Snap Shot
Here I am! Starting this blog today June 26th 2018 has been brought to you by Angie Phelps Langford of Verb Photography, located in Edmonds, WA. This awesome, smart, full of knowledge, talented photographer, and Mom of three is my power partner and just the perfect woman to light a fire under my ass. I just met Angie only a few months ago. The world was listening to me in some weird way. On my list of crap to get done for my studio (ever growing) was to find a local photographer to hook up with. I needed an edge, advice, photos, etc.. Did I mention I needed a personal/business push as well? I was subconsciously asking for help and God, or the world put her in my path. The damn power of facebook too. We connected through there and met up only a few hours later at one of my favorite coffee shops in downtown Edmonds. Walnut St. Coffee. (Squirrel moment... The power of connecting with other women in your community is something to be explored)
So yes, here I am. Blogging on my surface tablet on my back deck while the sun is out. It's 5:30pm, dinner is no where in sight, but my MMA striking class starts in a few hours. I take a couple classes a week doing stand up MMA. Sort of.. I am no Rhonda Rousey but love my coaches and the family that is there. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Walking in to Team Wise MMA/Alderwood MMA. I have never looked back. Okay, maybe once for a little while as I was in school and had to put my membership on hold and also caring my for Mom.
I grew up just a little north of Ballard, or Crown Hill. My parents bought a house in a cul-de-sac on 8th ave NW in the late 1960's. Best thing hands down is growing up in my neighborhood. The old school name was Green Arbor. Only old timers would know this. ;-) Had the best 4th of July parties. Many well loved babysitters whom I still keep in touch with. Our neighbors were our family.
We lived smack in the middle of Ingraham High School and Ballard. At the time, busing wasn't in full effect. I chose Ingraham because my older brother went there and so did my cousins. After graduating from Ingraham I floated around Shoreline CC and worked at Drug Emporium on Northgate Way. The mega store of drug stores at the time. A few years later I attended and graduated from Seattle Massage School located one block up from Greenlake. Good gawd - this is how you know you are old. The schools you went to have been torn down and replaced with condo's and Whole Foods.
I have kept massage in my back pocket for 20 years. Off and on I would practice in people's homes, my own home, or for a short period I had rented a place near Greenlake from my good friend Ann. This amazing lady, let me rent her space there while I maybe had a few clients a week. At this time I was burned out from massage. This profession can be taxing. I was exhausted at the time and didn't want to admit it. It wasn't long before I ended my stint at this studio. All the while my dear friend Ann knew it was time to take a long break from massage. Again, another reason to invest in others with the same profession or even complete opposites. They can zero in on what you are feeling and let you know it is okay to take a deep breath. Love you Ann! (i'll have to let her know she is now in my blog).
Moving on to 2018. My work history has been sitting behind a desk working for a Mom and Pop to working in corporate America. The last two desk jobs I worked ended me. It crushed my spirit. The fluorescent lighting didn't help either. I knew it was time to get back to school and work for myself.
I enrolled in esthetics school two plus years ago and have been happy since. Yes, my classmates were 20 years younger than I, but good gawd - I spent a lot of money at Ulta buying Urban Decay shadow palletes. The gals at school knew their make up brands more than I thought I did!
So here I am folks! More to come. Topics I have in mind: foods for healthy skin, what is skin care actually? How to cleanse your skin, Why washing your face every night is imperitive, what does spf mean? why should I visit the dermatologist? Is Neutrogena bad? Aveeno?
Love Love, Ash