I love paint!

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Oh boy, I've got spring-fever!  About 8 years ago I painted our brown cabinets white.  It was a huge, beautiful change.  And to this day I don't regret it.  I love how clean and bright the kitchen looks(that is, on the rare occasions the kitchen IS clean).  When we had bought our house 3 years before it came with almond appliances.  Almond refrigerator, almond stove, almond dishwasher, and an ugly black over-the-stove microwave.  While I know that almond was all the rage, I just don't understand why people would go for a dirty-white for anything.  But I digress.  And when the cabinets were painted white the almond stuck out like a sore thumb.  I've lived with it like this for the past 8 years thinking that my 20 year old appliances could not last much longer.  I got a new dishwasher, but the elephant in the room is still running great.

Anywho, as I was sitting here thinking, "geez, if only it would warm up enough outside so that I could spray paint something/anything/everything, then I would be so happy."  Sitting at the kitchen counter the almond fridge was staring me down.  And then I saw this picture:

http://www.thehandmadehome.net/2011/03/the-kitchen-is-finally-done/

 Isn't that kitchen gorgeous?  I love it, so cheery and clean.  Maybe I should just clean mine... but wait!  She has instructions on how to paint your fridge.  She used chalkboard paint, truly handy, but not my style.  By the way, I LOVE the Handmade Home blog.  Macho man wishes there were no diy blogs, but he can't keep me in a hole, now can he?  

http://www.thehandmadehome.net/2011/03/diy-painting-your-fridge-with-chalkboard-paint/

A painted fridge... wahoo...what about red?  maybe I should go with blue?  white would probably be best... Ah, how boring.  Red, that's it!  That's the conclusion I came to, I even got out my little pint of red paint.  And then I looked and got scared.  So I played it safer with blue (now I wish I would've gone red, but I can always paint again, right?)

My paint-phobic tough guy even liked it!  Well, maybe not liked it.  He just didn't complain to much beyond saying, "what the hell'd you do?"  That's a win!   What do you think, should I go red?  (It'd match my bar stools.)

Max the elephant

Partying at:

Cornerstone Confessions
 http://www.chef-in-training.com/2013/04/tuesday-talent-show-81/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:%20ChefInTraining%20%28Chef%20in%20Training%29
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Ice Cream Oreo Cake and Attitude

13 years ago today my little Diva came into the world.  Since she was a 10 pounder it really wasn't the best day of my life, but I was grateful that she made it without any complications.  She was, and is, perfectly beautiful.  Although the attitude is getting old quit, but I keep reminding myself that it's just a stage.  It is just a stage, isn't it?  (Oh, please tell me it's just a stage, otherwise I might have to start with the beatings and that's just so unpopular with the community not my style.)

Anyway, a couple of years ago one of the littles requested an ice cream cake a la Dairy Queen for their birthday cake.  Well, always looking for ways to save a couple bucks I created my own recipe by combining a few tried and true family recipes.

Brownie Crust

4 sq. unsweetened chocolate (I used 3 T.  of unsweetened cocoa powder)
3/4 c. butter
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour

Microwave chocolate and margarine in a large bowl until melted.  Stir until mixed, then mix in remaining ingredients.  Spread into an 8 in. springform pan.  Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes then pop it into the freezer for at least 2 hours (you could leave it in there overnight if you wanted).

Cake Assembly

Brownie Crust
12-15 oreos
1/2 pint of ice cream (we used oreo flavor)

Once your brownie crust is frozen...  get a pint of ice cream out of the freezer to soften.  We used oreo ice cream, but we have gone with moose track and vanilla, both DELICIOUS.  To go along with the theme, we're going to smash up 12 or so oreos to put on top of the frozen brownie crust.

Once your ice cream has softened, spread a layer about 2 inches thick on top of your frozen brownie crust.  Make sure your crust is frozen HARD or it will crumble while your spreading your ice cream.   Once you have a nice thick layer of ice cream spread a few more smashed on oreos, just for good measure.

You are done... other than the most important part, eating it!  Try to remember to bring it out of the freezer 20 minutes or so before you are ready to serve, otherwise you'll break your knife trying to cut through it!  If you're like me and forget to get it out, get a hand towel and run some hot water on it, wring it out well and then wrap it around the outside of the pan.  This will make it easier to pop the outside of the pan off.  If you dip you knife in hot water it will help a little with the cutting, but I make no guarantees on that one!  (Patience, what patience?  No, I don't know what that word means.)

Fibro-storm

Good morning!  Can you believe this weather that we're having... it's the middle of April for gosh sakes!  And yesterday was a snowday for school and it's snowing again this morning, the calves are even depressed.  What's up?  Mother nature must be really angry.  I can't imagine why... all the pollution and lack of appreciation.  But, that's a post for another day.  

What I really wanted to talk about was my more recent philosophical meanderings on life.  This snow storm was not in my plan, nor was Grandpa and Grandma's power being out so we had some extra "things" added to our day.   Or the fact that I haven't slept in a week.  
Or the fact that I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Yep, those dang little tidbits that get thrown into my life that I hadn't planned nor had I even thought about preparing for.  I mean, I had a nice little life plan.  Teach at my local public school until I was 49 years old, then retire comfortably with Superman, enjoy all my little grandbabies, travel a little, craft a lot... you know, paradise.  

Now this fibro-thing.  I don't understand it.  It's like that snowstorm.  It came without warning, just when I thought spring was coming.  You know, the kids were becoming more independent, the school thing was under control, life was finally looking sunny.  Then BAM!  Snow in April.  It's taken away my ability to travel (without discomfort), my motivation and thinky-ness (so much FOG some days).  It's made little things (like sleeping through the night) become big things.  Like in the snow, every step takes more effort.  

Just like a long winter, I've also learned that things take longer.  And that's ok.  I need to pay more attention to the things I need.  Time and energy need to be inventoried and stored.  I need to take into account the hard days, stock up on them so I'm prepared for the next storm.  Take stock of my priorities and get rid of things that are polluting my system.  Enjoy the things that are fantastic in my life... warm friends, a super family, and God's wisdom.  Happy spring!  

Linking up to:
 
Titus 2 Tuesday Link Party #47