My friend Danielle convinced me a little over a month ago to sign up with her for a 10K she planned on doing. I have thought for a long time about how I'd like to do some sort of race to get into running but had never really given myself, or never gotten, that push to actually do it. This was a true testament to how well the buddy system works!
Anyway, knowing that I would be running more than I ever had before put that fire under my ass to get going and start training. Hard work really does pay off. Here's us girls at the end of our run.
Women do rock.
So why were all these negative thoughts coming to me afterwards...
Took you over an hour to finish...It was only 6.2 miles...So many women in better shape!...etc.
Might I say, wtf.
It took me longer than I'd like to admit to finally put an end to these thoughts. And it got me thinking, if I put as much time into feeling proud of myself, I'd be so much happier!
I think it's safe to say a lot of us probably discredit our accomplishments in lieu of being humble and not wanting to seem full our ourselves (whether this is in your head OR aloud). While I'm not suggesting we all turn into assholes, you have the right to be happy and proud of yourself.
As I'm working on taking my own advice, you should too. When you face a challenge, no matter how big or small, own the fact that you stepped up and did whatever it took to get there!
Up on deck, half marathon!
Bullying seems to be the topic of conversation lately, and for good reason. It really makes me sad to hear all these horrifying stories of how cruel young people can be to one another.
But instead of focusing on how awful it is, I wanted to share this article I came across. A 17-year old from Minnesota created a Twitter account that he uses to tweet positive messages about his classmates. The article says he "wanted to change the conversation in his school by highlighting the nice instead of the nasty."
One example of a tweet: "Is going to be a famous musician one day. Katie Ray Murray."
Apparently, the bullying at his high school has diminished and this Twitter trend has spread to other schools in the area.
To most in high school, whether you're the popular kid or the geek, when things go bad, it can feel like the world is crumbling down around you. Getting picked on and bullied is the last thing young people need added to their already full plate of learning how to grow up. So whether it's your about your math skills, pretty smile, or ability to make others laugh, having a classmate randomly point out something great about you would probably be a pretty wonderful feeling.
Kudos to the student that started this because it takes a lot of courage to step outside of the box, do something different, and to make it a point to include everyone. Also, it's exciting to see social media being used in a positive way instead of negative. We can only hope that anti-bullying efforts like this spread across the country!
I have been meaning to blog this yummy recipe for weeks now, as two of my coworkers have confirmed that it is indeed, quite tasty. I originally found it on Pinterest (when don't I preface my sentences with that these days?), as a DIY Penne Rosa from Noodles & Company (Mom - if you're reading, "The Noodle").
Now, do I confirm this allegation? Meh. It's really good but I don't know if the first thing I would have thought of was, "Mmmm! Penne Rosa!" But I can see where the girl was coming from, it is similar. I will say upfront, I made two changes that may have had an effect on whether or not it was a Penne Rosa twinsie. I decided to omit the shrimp, and instead of using whole wheat pasta, use gluten-free, brown rice pasta.
Am I suddenly adding "gluten-free," to my already limited vegetarian title? Nah. But...I've been hearing all the hot gossip for about a year now about how wonderful adapting a gluten-free (omitting wheat, barley and rye) diet is.
Overall feeling of health; less migraines, stomachaches, etc.
Weight-loss (because gluten is frequently found in high-calorie, processed foods, so eating gluten-free would limit those as you're adding lots of fruits and veggies).
Better digestion - yay to healthy poop!
Boosts energy, enhances quality of sleep.
Clearer skin.
In my expert average person opinion, there are too many fads out there when it comes to diet; I simply cannot keep up nor do I really believe that there's a hard and fast "right" way to eat. I more so have come to the conclusion that moderation is key, and if you want to try limiting certain things from your diet here and there to see if your body takes a liking to it, go for it! So for me, all those perks to a gluten-free diet I mentioned above, are reason enough to take a break from purchasing foods with gluten.
So, without further adieu, let's get to the food!
You will need:
12-14 oz. pasta of your choice (try the brown rice, it's good I swear!)
1 tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves minced garlic (I use the convenient jarred garlic)
Pinch red pepper flakes (use more if you like spicy!)
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
2 medium tomatoes
4 cups spinach
1/2 cup of your fave tomato sauce
1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Sprinkle of salt & pepper
First cook your spaghetti, drain and set aside.
Heat up the olive oil in a large skillet and add the garlic and red pepper flakes for 2-3 mintues.
Add mushrooms, tomatoes, S & P; occasionally stirring for about 6 to 7 minutes.
Add the spinach, cover, and remove from heat until the spinach starts to get wilty.
Place back over low heat and add pasta, tomato sauce, and greek yogurt. Stir until everything is mixed and coated evenly. *I added a little extra marinara sauce because I love it and could eat it by the spoonful.
Before serving, sprinkle a little parm (I also tried feta on my leftovers and that was delish!) and enjoy!
At the grocery store this week, I had two experiences that caused me to leave with a smile on my face. You may think it was due to some new and exciting food purchases, but that wasn't the case.
Experience #1
I've heard some great things recently about watermelon, so naturally, I'm standing at the...stand of watermelons...trying to pick me a good one. I should probably mention that my way of figuring out if it's a good watermelon, is by holding it up to my ear (which occasionally requires some shoulder balance), and knocking on it to see if it sounds hollow.
*Side note: I have no idea where I learned this trick, nor do I know if it has any real indication of the yumminess of the melon. I tend to take advice that, at times, makes me look like an idiot. For example, my Mom once caught me holding my phone and pushing it up and out like you would a fishing pole. Duh, fishing for service I told her. She sadly laughed and looked at me with that, 'what am I going to do with you?', type of look and explained that whoever told me that was probably screwing with me. I swear though, there's times when it gets me an extra bar.
Anyway, an older woman came up behind me to ask if I knew how to tell when I watermelon is good. I think you get where this is going. So basically, we're just standing there laughing, chatting, and knocking on watermelons, for what was realistically no more than a few minutes. But it was so fun.
Experience #2
When I finally made it to the register with all my yums, the cashier smiled and asked how I was doing. You may say this is normal. But sometimes don't you feel like when someone asks you that, they couldn't actually give two shits about how you are? SHE DID. We went on talking about how movies, how our weekends were, and it was so fun.
Yes, those are my experiences that made me smile. Give me a minute to explain a little more as to why.
I think we frequently forget that the random people we interact with on a daily basis are real people, too, and that you can successfully find a connection with someone, no matter how big or small that connection may be - even if it is over a watermelon. I think we also forget, when in the hustle and bustle of our days, how important it is (and did I mention fun?), to
be kind and genuine.
Everyone, myself included, seems to always have a reason as to why they are having a crappy day. Mine was that the devils I nanny for were driving me nuts. And it may just be the crazy idealist in me that's talking, but I truly think if more people were just nice, and took the time to appreciate the little things like this, that we'd all have better days...and dare I say, a better world?
Although it was the small matter of knocking watermelons with a stranger and dishing with a cashier, these two tiny little interactions were big enough to remind me that your day can always turn around if you let it.
So put a smile on your face, and make the world a better place.
I'll go right ahead and say it: I miss burgers. I miss a hunk of ground beef stuffed with cheese. If you eat meat and have never had a Juicy Lucy, I urge you to try one. With that said, I find black bean and other veggie burgers quite tasty. Two of my veg friends (shout out: Court & Luke) make to-die-for black bean burgers. So finally after months of working up the courage to ask for the recipe, I gave them a shot.
And it may have been the best decision ever because these babies were so good! Not to mention easy as pie.
The ingredients are all fairly healthy and it takes about 20 minutes to get them put together and cooked. A really great option if you're trying to stay away from meat but still want to sink your teeth into a "burger."
Breakdown
You'll need:
~ 1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 can black beans
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic
A few sprinkles of cumin & cayenne
A few sprinkles of feta
1 egg
Here's why this is an amazing little recipe. Ya just mix everything together. I'm not going to apologize for my imprecise portions of everything because that's the beauty of it. You can add as much or little as you want depending on what taste you like. Next time I'm going to try a different kind of cheese and maybe some artichokes!
I found that it was best to use a blender to mix it all (minus the crumbs) because we don't have one of those handy dandy potato mashers. Once everything is blended together, just stick it in a bowl and add bread crumbs little by little until it sticks together enough for you to form patties. Then heat up a pan, add a little butter/oil/whatever non-stick device you like, and cook approximately 4 minutes per side (flipping occasionally).
I just ate the first batch I made plain with a little ketchup but next time I plan to toast a bun, maybe add a few slices of avocado...mmmmmMMMmmm!
As a trip that was much anticipated all summer, we have just returned from a very fun weekend at my roommate's cabin. You may imagine that it was filled with the typical cabin activities: boating, bonfires, mallow-roasting, dancing juice, etc. And that it was. A blast and a half, some may call it. And while I came away with memories that will last me a lifetime (and a red, peeling nose), the cabin has left me feeling something else: FEAR.
Hence my realization of how brilliant the small town, cabin, woodsy scenes are for horror movies.
Picture this; creepy, somewhat abandoned looking motels, dark and desolate woods, winding pitch black roads, and very little cell phone service. Eeeshk, get me outta here before someone comes along and kills us off one by one.
Let's take a look, in no particular order, at a few movies that take advantage of this perfect setting.
Vacancy
A young couple, played by Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson, stop to stay at the creepiest looking motel they could possibly find in a small, creepy town. Mistake number one - weird innkeeper shows them to what I assume to be a bedbug infested room, where they quickly realize they are trapped as victims of a potential snuff film.
There you go. You've got the small town, woodsy area where no one but absolute psychos are waiting. I bet the next time you think about taking a shortcut off the Interstate, you'll say 'nahhh.'
Cape Fear
Why don't we just start off with this (and my opinion that the title says it all):
Could Robert De Niro look any creepier?
I debated whether or not to include this one in my list, but it takes place in yet again, a small town, and one of the most epic scenes occurs on a cabin-like boat (warning: this is a bit of a stretch).
Without giving too much away, defense attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte), screwed over his guilty client, Max Cady (De Niro), fourteen years ago by hiding evidence that may have helped him win his trial. Cady becomes lean and mean in jail and gets prepared to make Bowden and his family's life a living hell. Rob man does an excellent job of scaring the poop outta me when he lurks outside the Bowden's home saying, "come out come out wherever you are...." AHH! See it now.
Cabin in the Woods
This movie is an interesting one. I don't know if I can technically call it scary, but it's got a lot of those surprising scenes that make you jump out of your seat. Even though you simply know there can't be anything good behind that trap door they're about to open, you think just maybe it won't freak you out. Think again.
Plus, and most importantly, it's got the essential aspect of two couples and an awkward fifth friend taking a trip to one of their relatives' cabins. They even stop at a run-down gas station on the way that immediately sends chills down your spine.
Also, Chris Hemsworth. Need I say more?
The Strangers
A movie that brings me back to my best friend's basement; this one is a classic, über-jump-in-your-seat-pee-your-pants, movie. A young couple heads to an isolated home for a little vacay. But guess what, they're not alone out there. Three very scary, very determined strangers find their way into the home and set off mental, "never head to a house in the woods where there is no one around" sirens.
Here's a frightening preview.
It's these kind of movies that make you yell things at the screen like, STAY IN THE HOUSE or DON'T LEAVE HER ALONE YOU DUMBASS, whilst hiding your face in a pillow.
Funny Games
Whether or not you've caught on to it, I have a slight MEGA-LARGE fear that someone out there in the world is without a doubt, trying to get me. So to be trapped in the woods, a cabin, or creepy motel, is essentially my worst nightmare because movies over time have ingrained in me that something sinister is bound to happen.
Enter Funny Games. I think this may be the most terrifying movie my Mom and brother have made me watch (ok, they didn't make me - I love scary movies). What goes from a nice family trip up to the vacation home to enjoy some R & R quickly turns to the most twisted and psychotic chain of events. It's along the same lines as "Saw;" you're thinking, what kind of sick f*#@ has it in them to think up this stuff?!
I don't even want to get into this movie farther because it's freaking me out. But if you're in the mood for a scary one, I highly encourage you to watch this and perhaps put on a diaper.
P.S. If you're like me and enjoy most movies (aside from that Chad Michael Murray/Hilary Duff fiasco, A Cinderella Story), go ahead and catch up on all these thrillers. If you tend to be a movie snob, you might want to proceed with caution on a few of them.
As I set my bag in the little cubby at the gym, and was about to pull out my two necessities, water and iPod, I realized I was 1 for 2. iPod was no where to be found. Let me just say, working out without music is essentially like going for a run and not having tennis shoes; it's possible, but incredibly difficult for me to get through. The thought of packing it up and going home momentarily crossed my mind, but then I remembered the power of mantras. (That and that it would have been very lame if to forgo a workout simply because I didn't have some tunes).
So I sucked it up, used a few mantras, and got in a great workout.
What are these mantras, you may ask. Basically it's just a motivational sentence that you say to yourself repeatedly. Use one when you're debating whether or not to head to the gym, or when telling yourself that you just can't workout today and will make up for it tomorrow. Or when you're on that last mile and feel like you need to quit. In other words, whenever you feel those excuses coming on.
A few of my favorites:
You don't have to workout, you GET to workout. I run to be fit, I run to be healthy, I run to be happy. With every stride, my legs grow stronger. I'll never regret working out. Suck it up, and just do it.
They may sound corny, but remember, you're just saying it in your head (and who gives a shit anyway!). Now make some of your own - it can be anything that inspires you! Make your mantras more powerful than your excuses and get moving.
WHOA. Check out those elephants on the blog. Shall we address them?
Yes, it is true...I have been a major slacker when it comes to Organized Chaos. Hope you haven't been shedding too many tears over my absence. As summer is winding down, I am finding myself thinking more and more about how much I miss blogging! With that said, it is my plan to keep this better updated so you all have something to look forward to [wink].
Just a quick update. Over the past two months, my service year with the Minnesota Reading Corps has ended and I am living the good life as a part-time nanny/part-time stylist at Hot Mama (emphasis on the second "ma")/part-time pool rat, which is my excuse for being so absent. Who wants to be typing away when they could be out catching rays? Does that work for you?
The other news that I'd like to share, is that I was offered a position for next year as an Associate Educator in the kindergarten classrooms; where I'll be spending another year having fun with the little stinkers. Yay, very exciting!!
With a new job, lack of sunlight and cold weather on the horizon, and a mind that is set to keep blogging, I'll be seeing you.
I've never been one that adapts well to change. With that said, the last day of school and the few following have been interesting. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving my time off, but it hasn't hit me yet that I won't be receiving some hugs on Monday and giggling at the ridiculous things elementary school students say.
I'd love to showcase some cute pictures of a few *cough cough* favorite students, but that isn't exactly legal. So instead here's the tiny, yet amazing desk I got to work at everyday.
It's like I was never there. Wah!
What will I do with all those beautiful works of art, you may ask. Well, the pack rat that lives within me has them sitting on the floor in our living room. Decisions, decisions.
I have some great memories to look back on and am really looking forward to a new year with new kindergartners! But for now, it's time to enjoy the summatime.
Do you like goat cheese?
Do you like asparagus?
Do you like pasta?
If so...I encourage you to read on for a delicious and easy recipe...
That time has rolled around where I'm supposed to be making my weekly meal. This week I decided to try a pasta recipe. When I saw one that used both goat cheese [one of my fave cheeses] and asparagus [one of my fave veggies], I figured I couldn't go wrong. And luckily, I found success in this easy-schmeeze recipe!
The ingredients are simple:
1 box of penne (whatever kind you like)
1 bunch of asparagus
4 oz. goat cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
salt & pepper (just for sprinkling)
lemon zest
Wash and cut up the asparagus into approximately 1-inch long pieces. Then cook your pasta according to the directions on the box. When there are about 5 minutes left, add the asparagus to the pot. I let it cook for 5-6 minutes and it was the perfect "crunch."
While your pasta and asparagus are cooking, mix together (in a large bowl) the goat cheese and olive oil. I tried to crumble the cheese as best as I could. This is also when I decided to add the lemon zest (the recipe didn't actually say when to add it so I used my best judgment). Also, it called for 1 tablespoon but seeing as though I'm quite lazy, I decided to zest about a quarter of a lemon. Can you say confidence in the kitchen? Wink.
Drain the pasta and asparagus, while reserving about one cup of the water. Once it's drained and you did a little shaky-shake, dump it over the cheese/oil/lemon and mix thoroughly. This is when I added a little over 1/4 cup of the water I had saved. I used the "add & taste" method to decide when to stop (use your judgment to decide how creamy you want it).
And now you're done! I decided to pre-portion mine (otherwise what should be seven servings turns into mayyybe three), and add just a sprinkle of salt and pepper to each jar! Yumo!
I have decided to end the week with a little couch and YouTube session. It resulted in pure delight so I figured, why not share?
The first one is from some crazy game show called "Hole in the Wall," and was introduced to me by my wonderful roommate (who, by the way, is now a CPA - woot woot!!). I don't even want to mention how many times this video was replayed. Needless to say, we got quite the kick out of it...
After enjoying some comedic videos, I moved on to my "puppies playing" search (the ussg). Thanks to the sidebar of suggestions for other videos you may like, I came across this puma/chimp playtime montage. It inspired a few happy tears and I think my cheeks are still sore from smiling...so cute.
I hope that if you decided to watch, you at least experienced a little chuckle or cracked a smile. Have a wonderful weekend!
I was driving home from work the other night and Wiz Khalifa's Young, Wild & Free came on the radio. Score. But as I was singing along, I came to realize that the lyrics had been changed. The part that I specifically noticed was that they no longer sang, "so what we smoke weed," and instead, "so what we don't sleep." Which I realize, is to stop any promotion of smoking the ganje [an illegal substance here in the good ole U S of A]. So on the forefront of my thought process about why KDWB (and I'm sure other stations across the country) had to change that minor line in the song, it made sense...whether you like it or not, marijuana is illegal.
But of course my mind wandered into thinking about all the other songs out there that promote inappropriate...stuff. I understand that radio stations have to cut out major profanity (i.e. the 'f' word, etc), but what about the lyrics themselves and their meanings? Although they may not all be so blatant as to say, "we smoke weed," the messages spoken may be just as damaging.
One song that comes to mind is one I've always had a bit of an issue with: Carry Out, by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. I am definitely guilty of just accepting the "it" songs and not questioning their meaning. But for some reason this one has always stuck and left a bad taste in my mouth, so I'm going to use it for a little comparison.
A few lines from the song in case it hasn't popped into your head yet....
"Let me get my ticket, baby, let me get in line"
"Baby get my order right, no errors"
"Take my order 'cause your body like a carry out"
Is there outright profanity or any suggestion of illegal activity? Nope. Is it profane and degrading? Absolutely. Essentially, this song says men should be able to get whatever they want from women, whenever they want, and their needs are all that matter. It's dehumanizing and even contributes to violence against women. You might say I'm taking this too far, but in my mind, if it's already this bad, what's to come? And unfortunately, a lot of people take on a laissez-faire attitude and don't question popular culture. I know this isn't close to the worst of songs out there perpetuating similar ideas about sex, but it is one that was played on major radio stations right into the ears of young boys/girls/men/women everywhere. It doesn't need to be scouted out because it's all around.
So whoever is controlling the radio waves out there seems to think that smoking weed is not ok, but downgrading women is? Where is the line they draw for what's acceptable to play and what's not? If they take out the part about weed, why not go ahead and cease any lyrics in regard to alcohol? It's not a secret that youth [a.k.a. underage drinkers] are listening to the radio. We better not let them hear Wiz rap about how he drinks.
The fact of the matter is that kids are going to drink before they are 21, and people are going to smoke. And whether or not those few words are swapped out of a song isn't going to change things. But a song like Carry Out; that represents such disrespectful and unhealthy attitudes, that's done by two popular artists, and is catchy and fun, isn't going to be challenged by many people. And to me, that's the bigger issue at hand.
Is everyone else crazy busy lately? It seems like with work and other random happenings, I haven't been able to just sit and take a breather lately. Woof. Although, I did manage to sit outside today for a mere 45 minutes and sustained a pretty serious sun burn. Other than that, I don't have much to show for my week besides a failed recipe. So instead of pretending I enjoyed my avocado-lime pasta (which by the second time I tried eating, gave me the urge to vomit) and encouraging you to try it yourself, I'll just say Happy Monday with some music.
The first song that's been on repeat for me lately, is Jason Mraz's The Woman I Love. He recently came out with a new album and this is definitely one of my personal faves. I've heard that The Fray are known as 'women whisperers,' but I think Mr. Mraz may just take their place.
Next up, is Adele's I'll Be Waiting. 'Old news,' some of you might say. While that is correct, I have been hearing it in on the radio a lot more recently. Not that the classics like Someone Like You and Rumor Has It, are no longer enjoyed, but stations seem to be realizing that the girl's got a lot of other great songs available. If you like riding around with the windows down, blasting your tunes and belting out Adele, I suggest you go with this one.
It's been a rough day week. Work every day and night has resulted in me being quite the grouch. Plus, our Master Coach (who comes to do reviews and observations) came and let's just say it's never a pleasant experience.
When she finally departed, she left me discombobulated, wanting ice cream, and my bed. Oh and did I mention, is it Friday yet?
But then...it hit me. I CAN DAILY PUPPY. I realized it had been weeks since I had gallivanted around the site and I had so much catching up to do! What an exciting realization! Thankfully (this is me showing my crummy tutor side), my last two groups/students were absent so I have been able to spend a solid 40 minutes checking out the pups.
Therefore, I decided to share this little slice of heaven from my day and hope if any of you out there need a little cheering up, that this does the trick. Plus, I really haven't been showing off the animal species as much as I'd like.
Holy buckets...
just getting started.
Hope you enjoyed that little montage just as much as I did. If you're ever feeling blue, I am a huge advocate for Daily Puppy. Those of you with smart phones out there should see if they have an app...how cool would that be??
Ok I thought I was done. But then I found this vizsla pup. She's clearly been to Madison (and maybe even lives there!), and is wearing pink. How could I not be immediately obsessed?!
As part of the requirement for what we accomplish throughout the year for the Minnesota Reading Corps, we have to attend what they call, "Professional Learning Group" meetings. In my opinion, they're pretty pointless and I have yet to get much learning or development out of them. But this week, we were reflecting on the year and discussing whether or not we've gotten out of it what we wanted/expected.
Thinking back, the two things I was hoping this year would bring to me, were to figure out whether or not I want to be a teacher (mission notaccomplished - shucks), and to make a difference. Real vague, I know. I do believe that programs like MRC, Teach for America, etc. have good intentions in solving that major educational issue our country faces. Aka the 'achievement gap.' They place individuals in schools who do care and want to make a change. In theory, that's great. In the scheme of things however, I've somewhat decided we're band-aids to the system and lasting change rests on a much greater level.
With that said...my job does allow me to build positive and consistent relationships with the handful of students that I work with; something many of them desperately need. One student I don't think I'll ever forget is Alex. I started working with him back in October. Unlike many of my other students, his progress hasn't been the greatest and he's nowhere near close to exiting the program. He moved to the United States a little over a year ago from Belize. I don't even know how to categorize his accent. One example being his "ths" turn into "ds;" father turns into fader. It really does create a roadblock for his progress in learning English and learning to read, in particular. To put it in perspective, he was reading about 15 words per minute. He's progressed to around 40; where the goal for third graders is 109 by the end of the year. Yikes, right?
Anyway, in the beginning, his attitude was one of the worst I'd seen when it came to school work. There's an intervention we do that's based on "passing" a page in a given amount of time. Long story short, he'd shut down and get so angry with himself if he made mistakes and didn't pass. I've done my best to create more of a positive attitude towards learning; encouraging him to work his hardest, and make sure he knows that mistakes are ok. After months of staying on him about this, focusing on his progress rather than mistakes, and not allowing his negative attitude while working with me, he's transformed into a new kid. Of course, I can still sense his frustration now and then but his determination to do his best is soaring. His teacher has also made clear that she's seeing a new kid, too. This is all really exciting for me!
What's more, the other day he passed a page that he had been working on for over a week. Obviously I was over the moon...yelling in excitement for him and was so proud of his hard work. Then he turned his head and said, "I couldn't have done it without you!" If you know me, you know I'm a sap so this combined with his genuine smile really set me over the edge. Trying to suppress some happy tears, I thanked him and we kept working. Although I didn't set out for these stories, it helps me feel proud about this year and confirm that I have done something worth while. I doubt Alex will ever really understand that he's been just as big of an inspiration to me.
So have I ensured that Alex is reading proficiently at grade level? Nope. Have I helped him recognize how much he can accomplish when he works his butt off? Yep. And while reading at grade level is important of course, giving a student this boost of confidence has been just as crucial in my eyes. In this light, I'll never look back on this year as a waste of time and know that in the moment, I did some good. Which is cool? I guess at this point I can only hope that he remembers how far he's come this year, just as much as I'll remember him.
I would venture to guess that I have been saving recipes that I want to try for years. I have so many random post-its, note cards, and magazine clippings that I could probably make something new every day for a year. It's getting a little out of hand. So I've made the decision to try [key word being try] to make some new recipe each week. Aside from the occasional box of couscous and frozen broccoli, I really want to attempt actual meals. Ideally, it will be a meal I can make on Sunday and eat all week. Who's with me on never wanting to make dinner after a long day of work? At times, this grown-up thing can be annoying. Merp. On the other hand, I suppose it's kind of exciting! New food!
So obviously, I would love to share my new meals on here. I frequently find that I make minor changes to recipes as I go so if you happen to try one, let me know how it goes! I'd love to hear about any tweaks or additions that make them better.
Anyway, the first attempt in this quest of mine was asparagus-leek soup. If you like these two ingredients, I would definitely recommend it! Although soup is kind of on the way out with summer coming, it is still cold and rainy some days so it's a good fit.
- Slice up 2 leeks (discard rough bottoms and stems on top). Saute them with a little olive oil for about 5 minutes. I never measure my oil, just drizzle it on top as needed. I had to do one leek at a time because the pan wasn't big enough.
-When the leeks are done, put them in a large pot. Add in a cubed potato (I left the skin on in hopes of some nutritional benefits), and one bunch of chopped asparagus.
-The recipe called for two cups of vegetable broth. However, it also said 1-2 leeks. Because I used two, I had to add an extra cup. I thought maybe I might even need more but once it simmered, I realized that would have been too much.
-Let this simmer for about 25-30 minutes. I put a lid on it and stirred on occasion.
-After it simmers, add to a blender and puree. Again, I had to do this in two or three phases because there was just so much. VOILA!
Looks like green mush, but it really is pretty good! This made about 6 servings for me. I have tried adding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper for a little flavor. Enjoy!
I think OC (Organized Chaos) has been in need of a little animal action. I can't say I really think about sea turtles all that often, but I just came across this article about the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle. They may not be cute and fluffy like bunnies and pups, but they're a really cool animal! Obviously, most of my knowledge of sea turtles comes from Finding Nemo. Next to Dory, Squirt is one of my favorite characters.
Anyway, this sea turtle is known for it's yearly 6,000 mile swim from Indonesia to California. Not to mention, they grow to be the size of a small Volkswagen! Duuuude, that's massive! Unfortunately though, since becoming endangered in 1970, this species has seen a 90 percent decline. As an important part to the marine's ecosystem, these animals need saving. They are pretty adorable little babies.
The article says that although the animal faces a lot of obstacles (i.e. pollution, fishing practices, etc.), there have been recent efforts over on the West Coast to conserve and protect them. Hopefully these positive legislative actions will go through and they will continue to make their trek through the Pacific!
When I think back to the first images of women in the media that impacted my own body image, I'm brought back to a time of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. More specifically, fourth or fifth grade. That's a really young age to be thinking your thighs are too thick, your stomach is too chunky, and to be comparing yourself to your friends. When you're ten years old and believe that only a perfectly flat stomach and toned thighs are the key to happiness, you have a problem. This type of thinking only grows during teenage years and beyond. I believe that the way mass media and popular culture display both women and men makes it very difficult to be comfortable in your own skin and accept your body.
I believe for women in particular, society goes through phases of what type of beauty is widely accepted. The sought after body type has varied through time; women wanting to look like Marilyn Monroe (said to be a size 8-10), or aspiring to be a stick. Nowadays it seems that the ideal body that women wish for, is that perfectly thin one; somehow equipped with big boobs, an ass, and curves. And no fat or cellulite, of course. Also known as, the Victoria Secret model. Although blessed, I think it's safe to say these women are an anomaly; they are not the norm.
In magazines and on TV, there are plenty of men and women who we see with seemingly flawless bodies. We have programs like Photoshop to thank for having us believe they come natural. Take a look at Kim K, for example. On the left, pretty much everything is a little bigger and it's clear she has some cellulite, along with a darker skin tone. After some retouching however, we see perfect curves, dimple free legs, and a lighter skin complexion (a whole other issue). Obviously, magazines don't show us the before; just the close-to-perfect after. So we're made to believe this is the real deal; that we should be able to obtain this kind of body, too.
If you've never seen it before, I encourage you to check out this Evolution of Beauty video. In just a few minutes, it goes through the process of retouching and how drastic changes can be made.
Most upsetting about this video, and the image of KK, is simply that both of these women are beautiful to begin with. Neither of them, nor society, needs to see the "perfected" version. The real thing works just fine.
On top of all that, when magazines aren't capturing (and retouching) the wonders of some famous men and women out there, they're constantly scrutinizing those who fall a few steps off the path. Jessica Simpson, for example, has put on too much baby weight. Women like Julia Roberts and Mischa Barton need to work on that cellulite. And Jennifer Love Hewitt better not be caught dead in another bikini before she loses some lbs.
It seems this conversation is a hot one right now and that more companies are joining in the effort to stress a wider and deeper definition of beauty. Dove has their Campaign for Real Beauty, and Bare Minerals has a campaign for women to be a "Force of Beauty." It's definitely a start! I think what is really important is reaching girls (and boys!) at a younger age. It probably shouldn't have taken 23 years to come to terms with the fact that I just may never acquire a body that society deems "perfect;" and that in reality, happy should equate to healthy. It is so important that we get to that point where we're comfortable in our own skin; where we can say, eff perfection. So instead of longing for Jennifer Aniston's legs..or Beyonce's booty...use them as inspiration! Because really, we're blessed with just one body. You might as well love it, keep it healthy, and own it. Work for your best body, not someone else's.
I was introduced to this video a long time ago, but have been finding it a fun, 3-minute way to kick of my day lately. Not only do these people show off some pretty sick moves (is it too late to learn?!), but it's to a cool version of 'Lights,' by Ellie Goulding. Check it out, and have a happy Tuesday!!
I'm always excited when there's an US Weekly, Glamour, Health, or even Cosmo for goodness sake, waiting for me at the gym's magazine stack that I have yet to lay my hands on. Even though every new issue is essentially the same as the last (how many times can we read about how to meet cute guys at coffee shops or how celebs manage to lose those pesky pounds), these magazines are my saving grace. The last 20 minutes on the bike go by so much faster when I can flip a few silly pages.
Today was a sad day; no new mags. Except...for Marie Claire. I tend to shy away from this one, along with Elle, Vogue, Vanity Fair, etc. The print is small and everything they advertise is many moons away from being in my budget. But on certain occasions, like today, when there is nothing else to read, I indulge and add various items to my never-ending mental wish list (ahh...Tory Burch flats and a classic Louis Vuitton...someday?).
And so today I came upon, and present to you, a little food for thought. As I was flipping, I saw an article on hair dryers. There were three recommendations; one for $20 (a.k.a. my kinda hair dryer), one for $99 (a stretch but not entirely unthinkable), and one for $700 (WHAT?!?!). I swear, I stared at this number for many minutes; unable to comprehend what kind of fool is going to drop $700 on something that can be accomplished by air. Unless what's blowing out of this thing has been previously breathed by Jake Gyllenhaal, I think I'll pass. Ok that was a gross and absurd connection, but seriously.
The amount of money some people spend on things floors me. I remember watching an episode of "Cribs" with Kimora Lee Simmons (that took a lot for me to admit), in which she highlighted a gold toilet that she spent $10,000 on. Say what? You shit in this and there are people in the world that cannot afford food for themselves or their starving children. Now, if Kimora had bought a regular toilet and donated the difference, would the world's hunger issues be solved? No. I'm not insinuating this. But sometimes I just don't get how you can sleep at night after spending $10,000 on a toilet...or $30,000 a night at a hotel...or $100,000 on a car...etc. Is it really necessary that there are salaries out there that account for this type of spending? While I maintain the thought that these [extreme] examples are absolutely idiotic and gag-worthy, I do understand that people make money and should be able to spend it however they please.
We all have our limits on what is average, or what is an "ok" amount to spend on certain things; how much we're willing to pay for a pair of jeans, a bottle of shampoo, a purse, a car, a pair of running shoes, etc. I am certain there are things I buy that would cause some to drop their jaw a little. A lot of factors go into how we all spend money; our income level (obviously), what types of brands we're drawn to, what we grew up with our parents buying, and on and on. It's understandable that people have such varying spending habits. So who am I to judge Kimora for wanting to do her daily business in gold? Where do we draw the line? Is there a line?
I find myself thinking about money and how it's spent, and have never really come to a hard and fast conclusion. It's seems silly, and rude, that I can harshly judge people for spending so lavishly, while others could just as easily turn the tables on me. But really...$700 for a hair dryer? Seems crazy, right?
I can't say my weekly routine would be the same without these actors gracing my television screen. As pathetic as it may be, two things on the top of my "what to look forward to" list of the week, include the new television shows, 'New Girl,' and 'Up All Night.' Although it helps to watch all the episodes in order, it's not completely necessary (but you will grow to love the characters more if you watch religiously...duh).
Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, and Lamorne Morris are basically my best friends on Wednesday nights. Zooey plays Jess, new roommate to three cute and funny men. Nick is the laid-back bartender, Schmidt is the anal perfectionist, and Winston is the cool ex-NBA playa. The dynamic between them is quite hilarious. I know some people may find Zooey to be a little too quirky at times, which is why I can't 100 percent guarantee you're going to love this show. But personally, I think the occasional, over-the-top quirk factor, is easily overlooked thanks to the remaining brilliance of the show. And I absolutely love Zooey (idol of the year, so far). Watch this short clip. If you're intrigued, I encourage you to block out 30 minutes of your next Wednesday.
Will Arnett, Christiana Applegate and Maya Rudolph are my Thursday night besties in 'Up All Night.' It's on at 8:30 though, so many times my electronics are powered down by then and it's something to save for the weekend. Basically, Will and Christina are new parents, Chris and Reagan, and Maya plays Ava, one of their self-absorbed best friends. Essentially, a comedic dream team if you will. Chris and Reagan go through all the stereotypical "firsts" of parenthood, while Ava does her best to support them. It really didn't take me long to get hooked, as these three actors were already a few of my faves. I can bet you'll want to marry Will after a couple episodes and become BFFs with Reagan and Ava. Love.
Can't help but show you another clip of just Chris and Reagan. Very, very funny.
The thought of having a bunny came up recently through a mixture of pinning and Facebooking. They are just so cute! Look!
I actually used to have a little white bunny named Snowball (clever, I know). But the poor thing only lived for four days after I got it. So I'm hoping if I get a lil' bun one of these days, that it doesn't face a similar fate.
My friend told me that they make them bigger now and that they can like, hang out and watch movies with you and go on walks. So close to a cat/dog! What? I don't know how accurate this is but let's be honest, it sounds pretty awesome. I'm at a time in my life when I can't reallly have a dog...but I'm kind of thinking a bunny would be the next best thing.
I can't help but make kissy noises when I look at him. Operation Get a Bunny is in now in full force.
I just know you've been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what natural/organic products I decided to try first and their reviews. Well wait no longer, my friends. I have news about two new products that I've been trying for a couple weeks.
For the past couple months, adult acne has been my Everest. And I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. Anyway, whenever I can find a product that doesn't result in my face resembling a pepperoni pizza, I've considered my purchase a success. And luckily, both of these products fall under that category.
On the left we have 'Yes to Tomatoes: Repairing Acne Lotion.' I got this at Target and they have a bunch of 'Yes to...' products (I'm really excited to try their body lotion - it smells amazing). It's paraben-free and claimed to be 98% natural, which is pretty good for the price. This lotion has a consistency that I wouldn't really put in the lotion category; it's more of a serum. I use it at night after I cleanse and tone and I really like it. It contains salicylic acid, which is supposed to help with acne. Woo. Definitely recommend trying it if you're looking for a nighttime moisturizer.
On the right is 'Korres Yogurt Cream.' I love this. I got this one at Sephora and although it's a tad pricey, I'm very satisfied and definitely will replenish it when I run out. No parabens, no sulfates, no synthetic dyes, no GMOs...wonderful. It contains Greek yogurt (and lots of other natural yum yums), which is said to provide instant hydration. I wear this in the morning after I cleanse and tone and it's been a great base for my makeup. It's super smooth, rich, and smells great. I was skeptical about it for that reason and thought it would might make me break out or cause my skin to be oily. Thus far, that has not been an issue. Knock on wood.
Stay tuned for more reviews as my chemical-filled drawers diminish!
For some reason, I've lately been thinking about that wonderful decade of the 90s. The primetime of my youth years, I'd venture to say. I was not yet an awkward middle schooler with bad hair and a skewed sense of "fashion," nor was I mixed up in the intricacies of teenage politics and gossip; but instead, a carefree pre-double digit youngster, loving all the offerings of the 90s. And...I miss that.
There are many things that seemed to be solely "90s," that I look back on with such nostalgia. Let's take a gander down memory lane.
Beanie babies. My obsession with beanie babies was as big as, if not bigger than, my modern day obsession with the color pink. I remember my Mom taking me around to different stores that sold Beanies (JT Puffins, anyone?) to see if they had any new ones I had yet to collect. I dare say she enjoyed it almost as much as I did, wink. I also collected every.single. 'Teeny Beany" from the Golden Arches. More accurately, two of each. One to open and play with, and one to keep safe in the plastic wrap. Psychotic? Perhaps. When I think about it now, these miniature stuffed animals were pretty dumb...I kept them (tags on, of course) under my bed in huge drawers and they were barely cuddleable, as they were the size of my adult hand. An incredibly fond memory, nonetheless.
Tamagotchis. Looking back now the idea seems so ridiculous. But this handheld technology was absolutely genius. Feed it, play games with it, clean up it's dumps. How did this not get old? My parents actually gave these to my soccer team in place of a trophy, which was amazing.
Saved by the Bell. I longed to be Kelly Kapowski, punch Jessie Spano, be best friends with Lisa Turtle, date Zach Morris & AC Slater, and do some nerdy things with Screech Powers. Remember when Jessie went bat shit cray and took all those caffeine pills and Zach stopped her?! You will now.
The Spice Girls. Tell me whatcha want, whatcha really really want. Baby and Ginger were my idols. I dreamed of one day being just like them. I had SG Barbies, SG pencils, SG lollipops, Spice World: The Movie, and they were my first concert. Needless to say, I thought I was the shit when my Mom took to Ragstock to outfit myself for what I will remember as one of the best nights of my life. Don't you just wish platforms and around-the-arm barbed wire tattoos would come back into style?
Honorable mention:
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Da Bulls (two 3-peat NBA Championships! Cray.)
Surge
Fresh Prince/Family Matters
Starter jackets
Goosebumps
Babysitter's Club
I did my best to recall some great 90s moments and memories. I think it's safe to say it will always be a fun decade to look back on.
I hope everyone had a very happy, green, lucky, and crazy cool fun Saint Patrick's Day. In preparation for the holiday and to celebrate my heritage (a.k.a. something do on a Friday night), I decided to make some no-bake cake balls - mmmm! Here comes my first recipe/food post, yay! They were supposed to be minty green in honor of the day, but Rainbow Foods was once again a disappointment to me. Thus, I had to improvise. I should mention right off the bat that I'm pretty crappy in the kitchen. Someone always seems to be able to make a better piece of toast, cut a better slice of cheese (hehe), boil a better pan of water, etc. Needless to say, there came a few times in this process when I ran into a dilemma or two. But did I forge on? YES.
Essentially, this recipe only calls for three ingredients: oreos, Philly cream cheese (I'm with Paula Deen - nonfat cream cheese just ain't right), and white chocolate. And of course, I had to make them green in someway, so I sprinkled them with green...sprinkles.
Next step, put the oreos in a big plastic ziploc and beat the shit out of them. Mash, crunch, mash, into small little crumbs. Then add to a bowl with the cream cheese. Now...wash your hands, take off your rings, and go nuts. Rawr.
Mash everything up together with your hands until it's the consistency of well, something that looks like poop.
Now it's time to roll up some balls! Yee! I made mine about an inch in diameter (?) and it was a good size. It was helpful to kind of roll them up between the palms. They weren't perfect, but hey, that's life for you. No balls are perfect, eh? Throw them in the fridge to harden for about an hour and prepare to dip.
I thought I was home free and was going to have some really successful cake balls. A kitchen success on the way?! Nope. Who knew white chocolate chips would have the consistency of mashed cauliflowers once melted? Not I.
After a trip to Target to get "Bakers White Chocolate," the shtuff that is made specifically for melting, I finally found success. Kind of..
Melt the chocolate, dip the balls, add the sprinkles, and put back in the fridge to harden for another hour or so. Ze end.
In my head I imagined ma bawls to be fully and evenly covered with white chocolate; a golf ball, if you will. Par for the course, I couldn't make this happen. Twas quite the catastrophe. BUT, even though the appearance of the cake balls was not exactly not at all perfect, they turned out to be verrrry tasty, if I do say so myself. Happy Saint Patrick's day, everyone! Get your balls while they last.
It's that time of week again...animals, woohoo! I was perusing the internet looking for pictures of sea otters because one of the kids I work with wanted to draw one (add this to the perks of my job). In my investigation for pics, I stumbled upon this article in the L.A. Times about sea otters that I found super interesting and cool!
Basically, two lawmakers in California wanted more money to try and end the struggle for survival for the sea otters in the state. So in 2006, they added a box to tax return forms that taxpayers are able to check; indicating they want to make a donation to this "otter fund". From what I gathered elsewhere, this box is still on the form and they have continued to raise over $250,000 each year to put towards this cause (sweeeet!). The article doesn't really elaborate too much on what implications this initiative has had, aside from there being more research on the diseases that kill these otters and law enforcement actions against fisherman who are mistreating (a.k.a. shooting - sad face) them.
You'd think it would be easy to just add a checkable box to a tax return form, but I'm guessing there's a lot more to it than my simple mind can imagine. However, it seems like this type of effort really pays off and could be implemented elsewhere to help save more endangered animals...maybe? Hopefully? Imagine a world without these adorable little guys.
He must have just heard about all the betches who didn't check the box.
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