i did it!!!!

YES -- I DID IT!!

I finally cooked something that I've seen on Pinterest and it actually resembles the picture from Pinterest.

=O  Goooo me!

Here's what it is:

Crescent chicken bake

You can find the recipe here.

And here is mine:

It is so delicious! :)

You should try it.

blog dreams

Here lately I've been daydreaming about things I want to do to my blog and places I want my blog to take me.  I thought to myself, "Hey, why not write your feelings down on your blog?! 

 Isn't that what it's for in the first place?!"   

Yeah!

So here I am, bringing you my little bloggy dreams :)

~ have a lovely, new layout. 

 i hope one day i can pay someone to design this little place of mine & make it so cute.

~ come up with a creative blog name.

as for now, i stuck with my name. actually my middle name is Nicole, but in high school, a best friend and myself started spelling our middle name as Nikol.  we liked it better. :) right Brittany Britnee?

~ giveaways.

i can't wait to start offering giveaways.  i may start soon! you don't have to have lots of followers to give something away, right?

~ get more followers.

my life isn't that interesting, but i'd love to have more followers/readers.

~ a pretty, little button.

i see buttons on all the blogs i read daily and i love them!  i want one of my own.

~ sponsors.

i'm SO excited to be a sponsor & to get some sponsors for my page. 

i may or may not be sponsor material, but it seems like SO much FUN!!

Now that I've let you into my dreams, I'd love any advice you'd like to give! :)

E-mail me, comment .. love them all~

Mockingjay (3rd book of The Hunger Games) ~ Book Review

Finished!

I've finally finished The Hunger Games triology.

Two words ... Loved It!

I was in such a rush to get to the end of Mockingjay to see how it ended and now I wish it hadn't ended at all.  These movies are going to suck me in, I can already see it.  This might become as bad as my Twilight obsession.......................... or maybe not ;)  lol!

I recommend reading all three of these books!
Kelly Jo over at Twice As Nice is borrowing mine & I hope she enjoys them as much as I did.

high five for friday :)

Yippee, skippee, it's FRIDAY again!

and time to link up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk blog for high five for friday.

Check out her post here to see what exactly high five for friday is all about.

and what about this new button??

AWESOME!!

On to my high five:

1.  Mac (the boyfriend) started a new job on Monday.  So far he's loving it.  Hope he continues to love it.  He has to work night shift some, so I'm kinda nervous about that (big skeerdy cat right here)!

2.  Got a late birthday card :) :) :)  I loooove presents!  Early, on time, late... don't matter to me.

3.  Birthday meal for work at Gondolier -- YUM!!  I had the bacon cheeseburger.  Yes, I know, Gondolier is an italian restaurant, but if you know me, you know I am a cheeseburger lover all the way! AND we had three different slices of cake. Ah, the snickers cheesecake was off the chain!

4.  FINISHED the Hunger Games triology!  WOW- I looooved these books and CAN NOT wait for the movie!

5.  I've tried a braid in my hair today (Friday).  First time ever doing this myself.  Definitely won't be showing you a picture yet ;)


Sorry I have no pictures for you today.  I've been very bad about taking pics this week.  I promise to do better next week. \ /scouts honor\ /

Oh, how Pinteresting Wednesday!

Wow, I can't believe it's Hump Day already!

But I'm SO glad it is for TWO major reasons.

1) We do not answer the phone at my work on Wednesdays!!!  YIPEEEE.

and

2)  Linking up with Michelle over at The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!

Wahoooo, let's get started:

Trying this recipe soon!

(pinned here)

What a cute idea!  Goin' to my Christmas present list.

(pinned here)

Need fabric & a carpenter's tape measure ASAP to make this!

(pinned here)

Concealing under eye circles -- Dang, I need to learn this!

(pinned here)

Um, YES!

(pinned here)

(pinned here)

Carter needs some of these, Hali! :)

(pinned here)

There ya have it - my pins for the week!

I finally got my Pinterest account active again, so follow me:

http://pinterest.com/ashleenikol/

Catching Fire (Book 2 of The Hunger Games) ~ Book Review

In a matter of days, I've finished book two of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire.

 

These books have been exactly what others have said.  They keep you wanting more!

I've hardly been able to put it down.  I read while cooking, eating, {sometimes} working, and other times in between all of that.  I was reading when I woke up & fell asleep.

Catching Fire is a definite recommendation. Only after reading The Hunger Games though ;)

As you probably already know, I've went and bought the 3rd book, Mockingjay.

I can't wait to finish this trilogy, but I've got a feeling I'm going to be sad when it ends.

Hoping for a happy ending :)

high five for friday

Woo~hoo, it's FRIDAY

& I'm headed to the Miranda Lambert concert tonight!!!  (edit:: Not anymore.  It's been postponed due to Blake Shelton's father passing away.)

But besides that, I am linking up with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk blog

for the High Five for Friday Link Up! 

:::Here we go:::

1.  MIRANDA LAMBERT -- My family (mainly my sister) bought me two tickets to see her for my birthday!!  It's going to be AWESOME!!!!

{{{Sorry, no pic yet}}}

2.  Making more keychains -- my lines are getting straighter.

3.  Seeing my nephew & sister.  He makes my heart smile. :)

4.   Seeing my two boys cuddle in the cold.

5.  Finished my first book of 2012 -- The Hunger Games.

Happy Friday Everyone! 

The Hunger Games ~ Book Review

As you know from my side bar, I have been reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Well... guess what?  I'M FINISHED!

I started it on Sunday night and finished on Tuesday night of this week. WOW.

I would definitely recommend this book.  It's not like anything I've read in the last little bit.

The suspense from the Games kept me sucked in.

I was wanting to read every second, minute, hour.  Things got so intense.

One night I read until 11:00 pm, then fell asleep and dreamed I was in the Hunger Games.  SKEERRYY!!

Ok- maybe I shouldn't have told you that, but I wanted to be truthful :)

I'd love nothing more than to give you the details, BUT you need to read it for yourself!

Especially before the movie comes out on March 23, 2012.

When I finished reading, I looked at Mac and said "I need to go to Walmart & get the second book!"

He took me. :) 

Maybe I'm spoiled just a little, but that's only my parents fault.  *hi mama & daddy*

:::: So, now I'm on to my second book of 2012 ::::

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (2nd book of the Hunger Games trilogy)

*****************************
Brother time.

oh, how pinteresting wednesday link up

Wow, I can't believe it's already time for



On Wednesday's I'm going to be linking up with Michelle on http://www.thevintageapple.com/ & showing what I'm pinning for the week!  How exciting!  This is my second week and I can't wait for many more!

(found here)

Aquage Uplifting Foam -- I just bought some of this and I'm SOOO excited to use it!  One of my many favorite blogger's, Kate from The Small Things blog, uses this and she has the most awesome hair!

(found here)

I totally feel this way during a pedicure.

(recipe found here)

Crack-tastic Crackers or Hot Crackers -- I've been wanting to try this recipe since New Year's Eve.

(found here)

Jade Is The New Black -- This color is drawing me in -- Note to self:  Put on Cosmo list ;)

(found here)

Toms -- these are on my "want list".

(found here)

What a cute cake!

(found here)

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Martini -- Uhh, SIGN ME UP!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

What I'm Reading

One of my goals for 2012 is to do a lot more reading. 

Since I graduated from college back in May, 2009, my reading has picked up a lot more and I realized how much I used to love it. 

Now, take your eyes over to the right side bar of my blog and you will see my new "area" called ::what i'm reading::  This is where you will see what book I'm currently reading.  Once I've finished the book, I'm going to write a quick review simply stating if I loved, liked, or disliked the book. 

My first read of the year is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  This book is EVERYWHERE it seems.  The movie will be coming out soon so I want to get it read before then.  It's actually the first of three books.  Guess I know what my next two books will be ;) 

I'd love any recommendations on some good books! 

::::I'd hate to have a post without any pictures so here ya go::::

I had a special lil' man come visit me on my birthday!

My nephew, John Carter.

 Mac's first time holding John Carter.  He did SO good!

oh, how pinteresting wednesday link up!

Hey there!

I've decided to change it up a bit this week and join in on a "link up" party. 

This is a new experience for me and I can't wait to hop on board. 

I was surfing through some of my favorite blogs and came across "oh, how pinteresting wednesday link up" on http://www.thevintageapple.com/ and I thought to myself "Self, you are SO going to do this!" 

So- here I am :)

Let's go with it!  Here's what I'm pinning this week ;)

(found here)

1.  These boots keep popping up and I'm starting to love them more & more.  The bows make them so cute!

(found here)

2.  Redneck wine glasses ~ Does everyone like these or is it just because I'm from Kentucky?! lol

(found here)

3.  I'm new to sewing, but I'm so drawn to this ruffle fabric.  Especially the yellow.  Need some asap! 

(found here)

4.  Essie nail polish.  I'm seeing this every where & need to try it out!  They have some awesome colors.

(found here)

5.  My nephew will probably be calling me his "crazy aunt" in a few years!  I can't wait!


(found here)
6.  Loooove these cowgirl boots!


(found here)
7.  Yummy~ cupcakes in a jar!


(found here)
8.  My favorite country picture. 


(found here)
9.  Relaxation ... aahhhh


(found here)
10.  I'm makin' my own laundry detergent one day!

Welp, there ya have it, folks!  This has got me ALL EXCITED!  Hopefully next week I will be able to log into my Pinterest account and actually pin {I have forgot my login & password -- eek}.

Also, I'd like you to take notice of my NEW signature at the bottom of my post. 

Woo hoo, I'm moving on up on blog world!  :)

P.S.  ~Happy Birthday to Kelly Jo over at Takin' Time To Smell The Roses~

Go over & tell her Happy Birthday!