Cats for Sale: Price? I'll pay you.

I have 3 cats and a pug. My pug is fabulous and is never an issue (except for how much she loves to gnaw on my friend Lesley's elbow and hump her arm), but my cats are a damn nuisance. Seriously. The husband and I have been talking and we really need to get rid of 2 of the 3. I'm not doing Craigslist List, I'm not taking them to the pound, I'm not dropping them at the Humane Society. I really want a good home for them.  

Rosalie used to be a big problem for us. She was great when I first rescued her from the sidewalk in the rain in the middle of December a few years ago. Then she moved in with my original 2 cats and my oldest cat made her miserable. Rosalie refused to go out into public spaces and she spent about 10 months living in my closet. She lost weight, she was always alone. When she'd venture into public space, Grace would spot her and corner her. Rosalie lost a lot of fur. During this time, due to her trauma she would also pee all over the place. For the past year, she's stopped doing that. She's gained weight, she's calmed down, she's not food aggressive, she uses the litter box like a champ. Not to mention she's so sweet and so loving. She cuddles really well. 

Grace is the other that needs to go. Grace is my oldest kitty. She's 6 now- she is large and in charge. She's very territorial, but actually very sweet. One on one, she's probably my favorite cat to spend time with. Recently, in the past month or so, she's isolated herself into the office and hasn't really left except to go to the bathroom. Rosalie, she started pushing back when Grace would try to intimidate her. As a result of Rose pushing back, Grace has retreated and she's miserable. She's lost weight, she's depressed, she's spazy. She loves to be petted, she loves attention and loving, she just doesn't want anyone (human or animal) to see her being loved on and liking it. She will roll over and let you blow on her belly, she'll nuzzle you while you pet her. However, she'll never approach you for the attention and petting she wants. You have to go to her. 

Bella, well other than throwing up her food all the time from eating too much, she's pretty great and she's not an option. She stays with us for the long haul. She'll even lay and let Noelle pet her and grab her tail and not swat at her. 

I hate the idea of getting rid of any of my animals. They really are like family to me, but we've got too much going on. A baby, a pug, and 3 cats is too much in a 3 bedroom apartment. I refuse to just let them go to any random person, so I suspect it'll take a while before they do go to a new home. 

In the mean time I'm taking applications- WHO WANTS A KITTY??

Overly concerned mother.

I always said I wasn't going to push my child too hard when it came to school. Obviously, I am going to insist she do well and I'm going to make her go to college, no choice in that, but where she wants to go, what she wants to do I am going to leave open to her to decide. I figured I'd be that laid back mom. The one that wants the best for her child and trusts her to make her own decisions. 

I always said that public schools were the way to go. I turn my nose up at private schools. My husband was a product of a tiny private school. He is STILL shell-shocked by the world sometimes. My BFF's husband was 1 of 4 people in his graduating class and he is afraid to leave the county, I kid you not. I want Noelle to know the world. To know and interact with different races, groups, cultures. 

That being said, I am hell bent on getting Noelle into a charter school. My husband's nephew and niece are in one and they started learning Spanish and Chinese in kindergarten. I mean, hell yes. It's like a public private school and I'm all over it. I've always heard that they are extremely hard to get into and competitive. I heard tales of lotteries and drawings and wait lists. 

So I just called a local charter school and had this conversation:

Me: Hi, I was just wondering how soon you needed to fill out the application to enroll your child.

Office administrator: As soon as possible. 

Me: Oh! Ok then, how do I go about sending in the application to you? I got one on your website.

Office administrator: *rattles off fax number* What grade will your child be entering this fall?

Me: Um, this fall? None. 

Office administrator: Excuse me? 

Me: None??

Office administrator: I don't understand ma'am. How old is your child?

Me: 7 months

Office administrator: *silence* 7 months?

Me: Yes....

Office administrator: BURST OF UNCONTROLLABLE LAUGHTER 

Me: **dies a little**

Office administrator: *In between laughter*- Call back in 5 years.

Me: But I heard it was really difficult to get in! I heard there was a lottery and waiting lists!

Office administrator: No wait list is that long.

So. I did that today. Guys, I just want my kid to be well educated. 

Self Promotion

Right now, my stomach is making these crazy growling sounds. It's been going on all day and is very disconcerting for me. What is happening in there?!

Anyways, it's because of my stomach growling that I got the inspiration for this post. It made me wonder if I was hungry, I'm not. If I WAS hungry though, what would I want? So I started thinking about my dinner plans, which since tonight is my usual trivia night, but has morphed into my stay at home and be completely alone for a few blessed hours night, will probably just be sauteed squash and zucchini with corn on the cobb. Simple, easy, delicious. Then I started thinking about what I'd want for dessert if that were an option (it's not) and then I started thinking that I needed to plan my menu for next weeks Uptown Umbrella Market.

I know you guys aren't really in my area, but I'd sure like it if you'd take a minute to maybe "like" my Facebook page- Tasty Treats by Jess. I can't link to it, I'm at work and Facebook is blocked here. Too distracting they say, to which I say BAH. I crack out all day on the news sites and they're worried about social networking. Imbeciles. 

Anyways, here's an adorable picture of my nugget, Noelle at last weeks Umbrella Market. She was riding a high of pink lemonade and then she crashed:

I have a baking muse. It's Our Greene Acre. I get my farm fresh eggs from them and the most delicious jams ever. Their jams inspire me. Peach Habanero jam? Makes a delicious peach habanero pound-cupcake with peach habanero buttercream. Peach Vanilla jam? The greatest Peach Danish cookies you can imagine. Spiced Blueberry jam? That makes this:

An amazing lemon cupcake with spiced blueberry buttercream. Ah-mah-zing.

Strawberry Danish cookies with a chocolate ganache drizzle. Seriously though, the peach vanilla version of these that I made are my favorite thing I've ever made. It's absolutely perfect. Probably because the dough is half cream cheese. Can't go wrong with cream cheese. 

And completely unaffiliated with Our Greene Acre is my birthday cake krispy treats. My bff4eva sent me the recipe and kids go bananas over it. Also, I'm a big kid and enjoyed the hell out of it. 

I'm also obsessed with Mr. Butters peanut butter- it's all natural and home made. No added sugars or anything. It's perfect for baking. I keep hoping they make a Facebook page or website so I can promote them, because they are good people. 

So, if you're feeling frisky (and I know you are) like my page. If you're feeling friskier, check out my website Tasty Treats by Jess.

Spring Fever, so much better than Bieber Fever.

Well guys, I'm 30 now. I feel pretty good about it. I feel infinitely wiser than I did this time last week, that's for sure. From here on out, I'll be laying crazy wisdom down for you all. You're welcome. 

The hubby took me for a day trip over to Raleigh for the day on Saturday as a birthday adventure. We were supposed to see the Titanic exhibit at the museum, but on the way there I realized I couldn't see it without my sister. So I cancelled that part and will be making that happen in a couple of weeks. I just can't see it without having someone yell out "ROSE!!!" as I yell out "JACK!!". Also, I do mean the actual Titanic artifacts and not the movie. That will not stop us from whispering "Draw me like one of your French girls, Jack" to one another all day. 

The Melting Pot happened that evening, and sweet baby Jesus, I love that place. Fondue? More like FUN-due, amirite?! Anywhoo, the cheese course, the salad, the entree all of that was delicious. The real party began at dessert, when this happened:

All of that to dip into delicious white chocolate and Bailey's. 

Heaven.

Spring has arrived here in NC. Which means I've had my legs out and dresses on all week, without those horrible leggings under them. Also, thanks to the new fancy tanning salon in town I even have some color, so I'm not even paranoid about them being out. 

I love this time of year, not as much as I love Fall, but it's close. Everything is bright and it's sunny and flowers are blooming and it really just seems like a good time to change things up and get some new things going in life. 

For instance, I am redoing the bedroom. From the arranging, to the sheets, to the bedspread, to the curtains. I usually change them all up from time to time anyways, but it all is about the same style. So I've got things happening totally unlike anything I've done before. Time to make the room fun (rawr) and inviting. Also, the bathroom is getting a makeover as well.

I'm making a new wreath for the door and going to pot some plants to sit around outside. Nuggie has been wearing her spring frocks all week, and looking ridiculously adorable while doing it. 

Told you. Ridiculously adorable. 

Also, right this moment I just got my first request for me to make a cake for a former co-workers friends bridal shower this weekend. My first paid request?! AND she's a former co-worker that remembered my delicious treats?! It's a good day guys.