one day until....

i get a little of this...

and this....

and this....

and this....

I love the holidays.

How do I get one?

I think this little creature would make an interesting pet. He is where the inspiration for "furbys" came from. Hilariously adorable. If anyone needs a Christmas present idea for me, read this article.....

Real-life Furbys rediscovered

The Other Woman

Cort got the new Google phone this weekend. I hate technology.

simple dreams

i dream of living in a small town.

i dream of balance.

i dream of marrying cortney.

i dream of the day i can grow my own food and live off the land.

i dream of a day i can look around me and only see trees and nature.

i dream of a day where i wake up and don't criticize something about myself.

because i dream of raising children with confidence and positive attitudes.

i dream of having kids, dogs and horses running all around me.

i dream of always being able to say the right thing.

especially to those that need to hear the right thing.

i dream of carlee, ashley and i taking our kids on hikes in the mountains

and trips to the park.

i dream of being able to ride a bike wherever i want to go.

i dream of the feeling of accomplishment.

i dream of being peaceful.

i dream of being the best mom, the best friend, the best wife and the best sister i can be.

i still dream of having it all, but mostly,

i dream of a simple life.

on this day...

mend a quarrel. seek out a forgotten friend.

dismiss suspicion, and replace it with trust.

write a love letter. share some treasure.

give a soft answer. encourage youth. listen.

manifest your loyalty in word and deed.

keep a promise. find the time. forgo a grudge.

apologize if you were wrong.

try to understand. flout envy. be kind. be gentle.

examine your demands of others.

think first of someone else. welcome a stranger.

inspire confidence. embrace equality.

decry complacency.

laugh a little. laugh a little more.

honor your late friends and family.

express your gratitude.

open your heart to a child.

relish the beauty and wonder of the earth.

take up arms against malice. pray.

speak your love. speak it again.

speak it still once more.

Yeah...they're not my kids....

....but I want them to be. 

Photo shoot of my soon-to-be niece Afton and nephew Hudson by the talented Julie Burton.

The Park Bench

I got this poem from a professor of mine - sometimes I need to read little inspirational things like this - just to give me a boost, and to help me be a better person. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Park Bench

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read

Under the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown

For the world was intent on dragging me down

And if that weren't enough, to ruin my day

A young boy approached me, all tired from play

He stood right before me with his head tilted down

And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight

With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light

Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play

 I faked a small smile and then shifted away

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose

And declared with overacted surprise

"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.

That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead

Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red

But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave

So I reached for the flower and said, "Just what I need." 

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand

He held it mid-air, without reason or plan

It was then that I noticed for the very first time

That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun

As I thanked him for picking the very best one

"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play

Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see

A self-pitying person beneath an old willow tree

How did he know my self-indulged plight?

Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see

The problem was not with the world; the problem was me

And for all of those times, I myself had been blind

I vowed to appreciate every second that's mine

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose

I smiled at the young boy with another weed in his hand

About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man

Bums on Admiralty Way

I am a part-time dog-walker.

It's a little hobby I took up while trying to bring some normalcy to my life in the rat race I like to call L.A. Why dogs? Well, I love them. But also because they can't talk back to me. They can't ride my bumper when I drive like a grandma. They can't honk at me. They aren't trying to make it in the entertainment industry, and they don't care what my body looks like - etc. etc. So anyway, that's what I do.

One of the dogs in particular, Winston - a 2 year old lab the size of a small bear - is one of the most obnoxious things I have ever had on the other end of a leash. I walk the dogs on Admiralty Way, which has a park running about a mile along the side of it. I go to this end because Winston lunges at other dogs, other people, babies and sometimes trees if their leaves are blowing in the wind, but for some reason, stays away from the homeless people. Not sure why. So I take Winston to one end of the park which I've come to lovingly name the "Homeless-man Corner" because all the "crazies" from Venice Beach flock to it during the day. I've had a few encounters which are worth blogging about:

Homeless Person Experience #1:
One of my first experiences happened the first week as I was walking Winston, and overheard an older homeless man yelling and cursing at a woman in a lime green pant suit. Yep, I said it. Lime green. I walked towards the couple, because I was a little nervous for the woman's safety - and if anything - I have a huge dog that looks a little intimidating. As I got closer, I heard what they were talking about, and the woman was yelling at the homeless man for smoking marijuana on the premises. I don't really blame her - but come on, we are in L.A. Everything smells like weed. They went back and forth at this for a few minutes (with me standing close by, with Winston ready to lunge) before ANOTHER homeless man came up to homeless man #1 and began yelling at him, and telling him, "You can't talk to women that way, #*$(#*@** (left out due to possible younger readers)" The conversation got even more heated when homeless man #2 picked up a hockey stick (which I assume he uses as a closet - because it was wrapped in clothes) and threatened to hit him with it. "You better start moving, or I'll do it, I promise," he said. As homeless man #1 turned his back to walk away while flipping them off, homeless man #2, ran after him and started beating him with the hockey stick. I stood there in shock, not really knowing what to do, but I'm sure I would have stepped in if the security from the condo building next to us didn't come out and stop the hockey stick beating. I'm sure of it.

Homeless Person Experience #2:
This next experience is a continuous one. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, if I'm lucky and arrive at around noon, the same man will ride his beach cruiser down the bike path. Like out a scene of Rocky - he looks like Sylvester Stalone, and is about 300 lbs of muscle, tan and shirtless, wearing shorts the size of my underwear - will ride slowly down the path, stop in the same place everyday and stop to do pushups and pull-ups. Once he gets back on the bike, he will continue down the path, yelling..."Where is she? Where is she?"...."Rhonda! Where is she?" I'm not exaggerating any of this by the way. Same place everyday. Now, being a student studying psychology and therapy, this man would be a dream to psychoanalyze. If only I could catch up with him after his workout....

Homeless Person Experience #3:
My next experience happened just last week, when a homeless man, who looked pretty healthy and normal, but just a little down on his luck, stopped me to talk about Winston. He admired how sweet Winston looked (I've been training him the last couple weeks to not leap on everything that moves - Progress!), and asked if I had been keeping up with the election. We talked about politics and voting for a few minutes before I told him I had to be on my way. We said goodbye, and as I walked away, he yelled back at me, "Remember, it's not what's inside of you, but what you do that defines you!" Hmm...I smiled and continued walking. "That's nice, I thought. And he's right." But still, as I was walking I kept replaying what he said in my mind, and I couldn't help but think that it sounded strangely familiar. The rest of the day, I kept thinking about what he said, until that night while watching Batman Begins, I heard the same line. Stolen from a movie. But still true. 

Ashley and I are getting married....

Yes, you heard me right. But not to each other. Prop 8 passed.

In true "Ashley and Laura" form - we are doing this together, and getting married two months apart. We were both lucky enough to find amazing men that complete us in ways that we were unable to do for each other - that being, the opposite sex. 

I am more than elated to announce that I am enfianced to Cortney Nelson, and by marrying him, I'm gaining:

-Someone who is - honest, thoughtful, ambitious, loving, highly intelligent, romantic, hardworking, open-minded, respectful, kind, spiritual, adventurous, funny, my best friend, and perfect for me in every way. 

-A family, the Nelson's, that I have been in love with for ten years now - one of the most amazing families I've ever known. 

-One of my very best friends, Erin, as my new sister, and two nieces, a nephew and one on the way that I absolutely adore. 

What he's gaining:

-An equally as lovable and perfect family who loves him, the Campbell's, as well as a baby on the way and Olivia....need I say more?

-Someone who is - a little OCD, sometimes cynical, sometimes funny, sometimes high-maintenance, a little neurotic, but someone who absolutely adores him and loves him more than words can express.

Thanks for proposing to me Cort, sorry this post is long over-due, and my wedding countdown couldn't be going any slower.... :) 

I just can't get enough....

....of this little button. How can I possibly be living out of state when there is so much Auntie La La love to give her?