We're baaaaack!

No, we haven't been locked in cages or hiding under a large rock-- I have just been letting the world rush by with little or no regard to my blog. Oh, and I also received a negative and rather hurtful comment via email about some of the things I've written. Not exactly was hoping for when I asked for reader comments! But I've decided to put the negativity behind me and I'm getting on with my blog! The blog must go on! I have only begun to blog!

Okay, that's enough of all that! We have had a very eventful couple of weeks since I last checked in! Here are some highlights:

-C decorated the house for Fall! C does not care to decorate for holidays (other than Christmas, that is) so she decorates for the seasons instead. I have finished the mantel, fireplace, and kitchen table. Quick shout out to Peggy P for the cool candelabra centerpiece that looks so nifty with the shiny metallic candles from Tar-jay and sparkly jewels and gourds from Michael's!






















-Me & D re-organized the laundry /utility room to include the water cooler/dispenser and metallic shelving system, which we discovered was not well-engineered but beautifully serves the purpose for which it was intended.

-D got "Salesman of the Month" at work for the third time this year. He worked very hard and had the best selling month he's ever in his fence career! Yay, Sweet D! Incidentally, he also got the "Husband of the Month" from me for the 5th month in a row! My female friends and relatives tell me that will change soon, but I'm keeping the faith that it won't!

-I had Friday off for the FBC Fair. It was a wonderful and relaxing day! Made arrangements for our furniture to be delivered and placed the order for our Christmas gift to one another, a new kitchen table and chairs. I also spent some time with my new friend, A, aka 'Ginger Snap.' We met at Amy's ice cream and she ended up copying what I ordered! No big deal, though, I truly believe that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery! We then hit the River Oaks Shopping Center for a little bit. I spoke to the Manager at Sur la Table and it looks like I may be getting a part-time job there, hopefully they'll keep me around beyond the holidays. I love working retail during the Christmas season, especially when I don't have to worry about planning a wedding. D got home early Friday afternoon, so we had a lovely date that started at Houston's restaurant on Kirby. We then popped over to Whole Foods Market, where we totally behaved ourselves because we were full from dinner. Walked out to find it pouring down, so we holed up at the Dessert Gallery across the street and played Connect Four while we drank coffee. D won the Connect Four Challenge in a comeback rally. He was down 4 games to 1 and I think he got tired of having his tush handed to him by his wife! He won four straight games and walked out of Dessert Gallery wearing the "Connect Four" crown!

-Saturday was pretty low-key. C went for a nice walk/run around the 'hood after getting several things accomplished around the casa. D returned from his meeting and worked out, then we ran a few errands and stopped to get some (very yummy) barbecue at a local place. We love living where we do, with pretty much everything we need within a 3-mile radius!

-We turned all the change we've been collected into a cold, hard gift certificate using one of those Coinstar machines you see at the grocery stores. Both of us had been stockpiling all of our coins for the past few years and we were curious to see how much it was but not too keen on paying the 9 cents per dollar counting fee. We saw a commercial that they now waive the counting fee you apply your money toward a gift certificate. Long story short, we are now the proud owners of an Amazon.com gift certificate worth $475! Pretty cool, huh? For those of you who are now running to your couch to look for change, be sure you look online to find a Coinstar machine that offers e-certificates. We had to drive a few miles to find the one we used.

-Today was also rather low-key. We took a cake to our new member class. I had made one just like it on Monday for my friend Kim at school. Doug absolutely drooled over it, but I wouldn't let him have a piece! It was my turn to bring dessert to the class, so I decided to make it again so he could try it. Here's the basic recipe: Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge cake, with about 1 tsp. (maybe a little more, eyeball it!) of almond extract added. I baked it in a bundt pan at 350 for 45 mins. and topped it with homemade chocolate ganache (boil pint of heavy whipping cream for 2 minutes, add to package of chocolate chips and stir in some more almond extract) and some chopped toasted almonds! It was a huge hit and I had a few requests for the recipe. Needless to say, said requesters were thrilled to know it started from a mix! Here's a picture:
As Rachel Ray would say, doesn't that look YUM-O? I have to admit, it was really yummy and moist, unlike most bundt cakes I have made and tasted. I even poked holes in the cake with a toothpick so the ganache would soak in a little more.

In closing, I also have to share what we are listening to these days:
This is the COOLEST collection of TV theme songs! Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Alice, The Jeffersons, Three's Company, Cheers, and Growing Pains, just to name a few of my favorites!We have really enjoyed dancing around the kitchen to The Greatest American Hero song which, by the way, is also featured in one of my favorite movies, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, starring the oh-so-cute-in-a-nerdy-way Steve Carrell.

Okay, I think I've bored everyone long enough. I'll try not to let so much time lapse between now and my next blog. I do have to share one thing, though-- I got the sweetest email from a parent this past Monday morning. I'll try to include it in my next blog, because it was so affirming and touching and was just what I needed to hear after two hard weeks at work.

Everyone have a super week!