Will Study for Food

A while back, the lovely Irina nominated me for the Liebster Award:

Here’s What You Must Do:

• Write 11 random facts about yourself.
• Answer the 11 interview questions you’ve been given by the person who nominated you.
• Create 11 new questions.
• Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post. I’m going to excuse myself from this step only because I’ve seen so many bloggers already be nominated…if you have not been nominated, feel free to say you were nominated by me
• Go and tell the person who nominated you, along with the people you’ve nominated about your post.

11 Random Facts:

1.) I started college as an Engineering major, but quickly switched to Cell Biology when I realized Physics bored me and Math made my stomach squeeze itself into knots. I was very anxious about switching, but was able to do so smoothly within my first year. Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if I was still an Engineering major (certainly would not have been able to graduate early…)

2.) My favorite lunch in elementary school, when I was on break, was Kraft Mac and Cheese with Ketchup…and I did not take it easy when it came to the ketchup. My mac and cheese was always an off-pink color, but the appearance did not take away from the taste!

I’d always have it at 12:00pm, when Little Bill was on. (Yes, even though I was eight/nine years old, I watched Little Bill ).

Little Bill!

3.) My friends and I were huge Hilary Duff/Lizzie McGuire fans. My sis and I even persuaded (more like demanded) that my friend buy the Lizzie McGuire movie soundtrack so we could jump around and sing to “What Dreams Are Made Of” cause that was like the best song ever .

“This is what dreams are made of” – quote of my preteen years!

I get so nostalgic when I hear any of the songs from the movie. Such good memories!

4.) I have such a bad gum habit! Lecture me all you want about the sugar alcohols and the indigestion gum can cause when you chew too much, I just love my gum too much to let it go! I don’t chew gums that contain gelatin or carmine though.

The Dessert Delights kinds are one of my favs…need to try this one pronto!

5.) I shaved off my eyebrows once, because I was tired of tweezing them and planned to get them “shaped” when they grew back. I definitely shocked my parents and had to have penciled eyebrows for two weeks after that stunt since, based on my parents’ reactions, I probably would have gotten some weird looks in public. But at that time, I really didn’t care what people would have thought…

6.) I get super dry skin (like sandpaper/flaky style) and chilblains in the winter—one of many of my pet peeves about the winter! I don’t even live in that cold of an area, but I guess my body will always gauge 70 degrees Farenheit as the “coldest” temperature it can handle. I know I should use lotion and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize…but I hate the cold/oily feeling of lotion !

7.) I was a big fan of manga/anime from second grade through high school. Sailor Moon was my ultimate favorite, and the Miyazaki movies soon followed. I checked out all the girly/romance/drama manga series from my library and would spend my weekends reading the comics of Peach Girl, M.A.R.S., Marmalade Boy, etc. My sis, friend, and I also took advantage of YouTube in its early days, and watched many anime series online. Nowadays I don’t have time to get “caught up” in a series or fan-girl over anime characters, but Japanese comic art will always have a special place in my heart.

SAILOR MOON <3

8.) I love to collect letters, diaries, and planners. I’ve been collecting letters from loved ones, old pen pals, birthday cards, holiday cards, and it’s so nice to be able to look at them once in a while and reminisce. Rereading old diaries is so much fun too. All I can say is, I tried so hard to be “cool” in middle school, it’s almost comical !

I even had one of those “Password Journals”. I wasn’t able to save that one though…

That’s so 90s…you gotta love it !

9.) I’ve never been to a school dance/prom. Actually, this was more disappointing for me in middle school since I wasn’t able to live up to my “Lizzie McGuire/TV Junior High” expectations, but I found these dance events to be incredibly stupid and so not worth the ticket price once high school rolled around. Plus, I felt really self-conscious about dancing with people from my school.

10.) I used to look forward to going to the mall for clothing, but now it’s all about the food! I’m now more excited to go grocery shopping/waste my day at Whole Foods than window shop at the mall. I still love clothes shopping and getting great deals on normally expensive brands, but checking out what foods are on clearance at Fresh and Easy is my new shopping therapy !

11.) I’m registering for my last quarter of undergraduate classes on Monday. You’d think that would be exciting/bittersweet, but since all the classes I’m taking are mandatory for graduation and are offered at only one time slot, the fun of schedule planning is gone. Ah well, at least my afternoons will be class free for the most part, meaning time for running and evening Zumba !

Questions from Irina:

1.) What is the worst kitchen disaster you’ve ever had?

I was craving melted chocolate one time when I was in middle school, and had the brilliant idea to put an entire Milka bar (foil and all) into the microwave…and melt it. Needless to say, the foil caught on fire, but it was really small so I was able to put it out.

Microwaved Milka is not very good…I need to give this bar a real chance.

But seriously, does anyone else feel like there’s a need for “what not to put in your microwave” poster? I would find that incredibly useful .

2.) If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

So obviously my real name isn’t P, but I honestly can’t think of myself under any name other than the one I was born with. I rarely go by nicknames (only two of my closest friends call me by a nickname), so I’ve gotten used to just being called by the name I was born with.

3.) What’s your favorite store to shop at?

I don’t have a singular favorite store, but I like shopping online only to get regular-priced items at good deals. I like shopping at nice malls with friends when we meet to hang out, since it’s all about the experience when it comes to shopping. I’ve oftentimes gone to malls and left empty-handed, but I still left having had a good time.

4.) What would you do if you won the lottery and had unlimited money?

Pay back my Dad for college tuition, pay for my sister’s tuition, bills, sponsor charitable programs with worthy causes…there’s lots unlimited money could contribute to .

5.) What’s your favorite kitchen utensil/gadget?

I love our little toaster oven since it’s so convenient for daily dinners, and baked goods for four people or less. I would love to get a crock pot though, and experiment with that. It seems so fun to have something cooking while your gone to school, and then coming home after a long, exhausting day of lab write-ups and sleep-inducing lectures to something warm, hearty, and stick-to-your-ribs good!

Hello Kitty Crock Pot!!

6.) What was the last vacation you took?

We went to LA last summer with my best friend, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Disneyland, as well as the tastes of some fine vegan establishments. I had my share of ups-and-downs on that trip, but overall it was a trip I’ll always cherish since I was with people I love.

I would love to go to So Cal again this year, especially since my sis applied to some colleges there and after the letters start to come in, we may have to check out the schools. Yup, I’m using my sister’s college decision as an excuse for a road trip .

One of the best foods on the trip: Native Foods Soul Bowl. Needless to say, it was DE-VOURED!

7.) What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year?

I read Intuitive Eating last summer and learned a lot about just being able to trust your body when it comes to eating what’s right for you. It was eye-opening for me at the time since I was becoming more open to wanting to improve from my disordered eating past. Even though I have made giant steps in my eating goals, I’m far from calling myself an intuitive eater. This book has inspired me to keep reaching for that intuitive eating goal, however.

8.) What is your favorite beauty product? Share your secrets!

I am definitely not the beauty/make-up person! I don’t even wear chapstick and I can’t stand lotion, so my skin always looks and feels as dry as the Sahara. I do try to wash my face every morning and night, which stems from my acne-ridden teenage years.

9.) What is your dream job?

My dream job is a job that makes me happy, and has me wanting to wake up each day for. Not sure what that is yet, but I’ll find out soon enough—don’t want to rush things though!

10.) If you could have one magical power, what would it be?

Reading minds could make things awkward, and invisibility could make things awkward as well. I think it would be cool to freeze time (more time for exams/essays !) or to relive certain days from the past at the age you experience them (without having any knowledge of the future).

11.) Quick – what are the three most important things in your life? List them off without thinking!

Family. Friends. Happiness

My 11 Questions:

1. What made you start blogging/reading blogs?

2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 20 years?

3. What was your most embarrassing moment?

4. Did you make resolutions this year? How are they going?

5. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

6. Have you ever been to a blogger meet-up?

7. What’s your favorite TV show?

8. Do you have a secret talent?

9. What’s on your shopping list?

10. If you were only allowed to have one meal for 30 days and it had to be the same meal, what would it be?

11. What was the last thing that made you smile ?

Feel free to answer any of my questions!