Bikini Challenge 2012

Its that lovely time of year folks!

The sun is out and shining! With warmer weather comes fewer clothes and to top it off, my husband just booked us on a cruise in November(granted that's more time but also more pressure.) I'm bound and determined to get my body in the best shape it's ever been in.

My fitness and strength have definitely come to a screeching halt the past year, thanks stupid back. But I know that losing the already small amount of strength I had before isn't doing my back any flavors. The more my back hurts the more I stop working out. The more I stop working out the more my back hurts. Its a vicious cycle y'all.

Ill share more details over the next few days. Right now I need to get to bed for some much needed shut eye.

Drugstore Haul!

Hey all! I needed a few items when I went to the grocery store and couldn't help myself but pick a few more items up while I was out.  

I am an Aussie lover and couldn't help but grab a few products I haven't tried before! I had no idea that Aussie had a heat protectant product...let alone that it had been out for a few years even.  It didn't have the best reviews, but some people loved it! I will have to try it out for myself.

I also had to grab some of the "Extreme Hold" hairspray as I am finally sick of all of my styles falling out.  I just love the scent of the flexible hold product!

I needed a round brush and unfortunately the store didn't have any size larger than this, but we'll see how it works out.

Grabbed a few things for my at home manicures.  I've figured I should start taking care of my cuticles since I've been posting Nails of the Day posts more frequently.

Here's the fun stuff!  Makeup!  I already own Maybelline's Color Tattoo in "Bad to the Bronze" and love it!  I couldn't wait to grab a few more and try the different colors.

I also needed a new mascara so I decided to try this one. I'm struggling in this department.  Good mascaras seem to allude me.  Plus I had to try the Bouncy Blush!              

Pomegranate Punk

Tough as Taupe

Audacious Asphalt

Maybelline's Dream Bouncy in Pink Frosting

Can't wait to start using these! 

Monthly Goals: February 2012

It's finally that time! Time to share my monthly goals!

If there's one thing I've learned over the years is that I make way to many goals and can barely get through them all for 1 day let alone a month.  So I'm going to be very minimal this month.  I'm only going to be striving to complete 2 goals this month!

•  Do Yoga Everyday-  Since going back to assisting the doctor, my upper back is now hurting every second of every day.  I'm been using the massager and using heat and ice but it's not cutting it.  I need to stretch my back out daily after work.   I'm planning on using a Am/Pm yoga vid that I own and then probably checking out Tara Stiles on Youtube.  Anyone have any favorite yoga vids?  
• Lose 6 Pounds - Pretty self explanatory.  I am currently 173.  167 is my goal!

What are you goals this month?

Current Skincare Products & Reviews : Miscellaneous

Hi.  My name is Ashley and I am a beauty product junkie.  

And I'm also a dork...but that's not what this post about.  This is about my obsession with beauty products! I was never into makeup or beauty products when I was a teenager.  Which I guess was mostly due to me having no clue what was out there or how to use it.  I shudder when I see pictures of my myself while I was in middle school through high school!

Most people don't know about my vast collection of products except for my poor husband ;) and my sisters.   I'm always on the search for my holy grail product and while I've come close I still haven't settled.  Here are some of the products that I am using right now.

Miscellaneous Skincare Products

I am in love with the Eye Makeup Remover by Neutrogena. I've purchased makeup remover by other brands  and they just can't seem to remove waterproof makeup like this one can. 

Definitely going to repurchase!

I bought the Deep Cleaning Astringent by Clean & Clear a year ago when I had the breakout of the century. My hormones were all out of wack and my chin had craters after craters of acne.  I bought this hoping it would help and in someways it did but it was definitely too drying for my face.  I plan on passing on astringent next time and just getting a simple acne spot treatment.

 I bought the Alcohol Free Toner by Neutrogena hoping..well I guess I didn't know what I was hoping for.  I had never used a toner before and thus had no idea why I was applying it.  So it's sat unused in my cabinet for awhile.  Is it lame that I just googled reviews for this product to find out what it's for?  Haha.  Apparently you use it after washing your face to pick up any remains of "dirtiness" and moisturize.  Hmm...I suppose I should give this product another go and use it correctly. :)

The Blemish Clearing Spot Treatment by Avon is a good product.  This product is pretty self explanatory and does what's advertised.  It helps calm my pizza face without turning it into flake city. I don't, however, purchase products from Avon....ever so I'll eventually need to find a drugstore product that works as well. Any suggestions?

Keep a look out for more of my skincare product reviews which are coming soon. (Including: Cleansers, Moisturizers, and Samples I've acquired)

What are your favorite skincare products?

Saltine Toffee

                                                              Source: asoutherngrace.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Ever since seeing this recipe on Pinterest I knew I HAD to make it!  I grabbed my sister who hesitantly agreed to help.  I told everyone in my family I was making it and everyone gave me the same disgusted look.  "Saltine crackers?  Really?"

But let me tell you, they were amazing! They tasted just like Toffee!

This is where it starts to look a little questionable! We just couldn't get over all the saltines. 

But you just couldn't beat the final product.   I'm pretty sure this is going to be a annual holiday treat from me!

And because I couldn't resist taking a pretty picture of the Saltine Toffees!

Sister Approved! 

What a Wonderful Winter

I know it's been quiet over here in the new year but work has been insane and I barely have had any time to spend with my husband or keep my house in order let alone blogging.  

But I know I want to make my blog a priority this year. While I'm still trying to decide which direction I want this blog to go, I know I do want to post about my day to day life on here as well so that Shawn and I have something fun to look back on.  I think about stuff everyday where I'm like, "I should take a picture and blog about this!" But my mind has been on other things. 

Bare with me however and I'm excited to come back full force! 

Ash

Making It Official!

As you can tell I've been making lots of new changes around here and the biggest one is I finally purchased my own domain!

Make sure you change your bookmarks to

www.AspiringAsh.com

Yay!

Ash