KICKED THE BUCKET

Before I get too deep into this post (yes it is bound to be another long one) I guess I need to explain THE BUCKET LIST. If you have seen this movie... you will know what I am talking about. If not then let me explain. In a nutshell it is a list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket" (aka die). Clayton and I have had a bucket list way before this movie came out. However one day at the grocery store my keen eyes spotted this little gem...
100 Utah Foods!!! Who knew that there were so many "Utah specialties" (besides green Jell-O with shredded carrots) or Utah Locavores that we haven't tried. So now there are 2 bucket lists: THE ADVENTURE bucket list and THE FOOD bucket list. Someday I will post the lists, but not today...to many other important things to post (ok mostly pictures).

A couple Saturday's ago a friend from Hawaii was up doing some training in Utah. Seriously who comes to UTAH from HAWAII to train!?! Should be the other way around if you ask me. Which no one did, but I like to offer my opinion anyway. We drove down to see Nikki on Saturday and decided that it would be a great day to introduce her to the state and cross some items off of our Food Bucket List.

Stop #1: Lehi Roller Mills
Oh yes! The place where "Kevin Bacon danced his blues away" in Footloose. The mag claims that you have to try their Heart Healthy Hotcakes Mix. Nikki wanted to get some syrup for her mom from Lehi Mills anyway so it was a "kill two birds with one stone" stop. Still haven't tried the hot cakes yet. Love everything else I get from Lehi Mills (cookies mixes, muffin mixes, etc.) so I'm sure these will be awesome too. Isn't it obvious how Clayton loves to have his picture taken.

Oh and can I tell you how excited I was to find an eggnog cake mix!!! E-X-C-I-T-E-D to say the least. Can you even buy eggnog this time of year? We planned on just getting the hotcakes mix, but came out with a crap load more than that. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.

Stop #2: Belgian Waffles at Bruges

Seriously who even knew this little amazing hole in the wall even existed!?! Not I!

I was immediately impressed with this place...even before tasty the food. Why? Because they have a naked little boy statue peeing fountain. Who wouldn't be impressed by that!?!
These waffles are amazing. Bruges doesn't use batter they use dough making them heavier...just the way I like it. I have to say that Nikki got the best one. Waffle with ICE CREAM drizzled with chocolate sauce. I know, right!?!

The "frites" are also good. Plus they come with so many different dipping sauces that it would put "Some Dude's Fry Sauce" to shame.

Stop #3: Salt Lake Temple
Ok not really on the food bucket list, unless they have an amazing cafeteria inside. We didn't have much time between all of our food consuming and dropping Nikki off at the airport so we took a quick stop at the Salt Lake LDS Temple so she could get a few pictures.

Stop #4: Ensign Peak

Also not on the food bucket list, but something I have wanted to do for awhile.

After we dropped Nikki off we headed out to Kami and Erik's to swim in their pool. After you have eaten so much food getting into a swimsuit isn't the most "pleasant" feeling.

Later that night we took the trek up to Ensign Peak. By trek I mean leisurely walk. Not a difficult or long hike by any means. Ensign Peak overlooks the Salt Lake Valley. It has some church reference to it, but I'm not sure what.

If Kami and Erik would just get a blog then I wouldn't have to post pictures of them. Seriously! Get. A. Blog. I know three people that would read it. 1-me 2-mom 3-the Paul family (you guys are so cool you count as one person). Little FYI for you...this is where Erik proposed to Kami. Ahhh...





Stop # 5: Frozen Custard at Nielsen's
Truth be told I have been here before and loved it. However, I was very disappointed this time.
The first time I went was about 3 years ago to the Bountiful location. They only served one size: LARGE. And in my opinion ice cream should only come in one size. The Holiday location was closer this time so that is the one we went to. Like the Bountiful location they only served one size, but it wasn't LARGE. It was somewhere between small and medium. This did not make Heidi happy. Plus it was way overpriced for a small/medium. This did not make Clayton happy. Erik also had a hole in his cup so his dripped all over him on the way home. This did not make Erik happy. Despite the two strikes the ice cream...er....frozen custard was really good. Still though...

We spent the night at Kami and Erik's and then Sunday I dropped Clayton off at the airport. This was not a fun experience. We have never spent a day/night apart since being married. Even though I wouldn't see him for 2 days it was the most lonely/miserable 2 days. He flew to Tempe,AZ for training. I flew out there 2 days later. However, that is a post for another day... Till then...