Pharty Time!!!

About six months ago my roommates and I decided we would host a photo party at our house. This consisted of us setting up an area of our living room to be the set, everyone was to bring a random prop and we were going to have a photoshoot with all of our closest friends. Let's just say it was the best idea ever and it resulted in some epic photos... everyone picked on as their facebook photo for at least a little while (that's how good they were). Lucky for us one of the masterminds behind this operation was not only one of my roommates who is a brilliant photographer, but she had thrown a "Pharty" before - so it was fairly smooth sailin'... once people got over their stage fright.

So next time you're not sure what to do with your friends, go ahead a throw your own "Pharty"... you don't even need a professional photographer - and drinking alcohol is not even necessary for "Pharties" to be fun. The following photos are proof:

**All photos courtesy to Alex Creswell

the life of a college zombie

I realize that by reading this blog one would be inclined to assume that all I do is eat food because it's all about food I've cooked/baked, but I didn't take up cooking or baking until this summer. It's amazing how peaceful having free time is... if I could wish for anything right now, free time would definitely be at the top of that list. I know that I took my free time for granted over the summer, yet I was experiencing the most relaxing period of my life so far. I could do whatever I wanted, almost whenever I wanted. Now my life is 100% structure, even my weekends are fairly structured because I've been traveling with friends on the weekends and there's always an event that we have to be at next. Four months ago I believed that structure was necessary for my survival because it was all I knew, but now having so much structure in my life makes me feel like I'm in restraints - stomping through life as a lifeless zombie from one daunting task to the next; class, work, class, meetings, eat, homework, procrastination, homework, nap, repeat. For anyone out there who has excessive free time on their hands, embrace it now! Carpe Diem! Go out, have an adventure without predetermined plans, do whatever your little heart desires...

List of things to do with free time:

• surf
• dance party!!!
  
• photography
• paint
• run
• walk along the beach
• watch random TV shows
• hangout with friends
• visit the friends I miss
• find new music online
• clean my house
• fix the broken things in my house
• clean/organize/dispose of junk from my past
• read fun books
• research ways to improve the world
• have an adventure
• try new restaurants
• cause a ruckus in the world
• cook/bake
• play with my doggies
  
• there are probably other fun things I can't think of at this moment... :)
  

Guru - Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Currently I am taking a Hinduism course at Cal Poly. I find it extremely interesting to learn about another religion in an unbiased environment - we are simply provided with the facts. An aspect of our course is to generate a "Guru-pedia" - a Wikipedia type page for 10 pre-selected Gurus. Gurus are Hinduism spiritual leaders, each Guru has unique traits that define their teachings. The aspect of the "Guru-pedia" I researched was about the primary teachings of the Guru, Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Primary Teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Five Pillars of Human Values

1. “Satya” – Truth
2. “Ahimsa” – Nonviolence
3. “Prema” – Divine Love
4. “Seva” – Devotional Service
5. “Dharma” – Right Action

These five values are considered to be the foundation of Satya Sai Baba’s movement and the categories of focus for devotees’ lessons.

The Two Directions of Satya Sai Baba’s Teachings

Hindu Devotees -- Bharat

Satya Sai Baba is known for his acceptance of all religions, however many overlook his focus upon the return of the Vedic religion, for a majority of his followers are historically Hindu. A large majority of his lessons are drawn directly from Hindu literature and traditions. Much of Baba’s focus is on resurrecting the traditions and culture of the ancient Hindu religion. Because Hinduism is directly interwoven among all aspects of the Indian lifestyle, much of Baba’s teachings have played a role in state politics and national issues.

“Overseas” (aka “Western”) Devotees -- Beyond Bharat

While many of Baba’s lessons may hold roots of the traditional Hindu culture and ideals, he has made an effort to equally embrace all religions; one of Baba’s infamous mantras being, “Love all, Serve all.” It is a universally known truth that a devotee may be of any religion and the purpose of Baba’s teachings is not to convert a devotee to Hinduism, but generate spiritual growth, no matter the religion – this is also known as “Hindu tolerance.”

The Shri Satya Sai Central Trust

Established by Baba in 1972, the Shri Satya Central Trust is a nonprofit charitable trust as a means to better serve society’s needs. This Trust is considered to not only be a controlling entity of the movement, in a legal sense, but also holds financial control of the other organizations; as the Trust’s sole trustee, Shri Satya Sai Baba holds considerable authority. The Trust funds projects mainly within India, including a means to provide hundreds of thousands of Indians with the benefit free education, health care and clean drinking water.

The International Satya Sai Baba Organization

The International Satya Sai Baba Organization (ISSBO) is a key component for spreading the movement of Baba’s spiritual teachings globally. It is estimated that there are about 1,200 Sai Centers in various locations in more than 137 countries. These centers were established to allow devotees to gather and pursue their spiritual endeavors. Although these centers stretch across the globe, they are all required to follow the ISSBO’s guidelines and regulations, which are organized around three primary religious objectives:

1. Devotion
2. Education
3. Selfless Service

However, each center may develop a specific focus depending on the influences of the local culture. Allowing devotees to not only grow in a spiritual sense, but benefit their local community as well. These various Sai Centers, especially those located in the United States focus on creating a balance between the cultures of the local community, while continuing to maintain the traditional devotion to Satya Sai Baba.

**I simply wanted to share some of my Guru knowledge with the world, I'd encourage you to look him or another Guru up for more detailed information about Hindu Gurus, even if you simply use Wikipedia.**

The Life of a Future Homemaker...

I finally took a trip to the grocery store today, after a week of being back in school... I had to take last week to re-settle into my environment... and tonight was the first time I had time to run to Trader's before they closed. So I did a massive shopping trip today, but made sure to get ingredients for some new recipes. Except, the one lesson I learned was to never assume that certain ingredients still remain in your pantry, because I got home tonight planning to make muffins, but woops, no flour. Instead I made enough granola to sink a ship and some trail mix... yes I'm developing some motherly traits early, packing homemade lunches to provide more nutrients in every bite... except I'm just feeding myself instead of a gaggle of children (thankfully... I'm so not ready for kids yet).

Cook Yourself Thin's Homemade Granola

5 cups jumbo rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup runny honey (add more if too dry)
1/4 cup dried cherries (I didn't add them)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
(doubled this to make up for the cherries)
1 cup barley flakes/rye flakes (optional)
1/2 cup flaxseed (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper cut to size. Place the oats, almonds, sunflower seeds & salt onto the baking sheet and place in over for 10 mins. Dip your measuring cup into hot water & remove (empty) and measure out the honey (this is so the honey is able to pour). Run the warm honey over the hot granola and give a good stir to coat evenly. Return pan to the oven for the final 30 minutes. Toss the ingredients halfway through their cooking time in order to cook evenly. Remove from oven and add the dried berries, flaxseed, cinnamon, and barely or rye flakes (if using). Cool well before storing or it will lose it's crunch. (Makes about 15 breakfasts - so this will last me a while)


Then with the leftover ingredients I created my own trail mix...

Cait's Trail Mix

1 1/2 cups peanuts
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (raw/unsalted)
1/3 cup almonds (sliced)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 bag plain m&m's

I was able to split the trail mix up evenly into four separate zip lock baggies to make a perfect snack for school... and it's easy to grab when I'm running late in the morning since it's "pre-packaged."

***Remember to reuse your plastic baggies, especially if the don't get dirty because otherwise it'll generate more waste to pile up in our landfills!***

Breakfast Places for Champions

The funky little town of Encinitas, CA has so much character to offer the world; beaches, great surf, fish tacos, the hippie vibe, professional athletes, but most importantly - amazing breakfast cafes. During the summer, living it up in this quaint little town, I finally came to appreciate the art of breakfast. I discovered five amazing & unique breakfast spots within a 2 mile strip along Highway 101 in Encinitas. Any of the following are guaranteed to satisfy your breakfast desires!

Mozy's Cafe

A unique Caribbean cafe - providing a new healthy option. Extremely vegetarian and vegan friendly. Personally, this was my favorite place to eat in Encinitas. Every single item on the menu is tasty, so whatever you may be craving will surely satisfy your taste buds. My favorite item was the Tropical Burrito, which came highly recommended to me my numerous locals. The Tropical Burrito is a breakfast burrito with: eggs, avocado, cheese, beans, and plantains. Yuummm... I'm craving one at this very moment. Other items I can recommend from first hand experience include: the breakfast special (for those Plain Janes), Acia bowl (great for 2 to split), the Lite Burrito, Tuna Melt Wrap, and Acia smoothie. As I mentioned before, I frequented Mozy's numerous times, and never got sick of it!!! Five stars, hands down!


Pannikin












A quaint coffee shop - fast service, amazing coffee & teas, and fresh muffins and pastries daily. Don't let the long line intimidate you, their exquisite service will get you back on the road before you can finish appreciating the quote of the day. This brightly colored, restored railroad depot helps bring character to Encinitas' little community, Leucadia.


101 Diner












The 101 Diner has the rep of being the BEST breakfast location in Encinitas. Their menu includes the typical breakfast items, along with a variety of unique special items. Every breakfast lover will be able to a hearty breakfast at a reasonable price here at 101 Diner. Buyer Beware, their omelets are LOADED with cheese.


A Little Moore Coffee Shop












Tucked away along Hwy 101 in Leucadia, A Little Moore Coffee Shop provides the best post surfing breakfast around. This family owned coffee shop prepares the food right behind the counter, just like your traditional diner. They serve a mean French Toast, as well as delicious home fries, and amazing fluffy pancakes - you definitely get your moneys' worth with the awesome portion sizes and the tasty food!


Swami's Cafe












Swami's Cafe, which shares the name of the beach it faces, is a wonderful place to take the family for a weekend brunch. This unparalleled breakfast place provides a variety of options - including a wide array of omelets, traditional breakfast foods, brunch/lunch options, as well as an assortment of delicious smoothies. While the line requires a wait, once you're seated the food quickly follows. The large outdoor patio provides the perfect location to enjoy the Southern California weather before hitting the beaches.

baked goods... with recipes this time!

In my attempts to expand my cooking repertoire I've mostly succeeded in the baking aspect, but what can I say... who doesn't have a sweet tooth? :) This last week I attempted at two new vegan recipes. They're better than you'd expect vegan baked goods, it's been argued by a panel of my peers that these two goodies have more flavor than your traditional recipe provides. This week I made another type of chocolate chip cookies, which were softer and sweeter than the last ones I made; I also made Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins.

Lex's Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie-Pancakes

I call these cookie-pancakes because they had a slight pancake-like texture, which is bad when they're sitting on the table when you wake up, because it makes them an even more delicious breakfast treat.

Recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup (I used maple agave syrup - if you use agave syrup I would advise you to use a little less because it makes it even sweeter, but the syrup is necessary for the binding process)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup soy milk
chocolate chips (as many as your little heart desires)

Mix this all together in a large bowl. Place batter a few inches apart on a SPRAYED cookie sheet. And then bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 mins.
Note: when you put the batter on the pan it is extremely watery & thin, don't worry the cookies raise a lot. Also, if you don't spray the pan it will take forever to remove the cookies from the cookie sheet.

Zombie Cook's Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Recipe:
2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp poppy seeds
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup soy milk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 fresh squeezed lemons (or 2 tsp lemon extract)
2 tsp vanilla or almond extract

Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, poppy seeds & salt in a large mixing bowl. (Feel free to add more poppy seeds if you'd like). Next add the wet ingredients & stir until it's all mixed together. Pour into a muffin tin. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 mins.

This makes about a dozen regular sized muffins. To get the lemon flavor just right be sure to taste the batter before you bake them - Personally I would have added more, but my roommates thought these muffins had the perfect amount of flavor.

***The best thing about vegan goodies... you can eat all the batter you like without worrying about getting sick (you might get a sugar rush tho).

Life Lessons from Books.

Eat. Pray. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert is a great book that I can only give positive reviews. However, I would advise anyone who picks it up not to rush it. It took me about a year to finish this book, not because it was a hard read, but instead of blazing through the book like usual, I savored it; letting it help me understand life. I personally believe that sometimes we stumble across books, songs, or people who are in our lives to help us find truth, clarity, acceptance or appreciation. Sometimes the most random things will teach us important life lessons. This is exactly what Eat. Pray. Love. did for me; rather than forcing myself to finish the book in one sitting I took my time and read each section with ease. By the time I finished I realized there was a direct correlation between the struggles I was facing at that time and Gilbert's struggle at that specific point in Gilbert's journey. This book is split into 3 sections - Gilbert describes it as eating her way through Italy, praying in India, and finding a balance and understanding of love in Indonesia. A wonderfully written testimony of one woman's journey to find understanding and balance in life.

Look ma... I can cook!

Back in April I couldn't even properly make mac 'n cheese without melting the spatula. But now, all that has changed; I can COOK (and bake). This summer I've taken the time to actually make full meals and put some effort into cooking rather than make a grilled cheese. I'll let you in on a little secret, most of this is vegan food - but I don't usually tell people because it freaks them out. Many people assume vegans can only eat grass and dirt, but you'd be surprised how normal a vegan diet is... pile on the fries, burgers, nuggets, shakes, cookies, cupcakes - just substitute a few ingredients.

Here are some of my creations:

Vegan burger w/ avocado and potato fries...

This was a perfect meal to celebrate the 4th of July, especially after a long day participating in a horseshoes tourney on the beach... A burger and potatoes are always a safe bet for a meal because they're so dang delicious - and it barely takes any effort or time. :)

Quinoa & Veggies
(squash & potatoes)

Quinoa is a gluten-free grain, extremely similar to couscous... It barely takes any time at all to make. And rather than using water to make the quinoa, I used vegetable broth which gave it a little more flavor. As for the vegetables, I did not have a steamer, so I put them in a frying pan with a mix of oil and water and let them cook...

Wheat Pasta and Summer Squash

It's exactly what it sounds like, make some pasta, steam some squash, add some sauce... and Ta-da! You have a wonderful hearty vegetarian/vegan meal. (I made this meal in memory of the greatest vegetable pasta dish I've ever tasted while traveling last summer in Peru... random place to have such delicious pasta, but the world is full of surprises).

Caitlyn's ALMOST Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

This was my first attempt at vegan baking... and I ALMOST succeeded. Surprisingly enough, there are a variety of substitutes that you can use instead of eggs. The one I decided to use for these cookies was soy yogurt, however I accidentally used regular yogurt, so they weren't quite vegan. Then instead of regular butter or margarine you can use the dairy-free kind. And on accident I added a little extra flavor by using Sea Salt instead of regular salt. It was a good addition, but if you do use sea salt instead or regular salt, be sure to put half the amount that is required because Sea Salt has a stronger taste. One critic described these cookies as a "food orgasm." (I'm not making this up)

Banana-Banana Bread Muffins

This is just the boxed banana bread mix from Trader Joe's, except I modified it some, even tho you only need to add 3 ingredients. Instead of eggs I used a banana as the binding force for the bread. Which makes sense because you want a banana taste anyways. And I couldn't find a bread pan, so I just used a mUffin tin and made a dozen personal size banana breads. :)

For a full list of egg substitutes you can check it out at the Post Punk Kitchen:
Egg Substitutes... Check it out!

**For the record, I am only a vegetarian, NOT a vegan. But vegan cooking is a lot easier than you'd guess**

List Fan-atic!!!

I am a habitual list-maker. I recently had some co-workers call me a "List Whore" because I am constantly making lists. Mostly I spend my time writing daily "To Do" Lists so I don't forget everything (and I have multiple copies since I have a tendency to leave them places); but other lists I have include: "What to accomplish this week", "Things to do before I die", "Things to do this Quarter" (in school - these are both personal and academically related), "Things to do this Year", and my "Books to Read" List. There are a few reasons why I love lists: one - it helps me be less forgetful, two - I try to stay organized as best I can - I'm a logical and linear thinker, the lists help me keep my hectic life in order, three - it's something to do with my hands when I'm bored so I can feel productive, & four - I think it's genetic. Let me explain this last reason; we all naturally pick up habits from people we live with, many people tend to pick up habits from parents or begin to talk in similar ways as their friends and others they spend a lot of time around. Naturally you'd assume that I grew up in a house with parents to contstantly made lists - WRONG! I recently found out that in college my dad was a constant list-maker like myself, but the past 20 years I have been completely unaware of this habit he had because my mom broke him of that habit before they had kids. I found out a few months ago when we were visiting with one of their friends from college and he asked, "Do you still constantly find tiny list scribbles on scrap pieces of paper everywhere?" Because I have been completely unaware of this old habit of his my entire life I have concluded that list-making is a genetic triat.

So why tell you about my list-making habits? Besides the fact that that's the only thing my co-workers immediately associate with me, I have recently had the pleasure of completing a task on one of my most difficult lists - I completed a book I was reading. First off, I love to read, except I never find time while I'm in school, so it's a huge accomplishment when I finish a book while in school. The book I read was The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.


I first saw this book on the best seller list at work (I work in the campus bookstore) and I read the back and was especially intriged. One of my passions is sustainability and attempting to change the world into a better place. Maybe that sounds corny and idealistic, but it is something I am truely passionate about. What drew me to this book is the idea that "little things can make a big difference." This simple line provides me with infinante amounts of hope that someday the world can be a better place, and we don't initally need large masses of people to make a difference; instead it can begin with a common passion of a select few. I actually wrote a review of this book for my Sustainable Business Practices class in which I summarized the main aspects of this book - the 3 rules: (1) The Law of the Few - Connectors, Mavens, & Salesmen, (2) The Stickiness Factor, (3) The Power of Context. Then I analyzed the relevance to the business world and the aspect of sustainability. My analysis was:

"This book was amazing. I loved that it was full of real-world facts and examples that directly related to the ideas being discussed. It provided me with a renewed sense of hope that change is possible – even if there are not masses of people following suit in the beginning, it is possible that I can make a difference in the future. The constant flow of examples provided by Gladwell is extremely informational, however is occasionally overwhelming – especially since it sometimes strays from his initial message, but he is always able to bring it full circle to make sense. This book had a great impact on me both personally and professionally. It provided as a reminder that there is hope, and change is possible; even by a select few. I feel it is sometimes discouraging to feel extremely passionate about new ways to help better our environment because at times it seems that so few people feel the same way. This book provides hope that even if there are only a few people who want to start a trend or make a difference it is possible; just remember the three rules of epidemics. Professionally, this book impacted me because it explained the best means in which to reach the public, ways in which you can influence them. I would recommend that every marketer read this book because it provides new insight on ways that we can effectively influence the publics’ opinion – we don’t need to follow the traditional means of commercials during prime time, but there are other means in which we can be even more influential. This book not only allows you to view the world and trends differently, but forces you to broaden your horizons in respects to thinking – think differently. I would recommend this book to anyone that desires to change the world – it not only gives insight in what is necessary to make an impact, but provides you with hope that you, as an individual, can make a difference."

I'm extremely excited I read this book, but it's too bad that in the last week I've completed one book on my list, yet I've added 5 others to my list. Oh well, it's never bad to continue to expand your mind.

I'm back... with a spark

You would never guess that you could light your cheese grater on fire while attempting to boil water... but it is definitely possible. I was trying to boil water for pasta and I left the room for a few minutes and then I heard a popping sound and thought the water might be boiling, but to my surprise the cheese grater handle was on fire!!! It was on the stove, too close to the flame and caught fire and began to melt against the pot. Luckily I checked on my water when I did, and at least this time the fire was kept small. This was not monumental, but yet another fire story for my house...It looks like my cheese grater grew a tail... haha


On the other hand, I know it's been a couple months since I last posted anything - sorry. My excuses are lame too, basically winter quarter was overwhelming and I got caught up in too much school and work. But now spring has arrived and I'm starting fresh and new.

As a warning to all, I am currently taking a course on Sustainable Business Practices and one of my passions is sustainability. So many posts to follow may follow the theme of sustainability become extremely informative and opinionated - focusing on how humans are destroying our planet and what changes can be made in our daily lives.

Top 5 Commercials

While reading Advertising Age the other day I stumbled across the Creativity's Top 5 Commercials from the first week of 2009. These commercials are from different parts of the world, so it was impossible for me to see them all before watching this video.

Watch the video at:

http://adage.com/brightcove/lineup.php?lineup=1442790036&title=6963187001

They began with #5 which was a commercial for Audi. It depicted a drawing of a man moving around the box shaping it into a car. I felt it was creative because it was impossible to tell what the guy was doing for over 30 seconds. Finally it begins to hint that it is being shaped into a car. One issue I had with this commercial was the length of it; it seemed to take too long to reach it's intended point. However, it was created to be shown in the UK, not the US. I liked the fact that it takes thinking and it draws the viewer in because they are unsure of what is actually happening with this box.

Number 4 was Gatorade's new commercial "What's G?" I greatly enjoyed watching this commercial, but I wish I had seen it on TV first. The reason I wish I'd seen it on TV is because they do not tell you what "G" is. Lil' Wayne implies it with the wording, but they never show the product, only the logo at the very end. I feel this is an effective beginning to a new campaign because it makes people think. Those who have seen the new packaging or athletes that know their products may know what this commercial was implying, but I feel there is a decent percentage of the population who was merely confused by what's being advertised. The commercial was classy and simple. Having still footage of the athletes scroll across the page with Lil' Wayne's voice over explaining the traits of athletes that drink Gatorade. The commercial simply ends with the new "G" Gatorade symbol, but no picture or extra copy about the product.

I did not particularly like the commercial in spot #3. Again, it was too long for my taste, seeing I'm use to super short commercials being from the US. Although I thought it was interesting I didn't exactly understand why the man was fighting with himself. Is it suppose to relate to the consumers' struggle on whether or not they should purchase the car? I also felt had too much of an action scene or movie feel for a commercial. I do believe I would have enjoyed the commercial more if the fighting scene resulted in the assembly of the car, but by the end of the commercial I felt lost and confused.

The commercial that made the #2 spot was a trailer for a movie/documentary that comes out in Spring 2009. I found it interesting and it definitely captured my attention. But I did not realize that it was a movie trailer until the end of it. It definitely gave off a different vibe than a typical movie trailer - I almost feel that I would have paid better attention to it if I knew it was a trailer from the beginning because the whole time I was watching it I thought it was a product advertisement, so I was analyzing it more than absorbing the information they were giving us about the film. But I certainly am interested in that film now, and I hope I see more advertisements as the spring approaches.

The #1 commercial for the beginning of 2009 was Virgin Airlines' 25th Anniversary commercial. I thought it was cool how they had the commercial take place back in 1984, which is when the airline began. And I felt the commercial was definitely captivating. However, I feel that in the U.S. there would be a decent percentage of people who found this commercial degrading to women because it greatly focused on the stunning beauty of the stewardesses as they walked through the terminal. One effective attribute when producing a commercial is focusing on sexual appeal without being too obvious, and this commercial definitely succeeded at this. While this was a good commercial, it was not my favorite out of these 5. I definitely enjoyed Gatorade's "What's G?" commercial the best.

As the new year begins...

It has been a little over a week into 2009 and it seems to already be flying by. Hopefully that means there is a lot of fun and excitement ahead. I kicked off the new year with friends – we spent 4 days hanging and bonding at a friend’s house while doing activities like: hiking, crafts, going to a giant trampoline place, broom ball, dance parties, and a photo scavenger hunt. My favorite parts of this trip, besides becoming closer with everyone, were playing broom ball and the photo scavenger hunt in downtown Santa Cruz. I was also excited because I got a few really cool photos from doing the scavenger hunt.

This photo was used as our "creative"/tie-breaker photo. While we were wondering around we came across this giant green shed, with some mail boxes that were also painted green next to it. I took this picture from the street while everyone else climbed up. I love how this pictured turned out because I didn't even need to alter the photograph at all. When we showed our picture for the judging of the scavenger hunt contest everyone commented on how it looked like a posed band photograph.