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Where Have All the Cookie Cutters Gone?

All this week I looked forward to Friday because it was my day to dye Easter eggs and decorate sugar cookies with the boys. The boys always get really creative with the dying, and I knew they would totally eat up the idea of decorating sugar cookies with sugar icing.

We decided to dye brown eggs this year, and I really like how they turned out. They are all earth-toned and not too bright. The boys agree that they taste fantastic, and we had a lot of fun dying them together.

4.221 494x277 Where Have All the Cookie Cutters Gone?

While dying the eggs, I asked Spence to run to the store to see if they had any Easter cookie cutters. After unsuccessfully trying 3 stores, he finally asked a manager where he could find the cookie cutters. The manager explained that prepackaged cookies practically wiped out the need for cookie cutters, so they longer carry them. How crazy is that? Do people really not make cookies from scratch anymore?

I used this recipe – the Best Rolled Sugar Cookies – and let the dough rest in the fridge for an hour like the recipe called for. However after more than an hour in the fridge, the dough was still too sticky to roll out. I tried flouring it, powder-sugaring it, even placing it in between parchment and wax paper to no avail. It was too sticky to user cookie cutters anyway!

I finally rolled it up in wax paper and stuck it in the freezer for 30 minutes. I then cut it into egg-shaped slices with hopes that the cookies would be at least a little Easter-like. Luckily, the dough was very forgiving. What went on the sheets looking very questionable flattened out to cute little oval sugar cookies that were perfect for decorating.

4.222 494x185 Where Have All the Cookie Cutters Gone?

While the cookies were baking, I whipped up some sugar cookie icing in a variety of colors except for red. (My oldest had decided to use all of it in a prior volcano experiment.) After the cookies cooled, the boys went to work creating their culinary masterpieces.

smP1090252 494x329 Where Have All the Cookie Cutters Gone?

4.22 494x123 Where Have All the Cookie Cutters Gone?

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Aren’t they gorgeous? We’re taking them over to my Mema’s for Easter dinner tomorrow. Everyone is going to be in for quite a treat!

The Swimsuit Challenge

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Fitness | Health | Weight Loss - (1 Comments)

I must confess, the last two weeks have been a little rough. I’ve only managed to drop about 1.5 pounds and have struggled with making good choices. The fact is, now that Dump Your Plump is over, most of my teammates are back to their old ways and I’m one of the few still determined to lose more weight this year.

53 pounds to be exact. I’ve lost 17 of those so far.

June 1st is in 6 weeks and it’s time for me to push myself again, to commit to a challenge and relish in the accomplishment when I successfully complete it. I want to lose another 10 pounds by then, which will position me at the halfway point to my goal.

10 pounds by June 1st. It’s a stretch, for sure, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

And it’s official! On June 26th, Spence, my sister-in-law Sharon and I will be walking the Do Life 5k in Atlanta. This will be the first time I’ve done a 5k since my 27th birthday, and it will be quite an accomplishment for me. I have a personal weight goal I’d like to hit by this date and if I make it, I will walk this 5k around the same weight that I walked/jogged the last one.

I will also be at my lowest weight in 6 years.

So here’s to the challenge, cause it’s swimsuit time ya’ll!

On the Needles: Spring Dress Shrug

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Craft | Knitting - (0 Comments)

It’s time for a new knitting project! This time, I’m knitting up a little something for myself and I’m calling it the Spring Dress Shrug. It’s real name is the Posh Wedding Shrug but my new name is much more fitting, don’t you think?

I’m knitting this up in Knit Picks Andean Silk which is a step up from my normal yarn choices. I’ve always gone for cheaper brands and fibers (acrylics, wool blends) since they’re easier on the budget, but I’m starting to understand the importance of good materials as an investment in yourself and your craft. Andean Silk is an incredibly fluffy alpaca, silk and merino wool blend that is relatively inexpensive. I can’t wait to wear it.

After 8 years, I have also retired my Denise Interchangeables. They have been with me through many knitting projects and were my first big knitting buy. However, the plastic tips and big cords are more suited for a beginner knitter and I have been very frustrated for the past year or two with their limitations. I finally purchased a set of the Knit Picks Options with nickel-plated tips for my birthday and oh, my… I had no idea what I was missing. Knitting with these is like driving a sports car after being stuck with a station wagon for years. They’re slick, fast and seamless; just what I was looking for.

This project is going to be a fun knit, I just know it!

Ever hear a song on the radio…

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Spirituality - (0 Comments)

…and are reminded one more time of how much you love it?

I put this song on a mix CD for my hubby way before we ever stepped foot into a church. When I heard it on the radio yesterday, it made me think of that moment. I had made him a CD full of songs of hope because we were in a place of desperation. We were broke, broken, hopeless and on the verge of disaster. I wanted to make him a CD that would cheer him up. I had no idea how God would change our lives after that moment… couldn’t even comprehend it.

Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here.

Getting My Hands Dirty

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Craft | Family | Gardening - (0 Comments)

I love spring. The warm wind, digging in the dirt… it makes winter completely worth it.

This weekend, we planted flowers.

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And basil and peppers.

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And tomatoes.

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And we added oil to our tiki lamps.

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Then we enjoyed the rest of our day. It was awesome.

Did I mention that today is my and Spence’s anniversary?

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We took this self portrait on the back porch. You may think that taking a photo this stunning was totally easy, but you would be mistaken. There were many outtakes.

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Yay for us!

Finished: Dads Daytona Bug Catcher

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Craft | Knitting - (0 Comments)

2.12 Finished: Dads Daytona Bug Catcher

In February, I posted about a project I had on the needles, a face mask for my Dad’s motorcycle ride down to Daytona Bike Week. I finally have some finished photos to share!

TEMP5 494x308 Finished: Dads Daytona Bug Catcher I love how it turned out. The weather was still chilly, and it worked perfectly as a barrier from the wind and cold.

Now, on to a new project… This one goes on the needles next week.

2587018337 0dc2ba701e z Finished: Dads Daytona Bug Catcher

Weight Loss Recap: Month 3 (and a Birthday Dress)

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Health | Weight Loss - (1 Comments)

March ended up being a much better month than February. I lost over 4 pounds this month (about 1 pound a week) and have lost a total of 16.7 pounds this year.

One thing is for sure… losing weight is much harder than gaining it. Four pounds doesn’t sound like a lot, but those pounds took a lot of effort to lose. It really puts things in perspective for me. I don’t want to gain them back since it’s taking forever to get rid of them!

My birthday was last week and my grandmother gave me some money with the condition that I buy something with it just for me. So I bought a dress. I went shopping with my inspiration board in mind and picked this one out.

P1090133 sm Weight Loss Recap: Month 3 (and a Birthday Dress)

I almost bought a cheaper one that I didn’t like nearly as much, but I’m so glad that I didn’t. I’m used to buying bargains, but sometimes that means settling for things I wouldn’t normally wear. I’m trying to break that habit (within reason, of course!). I bought something nice that could easily be altered as I get smaller, and I don’t regret it at all. I love the way it looks on me.

I have also invested in a gym membership. My goal is to work out 3 days a week to start, then increase my workouts to 4, then 5 days a week. I’m really enjoying it so far.

Dump Your Plump ended and I didn’t win, but because I hit my weight loss goal I did get to split the pot! I walked away $13 richer – about $1 for each week.

photo Weight Loss Recap: Month 3 (and a Birthday Dress)

All in all, March was a great month!

Doing Life

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Fitness | Health | Weight Loss - (7 Comments)

A few weeks ago, I posted a video on my Facebook page that made cry. Twice. I came across this video on a Couch to 5k website and it motivated me to look beyond just eating healthy by incorporating exercise, daring to push myself harder and striving to accomplish more.

The guy behind the video is Ben Davis and even though I’ve only been reading his blog for a few weeks, I’m already obsessed with his Do Life movement.

The only thing between a start and a finish line is the courage to start at all.

Oh, yes. Bring on the tears.

Since seeing the video, I’ve started to incorporate exercise into my routine and next week, I’m signing up for a gym membership. The thing is, I feel so much better when exercise is a part of my overall journey towards health, but I don’t think I would have started if this video didn’t inspire me to do just that.

So Ben is doing this Do Life 5k tour where he visits cities all across the US and runs a 5k with his readers, and I’m actually thinking about going. If I do decide to go, it will be around the end of June which gives me roughly 3 months to prepare. I know I can be down another 15 pounds in 3 months, so I’m thinking that it’s definitely doable. And if I do it, I’m doing it in a pink tee shirt.

Speaking of poundage, the Dump Your Plump challenge ended today and although I didn’t come near to winning the iPad, I am down a total of 16.1 pounds since January 5th. How cool is that?

I’m so excited about what is to come. These 16 pounds are just a start, and I can’t wait to see where I end up in another 3 months, 6 months, the end of the year…

All it took was the courage to start.

Weight Loss is Not a Race

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Health | Weight Loss - (0 Comments)

At the end of next week, I’ll be down about 15 pounds which is roughly 5 pounds lost per month since January. Yet there are days like today when I feel a little sorry for myself and think that 15 pounds just isn’t enough. There are many people that have lost 30-40 pounds so far this year with Dump Your Plump, and by comparison my 15 pounds looks meager.

But then it hits me: At this rate, I’ll be down 60 pounds when I celebrate Christmas this year.

Weight loss can be a total mind game. If you’re not careful, you can allow your progress to feel like a setback.

The fact is, there will be ups and downs during my weight loss journey. I won’t lose weight as quickly as others will. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be successful. It doesn’t mean I won’t reach my goal.

Sometimes, you just have to stay out of your own way and make it happen.

weight loss, weight watchers

How to Have Style

Posted by Lisa Ashby in Books | Health | Inspiration | Weight Loss - (1 Comments)

Since I’ve been losing weight, I’ve been more aware of my wardrobe, specifically how it no longer represents who I am. I’ve accepted that buying clothes that don’t fit well or that don’t reflect my sense of style is okay because they’re on sale. But at the library this weekend, I picked up Issac Mizrahi’s How to Have Style and was quickly convinced that maybe settling for just okay isn’t okay at all.

Mizrahi says that a timeless piece that you love the way you look in is worth more than many pieces that aren’t flattering or that make you feel less than beautiful. My self-confidence is the casualty of my cheap wardrobe.

It’s too early to start investing in a new wardrobe, though. I’m still losing weight and working my way out of debt. But I can start thinking about the future, and that means reinventing my style.

To do this, Mizrahi says that you should create an inspiration board to determine what colors, shapes and eras influence your style. I decided to make mine digitally on Pinterest, and this is what it looks like.

Styleboard1 How to Have Style

Right away, I notice that this looks nothing like my current wardrobe. If you looked in my closet today, you’d see a lot of safe clothes in mom-appropriate shapes and slimming dark colors. When I saw my inspiration board in its entirety, I realized that I had been getting it all wrong. My size has limited my choices and my ability to feel confident enough to pull a daring look off. My true style includes vintage shapes, pretty ruffles, muted colors, girlie details, even a bit of an edge. My body has held me back from fully embracing my eclectic style.

Don’t get me wrong… Mizrahi covers fashion for the full-figured woman in his book as well and I have to say, his subject is completely adorable but she exudes a confidence that I don’t have yet. Mizrahi mentions that he’s never met a woman that doesn’t think she’s fat, but I do think there is a difference between owning it and letting it get to you. I know my comfort level, and I’m past it. To pull off your own style, you have to own what God gave you.

As I lose weight, I’ll be on the lookout for pieces that can size down with me – wrap dresses, skirts, easy-to-alter blouses – and will still buy on sale while working Dave Ramsey’s plan. But during this time, I’ll also be developing my sense of style – learning what I like, what I don’t like, what flatters my figure and what’s too trendy to waste time on. Then once I’m at my goal weight, I imagine that I’ll start building a wardrobe that reflects my own personal style. I can’t wait.