OmmWriter

If there is one thing that I am absolutely sure of, it is that I love writing. It was something in which I was excelling in school. My pleasure in writing inspired me to pick up the major, minor and certificate that I have chosen to pursue in college...all writing intensive.

Now, while I thoroughly enjoy the process of developing an idea, brainstorming the ways in which to communicating it, getting it on paper and engaging in an intense editing process...it does not always come easy. I am some who can get easily distracted and can lose focus with one swift click over to Buzzfeed--perhaps I should just pursue a career at Buzzfeed?

Two years ago, I discovered the computer application OmmWriter from a fellow blogger. I downloaded the free version and found a new place to write without being so easily distracted by the evil internet. OmmWriter opens so that it takes up the entire screen; as in you cannot access your application bar either. Good thinking on their part! The background is a soft white, gray or pink; you can adjust fonts and the sounds that you hear. It is suggested that you use the application with your earbuds/headphones plugged in to get the better experience--the light clicking as you type letters in and the calming background music.

Some of my best writing assignments have been written on OmmWriter. I enjoy just writing on it and not worrying about formatting as I am working...better to deal with that later! I highly recommend this program. You can download the program (here). When I downloaded it two years ago, I did have the option of getting it for free, but it looks like that is no longer the case. However, there is no set price for it...you determine what it is worth.

<3 Ashley

Do you use OmmWriter? Will you try it out?

Summer Reading List

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If there is one thing that I keep around even though high school is years behind me it is the summer reading list. I have always been an avid reader--quite advanced at a young age! While high school maybe but a memory, I am still in school which means that finding time to read can be a challenge. This is why I love summer so much! Yes, I do work; however, I feel that my schedule is ten times more relaxed than during the school year and I have more time to read. If you check out the the widget in the right sidebar, you can check out what books I am toting around now!

Here are a few titles that I am hoping to get my hands on this summer:

"The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
"The Vacationers" by Emma Straub
"The Light Between Oceans" by M.L. Stedman
"Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania" by Erik Larson
"Landline" by Rainbow Rowell
"All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

<3 Ashley

What is on your summer reading list? 

Save the Face

So far this season is proving to be hot, hot, hot and humid, humid, humid! With Mother Nature deciding to turn up the heat my face is definitely feeling it. Feeling what exactly? Way too oily for my taste, that's what! I will say that I am not the biggest authority on beauty; my make-up is typically limited to mascara and lipstick. However, there is one thing that I care about during these hot, sticky months and that is my skin.

When the weather gets humid and the sweat starts to drip, I make sure that I ALWAYS have blotting papers and misting spray on hand in order to clean up and touch up. No need to get super fancy with these products: I tote around Clean & Clear blotting papers and Evian Facial Spray--these got me cleaned up on a super hot day when I was going from work straight to a concert with a friend. I use the papers to remove some of the oils and then spritz my face with the mist before I touch up my make-up. It doesn't take me too long to do and it saves me from feeling yucky for longer than I really need to.

<3 Ashley

How do you treat your face in the summer?

a new look

Sunday Brunch has been black and white since its inception. I have decided this summer to try a new look on for size--say hello to color! One of my favorite color combos (among so many!) is blue and pink. Aside from that, there are no functional changes to the site. Everything is still in working order!

<3 Ashley

Do you like the new look?

Head on Over...

...to visit Jennifer's blog, Beautiful Little Fools to see my answer to the question "What is your favorite nail polish brand/color?" along with the answers from a few other great bloggers as well!

You can also check back to my recent post about spring manicure ideas to put the polish to good use!!

<3 Ashley

So what is your favorite nail polish brand/color?

On Meeting a Cheese I Didn't Like

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Yes. It happened. Last night I was preparing what was intended to be a delicious little dinner--spinach and artichoke grilled cheese--when the seemingly impossible happened. I am a big cheese lover; I think I may get it from my mother. We love shopping for cheeses to cut up and snack on during the week. This recipe did not call for some wild or exotic cheeses. I was merely dealing with mozzarella and parmesan.

Now, my mother and I have also been actively trying to keep our eating organic and relatively healthy with a little bit of wiggle room. When we were at the store buying what we needed we were in the organic section and I spotted some mozzarella and thought, "Hmmm. Cheese not concocted with chemical or something. Great throw it in the cart!" And we lived happily ever after.

False. Fast forward to dinner and I--luckily--decide to sample the organic cheese to find out, surprise, this is not cheese. This is an imposter. This is disgusting. Upon reading the packaging--something you should do prior to purchase--I discover that it is dairy, lactose, soy and gluten free. Is this even cheese at this point? I actively refused to put in my sandwich and opted instead to slice up some gouda, which proved to be pretty good! What happened to the fake cheese? We tossed it. I respect vegans for their lifestyle and sticking to it, but now I can confirm that this will never be my lifestyle.

The lesson here today, folks: shop smart. Read the packaging. Don't skimp on cheese.

<3 Ashley

Are you a cheese lover?

theSkimm

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As I entered college there was a lot on my to-do list as I entered into the next chapter of life. College is a liminal stage between being a kid and being an adult--you're on your own for the first time making decisions but your also still under some kind of structure. This to-do list was everything that I thought I should do or habits that I should form as I am becoming an adult. One of those habits is reading the news every day. 

Now, I never have been one to actively keep up with current issues unless I happened to catch them in passing as my parents were watching the evening news. I have certainly tried before to commit to having CNN as a bookmark online, however checking every day was not something I could ensure. 

A few years ago I learned about a little email subscription called: theSkimm. TheSkimm is my new favorite email--this is coming from someone who takes joy in deleting emails without opening them. I get an email every morning around 7 AM, which is just in time for me to have something to read on the bus to work, and in this email is a sample of several different news topics that are important to follow. Even better? Each paragraph (that's it! A news story in a paragraph!) is written in an easy to read and even humorous way that still gets the important parts of the story across. They even frequently feature getaway contests and highlight good books that you need to read.

Here's how it works: click on this link, submit your email address and get ready for your first Skimm tomorrow morning! Also check out this piece about the founders of theSkimm on StyleList.

<3 Ashley

Do you read theSkimm? If not, will you sign up? How do you get your news?

June Letter

The summer months have begun. Of course, at this point I am about a month into my summer and have gotten myself adjusted to the internship schedule. Look at how on top of things I am! This month my focus is on keeping up that momentum. June on Sunday Brunch will have me periodically sharing my organization and productivity tools--just some habits I like to keep of apps that I find particularly useful! Keep and eye out for those and also feel free to share your own tools that you use to maintain your focus.

Of course June is also the official beginning of summer, so summer life and style posts will be featured as well. I am scouring magazine and the internet to find the trends and pick out some of my favorites for you. I will also be sharing my personal summer beauty habits when it comes to keeping my skin and hair looking good when they could look pretty gross.

On another note: since I have started this internship, my schedule is way out of whack from what it was beforehand in regards to my blogging frequency. I am trying to pick it up now since I am becoming more used to my waking and sleeping times. Bear with me while I try to fall back into blogging more regularly!

<3 Ashley

Ready for June? What are your organization/productivity tips? Anything in particular I should focus on this month?