HAPPY New Year!!

Hello there friends! I know what you're thinking. Ashley Greeno is the world's worst blogger. She should just stop trying to pretend like she even is a blogger.

Well no. I'm not quitting! I'm back on the blog wagon. It's resolution time and seeing as I'm 16 weeks with child I can't exactly go with the 'ol "workout more and lose 10 pounds". That's right. I'm pretty sure everyone knows by now... but if not. I'M PREGNANT!! And keeping the biggest secret of my life for almost 3 months gave me mega writer's block. It's not the greatest of excuses but it's mine. So...

I don't know if there are any other Independence Day enthusiasts out there but in the words of Randy Quaid "I'm baaaaaaaaaack"! And I'm resolving to resolving to blog a minimum of once a week this year. I've promised belly pics and regular updates for grandmas, aunts, etc and I've been inspired by a mama blogger who had her blog made into a book! I've never even heard of that but how great. I'm afraid I may be a bit of a disappointment to my mama the greatest scrapbooker I know but I just can't keep up. I love the idea of keeping a photo journal here and having it as a book someday. I also want a new look for this thing but I'm still working on it. So for now I went with a clean slate. I wish you all the happiest of New Years! Drink a little extra champagne for me ;)

Confession.

So 6 days into my caffeine fast I had a tall soy coffee light frappuccino...



It was delicious. I'm not even really sorry.

I just thought you should know.

The List Revisited

Remember The List from way back in August? Well, I thought it was about time to check in and see how I'm doing almost 2 months into my 25th year of life.

25 things to do while I'm still 25:

1. Take a photography class
2. Grow my hair really long It's getting there :)
3. Get a tatoo
4. Climb a 14er with Tyler
5. Make or buy a headboard for our bed
6. Read a classic novel
7. Bake every recipe in The Flying Apron cook book I've done a few but I've got a ways to go.
8. Visit/meet Ruth CHECK! I got to visit the Fieleke's a couple weeks ago!
9. Wear a nose ring {just for a while mom :)}
10. Run a 10k
11. Snowboard again at least once
12. Send more cards to people I love I'm definitely improving here and I hope to keep it up.
13. Help Griselda get all As & Bs next semester She's doing great... We'll see in December!
14. Read a new Rob Bell book
15. Watch a great indie movie no one has ever hear of
16. San Diego
17. Take a bike ride downtown with my love CHECK!
18. Do a bike pub crawl CHECK!
19. Watch Trav in a band competition We got to see him in the homecoming parade but I would still like to see a competition.
20. Finsh the last season of LOST CHECK! We're officially done :)
21. Read the old testament {anyone know of a good book/guide to help with this?}
22. Journal every day for a whole month I bought a sweet new journal... now for the discipline to write every day. Baby steps.
23. Make a piece of art to hang in our house
24.Give up caffeine for a whole month Ok here it is. I'm ready to announce it and ask for some accountability: NO CAFFEINE NOVEMBER! I am worse than ever lately drinking coffee every morning AND afternoon at work and I'm ready to detox... I think.
25. By this time next year I would LOVE to have replaced my current income and be baking full time!

Pretty decent progress... I'm such a list maker and I love being able to check off my progress! What goals have you accomplished recently? Set any new ones? I would love to hear about them. I'm so encouraged just knowing that other people know my goals and I would love to encourage you in yours too!

PC Homecoming!

So last weekend everyone made it back to PC Missouri. It was such a fun fun trip! I just love fam time & it was awesome watching baby Travi lead the drum line!



Yes, by "baby Travi" I meant stud... Obviously.



He is an inspiration to younger generations :)



I also got to meet Ruth Mae for the 1st time... & I tried my dangdest to talk her into Halloween costumes.



All in all it was a fabulous week with fun family, lots of quality time & tons of cute babies. GOOD weekend!! <3

New City Bike Pub Crawl

New City Church (our church home since we moved to CO over 2 years ago) put on a bike pub crawl a few weeks ago. It was an awesome turnout and so so much fun! Unfortunately I may have been the only event photographer. You all are already aware of how much room there is for improvement when comes to me and photography. But add to that the fact that we were riding bikes and drinking for several hours.

Next year I'll suggest that New City finds a photographer instead of me with a fanny pack. Just sayin.



Yeah. I was serious about the fanny pack.

It is significantly harder to blog with a dog lazily lounging on one arm... but who could resist this?



It has been a sweet fall morning snuggling up with Milo & Hunter and updating blogs :) I would like to share my new and improved Sugar Mama blog with you. It's ready! Let me know what you think!

sugarmamabakeshop.wordpress.com

So I had a major veggie craving for dinner the other night... and this is what happened:



Green peppers, onion, squash, zucchini, potatoes & tofu. Grilled in olive oil with a little garlic. YUM!! Delicious and great for lunch the next day too :)

Sweet dreams

Banana Chocolate

Banana chocolate chip cupcakes with peanut butter/ chocolate frosting!! DElish!



In other amazing news... Sugar Mama will be at the Cherry Creek farmers market the next 3 Wednesdays! September 15, 22 & 29. Come see me :)

<3 Sugar Mama

Thankful for Thursdays

{...and the ocean, and gorgeous flower that are only $5 at the Pike Place market}

Sugar Mama Cupcakes!!

Please everyone check out my new blog http://sugarmamabakeshop.blogspot.com ... and FOLLOW it... and leave comments that make me smile :)

Also tell a million friends to join so I can be on my way to checking off another list item! Thanks you are all the very best.

<3 Ash

Denver O' Denver

Yesterday was a fun day that I am so grateful for. I also got to check off my first list item :) Hunter and I have been talking about a bike date since we moved into an apartment that sits right on the Cherry Creek trail. We originally planned to bring Milo, but that's a story for a different day...

Anyway, it was a beautiful ride and the weather was perfect! It took about 40 minutes to get to City O' City a vegetarian restaurant we keep hearing about that serves lots of gluten free options as well. It was a great little place.

Half coffee shop + half bar (that serves several gluten free beers)= My kind of place!

Then we biked around downtown for a little, got some iced coffee and right before we headed home Hunter surprised me by stopping at Mermaids Bakery. It is very very cute and inspired me :) We planned to take the light rail back but didn't have cash... So I think the total was around 18 miles today!

I came home with extremely tired legs, a SORE bum & blisters on my hands, but also very refreshed and content. It felt like we took a mini Denver vacation and it was exactly what I needed! Days like yesterday remind me why I'm so sure Hunter & I will not just survive marriage until death does us part. We have so much fun together (and honestly he still loves to spoil the crap out of me so that helps :) He is such a blessing and I'm so thankful for him. Just sayin...

The List

One of my great friends, Blaze, recently posted a life to do list and challenged me to do the same. I got really excited and started right away... Then I got really nervous to share and let it sit unfinished for longer than I'll admit. What a big baby... No one reads my blog except people who already love & support me so who better to share my list of 25 things I would like to do before I turn 26 with?! Here it is :)

25 things to do while I'm still 25:

1. Take a photography class
2. Grow my hair really long
3. Get a tatoo
4. Climb a 14er with Tyler
5. Make or buy a headboard for our bed
6. Read a classic novel
7. Bake every recipe in The Flying Apron cook book
8. Visit/meet Ruth
9. Wear a nose ring {just for a while mom :)}
10. Run a 10k
11. Snowboard again at least once
12. Send more cards to people I love
13. Help Griselda get all As & Bs next semester
14. Read a new Rob Bell book
15. Watch a great indie movie no one has ever hear of
16. San Diego
17. Take a bike ride downtown with my love
18. Do a bike pub crawl
19. Watch Trav in a band competition
20. Finsh the last season of LOST
21. Read the old testament {anyone know of a good book/guide to help with this?}
22. Journal every day for a whole month
23. Make a piece of art to hang in our house
24.Give up caffeine for a whole month
25. By this time next year I would LOVE to have replaced my current income and be baking full time!

Name Game

First of all thank you for all of the encouragement and support! Trey and I did some serious brainstorming/planning yesterday and I am more sure than ever that this business is something that God is calling me to do... It's crazy and scary but so exciting :) Can I ask for some serious prayer?! If you're interested at all please pray for:

-wisdom (I'm fairly confident in my cupcake ability, but running a business!?)
-faith (to trust that it really is God's plan)
-Hunter & I (as we work on incorporating this new and pretty major aspect to our lives/marriage)
-customers :)

Thanks a million. This is something that I have dreamed of & prayed about for so long that it feels crazy to tell everyone about it, but I need the accountability so I can't give up on discouraging days.


Now for the name...

So far these are my favorites & they have made it through the preliminary round (Hunter & Trey) but I need lots of input before I decide. I wanted you to get to see them so I did some publisher really quick I know the images aren't awesome but they're a visual none the less.. I just need to know your first impression & be honest. I won't tell you how I came up with the names yet because I don't want to influence your thoughts. *HONEST feedback will be SO appreciate. No hurt feelings I promise. The name is so super important to me so I need opinions. Thanks loves!

Cupcake Love

I've been baking <3

I've been baking gluten free, vegan , organic cupcakes!

& I've been dreaming of changing the world with my cupcakes :)

Maybe that's a little dramatic but for real. I'm getting pretty seriously excited about a cupcake/coffee shop that offers pure, healthy (fairly traded & local when possible) goodness & gives back to the community!

>
I've been baking <3


I've been reading about starting/running a small business. I've been prayng, researching & taking lots of notes. I've been inspired & encouraged.

Now I just need a name.

8/2/08

2 years ago today, on a record HOT & HUMID August day in Missouri, I married my best friend. It's so crazy to me that it's already been 2 whole years! Hunter, you are the most amazing man I know and I love you more every second that I'm with you. I am the luckiest girl in the world to be spending the rest of my life with such a sweet, funny, patient man.
xoxo

Vacation!

Vacation starts in T minus 3 hours!!! We're on a direct flight for Seattle, WA as of 7pm & first thing tomorrow we're on a boat (actually a ferry) to Poulsbo for Part 1...anniversary celebration!

Can. Not. WAIT.

Craigslist will be the death of me

...or probably just get me fired more realistically.

Honestly, who can expect me to work with only 4 short days until vacation and these amazing dressers to look at?




The second one is absolutely perfect and the first one is only $30! Also I need this bedframe.



That's right. I can not live another day without it.

And finally I have decided to reveal to you my dream house. Hunter would argue that I use the phrase "my dream house" a bit too liberally so I'll admit that this is not the first dream house but I've been drooling over this one for a good 3 or so months now...a LONG time. It's got everything I'm looking for:

Located in the historic Baker district: check
Wood floors: check
Fireplace: check
Old house character but not a fixer upper (my love is many wonderful things, but a handy man he's not): check
Swirly open staircase: check (that wasn't even on the original list, but come on!)
Exposed brick: check
Gorgous backyard: check

So without further ado...



and look at all the pictures here: 3rdavenuebaker

*Donations will be gladly & unshamefully accepted because I can talk my sweet husband into almost anything...but not the down payment on a $310,000 house. Huh.

BV Part I

My brother Tyler is working as a white water raft guide this summer in Buena Vista, CO so we've taken 2 mini stay-cations to visit him, bask in the beautiful mountains (while they're sunny & hike-able...NOT snow covered), "camp" and just get away. Both trips have been absolutely fabulous & I think it's about time I share some pics!

Part I was the very first Bartelson/Greeno family vacation back in June. Bekah & John are some of our very best friends & since our Mexican dream vacation that we had been planning since the October blizzard suddenly became unrealistic (it's expensive to fly to Mexico for an all inclusive beach dream vacation...who knew?) we decided to go camping :)

The first day we arrived in BV we hopped right on a raft and Ty took us down Brown's Canyon. Here's Hunter looking good in all his gear.



Dana also joined us for the weekend. It was so fun getting to know her! Such a fun girl, plus she brought some great ideas to the table...jogging photography anyone? :) Here's a group pic before pushing off.



Apparently they are having problems with people picking up pets on the rivier. Don't do it.



Our guide himself... In all his viking glory!



Such a fun fun day! Thanks Ty :)



So much more to come but my coffee's cold, the dog is getting heavy & I have to go vacuum before baby Matthew gets here. We're babysitting today! Woo :)

To be continued...

Beautiful morning.

Thank you Jesus for this beautiful morning.



Amen.

Love...

Listen, if you know me at all you probably know that I love the dark chocolate/peppermint combo. I mean it.

Love.

Creamy mint chocolate chip ice cream. Gooey Jr. Mints. And my mother of all comfort foods... The York peppermint patty.

You get the idea. I just needed to set the stage so that you could get a glimpse of my giddiness when I happened across this sweet little blog and this amazing recipe. It took every ounce of my will power (which if we're being honest might not be all that much) not to walk out of work and whip these up on the spot.

And now the moment we've all been waiting for. I've added a couple tiny twists to this masterpiece and created a vegan version. Get excited. These are un.real.


Peppermint Patties

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons Smart Balance, vegan butter substitute

2 tablespoons vanilla soy milk

1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil

1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract

1-2 cups dark chocolate chips

In an electric mixer, beat everything but chocolate until smooth. Scoop into a bowl and place in the refrigerator to set. Once firm, roll into one inch balls. Push down to flatten. Set in freeze for another 60 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler. Remove patties from freezer and dip in chocolate, setting on wax paper. Freeze again until ready to eat.

Enjoy :)

Baby Blankies!

I've discovered a new craft that I LOVE making. I know, you're shocked. Anyway, it seems we've entered the next stage in our lives. Babies. I mean not our babies. Our friends babies...but still. That means lots of sweet baby gifts that I get to make! I love them b/c the sewing only involves straight lines. I am finding that while I do enjoy sewing I'm not patient/talented enough for much sewing beyond the good old straight line. So these are sweet! No patterns, no curves.

My favorite part, of course, is embellishing! These first two I made this winter when two co workers had baby girls (Brooklyn & Khloe) w/in weeks of each other.



Then came Canon Cole. Canon's mama made the CUTEST birds to decorate his room w/ so I thought I'd stick w/ the theme.



Then baby Ruth's. I'm so excited about the fabric/colors for hers! I also got a little crazy with the border in the last two :) I really like how it looks, I just wish I were a better seamstress...but what can ya do?



So that's what I've been up to. What do you think? What's your recent favorite thing to make? I'm always up for a new idea!

<3 Ash

I'm dreaming

...of being somewhere else today.

Ah...Summer Nights

Baby got a new guitar.

It's a dobro actually.

This is great news for me because I've already enjoyed hours of that sweet, twangy bluegrass perfection. A few candles and a cold beer on the deck. Yep it's summer.


I'm in love. And amazingly content these days.

A new spray painting craft :)

I thought I would share a fun before/after of yet another craft today.



Here is the before picture that is the sad situation of Milo's food and water dishes-constantly spilled all over. (I considered making it black and white and giving it bad posture in true "before pic" style).



I came across this lovely country Christmas serving tray while perusing my favorite ARC down the road. Kind of reminds me of Kandy Grimes decor circa 1988? I almost hated to paint over it...almost.





What a lovely dining spot for a lovely puppy!



On a totally unrelated note: check out this fabulous fruit bowl centerpieces mom, Jana, Aunt Lisa and I created for my cousin Shanity's wedding.