I'm back!

I took a little vacation from the blog writing, but I plan to do more like I used to. (Meaning, probably one blog per month...! Ha.)

Since my year was very eventful, I'm going to try and write one good, bad or fabulously ugly memorable moment from each month of the year. (Riveting!) I want to try this out, and I am challenging my readers to do the same. Maybe in your head, on your own blog, or maybe just to remember some fun stories with friends wherever you may be celebrating the new year this evening.

January:
I had three cavities filled. What a way to start the year! Ow.


February:
Other than the worse blizzard I've ever seen...
Ricky moved in with me! He moved here two weeks after the blizzard, on an unusually warm 50 degree day. I think he brought a little bit of Florida with him.



March:
I took a fun vacation with my friend Kristin in the end of March. We soaked up some sun and beach. It was a nice break to the ever-lasting winter.



April:
Coming back from the vacation, I got sick. And if I remember correctly, this was the start of my two month long relationship with said sickness. Whatever it was, it wouldn't quit. Being on-again/off-again, however, it gave me time to begin my failed attempt at going on dates with people I met from OK Cupid. I definitely met some interesting guys, but wow. I can safely say "I know why you're still single" to each and every one. Sorry guys! (:

Another more serious issue I faced in April was that my grandfather was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. He had an overwhelmingly positive attitude.


May:
I went to visit my grandparents in New Jersey. My grandfather was in good spirits, and so was my grandmother. I've never met two people so loving and caring and positive, no matter what the world hands them. I also got to visit with my uncle and cousins, whom I rarely get to see. I visited New York City for a day. I spent half of it wandering around SoHo, and the other half wandering around Brooklyn. I made it my goal to move there within five years.



June:
Well, this is where my year flip-flopped. I got laid off on June 16th. I walked into my otherwise normal job at the studio and was greeted with "I have to lay you off." After I shut my dropped jaw, I went home to reflect on what had just happened. I was never so scared of failure in my life as I was that day. I felt like my routine was gone, therefore my life was over.

A week later, I had two interviews lined up, a new freelance project to work on and two new freelance clients contacting me. This isn't so bad.


July:
Summer in full swing, I started to actually enjoy myself. I've never had time off to myself since before I began working. The "break" was starting to feel really nice. I joined free yoga class which met three days a week, and went to every festival I could. I also visited the lake almost every day and enjoyed the beautiful hot summer weather.



August:
What's this? A coupon for Zumba I never used that's about to expire? Sign me up! I did Zumba classes as much as I could, which was about four times per week, along with the yoga. I had another interview. I tried Native Foods Cafe for the first time. By now, unemployment didn't really bother me at all.


September:
I got more freelance, and decided to start up my gym membership again. I went to Indiana to see my brother preform in his marching band. Also, he came to visit me here in Chicago and we went on a segway tour. It was so fun.



October:
The big news: Grandpa beat his cancer. He's 83, and he beat stage 4 lung cancer. It's bound to return in the future, that's what the doctors say. But in the mean time, as long as he keeps his positive attitude and routine chemo treatments, he can stay healthy. He is definitely an inspiration to me.

The first part of the month was spent at my neighbors house every day, feeding her 11 cats while she was on vacation. While I was happy to help out, I quickly learned I am allergic to that many cats all at once! In the end of the month, I flew to Florida with my dad for my cousin's wedding. We had a nice time together. He told me stories of his childhood and what his mother was like. I never really get to spend time alone with dad much anymore, so I really appreciated the trip.



November:
More and more freelance, and, I turned 29! By this point I was optimistic about the future and very happy with my current unemployed status. Being unemployed doesn't mean being sad, upset, alone, broke and in despair like I thought it would.


December:
Well here we are. In the second half of the month I was lucky enough to randomly meet someone who worked for an ad agency I've always had my eye on. A week later, I had an interview. A day after that, I started freelancing for them. On my last day of freelance before the holiday break, I was asked to come back again "next year". So that's what I'll be doing next week. Is it the end of my search for regular full time work? We'll see. At least now I know it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out that way.

Here's to a wonderful 2012 for everyone!

Vegetable Garden

Though he'll be the first to proudly proclaim his New Yorker status to anyone who so much as mentions the East coast, for as long as I can remember my father has had a rural vegetable garden in our back yard. Once in a while I'll break out my status as a native New Yorker as well, but in actuality, as much as my parents don't want to admit it, I'm more used to Midwestern soil, as my parents had to relocate our small family to Ohio when I was just a baby. If I recall the story correctly, however, my father has always had a green thumb. His first attempt was an avocado plant started from a simple avocado pit in a glass of water, held up by toothpicks. This plant relocated with our family, not just from New York when I was a baby, but to Indiana when we had to move again when I was thirteen.

Every summer I see the garden go from a small patch of fenced-in dirt to a thriving jungle of home grown goodies, overflowing with endless tomatoes, green peppers, banana peppers, scallions and zucchini the size of baseball bats. Though I really can't stand raw tomatoes, I would still help dad pick the reddest ones, willingly getting my fingers dirty, yet dodging any visible earthworms.

Late August and September rolls around and the summer comes to a close. Now is the time to harvest the hidden gems of the garden: the potatoes. Buried underground beneath their green leafy plants, Dad anxiously digs up the earth to see if the potato crop is "good" this year. (This year, not so "good"... about 30 pounds as opposed to the usual 70+.)

One more crop thrives this time of year, bright yellow spaghetti squash. The vines of this plant are out of control, vibrantly growing well beyond the garden's fence, nearly into the neighbor's yard. This hefty squash isn't exactly a power house of nutrients, rather a quiet amount of Vitamins A and C and folic acid. Anyway, it's just plain fun to prepare. And so I'm brought to the original reason for my posting: to share my recent spaghetti squash recipe with my father who asked me for it on Facebook 15 minutes ago.

I regret not taking more pictures while cooking this bold yellow squash. But it's so easy, you won't even need pictures for guidance.


-Preheat your oven to 350
-Cut the squash in half, length-wise
-Place the squash, cut side down, in a baking dish.
-Fill the baking dish with about a half inch of water.
-Bake the squash for about 40 minutes, or until tender when poked with a fork

Now is the fun part. If you have kids, they should really love this. Let it cool a bit, and use oven mits or tongs. Take the squash out of the baking dish or flip it over. Now just simply take a fork and scrape all the insides out. It should easily come out in strings that resemble angel hair pasta.


Now what? The squash has a mild flavor, so you can get inventive here. Spaghetti squash, like most winter squashes, can go either savory or sweet. So for the last four or so days, I've been eating this stuff for breakfast. (Also, the seeds roast up quite nicely!)

If you're tired of oatmeal, replace your oatmeal with spaghetti squash! Here's how to dress it up:

Add a bit of butter or margarine, a dash of brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Throw in some raisins and chopped apples. Now just microwave it for about a minute, then stir it all up.

You can also use spaghetti squash as a substitute for... you guessed it, spaghetti! Try adding some marinara and basil and garlic for an interesting twist on a classic dish.

If you're not feeling so inventive, this squash works well as a side dish, simply with a little butter and salt.

Though my potted plants and roof top basil can't compare to the lush garden my father grows every year, it still comforts me to have a little bit of home here in the city. If you have any recipes for spaghetti squash, share them with me! If they're on a blog I can link to them for you. Just leave a comment with all the info.

The Year is Ending

I sat alone on the sand by the lake early Tuesday morning. The air was just cool enough that I didn't want to lay there in a swim suit. Thin wispy clouds filled the sky. An angelic, almost rainbow-hued halo encircled the rising sun. The sand was cool and water even cooler. The skyline seemed a bit hazy because the sun wasn't high enough in the sky to illuminate it.

Shorter days. The year is ending.

I began September by squishing a giant centipede about to crawl into my room right after I woke up and got out of bed. (I know, I know, I'm a bad vegetarian.)

Twenty-nine is right around the corner. There is a very good chance I will still be jobless when I throw my "29 forever" party. I always envisioned greeting my last year before 30 with success and hope for the future. But wait-- who said success equals a full time job? I've done some pretty awesome freelance gigs I wouldn't have had any time for if I had a 9-5. Imagine all the new people I've met because of that. And as far as hope for the future, well that's been the theme of my unemployment.

Beach days are coming to an end. Neighbors are walking their new puppies outside. New couples are holding hands. I guess it's more fun to cuddle when it's cold out.

I'll be facing winter by myself, doing something I haven't done lately: wondering what will happen next.

Ouch!

(!!!) I found this on my leg this morning. No idea how/when it happened. Now, I am asking you to fill in the blank!

Lauren's bruise is shaped like ______________.

Thinking

Preface: This blog isn't planned, it's just me rambling. It might not be perfect as far as tone, grammar, flow, etc. Haven't done this in a while. Let me know what you think.

This summer has gone by so fast. I say that every year, but more so now that I've "grown up" and moved to Chicago. This summer is different than any other, however. I am unemployed and have literally too much time on my hands.

I'm a thinker. I've mentioned before I think too much, it's why I'm vegetarian.

With all this time to think, I've begun to reflect on myself as a human. Am I doing what I should be? Do I act how I should act? Even in this time of being financially challenged, sans-regular job, I'm pretty happy with my life. It's actually fun having nothing to do on a random Tuesday and being able to flop on the beach for as long as I want. (I'm sure my skin will thank me ten years from now for that.)

Recently someone pointed out that I can be a little self absorbed. I'm usually the first one to admit I'm selfish, but it sort of hurts hearing it from someone else. But all this time to think made me realize that yes, I can be self absorbed to the point of it being a little obnoxious once in a while! (Guess I needed to hear it!) There's a fine line between being confident and being self absorbed. But aren't we all out there trying to survive for ourselves? Isn't that what life is all about when you're twenty-something and single and trying to live in a big city?

I've always been "the nice one." Well the nice one gets walked all over. When I try to be assertive to friends, men, family, then I'm labeled as the one with the self-centered attitude, (or a word that rhymes with witch...) and no one seems to care about my opinion anymore. But if I just sit there and take it and be nice, then people walk all over me. I can't find that awesome balance. For some reason I'm having a really hard time being that person who's kind, yet gets the respect I know I deserve.

I've had time to think about relationships, too. Man, I suck at dating! I really do.

How does one stop thinking? People have told me to take up meditation. I've tried. I know they say the strands of thoughts are supposed to dissipate, but I can't seem to get there. Meditating to me right now seems counter productive!

One thing is for sure. I'm good at what I do and I deserve a good job. (Which will happen soon I hope!) I also deserve to be surrounded with good friends and people who respect me and my time.

Easy Pasta Salad

I once bought a box of pasta salad. Pasta, seasoning packet, three easy steps explained on the back. I ended up adding so many of my own ingredients I wondered why I ever thought to buy a box of pasta salad in the first place. What's so hard? Pasta. Easy! Other stuff. Easy! And fun. Today I tried it out on my own, as you can see in the photo above. Here's all you need:

Pasta (Rotini is my favorite for pasta salad. Any variety will work!)
Olive oil
Vinegar (Balsamic, flavored balsamic, apple cider, whatever you like.)
If you don't have/don't like olive oil and vinegar, just use bottled Italian dressing
Seasoning (think of stuff like garlic powder, black pepper, crushed red pepper, parsley flakes, etc.)
Veggies (Anything you can think of! Broccoli, carrots, radish, snap peas, red pepper, tomatoes, onion, cauliflower, chickpeas...)

Cook and drain the pasta. I used about one and a half to two cups uncooked. Add two or three tablespoons of dressing or olive oil/vinegar mix. This is all to your taste, so more or less. Add in your spices. I used ground black pepper, garlic powder and McCormick's Perfect Pinch seasoning in roasted garlic and bell pepper. Add your veggies. I used snap peas, radish and onion. (To tone down the onion flavor, I quickly sauteed them for a few minutes until slightly soft.) Just add it all together in a bowl and stir it up! Put it in the fridge for a few hours until it gets cold. try adding chunks of feta or mozzarella cheese before serving for an added flavor. There you have it, the perfect summer pasta salad!

Just ice water, please.

After I picked up my jaw off the floor, I abruptly left the place I'd felt so comfortable for ten months. I worked my way outside to my freshly parked car, got in, wiped the single tear from my quivering face and drove back home. My lack of hysterical tears was pure example I was in shock.

Did that...really...just happen?

So many friends and acquaintances through recent years received the same news I did today, but I never thought it would happen to me. I never thought I would get laid off.

THE ECONOMY. It seems I've fallen into the wrath of those two infectious words. Sure, I had a little saved up, but nothing to prepare myself for this. How does one even prepare?

I do pride myself on being so frugal...

Questions...questions I've previously thought about, but never seriously considered, flood my head. The largest issue being my car. Should I sell? I really don't need it. How does one even sell a car?

Aside from applying for jobs like it's my job, I kick into survival mode. Thank goodness Aldi is down the street. I'll return that adorable shirt I splurged on a few weekends ago and didn't wear yet. I'll call my doctor and ask for sample packs of my prescriptions. Maybe I can start to sell some of my hand-made jewelry. I think I saw a "now hiring" sign in the door of my favorite boutique...

Life doesn't slap me in face too often, but when it does, it leaves a mark. In a time like this where comfort zones don't exist, I just have to close my eyes and take the plunge.




If you know of anyone looking to hire creative full time or freelance, please let me know. (Retouching, image editing, color correcting, graphic design, print design, production design) My email is on my website: www.laurenkleiman.com

B.R.A.T diet

We've all had those days when our stomach gets upset. Here's a remedy for turbulent tummies my mom taught me.
Just remember B.R.A.T:
Bananas
Rice
Applesauce
Toast

Very simple foods. Depending on what kind of bread you use for toast, its all vegan, too. The toast should be dry. You can add a small touch of salt and/or seasoning to the rice so it's not so boring.

(For those of us like me who stick to their health nut status while sick, try no-sugar added applesauce, wheat toast, and brown rice.)

Feel better!

Crispy Kale (or Kale Chips)

Hello everyone, after a short hiatus I am back. I have a few easy recipes lined up to share. Quite honestly I just wasn't feeling the blog lately, I felt like the only post that ever got any attention was how to remove your no-chip manicure! (Which is cool, share that with your friends!)

Anyway, here's a YUMMY and easy recipe. Kids even love this, and can help make it.

Some call it crispy kale, some call it kale chips. If you want a new way to eat nutritious greens, give this recipe a try. It's a flavor all in its own.

What you'll need:
kale
olive oil (about 1 tablespoon)
large bowl to hold raw kale
sea salt
baking sheet

1) Pre-heat your oven to 375. (My oven gets very hot so I set it lower. It has taken me a while to perfect the temperature for these, I think it all depends on how your oven acts. If you see that after the second round of baking the kale is still soggy, increase the temp a little.)

2) Get a bunch (unit of measurement- bunch!) of kale. Cut out the thick center stem so you're just left with the tender leaves. (It seems like a lot, but keep in mind, kale shrinks as it cooks.)



3) Wash and THOROUGHLY dry the leaves. It's VERY important to make sure the leaves are completely dry, otherwise this will turn out soggy. Try using a salad spinner, then lay the leaves out and pat dry with a towel.

4) Rip the kale into pieces. Use your judgement here, I like to make larger pieces since they shrink. If your pieces are too small they'll just burn up.

5) Place the kale in a large bowl. Take about one tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle it over the kale. Now just mix the kale and olive oil, until the kale is nice and lightly coated. It doesn't sound like a lot of oil, but it will spread out evenly if you mix it well enough. I just use my hands!

6) Evenly spread the leaves out on a baking sheet. They probably won't stick since they're coated in olive oil so you shouldn't have to worry about using non-stick spray on your baking sheet. (Don't put the salt on them yet, this will make it soggy!)



7) Put the kale in the oven for about 8 minutes. Take it out, flip and rearrange the leaves, then put it in the oven for about 7 more minutes.

8) Check your leaves again. If they aren't crispy enough, rearrange them again and put them back in for 3 minutes or so. (If you see there's no crispyness happening, this is where you would slightly increase your oven temp.) Keep an eye on them, you don't want them to burn. Continue this step until they've reached the desired amount of crispiness!

9) Now you can add some sea salt. It's a nice addition to the crunch. Serve immediately! Enjoy.

Dealing with UPS

I've learned lately by experience that having packages delivered via UPS can be a headache, so I wanted to formulate and share a list of things I've learned to help make the process smoother. If you have any tips, or are a representative of UPS, please let me know of any other tips I can add, or if any of my information is inaccurate.

- When you order something that will be delivered via UPS, you will receive a tracking number. Enter it on the UPS website for detailed and up-to-date information for the whereabouts of your package.

- UPS will only deliver during work hours. If you have a 9-5 job, enter your work address for the shipping address before you complete your order.

- There's a chance they'll be absent-minded and leave the package outside your door, even if you live on a busy city street. Write a big ol' note on your door that says "DEAR UPS, USPS, FEDEX, ETC.: PLEASE *DO NOT* LEAVE PACKAGES OUTSIDE." It works.

- If you get the first yellow sticky note they leave in your absence, call this number and request that your package be held at your nearest UPS Customer Center so you can go pick it up within 5 business days. 1-800-742-5877

- Depending on the shipper/sender, if you're not around when they leave that third sticky note (even if it blows away in the blizzard of the century and you don't know about it) they will return your package to the sender and you won't be able to turn it around and you'll get a refund and just have to do it all over again. (That's why I mentioned the tip before this one)

- Follow UPS on Twitter. DO IT. Just like Comcast, it's a sure way to get good customer service. I had a question, the rep asked me to DM him my phone #, I did, and within 5 minutes HE called ME and we figured things out.
Make sure you follow Evan: @EvanAtUPS


- Finally, be nice to the people at your UPS Customer Center. If it's cold out, so is their warehouse. If it's sweltering, so is their warehouse. They are faced with every kinda crazy person wondering where the hell their package is and why can't they have it RIGHT NOW. You'd be pissy, too, if you had to deal with bad attitudes all day. Take your photo ID, fill out the paper work, and just wait. It won't take long. And if you have a question and ask nicely, it will be answered.