Author Archives: Gwendy M.

Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Say hello to one of the best chocolate chip cookie recipes you’ll ever use. This recipe uses brown butter, which elevates the cookie to be rich in flavor and more sophisticated. These cookies are great with milk!

Ingredients

1 Stick and a Half of Butter, browned

¾ Cup of Brown Sugar

⅓ Cup of Granulated Sugar

2 Tablespoons of Vanilla Extract

1 egg and 1 egg yolk, preferably room temperature

Optional: seeds of one Vanilla Bean Pod

1 ¾ Cup of All-Purpose Flour

¾ Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 pinch of salt

1-1 ½ Cups of Chocolate Chips or Chopped Chocolate (Semi-Sweet recommended)

Instructions

  1. First, brown the butter on the stovetop at low to medium heat. Make sure to constantly stir to ensure that the butter won’t burn. The moment you see the butter turning a golden brown color, remove it from the heat and pour it into a big bowl. Allow the butter to cool in the fridge.
  1. Combine the brown butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla extract and vanilla seeds. Then, add the egg and egg yolk.
  1. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  1. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ones. Add the dry ingredients in increments, STOP if the dough feels dry. 
  1. Finally, add the chocolate chips (or chunks). Remember–you can change the amount to as much or as little as you would like.
  1. To ensure that your cookies will taste delicious, chill them for at least an hour.
  1. After chilling the dough, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper and use a cookie scoop to scoop your dough. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

Cool cookies before serving and enjoy!

Book Review: The Brothers Hawthorne

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Last weekend, I finished reading The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This book is an extension of her popular series, The Inheritance Games, a trilogy. Instead of focusing on Avery Grambs, the trilogy’s main character, The Brothers Hawthorne, hones in on the middle brothers Grayson and Jameson. The book describes the journey of Grayson protecting his (half) twin sisters from harm and the truth of his father’s death. Barnes writes about Jameson’s adventure of completing a series of games in England that his father challenges.

The Brothers Hawthorne is written from two points of view–Grayson’s and Jameson’s. I enjoyed this because it was interesting to see how the attitudes and behaviors of the two characters differed. This book was intriguing because there were many plot twists (and hints of suspense). Since the book switches to different points of view every couple of chapters, the author leaves important moments at cliffhangers. While at some points this was frustrating, it kept me invested in the book.

Though this book was exciting, it was slightly hard to follow since the point of view switches occasionally. Despite this, I recommend reading this book if you have already read the Inheritance Games. With some series, you can read the books out of order. However, this series isn’t like this–so if you haven’t read the books before The Brothers Hawthorne, you won’t understand half of the book. That being said, you should take the opportunity to read this book, as it is excellent.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Why you should do Long-Distance Running

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In the summer before my freshman year, I started training for cross-country, a sport that focuses on long-distance running. At first, running was extremely difficult (and still is), but I am so thankful for the friends and experiences I have made. If you enjoy working out or want to exercise more, long-distance running is a great hobby to pick up. 

Running is one of the most challenging sports. While only a little technical skill is involved, running is a physical and mental sport. Long-distance running is extremely difficult breathing-wise, but what makes it most challenging are the thoughts of “I can’t do this, This is too hard, I need to stop.” However, if you remain consistent in running, it will become easier.

You may ask yourself, “Why should I run?” (That is a question I still ask myself sometimes). Well, here are some benefits of running:

  • Improves cardiovascular system
  • Strengthens bones
  • Burns Calories
  • Releases endorphins
  • Improves endurance

Besides these benefits, running has helped my mental health and is a stress reliever. When I run, I can take my mind off school and other worries. This is partly due to the released endorphins and because the pain distracts me from thinking about other things.

When starting to run, I’d highly recommend running with a friend or joining a cross-country/track team. Running with others makes it easier because you have people to push you to your best potential. In addition, running is a great bonding experience because all runners can relate to the fact that running is hard. So, when you’re wondering what to do for exercise or are bored, I recommend running in your free time.

Thanks for reading! I’m going to make a post about how to start long-distance running, so stay updated!!

Divergent – Book vs. Movie

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NOTE: SPOILERS AHEAD

Recently, I got the chance to watch the movie Divergent over Thanksgiving break. I was curious to see how this movie was since Divergent is one of my favorite books. I was pleasantly surprised by the film.

A Quick Introduction

Divergent, written by Veronica Roth, is a dystopian novel in future Chicago. To give you some context, Divergent is about a young teenager named Tris who has to decide between five factions. These five factions value different things and organize society. Abnegation – selflessness, Candor – truth, Erudite – intelligence, Dauntless – courage, and Amity – peace. To determine which faction Tris is to be placed in, she takes a test that tells you which factor you belong to. However, the test determines her to be Divergent–meaning she belongs to multiple factions. Unfortunately, this is extremely dangerous; the government cannot control divergence. After contemplating her results, Tris decides to join Dauntless. The story continues to describe her struggles as a Divergent and the corrupt faction Erudite.

My Ratings

Book – 10/10

Movie – 8.5/10

Comparing the Two

After watching the movie, the plot follows the story, but minor details are left out. For example, the film does not show how the evil leader of Erudite almost drowns Tris. While this scene is intense, it is crucial for Tris’ character development. Her character development changes her relationships with family and friends, which makes the story more engaging. The movie did a great job of bringing the book ‘to life’ and had accurate portrayals of the characters. However, as I mentioned earlier, the movie leaves out important plot details essential to making Tris a stronger, more determined character.

In comparison, the book dives into Tris’ more profound thoughts and emotions. In contrast, the movie doesn’t intricately show her graduation process from childhood to adulthood. In the part of the plot when the trainees attempt to murder Tris, the book describes the scene more graphically and shows Tris’s inner thoughts, which lead to her hatred towards other important characters. These parts of the story help to strengthen (and loosen) the bonds between Tris and her friends. I thought that these minor details made the story more interesting. Since the movie did not include these details, the plot was weaker. While Divergent is a great movie, the book is significantly better. Both of the book + movie are worth reading or watching. However, you should read the book first.

Divergent by Veronica Roth is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby

The film Divergent is also available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

A Guide to the Best Unique Restaurants in SOCAL

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Lupes

If you live in Southern California or are just visiting for the day, Lupe’s is a local staple you should stop by. Lupe’s offers fresh and delicious Mexican food that is filling and affordable. 

(My family believes this restaurant sells the best burritos in Southern California.) Lupe’s has multiple locations, but customers still get a small business feel in that each dish is cooked to perfection and is consistently delicious. My favorite menu item is the California Burrito. I enjoy this burrito because the meat is juicy, the guac is flavorful, and the french fries are crispy. (My words cannot describe how tasty this burrito is.) While the California Burrito is a great option, Lupe’s tacos are also delicious. So, next time you are in the area, visit Lupe’s!

  • Dana Point: 33621 Del Obispo St, Dana Point, CA 92629
  • Aliso Viejo: 26541 Aliso Creek Rd Ste C, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
  • Lake Forest: 24531 Trabuco Road Unit E & F, Lake Forest, CA 92630

bb.q Chicken

Are you tired of Chick-fil-A/Canes or want to try something new? Pay a visit to bb.q Chicken! This fast-food restaurant sells Korean Fried Chicken, among other side dishes. The main difference between Korean Fried Chicken and American Fried Chicken is that it is crispier and more flavorful. Bb.q Chicken double fries their chicken to ensure that each piece is crispy and hot.  After frying the chicken, workers coat a sauce of your choice on the chicken. In my opinion, Soy Garlic, Honey Garlic, and Classic are the best flavors. When you are craving chicken, I highly recommend bb.q Chicken.

  • There are many locations, but here are some in Irvine
  • Jamboree (Irvine): 2750 Alton Parkway #111, Irvine, CA 92606
  • Cypress Village (Irvine): 14161 Jeffrey Rd, Irvine, CA 9262

Han’s Homemade Ice Cream

My final recommendation is Han’s Homemade Ice Cream. This small business has been open since 1972 and has remained popular since then. Han’s Homemade Ice Cream has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, and for good reason. This ice cream parlor sells old-school and unique flavors like Black Licorice. In addition to ice cream, Han’s sells sundaes, banana splits, and customizable ice cream sandwiches. When you are craving ice cream or a sweet treat, Han’s Homemade Ice Cream is the place for you!

  • 3640 S. Bristol Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Hugo’s Thanksgiving – A Short Story

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They say you are what you want. This became true for 12-year-old Hugo Stevens as he became addicted to eating mashed potatoes. The addiction began Thanksgiving Day at 4:17 pm on November 25, 2022. Hugo’s Uncle Aleck (who lived with him) was allergic to potatoes. However, he did not attend Thanksgiving Dinner and stayed in his guest house, as he was suffering from a hemorrhoid. 

The doorbell rang, and Hugo opened the door to his new cousin, Willa, who recently married into the family. In her hands was a large pot filled with mashed potatoes. Willa carefully lifted the lid and showed him the dish that he made. A savory, buttery scent wafted into the air, and Hugo’s mouth watered. Unable to have self-control, he stuck his finger into the mixture and promptly licked it. “HUGO,” Willa said as she scolded him. Before she could say anything else, Hugo took the pot out of her hands, grabbed a spoon, and started devouring it. Willa and Hugo’s other family members gasped and began shouting at him. His mom reached over to grab the pot, but Hugo turned the other way. Eventually, Hugo’s dad commandeered the pot of mashed potatoes and sent him to his room.

Hugo lay on his bed and sighed. I want more mashed potatoes, he thought. Suddenly, he heard a tap on his window. Hugo recoiled at the noise and slowly approached his window. An old woman stared into his eyes, and Hugo yelped. He started to back out of his room, but she held a pot with mashed potatoes and smiled, pointing to the pot. Immediately, Hugo opened his window, thanked the woman, and grabbed the mashed potatoes. She hobbled away, and Hugo began to dig into the pot.

5 minutes later

Hugo scrapped the last bits of the potatoes from the pot and sighed in satisfaction. As he slowly walked to his bed, he felt a popping sensation on the surface of his skin. Mashed potatoes oozed out of his skin, and Hugo yelled and ran out of his room to the dining hall. Everybody screamed when they saw Hugo. Curiously enough, Uncle Aleck decided to pop in for a visit. Uncle Aleck dropped to the floor at the mere sight of mashed potatoes. Hugo’s parents, cousins, and grandparents rushed to the floor. During all of the commotion, Hugo tripped on the floor rug. The mashed potatoes from his body flicked and fell on Uncle Aleck’s leg, which grew swollen. Uncle Aleck’s breathing grew shallow, and the light in his eyes dimmed as he breathed his last breath.

Eventually, the mashed potatoes embedded in Hugo’s skin went away, and he lived the rest of his life in a rehabilitation center that attempted to end his potato addiction.

THE END.

Time Management

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As finals slowly approach, I have often found myself stressed with school and sports. Balancing school, sports, and extracurriculars has proven to be a struggle in my life and many others. Learning how to manage time has proven to be a beneficial skill in life, but it is challenging to learn. 

Here are two ways you can master time management:

  1. Creating a To-Do List
  • There’s a reason why creating a To-Do list is so popular: using a To-Do list can help you keep track of homework, upcoming projects/tests, and chores around the house. To-Do list lets you plan your study time and mark what you complete. Using a list helps you monitor your assignments. A bonus is that checking off a task is a motivator to finish homework.
  • If you prefer to keep track of your To-Do list online, there are many websites (and apps) to do so. I enjoy Pomofocus; this website has a To-Do list and a Pomodoro timer. This leads me to my second point–use a timing system!
  • Benefits: Checking off tasks creates a sense of accomplishment, limits stress, and lessens procrastination.
  1. Utilizing Timing Techniques
  • A timing system allows for the allotted time of working and breaks. The Pomodoro Strategy arranges 25 minutes of work time and 5-15 minutes of rest time. This enables users to have time for work and breaks. Studies have shown that people with gaps between study sessions are more productive than those without. 
  • The Pomodoro Technique has helped me set realistic goals when studying by creating small steps that gradually build up to my main objective.
  • Benefits: Increases accountability, reduces distractions, and improves productivity.
  • An extra note: Looking ahead in the next week or two is essential when planning your study time. This can help you stay on top of upcoming tests and projects.

Final Notes!

Since I have used these strategies in school, I have never missed an assignment and had time to study for exams. Though these two tips seem like small factors in the large scheme of things, setting a To-Do list and timing techniques significantly improve time management.

Organizing your time is essential to being a successful student, employee, and athlete. Using these methods will help you maximize your productivity in a small amount of time.

Thank you for reading!!

– Gwendy M.