Runner's World and Waste Not, Want Not

Hello, Dear Friends!

It's shaping up to be a lovely September and I couldn't be more grateful. Good friends, a fitness goal, and lots of cool parties and friend visits! First things first - running. Or, well, the apt title for it would be "bebopping at a 12 minute mile pace." I happily stumbled upon a track surrounded by a park near my apartment. At the suggestion of many friends, I also started listening to NPR's "This American Life" while I run, which is amazing and makes the time go by so fast. I've visited this track a few times and especially love it in the evenings. I can putter along and watch people with their dogs and play tennis on one end of the track and, when I'm completing a round, I get the treat of seeing the skyline all lit up. It's really a fabulous find. As I'm in the training phase for a pretty beginner runner, having the track to help me gauge my distance is fantastic. Last night, with the smooth sounds of Ira Glass in the background, I completed 4 miles without stopping. Now, to some this is a usual morning jog, a leisurely jaunt requiring little effort. And though I'd done 5Ks and 10Ks for the past few years, I always stopped in between to walk briskly. For the upcoming 8K, I'm determined to run it all, no stopping!

It's amazingly restorative to have a manageable goal like this in place. And the time spent running is reflective and challenging, and I almost always end up walking home feeling fantastic, grateful, and on top of my game. I've also been reducing my television time (not that I watched that much to begin with...aside from Labor Day, which was almost entirely devoted to 'Whale Wars.' Damn.) in favor of reading uplifting books by Victoria Moran. Lord, what a find! She's inspirational, just spiritual enough to get me feeling good, but not creeped out, and she believes in rescuing animals and being vegetarian. Best of all, she advocates for living your best life in a variety of ways and her newest book, "Living a Charmed Life," is a lovely gem full of tiny, life-altering tidbits. Reading one before bed has become ritual. If only her stuff was available on audio book - I'd be a running fool!

I'm also trying to save my pennies. After a raucous and very fun trip to IKEA and the Aurora Outlets with the girls, I have some new winter work clothes and, as Destiny's Child says, "bills, bills, bills." Nothing insane, mind you, but I always feel better when I detox from consuming stuff and make do with the bounty I already have. In the spirit of this, I'm back on track for packing ye old lunch everyday and am getting inspired to be creative and keep things, even cupboard staples, interesting. I really like packing my lunch, actually. As a kid, I usually hated packed lunch and favored the grilled cheese/corn dog/tater tots varietal. As an adult, I come to appreciate the work, love, and ingenuity I put into an artful salad or a freshly made soup. And, since becoming a veggie, I am finding that while many restaurants offer decent vegetarian dishes, they're usually smothered in cheese or are sub par quality to what I could make myself (hello, veggie burger). In the spirit of wasting not, I unearthed a bag of apples in my fridge that were looking sad and on the verge of becoming garbage. Instead, I diced and sizzled them in a pot with cinnamon, all spice, vanilla extract, agave nectar, and vegetable butter. They turned out freaking delicious and filled my apartment with the most amazing smell. Plus, the mixture turned nice and sticky when cool...the perfect topping for pancakes, waffles, ice cream, yogurt, or oatmeal! This afternoon, I enjoyed it hot on top of a scoop of vanilla gelato (purchased from the gelateria next door for $2). What a treat! While it's not the most health-conscious recipe, a little goes a long way and knowing that I avoided tossing perfectly good food makes me blissfully happy. I also found some online recipes for making homemade yogurt, which is not only delicious, but incredibly cost-effective. Yum.

Other ways I'm riding out the recession:

Holding and attending clothing swaps with recessionista pals - Clothing swaps are perhaps one of my favorite things on the planet. They're fun, thrilling, and you get rid of your unwanted stuff while getting your mitts on some one's unwanteds. The rest goes to charity. Brilliant.
Consigning higher-ed clothing and accessories
Mailing old electronics (cameras, phones, MP3 players) to www.buymytronics.com - they cut you a check after!
Exercising outside or taking advantage of free yoga classes to fore go a hefty gym membership (at least until the bitter of winter!)
Using drugstore.com in lieu of buying necessities at CVS/Walgreens. I avoid the insane Chicago city sales tax and get free shipping! No more hoofing bottles of detergent home from the store!
Doing my own manicures - I swear, my nails are in better condition now that no one is scraping at them constantly.
Downloading free audio books at Audible.com - tons of the classics are free! I hope to get through some Tolstoy soon. :)
Using Pandora to rock out at home, at work, and on a run - while the application for Blackberry is fraught with problems, Pandora is freaking brilliant. And, my current obsession is my Hall and Oates station, which has been belting out the 70's AM likes of Ambrosia, Michael McDonald, Lionel Ritchie, and other good time tunes.
Coloring and cutting my own hair - for awhile, I was going to the salon, but now I'm just gonna stick to doing it at home. It's cheaper and will give me an opportunity to grow my hair out a bit.
Not eating meat - I got an email from a friend in the UK the other day decrying the cost of pork. Apparently, the UK government has upped the living standards for pigs (yay!) and in order for farmers to accommodate the new regulations, the price of pork has skyrocketed. That's right - meat is freaking expensive, especially in this economy. Whereas, a can of beans, bag of lentils, or block of tofu is super inexpensive, while being similarly nutritious. Going veg has cut my grocery bill down noticeably.
Socializing at home - My pals and I still enjoy nights out at dance clubs and great restaurants, but if we're catching up, a home cooked meal and bottle of wine is always a great alternative. My friend Megan and I meet every Thursday evening to run and dine. Not only do we get a chance to catch up on the latest happenings while we run, but we eat together, watch some TV, and spend very little doing so. Moreover, it's much more memorable, fun (fits of laughter are often better kindled when you're not in a nice restaurant), and healthy.
Taking advantage of the City - Chicago is perhaps the best city in the US for free street festivals, parks, beaches, concerts, etc. Any given week you'll hear the symphony playing in Millennium Park, attend a free night and reception at the Art Institute, get invited to a charity event with free booze and appetizers for a $5 cover, or mill around one of the many beautiful parks with your pup. On the weekends, festivals abound featuring music (just saw the Gin Blossoms for free this weekend!) and other entertainments for free. Taking advantage of the lakefront for a fantastic beach experience is also a must-do.
Walking everywhere - I have a bus and train pass, but when the weather is nice, I really get a kick out of walking. Since I'm still "new" here and Chicago is a massive city, I love taking new routes and exploring new things. I never feel deprived when I have new things to see and experience and new people to meet.

Abbey's coming to visit this weekend and I'm very excited. Some of the major stops: Architectural Boat Cruise on Friday, Farmer's Market and Beach on Saturday, Art Institute on Sunday, along with the usual suspects: shopping, partying, catching up. Should be a lovely visit, especially since Abs will be bringing my bridesmaid dress! I swear, even when I was little, I never thought much about weddings, but to be included in some one's is always an honor. It's wonderful to have such amazing friends!

Have a wonderful week!

Fall Wishlist

To keep frivolous spending at bay, while still satisfying my yen for browsing/shopping, I like to make lists (I'm not unique in this, I'm sure) of the items that will round of my Fall/Winter wardrobe nicely. Some are miscellaneous home items, as well. It's my list - I can do what I want, people.

• UGG or warm equivalent boots - Yes, I normally dislike UGGS and the women they're associated with, but they're so damn warm and these Chicago winters are so brutal. I've caved.
• Fitted black cardigan - I have many black cardigans, but none are quite right for work without making me look too casual or too LL Bean frumpy. This classic will accent outfits nicely. I'm thinking the J. Crew outlet will help me out.
• Versatile black dress - I have a few black dresses, but none are the right fabrication or style to be versatile enough for work occasions.
• Flannel Sheets - I haven't had them since I was a kid, but I'm craving them and they'll be great on frosty mornings!
• New Glasses - After Banjo chewed mine right before we went to Indy this weekend, I'm in need of a new pair (it's been a good 4 year run). So, Lens Crafters, here I come!
• New Flatware - I'm working with 3 spoons and a few tinny-tasting forks. It's time to get some new flatware, folks.
• Flannel PJs - Once it gets cold, my jersey pants will no longer cut it. I may have to go to LL Bean or something equally matronly for something warm and cozy.
• Rain Jacket with Removeable Fleece - After Banjo had at my Patagonia rain jacket and a year of smoking partying, and generally being a tool in the Cosco jacket my Dad got me for Christmas a few years back, I'm in need of something water (and beer?) resistant with a zip out fleecy liner.
• Gloves - As Chicago has redefined my understanding of "frigid," new gloves are in order so that my digits don't freaking fall off.
• Long Underwear (the silky kind) - Many friends have recommended this for my morning commute and, much like the UGGS situation, I think I need to heed this recommendation.
• Long-Sleeved Tissue Tees - Again, the J. Crew Outlet will likely help me out in this department.
• Fun Blazers and Cardigans for Work - A nice array of colors and weights will serve me well all year long. I'm especially loving cotton cardigans from Uniqlo and blazers from Boden and J. Crew.

I'm sure I'll add on to this list, but this is a good start for now.

Autumn in August

Hello! I've been remiss in writing for...well, the entire month of August, but things have been busy. August has been most excellent - warm, but not too hot, and eventful to boot! Chock full of visits from Amber and my Mom, birthday celebrations for pals, Aneesa and Monica, and a fantastic voyage to Indianapolis to visit Haley, Eric, and the pups (as well as impending baby Glover-Matson). Banjy and I piled into a fine Enterprise economy car (thanks, Megan!) and made the 3.5 hour drive to Indy, music blaring the whole way, without incident. Banjy did get a little sick on the way there, and I did get pulled over on my way home for speeding (I'm a rebel), but she recovered and the cop gave me a warning (it's because I'm so damn charming :). We had a lovely, relaxing time at their beautiful four-square in downtown Indianapolis (check out the trials and tribulations of their remodeling at #2021, linked in the 'Blogs I follow' section). We spent good times on the sprawling porch, watching the pups play and sleep, catching up, and laughing. To cap off the suburban experience, Target had dog costumes on sale for $10, so Banj will be going as a banana this year (pics forthcoming). Haley spoiled me with veggie lasagna and blueberry pancakes, so thanks again for the terrific visit, buddy. I also got a chance to bring down two framed paintings that my Grandpa did. They deserve a more grand setting than my apartment and it warms me to know that they'll be well loved in the Glover-Matson home.

I had the car for an additional day and tooled around Chicago on Monday, loving the freedom of driving and going where I please. I forgot how productive one can be when you're not schlepping your own groceries in bags slung over your shoulder for miles. What's more, the time away from work was incredibly therapeutic - I'm like a different person when I'm not stressing out about meaningless projects and impending trips. I had time to go for long runs outside (to train for the upcoming 8K), read books, catch up with people on the phone, and generally relax. When I'm in this ultra-relaxed state, I feel very strongly about leaving my job for something more impactful, meaningful, and satisfying. Sometimes I think about teaching, but mostly I think about working with kids in foster care. Would it be a difficult job? Heck yes! But would I feel fulfilled by it? Absolutely. My only concerns are the inevitable pay cut and (this is the lamest concern of them all, but surprisingly potent) the loss of prestige. Not that my career now is particularly prestigious, but I've invested a lot of time to get where I am and to chuck it for something that requires less, pays less, etc worries me. But the satisfaction of doing something I believe in, the happiness of feeling like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing would be worth it, right? Agh. I'm working through this, but I'm sure something will present itself/develop when the time is right.

The vegetarian life is going very well. Aside from a few very minor setbacks (a drunken lapse in judgement led me to a patty melt and a week-long bout with food poisoning had me craving meat so badly that I acquiesced), I'm loving the veggie life. I've also gotten creative with my cooking and am finding the whole experience delightful and satisfying. After a marathon shop at Trader Joe's with the car, I crafted this little impromptu dish and it turned out delicious enough to merit sharing. I recommend making double the recipe, inviting pals over on a cold evening, and digging in with lots of red wine, perhaps a lovely dessert and appetizer, and cozy conversation. I enjoyed mine with some crisp chai apple cider and the anthropologie catalogue. Best of all, it's healthy and fast!

Polenta with Mushroom and Walnut Sauce
Servings 3

Ingredients:

• 1 Carton Baby Bella Mushrooms - Diced
• 1/2 Yellow Onion - Finely Chopped
• 1 Clove Garlic - Finely Chopped
• 2/3 Round of Polenta
• 1/2 Cup Creamy Tomato Soup
• 1/2 Cup Red Wine
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 1 Tsp. Olive Oil
• 1 Wedge Laughing Cow Cheese, Garlic and Herb
• Hand full of Shelled Walnuts
• Pinch of Chili Powder
• Pinch of Allspice
• Splash of Soy Sauce
• Salt and Fresh-Ground Pepper, to taste
• Parmesan shaved, to taste

In a saucepan, saute the garlic, onion, and olive oil together. Once sweated, add the mushrooms, half of the water, and half of the red wine. Simmer together. Add tomato soup, spices, soy sauce, and remaining wine. For a more pungent, sweet sauce, add more All Spice, or Cinnamon and Clove, if desired. Continue to simmer (uncovered for a thicker sauce). In a separate pan, prepare polenta per instructions adding the remaining water, until it reaches a grit-like consistency. Once cooked, add Laughing Cow cheese wedge, salt, and pepper. Add walnuts to the mushroom sauce (at the end to maintain firmness) and simmer for 5 minutes. Plate polenta and generously ladle mushroom sauce over top. Top with shredded sharp Parmesan as desired. Enjoy!

I'm training for this upcoming 8K to benefit PAWS, an animal shelter here in Chicago. I've been running about 2.5 miles everyday and slowly am trying to work my way up to the full 5 miles. Luckily, the weather is gorgeously autumn-like and perfect for outdoor runs. Megan is coming over tomorrow night for an outdoor run and I'll be whipping something up for us to nosh on afterward. Though most people are moaning about the cooler weather, I'm cheering! I love fall! I can't wait to sport opaque tights, knee-high boots, cozy jackets, and smell that crisp autumn air on my walks to and from work. Here are some things I'm loving right now that really get me in the fall spirit:

• Pacifica Tibetan Mountain Temple Candle (they're a bit more pricey, but the clean burning soy wax and long-lasting fragrance make these candles well worth it)
• The Boden Catalogue (www.bodenusa.com) for its British fashion sensibility
• Naked Chai Apple Cider, the perfect mix of tangy and spicy
• OPI Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow Nail Polish, a black forest green that looks great on toes
• Bikram Yoga, an amazing way to sweat out toxins and tone up (now, if only I was more motivated to go!)
• Old School Herbal Essences Conditioner (Haley and I found some at a Indy CVS and I was overjoyed. The scent reminds me of simpler high/middle school times and it's delightful)
• Icelandic Blonde, the elusive blonde that I strive for. I believe this weekend is the weekend when I will go to this color.
• Neutrogena Lip Color in Poppy Red, the perfect red with an excellent consistency
• Trader Joe's Tahini-Free Hummus, this is a consistent favorite. I adore it.
• Good Earth Herbal Tea. Spicy, Sweet, Cheap.

Don't You (bum bum bum bum bum bum) Forget About Me

It's very nice to be back in Chicago, after spending half of last week in Washington DC. Don't get me wrong - DC is a great city. But the client I'm doing work for is located in a terrible part of town and, frankly, since moving to Chicago, forging a nice life here, and getting Banjo, I really don't have any interest in traveling for work. It's especially blech since I'm averaging a 3-day trip every month and a half. Oh, and the work blows. But enough complaining out of me. Just keep your fingers crossed that something else will materialize (and I'll do my part by putting applications out there / liberally giving away hand jobs - I kid).

The title of this posting, and the song it is taken from, is especially resonant these days. For one, I've been hearing this song a lot on my Pandora station dedicated to 80's synth pop favorites. And secondly, for reasons I cannot explain, old boyfriends, dates, flames, etc have been coming out of the woodwork lately. I truly dislike recycling old flames (unless it's to be friends, which I always appreciate), but it's always interesting how after years of no communication, these lads come out of hibernation and want to be all up in my grill. I mean, I dig it. They obviously were lured by the siren song of my super fierce blog.

Two and a half weeks in and the vegetarian life is treating me well. I'm sleeping exceptionally well and have more energy. I've also enjoyed the adventures in guerilla cooking that vegetarianism forces you to embark on. Last night, after discovering many zucchini in my fridge (left over from a recent trip to the farmer's market), I went buck wild and made zucchini flax muffins, zucchini strata, and polenta with mozzarella and zucchini. I would happily pass along the recipes for these, but silly goat, you know I never use recipes. That's why it's guerilla / impromptu cooking! I simply go into the cupboards, find stuff, mix it all together, and cook it. Sometimes it works out exceptionally well - other times, the food is so bad, even Banjo won't touch it. I like these kinds of kitchen experiments. And I'm definitely liking that I'm finally manning up enough to fulfill my new year's resolution of being a vegetarian. Fingers crossed that it keeps up.

In other news, after much ado (read: BULLSHIT), I finally got my IL Driver's License. Yes, after THREE months of making desperate pleas to the Texas DMV, a day of taking the written test in Illinois (in which I met a very foxy fellow test-taker, but our conversation was broken up by a disgruntled IL DMV employee who scolded us for talking and threatened to take our tests away), and many calls to the IL DMV, I finally have it! Boy, I will keep it close. No more drunken test-tube shot ordering at the Hangge Uppe at 3am for this gal. Instead, I will use the license to fulfill all of those visits to Haley, my mom, and other pals. What's more, the picture is very blonde Lois Lane - so that's cool. I will miss you old Texas license from 2001. We had many good times. Ya know, all the times you helped me legitimately get into bars and clubs, often illiciting the response from bouncers: "Ah, you're from Texas, huh?" or "A Texas girl? Yeehaw." Remember the drunken Halloween when you were used to play "Suck and Blow" (not as dirty as it sounds)? Yeah, me too. Good times, old friend. Now, I'm sure you're getting some hoochie chola into bad clubs with even worse music. She probably has bleach blond hair and paid $50 for you from some seedy guy who trolls college campuses. Live on, little license!

Oh, in other news, I joined a Sunday Softball league. Sheesh. Why I did this after the Softball incident of 2005 (when Zac, Leah, Andy, and I went to play softball and I missed catching the ball, only to have it land ON MY EYE), I do not know. I think it was because the admission fee included beer and a t-shirt. Pray for me. Pray for my Chanel glasses (which I got as a product of the other, lesser pair being broken by said softball incident), which have been going strong for four years of constant wear now.

On an even less substantive note, the Season Finale of "The Bachelorette" is on tonight. Can I ask WTF ABC is doing featuring a CANADIAN on this show? I don't want to seem US-centric, but if she lives in Vancouver, perhaps the CBC should do a show on her, not ABC (in which the "A" stands for American - I'm guessing at this...?). I'm just bitter because Ed, one of the finalists, is a gentleman from Chicago who frequents the Blue Frog, my favorite neighborhood haunt. And I want him to be mine. Meow.

Have a happy week!

A Good World

Oh, how my mailbox has been the bearer of much happiness these past few weeks. My mother, who is a saint, sent me a Charlie Harper print and lithograph (can't wait to frame it) for my birthday! I am tickled, because (a) I heart CH and (b) I have been remiss in framing things and need to get back on it! I am so excited - these are beautiful and very much remind me of how my grandfather used to sketch back in the day. I think the "We Think the World of Birds" one will go above my bed and the "A Good World" lithograph will have to go somewhere in the living room. Once I move from my apartment (in December, likely) to a place that has walls that are not entirely made of concrete, I'll have lots of fun finding just the right spots for these gems. Anyway, many thanks to my darling, wonderful, super fantastic mother for sprucing up my place and always keeping me in good art. Mwah!

Dog Tags and Military Lads

So far, the week has been great. After a weekend full of indie music (Pitchfork), crafting (um, Pitchfork), and vegging out while watching Hillary Duff movies (yay!), I'm off to DC tomorrow night for a project with the DC Housing Authority (eek!). In the interest of continual self-improvement/reinvention, I've embarked on the following things:

Attempted vegetarianism (so far, so good)
Ballet (lots to learn)
Voice (loving the Old Town School of Folk Music and getting back into singing)
Dogged positivity (this may sound lame and new agey, but I'm digging the whole reprogramming your thinking to be more positive thing)

Banjo received her new dog tag in the mail yesterday and she's very excited about it. I customized it with little caterpillars, toadstools, and autumn leaves. It's darling! I highly recommend www.gooddogtags.com. The people are friendly and the tags are affordable and cute. Banjo is very proud and has begun modeling her tag wherever she goes:

I also received a lovely picture from my flame/friend, Wyatt, who is traveling the far East. This is of Halong Bay in Hanoi. So lovely that I had to share it:

That's all for now, peoples. Hope you're all having a good week!

28 is Great

Hello, folks! Sorry for the mad delay in posting. Here I am writing to you, officially one year older. 28 feels grand so far and, with the joyous, warm welcome from friends and family, both in Chicago and beyond, I think 28 promises to be a rollicking good time. The weekend of fun kicked off with my (“our” is the proper term, as she’s the office’s intern – but I adore her muchly and consider her my own personal intern) intern, Jessica, making of all things…FUNFETTI CUPCAKES. Dangerously delicious – we all celebrated by eating like, a billion of them. I then went home and had a lovely run with Banjo (a must after consuming so many scrumptious cupcakes), in the gorgeous Chicago lakefront sunshine, followed by (of course the requisite freshen up session) an outing to Portillo’s for hot dogs and the Blue Frog for karaoke with Mr. Mike Mason. The Blue Frog, also the site of my party on Saturday, is a freaking magical place. If you ever come to Chicago and you’re my friend, you will be dragged there. Ed from “The Bachelorette” has been recently spotted there (by Katie and myself, nary a few weeks ago) singing Elton John's “That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” and old men with very hair sprayed coifs croon sad old favorites, such as Kenny Roger’s “Lady” (Swoon). On this particular outing, an Indian man sang Chris DeBurgh’s “Lady in Red.” It’s karaoke moments such as those that make me believe that the Blue Frog truly is heaven.

Friday welcomed my best friend (and former college roommate and European traveling buddy) Amber and her wonderfully eccentric mother over to my apartment to meet Banjo, followed by a leisurely, very Parisian lunch of sweet and savory crepes at Bistrot Zinc. Amber’s recently engaged, so we gabbed about the wedding (which will likely follow a 1950’s or 1960’s ‘Dirty Dancing’ theme – Radness) and generally caught up. It was a gorgeous day in Chicago and we took Banjo to Washington Square Park to hunt squirrels and sniff the flowers. We then got gussied up in dresses and went out to dinner at Aura with her folks (there’s a lot of dining when things are being celebrated…), followed by blissful vegging out in our PJs watching “What Not to Wear.” These are the kinds of days/nights that I live for – no itinerary, excellent weather, comfortable company, and lovely food. BTW – if you ever go to Aura, I highly recommend their cocktail, the Tangerine Stinger, which is a glorious combination of tangerine juice, vodka, and pressed Ancho chilies. It has a nice bite to it and gave me a delightful buzz.

Before I get in to the specifics that made Saturday such a fantastic birthday, I want to thank all my pals and family for the calls, texts, emails, and general messages of love. I couldn’t have felt more fortunate! After canoodling with Banjo in the bed and sleeping in, we grabbed a great brunch and moseyed over to the beach to dip our toes in the water. After wading around for a bit, we realized that we needed some duds for the evening’s festivities and that our toesies were in serious need of some upkeep – so, off to Forever 21 and the nail salon we went, where we tried on completely skanky/unflattering dresses, and got out toes slicked with OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark. Bliss! Fast forward to the Blue Frog Karaoke Party (some pics below – please note there were men at the party, but they didn’t sing. Only singers get photos, okay?). Ah, Chicago! You’ve proven to be the best city I have ever lived in – such wonderful sites, architecture, food, and people. With a gaggle of great pals, some very rowdy Saint Louis Cardinals fans (who sang a bang-up version of Nelly’s “Shake Ya Tail Featha,” and a whole lot of free-flowing booze, songs were sung (“Total Eclipse of the Heart,” “A Whole New World,” “Walk like an Egyptian,” “Push It” (I do not recommend this one for karaoke…); “Don’t Stop Believing;” “Friends in Low Places;” etc…), bodies were moving, and people were glowy with happiness and fun. A guy even dedicated a Creed song (“My Sacrifice,” if you must know) to our entire table. It was a great time and lots of unflattering pictures were taken (of me singing emotionally, especially). So, thank you to everyone who came out, sent well-wishes, or is just generally a kick ass person in life. I heart you!

(MORE PICS SHOULD BE HERE, BUT I'M HAVING TROUBLE POSTING THEM)

I ended up buying the teak coffee table (see below) from CL. My gosh, the people who sold it to me were LOVELY. Not only did they deliver it for nothing, but the woman (a very artsy, friendly gal) wrote me a follow-up email offering me her car anytime I needed it. The Midwest never fails to impress and hearten me with its general niceness. The table is exquisite and really pulls together the whole room. Banjo is not entirely sure what’s up with this wooden thing in the middle of her play space that she’s not allowed to lay/jump on (though she’s tried many times), but it’s quickly become an inextricable part of the room. To cement its place in my home, I’ve already started treating it like shit. All weekend, Amber and I put our feet and seltzer cans on it with abandon, and this very morning, I spilled blackberry jam on it. Through it all, it has maintained its luster. Hooray for mid-century Danish quality!

In Praise of Cupcakes

Cupcakes are the world's most perfect food. Not nutritionally, but from an aesthetic and taste perspective, cupcakes are tops. They're pretty, portable, and absolutely delicious. As testament to this, a few weeks ago, Banjo and I were at Washington Square Park. Banjo has recently become obsessed with 'hunting' squirrels, which is a hilarious thing to watch. She spots them in no time, tracks their movements, and then, with excruciatingly slow, methodical movements (the most hysterical part to watch), she slowly makes her way toward them. Of course, they dart away before she can ever nip their tails, but she is undaunted, and will lean/stand/sit against the tree, her head fixed on the squirrels, in the hopes that (a) one will fall/lose his/her balance or (b) she'll learn to climb trees/fly. On this particular day, a plucky squirrel taunted Banjo. This squirrel was eating a cupcake wrapper. So, see? Even squirrels heart cupcakes and really, what better judges of culinary relevance are there than squirrels? Agh, that was the worst story used to make a point ever. At least it was cute.

I've always loved cupcakes, little treasures that they are. And while many women dream of a tower of fondant for their weddings, I dream of a small tower of homemade Funfetti cupcakes, complete with Pillsbury icing. No, it's not fancy, but the colors and the littleness make them seem like they're especially made for everyone.

I'm lucky enough to have had some great cupcakes in my day. Every year growing up, my parents would throw a large Christmas party and my mother would slave in the kitchen for days making all of the food (none of this ordering party platters shit for her, no sir). One of the things she'd have me help her make were 'Black Bottom Cupcakes,' (www.joyofbaking.com/blackbottomcupcakes.html) the most delectable mix of soft, chocolatey cake, cream cheese, and chocolate chips. Their prevalence in my youth is probably one of the reasons I was a husky child. But, I digress.

Right before I left Boston, Sweet (http://www.sweetboston.com/) opened its doors. Haley and I visited Sweet a few times after our "runs," and were happy with the spoils. Pineappley carrot cake cupcakes were a standout. I also liked that the place served cold glasses of milk and lovely hot coffee to accompany your cupcake (or cupcakes, rather - let's be real here). I also worked very near to Flour Bakery, which featured humongous chocolate cupcakes. Not my favorites, but seeing a cupcake midday can brighten the whole work day. One of my Boston friends, Emily, is an amazing vegan baker. Not only can she make a chocolate chip cookie that could fool any butter-devotee, but for every party she ever held, she made lush cupcakes with colorful frosting. Yum.

Shortly after moving to Chicago, I discovered that I lived near More (http://www.morechicago.com/), a small, chi-chi cupcake boutique. For what it is, More is alright in my book. They feature sweet and savory cupcakes, but the best is the Red Velvet. These aren't homemade cupcakes, but rather dense, gourmet little cakes with thick swathes of icing. I am partial to the more homemade variety, but More still satisfies the occasional craving.

So, in praise of the little cakes that bring a smile to humans and squirrels alike, I bring you some lovely recipes for a variety of interests:

For everyone:

Black Bottom Cupcakes
(http://www.joyofbaking.com/BlackBottomCupcakes.html)

For the vegans:

Basic Vegan Cupcakes
(http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Vegan-Cupcakes/Detail.aspx)

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes (from Vegan Post Punk Kitchen)
(http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=49)

For the calorie-counting:
Lemon Scented Blueberry Cupcakes (from Cooking Light)
(www.http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1571446)

Banana Cupcakes (from Cooking Light)
(http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=222206)

And if these recipes don't sate your appetite, check out this blog, entirely devoted to cupcakes: http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/. There's some definite food porn here.

Ooh! Aah!

Folks, some new cool shit has hit the scene and I feel obliged to at least tell you about some of them. Not that I'm all that cool, but sometimes things I think are cool actually are. Behold, some of my current obsessions:

Keds (http://www.keds.com//): When I first met my bestie, Amber, we were prospective freshman at Emerson College in Boston, sizing each other up as potential roommates. I was about 65lbs heavier, sporting a black burgundy bob, and probably donning an Ani DiFranco shirt. Amber was of delicate frame and sporting clear braces and Keds. Not any fancy Keds, but the white ones, slightly dingy with usual wear. We ended up being roommates and shortly thereafter, best friends, and I used to razz Amb for wearing Keds. Little did I know, she was a trailblazer, a trendster well before her time. Amber was wearing keds when Mischa Barton was just a fetus (alright, a middle schooler, but still...). And today, Keds has undergone a renaissance of sorts. Not only are the classic styles updated with cute fabrics, but they now have wedges (the bane of Haley and my existences), flats, espadrilles, and, the piece de Resistance, the customizable classic. That's right, customizable. In partnership with Zazzle.com, a very favorite site of mine, Keds will let you customize three types of shoes with designer prints, fabrics, spray paint, and even pics you upload from your own computer (www.zazzle.com/cr/design/pt-kedsshoe/). I tried my hand at customizing a pair of mini-skimmers with the a picture of Falco's album cover. I'm still perfecting the design, but for now, I'm digging on the concept. Behold, my beloved:

(Oh, Falco, you are so Austrian. So handsome. So dead for many years...)

Liz Claiborne (http://www.lizclaiborne.com/): When I hear the words "Liz Claiborne," I usually think of my mom, trying her hand at being a real estate agent in the 80's, wearing (and rocking, I might add) a canary yellow, silky suit dress with massive shoulder pads and equally massive faux gold earrings. LC has gone through various iterations since then, but with favorite, Isaac Mizrahi newly at the helm, the stuff is looking cute and sassy again. If you catch the sale items, you can get a steal on brightly colored basics. Here are some of my favorites:

(Tomato Red Jersey Dress; Mixed Media Leather Bag; Retro Skort (yes, a skort). Something for everyone here, kids)

Dockers (http://www.dockers.com/): Anyone who knows me knows that I fucking hate khaki. Maybe it's because I was a husky child and my father insisted on buying me chinos from the Gap every Christmas. Maybe it's because those chinos were often paired with pleated leather loafers (ahem, Dexters) and a tucked-in, buttoned-down shirt (usually in a paisley print) and a tight, heavily hair sprayed ponytail with a valiant attempt made at creating fluffed, hair sprayed bangs. It was not a good look for me. It was not a good look for anyone who didn't want to go to the bars trolling for lipstick lesbians. But Dockers, with its budgety, lived-in looks, changes my mind a bit. Granted, I would never wear khaki (I'm too pale), but luckily, they sell their styles in charcoal and black. So, go to the site, score some comfy, bargain work pants and skirts (in the sale section, if you please. The regular priced stuff can be, well, pricey), and check out some of there other breezy styles while you're at it. The stuff is reminiscent of J.Crew and old school Gap looks (back when the Gap didn't suck as much). And men are not excluded! I think the men's stuff is almost better than the women's. Czech 'em out:

Enjoy! And I'll attempt to be more gender-diplomatic with my future posts. Bros before hoes.

I know that contentment is the path to enlightenment, but CL is just so tempting!

Hi there. I've recently had some downtime at work and have been trolling CL for home items to buy. I'm steering clear of the Personals and Casual Encounters sections, thankyouverymuch. I've been coffee table-less for almost 8 months now and, though I love an open space, would very much like to avoid getting weird leg cramps and likely blood clots from sitting, for lack of a better term, "Indian style" (cue the crying Native American on the 80's don't litter TV campaign) on my couch all this time. Plus, it seems that Banjo has (fingers crossed) outgrown her desire to chew anything and everything in sight, so I'm hoping I can bust out some artsy coffee table books and maybe present some lovely flowers atop my future table. I'm looking to spend around $100 and, per my friend, Tim's recommendation, have been using search terms such as "Danish" "Mid-Century" and "Scandinavian." These are probably the same terms I'd use if I was searching the Personals (ha). Here are some CL and online finds that I am thinking seriously about (or coveting and including in the list of things for the home that I'd like to amass). Comments welcomed. And even though CL gets a bad rap, I effectively sold many of my worldly possessions on CL when leaving Boston. In fact, I sold enough shit to fund my entire move. That was cool.

Danish Teak Coffee Table from CL; Charley Harper Dallas Exhibit Print; Polly Chair in Aegean from Target (http://www.target.com/)

Lately I've been devoting a bit more attention to my apartment. Though I know I likely won't renew my lease and I abhor carpet, I do love the view, the people, and the overall convenience. But I miss the feeling of hardwood underfoot, the ability to open my windows and be tree level, and the eccentric touches of an older place. Given the aforementioned selling of most of my furniture, I'm now looking to replenish my collection with more 'grown up' items I can have for awhile. When I first moved to Boston, my mom and I went to CheapChic, a junk store around the corner from my old place, and dropped $400 on a dresser (art deco, but in desperate need of refinishing), chair (Harvard library chair - I still have it and cannot bear to part with it), couch (Victorian, blue velvet, baby), and other sundry items. The only thing we bought new was a bed (thank you, Mom) and a bed frame. I still have that bed and bed frame, but the rest of the items are gone, sold to happy, random people from CL during my last days in Boston. So, when Haley and I drove the Penske to Chicago, there was barely anything in the back - certainly not enough to merit a 12 foot truck, let alone the 16 foot truck we ended up with. In effort to brighten up my place (and, of course, give Banjo more places to lay and shed on), I purchased some Marimekko pillow covers from Etsy.com (love that site) and now they adorn my IKEA leather sofa (see below). I'll take a picture of the look and post it later, but the result is a nice mix of spare, Swedish modern with pops of pleasant, flowery color. There are also some vibrant pink and green pillow covers, but I can't find a pic of them, so these will have to suffice.

(Despite the hellish ordering and month-long wait, I highly recommend the IKEA Stockholm Collection stuff. It's pricier, but feels sturdy, not college student-y; Marimekko 'Brasilia' Pattern in Blue and Green (not pictured); Marimekko 'Iso Krassi' Pattern (discontinued) from Crate and Barrel **This one is Banjo's favorite to rest on...)

I want to get a sewing machine so I can freshen up on my sewing and start making my own pillow covers, dresses, and neckerchiefs for the pup. If anyone has a recommendation for a good, cheap beginner machine, please let me know. There are tons on CL, but I want to make sure I get a decently durable one. And if anyone has recommendations for bitchin' fabric stores, I am all ears. I saw some discounted Lotta Jansdotter fabric awhile back and didn't buy it. Now I'm kicking my own ass because it would've made for a cool shirt dress or, at the very least, dish towels. I'll post more home pics later and will keep you posted on my CL odysseys.

Welcome, friends!

Hello, friends and thieves! Welcome to the newest installment of my blogging life: Thieves Like Us. In this little bloggy, you'll find (hopefully) helpful and inspiring tips and ideas to simplify and lushify your life. Really, this is just a medium to share news and cool tidbits with friends, but if others jump on the bandwagon, that's great, too! In an effort to be more deliberate and organized about this venture, TLU (not to be confused with TRL) will feature blips about, but certainly not limited to:

• Budget Fashion
• Design and Style
• Cooking and Cleaning
• Being Green
• Rescuing Animals
• Filling up Your Dancecard
• Musica
• Travel!
• Rants about my 'real' job (will try to keep these to minimum, but you know...)

Which brings us to the little requisite "Who are you, mysterious blogger woman speaking of thievery?" part of this welcome. Well, hello there, stranger - I'm Ashlee. I'm a peppy Texan transplant (a nomad, really), who's recently moved to Chicago and is loving it. I have a little shelter dog named 'Banjo' who can really rock a neckerchief and likes to sing along to Morrissey when I'm getting ready for work in the mornings. She's a hoot. I love many things, but topping the list are:

• My dog, family, and friends (duh)
• The sound of a slide guitar or fiddle (especially lovely when together)
• Mid-Century Danish furniture (especially if it's teak!)
• Marimekko prints
• Greek food
• Red Lipstick
• Sweden and anything Scandinavian
• Jasper Johns, Charley Harper, and Rothko
• Morrissey, Falco, Jeff Buckley, and other (for various reasons, usually death or sexual ambiguity) unattaintable rock stars
• Farmer's Markets
• Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
• Havianas flip flops and Converse All Stars
• Pilot G-Tec-C4 Pens
• Anemonies, Peonies, Asters, Poppies, and other wildflower looking flowers
• Synth Pop
• Men in glasses
• Windowsill gardening
• Homeopathy
• Impromptu cooking and happy culinary accidents
• Clothing swaps
• Shoes with (as an ex-boyfriend once coined) "shit on the toe"
• Infomercials
• Cate Blanchett
• Road trips and long train rides
• Exploring Chicago on foot
• Steve Martin, Chris Farley, and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
• Cupcakes

I like other stuff, too, but ya know, that's good to get us started. So, welcome again! Take a load off and enjoy. Feel free to send me things you'd like me to post and all that good stuff. And, of course, visit as often as you like. I'll try to be vigilant in posting so that this can be a go-to site when you're looking to kill some time at your job. Because really, no one likes there job all the time. But you'll like my blog all the time. I'll bet Banjo on it.