Saturday, January 7, 2012

Purge, Paint, Reorganize

I decided to try and do a little reorganizing, it's one of my goals this year.  First I have to purge out the old unwanted stuff.  This is not going to be a one day project, probably more like a one or two month project.  But hey, at least I'm currently gung-ho.    

This is my plan:

1.  Purge
2.  Paint
3.  Reorganize

Lexx even got in on the action.  She spent all day cleaning her room, I know....wha?  That never happens.

Just the beginning of donations (no we aren't giving away the games).
Yes, there is no floor because we tore up the carpet so we can put in wood floors.

Cross your fingers that I can keep up the momentum and follow through on my project, because being honest, it rarely happens.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Thought For The New Year

and then carb up with some cheese cake.
Yes please!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Most Terrible, Horrible, Worst News Ever (Almost)

You know how my new year started off with a bang (my car broke down) well the news gets even better....$8.000.00 better.  My engine is toast!  It is so toast that they can't rebuild it, I have to buy a new one.  No warning lights, my car didn't throw a code...just $8,000.00 worth of engine damage!  That's more than my car is even worth.  Keep in mind that this amount is just the engine, to truly fix it up to par I'm looking at about $12,000.  I can't believe it...I'm sure off to a crappy new year.

Oh, and btw, in the bad news arena, I also have poison oak.  Todd gave it to me with his poison oak ridden clothes. GRRRRRRR!  Can I go back to 2011, pretty please?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Year, New Recipe

This is a shout out to my mother-in-law (she's Texan).  I couldn't resist posting the recipe.  I haven't made it myself, but man it makes me drool just looking at the picture.

Texas Fudge Cake
Recipe and picture from here.

 Ingredients for the cake:
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup water
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
½ cup sour cream or buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for the icing:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
¾ cup finely chopped nuts of your choice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Butter an 11-by-15-inch pan or a 9 x 13.  If you bake it in a smaller pan, you also need to adjust the baking time accordingly.

2. Put the cocoa in a medium saucepan and gradually stir in the water. Bring to a boil, add the butter and let melt. Remove from the heat and set aside.

3. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together onto a piece of waxed paper. Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the cocoa mixture. Add the eggs, sour cream or buttermilk, and vanilla to the cocoa mixture and stir until smooth.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cake is firm to the touch in the center.

5. While the cake is baking, make the icing: In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, milk and cocoa. Bring to a boil and stir to melt the butter. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth. Stir in the nuts and vanilla.

6. Spread the icing over the hot cake (still in the pan). Let cool before cutting.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Remake Project

I ran across this site while surfing the web. NY art students were challenged to remake famous pieces of art using photography. Some of the remakes are truly amazing.
 Ask me no more remake
 Ask me no more by Alma Tadema

 Bedroom in Arles
 Bedroom in Arles by Van Gogh

 Boy with a basket of fruit remake
 Boy with a basket of fruit by Caravaggio

 Pot Pourri remake
 Pot Pourri by Herbert James Draper

 Self portrait 1629 remake
 Self portrait 1629 by Rembrandt

 Self portrait 1889 remake
Self portrait 1889 by Vincent van Gogh

Sunday, January 1, 2012

BANG!

My new year started off with a BANG!  BANG, I'm $1000 poorer.  My car died on me over a week ago and the repair shop can't figure out what is wrong.  The oil pressure keeps dropping off to zero.  They say it's not the oil pump, it's not the engine, they just don't know what is causing this to happen.

Now we are to the point that if it cost too much money, we might be better off getting a new car (new used that is).  I've been wanting a Hyundai, but I really, really, really don't want a car payment.  However, a definite benefit to getting something like a Hyundai is better gas mileage.  I currently pay about $400. / month in gas to get to work.  I think with an economical car that my monthly cost would shrink to about $120. (for gas) which means it would almost pay my car payment for me.

Decisions, decisions...wish me luck in making a good decision.  Lord knows I don't want to start off the new year wrong.

2012

The fam and I celebrated NYE over at my father-in-laws house. We had a great meal and then sat around the tv and watched Dick Clark's Rockin NYE Party - cause we're cool like that. At midnight we clanked our glasses, had a couple kisses, and because we were all tired, wen't home and wen't to bed. We all know how to rock a NYE party I tell you. It was a very mellow and wonderful evening. Definitely more my speed than going out on the town and drinking.

Dennis enjoying pre countdown cermonies through the back of his eyelids.

Getting ready for the countdown.

The gang lined up and ready to toast.

Thor and I showing you it is now 2012
(see Thor holding up a paw for the 1 and me holding up 2 fingers). 
It looks like Thor had a little too much to drink.

I hope you had a fabulous evening and were safe.
Love to you all.