Meat Free since '83

Ok, so thats not entirely true.  There were multiple occasions when my parents forced me to eat hot dogs, bologna, and chic nuggets.  It was against my will though.  But, while i have not been entirely meat free since '83, the Chicago Diner has!  My BFF and i went to the new Logan Square location last night, as its just a hop skip and a jump away from both of our apartments.

I indulged in the vegan reuben with sweet potato fries, and was not disappointed.  (It was a little messy though - luckily i was there with a very understanding date.

On our walk home (ok, lies.  we were walking to a bar to keep drinking)  We encountered a homeless gentleman who asked for our leftovers, so of course we obliged.  In the end, it worked out well, because i totally would have broken into that takeaway box at the bar - it's just how i roll.  So, the universe is doing a good job of stopping me from over eating when i'm not running enough to justify it. Thank you, universe!  It's actually the 30 year anniversary of the Chicago Diner, so they are having sweet giveaways all month - I highly recommend you check it out!  And call me if you do, as i am right around the corner.  

Why am still talking about food, and not talking about running?  Stretching is going well, but even if i wanted to run, my neighborhood is an obstacle course of 2 inches of ice covered in 7 inches of snow.  The city does not make it safe or easy to run in the winter.  I also have MY FIRST DAY OF WORK TODAY.  Needless to say, i have been up since 5am choosing an outfit.  Where is loop looks when you need her??

Either way, i promise to run soon.  As soon as time, biology, and mother nature stop horse-whipping me.

Hopefully i will have an interesting post for you tomorrow.  I'm trying people!  (Lies - I'm not.)

Marathon training week 10. Ouch.

Miles run: 24
Martinis: 3
Strength: 0
Cross-training:  A lot of walking!

Outlook:  Well, it happened.  I would call it a full on injury, but my minor training aches and pains turned into shooting pains that have been making it difficult to walk, and are even keeping me from sleeping at night.  The main culprits are both knees, and my left foot.

It's my own damn fault too.  As i was having a total breakdown during my long run, and cutting it short due to pain, my training leader asked me if i was foam rolling enough.  To which i responded, "I haven't touched the foam roller since November."  Couple that with absolutely no post run stretching (It's too cold!) and attempting long runs in shoes that are probably not supportive enough, (especially for all the ice chunks!) and you've got one hot mess.  Needless to say, this week my focus in on learning proper recovery - I have been a bonehead for far too long.  This week is about stretching, foam-rolling, foot massaging, and eating of nutritious, protein filled post-run snacks.  It was arrogant of me to think that my body would run a marathon with me treating it like crap.  My mangled, tender foot and grapefruit knees have humbled me.

Seeing as how all my running this weekend was shut down, i got to spend the weekend at home, in a pain-killer induced haze doing my favorite activity besides running.  Cooking!  Matt bought a giant bag of arugula that is too much for two people to ever eat, so our mission was to have it for every single meal.  Some of my favorites:

Thats right, i learned to poach an egg.  and it was delicious.  And waffles ate like a queen on all the eggs i messed up.  She had herself a little doggy benedict!

Do you ever make training mistakes despite KNOWING it's a mistake?  I am a serial non-stretcher....it just really catches up to me in the cold winter days.  

Marathon Training, week 5.

Miles: 31
Martinis: 2.5
Strength Training: 3 p90x sessions
Overall outlook:  I feel good, but will most likely need to trim back on the strength training.  It's too much of an energy suck, and cuts into the precious time i have to run.  Also, my knee hurts like a bitch right now.

My long run Saturday morning really took a lot out of me.  It was supposed to be 14 miles, but it was cut a little short to avoid accidentally becoming a part of the F^3 half marathon.  The first half of the run was extra hard because of the cold. The "feels like" temp was hovering around 3 degrees, and my water bottle froze solid. Eventually the sun came out and it got a little warmer, but it was definitely draining.  I went home and spent a good chunk of time wrapped up in blankets on the couch watching the Biggest Loser.  And enjoying a martini.

I eventually worked up the balls to have another go at making pizza.  Matt had the fire extinguisher and a Chipotle coupon ready, but luckily, neither were needed!

Basil and balsamic reduction, yum!

Sunday morning, i met up with some friends for brunch at Karyns before the ice storm hit.  My friend Rachel and I spotted what appeared to be a banksy work, but we have no way to verify...

So much culture before noon....

When i got home, there was a terrifying amount of feathers on the sidewalk.  I assumed a dog or cat had gotten a hold of a bird.  I went upstairs, and was looking out the window, scouting for ice, and right outside was a hawk, eating a pigeon!! I don't know why i was so entranced, but i was.  It was like animal planet, only outside my window.  I eventually took the dog out, and talked to some of my neighbors who were also watching the hawk.  Why is there a hawk in logan square??

So much nature before two.....

Then the ice storm hit, and we stayed indoors for the rest of the day, and i made PRETZEL ROLLS! We used to get them at Marianos, but since i refuse to go there anymore because it's so crazy on weekends, Matt has been craving them.  Much like the tortillas, it's just easier to make them myself...

 
I'm not going to lie; we ate them all, and i had to make a second batch.  #fatfluential.

Taco Tuesday.

Ok, before i say anything, i am still REELING from having that nightmare where all your teeth fall out.  Dang that nightmare is scary.  Why is having your teeth fall out so terrifying?  I mean, i have dental insurance.  They could replace my teeth.  Probably with better ones, actually... Regardless, even in the dream, i was trying to wake myself up by screaming "i have dental insurance, I HAVE DENTAL INSURANCE!"  I sure hope i don't talk in my sleep.

Moving on.

Last night i made TACOS!  It's really not that big of a deal, but i needed a boost after so many pizza failures.  I even made the tortillas from scratch!  It's not like fresh tortillas are hard to come by here - If i really want, there is a tortilla factory a few miles down the road, and they deliver fresh tortillas to the grocery stores daily.  But, i like to know how to make things.  Plus, what if something happens to that tortilla factory someday??  In a post-apocalyptic tortilla-less world, i will have nothing to worry about.

Also, my grocery store is stupidly crowded, and just going there makes me want to punch people.

Seriously.  It's easier to just make the tortillas.

I love tacos because you can just put whatever you have on them.  Matt made a seasoned chicken to put on the tacos that was tasty, but i don't really like chicken, so i tend to favor pinto beans and avocado.  

The tortillas were pretty easy actually.  The only downside was that i made them a little small, so the tacos were tiny.  But that just means eat more of them, right?

It's like a hand fruit!

Anywhose, they were delicious!  Matt and i totally pigged out.  Here is how to make tortillas!

2 c. Masa Harina flour
1/2 t. salt
1.5 c. warm water

Mix the salt and flour together, and slowly add the water.  Stir it up with a spoon, or just use your hands.  I ended up adding about 2T. extra corn flour because my dough was a little sticky.  I should probably try harder to measure things.  Make the dough into a giant ball.  (if its dry and cracking, add water.  If it is sticking to your hands and the bowl, add flour.  It should feel spongey.)  Place it in its bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit for an hour.  This allows you to watch exactly one rerun of Lost while someone chops your veggies for you. 

After an hour passes, divide the dough into 12-16 little balls.  I did 16, but they were small.  Then, pop them in your tortilla press.  Oh wait - you don't have a tortilla press?  Neither do i.  I covered a cutting board and frying pan with plastic wrap and squashed those tortillas the cartoon way - smashing them with the frying pan.  It worked surprisingly well - there were only one or two that stuck and had to be re-rolled and re-squashed.  You only cook the tortillas for a few minutes, flipping half way through.  i stacked them on a plate with a paper towel over them and they stayed warm surprisingly longer than store tortillas.  

They were tasty, and nothing was set on fire.  Happy days!

The Lord of the Brie.

I'd like to consider myself a somewhat healthy eater.  I avoid meat, I'm not big on fast food, and i love to cook.  But i do enjoy unhealthy eating - especially around the holidays.  I am a big fan of cookies and "party food".  You know, bread and cheese, olives, little bite-sized finger foods.  If you follow my blog, you know that i am not one to diet, but i am not constantly shoveling food in my mouth either (ok, busted.  I totally do that sometimes.  But not all the times.  Ok, most of the time.  You know what?  LAY OFF ME, I'M STARVING.)  

But seriously, if i want something, i'm going to just eat it rather than dwell on it.  

I have relied on this diet plan my entire life.  Eat whatever you want, just don't eat too much.  It works for the most part.  Sometimes i gain 5 lbs, sometimes i lose 5 pounds, ying and yang, harmony, ebb and flow, blah blah blah.  So this has been the natural order.  

That is, until the natural order was DISRUPTED!!!

Matt and I went to Costco last weekend, which is already problematic, as i have never been able to so much as enter that store without having a complete nervous breakdown where i ended up lying on the floor in the middle of the frozen foods aisle yelling "We're all going to die in here!!!"

During my usual Costco panic attack, i took shelter behind one of the free sample people, and inadvertently ended up buying a wheel of brie that was the size of waffles when she was 3 months old.  

Definitely NOT on the shopping list...

I assure you - two people should never have such a large wheel of brie in their fridge.  Ever.  

The past week has been a horrifying, never ending stream of brie into my mouth.   The worst part is, i can't bear to just get rid of it, because that would be wasteful.  But 5 lbs of brie is a destructive force.  It has taken over our lives, and we are powerless against it.  Even worse, Matt keeps bringing home baguettes.....I think the Brie is controlling him...

Basically, i have about 5 weeks to get my hunger in control and stop eating 5lb wheels of cheese before the marathon hunger kicks in again and i starting eating 5lb wheels of cheese.  again.  

The moral of this story?  Just don't buy a gigantic wheel of brie.  It's evil.  In fact, as a general rule, don't trust round things...

Or, if you want to embrace your dark side, this baby was only seven dollars at Costco.  Party on.

Are there any evil entities haunting your fridge right now?

Dead week and mixology magic.

If you follow me on daily mile, you may notice the big fat goose egg that has been sitting next to my name this week.  Yeah, it's driving me crazy.  But honestly?  I have been training my bootie off for the past 10 months, and quite frankly, I'm exhausted.  I'm not so much physically exhausted - it's not like i have ever (or will ever) put in a 100 mile week, but i am mentally drained.  For me, the hardest part about running as much as i have this year is everything i have to skip to make it possible.  Working and commuting as much as i do doesn't allow you bundles of free time, so every morning i wake up, and if i want to run, i have to decide what to skip.  (Spoiler: It's usually laundry)

So, this week i am catching up on sleep, dishes, laundry, housework, cooking healthy meals, training my monster dog, visiting with old friends, and just a crap ton of stuff i have been putting off (I'm looking at YOU broken tail light!)  I am also in the process of weening myself off the horrifying levels of caffeine and sugar that have sustained me the past ten months, as well as the 4000 calories a day that i really don't need right now.  I could always just run another marathon, but i like to think that taking a little me time right now will set me up for a stellar year next year, where i will be faster, stronger, more organized, and will succeed in keeping laundry mountain in check.

While major changes to the diet are a huge struggle (how do i feel so deprived on 2500 calories a day?  I would die in the third world. FWP.) There have been two really easy transitions.  One is weening myself off of candy.  I always have it in the car during my 2-3 hours commuting every day.  I am not banning candy - it's just not allowed in the car.  The second is soda.  During marathon season I enjoy a full sugar soda a few times a week.  To me it's almost the same thing as gatorade only 10 million times tastier.  It's also quick and easy carbo-loading. (nutritionists, please pause - i know there are different types of carbs.)  However when i am not running 40 miles a week, all that sugar is just extra calories i don't need right now.  I am also not a huge fan of diet soda.  It is not the same thing.  Thats why thanks to Coca-cola and there new freestyle machines (have you seen them? They look like soda robots from the future!), i have made up a few "compromises" that have less calories, but still taste deeeeelish!

Ignore the fact that i look homeless, it's been a long week.

 Basically, these machines let you customize your drink.  You can literally make hundreds of different combinations, so its pretty sure to please everyone, even picky divas like myself.

You can locate machines through their website HERE.  We found one that was supposed to be at the walgreens by our place, but sadly, they are still remodeling and the machine wasn't there yet.  Luckily, i bribed Matt to go with me to Potbellys by offering to buy him a beverage and dream bar.

 My #1 drink is "The Gingerfoxxx"  It's half coke zero, half cherry coke.  Unfortunately though, we went in the evening, and i was worried the caffeine would interfere with my 9:30 bedtime.  So, i improvised with:

"The Nightfoxxx!"  A caffeine free and sparkly alternative.  Its 2 parts Dasani raspberry sparkling water, 1 part Sprite Vanilla, and 1 part Seagrams club soda.  It's delicious, and slightly reminiscent of cream soda! 

I also created a drink for Matt that we named the "Deans Delight" which was half Hi-C raspberry lime, half Seagrams club soda (we're big club soda people.)

Both of our drinks had less than half the calories of a normal soda (Matt isn't running these days either) and were still really tasty.  I really hope to see more of these machines, because to me, mixing soda flavors kind of comes naturally.  If one flavor is good, 4 flavors will be even better.  I vote to see them in 7-11's and gas stations.  And i told them this.  But until then, you can find them at some of the new "Super-Walgreens", Burger Kings, and some of the "fast casual" restaurants like Potbellys, Go Roma, Noodles & Co, and Five Guys.  And some movie theaters too!

So cheers!  Go forth and create awesome drinks.  Or if not, just try the Gingerfoxxx, you won't regret it.  It's totally a thing now, because i said so.  Orrrrr, try to make something better- what crazy combo can you think up??


***Also, It looks like the coke freestyle team will be at the Northwestern/Illinois game the weekend after thanksgiving - go check them out, and go Illini!

Reunited, and it feels so good!

My laptop is home, and the world is right again!!  Waffles sure missed sleeping on it, and walking all over it while i try to type.

My weekend was (shocker) jam packed.  Friday night, we went and saw GirlTalk!

This was my third time seeing girl talk, and it did not disappoint!  As usual, i sweat more than i normally do during a 20 mile run.  It gets so freaking hot in the Congress theatre, especially when you are smushed in with so many people trying to dance to a perfect fusion of music from the 80's and hip hop.

We didn't end up going to bed until almost 4:30, which is when i usually wake up to go running.  Needless to say, i was useless saturday.  I did some cleaning, and met up with rachel to run some Team Run for HD errands, and that was it.  Sunday morning, i had a 20 miler on deck, and ran with the Sunday CARA group.  They were all really nice - it's a MUCH smaller group (maybe 10-12? way better than 50)  The only downside was the 90 percent humidity.  It was so unbearably swampy.  I actually was wringing out my clothes at all the water stops.  I ran into Pete B at mile 18, and he slowed down long enough for a photo op and quick hello - man is he fast!!

I look like i just took a dip in lake michigan!

After my run, it was time for puppy class.  It was bad.  Like, real bad.  She does fine when we work with her at home, but as soon as she enters petsmart, she goes beserk because of all the other dogs.  She will not heel.  All she does is pull as hard as she can, sometimes flipping herself over with excitement.  We had to get a special super intense harness that goes around her mouth and pulls her snout down whenever she pulls.  Upon putting it on, she laid on in the middle aisle of the store, and REFUSED to move.  At all.  It was a full fledged temper tantrum.  They even recruited a SECOND trainer to try and work with her, and it ended up being a complete, embarrassing failure, and we carried the little brat out of the store.

We were so stressed, we stopped at a bar after dropping her off.  In the middle of the day.

Then we had to get home to start cooking dinner, because Matt's parents were in town.  Thanks to Kelsey at Ready, Set, Feast, i had the recipe to make the same green beans that Matt and i had when we went to Girl and the Goat!  Believe it or not, it was a total success, and they were AMAZING!!

Then on Monday, we took them on an architecture boat tour down town - it was perfect weather, and i was so impressed by some of the history of Chicago i didn't know, despite living here for so long!

Matt was in charge of the camera, and neglected to photograph any of the modern/international style buildings, which were my favorite.  (Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe is my homeboy.)

We also went exploring in the city, and by the time Matt and i got home, we were EXHAUSTED!   Such a fun weekend - now time to get ready for the Chicago Half Marathon next weekend!!

Holy crap, there is a LOT going on!

Last summer was a whirlwind of weddings, and this summer is a whirlwind of BABIES!  Between babies being born, showers, announcements, etc, i am starting to be concerned that there is something in the water!

This weekend i got to celebrate my good friend Tammy's soon to be baby boy!

Obviously, she is the pregnant one :)

It doesn't hurt that they lured me there with my own personal pie.  Miniaturizing desserts so that i can eat them in entirety all by myself is a one way ticket straight into my heart!

Don't be too concerned though, as there are no plans for baby foxes in the near future.  I can't even take care of myself!

I am also now just two months away from my very first international trip!  We have booked all our rooms, flights, cars, and everyone has their passports, thanks to my diligent badgering.  I am seriously ready to burst with excitement for the Dublin Marathon, and the whole trip in general.  Can you believe my brother has never been on a plane??

You gotta hand it to the kid, he's brave!  I cried the entire time on my first flight.  Also, i was 23.  My poor mom is going to need to sedate us both.

You also may have noticed my sucking at blogging lately.  I have a lot on my plate in the upcoming weeks!  First, i have been running a lot!  The weather has been beautiful!  I can't get enough.  I just want to run all the time.  I even finally got this kid to start his marathon training.  You know, with 8 weeks to go....

Thats Aaron, one of my best friends, who will be running the Chicago Marathon this year for the Red Cross, his very first!

And lastly, i have 26 days until the Chicago Half Marathon!  That means i need to do some serious work if i want to meet my time goal, as well as the fact that i am slammed with Team Run for HD tasks!  Running a charity team is seriously a lot of work!  I can't wait until i cross the finish line, and take a deep breath of relief!  Stay tuned, because i have 8 million bajillion charity events for the team between now and race day.

And seriously, if you are running for a charity, thank your coordinator!  It's no easy job!

The dog days of summer.

Matt has been on my case for a long time to "take a weekend off" from running.  This seemed like the perfect weekend to do so, because we had some friends from college in town, and it would be a weekend of drinking, eating junk food, and relaxing.  It was also going to be HOT.  


I still did my "long run" on Saturday, but i did the bare minimum, and basically it sucked incredibly hard.  I had too many beers friday night, and not enough sleep, and those seven miles at a 9:30 pace seemed embarrassingly impossible with a hangover.  The last two miles i abandoned the group and slowed down, but luckily a few other people liked my idea and joined me.  :)  Charlyn was out on the path too, but apparently i missed her because i was so busy trying not to throw up on my compression socks.  (which were already stained with beer, because in the first mile, i managed to kick a full tallboy someone had left in the middle of the bike path.  Thanks hooligans - i love reeking of beer at 6am.)  Needless to say, lesson learned.  Time to get serious about marathon training!

Then came the real fun:


We took Waffles, and her new BFF Ellie (our friends golden doodle) To the Montrose dog beach!  If you have no interest in 8 million pictures of my dog, you should probably just go ahead and leave now.

Ellie is ready for fun in the sun!

Waffles rocketing through the water

Waffles prefers running to swimming, just like me!

Waffles does not fetch.

Sooooo tired from the beach!

After the beach, we cooked out on the porch, and the dogs napped a lot.  Looking at the pictures i realized that waffles is still really petite for a seven month old basenji!  I feel like she hasn't grown at all!  And then matt and i did a seven week/seven month comparison:

They grow up so fast!!

This weekend was also the first week of my 20-week veggie box!  I get a box of veggies every saturday from a farm up near rockford.  This week we got a POUND of spinach, THREE heads of lettuce, chard, radishes, baby greens, garlic scapes, and oh so much more.  What does one do with an entire pound of spinach?  

I love the veggie box, because now i don't have to worry as much about groceries and meal planning - the farm does it for me.  It's also fun to try new vegetables (there is more than one kind of radish??)  Let the healthy eating summer begin!

Do as the French do.

Since i used last week to lay around the house sick and not run at all, it seemed to be the perfect timing to take advantage of my Christmas present from Matt.  (That and, you know, it's almost May...)  So we decided to take a french cooking class at Cook au Vin!


Saturday was my last training run with the CARA winter marathon training group, and despite still feeling crappy, i was super happy to have one last run with the crew.  I think waking up before dawn and running in freezing temps every saturday really brings people together.

One of our first runs together!

I ended up losing my voice as a result of running, so i spent saturday night curled up and napping, and it was glorious.


Our cooking class was from 10am to 2pm, so we were up bright and early on Sunday morning and ready to drink red wine!

Breakfast of champions!

It was a three course meal, consisting of a scallop in a bechamel(?) sauce and wrapped in puff pastry

A rustic french countryside chicken stew

And my favorite, plum pudding!

All of this of course accompanied by 8,000 baguettes.
I have never really done any french cooking before, so i learned how to chop properly, and a lot about sauces, and french techniques.

The shallots were brutal, i was crying so hard from the smell that the chef thought i had cut a finger off.  
The one thing that amazed me about french cooking was the amount of butter.  Holy crap do the french eat a lot of butter.  After leaving the class all i could do was nap!  I don't think i normally consume that  much butter in a month.  It was delicious though.


I hope your weekend was also quite tasty, and that you felt better than i did and hopefully got more miles in!  (although i am feeling much better thanks to all that butter and sleep.  The french know what they are doing!!)