Painting in master bath, CHECK!

Tonight we finished painting in our bathroom! Just a few more touches, not sure exactly when we'll buy those, but I'm just SO happy to have the floral wallpaper GONE!

Pictures soon, I promise :)

Ghosts and Hair Dye?

So for the past few days we had Louies other sister Christina stay with us. The previous weekend we had his sister Briana, and they just need breaks away from the house and each other sometimes, so we figured Christy should come. So Friday afternoon we went and picked her up from school. When we got back to the house, she decided she wanted to watch Ghost Hunters (we all love the show) which made her decide she wanted to go on an "adventure". So we went downstairs and looked up on the computer some local "haunted" places, and went to check them out! The first place we found was this road near us, Brea Canyon Road, that apparently because its so dark, many of people have died and the stories we read about it seemed pretty creepy. Well it was around 11ish when we were on the road, and it was pretty busy! Granted, it was Friday night, so Louie kept having to pull over and let people pass us. It definitely wasn't very scary at all. We had fun though, and video taped the whole thing. So our next stop was called Dead Mans Park in Whittier. Apparently, there was a cemetary there manyyyy years ago, and they decided to turn it into a park, so they just moved the HEADSTONES and not the graves themselves. Well, we got over there and there was a police car up at the top of the street, and some random guy in the park smoking. So I decided I didn't feel comfortable getting out of the car and checking it out. We figured we'd go back the following night and check it out, but it didn't happen lol. After we left, we went to Norms at like midnight in our PJ's, it was alot of fun. The next night Christina and I decided to make chocolate covered strawberries, drink some martinellis, and watch A Walk To Remember, she had NEVER seen it! I was shocked, so we totallllly cried. But it was fun. She picked out Tuck Everlasting to watch next, I owned it but had never seen it, and it was a cute movie.









Sunday we took her home, and Briana decided for the first time she wanted me to dye her hair. She said her whole life she would NEVER dye it, but so we went to Target, she got a deep reddish brown, pretty close to her natural color. And it turned out very pretty.

Guest Bathroom

So I was recently browsing HGTV's rate my space pictures, looking for some inspiration/ideas and came across this bathroom:

http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Bathrooms/Basement-Bathroom-Mini-Makeover/detail.esi?oid=14016362

Helloooo ideas! This is the look I will be going for in our guest bathroom. GRANTED, I will still have the hideous dark plain flat wood cabinets underneath the counter and sink. And the purple carpet (don't get me started lol) BUT, I'm hoping with the new paint, lighting, and accessories it will have a whole new look and hopefully I will be able to look past the ugly cabinets and the horrid carpet. Luckily the carpet down the road will be changed (btw, why there is carpet in the bathroom I do not know) but I think no matter how much I tell my parents the wood is NOT pretty and NOT a selling point I'll be stuck with it. BUT, thats alright. I'll live. :)

I have been trying to take before pictures so once we are finished I will post before and afters!

It's been awhile!

Sorry its been like a week! I haven't been on the computer practically this whole time.

Thursday night Louie's sister called crying, the other brother (their other half brother from their dad who we do NOT like) was over and picking on her, I guess he was threatening her, and she just wanted to leave, so we immediately left and picked her up, and we've had her up until yesterday.

Valentines Day was nice! Hubby bought me a book, and I made Briana heart shaped waffles and a strawberry banana smoothie for breakfast, we also got her a card and some chocolates. Her mom hardly ever does stuff like that for them, so I kinda wanted to make it special for her. She even gave me a hug, in the 8 years I've been with my husband, I can't remember us ever hugging. So it was nice :)

We also removed ALL of the wallpaper from our master bath! I CANT WAIT to get it re-painted. We have wallpaper to remove still in our bedroom, guest bedroom and guest bathroom also. Our bedroom is going to be pretty difficult to paint I think though because we have HUGE vaulted ceilings in there. Luckily the wallpaper that is just in there is a border, which won't be too difficult to remove.

It's just we've lived here since June 2008, and we are ready to make it more of our OWN. We've already done most of the downstairs (painted, new carpet, and added tile in the bathroom and laundry room) but we still have all of the upstairs and the guest bedroom upstairs to do. Along with painting the laundry room and bathroom downstairs lol. So, thats 3 bathrooms, and 3 bedrooms to go haha. We're going to do it little by little though. Its nothing major just some painting and whatnot. But that will go a long way I think!

The Hunger Games!

Holy cow!

I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK!!!!!!

It wasn't until last night (probably around the time they got to the capitol for those who have read the book) that I couldn't put it down. Before that, I enjoyed it, but I was ABLE to put it down.

Not last night. I couldn't sleep..so, around 3am, I read until 9:30 in the morning, when I finished the book! haha! I COULD NOT put it down! And I was so into the book, I wasn't even tired. I love that feeling. So I couldn't resist and had to go to target today to pick up the second book Catching Fire. I also read online today that the third book is coming out on my actual birthday this year! Awesome! AND the movie of the first book should come out in 2011! I love that so many of the books I've been reading (or already read) are being made into movies! Seeing them come to life on the big screen is awesome. I'm not one of those people who hate changes that are made, granted, I always generally prefer the books (with the exception of The Notebook, I prefered the movie) but I just love seeing the characters on screen. Like Dear John, the book was better yes, and they did make some changes, but I honestly didn't care, I still loved it.

ANYWAY, I'm starting to ramble. So thats 6 books down, 94 to go this year :)

Homemade pasta? harder than it looks!

So I attempted to make homemade pasta last night. I got my sauce all done and simmering, and I went on to make the pasta.

Boy oh boy its harder than it looks. I tried the recipe that was in my stand mixer booklet it came with, and it was SO dry it kept crumbling on me! So, I put it back into the mixer, added 2 more tablespoons of water, and it was still pretty dry! But I was able to knead it a little, but it was SO hard to roll out thin. When I was slicing it I didn't quite slice them thin enough I think, so they were a little to thick once they plumped up as they cooked. So I think maybe for my birthday or next christmas I'm going to ask for a pasta attachment for my stand mixer. Until then, I think I'll stick to my dry pasta :)

Brothers Surprise 40th Birthday

What a night last night was.

It was my brothers 40th birthday, we had a surprise party at the Sky Lounge in Brea. Keep in mind, I have NEVER been to a bar before. I've never gone out and "partied". I've never ever been into that kind of thing. And the Friday night before the party, my sister gave me hell about not going out and whatnot. Ok, lets continue.

So even though we live in the area we've never been to this place, so I was following directions based on my phone map application and my SIL had mentioned a parking garage, so we see one so we immediately pull into it and park. My sister and mom (who had also just gotten there) had said the entrance is directly from the second level of the parking structure. So we go near the elevator, and my mom asks "where are you" long story short, THERES MORE THAN ONE PARKING GARAGE, and of course, we were in the wrong one. Keep in mind also, my brother was supposed to arrive around 8:15 and it was after 8 when we found out where were in the wrong place. So finally we get there, and I noticed all the parking spaces say reserved, my mom who was waiting for us near the entrance said not to worry about it and I laughed and made the comment, "okay but if I get a ticket your paying for it!" So we got there in time, brother showed up, and we were having an good time. My family knows I also don't drink, like, at all, but my sister wanted me to at least have ONE, and she said she'd get me something I liked. So she brought me a Mango Martini, which I will admit, tasted pretty good. But I still don't like drinking AT ALL. But anyway! So we're all having a good time, talking and whatnot, and we were supposed to have the outdoor lounge for our party. But I noticed a ton of random people coming and going since there was no sign that said reserved or anything. So this group of people sit next to me on the couch we were on, and not even a MINUTE after they sit down, the chick next to me PUKES on my feet!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I JUMP up, some guy she was with started patting me saying HE was sorry, and I just ran off to clean up. SO GROSS! My brother was kinda drunk at this point (although HE didn't think he was lol) and totally ran off to my rescue trying to get them the heck out of there. My first experience at a bar, and I get puked on. Just my luck. I went back and the people are STILL sitting there, and I tell my sisters (jokingly but serious lol) not to EVER EVER EVER give me hell for not going "out" again! lol. So that kinda ruined my night from there on. I wasn't PISSED, just disgusted. So shortly afterwards we left. And low and behold, whats on our windshield, but a lovely parking ticket. lol. I immediately called my mom to tell her "I told you so!" and she just answered her cell saying "I know, I'll give you the money tomorrow" and laughed. lol.

So all in all, it was a very...interesting night for me. Hubby had a great time, he likes hanging out and having a drink with people, way more than I do. I'm much more comfortable having a game night with my best friends. lol. Anyway, here's some pictures from the night! BUT, my brother seemed to have a great time, and that is really all that matters. :)





















PS! In the picture with my brother with the cake on his mouth, in the background you can see the chick that threw up on me! I'm sorry, but if I threw up on someone, I wouldn't STAY THERE! ugh!

Dear John and the one dessert I can't screw up!

This afternoon Louie and I went to see Dear John, I LOVED the book, so I was beyond excited to see the movie. And I was not disappointed! It was a great adaptation (in my opinion at least lol) from the book. There were changes for sure. But I can see why they needed to do them. Louie thought it was a little slow at parts, but come on, it was a total chick flick so I don't blame him. I'm just glad I have a husband who's willing to see my click flicks with me! =D

So I LOVE cooking. I do it almost every night (if we're not eating left overs haha) and I have to say I am pretty decent at it. It definitely took me a few years though to feel comfortable and proud of my dishes lol. But one thing I am NOT is a baker. I can't bake a batch of cookies or a cake really if my life depended on it. Ok, so I'm not THAT bad, but I'm FAR from good. The other day I was watching 30 Minute Meals, and Rachael Ray (who also doesn't bake haha) made this dessert that seemed SO yummy and simple! So I decided to try it out tonight and it turned out great! It was SO good. It is a Limoncello and Lemon Cream Fruit Tart. Here is the recipe:

1 store-bought sponge cake tart shell
2 ounces chilled limoncello liqueur
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1/3 cup lemon curd
Sliced Strawberries (or any berry really)
2 teaspoons lemon zest

Remove the tart cake from the packaging, put it on a cake plate and douse with the liqueur. In a small bowl whisk or beat the cream, mascarpone cheese and lemon curd to combine. Fill the tart with the cheese mixture and top with the berries, lemon zest and mint.

So simple! And it turned out super yummy. And I didn't mess it up! Hallelujah!

For a few years now I've been making my own pasta sauce as well, and I think tomorrow I'm going to attempt to make my own pasta noodles. We'll see how that goes!

Tomorrow is also my brothers surprise 40th birthday party! Should be fun! :)

Our weekend (thought I had posted this days ago but I left it up on the screen!)

So its been a few days since I've blogged! Lets see...we had my niece and nephew this weekend. We made a movie. We've done one before, and a play as well (that they did in front of the family) and I think the one we did this weekend turned out the best. The kids tell me a story, we break it down into "scenes" and I record them. I have this little movie making thing on my computer, I don't know how to do very much, but the movie turned out pretty cute. And they had a fun time doing it, and they WEREN'T sitting in front of the TV all weekend. Which was my main goal in the beginning. If you have a facebook I uploaded the video on there and you can watch it :)

I started organizing the garage today. There is ALOT of my Grandmas stuff still in there. Not sentimental stuff, just more or less junk. I did find our old phone we had a few years back, I didn't have the heart to throw it away when we moved because I have two messages my Grandma had left me on there. I plugged it in and listened to them, it was nice to hear her voice and laugh again. One was her laughing, I think we had a funny greeting on it or something and had her call to listen to it. lol. I miss her. We have alot of cabinets and whatnot in there that we haven't utilized because of all the stuff in there, so I started going through that today. I had to stop half way through because I ran out of trash cans! lol. Wednesday is trash day so I'll finish it then.

I started back working out also. I still hate it. But I know I have to do it. I hope eventually I'll become one of those people who ENJOY it. I'm not getting my hopes up though! haha.