30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge: Day 5

1 frozen banana1 large tbsp peanut butter2 teaspoons flaxseed2/3 cup waterlarge handful spinach
This smoothie gets a nice 3 stars from me. The spinach seems to leave a bitter after taste, maybe next time I'll use a smaller helping. Other than that, the peanut butter gives a nice fullness to the drink. Enjoy!
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30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge: Day 4

-1 small soft pear 
--1 handful of spinach leaves
--1/2 cup cold water
--1 small banana 
--2 Tblsp ground flax seeds
--a few small ice cubes
I really enjoyed the sweet pear flavor of this smoothie. It was still a soft taste so I only gave it three out of 5 stars. 
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30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge: Day 3

Today meets us with the idea of peaches. I used a 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen peaches, and a handful of spinach. I also threw in a teaspoon of ground flax seed for extra protein, omega 3's, and fiber. Oh, and let's not forget the cup of cranberry {apple and pear} juice.

Out of 5 stars I give this one a 2. This is more of a tangy smoothie yet I can't really place any distinct flavor. It's fruity but very soft to the taste buds, so, simply a nice glass of health. :)

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Day 1: Apple, Spinach, and Cranberry Smoothie

So, I threw it together...the first of my 30 day challenge smoothies. 
Day 1:

 a handful of spinach, a chopped apple, and a cup of cranberry juice {the cranberry juice did consist of apple, pear, and cranberry juices}. Blended. 
I must admit, it turned out very nicely. The peel left a bit of pulp so if you want to try this smoothie and you're not big on texture in your drinks, make sure you remove the peel before throwing it in your blender.
MMMMMMMMM, but like I said, this is good. You primarily taste the apple, and it's a deep, dark green. Sorry, my camera battery went out right as I was about to take a pic.
So, there we have it...Enjoy!
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Morning or Dinner Smoothies!

I've really enjoyed exploring www.sparkpeople.com recently and by doing so I've been introduced to some great smoothie recipes. And yet, these two below I've concocted myself :)
Blueberry Smoothie:

1 cup plain yogurt1/2 cup granola1 cup blueberries1 cup almond milk1 tbsp agave

Strawberry and Banana Smoothie:

1 cup plain yogurt1/2 cup granola1 cup frozen strawberries1/2 frozen banana1 cup almond milk 
MMM, these smoothies are so good. I enjoyed the blueberry smoothie for dinner and then the strawberry banana the next morning for breakfast. They are very filling, usually around 300 calories each, 16 ounces, with around 15 or so grams of protein. So there you have it, what smoothies do you enjoy??
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Clean Eating: My 1st Green Smoothie

We did it! We concocted our very own green smoothie. Thanks to www.sparkpeople.com I've come across so many wonderful people who are using smoothies to enjoy great nutrition and fulfilling foods. We jumped on board and I'm loving it! Below is my recipe with a video clip of how I enjoyed it afterwards. Here is also the link to actually watch the 11 minute video of me making the smoothie: http://youtu.be/4KP6BEQsMtY It definitely was a newbie moment for me. :)




Spinach, fresh, 2 cup 

Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Unsweetened Vanilla, 16 oz 
Blueberries, frozen, 1 cup, unthawed
Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened, 2 cup, unthawed
whey protein powder, 1 serving
Banana, fresh, 2 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long)

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Kicking Off The New Year With A New Me

Don't you just love starting over? A saying I've used many times with my kids is, "do you want to try again?" and that's pretty much how I view New Year's Resolutions, as a time to refocus, start over, and try again. :)
It's been a year since I've done any serious running and I miss it. Knowing the baby is due any time now, I've gone ahead and began setting my goals for what I'd like to make happen this year. I know I still have several weeks of recovery and that I can't just run right out and jump into a workout routine but I certainly can start planning for it all.
So, below are some goals and how I plan on seeing them through. I hope to add to them as the year goes, tweak what needs tweaking and overall enjoy 2012 to the max.
2012 Goals:
1. To Run: I picked up the book Run Your Butt Off back in the summer, gave it a quick read but didn't really tackle the program since I was pregnant and didn't feel it was the right time to pick it back up. However, it's been dusted off and I look forward to seeing it through this year. 
2. A Family Garden: I read up on this a great deal last year, buying several books that listed when and how to grow different vegetation. I even did a small pot garden next to the house which produce some good foods. This year I'd like to celebrate my birthday by purchasing a box garden and filling it with several different types of fruits and veggies and allowing the kids to really make this happen. Who knows, I may even look into canning. :)
3. Clean Eating: It's actually the research from The China Study that has lead me to reevaluate the way I eat and make changes for myself and family. According to this study, a diet high in meat/dairy products {20%} fuels the growth of cancer as well as other diseases, where as roughly a diet made up of about 5% of meat and dairy products can reverse and even eliminate many illnesses.
And, with this information I'm turning to the idea of eating clean - reducing foods that are made up of high, bleached sugar, chemically based, and turning more to whole foods. I recently found the book, The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids, which provides a great deal of recipes that kids are bound to love {I really hope I can introduce Jeremy to some fruits and vegetables that he'll enjoy}. And maybe with the garden this will spark more interest in healthy foods for the family.
4. To Be Less Judgmental: This is a very personal goal. I seem to pass judgement pretty quickly and it's an issue that I really want to work on. I can only think that through prayer, devotion, and spiritual maturity I'll make changes in this area.
So, there we have it, my first list for the year. I smile thinking about how it will all turn out. I hope to read this post periodically and really keep these ideas as a main focus as I go along. And now what about You, what goals have you set??

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On Leave

Today marks Day 1 on maternity leave. I've thought about this day for almost 9 months now. I've daydreamed about what Maddie and I would do with my time off before and with the baby, but now that it's here, I feel a bit lost. Maybe it's because I had planned on working for several more weeks, maybe I truly don't feel I was in a position to take the time off, there seemed to be so much more that needed to be done. But maybe I should accept it as a blessing and enjoy the time I have.
As I began preparing lunch for my girl I realized I'd love to do more home cooking while I'm off. It was then that I wondered if I should sit down and think of some goals, some ideas of what I'd like to do so that I feel as if I really took advantage of this time rather than just spinning my wheels with no direction.
But then again, what if I set goals and don't reach them? What if I need to go back to work before my 16 weeks are up? What if I simply can't do what I set out to do? So is life, isn't it? I guess living my life in fear of never meeting goals is no way to live. It's more productive to set a goal, move toward, and tweak it if need be. I mean, ok so what if I don't run a marathon this year or bake a homemade pie? I'm sure I'll have experienced something just simply trying to reach those goals.
So, let's set goals...let's do it and then put a plan in place to make it happen.
1. I'd like to get back into running. Within three to four weeks after the baby's here I'd like to start back up into a workout routine. Now, I do have some postpartum exercises that my midwife gave me back with Maddie and it begins with some breathing exercises after week one to begin strengthening up the stomach muscles. The only real obstacle I see here involve sleep. It's kind of hard to get back into a workout routine when you're exhausted so my next goal will be....
2. Sleep. I suffered from a bit of insomnia when I had Maddie. I was so worried I'd suffer from PPD that I spent all my time moving and going and in the end my anxiety went through the roof and I couldn't sleep. So, this time around, I'll definitely get up, get dressed, and start my day but I'll also pay close attention to when I'm feeling drained and I'll take all the opportunities to rest and recharge.
3. Organizing the house. I'd love to declutter and clean up a large portion of the stuff we simply don't need and don't use. I think I'll use the FlyLady's approach with this: set a timer and work on a project for that allotted time, remembering to not create more of a mess by creating another project while cleaning. You work on one area then you move on while keeping the idea that by cleaning up daily, you keep the clutter down and the projects small.
4. Homemade cooking. Now, this goal involves a bit more than simply cooking, it also involves nutrition, something I desperately need to work on. I'm gonna use my time off to really explore the idea of clean eating as well as reducing my consumption of red meat, dairy products, and processed foods. I may even look into weightwatchers but this idea is still up in the air.
Alright, so those are 4 broad goals I'd like to address over the next few months. Any advice or direction you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I'll be going back and really delving into each idea to really lay out a plan to make it happen.
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The two documentaries, Forks Over Knives and Food Inc have left a lasting impression on the way I view food and it's purpose in my life. 

The feature film Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.


Food, Inc. exposes America's industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers' rights.
I am now in the process of re-evaluating my lifestyle and food choices. I've already made the claim of wanting to include more organic foods into my {and my family's} diet but now I'm taking a look into whole foods, clean foods, and even vegetarian dishes. I understand changes take time and through education and planning, it's possible to make healthy choices that will impact our health in the long run.
Plus I'm growing a little baby in my belly and who wouldn't want to give a child the best possible nutrients available? I mean, I'm laying the ground work here for cell and brain development...what a huge responsibility. :)
What about you? What are your go to foods? Have you recently made any food changes?




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