Category Archives: Entertainment

Entertainment, Movies/TV/Theaters

Best music apps

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In an effort to find out how to best listen to music on a phone, I researched the top two best music apps for the iPhone and Android phones.

The 1st app I found for Android is Google Play Music. The pros of the app are:

  • Being able to upload your music
  • You can save your online music for offline play

And the cons are:

  • It focuses more on its online content than your offline content, so if you’re looking for something that’s solely for offline content you’ll want to look elsewhere

The 2nd app I looked at is Soundcloud for both the iPhone and Android. The pros of the app are:

  • You have the option of either uploading an already recorded audio, or recording it on the spot
  • There are NO LIMITS to file sizes
  • There are tons of music and artists available

And the cons are:

  • That you can’t play the songs offline
  • That some of the songs that you look for won’t sound like the original

The best app I found for the iPhone and Android is Spotify. The pros are:

  • That it’s free
  • You can listen to popular artists

The cons are:

  • That you have to put up with ads on your screen and audio commercials between songs
  • The cost to get Premium varies from $1-10
Entertainment

10 fun things to do during the winter in Minnesota

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Winter in Minnesota can make you feel trapped in the house at times, these activities are alternate options when you don’t feel like lounging at home. From art to exercise, there are many interactive events and activities available to you.

Hit the slopes at Afton Alps

Afton alps are great if you love skiing, snowboarding and tubing. These are winter sports that are good sources of exercise to stay fit in the winter. You can come here with a group of friends, family or by yourself.

Go to Red Bull Crashed Ice

Red Bull Crashed Ice is a ice skating obstacle tournament downtown St Paul. This event is great for coming with a group of people. There’s food and drinks available and the event is free.

Build a snowman in your front yard

Building a snowman has been a tradition for a very long time, especially in places with legitimate winters. You can even make your snowman more stylish by adding a cute scarf or hat!

Go sledding at a local park

Sledding is a fun activity for all ages. However, younger kids specifically enjoy it and can be made into a family event on days when you are looking for something to do that doesn’t cost money. It’s easy, just invest in some cheap sleds or grab a good old piece of cardboard and you’re ready to go.

Admire the decorated mansions on Summit Ave

Go driving down Summit Ave. and look at all the big mansions decorated with stunning christmas lights.

Go to a sports game

Go support your state teams! This is a fun activity, great for bonding with friends and family you can bring along. Also, there are some great bundles to get better seats for cheaper prices.

Wander through the Rice Park Winter Wonderland

Rice Park Winter Wonderland is free and open to the public, located in downtown St. Paul. The best time to go is at night so you can see all the trees lit up with christmas lights.

Shop and find those after-christmas sales at MOA

Go to MOA to get super great deals, maybe even better than black friday. Perfect for getting nice quality presents for a reasonable price for friends and family.

Go ice skating at the Wells Fargo Winterskate

Every year Wells Fargo offers a free, outdoor skating rink in downtown St.Paul. This event would be great to go with friends and have fun! It is a nice way to stay connected in your community.

Go to the winter carnival downtown St. Paul

Come to the winter carnival with family or friends, especially little kids. This event is located in Rice Park, downtown St.Paul and is free!

Travel/Food

Holiday recipes

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Holiday Recipes

Here are some delicious, easy recipes for this holiday season!

Homemade Cheesy Potatoes

3 pounds Russet Potatoes, peeled

4 tablespoons Butter, divided

1/2 cup Yellow Onion, diced small

1 clove Garlic, minced

2-1/2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 cup Whole Milk

1 cup Sour Cream

3 Green Onions, sliced

3/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1 cup grated Sharp Colby Cheese

Directions:

  1. Peel a pound of potatoes
  2. Slice the potatoes into planks, then strips and dice into cubes. Add the potatoes into a pot of cold water, bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes. Remove and drain the potatoes and set into a sink. Let the potatoes cool.
  3. In a 10-inch skillet add three tablespoons of butter. Over medium-low melt the butter and then add in the diced onions. Cook until just softened and add in the minced garlic. Cook for one minute.
  4. Add small amount of four in the flour and stir, cooking for 2-3 minutes. While stirring, pour in the 1/2 cup of broth and 1/2 cup of whole milk. Continue to stir until thick, about 5-8 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cup of cold sour cream.
  6. In a large bowl add in the cooled potatoes, onion and sour cream mixture, green onions, salt, pepper and grated Colby cheese. Stir to combine and pour in the prepared pan.
  7. Bake at 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until bubbly and lightly golden. Let cool for 20-25 minutes before serving.

Green Bean casserole:

  1. 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup  
  2. 1/2 cup  milk
  3. 1 teaspoon  soy sauce
  4. 1 dash  black pepper
  5. 4 cups cooked cut green beans
  6. 1 1/3 cups french fried Onions

Directions:

  1. Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a bowl.
  2. Pour into a casserole dish.
  3. Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbling. Stir casserole and sprinkle with the remaining french fried onions.
  4. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

  1. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  3. 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  4. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  5. 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
  6. 1 teaspoon salt
  7. 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  8. 2 large eggs
  9. 2 cups semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a small bowl whisk together the flour and baking soda and set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed.
  4. Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  5. Drop tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes.
  8. Let cool completely.

Eggnog:

  1. 4 cups milk
  2. 5 whole cloves
  3. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  5. 12 egg yolks

Directions:

  1. Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
  2. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy.
  3. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is thick.
  4. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
  5. Stir in, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

.

Entertainment

Travel

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Wondering where to travel over break? There are lots of fun places that you and your family can go. The four places I picked to write about in this article are places that could be fun for the whole family. The reason why I focused on family friendly destinations was that I wanted to find vacations that would appeal to more than one age group.

The four places I ended up picking were: the Bahamas, Hawaii, Long Beach, CA, and London.

I looked at air plane tickets for these four destinations. There is a range of prices starting at $385 all the the way up to $2167. Specifically:

Bahamas-$466-$631

Hawaii-$871-$1021

California – Long Beach -$385-$520

London-$1404-$2167

You could have a grate time at any of these places. There are lots of fun thing to do wherever you go.

For example, in the Bahamas you can swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Encounters and lay on the beach or go shopping at the Bahamas Craft shop or go site seeing.

In Hawaii there are so many thing to do. You can go for a hike at Maunawili Falls Trail, or go shopping at the Premium Outlet Mall. You could also spend your time hanging out on the beach, or you could swim with dolphins at Dolphin Quest, or you could check out the animals at the Honolulu Zoo.

In Long Beach, CA  you can lay on the beach or go to Point Vicente. Another place to go is the Aquarium of the Pacific. One last place you could go is The Pike, which is a touristy international bazaar.

In London you can go see the London Eye or go see Buckingham Palace. Big Ben or the London Zoo are also great places to visit.

All of these places would be cool to visit and explore.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Krampus movie review

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The movie Krampus was inspired by an old legend that started to become popular again, a few decades ago, about an evil demon who some say is almost as old as St. Nicholas. Krampus has his own holiday on December 5th, that is celebrated in some European countries where teenage guys make homemade Krampus costumes, and run around the streets chasing people.

The movie Krampus was directed by Michael Dougher. The movie is about a dysfunctional family drama that causes young Max (played by Emjay Anthony) to lose hope in the Christmas spirit and accidentally summon Krampus. Krampus then goes off tormenting the family, teaching Max a lesson, and making the audience remember about the Christmas spirit.

I would give this movie an overall 9 out of 10 star rating because the acting was really good, and the story was entertaining. Towards the end, the story line is not the clearest, especially if you go to the bathroom, so you do need to pay a lot of attention.

Anyway, this movie is a great choice for people that like horror and comedy.

Entertainment

Gifts for under $15

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For Her

The Maybelline eyeshadow palettes are great stocking stuffers for daughters or mothers who enjoy makeup and experimenting with their look ($9.98 at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, and maybelline.com).

The Burt’s Bees Tips and toes kit is a reasonably priced set with hand creams, a foot cream, and a lip moisturizer. Perfect for a woman who likes natural healthy products to improve her skin. ($10.39 at Walgreens, $12.99 at Target and Macy’s)

Scarves are a great accessory for women to put the final touches on their outfit of the day. With many different kinds of scarves there are plenty of options. Depending on what type of material or style the scarf is the prices will vary however some good stores with scarves under or around $15 are Target, Charlotte Russe, and Forever 21.

For the Kids

Hasbro® Classic Jenga Game is a classic entertaining game perfect for younger kids and families ($7.89 at Target, Walmart and amazon.com).

Wubble X Floating Bubble Ball – Blue (Target Sale Price: $7.99)

Gift Cards are great alternatives if you need to buy a gift for someone and have no idea what to specifically get them. There are gift cards for basically anything, so if you know any hobbies or interests of the person you are getting a gift for this is a great option. (You can go directly to the store for the gift card or else Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and Gas stations have a good general selection).

For Him

Socks are a great present that everyone enjoys receiving. These socks are both stylish, comfortable, and the quality is great. Nike Matchfit Crew Soccer Socks (variety of colors) (Target Sale Price: $14.00)

Calvin Klein Men Body Mist. With a variety of high-end body sprays, he can smell great all season long for a low price! (Men’s Euphoria by Calvin Klein Body Spray, Men’s Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein Body Spray, Men’s Obsession by Calvin Klein Body Spray) (Target Sale Price: $13.19)

Merona Men’s Bifold Wallet ( black and brown) This gift is affordable, quick to buy and present that will be used on a daily basis! (Target Sale Price: $9.10) 

Movies/TV/Theaters, School Life

Pepsi Vs. Coke

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Coke? Pepsi? Which one taste better?

My fellow writer and I decided that it would be interesting to do a soda taste test, and to see which soda tastes better. We made a poster that had both sodas on one side of the poster.

Once the HPHS students entered lunch, we had them come over and try both drinks and after they tasted it, they tallied which drink they liked best. The amount of soda we gave the students to taste was about a Dixie cup worth.FullSizeRender

With the data we collected it shows that people like Coke better than Pepsi. For some students, they said that they like Pepsi because it had a sweet taste, while others said they liked Coke because it had a really fizzy taste. Some people disliked Coke because it had a bland taste, which stayed in their throat.

Overall, 41 people liked Pepsi and 56 liked Coca Cola. So, with that information, we see that Coca Cola is the favored soda of HPSH.

Entertainment, Movies/TV/Theaters

Movie review

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I recently saw the new movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 at the Theatres at Mall of America with my sisters.

When I was watching the movie it was a little slow in parts but other wise it was a pretty interesting film.

The movie was about how Katniss is leading the rebels to the Capitol aiming to kill President Snow. The Gamemakers have rigged the entire city with lethal traps to make sport of their deaths, making it the most dangerous Hunger Games so far.

Not going to spoil the ending here.

On a scale from 1-10 I give it an 8.5 because it was kind of dull but I liked all the previous Hunger Games movies, and overall it’s a good film.

I recommend this film to people who liked the previous Hunger Games movies and books.

Travel/Food

Sweet snack

SWEET AFTER SCHOOL SNACK!

Tired of having nothing to eat at home. Well, have I got the answer for you. I have an easy recipes that you can have done in a flash.

This recipe is the 2 minute apple crisp

All you need is

  • Slice and peeled apple
  • 2 tbsp quick cooking oats
  • 2 tbsp of flour
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbs butter
  • ¼ tsp of cinnamon
  • pinch of salt

What you need to do is you need to get a mug.

  • Once you get the mug you put the slice peeled apple in first.
  • Microwave the peeled apple slices for 60 seconds.
  • Then you add the 2 tbs of quick cooking oats.
  • Then the 2 tbsp of flour. 1 tbsp of brown sugar. 1 tbsp of butter. ¼ tsp of cinnamon.
  • Then finally a pinch of salt.
  • Microwave the mug for 30 seconds.
  • And then take it out and stir it.
  • Then put it back in for another 30 seconds.

Exactly 2 min it’s great for a afternoon snack or for some dessert after lunch.  

Movies/TV/Theaters

Movie review

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I recently saw the new movie Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension at Theatres at Mall of America with my sister. The movie theatre was packed and we sat in the middle.

The beginning of the movie had a slow start like in the other ones. When I was watching the movie I got kinda bored because at times nothing was really happening. It is more interesting when you start seeing things move around and start getting scared.

The movie was about a man and his wife and daughter that are getting ready for Christmas in their new house. After moving in they come across an old camcorder. Later, the husband (Ryan) found out that the camcorder can record strange apparitions that you can’t see. Then, their daughter (Leila) starts talking to an imaginary friend and she starts acting strange. They then find themselves in a terrifying battle with a supernatural force.

Overall, it’s a good movie. On a scale from 1-10 I give it an 8.5 because of how it’s kind of  slow when the scary parts were not happening. Also, if you thought you were getting closure, you’ll be disappointed but overall it’s a great film.

I recommend this film to people who liked the previous Paranormal Activities movies, and like being scared.