Lately...

I'm not very good at balancing my time between writing in my journal and reading books, magazines, and scriptures...oh, and blogging. I've read 11 of the 12 books I set a goal to read this year. I'm a few months behind on my magazines (but I refuse to move on before going through each of them). I started listening to my scriptures on my phone (via the Mormon Channel app) so I'm staying a little more on top of that. I tried to write in my journal weekly (sometimes during my lunch break) but got a few weeks behind, which translates to hours of time because I include so.much.detail! It's worth it, though...right?!?

My last life update was mid-September so I'll pick up from there.

September

• ran the Great Urban Race in LA with Naco, Nikki, and Annalee
• spent the day with Tami's family (dinner, games, singing, laughing - love them!)
• attended Nancy & Ryan's wedding reception in beautiful Newport Coast
• watched friends' softball games (live), Oklahoma State football (on tv - Go Pokes!)
• saw the San Francisco ballet with Wendy and Naco - LOVED!
• new roomie, Lindsay, moved in ON HER BDAY!

October

• went to St. George with Wendy to support Karen, Ali, Travis, and Annalee in the marathon
• attended Morgan's bridal shower & Melissa's baby shower (and got to catch up with my dear friend, Betsy!)
• suffered through a sugar fast with Wendy (why do we torture ourselves?)
• went to Disneyland - TWICE (once with Naco, Ash, Wend, Jenn, & Jess; then with Wend & Steph)
• hiked Bridge to Nowhere with Naco, Ash, Mary, & Zach
• watched my friend, Sharon, perform in "Singing in the Rain" with Landon
• April visited from DC (dinner, beach, glow in the dark bocce, celebrated her bday!)
• went to Jess' annual fall party complete with a visit to the pumpkin patch
• hosted our first (Steph's 6th) annual Chowder Chowdown!
• went to the Haunted Hay Ride in LA (creepy)

November

• started a painting project with Naco
• celebrated Randilyn's bday at a dueling piano bar
• Joe visited from DC! (lots of sightseeing - island, beach cruisers, peninsula, saw "To Kill A Mockingbird," beach bonfire, Malibu, Santa Monica, etc)
• spent a weekend in Santa Barbara with Ali & Wendy (ran the half marathon, celebrated Ali's bday)

Time is flying by! I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week!

2011 New Recipe #19 - Caramel Apple Crisp

This stuff was delicious! Joe was in town for the weekend and his favorite desserts contain fruit so when I came across this recipe, I decided we'd make it. I used Honey Crisp apples (the BEST!), which are really big. The recipe calls for 5 medium apples and I used 4 of these. I opted not to peel them (combination of laziness and indecisiveness) and I was happy with the result but think most people would peel the apples. We ate it with ice cream. Scrumptious and easy!




Caramel Apple Crisp
http://www.hilsblog.com/2011/11/caramel-apple-crisp.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hilsblog1+%28Hil%27s+Blog%29
Ingredients:

5 medium size apples
1/2 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 c. oats
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 to 4 heaping tablespoons caramel topping
whipping cream or Ice Cream (optional)

Instructions:

Place apple slices in greased baking dish. Spoon caramel topping over the apples. In a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add oats and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apple slices and caramel.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until tender. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.