MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | MONDAY MEMO | THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | MONDAY MEMO | THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

It’s exactly ONE WEEK until Christmas. Can you believe that? This year has passed by in a whirlwind. We’re staring straight into the face of 2018. Blink, and it will be here. Are your ready for it?

In honor of the upcoming holiday, I thought it would be a perfect time to chat on the blog about some of the things I love most. Some of these you may know, and some you may not! This is a neat little way to get to know me a little better. I would absolutely love for you to leave some of YOUR favorites in the comments. Consider it a little Christmas gift to me. :)

Without further ado, let’s dive into things Ashton loves:

10. Taylor Swift.

Now, I know you fully expected Taylor to be on this list and so I will save you any further anticipation. Of course she is! Ms. Swift has long been one of my favorite artists and is a huge inspiration to my inner lady boss. Is it a bit of an obsession? Let’s say I have a “big reputation” as a mega fan. (10 is also my favorite number so…)

9. Coca-Cola.

I’m unloading the more well-known favorites right off the bat. While this is one of my less healthy habits, there is absolutely nothing like an ice cold can of Coke. Just don’t take the last one. <3

8. Kate Spade.

STYLE GOALS. All day, every day. Kate Spade’s brand has highly influenced my own. From stripes to bold color, this gal speaks my language and I am here for it. Need a last minute Christmas gift? You can’t go wrong with something from the line or a simple gift card!

7. iPhone.

I almost didn’t add this because it seems like such a basic item. However, I would by lying if I didn’t say that I absolutely love my phone and it is probably the key to my whole life. It’s a camera to save so many precious memories, a manager of time on a wedding day, and a line of communication with all of my favorite people. How can I not give credit where it’s obviously due?

6. Enamel pins.

Hoarding has long been a problem for me. Finding something I adored to collect that didn’t take up a huge amount of space was amazing. This is a typical keepsake for me to buy on a trip or even for a friend. My favorites are my “GIRLS SUPPORT GIRLS” (Daisy Natives), Shake-it-Off Taylor Swift (a gift from Bethanne Arthur!), my Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead inspired “I’m right on top of that, Rose!” pin, and the all new custom pin I’m about to release that has been specifically designed for the AKP Retreat. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!

5. KitchenAid mixer.

One of the things I love most about the holidays is how much baking you get to do! Being in the kitchen really calms me, and I have spent more and more time there this year. As I get prepared to make lots of sugar cookies for the neighbors, I’m shouting out to my handy dandy KitchenAid mixer. Saving my arms lots of tiring rotation… it truly is the Christmas VIP.

4. Saturday Night Live.

I have way too many television shows that I LOVE, but this one has truly always been a favorite. If there had been a Senior Superlative for “Most Likely to be on an SNL Skit,” I would have been in the running. Instead, I was voted “Most Likely to be on A Wedding Story.” While I have mega appreciation for the irony, I think my humor matches my romantic side. I’m going to be exploring that more in 2018! Fun fact: I just signed up for improvisation classes here in Baltimore starting in January.

3. Nerium Hydragels

Beware: you do need these in your life. I don’t sleep well, drink enough water, and being emotional about the happiest and stressful moments in life… my eyes are often a puffy mess. My friend Kayla introduced me to these magic pads and I literally get them on subscription month-to-month. This is a nice, cool Monday treat for my face. I usually use them while I’m drinking coffee in the morning! They come in a five pack which makes them super fun to share, too!

2. Instax camera.

Here’s where you’re probably like, “but wait-don’t you have one of those fancy cameras?” Yes. I do. Honestly, it’s a bulk to carry and I typically use my phone for anything on the go. If I’m going to an event with friends or family, I like to take my Instax and a couple packs of film. It’s a lot lighter, I have actual prints (because I, too, am guilty of not printing my photos), and it makes me more intentional with the photos I take. I can also gift one to a friend and then they also have a memento from whatever adventure we might be on.

1. Audiobooks subscription.

This is number one because I’ve been wearing Audiobooks OUT lately. One of my recent goals was to schedule, outsource, and minimize my presence online without losing my audience. This is still a work in progress but it’s definitely given me time to focus on other things that also needed tending to. While I’ve been cleaning out my closet, getting Christmas gifts wrapped, and doing mounds of laundry (I honestly don’t know where it comes from…), I have had lots of time to listen up. I’ve “read” nearly five books over the last two weeks. Don’t worry, I’ll talk more about those later. For now, I will just say that I love having the app so that I can listen while working, instead of binge watching tv in the most half-assed of manners.

“Okay, so…”

Okay, so (bonus: one of my favorite phrases) this list is not exactly inclusive of all of my favorite things. It would be hard to divulge all of that in one blog post, but I wanted to get a little personal on a lighter note. Now it’s your turn! Remember that favor I asked for earlier? Leave a comment and tell me a few of your favorite things. Can’t wait to hear from you. <3

-Ash

PHOTOGRAPHY | KAIT BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHY