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in the life of ...
A toyologist
Working at a toy store could be many people's idea of being in hell, but Rachel Ybarra, a "toyologist" at The Toy Store, says she loves it.
Ybarra, a former KU student, has worked at The Toy Store, 936 Massachusetts Street, for two years. Her job entails showing customers toys they might be interested in.
Instead of just talking with the parents, it's important you treat children like customers and get their input. Ybarra says.
Photo by Adam Schoof
One of the difficult aspects of the job, Ybarra says,is parents who have a vague notion of the toy they want to buy their children and often expect her to know what they are talking about.
Toy story. Rachel Ybarra, former KU student and The Toy Store employee, says it's important to treat children as customers, too, to get their input on toys.
"I get people looking for a toy who say, 'It's orange, it bounces, and it's ten dollars.'" Ybarra says. "The description could be for several toys in the store. It takes time to learn all the products the store offers.
The worst part of her job is unsupervised children, particularly teenagers. Ybarra says they'll ride on toys too small for them, knock things off shelves, and disrupt other
customers.
In the summer, The Toy Store offers "kidtivities," during which Ybarra supervises and teaches kids how to build volcanoes and make birdhouses, among other activities.
The Toy Store also has lots of classic toys adults can enjoy, Ybarra says, so it isn't all about the kids.
Adam Schoof
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DIY: Make fortune cookies
[do it yourself]
Photos by Becka Cremer
Lucky numbers: Create your own fortune by making fortune cookies at home.
Ingredients
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
8 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3 teaspoons water
2. In a bowl, beat the egg whites.Add
1. Make fortunes on strips of paper that are about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
2. In a bowl, beat the egg whites Add vanilla extract, almond extract and oil.
3. Put flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt into a separate bowl. Stir in the water.
4. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. Stir until smooth.
5. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
Space four tablespoons of batter evenly on the sheet.Tilt the cookie sheet back and forth and side-to-side, until each tablespoon of batter forms a 4-inch circle.
6. Bake 15 minutes at 300 degrees.
Remove the sheet from the oven when the outer halves of the cookies turn golden brown and the cookies are easy to remove from the cookie sheet.
8. Fold the cookie in half, then pull the edges downward over the rim of a glass or a wooden spoon.
9. Place the finished cookie in the cup of a muffin tin so it keeps its shape.
7. Remove a cookie with a spatula and flip it over in your hand. Place the fortune in the middle of the cookie.
10. Repeat with the rest of the cookies.
Source:Adapted from a recipe on Wikihow
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March 26, 2009