Cupcakes

I'm pretty proud ...

Conrad wanted some cupcakes and I did have come mix, but no icing! Well I've watched enough Paula Deen - I know it's easily made, just never done it. I pulled out my handy dandy mixer and BAM, vanilla buttercream - and it is GOOD. Conrad said he likes it better than the store bought kind. I even went so far to stick it in a freezer bag, snip off the end and pipe it on. It came out in big, fat swirls, JUST like on TV!

I am so proud ...

and now I am for SURE enrolling in the Wilton Cake School!

Kah

Two for Two

I'm trying to get back into blogging. Forgive me. Life gets in the way.

Before Conrad's family came last week we ate NINE meals at home for dinner. Back to back to well ... you get the picture. Then they came, and there was a lot of eating out, as you do ... and it was hard to get back on the program. But back on it we are.

Last night I stopped off at the HEB Vintage Market. I was under the mistaken impression it was more expensive than the run of the mill Kroger or HEB but I was SO WRONG. HEB Central Market can be pricey but this place was REALLY reasonable and much better than the average market. They have a gorgeous bakery and a cheese section to make you cry, etc etc ... they also have a chef who sits there with a microphone and cooks in front of you (did you know this is how Rachel Ray started out) anyway ... she was making something called Agave Chicken. OH MY GAH. All I had to do was buy the Adams Reserve Jamaican Jerk seasoning and the bottle of Agave. First of all Adams Reserve is NICE STUFF. I don't know how much money will take or how long it will take but I fully intend to use up my spices I have and replace with the Adams Reserve. GOOD STUFF ... so I came home and I made the Agave Chicken. HEAVEN.

Tonight - I decided no more canned or bottled salad dressings for me. Except for ranch. Everyone should have a bottle or eleventy billion on hand of THAT - but the rest of it, I'll make. I made a homemade ceasar dressing which was surprisingly good (made with anchovy paste found at HEB Vintage!) and a homemade canadian bacon pizza. It was really great.

Two for two ...

Tomorrow I think is a eat out day - our friend Amy is town from MN this weekend and we have plans to take her to Bootsie's, the new star of Tomball cuisine - but back on the wagon Monday night. I am thinking either some Beddar Cheddar's (sausage links) or some jumbalaya with jalapeno sausage. Just don't know yet. But I am loving cooking right now.

Kah

Andy x 2

1 brother = found

Andy

If anyone has seen my brother Andy ... in Austin, Texas please tell him to call me or someone in his family. My other brother says he has not seen him in about a month ... which is scary ... he went to stay with a guy named Jose that he got a job with  ... only I don't know who Jose is or ... what this job is.

So, if ya see him or hear of him tell him to call. I am NOT DOWN with these disappearing acts! It's not a good feeling not knowing where everyone is!

Kah

Good Weekend

July 4th weekend was really nice.

I got off a little early on Friday and we headed to Greenville (little over an hour North of Dallas) and we drove through what I can only call a MONSOON. It took 6 HOURS to get where we could have been in 3 HOURS. It was a nail biting, fist clinching ride. Anyway, we arrived safe.

My friend Toni did me a huge favor and was able to take care of Blanca while we went to church on Sunday to see a musical program for the 4th. So we popped in on her and my sis on Friday night when we FINALLY got there  - we went to Love N War in Texas which is a great restaurant in Plano. Saturday was a great day that ended with fireworks and sparklers in Greenville and some GREAT fajitas.

Sunday was an early morning - church and then a drive home. I also got to meet Conrad's uncle for the first time. We have emailed back and forth for years, but never met face to face. It was such a nice day - his great aunt who is 91 !!!!!!!!!!!! also came out  - just the perfect day. The three of us completely crashed when we got home. Today was spent washing clothes and grocery shopping - and now we are just catching up on our TV programs and relaxing before heading back to workies tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.

Kah

Sorry

The last time I blogged it was Memorial Day and here we are approaching the 4th of July. WHOOPS~

I just HAVE NOT been into it.

But let's see - we met with a home builder - that's a start! I went to FL and had a great four days. It was very relaxing and it's always good to see my family.

I've made some good dinners ... and things are just plugging along ... I'm just busy and tired and those things that come along with livin' .... :)

I will be posting my FL pics soon.

Kah

Karyn & Conrad's White Trash Memorial Day

Last Friday the HOA opened up the offices so the residents could secure their pool passes for the summer. Conrad and I parked outside the office and watched all manner of trashy people march in and out. I can't figure out where they live- I think in the back of the subdivision cause TRUST ME, if I saw these peeps on a daily basis I would be OUT. Most of them even wore their BATHING SUITS down to get their pool passes. What did it for me was seeing a mom and her 14 year old HEAVILY TATTOOED daughter walk by. The daughter was BARELY in a suit, with about a foot and a half wings tattooed on her back. Conrad was inside and heard the mom arguing. Apparently they are not current on their HOA dues and could not get a pass. The mom reasoned, "Hey - I'm not going to be coming down here to the pool, SHE IS" .... and that right there cemented my decision that I would not be spending any time with these unsavories this summer. Melanoma will have to wait!

The next morning I came up with one of my more brilliant ideas. No reason the Abercrombie- Hopkins house can't be something of a resort in itself, yeah? So I took myself off to Target with my $25 gift card that I earned for Perfect Attendance at work in 2009 - that's RIGHT - can I get a "what what" ? ... and I purchased us the finest 69 inch, blow up pool $25 can buy. That's right baby - Conrad hooked it up to my car cigarette lighter and we blew this bad boy of paradise UP. Right there in the driveway ...

That's RIGHT! We're kicking it WESTSIDE - check this out HOMIES of the neighborhood- I'll not be wallowing in YOUR juices!

30 minutes later, we have our own MTV Spring Break! Check out the bountiful colors. It's deep enough to drown a cat!

After proudly displaying my wares to the neighbors- I dragged it into the backyard cause while I don't mind showing off, I'm not trying to get shot up on the block right in my own front yard. So I drug it out back and pulled out the hose - I know. THAT'S CLASSY ...   It took about 10 minutes to fill up -long enough to run in and get my cammo hat and my suit on. I pulled out my floaty from a few years back - and threw that in there - and it was like being back in the Dominican, minus the fried dog and the people chasing you down on the beach.

Another weekend has come - and I am already excited about being back out there tomorrow and Sunday.

All I need is my Mountain Dew and my library books - I know, Mom and Dad, y'all are so proud. I'm thinking about taking real good care of this - and bringing it to the house we build next year. I'm pretty sure our new neighbors are going to be pretty jealous of our style.

KAH