aMUSEing

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Papa's Forest

Like a postcard, this is the drive into Papa's Forest!

We headed back to Minnesota last month to spend some precious
time with my in-laws. My most favorite day of the entire trip was spent
carefree up in the woods. Here are a few pictures I snapped of the
kiddos and Zac from that glorious day.

Given the chance, Benny would spend all day on the

big tractor. It truly is his happy place, even though

it is sitting idle in the barn.

Zac and I went for a long ride through the woods on the 4 wheelers.

It was so amazing. It is always fun to go off and feel lost in the woods.

Then Zac took Logi for a ride. She loved it until they saw a huge

animal (a bear-squirrel, as described by our 5 year old love) and

was scared on any subsequent ride. Zac still has zero clue what

animal they encountered, so it is safe to assume it was Harry.

Yes, yes that Harry!

Off they went. Seriously, this was the best day. Our trip

home to Minnesota was overshadowed with the sadness

of my father-in-laws battle with pancreatic cancer, but on this

day nothing seemed to matter but the wind in the trees and

the cold on our cheeks and of course, Harry!

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Crunchy Cornflake Cookies

I ate a cornflake cookie at a cafe when we lived in Oklahoma and it was

love at first bite! I threw this recipe together almost 5 years ago,

and the taste is deliciously spot on! These cookies are loaded with some

of the best pantry goodies imaginable, so of course they are certain to be a hit!

What you need:

1 cup Butter, soft

1/2 cup + 2T Oil

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 cup Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

2 cups Cornflakes

1 cup Quick Oats

1 cup Raw Pecans

1/2 cup Shredded Coconut (unsweetened)

3 1/2 cups AP Flour

1 T Baking Soda

3/4 tsp Salt

2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Place the oats, coconut and pecans in a food processor fitted with the

sharp blade. Pulse until consistency of large crumbs.

I feel certain we over pulsed the three ingredients as I had eager helpers

in the kitchen, after their soccer game. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Next, pulse in the cornflakes until bits of cornflakes appear throughout.

Then set the food processor aside

In the green bowl are the wet ingredients whipped together: butter, oil,

eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and pure vanilla extract. I use an

electric hand mixer to blend the wet ingredients.

In the sifter, awaiting a sift, are the dry ingredients: AP flour,

salt, baking soda and cinnamon.

Slowly sift and hand mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Then fold in cornflake crumble goodness.

Use a small scoop (this is ~2 T scoop, but you could do as small as 1 T)

Line 12 on a parchment lined baking sheet and press the dough

balls flat with clean finger.

Bake for ~13 minutes in a 325 degree oven.

Remove the cookies from the oven, then edges should be a tad

darker in color than the centers. Allow the cookies to cool for

a minute on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack

for complete cool.

Enjoy.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

First Day of School Wonderment

The hubs and I are cleaning up files and files of photos on the computer (this is a moment where I miss flipping through old pics, from a box. Some stuck together, some way out of focus...) and my heart nearly split in half when I realized my little sugar has 3 'first day of school' pictures. Seriously Logan, I adore the stuffing out of you.

First Day of Preschool.

She got in the program the day before this picture was taken,

as we were wait listed, as we had just decided we were buying

a house in the town, and got her on the wait list. I remember

dropping her off. She was so confused because she couldn't find

her best little friend that she went to a little 'school' progam with,

in our old community (in Oklahoma). It broke my heart, but she

had the biggest heart and loved to play...I knew she would be great!

First day of Pre-K

Oh dear. Seriously, this was as good of a pic I could
snap on that day, but I cherish it because that was
where she was in life. Now, she can ham it up for the
camera...just wasn't into it then.

First day of Kindergarten.

As the first year of elementary is in its final weeks
I am still most thankful for our walk
to school each morning.

Now time, slow the heck down!!!

Friday, March 6, 2015

Crunchy Coconut Cookies

Kid Tested and Approved!

I remembered, super last minute, that I needed to bring a dessert to a party. I popped a quick look in the pantry and came up with these cookies. So easy (as they start with a bag of cookie mix) and so so so tasty!

What you need:

1 bag of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

5 T butter (soft)

3/4 cup Shredded Coconut (unsweetened)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla bean paste (a must for your pantry!)

1/4 tsp pure almond extract (optional, but lovely)

1/4 tsp sea salt

raw sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine all of the ingredients listed above (except the raw sugar)

and use a small kitchen scoop. I end up creating 2 dough balls from

each scoop (this is a small, roughly 2 tablespoon scoop). So, if you do not have

a small scoop, roughly size out a heaping tablespoon for each dough ball.

Then roll the tops of the dough in raw sugar, gently pressing the dough

to create a disc. Place cookie dough discs, sugar side up, on a parchment

lined baking sheet (you will fit about 20 small discs on a standard size sheet)

Bake for 9-11 minutes, until the edges start to turn golden.

Allow cookies to cool and then you will have delicious, 3 bite cookies

that are crispy and crunchy on the outside and a little bit chewy on the inside.

Trust me, these will be a crowd pleaser!!

xo.

Friday, February 27, 2015

2015 Sundance Film Festival, Part 2

We arrived in Park City and hit the ground running, quickly accepting that once again we were on a kid-free trip, yet we way-under-rested-mamas would not sleep a wink!

Ethan Hawke. He looked a bit rough last year,

so it was so nice to see him cleaned up a bit this year.

He will forever be a favorite, because of Reality Bites,

but I am excited for all the acclaim he is receiving this

awards season for Boyhood.

Christopher Abbott. Who I looooved as Marnie's

boyfriend on Girls. Later that day we got to see him in the

premiere of James White.

Hailee Steinfeld in town to promote Ten Thousand Saints,

We tried for tickets. No dice. A solid cast, and I heard

good reviews during the week. I can't wait to see it.

He is a Sundance staple! I do love me some

Adrian Grenier.

Clearly I heart him. I practically wrapped myself in his jacket.

As always, my scruples are out the window on this trip.

Emile Hirsch. Was this before or after he drunkenly
beat up a women, at an industry party, during the
festival? I liked him, as an actor, until I heard about
that bit of shenanigans.

Jeff and Jordan. They met on Big Brother, but

I remember watching them on the Amazing Race.

and...I was the only one who recognized them
and knew their names. If there is ever a
wicked low brow version of Jeopardy, sign me up!

Emile Hirsch and Hailee Steinfeld.

Hailee Steinfeld & Kristen Wiig

She then recognized me from the airport. I told
her she looked much less 'flu-like' and should now
stop for a real pic.

Haaaa!

James Marsden. We chatted OKC with him.

Can we have a moment? KEVIN SMITH!

Dear God, I love him!

We were so excited we scored tickets to this film

James White was a good see. Hard to watch at times, but overall

I do appreciate the story, and the casting was spot on.

Here's Christopher Abbott and Cynthia Nixon during the

Q&A with the audience, after the premiere. I say it every single

time, but it is such a treat to hear the cast and crew discuss the film.

Christopher Abbott and the film's director, Josh Mond

Scott "Kid Cudi Mescudi and Cynthia Nixon wrapped up the

post premiere Q&A.

I geeked out when I saw director Cutter Hodierne.

He brought the excellent film I mentioned after

last year's festival, Fishing Without Nets (which

began as a short film at the festival in 2012, and received

funding to then be made into a feature). It was nice

to chat with him, and some of the people behind that film

and to hear they were at this year's festival to receive a

grant...so I know that means more goodness to come on

the screen, by his direction.

He might be the douchiest of celebs:

Alexander Skarsgard

I have never seen him act, but his maj douche-ness

on Main Street leads me to assume he blows

chunks all over the big screen.

Just sayin'!

Okay, I am out for now, but stay tuned for

more mamarazzi chronicles!!

xoxo

Monday, February 2, 2015

2015 Sundance Film Festival, part 1

One of my best friends and I ditched our husbands and kids for a few days of adventures in Park City, Utah for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The adventures began, the minute I departed my airplane as I had a long ass wait at the airport, waiting on my friend's arrival. We had a slight mix up on our flight arrival times and I arrived 7 hours before her. This girl here (me) made some damn fine lemonade out of those aiport lemons. I got my camera out and went to work doing my mamarazzi thing.