Devistating Loss

Sorry I've been MIA the past few days, a friend came into town and it was a race weekend..

Yesterday was a very difficult day for my family.
And today isn't any easier for us all...
We knew the day was coming fast but we didn't want to think about it.
We had to put down our family dog of 12 years. =/

These photos were taken monday by my mom and dev.
My sister and I had our goodbyes, hugged and kissed her, and played
with her one last time! It was one of the hardest Goodbye's I have ever had
to do. I cried all the way back to mine and Devs house. I am devistated!
I couldn't even pull myself together for work yesterday, it was horrible!

We Got Shasta for free, when I was in 5th grade.
We had her cousin, Sunny, but  she got out and
got hit by a car. So when we got Shasta it was such a blessing.

We have had other dogs and have seen them come and go,
but my sister and I both agree that Shasta is the only dog we have
truly grown up with. She has been more part of the family then any
other dog we have had. (expect maddie) So having to say goodbye
to Shasta has been super difficult, it's like losing a sister. She is Family.

Even up until yesterday morning she had a heart of gold, and still
believed she was a young pup with lots of energy..but we could tell she
was in pain. (and going blind in both eyes, one was bleeding.)

So yesterday we set her free of pain and into Doggy Heaven.

Our Other Pup, Maddie, has been crying and looking for Shasta since
yesterday, she doesn't understand why her buddy of almost 10 years
isn't there with her. It makes us all sad watching her cry and be confused.

We Miss You Shasta Lynn.
You were the Best Puppy Dog and Best Companion.
Thanks for 12 years of fun, love, and memories.
You will always be apart of our family/
We Love You!!

Summer Projects

Oh Hey Look at that, I am alive and still blogging!
But I have been out of the loop this week because of the dreaded college
term...FINALS! Luckly, I have 2 finals tomorrow and then I am free. *happy dance*

As Summer Approaches, I realized I will have more time on my hands then I thought.
I haven't started working full-time yet, because of school, but I am sure my Boss
will squeeze me in there sooner or later. And for the last week or so of May and first
2 weeks or so of June, I am covering for a girl who is going on vacation. ($$$$$$)
And then, Chances are I will be going back to my normal work schedule, which will
give me a lot of down time, which I guess I am not complaining because I have

many things I would like to do this summer around here...

When I lived at home, I got to decorate my room however I wanted too.
And because I was (am) totally obsessed with One Tree Hill, I decided
to paint my room red and write quotes on my walls, and all my furnature is
black. I LOVE my room at my parents house, it's still how I left it a year ago
and I plan to take everything from that room with me and dev when we can
afford a place of our own. But for now, We are living at his Grandparents House
which I love. It's hard to explain our living situation, because we are living at his grand-
parents house, but they are living in Arizona at their other little house. (Being Retired has
it's perks, haha) So technically we have the house to ourselves...

But Yet, I am still itching and scratching to decorate. I want to go hog wild

and paint the walls, and get new furnature and just decorate my little tush off.

Since, this isn't my house...I have to hold myself back. BUT, I do get the right to

decorate mine and Devs room. Which, is small for 2 people and a dog. but I can

make do. And Dev already gave me the OK to Decorate and we were told

we could paint the room. Which, is now, my SUMMER GOAL. To Totally

re-do mine and Devs room because I have a feeling we are going be there

a little while longer...

And Here our My Ideas:

We Live by the Beach, Dev always has..and I am pretty sure always will.
And I know the "Beach" Theme is sort of over played but I am going to
put my own twist on it. It isn't going to be so much "Beachy" because
we still have A LOT of Racing stuff around our room. So..If NASCAR
raced at the Beach...You'd Get.. Our Room! :) BAM!

Does anyone have any tips and tricks for decorating??
I'd Love to Hear what you did when you were in the process
of re-decorating your room...

PEACE, LOVE, and BUTTERLIES
-Ashlee Michelle

My Mom.

(last year on mothers day)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY..
To the Best, Most Wonderful Mama Ever!

You Truly are my Best Friend.
And You Deserve the BEST day, every day!

Thank You for All you do for me and lyndsay.
Without you, We wouldn't be the Women we are today..
and we wouldn't know how to be sassy.. ;)

I LOVE YOU MAMA!!

Passionately Emotional

If I know anything about famous expressions, it's definitley, "I wear my heart on my sleeve"
and although this expression isn't used for everything in my life, it does hold meaning for
a lot of things when I allow it too. I am always Emotional. I am a Girl, Duh! But I don't
see it as a bad emotional, I would call it...Passionate! Yes, I am Overly Passionate!!!

Not only have I had an "Passionate" Breakdown over Finals this week,
but I find myself getting stressed out about things. Mostly things I can't change.
I find myself pulling my hair out and wanting to use fighting words to get my
point across because just talking normal doesn't seem to do anything now-a-days.

I find myself getting antsy at wanting to tell (someone) I don't like to just
leave everyone in my life alone and to stop trying to be involved in our
business when they aren't anymore.

I find myself loving my job but being nervous that I will never get good at it.

I find myself hating the fact that I should be graduating college this year but am not.

I find myself giving up on school because I am totally over it but trying to go on because

I know it will be worth it in the end..even if that end takes forever to get here.

I find myself being envious of my friends who aren't in school.
They are free to do what they want and work to make more money.

I find myself wanting to follow the other dream jobs I have always wanted to

pursue, like Event Planning or Owning my own little business.

I find that I get board easily and can't stick to one thing for long.

I find myself wishing I worked way more hours so I could save up enough money
to go rent a little house for devon and I, because I so desprately want a place to
call OUR OWN. And have my own place to decorate and feel free in.

I find myself antsy about growing up mostly because I want to have
everything already, but I also like where I am at...it's easier!

I find myself still pushing to be good enough..

I find myself stressed out that I turn 22 next month.

I guess I still have a long way to go, and I still have some
things to learn and experiance in my life before I can accomplish
all I want to accomplish. I get a little passionately emotional about it from
time to time but I guess I don't want life to pass me by and then realize
all the opportunities are gone. I don't want to be a late bloomer in life.
And just like Drake says: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE <3

T.G.I.F

PEACE, LOVE, and BUTTERFLIES
-Ashlee Michelle

SpeedRacers Birthday.

Devon is 23.

Happy Birthday to the Love of My Life, My Best Friend!

It's Been such a fabulous weekend full of Racing and Birthday Fun.
We have definitley had a Blast celebrating the Birth of this darling boy.

Friday, I surprised Devon with a Sticker I got made for a Memorial
for his Older Brother Ryan. Although it was his Birthday Present, I also
made it a surprise for his dad. So I totally surprised both of them.
Last Night, Saturday, Instead of doing the Cinco De Mayo thing...We called it
Cinco De Raceo. And we headed off to the Race Track for a Night of Racing.
Where I also surprised Devon with new Fire Resistant Underpants and Shirt.
He also got his first podieum of this season, He started 8th and moved his way
up to 3rd very quickly, where he finished strong. It was such an awesome night.
Then After the Race we all went back to our Pit and had some cake
that my mom got made. It was so Cute. And as a Birthday Race Tradition,
The candle is a 9 instead of his actual age. haha.
(Even at 23, he still gets a cool racecar theme cake)

Today is just a relaxing day.
His Birthday has been SO much fun to celebrate.

Today, Both of Our Families are coming over to the house for
his Birthday Dinner. and as requested from the birthday boy,
We are having Lasagna. His Favorite.

The Day isn't Over.
Here is to Your Birthday, My Love.
Happy 23rd.

I Love You my SpeedRacer.

Diet Meals

Let's be Honest, I've never been the one to get in the kitchen and cook.
I love baking, not that I do it all the time, and I like to cook from time to time
but I'm no Bobby Flay. I can't get in there and just throw something together
and make it taste good.

My  Mom on the other hand..I swear, that lady should open
up her own resturant because she can do some meann dishes, which, I
definitley believe she inheirted from my Nana because she knows how to
fill up a plate with some good homemade cookin. My sister has also been
cooking for a while, taking recipes of my moms and making them her own.
She is more of a Baker though, she will make cupcakes to nobodies end.
And my Brother is a head chef at a Steak House..he went to culinary school
and can fire up some yummy meals. We have always called him "Chef Boyarde"

Then There is Devon, whom, like his dad...Loves to Cook.
Devon inheirted his cooking skills from him Dad, who is an excellent
chef. So every time I go to cook something, Dev usually ends up helping,

correcting, and just taking over. (I get frusterated a little too much)
Devs Grandma is also a fabulous cook, whenever they are home I always look
forward to her meals, (Tamale Pie, especially.)

Pretty Much, I am in a circle of great cooks who have no problem being
in the kichen making some awesome meals. Myself on the other hand,
I try. Which, the meals I have made have never come out bad..they actually
turn out fairly good. But, I've realized something more now that I am on my Diet.

Being on a Diet that only lets you eat up to 500 Calories a day,
and is very limited in what you can and can't have is definitley tricky,
but it's not hard. The Portions are smaller, But i get full faster. And I have had
to learn how to grill chicken, steam fish, and cook shrimp all by myself. And make
it takes good; while trying to eat a salad that I can't put ranch on. OH THE HORROR!
I am also becoming wicked cool by learning how to cook without Oil, Butter, or
any fun things like that. Pam Spray is my Best Friend. She never lets me down.
Luckly, HCG has some great Diet friendly recipes to help me out..that..and My mom
is on the Diet with me, so if I don't know what to do I just call her. YAY MOMS!
(Okay, I do that for any dish I am trying to make, regardless if it's Diet food)

I'd have to say..I am pretty proud of myself..Here are some YUMMY
Dishes I have made recently..They may not look like much, but man were they
good. Look out Mr. Flay..I might be taking your TV time slot soon. ;)

Grilled Talpia with Steamed Brussel Sprouts.

Grilled Lemon Peppered Chicken with Basalmic Cucumbers

Grilled Garlic, Thyme Chicken W/Steamed Red Cabbage Salad
(with lemon sprinkled on top as a dressing)

Red Peppered Steamed Cabbage and Shrimp

It's all about Portion control as well.
The Meats, Sea Foods...4 oz
The Veggies...... 1 Cup
1 Fruit
1 Melba Toast.

My Cooking Skills are improving, I am being more cautious
about my food intake, counting calories. And now, I actually look
at the Nutrition Facts...who knew. :) And although I was bummed
I had to eat a Chicken Salad last night while devon had a yummy
burger from Carls JR...I am proud of myself for sticking to it.
I may gripe and moan, and be bummed out..but the end
result will be amazing. Oh, Did I mention I am 11lbs down? :)

Believe in Yourself.
Believe in your Health.

"Love without expecting, Love without Fear..Love, Love, Love" -Mattew Herriman
PEACE, LOVE, and BUTTERFLIES
-Ashlee Michelle

No Place like Home..

Even though I see my parents every weekend, or just about,

and talk to them every day..It truly is nice to go home once in a while.

 My family only lives 45min -1hr away

but sometimes it feels like it might as well be further.

I've only been out of the house for a year, but I still don't have all of
my stuff, and that's simply because we don't have the room for it. But I
already told D that everything in my room will one day be with us. Because I
love everything about that room. (If D would allow me, I'd make our room look
the exact same as mine does at my parents.) But it's nice that it is still how
I left it and I get to go enjoy it every once in a while when D and I spend the
weekend "up the hill."

This weekend, was a PERFECT example of that.
Saturday was Race Day. A Relaxing Race Day. One that we LOVE
having because D doesn't race at this particular track, so we can pack
up the chairs, BBQ, and hop into the truck. We LOVE tailgating.
We counted yesterday, and we had a grand total of 30 Friends/Family
with us on Saturday. It was a total blast. And on top of that, Our Friends
did GREAT in their races. 1st and 6th. It was a great night for racing.

( they tried to sneak a picture of me, but I was too quick. ha)

We stayed at my parents that night after the race and the next
morning it was a family relaxing day. But first, the boys had to go play
Race Car, sort of, We went over to our buddies house for a while and the boys
talked "Destruction Derby" business for my Dad Car.
After that we went home and watched NASCAR and ate dinner,
just My Parents, D, and I. It was a lovely Day.

Growing up, There were 3-4 Houses on our street that we called "The Gang"
Not only on the weekends did we BBQ and hang out, but during the week days
the parents would call each other up and figure out what's for dinner between
everyone. Then we'd all walk across the street for dinner and switch houses
every other night. It was a total blast. And Growing up like that was such
an experiance. Us kids would play outside until we heard my aunt whistle, and
that's when we knew it was time to come home....

Well, this same group of people still love to get together. So last night,
we headed across the street to play some football in the street, listen to music,
have a few "sunday funday" drinks, and dance around the yard.
(My Sister, and A Family Friend were missing..the only ones not there)

It was definitely a great time at home with family and friends.

There truly is NO place like home.


 "Love without expecting, Love without Fear..Love, Love, Love" - Matthew Herriman

PEACE, LOVE, and BUTTERFLIES
-Ashlee Michelle