APRON BET

Just got a super cute apron from Anthropologie & talked with the same checkout girl from my last trip. I bet somebody $5.00 that next time she will ask me 'what's up with all the apron buying, freak?' ha You can send me my winnings to my address....a check is fine, make it out to Icing & Aprons. Thanks!

IN the KITCHEN....WHEN?...NOW!

So my first day officially in the Kitchen was last Wednesday. I was making gold, brown, & fuschia cupcakes for a wedding shower. They were chocolate flavor filled with a chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate buttercream.  I had some other cakes to bake, so while that was happening, I was busy decorating with fondant. I filled them, iced them, & then covered them with colored fondant.

The day went pretty good except that my Ipod died & I had no music. Just my thoughts to entertain myself. I boxed up the cupcakes & brought them back to the house to wrap them in ribbon. I also found these cute stamps that I've been using on my boxes to give it an extra personal touch.

I delivered them to Margie, my first order along with a stack of business cards. My first real order under Icing & Aprons under my apron belt. Wow, I thought I'd never get to this point.


I remember walking with my Mom really down & upset, and just so ready to get started with this business. She got real firm with me & said Ashley, I haven't been seeing you do anything to further the process. There's all these things you could be doing and your not doing it. I got really defensive & went on a whole spill about how I can't do anything until I get to this 'other' point...I can't imagine in yet. I need to SEE it. 

Well the reason I couldn't imagine how to get to the bigger steps was because I had paused on taking the little ones. I got my butt in gear and made an appointment with a business counselour that week. I made a list and started checking it off...and the more I accomplished the more God unveiled my vision to the big picture & things started to flow together. Just takes those initial first steps of faith then you start speaking & understanding God's language.


And here I am in the kitchen, delivering my first order, & looking back thinking wow I knew it was possible, I knew it was going to happen after all those years of waiting & wondering WHEN....the 'when' happens as you walk in faith...and there you will be, standing right in the middle of WH----(ME!)----EN!

Thanks Mom for being tough with me and asking me the hard questions...you know that I need to be challenged constantly. You told me the truth...that I needed to stop making excuses and feeling sorry for myself & make it happen. If it wasn't for you, I would still be on one of those long walks with you in our neighborhood wondering 'when' everything was going to start rolling. Love you.

Have a sweet day and be filled with His sweet spirit.

~Ash

Melting Ice-Cream CAKE

This past Saturday night some of my friends threw a suprise birthday party for our friend Josh. Robert, Charme's boyfriend, told him that we were celebrating an Award my mom had recieved. Robert was very vague about this award, & even though Josh kept inquring about what exactly we were honoring, Robert insisted it was a special award and that he better pick up a card for her. HAHA.

Josh is this stand-up Godly guy that wouldn't accuse his good friend of lying over the sake of throwing him a suprise party...so he went along with it I'm sure...yet I wonder if in his car there was a back-up card for my mom just in case. We will just never know lol.

 I was racing around with my head cut off after a crazy day at the Provi Grand Opening. I had to run home, go deliver baby shower petit fours in Rockwall, go get Josh a Birthday card which then turned into being in the card aisle for way too long laughing dileriously by myself at all the card messages. You know those ones that are pre-recorded that all the employees at Walgreens despise & are cursing and pulling out their hair because people like me want to hear every one before choosing one...which always ends up being the first one I pulled anyways haha.

So I show up an hour late to the suprise party I'm hosting at my house, miss the suprise, but its all good. The guys grilled out some steaks and filets and we stuffed ourselves. Played a lil pool, Jammed out on my dad's music equipment, sang Josh Happy Birthday on the mic, then it was time for DESSERTTTTTTTTT! No birthday party is complete without the cake. So me & Charme went downstairs to secretly light the candles.

It was a 7 Layer ICE-CREAM cake. I made it before a few Christmas's ago. It's basically everything I think is good piled on top of eachother. Since I was so busy, I told my mom step by step what to do & she graciously put everything together. God Bless her...you know what; she does deserve an Award. I need to throw her a REAL Award party & make Josh buy her a Card!

7 Layer Ice-Cream CAke from the bottom up!

•  Mashed Oreo Cookie with butter
• Blue Bell Home-MadeVanilla Ice-Cream
• 1/2 Torted 10" white cake
• Caramel Sauce with whole Peanuts
• The other 1/2 of Torted white cake
• Chocolate Sauce
• Cool Whip

 Freeze in-between every layer so the layer come out clean & even...Sprinkle with some Oreo Crumbles, and stick a fork in it....Cause you are Done!!! Super easy to make, you just need time to freeze it.

We lit the thing a blaze and Jason walked it upstairs. We all gathered around the pool table & watched Josh with a big grin on his face blow out his candle as we finished the Happy Birthday tune.

Josh thanks everyone for what a blessing the party & all of us were to him, and then Robert asked if we would go around and say what about Josh we were thankful for. Lots of kind words were shared, a few tears, and a few laughs. I haven't known him for very long, but he is truely a genuine man living & serving the Lord & leading these men in encouraging ways. And you can tell by the way the guys speak about their friend & his heart & character. Josh ended by giving all the glory to God & saying everything he does is by the grace of God & what his son did for him and us on the cross.

It's just so cool to see men today being able to care for one another outloud & & reveal their hearts so openly and in the raw. I know in our girls community group it is that way as well. And I tell you this, there is no way I would do that with people...I'm not that kind of person, I'm too protective of my heart & shy.....AND YET here I am doing it with these girls...and that is by the grace of God, the movement of the Spirit in my life, and the freedom that Christ's sacrafice brought me & is continually bringing me. Trust is being restored, walls are being torn down, my guards are being surrendered, & my heart is speaking again...one word at a time. Glory be to God!

So it was time to cut the cake, but we all had so many great things we wanted to say about Josh & how he reflected the Lord's character, that the frozen ice-cream cake had turned into more of a melted frozen yogurt 7 layer cake at this point. But no worries, we scooped it out with a big spoon and down it went. Tasted like a giant Snickers Bar! Johnna made the comment that the cake was just like Josh, made of many layers...and Charme said "All good, chocolate goood, ice-cream good, peanuts goooood..." haha

We ended the night with a game of sharades with me crawling on the floor trying to act like a Turtle for the movie "Teenage Mutant Nijna Turtles" pretty ridiculous..i love my friends.

Thanks to all of you that have been there for me and continually inspire me to chase the Lord everyday. A group of faithful saints & servants, a grounded pillar to always hold me up through His strength.


"...To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." ~Mark 12:33

Cake & Answered Prayers!

This Saturday was the Providence Place BridalBoutique & Special Events Center's Grand Opening Party in Rockwall. I work there part time as the concierge & they were in need of a cake, so I volunteered my services.The bridal boutique itself is frilly, lavish, & over the top so I knew it was going to be a fun cake to create.

The shop is decorated in black, white, with splashes of light pink. I replicated that with a 3 tier cake with feathers & jewels spraying out the top, Fondant detail on flowers, and ribbon, & scollwork with black fudge icing. The flavor was white cake, brushed with raspberry liquer combined with simple-syrup which is sugar + water (this mixture makes the cake moist & gives it a hint of first-class punch), cream cheese icing & raspberry mousse filling....HOLLA! 

We had the VIP party & ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, & the Dream Wedding Military Give away on Saturday...then we Cut the CAKE. The women I work for are all amazing Christian women  followers of Jesus Christ. They've combined their passion for healthy & happy marraiges with helping create the beautiful wedding day for couples by establishing a bridal boutique....PROVIDENCE PLACE. They are also part founders of ANTHEM STRONG FAMILIES.

I say if you can find your passion & mold it with your gifts & in the name of Christ with the goal of serving Him & His word, there is nothing more rewarding & nothing can hold you back. What is He calling you to do?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. " ~Col 3:23-24

I know for me, I had to look back at my childhood...and find what things in life I naturally gravitated toward. It was art, making things, crafts, baking & sweets, & writing. God prepared my path to get me to this point. Everything he put in front of me, I am using today. Even this job...Let me tell you how I got it...A Blessing handed to me on a Silver Cake Platter.

I was working as an art teacher for pre-schoolers as I've mentioned before. I loved it  had so many great laughs and experiences with the kids, but I was at my end & needed a change, a job that fit my gifts. On top of that, the job needed to offer decent money so I could rent the commercial kitchen & a job that was part-time, AND I knew that my current teaching job needed me to continue teaching through the Fall so I felt a tugging commitment. 

I sat on my bed one night & prayed outloud---"God please if there is a way for me to leave this job, PLEASE close this door and open a new one. Please create a way for me so I know it's time to leave." I thought, I know I will NOT quit on my own because the pay is too good, I know they need me, & I don't have any other options right now to pay my bills & pay for this kitchen too. I'm just tired of working here & I feel like my mind & heart are not being stimulated.

The NEXT morning I went into work & Margie my boss said Ashley come have a seat in my office we have  alot to talk about. I sat down and she said, "Well it looks like we are not going to need you for the Fall anymore. We just can't take anymore employees on right now........etc"

As she kept talking, I began not listening & just sat in my mind in awe of God & his power, creativity, & punctualness! Talk about an instant answered prayer. I literally was glowing inside and laughing to myself and with Him at His straight up faithfullness. I didn't know what job I was going to be able to find, but I had peace about it, because I knew this answered prayer was from Him and that He would provide for me some how.

The next week I applied for a job at a couple cake & chocolate shops (i love chocolate as much as cake). I was at church & I mentioned to Charme, my friend in my community group, that I was looking for a job so to pray for that. She said, "Actaually my sister's friend just opened a bridal boutique in Rockwall and she really needs somebody quick. I'll give her your information it's right up your alley."

Erin, one of the owner, called me that weekend and we met up at the shop for an interview. She explained their need, & that they were Christians and there would be a whole lot of praying going on aroud there so as long as I as comfortable with that....uh yeah! And it turns out that my Advertising Degree from Texas State University would also be needed. She offered me the job a few hours later.

All I did was ask God to help me...and my heart truley put it's complete Faith in Him....and He answered me...in a way that was something I never would have thought of and a way that went beyond my expectations. So now not only do I have job...it's part-time, it's 10 minutes from my house, it's built by Lord loving women, it's a direct connection to my business of cakes & special occasions...& I didn't have to carry around the guilt of quiting my old job..plus I get to play dress-up with sparkly things whenever I want. ALL by TRUSTING in the LORD and His Power and Will for me.

And of course ALL of my expriences with the Lord are validated & match up with His WORD in the bible. Because this life may be surrounded by questions & myths & satan's lies...BUT if you have the Lord in your heart & trust that He saved you from your sins....These mysteries are put to the test with His Word, His Truth. In that, His actions and His character are revealed, & the truth of all the worldly confusions are unveiled by His word & spirit EVERY time.

Yay for God, Yay for His Son, Yay for His Spirit & Yay for Cake

"He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."
~Psalm 24:5 

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him."

~1John 3:21-22

"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truh, if you have faith and do not doubt.....If you believe, you will receive whateve you ask for in prayer."
~Matthew 21:21-22 

This is the Providence Place Owners, Photographer, Event Planner,& Staff. I'm on the far left. Check out Providence Place at www.purelypovidential.com 603 S.Goliad Rockwall, TX 75087

Cupcakes for Johnna

Tonight I had a special request from a good friend...Miss Johnna. She's a 2nd grade teacher in Quinland & she is also one of the most loving & beautiful people I know, inside & out. Her school is having a fundraiser bake-sale tomorrow and she asked me last week if I would make something for it. So I thought...little kids...bright color and flowers. I got home from work & busted those things out super quick tonight...lightening-fast-speed...you know like Superman...Superwoman that is! I impressed myself. Strawberry & White Cake with Vanilla ButterCream.

My last job was teaching pre-schoolers Art at the Nature & Science Museum, and I would bring my kids cupcakes for their parties. Dang little kids love icing. They would eat the Icing first...Lick it off actually...and then the cake. They'd have pink & blue stains all over their face & fingers. Mind you they are 3 & 4 so to eat all that icing is a sugarrush...bouncing off the walls....wired...not an ounce of shut eye...kiddo in the making. I'm sure their parents were thrilled with me. Anyways, here are the cupcakes for the fundraiser. 

I'm glad I was able to help you out Johnna...so honored you even asked me to. It's important to share the gifts the Lord gave me...and when kids are involved its an added Bonus. Everyone has something special to give...and asking the Father for guidance is the best way to tap into it...that's what I've learned. He opens so many more doors and turns on the lights in ways you couldn't have ever imagined. God is cool...enough said.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? "~Matthew 7:11

"I DO" Tres Leches Cake

This weekend I was busy baking a few tres leches cakes for my brother Chris and Monica's engagement party. The menu consisted of fajitas, lots of guacamole, my Dad's home-made salsa, Monica's sopapilla cheesecake and the tres leches cake. It was quite a filling dinner.

Here are the main ingredients for the cake, i'd give you the recipe, but now why would I go and do that ;)

So sugar, flour, vanilla, milk, unsalted butter, cream of tarter, baking powder, & lots of eggs and  eggwhites (depending on how dense you want your cake) The more eggs the denser it becomes...but you do want it to be heavier than a normal cake so it will soak up the milk.

Meet Sally<---- She does the mixin for me so I can be mobile in the kitchen. Now when you whip your eggwhites, make sure and mix until stif-peaks are formed. Kinda looks like Shaving Cream! I remember th first time I did this at a bakery I used to work at. I was amazed that cracked eggs could change in to such a drastic consistency...actually it kinda wierded me out, I'm no gonna lie. After the magical transformation happens FOLD the eggwhites into the batter, don't over stir...the eggwhites makes the cake fluffy. I like the word fluffy...so anythng fluffy is an ace to me. K, PoP that baby into the oven at 350 degrees until its done. I never trust the 'minutes' people tell you to leave your cakes in. Every oven & batter is different...just like us! So be patient and wait till it feels kinda bouncy and spongy (such fun words this cake has associated with it.)

 Now the good stuff, the main attraction...put your hands together FOR....the Three Milks. "Yay, alright, whoo hoo, check them out." as the audience goes wild. Okay enough. Stir together Evaporated Milk, Whipping Cream, and Sweetened Condensd Milk.Once your cake is out of the oven, go watch an episode on Food Network b/c it's going to take a while to cool down. Okay now that Rachel Ray's 30 minute Meals is over...go poke holes with a fork all over the cake, get out that aggression. Pour about half of the Trio Milk mixuture over the cake until it soak it up. Let it sit over night in the fridge if you want it extra good.

To serve pour the remaining milk on a cute vintage dish, plop a peice of cake, use a glob of whipped cream to top it and drizzle some homemade carmel syrup And VeLa TRES LECHES CAKE ready for tasting. I use a spoon to eat mine, so I can scoop all the milky goodness up.

The crowd at the party seemed to enjoy it. CONGRATS you two crazy lovebirds! Later that night Monica asked me to be bridesmaid for the wedding. My first time to be one and it's at my brother & best friends wedding, what an honor & blessing. Wonder what the dress is going to look like?

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

Witches Tea Party for Three

"And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." ~1Corinthians 11:24

What: Witches Tea Party gone SWEET

Who: Icing & Aprons Treats, 3 cool witches, & a corky baker

Where: Provi Place Haunted House

When: One Hollows Eve

Why: WHY NOT?

Last night Icing & Aprons had it's first photo-shoot...upon many to come. Halloween Cupcakes & Cake Pops were the stars along with my 3 amazing friends Jennifer, Johnna, & Missy. They were kind enough to let me be-witch them in feather eyelashes, black lipstick, crazy wigs, & pointy hats. They rocked the photo-shoot & were the perfect accessory to the Cupcakes!

I made the cupcakes and cakepops in advance and the girls came over early for their goth-makeover. The fan kept blowing on Johnna's fake eyelashes, I was running around trying to match wigs to outfits, Jen was painting her fingernails black, and Missy was putting on green...yes green lipstick. We were ready!

We arrived at the shop (Providence Place Bridal Boutique...check them out at http://www.purelyprovidential.blogspot.com/  to set up all the props that I had purchased from Walmart in their BOO-Tique....lots of cool stuff yall and cheap! So the girls were batting their eyelashes, smiling for the camera & smelling the cupcakes. Literally...sniffing them. We hadn't eaten dinner yet, so the smell of icing was too much for us to handle. During the shoot our stomachs would rudely interupt with a "rraoorahharaaa"....growling one by one. The models  asked if we were going to get to eat the cupcakes when it was over. I was scared to turn my back for too long in fear that my main Props would be EATIN! haha.

After the shoot was over we decided to eat the Cake Pops...dessert before dinner. Missy had her pretty glitter-pink lashed eyes on that poor Bat CakePop all night. She took the bat and chomped it's wings off first...but don't worry they were made of chocolate.

The girls peeled off their eyelashes and De-Wiged. We drove to Chiluso in Rockwall in search for some grub, but they closed at 8:30. We sat in the parking lot trying to figure out what would be open at 9, on a Sunday, that was fast...but not fast food. Then Johnna said there was a Which Wich by Kroger. We agreed...and as I was rolling up my window, Missy yelled out the car...

"WHICH WICH!!!!!! GET IT!!!"

Isn't that hilarious...a little too ironic, don't ya think (oh Alanis) I totally heard that song today too! God keeps adding to the ironic-ness...wait is that a word? Anyways, He's funny.

Missy prayed over our food and thanked God for the fun night & our time together. Thank you Jesus for showing me even cake can reflect the glory of you & for you...bringing friends together for a common purpose, eating together in remembrance of you and what you did for us on the cross.

I remember earlier in the night Miss said "Love Jesus, Eat Cake." I think it has a nice ring to it :) And man did we thank Jesus for that food...we were delirious and starving! Mmmm  that sandWITCH was good.

 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL for the Glory of God." ~1Corinthians 10:31

 (To Order cupcakes for Halloween email me at icingaprons@gmail.com ...starting the week of October 24th! And more pics of this fun evening coming soon. Visit my facebook page under Icing AndAprons)