Winter Drink: Apple Cider Tea

I wanted to make a wintery drink for a Thanksgiving breakfast, and I also wanted it to be non-alcoholic because, well, it's breakfast. Spiced rum at 9am is still a little trashy, even if you drink it out of a Santa mug. Want a non-alcoholic alternative to spiced rum? 

I found a recipe for apple tea from Serious Eats but I'm not a huge fan of black tea, so I made some alterations to balance out the flavor. (I don't know of any good substitutes to black tea, do you?)

Ingredients

• 1 sweet cinnamon spice tea bag (or any variety of herbal, holiday spiced tea)
• 2 irish breakfast tea bags (or any variety of strong black tea)
• 2 three-inch cinnamon sticks
• 1 25.4 ounce bottle sparkling apple cider
• 1 ounce fresh juice from about 2 lemons
• Garnish: additional cinnamon sticks

Preparation

Place tea bags and cinnamon sticks in a large mug of boiling water (about 2 cups, or 16 oz.) Let steep for at least 10 and up to 20 minutes. Remove tea bags and cinnamon sticks and chill in the refrigerator overnight.

When you're ready to serve the drink, combine the cider, tea, and lemon juice in a large pitcher!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your Fave is Problematic: Meghan Trainor

If you like "All About that Bass" because it's catchy, fun to sing or dance to, or because you like Meghan Trainor's voice, cool. Your taste in music is your taste. You do you. This post isn't for you.

But if you like the song because it's body-positive, we should talk.

I know "All About that Bass" sounds like an empowering, love-yourself song. But the context within which you should love yourself, according to Trainor, is entirely based on how attractive men find you. And that is not empowering, because you're still giving someone else the power to affect your self-esteem. This song isn't about loving yourself for you who are, it's about being okay with being heavy because, hey, men will still want you.

Compare these verses:

Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size She says, "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night." You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along (All About that Bass, Megan Trainor)

My mama told me when I was young We are all born superstars She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on In the glass of her boudoir "There's nothing wrong with loving who you are" She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe" "So hold your head up girl and you'll go far, Listen to me when I say" (Born this Way, Lady Gaga)

This song isn't empowering anybody, it's just making objectification more inclusive ("I'm bringing booty back, go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that.") And if you thought this song was trying to be feminist, keep in mind that Trainor doesn't consider herself a feminist.

Compare these verses:

Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two But I can shake it, shake it Like I'm supposed to do 'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase And all the right junk in all the right places (All About that Bass, Megan Trainor)

I wake up looking this good And I wouldn't change it if I could And you can say what you want I'm the shit I'm the shit, I'm the shit, I'm the shit I want everyone to feel like this, tonight (Flawless (Remix), Beyonce ft. Nicki Minaj)

Beyonce's perfection has nothing to do with whether men find her attractive. She doesn't even mention weight. It's vague on purpose, I feel, because there are so many things women feel insecure about that have nothing to do with their weight. Flawless is about not letting your self esteem be affected by your size, skin color, height, accent, how often you do your nails, whether you wear makeup etc. No matter who you are, and how you are, you are flawless.

That's body positive.

Don't forget--confidence has nothing to do with believing that everyone will love you. Confidence is knowing you'll be okay even if they don't.

Sparkling Lavender Lemonade

Here's a light springtime drink recipe for those of you that miss the sunshine as much as I do:

What You'll Need:

• 3 large lemons
• 1 lime
• 1 liter of sparkling water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 6 tbsp lavender syrup (or 3 oz, if you're using a shot glass to measure)

I like my lemonade on the tart side, so feel free to adjust the proportions to suit your taste! The lavender in this recipe is subtle, so you might want to add more syrup if you want a stronger lavender taste--just be sure to add sugar last, so that you can gauge how sweet the drink became from the lavender syrup.

I stored this drink in a glass bottle from IKEA and brought it to an early-Thanksgiving party. It's always nice to provide an option other than soda for those who don't drink alcohol :) 

I used a dry-erase marker to label the bottle! 

And if you happen to be in the Western Washington area around July, you can grab a bottle of syrup from a lavender farm like I did:

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Starbucks Chestnut Praline Latte Tastes Like...

I'm holding a chestnut praline latte as I type this. Well, okay, not literally. But it's within arm's reach.

Numerous friends and baristas have described this drink to me, and all of them were so vague that I honestly still have no idea what this drink tastes like.

And you're talking to a person who nodded and said "uh huh, totally" while reading about a blind person's description of lemonade as "square" because it pricked his tongue like square things pricked his hands. (The whole essay, by Annie Dillard, can be found here. I forgot how good it is... might have to do an entire post on that one.)

Anyway.

This latte, apparently, tastes like:

"Christmas morning." (what?) 

"Syrup and waffles and christmas breakfast." (...what?)

"That warm Christmas feeling." (................................what?)

I thought I'd try it, just to see what the fuss is about, and do my best to describe it.

Alright. Here goes.




















It tastes like hazelnuts. And cinnamon. And a chunk of bark off a christmas tree.

(Just kidding. It does taste like hazelnuts and cinnamon though.)

How to Treat a Stomach Flu

I'm livin' the dream, guys.

I'm going to spare you the nitty gritty details of how my digestive system feels right now, but let me just say that stomach pain is the worst because my usual coping strategy--snacks--is useless right now. I have no appetite. Boo.

Thankfully, I didn't have to go to the doctor (driving to and sitting in an office while clenching my stomach sounds like absolute misery) and I had our school nurse help me during lunch. A stomach flu could be a lot of other things, she says, and it's important to know whether you have a viral infection or just ate one too many enchiladas last night.

Do I Have a Stomach Flu?

Here are the symptoms:

• Abdominal cramps
• Stomach pain
• Nausea/dizziness 
• Vomiting/diarrhea

I Have a Stomach Flu. Now What?

1. Rest. 

This is obvious, I know, but also really hard to actually do. Laying in bed when I'm not asleep is really hard. I get restless and start feeling anxious that I'm not using my time well (I should do the dishes. I should respond to emails. etc. etc.) 

In times like this, what helps me is making my bed into a nest. Sort of. Everything I need is within arms reach, and it makes it easier to just roll around and enjoy bed rest. 

Lots of pillows, cozy socks, tea, water, an apple-scented candle, and Friends.

2. Pedialyte

I got a couple of bottles of pedialyte to make sure that I don't get dehydrated, and can I just say that I'm horrified by how sugary this stuff tastes? According to my friend Coby, it tastes like melted otter pops. And I agree. You're not supposed to dilute them, so I chug a cup down every few hours (or every time I uh go to the bathroom) and wash it down with water. 

3. Bland Food

You want to stick to toast, rice, potatoes, and bread. The plainer, the better, so that it doesn't upset your stomach. Small amounts of greek yogurt are okay--I added a drizzle of honey on top of mine and it didn't upset my stomach. Stay away from caffeine, spices, and... anything delicious, basically.

A Few More Tips...

• Clean your toilet when you're starting to get over it. The stomach flu is a virus, so you don't want to spread it to anyone else who uses your bathroom.
• You're contagious for up to two weeks after you show no more symptoms of the stomach flu, so be sure to frequently wash your hands!

Alright, my croissants are all cooked in the oven. Time to go lay in bed again.

VLOG: Camping!

Here are some more photos from Oak Canyon! Oak Creek Canyon! Creek Oak Woods? I have no idea where we went.

Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel

"Not everyone who is supposed to love you, will." Stella Pope Duarte said these words about a week before I read Fun Home, and it echoed on every page of Alison Bechdel's memoir. 

This is, at its core, a story about growing up in a family that doesn't communicate.  Bechdel's estrangement from her father and emerging sexuality could have set the stage for some honest, reflective storytelling.

It's too bad Bechdel doesn't do that.

The entire story is metaphor after metaphor of things her family is like, which makes the story seem like a clip show. I can tell you about ten characters that her father reminders her of, but I can't tell you who her father is. Don't get me wrong, I love descriptive language, but it feels too much like Bechdel is relying on other authors' great characterization to anchor her own story. Not to mention, she's assuming her readers are as familiar with the stories she's depending on as she is.

She acknowledges this herself, on page 67, when she says, "I employ these allusions because my parents are most real to me in fictional terms."

Sure, it's hard to describe people you don't know. But your own feelings--those are real. And I just didn't get enough of it to enjoy this book. 

(Ironically, I think this book fails the Bechdel test.)

Halloween Decor

I wasn't sure if it'd be weird to show you my Halloween decorations since, well, it's November 11th. But then I remembered--

Right.

Honestly, these decorations are probably staying up until December.

I'm not a huge fan of "traditional" Halloween decorations--the fake cobwebs, spiders, etc.--because they feel like clutter when they're indoors. If and when I have a front lawn, I'm going all out (maybe even making a little haunted house for trick or treaters? who knows) but decorations indoors... I like to keep them more subtle.

I've been trying to figure out what to do with the bare side of my cabinets since I moved in:

And I found my answer in comic books. 

I got a huge stash of them two years ago with the intention of framing six of them at a time and hanging them up seasonally (I even bought them based on what would "go well" in each season), but, like my comic book magnets, I didn't follow through with the idea because I got depressed and everything went to shit.

I got six $2 photo frames from IKEA and got to work.

I was too nervous to nail anything into my cabinets because I wasn't sure if it would split the wood, so I decided to use the least intrusive method of hanging the frames--thumbtacks. I used the tape measure to make sure the frames were centered and evenly spaced, and the leveler because, well, I've never been good at leveling things.

I wanted to keep the frames at about the same height as the plants on the other side of the wall, and here's what it looks like when I was done:

Welp, these are going to stay up until I switch them out for winter-y comics. Which comic is your favorite? 

Psst: I did carve a pumpkin this year (It's Potter Puppet Pal Snape. My friend Carmen made the Dumbledore next to it)

Eman Mohammad & Stories from Palestine

Last Tuesday, my students and I watched this Ted Talk by Eman Mohammad, one of the few female photographers in Gaza:


She tells us about the death threats she received upon choosing her career path, the photo agencies in Palestine that refused to train her, and a particularly traumatic experience when her colleagues pranked her by leaving her stranded in an open air strike zone. She also tells us that, because she is a woman, she has access to moments male photographers wouldn't--and it is those moments she chooses to capture. She says that she wants to show the full frame of life in Palestine, not just the war-torn parts we're so accustomed to seeing in American media.

I feel like so often, all we hear or see about the middle east is "war." The stories Mohammad shares, the moments she gives us access to, are so incredibly valuable because she adds to the larger narrative of life in Palestine. That it's not just protests and bombs and rubble. There are family dinners and birthday parties. There is laughter. There is friendship.

Here is some of her work:

A general view of Gaza's beach on a busy Friday afternoon. (Photo by Eman Mohammed/Getty Images) #

Young girls read verses of the Qura'an at Dar el Quran in Gaza. (Photo by Eman Mohammed/Getty Images) #

Sabah, 14, the only female surfer in the Gaza strip going into the water for a warmup before she starts her daily hour of surfing. #

Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

Guys. My head's going crazy right now.

Transitionary periods between seasons leave me with flaky skin all over. I use various exfoliators for my face and body, but lately I've been noticing that my scalp needs exfoliating too. Lately, no matter how often I wash my hair (and I try not to more than three times a week) I always have dandruff.

There are tons and tons of at-home recipes for scalp exfoliators. You can use everything from brown sugar, baking soda, even quinoa (though I'm not sure if it's going to clog up your drain?) with conditioner, oils, shampoos, etc.

I'm going to share a recipe I tried today, but I just want to give you a heads up: if you have thick, wavy hair like me, this scrub is going to make your hair really fluffy. (It might actually be a great volumizing scrub if you have thin hair... Let me know if you try it!)

1. 2-3 tbs of salt // 2. 2 tbs of coconut oil // 3. 2 tbs of Paul Mitchell's Smoothing conditioner

I mixed these ingredients together in a little bowl and worked them into my scalp for about 5 minutes. Do this in the shower (not over the sink, like I originally did) because it'll get messy really quickly. Let's just say I had to bust out my vacuum. I rinsed and washed my hair as normal, and now my hair feels a lot smoother.


I'm going to wait a couple of days before deciding if it helped my scalp, but I am happy with my hair. I pulled out a lot more hair than usual after my shower, and I'm hoping it's just because it's old, almost-dead hair that "loosened up" while I exfoliated.

After getting out of the shower, I also dabbed a bit of Lush's R&B over the ends of my hair to keep them moisturized and healthy!



If you have any tips on a healthy scalp/hair, I'd love to hear them!

Go On, Be Weird

Ever have a day where you literally don't feel like doing anything?

I don't mean when you're not in the mood to work. I mean when you don't want to do anything.

Ever just kinda sit around on your couch telling yourself you'll get up in fiiiiiive more minutes? Ever realize it's already 8pm and you didn't "do anything" today?

Oh have I been there, friend.

In fact, I'm there right now. I'm sitting in a cafe because "I don't know what to do with myself." I tried going for a walk. Didn't feel better. Tried snacking. Didn't help. Watched an episode of Friends. Nothing.

Maybe you feel like you're not sure what to do today because you're the indecisive kind of anxious person. Maybe you need to find the "best" way to spend your time and can't decide what it is, so you get frustrated and abstain from making any decision at all. Don't. Do something. It's okay if it's not the best way to spend your time, because I honestly don't think that question has an answer.

But maybe you feel like nothing feels good today. Maybe you, too, are recovering from depression, and don't know whether your bouts of lethargy are "normal" or "symptoms." 

But here's the deal, depression/anxiety or not,

usually just means

Think about it. Are you having trouble enjoying your break because you're worrying about your to-do list? Too mentally tired to work on anything, but also worrying too much to actually enjoy your break? 

Here's what this looks like in The Studio: I have music playing but I'm not actually listening to it. The TV is on but I'm not actually watching it. I'm telling myself I'll take a 15 minute break. When time's up, I'm telling myself 5 more minutes.

It's terrible.

What we need in these times if a frame-break. Something to keep our attention long enough to calm down/loosen up/whatever it is we need. But our usual comforts are probably not going to work right now, because it's easy to do them mechanically (i.e. without actually thinking about what you're doing.) Usually, when I'm feeling stressed, a short walk while listening to music does the trick. I come back full of energy and feel good again. But I've gone on two walks today, and I still feel lethargic.

So what's gonna help?

You need to do something weird. Something that doesn't make you uncomfortable, necessarily, but feels strange. Trust me. It works wonders.

Here are some things I do:

I have a pair of houndstooth heels that I adore. And when I need to do something mundane (think: laundry, sorting paperwork, vacuuming, etc. etc.) and I can't get myself to get out of bed, I put my heels on. There's something about experiencing your apartment 4 inches above your usual height that feels so damn refreshing. And the soft clicking while I walk is oddly therapeutic.

If you haven't tried Lush's bath bombs yet, go get some right now. No. Seriously. Where are your keys? Bath bombs are fizzy, soapy little things that change the color and consistency of your bath. They smell delicious and--if you get in the bath before you toss one in--feel bizarre. Taking a bath itself is a frame-break for me since I usually exclusively shower, but bath bombs add an extra, wtf-is-happening-right-now kick.

When I say "dense," I'm not talking about books that are badly written. Or old. Or convoluted. I'm talking about books that require you to process a lot of information. Not a fast-paced, action-driven story. Something slow. Something heavy. Something thought provoking. Sometimes I read a few pages out of Reasons and Persons, by Derek Parfit. After fifteen or so minutes, I'm satisfied. I stay away from opinions articles on news sites because, even though those articles basically do the same thing, the internet is a trap. I know I'm going to start with the article and wind up on buzzfeed.

This feels weird for at least a few hours. I have no idea why, but it throws me off. I feel like the weight on my head settles differently, but I know that's not actually true since hair weighs all of about 0.3 oz.

(If you want to be precise, 2ft of hair is around 0.25 pounds.)

Welp , that's all I've got for now! What helps you break out of a blah mood?