I want to inspire people to live the lives they dream of living and get the most out of life. I want to show people that there is more to life than a job they hate. I want to show people that anything is possible if they believe it it and want it enough. My blog follows my journey in doing just that for myself and my life.
I’m Ashley. A self-employed twenty-five year-old that’s ready to take on the world, ten projects at a time.
My blog encompasses everything I love in life: food, photography, self-employment, and life itself. I strive to bring my passion and honesty to this blog on a daily basis, sharing with you my triumphs and struggles as I learn what entrepreneurship is all about. This blog launched in November 2010 to document my flying leap of faith into the abyss of being self-employed. I hated corporate America and loathed the fact that every day began with the same wish – “Is work over yet?” I ached to get out of the daily nine to five grind and walked out of a secure job where both my father and (now) husband worked with little to no plans in place. It was amazing and insanely scary.
And now this is me, almost a year and a half later. Married and with three pets: a beagle coon-hound mix named Meg, an American foxhound named Sookie and a tuxedo cat named Cosmo. Owning a shop that’s switched from handmade jewelry to decals and wall decor. I also do graphic design and consulting.
Some random facts about me: I dig photography and delicious food. I’d travel the world if I could. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was sixteen. I like too many things and my favorite anything changes weekly. I prefer to be under the sun instead of buried in snow. I feel most at home when I’m outdoors, camping or hiking. I like to cook and bake, but I don’t do it enough. My dream job would consist of getting paid to eat all day long.
Behind the Blog and Shop
My husband is a huge force behind what I do as well. From time to time, you’ll catch him guest posting here, talking about how much he loves that I can’t stay on one radio station for more than 3/4 of a song. Outside of this, he likes to do what I consider the boring part of work: the responsible items. Financials, planning, reports, etc. I truly couldn’t do what I do without him.
I also have an assistant:
Meet Megan:
Megan is the creative force behind And Here’s To You, Mrs Robinson. She’s been on board with After Nine To Five since September 2011, helping with bits and pieces from all of my projects, the blog, and the shop. Megan is an incredible help with everything and without her, I would not be able to tackle as much as I do (which is still probably too much) so I am incredibly grateful to have her working with me! If you contact After Nine To Five about advertising, giveaways, or reviews – you’re likely to chat with her. But even if you don’t, be sure to check out her blog – she’s fantastic and so inspirational.
