Tropical Stay-cation in a Glass

Hello friends!! Long time no read! It's been a few months since my last blog entry... Okay, half a year. Despite the time gap and the absence of my digital, health-conscious, advice-giving presence, I am back, with every intention of continuing the original spirit of this Blonde Smoothie campaign. I write this as I walk my dog up our neighborhood street. My mid June day has been filled with sunshine and its hugging heat. Summers in Oklahoma sure do take it out of ya. By five o'clock in the afternoon, I'm exhausted and hungry, craving a refreshing pick-me-up to help me get through what's left of the day. 

I've recently been exposed to the cosmetic and healthy living brand Arbonne. Arbonne is an organic, vegan friendly, gluten-free, harmful chemical-free Sweedish born, Californian raised company that promotes beauty through health. Last week I was invited to a party where we tried on moisturizer and blush, drank smoothies and green tea, and pondered the significance of toxins in our diets. (It got very deep.) One of the several items I purchased at this party was the Arbonne protein powder in vanilla. The shipment just came in yesterday, and to celebrate its arrival and to quench my summer cravings, I threw together a green smoothie -- Arbonne style. 

Tropical Vanilla Protien Smoothie

Ingredients

-1 cup almond milk

-6 handfuls Super Greens

-1/2 cup broccoli 

-1 frozen banana

-large handful of frozen pineapple

-large handful of frozen strawberries 

-two scoops of Arbonne Protien powder in Vanilla 

As usual, I start only with the milk and greens, blending them alone to pulverize the most amount of greens possible, thickening the almond milk base for the rest of the smoothie. I then added the rest of the ingredients into my VitaMix and blended until smooth. Serves two. 

The pineapple taste takes you straight to California coast. Or the Gulf of Mexico. Or Hawaii. The taste reminds you a beach. Whatever destination floats your boat. Let your mind relax as you sip this smoothie. I've realized this is the Arbonne way. This is the California way. A way to relax, appreciate, and love. It's a vacation in a glass. Enjoy (:

A Winter Remedy: The Green Chocolate Smoothie

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”– Henry Ford

I start today's blog post with this cool quote by Henry Ford as an ode to the lugubrious state of affairs that currently surround my life. As of late, the wind against me has seemed far too strong to take off.

Though I don't tend to view myself as an airplane or any distant relative of such a contraption for that matter, I like the idea. Airplanes, as taken for granted as they are nowadays, magnificently overcome the most powerful force on Earth- gravity. They are the product of painstaking design, engineering, and craftsmanship. They are, with out a doubt, the product of thoughtful and intelligent artists. Aircraft are, in their simplest definition, important. 

So maybe being compared to an airplane isn't half bad. As far as obscure compliments go (remember when William/Ulrich adorably compared Jocelyn to the Bible?) a likeness to the airplane is beautifully understandable. 

Though taking the quote completely out of context, Mr. Ford seemed to want to convey that we must all remember the possibility of finding the good out of the bad, or the warmth out of the cold. 

I don't really know what this all has to do with smoothies, but it has to do with me, and I guess it relates because I made this smoothie. I call it Green Chocolate. 

In the winter, (I'm starting to remember why I decided on the melancholy introductory paragraph) my happiness dims like the short living sun. I cling to warmth by the fireplace and snuggle with those I love for compensation of the great flames of the forgotten summer sky. Smoothies--a cold, refreshing, energizing drink--are the epitome of what summer stands for, which is maybe why I engage in such a love affair with them. It seems in the gray and windy season of Winter, there is not much room for my favorite fuel. 

I wondered, how can this change?

The answer? It's simple: chocolate and mugs. 

Green Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredients:

- 7 oz (approx) spinach/kale/swiss chard

- 1/2 - 3/4 cup almond milk 

- small handful of frozen cherries

- 1 banana

- 1 packet Amazing Meal Cafe Mocha blend

As always, blend these ingredients together in your VitaMix. Serves 1. 

I want to talk about mugs. Mugs have a psychological effect on my eating habits that force me to slow down on my drinking. Parrallel to the high-stress, always-on-the-go lifestyle I can never seem to escape, my eating habits have quickened pace as well. When dining with friends, I often find myself the first to finish my meal, and the nagging feeling of not enjoying the dinning experience to the full. A mug, for me, tells me it is time to relax, as I feel when I'm happily sipping my morning coffee or night-time hot tea. 

A mug means you are in your happy place.

I decided the best way to enjoy this smoothie to pour my drink into a mug, sit by the fire, and enjoy every sip. I topped my drink with organic hemp seed and relaxed in the warmth of the red before me. I felt the summer inside myself smiling, thankful that I had found joy in the season of sad. 

Despite the heavy winds, I know we can take off. Maybe we aren't even airplanes, who delay their flights in stormy weather, we are birds, who endure even in a storm. I hope that my readers (all three of you) realize their "happy place" and the essential props accompanying such contentment. For me, all that is needed is some chocolate, a mug, a blanket of warmth surrounding me. 

xx

Chocolate, a mug, and a blanket of warmth surrounding me (:

Smoothie Post: Cookies and Cream!

I got sick. As much as I tried avoiding doorknobs, shaking hands with others, densely populated areas, and human contact in general, I. Got. Sick. 

Sigh. 

My last few days have been spent almost entirely snuggled into my covers, moving as little as humanly possible, and marathoning Netflix television shows. Unfortunately, I got the kind of sick that makes you whiney and lazy, but I didn't get the kind of sick that makes you lose your appetite and makes you really skinny. So here I am, feeling really sick and also feeling really fat due to my complete lack of physical activity. 

To compete with my new sedimentary lifestyle, I have developed a revolutionary new smoothie that tastes like just the comfort you need during a sad and pathetic Day of Sickness. 

Introducing: COOKIES AND CREAM SMOOTHIE. It really tastes like cookies and cream. It felt like drinking a hug. And who doesn't want a hug when they're sick??

Cookies n' Cream Smoothie 

Ok I am going to give you the simple recipe for this, but in exchange, I want you to make this smoothie and drink it. I know you guys just like to read my posts but don't actually make these smoothies, but I promise you that it really tastes delicious. This is the perfect transitional smoothie to get you into the healthier swing of things. 

Still making excuses not to make it? To help you decide, I've provided below a list of indicators that you need to make and drink this smoothie. If after reading, you feel you do not identify with any of these traits, I will fairly allow you to move on with your life. But just know--I honestly feel sorry for you, for you have lost out on so much. And you will most probably die alone, if you don't count you 37 cats.

Try this smoothie if you:

-Want to get more greens in your diet

-Need a meal, but are in a time crunch

-You are a vegetarian having trouble incorporating protein in your diet

-Craving a healthy dessert alternative

-Like cookies and cream

-Are an awesome, super-cool, person that looks really good in the color black 

If you experience one or more of the things above, congratulations! You qualify to drink this amazingly awesome Cookies and Cream smoothie!

Ingredients:

-1/2-1 cup almond milk 

-1 banana

-frozen berries (I used cherries in the photos below, but blueberries or strawberries also work)

-as much spinach (or kale, mixed greens, etc) as you can fit (seriously, stuff those bad boys in there)

-2 scoops of Cookies n' Cream Herbalife Formula

I meant it when I said, "stuff as much spinach as you can in that bad boy!"

This batch yielded about 40 oz. If you replace one meal a day for one cup, or 8 ounces, of a green smoothie, this amount will last you around five days. It took me less than 10 minutes to prepare and serve this smoothie. Aside from the amazing health benefits (which I will get to later), think of all the time that would be saved by cooking this up at the beginning of your week!

Read about replacing your meals with smoothies and how to portion them here.

As far as the health benefits go, this smoothie is the living definition of "nutritious and delicious".

Because there are so many benefits, and I am an incredibly lazy human being, below I have provided links proving the substance of these ingredients.

Read about how almond milk compares to cow's milk here.

Read a nutritional overview of banana's here.

Read about the connection between eating strawberries and blueberries and good heart health here.

Read about the importance of incorporating greens in your diet here.

Read the nutritional information of the Herbalife formula here.

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Though I'm iffy about this Herbalife formula, this brand of almond milk is totally GREAT. Completely GMO FREE!!

I hope I have convinced you to give this smoothie a shot. While I believe this is totally delicious, I recommend using this formula seldom, and more as a transitional aid into more natural recipes, than as a long term meal replacement. I say this because, while it does contain factors such as high protein and a variety of great vitamins, the Cookies n' Cream formula is NOT organic.

Still, it is a great alternative to chowing down on this. (;

So, if you are in need of a treat, I urge you to try this super tasty, super delicious smoothie. It might just make you so happy that you end up having a super awesome day!

Thanks for reading and happy eating!!

Greenest Green Smoothie Recipe

The best way to start off a good morning is by treating your body to some killer fuel. This green smoothie recipe will revitalize your body and rejuvenate your energy. You will feel full, but light. It is the perfect meal to start the rest of your day.

My Greenest Green Smoothie recipe: 

-5 to 7 ounces of greens (I like to use kale, spinach, or mixed "Super Greens" by Organic Girl brand) 

-1/2 cup of almond milk

-1 banana

-about six or seven strawberries

-1 sliced miniature orange or 1/2 of a sliced regular sized orange 

-tablespoon of Chia seeds

-2 tablespoons of TriOmega SuperFood blend by Green Smoothie Girl

http://greensmoothiegirl.com/product/greensmoothiegirl-products/greensmoothiegirl-triomega-superfood/

First, I blend my greens in with my almond milk, gradually adding more greens. By blending the greens first and by themselves, I've found it creates a smooth base for the rest if the smoothie.  

After all of my greens are blended, I simply add the rest of the ingredients in. 

This recipe will make about two servings, so you can enjoy it throughout the day, not just for breakfast. 

Take a sip and see what you think! If you're not used to the strong taste of the leaves, try adding a couple drops of all natural stevia sweetener. I find this gives if a very pleasant taste. 

These smoothies are my life! They containing so many disease-fighting nutrients! This power drink is bound to
keep your body wanting more and more (even if your taste buds refuse). (: