A Stranger's blogging About Ashley Mac's

We received the most interesting email today. It was from a complete stranger who apparently just came by the store on Saturday (while I myself was hundreds of miles away at the beach...ahhh the joys of good employees) and apparently fell in love with it and decided to blog about it..too bad she doesn't work for the new york times or something because I have to say it was a good plug! I especially liked reading the comments of those that read it.. many from other states..who wished they had an Ashley Mac's in their state! Maybe one day(: Oh and actually I take that back... my favorite thing she said was that OUR cake is BETTER THAN EDGARS!!! YAY!!! The Edgarites just don't know what their missing!! Check out her blog if you have time-


http://lbratina.blogspot.com/2008/06/ashley-macs-in-bluff-park.html

Here is one of my favorite comments on her blog... I thought it was hilarious!

Trina- I thought Edgars had the best. And their's is good, but this is downright sinful to taste that good. You know it is filled with calories straight from Hell. Now I know how Adam felt with the apple...But it is oh, soooo good. THE BEST. Really.

Girls Trip 2008

This past weekend I had the privilege to fly down to Orlando with 8 of my best friends from college. There are 11 of us in our "circle of friends" (which 10 of us happen to be pledge sisters). Every year no matter how few can come we always go on a trip. It started off with LOTS of road trips in college... and then evolved into an annual beach trip every spring/summer since we've graduated. It truly has kept our friendships alive. No matter how little we may talk or see each other during the year, we always seem to pick right up where we left off when we hit the beach! These friendships mean the world to me! Thanks girls for all the laughs, tears, and "crumping" we were able to share this year!! Love you all so much and my life is better because your in it!

Our 2nd annual trip to the BEST sushi place ever!

Gotta love the mango tango!

Bachelorette night for Christina who is getting married in August! We all wore masks to dinner that said "flirt", "tease", "wild", "single" and other things... we went dancing and had a great dinner right on the beach!

Pepper Place

Ashley Mac's had the opportunity to participate in Pepper Place (Birmingham's upscale farmers market) this past Saturday. The samples created a big crowd around our booth so it was exciting to be the "buzz" of the market. I think people were glad to see someone new and fresh. It was GREAT advertising for us. In fact, we have already had several customers visit our store that said they heard about us down there. Besides the success, we had so much fun! It didn't feel like work at all! My sweet mom and mother-in-law helped me with the booth.. while Andy and his dad did all the "dirty work"... hauling stuff etc. The rest of our staff was at the kitchen making and sending more of the items as we ran out. We are hoping to do it again soon!

Mom and Kathy (Andy's mom) working the booth.. so sweet to help!

Alyce (our awesome kitchen manager) and myself setting up bright and early at 5:30am!

Spring and Summer at Ashley Mac's

Here are some pics of our ever-changing storefront at Ashley Mac's. I have had so much fun getting to decorate.. and re-decorate..and re-decorate! Who knew there were so many holidays in a year! Below are pics from Easter-which easily changed to spring and summer after I took down the bunnies. My sweet (and oh so talented) mother-in-law made all the curtains, tablecloths, napkins etc. for me! So I think I'm leaving it as is until fall! (unless I decide to get crazy and change things around.. which I tend to do sometimes when Andy's not looking!)

Australia By Boat

I didn't really want this whole blog to be about fertility stuff- but this is my life now.. so what do ya do?! I stole this "story" by an anonymous author off a friends blog- I don't think I could describe what I'm going through any better.



Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place. You've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you look forward to being pampered on the trip.

So you go the the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you, you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait, and wait, and wait.

Flights to Australia come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax, You'll get on a flight soon.: Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"

After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat."

"By boat!", you say, "Going by boat will take a very long time and costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than by air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.

It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three times, marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during the voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.

People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh be glad you didn't fly. My flight was horrible, traveling by sea is so easy." You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty is not in the way you get there but in the place itself.



Andy and I were clearly planning on flying.. doesn't everyone? The boat ride IS rough. Waves are always crashing. I feel sick (physically and emotionally). I'm tired. Sometimes I just wish I could get on the stupid plane. But God has called us to go by boat- so that's how we're going.

I'm OBSESSED with.....

My husband! Sooooo, a few months back Andy and I are driving home and I just start staring at him- then I reach over and stroke his cheek and say "You are so beautiful!".... I received a strange look like I am the weirdest person ever (I get that from him a lot)... I was like "well you know man-beautiful". But I can't help it. Sometimes I just stare at him and think he's so amazing and I can't believe he's all mine! Then I've had this thing lately where I tell him all the time that I'm obsessed with him. He thinks its weird. But deep down I think he likes it. Anways, was just thinking about how fabulous it is to love someone-and be loved. If your married, hopefully your experiencing the same thing. If your single, then you have a lot to look forward to.
(Hopefully Andy won't read this post.. then I will get in trouble)
p.s. I swore I wasn't going to be one of those people that posted with no pics. sorry!

Fertility Clinic 101

Sooooo, IUI #3 will have to wait. Apparently we are paying thousands of dollars so they can "miss" my cycle. Long story but I will try to explain for those that are interested. Every cycle I have to wait for the dr. to tell us what she recommends once I start my period. So after several "failed" cycles at ART she decided to put me on Letrozole which is supposed to make a better ovulation (even though I ovulate regularly on my own.. but whatever). Anywho, so I took the letrozole days 3-7 of my cycle- which the side effects were MUCH better than clomid.. but still annoying none-the-less. Then they tell me to start the ovulation test kit on day 10. So this past Saturday night after being out with friends, I came home and took one of the tests close to midnight.. and I had a surge. I call the dr's office and have to come in the next morning (on a Sunday- which costs extra by the way) to get an ultrasound and blood work which will determine how close I am to ovulation. The nurse then goes on to tell me that I am not quite ready. Come back Tuesday. Andy steps in and reminds her that I am a "fast ovulater" according to my past few cycles (they almost "missed" one before). She looks at us like we don't really know what we're talking about and doesn't seem to give any credence to what we're saying. Day 10 IS extremely early, even for me, so I am trusting her at this point. That brings us to this morning, Tuesday. Go in.... get one of the lab technicians (would it be so hard to get a nurse or nurse practitioner to do the u/s?!).. she looks confused- calls in a nurse practitioner...they sit and stare.. "we should look at her chart from Sunday".. well that sounded like a grand idea to me. (Oh and little tid-bit.. every time we go in our last name is spelled differently on the u/s screen..$$$$ for this kind of treatment?!!) I'm getting tired just writing all this so let me just wrap it up... they MISSED my dang ovulation. So frustrating when you are paying to be watched. I know this happens to people dealing with fertility all the time- but it was my first- and not very fun. Every month seems like forever. So here we go again. I guess I should leave this on a good note though... we did have "spontaneous sex" (which doesn't happen very often when your trying to get preg!) on Saturday night so maybe just maybe we will have a miracle baby..... and to end on not just a good note but a GREAT note.. God is Good and I'm thankful we know that... and thankful we know HIM.

Meet the Ashley Mac's Crew!

How did I ever run this business all alone?! It's hard to even remember back to those days! We have an incredible staff at Ashley Mac's! Andy and I take pride in finding EXCELLENT people because we know our business will only be as good as our employees! We are so thankful for how the Lord has provided and continues to in that area.

• From left: Elise (we call her "E") who just loved to cook and wanted to get some food industry experience. She is great and is picking up so quickly on everything.
  
• Alyce is our fabulous kitchen manager- She went to culinary school and then was the pastry chef at Ocean and 26 (really great restaurants in Bham) and then "happened" to see our help wanted sign when she was going to the Pig- we are soooo glad the Lord brought her to us and she is the hardest worker I have ever seen! A lot of people have told me that it is impossible to find someone that can run your business and care about your business as much as you (as the owner) does.. but I am thankful to say I think we have found our girl!
• Savanna is in culinary school right now and is doing her internship with us and we are so happy to have her.
  
• Next is Wanna who most of you know has been with us for almost 2 years! She was my first hired help back when the business was at our house. She has become a very dear friend as well as a wonderful employee!

Andy- usually just in the kitchen for samples!

Howard comes in a few days a week to wash dishes and mop- he is hilarious and fun to have around!


I came into the kitchen one morning last week to find E just glowing as she is pulling chicken (which certainly is not that exciting!).. then I look down at her finger and see why... she's engaged! Congrats E!






Last but certainly not least, we have Josie, our incredible general manager that pretty much runs the place! I will have to get a pic of her in her element (at the computer or on the phone!)