Chicago Marathon Val

Hello everyone!  Have you ever wanted to make  a “free” facial scrub, body exfoliant, or better yet, make your own knock-off of a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte?!?!?

Over the past 3 days I’ve become a master mixologist –  in my own kitchen!

To make a yummy smelling body scrub: 

* Combine old coffee grounds with equal parts EVOO or other oil

* Use as a body scrub and prepare to smell delightful – wouldn’t this be especially great to help you wake up during a morning shower?  And don’t you just love feeling like a thrifty hippie recycling your old coffee grounds?!?

To make a VERY yummy smelling facial scrub:

* Combine 2 parts cornmeal with 1 part coconut oil

* Massage into your soon-to-be-minimized pores before washing off and take in the scent of freshly baked coconut-oil cornmeal muffins

Today I read on Eat Live Run that tomorrow is the first day that Starbucks will have their yearly debut of Pumpkin Spice Lattes…. upon reading this, and drooling, I mentally made a note to head to Starbucks tomorrow since it’s my last day before work starts up again.

And then I thought…. why, oh why, do I make my own pad thai, make my own brownies, yet I still insist on BUYING someone else’s coffee creation, when I could easily make it myself?!!?

Here’s how to make your own Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup to sweeten up your latte:

* If using white sugar, combine 1 c. water with 1 c. sugar and 4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice.  Bring to a bowl, and then simmer until it reduces to about half.  Chill, and store in the fridge to enjoy in your daily cuppa!

* Sugar-free alternative (this is what I did): Combine 2 c. water with 1 c. agave nectar (or Stevia powder) and 4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (and follow the rest of the steps from above)

How easy is that?!?!  It fits perfectly into my Amazing Grass container for storage in the fridge.  I threw some of this into a decaf iced coffee this afternoon and it was awesome, but I’m sure it would be even more “realistic” in a cup of hot coffee…. and even more cozy and comforting! Let me know if you like try this and like it!

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Here’s a great quote from Michael Pollan, author of Food Matters and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, on health care reform:

“I happen to believe health care reform has the potential to drive big changes in the food system, and to enlist the health care industry in the fight to reform agriculture. How? Because if health insurers can no longer pick and choose their clients, and throw sick people out, they will develop a much stronger interest in prevention, which is to say, in changing the way America feeds itself. When health insurers realize they will make thousands more in profits for every case of type II diabetes they can prevent, they will develop a strong interest in things like corn subsidies, local food systems, farmer’s markets, school lunch, public health campaigns about soda, etc.”

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Oh and how could I forget, today was a 5 miler… and again, it was a great one! It was cool out – in the 60s – which made it such an enjoyable run.  I had an errand to run as well – getting my eyebrows done – so instead of running north, running south home, showering, getting on the bus, going north, getting them done, and taking the bus south again… I decided to run 3 miles north to Water Tower Place, get them done there, and then run 2 miles back home!

Ignore this if you are male and reading this so I don’t bore you….. but I got my eyebrows threaded today for the first time, instead of the usual waxing.  So far I think it was a good decision! It’s less uncomfortable than waxing, doesn’t leave that redness (and sometimes burning and scarring), and seemed to be much more accurate.  We’ll see if it lasts longer!

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Off to make dinner and pretend to watch Monday Night Football with Mike  read blogs for a bit.  Have a great night!

This entry was posted on Monday, August 31st, 2009 at 6:04 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.