A Grand Day Out

If you're having Tums for breakfast, does it mean it was a good night? Or a bad one?

Actually, yesterday was a really lovely day! We started the morning with our traditional anniversary breakfast at Ruth's Diner. We always insist on being seated on the patio, despite the chilly September temperatures (part of the fun for us is bundling up in a cozy sweater and sipping hot chocolate and tea in the brisk morning air). There was really no need for the sweater this year, however, as it was a delightfully warm morning and we sipped our tea and coffee in perfect comfort.

After breakfast, we had some time to kill before our afternoon movie so we took a little jaunt through Emigration Canyon. The colors are just starting to change and we're anticipating in a few weeks they will be vibrant. *sigh* Fall is here!

After the movie (we saw Igor, which was less awesome than I anticipated but still cute and entertaining), we headed to Jason's Deli for lunch. As we were enjoying our club sandwich and salad, we saw Mark Hamill's face pop up on the television with the caption "Happy 57th Birthday" appearing beneath it.

Wait, we were married on Mark Hamill's birthday?

Wait, Mark Hamill is 57? He could be my dad! Trippy. But the fact that we were unknowingly wed on Luke Skywalker's birthday brought up an entire conversation about the missed opportunities to "nerd up" our wedding, including reciting vows in either Wookie or in the style of Yoda ("as my lawful wife, take this woman I do"). There's always our 10th anniversary, I suppose.

Our evening came to a perfect end with dinner at Cafe' Molise. What an absolutely delightful establishment. A bit on the pricey side, but delicious food and a perfect ambiance for a relaxing and intimate meal. We dined outdoors in the cool night air, amongst the trees and the lights that adorn the patio. *sigh* Lovely.

Seven Years

It's been seven years today.

Don't ask me where the time went, I couldn't tell you. What I can tell you is that I love this man. Each day with him is the happiest day of my life. Just when I think I couldn't possibly love him any more, the sun rises again and I do.


Charles Schultz said that "happiness is a warm puppy". Well, my happiness is a warm husband. Plus he's house trained.

I love you, Nick. With all my heart. Thank you for your unyielding support, your love and for always making me laugh.

Happy Anniversary!

P.S. Look under your pillow ;)

Experiment: Blue Cupcakes

I'm currently in the process of planning a baby shower for my little sister. She'll be a first-time mommy and I'm really honored and excited to throw this shower! It's also another excuse for me to get in the kitchen and bake some cupcakes! I love to bake cupcakes.

Since she's having a boy, I thought blue cupcakes could be a fun idea. So I did a little experimenting today...

I love how the blue food coloring makes a swirly pattern while being mixed into the batter. At this point, I thought it was looking kinda cool.

Here are the cupcakes fresh out of the oven. Hmm. Doesn't look so much blue, more like mold. Yeah. These look like moldy cupcakes. Perhaps they'll look better once they're frosted.

Nope, they sure don't. They look like moldy cupcakes with white mold on top. They still taste great, but if I hadn't made them myself I don't think I would be so keen on eating one.

Okay, so lesson learned....blue does not translate well to cake. I think I'd be better trying white cake and blue frosting or maybe just some blue sprinkles. Nick made a good point, however...these grotesque-looking cupcakes could be fun for Halloween!

I Share With You Because I Love You! Yes, You!

My friends,

If you're not already reading Cake Wrecks, well by-golly you should be! It'll make you laugh, it'll never make you cry, and it'll make you say "what the..."

Until I discovered this blog, I had no idea how little the term "professional" meant when it came to cake decorating. It seems any old bugger can slip into this title! Spelling and reading skills are apparently not required to correspond in frosting. And if you have an affinity for the creepy and oddly inappropriate, cake decorating could be your calling!

Beyond the cake decorators themselves, I'm curious about the people who actually order these cakes. While I admire those who have the amazing skill to sculpt realistically out of flour and sugar, I'm simply baffled by the subjects of some of these cakes. I mean, who thought it would be a good idea to serve baby?? Who gets the honor of slicing this cake, I wonder? Or how about this life-size replica of a bride ("I'll take a slice of boob over here!")?

Where is the logic? Where is the tact? You'll find none of that here. It's brilliant and so hilarious!

The icing on the cake that is Cake Wrecks is Jen, the sites author. Her witty commentary never ceases to make me laugh and her posts always make my day! Dessert + other peoples stupidity = genius. It's a perfect formula.

Magic Pills

These are my new magic pills.

They're hand crafted by leprechauns and contain rainbow sprinkles, unicorn dandruff and fairy dust.

Taken each day, these crimson capsules will be the catalyst for an enchanting feeling of remaining upright and will grant the ability to get shit done. To put it clinically: red pills make feel better.

Side effects may include impulsive singing, blue birds on your shoulder, and pooping rainbows.

State Fair 2008

We took a jaunt over to the Utah State Fair tonight. We hadn't been for years...it's sure a lot more commercial than I remember. More vendors and less entertainment. Kinda lame. Though we did get some Dippin' Dots. I loves me some Dippin' Dots.


Our main interest was in the photography exhibit. I had entered three photos for judging in the "amateur" class, my first time submitting any of my photographs into a competitive environment. I was banking on this being a good learning experience and was interested in observing the other works submitted.

Much to my surprise, I received a Fourth Place ribbon for this photograph. This is one of my favorite and most treasured images, as this typewriter belonged to my grandfather. Typewriters were his passion and this machine, circa 1934, is the only relic I have of him. I find it very interesting that this image was chosen for a ribbon, and am also very gratified. My grandfather always reminded and encouraged us to follow our passions. I know he's smiling about this.


So I realize fourth place isn't magnificent, but I placed and for a first-time that's not too shabby. I definitely learned a lot from the experience, and the lessons learned are much more valuable to me than the ribbon. Still, it's something to smile about.

Quote For The Day

"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
~G.K. Chesterton

I love this quote.

It's whimsically inspirational.

Anyway, what's life without a few dragons?

I Love Unicorns! And Embroidery!

I completed my first embroidery project!

I was hooked from the very first stitch and had such a blast with this pattern. It was unbelievably easy and my mind is already buzzing with loads of project ideas. I'm just itching to get started on the next one.

As you can see, I love unicorns which is why I chose this as my first project. Still, I am passing this first project on as a gift. Everyone should have some unicorn love.

Bathroom Updates

It's been just over two years since we moved into our house. It's an older house and while it's definitely been a great first house, it needed some TLC. Little by little we have been making small updates here and there, our latest project being the bathroom.

This room was way overdue for a makeover. The hardware and fixtures were most likely the original pieces installed in the home when it was constructed and the decor was, well, let's just say it was no longer our style.

This is the bathroom before. It's a small room and the darkness of the shower curtain made it seem even smaller.

And check out these moon and sun ceramic masks circa my bedroom in Jr. High. I don't know why I hung on to these for so long. They did match the shower curtain, but I'm way over my moons and stars phase.

A new shower curtain, new towel racks and a few new decor items and this is what we have. Much brighter, cleaner and simpler and, on the whole, a much more relaxing room to be in. Which is important, because we spend a lot of time in here.




We got rid of the moon and sun and replaced them with an actual hand towel rack. Much more practical and attractive. Some new decorative pieces tie in nicely.

The old light fixture screams 1978, which was when this house was built.


The new fixture is simple, yet modern and brightens the whole room.

The worst offender of all was the sink and faucet. The grime and rust was permanently embedded in the handles and throughout the entire piece. Despite all our attempts to scrub and clean, it never looked any different. It just had to go.


Oh, it's just dreamy! I shudder to think that we lived with that horrifyingly gross faucet for two whole years. I never thought I could get so excited about bathroom hardware, but it's like Christmas come early.

All the credit really must go to Nick, for he single-handedly installed everything. Handsome and handy! I hit the jackpot.

Black Books

Another new favorite British comedy, Black Books staring Dylan Moran. It's genius. I love it. Have a look!

Sakes Alive, It's Cold!

Well good morning, Mr. Storm Cloud! Was that you doing all that thundering last night? Oh, that was a marvelous thunderstorm. I thank you.

It's a chilly 52 degrees this morning and Mr. Storm Cloud is throwing down some icy hail. I like the sound of hail almost as much as I like thunder.



This chilly weather is welcome, a sure sign that Fall is on it's way. Smell ya later, Summer!



Perfect conditions this morning for a hot cuppa tea in my favorite mug.



And it was cold enough I even had to put my elephant socks on. Aahhhh, nothing like a proper thunderstorm, a hot cuppa tea and some snuggly elephant socks. Now all I need is a good book.