tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34983427398481712062024-03-13T23:05:06.207-07:00Confidence is KeyConfidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.comBlogger877125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-11389948434221639572024-01-16T08:57:00.000-08:002024-01-25T13:18:06.661-08:00Interfusion Festival 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/386e3ffb27ce12c7db34f506c57d996c949c8765fb430f74acf199c39b8b1052-rimg-w1200-h675-gmir.jpg?v=1673957010" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/386e3ffb27ce12c7db34f506c57d996c949c8765fb430f74acf199c39b8b1052-rimg-w1200-h675-gmir.jpg?v=1673957010" width="400" /></a></div><p>This past weekend was my SEVENTH time going to the <a href="https://interfusionfestival.com/">Interfusion Festival</a>! I was blown away the first time I went (scroll to the bottom to read about my experiences in previous years), and it's had me coming back ever since. The festival has certainly changed and evolved over time, but at its core, it's still about creating a community of openness, acceptance, vulnerability, positivity, and exploration. And who couldn't use more of that in their lives?</p><p>As usual, I took a variety of types of workshops and also tried to take classes with both instructors I didn't know and ones I already knew I really liked. Here are some of the stand-outs for me from this year's festival:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://interfusionfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sara-Ness-1x1-1-1024x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://interfusionfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sara-Ness-1x1-1-1024x1024.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p><b>Soul & Skin: Authentic Relating in Dance</b></p><p>I didn't even know what "<a href="https://www.authrev.org/what-is-authentic-relating">authentic relating</a>" was until I discovered it at the festival a few years ago. It's about being your true self and expressing your truth to others. The leads of this workshop, Sara Ness and Geof Krum, were really fun and good at explaining and demonstrating the exercises. And they were creative, too! We introduced ourselves to other participants using the "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Consent" game, in which you only gave a more familiar greeting if the other person consents first. We played a "stick game" with a partner in which each person, using only one finger, pressed into the end of a pencil, and you had to hold enough tension on both ends to not drop the pencil as you walked around together in partnership. Who knew you could have that much fun with an unsharpened pencil! We also did a hand massage exercise with a partner, during which one of your hands was massaged and you used the other hand to "rate" the touch on a one-to-five scale. Someone said, "Giving feedback is a gift to the other person," and I thought that was so beautiful: offering feedback isn't criticism or rejection, but more of helping someone else understand who you are and what you desire. We then moved into groups of four and each person had a turn to be the center of attention, asking the others three to touch him/her "with the intention of BLANK." The intention of touch means just as much as the touch itself! I really liked this workshop and would definitely take it again!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.HdQOKwodesvepTdRlM2zSAHaEK?w=296&h=180&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=1.7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="384" height="234" src="https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.HdQOKwodesvepTdRlM2zSAHaEK?w=296&h=180&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=1.7" width="384" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Deeper: Conscious Intimacy Revealed</b></p><p>I had never done a workshop with the Blackins from <a href="https://ourtempleinthetrees.com/">Our Temple in the Trees</a> before, but their work reminded me of previous workshops I've done before with Monique Darling and Peter Petersen from <a href="https://www.everydaytantra.com/about-us/">Everyday Tantra</a>. For most of the workshop I was in a group with two young women who had never been to the Interfusion Festival before. While they may have had more sexual experiences than I have had (one seemed to know a lot about stripping...), they were not as comfortable outwardly speaking about their own sexual desires, which meant they <i>weren't </i>going deeper as the name of the class suggests. But I still enjoyed doing the exercises with them. In the first one we each had to express our (sexual) desires, and the other two people would ask what the roadblocks were to achieving those desires as well as offered potential solutions. In the second exercise, we each had a turn being the center of attention, and we would tell the other two how/where we wanted to be touched. They gave me SUCH a good scalp massage, and my body involuntarily shivered when the one with <i>really </i>long nails scratched my back. SUCH good tingles! I ended up doing a very similar exercise in a different class the next day, but this first time was more fun. I saw these girls throughout the weekend and had fun meeting up with them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d84081_8e10dd2f80f84f259fea68483ae5d56e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_1891,h_1181,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d84081_8e10dd2f80f84f259fea68483ae5d56e~mv2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d84081_8e10dd2f80f84f259fea68483ae5d56e~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_1891,h_1181,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d84081_8e10dd2f80f84f259fea68483ae5d56e~mv2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Rhythmic Seduction: The Art of Sensual Chair Dance</b></p><p>Of course I had heard of chair dancing and have seen it in movies (<i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085549/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_flash%2520dance">Flashdance</a>, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117765/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_stripteas">Striptease</a>, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206275/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_save%2520the%2520las">Save the Last Dance</a></i>), but I had never tried it myself. So I was curious to learn more, especially if it could spice things up at home! <a href="https://www.gigiholliday.com/">Gigi Holliday</a> was the instructor, and while 9:00 a.m. may not have been the best time slot to try to memorize a dance routine, she pushed through and made it fun for all of us. She's a professional burlesque performer, so she knows what she's talking about! Her main lessons were "go slooooooow" and "point your damn toes!" I had such a good time, and I look forward to performing for my fiancé; I hope he likes it!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtDfYh5nyNDw0EwgcPyBAS4jIXrzIdpGHOs9ufQdpXAxAVvuLOXczdrwnv2RvG5DX1pGtVYrhSuLAAYlRC6qk2wdCiujTHGD-XDn78ddYQW0LaX8_b2okLGh3iu_VpXaEHLO1LI6gp_TltEmss0T72NLBPJ60SgmyjqobfTsXqPS6Hx8_zo78iognuXA7/s3045/Copy%20of%2020240114_095910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="3045" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtDfYh5nyNDw0EwgcPyBAS4jIXrzIdpGHOs9ufQdpXAxAVvuLOXczdrwnv2RvG5DX1pGtVYrhSuLAAYlRC6qk2wdCiujTHGD-XDn78ddYQW0LaX8_b2okLGh3iu_VpXaEHLO1LI6gp_TltEmss0T72NLBPJ60SgmyjqobfTsXqPS6Hx8_zo78iognuXA7/w400-h239/Copy%20of%2020240114_095910.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That's me in the rainbow leopard print shirt! Photo credit from the Interfusion Festival.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Qigong Movement and Meditation</b></p><p>Originally during this time slot I was going to take a class on lifts in dance, but when I watched the instructors demo what they were going to teach, I knew I was NOT prepared for that kind of acrobatics! So I quickly stepped out and made my way to <a href="https://holisticdante.com/">Dante Baker</a>'s qigong workshop. Qigong is similar to Tai Chi or yoga in that it is a meditation practice with movement. Baker took us through several different movements, most of which are in time with your breath and can either be done from one spot or actually moving around a space. We started by hitting (sometimes punching?) our muscles to get them warmed up and to get the blood flowing (we focused a lot on the kidneys). Some of the movements were named after animals, like <a href="https://youtu.be/9c6V_J6nSNE">turtle</a>, or <a href="https://youtu.be/rBUZGgjK39E">dragon</a>, which were fun, and a lot of them involved balance and keeping a soft bend in your knees to really help with fluid movements. I am not very good at static meditation (my mind always seems to wander), but with movement meditation like qigong, I find it's easier to focus on the present. I would love to find more opportunities to do qigong for sure!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XMmyD54SZUk1f5_nLyu-rts6jFO-h4-yzgsyQ-IjLZNEQRK5GxZTr4gQ72NjWjoNEr_qWYyhzjJO3CxymCGfVZI5Af3aobxjp7X01y7P7ZM1GgLBeG44KwtVW2zKKBLqWd7_HnaafRXGGo8NI_G_hjzV7S8WQWwQQtOcfxjn88HfwYTkCzxBWl4bHsG0/s3840/Copy%20of%20Frame_01_00_16_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XMmyD54SZUk1f5_nLyu-rts6jFO-h4-yzgsyQ-IjLZNEQRK5GxZTr4gQ72NjWjoNEr_qWYyhzjJO3CxymCGfVZI5Af3aobxjp7X01y7P7ZM1GgLBeG44KwtVW2zKKBLqWd7_HnaafRXGGo8NI_G_hjzV7S8WQWwQQtOcfxjn88HfwYTkCzxBWl4bHsG0/w400-h225/Copy%20of%20Frame_01_00_16_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>He also did a sound bath healing workshop that I really enjoyed. He can play so many different musical instruments and makes it such a relaxing atmosphere. Photo credit from the Interfusion Festival.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0ac258_ef3bee7c842e4dabaf95f491cd13be48~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_945,h_1924,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/0ac258_ef3bee7c842e4dabaf95f491cd13be48~mv2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="393" height="320" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0ac258_ef3bee7c842e4dabaf95f491cd13be48~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_945,h_1924,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/0ac258_ef3bee7c842e4dabaf95f491cd13be48~mv2.jpg" width="157" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Conscious Communications: Let's Talk About Sex!</b></p><p>Thomas Daily II, or "<a href="https://www.consciousplay.net/">Major Tom</a>" as he likes to be called, is a great facilitator! During this session, he was funny and charismatic but also thoughtful and understanding. I thought this workshop was both educational and self-reflective, which I really appreciated.</p><p>He talked about how the sex education we receive in the US doesn't really cover the idea of pleasure; there is still a focus on guilt or shame around sex. Even the idea of talking about sex is still somewhat taboo, and he emphasized the importance of open communication, especially around desires and kinks. He used the acronym BDSM, but not in the way you think. Before having sex with someone, you should have the <b>BDSM</b> conversation: discuss <b>B</b>oundaries, <b>D</b>esires, <b>S</b>exual health (i.e. how often are you tested for STIs, are you HIV positive, etc.), and <b>M</b>eaning (Is this just a one-night stand? Do we have real feelings for each other?). I thought that was clever and helpful. The group also discussed how, when someone tells you "no" to something you desire, you don't have to take it as rejection: if you had never asked the person, you'd get the same result (i.e. it didn't happen), or that person is just speaking their truth and honoring their own needs (and if they can honestly tell you "no," you can be more trusting of their "yes" later on for something else). Major Tom also brought up the <a href="https://theblueprintbreakthrough.com/choose-your-adventure/">Erotic Blueprints</a>, which I was telling another participant about just a few minutes before then!</p><p>For the actual exercises we did, I enjoyed the focus on how sex and sexual desires is very much a gray area; there isn't a lot of black and white. We did a spectrum exercise in which we would all take a spot on a line where opposites were on either end (e.g. homosexual-heterosexual, dominant-submissive, kinky-vanilla, etc.). For another exercise, we paired up with another person, and as Major Tom would call out different kinks, you would talk to your partner about whether you would or would not do that thing and why (but in a positive way! No use to "yuck someone else's yum"). These exercises made me think of things in a different way, either things I had never considered or heard of before (I had never heard of the term "bi-sensual" before, but it's like bisexual without actual penetrative sex) or things that I may have thought of but I had never talked out loud about (like body worship, which I think is really cool but I've never tried it). I definitely give props to the people who were willing to openly tell the larger group about their desires, fears, etc. That's what makes the Interfusion Festival such a great place!</p><p>Read about my past experiences at the festival:</p><p><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/interfusion-festival-2023.html"><b>2023</b></a></p><p><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2022/01/interfusion-festival-2022.html"><b>2022</b></a></p><p><b>2020</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/interfusion-festival-2020-friday.html">Friday</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/interfusion-festival-2020-saturday.html">Saturday</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/interfusion-festival-2020-sunday.html">Sunday</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/interfusion-festival-2020-monday.html">Monday</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b>2019</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/2019-interfusion-festival-friday.html">Friday</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/2019-interfusion-festival-saturday.html">Saturday</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/2019-interfusion-festival-sunday.html">Sunday</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/2019-interfusion-festival-monday.html">Monday</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b>September 2017</b> <i>(the only year they hosted the festival twice)</i></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/interfusion-festival-good.html">The Good</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/interfusion-festival-bad.html">The Bad</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/interfusion-festival-ugly.html">The Ugly</a></li></ul><p></p><p><b>February 2017</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/02/interfusion-festival.html">Interfusion Festival</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/02/interfusion-festival-foundations-of.html">Foundations of Ecstasy</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/02/interfusion-festival-performances.html">Performances</a></li></ul><p></p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-11834877827852846572024-01-09T08:57:00.000-08:002024-01-09T08:57:56.418-08:00Recipe: Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3nCIP0muz8_9iZXUnpe-5Hc7ppInQdMb72gw0DS52wLskHXZ_MBRqdsH2IyQUJEzAx6NGEp9kkdFpwobvUQFKDmN7_vbi6Ud51zZwEQx26HKkGH1rFTNzlRoQbarurh-OPS4Je_iM1uP9A0fkVe6Tvx4CatOZU8kLvcGIwOKGT8LG7E1U42fJHd-jind/s4000/20231224_173745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3nCIP0muz8_9iZXUnpe-5Hc7ppInQdMb72gw0DS52wLskHXZ_MBRqdsH2IyQUJEzAx6NGEp9kkdFpwobvUQFKDmN7_vbi6Ud51zZwEQx26HKkGH1rFTNzlRoQbarurh-OPS4Je_iM1uP9A0fkVe6Tvx4CatOZU8kLvcGIwOKGT8LG7E1U42fJHd-jind/s320/20231224_173745.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>I made these over the Christmas holiday; sorry for the delay! My mom wanted to make these, but she was busy putting together other food items, so I offered to help make these. They were pretty easy!</p><p><b>Ingredients</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1/4 cup brown sugar, packed</li><li>2 tbl. unsalted butter, melted</li><li>1 tbl. bourbon</li><li>1/4 cup roasted pecans, chopped</li><li>8 oz. round of brie</li><li>1.9 oz. package frozen mini fully baked phyllo shells (15 shells)</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Directions</b></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Preheat oven to 350° F.</li><li>Add all ingredients but the brie and phyllo shells to a small bowl and stir to combine.</li><li>Carefully remove the rind from the brie and discard the rind. Then, cut the brie into pieces, about 1/4 inch squares.</li><li>Place a cub of brie into each phyllo shell and top with 1/2 tsp. of the bourbon sugar nut mixture.</li><li>Place the full shells on a small baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes or until the top is melted and bubbly.</li><li>Remove from oven and serve warm or at room temperature.</li></ol><p></p><p>We didn't roast the pecans, but otherwise we pretty much stuck to the recipe. We actually made it twice, because the first time we definitely didn't use enough cheese (you can see in the photo that, once the cheese melted, the shells looked only halfway full). So the cheese cubes can definitely be bigger! But even in making this twice, we didn't go through the whole wheel of brie cheese. </p><p>These were yummy: easy to make and easy to eat! So pop-able! I would definitely recommend these as party food.</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-89367029769610207532023-12-20T09:17:00.000-08:002024-01-08T11:51:26.472-08:00Madonna in Concert<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://zumic.com/wp-content/uploads/madonna-celebration-tour-2023-tour-dates-tickets-info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="629" height="266" src="https://zumic.com/wp-content/uploads/madonna-celebration-tour-2023-tour-dates-tickets-info.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.madonna.com/">Madonna</a> is a LEGEND, and I wanted to see her in concert before she got too old to stop touring (although the <a href="https://rollingstones.com/">Rolling Stones</a> are still doing it...). I originally was going to see her over Labor Day weekend (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/late-summer-concerts.html">I did see Sting that weekend</a>), but she got sick, so the show was rescheduled for yesterday. That blew my plan of wearing a sexy snakeskin mini-dress; instead I wore a velvet jacket with shoulder pads as a nod to the 80's (but <a href="https://www.capitalonearena.com/">Capital One Arena</a> was so hot I barely even wore it!). At least the show <i>did</i> get rescheduled: I'll never see <a href="https://www.celinedion.com/">Celine Dion</a>, whose March 2020 shows never came to pass.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZFJDEx7yeQ4xITuoFFhM7EEZVlqDbUWDUVfk3AGPsfdE1z5LlpCpu8YA92YrLwv9S3E8BH8ZTTi3LHVibWlBIowurp4kXDkrY-WYlutoOOl3_lOpQ0uqf10KbLJmRq93ai97SlaQqas_0Ic9X8UaQESz3IyuATlNqg5QBHqx2fOhxvoyMILSwcAMX_2o/s800/IMG_7829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZFJDEx7yeQ4xITuoFFhM7EEZVlqDbUWDUVfk3AGPsfdE1z5LlpCpu8YA92YrLwv9S3E8BH8ZTTi3LHVibWlBIowurp4kXDkrY-WYlutoOOl3_lOpQ0uqf10KbLJmRq93ai97SlaQqas_0Ic9X8UaQESz3IyuATlNqg5QBHqx2fOhxvoyMILSwcAMX_2o/s320/IMG_7829.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>My old boss and I (I've known her for, what, 10 years?) went together to this show, which made the evening even more fun. She had heard that while the concert was supposed to start around 8:00pm, Madonna never goes on stage before 10:00pm. So we spent a good two hours just wandering the halls, getting a drink, and catching up; we weren't interested in her opener, <a href="https://www.bobthedragqueen.com/about">Bob the Drag Queen</a>, either (although in the end he was more like a glorified Emcee). I think because so many people knew Madonna wouldn't start singing until later, the venue was <b>so</b> dead in the beginning: there were no lines, the halls weren't crowded, it was like the apocalypse had happened. We were almost wondering if Madonna was actually going to perform at all!</p><p>But perform she did. And she put on quite the show: a very weird one. But, we would expect no less of Madonna. Weird is her thing! But I think we, and many others in the crowd, were disappointed that it wasn't just a glam 80's dance party. Barely anyone was dancing! I think we were all just taking in weirdness: the gender-bending, nudity, bondage, fire... we were mesmerized (but was it in a good way?). Here are some photos to help me explain:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzELHv_-NAN7yYTUxhV69onY3YGJSWrhVeQYFSqLqX8csLYflaZhynWQRPktZ9yjsPn4V_QtDjG_HoPl0H9E7-kOiQFNiv7rYAIuwRUE1OW2Q9CS8Ar-iQXyyoJNlTOe1UWJb0uvrfrIsh6h8invy5dZD9BTMajOeGKMtCgsN4Q7nZX7dxtaecHQDCQXNz/s4000/20231219_225401.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzELHv_-NAN7yYTUxhV69onY3YGJSWrhVeQYFSqLqX8csLYflaZhynWQRPktZ9yjsPn4V_QtDjG_HoPl0H9E7-kOiQFNiv7rYAIuwRUE1OW2Q9CS8Ar-iQXyyoJNlTOe1UWJb0uvrfrIsh6h8invy5dZD9BTMajOeGKMtCgsN4Q7nZX7dxtaecHQDCQXNz/s320/20231219_225401.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">There was a lot of crawling/writhing from the back-up dancers (although they must have been living their best lives!).</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4x1oAn0lEZOaYjVB4T1xChp3X9lmpnPlVUFrM6GHZ6OXsvkpHngBJ1iwJ5NzQ7-LlarSazp1kn2LHgMWT3ceHX50rHCSMVFc2_wwNZCPEJUQBsgcWEk1IFZA3AMl8uaObj5eWHXcqU_9mILF3Y6g0hdu50pM-uyCODuYN7xwimwG0SBdi0sZI-L-fqrp/s4000/20231219_230152.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4x1oAn0lEZOaYjVB4T1xChp3X9lmpnPlVUFrM6GHZ6OXsvkpHngBJ1iwJ5NzQ7-LlarSazp1kn2LHgMWT3ceHX50rHCSMVFc2_wwNZCPEJUQBsgcWEk1IFZA3AMl8uaObj5eWHXcqU_9mILF3Y6g0hdu50pM-uyCODuYN7xwimwG0SBdi0sZI-L-fqrp/s320/20231219_230152.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was during "Like a Prayer." At one point the men were hanging in their little spaces like crucifixes...</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCc1HO6GaKvmAFAmAxV_sQ_csbBMDYqEXzZnmw7sLR6ucfDf463HFTySPpbklmqzdpjsk96LTgGT0ljszsx7W0AfPMGi2y00OykXAK659hTj_IJyyybHJoAoA8AAI6VtNW3CH6fle5y7VLL8GJ2PiH8eSzhFVINpeCCv7cjRnlhmLb_bc0U46qfdP-9Hx/s4000/20231219_230739.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCc1HO6GaKvmAFAmAxV_sQ_csbBMDYqEXzZnmw7sLR6ucfDf463HFTySPpbklmqzdpjsk96LTgGT0ljszsx7W0AfPMGi2y00OykXAK659hTj_IJyyybHJoAoA8AAI6VtNW3CH6fle5y7VLL8GJ2PiH8eSzhFVINpeCCv7cjRnlhmLb_bc0U46qfdP-9Hx/s320/20231219_230739.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some sort of luau ritual...?</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1vfTSfgHayfpJWag5_S8WjUHvOQuj_h66aZRkz5jvVxhl5jYL3IfCuXnt9qYQhmI4OS_I5J5EJZ19hcwkII-hD7n9sQpSreJ5NEGg5k4vvPYnJiBtJAWP83FbUZjFoKCeV9WYMgiN4hgRGdaXBQQTg_lrzBV9ZfxWO88G8a3nfQEmlYtE34MeFvMgHlR/s4000/20231219_231215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1vfTSfgHayfpJWag5_S8WjUHvOQuj_h66aZRkz5jvVxhl5jYL3IfCuXnt9qYQhmI4OS_I5J5EJZ19hcwkII-hD7n9sQpSreJ5NEGg5k4vvPYnJiBtJAWP83FbUZjFoKCeV9WYMgiN4hgRGdaXBQQTg_lrzBV9ZfxWO88G8a3nfQEmlYtE34MeFvMgHlR/s320/20231219_231215.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">And there was boxing. Not sure how that relates.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmGvtP_sd3XzLDJ4Em6FOMz1vZmIBzvyGifLdy16czh90smbqmIRw1UllIASNTV8A03BYXKpurmfBKO6cn8V63C7EIAxTaDKZAFuBEuTvggBrzScivwQyavceI9fRBPAMUTE0BFgtsYgVH_Ap_dO5bLe5RA6_TUePqaW9eEJ4pfOfA_Yjtdho_y9pwF0h/s4000/20231219_234407.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmGvtP_sd3XzLDJ4Em6FOMz1vZmIBzvyGifLdy16czh90smbqmIRw1UllIASNTV8A03BYXKpurmfBKO6cn8V63C7EIAxTaDKZAFuBEuTvggBrzScivwQyavceI9fRBPAMUTE0BFgtsYgVH_Ap_dO5bLe5RA6_TUePqaW9eEJ4pfOfA_Yjtdho_y9pwF0h/s320/20231219_234407.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FIRE!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh0W0tYgeSHHjU0Ol0_vqE1PWKFLYKAYs_-aLxEUfyKZqPgkEce7KRs6VKtD91XI3PTCAEmbqLcy8oZQvIePWCXb9afUthoLORja4s0e1Lj1D3-k86HNSi45IOMb5AJ9lvlDd35oWDFCjMYU4KkyTwC07nL3zIwpwTvYkM1z90rAxJJCoy7oJHVG1OeL4/s4000/20231220_000046.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh0W0tYgeSHHjU0Ol0_vqE1PWKFLYKAYs_-aLxEUfyKZqPgkEce7KRs6VKtD91XI3PTCAEmbqLcy8oZQvIePWCXb9afUthoLORja4s0e1Lj1D3-k86HNSi45IOMb5AJ9lvlDd35oWDFCjMYU4KkyTwC07nL3zIwpwTvYkM1z90rAxJJCoy7oJHVG1OeL4/s320/20231220_000046.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">At one point she was dressed up like <a href="https://willienelson.com/">Willie Nelson</a>. Hmm...</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSacLvpfjdPs785H5Ci0Yhg3KnIwJOExYyNmTNhtuR-DIT53kdphOfHjnbW0NCClQUK8izYm2rD84VJYkPqSmSa1jdDmaSpvNVpthhFZM_37aIU79TbQIBVgrj5phHRpwazQaFrg7N15ZiZ1Ek4pM6xQMQGYTpgFedfd0QmPFG1DGtHoYJNxAzQszINqAd/s4000/20231220_001611.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSacLvpfjdPs785H5Ci0Yhg3KnIwJOExYyNmTNhtuR-DIT53kdphOfHjnbW0NCClQUK8izYm2rD84VJYkPqSmSa1jdDmaSpvNVpthhFZM_37aIU79TbQIBVgrj5phHRpwazQaFrg7N15ZiZ1Ek4pM6xQMQGYTpgFedfd0QmPFG1DGtHoYJNxAzQszINqAd/s320/20231220_001611.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I want to perform, but I want to lay down." She is laying on top of this big box, but the camera overhead projected her image onto the sides with a funky background, so she looked like an ameba swimming around.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJcH2LIVFbedKiVhv7HT0fvAPCEC2_YkoTm69hrAvleZ0USFa7eZs8YNaWsXGjPjoVG3TtTNzWZWW33XIwlNeLvP8ufCVPn8IJSIOC8YL3hEHiSJWAmfVf1Ug_aS1LDcjwfKUyjar_kG1gEauSojn7ZEBeqDApB7u0gjYBzuAqK9CaDuHCfQx2xnavq-z/s4000/20231220_002009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJcH2LIVFbedKiVhv7HT0fvAPCEC2_YkoTm69hrAvleZ0USFa7eZs8YNaWsXGjPjoVG3TtTNzWZWW33XIwlNeLvP8ufCVPn8IJSIOC8YL3hEHiSJWAmfVf1Ug_aS1LDcjwfKUyjar_kG1gEauSojn7ZEBeqDApB7u0gjYBzuAqK9CaDuHCfQx2xnavq-z/s320/20231220_002009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Madonna wishing she were <a href="https://www.ladygaga.com/">Lady Gaga</a> (which is very strange, because I'm sure Gaga has always wished she were Madonna).</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I normally don't check the set list ahead of time, but my friend did, and we were both bummed that she wasn't going to sing hits like <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-lDYPR2P8">Material Girl</a></i> or <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G333Is7VPOg">Papa Don't Preach</a></i>. But she did sing some of my other favorites:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJQSAiODqI">Vogue</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GuJQSAiODqI" width="320" youtube-src-id="GuJQSAiODqI"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fzeNUqQbQ">Like a Prayer</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/79fzeNUqQbQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="79fzeNUqQbQ"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100">Like a Virgin</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s__rX_WL100" width="320" youtube-src-id="s__rX_WL100"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ov9USxVxY">Ray of Light</a></i> (I had not heard this song in <b>forever</b>!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x3ov9USxVxY" width="320" youtube-src-id="x3ov9USxVxY"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlbaJA7aO9M">Die Another Day</a></i> (great <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246460/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_die%2520another%2520day">Bond theme song</a>!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VlbaJA7aO9M" width="320" youtube-src-id="VlbaJA7aO9M"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwb9jOVRtU">Hung Up</a></i> (This song came out when I was in high school, and I don't think I had heard it since!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EDwb9jOVRtU" width="320" youtube-src-id="EDwb9jOVRtU"></iframe></div><p>Essentially the whole show was set up in "acts," and there were seven of them. Since everything started so late, we already decided ahead of time to leave before the last act so we could get home somewhat earlier (1:00am!). But luckily those were all songs we weren't really into, so no big loss. </p><p>I'm so glad I went to see this concert because who knows if I'll ever get another chance to see Madonna. Now I can put a check next to that name on my concert bucket list! I don't have any concert tickets lined up for the new year, but I'm sure I'll see some great shows in 2024. I can feel it!</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-30183725018737223582023-12-19T09:06:00.000-08:002023-12-19T09:06:55.195-08:00Pretty Woman: The Musical<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://conversationsabouther.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ECqcPKBXsAAMEr_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://conversationsabouther.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ECqcPKBXsAAMEr_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>I LOVE the movie <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100405/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_pretty%2520wom">Pretty Woman</a></i>. I grew up watching it (maybe even without understanding the prostitute part at first), and I must have seen this movie at least twenty times in my life. I was definitely interested in seeing the <a href="https://prettywomanthemusical.com/">musical version</a> at the <a href="https://www.thenationaldc.com/">National Theatre</a> (which was the D.C. debut, by the way), but the tickets were a little expensive. But I won their <a href="https://www.broadwayatthenational.com/digital-lottery/">digital raffle</a>, so I received discounted tickets to see this show last Friday night! I invited my friend Beth to go with me, and we had <b>such</b> a fun time!</p><p>To set the stage (no pun intended), I thought the set and costumes were really great. Palm trees transported you to California, luxe columns and curtains brought you inside the <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/experiences/pretty-woman-for-a-day/">Beverly Wilshire Hotel</a>, and you even had the famous balcony at the end where she "rescues him right back." There were so many costume changes for the cast: hookers on Hollywood Boulevard wore next to nothing, young men wore old-timey uniforms as bellhops, and fashionistas on Rodeo Drive had the glitziest ensembles. I even appreciated when the outfits matched those from the movie, like Vivian's famous red gown or the polka-dots she wears to the polo match. I felt like all of these details made the play that much more true to the movie. </p><p>There were really only two parts that didn't match the film. The dinner scene with David Morse is turned into a dancing scene, which works better for a theater performance, anyway. And when Stuckey visits Vivian at the hotel, instead of him slapping her, she hits HIM! The female empowerment switch-a-roo is definitely preferrable to the original!</p><p>And I thought the cast did a great job. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theelliebaker/">Ellie Baker</a> was a lovely Vivian, with lots of energy and a charming, down-to-earth sense about her. And while <a href="https://www.chasethewolfe.com/">Chase Wolfe</a> is no <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000152/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_q_richard%2520gere">Richard Gere</a> (but who is?), I especially liked his singing voice, which reminded me of <a href="https://www.leebrice.com/">Lee Brice</a> a little bit. I think <a href="https://www.metrmag.com/featured-stories/metrmag-spotlight-on-rae-davenport-the-new-kit-de-luca-hits-the-stage-in-the-latest-tour-of-pretty-woman-the-musical">Rae Davenport</a>, who played Vivian's friend and roommate, Kit, had the strongest singing voice of the bunch, and <a href="https://www.joshuakring.com/media">Joshua Kring</a>, one of the members of the general cast, was an amazing dancer. But I think my favorite character may have been "Happy Man," an amalgam of several characters from the film: the "What's Your Dream?" man on the street, the manager of the BW Hotel, and the store manager when they go shopping for Vivian to get new clothes. All of these roles were, ahem, <i>rolled</i> into one and played by <a href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Adam-du-Plessis/">Adam du Plessis</a>; he did a fantastic job transforming into each! Of course the wardrobe changes helped, but I found him believable, and more importantly, likeable, as each character. Everyone was so talented, and they totally did justice to the film, which for me was the most important part!</p><p>Here are two video if you want to see more:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Qs-COXdI_Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="3Qs-COXdI_Y"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ft_3t6ZER4" width="320" youtube-src-id="4ft_3t6ZER4"></iframe></div><br /><p>*Check out this <a href="https://dctheaterarts.org/2023/12/15/a-captivating-pretty-woman-sparkles-at-the-national-theatre/">glowing review</a> from D.C. Theater Arts, too!</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-33762687873607825482023-11-24T09:04:00.000-08:002023-11-24T09:04:16.293-08:00Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Muffins<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c3nFw0JGeY9szx0rYbMH5tk-b1Lw4eTaSFFThtD4pvviU5fFO0aOA5rZdpGvecYVO_mrCPpH4bCjGLyugIPe3Cd_dkzKhvXl7-614nXZIOAMrUDWHkNshhLaC_xcpHOls4KGKa_jEBconVQKOMHZCeGFjQn1_rR9PDeha1BVzPWdAt5sSvqaoePsXcEc/s4000/20231123_141138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-c3nFw0JGeY9szx0rYbMH5tk-b1Lw4eTaSFFThtD4pvviU5fFO0aOA5rZdpGvecYVO_mrCPpH4bCjGLyugIPe3Cd_dkzKhvXl7-614nXZIOAMrUDWHkNshhLaC_xcpHOls4KGKa_jEBconVQKOMHZCeGFjQn1_rR9PDeha1BVzPWdAt5sSvqaoePsXcEc/w400-h300/20231123_141138.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yet another recipe from the <i><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/133804982967?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=133804982967&targetid=4580840333842721&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603247654&mkgroupid=1235852063340202&rlsatarget=pla-4580840333842721&abcId=9316139&merchantid=51291&msclkid=360694efae7718c0bb0af1b19e38c7b6">America's Favorite Pumpkin Recipes Centennial Kitchen</a> </i>magazine. I have made pumpkin muffins before (check out <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2020/12/recipe-pumpkin-oatmeal-muffins.html">this blog post</a> for pumpkin oatmeal muffins), but I hadn't tried this recipe yet. Pretty easy, which is my main criteria for trying new recipes!</p><p>Ingredients</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1.75 cups all-purpose flour</li><li>1.5 tsps. baking powder</li><li>1.5 tsps. pumpkin pie spice</li><li>.5 tsp. salt</li><li>.25 tsp. ground nutmeg</li><li>2 eggs</li><li>.5 cup canola oil</li><li>1 cup packed light brown sugar</li><li>1 cup canned pumpkin</li><li>.5 cups granulated sugar</li></ul><p></p><p>Directions</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly spray muffin cups with nonstick spray or line with paper bake cups.</li><li>In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and nutmeg; set aside.</li><li>In a large bowl, combine eggs and oil. Stir in brown sugar, pumpkin, and granulated sugar until well combined. Add flour mixture; stir just until evenly incorporated.</li><li>Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Remove muffins from muffin cups; cool completely on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.</li></ol><p></p><p></p><div>I will admit that I wasn't <i>exact </i>with my measurements, particularly with the pumpkin, since that was just leftover from another recipe. I also should have been better about breaking down the clumps of baking powder. The recipe did give the option to top the dough with coarse sugar before baking, but I figured these have enough sugar in them to begin with. And I didn't quite gracefully remove them from the pan, but rather flipped them upside down and had them rolling on the wire rack (hence the crisscross pattern on some of them in the photo). </div><p></p><p>These are a little dense, and not as sweet as I might like. I think they would taste better with icing, but that's pretty easy to remedy. Add some cream cheese frosting, and it'll taste just like a pumpkin roll! (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2020/11/recipe-easy-pumpkin-roll.html">Which I have made before</a>...)</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-19325622424617339452023-11-22T09:01:00.000-08:002023-11-22T09:01:17.376-08:00Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Crumble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCk7ide47CZk8JUrwz3xy6LVYzGRBUUFe3gdJLuVduV61NgyJEGh_ACwLmuX8Lav0r1-7tTdToo6gqCCn_Nvuo0qGyk9lDlpbt3wUDhHE__Yv-5qu8wQN5ayYpLRKcxRhKsWqZjdpYIZt5qmXXkeVkvZpcVEe195BXy6TReoqXA_YiYMzKqZZSu8Yy6cMq/s4000/20231121_164326%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCk7ide47CZk8JUrwz3xy6LVYzGRBUUFe3gdJLuVduV61NgyJEGh_ACwLmuX8Lav0r1-7tTdToo6gqCCn_Nvuo0qGyk9lDlpbt3wUDhHE__Yv-5qu8wQN5ayYpLRKcxRhKsWqZjdpYIZt5qmXXkeVkvZpcVEe195BXy6TReoqXA_YiYMzKqZZSu8Yy6cMq/s320/20231121_164326%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I LOVE pumpkin everything, so fall is definitely a favorite season for me when it comes to food. Leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to try making this pumpkin spice crumble recipe from <i><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/133804982967?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=133804982967&targetid=4580840333842721&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603247654&mkgroupid=1235852063340202&rlsatarget=pla-4580840333842721&abcId=9316139&merchantid=51291&msclkid=360694efae7718c0bb0af1b19e38c7b6">America's Favorite Pumpkin Recipes Centennial Kitchen</a></i> magazine. We actually cut the recipe in half because it calls for TWO cans of pumpkin! That is too much of a good thing! Listed below is the full recipe. <div><br /></div><div><b>Ingredients</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>8 tablespoons unsalted butter</li><li>3 eggs</li><li>2 15-ounce cans of pumpkin</li><li>2 cups half-and-half</li><li>1.5 cups granulated sugar</li><li>2.5 tsps. pumpkin pie spice</li><li>1 tsp. salt</li><li>.5 tsp. ground ginger</li><li>1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats</li><li>1 cup packed light brown sugar</li><li>.75 cups all-purpose flour</li></ul></div><div><b>Directions</b></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Preheat over to 350° F. Using 1 tablespoon butter, butter bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch baking dish.</li><li>In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, pumpkin, half-and-half, granulated sugar, 2 tsps. pumpkin pie spice, .5 tsp. salt, and .25 tsp. ginger. Spread evenly in prepared baking dish; set aside.</li><li>In a medium bowl, combine oats brown sugar, flour, and remaining pie spice, salt, and ginger. </li><li>Melt remaining 7 tablespoons butter; stir into oat mixture until mixture is completely moistened and crumbly. Sprinkle oat mixture evenly on top of pumpkin mixture in baking dish.</li><li>Bake 50 minutes or until the pumpkin is set around the edges and center slightly jiggles when baking dish is gently shaken. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with ice cream.</li></ol></div><div>I'm glad I was baking with my mom, because I would have messed up this recipe from the get-go. I was all ready to mix the butter in with the liquid mixture (i.e. the first main step), but my mom had me re-read the recipe to catch my mistake! She also helped me with the math, since we had to divide everything in half. Since we needed three eggs, and it's hard to get half an egg, we used one egg plus some banana to make up the difference there. And we used a 9x9 pan instead (like a brownie pan), otherwise the mixture would have been too thin in the larger dish; we just used cooking spray to grease the dish instead of butter. This was pretty easy to make, and when it came out of the oven, it looked PERFECT!</div><div><div><br /></div><div>My dad described it as, "pumpkin pie with a crunchy top." I think that's about right! He had his with whipped cream instead of ice cream, and I just had mine plain, and it was still delicious. If you like cobblers, crisps, or crumbles in general for dessert, you'll like this one, too!</div></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-80327717167175984892023-11-20T09:45:00.000-08:002023-11-20T09:45:30.732-08:00Recipe: Blueberry Banana Muffins<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVhjjMpl8jmYJjwDNZDRpJYvXEIUqW9nEY4YlhQjRdcLFOkSmuazyFfERBO2Cwxr8wwwzI6-rk3k43Plxxe-C2GTpTu8BD9dZ4bNqBieDyIL75MWijFayjFnfZ5pHnYndYGHwwKOH3paqPeNx4cQ7F78TF6CI6QFul0djHmPANnPMGMGtQO5uC5iNlkrH/s4000/20231119_162437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVhjjMpl8jmYJjwDNZDRpJYvXEIUqW9nEY4YlhQjRdcLFOkSmuazyFfERBO2Cwxr8wwwzI6-rk3k43Plxxe-C2GTpTu8BD9dZ4bNqBieDyIL75MWijFayjFnfZ5pHnYndYGHwwKOH3paqPeNx4cQ7F78TF6CI6QFul0djHmPANnPMGMGtQO5uC5iNlkrH/s320/20231119_162437.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>While visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, my mom and I made blueberry banana muffins for breakfast one morning. I found <a href="https://www.food.com/amp/recipe/easy-moist-banana-blueberry-muffins-153642">this recipe</a> on <a href="http://Food.com">Food.com</a>, and it seemed easy enough, so we tried it. </p><p><b>Ingredients</b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->3 large ripe bananas</li><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->¾ cup sugar</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"> </span></span>1 egg, slightly beaten</li><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->1/3 cup butter, melted</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"> </span></span>1 cup blueberries</li><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->1 tsp. baking soda</li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"> </span></span>1 tsp. baking powder</li><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->½ tsp. salt</li><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->1.5 cups flour</li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p><b>Directions</b></p><p></p><p class="gk-amp-direction-item" style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 15.75pt;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Mash bananas in a large mixing bowl.</span></li><li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Add sugar and egg.</span></li><li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Add butter and blueberries.</span></li><li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Combine dry ingredients and gently stir into banana mixture.</span></li><li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Pour into 12 well-greased muffin cups.</span></li><li><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.</span></li></ol><p></p>
Now, this recipe isn't very well written. Nowhere does it say to preheat the oven, and it doesn't specifically say to mix all the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet mixture. BUT as an experienced baker, I knew not to skip those two steps. Another thing to try is to add the blueberries LAST and gently fold them in so that they don't get squished through the whole mixing process. Also, I recommend setting the timer for a little less time and checking on the muffins then; we set our timer for 15 minutes, and that was PLENTY of time. Every oven is different!<p></p><p>These muffins <b>are</b> very easy to make and taste quite good. Nice for a light breakfast or mid-day snack!</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-28517079056188566972023-11-14T08:19:00.000-08:002023-11-14T08:19:50.364-08:00My Dallas Vacation! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5Fw9ZikGtgZeaBMg8QnOHnSRQvcduPnNYe0ILLVfxH0KAwz9pmMT1mcU7yL_mofEjodB5Kk6XdhZgjiofMd-HBjP0aWl8YWoF862x5tmCknOTiqlOF8vxxYsXj-Yiyv6WUYSRGMRFXmV3VwyqQ21yY1U59qEnPwvbSJ5tBUZQZ5mdYhKjsxRnEb6QEcp/s1280/IMG_4485.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5Fw9ZikGtgZeaBMg8QnOHnSRQvcduPnNYe0ILLVfxH0KAwz9pmMT1mcU7yL_mofEjodB5Kk6XdhZgjiofMd-HBjP0aWl8YWoF862x5tmCknOTiqlOF8vxxYsXj-Yiyv6WUYSRGMRFXmV3VwyqQ21yY1U59qEnPwvbSJ5tBUZQZ5mdYhKjsxRnEb6QEcp/w400-h300/IMG_4485.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>My fiancé's birthday is on Veterans Day, so for the holiday, we decided to go to <a href="https://www.visitdallas.com/">Dallas</a> to visit his best friend. Plus, his team, the Giants, were playing the Cowboys that weekend, so it was perfect timing!</p><p> Here were the highlights of the trip:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL888PA6qA_V0powhvUMY-Uq4W_a4vuXLUHXmvPcgqRQXUd75jj7l34ny-sasrYPy9vFnuq_UpCUYhLjPj_Wre-smzKyIs989M57AAyxDhDT0mHFqfST9ipQeT_sdBl6hjYu-RGfiE7rqfu1gIVOr88UgEv47qiRroYSWVFeF6Kmj3nTEukWlDi50f2lyQ/s4000/20231112_152303.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL888PA6qA_V0powhvUMY-Uq4W_a4vuXLUHXmvPcgqRQXUd75jj7l34ny-sasrYPy9vFnuq_UpCUYhLjPj_Wre-smzKyIs989M57AAyxDhDT0mHFqfST9ipQeT_sdBl6hjYu-RGfiE7rqfu1gIVOr88UgEv47qiRroYSWVFeF6Kmj3nTEukWlDi50f2lyQ/w400-h300/20231112_152303.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">President George W. Bush did the coin toss!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShIkktu3ueE">The Cowboys vs. Giants Football Game</a></b></p><p>Clearly, this was the best part of the trip! I was excited to go to "<a href="https://attstadium.com/">Jerry World</a>" and take in all the chaos of a <a href="https://www.dallascowboys.com/">Dallas football game</a>. It did not disappoint! There were SO many people there (they sell tons of standing-room-only spots, so there are always people milling around), and the energy was buzzing (with nowhere to escape because the roof was closed). We enjoyed chicken tenders (which were actually quite good), a couple drinks, and some <a href="https://www.bluebell.com/">Blue Bell</a> ice cream (we still think <a href="https://www.benjerry.com/">Ben & Jerry's</a> is better). The <a href="https://www.giants.com/">Giants</a> have had a horrible season, so we already knew they would lose, but it was still fun to watch the action (we were pretty close to one end zone) and be surrounded by the whole experience. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio329NH6-P7TUMRfkDw6sKrgU5QoQwI6NlASGZPbRzEqsWL_Ha9-Yf7NBD-4Iojsi6klFCr4kqOJ3E-rGjFzkMXAT7gE9Tu-8Xy8i7hY4KgesaNQ8PMMEzwYhPL4DRWpdnwq3zA_fI-hysrgEaCVcObBdZpN5HPR61WPfU5SSgcTcTb6AjwEyftMvekaDQ/s4000/20231112_170348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio329NH6-P7TUMRfkDw6sKrgU5QoQwI6NlASGZPbRzEqsWL_Ha9-Yf7NBD-4Iojsi6klFCr4kqOJ3E-rGjFzkMXAT7gE9Tu-8Xy8i7hY4KgesaNQ8PMMEzwYhPL4DRWpdnwq3zA_fI-hysrgEaCVcObBdZpN5HPR61WPfU5SSgcTcTb6AjwEyftMvekaDQ/w400-h300/20231112_170348.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://leegreenwood.com/">Lee Greenwood</a> was there and sang the song, "God Bless the USA." I LOVE that song, so to hear him sing in live, in honor of Veterans Day, was amazing.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-KoXt9pZLGM" width="320" youtube-src-id="-KoXt9pZLGM"></iframe></div><br /><p>And the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are INCREDIBLE. You've always heard about them, but seeing them perform in real life was so cool. Here's a video from a previous game:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HUoVpM5XbZU" width="320" youtube-src-id="HUoVpM5XbZU"></iframe></div><br /><p><b><a href="https://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/">The Nasher Sculpture Center</a></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTPKWXWjNcQUrEimRFchM9w1X7lVq0iVymTrKNNE6BS24j8ud3yIawQf1Fvf6Oeo9hiAYhWxZ_sUFxs9J4c0SpQpOr2Hmqm-LpZ0KW1gh8tsx8GGQTn1iQ5RdpDLcbBy-Q0S5_W_r0uu8_mzEYCpY6op7MQX12d_R9dA8HJDFJoQj5W4yK0Y17kRGs5Fy/s4000/20231111_112218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTPKWXWjNcQUrEimRFchM9w1X7lVq0iVymTrKNNE6BS24j8ud3yIawQf1Fvf6Oeo9hiAYhWxZ_sUFxs9J4c0SpQpOr2Hmqm-LpZ0KW1gh8tsx8GGQTn1iQ5RdpDLcbBy-Q0S5_W_r0uu8_mzEYCpY6op7MQX12d_R9dA8HJDFJoQj5W4yK0Y17kRGs5Fy/s320/20231111_112218.jpg" width="240" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"<a href="https://www.artsy.net/artwork/joan-miro-moonbird-oiseau-lunaire-also-called-the-lunar-bird">Moonbird</a>" by Joan Miró looks like a unicorn to me!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I always appreciate going to art museums and the like (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/my-weekend-in-nyc.html">I visited the Met just a few weeks ago in NYC</a>), so I was happy to visit this sculpture garden in downtown Dallas, which was created from the arts collection of Nasher, the creator of the first indoor mall (which still exists!). As we were walking around, I was surprised (and proud of myself) to recognize many of the pieces as art from artists I've seen before, particularly ones that I saw when I visited the <a href="https://walkerart.org/visit/garden">Minneapolis Sculpture Garden</a>: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_di_Suvero">Mark di Suvero</a> (who also has <a href="https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2022/08/a-guide-to-public-art-at-dartmouth">a piece at Dartmouth College</a>), <a href="https://gagosian.com/artists/richard-serra/">Richard Serra</a> (who has a very similar but bigger piece at <a href="https://www.glenstone.org/">Glenstone</a>), and <a href="https://www.tony-cragg.com/">Tony Cragg</a> to name a few. After our walk around the garden, we had lunch at <a href="https://www.thehenryrestaurant.com/">the Henry</a>, which was quite good. It has the perfect rooftop for brunch, too!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JwHf8TZMl6n6o2CzS_JdV8e8Z8Rdhm7kUPG-pPM5aNIuMOJp2l0X-sHsohPn89uOETcZU7Iy0DIo-d4xxdQMem6vTBhG-tOn_rl3_nKRs2ouUU9_VLEltUaUrPYCDNBOZltS3GAk17yIrRFQk_c9j3eei5od7z-hZ45R5q0eoBRM9JLJ-F61ES5V3FN9/s4000/20231111_124950.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JwHf8TZMl6n6o2CzS_JdV8e8Z8Rdhm7kUPG-pPM5aNIuMOJp2l0X-sHsohPn89uOETcZU7Iy0DIo-d4xxdQMem6vTBhG-tOn_rl3_nKRs2ouUU9_VLEltUaUrPYCDNBOZltS3GAk17yIrRFQk_c9j3eei5od7z-hZ45R5q0eoBRM9JLJ-F61ES5V3FN9/w400-h300/20231111_124950.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pumpkins near the Henry. In Dallas, it seems like everyone does big piles of pumpkins on their front steps!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>Exercising</b></p><p>Ok, I realize this is a pretty weird thing to put on a list of things I did on vacation. But I love to work out, and I was pumped to take both a <a href="https://www.purebarre.com/location/allen-tx">Pure Barre</a> class and <a href="https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us/locations/texas/allen/945-w-stacy-rd-suite-180">Orangetheory Fitness</a> class, both in <a href="https://www.cityofallen.org/1258/About-Allen">Allen, Texas</a>. The Pure Barre was within walking distance of the friend's home, and it's located in a cute little shopping center called <a href="https://www.watterscreek.com/">Watters Creek</a>. All the stores were already decked out for the holidays; I was almost feeling the Christmas spirit myself! And the coach at OTF was awesome (it was such a small studio that you got a lot of personal attention from the coach). We also went on a couple of walks, so we got to burn lots of calories even while on vacation! (which was good, since we got dessert to-go from the <a href="https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/">Cheesecake Factory</a>...)</p><p><b>Eating</b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb3KB0RjC1EKUt-iv3kxB1VXxlz_3ios28IlNcJ-wyS1O8fNrhQLLFxn8AnnlAqCcrhYqOjalOn4VX6lKyTlCS4qqG3GDvrWkw_lQ4Llla1AWWtFYB0KjlM8JF0l5-zr0cB05Aiftdrm_Z-2publ9RU3Sy8RhOxQDUdNFsnJfpFh-5CSCji_Gi-3Fa1Py/s4000/20231110_202427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb3KB0RjC1EKUt-iv3kxB1VXxlz_3ios28IlNcJ-wyS1O8fNrhQLLFxn8AnnlAqCcrhYqOjalOn4VX6lKyTlCS4qqG3GDvrWkw_lQ4Llla1AWWtFYB0KjlM8JF0l5-zr0cB05Aiftdrm_Z-2publ9RU3Sy8RhOxQDUdNFsnJfpFh-5CSCji_Gi-3Fa1Py/s320/20231110_202427.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Behind Mi Cocina are two horse sculptures which everyone climbs on! I had to do it, too :)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Speaking of the Cheesecake Factory, we also had some other good food while we were down there. I don't eat meat, so barbeque and steaks were out (bummer!), but we went to a couple of good restaurants. We visited <a href="https://www.micocina.com/locations/in/tx/dallas/watters-creek/">Mi Cocina</a> in the same lovely shopping center, where we had delicious queso blanco and a <a href="https://www.thefauxmartha.com/mambo-taxi/">Mambo Taxi</a> cocktail (like a frozen margarita with sangria in it). We enjoyed the official birthday dinner at <a href="https://forkandfire.com/">Fork & Fire</a>, which had wonderful ambiance, delicious cocktails, and a special broccoli mash (think mashed potatoes with broccoli pureed in)*. Yum! And while less fancy, I did get to try <a href="https://whataburger.com/">Whattaburger</a> for the first time at the airport for breakfast; the <a href="https://thetakeout.com/an-ode-to-the-whataburger-honey-butter-chicken-biscuit-1846210572">honey butter chicken biscuit</a> was pretty good (as was the limited-time white chocolate raspberry shake). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdn6BfcVjfYOlXvSgaDe_RxqWsMTjOoeP7BQZqgqUINyvwKchfeddca4agfBZAHOvhA-68_WRx7nqbm7DZ70Y5aS535OlJsYV9XJNTm4tX-Bt-WJCBnCQyzggWTRG4Wy2qPMwfCpL8UwzrDq4dhnLSB0s9sCb-KCItv5U6TsLmk9bG3GKXn0374Kd7J5K/s1600/IMG_4482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdn6BfcVjfYOlXvSgaDe_RxqWsMTjOoeP7BQZqgqUINyvwKchfeddca4agfBZAHOvhA-68_WRx7nqbm7DZ70Y5aS535OlJsYV9XJNTm4tX-Bt-WJCBnCQyzggWTRG4Wy2qPMwfCpL8UwzrDq4dhnLSB0s9sCb-KCItv5U6TsLmk9bG3GKXn0374Kd7J5K/w400-h300/IMG_4482.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Such a fun double-date birthday dinner at Fork & Fire!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This was such a fun trip! We would like to go back to visit this friend again, maybe to go to the <a href="https://bigtex.com/">Texas State Fair</a> or to see the rodeo. Either way, I can promise you this won't be my last trip to Texas!</p><p>*<a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/fork-and-fire-plano?hrid=aI5BbYq6FvqViA7T7E0efg&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)">Read my Yelp review here</a>.</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-10942749281785615492023-11-09T09:17:00.000-08:002023-11-14T08:28:19.527-08:00My Chrismukkah Wish List<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/happy-chrismukkah-hanukkah-jewish-festival-gift-thomas-larch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/happy-chrismukkah-hanukkah-jewish-festival-gift-thomas-larch.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/happy-chrismukkah-hanukkah-jewish-festival-gift-thomas-larch.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Halloween is over, which mean capitalism America has jumped right into Christmas planning (sorry, Thanksgiving). So with that in mind, to make it easy for my family and friends (because you all want to buy me pretty presents, right? haha), I thought I'd write a blog post listing all the things I'd like from Santa or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtGYwY_D7o">Hanukkah Harry</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnPraOFEg7Mx4vyB7gkKX9QzjsdHD8JGQ7lW5hc_nU3ggV0iVp-xBsBtqIrI0xo_WEEoZIiuWDtAEMIL8oz6qElCOPvvA8vMRoXhMC3ga7hiStHbnw88tFbFr_eKEc_cTQiIsqU8u1oPTiOPbv19Xx40E88oocd1RSAVgsH_P66IXiN8njvhb9MCIRghZ/s422/PB%20otf.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="422" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnPraOFEg7Mx4vyB7gkKX9QzjsdHD8JGQ7lW5hc_nU3ggV0iVp-xBsBtqIrI0xo_WEEoZIiuWDtAEMIL8oz6qElCOPvvA8vMRoXhMC3ga7hiStHbnw88tFbFr_eKEc_cTQiIsqU8u1oPTiOPbv19Xx40E88oocd1RSAVgsH_P66IXiN8njvhb9MCIRghZ/w400-h186/PB%20otf.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>All things <a href="https://poshmark.com/brand/Pure_Barre-Women">Pure Barre</a> and <a href="https://www.shoporangetheory.com/Main/Default">Orangetheory Fitness</a></b></p><p>I have been going to both of these fitness studios for a while (and now I teach PB), so I love repping them in cute clothes when I work out. I feel like a brand ambassador! And you can never have too many pairs of sticky socks :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bXonuOlj9Vzb85zo-RbmfNrWAIVGISl0XA-WuEViwqKoydyeH4YM-I6TtJwslw0BZcKbYS4UKJr7jjqC3Zo_mB_DABLtsCeRPUpLww_K9fOuTz8QYs1d7mhDkArHtNIV2p9PyfQKCXLvxr7m0XMCooYzBiFbs1EjvQ_LCcjzJ7_FtcDzTxYQCes57cNq/s300/top%20gun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="186" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bXonuOlj9Vzb85zo-RbmfNrWAIVGISl0XA-WuEViwqKoydyeH4YM-I6TtJwslw0BZcKbYS4UKJr7jjqC3Zo_mB_DABLtsCeRPUpLww_K9fOuTz8QYs1d7mhDkArHtNIV2p9PyfQKCXLvxr7m0XMCooYzBiFbs1EjvQ_LCcjzJ7_FtcDzTxYQCes57cNq/s1600/top%20gun.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Top-Gun-Maverick-Tom-Cruise/dp/B09XZMF4MG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=28SW7B9V2HNEG&keywords=dvd+top+gun+maverick+movie+2022&qid=1699455340&sprefix=dvd+top+gun%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-2"><i>Top Gun: Maverick</i> DVD</a></b></p><p>I really didn't think I would like this movie because <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_top%2520gun">the original</a> is SO good; I thought a remake/sequel would ruin it! But this newer movie did not disappoint! As soon as we left the theater, I already wanted to watch it again. One of the few sequels from Hollywood that is actually nearly as good as the first film, IMHO.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLw-oI3dGyBLxPvzSHCnYdx9n6po9hx1rUT8e-6_Pik6_q5QVefLl0iFs3ADLofl3Z_zoW_u0tcu2t4qvEvMd4DiQahS77PpdfCVPJ0df3BVa706ne_ap4gxxcCsmojKdOtDdh1iwLCTs3_NOx_ANvtSOtJkbZ88YIkE7G2CndN0j_1DB3nsxphSNPMvd/s284/books.jfif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLw-oI3dGyBLxPvzSHCnYdx9n6po9hx1rUT8e-6_Pik6_q5QVefLl0iFs3ADLofl3Z_zoW_u0tcu2t4qvEvMd4DiQahS77PpdfCVPJ0df3BVa706ne_ap4gxxcCsmojKdOtDdh1iwLCTs3_NOx_ANvtSOtJkbZ88YIkE7G2CndN0j_1DB3nsxphSNPMvd/w400-h249/books.jfif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/91917058-kathryn?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=to-read">BOOKS</a></b></p><p>As a self-proclaimed nerd, I have always loved reading (even though I feel like I read magazines more often than books these days...). I am a sucker for a good bookstore or a used book sale. I have a LONG list of "want to read" books on my Goodreads list. They are in no particular order; I want to read them all!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqvf3xPtsUTQFDGc8V-ngwfhoGmdPCpmxoh_jtLV_WFtBXqDIuw820Rp9MMQr1CLHpeVvni36RHxD-OJg-2M_g3hEb9M8-MMfyC67EInoPSXYmZNCykQ35Rfhj2tGohA1M5exYOm7NTtJjCQtvjhnA0hpga136-VhockwaKFuHqIzN9cTIuZbdyminY8H/s1102/leather%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1102" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqvf3xPtsUTQFDGc8V-ngwfhoGmdPCpmxoh_jtLV_WFtBXqDIuw820Rp9MMQr1CLHpeVvni36RHxD-OJg-2M_g3hEb9M8-MMfyC67EInoPSXYmZNCykQ35Rfhj2tGohA1M5exYOm7NTtJjCQtvjhnA0hpga136-VhockwaKFuHqIzN9cTIuZbdyminY8H/w400-h291/leather%201.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b>A leather moto jacket</b></p><p>A leather jacket is a must-have fashion staple, and the one I have had for the past few years is past its prime (the fake leather is starting to flake and peel. <b>Not</b> a good look!). I usually get my (p)leather jackets from Express, but this season I didn't see any that I liked! I found the two above from <a href="https://www.luckybrand.com/classic-leather-moto-jacket/194610741498.html?src=&medium=(_cpc)&campaign=18376957639&adgroup=&target=&item=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo7KqBhDhARIsAKhZ4ujJIIw__midklxOxH6SCdTA48J_WdNpIsjYBgIWjShXYQYTSgwA4pEaAk0SEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">Lucky Brand</a> and <a href="https://www.fanjackets.com/product/womens-black-lambskin-leather-moto-jacket/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo7KqBhDhARIsAKhZ4uioto6quROP0cePIvCUu_Bv91PePcgw-3CmogFd17Ic5nH6lY48QDYaAiqfEALw_wcB">Fan Jackets</a> (never heard of them). I like some hardwear, but not too much, and I'm torn between a taller collar or the larger lapel. I have a brown-ish leather jacket I got from <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/">Stitch Fix</a> a while back (ooh, a <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/gifts">gift card</a> for that would be cool!), but I feel like a black one would match more outfits. And even though I'm normally a small in most things, I like a <i>medium</i> in a jacket so that it can fit over sweaters and isn't too tight.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCW2UUijCXeSzGM4W98-sZNCNodPCKrsUucXcrB_nWd-5QCvRyB9buqZdJVcYi4BoZnAjUUqpqFQb4iFktqtcb0Wb_OXnJl71L131IPCGJJuwfzplS-8vc_Ieit_VmMeZsoj7y88awuddTHxRys8dHUBnR_bvN-dVrjCuzvwzG-bpxe7hpoC534E5vgNM/s741/green%20dress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="348" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCW2UUijCXeSzGM4W98-sZNCNodPCKrsUucXcrB_nWd-5QCvRyB9buqZdJVcYi4BoZnAjUUqpqFQb4iFktqtcb0Wb_OXnJl71L131IPCGJJuwfzplS-8vc_Ieit_VmMeZsoj7y88awuddTHxRys8dHUBnR_bvN-dVrjCuzvwzG-bpxe7hpoC534E5vgNM/w188-h400/green%20dress.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br /><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mikylay-Satin-Dress-Set-Covered/dp/B0CJBMPGSD/ref=sr_1_4?crid=E9PYY17026RX&keywords=Covered%2BNights%2BRomper%2BDress%2BSet&qid=1699453192&sprefix=covered%2Bnights%2Bromper%2Bdress%2Bset%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1">Covered Nights Romper Dress</a></b></p><p>I'm not normally into rompers (so annoying when you have to pee!), but I love how this one still looks like a shirt dress and covers up the little shorts underneath (so kinda like a skort?). And it comes in this beautiful Dartmouth green color, which I love (obvi). </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcQCF03a-AjscRRfhn5E_r0NZKI55gL4SH8OR1UsV8QcUiFYe2TRezxIMmHqEf_XS5is3vayugEMHZOE1vsSRprUpNJHyIM0RhNNJzMqeHXYl-DWZTJY7mz5ZJ_iMR3O3fDSPNBgYI6WWgcNF5Tc3QGycl0IMzfr7stNNtOqeGmrG6uOSdD5-vSuffZpT/s719/cutters%20for%20veggies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcQCF03a-AjscRRfhn5E_r0NZKI55gL4SH8OR1UsV8QcUiFYe2TRezxIMmHqEf_XS5is3vayugEMHZOE1vsSRprUpNJHyIM0RhNNJzMqeHXYl-DWZTJY7mz5ZJ_iMR3O3fDSPNBgYI6WWgcNF5Tc3QGycl0IMzfr7stNNtOqeGmrG6uOSdD5-vSuffZpT/s320/cutters%20for%20veggies.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vegetable-Cutters-Supplement-Accessories-Stainless/dp/B089GJ9QN6/ref=sr_1_7?crid=9NAZ01HQO1PV&keywords=Multishape+Food+Cutter+Set&qid=1699453647&sprefix=multishape+food+cutter+set%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-7">Multi-shape Vegetable Cutter Set</a></b></p><p>I thought these looked so cute and would be a great way to dress up salads (both veggie and fruit varieties). Watermelon in the shape of strawberries? So meta. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnp0HbODiuzbTq9ZgT2_YkRX_rPVPDZrkA-soKaSPAmoq1jg6pwPYmkNaNLsjNIkRJkOjX1Dx5f-TZSZueNJ0H9qtYkdUFN4ICWx2CtZZJyFZjeiEu31vlJgoAQTB0aaPGymyKzK3HeTJ5mVy4YUcuT0_BhmOCwUEwlCtJwnbfkUA_1HKBCpxbrzEUZ4x/s679/lipstick.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="679" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnp0HbODiuzbTq9ZgT2_YkRX_rPVPDZrkA-soKaSPAmoq1jg6pwPYmkNaNLsjNIkRJkOjX1Dx5f-TZSZueNJ0H9qtYkdUFN4ICWx2CtZZJyFZjeiEu31vlJgoAQTB0aaPGymyKzK3HeTJ5mVy4YUcuT0_BhmOCwUEwlCtJwnbfkUA_1HKBCpxbrzEUZ4x/s320/lipstick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Texture-Lipstick-Waterproof-Lasting-Liquid/dp/B0B2WLBV2B?th=1">Allen Shaw Creamy Waterproof Lip Gloss</a></b></p><p>I saw an ad for this product on Twitter. I love <a href="https://www.maybelline.com/lip-makeup/lipstick/superstay-matte-ink-liquid-lipstick?variant=Energizer">Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink</a>, and this product looks similar, but glossier/shinier. And they have so many pretty colors; I'm not sure which one I like best! But I love the idea of it being waterproof and lasting all day. So easy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.thesitebase.net/10115/10115167/products/ver_1918e7ba08f14a0cf324e323a28d7cfad/1697605119137.jpg?width=750&height=0&min_height=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://img.thesitebase.net/10115/10115167/products/ver_1918e7ba08f14a0cf324e323a28d7cfad/1697605119137.jpg?width=750&height=0&min_height=0" width="320" /></a></div><p><b><a href="https://modalace.co/products/blue-ornate-print-sweatshirt?twclid=23u6jmxtk7r1ob8zwx31nq6rut">Tiffany & Co. Sweatshirt</a></b></p><p>I randomly saw this on Twitter, but how cute is this?! I love that it connects the movie <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_breakfast%2520at%2520">Breakfast at Tiffany's</a></i> with the classic robin egg blue Tiffany color. Plus, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000030/?ref_=tt_cl_i_1">Audrey Hepburn</a> is one of my favorite actresses of all time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIkUJLZU79-QGdVYYD8A4ARnXPlptLABp_9WXo3xI4W-FDYRkR9M0w7YgZtyeb_ebWyO-CUi3R5k-Vh2dbjOW6aTH0jyADFgNwZi8ANMELU-Yf8Pj8iHAgrsu6PSiJyyGw8IsmM7CMeRzRqK4nCAupqDUsjZei0Q_JMyxGA_oiz1WHTl6KAzb3JBi22rW/s225/1989.jfif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIkUJLZU79-QGdVYYD8A4ARnXPlptLABp_9WXo3xI4W-FDYRkR9M0w7YgZtyeb_ebWyO-CUi3R5k-Vh2dbjOW6aTH0jyADFgNwZi8ANMELU-Yf8Pj8iHAgrsu6PSiJyyGw8IsmM7CMeRzRqK4nCAupqDUsjZei0Q_JMyxGA_oiz1WHTl6KAzb3JBi22rW/w320-h320/1989.jfif" width="320" /></a></div><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/1989-Taylors-Version-Taylor-Swift/dp/B0CFM76QSG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=D12KRJPC49VC&keywords=taylor%27s+version+1989+cd&qid=1699454809&sprefix=taylor%27s+version+1989%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-2">Taylor's Version of "1989"</a></b></p><p><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/1989-Taylor-Swift/dp/B00MRHANNI/ref=sr_1_3?crid=85QZC9FS9TY6&keywords=1989+cd&qid=1699454924&sprefix=1989+cd%2Caps%2C56&sr=8-3">1989</a></i> is by far my favorite Taylor Swift album. I haven't actually <i>listened </i>to this newest version, but I already know I'm going to love it. Blank Space, Wildest Dreams, This Love... I mean, come on!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.etsystatic.com/6004141/r/il/08759a/2506645466/il_794xN.2506645466_jrbl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="794" height="222" src="https://i.etsystatic.com/6004141/r/il/08759a/2506645466/il_794xN.2506645466_jrbl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/851466030/chai-maintenance-energy-or-achiever?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=chai+maintenance&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1">Chai Maintenance T-Shirt</a></b></p><p>I think this play-on-words is so funny! And it's almost like an inside joke for members of the tribe 😉 I also think a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/807167986/chai-necklace-hebrew-necklace-jewish?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=chai+maintenance&ref=sc_gallery-1-4&pro=1&frs=1&bes=1&sts=1&plkey=2606366bb0a33607e2629be20e91a875ce15a1b4%3A807167986">chai necklace</a> or <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1278280212/14k-solid-gold-star-of-david-necklace?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=chai+maintenance&ref=sc_gallery-1-7&pro=1&bes=1&plkey=6dc96b20e097fe8b618a0a6f752e0e70418fdae0%3A1278280212">Star of David necklace</a> would be nice to have as something to wear to Shabbat dinners or holiday services.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0HH-hu64IMVHp4fDkoSt5-AIt6KR1-rYlt9vaBRwL-WwKmDbYL_Rbcs0TsyxGU46vjThiUarQYZGfng2GmsvmKVlm81B3mRM3kMi35V-EWhpxOTtkoAe12HPOeAxk5_svXXCxOXfmTpn96GBLZ41EZrpjuytqTYrqwrPezirH-SczqnN7-_D92PAtW8T/s617/eyeliner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0HH-hu64IMVHp4fDkoSt5-AIt6KR1-rYlt9vaBRwL-WwKmDbYL_Rbcs0TsyxGU46vjThiUarQYZGfng2GmsvmKVlm81B3mRM3kMi35V-EWhpxOTtkoAe12HPOeAxk5_svXXCxOXfmTpn96GBLZ41EZrpjuytqTYrqwrPezirH-SczqnN7-_D92PAtW8T/s320/eyeliner.png" width="173" /></a></div><br /><p><b><a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/24-7-glide-on-eye-pencil-P133707?skuId=1498591">Urban Decay Eyeliner</a></b></p><p>I love <a href="https://www.urbandecay.com/">Urban Decay</a> eyeliners! They come in such pretty colors, and I especially like the ones that sparkle. I am particularly interested in the one in the "uzi" color, which is silver. It matches everything, and the one I have is almost down to a little nub!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.IgNvKWcHzJLGUldcPUPBuQHaFj?w=267&h=200&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=1.7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="347" height="260" src="https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.IgNvKWcHzJLGUldcPUPBuQHaFj?w=267&h=200&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=1.7" width="347" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found<a href="https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.IgNvKWcHzJLGUldcPUPBuQHaFj?w=267&h=200&c=7&r=0&o=5&dpr=1.3&pid=1.7"> here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Shopping Gift Cards</b></p><p>I know giving gift cards can feel like a cop-out, but sometimes it's not only easy, it's what people want! Then they can pick out exactly what they've been looking for. I never turn down a gift card for <a href="https://marshalls.cashstar.com/store/recipient?locale=en-us">Marshalls/TJ Maxx</a>, <a href="https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/gift-cards?cm_mmc=SEM-_-MICROSOFT-_-VSD_VS_B%2BPurchase_Phrase-_-VS_B%2BPurchase_Gift+Card_Phrase&&&&&&msclkid=3088e2c36a9d181581ea8788cd8b908c&gclid=3088e2c36a9d181581ea8788cd8b908c&gclsrc=3p.ds">Victoria's Secret</a>, <a href="https://francescas.com/buy-gift-cards/">Francesca's</a>, <a href="https://www.kendrascott.com/giftcertpurchase">Kendra Scott</a>... If you know it's a store I go to a lot, then I'll definitely be able to use a gift card there!</p><p><b>Restaurant Gift Cards</b></p><p>I have always loved eating out, but ever since COVID, I love it even more, having missed it for so long! Some favorites are the <a href="https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/gift-cards">Cheesecake Factory</a>, <a href="https://give.inkind.com/">InKind</a> (i.e. <a href="https://joseandres.com/">José Andrés</a> restaurants), <a href="https://squareup.com/gift/0GKS8KW5W6C1K/order">South Block</a>... But no Starbucks, since I don't drink caffeine anymore.</p><p>Ok, I'll stop for now, but I may update this page a couple of times in the next few weeks as things come to mind... ;)</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-19786644770218050332023-10-25T09:03:00.000-07:002023-10-25T09:03:19.432-07:00My Weekend in NYC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo31zjSurJc5dfyPkQpwFBUJU4WfgLwhQ7JkITcBNVtmahNK1X3FFWSz1dWt_aUpfNB5hxGMUiRLGcdZEM-C-lmKovxE0h5NEgXKTXO_TjC5zvbaxLS_Q7HAhi5PGLRJQJSIOS8i7j_EwB3T_hjDnzOAVXkVpHPveZCL6WqbcCrqk9UW2cefeQH0E0CDr/s1600/IMG_4334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo31zjSurJc5dfyPkQpwFBUJU4WfgLwhQ7JkITcBNVtmahNK1X3FFWSz1dWt_aUpfNB5hxGMUiRLGcdZEM-C-lmKovxE0h5NEgXKTXO_TjC5zvbaxLS_Q7HAhi5PGLRJQJSIOS8i7j_EwB3T_hjDnzOAVXkVpHPveZCL6WqbcCrqk9UW2cefeQH0E0CDr/w320-h240/IMG_4334.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Two years ago, my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I visited
New York City in the fall, so we were excited to take a repeat vacation to the
Big Apple this year. We stayed at the <a href="https://www.reservationdesk.com/hotel/614b1e7/even-hotels-new-york-midtown-east-new-york-ny/?cid=sem::TPRD::BA::Reservation%20Desk%20%3E%20US%20%3E%20Northeast%20%3E%20New%20York%20%3E%20New%20York%20City%20Area::US%20%3E%20New%20York%20%3E%20New%20York%20%3E%20EVEN%20Hotel%20New%20York%20-%20Midtown%20East%20%3E%20did-614b1e7::even%20hotel%20nyc%20east::e&creative=75866466104701&device=c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=even%20hotel%20nyc%20east&utm_campaign=Reservation%20Desk%20%3E%20US%20%3E%20Northeast%20%3E%20New%20York%20%3E%20New%20York%20City%20Area&iv_=__iv_m_e_c_75866466104701_k_75866441527873_w_kwd-75866441527873:loc-4101_g_1213861009089782_n_o_e__h_91335_ii_59981_p_2_b_be_d_c_vi__&msclkid=f13216e1905e174f656873d7ddb84cca">Even Hotel</a> near Grand Central, which was a cool,
hip hotel with a great location; the room featured exercise equipment (yoga mat
and block, foam roller, resistance bands, and a big exercise ball), and since
they gave us free drink vouchers, our first night there we had a happy hour
drink at the hotel bar before playing a game of ping pong (my fiancé couldn’t
get over the fact that I didn’t hold the handle of the paddle…don’t worry, it’s
a Dartmouth thing!). We could easily walk or take the subway from our hotel everywhere we needed to go, so
the location was perfect!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We walked around everywhere (we didn’t even take the subway
until our second day in town), so we definitely got our steps in! Even in the
rain we were walking around getting our much-needed exercise. It’s the best way
to explore a city anyway; you never know what you’ll find!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here were the highlights from our trip:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><b>1. Visiting friends and family</b></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03jKeOgmcRxiIHKhvl5LuXxfW13jR8qx26K5Ipw1xvE_l5I6WkgmBA1H8M9hht0yM3q5kY-1_MA4bk0Xm0KPuIc9LK0c_Jb0hGzp6tZl4Bfy_utb56OMwdQKxH-Ew2x8gkpL88vI6DjY80UYQrG7KtibDJHgJr7pUIKiU_QN0ExpDWIKP4UF9AdQOY8Jz/s4000/20231020_214919.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03jKeOgmcRxiIHKhvl5LuXxfW13jR8qx26K5Ipw1xvE_l5I6WkgmBA1H8M9hht0yM3q5kY-1_MA4bk0Xm0KPuIc9LK0c_Jb0hGzp6tZl4Bfy_utb56OMwdQKxH-Ew2x8gkpL88vI6DjY80UYQrG7KtibDJHgJr7pUIKiU_QN0ExpDWIKP4UF9AdQOY8Jz/s320/20231020_214919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Friends and ice cream is the best combination!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">We know a lot of people who live in and
around New York, so we made plans ahead of time to make sure to see them. We
had dinner with two of my friends who moved to New York after leaving DC this summer;
her cousin recommended <a href="https://www.bistangonyc.com/kimberly">Bistango</a>, an Italian restaurant in the Kimberly Hotel,
and it was very good. Then we stopped by <a href="https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/">Van Leeuwen</a> for dessert, where my fiancé
and I split a mini chocolate lovers sundae. Can’t beat that!</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiPV3iM5Zs_z0KmxRmn_Ir63J6CnEXbmQA4p8BE9a9K24udz2HSc2qASTTgCncO0P2w6I71SrUj3EB-h63DzA3JHNFQX894oMCrReZazLB4BOvx4-pzAPF-SSkze_OHMXQf0xjWzdhR6U6ry-NgvWqfeTKPpCypld6i0_KTHRo4vIgAjkdHDk-MBl2PA-/s4000/20231021_144115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiPV3iM5Zs_z0KmxRmn_Ir63J6CnEXbmQA4p8BE9a9K24udz2HSc2qASTTgCncO0P2w6I71SrUj3EB-h63DzA3JHNFQX894oMCrReZazLB4BOvx4-pzAPF-SSkze_OHMXQf0xjWzdhR6U6ry-NgvWqfeTKPpCypld6i0_KTHRo4vIgAjkdHDk-MBl2PA-/s320/20231021_144115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">The next day we had Italian food again
(this time pizza at <a href="https://www.motorinony.com/">Motorino</a>) for lunch with my fiancé’s family. Both his niece
as well as his nephew’s girlfriend are pregnant, so we got together with them
and their significant others to celebrate their future babies (and our own
recent engagement, too). I had met his niece and her husband before, but I had
not met his nephew or his girlfriend, so it was lovely to not only meet them
but get to know them a little bit. They are all really nice, so it was a very
pleasant lunch. AND we went out for ice cream again, and the <a href="https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/product/peanut-butter-brownie-chip/">peanut butter brownie honeycomb</a> is AMAZING!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p>Later that night we had dinner at <a href="https://www.sabaithai.nyc/">Sabai Thai</a> with a frat brother of my fiancé and his wife; these are people he’s known
for DECADES, so I wanted to make a good impression. They were friendly and
totally welcoming, so I had nothing to worry about. We enjoyed a long, leisurely
dinner of pad thai and yummy cocktails. We almost didn’t want the night to end,
but they had a long trip back to New Jersey, so we parted ways late that night, but we hope to see them again soon.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>2. Culturing ourselves at the Met</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrX9YIJ30tK4XMSWNErHbCMWgaDqDje_vSaMFQNB_0dB8dG2RS1RR54PjuQrQPxuzceLcOcHE4pc7a4WmqpAcT8JBhpR7Uvv1qEIJ8OQiTl2ggmsyeLx92Dqns7UR3fWfNxZDi3eivH2IQcUiYtfzbMuf0JUOOD8crVyooafPgmkEJa0x3U3nqQ-7_KiW/s1889/Manet.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1889" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrX9YIJ30tK4XMSWNErHbCMWgaDqDje_vSaMFQNB_0dB8dG2RS1RR54PjuQrQPxuzceLcOcHE4pc7a4WmqpAcT8JBhpR7Uvv1qEIJ8OQiTl2ggmsyeLx92Dqns7UR3fWfNxZDi3eivH2IQcUiYtfzbMuf0JUOOD8crVyooafPgmkEJa0x3U3nqQ-7_KiW/w640-h212/Manet.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/manet-degas">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">W While we are spoiled with so many
free museums in D.C., NYC has lot of great museums, so we figured we’d pay the
fees to visit one of them. <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/">The Metropolitan Museum of Art</a> is a HUGE museum, and
they have a special <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/manet-degas">Manet v. Degas exhibit</a>, so we thought we’d certainly get
our money’s worth there. That exhibit was interesting, and we learned a lot
about the two artists who were contemporaries and even friends. I thought it
was cool to compare their art side by side, especially when the content was
similar, such as dancers, bathers, or horses. We also looked at a lot of Roman
and Greek statues, pottery from ancient Persia, and many paintings from the
Impressionists like Monet. We could have been there all day!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3<b>.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b></span><b>3. Enjoying nature</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifrqBT6jeFtdNkkRwIfGbzgWXP-fXPfpObHA8JCBx1a6XrsRLmJvD59SrmmZVJInKu8alQAD3sixhmQA1xonjviAKzLtmkzlCmVIXwDxu0KSKHOX-z5W6BYybv6VEXF2ZXP4dwYnyXiHfsVtILa-VWr2pke8eOOyHdGanFMWkOjnxaDbjrgUC6gjWCPCt/s4000/20231020_144245.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifrqBT6jeFtdNkkRwIfGbzgWXP-fXPfpObHA8JCBx1a6XrsRLmJvD59SrmmZVJInKu8alQAD3sixhmQA1xonjviAKzLtmkzlCmVIXwDxu0KSKHOX-z5W6BYybv6VEXF2ZXP4dwYnyXiHfsVtILa-VWr2pke8eOOyHdGanFMWkOjnxaDbjrgUC6gjWCPCt/s320/20231020_144245.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The "Imagine" mosaic in Central Park in honor of John Lennon</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">While you might not think of getting out in
the Great Outdoors in New York City, they do have some wonderful parks. We
walked through much of </span><a href="https://www.centralparknyc.org/" style="text-align: left;">Central Park</a><span style="text-align: left;"> despite the drizzle the day we arrived, and
on the morning we left, we took the subway downtown to check out </span><a href="https://www.thehighline.org/" style="text-align: left;">the High Line</a><span style="text-align: left;">
and the </span><a href="https://littleisland.org/" style="text-align: left;">Little Island</a><span style="text-align: left;"> (which only opened about two years ago). It’s always
relaxing to just walk amongst trees and plants, surrounding oneself with
greenery. And we had no rain on our last day, so that was even better!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmecf_jQEMJ5jjydgLwkE0VFhmrmDJCk77jjKJWTQo-9sJbxFESgBmK2PMMrXVmkmzBsXmLAJxHFBgq846kMeb6DBTmcIvY7PAQva6cltlqeydzCgLhOWN3wKNbTJN7zjDN4EX-vyS95JWsPAwN3vVi_FoAPatDYzCb1ccySrXUko_DYy-22IDy7CNLwg/s4000/20231022_101625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmecf_jQEMJ5jjydgLwkE0VFhmrmDJCk77jjKJWTQo-9sJbxFESgBmK2PMMrXVmkmzBsXmLAJxHFBgq846kMeb6DBTmcIvY7PAQva6cltlqeydzCgLhOWN3wKNbTJN7zjDN4EX-vyS95JWsPAwN3vVi_FoAPatDYzCb1ccySrXUko_DYy-22IDy7CNLwg/s320/20231022_101625.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Little Island is cool from far away as well as inside the park itself!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Exploring Chelsea</b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span> </span>After we walked along the Highline,
we stopped by <a href="https://www.chelseamarket.com/">Chelsea Market</a>, which my fiancé had never been to before. Many of
the stores weren’t open yet that early on a Sunday, but the market itself was
all decked out for Halloween, and we did find a cute shop selling lots of
Japanese merchandise like Hello Kitty and Tokidoki.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZaTHxR3X0MonPzTX9j2Sw7xR6-vXftcuoU7kOPLibV0nsctBOIH03HxS9bCUpL4W66xq9yqZsYYrSThFhp8FO-vOS0-iKqgsAhviGn6PnWkfazB1lkxPNpvymhqHgbokn3QZ0h0CVQZd_hTwd-ETRrlBXy2aVRwVgB3tR10hZ-VlDbixeZicQLk-_hWz/s4000/20231022_110342.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZaTHxR3X0MonPzTX9j2Sw7xR6-vXftcuoU7kOPLibV0nsctBOIH03HxS9bCUpL4W66xq9yqZsYYrSThFhp8FO-vOS0-iKqgsAhviGn6PnWkfazB1lkxPNpvymhqHgbokn3QZ0h0CVQZd_hTwd-ETRrlBXy2aVRwVgB3tR10hZ-VlDbixeZicQLk-_hWz/s320/20231022_110342.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vintage vibes at the Hotel Chelsea</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"> After the market, we walked over to
the <a href="https://www.cntraveller.com/article/the-rebirth-of-new-yorks-legendary-hotel-chelsea">Hotel Chelsea</a> (colloquially called the Chelsea Hotel). I had recently read
an <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/hotel-chelsea-new-york-11650976217">article about the hotel in the Wall Street Journal magazine</a>, which explained
the famous history of the hotel (many celebrities and artists used to live
there); it had been closed for many years for renovations and only recently
re-opened. I loved how they kept the old vibes of the place; you felt like you
stepped back in time. And the walls were covered with artwork from former
tenants who occasionally paid their rent through their artistic works. We may
have stayed for a drink at the bar if it hadn’t been mid-morning!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I feel like this list doesn’t do our trip justice. We walked
around so much that sometimes we would just stumble upon random things. We
found yummy places to eat (we enjoyed bagel breakfast sandwiches from <a href="https://www.ess-a-bagel.com/">Ess-a-Bagel</a> and <a href="https://bkbagel.com/">Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company</a>, and <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/clinton-hall-51st-st-new-york?hrid=8t5A-lWudbbDHSC5CELp8A&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)">read my Yelp review for Clinton Hall</a>), came
across family-friendly street markets, and escaped the rain playing house in
<a href="https://www.cb2.com/">CB2</a> and <a href="https://www.dwr.com/">Design within Reach</a>. For only having been in the city for almost
exactly 48 hours, we packed a lot in!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-49537334209375972462023-10-12T08:59:00.000-07:002023-10-12T08:59:43.814-07:00Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel in Concert<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGofBfiH_a_2IxxLWRNeNvc9HmrXZXHXk_N3_y4FKvi6Ks_IHmg4uMKMgLLAGpulcHPPEJZyBfwqZjl5EjinVeyW1iECIvNhahVmaht7MSh3p6qxqKxDcu1ZlyouaQjRf_CFChZD6xKNCFjJN_Eq9KpF2SwMQzMi21knTAGVBcWmBG5GXkRW3dBFCww7R/s756/Joel-and-Nicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="756" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGofBfiH_a_2IxxLWRNeNvc9HmrXZXHXk_N3_y4FKvi6Ks_IHmg4uMKMgLLAGpulcHPPEJZyBfwqZjl5EjinVeyW1iECIvNhahVmaht7MSh3p6qxqKxDcu1ZlyouaQjRf_CFChZD6xKNCFjJN_Eq9KpF2SwMQzMi21knTAGVBcWmBG5GXkRW3dBFCww7R/w400-h225/Joel-and-Nicks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/1251/2023/01/12100415/Joel-and-Nicks.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="https://stevienicksofficial.com/">Stevie Nicks</a> and <a href="https://www.billyjoel.com/">Billy Joel</a> are such rock legends, so when I saw that they were performing together in Baltimore, I knew I wanted to see that show. They are both in their mid-70's: who knows how long they will keep doing this! I thought this could be my last chance to see either of them live. We were in the nosebleed section of <a href="https://www.baltimoreravens.com/">M&T Stadium</a>, and it was a chilly October night, but I was prepared with a blazer, windbreaker, and faux fur coat (I even brought a towel to sit on to keep the plastic seat warm). I wasn't going to let the cold weather stop me from enjoying this concert!</p><p>I know Nicks mostly through her music with <a href="https://www.fleetwoodmac.com/">Fleetwood Mac</a> (which I think is true for a lot of people). She sang some of those songs, but also included music of her own. Here are my two favorites:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXonGAEPQp8">Landslide</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mXonGAEPQp8" width="320" youtube-src-id="mXonGAEPQp8"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmPgMc3R8zg&list=RDUmPgMc3R8zg&start_radio=1">Edge of Seventeen</a></i> (<b>not</b> called "White Winged Dove" like I thought!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UmPgMc3R8zg" width="320" youtube-src-id="UmPgMc3R8zg"></iframe></div><br /><p>While Nicks only sings, Billy Joel is an excellent musician in his own right, playing the piano (of course), the guitar, and the harmonica (and maybe more!). And his band was just as talented! <a href="https://www.crystaltaliefero.com/">Crystal Taliefero</a>, who played percussion and the saxophone, sang River Deep Mountain High, and it was great!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DWQ0ku7Z15Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="DWQ0ku7Z15Q"></iframe></div><p>And his lead guitarist, <a href="https://mikedelguidice.com/">Mike DelGuidice</a>, can sing opera! He was amazing! I think this was my favorite part of the night, mainly because it was just so unexpected! The video below is from 2016, but he sang the same song and sounded just as good:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0EmREeEMJDU" width="320" youtube-src-id="0EmREeEMJDU"></iframe></div><br /><p>And then of course Joel has all of his huge hits. He has so many songs that he kind of did the concert in three parts: the first part, then what you thought was the encore but actually the second part, and <i>then</i> the encore. So it was a lot of music!</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0">Paino Man</a></i> (My favorite!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gxEPV4kolz0" width="320" youtube-src-id="gxEPV4kolz0"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzM9LXqP-U">Scenes from an Italian Restaurant</a></i> (my fiancé's favorite)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/izzM9LXqP-U" width="320" youtube-src-id="izzM9LXqP-U"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo9t5XK0FhA">You May Be Right</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jo9t5XK0FhA" width="320" youtube-src-id="Jo9t5XK0FhA"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E">Uptown Girl</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hCuMWrfXG4E" width="320" youtube-src-id="hCuMWrfXG4E"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g">We Didn't Start the Fire</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eFTLKWw542g" width="320" youtube-src-id="eFTLKWw542g"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE">It's Still Rock and Roll to Me</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5eAQa4MOGkE" width="320" youtube-src-id="5eAQa4MOGkE"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEea624OBzM">Big Shot</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bEea624OBzM" width="320" youtube-src-id="bEea624OBzM"></iframe></div><br /><p>The list could go on and on! So much talent and for such a long time! I'm sure they never imagined when they first started out as performers that they would not only become so famous but <i>stay</i> so famous. LEGENDS! Such a great concert!</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-4936443216250650332023-10-02T08:56:00.000-07:002023-10-02T08:56:18.327-07:00Recipe: Buttermilk Quick Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn_lycCVjBIehKjvuef5qoW3tujOyY7CU5sRdgpFtuS4DGjesb8vj2pZRaM9aJXnMwXBCfgGWKGtSQrPNzYd7anx7JqSsKRItnb4Ba7RMmXSghG3CPlaMV3dwahVcX5_pvPqUQsnm5ECP7D5xHyy3rSq-k9F6YJ-jMWSunw2CmW3MWBbeMhFMio2P_s6-/s4000/20231001_161352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn_lycCVjBIehKjvuef5qoW3tujOyY7CU5sRdgpFtuS4DGjesb8vj2pZRaM9aJXnMwXBCfgGWKGtSQrPNzYd7anx7JqSsKRItnb4Ba7RMmXSghG3CPlaMV3dwahVcX5_pvPqUQsnm5ECP7D5xHyy3rSq-k9F6YJ-jMWSunw2CmW3MWBbeMhFMio2P_s6-/s320/20231001_161352.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I still had some buttermilk left over (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/recipe-buttermilk-brownies.html">read about the buttermilk brownies I made</a>), so I thought I'd try making a bread with the ingredient, too. I found <a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-buttermilk-quick-bread-with-10-different-variations-164621#post-recipe-8356">this recipe</a> on <a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-buttermilk-quick-bread-with-10-different-variations-164621#post-recipe-8356">the Kitchn blog</a>, and it seemed easy enough. I also liked that the recipe offered several variations; I love mixing up recipes, so this was right up my alley!</p><p><b>Ingredients</b></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">2 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">cups </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">all-purpose flour (10
ounces)</span></span></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span class="recipeingredientquantity" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1/2 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">cup </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">white sugar (4 ounces)</span></span></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1 1/2 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">teaspoons </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">baking powder</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1/2 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">teaspoon </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">baking soda</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">teaspoon </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">salt</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">cup </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">buttermilk (8 ounces)</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1 </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">large
egg</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="recipeingredient" style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="recipeingredientquantity"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1/4 </span></span><span class="recipeingredientmeasurementunit"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; grid-area: text / text / text / text;">cup </span></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">unsalted butter, olive
oil, or vegetable oil (2 ounces)</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><b>Directions</b></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease or spray with nonstick cooking
spray a standard 9x5 loaf pan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder,
baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Melt the butter, if using. Whisk
it in a separate bowl with the buttermilk and the egg.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Pour the liquid
ingredients over the dry ingredients. Gently stir and fold the ingredients
until all the flour has been incorporated and a shaggy, wet batter is formed.
Be careful not to over-mix.</span></p><p style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Scrape the batter
into the prepared pan and pat it into the corners. Bake for 45-50 minutes. When
finished, the loaf should be domed and golden, and a toothpick inserted into
the center should come out clean. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes
before removing and slicing.</span></p><p><b>Basic Variations</b></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: rgb(245, 240, 231); font-size: 11pt;">• Sugar can be reduced to a tablespoon for more
savory breads.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />
<span style="background: rgb(245, 240, 231);">• Up to half the flour can be substituted with an
alternative flour.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />
<span style="background: rgb(245, 240, 231);">• Replace the buttermilk with a mix of yogurt and
milk or milk and a squeeze of lemon.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />
<span style="background: rgb(245, 240, 231);">• Use up to 1 1/2 cups fruits, nuts, olives,
cheese, or other ingredients, added to the dry ingredients.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />
<span style="background: rgb(245, 240, 231);">• Use 1-3 teaspoons of herbs or spices, added to
the dry ingredient</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>Reading the variations was helpful to know how much of what I should use. I already planned on using blood orange olive oil, and ended up not having enough, so I used both the orange and lemon olive oil. I also added nutmeg and ground ginger, as well as a cup of dried cranberries. I feel like orange and cranberry are frequently featured together, so why not in this bread I was making?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6rwyIO4lp30KfP7m0LMafnvi00eap_AMbRNWE4fADxba_eaVoGX5VmdJtbJrZ50n96QXuHku27dble7QIFFQLVLTb8Zhy10m9a24C1HBC3liR1kWyMQ6pqh6bUIYQZVntTFY9xPDmyGjHyjmxudPeSLvJzsFFlr0XndUYOvB1Ftc7Bo7unB_aNPeiILO/s4000/20231001_165243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6rwyIO4lp30KfP7m0LMafnvi00eap_AMbRNWE4fADxba_eaVoGX5VmdJtbJrZ50n96QXuHku27dble7QIFFQLVLTb8Zhy10m9a24C1HBC3liR1kWyMQ6pqh6bUIYQZVntTFY9xPDmyGjHyjmxudPeSLvJzsFFlr0XndUYOvB1Ftc7Bo7unB_aNPeiILO/s320/20231001_165243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This is an easy recipe to make, although I ran into a few minor issues. Usually in baking you mix the dry ingredients in a smaller bowl to the side, and you mix the wet ingredients with the mixer, and then add the dry to the wet. In this one, you add the wet to the dry. So I just poured the dry ingredient mixture into the mixer bowl, added the wet ingredients, and used the mixer for just a few seconds to mix everything together. There was a bit of dry mix left at the bottom that didn't incorporate well. But all in all, this was easy and came out nicely. I thought it was yummy, especially with the craisins! Highly recommend doctoring it up with your favorite flavors.</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-72388857395569092902023-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:002023-09-27T09:00:10.791-07:00Recipe: Buttermilk Brownies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjgVjmFHwd_EK45Xj4jlOLZ3ajMbonTxQUiuQ8ctOrE2JTGTnXLR8MBba71udqz1L1gYX1z7sFQmbAuybqnSj5pBgMJUExrFXTUuhjYSOHHzyquYgoSQOIKfhu2jTg4yuOoWm8bxJssXrnfgKLl2xab2SENWOiiBXzuKwroSSsyq8Ks-YUKcejs3x5mIp/s4000/20230923_100045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjgVjmFHwd_EK45Xj4jlOLZ3ajMbonTxQUiuQ8ctOrE2JTGTnXLR8MBba71udqz1L1gYX1z7sFQmbAuybqnSj5pBgMJUExrFXTUuhjYSOHHzyquYgoSQOIKfhu2jTg4yuOoWm8bxJssXrnfgKLl2xab2SENWOiiBXzuKwroSSsyq8Ks-YUKcejs3x5mIp/s320/20230923_100045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I wanted to make buttermilk biscuits last week, and I remembered <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/buttermilk-recipes.html">I have a whole blog post of buttermilk recipes</a>. I used a recipe there for the biscuits, but then I had lots of buttermilk left over. So I thought I's try a new recipe, this time making brownies!</p><p>I found <a href="https://www.shugarysweets.com/buttermilk-brownies/">this recipe</a> on the <i><a href="https://www.shugarysweets.com/buttermilk-brownies/">Shugary Sweets</a></i> blog and thought I'd give it a go:</p><p><b>Ingredients</b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">½ cup unsalted
butter</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">¼ cup dark
chocolate unsweetened cocoa powder</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">½ cup vegetable
oil</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2 cups granulated
sugar</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2 large
eggs</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">¼ cup buttermilk</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">½ teaspoon vanilla
extract</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2 cups all-purpose
flour</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1 teaspoon baking
soda</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">½ teaspoon kosher
salt</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 60.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 60pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1 cup semi-sweet
chocolate morsels</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p><b>Directions</b></p><p></p><p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Preheat oven to 400 °F. Line a 13×9-inch
baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For the brownies, in a small saucepan
over medium high heat, combine butter, cocoa powder and oil. Bring to a boil
and remove from heat.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a large mixing bowl, combine
granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. Slowly whisk in the butter
mixture. Add in flour, baking soda and salt, and stir just until combined. Fold
in chocolate chips.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pour into prepared baking dish and bake
for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While brownies are cooling, begin
frosting. In a small saucepan, combine butter, buttermilk and cocoa powder.
Whisk over medium heat until mixture begins to boil. Remove.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar
with butter mixtures. Beat for several minutes until smooth. Pour over
brownies (they don’t need to be completely cooled. Sprinkle immediately with
chocolate chips.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="wprm-recipe-instruction" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Refrigerate for two hours, until set. Cut
and enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p>I rarely make brownies from scratch, because the boxed ones are so good! So I had never mixed the cocoa powder, butter, and oil like this before. I used a blood orange flavored olive oil instead of vegetable oil for added flavor (I bought it at an <a href="https://www.olivinsstmichaels.com/">olive oil/balsamic store in St Michaels</a>, MD), and since I didn't have regular chocolate chips, I used white chocolate chips instead. The blog said the brownies taste best chilled, so I was very patient in trying these!</p><p>I did like these, although I'll admit the orange flavor overpowered everything, so if I did this again, I would add more cocoa powder. I'm not sure these are worth making if the aim is to use up buttermilk, seeing as the recipe only calls for a quarter cup of it. Still easiest to just buy a boxed brownie mix and use your special olive oil in that! You can always doctor up a mix; there are <a href="https://www.bing.com/shop?q=boxed+cake+cook+book&FORM=SHOPTB">so many books</a> that can help with that!</p><p>I thought the recipe instructions were a little out of order; the dry ingredients should have been mixed before the wet ingredients, but no biggie. And I didn't bother making icing: brownies taste good just as they are without frosting! And who needs the added calories anyway? These are worth a try, even if they are bald on top! And maybe you can try making them with my changes to the recipe :)</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-67705144531627707292023-09-25T09:04:00.000-07:002023-09-25T09:04:21.182-07:00Country Concerts Last Week<p>I went to not one but TWO country concerts last week! I saw <a href="https://thechicks.com/">The Chicks</a> at <a href="https://merriweathermusic.com/">Merriweather Post Pavilion</a> Wednesday night (a show that was rescheduled from the summer), and on Friday I saw <a href="https://www.russelldickerson.com/">Russell Dickerson</a> at <a href="https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZpZA6tFlA/the-fillmore-silver-spring-events?irgwc=1&clickid=xELx-p1uWxyPUf-yatU8FzqpUkFRRHwN1U9hU80&camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_27795&impradid=27795&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeedbuyat27795&wt.mc_id=aff_BUYAT_27795&utm_source=27795-Sovrn%20Commerce&impradname=Sovrn%20Commerce&utm_medium=affiliate&ircid=4272">the Fillmore in Silver Spring</a>. I was very excited for both shows!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjZWEkUZirC42TfEKrvfYT6_-uP585_WZ_B163rQEMpnnlOJ54_PpBptFg2LRikYPfobl_vrvNtrnmq9WxpCSdAkZ2PMmSrtx7_EDiNIbXp9NN5AUN6RUqnOT0zmLZiDocPFhrknD3sjdRxIMOBMdrlqPpAcMQQW-P8iyKLEmHUZF2ide4bleaAiO6BNX/s4000/20230920_211545.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjZWEkUZirC42TfEKrvfYT6_-uP585_WZ_B163rQEMpnnlOJ54_PpBptFg2LRikYPfobl_vrvNtrnmq9WxpCSdAkZ2PMmSrtx7_EDiNIbXp9NN5AUN6RUqnOT0zmLZiDocPFhrknD3sjdRxIMOBMdrlqPpAcMQQW-P8iyKLEmHUZF2ide4bleaAiO6BNX/w400-h300/20230920_211545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Very cool set!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>The Chicks</b></p><p>I grew up listening to their music, and I was looking forward to hearing some of their past hits, even though I knew most of the concert would highlight songs from <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-chicks-gaslighter-1030326/">their latest album, <i>Gaslighter</i></a>, which is nearly all about Natalie Maines' divorce (in specific detail). I did take the time to listen to the album before the show, so I was familiar with a lot of the material, even if it doesn't quite hit like their classics. The performance itself was great: the trio still sounds amazing, even as Natalie recovers from COVID-19 (the reason the show had to be rescheduled). I thought the graphics of the show added to the performance as well. They poked fun at Trump, Putin, and DeSantis, which at first I worried about because that normally wouldn't fly with a country music crowd, but then I figure anyone there still supports them after their <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dixie-chicks-slammed-for-bush-gibe/">2003 comment about President George W. Bush</a>. And leading into the protest anthem, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwBjF_VVFvE&list=OLAK5uy_mKQbJOWGAexfcfyYK4fiHzgvQrf66A2K4">March March</a>," names of cities that have experienced mass shootings and the numbers of lives lost were fading on and off the screen; names of African Americans killed by police scrolled, starting out slow and then speeding up, listing dozens and dozens of names. That was very powerful!</p><p>Here's a taste of what they played:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVPcPL30xc">Gaslighter</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sbVPcPL30xc" width="320" youtube-src-id="sbVPcPL30xc"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzD4J5MCG98">Texas Man</a> </i>(probably the most country-sounding song on their newest album)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hzD4J5MCG98" width="320" youtube-src-id="hzD4J5MCG98"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMU0Pfn65lU&list=OLAK5uy_mKQbJOWGAexfcfyYK4fiHzgvQrf66A2K4">My Best Friend's Weddings</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dMU0Pfn65lU" width="320" youtube-src-id="dMU0Pfn65lU"></iframe></div><p>And some of the older hits:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdkIJm65ytM">Cowboy Take Me Away</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MdkIJm65ytM" width="320" youtube-src-id="MdkIJm65ytM"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2ksenLQ_RE&list=RDL2ksenLQ_RE&start_radio=1">Ready to Run</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L2ksenLQ_RE" width="320" youtube-src-id="L2ksenLQ_RE"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7gNf_9njs">Goodbye Earl</a></i> (I didn't stay long enough to hear this song, but I'm pretty sure it was the encore!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gw7gNf_9njs" width="320" youtube-src-id="Gw7gNf_9njs"></iframe></div><p>Since I left early, I'm not sure if they played "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pojL_35QlSI">Not Ready to Make Nice</a>," but I think that's a great song! I'm so glad I was able to see this group in concert, especially since they haven't been in tour for years (this is their first album in 15 years!). I'm not sure how many more chances I'd have to see them!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC95aB10TrnpGFtcRQ-Yj2BEt56VPsZgZ1-hFTYTCPYlOelJMozUPF5hJ8vzyeUEegGdkxyqXAFNebFB-9UZQQK5yz8vvhMw7JFJl-JITovC9mI6wRBfz-TyvprJtrSrbNHTUfejuJc4nJv-8TEcYgKkLE6uoIUb7qx-tpC26OZBSHFtoqlF7pcFL5vW9Q/s4000/20230922_205534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC95aB10TrnpGFtcRQ-Yj2BEt56VPsZgZ1-hFTYTCPYlOelJMozUPF5hJ8vzyeUEegGdkxyqXAFNebFB-9UZQQK5yz8vvhMw7JFJl-JITovC9mI6wRBfz-TyvprJtrSrbNHTUfejuJc4nJv-8TEcYgKkLE6uoIUb7qx-tpC26OZBSHFtoqlF7pcFL5vW9Q/s320/20230922_205534.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>Russell Dickerson</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr51sBuwsb9Is1HxobQfKFNj-IyLcTmiCCqKQJIamhaKUDQVtO6MxekrF8p0MYix2YGKnKI4EpV-PMyluvMk515aJ_lzBcProfTCvWwhF6t71YaV_osDAWZ78GZ1QrpYz5q_nNf-MmbmB4L6MkJvacgQw2tFBaY35xmOTE0-O6ioRLv6fViNH9udqRTOt/s454/IMG_0388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="454" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr51sBuwsb9Is1HxobQfKFNj-IyLcTmiCCqKQJIamhaKUDQVtO6MxekrF8p0MYix2YGKnKI4EpV-PMyluvMk515aJ_lzBcProfTCvWwhF6t71YaV_osDAWZ78GZ1QrpYz5q_nNf-MmbmB4L6MkJvacgQw2tFBaY35xmOTE0-O6ioRLv6fViNH9udqRTOt/w400-h210/IMG_0388.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Mike Davis</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Before I talk about <a href="https://www.russelldickerson.com/">Russell Dickerson</a>, I want to mention his opening band, <a href="https://www.restlessroad.com/">Restless Road</a>. They are <b>SO</b> good! <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2021/11/kane-brown-concert.html">I saw them open for Kane Brown</a>, and ever since I have wanted to see them again. They came to <a href="https://www.thehamiltondc.com/">the Hamilton</a> somewhat recently, but I never bought tickets. So it was a nice surprise to see them! This trio harmonizes SO well together (they remind me of <a href="https://www.rascalflatts.com/">Rascal Flatts</a> or <a href="https://www.diamondrio.com/">Diamond Rio</a>), and I love their fun energy (plus, checking out their big biceps didn't hurt... *wink*). And they were pretty funny on stage, introducing each other with little poems to rhyme with their names. So cute! I was smiling and dancing the whole time!</p><p>They said they were selling signed copies of their CD for "one night only," so I definitely wanted in on that. But when I got to the merch table, I had to order the CD online and they would ship it out; "one night only" my ass! But anyway, I like their music so much that I wanted the CD, so I did it anyway. </p><p>Here are some of the songs they performed. I already want to see them in concert again!</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-WDDkR7bjk">Last Rodeo</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k-WDDkR7bjk" width="320" youtube-src-id="k-WDDkR7bjk"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfL_XsBarGs">Growing Old With You</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EfL_XsBarGs" width="320" youtube-src-id="EfL_XsBarGs"></iframe></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7EtfbUAkcg">No Can Do</a></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u7EtfbUAkcg" width="320" youtube-src-id="u7EtfbUAkcg"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDKrylEhrcI">Bar Friends</a></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SDKrylEhrcI" width="320" youtube-src-id="SDKrylEhrcI"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFpWqUj5k2k">Take Me Home</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZFpWqUj5k2k" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZFpWqUj5k2k"></iframe></div><div><p>And then it was time for Russell Dickerson! My friend reminded me that we had seen him open for <a href="https://www.thomasrhett.com/">Thomas Rhett</a> (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/concert-thomas-rhett-and-kelsea.html">read that blog post here</a>), but I guess from afar, I couldn't tell what a <b><i>bro</i></b> he is. He was sticking his tongue out all night, biting his lower lip, hip thrusting... He was like a country <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_(slang)">Guido</a>, with his hair slicked back and wearing so much jewelry; I half expected him to pull up his shirt like the <a href="https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=the+situation+jersey+shore&qpvt=the+situation+jersey+shore&form=IGRE&first=1">Jersey Shore's "The Situation</a>" (although once I saw that he was wearing a shirt UNDER his cropped T-shirt, I knew he wasn't fit enough or confident enough to do that). I was NOT into his vibe, and it didn't look good from just about four rows from the stage. </p><p>BUT he has great stage presence and put on a very entertaining show, with all the lights, smoke, confetti, etc. you could ask for. He played a lot of songs I didn't know (and I was kinda "meh" about most of them), but he played some of his big hits, too, and those were great! Listen for yourself:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9SIwrhxinY">I Wonder</a></i> (He wrote this song after breaking up with his girlfriend-now-wife. They were only broken up for a month, and then he called her on Thanksgiving to say he was thankful for her. The rest is history!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c9SIwrhxinY" width="320" youtube-src-id="c9SIwrhxinY"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K668eT46-xU">God Gave Me a Girl</a></i> (Then he wrote <i>this </i>song after getting back together with her!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K668eT46-xU" width="320" youtube-src-id="K668eT46-xU"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsjMbRTDhAM">Down on the Beach</a></i> (He was sitting in a beach chair on stage for this one. <a href="https://www.jimmybuffett.com/">Jimmy Buffett</a> vibes for sure!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zsjMbRTDhAM" width="320" youtube-src-id="zsjMbRTDhAM"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXpGz5YIFdc">Blame It on Being Young</a></i> (Reminiscent of <a href="https://www.mileycyrus.com/">Miley Cyrus</a>' <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ3XMOdOdKM">Used to Be Young</a></i>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UXpGz5YIFdc" width="320" youtube-src-id="UXpGz5YIFdc"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzWq7qwUMv4&t=4s">Love You Like I Used To</a></i> (One of my favorites!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hzWq7qwUMv4" width="320" youtube-src-id="hzWq7qwUMv4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFXorVEOjOA">Every Little Thing</a></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wFXorVEOjOA" width="320" youtube-src-id="wFXorVEOjOA"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g83se50wTrs">Yours</a></i> (Also a great one!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g83se50wTrs" width="320" youtube-src-id="g83se50wTrs"></iframe></div><div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHTiEn72SOA">Blue Tacoma</a></i> (This is my favorite song of his, and of course it was the encore song. If it weren't for this song, I would have left the concert early. But I had to hear it!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eHTiEn72SOA" width="320" youtube-src-id="eHTiEn72SOA"></iframe></div><p>I liked how he told personal stories about some of his songs, like those with his wife. And I thought it was fun how he called out his bandmates and had the crowd chanting their names. One of them was "mustache Kev," and then Dickerson called out a man in the crowd with a great Fu Manchu and we started chanting <i>his</i> name! He made the show different than other concerts, so I appreciated that.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbnoxEN3BBz180BQ87f9BT7YhXTCgTV9tYswS5iF9S58jcvscIR1McvaADgoowQ1WWTS-uEaeN_qxQQUDLd6JU-99Um0cUzkp53Xv0REmZbmLKuApHGqZyAxMvM2fhLZM2DU6qI3RjCtzTZacMS95BEj7vJu6DJdMYRcl-8Esjljqst_G5yKAbJC7BBkx/s4000/20230922_215755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbnoxEN3BBz180BQ87f9BT7YhXTCgTV9tYswS5iF9S58jcvscIR1McvaADgoowQ1WWTS-uEaeN_qxQQUDLd6JU-99Um0cUzkp53Xv0REmZbmLKuApHGqZyAxMvM2fhLZM2DU6qI3RjCtzTZacMS95BEj7vJu6DJdMYRcl-8Esjljqst_G5yKAbJC7BBkx/w300-h400/20230922_215755.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dickerson invited Restless Road back on stage to sing a song together. That was awesome, too!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br />My next concert is <a href="https://www.billyjoel.com/">Billy Joel</a> and <a href="https://stevienicksofficial.com/">Stevie Nicks</a>. Stay tuned for that blog post!</b></p><p>PS: The group <a href="https://www.wildriversmusic.com/">Wild Rivers</a> from Toronto, Canada, opened for The Chicks. I didn't think they were that great, so not much to say on that. But you can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WildRiversMusic">check them out on YouTube</a> and decide for yourself!</p></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-60287619537064670112023-09-11T09:18:00.002-07:002023-09-11T09:18:19.833-07:00Late Summer Concerts<p>In just the past few weeks, I have been to several concerts, nearly wrapping up the summer season. I went to all of the concerts with my fiancé, and we had such a fun time!</p><p><b><a href="https://savemesanfrancisco.com/">Train</a></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Bh5zx9j3R3XCfZ1C4vYPHuQk1taSlck3EMel3A7BHfrZ-xZDePeP1xra3kkt9G3M5CbOpNBngu8I232s7gSoUa7JhcBUBAXpbI9ljU1qariPKNkiWrxEgRHLM5OderAZ9u7DyQh5ULQcBqRLrTXzjwZftpd80KOpYTK3R8yahkkH3VUtV4mDUMQo3Qoh/s4000/20230827_200132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Bh5zx9j3R3XCfZ1C4vYPHuQk1taSlck3EMel3A7BHfrZ-xZDePeP1xra3kkt9G3M5CbOpNBngu8I232s7gSoUa7JhcBUBAXpbI9ljU1qariPKNkiWrxEgRHLM5OderAZ9u7DyQh5ULQcBqRLrTXzjwZftpd80KOpYTK3R8yahkkH3VUtV4mDUMQo3Qoh/w400-h300/20230827_200132.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not too bad of a view from the lawn!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the end of August, we saw Train at <a href="https://www.wolftrap.org/">Wolf Trap</a>. I was excited to see them perform because I had never seen them in concert before, but I was even more excited to see <a href="https://www.parmaleemusic.com/">Parmalee</a> open for them. We saw Parmalee at the <a href="https://www.opry.com/">Grand Ole Opry</a> when we visited Nashville (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/my-trip-to-nashville.html">read that blog post here</a>), and they were so good! And they did not disappoint the second time around.</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4FqlwJZGJk">Girl in Mine</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o4FqlwJZGJk" width="320" youtube-src-id="o4FqlwJZGJk"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7PCSHdxdTw">Just the Way</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d7PCSHdxdTw" width="320" youtube-src-id="d7PCSHdxdTw"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_e4Fk_G0MY">Take My Name</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9_e4Fk_G0MY" width="320" youtube-src-id="9_e4Fk_G0MY"></iframe></div><p>And I really liked Train, too! They have so many popular hits, and we had a great time dancing along to their songs (even if we left a bit early to beat the rush). </p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSBFehvLJDc">50 Ways to Say Goodbye</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GSBFehvLJDc" width="320" youtube-src-id="GSBFehvLJDc"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Qvb7q9Nm0">Meet Virginia</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A3Qvb7q9Nm0" width="320" youtube-src-id="A3Qvb7q9Nm0"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaG9SDxwPBg">Calling All Angels</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TaG9SDxwPBg" width="320" youtube-src-id="TaG9SDxwPBg"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zftcZYdOl3Y">Save Me, San Francisco</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zftcZYdOl3Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="zftcZYdOl3Y"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI">Hey, Soul Sister</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVpv8-5XWOI" width="320" youtube-src-id="kVpv8-5XWOI"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXh8fXUuFXsZFcnWvBsi3o50BOdrU1msPP1wH6Ea2S71jnpq7F_9bTuLEWbel2CrlsfWL9-iBVQ8s9RmV9p-bQhbis1cPn4617BgyPJIiSYs-ettM0Xn-Rtmoopzuxo71bu09JaD9UAWxpCqdeerawWbWwypKP22tdpGHI0kLXrgQA_bWP18NsgwJmLh_/s4000/20230901_171407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXh8fXUuFXsZFcnWvBsi3o50BOdrU1msPP1wH6Ea2S71jnpq7F_9bTuLEWbel2CrlsfWL9-iBVQ8s9RmV9p-bQhbis1cPn4617BgyPJIiSYs-ettM0Xn-Rtmoopzuxo71bu09JaD9UAWxpCqdeerawWbWwypKP22tdpGHI0kLXrgQA_bWP18NsgwJmLh_/w400-h300/20230901_171407.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Awesome chalk drawing of Sting at Wolf Trap!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><a href="https://www.sting.com/">Sting</a></b></p><p>We returned to Wolf Trap just a few days later to see <a href="https://www.sting.com/">Sting</a> perform. It sounds like he regularly performs at this venue, but I had never seen him before. I was supposed to see <a href="https://www.madonna.com">Madonna</a> the following night, so it was going to be a full 80's-themed weekend, but then her show was postponed to December. But Sting was still on!</p><p>His son opened for him, which was kind of cool. His son, <a href="https://www.joesumnersings.com/">Joe Sumner</a>, didn't have a band; it was just him and his guitar up there. He looks and sounds a lot like his dad, which is funny. Buuuut I didn't like his music very much. He kind of reminded me of a musician who would play on a kid's show like Barney or Sesame Street and sing very literal songs about numbers or vegetables. I mean, he does have a song called <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgXZCDyro58">Jelly Bean</a>:</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PgXZCDyro58" width="320" youtube-src-id="PgXZCDyro58"></iframe></div><p>While his son's music might not have been my cup of tea, Sting was incredible. He played all the <a href="https://thepolice.com/#/">Police</a> hits, and for the next week it seemed like every time I turned on the radio, I'd hear one of his songs! I love how diverse his set is and the mix of sounds, regions, stories, etc. that inspire his music. Have a listen:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbXWrmQW-OE">Message in a Bottle</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbXWrmQW-OE" width="320" youtube-src-id="MbXWrmQW-OE"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs">Every Breath You Take</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OMOGaugKpzs" width="320" youtube-src-id="OMOGaugKpzs"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aENX1Sf3fgQ">Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic</a></i> (This song always makes me think of the movie <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120888/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_the%2520wed">The Wedding Singer</a></i>!)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aENX1Sf3fgQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="aENX1Sf3fgQ"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwMdZOlPo8">Walking on the Moon</a></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zPwMdZOlPo8" width="320" youtube-src-id="zPwMdZOlPo8"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFN5DveQH0o">King of Pain</a></i> (His son joined him on stage for this one, and if you closed your eyes, his son has the same voice!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tFN5DveQH0o" width="320" youtube-src-id="tFN5DveQH0o"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVq0IAzh1A">Fields of Gold</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KLVq0IAzh1A" width="320" youtube-src-id="KLVq0IAzh1A"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ">Roxanne</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3T1c7GkzRQQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="3T1c7GkzRQQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d27gTrPPAyk">Englishman in New York</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d27gTrPPAyk" width="320" youtube-src-id="d27gTrPPAyk"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RkpgSWrIl7_Kr5nseOJPFcYkGmL54-SG4lDJKzISEudgrHJK5CQON9HMyfziYFza61kcaxf6wMcack5kFJWr-KEVI4Ha9O9Hob7LBDwUDvhDS_9N_LZhr2QySbw9y5DO1UW1_AUwn29PVJ3LrJc-_u3MsgzSji-M-tI8t2nQvjGHjLBAAZyghIksY_ok/s4000/20230908_215658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RkpgSWrIl7_Kr5nseOJPFcYkGmL54-SG4lDJKzISEudgrHJK5CQON9HMyfziYFza61kcaxf6wMcack5kFJWr-KEVI4Ha9O9Hob7LBDwUDvhDS_9N_LZhr2QySbw9y5DO1UW1_AUwn29PVJ3LrJc-_u3MsgzSji-M-tI8t2nQvjGHjLBAAZyghIksY_ok/w300-h400/20230908_215658.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><b><a href="https://billyidol.net/">Billy Idol</a></b></p><p>We saw <a href="https://billyidol.net/">Billy Idol</a> at <a href="https://theanthemdc.com/">the Anthem</a> down at <a href="https://www.wharfdc.com/">the Wharf</a> on Friday night. My fiancé had seen him five or six years ago, but it had been nearly 20 years since I'd seen him at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFStival">HFStival</a> in Baltimore (which no longer exists, unfortunately). He's a bit doughier than before, but he still insisted on taking his shirt off, so he's still doing his thing! Of course we liked his famous songs, but his newer music was pretty good, too. And this was a fun concert for people watching: there was a Billy Idol look-alike in the crowd (I legit did a double take!), and there were kids ten years younger than me who were singing along to every word like they grew up in the 80's. So fun!</p><p>One of the most entertaining parts of the night was the opening act. <a href="https://www.alkcm.com/">Alex Cameron</a> was up there with his computer as a music machine and a bandmate who played the saxophone. It was...strange to say the least. He was wearing a leopard print blouse while the saxophonist was in an oversized suit; Cameron was very charismatic while his bandmate barely moved and seemed like he wanted to shrink into a hole and disappear. Cameron also kept playing with the microphone cord; I was expecting him to tie it into knots or fun shapes, or do a magic trick! The music itself wasn't bad, and it almost reminded me of the way <a href="http://haimtheband.com/">Haim</a> sounds (although I couldn't understand a WORD he sang). Such a weird opening act for one of the biggest rock stars in history!</p><p>Listen for yourself:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmlEM--lmdo">Runnin' Outta Luck</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pmlEM--lmdo" width="320" youtube-src-id="pmlEM--lmdo"></iframe></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_nNUgIGjZw">K Hole</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U_nNUgIGjZw" width="320" youtube-src-id="U_nNUgIGjZw"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT2eiag28wA">Sara Jo</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bT2eiag28wA" width="320" youtube-src-id="bT2eiag28wA"></iframe></div><br /><div><p>Back to the good part: Billy Idol's songs!</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdphvuyaV_I">Rebel Yell</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VdphvuyaV_I" width="320" youtube-src-id="VdphvuyaV_I"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU">Dancing with Myself</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FG1NrQYXjLU" width="320" youtube-src-id="FG1NrQYXjLU"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZuYS-9qaw">Cradle of Love</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NCZuYS-9qaw" width="320" youtube-src-id="NCZuYS-9qaw"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MVafur2Hmw">Hot in the City</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2MVafur2Hmw" width="320" youtube-src-id="2MVafur2Hmw"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F10vvtZ0Pw0">Running from the Ghost</a></i> (one of his newer songs, about running from addiction)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F10vvtZ0Pw0" width="320" youtube-src-id="F10vvtZ0Pw0"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh_HWXtOOpg">Cage</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xh_HWXtOOpg" width="320" youtube-src-id="Xh_HWXtOOpg"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAZQaYKZMTI">White Wedding</a></i> (also in <i>The Wedding Singer</i>!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AAZQaYKZMTI" width="320" youtube-src-id="AAZQaYKZMTI"></iframe></div><br /><div><p>Fun fact: Billy Idol's guitarist, <a href="https://www.stevestevensguitar.com/home">Steve Stevens</a>, helped write the original <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_top%2520gun">Top Gun</a></i> anthem:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xeQUxNf3G6k" width="320" youtube-src-id="xeQUxNf3G6k"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>So much fun! </b>My next concerts are country concerts: <a href="https://thechicks.com/">the Chicks</a> and <a href="https://www.russelldickerson.com/">Russell Dickerson</a>. Stay tuned!</i></p></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-13787122444965766342023-08-07T09:07:00.000-07:002023-08-07T09:07:06.031-07:00OAR and the Goo Goo Dolls in Concert <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg4Cgd0H0OatJXGErDf-wO3TzPkzCMGMVHoxYpLIrcxVcbwQf22z2ZdLRw42p6AyNfMvIB44puXuryI8tA9dcsKDEI4bO45oPFT7Qj5RwLxccb3YC_IFy3gVpwXQaB1WwxOWfyS-4yV_rv_8ph4E7GNZtDlo2QDonF1fzD5k8LiHGlwaD_tem4vCV-G08/s720/oar%20goo%20goo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="720" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg4Cgd0H0OatJXGErDf-wO3TzPkzCMGMVHoxYpLIrcxVcbwQf22z2ZdLRw42p6AyNfMvIB44puXuryI8tA9dcsKDEI4bO45oPFT7Qj5RwLxccb3YC_IFy3gVpwXQaB1WwxOWfyS-4yV_rv_8ph4E7GNZtDlo2QDonF1fzD5k8LiHGlwaD_tem4vCV-G08/w400-h235/oar%20goo%20goo.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://merriweathermusic.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-05-at-12.58.02-PM-720x0-cropped.png">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><a href="https://thechicks.com/">The Chicks</a> concert was rescheduled (boo!), but I did get to go to <a href="https://merriweathermusic.com/">Merriweather Post Pavilion</a> to see <a href="https://www.liveoar.com/">O.A.R.</a> and the <a href="https://www.googoodolls.com/">Goo Goo Dolls</a> on Friday night. I had seen O.A.R. perform at the <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/">National Zoo</a> ten years ago (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/rock-n-roar-concert-at-national-zoo.html">read that blog post here</a>), but I had never seen the Goo Goo Dolls before. I went with a friend, and then some other girls joined us, so it was a fun night!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6U_hQLCmbSnh7oG7ORPihiowBU6bn8RARUB4VY_3zIlG2zhU8EcZ_ua0-4zjAvXuYbYsGZfqdNNU62Kxz-qoQW90Ei8LUH4P_Vrz0j8PKKZxOrDAuboUQWWrAsQFk66HfOx7zZRbL1w-GNWnfQSjujOKxQm1RX3BV7_HsIKtOgG6GwNMcXUVVF5JlkSt/s4000/20230804_195930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6U_hQLCmbSnh7oG7ORPihiowBU6bn8RARUB4VY_3zIlG2zhU8EcZ_ua0-4zjAvXuYbYsGZfqdNNU62Kxz-qoQW90Ei8LUH4P_Vrz0j8PKKZxOrDAuboUQWWrAsQFk66HfOx7zZRbL1w-GNWnfQSjujOKxQm1RX3BV7_HsIKtOgG6GwNMcXUVVF5JlkSt/w400-h300/20230804_195930.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rzeznik sitting with his leg propped up. And then his AI friend named Tapey!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I thought there would be a smaller, less-known opener, but the show just started out with the Goo Goo Dolls! That also kind of surprised me, because I thought they would be the headliners. The lead singer, John Rzeznik, had injured his foot (he said it wasn't a good story: he just walked off stage one night and thought, "Ow!" haha), so he was sitting with his foot propped up the whole time. But he was in good spirits, and it was still a good show! I didn't realize how many of their songs I actually knew, so that was cool. Here are some of their best-known songs:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQOBUrRaPU0">Name</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQOBUrRaPU0" width="320" youtube-src-id="yQOBUrRaPU0"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oF0iY0z_Bs">Sympathy</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3oF0iY0z_Bs" width="320" youtube-src-id="3oF0iY0z_Bs"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdYWuo9OFAw">Iris</a></i> (Funny story: the name of the song has nothing to do with the song itself. John just read about a singer-songwriter named Iris and thought it was a nice name!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NdYWuo9OFAw" width="320" youtube-src-id="NdYWuo9OFAw"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP4qdefD2To">Slide</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yP4qdefD2To" width="320" youtube-src-id="yP4qdefD2To"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emguA0RIH4k">Black Balloon </a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/emguA0RIH4k" width="320" youtube-src-id="emguA0RIH4k"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kHleNYIDc">Better Days</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i-kHleNYIDc" width="320" youtube-src-id="i-kHleNYIDc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs1QgWGkfqfH0NFy5xlB3yIkVeYrkckzU0FaagqVNuj36Dy9sf9qlDJJ-uU6y-joKQWvXNdG7OaMTotgEPq0qA5V5PrNWhcTfd0QSok8_fGMLrOQwYKZA26A4deP6qMz5jOvuFQjEPLWCV2JfZDC4AJ3_vPRTXM6VAjS8_nRsaiksiwoGbYBwkDgkB7zn/s4000/20230804_211130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs1QgWGkfqfH0NFy5xlB3yIkVeYrkckzU0FaagqVNuj36Dy9sf9qlDJJ-uU6y-joKQWvXNdG7OaMTotgEPq0qA5V5PrNWhcTfd0QSok8_fGMLrOQwYKZA26A4deP6qMz5jOvuFQjEPLWCV2JfZDC4AJ3_vPRTXM6VAjS8_nRsaiksiwoGbYBwkDgkB7zn/w400-h300/20230804_211130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>When it was time for O.A.R. (which stands for "Of A Revolution." Did you know that?), way more people in the audience stood up, so maybe it <i>did </i>make sense that they were the headliners! I didn't recognize many of their songs, but I knew a few, and I thought their cover of <a href="https://www.tompetty.com/">Tom Petty</a>'s <i>I Won't Back Down</i> was pretty good (I put that below, too.).</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa5Mawz92xU">Shattered</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qa5Mawz92xU" width="320" youtube-src-id="Qa5Mawz92xU"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcV4BX0sWbs">I Won't Back Down</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JcV4BX0sWbs" width="320" youtube-src-id="JcV4BX0sWbs"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS6SzfF6p_g">Peace</a></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nS6SzfF6p_g" width="320" youtube-src-id="nS6SzfF6p_g"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb17JzKSiVA">Hey Girl</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fb17JzKSiVA" width="320" youtube-src-id="fb17JzKSiVA"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpea4Nlzs1U">Love and Memories</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpea4Nlzs1U" width="320" youtube-src-id="rpea4Nlzs1U"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApAFURhqaI4">Heaven</a></i> (This video was filmed at the same venue, just two years earlier!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ApAFURhqaI4" width="320" youtube-src-id="ApAFURhqaI4"></iframe></div><br /><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2D-rRoJY0A">Wonderful Day</a></i> (I didn't remember them being a ska band, but the horns were pretty cool!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p2D-rRoJY0A" width="320" youtube-src-id="p2D-rRoJY0A"></iframe></div><br /><div>Both of these bands have lots of great songs, so this post could go on and on! Such a fun show!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Next up: <a href="https://savemesanfrancisco.com/pages/tour">Train</a> at <a href="https://www.wolftrap.org/">Wolf Trap</a>! Look out for that blog post at the end of the month!</b></div></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-69615519826994270972023-07-31T08:22:00.000-07:002023-07-31T08:22:46.350-07:00Jason Aldean at Merriweather Post Pavilion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTOzUL852fkSuCIYPcIGnwWa3D3M21DChSDpC0xGTP70ASn3PYcVrNScZw8MuD-Pz1RPFc2gmKFwY1Xxl3GqBVnuKj902fHYEwEAqNe5uy5LOCvhk4mmE40Sz61GCC3cDoesT6G2dZ0MosgeFshHEjObJiC3Etzsq4UnvopCdEj-woMA-EbEBQy1fMiup/s1600/IMG_6257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTOzUL852fkSuCIYPcIGnwWa3D3M21DChSDpC0xGTP70ASn3PYcVrNScZw8MuD-Pz1RPFc2gmKFwY1Xxl3GqBVnuKj902fHYEwEAqNe5uy5LOCvhk4mmE40Sz61GCC3cDoesT6G2dZ0MosgeFshHEjObJiC3Etzsq4UnvopCdEj-woMA-EbEBQy1fMiup/s320/IMG_6257.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I saw <a href="https://www.jasonaldean.com/">Jason Aldean</a> perform at <a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/ballpark">Nats Park</a> in 2014 (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/concert-jason-aldean-and-florida.html">read that blog post here</a>), and I was supposed to see him a few years before COVID, but my friend and I <b>totally</b> forgot and didn't go! So when I saw he was coming back to <a href="https://merriweathermusic.com/">Merriweather Post Pavilion</a>, I knew I had to buy tickets. I was going to go with my go-to country concert friend, but he couldn't make it, so I was scrambling to find someone. Then I remembered that a neighbor's daughter, who's home from college for the summer, is a country music fan. I texted her about going with me, and she responded, "OMG SHUT UP YES," so I found a new country concert buddy! So we went last week and had a blast!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVMX5_K0cLtuA8d33Dh1KPnKfM0qWzFo10FEkYVNv_Jl7ZNETCYHx6sHU3Rf8hyrdfuODO7qmT2Hnes0mfbxr8UiaayRVMSYJB1HvTEcnkoy652wPPQ5u4cD4zvzj95QMYVB34EY6hnPfJ5H1Q7xMmEhA-ZJeVRsoFTvAw5sjIftPdTCTPssccajQ1F6l/s4000/20230727_193057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVMX5_K0cLtuA8d33Dh1KPnKfM0qWzFo10FEkYVNv_Jl7ZNETCYHx6sHU3Rf8hyrdfuODO7qmT2Hnes0mfbxr8UiaayRVMSYJB1HvTEcnkoy652wPPQ5u4cD4zvzj95QMYVB34EY6hnPfJ5H1Q7xMmEhA-ZJeVRsoFTvAw5sjIftPdTCTPssccajQ1F6l/s320/20230727_193057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.coreykentofficial.com/">Corey Kent</a> was the show's opener. His name didn't sound familiar, but I did know a song or two of his:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUTpppM8xOQ">Wild as Her</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uUTpppM8xOQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="uUTpppM8xOQ"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Xpbb2_Ezc">Ain't My Day</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W9Xpbb2_Ezc" width="320" youtube-src-id="W9Xpbb2_Ezc"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJdCVg7qb-E">Something's Gonna Kill Me</a></i> (maybe my favorite of his for the night)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eJdCVg7qb-E" width="320" youtube-src-id="eJdCVg7qb-E"></iframe></div><p>He also did a cover of the Beatles' <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYSJHT-o0l4">Come Together</a></i>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PYSJHT-o0l4" width="320" youtube-src-id="PYSJHT-o0l4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-NHZ5YuoWVBeSEU17Yup7XwYSeQ7RPm3lZ7CBMJiSTi69nWQk7a9_3uSiVv_FdgyhE6IQabe_kD2aH-oUxhhbhzCdugwbCf_j8m8nKcoEkuD50T3gSpzMtat-s-GbJv4LgRSwQdsQ21HEY3U4PI9_EzA0N7qxJK43iPF_zZ8fktgwEw7EfMlTQEErECz/s4000/20230727_201559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-NHZ5YuoWVBeSEU17Yup7XwYSeQ7RPm3lZ7CBMJiSTi69nWQk7a9_3uSiVv_FdgyhE6IQabe_kD2aH-oUxhhbhzCdugwbCf_j8m8nKcoEkuD50T3gSpzMtat-s-GbJv4LgRSwQdsQ21HEY3U4PI9_EzA0N7qxJK43iPF_zZ8fktgwEw7EfMlTQEErECz/w400-h300/20230727_201559.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Up next was <a href="https://mitchell10penny.com/">Mitchell Tenpenny</a>! I saw him perform at the <a href="https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZpZA6tFlA/the-fillmore-silver-spring-events">Fillmore in Silver Spring</a> early in 2019 (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2019/01/snowboarding-mitchell-tenpenny.html">read that blog post here</a>); I almost had the chance to see him backstage! I particularly love two of his songs (the first two listed below), so I was excited to see him again.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiA-7xHM8zc">Drunk Me</a> (although it wasn't as good live as I had hoped; kind of <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2018/03/blake-shelton-concert.html">like when I saw Brett Eldridge</a> sing <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxdOHJjjNek">Drunk on Your Love</a></i>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BiA-7xHM8zc" width="320" youtube-src-id="BiA-7xHM8zc"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vldUM481yDM">Truth About You</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vldUM481yDM" width="320" youtube-src-id="vldUM481yDM"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbLtUgZ0h-s">We Got History</a></i> (He has experienced a lot of heartbreak, clearly!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xbLtUgZ0h-s" width="320" youtube-src-id="xbLtUgZ0h-s"></iframe></div><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ION_tTm_Eo8">Bitches </a>(He had a drawing of a hand flipping the bird with the word "bitches" on the knuckles on T-shirts, his drum set, etc. I didn't necessarily find it offensive, but just kind of impolite. I think he's a talented song writer, so is this really the best he can do?) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ION_tTm_Eo8" width="320" youtube-src-id="ION_tTm_Eo8"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VioGRmmIvgg">Bigger Mistakes</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VioGRmmIvgg" width="320" youtube-src-id="VioGRmmIvgg"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elVyyii1tCs">Bucket List</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/elVyyii1tCs" width="320" youtube-src-id="elVyyii1tCs"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BMS7IOdeoM">Still Thinking 'Bout You</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1BMS7IOdeoM" width="320" youtube-src-id="1BMS7IOdeoM"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTkD9tWUpD8">At the End of a Bar </a></i>(which is normally a duet with <a href="https://www.chrisyoungcountry.com/">Chris Young</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YTkD9tWUpD8" width="320" youtube-src-id="YTkD9tWUpD8"></iframe></div><br /><div>And he did a cover of the <a href="https://www.googoodolls.com/">Goo Goo Dolls</a>' song <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdYWuo9OFAw">Iris</a></i>. I thought it was a pretty good set!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQr3VHDCUTJVcO-_tTIUYJb-86O2xQY45f7-vNVFV5Kii8qs_vKD7lbDnDaTj49U7unqzF1fur-KjlYJ1XBk4Uwwz0LcDt7wlTGvIteZSsbgNBXF38-ISWVmFdLlJJPzo7PMz5E9GhzRpupcKBvVlgfsqSx6TrvtQ-ypN74m1Hv_PZNnOmxe4fOv_R_vs/s4000/20230727_215614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQr3VHDCUTJVcO-_tTIUYJb-86O2xQY45f7-vNVFV5Kii8qs_vKD7lbDnDaTj49U7unqzF1fur-KjlYJ1XBk4Uwwz0LcDt7wlTGvIteZSsbgNBXF38-ISWVmFdLlJJPzo7PMz5E9GhzRpupcKBvVlgfsqSx6TrvtQ-ypN74m1Hv_PZNnOmxe4fOv_R_vs/w400-h300/20230727_215614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>During Tenpenny's set it rained a little bit, and I almost wondered if it was going to pour and we'd have to leave (since we had lawn seats). But the rain held out, so we could still see our headliner! Aldean has so many hits, so I understand that he can't sing them all. But <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdImDqbgc2g">Burnin' It Down</a></i> is one of my favorite songs of his (as is <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PLgUlRVLZE">Night Train</a></i>), and he didn't play it! So I was bummed about that. But here are a bunch of ones he did play, from the old stuff to his newest song, and everything in between:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc823UD0LeU">Amarillo Sky</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kc823UD0LeU" width="320" youtube-src-id="kc823UD0LeU"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZC_wkIW4U4">Hicktown</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZC_wkIW4U4" width="320" youtube-src-id="VZC_wkIW4U4"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb9q1ScC4cg">Dirt Road Anthem</a></i> (I thought <a href="https://www.ericchurch.com/">Eric Church</a> sang this song... Woops!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lb9q1ScC4cg" width="320" youtube-src-id="Lb9q1ScC4cg"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-zks4FRlI">Tattoos on This Town</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EU-zks4FRlI" width="320" youtube-src-id="EU-zks4FRlI"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GZzucDMlQ">Fly Over States</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1GZzucDMlQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="W1GZzucDMlQ"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKXCKZa17xk">Take a Little Ride</a></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FKXCKZa17xk" width="320" youtube-src-id="FKXCKZa17xk"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtGX6eCNbEo">Tough Crowd</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rtGX6eCNbEo" width="320" youtube-src-id="rtGX6eCNbEo"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKhN-rUAqoI">When She Says Baby</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gKhN-rUAqoI" width="320" youtube-src-id="gKhN-rUAqoI"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXrP66ot0zs">Lights Come On</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LXrP66ot0zs" width="320" youtube-src-id="LXrP66ot0zs"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv8agst9o_0">Big Green Tractor</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rv8agst9o_0" width="320" youtube-src-id="rv8agst9o_0"></iframe></div><br /><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i1ImAbmcjM"><i>Got What I Got</i> </a>(so romantic!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7i1ImAbmcjM" width="320" youtube-src-id="7i1ImAbmcjM"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JM3tUn9VuNiFJUNYThR5G_NMwQ6uhDFpPGR-DXu7-pzgqafjrbiC8X45rsCsrQXoLJKU8mYMj-ZPsy-LVaLcTzNo09ITuLhsHq3Sd54TLb_lzWJEfIH60hX0pQkQmxAEd7dHj_wYLRwGxiqzSl9tK8pNC0Kw8-sKDmmPO__EdImc-2wHMfR5kOLg3aOO/s4000/20230727_223339.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JM3tUn9VuNiFJUNYThR5G_NMwQ6uhDFpPGR-DXu7-pzgqafjrbiC8X45rsCsrQXoLJKU8mYMj-ZPsy-LVaLcTzNo09ITuLhsHq3Sd54TLb_lzWJEfIH60hX0pQkQmxAEd7dHj_wYLRwGxiqzSl9tK8pNC0Kw8-sKDmmPO__EdImc-2wHMfR5kOLg3aOO/s320/20230727_223339.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">While <a href="https://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com/">Carrie Underwood</a> wasn't there, she was a hologram singing along with Aldean, just like they did<br />with <a href="https://kellyclarkson.com/">Kelly Clarkson</a> the last time I saw him when he sang <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL2BjBRi01k">Don't You Wanna Stay</a>. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc3cxj5pDIs">If I Didn't Love You</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zc3cxj5pDIs" width="320" youtube-src-id="Zc3cxj5pDIs"></iframe></div><br /><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY">Try That in a Small Town</a></i> (This song and its music video have gotten a lot of press, mainly because of the lyrics mentioning guns and the video includes news clips of violence particularly related to large riots/protests. I don't think the video or song are racist, but I am confused as to the message of the song. Is he promoting violence, saying that if you do something wrong in the small town, there will be hell to pay? Or is he trying to prevent violence, saying that if we all had the sense of community like one might in a small town, and you cared about your neighbors, you wouldn't commit acts of violence in the first place? The music video shows a lot of footage of police in riot gear, and again I couldn't tell if Aldean was pro-police or not; police have committed a lot of violence against innocent people, both in big cities and small towns, but police have also been attacked unnecessarily at times. So I'm mostly just confused.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b1_RKu-ESCY" width="320" youtube-src-id="b1_RKu-ESCY"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzHGIhEwShs">That's What Tequila Does</a></i><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LzHGIhEwShs" width="320" youtube-src-id="LzHGIhEwShs"></iframe></div><div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAtWP5Mct5I">Trouble with a Heartbreak</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TAtWP5Mct5I" width="320" youtube-src-id="TAtWP5Mct5I"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hir_MgO6InQ">My Kinda Party</a></i> (And I thought this was a <a href="https://www.brantleygilbert.com/">Brantley Gilbert</a> song!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hir_MgO6InQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="hir_MgO6InQ"></iframe></div><div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsvR6XAl1os">She's Country</a></i> (This was my friend's favorite song, and he saved it for last!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsvR6XAl1os" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZsvR6XAl1os"></iframe></div><br /><p>It was a really good concert! And now I get to see <a href="https://thechicks.com/">the Chicks</a> later this week! Stay tuned for that blog post!</p></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-64279332613725843912023-07-12T09:47:00.001-07:002023-07-12T09:49:04.911-07:004th of July in Montana<p style="text-align: center;"><b>This blog is a little late after the holiday, but better late than never!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">My friend Danielle moved to Montana last year to work at the
university in Missoula, and as soon as I knew she was moving out there, I told
her I would definitely come for a visit. I had never been to Montana before,
and I had heard it was beautiful, so I wanted to check it out (And visit her,
of course!)<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelykbvcgBemQc5_KCKq-2I_SzLeSls9Q5LL0EovVbHmJEjIPrDtEhNA9ddo75eEKu_CN09ggvR_N6IxK_6vT0M3W4IG7gDQf56ruI8bsENfMfehaDxiiQIi_f5pfjMvJPFxhOAZjQ5eWeTy2SfAFzT9SpIOF609wpCX9q42xS6PxI6_GscCTUUBG8GX7y/s4000/20230630_122911.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelykbvcgBemQc5_KCKq-2I_SzLeSls9Q5LL0EovVbHmJEjIPrDtEhNA9ddo75eEKu_CN09ggvR_N6IxK_6vT0M3W4IG7gDQf56ruI8bsENfMfehaDxiiQIi_f5pfjMvJPFxhOAZjQ5eWeTy2SfAFzT9SpIOF609wpCX9q42xS6PxI6_GscCTUUBG8GX7y/w400-h300/20230630_122911.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Montana really does have a big sky!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal">I arrived last Friday mid-day, and after picking me up in
Bozeman, we made the long drive back towards Missoula. But before going back to
her place, we stopped by the <a href="http://garnetghosttown.org/">Garnet Ghost Town</a>. The town was bustling back in
the late 1800’s and early 1900’s as a mining town. It boasted a three-story
hotel, a general store, and 13 saloons! (But no church. Hmm…) While many of the
buildings have been lost to fire, decay, and other things over the years,
several of the buildings have been restored to preserve them. They haven’t been
restored to their hay-day status (everything still looks old and run-down), but
measures have been made to keep the structures from falling down so that they
are safe for visitors. It was amazing to see what things were still around
after all this time: wallpaper, pieces of furniture, sewing machines… Because
items as well as the structures themselves were preserved, I almost felt like I
could envision what the buildings were like when people worked or lived inside
of them. There were many trails around the ghost town, but we just wandered
around the town itself, spotting cute ground squirrels popping their heads out
of their holes in the grassy areas between homes. Definitely a cool stop for my
first day in the Treasure State!<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGG5Pd7TiqSIOj3ShkBgMi4nXnq9waaCwiPkbM1Cb8s801hob_E_J4bH4_-n8DAG8yeCjDstgDrtYoOrgETNcVd_WY333_At5ORwmX_Tbb3cqxmPlPqlgrjckdV1wKiYeqjHXdgaUv6H_QZpLfD9Akm8KQC-Y2mJomzhXLmuV-Z_FEfNCr05tsCxT1gEQM/s4000/20230630_172210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGG5Pd7TiqSIOj3ShkBgMi4nXnq9waaCwiPkbM1Cb8s801hob_E_J4bH4_-n8DAG8yeCjDstgDrtYoOrgETNcVd_WY333_At5ORwmX_Tbb3cqxmPlPqlgrjckdV1wKiYeqjHXdgaUv6H_QZpLfD9Akm8KQC-Y2mJomzhXLmuV-Z_FEfNCr05tsCxT1gEQM/w400-h300/20230630_172210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some of the buildings in the <a href="http://garnetghosttown.org/">Garnet Ghost Town</a> have been there a long time! </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The next day was our big hike day. Danielle knows I love to
hike, and she and her husband, Doug, actually haven’t explored too many hikes
in the area, so I was their inspiration to do a hike they had been considering.
We decided to hike up to peak <a href="https://www.summitpost.org/ch-paa-qn-peak-squaw-peak/393990#:~:text=Ch-paa-qn%20%28pronounced%20%22cha-pock-qwin%22%29%2C%20or%20Squaw%20Peak%2C%20as%20it,d%27Alene%20Mountains%2C%20Lolo%20National%20Forest%2C%20Ninemile%20Ranger%20District.">Cha-paa-qn</a> using the Reservation Divide Trail. We
stopped by the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lolo/recreation/outdoorlearning/recarea/?recid=10297&actid=120">Ninemile Ranger Station</a> first to confirm where to go (the
volunteer there wasn’t great with directions, but he did tell us about the
working mules in the area!). Once we made it up the long, bumpy, gravel road (Danielle
lamented that they need a truck over their CRV), we could begin our hike. The
hike started out quite steep; they needed to take many stops, and I wondered
how long it might take us to get through the hike. But the trail eventually
leveled off and was flat for a lot of the way. Then we began our final ascent
towards the peak. First we hit a cairn with an orange flag, which marked the
end of the official trail but was NOT the peak. We figured we had hiked several
miles to get up there; we weren’t going to turn around without going to the
top! So Danielle and I climbed up a complete rock scramble to get to the peak;
a little scary climbing all over the rocks, but so worth it! The 360˚
view from the top was amazing, and we felt so accomplished.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDDdoW15An64zQLdlUnean9ogpUo9ZJFrHAYHJ7q_3AR7B9m3vNc2slVNscLihHmv2oeeXIy_N3QBdTrNBWT6GHpa0b6yTNfvB5Y8OJUIKMBvonb0kWhbRVnjbFVHFcvbAfYow_7ZEuy0scFUhvrBKjmKrQ5KV9kIRvVouumg7-xhYTBqvniY7gJ5E-8F/s3648/20230701_153956.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDDdoW15An64zQLdlUnean9ogpUo9ZJFrHAYHJ7q_3AR7B9m3vNc2slVNscLihHmv2oeeXIy_N3QBdTrNBWT6GHpa0b6yTNfvB5Y8OJUIKMBvonb0kWhbRVnjbFVHFcvbAfYow_7ZEuy0scFUhvrBKjmKrQ5KV9kIRvVouumg7-xhYTBqvniY7gJ5E-8F/w400-h300/20230701_153956.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Danielle and I made it to the top!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Getting down was even trickier, but I scooted a lot of the
way (you can’t fall if you’re already on your butt!). I definitely must have
zig-zagged a weird way down, because when I was done with the scramble, I
didn’t see Doug, their dogs, or the orange flag. I started to go back up to
find Danielle, who was a ways behind me, and luckily I stumbled upon Doug and
the puppers. Once Danielle was back with us, we let Doug go up on his own so he
could see the view. He was so much faster than us! He made it up and back in
less time than it took she or I just to get up to the top. He’s a mountain man,
all right!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Going down the trail was certainly easier than coming up,
and I was able to hike very quickly, taking only one stop on the way back. While
the guidebook said the trail was 3.5 miles long, I think we actually hiked at
least eight miles in total. Later I learned that many stats of trail lengths
are wrong for Montana, and that you should always assume the hike is longer
than stated. I’m not sure how this happens, especially given the GPS technology
we have today, but good to know if you are planning a hike! We were all so
tired after the hike that we just got pizza to go from <a href="https://www.mackenzieriverpizza.com/">Mackenzie River Pizza</a>. They had a
Thai peanut chicken pizza, just like <a href="https://www.vnews.com/Longtime-Pizza-Shop-in-Hanover-Closing-10066612">EBA’s</a> used to have in Hanover! It was
quite good and brough back some college memories.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next day we planned on going paddleboarding with some of
Danielle’s friends, especially since they could bring enough boards for all of
us! We met them in Bonner and were going to follow them to the lake, which they
said was just a “joop and a joop” away (meaning just two turns). This WAS the
case: there were only two turns along the entire drive. But what they didn’t
tell us was that the trip was going to take 90 minutes. We’re driving behind
them, wondering the whole time where they are taking us. And we’re passing
plenty of lakes along the way! I was a bit annoyed by this, and was even more
riled up when, upon arrival, I learned we had to blow up the paddleboards. I was
so frustrated with the late start, but once we were on the water, I was a happy
camper. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrN7BjocMNvTv6MzBKcL7Fjaatkb4P6KgD7cKqdVd4b3hb8ULWc6YN3Dr_uFFsXDVmElg_ZuNsMtZ0E1quDATdPLeiuHZraojwm_BKO_kSVUnZlZIVTsCGnVyFoUZaWvyy7mAVcRrNcoaYB6LyockeBZ9PJfM8eBTgavj_ploTv7CEK8IFfKwlB25ToKP/s1600/IMG-20230703-WA0013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrN7BjocMNvTv6MzBKcL7Fjaatkb4P6KgD7cKqdVd4b3hb8ULWc6YN3Dr_uFFsXDVmElg_ZuNsMtZ0E1quDATdPLeiuHZraojwm_BKO_kSVUnZlZIVTsCGnVyFoUZaWvyy7mAVcRrNcoaYB6LyockeBZ9PJfM8eBTgavj_ploTv7CEK8IFfKwlB25ToKP/w400-h300/IMG-20230703-WA0013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Holland is worth the drive!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/holland-lake-and-falls?utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&awc=29239_1689180124_8949304693d91653c81b2b15ef56874e&cks=29239_1689180124_8949304693d91653c81b2b15ef56874e&af_c_id=ljzy8d0xhi03mefq0pkzt&pid=affiliatewindow_int&is_retargeting=true&af_click_lookback=30d&af_media_type=web&af_reengagement_window=30d&af_siteid=85386&c=awin">Lake Holland</a> is absolutely stunning. It’s surrounded by
mountains, and the blue-green water is like that of the Caribbean. It was
pretty windy, so we mostly sat while paddling; I had the narrowest board, so I
was very careful when switching my leg positions. We paddled out to a little
beach where we stopped for lunch and took in the beautiful scenery. Because the
wind kept it quite cool, we stood in the sun to keep ourselves warm. Then we
paddled back against the wind, but luckily it wasn’t too bad. Just a good arm
workout!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNqHXAlTJ11hpSZzqhAOgvDpPzoy_x2gyivdrCZ75rJMRJgHNovqLY5vJnZSqOZR4TX2MEpF5niyLuCb75-oFoz-FmRRv-SWYpZuGZOHG3BEhMA83Sg2z6K_QRDK2xXmIENvtj0KSKnSKDrWluR7DZEbiQiN4CNr200cnm6ZEpAQpfMlIsQbSuBpKW7rI/s4000/20230702_184212.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNqHXAlTJ11hpSZzqhAOgvDpPzoy_x2gyivdrCZ75rJMRJgHNovqLY5vJnZSqOZR4TX2MEpF5niyLuCb75-oFoz-FmRRv-SWYpZuGZOHG3BEhMA83Sg2z6K_QRDK2xXmIENvtj0KSKnSKDrWluR7DZEbiQiN4CNr200cnm6ZEpAQpfMlIsQbSuBpKW7rI/s320/20230702_184212.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This purple drink was so yummy at <a href="https://www.montgomerydistillery.com/">Montgomery Distillery</a>!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the drive back to Missoula, we visited <a href="https://www.montgomerydistillery.com/">Montgomery Distillery</a> (I love visiting distilleries! Make sure to check out my blog posts
about my adventure of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.). While we didn’t take a tour
(and couldn’t do a tasting due to local liquor laws), we did enjoy some yummy
cocktails. Afterward we went to dinner at <a href="https://www.thecaminomissoula.com/">The Camino</a>, a fancy tapas-style
Mexican restaurant. The guacamole was good, and I was pretty happy with the
tacos I had. I love Mexican food, so I was excited to try this place. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our outdoor activity for the next day was walking a trail
from campus along the Clarks Fork River. It was a flat, gravel trail, so not
nearly as strenuous as the hike we did previously. But… it’s not really that
nice of a trail. First of all, Missoula has quite the homeless problem, and
many homeless people were camped out along the trail (even though camping is
not allowed on those grounds). So Danielle and I felt unsafe at times. Also,
the trail is very dusty (my black sneakers stood no chance), and without a lot
of shade, the sun was baking down on us. You also can’t see much of the river
along most of the walk, and there are very few access points to actually reach
the water. We walked about 3.5 miles until reaching a river crossing, so we
were still out there for a pretty long time! Luckily some clouds had rolled in,
so the walk back was easier.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4dzo_tjv4Fr_IW1s4OLomUGQpY7cpZ_apc9mpv6xC4BIhvxObk5yUGu_anQbRIEpZBb0V401WJcTzVT3p5SA0o0fjCs60T9q24gSMf9051aRHxSWKwC64rrJSqMR1OFJhSYbYmiTTocj12PQMcu8Pq7_GNHurCzFvJEJ68qw8pkrE-uc6RdjITMXJ0Ys/s4000/20230703_170726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4dzo_tjv4Fr_IW1s4OLomUGQpY7cpZ_apc9mpv6xC4BIhvxObk5yUGu_anQbRIEpZBb0V401WJcTzVT3p5SA0o0fjCs60T9q24gSMf9051aRHxSWKwC64rrJSqMR1OFJhSYbYmiTTocj12PQMcu8Pq7_GNHurCzFvJEJ68qw8pkrE-uc6RdjITMXJ0Ys/w400-h300/20230703_170726.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Danielle's flight included some generous pours!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">After that, Doug dropped us off downtown to do a little
shopping before meeting the same paddleboard friends for drinks later on. I
bought lots of cookies from <a href="https://marysmountaincookies.com/">Mary’s Mountain Cookies</a> (They had a “buy six, get two free”
deal. I had to do it!), as well as some birthday gifts for my mom. After
shopping for about an hour, poking into souvenir places, bookstores, and tea
shops, Doug picked us up and took us to <a href="https://westerncider.com/">Western Cider</a>. They had many ciders to choose
from, but I chose the Whiskey Peach, which was delicious (and reminded me of
bourbon!). After hanging out with her friends for a while, we all went to the <a href="https://www.thethomasmeagherbar.com/">Thomas Meagher Bar</a>,
a local Irish pub, for dinner. The restaurant has a million TVs, so that was
quite distracting; I think I watched more <a href="https://thechive.com/category/chive-tv/">Chive TV</a> than I actually listened to
our table’s conversation. I also got the trashcan nachos (again, Mexican food),
but they were so drenched in queso that I had to eat them with a fork. Not
exactly what I had in mind, but still fun to go out to dinner on my last night
in Missoula.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl8tKWCA7-2P9zw94ZkDTMEtdNuXg5fc0AoprGR3lXOpeYlfRWO8QhlUqLe1e7K8GvL2BnZr5tVHOjb8GEfaVyO5uv4gP5TBIBhTossdjj4gxQCMVbhSiGR5PEKaKFRguG03x71-fzKH5nlP-07qhVXFFws3jRxCuYE85H-Dt6Tg4gB4cEJ2mRjE1Xrkt/s4000/20230702_210344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl8tKWCA7-2P9zw94ZkDTMEtdNuXg5fc0AoprGR3lXOpeYlfRWO8QhlUqLe1e7K8GvL2BnZr5tVHOjb8GEfaVyO5uv4gP5TBIBhTossdjj4gxQCMVbhSiGR5PEKaKFRguG03x71-fzKH5nlP-07qhVXFFws3jRxCuYE85H-Dt6Tg4gB4cEJ2mRjE1Xrkt/w400-h300/20230702_210344.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">People surf in the river in town!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">My flight out wasn’t until the afternoon, so I took an
<a href="https://www.orangetheory.com/">OrangeTheory</a> class in the morning (actually, I had taken classes in the morning
the two days previously as well… I’m addicted, what can I say!). Then I cleaned
myself up, packed my things, and Danielle and I headed back to Bozeman. I did
have a bit of a scare when it looked like my flight had been delayed by more
than 3 hours (and we were already 2/3 of the way to the airport), but after
several phone calls and some rebooking online, my flight ended up being on time
and I made my connection in Denver.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since I flew back the night of the 4<sup>th</sup>, I got to
see lots of fireworks from the air! Of course they look much smaller several
miles down, but I got to see the firework shows of many cities and towns, all
without the loud sounds! And there was a supermoon that night, and it was huge!
I almost thought it was the sun because it was so big and bright (but that
didn’t make sense, since I was flying east). It was even cooler to see than the
fireworks! I arrived at BWI after midnight; what
a long day! But I made it home safe and sound.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>My next vacation is in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Stay tuned for that blog post!</b><o:p></o:p></p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-67172779749876538622023-07-06T11:51:00.001-07:002023-07-06T11:51:10.298-07:00Barenaked Ladies Concert<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKet1sWEAgN-WZW3ckOzLiwvqJbc7L0C5hsCOKTxUf69WNd6QS2xF1Zj2sPat6FAFtvQADqRl6QR74XFlM4SJAOobUsQoAwFnYcv499uc2jlI48u46fSBVJX4e4UOwPUqbiimPEBgEqtlB0gUd-qEhqbX1HJA2ybNHqhB6s43Ud9nUKufQqE5a8gSSOxnH/s1500/last%20summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKet1sWEAgN-WZW3ckOzLiwvqJbc7L0C5hsCOKTxUf69WNd6QS2xF1Zj2sPat6FAFtvQADqRl6QR74XFlM4SJAOobUsQoAwFnYcv499uc2jlI48u46fSBVJX4e4UOwPUqbiimPEBgEqtlB0gUd-qEhqbX1HJA2ybNHqhB6s43Ud9nUKufQqE5a8gSSOxnH/w640-h214/last%20summer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.barenakedladies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/LSOE_2023-_Website.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>My boyfriend and I had hoped to see the <a href="https://www.barenakedladies.com/splash/">Barenaked Ladies</a> at <a href="https://www.wolftrap.org/">Wolf Trap</a>, but that show was sold out. So when we saw they were performing at <a href="https://theanthemdc.com/">the Anthem</a> in DC, we immediately bought tickets. The tickets were a little expensive, but we got to see three bands, so then it was worth it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi604FgfiHK37eSnC7eq34f4le6lOXxUFGrVR9_c5oUU0Wx8nzXM3PmPx_hlOfqDPder5tK3BllnLGoxUNep8YqlZzri2xx3T6iLRJYCkL6PpP6o3cIUC9n5IlGXnOQxRW17aq1xbtK_KrYc_y3SC3SxwA_VaVIzqo43qjgM2_ReGfUIp269P1ygqGoBaAt/s4000/20230705_190439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi604FgfiHK37eSnC7eq34f4le6lOXxUFGrVR9_c5oUU0Wx8nzXM3PmPx_hlOfqDPder5tK3BllnLGoxUNep8YqlZzri2xx3T6iLRJYCkL6PpP6o3cIUC9n5IlGXnOQxRW17aq1xbtK_KrYc_y3SC3SxwA_VaVIzqo43qjgM2_ReGfUIp269P1ygqGoBaAt/s320/20230705_190439.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The opening band was <a href="https://www.delamitri.info/">Del Amitri</a>. I had never heard of them before, but my boyfriend had, and his sister loves them. I was taken aback by how old they look... But I guess most rockers start young, and if they are successful, they continue making music into their older years! The lead singer even seemed to have a tremor in his hand. But I liked their music, and had no idea they sang "Roll to Me," their biggest hit:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_s44LilaYM" width="320" youtube-src-id="K_s44LilaYM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5wH9D0R7ZsjIELPeGSbCvw4jfkTh8IAvhZy-0XDnj4kQpW59-EYjosh3XTNgx8b2SChDO6NDalY5EN2YzgiBqnJ-MGxQng_Ejyentkdhr8CGZdf29qm4YbFHzK4nQEJNTAtFzwxS8DpZPLKmaChZcEQDhiIpG7ptDT5zIneCTLhA7aUEyYAs1EjACPwg/s4000/20230705_195913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5wH9D0R7ZsjIELPeGSbCvw4jfkTh8IAvhZy-0XDnj4kQpW59-EYjosh3XTNgx8b2SChDO6NDalY5EN2YzgiBqnJ-MGxQng_Ejyentkdhr8CGZdf29qm4YbFHzK4nQEJNTAtFzwxS8DpZPLKmaChZcEQDhiIpG7ptDT5zIneCTLhA7aUEyYAs1EjACPwg/s320/20230705_195913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The next band was <a href="https://fiveforfighting.com/">Five for Fighting</a>, a band I remember from high school. They are also getting old! I appreciated the lead singer's sense of humor. He joked how thankful they were to be performing inside that night because it had been so hot lately; he claimed that at the beginning of the tour (which was only about a week ago), he weighed 278 pounds and had lost all the weight from the heat! They played a few songs I recognized:</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-qQcNT_fY">100 Years</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tR-qQcNT_fY" width="320" youtube-src-id="tR-qQcNT_fY"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRz4FY0ZcwI">Superman</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GRz4FY0ZcwI" width="320" youtube-src-id="GRz4FY0ZcwI"></iframe></div><p>This band really supports our troops, especially overseas, and the lead singer, Vladimir John Ondrasik III, talked about his experience of visiting Ukraine. While there they filmed the music video for the song, "Can One Man Save the World," performed with the Ukrainian Orchestra:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bm3XEsIXJaI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Bm3XEsIXJaI"></iframe></div><br /><p>Towards the end of their set, they did a cover of <a href="https://queenonline.com/">Queen</a>'s "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ">Bohemian Rhapsody</a>" and got the entire crowd singing along. Here's a video from their Atlanta show:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q3tQNr-KVT4" width="320" youtube-src-id="q3tQNr-KVT4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXSFoF6QXD17gtjzKpKg7_NeD3KCiix5GXb6JmFTA7HEDC7JM5fxV8Bj1LFa7lBRhw3NGDKCncQqYfROPQWev05Gls5BNs_4rqZruAsw3f8TP4uPR8j5PqsfVGi4vn_QguheI9szdY9gC2GtUiEsBCM3u_IFk3CJfUJPbWvtywnUS0jKvWZRBNJpMnUIK/s4000/20230705_211317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXSFoF6QXD17gtjzKpKg7_NeD3KCiix5GXb6JmFTA7HEDC7JM5fxV8Bj1LFa7lBRhw3NGDKCncQqYfROPQWev05Gls5BNs_4rqZruAsw3f8TP4uPR8j5PqsfVGi4vn_QguheI9szdY9gC2GtUiEsBCM3u_IFk3CJfUJPbWvtywnUS0jKvWZRBNJpMnUIK/s320/20230705_211317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And then it was time for the headliners! They had a lot of great energy, and their lead singer, Ed Robertson, was also very funny! He kidded about this tour being on par with <a href="https://www.taylorswift.com/">Taylor Swift</a>'s Eras tour, and he argued that their tour is better because they haven't had administrative issues like Ticketmaster crashing, and the fact that they still have tickets available! Steven Page, another member of the group, even started singing Swift's song, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM">Shake It Off</a>." The group also did a few choreographed dance moves, which was fun. They are so talented: Page plays guitar, keyboard, and accordion, and Robertson plays the guitar and hopped on the drums for one song!</p><p>Here are the hits they performed (most of which I didn't realize they sang):</p><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3NE6UuaLiY">Pinch Me</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u3NE6UuaLiY" width="320" youtube-src-id="u3NE6UuaLiY"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggJS0p-QQc">The Old Apartment</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ggJS0p-QQc" width="320" youtube-src-id="8ggJS0p-QQc"></iframe></div><p><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8zdNe_l3M8">If I Had a Million Dollars</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8zdNe_l3M8" width="320" youtube-src-id="V8zdNe_l3M8"></iframe></div><p>And I had no idea they sang the theme song for <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/">The Big Bang Theory</a></i>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/20i5eqwK178" width="320" youtube-src-id="20i5eqwK178"></iframe></div><p>Page seems to appreciate nature, because there were a few (strange) songs that seemed to be about spending time outside, including "Big Back Yard," which sounds more like a children's song:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GayFqItf_i8" width="320" youtube-src-id="GayFqItf_i8"></iframe></div><p>One of their newer songs is "Lovin' Life," which was inspired after a friend of the band passed away. I liked its message of living life to the fullest and being thankful for each day:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uf3uik5QH40" width="320" youtube-src-id="Uf3uik5QH40"></iframe></div><p>They played the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sw9Fh6uk4Q">music video for "Odds Are"</a> in the background as they performed the song. So funny!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Sw9Fh6uk4Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="7Sw9Fh6uk4Q"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-HDVBQNyYjfp607rFd0YActU_jPyuxNm1VI3TUzN_PmVptJ9DQqL5ZLldpRMeCttGGhpgnhoh_CKX6SWAiSf3ABiUD_-zOyyqDYjrB8oncZb4NSbzGP1TLy72sTv5_Ex7zEH-MYAaKGwISET5xykJrMwwPghhzLpqPIxyxMssEXUcMY4NcTGs8JUk0yz/s4000/20230705_224400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-HDVBQNyYjfp607rFd0YActU_jPyuxNm1VI3TUzN_PmVptJ9DQqL5ZLldpRMeCttGGhpgnhoh_CKX6SWAiSf3ABiUD_-zOyyqDYjrB8oncZb4NSbzGP1TLy72sTv5_Ex7zEH-MYAaKGwISET5xykJrMwwPghhzLpqPIxyxMssEXUcMY4NcTGs8JUk0yz/s320/20230705_224400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>For the last song, all the bands were together on stage. What a fun show! And it must be awesome for all of them to be touring together. </p><p>This is just one of many concerts I'm seeing this summer, so stay tuned for upcoming blog posts about the other shows I'm seeing! <a href="https://www.jasonaldean.com/">Jason Aldean</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChicks/">the Chicks</a>, <a href="https://www.liveoar.com/">OAR</a> and <a href="https://www.googoodolls.com/">the Goo Goo Dolls</a>... and more!</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-82625066616293770712023-06-27T08:41:00.002-07:002023-06-27T08:41:40.347-07:00Recipe: Eggnog Cupcakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq4b7RL7cdhfJsEb2fw0q0gSlAGAnjRvsRk2Xwz6gB1dvjLNiMNCkDJ1f8YjB04pr0cptlvqgYuIxXecpf-nXJTrzjSjEvxN6UfFDvb5nf8qRZ_k8X7HCfro5ztCIl-FZpnSYLMEfDb1XKRdbCJx9WRlEJCxsBFZn0XYJOM7-sNLXwyySOH2kp9VeUwAW/s4000/20230625_172637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUq4b7RL7cdhfJsEb2fw0q0gSlAGAnjRvsRk2Xwz6gB1dvjLNiMNCkDJ1f8YjB04pr0cptlvqgYuIxXecpf-nXJTrzjSjEvxN6UfFDvb5nf8qRZ_k8X7HCfro5ztCIl-FZpnSYLMEfDb1XKRdbCJx9WRlEJCxsBFZn0XYJOM7-sNLXwyySOH2kp9VeUwAW/s320/20230625_172637.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I realize it is not Christmas time, so why am I baking with eggnog? Because I have a <a href="https://www.costcuisine.com/post/costco-kirkland-signature-traditional-holiday-egg-nog-alcoholic-beverage-review">huge bottle</a> of it leftover from the holidays and I'm not gonna let it go to waste! (Don't worry, it's shelf stable, contains alcohol, and has been in my fridge the whole time.) </p><p>I needed to make a dessert for a work potluck, so I thought I'd make cupcakes, because who doesn't like cupcakes? And while they do contain alcohol, I'm pretty sure most if not all of it burned off in the baking process. </p><p>I found <a href="https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/eggnog-cupcakes/#tasty-recipes-33269">this recipe</a> on the <i><a href="https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com">Life, Love and Sugar</a></i> blog. It looked easy enough, so I thought I'd give it a go. </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span face=""PT Sans", sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">INGREDIENTS</span></span></b><b><span face=""PT Sans",sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1 1/4 cups (163g) all-purpose
flour</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1 1/2 tsp baking powder</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">3/4 tsp</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> nutmeg<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1/4 tsp salt</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">6 tbsp (84g) unsalted
butter, room temperature</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">3/4 cups (155g) sugar</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1 tsp vanilla extract</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">2 large eggs</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1/2 cup + 2
tbsp (150ml) eggnog</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 3; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span face=""PT Sans", sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">INSTRUCTIONS</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and
preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Combine the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and
salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the butter, sugar and oil to a large mixer
bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Do not
skimp on the creaming time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until
mostly combined after each. Add the vanilla extract with the second egg. Scrape
down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well
incorporated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter
and mix until mostly combined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Slowly add the eggnog and mix until well
combined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix
until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to
be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fill the cupcake liners just over 1/2 full and
bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out
clean.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI";">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remove cupcakes from the oven and place
cupcakes on a cooling rack to cool.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div>The recipe does include ingredients and the directions to make eggnog buttercream, but I think you all know I did not bother making my own icing. I bought <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/products/frosting/whippedbuttercreamfrosting">Betty Crocker's whipped butter cream frosting</a> from <a href="http://www.safeway.com">Safeway</a> and was set! I did contemplate adding some nutmeg and/or eggnog to it, but I'm lazy and figured the cupcakes would still taste very yummy even if I didn't bother to doctor the pre-made icing. But if you are more ambitious than I am, know that the full recipe does include that. </div><div><br /></div><div>For making the cupcakes, I was impressed by how specific this recipe is. Usually it's kind of like, "Mix the dry ingredients, mix the wet ingredients, then mix them together." But Lindsay (the writer of the LLS blog) emphasizes certain steps, tells you to add the eggs separately, to divide putting the dry ingredients into two so you can add the eggnog in between... that's pretty exact! I appreciate that, because as an avid baker, I am more likely to find recipes that skip steps rather than add really helpful ones. </div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, I forgot to read the notes section first before making this recipe. As I was filling to cupcake tray, even filling each one only half-way, I was thinking that I wasn't getting as many cupcakes as I expected. But sure enough, if you read the notes, you will see that the recipe only makes 12-14 cupcakes, about half what you might expect from a boxed cake mix. So I guess for this potluck only a few special people will get to try the cupcakes!</div><div><br /></div><div>But of course I had to try one myself before I subjected others to these treats! The eggnog flavor definitely comes through, and my storebought icing did the trick. But the cake was a little dense, and they barely rose at all, so they were all short. I had thought filling the tins only half-way was to allow for rising without having muffin tops, but they remained short and stout. I didn't include a photo of my cupcakes with the icing because I was basically pouring icing on top to try to fill the void between the top of the cake and the top of the paper (must buy a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Decorating-Supplies-Reusable-Standard-Converters/dp/B08VDMK4BK/ref=asc_df_B08VDMK4BK?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676781095127&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584276308198444&psc=1">piping bag</a>...). I almost wonder if it would be better to make a boxed cake mix, but instead of adding water or milk, you added the eggnog instead. Then you might get better rising with the same nutmeggy flavor. </div><div><br /></div><div>Curious about the other eggnog recipes I've made? Check them out:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/recipe-eggnog-pie-no-bake.html">Eggnog pie (no bake!)</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/02/recipe-frosted-eggnog-bread.html">Frosted eggnog bread</a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/01/recipe-eggnog-snickerdoodles.html">Eggnog snickerdoodles</a></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>What should my next eggnog recipe be? Any recommendations? Leave me a comment below!</b></div><div><br /></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-87924427382117594242023-06-12T09:10:00.000-07:002023-06-12T09:10:36.682-07:00Play Review: One Jewish Boy [SPOILERS]<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBzmt2QrP25KkzcHTM8VSQB9OUVLcE545Hh95bqJBfyNwrx7iPS4NXviHYkAX4ycqOoc4fz7B8QxL8yzGjXMNCkMxdZ6QT5IYM6Dh_9xTSwA740rDL1JlwkAeoe63s9liEAOuKlwdNuf3Ln7AbJWxEdA97ULEZpbhWCvjop1WzfBOT5P72s6SUwqLNA/s474/theater%20j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBzmt2QrP25KkzcHTM8VSQB9OUVLcE545Hh95bqJBfyNwrx7iPS4NXviHYkAX4ycqOoc4fz7B8QxL8yzGjXMNCkMxdZ6QT5IYM6Dh_9xTSwA740rDL1JlwkAeoe63s9liEAOuKlwdNuf3Ln7AbJWxEdA97ULEZpbhWCvjop1WzfBOT5P72s6SUwqLNA/w640-h320/theater%20j.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://th.bing.com/th?id=OIF.XiVzZm%2fWnaG4%2bnIevCZbpA&pid=ImgDet&rs=1">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><i><a href="https://theaterj.org/22-23-season/one-jewish-boy/">One Jewish Boy</a></i> is the last show of the season at <a href="https://theaterj.org/">Theater J</a>. at the <a href="https://www.edcjcc.org/">Edlavitch DCJCC</a>. I knew it was a love story, so I was looking forward to seeing what was in store for the night. The general gist is that the audience follows the ups and downs of a relationship between two Brits, a Jewish boy and mixed-race girl. He has lasting trauma from an antisemitic attack he experienced, and she carries the weight of her intersectionality as a light-skinned black woman. They love each other, but sometimes the heaviness of their backgrounds induces conflict between them.</p><p>The program for the play included stats about antisemitism both in the US and the UK. It was disturbing to read some of them: in 2022, an average of 10 antisemitic incidents a day occurred in the US, the largest number since 1979. And comparing the viewpoints between Americans and Brits, Brits are more likely to hold opinions such as, "Jews still talk too much about the Holocaust" or "Jews have too much control over the global media." For most of my life I have not worried about being Jewish, but during Trump's presidency and afterward, so much hate has come to the surface that now I think twice about wearing a cute Chanukkah shirt or my baseball cap that reads "Nationals" in Hebrew. It was sad to see these statistics come to life in this play in showing how such a visceral experience of this character impacted not only him but his relationship with his wife (and potentially with his son, too). </p><p>The setting for the story is multiple locations around the world. As usual for Theater J, the set was minimal but very effective. "Furniture" consisted of four movable cubes that were used as chairs, tables, benches, etc. There was also an open staircase that was mostly used to show the early times of the couple's relationship, meeting on a yacht in Ibiza or smoking weed out in the fresh air. The mostly open set allowed for good stage movement of the actors and flexibility in creating different rooms, places, and spaces. </p><p>My favorite part about the show is that it's not linear. The story is told out of order, not chronologically, which is an interesting way to learn about the characters and their relationship. The show begins with the couple fighting, nearing divorce, but then we're bounced around through the years, including when they met, when they got married, when their son was born, all jumbled up. The juxtaposition of the happy scenes portraying young love and the disfunction of a couple who has been together for years was jarring but emotionally moving at the same time. I thought the actors, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2696695/">Danny Gavigan</a> and <a href="https://www.thesaunderscollective.com/alanna-saunders">Alanna Saunders</a>, did an excellent job showing all the emotions along that spectrum. At times it was difficult to watch the couple fighting, as they were talking over one another and pointing fingers, but clearly the acting was good, because the fights felt uncomfortably real! </p><p>I have to admit that I frequently fall asleep when watching plays, not because I'm bored or because they shows aren't good, but just because I'm so tired! But I was fully engaged with this story and did not doze off once! I highly recommend this show, and you've got a few more weeks to see it!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://theaterj.org/22-23-season/one-jewish-boy/#iframe">Tickets are still available, so get yours today!</a></b></p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-21424368606666930672023-05-30T09:13:00.000-07:002023-05-30T09:13:40.007-07:00My Memorial Day Weekend<p>Most years I travel for Memorial Day weekend, either visiting friends or seeing my parents when they lived closer, but this year I stayed in the DC area for the holiday. I actually also had Friday off from work, so I had a FOUR day weekend! Here's what I got up to:</p><p><b>Friday</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EWOaNWcjWNot5w0hS2pPn7vKxLXUz2sOz6a5eCNSGwuUtJl6kcb7wMYneSzywr50Kfq-ApQqDHTe9Yfx8JqtAVPi6ZE_v_fQo0itt1cfNyAywg3kvwuqQbi_bLP6RQE-6fFqf8cdm-13Xl02zh_0lOZ4eGCpVXapFYneyxXSz8HThQrm9Q-hjl3ihA/s1600/Mason%20Neck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EWOaNWcjWNot5w0hS2pPn7vKxLXUz2sOz6a5eCNSGwuUtJl6kcb7wMYneSzywr50Kfq-ApQqDHTe9Yfx8JqtAVPi6ZE_v_fQo0itt1cfNyAywg3kvwuqQbi_bLP6RQE-6fFqf8cdm-13Xl02zh_0lOZ4eGCpVXapFYneyxXSz8HThQrm9Q-hjl3ihA/w400-h225/Mason%20Neck.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/cropped_image/primary/2F2052D1-011C-CE28-4E8D8C51A0DF29A7.jpg?width=1600&quality=90&mode=crop">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A friend and I took a nature walk in <a href="https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/mason-neck?rewrite_uri=state_parks/mas">Mason Neck State Park</a>, which isn't too far from where he lives in Alexandria. It's nice that you don't have to pay to visit (some parks do have a fee, like at <a href="https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burke-lake">Burke Lake Park</a>), and since we went on Friday morning, we were the only ones there. It was lovely walking through the trees, and we saw so much wildlife! My friend almost stepped on a garter snake, and we saw a beaver swimming in the water; we also saw a bald eagle while we were driving. Wildlife sightings always amaze me: if we had been a minute earlier or later, we never would have seen them! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsZUTiin22FRNfDzEXGb6IF46q60BzvBfy6026rUZTDPmSjiEGRyxPRw2KoIK5nesTjbB5YjgJz_uwc-yYxN5v572s8BvyDMa5NGpZeY8g2bcwe31SG21tscdkNbyl6QneZv8vN8hZw4GIVvkWn9DuhWutjAlY77-bU95ypdfk0ifFRtZkle20sWKDQ/s1928/occoquan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="1928" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsZUTiin22FRNfDzEXGb6IF46q60BzvBfy6026rUZTDPmSjiEGRyxPRw2KoIK5nesTjbB5YjgJz_uwc-yYxN5v572s8BvyDMa5NGpZeY8g2bcwe31SG21tscdkNbyl6QneZv8vN8hZw4GIVvkWn9DuhWutjAlY77-bU95ypdfk0ifFRtZkle20sWKDQ/w400-h265/occoquan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1541005492/clients/pwmva/occoquan_shops_a4599f99-5942-4540-a040-35a0d6bd112c.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The walk didn't take very long (especially when you're an avid hiker like I am), so we decided to head to <a href="https://www.occoquanva.gov/">Occoquan</a> for lunch. We walked around the historic town, which is very cute, with lots of shops, restaurants, and colorful Victorian-style buildings. We got sandwiches at the <a href="https://ballywhackshack.com/">Ballywhack Shack</a> (so good!) and had a picnic by the river. And even though it's a small town, there must be at least four or five ice cream places to choose from for dessert. We ended up picking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Andersons-Country-Store/100064882389185/">Anderson's Country Store</a> because they had the best price, the place smelled delicious (they were smoking pork), and they had a cute backyard area to sit and relax. Highly recommend!</div><div><br /></div><div>That night my boyfriend hosted a BBQ and invited some of his friends and neighbors over. Having a BBQ over Memorial Day weekend is such an American tradition, so we loved providing so much food (and pi<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">ñ</span>a coladas!) to our guests. We had chicken, ribs, and hamburgers on the grill, and we had so many sides: chips and guac, potato chips, coleslaw, corn salad and quinoa salad (both leftover from a work event!), and more. And one of the neighbors, who is a close friend, has a daughter who works at <a href="https://www.bakeshopva.com/">Bakeshop</a> in Falls Church, so she brought over cupcakes. Yummy!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Saturday</b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuv5h8QJI1d2QQluVNZLb8Y1owf1aauQLvAinzcT8YcYUJ75Vd7B0pOHFn3V-akJg8rLzrorqn9C0t-M0PF-qc7-oeVB0gVhOmU0iUY0Q5ErSeAQH8_4_2JfxAZ5CtmiNkGhC-ALaX_BFVvNXHjMSnHYped0PDO2d0OixzBpJFF3XL3xT2goVJ30vNg/s1360/radiance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1360" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuv5h8QJI1d2QQluVNZLb8Y1owf1aauQLvAinzcT8YcYUJ75Vd7B0pOHFn3V-akJg8rLzrorqn9C0t-M0PF-qc7-oeVB0gVhOmU0iUY0Q5ErSeAQH8_4_2JfxAZ5CtmiNkGhC-ALaX_BFVvNXHjMSnHYped0PDO2d0OixzBpJFF3XL3xT2goVJ30vNg/s320/radiance.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipPvnciErN0sJtIyF66ipDGMGZ9xGMTCQt7EyJFm=s1360-w1360-h1020">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After my morning <a href="https://www.orangetheory.com/">Orange Theory</a> class, I went down to Alexandria for a yoga class at <a href="https://radiance-yoga.net/?gclid=CjwKCAjwvdajBhBEEiwAeMh1U24nPx1qhxLmjlF5-hIXDsmaWuBA2zV-Wh_h6iUV1Ali2HQNU1CxmRoCf3oQAvD_BwE">Radiance Yoga</a>. A colleague of mine goes there, and they have a two-week unlimited special for new people. I had taken one class the weekend before, so this was my second time at the studio. The space is beautiful with lots of natural light, and since I don't do yoga regularly like I did pre-pandemic, I enjoyed the extra stretching.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DCdUJ0Cie7j1KqbvH3uyLydC0zaQXWYtcOklHSCAZnPm4o2b0HyjPrqVyDa4xCK7TnmFDeLM6uJ0D_-tMP4uC9mrBd2V9dwNFOgDbwrW0TzyKjiXZvK6Ch__EkIQ8bUygJiyGiykLZ-e0PQ5piVMz5ta0faUgiFqE9Hr1t8nX3MGJmeQ4IACmlzyLA/s1024/Lake-Accotink-Springfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DCdUJ0Cie7j1KqbvH3uyLydC0zaQXWYtcOklHSCAZnPm4o2b0HyjPrqVyDa4xCK7TnmFDeLM6uJ0D_-tMP4uC9mrBd2V9dwNFOgDbwrW0TzyKjiXZvK6Ch__EkIQ8bUygJiyGiykLZ-e0PQ5piVMz5ta0faUgiFqE9Hr1t8nX3MGJmeQ4IACmlzyLA/w400-h300/Lake-Accotink-Springfield.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.funinfairfaxva.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Lake-Accotink-Springfield.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>To continue my day of activity, after having a quick snack my boyfriend and I visited <a href="https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-accotink/">Lake Accotink</a> at colleague's suggestion. It was a very sunny day, and most of this walk is shaded, so that was perfect. The loop around the lake is more than three miles (maybe even closer to five?), so we walked for a long time. You can't see the lake during most of the walk, since you're in the woods, but you do see streams; at one point you have to walk through a neighborhood to continue on the nature path, which was a little strange. We liked being outside, and we would definitely go ahead, next time going around the lake in the opposite direction!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9LXYuvzbEemA8M0LGWGpczjvs9yeHo_1m8pkta3nxgoreRcUf_LsRHL_6CfrxssVQdVnvd5YxUOLTnOn2QojpclDW-BA05HkbuxcyfoBvUpi4L2rq3FgiU_j0tRzoJ5DTLdmq6uLkP-clEIEK7H7IM-HG-tLqmJwX7vLeFaFDRaVpGn8FMur4E4ApQ/s384/concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="384" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9LXYuvzbEemA8M0LGWGpczjvs9yeHo_1m8pkta3nxgoreRcUf_LsRHL_6CfrxssVQdVnvd5YxUOLTnOn2QojpclDW-BA05HkbuxcyfoBvUpi4L2rq3FgiU_j0tRzoJ5DTLdmq6uLkP-clEIEK7H7IM-HG-tLqmJwX7vLeFaFDRaVpGn8FMur4E4ApQ/w400-h224/concert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/iCwGAfl-asset-mezzanine-16x9-hVqsZvU.jpg?crop=384x215&?format=jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>After such an active day, we should have taken it easy for the rest of the night. But nope! We headed downtown to go to a rehearsal of the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/">National Memorial Day Concert</a>. My friend is married to the tuba player of the <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/">NSO</a>, so he has played this holiday concert for many years. So we joined her for a picnic as we watched the show. The rehearsals on both Friday and Saturday are open to the public, but less crowded than the real concert on Sunday, so it was nice that it wasn't crowded at all. BUT for safety reasons, a lot of the walkways are blocked off, and since we got off at the wrong metro stop, we ended up walking for FORTY minutes before eventually getting to the western lawn of the Capitol (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/my-trip-to-kentucky-our-day-at-kentucky.html">it felt like the Kentucky Derby all over again!</a>). We found my friend and practically collapsed on her picnic blanket. But once we were finally sitting down, it was good to catch up with her and have some snacks. The concert itself was of course somber, since the event is about the memory of Americans soldiers lost in the many wars of our country's history. The performance was a mix of songs (I liked seeing <a href="https://www.phillipphillips.com/">Phillip Phillips</a> and <a href="https://jodeemessina.com/">Jo Dee Messina</a> best) and speeches, the latter featuring family members of those who lost their lives or were POWs. I definitely got teary-eyed a few times listening to their very personal stories of grief. This concert is held every year (and similar concerts are organized for the 4th of July and Labor Day as well), and yet this was the first time I ever even heard of it, let alone watched it. It's such a DC thing to do, and I'm glad I got to experience it and take that moment to remember our lost veterans.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can watch a full video of the concert here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i7hyIM8-rYA" width="320" youtube-src-id="i7hyIM8-rYA"></iframe></div><br /><div><b>Sunday</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After my boyfriend and I worked out, I visited my grandmother for a little while just to check up on her. My poppop was in the Navy, so it felt appropriate to visit her over the holiday weekend (he passed two years ago). She and I walked (strolled is more like it) around the courtyard of her senior living center, and it was nice to talk with her and spend time together. After I returned to my boyfriend's house, he and I had breakfast before he scooted off to go motorcycle riding. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjETueHaK9WA3vVTKJalyuWv8FCvqWDGMg-b9acG-qwqmn_678ajdnyK2nI-fFOmkZnTLo2Qper0Pi1YPhV1u8NiDER3BCumNaydd7YbdzN1NjHX8G70Xcu81vhXT43mIBSxBONrYkHuKdI6QbJLhAZBsySzcEra3YS_Z1WiQT3IiuY-m1cArfGyhL2w/s1500/trestle-bridge-along-capital-crescent-trail-photo-by-milo-bateman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1500" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjETueHaK9WA3vVTKJalyuWv8FCvqWDGMg-b9acG-qwqmn_678ajdnyK2nI-fFOmkZnTLo2Qper0Pi1YPhV1u8NiDER3BCumNaydd7YbdzN1NjHX8G70Xcu81vhXT43mIBSxBONrYkHuKdI6QbJLhAZBsySzcEra3YS_Z1WiQT3IiuY-m1cArfGyhL2w/w400-h205/trestle-bridge-along-capital-crescent-trail-photo-by-milo-bateman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.railstotrails.org/media/489418/trestle-bridge-along-capital-crescent-trail-photo-by-milo-bateman.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>While he was riding, I went back to Bethesda and took a walk with a sorority sister along the <a href="https://www.cctrail.org/">Capital Crescent Trail</a>. It's so convenient to have this lovely path right from the heart of downtown Bethesda. My friend and I had the chance to catch up, since I hadn't seen her in about a month, and she told me all about her mom visiting over Mother's Day weekend and her trip to Clearwater for a bachelorette party. We walked for over an hour, so just another day of nature walking for me!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxCGBvtyzTWfNSQxrtWpzEnR3GPONL51FTwrZIO-gmo4S9ws_2uewj96HxTQkql8drmKdW2G63YRwxLIDtGCE25sCcV60VoOVSyflCP8xEbgIegJamaVkWXOJl4F1Qz928ZZzEWufWsSPJ1U2u4AFED5TYp4LNFs2-AbK52-sgkggPVUsSkU-7zSeaw/s1720/TikiSun_litbar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1720" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxCGBvtyzTWfNSQxrtWpzEnR3GPONL51FTwrZIO-gmo4S9ws_2uewj96HxTQkql8drmKdW2G63YRwxLIDtGCE25sCcV60VoOVSyflCP8xEbgIegJamaVkWXOJl4F1Qz928ZZzEWufWsSPJ1U2u4AFED5TYp4LNFs2-AbK52-sgkggPVUsSkU-7zSeaw/w400-h271/TikiSun_litbar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T_-PTCYgRNPNNohbQ_aEfhLJy0g=/0x0:2000x1358/1720x0/filters:focal(0x0:2000x1358):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13618754/TikiSun_litbar.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>That night my boyfriend and I went to the <a href="https://www.wharfdc.com/">Wharf</a> to buy <a href="https://billyidol.net/">Billy Idol</a> tickets at <a href="https://theanthemdc.com/">the Anthem</a>'s box office (wanted to avoid those online fees!). Since we were already down there, we had drinks at <a href="https://www.cantinabambina.com/">Cantina Bambina</a> and <a href="https://www.tikitnt.com/">Tiki TNT</a>. From afar we saw a pop-up for <a href="https://www.whistlepigwhiskey.com/age-gate">Whistle Pig</a> bourbon, but by the time we walked over there it had already closed. Darn it! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Monday</b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrib3GPdYMYcT1l-FDItbCF95LPUGVst1iAbS_3hrZzm2zEqk6UJQmGjUwkr7Srce4xzQcZVNprW-D4qNGb5wvC1X42zaim_VieG_KFnaxPajZ_iKsBg5TOIoI51tHilz0-ToynBVPq0WIblM29pIeZz5aPrcb2wTTRXelteJ6EjEl4vjZLPj4IJ6Cg/s3264/old%20town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrib3GPdYMYcT1l-FDItbCF95LPUGVst1iAbS_3hrZzm2zEqk6UJQmGjUwkr7Srce4xzQcZVNprW-D4qNGb5wvC1X42zaim_VieG_KFnaxPajZ_iKsBg5TOIoI51tHilz0-ToynBVPq0WIblM29pIeZz5aPrcb2wTTRXelteJ6EjEl4vjZLPj4IJ6Cg/s320/old%20town.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://nesbittrealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1030131729c.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A friend and his girlfriend were visiting the area for the holiday weekend, so we met up for some more Radiance yoga before picking up breakfast from <a href="https://www.southblock.com/">South Block</a> (I got their points since they don't have the app. Woot!) and eating our acai bowls on the <a href="https://visitalexandria.com/things-to-do/waterfront-activities/?msclkid=edcb56a3bdd71e6170a132d5b63909d4&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Things%20to%20Do%20-%20In%20Market&utm_term=old%20town%20alexandria%20waterfront&utm_content=Waterfront%20Activities">Old Town Alexandria waterfront</a>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRp8eCXvEhhh3lMR81buQb73BKmRZ5aSW-JKVTTUsUTeG5ZKxEAaGDMcToP2ybdjPvVOmnrPh1Aw65izzQQvKEKLpn47zIWwNQwLznhp7KNBsu6eI4k8m64x3q16EcKzMKxbVqxrWhnAt4HqP2LCPdA0ZF1LQ7Q2z1SD6xyjD6UQHBvIRH_3mGbZYkQ/s680/Park.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="680" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRp8eCXvEhhh3lMR81buQb73BKmRZ5aSW-JKVTTUsUTeG5ZKxEAaGDMcToP2ybdjPvVOmnrPh1Aw65izzQQvKEKLpn47zIWwNQwLznhp7KNBsu6eI4k8m64x3q16EcKzMKxbVqxrWhnAt4HqP2LCPdA0ZF1LQ7Q2z1SD6xyjD6UQHBvIRH_3mGbZYkQ/w400-h271/Park.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Screen shot from Google Maps</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Before the rain set in, my boyfriend and I took his dog on a long walk along the trail leading to <a href="https://www.fallschurchva.gov/1548/Howard-E-Herman-Stream-Valley-Park">Howard E. Harman Stream Valley Park</a>. We have passed this entrance several times (just past <a href="https://www.penzeys.com/">Penzey's Spices</a> on Broad Street in Falls Church), but I have never walked the path. It takes you into a neighborhood, so you can either turn around or just return higher up on Broad Street and make your way back. Not really a destination for a walk, but if you are already in the area, it is a nice way to get outside.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_y8LGvOQVvPgr-Kt28ztQ5jlwyo8lmTOA7OvWw1GrETwAvwQ8CfayRBI9yam-gXUcfHi3R4y5OUrUfAYRQ9DK4g0xcriDmLlV5SAbYpWgLNgdUl-hsbttZElSqKy7SCAdOACahTpwtIsXb8fo0LXLRJoGFjQpL0eSf6lVpPaHVCSavFVz07WDuyo1A/s940/R-DC-Millies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="940" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_y8LGvOQVvPgr-Kt28ztQ5jlwyo8lmTOA7OvWw1GrETwAvwQ8CfayRBI9yam-gXUcfHi3R4y5OUrUfAYRQ9DK4g0xcriDmLlV5SAbYpWgLNgdUl-hsbttZElSqKy7SCAdOACahTpwtIsXb8fo0LXLRJoGFjQpL0eSf6lVpPaHVCSavFVz07WDuyo1A/s320/R-DC-Millies1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://images.indagare.com/wp-content/uploads/R-DC-Millies1.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We braved the rain that night to meet up with another couple for dinner at <a href="https://milliesdc.com/">Millie's</a> in Spring Valley. Even though this restaurant is right up the road from <a href="http://www.american.edu">American University</a> (where I worked for almost four years), I had only ever been to Millie's once before. I think they were understaffed, and because everyone was inside instead of outside because of the weather, the staff seemed overwhelmed. Also, it seems like the vents in the ceiling leak (especially when it's raining), so make sure to sit away from the windows in case you go on a stormy day! The food and drinks are good, but it's a little expensive for what it is. Our bill was nearly $200 just for four of us to go out to dinner! And it's not even a fancy place! Maybe that's why I only visited once before...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUCH a packed weekend, despite not traveling for the holiday!</b></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-31130133010573924162023-05-25T08:29:00.002-07:002023-05-25T08:29:10.821-07:00Movies from the 2023 JxJ Film Festival [SPOILERS]<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSHkAgWhmj_C8aUmGK_g5iMaag2tBpd4C7LIaEg1cue_DFMogwZ_DHljbf9Uj6IT7UfYHzskcKXPCR4UXOTnacb3ZWQ9nxNnx5gSl46NLzI4p7K1xP2MAXvAOezVUoyyvLx5MZmwMtnOEYm1C4PNtkULqc0UqsxhoTjwLjEg6dfuCpUU4pRebWMM4jA/s2995/jxj.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2152" data-original-width="2995" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSHkAgWhmj_C8aUmGK_g5iMaag2tBpd4C7LIaEg1cue_DFMogwZ_DHljbf9Uj6IT7UfYHzskcKXPCR4UXOTnacb3ZWQ9nxNnx5gSl46NLzI4p7K1xP2MAXvAOezVUoyyvLx5MZmwMtnOEYm1C4PNtkULqc0UqsxhoTjwLjEg6dfuCpUU4pRebWMM4jA/w400-h288/jxj.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://image.isu.pub/230324160122-29ef32673229ab4823d019f15a6f1f1a/jpg/page_1.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I have purchased a pass for the <a href="http://www.jxjdc.org">Washington Jewish Film Festival</a> (or JxJ Festival) for several years (read my blog posts from <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/edlavitch-dcjcc-washington-jewish-film.html">2017</a>, <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/2018-washington-jewish-film-festival.html">2018</a>, and <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/2019-washington-jewish-film-festival.html">2019</a>). Of course the festival didn't happen in 2020 or 2021, and while it did take place last year, I guess I was lazy and didn't write about it. But I'm back to my film reviews this time around!</p><p><b>In total, I was able to see eight films</b>. The festival just happened to fall during a time when I was already busy supporting the arts in other ways. (I saw the play <i><a href="https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/here-there-are-blueberries/">Here There Are Blueberries</a></i> at the <a href="https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/">Shakespeare Theatre Company</a>, caught <a href="https://www.hunterhayes.com/">Hunter Hayes</a> in concert at <a href="http://www.sixthandi.org">Sixth & I</a>, and watched a <a href="https://www.thelincolndc.com/e/all-things-equal-the-life-trials-of-ruth-bader-ginsburg/">production about RBG</a> at the <a href="https://www.thelincolndc.com/">Lincoln Theatre</a> in the same week.*) Here are my thoughts about the movies I saw.</p><p><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14300518/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_8_nm_0_q_karaoke">Karaoke</a></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aa6ixlELNnA" width="320" youtube-src-id="aa6ixlELNnA"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>This was my first movie of the festival... and it wasn't my favorite. It's mostly about a middle-aged couple who isn't very happy, and then they meet a "cool" new neighbor. In a way, that character inspires them to be more open and free, but he's also a bad influence, causing jealousy and other bad behavior (plus, he does hard drugs). In general I didn't find the characters likeable, although I can appreciate the way the couple was realistically portrayed after two people are married for several decades. I just can't say I would ever watch this movie again or recommend it to anyone else.<p><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6977176/">Bella</a></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/doPSqBsndQ4" width="320" youtube-src-id="doPSqBsndQ4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my favorite parts about the JxJ Film Festival is the fact that they show a lot of documentaries about Jewish women who did incredible things with their lives. <i>Bella</i> is just that. This film is about <a href="https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lewitsky-bella">Bella Lewitsky</a>, who was an American dancer and choreographer who really put modern dance on the map for the West Coast (dance used to be seen as an East Coast thing, with New York snubbing their nose at L.A. for not having any culture). Even though modern dance is not my cup-of-tea, I do appreciate the arts, and I admire women who have a great impact on the arts and try to protect them for the future. It was cool watching her dance and learning about her career, from dancer to choreographer to having her own dance company. I also appreciate that she was a woman of principle. Her dance company was going to receive a grant from the <a href="https://www.arts.gov/">National Endowment of the Arts</a>, but there was a clause saying that in accepting the grant, the company couldn't create any art that could be interpreted as pornography. She felt like that was a kind of censorship, an attack on the First Amendment, and so she did not accept the grant, but rather sued the National Endowment. She was putting her own dancers and company at risk, but it was for the greater good. And she achieved all this success despite being blacklisted for many years during the Red Scare relating to communism. I really enjoyed learning about Bella and her life, and as a supporter of the arts, I can now have admiration for her and her work, too. </div><div><br /></div><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11610804/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_haute%2520couture">Haute Couture</a></i></b><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PSGK0Oz0vbQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="PSGK0Oz0vbQ"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>This film is mostly about an older woman whose career in the Dior atelier is ending, and her relationship with a street urchin (if you will) whom she takes under her wing to help give her a better life. They meet when the young woman and her friend rob the seamstress (and then return the belongings). The young girl lives in a bad part of town and takes care of her mother who has mental health issues; the seamstress wants to introduce this girl to a new world of possibilities, of learning a skill and being surrounded by beauty. While their relationship has ups and downs, they both grow as people in knowing one another. I love fashion, so I enjoyed that part of the movie, and there were surprisingly many <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASMR">ASMR</a> moments, like hair play and touching fabrics and flowers; I was feeling those tingles! I think my least favorite parts were the sex scenes, because the actress looks too young to be having sex, but that's just me being a prude!<br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23633496/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_1_q_the%2520story%2520of%2520annette%2520zelman">Story of Annette Zelman</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3z-lGVX-2lc" width="320" youtube-src-id="3z-lGVX-2lc"></iframe></div><br /><div>This movie is based on a true story, and I really enjoyed that it focused on the love story aspect. Although the title mentions Annette Zelman, the film doesn't just follow her, but also the man she falls in love with and hopes to marry. His father is against the match, and he speaks to higher-ups in the German army to break up the couple. He didn't intend her any harm, but of course she is arrested for no reason other than being Jewish; she spends over a year in two different prisons before reaching her demise in Auschwitz. The film does show her in the first two prisons (and her fiancé's visits at the second one), but they do not show her transport to Auschwitz or her short time there. We follow her lover's quest to save her, mainly hoping his powerful father can help without knowing that his father did this to Annette in the first place; he eventually goes to the front hoping to find her and is killed in the war. The movie ends showing Annette's younger sister (who also acts as the narrator of the film) getting married and dancing at her wedding; the scene flips back and forth between that couple dancing and Annette and her fiancé dancing, if only they had had the chance to get married. The boy's father attends this wedding, and I cannot imagine the guilt he felt for destroying Annette's life, causing such pain to her family, and disappointing and in the end losing his only son. I thought this was one of the better movies I saw at the festival this year.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14404954/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_q_shadow%2520of%2520the%2520day">Shadow of the Day</a></b></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xEBJzyAi7to" width="320" youtube-src-id="xEBJzyAi7to"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>I don't understand the title of this film, but that's the least of my concerns. This movie was SO boring: in two hours, the only interesting thing that happened was one murder. The majority of the film just shows people working in a restaurant, and occasionally interesting people come in; and of course there's the cliché of hiding a Jew during World War II. And when the movie wasn't boring, it was weird. A couple of times there were scenes of schoolgirls in their uniforms doing rhythmic gym exercises, like with hula hoops or on roller skates; it was as if they were putting on a show for the restaurant specifically, and it just so happened that no one else was in the square at that same time. Huh? If I thought I didn't like the movie <i>Karaoke</i>, I certainly thought this film was worse, and I honestly couldn't wait for it to be over. </div><div><p><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14636114/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_3_nm_5_q_Sch%25C3%25A4chten">Schächten</a></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NODfRaSV2wM" width="320" youtube-src-id="NODfRaSV2wM"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>I saw this movie with my boyfriend as "date night." But... it was not very romantic. This film is meant to be based on a true story, but some parts of it were so dramatic that I wasn't sure which parts were based on reality. Essentially a young man named Victor (played by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7666229/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1">Jeff Wilbusch</a>, who looks like <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0748620/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_3_nm_5_q_paul%2520rudd">Paul Rudd</a>) lived in the wilderness and saw his family get slaughtered by Nazis on horseback. So he has made it his goal to get revenge, especially when one particular Nazi gets acquitted in court. He harasses the man and his wife, and even though Victor is beaten and threatened, he continues after the man, until in the end he kidnaps the Nazi's wife (using her as bait) and then traps the Nazi in a cave in the woods leaving nothing in the cave except for a knife. So it sort of makes sense that the movie is called <i>sch<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">ä</span>chten</i>, which translates to <i>shechita</i>, which is a Jewish ritual of slaughtering animals with a knife. It's a long movie with a couple of particularly gory parts (I covered my eyes), and I can't say I'm glad that I saw it.</div><div><p><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27442113/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_A%2520Pocketful%2520of%2520Miracles%253A%2520A%2520Tale%2520of%2520">A Pocketful of Miracles: A Tale of Two Siblings</a></i></b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9NDVDtkTeY2dCgPoKjjtLOYoP-6OZniVY12Qiu-Z5nlTGqsD6-mkIQfuCzaOKoSjs7LqJc-UD_TNp2riGi44E1_1tuvcehsBSpWDLaXJt1JTymM67iuN7LorWOwa5ENNIVhkrrPMzQpNbZrnwErTU5jkoy3p-vCLZWqO7bbKSYgfchuVPR_ZOrYetA/s2048/SCAN_000268_aviva1-2048x1564.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="2048" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9NDVDtkTeY2dCgPoKjjtLOYoP-6OZniVY12Qiu-Z5nlTGqsD6-mkIQfuCzaOKoSjs7LqJc-UD_TNp2riGi44E1_1tuvcehsBSpWDLaXJt1JTymM67iuN7LorWOwa5ENNIVhkrrPMzQpNbZrnwErTU5jkoy3p-vCLZWqO7bbKSYgfchuVPR_ZOrYetA/w400-h305/SCAN_000268_aviva1-2048x1564.jpg" width="400" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.pickingupthepiecesfilm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SCAN_000268_aviva1-2048x1564.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Unfortunately I was unable to find a trailer for this film, probably because it's so new. And while it does share the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055312/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_pocketful%2520of">same title as an older film</a>, they are <b>not</b> the same!</p><p>This is a documentary about a brother and sister, David and Helene, who survived World War II, separately, but they found each other. The Polish siblings were raised by a linguist mother and a father who was a successful businessman. They went into hiding when the Nazis began taking Jews to the trains, but they were found and all taken to the train station (except the grandmother, who was killed on-site, to which Helene said "was the best thing that could have happened," so that the grandmother didn't suffer in the camps). The rest of the family went on the train, but Helene had received a letter from her father telling her to go to another family's home. While she was only a teenager and wished to be with her family, she did go to the address, and she survived the war from moving from place to place without being caught. Her brother, on the other hand, went through most of the war in Auschwitz with their father by his side. The father helped protect David, but when David was sick and had to go to an infirmary, their father gave up, thinking his son was dead (they already knew the mother and younger sister had already been gassed, so the father felt like there was nothing to live for). But David did regain his health and escaped into the woods during one of the death marches. Through talking with Russian and American soldiers, and learning about his sister's survival (she had been recognized for giving apples to men walking on the marches and eventually was hired to work for the <a href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/united-nations-relief-and-rehabilitation-administration">United Nations Relief and Rehabilition Administration (UNRRA)</a>, David was able to find her and the two reconnected, eventually making their way to America separately. And they both led successful, long lives until their passings.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfP5lqX71O2sSHpjlL-kJf43uQ5a1TxgSTYQ7VIQZd8vBN4Mtv_wQ7wTaI7UXytUTe3B1bHbDL7TKOaCXIsRdQvrFmoIdhAWaC2h-MZ38exZK1ao1Fyq6vhzovSOcDrlRVJ4b6FRO-B8yQM_1Bbfo4A5-ZJ0HQrQFJ5adl2Xpra3jaq4Bz2e4Bn85sA/s4000/20230521_140220.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfP5lqX71O2sSHpjlL-kJf43uQ5a1TxgSTYQ7VIQZd8vBN4Mtv_wQ7wTaI7UXytUTe3B1bHbDL7TKOaCXIsRdQvrFmoIdhAWaC2h-MZ38exZK1ao1Fyq6vhzovSOcDrlRVJ4b6FRO-B8yQM_1Bbfo4A5-ZJ0HQrQFJ5adl2Xpra3jaq4Bz2e4Bn85sA/s320/20230521_140220.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wolf Blitzer moderating a conversation with Aviva Kempner, the director of the film.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The movie was directed by Helene's daughter, <a href="https://www.pickingupthepiecesfilm.org/meet-the-filmmakers/">Aviva Kempner</a>, who is now 75 years old and a second generation survivor. The movie consists of family photos and videos, as well as pictures and clips from true events or from other films portraying the events of World War II (fifty sources!). The most moving footage are from interviews with her mother Helene and her Uncle David about their experiences. These primary sources were provided to the <a href="https://sfi.usc.edu/">Shoah Foundation</a>, which was created by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000229/">Steven Spielberg</a> after he was inspired by WWII Jewish survivors during the filming of <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_Schindler%27s%2520List">Schindler's List</a></i>. The stories of Helene and David were already amazing, but to hear and see them tell it themselves was even more incredible. She clearly was a charismatic, vivacious person who spoke her mind; her honesty of how she truly felt about different people brought the audience to laughter several times ("sorrow with humor" is common with Jews); at the beginning of the film she demands that "nothing be edited," which of course isn't possible! And David was so humble, even after becoming very successful to the point of meeting multiple presidents (actually both siblings knew the Carters). Even after what he has been through, he has such an optimistic viewpoint on life, believing that everything happens for a reason. Both siblings achieved the "American dream" after going through so much. </p><p>After the screening, we had the chance to hear from the director who was in conversation with CNN reporter <a href="https://www.cnn.com/profiles/wolf-blitzer-profile">Wolf Blitzer</a>. He also was the child of parents who survived the war; his family came to Buffalo, NY when he was a baby. His father provided an interview to the <a href="https://www.ushmm.org/">US Holocaust Memorial Museum</a> so that those memories were not lost. Blitzer and Kempner discussed how they didn't ask their parents about the war because it wasn't something anyone talked about (or wanted to talk about). They discussed how important these survivor interviews are so that we don't forget what happen, and we have that proof to show Holocaust deniers. This was such a personal film that was so well done, and I'm glad I could see it as well as hear from the director herself.</p><p><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21379186/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_Valeria%2520is%2520Getting%2520Married">Valeria is Getting Married</a></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m4c0IsgJPmc" width="320" youtube-src-id="m4c0IsgJPmc"></iframe></div><p>This was not the best movie for me to end the festival with. I didn't like any of the characters, and I felt like they brought the worst out in each other. A young woman from Ukraine, Christina, is betrothed to a man in Israel, and she brings her younger sister, Valeria, to Tel Aviv for her to meet a future husband as well; the first woman's fiancé, Michael, has arranged for the travel as well as the "marriage" between Valeria and Etian (who is paying Michael $5,000 for a "wife"). But Valeria doesn't like her betrothed and locks herself in the bathroom. Christina eventually goes in there with her, but Valeria tosses the key out the window, and now both women are locked in the bathroom while the two men are awkwardly waiting in the living room. Eventually they do come out, and despite the weirdness of the situation, Christina takes Valeria to the airport to go home, and that's how it ends.</p><p>The characters were just so unlikeable:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Christina is being selfish in bringing her sister to Israel; it's simply that she's lonely and doesn't have many friends, so she wants Valeria there with her, even if it's in an unhappy marriage.</li><li>Valeria is being very rude and immature when locking herself in the bathroom instead of handling the situation like an adult.</li><li>Michael is only thinking about the money he is getting paid and doesn't care if Valeria is happy in the marriage or not. He's also rude to Christina, threatening that he could send her back to Ukraine so she wouldn't get her Israeli citizenship.</li><li>Etian comes on WAY too strong with Valeria even though they have only skyped a few times before their meeting. And when he is rejected, he insists that he doesn't want any other woman, that she's the one, and that he loves her. He barely knows her! So he comes off like some sort of psycho, and then you're glad Valeria doesn't want to be with him. </li></ul><p></p><p><b>So... I wasn't a big fan of this year's festival. </b>There were films, mainly the documentaries, that I thought were good, but in general there were too many films I didn't like for me to fully enjoy myself. This will probably be my last year buying a full festival pass, since I felt like I not only didn't get my money's worth, but also wasted several hours of my life that I'll never get back (especially on beautiful, sunny days in May!).</p><p>*Here are those related blog posts if you're interested:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/play-review-here-there-are-blueberries.html">Play Review:<i> Here There Are Blueberries</i></a></li><li><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/hunter-hayes-in-concert-at-sixth-i.html">Hunter Hayes Concert at Sixth & I</a></li><li><i><a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/all-things-equal-life-and-trials-of.html">All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a></i></li></ul><p></p></div>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-24203674929429963922023-05-24T10:58:00.001-07:002023-05-24T10:58:31.764-07:00All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjcG92ACLZMisYEhXbMitzC9SRqxMD6H0ps4KpeSgCMS3A1hPPqTqYXhPtC7n6mriqvp5N9Qlbt09rVCba74pbVNg3qGHMd_kdHPzKwQfPEX8AGxp3nRhjXbK1tQU0J5djGyZDhMeZyEbNHPN1JwvFGfwOjoaUAYtlYib6tFsutNl7c0uNinMhQasZg/s300/all-thing-equal-rgb-poster-taw-3x3-web_orig.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjcG92ACLZMisYEhXbMitzC9SRqxMD6H0ps4KpeSgCMS3A1hPPqTqYXhPtC7n6mriqvp5N9Qlbt09rVCba74pbVNg3qGHMd_kdHPzKwQfPEX8AGxp3nRhjXbK1tQU0J5djGyZDhMeZyEbNHPN1JwvFGfwOjoaUAYtlYib6tFsutNl7c0uNinMhQasZg/s1600/all-thing-equal-rgb-poster-taw-3x3-web_orig.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image found <a href="https://www.scottstander.com/uploads/7/5/8/8/75882027/all-thing-equal-rgb-poster-taw-3x3-web_orig.jpg">here</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I always admired <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographyginsburg.aspx">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a> from the moment I learned who she was. I was especially enamored after watching the documentary <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7689964/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_q_rbg"><i>RBG</i></a>, which highlighted not only her esteemed career but also her loving and devoted family life.</p><p>This performance does the same thing. <a href="https://michelleazar.com/index.html">Michelle Azar</a> plays RBG in this one-woman show, and for nearly two hours she is up on stage on her own filling some figuratively big shoes (I assume Ginsburg's real feet were quite tiny for such a petite woman). She mimics the late Supreme Court Justice's mannerisms, especially in speaking slowly and deliberately when giving oral arguments. She worked the stage well (set as the Justice's chambers), and her costume changes were seamless (I especially enjoyed when she was wearing a bright pink workout jacket). I also thought it was fun when she broke the fourth wall, treating the audience like a friend of her granddaughter who is in the office interviewing the Justice for a history project. I thought Azar did a wonderful job of embodying the late Justice.</p><p>Throughout the show, images and videos were played on a big screen, such as pictures of abolitionists like <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony">Susan B. Anthony</a>, former and current Supreme Court Justices (i.e. a lot of old white men), and this "music video" featuring <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571952/">Kate McKinnon</a> from <i><a href="https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live">Saturday Night Live</a></i>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e6e_rGWbFqs" width="320" youtube-src-id="e6e_rGWbFqs"></iframe></div><p>I am always impressed by one-person plays (<a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2021/10/play-review-becoming-dr-ruth-spoilers.html">read my blog post about <i>Becoming Dr. Ruth</i></a>), and this one did not disappoint. But if you have had seen the documentary about her, or even the biopic <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4669788/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_3_nm_5_q_on%2520the%2520basis%2520o">On The Basis of Sex</a></i>, I'm not sure you need to see this show, since you already know the story!</p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3498342739848171206.post-14831948688708618702023-05-23T09:14:00.000-07:002023-05-23T09:14:58.673-07:00Last Day of My Kentucky Trip<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSDr3Mgutl6V-r2CfIiVlav3RQQVTrb8OcZfmjHEIgSMYH-tSa6-fTCvgrJaCH_Ln_Ao77k5UdgSYLGsDGVfFUnCYOZAzuQoQ7A2fsYDvfaOjq25I6Wtn964fKvvnB5JX-MG6bwqJlRrb6eEVFac2iupagYivhHS51z4KMJL19mNM34uGAbKmtszqFQ/s4000/20230509_094453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSDr3Mgutl6V-r2CfIiVlav3RQQVTrb8OcZfmjHEIgSMYH-tSa6-fTCvgrJaCH_Ln_Ao77k5UdgSYLGsDGVfFUnCYOZAzuQoQ7A2fsYDvfaOjq25I6Wtn964fKvvnB5JX-MG6bwqJlRrb6eEVFac2iupagYivhHS51z4KMJL19mNM34uGAbKmtszqFQ/s320/20230509_094453.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>My last day in Kentucky started with a tour at the <a href="https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/">Buffalo Trace Distillery</a>. Buffalo Trace is my boyfriend's favorite bourbon, so we were really looking forward to this tour. And it did not disappoint! Just like our previous distillery tours in Kentucky (check out those blog posts <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/my-trip-to-kentucky-first-day-on.html">here</a> and <a href="https://confidenceiskeyblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/my-trip-to-kentucky-second-day-on.html">here</a>), our tour guide was fun and knowledgeable. I didn't realize how many brands fall under the Buffalo Trace name, or that they're all made under five main mash bills (including one for rye products). That means all of the products are made of most of the same stuff; the name and cost differences come from how long it's been aged and where it was stored (at the top of the building, where it's hot, or at the bottom where it's cool). So <a href="https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/ancient-age.html">Ancient Age</a> and <a href="https://topbourbon.com/collections/blantons?msclkid=2dc37a05babf1eec8c621e627620660e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=**LP%20-%20NonTM%20-%20Brand%20-%20Blanton%27s&utm_term=blanton%27s%20bourbon&utm_content=Blanton%27s%20Bourbon">Blanton's</a> really aren't that different!</p><p>We had the chance to visit several buildings on the campus:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMMp7SutHgsBP4DPRqr83f1ryOukOjDVhwkiovQMbz3hocqI0R_XuvpXmYVFuP-Z2_1ppy3uMEpVA-Zwe1aV4KXOCM0kKNpqCSoKcZuxF8G-x3R_GmmZbGrCuBjvu3fe9AMixnX7QbrnlIPQN3VSeDUOg6svWR36M2WJYGJ8lOtPSoO137UFgvhxCMg/s4000/20230509_102429.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMMp7SutHgsBP4DPRqr83f1ryOukOjDVhwkiovQMbz3hocqI0R_XuvpXmYVFuP-Z2_1ppy3uMEpVA-Zwe1aV4KXOCM0kKNpqCSoKcZuxF8G-x3R_GmmZbGrCuBjvu3fe9AMixnX7QbrnlIPQN3VSeDUOg6svWR36M2WJYGJ8lOtPSoO137UFgvhxCMg/s320/20230509_102429.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is where the barrels go after they've aged but before they're emptied.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5jxHsniAVHz5JRQL6IIxCURb89SM80Wb-R90aX-Tchdhpc-32VCsEj7tsOXIuQrepF-dKfS6VflvCRFKYSmQ50qdOeMd2WSWxYTe8qHNcNVSY1gV5Xq6d2vhc7AeBiZ2ickLPOOdddeVVr0iK6F4QtuAhTfCBPATGpI7zuDtVGW1Qzr3Zt1ROvjvag/s4000/20230509_104504.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5jxHsniAVHz5JRQL6IIxCURb89SM80Wb-R90aX-Tchdhpc-32VCsEj7tsOXIuQrepF-dKfS6VflvCRFKYSmQ50qdOeMd2WSWxYTe8qHNcNVSY1gV5Xq6d2vhc7AeBiZ2ickLPOOdddeVVr0iK6F4QtuAhTfCBPATGpI7zuDtVGW1Qzr3Zt1ROvjvag/s320/20230509_104504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's hard to see, but the barrels are being emptied into this trough.<br />The trough is full of the bourbon as well as bits of char from inside the barrels.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK9wyXnVSyToaBJ4Spq9dXcsjpkaQQqdpP7Eevy5I4d_TNT8AMCYbGLpkzIbrrsAEg3ttpbRCJSvizzhY7jezCpVqQ_84X9pZI9ST9CK9liaB0p1yZ-DXKefm1M7tm-HxHIBxL94EaMOCfdphM4_4V0h_0qe5-ro2aT3N1C1AAQWTCWkfLRKeCSzvhg/s4000/20230509_104054.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlK9wyXnVSyToaBJ4Spq9dXcsjpkaQQqdpP7Eevy5I4d_TNT8AMCYbGLpkzIbrrsAEg3ttpbRCJSvizzhY7jezCpVqQ_84X9pZI9ST9CK9liaB0p1yZ-DXKefm1M7tm-HxHIBxL94EaMOCfdphM4_4V0h_0qe5-ro2aT3N1C1AAQWTCWkfLRKeCSzvhg/s320/20230509_104054.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Buffalo Trace has won many awards, almost like a sports team!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkINoJbX_4_wwjCPl3RKV5WgJvSzoITlFpGes4zLioSZvXefVYqmSIW-qmua6spjIk-zeHuLdJIQ7Ysz3lSqXN8d3tCZdCDVLXy7IP_N4j5tNmEypoqCem-5EZg66QnAHy9bhxz46j0iZdsKvO-39BPfD3ttsuNczCZSTs6aLl3k-5rAvC_-DBrQWnw/s4000/20230509_105910.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkINoJbX_4_wwjCPl3RKV5WgJvSzoITlFpGes4zLioSZvXefVYqmSIW-qmua6spjIk-zeHuLdJIQ7Ysz3lSqXN8d3tCZdCDVLXy7IP_N4j5tNmEypoqCem-5EZg66QnAHy9bhxz46j0iZdsKvO-39BPfD3ttsuNczCZSTs6aLl3k-5rAvC_-DBrQWnw/s320/20230509_105910.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is where the bottling happens. Every bottle of Blanton's comes out of here! And fun fact: did you know that each little horse on the top of a bottle on Blanton's has a little letter on it? There are eight total: B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S. And each horse is a little different, so it looks like a horse running the Kentucky Derby, with the "S" jockey holding up his fist in victory!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then we enjoyed our tasting, which included some of their spirits as well as a cranberry lemonade cocktail. Yummy! And the next stop was the gift shop. They didn't have our sizes in most of their T-shirts (too bad), but we did end up buying a lot of liquor and other souvenirs. They sent us back to our car carrying a big cardboard box full of goodies!</p><p>After our tour and tasting, we left Kentucky and headed to <a href="https://www.visitcincy.com/">Cincinnati, Ohio</a>. We grabbed lunch to-go from the Cincy Gourmet Deli (probably the best food we ate during the entire trip) and then headed for the <a href="https://cincinnatizoo.org/">Cincinnati Zoo</a>. We were already planning to visit Ohio for a baseball game, but when I realized that <a href="https://twitter.com/CincinnatiZoo">Fritz the baby hippo that I love seeing on Twitter</a> is at the Cincinnati Zoo, I insisted we add the stop to our itinerary.</p><p>Here are some fun photos:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWw1tFpUSnHOZdeoXZ5jePBPD60XpIZAgoNO1Ok880E-vGwkEx3syRdXcm1H4MPLYq7Hsvgg-hBmw85aSMNAPZxHXVybD13IatGG0FXZG25Ltheo3hdd2HhBUOq_9r2C1nLe5SI7WdYgcCgefHzoEH-tkjOABZAz__PlJjVUXan-d07AaEboVAUJQkg/s4000/20230509_140838.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWw1tFpUSnHOZdeoXZ5jePBPD60XpIZAgoNO1Ok880E-vGwkEx3syRdXcm1H4MPLYq7Hsvgg-hBmw85aSMNAPZxHXVybD13IatGG0FXZG25Ltheo3hdd2HhBUOq_9r2C1nLe5SI7WdYgcCgefHzoEH-tkjOABZAz__PlJjVUXan-d07AaEboVAUJQkg/s320/20230509_140838.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm shorter than a baby giraffe!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_VjpVTLNXO_dUrQx_Zn5ZLyNwGhcoZPxYvSPhVmeTQYCQ-hFJFjkL2idXvkbXLg6b8QbmZJDcLJ66V5kYRCHDk2Seq4agARe3eVeydmM9QIDxf0R8h9t20rvsDHI0lltOROxL6IOG3ylhMz4X0PflDHy1-6jXiZ3fqQRAaF5wZlMqfHPMFhoSbw_Cw/s4000/20230509_143018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_VjpVTLNXO_dUrQx_Zn5ZLyNwGhcoZPxYvSPhVmeTQYCQ-hFJFjkL2idXvkbXLg6b8QbmZJDcLJ66V5kYRCHDk2Seq4agARe3eVeydmM9QIDxf0R8h9t20rvsDHI0lltOROxL6IOG3ylhMz4X0PflDHy1-6jXiZ3fqQRAaF5wZlMqfHPMFhoSbw_Cw/s320/20230509_143018.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fritz was sleeping in the corner of his enclosure, so I got a nasty glare on this photo.<br />But at least I can say I saw him!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUEE-ZsUH_0XyFIwpU1xgYmrLVJRX1mpVD7q0RzEZnU3a21JnqFal95kYEANGcac8OKmX6xzLW6b7jGSRet4JlMuTpgSVKfsElI6pKlZaPgGposl6K0zcecAqq7AujUzeG696cy-2JHR4fidWbd7nSAfzipqn7fC9L_A9amOOP54nH6qTOy2OKwkM_w/s4000/20230509_144302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUEE-ZsUH_0XyFIwpU1xgYmrLVJRX1mpVD7q0RzEZnU3a21JnqFal95kYEANGcac8OKmX6xzLW6b7jGSRet4JlMuTpgSVKfsElI6pKlZaPgGposl6K0zcecAqq7AujUzeG696cy-2JHR4fidWbd7nSAfzipqn7fC9L_A9amOOP54nH6qTOy2OKwkM_w/s320/20230509_144302.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This tortoise was loving his waterfall. It was like a cooling shower for him!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYOxaOxM3Ltpn60A_e6xLn7LXKx7hBW-MqN8BtjdfY0rBh6Zia3WoFjlW-x01jOStNtQ5Um4jE2pOzPX77zMVkoSFL_8oGlj5let2vsEox7SqVPr20bWowiKres9dQqW6ivZUZQTG4xfPMlO9ftKA_f-4wuwnhQa44_o1HxGufMV5p3yguuPmpmRvgA/s4000/20230509_151801.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYOxaOxM3Ltpn60A_e6xLn7LXKx7hBW-MqN8BtjdfY0rBh6Zia3WoFjlW-x01jOStNtQ5Um4jE2pOzPX77zMVkoSFL_8oGlj5let2vsEox7SqVPr20bWowiKres9dQqW6ivZUZQTG4xfPMlO9ftKA_f-4wuwnhQa44_o1HxGufMV5p3yguuPmpmRvgA/s320/20230509_151801.jpg" width="240" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We loved watching the manatees eat! I don't think I've ever seen manatees in captivity before, so this was very cool.<br />And we could get pretty close to them (well, minus the glass). Such peaceful creatures!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We were only at the zoo for two hours, and we didn't get to see everything (we never even got to the botanical gardens!), but we needed to drop our things and the car off at the hotel before heading to the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mets">Mets</a> v. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/reds">Reds</a> game happening that night. We relaxed for a few minutes in the room, but after that we walked over to the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/reds/ballpark">Great American Ball Park</a> to check it off our baseball-stadiums-to-visit list!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-RI7HGyNg1K-Csocm6efknmInetr02BOCtVCA3PY7XtNsjzX9NYfZKzWqyMjQ5qlKpUT7TRQ4wSvWmsG6_Fe2dMm5N1ibVO8rI8o6S03uarKN4vopELMD9jDf60jXZHcN7_GxNAH2vCOuF7uRxWwTI4TM9bS7TTzRhNazLGPLuaiURKVSykt2bckCA/s4000/20230509_173022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-RI7HGyNg1K-Csocm6efknmInetr02BOCtVCA3PY7XtNsjzX9NYfZKzWqyMjQ5qlKpUT7TRQ4wSvWmsG6_Fe2dMm5N1ibVO8rI8o6S03uarKN4vopELMD9jDf60jXZHcN7_GxNAH2vCOuF7uRxWwTI4TM9bS7TTzRhNazLGPLuaiURKVSykt2bckCA/s320/20230509_173022.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">They have an area called "DORA" outside of the ballpark where you can walk around with drinks.<br />It was such a pretty day, so we enjoyed sipping our beverages out there before the game.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OeVJM6xBE4NC2nnjwz940xOUHDrGy5tg5UjVA-vVEjspVg14cGiCx2671x1qc2K2ayrGBXdZa82I23hu3pMpsJXWEPG5gMV0Vpc7dUdnJmTFjU5FiBbOpwtptW1Ntj01tuYlqeTQlMATDOPmzatk51QJqoTF_RHlSmo2azHTx3368Je5i-b0AJPRtQ/s4000/20230509_182340.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OeVJM6xBE4NC2nnjwz940xOUHDrGy5tg5UjVA-vVEjspVg14cGiCx2671x1qc2K2ayrGBXdZa82I23hu3pMpsJXWEPG5gMV0Vpc7dUdnJmTFjU5FiBbOpwtptW1Ntj01tuYlqeTQlMATDOPmzatk51QJqoTF_RHlSmo2azHTx3368Je5i-b0AJPRtQ/s320/20230509_182340.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a very cool mosaic inside the stadium. Imagine how long it took to make that!<br /><br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF5jbiM5TjKy4DZd4mexrtxWCoTw92QGR2fo_lKmDRzzk7fuW1Uvdaxn9VxxfdOYyJgWhEqghzk6zkeTM5m_Po996T14KRCPNDJLPCGnBs8pECJpdbcHFfkw7-Iz8C6o8L1Wg0trk-i1_xK8sfNw9E-lQPPvVlOfiHk_y5yTfJUJxfAUxMyNnkUJWsg/s4000/20230509_183848.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF5jbiM5TjKy4DZd4mexrtxWCoTw92QGR2fo_lKmDRzzk7fuW1Uvdaxn9VxxfdOYyJgWhEqghzk6zkeTM5m_Po996T14KRCPNDJLPCGnBs8pECJpdbcHFfkw7-Iz8C6o8L1Wg0trk-i1_xK8sfNw9E-lQPPvVlOfiHk_y5yTfJUJxfAUxMyNnkUJWsg/s320/20230509_183848.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Reds' version of Mrs. Met!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K2LnPnamNJqyXYntErqrO6bmSdOktVyu6IDBJuZLmaDRUtyzS9LUEOLA7qrbFoqdM4AmEP35QNKQW8ww71Zhe-pXs3tkZPKRLyfC-_KrmdXgHchpexR2rTp18a2dZqEKj9lAX0mKk2O-ryQPWmlX0oG98sQWlu8Fn8kztgT9yVsMM20hHwYMWZBWfA/s4000/20230509_183449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K2LnPnamNJqyXYntErqrO6bmSdOktVyu6IDBJuZLmaDRUtyzS9LUEOLA7qrbFoqdM4AmEP35QNKQW8ww71Zhe-pXs3tkZPKRLyfC-_KrmdXgHchpexR2rTp18a2dZqEKj9lAX0mKk2O-ryQPWmlX0oG98sQWlu8Fn8kztgT9yVsMM20hHwYMWZBWfA/s320/20230509_183449.jpg" width="240" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We forgot to take a photo together at the game! But Steve was happy to support his Mets.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Mets were losing by a lot at first, but then they hit several home runs and almost tied the game, so that was exciting! They ended up losing, but we still had a really fun time. We especially liked that it was "bark in the park" night, so people brought their dogs to the stadium. The Kiss Cam even showed people kissing their dogs! </p><p>The next day we drove back home. We were sad that our trip was over, but our next vacation is right around the corner! <b>Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post after I get back from my trip to Sarasota, FL!</b></p>Confidence is Keyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068220998703272339noreply@blogger.com0