Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes

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Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert. Fun party food idea!

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert. Fun party food idea!

Sponsored by Paramount Pictures

Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes

If you like porcupines and cupcakes, then today is your day! Wonder Park, in theaters March 15, tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive.

We’re so excited to see this movie! After watching the trailer and seeing all of the movie characters, Steve the porcupine made me laugh out loud. I immediately imagined him as a cupcake. So true to the imagination theme of film, I’m excited to show you how to make these funny Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes!

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Birthday Party Ideas

 

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert. Fun party food idea!

Meet Steve from Wonder Park

Steve is Wonder Park’s safety officer. I can only imagine what it will be like having a porcupine as the safety officer. I’m guessing lots of laughs! What do you think of him as a cupcake? I think he’s pretty sharp myself!

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Birthday Party Ideas. LivingLocurto.com

Watch the clip all about Steve below. Then I’ll show you how to turn him into porcupine cupcakes!

 

How to Make Steve the Porcupine Cupcakes

I haven’t seen many porcupine cupcakes on the internet, so what you see came straight out of my imagination. Steve is very simple… just a big pink nose and large teeth. Having a bunch of these Wonder Park porcupine cupcakes on a dessert table will really wow your party guests!

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert.

First, bake or buy your favorite cupcakes. Now frost your cupcakes with white frosting. Want a good recipe? These fluffy white cake and frosting recipe is amazing!

Cute Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. LivingLocurto.com

Spray the top of each cupcake with silver food coloring mist and set aside.

Cute Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. LivingLocurto.com

Wonder Park Porcupine Face

What you’ll need for Porcupine cupcake faces:

  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Pink Candy Melts
  • Pink and Black Edible Markers
  • Toothpicks and Scissors

Cute Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. LivingLocurto.com

Porcupine Nose

Make the porcupine nose by using a toothpick to carve two nostrils on the bottom half of a pink candy melt. Color the nostrils with a pink edible marker so they stand out.

Cute Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. LivingLocurto.com

Porcupine Mouth

With a sharp knife, slice a mini marshmallow in half and trim the top of each half off so it looks like a smile shape. Outline a tooth onto the marshmallow mouth with a black edible marker. Now color the rest of the mouth black.

Cute Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. LivingLocurto.com

Easy Porcupine Quills

Once you have Steve’s mouth and noses made, you’re ready to decorate your porcupine cupcakes! Cookies and cream Pocky candy are perfect for his quills!

Cute Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. LivingLocurto.com

Begin by inserting a few pocky candy pieces into the top of the cupcake. Break some in half to make various sizes of needles. Use 10-15 pocky pieces per cupcake. I used three 2.47 oz boxes to make six cupcakes.

Gently place a pink nose onto a cupcake, then add his marshmallow mouth and push into the icing well.

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert.

Cute Porcupine Cupcakes!

Didn’t Steve turn out cute? I hope you enjoyed this easy porcupine cupcake tutorial. Go see Wonder Park in theaters March 15! Visit WonderParkMovie.com to get your tickets now!

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert. LivingLocurto.com

Porcupine Cupcakes

Easy recipe for Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes. Learn how to turn a lovable movie character into a sweet dessert. Fun party food idea!

  • 12 Vanilla Cupcakes with White Frosting
  • 1 can Silver Food Color Spray
  • 1/2 cup Mini Marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup Pink Candy Melts
  • 1 Pink Edible Marker
  • 1 Black Edible Marker
  • 6 2.47 oz boxes Cookies and Cream Pocky Candy
  1. Frost your cupcakes with white frosting.
  2. Spray the top of each cupcake with sliver food coloring mist and set aside.
  3. Make the porcupine nose by using a toothpick to carve two nostrils on the bottom half of a pink candy melt.
  4. Color the nostrils with a pink edible marker. Repeat until you have 12 noses.
  5. With a sharp knife, slice a mini marshmallow in half and trim the top of each half off so it looks like a smile shape.
  6. Outline a tooth onto the marshmallow mouth with a black edible marker. Color the rest of the mouth black. Repeat until you have 12 mouths.

  7. Begin decorating the cupcakes by inserting a few pocky candy pieces into the top of the cupcake. Break some in half to make various sizes of needles. Use 10-15 pocky pieces per cupcake.

  8. Gently place a pink nose onto a cupcake.
  9. Add his marshmallow mouth and push into the icing well.
  10. Serve and enjoy!

Watch the Wonder Park trailer below…

The post Wonder Park Porcupine Cupcakes appeared first on Living Locurto.

How To Train Your Dragon Cake Recipe

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You’ll love this easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake tutorial! Learn how to make a delicious white cake recipe for a Night Fury or Light Fury dragon cake. A perfect cake for a birthday party or special occasion.

How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Night Fury or Light Fury dragon cake. Cute birthday party cakes by LivingLocurto.com

Sponsored by Universal Pictures

The Cutest How To Train Your Dragon Cake Recipes!

Looking for a fun How to Train Your Dragon Cake for a birthday party or other special celebration? Then you’re going to love how easy these dragon cakes are to make with this fluffy white cake and buttercream frosting recipe!

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World will be in theaters February 22 and I’m excited to share how I easily turned Toothless, the Night Fury dragon and his new friend, Light Fury, into adorable cakes. Make one cake or both, either way they’ll turn out to be the cutest cakes for any party!

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

How To Train Your Dragon Cake Recipe

If you’ve never seen these films, be sure to get caught up the first two, because they are super cute! In How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World , Hiccup is the Viking chief and ruler of Berk. He created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia along with his fearsome Night Fury dragon, Toothless.

When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth.

Easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Night Fury or Light Fury dragon cake. A perfect birthday party cake! LivingLocurto.com #cake #dragon #recipe

How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial

The secret to making a How to Train Your Dragon cake is to use my printables! I spent a long time designing printables that would work just right for a small cake. I wanted to turn both dragons into cakes, so I used 5″ round cake pans. Click here for a 5″ round cake pan.

For these printables to work perfectly, I suggest a 5″-6″ cake pan. You can make one cake, but they sure look cute when you have both the white and black dragons together!

How To Make Dragon Cake Printables

First, download and print these dragon cake printables in the link below (scroll down). Once you have printed and cut them out, start by hot gluing 1/2 inch cut paper straws onto the back of the eyes.

Easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Night Fury or Light Fury dragon birthday cake with printables.

I used toothpicks to attach the other dragon parts into my cake.

IMPORTANT: When the paper touches the buttercream frosting, it can make the paper greasy. When inserting your printables into the cake, try leaving a gap between the paper and the cake if possible. I suggest not adding the printables until right before you are ready to serve the cake.

Easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Night Fury or Light Fury dragon birthday cake with printables.

Toothless is black, so if the frosting touches the black paper, you can’t see any residue. Isn’t he cute?

Easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Night Fury dragon birthday cake. LivingLocurto.com

I love how pretty the Light Fury cake turned out!

Make sure your printables do not touch the white dragon cake, because you will have some of the frosting soak into the white paper. My fluffy white cake recipe is perfect for this dragon!

Easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Light Fury dragon birthday cake. LivingLocurto.com

I hope you enjoy these adorable How To Train Your Dragon cake tutorials!

Scroll down to print the White Cake and White Buttercream Frosting recipes. Be sure to go see How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World!

How To Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial! Fluffy white cake recipe for a Light Fury and Night Fury Toothless dragon birthday cake. LivingLocurto.com

Download the How to Train Your Dragon Cake Printables

Each printable design is meant to be used on a three layered 5″ round cake. A 6″ round cake will work fine as well. Click here for a 5″ round cake pan.

How To Train Your Dragon Cake birthday cake free printables. LivingLocurto.com

 

How To Train Your Dragon Cake birthday cake printables. LivingLocurto.com

CLICK HERE to Download the How to Train Your Dragon Cake Printables.

GET FEATURED: If you make this cake, please tag @LivingLocurto on Instagram and use the hashtag #LivingLocurto. I’d love to feature you!

Leave a Comment on Living Locurto about this How to Train Your Dragon Cake Tutorial

How to Train Your Dragon White Cake Recipe

Easy How To Train Your Dragon Cake tutorial. Fluffy white cake recipe for a Night Fury or Light Fury dragon cake. A perfect birthday party cake!

White Cake

  • 3  cups  cake flour
  • 2  cups  sugar
  • 4  teaspoons  baking powder
  • 1/2  teaspoon  salt
  • 5  egg whites (room temperature)
  • 1  entire egg (room temperature)
  • 1  cup  whole milk
  • 2   teaspoons  pure almond extract
  • 3/4 cup  unsalted butter

White Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup butter (softened)
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • Black food gel (if making Night Fury)

White Cake Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and line three 5” or 6” inch cake pans with parchment paper. (I used 5 inch for my dragon cakes)
  2. Whisk the eggs, milk, and almond extract together in a large bowl; set aside.
  3. In a mixer, gently combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together.
  4. Add butter and mix on low until you get a crumbly texture.
  5. Add the liquid mixture a small portion at a time and mix until light and fluffy.
  6. Pour the batter evenly into each cake pan.
  7. Bake 25-30 minutes. You don’t want to over bake! Check at 15-20 minutes to test if it’s done by placing a toothpick in the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.
  8. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pans.

Frosting Directions

  1. In a mixer, cream the butter until it is smooth for about 3 minutes.
  2. Add the confectioner’s sugar 1/2 a cup at a time then mix another minute.

  3. Add vanilla, a pinch of salt and milk until frosting has reached the preferred consistency.

  4. If making the Night Fury cake, mix in black food gel a few drops at a time until you get the desired color.

Assembling the Cake

  1. Make the top of the cakes even by using a serrated knife and cutting the cake top to level the surface.
  2. Place bottom cake layer on a cake turntable or cake board and spread frosting to the top. Repeat until entire cake is assembled.
  3. Complete frosting the cake by adding one thin layer all over and placing cake into the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Then add the final layer of frosting.

  4. Add the How to Train Your Dragon printables into the cake as shown for the dragon.

*This recipe is for 1 cake. Double the cake recipe to make two cakes. 

If you prefer to use a cake mix: Use 2 cake mix boxes for one three layer cake. 

IMPORTANT: When paper touches the buttercream frosting, it can make the paper greasy. When inserting your printables into the cake, try leaving a gap between the paper and the cake if possible. I suggest not adding the printables until right before you are ready to display or serve the cake.

Watch How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World trailer. In theaters February 22! Get your tickets now.

The post How To Train Your Dragon Cake Recipe appeared first on Living Locurto.

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado

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This simple Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado is a perfect dish to share when watching Mamma Mia! Here we Go Again, now available to own on Digital and available on Blu-ray October 23. A juicy baked chicken recipe and fresh avocado slices loaded onto a homemade Greek salad is an irresistible low carb meal packed with flavor!

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado. Juicy baked chicken and fresh avocado slices loaded onto a homemade Greek salad is an irresistible low carb recipe packed with flavor!

The Best Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado!

This post is in partnership with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Greek food and ABBA are two of my favorite things! When I was asked if I wanted to share a recipe to help celebrate the Worldwide Phenomenon and Sing-Along event of the year, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Sing-Along Edition, I said of course!

Make plans for a Mamma Mia movie night in soon with this amazing recipe for Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado. First of all, this baked chicken is super moist, easy to make and perfect for a healthy Greek Salad. Second, you’ll want to be sure to serve it up while watching Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which is on digital now and on Blu-ray & DVD Oct 23.

Seriously, this easy baked chicken greek salad is drool worthy don’t you think? I could eat this everyday!!

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado and fresh vegetables. Juicy chicken and fresh avocado slices loaded onto a Greek salad is a low carb recipe packed with flavor!

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

As soon as this movie came out in the theaters, I was there! Now that it’s on digital, I’m even more excited to watch it again, so I can sing along at home. LOL! If you haven’t seen this cute movie yet, it’s a must! It’s so fun to return to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi with this musical full of ABBA songs.

Baked Chicken Greek Salad Recipe and Baked Chicken Greek Salad Recipe

The original cast returns and I love that Cher makes an appearance! The guys are my favorite though, because I have a crush on Colin Firth. I dream of living on a Greek island running around singing ABBA songs! When I visited Greece, that’s kind of what I did. LOL! Get the film here.

Baked Chicken Greek Salad Recipe and Baked Chicken Greek Salad Recipe

Easy Baked Chicken Greek Salad

Since I don’t live on a Greek island, this yummy Baked Chicken Greek Salad will have to do for now. It’s a twist on the traditional Greek salad. I made a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing and added avocado. It’s full of flavor and very easy to whip up for dinner or party.

This amazing Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado is amazing! This easy low carb healthy salad recipe makes the BEST dinner. #salad #dinner #recipes #chicken #greeksalad #healthy #lowcarb

Romaine lettuce tossed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, yellow peppers, olives, red onion and feta cheese makes the most amazing salad! I love the rainbow of colors.

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado and fresh vegetables recipe.

You don’t have to add chicken to your salad, but it makes more of a hearty meal. This baked chicken recipe is my go-to meal for perfectly moist chicken every time!

First, I marinade the chicken in the dressing, then brown each side over the stove and finally bake in the oven.

Baked Chicken Greek Salad - Easy recipe to bake moist delicious chicken

More Delicious Baked Chicken Recipes:

Adding this delicious baked chicken to your Greek salad is the best and looks beautiful!

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado Recipe

Before serving, I will pour some of my homemade dressing over the chicken to give it a glossy, even more appetizing look. People will go crazy when they see this dish!

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with homemade dressing and fresh vegetables. Juicy baked chicken and fresh avocado slices loaded onto a Greek salad is a low carb recipe.

Head out to the store to get your ingredients for making this salad and don’t miss the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Sing-Along Edition, now available on Digital, and on Blu-ray & DVD Oct 23.

Baked Chicken Greek Salad Recipe

Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado

Juicy baked chicken and fresh avocado slices loaded onto a homemade Greek salad is an irresistible low carb recipe packed with flavor!

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and fresh ground pepper

Greek Salad

  • 2  large skinless boneless chicken breasts
  • 4  cups  romaine lettuce leaves (chopped)
  • 1  avocado (sliced)
  • 1 cucumber (halved and sliced)
  • 2  small tomatoes (cut into wedges)
  • 1/2  yellow pepper (chopped)
  • 1/2  red onion (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup Feta cheese (crumbled)
  • 1/4  cup  pitted kalamata olives (sliced)
  • 1/2 lemon
  • Fresh ground pepper

Dressing

  1. In a bowl, whisk the balsamic vinegar and mustard together.
  2. Slowly add the olive oil and blend.
  3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Transfer to an air tight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Baked Chicken

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of dressing and chicken breasts to a large zipper bag or bowl and toss together.
  3. Lightly coat a baking dish or skillet that is oven and stovetop safe with cooking spray and place the chicken breasts into the dish.
  4. Brown the chicken breasts over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side.
  5. Remove from heat and bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes or until cooked all the way through (meat thermometer should read 165°). If your dish is not oven safe, place chicken into a casserole baking dish before putting in the oven.?Remove from oven, cover the dish with foil for 5 minutes to let the chicken rest before slicing for the salad.

Greek Salad

  1. While the chicken is baking, fill a large bowl with romaine lettuce.
  2. Combine the avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, yellow pepper, onion, Feta and olives.
  3. Squeeze the juice from a lemon wedge over the vegetables.
  4. Add the sliced chicken and sprinkle with fresh pepper to taste.
  5. Drizzle a tablespoon of dressing over the chicken.
  6. Serve this baked chicken greek salad with dressing on the side.

More Amazing Greek Recipes:

The post Baked Chicken Greek Salad with Avocado appeared first on Living Locurto.

Baked Chicken Nachos for Girls’ Night In with Book Club

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Easy baked chicken nachos recipe! These sheet pan nachos with chicken loaded with your favorite toppings make the perfect quick dinner or party snack! Make it a girls’ night in with the hilarious film Book Club.

Best Baked Chicken Nachos for a Girls’ Night In with Book Club

In partnership with Paramount Pictures

When you need a quick meal, sheet pan baked chicken nachos are the best! I watched Book Club on my last plane ride and had to control myself, because I kept laughing out loud! I mean… really LOUD. ha!! After enjoying the film so much, I couldn’t wait to come home to watch it again with my girlfriends. Book Club is such a cute movie and is now available to download on iTunes and will be on Blu-ray August 28th.

Baked Chicken Nachos Recipe + Girls’ Night In = Fun!

To make your girl’s night in complete, I’m sharing my favorite recipe for Baked Chicken Nachos! This sheet pan recipe is fabulous for dinner as well.

Have you seen this film yet? It features four Hollywood icons together on screen! Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen. They get together to discuss the latest book they’re reading, but end up talking about so much more! They inspire each other to make their next chapter the best chapter.

I love the theme that it’s never too late to live your life to the fullest! Download the film on iTunes and make plans to watch it at home this weekend. The release includes hilarious bonus content, like the making of the film, deleted scenes, and more.

When hosting a girls’ night in, these baked chicken nachos are super simple! Buy some ready-made rotisserie chicken at your local grocery store and you’ll have a tasty snack to eat in minutes. Feel free to change the nacho toppings to whatever you prefer. The fun part is making and eating them!

Because you have a delicious quick and easy recipe idea, now is the time to call up your friends, open a bottle of wine and get ready to laugh out loud!

TIP: The most time consuming part of these baked chicken nachos recipe is dicing the vegetables and cooking the beans. Prepare everything the night before your girls’ night. Then when you’re ready to bake your chicken nachos, all you have to do is layer everything and pop them into the oven.

Above all, I hope you enjoy Book Club and these baked chicken nachos as much as I do! Head over to iTunes and download it today.

How to Make Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos

Baked Chicken Nachos

Easy baked chicken nachos! These sheet pan baked nachos with chicken loaded with your favorite toppings make the perfect quick and easy dinner recipe or party snack!

  • 3 teaspoons olive oil
  • 15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained (1 can)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground chili powder
  • 1 red pepper (diced)
  • 1 green pepper (diced)
  • 2 cups rotisserie chicken (shredded)
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 10 ounce bag of tortilla chips
  • 1 cup pepper Jack cheese (shredded)
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • 2 tomatoes (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup green onions (diced)
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro (minced)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
  • 1/3 cup jalapeño pepper slices (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. In a large skillet add olive oil and sauté the black beans, garlic, cumin and chili powder in the oil for 2 minutes or until heated through. Toss diced peppers with the bean mixture and cook for another minute.
  3. In a bowl, toss the shredded chicken, lime juice, salt and pepper together.

  4. Spray a 13×9-in. baking dish with cooking spray and layer half of the tortilla chips, pepper and bean mixture, chicken, cheese (leave some for the top), tomatoes and onions.

  5. Repeat the layers and sprinkle the top with a thin layer of cheese and cilantro.

  6. Bake, at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until cheese has melted. Serve with sour cream and jalapeño peppers.

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Easy Baked Chicken Nachos Recipe! These sheet pan nachos with chicken loaded with your favorite toppings make the perfect quick dinner or party snack.

The post Baked Chicken Nachos for Girls’ Night In with Book Club appeared first on Living Locurto.

How to Live Your Best Life | Red Carpet Recap

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Are you living your best life? Ask these questions to help keep you on the path to living the life you’ve always wanted.  Plus, enjoy the Life of the Party movie premiere red carpet recap where I felt like I was living one of the best nights of my life!

How to Live Your Best Life | Life of the Party Movie Red Carpet Recap by Amy Locurto LivingLocurto.com

How to Live Your Best Life and Life of the Party Red Carpet Recap

I partner with Warner Bros Pictures and was invited to attend the world premiere for Life of the Party, a hilarious comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, in theaters May 11. No mom should miss this…it’s one of the funniest, sweetest movies ever! This was my first time being on the red carpet with movie stars and it was so exciting! I even got to hug Melissa McCarthy! She is the cutest thing ever and made me laugh so hard in a few scenes that I had tears streaming down my face.

Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap by Amy Locurto LivingLocurto.com

Melissa McCarthy plays Deanna a longtime dedicated housewife who when her husband suddenly dumps her turns regret into re-set by going back to college. She goes to the same school as her daughter, who’s not entirely sold on the idea. Plunging headlong into the campus experience, she embraces freedom and fun on her own terms, eventually finding her true self.

Life of the Party Movie Red Carpet Recap

A few more of my favorite cast members were Maya Rudolph, who is SO FUNNY and absolutely killed it in this movie. Julie Bowen, one of my favorite actresses and who I got to meet for a quick second on the red carpet, was perfection!

Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap Maya Rudolph

 

Luke Benward is adorably charming in this film! Everyone was swooning over this tall dark and handsome guy at the premiere.

Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap Luke

With all of the screaming girls, I’m pretty sure we got to see the next Hollywood heartthrob up close! If you look closely you can see him in the background of our selfie from the movie premiere after party. This was about as close as I could get through the crowds. He is super cute!!!

Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap After Party Amy Locurto

 

We’re big fans of Debby Ryan and I loved her role as the mean girl. I wish I could rock a pants suit as well as her!

Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap Debby Ryan

Even though Life of the Party is one of those classic funny movies that I will watch over and over, it is full of many great life lessons. The movie plot got me thinking about how being the life of the party can also mean living your best life.

Are you living your best life?

Here are three questions to ask yourself right now to help get you on the right path towards the life you have always wanted.

1. What are you saying yes to?

Take out a piece of paper and write down all of the things you have said yes to in the upcoming months. Are these things allowing you to live your best life, the one you always imagined having? Or are these things that you don’t really have to do, things you might not even want to do, but say yes to anyway because that is what you feel is expected of you?

Melissa McCarthy’s character, Deanna, was the person who gave her time to everyone around her and none for herself. She thought she was happy doing it at the time, but later looks back on her life and wished she had done things differently. So many of us can relate to being that person in many aspects of life. It’s a great reminder to say yes to more things that take you towards the path of the life you really want and that it’s okay to say no to things that don’t.

Saying no to many things in my life has allowed me to focus on growing my website which gives me opportunities like walking the red carpet with some amazing digital influencers and movie stars.

Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap Digital Influencer Bloggers

 

2. Why are you afraid?

In the movie, Deanna was afraid of speaking in public. One of the college girls was afraid she was choosing the wrong field of study. We all probably have something that holds us back from living our best life. What is that for you? Now ask yourself why are you afraid? Knowing why can significantly help you figure out a plan of action.

How to live your best life and Life of the Party Movie Premiere Red Carpet Recap

Years ago, if I was made to speak in front of a large group, I would sweat like crazy and have panic attacks. My fear stemmed from worry that I would choke and look ridiculous. I knew I wasn’t living my best life by being terrified of something that would not physically hurt me. If I messed up, it would only embarrass me for a short time, so I began watching all kinds of public speaking technique videos. I then forced myself to do more public speaking. After years of practice, now I can’t imagine ever feeling nervous to talk to a group! Over the past 5 years, I have gotten to speak to hundreds of people all over the country at numerous conferences. Think of all of the people I wouldn’t have met or inspired if I had let my fear hold me back!

Remember you are strong! I bet there are certainly a few fears you can also overcome to help you live your very best life.

3. When is the last time you did something just for you?

If you are a mom, you might not be able to remember when you did something just for you! It’s okay to schedule something onto your calendar with your name on it. Making time to do more of what you enjoy is an important part of living your best life.

After waking up at 4:30 am to travel home from the movie premiere, I was drop dead exhausted. Plus, I have to get ready for a trip to Florida in a few days for my daughter’s cheer competition. I could have easily canceled my plans made months ago to attend a concert with my girlfriends last night. The movie reminded me that making time for  friends was an important part of living my best life. I not only found much joy from an evening spent with friends watching a fabulous performance, but got to carry my new clutch from the premiere!

Are you living your best life? Ask these questions to help keep you on the path to living the life you’ve always wanted. Amy Locurto Living Locurto shares tips.

Plan to do some things just for you and add “watch Life of the Party” to your list! I promise you will laugh out loud and maybe it will also inspire you to live your best life.


Thanks to Warner Bros Pictures for the great time!

The post How to Live Your Best Life | Red Carpet Recap appeared first on Living Locurto.

Sherlock Gnomes Donuts

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Cute no-bake Gnome Donuts to celebrate Sherlock Gnomes. The new fun, family friendly movie coming to theaters on March 23! Easy recipe idea for a woodland, fairy or gnome themed party.

Cute no-bake Gnome Donuts to celebrate Sherlock Gnomes a fun, family friendly movie. Easy recipe idea for a woodland, fairy or gnome themed party.

In Partnership with Paramount Pictures

Sherlock Gnomes Donuts and Juice

I’m a HUGE fan of garden gnomes and have just made the cutest Gnome Donuts to celebrate Sherlock Gnomes a fun, family friendly movie in theaters March 23. The trailer looks adorable and full of action, teamwork and adventure. What a perfect movie to see during spring break! I can’t wait to see this film since it inspired these fun, easy to make no-bake gnome donuts and juice! After sketching several ideas for gnome donuts, I feel like I know these movie characters inside and out. 

They’re on a mission to bring every gnome home. After a string of garden gnome disappearances in London, Gnomeo & Juliet look to legendary detective Sherlock Gnomes to solve the case of their missing friends and family.

Those tiny red gnomes in the movie poster are so cute! I couldn’t wait to turn them into donuts and especially excited to create an edible Juliet. She’s my favorite character for sure! I think they turned out ADORABLE. Wouldn’t these donuts be so cute for a woodland themed “Sherlock Gnomes” party?

I love creating fun food for parties! These small Sherlock Gnomes toys show you just how bite sized the donuts are, making them the perfect snack for kids. I added colorful drinks to the bottles to serve as their outfits, but you don’t have to serve these on small bottles. They would be just as fun all alone on a plate.

How to Make Sherlock Gnome Donuts

First, you’ll need to gather your ingredients. Scroll down and print the recipe for a list of all ingredients you will need. I used Glazed Hostess Donettes for the donuts and Reese’s Puffs cereal for the noses and ears.

Gnome Hats

Cut paper into about 3”-4” squares and shape into a funnel with the bottom a little bit larger than the width of the donut. Secure with tape and trim to fit.

 

Juliet

To make Juliet, add chocolate frosting to a decorating bag with a petal decorating tip attached. Pipe on Juliet’s hair. Stick two mini chocolate chips into the donuts sideways as eyes. The curvy tip should look like eye lashes. Add a tiny dot of white icing to a candy lip and place on the donut.

Juliet Gnome Donuts | No Bake Sherlock Gnomes Party Treat

Gnomeo

Squeeze some white icing into a small bowl and add a few drops of yellow. Mix well. With a knife, add yellow icing onto a donut for his hair. Attach a piece of cereal with icing as his nose. Insert two mini chocolate chips for eyes. Pipe on his beard with white icing.

Gnomeo Gnome Donuts | No Bake Sherlock Gnomes Party Treat

Sherlock Gnomes

Cut the edges off of a piece of cereal to make his nose. Attach with icing. Insert two mini chocolate chips for eyes. Pipe on his beard with white icing. Add cereal ears and chocolate sideburns. For Sherlock’s hat, cut a curved portion out of the front of the hat and bend. Place on top of donuts.

Sherlock Holmes Gnome Donuts | No Bake Sherlock Gnomes Party Treat

 

Add colorful drinks to milk bottles and place donuts on the rim. Add straws, gnome hats and serve!

 These little gnome guys are easy to make!

Funny Gnome Donuts | No Bake Sherlock Gnomes Party Treat

I hope you got some fun party inspiration from today’s Gnome Donuts!

Watch the Sherlock Gnomes trailer and see the movie in theaters March 23!

Gnome Donuts

Cute no-bake Gnome Donuts to celebrate Sherlock Gnomes a fun, family friendly movie. Easy recipe idea for a woodland or gnome themed party.

  • Mini Glazed Donuts (I used Glazed Hostess Donettes)
  • Round Cereal ( I used Reese’s Puffs)
  • White Decorating Icing
  • Chocolate Frosting
  • Yellow Food Coloring
  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Lips Candy Sprinkles (Tiny Hearts will work too)
  • Frosting Decorating Bag (or Zipper Bag)
  • Petal Decorating Tip
  • Small Milk Bottles
  • Drinks in blue, red and green
  • Paper Straws Straws (blue, red, green)
  • Card Stock (blue, red, green)
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  1. Juliet: Add chocolate frosting to a decorating bag with a petal decorating tip attached. Pipe on Juliet’s hair. Stick two mini chocolate chips into the donuts sideways as eyes. The curvy tip should look like eye lashes. Add a tiny dot of white icing to a candy lip and place on the donut. Set aside to dry.
  2. Gnomeo: Squeeze some white icing into a small bowl and add a few drops of yellow. Mix well. With a knife, add yellow icing onto a donut for his hair. Attach a piece of cereal with icing as his nose. Insert two mini chocolate chips for eyes. Pipe on his beard with white icing. Set aside to dry.
  3. Sherlock: Cut the edges off of a piece of cereal to make his nose. Attach with icing. Insert two mini chocolate chips for eyes. Pipe on his beard with white icing. Add cereal ears and chocolate sideburns. Set aside to dry.

  4. Gnome Hats: Cut paper into about 3”-4” squares and shape into a funnel with the bottom a little bit larger than the width of the donut. Secure with tape and trim to fit. For Sherlock’s hat, cut a curved portion out of the front of the hat and bend.

  5. Add colorful drinks to milk bottles and place donuts on the rim. Add straws, gnome hats and serve!


Did you make this recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below.


Get featured! Just take a picture and share on our Facebook Page for a chance to be bragged about in my newsletter! You can also tag @LivingLocurto and #LivingLocurto on Instagram. 

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Cute no-bake Gnome Donuts to celebrate Sherlock Gnomes a fun, family friendly movie. Easy recipe idea for a woodland, fairy or gnome themed party. #donuts #gnomes #sherlockgnomes #partyideas #recipe #doughnuts #partyrecipe #birthdayparty #movie #desserts #partyrecipe #garden

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Early Man Soccer Cookie Cake

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How to make a Soccer Cookie Cake. A soccer field is easy to make with this delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe! A fun recipe idea for a birthday party, soccer team celebration and to celebrate the new movie Early Man.

How to make a Soccer Cookie Cake. Early Man movie party ideas. A soccer field is easy to make with this chocolate chip cookie recipe!

How to make a Soccer Cookie Cake

This post is in partnership with Lionsgate

You might wonder what a soccer cookie cake and cave men have in common? Starting February 16, watch Dug and the gang in Early Man. Set at the dawn of time, when dinosaurs and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, Early Man is about how one brave caveman unites his tribe against a mighty enemy and saves the day!

Here’s a secret… it has to do with a soccer game! This new movie from the creators of Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit looks like lots of fun and also full of exciting soccer moves! Plus it stars the voices of Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, and Maisie Williams.

Early Man Soccer Cookie Cake

When I was told about the soccer theme in Early Man, I immediately thought of making a soccer field dessert. Since I have one of the best chocolate chip cookie recipes, I turned it into a tasty soccer cookie cake that is perfect for all kinds of events.

This soccer cookie cake is so easy and was lots of fun to make! I’m excited to watch this new movie now and see who wins the game! If you have a soccer lover in your family, go see this fun new film. It’s perfect for the entire family. We are pretty excited to see it!

How to Make an Early Man Soccer Cookie Cake

Early Man Soccer Cookie Cake

 

You’ll need:

My Softest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Baking Pan

White Frosting

Green Food Coloring

Shaved Coconut

1 gallon zipper bag

Toothpicks

Scissors & Tape

Early Man Free Printable Figures

 

This soccer cookie cake is so easy and looks absolutely adorable! First, make the chocolate chip cookie cake and let it cool. Trim the edges so you have a nice rectangle. Add frosting, coconut and draw your soccer field with white decorating icing.

How to make a Soccer Cookie Cake. Easy Soccer Party Cake Recipe Idea. LivingLocurto.com

After you print and cut out the Early Man figures, tape tooth picks to each one and place into the cookie cake. Now you’re ready to party!

How to make a Soccer Cookie Cake for Early Man movie. A soccer field is easy to make with this chocolate chip cookie recipe!

 

Watch the Early Man trailer below and go see the movie starting February 16th.

 

Soccer Cookie Cake

How to make a Soccer Cookie Cake. A soccer field is easy to make with this delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe! A fun recipe idea for a birthday party, soccer team celebration.

  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
  • 2 cups shredded coconut
  • 16 oz can vanilla frosting
  • 1 tube green food coloring
  • 1 tube white decorating icing
  • 2 tablespoons white fondant

  1. Make the cookie cake by preheating oven to 375°.

  2. Mix baking soda, flour and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
  3. Combine butter, sugars and pudding mix into a mixing bowl, beating until fluffy.

  4. Add vanilla and egg, then beat until smooth. Add flour mixture to the cookie batter and mix well. 

  5. Stir in chocolate chips.

  6. Spread cookie dough evenly on on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool, trim the edges for a clean rectangle cookie cake and remove to a large cutting board or platter.

  7. Make the grass by adding coconut to a plastic zipper bag. Add several drops of green food coloring. Seal the bag and mix by kneading the bag. Once you have desired color, let dry.

  8. Color the frosting green and add to cookie cake.
  9. Sprinkle coconut over the frosting and gently pat to keep in place.
  10. Draw the soccer field marks with decorating icing.
  11. To make a soccer ball, roll fondant into a ball and place chocolate chips around it. Roll gently with your hand again to make smooth.

 

The post Early Man Soccer Cookie Cake appeared first on Living Locurto.

Paddington Bear Donuts and Milk

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Paddington bear donuts and milk are adorable no bake party treats! A simple DIY fun food recipe idea inspired by PADDINGTON 2 in theaters January 12.

Paddington bear donuts and milk are adorable no bake party treats! A simple DIY fun food recipe idea perfect for a Paddington birthday party or family movie night.

Paddington Bear Donuts and Milk

This post is in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures

One of my favorite book characters is back on the big screen! PADDINGTON 2 will be in theaters January 12 so I made cute Paddington Bear Donuts and Milk to celebrate! I loved the first Paddington movie and can’t wait to watch PADDINGTON 2 with my family. I grew up reading Paddington and after taking my kids to London last summer, they are now big fans as well. They didn’t realize how popular Paddington was until seeing him everywhere around London and going to the train station that he was named after. From Peru to London, Paddington definitely makes the world a brighter place!

These adorable Paddington Bear Donuts are simple to make no bake treats! They look cute on the table whether you make a few for your kids or a dozen for a Paddington birthday party. I made cute Paddington Bear Cupcakes for the first movie, a recently had the idea for Paddington Bear Donuts, but wasn’t sure how I was going to make them. I thought about baking regular sized donuts from scratch, which you definitely could do if you had the time, but to make things fast and easy I used mini store bought donuts. The smaller donuts fit perfectly on top of my milk bottles and turned out so cute in the end. I was glad I went with mini donuts which are easy to find at any grocery store.

Paddington bear donuts and milk are adorable no bake party treats! A simple DIY fun food recipe idea perfect for a Paddington birthday party.

Making these cute bear donuts before going to see Paddington 2 would be so fun! I would have LOVED these treats for one of my birthday parties as a kid. My son’s birthday is this week. Even though he will be 15, I’m tempted to make these again for his party! ha! Tickets for PADDINGTON 2 are now available! Get them for the whole family today at paddington2tickets.com.

Paddington bear donuts and milk are adorable no bake party treats! A simple DIY fun food recipe idea inspired by PADDINGTON 2 in theaters January 12.

How to make Paddington Bear Donuts

What you’ll need:

Step 1

Add a handful of butterscotch chips into a frosting bag. Microwave in 30 second intervals at a time for about a minute or until chips have melted. Cut the tip of the frosting bag to make a small opening and pipe an oval for the bear nose on the side of a donut.

 

Step 2

Gently press a chocolate chip into the nose and press two mini chocolate chips into the donut for the eyes. If they don’t stick to the donut, use a little of the melted butterscotch chips as glue. Set aside to cool.

 

Step 3

Poke a straw through the donut, place into an empty milk jar so the donut rests on the lid.

 

Step 4

Download and print the Paddington Bear printable page. Cut out the hats and tags with scissors. Use tape to secure the hat to the straw.

Download the Paddington Bear Donut Free Printables

Download and Print Paddington Bear Donut Printables

Step 5

Add the twine and tag around the lid of the milk bottle. Once you have all of your Paddington Bear Donuts assembled, gently lift out the straw and pour milk into the jar. I like using chocolate milk because it look more like a bear. Any kind of milk will do! Now they are ready to serve. Aren’t these treats so adorable? I’m even more excited to see PADDINGTON 2 now!

Paddington Bear Donuts
 
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Prep time
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Paddington bear donuts and milk are adorable no bake party treats! A simple DIY fun food recipe idea and cute dessert for a Paddington Birthday Party or family movie night!
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 1-12
Ingredients
  • Mini Glazed Donuts (I used Glazed Hostess Donettes)
  • Butterscotch Chips
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Frosting Decorating Bag or Zipper Bag
  • Free Printable Paddington Hats and Tags
  • Milk
  • Small Milk Bottles
  • Blue Straws
  • Bakers twine
  • Tape
  • Scissors
Instructions
  1. Add a handful of butterscotch chips into a frosting bag. Microwave in 30 second intervals at a time for about a minute or until chips have melted.
  2. Cut the tip of the frosting bag to make a small opening and pipe an oval for the bear nose on the side of a donut.
  3. Gently press a chocolate chip into the nose and press two mini chocolate chips into the donut for the eyes. If they don't stick to the donut, use a little of the melted butterscotch chips as glue. Set aside to cool.
  4. Poke a straw through the donut, place into an empty milk jar so the donut rests on the lid.
  5. Download and print the Paddington Bear printable page. Cut out the hats and tags with scissors. Use tape to secure the hat to the straw.
  6. Add the twine and tag around the lid of the milk bottle. Once you have all of your Paddington Bear Donuts assembled, gently lift out the straw and pour milk into the jar. They are ready to serve!
Notes

Did you make this recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below.

Get featured! Just take a picture and share on our Facebook Page for a chance to be bragged about in my newsletter! You can also tag @LivingLocurto and #LivingLocurto on Instagram. Fun!

 

Paddington 2 is in theaters January 12!

 

Pin It

Paddington bear donuts and milk are adorable no bake party treats! A simple DIY fun food recipe idea inspired by the movie PADDINGTON 2. Get free printables and directions for how to make these cute bear donuts food craft. Cute dessert for a Paddington Birthday Party or family movie night! #Paddington2 #donuts #paddington #bear #recipe #party

 

Don’t miss these cute Paddington Cupcakes!

How to make the cutest Paddington Bear Cupcakes! Free Printable tags to go along with the beloved children book character. LivingLocurto.com

 

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The LEGO NINJAGO Giveaway!

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This post is in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures.

Our household is in FULL LEGO NINJAGO mode. Don’t believe me? 

Actual photo of my dresser this morning. This isn’t even all of them! Garmadon is around here somewhere…

Oh. Found him.

Chillin on the piano where my son stashed him before he left for the bus stop this morning.

The point is that The LEGO NINJAGO movie left a BIG impression on my kiddos. They’ve already decided that the next dog we adopt will be named Lloyd. Pronounced “LA-LOYD.” And I’m good with that.

Because I’m probably the biggest LEGO NINJAGO movie fan in this house right now. 

My love of LEGO runs deep. My kids play with my old school sets that have been lovingly sequestered at my parent’s house. And any film that entices two very active kiddos to plop down and play at the Lego table for hours on end is a big win in my book. But that’s not where the magic of The LEGO NINJAGO movie ends…

You see the messages in this movie are particularly important for kids and families.

Early on in the film, a discouraged young boy is encouraged to “Change your point of view” by the wise Ninja Master. 

Some of the themes from the movie read straight from the life lessons wish list of every parent everywhere for their kids:

  1. Solve a problem by using a different perspective.
  2. Observe, empathize, and become a better leader.
  3. Practice, practice, PRACTICE.

I think I may have just talked myself into seeing this movie AGAIN…

If you haven’t seen it yet, WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Get your tickets now! 

I mean, Jackie Chan actually choreographed the fight scenes. YES. Real people modeled the fights for Lego animators. So that’s pretty dang cool.

Still on the fence? How about I sweeten the deal. We’re giving you a chance to win a $50 Fandango Gift Card to see the film in theaters with your family, a LEGO NINJAGO Fire Mech set ($69.99) and a LEGO NINJAGO Ice Tank set ($79.99) — awesome, right?!

To enter to win, leave a comment below sharing your kiddo’s favorite LEGO minifig.

Prizing valued at $199.98
Open to US mailing addresses only

My Little Pony: The Movie and a Giveaway

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This post is sponsored by Lionsgate Premiere.

My Little Pony was all the rage when I was a kid.

 

My grandma gave me my first My Little Pony for my sixth birthday. Its name was Baby Glory, and I was in love.

Retro My Little Pony

 

I was excited to see My Little Pony make a comeback, but I knew Ponies were back for good when I sat down on the NYC subway across from this guy:

My Little Pony Costume

 

I’ll likely see a few more of these characters this weekend as Ponydemonium (I should probably Trademark that phrase) is in full force with the release of My Little Pony: The Movie, in theaters October 6th. Have you seen this trailer yet?

My Little Pony: The Movie – Coming to theaters October 6!

A dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship to save their home.

I love it when big names get behind the mic for animated features, because it usually makes for a movie kids and adults can enjoy together. The Pony crew is voiced by an all-star cast, including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Sia, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldana. The movie features original music and songs performed by Sia, Diggs, Saldana, Chenoweth and Blunt.

My Little Pony: The Movie Giveaway

We’ve teamed up with Lionsgate Premiere to offer a great prize pack to send you and your family to see My Little Pony: The Movie in theaters. You could win:

  • $100 American Express gift card to see the film in theaters with your family
  • PLUS a My Little Pony: The Movie Shining Friends Figure

To enter, just leave a comment below with your favorite childhood toy. We will pick one prize pack winner at random.

For more Pony fun, check out the Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. And don’t forget to check out My Little Pony: The Movie in theaters everywhere October 6. 

Open to US mailing addresses only
Prizing courtesy of Lionsgate Premiere

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