Fall Boots

You know in this post, where I said I was looking for a pair of black riding boots to help stretch skirts and dresses farther into cold weather? Well, I got some, and I've had them about two weeks. They're AMAZING.

It took a while for me to find ones I like. I bought the Clarks Plaza Beagle Riding Boots in black from DSW, but prior to that I tried on boots at Saks Off 5th, and Macys. My problem in both stores was that leather boots in my price point had incredibly uncomfortable insoles. I wanted these boots as commuting shoes, so it was important to me that they be comfortable from the start.

I chose the Clarks boots based largely on the fact that they were leather boots from a brand I'd heard was comfortable, and the website listed them as having padded soles. I wanted leather boots because I tend to find synthetics don't breath well or last as long as leather. I figured it wouldn't be too hard to return them if they didn't work.

They shipped in less than a week, and I was really impressed once they arrived- the leather feels sturdy, the soles have a fair bit of grip while still looking work appropriate, and there are nice elastic gussets to help with fit. So far I've worn them to work twice (including a 30 minute walk after work) without fit problems, and they've made a HUGE difference in comfort as the temperature has dropped. They look good with dresses and leggings, and as soon as I find a pair of skinnier jeans I'm sure I'll be wearing them on the weekend as well. I'm finding it hard to believe I'd waited this long before getting a pair.

What type of wardrobe staple have you delayed purchasing and then really loved?

I Am Not Gluten Free

Or wheat-free or diary-free or soy-free. We all have friends who have stated their preference for a certain type of restricted diet. Not the diagnosed celiac or person with a nut allergy, but those who feel that their body functions more smoothly without a certain irritant. It's the reason behind the increased prevalence of "x-free" items on restaurant menus, and the specialty baking sections at the grocery store. And, beyond making it slightly more difficult to cook for a crowd, I really don't have a problem with anyone doing what they feel helps their body (although I do feel that it's helpful to read stories like this New Yorker article, that address the science behind the reactions and try to cut through the fad-isms).

 

I think, without any sort of official diagnosis, that I am lactose intolerant. I can eat cheese and yogurt, but milk and ice cream give me stomach aches (trust me, I've tested extensively, and it's just not worth it to me to eat those two). Having looked into the food science a little, this aligns well with a mild lactose intolerance: the culturing processes for cheese and yogurt decrease the amount of milk sugar (lactose) in the end product. The processes for milk and ice cream don't. Therefore, it's not surprising that a mild intolerance would still allow for cultured dairy products.

 

Other than those two types of dairy, I really don't limit what I'll try. I tend to think that it's healthier for the average person to eat a variety of foods (real, unprocessed or minimally processed foods), than to cut out a type of food entirely. After a decent bit of research (I love a good food book), the best advice I've found is from Michael Pollan:

 

Did that stop me from trying Whole30, where you spend a month eating meat, fish, vegetables, nuts and fruit? No. It was a short enough period of time that I didn't think it'd do any harm, and I was curious to see if I had a negative reaction to reintroducing any of the potential irritants it has you remove from your diet. But my takeaway from that process was that I am not soy or wheat intolerant, and that the increased energy and fitness I felt could probably be best attributed to the increase in home-cooking and vegetable intake. And from avoiding baked goods.

But that's all basic knowledge: we should all eat more vegetables, cook at home, and avoid massive amounts of desserts. The general goal in our house is that things come without wrappers or with minimal, easily pronounced ingredients. I also try to make sure that my meals are at least 50% plant matter, with an emphasis on vegetables over fruit. That seems to work pretty well for us, without limiting our ability to eat food other people have cooked, or requiring "replacement" ingredients that are more processed than the originals. What's your food philosophy?

Why We Are a One-Car Family

When you're looking to decrease your ecological footprint and reduce your monthly expenditures, reducing car usage can be incredibly helpful: it reduces greenhouse emissions, reduces your costs, and encourages greener transportation methods like walking, biking, and taking public transit.

One way to reduce your car usage is to reduce the number of cars you own. Our household of two started with two cars: we both drove to work and school, and our schedules overlapped enough that it didn't make sense to try to use just one car. But over the years, we've realized that a lot of the distances that we usually drove were walkable or bikable, and that we appreciated the excuse to get outside and move around.

Over time we've realized that we rarely used two cars at once, and even then, we could probably work around the issue. Now, this is partially possible because we live in an urban location with easy access to public transit and very local options for groceries and restaurants. We both have a walking commute, and only take cars to work in really inclement weather or when we need to run an errand during the day. But decreasing our car use has also been possible because we realized that we were happier using the time we might use to go to the gym running errands by walking or biking. Both my husband and I would rather get the fresh air and changing view, even if it makes the errands take slightly longer.

This past year or so, our city introduced a car-sharing program called Car2Go, which is available in major metro areas across the U.S. and Europe (there are also other options like ZipCar, and HourCar, but we like Car2Go because of its saturation in our market). There may be a small startup fee, but we managed to find coupon codes to waive it, so we only pay for the time we're actually driving the cars. For the few trips we take when we need separate cars, we can use Car2Go for an easy, cheap car anywhere in our city. The Smart Cars that they use for the program are not our favorite to drive and I was not hugely impressed with their help-desk, but for the rare instance when we need a second car they're certainly sufficient and we've never had more than a 5 minute walk to find one. A nice bonus: we can use our Car2Go membership in any of the other cities that have the program, which is an easy way to find transportation while traveling.

Since car-sharing is now a reasonable and viable alternative to a second car, we just sold our extra vehicle. Not only are we saving the cost of running and maintaining the car, we're saving parking costs, and insurance costs. And we've created an incentive to try to find non-auto transportation when we're doing things individually, so that we don't tie up the car. So far, we're satisfied that as long as we live in a place with car-sharing available we won't be put in a real crunch by only having one car for two people.

Is being a one-car family realistic for everyone? Probably not. If we had kids, or jobs that required longer commutes, we'd probably find a second car provided enough convenience that it was worth the additional cost and increased impact on the environment. But until then, we've been surprised at how easy and pleasant going down to one car has been. Are we likely to get rid of the car we have? No- it still provides a lot of convenience for us, and getting rid of it would cause more hassle than the cost and eco-savings are worth to us. But we take care to get the best mileage we can out of the vehicle we have, and efficiency was definitely one of the factors we considered when we were car shopping.

How do you decrease your car use? Have you found good alternatives to traditional automotive transportation?

Recipe: Easy Pasta Al'Amatriciana

Back in 2012, my husband and I went on a much needed vacation in Sicily. We loved the detailed architecture, copious gelato, active volcano, and delicious wine. One thing I really took away from the trip was how delicious simple pasta dishes could be. I ate bucatini al'amatriciana most nights for dinner, and it was never disappointing. It's a slightly spicy, bacon-y, tomato-based pasta dish. This is my take on the dish, using ingredients I've found easily available in the U.S:

1/2 package bacon (sugar and nitrate/nitrite free if you can find it, because it tastes WAY better)
garlic (to taste)
crushed red pepper (to taste)
1 onion, chopped
4-6 tomatoes, chopped (home-grown taste best)
1 lb. dry pasta (bucatini if you can find it, but I usually use rotini)

Put water on to cook your pasta according to package directions.

Chop the bacon into bite sized pieces. Place in a cold dutch oven, and bring the heat up slowly to medium. Cook until a fair bit of fat has rendered, and the bacon is cooked but not super crisp.

Add the garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring regularly about 30 seconds.

Add the onion, and saute until transluscent. Add tomatoes, stir well. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered for 10 minutes. Mix cooked pasta in, and serve with a green salad.

Cooking Challenge: Week 1 Recipes

Even those of us who love cooking can end up in a food rut. I managed to shake the "lets just order in" urge, and have been cooking at home more regularly for the last month, but I feel like I'm repeating the easy options too often. In the past I've set a challenge of cooking 3 recipes from every cookbook I own (great way to thin out the collection), and tried Whole30 (great way to get in the habit of eating more vegetables, but I got tired of eating so much protein) to break out of this habit, but I'm wanting to try something slightly different.

I decided last week that I'd set myself a new challenge: I am going to cook my way through my recipes folder. You know, the one where you store all the delicious looking recipes from magazines? Mine has been accumulating options for 10+ years, and I haven't been very good about working through them. So, I'm setting myself the challenge of 3 recipes from the folder per week, until they're finished. Then I may give up, or I may work my way over to the cookbooks.

Up this week:

Recipe 1: Chicken Larb, from Cooking Light January 2011
Recipe 2: Southwest Shrimp & Corn Chowder, from Cooking Light April 2009
Recipe 3: Mediterranean-Style Poached Eggs, from Cooking Light April 2004

AND, because this happens to be a week where I'm meeting a friend to cook a bunch of recipes for the freezer, I will also be trying Thai Curried Butternut Squash Soup and the pumpkin bread recipe from the Kathleen's Bake Shop Cookbook (which is a fabulous cookbook if you're looking for good baking recipes).

What do you do to shake yourself out of a cooking rut? What's your favorite recipe you wished you'd tried sooner? Anyone want to help me eat the embarrassing amount of chocolate desserts I've stockpiled recipes for?

Capsule Wardrobe: The Extras

I know you're thinking, surely that can't be all that you have in your closet. You're right. I have lots of other things that I prefer not to live without.

clockwise from top left: Naturalizer Bohemia / Carina heels (not available online) / Clarks Plaza Beagle Riding Boot / Pikolinos sandals (similar)

Shoes. I have too many shoes. I wear the same ones repeatedly, but have a hard time getting rid of any of the others, largely because they're well-made, expensive and fit well. BUT I don't wear them. I wear the ones I really love, and replace those when they wear out. I've set a goal for myself of not buying any new heels until I've started to work down the size of my collection. My flats are at a reasonable level, and I'm ok with replacing those as needed.

clockwise from top left: Martin & Osa blazer (no longer for sale) / Nike Element Shield Full-Zip jacket / Talbots Refined Melton Coat / Talbots Trench (similar from Boden)

Jackets. I live in a seriously varied climate, so I have seriously varied jacket options. I absolutely adore my wool blazer and trench coat- it took me a long time to invest in either of them, but I wear them constantly. My trench is waterproof, which makes it an ideal early spring and late fall jacket. I'm actually in the market for a new winter coat, and the Talbots Refined Melton Coat is appealing because of the high collar and bright color. I only wish it had a Thinsulate lining or a higher wool content to the fabric.

 

Etsy scarf

Scarves. Again with the varied climate, so I have a variety. I wear the lighter options most often, but the heavier (especially the wool and cashmere) get serious use mid-winter. I've just recently purchased my first infinity scarf, which I'm loving for work. They just seem super polished.

Unmentionables. Are unmentionable, but I do have a rotation (it's better for them and for you). As mentioned before, I highly recommend Bare Necessities for purchasing these- they have a fantastic selection and very broad range of sizes.

Pajamas. Again, I have a rotation. I usually buy a pair of cotton pajama pants from Target, and use a t-shirt from an event or group that I have a connection to.

from top: Talbots purse (similar) / Banana Republic purse (similar)

Purses. I went through my purses and really sorted them about six months ago. I prefer leather for its durability, but do not like to carry it during the summer. I keep 2 dressy options, 1 casual winter bag, 1 casual summer bag, 1 winter work bag, and 1 summer work bag. I could probably get rid of the second dressy option and the casual bags (I tend to use the work bags for pretty much everything), but I enjoy the variety and they fit easily in the space allotted.

 

Etsy ring / Etsy earrings 

Jewelry. I need to work though my jewelry and get rid of what I don't wear. I used to wear necklaces regularly but really haven't for the last few years. I do enjoy them for a visual change for some of the outfits I wear more often though. The ring and earrings pictured above are absolute staples of my wardrobe. I love the little touches of whimsy and color that they add. I highly recommend Etsy for jewelry purchases- everything I've found has been interesting, unique and well-made.

Capsule Wardrobe: Summer

 

clockwise from top left: Banana Republic Lighweight Wool Sheath / Boden (similar) / Anthropologie (no longer for sale) / White House Black Market dress (similar) 

My workwear summer basics are dresses, with a cardigan or blazer once I get to work. Pretty much the same as spring, so no surprises there.

 

clockwise from top left: Martin & Osa dresses (no longer for sale) / Curator Classic Dress / Curator dress (similar)

My casual summer basics are a sundress or exercise clothing. If you haven't tried a sundress for summer, I cannot recommend it more highly- they're super cool, comfortable, and almost always appropriate to the situation. Who doesn't like looking put together when they're just dealing with the heat?

Capsule Wardrobe: Spring

This is the post where it starts to become really obvious one of the ways that I've found to manage the size of my wardrobe: I really try to stick to a specific color palette. For casual clothes, most of my clothing is navy blue or gray. For work clothing, most of my clothing is gray, black or black and white patterned (with a little navy thrown in for variety). I do keep accent pieces around (usually coral, turquoise, or purple), but for the most part I try to keep to these colors because (1) I like them, (2) they work well together, and (3) it makes it easier to buy things that will mix well with the rest of my wardrobe.

 

clockwise from top left: Curator dress (similar) / Boden Long Sleeve Breton / Boden Super Skinny Jeans / Boden Cropped Cashmere Cardigan

My spring casual basics are a dress or jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I often throw a cardigan or scarf on top if it's cooler.

 

clockwise from top left: Banana Republic Lighweight Wool Sheath / Boden (similar) / Anthropologie (no longer for sale) /  White House Black Market dress (similar)

My spring work basics are a pencil skirt and blousy top, or a dress. I may throw in a pair of pants if it's not muddy, but I tend to go to bare legs fairly quickly.

Capsule Wardrobe: Winter

As I discussed here, my goal with my wardrobe is to minimize my needs while still looking professional and not repeating the same outfit too often.

 

(clockwise from top left) Pure Collection Cashmere V-Neck Sweater / Banana Republic Martin Fit Lightweight Wool Straight Leg / Martin & Osa blazer (no longer for sale)

I live in a very cold climate in the winter (last year we had more than a month below 0 degrees Farenheit). My winter workwear basics are a pair of pants, dressy shirt or sweater (more likely a sweater), and a blazer. My absolute favorite pair of pants are ponte "modern" fit from Talbots, which are comfortable, and look good with heels and flats. Unfortunately, they no longer carry that style and I have not found a good replacement. I'm probably short a pair of pants or two, and will be looking to add to the collection this year.

 

(clockwise from top) Boden Long Sleeve Breton / Lucy Perfect Booty Pant / Boden Super Skinny Jeans

My winter casual basics are jeans and a long-sleeved shirt or sweater, or yoga pants with a long-sleeved t-shirt. I often throw a scarf on top if it's cooler. I'd like to slowly transition the yoga pants outfits out of regular rotation, but haven't found good casual wear pants that are as comfortable.

Capsule Wardrobe: Fall

I've mentioned in a few previous posts that I've got a trend toward minimalism. One of the biggest places I like to think about this is in my wardrobe. You may have read about the French Wardrobe, Project 333 or capsule wardrobes (you can see lots of examples of these on Polyvore). I am not ready to purge my closet down to just the basics- I work in a professional setting where wearing the same outfit regularly would be noticed. That said, I've realized that I have basic "uniforms" that I wear each season, in work and outside work. This week I'll be posting my "basics."

 

(clockwise from top right) Anthropologie (no longer for sale) / Banana Republic Sloan Sheath / Boden (similar)

Workwear in the fall is a pencil skirt and blousy top, or a dress.

 

(clockwise from top right) Lands' End (similar) / Martin & Osa (no longer for sale) / Boden Long Sleeve Breton

Casual clothing in the fall is a dress or jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I often throw a blazer or scarf on top if it's cooler.

I used my Pinterest boards to pinpoint what styles I gravitate toward each season, so that I'm not wasting money on new clothing that won't get worn. I've also found that I really don't need more than 6 options to feel that I'm not repeating too often at work, and that having the boards allows me to shop with a list, so that I feel more confident in my purchases (this fall I'm looking for a pair of black riding boots, and a new pair of jeans).

What's your fall uniform? Any suggestions for great jeans?

Movie Review: Tohoku Tomo

In the summer of 2008, I took off on an adventure: I moved to Japan to teach English through the JET Program, an official exchange and teaching program sponsored by the Japanese government. I had never been to Asia, didn't speak Japanese, and this was my first time teaching in an official capacity. It totally changed my life.

I fell in love with the country and people, and feel a strong affinity to Japan today. I am an active participant in my local alumni community, attend Japan related events and gardens when possible, and follow Japan-related news. I'm still trying to find a way to get back there- hopefully soon!

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated the Tohoku region in Japan. In the west, a lot of what we heard about at the time centered on the Fukushima nuclear reactor, and the widespread devastation. However, like all news, the cycle moved on, and it has been more difficult to find news related to recovery efforts and where things stand now.

Two years later, in March 2013, Wesley Julian, another JET Program alum, successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign to create Tohoku Tomo, a story about "true friendship and commitment to Japan’s recovery by the international community following the Great East Japan Earthquake."

Tohoku Tomo chronicals the efforts of people in the U.S. and Japan to help with recovery, and basic life, after 3/11. I really enjoyed this film for one major reason: it focuses on the good that comes out of each person's efforts, and shows how deeply connected these non-natives feel to Japan. I highly recommend you check out a screening if it's in your area.

Wesley Julian is now trying to fund the 113 Project, which will  focus on rebuilding efforts in the Tohoku region. I'm really glad to see this spotlight on the good that is happening in Tohoku, and I hope you get a chance to see the results of either project.

SALE ALERT: Pure Collection

Pure Collection is celebrating its 12th anniversary, and is doing 12 days of sales to go with it. Sign up for emails or check out the website to see each day's deal.

As mentioned in this post, the sweaters I've recieved from Pure Collection have been a really nice quality, and the customer service is fantastic.

** Pure Collection has not compensated me for this post in any way- I just like sharing good deals. **

Decluttering: The UpKeep

The hardest part of keeping the house clean and streamlined for me is choosing not to bring new things in. Wouldn't it be easy if you could declutter once, and you'd be set forever?

Unfortunately, that's just not how it works. Things wear out and need to be replaced, there's general home upkeep, shopping when you don't really need something new, and the things that show up from work/friends/family. Add to that, shopping can be fun. It's a cycle. BUT, you can take steps to avoid causing more work for yourself.

For me, that means being very conscious about what comes into the house. I try not to shop without a list, and really consider the value of things that I have the urge to add to it:

* Does this food align with my goals of healthy eating and buying organic and local?

* Do I really need this article of clothing? If I do, does it fit perfectly or would the cost of taking it to a tailor be prohibitive? Is it made durably? Are the care instructions reasonable?

* Do I really need a decorative accent for that spot? Is there something I already own that could substitute?

* Is this a project I'm really excited about and will follow through to completion? Or will the supplies get in my way for the next 6 months?

* Am I shopping out of boredom or need?

* Am I sure that there isn't something in the house that could be substituted for the purchase?

Another way I've seen people deal with this is to institute a no buy month. I've tried this, and think it's a great idea if you can get behind it, but found that it made me fixate on what I couldn't have (kind of like being on a diet). For me, it's more realistic to allow items to come in, but set the bar high for whether or not they're good enough.

What do you do to keep clutter from coming in?

Decluttering: Helpful Questions

Yesterday I had a dentist's appointment, and I decided to work from a coffee shop for the rest of the afternoon. On my way to my brownie and latte, I drove past the local lake and took a minute to walk through the leaves in the sun. It felt amazing to take that time to just appreciate how beautiful it was outside. I highly recommend it, if you get a chance while the weather is beautiful and the scenery is great. It's the simple things that make life good.

Decluttering and simplifying are ongoing processes for me. I love to give and recieve presents, but that means that I regularly have to evaluate my belongings. Here are some questions I've found especially helpful in deciding whether or not to keep an item:

Would I buy it if I saw it in the store today?

Do I use this regularly? If not, why not?

If broken, is it worth the time and money to fix it?

If I took it to be tailored, would I love it? Or would it still only be ok?

Is it beautiful or useful?

Is it worth the physical and mental space that it takes up?

Do I have a positive or negative association with it?

Have I found myself considering getting rid of it before?

Is there someone specific who would enjoy it more than I do?

Is it worn out?

Am I keeping this out of obligation?

Do I need multiples of this item?

Bonus questions for deciding whether or not to buy something:

Would I buy this at full price?

Am I flatted by the cut AND the fabric AND the color?

Is it comfortable?

Do I really need to replace XYZ, or do I have something else that can serve the same purpose?

If I wait a week, will I still remember wanting this?

Is it a 10 out of 10? Or is it only ok?


Have you taken time to enjoy where you live lately? What do you consider when you declutter?

Decluttering: Where to Send the Excess

I love the idea that everything in my home would be either beautiful or useful. It's so much fun to look through the carefully curated homes over at Apartment Therapy, or the beautiful vingettes on Design*Sponge or the (sadly defunct) Young House Love. A big part of having that beautiful, clean space is having a small, carefully curated set of belongings, and the way to do that is to regularly evaluate what you own, and whether it deserves a spot in your home.

We're in the midst of a round of cleaning out our bookshelves, and it's nice to see the newly free space. But what do you do with the cast-offs?

* Give them to someone else. I keep a drawer in my bedroom for clothing that I no longer wear, but that I am saving for a specific person. If it's good, but I can't thing of a specific person who I actually think would wear it, it doesn't stay. If they don't want it, it goes into a donation pile. This can easily become another form of clutter, so I try to stay on top of getting the clothing to the person, and not using it as an excuse to hold on to things I don't really need.

* Sell what you can. Used book stores are amazing. First, as a place to shop with tons of character and a unique selection. Second, as a place to set free the books that you're no longer using. We keep a regular pile of books in a storage container by the front door, which will be taken to sell at our local used book emporium. Pro trick: find a bookstore that carries something you really like- you usually get more bang for your buck if you take store credit over cash. Our favorite store has an awesome kids books and toys section. Most of our nephew's presents come from there, and the books we sell offset the cost. I've heard the same about consignment shops for clothing, but never found it to be worth the effort.

* Donate the best of the rest. There are lots of places to donate clothing and household goods, and you can often get a tax writeoff for the value of the items you donate. Many donations go to support charity organizations. I like to find drop sites that support animal rescue organizations, although they can be harder to locate than the typical religious organizations. Be picky about what you give though- they don't want to sort through junk any more than you do.

* Be honest about what is really trash. Yes, it was your favorite sweater. But it's worn through and unwearable. Do you really think someone else will want it? Be honest about the reason you're giving something away, and throw it out if there's really no chance that it'll appeal to another person.

When You're Too Busy

We all have those moments when you're just too busy to get everything done. This past weekend, I had a rehearsal dinner, training run, wedding (that my husband was speaking in), alumni event, graduation ceremony, and celebratory dinner. The laundry got washed but not folded, I didn't cook a single meal, nor did I have the time or energy to go grocery shopping. And that happens sometimes. How did I deal?

We ate out. More than a few times were for events, but some were because we didn't have the time or opportunity to cook for ourselves. Would I rather eat a home cooked, healthy meal? Absolutely. But a sub sandwich, or piece of chocolate is not the end of the world when it gives us 10-15 minutes to actually breathe so that we can enjoy the events of the weekend.

We also depended rather heavily on freezer meals. I'm not talking about TV dinners, although those certainly have their place. I'm talking about the meals that we put away every time we make a batch of green curry, or spaghetti sauce. Any time we make a big pot of something that freezes well I try to throw a few servings into a container and put it in the freezer. It really takes the stress off when we don't have time or energy, but don't feel like spending the cash or calories on a meal out.

What makes a good freezer meal?
     * Soups and stews (but not ones with dairy or potato bases)
     * Almost anything tomato based
     * Meat sauces
I always add any necessary potatoes, dairy, or fish when I reheat. I'm just not confident that they'll retain their deliciousness during the freezing process.

One of my absolute favorite freezer meals is adapted from this Cooking Light recipe:

Eggs in Curried Tomato Sauce

oil
2 onions, chopped
3 Tbsp minced garlic
3 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 jalapenos, diced
curry powder
salt
2 large cans diced tomatoes
1 16 oz. can coconut cream, shaken
1/2 bunch fresh cilatro, chopped

Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium. Add onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeno. Saute until the onion is transluscent.

Sprinkle curry powder liberally over the entire pan. Cook 2 minutes, stirring regularly.

Add tomatoes to the pan, bring to a boil. Add coconut cream, return to a boil, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in chopped cilantro.

If freezing the whole batch, let cool and spoon into freezer containers.

If eating some that day, set aside about half to cool and put in freezer containers. Make 4-6 divots in the remaining tomato mixture. Break that same number of eggs into the divots, cover and cook 10-15 minutes (until the whites are set but the yokes are still gooey).

Serve with an english muffin or naan.

I LOVE Fall

There is nothing quite like the first few weeks of fall, when the weather starts to get crisp, the leaves change, and you're excited to get outside as much as possible before the snow takes over. I've always loved it, but when I lived in Japan I got kind of obsessed. The work koio refers to "the leaves changing colors" and it's a big deal over there. People take special trips to see the leaves change in different parts of the country, and there are all sorts of themed foods.

We obviously don't go to quite that extent in the U.S., but I'm craving afternoon runs, apple cider, warm stews, and cozy sweaters. We've already gone for a couple of drives to see the leaves, and have tickets to get up in a hot air balloon (assuming the weather cooperates)!!  If you're looking for something to do to help celebrate the season, I highly recommend checking out Groupon or Livingsocial- they often run deals for local wineries, Oktoberfest happenings, and other awesome fall activities.

One of my favorite transition recipes, that uses summer vegetables but makes a hearty stew is minestrone. It's delicious, easy to make, and a healthy dinner.

Pesto Minestrone
60 minutes to prep, serves 4-6

olive oil
1 onion
1 large carrot
2 celery stalks
1 potato (I use red)
small handfull green beans
2 small zucchini
1/2 cabbage
1 small eggplant
2 roma tomatoes
1 can cannellini beans (black beans also work)
5 cups broth
1 handfull small pieces of pasta
salt & pepper (to taste)
pesto (to taste)

Chop the onion, large carrot and celery stalks. Saute with olive oil in a dutch oven until onion in transluscent.

 

Chop the potato, green beans (1-2 inches once chopped), zucchini, and shred the cabbage. Add to the pan, saute about 5 more minutes.

 

Chop the eggplant, and tomatoes. Add to pan with the cannellini beans (drained and rinsed). Saute 3 more minutes.

 

Add the broth, salt and pepper. Cover, and simmer 40 minutes.

 

Add pasta, cook 4 more minutes (10 if you're using whole wheat pasta).

 

Stir in a big dollop of pesto, and serve with bread.

Waste: Trash, Compost and Recycling

One of the ways to reduce your environmental impact is to decrease the amount you put into a landfill. In 2012, Americans generated 251 million tons of trash, and recycled or composted about 87 million tons of material (source). The more we can tip that balance, the less likely we are to be using single use products, and more likely that we're buying for longevity.

As I mentioned before, ideally, we would all compost our plant matter, but that may not be an option for apartment or condo dwellers. However, there are options that can be used to compost indoors (which I will offer with the caveat that the friends who tried this seemed to have a semi-regular fruit-fly issue), and some cities are starting to offer curbside compost services (NYC, St. Paul, Cambridge, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco, among others).

Recycling is an option for almost everyone- most cities have curbside recycling, if you look up in the information. Increasingly, recycling is an option in businesses and public places. It can be kind of a pain to keep a designated spot if you live with minimal kitchen space, but I've found that lack of a designated spot doesn't need to stop me. Bring them to work with you one at a time, or do what we do, and keep them in the sink (washed out) until there are a few that justify a trip to the recycling bin. Feel like the only time the extra effort is worth it is when you have lots of people over? Put out a bag for cans and bottles- in my experience, people are almost always willing to set aside their recyclables.

The last way to reduce consumption, and it's a weird trick, is to reduce the size of your trash can. We use an office sized container, and it's the only trash recepticle in the house. Taking the trash out can be a pain, especially if it involves a trip outside. You might reconsider buying the toy that comes with 3 layers of plastic, or the food that's individually wrapped, if it's going to cause an extra trip. By saving yourself that inconvenience, you're also saving yourself from creating that much more trash.

What do you do to reduce your waste?

Organic: When is it worth it?

** I want to apologize for the lack of post yesterday- I caught a bug and used the day to recuperate. **

Love the idea, hate the cost. How do you balance the desire to eat a healthy diet with your budget? As I've slowly transitioned my grocery cart toward more organic and local produce, I've found the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen incredibly helpful. This is a list of produce that is especially heavy in pesticide exposure, or generally lighter. I try to make sure that I buy produce off the Dirty Dozen in organic form, but relax and buy whatever looks better when it's on the Clean Fifteen list. I also generally don't prioritize organics as much if it's a fruit or vegetable where I remove the peel before eating, and (in season) try to buy as much as possible from our farmers' market to support our local economy and to decrease my grocery bill. Seasonal produce (even organics) is almost always cheaper at the farmers' market.

What's on the list? The list changes annually, but for 2014 the Dirty Dozen are:
     * apples
     * strawberries
     * grapes
     * celery
     * peaches
     * spinach
     * bell peppers
     * nectarines (imported)
     * cucumbers
     * cherry tomatoes
     * snap peas (imported)
     * potatoes

And the Clean Fifteen for 2014 are:
     * avocados
     * sweet corn
     * pineapples
     * cabbage
     * sweet peas (frozen)
     * onions
     * asparagus
     * mangoes
     * papayas
     * kiwi
     * eggplant
     * grapefruit
     * cantaloupe
     * cauliflower
     * sweet potatoes

What about non-produce groceries? Because a fair number of environmental toxins are fat soluable, I try to avoid conventional products for meat and dairy, especially fattier cuts or full-fat dairy options. If possible, I'll always buy the local, organic, grass-fed option, even if it means that we have to eat those products in smaller amounts or less often. I'm personally not comfortable with the possibilities from more conventional meat and dairy, and I've been impressed that this option almost always tastes better.

I also prefer free-range eggs, partially based on my comfort with how the animals are treated, and partially because they just taste so much better.

I know everyone has their own budget, but how do you prioritize your food purchases?

Chinook Book: Making Sustainability Easy

Making the transition to local, organic, sustainable, happy, etc. food, clothing, and entertainment options can be fairly overwhelming. Do you buy the local, the organic, the free-range, the used? How do you evaluate which to buy, and when it's worth the price difference? This is one of the reasons I'm such a big fan of the Chinook Book (and no, I'm not being compensated in any way for saying that, other than the value of the coupons in the book I purchased for myself). Available in Minneapolis & St. Paul, Portland, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Seattle & Puget Sound, Willamette Valley, OR, and Denver & Boulder, the Chinook Book is a coupon book focused on sustainable local businesses.

It has 7 categories:
    * Grocery Products
    * Dining
    * Entertainment & Family
    * Wellness
    * Fashion & Gifts
    * Travel & Recreation
    * Home & Garden

Each of the categories has its own criteria for inclusion, which are detailed in the book, but I like that choosing each business means that at least some minimal criteria has been met for sustainability and locality. Since I am trying to support both, I try to tailor my dinners out, activities, and business choices to the featured businesses if I can. I find that I usually save the $20 purchase price within a month or two, and have 10 months where any savings are a bonus. It's a great way to find good new restaurants, and to motivate me to use some of the theaters, museums, and outdoor attractions in my area.

If you're looking for an easy way to tweak your spending in a more sustainable, local direction, this might be it. What are the easy steps you take to live a more sustainable, local life?

Favorite Running Gear: Shorts, Capris and Pants

Similar to my tops, I have a range of bottoms for different temperatures. I've tried more than a few options, and the one thing I'd universally recommend is getting them in a dark color. There's nothing like walking in from a sweaty run and realizing it looks like you wet your pants.

 

(clockwise from top left) Adidas shorts (similar) / Lucy Fly By shorts / Lucy Long Distance Run shorts

I wear shorts for most of my runs: I find that I can better deal with cold legs than cold arms, so I push the temperature more here. On the other end of the scale, there isn't a socially acceptable bottom with less coverage for warmer weather. And on that note, get some Body Glide. That stuff is a livesaver when you're on a humid or long run- anything to stave off chafe.

Of my three pairs of shorts, I strongly prefer my Lucy Fly By and Lucy Long Distance Run- while all three have built in briefs, storage pockets and light fabric, I don't like that the Adidas shorts have an elastacized waist. They're more likely to creep up as I run. The fabric waists on the Lucy shorts are fantastic- they don't make me sweat any more, don't move around, and are very comfortable.

 

like these / not these

Another note: for shorts, I now insist on ones with built-in underwear, so that I don't have to think about things. Don't want to have to worry about anything showing or chafing. I also try to only buy bottoms with a built-in pocket: it's useful for IDs, keys, or goo, depending on what you need to carry.

 

(clockwise from top left) Lucy I Run This capris / Adidas capris (similar) / Calvin Klien capris (similar)

I wear capris for colder runs (around 40 or 50 degrees). I like the extra leg coverage, without extra bulk. I find that I wear these the least often, but really appreciate the medium warmth option. I recommend a performance fabric here- because this is less predictable weather, it's nice to know your capris will breath if it's warmer than you expect out. My favorite here is the Lucy I Run This pair- they're comfortable, breathable, have a pocket, and are reflective.

Adidas pants (similar) / Lucy Perfect Booty pants

I wear pants for the really cold runs (anything below 40 degrees). I really love how the Lucy Perferct Booty pants make my butt look, but they're just a little longer than I'd like. That said, they're so comfortable that I own two pairs. My Adidas running pants are nice for days when I don't want any extra fabric, but I also run the risk that there will be space between the bottom of the pants and the top of my socks (especially because they have an elasticized waist that is more likely to ride up).

** I was not compensated for any of these reviews (I promise, Lucy has no idea I love their products this much). All opinions are my own. **

Favorite Running Gear: Shoes

 

Nothing I say here can replace the advice of a proper shoe fitting at a running store. If you happen to have similar feet to mine (neutral alignment, very slight pronation, preferring moderate stability), this may be helpful. If not, the idea of rotating shoes is something that should apply to everyone. Just like your clothing, shoes will wear out faster if you wear the same pair on every run. Additionally, having to similar but not identical shoes can help give your body a rest if either pair is working part of your body too hard (I find that wearing the same shoes on every run makes my knees hurt, but that it mostly goes away if I switch off pairs).

I've been using the ASICS GT series ever since I started running. I'm currently running in the ASICS GT 2000-2, which I've had since mid-summer. I like that they're nice and light, fairly fitted, I can feel the surface under my feet, but I also have cushioning. I find that each pair holds up about 6-10 months, depending on how often I'm running. They usually offer a variety of colors, which is nice. These are my go-to shoe for longer runs.

My alternate shoes are the Saucony Ride 7. I've been running in these since late spring. They're also fairly light, with slightly more cushioning, and a slightly looser fit than the ASICs. I've found that I prefer the slightly more fitted feel, but these are still nice shoes and I'm comfortable running 3-4 miles in them. I LOVE the laces on these- they're elastacized, and they never seem to come untied mid-run. When the shoes finally give out, I absolutely plan on reusing the laces in whatever replaces them.

One note I'd like to make, especially if you run alone: please carry an id, preferably one that includes emergency contact information. I know a regular runner who had a surprise heart attack while out on a solo run. He didn't have any contact information with him, and was a John Doe in the hospital for more than a day before his friends and family located him. Don't put yourself or your loved ones though that. I always carry my phone, id or my Gone For A Run pouch on my shoe (the back of the pouch includes an area for emergency contact information, and any medical alerts). There are plenty of other options out there- find one that works for you, but please don't run without some form of contact information.

** I was not compensated for any of these reviews, and all opinions are my own. **

Favorite Running Gear: Tops

I like to run on the colder side, so I have quite the range of clothing for each temperature.

(clockwise from top left) Athleta Diamond Chi top / Closeup of Diamond Chi / Under Armour HeatGear ArmourVent top (on sale) / Nike Women's Sporty V-Neck Running top

In hot weather (70 degrees and warmer), I like to wear tank tops. These all have some sort of ventilation built in too, which really helps cool you off on windier days. I really love the Athleta top. The Nike top seems to pull a little to the side. I like the Under Armour top, but haven't had a chance to take it out for a longer run.

 

(clockwise from top left) Target top (similar) / Lucy top (similar) / Brooks top (similar) / Lucy Edurance Singlet top

In warm weather (55 degrees to 70 degrees), I like to wear t-shirts. Performance fabric is important here because it's still warm enough to get sweaty. These are all honestly pretty good: flatlocked seams, wicking fabric, no weird cuts. The one thing I suggest if you're at all curvy is to size up from your regular shirt size- I find that my snugger shirts (the Target one and one of the Lucy tops) seem to ride up from my hips a bit as I run, even when they fit fine for walking around.

Asics Women's Favorite Long-Sleeve top / Asics Women's Core long-Sleeve top

In cool weather (40 degrees to 55 degrees), I like long-sleeved t-shirts. In previous years I've used regular cotton t-shirts. This fall I picked up some performance t-shirts, which I'm liking so far. They keep you warm-ish at the beginning of the run, then let your heat vent. These both have flat-lock seams, which is nice, and are fairly thin, so I should be able to layer them with each other or another jacket as it gets colder.

(clockwise from top left) Nike Element Shield Full-Zip jacket / Under Armour ColdGear Cozy Crew top / Lucy half-zip (similar)

Previously, this is where my running bottomed out. Because of snow and ice I haven't run in much colder weather. This year, my plan is to try running until it gets to about freezing, so I've bought a few warmer running tops. I'm not sure what I like yet, so I have a jacket, a half-zip, and a heavy long-sleeved t-shirt to try. We've had fairly mild weather so far, so I've only tried the Lucy half-zip. It's a nice weight, and I like the thumb holes for keeping my hands warm. I don't love how the collar flaps around when it's unzipped.

What do you like in running gear? What don't you like?

** I have not been compensated for these reviews, and all opinions are my own. **