Happy Halloween! It’s that time of year again when the leaves are changing colors, and we break out our warm coats and gloves. The days are now shorter than the nights, and we switch on the heat in our cozy homes. Our bodies are once again craving heavier foods, and with the holidays on the horizon, what better way to spend an autumn day than to savor a warm bowl of chili?
Pumpkin Spice Everything…even chili
Pumpkin Spice can be a controversial flavor—it’s either revered or disregarded. I personally love it, but only in the fall. It throws off my equilibrium any other time. The delicate balance of the sweet, cinnamon-y pumpkin mixed with the savory chili is a great combination to warm your heart up with. Plus, you can sprinkle on some dairy-free cheese.
An excellent dish providing flavor, protein, and fiber, this pumpkin chili is sure to keep you full and energized during the colder days.
You will need:
1 small onion, chopped
1 small head of garlic, crushed
2 15-ounce cans of black beans
2 15-ounce cans of kidney beans
2 15-ounce cans of corn kernels
2 15-ounce cans of pumpkin purée
2 6-ounce cans of tomato paste
4 tablespoons of chili powder
2 tablespoons of cinnamon
2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of oregano
2 teaspoons of parsley
1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon of veggie broth paste (I used Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base)
Juice of 2 small limes (or 1 large one)
Throw all ingredients in a crock pot and stir until everything is mixed together. Let the chili cook for at least 4 hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors absorb.
It goes really well with pumpkin spice chips (a seasonal item from Trader Joe’s) or regular tortilla chips. I hope this dish keeps you warm and full during this advancing winter. Bon appétit!
When I was 13, I began to dabble into goth. The music, the aesthetic, and my natural curiosity led me to a beautiful, yet mysterious and unfamiliar, genre. When you get into a music scene, you also might be interested in the roots of that scene. That’s where punk comes in. I feel that in order to appreciate goth, punk should also get recognition because that’s where it originates.
I slowly started getting into punk more, even going to local shows. I’ve always admired everyone’s altered vests with their numerous patches, buttons, and metal studs. But it seemed like quite a time commitment, not to mention all that patience it would require to make one of those vests. Besides, I was more of a painter.
So, I dropped the idea.
Nick and Doug of BUGS
Recently however, I’ve been dipping my toes a little bit in punk again. It may not be my cup of tea 100 percent, but I still enjoy the enthusiasm and spirit of the community. When I befriended Doug, the frontman of the local Seattle punk band BUGS, it renewed my appreciation of the scene. Doug also has an altered vest, which reignited a desire to make one of my own.
The elusive black denim vest
I found the one.
I went to Goodwill and chose the denim jacket that spoke to me the most. It fits well, and there are lots of pockets. But it wasn’t really the kind I wanted. I still searched for one with notched lapels throughout the city, but those proved to be surprisingly hard to find.
I could still hear the purchased blue denim jacket whisper from my closet, “why don’t you want me? You liked me before. Am I not good enough for you?”
Upon thinking of it more, I decided it really was a good jacket to make a vest from. I would then make the alterations: first, by cutting off the sleeves; then, by dyeing it black. I remembered what a perfect fit it is.
I cut off the sleeves.
…And dyed it black.
Patch it up
Collected in Seattle over the years
These patches were gifted to me, or bought from indie organizations or artists.
It’s an art.
I hand-stitched all of those patches onto my new vest.
I tend to stick to pins and patches that have messages, rather than ones from music bands. Things others might be able to relate to. I no longer have a favorite band, and these little messages seem more effective in conveying me as a person.
Nothing is ever really done evolving
“I love you because you’re not like everybody else.”
Right now this vest is a work in progress. I still would like to add more, but I only select patches and mementos that speak to my soul, which I feel is the essence of a punk vest.
I can’t tell if anyone’s vest is ever really finished. Some people remove patches or pins to reposition then, or they make way for new ones. Others have a set product. Then others, like me, are still letting their vests evolve especially after getting started. I’ve always felt that something as personal as a punk vest doesn’t have to stop evolving—much like the person who wears it.
This past weekend I went down to Portland to run another marathon. It’s the first race I have traveled out of state for, so I turned it into a little race-cation.
Where I stayed
The lobby sitting area/cafe of The Society Hotel
I stayed at the Society Hotel in Chinatown, which wasn’t far from the starting line of the race. That hotel dates from the late 1800s, and it has an interesting history. It used to host sailors back in the day, before turning into a hospital. Then it turned into a hotel again in the hands of Japanese owners before they were sent to an internment camp around WWII. Next, it became a meeting place for Chinese-Americans, and cycled through many other communities and businesses from all walks of life. Just a few years ago, it became the beautiful hotel that’s around today. I know where I’m staying next time.
The beautiful view from the rooftop deck
Vegan serendipity at its finest
I went to the Oregon Convention Center to pick up my race packet (my bib number and other fun marathon swag) at the Portland Marathon race expo, where I accidentally found out that VegFest (a vegan festival) was happening in the exact same building just down the hall! I had no idea that event was going on, so of course, I was going to pick up my race packet later.
Nectar Cafe had gluten-free and vegan waffles that were perfect for carb-loading
The day before a big race like a marathon, carb-loading is essential for the muscles to store glycogen. This is used as fuel for the long haul. Of course, the bulk of nutrients should come from carbs for energy. VegFest had excellent food vendors to satisfy that need.
Ready to knock ‘em dead!
I eventually made it to the race expo. I’ve always liked those, since they’re like mini-festivals for runners. Vendors usually set up their wares and events, hoping to entice runners to try their products, or run marathons in other parts of the country.
On running a marathon on very little sleep
On Instagram, I’ve been open about my Complex PTSD, which can cause sleep problems in some people. I don’t always have sleep problems, but when I do, they seem to visit at the most inopportune nights. I can’t say that it was from race jitters this time, since I’m an experienced runner at this point. Maybe it was too warm in the room; maybe I’m sleeping in a bed that’s not actually mine. Whatever it was, I only got two hours of sleep, which would impact my performance.
It was still a beautiful course. It went through many leafy neighborhoods, trees ablaze with vibrant oranges and fiery reds. It took us though the charming Pearl District, and even ran along the scenic water at times.
I tried to force myself to run a little faster, but my body just wasn’t having it. Upon seeing the finish line, however, everything else fell away as my focus sharpened to that single focus, driving me to pick my legs up faster and faster. And I flew right through it.
I did it!
Because this was a flat course, it’s probably fitting for someone who is new to marathons. Of course, running a marathon is always challenging in its own rite! That being said, I wish my time were better. I ended up finishing at 4:46:19, one of my slower times. Nonetheless, this is a race I would enjoy doing again, hopefully more rested next time.
A medal, a rose, and a sprinkled vegan donut for all finishers
At least I got to enjoy a vegan donut from the iconic Portland donut shop, Voodoo Donuts. The rest of the post-race food wasn’t vegan, so I kept those tickets.
Overall, this race was very well put-together. I also really liked the color scheme of deep navy blue and light silver, and the contemporary design of the brand was tightly rendered.
Running a marathon burns about 2,500 calories—give or take. This is on top of the 2,000 calories needed for daily bodily functions. So, about 4,500 calories are burned during race day. You can probably guess where I’m going with this.
With so many vegan eateries in Portland, it’s so easy to practically have an eating contest after running a marathon. Homegrown Smoker was calling my name, even though it was a 40-minute bus ride from my hotel. Pictured above is their Buff Burrito, which is stuffed with vegan mac & cheese, vegan BBQ meat, and salad. I ate what I could and saved the rest for later.
Last morning in Rose City
I ended up going to bed early that night and slept peacefully this time. In the morning bright and early, I met my friend Dania for the first time!
Dania y yo
We’ve been following each other for over two years on Instagram, and we finally met up for coffee! She gave me a hat that she knitted herself, along with some vegan-themed stickers. I always thought that she was rad, and I liked her even more in person! It was the perfect ending to this race-cation.
‘Till we meet again, Portland!
Now I am back in Seattle. There’s one more marathon left in the year, but right now I’m still recovering from the weekend before I can focus on the next thing. I really enjoyed my time in Portland. It was exactly what I needed, and I truly missed that city.
