Combine oats, peanut butter (or other nut butter), honey, chocolate chips and coconut in a medium bowl.
Using a 1-tablespoon measure, roll the mixture into balls.
Put balls in the fridge (or freezer) to harden.
Enjoy!
Review:
This recipe was great to make. It took me less than 10 minutes to make the balls, and it was so easy. There aren’t many ingredients at all and only 3 steps! The balls themselves tasted amazing, the peanut butter was very savory so the sweet honey really balanced it out. The chocolate chips and oats gave it a bit of a crunch and great texture. Sometimes I like to dip them in melted chocolate and freeze them to make them into more of a dessert.
I absolutely love eating these before going to the gym or going on a run. They give me lots of energy and protein, just without the unnecessary additives like a protein bar has. It has all very natural ingredients and is so healthy. I also eat them just for a snack because they are very satisfying and filling.
I got this recipe from Eating Well (https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/275207/peanut-butter-energy-balls/) by Lisa Valente. She made this recipe so easy to follow and the website is very easy to navigate. The peanut butter balls were so good and so healthy, and she balanced health and a treat perfectly.
I have made these many times now, and each time they are gone very quickly because my brother likes to eat them before a workout as well. I really enjoy them, and I think you would too! Try this easy recipe out!
Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most well known artists, with countless world renowned pieces of art. His work was very imaginative. It challenged the way that people thought about art at the time, and heavily influenced the way that people expressed themselves through art later on.
There are a lot of things that make Van Gogh’s art so unique. At the time, it was not very typical to see art like his. His style, color schemes, attention to detail, brushwork, and his appreciation for natural landscapes were all factors that set him apart from other artists.
He was born in 1853, in the Netherlands, and he passed away in 1890, in France. As he grew up, he always had an appreciation for art, and he spent a lot of time trying to make a career out of it, although he was not successful with that. Over his lifetime, he created more than 1500 pieces, yet he only sold one. His art went by unappreciated, as he never really gained any attention for his art until after he had passed away.
A major contribution to his unsuccessful career was the fact that people were not able to appreciate his art at the time. It was very common for artists to paint extremely realistic portraits, or landscapes, rather than to experiment with abstract art. While Van Gogh still made realistic paintings, the techniques he used had set him aside from the typical style of art that people were interested in, so he was never able to profit from his passion.
Near the end of Van Gogh’s life, he unfortunately began to suffer from mental illness. He started to lose a grasp of reality, and he was very sad with his life. Although he tried to recover through medical attention, he ultimately shot himself, which led to his death at 37 years old.
It is important to recognize how much of an impact Van Gogh has made. Although his story contains isolation, and struggle, he still managed to create such an intriguing and beautifully creative legacy. Overall, his work has been able to bring together wide and diverse groups of people to appreciate his art, and he has forever changed the way people have gone about making art.
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (around 8 full sheets)
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 heaping cup marshmallow creme (fluff)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8-inch square baking pan or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. (It may look curdled but that is ok) scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
In a separate medium bowl mix together the flour, graham cracker crumb, baking powder, and salt.
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix on medium speed until combined.
In your prepared baking pan, spread ⅔ of the cookie dough onto the bottom of the pan. The dough will be sticky so do your best to evenly spread the dough in a thin layer.
Use a spatula to spread the marshmallow creme on top of the dough. It is very sticky so just do your best to spread it in an even layer.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the marshmallow creme in an even layer.
Using the remaining cookie dough, mold it into flat pieces and layer on top of the chocolate chips. (There won’t be enough dough to cover the whole top in a single layer, some marshmallow and chocolate chips will be exposed.)
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Lift the bars out of the pan and cut into squares
Cover and store the leftover bars at rooms for up to 1 week.
Lastly, Enjoy!
Review:
The process of making the bars was very straightforward and the recipe was easy to follow. Once the dough was made the only part that was kind of hard was the assembly, only because of how sticky the dough and marshmallow creme was. I used my hands to spread out the dough, which made it easier to make sure it was spread evenly to each corner. Using a rubber spatula to spread out the marshmallow creme was a lot easier than anything else because it didn’t stick to it as much. I found that placing a few dollops of the creme on the dough before spreading it out made it much easier.
The hardest part of the whole process was waiting. The combination of the baking time and cooling time felt like forever and the smell of sweet graham cracker filled the air.
These cookie bars were so good! The inside of the cookie was soft from the marshmallow and the actual cookie itself, and the outside had the perfect amount of crunch. The sweetness from the marshmallow complemented the bitterness from the chocolate. I wasn’t sure how the marshmallow creme would bake, I didn’t know if it would get hard like other marshmallows when they are cooked for a while, but they were still soft.
These bars were so good, I made them a second time. They were the perfect way to end the night and my family loved them. I think that these would be perfect for a summer night and definitely are a better version of the classic s’more.
The show ‘Andor’, is one of the many Star Wars shows that are available on Disney +. This show is a part of the ‘Rogue One’ storyline, and it follows Cassian Andor, one of the main ‘Rogue One’ characters. There are 12 episodes in season 2 that follow Andor on his adventures for the resistance.
This show was highly anticipated by many Star Wars fans, and it did not disappoint most people. On Rotten Tomatoes the show is rated at 97%. Critics say that this show continues the spark that we got from season one. It is praised for its story and acting and I would agree.
‘Andor’ takes place before the movie ‘Rogue One’ and follows the past of Cassian Andor before we see him in the movie. This season brings us closer to Andor and parts of the Star Wars universe that we haven’t seen before. In the first season we saw Andor become closer to the rebellion and become an important figure in the rebellion. We also see more development for characters from the original trilogy and ‘Rogue One’, such as Mon Mothma and Orson Krennic.
This show has very unique cinematography and there are many landscape shots that show us more of this unique world. We see some new planets in this show as well, which help expand the Star Wars universe for fans. The music and darker lighting help set a dark mysterious theme for this show which really carry on to the character’s reality because most are just fighting to survive.
From the great success of season 1 comes yet another show of ‘Andor’. Many thought that season 2 had large expectations to live up to and I think that this show did a pretty good job. The music, cinematography and lighting all remind us of season 1 and it helps build on season 1. I would personally recommend this show and I think it’s one of the best series that has come from the Disney takeover of Star Wars.
Are you bored with time to waste but can’t decide where to go? Saint Paul, Minnesota, offers a variety of indoor and outdoor venues where you can enjoy fun activities, eat delicious food, and create fun memories.
Puzzle Works – Located in the Twin Cities, offering the most exciting and intense escape rooms.
They provide a variety of rooms including The Loose Sleuth, The Vault, The Dungeons, The Hospital, and The Nightmare at the Museum, difficulty levels ranging from 5-10.
The game allows you to work together with a minimum of 4, and maximum of 10, people to solve puzzles located inside the rooms. Your mission is to complete objectives within a set time and escape.
The Vault: Assist an exiled prince into retrieving treasures from the bank.
The Loose Sleuth: Investigate the mysterious disappearance of a top detective.
The Hospital: Return a misplaced heart before the upcoming surgery.
The Dungeon: Escape execution after being caught stealing from an enchanted avocado.
Nightmare at the Museum: Bring an end to a doll exhibit that has been terrorized by a ghost.
A minimum of four participants are required for bookings. Tickets cost $32.99 per person Sunday through Friday and $34.99 on Saturdays.
Location: 755 Prior Avenue North, Suite 007A, Saint Paul, MN 55114
The Burrow – A multifaceted venue that offers a variety of entertainment that is suitable for different age groups.
They offer various entertainment like axe throwing, pickleball, a private karaoke room, rope courses, outdoor mini-golf, laser tag, and multiple arcade games.
Axe throwing allows you to throw axes on targets, engaging in sessions ranging from 30-60 minutes. $20 per person for 30 mins and $30 for 60.
Pickleball can be played on their indoor courts with a price of $15 per person for 2 hours. The private karaoke room rents for $55 an hour.
Rope Courses and Outdoor Mini-golf are seasonal, only being offered in specific weather conditions. Both activities are filled with their creatively designed courses and are set at a price of $15 per person.
Laser Tag is a fun elimination game where you get to shoot players with a laser gun, earning points for either yourself or your team, costing only $10 per person each round.
Not only does this place offer various entertainment options but they also offer dining areas with delicious food and an adult menu allowing people to relax and chill.
Location: 7053 10th Street North, Oakdale, MN 55128
Can Can Wonderland – An artistic entertainment venue filled with vintage arcade games, live performances, a mini-golf course, and a unique food and drink menu.
They offer over 150 vintage arcade games along with modern arcade games that are free to play.
They include regular live performances including music, themed nights, and talent shows. The venue updates its event calendar with upcoming shows and performances.
Can Can Wonderland offers a diverse food and beverage menu that complements its whimsical and wacky atmosphere while also including an adult menu, making this place suitable for various age groups.
Location: 755 Prior Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Spirit Mountain – Located in Duluth, approximately 150 miles away from Saint Paul.
They offer outdoor activities, including snowboarding, skiing, adventure parks, and mountain biking. They also include a jumping pillow attraction for young kids, making this place suitable for all ages.
Winter Sports: Include 22 ski runs, terrain parks, and snow tubing.
Mountain Biking: A lift-accessed trail that caters to various skill level courses, offering both smooth and rugged paths.
Adventure Park: Features a 3,200 track alpine coaster, a 700-foot zip ride, scenic chairlift, jumping pillow, and mini-golf.
These spots offer many different activities and entertainment that are suitable for all interests. Next time you’re wondering how to spend your free time, consider one of these places for a fun experience and memories.
The 10 minute art challenge, popularized by the New York Times, asks you to spend 10 minutes with one painting, uninterrupted. Usually, people only look at paintings for a minute or so, if that. Even if you study a painting repeatedly, spending uninterrupted time with it gives you a whole new perspective. As you look at the painting for ten whole minutes, you will probably find your eyes drawn to details you didn’t see at first. You may also find you see the painting differently; with changing focal points, colors, and even movement within it. Spending this time with a piece of art not only helps you to learn about art and expand your attention span, but to relax and ground yourself.
I tried this challenge at a common starting point: ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh. I love van Gogh’s style, and this painting has always been a favorite of mine.
When I started the challenge, I was a bit worried I’d get bored. My eyes didn’t really focus on a specific spot, instead they wandered around the canvas. But as I stuck with it, things started to jump out at me. I noticed the texture of the paint, and that colors I’d once thought were blues were actually shades of green and brown. I also felt my breathing slow down, and my body relax. Because I was focused on this one task, my mind had a clear directive: only think about this painting. It didn’t have time to wander to other worries or annoying thoughts, or even to get bored.
Overall, I think this is a great challenge for everyone to try. I was surprised by how calming and centering it was, and I noticed lots of new things about a great piece of art. You can try this with any piece, whether it has a lot of things to look at, like ‘The Starry Night’, or not very many. You can also adjust the timing; sit for only 5 minutes, or as long as you want. Find an art piece and give it a try!
Singer songwriter Jill Sobule passed away on May 1st, 2025, at the age of 66. She was known for her hit singles “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel” from the ‘Clueless’ soundtrack. Sobule died in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota early Thursday morning on May 1st.
Firefighters reported to Pinehurst Road around 5:30 a.m., after receiving a call about a fire. When firefighters arrived at the house it was in flames. The homeowners stated that a woman in her 60s was possibly still inside. Later on Thursday, Woodbury Public Safety stated that there were no immediate signs of foul play, and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office is pending toxicology results which can take up to 6 weeks. Sobule was in town visiting friends and recording an episode of a podcast called “The Brian Oake Show”.
An article from INFORUM News got statements from both her manager John Porter and her booking agent Craig Grossman. John Porter said “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client and a friend today. I hope her music, memory, and legacy continue to live on and inspire others.” Craig stated “I was fortunate to know Sobule beyond a professional relationship. No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond.”
In 2008, Sobule was dropped from multiple record labels, and a couple indie labels she worked with went bankrupt. Due to this inconvenience, Sobule became an early pioneer of crowdfunding to support her music. This basically means she raised money from her audience to help her produce her music. Sobule ended up raising close to $89,000 to help fund her album ‘California Years’ which was later released in April of 2009. Sobule was not just a singer, but a human rights activist. She made history with her song “I Kissed A Girl” being the first openly gay-themed song to crack the billboard top 20.
In Sobule’s music, the lyrics are about identity, love, societal norms, and brain surgery. Sobule battled with anorexia and depression, which she likes to mention in her lyrics. Since her 20s she’s had tremors, but always thought it was from excess energy. Her tremors made it hard to focus especially when she was working. Due to this she underwent DBS. DBS is a brain surgery commonly used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and essential tremors.
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
⅓ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour
Cookie Dough:
½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
Instructions:
Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper or grease it.
Heat the oven to 350Fº.
For the brownies, melt butter then stir in cocoa powder.
Whisk in both sugar and the salt then add the eggs and vanilla and beat well (secret to glossy brownies is to beat the eggs and sugar very well.)
Add the flour and mix until almost combined then fold in the chocolate chips
Transfer the brownie batter to your prepared pan and spread into a thin layer then set aside.
For the cookie dough, cream the butter, and sugars on high for 3-4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Mix in the vanilla and egg.
Add salt, baking soda and powder then mix until combined.
Pour in the flour and mix until almost combined then fold in the chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfuls onto the brownie batter. You don’t need full coverage, it will be nice to see the brownie batter peaking through after baking.
Bake at 350Fº for 35-40 mins.
Allow to cool before removing from the pan and cutting.
Enjoy!
Review:
These brookies were absolutely amazing. The brownie was so rich and gooey, and the cookie was perfectly browned and sweet. The chocolate chips in both were melted and tied both of them together. There was the perfect ratio of cookie to brownie, so in every bite I got a little bit of both. I paired it with a cold cup of milk and it made my night.
The recipe was easy to follow, but took up a lot of time since you have to make two different mixtures. It was all very worth it though, and now I have lots to share.
The next day while I was hanging out with my friends, I shared the brookies with them and they tasted just as good cold or warmed up in the microwave. I also gave some to my brother and he said that they were great.
I got this recipe off of Preppy Kitchen (https://preppykitchen.com/brookies/#recipe) by John Kanell. The website was easy to navigate and the recipe was amazing. He did a great job with creating the perfect brookie recipe.
I had a great time making these, and the result was so worth the time spent! It was great to share with my friends and family. Try making these yourself! Enjoy!
If you’ve ever watched a movie adaptation of a book, like ‘The Hunger Games’ or ‘Divergent’, you might wonder about the differences or similarities between the book and its movie adaptation. In this article, I will list several reasons as to why books are better than their movie counterparts.
For one, reading a book allows your mind to create your own interpretation of the story. Your brain creates your own version of the characters using descriptive words within the book that seems to make it more personal and creative. However, most movies might not correlate to your personal interpretation of what you thought characters or places looked like. This can lead to some dissatisfaction as some things might not seem as familiar to you.
Another reason is that movie adaptations usually leave out details from the book. As reading a book can usually take longer than watching a movie, the movies might leave out some interesting details or information about the plot or characters. The average film is only about 2 hours long, but books can have hundreds or even thousands of pages of descriptive words and details that can take several hours to read.
Another reason is that books help build your vocabulary. When you read a book, your brain is actively progressing in grammar and spelling. Reading several books makes you an overall smarter person as you are continuing to build your reading level and vocabulary.
Some might think that movies are more interesting than books, but books allow you to immerse yourself further into your own interpretation of the story.
Overall, I think that books are much better than movies as they provide a creative outlet for the endless stories that books contain.
Season 1 of ‘Bridgerton’ is a romantic drama that takes place in London during the Regency era, The story is about rich families who go to parties and dances to find love and good marriages, and everything is super formal and full of rules. The main focus is on the Bridgerton family, especially the oldest daughter, Daphne Bridgerton.
Daphne is just starting her first “season,” which is when high society girls get introduced to people and hopefully find someone to marry. At first, everything seems perfect: she looked super amazing, acts politely, and gets attention. But things start to go wrong, and she realizes that finding true love isn’t as simple as it looks in fairy tales. That’s when she meets Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. He’s super rich, super charming and but cold, as he doesn’t want to marry anyone. But when he and Daphne come up with a plan to help each other out things start to get really interesting and even sad.
While all this drama is going on, there’s a mysterious gossip writer named “Lady Whistledown”. She sends out letters to everyone in town spilling secrets and talking about people’s personal lives. Nobody knows who she is, but everyone reads her papers. It makes things fun, but also a little dangerous for the characters who are trying to keep their secrets private.
One of the best parts of the show is the music. Even though the characters are wearing ball gowns and dancing in ballrooms, the songs are actually modern ones that we know but they are just played on violins and string instruments so they sound old-fashioned but cool. This makes the show feel unique, like it’s mixing the past with the present.
“Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande, “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5, “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift, “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes are some of the songs heard. Even though the show is about things that happened a long time ago, the modern songs help you connect with the characters and feel the drama in a way that’s more fun and relatable. It also makes scenes more memorable like you’ll hear the violin version of “Thank U, Next” and actually remember the party scene it went with.
I also feel like the diversity in the show definitely helps keep it a up to date show; there’s no timely realistic race structure which is good. There’s many black and just people of color playing so many roles!
Overall, ‘Bridgerton’ Season 1 is about more than just love. It’s about figuring out what you want in life, making your own choices, and dealing with family pressure. It’s also about friendships, gossip, and standing up for yourself. With amazing costumes, fun characters, a little mystery, and awesome music, it’s a really fun and dramatic show to watch. I would definitely give it a 4/5.
You can watch ‘Bridgerton’ on Netflix.
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