Coolness is Gone...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,
Well, I am wondering today if my coolness factor is completely 100% totally gone. Why, you might be asking? (I'm sure most of you would never think my coolness factor could be gone...ha!) I thought through most of my days...with 2 little precious faces my life and it's coolness might be gone.

Things that I do mostly every day:
1. Crawl like a horse as our 1st born rides and thinks its funny to "fall" off. Quite the workout.
2. All my shirts and really all parts of my clothing have become burp cloths and most of the time have some sort of spit up.
3. I sing songs with words like "wiggle, wiggle, waggle" in them.
4. I repeat words like nose, belly, eyes, and feet while pointing to mine and a 14 month olds.
5. My body is the newest jungle gym to crawl, poke, and pull.
6. I bought 3 different size diapers at Target the other day...1 because they were on sale, 2 because we will need them all.
7. I use scissors in every meal to cut up food.
8. I am hardly ever by, around, or on my cell phone.
9. I daily look up something in a book called Baby 411 or Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby.
10. I am a laudry company. Seriously.

So today I laughed as I wouldn't change any of those things for my "coolness" back. Just remember gals this summer you have to keep me "cool" by keeping me up on all the trends of music, fashion, lingo, etc...I'm sure the K2 girls leadership team will have a field day.

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com
photo: etsy.com / seller: artsyville / click HERE to purchase this adorable print!

Peppermint Happiness...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,
Well, I realize Christmas is come and gone but these little deliciouos mallows were given to us by a dear friend and they were just amazing! I figured with it being February (ya know...Valentines) that you could make them for that too. So it's that time to grab your mom, little sister, best friend, daddio, or whoever you want and put on your Martha Stewart mask...please don't really put on a Martha mask as that would be rather creepy. Get ready for deliciousness explosion in your mouth!

Candy-Cane Marshmallows

Give out homemade treats that are great in hot cocoa -- or straight from the bag. Peppermint marshmallows are easy to make; they get their red swirl from a quick marbleizing technique. Follow our recipe, then package them in small cellophane bags to show off their good looks. Fold the top of each bag over once, and staple it shut. Use a small hole punch on either side of the staple. Thread a length of red twine through the holes, and knot it in front. Pull one end through a gift tag, and finish with a bow.
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Ingredients
Makes sixteen 2-inch squares.

Vegetable-oil cooking spray
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
4 packages (1/4 ounce each) unflavored gelatin
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons red food coloring

Directions

1.Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray, and set pan aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring; let mixture come to a boil. Raise heat to medium-high; cook until mixture registers 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.

2.Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 3/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl; let stand 5 minutes to soften. Set the bowl with the gelatin mixture over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in extract; set aside.

3.Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Whisk gelatin mixture into sugar mixture; with mixer running, gradually add to egg whites. Mix on high speed until very thick, 12 to 15 minutes.

4.Pour mixture into lined pan. Working quickly, drop dots of red food coloring across surface of marshmallow. Using a toothpick, swirl food coloring into marshmallow to create a marbleized effect. Let marshmallow stand, uncovered, at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares.

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com

photo: marthastewart.com

American Idol...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,

Oh my goodness, how have I not posted about Idol till now? Do forgive me? We (the hubster & I) have had a blast watching this season and I must admit I really like the new judges and new vibe to them. I think Steven Tyler is pretty funny and Jennifer Lopez is a breath of fresh air. I was thinking the show would spiral downward with no Simon...and I do still miss him and need someone to be "totally honest" once we get past Hollywood; but I like the Idol team of Tyler, Lopez, Jackson and Seacrest.

What do you gals think? Hating it? Loving it? Indifferent and don't care? Holler...

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com

photos: google.com / search "american idol new judges"

MTV Strikes Again...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,

Well, my goodness, just to find a picture of this new show called "Skins" was impossible as I obviously keep this blog "G" rated. I must admit I have not watched this show and quite frankly will not be watching this show. You know that something is way inappropriate when even liberal media is claiming this show is bordering child p*^n#graphy (I don't want to type the word so it won't show up when people look for that word). The Today show commented that advertisers are pulling their markets and ads from the show because of the outrage from parents.

As I researched the show it appears it is underage kiddos doing all things drug, sex, and rock and roll. One of the actors even commented..."well, it's what kids are doing these days." Oh, my, where to even begin with this comment. Girls, please don't buy into this show. Sadly I believe that christian gals feed this craziness. We claim we love Jesus and then we ride the clouds of these shows thinking it's okay because we are just watching them, not doing those things. Friends, don't believe this. Your mind and heart begin to fantasize and become curious with the lies of the world. Again, I can't type too much about this show because the content I don't even want to put in a blog post. Parents, please pull this show from options...blocking MTV all together would be my suggestion...but that's simply my opinion. The media is screaming over-sexualization of our daughters (and sons!). Don't just say "no" to the show...sit down with your precious girl to talk through this. Help them come to the answer with great questions & don't forget to LISTEN...

1. Tell me about the show.

2. What messages do you think the show is trying to convey?

3. When you are done watching the show what have your learned? How are you better?

4. Do you think this show shows true reality?

5. Why do you want to watch it? Popularity?

6. Would you still watch it if your little sister or grandmother was sitting beside you?

7. When you are a mom someday would you want your daughter/son to watch this?

8. What in this show is good for you/your mind/your thoughts/your heart?

9. (if your girl loves Jesus) Does this show instill the messages that God wants in your heart?

I have to wonder as these young actors, money hungry directors, and who cares producers get done shooting for the day and go to bed...as they lay there at night do they really think this is all okay? Maybe they do...that probably scares me the most.

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com

photo: google.com / search "mtv"