Freshman Recipe Book: Scrambled Eggs (with fixins!)

Hey all!

If you are a returning reader and kept up at all with my Freshman Recipe Book, I've got another one for you to try!

I recently learned that not only can you poach eggs in the microwave, but you can scramble them, apparently!  It's not the same as on a stove, but it's still not bad, and it adds some variety to your diet.  I've poached for ages but I will definitely add this to my repertoire!

So here's what you need:

2 eggs
1 tablespoon water or milk
1 tablespoon butter (or cooking spray, like PAM)
Grated cheese to taste
Other fixins, such as sliced ham, mushroom, onion, bell pepper, or bacon, to your liking!

Hopefully you already have:

Salt and pepper (to taste), a microwave safe bowl, fork.

Start by spraying or greasing your bowl with butter, so the eggs don't stick.  This part's crucial because egg is sooooo hard to clean.  Whisk your eggs and milk together in the prepared bowl, and add any extras you'd like.

Cook the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds, then mix the eggs and things up a bit so they cook evenly.  From there, cook at 10 second intervals, mixing between, until the egg is no longer runny and everything is cooked and well incorporated. (about 30-40 more seconds, combined, should do the trick!)

Add salt and pepper to your liking, and serve!

Depending on your tastes, you may like this better than pan-scrambled eggs, because it's lighter and has a different consistency.  It definitely won't taste exactly the same, but it's a pretty good dorm-able option, if you ask me!

Like my recipes?  Or don't?  Email me, shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Student Org Offices

At GW, every student organization is entitled to an office in the Marvin Center, our main hub for student life, as long as that org has a sufficient, active membership.  (And as long as we fill out a bunch of paperwork at the end of each year... but I digress.)

I'm now president of 2 different student orgs: The Global Language Network, and Voices for Choices.  Look us up!  Join!  Click those links!!!

Shameless pandering aside, my new executive position in these organizations also means a lot of extra work.  A WHOLE LOT.  For one, I've had to reorganize the GLN office this past weekend--and believe me, it took all weekend, and two:  I have to *move* the VFC office.

I'm not sure why, exactly, but for some reason VFC's office was moved to another location right around the corner.  And because of this, I have to basically move everything VFC has garnered in the almost 10 years of it's existence to a new home.  The Co-Presidents from last year, angels that they are, are helping me, but it's still quite an endeavor!

Unfortunately, the org that currently possesses our office hasn't moved yet!  So we're likely in someone else's spot too, since we can't move either!  It's a vicious cycle.

Also, I've got to say this new office is a downgrade.  The old one was right in the main hallway, and had windows (not to outside, but to the hall.)  It was also shared with only 2 other orgs, but the new one is shared with 5!  Our cubicle may be slightly larger, but I'd still prefer the other place.  It was like home!

It seems this blog was mostly me complaining, but I really am super excited for my new leadership positions.  I've got a lot of initiatives planned for both groups, and I'll definitely keep you guys posted on all my updates!  The momentum of moving/organizing the offices isn't stopping anytime soon, so join the ride and look into GLN and VFC!!!

... ok, so I wasn't done promoting myself.  So sue me!

Email me at shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu only if you want to join either of my orgs.  Not really.  But it wouldn't hurt!

<3 Shireen

Keeping up with the Hatchet

Even though I'm not on campus this summer (or will be this fall!), I find it fun to stay updated on school happenings through the GW Hatchet, the independent GW newspaper. Their dedicated writers continue throughout the summer even though the majority of the students have vacated the premises for home or jobs elsewhere.

I thought you all might be interested in seeing what's up in the GW world just because I'm also curious! Here are some current headlines:

Useful Guide to Colonial Inauguration for freshmen!

Dining Programs Overhauled- finally, thank you Sodexo!!

GW Shoots up in Forbes rating.. if you pay attention to those types of things

As always, questions welcome!! marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu

- Marisa

Ocean Beaches!

After work yesterday, I left with my family to drive an hour and a half away from Portland towards the coast to beautiful Manzanita, Oregon. Every summer, we try to rent a small house along the coast and spend a long weekend there to relax and hang out. It ends up always being a blast because we have certain things we always do in town and we team up into teams to make dinners. Now that we have a new puppy (she's 2 years old now!!), it's also really fun to take her out running and watch her go crazy in the sand, chasing birds.

The coastline along Manzanita

The tiny grocery store and deli

Beautiful sunset!

It was a really beautiful day here yesterday and hopefully will continue to be a beautiful weekend! Wherever you guys are, I hope it's also sunny! This trip to the beach is so symbolic to me as a return to fall and to school, so it's strange that this summer it signifies my new adventure abroad in a completely different setting for school.

As always, questions are welcome! I'm bored over here in Oregon! marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu
- Marisa

The Zoo!

Shameful as it seems, in all my childhood visits to DC and in over two years of living here, I still hadn't been to the National Zoo until today!  So finally at long last, I went to see the pandas and all the other little critters at the zoo with my aunt and cousins.  Here are a few pictures!

I hope the pandas are happy, they seemed a bit sluggish when I saw them.  Their natural habitat is chilly, so DC heat can't be their cup of tea.  I always wonder about zoo animals--while they're usually cared for by hard-core animal lovers who study zoology and biology and environmental studies and the like for years to be able to work with animals, I really don't think captivity is the route they would have chosen in life!  But that's a debate for another day and another place.  Oh well.

Email me with questions and comments!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Tarea.... what?!

Hi readers!!

Hope everyone is still enjoying their warm summers. I myself am starting to crack down and remember what needs to be done before I leave for Chile. It is unbelievable to me that in so little time I will be getting on a plane and leaving the United States of America until December. While I have been abroad before, the longest I've spent away is 2 months and this will be double the time.

In preparation for my program, I am starting to do some reading they have assigned. It is truly unfair that I must read on a gorgeous Portland day and begin to brainstorm the organization of a 500 word essay on the article. But that is only half of it...

THE ARTICLE AND ESSAY ARE IN SPANISH. Oh, yes. You are looking at someone right here who hasn't spoken Spanish since high school. So hello dictionary I am having some troubles. Thankfully, most of it is coming back to me except for several complex vocabulary terms which are very specific to public health.

I will get back to this article.. but it is actually turning into something enjoyable, surprisingly. Let me know if any of you would like to proofread!!! :) marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu
- Marisa

Unrelated Smithsonians

I forgot I wanted to blog about what I did yesterday, too!

So yesterday, I was sight-seeing a bit with my friend's younger cousin from Venice.  A bit convoluted, right?  Yeah, we're all family here, it seems.  The deal was that my friend had to go to her classes, so while she was incapacitated, I took her cousin museum-hopping.

She really wanted to see the Air and Space Museum since they don't really have those in Italy, and I decided that we should also see the Native American Indian Museum because they DEFINITELY don't have those in Italy.  I had already been to the A&S and took pictures of all the planes and shuttles and whatnot, but here are some shots of aviation-related artwork they had up that I really liked:

Aren't those cool?  I like the idea of art based on NASA and flying and shuttles and whatnot. And here are some pictures of modern art created by Native Americans.

Aren't they gorgeous?  I loved that part of the museum.  I don't usually like modern art so that was a treat!  

Let me know if you like my pictures!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Politico Summer School

Today, I went to another Politico event at the Newseum!  (Here's the link to my post on the last one!)  This one was geared specifically towards interns, and was aptly named Politico Summer School!  It was pretty cool to be around my fellow future-important people, though I'll admit the last event was quite a bit more cool if you ask me.  EVERYONE there seemed important!

However, this one had a longer set list of VIPs.  Chuck Todd of NBC was there, as well as Jennifer Psaki, White House Deputy Communications Director, and Sergio Rodriguera, chief speechwriter for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

The premise for the event was that everyone who has made it in DC started out as an intern.  They gave us helpful tips to turn our internships into careers, and to diversify our experience in the political/journalistic world.  Most of the event was a Q&A with the panel, which was cool because it was interactive and informative without the bigwigs talking at us, you know?  Us lowly interns felt like we were really on the same level as the specials!

Here's the Newseum!

Here's Politico's own coverage of the event (No video this time, sorry!  They transmitted it live but I couldn't find a recording)

Hope you like hearing about my expeditions in DC bigwig awesomeness!  Cause I'm not going back to non-socialite life anytime soon!

... so kidding.  I'm still a normal.


Anyway, email me, as usual, at: shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen

It's AUGUST?!

I can't believe it just hit me- August 1st. Where has the summer gone? I only have a little less than 3 short weeks before I embark to Chile. I just have started to think about what I need for study abroad. Because I will be traveling to the Southern hemisphere, my summer will recommence which is a bonus until December while it's raining in Portland and gray in DC.

Hellloooo, Atacama Desert!

What's left to do in preparation:

• Do homework (ew, yes, my study abroad is making me write a paper in Spanish before arrival)
• Buy a voice recorder for interviews during my independent study project
• Stuff my backpacking backpack with enough clothing to survive until December, including hip clothes because Birkenstocks and tie dye aren't as popular in Chile as they are here...
• Clean my room- summer has destroyed it :)
• Finish up my internships on a high note
• Get my hair cut so it doesn't look crazy upon return

Basically, I don't have too much to do except really pack and think through all the little travel necessities, like which purse to bring and what back up medication to bring (Pepto Bismol? Advil? etc). I don't want to buy little packages of everything so I might as well just pack smaller packets from home!

I am excited to head out soon but will enjoy my last few weeks in Portland. Hopefully I can keep you all more updated- somehow, the relaxed and calm Portland lifestyle has kept me away from the computer (which is a positive in my life but a negative for blogging!).

The park behind my house (amazing)

Looking forward to your questions! marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu

- Marisa

Cookin' in the kitchen

Being home for me has been such a fun and relaxing thing to do this summer. I am so happy to have decided to come home.... and mostly because I am a huge fan of my kitchen and how the pantry is stocked and I can cook for my whole fam!

Lately, I have been experimenting a lot, not only with stir fry, delicious salads, fruit concoctions, but also baked goods! This afternoon, in the lovely heat of the sun, I decided to fire up the oven and make some scones.. who doesn't love scones?

I took  on a whole wheat raspberry scone because I wanted to incorporate the delish raspberries I've been picking at a u-pick farm out near my house. They turned out amazing!!!

I love Smitten Kitchen, a food blog, and she always makes delicious stuff and has step by step pictures like the one I posted below here-

Try something out, you may fall in love :) No idea how long these scones will last...

:) Marisa