Hellooo busy elves, I know we are almost 10 days into December, and I see you peering anxiously this way, wondering if a holiday gift guide is coming. You are all so kind and polite, but I hear your tiptoe footsteps and your ever-so-gentle taps on the window.

I know December is always a sprint, so without further delay, here are this year’s ideas. I hope they help cross items off your long lists and bring a bit of delight to this holiday season.

Picasso Tiles

Longtime readers know I’ve been obsessed with Magna-Tiles since discovering these colorful magnetic building shapes back in 2011. Popularity always draws imitators, and now there are Picasso Tiles, an excellent knockoff for a fraction of the cost of the originals. A set of 100 Magna-Tiles will set you back $120, but Picasso Tiles offers a 100-tile set for just $31 at Amazon, or a 60-tile set for $20.

AirTag/Tile Keychains

I got my kids AirTags last Christmas to keep track of backpacks and/or luggage, but the trackers are tiny and slippery to have loose. I’m loving these faux-leather keychains that can hold an AirTag or Tile tracker. They can hook to a bag, or even to a favorite water bottle. The fruit shapes are my favorite ($9 at Amazon) but they also have animal and flower designs.

Silly Walks Clock

No one needs a wall clock in the digital age, but retro is back and this whimsical wall clock ($23 at Amazon) serves as functional nostalgia as well as providing lighthearted hilarity. Old-school Monty Python fans will particularly appreciate the reference to a favorite skit as the buttoned-up businessman stretches his legs in all directions throughout the day.

Carhartt Carabiner Keychain

Carabiner keychains ($11 at Amazon in Carhartt’s Rain Defender weatherproof nylon or leather) are particularly handy for kids with backpacks or dads with belt loops. Carhartt, a family-owned workwear company that dates back to 1889, is having a fashion moment with its durable, low-fuss designs.

Carhartt Beanie 

Count me in on the Carhartt bandwagon, I’m a sucker for high-value form plus function. I also love a good beanie in the winter, and these ($20 at Amazon) get great reviews for durability and style. I like how they are tall enough to slouch, which I find to be more flattering on my head than a form-fitting beanie.

Carhartt Ball Cap

These soft twill ball caps ($20 at Amazon) get high marks for fabric, comfort and fit, and they come in a bunch of great colors. But there are some complaints on Amazon of people receiving hats that seem like returns in less-than-pristine condition. So I would recommend ordering early and checking quality for gift giving. The convenience of online shopping has its drawbacks.

Carhartt Weatherproof Hip Pack

This weatherproof bag ($32 at Amazon), which can be worn around the waist or as a crossbody, is popular with hikers, bikers and outdoor workers who are looking for high durability and convenience. It’s sturdy, well sized and comes in a number of colors.

The Defining Decade

I really like this book by clinical psychologist Meg Jay ($12 at Amazon) for 20-somethings. Parents sometimes think nostalgically about the freedom of the 20s, but the flip side of wide-open spaces is the anxiety of feeling untethered. Jay encourages young adults to think proactively about what is important to them so that they don’t incrementally end up somewhere they didn’t mean to go. It’s common sense advice and empathetic encouragement to start with tiny steps in a positive direction. (Jay also has a 2013 TEDTalk that followed the publication of the book.)

Cell Phone Stand

This compact cell phone stand ($9 at Amazon) is a very handy accessory for Zoom workers, remote-learning students and grandparents. It folds down for travel and storage, but it has a nice weight that will hold a phone or iPad securely for easy viewing.

Slide and Film Viewer

There’s a whole generation’s worth of 35mm negatives and slides sitting in attics and basements. It can be expensive to digitize them all, but it’s also important not to lose those family memories. This USB-powered viewer ($28 at Amazon) makes it possible to look at those old images and see which ones are worth keeping. I’m also envisioning a fun activity at Christmas for the younger generation to see the good old days (and laugh at the 1970s hair and clothes).

Balsam Fir Candle

Ever since I got an artificial Christmas tree a few years ago, I’m forever hunting for pine-scented candles. I’ve been less than pleased until this year’s balsam fir candle from Quince ($24, or $20 if you buy two or more), which has as good a Christmas tree scent as I have found so far.

Spiced Noel Candle

Another holiday winner, the spiced noel candle from Quince ($24, or $20 if you buy two or more) is also pine-scented but has the addition of festive spices and citrus. I’m not into perfume-y scents in the house, but this one has a lovely realistic mix of Christmas tree and mulled cider.

English Rose Candle

This English rose scented candle from Quince ($24, or $20 each if you buy two or more) won me over with its amazing true rose scent. Even my mom, an avid gardener, agrees that it smells just like fresh roses.

Faux Flowers

I never buy cut flowers – probably some combination of being too practical, too frugal and not girly. Also the dying nature of cut flowers is always kind of sad to me. But fake flowers have gotten so good in recent years, I decided this year to give them a try. And I actually love the white peonies I purchased from Nearly Naturals ($88; currently 25% off with code GIFT). I was cracking myself up all year, because people were always convinced that the flowers were real, I think partly influenced by the Quince rose candle I had strategically placed near the flowers.

For those who love a pop of color, these pink hydrangeas by Nearly Naturals are a great deal at Costco ($30 after current $10 off promotion).

Candle Warmer Lamp

I think part of the reason I never bought candles before is that they seem to burn down quickly, and good ones are quite expensive. This year I discovered the existence of candle warming lamps ($23 at Amazon), which heat the wax with a warm bulb from above. They are perfect for getting full use of candles whose wicks are too low to burn but still have plenty of wax left. They are also great for allowing candle usage in rooms where you’d rather not have an open flame (eg bedrooms for kids or elderly). The little candle lamp gives a sweet warming glow that is especially nice during these days of short daylight.

Just keep in mind that the lamp will melt the wax pretty evenly, which may mess up your wick. So it’s better to save the lamp for candles whose wicks are already used up from burning, or you can of course just dedicate a candle for sole use with the lamp.

Gilette Venus Travel Razor

For a traveling girl, this mini travel razor ($10 at Amazon) is a cute way to save a little space. I’m paranoid about lost luggage, so I only travel with a carry-on, and anything that improves my packing efficiency is a win.

Sleep Mask with Eye Padding

Another great travel companion is this sleep mask which has soft foam padding around the eyes ($15 at Amazon). Very comfortable and reduces pressure on the face (and sleep lines). Also great for light-sensitive sleepers with bright-morning bedrooms.

TravelPro Maxlite 5

Clamshell suitcases are all the rage these days, but not everyone likes having two shallow compartments for packing instead of one deep one. My husband finally approved of this TravelPro 21″ carry-on ($145 at Amazon), which has spinner wheels, a single packing compartment and, unlike the clamshell suitcases, an outer pocket for easy access and/or last-minute packing additions. TravelPro is a longtime manufacturer of luggage for flight crews and is well rated by frequent travelers.

Terracotta brown sugar softener

I don’t bake as much as I used to, and sometimes my brown sugar dries out into a rock. This year I tried out these little clay discs to keep the brown sugar soft ($8 at Amazon). You soak them in water and keep them in the brown sugar container, where they release enough moisture to keep the sugar from hardening. Every couple of months you need to give them a soak to refresh, but it’s a small price to pay for not having to buy a new bag of brown sugar every time you need it. A good stocking stuffer for your favorite baker.

Rishi Peppermint Tea

Is it a sign of age that I no longer drink caffeine in the evenings? I’ve been drinking peppermint tea for ages, but this exceptionally delicious one by Rishi ($12 for 4 ounce bag at Amazon) is noticeably better than the rest. I bought a box of 50 tea bags, but next time I would buy the loose leaf.

Yogi Chai Rooibos Tea

Rooibos is beautifully red herbal tea from southern Africa that has become popular for its taste and natural lack of caffeine. I really like this spiced version from Yogi, with cinnamon and cardamom, ($17 for 4-pack on Amazon; or you may find it at your local store). I love it with milk and a bit of sugar, like real chai.

Roasted Dandelion Root Tea

Dandelion root is an herbal remedy that actually tastes good too. I drink it for the mellow roasted taste – coffee drinkers may like it more than other herbal teas – but it also has added health benefits for digestion and detox. The roasting really makes the tea ($5 at Amazon).

Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea

As a gift, I really like this dragon pearl jasmine tea by Harney & Sons ($23 for 4 oz tin at Amazon). It comes in a cute tin, and the fragrant jasmine-scented green tea leaves, curled up in tiny balls, always feel special. As the leaves steep in hot water, they unfurl beautifully into long tea leaves. It’s an experience, also because breathing in the scent is as enjoyable as drinking the delicate tea.

Fine Mesh Tea Strainer

Much has been written about tea bags and microplastics, so I’ve taken to pouring out a tea bag into a tea strainer before steeping. I like how this mesh strainer ($10 for 1 at Amazon or $16 for two) has a little hook for easy removal from the cup or pot. And it can sit down in the bottom of the vessel for steeping, instead of the kinds of tea strainers that hold the leaves at the top.

Insulated French Press

I’ve recommended these before, but I can’t recommend teas without recommending (again) my favorite way of making tea: the insulated french press ($28 at Amazon), which keeps the tea nice and hot for a while. I almost always make a pot rather than a cup, because I’ll keep drinking it all day.

***

Phew that’s my not-very-organized list for this year. Here’s to not letting perfect be the enemy of good enough! Love to you all, and happy gift hunting!

The post Holiday gift ideas 2025 appeared first on chinese grandma.

I love that many of you come back here at Thanksgiving time, year after year, to look up fave Thanksgiving recipes, to schedule out your prep with my Thanksgiving planning guide, to see how much salt to rub into the bird, and when (today for me – I’m late!). I do the same myself.

It’s kind of funny, isn’t it, how we’re old friends here, from the long-lost glory days of food blogs. Way back in the day when scrolling through low-res food porn from people’s actual homes was our online excitement. So quaint and wholesome.

Back in 2012, I wrote in my Thanksgiving meal planning post,

“Thanksgiving, with its focus on gratitude and a generous meal with loved ones, is easily my favorite holiday of the year. In contrast with the frenzied, materialistic rush that Christmas has become, Thanksgiving is a day to slow down and be grateful for all that we have (at least until Black Friday sales start at midnight).”

Hilarious. Now Black Friday sales start the minute Halloween ends. My kids scroll through 20 TikTok videos in the time it would have taken to read a blog post in the old days. Sometimes I’m not sure if we’re swimming in abundance or being blasted with a firehose.

In complex times, I’m increasingly focused on simplicity. I try to be smarter about where I put my effort for Thanksgiving so that I can be a more relaxed, engaged participant, not harried family caterer. I’m more aware of the preciousness of these gatherings. The older generation is getting more frail. The younger generation now drops in from college for a too-brief holiday visit. A meal with everyone together is a rare event to celebrate and cherish. I remind myself to slow down.

These days, my streamlined Thanksgiving employs the slow cooker for stuffing and the Instant Pot for autopilot mashed potatoes. Stashing the stuffing in the Crock Pot frees up valuable oven space, and I’m able to make the dish and cross it off my prep list much earlier in the day. Mashed potatoes are still one of the last dishes to be completed, but I can cut the potatoes, cover them with water, and set the pressure cooker aside until I hit the start button hours later for hands-free cooking. I pour out the water and then do a quick hand mash in the Instant Pot bowl with butter, hot milk, salt and pepper. Usually I’ll just leave the two dishes in their appliances for serving, which helps keep them warm.

I admit I still have a high bar for real food, and I resist trading convenience for health. But I’m trying to give myself more breathing room. For years my whole family would head out Thanksgiving morning without me to play flag football with several families, good friends and their kids. I always stayed home to cook. But the last couple years I’ve done my morning prep, including the Instant Pot and the slow cooker, and left home to socialize and watch the fun from the Turkey Bowl sidelines.

We’re particularly excited for this year’s game, which will be a reunion of core players on the Turkey Bowl roster who all went to college this fall. I will be there. I know I can’t slow time, but I’m trying to stretch the experience of my life by giving more attention to the present.

I still like the idea of cooking potatoes in their skins, but I decided on Thanksgiving I can’t deal with the last-minute peeling before mashing. So I’m back to peeling before cooking.

The pressure cooker technically doesn’t need a ton of water, but I fill just to the top of the potatoes.

Then I set them to the side until close to the end, when the turkey’s out and I’m going to make gravy and carve the bird.

In the meantime, dried bread cubes get tossed with celery and onions cooked with butter and herbs.

Bread stuffing for a crowd was one of my early recipes in 2010. I still make it this way.

Three pounds of bread conveniently fits well in the large Crock Pot I inherited from my mom. Start it on high for 30 minutes, then cook for 3-4 hours on low.

Then stuffing’s off my mind until it’s ready to eat.

The main risk is burning the bottom of the stuffing. I set my alarm earlier now to make sure I check it. You can also stir the stuffing once during the day for more even cooking, but I like the browned outside of letting it cook undisturbed.

This is my actual Thanksgiving spread, with small appliances and a mess of dishes from me, my mom and my brothers. It’s not ready for TikTok, that’s for sure. But for us it’s bliss.

Sending love to you all this holiday season. I am appreciating all that is good and nourishing this Thanksgiving, including each one of you, and your presence here with me. Happy turkey day to all!

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Cooking mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot turns this classic comfort food into a hands-free enterprise that can cook reliably and independently while you do other work. A Thanksgiving timesaver. 

Ingredients

• 3 pounds of potatoes, peeled and halved/quartered (large potatoes like Russet/Idaho probably need to be quartered, but halving is fine for smaller potatoes like Yukon Gold)
• Water to cover
• 1 teaspoon salt for cooking, plus 1 teaspoon for mashing
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 3/4 to 1 1/2 cup milk, heated (less milk makes a denser mash; I like more milk for a lighter texture – also the mash will stiffen as it sits, so I advise adding a bit more milk than you think you need)
• Sour cream or greek yogurt, optional (adds a nice subtle tang)
• Garlic powder to taste, optional

Preparation

1. Add potatoes to Instant Pot and just enough water to cover. Add a teaspoon of salt to the water. If making ahead, you can just let the potatoes sit until you are ready to cook.
2. Cover the instant pot securely and make sure the pressure vent is closed. Cook the potatoes on high for 8-10 minutes (8 should be fine but 10 will give you extra cover if your potato chunks are large). When finished, manually release the pressure valve (you can put a kitchen towel over the vent to contain the steam) or let it release gradually if you aren’t in a hurry.
3. Drain the water from the potatoes and add the potatoes back to the pot.
4. Add butter, salt and pepper and mash the potatoes with a hand masher, potato ricer or fork until the butter is melted. Add warm milk in batches (you don’t want cold milk cooling your mashed potatoes), continuing to mash, until the potatoes are the consistency you like. Taste and add salt/pepper as needed.
5. Cover loosely with lid to keep warm until ready to serve. Garnish with a pat of butter and/or chopped chives/parsley if desired.

Notes

• Yukon Gold potatoes are thin-skinned enough that you can get away without peeling if you don’t mind a little more texture in your mash.
• If you don’t have milk, you can also save a cup of the cooking water (after the potatoes are cooked) to use instead.
• Plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person.
• For 6-8 people: 3 lbs potatoes, 4 tablespoons butter, 1 to 1 1/2 cups milk.
• For 10-15 people: 5 lbs of potatoes; 6 tablespoons butter, 1 1/2 to 2 cups milk.

Here’s the link to a printable version.

***

Bread Stuffing for a Crowd (udpated!)

I find it easier to cook the turkey unstuffed – cooks faster and more predictably. This is stuffing at its simplest – bread, celery, onion, herbs, with enough broth to hold it together. The eggs in this recipe compensate for the moistness the stuffing would get cooked inside the bird. It’s important to dry the bread out ahead of time so that the broth and herbs can be absorbed into the bread cubes. Adapted from Cooks Illustrated, “Classic bread stuffing for a crowd,” February 2005.

NOTE: Cooking stuffing in a slow cooker is a great time- and oven-saver. It allows the stuffing to be crossed off the list much earlier in the day. 

Ingredients

• 3 pounds high-quality sandwich bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and dried (see step 1)
• 12 tablespoons butter
• 4 medium ribs celery, chopped fine (about 2 cups)
• 2 medium onions, minced (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves (optional)
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 5 cups chicken stock or low-sodium canned chicken broth
• 4 large eggs, beaten lightly

Directions

1. Dry bread cubes ahead of time. To let them go stale naturally, leave out on rimmed baking sheets or put in a clean brown paper bags and toss occasionally. To dry in oven, place bread cubes on rimmed baking sheets and bake at 300 degrees F for 30 to 60 minutes. Let cool before using. Transfer to a very large mixing bowl.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (if cooking in oven; see notes below for slow cooker method).
3. Heat butter in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the celery and onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in herbs, salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Add the cooked vegetables to the bread cubes.
4. Gradually add stock or broth to the mixture and toss gently to distribute dry and wet ingredients evenly. You’ll want enough broth to soften the bread cubes but not so much that they fall apart into mush. Taste to adjust seasonings if necessary. Add beaten eggs and stir to mix. Turn mixture into buttered 15″x10″ baking dish (or slow cooker pot).
5. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until golden, about 25 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 16.

Notes

• Slow cooker method: You’ll need a 7-8 quart slow cooker for the full recipe. Cook for on high for 30 minutes, then 3-4 hours on low. Stir it once halfway for more even cooking, or if you like the crustier outside you can just let it cook through (just check an hour or so before it’s done to make sure it’s not getting too brown).
• Herb shortcut: if you can find Bell’s Seasoning in your supermarket (a cute yellow box with a turkey on it), it’s a one stop shop of fine ground herbs (rosemary, oregano, sage, ginger and marjoram) that you can use in place of the sage, thyme and marjoram in the recipe. Add to taste, a tablespoon or so.
• I often use light-textured whole wheat bread for 1/3 or 1/2 the bread cubes (don’t do this with a dense, heavy bread). No one ever notices.
• You can substitute three 14-ounce bags of plain dried bread cubes for the homemade dried bread cubes, but you’ll need to increase the amount of chicken broth to 7 cups.
• This recipe can easily be halved and baked in a 13″x9″ baking dish for a smaller crowd.
• The stuffing can be assembled in the baking dish, then wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. To bake, let the stuffing stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and bake.
• Leave out the eggs if you want to cook the stuffing inside the turkey.

Here’s the link to a printable version: Bread stuffing for a crowd.

The post Instant Pot mashed potatoes & slow-cooker stuffing appeared first on chinese grandma.

If I could give a message to high school seniors and their parents, I would tell them that a college choice (or a non-college choice) is not a report card on 13 years of education or 18 years of parenting. There is no final judgment. As with every stage of life, the key is finding the right fit for the next stage of personal development. It’s not about what sounds good to your friends and relatives. It’s about what is going to help you grow and thrive.

I’m finishing my third round of this process as a parent of a graduating senior, and I have some hard-earned lessons I hope can help other soon-to-be grads and their nervously hovering parents through what seems like a monumental decision: Where next?

The right answer all comes down to fit. What culture, environment and people are the right fit for you? How to evaluate the vibe of different campuses? How to know where you will feel at home and find your people?

I can’t give you answers. But I can give you resources and tips to help you through what can seem like a perplexing and fateful decision. This is real life, so there is no perfect: every choice has its trade-offs. The best you can do is to do your research and make the choice that is best aligned with what is important to you.

Bottom line, there are two parts to this process: 1) what are differences among my college options and 2) what is important to me in my college experience?

There’s a tendency at the end of this painful process to give a hasty yes to the highest-ranked college you get into (i.e. the one that sounds most impressive to others). I don’t recommend this approach, any more than I recommend choosing an employer based on job title or a life partner based on their resume. You will be living at this campus with these people for four years. It’s worth taking a pause to evaluate whether day-to-day reality of it is a good fit for you.

Don’t rush the choice. You have until May 1 to decide. Getting to the values part of this equation is digging in to who you are. I know you are worn out by the process and just want it to be over. But being an admitted student is the fun part. You are no longer desperately (but trying not to sound desperate) begging for approval. They chose YOU. Let them tell you what they have to offer. They are eager to answer your questions.

Take time to look at your choices side by side. Every one has pros and cons. Maybe this campus is your favorite, but that one has a better department for your major. Maybe this one has great school spirit, but you aren’t really into the hard-core party culture of campus life. Maybe you like the small size here, but that bigger school has more ethnic diversity.

It is true that you can and will find your people anywhere. But it can be more comfortable if the culture you seek is the dominant culture of the school. You could be one of the few artsy people in a sporty school. Or one of the few nature lovers in an urban crowd. But you are likely to feel more integrated if you pick a school with more people who value what you value.

Before I get into my college-research tips, a quick disclaimer on what I won’t cover in this post. Going straight into a four-year college isn’t the right choice for every student seeking higher education. I am huge fans of these two options, which I’ll flag as a brief aside:

• Two-year community colleges, which are tuition-free in California and have potential for guaranteed transfer to University of California campuses. This is a great option for students who want to live at home, save money, transfer to a better school than they could have gotten admission from as a freshman, and spend half the price for the same diploma. It’s a smart, practical choice.
• Taking a gap year to work and/or explore non-academic interests before entering college. I love this option as a change of pace and some real world experience for burned-out seniors who could use a mental health break from the GPA grind.

I also won’t cover the very large issue of cost of college, since this is highly specific to individual colleges, family circumstances and financial aid options.

For now, I’ll stick to the question of how to get dig down on the differences between four-year colleges and how to weigh your inevitable pros and cons. I don’t recommend social media as your guide, as you tend to find the same kind of influencer-type personalities filling every feed.

DIGGING FOR DECISION GOLD

Start with the basic differences between colleges. In broad strokes:

• Size: What is the undergraduate population? How many graduate students are on campus? This has an impact on how big the school feels. It also has an impact on how focused the school is on the undergraduate experience (graduate students are older and tend to live off campus). A bigger school has the advantage of many activities and a broad range of people, but it can also mean larger class sizes, less personalized attention and difficulty getting the classes you want/need to graduate in four years.
• Public vs private: Public universities tend to be large in size, with less geographic diversity and greater socio-economic diversity than private or religious colleges. Public schools tend to draw primarily from the state they serve because tuition is substantially lower for in-state students. Private schools generally offer smaller class sizes and more personalized attention, but the cost can be multiple times that of in-state public school tuition.
• Urban/suburban/college town: What is the setting of the school? Is it an enclosed campus? Compact or sprawling? What is nearby? Some students like a school that is its own contained world. Others don’t want to feel restricted to campus and like having a town or city nearby.
• Geographic location/region: Every region of the country has its own subculture: casual West, dominated by large public universities; traditional East, with a concentration of smaller liberal arts colleges; friendly Midwest, with a mix of large Big 10 schools and smaller colleges. I won’t attempt to categorize the multitude of cultures in the South except to say that SEC football culture is strong as well as Greek life in many of the large public universities in the region.
• Weather: Remember you’ll be on campus August to May (for semester-based schools) or September to June (for quarter-based schools), so don’t make your decision based on how nice the weather is in summer.

Going deeper, these are my favorite sources and what I consider the best information you can find at each:

Niche – This is my first stop for college information online. It’s a quick, easy snapshot and has by far the most student reviews. Statistics can be wonky/inaccurate, but Niche provides a good overview of the school.

• Report card with A-F grades on academics, athletics, campus, diversity, party scene and value.
• Word polls from students on school culture and campus life.
• Largest number of student reviews of any site I’ve found. I find it useful to look at the reviews by rating. You can click on 1-star reviews, then 2-star, and work your way up to the 5-star reviews. Instead of fixating on one person’s experience, look for themes that jump out. Haters may think one school is too preppy, but preppy may sound like a perfect fit for you. Others may complain that students are always in town and not on campus, but you may love the idea of an active off-campus life.

Unigo – I love Unigo’s student surveys focused on campus culture. Its database of colleges is not as comprehensive as Niche’s, but there’s a lot of great insight for the colleges listed. Take note of how many ratings there are for your schools and keep in mind that a small number of ratings is not a very reliable sample. So take the input within the context of your other sources.

• Student surveys on political activism, safety, sports, fraternity/sorority, professor interaction, intellectual environment, alcohol/drugs.
• Student ratings on housing, food, facilities, class sizes, academics.
• Student commentary/reviews.

College Factual – The design of this site is pretty terrible, but the information is solid. The numbers tell a good story about each school.

• Freshman retention percentage: One of the best indicators of student satisfaction is the percentage of freshman who return for sophomore year (national average is 68%). To me this is a combination of satisfied students as well as an institution that cares about the undergraduate experience.
• Percentage of full-time faculty: A great statistic you don’t find elsewhere (national average is 47%). Many colleges employ a large number of part-time instructors. A low percentage of full-time faculty isn’t great for instructional consistency or teachers being invested in the school and students.
• On-time graduation rate: Percentage of full-time students who graduate in four years (national average is 33%). Allow some slack for crowded public universities at which it’s common for students to roll into a 5th year to get the classes they need to graduate.
• Student:faculty ratio: This does not directly translate to class sizes but it does give an indication (national average is 15:1)
• Ethnic diversity: If you click on the ethnic diversity percentage in Unigo, you’ll get to a page that has pie charts for other diversity measures, including ethnic diversity of staff, geographic diversity and male/female split. I find this data is very different across schools and is a big differentiator for the kind of mix you can expect from one campus to another.
• Geographic diversity: I like to see what the blend is between local students, out-of-state and international students. A school with a high percentage of local students may also have a less-robust on-campus social life if homesick freshmen can duck home for a weekend of home cooking and private laundry facilities.
• Male-female split: We’ve flipped from men being the dominant gender on college campuses to women now outnumbering men. The elite schools still try to stay close to a 50-50 balance, but many schools these days are 40-60, 35-65 or even 30-70. A significant skew can create distorted gender dynamics on campus, so it’s worth checking out.

Campus safety statistics – Now I’m really exposing myself as a data nerd. There’s a fine line between a party school and a culture of pressure that can be dangerous for young men and women on the receiving end. These statistics from the Department of Education help clarify the relative risks of campus environments. You can pull up data for one school or compare across up to four schools.

• Campus security – robbery, assault, car theft, burglary, weapons possession
• Substances – drug and alcohol violations
• Safety for women on campus – rape, dating violence, stalking

CAMPUS VISITS

Research aside, the best way to gauge cultural fit is to visit campus in person. You have a finely tuned antenna to sense where you belong and where you feel out of sync. Take a tour and ask questions of your student guide. Spend a few hours walking through campus, people-watching in public spaces like the library and the student center, and listening to conversations in coffee shops. You will come out of it with a firm sense of whether or not it’s a comfortable place for you.

If helpful, you can reach out to admissions offices before a campus visit to see if you can sit in on a class, preferably in your potential major. If there is a particular activity you are very interested in – intramural sports, student newspaper, dance team, cultural organization, etc – you could also ask if there is a student you can speak with to learn more about it.

If it’s not possible to visit campus, there are other ways to get the same spidey sense. Find opportunities to talk to current students by phone. Admissions offices will be happy to set you up with a current student, or you may want to go through academic departments if you want to talk to someone in your major to learn more about the program. You can also watch YouTube videos by students aimed at describing elements of campus life, such as dorms, dining halls, or activities at the school that you may want to join.

Things to look for on a campus visit

• Engagement – are people interacting? Observe students and administrators.
• How do people look – happy or stressed?
• Are students walking alone or in groups?
• Are social centers active?
• What’s the library vibe? Are people collaborative or isolated?
• Pick up any campus paper or publication to peruse – see what’s happening or what issues are current on campus.
• Sit in a coffee shop or the student center and listen in on the tone of conversations.

Potential questions to ask a current student

• How is dorm life? What do they like and not like?
• How far are classrooms from dorms?
• Is it hard to get the classes they want?
• What’s their biggest class size? Smallest?
• What are campus traditions?
• What are popular campus activities?
• Where do people hang out on campus? Off campus?
• How is the dining hall food?
• What’s an average weekday like?
• What’s an average weekend day like?
• Do people stay during the summers or go home?
• What percentage of students live on campus? Are there many commuters?
• Is study abroad popular / encouraged?

DECISION TIME

You’ve gathered all your information. Talked to the people. Gotten to know each school like a new potential home. You’ve visited the properties, in person or virtually. Where do you feel most comfortable? Which place seems like a place where you can fit in, learn, stretch and grow? You get to choose your new family. Which will it be?

Your compass may point firmly in one direction, in which case, congratulations! You have made a solid informed decision with full confidence.

Often the choice is less immediately clear. The pros and cons tip the scale one way, then the next. One minute you think it’s a great idea to try living somewhere new and different, the next moment you’re reluctant to venture so far from home. You are 100% convinced that school has the best department for your major, but campus life at the other school seems so much more fun.

A few other considerations:

• Flexibility on majors: Some 80% of students change majors at least once, so it’s worth considering how easy or difficult it is to change majors at the schools in consideration.
• Required coursework: Graduation requirements vary hugely school to school, and even major to major. Some schools have an extensive range of requirements to encourage a broad liberal-arts basis of knowledge. Other schools have very few requirements and allow for more freedom for students to select their own course of study.
• Big pond vs small pond: Some people love the excitement and fresh challenges of being a small fish in a vast pond. Others feel dispirited about being just a number. It’s easier to stand out at a smaller school and to form relationships with professors who may become mentors. The size of pond you want is also relative to (and can be a reaction to) the high school environment you are coming from.
• The Goldilocks effect: In a learning environment, it’s nice to feel like we’re somewhere in the middle between people who are struggling more than we are and people who seem to know everything already. But it’s also good to think about whether you’re the kind of person who is more encouraged by being behind braniacs or more invigorated by feeling comfortably ahead. You want to be in an environment that is going to put you in the best position to succeed.

Still can’t decide? Try this:

• Tell yourself at bedtime it’s going to be Option A. It’s decided. Go to sleep. When you wake up, before you get out of bed, check in with your heart and your gut. If you feel happy and excited, you’re done.
• If you feel uneasy, spend some time probing for the source of that discomfort. Something about Option A did not sit right with you. Using that information, decide on Option B.
• At bedtime, same thing: It’s going to be Option B. This time it’s really decided. Go to sleep and once again check in with your heart and gut in the morning. They will tell you when something is still not aligned. Work on this until your heart and your gut agree you’ve reached the best decision out of the choices available.

When the best choice doesn’t feel like the best outcome

The college application process is long and draining. You may have difficulty mustering enthusiasm for an outcome that is very different from what you originally hoped would happen. I really get that.

Here’s my last piece of advice, if you aren’t convinced that your final choice is the best place for you for the next four years:

• Look at this as a one-year experience. Maybe you aren’t excited about four years at the college you selected. Maybe it’s not your forever place. But it certainly has plenty to offer if you plan to jam everything that is interesting about that school into one exciting freshman year.
• Go in with that mindset and try it all.
• Do well in school, and your chances of transferring to the place of your heart’s desire will be far better than the first time you applied.
• And the downside scenario is that you’ve also given yourself the best chance of loving exactly where you are.

Best of luck to you! The future is as bright as the energy you put into it. I believe in you.

The post Choosing a college appeared first on chinese grandma.

It’s not too late to snag great gifts for Christmas. Late-stage holiday shopping can be a little nerve-racking, but you don’t have to give up on quality gifts just because the options are getting a little sparse. Turn your attention away from that perfect jacket or pair of jeans that is no longer available in the size or color you wanted. There are always great gifts in less-popular categories, and you never know what will turn out to be the surprise winner of the season.

WHITE ELEPHANT WINNERS

Hot off the presses, I have a few new ideas from this year’s white elephant parties. People voted with their steals, and this is what the kids and adults are loving right now. Best of all, there’s still time to get your own before Christmas.

Mini Drink Fridge

This is not something I would ever think to buy, but a tiny fridge was one of the most-stolen gifts among teens at the white elephant exchange. I had to look into what one stores in a miniature cooling fridge:  drinks or snacks in kids’ rooms, beauty products that need refrigeration, medications, pumped breast milk. Many can run on indoor AC plugs or a DC cigarette lighter plug in the car. Be warned they don’t tend to last more than a couple years, but people seem to love the convenience of portable refrigeration. And they are undeniably cute. There’s a popular $30 Frigidaire model which is adorably retro but only cools 26 degrees below ambient temperature, which really isn’t sufficient for the heat of summer. This Cooluli fridge on Amazon ($46) can cool 40 degrees below ambient temp, seems to be built with cooler-type insulation and has better customer satisfaction.

Poker Set

My son and his friends love a good poker night on a chilly evening. A game night is more social than a movie night, and the competition gets everyone fired up. The teens perked up when someone unwrapped this handy poker set suitcase ($21 on Amazon), and they maxed out the white elephant limit on stealing it.

Anker Portable Speaker

A bluetooth speaker is always a great gift for kids and teens, who can share new songs or have a sing-a-long during hangouts, shoot arounds or study sessions. Anker makes a really good one that’s currently $28 on Amazon.

Heated Throw Blanket

Heated items were popular white elephant gifts with the parent generation. It’s an item you can’t really have enough of in the winter time. Even if you have one near a favorite seat, there’s always another spot in the house where another would come in handy. This one is $34 on Amazon and is still available in a festive red.

Tortilla Blanket

I’ve featured this funny but useful gift in a past holiday post, but it’s still around, still popular, and just $16 on Amazon. It was another much-loved gift during this year’s white elephant exchange – so silly it makes everyone smile.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

I’m delighted that a book was one of the hot items of a white elephant party. My mother-in-law loved this riveting Vietnam War-era story by bestselling author Kristin Hannah, and it clearly has word-of-mouth buzz. $14 on Amazon

ANOTHER GIFT IDEA

Acrylic Frames

In the era of digital photography, it’s especially sweet to have an old-fashioned printed photo on display. I’ve become very fond of these heavy acrylic frames: two clear slabs held together by magnets on the four corners. Pop the two sides apart and put a photo in – or even better, two photos back to back, so that there’s a picture on display on each side. These frameless frames make a great gift, because they can go with any decor. $20 for a 2-pack of 5×7 frames on Amazon or $45 for a 5-pack.

FIX-IT STOCKING STUFFERS

Needle Threaders

I hate to admit it, but my vision is not as sharp as it used to be. I was so excited to find a little tool to help me with the occasional sewing repair job. The pointed wire loop goes into the eye of the needle, and you poke the thread easily through it. Then pull the loop back out of the eye, and the thread obligingly comes along too. Just $4 for a box of 30 needle threaders, and what you save in consternation is priceless.

Snag Nab-It

Eczema sufferers will share my frustration at cracked hands snagging delicate fabrics. I wish I’d discovered this tool earlier – it’s a needle that has a rough back end that will magically pull your snag through the fabric and make it disappear. The name also cracks me up, thinking about the olden days in which you might actually say dagnabbit when you snag your knitwear. You can buy one Snag Nab-It needle in a single package for $6.50 on Amazon, or you can buy 12 Snag Nab-It needles in a snap-lid box for $7 and put others in stockings for friends and family.

Dritz Sweater Comb

Don’t be bummed when you pull out your sweaters for the season and notice that they are more pilled than you remember. Pulling off the little fluff balls only creates more issues. With a handy-dandy sweater comb ($5.85 on Amazon), you can gently scrape off all the pills and leave your sweater looking good as new. Just lay the sweater out flat and hold it taut while you run the sweater comb along the surface.

Shoe Protector Spray

This stocking stuffer is perfect for sneakerheads getting new shoes in slushy wintertime. A quick treatment of shoe protector spray ($16 on Amazon) will keep new kicks in good shape for the season.

Leather Cleaning Brushes

Old boots and bags can come back to life with a little TLC. These horeshair cleaning brushes ($10 on Amazon) are classic tools for good leather care. You may not get new boots for Christmas, but your old boots can get a glow-up.

Saddle Soap

For use with your leather brushes – or simply apply with a soft cloth – saddle soap will clean and moisturize your leather goods. 3.5-ounce tin for $7.5o on Amazon, or a 12-ounce tin for $10.

That’s it for this year. Happy shopping, and very happy holidays to all!

The post Holiday Gift Ideas 2024 (Part 2: White Elephant Winners) appeared first on chinese grandma.

What started as a random gift post on my food blog has now become 15 years of sharing my hyper-practical, often-weird take on gift giving. I’m not likely to nail someone’s sense of taste, but what I can do is give a gift that is useful — hopefully with a dash of fun and a scoop of new and novel. What makes me sad is the Wow-You-Spent-a-Lot gift that languishes in a dark drawer for the rest of its days. What makes me happy is the slightly confused recipient who tells me later that they use that funny thing I gave them ALL THE TIME.

I’m way past the years of young kids and fun toys. There’s nothing Santa can give that will elicit squeals of delight in high schoolers and college kids. Christmas now is much more about appreciating the rare togetherness of everyone at home: cuddling up to watch Christmas specials again, feeling the warmth of the fireplace while we listen to our favorite Christmas songs, prepping cinnamon rolls to bake Christmas morning.

Holiday gift giving has become pretty mellow. Mostly we fill some wardrobe needs. Beyond that, I love a little gift that introduces something new — opens a little door in their minds to a new idea, a new skill, a new possibility.

I thought I had no ideas for this year, and then I scrambled to put some together when my friends kept asking when the gift guide was coming. Now I’m splitting it in two parts so I can feed the chirping birds more quickly. To paraphrase Mark Twain, I didn’t have time to write a short holiday gift post, so I wrote a long one instead.

Happy holidays my friends!

WHOLESOME DRINKING FUN

I’m all for getting people in the kitchen: it’s entertaining, it’s communal, it’s creative, it’s life skills and it’s nutritious (or at the very least, delicious). We pay a lot of money for beverages when we are out. But it’s super fun and economical to make your own liquid treat at home.

Make-your-own Coffee Bar/Soda Fountain 

Caramel macchiato? Lavender latte? Vanilla iced coffee? You can spend $7 on a drink, or you can spend $10 on a full bottle of Torani syrup that will flavor dozens of drinks. You’ll find pumpkin spice, pistachio, rose, or any of the flavors you’d see at your fancy coffee shop. Give a gift to your coffee-loving friend, and then invite yourself over for a coffee date. A 4-pack of coffee flavors is $35 at Amazon.

The fruit flavors make a fantastic rainbow soda bar for the kids. Add club soda, and they will have a blast concocting individual creations. Amazon sells a $35 for 4-pack of fruity flavors.

Amazon also sells Torani syrup pumps ($7.50 for 6 pumps) if you want to look official. And World Market is another good source for Torani syrups if you want to browse locally ($10 each).

Moka Pot Stovetop Espresso Maker

I came home from a family trip to Italy in 2022 and bought myself a moka pot. I still love my tea. But we decided to add cappuccino to the lineup, and I wasn’t signing up for the cost or maintenance of a real espresso machine. I’m a high tech girl but I love my low-tech gadgets, and this clever little stovetop coffee maker has been a staple of Italian kitchens for 90 years. Water is heated in the base and vapor pressure pushes it upward, through the coffee grounds, to the top receptacle. It’s not quite as strong as espresso, but if it’s good enough for Italians, it’s more than good enough for me.

The moka pot sizing is confusing for Americans, as the “cup” capacity refers to espresso-sized shots. This moka pot is a good size for 2 but it’s labeled as a “6-cup” capacity ($37 on Amazon).  This size moka pot makes 9 oz of strong coffee, which works well split between two cups. Dilute with hot water for an Americano or add steamed milk for a cappuccino/latte.

Milk Frother Wand

I’ve gone through a lot of frothers in two years of coffee making. I love a manual frother, but the glass ones tend to break, and the metal ones are more expensive. The most inexpensive and flexible solution for frothing milk is a little battery-operated wand. The Zulay milk frother ($10 on Amazon) is ready for action, with two AA batteries and a handy stand.

Matcha Whisk and Scoop

Tradition dictates that metal utensils should not be used with matcha. I don’t know whether this is really true, but I can say for sure that if you want to make matcha at home, you need the bamboo whisk: your everyday kitchen whisk is not up to the task of blending the fine tea powder into liquid. I like to scoop matcha powder into a ceramic bowl and whisk vigorously with a bit of hot water, then pour it into a cup of hot milk (frothed if I’m feeling fancy). This matcha whisk set is $13 on Amazon.

Make-your-own Boba Tea (plus Boba Straws)

I started making boba at home when I had four kids obsessed with boba tea. For one person, it makes sense to just go to your local boba shop, but for a group, it’s fun and cost-effective to make boba at home. Your boba-lover will enjoy the holiday activity. You can get two bags of boba (5 servings in each bag) for $9 on Amazon. You’ll also need bigger straws: 12 reusable boba straws are $6 on Amazon (or $5 for 8) and are also great for milkshakes. Brew an extra-strong batch of any tea and add ice, milk and sweeten to taste.

LEVELING UP PERSONAL CARE

Humans need care and maintenance just like any machine. But the human body has the added complication of always growing, changing and aging, and we have to evolve our care along with it. My brother-in-law didn’t love it when I gifted him with reading glasses a decade ago. But the crowd had a great laugh when he opened the gift, and he’s worn them ever since. They also look great on him, which helped take the edge off my unsubtle hint.

All-in-one Trimmer/Multigroomer

Hair, facial hair, trimming of nose and ear hairs — this little trimmer gets rave reviews for its versatility and performance. I’m trying this all-in-one multigroomer this year for the grown men in my household. Because grooming standards for guys has really taken a step up in recent decades, and a good tool has become an essential.

For the younger kids, this little dermaplaning tool (as a few of you might recall from a past holiday gift post) is a great safe start to managing brow strays and peach fuzz ($6.65 for 3 packs of 3). It’s also a great stocking stuffer.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Hair Repair

I’m a little obsessed right now with products from this London-based specialist in scalp care and hair loss. Their Elasticizer hair repair mask is a holy grail product for many people with damaged/coarse/frizzy/dry hair, adding back strength, smoothness and bounce. Normally I don’t recommend buying beauty products on Amazon (too many fakes) but it’s currently $22 for the 2.55 oz tube vs $31 on the Philip Kingsley website, and it seems to be sold directly from Philip Kingsley on Amazon.

Grooming Tools for Men and Women

A good toolkit is right up my alley — not thrilling but useful. A good stocking stuffer for teens, the men’s version is $15 for 15 pieces; and oddly the girlier version in rose gold is $9 and gold is $10. The girl version is 12 pieces and I couldn’t tell you what the extra three are in the guys’ version.

Manicure and Mani/Pedi Kits

At-home manicures/pedicures are great activities for a cold winter day, and a mani/pedi kit is another excellent stocking stuffer. The manicure kit on the left has cuticle oil while the mani/pedi kit on the right has extra tools for ingrown toe nails, and both have files and buffers of different textures. For just $8 on Amazon, these little kits can fuel hours of entertainment. If you want to add new nail polish colors, OPI and Essie are reliable brands you can find anywhere.

Nail Files and Buffers or All-in-one Filer/Buffer

This is now overkill, but for anyone that does group stocking stuffers like I used to for 13 cousins, these nail files and buffers are a fun inexpensive addition. Just $6 for 6 files and 6 colorful buffers or this single Revlon nail file/buffer is $3.80.

Oil-based Nail Polish Remover or Quick-dry Clear Top Coat

The only thing I know about nail polish technology is it seems to be ever-harder to remove. My girls have always been fans of Onyx acetone polish remover, but I think oil-based polish remover is less damaging if they’re venturing into acrylics territory. Mineral Fusion is non-acetone and gets rave reviews ($7 for 6 ounces on Amazon).

I don’t do my nails, but it kind of seems easier to use Seche Vite clear top coat ($10 for 2 on Amazon; another useful stocking stuffer) over regular polish than risk damaging the nails with acrylics. But this is where I get the mom-you-don’t-understand-anything eyeroll.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

This serum has saved my sanity through tough years with my face. Throughout my chronic eczema and long healing journey, this SkinCeuticals vitamin C serum is the one product that is always healing and rejuvenating, and miraculously never irritating. Skincare is super personal, and this is super expensive, but I can back up this product’s cult following with my own experience. A 1-ounce bottle is $182, but you only need a few drops per application. Make sure you buy from a reputable source. I like LovelySkin, where you can currently get 15% off SkinCeuticals with code SKCTRRE.

(Btw, I don’t get any financial benefit from LovelySkin or any other link. Just a little bit from Amazon Associates, but I only link there because they have the best prices.)

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY

Red Light Therapy Wrap

My genius cousin Karen turned me onto this Fringe red light therapy wrap. I know it sounds a little out-there — how does red light help anything? All I can say is it worked for me when nothing else did, and there’s really no downside. I will also say that my cousin treats a ton of professional athletes and went to the Tokyo Olympics with USA Volleyball. So her advice is always patient-tested.

The wrap is extremely easy to use – wrap it around any area that is in need of care, turn it on, and you are good to go. The wrap has a 20-minute timer and turns off automatically. It helped reduce inflammation in my face through a very tough last year, and it also helped my mom with inflammation in her hip.

I love the wrap because it can be used anywhere on the body, and it’s also very portable for travel. $219 at FringeHeals, currently 25% off with code HOLIDAY25 (they don’t have an expiration date posted but typically the sales are rare and short). Note that if you want to use red light on your face, get safety glasses for your eyes, since the light is very bright (and your world will look temporarily green after the red light exposure).

Refurbished Apple Watch

For the aging parent living alone, the Apple Watch can be a literal lifesaver. If they have a fall — accident, stroke, heart attack, etc — the watch will call emergency services and/or their pre-programmed emergency contacts. My mom and mother-in-law both love the security of this feature. You could buy a new Series 10 Apple Watch for $359, or you can get a Series 5 refurbished Apple Watch for $129 on Amazon. Either will have the safety features, and I know my mom would not know the difference between the two.

Oura Ring Health Tracker

My husband convinced me to try the Oura Ring a year ago, and surprisingly I’ve become a fan. It only served to confirm what I already knew: I’m kind of a C or D student on sleep but an A on activity. But my cousin Karen got it after I did, and somehow she’s managed to use the stress data to mindfully reduce her levels from red to green — achieving levels I didn’t even realize were possible. We can lie to ourselves, but the data is undeniable.

I don’t wear rings but the Oura is surprisingly very wearable. They just came out with a new Gen 3 version, normally $299 but currently $249 for Black Friday on Amazon. The subscription is $6 a month or $70 for the year.

Tile Mate Tracker (for keys and other items) 

Apple users love AirTags for keeping track of everything from bags to children. For those who just want to keep track of their keys, the Tile Mate tracker is cheaper ($15 on Amazon) and has a built-in hole for hooking on a key ring. It also has a louder sound and twice the battery life of the AirTag.

***

Phew that’s it for Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2!

The post Holiday gift ideas 2024 (Part 1) appeared first on chinese grandma.

Now that my kids are older, I’m trying to ease out of the Mrs Claus business. So I was thinking maybe I didn’t have a lot to offer for gift ideas in 2023, even though I’ve never skipped a holiday gift post since I started this blog in 2010. But you know how little voices whisper in your ear? Last month, my friend Jacqueline said how much she loves the holiday gift ideas. And then this weekend I ran into my friend So Yong at the grocery store, who said, “I need your holiday gift post!”

Ok universe, I hear you, speaking through my friends. I’m not skipping out. And in doing the work, I was reminded that sharing gift ideas here, to benefit others beyond my family, always makes my holiday season better too.

This year’s list is more relentlessly practical than ever – probably reflecting the mood of my year. Here’s what I’ve got for 2023, and here’s hoping 2024 brings more fun. Happy holidays!

Original Zeroll Ice Cream Scoop

THE original ice cream scoop, designed in 1933 by Sherman Kelly of Toledo, Ohio, has an innovative design that holds liquid inside the cast aluminum scoop. The liquid transfers warmth from your grip on the handle into the curved part of the scoop, making it easier to dispense the ice cream. This invention allows ice cream to be rolled instead of squeezed, resulting in an airier ice cream for happy customers and allowing for ice cream shops to maximize scoops sold per gallon. Make sure you have plenty of ice cream on hand when this gift gets opened, because everyone will want a turn to try it out. $24 at Amazon.

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Quince

Where has Quince been all my life? This direct-to-consumer brand speaks all of my love languages: high quality, natural materials, sustainably sourced, tightly curated, gorgeous colors, and best of all, mind-blowing value. Asians love a deal! And Quince is full of them. Cashmere sweaters ($50), washable silk skirts ($60), leather jacket ($150) down puffer ($130), Italian leather bags ($130), and beautiful linen and cotton bedding.

My daughter loves her linen duvet cover at college, and the globe boho earrings ($50), which are great quality and a fun shape. The cashmere sweaters for men and women are lovely and amazingly well priced, and the cashmere beanie ($30) is super soft too. No connection to the company but I love what this husband-and-wife is doing – selling better goods for less by bypassing the middlemen.

Nippies

These stick-on coverings neatly address the bra-strap conundrum for that tricky tank top or backless dress in your closet. Comfortable to wear and reusable, and they come in five skin tone shades. $26 at Amazon.

InfinitiPro by Conair Curling Wand

My girls say this is the best curling wand – easy to make loose beachy curls that last – and we’ve tried more than a few. At $30 at Amazon, it’s also among the more reasonably priced.

Thai Crystal Natural Deodorant Spray

We have tried every natural (non-alumninum) deodorant on the market, and my daughter finally declared this one the winner for being both effective and non-irritating. This fall I was at an event at a bougie hotel/spa in Napa and noticed they had the same spray in their locker rooms, repackaged in small clear spray bottles and undoubtedly selling for more than the $7 for 8 ounces at Amazon. IYKYK.

Dr Ohhira’s Probiotic Soap

My genius doctor-cousin Karen swears by this soap, and she went to the Olympics so we believe her. I’ve been using it for years, and my daughters and mom love it too. It’s gentle and won’t irritate delicate body parts or contribute to urinary tract infections like harsher soaps and detergents can. It’s not cheap, but for those with sensitive skin the cost is more than worth it. $21 for 2-pack at Amazon.

Nisaku Hori Hori Weeding Knife

My mom is obsessed with this gardening tool, which was given to her with much excitement, like a secret reveal, by our avid gardener friends. She can’t stop talking about how life-changing this part-digger, part-knife design is, not just for weeding but also for moving/transplanting plants in her yard. I don’t know enough about gardening to say more than that, but it seems like a winning gift for any gardener on your list. $24 at Amazon.

Verve Seabright House Blend Coffee Beans

I’m going out on a limb with this recommendation, because I only became a coffee drinker after our family trip to Italy last year. But I’ve become very attached to this smooth, non-acidic, medium-roast blend, and my coffee aficionado guests all seem to love it too, despite my novice brewing skills. So I have to credit the beans, which come from a local roaster in Santa Cruz but are also sold online through Target ($15 for a 12-oz bag at Target).

Le Mieux Bio Cell Mask

Skincare is very individual, bur this is one of the few products I would recommend to anyone. What face couldn’t use extra hydration, plus marine collagen and peptides for added resilience? It’s especially great in dry winter months or after air travel, making it an excellent stocking stuffer for Christmas ($35 for 4 sheet masks at LeMieux).

Bodum Milk Frother

I’m a sucker for a smart, simple mechanical device. No pesky electrical parts, no batteries, just some good old elbow grease. Heat the milk and pump the plunger up and down until the milk is airy and frothy. For me the brief, vigorous arm exercise is a welcome bonus, and it’s fun for kids too. Make yourself a nice lovely latte, or matcha latte, or london fog, right in the comfort of your own kitchen ($16 at Amazon).

Bug Zapper

Having just extolled the joys of manual milk frothing, I’m turning right around to rave about how much I love this electrical bug zapper. I bought it for outdoor use, but this summer I brought it inside one night when we had some bugs indoors. Every time I was tempted to unplug it, ZAP – the blue light would catch another one. So we left it on until well into fall. It’s not pretty, and the zaps aren’t quiet,  but this handy little bug light saved me a lot of obsessing and my family a lot of bug bites. Winter isn’t prime season for this gift, but the right person will still love the prospect of their bug-free future. $30 at Amazon, which is currently offering a $10-off coupon.

Mesh Vinyl Zipper Pouches

A gift that will be cherished by the organization-obsessed. Teachers and crafters love these transparent zip bags for storing games, crafting materials, art supplies, etc. I love them for travel – nothing loose but everything readily seen and retrieved. The PVC is waterproof to boot, which is both handy for storing liquids inside the pouches or keeping documents safe and dry. $10 for 21 assorted sizes, from 4×6-inch to 10×14-inch, at Amazon.

Kiwi shoe deodorizer 

I put these in stockings last year for my sporty nephews in Ohio. You stand the deodorizer in a sneaker and push down, which sprays a freshening spray in two directions to deodorize toe to heel. It’s a silly but useful item, and it’s the perfect size and shape for a stocking stuffer. $20 for 3 at Amazon or $7 each at Target.

Mentos Spearmint Gum

These go in the stockings every year. My kids say this is the best gum, and spearmint is the best flavor. And the green is perfect for Christmas ($17 for 6 at Amazon or $4 each at Target).

The post Holiday gift ideas 2023 appeared first on chinese grandma.

Celebration is a ridiculous thing to be bad at, but it’s high on the list of the things I simply cannot do – right up there with writing legibly, holding a tune, and ping pong. When I turned 50 a year ago, all I wanted was to hold the fetal position in bed for a year. But that wouldn’t have been much of a celebration. So I pulled on my big-girl pants and decided to resurrect my sunny husband’s inspired idea for his 50th birthday, which he wasn’t able to do because of Covid:

1. Make a list of 50 people who had made a positive impact on your life, and
2. Reach out to every one of them over the course of the year.

Making my list made me smile. Then I saw as many friends and family as I could in person, for the communion and the hugs. I connected with some on the phone and with others exchanged emails or texts that warmed my heart. Every interaction was a reminder of the many dear people who have shared their love, time and wisdom with me on this five-decade long journey.

I admit I didn’t tell most of the people about the list, or my birthday. I just reached out. But I should have, and I wrote the recipe to encourage you all to do it right. Maybe I’ll practice again at 60.

Thirteen years ago I started this blog as a 30-something mom with four kids under 10. Now that I’m over 50, I’m thinking ruefully that maybe Chinese Grandma isn’t such a cute tongue-in-cheek pseudonym after all. Recently, my oldest niece made me a great-aunt, a term that sounds even more comically ancient than I am.

When we were all turning 40, I mused aloud to my friends, “40 is an old young person, but 50 is a young old person.” I was curious and a little fearful of crossing that divide.

It was an eventful decade for our household. We went from having four little kids to having two full-on adults and two adult-sized teens. We lost two cherished father figures, my dad and father-in-law. We moved the family across the country, again. We doubled down on appreciating the last of our years with kids at home.

But the most important work of the decade may be the solitary work I did on myself. Becoming myself. It’s been a deep dive.

I see things at 50 that I didn’t see at 30 or even 40. I noticed the baggage I was carrying – regrets from over the years for my sharp tongue; outdated ideas of myself as scrawny, shy, hopelessly unathletic; a compulsive need for every moment of the day to be “productive” – and the needless strain of that weight. I set it all down, with relief. I even laughed at the realization that I hung onto extreme resourcefulness and efficiency in honor of my dad, who would not have wanted me terrorizing my family about how the dishwasher gets loaded. I didn’t know I had been clinging to so many artifacts for all these years. Once I saw it, I could let it all go.

I find I can hold a little distance now. Breathing room. When I was younger, I couldn’t separate myself from my racing mind. But I can now. What I am losing in memory and near vision I am gaining in perspective and emotional control. It’s a good trade. A softer memory makes it easier to focus clearly on the present.

Midlife comes for you whether you invite it in or barricade the door. You don’t get to tell it to go away. Just as the certainty of death cautions us to enjoy life, midlife is a calendar alarm reminding us that time is too short to let it slip by on autopilot. We need to be awake. To make choices. To Marie Kondo our psychological house, thanking the old, outdated and irrelevant for its past service and making space for what we cherish and hope to discover.

Turning 50 was a little breathtaking – like cresting the top of a rollercoaster hill. I spent the steep, nerve-wracking climb tossing out excess baggage, reinforcing the rickety train seat and taking deep breaths.

At 51, it’s not as scary as I thought. The view is expansive. The ride is inspiring. And I feel lighter than I have in a long, long time.

A Recipe for Turning 50
For the party-averse, or for those whose friends are far and wide.

Ingredients

• Pen
• Paper
• Gratitude

Preparation

1. Make a list of 50 people (or more, or less) who have made a positive impact on your life.
2. Over the course of the year, reach out to each one. You can do it all at once, or connect with four or five each month. You could meet up with related clusters of friends or family. Or reserve this year for one-on-one interactions.
3. Share the reason for reaching out. Everyone will be touched to be on your list.
4. Share the reason they made the list. They might be surprised. And they will certainly love hearing your memory of their kindness.
5. Take a photo, preferably with you in it, of everyone you see in person. It always pays to preserve happy memories.

Note

• Gifting alternative: Since my celebration-loving husband wasn’t able to see friends in person in 2020, I quietly gathered birthday letters and photos from his list of 50 and made a scrapbook for him instead. The book was spectacularly sentimental and sweet, and it gave him the opportunity afterward to reach out to everyone and thank them.

The post A recipe for turning 50 appeared first on chinese grandma.

I’ve been obsessed all year with these luminous, colorful bracelets – made from sleekly gorgeous Japanese beads – and I’m excited to share my source with you holiday elves. Made of delicate colored glass, these elastic bracelets are light and easy to wear, quiet and unobtrusive but also bright and fun. I’ve hardly taken them off since I got them months ago, and they still give me a daily tickle of joy.

Before my friend Rachana turned me onto these bracelets in February, I’d never heard of Tila beads. Since the 1930s, family-owned Japanese manufacturer Miyuki has been making beautiful, precisely crafted glass beads that are used in both jewelry and intricate crafts. The flat, glossy Tila bead, slightly rounded on one side and flat on the other, was added to the lineup in 2011.

Nona Designs on Etsy has the loveliest collection of Tila bracelets ($16) in a rainbow array of colors. Nona’s kind shop owner Wenona is brilliant at curating color, and I’ve passed many happy hours combing through her selection of styles and colors. I also love mixing in Wenona’s super-delicate seed bead bracelets (3 for $19) with the larger Tila bracelets (along with a couple of string bracelets from Ana in Spain – which some of you who have been around since 2013 may remember).

Now that I’ve been clued in to their existence, I have seen Tila bracelets around elsewhere — some on string bracelets, some with a clasp. But I’m a fan of the convenience and clean, unbroken look of the elastic bracelet.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit how many of these I’ve already given out this year. It’s been a milestone birthday year for me and many of my friends, and at our age — 50, shh — the passage of time carries heavy associations. These lovely little wearables have been my way of reaching out to say “I love you,” and “You are beautiful,” and “There is fun yet in this life” — even though all I actually say is, “I thought you might like this.” But I know from their reactions that they get the real message. And when I give the gifts away, I get cheered up too.

You can absolutely wear one Tila bracelet. But they do seem happier with company.

My young friends love the bracelets too.

Matching colors and patterns to personalities is a big part of the fun for me.

I suspect some holiday elves may need a little extra bracelet or two for themselves this season. I say go for it.

I love you guys. You are beautiful. There is still fun yet in this life.

***

Ack is it me or does Thanksgiving seem early this year? My recipe archives are here for you (and me!). But I’ll also copy the links here in case it’s helpful to anyone. I am ever and always thankful for you all!

THANKSGIVING

• Thanksgiving planning timeline (Google doc)
• A host’s guide to Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving meal planning
• Buying a turkey

Appetizers/starters

• Cranberry tea [post] [printable]
• Alice Waters’s carrot soup [post] [printable]
• Spinach dip (without the mix) [post] [printable]
• Three-ingredient artichoke dip [post] [printable]

Turkey

• Thanksgiving turkey, dry brined
• Thanksgiving turkey, split and roasted
• Creamy chicken and rice soup (for leftover turkey) [post] [printable]
• Macho salad (for turkey leftovers) [post] [printable]

Salads

• Balsamic vinaigrette [post] [printable]
• Quinoa arugula salad [post] [printable]
• Arugula, pear and parmesan salad [post] [printable]
• Fennel, orange and avocado salad [post] [printable]
• Candied walnuts (or pecans) [post] [printable]
• Kale salad with honey-mustard peanut dressing [post] [printable]
• Shredded kale and brussels sprout salad [post] [printable]
• Kale salad with cranberries and toasted walnuts [post] [printable]
• Wild rice confetti salad [post] [printable]

Sides

• Bread stuffing for a crowd [post] [printable]
• Brussels sprouts Gjelina [post] [printable]
• Buttermilk cornbread [post] [printable]
• Easy cranberry sauce [post] [printable]
• Foolproof mashed potatoes [post] [printable]
• Green beans with feta and balsamic vinegar [post] [printable]
• Maple glazed sweet potatoes [post] [printable]
• No-cook cranberry orange relish [post] [printable]
• Quinoa with sweet potatoes, red pepper and feta [post] [printable]
• Roasted brussels sprouts salad [post] [printable]
• Roasted butternut squash [post] [printable]
• Roasted cauliflower Gjelina [post] [printable]
• Roasted cauliflower with parmesan and olives [post] [printable]
• Roasted fennel with parmesan [post] [printable]

Desserts

• Apple pie with crumb topping [post] [printable]
• Apple snacking cake [post] [printable]
• Cinnamony apple crisp [post] [printable]
• Gingerbread cake [post] [printable]
• Pear torte [post] [printable]
• Pecan pie (no corn syrup) [post] [printable]
• Persimmon bread [post] [printable]
• Pumpkin applesauce cake [post] [printable]
• Pumpkin bread with chocolate [post] [printable]
• Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies [post] [printable]
• Soft ginger cookies [post] [printable]
• Derby pie [post] [printable]
• Caramel dip for apples [post] [printable]

The post Gift idea: Tila bracelets appeared first on chinese grandma.

Christmas 2020 was only the second time we missed holiday season in Ohio in 27 years of marriage – the only other time was when I was super pregnant 18 years ago. But life teaches us to embrace change or be steamrolled by it, and after Christmas the six of us took what turned out to be one of the best hikes in our lives in the stunning Marin headlands, ending in this stunning #nofilter Golden Gate Bridge sunset. It took away some of the sting from missing a white Christmas with our Ohio family.

With all the dire reports of supply chain issues this year, I’ve been on the Christmas lookout since October. Fortunately my kids are older now (aged 13-20), and I’m blessedly relieved of the weight of the Santa hat. But I still love a great gift – useful, whimsical and hopefully filling a need the recipient didn’t even know they had.

I’m late getting this post out, but as usual my choices are practical items you won’t find on any lists of hot gift ideas. Only the last one is an Etsy store in Paris that won’t deliver in time for Christmas. But it’s now two years that I missed telling you early enough, so I’m just putting it here to avoid disappointing myself again next year. It’ll be your secret source for birthday/graduation/etc gifts in 2022.

So here are my gift ideas for 2021. I hope they bring a smile to you and the loved ones on your list.

Turkish hammam towels

I’m a little obsessed with the practicality, versatility and beachy stripes of these colorful Turkish towels. Unlike heavy terry cloth towels, the flat weave fabric dries quickly and doesn’t hold sand, and you can wrap the soft cotton fabric around you as a cover-up or sarong. The towels are fantastic for travel, doubling as a shawl or lap blanket on the plane and as a quick-dry towel on the beach. On Amazon you can find an organic cotton hammam towel for $17 or a set of 6 hammam towels for $47.

Nail art tool set

Even when there are school projects due, tests to study for or laundry to put away, my girls seem to find time to do their nails. I’ve come to view it as a form of self-therapy, and they’re remarkably fantastic at it. The most I can do is a sloppy job on my toes, which no one will ever see at a close distance. No doubt my girls will take their skills to a new level with these nail art tools. It’s art therapy for the bargain price of $6.50 on Amazon.

Lighted ear cleaning tool

Is it weird to admit how much utility and horrified amusement this lighted ear cleaning tool has provided for our family this past year? Apparently constant wearing of earbuds seems to exacerbate wax buildup, or at least makes it more noticeable to my peeps. My 13-year-old does the rounds with these tools like an old country doctor making house calls, and she reports to everyone the status of everyone else’s ears (no HIPAA privacy laws in effect here). The pink-cased set is $14 on Amazon, and the penlight feature is a game changer.

Oxo mini turner

One of my favorite tools in the kitchen, partly because it’s adorable and partly because it’s so useful. It’s the perfect little cutting and serving tool for anything in a baking dish – brownies, lasagna, scalloped potatoes, etc – making it easy to slice out a serving size. This year I got smart and bought myself a second one, so at brunch I can have one for coffee cake and one for egg strata. Oxo mini turner, $9 on Amazon.

Battery tester

Every parent needs this battery tester in the house during those light-flashing, sound-effect-blaring years of battery-operated toys. My kids are older now, so mostly I use the tool to find out whether stray batteries on countertops are on their way out of or into game controllers. This $6 battery tester easily pays for itself in rescued batteries, and it works for all sizes of batteries in the house, including button types.

Weighted hula hoop

We bought a weighted hula hoop last Christmas as part of our effort to keep everyone active and entertained indoors. Everyone took a turn, and by the end we were all crying laughing. I can’t say if the heavier hoop is actually better for building core strength, but I can say it is hilariously entertaining to watch people try to remember how to hula hoop. We have the 3-lb Sports Hoop ($46) but this 2-lb weighted hoop ($24) is probably a better weight and diameter for indoors.

Fitness trampoline

Despite my aversion to fitness equipment, I’ve developed a genuine fondness for our mini trampoline/rebounder – another pandemic purchase, to make up for the loss of gyms, sports and dance studios. It’s quick and efficient exercise, and we’ll get a few minutes in as we watch TV, listen to music, or just carry on a conversation with someone sitting on the couch. The bouncing movement is particularly great for bone health and lymphatic circulation, and it’s fun and gloriously free of electronics. The one we have is the JumpSport 350 trampoline, $299 at Amazon, which is cleverly constructed with bungees instead of squeaky springs. For my mom, I’m recommending the version with a handlebar, which Costco sells for $349.

Airex Coronella exercise mat

The Airex Coronella exercise mat is the answer to why anyone would spend $85-100 on a yoga mat when you can get a cheapie for $15-20: it is that much better. Comfortably thick, supportive and resilient, this is a mat with longevity and endurance. Our friend Thom uses them at his gym, and Thom knows all.

Giant Hello Kitty Squishmallow

Part stuffed animal, part pillow, Squishmallows have become a popular toy in recent years. This seriously large Hello Kitty Squishmallow at Costco ($28) is a granddaddy (grandkitty?) of its kind. It’s listed as 20″ tall but seems maybe even taller. But it would make a cheerful, giant bed pillow for your favorite Sanrio fan.

Ring light

Not just for vloggers, the ring light has become a household staple. If you’re still holding out, this Christmas may be time to get a ring light for someone in your house so you can borrow it as needed without feeling like you caved to personal vanity. 12″ ring light at Amazon, $37.

Zen Shorts

For those of us who wrestle with what we think could happen, should happen or simply want to happen, Zen Shorts gently reminds us that the meaning of events in our life is beyond our control. My kids loved the simple stories and charming watercolors, but the lessons in it were most definitely for me: that good luck may in time turn out to be bad luck and vice versa, and it’s foolishly short-sighted to judge the events of our daily lives. A missed turn could avoid an accident, or a lucky break could turn out disastrous. Only time will tell. An especially great book to give after the turmoil of recent years.

Kurafuchi jewelry

I’m sorry to say you will not receive this gorgeous, delicate jewelry by Christmas, as it comes from lovely jeweler Sarah in Paris. But you can order before she closes up for the holidays, which she does on both her website and Etsy shop, and print a photo of your treasures to wrap under the tree. I promise the wait is worth it, and the quality of Sarah’s items are outstanding for the price. The necklaces above, plated in 18K gold, are around $25-28 (prices on Etsy are slightly higher than on the Kurafuchi website).

As always, you can find more in the gift ideas archives. Wishing you elves healthy and happy holidays!

The post Holiday gift ideas 2021 appeared first on chinese grandma.

A comment popped up on the blog recently, from “A concerned chinesegrandma enjoyer”:

“HELLO CHINESE GRANDMA, HOW ARE YOU? I HOPE YOU ARE WELL. WHAT THE FRICK HAPPENED TO THE WEBSITE?”

Ha. And ouch. I deserve that.

For years I was here for you all with food, guidance and ideas, and then I dropped off without an explanation. It’s a long story, and I’ve been reluctant to post it here, in this little oasis of easy everyday cooking and practical tips. But it weighs on my mind to have left you all hanging.

I keep telling myself I’m coming back to the blog now that I’m feeling better, but I can’t say if that is absolutely true. The last few years have fundamentally changed my relationship to food. I’m still cooking all the time, of course – because no matter how mama feels, people gotta eat. I still find cooking gratifying, and I like passing down knowledge and habits that my children will take with them as they leave home. But my personal experience of food has dimmed after the long health journey I’ve been on.

So…what the frick happened?

I had to rebuild my system inside out, from guts to skin. It’s taken a while. I was kind of a hot mess.

I suffered for years with chronic eczema, an itchy, rashy skin condition that had plagued me since infancy. I had mild-to-severe suffering for decades. And then I had intense suffering for seven years before I couldn’t take it anymore.

The cure took another four years. I’m finally emerging from a very dark tunnel.

Like many sufferers of chronic illness, I had many years of trial and error. Dermatologists only offered symptom management: steroidal creams that became less effective over time. It seemed clear to me the skin disease had to be a symptom of an underlying issue, and I wanted to address causes, not just dampen symptoms. But I had no idea what the issue was.

Was the eczema triggered by allergies? I tried eliminating any possible allergenic foods from my diet and irritants from my home environment. Was it an internal deficiency or imbalance? I gulped a rainbow of herbal supplements and every detox treatment known to the internet. Bacteria? I took bleach baths and tried antimicrobial solutions. Faulty skin barrier? I rubbed on scores of skin creams, oils and ointments. But my eczema continued its unending, erratic vacillation from bearable to unbearable, no matter what I tried.

In 2015, my aunt in Seattle, whose health had never been great, fell very ill and lost the use of her limbs. She went to live in a nursing home, and her daughters and my mom (her sister) took turns feeding her at her bedside for weeks at a time. The trips were hard on my mom, but she was effusive about my cousin’s daughter, Karen, an acupuncturist and holistic doctor in Los Angeles who would make trips up to Seattle to treat her grandmother. After Karen’s treatments, my aunt’s pain would be significantly reduced, and at times she would even regain some use of her arms. My mom felt that if anyone could help me with my skin, it was Karen.

I first saw Karen at the end of 2017 and implemented her nutritional advice over the following year. In the spring of 2019, I told Karen I wanted to be a real patient, not just a cousin pestering her on the side. Karen said she could help me get better, but it wouldn’t be easy. She said things would get worse before they got better. I said ok.

That summer I suffered intensely, relentlessly. My face and body were covered with red, itchy rashes. I resolutely powered through the days, trying to get through normal life as I scratched furiously with no relief. At night I was exhausted but could not stop clawing myself long enough to fall asleep. My sheets were blood stained from the itching. All my life I had thought there was one thing to look forward to when I died – being free of my skin. In the dark of the night I imagined the relief of unzipping my skin and letting my soul fly free.

That was just the beginning. The next six months were crazy. My face blew up so severely I almost couldn’t see out of my swollen eyes, and I was so inflamed my skin was weeping fluid. My lymph nodes were so swollen my doctor insisted on a biopsy to rule out cancer. The skin on my body went from bright red, like I was sunburned all over, to dark brown, much darker than my usual tan color. Then the skin thickened, like alligator skin, before it turned wrinkly and loose, like 100-year-old Benjamin Button. And then it all peeled off, for weeks. I felt like a molting reptile.

There was other fallout. My hair, for one. Despite the horrendous appearance of my face, I kept my hair tied back for months, because I couldn’t take any more irritation of anything touching my face. Later I lost an enormous amount of hair, as well as most of my eyebrows. I had hives every day, twice a day, for several more months. It was a parade of bizarre maladies. I felt like a one-person freak show.

The first year was intense. The second year was much better, though not without its own assortment of freaky flare-ups, like the month my forehead swelled up like like Worf’s from Star Trek.

Now I’m finally good. Not just good: normal. I’ve never in my life had normal skin. But my eczema is gone. Even my dry skin is gone. My skin isn’t perfect, but it’s blessedly normal.

I am always thanking Karen for saving my life. She thanks me for sticking it out. She says most people don’t. But once I began, I could not go back. Would not go back.

The process was like a gut remodel of a home, except this was literally remaking my gut and my skin – which the Chinese say is a reflection of the gut. There was a lot of demolition to start, an epic mess and toxic cleanup before the slow grind of rebuilding. Not only did I have to live in the construction zone, I was the construction zone.

But I stuck it out, delays and mishaps and all. I’m still working on the long punch list of cleanup items, but the major construction is complete. I have a new home. I am older but weirdly much better physically than I have ever been.

So what exactly was the cause of my eczema, and what exactly was the cure? This is where things get fuzzy. Gut dysbiosis, imbalances in my microbiome, my immune system overrun by pathogens. When I look back at the series of unfortunate events that precipitated my worst years, it started with a 2000-mile move with four kids from nine months to six years old, while finishing construction on a house, with all the stress of the situation and countless new environmental factors. Foolishly, I picked that inopportune time to try allergy testing, which I’d always been warned was an unreliable snapshot, not a definitive diagnosis. Within weeks of my back being pricked with a couple dozen allergens, I developed an alarming and extensive flare up of eczema. The new dermatologist advised prednisone, and I was desperate enough to say yes.

It was the worst decision ever. Prednisone wiped out my immune system, all the bad guys in my system flourished without my immune system to keep them in check – including my childhood chicken pox virus resurfacing as nerve-piercing shingles – and from there it all spiraled out of control. For seven years. Until Karen came along and slowly righted my drowning ship.

I wish I could tell you how this health miracle happened. I gave up a lot of foods for a while – gluten, sugar, potatoes, yogurt, alcohol, all fruits – but that wasn’t the cure, it was just an effort to stop arming the enemies while the good guys went on the attack. I took a lot of supplements too, some to get rid of imbalances in my system, others to help rebuild what was broken. But ultimately Karen, through her acupuncture and mystery magic, got my body to do what it needed to do but hadn’t done my whole life. She got it to work – building, cleaning up, getting rid of invaders – and to heal.

Nerd that I am, I documented the process, gross and horrifying as it was at times. I’ll share one photo, to serve as encouragement for anyone out there suffering from a chronic condition. This is 2019 vs 2021.

I wanted to tell you guys about this earlier, but I couldn’t find the words. The effort took a lot out of me. The story is bizarre and unexplainable and not what you normally come here for. But we’ve been together a long time, and I wanted to share with you where I’ve been.

I was under construction, and I’ve been rebuilt. My skin is healed, my hair grew back, even my eyebrows, sort of. I feel oddly little like tweens and teens who went through puberty during our collective Covid-19 hibernation: I’ve reemerged, unexpectedly transformed, a little unsteady and unsure of what this change means for me. I’m eating normally again, but after years of turning food from a daily joy to a daily chore, I don’t think I will ever eat in as carefree a way as I did before. More than ever, I respect the importance of food as fuel and medicine, and I gratefully salute the vast pharmacopeia that nature provides.

So that’s the update. I’m sending hugs to “A concerned chinesegrandma enjoyer” and others for your kind concern. I am thankful to be here with you, thankful for your support, and thankful for the wondrous, humbling journey of this human existence. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

And if you need any Thanksgiving ideas, this listing is in my recipes index but I’ll add it here in case it’s helpful:

THANKSGIVING

• Thanksgiving planning timeline (Google doc)
• A host’s guide to Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving meal planning
• Buying a turkey

Appetizers/starters

• Cranberry tea [post] [printable]
• Alice Waters’s carrot soup [post] [printable]
• Spinach dip (without the mix) [post] [printable]
• Three-ingredient artichoke dip [post] [printable]

Turkey

• Thanksgiving turkey, dry brined
• Thanksgiving turkey, split and roasted
• Creamy chicken and rice soup (for leftover turkey) [post] [printable]
• Macho salad (for turkey leftovers) [post] [printable]

Salads

• Balsamic vinaigrette [post] [printable]
• Quinoa arugula salad [post] [printable]
• Arugula, pear and parmesan salad [post] [printable]
• Fennel, orange and avocado salad [post] [printable]
• Candied walnuts (or pecans) [post] [printable]
• Kale salad with honey-mustard peanut dressing [post] [printable]
• Shredded kale and brussels sprout salad [post] [printable]
• Kale salad with cranberries and toasted walnuts [post] [printable]
• Wild rice confetti salad [post] [printable]

Sides

• Bread stuffing for a crowd [post] [printable]
• Brussels sprouts Gjelina [post] [printable]
• Buttermilk cornbread [post] [printable]
• Easy cranberry sauce [post] [printable]
• Foolproof mashed potatoes [post] [printable]
• Green beans with feta and balsamic vinegar [post] [printable]
• Maple glazed sweet potatoes [post] [printable]
• No-cook cranberry orange relish [post] [printable]
• Quinoa with sweet potatoes, red pepper and feta [post] [printable]
• Roasted brussels sprouts salad [post] [printable]
• Roasted butternut squash [post] [printable]
• Roasted cauliflower Gjelina [post] [printable]
• Roasted cauliflower with parmesan and olives [post] [printable]
• Roasted fennel with parmesan [post] [printable]

Desserts

• Apple pie with crumb topping [post] [printable]
• Apple snacking cake [post] [printable]
• Cinnamony apple crisp [post] [printable]
• Gingerbread cake [post] [printable]
• Pear torte [post] [printable]
• Pecan pie (no corn syrup) [post] [printable]
• Persimmon bread [post] [printable]
• Pumpkin applesauce cake [post] [printable]
• Pumpkin bread with chocolate [post] [printable]
• Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies [post] [printable]
• Soft ginger cookies [post] [printable]
• Derby pie [post] [printable]
• Caramel dip for apples [post] [printable]

The post Resurfacing appeared first on chinese grandma.