A New Year, A Blank Page

As the year comes to an end, I have been looking back at 2013; I have to say it had it's highs and lows. I thought I share a few of both with you.

I'll start with the lows, first up family drama, I'm sick of it and sick of being put in the middle of it. Next is my health it's really sucked this year, I started out the year really good, my weight was at an eight year low, my diabetes was under control, I was extremely active and felt great. Then came July and I found out I have an issue with my heart that causes my heart to go into overdrive for no reason at all; this caused me to go on a new medicine that in 6 months has caused me to put on 30lbs and I have had to slow down a lot.

Now for the highs, I'll pick up with my health, diabetes is losing the battle to control me and my life. Next, through blogs, Facebook and Youtube I have met some wonderful people that I now consider friends. I also one my very first give-a-way and discovered a wickedly delicious e-book.

2014

As my pick above shows, I'm starting 2014 with a blank slate, I do not make resolutions I set goals; this year those goals are simple.

1. Take control of my health.
2. Be more active.
3. Write more.
4. Be true to me.
5. Blog and Speak from my heart.

I hope you all have a safe and blessed new year. With the New Moon that's accompanying the New Year, I hope for new adventures and new beginnings for all.

Blessings

Ash-Lynn

A Homemade Yule, Surprises, and a Give-A-Way

For the past 5 years I have belong to a special circle of women, traditionally every year on Yule we get together and exchange gifts that we made for each other. This year was much the same, good friends, food, and our gift exchange only this year my BF Laura had a few surprises for me.

As you can see these aren't all homemade...

Laura made us all beautiful boxes to keep our treasures in, "D" made us each beautiful yule ornaments, and Rae made us some very yummy cookies. I myself made everyone a hot back to warm their bones.

After the gift exchange Laura call me to the side and gives me an additional gift bag, it contained a beautiful butterfly ring, she also indulged my skeleton key fetish with a lovely lock and key necklace and earrings, then there was a very special surprise, a bracelet but not just any bracelet; I have been watching this little girl for a while at our local witchy shop, but did not have the funds to make her mine. Well Laura being the wonderful friend she is decided I must have her.

 Now I must tell you of an amazing read and Give-a-Way. First the amazing read is Magaly Guerrero's "Thorn In Red", this is an amazing story; it's full of adventure, blood, love, and butterscotch kisses, oh and did I mention blades and axes.

To celebrate the "Thorn In Red" release Magaly is doing an awesome Give-a-Way. to find out more head on over to her blog and give it a look. You can click on the image below to find Magaly's blog and info on the give-a-way.

Good luck and many blessing..... and READ THIS BOOK!!!

Homemade Fun For Yule!!!

Got into the spirit of the season and made Homemade Yule ornaments for the ladies in my circle, I had a blast doing it and wanted to share them with you.

Dough made and ornaments cut out and ready to bake,

Painted and ready to go to their new homes.

I thought I would share the recipe I use to make these in case you want to make some of your own.

Ingredients & Supplies:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• cookie cutters
• paints and other decorative accessories
• yarn, twine or string for hanging
  

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325º.
2. Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl.
3. Add in half of the water, then gradually add in the remaining water.
4. Kneed the dough until it is smooth (10 minutes or so).
5. Roll out dough on baking paper to use with cookie cutters, or press the dough into various shapes. Get creative!
6. Use a straw or toothpick to make a hole to hang the ornament once it’s finished.
7. Bake the ornaments until hard and dry (about 45min – 1.5 hours, depending on the thickness of the ornament).
8. Allow to cool.
9. Decorate with paint, glitter, beads, buttons, feathers or any other fun accessories.
10. If you want to preserve them for a long time, allow all the paint and glue to dry and then coat with a clear acrylic varnish.
    

I hope you enjoy making these, I know I did. Have a very Blessed Yule my Beautiful Souls!!!

OK Universe I Hear You!!!

I'm pretty sure this is going to turn into a rambling post, but I need to get this out. I am in need of a major change, a change in both my insides and outsides.

Image found on Google, words added by Ash-Lynn

My Insides...

Are messed up and twisted, I feel like something is missing or lost in me; but what? I know it's not in my marriage, that part of my life is amazing, in fact my personal life is pretty good right now; the only major thing that is a constant in my life is family drama, but we all have that from time to time.

I think, no I know the only thing I have been lacking in lately is my spiritual side, I have spent so much time in the past few years trying to get my health back on track that I let that side of me slide.

I know from how loud the universe is yelling at me that I need to get back on track and back in balance with my spiritual side and with the universe. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this yet but I do know I'm going to reconnect and find this part of me again. I'm going to start this by getting back to the basics and letting the universe guide me from there.

My Outsides...

Are in need of a complete makeover, I need to drop at least 50lbs and tone this jelly belly up a lot. I have had a lot of changes with my body in the past six months. In late June, early July I was diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia(SVT) and was put on a beta blocker to help slow down and regulate my heart, the down side to this is beta blocker have an awful side effect, hunger ie weight gain; and this sucks.

I have put on 30lbs on top on the weight I already needed to lose, and that's not cool. I have cried over this and been depressed about it for a while, buy now I am going to stop whining and do something about it.

So starting with the new year I will be giving myself over, on both my insides and outsides, I am determined to get my weight down, and keep my diabetes in check; I'll be eating even healthier than I already do(been slipping on that too) and exercising my butt of(literally). The hubby says he will help me and fully support me in this and help me stay on track.

In the new year I hope to find a new me, and maybe just maybe find parts of me that I thought I had lost to me forever.

Do you ever feel like your lost or in need of a change?

A Beautiful Tree and My Granny's Balls

The Witchletts and I spent the day together laughing and decorating our Yule/Christmas tree, we had a blast; here is our finished tree....

Yes your seeing right, that's R2D2 with a Christmas hat on, his outfit changes throughout the year. I keeping with the fun I thought I would share my Garnnys recipe for rum balls with you, they are so yummy.

My Grannys Rum Balls

Ingredients 

•  1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup rum

• 1 (16 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crushed very fine

• 2 cups finely chopped walnuts

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar for rolling

Directions

1. In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt evaporated milk and chocolate chips, stirring frequently until smooth. 

1. Remove from heat and stir in the crushed vanilla wafers and Rum until well blended. 

1. Roll the dough into small balls and roll the balls in chopped walnuts, then in confectioners' sugar. 

1. Store covered in the refrigerator. 

Enjoy and Many Blessings

Oops, sorry.....

I am so sorry for all the changes on here the past few days, I thought I liked the green/orange theme I made but, I just could not live with it, it was to bright. I really like the calming colors I have chosen for the current theme.

I hope you like the new theme I came up with, not sure if I'll be adding a background yet or not.

Have a great weekend, only a week till Yule..... are you ready?

Living Pagan in a Christian World

The Holidays are upon us once again, and that means putting up the Yule/Christmas tree, spending time with friends & family, cards, presents, yummy food, and STRESS!

In my home we celebrate the holidays as one big celebration, and we tend to leave religion out of it. I'm pagan, my husband is a non practicing Catholic who leans heavily towards being pagan, and our daughters have pretty much decided to walk the same path; our families on the other hand are very Christian.

I have come up with ways over the years to try and celebrate both Yule and Christmas and keep everyone happy, I did a post last year on the subject titled "Celebrating Pagan Holidays In A Christian World"

Though those are all good ideas and have worked to keep our families happy over the years, somehow I am left feeling let down by the lack of my spiritual side in my celebrations; so this year my goal is to incorporate more of myself and my beliefs into our celebrations.

Now I have to decide where to start, any suggestions?

Happy December!!!

YAY!!! it's December, that means only 21 day's till Yule and 25 days till Christmas; are you excited Yet?

I know we are, with the cold weather it even feels like the holidays are coming. In honor of the upcoming festivities I will be decorating my blog as well as my house. I am so excited or the holidays, what will you be doing to welcome the season?