Because it's Monday...

...and I'm two deep in Glenlivet.

MUSIC MONDAY

Defying Gravity

I will admit I am a fan of Idina Menzel as Elphaba but this rendition is beautiful. I don't really like Buzzfeed in general, but this is worth watching.

And if you're interested in another kick ass singer, check out Brandi Carlile at Newport Folk Festival via NPR. This woman, y'all, she sings what is in my heart. Just look at that photo from the festival. The entire hour plus is rock your socks off amazing but what I love the most is that they really sing. This version of The Story? It is the love song that I wish I could have ever written for DH. She states about halfway through that you know you're a band when the electric goes out and you're still a band. These three? Definitely a band. She and the twins fill this hour with a magic that I would have cut off my right arm to see in person.

Let's put it this way...if this baby stuff never works out I'm flying around the US following Brandi Carlile on tour. Yep, I'll be a roadie. DH can join if he'd like.

Who are you listening to tonight? What artist is capable of putting out there the essence of who you are?

I Have An Idea

So I've been thinking about what to do with this here blog. I don't want to have a blog that is centered on one thing like baking or books or just my ramblings. It wouldn't work for me. So I'm going to go back to writing about what I know. Some days that will be books. Oh I love books! Some days that will be trying to have a baby and all the crazy emotional crap that accompanies that. Some days that will be about baking. What I've tried, what I want to try, why I love it so much. Some days it will simply be about my day or my cats or my DH of a husband (Dark Horse, FYI).

Tonight I declare ramblings!

Have you guys seen the new Lego commercial? It's a hit as far as advertising goes. I was invested from second one and I didn't even notice the Lego's everywhere until the end shot. I'd love it just as much if it was a little boy instead of a little girl because it's about the feeling of creating something. Who cares whether you're male or female? Everyone has imagination.

Last weekend DH and I went out on a day date to one of our favorite watering holes. Then we walked down to a cigar bar. This picture makes me feel like a bad ass with a stogie and a scotch. What it doesn't tell you is that it's really hard to get the taste of cigar out of your mouth.

For the first time ever I made banana pudding from scratch. I didn't know that this stuff existed until 6 years ago since it's not a thing in the North. A fabulous friend bought me a Southern Living entertaining cookbook a few years ago for my birthday and I fell in love with the recipes immediately. But I have never used it until yesterday to actually make a recipe. Maybe I didn't feel southern enough. You know, I'm a Yankee. Don't tell anyone. We were having over my parents-in-law and when DH was asked either cobbler or banana pudding he chose the puddin'. What I loved about this recipe is that it used homemade vanilla pudding. One of my most cherished memories as a kid was helping mom make pudding. We usually had homemade and it was torture waiting for it to cook and then cool enough to not burn the crap out of our mouths. Once we were old enough we had the job of stirring the pudding while it cooked. It seemed to take an eternity to go from milk and sugar and cornstarch to blissful vanilla silky goodness. FYI, as an adult it still takes an eternity of around 15 minutes to go from "hmmm..." to "aw yiss". What I didn't know was that I was potentially inviting controversy and strife into our household. Yes, you read that right. The recipe called for a meringue top instead of whipped cream. Apparently this is a controversy in the south. Luckily for me my Texas family does not hold strong opinions on this and we all enjoyed dessert.

Henry has become very lovey and vocal as he's gotten older. Today he meowed for treats. This has never happened in 3 years. He sat on my lap yesterday and snuggled in for a nap. He's talking to us more. I'm convinced he's dying, y'all. DH had to tell me to calm down when Henry started all this because it was so unlike him. I forget life before him and thus I forget that he's only 3. I think he's stretching his personality and seeing what he likes. Do cats do that?

I think he's pretty much the most handsome man ever. Well, the most handsome cat man ever.

Happy Sunday Evening!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!

Just because it's Tuesday.

(https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/3nlbr2/war_is_hell/?ref=share&ref_source=link)

Oh, and for the record....protein powder in oatmeal before you cook it is a bad idea. Breakfast is not a winner this morning.

Apparently I've Been Gone

I realized today that most of the blogs that I was following have either been on hiatus, like mine, or no longer exist. So....where does a girl go to find some inspiration? I have loved using list posts in the past, and even better if they are one where you can post your blog and get some feedback, new readers and internet love! But I am up a creek at the moment. Thus, you see before you my own listing blog post. Surely there is a more convenient name than "listing blog post"? Oh wait, Google just informed me that they're called "listicles". Cool.

                                  Things I'd Like To Change 

1. Evie's insistence that she will absolutely positively starve to death before 9pm. This is conveyed by yowls, meows, groveling and generally being pathetic. She weighs 13 pounds, you guys. She's not starving. And there is almost always food still left in their bowls by feeding time.

2. My left arm strength. Kickboxing shows you where you're strong...and where you're weak. My left arm is a joke. If I ever get into a fight with one hand tied behind my back, it'd better be my left hand that's tied. I've been going to 9Round for about 2 months now and I have a mean right hammer fist. My core is stronger than it's ever been and I'm starting to see some ab definition. My legs, while not my favorite part of my body, have always been a powerhouse and have seen me many many miles. But that dang left arm. I'd be better off in a slap fight than a fist fight.

(http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/34596251/image/34597139/He-also-best-physical-comedy-like-slap-fight-Jess) P.S. if this works then I'll be shocked.

3. My annoyance at drivers who don't use turn signals, use them but merge regardless of whether there is room, or simply are more absorbed in their phones than in the 3 ton (I really don't have a clue how much cars weigh) piece of metal they're haphazardly steering down the street. Even though my annoyance might be warranted it doesn't make it worth the rise in my blood pressure.

4. I'm a little bit extroverted. Just a wee, wee, infinitesimal bit. I wish I could hold that back a bit in the morning at work. I don't think everyone else is as much a morning person or an extrovert. But every morning I take my coffee and want to chat. Awn, just go sit down! Sheesh. If I were them I'd probably throw coffee on me. Sorry girls!

5. I really truly wouldn't read as fast as I do. I miss a lot of details and when I go back and reread the book again I am amazed at what I missed. The plus of this is that I love to go back and read books again. I've read series four or five times and will read them again. But I think I might miss out on some of that initial wonder that comes with reading a book for the first time.

6. I love sleep. I mean, I wouldn't change the fact that I enjoy sleep. But it would be nice to be more of a night owl and an early bird. Can you be both? 

This is the inauspicious start of a blogging comeback. Can I say that if it's my blog? Just call me the Comeback Kid (that's not trademarked, is it?)