Is this, or is this not, the cutest thing you have ever seen?

It's a clip of Aly Hannigan and Seth Green from the movie "My Stepmother is an Alien". I'm watching Season 2 of Buffy right now, and was enjoying one of their first, awkward conversations. Then I remembered this. So cute!

Don't Drink and Walk

This is disgusting

There's a new reality show, called Hitched or Ditched on the CW. Couples who are in long-term relationships are nominated by their friends, and are faced with either getting married, or breaking up. They are given one week to plan their wedding, and are fucked with "put through a series of personalized exercises that test their relationship". Finally, the Big Day arrives, and we all get to see them either get married or get dumped at the alter.

This is shameful. People claim that gay marriage is "tainting the sanctity of marriage"? Bullshit. This kind of voyeuristic, opportunistic shit is what is sullying the name of marriage. The producers should be ashamed of themselves.

Double Irish Chain

This is the quilt I made for my sis for her birthday in April. I forgot to take pictures of it before I wrapped it and gave it to her, so I am just getting this posted here now. It is a double Irish chain, made with red, black and white prints, with a plain red backing, and measures approximately 85x85.

Purple Love

My latest quilt: It's a baby quilt, for a friend who had a baby boy a few weeks ago. I didn't know which gender she was having, but her favorite color is purple, so I just went with that. You may remember a few weeks ago I had made the first attempt at this quilt, with less than stellar results. I took it back apart, picked some better co-coordinating fabrics, and rebuilt it. Now it's ready:

close up of backing

close up of front - all of the fabrics (except the backing) are hearts-and-vines

I am *such* a bad mom

We were watching Smashed (ep of Buffy the Vampire Slayer). I think it's the first time he's seen it. We get to the Big Scene at the end.

J: So...what's going on here?

Me: (looks at the screen, looks at The Boy) That's sex, honey.

J: No! I mean, why is the building falling down?

Me: (deadpan) That's what happens when everybody has sex, honey.

12 of 12 - May

And, it's 12 of 12 time again! Today wasn't a terribly exciting day. Lots of housework. I've spared you any pictures of my washing dishes and cleaning the cat box and bathroom. Your welcome. ;)

6:12 am, my bedroom
Shindig

6:35 am, living room
The Boy having some breakfast while going over something he wrote. Check out his new computer and monitor, which I just got him for his birthday.

6:55 am, in front of our building
The Bus

9:10 am, living room
This was really my breakfast. My ever-present coffee, along with the last piece of The Boy's birthday cake.

11:30 am, bathroom
There was a little girl, who had a little curl...
This is just my hair being belligerent when I tried to pull it back.

12:40 pm, living room
My latest quilt. It's a baby quilt, all in purple heart-and-vines fabrics. As of now, I have the back, batting, and front all pinned together, and I need to machine quilt it, then bind it.

3:30 pm, living room
A First Communion Bracelet I am making for a customer.

4:50 pm, living room
The bracelet is done, the labels are printed. I just need to put it all together and it will be ready to mail.

7:30 pm, living room
The Boy is trying out a trial of World of Warcraft.

8:30 pm, living room
Kitty is nodding off. She still hasn't grown back the fur that was shaved for various blood tests and IVs when she was sick last month. I've taken to calling her "Patches".

8:35 pm, living room
watermelon

11:10 pm, my bedroom
Come to bed, Mommy. And stop trying to blind me with that flash!

Maybe by next month's 12 of 12, I'll have a job and can take some pics in a different setting!

Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Today, my babyturned 13!

Unfortunately for me, this is "Dad's week". I can't complain too much, because many of his birthdays have happened to fall on "my week", and I've had him with me for nearly all of them. But, he woke up today at his dad's house, and went to school. Happily, I did get to spend some time with him today, as he comes here after school, until his dad picks him up after work.

When he came home, I had his cake all ready, candles lit,
and his presents ready for him:
First we had the cake:

Then he opened his presents:

I didn't get a picture, but his present is a new desktop computer and monitor. He's been frustrated with the old one for a long time, and I've hardly been able to wait to give him the new one. We're not setting it up today, though, since we only have a few hours together.

Here's the card I gave him:

And I mean every word of it. I am the luckiest mother, ever. He's such a great kid.

Soon, he'll be off to his dad's house. He's having a sleepover party there tonight with a few friends. He's getting four cakes in three days: the one we just had, one tonight at the party at his dad's house, one tomorrow as DF's girlfriend's son's birthday is today too and they're having a party tomorrow, and on Sunday, he will be with me for Mother's Day, and we are having a little family party, complete with a cake, at my parents' house.

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache

Last summer, when The Boy and I went to Atlanta, we ordered this awesome chocolate cake from room service, and he LOVED it. Said it was the best cake he'd ever had. So, for his birthday, I wanted to try to make something similar. I found a pretty easy looking recipe (full recipe here), and made it last night.

For Cake:
2/3 c. plus 2 tblsp. sugar
2 tblsp. cocao powder
¼ tsp. salt
1 stick butter
9 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For Ganache:
½ c. heavy whipping cream
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped if necessary

Combine sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a large bowl:

Whisk the eggs and vanilla in another bowl:
Add to the sugar/cocoa/salt, stir to combine.


Melt butter in a saucepan; add bittersweet chocolate and stir until melted:

Add the chocolate to the sugar/egg mixture and whisk until completely combined:


Line bottom of springform pan with parchment paper. Butter parchment paper and sides of pan:

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes in a preheated 350F oven. Cool completely in pan.

To prepare ganache, bring the cream to a simmer, add the semi-sweet chocolate and stir until completely melted and smooth:

Pour the ganache over the cake, still inside the springform pan.

Chill for at least 2 hours to set the ganache. (I made this yesterday evening, and served it today.)

The recipe also gives instructions for whipped cream, but Jake doesn't care for it, so I just bought some canned whipped cream for myself. This cake was so easy to make, and came out SOOOOO delicious. Very rich, though, you can't eat very much at once.

Note: This recipe called for a 9" springform pan. My springform pan is 10". I was concerned about not having enough batter, so I increased the entire recipe by 25% (I chose that percentage basically because it would increase the egg by one, so that I did not have to go using half an egg or some foolishness like that). I also decided that the layer of ganache was not as thick as I would like, so I made a whole 'nother batch of ganache the next morning and poured it over.

So worth repeating

Just got back from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Hugh Jackman is hot.

That is all.

Kitty Update #7

I just heard back from the vet for the latest kitty checkup: Her thyroid level is perfect, so we will keep up with the current med dosage. Her kidney levels are nearly normal, just one value (BUN) is slightly elevated. We are STOPPING the fluids, and will bring her for a re-check in one month. I am so relieved and happy!