Portland Auto Show

Is it seriously time for the Portland Auto Show again? I really feel like Joe and I JUST went to it! This Saturday we'll be going again. And there's no way we'll get out of there before the doors close Saturday night. I've talked about Joe's obsession with automobiles many times but this is like going to Disneyland for him. He can touch everything, sit in everything...it's pure heaven for him! We made it through last year pretty fast, faster than I had ever imagined. This year will probably be a doozy though. My in-laws are coming down to go with us so that means his dad---just as obsessed as Joe--will be there with him! OH. NO. At least Jayne will be there for support. We can (sometimes) usually get them moving faster. I actually don't mind it that much, I like cars too.....and since we'll be in the market soon, it's always fun to look. Thank goodness for my iPhone. That will help pass the hours after we've looked at everything 3 times! :)

Mmmm, The Best Bread Pudding

I've been craving bread pudding for some reason. I've resisted from making it so far---I only like making stuff like that if we're taking it somewhere or having company so that there isn't leftovers! Since I've had bread pudding on the brain, I thought I'd share the last bread pudding recipe I made. Everyone who had it said it was the best they've ever had. And with a name like Paula Deen attached to it, how couldn't it be?!

The Best Bread Pudding

2 cups granulated sugar
5 large beaten eggs
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups cubed Italian bread, allow to stale overnight in a bowl
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup chopped pecans

For the sauce:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup brandy

Mix together granulated sugar, eggs, and milk in a bowl; add vanilla. Pour over cubed bread and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, mix and crumble together brown sugar, butter and pecans.

Pour mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over the top and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until set. Remove from oven.

For sauce: Mix together sugar, butter, egg and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together until the sugar is melted. Add the brandy, stirring well. Pour over bread pudding. Serve warm or cold.

Happy Friday!

A funny YouTube video for the day. There are so many of these and they are so funny. And we thought Subie was the only cat who did stuff like that....

Happy Friday!

Nothing to blog about

I've been thinking about all sorts of things I want to blog about but when I sit down to do it, I get total writers block and can't remember what I wanted to write about. Obviously it's not very blog worthy if I can't remember so I guess you should consider yourself lucky that I'm not blabbering about pointless things. Like how Subie loves my Snuggie. Or how Joe just drank 2 cups of coffee instead of his usual 1 which will leave me short on coffee for my 'to-go' mug that I take with me to work everyday.

I'm happy it's Wednesday, sad that it's JUNEuary and not January and kinda jealous that today is Joe's Friday. And even more jealous that he's off until next Tuesday. And that's just his normal schedule, no PTO involved.

Other than that it's just another day...and another day closer to the weekend, which we all know is what I live for nowadays. :)

Sold!

That's a picture of Joe and the guy that Joe sold his motorcycle to. That's right, he sold his beloved motorcycle! But only so he can buy a new and different one. He's had it listed on Craigslist for months with no luck. On Friday an older guy called and said he had cash and wanted it. Joe was hesitant but offered to meet him in Salem because he was coming all the way from Sisters, OR. He showed up with his wife, loved the bike and ended up riding it home---over the pass and everything! I must admit, it was kinda sad seeing him ride away on it. That bike was Joe! It didn't look right seeing someone else ride it away.

After Salem we made a dreaded trip to Costco. It was so crowded. Miserable. Can I just say I hate the stupid sample stands? People block the aisles with their carts just to get a taste of gross microwaved whatever or a tiny slice of apple or a crumb of bread with butter. One of my new pet peeves!

After Costco we went and hung out with Kim, George and Sophie. We went to another new restaurant (well, new to Joe and I), Nostrana. Their pizza was amazing. It reminded me exactly of the pizza in Naples, Italy. So good! They don't cut it (just like in Italy) and bring scissors to the table so you can cut it. It was a great dinner. Another must try when in Portland. On our way there we passed by Voodoo Doughnuts. We had to swing in and check it out. It was after 5pm but the place was packed! Kim and I ran in just to see what all the hype was about and they had some pretty crazy looking doughnuts. We were only in for about 3 minutes but came out reeking like grease. Even the guys could smell it on us when we got back into the car! Ick.

Today: clean, laundry, clean some more, grocery shop...you know, all the fun, never-ending stuff!

The hunt is still on!

The hunt to find our new 'pre-loved' Subaru is still on. Joe was right, finding a Limited with a manual transmission is hard. They are few and very far between. We found one in Skokie, IL (about 20 minutes outside of Chicago) yesterday. Low miles, 1-owner, limited, manual....perfect car. We went as far as to contacting them to see if they could pick us up from the airport if we got one-way tickets to Chicago. By the way, one-way tickets to Chicago are cheap! We were going to fly out and drive it back. We thought it would be a fun adventure! But sure enough, they were selling it when I talked to them. SO FRUSTRATING. So then I asked our used car buyer if he could start looking for us and he got this weird look on his face and said, "Um, about that. We sold the one Joe wanted." No sh*t. Really?! Then he said, "I was hoping you wouldn't notice." Awesome. Glad to know they think I'm that stupid! Hahaha. At least we still have a few months, I'm sure something will come up. And hey, we might get to make a little mini-vacation out of it! Here's to hoping one turns up somewhere sunny, hot and close to lots of roller coasters. And beaches. :)

It's FRIDAY! TGIF! I forced myself to get up and workout this morning. It always helps knowing it's Friday. And I always feel better when I do get up, it's just so much easier said than done. I blame the darkness. And rain. At least there are always good excuses. When it starts staying light really late I use that one. "I stayed up too late because it was so light out, I need the extra sleep." Justified.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Post #2, can't resist

Ok, I know I just posted but I couldn't resist posting this. My dads company party was this past Saturday and every year they put disposable cameras on the table so people can take candid shots. They got the pictures developed yesterday and there was a picture of a man's scrotum taken underneath the table. SICK! Alicia posted the story on her blog so I just had to share. Perhaps that will be the end of the disposable cameras?! I think I would've been horrified had I been the one who went to get the pictures developed. Now only if we knew who it was.........