I’m not sure where to even begin with this post about one of my dear friends, Ashley. You see, Ashley and I met through my best friend, Christine back at the University of Illinois. The first time I met Ashley, she had come over to our college apartment so her and Christine could take head shots of each other for their advertising group. They literally hung up a sheet in our apartment as their backdrop and were trying to take photos of each other with their little point-and-shoot cameras. It makes me smile when I think back to it … how far we have come. :)

Fast forward to my first job in advertising … and I was sitting on the same floor and eventually sharing a cube wall with this pretty lady. Ashley and I became close friends … fast … chatting about DIY craft projects, the latest bargain fashion finds … and well just about everything.

I can’t really tell you how amazing Ashley is in one little blog post. She is a spitfire. She is confident. Gorgeous. The most fashionable person I know. She is fun …. determined … and a leader. She, along with some friends, started the Chicago MAFA organization (a group dedicated to diversity in advertising) which has been a HUGE success since it started just over a year ago. Ashley is the type of friend who makes you strive to be better all while being a supporter and cheerleader in your journey. Ash … I’m so lucky that Christine and DFCB brought us together.

So this time … when Ashley found out she was named one of Adcolor’s Rising Stars … and she needed some photos of herself …. we spent a Sunday afternoon around Chicago. I think it makes for a better photo background than the bed sheet you used 5 years ago. :)

Congrats again on everything you have accomplished this year, Ashley. You have worked your super cute butt off and deserve all the success and new experiences coming your way