Events / Parties, Projects

Iron Throne Fit for Scott’s Name Day

The premiere of the final season of Game of Thrones magically happened on Scott’s Name Day! I’m sure you’re not surprised that another themed party quickly began formulating. A GoT birthday party would not be complete without an Iron Throne fit for a king. I’m betting on Scott #ForTheThrone – although Frito & Frodo are definitely in the fight!

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April 14, 2019 by
Christmas, Cosplay, Cricut Designs, Decorations, Events / Parties, Food, Projects

Grinchmas in Perdooville – A Whoville-Inspired Christmas Celebration

Our Grinchmas theme was an absolute blast—and maybe just a tad over the top (in the best way possible)! I had just gotten a Cricut Maker and went wild with vinyl, labeling everything in the iconic Grinched font. Turning our Perdue Pad into Perdooville was pure holiday joy. From Who-tastic details to Seussical touches, every corner was dripping with festive fun. If only I could leave the decorations up year-round… I’d do it in a heartbeat!

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January 6, 2019 by
360
Musings

New 360 camera!

As many of you know, I’ve been a big fan of the Madventure 360 camera for awhile. Well, since I got so much use out of it, I decided to upgrade since the incredible Insta360 One X was just released. It has many improvements, such as easier HDR, mindblowing video stabilization, better software, faster video transfer, and a longer, sturdier selfie stick.

This was supposed to be my Christmas present but… I had to make sure it worked! 😉

Click/drag/scroll on the image below to have a look around my office cubicle! (Make sure you’re in landscape mode on mobile.)

November 26, 2018 by
Cakes, Food

Red, White & Blue Cheesecake


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Red, White & Blue Cheesecake

This was such a fun patriotic cheesecake to make!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes

Servings
servings


Ingredients
CRUST:

CHEESECAKE:

Course Dessert

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes

Servings
servings


Ingredients
CRUST:

CHEESECAKE:


Instructions
CRUST:
  1. Grind graham crackers in food processor until fine.

  2. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, granulated sugar, and sprinkles together with a rubber spatula in a medium bowl until combined. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy.

  3. Press the mixture into the bottom of the a 9 - 10 inch springform pan. Make sure it is tight and compact.

  4. Bake for 10 minutes at 325°F. Remove and cool.

CHEESECAKE:
  1. Place a large baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven. Fill it halfway with water. Let the oven preheat to 325°F again.

  2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy.

  3. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and flour and beat again.

  4. Add the eggs and beat until they are mixed in.

  5. Divide the batter evenly into 3 bowls. Use the food coloring to tint two of the bowls red and blue.

  6. Spoon the mixture evenly over the crust, alternating the colors.

  7. Drag a butter knife through the batter going up and down and back and forth until you get a good swirl pattern. Do not over mix.

  8. Place the pan on the oven rack above the pan of water.

  9. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven immediately and place on a wire rack. Let the cheesecake cool on the counter for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 4-6 hours.


Recipe Notes

Source: https://insidebrucrewlife.com/red-white-blue-cheesecake-bars/


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July 5, 2018 by
Ballpark Reviews, Ballparks, Baseball, Travel

Ballpark Review: Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros)

We finally had the chance to check out Minute Maid Park, home of our old Central Division rivals, the Houston Astros. We visited with family after a fun Caribbean cruise, while spending time with my sister who now lives in Houston. We were especially grateful for the closed roof – a must in humid Houston – which still offered a nice view of the skyline through the glass panels in left field. The local concession lineup was a standout, featuring tacos, BBQ, and Texas breweries that gave the ballpark serious flavor. The atmosphere was electric, with fans proudly cheering on their record-leading team. All in all, it was a fantastic experience.

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June 15, 2017 by
Baseball, Creations, Projects

St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Card Side Table

Looking to add some extra flair to our Cardinals-themed basement, I decided to turn a practical need into a fun DIY project. This custom side table became the perfect way to showcase our collection of St. Louis Cardinals baseball cards—each one filled with memories, big plays, and hometown pride. If you look closely, you can see our Save the Date from our Cardinals wedding 🤪.

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May 25, 2017 by
Grandma's Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Family Favorites, Food

Recipe: Grandma’s Cinnamon Swirl Bread


Print Recipe


Grandma's Cinnamon Swirl Bread

This is my Grandma Schatz’s bread recipe she made when she worked at a bakery in Germany before WWII. She moved to the US after the war and passed this cherished recipe on to her children and grandchildren.

Grandma's Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Course Bread

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Passive Time 180 minutes

Servings
loaves


Ingredients
Bread

Filling

Course Bread

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Passive Time 180 minutes

Servings
loaves


Ingredients
Bread

Filling

Grandma's Cinnamon Swirl Bread


Instructions
  1. Starting with dry ingredients, mix all ingredients on a counter or bowl.

  2. Knead by hand or with dough hook in stand mixer until dough comes together. Add additional flour as needed to form dough.

  3. Cover with damp cloth or saran wrap and let rise for 1.5-2 hours, until doubled in size.

  4. Split dough into three balls.

  5. With a rolling pin, roll out each ball to ~10"x12" rectangle.

  6. Mix together cinnamon-sugar filling and sprinkle evenly onto dough. Alternatively, you can use sprinkle cocoa as the filling instead of cinnamon-sugar.

  7. From the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge. Fold both ends under to form a loaf (3 total).

  8. Spray three loaf pans with oil and transfer loaves into pans.

  9. Cover loaves with damp cloth/saran wrap and let rise 1 hour until loaves rise to fill the pans.

  10. Preheat oven to 400°F.

  11. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown.

  12. Allow to cool in pans for ~10 minutes and then transfer to wire racks to finish cooling. Slice and serve warm with butter. Freeze loaves that are not consumed within a few days.


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March 12, 2017 by