Sesame Street: Me Want It (But Me Wait)...Appropriate?

And as a follow-up to my chocolate chip cookies post, here's a video of the biggest chocolate chip cookie fan ever:





I'm not sure how appropriate this is for children (the target audience of Sesame Street) to be watching, what with talking about cookies almost like sexual objects of desire (Cookie Monster does have a one-track mind), with the background of club music and puppet dancing, not to mention extremely bad grammar, which is repeated a LOT (me want it!?)...but I guess times are changing, and it does have a good message, teaching kids and grownups alike the importance of "#controlmeself", (or delayed gratification).

And even with all the sexual vibes of the words, Cookie Monster is too cute and fuzzy to transmit any serious questionable intentions...I think!

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Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Today was a day of cold, awful weather and piano teaching. (Somehow, the two always seem to go together.) When I got home in the early afternoon, it was time for some lunch. So, I made cookies!

I did have actual lunch too, in the form of a protein-shake, which is something that I've recently decided to try. I shook up some protein powder (chocolate flavored) and half a can of coconut milk in my chilled shaker - I think I'll add some honey next time, and MCT oil too (which I've already mentioned here), even though this was pretty tasty and filling by itself.

One of my goals during this two-week period of holidays from university is to clean and de-clutter my space, and I have a few things in the pantry to use up. Some of these things (brown sugar, flour) just happen to be cookie ingredients, and the fact that chocolate chip cookies are my favorite dessert ever meant that these just had to happen. I might have to make a cake next week as well to use up the rest of my ingredients too...

To make these, I used my favorite recipe ever, from David Lebovitz's Great Book of Chocolate, which was given to me from my friend from Vermont in a package from America. I've loved every recipe in the book that I've tried! The recipe for these cookies can be found online here at the Smitten Kitchen, which is incidentally one of my favorite food blogs ever. I had to modify the recipe a bit because I didn't have any white sugar and wasn't going to buy any (since the aim was to use up ingredients!) and also I omitted the nuts. So consequently, the texture was a little bit different, but of course that was expected because the type of sugar you use does influence the final texture of your cookies. And they were still delicious - can't go too wrong with classic chocolate chip cookies.

A few pictures of the process (and results!):

Mixing dough - made the typical mistake of starting off with a too-small bowl (pictured above) and having to transfer to a larger one after making a mess!

Formed and ready for baking

Spreading out in the oven!

Delicious final product

Lunch is served....

Golden, crisp, chewy and chocolatey!

Do you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, or baking/cooking blog that you like to read?

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TOMS Wrap Boots

I seem to have a thing for red boots, even my pair of real leather boots has a reddish tinge. I got these wrap boots last year and they're still going strong, in great condition. They do take a little while to get on and off but they are so comfortable and I have gotten many compliments on them and their unique-ness (some have said they are like ninja shoes!). I'm glad I got them before they were discontinued, but I'm really liking the design of the other boots and shoes TOMS is coming out with, and of course their simple, original design. (Not that I'm planning on buying any more shoes, still on my quest for wardrobe minimalism). These boots can be wrapped high or low to make calf-length or ankle boots. The promotional video can be found on Youtube so you can see what I mean properly if you're interested. These were apparently inspired from leg wraps used on racing horses.

Lately I've been reading about how TOMS doesn't actually help people as much as we consumers are led to believe by their marketing. Kelsey Timmerman writes here about how the "One for One" policy TOMS has of donating a pair of shoes to countries in need for every pair bought is ineffective. (And also points out that TOMS shoes are still made in China, NOT the US!) It's the give a man a fish vs. teaching him to fish scenario, where you either have a very temporary solution or a lifetime one. The other thing is that most people in third-world countries do have access to shoes, but may not have the means to buy them. So simply giving them a pair of shoes doesn't solve the real problem.

However if nothing else, TOMS as a brand does spread some awareness about the poverty and difficulties some people face every day. Their advertising spreads a message to a wide audience of people, even if the truth of their results is less beneficial than it's made out to be. They also have "One Day Without Shoes" campaigns to raise awareness, with the idea that people experience what it's like to go barefoot, because some people don't have a choice. Although I can't understand how it's such a big deal going barefoot in first-world countries, on smooth pavement and indoors, and I myself often choose to go barefoot, actually. (Firstly it's more common in NZ, and secondly, I'm also into barefoot running.)

But anyway they definitely make helping people in need a feature of their marketing and I'm sure they intend for customers to buy their shoes because they can feel good about helping someone.

If you buy TOMS shoes, do so because you actually like their designs as a part of your personal style, rather than doing it to make a lasting change in someone's life - because chances are, you aren't going to do that by buying a pair of shoes.

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How to Pick Up Girls (or Guys)

Lots of guys and girls seem to be looking for tips on how to ask people out. But the people who are already successful at doing so know that really, it's not that difficult. All it takes is a little confidence, and a lack of caring about what others (and usually, these "others" are strangers) may think about you.

All you have to do to ask someone out is initiate conversation. From there, it's easy. There are factors that increase your rates of success, like:

• being fit, healthy, hygienic and put-together in appearance
• choosing people who aren't already married or in relationships
• finding people with similar interests, age group, goals, looking for the same kind of relationship, etc.

But you'll find that a lot of people are open to conversing and even meeting for a coffee (or other activity) for further interaction if there were mutual interests in the conversation. Found out that you both like theatre? Offer to go see a play together. You both like movies, sports, art, or music? You see where this is going. And these are basic topics that might easily come up in a casual first-time conversation.
Basically, all you have to do is do it. Don't over-think things. Talk to them. Ask. It's that simple. You'll never get better at asking people out if you aren't trying at all.

And if you are already interested in a person you've seen, a good way to get into a conversation is by giving them a compliment - you know that'll already be a mutual interest, because you're talking about them and people like talking about themselves, no matter what they might say to the contrary. Girls (and guys) are likely to be impressed by compliments in a casual setting, as in, NOT at a bar or nightclub under the influence of alcohol, because they'll seem more genuine. Specific, interesting compliments are the best for making people feel you are really interested in them and not generically trying to pick them up. For example "your hair looks really nice," rather than "you're hot."

If that's too forward for you, then another first step to initiate a conversation is to simply make eye contact, and then ask them a question. A popular example of this is "do you have the time?" and these days, it's a good one to use directed at people who are obviously making use of technology. Talking to people should be easy, we're all human after all and people don't usually react badly to simple requests and questions...and usually, people would rather say yes than no.

And this eye contact level is a little
on the creepy side for a first encounter!

Probably don't want to pursue if
they're looking at you with this
expression...

You've all probably been in the situation where you're at a bus stop or on a subway and you catch someone potentially checking you out, or you get caught looking at someone - well use that as a first step to conversation or even flirting, rather than embarrassment! Be confident. Give them a compliment or ask them a simple question. What's the worst that can happen?

Maybe they'll think you're a creep, or not want to talk to you, or say no if you ask them out. Well, seeing as before there was any interaction you were complete strangers, you're not really any worse off. Don't take it personally if they don't want to talk or say no to you, surely you've had times when you've wanted to avoid a conversation or go meet someone, and it's not always to do with the other person. If they don't want to talk to you or go out with you, than it's their loss.


Be proud of being rejected. It just shows that you had the guts to ask in the first place, and trying something and failing is far more noble than never having tried for fear of failure. 

This applies to friendship as well as potential relationships. When you're in a situation like waiting in line or on a train or at an event, take any opportunity to chat with the people around you. You can use things around you to make conversation, or asking them something about themselves works too, like where they're from or what they do for a living.

 I recently had a situation where I was at the library and the lady at the front of the line had what looked like 40 books to check out, she was carrying two bags full. The printing of the check-out receipt took a long time, and I found it funny, so I turned to the man behind me and said "long reading list" and we shared a chuckle. Even doing that felt like a really difficult thing to do, but it shouldn't have been! I'm going to work on it, and I think you should too. (Some people even challenge themselves to talk to a stranger every day!)
And, if I was single (which I'm not) and wanted to take things further with that guy, (and if he'd been several years younger), I could have easily done so by asking "what are you reading?" and the conversation could have progressed from there.

We are all human and therefore we all have some things in common!

Old-fashioned people probably conversed a lot more, with the absence of technology to do it for them!

Theatresports as Life

Theatre exterior on a very gray day

On Sunday night I went to a show at Circa Theatre, on the Wellington Waterfront. It wasn't technically a "show" though, but rather, Theatresports Freestyle, which was a comedy competition between two teams of improv actors. My response to the evening's entertainment: it was really awesome! Marvelous, even. Lots of laughs and great audience participation - we got to choose the winning team!

The two teams were just splendid to watch, with great interaction and character interplay. They responded to each other really well and were very quick on the uptake (most of the time!) to each others' new ideas and new characters. Theatresports is where acting is literally reacting.

It got me thinking: this is how real life should be! People should approach life with a comical (or at the very least good-humored) nature and try to respond positively to other people's ideas, with the idea of adding to and enhancing their value rather than dismissing or putting them down.

Even though not all of us are trained to be actors, we are all our own characters in the story of the world. We have the power to change how our character reacts, what our character does, and how our character approaches new situations. Even though we don't have a sit-down audience, we have the audience of our peers, colleagues, friends, family, and everyone we know. Let's put on a good show.

(P.S. If you're reading this in Wellington, NZ, there are still 7 more weeks of Theatresports Freestyle shows that you can - and should - attend!)

Poetry and Writing

I've always had a knack for poetry. I think I (usually) kind of write in the style of Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein, who we read a lot of in elementary school. In 5th grade (or at the age of 10) I composed the following:

If the world were upside down,
there would be trouble in every town!
People would be walking on their heads,
falling right out of their beds!
If we smiled, it would be a frown,
if the world were upside down.

I remember deliberating endlessly whether to say "if the world WAS upside down" or "if the world WERE upside down", but I think I finally figured it out. I wrote others too of course, but that's the only one I fully remember as it's one of the shorter ones. I really enjoy the rhyming and nonsensical style, cute and clever, quaint and fanciful, or, a personal favorite adjective, "capricious"... kind of inspired by Lewis Carroll and the very definition of the word "whimsical"...Jabberwocky, anyone?
(Of course I love Dickinson and Edgar Allen Poe too, and most poetry in general really!)

I also like beautiful writing, and I like clever metaphors and pieces that don't really serve a purpose but at the same time make you think. I haven't really felt comfortable putting any of that in my blog yet, and have instead put in snippets of poetry that serve the same purpose.

The perceived danger of writing like that is that it can seem, as they say, "hokey", ("mawkishly sentimental, corny, or noticeably contrived, artificial" from www.thefreedictionary.com) to the reader, and I have read some blogs with writing like this that DOES seem a bit like that to me. Even though I can appreciate the cleverness of the ideas...sometimes it just seems overdone. I don't want to seem like that to anyone, or myself, I don't want to look back and think "what was I thinking", especially if what I chose to write about was personal (which it often is, in that genre of writing).

I also don't want to presume that people actually want to read that kind of material, that I have written. It's by genre not a form of writing that is best for communicating with a wide audience, but is most effective when personalized in a special way. The intention of that writing is to make people feel rather than give them information, and that each person responds in their own individual way. But, I feel most comfortable when my posts have a purpose and clear message to convey, or showcase some event or product/company that other people can attend or try for themselves.

But, maybe I'll try one of these days, just writing something for the sake of the writing, and put it on the Internet. Maybe I'll presume people will want to read it, and not find it hokey...and just not care if they do find it that way. Maybe someday. (Maybe soon.)

(Maybe someday I'll stop writing with so many excessive commas that I have to proof-read just to edit them out, too!)

Human Connections (a Poem)

People affect each other. It applies to everyone, happens to everyone, and is done by everyone. People you don't even know have an effect on you. Famous people, ex girlfriends or boyfriends, your friends, friends of your friends, families, people in other countries, anyone who is trying to help or hurt anyone...the list is endless. The world is connected, by people. From the minutest level of one person to the grandest level of millions.

Not to mention, humans all have similar issues in life, and the same goals and desires. You want to lose weight? You just started a business, or blog? Your boyfriend or girlfriend just broke up with you? You're cold, tired, hungry, or just bored? Congratulations, this is the same for millions of others. Even if you're fit, healthy, productive, happy and having a great life, guess what - so are lots of others. Being "special" is a romantic idea, not a realistic one.

But at the same time, while it means less people are "special" or known to everyone on earth, more people are special in their own social circles and everyone still has an effect on other people that goes further than their immediate surroundings. Everyone is unique as a person, even if everything they say, want, or do has already been said, wanted, or done before. It's quite paradoxical in ways...how people seem to affect everyone, and no one.

Is it good? Is it bad?

Well, let me communicate what I think about it, within the constraints (or freedom!) of rhyme.

To think, to dream, to fathom thus

about other people who affect us,

is a mystifying and confusing act

but is nonetheless, unavoidable fact.

Girls, boys, friends of a friend,

feelings of curiosity never end.

Jealousy and fear are apt to arise;

the unknown can often be our demise.

Presidents and celebrities are culprits too,

making us wonder about what WE do.

They make our lives seem boring and bland,

nothing is good enough, nothing's as planned.

Is it them? Is it us? How on earth do we change?

Effects of human connections are certainly strange.

The thing to remember, is that it's not just effects.

You, too, are a cause, you can change what happens next.

A-Muse: Expressions!

This is a car with an expression...or at least, eyelashes! Cute :)

"Some things are better together"...an illustration of how iconic "fish & chips" are in NZ, on a bus-shelter advertisement for an electricity company

"Elephant in the room", anyone? Taken from the classroom where I teach violin and piano on Saturdays

Finally, what are children's books coming to these days? I don't know WHY he needs a new bum, but the expression on that kid's face isn't really enough to distract us from the visual of his current one...

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Seamly.co - Sustainable Fashion, Made in the USA!

On Wednesday, I came home to a parcel from Seamly.co! Read about them and their mission here.

I ordered two items (using a discount I received for participating in their Versalette Challenge), the "So High" leggings in Deep Plum and the Midsummer Midi in Wave Blue. Here they are right out of the parcel, complete with cute brown-paper labels and colorful twine!

These leggings are so high quality, and such a beautiful color! On the site it says these are "active-wear fabric paired with a super high waist", made of perforated lycra deadstock fabric. They are SO soft and smooth, they feel great against your skin and are super flattering, especially for leggings. I think these would be great for doing yoga as well as for everyday wear - the fabric makes them breathable and cool. I wore them the day after they arrived, even though it was perhaps a little chilly to wear anything with perforated fabric (as Winter is still on the way out here in NZ!) - but I just couldn't wait!

 I mentioned in an earlier post that their items are slightly more expensive than what you'd find in a trendy chain store, but actually, even stores like American Eagle and Aeropostale in America, or Glassons and Jeanswest in NZ, have similar or higher prices than Seamly.co. The quality of their clothes doesn't match up though; at Seamly they make and design their goods individually (even letting people vote on their upcoming designs!), meaning each piece is well thought out and very high quality, whereas at chain stores the clothing is more mass-produced and geared towards fast fashion trends. AND, when you take into account the versatile options, Seamly becomes even more attractive value for money. For example, they are currently making some dresses that you can wear either long or short. As in, maxi-long and above-the-knee short. That's like having two totally different dresses! Those ones are retailing for $55-60 USD, so if you divide that by two you have around $30 for each dress option that your new dress will give you. Now think about options like the Versalette or the 5-way maxi dress, and for the styling options you're getting you've actually got quite amazing bargains in terms of price, and that's awesome.

More Kiwiana - Pictures!

More Iconically New Zealand Things:

Whittaker's Chocolate:

This Peanut Butter block is a fairly recent addition, they've finally caught up with the rest of the world (or, America) who likes chocolate and peanut butter together!

 Cookie Time:

Not as chewy as the good old American chocolate chip cookie, but at least these aren't called "biscuits" (like most cookies here are), and I think Cookie Monster would definitely approve of their red mascot! They've got a factory shop in Christchurch that I hope to visit sometime.

 Play Money and Pirate Coins

The $50 note is purple, and the $100 is red, so they're all different colors, and in addition to having people on them, they've got birds and flowers and buildings on them too.

These are almost all the coins NZ regularly uses, but missing their smallest denomination, the 10 cent piece (which is basically the same size and color as a US penny, maybe a bit bigger. They all have NZ icons on, like birds, tikis, and boats...and of course the Queen on the flip-side). But yes, prices are rounded here.

Tuataras 

These are little lizards, we've got some in an enclosure at Victoria University! Lizards are my favorite animal, so to me, this is a bonus point for NZ. Isn't he cute?

Pies - Meat Pies!

Yeah, and people think America's fat...this has 558 calories and 30.1 grams of fat in it!

Luckily, it took me over 4 years to actually start liking these. Now, I'd probably find sweet pies strange...actually no, there's nothing like a good No Apple Apple Pie, like we made in 7th grade Science Class! 

Vegetarians beware...

Finally, the world's ugliest Government Building:

The Parliament building, known as "The Beehive", for obvious reasons. And, it's full of drones! Ha, ha...

Of course, there are some American things here too. Like....

Recently found these, forgot how much I miss them! Gotta love American candy.

Peanut M&M's...my not-so-secret vice

Limited Edition Hazelnut Snickers! Apparently
not available in America?

Subway, bringing the country 6-inch and foot-long sandwiches...even though NZ doesn't use feet and inches!

And, I think we can all guess what this is, check out all those "Golden Arches!"

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The "Experience" of Shopping - Research!

There is now research to back up my "Instructions for Life" post on going to events: The Atlantic online writes that yes, the saying that money can't buy happiness is a proven myth - BUT, it is more the wanting of expensive things that makes us happy, rather than actually buying them.

So Derek Thompson (writer of the article) suggests that you stop buying so much stuff, and replace that with buying experiences. He also makes great points about how a new thing you buy loses its novelty really fast (that new rug you just bought will soon cease to make you happy, and "reveal itself to be just a rug"). The other really interesting thing is that apparently, to some materialistic people, the act of buying can actually be a disappointment, compared to the thinking about the acquisition of the item that comes before.

Go read the article here!

And maybe try "shopping" at the library?

Tastes of Life: Monsoon Poon, & Chow Cocktails

Last Saturday we had a few hours between opera shows to get dinner. So, we went to Monsoon Poon. We'd been there once before and had an outstanding meal. And this time, since we got there before 6pm, we got to have the lucky hour cocktails as well, which on that day was "Gone Pete Tong". 

As stated in the menu, it was a really refreshing drink, cold and cucumber-infused. The Wasabi liqueur gave it a really interesting flavor too, which was quite nice. I've had a gourmet chocolate with wasabi-flavored filling before (at last year's Chocolate Festival - it's on again soon in Wellington, so if you're around do give it a try!), which was not such a great flavor pairing, but it worked a lot better in this cocktail! As you can see in the photo, it also had pieces of cucumber in it too, which sometimes liked to get caught in the straws! But again, this feature of the drink wasn't unpleasant.

They had an ethnically themed decor for the most part, with lots of red. On the wall behind us there were a series of plates signed by notable people who have eaten at the restaurant - below is one signed by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords! It reminds me of what is probably more commonly seen in cities like New York, with restaurants that can advertise that presidents and celebrities have had dinner there.

Food-wise, we ordered two entrees, the Little Dragon Tacos (which we'd had before and had to have again!) and the Wanzi's. The Little Dragon Tacos are a mixture of shrimp, chili sauce, coriander and avocado wrapped in a soft roti shell, and the Wanzi's were described as "crispy bean curd, smoked pork, spring onion and panko crumbs, served with a honey, chili, and ginger soy dipping sauce" - we ordered those because they sounded most interesting. The mix of flavors and textures in the Little Dragon Tacos was absolutely outstanding, and the Wanzi's were soft, warm, and delicious with the sauce.  The sauce had a really nice sweet-but-tangy flavor too, which complemented the more plain flavor of the Wanzi's. 

And for mains, we got the Shaking Beef (served on "peppery leaves with a lime dipping sauce") and the Malay Hawker Style Fried Fish and Prawns, which came covered in a "kaffir lime, coconut, candlenut and chili sauce." We did have to get the rice separately, but one order was enough for the two of us, and we got coconut rice (they have saffron and jasmine options as well). They do have other sides available too, like vegetables and fried rice, and additional condiments too - not that we needed them!

The Paganini Violist: For Music-Oriented Posts

Music is such a big part of my life - and is in fact, also my profession. I've already talked about playing various instruments, and going to concerts on this blog, but there's a lot more of that to come as it's an ongoing part of my life. Since I don't want music to take over this blog, (after all, life is about more than just one specified topic) I've decided to start up a separate blog for musically-oriented posts. That blog is The Paganini Violist. My last post, Sunday Jazz, was also featured on my musical blog, with more specifics about the music. I included the same post (minus the extra musical insights) on this blog for the events side of things.

I'm not sure how I'll handle the balance in future, between whether an event classifies as only musical or as a general experience to be featured on Meanings and Musings. I've already done a post on a New Zealand Symphony Orchestra concert only on my music blog, so I guess I'll be deciding based on each individual event and how it strikes me.

This is just a little note letting any readers know that if they are musicians too, or want to read about music and what it's like to be a musician in more detail, they can find that at The Paganini Violist!

Sunday Jazz

A couple of days ago, the Ken Avery Combo Competition took place at the Chicago Sports Bar in Wellington, NZ. Five jazz bands from the jazz department of the New Zealand School of Music played two pieces each, from the jazz standards repertoire for a total prize pool of $2,000. The competition was set up in memory of Wellington "jazz legend" Ken Avery, who died in 1983, and it was judged by three "prominent jazz practitioners." As students we got really cheap tickets to see this!

Pictures of American presidents

The Chicago Sports Bar provided a great atmosphere for the event. It has an American theme, with signs of American sports teams and presidents hanging from the walls, and it had good lighting for the performance, (probably partly due to the fact that it was an afternoon event). The details were spot on, and added a kind of vintage feel to the decor, with the red gingham tablecloths and red booths, reminiscent of picnics and diners. 

The food also seemed pretty good - my conducting fellow (boyfriend, who is going to be a conductor) and I had planned to have dinner elsewhere in the evening so we just had an order of chips, plus some of the nibbles the Wellington Jazz Club had ordered for the event. Most delicious bowl of fries I've had in a long time! Perfect thick-cut shape, and the potatoes had a fantastic, not-dry-but-also-not-too-squishy  texture.

As for the music - well, I don't listen to a lot of jazz (which is what attracted me to this event, because I'd like to go see more!) but it was really excellent. The groups all had different styles and energy levels, but there was so much of both - that is, style and energy - it was really refreshing. The players were all able to show their own personality through their solos, and some did so with their outfits as well, with shiny silver suits, colorful neckties, or bandannas and other accessories. There were groups that did more slow, deep, and thoughtful numbers, and groups that kept the stage electric with energy and interaction between the players. Every group had a drummer and a double bassist, but the combos varied in the other instruments, some adding saxophones, guitar, piano, and/or trombone to the mix. There was even a group with a male vocalist, who did the popular song 'LOVE' by Nat King Cole.  (You know, the one that goes "L, is for the way you look at me").

All in all a really fun event, and I'm definitely going to keep going to events from Wellington's jazz scene when I have the chance!

The winning group, "The Chronicles of Greg Quintet"

The post "Sunday Jazz" originally appeared on The Paganini Violist. If you'd like to read more about some specific musical aspects of this event, head on over there!