeated. Instead, she took advantage of the oppertunity in front of her to improve, and get better, and made the most of it. She is a shining example of what can happen when you stay positive, and focus on the good things, especially when you think you have a lot to work through.

The bottom line is this: When we’re working through a lot of things at once, they can seem overwhelming. However, no matter what assignment or work, or whatever else lies ahead of you, the most important tool that you’ll have is the ability to stay positive, and work through it! Sure, we may not shine through every bit of it. We might stumble, and fall short of our own expectations from time to time, but it’s important to realize that that’s okay. It’s okay because you stayed positive, didn’t give up, and tried your best. Always remember to stay positive, and you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish. I know that helped me a lot, and despite everything I had to (or still have to) do, I’m working through it, and staying positive about trying my best. Be your own best friend, not your own worst enemy. That’s a good place to start. And of course, the best place to start is with this lesson, Diva Lesson #13: Be Positive!

Extra Credit!

Smize (smile with your eyes, of course!). Just do it.

Heyhey everyone! Life has been utterly crazy. No excuses, or anything of that matter. We just keep moving forward! That’s the only thing there is to do. For this lesson, instead of talking about classes and things of that nature, I’m just gonna talk about my friends. Coming here to college, I have found an amazing group of friends to surround myself with. They’re always there for me, no matter what I need. I think that having such a strong group of friends is essential, because you always need people there who are willing to support you, and help you get through whatever is going on in your life. I think this becomes the most apparent when we find ourselves in times of need. I’ve been staying in my friend’s suite with all of them, and it’s been just what I needed. I think that going to college, you’re able to meet a very diverse group of people, and meet all of these people from different backgrounds with their own stories and paths which they are following. Sometimes, your path will cross with those of others, and sometimes your paths become linked or connected. It may not be for long, or it might be forever. You never know. The point is to make the most of it, and enjoy them, however long they may last. Let’s think about building a house: The most important part of the house (besides the decor and furnishings, obviously!) would be the foundation. Without a strong foundation, nothing would be able to get done! You would have nothing to build off of, to ground yourself with. It works the same way with friends. Without a strong foundation to support you, things can be harder than you would like them to be. That’s why they’re so essential. I’m lucky to have such a great group of people, and I’m so thankful that they have entered my life, because so many people here are some of the best friends I’ve ever had. They’re life-savers. Literally. I think that’s really all I have to say for now. This may be a short lesson, but there’s an important take-away. Always surround yourself with friends who you trust and who will support you. They’re the ones that matter most! So always remember Diva Lesson #12: Friends, friends, friends.

Hello all of my readers!

So I have literally been uploading this video for you ALL DAY. It was taking a few hours in the morning, then I stepped away from my computer because I had to get blood work… and then when I got home later that day, it was frozen at 73%. So now, the video is at 50% and it has been uploading for 3 hours. I have no idea why it is so slow, but I will make another post in a few hours with a link to the video!

Anyway, a lot has been going on with me right now! I will start with what I’m personally the most excited for… on Tuesday, Nov 22 at 3:34 PM I found out that I was hired for a position with the Welcome Center! I am honestly soooo excited to get to know the staff and learn more about the school. I feel like having this position will overall make me a much more well-rounded person. If you want to find out more information about the Welcome Center, click this link: http://www.newpaltz.edu/welcomecenter/

Also, I have some things to share with you guys! My grandma went to visit my uncle in the Netherlands for like 2-3ish weeks, and she brought me back a magnet and a necklace! Here is a picture of it, which I saw Tuesday night after coming home:

isn't it pretty! i am wearing it as i blog this :p

Also, another thing I have to show you all is my first ever “scarf.” Basically, I didn’t count the stitches because I thought, “how is it possible to add or drop stitches? I just keep doing what I did before.” Well, obviously, I was wrong. This is what it looks like:

Yeah. It’s not even a matter of perspective. It’s just that wide. I stood up and took it from afar. SOOOO! Now I am knitting another scarf and I am being very conscious and always counting stitches… and it is actually coming out to look like a scarf!

Also, today I went to see ^^^^^^. Movies in Long Island are SO expensive! We went matinee (am I even spelling that right? hmmm..) and that was 9 dollars per person! Then, a large number one, which is one large popcorn and one large soda was 13.50! Outrageous! Overall, though, the movie was alright. It had it’s moments that were cute, and there were many cameos from other stars in it! I love love LOVE Adam Sandler. Billy Madison, Anger Management, Spanglish, 50 First Dates.. you name em all, and I love em all. But lately, I feel like his movies are not the same. Let’s take Funny People, for instance. I didn’t like it! I felt like it was just people looking for an excuse to be profane and dirty. Then, Bedtime Stories, Grown Ups, and this movie are like… too family friendly? I don’t know a family friendly film here and there is nice but I just wish he would do some teen appropriate things. Ah well, that’s just my opinion.

Nothing else that major is really going on. I’m mad tired from making the video, which I really can’t wait for you all to see. The video is 52% uploaded. I am sure my laptop wants to kill me, it’s so overheated it’s not even funny. Oh well. A woman’s gotta do what a woman’s gotta do

Well, thank you for reading my blog everybody! I promise within the next day or so I will have the video up that is taking legitimately hours to upload, and I will keep you updated with all of the exciting things that have been going on in my life!

Until then! Tell me all about your Thanksgiving! :]

- Ashley!! :]]]]]]]]

Hi hi!!

I got to say, this week was beyond hectic- I stayed up until 5:30am last night doing a paper so I apologize if I pass out as I write this Don’t follow my bad example! I’m going back to my time management tips blog right now haha…

Anyways, there were 2 highlights of my week, which both occurred this past Wednesday. First off, it was my boyfriend’s birthday so I knit him a scarf and bought him some swim jammers (a men’s bathing suit). He really liked them both so I was happy

Second, I got to go to Lincoln Center to see this beyond awesome play called “War Horse.” “War Horse” is Broadway’s must-see of the season. It won 5 Tony Awards this year and is the best play I have ever seen, truly. Check out this awesome preview video on their website: War Horse!

The best part of this play is the use of life-size puppets of guess what- horses!! The play follows the story of Albert and his young horse Joey, who grows to be a big and fast running horse. I have never seen puppetry like this and it truly is a sight to see. The story is one of love, lose, war, and family and is very touching. I was on the verge of tears by the end, and many of my fellow students did cry.

Don’t believe me? Check out it out: Joey the Puppet horse

It was an evening filled with joy and tears, and Pinkberry Frozen yogurt ( I got chocolate froyo with brownie bits, white chocolate shavings, and pink m&ms!!! A chocolate attack).

So check it out! Have a great weekend