...Mexican "Pizza"

Here's a photo recipe for you! Easy and fun, the Mexican pizza is a quick meal for all ages. Be creative and add your own ingredients.

What I used:
whole wheat tortilla
tempeh
vegetarian refried beans
red onion
sour cream
LaPreferida nacho cheese
salsa
chili powder

I began by slicing the tempeh into thin strips and frying it. Before I put it in the oil, I sprinkled on chili powder.



Spray your griddle with Pam. Spread beans on the tortilla and lay it down on the griddle. Keep it on low heat.



Add the cheese and toppings. I tried the La Preferida nacho cheese and wasn't so happy with it. I'd rather have used shredded cheese. It's up to you! (Also, layer order is up to you!)



Add on the tempeh. (Or, if you are a meat eater, grilled chicken or steak or shrimp!) Then cover it in salsa. To keep all layers warm, I put a pot cover over the entire thing on the griddle for a few minutes.




There's no science to figuring out when to take it off the stove. When you feel its hot enough, it is done! Then add sour cream, cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy!

...My Yellow Raincoat

Wow 2 blog posts, one right after the other, I'm on a roll. Actually the only purpose of this is to show off my bright shiny yellow raincoat.

Some of you loyal listeners may recall my post from April about a questionable homeless man on the train inquiring about my jacket: Read here.

As crappy as the photo is (thanks, PhotoBooth) it still shows off the coat's shiny cuteness.


Found at NY&Company last April on the clearance rack for $30. In this photo, it is paired with my green scarf from Ann Taylor Loft, also purchased on the clearance rack, for $4.99. (And the soy latte, which cost just a bit less than the scarf...!)

...Just Because You're a Celebrity...

...doesn't give you the automatic title of Creative Director. However, Lindsey Lohan thought so when she became "Creative Director" for her Ungaro collection (Spring 2010) with designer Estrella Archs.

I was watching the most recent Mod TV podcast a few minutes ago. It featured the shimmering, pasty-clad, vibrantly colored collection, along with random bits of commentary from Lohan. She certainly was not amused by the reporters questions, and during her commentary I wondered how she was standing on her own two feet. See the following screen caps from her interview, for example:(Click on image to view larger.)
Poor Miss Archs looks embarrassed!

Simply dreadful. I know everyone involved in fashion week runs on no sleep. But that is no excuse to look atrocious while presenting your collection!

Here's an idea of what the collection looked like:
See photos of the entire collection on the Oct. 4th Mod TV podcast, and check out some at the Huffington Post.

...MOBY

-----------> p h o t o s <------------

Have any of you ever had one artist in particular that has touched your life in ways you cant explain? Plain and simple, Moby is that artist for me. I began to listen to his music in high school and for the first time in my life I was moved by songs. I kept following his music through college and it got me through some hard times. I'm not the typical kind of person who is into a bunch of music, and knows artists in and out. But I am that way with one artist and that is Moby. And for the first time last night, I got to see him perform live.


September 30, 2009. Chicago. The Vic. Then, afterward, he did a DJ set at Smart Bar. Wow. Just, wow. I got to the venue early so that I could have a front row spot. It was the most amazing experience. I cried when he came out on stage. Not to mention I'm going through a very hard, stressful time right now...it couldn't have happened at a better time.


He played all my favorites of course. Then on to Smart Bar for his DJ set..! This was more personal, because it was a small club and all that separated us was a 4 and a half foot tall DJ booth, which I did my best to stand on my toes and see him all night.

He took a short break. I followed him, along with a lot of other people actually. When he came back, he walked right in front of me. I touched him.

He was signing autographs as he was DJing at random moments. I borrowed someone's Sharpie and he signed my ticket....!!!!! I looked at him and he looked at me and for a moment we made eye contact. And all I could say was "I LOVE YOU". Pretty sure he couldn't tell what I said, it was so loud. (=


One of the most amazing times of my life. I will never forget this.

...Battle of the Brands!

This is for the fashionistas out there! ShopItToMe.com is introducing a new kind of bracket I can actually get into. To hell with basketball, these brackets are all about style!

Presenting Shop It To Me Battle of the Brands! Each week for 5 weeks, pairs of Shop It To Me brands will go head to head. Your votes will determine the last brand standing.

Vote on your favorite brands and you could win Marc by Marc Jacobs accessories! We’re giving away a MBMJ wristlet, umbrella, and key fobs. On each Friday of the contest, we’ll conduct a random drawing from that week’s commenters and give away another accessory. So come back each week for 5 chances to win!

If you aren't a member yet, click the Shop it to Me icon on the sidebar of my blog, sign up, start commenting, and maybe you can be a winner! (And even if you don't win, at least you'll be surfing the net in style!)

For those who are already members, just click here to check out the first Battle of the Brands!

...A Roller Coaster of a Day!

I usually don't blog about my every day things unless they are particularly entertaining to me. Sunday, Sept. 13 was one of those times. Here is a list of what happened to me.

Wake up at 9, make coffee instead of tea
Clean both bathrooms
Cut up giant watermelon
Eat PB&J and coffee for breakfast
Try to do laundry (We have one washer/dryer set in the building, it was taken.)
Lounge around
Shower/get pretty
Attempt laundry again (FAIL)
Take the bus to the Renegade Craft Fair and walk around, was pretty cool! I saw my friend from high school who has a pretty successful jewelry business.
Come home to get my bag of returns at the store.
Look up how to get to said store on Google maps.
Walk out the door, lock bottom lock from inside first as usual.
-->Realize keys were still in apartment.
Make first call to landlord. "Help I'm an idiot and locked myself out, sorry! Oops! Bye!" Also called his house and left similar message.
Head out because hey, I might as well run the errand.
Arrive at store. Make return.
(Hour after I left) Call landlord again. Leave another voice mail. Call his house again. Leave another voice mail.
Wander around the area a bit. (North/Clyborn..around that new Whole Foods)
Call landlord again.
Try on jeans at American Eagle. (FAIL)
Call landlord again.
Call friend who lives in the area to see if he could look up locksmiths on Yelp for me. No answer. No one else was around. Call mom.
Mom texts me #s of locksmiths. (I asked her to spare me the "you need to be more responsible" talk.)
Back home on 72 North Ave. bus.
While on bus, I call numerous locksmiths. Only one answered. $90 first lock, $30 for additional.
*Silent cry on bus*
Walk from Damen/Milwaukee/North to my house. Call back locksmith. "Ok, I have no other choice."
Buzz neighbor to let me in front door.
Walk up to roof. Sit on roof 45 minutes waiting for locksmith.
Locksmith arrives, unlocks door in 30 seconds.
Saw off arm, give to locksmith.
*Silent cry in kitchen* (Ok so it wasn't silent..so what.)
In effort to feel better, I head to gym. (Keys in hand.)
Gym for an hour. This time I lift weights and really get out the aggression.
Drive from gym to Strack and Van Til, I have no fruit in the house besides the watermelon. I need fruit.
Purchase three reusable canvas bags full of fruit and one single serve teeny tiny bucket of ice cream.
Oh, and the Morning Star products are 3 for $8! Unheard of! Stock up on meat free indulgences..
Attempt laundry again. Finally, I have underwear.
Watch MTV Video Music Awards while eating fruit.
Put away laundry.
Update Facebook status.
Blog about my roller coaster day.
Bed!

(If any of you know of a locksmith in Chicago that doesn't cost that much..um...please...let me know!)

...My Online Portfolio

Here it is, everyone. Spread it like the plague, and help me expand my career!

LaurenKleiman.com

...Junk Food!

This post is specifically for Will and Denny over at the new Gays of Your Life podcast here in Chicago.

They gave me a shout out on Episode 6, and mentioned my blog, and how I like the healthy food. Which is true, and my last 2 posts have been about that. HOWEVER! I love to splurge on the junk food once in a while. And I'd like to show these boys some proof of that. Here is a photo of the big sloppy meal at In n' Out my friend and I shared when I was in LA in May '09. (They made me a burger-less burger..!)


And...proof I ate it...


I can't resist a French fry! Just looking at that picture makes me want some right now..and it's not even noon yet.

So go check out their new podcast, it is simply adorable.

...not too healthy "healthy food"

I recently recorded an episode of Meat Free Radio, where we spoke about the high fat content of sandwiches that people would otherwise think are healthy. It got me to thinking about the things I sometimes buy for lunch. For the most part, I pack my lunch at home and bring it to work. But sometimes I don't have time to do that, or I just want something different, so I'll go eat somewhere.

Our conversation on the podcast made me wonder about the fat content of some of the things I order for/with lunch. I was unpleasantly surprised, so I decided to share the most shocking results with you.

I found all of this nutrition information by going to each restaurant's website and searching for the nutrition information.

Quizno's Veggie Sub
(small size, whole wheat bun, cheese, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers, guac)
18 grams of fat

Dunkin' Donuts Reduced Fat Blueberry muffin:
10 grams of fat

Panera Reduced Fat Blueberry muffin:
10 grams of fat

Panera Mango Smoothie
10 grams of fat (!!!!)

Chipotle
Vegetarian Burrito Bol
(rice, beans, sauteed fajita veggies, guac, cheese)
28 grams of fat (cheese and guac add the most fat of course, so at least its somewhat "naturally occuring" fat)

Qdoba Naked Taco Salad
Grilled Veggies, Cheese, guac, corn salsa, lettuce
same as Chipotle


What foods do you eat that are probably high in fat but are supposed to be somewhat healthy?

...My Veggieversary!

August marks the two year anniversary for me being vegetarian. Its been a great two years and I don't plan on reverting any time soon! Hail vegetables!