5 days ...

until the best month of the year!

To wet your appetite for the month of October, here's a little Halloween dessert for you to mix up! Kitty Litter Cake!
And here is an appetizing picture of the finished product:



And here are are the ingredients:

• 1 spice or German chocolate cake mix
• 1 white cake mix
• 2 large packages of vanilla instant pudding, prepared
• 1 large package of vanilla sanwich cookies
• green food coloring
• 12 small Tootsie Rolls
• 1 NEW kitty litter pan
• 1 NEW plastic kitty litter pan liner
• 1 NEW pooper scooper

And here are the instructions:

• Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans).
• Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble.
• Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often.
• Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix until completely colored.
• When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. Important: mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don't want it too soggy. Combine gently.
• Line a new, clean kitty litter box.
• Put the cake/pudding/cookie mixture into the litter box.
• Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls bury them in the mixture.
• Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly on top of everything -- this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.
• Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs.
• Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top; take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs.
• Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around for a truly disgusting effect!

Kids on a Boat

We took the boat out this weekend, and had some new passengers ... Matt's sister Andi, her husband Justin and their three kids ...



WHO DID ABSOLUTELY GREAT ON THE BOAT!

Can't wait to take them all out again.

A Door

This post is in honor of my BFF Heather, who loves doors!
Today is her birthday! Happy Birthday!!!!





Not only is the door cool, but check out the handle.
It toggles left and right (with your thumb) to open.

Happy Birthday to the Best BFF! Love ya!

(And see you next week for lunch!)

Patriot Day

Today is Patriot Day. We won't say to people in greeting, "Happy Patriot Day" - no, that feels painful. Nor will anyone have the day off, and the day before invite people to "Have a good Patriot Day."

No, it's not a "holiday", but I guess this is how they can start.

Memorial Day ... a day to think of deceased loved ones, or an extra day for a weekend vacation?
Martin Luther King Day ... we don't sit around thinking about this man's great deeds all day long, but gradually more and more companies are taking the day off. And furniture companies are advertising sales!

President's Day ...
Labor Day ...

I'm not complaining! I love to have the day off to spend with family, and yes the people that came before me helped to make that possible, and I'm sure that's what they would want me to be doing! So, I'm not bagging on our holiday activities one bit.

I just wonder what Patriot Day will be in 50-years or 100-years. Will it become a holiday? Or will it stay more like Pearl Harbor Day?

What do you think? Do you think on September 11, when I'm 80 years old that I might be sitting with family on a boat since everyone has the day off?

Recommendation

Feeling a little weird about my last post, I thought I'd put this out in Bloggerville ... a movie I would recommend.




This is a great movie, which would be especially fun to watch right now because of the upcoming presidential elections.

Brief Plot: Katie Holstrom, the "Farmer's Daughter", moves to the big city to become a nurse, gets robbed, works in the house of a senator as his maid to re-earn her nursing tuition, and because of her political sense and honesty she ends up running for a newly opened position in the senate on an opposing ticket from the family she works for ... of course, after falling in love with the senator!

The best thing about this movie is the loveable characters: Katie, the senator, his mom, his girlfriend, the butler, and Katie's super-strong brothers.

Seen It?

I have to admit that I have been reluctant to put this out there. Anyone seen this movie? What did you think?



I checked it out from the library, nervously expecting something possibly funny, also expecting that I might end up turning the TV off and not finishing it, and ultimately being positively surprised.

That's all I can say, which is not necessarily a recommendation. I wouldn't watch it with young children around, which for me usually means I feel bad watching it. Which is another reason I hesitate to put it out there. But, here it is? I want someone else to comment who's seen it ... so here's your chance!

Read it?

I'm currently 2/3 of the way through this book:



Anyone out there that I know who has read it?

I think Shannon Hale is an excellent writer! And I'll be a little controversial* here by saying that although Stephenie Meyer is a great storyteller, that I think Shannon Hale does a lot more with the English language, using common words in unusual ways, which I love. I'll have to put an example on here. She's amazing!**



*I'm really on the edge, huh - pushing buttons and creating havoc with my opinions. Ha-ha. Really though, I know that there are people out there who would argue with me. Sorry! I think I'm right.

** I have to admit that I've only read two of her books, both about princesses, and I'm hoping to read something where she expands to a new topic.

Sport:Tennis

I love tennis!

It's the one sport that I can watch for hours.  All the excitement of this last week has held me captive.  I'm excited that one American has made it to the finals ... Serena Williams ... and I hope she does great tonight!  Go Serena!  Watching her battle it out with her sister was amazing.  I don't think there is a more entertaining pair to watch than Serena and Venus.  Most the time I don't care who wins when they play, I just enjoy the show!

I'm a big Federer fan!  Back when Agassi was still playing, not so much.  He made me mad because he was so PERFECT.  But, he is so gracious in real life, and a real class act - and I became a fan.

Enter Nadal this year at Wimbledon, knocking Federer off his well-deserved pedestal.  I wasn't too happy!  Then the Olympics, where Nadal ended up with the gold medal.  My consolation was that Federer got the gold in the pairs competition.

So, at the U.S. Open I was REALLY looking forward to a showdown between Nadal and Federer, with of course Federer coming out on top!  Any tennis fan out there knows that Andy Murray beat Nadal today, so I don't know how I feel?  I am torn ... glad that Nadal lost ... sad that there won't be a showdown ... but, still excited to see how it turns out.  Go Federer!

On a side note, I really do like Nadal.  I think he's a great player, and also a person with a lot of class.  I think if it wasn't Federer that he was beating, that a lot of times I would be excited when he won!

Ahhh, tennis!

One Year

It's my One-Year Bloggiversary!
A few things to remember from this past year:

• My first post.
• Church stuff: Elder's Quorum Movie Night, Fall General Conference, Primary Program, New Prophet, Ward Talent Show, and Spring General Conference.
• 11th Annual Halloween Party
• Bollywood: Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, movie marathon with Matt & Steph, and the long wait for Jodhaa Akbar.
• Reconnected with my first old friend in Bloggerville.
• Discovered my first Bloggerville friend.
• Christmas season: Savior of the World play, Nutcracker ballet, and Christmas Utah.
• Family & Friends: Made quilts for family reunion in August, yearly visit to the Auto Expo with Matt & Steph, Nichols' house for dinner with the Shakespear's, my nephew Colton's baptism, Jeramy & Brandi came for a visit, and Heather & Jake's open house.
• Birthdays: My BFF Heather turned 30, my nephew Justin turned 18, my nephew Shaun turned 21, my dad turned 70, and we attended Kami's surprise birthday party ... Come on Kami! Get moving on your blog so I can link to it!
• Joellen: Our friend moved to London for the season (ha, ha --- for a one-year temporary assignment, but those who watch British movies will get the joke), we are watching her cats, and she's only come back for one visit. We miss her!
• Saw some fun movies in the theater: Nim's Island, Iron Man, and Enchanted.
• Went on some fun adventures: Arches in Utah, Maui in Hawaii, Rifle in Colorado, Boise in Idaho, Fish Lake in Utah, Angels Camp in California, Bear Lake in Utah, and Great Salt Lake in Utah.
• Remodeled: Worked on house, built a fence, and fixed a boat.
• New additions: Matt & Steph's son Xander is born and Andi & Justin's son Jet is born.

Next thing for me ... I want to do my Blog Book. I'm nervous and excited! Anyone done one before? Any hints for me?

Uncommon Goods

I love Uncommon Goods!

If I had loads of money, I would buy from them all the time. As it is, I mostly just look. I did buy the following "Desktop Dodgeball" set for Matt for Christmas last year. Wanna come over and play?



And I would really love the "Come In - Go Away" door mat.
Maybe someday.

What's The Buzz?

I have noticed a lot of things around me lately that buzz.

For example, today I walked into my boss Catherine's office, and her laptop was buzzing. It sounded like it was a plane getting ready to take off. Also:

• This morning the coffee machine at work was buzzing and we had to unplug it. Come to find out it was the heater element which was trying to heat water, and there was no water.
• My cute little fan at work is making a buzzing sound. I think from constant use that the little screw that holds on the tiny blades is loose. One day it will let loose and launch (reminding me of that scene in the movie Contact).
• And of course the queen of all buzzing sounds ... bees! We have a yellow-jacket infestation in our yard. We have traps (yes, plural) out, which are filling up constantly and we've sprayed and sprayed. Come on cold weather! (Not really, just to get rid of the bees and then we want it warm again.)

I am sure there are more examples, because it is standing out at this moment as a theme in my life. I'll keep you posted.

Gilgal Garden

Looking for something to do around SLC?

Take a drive to Gilgal Sculpture Garden. They've made a lot of landscaping improvements in the last few years, and it's pretty fun (and interesting) to walk around.



It's free, and there is a map available to explain symbolism, concepts, and creation.



The Garden is located at 749 East 500 South and is tucked behind and in between houses.



It's not huge, so you could spend 15-quick-minutes or 60-leasurely-minutes walking around.

GSL Governor's Cup

So, this weekend at Great Salt Lake was the Governor's Cup. No, we didn't participate, but Matt, Shaun, my dad, and I hung out on the lake and watched the race, as we attempted to sail to Antelope Island from the marina near Saltaire. Yea - it's farther than it looks. We really do need GPS so we'll know these things. :)

We sailed away from shore for 4 hours and then it took us 2 hours to get back. There were minimal bugs, and yes when we got out far enough there weren't any around! Yeah! The closer we got to Antelope Island the more we saw and they were no longer brine flies, but BITING FLIES. So we turned around to come back into shore.

It was interesting that no matter how far we got out on the lake that if we listened really close we could hear the freeway. And there are a lot of trains that go by. And the smoke stack only looked a few inches tall when we were nearer Antelope Island.

We had fun sailing from buoy to buoy, charging seagulls, and watching the "diving ducks". Good times! Thanks Shaun & dad!

Approaching the first buoy.

Shaun catching brine shrimp. (There are 3 of them here.)

Dad scooping brine shrimp in our collapsable bailing bucket.

(I love that thing!)

Governor's Cup Race