"M.o.M" Assignment #1 (and a freebie!)

If you want to follow with "A Month of Martha", here's your assignment.

Come up with one week of meals for your family. Get the recipes, shopping list, everything for every meal (plus snacks) for one week. Just plan, don't buy yet! Ultimately, before the whole month starts, I want to have all my meals lined up, just to make it easy. Now it's not that I'm going to for sure have that meal on that day, but it gives you options and you have everything lined up for one week. Another money saving bonus, this list will help you scour the net and newspapers for coupons. It's all at your fingertips. Don't you feel the power?

Here's a freebie!! Jen Allyson from The Project Girl is a graphic desinger who has made a PDF (Printable) Weekly Meal planner. You can download my favorite version here. There is another option, but this planner makes me want to use it!

Don't forget to leave a comment on Project Girl to thank Jen Allyson for the awesome download!

Now, where do I find recipes? Follow this link to Sandra's Money Saving Meals! The hubs loves most of her recipes, plus the show title says it all. Sandra Lee does the dirty work for you. She'll tell you if it's cheaper to make from scratch or get store bought. Sandra's prepped the shopping list, recipes and even tells you what to do with your leftovers! On the website, the leftovers are used for "Round 2 Recipes." I have tried several recipes and cannot wait to get going on more. I'm in love with Sandra Lee.

Because Sandra has taken care of dinner and most lunches from her Round 2 menus, it should be a breeze to whip up something for breakfast and snacks. Amazing! Think simple. I need to go through my recipe books and find my slow cooker breakfasts. For my family, we don't really eat a ton for breakfast, so I'm only going to plan on cooking "real" breakfasts on the weekend, or days I know hubs will be here in the morning.

If we fail to plan we are planning to fail!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Amazingly Dark and Beautiful

Is anyone else obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance?! This was the first time in ALL the seasons that I actually picked up the phone and called in. It was that amazing!

You have to watch the show! Once it's over, I feel like I'm a dancer, always. This is coming from a chica that can barely run. I am so uncoordinated. I can barely chew gum and walk at the same time. I have to concentrate. I digress, sorry.

Watch the clip above and tell me you didn't get goosebumps. I am a GIANT Mia Michaels fan, but holy Sonya Tayeh is rockin' it this season! I can't wait to see more from both ladies and especially the dancers. Go Kayla (a Colorado girl, yay!!) and Kupono (I have a dancer crush on him)!!

P.S. If you want to see the whole bigger version of the video (sorry my blog cut part of the side off), you can right click the video and then click Watch on YouTube.

Ashley-ism No. 1

"Life is not like a coloring book. If we were meant to stay in the lines, everything would be outlined."

I feel I'm genius.

Rediscovery of Past Me

"Do you ever go back in time to think about those little girl dreams of what life would be like when you grew up?" asks Melissa from The Inspired Room. {Click on the title of this post to see the blog entry Melissa did, which inspired my whole "Month of Martha."}

Why, yes I do!! When I was growing up, I was the typical little girl with barbies and babies, I even had a Sesame Street kitchen. (So stereotypical.) I spent hours organizing my house, telling my babies what to do, always playing mom. At the age of 5, I knew that I wanted to be a mommy and couldn't wait until I had my own house and baby and daddy (the hubs).

{Picture of little me... couldn't find one of me dictating to my "babies"... odd}


Starting August 1 (maybe the 2nd because it's a Sunday, gotta start with a whole week), I'm going to be playing house. I want to fulfill my childhood dream. Boring? Let me explain. I want to kind of be a "Martha Stewart" for lack of better words. I want to make all meals from scratch (or really close to it), make my own cleaning products, have a schedule, do activities and projects - kind of be Super Mom. And, you all are invited to join me. I'm going to post recipes, let you know what works and doesn't, basically share My Trials and Triumphs of the whole thing! If it totally goes crazy, at least we can all have a good laugh.

Here's what I need from you... I want you to tell all your friends and family, get everyone involved. I want comments, suggestions, your stories.


On the left side bar on my blog, you'll find a place to subscribe to my blog. You'll get updates via e-mail every time I post something. I want to get as many people as possible to join in.

Leave comments!! I'm going to have at least one giveaway and it will be really random and I may not even tell you when it is. Comment a lot!

This "Month of Martha" is just to fulfill my little childhood dream of being a mom. To me, it's more about getting back to the simple stuff, making the most of what you have, and to save money (great in this economy, for sure!). It would be a tragedy to go through life wondering 'what if.' So, I'm taking action. Life, to me, is about enjoying the big and the little moments, squeezing every little ounce of time we have on this Earth and making the best, fruitiest, wackiest punch out of it all! When I die, I want to be able to say "Wow, what a ride," just like Bill McKenna suggests on how we should live.

From "A Month of Martha," each month after I'll be sharing in a new project. I've already got September set up. I'm just full of adventures. But, my goal is to find new ways of enjoying life, fulfilling my dreams, and maybe inspiring others to take a different approach to life. Even if I just inspire someone to get out and try something different, I will be ecstatic! Please join me on this little adventure. Who knows where the paths will take us!

Saying Goodbye

Today, I spent my afternoon balling my eyes out at a Memorial Ceremony for our friend. That guy up there, Josh Carter, was one amazing guy. I wasn't really really close to him, but he was the guy that you would meet and feel like you've known him a lifetime. All of our memories were always fun and exciting, little adventures if I may say so. It's hard to lose someone like that. You will forever be missed and thank the lord you, Josh, were doing something you loved when your time came. Rest in Peace buddy.

I hate saying goodbye. Especially when it involves family, friends, and loved ones.

Here is one good goodbye - we're moving! The hubs and I have decided to take the plunge and move to the 'burbs. I'm really excited because I get a WHOLE HOUSE!! YAY! Which leads into "A Month of Martha." I'm going to post about that tomorrow because it's kind of a really exciting thing and I have a lot to say.

Goodnight, no goodbyes my bloggies!

Let them eat cake!

How cute is this!? I'm so in love with Crankbunny. She's an animator/graphic designer by day, and a pop-up card, paper puppet making, blogger by night. I love everything in her shop! Every-bloggie should for sure check her out. I am inspired to create things. Can't wait until I get my studio set up!! {Yes!! MY STUDIO!!! I will later fill you all in on the details. For now, just know it is in the works.}

Photo via Crankbunny

It seems I have been missing.

I really have been working on my blog, I promise. This guy came along and has been distracting me - to say the least. But, of all things, this guy does come first. Honestly, how can you turn down a face like this?

We've been catching and cuddling with Jagger.

No swings, no slide, no dirt - chasing pigeons. That's his favorite thing to do at the park. And it's hilarious to watch. Being 20 months old, he doesn't really have any skills in the arena of "sneaking up on (fill in the blank - anything)." When Dylan sees a bird, any bird (on land or in air), he'll run screaming trying to herd it into his arms. Too much! Hopefully, I can get a video of this spectacle before he grows out of it.

He's found his way up onto the coffee table. It's his new perch for el-primo TV viewing, snoozing or dancing. The face is priceless because he knows he's been caught.

Then, the first trip to a real pool!! Move over blow-up giraffe baby pool - we've hit the jackpot! He only tried to drown once, lol. No, we were watching him the whole time. He was trying to reach for something and leaned a little too far in. At that point, he slipped and began flopping around like a fish. Once he was okay, it was too funny. Just babies learning how the world works.

There he is with dad trying to super soak people. He tried his 'darndest' to work that bad boy.

So, yes, I have been busy. I'm going to be taking some time later on to work up a few posts. I'll get some 'real' pictures with my camera. The cell phone doesn't give me what I want. I have projects, house news, family news.. everything.. so YAY! I'm back!

Warning!

I'm trying to re-work my blog and get it how I really want it. Well, this is going to lead to it looking crazy and a little... awkward. Sorry, I'm really trying my best, but I have no idea what I'm doing. =0)

Ready for something else

{This is kind of just going to be a verbal sigh for me.}

Since the first week of May, I feel like it has been nonstop running around doing things for everyone else and just putting on the smile for show.
The other day at Wal-Mart, I thought I was being polite and taking a stand against the line jumpers. Not just one, but 5 others were rude enough to think their time was worth more than mine or anyone else waiting patiently in line. I've heard some harsh words, when I thought I was doing the right thing in multiple cases. Well, I'm done. I'm stepping back for me.
When people say "You deserve it," don't you usually shrug it off and tell yourself that it was just the right thing to do? Right now, I do, totally and honestly, need to be selfish and say that I'm not giving more of myself than I really can right now.. or maybe ever.
I am jealous of those who really know who they are and where they fit into life.
Ashley Crenshaw, you deserve to find yourself, too! (Pumping myself up mentally.)

I'm just going to say that I AM taking time for myself, but a lot of that time is going to include making my blog just more than what it is now. I love the fact that technology has advanced to this point in time. I can share my feelings, my creativity - maybe I can even encourage or inspire someone along the way. I have a BAH-zillion projects that I have done and photographed. I really want to share them all! I know I've been inspired by so many creative people online, I want to join that club.
Anywho, I'm off to chill out and sit with my thoughts for awhile. Have a fan-tab-ulous night!

It's a Mad, Mad World - with tea!

First off, I have to say I have ALWAYS loved Alice in Wonderland. I remember waaaaay back, long ago, my grandparents bought me an "old timey" version of the book. I was about 8-9 and I sat in my bed, under the covers with my little flashlight and read it over and over. I always wanted to have tea with the Mad Hatter and company. Guess what, now I can!!

I have a blog crush on Vanessa of "A Fanciful Twist" (click on the link or the picture above to check out her blog - it's dreamy!). Vanessa happens to be the ring leader of the 2nd Annual Mad Tea Party! I'm so excited because I missed last year... who knows what I was doing. But, this year, I'm making scones and getting "special tea" (and I honestly don't know what tea I'm getting yet). OOOOH and I get to find a pretty dress. It's all online, yes, but we have to celebrate life one way or another.

Thank you to Vanessa for being so inspirational! I can't wait until June 27th!

Summer Dreamin'

I'm so ready for summer. Somehow, it's magically refreshing! Actually, it's more of a chance for me to thaw out from the cold winter, but I love it all the same.


I figured that I was going to profess my summer goals to the world. Maybe someone will hold me accountable. I have a terrible time answering to myself on most things.


First off, this summer I am going to finish projects that I've started years ago. I have a trunk to paint for Dylan. I have a TON of stuff to take to Goodwill. I need to finish up a rocking chair that my granny gave me. There's lots of scrapbooking to do. Also, flea and farmers markets that need my visiting.


Nothing says summer, to me, more than spending time outside. Dylan is at the age where he LOVES to be outside. The second his nostrils get a whiff of fresh air, he goes crazy. He'll tell stories and walk around, explore, play in any water puddles. It's so fun to see him notice the world around him. Also, I get an opportunity to show him the world and see it again for the first time through his eyes. We are going to be outdoor explorers and be thankful for every day we have to experience it.

{Top photo via Alicia Bock (on Etsy)}
{Bottom photo via Beth Retro Photography (on Etsy)}

Monkey Watch

I almost forgot about these guys until I read my own damn post... Anyways.. the Monkeys are alive.. I only pulled 3 black lifeless bodies out of the tank.. I am so proud of myself!!!

Life.. is GOOD

I just want to say this is an honest, un-enhanced view from my back step, which I took with my phone (let me just say wow!). To the left, a friggin' storm is a-brewin' (Lol, yes, I'm from the Midwest). To the right, you will see the most beautiful colors of life just hit your eye ball in the most flattering way that I think it might make one cry. This is truly what I have been through lately. Good -vs- Bad.

As much as I know the last few months have drove me crazy, I live for the real life moments like this.

It doesn't matter who's (whom's) system was bumpin' a little too hard, or which child was yelling in the background.... I heard nothing. I felt what the world was showing me.

Life is good... NO MATTER WHAT!!

Dreaming of Relaxation

This has totally been one crazy month! We had an army ball, wedding, my brother came to visit AND next weekend my parents are coming to visit. The weekend after that, my grandparents are coming. So busy! I've been spring cleaning, which isn't a blasty blast. I've gone through cabinets and closets, cleaned high and low. It's still not done.. I have a child. The only thing I can think of doing is grabbing a jug (not a bottle, a JUG) of wine and sitting in the tub for 7 hours. My 'to-do' list is getting longer and projects keep piling up. Does anyone actually finish their lists?? I would like to meet this person.

Anyways, I was on Etsy and found these bath products that look AMAZING! Anything from Ms. SpaGoddess (photo via her Etsy shop) would help my poor body right now. I need a BREEEEEAAAAAK!

To: Mom

Without you I wouldn't be here (obviously), where I am in life, and the way I am. I get my clumsiness, inability to finish projects (oh, how I LOVE projects), ADOH (Attention Defecit, OH SHINY!) all from you. But, best of all, I get lots of my looks, my character, my inspiration from life, my optimism and strength directly from you. I love that you are my mom and one of my best friends (I can't leave out Dave and a few others - sorry lol). Most importantly, I love that you are who you are and don't give a $*%@. We can have fun by going to flea markets and look for treasures (not junk!), or just acting a fool in the doctor's office. It's always a blast with you around! I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my mom. Words can't tell you how thankful I am for all that you have done, whether you know it or not. I love you.


Photo via Jennifer Squires

ahem

So, I'm running around like a chicken without a head. There's a TON of stuff going on and I want to just say, I'm working on stuff for the blog, I'm doing projects around the house, I'm getting ready for a ball, I'm trying to do last minute stuff so I can go to this wedding, I'm getting ready for this and that and I don't even know that I'll enjoy Cinco de Mayo (other than eat Pico de Gallo - total YUM!). SO that's what I'm doing and I'm hoping to get back on the blog train with bigger and better things next week!

Casual Friday

If you aren't a follower of The Office, you really should be. I haven't laughed so hard in quite some time. 30 minutes of pure joy, which is even better with a beer in your system. Total kudos to Meridith (pictured above) for her casual wear. [Toby: Meridith I think you need to pull your dress down a little. Meridith: What is it with you people? -And as she pulls her dress down, the boob makes an appearance. lol... still makes me laugh!] If I had an office job, I would love to work at Dunder Mifflin, the Scranton branch.

Photo found via NBC

Sea Monkey-ing Around

Being the totally awesome mom that I am (or so I tell myself), I bought Dylan Sea Monkeys. I had these little pets when I was about nine, and I was totally obsessed. They are actually a breed of brine shrimp, in which scientists (or bored, smart people) found a way to freeze the growth cycle of the shrimp at the egg phase by dehydrating them. The dehydration, in a way, made them "Insta-Pets". This is a pet that required little attention. Well, not even attention, you just sprinkle in a little food and they swim and they thrive. Amazing. All this from little 1 by 1 powder packets.

This all began to unfold 70 hours ago. Carefully reading my guide, I purified the water 24 hours prior to adding the Monkey eggs. When the 24 hour period was up, I added the eggs and waited. I became impatient. Me? Never. Luckily for those little guys, I happened to check today and saw the little fleet-o-shrimp bobbing up to the surface. They were eating and swimming. Busy day.

The set I bought Dylan was basic blue and came with a bonus keychain. Why? Do people really carry around a keychain of Sea Monkeys? I can say I felt no urge to clip on my bubble of Monkeys next to my Ed Hardy skull and rose keychain. C'mon now! Even for the age group of 5 and up (which is the "recommended" age group), who carries a keychain? Who even has keys at that age?

Well anyways, I thought back to when I parented my own little batch. They ate (a lot less than I actually put in the tank because the algae overtook the water and suffocated my guys). They swam. They reproduced. I mean, what else do you do in a tank of water when you're a simple celled organisim?

Aha!

It all dawned on me when I saw Dylan carrying this keychain. He looked up at me, smiled and then thrashed the ba-jesus out of the keychain and everything around him. This keychain has a morbid purpose. Population control. According to the Sea Monkey guide, these guys are supposed to survive for up to 18 hours in their lovely keychain bubble. When placed in the hands of Dylan, I give it 5 minutes.

As for now, the Monkeys are in safe keeping. We'll just call this "Monkey Watch". I don't know why, it just sounds good to me at this moment. I'm taking bets on how long they will live. I say maybe a month until I get bored, or Dylan knocks them over. They're instant, which means they're disposable.

Little Did I Know

that Rice-A-Roni, when placed in the microwave, sets on fire. Being a good little cook, I followed directions (are they really hard to follow anyways, come on). I have cooked this rice in the microwave a million times before, being a college student with little/no income. I know this whole microwave-ing thing should be easy and will produce the same outcome each time. Correct?

Well, mama bear was taking care of baby bear while the Roni was doing it's cooking in the oven and KA-BAM! The smoke alarms go off. I run up to the kitchen to make sure the microwave itself was not on fire. Nothing there. I tramp up to the top floor and open the windows to air out the smoke. I run back down to the kitchen, while baby bear is in the basement (banging on the baby gate), angry that he wasn't invited on this escapade.

I get smart and use oven mits to remove the Pyrex bowl filled with ash of Roni, from the microwave. Then, proceed to put the bowl in the kitchen sink. The bottom falls out of the bowl. Ash of Roni all over the counter and floors that I spent hours cleaning yesterday.

As I type, the house still smells like a combination of burned cheese and hair, possibly some other foreign smell. This is ungodly. After spending eight hours cleaning the whole house, it now smells blagh.

The moral of the story? Don't trust rice in the microwave. Or, don't clean your house. I like the second option better.