Secret recipe

I went to a baby shower a few weeks ago, and I brought these delicious "cookies" for a dessert, and was asked to post the recipe on my blog. It has been requested by a few other people, as well, and I sure don't like to disappoint anyone. So here's the recipe. (And it's not really a secret recipe- I just thought that sounded more exciting than "recipe.")

Chocolate Pinwheels

Ingredients:

3/4 C Sugar
3/4 C White Karo
3/4 C Peanut Butter (creamy)
4 1/2 C Rice Krispies
1 12 oz package Real Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

In large pan, mix sugar and Karo and bring to a boil. Remove from heat immediately and stir in peanut butter. Pour Rice Krispies in and mix together until well coated. On a well-greased/buttered cookie sheet, press mixture down until it is about 1/4"-1/2" thick (make sure to grease your hands as well- this part can get sticky).

In a separate pan, melt chocolate chips. Pour melted chocolate over the Rice Krispies and spread evenly.


With a knife, make one slice across the middle of the pan (width wise- not length), and roll each side like a jelly roll. Wrap each "log" in cellophane and put in fridge for about 1/2 hour (if you leave them in too long they become hard as rock and nearly impossible to cut through). Remove and slice into about 1/2" thick pieces. Then devour. Or share. Whatever suits you. I tend to devour. Don't judge me.

What are ears for?

What are ears for? Listening? Certainly not. That theory has been disproved time and time again by my defiant little 4 year old.

If they're not for listening, they must be good for something, right? Hm... how about putting a very small foreign object in one of them and then not telling anybody so that, like, a month or so later it is being cleaned out with a cutip which causes you to wince and exclaim "Ow! That hurts!!" and your mom and dad get a flashlight and look inside your orifice to see what could be causing you this pain and your mother says something like "Oh my gosh- there is something bright red or hot pink in there!" and then your father says "Duh- come on, that's her EAR DRUM" [yeah, since ear drums are visible with just a flash light and they are HOT PINK]... and upon further inspection the father says "Huh... I guess it's not her ear drum... what IS that...?"

Mom asks if you remember putting anything in your ear and of course your answer is "No."

Dad then proceeds to try to get it out with tweezers, but to no avail since they're too big, so then it's time to take you to instacare where the doctor uses her tiny little tweezers to pull this unknown bright red thing out of your ear while you scream because your ear hairs are being ripped out along with the tiny foreign object.

The then doctor places the tiny, bright red, foam heart sticker on the table. At which point you might say something like "Oh yeah... I remember putting that in my ear."

Surf

J'Neil and I had a surfing lesson on Friday. It was actually easier than I thought it would be.

Here are some pictures.


Our instructor was a hot Hawaiian dude who used words like "gnarly" and 'rad".


Here is a video- with my mother's fabulous narration.

Shout out

I'd like to give a little shout out to the woman who carried me in her womb for nine months and then went through excruciating pain to give birth to me, who patiently and painfully raised me through my adolescence... and who is now in Hawaii with me, celebrating her birthday (yesterday).



Happy Birthday, mama. I love you lots and lots. This trip has been fantastic because of you!

A Hawaiian party in my mouth.

It's official. I've had a Hawaiian party in my mouth.



While enjoying a delicious glass of POG, my aunt Kristin started reading the back of this beautiful red carton aloud:

"The Magic of POG

In an enchanting world beyond the pineapple fields and rainbow gateway of Hawai'i, there's a magical village of Poglodytes. Each day our furry little friends gather a trio of fruits - Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava - and make a one-of-a-kind fresh nectar affectionately called POG. Before sunrise, Poglodytes search orchards across the islands to find the best ingredients, next they swirl in happiness and sunshine, and finally add the secret ingredient unique to Hawai'i: ALOHA - all that is good in the world!

It's no wonder each sip feels like a fun Hawaiian party in your mouth [see- I told you I had a party in my mouth]. All three flavors come alive together with each sip of a favorite island drink for over 20 years. We're sharing with the world POG- a universal elixir of joy! With a big shake here and a big shake there, you may pour, drink and experience a fruit beverage that can only be described as "POG-o-licious." Perhaps tempted to save no juice for the rest, we urge you to finish the carton, pound your fists on the table, and chant with pride: "I HOG POG!" Go on you POG Hogger - drink 'til your heart's content...cheers!"

My cousin (J'Neil) soon declared "I HOG POG" as we all [laughed hysterically and] finished our glasses of the POG-o-licious elixer of joy.

Whoever wrote this should be given some sort of award. It is absolutely amazing.

Ouch. And a sandcastle.

Yesterday morning I thought I'd be adventurous and go for a run down to and along the beach. Let me first say that I haven't been running in almost a year. So it totally makes sense why today my legs are so incredibly sore. However, the weather was perfect. Everything was so green and beautiful. And can I tell you that it was just so much better than running in Utah? Well, it was. Much. BUT that doesn't make up for the fact that every time I stand up, sit down, walk, or do anything that requires leg movement, I keel over in pain. Okay, okay, yes. I deserve it. It was self inflicted AND I'm in Hawaii. So I'll suffer with a smile on my face. Especially since this is where I ran to:

I could have stayed there all day. There were little tide pools all over with little fishies in them and I even saw sea cucumbers. Cool, huh? Although they were kind of ugly. Not that I'm judging or anything.

Well I got back from running and then we all decided to get in the pool (some pictures here). And I decided I would be stupid and get sunburned.

Then later in the day, my cousin and I went to Hanalei Bay to hang out and, of course, make a sand castle. It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

We even made a little moat and put water in it.

Oh- and if you ever thought that you couldn't get sunburned in the evening, after you've already been sunbuned earlier in the day, so you don't put on additional sunscreen because you're sure the sun can't be strong enough around sunset time...you'd be wrong.

100th will be postponed

So I have an idea for my 100th post. However, THIS is my 100th post, and I don't have time nor do I really feel like doing it right now. So I will do it at another time.

But for now I will say this: My mother is better at updating her blog than I am. So if you would like an update on my trip, see her blog here.

Or if you are boycotting my blog, like someone I know, then don't go there. Because you will just get depressed.

Sincerely,


A.

Aloha

Well hello, there. Here I am. In Paradise. And here are some pictures. But be forewarned... these pictures are not for the feint of heart...

Here are some beautiful Hibiscus and other flora we gazed upon as we were exiting the airport in Lihue, Kauai.

And this is a spectacular view of Hanalei Bay.

We have seen dozens of beautiful waterfalls... and everything is so green. SO unlike the desert from which I hail.

Kennedy and I have this "thing" that whenever we look at a flower, we think of each other. So here's a picture of some purple flowers - just for Kennedy - so she knows I was thinking of her.

And I've learned a valuable life lesson...

DON'T FEED THE CHICKENS!

(The baby chicks were so cute... we thought one little piece of bread wouldn't hurt. After all, it was just a sweet mother hen trying to get food for her chicks. Little did I know, they would be back. Every morning, or so I'm told. Sure enough, they were clucking away at our bedroom doors/windows early the next morning begging for more bread. Don't be deceived by the babies' cute little chirps. They will turn into big cock-a-doodle-doo-ing roosters.)

Adieu

You'd think that 5 pairs of flip-flops would be sufficient. However, I have to keep convincing myself that it would be foolish to go out and buy 3 more pairs- one pair for every outfit. I mean, come on- they're only $3.50 at Old Navy (or 2 for $5) and they are so light-weight and they hardly take up any space. And I would totally wear them to work every day if I knew I wouldn't get reprimanded. But alas... the small, sensible part of my brain is winning this battle. So I will stick with my measly 5 pair.

I will be flying out to the beautiful island of Kauai, this weekend, and will be gone for a short while. If I can force myself to break away from basking for a moment or two, and if I feel so inclined, I will update this blog. If not, I will be thinking of all of you and wishing you were there with me.

I now bid you adieu.