Weekly +/-

A quick one this week, since I'm finishing things up at work and getting ready to leave for Houston this evening!

- The current forecast for Sunday - also know as MARATHON DAY - is a 60% chance of scattered thunderstorms. At least it won't be cold - the temperature is predicted to be a low of 55 and a high of 72. I've never run a race in the rain before and I'm mostly concerned with the potential for blisters. Obviously we plan to run no matter what, but thunderstorms could affect my ability to reach my marathon goal. Fingers crossed that the weather holds off until the afternoon!

- Taper is weird. I keep thinking I'm about to get sick and I feel extra tired and slow, even though my mileage has been minimal. Today I ran an easy three miles on a familiar route and I literally do not remember running mile two. Marathon training is messing with my brain.

- While I loved hearing about everyone's pet's weird habits, I am sad to report that progress for Seamus has been slow. He has been drinking the minimum amount of water and I had to break down and give him a bowl. I'm still holding out that he'll overcome his fear of the bubbler, though. Will keep you all updated! 

And now for my favorite part - the plus list! 

+ I'm about halfway through I Am Charlotte Simmons and I'm really into the book. I still can't decide how much I like it - it's hard to love a book where every character is insufferable - but I can't put it down, so that's a good sign. Plus it's really nice to be deep into a novel again. My last few reads were all nonfiction and short story, so this is a much needed change of pace. 

+ Kendi Everyday's next 30 for 30 Challenge starts next week. I am determined to finish the challenge this time around and in preparation, I have already re-organized my closet and started choosing my items. I'll post them all next week, along with daily outfits. Excited? I am!

+ While in Houston for the marathon, we'll be staying with two good friends from Nacogdoches who are doing a stint in the Big City for an internship. Perfect timing, and a great excuse to spend an extra night in one of my favorite places, with some of my favorite people.

+ The last few nights I have woken to Calvin stretched out beside me, with his head resting in the crook of my arm. It is so sweet and cuddle-icious that it almost makes up for the fact that Nathan and I are uncomfortably crammed together on the other side of our too small bed. (Nathan might say otherwise.)

A good week overall, despite the fact that I've had the possibility of a rainy marathon weighing on my mind. No matter what happens I know the race will be an adventure, and I know I'll be back on Monday to tell you all about it. Until then!

Fake It While You Make It

This past summer, I quit my job as an academic librarian and moved across campus to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, to take a new position as the Research Development Specialist. My new duties included helping the research centers on campus develop sustainability plans, assisting faculty in identifying grant opportunities, editing proposals, and designing the department's new website. While I had a bit of a learning curve with most of my new tasks, the first item I was expected to tackle was perhaps the biggest - designing and building a website from scratch. Gulp.

My previous knowledge of web development and graphic design was as follows: using Dreamweaver CS3 to edit existing pages in my old job; messing around with my various blogs for the last 5+ years; and spending a lot of time on the Internet. Not the best resume. But by using a copy of Dreamweaver CS5 for Dummies and the Google, I was able to make a website that the rest of the folks in my department are really excited about. Not only that, but I like it too! Here's what our site looked like before:

Ugly. Dated. Information was repeated in different places, which made it hard to keep things updated and accurate. Considering we're a department that has to pay very close attention to policies, procedures and compliance, this was not only an annoyance, but a liability. When designing, I had to take into account our purpose and our audience. We needed a way to get a lot of information across in a clear and organized manner, and we needed to deliver that information to university faculty and staff, many of whom have never heard of Google, nevermind Twitter or Facebook. (I'm exaggerating, of course. Mostly.) We have a large document called the Technical Assistance Manual, and we decided to create a website that was only "three clicks deep" - each page contains generic information that explains basic ideas and concepts, and every link on every page leads to the TAM for specifics. Meaning the TAM is the only page that needs to be kept up-to-date. Not the most interesting, elegant, or innovative design, but the one that worked best for our needs. Plus it's pretty. See for yourself!

I started by looking at the websites of grant offices at other universities and stole the ideas I liked best. I then designed and built website with feedback from my department and got my very talented friend Elma (who works in Public Affairs) to create the (beautiful!) headers. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and everyone is excited to have a website that people (including us!) can actually use. And the fact that this website is connecting users to information pleases the librarian in me. Funny how things come full circle!

Moral of the story: Sometimes it's okay to take on a project even if you have no idea what you're doing or how to accomplish your goals. You can fake it while you make it, and learn a bunch of new skills along the way. So the next time someone asks you to do something that seems impossible, say yes! With a little luck, a lot of work and your best friend Google, you can accomplish anything.

Our Drinking Problem

Now that we have two dogs, I found it was impossible to keep the water bowl full. Every time I turned around it was empty and there, beside it, stood two thirsty animals gazing up at me with puppy dog eyes. Enter what should have been the perfect solution: a dog bubbler

It holds three gallons of water and refills the drinking area automatically though the amazing power of gravity, and at only $20 off the shelf at PetSense, seemed like a steal. (As you can see in the photo, we have elevated the bubbler. I read once that it's better for big dogs when they don't have to bend down to eat and drink.)

Seamus has always had a bit of a drinking problem and years ago we got him a bubbler. We didn't realize that the gurgling sound it makes while a dog is drinking from it would scare Seamus and it took us three days to realize he hadn't touched it once. We ended up returning the bubbler and going back to the water bowl, much to Seamus' relief. This time, though, I convinced myself that things would be different. Seamus is older and braver, and Calvin isn't afraid of anything (a blessing and a curse).

We brought the bubbler home. We set the bubbler up. After some coaxing Calvin drank from it, got scared of the gurgling, then overcame his fear and drank some more. It took about three tries for him to adapt and now he drinks out of it like a champ. Good dog!

Seamus, on the other hand, is still terrified. He will stand as far away from it as possible, sipping gingerly with the very tip of his tongue, until it gurgles. Then he's out of the kitchen and on the couch, snorting in indignation. If I stand next to the bubble and put my fingers in the water, he'll drink for a few second longer. I guess this is progress. Kind of. 

We're going to give it a few more days and see if he can get on board with the bubbler. If not, then I guess we'll have to just get a big bucket and fill it with water. Not as cute or classy as the bubbler, but the important thing is making sure Seamus is hydrated. If that means I have to put a bucket in my kitchen, then so be it.

Does your pet have any weird quirks or preferences? Any advice on how to make a scared dog more brave? I thought seeing Calvin safely drink from the bubbler would ease Seamus' fears, but it hasn't made much of a difference. 

Houston Marathon Goals!

Five days until the marathon! I'm deep into taper-mode, which is the time right before the big day when you run less and rest more to ensure that your mind and body are ready and raring to race 26.2 miles. While I've welcomed the chance to run shorter distances (on today's schedule: an easy three after work!) I do feel some paranoia creeping in. I keep worrying that I'm about to get sick, and convincing myself that a cough/fever/bronchitis/mono/etc is imminent. In reality, I've been eating tons of fresh fruit and veggies, making juice almost every other day, and eating extra quality carbs at all my meals. (Apparently, it is better to increase calories slightly the week before the race than carb-load the night prior. This is a theory I can get behind!) I've also been reflecting on my training, examining a pace chart that my friend Chip sent me, and finalizing my A, B and C goals for the Houston Marathon. 

Second Time's a Charm

As I've said before, I feel much more prepared for this marathon than I did for Austin. Since last February, I've completed two half marathons, a number of 5K's, a five mile race, the Warrior Dash, and a second cycle of marathon training. My paces this round have been much faster than last year (a full minute per mile, in most cases). My only concern is that last year, I ran two 20 milers during training and this time I only ran one. I can't do anything about that now, so instead of focusing on the ones I didn't complete, I'm going to instead reflect on the one that I did finish - 20 miles, with an average pace of 10:13. Best long run of my life, and best to think about that! Other things that went right this year: I didn't lose any toenails, I didn't get sick (knock on wood!), I consistently cross trained with 2-3 yoga classes per week (each of them 60-90 minutes long), and I did a ton of walking with the dogs. I don't usually count walking as cross training, but the extra movement couldn't have hurt.

Regrets? I wish I'd been able to run four times a week, but with the ridiculous amount of stuff I loaded into last semester (full time job, one graduate writing class, nine MFA applications, and a new puppy) I'm lucky that I managed to run three times a week! Weight training and an occasional ride or swim would have been nice too, but alas. That's what half marathon training will be for!

In the end (because it's almost the end!) I feel prepared. I know I can go the distance, and I'm fairly certain that my goal time, while challenging, is reachable. (Ooh. I got chills when I wrote that!)

Pace Charts and Data Porn

My friend Chip is a very motivating person with a huge passion for running (and yoga!). He just started a blog, which you should definitely check out. He also sent me a pace chart that outlines what your times should be for different distances (races and training runs) in order to reach a certain goal. My A goal for the marathon is 4:15. When I looked down that column of the pace chart, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I am right on target! According to the chart, a 5K race should be done in 26:07 (my PR is 25:08), a 5 mile race should be 43:27 (my PR is 44:22, but it was terribly humid that day), and a half marathon should be 2:04:39 (my PR is 1:58, but my most recent half was 2:04!). This is all very good news!

As for the suggested training paces, I've blown them all out of the water. I don't know if this is good or bad and I was tempted, briefly, to shoot for a BQ. But then I remembered that I'm not there yet, not even close, and that I have to run the race I trained for. Which is what I plan to do. I'll save the BQ for another day.

Easy as A, B, C

In the grand tradition of making not one, but three goals for any big race, mine are as follows:

My A Goal. Everything is perfect. The weather is a cool 40 degrees at the start. I am perfectly fueled, well rested and mentally sound. The course is flat. My body feels like air. All is right in the world. I easily reach my goal of a 4:15 marathon, which means maintaining a pace of 9:43 minute miles.

My B Goal. If I see my 4:15 marathon slipping away, then I will settle for a 4:30. In fact, I will be perfectly happy with a 4:30. A 4:30 will not be my A goal, but it will be a huge accomplishment and I will celebrate accordingly.

My C Goal. If all else fails, I mostly just want to beat last year's time and get a new personal record. Considering everything I was up against last year (hills! bronchitis! under-training!) I think I should be able to finish in less than 4:43, no problem. A new PR is a new PR, and that will be enough.

If I do not meet any of my goals, then you might not hear from me for a few days post-marathon. Just kidding. Sort of. I'll blog, but it won't be pretty. Consider this your warning!

So that's the plan! My goals, my reflections, and probably more than you ever wanted to know about my journey to 26.2 miles. Have you run a marathon? Any final advice you want to share in the days leading up to the big race? I'm ready and willing to take whatever you can offer!

A Balanced Weekend

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a good weekend and that your work day is off to a mostly painless start. I'm feeling good this morning, and I owe it all to my weekend.

I woke up early on Saturday and took the dogs for a brisk walk, then hightailed it to yoga for a 90 minute class. I love the longer classes on the weekend (during the week, all my classes are an hour) and this one was no exception. I worked on my handstand (another mini-resolution for 2011), held side crow for about four breaths, and got into a new bind. These are all things I could not do a year ago, and seeing myself progress as a yogi-in-training is really fun and rewarding. After class I had coffee at Java Jacks with a few of my fellow yoga-loving girlfriends, which is becoming quite the nice routine.

I spent the rest of the day getting ready for the Literary Reading that Amy and I host at the yoga studio every other month. We ended up with about 50 attendees over the course of the night, which is pretty normal. In the past we've always had eight readers scheduled, but this time I decided to experiment with six. Listening to people read their work requires a lot of concentration, and it seemed that eight was pushing the envelope on attention spans. I asked folks to tell me what they thought of the new format after the reading and I heard nothing but good things. So six readers it is, and six it will be! 

(Above: Dayna and Brent, rocking poetry and prose respectively. Also, I finally downloaded the Instagram app for my iPhone. It's a pretty awesome way to take a crappy cell phone photo and turn it into something blog worthy. Free, too!)

After the busyness of Saturday, Sunday was a welcomed change of pace. Highlights included an eight mile mid-morning run at a 9:37 pace. I had planned to run closer to ten minute miles but Amy joined me for the first half of the run and I always end up running faster when I'm with her. (In related news, SIX DAYS UNTIL THE MARATHON!) After the run I took a hot shower and had an awesome lunch - two (locally raised and happy) fried eggs on whole wheat toast and a glass of fresh juice, compliments of my new juicer. The juice contained 3 carrots, 1 stalk of celery, an apple, and a chunk of ginger. I've never been a big fan of juice but since I started making my own I've fallen in love. I feel so healthy every time I drink one and the combinations are endless. Full review of my juicer coming soon!

I spent the rest of the afternoon working on a short story. I'd been stuck for a while on some revisions, but after hearing everyone read the night before I felt inspired and ended up adding a new section and making some pretty deep edits. My 30 minutes of daily writing turned into an hour, and I'm much happier with where the story is heading. I'm hoping it will be submission-ready in a week or two. I have about four stories that I've been working on for the last year and my current goal is to finally finish each of them and send them off to literary journals and/or contests before starting anything new. I have a bad habit of writing drafts, editing them for a few weeks, and then putting them aside to look at later, with fresh eyes. Except later hardly ever happens - I get distracted by new ideas and the old stories wither away on my desktop. No more! From now on, I will not rest until every story has a home (or is at least in the market for a home).

Overall, a very good, productive and yet relaxing weekend. I think the key ingredient here is balance - I worked out, but I also rested. I hosted a big social event, but I also had some quality alone time. I ate cookies for dinner on Saturday, but I drank fresh juice and made a super healthy vegan lasagna on Sunday. I ended the weekend feeling rested, renewed and ready for the next adventure. I hope your weekend was just as good!

A Tale of Two Dogs

This past July, Nathan and I adopted a three month old, 25 pound half lab, half Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy with a super awesome Mohawk, who we proceeded (after a solid week of debate) to name Calvin. 

Our first dog, Seamus, was six years old and very set in his ways. Seamus had gotten into a routine of spending his days sleeping on the couch and his nights sleeping on the bed, with daily walks and trips to the park thrown in for good measure. He had a great life and he liked it just the way it was. When we brought Calvin home, he was visibly annoyed. It didn't help that Calvin was a puppy who'd been abandoned on my favorite running trail and had zero social skills - all he wanted to do was jump, whine and chew - on your legs, your hands, your shoes and, if you're Seamus, on your face. There was a lot of barking and growling in those first weeks, and because Calvin was so focused on Seamus I felt like we had no chance to bond. Plus every time I tried to pet or cuddle with him, he gnawed on my hands with his needle sharp puppy teeth. No pleasant.

As the weeks turned to months, Calvin and Seamus began to make peace with one another. We kept them separated in the day time - Calvin stayed in the kitchen behind a baby gate - and when they were around each other, they started to play more. They have a huge rope toy that is nearly three feet long, and they each grab one end and tug on it, growling and whipping their heads around until one dog wins, only to bring the rope back so they can start the game again. When they're finally worn out, they're okay with sharing the bed, even if they have to lean on one another. (Seamus gets annoyed with the leaning thing. Calvin likes to use Seamus as a pillow. Calvin is lucky Seamus is so patient!)

In addition to calming down, understanding the rhythms of our life, and finally letting me cuddle with him (he's a total cuddle bug now, and will let me coo over and rock him for hours) Calvin also grew. At his last visit to the vet he topped the scales at 85 pounds, and I can no longer tell the dogs apart by size alone. I have to actually look at their faces, which are very distinct and different (at least to me).

Seamus' transition from being a single dog to an older brother hasn't been easy. Learning to share the couch, the bed, our attention, his toys, his treats and his food bowl, all with a puppy hanging from the skin of his face and barking in his ear, begging him to play, was rough. To make it easier on our old man, we gave him special privileges - he was always fed first, he got to sleep on the bed, Calvin was locked away in the day time, etc. Eventually, Seamus got used to Calvin and now they get along fine. There's still some tension, mostly when we have guests over and both the dogs are showing off and vying for their attention, but mostly it's a peaceful co-existence. Also, Seamus is much more active now that we have a puppy in the house. The dogs wrestle, play, and go on multiple walks a day. All these things are good news for an old dog!

And Calvin! Calvin has made leaps and bounds. He's still a puppy, so there are still days where I want to strangle him (such as this morning, when he wanted us to wake up at 5am and when we didn't, proceeded to tear up a piece of plastic into unidentifiable bits. I hope it wasn't an important piece of plastic). 80% of the time, though, he is sweet and funny and silly, climbing in your lap, rolling on to his back so you can rub his belly, and greeting everyone he meets with exuberance and excitement. We no longer lock him up in the kitchen when we go to work - he's housebroken (has been since the second week - the one area where he excelled immediately!) and hasn't destroyed anything (too) important in weeks. Also, when I come home Seamus has been sleeping on the couch and Calvin takes the bed. I know this because as I enter the apartment, Calvin comes stumbling out of our bedroom, looking sleepy and sheepish and jumping into my arms.

The moral of this story is thus: if you are thinking of getting a second dog, choose carefully, don't be impulsive, make sure your other dog gets along with the new pup, try not to wait six years so the dogs' energy levels match, and have patience. Lots and lots of patience. We really only got the patience part right (most of the time) and we're very lucky things worked out so well. I can't imagine a life without Calvin, and I hope that Seamus and Nathan feel the same.

Are you a dog person? Do you have more than one pet? I've always had a dog, but this is the first time I've had two. It's very different and poses unique challenges, but for us it seems to be working.

Number Two and the Last Long Run

Last Thursday, I took the day off from work and set out for a 20 mile run. I'd attempted one other 20 miler a few weeks prior, which I had to cut off at 13 miles due to some stomach issues - also know as runner's trots. Hey, it happens. This particular day, I had a light breakfast (bowl of cereal) and a stabilizing snack before my run (a piece of toast with peanut butter and banana). I started my run at 11am, and the weather was perfect - 30 degrees and sunny. I finished my run in three hours and 24 minutes, with an average pace of 10:13. Basically, it was the best long run of my life. Even though the last mile was tough, I felt strong, capable and ready for the marathon. 

Fast forward to six days later, when I once again attempted to run 20 miles - my last long run before the taper. Running 20 this close to the marathon (it's only ten days away! Eek!) was cutting it close, but after discussing my training with a friend who happens to be an excellent runner and a coach (hi, Chip!) I decided that I had enough rest days built into my training that a ten day taper would suffice. I'm low on vacation time and I had a morning meeting, so I couldn't start this run until nearly 2pm. I ate a big bowl of cereal for breakfast, a mid-morning snack of peanut butter filled pretzels (probably closer to three servings - those things are addictive!), two cups of coffee, and a peanut butter and banana sandwich for lunch. A lot of food for a normal day. Way too much food for a long run day. Needless to say, the distance you see in the photo above is as far as I could make it - right at mile 7 I was hit with a terrible case of runner's trots and was forced to speed walk to a bathroom. I tried to continue running, but it was clear that I was in no shape to go 12 more miles. Instead I went home, spent some time in the bathroom, and then felt well enough a few hours later to go to yoga.

So. Let's talk about poop. I know I'm not the only one who deals with runner's trots - friends on Twitter commiserated with me yesterday, and Emily from Daily Garnish has written a whole post on the subject. Luckily I've learned a few things in my three years of running and I can identify the two main triggers that cause this most inconvenient condition. They are as follows:

• Eating more than one meal before a long run. On runs under six miles, I don't need anything - especially if I'm running first thing after I wake up. My best runs happen at 6:00am, which is good since most races are in the morning! 
• Drinking too much coffee. This is tough one to control. During marathon training, I did a lot of my long runs later in the morning, when it was warmer. The temptation of a bottomless cup of Joe was difficult, but I was (mostly) strong. Peppermint tea helped.

Even though I know these are my triggers, and can usually avoid them, sometimes it can't be helped. In those cases, I cross my fingers and start running, hoping for the best while making sure I know where the closest bathroom is at all times.

And while I didn't finish my last long run before the marathon, I do feel prepared to run 26.2 miles in ten days. (Ten days!) During the course of my training, I managed to complete two amazing 16 mile runs, one pretty good 18 miler, and a killer 20. Sure, another successful 20 miler would have been great, but even without it I I'm still in better shape for Houston than I was for Austin. Plus the only record I want to break is my own, and I am 99% that will happen in ten days. (Have I mentioned yet that the marathon is in ten days? Because it is.) I'll post my goals for the marathon and a fuller reflection on my training next week. Until then, I plan to keep going to yoga, running shorter distances, avoiding runner's trots and enjoying my taper for all it's worth.

How to Begin (Or, There Is No Write Way)

A few weeks ago, I got an email from a reader named Jess who wanted some advice about writing. An excerpt:

I desire to write creatively but am not sure of my voice. I have no real experience or background. Some people say that with creative writing, one must read books on grammar , etc. I've kind of lost my inspiration now, and I'm not sure if that would only hinder me more... Above all, I'd love your tips on a daily writing schedule.

Jess, the answers to your questions are both perfectly simple and hard as hell. I'll try my best to answer them, but be warned: the following is my experience only, and will not work for everyone. (To be honest, sometimes it doesn't even work for me! Following your own advice is not as easy as it sounds.)

Creating a Writing Schedule
The first, best, and most important advice I can give anyone who wants to be a writer is simply this: Write. There is no way to get around it. If you think you don't have any time, that a spare hour in your day doesn't exist, then look harder. I'm really busy - working full time, marathon training, cooking and cleaning and caring for my dogs. I've found the best method to get my writing in is to wake up an hour earlier. I don't particularly like waking up at 5am and writing, but it works.

Another trick is to set benchmarks or goals for your writing sessions. This can help keep you on track and give you a feeling of accomplishment when you're done. I've tried a few different methods, with varying degrees of success. Favorites include: scheduling writing sessions in my Google Calendar (much as I schedule my marathon training, happy hours and parties - seriously, if I can schedule workouts, I should be able to schedule a half hour for editing a story!); pledging to write a certain amount every day (500 words is a popular number for many people, including Hemingway); and forcing myself to sit down at my computer for 30 minutes, five days a week, no matter what. (Does writing always happen during those 30 minutes? No. But even if I'm just staring at a blank document, I'm still maintaining a habit.)

My best advice? Get a wall calendar and hang it over your desk. Each day you actually work on your writing - whether it's 500 words, 30 minutes, or sending a submission to a journal - you get to put a big check on that day. Check marks - or better yet, gold stars! - are very motivating, especially as you try to break your record each month.(I stole this method from Jerry Seinfeld. Seriously!) 

Actually Writing
Even though I said 30 minutes of staring a blank document was still helpful, it's certainly not ideal. Ideally, you will actually be putting words on the page. Beginning is the hardest part for most people, myself included. One of the best things I've ever read about beginning is the essay "Shitty First Drafts" from Anne Lamott's excellent book Bird by Bird. (You can read the essay by following the link, but I highly recommend the whole book.) Basically, Anne says your first draft is not the time to think or worry about whether what your writing is actually good. Accept that your first draft will be shitty and just worry about getting it down on the page. Once you have something tangible, you can begin the work of editing, molding and crafting it into something presentable, something you're proud of. But first: the shitty first draft. 

As for ideas, a lot of my stories got their start in the local paper - interesting stories make excellent jumping off points. I also shamelessly steal from the lives of my friends and loved ones (always changing the names, of course). Another good starting point is writing prompts - there are plenty of websites that offer them for free. Write about your parents. Write about your elementary school. Write about your dog, your dinner, your dreams. This is the fun part. Go crazy and write whatever comes into your head. Then, in two days, come back to it and figure out how to make it better.

Blogging Your Way to Better Writing
Will blogging make you a better writer? Yes and no. Blogging - if you do it regularly - can help you develop your voice and establish a regular routine. It can also suck up all your writing time - time that might be better spent on projects that take more work, thought and energy than dashing off a few hundred words and immediately hitting "publish." (Guilty as charged!) Personally, I think blogging is a good compliment to a writing regiment. The feedback from readers is motivating and writing in a public space is an easy way to hold yourself accountable, however! The satisfaction you get from seeing your writing on the web is ultimately short lived. Blog posts fade away and are forgotten by the following week. A story or novel that you crafted for weeks, months, years, sent to publishers, edited and revised, and finally got published? That lasts a whole lot longer, and it's worth a whole lot more.

My best advice? Start a blog and begin telling your stories. Connect with readers and other writers. Blog about your writing goals, your struggles, and your progress. And then turn off your Internet connection (literally - trust me on this one) and begin the real work, because that's where the magic happens. 

Do you consider yourself a writer? Do you agree or disagree with any of the above? And most of all, do you have any advice for Jess? Just leave it in the comments or email me at thenewchrissy (at) gmail(dot)com. Happy writing!

Baked Leek and Sweet Potato Gratin

If given the very difficult task of narrowing down my top five favorite vegetables, I would have to go with the following: broccoli, brussel sprouts, red peppers, green peas and sweet potatoes.

When it comes to sweet potatoes, I'm not very creative. I usually just peel, chop and roast them with a little olive oil and salt. Sometimes I make sweet potato casserole. On very rare occasions, I mash them. But mostly, I stick to roasting.  So when I came across this recipe for baked leek and sweet potato gratin in the latest issue of Vegetarian Times, I knew I had to try it.

For such a pretty dish, it was surprisingly easy to make. There was lots of downtime while it was in the oven, which I always appreciate, and when we finally sat down to dinner, I found that the gratin was both delicate and flavorful - different than most recipes I make, but in a good way. My only gripe is that the magazine suggested pairing the gratin with a green salad for a meal, which we did. In the future, I think I'll serve this with something a little more filling - a rustic stew or a black bean soup. This would also make a great side dish for Thanksgiving, so at the very least, bookmark it until November!

Now, to find a new, innovative, impressive, exciting and easy way to prepare broccoli...

Baked Leek and Sweet Potato Gratin
from Vegetarian Times

You will need: 
1.5 Tbsp olive oil, divided
3 medium leeks, white and light green parts chopped (6 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbsp)
3 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, divided
2 medium sweet potatoes (2 lbs), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1/3 cup low sodium vegetable broth
3 Tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 450F. Coat a 10-inch round casserole dish with cooking spray.

Heat 1 Tbsp oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks, garlic and 1.5 Tbsp rosemary; saute 8 minutes, or until softened. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Arrange one third sweet potato slices over bottom of prepared casserole, overlapping slightly. Spread half of leek mixture on top. Arrange another one-third sweet potato slices over leeks; top with remaining leeks, followed by remaining sweet potatoes. Drizzle broth over top, cover pan with foil, and bake 35 minutes.

Stir together breadcrumbs, remaining 1.5 tsp oil, and remaining 1.5 Tbsp rosemary in a small bowl. Remove foil from gratin and sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture. Bake, uncovered, for another 15 minutes or until breadcrumbs are browned and crisp. Let gratin cool slightly before cutting into 8 wedges.

Per slice: 143 calories; 3 g protein; 3 g total fat; (<1 g sat fat); 28 g carbs; 0 mg chol; 111 mg sodium; 4 g fiber; 8 g sugars. 

City Adventures and the GAAD

Me, Jocelyn and Amy at the Cosmic Cafe in Dallas this past weekend.

A long time ago, in a land called Nacogdoches, while still in undergraduate, Nathan had a study buddy who ended up becoming one of our first - and closest - friends in town. Her name was Jocelyn and she was a biology major (like Nathan), an aspiring yogi (like me), and a lover of red wine (totally cinched the deal). After they finished their undergraduate careers, Jocelyn ran off to huge adventures and hasn't looked back since. She's worked in Alaska fishing for wild salmon and then racing dog sleds, spent time in Israel, and has been in Zambia for the last two years, volunteering with the Peace Corps. She just extended her contract and will be there another year, but was given a month off to come home and see her family for the first time since she joined. Nathan and I hadn't seen Jocelyn in nearly five years, so this weekend he, I, and Amy drove to Fort Worth to hang out and catch up before her return flight.

Jocelyn was flying in from Arizona on Saturday morning, so Friday Amy, Nathan and I stayed in a hotel in Dallas called Element. If you ever need a place to stay near the Dallas airport, I highly recommend Element! It was a "green" hotel, very affordable, with a really nice continental breakfast and all kinds of eco-friendly amenities. My two favorites were the half or full flush option on the toilet, and the priority parking for those with fuel efficient vehicles.

We got up early on Saturday and decided that we had time to go to a hot yoga class before picking up Jocelyn from the airport. This was my second hot yoga experience. The first time, I went to an actual Bikram studio. This time, the class borrowed a lot from Bikram, but it wasn't certified. I didn't mind. I really like hot yoga, but I don't think I'd want it make it my every day practice. I like the variety of my usual hatha classes.

Once we had Jocelyn, we went to lunch at the Cosmic Cafe, a cute hippie place near the airport. We hung out all afternoon and in the evening met up with some other friends and went restaurant hopping in downtown Fort Worth - drinks and appetizers at each place we visited. It was a cool way to see a variety of places, even if I was woefully under-dressed for most of them. City life!

I loved seeing Jocelyn, and I loved the break from my little town. Whenever I hear about a friend who has gone off to explore the world and experienced things of which I have only dreamed, I can't help but get jealous. I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision by moving from New York to East Texas six years ago, whether I should have held off on the Masters program and the serious relationship and the dogs until I'd gotten some of this wanderlust out of my system. But last night, after we'd returned from our weekend of fun, I had a delicious dinner in the oven, a loving partner a few feet from me, and two exhausted dogs at my feet, and I realized that my life is an adventure too. More subtle than battling rattlesnakes in a bathroom or racing across the frozen expanse of Alaska, but an adventure nonetheless.

The Great American Apparel Diet!

While in the big city, I was faced with my first temptation since pledging to take the Great American Apparel Diet. Basically, I've decided that in the year 2011, I will not purchase any new clothing. And I'm not the only one! If you click the link above, you'll see that hundreds of people have taken this pledge, and for just as many reasons. From the website:

Some of us are motivated to curb our carbon footprint while others are more motivated to curb spending. Some are sick and tired of consumption in general while others are concerned about consumption and the environment.

My reasons for abstaining from clothing purchases are very similar. First of all, I have everything I need. Period. There is no reason for me to cruise the sales rack of every department store and bring home things that I don't need and usually don't even wear. Second, working with what I have makes me more creative - I can't just buy a new dress when I have to go to a wedding. I'll have to remix something I already have. Third, I want to live more simply and save more money. Removing an entire category of expenses from my life will definitely help that. And fourth - as I'm sure you're all well aware at this point, I like a challenge. When I read about the GAAD diet on a friend's blog, I couldn't help myself!

That said, I do have a few planned exceptions to my year of no-buying. Under the rules of the challenge, I am able to buy undergarments (which I appreciate) and accessories (which will be fun, especially as I get bored of my clothes). I also anticipate needing to replace my running shoes at some point before 2012. I've been meaning to buy two pairs of work pants forever, but I'm picky about pants so I haven't found anything suitable yet. I will allow myself this (necessary) purchase. And lastly, I need a pair of running tights. Right now, I run in my yoga pants when it's cold which isn't ideal. I've been waiting for the Houston Marathon expo to get a pair, and I will go forward with that plan! But otherwise: nothing. Nada. Ziltch. I'm going to live simply, work with what I have, and save major money.

In Fort Worth, I kept my purchases to physical things - a yoga class, beer and food. I still spent a lot, but I feel like it was worth more. Have you taken the GAAD pledge, or something similar? I'm only two weeks into the challenge so I know it'll get harder as time goes on, and I can use any advice you have!

Weekly +/-

First of all, thank you for all the lovely comments on my kitchen tour! Y'all really know how to make a lady blush. I can't wait to show off some more of our home improvement projects which means, of course, that we'll actually have to finish the projects we're started. Three cheers for motivation! 

As for our weekly-ish list of the good, the bad, and the better... 

- I feel like I'm on the verge of catching a cold. Scratchy throat, slight cough, sluggish. This could also be blamed on the fact that the pollen count is extra high (hello, winter in Texas!), it's been a frigid 30 degrees most days, and marathon training is peaking. (I finally had a very successful 20 miler! Huzzah!) Just in case, I've been going to bed early, drinking lots of water, and eating tons of fruit. I will not get sick before the marathon!

- All week long I have been doing tons of math at work. With a calculator, yes, but still. Math. Blah.

- Only made it to one yoga class this week, and I can feel it. I miss you, yoga.

- Still saddened and shocked by the tragedy that rocked our university community earlier this week. If you want to make donations or contribute to a scholarship fund, information is here. 

A tough week, to be sure. But there's always a bright side.

+ I ran an awesome 20 miler this week! I kept an average pace of 10:13 and felt strong until nearly the end, at which point I was mentally done. Considering my average pace for the Austin Marathon was 10:53, I think I'm in much better shape for this year's race. Fingers crossed!

+ I've been doing a lot of cross training at work, which has been (mostly) interesting and has kept me busy. I feel like I'm finally starting to understand the grant world. Yay for new skills!

+ I am 100% in love with Appetite for Reduction. It's Isa's newest health-focused vegan cookbook, but everything I've made from it so far tastes incredibly indulgent. And since most dishes are between 200-400 calories, I can eat twice as much! Win!

+ My efforts to write 30 minutes a day AND read more are both beginning to stick. I'm a quarter of a way through I Am Charlotte Simmons (which is a big book, so that's actually impressive) and have been writing regularly. I'm even thinking I might... maybe... possibly... start working on... a novel? I don't. It's just an idea right now, but a very intriguing one. Stay tuned for some good writerly posts next week!

As for the weekend... 

I have a fun trip planned to see an old friend, which I'm very much looking forward to. Food, drinks, and maybe an out of town yoga class? We'll see! I hope you've got a fun and safe weekend planned as well. Happy Friday!

Kitchen Makeover and Tour!

It's hard to believe that Nathan and I have lived in our current apartment for over five years. At almost 900 square feet, we make excellent use of our two bedrooms (one for sleeping, one used as a home office), living room and kitchen. While I wish we had more storage space, being stuck with nothing more than two tiny closets is actually a blessing in disguise. It keeps us from stockpiling things and we're always aware of how much STUFF we have.

Because we're lucky enough to own our apartment, we're able to make improvements and changes to it as we see fit/can afford. I've already shown y'all our side yard makeover, and I figured it was time for some interior projects. We recently redid our kitchen floor, but in digging up old "before" photos, I found some shots from when we first moved in all those moons ago, and my mouth dropped open. I guess I'd forgotten about all the little improvements we've made over the years, because the "after" images are so different. Just look!

This is a shot from the living room looking into the kitchen, over the bar. After the first year, we painted the walls a lovely green color - Olive Fringes. It was a last minute decision, mostly because my friend Ella was visiting from New York and she likes painting walls. As far as last minute decisions go, it was a good one.

Nearly all of our furniture was (and still is) hand-me-downs from Nathan's parents or items we found at yard sales or out with someone's trash. We've since upgraded a lot of it (mostly with new things found at yard sales or in the trash!). We've also replaced both the dishwasher and the stove since we've lived here. The dryer (which you can see above the washing machine in the corner) is next on my list.

The floor, which you can't actually see in this photo, was in the worst shape. It was already an ugly and faded linoleum when we moved in, and we only made it uglier. The turning point was when I put accidentally left a glass pie pan on a hot burner, causing the pan to explode and sending hot glass all over the kitchen, which promptly burned brown marks into the linoleum. Not cute. No matter how often you swept or mopped, the floor never looked clean. And since I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it was extra depressing. And no one likes to be depressed. 

And now, for the after!

Much better! The biggest changes you can see here are the new/old kitchen table (smaller and less ornate than the one Nathan's parents gave us - we got this one from some friends who were moving and I recovered the chairs); the BEAUTIFUL NEW KITCHEN FLOOR, which we did ourselves last October-ish, and the green and brown cabinets. These were a total pain to paint, and a little odd looking at first, but I definitely love them now.

New stove (our old one didn't work for a year and a year without baking is a hard burden to bear), new dishwasher, and my most-used kitchen gadgets, all in a pretty shade of red. I like to match!

Because we have almost no storage space in the kitchen, Nathan built this hutch for our glasses, dishes and bigger appliances. Bags of dog food, rice cooker, and large pots and pans are hidden away behind the curtain (my idea and doing!). The pretty things are visible. And the baskets hold spices, small kitchen gadgets, and clean rags and dishtowels, respectively.

Let's look at that beautiful kitchen floor once more, shall we? Ahh. This was actually really easy to install - the "wood" is really linoleum that we stuck on over the old stuff in strips. The only trouble we ran into was the corners and areas where Nathan had to cut the strips to fit, but even that wasn't too bad. (So says the girl who didn't actually do it.) The nicest thing is that because the new floor is a bit darker than the terrible linoleum of doom, all the black dog hair that gathers on every surface in my apartment is harder to see. Win!

These are old jars of Newman's Own Tomato Sauce that I cleaned and repurposed for storage. I use them for popcorn, dried beans, and grains. I was going to buy plain white labels for them, but when I saw these "Hello My Name Is" stickers, I couldn't help myself.

And last but not least, the dog station. They get a placemat because they are both very messy eaters and drinkers. I will not give you a close-up of their area. No one needs to see that!

And that concludes the tour of my kitchen! We're certainly no Young House Love, but I like to think we've done a good job of making the most of what we've got. Do you enjoy "nesting" and home improvement projects? Do you have any links of your own transformations? I have to admit, I prefer painting walls and sewing things like curtains and pillows to out-and-out construction projects, but Nathan is always getting me to hold boards in place while he hammers, and I suppose it's good to expand my home improvement repertoire. And when the results are as drastic as our kitchen transformation, I really can't complain.

I Eat the Internet for Dinner

Twitter is awesome. I say this as an avid user and as a former librarian. It's the best way on the Internet to follow an eclectic bunch of interesting people and endlessly distract yourself with all manner of links, updates and fascinating minutiae. It also good for stalking keeping up with certain vegan celebrity chefs who have completely revolutionized the way you think about, look at, and prepare food. And sometimes, those vegan celebrity chefs even respond to you! (Click the image below to enlarge.)

Definitely one of my top five Twitter moments ever.

Speaking of the Internet, I also started a Tumblr last week. I was always a little confused by Tumblr (aka, the ultimate hipster accessory) but I think I figured it out. If blogging is for creating content, then Tumblr is for sharing things that other people have created. I might be wrong, but that's how I plan to use it. Think of it this way: if The New Me is the entree, and Twitter is the side dish, then Tumblr is dessert - pretty photos, excellent quotes and links to all the things that have distracted me in a day. I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think!

What about you? Are we friends on Twitter? Have you mastered the art of Tumblr? Leave your links in the comments and give me more things with which to distract myself! After all, it's only Wednesday.

Gingerbread Waffles

I love breakfast. I would estimate that, from the age of ten, 90% of my breakfasts (and I eat one every. single. day.) has been cereal and milk. When I was seventeen, that became cereal and soymilk. These days, it's cereal and almond milk. The brand of cereal varies, but not much. And when I say I love breakfast, I am including my countless bowls of cereal. I know the whole Internet is in love with oatmeal, but I just can't get on board. Cold cereal and almond milk is where it's at.

But every now and then, even a die-hard cereal lover needs something different. Special. On weekends, I try to make either pancakes or waffles. We usually go for blueberry pancakes, simply because the waffle iron (which I scored at a yard sale!) is a pain to clean. This past Sunday morning, however, begged for waffles. When we woke up, we discovered that a cold front had moved in and it was a freezing 30 degrees with rain pouring down. Nothing to do pop open a bottle of champagne left over from New Year's, pour some mimosas, and make a batch of gingerbread waffles.

These babies fit the bill perfectly. Sweet and dense, with real ginger grated into the mix, they hit the spot and left us full and ready to greet the day - or sit in our bathrobes until 2pm, nursing our drinks and watching movies. Either way, it was a great day. Also, if you can restrain yourself and not eat all the waffles in one sitting (which, trust me, is no easy feat) they freeze beautifully and can be heated up during the week for a quick breakfast before you head off to work. Enjoy!

Gingerbread Waffles
(adapted from Vegan Brunch; original recipe found here)

You will need: 
2 cups almond milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons canola oil
¼ cup pure maple syrup
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-inch knob ginger, peeled and
grated (about 3 tablespoons)
2¼ cup whole wheat pastry flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
Cooking spray

Directions: 
Preheat your waffle iron.

In a large mixing bowl use a fork to vigorously mix together milk, vinegar, oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and vanilla. Mix until the maple syrup and brown sugar are dissolved. 

Mix in the grated ginger. (I used my microplane zester to grate ginger - works like a charm! A cheese grater also works well.)

Add remaining dry ingredients and mix together until smooth. Spray the waffle iron with cooking spray and cook waffles according to manufacturer’s directions.

Twenty Days and Other Distractions

Yesterday was cold and rainy and freezing, so I decided to put off my scheduled 20 miler until today. Today is still gray and wet, and I learned this morning of a terrible tragedy that befell the family of a colleague and friend over the weekend. In between grieving and tearing up at my desk, I've decided that running isn't happening. Instead, I'm going to go to yoga and dedicate my practice to others. It's not much, but it's something.

To distract myself from the unfairness and fragility of life, I've been rewriting my training plan for the last three weeks leading up to the Houston Marathon. Now probably seems like a bad time to be rewriting and rescheduling, but a morning like this puts something as small as a race - even one 26.2 miles long - into perspective.

Most articles about marathon training recommend a three week taper - the period of time after your last long run where you decrease your mileage in order to rest your legs up for the big day. Seeing as my goal time for Houston is 4:15, and I only run 3-4 days a week anyway, and most of my runs were not as grueling as they probably should have been, a three week taper is way too long for me. The fact that I'm pushing back these last two long runs - 20 miles and 22 miles, respectively - also makes a three week taper impossible. I've planned it out and set it up so that I have a ten day taper, during which I'll still run and practice yoga, but at distances and paces that are relaxed and easy. The goal is not to continue to training, but to maintain the work that I've already put in.

To read the actual workouts, click to enlarge the plan above. (I set my Google calendar so the week begins on Monday, which makes better sense for me, as I work Monday through Friday and my long runs are on Sundays.) Nothing too different from what I've been doing all along, which is the point. I will wait until after the marathon to do things like ride my bike, lift weights, and get back into rock climbing - all of which I want to do right now, simply because I'm tired of marathon training and can't wait to start the next challenge. Which always happens in the last few weeks of training for any event. My brain and body are fickle.

This is a disjointed post but it's all I have in me today. Please remember to tell the people dear to you how much you love them. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Making Mini-Resolutions

I chose this photo because I thought perhaps the rooster was pointing the way to a better life, and perhaps that fit the theme of this post. In related news, I'm so glad it's Friday.

In addition to my 2011 Plan of Attack, I've been making some mini-resolutions - little changes in my routine and adjustments in my attitude that are already making a big difference in my life. Which is good, because this hasn't been the easiest week. Let's just say that returning to my 8-5 office life after ten days of vacation requires an adjustment period. And while a lot of my goals for 2011 are long term (meaning I can't just start them all at once and smugly revel in my immediate transformation) my mini-resolutions have been holding me over in the meantime.

•  Walk the dogs when I go home for lunch. I get an hour break and I live less than a mile from the university, so I usually go home for lunch anyway. Every day this week, I've eaten my lunch in fifteen minutes, taken the dogs on a 30 minute walk, and made it back to my desk with time to spare. The dogs love it, moving around in the middle of the day is better than coffee (well, almost), and everyone is a little less crazy in the evenings. Even if I don't do this every day, I'm going to make an effort to do it at least three times a week.
  
  
• Don't procrastinate on anything that takes less than five minutes. I didn't invent this one, but I believe in it's power! I've been adding small things to my Task bar in Google Calendar (call for GRE scores, finish yoga newsletter, pay water bill) and every time I have a spare few minutes, I glance at my list to see if there's anything I can check off. And I have checked off a lot! Also, the less you procrastinate, the less guilt you feel in the long run. Who would've thought?!
  
  
• Balance my checkbook. I am terrible about this. Excuse me. I WAS terrible about this. I downloaded an iPhone app called Pennies and it is revolutionizing the way I spend and save my money. At the very least, keeping track of my cash is holding me accountable. Having to write down my impulse purchases from Amazon makes me more wary about wantonly clicking "buy now." This is a good thing. (The app is 2.99, which causes some people to balk, but you know what? Someone DESIGNED a COMPUTER PROGRAM that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Surely this is worth at least as much as a soy latte from Starbucks? Perspective, people. Get some.)
  
  
• Unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe. I don't know how I ended up on some of these email lists, but I do know how good it feels to click "unsubscribe." Especially clothing stores, especially since I've vowed to go a year without buying any new apparel. Oh, what's that? You're having a 70% sale on all winter items? I don't care! (It's not true. I do care, which is why I need to unsubscribe from these mailing lists before I fail this year-long challenge in the middle of week two.)
  

That sums up my week, in a roundabout sort of way. How did the first week of Oh'leven go for you? Did you kick ass at your goals and tell your resolutions who's boss, or are you starting slowly like me? Either way, progress is progress, and Friday is Friday. Have a happy one!

Don't Knock the Box

 

I like to drink in moderation (mostly), and I consider myself a bit of a beer snob - craft brews, local if possible, and the darker the better. In the winter, though, I find myself turning to wine more often than not. When it's cold and dark outside, curling up with a glass of red while the dogs wrestle at my feet is the perfect way to spend a quiet week night. And since wine is good for you (maybe...) I don't to feel too guilty about my daily glass.

However, a wine habit - even in moderation - can be expensive. It also creates a lot of waste, even if I can now bring my empty bottles to the Habitat Resale Store so that they can be upcycled into fancy glasses and decorative lighting fixtures. (We brought them many, many champagne bottles on January 1st!) Still: we're living on a budget and trying to save as much money as we can, and we've discovered a little secret that satisfies both our wine habit and our miserly ways. Reader, I would like to introduce you to every cheap wino's best friend: the Box of Wine.

I know what you're thinking. Wine? In a box? And allow me to reassure you - today's boxed wine is better than the sickly sweet blushes your parents shoved on the bottom shelf of the fridge, behind the Wonder bread and pickles, in case company stopped by. Many wine companies are beginning to appreciate the plus side of packaging their better elixirs in a box. One box of wine usually equals four bottles, and because there's less packaging, the box is cheaper than it's glass counterparts. Best of all, the box keeps wine good for at least two weeks even after it's been opened. You no longer have to deal with headachey mornings just because you didn't want that last, lonely glass to go to waste.

"Yes," you're saying. "That's great, save money, save the environment, blah blah blah - but how does it taste?" And my answer to that is: pretty good. For the most part it will not be the most amazing glass of wine you're ever going to have in your life. And that's okay - that's not what one should expect from a single glass on a Wednesday night while you're wearing mismatched socks and watching Netflix Instant viewing. If you're celebrating an anniversary or a job promotion or a new puppy/child - by all means, spring for a fancy bottle! But in all other scenarios, do yourself a favor and try the box. You'll thank me later!

For more about boxed wine reviews, recommendations and ideas, check out these handy links:

Top 5 Boxed Wines from Epicurious
8 Boxed Wines and 8 Meals to Pair Them With from The Daily Green
About Boxed Wine (reviews, Q&A, etc.)

Happy sipping!