Life...

Well Life has been nothing short of Amazing! All our hard work seems to be paying off. And my husband and I feel like we can breathe easy and enjoy our family. We are loving every minute of our lives. For those of you who don't know. A year ago our family was in a very different place. We used every last drop of our savings on our wedding. Saved a little more, tried to have a baby and got pregnant. we were very happy and thriving newlyweds. and then my husband was hurt, and he lost his job. The state, salvation army, church's and family had no way to help us with rent and we had to leave our home, sell most of our belongings, and move to another state into a bedroom where my brother and sister in law let us stay. after a couple months my husband found a job driving long haul and was only home a few days a month. We then moved again to stay with my mother in her living room for a couple months and after that we moved once again into his sisters home. Finally in May we were able to get our own apartment. Its big enough for everyone and since we moved here we have made huge changes to our daily lives. We save, coupon, budget, make our own items, and enjoy time rather than material possessions. I have started businesses to help make money and we work together as a family for everything we need. I am telling you all this because i know how many people are out of work. I know many people in a bad situation and just have no idea what they are going to do. This time last year my husband and i had nothing but each other and now we have everything we have ever wanted. were happy, healthy, and are financially stable. We set goals and we reach them together and we no longer "need" so many things. we simply enjoy what we have. I think we are doing so well because we are more aware of our spending but also because of what we went through last year. we know what is truly important for us and our children to lead happy, healthy lives. I promise if you are in a rough spot that things will get better. and i promise you will view things differently when it does.

Pay it Forward!

Hello everyone. I know that in this economy we are all thinking of how we can get presents under the tree for just our family let alone give any to those in need. I mean hell we are in need ourselves right? Well I want to strongly encourage all of you to keep reading and maybe change your mind and your Christmas lists just a little to fit in something for a child that could use something too. As most people know i joined Scentsy back in August. Scentsy strongly encourages their consultants to give back to the community in any way possible and this led to me starting a charity event for a local Domestic Violence Resource Center. My goal is to be able to deliver 100 Scentsy Buddy's to them during the holiday season. They intend on using these buddy's to give to children during their first counseling session. Scentsy buddy's are $25.00 and they are a stuffed animal with a scented pack in the back of them. When the child gives their buddy a hug the comforting smell is released through the buddy. Please take a moment and visit this website http://www.dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C37/ and learn about what this amazing place does for the children who just want peace in their lives. They truly do make a difference in those childrens life and now you can too. If you would like to donate please email me at Tobley@rocketmail.com My name is Ashley. Thank you very much!

Budgeting YUCK!!

I am fully aware that the title Budgeting does not entice many people since its actually one of the most dreadful things we all do each month but hear me out... So My husband was getting quite overwhelmed by doing our budget. By "doing our budget" i mean he just kept a number in his head of all our money and accounts etc. Obviously that can be stressful and wasnt working. So he decided it should be mine to deal with. I was not very excited about this at all. The last thing i want to do is worry about our finances. However it is a part of having a family and needless to say....I started our budget. I found this really great website called www.budgetsimple.com It is exactly what it says. SIMPLE! we do not do any online banking and we also have other income that does not hit our bank account so tracking it on our online banking is not an option. This website puts it all in one place. Lets you know when your purchase was not budgeted for and keeps you aware of how many times you step out of your budget. We are a nickle and dime family so this was very important for us. You input your salary and any kind of salary not just from work. like Social Security, child support etc. then you enter in all that you are planning to spend during the month. it keeps everything right where it needs to be and flags things so that you know and are aware of what is going on. Anyways there is a bit more too it but just know that if you are struggling a little on making a budget or if you have that notebook filled with all of your transactions its time to move on and find a easier way. check it out i think you will love it!

Bread Making???

Well my Blogging Friends I have always been a lover of bread. In fact i am probably addicted to bread of all kinds but I have always wanted to make it. Well Yesterday we ran out of bread and i needed it to make my husbands lunch. I know what you are thinking.....just go to the store and get a loaf. Well in our world that is just not possible for we have one vehicle and when my husband is at work i am home. So i went on an internet search....found a few recipes, liked none of them, and created my own out of the multitude that were there. Now just so you know we do not have a bread maker. and we do not have a stand mixer so this is a real from scratch made with my own two hands kinda recipe. In my opinion this is the EASIEST sand which bread recipe i have found. It takes a great deal of time from start to finish but not too much hands on time. simply just the rising time. so here we go are you ready???

What you need:
2cups warm water
2Tbs Sugar
1Tbs Dry Active yeast (if using packets measure them)
2Tbs softened butter
5 1/2 Cups All Purpouse Flour (more to work with)
1Tbs Salt
2 Large Bowls
plastic wrap
Pam or other cooking spray
Two Full size loaf pans

First thing to do is take care of the yeast. Now do this first!! because if you do not get the result you need from the yeast all else is out the window.
*Place luke warm water and sugar in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved.
*Then add the Yeast. Stir until dissolved. Then let sit for 5-10 min. or until kinda bubbly/foamy
*Next Add your flour and your salt! and let the fun begin!! MIX, MIX, MIX! Don't use your hand quite yet because you have to grab the BUTTER!
*Cut up the butter into smaller pieces so its easier to incorporate within the dough. Now add it to the dough and start mixing with your hands.
*When you get it a bit easier to handle you will want to Flour your counter or workspace thoroughly and start kneading the dough. You will be doing this for quite a while. But its a nice little upper body work out. Keep up the good work!!
*You are finished when your dough look like this!
nice and smooth and elastic but NOT STICKY!

Great job! now shape into a ball and place into your greased bowl!

Now place a greased piece of plastic wrap over the top. Grease side down. :) Like this...

Now its time to let it rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it gets doubled in size! So go put up your feet, watch some dr.phil, play a game with the kiddos or finish that laundry :)

When it has Doubled in size it will look like this!

If it has doubled in size then you are doing AWESOME!! A little pat on the back is in order!
*Now you punch down the dough (this is not the time to take out aggression lol) just get the air out.

*Now Knead it a few times and cut the ball in half like this!

*Now we place into our two greased loaf pans and let rise again for an hour. Go relax, Have some Coffee and read :) (i know easier said than done)

Have they Doubled Again???

*YAY ITS TIME TO BAKE FINALLY!!!
*Set oven to 350 and Bake away for 35 to 40 min or until golden brown.
My oven is hotter than normal so it took only 32 for me!

Let cool for about 5 min. then take out of loaf pans and let cool until ready to eat.

Slice it up! and Enjoy!!! Great Job!!!! You just made bread!!!