I’ve Moved to www.AshleyMahaffey.com Come Visit!

Find me at my new address, a lot shorter and easier for me to remember, www.AshleyMahaffey.com

Yes, this exercise video is for real.

I found this fitness company Laugh Away Series (website no longer live) and the owner, Kelly Beard from Solana Beach, CA put out videos on the premise that if you laugh and exercise you will feel more joy and get a good workout too.

Check it out and let me know your reaction…don’t hold back here.

What Got Me Giddy Today

I went to make lunch today.  I pulled open the cupboard and took out the tuna (need protein and can’t stomach a 7th day of turkey sandwiches).  I set the tuna can on the counter top – which always bums me out because then I notice the grout lines between the 4″ tiles, which are on ALL of our countertops.  It is such a pet peeve of mine because it is so hard to keep it all clean and sanitized.  I think I actually LOOK for spilled sauces or juices in the grout each time.  I’ve made cleaning the grout lines in my kitchen a huge deal – it’s either that or a fourth game of Lucky Duck with a 4yo and 2yo who smack the duck pond like they’re in Vegas.  It’s one of the most annoying sounding games for parents but the kids LOVE it. 

There was one day that I almost wrote Milton Bradley and told them they should really consider having a volume setting on their game – that letter wasn’t going to happen, but the thought of it made me feel strong.  Instead, I called the gift-giver of the game and thanked her for adding to the chaos of our home.  Lucky Duck resides BEHIND doors in the cupboard above the tuna cans.  Oh, back to my tuna sandwich!

So, I got the bread out and went for the mayo-just a little left, but enough to make it all slide down.  Next, I walked over to the drawer next to the cooktop which houses the can opener…THAT is when my heart sank.  OH, MAAAN!

I just remembered that the can opener died two days ago and I forgot to get a new one.  I already had my bread out, my little bit of mayo was on the spoon and my tuna can was begging to be opened.  In my state of frustration and disappointment, I opened the drawer – in hopes of finding…a sledgehammer, or something that might do the trick. 

What I saw took my breath away…this beautiful, shiny, white and chrome, NEW, Kitchen Aid can opener.  I was GIDDY!  My husband had obviously done his part in stimulating the economy this weekend…love him! 

I lunged at that new piece of hardware and felt it slip perfectly and heavily in my hand.  I opened its arms and admired the sharpness and cleanliness of the little circular blade – our old one was rusted and didn’t quite meet up with the other little gear thing.  I used to always hold my breath every time I would turn the knob.

This was not the case today.  I confidently snapped that Kitchen Aid onto my can of tuna and..POP!  It was locked.  I gave a turn – smoooooothe.  In four turns I was home free.  I mixed it up just how I like it – not a lot of mayo.  I brought the Kitchen Aid over to the sink wiped it off and placed it back into the drawer. 

As I pulled up to the countertop barstool I stared at the grout lines – yep, still bugging me – and then over at my NEW appliance…smile.

MercyMe Covering ‘Eye of the Tiger’

I’m sitting here eating chips and salsa scratching my brain about what to post today. I was going to repurpose an article on physical fitness exercises that I use with my clients. However, I just got a quick ‘tweet’ that had me spewing tomatoes and cilantro.

So, instead of feeding your brain I’m going to feed your belly with a laugh Click Here.

Let me know what you think on the funny factor scale.

You Can Do Anything You’re Big Enough to Do…

Those were the inspiring words that I heard my Dad answer to my many of childhood requests about pursuing my own new adventures. My requests were made in part because of my lack of discernment and in part because I was flat-out scared of the unknown.

My Dad would take me and my siblings every summer on a week of house boating adventure. I always looked forward to the trip. I remember that at 10 years I wanted to jump off a fairly high rock. I was excited about the new experience and thrilled about the possibility of more and bigger rock jumping in my future. But, I was unsure of whether or not I was capable until Dad shot back with an encouraging, “You can do anything you’re big enough to do!” He made sure that it also meant big enough to get hurt.

He wanted to teach me that I need to take responsibility for my own future. I recently revisited this subject with him and he said he was training me in self-responsibility. Dad wanted me to know that ultimately we are responsible for choosing our own paths.

What have you been big enough to do recently?

A Lesson I Learned About Integrity Compromised

I have been collaborating with a woman on a project recently.  There was a situation that came up last week where we were talking about our values and mission statement.   I was sure that I wanted to include a statement about my Christian faith. My collaborative partner sweetly (honestly) suggested that we not put any statement in because it may be offensive to the broader group we are trying to reach.

At first I was ruffled and internally I became defensive.  So, I took a breath and heard her out.  She was very respectful in appreciating my Christian beliefs, but still felt strongly that we didn’t need to be pushing away part of our target audience in case they believed in something other than Christianity. 

I paused and then stepped out boldly on behalf of my Savior, Jesus Christ – so I thought. I did tell her that I thought we could just take the statement of Christian faith out all together, but that if there was to ever be a discussion that included spirituality that I couldn’t allow my name to be attached to any material or seminar that allowed for any other God. I proceeded to tell her, in love, that Jesus said He is the only way to the Father. Therefore, that excludes any other God. I felt that Jesus was on the move in our coversation. However, in the end I agreed to leave out the statement of my Christian faith.

The following days I was miserable, but I just didn’t want to admit the ‘why’ to myself. I approached my husband this morning and his words only confirmed what I didn’t want to see myself.

I prayed on the way to the gym for the Lord to work out the details. Later in the day I was talking to my Christian friend and mentor. I shared what was eating at me. She served up her wisdom as paraphrased below:

“Ashley, your integrity as a Christian is not something that can be compromised. But,…you already know that.”

BAM! I got it! By not being bold in my faith I compromised my vision for the project and more importantly my integrity as a Christian woman. I thank God for His mercy and grace when I falter in standing up for what He did for me.

The Stickers only stick if you let them

I was priveliged to read to my daughter tonight before her bedtime.   It was late so I just wanted to rush through prayers and books.  However, the LORD slowed me down and used that time to love on me sweetly with a message from the Wemmicks.

It is a story about small wooden people who were each crafted by a man named Eli.  Each Wemmick was unique and that was Eli’s plan.  However, the Wemmicks went around their wooden town sticking stickers on each other.  The bright stars were stuck on the beautifully painted Wemmicks and gray dots were reserved for those with rough wood or chipped paint

Punchinello was one Wemmick who accumulated a lot of gray dots.  He would stumble and fall and someone would stick on a gray dot.  They laughed at his many gray dots. 

One day he saw a Wemmick girl who had NO stickers, not even a shiny star.  Punchinello wanted to know how he could get his gray dot stickers removed.  The girl told him to go see Eli.

Punchinello went up to the craftsman’s shop who was delighted at his arrival.  Punchinello couldn’t understand the man’s joy or how he knew the Wemmicks name. 

“I made you.”  Is what Eli pronounced.

Punchinello was embarrased by his gray dots.  But, Eli reassured the Wemmick that he didn’t care about the stickers.  He also told Punchinello, “You shouldn’t either.”  Eli was clear that Punchinello shouldn’t care about what the Wemmicks think because Punchinello was very dear to him.  Punchinello wanted to know why.  

Eli replied, “Because your mine.  I made you and you are special.”

He continued to explain, “If you trust in my love more than what the other Wemmicks think then the stickers will fall off.  The stickers only stick if you let them.” 

In the end, the little Wemmick headed out believing Eli’s words and one gray dot fell off to the ground.