Memorial Day weekend favorite things

Hi, friends! Happy Friday! Are you about to start a long weekend? I hope so! We had a pretty busy week over here, and so I am ready for some relaxation!

So today is a very special day, because exactly five years ago on this date, 5/26, Dave and I got married. We had our wedding in downtown Orlando, where we lived at the time, and it was the perfect day. I loved every single thing about our wedding celebration and would love to relive those moments of dancing and hanging out with our family and friends. And don’t we just look like little kids … (dark hair anyone??)

Wedding collage on our 3rd anniversary

My only regret is that we didn’t have a videographer, so we don’t have any video footage from the night. But we have plenty of pictures and memories. Anywho, because it’s our big five year, I have to give a little tribute to Dave, who I love so much. He has to put up with a lot as a blog husband, and he does it in style. He’s the best, and this year will be a huge one for us as we become parents to something other than a dog!

As a blast from the past, below are the “save the dates” we sent out in February of 2012. Although, maybe these are the proofs, because the wrong date is circled on the calendar. Ha!

Ashley and Dave - Save the Date for Wedding

Yay for five fabulous years of being married to one handsome and spectacular guy!! And just for fun, here’s a look at what I wrote on our two-year anniversary, all about Dave and our wedding.

Moving on, here are some of my favorites lately …

My favorite Sunset Magazine event in Sonoma

Last week, I was invited to a media preview of the Sunset Magazine Celebration Weekend in Sonoma. Yes, this was my first time going to wine country without drinking any wine, and I still managed to have a good time.

Flowers at the Sunset Magazine media preview by A Lady Goes West

Ashley and Caroline at the Sunset Magazine media preview by A Lady Goes West

(So excited I finally got to meet the lovely Caroline, who I’ve known online for a long time.)

We started with a tour of the gardens at Cornerstone Sonoma, then got a peek inside the very energy-efficient cottage on the property decked out in the latest appliances, complete with a Samsung fridge connected to your smartphone. Pretty cool stuff! Moving on, we changed locations to a private event space in Sonoma for lunch outside in the sun …

Sunset Magazine table setting at A Lady Goes West

Sunset Magazine food at A Lady Goes West

Lunch at the Sunset Magazine media preview by A Lady Goes West

Maracons at the Sunset Magazine media preview by A Lady Goes West

(Lunch was provided by Masullo Pizza — OMG that fresh stone bread on the sandwich was delicious — and the tasty little desserts were from Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates.)

Throughout the course of the day, we soaked up some vitamin D, talked about wine, food, gardens, events and a whole lot more. I had some great food, met some new media and blogger friends and came away with an awesome gift bag too. If you haven’t yet, check out Sunset Magazine

Ashley at the Sunset Magazine media preview by A Lady Goes West

(The BEST dress ever, which I want to get in another color.)

The annual Celebration Weekend is over for this year, but it sure sounds like a good time, and I hope to catch it next year, when I can drink wine again! Cheers!

My favorite breath freshener

So I stopped chewing gum a long time ago and don’t miss it. I used to LOVE gum, but it’s actually very easy to quit. People say you will stop craving sugar and be less bloated without chewing gum, but I didn’t notice any of that — I merely decided I was over buying it and chewing it. What I did notice is that I still want some sort of breath freshener after most meals when out and about, and these Trader Joe’s Gingermints are my fave for that …

Favorite ginger mints by A Lady Goes West

Whenever I offer a mint to someone, and it’s one of these, he or she is always taken aback by the very strong flavor. I like to eat two at a time, and they clear my passages. Anyhow, just so you know, these are always waiting for you in the check-out line at Trader Joe’s, and you won’t be disappointed if you seek freshness. Not to mention, the ingredients aren’t too bad either. Yay fresh breath! 

My favorite links of the week 

Here are a few good things from around the web this week …

  • This article started circulating a while back, and I finally read it. It’s all about what the older generation thinks of hipsters, avocado toast, etc. Pretty good stuff.
  • My friends, we need to eat salt. There are a lot of things to be scared of when it comes to processed food, but natural salt (particularly sea salt) is TOTALLY okay. We need it. Check out this one on why some of us are avoiding salt so much we become deficient and/or overweight. 
  • Speaking of avocado toast, this is a look at why it costs so much. Interesting!
  • And who is loving this new Miley Cyrus song? Me!

And in case you missed it, there were three posts on the blog this week …

SALE SHOPPING ALERT: The Nordstrom half-yearly sale is taking place right now until June 4th with a lot of items at 40 percent off, so you should totally check it out if you need to do some shopping. I love that Nordstrom offers free shipping and returns too, and it’s my go-to for online shopping. I have my eye on this cute little summer number, which may or may not fit me right now, this fun dress and this beautiful dress for a shower!

And here’s one more pretty pic from Sonoma …

Sunset Magazine event at the Cornerstone garden A Lady Goes West

That’ll do it! I have some work to do today, then I’m teaching Bootybarre in the evening, and Dave and I will be doing something to celebrate our anniversary after that (which I don’t know what yet, but sadly, it won’t include any champagne or tartare for me … I mean, how else does someone celebrate?). Have a WONDERFUL weekend, my friends. Catch me over on Instagram until we meet back here! 🙂 

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Questions of the day

What are you up to this weekend?

What’s the best thing that happened in your week?

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21 Comments

  1. That Sonoma event looks fantastic! What I would give to have a day like that again. We had our week of gorgeous weather and ever since then it has SUCKED> I definitely spoke too soon. I thought I was safe announcing the start of summer, but you know Chicago…
    Happy Anniversary! It is our anniversary as well! But we are year 4. 😀 Have a great weekend of celebrating!

    1. What a great day to get married! Happy 4th anniversary to you and Alex!! 🙂 And I hope you have good weather on the way soon, lady! 🙂

  2. Happy Happy Anni to you and Dave!

    And I think I will pick up some of those Gingermints next time I am at TJ’s in my continued quest for the cauliflower pizza crust!

    xoxo.

    1. Hi Courtney! Thank you!!! And yes, keep searching for the crust — I went back yesterday and couldn’t find more — but maybe they will get them in over the long weekend when people are shopping for BBQ items instead of healthy pizza! 🙂 Happy Friday, lady!

    1. Hi Christina! I bought a bag of the mini-avocados yesterday — they are SUPER hard right now, but I have them out hoping at least one will be ready soon. I think a bag of 6 was only like $3 — so a total steal! And thank you! I LOVED my wedding dress — too bad you only get to wear it once hahah! Happy Friday, gal!

    1. Hi Carrie! 🙂 Ohhhh have SO much fun! Seriously, wine country (while drinking wine) is my happy place! We haven’t spent much time in Healdsburg, but I know people love it. Enjoy!

  3. Happy Anniversary! When I got married (20 yrs in June), the church package included a tape of the ceremony. I took that to mean a video tape. What I received was an audio tape. ? I guess it doesn’t really matter seeing as I no longer have a VHS or cassette player!

    1. Hi Kristen! OMG — that’s hilarious — and audio tape of the ceremony? Have you ever listened to it? How funny! Happy Friday to you!!

      1. Yes! I speak quietly so I’m barely audible. I’d probably have to find a car with a cassette player if I wanted to listen to it now.

    1. Hi Emily! I like things that are ginger as well – so I guess that’s why I like these mints! A big Happy Friday to you! 🙂

  4. Hey, great pictures! Happy anniversary! It reminded me a bit of when me and my wife got married, those were golden moments 😛

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