Friday, May 31, 2013

Friday's Letters


Dreaming of this place today.. Honeymoon post(s) coming soon!


Dear June, I can't believe that you are about to be here.. the year is flying by way too fast!... Dear baby chickens, you are getting on my last nerve. Stop filling your fresh water up with shavings every time I refill for you. Oh, and by the way, Operation build-a-chicken-coup, is under way this weekend. Get ready for your new home.. Dear Sunday Sleep, you were UH-MAZING, all 15 hours of you. See you again this weekend?.. Dear Beach, I hear you calling my name and I hope to see your beautiful, heavenly self soon. Dear Front Room, get ready because I have taken off two days next week to get you all nice and organized. Sick and tired of seeing you all disheveled.. Dear Amber, I am soooo sorry and feel so bad for you fracturing your wrist and having to get a cast. Girls spend the night party next week and we are gonna bedazzle that hot pink cast!.. Dear TE Baseball Season, you have started off being so kind to me as far as my husband being home. Thank you.





Thursday, May 30, 2013

Hot Fudge Sundae Cupcakes


Yes.. that is what I said..

HOT. FUDGE. SUNDAE. CUPCAKES.

A couple years ago, my SIL and MIL got me the Better Homes and Gardens cupcakes magazine. There are 150 sweet, slap-your-grandmama, recipes and this is one that I have tried several times.
Every time, they have been wonderful, and the last batch I made, Coach said they were probably the best cupcakes I have ever made. 

I must admit, too, they are SO GOOD I couldn't keep this to myself.. I had to share. 

ENJOY!



ingredients
  • 12-layer-size package chocolate cake mix
  • 112 ounce jar hot fudge ice cream topping
  • 1 - 216 ounce can creamy white frosting
  • 1/2cup  semisweet chocolate pieces*
  • 1teaspoon  shortening*
  • Chopped nuts
  • 110 ounce jar maraschino cherries with stems, well drained

directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line twenty-four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. Prepare cake batter according to package directions.
2.Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out batter in cups. Place a scant tablespoon room temperature ice cream topping on the top center of each cupcake.
3.Bake for 16 to 20 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks.
4.Spread some of the frosting over each cupcake. Place the remaining frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
5.In a small saucepan melt the chocolate pieces and shortening over low heat; cool slightly. Spoon melted chocolate into a small heavy resealable plastic bag. Seal bag; snip off a small piece from one corner. Drizzle chocolate on top of frosted cupcakes.
6.Sprinkle cupcakes with nuts. Pipe the remaining frosting on top of cupcakes. Place a cherry on top of each cupcake. Makes 24 (2-1/2-inch) cupcakes.

*Test Kitchen Tip:
  • If desired, use Smucker's Magic Shell instead of melting the semisweet chocolate pieces and shortening.



Let me add that I have tried to make them with Fage yogurt. You can substitute eggs and oil for the greek yogurt plus one cup of water. 
(I have tried this with other cupcakes and they come out of the oven great!)
However, I don't recommend it with these. The cake batter is such a whipped consistency that the hot fudge topping won't settle into the batter. Instead, it remains on top and as it cooks it overflows onto the muffin pan.. needless to say the cupcakes don't rise either as they should.

Huge. Mess.

I would say that they are NOT made to be healthy in any way.. 
I mean how could you ever make a hot fudge sundae healthy?
So with that being said you should probably just enjoy them as the recipe calls for!

Let me know how yours turn out!



Wednesday, May 29, 2013

WILW

Happy Wednesday All!

It is another gorgeous day here in Georgia. I was able to sleep late this morning and hang around the house for a bit before getting my day started. I absolutely love these days. The only thing that would make it better would be if Coach were here. 


I am loving my Moroccan Oil products..



I am loving I got to see Coach's team play on Monday...


I am loving my new mani...


I am loving my new read.. It's getting good!...


I am loving this sunset I took last week...


I am loving these Pinterest finds...




I want this whole outfit.. and the legs!









5 Favorite Songs


Day 29: 
Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post


I have so many favorites so I'm just going to try and narrow them down the best of my ability.


It Is You
Newsboys



Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve





Home
Phillip Phillips





I'll Fly Away
Jars of Clay





Makin' Plans
Miranda Lambert






There are so many more that I could put on here but I'll stop with these.






Friday, May 17, 2013

A Favorite Photo..

Day 17: A favorite photo of yourself and why




If you have been following along you may have already seen this photo here and in case you don't know, let me just tell you that the place where white sands, the water, blue skies, and the sun meet, is my FAVORITE place ever. 

This photo was taken at Cape San Blas, Florida in 2009. 
It was me and my Mom's first trip just us and we were excited to be staying at her boss's condo. 
This place was amazing. We are the beach people who get up as early as we can, head down with our lunch in a cooler, read.. nap.. read some more.. eat lunch.. look for seashells.. nap again.. read.. read.. well you get the picture.. and go in after we stay out as late as we can. 

If you have never been to Cape San Blas, let me just explain a little bit about it. There really is nothing there to do.. but lay on the beach or fish. The only people there seemed to be families and not very many were there. 
We felt like we had the whole beach to ourselves. 
There was one family to our left and one to our right. The family on our left, if you faced the ocean, just to give you the best mental picture possible, was hardly out because they had a baby and a toddler and were constantly in and out. 
You can tell from the background in the photo and just how far away they were from us, too. 
Talk about peace and relaxation. 

Now, to the reason for this post.

A couple of months prior to this vacation I left my ex of almost 5 years. 
While at the time, it seemed to be such a hard decision, I knew that it was for the best. I could not continue on the horrific roller-coaster-relationship ride that we were on. I look back at moments where I know I should have turned and ran, but for whatever reason(s), I didn't. I guess there were lessons that needed to be learned and I can honestly say that I walked away learning many things. For a long time I used to really beat myself up about all the 'wasted' time spent with him, but in the end, I learned and I grew and I feel I became a better person from it. 

The picture above represents a huge weight lifted.. 
a sense of freedom.. 
a fresh start.. 
the beginning of a new chapter in my life.  

And let me just tell you, I am BEYOND BLESSED where I am today and wouldn't be here in another new chapter, if I had not made the decision that enough was enough, four years ago. 
Praise the Lord too for having His hand over me and for Him having control of our steps in life!

At this moment in 2009, people were pouring their love, support, and positive vibes all over me. 
The parts of me that were completely broken were starting to mend. 
My confidence was beginning to build back up. 

I was starting to feel joy again and I was actually smiling.
I will not say that I was back to my "old" self.. 
I was moving forward and I was becoming a new me.





Wednesday, May 15, 2013

A Day In the Life

of AshLee.. 

Besides waking up to my beloved coffee or Spark..
talking to my Heavenly Father..
taking care of our Pups..
being with Coach..
spending time with my family and friends..

You will find me behind the chair.. 

A place where I feel joy..  a place where people leave feeling special.. 

A place where I am 
creating.. designing.. being an artist..
























WILW..

Happy Happy Wednesday All!

It's a gorgeous 88* day here in the Peach State and I am loving it!! 
YAY FOR THE SUNSHINE!


I am loving the expression on my Brother's face when he received his class ring..


I am loving my nails by Yours Truly..


I am loving our baby chicks I picked up last night!!


I am loving this bible verse...


I am loving this BTC quote my Mom tagged on my facebook...







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