No Sir, I don't like it.

Have you ever heard a phrase or a saying and as soon as they said it something pops in your head.  Happens to me all. the. time.

I was talking to a Co-worker the other day and he was asking me if I liked something and I said "No sir, I don't like it." and I laughed.  Because I obviously got the joke...he however did not.  And if you don't know the joke....well just shame on you.

 

I have a very overactive imagination (totally why I can't watch scary movies, that shit stays in my brain and I freak myself out).  And I can pretty much remember every single book/movie/tv show I've ever seen (where was this in college!?).


When I read books, I become so invested in them.  I feel like the character is real and I want them to be real.  Now, I'm not super weird chick who actually thinks they are real, no I'm not.  But that doesn't mean, I wouldn't want them to be real.  When I read, I see the story in my head and it stays with me forever.  When I was in Junior High, I pretty much read every single Fear Street book there was and I still remember bits and pieces of it.  It kind of helps that I will re-read everything and anything.  In High School, I couldn't tell you how many times I read Without Mercy...I don't know why I was so obsessed with it but I was, my copy was so worn out.  I can't go into a IHOP without thinking of that book.  I know that story backwards and forwards.  And now, my Goose got me into the Paranormal Romance Novels, The Black Dagger Brotherhood and oooh, I was in heaven and in love.  I was engrossed in these books that I was ignoring my shows (which if anyone knows me, I love my TV).  I highly suggest you read them.  I've also read the Dark Hunter Series, which I love.  I have read Acheron, probably about 15 times now and I just can't stop.  Acheron has just stuck with me.  I've read The Midnight Breed Series, which are actually quite good (more action, less romance) and Mercy Thompson Series, I really liked that one.  I love reading about werewolves/shifters - that's one thing I loved about the DH series, they had vamp books, were books, even dream hunter books.  All the things I love in one series...yes, please!!

Oh, the reason I was telling you this story was because my godson has to read Freckle Juice for summer reading.  And omg, I loved that book when I was younger.  I was so excited to tell him what it was about and how great it was and I wasn't that much older than he was when I 1st read it but I still remember it.  And he has to read a Junie B. Jones book..squee! I loved her books too! lol


Anyways...lol, I didn't expect to talk that much about books - if you can't tell I love books.

I don't know where "NOT TODAY" came from, maybe it was from reading too many meme's but when something in a movies happens...crap it was just in a movie I watched and I can't remember the name of it...but I can totally see the scene in my head...moving on, when something epic happens, I always want to yell "NOT TODAY, oh not today mf'er" LOLOL seriously I think it's hilarious.  When I was having the whack-a-mole contest with the roaches during the Bath Renov, I was yelling at the roaches "NOT TODAY..oh you are not coming in my house" lol.  Don't judge me.


OOOH and my co-worker just reminded me of this one cause our new intern name is George.  And I was like hmmm...why do I know that name? Aha!! I know, Bugs Bunny!!!!

Buhahaha!!! I say that when I squeeze our cat.


I think my Hubs loves and hates me for this because most of the time, I'll reference movie we've both seen and he gets the joke but when he doesn't, it makes it even funnier for me...for him..meh, not so much lol.

So this weekend, I plan to do a DIY project and I'll share the details on Monday.  Make sure to check twitter and facebook for random updates.  I just posted the pictures of my mom's new house! It's HUUGEE!!

No Boil Lasagna

I got this recipe long ago and I love it.  It's super easy.  Now, this wouldn't be "Adventures in Caveat Cooking" if there wasn't some kind of mistake.  I swear, I've made this lasagna a bunch of times and its came out perfect.  This time...no so much.  I didn't use enough sauce (I usually use the big ol jar of Rago/Prego (whatever is on sale, really) but this time I used a small jar) so there wasn't alot of sauce in the actually lasagna.  So if you make this, use the big ol' jar or add 2 cans of tomato sauce (I only used 1).

Ingredients:
1 to 1 1/2 pounds of ground meat
a pack of oven ready lasagna noodles
a pack of mozzarella cheese
a tub of part skim ricotta cheese
a big ol' jar of tomato sauce (whatever brand you like)
some parmesan cheese
some minced garlic
Italian seasoning
1 egg

Tools:
1 skillet
1 big bowl
1 9x13 pan
1 small bowl

Start off by browning your ground meat, add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning.  Once done, drain and add to the large bowl.  And then add your tomato sauce

 See...small jar...make sure you use the big jar or another can of tomato sauce.  And I'd like to point out, I cook almost everything in that Magnalite pan.  I LOOVE it.  My mom has had a set since her wedding 30 years ago (and they look GREAT too) and I received mine from Hub's Aunt D when we got married..I was so happy.

Personally, I think you can really cook IF you can cook in a non non-stick pan and nothing gets burned or stuck to the pan.  Non-stick is for the weak :p

 I totally did the action shots instead of making it all pretty to take a picture...I don't have time for that lol, I needed to make this stuff.  So pay no attention to the everything except the 3 cheeses there and the carton of eggs.

I have a messy counter, I know.  BUT in my defense, it's stuff I use every time I cook (my spices, my olive oil, cooking spray) I don't know why the cup of bacon grease is there...I thought I put it in the fridge...hmmm.  And yes, I save my bacon grease...don't judge me. 

Make sure your noodles say "Oven Ready", believe me.  I tried it once with just regular noodles...the noodles were a bit undercooked and it was not good.

 Ok, so after you add your meat to the sauce (heh), in the small bowl add the egg and ricotta cheese and a 2-3 shakes of your parmesan cheese. and stir well until it's all mixed.

 Then in your pan, put a layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan, remember your sauce cooks the noodles, so don't freak when you have a big ol' bowl of sauce, trust me...you will use it.

 Then put a layer of noodles.  Now in my pan, I have to do the noodle configuration like this and I actually like it this way.  I do have to break off a bit to the top to fit - BUT be careful because you only have 1 extra noodle.

 Then add a layer of sauce, then a 6 globs of the ricotta mixture and spread them as best you can. Then sprinkle some mozzarella over the whole thing.  More mozzarella the cheeser it will be, so don't go overboard.

 And repeat.  Noodles, sauce, cheese.  you'll get about 2 layers - max.  After the last cheese application (use all the cheese..do not be afraid), put your noodles on top and cover it with ALL the sauce.  The more sauce, the better (and I should know, right..tsk tsk)

 After you've put all your sauce, cover that baby with cheese.  Now, I know you're probably asking yourself..."Em..is that yellow cheese I see?"..why yes, yes that is yellow cheese.  Truth be told, I didn't have a full bag of mozzarella, so I kind of ran out, so I improvised and add some cheddar that I had in the fridge.  Cheese is cheese to me. Oh, when you finally lift it to put it in the oven, you'll probably say "sweet jesus, this damn thing is heavy"...well, you do have alot of sauce in there.  But yes, it will feel like a brick but it will lighten up once it cooks.

Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil.  Then bake uncovered for about 10-15 minutes or when the cheese starts to brown.

And VOLIA!!! You have lasagna! and you didn't have to boil anything!!

 I told you, you always get stuck with one extra noodle...what in the crap am I gonna do with one measly noodle..*scoff*.

Birthday party & weekend fun

Hola, ¿Cómo estás? Muy bien, gracias


That's about all I can say in Spanish, oh and thank you & you're welcome.

Anyways, on to the weekend.  This weekend was my Last Annual Crawfish boil and it was fantastic.  Everyone showed up and had a great time.  We hardly had any crawfish left (which I looove) and I am so thankful for everyone that showed up.  Now, because I was running around for the 1st 2 hours and then drinking around the last 2 hours - I have no pictures, I know..bad blogger.(Maybe someone else got a pic and is willing to share??)

On Sunday was Travis' 4th Birthday party!! Yay!!! It was at Chuckie Cheese's and I'm gonna say it...at 11am on a Sunday at CC was the best time to have the party.  Dude, there was hardly anyone in there and when it did start to get crowded (around 1pm) it was time to go! I might even have Little Man's party there next year.  Here's some pictures of LM on some of the rides...

And here is some of Travis and LM dancing in front of the blue screen...

 And playing a some air hockey - that the both quit after 2 seconds lol...thank goodness most of the games are only 1 token cause I would have wasted alot of tokens with Little Man's "ooooh shiny" routine.

I'm working on my 1st cooking post, it's a recipe for a really easy lasagna but as my lovely hubby would say "Adventures in Caveat Cooking" cause it never fails..something always goes wrong or I'm missing an ingredient or I overcook/undercook something.  I really try to be a good cook, I swear.  I try new recipes and get inspiration/pinspiration....but sigh sometimes it doesn't always turn out THAT great.  It's always edible...well maybe once it wasn't...ok..maybe a couple times.  But dammit I'm trying!!  *woosah** ok, so that post will be for tomorrow, but I'll leave you with a picture of what my boys did pretty much all weekend (except for out trip to the new yogurt bar in town - which was like HEAVEN!)

That's right...gamer love runs in our family...

Do you see that? that I'm 12 and don't take pictures of me glare...I get it all the time from him when I whip out my phone.

My NEW Bathroom!!

Yay! I'm so excited!  My bathroom renovation is finally done!!!  Squee!!!!  I love it so much.  It is pretty much everything that I envisioned in my head.  A HUGE thank you to my Dad, Sis, and Hubby.  And now the before pics again...

 LOL I added this pic so you could see the swinging doors...pay no attention to the Gordon...lol

*drum roll......*  the finished bathroom!!

 (look Sis...the correct way to fold towels on the bar...see, told ya I'd put it up)

 

I couldn't dreamed of a nicer bathroom, I love it.  BTW, the toilet is new, the tub is new, the light fixtures are new.  All from Home Depot...except the shelf, I got it at Lowe's cause it was $10 bucks cheaper there, sorry HD.

 So are you ready for my next project???  Staining the stairs, and Satee thing in Little Man's room.  And eventually whenever my Sis gets back from her MONTH long vacation, we can work on these chairs we scored at a garage sale...and btdubs, I totally not bitter she's leaving me for a month...really...well I mean, just a little bit lol.

Vanity

So the bathroom remodel is going well.  Dad got the dimmer installed yesterday (upside down - apparently he had to because of the wiring...meh, whatever, it works so check that off the list) and the light above the toilet.

The mirrors are finally about to be hung...oh can I show you what was under this wall to wall mirror that had been on the wall since '93?

 This is what the vanity area had always looked like, mirror across  2 of the exact same shelves on both sides. And for shits and giggles, here's the vanity...white laminate press-board..oh yea. (pay no attention to the bottle of purge on the left...we had *issues* when we took up the toilet...shudder it was so gross, it was like whack-a-cockroach, I swear.  Personally, I hate those shelves, so bulky and yes its extra storage but can you see how much shit is on the counter?  yea...those cabinets were great in theory 10 years ago.  So after I got Hubs to help me, we took down the cabinets and the shelves and lookie what we found...

YES!! that's right.  The owners before my parents many many years ago had recessed medicine cabinets and cut in between the studs.  That's just great.  Luckily, I was able to buy 2 patches for the small holes at the bottom and do that myself.  But I don't think they make patches that big for the 2 on the top.  So Hubs (after consulting my Dad) cut into the sheetrock more to expose the studs to be able to screw the new sheetrock into the wall and have it flush.  And after 2 coats of sheetrock mud and a paint job by my lovely Sis, it's DONE!!!!!

Isn't it LOVELY!!!!! OMG I'm soo happy!! (yes, there is still a mess...Friday, I promise you'll have clean pictures with a camera not an iphone/droid lol)  I got new cabinet pulls, that Hubs picked out..why, I tell you, because it reminded him of LOTR..ha, love him, and we installed them last night.  I love them, very Celtic.

I wish I had taken a before and after of the mirrors because one was a tacky silver and the other one was a tacky gold...after 2 coats of a glossy white and a coat of clear enamel, I get these pretty bambo mirrors, that I just loove.

Apparently...per Hubs I missed a spot on the mirror.  I did not!! Actually it came off with the tape..meh, it gives it character, I say, plus I'm not repainting it.  It was a pain in the ass to get the tape/plastic shopping bags on the effin mirror in the 1st place.  Nope, it's fine.

I'll leave you with a picture I sent to my Goose (friend of mine) in my typical household fashion, its my Mom and I in the shed...watching TV lol.  LOLOL our shed is a effin mess...like dude.