I only look busy

Check out my new look. I did it at work today. It's a Friday, it's slow. Don't know what else to tell ya.

I promise the following:

• I will post pictures of D's surprise party. I am just waiting for someone to send them to me. I did not take pictures...my mind was somewhere else. It was a wild success, though; I just love D's friends. I guess I can call them my friends since I've known most of them for 3+ years, just usually it doesn't really occur to me since they have a history with my husband and I don't hang out with them unless I'm with my husband so...I'm sure you're feelin' me on this. At any rate, they're great people and every single one of them who said they would show up, showed up. Party of 11.
  
  
  
• I hung new curtains in my living room. Most (normal) women would consider this a domestic duty and nothing out of the ordinary, but for me, it was magic. They were the first curtains ever to be hung in my house. I know, *GASP*. Curtains are expensive, though, and you have to buy all the junk to hang them up with. But, I saw an ad in the Sunday paper last week in the Target circular for some sheer curtains I had to have. So, D and I all of a sudden were thrown into a day of curtain shopping. It wasn't an easy feat, either. The window in the living room is inset, a double window, and it's 104" across. I bought all the junk and called my mom only to hear her tell me "I wouldn't cover that window if I were you". Ha! After it was finished she said she really liked it. I can't believe I made a decorating move without my mother's wholehearted approval. Baby steps. In any event, I will be posting pictures of these curtains soon.
  
  
  
• Next Thursday I have more vintage books to show you, so stay tuned. They're pretty sweet. I got them a few weeks ago but when "Vintage Thingies Thursday" comes around, I just can't get it together and post my books! Next Thursday is the day!
  

So, thanks for being patient. I was sick yesterday...I don't even know what I was sick with, I just know that my head felt like it was going to explode and I felt nauseous. Yuck. My head is not 100% today, but I'll live. I'm going to hang out with a friend tonight while D is at softball.

I'm (--) this close to finishing The Count of Monte Cristo. After that, it's either "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" or the first book of the "Twilight" series. Hmm, which to choose.

When is too soon to break out the fall decorations? I really want to do that this weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The husband's birthday

Today is D's birthday. 30 years ago he came into this world early and sunnyside up. Lovely.

Last night we didn't get to bed until late - around 11:30pm. That's late for us considering D gets up between 5 and 5:15 and I put off getting up until 6 at the latest. It was just one of those nights. D fell asleep quickly but I had to get up because the porch light was shining through the windows too brightly.

Shut entry hall blinds.

Shut office window blinds.

Shove the bedroom door closed more (but open enough so the dumb cats can meander in and out in the night).

Crawl back in bed.

I hear a dull thump. And another dull thump. And another dull thump.

It's Tess jumping, jumping, jumping at D's side of the bed. The jumping is her way of asking permission to sleep curled up next to him. If we're asleep, she uses her ninja skills to jump up on the bench at the end of the bed then onto the bed and she slides under the covers undected. First, though, her "asking permission" must last at least 15 jumps. I didn't have the patience last night.

"TESS!" I hissed, "Go lay down!"

No more jumping.

I settle in under the covers and begin to drift off.

*buzz buzz*

*BEEP BEEP*

David's phone. It's exactly 12am so he's getting his yearly birthday message from his sister. David pops up and grabs the phone, thumbs working maniacally to respond via text message.

"Remind me to remind you to turn the ringer off next time," I mumbled. Still hadn't managed to fall asleep.

He nods and slides out of bed.

"Where are you going?" I asked. Another delay in drifting off.

"Bathroom."

I think it was after 12:30am when I finally was able to fall asleep. The alarm clock went off at 5:30 and I hit the snooze until 5:50.

I'll have to post about our pets sometime soon. I'm pretty sure it will entertain.

Stay tuned for pictures of my new living room window treatment.

My family was in town this weekend. We have enough leftover steak to feed ourselves for at least 3 weeks.

The Big 3-Oh

David's actual birthday isn't until Tuesday, but my family is coming in to town this weekend to celebrate my husband being just 20 years younger than my parents. Ha! I haven't told him that yet - I have to remember it so I can tease him later.

He doesn't care that he's turning 30. He said that since he's married and has a stable career he's pretty set. He does, however, agree that it's time to start a family. So, this could be the year! If you know me, you know how excited the prospect of popping out babies makes me. Not so much the "popping" part, but the "Mommy full-time" part makes my insides glow with maternal bliss.

I'm laughing right now because David's at home today (flex day Friday) and he's doing a really, really big favor for me. He just unwrapped the young whole chicken that was thawing in the fridge, dug out the innards (which actually turned out to be just a couple of what he described as "pads" to keep it fresh), and put in in the crockpot with a little Old Bay Seasoning and water. I guess it's still slightly frozen about 1/2" down ([is that okspike427]?). Anyway, he was grossed out and it made me laugh.

So tomorrow is his birthday dinner with my family. For it, he requested the following:

• Steak
• Baked Potatoes
• Caesar Salad
• Green peas
• Onion Strings
• Crescent Rolls

Dessert is homemade chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream (I bought vanilla bean and french vanilla so that David can finally decide which one he likes better).

Raise your hand if you think he will run out of room on his plate *raises hand*

I made the onion strings a couple of weeks ago when we had company over for dinner. They were AMAZING. I'll share with you the recipe or, if you're familiar with the Pioneer Woman, you may have already seen this recipe:

ONION STRINGS link will open in a new window
1 Large Onion
2 Cups Buttermilk
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
Slightly less than 1 Tbsp Salt
A LOT of Black Pepper
1/4 to 1/2 t Cayenne Pepper
1 to 2 quarts Canola Oil

1. Slice onion very thin. Place in a baking dish and cover with buttermilk for at least one hour.

2. Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

3. Heat oil to 375 degrees on Medium High heat (this will take a WHILE. Use a candy thermometer to watch the temp and remove when it reaches 375)

4. With tongs, remove about a handful of onions from the buttermilk and throw them into the flour mixture. Tap on side of bowl to remove excess.

5. Plunge into hot oil. Fry for a few minutes and remove when golden brown.

6. Repeat with another onion. Trust me, you'll probably want to devour all of them by yourself. They're that good.

Tomorrow:
Donuts for breakfast.
Women shop.
Men Xbox.
Dinner.
Dessert.
Games.

I love having family at my house! David's going to have a great birthday! :)

What's your ideal birthday meal?

Boston Cream Pie : The Saga

I made this for my mother-in-law's birthday last night.

It's a compilation of two recipes and it's EASY. I found complicated ones but I didn't have time for those.

INGREDIENTS

Cake & Filling
1 18.25 oz Butter Recipe Yellow cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1 5.1 oz JELLO Vanilla Pudding mix

Ganache
3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup light cream (I used milk)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

Prepare cake mix according to package instructions in two 9" rounds. Cool completely.

Prepare JELLO vanilla pudding mix according to package instructions and chill for at least a couple of hours.

Do not prepare this next step until you are ready to assemble the cake...the ganache needs to go on the cake immediately after prepared. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, stir the chocolate pieces and 2 tablespoons butter until they are completely melted. Remove from the heat and, stirring constantly, add the 1/4 cup light cream in a thin steady stream. When mixture is smooth, stir in the confectioners' sugar and beat vigorously. Stir in the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

TO ASSEMBLE

Turn one 9" round cake upsidedown on serving plate. Spread the chilled filling on the flat surface of that bottom layer and place the second cake on top. Pour the chocolate frosting evenly over the top allowing it to spill down the sides.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On our way to my husband's sister's house for my MIL's birthday, David took a sharp corner at mach 5 and the entire top layer slid off. The (ugly) cake you see below is the result of me trying to piece it back together. I cried...I'll admit to that. I couldn't stop crying, either. I bawled. And when we got to my sister-in-law's house and David explained what happened, they all tried to console me and the waterworks started afresh. Being a woman is hard work sometimes...these hormones are out of control.

The cake was a hit. My MIL had two pieces and my sister-in-law's husband had 3 pieces and asked to keep the cake at the end of the night.

The cake reminded me of a boston cream donut (duh), but the "bread" part was better because the caked was almost the density of a pound cake.

My cute MIL acting like she's going to devour the cake whole.


At least it looked decent on the inside:


Here I am about to cut into the cake. See how awful it looks? It was SO pretty before we made the drive to Covington. Jake is the one in the green shirt who ate half the cake by himself.
Sorry about the picture quality - I think David had his finger on the flash or something.


Oh, and here are some Vegas pictures if you're interested...
Las Vegas Pictureswill open in a new window
I titled as many as I could...I didn't delete any except ones that were too blurry or that might have made my sister screaming mad at me ;)

By the way, I'm going to be an aunt again! My twin sis is expecting her second in mid April :)