Life Archives - Page 83 of 92 - Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo

Eminent Domain for Puppies?!

November 17, 2009 by Ashley Hackshaw

I had to share because I just think this photo is hilarious. Last year I bought this great little Advent calendar and I was so excited this weekend to start filling it up with little notes and goodies…..BUT Sienna confiscated it this weekend……as her new “Puppy Hotel”:

Eminent Domain for Puppies?! via lilblueboo.com
We put up our Christmas decorations this weekend. I have to confess though: I’m NOT a “holiday” person. I can’t stand putting things out that will have to be put away a few weeks later. I’m getting better now that I have a daughter…..I never even used to put up a Christmas tree until “Boo” was born (I know….Bah Humbug).

So why did I decorate so early? I want to maximize the “days per year” that the decorations can be used….because I also can’t stand for decorations to be up longer than a day or two AFTER a holiday. Don’t worry, I’m not a complete “scrooge”…..I’m just not “used” to the big holidays. I rarely got Christmas presents growing up….my family always took a ski trip instead. We spent every day skiing, every night playing board games and cooking dinner together and would find a local church to celebrate Jesus’s birthday. As soon as Sienna is old enough to keep up with all of us on the ski slope we’ll continue the tradition!

The holiday thing is growing on me….the decorations DO make the house look warm and festive!

Wedding Part V: Preview

November 10, 2009 by Ashley Hackshaw

We are back from my sister and Justin’s wedding in Charlotte, NC. Every detail was perfect: the bagpipes, my dad rolling a golf ball as he walked my sister across the putting green, my dad and sister singing Rocky Top as a duet, Sienna dancing for 4 hours straight! I am not going to even post photos from the ceremony or reception until Ash Little’s are ready….mine won’t even do it justice. But I thought I’d post some photos from the days before right up to zipping the dress!

Here are all the gift bags and welcome baskets my sister and Justin made:

A stack of flip-flops for the bridesmaids so we wouldn’t have to wear our heels at the reception:

Justin’s sister Jenny made all of the jewelry for the bridesmaids….

…..and this Swarovski Crystal and pearl bracelet for Perry on her wedding day. Isn’t it amazing?

Thousands of golf tees for everyone…..

Perry’s shoes and part of her veil:

Sienna playing “pool” with her soon-to-be Uncle Justin:

Perry with the guys bowling at Strike City. We had the VIP room with 4 lanes and our own bar which made it SO much fun! My dad and Justin’s dad are on the bottom right.

I finally got a chance to meet my 4-month-old nephew Cameron (my brother’s son):

The rehearsal was COLD. Here are the ring bearers Ethan and Brady (Justin’s nephews) and Sienna practicing:

Sienna and my matching dresses worked out great! Here we are with Brett and Perry at the rehearsal dinner at Duke Mansion. My sister made the most amazing video for us all to watch with video clips and photos from the years.

Perry and my brother Swen. Sienna kept trying to sneak up the stairs.

Judy, Justin’s mother, used flowers from her friend’s farm for the rehearsal dinner arrangements.

My mom and dad at the rehearsal. Justin was telling how he had to track my dad down at a golf tournament to ask for Perry’s hand in marriage…..and finally found him in China…..but my dad corrected him that it was actually Australia. Whatever….it was STILL far!!!

Sienna getting her hair curled on the day of the wedding:

I took a photo of the photographers Ash and Harrison. I’m sure they’ll cringe at the quality of the photo. Aren’t they handsome?! They did the most amazing job…..everywhere I turned the whole day they were right there.

A gift from my Aunt Sharon to the couple. The photo is of our great-grandmother Mabel (Marjorie’s mother) and the carving set is over a 100 years old and belonged to an woman named Marie Ammon that lived on Hermitage Court for years who had no children. My grandfather’s aunt used to own a large white mansion on Hermitage Court long ago….it is now a nursing home.

Sienna gave Aunt Perry a little gift before she walked down the aisle. A necklace from Hip Mom Jewelry with Perry’s new initials on it. The tag had a little diamond inset. Thanks Ann! She loved it! I added the ring charm that I had bought for my wedding years ago.

Helping Perry zip up the dress (she’ll love that I posted a photo of her in mid-sentence):

Sienna being SO patient with her cousin Cameron before the ceremony:

Right before walking down the aisle….Perry loves Diet Coke as much as I do!

More to come soon! I’ve only been gone a week but it feels like forever! I already miss my family in NC though….and the following fast food:

Chic-Fil-A: Ate there TWO times
Bojangles: Ate there THREE times
Jersey Mikes: Ate there TWO times

Wedding Part IV: Countdown!

November 1, 2009 by Ashley Hackshaw

We leave in a few days! I’m so excited I can barely stand it. I’m almost ready to leave…..just checking stuff off my list.

I finished “Boo’s” flower girl dress today. I used Simplicity Pattern 4647….but seriously, who writes these things. Once I trashed the instructions and just tried to figure it out on my own…..it got a lot easier. Why do these patterns OVER-explain how to sew a piece of fabric together and then don’t show any detail for a zipper or slip? Who decided that was a good idea? I also can think of a million ways they could have made the pattern easier! No wonder so many people think sewing is hard……

Here she is after her bath….checking her reflection out. She said “I’m like Ariel!”….I think that means she thinks she’s like a princess. I was thinking of adding a flower or bow to the back….but her hair will be down so you probably won’t even see it.

Wedding Part IV: Countdown via lilblueboo.com

I had to add some “help” into MY dress: a little “help” in the chest so I’d fill it out!

Wedding Part IV: Countdown little help via lilblueboo.com

I started to pack…..which included picking out some of Mr. Lil Blue Boo’s ties to coordinate with our dresses.

Wedding Part IV: Countdown ties via lilblueboo.com

I’m totally allowed to be jealous of my sister’s engagement photos. I didn’t even HAVE an engagement photo. Ok….so I’m not that into being photographed…..but still. Ash Little just posted these new photos (click to see the rest) and I had to give him some link love. He is photographing the wedding too……can’t wait for those…..only one week left! My sister made almost EVERYTHING for the wedding so I can’t wait to share that as well (she’s uber-creative). Don’t you think Mr. Lil Blue Boo and I should renew our vows on our 10th anniversary so Ash Little can redo our photos?!

Wedding Part IV: Countdown happy couple via lilblueboo.com

Photo from Ash Little Photography

Wedding Part IV: Countdown happy couple 2 via lilblueboo.com

Photo from Ash Little Photography

I also did some “loofah-ing” and applying of self tanner today! I’m so excited to not be prego in this wedding! Here I was 2 years ago in my brother Swen’s wedding. The dresses were an orange/ rust color….very pretty….but I felt like a HUGE pumpkin since I was about 7 months pregnant and swollen to the max!

Wedding Part IV: Countdown family via lilblueboo.com

I think my husband and my sister’s fiance could almost be brothers! They look a lot alike. It is funny because that is sort of how Perry and Justin met. We both were down at the LPGA Merchandise show a few years ago. Justin was a vendor and Perry was there modeling for Lilly Pulitzer (they were one of her sponsors). I was just there hanging out. We randomly met Justin one night hanging out with some friends and I told Perry “he’s SO cute! You have to get his number!” We tracked him down the next day at the show and the rest is history! They’ve been together ever since! We are all so excited for him to be part of the family….and a little worried that he’ll have to put up with all of us….although he’s done pretty well so far. Sienna is the MOST excited….she calls him “MY uncle Justin.”