The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is nearing (click here for the countdown) and participating runners are beginning their final days of preparation.  Most runners believe they should indulge in cheesy pastas, buttery potatoes, or other high-carb foods before a half or full marathon. After all, carbs are a great source of energy, and you need a lot of energy to cover 13.1 or 26.2 miles.  Although, after hearing a friend say "I can still feel my dinner sloshing" post a 20-mile training run, there is a right & wrong way to "carb load". . . 

Fat (including that in cheese and in creamy or high-fat-meat sauces) slows digestion. If you go to bed after a rich, heavy meal, you're going to wake up with nerves and a bunch of undigested food in your stomach. At best, it can weigh you down, or it may require an unplanned pit stop.

The lesson learned here is to load up properly!

After months of training, a runner's glycogen or blood sugar stores are depleted to about 50 to 60 percent of normal. In order to sustain energy for three, four, or more hours, they must be topped off, which means carb-loading starting 72 hours out (not only the night before). 

Recommendations:
Eat 4 grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight per day. For a 130-pound woman, that would be 520 grams. Your diet should consist of 80 to 90 percent carbohydrates.

Avoid high-fiber foods, like nuts, seeds, fruits with the peel on and juice with pulp—all of which tend to leave a residue in the gut. 

Indulge in bananas or melons; creamy (not crunchy) peanut butter; pulp-free juice; and white foods like rice, bread and pasta (white over wheat, as wheat contains too much fiber for pre-race conditioning).

Finallly, the day before the race, make lunch your biggest meal so you have plenty of time to digest.  Good luck!

Facebook has recently made another adjustment to its algorithm which changes what appears in your newsfeed, meaning you're likely not seeing many of the Kensington updates (or those from other sites you follow). Here's a simple way to adjust your settings and get the posts flowing again...

The smart folks at "Cool Mom Tech" posted some, great, simple steps to follow:

1. Go to our page. Look just below the main cover photo, near the top of the page and make sure the "Liked" button is checked.

2. Mouse over the "Liked" button and be sure that "Show in News Feed" is selected.

3. In the same drop-down menu right underneath "Show in News Feed" you will see a "Settings" option. Click on that and check "All Updates."

According to the Cool Mom Tech post, the recent update has defaulted settings for your favorite pages from "All Updates" to "Most Updates", which means that you will only see a portion of the content. Making these changes should set things back to the previous feed flow.

They had one final tip:

4. The more you engage with a page—sharing, liking, commenting—the more likely you are to continue to see the updates in your own feed.

Thanks to: Cool Mom Tech

Here at Kensington we're often asked to plan dinner parties & style our client's homes for the event.  As you can imagine, these requests are amplified during the holiday season.  Our go-to vendor for all things custom-made is My Modern Home, an Etsy store, featuring a multitude of home decor items that can be used in party planning and in everyday life.  We love ordering the following items in custom sizes & prints for client's parties & home decor needs:

The owner is incredibly helpful and works with her clients to create custom-made pieces at a fraction of the price you'd find like-items at a local retailer (and those items are made in mass quantity).  Our favorite items this season are My Modern Home's Table Runners, Table Cloths, Drapes and Photo Booths (seen below - click photo to buy).  

For a limited time, now until December 13, 2013, use coupon code HOLIDAY13 at My Modern Home's Etsy checkout to receive 10% off your order!

One of Kensington's favorite organizational products, often infused into our client's homes & offices, is the "BackPack" for iMac. The BackPack, made by Twelve South, is the perfect place to park portable hard drives, hubs or other USB peripherals you want to hide, but need easy access to. The integrated built in cable management will keep you cables in place - no more watching your power cable slip to the floor when you unplug. You can even tie the extra length of cable to the BackPack rails to keep things super tidy. When you bring your hard drive back to your Mac, your cables are ready and waiting.

While the days of sporting a traditional backpack over your shoulder have passed, Twelve South's BackPack for iMac is fresh, innovative & cool. As experts in the world of chic de-cluttering, we give this device an iApprove!

To learn more about the BackPack, or to purchase, click here.

Mana, which loosely translates to "the things magic is made of", offers just that. . .their menu is a blend of vegetarian, vegan, & gluten free dishes, all of which are utterly spellbinding. For those of you under the impression that a strictly vegetarian restaurant cannot be as delectable as its meatier counterparts, Mana will absolutely prove you wrong. Their sole location at 1742 W. Division in Wicker Park is tiny & hardly sizable enough to accomodate all the hungry guests arriving on a busy evening at one time, so a wait may be in the cards (Mana does not take reservations). A street-side patio is open from March-October which allows for more seating, decreasing the possibility of standing around for a table.  Fortunately, if you must wait for a table, the time spent is fast forgotten when the tapas-style plates begin to arrive. 

My personal favorite item on the menu is the Mana Slider (brown rice & mushroom burger topped with spicy mayo) which ever so slightly beats out the Burrito (spicy sweet potatoes, black beans, white cheddar, arugula and crema) & Curry (cauliflower and kale in yellow curry, over black pepper lentils with pickled apple).  The Ravioli (sweet pea filled ravioli, tomato, almond-mint pesto and asiago cheese) is also worth a delectable mention due to its unexpected almond-mint pesto.

Do yourself a solid & plan an evening at Mana. With prices at about $5-10 per shared plate, it won't break the bank either.  

To take a closer look at their menu, click this link: http://www.manafoodbar.com/
To visit their Yelp! page, click this link: http://www.yelp.com/biz/mana-food-bar-chicago

The Autumnal Equinox is officially upon us & thus it's time to embrace all things this glorious season has to offer. One of my favorite elements of Fall is the coziness it brings, in all of its different forms - cable knit sweaters, the crackling of fires in the fireplace & of course, a large mug filled with something rich & yummy.  One particular warm beverage that I love to indulge in is the "No Coffee Pumpkin Latte". Since this drink is caffeine free, it's great for both adults & children (note: on occasion I'll add strong coffee to the mix & it tastes amazing). To try it yourself, follow the simple directions below:

We all have one, and we most likely all hate the look of it - I'm talking about the ugly, yet necessary, cable box.  While it serves a solid purpose, it does so in a terribly unattractive manner. If only it looked like a cut crystal vase, or an artistic coffee table book, we'd be welcoming to placing it atop our lovely furniture - unfortunately it doesn't!  In an effort to help beautify our clients homes, I've created a list of 4 innovative ways to hide this common eyesore (and other electronic boxes, e.g. printers, routers, modems, etc.):

1. Hide it in a Drawer/Transform the Drawer Front:  Shown in Photo 1 below, this concept is a fabulous way to hide electronics of various sizes (even printers).  Simply drill a hole in the back of your sideboard/dresser/etc. and pop your device inside running the cords out the back.  Carefully saw the drawer front apart from its interior sides & add hinges; this will turn your drawer front into a pull-down cabinet front. Based upon personal experience, piano hinges or 175 degree spring hinges work best in this application. Often times when using a piano hinge, a magnetic catch latch may be required to keep the cabinet front from falling.
2. Create a Custom Cover for the Box: Shown in Photo 2 below, this concept is not for those faint of a D.I.Y. challenge. Head to your local hardware store & pick-up wood to create a 4 sided box frame (3/4x3/4" wood is ideal), wood saw, decorative metal sheeting, tin shears, regular & liquid nails. If you're bold enough, pickup a mitering box too.  Create the wood frame by hammering your wood pieces together (leaving the bottom & back open), then cut the decorative metal sheeting to the size of your frame.  If you have a miter box, mitering the corners of the wood will help to align the corners together ensuring a clean edge.  Next, glue the metal sheeting to the 4 visible sides of the box (wipe away any excess glue so it doesn't ball up, thus causing another eyesore).  Since decorative sheeting is generally silver, a coat of spray paint may be necessary to match it to your room decor.  Slide the cable box within the designed box and whala, you're eyesore is now a beautiful conversation piece. 
3. Infrared Receiver Extender: One of my favorite finds in the recent year is the Infrared Receiver Extender. This tiny item eliminates the need for your cable box to sit near the TV.  To implement this item in your home, simply hop online & search "infrared receiver extender" + "your cable box make & model number".  Once you've found & received a compatible model, stick the bubble/dome-like end onto your TV front while plugging the opposite end into your cable box (which you've strategically hidden out-of-view). Now, your TV remote will work when aiming it at the sensor vs. the cable box itself. Isn't this device pure genius?!  I think so. . . 
4. Hardback Book Covers to Hide Electronics: Believe it or not, most TV & Internet signals are strong enough to carry their signal through thin blockages.  Shown in Picture 4, a hardback book cover casing was created to disguise a cable modem or box.  In order to achieve this look in your home, gather up unused/unwanted books & create a nice looking grouping (standing side-by-side). With a razor blade, cut along the interior corner of each book allowing for the shell of the book to fall loose from its pages. Next, cut along the side edges of each book's spine, thus leaving the spine as a single entity. Be sure to save 1 right-side edge & 1 left-side edge, so your cable-box cover has sides. Now, with your spines laid out side by side, apply a layer of Liquid Nails to the meeting point of each spine. Before you know it, you will have created a one-of-a-kind 3-way cover for your electronics.

As our Chicago readers may know (and feel), Fall is officially upon us.  The week began with highs in the 90's and has since dropped to the dreary 60's (with lows in the 40's...eek!).  Whether (or should we say "weather") we like it or not, the leaves are changing and thus, our wardrobes should too!

In typical Chicago fashion, the temperature may continue to play games with us until late November, but fear not, Kensington's here to inform you of 2013's hottest Fall fashion trends so you can begin to infuse them into your wardrobe on the impending chilly days. . . 

1. Beanies aren't for Skiing Anymore
When executed correctly, this trend can be an inexpensive way (avoid Burburry & YSL beanies) to update your current outfit into a 2013 trendy ensem.  Look current & stay warm when pairing a beanie back with your favorite fall outfit.  Not only are beanies popular, but all kinds of hats made their way onto the NY Fashion Week runways this year; everything from Fedoras to Bowlers.  So we say, when in doubt, top it off with a hat!

Continue reading for what's hot below the head. . .

2. Classic Prints & The Return of Houndstooth
They say that all fashion will return, and boy has it ever. The Houndstooth, Plaid, Pinstripe & Academic inspired looks of the corporate 80's are back and better than ever. With Houndstooth leading this trend, retailers and designers alike have infused these fabrics and looks into their designs and retail offerings with a more polished and streamlined feel than what was done in years past. 

This is one of Kensington's favorite looks for Fall.  Fortunately brands & designers from Marc Jacobs to Old Navy have displayed items fitting into this particular trend, so its accessible to everyone despite varied budgets.  Our favorite high, medium & low-end Houndstooth looks are below, with links to where you can purchase:

3. Emerald Green: For those of you that don't already know, Emerald Green is the color of the year.  Fortunately, we love this color when used in fashion, interior & graphic design.  This jewel tone embodies a beautiful balance of classiness & exuberance, a brightness for the warmer months & a deepness for fall & winter - in our humble opinion, its truly the perfect shade!

That being said, its HOT HOT HOT for the chilly temps that come in Fall & Winter. Emerald has been shown in chunky knits (our fave!), tight peplum, silk dresses, denim and leather-wear.  Due to the boldness of this color, be wary of over-doing an outfit in this shade.  A punch of Emerald will do an ensemble wonders, and elevate you to the Alexa Chung fashion-level, whereas a head-to-toe green look will come-off as bit too Green Lantern-ish - and no one wants that (Ryan Reynolds: YES/G.L. Costume: NO)!

4.  The Turtleneck:  Seen on almost every runway in Bryant Park, the turtleneck is back, and its back with a vengeance!  This neck hugging piece is incredibly flattering on the body as it elongates the torso from chin to hip while drawing attention to the most important attribute on any person - - their face. 

Our favorite Turtleneck sightings were in the Victoria Beckham, Derek Lam and Tibi NY Fashion week shows.  See our favorites below:

5.  Thigh-High Boots: Don't scratch your head, the knee-high boot hasn't fallen out of favor with women over the past decade- its simply gotten an improvement. . .its height (shaft, not heel).  

Pouring out of the fashion show craziness backstage were an abundance of thigh-high boots.  Everything from simple black leather, belted-embellishments & pony-hair were shown on these pavement stompers. 

Alternatively, if you're not feeling rock & roll enough to pull this off, other designers opted for a leather wrapped leg (think leather leggings) paired with a leather bootie of the same shade (to give the effect of the thigh-high trend).  

We're loving this look but imagine its a 1 - 2 year trend that may become dated in 24 months.  Our advice: Seek out a sale or opt for other 2013 trends.

6. Winter White: We MUST be dreaming. . . Houndstooth, Thigh-High Boots & now Winter White!  Whomever decided on this year's trends is very dear to our heart.  White is all the rage in post-Labor Day fashion. Not that we ever followed that silly rule, but for those of you still abiding, you've been given freedom at last.  

We love the ethereal feel of a head-to-toe Winter white outfit.  Ironically, we feel a wool sweater in this frosty shade screams "winter" moreover an identical darker toned piece.  So, if you've learned anything here, one of the coolest things you can do this season is embody the color of icy snow.  

Here are a few runway samples of head-to-toe winter white, done right:

7. Colored Leather: Need not fear, this trend is doable for all.  Initially the sound of wearing Emerald leather may scare those with a traditional style sensibility, but truly, this trend can be infused into reserved & adventurous wardrobes alike.

Topping the runway this Fall was a flood of colored & body hugging leather pieces.  Heed our styling advice below on how to infuse this trend into your  wardrobe:

8. Military Inspired:  Models around town were covered in military inspired garb at this years fashion week. This classically masculine style was executed properly by balancing the craftsmanship needed when showcasing a woman's figure all-while projecting strength & power. Designers alike used hardware & belting to accentuate the waist, & fine tailoring to show the natural beauty in the curve of a woman's hip. So, if you're feeling down in the trenches this Fall, wrap yourself in some military threads & feel the power this style inherently brings.

9. Statement Outerwear:  "Go Big or Go Home" - that's the motto for this years outerwear fashion.  Whether the fabrication or look is classic, herringbone, leather, or military, this outerwear is big, beautiful & most importantly (for Chicagoans), warm!

Take a peek out our favorite 2013 runway looks:

1. De-clutter the Computer:  This step is a two-parter.  Part One means to actually clean off the physical computer (remove sticky notes, wipe the key board & screen, etc.)  Removing the visual distractions on your hardware will, over-time, add to your time spent on what's most important when working - work!  Part Two of this step is to clean up your computer's desktop.  In an effort to save time, don't spend too long on this step.  Start by creating a computer file labeled "Desktop" and fill it with everything that is currently on your desktop (docs & applications alike).  Remove all other items from your desktop visibility so you've got a clean workspace.  *I personally like to add a solid, minimally distracting, background and/or screensaver (think solid white, light grey or light blue) so my screen is clean & serene looking. This helps me to embody these emotions, even on the most stressful of days.

2.  Create 2 Piles for Organizing: The 2 piles you'll be creating are called "NOW" & "LATER". . . 
     - Lets start with your "LATER" pile: Begin to collect all the items from your desk which are associated with completed tasks and/or tasks without a deadline.  Stack these items together & pop them into a file cabinet, box or bag nearby (see picture on right for example).  
     - Now, to the "NOW" pile: Collect anything that pertains to projects with an upcoming deadline, and/or projects you're currently working on.  When collecting these items, place them with like papers/documents and file, or stack them accordingly.  Next, place your most urgent items at the top of these documents so you have a grouping of items with most urgent to least urgent (this will help to guide you throughout the day). *If you'd like to go a step further, create labeled project file folders which hold all of said documents.

3. Reduction:  Take a look at the personal items in your space and begin to eliminate what you can.  Invest in 1 picture frame which holds multiple pictures, or a cork board above your desk to hold your pictures nicely & neatly in one place, so you're desk is minimally cluttered with photographs.  Also, do you have pens located in your desk drawer & laid amongst desktop?  If so, reduce these down to one location. Choose one space & commit to keep to it (I recommend keeping all writing utensils in a nice jar/cup located atop your desk for the ease of quick grabbing).  Do you have 3+ pads of paper floating on top of your desk or within your top drawer?  If so, lose two (preferably to a file cabinet or storage drawer nearby), and keep one handy.  You'll never lose important notes if they're all stored within one pad of paper.

4. Keep it Up: When a project ends, although you feel the pressure to move immediately onto the next, cycle through these methods (if you keep it up, this step will take mere minutes).  Move your completed projects papers to the LATER pile and do a once-over on your desk to make sure its in perfect un-cluttered order.

5. Got a Second?:  Whenever you've found yourself with a second to spare (whether the boss is M.I.A. or you're on an annoying overseas 40 minute phone-call hold), tend to your "LATER" pile or your computer's "Desktop" folder.  Begin sorting through this mess of items.  When cleaning up your "LATER" pile, create an organizational filing system (either physical or digital) for completed tasks & TBAT's (To Be Accomplished Tasks).  If you're sifting through your digital docs, be sure to start slow & tackle one project at a time.  For instance, start with pictures, and slowly sift through each item making sure to label & store it in its proper digital place. Continue this technique for all the documents in your "Desktop" file.  You'll be surprised, time will pop up randomly & organization will find its way into your life (generally, before you could ever force-feed yourself with it on a TTD list).

I'm a firm believer in surrounding yourself with serenity in order to feel serenity.  Its common practice to choose friends wisely because of their possible effect in your life - so why not carry this same methodology into the spaces where we spend an abundance of time?  While we may not have the opportunity to decorate the entire corporate office, take control of what you can - your cube, your desktop, your laptop, etc.

If you'd like assistance with your organizing endeavors, please contact Kensington at (312) 204-7332.  Please add questions to the comments section below - we'll be sure to answer quickly!