Hello!

Hey there!

It’s been awhile! I figured, you know, its only been 2 years, a reintroduction never hurt anyone!

My name is Ashley. I am terrible at keeping up a blog. I get distracted by life and forget that I used to write. I love writing. I love reading. I always have a book on me. I always have a notebook/journal on me.

Current read: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Current notebook/journal: Paperback gold and black journal from Target

I also love food! OMG…. Do I love food…..
I think about food all the time. I think about what I am going to eat at the next meal even before I have finished the meal I am currently devouring. I think about things I want to try and make and things that look weird but could be fun to make. I think about restaurants I want to go to because they specialize in a certain dish or style of food. Food is constantly on my brain.

I also love wine and whiskey. I currently manage a taproom just outside of Denver, CO and that job has brought me into contact with some fabulous distributors and fabulous spirits. I am researching different spirits on a very regular basis. I am definitely drawn to the smaller batch, craft spirits and wines, not so much the bigger commercial ones.

I live to be outside. I love being outside any chance I get. I have already gotten my first sunburn of the year. I love to soak up that Vitamin D in the sunshine. I love hiking with my dog. I am currently training for a half marathon. It is just about river season as well, so I will definitely be on the river plenty this summer. I am happy and sad that ski season is over. Just really any chance I get to be outside, I will take it.

I also hate taking normal selfies. I think they are overrated. Lol. So, here is a goofy selfie of me on a ferry in Ireland.

Welcome to my blog! Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to check out my Instagram to keep up with my day-to-day shenanigans!

Lifestyle Changes

Something I am finding to be true in my everyday life is that you need to move more, drink more water (I am especially bad at this), reduce stress, and eat well. What I am realizing more and more is that the issue with our continual weight gain is our lifestyle. I know that is something we hear a lot, but it really is the only sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off. There are so many fad diets, work out challenges, and so called “lifestyle” challenges out there. It is so overwhelming to try and keep track of all of them. I have been known to try quite a few of them. But I always end up going right back to where I started or worse! I have a feeling I am not alone in this.

The problem I find with trying out diets or “challenges” is that they are unsustainable. You can’t keep it up 100% without becoming unhappy. You end up beating yourself up if you don’t follow the plan perfectly and then you start saying things like, “Well, I am already off the wagon now, might as well keep going.” Then the next day or sometimes even sooner than that, we really beat ourselves up and start having extremely negative thoughts. That doesn’t do anybody any good.

I find I am more likely to eat better and workout more or just be active more if I am happy with who I am and where I am in life. Being content with who you are and where you are in life is something completely separate from food. That is another topic for another time, but just something to get you thinking.

In order to live a more healthy lifestyle, we must make lifestyle changes. They do not need to be dramatic right off the bat! That then goes into the same lines as trying out a diet! We must just take it one meal, one moment at a time. When that moment comes to have dessert or a beer or some other luxury, fully enjoy it!

Here are some examples of little changes I try to make throughout the day that I feel are doable for most people:
~ Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water (160lbs = 80 oz of water). If you can’t drink that much yet, work up to it! You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel!
~ Eat only when you are actually hungry. If you eat at any other time, there is no signal to start eating so there won’t be a signal to stop. You will just continue to eat! More to come on how to do this later!
~ Aim to have at least 1 meal that has no processed grains or processed sugars everyday. I know I know, this sounds like a diet but I am not asking for the whole day!
~ Eat more veggies! I have grown to love veggies! If I am looking at appetizers when I am out, I am finding myself drawn more to the veggie appetizers. Brussel Sprouts in some kind of sauce gets me everytime!
~ Move for at least 10 minutes everyday. Take a walk, go for a swim, do a workout video, stretch, whatever you enjoy doing that makes you move! I found that I looked forward to those 10 minutes because it got me out of my own head!
~ Don’t eat right before bed. Allow time for your food to digest before going to sleep. Not only will you sleep better, but it will just allow your body to process properly!

Some of those can be hard on certain days. But I want to start a healthier lifestyle and so that means bumps along the road, potholes here and there but I just have to keep moving forward. Its a great journey that hopefully I can continue to share with you!

Here we go!

November 4: 3 of My Favorite Meals

Alrighty, so I figured since I shared my favorite foods I should share my favorite meals as well. Surprisingly, none of them contain chocolate or goat cheese and usually not a whole lot of garlic! Lol! It happens?! They also go across a wide spectrum of styles.

1~ Chicken and Biscuits from Cheesecake Factory

So stinking yummy! There is so much food there and you usually can’t finish it but it is so delicious that you can’t help but take another bite. It isn’t until 5 bites later that you realize that was not a good idea. Lol!

2~ Beef Kofta with Baba Ganoush

Oh man! After working in a Lebanese restaurant on my summers home from college I was hooked. Kofta and Baba Ganoush is so delicious! I am always on the lookout for this delicious dish no matter where I live.

3~ Fresh Fajitas (usually chicken) with Guacamole

So so yummy! I love delicious, fresh hispanic food. I also have a love affair with guacamole. Oh man, I love guacamole almost as much as garlic. Haha!

So there you have it, my favorite three meals! What are meals that you can’t get enough of?!

See ya!

November 3: 3 of My Favorite Foods

I am such a sucker for food. Not just to keep me going but I love amazingly delicious food! I love certain flavors in particular. I am drawn to them when I see them in a recipe. I am drawn to them when I see them at a restaurant’s description of a dish on their menu. I just can’t help myself! Here are the top three that I love:

1~ Garlic

I love the smell, the taste, basically everything about garlic. Love love love!  I could use garlic is just about everything if TJ were more of a fan! Lol!

2~ Goat Cheese

The taste of goat cheese is so comforting to me. It has just such a wonderful flavor. Don’t you think? No? Oh well, I love it! Plus it really goes well with Garlic. Teehee! So yummy! I love it on pizza, stuffed in mushrooms, on toast with garlic. You name it, I will most likely eat it with goat cheese.

3~ Chocolate

You cannot leave out my bestie! Chocolate makes the world go round, I am convinced. You cannot have a world without chocolate. I know I know, women say that all the time but its just true. Life without chocolate would just be so depressing.

Anyway, what foods do you love? Do you have some weird ones that most people don’t like?

See ya!

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

Hey guys!

Lately I have been having such a crazy craving for Strawberry Lemonade. No, no I am not pregnant. I have just been cutting out caffeine and soda for the most part for a while. Which, side note, if you have not given that a shot, do so! Getting off of caffeine will change your life! Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled programing. Since I have been cutting these guys out that means I really had to find some other drink alternatives. Water is great and all but sometimes you just need something more! Hence the reason for Strawberry Lemonade. Wendy’s has some delicious Strawberry Lemonade but I just do not have the luxury of going everyday all day. My tummy would not appreciate that too much.

The other night I was really wanting some more Strawberry Lemonade and was not willing to go out and get some. I realized I had the ingredients right here at home and gave it a whirl! So easy and even more delicious than going to Wendy’s to get some!

I found the recipe over here and honestly just cannot get enough of it!

Ingredients:

1 pound or so strawberries
2 lemons
8 cups water
3/4 cups honey
1/4 cup sugar

The reason for the honey is to cut back on the overly processed sugar. It also gives a really nice flavor too. 

So, you take the lemons and the strawberries and you cut the ends off of them. Then you cut them into quarters. I spaced on taking a picture of this but you get the idea.

Keep the peels on the lemons. You then blend all the fruit with two cups of water. Put the honey over the mixture and then liquify for about a minute or so. I think I did mine a little longer but I was slightly distracted at that point.

You then grab a strainer and pour the liquid through. You are going to need a baking spatula to help it through. Honestly I think this was the most tedious part of the procedure but well worth it!

I had all of this stuff left over and took it out of the strainer until I had gotten everything out of the blender then I ran the rest of the water through this stuff.

After putting everything through, I came away with almost a pitched and a half!

I let those refrigerate for an hour and then had myself a glass!

Super delicious! Now that I know how easy this was and how much more delicious it was, I have a feeling I will continue making my own homemade lemonade!

See ya!

Make Breakfast Special

So many times during the week I just have a rushed breakfast as I head out the door for work. I definitely do not take the time to enjoy my breakfast. I have been trying lately to have at least one day a week where I make breakfast a little more special. Some times it is eggs and bacon. Some times it is going out for breakfast. Today it was something similar to what my mom called Monkey Bread when I was growing up. I got this recipe from Nicole and Lurlyn at The Jones Way

Ingredients:

~ 2 small tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits OR 1 tube Pillsbury Grands buttermilk biscuits
~ 3 Tbsp. butter, melted
~1/2 C. pancake syrup (any brand you like, I used Mrs. Buttersworth)
~1/3 C. packed light brown sugar
~1/2 tsp. cinnamon
~1/4 C. chopped pecans, optional
~1/4 C. chopped almonds, optional

Directions:

Preheat over to 375. Spray a fluted pan with non-stick spray.

Combine the melted butter and syrup in a small bowl and set aside.

In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (if desired). 

Place about half of the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan.

Then sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top.

 Lay the biscuits on the bottom of the pan, overlapping edges (closely together) to form a ring.

 Top with remaining syrup and sugar mixtures. 

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. 

Cool for 1 minute in the pan, then invert onto a serving platter and enjoy!

 

TJ was home so I figured making him some breakfast since he has been working so stinking hard!

It was a great way to wake him up this morning! He loved it and it was super tasty! 

 

Always a huge hit!

Do you have a way to make breakfast special at your house? 

 

See ya! 

 

Party Salad!

The other night, our friend TJ (not my TJ) had a Celebration of the Table party! He had made this beautiful table and wanted to celebrate it by having a feast! We never turn down an opportunity for delicious home cooked food. All of our friends make delicious food and so we were pretty excited. I had every intention of taking my camera to the party but I completely spaced. It was super fun with about 25 people there. We had ribs, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, grilled peaches and I brought a Black Bean and Corn Salad. I figured some veggies would be a nice addition to help balance things out. 

I got the recipe from Carrie over at Making Lemonade. Check it out and check out her great blog! Say hello while you’re there!

Black Bean Salad

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, thoroughly rinsed, and drained (or 1 1/2 cup of freshly cooked black beans)

1 1/2 cups frozen corn, defrosted (or fresh corn, parboiled, drained and cooled)

1/2 cup chopped green onions or shallots

2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced, or 1 whole pickled jalapeno pepper, minced (not seeded)

3 fresh plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks

1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro

1/4 cup fresh chopped basil

2 Tbsp lime juice (about the amount of juice from one lime)

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 to 1 teaspoon of sugar (to taste)

Salt and pepper to taste

You mix everything together except for the sugar and the salt and pepper. 

After you have it all mixed together, you add the sugar and salt and pepper to taste. 

I ended up tripling the recipe because of how big the party was and it turned out perfectly!

If you are looking for a healthy addition to your summer parties, this is the way to go! It is so tasty and was a hit! 

What is a must have at your summer parties?

See ya!  

Middle of June!

Alrighty, well clearly May was a flop for my blogging about Marriage. Cool. I was super excited about that challenge and then bombed it lol. June really has not turned out much better. I feel like these past two weeks in June have been a whirlwind. I have been super busy and trying to get little things done here and there during the times I am not working. Crazy crazy crazy! And then I just celebrated my birthday! That was way fun. Got to share it with my amazing husband who made me feel extremely special on my day and then had some wonderful friends who came over and celebrated as well! It was sweet! 

I think since I am halfway into the month of June, I am going to pass on this months challenge. I will still blog very consistently (hopefully). But we will resume the monthly challenges in July with the next photo challenge! Can’t wait to pull out my camera and shoot and share some pictures! 

I am kind of on a creative/eating well/eating healthy kick right now. After Matt moved out my front room opened up and now I have space really get started on quilting or making the couple of pieces of clothing I have been wanting to make or just some other projects I have wanted to do for the house. I have also been reading It Start With Food by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. It is just talking about how foods affect you and how whole foods are much better for a balance in all areas of your body. It is a really cool read and something I have really been looking in to. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts and rambles for the day!

See ya!

March 2: What I Wore Today

Today was a bit busy so the post is earlier than last night but still rather late. Lol!

On a side note, I used my sewing machine all day! I made two headbands, one of which you will see in the picture below! And a foot/ lower back warmer (aka a pouch full of rice that you put in the microwave.) I had so much fun! Still learning about my sewing machine and how different things work on it, but progress is being made!

Here is what I wore today:

 

That is a headband I made today! Yay!

For dinner I made a Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Pasta dish. Oh man, super delicious!

 

You can check out the recipe here! So yummy!

Are you following along with the March photo Challenge?!

See ya!

New Cookbook!

I got a new cookbook this week! It was kind of a splurge or investment if you will. I don’t usually buy cookbooks. I have a stack of them that I have gotten as gifts and I love them! I especially love the ones my mom made for me! But I usually end up finding stuff on pinterest and whatnot. This one is a cookbook that a friend of mine has. He always makes some of the best pastries and breads. I knew I had to have this book. The book is called Tartine by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson, the owners of the Tartine bakery in San Francisco. I got the book and have already made two of the recipes out of it. I made Buttermilk Scones and Fruit Gaelettes. Both were supremely delicious and a huge success with friends! 

The Scones recipe had them doing fruit but I had some chocolate chips I wanted to use. It turned out just as good. (Although, I think I will be doing raspberry scones tomorrow.) 

 

I made them a little big but oh well! I think tomorrow I will cut the raspberry ones into littler squares.

Then I made the Fruit Gaelettes for dinner with some friends last night. 

 

Oh man! They were so yummy! The strawberries were the freshest I have had since living in Fresno, California. They were amazing! So I made a Strawberry Apple Gaelette. The flavors were perfect together! A friend that was there last night, had no idea I made them and was going on about how we should hire the friend who originally had this book to make pastries for our hypothetical shop we want to open. He then was informed I made them. Lol. Best compliment ever! Being compared to someone who makes deliciousness! Yes! 

Anyway, had to share the yumminess!

See ya!