Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake Squares

I can't think of anything I like to eat more than cheesecake. Yum! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it and I don't think 8:30 am is the appropriate time to crave it. However, I subscribe to Martha Stewart's daily cookie recipes (I'm not sure why since I am on the no sugar plan currently. Maybe I should say I am failing at keeping up with the no sugar plan) and the emails come in the morning.

This is the recipe they sent this morning and I can't imagine that it would be anything but extremely yummy. Plus, it is a very interesting cookie, not one you'd see every day.

Three Cheers for Melting Pot

I have been wanting to go to the Melting Pot restaurant in Salt Lake for years now, but every time I get the coupon in the mail, I see that it's $25 per person with the coupon (kind of pricey for our budget) and it's a 45 minute drive each way. So, I have really wanted to try it, but never have.

We decided for celebrating our belated 10 year anniversary, we could splurge and go. Especially since it's only a few miles away from Steve's office in Salt Lake. We also made it into our annual business meeting so we could write it off on our taxes.

I am so glad we did! We both LOVED it. We had a great, private seat overlooking downtown Salt Lake and the food was fabulous! It was a whole 4 course meal and took about 2 hours to eat it all. With tax, tip, and a drink we shared it ended up being $75, but for special occasions, definitely worth it.

Here's what comes in the courses:

1. Cheesy Fondue with dippers including bread, veges, and apples.
2. Salad
3. Uncooked meat (salmon, shrimp, sirloin, filet mignon) that you put in broth for 2 minutes to cook. Served with 5 yummy sauces.
4. Dessert. Can't say anything bad about melted chocolate, cheesecake, and strawberries.

Meeting Amazing Grace

I just finished reading this book from my neighborhood book group. It's mostly about relationships with in-laws and is indirectly about our relationships with everyone from our spouse to our parents to our children. It is written from a religious perspective. I have to say, at first I thought it was mighty superficial, but found as I read on, the message of the book is quite profound. It's like a non-fiction written in fiction style with stories from real people. Gary Lundberg is a family therapist and Joy is a song writer with Janice Kapp Perry. They are a fun couple, but sometimes you have to turn on the "sicky sweet" filter, but that's ok.

My Favorite Foundation

If there's one favorite thing I have among cosmetics, it's Max Factor foundation. As a child, it was "cute" to have some freckles on my cheeks, but as an adult, I hate all of the freckles on my face (as a teen, I frequently rubbed lemon juice on them in hopes they would fade). Apparently, they don't like me either, because they keep multiplying. A hazard of fair skin, I'm afraid. I never go in public without this makeup on and it covers really well without looking caked on. I apply it with a circle makeup sponge. It's nice because it's not runny and is in a solid form. I also have very blotchy skin and it seems to cover that up well too.

There you have it. While reflecting on the lemons on the freckles... I was thinking about how when I was a teenager, my mom used to iron my permed hair to straighten it, on the ironing board and everything. After a while, I could do it myself. Did anyone else ever do that? Just curious.

I love this photo!

Sans the butterfly, I love this photo with the reflection of the family! How creative! It's from Anniemations Photography.

The Thief

Loved this first book of a 3 part series by Megan Whalen Turner. Loved the surprise ending. Can't wait to read the next one, thanks Adrienne for the tip!

Velcro Curlers

Hate round brushing? Try these instead. They work amazingly well, are inexpensive. And, if times get tough, they will give your kids and possibly your neighbors a good laugh.