It’s Ok…

January 24, 2013 By ashleylately 9 Comments

Hey y’all!It’s been awhile since I linked up with Neely and Amber!Here’s what’s ok with me this week!It’s Ok……to be overly excited for Blissdom already!

Between working on community leader stuff (have I mentioned on here that I’m a community leader?), picking out roommate gifts, reading speaker announcements, and chatting about outfits, the excitement is really setting in!

…to be overly excited about a trip home this weekend!

My daddy is testing for his 3rd degree black belt in tae kwon do on Saturday, and we’re going home to watch his test! I missed the test for his second degree, so I’m thrilled to be getting to see this one. It’s a huge deal!

…to have maybe cried a little at the finale of Private Practice on Tuesday night.

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I’m not going to say anything about the show right now in case y’all are planning to watch but haven’t, but watch it quick because we’re talking about it next week!

…to post a picture of my girls, just because I can :)

…to be pretty much obsessed with my iPad.

I really didn’t realize just how helpful it was going to be on an everyday basis. Writing/answering emails, research…it’s actually kind of fun :)

…that snuggling with this little guy is my favorite evening activity.

He loves laying on me and looking at me upside-down. Weirdo. #crazycatlady

What’s Ok with you this week? Link up your posts with Neely and Amber!

Little Miss & Little Bit

January 22, 2013 By ashleylately 8 Comments

Hey y’all!

Last week, we got the wonderful news that Little Miss and Little Bit’s family was officially released from DHS supervision. Their parents have worked so hard to get their lives back on track, and we are so proud of them. I have been so impressed with their dedication to their kids and their determination to get better for their kids.

No more DHS supervision means we can finally share pictures of these sweet girls! I’m thrilled to finally introduce you to Little Miss and Little Bit!

Sorry for the picture overload! I have over a year’s worth of pictures, and this isn’t even close to all of them :)

My first picture with my sweet girls! They look so tiny here!

Halloween 2011

Christmas 2011

Helping Colby Facebook :)

Little Miss

Little Miss came as a teeny tiny little almost two year old. She was so tiny and cute and so much fun. She has grown into a smart, sassy little three year old.

Little Miss was such a tiny little thing when we got her!

She loves cheesing for the camera!

Skyping with family in Japan

Go OU! She loved our matching face tattoos :)

Modeling her new dress

She loved “helping” me work on pearls

Halloween 2012

Making “silly” faces for the camera

She is such a smart little thing :)

Taking pictures of Joyce’s new necklace. She thinks she is all grown up working the iPhone.

New Year’s Eve! She actually took this picture herself! Not bad!

Little Bit

Little Bit came as a sweet baby with the loudest scream I’ve ever heard! She still has a scream, but now she has cute fun little words! It’s been fun to see her transition from baby to toddler to two year old big girl!

She loves snuggling with Colby! A post is coming later all about Little Bit and Colby!

Happy girl!

She loves rice, and she LOVED sneaking it off other people’s plates.

She adores Maverick!

She also really enjoys her food.

Hanging out in Mahya’s backpack

Cupcakes taste better when you squish them between your fingers

Little Bit is unimpressed…

I am so thankful to get to be a part of these girls lives, and I am so proud of their sweet family. I have been amazed at how hard this family has worked to get to be together again. They have overcome so much to become a wonderful success story! As hard as it was for us to have the girls leave, I can’t imagine not seeing this family together again. I look forward to many many years of fun with this family!

Weekend Update

January 21, 2013 By ashleylately 12 Comments

Hey y’all!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Big thanks to everyone who linked up for Sunday Social yesterday! We had sooooooo many linkups, and we appreciate you ALL!

Friday was SUCH a fun night! I met my precious friend Tracy for dinner and a movie. We used to work together, and we became fast friends and have stayed close as we both moved on from that job.

We went to see Les Miserables!

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I have been dying to see this movie, and it was everything I hoped it would be! It was tragic and beautiful and so very well done. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway totally deserve the awards they’ve won, and I hope they both win at the Oscars. We both cried when Anne sang “I Dreamed a Dream”, and we both cried at the end. It was great, and I can’t wait to see it again!

Saturday I worked most of the day and then spent the evening and most of the day Sunday at home snuggling with this cute little guy.

I didn’t feel well, and he was right by my side snuggling with me :)

Have a great Monday, y’all!

The Sunday Social, Week 33

January 20, 2013 By ashleylately 11 Comments

Hey y’all!
I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend! I’ve spent mine with sweet friends and my work fam!
Onto this week’s questions! These are all about 3s!
1. Top 3 favorite kinds of food

My favorites are chocolate, Mexican food, and mac & cheese! Yum-o!

2. First 3 things you do in the morning

I hit the snooze button, wash my face, and brush my teeth.

3. Last 3 things you do at night

Take out my contacts, brush my teeth, and wash my face!

4. 3 TV shows you NEVER miss

Army Wives, Private Practice, and Nashville

5. 3 places you want to visit

NYC, France, and Italy

6. 3 people you can always count on

My mom, Jessica, and Neely. And Teddie too!

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab our button, and link up your posts with Neely and me!

Next week’s questions

1. What is your ideal way to relax?

2. Where is your favorite place to be?

3. Who do you consider your biggest role model?

4. What does your life look like in 3 years?

5. If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?

6. What is your biggest accomplishment in life so far?

Have a great Sunday, y’all!

Happies & Crappies

January 18, 2013 By ashleylately 15 Comments

The Vintage Modern Wife: Happies and Crappies Link Up

Hey y’all!

Today I’m linking up with Sarah and Stephanie for their first week of Happies and Crappies, where we share the good things and not-so-good things about the week. I hope you’ll join in too!

Happies
Dinner/movie date with Tracy tonight!

We are trying to get together once a month, and tonight we are going to see Les Miserables!

My new blog!

I love my new name, I love my new address, I looooove it!

Facetime with the fam!

Momma and I have been facetiming a lot lately, and this week my cat Jack and Hershey, one of their cats, got to see each other! They were very interested :)

I got an iPad!

I am having a blast with it so far!

JON ACUFF followed me on the twit!

I have been a big fan since he spoke at last year’s Blissdom, and I got a little giddy when I saw the message pop up :)

Crappies

Monday wasn’t the greatest day. I woke up late, scrambled to get ready for work, and right as I was getting ready to leave, I knocked a bottle of water off my table in my room and spilled it EVERYWHERE!

That’s all I’ve got! It’s been a pretty great week!

Link up your happies and crappies with Steph and Sarah!

Have a great weekend!

Ashley Lately is here!

January 17, 2013 By ashleylately 14 Comments

Hey y’all!

Can you see me? :)

I am just thrilled that Ashley Lately is official! I’m excited for the future of this blog, and the change has really re-energized me and breathed some life into this blog.

I have to say a super HUGE thanks to Jenn for all of her work updating, transferring, and answering my goofy questions! I could not do this without her. I cannot say enough how wonderful it is to have someone take care of my blog that can also be a sweet friend. Her work is wonderful, and her friendship is amazing! If you ever need blog work done, use her! You’ll love her, I promise!

I also have to say a big thank you to Neely! Her very first Neely Lately post inspired me, and I’ve loved the ‘Lately’ posts since then! It made perfect sense to use that when I decided to rename! She also helped with the tagline by adding in the Dr. Pepper part. She can definitely take credit for that too :)

Have a great Thursday, y’all!

I’m Moving!

January 16, 2013 By ashleylately 17 Comments

Hey y’all!

What do you think of the new header and button? I loved the design, so when I decided to change the name I knew I couldn’t mess with the design. The girl, the headband, and the cat were just too perfect :)

Hopefully sometime today, Jenn will be switching the blog over to the new domain, which will be www.ashleylately.com. It feels so cool to really have my own space, away from blogspot. I think my blog should still show up for everyone, but just in case you can’t find me, that’s where I’ll be!

Thanks for all the love for the new name! I feel like this is almost like a fresh new start for this little blog, and I’m excited to see where things go from here!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ashley’s Carnival Ride is now…

January 15, 2013 By ashleylately 16 Comments

Ok, y’all. Here is is!

Ashley’s Carnival Ride is changing to…

When I first started looking at new names, it was the first one on my list. It’s simple, and it just feels…right. The fabulous Jenn is finishing updating my info, and I will be transferring to a new domain soon.

I will keep y’all posted! I am excited for this new direction and the changes to come!

Dr. Pepper Cake Recipe

January 15, 2013 By ashleylately 6 Comments

Hey y’all!

A couple of weeks ago when my parents came to visit, my grandmother made a fabulous Dr. Pepper cake! I posted a picture on Twitter and Instagram, and I had several requests for the recipe, so I thought I would share it here with y’all!

It’s soooooo good, y’all!

Dr. Pepper Cake

1 cup butter

1 cup Dr. Pepper

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp soda

1 tsp vanilla

4 tbsp cocoa

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

Heat butter and Dr. Pepper. Add cocoa, cinnamon, flour, and sugar. Mix eggs, buttermilk, soda, and vanilla, and add to the rest of the mixture. Pour into prepared 9×13 pan. Bake about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

For the icing:

Heat 1/4 cup butter

3 tbsp cocoa

1/4 cup Dr. Pepper

Bring to a boil, and then add 1 cup of chopped nuts and 1 box of powdered sugar.

Let me know if you try it! I’d love to see pictures if you do!

Enjoy, y’all!

The Sunday Social, Week 32

January 13, 2013 By ashleylately 8 Comments

Hey y’all!Today we’re going back to the beginning and giving you another chance to introduce your blogs! We have so many new people every week that we like to give everyone a chance to talk about their blog!
1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging?

My blog name (for the moment) is Ashley’s Carnival Ride! I got the title from my favorite line in the song “Wheel of the World”. I think it’s a great way to look at life. I am changing the name of my blog VERY soon, so I will talk more about that another time.

I’ve been blogging almost three years. I will celebrate my blogoversary at the end of the month!

2. Why do you blog?

I blog because I love to write. I love having my own space to write about whatever is on my mind. I continue to blog because of the wonderful friendships I’ve made through blogging.

3. What is the first blog you ever followed?

I don’t totally remember. I think it might have been Kelly’s Korner, but I’m not totally sure.

4. What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012?
I loved my post called A Year of Foster Care where I wrote about Wade and Joyce’s first year of being foster parents.

5. What are your blogging goals for 2013?

I want to continue to grow my blog and make new friends. I hope to write more often than I did in 2012.

6. Name your top 3 favorite blogs.

A Complete Waste of Makeup (duh!)