Our Garden!

OK so our garden has gotten HUGE. We planted Green Bell Peppers, Squash (which has taken over the whole garden seems like), cabbage, cantaloupe, eggplant, tomatoes, green beans, onions, and my favorite and my baby, the pumpkins. I love carving pumpkins at Halloween time. I remember my nephew throwing the pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin he carved alongside my grandmother's house and they grew like crazy the next year. I loved the way they look and it saves me some money on buying the pumpkins from the store this halloween. I can't wait for the pumpkins to start showing! The bell peppers and tomatoes are coming along really well also, but I think the squash is coming along the best. We could feed a small army with all the squash we have accumulated. Looks like I'm going to be making squash casserole soon! Take a look at what it looks like now! You should give it a try too! Grow your own garden! i would love to see it!

BEFORE (pumpkins and main Garden)

AFTER

(Main Garden)

(Pumpkin Vines)

(Tomato Plants)

(Green Bell Peppers)

She's getting so big!

Anya is growing so quickly! I can't gt over it! She had her first camping trip recently which didn't go too well with her! She loves being outside but I think the heat and bugs for that period of time didnt agree with her so we went home early. You wouldn't know by the pictures! Father's day is coming up and of course daddy had to buy some "Daddy's girl" onesies! She's going to look adorable! Today she has discovered her feet and squeeling! Yay for us! haha. She also loves to jump now and we're trying to look for a large rug for a good price for her to practice crawling on. (We have hardwood floors). Any suggestions? A rug isn't something we want to get from a yard sale, so it needs to be store bought.

As of right now with the weight loss, I'm stuck in limbo. I do Zumba every now anad again, but it's a bit expensive, so I'm waiting to get paid again. I will get into gear here again soon.

Darcey Lane Designs

I decided to post my winner a bit early, I was too excited! With many entries for this contest one stuck out most for me. Darcey Lane Designs has a beautiful selection of little girl's dresses and oh-so adorable ruffle bloomer pants! I of course had to purchase the ruffle bloomer pants for my daughter! These little dresses and ruffle pants make for the perfect outfit for any birthday party or a fantastic photo shoot! I will be using mine for just that, a photo shoot! Can you not picture your daughter in one of these? Darlene is a highly experienced seamstress who has been sewing since the age of 15. Her experience has included making children's clothes, window treatments, bridesmaid's dresses and even a bride's dress! In knowing this you can rest assure she will make your item with the best quality possible. Upon reading her feedback, she has received %100 feedback and everyone just raves at how well made her products are and how fast the shipping is! Go to Darcey Lane Designs and get your little girl an adorable dress or some sassy ruffle bloomer pants!

http://www.darceylanedesigns.etsy.com/

Sassy Fancy Ruffle Pants

Heirloom Ruffletiered Pillowcase Dress

Yummy Strawberry Pillowcase Dress

I bought this one! :)

Honorable Mentions

http://www.artofamy.etsy.com/

*Beautiful artwork and afforable prices*

http://www.emelephotography.etsy.com/

*Beautiful photography and afforadble prices*

www.roguebodyjewelry.etsy.com

*Some awesome body jewelry!*

HUGE Contest for you!

OK. So I am in LOVE with Etsy and I LOVE buying on Etsy and showing off other people's shop! What I am going to do is *Blog* about one of you wonderful people! BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! I also will BUY from your shop too! I only ask one thing from you! Im not rich by any means, so you need something in your shop that is at least 10 dollars. That's the most I can spend. SO here's what you need to do in order to be considered.

*Follow my blog
*Comment on this blog

That's IT! I will go through all of the shops and decide on Tuesday May 18 and the blog will show on Wed May 19. Good Luck to you all! I can't wait!

Ashley

ZUMBA!!!

I absolutely *LOVED* this class. My mother-in-law found out about it at work and we decided to give it a try. It is a cardio class focused on latin dance but also incorporates hip hop, and other cultural dances. It's so fun you forget you're working out! Go to their website at www.zumba.com and find a location near you. I'm going to let my Jazzercise run out and go with Zumba. If you have done it, leave a comment about it! Hope y'all are having a great day!

ZUMBA!!!

Ashley

Sterling Silver - My Lil' Nest Necklace

I took the plundge and made a sterling silver bird's nest necklace! The others have been doing so well I figured, why not? It's an 18in necklace and the chain, latch, and nest are all sterling silver. I'm selling it for $25 on my Etsy store, www.roseintheashes.etsy.com . Of course if you didnt want the small pearls I can change it to where it's less or more beads, or different colors. Just convo me!

It's raining here so I'm stuck inside today. Great time to clean the house! yyyaaayyy............


Ashley

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Anya is getting so big it's almost hard to believe. I'm enjoying her every moment, her every smile, and just waiting for her to bust out laughing. Unfortunately I'll be working for my very first Mother's Day, bummer. Luckily my job is only seasonal so I wont go bonkers working every weekend! I'm still doing Jazzercise and loosly doing Weight Watchers. I feel like I'm loosing weight and my pants are getting looser, but the scale hasn't changed. I'm hoping that i'm gaining muscle, b/c Jazzercise does to strength workouts along with cardio. I'm also going to try "Zumba" with my mother-in-law Monday. It's kind of like Jazzercise, but based more for latin dancing. They only charge 5 dollars a class, so I figured I could do it a couple times a month along with Jazzercise to switch it up. Who knows, I might even like it better. Well, I hope you all are having a lovely spring and happy sneezing!

Ashley

Wonderful Things I Bought Off Etsy

Hello all! I just wanted to post some great items I have bought off of Etsy! You should check them out too! Go Go Go!

Buttfreckle

www.buttfreckle.etsy.com

Daughter's Vintage

www.daughtersvintage.etsy.com

Pretty Little Pearl

www.prettylittlepearl.etsy.com

My lil' Nest - Coming soon!

My Lil' Nest

You're going to love these, and they're here just in time for Mother's Day! These adorable rings are wirewrapped to look like a bird's nest. Nestled in the middle ar beads to represent those wonderful little children in your life. I have elegant white beads and Robyn's Egg blue. The red beaded one I made for myself to represent Anya, my only child, and the color is the same as her birthstone. I make them to order and love doing custom orders! These are already up on my Zibbet account > www.zibbet.com/cuddlemeclose but will be posted on my Etsy account in a couple days > http://www.roseintheashes.etsy.com/ . Hope you like them!

My Faith

Ok so I have been reading Left Behind which has got me to do a lot of thinking. When I was younger my faith was very strong and I was very passionate about the gospel of Christ. I would share and talk with everyone about it. Now I don't do it, I can't even say I do it a little which I am ashamed of. I think about Him all the time and talk with him all the time and pray often, but I feel like I'm being selfish. I'm keeping this wonderful news and relationship to myself when I should be leading others to Christ. I know what I need to do, but I'm just not as bold as I used to be. All I know is that knowing Christ has given me a wonderful life though I have my weaknesses which make me stray, I always seem to come back to Him and he has blessed me way more than I deserve. I dont want to go to Heaven and have nothing to show for my life here on Earth. I want to make a difference in others lives and have them know and experience what I have. I pray that this post might get others thinking as well. I know I don't have a lot of followers but if I get one person thinking, that's all that matters. I hope and pray my daughter accepts Christ one day into her life and I pray my husband will be more sure of his faith. I couldnt imagine not having either one in Heaven with me.

God, I pray you will show me the way you want me to go and do your work. I pray you will give me the passion I once had as a young person. I want to lead more to you. Thank you again and again for all the blessings you have given me. I don't deserve any of them.

Amen

Ashley

Daughters Vintage

Daughters Vintage

Daughters Vintage is a shop that hits close to home for me as i love to antique shop with my mother. This shop is run by a mother daughter duo that collects beautiful vintage items such as broaches or buttons and converts them into very modern jewelry. Their shop consists of some very unique and gorgeous rings, bracelets and hairpins. This is great for people like me who appreciate the look of vintage items but don't like to wear them as a broach or button, but can display them as a fabulous ring! This shop is truly unique and amazingly wonderful. Mother's day is coming soon and any item from Daughters Vintage would make a perfect gift for her. Encompassing the vintage look with a modern twist, these items are great for all ages! While you go shop for Mother's Day, I think I might have to shop for myself for once! visit Daughters Vintage today! http://www.daughtersvintage.etsy.com/ Here are some fabulous items from their shop!

Zooey Green Rhinestone Vintage Bracelet

Lucinda Pearl Lily Vintage Hairpin

Janice Pink Flower Vintage Ring

Proud Member of the GAEtsyStreetTeam!

Guitar Picks in my Mother's Nest?

OK, so I know I need to retake these pictures, but all the equipment is now put up, but here is what is to come. I havent decided if I want to post anymore items and just keep everything for the craft show in September. I picked a few pieces I finished, I made over 100 earrings, ranging from floral designs, to designs I drew, halloween, and College Football. I also tried to make the mother's nests. I saw them and thought they were adorable. The red ring I made for myself. The red being anya's birthstone color. I think I'm going to make these for a craft show I want to do in November, but i also thought of posting them up being so close to mother's day. Tomorrow I am doing a blog on my featured seller! Check back tomorrow to see if it's you! I will also post a reminder to my GA_Street Team. Hope you all are doing well!

Ashley

Easter Weekend

This was a good weekend for us! We spend Saturday with his parents on the boat and this was Anya's first boat ride! Poor child looks swallowed up by that life jacket! It's supposed to be her size but as you can see it doesn't fit exceptionally well. She slept most of the time, I think the motor of the boat lulled her to sleep. Sunday we spent the day at my parents house which was fun also. We ate some great food as always and had an eatser egg hunt which only lasted about 2 seconds. I would love to have Eatser at the lake like we used to, but no one seems to want to make the haul up there. It's only about a 45 minute drive. Maybe next year?

ETSIANS, I have a boat load of new stuff. I just finished making all my guitar pick earrings ready for the craft show in September. I'm trucking along now with my children's Icee packs. My next post will be all about them! I need to take some fab pictures first! Keep an eye out this THURSDAY I'm featuring a shop from my group, The Georgia Street Team! Can't wait! http://www.cuddlemeclose01.etsy.com/

http://www.roseintheashes.etsy.com/

CHAIO

Losing the weight one Jazz step at a time

Before Pregnancy (GOAL) 135lbs

Pregnant 171 lbs

Now 148 lbs

So back in the day, high school senior year 2004, I started weight watchers and walking 3 to 5 times a week. I went from 165 lbs to 135 lbs (see picture up top). That was a huge success for myself and was a time where I had so much self confidance. Now I am trying to do it again after having Anya. I know I can do it but i forgot how slow the process is. It's also hard living with my in-laws where the food I don't need to eat is everywhere. Tempting me with every cabinet door I open. Although with weight watchers I can eat whatever I want just in moderation. Wes' mom has a tredmill which I have been getting on here and there but not nearly as often as I need to. It's also not easy with a teething 2 1/2 month old crying for your attention 24/7. So I am joining JAZZERCISE Monday. I did it a few years ago and loved it. It's just hard to fork over the 35 dollars/month. It's good because they have evening classes where Wes can watch Anya while I go. Doing dance is so much more fun than walking on a tredmill staring at a wall. Just pray I can afford the 35/month. I will update my progress on here as well. Maybe that will motivate me to try harder. Hope all is well with you all. 135 lbs here I come!

Featured on Batzy!

My shop has been featured on Batzy's blog! Check it out at http://batzyshop.blogspot.com/2010/03/pencil-and-doodles.html .

Tybee Island - The Last Song

Ok, so this movie I have to go see. It was filmed at Tybee Island here in Georgia about 20 min out from Savannah. I have been going to Tybee Beach for years now. I absolutley love it. It's a small quiet beach, not a spring break destination which I love. I got engaged on Tybee Beach so it holds a special place in my heart. If you're a traveler, please visit here. It's a beautiful quiet beach and it's fun to go visit historic Savannah for a day and walk on River Street. There is so much history and beauty, it would be a shame if you never visited! The spanish moss trees, did i mention the trees??! B-E-A-UTIFUL! Miley Cyrus is also a pretty good actress and Id like to see her out of her Hannah Montana role. Looks good, I'll blog about it when I see it! Going back to tybee this August hopefully! You should go visit sometime! Cumberland Island too, but that's a whole other blog!

ZOMBIES!

Had a sale today! I have come to the conclusion that zombies are very popular on etsy. My husband is obsessed with zombies and I decided to give it a try and make a children's zombie ice pack. I made it a little more kid friendly of course, I would have liked to have made it more "zombieish" with brains coming out and an eyeball falling out of its socket, but I figured parents wouldnt want to buy a grosse ice pack for their child. I think little boys would love a really grosse looking zombie, but they're not buying, their parents are! What do you all think? I have many more to make but right now I'm focusing on making guitar pick earrings. I'm stocking up for the craft show I'm doing in September. My guitar pick earrings were almost sold out and it was rained out the first day! So I'm hoping for a good turnout again. I'm also hoping these ice packs sell well. They will be shown for the first time this September. If not, they sure are fun to make!

Happy Crafting everyone!

Guitar Pick Earrings > www.roseintheashes.etsy.com

Children's Icee Packs > www.cuddlemeclose01.etsy.com


Ashley

Anya

Anya is my 2 month old baby girl whom I love to bits. I'm thinking she might be teething but I'm not quite sure. I'm about 85% positive she is. She's drooling a lot now and sucking on her fist. Yesterday his mom informed me that with all three of her kids they would get a fever and vomit. Guess what happens this morning? Not only did the dog vomit all over the place (bless her heart I taught her to do it outside and she tried her hardest to make it), Anya also vomited on me and herself. So it's been an eventful morning to say the least. Not only is she drooling, sucking and vomiting.... she cries, oh lord does she cry! Last night she cried so hard I felt so bad for her.

Wes has helped me out a lot. We have an agreement where he stays up with her late while I go to bed early and I get up with her at night. She was doing well with sleeping through the night but ever since she got her shots she's reverted back to getting up at 3:30am and 5 or 6am. It's not bad though, she's pretty good about going back to sleep.

I just hope I'm right about teething and it's not something else. Oh well, I love her, teething and all!

Ashley

My First Blog

Well, here goes nothin'! Let me just say now that my thoughts are not organized whatsoever. So try and follow me the best you can. I am 24 years old with a new baby girl Anya. I am married to my amazing husband Wes who just recently got out of the army. God has truly answered prayers and gave us an amazing gift...Anya. Though I have had a lot of sleepless nights, to see her smile makes it all worth it. I love seeing my husband play with her. Seeing Wes as a daddy is so amazingly wonderful I cannot describe it. As of right now we are in transition living with his parents which can be crazy at times, but it's alright because we all get along really well. It's so nice to have my inlaws help out with Anya. Wes just started back at school to get into criminal justice. I'm so proud of him! What we want to do is get all our bills paid off and buy or build a house in the country somewhere. We gotta get out of Fayetteville. I have been staying at home which I love, but understand I have to go back to work here soon if we wanna get outta here. I got a gig working on weekends so that should help out a little bit.



I am an artist and crafter. I am addicted to craft shows now. I make heating pads, children's boo boo ice packs, and guitar pick earrings. My main thing is drawing and painting. My heating pads and children's boo boo packs are sold here > http://www.cuddlemeclose01.etsy.com/ and my guitar pick earrings are here > http://www.roseintheashes.etsy.com/