i'm starved

It is almost dinner time and I am starved.

My plan was to make pizza but it seems like too much work
and it doesn't sound good.

Instead, I want blueberry muffins.
I don't have all the ingredients and
I don't want to go to the store.

So...
I will share the recipe and maybe they will magically appear.

I got this recipe from my mentor teacher. Not sure where she got it but I think they are really good and they are pretty healthy. 112 calories for one muffin.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground allspice (or use a little nutmeg, cloves and more cinnamon)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup lowfat buttermilk
2 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly spray muffin tin with cooking spray or use cupcake liners. In large bowl, combine flours, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and allspice. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, applesauce and egg. Make a well with the dry ingredients. Pour in buttermilk mixture, stirring until just combined. Stir in blueberries. Pour batter into muffin cups.
Bake until tops are golden, 20-25 min.

Eat them while there warm.
I like butter and honey on mine but I also think they are good plain.

3 Important Updates

#1:
This handsome fella turned 30 last week!

Of course I had to make his favorite cake...poppy seed.
I think it's the best one I have made yet!
I saved the best for him:)

And he was so happy about his new quilt!
I still cannot believe I made this.

#2
Derek is getting married!
My family loves Alli and
I cannot wait to have another sister!

#3:
Although there is not a ring yet...Cole is getting married!
Hip-hip hooray for two more sisters for me!

I couldn't be happier for my brothers.
They have found great girls and I love them both!

Cannot wait for the celebrations! Congrats Big Brothers!

Summer Sewing

This summer I have been busy sewing. I don't think I have done this much sewing in this short of time since taking my sewing classes in college.

It has been really fun and rewarding.
The things I have made I am actually going to use!
That's right not everything I make turns out the way I hope it will.

My first sewing project was making onesies for my nephew, Noah. All over Etsy they have cute onesies so I copied the idea from ones I saw there. I made my own patterns and starting sewing.


They turned out a lot cuter than I imagined and Noah looks cute in the sailboat onesie too!

My second project was finishing a quilt I started two summers ago. I started it when me and Nate were dating and it was supposed to be for his 28th birthday. Since it didn't get done I decided it would be for his 29th birthday. That didn't happen either.
For Nate's 30th birthday he finally received his quilt.

I cannot tell you how joyous it felt when this puppy was done. It was not an easy quilt and luckily my mother helped me. One square probably took 30 minutes to make. I loved how it turned out but if I knew it was going to take me this long I would not have done it.

My 3rd and 4th projects were a purse and a bag. I bought this great Amy Butler book that has 26 patterns to make bags, purses and clutches.
Here is the purse.



This bag I am going to use for church.

I think they both turned out great!

I think my next sewing project is to make a tablecloth and napkins. I am going to use a twin set of Amy Butler sheets that I bought on clearance at TJMaxx.
I will let you know how it goes.

Today is a Very Good Day

I awoke to the song of rain this morning. It was beautiful.

I rolled over and learned I became Aunt Ashley at 1:51 a.m. to Noah Atticus.

He is beautiful!

As I fell back to sleep I was reminded of a song that has to do with rain and Noah.
My mom used to sing it to me and my brothers to wake us up in the morning.
It goes a something like this...

The Lord said to Noah there's going to be a floody, floody.
The Lord said to Noah there's going to be a floody, floody.
Get those animals out of the muddy, muddy.
Children of the Lord.
So...
Rise and Shout and sing out your glory, glory.
Rise and Shout and sing out your glory, glory.
RISE AND SHOUT and sing out your glory, glory.
Children of the Lord.
(do you know this song Rachel?...we can teach it to you to sing to Noah)
I can tell you right now our family is singing glory for this little one!

We have been praying for his little one for a long time.

The wait has finally come to an end and Noah is perfect!


Rachel looks like a natural mother already...
and Ryan a natural father!

I cannot wait to meet you Noah!

I love you already!

Becoming A Housewife!

My good friend Jeminee Pahl is getting married in about 10 days. I could not be more excited for her! I threw her a "50's Housewife" bridal shower the other week. I have never given a bridal shower before but I think it turned out well (thanks to my mom and friend Rachel).

For the shower the girls were supposed to wear red lipstick and high-heels
--going with the housewife theme.

When the girls arrived they picked out an apron to wear for the party. My mom and I made the aprons. We found fabric that was somewhat vintage and then mixed and matched them for the skirt and waistband. I think they turned out cute!

We then made pizza on the grill!
--had to use our housewife skills to make dinner and so our aprons could go to good use!


Once all the fun of eating, playing games and opening presents was over we went outside to get some pictures with my grandpa's 1963 Ford Galaxy Convertible.
--it's kind of a 50's thing right?

Thanks for getting married Jem so our friends could get together and have
some fun trying to be "good housewives"!

KaUAi

Two weeks ago we headed to the beautiful island of Kauai!

It was such a fun trip.
We loved the nice warm weather...with the small warm rain showers.
We loved relaxing on the warm, sandy beaches.
We didn't really love getting carsick but we loved when the road came to an end.
We loved swimming with the fish and turtles.
We loved the gratitude devotionals we had each day!
We loved laughing...mostly at Derek.
We loved we didn't die when we got caught in a huge wave.
We (or Nate) loved his sun tan oil and getting a nice brown tan.
We loved being in nature and seeing the "Garden Island."
We loved the beautiful, green scenery.
We loved kayaking and hiking.
Most of all we loved being with family and creating memories!
We pretty much loved everything!!

(Family photos)

(hike to the waterfall)

(Ta-Da)

(Where the road came to an end... Beautiful!)

(The couples...yes Tanner and Cole were a couple on the trip)

(One big happy family)

(getting sick of family photos)

(We are pretty cool)

(Beach+Water=Love)

(Love my parents! This trip could not have happened with out them.)

(Tennis--the courts were wet but we were determined to play)

(My 1st coconut. Pretty tasty but not as sweet as I would have thought)

(Love the beaches)

(Love him!!)

(The boys showing off their nice bodies)

(Snorkeling)

(loving the sun)

(Getting ready to kayak...Love this picture)

(Goodbye Kauai)

Friends, Family, Graduation

After I finished student teaching I went to Pocatello to finish up and submit my Teacher Works Sample and to graduate! I was also able to play tennis a couple of times and watch Tanner play a few baseball games. He had an amazing diving catch and some great hits! I was wishing for some warmer weather down south but as we all know Pocatello likes to be cold, windy and rainy.

When I went to Provo to hand in my TWS I met up with two of my old roommates for lunch.

It was so fun catching up and to see what fun, new adventures they are looking forward too! Hopefully next time all 7 of us will be able to have lunch!

The following week, on April 21st and 22nd, Ashley Marie Nielson Cuoio Graduated from BYU!

I graduated from the School of Family Life with a degree in Family and Consumer Science Education (a fancy name for Home Economics). It was fun to see friends from my major and professors who have changed my life.

Brother Cole also graduated with a degree in Exercise Science!

Thanks mom and dad for supporting me through college. I don't know if
I would have been able to do it without you.

Grandpa Nielson also came for the festivities.

My parents have 2 graduates down and 2 to go! Next week Ryan graduates from Dental School and in June Tanner graduates from high school! Way to go Nielson Family!

After bring apart for a little more than 2 weeks the best part of the week was seeing this guy! I thought Nate would have no problem with me being away since he was so independent before we got married but he missed me after only being gone a few days! It is always nice to be missed, especially by your husband.

We are now back in Moscow! Nate has taken 1 final and has 4 more to go. Next Friday we will head to Pocatello for the summer! Things I am looking forward to this summer:

*Warm weather (hopefully it comes soon, I need a tan before...)
*Hawaii with the family!
*Tennis
*Reading Books
*Sewing (clothes and bags and maybe a quilt)
*Running and working out (I have been doing really good this spring
so lets just hope I stay motivated)
*My best friends wedding! Ya Jem!
*My 1st Nephew!
*Friends and
*Family