Youthful Sybarite

Wise Words from Monty Python

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Tonight, during my family's daily ritual of watching a movie together, I received the best words of wisdom I've heard in a while. They were also from the most unexpected source I could think of: a Monty Python movie! Whilst finishing the film Life of Brian, the film's cast began to sing a song I've heard and always known the words to, yet never known where it actually came from: "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life!"

Today, I just wanted to remind everyone of this. If you saw my last post (over two weeks ago, oopsie!) you'll know that I was getting a bit bogged down by the new looming school year. Daunted by the thought of actually having to use my brain after three months of it rotting (basically), I spent the first two weeks of school freaking out, to say the least. I didn't write anything down and thus spent each night frantically running through my mind's recollection of the day's events, searching for some hint of a teacher mentioning if we had homework that night. And the normal cycle of procrastination began again, although this time it was scheduled to be so: 'instead of wasting my time trying to do the math homework I don't understand, I'll ask my teacher the bits I don't get in the morning!'

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that we always need to remember to look on the bright side of life! Although it may sound cheesy, it's a pretty good rule to live by. No matter how bad of a situation you think you're in, there's always a bright side to it. I failed my test? Well, now there's room for improvement!! (ok, bad example) Some tips for getting through work or school, although I'm not the best source:

1. Don't get bogged down by tasks you're assigned. Take everything step by step. Then, when you finish each bit of your project, you'll feel more accomplished and motivated to continue! One thing that helps me is to write a little checklist of these steps and check them off as I complete them.

2. This goes hand in hand with step 1: Don't be a procrastinator! Although I profess to be one, I generally get my work done on time, if not early. The key to this is what I mentioned earlier: instead of putting off the easy stuff, get that done first! Then you feel accomplished, blah blah (see above). However, if you completely don't get something after an hour of trying to do it, just accept that you don't know how on your own. Don't freak out and start crying (from experience) - just ASK someone! Whether it's your mom, your best friend, your teacher or Google (you know you have), someone will have the answers. Trying over and over to get the answer that's out of your reach will just stress you out more. That is to say, don't just ask for the answers either. Whoever you've gone to for help, ask them how to do what it is you don't understand. That way, next time you won't go through the same ordeal or freaking out over a complicated math problem. (yep, experience) Remember: your teachers, parents, and friends are there to support and help you, and even if you don't know the answer, chances are someone else will.

3. Have fun! Work and school can get pretty boring and stressful. That's what weekends are for! Or even just the couple of hours you have once in a while to watch a movie and relax. Remember to work hard, because it will definitely pay off, but don't overwork. Remember to play as well. The fun will satisfy your need for a break and you'll feel more relaxed and refreshed when you go back to your office or school. It's better to return to your work with a clear head, instead of a perpetually stressed one. Call your friends for a movie night or go out to dinner. Or just stay at home and watch romantic comedies in your PJs with some popcorn in your lap. Take a break once in a while- you deserve it.

4. Always look on the bright side. No matter how bad you feel, there's always a good side to it. And if you're going through tough times, know that once you work out your current issues, there will be a clean slate waiting for you on the other side. Wake up every morning with a positive attitude and continue on with your life with optimism! You never know what's just around the corner.

So, that's my two cents for tonight. Hope you guys found this helpful. I'll be taking my own advice, starting with this week. I'll let you know how it turns out!

xx Elena

Warning: language! and silly humor ;)

School? NOOO!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:46:00 +0000

So... I've accepted it. My junior year of high school officially starts tomorrow morning, bright and early. I'm not too worried - I finished all of my summer homework (I know...) and bought all of my school supplies. But I frankly have no idea how I am going to wake up at six o'clock in the morning and go to school and... do things. With my brain. My summer has been an endless stream of late morning wake-ups, watching TV, and taking a nap, watching TV, and then going to sleep to start the cycle again. But I suppose that's what happens when your brain is left to rot for three months with no mental stimulation available!

Today, I "got ready" for school, treating myself to a foot spa (those calluses had to go), some painted nails & toenails (via the Elena salon housed in my bedroom), a face mask, and some of those pore-cleansing nose & forehead strips that make you look like a complete weirdo :) Not really any reason for any of these spa day activities except that A) I didn't want to look like a hobo when I arrived at the 7-hour-a-day social gathering that is high school and B) it feels nice to pamper!

Anyway, to anyone reading this who's going back to school soon, don't fear. It's a brand new, never been opened fresh start! Make new friends, try out a new style, learn new things... This is your chance to make this year whatever you want it to be.

x Elena

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 23:21:00 +0000

Hello, everyone! Sorry about not posting for a couple of weeks. I've been quite busy getting ready for school and felt a lack of inspiration of what to write about, to be honest. But I decided that I'd do a blog post today with one of my family's favorite dessert recipes :) I'll be posting again soon with a yummy brownie recipe. I can't take total credit for these recipes as they've been tried and tested by my mom and sister as well as myself, but they're proven to be delicious!!

For the full recipe, scroll down past the pictures :)

0.5 cup butter, 0.5 cup brown sugar, 0.5 cup sugar, 1 egg, 0.5 tsp vanilla, 1.25 cup oatmeal, 1 cup flour, 0.5 tsp salt, 0.5 tsp baking soda, 0.5 tsp baking powder, 6 oz semisweet chocolate chips


Cream together butter, brown sugar, and sugar in a mixing bowl.

Watch it swirl!

Try a teensy weensy (or not...) bit of the delicious buttery sugary goodness!

Add egg and vanilla and beat well.

Pour the oatmeal into a blender...

...and grind away!

It should be a medium coarseness - not too fine or chunky.

Mix the flour, oatmeal, salt, baking soda, and baking powder together in a medium bowl.

Add to butter mixture and blend.

Can you resist it?

Add chocolate chips and mix well.

Roll into golf-sized balls and place on a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet.

Bake at 375F for 8-12 minutes, switching pans halfway through cooking time to ensure even baking.

Remove when golden but slightly underdone-looking and let cool on cookie sheets. They will continue to cook on the cookie sheets, so resist the urge to leave them in the oven until they look completely done. If you do, they may look crispy, but they will be hard as rocks!

Try your best not to eat them all in one sitting...

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup oatmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
6 oz semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F (180°C). Cream together butter, brown sugar, and sugar in a mixing bowl. Taste and savor the sugary buttery goodness. Add egg and vanilla to sugar and beat well. Grind oatmeal in blender. In medium bow, mix oatmeal, flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to creamed ingredients. Add chocolate chips to dough and distribute evenly. Roll dough into golf ball sized balls and bake 6-10 minutes. Let cool completely on cookie sheets. Makes approx. 25 delicious cookies.

I hope you guys enjoy trying out this delicious recipe! I find the baking bit to be (almost) just as fun as eating the final creation. Don't eat them all at once! :)

Elena

PS. If you attempt this recipe, tell me in the comments! x

Summer Movie Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:50:00 +0000

This summer, my parents and I went to see a few movies together. We picked the ones that were highly anticipated and that we thought would be pretty good. Thankfully, we were right! All of them were great and I'd highly recommend seeing them while they're still in theatres, or at least when they're out on DVD. No spoilers ahead, just overall opinions of the films!

The Amazing Spider-Man

This movie was very well made. A good length, it kept you entertained throughout. If I can (not to offend any Tobey Macguire lovers), I'd say that this film version of the Spider-man story was much more enjoyable to watch than the 2003 trilogy. Firstly, better actors and better on-screen chemistry between the two lead actors. Also, the stunts were just as exciting. A few things varied: this new film sticks to the comic book storyline of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy as high school lovers, instead of Peter and Mary-Jane Watson in the earlier adaptation. I liked that the filmmakers wanted to stay true to the original story. Overall, if you can look past the slightly cheesy Lizard as the movie's antagonist, it's a pretty good movie. I'd say get it on DVD if you're interested and watch in theatres if you enjoy high action films on the big screen!

The Dark Knight Rises

The third installment of Chris Nolan's Batman trilogy was everything I expected it to be! Great storyline, better actors, and awesome and huge stunts. The plot keeps you pretty engaged throughout the almost-3-hour-long film (yeah), however the only thing was that in the middle of the movie, there was a bit of lag. However, by the end, it picks back up with some unexpected plot twists. Christian Bale was great, as usual, with some amazing performances from Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Marion Cotillard. Anne Hathaway surprised me - I didn't think she'd be a good Catwoman, but she pulled it off! I'd definitely see this movie if you're a fan of the series anyway, because this is by far the best film of the trilogy. If you're only partly interested, get it on DVD so you can take a break in the middle to rest from this extremely long film. Highly recommended if you like a great story and better action.

Brave

My mom was the one who really wanted to see this film, and her enthusiasm caught on to me. We went to see it this morning, and it was amazing! This is probably my favorite Disney film, most likely because it's not based on a fairy tale. It defies all of the Disney stereotypes: dead/evil mother, weak heroine, prince coming to save his princess, etc. The main character, Merida, fends for herself like a true heroine! She's brave. I won't give anything away, but it's a great family story, more about the connection between Merida and her parents and her dreams vs. what they want for her. Great animation, great story. Also, this film isn't just for the little ones! I think everyone would enjoy it; it's funny, cute, and, at times, it's guaranteed to make you tear up. Whatever you do, watch it!!

Well, hopefully this helped you guys decide which movies might be fun to watch during this long summer.

I'll be doing a short post next week reviewing The Bourne Legacy, as I've made plans to see it with my sister when she comes home :)

Elena

Mini Hair Post

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:48:00 +0000

I love experimenting with new hairstyles! Today I tried out this one, from The Beauty Department website. Although the whole braiding-while-your-head-is-upside-down thing takes getting used to, I think after a few tries it will look much better! Definitely worth checking out if you want to liven up a regular old ballerina bun :)

Have fun braiding!
Elena

This Week So Far

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 02:44:00 +0000

We began our highly eventful (hah!) week on Saturday with a trip to a mall about 50 minutes away in order to... wait for it... go to H&M. Because the mall in question is one of only two malls in the Houston area to actually have an H&M. I know. It's practically a crime! Born a European, and being half-Spanish and all, I almost feel like it's in my blood.

On our last trip to Europe, which only ended a couple of weeks ago, I really began my obsession with this seemingly ordinary clothing store. I suppose it's because I consider to be a more well-organized, more European-style-oriented (obviously) store than our American version, Forever 21. Going into that store is like... a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gon' get. (because it's just that messy and if you find a shirt you like that's too big/small, good luck trying to find your size) Anyway, we went to this mall, and I ~~went~~ glided into my dream store, and I bought some beautiful shirts, and then... we abruptly left, ending my dream... And proceeded into Aldo, where they have some ridiculously amazing sales going on! I bought a pair of boat-type sneakerish shoes for just $14.

My mother and I wandered around a bit until finding my dad in the Apple store engrossed in discussion with one of their employees about the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Sounds amazing right? Until we found out that it has no CD drive (but you can buy it separately for a mere $79! eh-heh.) and you can't add extra storage space since that's custom-built into the computer, etc etc. I believe it would take a bit (understatement) more convincing for me and my parents to switch over to Apple or something. It's just not the same as good 'ol Dell/Microsoft/Windows (which one was it again?).

Our eventful week continued on Sunday, when we went out to the more local social/shopping center! We watched The Amazing Spider-Man, which was quite amazing, if I do say so myself. If Andrew Garfield isn't the ultimate piece of eye candy, show me who is! Anyway, just go see it for yourself, you will not regret it! After this, we went to my favorite restaurant of all time: Thai Cottage. We've probably been going here for about 12 years, basically since we came to the US, and it has stayed great all that time! My favorite dish is the Cashew Chicken Delight; I get it number 4 spicy (out of 5). Yummy! If you're in Houston, I definitely recommend checking it out. The restaurant has 7 different locations in the Houston/south Texas area. The food is delicious and the price is extremely reasonable! More info can be found at their website here.

Thai Cottage's newly redesigned menus!

Cashew Chicken Delight: My regular order.

You're offered either soup or salad with vinegar or peanut dressing as an appetizer when you order their lunch special. Each comes with one of their crispy vegetable rolls. Here's the salad with peanut dressing - yummy!

Instead of soup or salad, I always ask for two "crispy rolls" as an appetizer, which come with extra sweet and sour sauce! Another great thing about Thai Cottage: they accommodate to your requests.

My #4 spicy Cashew Chicken delight lunch special! Delicious.

One of mom's regular orders: Pad Thai Lunch Special with #1 spice and only tofu.

Mom and papa :)

Since the weekend, my week has been highly uneventful, unfortunately. For three days, I've been attending a prep course for an exam, and the class is both highly boring and highly unhelpful. The teachers seem underqualified for this particular summer course, and I'm pretty sure I could teach the class better than they could! But, it was given to me for free, so I figured I might as well take it, in the hopes that it could actually help to improve my performance on the exam. Tonight I also attended a college talk from Brown, MIT, and Yale about admissions and college life at their campuses. However, with such a high price tag and the promise of "absolutely no merit-based scholarships", it's unlikely that I'll be attending the Ivy Leagues anytime soon! No need to worry about college too much yet though, if I do enough research, something good is bound to come my way :) (or I'll just have to make it come my way)

Elena

YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:39:00 +0000

A year ago, my sister and I decided to start a YouTube channel to express our love for music! We post acoustic covers of songs we love every couple of weeks. Check it out if you'd like :) x Elena

Summer Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:23:00 +0000

This summer I definitely needed some good music to keep me going. I recently returned from a trip to Europe. Because we wanted to see lots of different little towns around Germany, Switzerland and France, we ended up spending a good deal of our time driving around, sometimes hours at a time! The following playlist was a good way to keep us awake and focused, as well as having (as much) fun (as possible) while driving - the perfect mixture of calm and energetic!

Mount Rigi in Luzerne, Switzerland.

iTunes US links attached where available.

Listen to the entire playlist on Spotify (for free!) here.

Elena x