Pre Halloween

This weekend I got on a Martha Stewart kick and baked and decorated for Halloween. Cindy's birthday is on Tuesday and she was telling me about some doughnuts that they have at orchards in New Jersey, so I googled the recipe for Apple Cider doughnuts and made them. She said they were ok but different from the ones in the orchard. I just smiled and thought to myself, NOTHING beats Southern Maid doughnuts, so there.
Then we had dinner group this past Sunday and I made a Chocolate Orange layer cake the directions on the cake are a little confusing (well maybe just for me) so I made 2 cakes by accident.

Now to the kitchen table decorations. I know its a little late to be decorating for Halloween but maybe it will stay up a little into November. Here is the entire table.

Cindy found this scull and bones. The orange and black balls were at Tai-Pan. Then napkins- Kohls for FREE. When we first strung the little white guys up the string was tied to their back bone and so it looked like they were flying, my roommate said they looked like dead babies, and we couldn't have that so we tried again, but it was kinda funny for a bit.
Cindy also got the small skeleton heads. I like the sparkles!!!!
The place mats another Kohls purchase for 3.95 total, originally 6.99 each, I got 4.
Close up of the plate setting.When I was making the orange icing the directions didn't say anything about when you put the powdered sugar and milk and orange zest in and turn on the mixer that most of it would land on the counter. Guess this is why I don't have my own show on Food Network. Luckily I was wearing my apron (thanks Manda for the apron, it was a clothes saver).

Vacations

I took vacation time from work to attend a friends wedding in Nauvoo. It was fun, busy, and quick.

http://blog.erikadotsonphotography.com/

These two were in the Visitors center in Nauvoo. I really like the second one.

Walkway right outside Carthage Jail.

Jennie and me outside Carthage Jail.

This is the window where the Prophet Joseph Smith was shot

This flag only has 18 stars and was presented to Lincoln. it is said to have been a symbol of those states apposed to the confederacy.

This door was once located at a friend of Abraham Lincoln's. He often visited the home while he was practicing law.

Nauvoo Temple

Manda in her NEW car(in provo, before the trip).

Then came back for 4 days and then left for Las Vegas. It was scary, eye opening, and awesome.

Tuba Man at the UNLV/UTAH football game

Kid from Utah Univ.

Cindy w/ Caesar

Pretty cake in one of the shops

This tree was a fountain

Its the 2nd greatest time of the year

IT's OCTOBER !!!!
* the Holiday season starts
- - EVERYONE is starting to display CHRISTMAS stuff
*my friend Manda's getting married
*it's BREAST CANCER awareness month
*EVERYTHING you can imagine comes in PINK for 1 month
*the leaves start to change
*college Football is in full swing
*fall break trip to Las Vegas to visit Staci(old roommate)
*Halloween (I'm going as the chic from 'The Birds'
*Cindy's B-day
*decorating for Halloween (pic to come, its going to be Glitzy)
*in theaters Toy Story and Toy Story 2 double feature for 2 weeks
*31 days until 106.5 plays NON-stop CHRISTMAS music
*September is OVER


the 3 bad things so far are
if I dont pass 2 test by the 20th I wont graduate in December
its COLD
I have to add a math class(if I pass those 2 tests)