I had super long hair for most of my life, but donated 10 inches to Locks of Love one year ago and felt obligated to grow my hair out so I could do it again, for some reason! In the end, I guess my appreciation for the organization isn’t worth a year and a half of hair-growing at the expense of personal comfort. Now that I’ve experienced the ease (and shampoo $-savings!) of a short haircut, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to long.

On one of my lunch walks around midtown Manhattan a few weeks ago, I noticed that my new office is only one block away from Bumble & Bumble, a salon that gives free haircuts out to customers who agree to act as a guinea pig to one of the styling students. Yesterday, I went under the knife (for real — they cut hair with a razor rather than scissors!).

before (ahhh elevator light!!)

before (ahhh elevator light!!)

after - I may not be similing but I am happy!

after - I may not be similing but I am happy!

Any New Yorkers who are looking for a cheap haircut: free beats cheap, and I’m VERY happy with my haircut!

Haircut-day fell on a rather rainy, dismal day, and I arrived home from work craving something super warm, vegetabley, and comforting. And QUICK–I went umbrella-less all day and was thus wet, cold, and cranky!

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I had some of these whole-wheat spinach noodles left over from when Jen and I had our pre-10K pasta dinner. Pasta is not a normal dinner for me — I see it more as pre-exercise fuel than average-weekday fare, but I needed a quick vehicle for eating this, and nothing else sounded good:

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kale pesto!!

The reason I love green smoothies is that I LOVE greens, but don’t always feel like chewing my way through a whole salad. Pesto (or pesto-like substances) is another great way to ingest a lot of veggies without a lot of chewing.

Into the blender went:

  • 1/2 bunch kale, chopped and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/3 c. water, to aid in the blending process (I used hot water from the boiling pasta)
  • generous amount of fresh-ground pepper
  • salt to taste
  • olive oil, drizzled in at end (probably around 1 tbsp)
Haven't been so excited for a plate of pasta in quite awhile!!

Haven't been so excited for a plate of pasta in quite awhile!!

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On the side, I had some steamed brussels sprouts with the rest of the pesto.

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Next time I make this, I’ll probably add some basil — I miss the *bite* of traditional basil-pesto. But this was definitely delicious, and I plan to try it with other greens (next on the list: baby spinach!!).

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Throw in some dark chocolate chips for dessert and it was the perfect rainy-day dinner :-)

What’s your rainy-day meal of choice?