Easy as Pie Lemonade Pie

Hey guys!
Long time no blog! I've been waiting for things to settle down, and I had to tutor my sister in history, because she's not doing well. Finally though I can share with you my wonderful recipe for lemonade pie...not to brag or anything, but I guarantee it will be a crowd pleaser. :)

(Makes about 6 servings.)

Ingredients:
3/4 cup partially thawed lemonade concentrate or pink lemonade concentrate (If you love pink like me lol)
1 14 oz can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1 package frozen whipped topping, thawed (CoolWhip)
1 graham cracker pie crust

Directions:
Combine lemonade concentrate and condensed milk in bowl. Fold in whipped topping gently until thoroughly mixed. Spoon mixture into pie crust. Chill until ready to serve!
Enjoy!

XOXO,
Ash

Easy + Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting

Here's the topper to my red velvet brownies post: a cream-cheese frosting recipe guaranteed to please! (LOL that rhymed...) Hope you enjoy! NOTE: Double or triple recipe if frosting is not enough. I like to dump a lot on there :)

Healthy Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
3 ounces of reduced fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons agave
1 tablespoon butter

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and beat till creamy!

XOXO,
Ash

Red Velvet Brownies

I recently had guests over, and of course, I wanted to impress them with my baking ability. I had originally planned to make zucchini bread, as I know that's always a favorite. But I just had no time! I had all of the ingredients, I just wasn't into it for some reason. I then surfed all of my favorite cooking websites for inspiration and came across red velvet brownies. I have had them before, and really enjoyed them. So I got to work!

Ingredients:
1 box red velvet cake mix
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I might have *accidentally* put in 2 cups...)
1 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
3/4 cup of butter, melted (I'm going to play around with this, and see if I can sub the butter for something healthier like olive oil or a mashed banana. 3/4 cup is a lot of butter!)
1/2 cup water

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Combine egg, butter, water in a bowl. Add red velvet mix, stir until the ingredients are combined, and lumps are gone.
3. Add chips and nuts if used and pour mixture into greased 9 by 13 inch baking pan.
4. Bake for about 40 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes before applying frosting.
5. Frost brownies with cream cheese frosting: store-bought or homemade. (Recipe will be up!)
6. Place in fridge and take out about 5-10 minutes before serving!

XOXO,
Ash

My Workout Playlist

Hey you guys!

I am not a big fan of running, but I do love music. Especially the music that keeps me running!
Here are some of my favorite songs to listen to while working out!

1. Classic by MKTO
2. Love Runs Out by OneRepublic
3. Heartache on the Big Screen by 5 Seconds of Summer
4. Don't Stop by 5 Seconds of Summer
5. Fancy by Iggy Azalea
6. Cobrastyle by Teddy Bears
7. Just a Little Bit by Kids of 88
8. My Body by Young the Giant
9. Heartattack by Lovett
10. Change by Churchill
11. Cayendo by Deorro
12. Diana by One Direction
13. Believer by American Authors
14. Work Hard, Play Hard by Wiz Khalifa
15. #thatPower by will.i.am and Justin Bieber

Happy Running!

XOXO,
Ash

My Fitness Routine + Best Store-Bought Snacks

Hey you guys!

I know that you guys have been wanting more fitness stuff from me, so here it is! I hope we're all continuing that happy healthy lifestyle and keeping in mind our body goals.
So as a reward for completing this workout, I have some snacks on the bottom, for the days when you just can't bear mixing a smoothie or cooking something healthy. I got you!

Battle the Bulge Monday:
(20 seconds of rest in between)
Stretch
30 regular curl-ups
1 minute plank
20 bicycle curl-ups
1 minute side plank
20 regular curl-ups
1 minute side plank
Repeat three times

Amazing Arms Tuesday:
(20 seconds of rest in between)
50 push-ups
1 side plank
50 curls with weight of choice on right arm
1 side plank on left arm
50 curls with weight of choice on left arm
1 side plank on right arm
Repeat twice

Rest Wednesday:
YAY!!!

Cardio Thursday:
Stretch
Run/Walk on either Treadmill or Outside for at least 40 minutes to an hour
NOTE: I am not a good runner, so I try to run for one song, then walk to the next and alternate like that for my run. Comment down below if you want my workout music!

Lean Legs Friday:
Stretch
50 lunges in place, rotating legs each time
1 minute wall sit
30 regular squats
45 second wall sit
30 ballet squats (get into a plie and go up and down regularly)
1 minute pulse squats (get into a squat position and go down more in short bursts)


Yoga Saturday or Sunday:
I know that the weekend is always hectic, so squeeze this routine in one of the two days.
I absolutely love Tone It Up. They're great!
Here's their Love Your Body Routine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygajDhVgkO0

And now to the part we've been waiting for...SNACKS!!!

1. FiberOne Brownies
These are so great for when you have a sweet tooth. They are really a great substitution for brownies, too. I only recommend the fudge one though, because I tried the chocolate chip, and it was DISGUSTING!!! I hated it. I still need to try the lemon one though...

2. Stone-Ground Fig Bars
These are an amazing substitute for the much less healthier Nutri-Grain version. Everything is organic, and it's whole wheat! Which is amazing! Look at my Favorites post for a detailed description.

3. Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips (Nothing but Sea Salt)
I love these pita chips. They are truly a wonderful substitute for Doritos, but you still need to be careful. They are full of carbs and sodium; however, with a bowl of hummus and salsa, they aren't too bad every once in a while. :)

I hope you loved this fitness post. Let me know what you want to see next! Your comments mean the world to me.
XOXO,
Ash

June Favorites!

So this is long overdue, but here they are! The stuff I've been loving in the wonderful month of June!

Food:

1. Fig Bars

I love these fig bars. They taste almost exactly like fig newtons. They are amazing! Plus, they follow the bikini plan!

2. Starbucks Refreshers

These drinks are amazing. They are a great alternative to soda, with only 90 calories. However, they are rather high in sugar, with about 20 grams, so be careful. Also, they have a LOT of caffeine. And I do mean a lot! I drank my first with dinner one night, and I don't think I had fallen asleep until about 1! But they taste amazing! I seriously would have them all the time, if I wasn't afraid of going into a caffeine coma. (Is that possible?)

Beauty:

1. Suave Hairspray

I don't enjoy putting on hairspray, because usually my hair can hold it's position for a while without it. But I decided to try one, and I could not be happier. This hairspray smells amazing, and it washes out easily. It is amazing, and it doesn't make you hair stiff, unlike others.

TV Shows:

1. The Middle

2. The Big Bang Theory

3. Teen Wolf

Music:

Trumpets by Jason Derulo
Problem by Ariana Grande
Fancy by Iggy Azalea
Boom Clap by Charlie XCX
Rude by MAGIC!
American Dream by MKTO
All of Me by John Legend

XOXO,
Ash

Interior Design Plan - Stunning Sapphires

I'm dipping my toe into the ocean of interior design. I'm about to redecorate my room, so I'm sharing one of my plans with you guys! I hope you enjoy! Leave feedback for me in the comments!


Stunning Sapphires Bedroom

Bed:

Preferably white, but any color works

Bedspread: 

White with deep blue peacock (green, brown, pink) accented duvet

Blue-green striped sheets or plain sheets in green, brown, or pink, or paisley sheets

Lighting:

Basic desk lamp with bright blue spray painted base, white shade, optional beads from lampshade

If room, then floor light would be nice, same as desk lamp

On shelves, hang sting of paper lanterns

Floor:

Any floor or carpet will work

Walls:

3 cream colored walls

1 sapphire colored wall

Wall Hanging:

3 different paintings of sapphire flowers (acrylic, watercolour, PrismaColor) in bronze frames

Spell out name in letters painted in blue green paisley design on top

Desk:

Accessorize with clear mason jars filled with blue and green stones or really anything blue or green

Decorations:

Decorative glass vases with different shades of blue bouquets

XOXO,
Ash

My Famous Zucchini Bread Recipe

I love dessert. I hate zucchini. Like seriously, it tastes disgusting! When I first heard of zucchini bread, I was not too excited about trying it. However, when I went over to a friend's for lunch, she had baked zucchini bread, so I tried it. And it was amazing! Below is my recipe for zucchini bread. I took my friend's recipe, so credit goes to her! ILYSM!


Zucchini Bread


3 1/4 all-purpose or wheat flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg (ground)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon (ground
1 cup sugar
1 cup Stevia/Truvia (If you don't like Stevia/Truvia, substitute with 2 cups sugar. I just wanted to make it a bit healthier!)
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs or 4 medium eggs
1/3 cup water
2 cups finely grated zucchini
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup walnuts or almonds or pecans *optional*
1 cup chocolate chips *optional*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugar. In a separate bowl, combine oil, eggs, water, zucchini, and lemon juice. Mix wet ingredients into dry. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts if applicable. Bake in 2 standard loaf pans, sprayed with nonstick spray for 1 hour, or until a fork/tester comes out clean. Check bread at 45 mins.  (My oven is usually done in 45-50 mins.)

NOTE: This is not a extremely healthy recipe, so if following the bikini plan, (refer to earlier post), then make sure to exercise! :)

XOXO,
Ash

Banana Ice Cream + Watermelon Popsicles = SUMMER! :)

Yes, I know I'm late. *cowers in fear* I really need to be more punctual.
Anyways, school is finally over!!!! I am so ridiculously excited for summer. So, as a treat, I'm going to be sharing to recipes for you guys that are sweet and good for you. Also, stay tuned for my June favorites coming up soon!!!


Banana Ice Cream

This recipe is so easy and delicious, you going to love it.

1. Peel a banana.
2. Mash it with a spoon in a small dish.
3. Place it in the freezer for at least one hour, depending on how hard you want it.
NOTE: Remember to take your spoon out before freezing. Also, if you want it to be a bit softer, add a tiny bit of skim milk to the banana mash and mix it well.
4. Take out, and enjoy!

Just to remind you how amazing bananas are...

Watermelon Popsicles
I. Love. Watermelon. It is so flipping good!

2 cups of diced watermelon (with the seeds removed
1 cup of frozen berries
1 packet of Truvia/Stevia or 2 tablespoons of sugar

Puree all ingredients together in a blender, then pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Take out after 2-3 hours and enjoy!

I hope you guys like them!

XOXO,
Ash

Cake in a Mug...Need I Say More? ;)

I love cake. But then again, who doesn't? I also love making easy things. But then again, who doesn't? (Ok, now I need to stop. ;) ) Cakes in mugs have been popping up everywhere, and I figured I needed to try them. I think it's a genius idea, because instead of eating the whole cake, you only make one serving which satisfies your sweet tooth. I've stayed away from these recipes for a while now because they usually have a lot of sugar in them, even just for only one serving. So when I came across chocolatecoveredkatie.com's amazing recipe (credit goes to her), I knew I had to share with you guys, along with a couple of my tweaks. Just a disclaimer, they don't have eggs in them. I'm very nervous to have eggs cooked in the microwave because I feel that it won't cook properly, and you can get tons of bad health issues by eating raw eggs. So to be one the safe side...

And now, without further ado, TA-DA!!!!

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

1 tablespoon plus 2 tsp cocoa powder (I used Swiss Miss.)

3 tablespoons flour (I used all purpose, and I also used only about 2 1/2 tbsp. That was enough for me, because I don't like too much flour, especially cooked in a microwave.)

1/8 tsp salt (just a pinch)

1 tbsp and 2 tsp sugar or 2 packets of Truvia/Stevia

1/4 tsp baking powder

2-3 tsp veggie oil (coconut works too, and according to Katie's audience, so does mashed banana. I just used the veggie oil.)

3 tablespoons milk of choice (I used skim milk)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (I used about 3/8 of a tsp, because I just thought it was sweet enough with the Stevia/Truvia.)

 

Combine dry ingredients and mix very, very well. Add liquid, then stir. Microwave 30-40 seconds. (I do about 1 min. and 15 seconds, just to make sure it's properly cooked.) If you don’t want to eat it straight out of the dish, be sure to spray your dish first (and then wait for it to cool before trying to remove it).

NOTE: I mix all of my ingredients in the same mug/ramekin I microwave in, but you can put the mixture in a different container after the add-liquid-then-stir step. 

I hope you guys enjoy! Comment on how yours turned out!

XOXO,

Ash

SORRY! + April/March Faves + Basic Makeup List

I'm sorry! Don't kill me! I tried to blog! Things have been crazy lately. But finally everything is slowing down, so you will see more posts from me! Now, into the post:

I have been really loving...

Food: 

My first fave for food is not an item. It's a website. Lately I've been loving chocolatecoveredkatie's recipes. She has a website, so check them out! They're great alternatives to traditional desserts. 

www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com

So is my second. I'm sorry! I've just been attempting to eat healthier, and because of my sweet tooth, I've been searching for health-friendly desserts. Nosh & Nourish is a fabulous website with and even more inspiring story. Check it out!

www.noshandnourish.com

I've also really, really been loving pandas. 

Let me explain. I went over to a friends house for a girls movie night, and she offered me these cookies. And they're not just any cookies. They're panda cookies! Now, most of you know that I love pandas, elephants, and owls. I just adore them. 

And I obviously love cookies. Sooooooo....this is freaking perfect!!!

And this is when I start singing cheesy disney songs. Go figure.

Beauty:

This month, I've been sporting weird things on my face, so I had to go buy makeup. I usually don't wear makeup, but I wanted to give you guys a "what's in my makeup bag" spiel. It also doubles as a great starter makeup kit. Anyways...

1) concealer

I use CoverGirl+Olay balm concealer. I like it a lot because while it covers up my blemishes, it still leaves my skin looking natural and the same shade as it is! (I've had my skin turn a different color before. Not cool. )

2) BB Cream

I don't know about you, but I really hate foundation. I just can't wear that much product on my face. It makes me feel sticky and disgusting, and I believe makeup is onto there to enhance your natural beauty, not cover it up. I still needed something lighter though, so I turned to BB cream. I use the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, and I have to say, I love it. It's amazing, matches my skin tone, and perfects my skin to the point where I don't have to wear concealer anymore. And in my opinion, one less product on your face, the better!

3) Pressed Powder

On those days where you don't feel like doing anything, use pressed powder. Not to be confused with loose powder, this powder basically works as a type of foundation. I have heard about people using it to set their foundation, and I advise against it, because it puts a lot on your face, and doesn't really achieve that effortless look we all want. ;)

4) Mascara

Mascara is probably the most basic product on the list. It quick and easy to use, and pretty inexpensive. I prefer the Maybelline Falsies, but right now I have the CoverGirl lashblast 24 hours one, and it works great too.

5) Blush

Ever since I was little, I've always loved blush. Something about it makes it seem so fairytaleish to me. Mine is the Maybelline FitMe blush in the shade light mauve. It even has sparkles! 

That's it for now. I love you guys, and please comment! It means so much to me!

XOXO,

Ash

Staying Healthy and Gearing up for... BIKINI SEASON!

So I am super excited for the summer. Some of my favorite things to do though involve getting into a bathing suit. Let me get something straight. I am not unhealthy. My BMI is normal, and I am in no danger health wise. However, this doesn't mean I feel entirely too comfortable strutting my stuff in a bikini or wearing size double-zero jeans. I am healthy, but I definitely want to be able to wear a bikini and not feel ashamed, because I have no reason to be! Now, disclaimer here. I don't say this applies to everyone, but I know I am dissatisfied with my body image. I want to be more healthy! So these are a few of my tips to help achieve my and hopefully our body goals.

                        

1. No sugar! Ok I know this is a hard one. I personally have to admit that I don't follow it all the time. What I do is I allow myself one bad carb (i.e. White bread/rice) or one sugar item (i.e. Starbucks!) each day. Just make sure that you don't choose  something too sugary or carby(?). 
2. Go easy on the salt. Now this one is not one that you can have leeway with. I'm serious. Having a bit of a salt is good, but your kidneys don't like it when you overload. Right now, it's hard to think ahead, but you definitely don't want any kidney disease or cancer from salt. Cutting back now is best, and plus, you're a step closer to your dream body!
3. Whole, not Multi-Grain. Studies have shown that whole grain is way better for you then multi. Whole grain also takes your body longer to digest, so you'll stay full longer.
4. Get those spices in your belly. A lot of studies have proven that eating paprika or chiles in your diet can speed up your metabolism. Also, the more spicy stuff you eat, the more water you'll drink, the less hungry you'll be. Which leads me to...
5. Be a WATER BABY! So along with that perfect body, everyone wants that glowing, acne-free skin. Drinking water is amazing for that. It's like killing two birds with one stone! And like it said before, the more water you drink, the less hungry you'll be. Plus, that beautiful glowing skin is a big plus! :)
6. Greek yogurt. This fun substitute for regular fat-free yogurt is chock-full of protein, and keeps you full for a long time. I eat about 2 cups of plain greek yogurt, 1 cup of blueberries, and 1 cup of non-sugary granola each day for lunch. I'm usually so tired just chewing all of this, that I'm not even hungry to eat anything else. Plus, this meal is full of protein, and has almost all of the food groups: carbs, sugars, dairy.
7. BLUEBERRIES!!! I love these small fruits, so when I heard they boost metabolism, I got really excited. Make sure not to go overboard, because while the sugars in it are good for you, you still can't eat like a ton of them. I think about one cup will be sufficient.
8. Almond butter. I've mentioned this before, but almond butter is great for you. It has protein and tastes amazing. I like spreading it on whole grain bread in the morning. It gives me a brilliant kick start to my day!
9. Exercise! Do NOT think that you can just diet and not exercise and get away with it. Being healthy is our goal here, and exercise is vital to our regime. I personally adore doing yoga in the nighttime, before bed to kind of great ready to sleep. I choose to do my cardio in the mornings. And guess what? Nobody is a huge fan of cardio, but it works wonders. My personal routine consists of 100 jumping jacks, squats, and curl ups, with minute long planks as resting periods. Side planks are also a part of my routine. Comment if you want my routine!
10. Get a buddy. Doing it with other people keeps you motivated!
11. Don't eat out. I know how tempting it is to pick up the phone and order Pizza Hut. Don't do it! Although it's convenient, you WILL regret it the next time you weigh yourself.
12. Yoga. I love doing yoga, because it melts the pounds off and feels relaxing. It just clears my head!
13. Reward yourself! Remember, this is pretty hard stuff! So make sure to reward yourself. Set goals, like every two pounds I lose, I'll buy one musical album from my favorite artist. Or, my favorite, I'll go shopping and see how I look in those skinny jeans that didn't fit a month ago. :)

The most important thing is making yourself happy and feeling good about yourself. Exercising and eating correctly is not dieting, it's making sure you will lead a long and happy life. It's not about becoming skinny, it's about being comfortable in you own skin. Confidence is the best thing you can have, along with a smile to accessorize! :) (Was that to cheddar-filled?)

XOXO, 

Ash

January Faves

Hey Lovelies,

So this month I've had a ton of favorites. Like, so many it's an obsession. :)

Beauty:

Fishtail Braids

I have to admit to you lovelies that I'm not the girl who curls her hair each day. I usually just stick it in a ponytail and skedaddle out the door. (Or some days, it's BEANIE time!) Also, I have super thick hair and it takes forever to do things to. Way too much effort I'm the wee hours of the morning! I on,y recently learned how to do a fishtail, and these are some of the dos and don'ts I learned.
DO: Take 2 cm sections. The smaller the better, but just remember, the smaller you make them, the more intricate it looks, but also the more time it takes.
DON'T: Get impatient! I know this is a hard one, but try to hang in there until you're done. I find that listening to music helps me not get bored. Also, imagining how amazing my arms will look from braiding so much during summer tank top season! (Boys go to the gym, girls have high-cardio braiding sessions 😜)
DO: Practice. The more you do it, the better you'll get. Also, messy fishtails are totally in as well! If your braid didn't turn out perfect, just wear some confidence, and everyone will think you made a little messy on purpose. (I love it when guys do that. Swoon.)

Photo Credit: http://www.hairstylesguide.org/fishtail-braid-hairstyles/fishtail-braid-hairstyles-29/

BEANIES!

I seriously love these things. It's an addiction. They're perfect for those bad hair/lazy days when you just want to stick it up in a pony and forget about it. We've all been there! I would recommend putting it in a simple braid and then wearing a beanie on top. Or, for a dressy/casual look, you can even fishtail your hair and then put a beanie on top! Perfect for those cozy November/December days.
TIP: I usually get mine from PacSun (Neff beanies), but any place works!

Photo Credit: http://www.zumiez.com/brands/neff.html

E.O.S.

So my lips get super chapped in the winter, and I'm perpetually searching for a perfect lip product. This is prob the best one I've ever used. I adore my honeydew melon scented one, but they come in tons of yummy favors! I also love the summer fruit. I mean, who doesn't like smelling like summer in this blah winter we've been having?

Photo Credit: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/eos-lip-balm/images/33311192/title/eos-lip-balm-photo

Food:

Macarons!

I love the little cookies. Like seriously. They come in many amazing flavors, and I feel like I just understood the word heavenly while eating them. No joke. If you don't know them, these summery french delicacies are melt-in-the-mouth desserts that want to make you eat the whole platter.

Photo Credit: http://easymacarons.com/

CLIF Bars

So I've been searching for a long time for the perfect energy bar to keep me going throughout the day. Plus, I'm engaged in sports, so before a game, I'll just stick these in my bag and I'm good to go!

Photo Credit: http://www.bulubox.com/clif-bar.html

Welch's Fruit Snacks

I am not too little for this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these! They're delicious. I'm super picky about eating them. I spread them all out and eat my faves, the strawberries last. Comment on your fave!

Photo Credit: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Welch-s-Mixed-Fruit-Fat-Free-Fruit-Snacks-.9-oz-22ct/17247711

Almond Butter

So I'm not a health freak, but I do love eating foods that are not only tasty, but good for my body. So because I really need something that lasts me throughout the day, I found that almond butter on toast with a smudge of jam (gotta treat yourself, right?)  is the perfect thing! I encourage you all to try almond instead of peanut butter. Comment if you do! I think you will love it!

Photo Credit: http://www.iherb.com/Justin-s-Nut-Butter-Vanilla-Almond-Butter-16-oz-454-g/48053

Music: 

This January, I have been loving...
Counting Stars, by OneRepublic
Best Day of My Life by American Authors
Love Don't Die by The Fray
Diana by One Direction
Team by Lorde

Happy by Pharell

Let It Go by Idina Menzel from Frozen (I am not too old for Disney movies. I hope. )
Say Something covered by Alex and Sierra from the X Factor (I love them!)
Marry Me by Jason Derulo
Talk Dirty to Me by Jason Derulo (Hate the message, but I just couldn't help it! It's catchy!)
All Too Well by Taylor Swift
Enchanted by Taylor Swift

As always, comment on what you want me to post about next and I will try to do that! I love you guys.

 

XOXO

ASH