Gluten Free - Dinner For Two - Under $15

As most of you know by now I am allergic to gluten (though on many occasions it doesn't stop me from over indulging on pizza and pasta, then throwing it up later) so Travis and I make gluten free, protein filled (so that I don't kill him with my diet) amazing tasting meals and here's one of them.

Round Bottom Steak with Beef Seasoned Quinoa, Sauteed Vegi/Fruit Medley and a Baked Sweet Potato


Longest name for a meal.. I know..

So let's start with the order in which I had to cook things.

Baked Sweet Potato - Travis has never had this so I decided to keep it simple and just throw the potato in the oven. 
What we got: 1 medium sized sweet potato. Purchased at Whole Foods,  $2
Heat over to 375 degrees.
Rinse sweet potato, wrap in foil (I included a little butter) place in oven until soft. About 45 Minutes.. depending on the size.
Cut down the center, lightly fluff with fork, add butter to taste and a pinch of salt.. ready to go!


Round Bottom Steak - I left the steak out in room temperature to allow it to warm so that it will cook evenly. If you are pulling something out from the freezer, allow it to thaw completely before cooking. It will avoid the mistake that i have made too often when the outside is borderline burnt and the inside is raw.  Also cooking over Medium will help solve that too. 

What we got: 2 steaks (1.38lb @ $5.49lb = $7.58). Purchased at Whole Foods.

So two steak at room temperature seasoned with: season salt, pepper, basil, thyme and coconut oil was used to start. Pan fry over med-hi heat until cooked to your perfection. We like Medium.

Sauteed Vegi/Fruit Medley -  We thought we would add some cubed apples into the mix of vegi's for a new texture and flavor.

What we got: 1 yellow squash, 1 apple (we used pink lady), 6 mushrooms, 6 asparagus stalks. Purchased at Whole foods and Cala Foods - Totaled $4.00
Heat pan to med-hi and add a little oil, allow pan to keep heating
Add vegi's... cut them however you like..... i'm not picky..
Saute until done.. I added a little salt.. but kept everything pretty plain

Beef Flavored Quinoa - We LOVE quinoa. check out all of the amazing things it has to offer your body.
What we got: 1 cup dried quiona from Real Foods on Polk - Totaled - $1.00
We had beef paste as the house already but the jar was $5 at Real Foods
1/2tsp beef paste
1cup dried rinsed quinoa

cook like you would rice. bring to a boil then cover and reduce to a simmer until water is boiled out.

Food Total- $14.58.. had some extra vegi's for breakfast tomorrow!!

Eating gluten free doesn't always have to taste bad or try to mimick eating whole grains. YES, there are recipes that I use when I want to feel like I am over indulging on gluten but I find that it is easier and more satisfying to just eat things that are gluten free naturally and make meals around them. Who knows... some of your favorite meals might be gluten free..

Model for a Day Raffle Tickets!!!

Hello Everyone,

Sheereen Make Up and Ashton Miyako (Me!!) have teamed up to offer you the chance of a lifetime. Ever wanted to be a model for a day? Well here's your chance!

We are selling raffle tickets online and in person through May 28th, winners will be announced on June 1st. Winners will be chosen by random.org.

Just to make sure that everyone is a winner, for every one person who buys a raffle ticket, you will receive a free pair of handmade earrings from Ashton Miyako AND a $10 off coupon on your next purchase. So be sure to give us your correct address! 

We have not one but FOUR amazing packages set up for you to win. Check them out:

Grand Prize:
- a handmade custom dress by Ashton Miyako
-custom shoes to match by Emereen The Shoe
- makeup makeover by Sheereen Make Up
- professional photo shoot with 5 retouched photos (coaching will be avail.)
(Value: $1000)


First Runner Up:
-a handmade custom dress by Ashton Miyako
-custom shoes to match by Emereen The Shoe
(Value: $500)


Second Runner Up:
-$50 off a custom Dress by Ashton Miyako
-personalized makeover by Sheereen Make Up
(Value: $200)


Third Runner Up:
-$25 off a custom dress by Ashton Miyako
-1 hr makeup lesson by Sheeren Make Up
(Value: $150)

With all of these great prizes you have to be we wondering how much tickets are.... SO..  here is what we have for you:

1 ticket - $10
3 tickets - $20
5 tickets - $30
Limited to 5 tickets MAX per person. Now if you get your significant other to also by you a few tickets and gift the package to you if you win.. well I can't stop you from doing that. 

100% of the proceeds will go to purchasing supplies paying for the photographer.. etc.. all helping to make your Model for a Day dream come true!!

Buy Tickets Here:

Have Questions/Comments?? GREAT! We would love to hear from you. Please email me (Ashton) at ashtonrounds@gmail.com and I will try to respond within 24 hours. Emergency? No problem, call Ashton at 831.295.1711.

Finally a dress with sleeves..

So I have been trying to manipulate and create a sleeve pattern for a knit fabric. After many failed attempts I finally have something CLOSE but not perfect to what I am looking for.

To the left is the dress that I made for a client demonstrating just that.

Can I just tell you about how much IN LOVE with this print I am??!! When completely laid out the fabric shows giant roses in bright colors.. I couldn't help myself when I saw it at discount fabrics.


It took approx. 3 hours to make (I drafted the pattern.. messed up a few times and had to do it again) in total. I thought the front is conservative but still fun with the print. The back is low enough to show some skin but high enough that it fits under a blazer if feeling a bit shy. The belt is removable (Velcro.. woo!) and will accommodate up to a 28" waist. The dress itself is made to fit a size 6, snug and flattering but a size 4 could wear it a bit loose, but still tight.

Why I love my job

Today I met with the oh so lovely Phoebe at her sunny home in Mill Valley. As I was driving up I was two things: 1. Excited to finally meet her and 2. So jealous of her super cute home sitting in the sun with her even cuter daughter and a cat named Sugar that greets you at the door.

She found me on facebook and asked me to create a few dresses for her before a trip and after exchanging a few emails I was soooooo up for the challenge.

Phoebe is my favorit kind of client. She's is kind, sweet and open to new ideas. She knows what she likes, but willing to take a risk and trusts me fully to create dresses that will not only turn heads on the street but to also leave her feeling amazing and fully satisfied.

Imagine this... a dress that is cute, fun and sexy while still being modest and classic. She wanted something that she could wear with low heels or sandals, fitted on top, billowy on bottom, hem hitting just below the knee. Her colors are usually earth tones but she LOVES different shades up blue.

*whew* it sounds like a lot but I am still beeming with excitement.

I stopped at Discount Fabrics on Howard and 11th and picked up a few fabrics that reminded me of her. I haven't taken pictures of those yet, but i will be posting them as I use them.

Here is the first dress that I designed for her. Fits a size 6, tail hemmed, fitted bodice top, billowy on bottom, one shoulder strap... cute, sexy, classic.

 What do you think??

Indian Princess - the first time around

Alright so here is my first attempt at the tail hem style dress in the Indian print. This dress will ONLY fit someone with a really small bust, A to almost B only.

The bodice pattern that I used was the wrong one and it came out a little flat chested. Sorry guys! I am selling this dress for $85 add $10 if you want the headband that matches.


If you like the pattern style I have a new bodice pattern that will fit a larger bust. Please email me at ashtonrounds@gmail.com to set up an appointment.

Enjoy!

 xoxo
-Ashton Miyako

2011 Summer Trend of the Week - The Fashion Mullet

So I was browsing the internet searching for inspiration. I am always looking to see what people are buying, what's hot in what area and what just isn't working. I cam across this awesome site called Fashionising that grouped everything together so swimmingly for me that I couldn't resist but to save at least one picture from every category.

So far I have only attempted the tail hem, or what I like to call the fashion mullet. It's a party dress in the front and a flirty formal style dress in the back, (opposite of course to the hair style, business in the front, party in the back). Fashionising stated this style perfectly, " These hems fill the void between mini and midi; or between midi and maxi. They cover, yet they expose. And they're a simple way to freshen up your spring 2011 wardrobe with a new type of cut." and I couldn't agree more.


To the left is one of the pictures I stole from their blog. I love this style, it's so simple and yet sexy. It's comforting to also know that at a moments notice I may drop a pen and not worry about mooning everyone when I bend over to pick it up.


When I first thought to attempt this design I wasn't sure wear to start. After staring at countless images I decided to try draping it myself. There is not real online tutorial on how to do this, just trial and error I guess. I opted for a circle skirt version which seemed to work pretty well (ok, so I failed at it the first time, but the second time I got it right)

The total dress making time was about 3.5 hours, materials were picked up at an amazing place in San Francisco for about $1.50. Made out of recycled material that would have ended up cluttering a landfill and ultimately enlarging my carbon footprint.

Let me get a little off topic here..

You may be wondering... is Ashton a hippie? My answer.... sometimes yes, sometimes no. I once read an article about San Francisco stating that we are one of the greenest cities in the U.S. if not the world but our highest waste consumption is fabric or clothing. This boggled my mind and my only real move to attempt to win the Fashion Designer Miss America Pageant and pray for "World Peace" was to of course shop locally and only by fabrics that would have ended up clogging up my little.. er.. big city.

Now what does this mean for you?? Well you're supporting a local designer, who is supporting her local community and helping to reduce her carbon footprint.. so buying form me means you're helping to save the planet in some small way.

Haha.. so ok that may not be entirely true.. but I like to tell people that anyway.

  

BACK ON TRACK.. here is what I made.. The headband can be sold with or without the dress, but it's made to go WITH the dress. I like to call this one Indian Princess. The zipper on the back has a feather zipper pull that can be removed before washing. The fabric on the outside is some sort of printed cotton and the lining is polyester (sent to me from Utah by my awesome family!!)

This dress will fit up to a size 6 (I think.... come try it on so I can be for sure) and would fit better on a larger bust. In the picture I am inhaling and not wearing a bra to fill it out (I'm a 34C).... but I can never be for sure so please come try it on so that I really know what size it is.

Selling this Indian Princess awesomeness for $120. If you would like this dress style custom made in a different fabric please contact me at ashtonrounds@gmail.com.

Don't forget to follow this blog so that you can see the latest things I am making!

Charity Fashion Show Recap

It's taken me a while to get my ish together to write this, I've experienced a rainbow of emotions.. so here we go, bare with me.

It's night of the show when I am extremely stressed trying to finish my gown (sold to the lovely Miss Jennaway) and trying to look like a designer, my boyfriend leans into me, kisses me on the cheek and say's everything is going to be ok. *sigh* I've been nervous about this show for the past week (ever since the designers were announced) I looked at all their sites and thought to myself, there is no way my stuff will be remembered, their clothing is much more "high end" looking than mine. My clothing is also VERY wearable and I wouldn't be caught dead in some of the clothing I saw. I explain to him I am also worried that the stylists wont know how to put my pieces together (even though I sent pictures) and he tells me not to worry, everything is out of my hands now. So I finish sewing this gown, throw on some makeup, he tells me I am gorgeous, takes my hand and suddenly everything is ok.

Now it takes us FOREVER to catch a cab and I am already running late (my fault) but I keep telling myself that everything would work out, that I would meet lots of potential clients and really jump start my career.

I should have known that I was only kidding myself..

 So we get there and we have to wait in line.. VIP line is longer than general admission.. why I do not know. The event apparently said BYOB.. but I missed the memo or I would have been chugging Champagne in the cab on the way over. I find my friends, say hi and realize that I know almost no one except them.  Te fashion sense of some people made me feel like I was in a bad soap opera and I just couldn't help but think... oh shit.. this is not going to end well..

So.. they gave us seat numbers... but no one who worked there knew how the seats were working and for about 45 minutes I and hundreds of other people scrambled around searching for the seat with our name on it. Trav and I were placed towards the beginning of the runway.. allowing the two of us to get up close and personal with the first garments coming out... not great seating.. but what do I know.. This is the first fashion so I have ever WATCHED and not modeled in.

The designs are interesting, original and half the time I spent wondering... "that doesn't look handmade.. that looks store bought.. either I need to learn those sewing skill or that designer is a fraud." The sew skill part is true.. but I think I was still just on edge.

Finally 11th on the designer list, my name comes up on to the screen. Everyone around my gets excited and I grab Trav's hand bracing myself for excitement... there here is what I see walk down the runway first:

 My plaid dress that everyone loves, with hand braided straps... only it has some scary looking model in it, a long sleeve T that doesn't match, a flannel shirt tied around the waist.. and legwarmers.. WHAT??!!

Please tell me this isn't happening??!! I look around me, my heart starts racing. I'm upset and then the next outfit walks out:

No... just no... this looks so bad I could scream

 My recycled t-shirt dress, with  arm warmers, ANOTHER flannel shirt and fishnets. By this time I am freaking out and my friend Danielle yells at me to run backstage and see what's wrong.

Well here is what you might not know. I didn't make the leg/arm warmers or the flannel shirts. I did not know they were even going to be put on the models. I was not allowed to pick hair or makeup styles and was told that looks would also not be released to me. I had no choice in who was modeling for me, or the music that would be played during the show. If any of you have ever been to or participated in a fashion show you would know that it takes the whole package in order to make something look good. The hair and makeup must enhance the clothing, the models must enhance the runway and the music brings everything together. I wont even lie about trying to know what kind of music they played during my segment. I saw two models walk out and I ran back... then here is what I see about to walk out.

This dress isn't even mine.. my dress is UNDER this entire outfit!

This dress ISN'T MINE!! The dress that I made was UNDER the dress and the jacket that they put on the models.

I'm start screaming at people, "This Isn't my clothing, what are you doing to my line??!!" and they tell me that they aren't the person to talk to. They direct me to someone else who can not be found and I just go on a rampage at her assistant to tells me that since I did not show up between 2p-4p that day to see how they were going to style my clothing.. that this is somehow my fault.

I don't think I have ever been this mad in my life. I argue with her over the fact that they sent clothing down the runway that wasn't mine, they chose a look at doesn't represent me style and made me look bad and she continues to tell me that it's all my fault for not showing up...... even though showing up was optional and they didn't express the idea of styling clothing quite like this. I thought it meant jewelry options, show options, show options all of which I couldn't comprehend at the moment. 

So I decide that since my segment is probably over I want all of my clothing back cause I am leaving.. HA.. it was like trying to find needles in a haystack. Each model had their own bag filled with the looks that they would be wearing for the evening.. but here was the problem. They weren't putting their clothing back in their bags. So I had to walk around searching for my garments. I found some under tables, in a bathroom sink, under a chair, and 2 in their actual bags. I had to have been searching for at least 20 minutes before I finally gave up and left. I knew there were pieces missing but no one would help me find them, so I had to go without. Hoping that the next day Thom, the producer, would send out a thank you note to all the designers for participating in the show while also letting everyone know whether or not they had items that had been left or things that had gone missing. I still have received NOTHING from him at all.

Note to self: No matter how badly I want to make it in this industry I promise that I will NEVER EVER let this happen to my designs or my name EVER again.

Many of my pieces have been ruined, some lost and some unsellable. I have had to discount them over 50% just so that I can sell them.

Here is what I missed while I was backstage.. Enjoy.

Biker look with pink tights and leg warmers?? eew.

Trailer Trash... I HATE FLANNEL.. leg warmers on everyone? That girl is too big for that orange dress.

Hair BAD, Plaid jacket... ALL BAD.. and the best part of this dress is the back... which is hidden!!

This is a high-waisted skirt and it has a top and a mesh shirt that goes with it... WHERE ARE THEY?

one of my favorite pieces.. covered with a jacket i didn't make

best part about this is the jewelry

I'm still at a loss of words for what to say to Thom. I finally emailed him today after I got a hold of some images to see exactly what I was missing and went through my inventory.

p.s. I'm pretty sure this is my mesh shirt.. only cut up..  and on a model who is NOT wearing my clothing.

Such a shit show.. I don't even know what to say anymore.

*Sigh* I'm never doing that again!

Until Next Time......