The REAL Housewife

New Books Make Me Happy

2012-10-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

I was recently introduced to Bared To You:A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day. I really enjoyed the love story. There are some similarities to Fifty Shades of Grey. There is a bachelor that is filthy rich and very successful in his own company. He also has some emotional issues that cause him to distance himself from relationships. Then you have the young girl that is just starting out in the "real world" after college. The difference is that she too has some emotional issues that she is also dealing with.

I LOVED Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy! I also really liked Bared To You, but I do not think the books go hand in hand. I think that Sylvia Day's language tends to be a little more vulgar than EL James. I still really enjoyed the book, there were just a few words that caught me by surprise. If you have not read either of these books, I strongly recommend. The love stories are fun and exciting.

Reflected in You is the second book of the Crossfire Novels and it is out today for Kindle users!!!! The second book comes out in paperback October 23rd. That is another thing that I love about having a Kindle!! You get titles released earlier!!! I cannot wait to start reading it!!! Let me know what you think!!

<3 Ashley

Salsa Chicken

2012-09-18T13:20:00.001-07:00

I threw this Salsa Chicken together as a variation of something my mother in law made once. This is super easy with minimal ingredients.

You will need:
Chicken breasts
Salsa
Cheese blend (I used Monterey Jack and Colby)
Rice

Set your oven to 350. Now, my boys are very picky eaters. So when I made this I divided up my 9x13 inch pan with heavy duty tin foil. I used two sheets to create pans within the pan instead of using two pans. After you place the chicken in the baking dish, pour a generous amount of salsa over your chicken breasts. For the chicken for my boys, I just seasoned with some seasoning salt.

Cover your pan with foil and bake covered for 25min. Then remove the tin foil and continue to bake another 25min. About 5 min before the chicken is done sprinkle with cheese.

Continue baking until cheese is melted. While your chicken is in the last 15-20min of baking, start your rice. I prefer brown rice, but you could also use white rice. I also added a side of green beans, but you could use any vegetable or add a salad.

See...super easy and super yummy!!! My husband and I got a meal with a little more flavor, while the kiddos got their version. Hope you enjoy!!

<3 Ashley

One HOT Summer!

2012-09-07T11:34:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I cannot believe how HOT this Summer has been. Even the Midwest got super hot! The fam and I ended staying inside a lot! Since it is now September, I thought we would get some relief...no such luck! :/ While some of your areas may be cooling down, this past week for us has been another hot one. I am going to give you just a couple of tips I have learned over the past year to help beat the heat. Since some of you may be lucky enough to have a cool down, you may want to save these tips for next Summer.

First let me say this, the heat is no joke! Your body can dehydrate faster than you would ever think. It is important to know how your body reacts to heat. I learned in high school that I dehydrate very quickly. I was laying out on the beach with a friend, sipping on a sports drink, but not really drinking much. When we decided to call it quits and head to lunch, I blacked out on the way to the bathroom. NO FUN!! Unfortunately, my 6 yr old has the same problem. He hasn't blacked out like me, but he has gotten an upset stomach and had a couple of the symptoms of being dehydrated. Educate yourself on all the symptoms of dehydration. If dehydration gets bad enough, you may need medical attention. Some symptoms are sleepiness, thirst, headache, dizziness. Click here for a full list of symptoms. And don't forget, it is up to YOU to hydrate your kids...they wont ask for water in anticipation of going out to play!!!

If you know that you or your kids are going to be outside for a long time, prepare for it! The day before is the time to start, especially for extreme heat. Make sure you are getting in more than 64oz of water. Your next step, about 2 hours before your activity starts, you want to drink at least 24oz of water. Then about 30min before the activity drink another 8oz of water. Drink plenty of water during the activity, and I always give my little guy a sports drink after.

This may seem like a lot, especially for your kids, but it works! Anthony had a baseball practice and it was 95 degrees out and he got sick because he didn't drink as much as I thought he did. Since then, I measured out how much water his water bottle held and made sure he gets that water in before activity. I mean, I stay on him until that water is all gone!! He had his first baseball game in 102 degrees and he was hot, but he made it through the game without feeling sick at all! SCORE! :) If you have a kiddo that doesn't care for water (like my 4yr old), try getting them a fun water bottle. I got my boys Spiderman water bottles like the one you can see here.

Another thing we do when in the heat, is to wet a washcloth and stick it in the freezer, inside a plastic baggy about an hour before we leave. We keep the cloth in a cooler, but freezing it a little before allows it to stay that much colder, longer. Whenever the boys get too hot, or Anthony has a break we put the washcloth on the back of his neck. This seems to help A TON!

When we lived in St. Louis we read about this tip to cool your wrists. So either take ice or running ice cold water and keep it on your wrists for 10 seconds (one one thousand...two one thousand...). This is supposed to drop your body temperature 10 degrees. We do this a lot with my 4yr old because he doesn't like the washcloth on his neck. So we use this ice pack, we got ours from Walgreens...

We also picked up this ice pack...

I like this because if there is an injury, at home or while you are out, there is more coverage than the stiff brick ice pack above. You can also lay it over the top of your head for a quick cool down. :) You can find something similar here. I also like the flexibility so that you can line the inside of your cooler with them. Using ice cubes in plastic storage bags can be very messy, this saves on that. :)

A few other tips:
~stay in as much shade as possible (duh! I know ;))
~don't where tight fitting clothing
~don't forget the sun block!!!
~wear a hat to help keep the sun off your face
~grab a mini, battery powered fan
~pour ice water on your neck and/or hair/head
~avoid carbonated beverages
~high-protein foods, spicy foods and "diuretic foods" should be avoided

I hope these tips help you beat the heat! What tips do you have?!

<3 Ashley

Wedding Memories

2012-09-04T08:04:00.001-07:00

After our wedding, I knew that I wanted to preserve my bouquet, hubbs boutineer and my keepsake garter. I also knew that I didn't want to put it in a box to be forgotten. So when we got home from the family vacation we took after the wedding I got the wheels turning to figure out what to do with them. (We took a honeymoon later. We wanted to make the most of spending time with my dad so my side of the family all went to Orlando for a week. Read my About Me for a little more info.) Randomly I got the idea to put them in a shadow box, so that's what I did. :)

Because everything was last minute, (again, check out my About Me) we opted to have our 25 guests be our photographers. The result was a lot of fun pictures, but not many "posed" pictures. So the picture I used here is my favorite picture of me and the hubbs right after the ceremony. I believe I got the shadow box from Michael's. This particular shadow box had a felt back, some just have the hard backing. I attached the photo and wedding program with velcro strips. I attached both sets of flowers and the keepsake garter with straight pins.

We didn't have wedding invitations made up. If we had I would have used that instead of the wedding program. I added the garter since I thought we were a little old to have it hanging from our rearview mirror. ;) I LOVE this box! (Not to toot my own horn, beep beep!) I have it hanging in my bedroom and I enjoy looking at the picture and remembering that moment. I did take a picture with the glass on, but since I am not a photographer it didn't turn out the best. Here it is anyway...

I hope this inspires you to create your own variation!

<3 Ashley

Vanishing Banana Bread

2012-08-31T10:13:00.001-07:00

I call this "Vanishing Banana Bread" because as soon as you cut into it, it vanishes! :) My mom gave me this recipe and every time I make it, I get lots of compliments. It is DELICIOUS!! Keep in mind as you read that when I explain the instructions, I am keeping an inexperienced baker in mind. So some of you who are a little more experienced may skim over some of the instructions.

The ingredients:
1 cup margarine (I used butter)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sour cream (yes, SOUR cream...I think it's what makes the bread "vanish")
3 ripe bananas (mashed)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

I always start out by getting all the ingredients ready. Take out the margarine/butter and eggs. If you are using butter let it sit at room temperature for about 30min. I let my eggs sit out with the butter. Sift all dry ingredients together, set aside. Mash bananas...I used a potato masher, you can use a fork or anything else that works for you...Then preheat oven to 325...

Cream butter and sugar together. Start by beating your butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. (pictured left) Then add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. (pictured right)

It is important to scrape sides and bottom through out mixing so everything gets mixed real well. Add dry ingredients (that you mixed together earlier)gradually, alternating with the sour cream.

Add mashed bananas (the white in there is left over sour cream from my spatula)and vanilla... Mix well...If you are using walnuts, add in here. I did not use nuts.

Grease loaf pans. You can use two loaf pans, or I used one 5x9 loaf pan and 3 mini loaf pans (perfect for gifts). Fill about half way full...

Bake at 325 for about 1hour (if using two 5x9 loaf pans). I baked all 4 pans together. I took the mini pans out after about 35min. (When the toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.) I moved the larger pan to the middle and let it bake for another 10-12 min, again testing with a toothpick. Let loaves cool for about 10-15min in pan on a rack before getting out of the pans.

Let them cool before slicing and enjoy!

This is one of the mini loaves.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as we all do! Let me know what you think!

<3 Ashley

Crockpot Roast

2012-08-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

I saw a pin on Pinterest for this roast. When I went to click on it, the link was broken. The ingredients were listed in the picture, so I went ahead and made it. Let me tell you, my husband said it was GOOD!! For those of you who may know my husband, this is huge. The hubbs doesn't get excited about food the way that I do. When I make something it is usually "fine." After receiving a "fine" we usually categorize the food by "should I make it again" or "lose the recipe." The hubbs very much appreciates the meal, he just doesn't take a bite and then say"OMG this is good!!" Any hoo, down to the meal. I added mashed potatoes and corn as sides because I know my boys will eat them. You could also add some red potatoes and carrots.

The ingredients:
Any kind of roast. I usually go for something not too fatty and not too big since my boys don't eat a lot and I usually just want enough leftovers for the hubbs to take some to work the next day. You will also need...

Mix all three packets into 1/2 cup of water...

Pour over roast in crockpot and cook on low for 8-10hrs.

Man, the house smelled good. Add your sides and you are good to go. Sometimes you just need some good old meat and potatoes! Ladle some au jus (the juice left over from the cooking) over the top of the meat after you plate. Yummmm!

It was a little tangy for the boys. I think next time I might try the regular Italian dressing instead of the zesty Italian dressing.

I hope you enjoy!!

<3 Ashley

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken...Yummmm!

2012-08-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and knew I had to try it. Now, my boys are very picky eaters! Anthony wont eat anything that is cooked all together, ie. casseroles. So when I make things like this I usually cook them something separate. Last night they got to eat their Tyson Chicken Nuggets while my hubbs and I got to eat the yummy chicken.

This recipe is super easy to throw together and leave to cook. We went to a baseball game last night, so I was able to throw the packets together and finish getting ready to leave while they cooked.

So, here is what you will need...

1 package stuffing mix; chicken flavor
1 1/4 cups Water
4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 cups broccoli florets
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices cooked bacon; crumbled
4 tbsp ranch dressing divided
pre-heat oven to 400

Directions:
~Mix water and stuffing mix, then divide up between the 4 foils.
~Place chicken breasts on top of stuffing mix
~place 1 cup of broccoli on top of each chicken breast
~sprinkle 1/4 of cheese over each chicken
~crumble one slice of bacon over each chicken
~drizzle 1 Tbsp ranch dressing over each chicken
~ Bring sides of foil up to meet each other, then fold. Make sure you leave a little room in the top for circulation. Don't forget to fold the sides up.
~Put in 400 degree oven and bake for 35-40min.
~Let sit for about 5 min when finished and be careful when you open for any steam that may come out.

It took me about 15min to throw everything together in the packets. The result is so yummy! The nice thing about the kids not wanting to eat stuff like this is that the hubbs and I get leftovers the next day for lunch. :)

The nice thing about this recipe is that you can add or subtract based on how many chicken breasts you want to make. If you don't want the leftovers and are cooking for 2, you can just cut the rest of the ingredients in half. I think next time I will put more broccoli, you can never have too many veggies. ;)

Some things you can do to make a "lighter version." (I will try this next time. I had all theses ingredients in my fridge already and wanted to use up what I had.)
~use a light dressing or no dressing at all
~use reduced fat cheddar
~use turkey bacon

I hope you are inspired to try this recipe too.

<3 Ashley

Spiderman Cake

2012-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted. I have had a horrible cold that resulted in me bruising my ribs from coughing. I haven't been able to do much, including house work. :/ Luckily for me I have an amazing husband that has taken over taking care of the house, the kids and me. :) Who knew that bruising your ribs could be so painful?!

Pain aside, I had to get ready for my son to turn 6. He requested a Spiderman birthday cake. I wasn't too excited because I am NOT an artist. My best art work in school consisted of stick figures. But I try to make my boys happy, so I wasn't going to say no. I think because I was under the weather and had the issue with my ribs, this cake gave me a little more trouble than it normally would have. I had to run out the day of his birthday to get red frosting because mine went pink and wouldn't go red. That is why I always do their cakes the day before! You never know what could go wrong. Now on to the cake...

Like his brother, Anthony requested a chocolate cake. For my chocolate cake recipe click here. I am looking forward to making something other than chocolate cake, because it seems to be all that I am making lately!! But it is a really good recipe so it is ok! ;) I used my frosting recipe for the blue frosting. Click here for the recipe. For the yellow, red and black frosting I used Wilton products. You can click each color to see what I used. I decided to buy the black frosting this time because it takes a lot of coloring and mixing to get true black. I didn't think I had the strength to be doing that much mixing. Because I knew I was doing such a small amount of yellow I decided to purchase that as well. The red was the only one I wasn't planning on purchasing. If you are planning on purchasing any frosting for decorating, I recommend the Wilton tubes, not the one in the can. When I went to the store they didn't have the red in the tube so I was stuck. The one in the can worked well for the bottom ribbon the cake, just not for the top. Because it is in the can it comes out a little fast and makes bigger stars than I would have liked. I chose to stick with star tipping because I like the visual affect.

I put the cake on a turned over cookie sheet with tin foil...

I started with a 9x13 and frosted the whole thing blue. I then used the black frosting with a round #4 tip attached with a coupler to do the outline of the Spiderman face (did I mention I am not an artist?!). I then used the yellow frosting and star tip #16 attached with a coupler to fill in the eyes. If you click on any of the items you can see what I used.

To fill in the face I used the red frosting and the star tip that was provided. I also used the provided star tip to do the ribbons on the bottom. I used the yellow with the round #4 tip to do the writing on the cake. The end result was....

And a happy 6 year old! :) I hope you enjoy my recipes! I also hope that my attempts at cake decorating will inspire you to try. It is lots of fun (when you are not in pain), and the look on your kiddos face when you created something for them is so rewarding!!

Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you!!

<3 Ashley

Getting ready for school to start

2012-08-16T12:43:00.002-07:00

School is just around the corner for my kiddos and it is bittersweet. I am so excited for them to get some time away from each other so they can appreciate each other more!! BUT, I am going to have a hard time with Anthony going to school full time and Logan going to school at all!! My babies are growing up too fast!

~anyway~

I knew that with school starting I needed to get them on a schedule. They don't go to any kind of day care, so for the most part besides meal, the day is pretty much a free for all. I have always been a fan of check lists (I get it from my mom...she loves checklists!) I saw this checklist type clipboard on Pinterest, sadly when I clicked on the link it was spam. So I really just had a picture to go off of. Before you continue you should know that I am NOT a crafty person. I just try to be. I am not an artist (my sister got all of those genes). And when I try this kind of stuff there is usually more than one flaw. But this is what I came up with...

I did two clipboards for each of my kiddos. One for the morning and one for the evening. I also purchased a small digital clock to put in the bathroom. Click here to see one similar. The clock is so that I can tell them what time they need to be done in the bathroom by. We also have the alarm set for when they need to start their bed time routine. They do tend to argue less when the alarm goes off or if they get to keep track of the time on their own. To start you will need these...

I got this vinyl table cloth from Walmart for like $5 that I use whenever I paint. I wanted the traditional clipboard, but you could try plastic. I got mine from Staples because I swear no one carried plain clipboards anymore ($2.29 for 1...I got a set of 3 for $4.49 and then 1 additional). The Mod Podge and acrylic paint I had from a previous project. Make sure you have a fresh foam brush. I thought mine was new but it was a little flimsy making application a little difficult. Paint pen, I used black. Scrap book paper for the bottom ($0.16). Magnet squares, you will need 10 per board ($3.49for 40). I used small round magnets ($6.99 for 60) and foam stickers ($2.99) to make the star magnets. Minus the clipboards, I got the rest of the supplies from Michael's. Look online and in your local paper for coupons, you can get anywhere from 25% off purchase to 40% off an item.
First, Paint your clipboard. After I started I decided to add some painter's tape around the top.

Use old newspaper or magazine pages to put your paint on. This is the first coat. You will need at least two coats of paint. Decide what you want your board to have listed on it. After the paint dried I marked off every inch up to 6 inches from the bottom of the clip.

Then, very lightly with a pencil I drew a line across at each inch 6.5 inches across.

Then, I wrote the list with pencil to make sure my spacing was OK before I wrote over the pencil with a paint pen.

I then cut 3 inches of scrapbook paper per board. I did a very thin layer of mod podge to seal the paint and writing and laid the paper at the bottom if the last item on the list.

Let that sit for about 10min and then apply another thin layer of the mod podge all over the board including over the paper. Be very careful here because the paper can wrinkle or bubble if there is

too much mod podge. I had to smooth them out a couple of times, and sadly there are still a few. Be prepared to get glue fingers here! ;) Let the last coat dry for about 15min. Next up is making the magnets. So take the round magnets and the foam stickers and put them together. :) The boys had fun helping me with this part.

Then take the square magnets with adhesive on them and put five on the bottom ( or however many you may need) and one next to each task.

As my peanuts accomplish a task they can move a star next to it. Logan is not old enough to have "homework" yet, but then I don't have to make another one when he is. ;)...I did consider putting times on the one for the morning but decided against it for when schedules may change. I do plan on putting some ribbon through the hole on the clipboard and hang them. This project did take me about 2hrs. However, I was making 4 of them and had to figure out the best way for me to do it. If you follow these steps, it shouldn't take you as long.

To make it a little more interesting for the boys my hubbs and I decided to add a little incentive. Every time the boys do all 5 tasks on a clipboard they get a "stick" or a craft stick. After receiving 10 sticks they have a choice of picking a dinner for the following week or trading them in for a red stick. After earning 3 red sticks they get to pick a restaurant to eat at of their choice. You should know that dinner time in my house is a struggle. I want a balanced meal and they would prefer just a grilled cheese sandwich "with nothing else please!!" So, they love picking what is for dinner. They love to eat at "restaurants" and we don't do it often. Try to come up with something fun for your kiddos!

Let me know what fun things you add to this project!

<3 Ashley

If you like spicy...

2012-08-14T07:48:00.002-07:00

One of my good friends had me and my family over for dinner one night and made this super yummy dish. I find this dish very spicy, but keep in mind every one's level of spicy is different. Because I find it so spicy I decided to only use about half the red pepper it calls for. Also, the nice thing is that the recipe doesn't call for any protein, so you could add chicken or shrimp (I tried shrimp this time...yummy!!!).

Linguine with Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce

8oz Linguine Noodles

2 TBSP olive oil

1 tbsp minced onion

2 garlic cloves (I use the minced ones you get in a jar)

1 can diced tomatoes w/garlic & onion

1/4 cup fresh basil

1/2 tsp ground red pepper

1/2 cup whipping cream

salt and pepper to taste

~cook linguine noodles according to box

~heat olive oil in skillet, add garlic and onion, saute for a min

~add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to boil. Let boil for 5min.

NOTE: If you are going to add any kind of protein, do it here so all the flavors can cook together.

~Toss in the linguine and serve.

You can count on cook time being about 15min start to finish. Now, because it is so spicy, my boys don't like it. I usually just cook extra linguine and give them some noodles with Parmesan Cheese. Add a salad and your meal is complete.

I hope you enjoy!

<3 Ashley

Baby on the brain??

2012-08-11T17:15:00.003-07:00

If you are thinking about starting a family, I am sure you have done some research about diapers, bottles, etc. If not, it's never too late to start. Don't know where to start? Ask family and friends what they used or their suggestions and build from there.

When we decided to have a baby our decision was a little rushed. Read my about me, it will explain why. We didn't take the time to plan and save. We didn't take the time to be prepared. So while there are circumstances that prevent you from preparing for a little one, it is important to do so when you can.

When thinking about a little buddle of joy snuggled in your arms there are other factors that you don't want to consider, but should. The biggest one is....How much that sweet precious peanut is going to cost you. Now, I am not telling you this to discourage you from having a child, rather to prepare you for it. Having kids is an amazing blessing. While money isn't everything, it still matters. We live in a society where most people are living paycheck to paycheck. When you add a baby to that you have to start finding ways to stretch that paycheck. Maybe you can't go get your hair colored at the salon every 6 weeks or maybe your husband has to cut back on all his "toys", OR maybe you need to find an additional source of income. Either way, being prepared makes having a baby much more enjoyable and a little less stressful.

Something to think about...Daycares can start at about $120 a WEEK and go up from there. If you have family members that will be watching your kids for free, then you are one lucky mom/dad!! Otherwise, my suggestion is to take a look at your monthly budget (don't have one? start one!). If you don't know where you would get roughly $500 a month for daycare, now is the time to figure out how. It may be time to start clipping coupons, or getting a part time job. If you can handle this no problem, then virtual high five!! If your budget can handle it and you have the time, I suggest taking a year of saving that $500 a month. You will thank yourself later. This could help too if you don't get paid for maternity leave. If you are blessed enough to be a stay home mom, keep in mind that preschools are usually tuition based. They are not as expensive as daycare though. For 2 days a week I have seen preschool as low as $120 a month. I have also seen it as high as $189 a month. Some states offer a 4yr old pre-k that is through the school district. We were fortunate to be able to send my oldest to one in Wisconsin that was only $25 for the YEAR! Now we are back to paying $238 a month for preschool. So it is a good idea if you are working and plan on leaving your job to stay home, to save as much of your paycheck as you can before you leave. Again, you will thank yourself later. :)

Another big one is diapers!!! I know some families are doing cloth diapers to help cut cost and waste, I never ventured that way. If you are going for disposable diapers here are a couple of suggestions. One is to ask everyone that is coming to your baby shower to bring a small pack of diapers. I was very fortunate with my first son and ended up with a year supply of diapers!!! Keep the receipts of the diapers you get before the baby is born. You never know just how fast your little peanut will grow. If you keep the receipt you can usually go and exchange your diapers for a different size as long as it's in it's return/exchange window. Also, as you enter into your last trimester you could start purchasing larger sized diapers for as the baby gets older (sizes 1/2 are good ones). All of these things will soften the blow. Those big economy size boxes of diapers are roughly $45 for name brands. If you can front the money, buying in bulk will save you some money here. If you want to try a generic brand, I found Target's to be really good when my boys got a little bit older. I just couldn't part from my newborn Pampers in order to try them out sooner.

Another big expense may be avoidable. Breastfeed if you can!! It may seem odd to some at first, or it may seem too time consuming. But think about that little peanut and how good it is for them. The other thing to keep is in mind is how much money you will save. A 22 oz container of formula is around $23 and you may go through it in a week or less. So at a minimum you will spend around $95 for the month, and that is on the low side. So like I said, breastfeed if you can!!!

Now, don't be discouraged. The good news is that out of all the expenses in life: utilities, medical bills, mortgage/rent, etc. these three do have an end. After about a year the formula will be gone (if you decided to go that route). Diapers will be done as soon as you potty train (around age 2/3). And the daycare for the most part will subside when they start school full time. Again, this post is not to discourage you from having a baby, rather be more prepared going into it. If you are already pregnant and haven't started any saving, it is never too late. Babycenter.com has a calculator to help you figure out how much a child will cost.

A few more suggestions for the road. Enroll in mailing programs. You can get samples and coupons. If you don't clip coupons, consider starting! Especially for diapers!! Enroll in any free rewards programs, you never know when they will pay out. :) Most important: enjoy every second because they really do grow up faster than you think. I know everyone says that, but you don't truly realize it until it happens to you.

<3 Ashley

Read it! Love it!

2012-08-09T05:51:00.001-07:00

I just finished Wicked Business! OMG! I loved it!! Every time I read it my desire to visit Salem, Mass. increases. If you haven't read Wicked Appetite (the first book in the Lizzy and Diesel Novels), I strongly suggest you do!

If you read the Stephanie Plum between the novels by Janet Evanovich, then you will already have an idea of who Diesel is. If not, Diesel is a hunky man that has special abilities that are never fully disclosed, but they seem to be magical. Lizzy is a baker that makes amazing cupcakes. It is safe to say that every time I read these books I get the desire to make a batch of cupcakes. Diesel enlists Lizzy for the help in finding a stone that is supposed to posses the power of one of the deadly sins. There are of course obstacles for a little bit of action and humor. But don't forget the attraction between Diesel and Lizzy that they can't do anything about. Intrigued? Read the books!!! Click here for a look inside Wicked Appetite.

Now, what to read next?!?! Any suggestions?? There is a series my mom wants me to start, but I don't know that I am ready for anything too intense. Sometimes you just want something light hearted! I will keep you posted!

Want to read my thoughts on having a Kindle? Click here.
<3 Ashley

EWWWW!!! That came off my fruit?!

2012-08-07T10:33:00.002-07:00

So a few years ago I was at a friends house for a play date with our kids. As she was getting lunch together, I noticed the grapes soaking in water. When I asked her about it she told me that she mixes water and vinegar together to clean the fruit. Now, I am sure some of you have heard of this, but I never had. Like I said in my post about the refrigerator, vinegar and water are a natural cleaner, I just didn't think to use it on my fruit. So of course the next time I was cleaning fruit at home I tried it. Can I just say, YUCK!!! There was so much dirt left over in the bowl after I dumped out the grapes!!! I couldn't believe it!! All these years of just rinsing my fruit off with water!! Now I know some people wash all of their fruit at once. While this may save on time and maybe water, I don't suggest it. It is best to wash as needed, you decrease the chance of it spoiling faster. I know that when you wash grapes and you don't get them completely dry, the moisture locked inside a container can make it spoil faster. This also works with veggies!! So, get out your fruit/veggie, a bowl(or your clean sink for bigger items), and some vinegar. NOTE: If you are using your sink, make sure it is free of any chemical residues that may be there from cleaning. I always put the fruit/veggie in the bowl/sink first. Then I add water and a tablespoon (or more if needed) of the vinegar. If you can't smell the vinegar, you probably need a little more. Let the fruit soak for a few minutes, then rinse and enjoy! :)

Something to think about...Do you wash the outside of your melons and pineapple before you start slicing? Any dirt, chemicals, salmonella, etc. that was on the outside, will go inside once you make that slice. Last year there was an outbreak of salmonella on cantaloupe! Better to be safe then sorry and make sure it's all clean!

<3 Ashley

Ben 10 Omnitrex Cake

2012-08-03T13:35:00.002-07:00

For my son's 4th birthday he requested a Ben 10 cake. He had got an "omnitrex" a couple weeks ago, so I used that as my inspiration. For the recipe for the super yummy chocolate cake and butter icing click here. Trust me, this chocolate cake is really good and you will be happy you made it. :) Enjoy!!

To make this cake I poured the batter into two round pans. I mixed up some grey icing for the base color of the cake. Then I mixed up the black to outline the center and star tip in the black. When trying to get the black I have found that Wilton's icing coloring is the best. If you use any liquid food coloring it will thin out the icing making it very difficult to star tip. Most often then not I am using a #3 round tip and #16 star tip to decorate my cakes. Wilton has a very convenient set of them together if you are just starting out. Click here to check them out. If you don't want to make your own icing, I have also used Wilton's Buttercreme mix. It is easy and very good. To get the green for the center and the writing I used Wilton's Leaf Green. As always when mixing icing colors start small. You can always add more, you can't take out. TIP: Especially with the heat this summer, keep an eye on the consistency of the icing as you go. You may need to refrigerate it for a minute if it gets too warm. Also, when using the star tip it is best to keep the tip straight up and down. If you do it at an angle it has a little different affect.

Let me know how you like the chocolate cake!

<3 Ashley

Who's with me?!

2012-08-02T11:20:00.001-07:00

Just checking in to see how you all are doing with the 30 Days of Running Challenge. Who is running with me? I have to be honest I already had a few days of wanting to give up. Then I remembered that my friends know that I am doing this and I would feel silly to not finish. Let me know how you're doing! Get some of your friends to do the challenge with you! Keep up the good work! And remember to drink LOTS of water in this heat!

<3 Ashley

To Kindle or Not to Kindle

2012-08-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

My mom get a Kindle a couple of years ago, and for whatever reason I just couldn't wrap my head around reading a book like that. I love having that book in my hand as silly as that can sound. My mom kept trying to get me to purchase one and I refused. Then my mom got the Kindle Fire and wouldn't stop talking about how much she loved it! By that time I was thinking more about getting one just because I was tired of moving all my books from one state to another!! So when it came in the mail I wasted no time downloading 2 of the books I was missing in one of my series. Now that I have had it for a few months I have to say that I LOVE it!! I love being able to download a book the minute I decide I want to read it. My mother in law has a Kindle, and she loves it too. I am sure there will be books that I purchase time to time, but for the most part I am sticking with my Kindle!

So now that I have professed my love for my Kindle, let's talk about what I am reading right now. So I am sure many of you got sucked into the 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy the way that I did. I was actually the first one to read it out of my group of friends/family. If you haven't read it yet and you like a good romance, READ IT!! There a lot of haters out there who are talking about how it was poorly written, blah blah blah. Listen, the story line is good and it has a fantasy line down that wont disappoint. Some things that you should know before reading the trilogy. First, purchase all 3 books at once (you'll thank me later). Next, if you are a Twilight fan be aware that the books are Twilight fan based. So there are many similarities between Twilight and 50 Shades. For example, Bella and Ana are both clumsy and a bit awkward, they take place in the Pacific Northwest and the leading man has a mysterious secret to uncover. Also, if you are having trouble with the whole idea of Christian wanting Anastasia to be his submissive, look past it. If you can get past all that the love story is enough to keep you coming back for more! When I first read the trilogy all I knew about it was that it was a Twilight fan based book. When I got farther in the book I was shocked. But the interaction between Christian and Ana kept me coming back for more. So, after I read the trilogy the 3rd time, my mom got on me to explore some new books. Lucky for me Janet Evanovich came out with the second book in the Wicked series. Did I mention I love books that are apart of a series?! Because I really do!! ;) I read Wicked Appetite and loved it. It has a little bit of action, a little bit of sexual tension, a little bit of mystery and Evanovich's quick witted humor. What's not to like?! So, when Wicked Business came out I was very excited! I am still reading Wicked Business so no spoilers please! ;) Read the Wicked series with me! I would love to hear what you think about it.

My mom is a big reader too! So look forward to some book reviews from her. Any suggestions of what to read next? I would love to hear from you!

<3 Ashley

What's hidding in your fridge?!

2012-07-30T14:31:00.001-07:00

Around the time the crazy tornadoes went through and cause such utter devastation in Joplin, Missouri we were living in St. Louis, MO. We didn't have the awful tornado come through, but we did get enough of the storm to knock out our power. Thankfully it was only for about a day. This is when I picked up on the habit of cleaning out the fridge. I never realized how often something spills and you just don't realize it. Cleaning the kitchen is almost up there with my hate of cleaning the bathrooms. But since it is Monday (my grocery shopping day), we will just be tackling the refrigerator.

I pick Monday mornings because my husband can be home with the boys while I do my shopping. But before I go to the store, I tackle the refrigerator. Sometimes my husband does this for me while I am at the store. Yeah, he is pretty great! :) The main thing I do is check the expiration dates on the food and toss anything that is old. In the process I wipe down all of the shelves. I mix vinegar and water in a bowl and use a wash cloth. I don't really measure how much vinegar to water. I usually just smell it and make sure you can smell a little vinegar but that it is not overpowering. Then I go shelf by shelf. Toss the leftovers that have been there more than a day. Check the deli, fruit and veggie drawers to make sure you don't over look anything. Don't forget to wipe down the sides and underneath the fruit and veggie drawers. You would be surprised how often something spills and you don't even realize. For Newbies: Don't use any kind of chemical clean the inside of your refrigerator. Don't laugh either, you would be surprised how often people do this without thinking. Vinegar and water is a natural cleaner that can clean just about anything! If you have time to do your clean out the day of your shopping you can save your self the hassle of thinking you have something just to find it is expired!

By cleaning out your fridge once a week you ensure your new, fresh food wont get contaminated by anything that may be lurking in there. Also, if you are like my family and move often, this can save you time later. Nothing sucks more than packing up the house and realizing you still have to scrub the refrigerator!

Now pick a day and clean out your fridge! You'll thank me later when you bring your groceries home to a clean fridge and it is so much easier to put stuff away!

What are your refrigerator tips? I would love to hear from you!

<3 Ashley

If only I were a runner

2012-07-29T05:55:00.002-07:00

I really wish that I loved to run. I read posts from friends about these 3-5 mile runs they do. On top of it they seemed so happy after. What is that?! When I run I feel like a huffing puffing fool! I will do most anything to get out of running. When I was in jr. high, my best friend and I used to fake asthma attacks to get out of running the mile. Yes, bad I know. Although while everyone else was running around the school huffing and puffing, we were drinking water with inhaler in hand. Then in high school I got this bright idea to join the volleyball team freshman year. I swear there was not that much running in volleyball in jr. high!!! Needless to say, I only lasted the one season (it didn't help that I wasn't that great at volleyball). I have gone through these periods of time where I make a decision that I am going to try running and like it. Why am I so determined to like it? Runners look so fit, for one thing. I have struggled with my weight since I was in jr. high. I have also been into working out since then. So you can look forward to seeing some of my favorite workouts in this blog. And even though working out can be hard, it can also be fun. Runners who like running look like they are having fun!

So when a friend of mine posted a 30 day challenge on facebook for running/jogging 30 miles in 30 days, I decided it was time to try AGAIN! I mean, 1 mile a day?! How hard could that be. It doesn't help that it is super hot outside, even first thing in the morning. But, I am doing it!! I have clocked in 6.40miles in 5 days! So I am challenging the runners and the non-runners to join me. Tomorrow is Monday and the perfect time to start. I wont take no for an answer! If I can do it, you can!! Of course, if you have any health conditions consult a doctor first.

Some things that I use that I LOVE: The nike+ app on my phone. I love it because it tells me how far I have gone, how many calories I have burned, and it keeps a running total of how far I have gone so far in this challenge. I love the iHeart radio app on my phone too. It keeps me from having to make my own playlist :). If you don't workout usually may I suggest ear buds. They help block out the outside noise so that you just hear the music. My ear buds are skull candy.

Don't forget to drink lots of water before and after. You may dehydrate fast than you would think. Now lace up those shoes and get outside!! You can thank me later. ;)

I would love to hear how you are doing with the challenge! Leave me a comment and good luck!

<3 Ashley

Didn't I JUST scrub the toilet?!

2012-07-28T15:36:00.004-07:00

Cleaning...the necessary evil! Growing up I was not the cleanest person. I actually remember a time when I was around the age of 7 and I had so many clothes on my bedroom floor you could not see it. (I used to change my clothes about 5 times a day just because I wanted to try new outfits.) I got really embarrassed when one of our neighbors came over so I got a little better about cleaning up...but not much. My mom would ask me, my brother and sister to do chores around the house, but it never became a habit for me. It wasn't until my first year in college in a dorm room that I started to pick up on regular cleaning habits. My second year of college i became a little obsessive about everything having a place. I am sure a therapist would have fun with me! Ever since then this seems to be more the usual than not. I am not perfect by any means. I do not have the "catalogue house" as I call it. What is a "catalogue house?" It is a house that is clean, everything has it's place and not too many personal knick naks in the house. I strive for somewhere between a "catalogue house" and a "lived in house" (clean, floors picked up, lots of personal knick naks).

So in order to keep a clean and tidy house with 2 young boys running around the house I decided I need to dedicate certain days to certain cleaning tasks. Since it is Saturday I thought I would share the list of the day's chores with you and some tips to go along with it. I have tried many different combinations of when to do which room of the house and this is the first time that I found a combo that works for me. Now I know that Saturday may not be the best choice for everyone. My husband doesn't work in retail, but he works retail hours. His craziest days at work are Friday and Saturday, and his days off are Sunday and Monday. I try to have everything done before Sunday so that those two days can be family days.

My most dreaded thing to do are BATHROOMS!!! Especially with 2 small boys who are always in a rush and tend to make messes when going potty. :/ So Saturdays I suck it up and scrub the bathrooms. I also wash all of the bedding, towels and bathmats. TIP: I read somewhere that you should wash your bedding once a week to help reduce allergens, germs and any other fun stuff that maybe lurking within...YUCK!! So maybe your just starting out on your own, or maybe you just need a new routine. Try dedicating one day a week to these super fun chores (said very sarcastically) and you just may feel a little bit better going into the rest of your week! :)

Bathrooms:

The first thing I do is put the toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet so that it has time to sit and disinfect.
Next up, mirror(s), top of toilet and anything else that may need Windex.
Then I do counter top and sink(s). I really like Clorox Green Works for when I am doing my weekly cleaning. I only use a Lysol based cleaner when someone is sick. The smell is too strong and I always worry I don't rinse enough.
I use the same on the shower/tub. I don't get a cleaner just for the shower any more...I decided it was a waste.
Same thing with the outside of my toilet. I find the Clorox all-purpose cleaner works well for me. Some toilet tips for newbies: Make sure you clean the toilet seat before anything else on the toilet...you don't want to spread the germs from under the seat. Don't forget to clean the whole outside of the basin...including down at the foot of the toilet. If you have boys or plan on potty training one soon, the foot of the toilet and the very back of the toilet seat will need most of your attention!!!
Then I vacuum the whole floor, giving extra attention to baseboards.
Wipe down your baseboards! You never know what is lurking there...especially around the toilet. Don't forget your cabinets!!
wash the floors, take out the trash and your finished!

TIP: Get rubber gloves! Your hands will thank you later!! Here is another tip! Commit to a time, get all of your supplies in one area and don't leave until it's done! I always make sure the boys are set up with a new activity/show and a snack right before I start.

Through out the day I do the necessary switches on the laundry to get done what I want to get done. When the hubbs gets home he can always tell what I have been up to and is very appreciative of the clean sheets after a long day of work!

Now get cleaning!!;)

<3 Ashley

Scooby Doo Birthday Cake

2012-07-27T12:48:00.001-07:00

Trying to come up with your first Blog topic isn't as easy as you would think. So, I was think that since next Friday is my son, Logan's 4th birthday I thought I would start off with a blast from the past. Last year Logan insisted on a Scooby Doo birthday cake. This is about the time that I got really into baking. We had moved to St. Louis March 2011 from Illinois/Wisconsin and since I didn't have my best friend or any family down there I threw myself into trying new recipes and making my husband take them to work so I wouldn't eat them all.

So, I went on-line and searched for some kind of template for the cake. I found the picture of a cake someone else did and sadly do not have that link to give her credit. So I will share my picture and recipe for the cake and frosting. Let me just say that this was my first time decorating a cake, so do not judge harshly ;)

I used a cookie sheet flipped over and covered with foil as my base. You will want to start off with baking your cake in a 9x13in pan. After it cools, place on a base and carve the edges off to make the shape. The spare tire on the front is made from the spare cake, attach with frosting. Start by putting down a layer of frosting over the whole cake (white). This is helpful when u are doing your outline...you can make marks in the frosting to guide you. Then, make your outline with black frosting. Here is the first trial and error tip...don't use liquid food coloring for the black! It takes a lot of the food coloring to get the desired black, which makes the frosting very thin. I like Wilton's colors because they don't mess with the consistency of the frosting. You can get the colors on Amazon, WalMart or Michael's Craft Store. Use a #3 round tip for the outline. Trust me, if I can do this...anyone can. I have never been an artist and even I think that the cake turned out ok. Then you are going to mix up the color orange, green, blue, brown and a little yellow for the collar. Use a tip #16 star to fill in. Keep in mind that this is slightly time consuming and you may need to take a break to refrigerate the cake and the frosting, especially if you're making it in August like me ;). Finish off with the writing on the bottom and then take a picture and remember the moment! It wasn't easy for me but I was so proud that I was able to make Logan the cake he wanted!

Now for the recipes...I grew up with a mom who loved to cook and bake. My sister picked up a knack for it when she was still in high school. I always admired the way she could just add a little of this and a little of that and create something yummy. I am still not there yet, so it is very fortunate that my mom purchased me a cookbook in hopes that one day I would get the cooking gene. I am still trying Mama!!! So these particular recipes came from Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book. Logan wanted a chocolate cake and this recipe is awesome! It is super moist and just enough chocolate.

Chocolate Cake
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
2 cups call-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1-1/2 cups milk

1. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. (This is something I think most non-seasoned bakers know...good TIP!!). Meanwhile, lightly grease bottom of desired pan (for scooby cake I used 9x13). Line bottom of pan with waxed paper or parchment paper. Grease and lightly flour bottoms and sides of pan. (DO NOT skip this step if you are planning on taking the cake out of the pan to decorate...it is a life saver!!!) In a medium bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2.In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 second. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined (3-4 min). Scrape sides of bowl; continue beating on medium speed for 2 min. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition (about 1 min total). Beat in vanilla.

3. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on a low speed after each addition just until combined. (I hear somewhere that you should always end with the liquid...not sure if it is true, but I do it just in case;).) Beat on medium to high speed for 20 seconds more. Spread batter into prepared pan.

4. Bake in a 350 oven for 35-40 min or until wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for 10min. Remove from pan. Peel off waxed paper. Cool thoroughly on rack.

Butter Frosting
3/4 cup butter, softened
9 cups sifted powdered sugar (about 2 pounds)
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Milk

1. In a very large mixing bowl beat butter until smooth. Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar (make sure you sift first, otherwise you will have lumps that are not easily worked out), beating well. Slowly beat in the 1/4 cup of milk and vanilla.

2. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar. Beat in enough additional milk to reach spreading consistency. (be careful here...you don't want it too stiff or too soft...for the most part sticking to the recipe with maybe a tablespoon of milk added is good) And when you are ready add coloring to for decorating.

The one thing I learned about this cake is that if I challenge myself I rise to the occasion. It may not be perfect, but who is?!

Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you!