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.