Cake Pops Bombed

This week I'd had the bright idea to make cake pops, after having some great ones at Starbucks. 

I guess there's a reason they have theirs shipped in. 

I used french vanilla cake mix with vanilla frosting.  One recipe I used said to use 1/3 cup frosting, so I did.  It didn't seem like enough, so I doubled that.  This was probably my first mistake.  I mixed the two together, let it chill, and used about a tablespoon of "dough".  You then roll them into balls, and let them chill again in the fridge.  Finally you dip them into the melted chocolate/candy, etc., and harden in the fridge again. 

The next to last stop was where I got frustrated.  (This is not a recipe for the easily frustrated.  And I get easily frustrated.)  I guess the cake balls were too heavy, and the candy coating was too thick, and when I *really* tried to dip the pops into the coating, they came apart.  (And yes, I pre-dipped the sticks).  I just finally gave up and rolled them- without the lollipop sticks- in the coating. 

They do taste good, though.  But they're kind of a hassle. 

Worst Movies Ever

"Down with Love"- This had Renee Zellweger in it.  I don't remember why it was bad.  It just was.

"Vampires Suck"- As you know, I am a "Twilight" fan.  And I'm sure there was a good way to spoof our Twilight love.  This just wasn't it. 

"The Fourth Kind"- This movie has an agenda against owls.  It makes the "Independence Day" aliens look like humanitarians.

"2001: A Space Odyssey"- This is *my* pick for my worst movie.  It could have been a good movie.  A movie that made sense.  My apologies if you liked this.

Autumn in New York- just plain, stinkin' sad.  I don't think Nicholas Sparks wrote this.  My apologies if you like Nicholas Sparks.  (Spoiler alert: He tends to kill off people.)

The Core- this makes Mom's list.  To me, it's not that bad.  I guess it didn't help that I watched this film once or twice during a trans-atlantic flight.  Just your typical disaster movie that kills its' heroes in "new" (if not drawn-out) ways. 

The Happening- Even though this is an M. Night Shyamalan movie, and I usually like his movies, you just can't make a movie about suicide and expect it to be good.  Major creep factor here. 

North- I watched this old Elijah Wood flick after a several-year "hiatus."  Unfortunately I remembered why.  The movie depends on stereotypes for survival.  Oh, wait, I guess it didn't.  Survive, that is.   

Deep Impact-  Also depressing.  It barely even tries to be an uplifting movie.  Maybe it's not supposed to be.  "Armageddon" was way better.

Twilight.

(Made you look.)

Abduction (AKA 3 Degrees of Taylor Lautner)

I saw "Abduction" this past week; it was pretty good.  Taylor Lautner was good in it; it was a fast-paced film.  I think he can hold a lead role (you know, apart from the Twilight franchise). 

Oh, yeah, speaking of.... they showed the "Breaking Dawn" trailer!  I was happy, as I was hoping to see the trailer on the "big screen" before actually seeing the film.  It came on *just* when I was about to leave the theater to inquire as to why "Abduction" was starting late.  It's a good thing I didn't leave; I would have been pretty mad at myself. 

I also got Taylor Swift's DVD "Journey to Fearless" and got my T. Swift overload until her live CD/DVD next month.  "Journey's" a really good deal- two (or more) hours of songs and footage.  I had originally seen it on the HUB network.  It's what made me a fan in the first place.  (She and Taylor dated at one time- hence the connection.)

If Hollywood Ran the Government

This entry was inspired from an article in Entertainment Weekly, called "Obama Asks Hollywood for Help."  So that got me thinking... What if Hollywood ran the goverment?

Ok, here's my lineup.  This is just meant to be a funny, tongue-in-cheek thing. 

Bill Pullman- He can be the President. We know he can do the job, and fight off aliens at the same time! (See Independence Day)

Bruce Willis, as Secretary of Defense.  Good at fighting crime and terrorism (plus he stopped an asteroid). Backup: Will Smith.

Meryl Streep, Vice President. (Two words: Manchurian Candidate. Countries would suddenly leave us alone. Like that.)

Surgeon General: Peter Facinelli, aka,Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Talk about a lifetime appointment. Backup: Dr. Quinn, aka Jane Seymour. If we need a board, there's the entire cast of ER.

Ben Affleck- head of the CIA. His achievement: stopping nuclear war at the 11^th hour. (See The Sum of All Fears) 

Anyone else have any picks?