2016 – AshleYYY

FAT GIRL DIARIES “The Experience” (Nov 5th) – Official Choreographer!

GOOD MORNING WORLD!

I’m proud to announce that I am the official choreographer for the upcoming stage play, “FAT GIRL DIARIES,” right here in Atlanta! This is my first time EVER working on a play, so I’m thrilled to be able to experience something new. Over the past 10 years I’ve been able to shine as a dancer, a performer, and a choreographer on stage. Now I have an opportunity to create movement for actors & dancers in a different capacity than what I’m used to. Awesome. Thank You to the creator of Fat Girl Diaries, Miss Learical Jonez, for presenting me with the opportunity to showcase my talents on a new stage. I am very happy to be a part of this and would for you all to share this experience with me!

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Would you leave your husband if he cheated, even if you had a child together? What would you do if your boyfriend of 3 years called you his friend…in front of his friends? How about your husband constantly criticizing you because you don’t look like the women on TV?

Join the women of LJEG as they act out their diaries on stage! Starring Xavier Lewis of Americas Got Talent, Big Ray of V103, Grande Beauty, Tanisha Banks & many more!!!

Learical Jonez Presents: FAT GIRL DIARIES “The Experience”

Saturday, November 5th, 2016 | 4PM & 8PM

595 North Event Center | 595 North Avenue Atlanta, GA 30318

General Admission $22.50 | VIP $47.50

Get your physical tickets from me, any cast member, or purchase them online at: www.freshtix.com/events/fatgirldiaries

For more info. or sponsorship opportunities, please email [email protected] !

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Thanks team – Be GREAT today!

Love always,

~AshleYYY

F! F! F! – Myrtle Beach, Havok Jones, My Radio Rant & More!

Good evening world!

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend… It feels good to be back to my regular schedule. This past weekend was very busy. My team and I took our 2^nd road trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for another performance opportunity. Myrtle Beach is such a beautiful place. It was Bike Week so there were many visitors in town and festivities along the boardwalk and on the beach. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I actually started getting sick of fast food/restaurant food! Lol Idk what was going on, but I kept cramping lol TMI? Eh. I think it was just a matter of waiting too long to eat and then not having a home cooked meal in a few days was starting to get to me. So no more wings & burgers for me for a while. Lol

Before I hit the road I celebrated my little cousin graduating from High School! We ate good! (Still thinking about food. smh) It was a beautiful evening with family & friends. I was so happy to be there. Congrats Tierra! Love you much

Now with this being the last day of May, it is only right that I bring you Five Fun Facts! Let’s go

Recently I was riding in the car and the radio was on. I had one of those moments again where I immediately get irritated with what I’m hearing…

I hate the fact that when I listen to certain radio stations, I only hear the same 10 songs in rotation. It sucks even more that majority of them have the same lyrical content, so it leads me to believe that that’s the only thing men write about. Lol However, I know that’s not the case. It’s just frustrating because there is SO much music in the world and we continuously hear the same nonsense on a daily basis. Ooops, maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to judge… I don’t want to ever bash another artist. I’m an artist and songwriter myself, so I know what goes into writing a song. I just miss hearing the uplifting songs about women from a male narrative. It just makes me think, if people write SO much about the same thing, is that really what they’re doing? Is that what they believe in? What kind of women are they attracting? … Or maybe I’m being overly critical.

As for me, I enjoy writing things that I experience. BUT I also love writing about things I can’t say out loud or that I have yet to experience; so it’s a rush for me & very liberating to be able to get those emotions out and into my music. I’m just letting out my frustrations, guys… listening to my thoughts … Thinking about what I want others to take from MY music moving forward and how it will affect listeners. Hmmm…

I FINALLY had the opportunity to choreograph for one of my favorite groups. These ladies have skills. They can SANGGG! The talented trio, Havok Jones, recently dropped a cover song to Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman” and I got to choreograph the dance routine for their video! Oohwa oohwa! Click HERE to watch their video & follow these ladies!!! #HavokNation

SO RANDOM: I find that when I go to Walmart and snatch up a buggie (aka a shopping cart lol) 9 times out of 10 the wheels SUCK! OMG this is the most annoying thing. If I’m just running in and out, I don’t waste time trying to go back & pick another cart. However, if it’s one of my long list trips, I gotsta turn back around and give all the other buggies a test run…you know, wiggle the cart back & forth, check out the wheels, make sure the cart doesn’t have trash in it or isn’t too dirty looking, yada yada. It’s hard work people! Lol. It seems to happen to me a lot tho. I don’t want to assume all of Walmarts’ buggies are broke, so I’ve just come to the conclusion that I can’t pick a good cart for nothing. Haha! Anybody else go thru this?!

4. As mentioned earlier, I took a second trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was a contestant in a Hip Hop & RnB Showcase and guess who won???? That’s right; me! Praise God. I’m looking forward to traveling more. It’s a blessing to be able to visit new places & connect with new people…oh and see cheaper gas prices! Haha. These experiences are reminding me of the importance of saving money, planning ahead, and finding coupons! Lol. I’m also learning a lot about my team. Taking any kind of trip is a great way to bond and just really get to know people outside of work, and I love that. I also discovered that I love creating Trip Itineraries & such to share with others! Lol I get creative.

Lastly, if you have not already seen this, you are in for a treat. If you have seen it, take another look! Lol Below is one of our favorite performances of the year thus far. I was a special guest performer at the Professional Make Up Artist Conference (PMAC). The Awards show portion was hosted by Trina Braxton of Braxton Family Values! I performed “Find Me” with a special surprise. We – was – so CLEAN!! Check it out below

Thanks for tuning in. Until next time, I love ya’ll & God Bless!

~AshleYYY

My Fresh Cuts Journey! #BossipFreshCuts

Hey World! I know how much info. I’ve been throwing at you guys lately, so I wanted to do a breakdown of my Fresh Cuts Journey for ya!

*BOSSIP is an online gossip & entertainment magazine with a focus on African-American & Black celebs, pop culture, & entertainment. They began season 2 of their Fresh Cuts contest back in March, in hopes of finding the next R&B Star! Check out my timeline below 🙂 *

Auditions @ Emory University

I found out about the auditions the day before and thought I was gonna miss it due to a scheduling conflict; but it turned out they had auditions at 3 different times/locations. I showed up to Emory University, filled out my paperwork, and waited my turn to sing. All of the applicants had to perform in the middle of the University Center – Ah! (Needless to say, I got a pass to the next round. Lol)

Public Voting via Twitter

I have to give it to ya’ll. All of you that voted & took the time out to watch my audition video helped me get to the next round. I got over 3,000 views in just a week! THANK YA’LL.

Top 3!

I found out on a Monday morning that I was officially a Fresh Cuts Finalist! That was an exciting week. Schedules had to be changed around, shopping needed to be done lol, and I had to prepare for my interview and final performance.

The Showcase

Call time was at noon because each finalist had to get hair and makeup done for the big night! This was a huge deal for me. I had the chance to get styled by Professional Hair (Nikk Nelson) & Makeup artists (Mimi J + Shantell Simms), meet lots of people, perform in front of a new audience, and get instant feedback from people in the entertainment industry. (Oh, and EVERYTHING was filmed lol.) My people came out to support me, including some first timers who had never seen me live before 🙂 I couldn’t have been happier. Thank Ya’ll!

Who Won?

You’ll find out today on Bossip’s site 🙂 Stay tuned!

Until then, check out my ‘Road to the Fresh Cuts Talent Showcase’ below!

Thanks for tuning in! Much Love…

~AshleYYY

More details HERE.

Help Me Get On Kandi Koated Nights! #BossipFreshCuts

Hey World!

Bossip is looking for the next R&B Star! They recently began Season 2 of their Fresh Cuts contest and I MADE THE CUT! (Ooh-wa ooh-wa! 🙂 ) So last month I showed up at Emory University where I had to audition in the middle of the University Center. I performed one of the first songs I ever wrote, “Stutter,” and the judges seemed to genuinely enjoy my performance & original song. This season the judges are Janee Bolden, Managing Editor of Bossip, & Zonnique, R&B Singer/Former member of the OMG Girlz. I’m very excited because this is a big opportunity for me to perform at Kandi Koated Nights!

How Can You Help? Simply click on this link>> http://bit.ly/AshleYYYBossip and vote 5 times only. Voting ends THIS Friday, April 8th. If you decide to knock them all out in one sitting, be sure to add something to the text so it isn’t considered a duplicate tweet. If you do not have a Twitter account, nor wish to create one, you can STILL help by watching my audition video HERE or below. Spread the word, guys!! I need all the help I can get!

I appreciate the votes, views & shares I’ve received thus far. THANK YOU guys for your ongoing support! MUAH!

~AshleYYY

Here’s the sample tweet for you to copy & paste:

Whoa! Peep #BossipFreshCuts @AshleYYYMusic gets my vote because she can sang! VOTE NOW http://bit.ly/AshleYYYBossip via @Bossip #TeamAshleYYY

More info. about the contest HERE.

AshleYYY Performs “Down In The DM” [LIVE]

Hey World! HAPPY FRIDAY, I guess lol…Usually I’m excited when the weekend gets here, but I almost feel like it came too soon. You ever have those periods where you are just frustrated and/or drained for whatever reason and you just need some time for yourself? That’s how I felt some time ago, so I took off work for one week. I figure why be somewhere with an attitude when you can take some time off to recharge and come back happier?! I wanna be at peace mentally/physically, especially when I have to interact with people on a daily basis. I think we all can agree that we want to do our jobs well and sometimes that requires knowing when you need a break. So this past week I found myself writing, reflecting, & resting. I went on an audition + took two challenging dance classes! Still a few more days left to enjoy, so I can’t complain. Praise God to be able to take time off. Now that I’ve recharged, I plan on letting my light shine bright again! 🙂 lol

As promised in the title, I have a new video to share with you all. As ya’ll know, dance is a huge part of my artistry & I enjoy throwing cover songs into my performances. Below is live footage from the Broken Chains Rebirth Celebration at the Atrium Event Center (January 16th, 2016). This is such a fun piece to perform, for many reasons lol. Here is a taste of “Hiccup,” “Find Me,” and the full choreography for Yo Gotti’s “Down In The DM.” Check it out below & send me your REQUESTS! Thanks for tuning in 🙂 #TeamAshleYYY

Love Always,

~AshleYYY

5 Fun Facts! #Formation #Guacamole #PattieCake #ShowerFALL #HairCUT?!

So I was all gung ho about doing an FFF! post for the end of the month today, and then realized I was actually supposed to do it last Friday, because ‘Fun Fact Friday’ is always on a FRIDAY! aH! Smh AshleYYY. Any who, I’m still giving you 5 fun facts. Lol Enjoy.

1. I want to cut my hair off. I know, I know, I’ve been saying this for a couple of months now. Sue me. I’m speaking it into existence, guys. Lol. Seriously though, I’ve made up my mind. I am going to get it cut!!

See, I find myself in the bathroom reaching for scissors when I’m upset (don’t try that @ home), “dusting” my ends for the heck of it, and snipping off aNnOyInG straight pieces of hair that refuse to curl. I just want to be in control again. It’s going on 8 months now, and I’ve been as patient as I can be. I just want to sit in the chair, and go piece by piece to see what I’m left with. Lol seriously.

2. Forget about Pattie’s Pies…its ALL BOUT THAT CARAMEL CAKE! My goodness…I didn’t even know I liked caramel cake to begin with until I tasted this! Now this is addicting. I gotta watch myself. Lol

3. I am appalled, saddened, yet also not surprised by all of the unnecessary commotion & ignorance over Beyoncé’s “Formation” song/video & performance. Buuut, I refuse to go into my rant on this post. Lol.

On a brighter note, I was inspired to create some movement to the new anthem. 🙂 Check it out & SEND ME YOUR REQUESTS!

4. I’ve come to the realization that tortillas chips & salsa is my favorite go-to snack when I’m home and don’t feel like cooking. Lol (…guacamole mixed with salsa and chips if it’s a good day.)

5. I fell in the shower for the first time. I was just waiting for it to happen. After all the times I hopped in without bothering to put the mat down, sliding just a little bit without losing my balance, it was bout time. I brought the shower curtain & rod down with me! Lol! No worries tho ppl, I landed sitting. I think. I kinda caught myself on the tub lol so no injuries or anything. Final Thoughts: “I know I’ll be putting that mat down now.”

Haha! Thanks for tuning in 🙂 Have a great week! xoxo

#GetSHOOK Tonight @ The Shake Up 1 Year Anniversary Party!

So ya’ll know how much I can’t stand listening to the radio sometimes, right? Well here is one show that just keeps me coming back —> The Shake Up Morning Show!!! Hosts Alex the Great & Yours Truly, MJ always give it to you straight, play your requests, discuss current issues/hot topics, and keep me laughing inside! lol Tonight they are celebrating their 1 Year Anniversary and I’m honored to be a part of the festivities as a guest performer. Also performing live will be Victor Jackson & Southern Playas, with music by DJ Jay Marz! Can’t wait 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS to you guys @TheShakeUpAM on being the fastest growing mobile show in the COUNTRY! Thank ya’ll for having me as a guest on your show last year & as a performer tonight!

Looking for something fun to do tonight? Then meet us at the spot! • The Shake Up 1 Year Anniversary Party • Cephora Lounge • 3649 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30341 • FREE entry all night • Doors 8pm • Ages 21+ • Be sure to download the app! theshakeupam.com

See ya’ll tonight!

~AshleYYY

PS… Check out my interview on The Shake Up Morning Show HERE! 🙂

Most Memorable Moments of 2015!

What it izz?! Happy New Year World… Hoping each and every one of you had a great holiday season. Special birthday shout out to one of my besties, Jess… Hope you had a fun day 🙂 And while I’m at it…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MY FELLOW CAPRICORNS (and Aquarius babies lol). January is always a big month. I know so many ppl with bdays back to back. (My Mommy 🙂 , sisters, niece, nephews, friends & more family!) Here’s to another year of life! :*

So it’s that time of the year again, where I like to run down my fave moments. Only this time, I’ve decided to throw in some random & not so fun facts. Lol Here we go!

My 10 Year Class Reunion – This was awesome. I just knew I had to go back home for this event. You only get one 10 year reunion and I wanted to be there. 🙂 This trip gave me a chance to not only visit with my family & friends, but really catch up with people who played a major role in my childhood & teen years. Boy, did the memories come floating back! Everyone looked the same – just a lil’ older. If that makes sense. Lol I think it’s always important to go to those kinds of events with a positive attitude, and expect to have a good time. Thank You to the student council & all those who made that night possible. Rest in Peace to those we’ve lost along the way and much love & success to you all. One time for Shorewood High School… Class of OH Five! (Shorewood, WI)

Celebrating Halloween – My time had finally come. I put in the effort and the outcome was awesome. I decided I would dress up for Halloween! Lol See I had been slacking in October these past few years. So I planned a gathering (ya’ll know how much I love hosting 🙂 ), decorated my home (I had a field day in Walmart! What an adrenaline rush lol #lame), put on some scary movies, and dressed as the one & only, Selena Quintanilla!

I’ve heard people say that Halloween is the “Devil’s Holiday” and it may be, technically. IDK. I haven’t’ done all of my research. Lol But I do know that I’ve always been the kind of girl who loves being festive, playing games, being competitive, participating in Spirit Week for Homecoming at school, “Wear your Christmas Sweater to Work Day” lol etc. So I’ve always used this holiday as a time to dress up and indulge candy – and I see no harm in that. It’s also a fun time to pay homage to those who inspire us! Thank You Selena 🙂 RIP.

Where Have My Curls Gone? And here goes my bitter rant. I’ll TRY to keep it short. As you all know, I’ve experienced heat damage. Few months ago, my hair was straightened, I washed it weeks later, and my curls were gone 🙁 It’s been about 4 1/2 months since, and I’m more at ease than before. I’m learning how to deal with it. Maybe it was God’s way of getting me to learn about my hair, appreciate it & learn how to take care of it. (I’m trying to find the good in all of this, guys! lol) Really though, I’m doing more reading and finding out basic things I never knew before. I always thought my hair was good & healthy because I’ve always been natural, never used chemicals, and rarely ever went to salons. But there is so much more to healthy hair…Taking care of yourself, managing stress, eating habits, your water intake, harmful sulfates in shampoos, the importance of satin bonnets & pillow cases! The list goes on. I’ve been doing my own hair since K5, guys. Ha! I’ve just always loved styling it. I had never read books or taken advice from a professional. Now I’m educating myself.

Ya know, I guess it’s like having a natural talent, then having to still sharpen your skills. Long story short, I’m fine. Uh. Lol More mindful of what I put in my body … wearing more protective hairstyles, etc. My damage isn’t as bad as some other YouTubers I’ve seen, that have come a long way. So I’m hopeful that this time around, my curls will be healthier! Nooo, I haven’t decided to do a big chop or anything, buut it may be a good time to try something new… ?? 🙂

Don’t Cry On Christmas – I went home for the holiday & left feeling so grateful. Thank You to everyone who made the time to visit with me. I know how busy schedules can be, esp during the holidays, and I appreciate all the efforts. Still didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to, but I did see the majority of my family. 🙂 We did our first gift exchange. I hadn’t video recorded on Christmas in years! As a child, my mom pulled out the video camera every Christmas and filmed the family opening gifts. It was nice to bring that back. 🙂 I’m an adult now, and forget that as I get older, so does everyone else! Haha. My siblings have kids, and it’s their generation for gifts! Gotta love the little ones, right? 🙂

As I left my mom’s house, I looked back at my youngest nephew standing in the doorway with my mom. Both with the biggest smiles on their faces. I had to walk back up the steps for another hug and kiss, see ya later. (I’m tearing up as I type this 🙁 ). As I got in the car, I began to think about how 5 days wasn’t enough… how Erin was down to ride all over Milwaukee with me (and not complain about how many times she watched my performances at each family member’s house lol)… I thought about how rushing or just feeling rushed takes away from being in the moment. I was so happy to see my family and was just reminded of how blessed I am. It was a reminder to relax and not get so caught up in everything else on life’s “To Do List.” One thing at a time. One day at a time. Be in the moment & don’t forget to enjoy it.

RANDOM FACTS:

My eye has been twitching the past few weeks. Stress? Eye strain? Tiredness? IDK. But here I go diagnosing myself again… Maybe I’m on my smart phone and computers/laptops too much. I hate that much of what I do requires me to be online or looking at a screen. Just put the phone down.
“Nashville” has become one of my favorite new shows. Yes, I know it’s been on a few years, but I’m just now watching lol. Thank you Queen (my vocal coach) for putting me on to this show! I just finished the first season today and cried. Smh. When did I become such a crier?
Not so excited about managing loans, filing taxes & making appointments; but we all know it has to be done. So much more responsibility comes with getting older. Put your Big Girl Panties on.
I’ve recently realized & accepted that waiting in certain lines & big crowds gives me anxiety. HA! Seriously, I get an uneasy feeling & stressed just thinking about it… How long will the wait be? Will I lose my spot if I go pee? Will someone accuse me of skipping when I come back, EVEN though the person I came with is still standing there?! … Is it gonna be cold outside? Why does this remind me of waiting for the Milwaukee Transit city bus everyday in the middle of winter? 🙁 … I should have arrived earlier to the concert … OMG I can’t even see the band! … Will someone pop off once they realize I’ve been sneaking my way closer to the stage every five minutes? Annnd scene. (sigh)

2015 HIGHLIGHTS:

“Why You Come For Me?” – My first Music Video shot in ATL (January 2015) CLICK ME!

“You Changed Me” – My favorite Cover song thus far (June 2015 ) CLICK ME!

IBMF (International Bicycle & Music Festival) – Best Performance (July 2015) CLICK ME!

FIRST TIMERS:

Braves Game (September 2015)

Met Jacob Latimore (September 2015)

AshleYYY & Friends Concert (November 2015)

FAVORITE TWEET:

FAVORITE SNAP SHOTS:

FAVORITE PERFORMANCE: WATCH BELOW 🙂

Thank You SO much for tuning in. If you’re new to my site, subscribe HERE to stay in the loop 🙂 Thank You all for your continued love, support & prayers. Wishing you all a Blessed Year!

Love, AshleYYY

#TeamAshleYYY