Housing Headache

Initially, when we considered moving to Midland, we thought, "Surely in that flat, west Texas town, we can find a great house relatively inexpensive!" After actively looking online, we have unfortunately found that we couldn't have been more wrong!

I was in Midland a couple days last week, and had the opportunity to meet with a realtor to discuss our wants/needs in a house. (I'm hard pressed to call it a 'home'.....For the first few months in our current home, it was really just a house to me; actually, I just felt like we were just staying in a nice hotel. I guess the fact that my bed wasn't made and toilet paper nicely folded each day served as a reminder that it was definitely our place.) Anyway, the housing market is TOUGH. For example, I found a home listed earlier this week that fell in the price range we wanted to be in, with at least a decent amount of the amenitites we wanted. We were very interested. That home was on the market one day, ONE DAY, and had 2 official offers written. How is that even possible?!!? We'll be thrilled if our house has an offer in one month!(Oh, did I mention that the houses seem quite overpriced??)

It looks like it's going to be a bit of a headache determining permanent living conditions. (And we've really only just begun.) There are hardly any houses available for rent, and all the decent apartment complexes have waiting lists. Heck, it's hard finding an open hotel room!

Let's hope that someone falls in love quickly with our place in Houston to alleviate some of the stress...

Throw Some D's

Buying a house... selling a house... buying another house... buying a new car... trading in that new car for another.... These exciting--yet stressful--  milestones typically happen only a handful of times over the course of a lifetime, right?! (the house thing, specifically)

Well, not surprising to anybody who knows us, Eric and I can be a very atypical couple and we are in the process of completing that entire list in just our first year of marriage. Our relationship began in Abilene, grew in Houston, was re-kindled in Colorado and was ultimately confirmed and promised back here in Houston. It spanned a few miles to hundreds of miles over the course of several years. Needless to say, neither one of us has spent any lengthy amount of time in one place... and we continue the trend.

Our house, a mere 10 months old, will soon be on the market. (Know anybody that wants to live in an absolute gem off Washington Ave. in Houston?! Mention this blog and get the refrigerator FREE with the purchase of our house....) 

The first car we purchased together, hardly 4 months ago, has just been traded in for another. Fortunately, we were able to get a b-e-a-utiful mocha steel Cadillac SRX with all the bells and whistles. Maybe now is the best time for me to get a tat to match Pauly D/Travis Barker?!?!? 

Hmmm... now I'm interested in Cadillac tattoos... Let's see what I find:

My 20" rims ain't got nothin' on this bling and dedication. 

I bet she REALLY jams out to Throw Some D's by Rich Boy.

 Yah, so if I get a full back tattoo, I'll be sure to get someone who has graduated from apprenticeship...

Maaaan, Mark McGrath, Sugar Ray himself, will only drive a caddy.

Why do the name or symbol, when you can have the whole car!

So... while I'm debating on the placement of the classy caddy tattoo (my first instinct is lower back region, probably with tribal and maybe a butterfly)....... I'm gonna say my prayers and thank God for this opportunity and our crazy, beautiful life! 

Si Se Puede!

[Si se puede translates into: It can be done! or It is possible! ...you will know why this blog is called that soon enough.]

I've mentioned before (a couple days ago) that I am pretty far from a 'domesticated wifey.' I wasn't joking.   My mom came over recently and asked for an iron. I know where the iron is so I went and got it for her.... She asked, "Well, can I borrow your ironing board??" I instantly had the whole deer-in-the-headlights look. Ummm, ironing board? I thought I had one, but I hadn't used it in the 9 months we had been in our house. So needless to say, she laid a towel down on the carpet and ironed on that. [In my defense, I have a really fab steamer that I use for my work clothes. Or, I like the toss-it-in-the-dryer technique--When they aren't coming from the dry cleaners, of course.]

There is your background; that sets up your scene. Fast forward to my aunt's birthday. I told her I would get her anything she wanted for her birthday (open mouth, insert foot). She said all she wanted was a homemade strawberry cake. Hmmmm... guess that means I'll need to go to the grocery story for milk, and eggs, and a cake pan, and a spatula, and mixing bowls, and vanilla extract.. oh geeeeez-- what am I getting myself into?!

Well guess what [SPOILER ALERT:] I DID ITTTT!!!!!! I made a strawberry cake, COMPLETELY from scratch (online recipe, of course) and it only cost me about 5 hours and a $100 trip to Target. :) Yes, $100. I never realized how bakeware-challenged my kitchen was.

(The keen eye noticed that I got carried away and bought a cupcake pan. 

I just never knew when I may want to make cupcakes in the future and wanted to feel prepared.)

So here it is, true-blue documentation that an old dog can learn new tricks. Twenty six years old, and I literally had NEVER baked anything from scratch myself before. Really haven't made just a whole lot from scratch before. [What is scratch, anyway?!]

Once before, I baked, and didn't think it was just real necessary to flour the pans. 

I was wrong. This time it certainly helped!

 Chopped up 6384637 strawberries. Even used a straw to take the centers out.

I learned that on Pinterest. (I'm telling you, I really did my homework for this! I did not want to disappoint.)

 Trial-and-error taught me that you CANNOT fill a blender to the top with strawberries and expect them to blend perfectly like ice does for a margarita. Even if you keep trying to blend it faster, it doens't work. 

As a matter of fact, you can overheat a blender. I learned that too....

Strawberries have to be done is small batches. 

Homemade cake batter!

BEFORE

  AFTER

Since it had taken me FOREVER, Mom and Dad arrived to pick me up before I was done. Photo op.

 Now that they are cool, time to ice with my homemade cream cheese icing!

 [While they were cooling, I ran upstairs and took a shower. I was running pretty behind schedule...]

 Si Se Puede!!!

I'm glad my aunt challenged me to do this! It was pretty damn tasty, if I do say so myself! :)

NOTE: I found the ironing board. It was folded up against the wall next to the washer. Oops!