Laundry Room Tips & A Special Event

I know by the title you probably think I'm going to be giving tips out on how to do laundry, but nooo, not so much!  I was browsing some crafty blogs the other day and came across a "tip jar" for the laundry room.  Do you ever do a load of laundry and then find a couple of quarters, dimes, maybe even some dollar bills???!!!  Well, I do and I finally decided it was the washing machine "tipping" me for my hard work!  So I decided to make a "tip jar" of my own.  Check it out!!  I am loving it so far. 

I found this old gallon jug under the sink in the kitchen and have no idea where it came from, but it looked like a good tip jar to me.  I cleaned it up a little bit and drew out the words "tip jar" on some printer paper, cut it out, and double side taped it to the jar.  I've now placed it in my laundry room on the shelf above my washer and dryer.  And........ while I was in another room last night, I heard "ching, ching, ching" in the kitchen.  I went in there and to my surprise, Mac was loading it up with some coins!!!!  So my new tip jar already has some moolah in it!!!!  I'm SO HAPPY!!!  What do you think of my "tip jar"??  Maybe you are now thinking of making your own!!

Now for a complete turn around.

There is a very special event going on right now and I wanted to post it on my blog for a special friend :)  MRS. JESSICA TUCKER  (also my newest follower!)  I have known Jessica for what seems to be my whole life.  I can remember having birthday parties at the skating rink and she letting me sit on her knees and someone push us all around that wooden floor.  She knew all the coolest tricks on skates!!  This girl even came to my house a few times and babysat my sister and me.  She would take us out in the front yard and do back hand springs and even let us practice some!  Jessica is the most sweetest, kind hearted, beautiful inside and out, kind of person that you will ever meet. 

So, in celebration of Allie Cole Tucker's 6th Birthday, please see the following details below.  (Jessica, hope you don't mind me stealing this from you.)

In celebration of Allie Cole Tucker’s 6th Birthday on April 6th, 2011
Allie’s Gang along with Rise of Riley, Remembering Levi and Colton’s Crew
Metcalfe County, KY March of Dimes Family Group Team 2011
Will be hosting a baby Hair Bow, “mini” Stuffed Animal and or “Matchbox Car” Drive.

We are asking anyone interested to simply donate a
“new” hair bow (hair accessories), a new mini stuffed animal and /or a “Matchbox Car“.
The items donated will be delivered to NICU families at the
University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital and Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY on April 6th, 2011.

Details.
Our goal is 50 of each…50 bows and 50 cars/ stuffed animals :)
Hair bows need to be “alligator clip” style and must be new. All ‘Hot wheels/ Matchbox cars” and mini stuffed animals must be new in the box as well.
All items entering the NICU must be new. This is purely for safety measures.
Also, we are not limited to bows, mini stuffed animals and cars- we will gladly accept any item for the babies and their families…it can be preemie socks, hats, crocheted hats, etc.

***Items don’t have to be wrapped, boxed or anything…we will take care of that.
Donated items may be dropped off between today- April 5th at 7:00pm at
Jessica’s Dance and Tumbling Center in Edmonton.

Our Mission.
We hope to give NICU parents a “keepsake” during their NICU stay. As former NICU mother it’s very heartwarming to know someone is thinking about you and your baby during a very critical time in life. This will be a keepsake that the family can treasure for a lifetime- a sweet reminder that someone is always thinking of them.

In Loving Memory of our Little Ones.
and with honor-
Allie Cole Tucker- Allie’s Gang (Jessica, Jason, Kruz and Zaylee)
Riley Bunch- Rise of Riley (Sally, Jacob, Kassidee, Ryan and Miranda)
Colton Young- Colton’s Crew (Carol, Jason, Makayla and Dustin)
Levi Bennett- Remembering Levi (Micah, Jared and Ada- Kathryn)
Kerra Cheslea Curry- (Janice, Gilbert and Kyla)
Brenner Lee and Baby Bunny - The Triple Bees (Mandy, Phillip, and Baby Brooke)

*****************************************
I am currently working on some items to donate.  I crocheted this beanie just last night after hearing about the event.  It is a premie size beanie.. so little. I was so excited to create something for the event.

I am hoping to have many more like this lil' beanie made by next Tuesday.  Next year I am hoping to have even more!  If any of my followers would like to donate, you may give to me and I'll deliver it when I make my delivery next week :)  Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!!

P.S.  How do you like my new background?  I'm really liking the color purple right now. 

~ashlee 

So, I went back to my childhood this weekend and made some .... *Friendship Bracelets*!!!!!!!!  When I was younger I had so many colors of embroidery thread and made these bracelets all the time.  I went to Wal-Mart Saturday night to buy some thread and to my surprise, they don't sale it any more!  All I could find was this Friendship Bracelet kit in the crafts section.

I went ahead and bought it, of course.  :)  Got it home and it has all kinds of awesome colors!!!  See the blue & green one I made??!!  I've also made a purple and green one which I am sporting on my right ankle.  I think it's time to bring friendship bracelets back in style.

I also finished a men's beanie this weekend with some ear flaps.  I looove this navy blue color!! 

Hope everyone has a great week!! :)

I ain't no Betty Crocker...

I guess I should tell ya'll that when I left home, my cooking skills weren't at Betty Crocker status.  I was a master of chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese and some macaroni and cheese and well, that was about it. But tonight... I cooked a pretty decent meal if I do say so myself!  I'm so proud that I thought I'd post some pics of it.  We had salmon patties, fried taters, and cheese biscuits!!!! And I only got one "Granny doesn't do hers like that!" ...courtesy of Mac. :)

Mama, these kinda tasted like yours!  I'm gettin' there!!

Yumm.. yumm!


We've also got some painting going on around here.  We are in the process of painting the basement walls and so far this is what we've got...            

the before.. with white primer

the tennessee slate blue that it's being painted.. which is pretty much gray

Anyway, it's looking better than it did.

And before I go... let me show this beanie that I finally finished.  I've had the beanie part finished for a while, but I wanted to add some flowers to it.  I LOVE IT!!!

(Pattern credits: beanie & flower)

I must not forget my new followers...  MRS. BARB ESTES (my Mama) and I am going to include MR. CURT ESTES in that because she makes sure that he sees my blogs!!  Ha Ha! and MRS. JOHANNA COMPTON!


Thanks for stoppin' by~



Blast From The Past... Part 2

Hey guys! How about another trip to the past??  I love looking at old pictures and seeing how everyone has changed, especially myself! 

Brittany & me under the big rock at Sawmill Holler creek .. man, this was like 4 years ago!!!  Look at that shirt I have on.  It was from the Summer of 2004 when we went to Panama City Beach with Brit's parents.  Ahh, memories!!!

Pensacola Beach, FL Hooters ... 2007 ... Mine & Mac's first trip to the beach together!  Boy was I burnt up!? 

Hannah!!  You are so little in this picture.  I can't believe you are a freshman in high school... you will be 16 soon!!!

Ok guys, PLEASE don't kill me for this one!!! 

Ashley, Cassie (& Jayden), & Brittany .. eating for Cassie's birthday =)

A²,B,C!

Jessica & me at Loretta Lynn's in 2008! We LOVE that place =)

L to R: Me, Christian, Hali, & Sami Jo

looking all stunning before the Prom!

Last, but not least... Me and my Daddy!  I had to take him on a RZR ride!  He doesn't look too scared?!!

Talk to you guys real soon ... have a great day!!

Happy Spring!

I am Sooooo HAPPY that Spring is just around the corner.  This weekend has been so gorgeous...... but me.. not so much!  This girl has been sick so I've been a lil' MIA around the blog scene the last couple of days.  :(  I promise, I'm going to try and be better!


So here's to SPRING!!!! 

We already have a freshly mowed yard ... Thanks Mac!!!  He sure does love his yard!

I'm so excited about these Easter flowers blooming! 

I've even got some "monkey grass" (or whatever these little green things are) growing!!  If anyone knows what these are, please let me know.  I did not plant these :)


Well, hope everyone has a good week :)  *Fingers crossed* for nice weather all week!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

Well, today is St. Patrick's Day and I've got my green on.... do you?!  I finally found a shirt in my closet that had a little bit of green on it and some green earrings and a headband to match!!  I also had a bracelet on, but being the nice, kind, terrific, most awesomest friend that I am.. I gave it to Kelly Jo who did not, I repeat.. DID NOT.. have any green on whatsoever!!! 




So, the other day I said I was making something for a special friend of mine.. and I got to give it to her yesterday..  Her name is Ms. Hannah Thompson!  Check her out loving her new scarf that I crocheted for her. 

I also took a pic of her pink cast that she is sporting right now.. because I wanted to tell a story about me and my special friend =) 


Back when Hannah was about 2 years old, we would hang out ALL the time.  We would love jumping on the trampoline while our sisters were off being "Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen".  Well, one day we was jumping and she sit down and said her leg was hurting.. I replied "Aww, come on and keep jumping!!"  Of course, she got up and tried to keep jumping along with me, but she just couldn't because it hurt so bad.  So, I carried her home on my back ( she lives no piece from my parent's house).  Later on that night, I find out that Hannah had to be taken to the hospital and found out that HER LEG WAS BROKE!!!!  I BROKE THIS GIRL'S LEG ON THE TRAMPOLINE AND SHE WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD!!!!  And she's still friends with me, can you believe it?!?!!     When I see her today in her new cast from a different injury, it reminds me of that story.. except that time she was in a cast that covered her entire leg! 

LOVE YA HANNAH BOO!!!




On another note.. if anyone is wondering what kind of vehicle my Mama and Daddy ended up getting... well, here it is!!!!!!  THE EXACT SAME THING SHE ALREADY HAD!!!!!! 

Now, bring on the beautiful weekend :)

Blast to the past ... Trip 1!

Welcome to my "Blast to the past.. Trip 1"!!  I've been going through some old pics that I had saved on SnapFish and thought I'd share some with you guys.  Don't laugh too hard & try not to hate on me too bad :)

 My first Nascar race ... Talladega

 Mother's Day present .. Mother's Day 2010

Me & Aubrey .. Look how young you are Aubrey!!!  Time sure has flown by!

Me, Daddy, & Hali ... Family Reunion

My Family .. Back row:  Daddy, Mama, Uncle Steve

Front row:  Me, Nanny, & Hali

Nanny, what are you checking on?!  Ha Ha!

My very first car ..  my dream car!! 

Santa brought me this car with a big red bow on it!

Angela & I =)  Miss you girl!!

Baby Kayden!!  2007

I absolutely LOVED this RZR .. :(  Miss it lots!

Awww...  Look at baby Brutus!!

His lil' face is soo cute!

More to come at a later date!  =) 

Plus, more crocheting....

Until then.. *waves*



Happy Early Birthday Bridget!!  We celebrated tonight at the famous France's BBQ and man, it was delicious!  For Bridget's birthday present, I went all "home-made" out.. card and all!! 

Here she is in her new cute purple potato chip scarf  =)  I absolutely loved this scarf and the color.   

(Pattern credit:  Lion Brand)

Hope you loved it as much as I did Bridget!!!

I've been putting together another birthday present that is coming up... check it out! 

I bought the flower charm and two peace signs together and the chain separate.  I added the flower charm to the chain and waa laa.. a cute necklace!  The two peace sign charms are going to be earrings (as soon as I buy the earring part).  I'll keep you posted on how they turn out. 

Happy Monday =) =)

Hey guys!  What's everyone up to on this B-E-A-UTIFUL Saturday?!  The weather is so nice here today and I'm getting to do something I love to do on a pretty day like this.  No, not the laundry part... Hanging my clothes on the line!!! 

If you know me, then you know I have become a pretty "cheap" person since not living under Mama & Daddy's roof.  I love anything that helps save on the electric bill and this is one of them!  My clothes line is very.. umm.. redneck!  It's weedeater string tied between two trees, but it works like any regular clothes line.  It doesn't hold that many clothes, but that's okay because it gets the job done!

Brutus is loving this day too!  Take a peak at him.  Sorry the picture has a glare... I didn't want to wake him so I had to sneak and take it from inside.

Isn't he so cute?!


So, wonder if I've been crocheting anything lately?!  Well, of course I have!  I don't like to go a day without crocheting ... (except I am having to give it a break today because of a cyst that has come up on my wrist.... the boyfriend says if I take a break today, then he will take me out to eat some where.. and well, if you know me.. then you know I looooove to eat :) LOL)


Look at this scarf I made.. it's called a potato chip scarf and I think it's soooo cute!  Christmas presents?! I THINK SO!!!  (Yeah, Hali (the sister), this is what you are getting for Christmas!)

(Pattern credit:  Lion Brand)

(Modeling by Kelly Jo... I might have to start paying her to model...)

I am currently working on another scarf like this for a special friend of mine.  Hopefully I'll finish it up this weekend and you will see them strutting their stuff with it on next week here on my blog.  Don't forget to come back and check it out!! 

And I can't forget, I have a new follower to welcome... MS. BRIDGET BARTLEY!  Thanks for following ... and I believe we will be celebrating her birthday this week :) :) :)

Happy Saturday to ya!

Old fart, young heart

Who says 40 is old?!  Not this girl!!!  Today is one of my co-worker's 40th birthday and we celebrated!!  It all started off with some surprise decorations in the office.  Courtesy of Kelly Jo and myself.

Then, we had an AWESOME trip to Little Taste of Texas for lunch, courtesy of our boss.  THANKS BOSS!!!  We absolutely love that place!  After the huge meal, Erica got to bring a desert back to the office and it was OFF THE CHAIN!  Snicker Pie!

And then look what the boss brought in!!!

Overall, I think 40 was pretty great for this girl!!  She sure doesn't look a day over 29, does she?! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERICA!!!!!