It's been a while...but I am back!

I cannot believe that I have not posted a blog since March. I guess my followers are thinking I am probably dead in the blog world. Never fear I am back and hopefully it won't be so long in between posts from now on.

It's amazing how getting a job will all of a sudden consume all of your time, and any time in between has been extremely booked between my husband, family trips, friend gatherings, birthday parties, and an increasing number of weddings that have booked my life. I am not complaining in the least, I absolutely love and adore my crazy extremely extraordinary busy life. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

So, as I said I am crazy busy with work. I love my new job. I am working at a company in Lake Lure as a Client Service Representative. I would love to tell you about my company but trust me... I can't really put it into words what we do and if I could it would take me lots of words that I promise you really wouldn't want to read. Just know that I do LOVE my job!!

Jesse and I crossed the first year mark of marriage. We celebrated our 1 year Anniversary on May 22, I can't believe that it's been that long. Time seems to just FLY by when your having tons of fun. We have had a wonderful first year of marriage, and he truly is my bestest friend in the world. I loved my anniversary present as well...See below:

Yes my lovey got me a new car for our anniversary. I can't be happier with my new car!! I was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I am just a car type of person! I don't think I ever want to go back to the SUV world now that I get to drive around in my perfect, black car, with black interior...I am in Love while I drive down the road!

Another interesting factor of my life, my parents decided to move to Tennessee. My dads job got transferred out and they decided to follow along to Clarksville, TN. It's a very pretty town, mostly military families and they seem to like it so far. We went and met them about a month ago in Gatlinburg. We took my grandmother and that has been one of the best trips with the family!

I am still obsessed with my T.V. There are two brand new shows that premiered that I am dying over.

The CW has premiered The Secret Circle and Ringer.

I love some Sarah Michelle Geller and she is fabulous playing the double role of Shevon & Bridgitt. if you love some double identity drama then I promise this show will not disappoint.

The Secret Circle is my new guilty pleasure. I am so intrigued by witches and the story of these Teens becoming witches has given me very high hopes for the series.


This is all I have for now. I will try to get a blog together about all these new great recipes and fabulous food and wine I have been running into!

Until the next time!

Ashley B

Life Unexpected!!

Hey guys,

I know I have been absent for a while now, but I have been one super busy girl with a whole lot going on lately. I have tons of stuff to talk about tonight so I hope you have some time to just go with me!

I am titling this blog Life Unexpected. I figure this is an appropriate title because I don’t really care who you are the most unexpected things happen in life. It’s like one big roller coaster that has lots of ups, downs, twists, and curves and you have to be ready and be prepared for anything that may come your way.

I want to discuss what is going on with the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear damage disaster in Japan. This is the most horrendous disaster I can think of yet to date and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the people and families that it has affected. I woke up Friday morning and I had an interview that I had to be at and while I was waiting I just happened to log on facebook and found out about the news of this horrible earthquake and all of the tsunamis that were headed on their way. I actually am friends with people that lived in Japan, Hawaii, and Oregon all of which were affected by all of this and it was horrible seeing their posts. I could just feel how scared and horrified they all were but I am so glad to say that all of my friends that were affected were ok, and made it through safely. But my heart goes out to Japan because after the initial shock of the quake, then getting through the tsunamis, now they are faced with the nuclear stuff and freezing temps with snow on the way. I can’t even imagine what they are going through, and to all the people that had something to say like “that is what Japan gets” and “they disserved it” I just want to say to you, where is your compassion? Something like this could easily happen here and then what would you say? Sorry I just had to get that out, people and their attitudes just kill me sometimes. But anyways, on to the next topic.     

As you all know I have been trying to find a job. That I would say has been my #1 top priority. I literally live, eat, and breathe trying to find a job Monday-Friday. It’s actually like having a full time job only you’re not getting paid for job searching, which sucks. In the job search field its like you fill out all of these applications, I have been sending tons of emails out and I am lucky if I hear from 1 out of every 20 that I send. Let me just tell you again, trying to find a job around here sucks…major big time. I expanded my searching range to 50 miles out from where I live. I didn’t really want to do that, but there is not even a job around here (Rutherford Co.) to even apply for unless I want to work at Wal-Mart or some Grocery Store that is going to take me no where, or I want to go back to school to be a nurse and I really don’t want to do that. I mean Wal-Mart and Grocery stores are fine jobs and I am in no way knocking anyone who works there but it’s just not my kind of working environment, and I want to make more than $8.00 a hour. So anyways, I expanded my range. I have actually been getting a lot of feed back; I have had five interviews so far but not really any luck in actually landing the job. I mean in all the interviews it seems to go well and I actually had one guy tell me at the end of my interview, “Ashley, you did great! Really, nice job. If I don’t hire you keep plugging in because you are a very hirable person”. I mean how are you supposed to take that message?! Needless to say I didn’t get that job.  It gets very discouraging at times but I know that I am so close and eventually the right job will find me, and every no I get that just means I am closer to hearing a yes.

As for the rest of my life I haven’t really been cooking lately but I got my new food network magazine in the mail today and there are a ton of recipes that look super good that I can’t wait to try out and share with you guys. Another thing that I cannot wait to try is the new Cream Cheese Creations that is already prepared and you just add it to your chicken or pasta or really anything you want. In my food network magazine they did an advertisement for that and they had some really good different recipes, you can make pizza, enchiladas, bowtie chicken pasta, chicken primavera all by using the creation and ingredients. I am so excited to try them because I love cream cheese recipes so I know this is going to be a big hit in my kitchenJ. So like I said I haven’t been cooking a lot but Jesse and I went to Carrabas the other week! So exciting I know, I haven’t eaten there in years and OMG it was sooo good! Totally makes me wonder why in the world I ever want to go to Olive Garden! I had the Pollo Rosa Maria, which was Chicken with Prosciutto and cheese in the middle topped with mushrooms and a Lemon Sauce poured on top, with a side of mashed potatoes which were so heavenly they practically melted in your mouth. Jesse had the Pasta Weezy, and OMG again his was better than mine J Its basically Alfredo with Shrimp and mushrooms and I was so jealous!! So to you all that love olive garden…if you ever eat Carrabas you won’t look back!

So like I said I have been a very busy girl and along with trying to find a job, going to interviews, and spending time with my hubby, friends, and family. I have also been going to church. My church had a revival and I got to go a few nights and OMG it was such a blessing. The preacher was awesome. Charles Worley is his name and he was so good. Everything he preached I swear spoke somewhat to my life, and made me really think about some things. I mean I have been saved for a very long time, but I guess when you get comfortable; you get lazy and for me I had forgot about what being a Christian is all about. I mean to be a Christian and deciding to follow Jesus Christ is believing in him and trying to get other people to come to know him, and for me I have always believed but I haven’t been the best about telling other people. So I and a few of my friends have decided to start a bible study. We was going to church the other night and we all spoke about how we don’t really read the bible and don’t know a lot about it and we don’t really have a class for our age group in church so long story short we came up with the idea that we would have our own bible study. I am super nervous about this because none of us has done this before, and yes we don’t really know what we are doing. But I know that something good is going to become of it. We haven’t got all of the details worked out yet but I would appreciate for you all to pray that the people we invite that don’t really know who god is, will come number one, and that just maybe we can introduce God to these people that don’t really know him.

Well I guess that will be all for tonight I am finally getting tired. This time change is kicking my butt. I always hate when the time changes like this, I feel like I cannot get anything done, and I want to stay up late and sleep all day. Which I cannot do if I really want to find a job. LOL!! Until the next time!

Much Love,

Ashley B J

Have you missed me yet??

Hi guys,

I know that it has been such a long time since I have posted anything and thank you for the ones who have wanted to know where I have been and the concern you guys have showed.

To be honest I have been here and around but I have been putting off writing a blog because I knew it was not going to be the happiest blog I have written. So here is your warning if you don't really want to read about all the negative, shitty things in my life at the moment then stop here!

I know I am such an ass for complaining so much in this blog, I am truly blessed, I have good health and a wonderful, fabulous husband; but since the beginning of the year it has been really hard to focus on all the good things in my life for all the bad things that have been going on.

I know everyone is like what in the hell is going on, and I would love love love to tell you all about it, but for respectable purposes I must choose my words very carefully and the only thing I can tell you is everyone knows how hard it is to work with your family and I had to learn the hard way that sometimes it just can't work no matter how hard you try. I was in a really bad position and instead of chancing a strain on my marriage and sanity Jesse and I just decided that I would no longer help him with the business and for the past month I have been trying to find a job and that is where my focus has been. Also I want to go on the record and say that me and jesse worked perfectly together and in no way shape or form was it because of him that we made the decision we made.

So as probably all of you reading know unless you are in the Health care field it is almost impossible to find a job in Rutherford County, and I know that now more than ever. I have probably cranked out at least 10 or more resumes a week and I am having no luck what so ever. I have had a few interviews but nothing seems to even remotely go my way.

I am looking at Rutherford County, Asheville, Hendersonville, Gastonia and Hickory and its like there are no jobs to apply for here and Asheville and Hickory both think its a problem that I do not live in the area. I have literally just wanted to scream at some of these human resources people, but I just try to smile through it and thank them for their time even if they are wasting mine! I mean really, I send them in my resume and it clearly states that I am not from there so if they have a problem with it I just don't understand why they call me in for an interview in the first place.

So if you have been wondering where I have been, now you know :) I have had to put all of my new recipes that I want to try on hold and as soon as I get a job I will go back to resuming and posting all about them!! I have just found that nothing you cook is going to be good if your not in a good mood and I have defiantly not been in the mood for trying new things.

So I must go now, I think I have got everything off my chest and I can't take to long of a break off from making my phone call rounds on trying to find a job. If anyone knows anyone who is hiring in the administrative/clerical field feel free to let me know. Love you guys!

Until the next time,

Much Love,

Ashley B :)

Snow, Snow, and then look, some more snow!

So I don't know about all of you, but I have had enough of Snow, Winter, and all the other crappy things that it brings along with it.

I have been snowed in my house and have been sick for the past 5 days and OMG, I am so sick of ALL of it! We got about 4-5" of snow, it has been freezing and I have been able to go nowhere, and winter is just getting started. I finally started feeling better on Monday, but goodness I cannot seem to catch a break, I thought I was over all the sore throat, coughing, and fevers; however, round 2 was way worse!!

Sorry I just had to vent that out :)

I do hope everyone else enjoyed the snow and got to go out and have lots of fun playing in it! It was pretty for the first 2 days, but now I am so ready to send it on its way!

I am so ready for warm weather, sandals, pretty toe-nails, and my fave, tank tops!! I am also ready to go get on a beach somewhere and just lay and soak up the rays :) I just love love love summer time and can't wait for it to make an appearance!

So, I really got side tracked. Lets get on to what this blog is really all about! Over the month of December I didn't get to post as many blogs as I would have liked, because I was WAY to busy reading a new series of Novels that are TO DIE FOR!! If you like to read a good book then you have to go to Wal-mart right now and pick up the first novel The girl with a dragon tattoo, by Stieg Larsson.

So let me tell you I got the first copy The girl with the dragon tattoo as a birthday present from my dearest friend Whitney!! She told me something which was good advice so I will pass it on to anyone who wants to read these. When you pick the first book up it is really boring for the first 150-200 pages. Its all back ground information that you do need to know, but once the story itself gets started I promise you will not want to put these books down, esp. the 2nd and 3rd one. It gets so much better as it goes on and on!!

If your real adventurous they have the movies out, but this book was originally written in Swedish so the movie is in that language with English Sub-titles.

I did watch the movies and I thought they were pretty good myself. The 3rd one comes out January 25th and I am so excited :)

Until the next time I hope everybody stays safe and warm in this cold weather!!

Much Love,

Ashley B :) 

My 1st recipe of 2011

So as you all know as I said before, one of my New Years resolutions is to learn to cook more and try new food. So last night I went into the kitchen and made up my own meal. Well it probably has been done many times before in millions of different ways, but this is my own unique way and it is super super easy and tastes delish.

So the ingredients are as follows:

2 Pieces of frozen chicken, I always buy those bags of chicken from walmart, but if you like you can just use regular chicken.

1 Package of Lipton Rice Sides Broccoli and Cheddar

Salt and Pepper

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

1 Table spoon of Unsalted Butter for each piece of chicken

Red Pepper

1/2 tbl spoon Minced Garlic plus a dash more for each piece of chicken

So to get started you defrost your chicken, or you can go the easy way and buy chicken that is not frozen!! I have the salt and pepper grinders and I do 1 round of Salt and Pepper on each side of the chicken. Then I sprinkle the lemon pepper seasoning on each side. Go light with it or it will be too lemony. set the chicken aside and let it sit in the flavors.

In a small pot make the Lipton Rice Sides. Its super easy and those packages are only like $.99, you just bring 2 cups of water, 1 tblsp. of butter, and the package to a boil and simmer covered for 7 minutes. Easy, easy, easy. But heres a hint, if you like your rice thick like I do then don't put the whole 2 cups of water in the pot. I always put 2 cups then pour a dash out.

But while you are bringing the rice to a boil but your butter and minced garlic in a pan let the garlic cook just a minute. Chop your chicken into pieces and put in the pan and dash with red pepper. If you like the garlic you can put more or less in there. just whatever you desire.

When the Chicken is finished cooking  put in a plate and set aside. Get your bowls out put some of the rice in each bowl and top with the chicken. It is so good and it takes all of 15 minutes to make :)

Here is a pic of the finished product:

I would say serving size is for 2 people so if you want to make it for more just double up on everything :) Hope everyone trys this and enjoys this as much as I did!!

Until the next time,

Much Love,

Ashley B :)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight...and Happy New Year!!

WOW!! I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted a new blog. I have so much to talk about and alot of pictures to share today!!

First off lets start off with the Christmas. I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas, I know I sure did!! We did the usual we got started the Sunday before Christmas with my grandmother. We first went to the Christmas Play at Church. In which my mother and grandmother gave me a guilt trip into singing in the choir, I don't really sing but my grandmother said that "it would just mean so much to her if she could see me singing in the choir", so of course I did. Who can say no to that quote LOL!! Then we had a huge meal and hung out with the family and opened the first of many presents to come.

Next came my Dads family Christmas on Monday night. I had decided before hand that I wasn't going to go because of reasons that you would just have to know my family for, but at the last minute I changed my mind..well not really. Jesse just said that he thought we should go so we did. It was a really quick dinner but in the end I am however, glad that I went.

Then the rest of the Christmas activities got started on Christmas Eve. We went to Jesses Mawmaw Bakers and had another huge fantastic meal. We watched all the kiddies open their presents then we jetted over to my parents house where we opened presents and played cards for a short bit...but I was loosing tremendously so I quit and went home to clean my house to prepare for my Christmas Party at my house the next day (or so I thought).

So then I woke up the next morning and Jesse came in the bedroom and was like "do not get up until I come get you" and I could hear him in the living room wrapping presents...LOL!! He always makes fun of me for procrastinating but I had to laugh that he was wrapping presents Christmas Morning!! So I got up and we exchanged our gifts to each other...of course our Christmas was our new TV, wii, and play station 3. But he got me a book that I wanted, some stuff from Victoria Secret, and he did really really good on my stocking. I just love it when he does the little stuff that always counts way more than the bigger stuff :) but anyways by this time there was a TON of snow on the ground and we headed out to his parents house. There we had a fantastic breakfast. Homemade biscuits and grits and gravy are the best :) Then we all exchanged gifts and hung out until we all had to part ways on to the next place to go.

Like I said before I was planning a Christmas Party at my house for my parents, grandmother, Toni and derrick and my 2 great aunts. I had so much food I was so sad that the snow canceled those plans. So Jesse and I made my grandmother, and my aunts little plates that had Red Velvet Cheesecake factory cheesecake, Lemon Bunt Cake, and other goodies that I had made along with their presents and we went and visited with them for the most part of the day. Then my parents and Toni and Derrick came over and we gave Madison her present. and we ended the night going to bed early because I was so tired from all the running that we had to do that day. Then I spent the rest of my holiday break with this awful sinus infection that kept me on the couch for 3 days. Being sick is the worst :(

Here are a few pics of Christmas, I forgot my camera so I only have what my sister took :(

So on to our New Years Eve plans. We had plans to go to Justin and Heathers house and spend the night to ring in the New Year. We had TONS of fun!! We had everyone playing Just Dance 2 on the wii, we had corn-hole boards which I do not really participate in. I just can't grasp why anyone in their right mind would want to throw bean bags at a board but lots of people just love it including my husband, and then they had tons of food and some good Beer Pong Games which I also did not participate in because Beer is disgusting. Then we rang in the new year dancing it away!! Totally fun....until I was ready to go to bed and everyone else wasn't. So I got to stay up until 7AM and I got to sleep until 9:30 AM...that really wasn't that much fun :( I def. am getting way to old to be up that late :)

Then I got up and went to IKEA and gah I just love love love that store. I spent like all day in there and got a TON of stuff. I got some curtains for my bedroom, some pictures, some throw pillows, and new lamp, a bookcase, a coffee table, some candles, candle holders, and alot of other random stuff that I ran upon that I needed!! Great great store and I cannot wait to go back!!!

Here are some pics from New Years EVE thanks to Dawn for sharing on Facebook: