Well, Here Goes Nothing… 🤍

November 8, 2026 | The Journal — A Little Bit of Everything

Well, hello there!

I'm Ashley, and welcome to The Unfiltered Chapter!

I'm not entirely sure how to start my very first journal entry, which is funny considering I've always been someone who could put pen to paper without much trouble.

I've thought about starting something like this for years. I'd get excited about the idea, start thinking of everything I wanted to write about, and then somehow convince myself it wasn't the right time.

Would anyone actually read it? Do people even read journals online anymore? What if I run out of things to say?

Which, if you know me, is probably the least likely thing to happen. Haha!

But here we are. I'm finally doing it!

A Little About the Girl Behind the Journal

I'm a born-and-raised Sunshine Coast girl from beautiful British Columbia, but these days I call the Fraser Valley home.

I grew up in the most loving, fun, and entertaining family you could imagine.

And let me tell you, if you thought Keeping Up with the Kardashians was good, a reality show about the Tyson family would've been even better. 😂

I'm serious. We could've given them a run for their money!

There was never a dull moment growing up. Between the personalities, the laughter, the family gatherings, and the occasional chaos, there was always something happening.

But that's what I loved about it.

I grew up surrounded by family, friends, sports, and the outdoors. Summers were spent outside, hanging out with friends, going to outdoor parties and get-togethers, and making memories without even realizing that's what we were doing.

There was always somewhere to go, someone to see, or something happening.

I think about those days a lot more as I get older.

The days when your biggest concern was what you were doing that weekend, who was coming over, or what everyone had planned.

No worrying about bills, responsibilities, timelines, or whether you were where you were supposed to be in life.

Just living.

And honestly? I miss those days sometimes.

I miss how simple everything felt. Being young, carefree, surrounded by people you loved, and not giving an actual F about half the things we stress over as adults.

We weren't constantly comparing our lives to what everyone else was doing online. We weren't worried about making everything look perfect or documenting every little moment.

We were just out there enjoying ourselves.

Looking back, I don't think we realized how good we had it.

And don't get me wrong, I love the life I've built as an adult, but there's something about those younger years that you wish you could go back and experience just one more time.

Even if it was only for a weekend.

I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in a home filled with so much love, laughter, and personality. It wasn't always quiet, and it certainly wasn't boring, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I think growing up that way is a big part of who I am today.

I've always loved a good story, a good laugh, and being around people who don't take themselves too seriously.

Which is funny, considering how much I've changed over the years.

If you knew me growing up, you'd probably remember a much louder, more outgoing version of myself. I was always social, always talking, and usually up for whatever was happening.

Fast-forward a few years, and I've somehow turned into the biggest homebody.

Seriously, tell me we're going out and I'll be excited, but tell me the plans are cancelled and I might be even more excited. 😂

I don't know if it's age, getting older and realizing how much I value my peace, or just becoming more comfortable with who I am, but I've definitely become more reserved over the years.

These days, there's genuinely nothing I love more than being home.

Give me a cozy house, something good to watch, and absolutely nowhere I need to be, and I'm happy.

Speaking of my husband, we actually met on Tinder.

I know, I know. 😂

Who would've thought a few swipes on a dating app would lead to marriage, a home together, and the life we're building today?

Certainly not me!

It's funny how something so random can end up becoming such a big part of your story.

And here we are.

Don't get me wrong, I still love getting dressed up, going for dinner, travelling, and spending time with friends and family. I just happen to love coming home afterward even more.

I've always had a love for beauty, fashion, home decor, and discovering new places.

Whether it's finding a skincare product I swear by, decorating another corner of our house, planning a getaway, or wandering around HomeSense for things I absolutely don't need, I genuinely enjoy all those little things.

I'm also that person who will happily tell you where I bought something, whether it was worth the money, and probably send you the link before you even ask.

No gatekeeping here!

I love a good deal just as much as I love a little luxury. And I can spend an embarrassing amount of time researching something before buying it, only to end up going back to the very first thing I looked at.

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Why The Unfiltered Chapter?

I think the older you get, the more you realize that life rarely follows the timeline you imagined for yourself.

When you're younger, you have this picture in your head of how everything is supposed to happen. You imagine certain milestones, where you'll be at a particular age, and all the things you hope to accomplish along the way.

And then you grow up and realize life doesn't always work like that.

There are chapters filled with excitement, new experiences, and moments you wish you could bottle up forever. And then there are the chapters that test your patience, change your perspective, and make you question things you once thought would be simple.

I've experienced a little bit of both.

One of the more personal chapters of my life has been navigating fertility struggles while starting our family with my husband.

It's something I never imagined would become such a big part of our lives, and unless you've experienced it yourself, I don't think you fully realize just how much it can affect you.

It's not just about wanting to have a baby. It's the waiting, the uncertainty, the appointments, the constant hoping, and trying to stay positive when things don't always go the way you thought they would.

It's watching time pass while feeling like you're standing still.

It's trying not to get your hopes up too much while also not wanting to give up hope.

And it's having to remind yourself that just because something hasn't happened the way you imagined doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

I think fertility struggles can be incredibly isolating, even when you have people around you who love and support you.

People mean well, and I know most advice comes from a good place, but sometimes hearing things like "just relax" or "it'll happen when it's meant to happen" isn't quite as comforting as people think.

Because if only it were that simple, right?

It's one of those experiences that's taught me a lot about patience, perspective, and how little control we sometimes have over the things we want most.

It's also made me realize how many people are quietly navigating their own struggles that we know absolutely nothing about.

And while I'm comfortable talking about fertility and the challenges that came with it, I also believe some parts of our journey are ours to keep private.

I don't think being open about something means you owe the world every detail.

But I do think conversations like these matter, because there are so many people who are going through similar experiences and feel like they're the only ones.

One thing I've really had to work on is not putting the rest of my life on hold while waiting for the next chapter.

You tell yourself you'll book that trip later, start that hobby another time, or finally do something for yourself when life settles down.

But when does life ever really settle down?

There's always something going on, something to plan, something to worry about, or another milestone you're working toward.

And before you know it, months or even years have passed.

I think that's another reason I find myself missing those carefree childhood days sometimes.

Back then, we weren't constantly worrying about what came next. We were just enjoying whatever was happening in front of us.

And somewhere along the way, adulthood makes that a little harder.

Lately, I've been trying to remind myself that it's okay to enjoy the life I'm living right now.

I can be excited about the future without forgetting to appreciate the present.

I can book the trip, buy the outfit, start something new, or simply have a really good day without feeling like I need to wait until everything else falls into place.

And honestly, I think that's part of what pushed me to finally start writing.

I've always loved putting my thoughts into words, but somewhere along the way, like so many other things, it became something I kept telling myself I'd get back to eventually.

Not because I have some incredible story to tell or all the answers to life's problems, but because Its something I enjoy.

I wanted to create something that was just mine. A creative outlet where I could share my interests, experiences, and everything in between.

And sometimes that's reason enough.

So, What Exactly Is This Little Corner of the Internet?

A little bit of everything, really!

I didn't want to create a journal dedicated to just one topic because that's not really me.

Some days I want to talk about beauty products, fashion finds, travelling, or decorating our home. Other days I might have something on my mind about marriage, friendships, relationships, finances, fertility, Motherhood or simply navigating adulthood.

And let's be real, sometimes I just want to share a really good purchase and tell everyone why they need it too.

I've always been someone who loves sharing recommendations, whether it's a restaurant, a hotel, a beauty product, or something I've found for our home.

If I love something, chances are I've already told five people about it. Haha!

I love beautiful things, pretty places, and a little luxury here and there. But I also know there's a whole lot more to life than what we choose to post on social media.

It's so easy to scroll through Instagram and feel like everyone else has everything figured out.

The beautiful homes, the holidays, the happy relationships, the exciting announcements, and all those picture-perfect moments.

And don't get me wrong, I love seeing those things. I love a beautiful photo just as much as the next person.

But I also know that behind the nice photos, the holidays, and the exciting moments, we're all dealing with our own things.

Some things we share, and others we choose to keep to ourselves.

And I think that's perfectly okay.

Being unfiltered doesn't necessarily mean sharing every personal detail of your life. To me, it's more about being genuine and recognizing that life isn't always as perfect as it might appear.

You can love a beautiful handbag and still worry about money.

You can be happily married and still have difficult days.

You can be grateful for your life and still wish certain things were different.

You can love getting dressed up and going out while also being perfectly happy spending an entire weekend at home.

You can be hopeful about the future while still finding certain parts of the present difficult.

And you can be figuring things out without having to pretend you've got it all together.

That's the kind of space I want this to be.

Somewhere I can share the fun, lighthearted things I love while also having room for the more meaningful conversations.

Because that's real life, isn't it?

One minute you're talking about your favourite skincare product, and the next you're discussing something completely different that's been on your mind.

And I love that.

A Place to Connect

Although I'll be the one writing these journal entries, my hope is that The Unfiltered Chapter becomes more than just somewhere I share my thoughts.

I'd love for it to be a place where anyone can find something they relate to, discover something new, or simply enjoy reading about the little things in life.

Think of it like sitting down for coffee with an old friend.

You know those conversations where you start talking about something completely random, and before you know it, you've covered everything from your latest purchases and travel plans to relationships, money, funny stories, and whatever else has been going on in your life?

Those are my favourite kinds of conversations.

The ones where you can laugh about something ridiculous one minute and have a completely meaningful conversation the next.

I think we sometimes forget just how much we have in common with people, even when our lives look completely different on the outside.

We might come from different backgrounds, be different ages, have completely different interests, or be at entirely different stages of life.

But sometimes all it takes is hearing someone else's experience to realize you're not the only one who's felt a certain way.

And I think there's something really nice about that.

I'm not here to give expert advice or tell anyone how they should live their life. I'm learning as I go, just like everyone else.

I'll share my own experiences, things I've tried, places I've visited, products I've loved, and probably a few things I wish I hadn't spent my money on.

Some entries might be completely lighthearted, while others might be a little more personal.

But they'll always be my own thoughts and experiences.

And if something I write makes someone laugh, feel understood, discover something they love, or realize they're not the only one going through a certain chapter, then that would mean a lot to me.

You don't have to have the same interests as me or be at the same stage of life to feel welcome here.

I just hope there's a little something for everyone.

Here's to Finally Starting

So, this is me officially putting myself out there.

A little nervous? Definitely.

Excited? Absolutely.

Do I know exactly what I'm doing yet? Not really, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. Haha!

I've spent enough time thinking about starting something that I almost forgot the most important part is actually starting.

And maybe that's something worth remembering in other parts of life too.

You don't have to have everything perfectly planned out before you try something new.

You don't need to be an expert, have thousands of followers, or know exactly where something is going to lead.

Sometimes it's okay to just give something a try and see what happens.

For someone who's become a bit of a hermit over the years, putting my thoughts out there for anyone to read is definitely stepping outside my comfort zone.

But I also think it'll be nice to have a creative outlet.

Somewhere to write about the things I love, share little pieces of everyday life, and hopefully connect with people along the way.

So whether you're here for the beauty recommendations, fashion finds, travel stories, home inspiration, honest conversations, or just a little peek into someone else's everyday life, I'm really glad you found your way here.

Hopefully, this becomes a place you enjoy coming back to, whether you're having your morning coffee, taking a break from your day, or winding down at night.

And who knows? Maybe this little idea I've been putting off for years will turn into something really special.

Either way, I'm happy I finally gave it a shot.

Here's to new beginnings, the unexpected chapters, and making room for the things that make us happy along the way.

Thanks for being here.

Talk soon,

Ashley

The Unfiltered Chapter

Real life. Beautiful chaos. Everything in between.