I just returned from my very first textile and fiber conference! It was loads of fun - giant exhibit hall full of woven and spun eye candy as well as a just as large vendor hall with lots of fibers. I also took a one hour class on Viking Knitting - 'twas frustrating but I am going to give it another go soon. I determined after carefully studying the pamphlet the gal who gave the class gave us that I'd been stitching incorrectly - well, stitching with copper wire, that is!
More updates to come soon. There is a mountain of homework with my name on it - and tests to grade for my students.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Microwaveable Meals
Since I am in the lab most days of the workweek, I've looked for easy lunches to make. Usually this boils down to either going to the student union for food or microwaveable meals. The latter is much cheaper, so it usually ends up happening.
The big problem I have with microwaveable meals is the salt content. Sometimes when eating something from Stouffer's or what have you I find the high salt content easy to taste. Not appetizing and not healthy.
Since Kashi microwaveable meals were buy one get one free at Publix this week, I decided to try them. One was Rosemary Chicken and the other was Southwest Chicken. Both were delicious - they are a chicken meal served on a base of rice and other grains with sauce and vegetables. The Southwest one had black beans, corn, pepper, and onion while the Rosemary had pea pods and baby portabello mushrooms. So, you get a good square meal in (though it is served in a bowl).
The sole downside is price. In this area, they're $3.59 a box, so if you can find a store that offers a buy one get one free occasionally on them it'll be a bit less expensive. About $1.80 for each is quite a bit better!
What other healthy but also delicious microwaveable options are out there?
The big problem I have with microwaveable meals is the salt content. Sometimes when eating something from Stouffer's or what have you I find the high salt content easy to taste. Not appetizing and not healthy.
Since Kashi microwaveable meals were buy one get one free at Publix this week, I decided to try them. One was Rosemary Chicken and the other was Southwest Chicken. Both were delicious - they are a chicken meal served on a base of rice and other grains with sauce and vegetables. The Southwest one had black beans, corn, pepper, and onion while the Rosemary had pea pods and baby portabello mushrooms. So, you get a good square meal in (though it is served in a bowl).
The sole downside is price. In this area, they're $3.59 a box, so if you can find a store that offers a buy one get one free occasionally on them it'll be a bit less expensive. About $1.80 for each is quite a bit better!
What other healthy but also delicious microwaveable options are out there?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Pretty
This makes me want to dress like it's 1940 or 1950 every day. ModCloth has a great many cute things, but their sales look like the best option right now :)
In other news, I am headed to Our Lady Queen of the Universe Shrine on Thursday to surprise a special family friend and meet with other friends of the family I haven't seen in ages. Then it is off to Tampa for Convergence 2008 - a gigantic fiber arts festival!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Food Blogging
As if I needed more evidence that oregano is quite a superior herb. It's stupendous in spaghetti or salads and adds just the right amount of extra flavor to a slice of cheese pizza...and helps preserve ancient salad dressing.
I don't know that it would add a good flavor to this salad I found from 101 Cookbooks, but there's a fair amount of garlic in it for those of us who enjoy the Italian herbs / spices. The recipe calls for tofu, but if you do put it in be sure to cook it in something before adding it, otherwise it tastes somewhat like a damp cotton cloth. (Trust me on this one). Next time there will most likely be another veggie substituted for the tofu instead, perhaps something of the pepper family. Now that I look at the photo of the recipe, perhaps some red cabbage would do the trick - a little crunch with a light flavor. Perhaps bok choy would be another good alternative.
I need to rescind that recipe recommendation. After eating the leftovers, I got to experience a nasty stomach sensation. DUD.
I need to rescind that recipe recommendation. After eating the leftovers, I got to experience a nasty stomach sensation. DUD.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Woah now
Stumbling upon this gadget guide for various ages of children, I realized just how much technology has infiltrated our culture.
I understand that children need to become familiar with technology. Back in the late 80's, when PCs were coming into home use, my dad went out and bought one. The monitor displayed in one shade of light gray blue, and multiple shadings indicated different colors when one was playing games. The printer was dot matrix and screamed like a banshee when spitting out documents. Gradually our household computer evolved from this simple arrangement to 3.25" floppies and ultimately a CD-ROM drive. After that it was better processors, more RAM. I tell this story because I do recognize that having this computer around was important, as my younger brother and I were beginning to use computers at school and increasingly for our schoolwork.
However, I don't think that 6 or 7 year olds should be playing video games. This is probably a product of my upbringing, but I remember being encouraged to read and play outside when the weather permitted when I was that age. Being a child is so important, and play is where children learn to share and make friends. I remember hanging out with the neighborhood kids and running around the block on our bicycles, then swimming at whoever had a pool.
When I talk to friends I've met at college and back in high school, their childhood memories involve being outdoors, active, making friends, going to the beach... not sitting in front of a TV or computer.
That being said, I do own an average amount of technology for an American my age. Desktop and laptop computers, a cell phone, a printer / scanner, and a television with cable are the main components of that for me. But, I have learned that their use must be limited. This must also be the case with children - they need to learn that technology is a tool or a means to an end, but not life itself.
I understand that children need to become familiar with technology. Back in the late 80's, when PCs were coming into home use, my dad went out and bought one. The monitor displayed in one shade of light gray blue, and multiple shadings indicated different colors when one was playing games. The printer was dot matrix and screamed like a banshee when spitting out documents. Gradually our household computer evolved from this simple arrangement to 3.25" floppies and ultimately a CD-ROM drive. After that it was better processors, more RAM. I tell this story because I do recognize that having this computer around was important, as my younger brother and I were beginning to use computers at school and increasingly for our schoolwork.
However, I don't think that 6 or 7 year olds should be playing video games. This is probably a product of my upbringing, but I remember being encouraged to read and play outside when the weather permitted when I was that age. Being a child is so important, and play is where children learn to share and make friends. I remember hanging out with the neighborhood kids and running around the block on our bicycles, then swimming at whoever had a pool.
When I talk to friends I've met at college and back in high school, their childhood memories involve being outdoors, active, making friends, going to the beach... not sitting in front of a TV or computer.
That being said, I do own an average amount of technology for an American my age. Desktop and laptop computers, a cell phone, a printer / scanner, and a television with cable are the main components of that for me. But, I have learned that their use must be limited. This must also be the case with children - they need to learn that technology is a tool or a means to an end, but not life itself.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Alphabet
Deanna tagged me on this a few weeks ago, so I am obliging late:
A: Anxious at times
B: Brother, a great companion
C: Cook a lot and experiment there
D: Daily prayer
E: Engineer
F: Friends that are wonderful
G: Grateful for this day
H: Have a plan for my career now :)
I: Indecisive, sometimes
J: Jump into waves with my boogie board
K: Knowledgeable
L: Loved
M: MonBon
N: Named for a good role model (Monica of Hippo)
O: Overachiever, for better or worse
P: Parents who rock
Q: Quiet mostly
R: Raise the roof on occasion
S: Swing dancer
T: Thankful for all my blessings
U: Understanding
V: Voter
W: Want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike...
X: eXuberant
Y: Yoga lover
Z: Zulaikha, when I am at a Renaissance reenactment
A: Anxious at times
B: Brother, a great companion
C: Cook a lot and experiment there
D: Daily prayer
E: Engineer
F: Friends that are wonderful
G: Grateful for this day
H: Have a plan for my career now :)
I: Indecisive, sometimes
J: Jump into waves with my boogie board
K: Knowledgeable
L: Loved
M: MonBon
N: Named for a good role model (Monica of Hippo)
O: Overachiever, for better or worse
P: Parents who rock
Q: Quiet mostly
R: Raise the roof on occasion
S: Swing dancer
T: Thankful for all my blessings
U: Understanding
V: Voter
W: Want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike...
X: eXuberant
Y: Yoga lover
Z: Zulaikha, when I am at a Renaissance reenactment
Monday, June 2, 2008
Return Soon
It's been awhile - with graduations and wedding anniversary celebrations there's not much blogging time. I'll return soon, though.
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