You know the story about the Trojan Horse. I don't understand why anyone would base their team's mascot on the big losers of an ancient war, much less use a horse as another mascot.
Anyway, when Thanksgiving hits, you know it's time for the big college football rivalries--Texas and Texas A&M, Florida and Florida State, just to name a few. This week Los Angeles is in the grips of Beat $C Week (or something else if you're rooting for that other team), which brings me to the topic of saving money when it comes to sporting events. There are two camps of people: those who can afford to spend ridiculous amounts of money for tickets to that big game, and those who can't. Either way, there are certain ways of doing things, then there are cheaper ways to get it done. Admittedly, the cheaper ways don't necessarily achieve the same result, but a game is a game is a game, nothing more--this coming from a pretty big sports fan.
A while back, I heard about some fans (of which school, I can't remember) who bought $C season tickets just so they can go to the Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day. Since they're quite a distance away from the regular season action, they used none of the tickets except one. Dude, I get there are some true fans out there, but I can think of a million ways in which that money could be put to a better use. I don't know how well this works, but one backdoor way in which the hard-core fan can get a better shot at tickets than the general population (and perhaps cheaper tickets) is to join that school's alumni association. Believe it or not, some schools don't even require that you be an actual alum; your money is what counts. Oftentimes there's an alumni seating section that's not open to other people, which is why this oddball strategy might work (and I emphasize might). The amount you pay for the membership fee may end up paying for itself, since membership does confer some special benefits outside of the sporting context.
If you can't get the tickets, don't despair. Remember there are other ways to enjoy the action. You can go tailgate and enjoy the company of equally-devoted fans. While I find it silly to spend the whole day outside the stadium only to watch the game on the TV in the back of your truck/car, it's heck of a lot better than spending the boatload of cash it takes to get inside. Besides, you have an endless supply of food and booze without spending even more money and waiting in long lines. Better yet, spend the day on your couch. Food, drink, and bathroom are all yours and readily within reach, and if your team loses, you don't have to endure the heckling from the other guys. Make it a party and have your fellow ticket-less friends over for some raucous fun--make it a potluck to cut down on costs.
No matter whose side you're on, I hope you'll enjoy the last of the college football season!
11.28.2006
11.27.2006
Reinventing Turkey
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I got really stuffed at dinner hosted by members of the extended family. After hearing stories of how back in the day things were tough in Russia, and then many humorous yet heartbreaking stories of poverty and survival during the Great Depression, I am very grateful for the relatively comfortable life I have today. It's hard to get back to school, but at least I have a good education, and it won't be long before the next big holiday.
It must be tough to deal with lots of leftover turkey. I've got a huge hunk of it sitting in my fridge. The day after Thanksgiving, my parents decided to cook up a turkey. It was delicious, but having had lots of turkey on Thanksgiving already, I really couldn't eat much more. So, my parents had me take a hunk of it when I left. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. Trouble is, I also cooked toward the end of the week, so now I've got plenty of cooked food in my fridge. When I didn't have time to cook, I had nothing, but now suddenly the fridge is packed. Still, I'm very thankful for a full fridge.
I've got a lot of ideas of what to do with that turkey so that nothing is wasted--some traditional, some not. Whether I have time to use all those ideas is a different story:
1) turkey sandwich--really obvious, but there are some non-obvious ways to make them better. My brother used to love to shred up the meat, add lots of black pepper, then melt some cheese on it. It's much better than having a dry slice of turkey on sliced bread.
2) turkey soup--I love making chicken tortilla soup, and I suppose turkey tortilla is just as good. All you need is a can of diced tomatoes w/chili, slice up a jalapeno pepper, mince some garlic, chop up some onions, green onions, and cilantro, drop in some corn tortillas, and of course the turkey, and you've got a quick and easy soup. Of course there's also the traditional turkey noodle, turkey vegetable, or turkey with rice.
3) turkey pot pie--chicken pot pie is actually pretty easy to make from scratch. I used to make it for potlucks all the time. Make the pie dough the night before (it's easy to find a recipe online). Cut up some carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions, sautee them until the carrots and potatoes are somewhat cooked through in order to cut down on baking time. Mix in the turkey bits. Add in some milk, flour, and a can of chicken broth to make a creamy mixture. Flavor with pepper or other herbs to your fancy. Roll out 2 pieces of dough, line the pan, pour in the filling, slap on the top crust, and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or so.
4) turkey pasta--make a cream or pesto sauce for it. I think anything tomato-based will ruin it.
5) turkey salad--the possibilities are endless. You can turn turkey into a meat-heavy salad, or have turkey pieces over a bed of greens. The latter, of course, is a lot more nutritious.
6) turkey porridge--my mom gets credit for this one. The leftover shell of the turkey that no one can or wants to eat is still flavorful, and this is one way to really milk the turkey for all it's worth. We didn't hunt the turkey, but we waste nothing, just like the hunters of yore. Making a rice porridge is simple--boil water, add a few scoops of already cooked rice (should be about a 1/2 to 1/3 ratio of rice to water), and boil until the rice is quite broken up. Add in the turkey carcass and anything else to flavor as necessary. Peanuts (without the shells, of course) make a good addition as well.
If you can't deal with having turkey all week, cut it up and freeze it. Deal with it a bit at a time.
It must be tough to deal with lots of leftover turkey. I've got a huge hunk of it sitting in my fridge. The day after Thanksgiving, my parents decided to cook up a turkey. It was delicious, but having had lots of turkey on Thanksgiving already, I really couldn't eat much more. So, my parents had me take a hunk of it when I left. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. Trouble is, I also cooked toward the end of the week, so now I've got plenty of cooked food in my fridge. When I didn't have time to cook, I had nothing, but now suddenly the fridge is packed. Still, I'm very thankful for a full fridge.
I've got a lot of ideas of what to do with that turkey so that nothing is wasted--some traditional, some not. Whether I have time to use all those ideas is a different story:
1) turkey sandwich--really obvious, but there are some non-obvious ways to make them better. My brother used to love to shred up the meat, add lots of black pepper, then melt some cheese on it. It's much better than having a dry slice of turkey on sliced bread.
2) turkey soup--I love making chicken tortilla soup, and I suppose turkey tortilla is just as good. All you need is a can of diced tomatoes w/chili, slice up a jalapeno pepper, mince some garlic, chop up some onions, green onions, and cilantro, drop in some corn tortillas, and of course the turkey, and you've got a quick and easy soup. Of course there's also the traditional turkey noodle, turkey vegetable, or turkey with rice.
3) turkey pot pie--chicken pot pie is actually pretty easy to make from scratch. I used to make it for potlucks all the time. Make the pie dough the night before (it's easy to find a recipe online). Cut up some carrots, potatoes, celery, and onions, sautee them until the carrots and potatoes are somewhat cooked through in order to cut down on baking time. Mix in the turkey bits. Add in some milk, flour, and a can of chicken broth to make a creamy mixture. Flavor with pepper or other herbs to your fancy. Roll out 2 pieces of dough, line the pan, pour in the filling, slap on the top crust, and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or so.
4) turkey pasta--make a cream or pesto sauce for it. I think anything tomato-based will ruin it.
5) turkey salad--the possibilities are endless. You can turn turkey into a meat-heavy salad, or have turkey pieces over a bed of greens. The latter, of course, is a lot more nutritious.
6) turkey porridge--my mom gets credit for this one. The leftover shell of the turkey that no one can or wants to eat is still flavorful, and this is one way to really milk the turkey for all it's worth. We didn't hunt the turkey, but we waste nothing, just like the hunters of yore. Making a rice porridge is simple--boil water, add a few scoops of already cooked rice (should be about a 1/2 to 1/3 ratio of rice to water), and boil until the rice is quite broken up. Add in the turkey carcass and anything else to flavor as necessary. Peanuts (without the shells, of course) make a good addition as well.
If you can't deal with having turkey all week, cut it up and freeze it. Deal with it a bit at a time.
11.24.2006
Black Friday Without the Madness
After waking up at the crack of dawn only to get nothing a few years ago, I swore I'd never go back to do any Black Friday shopping ever again. My family went out this morning, but I declined the invitation. Instead, I spent my time catching up on sleep.
After lunch, I realized that I needed a pair of strappy sandals for an upcoming wedding. I also need to get some Christmas shopping done. While I totally gave up on those jawdropping deals that require some crazy amount of committment (namely camping out), I do believe that stores do offer some good additional discounts today, so that's why I ended up going to the mall in the late afternoon, when things weren't so crazy.
After all that walking around, I didn't find the shoes I wanted, but I did pick up a few things for family and friends...and me. I found them all at Charlotte Russe, which had 25% throughout the store for non-marked down items. Even things that were not eligible for additional discounts were surprisingly cheap. I grabbed a top for a family member, thinking that it was 30-50% off $20, but it turned out to be $5. There was a kimono top that I intended to get for someone else, but it fitted me so well that it was hard to give it up. Since it also turned out to be $5, I decided that I can afford to keep it. Bad, I know, but at least my intentions were good. That's a really bad excuse.
Having gotten 3 more people off the list (I'll make some jewelry as supplements), the search continues...
After lunch, I realized that I needed a pair of strappy sandals for an upcoming wedding. I also need to get some Christmas shopping done. While I totally gave up on those jawdropping deals that require some crazy amount of committment (namely camping out), I do believe that stores do offer some good additional discounts today, so that's why I ended up going to the mall in the late afternoon, when things weren't so crazy.
After all that walking around, I didn't find the shoes I wanted, but I did pick up a few things for family and friends...and me. I found them all at Charlotte Russe, which had 25% throughout the store for non-marked down items. Even things that were not eligible for additional discounts were surprisingly cheap. I grabbed a top for a family member, thinking that it was 30-50% off $20, but it turned out to be $5. There was a kimono top that I intended to get for someone else, but it fitted me so well that it was hard to give it up. Since it also turned out to be $5, I decided that I can afford to keep it. Bad, I know, but at least my intentions were good. That's a really bad excuse.
Having gotten 3 more people off the list (I'll make some jewelry as supplements), the search continues...
11.22.2006
Review: Original Trends Sample Sale
Thanks for your kind words and support for my trial. It's been the most frustrating and emotionally draining experience in my academic life in the sense that there was a lot of fighting between both sides--not that any of us are bad people, but we cared so much about doing things right (as in real life) and were so passionately advocating that things got really contentious. In the end, I think we've put on quite a show (thought a very long one), and on a personal level, all of us ended on a good note. I'm just glad it's over so that I can start going to sleep at a reasonable hour!
Now that it's over, I have a little bit of time to breathe and blog before the onslaught of outlining, which begins the day after Thanksgiving. When I'm not hitting the books, I'm excited about Christmas shopping! This past weekend I went to the Original Trends sample sale. I usually don't bother with sales where you have to pay a fee to get in, but since I got a chance to go for free, I decided to check it out. I had planned on going all along, but then I got sick and things became less certain. In the end, I'm glad I went out. It was really hot, which surprisingly made me feel a lot better. Street parking wasn't the easiest to find, but it was possible and wound up better than "valet" parking in a tiny lot. There was a long line outside, but since I was on the VIP list, I tried to ask someone to see if there's a separate sign-in. There was quite a bit of confusion at first, and the people waiting in line were probably pissed at me for "cutting," but I just didn't really know what was going on. Finally, the person in charge got me checked off the list and I was able to get inside. I grabbed my goodie bag and threw it in my big gold tote (see the Mike and Chris post from last week), thinking that I'll wait till later to check it out. I had a limited amount of time and I wanted to use it all for shopping.
It was one crowded sale. The space was big, but there were lots of vendors and shoppers so everyone were just squished together. I was quite overwhelmed at first (and being sick didn't help), so I made a few rounds to check out what the goods were before actually diving down to shop. There was a good variety: all kinds of clothes (outerwear, casual/formal, women/men/babies), jewelry, beauty/bath, bags. Some were truly indie designers themselves, some were boutiques selling both mainstream and up-and-comers, and one in particular appeared to sell things that you can buy anywhere (nothing special). Good deals were found, that's for sure, and unlike a lot sample sales that sell things for rock-bottom pricing, many vendors in this one do take credit cards.
The first vendor that caught my eye was the one with a 2 for $10 sign, but that's the vendor that sold regular stuff. I was there to look for deals from indie designers, something less run-of-the mill. I found that at the Mi So Happi table. I think the designs are funky but very wearable, and there's something for everyone, be it the adventurous or the ones with more tempered tastes. The selections ranged from cotton skirts with flower prints to tanks with simple appliques and embellishments. There were a lot of cute $10 items, and even the full-priced items were affordable. It was also nice to talk to the designer a little bit. I learned that her line is sold at some boutiques and at shows like this one. Here's what I bought from the $10 box:
With these sales, here's how I'd go about it:
-The key is to get there early and circle all around. See what's out there before you start buying anything.
-I lucked out, but parking generally sucks. Not much to do about it except get there early, then try streets in all different directions.
-Even if the vendors take credit cards, it's better to do business with cash. Some vendors are willing to dispense with sales tax if you got cash.
-Don't forget to bring ID. There was a dressing area, but to make sure you don't take off with valuable merchandise, they keep your ID while you try things on.
Finally, I didn't take a look at the goodie bag until I got home. Here's what I ended up getting:
-a novel, "Miss Understanding"
-gourmet chocolates
-some fancy drink
-some fancy water
-lotion and body scrub
-CD
-magazines: Yogi Times and 944
-a fortune cookie (huh?)
-a body wash sample
-Mobile Spa 1-hour massage session (worth $125)
-and yes, that's a pair of undies at the bottom, by Biatta.
Happy Turkey Day!
Now that it's over, I have a little bit of time to breathe and blog before the onslaught of outlining, which begins the day after Thanksgiving. When I'm not hitting the books, I'm excited about Christmas shopping! This past weekend I went to the Original Trends sample sale. I usually don't bother with sales where you have to pay a fee to get in, but since I got a chance to go for free, I decided to check it out. I had planned on going all along, but then I got sick and things became less certain. In the end, I'm glad I went out. It was really hot, which surprisingly made me feel a lot better. Street parking wasn't the easiest to find, but it was possible and wound up better than "valet" parking in a tiny lot. There was a long line outside, but since I was on the VIP list, I tried to ask someone to see if there's a separate sign-in. There was quite a bit of confusion at first, and the people waiting in line were probably pissed at me for "cutting," but I just didn't really know what was going on. Finally, the person in charge got me checked off the list and I was able to get inside. I grabbed my goodie bag and threw it in my big gold tote (see the Mike and Chris post from last week), thinking that I'll wait till later to check it out. I had a limited amount of time and I wanted to use it all for shopping.
It was one crowded sale. The space was big, but there were lots of vendors and shoppers so everyone were just squished together. I was quite overwhelmed at first (and being sick didn't help), so I made a few rounds to check out what the goods were before actually diving down to shop. There was a good variety: all kinds of clothes (outerwear, casual/formal, women/men/babies), jewelry, beauty/bath, bags. Some were truly indie designers themselves, some were boutiques selling both mainstream and up-and-comers, and one in particular appeared to sell things that you can buy anywhere (nothing special). Good deals were found, that's for sure, and unlike a lot sample sales that sell things for rock-bottom pricing, many vendors in this one do take credit cards.
The first vendor that caught my eye was the one with a 2 for $10 sign, but that's the vendor that sold regular stuff. I was there to look for deals from indie designers, something less run-of-the mill. I found that at the Mi So Happi table. I think the designs are funky but very wearable, and there's something for everyone, be it the adventurous or the ones with more tempered tastes. The selections ranged from cotton skirts with flower prints to tanks with simple appliques and embellishments. There were a lot of cute $10 items, and even the full-priced items were affordable. It was also nice to talk to the designer a little bit. I learned that her line is sold at some boutiques and at shows like this one. Here's what I bought from the $10 box:
Usually I don't like cardigans without buttons, but this one works just fine because of the ruffles. I just love everything about it--the lace ruffles, the stripes, and the gathered part at the sleeves. This is going to one of my cousins, who is a designer herself and likes funkier stuff, but if she doesn't want it, I'd be happy to keep it (hehe). The little corduroy bag is just too cute. The flower design is made of many scraps of fabric, with the ends fluttering loosely. I can't imagine anyone can say "no" to it.
I went to another table to get a pashmina and a funky scarf for $10 each. Wraps and scarfs are elegant and work well for almost everyone, so it's an easy/lazy gift if you don't know what to get.
One label I've always liked is Moss Mills. The $15 printed tanks were so cute, but since I've made up my mind that I wasn't going to buy anything for myself, I had to let them go. Nature seems to be a motif of the brand. The deer prints were especially cute, and the silver tree print was beautiful. There were also dresses and outerwear. I fell hard for the cropped swing jackets. They were wool, lined, and well-made for about $40. Maybe next year when I (hopefully) start making good money...
Another label that caught my eye was Whish. I loved the cute fitted wool coats and leather-belted dresses. Obviously not cheap, but they were nice to look at and covet.
I think the strangest sight of the event was a denim display at the Dalia table. They had jeans with back pockets that light up and animate. It's really cool, but I'm not sure I want people staring at my butt on the pretense of admiring the animated cat.
With these sales, here's how I'd go about it:
-The key is to get there early and circle all around. See what's out there before you start buying anything.
-I lucked out, but parking generally sucks. Not much to do about it except get there early, then try streets in all different directions.
-Even if the vendors take credit cards, it's better to do business with cash. Some vendors are willing to dispense with sales tax if you got cash.
-Don't forget to bring ID. There was a dressing area, but to make sure you don't take off with valuable merchandise, they keep your ID while you try things on.
Finally, I didn't take a look at the goodie bag until I got home. Here's what I ended up getting:
-a novel, "Miss Understanding"
-gourmet chocolates
-some fancy drink
-some fancy water
-lotion and body scrub
-CD
-magazines: Yogi Times and 944
-a fortune cookie (huh?)
-a body wash sample
-Mobile Spa 1-hour massage session (worth $125)
-and yes, that's a pair of undies at the bottom, by Biatta.
Happy Turkey Day!
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