Ashley Marie...

Baked Fish with Cherry Tomatoes, Artichoke, and Olives

2011-01-22T00:41:00.002-05:00

Ingredients

2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, sliced

9oz, artichoke hearts

1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped

2 shallots

1/4 cup dry whit coking wine

4tsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 boneless, skinless fish fillets (I use Tilapia, or Cod)

2tbs. basil

Lemon wedges (for serving)

Pre heat to 450F

Toss- tomatoes, artichoke, olives, shallots, wine, 2tbs olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a 13-9 dish

Nestle fish fillets into baking dish and brush with olive oil.

Bakes 20-25 minutes, and serve with lemon wedges

Tilapia with Cilantro Hummus

2011-01-22T00:31:00.003-05:00

Ingredients

Tilapia fillets

2Tbs. lime juice

2tbs. olive oil

tsp. paprika

salt and pepper

6tbs. hummus

2tbs. chopped cilantro

1tsp. lime zest

1tbs. mayo

Pre heat grill or oven to about 425F

Brush tilapia with olive oil, and sprinkle with paprika

cook for about 4-6 minutes per side

meanwhile

mix hummus, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, and mayo.

place Tilapia on plates and serve with hummus mixture

Artichoke-Bakon Bites

2011-01-22T00:22:00.003-05:00

Artichoke-Bacon Bites

Ingredient list

tortilla chips

1 can artichoke hearts, drained

4oz monetary jack cheese

1 plum tomato

1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro, minced

1/4 cup mayonnaise

4 slices bacon, crumbled and pre-cooked

Preheat oven to 425F

Arrange tortillas on baking sheet

Finely chop artichoke

Grate cheese

Diced tomato and cilantro

Combine all in a bowel

Divide all evenly onto each tortilla chip

bake 9-11 minutes

Married Life

2011-01-11T21:52:00.003-05:00

So it has obviously been a long time since I have posted anything new, so I got to thinking... and I decided to start blogging about what I have been cooking! I have somewhat surprised myself lately with the concoctions that I have come up with so I think that I will start sharing some of them. Daren and I have no kids to blog about, and I am pretty sure no one whats to hear about my days at work, so I decided what goes on in my kitchen was the next best thing. Hopefully I will actually follow through with this and there will be pictures and recipes to follow soon!

Almost a nurse

2010-08-07T09:51:00.003-04:00

Well, it is official I have Aced my way through nursing school!!! So excited to be done with this phase and ready to move onto the next. I still have to pass my boards, and then I am officially an LPN! I feel so blessed to have such a great family and for God looking over me the past year. I never thought that I could have gotten all A's through nursing school, but with every ones help I did it!! ......... Now just a few more weeks and Daren will be home, I could not have asked for a better gift! Looking forward to our next chapter TOGETHER!

Update

2009-12-16T16:03:00.003-05:00

So..... I passed my first semester of nursing school with an A!!! Along with an A in my computer class! So glad it is over, but really, it's just the beginning. No time to rest must keep the ball rolling.

Little Guys

2009-08-03T12:04:00.011-04:00

Here are some of my new little buddies. This has been my hobby for the past couple weeks when I have a day off. Since Daren is gone I have to do something to fill my time. I really should be going to the gym, but this is more fun! Still learning how to use the camera, and have no idea to put it on black and white. Slowly but surely I will get there.

filling the boredom

2009-07-29T21:44:00.004-04:00

Here are a few random pictures from the last couple weeks... The first two were at a wedding down in the Outer Banks. And the others are just me having a little fun and trying to figure out my new camera.

Thrilled

2009-06-06T23:18:00.003-04:00

Ok, as I sit here waiting for these last two hours to past I am finding it harder and harder to control the excitement. Excited for what you ask, well just about everything: to see Daren, Sherri, and Jim, to get married, to go to Utah, to meet more of my new family, to gain 4 sisters (something I have always dreamed of), to go to Vegas, and the list goes on and on. Looking forward to all those things so very much. Guess I just feel so blessed to have all these blessings in my life!

Flowers

2009-05-03T10:57:00.007-04:00

Just felt like posting a few pics... so here they are.

I Did It

2009-04-21T14:41:00.001-04:00

I got into LPN school!!! I know that it is only the beginning, but at least it is a start right?

The Future

2009-03-14T15:41:00.023-04:00

OK, so I really should be studying for my test but I am having a hard time doing that today. In less than three months I finally get to see Daren again, and well I just can not seem to contain the excitement!! June is going to be the best time of my life ever, for many different reasons, and I just wanted to share that with someone since I only have my parents here in North Carolina. Can't wait to see everyone, including this guy here! Miss ya monkey

Here are a few pictures from my afternoon downtown last week. I decided to enjoy the nice weather for the first time in many many months and sit down by the water. I also took a bunch of pictures of the wedding ceremony site (the gazebo). Also, are pictures of a couple small gardens just a few blocks away from the gazebo that I think will be beautiful for wedding pictures! Let me know what you think! Less than 3 months, whaoo!!!

Union Point Park

2009-02-18T13:11:00.005-05:00

Ok, so today is a very exciting day for me... in about 2 hours I am going to meet with Rev. K, the man that I hope will be right for Daren and I's wedding! Also, I believe that we have decided on a location for the ceremony (as long as the weather cooperates), so here are just a couple pictures of the gazebo. Let us know what you think. My computer stopped downloading after only 2, so if you want to see more you can check it out... it is called Union Point Park in New Bern, NC.

It's Just A Little Snow

2009-01-22T15:14:00.003-05:00

The last two days in Eastern North Carolina have been interesting to say the least. All day Monday the only thing on the news was the big saga of the snow that was to come the following day. Well, I guess in this state as soon as one weather man says "snow" everything begins to shut down. By Monday evening (before one flurry had even been detected) half of the town was closed for the next day. Since I work at the only place that never shuts down (the hospital) once Tuesday came I went to work and at that point there was still no snow to be seen. Around lunch time is when the hysteria began...

Yes folks maybe an inch of snow and the town is completely shut down. Now at this point everyone begins to worry about how they will get home, (for real, I am not making this stuff up). And it is at this point that cancellations and closings begin for the NEXT day... So all in all we got about 2 inches of snow and the town was basically closed for 2 whole days.
I was at work when I snuck these picures... nothing too exciting to photograph there.

A quick thought

2009-01-12T17:11:00.000-05:00

Today I applied for nursing school! OK what I really mean is that even though it will be a few months until I find out if I am in the program or not I am very excited to be getting on with this education thing. I applied to the LPN program which only takes a year, that way if all goes according to plans I will be an LPN by the time Daren gets home from Japan! So here goes to the next two months of studying for the entrance test, ahhhh.

The Luckiest Girl

2009-01-05T16:13:00.000-05:00

OK so I truly believe that I am the luckiest girl ever! This past week Daren did the cutest thing. On Friday morning while I was at work I got a very beautiful arrangement of pink roses. I was so surprised, happy, and excited to have gotten them. Then while I was at work the next day I got an amazingly beautiful arrangement of 2 dozen red roses and this time I was speechless. He really is the greatest thing to have ever happened to me! The sweetest part about the whole thing is that I get the beautiful surprises and its his birthday. Happy Birthday Monkey

My Roomate

2008-11-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

This little guy has been hanging out in my shed for about the past week. Yes, I can get all set up and take a picture of him, but i just can't seem to get him OUT of my shed, the irony. As long as he stays on his side of the shed I guess I won't worry too much.

Little Rascal

2008-10-15T21:19:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago I was awaken by this loud howl outside my door. I knew instantly that it was not my dog Cheyenne, and it didn't sound like any of the neighbor dogs either. So I stumble out of bed, rub my eyes and open the door... There is a tiny little mal-nourished beagle standing outside my door barking it's little head off. I try to get her to come to me and well that was very unsuccessful, so what was I suppose to do with this little dog, who at this point had totally ticked off my dad with her non stop barking? Well, we ignored her for a while and by the next night she found herself sleeping in the shop, which to her I think was like being in a 5 star hotel.
So after letting her settle in she isn't too bad I guess. I think she is very cute but she obviously was never taught any dogie manners. She continues to try and steel food off the table, which is making dad unhappy. At least the potty thing is getting a little better. There is no more number 2's happening inside, yay!! (that last sentence sounds kinda sad, is that really what excites me now? wow, I am lame)
Anyway, I decided that maybe this was a little reminder from the big man upstairs that things in my life are not so bad at all. If this little starved scared to death dog can make it in this crazy world then I think I will be just fine. And that brings me to her name.... Gracie, one of my many reminders from God that I am blessed in this world and things find a way of working themselves out in the end.

The latest addition to our funny farm...

Humiliation

2008-09-25T22:30:00.000-04:00

This post, for my own sake, will not contain any pictures... My cousin Hope and I had decided to meet in downtown New Bern for lunch today, which I was very excited about. We meet and ate lunch and everything was fantastic. Then after lunch we had both scheduled a hair appointment just around the corner. Once we got to the salon I decide to let Hope go first since she had some errands to run when she was done. I sat and waited for a while and thought about what I would tell the hair dresser, who I had never been to before, how I wanted my hair to be cut. Before I Knew it, it was my turn and I was in the chair. I briefly told the lady that I just wanted a trim, nothing to fantsy. At first things started out fine, I thought that she was doing a good job, but then again what do I know about cutting hair? But as things went on I started to get a little nervous...I think it is looking a little too short. Well, I was right, it was way too short. At this point I knew nothing could be done to save the hair cut. So I kindly told the lady that it looked fine and hurried my way to the counter to pay. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror. Once outside I almost lost it. Now I have never cried over a hair cut before, but I must admit that today I did.
Side note- When Daren and I had gone out to Utah to visit his family his mom was nice enough to take me to get my hair cut. She took me to his cousin Val. Now usually I am pretty easy to please when it comes to hair cuts, i don't get too worked up about it. So Val did her thing and I absolutely LOVED it! Probably the best hair cut I have ever had. Thanks again Val if you see this!
Back to the story... I cried over my hair cut today because the last one I had was so amazing and well now I don't even want to look at myself in the mirror. I know in the grand scheme of things this really means nothing but I don't have to much else going on in my life currently, so bear with me! In a few weeks it will hopefully grow out some and look a little better. I guess I might just have to wait till I can get back to Utah for a real hair cut.

Living Conditions

2008-09-18T18:35:00.001-04:00

I figured that it would be a good idea for me to take a little time and explain, to those of you that don't already know, a little about my current living conditions. I live in...well, a shed. No that is no mistake or typo, I really live in a 10' by 12' shed. Here take a look for yourself...

Yep that is it, my own little house on the prairie. It isn't so bad though, at least I have an air conditioner. Let me point out some of the funnier parts of this picture. See those little white balls on the ground...well those are moth balls. You see I have this overwhelming fear of snakes, and I heard through many people that snakes hate moth balls. So I decided that it would be a good idea to spread a WHOLE box of them along the outside of my shed. Well I know see why snakes don't like them, no one worned me on just how strong they smell. But I will put up with the smell as long as it keeps those darn snakes away. Next, you see those things leaning on the left side of the shed? Well those my friends would be tree stands. Yes, I offically look like the worlds biggest red neck, please don't remind me. I could go on and on about this picture, but I think I will let the viewers make some of their own observations, happy hunting!!

Next is on to the inside of the shed...

No so bad right? That is my very comfy bed...which I might add I have had since I have been 3 years old. Anyway, that is my favorite part and it really is comfortable. Next to my bed on the right is my nightstand/desk/shelves.

Next is on to the closet...

So this is my closet/dresser, I guess. Underneath that shelf is a few more containers and a laundry basket, nothing too exciting.

Next is on to bigger and better...

This building here is our shop/living room/dinning room/kitchen/shower/workout room and probably a few others.

A look at the inside...

Yes, that is it. Not too much else to say. But I think that I should mention that everything, and I do mean everything here is sand. It makes it impossible to keep anything clean when everywhere you turn there is sand. Oh yeah, you see that blue curtain type thing on the right side of the picture? Well ladies and gentlemen that is the "door" to the shower. No such thing as privacy out here.

And the last of all the wonderful amenities...

Yes, currently that is all we have for a lavatory. It isn't sooo bad, it does get cleaned once a week; however, if you have ever lived in North Carolina you know how hot it can get, and that is all I will say about that.

But here is a nice view to leave you with...

This is up the driveway (towards the road), from our, well whatever you want to call it. Just on the other side of those trees really are two houses that are being built. The good news is that my dad is the builder. You see he promised mom and I that we would be in our house by Christmas, but... he wouldn't promise us that it would be Chritmas THIS YEAR.

All and all it really has become home out here. I really enjoy the peace and quite nature has to offer. It really is not as bad as it all might sound to some.

And lastly, the funnist part of all to me is that I have internet out here! I actually wrote this entire post form the comforts of my very own shed!

First Timer

2008-09-17T13:19:00.001-04:00

I decided since lots of people that I know all have blogs that I should join the crowd. And well, I have nothing else to do with my free time right now. Hopefully it will keep me connected with some of the people I can not see as often as I would like. I am not very good with the writing thing, like some people that i know, but I hope to be able to post lots of pictures at least. So if you ever see something on my blog that looks odd please let me know because chances are I still have no idea what I am doing on here.