On a slightly different derby note, the Kansas City Banked Beauties asked me to guest-ref a home bout against the Naptown Roller Girls of Indianapolis. Although the infield was made of piecemealed plywood sheets, and I had never jam reffed a bout in my life, it was more fun than I expected.
As with any derby event, what made it really great was the wonderful people. New friends, and ones I hadn't seen in a long time!
Why do I always leave my mouthguard in when taking photos? Mama Breakdown likened me to a hillbilly or something similar as a result. So I may never win a DGD Best Mouthguard Smile Award, but at least my mouth is protected from impact?
This is the floor. Ow. Ow. Ow. I wiped out a couple times as a result, but had no real injuries.
Thanks to KCBB for having me!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
From a Fan: My First Derby Match
Hi everyone! Anita, here. I’d like to tell you about the
very exciting experience of seeing my first ever derby match.
I live in Chicago, and was planning on going to Kansas this
summer, and I really planned my trip around being able to finally see Mel
Breakdown and the Royal Pains. I ended up picking the very best game of the
season!
It was the last game, and the emotions were high as the
Pains sought to take the third place slot from the Deadly Sirens. From the start,
all the skaters put it all on the line, and the entire match was either tied or close
as the ladies battled for every point.
It was thrilling to watch the jammers surge through the pack and skillfully weave around the other players. The pivots fiercely blocked and shoved and hip-checked. I’m still not sure how the pack of skaters managed to skate so fast and hard without tumbling over each other into a pile of arms and legs and wheels. That’s some skill. I am pretty sure I cringed every time a skater hit the floor (or wall or barrier), but I was impressed by how they got right back up and kept going. I think I would have needed an ice pack and a lollipop.
While the game has been explained to me a few times, I finally started to get the hang of it after watching the first few jams. I got sucked in and was screaming and clapping along with the enthusiastic crowd in no time! I was literally on the edge of my seat until the last seconds, and I had to leap up and cheer as the Royal Pains WON! I haven’t watched a sporting event that exciting in a long time.
I had to fight my way through the crowd to get to Mel, but I was sure to get my picture with my favorite player.
The whole experience was so fun and exciting! I will be checking out the Windy City Rollers schedule soon! http://www.windycityrollers.com/
P.S. The match theme was zombie apocalypse, and it looks like Mr. Cooking On Skates found the cutest zombie of all!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Gameday Nails: Gradient Glitter
My Pinterest account is a few months old, but I'm never on the site. The last thing I need is another Web-based addiction. However, several of my coworkers talk about Pinterest quite a lot, and I had some free time last week. Yep. I got sucked in.
Most of the pins on my page are food or fashion, big surprise. Apparently gradient nails are kind of a "thing" right now, done in glitter or just polish. I tried my hand at the trend with purple/silver glitter over black nail polish for bout day.
The purple and silver together from a distance look rather pink, but otherwise I'm going to call this a success.
If you're interested, this is two coats of black nail polish. Over that, I kept layering glitter, starting with 2/3 of my nail, then 1/2, then 1/3, and so on. Surprisingly easy! A quick-dry top coat helped this from getting too smudgy afterward, too.
Most of the pins on my page are food or fashion, big surprise. Apparently gradient nails are kind of a "thing" right now, done in glitter or just polish. I tried my hand at the trend with purple/silver glitter over black nail polish for bout day.
The purple and silver together from a distance look rather pink, but otherwise I'm going to call this a success.
If you're interested, this is two coats of black nail polish. Over that, I kept layering glitter, starting with 2/3 of my nail, then 1/2, then 1/3, and so on. Surprisingly easy! A quick-dry top coat helped this from getting too smudgy afterward, too.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Krispies Treats
I saw this recipe recently and knew I had to make it as soon as I had friends over to help me eat it: http://daydreamerdesserts.com/2012/08/cinnamon-toast-crunch-krispies-treats.html/. I don't even like Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Rice Krispie treats, but knew I'd love this.
My local grocery store didn't have cinnamon bun marshmallows, and I didn't want to have a partial bag of plain marshmallows left over anyway. So as per standard operating procedure for me, I simplified the original recipe. The end result was AMAZING!
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Krispies Treats
(serves 12+)
4 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
5 oz butter
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 large bag plain miniature marshmallows
White Chocolate Maple Glaze
2 oz white chocolate, chopped
1 oz heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
1. Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large pot, melt butter on low heat. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and marshmallows. Continue stirring until completely melted.
3. Add cereal and combine. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread evenly and compress cereal mixture with spatula.
4. Melt white chocolate in the microwave, stirring frequently. Add cream and maple syrup. Stir to combine, and drizzle over treats.
Monday, August 27, 2012
PAINS WIN! Game 7: Community Faces Photos
We went into the championship game double-header at 0-6 in home games. However, we won 93-90 over the Deadly Sirens for third place in the season!
Photos courtesy Steve Yates, Kansas City Star Community Faces.
http://mingle.kansascity.com/photos/2012/zombie-apocalypserevenge-of-the-dead-girls/
Photos courtesy Steve Yates, Kansas City Star Community Faces.
http://mingle.kansascity.com/photos/2012/zombie-apocalypserevenge-of-the-dead-girls/
Friday, August 24, 2012
ECM Veggie Lunch
Hi, CoS Readers! DeVeeM here. I recently went to the Veggie Lunch hosted by the ECM (Ecumenical Christian Ministries) at KU and I thought I'd tell y'all about my experience.
This was my first ever visit to the Veggie Lunch, so the fellow who was greeting guests at the door showed me the lay of the land. I grabbed a bowl, silverware, and a napkin from the side table and headed to the food.
The entree this week was rice and vegetarian chili.
In the main room was a table piled high with all sorts of gourmet breads.
There was also peanut butter to spread on the bread.
The food was very good and the people there were friendly and welcoming. The crowd mostly consisted of KU students but also included non-student locals. During the lunch, various people spoke about their respective organizations and events, including Canterbury House, Food Not Bombs, and the ECM FUNdraiser party. After eating, guests are asked to wash and put away their own dishes.
The Veggie Lunch is open to omnivores and vegans/vegetarians alike. It is a free event, though donations are welcome. It runs on Thursdays, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm during the Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions at KU.
As I left, I noticed several people eating on the front lawn and enjoying the beautiful weather. According to the Veggie Lunch website, they were there for the "1:00-2:00pm Cloud Watching & Music Jam for Peace."
Groovy.
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This was my first ever visit to the Veggie Lunch, so the fellow who was greeting guests at the door showed me the lay of the land. I grabbed a bowl, silverware, and a napkin from the side table and headed to the food.
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The food was very good and the people there were friendly and welcoming. The crowd mostly consisted of KU students but also included non-student locals. During the lunch, various people spoke about their respective organizations and events, including Canterbury House, Food Not Bombs, and the ECM FUNdraiser party. After eating, guests are asked to wash and put away their own dishes.
The Veggie Lunch is open to omnivores and vegans/vegetarians alike. It is a free event, though donations are welcome. It runs on Thursdays, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm during the Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions at KU.
As I left, I noticed several people eating on the front lawn and enjoying the beautiful weather. According to the Veggie Lunch website, they were there for the "1:00-2:00pm Cloud Watching & Music Jam for Peace."
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Thursday, August 23, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Open-Faced Ice Cream Sandwiches
There are some things you just can't un-know. One of those things: how delicious and easy this dessert is. Even once you figure out that it's 500+ calories that you ate in less than five minutes because you don't want it to melt... you still want to eat at least one more.
I generally find packaged ice cream sandwiches to be disappointing. The cookie is at least as hard as the ice cream, so it all smushes apart when you eat it. Plus, the cookie and the ice cream are usually subpar. My solution? Put together ice cream you already like and a cookie you already like. Leave it open-faced, and the ice cream doesn't smush as much.
I got four coupons in the mail for free 2nd St. Creamery pints. A better review of these will follow, but I picked the Copper Kettle Caramel flavor to make the snack with.
This went on top of HyVee chocolate chip cookies that were an impulse buy because they were on sale and I was starving. Does anyone else pick up a snack at the store sometimes and then eat it on the car? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, I ate mine, sat down to blog, and realized I didn't take a pic of the final product. Surely you can imagine a cookie upside-down with ice cream on it, right? Because I ate two of these yesterday and one today, and my clothes won't hold my tummy if I make another one already.
What cookies and ice cream would you do this with?
I generally find packaged ice cream sandwiches to be disappointing. The cookie is at least as hard as the ice cream, so it all smushes apart when you eat it. Plus, the cookie and the ice cream are usually subpar. My solution? Put together ice cream you already like and a cookie you already like. Leave it open-faced, and the ice cream doesn't smush as much.
I got four coupons in the mail for free 2nd St. Creamery pints. A better review of these will follow, but I picked the Copper Kettle Caramel flavor to make the snack with.
This went on top of HyVee chocolate chip cookies that were an impulse buy because they were on sale and I was starving. Does anyone else pick up a snack at the store sometimes and then eat it on the car? Anyone? Anyone?
Well, I ate mine, sat down to blog, and realized I didn't take a pic of the final product. Surely you can imagine a cookie upside-down with ice cream on it, right? Because I ate two of these yesterday and one today, and my clothes won't hold my tummy if I make another one already.
What cookies and ice cream would you do this with?
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Instagram: More Photos
Do you already follow Cooking On Skates on Facebook and me on Twitter? Just can't get enough of my random dorkiness? Follow me on Instagram as well at @kellyvonlunen.
You'll get this kind of randomness: http://instagram.com/p/OUyu9YPpoi/
You'll get this kind of randomness: http://instagram.com/p/OUyu9YPpoi/
Monday, August 20, 2012
Recent Outfits: I Feel Pretty
I still can't figure out what my Facebook friends, Twitter followers or blog readers will like, respond to, or pass along. Obviously my interests include food, roller derby and a little fashion. However, it always surprises me when people are interested in my outfits. It's also a nice ego boost when I'm frustrated by going up two sizes in jeans in the last year.
My answer to that? Screw jeans. Until I stop derby in a few years, I'm not going to wear them regularly. And until it gets cold, I'm not going to wear them at all.
I hope you guys enjoy!
My answer to that? Screw jeans. Until I stop derby in a few years, I'm not going to wear them regularly. And until it gets cold, I'm not going to wear them at all.
I hope you guys enjoy!
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Dress by Funky People purchased at Creation Station in Lawrence. Boots from Kohl's. Belt from Retro Vixen. Coach purse was a gift a few years ago. Sunglasses from Target. |
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MeatLoaf concert tank top circa 2005ish. Cropped sweater purchased at Donna's Dress Shop. Pencil skirt by Dixiefried. |
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Dress bought secondhand. |
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Dress from Target. I wear this belt a lot! |
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Guest Blog: Flourless Chocolate Cake


I have a friend who can't "do" gluten so it makes baking sweets a delicate proposition. Luckily, flourless chocolate cake is a "thing," and a fancy one at that. My mother is fond of the Queen of Sheba Cake out of the original Julia Child cookbook. That one replaces the flour with almonds that have been smashed into a powder. This version, from the Gourmet Cookbook edited by my favorite food memoirist and former Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl (seriously, read her awesome memoirs, also RIP Gourmet Magazine), subs in cocoa for flour so, you know, it's like SUPER chocolatey. And deliciously easy. For reals.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. You need a fancy springform pan for this cake. I bought one just so I could make it—Scout's honor (I was never a Scout [but seriously, that's the truf]). Butter the bottom of the pan, then cut a circle of wax paper, place it on the bottom, then butter THAT. SO MUCH BUTTERING (you'll thank me when the cake comes out easier).





Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Style Mini Evolution
I bought this dress more than a year ago, and I think last wore it not long after. It's cute and comfy and great for work, but needs to be dry-cleaned. I hate going to a cleaners so often that I avoid wearing things that need to be washed that way.
So, this is the dress. It still fits!
Last time I wore this dress, I didn't have a large upper arm tattoo.
I also didn't have my thigh Unless tattoo.
Nor would it have occurred to me to pair the dress with this bright-green cardigan.
And my hair? It was not yet this awesome.
So, this is the dress. It still fits!
However, I'm strangely aware that my style has changed a tiny bit since then. Today, I broke out my very best shoes to go with the dress: patent Stuart Weitzman kitten heels.
Last time I wore this dress, I didn't have a large upper arm tattoo.
I also didn't have my thigh Unless tattoo.
Nor would it have occurred to me to pair the dress with this bright-green cardigan.
And my hair? It was not yet this awesome.
Yes, this means that I haven't cooked or baked any new recipes in a while. But style evolution also interests me greatly. A general interest in pinup style isn't new for me, but the details change ever so slowly. Then over the course of five years or so, my style has changed completely. My husband has seen this happen at least once already and has been baffled by it.
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