BLONDIE with a Blondie

I just ate dinner with my oldest best friend Jennifer. I've known her since I was 5. She's tall, blond, & gorgeous...and the best part is she doesn't act like it. Humble and so sweet & genuine, so thankful God put her in my life. She will be modeling some of my Halloween cupcakes! I'll be posting pics next week.

We went to Ruby Tuesdays, both got the Mini Trio...but don't be fooled...there is nothing 'mini' about it. After the salad bar run, and the meal I barely had room for dessert. Oh but don't worry, I found some...right next to the burger & cherry tomatoes.

We split the Blondie for two. A Blondie is almost like a brownie, but it has more of a dense sweet flavor like baklava. It was drizzled with caramel sauce with some vanilla ice cream...the kind of ice cream with those ice crystal shavings that dissolve like snowflakes. It was the perfect end to a hilarious night. I shall fill you in one day about our joke of the day...it's "COMING SOON." (only Jen will get that.)

Ask, Seek, Knock

Tonight Christ has been on my heart alot. How he just gave his life for me, so that I could find myself in Him, so that I can walk over the bridge of Jesus Christ and connect and see the Father, God as Christ supports my feet. How undeserving I am to be made perfect through Christ's sacrifice and accepting His selfless act of obedience and love. That any hands should bleed from thorns if they held my heart & felt my mistakes. But God's grace through His son freed me from that mess & keeps changing my heart to reflect His. gzzzz its so awesome. Everyday, He shows me something Everyday.

I guess I just want everyone to know Him, to give Christ a chance, a genuine chance to let him in and see what happens. What do you have to lose? Why is it so hard to fess up to yourself & God what's really been going on in your life and admit that you've made some bad choices..& some really bad choices..we all have...WE ALL HAVE. Why must we feel this need to hang on to all of that hurt, shame, pride & baggage...when God gave us a way out. He sacrificed His son so that Jesus could bare the load for us and we don't have to. I think that sounds like a really good deal if you ask me...an awesome gift that we should AT LEAST ask about it if we are unsure of the legitimacy...to find out the details...at least inquire about the option. I mean whens the last time you really asked someone something that they couldn't prove...but you believed them cause you trusted them or respected them. Well the creator of the universe, the maker of every flower, fish, thunderstorm, vascular muscle, breathing, you & me, the ingredients for chocolate....If He did all that I'm pretty sure we can trust Him with our questions.

Asking Him about his son...this Jesus character people talk about...who is he, should I know him, is he real, will you show me who he is if he is real like people say. If its a sincere question your heart makes...what is the harm in asking God. If you genuinely want the answer from him He will show you. Maybe not in the way or when you want or expect, but if you let him work He will show you the answer.

Here's the deal-Pickle. If you feel bad about the crap you've done or gotten into & you want to be freed from it...you need forgiveness. The only way God sais you can get true complete forgiveness is to accept Jesus's death on the cross as a debt payed. God traded his son for our clean slates. Jesus's death covered our sin. It cancelled out all of it; sin no longer has dominion over us through Christ...thank GOD! And when He rose on the 3rd day after His death guess what...He cancelled out death too. He CONQUERED it.

When we do something wrong, we feel bad...because deep down even if you don't realize it or accept it...we are in a relationship with God our Father and we have hurt him...so that hurts our hearts too...just like any relationship with two people involved. We are separated from Him and the only way to mend that disconnect is the Christ connection. Our soul is yearning and moaning for forgiveness...yet we people keep choosing not to listen or acknowledge that moan, we don't want to give up our baggage...we want to be miserable, smiling in public...but alone in our thoughts and our bedrooms. Perhaps because it's the only thing we know and are used to...but that doesn't make it the best way to live...ya know. Give it up, let someone capable of handling it take care of it. Give it to the Lord & live.

Okay I'm stepping off my soapbox. Just got really stirred up tonight and my heart hurt for people that are hurting. I don't like it I tell you...I just don't like it!

Goodnight and if I know you, I love ya...and if I don't...well I love ya anyway cause God loves ya, so you must be okay in my book ;)

~Ash


"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
--Matthew 7:7

"I tell you he truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." --John 5:24

Cake & Bullets

Friday night, my parents, my brother Chris, and his fiance Monica (one of my dear friends as well) had went out for pizza at a quaint saucy pizza kitchen here in Rowlett. The occasion: my one and only brother's 29th birthday.

Earlier that day, I had been preparing 'tres leches' cake for a dinner party on Saturday & had some left over batter. I know Chris isn't really head-over-heels for cake like me, but EVERYONE must have cake on their birthday...it's a law...punishable by a very disappointing birthday. So I felt a DUTY to the Birthday Constitution & my brother to have some candles a'flame and ready to be wished upon.

Tres Leches for anyone who doesn't know is cake originating from Cuba made of 3 milks...and it is sooo good, no lie. I didn't go overboard. Just a dozen tiny cupcakes with a lil fluff on the top.

I wasn't sure what to get him for gift and then a brilliant idea swooped over my thoughts in the form of a GUN. You see him and my dad have taken up a new hobby...guns. The shooting ranges, shooting at friend's ranches, gun shows. I've found them inside at the 'dining-room' table mind you...cleaning their pistols and rifles. I like shooting don't get me wrong...but it's a little different when there are cartridges & parts laid out where I eat my cereal. So naturally...I thought...cake and bullets...perfect. That totally screams Happy Birthday brother from the bottom of my heart.

So I went to Walmart and purchased the last box of 40 gauge bullets for Chris's pistol...they must be popular with the Rowlett crowd. I strayed up to the gun counter where the cashier was talking to a manly customer about how many of what animal or bird he shot. Going through the list of poor unfortunate animal souls as easily as checking off a grocery list. I said with a box of candles & birthday card in hand, "Yes, I need a box of 40 gauge Full-Metal Jacket bullets please." I wonder what those two characters said about me after I left with my box of bullets. Either 'she doesn't know what she's buying...or even more scary...she knows exactly what she's buying." But no worries gentleman. I'm a baker & we aren't violent people.

I made the perfect bday present for a guy. Cake and Bullets. The best combination of Sweetness and Danger. I like it....right up my alley. & I think my brother did too. Love you Chris!

Ready. Aim. Fire. Eat.

"Moreover, when God gives a man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." ~Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

North Park Business Trip

Just dropped into the commercial kitchen I'll be renting by the hour to whip up my latest sweet creations. It's called the Hour Kitchen...clever lil name. Paper work is going through very soon.

I went to NorthPark mall yesterday strictly to pick up some things for the cake photo-shoot. I was walking past Anthropologie, and I did pretty good about hurrying past so my eyes wouldn't wander to all the cute stuff...that is until I turned around 3 steps past and went in. I couldn't helllp it. In my mind I convinced myself I needed a cute apron to wear for my own pictures...all for the website you see...it's totally justified...yeah right. I wanted like 5, but I ended up with one. It's too big now that I got it home, so I guess I'll just have to go back...what a pitty ha.

The cashier that checked me out was like..."Oh I just love these, they make me want to cook just so I have an excuse to wear one." Welcome to my world honey. That is precisely what Icing & Aprons is all about! Inspiring people to bake in their own kitchen as well as providing sweet treats for all those fun occasions to make them truley pop with nastalgic essence & finger-licking good times!

The apron purchase was actually bought by my second check I wrote from my company business that day! I kept waiting for the salesperson to be like..."um no this check isn't valid..You own this business....yeah I don't think so"...as they slam down a huge red REJECTED stamp. But it's REAL...I signed the check with the Icing & Aprons name printed on it...and they accepted it with a smile. I know this is what happens in the real world of owning your own business...but to me it felt like I was playing pretend & they had just accepted my monopoly money I got from passing Go and owning Park Place. It was pretty much an awesome sereal feeling.

CAKE POPS

I made some Cake Pops for fun last weekend. One went to my grandma Momo and the others left with my mom for her work party. Easily demolished in one bite & fun to eat.

"And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fullfillment...to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." ~Ephesians 1:9

I'm in Business!

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of thine heart. ~Psalm 37:4


So the local kitchen I will be renting from opens this week, which means I have to get moving to advertise what
Icing & Aprons is all about. My hope is to be in the commercial kitchen within a month & taking orders.


I have my logo design to come up with and some cupcake photo shoots to do before the advertisements go out. My lovely friends are going to be the models but the star of the photos will be the cupcakes...unless the models get hungry! I will also be hosting my first Icing & Aprons cake decorating party coming up & I will display pics soon.



The website should be up in the next couple weeks to explain the concept for Icing & Aprons as well as prices, flavors, services, picture galleries, & more.

So technically I'm in business...I mean all the "legal" mumbo-jumbo is done &...I have my company bank account with real checks that say Icing & Aprons in the top left corner...so that counts for something. I know I'm pretty excited about it. Just waiting to work through the creative stuff & I should be on a roll.

I will say that I do not know exactly what I am gettig myself into, what my schedule is going to look like, or how any of this is going to meld together...but I do have faith that God will work his magic like he always does & spin out footsteps that are laid out way better than anything I could come up with. My biggest hope through this business is to some how...by His will...bring glory to Him & connect His name and word to as many people as possible. To be just one more bridge to the Lord for searching & lost people. That they might come to know Him, understand & experiece His love & purpose in a beautiful & adventurous way like He continues to show me everyday. He ALWAYS steps up and is there...through thick & thin...bitter & SWEET. The Son, Jesus, is HOPE...and with that I have peace in wherever the wind of this life takes me. So with a bold step of faith...I am beginning this cake journey...and resting, Father, on Your guidance. We shall see what the future holds..

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. ~Psalm 139

I will keep yall updated when things are in place and ready to begin. Thanks to everyone in my life...you all have been such a blessing and encouragement...a true rock, leaning post, & inspiration.

Have a SWEET day & be filled with His sweet spirit.

With Much Luv,
Ashley