Freedom Treats :)

 Happy fourth everyone :) Sorry I'm a day late :/
Thanks to an overhyped hurricane warning in Norfolk, the fourth was a bit of a bust this year.
All the fireworks were either postponed or cancelled, and none of my people (myself included) were really feeling too festive. Other than pounding a couple Mike's Strawberry Lemonades (an independence day tradition ;) I did nothing Fourth of July related yesterday. 

But this holiday didn't go unnoticed.

Even though we didn't do much on the actual day, I did spend the last week baking in preparation for our Fourth of July potluck at work :) We celebrated on Thursday (we were closed for the fourth. awesome;) and I decided to go all out. I hadn't baked in a while and couldn't decide on just one dish to bring, so I made three:

Freedom Treats

I tried a few new things with my holiday treats this time around. Some were successful, others were a pain in the ass (but overall worth it).

The plate on the left are white chocolate dipped strawberries with blue sprinkles. These are always easy, though I will say that dipping them in the sprinkles is tougher than I thought. You have to dip the strawberries in the chocolate, let them cool a little bit and then dip them in the sprinkles. I tried to so dip and dip and it was a mess.

The cupcakes on the right are chocolate with buttercream frosting, pop rocks and jolly rancher stars.

Holy shit you guys, making those stars was an ordeal.

It sounds simple in theory: 

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. 

Sprinkle broken bits of jolly rancher on the foil and place it in the oven at 350 for 3 minutes.
Press oiled metal cookie cutters into the melted candy, leaving it to cool.

After the candy has hardened, peel it off the foil and use the unused jolly rancher for the next set.
Sounds simple as shit right?

It's NOT.

First off, it's almost impossible to find metal cookie cutters and even harder to find star shaped ones.

I finally found 2 at Williams Sonoma (good lord that place is magical) and was able to get the process started. Here's a tip, if you plan on ever doing this (and you're planning on making more than just a couple shapes) make sure that you have a decent number of cookie cutters. I'm talking like 5 or 6, otherwise it's going to take FOREVER.

Second, do NOT leave the candy in the oven for more than 3 minutes. Not 3:30, not 3:10, 3:00 exactly. Because burnt jolly rancher is probably the most vile thing I've ever tasted, and I don't want you to go through that.

Third, shit breaks. 

Seriously, you can melt the jolly rancher flawlessly, oil the cookie cutters like a pro and wait the perfect amount of time before trying to peel these suckers off the foil and they will still break.

Overall I think it took me 3 hours to make 12 stars.

Like I said before, the result was worth the time, but this is definitely something that needs to be perfected. I noticed that it did get easier as I went, but it was still a delicate process. This idea is actually pretty awesome and creates a lot of cool possibilities for candy making or cake decorations.

I know that I'll be doing this again, and hopefully it will go smoothly now that I have an idea of what NOT to do.

The cake in the center of the photo was my favorite :)
It's a five layer cake made up of white and red velvet cakes with buttercream frosting.

I'm not going to lie, I was so proud of how it turned out.

I've made layer cakes before, but nothing this intricate. And the crazy part was that it wasn't difficult at all.

I found this diagram tutorial on pinterest:

http://totallyloveit.com/american-flag-cake-tutorial/

And that's pretty much all there is to it.

The keys to making this cake a success are making sure each layer is measured properly (I used a cake leveler) and that you don't use too much frosting in between each of the layers.

Other than that it's (dare I say it?) a piece of cake ;)

I'm lame as shit but you love it.

So yeah, I had a lot of fun baking for this lovely Independence Day, and can't wait for next time. I've got some co-worker birthdays on the horizon and I've got big plans ;)

I hope everyone had a safe and memorable fourth and I will see you all soon :)

30 Day Disney Challenge: I'm Wishing...

Day 23:
favorite old film (2000-)

I'm going to finish this challenge if it's the last thing I do.

Since I've already gushed about my love for Mulan and Hocus Pocus (both released before 2000), I've decided to amend this one a little bit and make it "favorite OLD disney movie", like... pre-80's.

I've decided to go with Snow White and Seven Dwarfs for one simple reason, I love those little guys. Seriously, each of them are wonderfully charming, and they are so hospitable :)

Growing up I always liked Dopey the most, but as I grow old and bitter I've started to identify more with Grumpy. He reminds me of the Grinch (one of my favorite fictional characters by the way;) and I can't help but well up when Snow White brings out his softer side.

Snow White herself is a little meh.
I mean she's really nice but her voice is a tad bit annoying.
And who the fuck would take an apple from a sketchy stranger?

Seriously?

Which is your favorite?
See you soon!

Cinefile: A Million Ways To Die

Good evening ladies and gents :)
It's been a while since my last movie review, and I've decided enough is enough.
I've been going to the movies a lot more lately (awesome), so hopefully they'll become a little more frequent.
Let's do this :)

Today, we're going to talk about A Million Ways To Die In The West.

 

Starring: Seth MacFarlane (like, ALL of him, not just his voice ;), Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Sarah Silverman, Giovanni Ribisi, Amanda Seyfried and Neil Patrick Harris.

This is the latest movie from Seth MacFarlane, who is best known for creating Family Guy and American Dad! I did a review of Ted a couple years ago, (check it out here) and I'm going to start this review the same way I started that one:
I love Seth MacFarlane.
I think he is hilarious and awesome and I love everything that he does.
And yes, Family Guy definitely has its "dumb" moments, but I still love it.

My friend and I were both REALLY excited to see this movie, until we saw the rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
It was 33%. THIRTY THREE PERCENT.
That's just less than a third, effectively crushing our hopes for this movie. But we aren't quitters, and we went this weekend anyway.

The story follows a simple sheep farmer named Albert (Seth MacFarlane) dealing with the dangers of life on the frontier. As an intelligent (yet slightly cowardly) man living among a vast group of gun slinging hotheads, Albert does his best to avoid confrontation. But when his long term girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried) leaves him for another man (Neil Patrick Harris), Albert has to man up to try to win her back. With the help of a mysterious new town resident (Charlize Theron), Albert starts to learn how to settle a feud in the old west.
Giovanni Ribisi plays his supportive yet awkward best friend Edward, who is dating Sarah Silverman's character Ruth, a prostitute at the local saloon.

 
Let me start with the good stuff.
Seth MacFarlane was HILARIOUS. I was kind of nervous to see how he would do actually physically starring in a movie, but he did not disappoint. It's so funny because you've heard him laugh and yell and get angry before, but now you get to see the facial expressions that go with the voice. I'm really really hoping that he'll be in more movies from now on. Seriously guys he's hysterical.

Charlize Theron actually did a great job too. I sound surprised not because she's a bad actress (because she's not) but because I couldn't picture her in Seth's slapstick / silly brand of comedy. But she and Seth actually had great chemistry, and I really liked her character.

Something that I love about Family Guy is all the random references that are neatly tucked into each of the episodes. I was so excited to find out that this movie does the exact same thing! I'm not going to give them away, but there are awesome little easter eggs all throughout the movie :)

But sadly, the movie wasn't perfect :/

I really REALLY didn't like the bits about Edward and Ruth, which is really sad because I really like Sarah Silverman and Giovanni Ribisi.

It was just too raunchy.

As I've mentioned before, Ruth works as a prostitute that's involved with Edward, an innocent love struck shoe repairman. Ruth, although very kind and "innocent" herself, is very popular at the saloon and isn't shy about what goes on during business hours. Edward continues to be supportive of his girlfriend's career, even though he is constantly reminded of what she does all day. I don't want to go into a ton of detail but let's just say an older couple left the theater about 10 minutes in. Yeah.

They were both great friends to Albert, and the scenes they did as a group were fine, it's just when they're alone and talking about sex that it's just too much for me.

My friend and I both agreed that this movie definitely didn't get the credit it deserved and were pleasantly surprised by how funny it really was. 

Overall, I'm going with 4 stars :)

I'd recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys various types of comedy.
Bear in mind that like Family Guy and Seth's other shows, it contains both clever and simple humor. There are fart jokes and gross out moments and stuff that is just funny for the sake of being funny. If this isn't your thing, you may not like it as much as I did.

I hope you enjoyed this review :)

I'll see you soon!

KFT: May Edition

Hey guys and dolls :)
Here's the list of my favorites for the month of May.
Enjoy :)

1) Volcano Sushi

I became a sushi fan a couple years ago, but never really had a favorite sushi restaurant.
That changed a couple weeks ago.

There's an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant on 21st Street in Ghent called Volcano Sushi & China Bistro.
AND HOLY TITS IT'S SO GOOD. Seriously, best sushi I've ever had.

And on top of the food, they have great cocktails (I had something called a Blue Ninja, which if I remember correctly was Sake, Pineapple Juice and Curacao:) and a very nice atmosphere.

Sadly, Bryan's not much of a sushi fan, so I probably won't be going there regularly, but it will definitely be my go to place whenever I'm in the mood from now on.

2) Bamboo Ballet Flats

I ordered a pair of these from Modcloth about a month ago and they have become my new go to shoe.
They are cute and actually quite comfortable. I can't wear them to work (probably for the best, I bet they would get DESTROYED way too quickly), but they look awesome with shorts and dresses.
I loved them so much that I ordered a second pair in another color. I now have a black pair and a gold pair :)

3) Bates Motel: Season 2

You've heard me gush about various TV shows on here.
Well, add Bates Motel to the list.
There are a dozen reason why I love this show (the #1 reason being Max Thieriot...mmm), and I'm so excited to finish the second season :)
If you're a fan of thrillers and haven't watch this yet I HIGHLY recommend it. The first season is on Netflix :)

This concludes this edition of Kathryn's Favorite Things (KFT).
I'll be back next month with new products and favorites :)
See you all soon!

Tunesday: I've Just Seen a Face

So I'm about to drop a truth bomb on you...
I really didn't like Across the Universe :(
I know, I know. I love musicals and colorful cinematography and all that.
And I really like The Beatles too.

But I really REALLY hated Across the Universe.
It came out when I was a junior in high school, and I was so excited when I saw the trailer for the first time.

But then when I saw the movie, I couldn't have been more disappointed.

And everyone (including myself) couldn't believe it.

 

But I've been obsessed with this clip for the last few weeks:

 

"I've Just Seen a Face" performed by Jim Sturgess

This is by far my favorite Beatles' song and I stumbled on this clip when I was looking for the original.

I figured what the hell and watched it, and now I'm torn.
Jim Sturgess's face and voice REALLY makes me want to give the movie a second chance (was I too young to appreciate it? ) but at the same time I'm nervous that it'll let me down again.
What should I do?

But anyway, enjoy this little ditty for today's Tunesday :)
See you soon :)

30 Day Disney Challenge: A Quote about Dreaming

Day 22:
your favorite new movie (2000+)

Turns out I'm a liar.

Sorry this is late guys :(

Alot has happened this week:
I got a hair cut (trim actually).
I went and saw Godzilla (look out for a review ;)
I started the second season of Bates Motel (OH MY GOD)
I had Noodles and Company for the first time (YUM!).
I got everything I need to plant my balcony garden (minus the plants...)
I went to an all you can eat sushi bar (and almost died).
aaaaand
I started riding my bike again :)

But that's not what this post is about...

I've decided to go with Tangled.
I know I know, I just saw if for the first time a couple weeks ago.
But I REALLY REALLY liked it.
It's like, all I've heard about for the last year is Frozen Frozen Frozen (which is also amazing, don't get me wrong), that I didn't really think Tangled could ever compare.
You know when you haven't seen the new popular movie that everyone else has seen, and everyone keeps telling you how awesome it is so when you finally see it it's kind of meh because it's been completely over hyped to you? Yeah, it's kind of like that, but the opposite.
Am I making sense?

If you haven't seen Tangled, I'm going to do my best to describe why it's awesome without actually giving anything away (I'm trying to come up with a nifty little rhyme about the evil that is spoilers, but I've got NOTHING.)
Basically, it's got a little bit of everything that makes Disney movies great.
It's got action, adventure, a great villain, a leading man that actually has a personality (unlike most of them), an adorable silent sidekick, a great love story, and (most importantly) a lovable main character.

And the lanterns. The lanterns are cool as shit.

What's your favorite new Disney movie?
See you soon :)

Braid-a-Day Challenge

As I mentioned in my April Favorites post,

I've been OBSESSED with braiding my hair lately.

My hair is the longest it's been in AGES, so now I can finally do the more complicated stuff.

Which is why I was so excited when this little beauty arrived:

I need to hunker down and actually learn new ways to do my hair, and I think I've found the perfect way to inspire myself. I'm going to try to master a new braid every day and post the pictures here in a weekly post.

Here we go:

Braid-a-Day Challenge

week one

Scarf Pigtails^^

difficulty: medium

I don't think I could ever pull these off in life, but it's still a cool thing to learn to do just in case. I could use it for Halloween or something :)

Angel Braid^^

difficulty: medium

I LOVE this braid. It's a great way to dress up a normal bun or ponytail.

And it doesn't take long to do so I can do it before work :)

Mermaid Braid^^

difficulty: easy

Fun fact about me, I kind of suck at using bobby pins.

I don't know why, but I always have to use loads of them and they never work as well as everyone always tells me they can. So thanks to that, I kind of sucked at this braid. It's supposed to be 2 normal braids bobby pinned together to look like one big thick braid, but thanks to the fact that I'm pin inept and that my braids weren't the same length (my fault, easy fix), this braid didn't turn out quite the way it was supposed to.

 

Braided Headband^^

difficulty: medium

This one is also fun, it was just surprising how long it took to braid the tiny sections that make the band.

When I braid all of my hair at once it takes me less than a minute, but when I'm working with tiny little strands it takes much longer. It makes sense, I just didn't think about it until I was doing it.

Basic Braid^^

difficulty: easy
A new all the time staple for me. I'll braid it like this before bed so it doesn't tangle, I'll do it like this for work, or basically just anytime I want my hair out of my face. Ponytails look weird on me (my hair is too long and straight, I feel like Madonna) and buns tangle the shit out of my hair. This is a nice alternative :)

Fishtail Braid^^

difficulty: medium
One of my favorite things ever. Not just because it looks cool, but because I actually figured out how to do it. I've been trying to learn how to fishtail for years and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. But once I got it, it became second nature and I do it all the time. The only sad thing is it's kind of a delicate braid (especially if you have layers), so you can't move it about that much without it starting to come undone.
Meaning this one is a no no a work :( Boo.

 Lace Braid^^
difficulty: medium
This one is essentially an angel braid that just never stops.
And like the angel braid, it's a great little garnish to your normal hair style.
As much as I love curling (or mermaiding;) my hair, it takes heat and time and this time of year the humidity can be a real curl killer. Meaning that most of the time when my hair is down, it's just down, and that can get boring.
This braid is a great way to add a little oomph, and it doesn't take long to do so it isn't a hassle.

They're getting harder so doing one a day is probably a little ambitious, but I'm going to give it my best shot ;)

See you next time!