40 Day Dream

It's the day after Ash Wednesday, when everyone begins to really understand what they gave up for Lent, and how hard these 40 days will be. This year I'm trying to give up complaining! It's such a broad, overused word that I had to look it up.

I know I complain way too much, but it's almost like a reflex. I have strong opinions and standards, and when something doesn't live up to them, I get frustrated which leads to complaining. So during this lenten season, I'm going to try to accept when things do not go as I think they should, and instead focus on the many blessings in my life.

I am blessed to live in this great city of Austin, Texas! Spring break is almost here, which means SXSW is just around the corner!! I am so excited for my first year attending as 21+ so I can actually get into some of the shows. And even though I don't have a badge, there are soo soo many free shows that are happening all the time. Here are some of the ones I'm most looking forward to:

Rhapsody Rocks Austin 2011

Fat Crooked Unwound at the Mohawk

Music by the Slice

#Offline

And many more!! I can't wait, but I'll still be happy if it doesn't go exactly as planned. No complaining, I promise!

Also to follow up on my previous post, There is a big march and rally planned for this Saturday to support Texas schools and I encourage everyone to attend! It starts at 11 at the capital:

http://savetxschools.org/

Have a great spring break everyone!

P.S. Song of the post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0RQnGhxZzg

Hot for Teacher

Well the fateful day has come and gone, and the MCAT scores are set in stone. I'm very happy with my score (34), especially since it means I don't have to take the test again! This puts me in very good shape for Texas schools, and about average for the out of state schools. After attending the Health Professions fair, and talking to the awesome 4th year med students from UTHSC-San Antonio, that might be the top of my list. They have a great MD/MPH program that is only 4 years long! And the med students said that all of their friends in the program absolutely love it, especially to overseas component. And you can't beat the price! Now on to letters of rec, personal statement and shadowing! Still so much to do!

Most of my time this semester has been devoted to a UTeach class called "Science Outreach in Elementary Schools". Sounds awesome, right? Wrong. It is my worst class, and has taken so much of my free time that my other classes are suffering. I've spent the past couple of weeks writing an entire lesson plan, all outside of class, with a very unhelpful partner and section leaders. This class is so unorganized and requires a ridiculous amount of time.

However the actual teaching part is amazing. I teach 5th grade at Zilker Elementary. The kids are so excited to learn, and ask great questions. They really enjoy science, and are so patient with me and my partner as we learn to teach. And our teacher, Mrs. Pena, is so nice and helpful. So needless to say, when I heard about the ridiculous cuts proposed in Wisconsin to the teacher's union, I was disgusted. Just take a look at this Daily Show clip.

Do those conservative commentators think they would be anywhere without their public school teachers?! It takes so much tireless work to teach every subject every day, as many of the grade school teachers do. I bet NONE of those commentators could do a teacher's job. I was amazed at how difficult it was to just do a science lesson that was already written for you.

School cuts are hitting us here in Austin. Zilker Elementary is under threat to be closed due to AISD budget cuts. It is such a great school in a great neighborhood, and it has so much history. The parents and teachers are doing everything they can to convince the school board to reconsider:
http://www.kvue.com/news/Parents-fight-to-keep-south-Austin-schools-open-113234439.html

All citizens of our country have benefited from the tireless work of teachers, and now, more than ever, they need our help!!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Anyone who has had even the shortest conversation with me in the last month and a half knows that my life has been dominated by studying for the MCAT. First of all, I apologize for sounding like a half-crazed person who must obsessively mention the word MCAT every two minutes. But it really has been all I have to talk about. Well, I promise this will be one of the last times!
All that time payed off this Saturday when I took the real thing. In a small testing center in a strip mall in San Antonio, I tried to remember everything I crammed into my brain in the last 50 days. I definitely do no think I got anything near a perfect score, especially since that's impossible, but it wasn't a total disaster. There wasn't anything that caused me to have a break down, although there were a few that I had to guess completely.
The strangest thing about it is that as soon as I walked out of there, I couldn't remember anything I had just read. Maybe it's a defense mechanism and I'm repressing a horrible experience, but I really think not. I really believe that I got +/- 1 point from my last practice test score (it was a 36, it's my blog, I can brag if I want to!)
But I am really trying to push that confidence away because academics has given me my fair share of disappointments. I still remember the pain when I found out I did not get into Northwestern. I hadn't even considered the possibility, and I was devastated. It didn't help that I had a calculus test the next day. So I am trying to apply the lessons I learned to the MCAT. I am conditioning myself for anything above 30, with that score I can still get into Texas medical schools.
But I can't help dreaming about upper-tier schools like Emory and Columbia. The most exciting thing is that with an actual score, the idea of medical school is becoming a reality! I am so excited for future, and can't wait to see where this path will take me. But first, I must be ready for whatever score comes on March 1st.

Books of 2010

Every year I like to keep a list of all the books I've read, and try to beat my all time high of 30. Alas this year I fell short, only 22, but I blame the college for that.

My favorite book of the year by far was The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry. I picked it up after reading a staff review at Book People. Set in a city where it is always raining, the main character works as a clerk for a "private eye" corporation. When a detective goes missing, he begins to ask questions about how his company actually does business, and enters world of mystery controlled by alarm clocks and explored in dreams. Part noir, part magical realism, this book is a more poetic, less bombastic cousin to the movie Inception. As I'm writing this, I want to read the book again! Seriously, it's that good.



Another one of my favorites of the year is an older one that I just got around to reading. I first heard of author Mary Roach on the Daily Show, where she was promoting her newest book Packing for Mars. When in Barnes and Noble's, I saw another one of her books out in the Halloween display. Stiff is a science non fiction book about the unknown lives of cadavers. And you wouldn't believe it, but it is HILARIOUS! Roach has such a conversational tone, you feel like are on this adventure with her to ask all the questions no one else will: What actually happens when you donate your body to science? Has anyone tried to make a real-life Frankenstein? Has it worked? You learn so many new things and she's just so funny! She's written 3 or 4 other books (I already have two others) and I can't wait to read them all.

Some other favorites were A Million Little Pieces, Let the Right One In, and The Girl Who Played With Fire.

A Change of Pace

Hi all! I know, I know, it's been another long break, I've always been so bad at keeping journals and things. So in order to keep this more current, I'm expanding my premise from cupcakes to just anything I want. I'll still post my cupcakes, when I actually have time to make them, but I want to be a little more active than that.
Sooo as my first random post, I've been inspired by all the "best albums" lists that I want to make my own for this crazy year that has been 2010. Here we go:

5. "Contra" by Vampire Weekend
-I can't believe this isn't on all the lists, but I think most people forget it even came out this year, way back in January. Their first album was so unique, you would think there would be no way they could follow up. I have to say it, but I like Contra way better. The songs from their debut were soooo overplayed, I couldn't stand it any more. It was nice to hear something fresh from them. And their ACL set was perfect. Every girl in that crowd, and probably some of the boys, were in love with Ezra Koenig, the lead singer, by the end of that show. It was right at sunset on a beautiful night, perfect! Best Song: "Giving up the Gun". (Hands down best Vampire Weekend song ever)

4. "Sidewalks" by Matt and Kim
-Another CD that gets on the list because of an amazing set, Matt and Kim finally released a new album, and it's more grown up than their earlier ones, with a much fuller sound. Back up vocals and additional instruments make the album seem more composed. Of course all that goes out the window in a live show. They play with such raw energy and excitement, it is impossible to not fall in love with this couple! I was front row for ACL, and it was hands down my favorite set of the festival. Best Song: "Silver Tiles". I know it's actually an old song, but they put it on this album and i love it, so it counts!


3. "This is Happening" by LCD Soundsystem
-What is likely to be the final album of James Murphy with this amazing group has to be on everyone's top list. Even though I still don't think it's as good as Sounds Of Silver, their previous album, it is still out of this world. I was so lucky to see them live, what an amazing show! And we were right next to an LCD Soundsystem cover band, it was hilarious. Best Song: "I Can Change".


2. "Together" by The New Pornographers
-Anything by the New Pornographers is guaranteed to be amazing, hands down. But this year they out did themselves with this album. My favorite part: the electric cello. I kept hearing this great sound when I listened to the album but i had no idea what it was until i saw them live at Stubbs this summer, and some guy in the corner was playing the electric cello! Of course, Neko Case is amazing on this album, I have such a girl crush on her. It's hard to pick a favorite song, but i'd have to say "Moves" and "The Crash Years" are my two favorite.

1. "Riposte" by Buke and Gass
- I am completely obsessed with this album, especially the first track "Medulla Oblongata". I first heard it on an NPR "All Songs Considered" podcast and it blew me away. It is like nothing you have ever heard. The lead singer's voice is unique and rough, but still melodious. The two members play homemade instruments that make their sound stand out. Stop what you are doing and go buy this album right now.


So that's my top 5. Runners up include: Spoon's "Transference", Sleigh Bells' "Treats", The Black Keys "Brothers" and more! Thoughts? Additions?

Pumpkin-Brown Butter Cupcakes

Hello fellow cupcake lovers! Yes, I am still alive and baking away. But if you have recently noticed a gaping hole in your life where cupcake blogging used to be, do not fear, I'm back! In the last three-ish months, I have moved, started another semester and a new job, and have lost many hours of sleep thanks to the wonderful invention of Biochemistry. So now I'm turning to my old stand-by stress relief activity: eating baked goods.
To get into the season, my roommate and I went to grocery store on the first day of fall and bought pounds of canned pumpkin, which actually turned out to be pumpkin pie filling. It works out to be the same thing, even if Martha says it doesn't. The proof:
In this recipe, you first brown the butter before adding it to the other wet ingredients. I'm not exactly sure why, it probably adds a "fuller" flavor, whatever the hell that means. I liked it because it made the butter much easier to mix than if it was room temp. I went a little light on the sugar because the pie filing already had some, and it worked out fine. I still added the full amount of spices, because you can never have too much Cinnamon. The icing was perfect for these cupcakes, much better than a buttercream.It was just more browned butter mixed with powdered sugar. The recipe was too much for the number of cupcakes I had, which seems to happen a lot with Martha's recipes, and is getting frustrating. The cupcakes tasted delicious, and were great for breakfast :) I highly recommend for getting into the fall spirit!

Coming up next: Halloween Cupcakes (Both me and Martha's favorite holiday!)

Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

I come to you a perturbed baker who tripped along the path towards Martha's perfection. However, I would like to see Martha to attempt this recipe and come away unscathed. The idea is simple enough: put away those Little Debbie snack cakes and make some real chocolate cream cupcakes. The recipe is for jumbo-sized cupcakes, which I do not have a pan for, so I made two dozen normal-sized. I made it through the batter prep relatively easily, but I did notice that it was much more thick than past recipes. The only liquid came from 3 eggs, maybe converting the butter to canola oil would add some moisture.
Another telling sign of possible disaster is that paper liners are not used. This is so that the filling can be inserted from the bottom, but also makes it difficult for the cupcakes to come out of the pans whole, especially if they're too dry. Oh, and another thing, inserting the filling from the bottom is a stupid idea, especially when the filling is marshmallow fluff, the stickiest stuff in the universe. The filling leaks out, sticks to bottom of the container, and gets on your hands. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. I found the best way to fill cupcakes is the way they do on Cupcake Wars (my favorite show): just jam the piping bag into the top and squeeze.
The icing on the top of the failure cake (pun intended) was the marshmallow cream filling. It gets EVERYWHERE. Luckily it is quite delicious, so you don't mind licking it off your fingers. However, my batch did not set up right and was much too liquidy. The squiggles on the top tuned into blobs and slowly dripped off the sides.
Even though the design aesthetic of these cupcakes failed, the taste was spot on. We had no trouble devouring them all, even if the process was a little messy. Now that I know the ups and downs of this recipe, I feel confidant that the next time I could give Little Debbie a run for her money.