Birthday Extravaganza

So Paul surprised me Friday night with a dinner at Trio, which was delicious, and then concert tickets to go see Celtic Woman at Kingsbury Hall for my birthday. We've seen them once before, but they are amazing and so fun to watch. If you've never seen Celtic Woman on PBS, they are like an Irish girl band extraordinaire, and the best part is this little violinist woman who jumps and dances around the stage while she plays. Hilarious. And the music's great, so who can complain? I've included a live version of one of my favorite songs entitled "The Voice" and a picture of the lovely lasses.

A Real Jazz Fan

Once again--stealing pictures from my sister's blog. But these pictures are just too cute not to share. They have these mini armchairs & sofas for kids in DownEast that Alison wanted to put Edison in, so we couldn't resist. And he looks extra cute in his little Deron Williams jersey. Go Jazz!

Some cute pitcures to brighten your day

Georgie is really the best dog ever - enough said!

MMMMMM - Delicious Cake

So Anna made a quite delicious cake the other day and I thought that I would share it with you the best that I could. I wish I were able to have you taste the cake but alas that is not possible, however I can post the recipe and some pictures of the cake, with the hope that you are just beside yourself with desire that you might be tempted to make it yourself. Also a little history about the cake, so this is the same cake that was made during the episode of Studio 5 which I was on a few weeks ago, I got to eat some after the show and have been raving about it's deliciousness ever since. It truly is tasty and Anna's was even better than the one on the telly.

Orange Marmalade Cake

Orange Marmalade Cake

Ingredients:

• 2-3 fresh oranges
• 1 package (18 oz) yellow or lemon cake mix*
• 1-2 drops red food color, optional
• 1 1/2 cups cultured 1% buttermilk
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 1 bottle (18 oz) orange marmalade
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup fat free sour cream (not imitation)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the sides and bottom of three (3) 8-inch round cake pans** with non-stick spray. Cut circles the size of cake pans from parchment paper; place parchment paper in bottom of pans. Set aside.

Finely grate peel from the oranges (or zest oranges); measure out 4 tablespoons orange zest and set aside. Juice oranges; measure out 1 cup juice and set aside.

Combine cake mix, optional red food color, buttermilk, eggs, and orange zest in mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds then on medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape sides of bowl and beat 1 minute longer. Divide batter evenly in prepared pans; evenly spread batter in pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow cakes to cool in the pans for about 20 minutes.

Leave cakes in pans. Poke holes in cakes using a skewer or long tinged fork, at 1/2-inch intervals. Stir together 1 cup fresh orange juice and 1/4 cup sugar until sugar is dissolved. Equally spoon juice over cakes a little at a time, allow juice to be completely absorbed into cake before adding more. Allow cakes to completely cool in pans.

Place marmalade in microwave safe bowl; microwave on high in 30 seconds intervals, stirring after each 30 seconds, just until melted.

Invert 1st layer of cake on serving plate, remove parchment paper. Spoon 1/3 the marmalade over cake; spread to within 1/2 inch from the edge of cake. Repeat with next two layers, stacking cakes on top each other.

Stir 1/4 cup sugar into whipping cream; whip until stiff peaks form; gradually whisk in sour cream. Frost sides and the top outside edge of cake with whipped cream, leaving marmalade exposed on cake. Refrigerate 2-3 hours before serving; refrigerate leftovers.

It appears that both Alison and Georgie (big suprise) were big fans of the cake - and who can blame them!

Another brush with fame!!!

This time it doesn't involve either me or Anna, but I thought that I would post it all the same. I just got an email from my brother forwarding me the poster for the new play that his girlfriend - Louise - is in. Isn't that exciting, Louise is an actor and has done a bunch of stuff before and this is the latest thing she'll be in. I'm not sure what it is about (other than what the poster says) but it seems to feature some rather cute dogs so I'm sure I'd like it. I'm guessing that none of you will see it as it is being performed in the South of France, but I thought I'd share anyway. Good Luck Louise!! (Louise in on the right, with the awesome hat)

Two brushes with fame in less than 24 hours!!!!!

The last 24 hours has been very exciting and as the title suggested we have had quite the fun experiences! So first - and I have to say 'brushes with fame' is a little exaggerated as if you live outside of Utah you most probably have no idea of whom and what I am talking about anyway - we attended the Kenneth Cope album launch concert last night. He has just released a new CD and sang his whole new CD and a bunch of his older songs, and I have to say he was jolly good - I am quite the fan. It really impresses me when you go to a concert and the person sounds just as good live as on the CD, he is quite the talented chap. Anyways after the concert we got to meet him and have him sign our CD, now this was the funny part, neither myself or Anna are too talkative when meeting new people, therefore the conversation went like this:

Me - "Hi, we really enjoyed your show tonight - thank you"
Anna - Silent
Kenneth - "Thanks"
Me - I then give him the CD
Anna - Still silent
Kenneth - Big smile - but silent
Me - Silent
Anna - Silent some more
Kenneth - to Anna "you're sweet"
Me - Silent
Anna - "Thanks"
Kenneth - Silent
Me - "Well thanks - have a good evening"
Kenneth - "Thanks"

In short 'twas a little awkward but we got our CD signed and had a fun night out - on a weeknight too!

Then brush with fame number 2! - I just appeared on Studio 5 "Utah's hour-long show that focuses on improving the lives of others" on channel 5! I know how very exciting, I was there to do an interview about taxes and to encourage all of those last minute filers to get to a VITA site. I had quite the fun time, even though I was quite nervous. My segment was only a couple of minutes long but I think it went well - we'll see when we got home from work as we VCR'd it ( nothing like keeping up to date with technology). I was interviewed by Brooke (the co-host lady) and she said after we were done, and I am quoting here "you did really good, I am guessing you've been on TV before" and the answer is no (unless you count the Food Bank commercial where I am standing behind Siegfried and Jenson). Now I realize that she may just say this to everyone but I'll just pretend that I was just that awesome. All in all - I think it went very well and just went so fast, although I am nervous to watch it back as I'm sure it'll make me look about 400lbs. I'm not sure if I'll be able to post a clip but if I somehow get one I'll make sure to post it! Oh one last thing - they made a delicious Marmalade cake during the show and I got to eat some after we were all done- bonus!

Punaise, alors!

To preface this story, this is Anna here. If I didn't mention that, you'd probably be really confused after reading this. Just thought I'd title my post after my most favorite french curse (it's not really bad; it's like saying darn in english and actually means pushpin or thumbtack). After yesterday, sometimes you just need to let it all out, you know? I went in for a little "procedure" yesterday (a little more poking and prodding, really), and let me tell you, it hurt like &%*@ (insert your own favorite french swear here)! If the three people standing around my gurney hadn't been complete strangers, I probably would have been screaming as much as I do when Paul plucks my eyebrows. I'm sick and tired of doctors and waiting in their offices and their vague explanations and their utter lack of compassion. Actually, I'm sure they're compassionate enough, but I don't think they always realize that after having yet another miscarriage the last thing I want to do is sit around their office with 15 happy pregnant women getting ultrasounds and then having the doctor tell me what else could be wrong with me. I like what the comedian Brian Regan says about doctors having a "carte blanche" on insults--so true! They can tell you just about anything you really don't want to hear, then stick something very unpleasant somewhere, and then we thank them up and down and pay on the way out! And lately, it seems like since they can't quite figure out what's wrong (and I quote, "well, everything looks perfectly normal to me"), the easiest thing for them to do is pawn me off on some other unsuspecting doctor. In the last year, I think Paul and I have been to enough doctors to last us the rest of our lives. I'm pretty sure I have enough knowledge now to be some kind of fertility expert or counselor. Although, no one would ever pay me since it hasn't ever worked for me personally. So, if you ever want to know about ovulation, the fertility awareness method, basal body temperatures, luteal phase defect, IVF with ICSI, IUI, ART, the fertility diet, the EAGeR study, sonohysterograms, hypersalpopingograms (say that five times fast!), karyotyping...the list goes on...I will tell you everything I know until you're bored out of your mind! And that list only included Anna tests. Paul has had his share, but I will spare him and everyone else those details. Funny thing is, a year ago I would have been embarrassed to tell anyone except close family what was going on. I was embarrassed asking my parents for a generous donation to give IVF a whirl. And yet, I don't even care now. Don't get me wrong, it's still very painful for me. Paul and I have our bad days. Maybe telling people and explaining exactly how I'm feeling is the way to deal with it, however humiliating it may be. On that note, I wish all of my friends health, happiness, and fertility!