While you’re in: Have your pet say ‘cheese,’ create a new habit, make an easy treat
Pet of the month
Something naughty might have to come to your mind just now, but no, The Olympian is not writing about Penthouse magazine centerfolds but rather about your cat, dog or other companion animal’s chance to appear in Olympia Federal Savings’ 2021 pet calendar. The calendar was launched four years ago and has become a tradition, said bank spokesperson Sandy DiBernardo. “We at Olympia Federal really love our pets, and we wanted to do something unique,” she said. If you have a photogenic friend of another species — this isn’t limited to the furry or the four-legged, though all of last year’s winners were both — you’re invited to submit a photo no later than 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18. The photos are judged by Concern for Animals, so Olympia Federal’s employees can enter the contest without worries about preferential treatment. Photos are judged partly on technique, and this year, the bank is offering tips from professional photographers to help entrants maximize their chances of success. Also on the website are pictures of last year’s winners, which are worth a look whether or not you’re planning to enter.
Caution: Could be habit-forming
Bad habits, it seems, appear without any effort. In the long months since mid-March, maybe you’ve been working in your pajamas until noon or starting happy hour at lunchtime, for example. But what do you do when you want to form good habits? Behavioral scientist and author B.J. Fogg has a system he calls Tiny Habits that uses existing habits — such as brushing your teeth or starting your day with a cup of coffee — as a starting point for new ones, which he suggests you start with a super simple step. (Instead of vowing to practice yoga for an hour, for example, you might commit to putting on your workout clothes. And then he has you celebrate your achievement — with a fist pump, for example — every time you do the new habit.) He offers a free five-day program to get you started.
Move over, sourdough
As you’ve doubtless heard, lots of cooped-up people have taken to creating sourdough bread and other time-consuming goodies during the pandemic. But if you’re too busy enjoying the Northwest’s sunny season to tackle heavy-duty baking — or if you just don’t want to make that much effort — it’s OK. There are easy ways to whip up a from-scratch treat. Take, for example, two-ingredient recipes. Yes, it’s a thing, and there are plenty of them out there — including a particularly delicious-looking cake made of eggs and chocolate. “You’d almost expect it to taste like a giant chocolate omelet,” One Pot Chef David Chilcott says in his recipe video, laughing with delight as he digs in. “It’s absolutely amazing,” he says. To be fair, the cake requires two bowls, and he tops it with powdered sugar, which is a third ingredient, but if it’s that good, why quibble? Other two-ingredient options include pancakes, ice cream and peanut-butter fudge. Another plus: It’s very likely that you already have the ingredients for at least one of these.
Freelance writer Molly Gilmore is planning to make that cake, and maybe the pancakes, this weekend. She discusses local arts, entertainment and more with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.