Couch-Like Object Thing? Oh, you mean a futon!

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Perhaps you recall a certain tiny Wicker Park apartment. While the Herman Miller Setu Lounge Chairs were undoubtedly fancy, they were also surprisingly unfit for the space. Here's a word to the wise: when you've got hardly any space, (1) don't pick any furniture that swivels, as moving pieces will magically always be in your way, especially when your apartment is crooked (like this one -- the chairs would randomly end up facing the wrong way!) and (2) don't pick furniture with ottomans, as those seemingly tiny pieces of furniture take up precious square footage in a tiny space... and it's easier to trip over things in a small area, too (ow!).

For now, we've opted for a quick fix. The Setu chairs will take up residence in the studio... because, after all, what room in one's house should be fancier than a freaking studio? (Answer: None!) Without the Setu chairs, we have room for a couch-like object. You know, somewhere where you can sit... or lay... or dump a few bags of groceries. The ability to have a multi-functional space was not there with the Setu chairs, so having a futon in their place is actually proving to be quite perfect.

Things that are awesome about this swap:

• Fancy Setu chairs are in a fancier location... where the dog doesn't roam and the clumsy Carly doesn't lounge, drink-in-hand...
• There's technically now a "bed," in the event that a human (friend, sister, brother) dares to lodge in this tiny space for a night...
• While the Setu chairs only provided a solid chair for two people, the futon can fit at least 4 (but it depends on how big everyone is!).
• Futon = under-couch-storage! There's about a foot of room under the futon, so it would be totally feasible to buy a few low and wide crates or bins to shove things in and stash under the couch. 
• Futon = multi-functional! People can sit there. You can even set your drink on it and it doesn't spill -- we've tried it! We have also grown accustomed to coming in and dropping our bags, coats, or groceries there for a moment, while we get our bearings. 
• Great view of the kitchen and TV!
• Furniture no longer swivels right into your body as you walk by.
• No more ottomans to trip over... (unless Justin wants some leg room... see below!).

I will never speak ill of WalMart again. On second thought, I'm bound to break that vow the moment I begin waiting in line there... so I'll amend it to this: I will never speak ill of online futon shopping with WalMart again. That better? I suppose it would help if I told you that we paid just over $200 for this at WalMart. 

That means that I won't feel as bad when I break it. :-/

Cinnamon Almond Banana Chips

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Crunchy round chips that have the sweetness of bananas and almond extract, with just a bit of cinnamon kick. Swap these with chips for a healthy, sweet-tasting snack!

You know what? Sometimes, you just deserve chips. Here's a news bulletin for you, though: chips are bad for you. They're filled with fat, trans fat, carbs, and carcinogens... none of which will keep you healthy (or, quite honestly, happy).

Yet, you deserve to have a little crunch in your life. That's where these delicious banana chips come in!

There's something very special about making your own chips. You always end up with less than you thought you'd yield (meaning that there's less in front of you to chow on). Second, when you make something yourself, you'll cherish every bite - because YOU brought those babies onto this earth (good job!)!

In the end, you're subbing these health-packed banana chips for health-destroying regular ones, you're eating less of them, and yet you're cherishing every bite. Sounds like a win-win-win to me. What could be better?

Cinnamon Almond Banana Chips

Servings: 2
Calories: 57
Bake Time: 60-90min

Ingredients:

• 1 Banana
• 1/2 Lemon, juiced
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Almond Extract

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 215 degrees.
2. Peel banana and cut into 1/8" slices
3. Combine lemon juice, cinnamon, and almond extract in a small, shallow bowl. Dip each banana slice into the mixture, then set on a greased cookie sheet.
4. Bake for ~60 Minutes. Depending on the consistency of your slices, you may want to check on them periodically (perhaps every 15 minutes), starting at about 45 minutes. For thinner chips, they may be ready around this time. If your slices are thicker, you may need to wait 15-30 minutes longer.

Looking for other healthy recipes? Try these!

• Kale Chips
• Chocolate Mousse Filled Cupcakes
• Chickpea Choco Chip Cookies
• Protein Chocolate Banana Pancakes

Stairmaster Sprint Workout (Low Impact, High Intensity Fat Burning)

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Sprinting does wonders for your body. It pushes your muscles and cardiovascular system to their maximum fat burning potential. Unfortunately, most workouts that allow for sprint-like exercise also involve a lot of impact. That means that, while you're undoubtedly doing some major fat burning, you may also be doing damage to your joints and bones.

This workout takes the cake (how cruel of me to mention cake in a workout routine post). It can be done on any stair master that will monitor your heart rate (or you can use a heart rate monitor). The great thing about this workout is that you can get all of the benefits of sprinting for over ten minutes... without the impact.

In addition to an amazing sprint period, this workout maximizes your fat burning potential. Most of us skip over our body's fat burning phase and settle into aerobic or steady state workouts... yet, the most crucial parts of burning fat are hitting your fat burning phase and your anaerobic phase. This workout ensures that you burn fat the entire time, both before and after your sprint.

Here's the workout!

0-3 Minutes: Warm Up in Fat Burning Zone

• Begin at level 5. Watch your heart rate slowly climb as you increase the speed (but try to stay between 5 and 8). Your goal should be to meet your 50-60% mark, then keep it there.

3-8 Minutes: Heart Rate Climb in Aerobic Zone

• Begin at level 8. Watch your heart rate slowly climb as you increase the speed (but try to stay between 8 and 10). Your goal should be to meet your 60-70% mark, then keep it there.

8-12 Minutes: Stairmaster Sprint in Anaerobic Zone

• Begin at level 10. Each time you increase the speed, your heart rate will slowly rise for a bit, then it may plateau and begin to fall again. This is normal. Watch for your heart rate to start slowing down, then speed the machine up by 1 level. Try to stay between 10 and 12, aiming for the lower part of your Anaerobic zone (but if you're climbing higher and have the energy, feel free to let this blend into the next segment).

12-22 Minutes: Stairmaster Sprint in Anaerobic Zone

• Begin at level 12. Each time you increase the speed, your heart rate will slowly rise for a bit, then it may plateau and begin to fall again. This is normal. Watch for your heart rate to start slowing down, then speed the machine up by 1 level. Try to stay between 12 and 16, aiming for the higher part of your Anaerobic zone.

22-26 Minutes: Cool Down in Fat Burning Zone

• Keep the level somewhere between 5 and 8. This will allow your body to cool down while keeping it in fat burning mode to burn the fat cells just released by the intense segments of the workout. Your heart rate may initially speed up, as your body realizes it no longer needs to conserve energy for the rest of the workout. By the end of the 4 minute cool down, however, your heart rate should be slowly but steadily dropping.

Some Notes:

This workout is based on spending time in your fat burning zone (50-60% of your Max Heart Rate), then swiftly moving up into your aerobic zone (60-70% of your Max Heart Rate) and anaerobic zone (70-80% of your Max Heart Rate), then coming back down into your fat burning zone. 

Before starting this workout, you might want to calculate your heart rate zones.
I have included some basic numbers that predict your zones based on age, but keep in mind that an extremely fit 30 year old's heart rate zones will be higher than an unfit 30 year old. This is because heart rate zones are based on what you are capable of doing with your body and heart... and the more truly fit you are, the more you will be capable of doing with your body and heart.Your Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) starts at 220 beats per minute and falls by one beat per minute every year after birth. Once you reach age 30, the rate of decrease is .5 instead of 1. To calculate your maximum heart rate...

• If you are <30 Years Old: 220 - Age
• If you are >30 Years Old: 190 - .5(Years Over 30)

To make it simpler, here are some brackets (these are only estimates):

• If you are 20-25: 195-200bpm
• If you are 25-30: 190-195bpm
• If you are 30-40: 185-190bpm
• If you are 40-50: 180-185bpm
• If you are 50-60: 175-180bpm
• If you are >60: 160-175bpm

Why do those numbers matter? Because, while the workout below is a general suggestion (based on a MHR of someone in their 20s) and will be safe as long as you push yourself, you may want to adjust the numbers if you are just beginning working out or in an older age bracket (or if you're just an extremely detailed person!). So, if your maximum heart rate is lower due to age or inactivity, you can get the best workout for your body by lowering each target heart rate by 5-20 points, depending on the calculations above.


*Many thanks to CalculateNow for the heart rate zone image.
**As usual, you should consult a physician before starting any exercise regimen. I am not a doctor nor a certified trainer, so please don't sue me**

Purple People Drinker: Blackberry Basil Cocktail (66 Calories)

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Summer breeze. The sun is shining down on you as you sit, sipping on a delicious cocktail. It tastes light and refreshing, with blackberries and raspberries tinting the water purple and casually infusing the flavor. A touch of basil adds just enough complexity to convince you that you didn't make the drink yourself; it came from the bar. You're ready for number two. Where's the waiter?!

I'm not sure if you noticed Summer knocking on your door. She's pretty much here. Get excited! Summer means that drinks have to get tastier, more refreshing, and, obviously, prettier. Sometimes, in life, you get all three of the things you wanted. We call that a triple threat. Here you go... :)

Blackberry Basil Cocktail

Calories: 66

Prep Time: <5 Min

Ingredients:

• 3 raspberries
• 2 blackberries
• 1/4 lemon, juice
• 1/4 lime, juice
• 1 tsp Basil, finely diced
• 1 tsp truvia (or sugar or sugar substitute)
• 1.5 oz Vodka (I used Skinnygirl Tangerine Vodka, but any regular vodka or citrus flavored vodka will suffice)
• .5 - 1 oz water

Directions:

1. Muddle (squish) raspberries and blackberries in a small glass with lemon and lime juices, basil, and truvia/sugar.
2. Add vodka and stir.
3. Add a bit of water (about .5 to 1 oz, or around half of a shot glass) and stir.
4. Serve!

DIY Gold Chevron Computer Case

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When I purchased my Macbook Pro, I bought a black case (this one). It was thrilling for a while but then lost its sex appeal... as with any good teen movie, it was time for a makeover! Thanks to a random purchase of some Gold Leaf paint on my last trip to Home Depot, we were ready to rummmmmmmble (hear: daaaa bulls)!

What you need:

• Computer Case (Any will work! I used this one but anything that fits your computer will be jusssst fine)
• Masking Tape / Painter's Tape
• Gold Leafing
• Paint Brushes

What you do:

1. Remove the case from your computer. Be sure to paint your computer case and not your actual computer. Seriously. 

2. Tape your design on the case. I went with a slightly off-center chevron stripe. Be sure to wrap the tape around the edges to make sure you get everything!

3. Paint! Shake up the gold leafing first, then stir it a bit with the brush. Slowly spread the leafing paint around the designated area.
*Note: Depending on the material of your computer case, you should end up with some really neat crinkling of the paint, which is what creates the typical crinkly-leaf look that most gold-leaf-covered items have (though, for the record, painting silver hoop earrings did not produce the same effect. I suspect that painting metal allows the paint to dry much more smoothly).

4. Remove the tape. The active chemicals in this gold leafing paint dry quite quickly (even in 15 minutes). Check the paint with a towel or finger to be sure it's dry, then begin peeling the tape off on one of the ends, just in case it's not fully dry.

And... Voila!

 

Sriracha Polenta with Kale Chips

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This dish is not for the faint of heart. Grilled polenta slices look like corn bread but taste like the smooth-talking cousin of Quinoa; crispy Kale chips add a delicious, salty crunch; and Sriracha adds the flavor of fresh hot chilies and sweet garlic. It's hot, hot, hot! 

A few weeks ago, Justin and I had dinner with my parents in Wicker Park and I had my first taste of Polenta. "What is this stuff?" It looks like cornbread... but tastes like Quinoa. Whoa. Insert my "OMG" face here. You can bet I went back for seconds on that one...

Since I'd already had the good fortune to meet Polenta, it seemed like fate had intervened when it caught my eye at a recent trip to the supermarket. You mean it's already made and rolled up in a tube? Score! [Go ahead. Call me lazy. Do it. My boyfriend is taller than your boyfriend.]

In need of a quick dinner fix one night, I popped out the Polenta, ripped up some Kale, and went heavy on the Sriracha. My tongue may or may not still be burning. I can neither confirm nor deny... because I can not feel my tongue! Alright, I may be slightly dramatic. All I'm saying is... have some milk on hand; this dish is not for the faint of heart! [Or you can skip the Sriracha... if you absolutely must!]

Sriracha Polenta with Kale Chips

Calories: 30 each

Prep Time: 2-5 minutes

Cook Time: 10-16 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• Polenta (prepared, bagged in a long roll)
• Sriracha Sauce (to taste)
• 1 Recipe Kale Chips (requires 5 large leaves Kale, 1 tsp Olive Oil, and 2 pinches Sea Salt or Garlic Salt. Feel free to cut the Kale Chip recipe in half, or just have the leftovers as a side with the Polenta!)

Directions:

1. Slice and cook Polenta. Slice Polenta into 1/2"-1/4" thick rounds. Place in a lightly olive oiled skillet over medium heat. Continue to check and flip each polenta piece once they begin to brown (about 5-8 minutes).
2. Bake Kale Chips. Use this recipe for Kale Chips.
3. Final Prep! Remove Polenta from the stove and stack two pieces high. Drizzle Sriracha over each stack (careful, that stuff is hot!) and top with Kale chips!