Nirvana...in a bowl

Dear Cholesterol: Please go ahead and grab your good shoes because we are going to be doing a few jumps this week.

Welcome to my Food Nirvana. Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies with Blue Bell Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Holy moly creamy mint deliciousness, I see we have met again.

Why hello gorgeous.

First of all put that spoon away, but leave the bowl, well that is unless you are really going to town then just put that bowl back away and pop the top of the ice cream. If you really want to get the full experience you take a cookie, scoop up some ice cream on it, eat slowly as your tastebuds do a happy dance...grab another cookie....spoon some more ice cream....repeat. Then once that bowl's gone grab another bowl.

Oh my goodness. If I ever finally go psycho on a person for telling me once again how full my hands must be I'm going to order this as my last meal.

How to buy a car in 6 short hours

We have needed a new car for a while now. Our 2000 Chevrolet Impala was the first car I ever bought and with 245,000 miles, a/c that doesn't work, random warning lights popping on whenever they wanted, headlights didn't work, and my dad taking apart the engine on nothing but a prayer...well it's been a good car but it just wants to go peacefully to car heaven.

We have been putting it off thinking we'll just wait till the darn thing dies (it's paid off so why not?!) Well Friday Brewerman saw coolant leaking out (he said spewing out but I'm pretty sure it was dripping). So we decided that and another hot long summer looming over us means we need to go check out another car.

We went expecting to buy a car or very small SUV. We didn't mind buying new if we got a good enough deal or financing, but we also were looking at pre-owned. We just wanted very low miles as we keep our cars for at least 10 years.

Oh and did I mention the kids were coming with us? So we started out knowing this would be fun times. I figured they would see the kids and want to get us the heck out of there faster. Sadly looking back that was most definitely not the case.

We get there about 10:00am and the salesmen start coming over. Then I don't know how but we got a salesman that is from out of town just in for this promotion they are doing. He asks me if Christopher is 1. I tell him 2, and he tells me he is such a short little guy for 2. Normally I'd just blow him off but he was adamant...dude. If you don't know what you are talking about say nothing at all. My 98 percentile son is definitely NOT short for 2.

I knew right then this guy must be a few bricks short of a wall. I was right

So after looking at many options, including the Escape, he tells me about this Ford Explorer he has that they are trying to get rid of. It's brand new, but a 2010 model. He goes on and on about how they are willing to lose money blah blah blah blah.

Well we test drive it and of course love it. It has third row which is great for us, among other things. So we start the dealing process. He tells us that we are such a great family and they just love what we have done with the boys so they are really just going to be straight forward with us. Yeah right guy, you are not going to soften me by telling me how great we are because our family is made through adoption. We aren't heroes and both of us know you don't have a "you adopted inter racially so you are such a great person" discount.

Pshaw.

6 hours later we finally get a deal. That includes me telling him that the "deal" he is giving me I would be able to get on any of the 2011 models, and that he is going to have to do better than that. Brewerman was quietly letting me beat the guy to a pulp, figuratively speaking of course, and just sits back and smiles. Finally we just leave and the guy runs to us in the parking lot as we are leaving telling us he'll pay the taxes. Sold! We were happy with that, the salesman however...was not happy. I still had to call him on a few other things and by the end of it he told me he has never had to work so hard on a sale in all his life. I was satisfied with that.

We ended up getting a pretty good deal I think, about 8,000$ off MSRP. Plus this thing has every option we would have wanted, and not a lot "extra" as we don't like a lot of bells and whistles. Well we don't like to "pay" for all those bells and whistles. Plus this baby will fit us well into 10 years if not more. Oh my...then the boys will be teenagers. Teenagers!! This will probably be Cooper's first car. DAH! Okay I have to stop now. I'm freaking myself out!!


Here it is:

Don't mind the long snout, the angle of the pic was a little odd. 

And just think you too can get a deal this great! Just take two hyper boys to a dealership, shake them up, then let them have at them. 6 short hours later you were be driving off in your brand new car! Fun doesn't even begin to describe it.

Cutest of the Cute Catepillar Cupcakes

I helped to host a baby shower for my great friend Janelleybean recently. Sadly be recently I mean weeks ago...let's just say she has hence had the baby and he is perfect in a perfect little perfect package.

One of the things I was in charge of for the shower was the cake portion. It was a diaper shower and we didn't really have a specifc theme so I could do whatever I wanted, which was fun.

I decided I wanted something sweet and cute. I also wanted cupcakes since her husband is slightly obsessed with cupcakes. I knew they would want my almond cake and I added raspberry and blueberry filling with my homemade yum-o icing on top.

I decided on little green catepillars on yellow icing and blue icing with little white pearls on top. They were so easy but so simple and cute. Eveything was edible on them (the little atennaes are thin spaghetti colored blue and the balls of the catepillar are fondant). In the end it was stress free, adorable, and reminded me how much I love to do this.

Here they are:

The shower turned out great and it was so much fun. I adore Janelleybean. And yes, she adores me even though this happened. Plus she makes really cute kids. Her newest baby Noah stole my heart from day 1.

Actually I adore all the ladies there and think it's the only baby shower that could hold some of the conversations we were having. Hilarity. I'd tell you but you know what they say...what happens at the baby shower, stays at the baby shower.

15 reasons Why I'm Annoying

So as I was thinking about some of my good and bad traits this week I annoyingly started focusing on my...well...more annoying habits.

I thought I would share the top 15 in hopes that I crack some of these habits. Even though I probably won't.

Don't worry, it's not a pity party. I even asked my lovely husband to help me. Of course he wisely thought it was a trap, which it totally wasn't. Even thought he was a little too quick to name some of these off....

Here we go:

1. I interrupt people. All the time, especially on the phone. I have a strong suspicion this is because I'm slightly ADD. Also because I'm super impatient and the filter from my brain to my mouth that is supposed to be changed out every 10 years has been missing for some time. Bottom line: I suck at all things polite.

2. Every time I start a blog or sentence I want to start it with "So". "So we went to the zoo this weekend." or "So I woke up today." Annoying. SO annoying. *See the start of this blog*

3. I am loud. REALLY LOUD. I listen to the TV loud too. It just creeps up slowly until someone has to do an intervention on me and make me turn it down. I also have hearing loss. No, seriously I really do! Ask my husband, I remind him every day. Sadly I'm about 99.9% sure my hearing loss has little to do with it. Won't stop me from blaming it though. Ever.

4. I always  have a story that probably relates to what you are saying. And due to the previously mentioned missing filter I'm probably going to tell you that story in long detail. Then half way through I'm going to realize how annoying me telling you this really long story probably is, so I'll go super fast and leave half of it out to where by the end of it you are not only annoyed but completely lost.

5. I go on tangents. In the middle of a story I'll go on a tangent about another story. "So I talked to my mom at the park today and she said...Oh I forgot the park has the new swings in now! Yeah it was really fun and we saw Janelleybean. Did you know she had her baby? Anyways my mom said that she was thinking of a new car. By the way we got a new blender today! Do you know what the baby's name was?"

6. I forget words. Every day words. I literally had to use the thesaurus to think of the word conceited in the Valentines Day post.  It's like they are right there but I can't get at them. While I'm convinced these are signs that I have a very rare and deadly disease my mom told me it's yet another awesome genetic trait I get from her. That goes right up there with the love handles that never goes away.

7. I cuss. I try not to. No. I really %&$ing do. If you are offended by my everyday language I highly suggest you do not ever get around me while I'm drinking. Rum and Coke is the worst, but wine triggers this as %^$ing well. Oh and stress. Some people stress eat, I stress cuss...while eatting.

8. I chew with my mouth open more times than I'll admit. And if that grosses you out you should hear me smack. And slurp. I can slurp with the best of them...or should I say worst.

9. I itch my throat when I sleep with a certain noise in the back of my throat. It's totally sexy and really turns my husband on. Just kidding. He really hates it. Really really really hates it. Another trait from mom. We are a sexy group.

10. I use way too much punctuation. Every time I use an exclamation point I want to use two. When I use two I want to use three. We all get it Natalie. You are loud and over-emotional. You also have this habit of talking in third person...

11. Speaking of over-emotional, I am. I have a really quick temper over really stupid things. "WHAT!? You drank the last pop Keith!? What the &*$#!?!" I also cry when I get over-emotional and stressed. If you were at my wedding you wouldn't be shocked at all by this. I was balling and heaving the whole time....and cussing...while shoving cake in my face.

12. I can't stand awkward silences. More like I'm deathly afraid of them. I try to fill up every tiny space of silence thinking that it could be an awkward silence (the horror!). Because of this I end up talking at the same time as the other person because they are normal and take breathes in between sentences and I'm not so I think it's an awkward silence. I'm really really bad about this with my kids' birthparents. They probably wonder if I ever shut up. I do! I mean, I do sleep.

13. When I get an idea in my head I immediately go full steam on into such idea until I'm done with it then it is either forever forgotten in never never land or during rare times they actually play out. It's not odd for me to call Keith and want to discuss going to Ireland then follow that up with emails and more phone calls, then ending in nothing. I don't mess around and procrastinate with things I'm excited about. Which would be a good thing if it wasn't so darned annoying!!!***(see the three exclamation points? I told you!)

14. I am a horrible mail-er. Once my aunt left some makeup at my house and wanted me to mail it to her. I of course said "no biggie!" and promptly set out to mail it...3 months later.

15. I never quite know when to leave. My worst fear...well besides awkward silences, is to be "that guy" that doesn't leave when it's obvious the party's over and you are no longer funny or entertaining. You would think that would mean I leave early huh? No, I stick around. Then I realize I might have over stayed my welcome so I quickly use a lame excuse and scram where people are actually startled at the sudden turn of events. I think 9 times out of 10 they actually want me to stay, but man...I mean sometimes a girl can't take a hint.

So all of you crazy people who actually want to be my friend. This is a warning.

Don't come crying to me when I am still at your house at 3 am and telling the story that will never end while cussing up a storm and smacking on some ice cream.

Let's face it...I'd change, but I'm just too lazy and frankly too dense to even notice until after I have done went and already annoyed the town.


But hey - I can do a mean cake. So you must love me. Or at least pretend to, so I can do a kicking cake for you. Either way I'm cool with it. Just don't say I never warned you.

A Whole Lotta Brew

If someone were to randomly come into my home not knowing a thing about us they would probably think we are some major alcoholics.

Then again what the heck are they doing in my darned house anyway!?

We would look totally normal until they entered what used to be my husband's closet, but is quickly turning into our over sized fermenter. There they would see the over 30 gallons of various fermenting beers and wines. Oh and don't even think about suggesting he move his clothes into my closet and redo it to where it's his beer room. He hasn't thought of it yet and I refuse to give up an inch of my beautiful walk in closet's space.

Okay well maybe if he figured out how to make me a really really yummy apple cider. Then I just might be willing.

Nope. Nevermind. Not even then.

Here's the lowdown on what we got bubbling right now:

- 5 gallons Apfelwine (German style Apple Wine, it's a dry and tart wine...tastes like sparkling white wine, but you have to be patient...this takes a while for the flavors to come through. 6 months minimum. We almost threw all ours away last time and luckily saved a few bottles. Before 6 months - tastes like sparkling sweat. After - YUM!)

- 6 gallons Reisling (Reisling Wine, sweet and medium dry with hints of pear and apricot. This was my christmas present from the boys which I made Brewerman brew for me. Makes about 30 bottles of wine and lasts me all year! Win!)

- 5 gallons English Pale Ale (English style Pale Ale, dry and crisp. Not as dry as an American pale ale. Some residual sweetness)

- 5 gallons American Pale Ale (American style Pale Ale, dry, crisp, refreshing with up front hop bitterness and finishes clean and slightly sweet)

- 5 gallons Bavarian Hefeweizen (German Style Wheat Beer, crisp and refreshing with aromas of cloves and bananas. True to Bavarian style.)

- 5 gallons Manda-weizen (Hefeweizen with mandarin oranges, German style Wheat Beer, 3 lbs of Mandarin oranges in the fermenter, again same as above with a more citrusy taste and aroma, will probably be sweeter also)

Whoa baby! So...in the area? Feel like a beer? Want a really great and flavorful beer or glass of wine with good company?

Go to the liquor store and buy yourself some craft beer or some wine. Then come on over and we'll swap you. Because while I love this man dearly he doesn't share.

Chilling the wort in his new little 10 gallon set up he got for Christmas.

Cold break in the Pale Ale. See the particles floating in there?
That's the proteins coagulating after chilling rapidly from boil to 68 degrees.
Then you pitch the yeast.

Starter Yeast.
Like a many beer that prepares the yeast to ferment the larger amount of beer.

Lots and lots of fermenting beer. And wine.

English Mild. Pretty pretty young thing.

Happy I Love You Day!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!

I know some people are very anti-Vday but I find that any excuse to get told how much you are loved is a good excuse to me. Plus now that we have kids I think it's very important to celebrate with....and without....them.

Brewerman and I have no big plans in the works as far as a date night or what not. We don't have a lot of family down here to take the boys, and frankly it doesn't mean enough to fight for a babysitter and go out and spend way too much money. So we are doing a yummy dinner of crab legs. Well that's before we found out how much they were. Also we were dieting and wanted to stick with it. But mostly we're just cheap. And lazy.

We ended up making a fabulous meal of Southwest Turkey Chicken Meatballs with Cilantro Tomatillo Dressing and Cuban Style Black Beans with our favorite stand by - Cilantro Lime Rice. Thank you Gina for all the fab recipes (I figure since I have a daily appt with her for dinner recipes we are BFF's now). Add a salad and round off with with our now-becoming-a-tradition-chocolate-dipped-strawberries and can you say yum!?

First we had everyone say something they love about the other person.
LilDude's: Your hair (Brewerman), your belly button (Natalie), Your head (Lil'Guy)
Lil'Guy's: Your shirt (Natalie), your hair (Brewerman) Your head too (Lil'Dude

Ha! Man I love these kids.

Then we did the strawberries and chocolate.

What you see on their faces is stamps. We decided either it was keep an eye on kids or dinner and we opted for dinner being the pigs that we are, so they had a hay day. 

We promptly then put them straight into the bath. Not before someone shoved chocolate on someone else's face. Kids you say? No. That would be their dad on Lil'Guy's face. Not cool, dad.

It was a great time and a great way to say I love you. Brewerman being the nerd he is is getting homebrewing beer shirts, and me being the nerd I am opted for no flowers and a ebook gift card for my nook instead. True love at it's finest! 

Hope you all have a great Valentine's Day and are able to spend it with the ones you love. <3

Oh and just because I am really being a craptastic blogger lately I'm going to throw in the snow day pics we took last weekend. Yes! We got snow here...Texas! Who knew that it could snow? Well actually it has about once a year, but this year I didn't think it would ever quit. Of course the whole state shut down. Well except for Brewerman. It would take an Apocalypse for him to miss work.

I would like to point out the fact that I am still posting this pic even though I have no makeup on and look about 10 lbs past skinny. This is to show you all how so laid back I am and just an all around great person. I'm not conceited at all. 

I mean I hardly noticed how badly I need mascara, or some blush....or that you can hardly see my beady eyes....

Eh hem.

Crickets and Ponies and Goats...oh my!

Saturday we took a trip to the Dallas Zoo. Just our little family. For unofficially, unallowed, completely unable to talk about at this time reason, we needed a day. So we had a day, just the four of us. Not to mention it was in the 70's and sunny.

While driving, about an exit from our turnoff, we noticed a back up. Odd with it being Saturday and all. A mile long back up, and...what do you know!? They are all headed to the zoo. Yay. Obviously we were not alone in our fantastic idea of the day. One silent angry word with the traffic cop who was completely not trafficing later, and we were in. P.s....the back parking lot to the zoo is so much better and less of a walk than the front parking lot!!

Turns out they are having a "BUG-U" Bug fest with Cirque de Soleil. It was really neat and a great surprise. Also it explained the traffic. They had a bunch of games set up, with my boy's favorite things on display. BUGS! Ew.

My boys even got to eat a few.

That's right.

Eat. Ew, ew!

The zoo worker asked if any kids wanted to eat a sour cream or bacon and cheese cricket (they were edible). None of the kids said a word. Except for Lil'Guy!! Who immediately wanted one. Then Lil'Dude piped up.

Sour Cream Cricket...tasty!

Bacon & Cheese Cricket

While I tried not to gag, they asked for seconds. Ha!

All in all it was a fun day, we saw monkeys, and elephants, and giraffes. What I love about Dallas Zoo is how even though there were tons and tons of people there, it didn't "fee" packed.

We got a couple pony rides in for good measure.  Oh and yes I realize my head looks odd in this photo. I was going for "gopher-chic". 

Oh and then we did a craft, with a bunch of other kids who made birds, and bats, and even a chicken. My kid?

My kid made a vampire. 

We were sitting around the table with all the other mommies, some of which I'm pretty sure are ultra-religious with their hair in buns and long skirts...he yells it at me. "MOM!! I made a VAMPIRE!!"

"WHAT!?"

That's what I thought you said...

How does he know what a vampire is you ask?

This one isn't on me. Yes, I sorta love reading and watching movies and what not all things vampire or supernatural. But this was his father, with a little help from the song Cold by Static X and showing them the video that went along with it. Youtube it. It wasn't all Brewerman's fault. The kids heard it, loved it, asked to hear it, saw the video...rest is history.

Yay parenting score!

Still a good day. It was needed, a nice fun time. And a few edible crickets later, I'd say we are the most awesome parents, ever! Until the next incident that is....