Wednesday, May 25, 2005
"Now We're Cooking"
In a recent moment of weakness, I splurged and bought a new set of cookware - a 10 piece set of All-Clad. I went ahead and got a set that included a couple of non-stick frying pans in addition to the stainless, because neither of us are convinced that we'll be able to cook eggs in the stainless ones without having them stick. It also came with some free items: a small frying pan, a small saucepan, an apron, oven mitt, towel, whisk, and a steamer that matches the pans, along with free shipping. These web sites really want to sell their cookware by bundling in a bunch of extras. Hope it's worth it! Everything should arrive tomorrow and I can't wait to sear something :-)
I have hardly been cooking at all lately, but I am developing an addiction to high-end kitchen products. Haywood got me a Staub "La Theiere" enameled cast iron teapot for our anniversary and now I'm considering buying a couple more enameled cast iron pieces - possibly the "La Cocotte" for braising, or maybe something in Le Creuset. I like the idea of having a couple of fun colorful pieces and having everything else be kind of low-key and matching.
I've also been reading a web seminar on braising from egullet.com - it is kind of interesting - they are using different cooking vessels and doing lab experiments to see what things make a difference in braising, including type of vessel, cooking time, amount of braising liquid, searing vs. no searing... they can all be found here.
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In a recent moment of weakness, I splurged and bought a new set of cookware - a 10 piece set of All-Clad. I went ahead and got a set that included a couple of non-stick frying pans in addition to the stainless, because neither of us are convinced that we'll be able to cook eggs in the stainless ones without having them stick. It also came with some free items: a small frying pan, a small saucepan, an apron, oven mitt, towel, whisk, and a steamer that matches the pans, along with free shipping. These web sites really want to sell their cookware by bundling in a bunch of extras. Hope it's worth it! Everything should arrive tomorrow and I can't wait to sear something :-)
I have hardly been cooking at all lately, but I am developing an addiction to high-end kitchen products. Haywood got me a Staub "La Theiere" enameled cast iron teapot for our anniversary and now I'm considering buying a couple more enameled cast iron pieces - possibly the "La Cocotte" for braising, or maybe something in Le Creuset. I like the idea of having a couple of fun colorful pieces and having everything else be kind of low-key and matching.
I've also been reading a web seminar on braising from egullet.com - it is kind of interesting - they are using different cooking vessels and doing lab experiments to see what things make a difference in braising, including type of vessel, cooking time, amount of braising liquid, searing vs. no searing... they can all be found here.
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"Cleaning Product Plugs"
Well, here it is, almost Memorial Day weekend and we are expecting company. So I find myself "catching up" on household chores. I wanted to recommend two great cleaning products!
The first is one I have been using for about a year. It's called Barkeeper's Friend. It does a wonderful job on stainless steel (although I have not used it on our oven or fridge, since I still have a fear of scratching their large surfaces, i have used it on our sink and cooktop and grill.) Last summer, our grill got a large circle of rusty discoloration on the top of its hood, from us putting our grill cover on after a rain (the cover was still a little wet inside). I felt sick, as anyone does when something relatively new shows damage. Well, I found the Barkeeper's Friend, unopened, in our cabinet and decided to try it - it melted the discoloration away and the grill looked like new again! I was sold. Since then, I have discovered that it is the only thing that will remove hard water deposits at the water line in our toilets (I tried Lime-Away, bleach, vinegar, you name it, and nothing worked except Barkeeper's Friend.) I found Barkeeper's Friend at the local dollar store - $1.50 for a 21oz can of powder.
The second product is Magic Eraser. I really thought this was a gimmick, but I decided to give it a whirl and it is amazing! We have two dogs (and two puppies left - anyone want to buy one?) and builder flat white paint on our downstairs walls. The dogs are constantly scuffing the walls and/or shaking after a bath, etc. And we have Sierra, who just can't seem to keep her hands off the walls. As you know, flat paint is not cleanable and we have not yet committed to a new paint job (I can touch up with the matching flat paint that we still have, but to switch paints we'd have to move lots of stuff and break out ladders for the tall ceilings and also find a stopping point since the rooms are connected and blend right into the stairwell and the upstairs. We just don't feel like doing that right now!) So I figured I'd just see if Magic Eraser would do anything and it removed all the scuffs!!! These are scuffs that I had tried to remove with damp cloths, sponges, paper towels, etc. The only solution before was to lightly sand or touch up (flat paint IS great for touching up, while any other sheen with show a spot when trying this method.) Magic Eraser also works on crayon, pencil/pen marks, etc. Evidently it can be used to clean other creviced surfaces, like athletic shoes, textured refrigerator handles, and plastic lawn furniture. The possibilities are endless. This should not be used on glossy surfaces, so be sure to read the directions so you don't damage anything. For those that are wondering how it works, it's composed of a melamine foam that contains microfibers that get into tiny crevices of what you're cleaning. They break down during use - quite quickly if you have a large area or use a lot of pressure. There are other brands on the market as well, which supposedly work just as well and cost less.
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Well, here it is, almost Memorial Day weekend and we are expecting company. So I find myself "catching up" on household chores. I wanted to recommend two great cleaning products!
The first is one I have been using for about a year. It's called Barkeeper's Friend. It does a wonderful job on stainless steel (although I have not used it on our oven or fridge, since I still have a fear of scratching their large surfaces, i have used it on our sink and cooktop and grill.) Last summer, our grill got a large circle of rusty discoloration on the top of its hood, from us putting our grill cover on after a rain (the cover was still a little wet inside). I felt sick, as anyone does when something relatively new shows damage. Well, I found the Barkeeper's Friend, unopened, in our cabinet and decided to try it - it melted the discoloration away and the grill looked like new again! I was sold. Since then, I have discovered that it is the only thing that will remove hard water deposits at the water line in our toilets (I tried Lime-Away, bleach, vinegar, you name it, and nothing worked except Barkeeper's Friend.) I found Barkeeper's Friend at the local dollar store - $1.50 for a 21oz can of powder.
The second product is Magic Eraser. I really thought this was a gimmick, but I decided to give it a whirl and it is amazing! We have two dogs (and two puppies left - anyone want to buy one?) and builder flat white paint on our downstairs walls. The dogs are constantly scuffing the walls and/or shaking after a bath, etc. And we have Sierra, who just can't seem to keep her hands off the walls. As you know, flat paint is not cleanable and we have not yet committed to a new paint job (I can touch up with the matching flat paint that we still have, but to switch paints we'd have to move lots of stuff and break out ladders for the tall ceilings and also find a stopping point since the rooms are connected and blend right into the stairwell and the upstairs. We just don't feel like doing that right now!) So I figured I'd just see if Magic Eraser would do anything and it removed all the scuffs!!! These are scuffs that I had tried to remove with damp cloths, sponges, paper towels, etc. The only solution before was to lightly sand or touch up (flat paint IS great for touching up, while any other sheen with show a spot when trying this method.) Magic Eraser also works on crayon, pencil/pen marks, etc. Evidently it can be used to clean other creviced surfaces, like athletic shoes, textured refrigerator handles, and plastic lawn furniture. The possibilities are endless. This should not be used on glossy surfaces, so be sure to read the directions so you don't damage anything. For those that are wondering how it works, it's composed of a melamine foam that contains microfibers that get into tiny crevices of what you're cleaning. They break down during use - quite quickly if you have a large area or use a lot of pressure. There are other brands on the market as well, which supposedly work just as well and cost less.
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Monday, May 23, 2005
"Good News That Doesn't Matter"
I have some great news, but unfortunately, it doesn't really matter for the immediate future. I received my Praxis II Elementary Education exam scores back today and I passed with a 94%! I also scored high enough to gain a Recognition of Excellence award, which is given to the the top 15% of test takers. I am elated, considering I wasn't quite sure how I did afterwards. However, since I am doing technology support and not instructional technology for my new job, I don't have to get my license right away anymore, but at least if I apply for it in the next 5 years I will not need to retake this test!
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I have some great news, but unfortunately, it doesn't really matter for the immediate future. I received my Praxis II Elementary Education exam scores back today and I passed with a 94%! I also scored high enough to gain a Recognition of Excellence award, which is given to the the top 15% of test takers. I am elated, considering I wasn't quite sure how I did afterwards. However, since I am doing technology support and not instructional technology for my new job, I don't have to get my license right away anymore, but at least if I apply for it in the next 5 years I will not need to retake this test!
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Friday, May 13, 2005
"Friday the 13th!"
I must have been really busy today, because I made it through the entire day without realizing it was Friday the 13th. I'm not really superstitious, as someone pointed out when I was cluelessly standing underneath a ladder the other day at the local art gallery I just did a website for. Actually, Sierra's best friend's mom is the Executive Director, so it was the least I could do since the girls are friends and the Arts Center is a non-profit.
I just happened to see that Rich wrote a review of Sideways and it's kind of funny...the guy (Jim Taylor) who did the adapted screenplay (and won an Oscar and Golden Globe) is the first cousin of my art gallery friend. Don't worry, I won't tell her about the bad review :-) Actually, he just adapted it, so I guess the negativity isn't really his fault. Haywood bought the movie the day it came out and he said he really liked it and thought my dad and I would love it, since my dad and I go to wine tastings together. Well, my dad hated it and thought it was vulgar (he's traditional and hates bad language in movies) so I don't know if he got past that and I still haven't watched it since with my newly realized Adult A.D.D. I haven't even tried to watch a movie in months because I can't make it through one without falling asleep. An hour seems to be my limit, so TV shows are great, but movies kill me! I would kind of like to see how Sandra Oh is in the movie, since she is also in Grey's Anatomy, which I watch and am still evaluating.
Right now I am studying for a 4 hour exam that I have to take tomorrow morning at 7:30. It's the Virginia Reading Assessment and is one of the requirements for licensure in Elementary Education. I really don't need this right away, but I already paid for it, so I am going to get it over with. I will be so glad when I'm done with these tests. I have learned a lot, though, which is always a good thing.
Okay, I must get back to studying so I can get a few hours of shut eye!
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I must have been really busy today, because I made it through the entire day without realizing it was Friday the 13th. I'm not really superstitious, as someone pointed out when I was cluelessly standing underneath a ladder the other day at the local art gallery I just did a website for. Actually, Sierra's best friend's mom is the Executive Director, so it was the least I could do since the girls are friends and the Arts Center is a non-profit.
I just happened to see that Rich wrote a review of Sideways and it's kind of funny...the guy (Jim Taylor) who did the adapted screenplay (and won an Oscar and Golden Globe) is the first cousin of my art gallery friend. Don't worry, I won't tell her about the bad review :-) Actually, he just adapted it, so I guess the negativity isn't really his fault. Haywood bought the movie the day it came out and he said he really liked it and thought my dad and I would love it, since my dad and I go to wine tastings together. Well, my dad hated it and thought it was vulgar (he's traditional and hates bad language in movies) so I don't know if he got past that and I still haven't watched it since with my newly realized Adult A.D.D. I haven't even tried to watch a movie in months because I can't make it through one without falling asleep. An hour seems to be my limit, so TV shows are great, but movies kill me! I would kind of like to see how Sandra Oh is in the movie, since she is also in Grey's Anatomy, which I watch and am still evaluating.
Right now I am studying for a 4 hour exam that I have to take tomorrow morning at 7:30. It's the Virginia Reading Assessment and is one of the requirements for licensure in Elementary Education. I really don't need this right away, but I already paid for it, so I am going to get it over with. I will be so glad when I'm done with these tests. I have learned a lot, though, which is always a good thing.
Okay, I must get back to studying so I can get a few hours of shut eye!
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Monday, May 09, 2005
"You're hired."
Hello faithful readers! I got a job! Most people thought I was crazy when I said I hadn't interviewed or even looked for a job for almost two years, but this is the exact reason. I had a feeling as soon as I did that I would get something and have to start working again and I wanted to be good and ready before that happened.
So anyway, starting in August I will be doing Technology Support for the local school system. I am still working towards a teaching certification and may eventually do more Instructional Technology, but for now it will be more troubleshooting, set ups, installations, hardware work, etc. Kind of funny, because I feel like that I have been doing that every day anyway, for various friends and family, so now I'll get paid for it and will once again have benefits. Medical and dental are free this time (good thing, since we're talking school system salary here!) but my number one favorite perk is that I'll have the summers off! To me, that is worth its weight in gold, since my time is worth more to me than any amount of money, especially time with Sierra while she is off in the summers.
My new boss is going to call in a few days to discuss some possible career directions, so I'd be interested to see what he'll have to say. Until then...
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Hello faithful readers! I got a job! Most people thought I was crazy when I said I hadn't interviewed or even looked for a job for almost two years, but this is the exact reason. I had a feeling as soon as I did that I would get something and have to start working again and I wanted to be good and ready before that happened.
So anyway, starting in August I will be doing Technology Support for the local school system. I am still working towards a teaching certification and may eventually do more Instructional Technology, but for now it will be more troubleshooting, set ups, installations, hardware work, etc. Kind of funny, because I feel like that I have been doing that every day anyway, for various friends and family, so now I'll get paid for it and will once again have benefits. Medical and dental are free this time (good thing, since we're talking school system salary here!) but my number one favorite perk is that I'll have the summers off! To me, that is worth its weight in gold, since my time is worth more to me than any amount of money, especially time with Sierra while she is off in the summers.
My new boss is going to call in a few days to discuss some possible career directions, so I'd be interested to see what he'll have to say. Until then...
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