Comments (26)

By kilax, December 6, 2012 5:09 am

It’s been one year since Steven started FakeMeats.com – an online store for vegan and vegetarian meats and treats! It’s amazing – one year ago, we were excited to get a few orders every day or so… and now, we have sold to almost every state in the US, several US military bases, and we’re even shipping Fake Meats to Canada! The store that started out with a few of our favorite jerkies has grown immensely to include a huge variety of meat substitutes, condiments, seasonings, gelatin-free candy, and much more. I am so proud of Steven and the work he has put in to this company.

One of Steven’s Fake Meats dreams was to start a meal pack program – a subscription service that provides the customer with the fake meats, seasonings, recipes for every Monday of the month. The meals would be great for a vegan/vegetarian looking for some new recipes, someone looking to have meatless meal one night a week, or someone just looking for the convenience of a planned meal!

Well, after months of testing recipes developed in the Fake Meats test kitchen (ours, hee hee) and several months working with a test group (including meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans, from across the US) the Fake Meats Meal Packs are officially launching in January! The program offers a variety of recipes that use Soy Curls, Heartline Meatless Meats, vegan and vegetarian seasonings, and much more.

One of my favorite things about the recipe testing phase (besides eating all the yummy food) was the community aspect of the program. The test group has been posting pictures and thoughts on the Facebook page, sharing their unique changes to the recipes, and we even did a few Skype dates with the testers to get their live reactions! The group liked the community aspect so much, that we realized this is another unique and beneficial aspect of the Meal Pack program.  We’re promoting the Facebook interaction for new customers and even thinking of doing some google hangouts to meet everyone!  Stop by the Fake Meats Facebook page to see some of the Meal Pack meals people have been cooking.

People have been signing up for a few weeks now, and the response has been great!  The deadline to join the inaugural January Meal Pack program is December 9th (this Sunday).  If you’re interested in the Fake Meats Meal Pack program, you can find more information about it here.

Would you be interested in a program like this? Any ideas for Fake Meats recipes we should develop in the test kitchen?

Comments (36)

By kilax, December 5, 2012 4:43 am

Ha ha ha. 

So.

I have had some issues with my smart phone in the past few months. Let’s be honest. I am not a very patient person to begin with. So when my phone is crashing, apps aren’t working, battery is draining too fast, blah blah blah, I get really impatient (and frustrated). And who bears the brunt of it? Mr Fix-It (my husband). Okay. Let’s be honest again. I whined to a few friends too. 

So we took it to the store in November and they wiped it clean and re-installed the operating system*. It helped a little, but not much. So we took it back.

I think Steven wanted to drop me off at the store and let me handle it like a big girl, but, let’s get real, I don’t know what I am doing. I can barely explain the problems. That is why I tell you about every. single. one., Steven! So you can explain it. 

It’s a good thing Steven was there. They just wanted to re-install the operating system again, but Steven asked for an alternative solution… and got me a free phone replacement. Okay. Good. 

Only we (read: they) have no idea what was ever causing the issues. Just that it was software problems. So, per Steven’s highly esteemed** recommendation, I am going to slowly re-install apps, link up my gmail and gcal after a few days, test things out to see if any issues pop up, blah blah blah. What is the problem with that?

Oh. That I will have no contacts loaded on my phone for a few days (they’re all through google contacts). And no apps… so my phone will be like a tiny little internet browser device. Hence:

OMG HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!

(*cough* you know, without all those apps that show me much quicker than using the browser function on the phone)

Ha ha ha. Just kidding (sort of). I didn’t get my first, real, smart phone until last February. I can survive. Right? RIGHT?!***

But this whole situation made me think of how completely LAME**** it is that I use that stupid little phone for SO MUCH. I mean, sure, it’s super useful, but I can figure out things without it. And really, I feel like it just makes me feel bored when I cannot use it. And it makes me feel like I have to be checked in and knowing what is going online ALL THE TIME. Which is ironic, because when I am so engaged with the phone, I am usually checked out of real life. 

So, if a lesson were to be learned, it would be “Gosh! I really can survive without my nose in (on?) my smartphone all day! And it’s enjoyable!”*****

But in reality, I know I will be itching to have all my contacts and apps back in my phone so I can get back to being entertained THE MINUTE I GET BORED. Because, let’s be honest – that’s how it is.  

Who else needs some smartphone rehab?

Note: this post is definitely a First World Problem (FWP). And this post has some comments that are not very feminist. Just trying to be funny here. This isn’t really a big deal at all. UNLESS THIS DOESN’T FIX IT MUAH HA HA HA HA. Because then it is!

*Wanted to write OS, but remembered my acronym problem. Hey! I work for the government. Leave me alone.
**Not being sarcastic.
***I mean, I even have a somewhat functioning netbook and wifi card. Emphasis on somewhat. 
****Lameapore, as Gina and I say these days – another social media citation I issued myself – making up words. 
*****Which I know from vacation and having guests over, and being a guest, and the like.  

Comments (44)

By kilax, December 4, 2012 6:20 am

It’s not what you think.

Steven and I have been watching The Tudors* on Netflix. One night, we were watching an episode with a particularly graphic torture scene. I had to get up and leave. And then I had a hard time falling asleep. Because I am a BIG BABY and cannot watch anything remotely graphic, especially if it is torture. I even had to turn my eyes away during Lawless** on Friday.

Steven realizes I cannot handle these types of scenes, so lately he has been telling me to cover my eyes, then talking through the scene, telling me the characters are having a tickle fight. Ha ha ha. At least that distracts me!

Seriously though, what is wrong with me?! Why does it bother me so much?! Why do the images play on repeat in my head?

Does anyone else have to cover their eyes during violent scenes in movies/shows?

*Or as we call it, The Tootely Toot Toots.
**First time we ever rented a movie on the Apple TV. Fun!

Comments (34)

By kilax, December 3, 2012 12:31 pm

Heh heh heh.

Which of these citations are you guilty of? And which are your biggest social media pet peeves?

Gina gave me these citations. To issue? I hope?! Ha ha ha. I am definitely guilty of a few:

• Constant profile-photo swapping – I do it all the time on Facebook, and am constantly changing my masthead here.
• “Liking” stupid things – I may be a bit of an over “liker” on Facebook.
• Lurking – Sometimes!
• Acroynm abuse – when it comes to running jargon, and Kim-speak, yes.
• Oversharing – Hey! That’s what I am all about!

And for my write-ins (that I am guilty of):

• Posting just to post (similar to overposting) – feeling compelled to post something… hey, where do you think today’s post’s inspiration came from anyway?!
• Posting too quickly – I like to write my race reports and get them up right away. A few people I know wait for the official photos. I am too anxious for that.
• Social media purist (snob?) – I stick to my blog and Facebook. I am still not on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest*… Tumblr… what else is there? It sounds fun, but I have a hard time keeping up with blogs and Facebook! I think I am missing out on a lot, but oh wells.
• Made up words – I have a few words that I use that are not real words, like schweet, snister, Fanksgiving, momo… that is surely not annoying at all…

*Well, I have an account but do not use it. Oops.

Comments (26)

By kilax, December 2, 2012 9:29 am

Highlight of the Week: Not wussing out too much on my workouts, despite feeling a bit sick. 

Monday | November 26, 2012: rest
Tuesday | November 27, 2012: 2.1 m run (w/Gina) + 5 m run
Loc: Millennium Trail, Temp: 12°/13°, Time: 25:23, Pace: 12:05 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: neighborhood, Temp: 26°/25°, Time: 49:07, Pace: 9:49 avg, Difficulty:easy, Felt: like I am getting sick
Wednesday | November 28, 2012: strength class + 5.2 m run (w/Bobbi and GRCers)
Strength: bars, balls and core, Difficulty: medium, Felt: somewhat okay
Loc: Around Grayslake, Temp: 29°/29°, Time: 53:05, Pace: 10:13 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: tight chested
Thursday | November 29, 2012: 4 m run
Loc: neighborhood, Temp: 43°/41°, Time: 39:04, Pace: 9:46 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: tight chested
Friday | November 30, 2012: strength
Strength: soft balls & dumbbells, Difficulty: medium/hard, Felt: hard to breathe/sick
Saturday | December 1, 2012: Schiller Chiller (5.3 m run)
Loc: Schiller Woods (Chicago), Temp: 47°/51°, Time: 56:46, Pace: 10:43 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Sunday | December 2, 2012: 10.2 m run (w/Bobbi, Riyanti + GRCers)
Loc: Grant Woods FP, Temp: 54°/56°, Time: 1:49:45, Pace: 10:46 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: sick/too hot

Notes:

• I should not be able to run in a tank top outdoors, in December, in the midwest. No. Me. Gusta.
• Since I am off to a good start with running every day in December ( two days, lol) I think I will try for a December running streak of running at least one mile each day! Is anyone else in for a December running streak?
• After taking it easy, running-wise, in November, I am looking forward to getting some more miles in this month!

Comments (31)

By kilax, December 1, 2012 3:11 pm

After reading everyone’s race reports about how much fun they had at the Muddy Monk Thriller in Schiller in October, I was super excited for the Schiller Chiller 10K & 5K! A trail run with my blogger friends?! Hells yeah sign me up!

Please note, Muddy Monk paid for my entry for this race. My opinions below are all mine and all that schiznit though.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your preference) this race was NOT a Chiller. I had really been hoping for a snowy trail run. But, it was in the high 40s the entire time! And we haven’t had any rain in awhile so the trail was mostly dry. Either way, I dressed a bit warmer than I normally would’ve – I have a bit of a cold and in my mind, running outside is okay when I am sick if I cover up a bit more. Right? Right.

I think that due to the warmer temps, a lot of people came out for this race. There were 400 pre-registered and a line for same day registrants! What a great turnout for the inaugural race!

And we got some schweet loot: a long sleeve cotton tee, a mug, and a shot glass for the 10Kers. Can you believe I didn’t have a shot glass before? What does that say about me… hmm… What should I drink out of it first? Ha!

On to the fun stuff! Which bloggers came?!

From L to R: Kelsey, Alyssa, Charlyn, me, Queenie, Erin, Lindsay and Kim.

And Ian was there volunteering!

Alyssa, Erin, Lindsay and I were doing the 10K and stuck together for the entire race. The course was very similar to the USOLE Trail Challenge that I ran in the same woods two weeks ago. A mix of single and double track, a few fallen trees (on the ground and head-height) obstacles, one large muddy puddle in a tunnel… not too technical! It was a warm day and an easy fun race with friends! I love running and chatting with friends!

Unfortunately… we did not run a full 10K. I am not sure if the course was marked wrong or if we missed a turn, but we ended up running just over 5. A few other runners doing the 10K said they ended up doing the same thing. We all noticed that the 3 and 4 mile markers were only .2 miles apart. Maybe that was our lost mile? Oops. Not a big deal for a non-chip timed, for fun, trail race. But something they might want to fix in the future.

That seemed to be the only snafu. Packet pickup was easy; parking was easy. I got to use the porta potties before the lines got ridiculously long (not everyone was this lucky). I didn’t want any post race alcohol or chili so I skipped that long line. It was fun just to be out in the sun hanging out with friends. I even got to have brunch after the race with Charlyn and her man, and Queenie! I love spending time with friends, and we had a lot of fun!

I really want to do more Muddy Monk races in the future because I love trail running. They have a lot of fun races coming up in 2013. I am eyeing the Double Down 10K & 20K in April because I think it’s cool you get to choose at the 10K mark if you want to continue to the 20K (and I would like to try a 20K!). Just gotta wait and see what my schedule looks like when that race is coming up!

Wah! Last trail race of the year… unless anyone knows of some the last weekend in December around here?!