So I just got back from and amazing weekend in Vegas.  My brother is now married, and it was a beautiful wedding.  Small ceremony, short and sweet.  My new sister looked so gorgeous and my brother very handsome.  There were some great times this weekend, because I got to spend some time with my adopted sisters!!!  I have to say, it went by too fast.

Let’s see on the business end, I’ve been getting a few hits on my website…YaY!  And now I know that my keywords are being recognized, I should be getting more soon.  My Etsy flowers are also getting noticed, and I have been invited by a fellow Etsy seller to attend a craft show being held here in town.  Not sure if I have enough flowers made to participate, but I’m going to try and make some more.  Fingers crossed!

Now let’s move on to this week.  Today is my birthday…25 years old!  I’m a quarter of a century old, now doesn’t that sound old!!!  I know it’s not, but man time is flying by.  Well I’ll be going to dinner with my hubby this week sometime to celebrate, since I didn’t get to see him today work=no fun!  But no worries.

And of course after the week comes…the weekend!  Many of you may know that this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this weekend I will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure.  My first time participating was last year along with my Aunt and her work, and we are doing it again this Saturday.  We only do the mile walk, but maybe we’ll shoot for the 5k mile run next time.  This event is different from the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, but it is still very touching to see so many people out supporting the fight against cancer.  To go along with an already busy morning, my best friend’s birthday party is the same day, and also the UFC fight (my husband is very excited about it).  It should be an interesting next few days.

Well that’s all for now,

Take care all!

Just like TV shows have their season openers, I too am returning after a long hiatus.  So much has happened since my last post, but life has been full of great experiences!  To start off my husband came home; and he pulled off a rather big surprise with all my family, his family, and a few close friends.  Up next, I graduated…Finally!!!  And now onto the next step, but that will be talked about later.  So after those 2 events it was time for another big one, another wedding.  On August 14th my husband and I renewed our vows in front of our friends and family.  It was everything I always dreamed of!  Even though it was sort of stressful, it was an amazing day.  Once all the details were taken care of, I took the advice of many and just enjoyed the day.

After the wedding we hopped on a plane and spent a week in Orlando.  We went to Disney World and it was so much fun.  I recommend that everyone go there at least once in their lifetime.  Especially to Disney’s Animal Kingdom; it almost feels like one big jungle.  Even my husband said it was his favorite park…but he did love the water parks too.  I do agree they were fun, except for the 120 ft water slide…the one my husband actually rode!  I took the safer, what seemed like less painful route, and videotaped him from the bottom of the ride.  We spent 4 days in the Disney parks and went to all 6 within that short amount of time.  I highly suggest that if you go, try for 5 or even 6 days so that you can fully enjoy everything.  But overall it was a great trip.  Now we’re back to reality.  My hubby is working and going to school, and I’m trying to start up my business.

Okay, it’s later, back to business talk.  I’m excited to announce that I got my website, started a Facebook Page, and also opened my Etsy shop!  I didn’t want to announce it until it looked presentable, but if I don’t do it now then it’ll never happen.  *Shhh, sometimes I’m a perfectionist.*  The website is completely done, and there are a few listings on Etsy but I’m still working on those.  The links to Etsy and Facebook are in the column to the right; and you can find my website by going to www.dreamcreationsdesign.com.  I hope you all check them out, and feel free to leave me some feedback so I can change and improve them.

I promise not to stay away so long, and I’ll try to do weekly or bi-weekly posts from now on.

Until next time…

Ashley

In early 2005, I woke up one day and found that I had this horrible rash all over most of my body.  I went to the doctor and they gave me a cortisone shot.  Not long after that I woke up one morning and could barely move.  Every bone, muscle, and joint felt stiff.  Almost like I had been hit by a bus, or that sore feeling after you have exercised a lot, but only multiplied by 1,000.  I laid there and I cried.  Because it hurt to move my head, it hurt to roll over, I was just in Pain!  So back to the doctor I went.  They ran some blood tests for just about everything imaginable.  They came to the conclusion that I had an auto immune disease, basically my body was attacking my liver.  From what they told me it’s very rare, and that no one knows exactly why it happens.

I had an ultrasound and biopsy of my liver, and found that there was some scarring on my liver.  I was told that on a scale of 1-10, 10 being bad, my liver was at a 6-7.  Also, that if I had waited any longer, I may have been on my way to cirrhosis and possibly a liver transplant.  Thank God it was found in time!

They immediately put me on prednisone and azathioprine (imuran).  I was on both of those medications for several months.  Prednisone is no joke!  Not sure of how much I gained, but I do know that I was the heaviest I’d ever been during that time.  When they say swelling and rapid weight gain, they are not kidding;  I have pictures to prove it.  Luckily, I was able to be weaned off of prednisone, and then finally off of imuran.  They told me that I would likely be healed and not have to take anymore meds, but that there was a slim chance of it returning.  But that my liver would heal itself, and be healthy again.  Got to love regeneration.

So now it is 2010.  I feel like I am writing this as my “goodbye” to that time in my life.  I think there are very few pictures of me during that time.  That may be a shock to some of you, because I love the camera!  So I’m going to show my weight gain to you all, partially for you but mostly for me.  I need to let go, and continue working on getting comfortable with myself again.  It was a tough time, but I’m still here, alive, and thankful for every day that I get.  I think about all the people going through harder times and battling much more serious diseases; and how a lot of them do it with hope, a positive outlook, and a smile on their face.  Those people give me strength, even today.  Looking back makes me sad and happy at the same time.  But then I remember that life happens, God has plans for us, and to be grateful for what you have.

1. Me, around April-May ’05.   2. Me, 1-2 months after diagnosis, before the meds (July ’05).   3. Me in 10/2005, a few months of meds.   4. Me, about a year after the first picture in May ’06.

~Ashley

Now it is time for some more exciting news. I will be creating a page on Facebook that features my business, I hope all of you reading this will add the page after it is up. I’ve also added a flickr feed to this blog to show some examples of what a finished photo book looks like. Those photos show one example, but there are several different covers and backgrounds available for the books.

And finally, I’m thinking about writing a book. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while, it would be a fiction novel, but I want it to feel real. It’s a love story. Not a romance novel!!! I have already researched some information for the plot and characters to make the book seem more realistic. I think it’ll be fun, and who knows maybe I will try to get it published when it is all finished.

Thanks for reading!

More posts soon…~ Ashley

*updated* I originally said non-fiction book, but meant fiction, so that has been corrected.

BTW, I’m starting a photo book business; ie. wedding guest books, photo books of the bridal shower/bachelorette party, photo books as gifts, and even just for families.  I eventually want to add event planning to the business.  Starting with small events, and then larger ones like weddings.

If anyone knows of someone who needs a photo book for any reason, let me know, but they would need to be willing to let me produce an extra copy to show as a sample.  Or, if any one needs one for themselves in the future, I’m your girl! lol.  Yes, I know.  I’m completely trying to sell my products, but you got to do what you got to do.

I’m really trying not to stress out, but man, starting my business…Big step!

I’m posting a sample of one of the pages in our guest book, its sweet and simple.  Just click the gb link below, it is a pdf so hopefully you will be able to view it.  More to come later.

gb sample

~Ashley

Since my husband may be reading this I can’t go into detail or post a picture. I know we’re already married but he’s still not going to see it until we renew our vows. This is the part where I smile, thinking I’ve won; and he smiles back and reminds me that I won’t be getting my new ring until after he comes home. Ughh, that just sucks. Haha. Well that is all for now, talk to you later everyone.

~Ashley

Well now it is time for me to get back to wedding planning, and my workout routine. Updates and pictures will be posted as different events occur.

~Ashley

Which brings me to my next moment.  I was driving home on a 2 lane country road and I became completely consumed in my thoughts.  One minute I was crossing some railroad tracks, and 2 miles later I’m coming back to reality; asking myself questions like, “was I in my lane the whole time?” and “where did that car come from?”  Complete Autopilot!  Have you ever done that, ever laughed at yourself afterwords?

I hope this last day goes by fast.  I’ll be more focused if it does.

He’ll be here hopefully by the 10th, and after that we’re going to Oregon to visit his parents for a few days.  Then it’s back to CA to relax and hang out with the rest of the family.  I can’t wait, I actually get 2 weeks with my husband.  I love using that word, Husband…

Well, stay tuned, so much more to come.

- Ashley