ASH-LYN!!!

I don't think my name is hard or any way difficult to pronounce. There's just "ash" and then there's "lyn". Unless you're like an innocent two or three year old, then maybe you'd call me "adin" with a lisp....but if you're an adult, there's no excuse. NO EXCUSE. I think this vent post was triggered by a certain tutu in the building I work at, who has been introduced to me, has heard me introduce myself to her/remind her what my name was, and sees my BOLD name printed on my employee tag pinned onto my chest many times....and yet still calls me ASHLEY. Hello! You're not THAT old!

I've encountered this Ashlyn/Ashley situation throughout my life. When I was younger, I'd think to myself, "Am I not pronouncing my name clearly?" I  mean I'd greet someone, tell them my name, and yet they'd still refer to me as Ashley. But as I grew older I categorized these annoying name-messer-upper people as either 1. Deaf, 2. Lazy, 3. Dumb. I know it may sound harsh, but hear me out....or just get off my blog.

1. Deaf
So the deaf ones, obviously just didn't hear me the first time (I guess). They paid attention to me introducing myself, but somehow they'll make an honest mistake which usually happens once. I'm forgiving to these types of people because they really didn't mean to mess up my name and truly apologize or make you feel that they WANT to learn your correct name, lol. It's no biggy, we're all deaf at times. (Sometimes I'm purposefully deaf, haha)

2. Lazy
Lazy, is more like stubborn because they actually hear you say ash-LYN, but yet keep referencing back to it sounding like ash-LEY, and "Oops sorry, it's because I know an Ashley". Has no one heard my name before? Because it was pretty common in elementary. In 1st, 4th and 5th grade I was referred to as 'AshlynK' or 'Ashlyn1' in classes with other Ashlyn's. These people are super annoying, and yet they always seem to think it's funny that they call me the wrong name.

3. Dumb
And the Dumb, make no courteous effort to notice that they consistently call me the wrong name. They see it on my name tag, the emails I send them, they hear it when I constantly correct them or hear other  coworkers call me ASHLYN. They are always small in number, so I know for sure that they just have a personal problem, lol. So guess what "Dummies"? Two can play that game! (And mind you this is only when I'm pretty ticked off) ......when I keep walking out of the room, it's because my name is not ash-LEY.....it's ASHLYN. Get it right, or I'm not turning around! I mean, it's not like I make up a name to call you!

In the words of Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 DVD, "let's bring things back to center & cool down." lol. You may think I'm crazy, but I'm just stating a point. It's my name and I love my name. In fact I'm very proud of name. My Dad named me after his mother, my Grandma Ashlyn Ululani Ka'onohi Ka'ahanui, who passed away when he was a little boy from a severe case of asthma. My Dad loved his Mom, and it was through the childhood stories he told that caused me to love her just as much. She was a remarkable woman and had a beautiful history. She was born to a wealthy Hawaiian family with a huge house up in Alewa Heights. Her Father (my Great-Grandfather) was Alexander Kaonohi, one of the first 'official' Hawaiian doctors, having come from a long line of kahuna la'au lapa'au, or natural Hawaiian healing. He classified more than 240 herbs and plants to be documented as ways to heal, paving the way for modern medicine in Hawaii. He truly served the Hawaiian community, usually never taking any payment but was always left fruit, sugarcane as a thank you from patients.

Her 1950 graduation from St. Andrew's Priory

Great-Grandfather Doctor Ka'onohi, that's a pure Hawaiian right there!

Grandma Ashlyn, Grandpa B, my uncles and the smallest with the red hat is my Dad "Kent" Kaahanui.

My Grandma Ashlyn attended St. Andrew's Priory (reason why I wish one day I can afford to send Mahie there), was well educated, musically talented on the ukulele, had a strong testimony of the gospel and was a wonderful mother to five young children. So maybe I am making a big deal about my name, but I have good reason to.

Lastly, it has caused me to always, yes always, listen carefully to what another person's name is. I am very sensitive to making sure I pronounce a name correctly. Plus, it's embarrassing if you're calling the other person the WRONG name. We should all make the effort!

So Hi Guys, my name is Ashlyn Aspinall.

One episode after the other!

I had the entire Saturday to myself & Mahie. Parts of our home have been separated into toss, sell, pack. It doesn't help that when you make piles, your little 10month baby crawls over and starts to make her own pile...or decides to take a nap in the middle of everything. Anyways, I always clean better with Pandora or a movie playing in the background. I went with an online tv show suggestion by my friend Marissa called "Dance Moms"....I'm addicted. After 2 minutes into Season 1, Episode 1, I realized I couldn't leave my laptop, so I barricaded the living room to keep Mahie from roaming the apartment and decided to plant myself next to all the laundry needed to be separated and folded. I ended up watching more episodes than folding laundry (which wasn't a lot at all, lol). I think us women love our online movie shows....one episode after another really makes the time fly. James came back from work, looked around and said, "What did you do with your life today?"...I told him to order pizza for dinner. lol.

The Coach is pretty intense, but I don't know why the moms complain because at the end of the day, their daughters are very talented and win every competition. Although I do agree that the Coach can be over the top at times, like for one performance she dressed the girls (6-10yrs) in sequined bras and booty shorts, and taught them some pretty inappropriate moves. The judges didn't even place them.

I've also been reading up on a lot of "Mommy Blogs". Don't you think that a lot of them on blogspot seem repetitive or have a cookie cutter presentation. As in they all share the same characteristics: skilled in photography, skilled in baking, shop-a-holics, eating-healthy-aholics, lol, exercise-aholics....not hating, ANYways...I came across Kourtney Kardashian's blog videos too. I wonder if she really does DO ("does DO" does that make sense?) everything for her son or if she has a nanny on hand. But then again, I too have nanny help when I'm at work, lol...TWO on-call infact. Nanny #1: My sister Hillary (she's #1 because she's more available and doesn't get stressed like), Nanny #2: My Mom.....who after 5 kids and a million years later I guess forgot how demanding crawling/teething infants can be. (love you mom).

If you got a favorite tv show or mommy blog, hook a sistah up!