A roundup of personal highlights from 2015 and Fit Mitten Kitchen’s top 6 recipes.
HEY YOU GUUYSSSSS.
Tomorrow will be 2016. (That shit cray) I’m not one to normally sit down and make a list of goals for the next year. Or even reflect too much on the past year. Which I suppose has it’s pros and cons? But since I’ve started a blog and all, I figure why not start!? ? But in all seriousness, 2015 was a HUGE year for me. Between two weddings, getting certified in personal training (a goal of mine from when I was in college… only took me five years), starting my blog in June, visiting two of my best friends in Washington… a lot has happened. Let’s take a look via some pictures >>>
Amazing friends and sisters threw me the cutest bachelorette party in March.
Mother’s Day shoot on St. John the day after my big bro got married. Not pictured: Dad. (photo: eat pomegranate)
My wedding on May 22
There’s Dad!
Favorite place ever (Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada)
LTFs in the PNW
Well that was fun! Makes me miss 2015 already! This was not only a big one for me, but my entire family as well. My younger sister graduated from Michigan State University (GO GREEN), and my youngest sister graduated from high school. Oh, those things also happened within weeks of both mine and my brother’s wedding. Talk about cray.
And then I went ahead and started this blog… It was something I had been thinking about for quite some time. I was sharing healthy recipes on my Facebook page, or posting healthy-living articles and exercise tips a ton (probably annoying to some). But it wasn’t until I had a few friends approach me about it that I seriously considered it. Truth be told, I was pretty nervous about it. I can be a pretty private person. I don’t care to share a ton about my personal life to many (unless you’re my closest friends and fam). And I’m really not one to “toot my own horn”. Staring a blog almost felt as if I was trying to show off, or say “hey look at me!” Which is just not me. That kind of attention tends to make me uncomfortable >> why I always sucked during improv in my dance classes.
I also started worrying about what others (mainly the people that actually know me well) would think of my blog. If they would start judging what I would say, how I write/speak. Which is actually unlike me in a sense I don’t particularly care too much what others think. Of course I care a LITTLE BIT what close friends and fam think, but other than that… nope not really. But I’ve never been one to follow the crowd. Always had to be different in some way. Looking back to when I was younger, I may have wanted to follow the trends in fashion, but I always wanted to make it my own in some way. I always go back to this one snapshot of me with my bathing suit worn over my striped bike shorts and tee shirt… I think I was about three. I will have to dig up the photo one of these days. But this “need to be different” also translated to social media, oddly enough. It took me a while to be convinced that Pinterest was cool (thanks, Ran). And it took my younger sisters to get me to download Instagram and Snapchat. And I also made fun of hashtags ALL THE TIME. I can even recall when I said to myself “I refuse to hashtag”.
But now of course I use them like crazy. Truth: my Instagram post yesterday failed because I used too many hashtags. I said this to my husband after I groaned very loudly. I told him what had happened, and he just looked at me, shaking his head with disappointment. Then preceded to call me #basic (he just learned last week what that means).
Anyways! Sorry for the rambling but what I am trying to say is that I AM SO GLAD I started this blog and got over my little fear of sharing too much. I couldn’t have done it without the help of Lee and Davida (also The Blogger Project). And I would not be where I am now without the help of the amazing duo that is Georgie and Christina. Thanks to their little blogging group < BLOGGERS GONNA BLOG > I’ve met some amazing, talented, inspiring women that I admire so much. I have them to thank for tooting my horn so I don’t have to.
But before I say ciao to 2015… let’s check out the top recipes from FMK (Fit Mitten Kitchen).
Top 6 Recipes from FMK
——>>>>
6. Gluten-free Beet Brownies
5. Ultimate Chocolate Protein Snack Cake
4. Coconut & Almond Butter Protein Bars
3. Healthier Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
2. Maple Balsamic Quinoa Lentil Salad
1. Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Leah over at Love Me Feed Me put together an insane roundup on Buzzfeed, and she was kind enough to include these bad boys. So really, I owe this number 1 recipe to her. Thank you Leah for putting these at the top!
Well, here’s to 2015. Thanks for being so good to me.
2016, get ready!
Doreen says
What a wonderful year for you Ashley. I’m so proud of all of your accomplishments and happy that you have become my amazing daughter in law. Here’s to 2016!
Ashley says
It was definitely a great year. Thanks so much for all of your support and love <3 🙂
jill conyers says
What a year of growth, experiences and delicious eats! So happy our paths crossed. You know. They say things happen for a reason 🙂
Peace and joy to you in the new year. xoxo
Ashley says
Things certainly DO happen for a reason. 🙂 Thanks Jill, I wish you the same! <3
Kerri mcgrail says
What a great year filled with lots of awesome recipes!! That quinoa lentil salad looks amazing !!! Congrats on everything you’ve accomplished this year! Can’t wait to see what next year brings for your blog !!
Ashley says
Thanks so much Kerri! The quinoa salad is def a family favorite. The skeptics are so surprised how good it is when they try it!
Les @ The Balanced Berry says
Congratulations on having such a fabulous year! I am so glad we were able to connect via this crazy little blogging world. Can’t wait to see all that you achieve in 2016. I know it’ll be huge for you. Cheers!
Ashley says
Thanks Les! I’m so glad we connected this year too. I’m excited to be on this journey with you <3 happy new year!
Jess @hellotofit says
I KNEW those cinnamon rolls would make the cut 😉 I need to try those beet brownies, although I am still a little scared to 😛
Such a big year for you, girl!! Can’t wait to see how 2016 unfolds for you 🙂
Ashley says
Don’t be scurred of the beets!! 😉 thanks Jess! Xoxo
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
HA I know what you mean about the hashtags! I was totally not into twitter or insta before my blog. Now I’m a social media whore 😉 But aren’t all bloggers? You are been so successful in such a short time – your blog looks so much older that it is! Keep up the amazing work girlfriend!
Ashley says
I don’t think bloggers have a choice in being social media whores. Unless of course they can outsource that 😉 lol. But thanks Chrissa! I can certainly say the same thing about yours 🙂 xoxo
Beth says
I still cannot believe you’ve only been blogging since this past summer! You go girl, 2016 has got HUGE things for you!
<3 Beth
http://thespicegirlblog.com
Ashley says
Thanks so much Beth! That means a lot 🙂 2016 is gonna be big for all us BGBrs <3
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
I’m SO proud of everything you’ve done!! I’m so happy to have met you through BGB and go on this crazy blogging journey with someone who started around the same time as me. I can’t WAIT to see all the amazing things you do in 2016!! (PS NEED pretty much everything on your top 6 list omg)
Ashley says
I feel the SAME way about you Emilie <3 so excited to see your talent unfold (even more!) in 2016. Xoxo
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me says
I’m new to your blog and just wanted to let you know, your wedding photos are stunning! You made for one gorgeous bride. I cannot to see where life takes you in 2016. 🙂
Ashley says
Aw thanks so much Julia 🙂 Cheers to a great 2016!