Leek, Chard & Corn Flatbread

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I'm gearing up to head out of town for 6 weeks for my new job. I get to come home briefly on the weekends, but my poor fiance is going to have to fend for himself at dinner time during the week. He is very capable of feeding himself. He's a wonderful cook and he's even the master behind the homemade pasta that I posted yesterday. But when it comes to being alone and feeding himself he tends to forget about eating until he's starving and then he downs a frozen pizza.

I guess I'm just worried about him (mostly because I'm going to just miss the heck out of him) and my hope is that if he is going to eat pizza every day that he at least makes a healthy version like this 

Leek, Chard & Corn Flatbread from Smitten Kitchen. 

It's delicious and easy to make. It is definitely way better than the food I'll be cooking up in my hotel microwave! 

Weekend Wrap Up

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~ A view of Milwaukee from Lakeshore Park ~

I love that I am constantly discovering new beauty in my city. The weather this weekend was gorgeous and I took every opportunity to be outside in it. I had a Girl's Night Out, a nature walk with my mom, and a Sunday afternoon spent enjoying the sunshine and delicious food.

~ Alterra at the Lake ~

 ~ Checking out Lucille's Piano Bar in preparation for my Bachelorette Party ~

Margo is too pretty!

 ~ Lakeshore Park ~

~ Homemade Pasta ~

The 1-3-5 List

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I am a list maker. I am an obsessive list maker. I make lists of lists.

Despite the environmentalist in me I use a forest's worth of paper in post-it notes on a daily basis.

I've heard about the 1-3-5 list before, but I've only recently started using it and so far I'm in love. It reigns me in from making my list excessive, but it also lays things out so that I actually accomplish them.

Check out 1-3-5.com for a virtual version of the list and get ready to spring clean your cluttered mind!

My 20's Bucket List

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I didn't realize how many cool things I've done already by the age of 23 until I started writing my 20's Bucket List. I was looking for ideas to inspire me, but I've done so much of what is on other similar age appropriate bucket lists (or it's things I just don't care about like partying in Vegas). Mostly because those lists were a bit lame and included things like "move out of your parents house". Which I respect, because I didn't go away to school so I definitely felt like I lived at home longer than everyone else. But I digress! I've seen some natural wonders of the world, I'm SCUBA certified, I can cook, I'm about to get married, I did cancer research, I live in a city where I have amazing food and fun, I just got a "grown-up" job.

It's funny how I compare myself to other people and think that I just live the most boring life ever. I'm a list person so I guess I needed to sit down and make one to figure out that my life is actually pretty amazing.

I'm so thankful for everything that I have experienced, everyone in my life, and everything that I have, but I always need to strive for more.

1. Learn a language...fluently!

I took 4 years of Spanish and hell if I can even speak one sentence of it now. For some reason I just really want to learn French so I can go to France and order some wine without looking like a tool.

2. Re-learn ballet. 

I took ballet for about 10 years as a kid. I really loved it, but was heart broken when my instructor decided to leave her studio to dance in Chicago and I gave it up. Ballet is the OCD girl's dance.

3. Visit New Orleans. 

I don't know why I want to spend time there so badly, but I want to soak up some voodoo and eat a bunch of beignets.

4 - 6. See the Northern Lights, learn astronomy, get a telescope. 

I feel like these three are related. I had a telescope as a kid and I'm pretty sure I saw a UFO. Don't laugh! My dad is in the aircraft field and I called him while he was at work one night to tell him about what I saw. He told me that only 1 plane could do what I described and there were only a couple of them left in the world. Therefore, I decided it had to be a UFO. SHUT UP.

7. Become a Wine Connoisseur. 

8. Meditate daily and practice yoga on a regular basis.

9. Donate Blood. 

I have the universal donor blood type and I am a universal chicken that needs to suck it up and give someone my blood.

10. Invest My Moolah in the Market.

11 - 12. Visit Pike Place and Go Whale Watching. 

These are also related because I've always wanted to do both and on our honeymoon we will be! I'm too excited!

13. Attend some TED Talks.

14. Learn more about US & World history. 

I feel like everyone knows more than I do.

15. Become passionate about a cause or charity and get actively involved.

16. Visit the Smithsonian.

17. Travel, travel, travel. 

"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." - Susan Sontag

18. Revamp my wardrobe and own everything that J. Crew makes. 

Okay, that part may be a bit unrealistic.

19. Trade in our falling apart cheap furniture. 

Get a new mattress, couch, and some real bookshelves.

20. Get married to my best friend.

What's on your bucket list?

Wedding Cake - Help Me Decide!

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As many of you know, Bryce and I have been engaged for a long time. That means I've had far too much time to change my mind about what I want for our wedding.

For most of that time we didn't want a wedding cake. We were going to do some kind of dessert buffet and cut into a fruit tart for the symbolism. My parents didn't have a wedding so definitely no wedding cake. On their 25th anniversary last year I threw them a surprise party and made a cake so they could finally cut into it together.

That made me realize I wanted us to have a wedding cake (that and my mom pestering me - love you mom!). But now the decision has to be made...what do I want my wedding cake to look like?!

Help me out! Let me know which of these cakes is your favorite.

Spring Green Pasta

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Bryce and I went to the Cubs vs Brewers game on Sunday and we ate so much junk food. It's a ball game. Junk food is a requirement. Nachos Grande, Loaded Potato, Soft Serve...

Okay, we didn't eat nearly as much junk food as the people around us, but I definitely felt like major crap later that night and the next day so I decided to made the healthiest darn pasta you ever did see!

It's a typical Ashley recipe where the measurements are made up and the points don't matter!

Spring Green Pasta

1 Head of Broccoli, chopped
1 Bunch of Asparagus, broken up
2 Large Kale Leaves, ripped up
A Handful of Snap Peas
1 Avocado, diced
8 oz Fresh Pasta (seriously, use fresh pasta)
Salt & Pepper
Shredded cheese like Parmesan to top





Prep all of your veggies (not the avocado) and cook down in a large sauce pan with a lid over medium heat until everything is tender. Add water throughout to keep it steaming.

Boil water and cook pasta according to directions.

Salt and pepper the veggies.

Mix the veggies, pasta, and diced avocado together. Serve topped with cheese.

My body is thanking me for this meal!

Lovin' on the Earth Day

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Happy Earth Day!

It seems like everyone has really great blog posts for Earth day with tips on how to live a sustainable lifestyle by recycling, shopping locally and even by using natural beauty products. Those are all wonderful and important, but it kind of feels like ...alright already! Tell me something I don't know!

I mean, that could be because I study Environmental & Conservation Science and living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle is a huge priority for me. But that is also why I think it's important to share with you some information for why you should even give a crap about buying one lotion over another. It's really easy to disconnect our actions from what is happening to the Earth overall especially when we ignore the damaging evidence for more "important" news like which celebrity got arrested (looking at you Reese Witherspoon!) and which team won the game (never the Cubs :( ).

Somehow, at the same time, it feels like everyone just wants you to be a B.O. and patchouli scented hippy that lives in a commune, but that really isn't necessary. I live an environmentally-conscious lifestyle everyday and I think I smell pretty good. I'm no where near perfect, but it's not about that. It's about slowing down, preventing, and reversing the damage to our planet that little by little we each contribute to every day.

My favorite climate cartoon!

When I started writing this I wanted to share specifics of the damage being done to our planet, but honestly, where could I even begin?

Should I tell you about our endangered US rivers that are disappearing because we are overdrawing the water with outdated management techniques?

What about the lasting effects of the BP oil spill? Nope, that's not over yet. How about daily oil dumps from cruise ships?

You probably know about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. But did you know we have our own growing garbage patch here in the Great Lakes?

I could never begin to tell you about everything that is happening to our planet (I only know a fraction), but I can tell you how to become informed yourself.

1. Subscribe to Above the Fold, a daily newsletter from Environmental Health News. Above the Fold aggregates environmental headlines from across the world so that you don't need to dig to have the facts at your fingertips.

2. Check out Mother Nature Network. It's like CNN for the Earth.

3. There are bajillions of documentaries to watch. My favorite series is called Oceans. It is beautiful and I learned so much from it.

3. Make a sustainable lifestyle a priority! It's nearly impossible to read the news and not learn anything about the environment. It's like when you buy a new car and suddenly you see your car everywhere you look. Once you start looking for information, you won't stop finding it.

We will deal with the consequences of a damaged planet in our lifetime - it's not just about future generations anymore. In 35 years, 1/3 of land mammals may be extinct and the Arctic summer ice will be completely melted. I might not even have grand kids by then!

The Earth needs you to give a crap!

A Difficult Week

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Apologies for posts being few and far between this week. I think my life has been mirroring the nation's chaos. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life.

Maybe things have been going well for too long? I don't know. I'm just happy to be moving forward now. I can't wait to spend fun time with friends and family this weekend. I'll be helping with bridal shower crafting, getting breakfast with Margo, and going to a Cubs game.

Next week's posts should be a lot more fun!

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on. 

-Robert Frost

Blood Orange Mimosa

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I'm not really a drown my sorrows kind of person (anymore). My comfort is/was sugar-filled anything. I turn to a multitude of healthy outlets for my stress these days, but yesterday was a toughie. The real kicker was saying good bye to my brother as he left for boot camp. After we parted ways with Sean and my dad headed home, my mom and I grabbed breakfast at Simple Cafe. We were wiped so my mom drove home and I was left by myself with no motivation to do anything.

So you know what I did? I ate two desserts and drank wine straight from the bottle. Then I fell asleep.

Shut up.

I needed it. You know what would have made my indulgent day even better? Blood Orange Mimosa from Canella. I had it for the first time at Rustico and when I found a bottle of it at Glorioso's I just had to bring it home.

I never ended up finishing the bottle before it went flat (because I'm healthy like that), but I wish I'd had some to drink yesterday. Because yesterday, I was ridiculous.

Saying Bye Bye to My Little Brother

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I'm saying farewell for now to my brother, Sean, today. He's headed off to Texas for Air Force boot camp! Good luck, buddy. We'll all miss you, but we know you will do wonderful things!

Monday Mania: Purple Door Ice Cream

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I have been really good about not eating dessert lately. This is not always an easy feat because I am a major sugar addict. I've been buying myself flowers instead of dessert when I'm stressed out, but the other day I saw Purple Door ice cream and decided that I needed a treat. I've wanted to try Purple Door for a couple of years now since the Milwaukee made ice cream started showing up in stores. 

There are a few flavors available at Whole Foods including the traditional chocolate and vanilla. There's also a mint chip and my choice, Butter Pecan. It's delicious - so buttery with the perfect crunch of roasted pecans. Yum, yum, yum.

Grab a pint at a number of locations in Milwaukee and even a few stops all the way down to Chicago.

Out of Time

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A day out of town means no blog post so I'll just leave you with an image from one of my best weekends ever.

Bonfire at my parents' house the weekend Bryce and I got engaged.

Have a great weekend!

Air Force Going Away Party

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My brother is leaving for the Air Force in 5 days. Where did the time go? Honestly, wasn't he just a baby wearing a camo costume for Halloween?

Now his room is empty and he's gearing up for 6 years of being a bad ass. Obviously my little brother leaving for the Air Force is upsetting, but I have to remember to look on the bright side. He's getting a career, he gets to travel and meet new people, he's going to have tons of fun (once boot camp is over, of course). Hey, maybe I'll even get to travel to see him too!

Over the weekend we threw him a party. His friends, family, and family friends all showed up to wish him well and jot down their addresses so he can write letters from boot camp. Air Force boot camp is in Texas so we went with a slight southern theme and served sweet tea, coca cola, and banana pudding for dessert. We also had a build your own sandwich bar, homemade potato salad, and reese's peanut butter cup brownies (Sean's favorite candy).

The Drinks

Coca-Cola in a metal bucket we found at Michael's and Sweet Tea from mason jars. I love the blue striped paper straws we had!

The Food

Our sandwich bar included 4 types of cheese, 3 meats, lettuce, tomato, onions, cucumbers, spinach, 3 mustards, mayo, oil & vinegar, ranch, and pickles. My mom made her amazing potato salad and brownies. We also had the usual veggie tray and chips. I made vanilla custard with banana slices, fresh whipped cream, homemade caramel and a shortbread cookie all in little mason jars. Don't worry, I'll be sharing the recipes.

The Decorations

We went with a nose art theme (as you may remember from the invitations) aka scantily clad ladies that were normally painted on planes. Sean loved it. High five to Bryce who printed and mounted everything annnnd made that beautiful banner up top. I also put wrenches in vases since Sean is going into a maintenance field, but nobody noticed so whatever.

Everything came together really well and I'm still eating leftovers, but most importantly I think Sean had a really great time. 

His welcome home party is going to be epic!