Snow+Rain= the Sky is Shitting (?)

I now pose a question for Lee, Christine, and anyone else who might have found this blog: What in the world do you call what is currently going on outside my window?

I apologize for all the questions-- I promise it won't become a regular theme, but really. I only understand rain and what happens between 40 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it drops below that, I am lost. To the left is a painting by Claude Monet, "Grainstacks, the Effect of Snow and Rain." I love Monet, but this an over-romanticization if I have ever seen one! Driving to work this morning the world did not look nearly so beautiful and peaceful. But hey, I guess that is why we love Monet: he makes us stop and reconsider the mudane.

In other news, today I am wearing my favorite piece of clothing. It actually belongs to my mom, but she is lending it to me until Christmas. It is a Gucci scarf cerca 1980, and it is the definition of FAB! Red, blue, green, and white stripes of varying sizes and order interdespersed with subtle Gucci themes. So today really can't be so bad.

Dressing for Boston?

I am the most happy that Lee set up this new blog. Since graduating, I've missed conversing with Lee and Christine on such topics as clothing and fashion, food, work-outs, boys etc. Basically about our lives.


One idea I've really run with since moving to Boston is to not let a designer or brand dictate how you wear a given piece. I can't take credit for this as it was Lee who taught me to do so. She has a memorable top that she wears backwards every time, and it actually looks better that way. In this vein I've worn shirts and vests as skirts and skirts and vests as shirts and scarves as headbands and rowing trou as tights. It really makes my wardrobe exponentially expand. Which is really helpful, because I realized after moving to Boston that I have neither a suit nor a pair of black slacks. In order to have work-appropriate clothing I have to put together an outfit every day, and to repeat is not only really boring but also noticeable as none of my pieces are... shall we say: particularly demure. It has forced me to get creative, and I hope to post some of the results in the coming days. Below is a picture of a scarf I was able to make work-appropriate. Yes it is shiny gold.







Full disclosure for now and for all future posts:


I was born and bred a So-Cal girl. True, I moved to the East Coast four years ago, but there are some things I haven't been able to shake. For example, as I write this I am simultaneously watching the Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Contest streamed live from Waimea Bay, Hawaii. Additionally, I LOVE tie-dye and other such things so my commentary on Boston doesn't come from the perspective of a true Boston-ite.

For example, one Boston-thing I haven't been able to get behind is the habit of women to throw on a pair of running shoes with their professional garb for their commute to work. Last summer-- before senior year-- I lived a mile and a half from where I worked, and everyday I walked there and home again in two or three inch heels. I have no sympathy. By the end of August I had to get every pair of my shoes re-soled. So, I do not see the need to carry an extra pair in your bag when the weather is beautiful/fine. Granted, now that the weather has turned horrible, somedays I might wear snow boots to work-- but that is only during storms.

Nummers!

Last night without even knowing it I fulfilled my assigned task-to cook in a very fitfunfab manner.

I had some time last evening- and decided that I would fill my evening with a workout followed by some cooking. Some days my life is soooo Greenwichy I am appalled at myself. So before heading to the gym I looked in my Martha Stewart "Good Food Fast Book" for inspiration. I turned to the winter section and saw a recipe for lentil soup. I was intrigued... I of course remembered the insipid and growdy lentil soup served in Yale dining halls. However, I also had often heard of the many redeaming healthy qualities of "lentils". It was cold and the picture in the cook book was tres inviting so I committed to making some soup.

My caveat before I post this recipe- Karri you won't like it! That's because it involves bacon- HUZZAH! I even put more bacon in this because I wanted to (which probably negates the healthy qualities- but whatevs).

This is a hale and hearty soup- perfect for snuggling up under a blanket post a workout!

Martha Stewart w/ some CBG additions Lentil Soup

4 Pieces of Bacon
One large Onion (chopped)
3-4 Med. Carrots (sliced)
3-4 Mushrooms (sliced)
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspoon of Dried Thyme
2-3 bay leaves
3 1/2 cups of Chicken Stock
1 1/2 cups of lentils
2 cups of water
1 Tablespoon of red Wine Vinegar
2 Table Spoons of Tomato Paste

In a big pot- sautee the bacon until nice and brown and crisp (8-10 min).
When the bacon is done pour out all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat (leave the bacon in the pot)
Add the onion, the carrots, and the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes ( till onions are browned)
Add the garlic and cook for 30 secs ("until fragrant" says Martha)
Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute
Add the lentils (supposed to be rinsed and "picked through" but whatevs I did not), the water, and the chicken stock. Also add the bay leaves and thyme. Let it come to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 to 45 minutes.
Watch the pot-the soup gets too thick add some water to thin it out!
When it is done add the vinegar ( be pretty liberal with this it adds a lot of flavor)

Serve immediatly with some crusty bread and parmesan cheese. Cuddle up with a glass of red wine and a good book.

First Fit-Fun-Fab!

This blog was born on a treadmill. Having some how survived another Monday, I made my usual trek to the sixth floor of the Yale Club. Tired of the typical slog-fest on the stairmaster or bike. I decided I would hop on the treadmill--looking forward to watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother.

I was bummed to discover that none of the TVs on the treadmill were working. I decided to stick with running though-- to tough it out on the treadmill with only my thoughts, the mirror, and the clock to keep me occupied. About 5 minutes in I was inspired to challenge myself. As a former rower, I used to workout no less than 6 days a week and often twice a day. Now, I count an hour's worth of work as solid effort. The challenge I set myself was to complete 4 miles in under 30 minutes. This is not a tremendous challenge except for the fact that I had already run the first mile in about 8 minutes--there was a lot of ground to make up.

The challenge invigorated and excited me. I'd gotten myself in a rut. Work was draining my energy and I was using it as an excuse for all sorts of things--letting my health, fitness and even (gasp!) fashion fall by the wayside.

The run reminded me that setting goals is what, as an athlete, I live for.

One goal that had long fallen by the wayside was a blog--written and "curated" by my two best friends--my twin, Christine and our college teammate, Karri. That blog--Pearl and baseball hat-- had been born in the midst of Roman Art study sessions and was often a love song to our favorite Art History professor Diana E. E. Kleiner.

That blog was somewhat limited by the scope of the world we lived in--namely college and the fact that as varsity athletes there were a number of subjects that couldn't be discussed less we break the team code of silence.

Now as recent post-grads, we find ourselves free of these "shackles" but now adrift-- lost without our teammates and each other's constant presence.

This blog is a celebration of the lifestyle Karri, Christine and I love. It revolves around making healthy choices, dressing well, reading a lot and being generally silly.

Here's to being fit, fun and fabulous!

xoxoxo

ljg