Product Review: Hoo-Rag “The Better Bandana”

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hoo rag

Living in Chicago oftentimes means an intense exposure to the elements. Since it’s wintertime, the wind is atrociously strong and destructive (despite the fact that our winter has been the mildest it’s been in years). The last thing you want is to walk outside and get wind burn. The solution?

A Hoo-rag. What the hecka-hoo?

WHAT: Hoo-rag, a seamless, cotton-polyester blended microfiber bandana
WHO: Hoo-rag
AVAILABLE IN: A ton of crazy colors and patterns
COST: $9.99 – $14.95
BONUS: You can use these in the winter OR the summer. Dual-usage always rocks.
FUN FACT: You can get your own logo or designs printed on a Hoo-rag!

The Hoo-rag is a seamless bandana. Soft and smooth, the material is cool and refreshing to the touch. It looks like a hair headband, but 5-10x as long, so it’s more like a tube. You pull it over your head, down to your neck, and the wearing begins there. The Hoo-rag site provides a pretty helpful page about all the different ways you can wear the bandana.

The Hoo-rag is great for a variety of reasons:

1. IT PROTECTS YOU FROM THE ELEMENTS.

The sun, the moon, the wind, sand, dust, sweat. This is particularly good if you are an outdoors enthusiast or an athlete (or if you just sweat a ton at the gym). The Hoo-rag absorbs water (i.e. sweat) pretty well, so it doesn’t get soggy and fall down your face. My only qualm is that while it protects my face from the Chicago wind, I didn’t find it insulating my body heat too well. I guess that’s a good thing when summer comes around, though, because it provides a more cooling effect.

2. YOU CAN WEAR IT A BAZILLION DIFFERENT WAYS. 

hoo rag wear

Ok, so maybe not a bazillion ways, but chances are, there is a way that appeals to you. Check out this video for a great how-to. Personally, I wore mine around my neck like a scarf, and in my hair as a headband. And let me tell you: it held my hair back so well, without flattening or frumping up my hair like some other headbands do. Definite plus.

3. ANYONE CAN WEAR THEM.

From Mom cleaning at home, to Dad fishing on the lake, from your brother in the military, to your sister going to the club. The assortment of designs appeals to everyone, including kids, and it’s a pretty great marketing tool if you get your logo printed on them.

Check out the assortment of prints here!

I was not compensated for this post. A Hoo-rag was mailed to me with a request for product review. All opinions are my own.

Starbucks Offers a Reusable Cup

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Starbucks reusable cup

Have you heard about the new Starbucks reusable cup? If you haven’t been offered one in your local Starbucks already, the coffee mogul has just introduced a grande sized reusable cup for all those addicts out there. Priced at $1, you save the cost of the cup after 10 visits (every time you bring in your own cup, you receive a 10 cent discount).

Since it doesn’t cost too much for the cup (compared to $10-$20 for other plastic or ceramic tumblers), customers don’t have to feel like they’re breaking the bank to do something good for the earth. It’s also no tragedy if they accidentally toss it. The cup itself is pretty solid, made of a BPA-free plastic. Starbucks will provide free rinsing of the re-usables when you bring them in, which is incredibly convenient if you are a coffee drinker in the car on your way to work.

Other perks? The cup is top rack dishwasher safe, microwavable, and will last 30+ washes (life extended by handwashing the cup and it’s recyclable).

As someone who watches regulars come into Starbucks daily (and sometimes even twice a day!), I think this is a great initiative to cut back on some of the waste produced by the nation’s coffee addiction. While it does not necessarily solve the problem of waste production to begin with, it is a step in the right direction. Every small action is meaningful, and if hundreds, thousands, or millions of people make a small change in switching to a re-usable cup, a huge impact will be made.

Do your part in doing the earth!

Places to Do: The Chicago Diner

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Chicago Diner logo

With an afternoon free and hunger rumbling in our bellies, my boyfriend and I decided to check out the Chicago Diner in Logan Square earlier this week. The boy is usually pretty apprehensive about vegetarian/vegan places (he loves his meat! But don’t worry, I will show him the way…), so the fact that both he and I left fully satisfied and excited to returnwas a major bonus.

Chicago Diner has been around since the 80s (their tagline reads “Meat Free Since ’83″), however, their second location just opened in late November in Logan Square. Nearly all the items on their menu are local, coming primarily from nearby farms in Wisconsin. They don’t serve any artificial ingredients, their coffee is fair trade and organic, and they accommodate those who need to eat gluten free. Even more awesome is the fact that their commitment to sustainability goes even further than where their produce comes from. Both locations use eco-friendly doggie bags, green cleaning products, and FSC & Rainforest Alliance certified printer paper; their waste oil gets used for bio-diesel conversion, and the Logan Square location is LEED Gold certified. This restaurant is a prime model of how we should be developing sustainable businesses, both in the Chicagoland community and across the nation.

The location in Logan Square is modest, yet sleek. With tables outlining every corner of the dining room, customer seating is maximized to its potential. Artwork decorates the walls, including a lovely rendition of van Gogh’s “Starry Night” with Chicago’s skyline in place.

So, back to the menu. Within its pages is written, “If you are new to vegetarian dining don’t worry; The food & flavors are designed to be comforting, familiar and satisfying.” What a great assurance for non-veggies! Chicago Diner rises to the challenge of proving the worth of plant-based dining, and they succeed, without a doubt.

chicago diner food

The Soul Bowl

My lunch consisted of the Soul Bowl (seasoned quinoa, blackened tofu, chimichurri sauce, charred balsamic brussels, mashed sweet potatoes, black beans, and avocado), a side of “bacün,” and a chocolate chip pancake. It was enough food that I felt satisfied and had leftovers for the next day (and yes, they tasted just as good). The boyfriend had the BBQ Bacün Cheezeburger (the signature housemade veggie patty with seitan bacün, tangy BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, & melted cheese). Let me tell you: I am still thinking about the bite I had of that burger. It is delicious enough to change the mind of any non-veggie believer. Indeed, plant-based meals can taste just as (if not more) yummy as meat meals.

Service was prompt, and our waitress was super friendly, especially while assisting us in selecting our meals. I loved that my water glass was never empty, and that the staff seemed genuinely happy to be there.

All in all, I’m thrilled for this new addition to our local community. I’m looking forward to returning for many healthy (and guilt-free), delicious meals!

Chicago Diner has two locations: 3411 N. Halsted, Chicago 60657 and 2333 N. Milwaukee, Chicago 60647. Hours, phone numbers, and directions can be found here.

Raw Cookies

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raw cookies

These days, going raw is all the rage. Aside from all of the hubbub around it though, eating a diet comprised of mostly raw foods is very beneficial for your body. Not only do you get more nutrients, your body is able to process and digest the food better. That results in more energy, a better immune system, efficient digestion, and a healthier you!

But what about those of us that have a sweet tooth (and let me tell you… I don’t need to be asked twice when offered sweets)? Well if you satiate your sweet tooth with natural sugars that are present in nutrient dense foods, then your body is satisfied more simply and efficiently (this also equates to a consumption of less calories). Sound good?

I snagged this recipe from Nadia Petrova over at MindBodyGreen and tested it on my family over Christmas. Proud to say it met the approval of Mom, Dad, Brother, Grandma, AND Grandpa!

raw cookies

My cookies ended up with a unique shape!

RAW COOKIES

1 1/4 cup of raw pistachios (I purchased organic raw pistachios from Whole Foods and shelled them myself. You can buy them pre-shelled, but they’re much more expensive. 1 1/4 of shelled pistachios looks something like 2 1/2 – 3 cups in the shells)
2 tablespoons coconut flakes
1/3 cup of melted coconut oil
1/3 cup of honey or agave (I used 1/4 cup of honey the second time around because the first batch was too sweet for me. The rest of the family enjoyed it though, so sweeten to your tasting!)
1/4 teaspoon of salt

  1. Shell the pistachios and blend them until they are a powder. You are essentially creating “flour” by doing this. (I use a Nutribullet, but any standard blender should work.)
  2. Combine all ingredients into a bowl and stir. It will become sort of a cake batter consistency, if not a little bit more runny.
  3. Roll the dough into sausage form. Depending on how big or small you want the cookies will decide if you should split the batch between two foil squares (smaller cookies) or one (larger cookies). I laid a piece of foil out, then laid a piece of wax paper over it. Pour the batter on to the wax paper, then proceed to roll it up, tucking both ends in as you go along. The square of foil should secure the dough after it’s rolled up all the way.
  4. Refrigerate the dough for 24 hours.
  5. Unroll the dough, slice it into cookies, and garnish with coconut flakes. Enjoy!

New Year, New You, New New New

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new year new you

It’s that time of year again. The time where we can’t believe how quickly the year has gone by. The time where, after reflection, we begin to set goals. It’s a New Year, New You. Now, whether or not we follow through with those goals is another story. It’s a time where we, as a people, kinda-sorta try to get our stuff together.

The past few years, I feel like people have knocked New Year’s Resolutions. “Oh, I think it’s stupid to wait until January to do something.” “People should be doing those actions already. Stop tricking yourself into thinking the New Year will mean something different.” “New Year’s Resolutions? Hah. You fall off the horse barely a month in.”

But you know what?
I think those people are wrong.

The idea of a “New Year’s” Resolution appeals to our psyche. It’s an instance of a very clear “beginning” (in this case, of the year), that is recognized by all. We don’t often celebrate the beginning of each month, so the fact that we celebrate the beginning of a year gives more legitimacy to our plans. It’s the one time where it’s “ok” to share them with one another. We don’t feel shame or embarrassment in talking of our gym plans or about the novel we’re planning to write.

Why is that? Why is it that after all the glitz and glamour of the New Year wears off, we fall right back into the muck and drudgery of day-to-day life? It’s because of boredom, a lack of clearly defined goals (i.e. the lack of steps to get there), and from watching people give up around us. But why should we let those circumstances affect us? If you want to change your life, it is in YOUR power to! Take responsibility for your life, your dreams, and your intentions. Stop waiting and BUILD the kind of life you deserve!

5 STEPS TO MAKING YOUR NEW YEAR A SUCCESS

1. Take the time to know GRATITUDE

A lot of research in recent years has demonstrated the strength and healing power, both physically and emotionally, of practicing gratitude. A daily practice builds the foundation of self-love, which is necessary for any individual to grow or excel in life. It’s crazy to think that “positive thinking” can really affect our thoughts and behaviors so much, but it really is a case of mind over matter. Now, I’m not one to practice this. I’m actually pretty bad at maintaining a positive attitude sometimes, but after reading so many articles covering the benefits of gratitude, I’ve decided to make it a daily practice of mine in the New Year.

TRY IT: Get a dry erase marker and keep it in your bathroom. Every morning, write a new “I’m thankful…/I’m blessed…” statement on the mirror. Keep it in your mind throughout the day — it’ll not only make a positive impact on yourself, but on those you live with, as well!

2. Make SLEEP a priority

It’s not even funny what a good night’s sleep can do for you. Science tells us about it, Mom tells us, teachers tell us…over and over and OVER again, and yet, we like to stay up past midnight when six hours later we need to be up and running for school/work/kids/etc. again. WHY DO WE THINK THAT’S A GOOD IDEA?!

When you get enough sleep, your body can function how it’s meant to function. Your metabolism can run, your hunger is kept in check, and you have energy. A full night’s sleep cultivates a positive attitude, curiosity to try new things, increased productivity, and patience for all that’s around you. Not too bad, huh? So let’s make those eight hours a little more important.

TRY IT: Count back 8-9 hours from when you need to wake up in the morning (yes, even if that means going to bed at 9pm!). Turn it all off: the TV, your computer, your iPhone — set all your alarms you need in the morning, grab a book or a magazine, and crawl into bed. Now take a deep breath. You’re in your comfy bed, under a big, fluffy comforter! You can relax, ok? Unwind. Loosen your muscles, relieve the tension you carry in your body day to day. If you’d like, take a bath, drink a mug of decaf tea, or listen to some soothing music. Whatever you need to do to unwind — do it. The stimulation from electronics messes up our internal sleeping mechanisms, so the major point is to avoid them before bedtime. It’s ok to take a break from technology!

3. Pick your goals and MAP them out

What do you want to achieve this year? What do you finally want to make happen? Get a dry erase board, pad of paper, laptop, tablet — whatever helps you organize your thoughts best. Now pick a goal. What steps do you need to do to achieve that goal? List them all, whether or not you actually know how to do them. Create a map, a diagram, or whatever sort of visual helps you understand your step-by-step process to reach your goal. Maybe you are trying to lose weight or achieve better health. Your steps could include finding healthy recipes you may enjoy, walking or doing another sort of physical activity every day, figuring out ways to drink more water, adding some greens to each meal of the day, finding upbeat music to motivate your workouts, etc.

Use this diagram as a guideline. Adjust it as you go along. Scribble in additional steps, or scratch out ones that you try and end up not working. The purpose is to help you move closer to your goal, one step at a time.

TRY IT: Do a little bit each day. Whether it’s walking for 10 minutes, blogging for 30, playing piano scales for 15…do something. A little each day will get you further (and will be less daunting) than trying to do something for 3 hours one day a week. Besides, a little every day will keep you focused on your goal, as well as (assuming you’re passionate about what it is you’re pursuing) keep your spirits up.

4. VISUALIZE yourself and your success

When you allow yourself to go deeply into visualization, feeling the emotions you want to be feeling, viewing yourself as you wish to appear, your mind is not able to differentiate between that and reality. As you practice visualization more and more, your mind identifies your visions as reality, and your being as a whole is able to move more swiftly towards your goals of success. It takes a lot to visualize because a lot of times, we don’t allow ourselves to have what we really want. Perhaps we don’t find ourselves worthy, or we’re too embarrassed to indulge in those visions. Don’t let those feelings trump you! Engage in visualization as a tool to facilitate your dreams!

TRY IT: Take 5 minutes each day. Pick one goal you are pursuing. What are you doing? How do you look? How do you feel? Are you excited? Nervous? Proud? Do you feel brave? How do you look upon yourself? With grace? Gratitude? What are the emotions you are pursuing as you try to reach your goals? How do you want to feel? Do you feel that way? Be sure to push aside any negative thoughts or emotions. You don’t want to get trapped in the mind cycle of “I can’t do it. I’ll never get there. I’m not good enough.” Feel positive, feel hopeful, feel uplifted.

5. Share your journey with others and ENCOURAGE them in theirs

There’s nothing like being surrounded by likeminded individuals. You become a support group for one another, as well as a gold mine of information full of experience and dos and do-nots. Of course, on the flip side, it’s also a great challenge to be surrounded by the disbelief and negativity of people who think you’re going off the deep end. It’s ok. Let them think that. Be an example to those around you of what it looks like to pursue your dreams. Let people ask questions! Share your journey, the highs and the lows. Ask others what they are passionate about. Encourage them to make changes, step-by-step. We can revolutionize today’s society!

TRY IT: Keep a journal of your goal pursuits. You don’t need to update it every day (unless, of course, you want to) — shoot for once a week or so. Very quickly, this journal will become proof of the changes you have made and the success you are experiencing in the New Year.

Go forth in making your 2013 New Year’s Resolutions. I believe that you can succeed in them, so should you!