What Makes Me Unique

Things I Desperately Want Before I Go Abroad

2010-12-02T21:54:00.002-05:00

I'm going to Copenhagen next semester! I just booked my plane ticket for January 15th and I'm getting rather excited. I am also excited because it's my favorite time of year--the holiday season! No snow in Connecticut, yet, but I'm still hoping for some before I head back to Baltimore. Holidays (and procrastination of paper-writing) cause me to surf the internet for products that I can dream about. Etsy has plenty of them, and the blogs that I read always highlight wonderful things. I'm pretty sure most of the blogs I read are by rich hipsters based on the types of clothes and household products they showcase, but I sometimes find those few special items that seem almost legitimate for me to buy.

In Scandinavia, it is very cold in the Winter, so I want to knit some more scarves and hats and possibly thrift some sweaters during Winter Break. It is also gorgeous, and I will be traveling a bit throughout Europe, so I need a good camera. I have a lovely point-and-shoot digital camera, but what I really want is something that takes awesome quality or artsy shots. I can't stop looking at cameras. I would love a film SLR because it's so much cheaper than DSLRs (even with the cost of film) and it would give me physical reminders of the beautiful things that I experienced. I've been researching. I also love Photojojo's store because they constantly have adorable and fabulous cameras for (mostly) reasonable prices.

Case-in-point:

Twin Lens Holga with Color Flash

The Juice Box Camera

And most of all...

Pocket Square Digital Camera

10/28 Fresh Mozzarella and Lemon Zest Pizza Party

2010-10-28T23:33:00.001-04:00

Thursday night dinner buddies have another successful meal! We made more pizza from The Cheese Board book, like from Midnight Munchies. This time, however, I had fresh mozzarella (the best I have ever eaten) and cheddar to enjoy on the pizzas. They were fabulous.

Fresh Mozzarella, Cheddar, Tomato, Lemon Zest Pizza

10/27 Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, in Mass Quantities

2010-10-27T23:33:00.001-04:00

In my house, we swear by our special Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Frosting. I had never even heard of "whoopie pies" before last year, but they are the most fabulous cookie-like sandwiches I have ever tasted. As a fundraiser for Pakistani Flood Relief, we created an event with a bunch of other program houses (around 7 or 8, I think), called the Cookie Cup. It's a competition where each house bakes a huge batch of cookies, and a person pays $2 to walk around and try them all and then vote for their favorites. My house has had a big rivalry with the science program hall for a good long while. It was a huge success (except for my stomach being overly filled with cookies), and we raised almost $250. As for the rivalry, it is still unsolved. We won in different categories, although my house did get the most overall votes.

10/26 Salmon Meals are Always Fancy Dinners

2010-10-26T23:21:00.000-04:00

I eat no meat whatsoever, and salmon is the one seafood I eat. I suppose that means I'm a salmonterian? It was a recent realization that I really liked salmon, so I try to cook it at least once or twice a semester, and my mom makes it at least once a week when I come home for breaks (Thanks, Mom!). I prefer it baked until it is perfectly soft, with either a tiny bit of sauce or lemon juice. For something different, we baked it and added some delicious homemade pesto (very similar to my garlic-ky pesto) and enjoyed it with some quinoa and avocado. It was a delicious fancy meal.

10/24 Fabulously Chocolatey Birthday Cake

2010-10-24T23:14:00.001-04:00

My roommate has an entire folder of Powerpoints on her computer filled with family recipes. I am very jealous I do not have any kind of family recipe that I use often. Any family recipes I have heard of involve lots of meat and other things I do not eat, so it is a bit disappointing. Anyway, my roommate has had the same cake for many, many years for her birthday, and I opted to make it when a good friend's birthday rolled around. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SILVIE! Unfortunately, we were running a bit low on sugar, so I cut out a good third of the sugar and switched some of it to brown sugar instead of white. Surprisingly, it was still ridiculously sweet (in a good way). I also changed and estimated a bunch of other ingredients, and it still turned out fabulous. I suppose it is just a no-fail cake. The cream cheese frosting (with pumpkin spice syrup) was also a delicious combination.

Funny story: I walked into my friend's apartment this weekend and smelled some cake baking, but I recognized IMMEDIATELY that it was cake from a box, not homemade. It was surprisingly distinct, and I realized that, yes, I've become a homemade snob. I guess that's what happens when you live in a house that specializes in cooking for two years.

10/24 Black Beans and Mangos Go Perfectly Together

2010-10-24T22:11:00.000-04:00

I really don't like mangos on their own, but they taste fabulous with black beans. We cooked a giant pot of black beans and filled it with mango, spinach, corn, tomato, garlic, and quinoa. We threw it in a tortilla and topped with with avocado, and it was just amazing.

10/23 Brunchy Time

2010-10-23T00:08:00.001-04:00

As soon as my roommate saw the Apple and Cheddar Scones from Smitten Kitchen, she just HAD to make them. I was a little unsure, but boy were they delicious! They were both sweet and savory, and the scone dough was one of the most flavorful I've ever had. We also made some scrambled eggs to complement our scones.

10/22 An Experiment in Afghani Food

2010-10-22T22:03:00.000-04:00

There is an awesome girl in my house who is Afghani, so we decided to make some Afghani food. Okay, so she decided to make the food, and we sat there for two hours entertaining and sharing snacks of hummus and popcorn (not together). It was well worth the wait. I have no idea what we ate, but I do know it consisted of rice and kidney beans with a magical blend of spices.

As she noted, almost no Middle Eastern food photographs well. However, my tastebuds were singing with joy.

10/20 So Much Nutella...

2010-10-20T23:54:00.000-04:00

Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

A delicious escape from homework

10/18 Chocolate Mousse Pie

2010-10-18T23:47:00.000-04:00

This fabulous pie came from the book 500 Pies and Tarts. My house has about 5 different books in the series. It was a bit too rich for me, so I couldn't eat very much of it, but it was pretty delicious.

10/18 Crack an Egg in the Acorn Squash

2010-10-18T22:39:00.000-04:00

Recently, I saw on some blog (I don't remember exactly where) the idea of cracking an egg into a circle of pre-roasted acorn squash. Yesterday, I roasted an acorn squash and ate half of it, so today I decided to do something awesome with the rest of it. I had already scooped out the seedy middle, so I sliced it thinly, threw it in a pan, and cracked an egg in the circle. After the first side was getting golden, I flipped it over and cooked the other side. I peeled off the skin of the squash, peppered the egg, and ate a delicious, especially savory meal.

10/16 A Pumpkin Feast of Epic Proportions

2010-10-16T23:16:00.000-04:00

As is very evident, I absolutely love pumpkin. I can't get enough of it. For weeks, I have been collecting any interesting recipes I see on Tastespotting involving pumpkin (I have an entire bookmarks folder). During my Fall Break (a five-day weekend), I finally decided to throw a pumpkin feast for my friends remaining on campus. I had an absolutely miserable midterm week, consisting of 3 papers totaling more than 25 pages and a test. I was almost had another 6 page paper due, but that was luckily postponed. I opted to stay on campus for Break to sleep, build a fort, and cook. It was a grand weekend.

Cinnamon Pumpkin Black Bean Lentil Burgers (quite the mouthful)

These were my first attempt at veggie burgers, ever! I've now decided to make them all the time and freeze them for later because they are so incredibly easy. I added lentils just for fun, and they made all the difference.

Pumpkin Garlic Knots

Next time, I would add more pumpkin to the dough so it tastes more pumpkin-y.

My roommate's delicious Butternut Squash Ginger Soup (not pumpkin, but close enough)

Salad with field greens and walnuts (not especially exotic but still delicious)

Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake

I don't remember where the recipe came from, but I did use a gingersnap crust, which was pretty awesome (except they were near impossible to crush). I wasn't especially thrilled with the chocolate overpowering the pumpkin, but it was still pretty tasty.

10/15 For the Perfect Homemade Pumpkin Spice Chai Lattes...

2010-10-15T22:09:00.011-04:00

I drink my favorite Teavana Samurai Chai every single morning. I appreciate the caffeine and the amazing flavor. I also love Fall flavors more than anything else, especially when it is actually Fall. Pumpkin spice lattes are expensive, calorie-heavy, and usually disappointing at coffee shops. I opt to make my own, and I use tea instead of coffee. To do that, I need my own pumpkin spice syrup! Note: I tried to make it without the syrup (actual scoops of pumpkin and spices), and it was a disgusting failure. Syrup is a miracle worker.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup
1.5 cups sugar
1.5 cups water
2 tbsp pumpkin
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or your own mixture)
Cheesecloth

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Dissolve sugar in water at medium heat (about 5 min)
3. Add pumpkin and spice, a little at a time so it doesn't clump. Mix very well to combine in the syrup.
4. Cook at medium heat for another 5 minutes, mixing often to get rid of any clumps.
5. Remove from heat and let cool.
6. Spread a piece of cheesecloth over a small bowl. Pour syrup into cheesecloth and let drain as much as possible. This will be relatively messy, so try and determine the most efficient method for yourself.
7. Pour into jars and cover. Refrigerate. It will keep for a few weeks, at least.
8. Give as gifts to family members and friends. I made some for my mom, and she was very excited!
Note: Spices may separate (see the darker color on the bottom), so give the syrup a good stir every time you use it.

Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Freshly brewed chai tea or coffee, if desired
1/4 cup milk, heated to desired temperature
Pumpkin Spice Syrup

1. Froth milk and pour desired amount in a mug of chai tea.
2. Add 1-2 tbsp of syrup to taste, and stir.
3. Enjoy as often as possible.

You can also add the syrup to just about anything. I ate it on apple pancakes when I had no maple syrup, I used it to add a kick to some cream cheese frosting, and I sometimes throw it into cakes and breads. It is always fabulous.

10/15 Black Bean Madness

2010-10-15T21:08:00.000-04:00

As a vegetarian, I eat a lot of beans so I can get enough protein. For some reason, black beans are so much more appealing to me than other beans. I've tried many kinds, but I will always prefer black beans. They have the best texture and go remarkably well with other exciting flavors.

Black beans and rice with guacamole, field green and walnut salad

10/13 The Omelette I Will Always Turn To

2010-10-13T22:53:00.003-04:00

I will always be in the mood for guacamole. It's so easy to make and so very flavorful--as are omelettes.
Guacamole omelette

My guacamole recipe
1 ripe avocado, mushed
Lime juice, a few tablespoons-worth
A handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced or diced
1 clove garlic, minced (Sometimes, I add more for a little kick)
1/4 onion, chopped (Optional)
Pepper, to taste
A dash of hot sauce

1. Pour a few splashes of lime juice into a bowl with a cut-up avocado to help mush it with a fork (the juice really helps).
2. Toss the tomatoes, garlic, and onion into the bowl.
3. Add the pepper and hot sauce to your liking.
4. Experiment with other items, like fruits (mango and kiwi are great additions for something a little different).

10/13 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Madness

2010-10-13T22:27:00.000-04:00

For some reason, I remember my house being overrun by peanut butter cookies last year, although no one else does. They really aren't my favorite--I think the peanut butter and the sugar mixture is an awfully odd flavor, but I still like them in moderation. Plus, when they're a Smitten Kitchen recipe, how can I say no? My friends and I live by Smitten Kitchen's updates.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

10/12 The Best Omelette I Have Ever Made

2010-10-12T23:46:00.001-04:00

No words can describe how happy my tastebuds were when biting into this omelette. It's a combination of my obsessions (roasted cherry tomatoes and goat cheese) and more!
Cherry tomato, basil (fresh from my window), and goat cheese omelette

My roommate had extra crepe batter, so I also made an (extra crispy) Nutella crepe. Simple and fabulous.

10/8 Midnight Munchies

2010-10-08T23:59:00.001-04:00

To get better cooking appliances and such, my program house likes to throw a giant fundraiser event a semester. Last Spring, we catered a three course Valentine's Day dinner, and it was a huge success (and such great fun). Today, we repeated our event from last Fall, a giant gourmet pizza and goodies sale late on a Friday night. We call it Midnight Munchies. We made lots of tomato and lemon zest pizza based on The Cheese Board, a restaurant in Berkeley. We also served basil lemonade and molasses crinkle cookies. It was a great success.

10/8 Stir Fry Time!

2010-10-08T20:32:00.001-04:00

I have to admit, I am very adamant to make stir fry. My experiences with it have not been good (the cooking part). I don't like things very salty, and most soy sauce is far too salty for my taste. Last year, I tried to stir fry seitan with soy sauce, and it turned out absolutely horrid. I had to throw it out immediately. I have also burned many things and made very bland creations. Luckily, I had friends to help me this time. It's all about moderation and Soy Vay teriyaki sauce.

Broccoli, onion, and vegetarian sausage stir fry with egg and orzo

10/7 Crepes Galore

2010-10-07T23:15:00.001-04:00

I have made a lot of dessert crepes in the past few years, but I have rarely made savory crepes.
Every Thursday night, I head over to my friend, Amber's, apartment for some delicious endeavors. It's supposed to be a celebration of the weekend, since neither of us has class on Friday, but it usually turns into a break before freaking out about all of the work we have. Nonetheless, it's delicious.
Last year, crepes and caramelized onions were our default dinners (not necessarily together), for some reason. It was time to bring 'em back.

Broccoli, onion, avocado, and egg crepes

Not pictured: Fabulous sauteed carmelized (with brown sugar and butter) pear and apple crepes with cinnamon--We gobbled them up before I remembered to take a picture

10/4 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Tops

2010-10-04T20:53:00.003-04:00

I could call them cookies, but these definitely resemble the best part of a muffin more than they resemble a cookie. This recipe is based on Chocolate Chip Trips. I doubled some parts of the recipe and not others, so it made an awesome consistency. My Monday night seminar classmates were very happy to eat the cookies. My professor said, "Well, now you've raised the culinary bar."

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Tops
1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 egg
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup chocolate chips (or however much you choose)

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lay parchment paper on two baking sheets.
2. Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. On low speed, mix the butter, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended. Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it. Mix in the chips.
4. Scoop heaping spoonfuls of the batter, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2-inches apart.
5. Bake for about 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

10/1 Fall is Never Complete Without More Butternut Squash Soup

2010-10-01T22:50:00.001-04:00

Same recipe as 9/27, but with a different blend of spices

Also, we made some more swiss chard--this time with goat cheese.

9/30 Brownies with Vanilla Caramel Swirl

2010-09-30T17:47:00.001-04:00

Delicious, incredibly easy brownies based on Good Life Eats
They are meant to be in a heart shape as a gift for a friend.

The first time I made these, I put them in the oven and realized I forgot the flour! I remembered early enough that they still turned out wonderfully.

9/29 Can't Get Enough Lentils

2010-09-29T21:45:00.001-04:00

Lentils and onions with roasted cherry tomatoes--the cherry tomatoes add some big flavor

9/27 Butternut Squash Soup and Salad

2010-09-27T19:33:00.002-04:00

Butternut Squash Soup
1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup cream
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
Spices (rosemary, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)

Heat the butternut squash, cream, and ginger in a large pot on medium heat, covered, until squash is soft (probably 30-60 minutes, depending on your stove). Add spices and blend with an immersion blender (or regular blender) until smooth. I like to make extra to put into Glad containers and freeze for later. Also, feel free to add other types of squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, and any other spices and herbs.

Also with tomato and walnut salad with cranberries, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette

9/20 Sauteed Spiced Apples

2010-09-19T20:25:00.001-04:00

Sauteed spiced apples and walnuts
3 tablespoons butter
Brown sugar
1 apple
Handful of walnuts

Melt the butter on medium heat and add enough brown sugar (about 1/8 cup) to make a thin caramel. Toss in apple slices and walnuts until well-coated and soft.

9/19 Every Part of the Beet

2010-09-19T20:17:00.002-04:00

I realized my love for beets about a year ago, but I only just realized you can treat the leaves of the beets just like any other leafy green. They made for a fabulous meal.

Everything in stock: String beans, vegetarian sausage, beet greens (just as beautiful as swiss chard), quinoa, and garlic with yogurt sauce (yogurt, tahini, and sesame oil)

Roasted beets and goat cheese

Roasted beets

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scrub beets clean and cut off beet greens. Wrap in foil with a little bit of oil and bake for about an hour, until beets are soft when pierced with a knife.

9/18 Swiss Chard and White Cheddar Frittata

2010-09-18T23:04:00.025-04:00

When I was making my frittata, I considered making it as healthy as I could. I used 4 eggs, skim milk instead of cream, and swiss chard (a fabulously healthy leafy green). Feel free to experiment with the ingredients.

Swiss Chard and White Cheddar Frittata
4 eggs
1 cup milk (I used skim)
Bunch of swiss chard
1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk eggs and milk together. Chop swiss chard into small pieces. Mix chard and cheese into eggs and milk. Pour into greased pie pan. Bake for about an hour, until the center appears solid when you shake the pan.
I topped my frittata with roasted cherry tomatoes, which made it even more delicious!

9/17 Fabulous Pretzels

2010-09-17T14:02:00.003-04:00

Whole wheat soft pretzels

9/16 The Best Grilled Cheese I Have Ever Eaten

2010-09-16T21:39:00.003-04:00

No grilled cheese will ever compare to this one. It was a perfect combination of flavors and textures.

Cheddar, munster, and goat cheese grilled cheese with roasted cherry tomatoes, sauteed garlic swiss chard, and homemade pesto

Pesto (Cheeseless)

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves (I used about half the leaves from my small basil plant)

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pine nuts

A few tablespoons of oil

A few tablespoons of lemon juice

Put all dry ingredients in a food processor (I used my immersion blender). Add enough oil and lemon juice to blend well. I used more lemon juice than oil because I can never get enough lemon. Feel free to experiment with the amounts to make it to your liking. Store in a well-sealed container, and it will keep for at least a week.

Grilled cheese

A handful of cherry tomatoes

Oil

Balsamic vinegar

A few stalks of swiss chard (I used 3 large stalks)

1 clove garlic, minced

2 slices bread (I used whole wheat oat)

Pesto

Goat cheese

Munster cheese

White cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread the tomatoes onto a baking sheet and drizzle with oil and vinegar. Let roast about 45 minutes until the tomatoes "pop" (shrink and spread delicious juices).

Chop swiss chard into small pieces. Separate the leaves and the stalk. Sautee stalk about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the leaves and garlic. Continue to sautee until leaves shrink and stalk gains transparency.

Spread pesto onto both slices of bread. Add cheese, tomatoes, and swiss chard. Bake, according to your preferences. I like a little bit of butter on a flat pan on the stove until the bread is dark brown and the cheese is melted.

9/12 A Delectable Indian Meal

2010-09-12T22:27:00.003-04:00

My roommate and I had volunteered to cook house dinner tonight, so we opted for a full-on Indian meal. I made naan, which I had never in my life cooked before, and she made delicious curried lentils (I love lentils!). We also had pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese frosting, to which nothing will ever measure up.

20 baked pieces of naan

Curried lentils and yogurt sauce

Brown rice

Sauteed kale and onions

All the fabulous items together

9/12 Irish Sodabread

2010-09-12T15:21:00.001-04:00

Irish sodabread with cranberries

9/11 Orzo and More Yogurt Sauce

2010-09-11T13:16:00.003-04:00

Cucumber, tomatoes, yogurt sauce, vegetarian sausage, and orzo

9/9 I Just Can't Get Enough Pumpkin

2010-09-09T23:18:00.001-04:00

It's that time of the year again! The leaves are changing colors. The air is finally becoming cooler and less humid. Orange vegetables are in abundance!
And all I want to do is eat pumpkin.

Pumpkin bread!

On another note, we realized too late that the oven shelf was up too high, and the bread rose much more than we expected, so...

We were left with sadface pumpkin bread, although the only emotion I could taste was happiness for the first bite of Fall!

9/8 Attack of the Qunioa

2010-09-08T23:13:00.007-04:00

Okay, I have to admit: I can't get enough quinoa. I was introduced to it last year, and the idea that it is a grain with a whole lot of protein (which is my main issue, as a vegetarian) immediately attracts me. It also goes fabulously with goat cheese.

Vegetarian sausage, eggplant, onions, and quinoa with goat cheese

9/7 First Meal of the Semester

2010-09-07T23:04:00.002-04:00

Eggplant, garlic, onions, and orzo with tomatoes and cucumber in yogurt sauce

9/6 I Love to Cook!

2010-09-06T18:40:00.000-04:00

Although I failed at keeping up with this blog, I will be back for another attempt.

I live in a program house at my school, which some may compare to a co-op (although I really have no idea how co-ops work). It's just a bunch of sophomores and juniors who live in a house together because they share some common interest. Our interest is cooking. We have weekly house dinners/brunches together (all 16 of us) and have a fabulous time. We also have an enormous kitchen, which is helpful when 10 people are cooking at the same time.

I have so far succeeded in my goal of photographing everything [my friends and] I cook this semester, so I will document it all here. Most deliciousness is made with experimentation and a little bit of recipe, but I will document recipes when it seems fit.

My photos are not the most beautiful due to my sad, automatic camera, but they are just oh-so-delicious.

Today I Discovered...

2010-04-07T22:40:00.002-04:00

I have two strange dips on the top of my head. They're just short lines, but they're noticeable valleys. This reminds me of My Girl and the awesomeness of that movie.

1/18 I Can't Inflate a Balloon.

2010-01-18T23:46:00.001-05:00

I just can never get it to work. It's kind of sad.

1/17 I've Had a Moment Where I Said, "I Feel Infinite"

2010-01-17T23:21:00.001-05:00

The "infinite" thing is from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. If you haven't read it, you should.

But the fact is I've actually had one of these moments recently. It was a clear summer's night, there were few others cars on the road, and we had all of the windows down. We blasted Animal Collective and it seemed like the moment was in slow motion. It was awesome.

1/16 I Like Words That Sound Like What They Mean

2010-01-16T22:23:00.000-05:00

The best example of this--crisp.
It just sounds so... crisp!

1/15 Some Delicious Foods Make Me Melt

2010-01-15T23:29:00.002-05:00

When I went to Montreal and ate crepes, I melted. When I had a not-so-great day and had been craving a milkshake for a week, my friend (who has a car) drove me to the diner down the street and I ate (drank?) an amazing vanilla milkshake, I melted. That day, we also went to the grocery store and found Build-Your-Own-Dino Gummies (to add to the wonderful-ness).

Melting consists of closing my eyes, smiling, and sinking far into my seat. This works best in booths. It is most fun when others join me. Some food is just too delicious to not have this reaction.

If my camera wasn't dead right now, I would include a picture of my Totoro mittens in-progress. Instead, I bring you amazing-amazing-amazing (triple is necessary) Montreal. The light display at the Botanical Gardens was beautiful. In the back left, you can see a bit of Olympic Park, which was built for the 1976 Olympics.

1/14 I Don't Like to Throw Little Objects Away

2010-01-14T12:29:00.000-05:00

I collect little random objects (wine corks, plastic binding from notebooks, scraps of ribbon, etc.) and put them in a box so that I can make things with them. Usually, I have no idea what I'll make when I put them in the box, but on one random day, I have an epiphany and make something awesome. Sometimes, I have plans, like my wine cork mobile that I will make as soon as my collection gets larger (I can count on my mom for constantly providing me with them.

Remember those swirly colored pencils from the other day? They were wonderful in making my Polaroid Shrinky Dink!

1/13 My Hair Has a Life Story of Its Own

2010-01-13T15:48:00.005-05:00

It's gone from super-curly when I was born to wavy and super-long to straight in elementary school to wavy and super-long in high school to curly again now. And I've started to love it. So there--the not-so-interesting life of my hair.

My new beret! I knitted it in less than two days, and I love it so.

1/12 I Often Regress Back to My Childhood

2010-01-12T23:11:00.003-05:00

Far too often for my age, I suppose.

1/11 I Exercise My Eyebrows While I Brush My Teeth

2010-01-11T23:35:00.000-05:00

I just noticed, too. It's pretty involuntary but kind of funny.

And I have a new collection! It was a bit accidental, but I'm excited. I'm still working on making them work, though. That whole film thing--more difficult than it sounds.

1/10 I'm a Total 90s Kid

2010-01-10T22:56:00.002-05:00

I was born in 1990, and it is often really easy to tell...

I found this jacket in the back of my mother's closet. It's made of some material called Tyvek, and some envelopes and housewrap are made from it because it is water and wind resistant. Plus, it contains awesome NickToon characters! My friend and I decided to test its application as a jacket. In 25 degree weather, it does not keep us very warm. We still spent a while taking pictures, anyway.

10/9 I LOVE Movies

2010-01-09T13:53:00.001-05:00

I much prefer non-mainstream, awesome cinematography films to lame action-y ones, though. I've seen some ridiculously wonderful movies lately.

I'm also a big fan of forts.

1/8 I Love Snow

2010-01-08T18:21:00.000-05:00

And it snowed last night but not very much.

1/7 I Love Kiwi and Grapes

2010-01-07T14:32:00.000-05:00

I am especially proud of this ring because it took so little time to make, and I love it! It's made out of Shrinky Dinks, and I plan to make some more just as soon as I have time.

1/6 Puzzles Are My Favorite Form of Procrastination Because They Exercise My Brain

2010-01-07T00:48:00.002-05:00

I decided to start trying to do crosswords during my Winter Break. Once, I finished one with my sister, but I have yet to come close again. I have also been practicing the word unscrambles and always fail miserably, but I am very proud to announce that I finally finished one!

1/5 I Feel Unproductive If I Don't Multitask

2010-01-05T23:24:00.002-05:00

So I didn't make anything exciting today, unless you count hundreds of sorted files because I spent my day at my dad's office trying to make an extra buck. All those files gave me a headache, but I wanted to be productive at the same time as completing that mindless task, so I listened to the book that I am currently reading on tape. Sadly, I am finally through with Eat, Pray, Love now, but it was totally awesome. I'm going back tomorrow, and plan to start my next book with my ears. It's not as good as actually reading it and inventing your own voices, but it's close enough when I need to multitask to stay sane.

As for the image, I love this movie--Dakota Skye. It's completely unrealistic but gives you everything you would want from an indie film. I've watched it before but finally showed it to my friend tonight. She loved it, too, especially for the awesome camera angles and sun-lighting. Make that REALLY awesome camera angles. For another movie with absolutely amazing lighting, please watch Audrey Tautou (Amélie) in A Very Long Engagement.

1/4 I Love to Dance, But I Am Not At All Graceful

2010-01-04T22:09:00.004-05:00

It kind of reminds me of skin cells. Can you guess what this is?

1/3 I Drink Tea Constantly

2010-01-03T17:31:00.000-05:00

It's a new love, and I don't think it's going to end anytime soon.

1/2 I Only Wear Mismatched Socks

2010-01-02T15:27:00.003-05:00

And I present: Mr. Snow Turtle.

1/1 With Detailed Instructions, I Can Teach Myself to Do Almost Anything

2010-01-01T23:54:00.005-05:00

I'm talking artsy and crafty stuff. I taught myself to sew, use some programs on the computer, use crazy-awesome cameras, and make what I just finished this evening...

Happy New Year! I rang in the new decade relaxing at home with a few friends, my parents, and some family friends.

...Christmas/Going Away presents for three of my friends who are going abroad next semester! I bound 50-page journals and made really cool covers with fabric scraps and expired stamps from their respective countries (bought on ebay). Notice the hearts on the covers for Italy and New Zealand.

12/15 I Can't Not Look at a Map

2009-12-15T13:49:00.009-05:00

Maps are absolutely remarkable and so full of detail that if there's a map around me, I will find myself constantly exploring the map. These are all real places with real people, and I can't even comprehend how explorers were able to create these maps. World maps in classrooms always distract me from class, and road maps on road trips entertain me for hours.

I will legitimately start this in 2010, but I keep thinking about it too much, and all I want to do is make another post.

So I will leave you with another picture from the past. During my Fall Break this past October, 3 friends and I drove up to Montreal for an extended weekend. It was the coolest city I have ever seen, and it was the first time I had legitimately been out of the country (passports and all). I took this after we climbed Mount Royal literally straight up--we ignored all the actual paths--and it was an amazing experience. The view itself is remarkable. I just recently realized the interesting focus in this picture, and I was surprised that I love it.

12/10 I Think of the Greatest Ideas in the Time Right Before I Fall Asleep

2009-12-10T16:16:00.007-05:00

And suddenly I have all of these awesome ideas but one less hour to sleep. It's a balanced tradeoff.

This is one of my favorite photos I took this summer.

I Have an Idea!

2009-12-10T16:01:00.005-05:00

So my blogging abilities failed...

I suppose I'm not good at taking time out of my adventure-filled days to write a long blog entry.

But I have a plan now. It will be one of my New Year's resolutions.

I shall call it: What Makes Me Unique.

I will post a photo or drawing or something each day (from that day). Along with that picture, I will include one random fact about me because I often find myself walking around and thinking up random facts that make me who I am. One of my goals in life is also to express myself as entirely unique from everyone else. Some are funny, some are serious, some my friends make fun of me for, and some are just plain ridiculous. I would like to have 365 of them in all, finishing up on December 31, 2010.

I'll include an older photo today, and I shall resume again at the start of 2010 (AHHH! the sound of it is scary).

A Walk in the Woods

2009-05-19T20:24:00.001-04:00

Today, we discovered our love for hiking on our first adventure of the summer!

I have woods behind my house, and they are the same woods that are behind our JCC. I only remember one time that I hiked through them. That was with my parents, siblings, and cousin when I was probably not even ten. It was time for me to explore the woods again.

Jillian and I grabbed our cameras, put on long pants and jackets with hoods so we would be covered up and not get ticks, and we embarked on our adventure.

I had to keep running back in because I forgot things, but I was finally ready, and I found Jillian already taking pictures. She's the tiny white figure at the bottom of the tall tree trunk.

There was no trail, so we tried to walk between and on top of all the leaves and sticks and plants. There was a bit of a clearing where we ran around, but we mostly walked through lots of greenery. Then, we reached a creek. The drop to the water was a few feet in some parts, so we found a place where there was a small hill into the creek. We walked across the rocks and leaped until we reached the other side.

Suddenly, there was a trail, a very wide and well-marked trail. We started running across the trail and passed little makeshift stick sculptures, a bench, a moss-covered tree, and a campfire pit. We easily found the way out of the woods on the other side and greeted civilization.

We walked into the JCC and greeted people we knew (and refilled our water bottles). Then, we were off to the playground that we loved so much in preschool. A large part of it is made out of recycled tires, and it is huge. We ran first to the giant slide atop the castle-like structure.

We played on the dragon.

We went on the "zip line," which was very painful because of the knots on the rope.

We climbed along the obstacle course, the balance beams, the swings made out of tires, the swinging wooden benches, and all of the tall tire structures. Then, we walked along the sidewalk to lots of open fields with tall grass.

We walked along the sidewalk on the road, and decided to walk to our friend's house, who lived in the next neighborhood over. Sadly, she wasn't home, but we left gifts of pretty flowers we picked in front of her house. I remembered that the short woods behind my neighbors' houses were the same woods in the backyards of some of the houses on this street. We walked all the way to the end of the street (a good 15 minutes), and decided upon some random houses. Of course, we could see the houses from my neighborhood and trekked through those very short woods, which had no trail. We were back in my neighborhood. We crossed the street, found my court, and returned home. All in all, it was a very successful, exciting adventure.

Summertime

2009-05-18T22:06:00.002-04:00

This summer, I have decided that I am going to go on lots of exploring adventures around my town and around Baltimore City to discovering places and things I haven't yet seen.

It all started when I was finishing up with classes for the semester and I was getting really upset about being away from school for 3 months (yes, I love school so much that I didn't want to leave). I was looking online at some of my favorite craft/art blogs, and I found a link to a list that someone wrote (How to Be an Explorer of the World) that suddenly inspired me. Right then, I started making a list of things I want to do (entitled: Things to Do While Home) and how I want to act during the month at home. The list kept growing every time I procrastinated studying for finals and writing papers.

A small snippet:

Explore the woods with a camera

Balloons at the harbor

Use a lot of COLOR

Explore the world

Dance everywhere

Make friends with strangers

Camp-out

Free hugs

Horseback riding

Learn to use sewing machine

Make skirts and dresses

Pinhole Camera

Paint with a beret amongst lots of people

This will be #8 on the inspirational list: "Document your findings (field notes) in a variety of ways."