DIY Lamps

Well, this was a project a while in the making. We have, like, a ba-zillion clear lamps that were dingy, not good looking at all and really dragged down the apartments they were in at work.

So, after browsing some home improvement stores, Pinterest and watching probably a bit too much HGTV, I decided we could DIY paint them and help spruce them up a bit.

So, we loaded them all up and headed down to the paint shop for a little paint shop party...

The end result was actually, fantastic. I'm super pleased with how they came out and now that they are in their respective apartments, they are starting to help the rooms come together!

I will say...we did leave quite a mess. BUT it was a beautiful and colorful mess...

I can live with that. :-)

O'Hartford 5K

Max's O'Hartford 5K was the end of my 5K training group this season. It was something I was building up for...and not all at the same time.

I didn't put everything I had into training for this race. There ended up being so much happening in my life at the time, both good and bad, that I didn't really do what I wanted and needed to do to make this race amazing.

But, that being said, you better believe I was happy that I did it. I was happy that Stacie trained with me and proud of her for finishing. She ended up finishing only about 10 seconds behind me. Not bad!

I also know that if it weren't for our coaches (Liz and Allison) that we both wouldn't have done as well as we did. Allison ran with me (picture below) and Liz with Stacie. I can't thank them enough for their support.

I've got the Amica Ironhorse Half Marathon that I'm training for next and I'm pumped! If you would like to check on my progress during my training, check out my running blog, 365 Days To Become A Marathon Runner. There is also another post about this particular race here.

I'll post that race here as well, but I'm sure there will be trials and tribulations, successes and failures in the next 3 months! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

This St. Patrick's Day I decided to try a new recipe for me. And since I wasn't drinking alcohol (a choice due to training for my 5k) I would have my alchi in a different way:

IRISH CAR BOMB CUPCAKES!

They ended up deliciously! It was a chocolate Guinness cupcake, with Jameson chocolate ganache inside and a Bailey's buttercream frosting on top.

It was actually very easy to make, but rather time consuming. I took the recipe from the blog Une-deux senses (http://une-deuxsenses.blogspot.com/2009/11/irish-car-bomb-cupcakes.html) and it was very easy to accomplish.

When I got to the ganache, I had the choice of using Baileys or the Irish whiskey. I felt that with the Baileys in the frosting, the Jameson would give it a nice contract. It was a good choice.

I will be doing these again as the were just sinful...and a perfect treat to bring into the office on the Friday before St. Patty's Day!

May the luck of the Irish be with you!!

The Word Oreo IS a Word!

I'm sorry...but this is just unfortunate!

How can the word OREO not be an acceptable word?!

I was playing Words With Friends, with a friend of mine...of course, and I got this message.

And of all days, I got it today: March 6, 2012...which just happens to be the 100th birthday of Oreo, America's best selling cookie!

So tell me again...how is OREO not an acceptable word?!?!