My visit to OZ!

AshleyAJones.com

I got to visit and chat with Dr. Oz today. 

I'm excited about this segment. Stay tuned for more details, air date and BTS photos, etc. What I will say is this: I had a great experience. Dr. Oz and his crew are every bit as awesome as you'd expect. He was so lovely about General Hospital, too! All you GH fans will enjoy that we chatted about our mutual admiration for Maurice Bernard.  And guess what soap was filmed on this very set for years? (I'll see if anyone knows before I reveal).

Outfit details are below... I am in love with this sweater. I have been wearing things that are easy to nurse in (also, search: "nursing" in the search box for other attire)---this one is obviously not, but worth the extra trouble because it makes me feel so ladylike with it's ethereal thistle print.  note: I'm wearing a size 2. It's not too tight, even with the nursing going on! I decided it was time to invest in great pair of black, up to date pants. There are also these that I like that are not such an investment, a bit more #budgetfriendly.

 

 

EMBRACING CHANGE: body, life, work!

Dressing room shot after work March 8th- at 29 weeks

Dressing room shot after work March 8th- at 29 weeks

I haven’t openly talked about this yet.  By “this,” I mean the growing baby inside me.  I knew it would be the biggest change my body has ever gone through, but what’s surprising me is the inner journey I am experiencing. There is so much change. (Grant it, I am going through a lot of external change in life in general!) But, I’m being forced to learn some big life lessons quickly. 

For instance, acceptance.  I’m having to learn to relinquish so much control.  The obvious loss of control: my body changing.  The less obvious: the unknown. Right now, so much of life is up in the air. And the only thing I know for sure is —  for sure more change is coming.  

Some days, most days, I feel good and inspired and grateful for this experience. I like the days I get to work (update HERE).  The day I took this "dressing room selfie,"  I had just wrapped scenes with the talented Lexi Ainsworth for General Hospital. Some fun, shocking material.  Lexi's character, Kristina, is going through some big life changes trying to find, or possibly redefine herself.  Although my personal stage of life couldn't be more different, they are not entirely dissimilar. We are both attempting to embrace change.

And a special thanks to the wardrobe department for making me feel so comfortable in my "condition" of 7 months pregnant. I believe the words Shawn Reeves, head wardrobe designer, used were: "Embrace your bump!"  I loved the jacket I wore that helped me hide....er...embrace it! And I've worn the same pair of jeans for every episode! I love that Paige Denim designs for this stage of life.

I'm realizing how important it is staying focused and feeling productive. The days I tend to have more going on, the better I feel.  But, I have to remember balance.  My energy levels are completely different than normal. And they are harder to predict. I have to be ok with some downtime and not categorize downtime as “laziness.”  The more I push myself, the more I pay for it later. (I literally fainted at a coffeeshop my first trimester! Eek!) Type A, anyone? If you’re reading this and pregnant, I’m probably preaching to the choir.  Any advise? Thoughts? Please share! And stay tuned...