real winter

I am a fan of having 4 seasons in a year, not just 3 and a partial fourth. It definitely cools down for Georgia winters but when you have cold without the snow it kind of blows. I have been here in SLC for the week for work and I am LOVING THE SNOW! I couldn't wait to see it and as I flew into the valley last Thursday night it was a gorgeous site seeing a blanket of snow covering the city. I am all for TEAM SNOW.
(this image is from two years ago driving up to Targhee for some boarding)

39º to 76º

This is really what we wore today.

This weather is OUT OF CONTROL. We have record highs right now and I can't stand it. I miss the cold and the snow and the coats and beanies (the snow is rare but the rest is true). It is abnormally warm right now but luckily I am headed to Utah in a few days to get back to the REAL winter weather.

holiday party excuse generator

Any parties you are looking at avoiding this season? I can't really imagine any...lol, but you have to try this thing just for fun at least, it is hilarious...Holiday Party Excuse Generator

dinner divas celebrate christmas

It was my turn to host dinner divas and this month it was Christmas dinner. We had a great menu and everything was delicious:
Dana: Sausage Balls Appetizer
Kandis: POM Spinach, Tangerine and Fennel Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Specialty Drink mix of Cranberry juice and Fresca with floating cranberries
Kim: Homemade Rolls
Kellie: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Delicious Artichokes with Pesto Butter
Loin of Pork with Fig, Pomegranate, and Chipotle
Marissa: Cherry Chocolate Cake

baby Jesus @ 2am

I was recently called into Primary as the Secretary and with that calling I am supposedly in charge of the Monthly Bulletin Boards. The procrastinator of projects that I am and working best at crunch time I started drawing these 2ft x 4ft images of The Nativity from a book I bought for 99cents at 11pm Saturday night. I finished up around 2am and ended up with this:

guitar hero amateur

While perusing Wal-Mart for some Christmas shopping we strolled through the electronics section and had ourselves a game of Guitar Hero. It was my first time and I was IN LOVE with it. Too bad it doesn't work with our hand-me-down Xbox from Steve's bro or I would be purchasing that game for Christmas!

i heart chuck

I had to post a shameless plug for CHUCK on NBC Monday nights. I thought the previews were kind of crazy but intriguing at the same time and we started watching the show and love it. The characters are funny and the humor is pretty clever. If you are lacking in tv show love, check this.

we are late for winter

yes...this photo was taken 3 days ago. Due to the rather strange warm fall we've had here in the south, the leaves are barely changing and falling. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? Where is the cold and the snow?!?!

giving thanks

Thanksgiving for the Clarks...well there was definately some good eats - minus the turkey. Basically, the turkey ended up being undercooked due to an experimental cooking technique (lol) suggested by Steve's Aunt to Steve's mom and there was barely enough cooked breast meat for the actual dinner for everyone. Instead of trying to save the bird and finish cooking it, it just stayed out on the stove and ended up dying a lonely death in the garbage. :( Desserts were a hit though to top off the meal and I took my turn in making the Pumpkin Chocolate cake which was delicious and a hit with the relatives.



This pic is for my mom...I was in charge of the table and glittered a bunch of gourds, good times.



Adult table, cousins table, and the messy little boys table.


Cute Cole just wanted his picture taken - posed and ready.

great fall dessert

rustic apple tarts with calvados whipped cream

If you have leftover apples from Fall Festivals then try this great dessert. It's easy and tastes so good. (instead of the Calvados liquor which it calls for you can substitute apple cider which I did.)

gotta love tiger woods

For the love of the game, Steve and Adam enjoy playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour just as much as being outside playing golf - a new common activity at the Barlows when they decide it's too cold to venture onto the fairways. Well Kenedee loves the controllers and she was so cute cuddled up to Steve hanging out with the guys - had to post a few pics.

the infamous tag A-Z

A-Attached or Single: Attached
B-Best Friend: Steve Clark
C-Cake or Pie: I will go with Cheesecake
D-Day of Choice: Saturday
E-Essential item: cool purse, umbrella, lip gloss
F-Favorite color: I love grass green right now and red-orange
G-Gummi Bears or Worms: Worms
H-Hometown: Idaho Falls, ID
I-Indulgence(s): Lindt Chocolate, LOVE hot chocolate
J-January or July: July - usually consists of 4th of July fun and Lake Powell
K-Kids: zero
L-Life if incomplete without: my family
M-Marriage date: December 22, 2004
N-Number of siblings: 2 brothers, 2 sisters
O-Oranges or Apples: Oranges
P-Phobias or Fears: Cockroaches, Sharks
Q-Quote(s): be your best self
R-Reason to smile: dessert, great music, vacation
S-Season: I love them ALL, being in Atlanta makes me really miss cold snowy winters, I love every season and look forward to the next season.
T-Tag three: Kandis, Nicole, Ashley
U-Unknown fact about me: apparently Steve didn't know I play the piano until like a week ago. (We don't have one, nowhere to practice) I can't think of anything else
V-Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: Meat
W-Worst habit: not washing my face every night?
X-Xrays or Ultrasounds: either
Y-Your favorite food: Mangos, Homemade Mac and Cheese, Crab, Salsa
Z-Zodiac: Libra

one week

dinner divas do november

The THEME was soup tonight and there was a great variety: Chicken Tortilla Soup, Taco Soup, Tomato Bisque Soup, Italian Vegetable Soup, and Minestrone Soup.

I brought one of my favorites - Italian Vegetable Soup with Phyllo Croutons. It is a Giada de Laurentiis Recipe from Everyday Italian. I served it with Phyllo Croutons and the Phyllo Croutons recipe can be found here.

Italian Vegetable Soup
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday Italian | Episode: Hearty Italian

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks (white and pale green parts only), chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 zucchini, thinly sliced crosswise
2 (13 3/4-ounce) cans quartered artichoke hearts packed in water, drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
10 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
4 ounces dried wide egg noodles
Freshly grated Parmesan

Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in the zucchini and artichokes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Saute until the zucchini are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable broth. Stir in the thyme and cook for 2 minutes. Cover the pot and bring the soup to a simmer. Decrease the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the flavors develop, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the noodles and cook until al dente, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

it's sew time

I am so excited for Season 4 of Project Runway. I hope you all are watching tonight or setting your DVR's for another killer season.

colour like no other: egypt

Also check out Paint and Balls.

how awesome is this...

My Dad loved that all of us kids were sending Halloween pics to share with them, and so he thought he'd be funny and send a pic back to us of his cute kids from Halloween. - yeah circa 1991.

I mean let's break it down here: Kristopher's sweet outfit and creative pumpkin whose teeth say 'HI"; then you have me with those rockin bangs (olson trademark) and awesome 90s perm, plus you gotta love those giant hairbows; Kandoram, also with the killer bangs (not as good as mine) and mad skills with the pumpkin already - eyelashes on it even; then classic Kurt with the bowlcut and spiked part (that trend was sweet) with a pumpkin face surely designed by The Hurt himself; and KateO how we all remember her with her cute cheeks, smile, and perfect little hair. This is a great glimpse of the past showing how our coolness back then helped us become what we are now - LOL. thanks dad.

dinner divas eat pizza

My sister Kandis started this dinner group with 6 girls, meeting once a month, and we each bring a dish specific to the theme for the month. Last month it was apps and this month it was pizza. Well only half the group could meet last Wednesday so we brought the husbands along to taste-test. Kandis made a Gourmet White Pizza, I made a Smoked Gouda/Bacon/carmelized onions Pizza, and Marissa made the Classic Margherita Pizza. They were uber-tasty and it was great trying out new recipes to add to the arsenal.


Kenedee trying to kiss Jaxson


A good round of Tiger Woods Golf to top off the evening.

colour like no other

Click here to check out this brilliant ad by Sony for their Bravia flat-screen TVs. Click on "watch Play-doh ad" and then watch the "making of." Then if you're feeling colorful still, click on the Colour Room and watch the Paint Ad and Balls Ad - SOOOO COOL!

what's your vote?

click pic to view larger image.....
REMEMBER: You don't have to be a blogger to vote. (Click on comments below, then click other, and type in your name)

you have to make this cake

My sister made this Sunday for our pumpkin carving contest event and it was the best pumpkin dessert EVER!!!!!! Make it now, or you will be sorry.
..............................................................................................................................
CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN CAKE
..............................................................................................................................
MAKES 14 SERVINGS | WORKING TIME 20 MINS | TOTAL TIME 55 MINS

CAKE
1 ½ cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¾ cup butter (1 ½ sticks) softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, plus one yolk

Heat oven to 375ºF. Line the bottoms of two 8-inch rounds with parchment paper and lightly butter. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Stir the buttermilk, pumpkin, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Beat the butters and sugars together using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and yolk, one at a time. Reduce mixer speed to low and alternately beat in the flour and buttermilk mixtures in thirds. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake until a tester, inserted in the center, comes out clean – about 35 minutes. Cool layers completely before frosting the cake.
...............................................................
FROSTING
6 ounces cream cheese
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 ¼ teaspoons cocoa
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon vanilla

(separate bowl)
1 ½ cups heavy cream
¾ cup powdered sugar
orange food coloring

Beat 6 ounces softened cream cheese using a mixer set on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 2 ¼ teaspoons cocoa, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¾ teaspoon vanilla and beat on low speed until well combined. In a separate bowl, beat 1 ½ cups heavy cream with ¾ cup powdered sugar and orange food coloring on medium-high to soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well combined. (may need to add more orange food coloring to your liking). Spread 1 cup frosting between the two layers and use the remaining frosting to ice the top and sides of the cake. Makes 3 cups. Chill 30 minutes and proceed to glaze the cake.
...............................................................
GLAZE
4 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate or semi-sweet)
1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter
3 tablespoons corn syrup
½ cup heavy cream

Place 4 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate, 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, and 3 tablespoons corn syrup in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring ½ cup heavy cream to a boil, pour it over the chocolate, and let sit for 3 minutes. Gently stir until smooth. Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes, until the glaze thickens slightly. Pour the glaze onto the center of the frosted cake and smooth out to the edges to allow the glaze to drip over the sides. Makes 1 cup.

80º and a plethora of pumpkins

UPDATE: We had the best Saturday eating caramel apples, boiled peanuts, and apple pies up in Ellijay. It really was 80º and we got a little sun. There were TONZ of people there which made it fun seeing everyone in the Halloween spirit. We even saw our friends the Councills there. The warm weather is nice but I wish we were wearing coats and beanies and sipping hot chocolate...soon I hope!





We're headed up north Saturday for the annual Burts Farm Pumpkin Patch trip, Apple Festival, and Amicalola Falls with the Clarks, Kelleys, and Barlows. The weather is still warm here (thumbs down) so we might be wearing shorts while buying pumpkins.

working on our short game

We went to Mountasia with the Barlows and Howells over the weekend to hit up a good round of Mini-golf. I think Brian won. It was a little on the chilly side ( we didn't bring jackets ). Kenedee and Jaxson were running all over the greens with their clubs. "How come we don't go golfing more?" lol.

for the love of coke

We hit up the new World of Coke with the fam over the weekend, and it was sooooo cool. Way better than the one from the 80s. This new place had awesome architecture, design, materials, and everything was just neat to look at. And you can't beat trying coke flavors from all over the world.

coca-cola M5

In 2005 Coke commissioned five talented young design groups from five continents to rethink their packaging with an eye towards hip urban flair. The Designers Republic (U.K.), Lobo (Brazil), MK12 (U.S.A.), Rex & Tennant McKay (South Africa) and Caviar (Japan) have each offered their unique vision for new aluminum Coke bottles to be found only at "the world's most exclusive clubs and lounges." The project, named "M5," served as a visual rebranding aimed at discerningly creative consumers. I thought these were the coolest bottles, found while touring the new World of Coke.

yummy breakfast

So I made breakfast on my birthday because cooking is one of my favorite things and I wanted to make this good meal while my parents were here. I made Lemon and Basil Eggs over Foccacia, Breakfast Pizza, and Italian Breakfast Skewers. It was all delicious and fun to make.

whirlyball = F-U-N

For those of you who don't know what whirlyball is click here
Then google whirlyball and see if you have it in your city, it is the best game ever! We played Thursday night with my parents and Kate and it was a blast. I think my dad may go PRO - lol.

happy birthday to me

I turned 28 years old on Friday! 2 years and counting til 30, yikes!


Steve gave me new gym shoes and a new ipod shuffle (my old one is dying). I got classic money from the parentals, and kitchen stuff from the Barlows and Kelleys. It was a great birthday. We went out for my favorite - THAI FOOD - for dinner.