I Moved

I apologize if you've been checking on me - I haven't quit blogging... I just went back to my old domain. Please visit me at the Beach House View - I hope to see y'all over there! And again - I apologize in leaving y'all hanging. Much love :) Happy Thanksgiving! Donna

Remember This?

A lot has happened since I started this bottle - I finished it tonight...yeah, I know. But to be honest, we had to pack and move and I went to Le Cordon Bleu and honestly, I lost my interest to be creative.

I'm not sure where I'm going to use it, I just love the color!! Maybe in the master bathroom -

I love mod podge!

Sneeze - Sneeze - Sneeze

I've been dealing with cedar fever - and it's been fun, not! The levels were up as high as 16,000 and now they're as low as 400, much - much better! I feel almost human, again!

My poor eyes - remind me of mrs. potato head and her angry eyes - they hurt that bad.

I really dislike Austin - every year at this time!

Bathroom on a budget

I put decorating this house on hold - I don't know why, it just happened. We moved in here a year ago last November...and the only thing we've done is paint the kitchen and family room - which I'm not liking anymore.

So, I decided last week that I needed to make this house feel like our home. I started digging through the boxes and crates and found enough odds and ends and pictures...

I give you the animal kingdom bathroom. The walls were already elephant grey. I feel like I decorated an elephant. LOL!

I'm not quite finished - there is a floor to ceiling window (I need a curtain rod for a valance I made years ago - coffee dyed material) I had a huge bay window in my Orlando house...that I made the valance for.

It has been a while

I finished Le Cordon Bleu and I graduate on the 29th. I still have not decided what I will do with this degree...pastry or culinary. I did make the International Hospitality Honor Society! I also earned the 100% attendance cord - that I'll probably never see, due to the extern-ship issues I had! I was a little disappointed in...

I'm taking a break - need to have my thumb xray'd - not sure what I did to it. All I remember is something happened while we were in the restaurant of our program. So that's been over 12 weeks now. And it still hurts - there's a nice little knot - I think the tendon slipped out...OUCH, I know!

I do know one thing though - I have missed reading blogs and I've missed blogging - school wore me out! I hope to get my LCB blog all caught up with my thoughts and recipes and maybe some photos.

Here's my LCB blog

Moving my Le Cordon Bleu posts to their new home - I hope you will continue to follow me over there.

New Blog for LCB - coming soon

I've decided to not use this blog for my Le Cordon Bleu stuff- I've been working on that little project and hope to have that up and running soon! I'm hoping it'll be something my kids will show their kids -

So - all the LCB blog posts will be moving soon.

This is my favorite time of year - I've got a cute little halloween project coming up.

This year has been so busy for me - I've missed blogging, naps, etc...LOL!

quick photo shoot to check digi camera

Shhhh don't tell Dylan that I'm sharing photos of him here and on my fb ;)

He's in a photography class at the high school - he wants to learn how to use my Nikon. So today I snapped a few photos of him...and I should have taken a ton more - next time.

Here's two - he's a senior - hope to get him out and around town for his Senior Photos!

Happy Labor Day

We got started really late today. As in we were at the store buying the whole chicken at two o'clock!

I fabricated two chickens (and fried the livers up for the dogs to enjoy) and marinated them for the grill. That took a little longer than I expected - but they were yummy!

I had promised my vegan son that I'd have food ready for him before he headed off to work. Well, I started his polenta - butter to sautee the onions. Neither of us even noticed until I started to add parmesan. Ooops! So, I made that batch for the family. AND he found a frozen vegan meal in the freezer - I felt bad. I sent him off to work and remined him to swing by on his way home. As promised, I had his grilled portobello mushrooms and a fresh batch of vegan polenta ready to be picked up.

No, I did not soak beans over night and I did not baked the beans - they sell bbq beans in a can for a reason.

And I made rice pudding - by scratch, and I may have used every drop of milk in the house.

So, that was our Labor Day - I cooked myself silly with all my time issues - need to work on that!

food and live music

I've lived here in Austin for 13 years - some years were a lot better than others. I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when I'm done with culinary school. A part of me wants to get the hell out of here and never look back and another part of me wants to move downtown and start a fresh new life.

The part of me that wants to stay in Austin - wants to get out and enojoy what the city has to offer - far too long, I've been a stay at home mom. My kids are old enough now to allow me to explore outside of our neighborhood! LOL

So, today we did just that... we met some of my friends from California at Freddie's Place. I really enjoyed the laid back backyard atmosphere (with large oak trees), the live music, the food, and the dogs! Yes, you can come eat and bring your dogs, too! We will go back!

today we bought a barbie

And not that kinda of barbie - this one you grill on! I guess, you could grill barbie on the barbie but, I think that would be a sticky mess!! LOL

We were going to Lowe's for something unrelated to a grill...but when we pulled up - there was a beautiful yellow sign sitting on a bunch of Char-Broil grills. It read 20% off on certain Char-Broil grills. Char-Broil is from my hometown. My two requests were - that it be a Char-Broil and Infrared. I didn't ask for much! Yeah, I live in Texas, but I like to support my hometown when I can!

Our first run was steak and shrimp that we picked up at the Cedar Park Farms to Market this morning. We also wrapped up five ears of corn with butter, salt and pepper. And did five burgers! Great first run, everything was cooked evenly!

I was in a total food coma after dinner...

Update :)

I am back in school - started Le Cordon Bleu in May and I'm loving it! I'll finish up this certificate in December. I'm not sure what I'll do after I'm done - I may continue in another certificate or start working. I'll share pictures, soon...need to get them uploaded.

We really haven't done much in the decor around here - I just haven't had much time. School has me busy - unfortunately the house decor took a huge hit! LOL

We did repaint the ceiling in the master bathroom - it was mauve (don't judge me! LOL)...it is white again. Still need to paint the master bedroom ceiling - it's the same lovely shade of mauve. I know...really, who paints the ceiling mauve?! Who paints ceilings?

We finally painted Raye's two walls Tiffany blue - she wants the other two walls to be green. We still need to pick that green out!

The puppy is still driving me crazy - he's chewed carpet, comforters (we have feathers ALL.OVER.THE.HOUSE!) He also stole an uncooked burger and steak off the counter the other night! He's now sleeping in the crate because he can't behave while we run errands.

My oldest is also going to Le Cordon Bleu - it is because of him, that I am there!

My middle child is in summer school working hard to get caught up so that he can be a senior! I can't believe I'll have only one child in school after this year! And she'll be in the eighth grade next year. I blinked and she went from preschool to 8th grade. I still remember dropping her off at preschool and picking her up. She loved her preschool!

I'm so sorry I haven't blogged in so long - trying to stay caught up with all the house stuff (laundry - oh yeah, I wear a cute uniform and cap...and lovely black shoes that my feet hate)...I'm going to try and make time to blog - I would like to have a journal of my time in school.

Happy Spring

We have been busy

- My oldest son started Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, he'll be done in 15 short months!

- My youngest decided she wanted to be a cheerleader in middle school (we've had meetings and a workshop AND started a cookie dough fundraiser)

- My middle child...doesn't have anything going on right now - his time is coming though...he'll be in summer school...

- and me? Well, I celebrated my 42 birthday about a week ago.

- the puppy is still driving me crazy!!

- he's now pulling food off the counters - chocolate doughnuts, shredded cheese and blueberry muffins...

- I'm still working on something - I may have finally decided what I want to be when I grow up...so fingers crossed that I'll be able to arrange my schedule to fit everything.

- with that decision, I've decided to give up job hunting in the field of office admin - YAY!!! I'm done with the admin field! And I'm pretty excited with that decision, since I wasn't getting anywhere fast...EVER - there is NO money in Admin...and really how happy would a creative mind be sitting in an office. So, after 20 some odd years of being in/out of that field...I'M DONE!

- I hate wood floors or maybe it is the combo of dogs and wood floors...

- we painted the family room and the kitchen (still waiting to pick curtains or fabric out before pics will be taken)

- got a new ceiling fan for the family room

- we bought some indoor plants and a few herbs (I found the cutest white pots at TJMaxx)

- we also bought three red tips for the backyard - the puppy ate one of them...ugh

Happy Spring Break

- I'm still here :)

- I started painting the primer in Raye's room (I'll have before and after primer pics)

- Found a new bff in Java Monster (I know, they are probably bad for me...but they are so good...why are all bad things so yummy!! shhh) - my favorite is the Loca Moca and the Mean Bean :)

- BIG NEWS coming in a couple of months (fingers crossed)...I've made a huge decision :)

- My oldest son will start Le Cordon Bleu school in April - I'm so excited and so proud!

- Remember the puppy - I'm pretty sure he doesn't listen in English - I think I should brush up on my Spanish. He's still driving me crazy - cute, may not make the list much longer...

I'm Never Here

I am never here...

I had the time to blog years ago -

I would think about what to blog all day long -

And then I'd blog about it -

I would start craft projects (like I have here) and blog about them -

I would blog about painting the house (I need to do that here) -

I can't explain why I haven't blogged this last month -

I've been here...reading every blog on my list over there -

I'm still around...reading and someday I hope to update this crazy blog...I want to!

Ten Days Ago

Whoa look, I haven’t been here in a few days – but guess what? I’ve been busy, yep, I spent my time organizing the Christmas stuff and, I actually put the containers and boxes up in the attic – gasp – yeah, I know! I also put the Thanksgiving container in the attic! I’m on the ball ya’ll!! I need to find a container for my Halloween stuff and then that’ll be up there, too.

I’ve got a few ideas rolling around in my head – don’t know where I want to start…

- Clean the office/craft room (working on)

- Pick out paint colors

- Work on new craft ideas

- Find a job

- Finish unpacking the moving boxes (unpacked 2 boxes)

- Take a nap (done)

I'm Gonna Be A Rockstar!

This is Rocky - he'll soon be about 75 lbs. Hopefully by then he will have mastered using the outside potty instead of my living room. Thankfully he's cute - he also loves to take naps in my lap.

Like Having A Toddler In The House - Again

Oh my lord – we bought a puppy today

He had an accident

The smell crawled all the way up the stairs and grabbed me by my throat – and squeezed hard. The poor thing pooped in his crate – this is why I’m awake at 1 in the morning. It was horrible – I don’t do puppy poop, I don’t do toddler poop either – I gagged!

And while we’re at it – for the record, I don’t do throw up either

His name is Rocky – he’s a four month old pit bull

Photos to come soon – if he ever sits still

And if I ever find my sd card for my camera

I Can Cook - I Admit It

I’m not a chef, however lately I’m finding out that I can actually cook! Now, don’t go getting all excited, just because I’m admitting that I can cook, it does not mean I love to cook. But, I wanted to share with you all some of the things that I’ve forced on my family tried out lately. I’m one, that hates trying something new and having it turn out like a piece of baked crayon!

For Christmas, I borrowed several recipes from a couple of blogs and foodtv.

I baked my very first ham, using Big Daddy's Spiral Ham recipe – ya’ll the ham was to die for, it was lip smacking, finger licking yummy! Did ya’ll hear me – I baked my VERY FIRST ham! I’m forty-one! This ham will have a special place in my recipe folder! Thank you, Aaron McCargo!

I shared the Whiskey-Glazed Carrots, I found on the Pioneer Woman’s blog. This was the second time I made them and they are delish – this coming from a person that does not like carrots – AT.ALL!

I also borrowed Ree’s Dinner Roll recipe again – I’ll be honest, the first time I made them, they did not turn out – it was Thanksgiving and it was sad! I decided to give them another try, this time I made the dough up the night before and took my time – ya’ll, the yeast rolls need a lot of time – don’t be rushing. They were SO yummy!!!

And lastly, I borrowed a very yummy Ultimate Creamed Corn recipe – ya’ll, there was nothing left – I should have doubled it! My vegetarian loved them – he loved the whiskey glazed carrots, too!

So, here ya go – I don’t have any pictures for proof – just trust me! I’ll be making everything again!

Planning for Next Christmas

This year we bought a very tall real tree, because we have very tall ceilings in the living room. Just one issue with that, I didn’t have enough lights or ornaments or ribbon – one side of the tree was naked.

I decided after three days of decorating this one tree that next year we would not be buying anything that large again. Instead of having a calendar count down for Santa to come – I had a calendar count down for removing the tree from the house. I had had enough – sadly, I know, but I was tired of the tree this year. I only have iphone photos of the tree and just with my daughter, my boys never made it to the photo session! LOL

Christmas is mostly removed from the house; it will be all packed up and ready for the attic this week.

Tonight at Target, I found two 6 ft, non pre-lighted artificial trees for next year. I wanted trees without lights for a reason; we have several strands of LED lights – brand new. So, next year we’ll have two trees, one snowman and the other one, I haven’t made my decision yet – I’m thinking about ALL handmade ornaments. If I do all homemade, I’m gonna have to get busy! Oh, I just had a brilliant idea for a garland for the snowman tree – note to self – buy blue, white, and silver ribbon, and glue gun and sticks!

Also, since the artificial trees are short, I’ll need to plan for a table or chest - for the one in the living room to sit on, so that everyone outside can see it. It’ll look lost in that huge living room.