Spray Paint!

I have a new obsession. It's called Spray Paint. My cousin Kelly sent me a before and after link of a spray painted lamp. Wow! What a transformation! Game On... So along with spray paint, I go to thrift stores and find really UGLY stuff and give it a face lift. It's an inexpensive way to beautify your home without spending a lot of $$. I also try and shop at thrift stores that put money back into the community. That way it's a win win all around!

Take these really awful looking plastic faux wood (yes plastic wood!) candle holders.


With a little white matte spray paint they turn into this:


This mirror I decided was really cute, but it needed a pop of color.

So with some glossy hot pink spray paint, you get this:

Or for fun I found this bust of Napoleon, but he was in serious need of amakeover

And viola, this would make Josephine swoon...

FYI, the lamp base, I spray painted that one too. It was brass before, and that would never do.

Spray paint is life changing!

Blast.

From. The. Past.

I no longer watch ER. I haven't watched it in years. But I used to. I watched it every Thursday night after Friends and a bunch of other shows i can no longer remember.

So last night after 30-Rock I had the tv on in the back ground and ER was on.

And then there they were, Carol Hatheway, Doug Ross, John Carter, and Peter Benton.

I don't know why, but it made me happy to see those originals back. Mostly because it brought me back to a completely different time in my life. The last half of the 90's are where i spent my early 20's... Lots of memories. My life is so different now, or I am. Both.

I had no idea what was happening on last nights episode, and I didn't really care... I just got pretty nostalgic seeing those old cast members float across the screen.

And how cool that George Clooney isn't too Hollywood now to come back to his old stomping grounds.

Nothing annoys me more when actors say, I just want to put that character behind me.

Um hello, without that character, you wouldn't be where you are now!

Isn't it funny how certain television shows bring you back? Are there other shows out there that you love and bring back memories?

Swimming Pools and Movie Stars

My dream home is not your typical dream home. I'm not one for big McMansions. I like little charming cottages with lots of character. I don't need a lot, just a comfy little space to make all my own. But there is one thing I've always wanted in with a house... A SWIMMING POOL!

The typical response I get to my pool desire are these:

You think you would want one but you would never use it

They are hard to maintain

They are expensive

I get all those things... But something in my heart just leaps for joy whenever I see a swimming pool. It never fails. They take my breath away. I realize the cons of a pool, but my pros are so extensive. I love the water, even just to look at it. I love being in water, even just to float. This is meditation and relaxation for me. Someday I would like a pool. Someday.

And Now i have one more thing I would like in my dream home:

Built-In Beds!

They just so look so cozy and inviting! I could imagine myself curled up, reading a book and then falling fast asleep with a summer breeze coming from my window.

Here is one for my guests

One for my daughter

And built in bunk beds!

If you could have anything in your "dream home" what would it be?

TWD~Lemon Cup Custard

I have missed the last two Tuesday With Dorie recipes. Although tonight, along with the lemon custard, I FINALLY made the Caramel Crunch Bars! YUM!

So not to miss 3 weeks in a row of TWD, I went ahead and made the Lemon Custard.

Now I really love lemon flavored anything so that was a bonus of making this recipe. But there were some detractors too...

I'm not a big custard fan, mainly because I don't drink dairy products. So i cut the recipe in half and made just enough to taste it and not feel bad about not eating it all.

I was very surprised at how lemony the milk got after letting it steep for awhile.

What i didn't like was trying to whisk the eggs and strain the milk at the same time. And trying not to scald myself with hot milk. I am not that talented so let's just say I made a big ol' mess.

I baked my custard in some pretty coffee mugs, waiting until they were just jiggly in the middle (like my thighs) and set it out to cool.

From what i tasted it had a nice lemon flavor, sans lemon extract, but it was very eggy. I do not like eggy. I read a lot of comments on TWD and many people said that this was an eggy custard. And they did not exaggerate.

I'm glad I made it because I've never made real custard before.

I think i will go eat another caramel crunch bar instead. MMMMMMMMM!!!!

A desperate attempt at blogging...

I am wearing shoes right now that squash my bunions. Okay so i don't have bunions, but my brother does. Big gnarly ones. I asked my dad, Why does he have those huge bunions?
The response, He can't help it, he's special.
Special indeed. If I had a penny for every time the "He's special" card was played, I would not be wearing these cheapy shoes that pinch my fake bunions.

Do you see what I just did? I started a story with a subject, i.e. bunions and I wove a tale around it and brought it right back to the original subject.

Are you mesmerized?

So I was in Love with LOST last night... just because at the end when Jack, Hurley & (gasp) Kate got out of the van and were reunited with Sawyer, it made me tear up a little bit. I mean it has been 3 years since they've seen each other.
And you know that Sawyer, despite what he says, despite the fact that Juliet creeps me out a little bit, HE IS STILL IN LOVE WITH KATE.
Awww Freckles.

TWD

So I forgot to make last week's TWD recipe, Caramel Crunch Bars. I had much too much going on and it completely slipped my mind.
This week's recipe, Chocolate Armagnac Cake did not sound appealing to me at all. Or maybe it did and I just wasn't up to making it? Either way... I am taking another break this week. But I will be back next week making Lemon Cup Custard.
Although, I am excited to see how everyone's Chocolate Armagnac Cake turned out!
See you next week!

Longing for Spring

Over at The Inspired Room we were asked what are 20 things we are looking forward to this Spring.
Here are 20 things i am longing for this spring:

1. melting snow
2. green grass
3. wearing my pink galoshes
4. my tulips
5. budding of trees
6. spring break!
7. visiting my dear friend Rachel in Michigan
8. school year ending
9. going on walks
10 Easter
11. Easter candy! candbury eggs! mmmm
12. decorating with all my spring\Easter decor
13. opening my windows and letting the fresh air in
14. not wearing a jacket
15. No more socks! only sandals!
16. starting seeds for the garden
17. ice melting on the lakes
18. skirts and dresses
19. putting out my patio furniture
20. sunlight late into the evening!

Feel free to leave your own "Spring Longings"....