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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Travel Tuesday: Los Angeles

Two years ago I was in Los Angeles! It was spring break of my senior year of high school, and I'm pretty sure that it was the one time that we actually went somewhere for spring break.

We flew out on Sunday the 27th, and returned home on Thursday the 31st.

{before I add some pictures to this post, I have a few disclaimers. if I am in the picture, it was actually taken by my mom. yes, I am sunburned. I didn't realize that the weather was going to be so cool, so I only brought one jacket and one hoodie, which is why I am wearing the same thing in practically every picture.}

We had a delay when we were leaving our first airport due to frost. We made it to MPLS with just enough time to grab a quick lunch before boarding our flight to LAX with the USC men's swim team! {yes, I was quite excited about that!}

After landing in LA, we grabbed our luggage and took a shuttle to the rental car place.


My mom and I waited outside with the luggage. There is also an abundance of Vera Bradley Purple Punch in this post.

We picked up the Chevy Malibu, and headed to the hotel.


California palm trees!

We stayed at the Hollywood Orchid Suites, which is located right off of Hollywood Boulevard.


While my dad was getting us checked in, my mom and I saw this cute couple outside. The walls here are the back of the Hollywood & Highland Center, which is kind of like a mall and it also houses the Kodak Theatre, or whatever it is called now.

After dropping our stuff off in the room, we walked down to Mel's Drive-In for a snack.


 I found Marilyn outside the Hollywood Museum on our way out of the restaurant.

{I really, really wish that I had taken more pictures! but the camera that I was using at the time was one with a rechargeable battery instead of normal batteries, so it was really annoying.}

We drove over to our friends' house, and from there we all walked to Prizzi's Piazza {unfortunately, they are no longer open for business} for dinner.

On Monday, my dad and Adam went off to check out some music stores. My mom, Anna, and I took Syd {the Boston Terrier-French bulldog aka the only dog I like} and grabbed subs from Quizno's, which we ate in a park. It might have been Griffith Park, but I'm not sure. If it was, we didn't go up to the observatory. While we were having lunch, there was a photoshoot going on a few yards away!

After lunch, Anna drove us to the place where you can hike up to the Hollywood sign!


Here I am with Anna! We're both wearing our Delaney Davidson shirts! haha.


We went up as high as you are legally supposed to, but these other people tried to go a little further. I wish that I had taken some pictures of the view of DTLA from up here!

After our long hike down, Anna and I got ginger slushies from locali.

We went back to her house and hung out while waiting for my dad to get back.


Syd was really tired.


I love this dog.

My parents and I ended up going back to our hotel, and then we met up with our friend Noah on Hollywood Boulevard! He took us on a walk down to kitchen 24, where we had dinner.

On our way there, I freaked out because I found this:


I love Ozzy & Black Sabbath, and I had actually just written a paper on them for my British Literature class senior year.


These are the awesome light fixtures at kitchen 24!

We hung out with Noah at the restaurant for a little while, but then he had to get back to the studio.

On Tuesday, we drove out to Santa Monica.


Santa Monica palm trees.


Santa Monica beach.

We took a really long walk {where I was able to get even more sunburned} and I think we ended up in Venice. We walked back to the car, and then my dad drove us around to see the canals that he and Adam had seen the day before.

On our way back to the hotel, we had to drive through Beverly Hills, so I convinced my parents to stop and walk to Rodeo Drive. We went in a few stores. I felt like such a commoner. haha.

On Wednesday morning the three of us went to the Hollywood Wax Museum. I didn't really know who a lot of the people there were. So I convinced my mom to take me to Madame Tussauds to see Audrey Hepburn!


Here I am, completely sunburned, with Audrey!

And here is a comparison of the two museums:







Hollywood Wax Museum ^^


Madame Tussauds ^^

We went to the Grove on Wednesday afternoon, and were this close to seeing Sheryl Crow at her Barnes & Noble book signing that day.

It was really cool to go to LA, there were lots of fun things to see, and definitely a lot of interesting people! I wish that we were there longer, as there are more places I wanted to see.


One last picture. I think this is from Wednesday? Ariel was so insistent that I take a picture with them, and then she wanted our money, and then we didn't give her enough...oh Hollywood.

Also, one last word of advice that we learned - don't cross the street unless the light says that you can walk. Otherwise, you will get honked at...a lot.

Helene in Between

Thursday, March 14, 2013

long drive & a little baking

so with everyone freaking out about Google Reader {I tried to use it once, but I actually use Blogger Dashboard, and I am now switching over to Bloglovin'}, & GFC, I'd like you to know that you can follow me on Bloglovin' by clicking the heart button under my picture on the right side of my blog {or by clicking any Bloglovin' in this paragraph}.

moving on.

yesterday I took a drive up north to go to some thrift shops. it was a fail. I only ended up going to one, and I didn't even buy anything there! I wasn't 100% sure where the thrift store that I wanted to go to was located, but I apparently drove right by it, and all the other ones were closed for the season. I did make a few stops along the way to take some pictures!





Fish Creek Beach. I pulled my camera out of my purse here and somehow managed to open the battery holder part of the camera and dropped the batteries in the snow...thankfully I had some extras in my purse!

I think it looks so much prettier in the winter.

rainbow around the sun. every time I looked up at the sky, it was there, and I wasn't sure if it was because I had my sunglasses on, or if it was really there.

I parked next door at the hardware store and walked on the side of the highway to do a little trespassing take some pictures of the sign and the big screen. I wanted to go into the parking lot part of the theatre, but I didn't think that that was a good idea.

Wilson's in Ephraim - I could go for some Cedar Crest ice cream right about now!

the beach in Ephraim - there were a bunch of dump trucks and other big equipment along the water/ice in Ephraim. I wonder what they were doing!

road to Northport - I wish this picture was of what I actually saw. the part of the road that you can see in the distance is really windy and hilly, and it's really cool!

I stopped in the middle of the highway to take this one, but here is a link to a better picture of the road that someone took in the fall.

I was going to screenshot a picture of GoogleMaps for the road, but the map doesn't do it justice, either.

Northport

I apparently arrived not too long before the ferry was leaving for Washington Island; there were a few cars in line.










brrrrr. so cold, but so pretty.



I love the blues with the white and the tan.


I stopped on the highway again to try to get a picture of the road. still not the best luck.











On my way back south, I stopped at this cute little store where they have homemade jam, and I can't wait to try the strawberry-raspberry jam that I bought! I also got a carrot muffin mix from Rabbit Creek Gourmet. their products look so cute, and are such a great idea!

I made some Thin Mint cupcakes today! they're nothing too special, just a box of Pillsbury chocolate cake mix with ten crushed Thin Mints, and Duncan Hines Chocolate Mint frosting.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins

So before I share this wonderful recipe with you, I would like to give a huge thank you to Erin at Love, Fun and Football for the awesome new blog design! I love it so much!!

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This recipe for instant oatmeal muffins is adapted from Right to the End.


Instant Oatmeal Muffins {yields twelve}

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup dried fruit or nuts (optional)
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3 packets of single-serve instant oatmeal
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon, nutmeg, or some combination of the two
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon white or brown sugar
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Grease muffin pan or line with paper cups.
  3. Combine dried fruit/nuts, milk, 1/3 cup sugar, and oil.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, oatmeal, baking powder, cinnamon/nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
  5. Combine bowls and stir just enough to mix well.
  6. Spoon evenly into muffin cups.
  7. Using the remaining 1 tablespoon white or brown sugar, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon over the top of each muffin batter.
  8. Bake for 14-18 minutes.

My notes regarding this recipe:
  • I used one cup of fresh chopped apple.
  • I feel as though there is probably too much oil in this recipe.
  • I used apple cinnamon oatmeal, but any flavor you would like will work. In the past, I have used peaches & cream, bananas & cream, strawberries & cream, blueberries & cream, and combinations of those flavors.
  • I use cinnamon, not nutmeg.
  • I have never used allspice in this recipe. In fact, I'm not even sure what is in allspice...
  • I use sea salt instead of regular table salt.
  • I usually use brown sugar to top the muffins, and I don't measure it.



The muffin liners that I used were from Dollar Tree. I thought that they were just plain white paper, but they're actually more like wax paper. They're also a little shorter than the standard size. I would not recommend them.

Friday, March 1, 2013

the month by iPhone: February 2013

two months into the year already?! what?!

I only posted three times in February...soon I hope to be posting more!

here are some of my 300+ photos from this month (should/could have been way more, but I've been pretty bad about taking pictures lately).

from the filming. it was so crazy to have a bunch of cameras, cords, and lights everywhere!

hand-blown glass pendant lamp in my aunt's office

love this artwork at my aunt & uncle's house

random findings

so in love with this journal

six cigar box guitars in the lobby. typical day in my world.

my manager told me to make this label for a file folder! I love my job.

this is Greg. he's pretty awesome. yet another reason I love my job? things like this happen. ps you can tell we live in Wisconsin due to the PBR haha. & that's a cigar box amp I think!

roses from my sister for Valentine's Day.

it's hard to read, but it says "these cookies are not --> chicken" (there was a "chicken not cookies" one too, I guess.) those musicians...gotta love 'em!

Valentine's flowers from my dad

three kinds of Oreos that I want to try (thanks for the temptation, Target)

at my baby cousin's house! (socks from Target, they were on clearance for 30% off)

OPI's "Meep-Meep-Meep" - it's actually more sparkly in person. a week later, and still minimal wear! I used Sally Hansen's clear nail polish as a base coat and a top coat, and there are three layers of color in between.

musicians + Jameson = shenanigans. you've been warned. (also, isn't the 50 mL bottle super adorable?!)

bedside. car manual, books/journals, and a cute pen!

I love mail. but pretty mail is the best mail!
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