Fake Greens!!

So I made this a couple weeks ago, for chicken fried steak. and Jason absolutely loved this recipe.  As a matter of fact he thought they were collard greens.  This is by far not collard greens but it is broccoli, green beans and onions.  I have never had collard greens but I might need to try them if they are this good. So not only is this recipe delicious but healthy.

 

 

Faked Greens

1 head of broccoli

1/2 yellow onion (sliced)

1 can French green beans (drained)

1/2 cup butter (divided)

1/4 teaspoon garlic (I use the refrigerator kind)

1/4 cup quesadilla cheese

 

1.  In a microwave safe dish, add broccoli and onions, garlic and 1/4 cup of butter.  Microwave for 15 minutes. 

 

2.  Stir and mix in the can of green beans and butter.  Microwave for another 7 minutes.

 

3.  After the 7 minutes is up, sprinkle the quesadilla cheese over the greens and let it melt.  Serve warm!!

 

Hope you enjoy :)

 

Ashley

 

Meatloaf

I'm not a huge fan of meatloaf, never have been.  But there is only so much you can do with ground beef before you run out of options.  So tonight was experiment night with meatloaf and it turned out AMAZING!! As a matter of fact, I think we will have this again.  I used my garlic mashed potato's that I posted about a few weeks ago and they went excellent with this, I also make some "fake greens which I will blog about next.

 

 

 

Meatloaf

Ingredients:

 

1 lb. ground beef (I use 70/30)

1/2 pkg. of chicken stuffing

1 Tablespoon mustard

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 large egg

1/2 small yellow onion diced

salt and pepper to taste

 

Topping:

1/2 cup ketchup

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a mixing bowl combine all the above ingredients, minus the topping.  Mix well.  Take a baking pan and mold the hamburger mixture into a load looking figure.

 

2. Bake this at 400 for 20 minutes.  This allows it to get a crispy edge all around.  While this is baking mix the ketchup and brown sugar, pour the ketchup mixture over the meatloaf and bake for another 15 minutes.

Hope you enjoy and have a blessed day! :)

Ashley

 

 

Beef Enchiladas

This week it has gotten a little bit chilly! So to warm us up I made these EASY enchiladas!  These have always been a favorite of my friends and family!  Its a simple and cheap recipe that is great to save a re-heat the next day!! I also like this recipe because I can sneak in the peas :)

 

Easy Beef Enchiladas

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 yellow onion (diced)
1 can green and red enchilada sauce
7 cups frozen shredded hash browns
3 Tablespoons butter
1 can peas
1pkg. taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 small bag quesadilla shredded cheese
1 small bag Colby jack shredded cheese
1 pkg (8) flour burrito tortilla shells

Directions:
1. In a large pot brown ground beef and onions.  When it is browned add peas, taco seasoning, butter and hash browns.  Stir together and let cook until hash browns are soft and peas are cooked.  Set aside and let cool.

2. In a pie pan add both red and green enchilada sauces. Stir together.

3.  Set up an assembly line to make this go smooth.
Start: Place tortilla shells on a paper towel, the pie dish with enchilada sauce, Place the tortilla shell pkg. on the counter (this will be used to lay the tortilla shell on), Combine both bags of cheese into a bowl and place close, then place the pot with the meat and hash brown filling by the cheese.  Take a pan 13x9 glass pan and spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking.  keep this close to make transfer easy.

4.  Now begin the process: Dip flour shell into sauce covering both sides, place onto the tortilla shell pkg. Add about 1/4 cup in the middle and make it look like a log so it looks it almost touches the ends.  Add a handful of cheese ( make sure you leave enough cheese to top at the end.  Roll up the enchilada and place into the dish.  Repeat with the rest of the tortilla shells.  When finished take any extra filling and enchilada sauce and place it on top of the enchiladas.  Add another handful of cheese to the top.  Place in the oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until cheese and sauce in bubbly.  You can also place these in the refrigerator and heat them at another time!!

Have a Blessed day and ENJOY!

Ashley :)

The last couple weeks!

Wow what a busy couple of weeks!! Jason and I recently just got back from a trip to Santa Fe, NM with a few other stops threw Taos, NM, Colorado Springs, CO, and a trip to Pikes Peak. We went to a wedding for Jason's cousin and made a 12 hour road trip!!  Although, the trip was amazing  we were more than happy to get home to the little man!!  Here's some pictures of our vacation and a picture of the little guy playing with his ninja turtles in the tree and pumpkin carving!!

 

Have a Blessed Day!!

 

Ashley :)

October THIRTY-ONE SPECIAL!!

This month is an exciting month for thirty-one customers and hostesses! Not only are many travel products half off when you spend $35 but for hosting a party a organizing utility tote is yours for FEE!!!! 

 

 

Email me with any questions on  how to earn these AWESOME product!!

 

Have a blessed day!!

 

Ashley :)

My DIY mini Mud room

I would personally like to start this post by thanking my father for making me such an amazing handy woman!  Haha okay well I'm not totally handy with out him but I sure do have a great beginning on things.  I do not do saws yet but I'm sure in time ill learn.  This was a terrible closet in my house when you first walked in FULL of JUNK!!  So I took the bar and shelf out, gave it some, paint, hooks, a bench and baskets to hold shoes, mittens and various things.  This was a simple day project, That cost around $50!! I found some old counter top to use as a bench (that my dad so gladly came and cut and installed), We put support on both sides to hold it up.  I found the sign at hobby lobby during there 50% home wall décor time, and used old paint I had to make the stripes. 

 

Have a blessed day!!!

 

Ashley

Cream Cheese Chicken

We got to start our Sunday off in the best way this week!! Praising God!! Always a good way to start!! When we came home of course my son wanted "CHICKEN NUGGETS".  I am sure some of you can relate this constant battle we are presented with against McD's chicken nuggets, but I am determined to succeed against them.  For lunch we had a chicken recipe that is pretty fairly simple to make.  My son is  a big rice fan so it seems like an easy pair for me.  We just bought a bag of yellow rice which was the perfect pair for this dish. 

 

 

Cream Cheese Chicken

Ingredients:

 

4 chicken breasts (trim off fat)

5 Tablespoons butter (DIVIDED)

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

5 Tablespoon Tones rosemary garlic seasoning (DIVIDED)

1 small green pepper (sliced)

1 onion (sliced)

4 oz. cream cheese

 

 

1.  Start by getting you chicken wet in water.  I usually use frozen breasts or tenders and soak them in water to defrost them, so they are already wet.  In a separate bowl add flour, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon of the Tones rosemary garlic seasoning ,  mix all these together. 

 

2.  In a non-stick skillet add 2 Tablespoon of butter and let melt over medium heat.  While this is melting, take our chicken and just roll the chicken in the flour mix (this is just a light breading), then add to the skillet.  Repeat with the rest of the chicken breasts. While they are cooking cut the onions and peppers.  Let each breast cook turning it half way through so that you have a light crispy edge over all the chicken.  Once you flip the chicken add the remaining butter add the onions and peppers. then the cream cheese and the remaining  Tones rosemary garlic seasoning.  Let it all blend together until the vegetable are tender and the cream cheese is melted.  Stir this occasionally so all the spices and cream cheese are well blended.

 

 

Hope you enjoy this one pan meal!!

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Ashley :)



 

 

 

 

 

Fried Tacos

These are probably one of my favorite meals to make.  These are by no means healthy but none the less some of the best tacos you will ever have.  One hit I had to learn the hard way is always wear long sleeves when making these. :)

Fried Tacos

 

yield: approx. 10

 

Ingredients:

 

1 lb. 93/7% ground beef (this can be substituted with ground turkey)

1/2 Vidalia onion (diced)

1 small green pepper (diced)

1 pkg. taco seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

1 pkg. corn tortilla shells

vegetable oil

 

**optional toppings: shredded cheese, onions, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole or anything you like**

 

1.  Take the ground beef, onions and peppers and cook in the skillet until meat is brown.

 

2. In a sauce pan or fry pan and fill about 1/2 inch up the side of the skillet. Set your heat on medium (or in between 4 and 5) until oil is hot.

 

3.  Take a large spoon and add one scoop of meat to the corn tortilla shell.  Place in the oil and lay on one side.  This is very tricky because these break really easily!! Also, be careful not over fill these, if the meat gets in the oil it will burn and start to burn and smell. 

 

4.  Once you have the one side of the taco slightly brown with tongs flip the tacos to the other side until other side is brown.  Place on a paper towel and repeat with remaining tacos. 

 

Have a blessed day!!

 

ASHLEY :)

 

FALL IS HERE ( okay well almost)

My favorite season is coming up, from the football, tailgates, parties, smell of pumpkin ANYTHING, decorating my home for fall is my favorite thing.  This is a little centerpiece I threw together.  I found all the supplies for this at Michael's.  This piece includes a charger, pumpkin candle holder, one 3 inch ribbon (color of your choice, I used a greenish brown), different flowers (these were actually a stem with 4 flowers coming off each, that I picked the flowers/leaves and placed them around the pumpkin and they were only $1), a fall colored candle, and some river rocks. 

Place the pumpkin and candle on the charger, loosely weave the ribbon around the pumpkin once and pour the river rocks around.  Then take the flowers/leaves and place them as a filler.  You can place a cheap placemat underneath for an extra touch!!

HAPPY FALL!!

Ashley :)

Cherry Dream Pie (1st place)

This pie has probably one of the funniest stories behind it.  It all started a year ago when my friend Shawna and I were sitting at church an they made an announcement about the annual back to school grill out/pie baking contest.  As a said in my previous post I am NO baker and quite often the trash can eats more of my baked goods then people.  So Shawna looked at me and asked "Are you going to enter?",  I laughed and said "yeah sure this should be a disaster."  We both left laughing about how bad this was going to be, I said I would make it for her and she told me she wanted a cherry pie. That day baking this pie was beyond disastrous.  First, I didn't put enough pie crust filling over the edge and when it baked my crust sunk in, then I forgot to bake the cheese filling so it mixed in with the cherries, and to top it off I barely had enough dough left to for the top, due to the earlier instance of the shrinking crust.  Somehow in the midst of all this, this silly ol' pie took FIRST PLACE!!! I think I about choked on my burger when they announced it. 

 

okay so on to how this pie was made~~

 

Cherry Dream Pie

Ingredients:

 

2 pkg of pie crust

(or if you want to make it home made or one from the freezer section)

3 Tablespoons sugar

 

Cheese Filling:

1 pkg. (8 oz) Cream Cheese

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 egg yolk

 

Cherry Filling:

1 large can cherry pie filling

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

 

 

 

1. Follow instructions for pie crust.  Line the pie crust into the bottom of a 9-inch glass pie dish.  Trim the pie crust 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the plate and pinch the edges together for decoration.

 

2.  Take the 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and spring the pie crust and cover with aluminum foil.  Bake at 450 for 8 minutes.  Remove the foil and let it bake for 5 more minutes.  Reduce the oven heat to 375 and let the crust cool on a rack.

 

3.  In a mixing bowl combined all the Cheese filling ingredients until well mixed and no lumps.  Pour this into the crust. 

 

4.  In another bowl mix the cherry pie filling and confectioners sugar. Heat this in the microwave for 2 minutes.  Pour directly on top of the cheese filling.  Make sure you cover all the  cheese filling and to the edges. 

 

4.  Take the remain crust and sprinkle it with 3 tablespoon granulated sugar and lightly sprinkle some confectioners sugar on top.  Take small cookie cutter and cut out shapes or make a lattice crust.  Bake at 375 for 35-45 minutes.  During the last fifteen minutes cover the pie with foil. 

 

ENJOY!

 

have a blessed day :) 

 

Ashley

 

M&M Cowboy Cookies

My family is always asking me to makes these cookies!! Which cracks me up because these are the only cookies I can make and NOT mess up!!! So take it from someone with terrible BAKING ( not cooking) skills!! ANYONE can make these cookies!!  This recipe I found in an old church cookbook my family had made.  Although I put M&M's instead of chocolate chips and nuts in this recipe.

This makes anywhere from 20-40 cookies just depending on how big or small you make them.  I usually use  a big spoon and measure them out.

 

M&M Cowboy Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick of butter (softened)
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 bag peanut butter M&M's
1 bag mini M&M's

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2.  In a mixing bowl mix together peanut butter, granulated sugar, packed brown sugar,butter and nutmeg.  After all is combined to a creamy  consistency add the eggs and vanilla extract and baking soda, cream these ingredients all together until well combined. Add the quick oats approximately one cup at a time.  When all the oats are covered mix in with a spatula the M&M's about 1/2 bag at a time. 

3.  Take a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.  Take a large spoon or ice cream scoop and place a mound of cookies on sprayed cookie sheet.  Put about 3 fingers in between each cookie.

4.  Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes.  Let the cookies sit for about a minute and half before transferring to a cooling rack.

THESE A DEFINATELY BEST SERVED WARM WITH MILK :)
Have a blessed day!

Ashley :)

Garlic Mashed Potato's!!

Every week on Saturday we have a wonder farmers market downtown.  This last week I picked up some Yukon gold potato's.  It might be a little warm out in my opinion for mashed potato's but none the less they were a perfect pair for my Crowd pleasing burgers I posted about earlier!!

Garlic Mashed Potato's 

6-8 Yukon gold potato's

1 1/2 TBS minced garlic

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup sour cream

 cup milk

Salt and Pepper to taste

 

1.  Wash the potato's well under water and dice into pieces.  Add to a large pot and add water until the water barely cover the mashed potato's.

2. Add a dash of salt and bring to a boil.  I let the potato's boil till they are soft and enough of the water is gone I don't have to drain them, I just mash them in the remaining water and add the minced garlic, butter, sour cream, milk, salt and pepper.  Mash this all together and let blend until potato's are good consistency.

**I usually just use a wooden spoon and have some lumps in mine, but beat until whatever consistency you prefer**

 

ENJOY :)

 

Have a blessed day!!

Love, Ashley :)

Crowd Pleasing Burger!!

When it comes to dinner I'm not one that wants to pull out the whole cabinet to make something taste good!! Why should good food be hard to make!! It was perfect grilling weather the other night so I decided to make some cheese burgers for some friends that were coming over!! I will tell you the spice blend I used is something that can be made way ahead and used on anything.  I will post the recipe for the spice seasoning too.

OKAY!! On to the burger that kept my friends raving!!

 

F&W Burgers!!

1 lb 80/20 ground beef

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon Burger and Fry Seasoning

1 pkg. Athenos Feta cheese Tomato and Basil 

1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm sesame topped hamburger buns

1 Yellow Onion (or whatever onion you prefer)

 

1. Add ground beef Worcestershire sauce and Fry and Burger Seasoning in a bowl.  ( I let this sit for about an hour, but if you don't have time don't worry!!)

2.  Preheat your grill

3. Cut onion into rings and separate, lightly sprinkle with the Burger and Fry Seasoning, spray a grill pan (or use tin foil) with cooking spray, add onions and place on the preheated grill.

4. Mold hamburger into hamburger shapes and lightly press you thumb into the middle of the burger (not all the way through), place on grill.

5. Occasionally stir the onions and let the burgers cook on each side about 6 minutes each.

6.  After the burgers have been removed immediately add feta cheese and topped with grilled onions on the sesame bun. 

 

Burger and Fry Seasoning

1/4 cup paprika

1/4 cup salt

1/8 cup garlic powder

1/2 TBS Chili Powder

1/2 TBS Cumin

1 TBS Black Pepper

1/2 tsp celery salt

1/2 TBS Basil

 

** Just mix together and place in a jar**

 

Have a blessed day and I hope you enjoy this meal, from my family to yours !!

 

Love, Ashley :) 

Busy Weeks!

I often thought that getting out of school life would slow down. That is not the case at all!! Braiden started school last week (I've only cried twice) and I have started my new business with Thirty-One!! School has been a little rough for him- he is a three year old who like to just play around, hopefully he will get the swing of things. Jason and I took Braiden to the railroad festival this weekend, he had so much fun playing with the bounce house and riding on a horse!!

Braiden with the Head of school!!

I am proud that with the support of my family and friend I successfully threw my launch party and reached new levels!! I never thought I'd be really good at this but the other day I received an email that my orders and incentive rewards were coming in. I just felt like it was Christmas all over and to be able to see the girls faced when I give them their bags just brings joy to me! I wasn't sure how to market or sell or talk about things but, its something that you just learn looking at the magazine thinking of all the wonderful things you can put in your own house and different ways to organize your own house! Also, I am super excited the fall catalog will start on September 1, 2013!! Jason,my boyfriend, laughs and says he doesn't understand us women and our bag obsession, but I assured him its just as important as his ESPN package! The good Lord has blessed this family beyond belief and I couldn't thank him more for all the different opportunities he has given me! Please come visit my website and email me with any questions!! Ashley's Thirty One Website

Few of my favorite from the week!! And beginning Sept. 1 - spend $35 get the organizing utility tote for $15 or the super organizing tote for $25!

Have a blessed day!!! Ashley :-)

Thirty-One Life

This week has been super exciting for us. I recently decided to start selling thirty-one gifts!! It been pretty rewarding so far, especially yesterday when I recieved my welcome kit!! It was like Christmas opening up my box for the first time. I was super nervous about starting a business but as I went through my things there were so many little coaching guides to help me through my first party!! I never thought that I would be doing this, but after reading that thirty-one was actually based the bible verse Proverbs 31, I think I made a good choice and am proud to be a part of a faith based organization!! To view my web page or contact me: www.mythirtyone.com/anicole/

Turkey Spaghetti Meatballs!

I really have been trying to incorporate more vegetables in to our meals at home! I was kinda nervous about this one but my son said it was "delicious" so I'm marking this one KID APPROVED!!

For the Meatballs:
1 lb ground turkey
1 red pepper (diced)
3 green onions (diced)
1 pkg McCormicks Italian Meatball Seasoning
1 cup French Fried onions (crushed)

For the Sauce:
1 Jar Red Spaghetti Sauce (I buy the cheapest sauce I can find and add my own spices *oregano, salt, pepper, Tomes: Rosemary Garlic Seasoning, honey and ground mustard)- add as much or little as you want.* ( I just add little at a time and taste test)
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive oil

For the Noodles:
1 hand full of angel hair pasta noodles ( I never measure this correctly haha)
4 cups of water (or enough to cover noodles)
1/4 C butter
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven to 400. Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs well.  In a glass baking dish pour spaghetti sauce (add ingredients now if you choose to make your own sauce) and EVOO.
2.  Once sauce is in the pan mold meatballs and place in the sauce, place in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
3.  In a pot add water, butter and noodles.  Boil until noodles are soft (8-10 minutes).  Drain and add the Parmesan Cheese and EVOO.

To Serve: Place noodles on the plate and add as many meatballs as you want with sauce!!

Hope you enjoy!

French Fried Onion Baked Chicken!!

For a super easy dinner for the week night; this chicken recipe is perfect and a family favorite. This can serve up to 6 people.

Ingredients:
3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts frozen (we use Tyson's)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cup French Fried Onion
1 Tbsp paprika
1 teaspoon salt and pepper

Directions
1. Preheat Oven to 400 and spray and baking pan with non stick cooking spray
2. In bowl 1 add: milk and eggs and beat together; In bowl 2 add: flour, french fried onions, salt, pepper, and paprika.  Mash the french fried onions so they are in crumbles instead of big pieces!
3.  Take chicken and trim fat, cut the chicken breast in half then dredge each half in the egg and milk then coat in the flour/french fried onion mixture and place on the baking pan.  Repeat with rest of chicken breasts. 
4.  Bake on 400 for 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle; turning chicken half way through.

Enjoy!

Stir Fry!!

YUMM, I think our favorite meal in this house might be stir fry!! My favorite because I can load it with tons of veggies and my son will go to town on it!! I've been making this recipe for a long long time and not only my sons favorite but my sons Godfather Brett's favorite along with a few other of the boys!!

Ingredients:

For the meat:
1 pkg stir fry steak (Walmart sells this pre-cut) -- BINGO!
2 cups "Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce"
1 green pepper (cut into strips)
1 head of broccoli (diced)
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

For the rice:
3 cups of white instant rice
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 cups water
1 tablespoon butter
1 zucchini (diced)
1/2 yellow onion (diced)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2-3 eggs

Instructions:
** Hint: before starting: cut all veggies up and place have ready to go!
1. If you have time soak the meat in the teriyaki marinade for a couple hours; if not its okay!  Place meat in stir fry pan with the olive oil and marinade sauce. Let this cook for about 2 minutes.
2. Place all the vegetable for the meat in the pan and cover; let cook until vegetables are soft.
3. Start on rice; In a microwavable bowl place: rice, soy sauce, butter and water, cook until rice is fluffy!
4. In a separate pan from stir fry scramble the eggs (I say 2-3 depending on how you like your rice; we use three) and place in the rice bowl. 
5.  With heat still on place 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and put in diced zucchini and diced onions and cook until soft.
6. Place rice mixture in with zucchini and onions and stir together for about five minutes. 

By the time you get done preparing the rice the meat and veggies should be done! To plate place rice on bottom and top with meat and vegetable mixture!!

HOPE YOU ENJOY!!


Ashley

Patiently Waiting...

This house has had such a turn around in the last few weeks; it speaks in volumes to me.  We have been working on just spending time with one another and laying back letting God take control.  I'm so anxious to graduate school; its making me antsy!  Yesterday I worked and went to school almost 22 hours straight.  My feet were tired and I was ready to just give up; I was tired and beyond frustrated.  But God gave me strength to pick this morning and continue on with my day! I forget sometime that I need to be more patient with God.  To allow his ways to truly work in my life, not only letting go and letting him lead my life, but in being patient with the plan he has set forth for me.  I know all these things will come but some days it's hard to wait for it to get here.  Like I said this is a long journey that wont end till I'm at heavens gates, but getting there should be a patient and forthcoming experience. 
My verse for today was out of Romans 8:24-25 :
 "For in this hope we are saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

As much as I want everything right now and I'm letting go of a lot of hurtful things in my life, I really want to work on my patience.  It's teaches us to be calm and up lifting.  I know he has a plan; I have no idea what that plan is, but I need to practice my patience while waiting for him. 

I read a quote by Joni Eareckson Tada today saying: " The times we find ourselves having to wait on others may be the perfect opportunities to train ourselves to wait on the lord."

I think that summed up how I felt the last few days, I'm waiting for everything to happen and I need to learn to wait for patiently.  While I wait it would be better use of my time to help others and do God's work then constantly planning my future for which he has already planned for me. 

Ashley

Crock pot Cherry Pork Loin

Mmmm.... if you want something to warm your soul this is the perfect meal!! My dad and I like to experiment with recipes! This one we had found and kind of tweaked it here and there and its is still one of our favorites along with anyone who has tried it!

Ingredient:
1 pork loin (plain)
1 bag frozen veggies (your choice; we do a variety bag)
1 can cherry filling(yes, the pie filling cherries)
 1 Tbsp chili powder
 salt and pepper to taste

 Instructions:
 1. Throw all ingredients in the crock pot on high for 6 hours. Shred the meat with two forks and serve however you would like. ENJOY :)

Ashley

Enchanting Beads for Pergola!

This summer after I graduate I am doing and overhaul on my back yard!! We are putting in a Pergola with a hanging daybed! Of course I am adding lights for that twinkle, but I thought how cool to have some beads hanging down.  I looked in the store for some decorative outdoor beads... to expensive for outdoor beads is you ask me!! I am a bargain shopper for the most part and if I can make it I will! So I went the craft store and bought some bracelet wire and beads. So while I'm cooped up inside for winter; I figure why not start on the small odds and ends.. I took the bracelet wire and cut it into different lengths and started adding beads!! Super easy and all about $6, and I still have bracelet wire left.

Ashley

Shredded Taco Lime Chicken

After working all night at the hospital, I'm to tired to cook for dinner!! This took me next to no time to throw in the pot and is a family favorite around here!







Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen)
1 cup Salsa of your choice
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/2 lime juiced
1 cup white rice
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Place frozen chicken, salsa, chicken broth, taco seasoning, salt and pepper, and lime juice into crock pot on high heat.
2. Let chicken cook for 3-4 hours. Take two forks and shred chicken.
3. Add rice and let cook on high for another hour. Serve any which way you like; tacos, enchiladas, salad, etc..

Ashley

Close your eyes, clear your, heart, let it go.....

I think to often in life I try to hold on to things, whether it be people, things or time. I often get this gut wrenching feeling when I think I might never get to see someone again or talk to them. I often worry that I didn't get to explain my side of the story or that someone is mad at me (when its just my own paranoia). I think of all things that will go wrong, this is the worst thing about me. I WORRY. I can't trust and it makes it hard for me to have a relationship of any kind because I worry from the moment it starts I'm going to loose it. My reaction- hold on tighter and fight harder. I never give up. <------ all of this is WRONG. I shouldn't be fearful or live in worry. God has made it clear that he will provide and keep me strong. Which he does, but maybe I wouldn't hold tighter each time if I just learned to let God handle it, like I should have in the first place. This place we call earth isn't our home- it's no where near the place God promises us. GALATIONS 4:7 reads: "God will give you what he promised, because you are his child." My life is promised to me and my life with everything I need is promised to me. I have to learn to TRUST God first- I often find myself doubting him- even though I know that is wrong- I question him "why is this happening, again?" I realized that after all this, how can I seriously trust others; when I cant even trust my God, My creator, My rock. I think back now how stupid I was to doubt his every move. I find it funny I have such a big issue with this because one of my favorite verses that I read almost once a week had the answer- Proverbs 3:5-6 reads: "Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." It's funny I have read that verse a million times and still haven't trusted him with my whole heart. I started last night packing away old pictures that I didn't need of my sons father- things I've held on to. I want to have a healthy relationship with him and I don't think forcing a friendship or making myself upset because it's not going a certain way was helping. I figured out its time to let go, time to let God go through with his plan for me. Time to stop holding on to things that make me worry. There should be no worry or fear. PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR. So before bed last night I closed my eyes, cleared my heart, and let it ALL go. I have been using an amazing APP called "myfittnespal", its awesome- I have not only lost 6lbs in 3 weeks but I'm learning this time what is good for me and what not to eat. It's going to be a working process on the working out thing, but I've found some exercises that last about 15 minutes that I do- which I think will be fine for starting out. I started two weeks ago to 150lbs and i am now down to 144lbs! Have a blessed day, Ashley