Heart Attacked

I came home the other night to this fun surprise from the cute Beehives . . . love them!

It's been a while since I've initiated a heart attack and you know what's genius about this one . . . most of the notes are Post-It notes . . . easy on and easy off. Brilliant!

Can I just give you a gift card?

The other day I got a Facebook friend request from a girl in my ward. I was hesitant to accept her - we've only talked 2 or 3 times, and she's getting married, so I doubt our paths will cross again. Then, on Saturday, I got a call from her cousin, who needed my address so she could invite me to this girl's bridal shower! Which is this coming Saturday! Really, a week's notice??

If that weren't bad enough, it's a "time of day" shower where you get the person a gift based on the time of day you're assigned. My time of day? The middle of the night! So now, not only do I barely know this person, but now I have to buy her lingerie??

PS. I felt obligated to accept her friend request. Wouldn't you?

PPS. Anyone have any non-lingerie ideas for "middle of the night?"

#2: Try 20 new recipes - DONE!

This one took a little longer than I expected! Turns out I make a lot of the same stuff from week to week, and then remembering to take a picture of it was also a challenge! Look too closely at this collage and you'll note that there are two of the same picture. There's a butternut squash soup I made a few weeks ago that I never got a picture of. Hence, only 19 pictures.

#21: Learn to Make Grandma Ruth's Caramels - DONE!

Every Sunday growing up we would load up in the brown van and go to our grandparents' houses to visit. Grandma Ruth was always our first stop. She was an amazing woman. She was a widow ever since I was a baby but she had the most positive outlook on life of anyone I knew (and even people I know now). One of Grandma's specialties was her caramels. Many Sundays they'd be sitting out in a little bowl for us to eat (along with her equally-famous peanut brittle). And, each Christmas she would give each of her grandchildren a crisp $10 bill along with a small bag of caramels.

Caramels = the taste of childhood.

I've always wanted to learn to make them. But I've heard how difficult they are to make, and I've never made candy before. There are thermometers involved, people! So my Aunt Lois, toting a GIANT mug of Diet Coke (love that!), was kind enough to come over and show Melinda and me how to make Grandma's caramels. Lois is Mom's older sister and the only one of Grandma's daughters who learned to make the caramels.

We had a grand old time, reminiscing about Grandma while stirring and stirring...and stirring. Lois said even she doesn't know where the caramel recipe came from...Grandma just always knew how to make them.

The results, if I may say so, were perfect. My childhood came flooding back. And I ate them rapidly, usually at a pace of 2-4 per day (and I cut them VERY generously). I'd like to try to make them unsupervised around Christmas time - wish me luck!

Whatever Works For You

I have been getting my nails done regularly for years. I have noticed in the salon I go to as well as other salons, there is always a little section in the corner with a Buddha and various other things. Today in the corner, there was a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, some tomatoes, some incense burning, among other things. I am not totally sure what it all means, but I have heard that it's a symbol of things that they are sacrificing in return for blessings from Buddha. I asked the owners daughter one time, who was since been baptized and married in the LDS faith, if her parents that run the salon were Buddhist. She said, no, they are actually Catholic. But, she said, they have heard that this ritual can be good for increasing business, so they try whatever works. Interesting.

Farmers Market

I love the Farmers Market. Not only is there fantastic people watching, but the food is a-mazing. Julie and I made it to the final market of the season, and it was a good time! We waded through the Occupy SLC tent village for some of that killer food. The first stop: Sweet Salt Lake Limeade. If you haven't had this yet, you are missing out. Not only is it incredibly delicious, but they make it right in front of you in a cute little jar. Sold! I may have chugged mine in 32 seconds. Hey, how did I get two in my hands? Oops.

We then had some pizza from Surefire pizza. Their mobile oven cooked our pies in around 3 minutes, and again, we had something delicious! Two for two! Plus, they cater, so think of them for your next event.

We ended with a crepe sold to us by this guy: How cute is he with his wee little fedora?

So much fun. As I get ready to hibernate for winter, I'm hoping that the memories of that limeade will get me through. Cheers!

Not Quite Ready for the Holidays

I realize that we had snow yesterday, on November 1st, but I'm still not ready for all things Christmas. As I was coming home last night, in the distance on Redwood Road, was a house all lit up in Christmas lights. I had to check the radio too just to make sure that they weren't playing Christmas music as well . . . luckily not yet. We haven't even gone through all the Halloween candy yet and then we move straight into Christmas . . . not quite ready. I say that but even I must admit that I had to get in a little bit of holiday spirit myself as I had to get our company holiday party invitations in the mail on Halloween so they would arrive this week. With an early party on the horizon, we are in full party planning mode. But, I'm still not getting the Christmas lights out . . . yet.