tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40315816260288343672024-03-13T07:40:25.007-07:00Ashley's Simple ThingsAshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-18347540473377629242013-04-12T07:23:00.001-07:002013-04-12T07:23:37.838-07:00I'm back! So I am not exactly a blog pro. Forgive me! After we moved into the new house (still jumping up and down 5 months later!), we got hit with many birthdays, Christmas, start of soccer season for my son, lots of company, .. basically LIFE & I went through a little dry spell on house projects. Well, I am in full swing now! For the past month or so, I have actually started AND finished quite a few things so I am back and ready to start sharing! <br />
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So . . if this place looks under construction for a while, bear with me! <br />
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<br />AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-61559689480271503112012-12-29T10:58:00.001-08:002012-12-29T10:58:12.698-08:00We are . . <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally, right? We went under contract on our house in June & it's been a bumpy ride. I haven't been back to post more about it because I was terrified of jinxing myself, and I held my breath for 6 months. On December 7th, we FINALLY closed! We honestly didn't even know when/if we would close until about 48 hours before we did. My husband is usually a really laid back kind of guy. We're basically polar opposites in that sense. I try to be a positive person, but 9 out of 10 times my nerves really get the best of me. (Hey, I'm working on it.) He is the one that remains cool and collected and assures me that everything is going to be just fine. Well .. he stayed positive, but I could definitely tell he was ready to scream too! We are very happy to have the buying process behind us! </span> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqQxL5x1rHk/UN89CrGgd0I/AAAAAAAABFY/w-ZxbYA9tV0/s1600/643891_480236835332795_681947460_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqQxL5x1rHk/UN89CrGgd0I/AAAAAAAABFY/w-ZxbYA9tV0/s400/643891_480236835332795_681947460_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">So I've been wanting to get back to blogging because I have a TON of projects in mind .. and I'd love to share! As of now, my house is pretty much .. a mess. We basically sold off a lot of our old stuff before we moved because we just wanted a fresh start! For these last three weeks I've just been working on refilling our house with the essentials that we had gotten rid of. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">For now, I am leaving you with a picture of the finished product we snapped at our first walk through of the house! </span>More to come! </div>
AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-34501576805913875122012-10-24T10:12:00.001-07:002012-10-24T10:12:22.481-07:00This just happened. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes! I just received that email. I can longer add anymore picture updates because now that our house has fixtures & appliances in it .. it's all locked up! We should be doing an orientation and walk through in the next couple weeks. Can't wait! Almost there. <br />
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In the meantime . . I am keeping very busy. I have been slowly setting aside items for our garage sale. I cannot express to you how excited I am to declutter AND to have more space in the new house. Woohoo! Looking forward to many future updates. :) <br />
AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-40953846205597292432012-10-09T10:12:00.002-07:002012-10-09T10:12:53.470-07:00Updates galore!Where were we?<br />
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Oh yeah, ball full of nerves. That's right. So we are now less than 30 days from completion on the new house! This week begins carpentry trim & painting. So all of our baseboards, doors, & cabinets will be installed. O_O Scary close. <br />
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Last time you saw our 'house' it looked like this. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">& then there was this:</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">& then .. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">& NOW .. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Yep, it's definitely coming along! I don't know if we are supposed to or not, but we did go tip toeing through it and boy, am I ever in love! I am most excited for the extra space. So, continuing to cross my fingers that everything moves along extra smooth. More updates to come soon! </div>
<br />AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-64122623186035930222012-08-13T13:41:00.003-07:002012-08-13T13:44:02.816-07:00House update! Okay, okay. So . . the nervous side of me was thinking I wouldn't share much info until the night before closing, but the loud mouth side of me just wants to share what we have in store for us. I mentioned before that we have begun the home buying process and are under contract. Welp, we are 'building' in a new subdivision! It's fully custom building or anything fancy shmancy, but we got to pick our plan from a selection and we got to choose finishes such as flooring, countertops, cabinet color, wall color, etc etc. So . . I am pretty over the moon! Hopefully I am not jinxing myself. I have a love/hate relationship with Google because I have googled until I could google no more about house buying. I have read umpteen horror stories about loans falling through and this & that. Scary stuff! Ah well, we've already took the plunge . . so time for me to just breathe & let it takes its course. <br />
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Okay . . so this is the plan we chose:<br />
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There was a 4 bedroom in our price range also, but we chose the 3 bedroom for certain reasons that I will share later! I have SO many ideas . . and I want to just rave on about them right now, but it would ruin everything. I can't wait to share and update before & afters!<br />
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In the meantime, I can share the process! The subdivision does a first come, first serve basis on the lot picking. Which was a selling point in itself . . because we just happened to step in right before new lots were up for grabs and got first dibs on a pretty sweet 90x150 lot! Might be small to some, but here in suburbia . . we are overly ecstatic. Our current yard is just half of this and we actually thought it was a big yard.<br />
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Every couple weeks or so we take a little ride over to the subdivision to see if anything new has happened. It started completely empty, then there were property line markings put in place, then there was a permit sign, etc. All little things, but every time we see that anything at all is different were all 'AH LOOK!' O_O. So this was a month ago, we rode by and noticed that some of the lot had been cleared where the house will go! Before I could really express any emotion about it, Josh was out on the lot exploring. <br />
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Please forgive my cell pics! As more starts to develop, I will bringing along my real camera! </div>
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Then this past weekend . . we decided to take another peek at the house after visiting our loan officer and receiving our approval (YEY!). To our surprise . . </div>
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This one really got us going! There's the shape of our home! I am ready to pack my bags and live on that dirt slab. ;) </div>
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This is the framing for the foundation, which according to the builders' website starts the 45 day process! Oh my word. I also snapped this picture: </div>
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Which I know it is hard to tell depth from, but this is the yard. I was standing in the back corner of the future yard, so to the right side .. will be one side yard and equal on the opposite side of the house too. <br />
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I am so pumped, nervous, scared, happy, ecstatic, thankful, overwhelmed, etc etc etc. I am pretty sure the emotions are endless. I have always been the type to keep my guard up until I KNOW that something is set in stone, so I have my days where I am negative and saying . . this isn't going to happen, something is going to go wrong. Then I have my days where I am saying . . this is all lined up and meant to be! All uber excited and ready to sell all of my furniture and jump the gun of packing my bags. I guess the whirlwind of emotions is part of the package. I will share more soon . . because hopefully the ball will continue to roll! I am pretty thrilled to have progress pictures! <br />
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<br />AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-8352039282926521452012-07-31T14:24:00.002-07:002012-07-31T14:24:27.398-07:00Brainstorming on Chloe's new room!It's safe to say .. I am addicted to Pinterest. (Who isn't?) Since we started the house buying process, I have been pinning it up room by room! Ready for lots of new changes! With that, I will be turning my 3 year old's toddler girl room into more of a 'big' girl room. By big, I just mean . . we're swapping the toddler bed for a twin. This room is definitely staying baby girl style for as long as possible. ;) <br />
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Right now, her room is somewhat themeless, but loosely based around Pottery Barn's Penelope theme. It's okay, but meh. I'm ready to get my hands dirty and really put some effort into her new room! I am going oldschool, vintage, shabby chic with it! I decided to sit down and toy with Polyvore for a bit to get a glimpse of my ideas so far. <br />
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& voila!<br />
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That gorgeous bed (that I sort of piled stuff on top of, oops) is from PBTeen. However .. it has an ever so lovely price tag of $700. So, it is just my inspiration. Well, the whole board is just inspiration at the moment . . but you get the idea! Chloe has been consistently asking for a 'flower' room, so I think with all of the roses & such . . this should be a win win. </div>
<br />AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-33576491056690485442012-07-30T10:01:00.000-07:002012-07-30T10:01:08.611-07:00Oh hi!Hello hello . . long time no see! Yes, I know. I abandoned my blog. >.< In my defense, since my last post we have initiated a lot of changes to come for us this year! So I have been pretty consumed by my ever growing to do list. We are currently under contract on a new construction house! Woooooooooooooot. I guess nothing is set in stone until we have keys in our hands, but as of now . . we have a closing date of December 13th. Building starts first week of September! <br />
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I will share more details on that as things progress and move along because right now I am still holding my breath & everything feels a little 'too good to be true'. Trying to keep optimistic though! I think we have earned this. <br />
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With that said, my head has been in such a whirlwind with 'to dos' and 'to don'ts'. Don'ts? Yeah, probably not a word. We are currently renting a 1200 sq foot house. We all have bedrooms sure & the house is fine . . but I'm getting claustrophobic AND more than anything . . I am DYING to decorate. To change things as I please .. and I surely cannot wait to be able to do that without asking anyone (Except maybe the husband, maybe.). So, what I have been doing to keep me occupied, to keep me from shopping, to keep me from putting any money into my current rental, to keep me from going crazy . . etc etc etc , is filling my time with new projects that I will tuck aside and bring to the new house. So, I am blogging right now so that I can get back into the routine of doing so & to start sharing my progress of everything! I just tackled learning how to do some basic sewing and making a bunch of colorful pillow covers! Next on my to do list is to reupholster some awesome Craigslist chairs I scored. Very excited & petrified to do those. Somewhere in the mix of projects, I am also trying to COMPLETELY declutter this house before we move. I refuse to bring anything unnecessary with me. We'll see how that goes. <br />
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& ah, I also need to start picking up my camera occasionally. Poor thing has dust bunnies on it. Instagram has just made it way to easy to use my phone for quick captures and with a 3 and a 4 year old, everything seems to be quickly captured or forever lost, lol. <br />
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That's the scoop for now & I shall return! :)AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-55749555088774637382012-03-19T10:55:00.007-07:002012-03-19T11:31:23.627-07:00Ooooooops.I have once again , disappeared. I was really enjoying the bit of blogging I was doing & I am ready to be back! I haven't done many projects lately because I have been trying to nail down some new routines and such. I am getting back into the swing of my bowmaking (Tell you more about that later!) & Josh has switched positions at work so this new schedule is taking some getting used to. We're going to get there though .. and then once we do I will be that much more excited for what the rest of the year shall bring!<br /><br />In other news . . holy awesome weather. Gah, spring just gets me all giddy and makes me want to be more active. I've been pushing myself to do more yard work & I have to say , it feels 10x better to rest at the end of the night when you know you have worked hard and did some sweating outside. My garden has color again! Feels so good to say that since I basically abandoned it over the winter. :X The grass is fluffy and green and we are also thinking we are going to set our pool back up this coming weekend. Fingers crossed that I can keep it from turning it a swamp this year!<br /><br />What else . . ah yes, Project Life. I haven't ditched it! I refuse to fail at it. I did, however, get behind. . but then I mostly caught up. Now today I have to go in and add some pictures where I had 'marked' them to go & I will basically be ready to do a huge (something like 8 weeks, oops!) update. Since I am basically caught up now, I have been doing something that is helping me stay on top of it.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vW_53HRiElE/T2d2KCpPMzI/AAAAAAAABBY/udoqGprviQ0/s1600/plcalendar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vW_53HRiElE/T2d2KCpPMzI/AAAAAAAABBY/udoqGprviQ0/s320/plcalendar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721671766478107442" border="0" /></a><br />I just found a printable calendar online. I keep it in reach & if something in the day happens that I want to put in PL .. I jot it down. On days when I have a picture to coordinate, I just mark a little star to remind myself to go back and print out for that day. I love this. With this, I know that even if I get tied up for the week and don't pull out my scrapping stuff .. no biggie. It's right there on the calendar & it will still be there when I get the chance to put it into my album. Simple concept, but I really felt like I hit the jackpot when I 'thought' of it, lol! I also got a few new supplies the other night. <br /><br />Some fun papers! Yes, random . . but such is me.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPzICBZQ8uE/T2d5mR0SDOI/AAAAAAAABBk/HpHh_jVmDqI/s1600/newpapers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPzICBZQ8uE/T2d5mR0SDOI/AAAAAAAABBk/HpHh_jVmDqI/s320/newpapers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721675550122183906" border="0" /></a><br />& I have no idea why this image is rotated *sigh* but I also scored some stickers at Michael's on super clearance!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w6m-k1CTi1A/T2d5msz-ZcI/AAAAAAAABBs/4X2rKjuyORg/s1600/kccompanystuffs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w6m-k1CTi1A/T2d5msz-ZcI/AAAAAAAABBs/4X2rKjuyORg/s320/kccompanystuffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721675557368653250" border="0" /></a><br />Last but not least! I have been gathering ideas and doing some planning for my baby girl's 3rd birthday! *head spins* So hard to believe that my little cuddle bug is now telling me 'Mom, not baby! BIG GIRL!' Sometimes I feel myself wishing for the weekend so we can be with my husband, but lately I have been scared by how fast time is flying by and trying to enjoy every little good memory that I can. I am super anxious and eager for us to be near time to house hunt and at the same time, I know it will mean another year in the past. Anyways, back to that party! She has chosen her own theme this year. It's been a few months since she picked it & she still has not budged .. so good thing because I am having a whole lotta fun with it already! Ballerina party! I am taking the vintage/classic baby girl ballerina route. So in love. There is so much to do with it, so much DIY, and just so much cuteness. I can't wait to share it all! I also can't wait for miss Chlo to start ballet this late summer/early fall. Ah, it really is going to be a good year.AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-19044518822336427122012-02-28T17:00:00.002-08:002012-02-28T17:00:40.963-08:00Ohhhh dear.I shall return soon , yes yes! I have a major Project Life update to do here.AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-42462406197667635152012-02-06T12:19:00.000-08:002012-02-06T12:28:06.867-08:00Light bulb!I spent a couple hours last night playing catch up with my Project Life (which I will share .. probably tomorrow!) and then a light bulb went off! I have been neglecting my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Project-Life-Core-Kit-Amber/dp/B005JZ40HU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328560065&sr=8-1">core kit</a> that I originally thought would be the foundation of my layouts. I just don't really love it. It's really 'loud' and I love pieces of it . . but it's too uniform for me to use in every slot. Also, it came with a huge stack of these title/month cards that I have been struggling to figure out how to use. I think using them at the beginning of each weekly layout is just boring. So with the help of my new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewart-Edger-Doily-Lace/dp/B002R6EAU6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328560016&sr=8-1">Martha Stewart lace punch</a> . . I formed an idea!<br /><br />I took a title card & chopped it in half. Then I used my punch and a couple plain grid cards to layer and get two super cute journaling cards!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMGurXBMG_o/TzA3FVP2rpI/AAAAAAAABBA/S-FmzInqadI/s1600/plcorekitexpand1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMGurXBMG_o/TzA3FVP2rpI/AAAAAAAABBA/S-FmzInqadI/s320/plcorekitexpand1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706121292620934802" border="0" /></a><br />That core kit suddenly has a whole lot of potential. Boyyyy do I love that punch! & with a sale and $5 off $5 coupon I scored it for just $5.49 at Michael's! A deal always makes a purchase that much more exciting. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ytp3Vf_ke8/TzA3LuhceII/AAAAAAAABBQ/AqvsYtvUOHE/s1600/plexpand2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ytp3Vf_ke8/TzA3LuhceII/AAAAAAAABBQ/AqvsYtvUOHE/s320/plexpand2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706121402484816002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />:)AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-10542670043271396082012-02-01T09:59:00.000-08:002012-02-01T10:14:48.596-08:00Oh boy. Try not to judge me .. too harshly!Okay, I will post these pics knowing . . I will be judged. Without a doubt , my bedroom is a disaster right now. Just know that I DO clean and it does not always look this way, but clearly my bedroom is lacking organization so that's why it keeps ending back up this way.<br /><br />Also . . I am crafter who lacks a home for her crafts. Changes will be made! Actually as I was resizing these pictures and looking at my room from a different point of view my brain was already forming some ideas and taking notes of areas to organize. So I am pretty excited to take this <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/challenge">challenge</a>!<br /><br />Bare with me because in order to get a full shot of my bedroom I had to switch to my kit lens & it's a rainy day so I know .. the quality of these pictures is awful. *hides in corner* Here are my master bedroom befores!<br /><br /><br />From the entrance . . my bedroom at a full glance. It doesn't look like an episode of Hoarders, but it's coming.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WRTMGTAwJ-I/Tyl_jB_EFHI/AAAAAAAAA_0/LLljbt-Eg_I/s1600/bedroombefore1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WRTMGTAwJ-I/Tyl_jB_EFHI/AAAAAAAAA_0/LLljbt-Eg_I/s320/bedroombefore1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704230642846536818" border="0" /></a><br />Ah . . husbands side of the bed & also my 'office' area which is basically just a jumbled mess.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxRfZNP0gYY/Tyl_jbuZAGI/AAAAAAAAA_8/xUKb08jNiYI/s1600/bedroombefore2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxRfZNP0gYY/Tyl_jbuZAGI/AAAAAAAAA_8/xUKb08jNiYI/s320/bedroombefore2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704230649755926626" border="0" /></a><br />My side of the bed . . & more randoms piled or tossed where the don't belong. *shame face*<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLd-gF1Lp38/Tyl_jtJMeAI/AAAAAAAABAM/iyMERvfw76I/s1600/bedroombefore3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yLd-gF1Lp38/Tyl_jtJMeAI/AAAAAAAABAM/iyMERvfw76I/s320/bedroombefore3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704230654431754242" border="0" /></a><br />Oh , surprise .. a ridiculous nightstand drawer & even the bin is filled with randoms. :/<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pd9441q5WIU/Tyl_k459afI/AAAAAAAABAU/i6ajknRfrSI/s1600/bedroombefore4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pd9441q5WIU/Tyl_k459afI/AAAAAAAABAU/i6ajknRfrSI/s320/bedroombefore4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704230674768947698" border="0" /></a><br />Would ya look at that! MORE CRAP. My husbands two book bags . . one with a laptop (that needs to be sold!) and the other filled with his beloved Magic the Gathering cards, lol. Also . . look at my random ceiling medallion. & my poor TV stand. Ah, I'm cringing at my own mess right now.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUceVm2-SCQ/Tyl_k3WsJcI/AAAAAAAABAg/AuAZMzBlQr8/s1600/bedroombefore5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUceVm2-SCQ/Tyl_k3WsJcI/AAAAAAAABAg/AuAZMzBlQr8/s320/bedroombefore5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704230674352580034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& then .. *cries* a peek into my closet. There's even more mess on the floor . . shoes overflowing out of a basket, a huge mirror thats waiting to be painted & hung in my living room. Boy oh boy.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQ-3RPF_Xmk/TymBBaml1JI/AAAAAAAABA0/rmg-XF5K5Qg/s1600/bedroombefore6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQ-3RPF_Xmk/TymBBaml1JI/AAAAAAAABA0/rmg-XF5K5Qg/s320/bedroombefore6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704232264362480786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Deep breath, Ashley. The point of this is to show myself that this does not have to be this way & to fix it. I can say hands down . . my bedroom is the worst room of the house. (At least that's on my side!) Since I don't have an office or nice crafting basement space . . or even a nook, my poor bedroom seems to collect everything that doesn't really have a home. I'm confident that I can do better than this though. Can't wait to share my progress and to dedicate a month to making this room peaceful!AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-55408604207671973682012-01-31T08:28:00.000-08:002012-01-31T08:36:07.482-08:00I am taking the challenge!<a href="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/OrgChallenge-Teal2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 180px;" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/OrgChallenge-Teal2.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The 29 day organizing challenge, that is. :) <br /><br />Over at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.orgjunkie.com">I'm an Organizing Junkie</a>, Laura is hosting a challenge .. with prizes! The challenge is to pick one room in your house that needs to be tackled. She is breaking it down into 5 posts. Post 1 is the reveal of your before room, the next three posts are progress updates, & then the last post .. the reveal of the after!<br /><br /><br />She says:<br /><h2><span style="color:#ff00ff;"></span></h2><blockquote style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);">Judging Criteria:</span></h2> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Overall Transformation</span> – <em>A well organized, uncluttered, clearly defined and efficient space that lends itself to easy maintenance.</em></p> <p><em> </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Creative Use of Space</span> – <em>Using creative solutions to allow you to maximize your space and create zones in a new and manageable way. </em></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Storage Solutions that Work</span> – <em>Using storage solutions that allow you to establish boundaries and limits and contain “like with like”.</em></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">Overall Personal Experience</span> – <em>The process that got you to the uncluttered space mentally and physically.</em></p></blockquote><p><em></em></p><br /><br />Sounds like a plan to me! I am doing my bedroom. Should be interesting because I am also on a spending diet . . so I won't be running out for lots of cool new storage. & Also because I am including the walk in closet with the challenge. I'm excited and will of course be updating!AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-75905871528697095762012-01-29T13:43:00.000-08:002012-01-29T13:45:36.625-08:00Free printable journaling cards!Yep, another post. I am playing catch up on the last two weeks of my Project Life today. I've been busy pretty some freebies & then I decided to make my own. Just thought I'd share! :)<br /><br />I think I am going to print these in grayscale too!<br /><br />Snag them here:<br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QwtjUDlZ-JKm5TaNISxzvWaYb0hJwNNPrmLUYGWA7AQ/edit?hl=en_US"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 488px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OlJeu9RlgLuGAz4Vnu4MLM0qjnGC3rzqZ4Dyx9ynKboD5fjJwtRBURPZ793fGpy9B7My9Fgh1k5-ld2OG82k4_QXVMpHpQE8phqaXQ0lktmfe3KO5WE" alt="" border="0" /></a>AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-40579099557149717852012-01-29T09:51:00.001-08:002012-01-29T10:42:09.473-08:00Mario Party!My <s>baby</s> big boy is now FOUR. How does that happen!? It was so much fun this year. He is currently infatuated with Mario. So he chose his own theme without any hesitation! Pinterest was my best friend for inspiration. My original plan was to order a couple Mario themed party supplies & then mix and match with my own creativity. However . . that back fired when I did not find any Mario anything anywhere. C'mon now! It's not THATTT oldschool is it!? So I was on my own.<br /><br />I was able to bring in an image for our cake idea & the bakery did a great job on that. :)<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGj_gOTfJnE/TyWO4f2MBTI/AAAAAAAAA-c/YQiq1QN1tT0/s1600/birthdaycake1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tGj_gOTfJnE/TyWO4f2MBTI/AAAAAAAAA-c/YQiq1QN1tT0/s320/birthdaycake1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703121604407199026" border="0" /></a><br />'One up' cupcakes were easy enough. The 'spots' are actually white chocolate that I grabbed from the bakery. & I printed out some little graphics to spruce up the tower.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnL_ohsOPXE/TyWLHxYzeoI/AAAAAAAAA9s/m8-6-2cUoIU/s1600/cupcakes1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 189px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnL_ohsOPXE/TyWLHxYzeoI/AAAAAAAAA9s/m8-6-2cUoIU/s320/cupcakes1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703117468767320706" border="0" /></a><br />I did ghost balloons! Thank you Pinterest. Super simple and so cute.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJ-HC10Y-Cw/TyWO5Jk2x4I/AAAAAAAAA_A/ibeW7TpbkyY/s1600/ghostballoon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJ-HC10Y-Cw/TyWO5Jk2x4I/AAAAAAAAA_A/ibeW7TpbkyY/s320/ghostballoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703121615608792962" border="0" /></a><br />Chocolate mustaches. Grabbed a mold from Michael's for $1.99. Everyone had fun with these!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP_570imJdM/TyWLIcX8kqI/AAAAAAAAA94/_jihINpDdc8/s1600/chocstache.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP_570imJdM/TyWLIcX8kqI/AAAAAAAAA94/_jihINpDdc8/s320/chocstache.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703117480306447010" border="0" /></a><br />Even my grandma. ;)<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6p515FuFao/TyWO4xptOoI/AAAAAAAAA-0/GaXyQLnNdy0/s1600/mawmawstache.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6p515FuFao/TyWO4xptOoI/AAAAAAAAA-0/GaXyQLnNdy0/s320/mawmawstache.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703121609186687618" border="0" /></a><br />I also grabbed some posterboard and made 'Pin the Mustache on Mario!'. He's really a simple character to draw so I did just that.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_n3m5OyO0C0/TyWO4STv5CI/AAAAAAAAA-s/e-DcUZsOyXs/s1600/mariogame.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_n3m5OyO0C0/TyWO4STv5CI/AAAAAAAAA-s/e-DcUZsOyXs/s320/mariogame.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703121600773088290" border="0" /></a><br />A phone picture for these . . because they were scooped up before I could take a 'nice' picture. These mushroom bags were easy peasy!<br /><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404463_333219130034567_100000394470193_1043079_1220830599_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 281px;" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404463_333219130034567_100000394470193_1043079_1220830599_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Big recommendation for those who may have a Mario party in the future. . EBAY. You can get so many very well priced favors & such. I scooped out super cute necklaces & buttons from there for .. next to nothing.<br /><br />I did labels for our drink cups so everyone could write their names & then I took the same labels and added some text in MS Word to say thank you for coming . . and seal the treat bags shut with those. Feel free to use them if you like!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e4kGDRDGqYaCGOHQhDQO6dI-BSHKdJm6sGYx73HXxho/edit?hl=en_US">Mario Labels</a><br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e4kGDRDGqYaCGOHQhDQO6dI-BSHKdJm6sGYx73HXxho/edit?hl=en_US"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 433px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_mPtFpg0HuouGmwMCWpzP13T2YUjXsGJRsL6zNU6tWIpOLr5hDlHsHAJI5lSoji2mL-ueoBctJXtFq5hoGDufKy984xn7GnNNbTCWsSH7Ygv0QzvXdU" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The turn out was great! I felt so frazzled scrambling to get everything done, but I think . . it went very well. & now . . I have a nice 4 month break before the next party. :D<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ighhZF54kpQ/TyWO5ZjT5qI/AAAAAAAAA_M/ApXQo1OPpjw/s1600/iancake1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ighhZF54kpQ/TyWO5ZjT5qI/AAAAAAAAA_M/ApXQo1OPpjw/s320/iancake1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703121619897280162" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lk18QbEEX0E/TyWSA0u4dXI/AAAAAAAAA_o/zOe0T9A8r8I/s1600/joshshirt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lk18QbEEX0E/TyWSA0u4dXI/AAAAAAAAA_o/zOe0T9A8r8I/s320/joshshirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703125045987538290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4NrkZCv81c/TyWSA_5SBLI/AAAAAAAAA_c/tLz1ILm5x1k/s1600/ianhappy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q4NrkZCv81c/TyWSA_5SBLI/AAAAAAAAA_c/tLz1ILm5x1k/s320/ianhappy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703125048983946418" border="0" /></a><br /><3AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-80693418330312528672012-01-29T09:35:00.000-08:002012-01-29T09:45:23.388-08:00Pantry Progress!There I went .. disappearing again. Not intentional, promise. But . . woooooooo my son's 4th birthday has now came and went! (I'll be making a second post to share the details!) With that now behind me I can possibly sit and breathe for a moment. So I am going to back track a little here. Last week I found some awesome plastic white bins at Dollar Tree! They always have a ton of baskets & whatnot there but I rarely find simple white ones. I love these though so I decided to put them to use in my pantry. With that .. came a little reorganizing & I am pretty happy with the progress I am making.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P56a_2eWr6U/TyWFQabsupI/AAAAAAAAA8w/wTpLQW6op84/s1600/pantry4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P56a_2eWr6U/TyWFQabsupI/AAAAAAAAA8w/wTpLQW6op84/s320/pantry4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703111020154501778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These little hang tags are from the $1 section at Michael's Arts & Crafts. Score! Pretty sure I'll be using these again in parts of Chloe's Project Life album. :)<br /><br /><br />So . . eh , it's not a dreamy Pinterest pantry . . yet. The bottom shelf makes me cringe the most. It's pretty mismatched & crammed. It will get there though. Also . . I need to get on to making new labels that all match! *jots on to do list*<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52cgohncnrs/TyWFRIo3vyI/AAAAAAAAA9M/EwijYA0qIl4/s1600/pantry1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52cgohncnrs/TyWFRIo3vyI/AAAAAAAAA9M/EwijYA0qIl4/s320/pantry1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703111032557780770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& here you can see . . we store our garbage can & dog food in the pantry too. We don't put food in the garbage unless the trash is about to be taken out. We use our garbage disposal probably more than we should, lol! :X It would be really nice to one day have one of those cabinets with the track for a can. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a5cBukS5sPk/TyWFRosynbI/AAAAAAAAA9U/iI1z-o_FeVc/s1600/pantry2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a5cBukS5sPk/TyWFRosynbI/AAAAAAAAA9U/iI1z-o_FeVc/s320/pantry2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703111041164156338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& just thought I'd share this. To those of you who drink Crystal Light . . those containers make for great straw storage! <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-taKGd7-vGd0/TyWFQpeuWII/AAAAAAAAA88/xAyvFeHqU-g/s1600/pantry3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-taKGd7-vGd0/TyWFQpeuWII/AAAAAAAAA88/xAyvFeHqU-g/s320/pantry3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703111024193722498" border="0" /></a>AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-26517941130058976902012-01-17T18:03:00.000-08:002012-01-17T18:07:02.375-08:00Ah, color inspiration.So I was playing around on Pinterest browsing for some color inspiration for Ian's Project Life album and I found an invite with pretty colors! So I decided to make a color palette with it in Photoshop & now the results have me wishing I could redo his bedroom. This was just supposed to inspire an album. . not a room! Ohhhh . . I will be happy when he tells me he's ready to trade in his car bed for a new bed. One more reason to push on saving & preparing to buy our first house at the end of the year! New bedroom themes, for sure. :)<br /><br />Just wanted to share my color palette! Cute right? <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a33Ji5ZUV_k/TxYo-os1rZI/AAAAAAAAA8g/vmB_PSAaxUY/s1600/185140234651034556_IMEn8xPN_c%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a33Ji5ZUV_k/TxYo-os1rZI/AAAAAAAAA8g/vmB_PSAaxUY/s320/185140234651034556_IMEn8xPN_c%2Bcopy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698787435026427282" border="0" /></a><br />With splashes of lighter greys also! Time to buckle down. I am going on a spending diet, starting .. now.AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-85654839450071800542012-01-16T08:09:00.001-08:002012-01-16T08:38:59.910-08:00PL Week 2!Ah, I've been a little MIA! This week was pretty basic for me, but I also spent some time getting my son's birthday invitations made up and out . . so I'll share those soon! Other than that, I have completed week 2 of Project Life. I think I love it even more this week so I am thinking it will be one of those things that I grow to love more and more as our album fills. I feel like this week I felt more confident about laying it out. I guess that sounds silly, but that first week I was all 'Where to begin!?' when it's actually really simple just like it claims to be.<br /><br />I really like the way this week turned out. I loveeeee these papers. They were from the scrap kit that I showed last week. So perfect for PL. I love the colors & the weight so much!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBYWIelRgvg/TxRSJ-tL0HI/AAAAAAAAA7w/DYc4a9Rzcso/s1600/week2PL3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBYWIelRgvg/TxRSJ-tL0HI/AAAAAAAAA7w/DYc4a9Rzcso/s320/week2PL3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698269759935336562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0tk_9idB0Q/TxRSKT2sRsI/AAAAAAAAA8I/9Z52SaQDp0U/s1600/week2PL4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0tk_9idB0Q/TxRSKT2sRsI/AAAAAAAAA8I/9Z52SaQDp0U/s320/week2PL4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698269765612357314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This week I did my front & back spread, and I also added in a 6x12 of our Sunday afternoon walk. The layering like this is fun!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNervFB2NtM/TxROYd89zTI/AAAAAAAAA7E/Ky0tbdb0xEw/s1600/week2PL2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNervFB2NtM/TxROYd89zTI/AAAAAAAAA7E/Ky0tbdb0xEw/s320/week2PL2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698265610794683698" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeVpEVHphOM/TxRSKFO3WQI/AAAAAAAAA74/MYDPaV_ud-Q/s1600/week2PL6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeVpEVHphOM/TxRSKFO3WQI/AAAAAAAAA74/MYDPaV_ud-Q/s320/week2PL6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698269761687214338" border="0" /></a><br />I used paper doilies for some added charm.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sfn-Z_QYIg/TxROaIKuuqI/AAAAAAAAA7g/SziMZaKXXyM/s1600/week2PL5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sfn-Z_QYIg/TxROaIKuuqI/AAAAAAAAA7g/SziMZaKXXyM/s320/week2PL5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698265639306574498" border="0" /></a><br />& I really love this part. It's not really special to look at or anything, but I know it will make us smile to look back at it. We finished a season of one of our all time favorite shows together so I screenshot it and I love the way in the bottom corner it says 'Watched Episode '' '' on 1/14/12'. The little things!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ3XEyJKGCY/TxROYbr4PtI/AAAAAAAAA60/l482KBm6IQA/s1600/week2PL1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ3XEyJKGCY/TxROYbr4PtI/AAAAAAAAA60/l482KBm6IQA/s320/week2PL1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698265610186145490" border="0" /></a>& I love that Project Life allows me to easily document the endless funny things my kids say. :)<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGFPhzfiXjw/TxRSLginSgI/AAAAAAAAA8U/5RhlJvk_ycc/s1600/week2PL7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGFPhzfiXjw/TxRSLginSgI/AAAAAAAAA8U/5RhlJvk_ycc/s320/week2PL7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698269786197674498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><3AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-56424529604339033922012-01-10T13:38:00.000-08:002012-01-10T15:12:34.088-08:00PL Week 1 & some new buys!Yey .. first week of the New Year accomplished and I feel like we started off on the right foot. I stayed on track and followed through with completing my title page for Project Life & documenting week one. My plan is to do 1 layout per week (front & back of a page). This worked out well for me .. so I am going to stick with that! I do intend to have little extras from time to time (such as 8x8 collages inserted!).<br /><br />Okay, so on to what I have done so far ..<br /><br />My title page. I am happy with it .. I love the colors, but I did the names & 'Family of Four' on printer paper and it just doesn't look very nice. So I am going to redo those parts onto cardstock and then I think I will be very happy. I used my 'Linen Closet' mat stack for my papers. Love love love that little mat tack with all of my heart.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m9EVskmbKJA/TwyyFqGenrI/AAAAAAAAA4k/CXt3o_9bHXk/s1600/titlepagecollage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 417px; height: 162px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m9EVskmbKJA/TwyyFqGenrI/AAAAAAAAA4k/CXt3o_9bHXk/s320/titlepagecollage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696123438987386546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Please click to enlarge!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">& then here is my week 1 spread! It's pretty basic. I am a scrapbooking virgin so I am slowly building my embellishment stash. & with time I will probably spruce up my pages as I find embellishments that suit my layouts. I use my Amber Core Kit from BH for most of this .. although my 4x6 slots are matted with other papers because the core kit I have doesn't really have any plain 4x6 cards. I really like the look of matted pictures versus making the picture big enough to fit the slot perfectly. So, with that said . . I will obviously be mix matching between my core kit & my own papers. Some weeks I will probably also swap my layouts to be a totally different color scheme and use my own journaling cards too. I would like to see some of my layouts look more uniform & neutral .. and the Amber core kit is pretty loud.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPlcepjm8ec/TwyzYlLwP0I/AAAAAAAAA4w/5pMKCOQ2c1o/s1600/w1p1collage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 426px; height: 194px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPlcepjm8ec/TwyzYlLwP0I/AAAAAAAAA4w/5pMKCOQ2c1o/s320/w1p1collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696124863596478274" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCdDTVo830w/TwyzY5feLEI/AAAAAAAAA48/ExBPx55MaQk/s1600/w1p2collage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 194px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCdDTVo830w/TwyzY5feLEI/AAAAAAAAA48/ExBPx55MaQk/s320/w1p2collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696124869047888962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(again , click to enlarge!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was feeling uneasy about putting my layout together at first .. but as the slots filled I felt much better. I am sure I will continue to develop more of a style & preference as I go. I have to learn to drop some of my habits of trying to make everything completely neat and uniform because that's not Project Life. I have to learn to love PL for what it is .. which is taking my life as it is and putting it in a book. Truth of the matter is .. my life with two toddlers is DEFINITELY NOT straight out of a magazine .. neat & uniform. I love that PL will be a tangible item that I can easily flip through and be forever reminded of all that we have been blessed with.<br /><br /><br />Okay .. so that aside, since like I said .. I am a scrapbooking newb, I also have never really had any scrapbooking storage. This past week . . my many trips to Hobby Lobby have been piling up around my bedroom, breakfast bar & dining table. Not good for my sanity, not good at all. Not to mention, I am pretty sure I lost my corner rounder about 8 times. That should not happen, lol. So another trip to Hobby Lobby today and I scored some 12x12 boxes for half off, woot!<br /><br /></div></div></div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Soe_tMuv5E/Twy1IOpVonI/AAAAAAAAA5I/ri7bASSQm8w/s1600/scrapboxes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Soe_tMuv5E/Twy1IOpVonI/AAAAAAAAA5I/ri7bASSQm8w/s320/scrapboxes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696126781691896434" border="0" /></a><br />For NOW , two is all I need. I have one with papers in it & the other I filled with stickers, my mat stacks, my glue stick (♥), my corner rounder, etc. It felt sooo good to go around my house picking up my piles and sorting them into these cute boxes. I instantly loved my box of goodies.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SW0Qr47Ylnw/Twy6VnTgHnI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/6b3E_HpndXI/s1600/scrapboxes2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SW0Qr47Ylnw/Twy6VnTgHnI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/6b3E_HpndXI/s320/scrapboxes2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696132509207633522" border="0" /></a><br />I also got a precious scrapbook kit today for 40% off at HL (duh). I love it! It came with really cute stickers, some little die cuts, and some really great double sided thick sheets of cardstock. These sheets will be so great for matting pics in PL because I can just make one cut & mat two pictures. I love that '10 things I love about everyday life' thing. So so cute.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5gCRrvykdo/Twy3xhDSSAI/AAAAAAAAA54/Lo2n05QFsTY/s1600/scrapkitcollage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 142px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f5gCRrvykdo/Twy3xhDSSAI/AAAAAAAAA54/Lo2n05QFsTY/s320/scrapkitcollage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696129690030458882" border="0" /></a><br />& then just to share .. these two things are must haves for me. LOVE these little mat stacks oh so much. The size is awesome! One sheet makes one 4x6 card or two 3x4 journaling cards. So easy to cut & round .. and they are a great weight. Love them. I want bunches!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3YBT-ShODE/Twy6mRHW2zI/AAAAAAAAA6c/1MUU16Upo2c/s1600/matstack2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3YBT-ShODE/Twy6mRHW2zI/AAAAAAAAA6c/1MUU16Upo2c/s320/matstack2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696132795308890930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />& also .. must have this glue stick. I just grabbed it the other night. I had no idea there was such a thing as restickable glue. (Told ya, I'm a newb.) It's so awesome! Easily move things around .. no damaging papers or pictures. Just love it.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dvGHwLQZ2wI/Twy6GzIwmHI/AAAAAAAAA6E/i5DfvLNtq68/s1600/restickglue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dvGHwLQZ2wI/Twy6GzIwmHI/AAAAAAAAA6E/i5DfvLNtq68/s320/restickglue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696132254685763698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& that about sums it up! I am hoping to be blogging my layout each week. :)<br /><br /><br />ETA! I forgot to show these {so cute} post its I scored in the $1 section at Target! The one on the right .. will be my PL post its. I can quickly jot things down and stick them in my album to document later. The otherrrrrrrr . . is for my beloved husband. Ha! So excited to put those bad boys to use. See how it gives you the three options at the bottom? I have a feeling I will be checking 'this very second' allllll the time. ;) <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oaw4qr6VSQ4/TwzFz3Vb--I/AAAAAAAAA6o/Aoe5xH_rduc/s1600/DSC_0646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oaw4qr6VSQ4/TwzFz3Vb--I/AAAAAAAAA6o/Aoe5xH_rduc/s320/DSC_0646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696145123534699490" border="0" /></a>AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-73372206357430083372012-01-07T17:55:00.000-08:002012-01-07T18:02:05.065-08:00This will be our year.Ah, I am so thankful for this weekend. With all of the holidays that just passed & the hustle and bustle of things . . this is our first weekend in what feels like along time that it's just the 4 of us with no solid plans. Peaceful. So today .. we did a little bit of running around & we went to the park so I could get some pictures for my Project Life title page. <br /><br />Here's what I got!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyOAdlzs-Us/Twj4W8FLx_I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/nb8F6l_037M/s1600/titlepage2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 403px; height: 135px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyOAdlzs-Us/Twj4W8FLx_I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/nb8F6l_037M/s320/titlepage2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695074801778673650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Please click the image to enlarge!)<br /><br /></div>I keep going back & forth between this sepia shade or just black and white. But I think the sepia wins! I am excited because tomorrow I'll be adding all the little touches to my first week long layout of PL. I can't wait to share! <br /><br />Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Make it last.AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-86267037992274290162012-01-05T10:18:00.001-08:002012-01-05T10:56:44.053-08:00Good ole southern chicken gumbo!I can't say that I have always been Louisiana's biggest fan. I mean, c'mon . . the humidity alone is enough to make you want to flee, but . . we sure do know how to eat! My most favorite foods are southern dishes and when people from other states ask me for new meal ideas, I am almost always naming off things they have never heard of. Gumbo, jambalaya, red beans & rice, poboys. Say whaa ?<br /><br />So today I am going to share <s>my</s> my dad's chicken gumbo recipe! If you're totally unfamiliar with gumbo .. then you are probably going to look at these pictures & think to yourself 'Really? What's there to rave about?' It's simple enough . . but I swear to you it's heaven in a pot. <br /><br />Here's what you need:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXs_io59AWA/TwXqbE434GI/AAAAAAAAA2w/912ROMvB_cM/s1600/gumbo1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXs_io59AWA/TwXqbE434GI/AAAAAAAAA2w/912ROMvB_cM/s320/gumbo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694215054769512546" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4pfDJ2O7x8/TwXqdrhpbDI/AAAAAAAAA3U/U_ewGGKnBi4/s1600/gumbo4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4pfDJ2O7x8/TwXqdrhpbDI/AAAAAAAAA3U/U_ewGGKnBi4/s320/gumbo4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694215099500817458" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUfXsqFLY9c/TwXskboSucI/AAAAAAAAA30/d6a_kW9lEeo/s1600/gumbo6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUfXsqFLY9c/TwXskboSucI/AAAAAAAAA30/d6a_kW9lEeo/s320/gumbo6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694217414516062658" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gb53oEfH6nA/TwXskjbPF2I/AAAAAAAAA38/jmHYEX0gwf8/s1600/gumbo7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gb53oEfH6nA/TwXskjbPF2I/AAAAAAAAA38/jmHYEX0gwf8/s320/gumbo7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694217416608782178" border="0" /></a><br />A whole chicken (You can buy it like mine or you buy a 'whole cut up chicken' , same difference!<br />2 stalks of celery<br />1 onion<br />1 bell pepper<br /><br />Seasonings! (I almost always cook to taste. You can tweak this part however you like, but I use salt, pepper, creole seasonings, parsley, basil & some bay leaf!)<br /> * I'm not really sure if Tony's is sold everywhere, but . . if it's not available in your store then you should go ahead & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tony-Chacheres-Creole-Seasoning/dp/B00161FSZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325788585&sr=8-1">order yourself some</a> because it's pretty great. <br /><br />Smoked sausage (I use turkey, but again . . your choice! & we're not talking breakfast sausage!)<br /><br />1/2 cup of vegetable oil & 1 1/3 cup of flour (this is to make your roux!)<br /><br /><br /><br />So I start my gumbo the night before by making my broth. Basically I take that whole bird & put it in a pot. Next you want to fill it up with water until it's about 2 inches or so over your chicken. (I use a nice tall pot for this & then when I remove the chicken I switch my broth into a smaller pot.) You're going to boil your chicken for about 2 hours. I also toss in my vegetable scraps (ends of the onion & pepper!) for added flavor. Once your chicken is done boiling it should be just falling apart. So you remove all of your chicken & vegetable scraps and put your pot of broth into the fridge to settle overnight. <br /><br />Toss the scraps & your chicken needs to be removed from the bone. This is the part I let Josh do. :X I have a phobia of bones. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1egddGUlFc/TwXqb598xUI/AAAAAAAAA28/8nPgytvgkb4/s1600/gumbo2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1egddGUlFc/TwXqb598xUI/AAAAAAAAA28/8nPgytvgkb4/s320/gumbo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694215069017883970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then you take all of that nice boneless chicken & reserve it in the fridge too. You're done for the night.<br /><br /><br />Fast forward to the next morning . . your pot of broth will now have a pretty gross layer of fat on the top. This is good! This mean you can take a spoon and easily take off the whole type & layer and get rid of it. You don't want a super greasy pot of gumbo. Blech.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci7TdVAiq9o/TwXqc_8z8HI/AAAAAAAAA3I/rztq9-kJpTU/s1600/gumbo3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci7TdVAiq9o/TwXqc_8z8HI/AAAAAAAAA3I/rztq9-kJpTU/s320/gumbo3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694215087803592818" border="0" /></a><br />If you have gotten rid of that white layer, you can go ahead and get this broth heating up on the stove. On to making your roux! This only requires your flour & oil. The WHOLE KEY to making a roux is CONSTANT STIRRING. Literally constant. Put your oil in the pan & get that nice & hot. You will know it's read if you drop a pinch of flour into it and it sizzles. Then, your add your flour . . and get ready to work that arm! You can cut your heat down to a medium & then just stir your heart out until it's a nice rich brown color. JUST REMEMBER TO KEEP STIRRING. Or else , it will surely burn. <br /><br />Should turn out to look something like this. Basically, looks just like Taco Bell meat. :X Gross. But vital! This ugly roux is going to give your gumbo the kick it needs. :)<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XtwQJmVVf0/TwXqeVJ8QeI/AAAAAAAAA3g/3_6F5pqFOIE/s1600/gumbo5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XtwQJmVVf0/TwXqeVJ8QeI/AAAAAAAAA3g/3_6F5pqFOIE/s320/gumbo5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694215110675677666" border="0" /></a><br />& this will go right into your pot. Along with your veggies, seasonings, chopped chicken & chopped sausage! Just dump it all in. You are going to want to stir that roux in for a while . . make sure you press out the clumps and get it mixed in really well. Otherwise clumps will settle to the bottom and you really don't want to eat a mouth full of browned flour. Not good. <br /><br />From here . . you're pretty much done. Cut your heat down to a low and let it cook all day! Serve it over rice & you have yourself some good eating. & remember, I didn't give exact measurements on my seasonings. I'd start with a teaspoon of salt . . a couples dashes of some creole seasonings (you can use a little cayenne or red pepper if you like!), a couple dashes of pepper . .and then just adjust from there.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtVILiZ-2X4/TwXsk3OYKSI/AAAAAAAAA4M/W5y0yGywYxQ/s1600/gumbo8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mtVILiZ-2X4/TwXsk3OYKSI/AAAAAAAAA4M/W5y0yGywYxQ/s320/gumbo8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694217421923559714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or if you're like my dad and I . . the smell will take over, you will lose all self control by 1pm . . cook your rice early & eat dinner 3 times. ;)AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-76143424955256238232012-01-04T10:59:00.000-08:002012-01-04T11:11:09.200-08:00A pick me up!Working my way through my cleaning schedule today . . and making up for where I <s>slacked </s>did nothing at all on Monday. The kids were begging for 'berries' and I was ready for a pick me up. Ice, orange juice, non fat yogurt, strawberries, blueberries & some sliced almonds!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_qi4RywJDo/TwSjJ2GbB1I/AAAAAAAAA1c/SeMFLZHNOHI/s1600/smoothie1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_qi4RywJDo/TwSjJ2GbB1I/AAAAAAAAA1c/SeMFLZHNOHI/s320/smoothie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693855218439751506" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25nT6NDTFvw/TwSjKHaThMI/AAAAAAAAA1k/laHXrLxdxIc/s1600/smoothie2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25nT6NDTFvw/TwSjKHaThMI/AAAAAAAAA1k/laHXrLxdxIc/s320/smoothie2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693855223086548162" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8p7ZY3d2p7E/TwSjKbwOGXI/AAAAAAAAA10/oGi4iXTdZXM/s1600/smoothie3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8p7ZY3d2p7E/TwSjKbwOGXI/AAAAAAAAA10/oGi4iXTdZXM/s320/smoothie3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693855228547176818" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d31tupQP4sA/TwSjLLYIrGI/AAAAAAAAA2A/crpjPFOkv-Y/s1600/smoothie4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d31tupQP4sA/TwSjLLYIrGI/AAAAAAAAA2A/crpjPFOkv-Y/s320/smoothie4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693855241331059810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& later tonight I will be starting my chicken gumbo for tomorrow night's dinner. So . . I think I will have a recipe to share! ;)AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-7226557673877925372012-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:57:42.137-08:00Just because.This baby girl melts my heart. I had to share! She got this little costume for Christmas so we put it to use for a 'photoshoot' today. Happy girl! When I told her she was a Lalaloopsy her face lit up like she had just struck gold. ♥<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJpIMkC3l5Y/TwOGEvJ5NOI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/VzGpyPUJTpY/s1600/DSC_0523_picnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJpIMkC3l5Y/TwOGEvJ5NOI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/VzGpyPUJTpY/s320/DSC_0523_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693541769862001890" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgkxrIqTPCc/TwOGDDvHp7I/AAAAAAAAA0s/oTOb5KG81Yg/s1600/DSC_0530_picnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgkxrIqTPCc/TwOGDDvHp7I/AAAAAAAAA0s/oTOb5KG81Yg/s320/DSC_0530_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693541741027108786" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6ikrMdsrrc/TwOGDSJpwSI/AAAAAAAAA04/0i4QSYLpFC8/s1600/DSC_0526_picnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q6ikrMdsrrc/TwOGDSJpwSI/AAAAAAAAA04/0i4QSYLpFC8/s320/DSC_0526_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693541744896491810" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sANIoYXdHRQ/TwOGEI6q7dI/AAAAAAAAA1E/BmM09wDyORg/s1600/DSC_0517_picnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sANIoYXdHRQ/TwOGEI6q7dI/AAAAAAAAA1E/BmM09wDyORg/s320/DSC_0517_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693541759597604306" border="0" /></a>AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-89372421486306722392012-01-03T12:21:00.000-08:002012-01-03T12:39:37.117-08:00Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!That's what I am trying to do today, but I made a pit stop because I really need a cleaning chart. I have browsed so many, printed a couple, but never found one that really fit my needs. So I hopped on here & attempted to make my own. Turns out .. I did okay. So I would like to share it with you <a href="http://issuu.com/ashleyraine/docs/cleaningchart/1">here</a>!<br /><br /><a href="http://issuu.com/ashleyraine/docs/cleaningchart/1"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 414px;" src="http://image.issuu.com/120103201947-351d2ddabe9c48d09cbb7a8cc8f6d629/jpg/page_1_thumb_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I will be trimming it up, laminating it, whole punching it & putting it into my family binder. I figure I can use a dry erase on it so I don't have to keep reprinting. :) I'm excited to put it to use!AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-49315551539203900662012-01-02T14:26:00.000-08:002012-01-02T19:12:02.668-08:00Hello 2012!Can you believe it!? 2011 was one insanely fast year, but we are very much so welcoming 2012! This is going to a big year for us. Lots of exciting things . . mostly continuing to get my home as organized as possible so that at the end of the year we can buy our first house (eep!) and have a peaceful transition.<br /><br />So with all of that .. I also posted before about how I am starting <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.beckyhiggins.com">Project Life</a>. Super excited for this! I bought three albums thinking I'd do an album for each of the kiddos and then a 2012 album. I had planned to make the first few pages in my 2012 album an introduction to 'us' and sort of summarize how Josh & I began . . and how we got to where we are. However, after I started rummaging through old pictures and memories .. I knew that a whole other album of catching up and showing how are family has grown the 7 years prior to finding Project Life would probably be a better choice. So for now, I am building myself a catch up box with all of the things I want my pre-Project Life album to include.<br /><br /><br />I am doing the box because I want to stay on top of my day -to-day 2012 album . . and this 'pre' album is all past tense so I can't get behind on it. I figured with the box of memories, I can start plugging them into my album when I have time or am all cut up on the 2012 album. I'm tossing memories from the babies in here too since I will be backtracking in their albums. So in here I have pictures, hospital bracelets, ultrasounds, movie tickets .. basically every special memory I can find that happened before now, lol!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opThDzpD4i0/TwIxZXUKKbI/AAAAAAAAAyk/tWrDAsMOnG8/s1600/catchupbox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opThDzpD4i0/TwIxZXUKKbI/AAAAAAAAAyk/tWrDAsMOnG8/s320/catchupbox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693167190774786482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& especially this very special memory. My concert ticket from the day Josh asked me to be his girlfriend . . awwww. I have had all of these little mementos in boxes for so long with no real home and I am so happy to be able to neatly preserve them.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-9wr4PMH3Y/TwIxaocopUI/AAAAAAAAAzY/5uql_QcdKZY/s1600/voodooticket.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-9wr4PMH3Y/TwIxaocopUI/AAAAAAAAAzY/5uql_QcdKZY/s320/voodooticket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693167212553610562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so I put that aside & spent some time today 'building' a core kit to use in each of the baby's albums. I just used my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Project-Life-Core-Kit-Amber/dp/B005JZ40HU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325543849&sr=8-1">Becky Higgins core kit </a>as a template for size and picked my own scrapbook papers and cardstock to cut from. I've only just begun, but after some time .. I have a good start to get going on their albums.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ryrCaiuSzRU/TwIxZrrLEmI/AAAAAAAAAyw/BsZ1YIAmvj8/s1600/babycorekits.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ryrCaiuSzRU/TwIxZrrLEmI/AAAAAAAAAyw/BsZ1YIAmvj8/s320/babycorekits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693167196240024162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I even hopped on Excel and gave making my own journaling cards a whirl. I am actually pretty pleased! These (obviously) are for Chlo's album. & you can feel free to snag them <a href="http://ashleyssimplethings.blogspot.com/p/free-printables.html">here</a>! For whatever reason, my dimensions on Excel were just a little off. *shrugs* But basically, if you are using them in the 3x4 slots with Becky Higgins page protectors . . the sides of each card will need to be trimmed up from your printable. Here's mine after I neatened them up to fit! *pats self on back*<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tOUHEsZoR4/TwIxaJcRFcI/AAAAAAAAAzI/05AufK6--N8/s1600/printablecards.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tOUHEsZoR4/TwIxaJcRFcI/AAAAAAAAAzI/05AufK6--N8/s320/printablecards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693167204230567362" border="0" /></a>ETA: I made Ian's album some journaling cards too . . which you can also find <a href="http://ashleyssimplethings.blogspot.com/p/free-printables.html">here</a>! (Forgive my lack of natural light!)<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFidxIYF3LQ/TwJHIAbGNbI/AAAAAAAAAzg/BX3d7KR3U6E/s1600/boysjournalcards.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFidxIYF3LQ/TwJHIAbGNbI/AAAAAAAAAzg/BX3d7KR3U6E/s320/boysjournalcards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693191081827906994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />& just because .. how cute are these little die cuts I scored on mega clearance at HL! I can't wait to start sharing my layouts. :)<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xAZ8oZQK4U/TwIxZwH-vHI/AAAAAAAAAy8/UyYzxCQPTtQ/s1600/diecuts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xAZ8oZQK4U/TwIxZwH-vHI/AAAAAAAAAy8/UyYzxCQPTtQ/s320/diecuts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693167197434592370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="status action"><b></b></span>AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4031581626028834367.post-55850327279849212092011-12-29T11:08:00.001-08:002011-12-29T11:22:47.032-08:00Homemade Granola ♥I love me some Pinterest! I found a granola recipe there & then tweaked it a bit. It's a hit! Kids love it .. and I am happy to be getting some good things like nuts into their bellies, anyway I can.<br /><br />So I adapted my recipe from <a href="http://ivoryhut.com/2010/05/classic-granola-off-to-a-good-start/">here</a> & then I did this with it :<br /><br /><br />What you need:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1nc-nBHp4Ew/Tvy8mVvzUYI/AAAAAAAAAxc/6tHLT-WSdeo/s1600/granola1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1nc-nBHp4Ew/Tvy8mVvzUYI/AAAAAAAAAxc/6tHLT-WSdeo/s320/granola1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691631395948155266" border="0" /></a><br />2 cups old-fashioned oats<br />1/2 cup wheat germ<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1/3 cup chopped walnuts<br />1/3 cup of sliced almonds<br />1/3 cup coconut flakes (okay, so I did a pinch more! i loveee me some coconut.)<br />1/3 cup dried cranberries<br />1/4 cup of raisins<br />3 tablespoons <s>molasses</s> light pancake syrup<br />3 tablespoons honey<br />3 tablespoons <s>canola oil</s> extra virgin olive oil<br />2 tablespoons warm water<br />1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />1 tablespoon of brown sugar<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Preheat oven @ 275. </span><br /><br />Like she did, I mixed all of my dry ingredients (minus the cinnamon!) into a big bowl.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCF0hsEB1A0/Tvy8msZlHQI/AAAAAAAAAxo/NPkRf5sVs3w/s1600/granola3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCF0hsEB1A0/Tvy8msZlHQI/AAAAAAAAAxo/NPkRf5sVs3w/s320/granola3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691631402028965122" border="0" /></a><br />Next I combined my water, syrup, honey, oil, brown sugar, AND cinnamon into a small saucepan & brought to a simmer. Once simmering, remove from the heat & pour right into your bow. Stir it all up!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lAjeUL6Zylk/Tvy8mwW9ymI/AAAAAAAAAx0/K18JMfvVS2M/s1600/granola4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lAjeUL6Zylk/Tvy8mwW9ymI/AAAAAAAAAx0/K18JMfvVS2M/s320/granola4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691631403091741282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I took my glass baking dish & coated with some non stick cooking spray and then I spread out my granola until it was about a 1/2 inch thick or so. You can clump it together more of you like, if you are wanting little bunches of oats. I was okay with my oats being looser because I am primarily using my granola to sprinkle over yogurt and such. THEN . . I spread my cranberries & raisins on top and patted them in. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojrz7YjJdHU/Tvy8nPzschI/AAAAAAAAAx8/rVdTWjy1yJM/s1600/granola5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojrz7YjJdHU/Tvy8nPzschI/AAAAAAAAAx8/rVdTWjy1yJM/s320/granola5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691631411533738514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From there, I popped it in the oven for about 45 minutes. I stirred and flipped my granola around about every 15 minutes to keep it from browning too much in one area. <br /><br />& voila! I let it cool and tossed it in a ziploc. <br /><br />Yummy right?<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3ahGs_PN1I/Tvy8nagkYfI/AAAAAAAAAyM/-_xlVGaWFoA/s1600/granola6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3ahGs_PN1I/Tvy8nagkYfI/AAAAAAAAAyM/-_xlVGaWFoA/s320/granola6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691631414406308338" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRjmIqbTEGU/Tvy90-DN6bI/AAAAAAAAAyY/8PcapTFOoHY/s1600/granola7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRjmIqbTEGU/Tvy90-DN6bI/AAAAAAAAAyY/8PcapTFOoHY/s320/granola7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691632746796804530" border="0" /></a>AshleyRainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00239879931951795238noreply@blogger.com0