Non-perfection

The fact that Blogger was down yesterday was fitting for this post. Sorry for the delay!

From yesterday, 6/29/11:


Today I learned how to mess up. More specifically, how to fail with grace. As Martha writes,  I learned "How to Be Imperfect."

As the stereotypical perfectionist, I could definitely use a lesson in chillaxing, and who better to teach me than the ultimate perfectionist herself?

Apparently, the three classic types of perfectionist are A) excellence seekers (check!), B) organizers (yeah, not so much) and C) those who focus on negatives (maybe a bit). Given these traits, I would guess I qualify as a Type A perfectionist... That's probably not a good sign. According to the description, I am the type to be "paralyzed by mistakes" and a non-risk-taker. Well, duh!

The solutions? "Discover the Joys of Getting it Wrong." "Remove Your Mental Filter." and "Compare Yourself With Others." That last one does NOT sound like a good plan, seeing as the Type C in myself focuses on the negatives.

I am not sure that these tips are going to go over so well with me because I'm a tough cookie. But here's to giving it a try!

For more tips: http://www.wholeliving.com/photogallery/3-types-of-perfectionism#slide_4

Noodlez

Remember high school? I'm watching You Drive Me Crazy right now.  Who doesn't love Melissa Joan Hart and a young, sexy Adrian Grenier? It really brings me back to basketball games, not having a date to the dance until the last moment, the confusing labyrinthine drama of teenage girldom. Of course the sexiest guy in my grade looked like Adrian's ugly half brother (no offense! that's still hot! come on, it's Adrian. Grenier.).

Either way, one thing I miss about high school, and then college is fake noodles. By fake, I mean in a bag, or a Styrofoam cup. Cup noodle, ramen... that stuff if fantastic.

Good thing Martha can provide an adult update: Chinese Noodles with Sesame Dressing. It was a bit lime-y for my taste, but still filling and fast. I have to stay I still prefer the amazing chicken powder that comes with.

Recipe: from http://www.marthastewart.com/337592/chinese-noodles-with-sesame-dressing?czone=food%2Fdinner-tonight-center%2Fdinner-tonight-main-courses (courtesy of Martha Stewart)

P.S. BRITNEY SPEARS IS PLAYING during the typical party scene. You Drive Me Crazy, of course. The. Best. Flashbackkkkkk

PPS Remember LANDLINES?

P.P.P.S. Nothing like the dad from 7th Heaven making an appearance. 

 Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) thin Chinese noodles
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons light-brown sugar
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package
   instructions. Drain; rinse under cold water until completely cool. Set aside.
   
2. In a large bowl, combine lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, red pepper, and cilantro. Add noodles; toss to combine. Season with salt and ground pepper, and serve.
   

Other fixes

After yesterday's post, I thought I was time to re-evaluate my diet and exercise plan. Since my blood sugar went down, I've been going a little crazy. It's probably time for the carb-fest celebration to draw to a close (except for special occasions!).

Martha has a breakdown of healthy activities for each age range on her Whole Living site. Now, I feel lazy and unhealthy... but at least I have an ideal to aspire toward. An ideal complete with a Mediterranean diet, healthy omega-3s and exercise "most days of the week". Looks like I'm going to be busy!

From http://www.wholeliving.com/article/healthy-at-every-age:

20s and 30s You're young and busy, and illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis don't cross your mind. But experts agree: This is the time to put disease-fighting strategies in place. Start with an anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and healthy omega-3 (wild salmon, walnuts, flax) and monounsaturated (olive oil) fats.
Limit or eliminate processed foods and sugar, and don't eat red meat more than twice a week (when you do, choose lean cuts). Rack up 30 to 40 minutes of exercise most days of the week and develop a regular stress-relieving practice, such as meditation or yoga. Also, learn the details of your family's medical history to get a clearer picture of your health risks.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Healthy at Every Age

Heart health

Once I started exercising, I thought I was set. I try to work out three times a week (ok, more like two), I'm eating right, I don't have a nasty drug habit... so I'm healthy, right?

I guess you can always do more. Martha is constantly reminding me of that. In a good way!

Today, I turned to Martha for some heart health tips, or as she calls it "Tips to Tone Your Ticker."

I definitely have 3 down pat and 5 is a given seeing as I live in a walk up. 2 is really useful - I'm planning on doing that come work on Monday. And I do find 7 intriguing... Martha never ceases to surprise me.

Tips for a healthy heart: (from http://www.wholeliving.com/article/heart-smart-workout-tips)

1. Take your meetings on the road by turning a sit-down session into a walk-and-talk.

2. Set an alarm to remind you to stand up at least once every hour.

3. Go dancing once a week.

4. Don't take your TV commercials sitting down. Get up and move around; do a few jumping jacks or physical chores until the program comes back on.

5. Skip the elevator and take the stairs.

6. Play the "Dance Dance Revolution" video game (you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it).

7. Have (more) sex.

8. Get a cardio workout DVD and do it once or twice a week.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Heart-Smart Workout: Tips to Tone Your Ticker

Mango-sicle

A month or so ago, I bought popsicle molds at a 99-cent store while I was bored. Naturally, it's taken this long for me to get around to using them - but now that it's hot what's better than a nice, refreshing popsicle at the end of the day?! 


I decided to take the adult route and make a mango-parsley concoction. It was amazing how simple the recipe was! The unique combination was unbelievably refreshing and thirst-quenching, and the parsley aftertaste made my breath smell awesome. I'm loving this idea!


Recipe: (http://www.wholeliving.com/article/3-frozen-fruity-pops-recipes):

Mango-Parsley
 Combine 1 ripe mango (an antioxidant powerhouse) and 1/2 cup loosely packed chopped parsley (a bad-breath fighter). If the mango isn't ripe, add 1/4 cup frozen lemonade concentrate.

Beet chips!

I have written about my obsession with beets before. I have also mentioned my love of vegetable chips (kale, previously). So what could go wrong with chips made out of beets?


Well apparently, what could go wrong is that they are really hard to slice and when you don't make them thin enough they don't really become too chip like. Of course, the few slices I did make thin enough were awesome! I am going to have to try this again when I have more patience, and after I get an air conditioner so I am able to comfortably hang out in my apartment without sweating and getting antsy. I may also need to by the cutting utensil Martha uses, a mandoline...

Receipe (from Martha as always: http://www.marthastewart.com/312807/beet-chips?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/great-snacks-for-kids#slide_14):
 
Ingredients

• 2 medium beets
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Peel beets and slice 1/16 inch thick with a mandoline. In a large bowl, toss beets with extra-virgin olive oil.
   
2. On two rimmed baking sheets (or use one sheet and bake in two batches), arrange beets in a single layer. Stack another rimmed baking sheet on top of each. Bake until edges of beets begin to dry out, about 20 minutes. Uncover and rotate sheets. Bake 10 to 20 minutes, removing chips as they become lightened in color. Transfer to a wire rack; chips will crisp up as they cool.
   

Exercising... cat style?

Given the current weather conditions it's about time I began to focus my exercise on my arms. Yes, I'm skinny but no, I'm not toned.

Hopefully, the "Active Cat" pose suggested by Martha will help make my delts a little more fab and a little less flab.



Upper Body: Active Cat (from Martha Stewart):

What it does: Strengthens the entire front and back of the upper body, as well as the lower back and glutes in a Vinyasa-type flow.
How to do it: Start in a modified push-up position, knees on the floor. Inhale and lift your right leg up and back, opening up the hip and working the lower back. Exhale, lowering the upper body to 3 to 5 inches above the mat. Inhale and return to push-up position, and then exhale, curling your body under and drawing your right knee into your forehead. (See next slide.) Repeat with the other leg. Alternate, doing 3 to 5 reps on each side.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Your Best Body For Summer

Glitter bird

Given the state of my nose (congested and sore), I haven't been down for any heavy craft lifting lately. I am counting down the days until my allergy appointment on Wednesday...

Today, I glittered. I thought this would be a relaxing way to end the day, but it instead ended up being a messy craft that has left me covered in shiny bits. Oh well! At least the birds look cute...

Of course mine doesn't look nearly as good as Martha's. But I guess they never do.

Glittered Clip Art Bird and Berry Card: http://www.marthastewart.com/267056/glittered-clip-art-bird-and-berry-cards?czone=crafts%2Fclip-art-templates%2Fclip-art-cards

Greening

It's almost (officially) summer. Which means, on go the fans and ACs and up goes the electricity bill. This is not ideal.

So it is that it's time to go green! Naturally, I turned to Martha for some tips.

I like the one below, and the others on her site. I hope these will not only save me money, but also be good for the environment and world at large. Here's to hoping these little things add up to big savings!

From Martha Stewart: 
Unplug small appliances whenever you can. Computers, cell phone chargers, and other electronics often continue to use power -- and radiate heat -- even when turned off. To simplify, plug items into a power strip that you can use as a master switch.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Good To Know

Happy (early) Father's Day!!

Isn't this adorable? I think it'll make at least one person smile come Sunday.

As always, thanks to Martha for the phenomenal idea.

Instructions (from http://www.marthastewart.com/265595/folded-shirt-card?czone=crafts%2Fcraft-card-making-center%2Fcard-spring-summer):


A shirt and tie are a traditional gift for Dad -- a card to match is something new. Use legal-size (8 1/2-by-14-inch) decorative paper.
1. Place paper facedown. Fold in half vertically; unfold. Line up left edge with centerline fold, and crease; repeat with right edge. Unfold, and lay flat.
2. Fold top-left corner in to line up with outermost crease, forming a triangle; repeat on top-right corner. Using index fingers and thumbs, pinch together outside points of each triangle so they meet, and crease.
3. While still pinching triangles, fold down top edge (this will make sleeves).
4. Turn paper upside down, and flip it over. Fold down top edge 3/4 inch.
5. Flip paper over. Fold top left and right corners so tips meet at centerline.
6. Tuck bottom edge under collar, and flatten by creasing. For the tie, cut out an 8-by-1/2-inch strip of decorative paper. Knot paper. Snip close to knot on one side; trim other to a point. Glue to shirt.

Quinoa'ed

Now that my allergies have turned into an awful sinus infection, I am less sleepy and more headache-y. This means that I can now write on my blog again because I am not having hallucinations of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow stroking my hair and sitting at the edge of my bed (true story, this happen circa 5am this morning).

Either way, I am going to make this short and sweet because I feel like crap.

I made some quinoa salad. And, in true Alex fashion I really badly over broiled (who knew this could happen) the mushrooms. So it tasted HORRIBLE. Little known fact: DO NOT overcook porcini mushrooms because if you do they taste like rot.

I'm sure it would have been delicious otherwise...

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 pounds fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps halved
• 1 1/2 cups quinoa
• 1 pound baby spinach
• 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. Heat broiler; set rack 4 inches from heat. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
   
2. On a large rimmed broiler-proof baking sheet, toss mushrooms with half the dressing (reserve the rest); broil, tossing occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
   
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine quinoa, 3 cups water, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cover, and simmer until liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
   
4. Place spinach in a large bowl; add hot mushrooms, quinoa, and reserved dressing. Toss to combine (spinach will wilt slightly). Top with crumbled feta, and serve immediately.
   

Cook's Note

Do not soak shiitakes in water because they will become spongy. Instead, wipe the caps clean with a damp paper towel after trimming away the stems.

Allergies gone wild

Hi everyone! I am currently beyond sick/out of it to to copious amounts of Benedryl. We will continue with our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow (I hope!)

Until then: enjoy the Daily Wag, Martha's dog blog.

It's RHUBARB season!

Who knew rhubarb could taste so good? Who even knew what rhubarb was? Not I.

I have had rhubarb before, in the form of a rhubarb-berry pie over Thanksgiving. I remember this pie being good, but who knew if it was the berries or the rhubarb talking?

Today, I made my first foray into the world of rhubarb. I decided to start safe - with a familiar rhubarb-berry combination. Martha's Rhubarb-Berry Crumble with Martha's Crumble Topping looked unbelievable. Instead of making a bunch of them, I made a single one because I only had one ceramic bowl.

And, it was. It truly was UNBELIEVABLE! I think one of the best things I have made since I started this process. I baked it perfectly if I do say so myself. It was just sweet enough, just filling enough and just fruity enough. The rhubarb texture was perfect - soft and textured. The topping was decadent.

Of course, the strawberries I used could have been the main attraction, so later this week I'll be cooking with rhubarb for real... without the benefit of any supporting players. I'm thinking a salad with raw rhubarb?

Recipe (Martha Stewart is a genius):

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds rhubarb cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, leaves discarded
• 2 cups raspberries or sliced strawberries, or a combination (I used strawberries)
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons instant tapioca
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest plus 2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
• Pinch of salt
• Crumble Topping Crumble Topping
• Vanilla yogurt for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together rhubarb, berries, sugar, tapioca, orange zest, orange juice, and salt in a bowl. Let stand 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
2. Divide rhubarb mixture among 6 small ceramic baking dishes (1 cup capacity and 5 1/2 inches in diameter). Transfer baking dishes to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with topping, dividing evenly.
   
3. Bake until topping turns golden and juices are bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack 30 minutes. Serve with yogurt, if desired.
   

Crumble: 

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt

Directions

Put butter and brown sugar, and orange zest if desired, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until creamy. Stir in flour and salt. Work mixture through fingers until it form.

Mosquito Hell

I love summer. But I don't love everything that comes with it. One of the worst parts of this warm, humid weather is the massive amount of mosquitoes that absolutely love to bite me.

As I don't have an AC at this moment, I am stuck leaving the window open to cool down. Of course, this means that any and all mosquitoes in the vicinity manage to find their way into my room. Once in my room, they zoom right in on me.

After this weekend, I now have no less than 20 bites all over my legs. This is extremely uncomfortable. I have tried cortisone cream, which does provide some relief. I also cover them with scotch tape, which is supposed to leach out the bad stuff and prevent some of the itchiness.

Today, I tried Martha's solution: a mix of baking soda and water. And it wasn't half bad! Baking soda really made the bumps feel better after a few minutes. This is no surprise because I have come to realize that baking soda can do virtually anything. There is very little baking soda can't do!

From marthastewart.com:

Natural Bite and Sting Remedies

Summer should be a time of fun in the sun -- not accidents, injury, and illness. Use these tips and easy home remedies to ward off common health hazards.

Natural remedies like clay, baking soda, lavender oil, plantain, and tobacco contain properties that fight against pesky summer insects. To treat bee stings and mosquito bites, apply a paste made from baking soda and water to neutralize the bug's venom. Take five pellets of homeopathic apis (at 30C strength) three times daily until the itchiness subsides. And a drop of lavender essential oil applied to the bite can take out the itch and sting.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Health & Diet

Martha Gone Wild

Well obviously Martha has a wild side (see: her jail time, modeling days). So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that her Whole Living Challenge of the day was... drum roll please... to sleep naked.

Of course, I don't own the luxurious sheets she describes but I guess my comfy Target ones will just have to do!


From http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/2011/06/challenge-of-the-day-sleep-naked.html:

"It may feel a little strange at first, but give it a try. Break out the luxurious bedding and forgo the nightgown. You'll appreciate your sheets and your sensual side in a whole new way -- you may never reach for jammies again!"

B is for Berger

I have had some pearls lying around and have no idea what to do with them. Or, more specifically, too many ideas and no decision-making skills.

Finally, today, I made up my mind and decided on something to decorate my spartan room. Martha's Chic Pearl Monogram was adorable and, I think, makes great use of some cheap plastic pearls.

Of course, the letter "B" is not quite as good-looking as the letter "L", so my design could definitely use some work. I tried uppercase first, but that was even a bigger disaster than the lowercase I eventually went with. If only I was named Lauren or Lisbeth or something...

For instructions: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/monogram-details-chic-pearls

Hot, hot, hot

It was a high of 95 degrees today. Summer is (unofficially) here!

As much as I love the heat there is one thing I don't love so much: what it does to my makeup. By the time I arrived at work today, I had sweated through everything I looked like a shiny mess. Let me just say that this is just not a good look for me. If it wasn't enough to be unbearably pale, even after days of Jergins gradual tanning, I now look ridiculously shiny too.

In a situations such as this, what would the forever-cool Martha Stewart wear? How do all the endlessly fashionable New York women always look so perfectly primped when I look like I'm in the middle of a sweat lodge appointment?

I found a Martha wedding article called, "Beat the Heat: Summer Makeup Tips" that had some great pointers that I'm all set to try tomorrow. Most notably:

1. Dust a moisture-absorbing powder, from your bra line to your feet. I invested in baby powder, for 3 dollars for this very purpose. It sounds a bit ridiculous, but anything's worth a try at this point
2. Put cucumbers in your water. Now this just sounds fancy and refreshing, plus, cucumbers are extremely moisturizing and will keep you from being dehydrated.
3. As far as hair goes, Martha suggests that one avoid alcohol-based gels, which can dry hair, attract moisture, and give strands a fuzzy finish. Instead, she recommends that you apply a smoothing serum to damp hair before drying it.

 

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com for more tips: Beat the Heat: Summer Makeup Tips

A new way to love Martha

I bought a new toy today. As though an Ipad, Ipod and Macbook weren't enough... today, I got myself an Iphone.

And I (kind of) love it.

In honor of this new purchase, one of the first things I did was download a Martha Stewart podcast for tomorrow's commute. I opted for "Meeting Martha Stewart," a segment that is essentially a fantastic interview with her and her gay pals who, as she says, she "picked up in a restaurant."

So far, she's gabbing about New York. A choice well-made.

Visit the Apple App Store (where else?) to download this, and other Martha apps (Living, Recipes etc).

Cooking with olives!

I love olives, but as I am currently broke they somehow seem like a bit of a luxury today if all I am going to do is snack on them.

So today I came up with the perfect excuse to buy a jar of olives: a fantastic recipe that had olives in it. Martha's Tomato and Olive Penne was surprisingly flavorful given the limited ingredients in the recipe. I used whole wheat pasta, so overall this was really healthy (and low in carbs!).

Ingredients

• Salt and pepper
• 1 pound penne, or other short pasta
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2/3 pound (2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
• 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Directions

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook penne according to package instructions until al dente, about 13 minutes. Drain.
   
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook, stirring, until just golden, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes, oregano, crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring, until tomato juices run, about 3 minutes.
   
3. Add penne, olives, parsley, and 1/4 cup Parmesan to the skillet and toss to combine. Serve with more cheese if desired.
   
   From: http://www.marthastewart.com/341000/tomato-and-olive-penne
   

Med school apps: 0, Alex:1

Though I am sure the score will even out, I am currently owning my medical school application in the inevitable competition between them and me. As in... ROUND 1 IS SUBMITTED.

Bring it on, secondaries.

In honor, I decided to mix up one of Martha's marvelous alcoholic concoctions. In this case, I opted for her Strawberry-Ginger Capirosca. Loaded with strawberries, mint, ginger and sugar, this vodka drink was perfect for a little celebration and relaxation.







Ingredients

10 fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
30 fresh mint leaves
1/4 lime, cut into 4 pieces
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups cracked ice
1/2 cup vodka

Directions

Place berries, mint, lime, and ginger in a cocktail shaker. Sprinkle sugar over top; muddle
mixture with a long spoon until almost pureed. Add ice and vodka; shake well. Divide between two glasses; serve.

Anchored

I've always dug the whole nautical look. Admittedly, I did go through quite the preppy phase in high school. Perhaps this is whole nautical obsession of mine is routed in that?

In any event, Martha's bloggers seem to agree with me! This is not too surprising. After all, how could one not be inspired by anchors? They are just so awesomely shaped and thematic!

I decided to start simply aka with cardmaking. I printed and cut out one of the templates on the blog and traced it onto card stock. A little purple highlighter and some "Happy Birthday" and voila! A card was born.

I think it's pretty cute!



http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2011/05/anchors-aweigh.html

Stress is bad for your health

Well... duh! But I thought this would would be a poignant topic for the ironically stressful process of applying to medical school.


Thankfully, Martha had my back. In "Not Just in Your Head," Frances Cohen, a psychologist from UCSF advises that "when we perceive something as harmful, our brain triggers hormones such as cortisol, which flood the body and contribute to various physical responses." UGH! Like I need my med-school-app-induced-stress to release more cortisol. That doesn't sound good at all.





For more details, read more at Wholeliving.com: Step 1: Get Started