Week 1 of Jan. Photo A Day Challenge 2012

I've been thinking about getting into photography so I heard about this challenge going on online and it originated from this blogger. Click that link if you want to see what all the daily challenges are. Below are the photos from 1/1/2012-1/8/2012.

Day 1: You



Day 2: Breakfast (well really its dinner)



Day 3: Something You Adore



Day 4: Letterbox



Day 5: Something You Wore



Day 6: Makes You Smile



Day 7: Favorite



Day 8: Sky



I update daily on my instagram. If you have an instagram you can follow me "ashrae89". I'll update on this blog every Saturday or Sunday for the next couple weeks. This is a fun challenge, you should join me if you want.



Ashley

xoxo

Spicy Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe

A few months ago, I was watching tv and I stumbled upon this show The Ambush Cook. Her show "ambushes" people who arent natural cooks and she teaches them a simple recipe. When I saw her teach this super easy Spicy Peanut Butter Chicken recipe, I had to make it myself. It was particularly easy for me because it doesnt call for many ingredients and almost all of them are in my kitchen.

The dish does not take much to make and this is great for busy moms or young people (like me) who need to whip up something quick, easy, and delicious. This is my second time making this dish and it will definitely be added to my favorites.

Click here for the whole Recipe and she also has the whole episode on the website.

Since her website has the step by step instructions and ingredients I wont write it, I will just give basic instructions and show how mine turned out. By the way, sorry the pictures are so blurry, I took them with my phone.

What I first did was cut up my chicken breasts into strips (or bite size pieces) since her recipe calls for chicken tenders.



I set that to the side then mixed together peanut butter, salsa, soy sauce, honey, orange juice, fresh ginger, and curry powder. The second time I made it I didnt have orange juice so I used Tampico (lol which is like a sugary citrus juice for those who dont know) but it still turned out great. Now I know this mixture looks disgusting lol. When I first mixed it together I thought "OMG what is this". See for yourself...



Next, you add oil to your pan and brown the chicken (but it doesnt have to be cooked completely).

After that you turn the burner down to a low setting, add the peanut butter mixture and the chicken back into the pan and let that cook on low for 30 minutes (cover the pan).

You can garnish with scallions and peanuts but I just used peanuts. You can also serve with Basmati rice but I didnt have that so I just put it on top of regular white rice lol.



Now I will admit, this dish doesnt really like appeasing but trust me, it is yummy. The way all of the different flavors combine and compliment each other is great. It also isnt too bad for you, as far as health goes.

My Favorite Products of 2011

I've tried a lot of different things in 2011. Some I didn't like so much and some I love.  I've compiled my 10 favorite things I purchased in 2011. Most of these you can still pick up or find in your local store or online. In no particular order here they are....

L'Oreal Original Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black.

This mascara is probably one of those mascara's I will re-purchase over and over again. It gives my lashes length and volume. Its just a great all around mascara.

Rimmel London The Max Volume Flash Mascara. 

Okay...I will admit, I love that the packaging is pink lol. This mascara is a pretty good mascara and the packaging makes it even more lovable. Plus it is super easy to find in your purse or make up bag.

I picked up these wedges at Target earlier in 2011. I love them so much and they are super comfortable. They've been worn dozens of times (by me and my mother lol) and they are still in good condition. Wedges are my favorite type of shoe and these are a great pair to have in a wardrobe.

I was so happy when I found these Lauren Conrad sunglasses at Kohls for $10 in 2011. They are super cute and it was great that they were on sale. I love LC's style and I love sunglasses so these were an amazing find. I wear these sunglasses probably everyday because they are the perfect shade (not too light and not too dark).

I found this scarf at Walgreens (of all places). In 2011, I noticed Walgreens started to have scarves in their aisles. When I saw this print for $5, I had to buy it. This print is so basic and cute that it can be paired with almost any outfit. I've worn this scarf so much in 2011. I cant wait to see more scarves that Walgreens has this spring. 

This Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner makes my hair feel sooooo smooth. I havent found a great shampoo yet so they make my hair feel so BLAH. But when I apply this....it makes my hair feel buttery smooth lol. This bottle is my 2nd bottle and I have another one under my sink lol. That is how much I love this conditioner. I dont have any of these products in order of favorite, but this one would probably be #1. Its pretty affordable, its sulfate free, and it smells amazing.

Another Organix product I love is the Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. This one smells amazing as well. I definitely plan on repurchasing this one too. It makes my hair feel smooth and silkier and I dont even have to use that much product. 

I loved this product in 2011. I got this brush from Sally's Beauty Supply in the beginning of 2011 and I loved it. It is great for getting all of the dirt and make up off your face. It is a definitely cheaper version of a Clarisonic. Of course it doesn't work as great but it is a great cheap alternative. I havent used it in a while but I definitely loved it in 2011. 

I discovered Charmed Life by Bath and Body Works in November but it has been one of my favorite scents for the last couple months of 2011. Their website describes it as a "positively sexy blend of juicy guava, sparkling pear, and creamy vanilla musk". The vanilla is the main note that I smell, and that why I love it (I love everything vanilla, by the way). I keep both the lotion and the body spray in my purse just in case I forget to put on a perfume or anything while I'm at home. The scent is just really girly to me. Another scent that I love from Bath and Body works is Country Chic, you should check that one out if you havent.

I first loved this body wash a few years ago but I havent had it in a while. This year I fell back in love with it. Caress Cashmere Luxury Silkening Body Wash smells so good. It also has vanilla in it (see...I do love vanilla lol). I love that it has a silkening complex in it that really does leave your body feeling silkier than just a regular body wash. I also love that it makes my whole bathroom smell like the body wash so it is kind of like a two in one lol. I love this stuff.

So those are my favorite products of 2011. Tell me what were your favorite products of 2011. 

Ashley

xoxo

Music Monday: Lady Gaga

Now I'm not really a lady gaga fan. I liked her music when she first came out ( songs like Poker Face, Paparazzi, and Telephone) but some of her new music just isn't my favorite.

Lately, I've been hearing this song on the radio and I didn't even know it was her. I love that this song sounds NOTHING like any of her other songs. It is a mix of country and rock. The lyrics of the song and the way it is arranged is amazing. This song is one of my new favorite songs, it really showcases Lady Gaga's vocal ability.

Lady Gaga - You And I

The video is a little weird but hey....that's Gaga lol.

What do you think about the song?

Ashley

xoxo

Also Check Out

DIY Deep Conditioner

Style Influence: Estelle

Music Monday: Rihanna Birthday Cake

DIY Deep Conditioner

What You'll Need (although all of these ingrediants are optional and the amount depends on your hair type and personal prefernece.

• Coconut Oil (a couple spoonfuls)
• Honey (about 2 table spoons)
• Avocado (half of one)
• Your own conditioner (I used a little Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner and Organix Coconut Oil Conditioner. Use As much as desired.)

For those who may be wondering why I used these certain products, I will break down their benefits for your hair

• Coconut Oil is one of the few oils that can actually penetrate your hair shaft. It is able to keep hair moisturized, reduce dandruff and helps prevent breakage. I've heard a lot of girls on youtube say it helps with hair growth as well.
• Honey adds shine to your hair and locks in moisture.
• Avocados are high in vitamins like omega 3 and omega 9 which are critical hair cell growth. It also protects hair from harsher climates (Especially ones like the winter).

I know the picture looks a little nasty lol...it is the avocado that gives it that green look. This mixture would probably be great for your skin as well (minus the conditioner).

Since this conditioner is a DIY, you can leave it on your hair as long as you want. 5 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour. I think you should just make sure the mixture doesn't dry out while it is on your head. To get a better use of this, you should sit under a hooded dryer with a plastic cap.

This made my hair feel really soft after I rinsed it out. Next time, I would use a hand mixer to get all of the lumps and clumps out.

What conditioners do you use?

Ashley

xoxo

Also Check Out

Style Influence: Estelle

Music Monday: Rihanna Birthday Cake

Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment Review

Style Influence: Estelle

Over the past few years, I've noticed Estelle sitting front row at a lot of major fashion shows. After noticing that, I started to notice that she has a pretty good sense of style. I love that she wears tones and colors that compliment her skin tone. Estelle is not afraid to play with different colors, textures, and patterns. You can tell her style is a mix of daring and classic.

I love the outfit from the ankles up lol. I dont like the look of these boots with the jumper. I think it would be really cute if she wore a nice stiletto or a wedge. But hey...to each her own...

photos from concreteloop.com and yahoo images

What do you think about Estelle's style?

Ashley

xoxo

Also Check Out

Music Monday: Rihanna Birthday Cake

Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment Review

New Love: Chai Tea

Music Monday: Rihanna Birthday Cake

Now this song is for those who are 18+

Rihanna's new album released a couple weeks ago and I love almost every song on the album, especially this one. I'm kinda disappointed that it is only 1 minute and 22 seconds long :-( . This song deserves to be longer, hopefully she will release a longer version sometime soon.

This song is very risque and daring, and that's what I love about Rihanna.

Sit back and enjoy these 82 seconds lol

Rihanna - Birthday Cake