short hiatus.

Sadly I have had to take a break from blogging as I have moved.  AND MY INTERNET WILL NOT BE HOOKED UP UNTIL THE 17TH.  Seriously going through withdrawals.  From cable and Internet. 

At least I have the move and slacking on unpacking to keep me going.  And a borrowed first season of Breaking Bad which I finished in two evenings.  And crochet.  There is always crochet. 

On top of that I have had the luckiest week.  With all the stress from the move it was nice to win tickets to a couple of music festivals.  With all the jealousy I have felt for everyone who has went to Osheaga in Montreal... it was nice to be able to see a few bands at a couple of festivals.  One of my favourite parts was being slightly tipsy in the afternoon at Edgefest.  Take a vacation day from work, get tipsy and watch The Lumineers play. 

Here is the line-up for Edgefest.  My favourite performance was obviously The Lumineers.  That being said... Mother Mother is amazing.

Just as I thought it couldn't get much better... I won tickets to The Grove Music Festival.  Earl Sweatshirt, The Gaslight Anthem, Girl Talk, Hot Chip, and Phoenix.  Words cannot describe how much fun I had.  The cutest part were all of the hipster families bringing their kids.  These kids really knew how to bust a move.  One boy couldn't have been older than two and he was fist bumping everyone around him. 

Plus.. if you do the Hokey Pokey with the Jager girls they will give you free hats. 

So far this summer has been filled with music.  Taylor Swift, Jay-Z and JT, Edgefest, Grove Music Fest, and coming soon... Festival of Friends for Dragonette and the Supercrawl with Yo La Tengo.  Such a great summer.

my new bag.

I really wanted to call this one "my new baby".  Move over, Coach... Michael Kors is in town:

I couldn't help myself... 

If you want one go visit Michael Kors!  

my new home.

In addition to a new pet I also managed to decide I needed a major upgrade in my home life.  I found a new place and I move in at the end of this month.  I am very excited about the change.  Better neighbourhood, nice brand new place (literally everything has been redone), and new beginnings.  

A view of my new bathroom, sure it isn't the entire bathroom but there is an adorable backsplash now and a little peek at my Coach bag of choice that day.

The bedroom where all of the magic won't happen.  But come on... look at those floors.

My living room.  

The eat-in kitchen.  

One more shot of the kitchen because I love it so much.

Not featured is my amazing closets, my linen closet, and my hallway.  I am so excited to move in but it really means that I have to get my act together and start packing.  

ramsey.

One day I was supposed to be working and I decided to check out some puppies online.  Not that I was going to go out and get one but I wanted to add the "Awww...someday." factor to my day.  And then I found an ad for Ramsey.  At first I thought I was just going to meet him to see if he actually liked me.  It was love at first sight.  

This is what he does while I crochet and watch The Big Bang Theory.  (His favourite hobby is napping.)  

He gets very excited when I get home from work.  Look at that tail wag. 

Here he is at his "grandma's" wearing a sweater that he despises. 

Ramsey is perfect for me.  He loves walks, naps, having his belly rubbed, hiding treats that I give him and then collecting and binge eating them later, and he loves cheese and carrots.  He's my little buddy.

julep maven.

Mail order makeup?  Mail order nail polish?  ALL IN A LITTLE BOX?  Sign me up!  One day at work I decided to sign up for Julep Maven because I saw a little ad online for a free Maven Starter box.  I love nail polish, makeup, and beauty products... so I figured why not?!  The way it works is you sign up, take a quiz to find out your style, sign up for their monthly boxes.  They're pretty pricey at about $20 a month but you do have the option to skip months if you're not impressed with the monthly offerings.  You also have tons of beauty products at your fingertips at a discount.  

While I found their online help isn't very effective--they don't answer you at all (so far) other than on Twitter... their Customer Service phone line is incredible.  Both times I have called with questions they've been friendly, helpful, and exceeded my expectations.  

My Maven box came in the mail today and I am so very excited.  It took a week to ship which is better than I expected.  Cute packaging, and they send a few free little gifts as well. When I took the Maven quiz I was told my style was "Bombshell" and so we're just going to roll with that.  

I received two nail polishes...the orange is called "Kaylen" and the gold is called "Oscar".  They're cute.  I was especially excited for the orange.  Nothing extraordinary that I haven't seen before, but definitely not two colours I own in my 60+ nail polish collection.  Sadly I painted my nails last night so my review on the polish will have to wait until another day.  

I also received a full-sized Glycolic Hand Scrub which Julep boasts is a "facial for hands".  They're not kidding.  I used a tiny amount and my hands feel a-ma-zing.  No joke.  I have such dry, sensitive hands and they feel incredible right now.  Julep says you can also use it on your body and your face but I am scared my hands will get jealous and they need this scrub. I'm hooked.  

I am definitely hoping for a better polish round-up next time but I must say I am fairly impressed so far.  I am disappointed I missed out on the May Bombshell Box but perhaps June will have a fun surprise in store for me. If you feel like signing up, feel free to use me as a referral: Julep Website.  

DISCLAIMER:  I have not been paid with cash or products to review Julep.  (Wouldn't that be nice though?)  Also, an apology to my favourite reader who probably has no interest in anything I've been babbling on about in this post. 

may heatwave.

I do not have air conditioning right now.  Luckily, I also live all alone and therefore I can sit around with the fan just on me in boyshorts and a tank top.  

A friend of mine is stuck on nights and on a boring rotation at work and so I decided to humiliate myself via text to give him a laugh: 

"Nothing screams forever single like eating Honey Bunches of Oats with vanilla soy milk in your underwear while watching Seinfeld reruns you've seen 100 times.  With PECANS!  This kind has PECANS!"

I successfully made his night.

And I need to obtain some air conditioning.  This weekend will be an A/C adventure if I don't melt in the humidity that is on its way tomorrow.

honey cashew chicken.

I wanted something quick and easy for dinner and for lunch leftovers this week and so I threw a bunch of stuff in a pan and hoped for the best.  

I used half of an Arctic Gardens stir fry veggie mix and also added more broccoli and bamboo shoots.  


ingredients

• 1/2 bag of stir fry mix, added broccoli, bamboo shoots (You can really put whatever veggies you want in this.) 
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
• A couple of cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 handfuls of cashews (Make them big handfuls)
• 3 tbsp. honey (for sauce) 
• 1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce (for sauce)
• A couple of dashes of sriracha (optional, for sauce.)
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. corn starch 
• Noodles or rice for serving

directions

• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet or wok.
• Add chicken, browning until the pieces are no longer pink.
• Add veggies, extras, and garlic and cook according to directions for the veggies. 
• For the sauce:  Add all sauce ingredients and mix.  I like simple.
• Halfway through cooking the veggies add 3/4 of the sauce mix into the wok and stir regularly.  
• Add cornstarch just before the veggies are done and stir to thicken the sauce.  
• Serve with rice or noodles, using the reserved sauce to top over the stir fry or the noodles or rice. 

Easiest meal ever and I swear it is better than take out.  Absolutely delicious.  

10 random things. (part one)

I've had a rough go at it the past month.  Nothing seems to be going the way I had envisioned and nothing is coming up Ashley.  So.. while I work on feeling a little better I have also made myself a deal:  Whenever I feel like I need a little pick-me-up or I am feeling down I am going to write a list of ten random things.  The list will be things that I love, that make me happy, or that cheer me up--no matter how little or silly the "thing" is.  That way when I am feeling a little blue I can come back to these posts and remind myself of beautiful and simple happy things.  Here's the first installment.  

• Diet Coke.
• Learning crochet.
• Welcome to Myrtle Manor.
• Goldfish graham crackers.
• Sunshine.
• Pinterest.
• New York City.
• Text messages.
• Coach bags.
• BWOWW.

betta fish.

One of my best friends came home to a disaster tonight.  Her betta fish (which she bought a week ago) is dead.  She isn't sad about this.  I tried to give her my condolences and she let it be known that she was angry.  She also took to Twitter to rant about this dead fish anger where she let the whole world know that "Big Al's better refund my dead fish and all of his shit. I hate him, HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO ME?! Now I have a fish ghost in my apt, great."  

This is Surg who is now swimming in the air as a fish ghost.  

Her fish was anorexic.  He had a serious problem.  She purchased two types of food for him and he wouldn't eat either of them.  Surg was an anorexic fish who refused any food and decided that being vain and full of himself was a life for him.  Surg was so full of himself that he thought being the skinniest Betta on the block would also make him the most popular.  He was a calorie counter who paid for his mistakes.  And now he's a fish ghost swimming in her apartment and terrorizing her.  

Basically, the point I am getting at is that Betta fish are the asshole fish of the sea.  They cannot even live in the same bowl because they'll try to kill each other.  If you don't believe me I have another story about a horrible Betta who broke my heart.

When I was in high school I was dating a guy with a younger sister.  She was a sweet girl.  For Christmas she bought me a Betta with a cute little bowl and pink rocks.  We named him Sparkle.  I put Sparkle on the dresser in my room.  He was a good little fish.  I talked to him and pretended he listened.  He ate his food.  I thought we were a perfect match.  

While I was laying in bed at night I would hear him jump out of his bowl and splash back into it.  I would laugh at his little game every night.  Until one morning...  I woke up and Sparkle was dried up on my dresser.  I had to scrape my fish soulmate off of a dresser.  I was defeated.  As my friend asked, "HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO ME?!"  Until I finally woke up and realized that he was suicidal the whole time.  THE ENTIRE TIME.  He was jumping every night because he couldn't stand to live with me.  If it is a reflection of my lovelife at all then that is even more depressing and it makes me hate Sparkle. 

The moral of the story here is buy a kitten.  Or a puppy.  Or a pet rock because at least you can train a pet rock to attack if a burglar busts into your place.  Betta fish are the assholes of the sea.  And I hope she gets a full refund.  

EDIT:  
My friend is now using the fish death as an excuse to make sarcastic comments about pictures of a boy she does not like.  "I commented 'COOOL' on a stupid picture he took of himself lol.  And he was like, 'Sarcasm?'  and I said, "Maybe a bit, sorry, my fish died and i'm taking it out on your picture."

big black book.

One of my favourite Christmas presents from Christmas that just passed was from my dear friend, Beverly.  That girl knows me so well.  I had been eyeing this recipe book for about a year when magically it appeared to me from her.  She is too sweet.  I cannot believe she remembered that I talked about it months and months prior while I was condo shopping.  I never bought the book.  She made a mental note and it equalled one of my best gifts ever.

As if the book isn't lovely enough... the recipe cards are also darling.  Now... I just need to start writing down all of my recipes onto the cards and start sorting them.  I will take a picture of the dividers and update this post because they are amazing too.  

If you want to buy your own, Chapters sells them:  The Big Black Book of Recipes.

chicken tikka masala.

I don't use my Crock Pot nearly as much as I should and this recipe proves it.  This is by far the best meal I have ever made.  And it was probably also the easiest.  Sure, it simmered all day but the Crock Pot did most of the work here.  I was able to sit back, relax, and pray that my naan dough would rise.  

Here's the sauce, pre-mix.  I think once I replace the food processor I broke I will start buying my own tomatoes and making my own tomato puree rather than using a jar of store bought.  

Literally, it took me 20 minutes or so to chop and mix everything and then six hours in the Crock Pot later it was a meal... 

ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced (or 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger if you forgot to pick up the fresh stuff)
• 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
• Half a juiced lemon and some grated rind
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tbsp. garam masala 
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 3 tsp. cayenne pepper (reduce if you're not into spicy)
• 2 1/2 tsp. minced onion (I used dry because I am not a huge onion fan but you can use a small minced onion)
• 2 tsp. black pepper
• 2 tsp. salt 
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups of plain yogurt
• 1 28 ounce can of pureed tomato or tomato sauce
• 1 small can of tomato paste

for the finish

• 1 1/2 cups of cream (I use fat free)
• 4 tbsp. corn starch 

directions

(1)  Place everything but the finish ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.  Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Add chicken to sauce and mix well again making sure the chicken is very well-coated.  

(2)  Slowly pour the entire mixture into your Crock Pot or slow cooker.  I sprinkled some extra garam masala on top once it was in the pot.  Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.  Stir occasionally if you're home.

(3)  Pour cream slowly into the sauce and add the corn starch.  Mix everything really well, place the lid back on the pot and cook for 20-30 more minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

(4)  Serve with rice or naan bread.  (Homemade Naan Bread)

(5)  Enjoy one of the best and easiest meals EVER.

homemade naan bread.

Naan bread.  It's delicious.  And expensive.  And insanely hard to find sometimes.  So.. I took matters into my own hands (literally) and made some homemade naan bread.  I was making chicken tikka masala for dinner on Sunday as a request and decided that after humming and hawing and working up the courage to make homemade naan I might as well go for it!  (I bought back-up pita bread since our local grocery store was out of naan.  As usual.)  To be honest... it turned out so well that I do not think I will ever buy it again.  Why buy it when it is so easy and inexpensive to make?

Here's the ball of dough after I mixed and kneaded it.  And before I started praying that it would rise while I waited two hours for a ball of dough to work some magic.  

This was probably the point that I started praying... after I covered the dough with a damp cloth.  This is also probably one of my favourite kitchen pictures because my handwritten recipe is sitting there too.  Candid shot of a hidden dough ball.  And now... the good stuff!

ingredients

• 3 cups of flour (approx.)
• 2 tsp. dry active yeast
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. garlic powder (or 1 tsp. minced garlic)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 cup of warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt (I used fat free because that's what we had)
• 1 egg (I might just substitute more yogurt next time to replace the egg)

directions

(1)  In a small bowl combine yeast, sugar, and warm water.  Stir and make sure all of the yeast dissolves--I did not know yeast had such a rancid smell.  Once it's mixed and dissolved, let the mixture stand until the top is frothy which will take about 10 minutes.  Then stir in the oil, egg, and yogurt and mix until everything is combined well.

(2)  In a larger bowl, combine 1 to 1 1/2 cups of flour with salt and spices.  Then, carefully add the bowl of wet ingredients to the dry mixture.  While mixing with a spoon continue adding a bit of flour at a time until it becomes tough to stir.  

(3)  Make sure you have a table top or counter well-floured and knead the dough on your surface adding more flour as needed for about 5 minutes or until the ball of dough is soft with an elastic feel to it.  Make sure it isn't sticky.  

(4)  Place the dough ball into a bowl with a damp towel on top.  Let it rise until it doubles in size.  I let it sit for 2 hours. 

(5)  Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Use a cooking spray, butter, or olive oil to lightly grease the skillet.  (You will likely have to grease it between individual breads.)  Cut the dough ball into 8 equal portions and then roll each portion into a ball.  Using a lightly floured rolling pin roll one of the portions out until it's about 1/4 of an inch in thickness.  Brush lightly with water or butter and cook on one side until large bubbles form  (I didn't think it would happen for mine but it did!) and the other side is golden brown and then flip and cook the other side.  Repeat. 

(6)  Brush each side lightly with butter or ghee and enjoy!  

I am going to see how well they freeze and make a few batches so I can have them on hand when I need them.  My taste tester doesn't like rice so naan is always a big deal when I cook Indian food.  I can imagine more possibilities for this delicious naan:  hummus, flatbread pizzas... the possibilities are endless in my mind.  

It has also taken a lot of willpower for me to save the last piece.  I am definitely making more this weekend.  You'll have to wait until Thursday or Friday for the second half of the best meal I've ever made:  Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala.  (It's even better than my White Girl Butter Chicken which I am going to turn into a Crock Pot meal someday soon.)

easy italian chicken.

Sometimes it's all about simple meals.  This recipe is easily doubled or tripled if you have a big family--for us we just needed two servings.

ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• light mayonnaise 
• parmesan cheese (fresh works best!)
• italian seasonings--I used garlic powder as well as Salt-Free Herb and Garlic mix
• Panko or regular breadcrumbs

directions

Preheat the oven to 375.

Basically all I did was throw the chicken breasts on a pan lined with parchment paper, took a tablespoon full of mayonnaise for each piece of chicken, spread the mayo all over each piece.  Then I sprinkled parmesan over each chicken breast.  Then I mixed together two tablespoons of breadcrumbs, two teaspoons of herb and garlic mix, and a teaspoon of garlic powder into a cup and evenly coated each chicken breast with the breadcrumb mixture.  

If you're making more, just remember it's a teaspoon or tablespoon for each piece of chicken.  Honestly, you can't really go wrong here.  Sprinkle away!

Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes and enjoy.

I served these with my Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes because I had leftover supplies for them from Easter.  You can find that recipe here:  Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes.

I just really love that casserole dish.  It makes me very, very happy.  

So there you have it, easy peasy dinner!  I will say one thing about this recipe... although my sister said it was great, my taste tester still likes Jalapeno Popper Chicken much better.  He loves that chicken so much.  We also added sriracha to the chicken while we were eating it for some kick which is NOT Italian at all... but delicious!

rare specimens.

It is time to show some love to my favourite pair of earrings that I purchased at one of my favourite shops in town, White Elephant.  

Never have I ever had so many compliments on a pair of earrings I have ever worn.  I have a distinctive earring style.  I have many interesting pairs.  None as lovely as these:

(Picture from an old Etsy transaction:  here.)  

I am not sure if they are being made anymore... you used to be able to find them on Etsy at Rare Specimens.  

I want another pair.  That is why I am making it my mission to visit White Elephant and bug them on Twitter about scoring another pair.   

fake bake: day one.

If you know me then you know I will try absolutely anything and everything for a healthy glow.  Especially in the summer.  I am an extremely pale girl.  However, once I have a base tan I seem to be able to keep a good tan.  Last summer I was golden all summer long.  

Here is a short list of the methods I've used to become a bronze goddess:

• Tanning beds.  (Yes, yes... I know they are terrible for you... but they are so relaxing and they really give you an amazing result.)
• Bronzers.
• Tanning oil and my backyard.
• Spray tans.  (They're pretty amazing once you know how to pose.)  
• Multiple brands and types of self-tanning lotion.  I have yet to find a lotion that doesn't turn me into an Oompa Loompa. 

Needless to say, I am trying again.  I was shopping and found Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer on sale.  For $2.50.  Seriously it is normally $13.  I had to buy and try it. 

Now I did have a bad experience with their Express lotion last year.  I am talking horrible streaks in the summer when I love to wear shorts and capris.  I thought perhaps foam would be the way to go.  I know it was likely the way I applied it.  Apparently this kind starts a natural glow gradually and takes a week to really see results.

DAY ONE

Don't make fun of my pasty legs.  This is a shot after application.  

I must say I was impressed with the application and the dry-time.  Usually while using a lotion you have to wait forever for it to soak into your skin.  You stand around waiting like a dolt, walking around not wanting to stain your clothing or furniture.  The foam dried instantly and my legs feel lovely and smooth.  I've had #dryskinprobz all winter and this stuff is actually HELPING.  Remind me that I said that in a week if I am whining about how awful my legs look.

So... that brings me to asking who wants to place bets on if I will be whining and regretting this in a week... place your bets, folks.

jalapeno popper chicken.

It was a bright, sunny, and warm March day today.  The sun was seeping through the windows.  I had them all open.  I decided to make one of our favourites tonight... jalapeno popper chicken.  The reason for this picture is to show off my lovely casserole dish.  I literally peeled potatoes in it just because.  It just makes me very happy.

Here is the jalapeno popper chicken before the oven and after cooking.  Mmm.  And now for the recipe!  In my pan's defense, it isn't dirty.  I am breaking it in and you can purchase it here:  Pampered Chef Large Bar Pan.  Apparently they turn really dark after awhile and it just makes them better.  Mine has been nothing but amazing so far and I highly recommend one for every kitchen.  

ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 
• 2 tbsp. low-fat cream cheese
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped into small pieces
• handful of shredded cheddar cheese 
• 1 egg, whisked
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• a pinch of salt and pepper
• toothpicks

directions

Preheat your oven to 375.  Mix your cream cheese, shredded cheese, and jalapeno peppers.  Slice "pockets" into your chicken breasts but be careful not to slice them in half.  Stuff your cheesy-jalapeno mix evenly into each pocket. Secure with toothpicks.  (I use 3 for each so that I remember the number and no one is eating them later.)  Dip your chicken into the whisked egg, making sure it is nicely coated.  Then dip into your panko breadcrumbs.  Repeat.  Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes.  Don't forget to take the toothpicks out before devouring this delicious chicken.

Probably one of my favourite ways to make chicken.  Absolutely delicious.