The Hunger Games Movie Review

I have not been able to put my feelings into words or find them completely in others’ words since the opening of the movie.

I should have known that the years of anticipation leading up to this movie would leave me dissatisfied. I was not a bandwagon reader. I was assigned this novel back in ’08 for an adolescent lit class. I immediately fell in love. I waited patiently… or not so patiently, for the remaining two novels to come out and completed each of them within a day totally immersing myself in the suspense. I was fascinated by the characters and could not get over how absorbed I was into this fictional dystopian world.

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I was obviously elated when I heard that the Hunger Games would be adapted for the big screen! Would they stay true to the plot? Would they do it justice? Would Susanne Collins have a say in any changes made?

I purposely stayed away from early reviews and casting critiques which all seemed nasty and racist. Such a well-composed trilogy did not deserve the spotlight for insignficant arguments such as, why are they casting black characters in important roles, but rather commended for the suspenseful style, attention to detail, and command of the reader’s attention throughout each of the novels.

Then, Friday night came. My first thought. Why are words scrolling across the screen? Why aren’t they being read? They are scrolling pretty quickly. I have students who cannot read this fast. Uh-oh. I’ve got my critical face on. This is not going to go well.

The rest of the movie followed suit. The point of view changed from first-person in the novel to third-person in the movie. We lost Katniss…

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Character development went missing. Important sub plots and details were glossed over, major themes were made irrelevant or ignored, the audience was expected to fill in the gaps all too often, and worst of all I lost the spark I once held for my beloved book series.

The lesson to take from this: the book is always better. My English teachers said it; I said it before watching the movie, and I will continue to say it. My creativity and imagination while reading a well-written book will always be better than the movie, and if you’d like to disagree I suggest you stop being lazy and exercise something amazing that can never be taken away from you, your imagination!

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The movie... it was okay. The novels... are epic!

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Who doesn't love a good cupcake... with alcohol infusion?

I was ecstatic when I came across this recipe, as Irish Car Bombs have been a staple of my St. Paddy’s Day celebration for years. I immediately ran out to the store(s), bought all of the ingredients, and then realized I had no party to attend or hold where people could snack 2 dozen cupcakes. Sidebar: I am not one to downsize a recipe of this nature; they never come out quite right in my book.   

So, I didn’t end up making the cupcakes in time for St. Patrick’s Day. We were out, they would have gotten stale, and that would have been a sin. I made them a few days late. Hey, it’s still March, right! The original plan of baking pre-St. Paddy’s included a birthday cupcake to a co-worker, who ended up with a belated birthday cupcake. Afterwards, I decided that Nick and I should spread the cupcake love to family living close by. One pint-sized cutie pie in particular dived right in, loving every bite... girl after my own heart! (Don't worry, there's not nearly enough alcohol in these to offend even the most conservative of parents.)

 

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 90 minutes | Bake Time: 17 minutes

For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream (no substitutions)
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
3 teaspoons Irish whiskey

For the Baileys Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
4-5 cups powdered sugar
5-7 TBSP Bailey’s Irish Cream

*** alter the powdered sugar and Bailey’s to taste

1. To Make the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer in a separate bowl beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.

3. To Make the Whiskey Ganache Filling: Finely chop the chocolate, or use morsels and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. I used the double-boiler bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.

4. To Fill the Cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping bag, or Ziploc, with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

5. To Make the Baileys Frosting: Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.

6. Using your favorite decorating tip, or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.

(Recipe slightly adapted from Brown Eyed Baker's photo below) One day I will learn how to frost like that!



Etsy Love

Just a few things I'm loving on Etsy right now:

I have been obsessing over these patterns from Thevelvetacorn all winter. If I had the patience to learn how to crochet I would purchase every last one. Not to mention how adorable that little cutie pie in the picture is!



I want this. Someone... anyone.. buy this for me, pretty please. It is from audiowood and is the perfect blend of minimalist meets vintage. I am truly in love.

I have a new love for burlap. I used to find it itchy and awkward but now I am drawn to it in purses, pillows, liners, you name it- I love it. Handmadeinhighbury has won me over again!

I initially fell in love with this beauty from littlebrownpen for the clock. As I read further, I found that it is a photograph from the Paris Color Project showcasing underappreciated landmarks and works of art. A great photograph always includes a great backstory!

This last one from mybeardedpigeon was on the front page as I was writing this entry and I had to include it! To me, it represents all of those things women try to become interested in at the beginning of a relationship to show that they are open-minded and up-for-anything. I was that young unexperienced woman before, trying to mold myself into the girl I thought he wanted. Thank God I learned from that mistake. Girls, they figure it out :)

inspiration

This was my plan.

Now in my late twenties, it is a distant dream. I like my job. I've already fallen in love. And round-trip plane tickets are now bought for vacation. Do I wish I could go back, be irresponsible, and fulfill these dreams? Sometimes. Adult life isn’t exactly living up to my expectations. I thought I’d cross certain milestones by this point, achieve more, and become content with my surroundings. But who am I kidding, that’s not me.

I was never much of a planner, but always a dreamer.

Etsy seller link-up

1. Shop name(s) and link(s): The Inspired Lens and AshleyNicolleDesign


2. What do you sell on Etsy and why? I sell photographs and handmade, upcycled items such as purses and coasters.


3. What do you think is the best part of selling on Etsy? The best part of selling on Etsy would have to be sellers. I have found so many creative and orginal gifts. I am a huge fan of supporting the individual rather than huge corporate companies.


4. Which is your favorite item in your shop right now? I would have to say this photograph. It reminds me of summer and happiness.


5. What is your most popular item (or category)? Is there anything that you think doesn't get the attention it deserves? My jam, definitely the jam. It has been sold out for quit a while now. I prefer to use fresh picked berries so it's a seasonal thing for me.


6. What is the hardest part about selling on Etsy? Generating traffic is definitely make or break for an Etsy shop. I started using my blog as a way to showcase my Etsy goods. There are highs and lows but giving up is not an option.


7. What has been your best marketing tool or the best way to drive traffic to your shop? Giveaways, blogging, social media, and pinterest have to be tops for me.


8. What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a small business owner/ Etsy seller? My strengths are unfortunately in person sales. I do have a business background but I've noticed that my selling strategies pertain to person to person sales which then leads right into my weakness of online selling.


9. What is one piece of advice you have for new sellers or for people who are thinking of setting up shop? Go for it. It's an amazing creative outlet and there is a 50/50 chance of success and failure. You owe it to yourself to give it a try if it is something you are passionate about.

10. Provide any other links (social media, etc.) so that we can find you in cyberspace: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Bloglovin'!

Host of the link up: a box of paint. Copy and paste the survey into your own blog and link up over at a box of paint to read and share your answers!