Monthly Archives: May 2009

May 28 2009

Rainbow cake {the thought that counts}

When I saw the picture and recipe above on Meg’s blog, I knew I had to make it for the boys. Since we aren’t huge fans of cake, I decided to have a little “Yeah! School’s Out Party!” with a few of their friends. Keep in mind Corbett is in preschool, so all the friends are 6 and under. Well I got all the ingredients and got busy while the boys were away. It was so fun to make with all the bright colors. It made me think of my friend Angela’s food blog (check out the amazing recipes). The food on there is always so colorful, but I laughed thinking this cake would never show up there…way too much sugar!

How beautiful is this batter?!

After 2 hours of cooking (remember the boys weren’t home) and cooling I started layering the cake. In the process I realized it was about time to pick the boys up, so I got moving a bit faster. One, two, three, four, five, and the sixth layer is on. I start frosting it and SWOOSH everything slid, I caught it with my hands and used an elbow to grab a tray. Thus, my cake:

After all that time planning a party around a cake, buying special food color (for $9.00!) and two hours of cooking, you better believe I was still going to serve it.

So I covered in it sprinkles and had a great time laughing at myself

The kids and moms didn’t mind too much and it tasted really good.

So once the house was empty I began cleaning dishes and watched Rett in his highchair out of the corner of my eye. He was eating a banana, but focused on the cake. When he thought I was good and distracted he climbed right out of the highchair onto the table and dug in….he liked the cake.

So lessons to learn from Ashley:

1. If you don’t like cake to begin with, don’t try making one that is 6 layers tall.

2. Instead of spending $9.00 on food dye, go buy a new shirt from Target

3. If you aren’t much of a cook, don’t plan a party around a cute cake

4. Don’t plan a party for preschoolers on the last day of school…they are all tired and a bit sick of sugar

5. Don’t spend 2 hours making a cake, make something that is not edible

6. Laugh at yourself and be grateful that you can serve your friends a mess of a cake and they still dig in and tell you it tastes great.

Thanks Meg for posting the recipe, maybe some of my readers can make one as beautiful as yours…for now I’ll leave the cooking to my sister!

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by AshleyAnn

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Marina - HILARIOUS!!!

Lisa - Oh my goodness! That is the most beautiful destroyed cake I have ever seen!!

Christina Larsen - So, the batter was beautiful. However, I probably would have made the cake just for fun. I like to cook and bake; so it would have been adventurous. Looks like Everett had a great time.

Emily Beaty - LOL – you are awesome! I love how you captured Rett at the end… so cute & funny. Happy Friday :)

lesley - This is great! Sorry the cake didn’t work out as planned but it made for an entertaining post and it still looked pretty with the sprinkles :)

Lauren - It was a beautiful mess! Thanks for all you do Ashley! We love you!

Jenn G. - I still think that it was a stinkin’ cool cake. The colors were awesome and it tasted good… but yeah, I’d rather have a shirt from Target, too.

bopha - That is so funny, what a way to end the week. I love seeing Rett attack that cake, he was a man on a mission.

Ang - I’m laughing out loud! Your cake, the comment you made about it having too much sugar, and Rett digging in for himself – loved it!

Aunt Sandy - I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. That is so much fun and you know those little one’s will always remember the rainbow cake with the sprinkles. Great pics.

meg duerksen - This is so good! You could have put in bowl and made triffle! Good for you to laugh and help us laugh with(not at) you. It happens to all of us. I usually burn things. I almost always have double of my cake ingredients…because of my history.

rachel denbow - Love the pictures of your little man on the table! And even the mini disaster looks yummy! Thanks for the laugh:)

wendy - Love it! OK, It does make me feel a LITTLE bit better about my cake, although your photos are to die for! Sprinkles. Brilliant. That’s what was missing. :) Now I’m off to look at all your lovely photos.

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - Mine did the same thing (minus the sprinkles).
I think next time I try it, I’ll have to let the layers become ice-cold before trying to ice them!
But with all those happy colors, it was still beautiful!

Molly Jean - Love your blog, it’s adorable! And if you’re looking for an easier version of rainbow cake, I just make mine by throwing all of the different colors in the cake pan! It’s like splatter paint cake. It turns out great though :)

May 28 2009

Creating a masterpiece

Blank Canvas from Hobby Lobby                                             Everett (about an hour old)

Corbett and Hudson have been watching me work on the nursery and they wanted to add a bit to the room. Hobby Lobby has canvases on sale this week, so I figured I let them each paint something to hang on her wall. As I watched them paint their blank canvases my mind wandered back to the days they were born. They were so much like those blank canvases….and as their mom I became one of the painters adding color. Everyday, every interaction, every word spoken to their tender hearts I am adding something to those canvases. Sometimes what I add that day is unintentional or even hurtful and has to be painted over the next day. Other days I am very intentional and the color added on those day is beautiful…those are the days I wish happened more often. You see whether I want to ‘paint on their canvases’ or not, I am – I’m their mom and I don’t have an opt-out option on days I don’t feel like it. So with that in mind, I am so challenged to add each day in a way that I won’t have to fix it or paint over it in the future. Even with that intention, my art history classes taught me that part of building a masterpiece in a painting is all that lies underneath what the eye sees….

So I have 3 little canvases to paint today and another one coming soon….I can’t wait to see how they come out!

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Posted in personal

by AshleyAnn

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amanda torres - I’m not even pregnant and I’m crying! What a great thought.

keely steger - Wow. Both convicting and encouraging words for every mom out there. Or, they certainly were for me. Thanks!

melanie - Thank you for the beautiful reminder.

Serena - Thanks so much for these words!

lesley - So, I should have waited to later in the day to check this…my eyes are all teared up. Great insight Ash.

Shannon Phillips - How sweet! Yep, I think you have made us all cry this morning. ;) I can’t wait to see what kind of beautiful art your boys make.

bopha - What a great post! Now with my own 2 little “canvases” it really means more than ever.

Christina Larsen - I love this thought. If only every mother saw her children this way, the world would be a much better place. However, thank goodness we have a savior that can re-paint the picture of our lives’ if it has gotten messed up or out of line. Thanks for posting.

May 28 2009

Thank you….bling on my sewing machine

bling2

So yesterday I picked up Corbett from school and he wasn’t feeling well. Add that to Hudson being grumpy and Rett only wanting to be held. I was past the point of frazzled and needed to email a client. While on the computer I noticed a comment on my blog that led me to realize Rachel from Bling on my Sewing Machine made such a sweet post about the blog. I totally felt famous and it brought a smile to my face in the midst of a non-happy moment in our house.  I am quite humbled and honored – I am a huge fan of hers. Her house is amazingly creative and cute…go check out her flickr gallery. Once you go to her blog, plan for a bit of a stay there is so much great stuff to look at. So thank you Rachel…and all you readers, go check out Bling on my Sewing Machine.

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Posted in great finds

by AshleyAnn

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lesley - Congrats! I can’t wait to check out more of her site and those photos.

rachel denbow - Girl, you deserve the attention! Your blog is always refreshing and beautiful and I’m so thankful Jennifer pointed me in your direction!

georgia - After looking at her blog it reminded me that I would like to see a belly shot of you! I need to see if you look any different carring a little girl.

May 26 2009

DIY {craft organizers}

My office/craft area is becoming a nursery so I am working hard at getting all my random craft stuff under control and organized. With more free time from not shooting I am going a little crazy with DIY projects for her room. To name a few things I am currently making: a platform bed, a rug, curtain rods, a picture wall, a mobile, some custom artwork….and that is all after I convinced Chris to help me tear out carpet and put in painted wood floors! He’s a bit of a pushover for both his girls :)   As I finish up things I’ll post pictures….

In the meantime, I needed a few containers and opted to go the repurposing route….

I saw this post on Design*Sponge a while back and made it to fit my needs.

Frappuccino box + Mod Podge + Scrapbooking paper

I measured all the paper to the size of the box. Then covered the box in Mod Podge…then put on the paper. Finally, I did one last coat of Mod Podge over it all.

Along the same idea…needed something cute and easily accessible to hold all my clothes pins

Why is turning trash into something cute so fun? Off to find something else to Mod Podge :)

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by AshleyAnn

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Jeannette Swan - You are so fun! I made a bunch of the clothes pins with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge…Jordan actually saw them and wanted some for himself, so he picked out paper and we made some for him (I don’t know what he will do with them, but I thought it was cute he wanted them). I used mine to hang the kids art. Now, I’m going to have to copy your container ideas for the kids’ craft table!

Emily Beaty - How cool! My friend & I have recently been in a kick to do projects with mod podge & scrapbook paper. Thanks for another idea!!

Christina Larsen - I love it. Recycling at it’s best. Who knew that trash could be cute. Thanks for sharing those ideas. I need to have a DIY notebook fo all these ideas.

Jesse - Really cute ideas!

Rachel - WOW! It’s gorgeous here! I just discovered your blog via Bling on my Sewing Machine. I’m so glad she posted about you! I’d love to link to some of your projects if you didn’t mind.

Melissa Shepard - I will be going out and buying some modge podge soon! Love your creative ideas, what a gift, thanks for sharing it.

Chris@Celebrations At Home - This is great! I found you via One Pretty Thing. I have several packs of the Frappacino bottles that I use over and over for parties. Now I have a great tutorial of how to make the boxes pretty!

Katherine Marie - soooooo neat!!! modge podge and frappacino— TWO of my FAVORITE things!!!

Thank you for sharing this!

tammie - I love your site. Thanks so much for sharing.

Rita - I love it! Go check out my blog today and look at my can transformation. Your blog is an inspiration. I will be adding your blog to My Blog List and “Following” your blog for more creative ideas. Please consider clicking the “Follow” button when you get there and thinking about placing my button on your site for easy access. This way we can inspire one another often!

Joscelyne Cutchens (@joscie) - I love it! :) I still have some frappacino cases from the time I was going to… hee hee!

Bululu Studio - what a change girl…now it is beautiful

kirstin - LOVE it! I’ll be linking…

Handmade Gift Ideas Part 2 – Home and Garden | frugalandthriving.com.au - [...] Recycled Craft Organiser @ Ashley Ann Photography [...]

May 25 2009

SnapShop {May Student Pics}

So some of the girls from the last SnapShop sent me a couple of their pics from the day. I think they did a great job…keep in mind for almost all of them this was the first time they shot strictly in manual mode. Making the switch from automatic mode to strictly manual is a lot in one day and these are some of the shots they came up with at the end of the day. If you are on flickr, there is an Ashley Ann Photography SnapShops group…you can’t join, but you can go see what some of the students have been shooting since. I think there are a few photography businesses in the works now….

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by AshleyAnn

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carrie - They look great! What a teacher!!

May 21 2009

DIY {tin photo box}

Well like I have mentioned before I have a LONG list of DIY projects I have been wanting to try out. Some are my own ideas, others I have found online or in magazines. This one was featured on Design*Sponge. The original idea is for a travel case that not only holds pictures, but doubles as a frame. The boys and I decided to make one for Chris when he travels, but I just stuck with the tin (an altoid tin I had painted black for a previous project). I just can’t picture him unfolding the little easel and displaying pictures with a magnet. He really liked our version….though when I got the paper out of the closet it looked brown, not purple. I think this would be so much cuter with better paper, but most of mine looked too girly for Chris. You can find the instructions HERE on Design Sponge….

Ways to use this idea:

* Gift for a traveler

* For a hospital stay

* For teachers…filled with pictures of the class from the year

* For grandparents

* For a child going to camp…filled with pics and notes

I’m thinking of making one for each of the boys filled with pictures of Chris and I for them to keep with them while we are at the hospital with the new baby….

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Posted in be creative {DIY}

by AshleyAnn

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Shannon Phillips - Oh I love it! I would love to do one for my hubby full of special love notes.

meg duerksen - i think this is a great father’s day gift for craig’s desk.
he can show anyone.
i love it.
thanks!!! :)

Chris Campbell - I do really like it!! I have been able to show it to a lot of folks when I am out and about and it is fun to be able to have pics of my boys.
Chris

rachel denbow - Sure! We’ll make room and our babies can share a corner of the nursery! :)

Actually, I have been thinking this morning of ways to keep track of all of the things Sebastian has been doing and saying lately that I don’t want to forget and keep remembering your cork board wall. I love those kinds of details!

May 21 2009

a hypothetical question

When I am out and about by myself (meaning 3 wonderfully crazy boys are not with me) I seem to majorly attract lots of moms wanting to give me all their advice on pregnancy, labor & delivery, and motherhood.  Now I’ll be the first to say I need all the advice I can get…however, most offering the advice clearly assume I am very young and carrying my first child. Strictly hypothetically speaking would it be considered rude if I wait until they are done with all their advice before I mention this is my fifth pregnancy because I find strange enjoyment in seeing the utter shock on their faces? Totally hypothetical question because of course I would never actually do that…… :)

If you want a laugh imagine what I looked like to other shoppers while taking the picture above…standing in the gardening section with a point & shoot balanced between my chin and my collar bone….

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by AshleyAnn

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melanie - I want to start shopping with you so I can witness the moment!!

Lesley - You’re funny, I was wondering who took that. On your hypothetical question, do it!

Rachel - I would hypothetically punch them in the face!

Liz Pray - Are you tired of, “when are you due?” yet? I remember the attention, and then it begins with your newborn baby!!! :)

Shanalea - Personally, I love to shock people. I listen and then I say when this is my fourth child, fifth pregnancy as well. I love to watch their faces drop. We took Asher to OK recently and left the other two and it was like we had to keep saying he was our youngest and not our oldest. :)

meg duerksen - i always LOVE the surprised look i get when i say “i have five children.” it is always a shocker. :)
have you already planted those?
did you get any peony blooms?

Emily Beaty - haha I was wondering how you got that shot!

Lauren - Your so funny! I would also love to be there to witness the look on people’s faces. They might not believe you!

christina larsen - I guess you should take it as a compliment that you look young; not that your inexperienced and need advice. But, I say if people are freely giving their advice to strangers, then they should be ready for a shock when you come back with the truth. HA HA.

Jeannette Swan - I think you should totally tell them it is your 5th pregnancy. Even as old as I am and was out by myself while pregnant with Corban people would ask me all the time if it were my first. Nope!!

Jesse - At least you don’t get your belly rubbed like it is a crystal ball. People are funny…

Kari S. - At least you ARE pregnant when people ask you those questions! I’ve been asked “when are you due” when I wasn’t pregnant…you should see the expressions on their face you say, “oh, I’m not expecting, just fat!” :)

AshleyAnn - Just to clarify…that is actually what I do. Funny thing about this post today. I was at Walmart with all 3 boys and the guy checking me out said “Miss I am sorry you have to be at least 18 to purchase spray paint.” Seriously, did he think I was the babysitter?

Ari - I say do it! Just tell ‘em straight that this is not your first rodeo!

Carrie Sowell - I say tell them……..you are an amazing mom and be proud that this is your 5th pregnancy and you look so good! I like the shock factor too!! ;-)

emily ruth - i have a friend who has eight (8!) kids & she is also quite young looking…she loved to shock people when they asked her ‘is this your first baby?’ so funny! :)

Melissa Shepard - Just wait until your kids are teenagers and their friends ask if you are their sister! Happens to me all the time, one boy asked if I was Mikayla’s sister and said I was “hot” and Mikayla said “eewww, that’s my mom!”

May 19 2009

Growing a gardener

Question for the SnapShop ladies…which composition rule am I using in the picture below of Rett in my grandpa’s garden with grandpa’s gardening chair?

The post below is password protected.

If you would like the password contact me via email or the blog contact form and let me know how you found the blog…

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by AshleyAnn

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Kari S. - Framing!

Lesley - framing and lines!

Jeannette Swan - I knew too..framing was what came to mind. Adorable pic.

Shannon Phillips - Awesome pic Ash! It was so great to see you last night. You look fantastic!

Carrie - framing

May 19 2009

Protected: MayFest 2009 {Kid’s Art Zone}

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Posted in personal
May 19 2009

Elliot {6 months}

Wow – my little “nephew” is already 6 months old. Crazy…it seems like I just met him at the hospital and now he is sitting, smiling, laughing and cutting teeth. He is still incredibly cute and totally adores his parents (and his real aunt who came along for his pictures, but he likes me too…see the smiles!).

Here he is as a newborn:

An now a whopping 6 months old:

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Posted in babies

by AshleyAnn

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keely steger - My goodness, he’s still such a sweet blend of his parents! What a sweet smile! I was Mere’s roommate in college, so I love seeing these latest pics!

Marsue - Beautiful pictures, Ashley! Beautiful baby, Courtney and Blake!

Rachel - Elliot is so handsome! I love the laughing picture where you can see all of those teeth….what a perfect picture to display this stage in his life. Great job, Ash.

bopha - He is so adorable! He is really starting to look a lot like his dad. Love the way his blue eyes sparkle.

Katie H. - Okay….can you say Blake? It’s like a mini-me (in my opinion). What a doll the pics say it all. Nice job!

Courtney Connelly - Ash, these capture Elliot exactly like he is right now and I love that! Thank you, it mean so very much to us!

Metcalfs - I love them! Ash, great job! They are amazing as always! Blake and Court, you guys have a very handsome little guy!

Jenn G. - Court, He is sooooo cute. I LOVE all the smiles and those incredible eyes. Ash, what sweet pics.

Elliot Blake - Once again Aunt Ashley you are incredible! I did not even realize how cute I am, and you always make Mommy so happy! Thanks for meeting me at the park :)

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