Life - Ashley Zin

Life

My First Five on Friday

February 12, 2016

I had a different post planned for today but my brain is all over the place (I’ll explain why below) so I can’t really think and put together a quality post like I originally wanted to.
o n e

I am going on a job interview on Monday!! I just got the call this morning and literally the whole morning I have been preparing for an interview. I haven’t ever gone on a “real” job interview so I’m pretty nervous. (Please pray for me!) I am being laid off in roughly a month so this job is so needed – especially seeing as Tommy and I are getting married in just about 3 months!!

t w o

Tommy and I attended our second community group meeting and I am honestly starting to really like it. I normally hate socializing and getting to know new people but God has really been opening my eyes as to why it is so important. I still have moments where I don’t want to go and get really scared to put myself out there but Tommy and I encourage each other and I’m honestly enjoying it more than I thought I would.

t h r e e

It’s Valentine’s Day on Sunday! You guys obviously know that but I’m actually excited for the first time ever. Let me just let you in on a little bit of my dating background… for three years in a row I was broken up with literally the week before Valentine’s Day (i’m seriously not joking). Three years in a row. So like anyone else in the world who would find themselves in that position, I hated Valentine’s Day and decided that I just never wanted to celebrate it. Last year Tommy wanted to make up for all my prior years and he made me dinner and it was really sweet. This year I have even higher expectations (probably not good haha) but he’s planned something extensive it seems and I’m really excited to see what it is. I also planned something for him and I to do together as well. It’s should be really fun and I can’t wait.

f o u r

take me back to the bahamas plsssss

It is honestly way too cold around here for my liking. We had such a mild winter so far this year so now that it’s finally getting below 30 degrees I want to run to Florida and hide out until May. I’ve been dreaming about our last vacation to the Bahamas and cannot wait until we get to go to the Dominican Republic in May! Where are you summer??

f i v e

It’s exactly 100 days until Tommy and I get married! How exciting is that. There’s still a bunch of planning to be done since I have taken a little break. I’m honestly over all the planning and just want it to be here already.

Linking up with A. Liz Adventures, Bright on a Budget, & September Farm

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Life, Wedding

February Goals

February 3, 2016
I haven’t posted goals since November and to be honest and real I didn’t actually work on the goals I posted in November really either, but I want to be more diligent about bettering myself and I want to commit to write goals each month and post them to keep myself accountable.

Health/Fitness
- start working out 2-3x’s per week
- continue making healthy lunches
- find more healthy recipes
- drink lots of water
Marriage/Wedding
- Research songs for wedding
- book the baker
- continue premarital counseling
- read another marriage book
Blog
- post at least 2x’s per week
- comment on other blogs
- write a guest post
Money/Budget
- make a budget for February
- save at least 350$
So there yah have it. I want to work more on my health because I can be super lazy when it comes to working out and eating healthy. I want to continue working on planning the wedding obviously. We decided we liked the idea of doing an ipod playlist rather than a DJ because then we get to pick the songs and save so much money too. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips when it comes to this? I also want to make sure I’m not just preparing for the wedding but for our marriage too. I usually set pretty unrealistic goals for myself and get really discouraged when I don’t meet them but I think I did a good job at setting realistic goals this month and I’m really excited to tackle them.
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Life

Weekend Update

February 1, 2016

I have never done a post like this before and I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about it but I was SO busy this weekend and I really feel like documenting this.
f r i d a y

Friday night wasn’t anything special. I had a busy week and all I really wanted to do was rest so that’s what I did. Tommy was over and we probably watched Gossip Girl or something – I honestly don’t remember exactly what we did.

s a t u r d a y

The rest of the weekend was insanely busy. Saturday I slept in because I was up too late Friday night. Afterwards I went with one of my bridesmaids to try on her dress at David’s Bridal!

Tommy came over after he got out of work and he brought me flowers for our 14 month anniversary and they are so gorgeous 🙂 But anyways, we then ordered from our favorite restaurant, Roma’s and it was delicious.

We then went and looked at our first house to buy! Tommy’s aunt’s a realtor and she took us to see a house about a half an hour away from mine, which was super exciting. There were a few things wrong with the house that I’m not sure that we would be able to get passed – one being that we have to share a driveway with the neighbors (sorry what?). But anyways we learned what our next steps are and we’re going to keep looking.

s u n d a y

Sunday was another day full of activities. We woke up early and I had made a bargain with my brother to come to church with us on this day. It was my birthday on the 22nd of January and I told him instead of getting me a present I wanted him and his girlfriend to come with me to church. They planned to come this Sunday that just passed and it made me so happy to have them there. God showed up powerfully and I know what was said in the sermon impacted my brother and it made me so happy. If you don’t go to church but are curious what I might believe I would encourage you to check out any of the sermons from my church here – my church just reads through books of the bible and explains them in depth and helps us to walk closer with God. It’s a great church and I’m so happy to be apart of it.

After church we headed home for a while and Tommy and I had our second session for premarital counseling at 2 on Sunday. Phil, our premarital counselor gave us a book called Preparing for Marriage: Discovering God’s Plan for a Lifetime of Love. I’m really excited about this book and it has already helped Tommy and I repent of the ways we weren’t honoring God and has brought us closer to where we should be and closer to Jesus. It’s going to be intense but I’m excited and a little nervous as well if I’m being honest.

Afterwards we were supposed to go to Tommy’s grandma’s to make ravioli’s with her but it seems we overbooked ourselves and our premarital session took longer than we expected so we didn’t make it in time to make ravioli’s but we did go over her house for dinner.

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Life

My Thankful List

January 28, 2016
I’m really trying to be more consistent here and it feels really great. Today I really didn’t think that I was going to get a post up. I have a bunch of ideas but I just have these days where I just don’t feel like doing anything productive (pls tell me I’m not alone). Anyways today was one of those days, probably because I didn’t go to bed until after midnight and that never does anything for my mood.

So because I’m being such a crankpot today I wanted to make a list of everything I’m thankful for to try to remind myself how blessed I am and get my spirit up.
1. The most loving caring fiance ever. I’m sure you guys are probably tired of hearing about him by now but I don’t think that’s going to stop anytime soon considering how excited I am about marrying him so soon. He’s just been so great lately. I love hearing his heart about how much he wants to be working with his dad to be able to provide for us and is so loving and pays so close attention to my needs. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.
2. Having the funds to pay for a wedding and possibly even a house too?! Wait what.. yup I said it. We’ve been looking at really small but really cute houses to hopefully be able to buy to live in after the wedding. This is actually a cheaper option than renting, which is a bit crazy. I just so hope it works out!
3. Yummy coffee to drink on tired mornings.
4. A mom who does everything she can to keep her kids happy.
5. A (future) mother-in-law who goes out of her way to help us plan for everything coming up so soon.
6. The winter not being unbearably cold this year.
7. Having two fun pups to live with when we move out.
8. Having a job that I can get paid to basically plan my wedding.
9. Lastly but certainly most important, a God who loves me so much that He pushes me outside my comfort zone. Though to be honest I’m not really thankful for this yet, I’m actually quite mad. I know that joining a small group is what’s best for my walk with Jesus and will help me get out there and share with other’s but I’m really struggling with this one. I’m super introverted and hate putting myself out there so I’m not too happy about this but know it will pay off in the end.
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Life

What’s Up Wednesday: January

January 27, 2016

What’s Up Wednesday: January 2016 Edition

What we’re eating this week

What we’re eating this week… hmm well let’s see. Tommy and I have been trying harder to eat healthier ever since we got engaged. We want to be ready and in shape for the wedding but this week we haven’t been doing so well. I’ve been so busy that I really haven’t had much time to meal plan so I’ve just been eating what my mom has been making and it hasn’t been healthy I can tell you that much. Last night Tommy took me out to a new diner we haven’t ever gone too and I ate a Philly Cheese steak – which was obviously not healthy but soo worth it 😉

What I’m reminiscing about

Just this morning I was reminiscing about our Bahama trip from August. I’m just over winter and really wish I was on a beach. I can’t wait for our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic!

What I’m loving

Having soo much down time at work. Since mostly everyone I used to work with had their last day in December, there has basically been no work for us to do since the beginning of the year. It has literally left me with basically 8 hours to do whatever I want at work. I’ve been planning the wedding a lot, and reading soo much – I absolutely love it.

What we’ve been up to

Of course wedding planning. We started our first premartial counseling session on Monday night. We also recently started a workout program which is exciting but not at the same time. We’re also on the verge of booking our caterer and DJ too!

What I’m dreading

I’m sort of dreading finding a new job. I’ve had this one for the past 5 and a half years and I’m not really up for the awkwardness that is job interviewing and making new friends. 🙁

What I’m working on

Right now I’m focusing on trying to eat healthier/meal planning and sticking to a fitness routine. The program we are doing is called Plyo Madness by Sophie Grey. I did it over a year ago and it really burns fat well and you only have to workout 4 times a week for 30 mins. It’s great. I’m also working on being more consistent with this little blog of mine as well. AND I’m trying to push myself outside my comfort zone. Tommy and I are working on joining a small group – our first meeting is tomorrow! (PS pray for us, we’re super nervous and introverted haha).

What I’m excited about

Trying new things and seeing the results of them – see above (healthy eating, fitness).

What I’m watching/reading

Tommy and I just finished Dexter and we LOVED it. I’m still watching Gossip Girl in my free time and I love me some Teen Mom (don’t judge me pls).

I’ve been reading so much since the beginning of the year. Right now I’m in the middle of Changes That Heal and The Daylight Marriage. I’m just at the beginning of both of them but they’re pretty good so far. Tommy got me The Daylight Marriage for my birthday because he knows how much I’ve loved reading so much lately and he also knows how much I love marriage. He’s just too sweet and thoughtful.

What I’m listening to

Currently nothing but I’ve been really loving me some country music more than normal lately. Probably because it reminds me of summer and I just wish it was summer already.

What I’m wearing

Just some work clothes with my knit scarf – kind of like the one up top, it’s just too comfy to take off when I come in from outside. I haven’t been going too over the top with dressing nicely lately since there really isn’t anyone left in my building haha. I’ve just been dressing very comfy and I looove it.

What I’m doing this weekend

Tommy and I have big plans this weekend. We haven’t been doing too much lately because of it being so cold outside and last weekend we were just couped up in the house because of the snow. This weekend though we’re going to be busy. On Sunday we’re going to go to church, go on a brunch date, go to our second premarital counseling session, and then go make homemade ravioli’s with Tommy’s grandma! How fun is that! I can’t wait.

What I’m looking forward to next month

I’m looking forward to spending my second Valentine’s Day with Tommy. (Last year he made me dinner, which was awesome – pictured above). I’m also excited to being one month closer to marrying my best friend!

What else is new

Not much has been going on besides that. Tonight we are doing a tasting for the wedding and I’m really excited about that but that’s really it. OH and also we celebrated our birthday’s last week too! Tommy’s was Thursday and we had chinese food at Tommy’s house and then Friday was mine and Tommy took me out to this fancy Italian restaurant and it was perfect.

Today I’m linking up with Shay, Shaeffer, and Mel!

What’s up with your Wednesday?

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Faith, Life

Overcome the fear of failure when goal setting

January 26, 2016

Hi friends- I was just thinking a lot about where my life is going to go from here once I am no longer employed at Hudson City/M&T. I looked up a bunch of jobs to apply to and just have been thinking about how much is going to change over the next few months. I’m excited but nervous as well.

Tommy and I started premarital counseling last night and it was equally scary as it was exciting. I’m super shy and have a huge fear of putting myself out there so I was insanely nervous before the meeting because well the whole purpose of this meeting was for our counselor to get to know us aka us putting ourselves out there. All in all though I’m really glad we did it. We got to share with him our personal testimonies (which I’m actually planning on sharing on here sometime soon) and how we met.

I was thinking today about how I always have such big hopes and dreams but never seem to really fulfill any of them (depressing thought I know). But in all honesty I didn’t think of it in a sad way – just a realistic one. I want this place to grow and I want to show up here more consistently but the weight of failing to do that keeps me from showing up really at all.

And then I got to thinking, I do this more often than I realize. I have such big dreams but am so afraid of them failing that I rationalize myself to not try at all. I really want to break the habit of this and start to put myself out there. I want to grow into the person that Jesus made me to be. I want to stop being so afraid of failure and really start to live.

I decided I’m going to take my first step to doing this by heading down the street during lunch to the CVS and seeing if I can find myself a planner where I can start keeping track of goals that I want to keep. I think this will help because I can plan out steps to making these goals come true and it will help keep me accountable.

How about you? Does anyone else struggle with this same thing? If so, do you have any tips to help? I’d love to hear from you!

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