Phew! Two weeks down. 50 more to go.

For those of you who are not aware, I’ll give you a quick recap: I’m on a 365 day wardrobe diet.

That means I will not be spending money on any new clothing items, footwear, accessories, technical gadgets–basically all “Stuff” that is not essential for an entire to break my growing shopaholic tendancies, increase my creativity and reduce my carbon footprint.

The rules: If I’m given gift cards or gifts (for birthdays/holidays) I can accept them but not go over the allotted amount of the gift. And I can spend a small amount of money to alter clothing I already own as it’s a modification to an item already in my closet.

The challenge began May 1st and here’s how it’s been going:

1. I’m in the process of turning a floor-length ballgown tucked in the back of my closet into my salsa dress for Dancing With The Stars Wood Buffalo on May 26!

Thankfully I’m getting help from my friend Nicole Robinson who is a whiz with a sewing machine.
If I was left to my own resources, the dress might look like it went through a paper shredder!

2. I was on location at The Final Touch during a Mother’s Day giveaway event and for the first time, while I was walking around browsing, I was immediately thinking of other people and gifts that would be perfect for them instead of thinking about items for myself. And it felt really good!

3. I borrowed a stud-finder to hang art in my room.
Normally I would have just driven down to a store and purchased one for myself because it’s not a high-cost item but instead I put my need out on Facebook and a handful of friends came through with offerings of the tool.

What I like most about borrowing is it gives me a chance to visit with my friends, even if it’s just for a short period of time. I feel like I get to reconnect with people I may not always get to see on a regular basis.

4. My trip to Calgary… as a reformed shopaholic I found myself struggling this week. A friend of mine needed to expand her spring wardrobe for work and I offered to help her find the items she needed. So we visited Chinook Mall which has expanded quite a bit after renovations in the past two years since my last visit.

Suddenly I found myself surrounded by the colourful, affordable spring items at Forever XI… a red blazor–only $30!! My heart was pounding, the room started to spin and up comes my friend’s husband to play devil’s advocate.

In his hands are a pair of shorts he’s contemplating buying and he says, “Y’know Ashley, these shorts are $30… that jacket you’re gripping with a clutched fist is $30… I could get you a thank you gift for coming down to visit us and you could get me these shorts as a thank you for having you stay with us.”

A LOOP HOLE!!– in my second week of the challenge! Terrifying!
Thankfully I turned him down and remained strong and I felt better for it.

~Ashley

As a reformed shopaholic the first few days/weeks of a journey are often the hardest.
So it definitely helps when items I ordered online a few weeks prior to May 1st are now showing up!

In fact, one item (in preparations for Halloween) is back-ordered for 5 weeks–So it should give me the extra boost I need at that 6 Week mark.
It’ll be like Christmas in June! (:

My first major challenge will be next weekend when I head to Calgary for a few days to visit old friends.
I haven’t been to my college stomping grounds for nearly 2 years.

Normally, travelling to a big city would mean big spending in stores that aren’t found in Fort McMurray but not this time!!

The only request I’ve made to my friends is to visit Tubby Dog on 17th Ave for a “Cap’n” Hot Dog (which features peanut butter, jam and Captain Crunch cereal)

If you haven’t been — I highly recommend trying it.

They’ll put nearly any topping on your hot dog (crushed up chips, chocolate, spring rolls, potato salad, maraschino cherries etc!!) made to order! Yum!
(Clearly not an everyday treat though–I can’t buy new pants afterall LOL)

Check out some Tubby Dog creations on their Facebook page!

~Ashley

The Wardrobe Diet — A Year of Nothing New
(May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013)

I’m an impulse shopper.
I see something I like, I buy it.

The past three months have been particularly crazy.

In February, my “non-essential” items purchased included skiis, ski boots and trendy fashion glasses… for a month total of… $1,175.00

In March, my wardrobe and splurge items included: Ski goggles & jacket, Lu Lu Lemon workout gear and a pile of clothing items including a new coat from Rowena. Total damage: $660.00

In April, I “frosted myself” with a special diamond ring and was introduced to the glory of the Armani Exchange clothing store at West Edmonton Mall. Total Damage: $1,300.00 OUCH!

So, in the past three months alone, I have spent more than $3,000 on items that would be considered “non-essential.” That’s a really nice vacation to Mexico or the Caribbean! Heck–that’s FOUR MONTHS of my rent!

The purpose of this challenge is to prove to myself that I don’t need mountains of new “stuff” to make me happy or to improve my life.
I also want to do my small part for the environment and get the absolute most out of everything that I already own.

A lot of friends think I’m nuts– that I should try it for 3 months or 6 months first.
But trust me, simply judging by the amount of clothes in my closet and dresser that still have price tags on them—I’ll be fine. (:

The final items I purchased as of April 30, 2012: A big pack of socks, a few special pieces for my Halloween costume (yes, forward planning I know!) and a mini speaker system for my iPhone at home.

STEP ONE:

Unsubscribe/block all of my favourite shopping emails, websites, Facebook and Twitter feeds that will entice me to see the latest styles of clothing and accessories.

So…Farewell Beyond the Rack, ShoeDazzle, La Senza etc. *sigh*

After all, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

STEP TWO:

Clearly define what essential and “non-essential” items are.

For hygienic purposes, make up is still considered an essential product because you shouldn’t have mascaras, foundation and other products for longer than six months (germs galore!)

–So are hair appointments. It’s always a disaster when I try to cut my own bangs!

“Non-essential products” are then classified as: All items of Clothing, Footwear, Accessories (purses, jewellery, belts, etc.) Books, Electronics, Furniture and even iTunes purchases.

I can still spend money on events to spend time with friends and family: this includes trips, flights, hotels, as well as theatre, concert and movie tickets.

The Wardrobe Diet doesn’t mean I suddenly turn into a hermit–but I will definitely limit the amount of times I go out to restaurants and instead opt to have potlucks and dinner parties.

Gift cards are still allowed, if I am given a gift card for a birthday or other holidays from friends or family, that’s considered a gift given and therefore will be used.

Once per season: Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring– I will host a Clothing Swap Party with my friends as a way to make someone’s “something old” into my “new something” and vice versa for them!

Also, I can still buy gifts for others. I’m definitely not the craftiest of people and I know my friends and family would love anything I made/gave them but I’m actually looking forward to being more generous — I just won’t go overboard.
Gift giving is a nice way to stop thinking about myself and my wants when I do find myself in a shopping situation. (:

STEP THREE:

Each month I will make a short video of my latest Wardrobe Diet technique– be it altering a piece of clothing to make a new item, repairing a worn item, swapping outfits, what purchases I save gift cards for, and also how much money I saved each month by keeping track of the things I get the urge to purchase throughout the journey.

If I have failures, you’ll hear about them.
If I’ve made a great discovery, you’ll know about it.

Hopefully by the end of The Wardrobe Diet, I will have a lot more money in my savings and will want to spend much less of it on the non-essentials!

Wish me luck!

~Ashley aka Modern Paperbag Princess

Ecole St. Paul is one of several APPLE schools in town, which is an Alberta Project promoting Active Living and Healthy Eating.

This month’s theme is: Choosing like a Champion.

Making healthier food choices is sometimes easier than when it comes to deciding what to drink.
We all know that an apple is a wiser choice than a chocolate bar.

But what about when it comes to beverages?

Knowing what to drink is extremely important, especially as a child when the body is still growing and bones are still developing.

There are shelves of fruit juices and sodas that have up to 8 teaspoons of sugar per 8oz glass! (Holy jitters, Batman!)

Did you know that Chocolate Milk, rather than a sport recovery drink, is a great choice for athletes recovering from vigorous exercise??

(I’m actually pretty pumped about this fact! Chocolate milk after sculpting my guns at the gym, YUM!)

Chocolate milk has the same bone building nutrients as regular milk and about the same amount of sugar as unsweetened fruit juice.

Plus, the electrolytes and protein help to get the body recover and replenish nutrient stores post-exercise.
If there’s any sensitivities to Lactose– there’s also fortified soy, almond and rice milk options (I’m ultra picky and these beverages are not as weird or gross as they sound!!)

But keep in mind– throughout regular daily activity– water is always the best option when quenching thirst!

Be sure to check out your local participating APPLE school’s informative display bulletin boards the next time you’re popping in to pick up your child from school!

~Ashley

Ever wonder when your time is up?
I know it’s morbid but after seeing a friend’s post on Facebook about the date and year when they’re set to kick-the-bucket, I got curious about my own fate.

Sean Conroy who’s my co-host this week while James is away on vacation was hesitant to check his own lifeline and the results will surprise you!

So Sean being the more senior of the two (by 3 years), we typed in his birth date, his Body Mass Index, and his outlook on life (Pessimistic– though he claims it’s more Realistic)

Looks like Sean’s gotta keep an eye out for:

Monday, December 30, 2041 (right after Christmas too!!)

Now for myself, all the similar information was entered except I see myself as quite the Optimist… So when do the seconds of my deathclock run out?

Sunday, October 4, 2082

The outcome: 41 years separate Sean and I and the only two differences are our sex and our outlook on life.
Looks like a positive attitude makes a huge difference on lifespan according to Deathclock!

What to check out your own ending? Check out DeathClock.com

~Ashley

Generally if Good Friday is a holiday that you practice, that means all meat except fish is off the menu today. But maybe you’re like me and you’re not a huge fan of fish or haven’t mastered the ability to cook it properly. Well never fear, I have a solution!

Vegan Tacos.

Now don’t judge. Seriously I’m one of the pickiest eaters alive and after trying these, I could never go back to regular tacos. It’s like comparing an overcast day to the sunniest blue-sky day on record.

What you’ll need.
One of those Taco kits that comes with the taco spice, tomato sauce and hard or soft taco shells depending on your preference.

Then instead of hamburger meat, check your specialty aisles in the grocery story, generally Yves Ground Round will be located close to the fresh produce or in the specialty meat and fancy cheese section. You can pick original or there’s even a Mexican style.
Either will work wonders, I myself find the original has a nicer flavor and you can add the spices you want.

Next, if you want to make the meal entirely vegan, there’s these amazing vegan cheese shreds called Daiya.
The Mozzarella flavor is to die for. The really nice thing about it, is you don’t require heaps of it to get the same flavor from cheese and it melts beautifully for other meals like pasta dishes.

Then you’ll need your veggies. I like Cucumber, tomato and baby spinach. — Don’t forget the salsa!!

The prep time for this is 5 minutes, the cook time for this is 5 minutes and YUM! And if you don’t scarf down your first taco in 2 minutes, I’d be shocked.

take the ground round from it’s packaging, place it in the pan. Add about half a pack of taco spice per individual package of ground round. Add about 1/3 cup of water, half the tomato sauce from the kit and let simmer on medium-low while breaking the ground round up to fill the pan.
I also like to add some hot sauce and salsa to the mix.
While this is simmering, take this time to slice up cucumbers, tomatoes and any other veggies you like with your tacos.

Once most of the liquid has boiled off you are ready to serve!

Scoop some ground round up into a taco, add a bit of salsa, some daiya cheese, and your veggies and VOILA! A delicious vegan meal idea that is sure to please everyone at the table. (:

~Ashley

Hunger Games is now in Theatres and last night, Steve Reeve asked listeners: If the Mix On-Air Hosts were to have a Hunger Games, who would survive?

So here is James’ stragegy… (So not impressed…)

“Ashley first, so I wouldn’t have to listen to her. Then Trent, so he wouldn’t pull rank.
“I think Conroy would be sitting in a position sort of like a sniper, so you’d have to get behind him somehow and sneak up on him. Next would be Steve because he would think he was in a video game, that he has more lives so that’d be easy.
“And finally Lee… gain his trust and turn on him”

Here’s Ashley’s strategy…
I would try to stay hidden like Peeta does, camouflaged by the swamp, save my strength and let everyone take each other down, wait til that final person standing thinks they’ve won it and attack like a tiger.

And if all else fails:

I’d take Steve out first because he’s played a lot of Nintendo Duck Hunter and he knows more of my weaknesses than the others.
Next, I’d take out James because he’d be the least likely to team up with anyone, so shady! Hopefully I’d get a two for one– get him right after he’s distracted taking out Trent.
Then take Sean out when he’s trying to take down Lee and just let Lee trip up and take himself out (Sorry Lee!)

Have your vote on the Mix Morning Show Poll for who would win The Hunger Games on the Mix Website.

~Ashley

Alright, so after WinterPLAY welcomed a fabulous Sweet Soul Burlesque dancing troupe from Vancouver, my friends and I began contemplating creating our own troupe in Fort McMurray.

Of course you can’t have a group until you come up with the perfect stage names.

Following the general rule… like combine Your Middle Name and the Name of Your First Pet — In my case it would be Sara Ernie&Bert (pet hampsters) Not all that attractive, no? Kinda creepy.

So I stumbled across this Burlesque Stage Name simulator –Now keep in mind some of the names may be a little risque so viewer discretion is advised! But it’s definitely entertaining for a few minutes.

Burlesque Name Simulator

At the end of the day I came up with “Ruby Smooth”.
So keep an ear out for Fort McMurray’s “Misfits Burlesque” in the future, we might just make it happen! (;

~Ashley

Alright, so the last three weeks of the Mix Morning Show Wellness challenge have been just that for both James and I — a challenge.

In 3 weeks, James is down 0.9 pounds
Current weight: 212.9
Goal: 200
Total weight loss percentage from the start: 3.32%

Ashley gained 2.5 pounds
Current weight: 166.5
Goal: 158
Total weight loss percentage from the start: 3.76%

Total BMI points lost: Tied – both down 1.3 points

To amp up our workouts, for the next 15 days, James will be receiving an at-home fitness routine to suit his busy schedule and I will be hitting the gym with some trainers serious about whipping my hiney into shape.

It’s anyone’s game folks!!

Stay tuned for Thursday, April 6.
We will have our final weigh-in and one of us gets sent to the MacIsland Gym with Fitness Coordinator Krystal Bates for a non-stop 3 hour workout!

~Ashley

Alright so this year, Ashley didn’t get a chance to make it down to Los Angeles to the Kodiak Theatre for the 84th Annual Academy Awards set to take place this Sunday, Feb. 26th.

But here’s a look back at some of her first-hand “encounters” with some of Hollywood’s top stars from the past year:

Ashley Meets Arnold

Christian Bale vs. Ashley

Ashley and Colin Firth

Sarah Jessica Parker Interview

Daniel Radcliffe