Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 400
October 26, 2010
What Type of Procrastinator Are You?
My husband and I struggle with procrastinating on tasks that we:
Perceive will take more than a couple hours to complete, and
Neither of us is extremely motivated to do, but
We have enough of an opinion about the outcome that we suspect we'll disagree with each other about the completion method.
This means we often delay making travel plans until the last minute, rarely buy much-needed furniture for our house (our living room has been without chairs for six years), and our car is a constant source of stress (neither of us love owning the car -- we would live car-free if we weren't in the suburbs). Thankfully, none of the things we tend to put off have consequences to people other than ourselves. Our procrastination just annoys the two of us.
Research has found that people typically procrastinate for three reasons:
Avoidance -- you simply don't want to take on the task.
Arousal -- you seek the rush of doing something at the last minute -- you enjoy racing the clock to beat a deadline.
Indecision -- you have poor decision-making skills or have difficulty committing to a choice.
My husband and I are clearly avoidance procrastinators. When we put off doing something, it's because we want to avoid the time and energy associated with completing the action. Why do you procrastinate? Which type of procrastinator are you?
If you're a procrastinator, I recommend the following course of actions based on what type of procrastinator you are:
Avoidance procrastinators benefit from having small, time-specific goals in two-, five-, or 10-minute increments. Break the project into individual action items and then challenge yourself to complete a set number of them each day.
Arousal procrastinators benefit from finding a rush elsewhere. Take up a thrill-seeking hobby (sky diving, downhill skiing, riding roller coasters) that can replace your desire to get a thrill from doing things at the last minute.
Indecisive procrastinators benefit from having a coach and going through training to become a better decision maker. Also, check out the PsyBlog for 13 methods for improving your decision-making skills.
Day 17: Salmon with Potato Salad
Today's recipe was prepared by Real Simple's managing editor, Kristin van Ogtrop, who in addtion to editing the magazine, and writing her Adventures in Chaos blog, also came out with a book earlier this year: Just Let Me Lie Down.
I had my doubts about serving the Salmon with Potato Salad recipe when my 12-year-old—and co-chef—asked me four times what was for dinner. Every time I would answer "salmon," to which he would reply "Oh." And then half an hour later he would ask me again.
Then my husband came home not with skinless salmon and prepared horseradish, as the recipe required, but horseradish *sauce* (frankly, I don't really even know what that is) and salmon with skin, though just on one side.
But no matter. My co-chef and I prepared the recipe with only a couple of Spongebob Squarepants breaks, and the result was delicious. We ended up using a whole bunch of watercress, but it amounted to just a bit more than two cups. The salmon cooked faster than I expected and I turned the heat off after the second side had been on for only about three minutes. (But we used an iron skillet instead of a nonstick; perhaps that explains it.) The dressing—horseradish *sauce* notwithstanding—was wonderful, and the flavors complemented each other perfectly. We served the dish with bread and steamed artichokes, and strawberry rhubarb pie (courtesy of Trader Joe's) for dessert. Heaven.
Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how you liked it in the comments, and share your photos by following @RealSimpleFood on Twitter and using the hashtag #OctDinner.
October 25, 2010
Can Pokémon be a parenting tool?
Three years ago I wrote about how I became obsessed with playing Pokémon Diamond and Pearl for the Nintendo DS, under the pretence of creating a posse of creatures for my then five year old to play with his friend. (The fact that my 5 year old even KNEW about the Pokémon video games I blame entirely on the publicist who sent me the games, and my terrible hiding skills).
Fast forward to this year when my now 8 year old son began begging me to trade some of my high HP (Heart points? Health points? I have no idea.) Pokémon with him so that he could more effectively trounce his friends. I hadn't played the game in years, but apparently, I had quite a few rare and high level creatures locked within my copy of the game that he was DYING to get his hands on.
After some delay, I made a deal with my son – I would trade him 3 Pokemón as a reward if he:
a) finished all his homework
b) did extra reading
c) cleaned his bedroom
d) helped pick up the toys in the basement
This is when I discovered that, at least for now, rare Pokémon and a few minutes of battling with his mother, may be the best parenting tool I have at my command. Since our original trade and battle, I have rewarded him with two more creatures and another battle royale (I won).
Of course now I'm running low on my rare creatures – so I'm going to have to borrow my daughter's DS (I gave mine away a couple of months ago) and go hunting. Because I need to stock up while I can!
What non-traditional reward have you discovered works for your kids?
Day 16: Roasted Pork Chops with Polenta
To kick off week four—the home stretch—we have Stephanie Sisco, editorial assistant in our home department. Stephanie works on a lot of our product stories and road tests, and also worked on our upcoming holiday gift guide.
This Roasted Pork Chops with Polenta recipe proves that even the simplest list of ingredients has the power to create an incredibly delicious meal.
The pork is seasoned minimally with salt and pepper which allows the roasted tomatoes to take center stage in flavoring the pork chops. Adding the gruyere to the polenta gives a hint of sharpness that perfectly balances the white wine and roasted tomato sauce. (Well, it's not really a sauce. It is more like the "au jus of pork"—something to add a bit of moisture to the meat and polenta.)
I have to admit, I did not own a stove-to-oven pan before trying out this recipe. However, it will become a staple among my cooking tools from here on out. Who doesn't enjoy one less pan to clean up? It also allows you to keep the juices and flavor from the initial searing of the pork chops and combine them with the wine and tomato sauce.
At first, I was a tad skeptical that the meal would take only 25 minutes to cook. However, the recipe proved true, and I never felt rushed throughout the process. I would recommend serving the polenta topped with the pork chop and pouring the sauce from the pan and the roasted tomatoes over top. To add some greenery to the plate, I chose to serve my meal with broiled asparagus on the side. Now it's time to try the recipe for yourself. Enjoy!
Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how you liked it in the comments, and share your photos by following @RealSimpleFood on Twitter and using the hashtag #OctDinner.
CB2 - 14 Favorites For Fall
CB2 is really blowing my mind lately! They have so many fresh finds that it's hard to not empty your wallet -- and not just on furniture, but on soft furnishings and accessories too. I've always liked their energetic color palette combined with a mostly neutral base, but their aesthetic just feels fresher and even a bit more edgy this season - what do you think?
Their pillows have a very handmade urban vibe to them and their rugs are blowing my mind... I seriously wish they'd ship to Germany because I spotted a few rugs that I could definitely find use for.
Do you have any favorite finds this season? For me, I really like the following -- I guess you can call this my wish list:
2. Hatfield Grellow Rocker - By the way, Grellow is what CB2 is calling a combination of green and yellow.
3. Organic Sheets with inspiring words
Have you ever shopped CB2? Out of my finds above, which ones do you love too?
(images: cb2)
October 22, 2010
What Tools Do You Really Need?
I was reading the The New York Times last weekend, and I came across an article (the first in a series) about home improvement/D.I.Y. that piqued my interest. It was all about the tools that you really need to maintain your home. Part of the reason I was so intrigued is that I'd spent the past two weekends in heavy D.I.Y./nesting mode—doing projects around my apartment and spending a considerable amount of time at Home Depot, Lowe's, and my local hardware store. (I will hopefully be able to show you some of those projects next week.)
The good news from this article is that you really don't need a lot in order to be able to complete most projects around your house. Here's the boiled down list (see the article for explanations and buying tips):
quality hammer
multi-head screwdriver (a racheting one if you so choose)
cordless drill
1-inch tape measure with a lock
pliers (one pair needle nose and one pair slip-joint)
vise-grips
one adjustable wrench
one set of socket wrenches
level
electronic stud finder
footlong wrecking bar (a.k.a. crowbar I've never heard it called a wrecking bar.)
small handsaw
nails, screws, etc.
spray paint (It's worth reading the article just to figure out why.)
I'm curious, how many of these things do you have in your home? And what else do you have? I apparently have quite a few things that I still need.
(top photo by usefulguy, bottom photo by See-ming Lee both on flickr)
Day 15: Balsamic-Glazed Pork with Lentils
Closing out week 3 is Ashley Tate, staff editor of Real Simple and Money Rant blogger on Simply Stated. For the print magazine, Ashley edits the Moneywise section and the Discounts & Deals page in the back of the magazine.
I grew up in a small town in southwest Kansas. (Please don't ask how many Wizard of Oz references I've endured through the years.) Some years during the county fair, my dad's business would buy a pig from a child who raised the animal as a 4-H project. Then all that following winter, the freezer would be stuffed with locally-grown pork. As a result, I love eating pork in just about every form—loin, chop, belly, shoulder, and of course, bacon. So making the Balsamic-glazed Pork with Lentils recipe was right up my alley.
My husband does most of the cooking in our household since he is home much earlier every evening than I. But instead of letting him handle this entire meal, we decided to tag-team on it. Unfortunately, we hit a snag right off the bat. The grocery store we normally shop at didn't have green lentils—only red. It was our first time making lentils, so we weren't sure if we could make the substitution. (I think we could have, but I was trying to follow directions.) So off to Whole Foods, for a package of the green variety. But then we hit snag #2: The lentil package instructed us to soak them for eight hours before cooking. So we tossed them in a pot to soak overnight and called for pizza. (Disclaimer: I spoke with our food director, and she said that she has never soaked lentils.)
Making the recipe the following night was a breeze. The husband chopped the apple, celery and parsley while I focused on the stovetop where I was simmered the lentils and browned the pork. (The package of meat we bought came with two tenderloins, so I just put the extra in a baggie and tossed it in the freezer.) I didn't really follow the instructions on how long it would take to get the tenderloin nice and dark on the outside, but it was easy to see when it needed to go into the oven.
Basting the pork with the balsamic glaze while it was cooking in the oven was simple. Next time, I will probably thicken the glaze on the stove before adding it to the pork (even though that will dirty a pot that needs to be hand-washed afterwards). It slid right off the meat, so I felt like we missed out on some of the yummy flavor.
We served the pork and the lentil salad alongside some oven-roasted potato wedges (the husband claimed that he needed a starch) and a glass of Pinot Noir. The meat was quite flavorful and perfectly moist (i.e. slightly pink) after cooking it for just 10 minutes. And the lentils were deemed a winner, too.
Even our dog Normandy wanted to get in on the tasting action.
Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how you liked it in the comments, and share your photos by following @RealSimpleFood on Twitter and using the hashtag #OctDinner.
October 21, 2010
1154 Lill Stuido Custom Handbag Discount and Giveaway
Every once and a while I get the arts-and-crafts bug! You know....the overwhelming feeling to DIY. There is such joy that comes from actually creating something and having your own personal "stamp" on it, right?
This is precisely the reason why I love the company 1154 Lill Studio!
1154 Lill Studio was founded in 1999 by Jen Velarde as a way for women to interact creatively, express their individuality and create lasting memories of shared experiences - all around the collaborative design of handbags and accessories. In a nutshell....you can design your one-of-a-kind bag from a choice of 30 different styles and over 175 fabrics!
So, in honor of amazing accessory-created memories, our friends at 1154 Lill Studio are generously extending a 20% discount on their entire website until November 5th (enter REALSIMPLE at checkout) AND...they are giving away an At Home Design a Bag Kit--Erinn (valued at $110) for one lucky reader.
To enter the giveaway---Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite DIY project has been? And then I will randomly pick a winner Monday morning (Oct.25th). Remember to leave your email address so I can get in contact with you.
Mine would have to be the great flop flops I made from an old yoga mat!
What's Your Favorite Food That Says 'Fall'?
I'm a sucker for fall. It's my favorite season by far—crisp air, sweaters and jackets, crunchy leaves and acorns underfoot, and dazzling colors (apples, pumpkins, foliage). And then there's the food—warming soups and stews, comforting casseroles, apples pies, heartier vegetables like butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. Fall in NYC, however, can be a little bit lacking. You don't see a lot of colorful trees, there aren't random farm stands selling hot apple cider, and somehow picking out a pumpkin from the corner deli doesn't have quite the same charm. Luckily for me, a recent trip to Vermont helped satisfy my fall cravings.
Pumpkins growing in a field are not something you'll find in Manhattan.
There are certain foods that are only available or are best when eaten in the fall. Apples, of course. I love trying different varieties of apples, and one of the best ways to do that is to go apple-picking. Unfortunately, apple-picking season in Vermont came early this year and we just missed it—lots of apples on the ground, none left on the trees.
I wound up buying Empire apples from this stand, and they were literally some of the best I've ever eaten. Crisp, juicy, and sweet, with a hint of tartness—I was sad I didn't buy more.
This is my all-time favorite fall food—cider donuts! It's the one thing I'll seek out once the leaves start turning and the weather cools off. While I can get them from the farmers' market in my neighborhood, I've found that cider donuts in Vermont are way better (sorry!) and much more plentiful. There are many different styles of donuts; these from Shelburne Orchards were moist, cakey, and dusted lightly with granulated sugar. In fact, I'm eating one right now with a cup of tea as I write this. Delicious.
What's your favorite fall treat?
You Asked: Is It Appropriate to Have a Baby Shower for a Second Child?
Actually, a reader named Susan asked this question. And to Susan, I say: of course it's appropriate, because someone is having a...baby! With little baby feet, and pearly
baby earlobes, and a baby neck that smells like talcum powder. What better reason exists to celebrate?
Not only is a party appropriate, the occasion also may mark the last time the mother-to-be gets to relax with her friends for many months to come. (Does anyone among us really believe the woman is going to have another chance to sit in a chair, peacefully eating a slice of cake or four, before that second baby turns two?)
I'm guessing Susan's question had an underlying question (please correct me if I'm wrong, Susan), and that it goes something like this: Is it appropriate to expect guests to bring gifts to a second-baby shower, especially if there was a first-baby shower not so long ago, for which everybody pitched in to buy a crib and a stroller and a high chair and a jumpy-thing and...
The answer is, ask the mother-to-be. She knows better than anyone if she needs new baby equipment or more little, knitted hats with bunny ears. If she doesn't, write "No presents, please" on the invitations. If she does, write "Please join us in celebrating a very happy occasion" on the invitations.
Of course, you have to keep in mind that this advice comes to you from a mother who had a shower for a third baby (it was a lovely, sunny day, with champagne and toasts and everyone passing around the baby, who had arrived in time for the party). So maybe some of the rest of you have different opinions on the subject. What do you think, baby shower or no?
(image from zAppledot on flickr)
