Om Gal Seeks New Intern

It's September 1st, which means my sweet city of Boston has been invaded by U-Hauls and SUVs brimming with futons and mini fridges.  New and old residents alike, particularly of the collegiate variety, know it as Moving Day.  It's a festive and frustrating harbinger of fall that welcomes scores of incoming students to Boston's many college campuses (including Boston College, Boston University, Emerson, Harvard, M.I.T., Northeastern, and more) and causes lots of traffic jams.  It's also a massive moving date for the recently graduated set (someone needs to vacate the plum apartments for all those late-night "study groups," right?).  Among those flying the college coop is Erin the Intern (sniff, sniff) [insert hysterical sob], bound for the "real world" or, in this case, NYC.

Perhaps you've followed the adventures of Erin this summer.  She contributed ideas and insight to many posts on OmGal.com, including popular pieces on fashionable fitness apparel and cheap, health food options, attended and assisted some of my workshops, and even provided me with an earnest explanation of the buzz surrounding Twilight so that I wouldn't be a pop culture outcast.  Now, she's gone, and I'm forlorn . . . and likely back to being a pop culture outcast.

If you're interested in being the next Om Gal Intern, send me an email at rebecca@omgal.com.  It's a fun, creative gig that doesn't involve any coffee runs (I don't drink coffee).  Yoga OR media experience required.  Video and podcasting skills might elevate you from intern to superhero.  Details regarding time commitment and upcoming projects available via email.

Happy trails, Erin!  OmGal.com will miss you.

This Just In: Erin the Intern is Famous

Famous people like New York, and New York likes famous people.  Ask anybody who lives there to rattle off their most recent celebrity sightings, and you'll hear about starlets in yoga class, gaggles of models at the club, the latest It boy or girl strolling the streets with a latte, or a professional athlete in line for the loo.  NYC Gal, a Gawker-stalker before Gawker existed, was sure to text me when the last one happened.  It was A-Rod.  She says he's even prettier in person.

This week, however, was the first time a friend of mine, nay, ours, was the celebrity being spotted.  It's true; Erin the Intern was recognized in New York City by an OmGal.com reader.

I don't know all the details yet, as Erin is now too famous to call me.

The best intern on the planet shooting the recent Salutation Nation event in Boston--probably the last time she'll be on this side of the camera.  The paparazzi will be unbearable soon.

It made me wonder, though: If you could spend time with any celebrity yogi, who would it be?  Lady Gaga (a new fan of yoga)?  Julia Roberts (a fan of Hinduism and star of Eat, Pray, Love, which debuts tonight)? Someone famous for being a nimble yogi: B.K.S. Iyengar?  Or, a karmic one: Mahatma Gandhi?

I can't wait to hear your choices! 

Healthy Eats on the Cheap, Inspired by College Grads

Each summer, a new collection of freshly minted college graduates enters the workforce. They move their futons out of campus housing or coveted off-campus apartments, shed their school-issued I.D. cards, which no longer provide easy access to food, photocopies, and laundry facilities, and experience an about-face with reality. It's an exhilarating transition and a tad shocking-- especially from a financial standpoint.

Of this humble period in our lives, I'll never forget my friend and fellow yoga teacher, Karen, recounting with more than a little nostalgia, "You're so broke, and you don't care! You're sitting on the floor, eating a can of tuna for dinner, and it's awesome because it's your apartment and you bought that can of tuna."

Well said.

Nevertheless, all the independence in the world doesn't negate the fact that being strapped for cash is challenging-- whether you're a recent college grad or anyone else grappling with this rickety economy . . . Show of hands? Tight budgets force us to scrutinize our spending habits and forgo certain things; however, healthy and speedy meals need not be among them.

With the help of OmGal.com's favorite member of the class of 2010, Erin the Intern, I've compiled three quick recipes, inspired by campus favorites including pizza, fried rice, and ice cream, which scrimp on cost and time like their takeout counterparts, but not nutrition.

Original Dish: Pizza

Time: Whenever the delivery guy gets there.

Cost: $13.50 (1 large, thin crust pizza with 1 non-meat topping).

Om Gal Upgrade: Tortilla Pizza with Veggies

Time: Depends how crispy you like it.

Cost: $11.28 (with plenty of leftover ingredients for later).

After college, I went on a pizza hiatus and just regained my appreciation for it last year, while in training for the Boston Marathon. Ask my Thursday night training partners. On certain nights, I was fueled solely by the promise of pizza afterward. We joked that I should have worn a shirt that read: Will Run for Pizza.

This healthier variation comes from Meghan Telpner at Making Love in the Kitchen. Her recipe features many more vegetables, which I highly recommend; yet, for the sake of cost, I chose only a few key ingredients here:

• Organic tortilla ($2.50 for a 10-pack)
• Organic tomato & basil sauce ($3.00 for jar of Newman's Own)
• 1 small jar artichoke hearts ($1.79)
• Organic baby spinach, ($3.99)

Healthy How-To: Assemble the ingredients as shown above. Sprinkle with pepper. Pop in the oven. Cook at 300 degrees, until crisp.

Original Dish: Fried Rice

Time: 20-minutes to an hour for delivery

Cost: $7.70

Om Gal Upgrade: Quinoa Goes to China

Time: 20-25 minutes.

Cost: $3.64 (or $7.28 for double the serving size).

Ingredients:

• Quinoa (2 cups uncooked), $5.29
• 2 organic eggs (scrambled), less than $1.00
• 1 small can water chestnuts, .99
• Soy sauce

Healthy How-To: The most protein-rich grain on the planet, substituting quinoa for rice instantly makes this dish more nutritious. While your quinoa is cooking, lightly scramble two eggs. Add the eggs to the fully-cooked quinoa, along with some water chestnuts (drained). Flavor with soy sauce. Do a victory lap around the kitchen at your new found culinary skills. Next stop: Iron Chef.

Original Dish: Vanilla Frozen Yogurt with Rainbow Sprinkles

Time: Depends how long the line & how hot the weather.

Cost: $3.75

Om Gal Upgrade: Yogi Approved Yogurt & Berries

Time: Just long enough to locate a clean spoon.

Cost: $3.25 ($6.50/2 servings, estimate)

Ingredients:

• All Natural Tart Yogurt ($3.50)
• Frozen fruit ($3.00, use the leftovers for a breakfast smoothie!).

Healthy How-To: You don't need a diploma to figure out this one. Buy a tart yogurt with as few ingredients as possible and add some frozen fruit. I dig Haagen Dazs, which isn't cheap; however, it still beats out most to-go counter options. Plus, even the most frugal guys and gals splurge on occasion. Why not make it on a scrumptious, summer dessert?

*Please note: Prices vary depending on grocer, location, season, etc.

Yogi Fashion with Erin the Om Gal Intern

Meet Erin, the OmGal.com intern. This week she graduates from college, along with millions of other co-eds across the country taking part in commencement ceremonies in the month of May. Congratulations to all of them! A few details on OmGal.com's first intern: she's a yogi (a bit of a pre-requisite), former ballerina, and aspiring marketing maven. She's fond of Converse sneakers, lululemon duds (she works part-time at the Prudential Center store), and volunteerism. Instead of a typical spring break this year, complete with all the trappings of an episode of MTV's Jersey Shore, Erin washed up on the shores of Costa Rica for a one-week service project.

In summary, "Erin the Intern" is pretty flippin' awesome. I thought you might like to meet her.

I also thought you might like to scope out her killer sense of yoga-inspired style. Like many avid yogis and athletic types, she's often on the go from yoga class to dinner with friends, work to the gym, etc. I can relate and frequently ask my wardrobe to perform double duty: yoga pants as leggings, a favorite lululemon bamboo T-shirt under a blazer for work, and accessories galore to transform gear for working out, into going out.

For her unmasking on OmGal.com, Erin selected three outfits from her closet (along with a few items from mine), which easily convert from fitness to fashion and vice versa.

Work to Running . . .


Conceal slim-fitting running shorts with built-in underwear and a lightweight tank under a flowy yet modest sundress. Add a classic belt and loose cardigan for added polish at the office.



Dress (Anthropologie), cardigan (Anthropologie), Run Speed Short (lululemon), Run Swiftly Racerback (lululemon), belt (H+M).

Pilates to Out-on-the-Town . . . Black basics, such as a halter top and 3/4 length tights, for Pilates, yoga, or dance easily transform into a chic evening outfit by adding a colorful mini skirt, tailored blazer, strappy sandals, and sparkling accessories. "A blazer goes with anything," Erin declared during our photo shoot, which is how I feel about Indian-inspired gold bangles from Forever 21 (I wear them with everything). Erin rocks them, here, along with two other accessories: an H + M handbag and a yogi "mocktail" (water with lemon).

Blazer (J.Crew), Scoop Neck Tank (lululemon), Wunder Under leggings (lululemon; I wore these to run the Boston Marathon last year, in hot pink), skirt (Urban Outfitters), sandals (Aldo), clutch (H+M), bangles (Forever 21).

Yoga Practice to Lunch with Pals, Shopping, or even a Sox Game . . .

Nautical stripes instantly add a dash of playful preppiness and timeless style to any outfit. Meanwhile, a lightweight scarf updates the look, so that Erin doesn't risk looking too much like a sailor. These navy yoga pants are cropped to a length that flatters with sneakers or ballet flats, and the delicate camisole easily works on or off the mat, alone or layered with a tunic, hoodie, or jacket.

Abi & Joseph Stretch Camisole, lucy hatha power capri, T-shirt (Intermix), scarf (H+M), shoes (Converse; not shown), mat by Plank Designs, Om Gal messenger bag (sorry friends, this item is one-of-a-kind).

One-of-a-kind, much like Erin the Intern!


Did you enjoy meeting Erin or any previous posts over the years on OmGal.com? If so, take one click to vote in the 2010 Intent Web Awards in the Best Yoga & Fitness Blog category. Pretty please . . . It's good karma.