BUY A HOUSE? CHECK.

Who's enjoying this hot weather? Let's just say, it's been a nice change. Cash wore shorts today, I made a gallon of pink lemonade and even took him to the park. We'd play in the yard, only there's just one problem. Our yard looks like a miniature version of Moody Gardens at the moment.

 I think J was under the impression that Winter means relinquishing all your duties as Official Spokesman/Care Taker for our lawn, and it's somewhat resembling a test site for nuclear weapons at the moment. I fear for Cash's safety. I feel like if I take him out to play that he may get lost within the grass, unless by chance some alien has carved out a crop circle that he can dwell in. I guess if it bothered our neighbors enough, they would've at least cut the front FOR us.. At least I won't have to worry about this anymore because...

* drumroll please *

 

WE'RE MOVINGGGG! WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSEEEE! Oh. Em. Gee! Unfortunately, it hasn't been too exciting of a moment because we've been in the process for about three months now, but the realism of it all is finally sinking in. My dad has a rental property that he is trying to sell, and we are buying it from him. It's no "dream house", nor do we plan on staying in it forever, but it's PERFECT for us at the moment, and is as cute as can be. J thinks we're pretty accomplished for being able to say we have an "Investment Property before the age of 24".. I'll have to agree. It looks like the next couple of months will be a busy busy time full of moving, decorating, and LOTS of paint! With the help of my madre & my b.f.f Ashley, Martha Stewart will envy this little place when I'm through with it! I'll be sure and post progress on the house and all of the projects that it requires.

 

Who all watched the Grammy's? Of course the award recipients were a real joke, AS USUAL! Esperanza Spalding aka "A Jazz Singer No One Has Ever Heard of" beat out Justin Bieber for Best New Artist, which was a pretty big shocker. Justin Bieber has fans of his fans.. I was SURE he'd take it, but he's young and will probably get one or ten within the next couple of years. Aside from that, the most INTERESTING part (in my book) was of course the Grammy Red Carpet fashion. LOVELOVELOVE. I won't go into too much detail, but does anyone know this chick?

 

I'm not a Kim Kardashian hater at all. I think those sisters are ridiculously hilarious to watch, have great fashion choices and are a perfect role model for young girls. (Okay, so maybe there's a hint of sarcasm in the last one..) I'm all for ol' Kim but 1. What the hell does she have to do with music? and 2. Does her dress look familiar to you?

 

Oh yes. That's Jennifer Lopez in an almost identical draping gold dress about 5 or 6 years ago. Kim, do yourself a favor. Try to emulate ANY other star BUT Jennifer Lopez. Maybe I'm a super fan because she played Selena and "Dreaming of You Tonight" was my jam/life anthem from the time I was 7 through 6th grade because I would lip sync it dramatically in the mirror to my boyfriend who hadn't yet existed. I only hoped that my some-day love would sing this song to me and we would live as happy as Bo & Hope from Days of Our Lives, since my mom would allow me to watch it with her at this age and this was my only representation of "true love." If Bo & Hope can survive fake deaths, remarriages & multiple unrealistic misunderstandings, then I could have a boyfriend one day, (I'd have to be much much older though, like 13.) Okay, back to the topic at hand. JENNIFER LOPEZ! I'm loving me some Jenny from the Block on American Idol as well. And I'm not fooled by the rocks that she's got.

P.S. Kim Kardashian, pardon my rambling. But don't you ever, EVER attempt to recreate a look by my good friend Jennifer Lopez again. This is your final warning.

 

 

You asked for it. So here we go.

 

I hadn't planned on posting a tutorial for these, or else I would've taken pictures of each step, so I'm sorry if the directions seem a little bit hazy. This was definitely a spur of the moment project!

FAUX CANVAS PHOTO TUTORIAL:

NEED:

- Photos of your choice

- Plywood

- Mod Podge glue (available at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc.)

- Foam paint brushes (two or three if you're working with cheap ones like yours truly!)

- Black Spray paint (Or plain ol' paint. Whichever you have handy!)

 

STEPS:

1. I asked my trusted Papa/Carpenter/JackOfAllTrades to cut me four squares of wood. If you don't have a talented Papa, you can ask the sweet man at Lowe's or any other hardware store to cut it for you, to the size of picture you want. My boards were 8x8. He also drilled holes in the back so they would hang flush on the wall. This was a nice addition, so I'd suggest asking your new friend at Lowe's to do this as well.

2. Sand the edges of each board and spray paint (or paint with a brush) the edges black.

3. When dry, paint a layer of Mod Podge onto the board with the foam brush.

4. Apply the picture to the board, and smooth out onto the board, starting in the middle.

5. Re-sand the edges of the board to give a "rustic" effect and to ensure that the picture is secure.

6. Lightly sponge a final thin layer of Mod Podge onto the picture board to give a "canvas" effect.

Voila! Don't worry, mine don't look perfect either.. ;)

I love when I'm watching movies or various cooking shows, and the people voice their opinions on what is a "comfort food." Meatloaf?? Chowder?? REALLY!? If you're from the South & you're ANYTHING like me, your comfort comes in the form of a pot of beans & some homemade cornbread. Don't get me wrong, the cornbread doesn't even have to always be homemade.. I'm all for my Jiffy & Corn Kits! But.. when it is.. it's the very best. I typically take the easy way out, but sometimes it's just best to do things 100% homemade. If you don't already have the perfect recipe (nobody is hatin' on your Grandmama's Beans & Cornbread!) here's the one that I would suggest! Hope it works for you ;)

 

"BEANZ & CONE-BREAD"

 

NEED (BEANS):

- 4 cups Pinto Beans

- 4 slices Salt Pork (or Bacon or Ham Hock!)

- S & P

- Tony's Chachere's Creole Seasoning

- 1 diced Celery stalk

- 1 tsp. Fresh parsley

- Dash of Hot Sauce. Or two.. Or three.

- Pinto Bean Seasoning (This one is a good addition for me. It's the perfect mixture of Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Chili Powder and some other fabulous spices I can't recognize but it's GREAT! This is what the one I use looks like!)

NEED (CORNBREAD):

- ¼ cups Plus 2 Tablespoons Shortening

- 1 cup Yellow Corn Meal

- ½ cups All-purpose Flour

- 1 teaspoon Salt

- 1 cup Buttermilk

- ½ cups Milk

- 1 whole Egg

- 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

- ½ teaspoons Baking Soda

- 1/4 cup Sugar

STEPS (BEANS):

1. Rinse beans in cool water; pour into a pot, cover with water by 2 to 3 inches.

2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover.

3. Add vegetables, meat, and seasonings (minus the hot sauce!)

4. Simmer 2 hours, or until beans are tender.

5. Add water to pot as needed. Beans should have a thick broth. Toward end of cooking time, add hot sauce to taste.

STEPS (CORNBREAD):

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

2. Heat shortening in an iron skillet (or muffin pan/other baking dish if you're a rookie..HA!)

3. Combine corn meal, flour, salt, and sugar in mixing bowl.

4. In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk, milk and egg.

5. Add baking powder, baking soda and mixed dry ingredients to the wet.

6. Add 1/4 cup melted shortening, stirring constantly. Pour into hot pan.

7. Smooth surface with spatula, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

 

It's been a while I've posted a good dessert recipe and since I've been craving apples lately (No, not pregnant, just craving apples..) I decided to make this insanely mouth-watering Apple Crisp recipe. PLEASE try this out if you're into warm, cinnamony, appley time things. If you're not.. well, you're crazy. I served mine "a la mode", and I ate it the next day for breakfast too.. Yeah, sue me. I just warmed it up and it was JUST as delicious as the night before.

APPLE CRISP

NEED:

- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

- 1/3 cup regular oats

- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/4 cup chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces

- 3 tablespoons chopped pecans

- 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, chopped small

- 1/4 cup maple syrup

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

STEPS:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, oats, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in pecans.

3. Combine apple and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; toss well.

4. Spoon apple mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish or 1 1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with crumb mixture.

5. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

 

P.S. Guess who has TWELVE whole teeth now? No, not your hillbilly neighbor. MY CUTIE PIE! I'll leave you with a pic of him giving a sneak peak of 4 of them.. Couldn't you just eat him up?!