I hate stereotypes…
But every now and then they ring true! Last night I went to watch the Rangers’ game at some friends’ apartment, and I ended up falling asleep on the couch. When I looked for breakfast this morning, do you know what I found in the guys’ fridge?
A lot of beer.
And not much else! They also have a pinball machine in their living room. As Chandler Bing might say, “Could it be more of a bachelor pad?” (Although I must admit… I kinda want a pinball machine for my new place now.)
The moving process is going along well. I think we’re finally done with the boring part of unpacking boxes, which means we get to focus on more fun things, like decorating. It’s always difficult for me to imagine how “big” decorations—wallpaper, furniture, curtains, etc.—will look in a room, but I love adding little touches of flair.
For the kitchen, I’m bringing back all the red pepper stuff I bought the last time I lived on my own. My roommate says that as long as I continue to make desserts and give her samples, she couldn’t care less what I do to decorate the kitchen!
Foodie Decorating:
Later today, I get to put my decorating skills to another use. My friend is a kindergarten teacher, and she asked if I’d like to make a special treat for her kids’ Halloween party. She still raves about last year’s Funfetti Blondies. I’m not sure what I want to make. Cupcakes? Cookies? Definitely something with chocolate.
Maybe Chocolate-Chip Banana Bites.
But the banana part probably wouldn’t hold up very well, so I’m trying to brainstorm something else to put in the middle of the mini cookies. Ideally, I’d like to tie the dessert in to Halloween, too. Maybe spider cookies? With pretzel legs… Or maybe I should abandon the cookie idea and just go with cupcakes. Kids seem to love cupcakes above all else.
Do you think stereotypes are sometimes true?
I think that some are based on truth. Like Asians being smart? I’ve been blessed to know many amazing Asian friends, especially when I lived in China, and they are all very smart. My one friend—who ended up at MIT and now works for the government—actually fell asleep during the English AP test and still got a 5! (EDIT: Please read my responses to some of the comments below. Your comments made me realize that my words above–although meant as a compliment–were misguided.)
However, I don’t understand other stereotypes at all. I think the “Mexicans are lazy” stereotype is the most ridiculous and offensive one out there, because I have never met a more hard-working ethnic group. And I would like to go back in time and clock the person who first uttered the phrase, “You hit/throw/run like a girl.”
And now, since I know you’ve all been wondering only one thing throughout this entire post, I’ll answer the important question: No, I did not have beer for breakfast 
. I managed to find an apple hiding in my friends’ kitchen, to tide me over until I drove home.
Then I threw together my favorite Pumpkin Breakfast Cereal.
How lovely to see a well-stocked fridge!
katie, i know you meant well, but please dont perpetuate the model minority stereotype. there are lots of south asians and east asians without the same economic and academic opportunities earlier waves of immigrants came here with; these are refugees or first generations struggling to get by. If you use the logic that asians really are smart, then what makes it different from saying mexicans are lazy? same logic.
also, didnt you live in various areas of asia growing up? you’re telling me that asians are inherently smart, or that there is cultural value for this? i’m really disappointed by this off-handed comment, and won’t be returning.
Wow, seriously? If I were CCK, I sure wouldn’t be sad that you weren’t coming back! I mean, you leave this totally rude and off base comment, and then you say you will never return so you don’t even give her a chance to respond to your comment? I think I speak for more than just myself when I say we’ll be glad to be rid of your close mindedness!
Honey, I think you need to stop LOOKING for things to take offense to. Katie’s comments were obviously not meant to be malicious, and so your hostile tone is completely out of place. If you disagree with her, that’s one thing, but to be so hostile is something I personally find offensive.
As an Asian-American, myself, I took no offense to Katie’s post, only to your accusatory comment.
I didn’t take her comment to be malicious at all, but then again that is probably one of the challenges with the written word is that it’s open to interpretation somewhat so I think it is reasonable that sometimes, someone might interpret something as more hurtful as the original author (blogger or commenter) meant to.
I’m a little sad that commenters could so quickly rally against someone you don’t know who is expressing a dissenting opinion. Given this is a hot button topic and Katie herself asked for discussion, I’m sure she realized that some people would get a bit worked up and that some would share dissenting opinions.
While it hasn’t happened here, I’ve seen many blogs where whenever a commenter disagrees people jump to tell them they should stop reading. It makes me sad because while I may like individual bloggers and their content overall, it in no way means I have to agree with everything they say.
I guess my end point is, if you want other commenters to give Katie more of the benefit of the doubt it might be more productive to take the same tone toward said commenter as well.
I think Katie phrased her original post perfectly, and – while I respect her response to your comment – I am relieved she didn’t modify what she originally said. I grew up in a community that was predominantly Asian, and there were definitely obvious cultural differences between my Chinese peers’ parents’ expectations and my white peers’ expectations. And that’s because of the parents, not because the rest of us judged them. Everyone gets stereotyped, even white people, and anyone who can’t take a demographic-wide compliment from an educated, cultured girl (Katie) needs to mature a little bit.
As an elementary teacher I will have to agree that cupcakes are above all else, and if that’s what she ordered she may have already promised them to the kids. Kids hate broken promises. I wish they liked cupcakes less, but well, they don’t. You could do mini cupcakes. Orange with brown frosting would be cute.
Haha! Good ol’ Chandler Bing!
That chili pepper doxie is super cute! Congrats on your new space! 🙂
I don’t know what you’re talking about; beer is the best vegan way to start the day! At least, that’s probably what the guys think… 😉
LOL yeah, I guess I should’ve been happy their fridge was at least filled with vegan stuff! 🙂
Stereotypes can definitely be true. I certainly have my share of blonde moments!
Aw! A kindergarten teacher- I envy her. That was my favorite to teach by far! 🙂 Those little kiddos are lucky ducks to be given something sweet from you!
I say what kid would not love those banana cookie treats!!…just do not meantion the word “Healthy” or “organic” and they will love it, otherwise you are screwed…haha! when You tell a kid it is health food, even if it is say “organic” ketchup, they usually do not want the ketchup then, this is all from experience!!
thanks for your comment about “mexicans being lazy” being false – i wholeheartedly agree. i live in mexico and people here work harder than in any other country i’ve visited or lived in. their work week is monday through saturday and most work from early morning until late at night. the economy is awful here, but rarely do you see something begging on the street – instead you’ll have people eager to do some service for money (wash your car, sell you candy, etc), literally inventing jobs for themselves since the real jobs don’t exist here. that is the opposite of lazy.
Same in Texas! I admire their work ethic SO much and it’s offensive to me whenever I hear someone use that stereotype. I can’t even imagine how offensive it must be to people of that race, and how much it must anger them.
are you KIDDING me!? This is hands down the most patronising, small minded blog post and set of comments ever. ugh. YOU ARE BEING OFFENSIVE BY JUDGING PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR ETHNICITY whether it is a positive or negative judgment. To say “ohh, Mexicans are so hard working” is disgusting, condescending and makes me worry that there are so many people that don’t realise the damage they can do with mindsets like this.
stereotypes = racism. ergo your post = racist.
agreed.
I think you are being ignorant by declaring that discussing stereotypes is racist.
Katie did not say she beleived in them. She was simply talking about stereotypes exist.
How is saying mexicans are hardworking is offensive? Who doesn’t want to be hardworking?
Get over yourself and take your patronizing attitude elsewhere.
I realize that depicting any ethinic group in a certain way can be offensive, whether it be in a positive or negative light. I apologize to anyone I offended by my comment.
I know you decided that cookies were too messy for the kids, but even if you just make them for you maybe banana butter would be a good substitute for the banana in the middle of the cookies – or just peanut butter, or almost any other nut butter really. Or maybe make pb and j with the cookies.