Sunday Smile

I'm sure these aren't new to everyone, but they made me smile.

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Saturday Morning Scene

Good morning all and happy weekend!

My sweet (and silly) boy and I are up and at it early today.

We are heading to visit my parents for the night.

Yay to a weekend full of family fun.

What are your plans for today?

Linking up with Katie at Loves of Life for Saturday Morning Scene.

A Side of Love

I love to cook, but sometimes I find it difficult to come up with a different side dish.  Something other than the everyday potatoes or rice and plain old veggies.  I have searched high and low and am pleased to report that I have come across some delicious recipes.

 Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce (All Recipes)

Ingredients
1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed
cooking spray
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper.
Bake asparagus 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until tender.
While cooking asparagus, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until browned.
Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar.
Pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Mozzarella (FabulousFoods.com)

Ingredients
1 spaghetti squash, cooked by your favorite method and separated into strands
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup pesto
4 ounces smoked or plain mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, add spaghetti squash.
Using a couple of forks to lift, mix in pesto.
Cook just long enough to heat through, mix in cheeses, heat until everything is well mixed and cheese is beginning to melt.
Serve immediately.

Baked Squash Casserole (Kraft)

 

Ingredients

3 cups chopped butternut squash

1 onion, chopped

2/3 cup Cheddar Shredded Cheese

15 Ritz Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)

1 egg, beaten

2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip Dressing (yuck!)

2 Tbsp. Mayo

Directions

HEAT oven to 350°F.
COOK squash in boiling water in covered saucepan 15 min. or until tender. Rinse under cold water; drain.
MIX squash and remaining ingredients; spoon into 8-inch square baking dish.
BAKE 1 hour or until heated through.

Butternut Squash Fries (Weight Watchers)

Ingredients

3 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray    
1 pound(s) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, long “neck” cut into sixteen 3/4-inch-thick sticks*    
1 tsp table salt, or to taste    
1/2 tsp chili powder, or to taste (optional)    

Directions

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Arrange squash fries on prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and chili powder; liberally coat with cooking spray.
Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 14 to 18 minutes. Yields 4 fries per serving.

These are just a few of my go to recipes to change it up a bit and keep supper interesting.  Of course, substitutions can be made to make them healthier and still keep the same great taste!

Do you have any great side-dish recipes to share?

Addiction

In my most recent blogging absence I have been busy with some new addictions.  Whenever people mention something on their blogs, I feel the need to try it out almost immediately.  From DIY projects to makeup to recipes and everything in between, I have been making a list of goodies I want to try.

The latest...meet Lindsey.  This girl introduced me (and I'm sure many, many others) to e.l.f. products and after reading several comments, reviews and her all out love for these products, I had to try them.  Funny enough, I was waiting in line to pay for something one day and there in front of me at the cash was a rack FULL of e.l.f. products.  I of course added them to my order and almost ran home to see what the fuss was all about. 

I have to say that I am seriously obsessed with the e.l.f. eye shadows.  They actually stay on all day long just like MAC products do for a FRACTION of the price.

I also tried the mascara which although I do like, although so far I haven't been able to find a mascara that I LOVE (open to suggestions).

Loving this eye shadow brush and the eyeliner.  Both products are great and the eyeliner lasts all day!

My e.l.f. addiction is just one of many (thanks Lindsay!) and thankfully it's affordable too.  Head on over to their website and take a look around, they are offering free shipping on orders over $25.00 right now.

What are you currently obsessed with?

Have blogger friends introduced you to anything new?

All of the opinions in this post are mine, I did not receive any compensation.

ABCs of ME!

I'm jumping on the bandwagon with Lena and Jen...

A. Age: 28

B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate:  scrubbing the floors, ugh!

D. Dogs: None

E. Essential start to your day: shower and kisses from my sweet little guy
F. Favorite color: gray
G. Gold or Silver: Gold - white or yellow
H. Height: 5’7ish
I. Instruments you play: nothing, I used to take piano lessons when I was younger, but I don't think I'd remember a thing

J. Job title: Group and Marketing Assistant
K. Kids: Cole 3.5 and a sweet angel Lauryn
L. Live: Ontario, Canada
M. Mother’s name: Laurel
N. Nicknames: Ash, AJ, Flash
O. Overnight hospital stays: 5 nights when I had Cole
P. Pet peeves: rude people, when people clip their nails in public, dirty, long finger/toe nails (vomit!), slow drivers, long and drawn out talkers...I could go on.
Q. Quote from a movie: not from a movie, but a TV show...

I'm still mad at you. And I don't know if I trust you. I wanna trust you but I don't know if I do, so I'm just gonna try. I'm gonna try and trust you because I believe that we can be extraordinary together rather than ordinary apart.

R. Right or left handed: Righty

S. Siblings: 2 older sisters and 1 older brother
U. Underwear: I'm a bikini girl just so y'all know!
V. Vegetable you hate: Mushrooms
W. What makes you run late:  just me...I could say Cole but I was never on time before I had him!
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, ankle, chest

Y. Yummy food that you make: homemade burgers and butternut squash fries
Z. Zoo animal: giraffes and baby monkeys

 

Join in the fun, everyone loves a little random information.

Big Boy School

My little boy is all grown up!  Last Tuesday, September 6th, Cole went to his first day at his new school.  It's so crazy to think that my little guy is actually going to school, even though he has been in day care 4 days a week for the past 2.5 years.   He used to go to the town daycare and it was very much like a school in the structure aspect, so realistically this change shouldn't be too difficult.  It wasn't difficult for Cole in the least.  He was excited to go to the big brown school (as he calls it) and meet his teachers and play with all the new toys and since his first day he hasn't had any complaints at all.

Of course Cole did well, but as for me...I may have shed a few tears.  I think I hid them well so thankfully it didn't upset Cole, but I couldn't help myself.  It felt like leaving him all over again at his first day of daycare so long ago.  If only I could keep him at home with me forever, I'd be one happy momma.

As mentioned above, Cole loves school, therefore, I can't complain.  My only concerns now are what he manages to eat out of his lunch (not a whole lot due to being too busy chatting...must get that from his father) and if he is playing well with others and making friends.  Every night when I ask him about what he did that day he says nothing, and then I ask him who he played with and he says no one.  I know for a fact that he is making friends and having fun, but of course I can't help but worrying about him.  I'm assuming this is normal, but it just breaks my heart thinking of him keeping to himself all day long, although I can't see that being the case as he is a very outgoing and chatty boy.

How was your little one's first day of school?

How do you get your child to share his or her stories of the day?

Bracelet Swag Swap

Warning...this post is a tad bit delayed...

After returning home from our summer vacation, I was sooooooooooo happy to see a package with my name on it from Michelle at Living a Life of Love.  I had been looking forward to receiving my bracelet from her and she did not disappoint one bit!  Michelle is one of the sweetest bloggers I have come across yet.  You can tell by her posts that she is a great person, so thoughtful, nice and genuine.  She has also recently started her own business, so head on over and show Michelle some love.

{card from Michelle - with an adorable cupcake on the back}

{adorable}

{my bracelet - adorable pink wooden beads with some fun fabric, love it!}

{sporting my new love}

Thanks so much for letting me partake in your bracelet blog swap Michelle (even though it was open to US residents only...hehehe).  I love my new bracelet, you nailed my style perfectly and I have gotten many compliments on it so far!

xo

Summer Vacation

Hope everyone is loving the crazy heat wave that we are experiencing (I am for sure!)

We are officially on vacation and I am loving every second of it.

We are heading to a cottage tomorrow for a week and then we will be spending the entire August long weekend (Civic holiday) with my family away at a camp.  So far the weather is looking fantastic (knock on wood) and nothing makes me happier than my family, sunshine and time away from the every day routine.

I'll be back in August, hopefully with loads of pictures, fun stories and more to blog about.

Until then, enjoy the sunshine!

The Things He Says...

Last night at supper we had little potatoes.  Cole fought tooth and nail about not wanting to eat them and I finally convinced him to try one.  He popped it in his mouth and after chewing and swallowing it, I heard something that just about made me choke on my own food.

At the table, in front of myself and my in laws, Cole said...

"Oh Jesus that's hot."

I wasn't sure how to respond, thankfully my father-in-law said "oh no buddy, we say gee-whiz that's hot".

Cole said gee-whiz once and then decided he liked Oh Jesus better.

I tried "my goodness that's hot", again, no luck.

Thankfully his mind wandered on to something else shortly after.  My mother-in-law and I started wondering where he could have picked that up.  I say a lot of things that shouldn't be repeated by my 3 year old, but that isn't one of those things. 

Ryan came home from work shortly after and put our wonder at ease...apparently he has been known to say this...lovely.

FYI, the potatoes weren't hot in the least.

Please don't comment on how taking the Lord's name in vain is terrible, this is not a common occurrence in our house.

Facing The Truth

I'm 28 years old young and I am having some skin issues.  Growing up breakouts were few and far between.  Don't get me wrong, I definitely had pimples on picture day or when there would be a dance, but for the most part my skin was pretty good. 

Besides being sick as a dog when I was pregnant with Cole, the only other negative part of pregnancy was the acne.  My face and back were covered and it was beyond frustrating, but I assumed it wouldn't last.

The morning sickness passed, I've shed majority of the weight and I've come to terms with the fact that my hips will never go back to 'normal', but the acne is lingering.  While it's not horrible, it's frequent and always in the same spot...my chin.

I eat fairly healthy and drink a lot of water (3-4 litres a day).

I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub and Clean & Clear Foaming Cleanser (I know...lame)

 

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Since the interwebz is sooooooooo amazing and chalked full of smart ladies like yourselves, I am turning to you for advice.

Do you have any face products that you would recommend?  I'm talking morning to night...cleansers, scrubs, lotions, etc.  Anything that will help with the breakouts, blackheads (ewwww, I know) and my aging skin.

Wow...I feel old and pathetic.

Advice needed and while you are at it, please send help.

Oh Chelsea...

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I just finished reading Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me, a book full of stories written by those who are closest to Chelsea.

This book was H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S. plain and simple, it did not disappoint.  I honestly laughed out loud several times and I was wishing it wouldn't end.  It made me want to be friends with Chelsea Handler and be one of the poor buggers that she is constantly tormenting.  Her endless shenanigans range from lies to tricks to peeing on someone, yet these people are still friends with her.

 I definitely recommend reading this book for a good laugh, it is beyond entertaining.

Dreaming of Dresses

I have a trip to New York with my sister-in-law booked for fall and although these dresses are a little too 'summerish', I can't help but want to add them all to my wardrobe for our trip.

Silk-Blend Button Front Dress

Floral and Scroll Print Dress

One-Should Rose Ruffle Dress

Classic Woven Dress

Paisley Summer Dress

Tropical Surplice Dress

Delicate Florals Dress

Tropical Tube Dress

{all dresses from Forever 21}

A girl can dream right?!

Conversation with Cole

This morning as I buckled Cole up in to his car seat we had the following conversation...

Cole "Mommy when will you have a baby in your belly"

Me "I don't know, why Cole?"

Cole "I'd like a baby sister...or a puppy"

after a few seconds...

Cole "Mommy, you could go to the store and get a baby, put it in your mouth so it will go to your belly and then you'd have a baby in your belly, right?!"

I ♥ this kid!!

What We've Been Up To...

Is it just me or is summer flying by at warp speed?

It's already mid-July which means that we are smack dab in the middle of summer and that is clear seeing as every weekend is jam packed with things to do, places to go and people to see.  We have 2 more free weekends between now and September and I'm hoping they stay that way.

Already this summer we have:

played in a ball tournament and golf tournament

 gone fishing

 

played ball

  had some amazing times with friends

celebrated Canada Day

as well as:

gone to a stag for a wedding we will be going to in August

spent a weekend at the lake

watched soap box derby races

and had so much fun with all of the family and friends

There is still so much more to come, including:

a weeks vacation that is fast approaching (with loads of relaxation time at the lake)

a family weekend away with my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews

3 caterings (my Dad and I cater together)

4 birthdays

1 wedding

1 concert (Capital Hoedown with Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Billy Currington...yes please!)

and all the fun that pops up in between

What have you been up to?

Anything exciting coming up?

Target Tuesday

It's Tuesday and Tara is hosting

 I am in serious need of new shorts, skirts and fun summery dresses and here are a few that caught my eye... 

Merona Bermuda Short Fit

 Mossimo Women's Drapy Pleated Shorts

Converse One Star Women's Isla Shorts

Vintage Inspired Chiffon Strapless Dress

Mossimo Strapless Dress with Pockets

What are you loving from Target?  Head on over to Tara's and join the fun!

In My Head - Country Edition

Here are a few songs that I can't get enough of lately...

Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show

Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean

Good Directions - Billy Currington

Pinterest

I did it...I caved and joined Pinterest...I can be found here.

Send some love and inspiration my way ladies. :)

I...

I saw this over at Brunch with Amber and thought it was a great post, especially following the long weekend.

I am...Ashley, a fun-loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

I want...to win the lottery

I have...so many wonderful things to be thankful for, especially the amazing people in my life

I wish...for a cure for cancer

I hate...olives and bloggers spacing issues

I fear...snakes (especially Raven's snakes...shudder/vomit)

I hear...the t.v. downstairs

I search...Google ALL THE TIME!

I wonder...how people manage to do it all

I regret...being a mean girl in high school

I love...my life

I never...exercise anymore

I ache...from my horrible sunburn

I sign...terribly

I dance...like I sing

I lose...lip gloss like it's nobodys businessI need...nothing more than I haveI always...procrastinate

I am confused...often

I am not always...happy

I cry...when I am really angry or nervous

I sometimes...reminisce about the old days and all the crazy things I used to do

I am not...creative

I usually...stalk blogs more than I post

I should...get more sleep, blog more often, lose weight, exercise, spend more time with the people I care about, read more, laugh more often, kiss more, play cars just a little longer, love harder

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I am so proud to be Canadian and what better day to celebrate than Canada's birthday.

Today we are off to spend the day celebrating with friends, family, food, sunshine, a parade and fireworks.  What a wonderful way to celebrate such a special day.

I hope everyone has a great long weekend!



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