Friday, December 30, 2011
Well Hello, Do You All Remember Me?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Blog Party by Abigail!

{Party Questions}
Monday, November 21, 2011
Just Another Monday
So our Monday today was particularly crazy. We started out the day working on laundry! Mom did it all today, so we don't have any to worry about the rest of the week, which is really nice! I don't mind doing laundry, but I'm so glad that it's done and I have stuff that I can wear all week.
Then Mom and I spent almost all day working on cleaning the entire downstairs. Most of the day I listened to music while I worked on the dining room! Now Mom and I have what we call our 'office'. It's a place for both of our computers and our calendars and planners and such.
I should have really cleaned my room today, too, but I didn't feel the need to since we worked on the whole downstairs. Although, I did clean off the landing up to my attic-bedroom. It had been full of clothes and shoes forever now and it was good to get all the stuff off of it. So now all I need to work on is getting my room all the way finished.
Tomorrow I'm working all day. Not sure of what I'll be working on tomorrow, but most likely I'll be answering the phones and doing receptionist work.
Wednesday, I'm going away with a friend and hopefully getting the rest of my Christmas shopping done! I am usually done by this time of year, and for whatever reason, I'm not! So I really would like to finish it up.
Thursday is Thanksgiving! I'll be sure to post about that later on in the week! :)
~Ashley
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Beautiful People - Holiday Edition

My main character's name is Lainey.
I almost always have the Christmas season in my books. If there's not Christmas, there's usually one of the other major holidays, such as Easter or Fourth of July. There always has to be some sort-of holiday in my book because it just adds spice to the book.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
NaNo is AWESOME
So, wow. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started writing my NaNo story. I couldn't believe it when I wrote 20K in the first two days.
Because writing is fun.
~ashley
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Week One = Finished
I didn't know what to expect when I started it. I was a little intimidated by it, to be honest. I didn't know if I'd be able to make it to the end of the 50K in the 30 days that I was allowed to finish it in.
I was scared, too. I had my plot down, but not very well - just the chapter summary, and a little about the characters. Not really enough to truly start a story and actually keep it going.
But when I started writing, I really got into the story. My characters came to life right away - the main character, Lainey, was really easy to get into (she's very much like me),and my best friend character, Taite, is very interesting in her own ways.
My plot is eh. I like it, but it's not coming along the way that I necessarily wanted it to. What I've learned about NaNo is that the point isn't for the story to be perfect, but for writers to get themselves writing. To actually sit down and write like crazy and not stop for any reason except to eat and maybe sleep?
At any rate, I'm loving it. Within the first two days, I had 20K but I'm starting to slow down some.
Total Word Count: 29,827
If you're a NaNo-er, comment and let me know what you're word count is, and how NaNo is going for YOU this year.
Also, if you'd like to find me on the NaNoWriMo website - my username is AshleyStraws
Monday, October 31, 2011
NaNoWriMo
Photo Book
Click here to view this photo book larger
Monday, October 24, 2011
Beautiful People: NaNoWriMo Edition
- Sum up your novel in five words or less.
Girl. Work. Guy. - Novel title?
None as of yet. I still need to think about this one. - Sum up your main character(s) in one word each.
Lainey - Outgoing
Trent - Workaholic
Taite (girl) - Romantic - Advice for newbies in three words?
Don't stress - write. - Tell us about your secondary characters, how do they affect the story?
Taite (Lainey's best friend) is the one that keeps her going through everything. She gives her great advice and keeps the story moving. I also picture her witty and funny. - Do you plan to stay up till midnight on the 31st?
Haha, no. I don't think that I could swing that with my parents, or myself. :) - How many years have you done NaNo?
Haaa...I tried this last year, and failed miserably - only got to about 30,000 words. But this year I'm hoping to get farther. Whether or not I hit 50K doesn't really matter as long as I get more than I did last year. - What came first, characters, or plot idea?
Ooh...both are important, but I think that the plot comes first for me. Not a full plot, but I have to have a rough outline before I can just make up characters (names and such), when I don't have a situation to put them into. - How much prep do you do before November?
I still haven't done near enough, so I need to get working on the rest of my plot, and get my characters done before I start writing on the first. - Now be honest, how do you really feel about NaNo?
It intimidates me. But this year, I hope to beat it.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Another Busy Couple of Weeks
It seems that no matter what, we’ve been having busy weeks. It’s crazy. I used to wish that I would be busy. I was jealous of the people who had something to do every day of the week. Now that it’s my life – I would like to have my boring, doing nothing life back. LOL
Last Friday, my family went to see Dolphin Tale in the theaters. The movie was awesome! It was definitely a great family movie, and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a decent movie for the entire family.
Friday evening and Saturday we had a wedding rehearsal & wedding for friends of ours. It was a great ceremony and it was beautiful.
Then we just had a lot of random things to do throughout the week – music lessons and I worked on Thursday. I’ve only been working once a week because of school, and trying to get everything done it getting harder and harder. But I like to work, and it’s great experience.
Yesterday, Mom and I went shopping to get me some clothes for my senior pictures that I’m going to be getting taken sometime this month. I got some awesome tops, a couple of sweaters and a pair of boots that I have been eying up for about a month. (Actually, I found them at one Wal-Mart and could never find them again. But I found them yesterday, and was really excited! LOL)
Next week is really busy too, with music lessons, work and I leave for a friends’ house next Friday. I can’t wait to be there for a week and able to get away from my busy life for a little while!
~Ashley
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday Randomness
So to start out the morning, I had a cup of coffee. Because if usually if I don’t have coffee, I don’t have a very good day. It just doesn’t work very well in my favor.
Interestingly enough, if you know that we’re Disney fans in this house, you’ll know why I used this particular mug. But as I was drinking out of it, I realized just how weird it would probably look to a random person just walking by or who just happened to see me drinking out of it.
So then we did school, of course. I had a couple of things I needed to get caught up on and I did just that.
When Mom came home from the post office, she brought home this: This book hasn’t even come out yet, but Mom asked for a review copy of it, so we got it early. I can’t wait to read this and see what happens! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Jenny B. Jones. I can only HOPE to be anything like her as an author someday!
Then later, Mom and I dropped Gracie off at her orchestra practice and did a little bit of shopping. Because shopping is just a lot, lot, lot of fun! I got a pair of jeans. I think that’s it.
Then I came home and decided that before we ate supper, I was going to play my guitar. I haven’t been playing it much but the last two days I’ve played it. My fingers hurt because I haven’t played enough but it’s nice to get back into the swing of things.
That’s my Monday.
And the rest of the week is going to be JUST as busy.
~Ashley
Friday, September 16, 2011
My Senior School Year
- I'm doing a Study of Proverbs for Bible.
This particular study is really interesting and I love digging deeper into the Proverbs as they are one favorite books of the Bible. - Business Math
I am not one of those 'math people', actually I hate math. But last year I did consumer math, and I'm ending my school years off with business. Something practical and easy to work with. - Anatomy
I'm not a science person either. But when I was finished with my science credits in 10th grade, I decided to pick some fun science courses that I was actually going to like! I did Marine Biology last year (which rocked!) and this year I'm doing a study of the human body. Loving it so far too. - Greek
I've tried to do a couple of different languages and have really disliked all of them. I prefer English. :) But I like Greek. - Lord of the Rings Study (all the books)
I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this particular study because I don't really like fantasy books that much. But as soon as I started the book I was completely drawn in by it, and am loving the books! I am still in the first one but can't wait to see what's going to happen in the books to come! - Mystery of History: Volume 1
We've already done this when I was in maybe 8th grade. But this time around, I'm doing the teaching (reading it to Gracie and myself). I love the way the book is set up and it's easy enough to understand that I don't sit in front of the book and go 'uh, what?' - Critical Thinking
This is more of just an extra.
~Ashley
Thursday, September 15, 2011
New Things On My Blog
Saturday, September 10, 2011
30 Day Blog Challenge Day 10
Friday, September 9, 2011
30 Day Blog Challenge Day 9
- Psych is my all-time favorite TV show. I can watch it anytime and never get bored with it.
- I also really enjoy watching Monk.
- Charlie's Angels
- Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries
- Full House
Thursday, September 8, 2011
30 Days Blog Challenge Day 8
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
30 Day Blog Challenge Day 6
Favorite Disney Movie: Tangled
Favorite 80's Movie: Some Kind of Wonderful
Favorite 90's Movie: Mmm . . . I can't think of one that I really love.
30 Days Blog Challenge Day 4

(This is me as a baby with my Mom and Dad. Dad was sure rockin' the mustache. And the um, hair. Now he has no mustache and little hair.)

(I was an only child for the first 7 years of my life. Here my parents and I are at Disney World, my first trip. I was 5 here.)

(Dad, Mom, me and Gracie. I think that Gracie was almost a year old here, so I would've been about 7.)

(Here my family is with Steven Curtis Chapman. Ian had arrived about a year before this happened.
30 Day Blog Challenge Day 3
I got my first job in March of 2011. Of course, I had some odd babysitting jobs over the years, where I would be called up randomly and asked if I wanted to babysit for this person or the other, but I never really had a 'real' job, that paid well, 'real' money.
But in March of 2011 I started working. My grandpa told me that I should put an application in for the place where he works - to get some work in the office.
I did, and I got a job there. After working there for almost 7 months, I have done more office work then I ever anticipated. I went from putting files in filing cabinets to entering data onto the computer to answering phones and being a receptionist.
Because I'm still in school, I only work once a week. During the summer I was doing more than that, but since school started back up, I thought that I needed to focus my time and attention on that and not on my job.
30 Day Blog Challenge Day 2
What is the meaning behind your blog name?
Just my name and the year I was born.
The end.
My first blog was started in the beginning of 2005. My first blog was called CrazyAboutMonkeys, then I moved over to 01charger and then I moved to blogger a couple of years ago and decided with my ashleystrawser1993.
So I've been blogging for 5 1/2 years.
30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 1

- I'm Ashley
- I'm almost 18
- I'm a senior in high school
- I love school, and hate to think that this is my last year. Sure, I complain about it, but I really do like it.
- I'm homeschooled
- I don't plan to go to college
- I love reading
- I love writing
- I love watching movies with my family
- I love hanging out with my friends who live in different states.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Guest Post
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Beautiful People - August Edition
- What is their biggest accomplishment? I think that Elle's biggest accomplishment is finished her first novel. In the story, she's working on getting it published, toward the end of the book, which is really cool.
- What is one of their strongest childhood memories? They definitely include her best friend, Will. The two of them met when they were 5, and have been friends ever since. (They are 18 and turn 19 in the book). They had so many fun times growing up, it's hard to put them all here.
- What is their favorite food? She just loves food, period.
- Do they believe in love at first sight? I would have to say she believes in 'love at first speak'. She has a crush on a guy that has a British accent. Enough said.
- What kind of home do they live in? Elle lives in a two-story house that has 4 bedrooms. She shares her room with her bigger sister, Sharon.
- What do they like to wear? See above.
- What would they do if they discovered they were dying? She would live the last of her days to the fullest, for sure. Spend time with the people that she loved and do some things that she never go to do, but would love to: Go to England, bungee jump...etc.
- What kind of holidays, or traditions do they celebrate? In the book, they're just celebrating Thanksgiving with her family and Will's. Christmas is coming up soon in the book as well.
- What do your other characters have to say about them? Will thinks that Elle is one of the best things that ever happened to him. He thinks that she's funny, smart and nice. He doesn't know what he'd do without her.
- If they could change one thing in their world, what would it be? The fact that she's growing up and has to become an adult - and all that comes with all of that. She is coming to the realization that she might not always be able to be best friends' with a guy - so she thinks that growing up stinks.