The Bourgeois Pig

Met a friend here for coffee today: The Bourgeois Pig
(I always have trouble spelling that word--"bourgeois" not pig)

It's a quaint little coffee cafe off Fullerton in the heart of Lincoln Park, and right next door to the DePaul campus. This may have been the reason it was a tad crowded in the main room. We did not venture upstairs to the "additional seating" area, although from the pictures online
it appears to be pretty cozy.


The extensive menu includes a variety of salads, soups, hot & cold sandwiches, and a host of coffees concoctions and teas. I ordered a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I have no previous experience with this drink for comparison (no, I have not had the Starbucks version although I hear it is great), but I was a little disappointed by the Bourgeois Pig's offering. I was expecting more pumpkin+spice flavor (?).....and it fell a tad short. Although, it could have been the abundance of whipped cream topping off the coffee.

I will gladly try the place again, though -- any cafe with a menu that large must have something good.

Listening to Iron&Wine Around the Well -- and wondering if I will ever be warm again.

Marge's Still

This has been a favorite place of mine to eat lately, whether it be a late lunch (and my lunches usually are), or a Sunday brunch. Marge's offers a concise menu of fresh salads (including my favorite: Grilled Salmon Salad), traditional hot sandwiches, great big burgers and some delish entrees (or so I'm told). My only dilemma in visiting Marge's Still is that we usually go on a Sunday, when they offer their weekend brunch buffet -- and it is enticingly hard to resist. Offered with or without a selection of breakfast plates (Eggs Benedict is the fav), the buffet includes fresh fruit, waffles, sausage links/bacon, bagels & lox, a selection of cold salads, and a variety of yummy desserts. Like I said: hard to resist. For this reason, I have yet to try most of the dinner entrees, although it is my firm intention to do so within the next year (at least).

One of the most enjoyable aspects of living in a city like Chicago is having quaint little restaurants, bars and boutiques like this in close proximity -- you'd be hard-pressed not to fall in love with any one of the little neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area!

Future of Forestry

I know I like a song when it gives me goosebumps.... or when, after I've listened to it once, it keeps re-playing over and over in my head and I can't wait to hear it again. Every single one of Future of Forestry's songs is exactly like that. Somehow, I stumbled across this amazing band while searching for another album that I really enjoy (Fires of Life by Cool Hand Luke), and was so pleased to discover that the "Alt Christian" music niche is much wider and deeper than I expected.

Eric Owyoung's voice (lead singer) reminds me of Matt Hales (Aqualung); the melodies are distinctly original, though hint of something like Switchfoot...but better; some of the riffs even echo faintly of a band like Mae, but FoF has a distinctly beautiful feel with meaningful lyrics; the creative percussion (Sufjan Stevens, anyone?) and extended choruses are awe-inspiring. I'm not name-dropping just for the sake of it, I'm simply thrilled to have found a band that combines the sounds of some of my favorite bands.

So, go ahead: give it a listen (Travel & Travel II EPs)

(The album covers are pretty nifty too -- painted by the lead singer's wife.)
Also, as a side note, the name of the band is inspired by this beautiful poem by C.S. Lewis.

Fashion Forward...

My husband has been pretty driven lately to emphasize his disgust for the current fashion trend of wearing leggings with over-sized tops. His vocabulary for this look includes words like "lazy" and "tramp". He points out legging-clad females walking the streets (no pun intended) of Chicago and generally makes a derogatory comment or two (under his breath...most of the time). I have been hard-pressed to defend the current trend although it is nowhere near new and, in some cases, more than appropriate. Let's start with the history of the legging.

According to Wikipedia: "Leggings in various forms and under various names have been worn for warmth and protection by both men and women throughout the centuries."

In more recent fashion history, Wikipedia adds: "Leggings in the form of skin-tight trousers, a tighter version of the capris ending at mid-calf or near ankle length, made its way into fashion in the 1960s and were worn with a large belt and slip-on high heels or ballet flat-styled shoes."

A la Audrey Hepburn, anyone?

"By the early-1990s, leggings were actually outselling jeans in many parts of the United States. Very common to see leggings worn with long oversized t-shirts, oversized sweatshirts or oversized sweaters, slouch socks and Keds. "


And most recently:

"Shiny leggings—leggings that have a shiny, metallic (Lamé), or wet-like appearance—emerged as a popular fashion trend in the late-2000s, particularily in 2008...Shiny leggings were featured on fashion runways by many leading designers and were further popularized by celebrities such the Lauren Conrad, Olsen Twins, Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan and Frida Sanden. Popular makers of shiny leggings include Members Only, Kova & T and American Apparel."

What many forgot to mention, however, is this look from the more classic perspective. Fashion trends will come and go, but there is always a way to make a look classic and enduring. Polo by Ralph Lauren, for example, has popularized the "equestrienne" look in fashion, including items suchs riding pants, blazers and riding boots. Riding pants look eerily similar to those skin-tight leggings, no? Especially with boots.

The Polo look is, to me, a more classic take on the trend than, say, Lauren Conrad in her shiny leggings and flowy top....


And my favorite look is something like this:
(Available at Neiman Marcus)

But here are the most important things to remember if you choose to sport the ever-changing leggings fashion:

1) If you're going tight, NEVER go too tight. No one wants to see the outline of your undies or the dimpling of cellulite on your thighs (sorry ladies, sad but true).

2) Leggings can look great with a pair of boots--very fashionable this season, and especially practical for cold-weather regions--pumps, or even ballet flats...but steer clear of tennis shoes and socks unless you're headed to the gym (or attending a 90s-inspired costume party).

3) Make your look polished. I do agree with my husband in that leggings can look very lazy and messy when an outfit is not properly put together. Especially if the crotch region is highlighted, rather than downplayed, by the outfit.

4) This look is not for everyone. Body type does (and should) have a lot to do with the sorts of clothing people choose to wear. Some skinny-minnies out there might look great in the (re)newly-fashionable harem pants, but I would not be caught dead in that look. Something about a pair of pants that shortens the leg and emphasizes the hip/thigh is SO far from my sense of flattering. If you're not quite sure that leggings will work for you...you're probably right.

5) I have to re-emphasize this point: don't go too tight!

In closing, if you like the look and you can pull it off with style and class-- go for it!

Otherwise, you might be walking down the street someday only to find yourself quietly criticized by a bearded red-head passing you by.

Summer Reading

Free moments for reading have become more available to me in recent months as I've learned to juggle my work schedule with other hobbies. It was my goal for this summer to resurrect the elementary school habit of fulfilling a summer reading list (complete with "book reports"!) and I am just about halfway to completing this self-assigned task. Today I am going to list a couple of the books that I've completed thus far, with reviews soon to come!

In putting this post together, I noticed a pattern in the style of books I've tended toward recently. I have to note, as well, that I always judge a book by it's cover. I think cover design is an art in itself (remember, I am a graphic designer), and it is the first impression of any given book for the potential reader. I love the stamped linen covers of classics, but I also appreciate anything with a thoughtful image and an interesting font. Back to the books below: they are all a form of historical fiction with female figures as the protagonists. Two of the four are in first person narrative--a writing style to which I have not always been drawn (prefer omniscient third person). I think it must say something about my current state of mind that I am currently drawn to books where the plot aligns with the life stories of young women coming of age in a given historical period. I will write more about this in each book review, but for now here is the run-down:

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
I'll admit, this purchase was spurred on purely by placement and the cover. It was sitting out on one of the front tables when I walked into the book store--how can you resist stopping for a quick look? The cover intrigued me, as did the title, which I recognized from the recently produced movie based upon the novel.





The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman
I purchased this one in the Chicago Midway Airport as reading for my trip Georgia for an annual family reunion. It certainly kept me occupied and was strangely appropriate--the heat of a Georgia summer somehow complimented a story set in the climes of ancient Constantinople.






Gatsby's Girl by Caroline Preston
This book was one of three purchased at a used book store--the Children's Memorial Hospital White Elephant, to be exact--for $1! It is a hardcover in excellent condition, and I was so excited to have been so frugal and erudite in my purchase. I enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby in high school (which seems like a long time ago -- I should probably re-read) and this title caught my attention for that reason; and for the lovely cover image.




The Birth of Venus
This is the book I have most recently completed reading. It was one of the $1 used books purchased as mentioned above. The image on the cover particularly struck a note with me and I was not disappointed by the ensuing story... The portrait turns out to be from a painting by Raphael: Detail of Saint Barbara from The Sistine Madonna (which happens to be the last Madonna that Raphael painted). Click here to see the full painting

Full reviews of each book coming soon!

Save the Whales, Kill the Babies?!

I was stopped in the street today by a GreenPeace worker. You know the type: mostly liberal, whale-saving tree-huggers with an agenda for your money. Or maybe that's a little harsh... Anyway, I let myself be stopped. Probably because I was having a lovely Friday afternoon (just picked up my slide film from being developed, looking forward to a nice dinner with hubby and a relaxing weekend) and didn't mind having to refuse him at least once, if not more. I give him credit for being friendly and charistmatic. He even caught my attention when he stated that GreenPeace operates completely free of federal funding (at least we could agree on that). He even walked with me, spouting his wisdoms, for a much greater distance than necessary (at least two blocks). Finally, I asked him what he wanted from me. It was, of course, money. $30, in fact. Monthly. Did you know that's more than I pay to sponsor a little girl in Brazil through the Christian Children's Fun ($24 monthly)? I didn't say this to him, but I am not going to shell out more for the whales and the seals than I do for a living human being.

But once I had let him down gently and began to walk homewards, it got me thinking about what exactly my duty to the environment is. We (humans, of course) are certainly responsible for the domain that God has given us, but we are also granted (commanded, even; see Gen. 1:28) the privilege of using natural resources as we wish. From a Christian worldview, it does not seem even possible to abuse that privilege. In the belief that God will provide--not "Nature"--and that we are to be responsible and Christ-centered with our resources rather than selfish and man-centered, how can a Christian feel panic that global warming is going to suck us all into an oblivion of volcanic ash or, perhaps, ice? The answer is: they don't. And that is exactly my response (belatedly) to the friendly young man who stopped me on the street.

On the other hand, I am a PRINT designer and artist. That means I work with papers and other non-biodegradable or "non-evironmentally-friendly" materials (oil paints, solvent). I recycle when I can (and I think it would be a good thing if more paper companies did the same to cycle products), but that still doesn't erase the fact that I probably throw away gobs of paper each year that just pile into a trash heap somewhere. And yet, I cannot help but appreciate the sheer tangiability of paper and all things paper-made. Books, magazines, letterheads, stationary...even postcards can be delightful. So does that make me a bad person? I refuse to submit to a world where all things become digital. I hate the idea of the Kindle (the digi-book). I prefer something I can touch and feel and connect with emotionally. Or put away without having to turn off and unplug.

I wish I could tell the little GreenPeace boy something about how the world is worse off from the advance of the Wii than it is from the Japanese "research" on whales in the Arctic.

From the Kitchen...

Being the *real* housewife that I am (despite the loads of unwashed laundry and un-ironed linens lying around the house), I decided it's time to share some of my day-to-day activities...today's is cooking! I have had ups and downs with cooking over the past several months, especially considering my picky eater (aka husband) and attempts to eat healthfully and economically. It is truly a task! So, here is one of my recent favorite recipes that may become a stand-by for lunch or dinner.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 60 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

* 4 long zucchini (as opposed to the round variety)
* 1/2 pound ground beef or turkey sausage (I used fresh ground lamb bought at the local farmers' market!)
* ¼ cup Bread Crumbs (homemade or store bought)
* ¼ cup grated mozzarella or mild cheese
* 1 egg
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* Minced fresh parsley (a small bunch)
* 1 T Herbs Provencal (or your preferred combo of basil, oregano and thyme)
* Black pepper and salt to taste

PREPARATION: Wash the zucchini, split them lengthwise, and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Reserve the pulp for filling.

Mix the remaining ingredients (except cheese) in a bowl, and use it to fill the zucchini shells. I used the zucchini pulp to cut down the amount of bread crumbs needed in the recipe--this also reduces overall calories in the recipe!

Place the stuffed zucchini on a baking sheet lined with foil, sprinkle with cheee, and bake @ 375 F for 40 minutes.

Yield: 2-3 (3-4 zucchini per person)
Approx. 400 calories per person

Voila! Enjoy!

Photo credit: Because I forgot to take photos of my own after first experimenting with this recipe,
I've included some photos borrowed from another blog, found HERE. My recipe differs from the one posted on Gina's blog.

Summer in the City...

It is summer in Chicago--and that means it is only slightly warmer than it was 4 months ago! I am still getting used to these northern climes. I never spent a full summer in Michigan while in school there (only beginning of June last year...it was still cold then, too) and I have to consider this my first real summer north of the Mason-Dixon line. To be honest, I'm not sure it's that great. I miss the hot, lazy afternoons of a Georgia summer that most always ended in a warm thundershower before clearing up into a hazy, pink evening sunset. My favorite memories of summers past often involved sitting on our back porch (well, my parent's back porch), watching the rain blow in...it was exhilarating and beautiful and calming, all at the same time.

Alas, we have no porch in our current apartment (or at least not one with a view better than the rear parking lot)--and a sad lack of hot, lazy summer afternoons. Most of my days are spent so holed up in my closet of a home-office (basement floor of the building--often cold) that I sometimes I go a whole day without seeing the sun! It is a shame. But I am trying to amend this.

I schedule little outings for myself--a trip to the grocery store for tomatoes and basil; a jaunt to the used book store for a fresh read; an impromptu coffee date with a friend; and, of course, trips to the gym. On nice days, these little adventures are quite lovely, making me wish the summer would last just a bit longer here in the city. I have yet to make a trip to the so-called "beach" for fear of the crowds that may be lingering there, but it is one of my goals before the summer is out to read a book on the shores of Lake Michigan. I will have to choose a particularly hot day, or else I might freeze from the breezes blowing off the lake.

Until then, I'll just be doing laundry in my little basement of a home. :)

Yours,
RHoC

Petty Behaviors

Sometimes I'm not really sure if we ever grow out of middle school (or high school, for that matter) mentalities. I'm speaking of myself, too, when I say this (not trying to throw jabs). Some situations in life just make it ever more clear that the human mind/spirit is prone to drama....and even prone to enjoying the pain it causes. I'm not sure I want to discuss the situation I'm referring to in specifics, but the gist of it is that people always want to claim being victim. It's like a game of blame-shifting (but then, it's been that way since Adam & Eve!) that is all about playing innocent, avoiding guilt and garnering pity. Take a step back, and it all looks pretty selfish from the audience's perspective--but you can never see that when you're stuck in the acting.

As difficult as it is to drag yourself away from the pull of drama (what I mean is letting petty human behavior really get to you), I think that may be the true task of "growing up". It will never completely go away (we live in a fallen world), but the hope is that perhaps someday we will watch it subside from the sidelines with little to no involvement--or perhaps the type of involvement that resolves the issue altogether (without making it worse first).

Personal Trainer Trauma

Today was my first personal training session at the gym.


I literally broke a sweat before I even set foot in the door. Was this a bad decision? Is it worth it? Will I hate my trainer? All legitimate questions that were racing through my brain. The amount of caffeine I had practically injected into my body this morning couldn't have helped my nerves. The last time I had to endure the physical demands of an instructor was in high school with my swim coach and, occasionally, the trainers in the school weight room. For some reason, that never seemed as much of an issue. Perhaps it's because I was surrounded by other equally un-athletic team mates or gym-class associates. There were always at least a few with whom I could relate.

But here, in the "real world" gym, everything seems much more serious...mostly. I saw a girl on a treadmill the other day who was literally running her pants off. With each step, the tight Lycra leggings were inching lower and lower down her back to her butt. I'm sure she was quite proud of her sculpted rear, but it really was not a pretty sight for the rows of treadmills behind her. I nearly laughed out loud. Or perhaps I did and couldn't hear myself beyond the double blare of my iPod and the radio tunes piped into the gym area.

Back to the training session today, I suppose I really had nothing to fear but fear itself (although I'm sure FDR never had a personal trainer). My old mantra that God didn't mean us to bust our butts on the stair-master to keep in shape will never stop creeping up into the back of my head, but at least for the next ten weeks I will have an excuse to crawl out of my hole of an office...and perhaps wind up in a better body!