It's Official....

So it's official, after months of denial and trying to find any other way, our family is officially relocating to Utah.

Pains me to even write that. It's a, "been there, done that", kind of feeling.

However, after being un-employed for over two years it is long overdue, and well under way.
Curt has been working in SLC since January. He is amazingly lonely and wants us there like last month! He has been living in a studio apartment in Midway. And since we can't all live in a studio apt. we have rented a furnished townhouse in Park City. Sounds like an adventure doesn't it?

I am positive that it will be an adventure and I will do my best to keep you updated.

Other than that, Nicole and Kelsey are both attending BYU - I and having a blast. Don't know about classes, but their social life is amazing. Just as it should be in college.

Wal-Mart vs The Morons (Read:Government)

Wal-Mart vs The Morons (Read:Government)

1 . Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of every day. 2.. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute! 3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year. 4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target + Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined. 5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people and is the largest private Employer, and most speak English. 6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the World. 7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger & Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only 15 years. 8. During this same period, 31 supermarket chains sought bankruptcy. 9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world. 10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had 5 Years ago. 11. This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur At a Wal-Mart store. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 Billion.) 12. 90% of all Americans live within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart. You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys who run Wal-Mart to Fix the economy.

This should be read and understood by all Americans Democrats, Republicans, EVERYONE!! To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, It is now official you are ALL corrupt morons: The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure. You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??

What a Beautiful Morning

Upside down Cake

I have always loved Pineapple upside cake, and have attempted it several times. My mom makes amazing upside down cake so I quit trying to compete. However, today I found this yummy looking rendition that I had to share with you. I know we are all sugared out still from the holidays and all, but I just might have to give this one a go before I get really serious about eating better. It is from a site called

Running with Tweezers and can be found HERE. I love finding new sites and hers looks really interesting.

Have a great day!

upside down and a little cooked out

Before we embark on some healthy eating, I just had to share this cake with you. I've made it twice this month and it's been so well received that I couldn't keep it to myself. Pineapple upside down cake holds so many nostalgic memories for a lot of people that it just make folks smile when you uncover it. I'd forgotten how much *I* enjoyed it and I'm so glad I rediscovered it.

I've altered Nigella's recipe a little bit to make this a little moister and a little more flavorful. A touch of vanilla and a splash of orange juice does this recipe wonders. It also helps stretch the dough out to make a 9" or 10" cake. You can cut this cake and your guests can happily eat this as is. However, you could also serve this slightly warm with some vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream for some extra "mmmm"s.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake - based on Nigella Lawson's original recipe found here - serves 8

• Butter or baking/cooking spray for greasing the pan
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 8 slices canned pineapple rings
• 1/2 cup candied cherries
• 2/3 cup flour
• ½ cup (1 stick) soft butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup orange juice or pineapple juice - I used orange-mango juice and it was delish!

- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Prep your 9 or 10 inch spring-form pan or cast iron skillet with butter or cooking/baking spray

- Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar over the bottom of the cake pan. Arrange the pineapple slices to make a circular pattern as in the picture.

- Fill each pineapple ring with a maraschino cherry and then dot one in each of the spaces in between the rings.

- Put the flour, butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and baking soda into a food processor (or large bowl & electric hand mixer) and blend until the batter is smooth. Then pour in the vanilla and the orange juice to thin the batter and amp up the flavor.

- Pour this mixture carefully over the cherry-studded pineapple rings- This recipe makes a large, flat cake. It will only just cover the fruit, so spread it out gently.

- Bake for 20-25 minutes depending on the calibration of your oven. I check mine at 20 minutes - it's done when a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool and run a knife around the edge of the cake in the pan to loosen the edges. Flip over onto serving plate or cake stand. Serve.