I have been making popsicles. I bought some cheap molds from Target, and took a (sorta) recipe from a friend - in a blender combine some vanilla yogurt (already frozen), some fresh or frozen strawberries, and a splash of orange juice, blend, freeze in molds. They are yummy and justifiable as a breakfast item. The mold I have only holds four popsicles, not nearly enough, so I'm off to buy some bigger, better ones at Williams-Sonoma and some fresh fruit. I'll have frozen breakfast treats for weeks.

After Suzie Q posted her pictures of cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan, Lucky had a little story about the cupcake colors inspiring Jane cosmetics to make eyecolor. I clipped out the picture from the story and found it again yesterday. It's a pastel green frosted cupcake with white and yellow sprinkles and two white sugar daisies with yellow centers on top. I was immediately gripped with the desire to make something this charming. I went out to look for similar decorations yesterday, nada! There is no cake and candy making supply store near me. So now, I must find or make these decorations! I could mold my own I suppose -- darn, now that I finally have a reason, Marthastewart.com has stopped selling the flower shaped butter and sugar molds! At the store I found some Wilton gum paste and glucose for decoration making, but how does that taste?

I posted an update of the stuff I've been knitting. I'm still using synthetic yarns, I have learned to love bamboo needles, and (get ready for it) I made one thing which is not a scarf. But I did make three which are. Go see it.

Ok, gimme your margarita recipes! I am officially on a quest to make the greatest one. I have no idea what a margarita is supposed to be in a traditional sense, and all the recipes I find online are different. I think I need a good bartending book while I'm at it.

Last Sunday we went out and bought a cute little grill, veggies for kebobs, and some tequila. I made Jimmy Buffet's Perfect Margarita (up until now I've been using mixes, silly me) -- and we pretended like vacation wasn't over yet. It's the first time I've had a charcoal grill, I'm pretty excited about trying to grill lots of stuff. Especially bananas, there was a restaurant in Cleveland which served the yummiest grilled bananas. Also to check out on the Margaritaville site: History of the Margarita, and A Blender History Lesson.

I'm back. It was a fun roadtrip through the west, we visited Dinosaur National Monument, Rocky Mountain National Park, Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, saw a rodeo, camped in Yellowstone, and took a tram to view the Tetons. Then, on the way back home through Idaho, I found this: [see here for information on the Choco-dile] another fun picture: in Vernal, Utah I didn't realize this until we got there, but the wedding I was attending was held in The Stanley Hotel, more commonly known as The Overlook. My uncle was even staying in room 217. I found out the interior of the hotel was originally white, for that breezy summer place feel. However, the interior is now all dark carpet and dark wood. When they filmed the miniseries there the crew came in and painted faux woodgrain all over, and if you look you can definetely tell. The hotel isn't quite as large as one might imagine, but it was a beautful place for a wedding.

I'm off on a Western Adventure until the 19th, when I will answer my email, I swear.

Good news for everyone who ordered one - my subscription Issue #3 of ReadyMade finally arrived at my house!