schoolin.

It is time for my schoolin update. I am into my 3rd module of college courses! Hooraay!!!! I have 2 more weeks left in this module...then a 10 day break...and then 4th mod starts! I am trucking along! By the middle of May, I will have completed atleast 24 of the 60 hours I need to get my associates! Yay! I say atleast 24 because I might add another class to the next module. I am loving taking online classes. Sure, some of the classes I am taking I really don't care much about...I have to take them because they are required...but it's all good in da hood. I am just bookin along.

I had 3 tests to complete this week...and I am here to report that I did very well on all 3...yay!!! I also have a paper due by 11:55 pm on Sunday night...I have not started on the paper yet...I am a last minute paper writer kind of person. It gives me a boost to get it done and I don't ponder too long. I'll write it tomorrow.

The one thing I unfortunately do not get is a spring break. Bummer. Oh well, I really don't care.

I am hoping that by May 2011 I will be finished with my associates...this can happen...no, this will happen. That is my goal. Since I will still be taking classes over the summer...this is going to happen!

I am learning a lot of things these day...not only with school, but with life...I like to learn...some things need to be drilled in thru my thick skull.

Still learning...

again.

The salsa was just so amazing the other night, I had to have it again! Of corse, there was none left over, so I had to make a whole new batch...I forgot to buy a lime, but it was still delish! I could eat this by the spoonful...oh wait, I was doing that.

2 spices/seasonings that I cannot live without are Cayenne Pepper and Garlic Salt. The cayenne pepper gives foods a little kick, and the garlic salt gives food a little more flavor. I like to add the cayenne to my scrambled eggs in the morning. Gives it a punch and helps to get the metabolism running...and my metabolism needs running...I'll take what I can get.

It was FREEZING at soccer practice today. I'm sure my nose was running, but I couldn't feel my face, so for those of you reading this...if I had snot on my face, my apologies...I was completely numb. When I was leaving, a girl passed by my car and I attempted to wave to her...my fingers wouldn't move they were so stiff, so instead of waving with my fingers, I just had to shake my hand up and down to even get a visible wave...im sure I looked dumb...I was just sooo frozen

work and biscuits.

So, last night I was craving homemade biscuits, but I didn't have all the stuff. So, after work today I went to the store and got the rest of the ingredients because I had to have me a mouth watering buttery biscuit. Next time I make them, I will use a smidge less salt than it called for...I am not into salty biscuits...just moist and buttery. I didn't have a biscuit cutter either, but lumpy biscuits are just as tasty!!!

Welcome to my office. Here is where I work all day everyday! I love my office...it is at the end of the hall...only one way in...and totally secluded. It does get lonely back in the hole sometimes, but I enjoy the quiet, plus I can hear Bobby from across the hall, so I know I am nottruly alone. :)

This is the cutter...I slice and dice stickers here...ALOT of stickers

Last, but not least, this is my view...other than looking at the computer, I get to look at that gorgeous machine outside my door. His name, Mr. Lanier. He is the man in my life. I like to dance with him, and when he is having a bad day, I give him and kick and yell at him. For the most part he works perfectly, but occasionally he gets sick. Yes, I know...I'm cool...but seriously, dance parties with Mr. Lanier are pretty fun/funny!

Now to end the day with a math test and begin working on english!!!

salsa.

I am having trouble remembering to get my camera and take pictures while I work...hopefully, I will remember next time.

I love chips and salsa...who doesn't? So, today, I decided I wanted to make homemade salsa. I got the recipe from thepioneerwoman.com. Let me just tell you, she was not kidding when she said it was the BEST! From the onion, tomato, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, and cumin, you can taste every ingredient in this salsa! I then melted pepper jack and monterey jack cheeses on tortilla chip. Oh my stars, the combination was just sooo delicious!!!!

As you can probably tell, I am on a in the kitchen kick. As I said yesterday, it is a get away for me. I absolutely love the experience! Trust me the picture doesn't even begin to explain just how good it really was! I think I am going to by some jars so I can keep it for a little longer.

baking.

I absolutely LOVE to bake. It is like therapy. When I am in the kitchen nothing else exists except the project I am working on. So, as I was reading one of my favorite blogs yesterday, and I found the perfect chocolate recipe that I needed to make for a co-workers birthday. You see, Scott is a HUGE lover of chocolate. It is called Life by Chocolate. And seriously, it is ALOT of chocolate. You can find the recipe on http://thepioneerwoman.com/. After you take one look at her amazing blog, you will be hooked. Here are some pictures of the cupcakes and cake round after they were made, and after I added the Ganache. I am very pleased with how they turned out, and I cannot wait to take them to work tomorrow! Also on the recipe it says to put a hershey kiss inside. I wanted to put the kisses that have white chocolate, but I couldn't find them, so I used the ones with caramel inside. Gives it a little flavor other than chocolate.

life.

I have not been blogging as much as I would like, but I can assure you I am consistent in reading my favorite blogs everyday! I have about the same routine every day...get up, go to work, get off work, come home, homework, and television. Occasionally I will do something after work, but usually I like to come home, clean and do homework...I am all about getting ahead with my school stuff. Well, thankfully an afternoon change has arrived. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I will be assisting with the middle school girls soccer team at NRCA. I did this last year and LOVED it, and was so excited and happy when I was asked to come back again this year!!! So much fun, and I love being on the field!!

Typically, people attend church on Sunday mornings...I have done that my entire life...up until a few months ago. My church...C3...check it out at c3church.com...also has a Saturday night service...I have found that I LOVE going on Saturday nights! I'm not sleepy as it sometimes happens on Sunday mornings, and I am not rushed. I go into the worship service ready to soak in what pastor Matt is bringing!

I am so glad that spring is right around the corner...I really like cold weather and bundling up, but spring makes me think soccer, and flowers blooming, warm weather...I like spring like warm weather...and so many more things just make me happy!

I just printed off a recipe from The Pioneer Woman website...it is for chocolate cake...or cupcakes. I need to make something extremely chocolaty for someone's birthday at work for Monday, and I think this is what I will be concocting tomorrow in my itsy bitsy kitchen(my kitchen in my apartment is not too huge). I will take pictures while I am working on my project tomorrow and let you know how it went!

Last jibber jabber...I posted a bit ago how I absolutely LOVE coffee...I still absolutely love it, but I am not drinking as much as I was...I am cutting it to 1 cup a day. If I need something warm, I drink hot tea...like passion, or orange blossom.

Hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Saturday! I did my run early and it was wonderful!

Now I am off to meet a friend and then head to church...oh, I am going to see Dear John tonight with Amanda...SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!

birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBER!!!!

I love you and hope that you have a wonderful day!!!

1 more year till the big 3-0. Enjoy the last year of your 20's!!!

Love,

Ash

five.

Tonight was my 5 year high school reunion. The day started off with alumni games at the school...volleyball and basketball. I am not a good volleyball player whatsoever, but I gave it a try. After that I watched and cheered on as the guys and gal played basketball. It was soo fun, and good to see everyone play again...it has been a while!

Tonight, the class of 2005 met at Angus Barn for an evening of good food, fun, and being reunited! It was a blast! Some of those in my class I have not seen since graduation, so it was nice to catch up! I didn't take my camera, so I have no pictures, but I have a good memory :) Over half of our class was there...awesome turnout!!!

Rome.

Lately I have been studying Greek and Roman history. I thought that class was going to be a snore, but after listening to the first lecture, I was hooked. I absolutely LOVE Rome. Since I have been to Rome, it is easy for me to understand the architecture and styles that I am learning about.

I know that I posted a few weeks back that I was going to be going to Europe in May, but things change, and I am not going to go. I am sad, but I know that I will go back another time!!

I wish that Raleigh was getting the 30 inches of snow that Virginia is getting...I don't want everything to be closed down, but I really like the snow. I either want a lot of snow, or none...don't just give us an icky mess like we have now that it is melting.

My 5 year high school reunion is tomorrow! I am so excited about seeing some that I have not seen since we walked the isles of the gym, got our diplomas, and tossed our caps. We are going to the Angus Barn! Yum!!!! Afterwards I will be going to see Dear John...ahhh Channing Tatum!

Well, I am wiped out from a long run...I am going to listen to the rain fall as I snuggle on the couch.