Hi, President Obama!

 

This week I knocked on doors as a part of a congressional campaign for the very first time.

I had no prior experience with canvassing but Katie Porter’s campaign team got me ready and up to speed in about 15 minutes. Although I am a medical student, and pretty busy in the midst of residency applications, I wanted to do something more than complain about how frustrating our politics have become. So I showed up.

That is all it took. The campaigns are prepared to galvanize their volunteers. They are ready and waiting for people like us to show up and spend an afternoon knocking on doors.

The people I spoke with when canvassing had two things in common:

1. They were fed up with the current administration.

2. They did not know who they were voting for in November.

Knocking on doors makes a difference. The people I spoke to were so frustrated with current politics but didn’t know that they have an amazing candidate running for office in their home district! Now they know and they thanked me for coming by to tell the good news and how they are looking forward to voting in November.

Now, even though I have been interested in healthcare policy for a while now, politics has always felt somehow far removed. So far that, maybe, at times, I questioned the power of my vote or the importance of being engaged in politics especially at a time where the headlines are unrelenting, delivering blow after frustrating blow related to this current administration. But spending an afternoon actually talking with Americans about the upcoming election erased my doubts and affirmed that participating matters.

My commitment to staying engaged was profoundly affirmed this morning when I saw President Barack Obama speak at a rally in Anaheim. My husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to this event (another benefit of being involved!).

The rally started with several speakers, one of which was delivered by a woman who shared a story about her daughter who was born 6 weeks early. The resulting two week NICU stay led to a $90,000 bill and her daughter’s history of prematurity could be considered a pre-existing condition for the purposes of insurance coverage in the future. The speaker shared that Obamacare provided her with hope, comfort, and coverage for her daughter.

As a fourth year medical student applying for residency in obstetrics and gynecology, this person’s story weighed heavily on me. Expectant parents should not have to worry about medical bankruptcy. That is not a normal part of pregnancy.  The continued existence of the ACA is so important for patients, for Americans. 

President Obama’s speech focused on the importance of engagement and the dangers of apathy. As a medical student, and soon to be future physician, his words resonated strongly with me.

I believe that you cannot effectively practice medicine with your eyes closed.  We need to know what is going on, who is shaping healthcare, and how we can make a difference. If physicians don’t use their voices, and their votes, to shape healthcare policy then profit will always trump patients. To me, caring for my patients includes being informed (even if the headlines are anxiety-inducing) and actively advocating for a healthcare system that puts patients first by a) voting and b) volunteering for candidates that value patients.

President Obama came out to speak on behalf of some amazing candidates running for office right now. They are the type of people that I believe can make this country better, stronger, and healthier. But these candidates need our help. Democracy is participatory by definition so if we want it to work…we need to do our part. 

If you are still reading this then I challenge you to commit one afternoon (~3 hours) to volunteering to a campaign near you some time between now and November.

This week I knocked on doors for Katie Porter of the 45th district but, really, I was knocking on doors for my values, for my future patients, and for my country, and, what’s more, so can you.

Volunteer for Mike Levin of San Diego!

Volunteer for Katie Porter of Irvine!

Volunteer for Harley Rouda of Newport Beach!

Volunteer for Katie Hill of Los Angeles!

Volunteer for TJ Cox and Josh Harder of the Central Valley.

Feta Mashed Potatoes with Balsamic Chicken and Lemon Butter Spinach

I had my doubts about combining feta with mashed potatoes but it was totally worth the risk! Enjoy!

​​Check out Step 2 for a short cut for making roasted/mashed potatoes in about half the normal cook time!

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts (not thin cut, get normal/full sized)
• Spinach
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 stick of butter
• Heavy Cream
• Crumbled Feta
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, peppter
• Olive Oil

Instructions:

Step 1: Chicken

Pre-heat over to 400 degrees. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, online and garlic powder, oregano, and fresh thyme. Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a pyrex dish lined with tin foil. Coat chicken in olive oil but placing them in the pyrex dish and flipping them over.  Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil over the chicken. Pour 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar over the chicken breasts. Put in oven. Cook for about 30 minutes (until done).

Step 2: Potatoes

Want to get the potatoes done quickly? Bring water to a boil. Cut potatoes into 1 inch cubes. Place in boiling water for 8 minutes. Remove and place on a cookie sheet. Add chopped fresh rosemary to the cookie sheet then season with salt and pepper. Pour some olive oil on the cookie sheet with the potatoes. Place in oven to crisp up (about 7 minutes).

When the chicken is about 5 minutes from being done, take the potatoes out of the oven. Put into a mixing bowl and use a masher (or two forks) to mash your potatoes. Add 1/2 cup of feta, 1 tablespoon of butter, and 1/4 cup heavy cream to the bowl and mix well. Season to taste.

Step 3: Spinach

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pot. Add spinach. Add juice of 1/2 lemon. Cover with lid and stir occasionally until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4: Put it on a plate!

 

 

Wedding Dress Shopping: how to make your dress one of a kind without breaking your budget

Unsolicited yet mildly interesting advice: how to have a one-of-a-kind wedding dress without going over budget.  

Exactly one year ago today I bought my wedding dress!

My wedding budget priorities were: food and venue. I did not budget a lot of money for my wedding dress. You can only wear it once after all! I had planned to try on various styles of dresses at David’s Bridal with my family and then order or rent a similar style online to save money.

Once I put on my dress, the plan changed. I loved it. However, since I hadn’t intended on actually purchasing a dress that day, I didn’t ask for the price or even provide the woman helping us at the store with an acceptable price range! My anticipation rose while I waited for the verdict. Turns out, my dress was on sale for only $199!

I loved my dress but I wanted to make it my own. I didn’t want a cookie cutter dress from a national retail chain, and yet, I loved and wanted the dress I found! With a little creativity I was able to make my dress one of a kind without breaking my budget. I ordered two sparkly waist belts from an Etsy artist and had them added to my dress as straps. It made my dress more comfortable and secure and added a tasteful amount of sparkle and individuality. My dress was a gem. Then I added some sentiment to my dress with a veil made from the lace of my mother’s wedding dress.

Three simple and affordable ways to make your wedding dress your own:

1. Add a meaningful accessory. My veil is made from the lace of my mother’s wedding dress. Simply cut the lace (after being 1000% certain your mother is ok with this idea), buy a generic hair clip/comb, and sew the lace onto the clip. Don’t forget to buy extra bobby pins to hold it in place! You can use lace or fabric from your mom’s dress for other accessories as well like straps, a lining around the bodice, the tie of a waist belt, etc.
2. Go to Etsy and check out wedding dress waist belts. The great part about Etsy.com is that you can reach out to artists and have your item custom made (from design to sizing!). I had two belts made at 15in long so it would reach from the front of my dress to the back as straps! You can also look for wedding dress sleeves , sashes, or general accessories.
3. Bustle! You are going to have to pay for the bustle when you get your alterations anyways so you might as well make it pretty! Do some research before you pick your bustle style.You will likely have a preference. Some bustles look kind of awkward IMO, you don’t want a big lump at the bottom of your dress. I asked my seamstress to bustle in a way that would fit with flow of my dress and I loved it!

 

On the far left: Trying on my dress for the first time. Middle and Right: my dress with accessories including the addition of custom made sparkle straps and a veil made from the lace of my mother’s wedding dress.

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