Just An Update

Wow, what is going on with the weather?  A week ago, we had a thick covering of snow; today, we have no snow left and it's spring-like outside.  It rained last night, and is supposed to rain more this weekend.  I know it's not uncommon to have a thaw in January--I remember when I was in high school, there was a day in January where we were in shorts and t-shirts in Michigan.  It's still a pretty clear memory for me!  It's a nice change from the dry, cold air that we have during the winter, but I still like the snow, too.

Today I sent in my antique sleigh bells.  I mentioned them originally in this post.  I researched and investigated the option of cleaning and restoring them myself, but realized that I was woefully unable and unequipped for the job.  I decided to send them off to a place in Iowa called Classic Bells, and am so very eager to see them when they are finished!  They will be cleaned, polished, sealed, and re-strapped onto a beautiful piece of laced leather.  I have chosen to use my Christmas money that my mom gave me to do this, because it's going to be a little pricey.  It'll be well worth the cost, though, because they will hang in our home forever.  I'll post pictures of the bells when I get them back (it'll be a while, though).

A while back, my husband and I met my mother and stepfather at the Toledo Zoo for a day of zoo fun.  While we were there, we had lunch, and I got a pudding cup that had crushed Oreos and whipped cream on top, and it was sooooo good.  For some reason, I was craving that the other night, so I came home and had to make it myself!  It's easy to make, but in case you are unfamiliar, here's what you do:

Make a six-serving package of instant chocolate pudding according to the box directions.  Pour into four or six individual serving cups and allow it to chill and set for about a half an hour in the fridge.  Then, take around 10 Oreos (I prefer Double-Stuffed), put them in a resealable baggie, and crush the snot out of them.  Sprinkle the crumbles on top of the pudding, evenly distributing them.  Spoon whipped cream onto the top (I just used Cool Whip, but if you have fresh whipped cream, that's the way to go!), then crush a few more Oreos and sprinkle it on top of the whipped cream.  Refrigerate until you're ready to eat them, and then enjoy!  It was a fun treat for us, and I'll have to remember it for the future (or any time I need an excuse to buy Oreos).

Have a good weekend!