Shades of grey

Now now, I know your brain automatically went to the extremely popular smut novel. Alas... this post is actually about the color grey.

When we first moved into our home we painted our living room a fairly dark shade of grey. It was fine at first, but 2 years later I am starting to feel closed in. Our living room doesn't have a whole lot of light and the color just makes the room so dark.

So this weekend we will be re-painting (the mister doesn't know that yet) with a lighter shade. I like the choices above. I think the 1 in the middle is really nice. Doesn't have those green under tones. We will see what I actually find when I hit the paint store. Never know what it will look like in real lighting.

Happy Hump Day!! 

Bookshelf: Deadlocked

I started sharing books here so I could share books I love with you all and pass around great authors, but in this instance I am sharing a poor review. I started reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels a few years ago and loved them in the beginning. However, this is the 12th installment of this series and let's just say that Charlaine must be running out of material.

This thing dragged on and on and on. There was a point when I just thought it can't get any worse, and then she kept beating this dead horse. I finally had to shelf the stupid thing and walk away. I am saddened by this. Since I have so enjoyed her books in the past. Although I could understand if she is just plain bored with Sookie. I mean how much can really happen?!?! So it saddens me to advise you to steer clear of this Sookie book and move on . It's time to find a new vampire love story...maybe even something without vampires. I mean, I can't be alone in being so over vampire stories I am in Canada...

*Cheers*

Looking forward

I dwell.... major confession here folks. I dwell on so many things. Particularly negative things. I let them fester and control my every day happiness. It is so dumb I cannot even explain it well. This is something that I have learned over time from experiences in my life, but I am working really hard to unlearn them. I want to go forward not fester and rot on the past. I can't change that. I can change how I handle those situations going forward. It is completely in my control how I react and respond to myself and others.

If you are anything like me, don't let the past hold you back from your own happiness. Whether that is with your family, husband, weight loss journey, or friendships. You have COMPLETE control over what you do and how you react. Liberating isn't it.

So the next time someone says to you..."you make me feel this way!" laugh it off because the truth is... you cannot make anyone feel anything. They take in what you do & say, and feel however they are going to. It's time to own that people!

~E~

Travels: Norris TN 2012

Okay so I have to admit I don't have any pictures of myself, but I have some photos of my trip home. My parents have a lake place in Norris TN. So usually when I go to TN to see them I just go their and stay there. This time though, we ventured into Knoxville my hometown and walked around. It has been a long time since I have been home and I have to say I missed that city.

We ventured to my old watering hole... well my place of employment for several years...Barley's and right down the street was this amazing little record/vintage store. I scored a pretty skirt, a stool, and fabulous painting. Roo, got a zillion records... okay more like 10.

We spent the rest of the trip on the boat, at the lake, at the pool, or just in a drunken stupor. Our livers needed a break after our trip, but I had such a blast. A much needed vaca!

My parents enjoying an ice cold beverage on their boat... I guess you could say retirement has been good to my dad.

I have to say I LOVE this picture. These are the 2 best men I have ever known in my life. My amazing father (the foobs) and my incredible husband. They are peas in a pod...well minus that height difference. They are both so a like yet so different. I love them dearly!

So there you have it folks, that is my July 4th and my summer vacation wrapped up in one post.

XOXO

Greatest Cake Ever

Folks you are in for a treat. I am going to share the recipe for this utterly decadent and amazing cake with you today. It is a total bitch to make and takes the better part of a day, but I swear on my granny's grave (it's her recipe) you will never eat another cake this good. So get out your pens... or just hit print. This is worth having.

GERMAN SWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE:
1 package (4 oz) baker's german's sweet chocolate
1/2 cup of water
2 cups of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
4 egg whites

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottoms of 3 9" round cake pans with wax paper (or just spray with pam, I never use the wax paper)
Microwave chocolate with water in large microwavable bowl on high 1.5 to 2 minutes... stir until chocolate is completely melted.  (you can heat on the stove top too just stir constantly till the chocolate melts)
Mix flour, baking soda, salt and set aside. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating after each addition until smooth.
Beat egg whites in a large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently stir into batter. Pout into prepared pans. Bake 30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center. Cool for 15 minutes, remove from pans. Continue cooling on wire racks.

CREAMY CHOCOLATE ICING:

1 cup of softened butter
2 lbs of confectioners sugar
2 Tbsp of evaporated milk (or as much as you need to make the icing creamy, I usually use about a 1/4 a cup when it's all said and done)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 squares of unsweet chocolate (from a 10oz baker's square box)
2 squares of semi sweet chocolate (from a 10oz baker's square box)

Cream the butter. Gradually add the sugar, beating well after each add. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth. Again if it is like a giant fudge ball, add more evaporated milk. (I didn't do that the first time I mad it and it was unspreadable.... remember last Thanksgiving.

There you are folks, the greatest cake on the planet. Hope you enjoy!!