TGIF Blog and Instagram Hop!!

Y'all I'm so excited to be co-hosting this week for the TGIF Hop! I love linking up and checking out new blogs. 

But first lets celebrate that its Friday!  

Last week was a miracle.  Ellie slept nearly every night (all night) in her crib.  Then we went to my sister's cabin for the weekend where we shared a bed with her....we have had a nightly visitor around 11:30 each night since we came home.  I will take the small steps.

We have finally receive some rain lately and my gardens are loving it (so is my water bill!).  Springtime always makes me so excited but I have to remember what our weather is normally like and I have to wait until about mid-May to plant most of our veggies.  While we were at the cabin on Whidbey Island we visited a few farms.  I have finally convinced Thomas of my "need" for a greenhouse and we have decided to make one ourselves.  Its not going to be fancy, just some PCV piping and a greenhouse type fabric.  But I am so excited....I might even be able to grow a Meyer Lemon tree in there!!

Speaking of lemons.  I have been craving lemon bars like crazy lately.  I haven't done anything about it, yet.  Anyone have a good recipe they would like to share??

This weekend is going to be fun.  We have family coming over on Saturday for dinner, working in the yard (and farm) and then hopefully we might be able to make more progress on our Master Bath.  Don't worry I haven't forgotten about it.  I am just trying to decide whether I want to find two vintage type mirrors or get medicine cabinets.  I don't really need another excuse to get more sh!t to store inside of a medicine cabinet but I do think it would be nice to not have our toothbrushes out on the counter top. What do you think?  And then we just need to screw in the hand towel racks and decide on a tile and I think we will be done!

And finally, if you haven't had a chance to check out our GoFundMe page to help us raise money to adopt brother for Ellie, make sure you go do that!  When we adopted Ellie almost 2 years ago we had already spent much of our savings on Infertility treatments, failed pregnancies and surgery for a ruptured Fallopian Tube thanks to an ectopic pregnancy.  Then we chose to move forward with adoption.  With the help of some donations from friends and family, along with taking out a loan and re-organizing our debt we were able to bring Ellie home.  Now we are starting the process again but don't have the same nest egg we did with Ellie.  Before we can really even start the process we need to raise about $2,500 that will help pay for our mandatory Home Study update as well as re-application fees for our agency.  So far with generous donations we have already raised about $250!!  Any little bit helps whether its a monetary donation or sharing our GoFundMe page via social media! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us to grow our family!  Ultimately our goat is to raise $10,000 which is about half of all adoption fees.

Now it's your turn!

♥ Ashley

In case you missed it 

Tuesday I shared our 15-18 month favorites

Wednesday I shared 31 random facts about me

Happy TGIF! Fridays have always been one of my up most favorite days of the week. Which is why I started this growing, fun, friendly, inspiring hop! I am thankful to have each and every one of you that link-up and share with us each week. Thank you! 

Celebrate with us making it to Friday!

The TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop is a Friday friendly hop where we hope you can blossom, meet and greet new bloggers. We enjoy having you. 

<div align="center">
<a <span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.3" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.3" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.4" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.5" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.6" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.7" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">href</span></span>="http://www.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.8" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.4" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.9" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.10" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.11" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.12" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">threesistersandus</span></span>.com/p/<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.13" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.5" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.14" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.15" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.16" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.17" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tgif</span></span>-hop.html" title="The TGIF Blog & <span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.18" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.6" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.19" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.20" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.21" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.22" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true">Instagram</span></span> Hop"><<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.23" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.7" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.24" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.25" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.26" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.27" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">img</span></span> <span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.28" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.8" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.29" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.30" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.31" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.32" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">src</span></span>="http://3.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.33" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.9" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.34" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.35" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.36" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.37" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">bp</span></span>.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.38" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.10" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.39" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.40" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.41" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.42" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">blogspot</span></span>.com/-gyGhDK3dkPM/<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.43" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.11" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.44" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.45" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.46" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.47" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">VFLSNWccSUI</span></span>/<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.48" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.12" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.49" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.50" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.51" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.52" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">AAAAAAAAEXk</span></span>/931hIFRF_<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.53" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.13" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.54" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.55" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.56" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.57" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">HU</span></span>/s1600/TGIF%2BDesign%2B3.<span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.58" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.14" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.59" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.60" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.61" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.62" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">png</span></span>" alt="The TGIF Blog & <span class="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.63" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">goog</span>-spellcheck-word" id=":13.15" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.64" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">tabindex</span>="-1" role="<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.65" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">menuitem</span>" aria-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.66" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true" style="background: yellow;">haspopup</span>="true" style="background: yellow;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" id=":19.67" tabindex="-1" role="menuitem" aria-haspopup="true">Instagram</span></span> Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Each Friday we will feature our most favorite post from the previous week. It could be you! We also have a weekly Cohost spotlight, that is great to gain your blog some extra notice (enter here). 

The rules of the TGIF Blog and Instagram Hop Are simple!

1. Link-up any post or posts (no specifics) and your Instagram.

2. Grab a button and display it on your blog, in a post or somewhere visible to help us get notice for the Hop. Also helps us better feature your blog.

3.Be social. Comment and follow at least one blog you enjoy. 

4. Tweet out the TGIF hop. 

: Three Sisters and us :Mice In The Kitchen :Second Chances Girl :CompleteBliss Blog 

Meet This Weeks co host

Life On The Parsons Farm

we live on a little farm and are new parents to the most adorable little girl! 
follow us on our journey of parenthood and farm life!

Want to be our next Cohost with a special spotlight?! Cohost Form HERE.

 This Weeks TGIF Feature

From the blog of: Simply Anchored 

Be sure to check her blog out: here.

Mason Jar Fruit

An InLinkz Link-up

Some Favorite Things

Y'all I can't even get over that its Friday, not only that but that Thanksgiving is one week away!  

Thomas and I tossed around the idea of hosting but decided that we would take a break this year and enjoy a "stress free" holiday season at his parents house and my family's homes.  I can't tell you the relief that actually gives me! As much as I love hosting holidays it's really fun to just be a guest!

one

I have been craving these so much lately.  I absolutely love them and totally hit the spot in the morning.  If you haven't tried them - do yourself a favor and pick one up today!

two

we just picked up these pajamas and they are my 

favorite ones for her so far.  I love the fleece 

because its so nice and warm and you can't

beat the footies to keep your little's toes warm

at night while they are sleeping!  These are the 

perfect combination of my favorite colors for Ellie

and I love how they can transition into all of winter.

three

I feel like I have been keeping a secret from you guys.  I recently found this blog and she has the best style sense ever.  She is also amazing at DIY and I want to be her best friend.  If you haven't already checked out her blog - you are going to want to do that! It is pretty top notch.

four

I love baking and bringing desserts to family dinners is one of my favorite things to do!  If you are in charge of dessert this year for Thanksgiving and are in search of some inspiration look no further.  I have three recipes that are delish and totally go with the theme for Thanksgiving.  First up is my fool proof Pumpkin Crunch Cake it takes very few ingredients and is sure to please!  If Pie is more your thing then this is the recipe for you, this is my favorite Pumpkin Pie because it is nice and thick and dense - just the way I like it. And if Pumpkin isn't really your thing then you have to try my Applesauce Cake, oh yum!

five

We are heading out for a day of Christmas shopping on Saturday.  Our plan is to brave IKEA on the weekend (eek!) to pick up a few things for Ellie, I am meeting someone to pick up a few more cloth diaper items and then we are headed to the old spaghetti factory and I love the Garlic Mizithra with a side of meat sauce!! Oh I cannot wait to get that in my belly!

six

somehow my little muffin turned 1 1/2 today and I am just loving this age!! check out her monthdate here!

♥ Ashley

Monday Meals Mashup - recipe share [linkup]

Sorry ladies that I have been slacking on this linkup! We were out of town last weekend so I didn't have a chance to put together a plan for the week.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This week I wanted to share one of our favorite go to recipes.  I always have these ingredients in the pantry and its a total winner with everyone asking how to make it!  Also its super easy and goes with steak, chicken, and fish!

Brewer Brown Rice

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups white rice

1 can of French Onion soup

1 can of Beef Consume 

4 T of unsalted butter

1 pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425

2. In a glass baking dish (preferably with a lid) spray with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Next you just want to dump the rice, 

then the butter, 

 then the french onion soup, 

 then beef consume,

 and finally top with a pinch of salt.

4. Cover with lid (or foil) and bake in the oven for 45 minutes

5. Take out of the oven and uncover - let cool for about 5 minutes and then enjoy!

I know its nothing fancy but it tastes oh so good.  You can omit the pinch of salt if you use salted butter. Please don't be mislead by the title, we call it brown rice because it turns brown from all the soup liquid.  We have tried making it with actual brown rice before and it takes about 30 minutes longer and needs about a 1/2 cup more of liquid otherwise its not cooked through all the way.

♥ Ashley

Monday Meals Mashup #11

It's Monday!!! The best thing about this Monday is that we only have about two weeks of school left and they we are on SUMMER BREAK!! I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this summer.  Especially now that Ellie is a toddler and we can go and do so much more this year than last!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you have been reading for a while you know that we had Ellie's First Birthday party this past weekend and we had a total blast!  I am planning on a full post about the party soon.

We didn't have a chance to really sit down and plan our menu this week but we do have a few things that are calling our names! We have left over salmon so we are going to BBQ that and then I really need some Mac'n'Cheese in my life.

I also wanted to share some of the food we served at the party!

Fruit Salad: Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, and Strawberries

Veggie Tray

Salmon Bites (recipe below)

Pasta Salad and Butterhorns

Pigs in a Blanket

The fact that nearly all of the food served at Ellie's party was a recipe of my Momala's was purely accidental and a huge blessing.  My mom was the ultimate entertainer and the most awesome cook ever.  I am so happy that she was able to "make an appearance" at Ellie's party through the food.  Not only that but each of her recipe's I made for the party are simple and only have about 3 ingredients each!

Salmon Bites

Ingredients:

1 salmon fillet

Mayonaise

Soy Sauce

Lemon (fresh)

Directions:

1. on a baking sheet place foil muffin tins to fit cover the sheet and then spray with cooking spray

2. cut up salmon into 1 inch squares and place into the foil muffin tins

3. mix up mayonaise and soy sauce until it is a light brown color

4. cut lemon in half and squeeze the juice over each of the salmon pieces and then top the salmon with the mayo/soy sauce mixture.

5. place baking sheet with salmon bites into a COLD oven near the top.  Turn the oven onto Broil and cook about 7 minutes or until the sauce mixture bubbles and gets "charred". 

6. Remove from oven and let cool 3 minutes then transfer to serving dish (in muffin tins) and enjoy!!

Remember to check out my awesome Co-Host Susie and see what she is cooking!

please linkup below!

♥ Ashley

remember that tomorrow is the Kickoff to Toddler Tuesday's so be sure to come back and check it out!

Monday Meals Mashup #9 [linkup]

Have you entered my giveaway yet for a $20 shop credit to Sweet T Baby Boutique? If not go here to enter!!!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I can't believe we are in Ellie's birth week already! I feel like we just brought her home.  I can tell you that she is SO much more fun now with how alert, active and communicative she is! I just adore her!

Its time for another Monday Meals Mashup so here is what's cookin on the farm this week!

Monday: leftovers from the OG last Friday

Tuesday: chicken and green beans. Not sure what type of chicken we are going to have, either baked or paillard, although I would like to try something new and different we will just have to wait and see how motivated I get!

Wednesday: It's Ellie's first birthday! We are spending the day making it special for her and then heading out to dinner to celebrate.  We are going to the the Spaghetti Factory and I cannot wait!

Thursday: BBQ.  It's supposed to be nice out so we need to make sure we take advantage of it.

Friday: Since we are going out on Wednesday for E's birthday we are going to stay in and have some grilled steaks and a salad on the side!

Saturday: Greek food has been calling my name lately so I am going to try and come up with something.  I am going to make Tzatziki sauce and maybe a homemade hummus.  Not sure what else.

Sunday: Soup.  simple and easy and always a crowd pleaser!

make sure you hop on over to Susie's Blog to get more inspiration for the kitchen!!

be sure to add the linkup button to your blog and linkup below!







♥ Ashley

Monday Meals Mashup #8 [linkup]

I can't believe it's already Monday! At least I have a weeks worth of meals to look forward to!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

We had an eventful weekend. I hosted a bridal shower for my future SIL and it went super well! Then we celebrated my first Mother's Day yesterday. It's super cool that it was th 100th anniversary of Mother's Day. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared it to be a national holiday and white carnations are the symbolic flower. With my husband being a history teacher it was pretty cool. 

Our PNW weather is supposed to beautiful this week so we are heading outside this week to use our grill as much as possible!

Here's what's cookin'!!

 Monday: nothing beats a good home grilled hand partied burger with all the fixin's. Serve these up with some chips and noodle salad and you have yourself a treat!! 

Tuesday: Philly cheesesteaks have been calling my name and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into one of these sandwiches! I think we might try grilling all the part on the BBQ as well to make sure we enjoy the good weather that's coming our way. 

Wednesday: chicken on the Barbie is what's up! Can't wait for this!

Thursday: we are going to grill up some kabobs with meat and shrimp and veggies! 

Friday: we are going out! Not sure where but someone else is cooking. 

Saturday: it's out nieces birthday party so whatever her parents are serving up!

Sunday: as usual we are planning on having some sort of soup. Depends on how the weather turns out for what exactly.

Make sure you head over to Susie's blog "The Allison Wonderland" to see what shes up to this week!

♥ Ashley

Monday Meals Mashup #7 [linkup]

Hey there ladies!!

We had a pretty eventful weekend on the farm, so that means I don't have a Weekly Meal for y'all.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I am in full on party planning mode with two events happening this month.  This coming Saturday I am hosting a Bridal Shower for my soon to be sis-in-law so my house is getting all sorts of decorated.  I already have the prize gifts put together, and the favors are here just need to work on the display.  Most of the items I need I have its just time to decorate and finalize the menu!

I was up late last night putting together Ellie's birthday invitations.  I had a very particular design in mind and when I couldn't find it online through all of the many invitations sites I decided to make my own!  I know they aren't perfect but I think they turned out great!!

Since its Monday and I am supposed to share something food related I wanted to share with you a family favorite that I have posted on before:

Its called "Brewer Brown Rice" and despite the misleading title its not made with brown rice - it just turns that color with all the ingredients.  Its super easy and tastes SO good!!

Enjoy!

Make sure to check out Susie from The Allison Wonderland to see what she is cooking up!!

♥ Ashley

please link up your menu or recipe below and add our button to your blog or post!!

add our button and link up your menu or recipe!!

(Submissions close in 6d 23h 2m)

URL:	(URL of your blog post)
Name:
Email:	(Not visible)
	Trouble linking up? Try here

powered by InLinkz

add our button and link up your menu or recipe!!

(Submissions close in 6d 23h 2m)

URL:	(URL of your blog post)
Name:
Email:	(Not visible)
	Trouble linking up? Try here

powered by InLinkz

add our button and link up your menu or recipe!!

(Submissions close in 6d 23h 3m)

URL:	(URL of your blog post)
Name:
Email:	(Not visible)
	Trouble linking up? Try here

powered by InLinkz

Monday Meals Mashup #6 [linkup]

Hey ladies!  One of the reasons i decided I wanted to do a linkup on Mondays was to give myself something to look forward to on our first day back at work for the week!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I have joined forces with one of my dear friends Susie from The Allison Wonderland. We went to school together (jr high, high school and college) but really became better friends through blogging!! Not only is she a great writer (who can convey her humor so well) but she is also an awesome photographer!!! She actually did our 3 month family photo shoot with Ellie and are figuring out a date for Ellie's one year photos!

So if you haven't already you need to grab a cup of coffee and stop by her blog  for some good belly laughing reading. Oh and to see what she's cooking up this week!

On to our kitchen this week here is what's happening:

If you remember we had Thanksgiving in April last night and have a bunch of leftovers. So I am making this week a smart one by using what we have to keep costs (and grocery store visits) to the minimum. 

Monday: I am going to make a turkey casserole. This one DOES NOT have noodles in it so I know that Thomas (and myself) will eat it. It's a recipe if my moms and I have to try and make it from memory. No worries I'll post the recipe once I have it handled!

Tuesday: the weather is supposed to be phenomenal here in the PNW this week so we are getting our grill on. Some BBQ chicken and stuffing cakes made out of leftover stuffing (if there is any....)

Wednesday: using the grill again for some steak. I'm using some leftover mashed potatoes and making them into pancakes for our side!!

Thursday: it's time for something light on the menu (and a little different) since we have been knee deep in thanksgiving food with temps in the high 70's so we are going to have a nice salad. 

Friday: enough with the kitchen already!!  We're heading out for someone else to cook for us and to work on Ellie's table and restaurant manners. Can never start them too young!

Saturday: Thomas has a Seattle Sounders soccer game in the evening so we are eating on our own tonight. I'll probably have cookies or something. I kid I kid! I'll take advantage of his absence and have some pasta!

Sunday: let's soup it up!! Not sure what kind but you can bet your bottom dollar it's gonna be goodness!!

What's cookin' in your kitchen this week? We would love to know so link on up below!!

♥ Ashley 


   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Monday Meals Mashup #5 [linkup]

Ok can I please just say that I really disliked last week?  Only because we DIDNT have a menu for the week and each day after work I was wondering what we should have for dinner!!!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://atparsons.blogspot.com/" title="Monday Meals Mashup"><img src="http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r769/ashleyaparsons/b127f4b8-cd4f-4f62-94ce-412e4e201414_zps51fbe127.jpg" alt="Monday Meals Mashup" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

So we fixed that and got a menu figured out for this week!

Here's what we are having:

Monday: Chicken Paillard super easy and really good!

Tuesday: Tacos! 

Wednesday: it's our last MOPs meeting of the year so I am thinking I should go since I missed the last one. 

Thursday: Pasta! The good thing is - Ellie can eat it too!!

Friday: Dinner out. Let someone else do the cooking!!

Saturday: Chicken Salad. Just get a roast chicken and shred it up. Some lettuce, croutons, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, avocados, and any other thing you want to add to your salad ADD some ranch dressing and you are good to go!

Sunday: We have had a turkey in the freezer for a couple months and were thinking that this day is a perfect day to bust it out and have some good old Thanksgiving in April!!

Be sure to check out Susie's blog to see what she has cooking up!!

♥ Ashley