Homemade Dog Treats for Ailey

LeahLeave a comment

I’ve shared these on Instagram before, but since I’ve gotten so many messages asking for the recipe I figured I’d write it out for y’all too! This way, your pup can have yummy and homemade treats too!

Note: These are Ailey approved!

What You’ll Need

  • 1/4 Cup of Grated Carrots
  • 1 Tbs of Olive Oil
  • 2/3 Cup of Flaxseed Meal
  • 1 Cup of Mashed Sweet Potato
  • 1 tsp of Salt
  • 3 Tbs of Peanut Butter

If you’re like me, you might forget to preheat your oven from time to time… So, let’s do that first! Preheat your oven to 375°.

Next you’ll want to wash your sweet potato, pat it dry. Rub with butter, and then wrap it in tin foil. I place the wrapped potato directly on the oven rack and cook it for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how large of a potato it is, until fork tender. Once cooked through, mash and let cool.

While it’s cooling I like to get the other ingredients together, measure them out, and get my baking sheet. You can use a non-stick one or just line a regular baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.

You’ll mix all of the ingredients listed in a bowl until well combined. Next is the fun part; shapes!

Depending on how much time I have determines what shapes I put the treats in. If I’m short on time, I’ll use my Tbs measuring spoon and pack some of the treat mixture into it so it forms a dome like shape. If I have more time to spare I’ll form them into hearts! It’s really up to you. You could even use a small cookie cutter if you have one on hand.

Once the treats are all shaped and on the baking sheet, I place it in the oven for about fifteen minutes, flipping halfway through! This leaves them with a slight crunch on the outside, but still soft in the center. If you want them more biscuit like, bake until the treats reach the desired texture!

Let cool before giving to your pup, and there you have it; healthy and easy to make treats that won’t break the bank!

If you make these treats for yourself, tag me in your pictures on Instagram! I’d love to see them!

XOXO,
Leah

44886454911_cd15c79982_m

Why ‘Along for the Ride’?

LeahLeave a comment

When I scroll through any social media platform, I always come across pages where I’m intrigued by the name and the person behind it all. It stands out to me for one reason or another, and I want to learn about the why behind it and what it is that makes it special to them!

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes and explaining why I choose “Along for the Ride” as mine!

It started when my now husband was in the process of enlisting in the Army. People kept asking me how I felt about him leaving and everything that was involved. I would always say how proud of him I was, and still am, and that I was going to support him 100%!  Marriage isn’t something you do half-heartedly, and ours is no different,

He went several hundred miles away for almost 6 months to complete various phases of training, and now people were saying how brave I was. In my eyes, I wasn’t doing anything extraordinary. I still don’t think I am. I’m just a girl loving my husband the best I can. It was during this time that my go to answer to most things was that I was just “along for the ride”.

Fast forward to almost two years of active duty service, several more phases of training, getting married, moving across the country to be with him, our first home together, and getting our sweet pup, Ailey, and I’m still just as along for the ride as ever!

This was never the kind of life I thought I would be living. Being the girl that loves a good list with accompanying sub-lists, I probably would have told you were crazy! Now that this is crazy and unpredictable life is ours, I wouldn’t want it any other way!

Thanks for coming along for the ride with me!

XOXO,
Leah

6 of My Fall Beauty Faves

Leah6 Comments

Today we’re talking about beauty products! I’ve rounded up 6 of the products I’ve been loving the last few months to share with y’all today!

1. Morphe 35F Fall into Frost Palette. I am by no means a beauty guru, nor am I really that good at doing makeup and creating looks. I can count on one hand the number of eyeshadow palettes I have owned in my 24 years of life, but when I saw this one at Ulta, I knew I had to have it! It’s full of colors that are perfect for fall and winter, which I love, but there are also neutrals that can be used year round! I’ve been having so much fun playing around with the different colors to try and get myself out of my gold and bronze only comfort zone! I’m excited to see what looks I can come up with since holiday season is quickly approaching!

35F_HERO_51d68aee-05c8-4bc3-968d-38a8835b15d6

2. Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. This may sound weird, but my eyelids can get pretty oily, so I’ve had trouble finding an eyeliner that stays put and doesn’t make me look like a raccoon. This is hands down one of my favorites! I always get it in the shade Jet Black. The felt tip is fine and so easy to use! It really just glides across my eye. If you know my history with makeup, or lack thereof, you’ll know how good of a thing that really is!

2045542_fpx

3. Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. This is the only bronzer I use anymore, and I always have an extra on hand! After hearing about from friends, I figured I’d give it a shot. The first thing I always notice when I open it up is how amazing it smells! For some reason, it reminds me of being somewhere warm and tropical! My skin can get pretty dry in the winter, so the fact that this doesn’t make me look even more so is a definite plus. I love that it comes in a few different shades too! It has a nice buildable formula and seems to just melt into my skin! It’s easy to see why so many people rave about it!

71jkJ1epnEL._SY355_

4. Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. I love good skincare and am always looking for great products that don’t cost an arm and a leg! A friend told me about this facial spray, and said that I just had to try it out! Gosh, am I glad that I listened to her! For under $10, this really can’t be beat. I use it every single day for everything from a refreshing spritz to wake up to setting my makeup. The Aloe, herbs and rosewater always leave my skin looking and feeling great, even on no makeup days, and they smell amazing too!

9373985_fpx

5. 7th Heaven Peel Off Masks. I’m a fan of almost any kind of mask, but my favorites are the 7th Heaven ones by the brand Montagne Jeunesse! They have a little bit of everything from detoxifying to moisturizing and soothing. Even my husband likes them! We always have a stash of them on hand in our bathroom cupboard so they are ready to go whenever we want to use one. I love using one first thing in the morning if my skin is feeling a little dull or dry, but it’s also a great way to wind down at the end of a long day of work!

COSMON061-1

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Warm Bronze. If you see me out and about, chances are I have this lip gloss on! What initially drew me to it was that it smells faintly like a vanilla frosting Lip Smackers from back in the day! The fact that it is such a pretty dusty rose shade doesn’t hurt either. I love how I can pair it with very minimal and more natural looking makeup for running errands around town or with a full face of makeup for a date night out!

s-l640

What beauty products are you loving right now? I’d love to hear your recommendations!

XOXO,
Leah

The Perfect Apple Cider

LeahLeave a comment

I have been getting SO many requests for my homemade apple cider recipe since I shared it over on Instagram! Ask and you shall receive! Today, I’m giving you all the details to make it yourself all year round without all of the preservatives that the grocery store versions have!

Here’s what you’re going to need:

First you’ll need 8 Honeycrisp apples, about medium to large in size. You can use different kinds of apples if you’d like, but these are the kind my husband I and prefer.

For spices you’ll need 1 tablespoon of ground Allspice (about 45 berries) 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon (about 7 sticks 2 ¾ inches long), ¾ cup of white sugar, and a pinch of salt.

You’ll need a stock pot to combine and boil all of this in and a lid that fits it. The one I used is 6 quarts, but a bigger one works too!

You’re going to need about 12 cups of water.

For the end, you’re going to need a fine mesh strainer and a second bowl.

45547682012_43e5dc9735_m

What to do:

Slice your apples into quarters and add them to your stock pot, reserving one for later.

Add your cinnamon, Allspice, and sugar to the pot. Then cover it all with about 10 cups of your water. Reserve 2 cups for later on.

Bring it all to a boil and keep it boiling for about 1 hour. You’ll want to leave it uncovered!

Remember that apple and 2 cups of water I had you reserve at the beginning? This is where you add them to you stock pot!

Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Let it simmer for about an hour and a half to two hours.

Remove from heat and let the contents of your stock pot cool before this next step. Trust me, I found out the hard way!

Once cooled enough to handle, you’ll strain the apples from your cider in batches. This takes a little time, but is so worth it in the end! I strain it over the second bowl to catch all of the cider.

Once your cider is strained to your liking, return it to the stock pot, add a pinch of salt, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

And there you have it, fresh, homemade apple cider!

Enjoy,
XOXO

44689736895_6e71cd995a_m

My Top 5 Fall Favorites

LeahLeave a comment

With cooler weather finally making an appearance in North Carolina, I’m breaking out all things cute and cozy! Today I’m talking all about 5 pieces I have been loving this fall!

1. Jameson Double Zipper Booties. If you’ve been following along with my on Instagram, you’ll know that these booties from Target are my absolute favorite! The cognac color is perfect to be worn year round too! They’re a soft leather-like material that has a super cute double zipper detail on the sides. The block heel is a modest 2.75 inches, but perfect for either a casual or dressy look! I love that I can pair them with a pair of jeans for an everyday look or with a skirt for date night with my husband! The memory foam footbed lets me wear these for hours on end without my feet hurting when I take them off! They also come in black.

45548479182_74f1dbe43f_m

2. Austin Distressed Skinny Jeans. I’ve never really been a big fan of wearing jeans. I’d rather wear a skirt or dress over jeans, but not anymore! I ordered a pair of jeans from Vici Collection on a whim one day. I figured, it they don’t fit, I can always return them. The second I put them on, I knew I had found my new favorite jeans and a new favorite boutique! They’re a lighter wash and distressed as the name suggests. For once in my life, I don’t have to have them altered in any way! They have the perfect amount of stretch so I can avoid that skinny jeans dance, but they’re structured enough that they don’t lose their form and need to be pulled up every five seconds.

31326502908_3ed695cb5e_m

3. Mauve Criss Cross Back Sweater. It’s no secret that this sweater from my friend’s boutique, Row & Berry, is one of my all time faves! The first week I had it, I’m pretty sure I wore it every day to lounge around the house in. It’s such a pretty shade of mauve, and I absolutely love the criss cross detailing on the back. I love wearing it with a cute bralette, but it’s perfect as is with a good sticky bra! It’s oversized which is great to wear off the shoulder as well or with a pair of leggings for more of a sweater dress look! You seriously can’t go wrong with this piece!

44684109455_f5c2989a28_m

4. Take The Lead Twist Back Knit Top. I love a thick, cozy sweater as much as the next girl! Sometimes it’s just too hot for a sweater, but too cold for a lighter weight top. Bring in this top, another favorite from Vici, and you’ve got the perfect compromise! It’s super soft and comfy too! The open back detail on this shirt is so pretty with a lacey bralette or on its own. My favorite part, hands down, is that you can wear it with the twist in the back or the front! When I do wear it in front, it’s like a cute cardigan and looks great with a simple tank top underneath!

30396304107_71f66b5f9c_m.jpg

5. Sherpa Pullover. If you’re a Sam’s Club Member or have a friend that is, run, don’t walk to your nearest store! I got my Sherpa pullover there last winter for a fraction of what other boutiques and retailers are selling it for. We’re talking under $20!! It is seriously the softest and comfiest pullover I have ever owned. It also comes in several different colors. If you’d like a little more of an oversized look, I’d suggest sizing up. It’s perfect for a cool fall day or even in the winter over a long sleeved tee. I consider this, a fuzzy pair of socks, and leggings my official cold weather lounging outfit of choice!

37870583754_e665c5d187_m

What are your fall must haves?

 

XOXO,
Leah

 

New Beginnings

LeahLeave a comment

Hey Y’all!

For those of you that have been following my ride through life over on Instagram (@alongftride) thank you so much for your love, support, and encouragement over the last year! It’s because of YOU that I finally got up the courage to start this new adventure!

This first week, I’m going all out and sharing a new post EVERYDAY!! Like I said, this has been in the works for a while now until I could build up enough courage to ut myself out there like this, so I want this first week up and running to be celebrated in a big way! After this week, I’ll be sharing a new post every Monday!

I am so excited for this new chapter in my life and super happy that you’re still coming along for the ride with me! I’ve always loved writing and the art of storytelling, so this and sharing bits and pieces of my life with y’all is really a dream come true! After lots of planning and much trial and error, I think I’ve finally found my groove.

Here’s to new beginnings and making dreams reality!

XOXO,
Leah