What a Year... ♥

One year ago (yesterday) I started my blog!  I just re-read my {first post} and I think I've stuck with the goal of my blog pretty well... "a place for my photos and favorite things" ! :)  When I first started blogging, I had no idea where it would go... all I know is that I have stuck to one main principle - to be myself and to write like it was only for me!  I am overwhelmed by the amount of followers and daily comments and emails I receive from you all!  I continue to be amazed by the blogging community and the many friendships I have formed with bloggers who appreciate the same things I do!  It absolutely makes my day when I see a note from you or when someone links to me on twitter or facebook... and you all give me the inspiration to keep sharing with you!  In August, I started sharing a little bit more about my life personally through instagram photos and weekend recaps - I learned quickly that I needed to make this personal connection with my readers, but was still cautious about how much I shared!  However, I continue to receive emails weekly asking for more  information about me, my boyfriend, my job... etc!  I realized, just like many of the blogs I read daily, we have become a part of each others life... even if it is just for 2 minutes when browsing through google reader! ;)  So... below, you will find a little bit more about me, the girl behind a {little} dash of ash!  Hope you enjoy and thank you again for reading my blog! xxoo.

The Random Stuff:

My full name is Ashley Rebecca Gale. When I was born, a little girl told my grandma that I had 3 first names! :)  I am 29 (as of yesterday) and I am completely ok with the fact that it is the last year of my 20's - I truly believe my 30's will be the best years of my life!  My favorite color is green, which is also my eye color.  When I was five I always doodled hearts - I would lock myself in my bedroom just to draw thousands of hearts on construction paper.  I still doodle hearts.  I am secretly a hopeless romantic (not so secretly anymore).  My favorite cereal is lucky charms.  If I won the lottery, I would buy a loft in NYC and decorate it with my inspirations on {pinterest} so I would always have a beautiful place to visit.  My dream is to go to Paris (which will come true next year) and my favorite indulgence is a Wendy's Frosty.

How I got into Corporate Retail:

I get this question in my email more than any other one!  I went to Indiana University and changed my major to Apparel Merchandising my Sophomore year after going to a career seminar and listening to the recruiter from Macy's West talk about corporate retail and how to become a buyer!  I instantly knew that is what I wanted to do and literally stalked the recruiters at Macy's in San Francisco for an entire year before being offered an internship my junior year!  I fell in love with the buying job and moved out West to start my career.  I worked as a buyer in women's shoes (dream come true), men's sportswear and fragrance.  Three years later, I moved back to Ohio to work for A&F.  I switched over to merchandise planning at this time - which was similar to a buyer role at a department store, but with more of an emphasis on the financials of running a product category (which I love)!  At A&F, I worked on many different product categories including: intimates, swim, sleep and accessories.  After another three years, I moved to Philadelphia where I currently work for Free People - still in merchandise planning and still loving what I do after (almost) 7 years! :) 

The Boyfriend:

My favorite email ever was from a reader 5 months ago.  It said, "All of a sudden you just started talking about a guy named Alejandro on your blog - are you going to tell us how you met him?"  I thought about this for awhile now and part of me didn't want to share too much info about him (us), but part of me wants to tell you the best story of my life! So.... a couple weeks after moving to Philadelphia (7 months ago), I was walking to get some food and as I crossed the street, I saw this guy and thought, "wow, he is really cute" - (but really, that is irrelevant because I would never stop a random guy and be like, "hey, you are cute, want to hang out" ;)!! As we passed each other, his ID fell out of his pocket. I tried turning around to tell him, but he was too quick and the light was turning green so I had to get out of the crosswalk. I didn't pick up the ID and went on my way to eat (since I was absolutely starving)!! After ordering my food and sitting down to eat... there was this crazy voice screaming at me to go get his ID from the crosswalk! So... I left the restaurant (and my food on the table), waited for traffic to stop, and got his ID. I ended up sending him a message on facebook and asked him if he wanted me to send it back to him... not really thinking I would ever see him again!! But, he messaged me back the next day and asked if I wanted to meet at Starbucks (he didn't know yet... but lattes are pretty much the way to my heart ;)!! The day that I ended up meeting him at Starbucks, I parked in 20 minute parking because I really thought I was just going to run in and hand him his ID... potentially get a coffee as well (all of which can be done in less than 20 minutes!) Nope... we ended up sitting down and having one of the best conversations I have ever had! I think we were there for over an hour and already had trips to London and Peru planned together! ;) He instantly became the most interesting person in the world and someone I knew I could have a lot of fun with.... So, I think I asked him out to dinner?! Or maybe he asked me? Can't remember... but either way - first date scheduled before we left Starbucks... which made the $93 parking ticket I received for staying past my 20 minutes a little more enjoyable! :)  And... I still think he is the greatest guy I have ever met in my life! :)