Me & Ree - chocolate cupcakes

Sunday's Pioneer Woman cupcake recipe was certainly smothered in chocolate and looked absolutely amazing. I couldn't wait to finish off our pot roast dinner with one of the little beauties. But alas, I was left disappointed. They had a strange taste. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was missing from the cupcakes. They just tasted a little...off.

While the frosting looked like a bowl of chocolatey goodness that made me want to stick my head in it, the sweetened condensed milk overpowered the taste of the frosting. Yes, sweetened condensed milk is delish, but not poured on top of a cupcake.

So, if I were giving the Pioneer Woman recipes a rating this one wouldn't fare so well. Don't get me wrong. I still love the woman and I will not be discouraged. Her chicken picatta is so good it shows up in my dreams. If everything else I ever made off her website was horrible, that chicken picatta would make up for it all. Seriously.

My so-called random life

Whew. It's been a busy week. Hubby was out of town, which meant I was left to do the painting for our master bedroom redo. That's OK though. He said he felt like he was coming home to an Extreme Home Makeover so that made it worth the hard work. Pictures coming soon. Let's just say I'm in heaven...or at least I feel like it.

Friday morning we headed over to a friend's house for coffee. She mentioned she could use some new ideas for decorating and arranging her home and before we knew it we were moving a sofa upstairs! It was so much fun to see her start to love the stuff she already had. Decorating is about using the things you have in a way that makes you smile. While I love buying new things as well, it's more of a challenge to look around and see what's on hand that I can repurpose. I love the challenge and I had a great time helping her out. She doesn't believe me, but I really do that for fun. Yes, I realize I'm just this side of crazy.

Our homeschool group hosted its first used curriculum sale this weekend and of course I waited until 3:00 p.m. on Friday to start pricing all my stuff. Why do I do that? I didn't make much money and what I did make I spent on other people's stuff. Again, why do I do that? I just can't resist all those books. I did find a great deal on the bulk of E's kindergarten curriculum, so that made me smile.

Another Pioneer Woman recipe cooking at my house tonight. I'm making these little beauties to go with our Sunday dinner tomorrow...roast, garlic mashed potatoes and carrots. Oh, my mouth is watering. I'll let you know how the cupcakes turn out, but honestly, how can anything covered in that much chocolate not taste amazing?

(Picture from The Pioneer Woman)

The Fruit of the Spirit - it's all in there

Lord, give me patience..and please hurry!

Ever found yourself uttering those words? I have. Even as recently as 6:00 a.m. this morning. As I mumbled this sleepy prayer I thought, "I've already been given patience. It's my job to exercise it." OK, now you know that didn't come from my 6:00 a.m. coffee deprived brain, so I'd better pay attention.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Galatians 5:22-23

When we become followers of Christ, we are given the gift of his Holy Spirit. Along with that gift comes all the fruit of his Spirit as well. Each piece is given to each of us. He doesn't pick and choose what He will dole out, giving some to me and some to you. It's all there. A packaged deal. So my groggy early morning prayer for patience is much like asking for a new car when one is already sitting in my driveway (which it's not by the way). I'm asking for something I've already been given. I have to choose to walk in the fruit He's provided just like I have to choose to get in and drive that new car.

I already possess patience, so there's no need to pray for it. What I need to pray for is the strength to use what I have. Some days are certainly filled with many opportunities for practice (!), but as I seek to live by the power of His Holy Spirit, He enables me to use what He's given me. And I think He smiles when I do.

Summer's bounty

Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is! The peaches and blackberries are fresh picked from the orchard and the plums we picked ourselves this morning off one of the trees at the farm. They taste so much better when you pick them yourself don't they? It's hard to tell the size of the bowl in the photo, but the blackberries are in my giant salad bowl...yes, that's a boat load of blackberries. I think I see a cobbler (or two) in my future.

We also came home with lots of fresh vine ripened tomatoes from Dad's tomato plants. Oh.my.goodness. There is nothing better I tell ya. Here's one of my favorite ways to eat fresh from the vine tomatoes.

Thick slice your tomatoes and layer them on a a platter. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Dab on a bit of olive oil, then a splash of balsamic vinegar. Top with blue cheese crumbles. Try not to eat the entire platter...I dare ya.

So what yummy summertime produce are you enjoying?

Moms weigh in

My dear sweet 13 year old son (yes, he's sitting right here) is insisting he doesn't get enough video game time. He is currently allowed to play 30 minutes a day...or in his interpretation, "I only get a measly 30 minutes a day!" [me biting my tongue to keep from inserting sarcastic comment here]

So what are the rules at your house? How much time do your kids get to spend on video games? What parameters do you have set in place to keep their brains from turning to mush?

Random painting thoughts

Can you tell I've got painting on the brain? Seeing as how I haven't actually started yet, I can't very well blame it on the fumes now can I?

Painting begins Monday. This weekend is filled with Father's Day fun, which in our case means a whole lot of red meat and hanging out at the farm. Oh, I can taste the melt in your mouth ribeyes already...but I digress.

Purchase bedding - check.

Paint color chosen - Silver Sage from Restoration Hardware - check. (Thanks Lisa!)

Extra strong coffee - check.

If you see my children running around in the street next week, please feed them before you send them home. I don't think I'll have much time for cooking and laundry and such.

Hopefully once this project is done I can start focusing on some homeschool and support group planning for next year. Hopefully.

A little Southern comfort

No, not THAT Southern Comfort.

My own brand of Southern comfort comes in a tall glass of mango peach iced tea. Our fridge is never without a gallon. You just never know who might drop by for a glass.

All you need to make your own bit of Southern comfort are four family sized Luzianne tea bags. Yes, they must be Luzianne...just trust me.

Put those together with four Lipton mango peach white tea bags...the tea is white, not the bags.


Boil your water, add the tea bags and let it steep for a few minutes. I like to let mine steep a bit longer for a stronger flavor. A tall glass of ice, a spoonful of Splenda and you've got some serious Southern comfort on a hot summer day...or any day for that matter.

The fountain of youth...at Target

There's something about the claims of "anti-aging", "anti-wrinkle" and my personal favorite "age defying" that lure me in. I can't help but peruse the aisles of Target looking for the one product promising to change my life. Remember the Magic Bullet?

Why do I believe them? Why do I continue to plop down a chunk of change for a gluttony of products promising to hold back the hands of time? Because I want so badly for the claims to be true. With each purchase, I'm hoping it really will slow down the inevitable progression, but I know it won't. And I need to be OK with that.

Funny thing is, though I would love to give back a bit of my gray hair and crow's feet laugh lines, I wouldn't trade the wisdom that comes with each passing year for all the hairspray in Texas. If you've ever been to Texas, you know what I'm talkin' about. Life, in all its ups and downs, is a constant learning process. Some things simply can not be learned when you are young. They come only by the passing of years filled with the experiences that make us who we are.

So instead of looking for the fountain of youth in an overpriced jar, I'm learning to embrace the changes, maybe even be thankful for them...maybe.

I will still be the same when you are old and gray,and I will take care of you. I created you. I will carry you and always keep you safe. Isaiah 46:4

Marriage milestone

We've done a lot of painting and decorating in the four homes we've lived in since saying 'I do'. The attention always seems to go to the more public areas of the house or the kids' rooms and as a result, the master bedroom has been badly neglected. Whatever leftover furniture won't fit anywhere else in the house seems to have ended up as part of our "decor"...that and the lovely treadmill. Not exactly my idea of a great decorating style.

After waiting almost 20 years, we finally purchased our first bedroom set today. I am seriously beside myself with excitement! Now, before the furniture is delivered I have to paint the room. Before I can paint the room, I have to choose the paint color. Before I can choose the paint color, I have to choose the bedding. Sheesh! I'm already tired!

Here's a pic of the new set. Love, love, LOVE it!

I could use some serious help with the bedding. I know exactly what I want it to look like in my head- sort of spa like, but I'm struggling a bit to make it work. I'm thinking of painting the walls a pale, pale blue and going with white bedding. Thought it would look nice next to the dark wood. Thoughts? Help? Ideas?

Choosing a paint color

Let the chaos begin.

Armed with my nifty little Sherwin Williams "concepts in color" color palette, the elimination process has begun. Choosing a color to paint the entire downstairs is no easy feat. Well OK, maybe it's easy if you happen to be a professional decorator, which I am not. Heck, I don't even measure things when I hang them. I eyeball it. My eyeball usually gets it pretty straight...usually.

So here's my not so scientific eyeballing process for choosing a paint color.

Since the tile floor and granite counter tops are have warm undertones, I immediately eliminated the cool neutrals. Not a big deal...I'm not really drawn to those anyway.

Next I went through my nifty little Sherwin Williams "concepts in color" palette and tagged all the ones I liked at first glance. Way too many. Then I compared each tagged color to our trim color. That eliminated at least half. Apparently our builder got a really good deal on a very yellowy off-white color. At least I hope for his sake he got a good deal.

Left with about ten colors on my nifty little Sherwin Williams color palette, I started comparing them to the tile...there went three more. Then to the granite...there went two more. So I'm left with these, which in real life look nothing like these tiny squares.

Mike will help make the final eliminations. Great thing about us - we have very similar decorating styles. When we do happen to differ, I gently remind him who's the decorator in the family.

Check back tomorrow to see who's made it to the final round.

Time well spent

The local Christian radio station posed a question tonight during their call in time.

If you knew today was your last day to live, how would you spend it?

Most callers detailed how they would spend it with their loved ones, enjoying time together and saying all the things they wanted to say. Some mentioned things they would not do - watch TV, surf the web, sleep or even eat.

As I considered my answer, a bigger question loomed in my mind. If I know for a fact I would live my last day differently, why am I not living each day that way? If I know what is important enough to spend my final moments on, why am I frittering away time on things that don't matter? Why am I not living each and every day as if it were the last? Not in a morbid sense, but one that makes lasting memories out of daily activities. One that lays aside the tyranny of the urgent for the preciousness of the moment.

My days should include more tea parties, rousing card games, walks in the rain, late night talks over ice cream, less computer time and a lot more hugs. My calender should be filled with things that encourage others and build lasting relationships, rather than things that drain my energy leaving nothing for the ones I love.

None of us is promised tomorrow, but how we spend it could impact eternity. Spend wisely.

Summer reading program - Booyah!

Aaahhh...the sound of silence.

We just got home from the library where we signed up for the summer reading program. We've done various programs since the kids were little and gotten some neat prizes in return for all their hard work, but this year's program has taken it to a whole new level for my kids. For every three books they read or listen to on CD, they are entered into a drawing for an iPod Touch. Oh yeah! The boys have planned now to do nothing but read, eat and sleep for the remainder of the summer. I'm good with that. I love to see them working as a team to get their names in there as many times as possible. They're even planning out a schedule to share the iPod once they win. I admire their positive attitudes. Now why can't they work together like that on their chores?

I didn't bother to tell them how many other hundreds of kids they're up against. Why put a damper on their excitement? Or on my quiet summer? Who knows, they might actually win. Now that would be pretty cool.

Sunday Morning Praise - Zephaniah 3:17

For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a might savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.
Zephaniah 3:17

Summer organizing projects - the scary closet

One of the biggest projects on my summer to-do list, aside from painting the entire downstairs, was organizing my homeschool closet. [insert scary music] Let's just say it had become one of those "shut the door as quickly as possible so nothing falls out on my head" sort of spaces...you know, the kind you see in the old cartoons. Yeah, it was bad.

A friend called this morning with the idea to organize a used curriculum sale for our homeschool group. Great idea! It was just the kick in the pants I needed to start purging and organizing. Thanks Sherri!

Armed with my mango peach iced tea (I really am becoming a Southerner!) I marched upstairs, telling the kids to come looking for me if I hadn't resurfaced in a few hours...or they heard any strange noises coming from the closet. I was part way through pulling the stuff off the floor when I thought to take a photo. See that mess on the floor to the left? Just picture that two feet tall and EVERYWHERE and you'll have a good idea of what I started with. Yikes!

Several boxes and trashcans later, I emerged victorious. I have an ginormous Rubbermaid storage box full of stuff to sell at the curriculum sale, as well as lots of great treasures I'd forgotten I had. It was sort of like Christmas...except for the excessive sweat rolling off my forehead of course.

Check this out. Do you see it? It's UNUSED space...in a closet...in MY house. Happy sigh. The best part of the day? Crossing it of my summer to-do list. [insert happy dancing music].

Now who wants to come help me paint my house?

Tornado clean up

Dealing with the aftermath of depression is much like cleaning up after a tornado. The event itself has passed, but you are left with an incredible amount of stuff to sift through.

Probably one of the most difficult parts of the clean up process has been the loss of my highly over active self-sufficient nature. My unspoken motto was "Just do it!" and I did. Got a job or a problem that needs fixing? I can do it! I'm your girl. My struggle with depression was one of the first things in my life (maybe THE first) that I couldn't handle on my own. Wow! Does that give you an idea of the level of my self-sufficiency? Depression brought me face to face with reality - HIS reality - the one that says "I can do it through HIS strength".

Letting go and relying solely on HIM has not been easy. Just bein' real here. I find myself procrastinating on things I would normally have tackled easily and attribute it to my new learning curve. The healing process is about relearning to use the gifts and talents He's given me, but in a way that honors Him.

Revelation chapter three has a message for the church at Laodicea. Remember, they were the ones God spit out of his mouth because they were so tepid. They didn't deny Christ and yet they weren't sold out for him either. They had become complacent and self-sufficient, not unlike many of us today. We may be serving in the church, having our daily quiet time and think we're moving along just fine when in reality we are relying solely on our own "I can do it!" attitude and not at all on the power of the Holy Spirit. Self-sufficiency leads to complacency in the things of God. We have to recognize these as tools the enemy uses to neutralize our power and then purpose to make a change.

So the clean up continues. I'm pretty sure the final product will look nothing like my "pre-tornado" self and hopefully more like He created me to be.

Sometimes it takes a tornado to set everything in its place.

Decorating shout outs

I have a secret addiction (guess it's not so secret now is it?) to decorating blogs and let me tell you, there are some seriously talented bloggers out there. Here are three great posts I drooled over this week.

Savvy Southern Style on a Budget - Aliteration aside, the name alone got my attention. Her vintage nauticul guestroom makeover is absolutely Pottery Barnesque. Yes, it's a word...look it up.

Lisa at The Pennington Point is a new Texas blogging friend. I think we may be distantly related...or seperated at birth. Check out her latest painting project and prepare to be amazed. I was!

As always, The Nester got me thinking. Check out her post on "summerizing" your home. I love the idea of a beige/white/aqua blue scheme, but not quite sure how to pull it off without a major redo. Still thinkin'.

Need to breathe

Papers, books, unfiled lesson plans and the never ending array of homeschool catalogs decorate my desk as I sit down to blog, each one reminding me I need to start thinking about our next school year. We're on our second week of summer break and quite frankly, I don't want to think about next year just yet.

I want to breathe. I need to breathe.

I want to sip my coffee with no thought of algebraic equations.

I want to catch fireflies.

I want to take the kids to the pool as often as I can...maybe even twice in one day.

I want to tackle that list of projects I've been putting off.

I want to watch the kids faces as they try to decide just what treat to choose from the neighborhood ice cream truck...the nice one, not the creepy one.

I want some time to just be.

The new school year will be here before I know it and I'll be lamenting how quickly the summer flew by. In the meantime I'm doing my best to ignore the piles screaming at me from my desk and just enjoy each day. So far I'm doing a pretty good job.