Vi Hart

Victoria Hart (commonly known as Vi Hart) is a popular "Recreational Mathemusician" (a title she made up for herself, as there was no position which outlined exactly what she does) who is widely known through her videos on the Khan Academy and her youtube channel. Hart is passionate about math, and her videos make mathematics come alive in a highly unique way. For those of you who are like me, and can't quite wrap your head around complicated math, her videos will still interest you. My boyfriend, who is taking Environmental Science with a concentration in physics, at the University of Calgary, got me started on the videos, and at first I though I would hate them. Who can make math fun and interesting? Vi Hart can.

The videos, although educational, have a large entertainment factor. Take the mobius strip video for example, where Hart tells a story of two characters, Wind and Mr. Ug, who long to meet one another. Eventually we will learn that Hart has created a mobius strip, which is simply a piece of paper taped into a loop, with a half twist in it. This creates a one-sided piece of paper, which she uses to communicate her story. It may sound strange, and it is, but I find it wonderfully fascinating. Don't let the math scare you away. 

Hart's original videos revolve around doodles sha made in her notebooks during her classes. She always brings something interesting into her videos, such as an infinity of elephants or hexaflexagons. She explains the Fibonacci sequence in plants (and other things), all while keeping the entertainment value high. She often starts off with something boring sounding, such as exponential functions, and then turns the video into an interesting way to look at and understand this math concept. She aims not to teach math, but to show that "simple doodle games can lead to mathematical results so cool and beautiful" (Hart, Vi. Khan Academy. "Doodling in Math: Binary Trees".)

I highly recommend watching a few of her videos. I have linked a few videos below:

Mobius Strip Fruit by the Foot
Spongebob's Pineapple Under the Sea

RAWR!

I've recently taken up sewing as a stress reliever. Im still gaining experience so Im not a pro by any means. The latest project I decided to take on is a hat.  Im a huge panda lover and seeing as winter is coming I decided to sew myself a panda hat.
Before you can do anything you have to get the proper materials which can sometimes be a headache dealing with people at fabric land.

STEP 1: Cutting 

STEP 2:  Seam ripping, I definitely made more than one mistake. I swear I spent more time seam ripping than actual sewing. 

STEP 3: WINE BREAK!

The final product 

Overall Im pretty impressed with my hat and I would definitely recommend it. I would rate this project a 3/5 on difficulty and 4.5/5 on its looks. 

PEACOCK EARRINGS!

I great way to accessorize is a cute pair of earrings. One of my go to's is the classic peacock earring and it's crazy easy to make. Run out to Michael and grab your supplies and this is how you too can have your own peacock earrings.


Materials:

Peacock feather - 2

Earring closures - 2

Earring findings - 2

Hot glue gun (optional but recommended)

Scissors

Needle-nose pliers

Step: 1

 Take your scissors and cut the eyes off of the peacock feathers and place them into the closures.

 Step:2

Take the hot glue gun, add a small drop of hot glue on the back. Press the edges of the closure tightly over the feather.

 Step: 3

Add the earring findings, secure them to earrings with the needle nose pliers.


VOILA!

Nail art

The last few months I've been hitting the gym training for all sorts of races. I recently completed a half marathon and now Im training for the "tough mudder." Because of the training my feet were not looking so hot, my nails are extremely short from breaking in my runners and they are covered in blisters and calluses, so I decided to treat my feet to a nice pedicure.

The first half of the pedicure consisted of a hot stone message, a scrub, more messages scrapping the dead skin off. When it came to the painting of the nails they asked me if I wanted fancy designs on my nails, I looked at what they offered. I guess this fad of nail art is more popular than I thought because wow they offered a lot of different designs. I decided to go for just a plain color because my nails were grossly short.

I'm not much into the whole paint my nails fad so when I got home I decided to google this nail art idea. I came across a few websites that show you how to do your own nail art:

http://www.nail-art-101.com/ 

http://www.shexists.com/2012/01/how-to-instant-nail-arts-do-yourself.html

My sister being a little more knowledgeable on this topic let me try some nail art on her:

If you ask me it didn't look half bad, however I must say it took a lot longer than I expected. Kudos to those estheticians, I would not have the patients to do that everyday.

Bugs for Breakfast?

I have a seriously dignified cat; her name is Josephine. She is a Siamese-cross, and she is huge.

She's large enough to remind you of a snow leopard but gentle enough to cuddle up with. She's reasonably intelligent, as far as cats go, and super stealth. Really, she's ideal in every way except for the fact that she does nothing to help with pest control.

It isn't like back on the farm when the cats would be responsible for catching mice in the barn, all I'm asking is that she pitch in now and then by killing the odd insect that makes it's way into my condo. We have a very understanding relationship.

Yesterday, Josephine noticed what looked to be a beetle scuttling across the floor. Instead of dealing with it myself, I sat down next to her in anticipation of the hunt. To my disappointment however, Josephine just watched the bug, making no move to chase it down. No claws, no pouncing, nothing. It was the worst display of animal instinct I have ever witnessed.

I left the house saddened by the fact that my Josephine really was as fat and lazy as everyone says she is. Guilt washed over me as I realized that my pampering has obviously lead to this; why hunt insects when I'm fed on command? She's lost her sense of sport.

After sharing my story with some friends and fellow cat-lovers, it was time to find out what type of insect this actually was. As it turns out, this little guy is a Boxelder bug. With some research, I learned that these insects, also known as Maple Bugs, omit a foul and disgusting odor. Relief! Josephine wasn't too lazy to hunt the bug, she just thought it was too disgusting to eat.

Just as some people don't like anchovies, or some kids won't eat brussel sprouts, cats don't like the taste of Boxelder Bugs. Can we blame them? I think not.

Crock-pot Lasagna

            Lasagna is a staple at my apartment I make it all the time.  However I haven’t tried making it in the crock-pot…yet!  I usually make it in a casserole dish but I was really curious when I was at my aunt’s house and she had made crock-pot lasagna.  It was really good I googled the recipe once I got home.  This recipe says to use ricotta cheese but when I do this recipe I will probably just use mozzarella cheese or whatever Kraft shredded cheese I think will work best.  Here it is!!

            1-pound ground beef

            ½ cup diced white onion

            1 teaspoon minced garlic

            1 (24 ounce) jar of spaghetti sauce

            ½ cup water

            1 (15 ounces) container ricotta cheese

            2 cups mozzarella cheese

            ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

            1 whole egg

            2 tablespoons fresh parsley

            6 uncooked lasagna noodles

Lasagna is my final food.  I usually make lasagna the week I have all my midterms or my finals cook it the night before the first exam and then eat it until it’s gone.  My pan isn’t huge just an 11x7.  I don’t know how I don’t get sick of it.  I am definitely going to try this recipe the next time I have a round of exams.  

Crock-Pot Ham and Scalloped Potatos

I know another crock-pot recipe!! But it’s just so handy!  Another favorite of mine is ham and scallop potatoes.  I haven’t made it this year yet and I am so kicking myself for it.  I think the reason I haven’t yet is because I don’t want to share it with just myself and I haven’t had time to make it for my friends yet.  This recipe is super easy and all you really have to buy is a small ham and some potatoes.  I usually modify the recipe and as much ham as I can cram into the crock-pot.  I also don’t use paprika. 

            6 to 8 slices ham

8 med. potatoes, peeled, sliced thin

Salt & pepper

2 onions, peeled, sliced thin

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

1 (10 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup

Paprika

All of these recipes can vary depending on what size of a crock-pot you have.  

When my mom makes this at my house there are never any leftovers.  Yeah it’s that awesome!  We don’t vary from this recipe since there aren’t very many ingredients but you can totally season this recipe however you want to.  

Crock-Pot Ham and Potato Soup

My thanksgiving consisted of turkey and ham.  Awesome right?  I have to admit that I ate a ton of both.  Thankfully there was left over ham!! Why am I so happy about this?  Because it mean potato and ham soup is in the future! 

Although this may sound kind of boring and bland the recipe that my mom uses is amazing.  When I asked her how to make her first reaction was “Tricia you don’t have a crock pot big enough to make it in.”  Which I replied that I wasn’t making it I was going to share it.  Her second reaction was then “well I can try and give it to you but I usually make it up”.  But I managed to get her to fess up to this master piece they call soup. 

Here it is:

3 cartons of Campbell’s Field Potato and Leek Soup

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Product media1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups of diced cooked ham

1 cup of cauliflower cut into bite sized pieces

1 cup of diced potatos

1 cup of corn

1 medium sized onion

½ block of cream cheese

Through it all into a crock-pot and set on high for three hours or until veggies are nice and tender.  This recipe feeds “six very hungry people”.  But I’m sure it feeds a little more than six.

If this doesn’t suit you fancy then maybe this ham and potato soup will. 

Crock-Pot Chicken Taco Soup

I swear that Crock Pots (slow cookers whatever you want to call it) were designed for university students.  Yes I know everyone has a crock-pot at home (my mom has 2!) however I think that they were meant for us.  Last year when I first moved out of home and in to Mount Royal Residence I watched as my one roommate religiously used hers all year.  Eventually we took turns using it and were ecstatic when our other roommate came home from Christmas holidays with a crock-pot! 

            But enough about the actual crock pot and on to the recipes.  I broke down this year and bought a smallish one (feeds 3-4 people).  I use it every other week.  The first recipe I want to share is called Chicken Taco Soup.  It is the best thing in the world.  Trust me on this.  Its super easy to make and oh so delicious.

            Here’s the recipe:

                        1 onion, chopped


1 can (15 ounce size) chili beans


1 can (15 ounce size) black beans


1 can (15 ounce size) whole kernel corn, drained
1

 can (8 ounce size) tomato sauce


1 bottle (12 ounce size) beer


2 cans (10 ounce size) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained


1 package (1.25 ounce size) taco seasoning


3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves


shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)


sour cream (optional)


crushed tortilla chips (optional)

On a side note unless you don’t like cheese, sour cream, or tortilla chips please please please disregard the optional. 

The best thing about this recipe is that you can throw anything into it.  My mom and me make this all the time and we change the recipe every time.  It just depends on what you like in a taco and what you have on hand.  This recipe is so hard to mess up and I love making it.  I always freeze half of the soup and reheat it later when I’m craving it.