KMFDM... yeah baby!

On March 9, 2013, I was lucky enough to watch KMFDM play in San Francisco! They rocked it out! I've always enjoyed their music. The beats, the vocals and the awesome guitars! I have to admit this... dare I say it... it makes great cleaning music. I tend to work a little bit faster, doing whatever it is I am doing, as well as dancing my little heart out. This is just a recent occurrence. I don't get to listen to MY music much since the house is always bombarded with the likes of Fresh Beat Band or some Disney soundtrack on TV. But getting back on topic, KMFDM does not suck! LOL!

Back in the day, Industrial and Goth music aka dark wave was some hardcore stuff which included the fashion as well. You have your mohawks (which some of the band members still sport), piercings & tattoos (which are considered normal nowadays), as well as your trendy punk and goth outfits. Let me tell you... 40 something and sporting the trendy wear... uh... not so good. There comes a time when people should consider pulling back from the teen angst look after the age of 30. Unless, you are the performer, which is then expected. The crowd at the concert was filled with all likes. There were the die-hard industrial heads that were dressed the part (a few that could still sport the look and get away with it), the "I think I will dress up for the show" people (these were scary... I mean SCARY and not in a good way), and then there were the normal but hip crowd. Now keep in mind, this was an older crowd. Some, you could tell were into the scene back in the day and had grown up.

The opening band, Legion Within, was okay... I think. What can I say, they were the opener... the expectations aren't high. The lead singer tried to sing and even perform like Peter Murphy! This is a ghastly no-no in my book since I am a HUGE Bauhaus and Peter Murphy fan. Like I said, the band was ok and some of the songs were decent; it was just a little hard to watch someone imitate someone that I admire.

KMFDM were excellent. They played two encores! Lucia Cifarelli was fierce and awesome. The low, raspy and gravelly voice of Sascha Konietzko was familiar, strong and potent. Guitarist Jules Hodgson was sensational and very easy on the eyes. Cute! The music got the crowd going and never stopped. I was dancing about with the crowd. Hard to believe it, but there was a pit at the show! A bunch of middle-aged folk in a pit! Needless to say, a bunch of us were pushed back and we were okay with that; we did not feel the need to push back. 

A great night of music! Also, a great adult event... these are few and far between for me. And thanks to my best bud John for going with me. You rock! :)

Here are a couple of snippets from the show... Forgive the distance of the shot, I was in the back away from the pit.

Until next time peoples... keep on rockin!

Unicorn Poop Cookies... say what?!?

Yes... Unicorn. Poop. Cookies. Yikes. I stumbled upon this recipe when I was searching for fun things to do with my daughter Leah. I watched a tutorial and thought it was the most funniest thing! My daughter watched the tutorial as well and immediately said that she wanted to make it! So, of course, I had to make these with her. They're pretty, tasty and darn funny looking! Definitely a conversation piece at your next mommy play date, birthday party or just whenever you feel like making these beauts! LOL... Have fun with this recipe! I definitely did... Poop-tastic!

You can use any sugar cookie recipe but I found that this recipe did not spread as much as some other recipes. 

Sugar Cookie Recipe
(Adapted from Paula Deen's Snowflake Cookie Recipe)


Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Food Coloring
Garnish: silver dragees, sugar pearls, star sprinkles, edible glitter

Glaze
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
edible glitter (optional)


Directions
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract until combined.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating until smooth.

Separate dough into 6 equal portions and color with food coloring.

Wrap dough in heavy-duty plastic wrap, and refrigerate for half an hour.


Divide each colored dough into 2 equal portions. Place 6 pieces (one color each) into two piles. This will make two ropes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Take one pile of colored dough and roll each color into a long rope and place 3 ropes lengthwise together and 3 ropes on top of each other. 

(Pic showing all 6 ropes side by side. Be sure to place 3 ropes on top of the other 3 before  placing in refrigerator. I was in a rush and didn't refrigerate so the ropes were not as clean. If you refrigerate, the colors will be more uniform.)

Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm slightly. At this time, you can work on the second rope. When the rope has firmed up, you will place one hand on one end of the rope as the other hand on the other end turns the dough towards you. This will intertwine the 6 ropes and create a long multicolored, spiraled rope. Wicked cool!

Place finished rope in freezer for 5 minutes to firm slightly. Remove from freezer and cut into 2 inch pieces or however large you would like to make these suckers. Roll the dough out again, like as above, until it is 5-6 inches long. Take the piece and turn it around itself creating a circle, then loop dough on top of the circle and create a little pointy tip hanging down slightly. This makes it look like doodie... hee hee. Place each one on a baking sheet about and inch and half apart.

Make glaze by combining water, sugar and glitter. Set aside.

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, glaze and decorate with dragees, sprinkles and/or more glitter. 

Cool completely before serving.

Voila! Poopie doopie cookies! Bon appetit! 

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Ah... The San Francisco Zoo... fun time!

This was my kids' first trip to the San Francisco Zoo, and they had a great time! Although, we arrived there a little late in the afternoon, we were still able to get in some great sights. My son Luca (age 2) loved the penguins and my darling Leah (age 3) loved swinging from a tree and running around. I don't think she was all that interested. Regardless, she still had a great time looking at the animals and running around like a wild monkey with her super active little brother. She really was waiting for a ride on the carousel but I had no idea where it was until we were about to leave; and by that time, they were already closed. Oh well... it just means another visit is in order. : )

The admission was fairly reasonable. Adult San Francisco residents are $12 and non-residents are $15 and children 3 and under are FREE. Yay... what every stay-at-home mom wants to see and hear. LOL! Right now they are open everyday 10am - 4pm. If you are interested in more info regarding their hours, tours and pricing; check out their site: http://www.sfzoo.org/plan-hours-prices.

There were peacocks just floating about everywhere. Leah kept insisting that they were following us. After that, I kept viewing them as big pigeons. Big beautiful pigeons.

Towards the end of our visit and in front of the polar bear exhibit, we witnessed a little mouse zooming about. The kids got more excited at that sighting then any other animal exhibit. The little mouse was busy trying to find items for its nest. It kept zipping back and forth looking for dried grass or greenery that it could easily snatch away. The mouse was apparently very focused and unafraid of my children who were making a big racket screaming and jumping around in excitement. At one point, Luca looks up and says to me, "I want it." Hahaha... NOT!