Everyone Loves Jell-O

Authors Jennifer Adams and Melissa Barlow hosted a fabulous party at The King's English bookstore in Salt Lake City to launch their collaborative cookbook 101 Things to Do with Gelatin. As the photos illustrate, the turnout was great, there was an array of AMAZING food.

Now, why not try your hand at one of the recipes. (Perfect for this time of year!)

Frozen Black-Bottom Raspberry Pie

1 small box Raspberry Gelatin

1 container (6 ounces) Raspberry Yogurt
1 Package (8 ounces) Cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
Hot fudge

1 premade Oreo cookie pie crust

In a bowl, beat together the dry gelatin mix, yogurt and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread a thick layer of hot fudge over the bottom of pie crust. Pour pie filling over top and freeze. Garnish individual slices with more hot fudge if desired. Makes 8 servings.

Game of the Week: A Discourse on the Importance of Being "It"

Since ancient times, innumerable game instructions have begun with “A player is chosen to be It . . .” But in our modern age, It has become the victim of tiresomely well-intentioned papers relating the psychological traumas of children who were designated as It in children’s games.

This seems entirely wrong-headed. If a game is being played in the proper spirit, there is a certain glee in being It. In fact, adult observers must often have to make sure that no attention-hungry child is willfully being It time and again. Being It should be considered a prized honor, and anyone who has worked with kids is familiar with the calls of “I want to be It!” “No, it’s my turn to be It! You were It last time!”

Now, enjoy being "It" as you play....BACON!

Bacon!

7-plus players

Playground, gymnasium

Two parallel lines are drawn on the ground anywhere from thirty to fifty feet apart. All of the players except one (who will be It) stand beyond one of these lines. In the middle territory between the lines is where It takes his place.

At some point, Player It will cry “Ham, ham, chicken, ham, BACON!” At the word “bacon,” the other players must all rush across to the opposite line, being chased by the center player, who tags any that he can. Any player who is tagged joins him from then on in chasing the others.

The trick is that the center player, instead of saying “Ham, ham, chicken, ham, BACON,” may trick or tantalize the runners by crying out “Ham, ham, chicken, ham, BOOGER,” or “Ham, ham, chicken, ham, BILATERAL SYMMETRY,” or anything else that he chooses. Any player who starts to run upon such a false alarm is considered a captive and must also join any players in the center.

Another way of giving a false alarm is for any one of the center players except the original It to say, “Ham, ham, chicken, ham, BACON!”. Any runner starting in response to such a false signal also becomes captive and must join the players in the center.

The game ends when everyone is caught. The first player who was caught is the new center player, or It, for the next game.

Author Judy Sheridan promotes How to Work With an Interior Designer at TOTO USA in New York City

How to Work With an Interior Designer author Judy Sheridan recently promoted her new book at TOTO USA, a luxury plumbing appliance showroom in New York City.

Lost on how to create the perfect room? How to Work With an Interior Designer to the rescue! From remodels of small galley kitchens to complete designs of luxurious estates, past president of the American Society of Interior Designers of the New York/Metro Chapter Judy Sheidan makes an eloquent case for engaging the services of an interior design professional for your home or office.

To Order, Visit our Web site:

Plan a "Staycation" with The Pocket Guide to Games!

From Good Morning America, July 18, 2008:

"Staycations" are all the rage this summer, but not necessarily because people prefer staying at home to going to Biarritz during their time off.
Nearly off-the-chart gas prices and a shaky economy make staycations unavoidable for millions of American families.

If you and the kids can't go to the great outdoors this summer, why not bring the great outdoors to you? In Idaho, the Worrell family cleared out its calendar and living room to create a unique camping vacation — tents inside the family home.

"The kids love it. Our neighbors thought we were crazy," said Stephanie Worrell about their
non-traditional vacation.

In Texas, Jennifer and David Passerella's family found an offbeat staycation bargain only a few
miles from home. They stayed at the Tyler, Texas, Holiday Inn for a fun family package that
included room cost, breakfast, toys and a poolside movie for $100.

Look in your own backyard for bargains. Whether it's a trip to the zoo or a picnic in a local park,
remember to bring your camera, because no matter where you are, you'll want to hold on to
your memories. Experts also say that it's important to choose an actual beginning and an end to
your staycation. Just because you're staying at home, it's still a vacation and it's really
important to get into that mindset.

Ideas for your own "staycation:"

Citypass Booklets. City passes work in cities across the country: Boston, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Hollywood, Atlanta, Houston, southern California, and Toronto, Canada.

On average, adult ticket booklets cost about $54, and youth booklets cost about $37.

Call or visit your city or town's chamber of commerce to find out more information.

Throw a themed neighborhood party or cookout. Don't just invite friends; invite all the neighbors! Meet new people.

Create a whole new environment, right in your backyard … or maybe even in your house. "Good Morning America" set up a teepee from giggle.com to change our perspective. For more information on the teepee tent, Click Here.

"The Lodge Weekend." You can go hiking, swimming and fishing in your own back yard.

Pick up "The Pocket Guide to Games," by Bart King. This new book coaxes readers away from TV and computer screens and outside to enjoy the summer. "Good Morning America" tried horseshoes, bocce balls and popcorn bowling. What's popcorn bowling? This game requires taking ten empty soda bottles, filling them with unpopped popcorn kernels, lining them up like bowling pins and knocking them down! This game works best on a lawn and away from traffic to keep kids out of the way of automobiles.

GSP Author Drew Kampion Honored on Surfing Walk of Fame

Surfersvillage Global Surf News: Drew Kampion is one of five named to the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, Calif., the first journalist to be so honored. Surfer, writer, editor and photographer, Kampion's distinguished body of work includes being editor-in-chief of Surfing magazine plus editorial stints and contributions to The Surfers Journal.

Kampion is currently editor of The Surfer's Path, and is the author of The Book of Waves, Stoked!, Greg Noll: The Art of the Surfboard, The Lost Coast, and A History of Surf Culture.

"I feel very honored to be named with this group," Kampion said Tuesday. "This is a good time to be alive."

Now 64 and still catching waves, Kampion has lived in Langley in the Pacific Northwest for the past 12 years with his wife, Susan, and two children — Alex and Alana. He also has become one of the most well-known authors in the world on the subject of surfing and other board sports.

The Surfing Walk of Fame's annual ceremony to honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport and culture of surfing will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24 in Huntington Beach.

Great Chefs Cook Vegan author Linda Long interviewed on NAVS Website

Watch North American Vegetarian Society's (NAVS) interview with author Linda Long at the annual NAVS Vegetarian Summerfest in Pittsburgh last month.

Linda Long talks about how her delicious and inventive cookbook, Great Chefs Cook Vegan, was born.

Great Chefs Cook Vegan will be available at regular and online bookstores this Fall.

For pre-ordering information, visit our Web site:

101 Things To Do With Gelatin

Jennifer Adams and Melissa Barlow will be launching their new book 101 things to do with Gelatin at Kings English in Salt Lake City. If you are in the area please stop by to experience the fun!

How to Create Mischief at Your Next Family Photographic Session!

Summertime Treats with Gelatin

On the Road Again with Doug Keister's Teardrops and Tiny Trailers

Teardrops and Tiny Trailers by Douglas Keister takes readers back to the golden age of America’s highway culture, when tag-along trailers followed nearly ever automobile. The demand for vintage trailers—the smaller the better—has risen dramatically in recent years, with the most in-demand trailers being “teardrops,” first manufactured in the 1930s and containing just indoor sleeping space and an outdoor exterior kitchen. Also profiled in the book are “canned ham” trailers, whose shape resembles the profile of a can of ham; small-size examples of America’s most beloved vintage trailer, the Airstream; minuscule gypsy caravans in Europe; and fiberglass trailers made in Canada.

Game of the Week! from The Pocket Guide to Games

Turn your kids loose on July 4 with this fun game...or better yet, join them in playing!

Blind Bell
5+ players
Suitable for indoors, playground, gymnasium

All players but one are blindfolded and scatter about. The one who is not blindfolded carries a bell (or other sound making device) loosely in one hand, so that it will ring with every step. If desired, the bell may be hung around the neck. The blindfolded players try to tag (touch) the one with the bell, who will have to be on the lookout to keep out of their way. Whoever catches the bellman changes places with him.

Blindfolded players are encouraged not to run pell-mell, so as to avoid disaster!

If there are more than 20 players, there can be two or more bellmen.

Have a ringin' July 4th!