re-new, re-use, re-purpose.

12 Mar

these simple concepts we were taught as children which are ever so prevalent in my adult life, except i’m modifying it to be more accurate to my SO-CRAFT LIFE :)   I was really excited to be able to re-purpose something into a gift for a loved one!   I swear this is what i live for.  Happened like this: I was baking craft-cakes for a friend, and Jake was making coffee with his new espresso machine until he realized we had bought the wrong beans.  So.  What to do with COFFEE beans when you don’t own a coffee machine? (this is where the recycling began)  The craft karma was in my favor and this is why: I had just gotten home from the dollar store where I had purchased a couple of mason jars and immediately thought of someone who would totally enjoy a nice mason jar full of fresh ground coffee! Imagethe beauty of this project is that i totally had ALL of this stuff at home!  I really shocked myself with how glorious it turned out.Image (my cupcakes turned out awesome too)  My friend started a t-shirt line, so I had his designs printed onto a button, glued them onto a popsicle stick with a “happy birthday” flag and BOOM.  Cupcake toppers that double as party favors.  So simple.  So, i hit a double whammy in the craft department that night.

I decided to snag a couple of cupcakes for my sweet neighbor, and this is what she found on her doorstep the next morning:

masonjarcoffee

it was also my first time to dip cupcakes in sprinkles and i’m obsessed with how they turned out.  IT WAS SO FUN.  can’t wait for my next opportunity to do a little bit of dat again.

The last episode of season 1 of How to Bake it in Hollywood aired on Monday.  Such an exciting ride and experience! catch up on the shows here.  I might be the host of something super and craft-related soon so keep your fingers crossed for me.

to divulge more later…  xxx

crafting everyday. 365.

22 Feb

I just recently realized that I am doing something in the realm of “crafts” every single day.  I guess you can say that I have always realized it to be something I was good at, but never (until recently) something I was admittedly truly PASSIONATE about. 

Well hello again :)

These are all of the wonderful crafty things that have kept me busy and blessed my life lately:

  • First of all, my new baking show on YouTube’s the HUNGRY channel “How to Bake it in Hollywood” has kept me super busy in the creativity department.  PLEASE TELL ME you have already subscribed and await each Monday for the next 3 weeks for new episodes? Ok, if not, then check out our latest episode here.  I make one of my favorite cakes EVER for one of my most fave peeps, my Feast of Fiction co-host, Mr. Jimmy Wong! It’s a must-see….and a must-do! Image
  • FoF is still kickin!  SO PROUD of that little baby!  (not trying to brag….but) we recently hit the 100,000 subscribers mark!  I can’t express enough how blessed i feel that 100,000 people tune into the show!  IT’S INSANITY.  Beyond my realm of understanding, but I’m just feeling so blessed to be apart of it!  

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  • I crossed something off my cake bucket list this past weekend.  I made a Minnie Mouse inspired cake and smash cake for a baby 1 year old!  LOVED this opportunity!
  • Speaking of babies, my number ONE absolute FAVORITE baby girl is turning ONE in 2 weeks, and crafty Auntie Ashley had the pleasure of making her invitations!

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This was such a fun project….and SO CHEAP.  The theme is CUPCAKE. Guys, i got a pack of 6 cupcake cards from Michael’s for $1.50. (i made/sent out 20 of them)  what. a. bargain.Image

I got some cardboard “1″ stickers and used my circle hole punch and BOOM.  I love the way they turned out.  I considered hiring someone to create a fancy invitation for my dear sweet monkey girl, but I wanted the opportunity to create something and quite honestly, i haven’t had the time to break out my cricut yet.

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So there you have it.  Can’t wait to fill you in on my next creative adventure! xxx

 

 

 

 

Me & LA = 2 YEARS STRONG

12 Sep

that’s right.  2 years ago today i made the move that has forever changed my life.  2 years ago, i finally took the steps necessary in making my dreams a reality in making the move to Los Angeles.  It’s truly crazy that i have been away from my home sweet Austin, Texas for 2 years now.  It seems like yesterday I was living my normal happy Austin life…and interesting.  Do you know how many people say “Dude, you always talked about it…i never thought you’d actually DO IT….and you actually DID.” (or something along those lines?)  I guess it still shocks me too.

Today is quite the day for reflection.  I can’t help but feel proud of myself for where I have come in the last 2 years, and yet feel a tad sad for how my life has indeed changed so much.  As they say (and I truly believe) “when one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one, which has been opened for us.”  so i won’t dwell too much on those thoughts, only to hold them near and understand that with each changing moment, my life is evolving to the eternal place in which it needs to be.

In spirit of reflection and change, i just wanted to photo document my year with some of my FAVORITE Los Angeles moments.  I’m so excited what moments of happiness and success year 3 has to offer and Lord knows i’ll be questioning every single bit of it! :)

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UT vs. UCLA 9/17/2011

My best friends Jenni and Garbear came to LA for the University of Texas vs. UCLA game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  IT WAS MONUMENTAL.  We took a party bus, it was all my besties and it was a total LONGHORN TAKEOVER in my new hometown.  It was an amazing day making new memories in a new place with old favorites.

Disneyland 11/30/2011

My second time at Disneyland was an amazing day.  It was full of new faces, new energy, fun and non-stop laughter.  I met some people that day that have since impacted my life in such a remarkable way…and one of those people is none other than one of my favorite people in the WORLD, Mr. Wimmy Jong! (look at his little photobomber face in the background!)

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April 2012 Game of Thrones, Ep. 13

Speaking of Jimmy Wong, I couldn’t be more proud and excited and BLESSED for Feast of Fiction.  In the last year, Feast of Fiction has taken me to new places in my life, my career, my confidence, my friendship, my happiness.  It’s such an influential and important part of my life now, I can’t envision what my life was before I started participating in this amazing project.  In the last year, we have created 22 episodes of fictional greatness.  I could never fully express how grateful I am for my dear friend, and look so forward to what is in store for Feast of Fiction.  Thank you all for tuning in and supporting us and our crazy culinary journey.  xxx

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March 2012 – DJ Nice’s 80′s birthday party

Lord knows, i would LIVE in 80′s clothing on a daily basis if i could get away with it.  So, i literally feel like i truly embrace every single moment of living life in the 80′s at this 80′s birthday party!  I truly felt like OOOOOH heaven is a place on earth this night.  Not to mention, i won the “GOLDEN SLINKY” for best dressed.  Come on now, did you guys expect anything less?  I will ALWAYS be the most 80′s out of anyone in any room. :)   This pic also illustrate what awesome girlfriends i have made in this journey.

“How to Bake it In Hollywood” was shot in March and the project still amazes me.  Never in my wildest dreams did i think that a silly hobby of baking my friend’s birthday cake would turn into something so amazing.  I’m still shocked, in awe, mystified by the experience and so grateful for those who have loved and supported me throughout this process.  I have some extremely talented and generous friends, and this project is pure example of that.  My heart couldn’t be fuller with gratitude.  This is my little baby and I will eternally be proud of it.

…and here’s a girl in a true state of happiness.

Cancun – June 2012

And the number one most favorite thing i love the most about this past year is encompassed in the photos below:

auntie and akemi finally meet – 8/28/2012

My precious baby girl niece Akemi Louise Adams was born this year and i simply adore her.  I can’t wait to be her aunt for the next however many years.  It stinks living so far away from this sweet little being.  She is the most precious little thing.  i love her so very very very much.  I could gush about her all day long….

<3

Cheers to you & hope you’re having as blessed of a year!  With so much gratitude — xx

what’s new on FoF?

12 Jul

Just wanted to post a few pics from some of the latest shoots of Feast of Fiction.

Last night, we were so blessed to work with the super kitchen savvy chicas from Cinema and Spice, one of my favorite online cooking shows!  You have to check them out – i am in awe of the creativity and thought that goes into each and every one of their episodes!  They basically throw a dinner party with original recipes for a full meal inspired by their favorite films.  THEY ARE SO TALENTED.  Of course, what speaks to me even more is the film-inspired crafts that they also instruct you on how to make…I just adore them!  Big things on the horizon for these ladies right here…Best of luck to you, dear Julianna & Natasha!

Anyway, we shot two awesome feasts last night!  Just thought you might want to see some of the cool fotos from the shoot.  As always, thank you for your continued support.  I am truly living my dream come true out here in Los Angeles.  so much love. <3

this episode is brought to you by Gorilla Munch.

i’ll bet you’re wondering what this heap of madness is?

what you think of my yellow bow?

Poor Tash, chugging isn’t her strong suit. <3

new Feast of Fiction interview

29 Jun

just wanted to take a sec and keep the good ol’ blog abreast with cool ashleyinquisitive happenings!  Today, destructoid.com (a neat-o gaming blog and website) launched an amazing Feast of Fiction interview we had a couple of weeks back.

chiggity check it out right c’here.

***would someone pinch me please?*** [putting this into context] this is my second interview EVER and i’m having an “i can’t believe that this is my life” moment.

just waiting for Wayne and Garth to come in with the “diddley-do diddley do” dream sequence hands….

be inspired.

28 Jun

What’s some line or adage your parents would use throughout your childhood that always hits home?  One of the things I always heard growing up was “The Lord works in mysterious ways”.  Mom being a devout Catholic woman who would drag me to church every Sunday by my ponytail used this one almost as much as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you“…that was her ALL-TIME FAVE.

Today, this term resonates with me in a different way.  Though, I do believe the Lord does indeed work his mysterious ways, yep- i also believe that INSPIRATION works in mysterious ways.  So, I took a term I’m oh so familiar with, and put a spin on it.

busted via instagram

Basically, the moral of the story is this: I had told a friend (pepsi_d) i would tentatively come to her birthday party, only to come home from a lengthy and exhausting vacation with every intention to bail.  However, after seeing a picture of me out and about on Instagram and commenting, I was unable to use any typical excuse of “being tired, jet lagged, yada yada yada”

So shucks.  Bottom line: I can’t come to the party empty handed.   So, not really knowing her all that well, i didn’t really have any great cake ideas that were specific to her as a person.  What did i know about her?  I know she’s a dancer, and that’s about it.  So i started googling different things, and came across Bakerella’s Instagram cookies,  i realized that my friend (obviously) likes INSTAGRAM and since i was called out via Instagram i thought “how perfect and meaningful these shall be.”  What an awesome element of inspiration!

so there you have it. INSTAGRAM cupcake toppers.

anyway.  I feel very blessed to have helped make her night a little more special, even if the initial intention was to bail.  and really, who doesn’t love them some Instagram?

On a side note, I found a quote this week [Oscar Wilde] that is too lengthy for twitter otherwise you’d have already seen it up there.  :)   totes inspirational to yours truly.

“I knew that i had come face to face with someone whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if i allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself.”  

Hope you are all blessed with the gifts of inspiration and you are using them to brighten your week and those around you! xx

grateful by obsession

5 Jun

‘allo my friends!

Imagemight i just take the time to say that for this amazing manicure, i am thankful.  I know, it sounds petty– as if i can’t find something more feasible and important to be grateful for?  I am definitely grateful for a lot of more relevant and practical things in my life, however I believe (like the bracelet says…) that my nails are a barometer of my life.

First of all, I have been a chronic nail biter my entire life.  I’m pretty sure I descended from a long line of ladies nibbling on the nails. (my Mom was the exact same way)  Anyway, needless to say anyone who knew me in my past life, knew my nubs to be “ET fingers” or my nails to be the worst case of “lack thereof” people had ever seen.  All fingers were bleeding at all times.  This used to be the reputation that preceded me.

In present day, my nails are long and strong.  Keeping this short and sweet, i notice that when i am stressed out or enduring some sore of unease, my nails are brittle and become quite the afternoon snack aka non-existent.  ok, i don’t actually digest them, but it feels good to look down at my hands and see this beautiful manicure that graces my nails.  To be honest, i’m really not used to seeing actual entire nails on my nailbeds- and it’s been 5 years since kicking the habit. I’m now obsessed with keeping polished hands.  so yep, all is well in my life.

I’ll leave you with this one last thought.  This scenario reminds me of when i was a wee one.  I used to be OBSESSED with Keds.  They had to be white canvas…not leather…and the knock-off versions were completely unacceptable.  Pretty sure this is where any sense of materialistic behavior originated.  I would look down at my clean, white shoes every day, admiring how they completed my outfit, thus completing my day.  As a child, i felt a sense of gratitude.  Yep, that’s how the young mind of an elementary ashleyinquisitive worked.  Lets just say, when someone might have accidentally stepped on my beautiful white sneakers- my day was ruined.  My outfit was ruined.  I’d look down and the black scuff marks caught my attention every single time.

This grateful by obsession behavior has definitely manifested itself in my adult ages…only in the form of my nails.

thanks for listening – this is my attempt to make my way back into my blog.  “keeping you entertained with my inconstant ramblings and my consistent curiousity”, remember?  That’s right, I have a reputation to uphold. :P

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