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 (:

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!!

How GMOs Are Taking Over the World

Amid a flourishing world of capitalism, poverty, population expansion, and economic crisis, there also exists the world of food. As humans, we eat to live, and sometimes live to eat, but what has happened in recent history to humanity’s favorite pastime has turned everything on its toes. Introducing: GMOs. GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms are, as the agrochemical and agricultural powerhouse of a company Monsanto defines, “plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs.” The World Health Organization throws in their two cents describing the robot plants as “organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally.” Gone are the days of the lounging ancient Greeks who were dangle fed organic grapes containing no hints of pesticides. Farewell to the cowboys of the Wild West who were able to confidently consume the added-hormone-free meat of their cattle. We have now entered a new age. Food is no longer mere livelihood or supplement—it is big business. In fact, the business has become so big, that buying local item at a supermarket is practically impossible. Inevitably, with big business comes greed, deception, and even moral detriment. Genetically modified organisms are the result of large corporations greed that effects can be felt universally—from the white-collar family, to the poor and starving.

“Genetically Engineered Foods”, “Genetically modified organisms,” or GMOs, are organisms that have been created through application of transgenic, gene-splicing techniques that are part of biotechnology. These transgenic methods for moving genes around are also called “genetic engineering,” or GE.

Playing with the genetics of plants and organisms is a relatively new science. This is how the process works: scientists take DNA (genetic material) from one species and artificially introduce it into a totally unrelated organism. This creates transgenic organisms with combinations of genes from plants, animals, bacteria, and even viral gene pools. The mixing of genes from different species that have never shared genes in the past is what makes GMOs and GE crops so unique (or—cough, cough—unnatural). There is no possible way to create the same output through traditional cross-breading methods. Genetically engineered foods open a whole new realm of unforeseen possibilities.

GMOs are, in fact, changing the world—but not for the better. Many argue the benefits of GM crops as expanding job growth, decreasing world hunger, and feeding a growing population. While those ideas sound all fine and dandy, the facts just don’t seem to back them up.

It seems like common sense that consumers have the right to know what goes into the foods they are eating. It is law, after all, for companies to list their ingredients and nutritional information on their containers. So, why then, are American consumers still being kept in the dark on their GMO purchases?

Since the mid 1990s, an increasing number of countries have adopted labeling policies for genetically modified food. The first labeling policies were introduced by the European Union (EU) in 1997, but since then over 40 other countries, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Japan and China, label genetically modified foods. The United States is currently not on that list. However, Americans want to see GMOs labeled. Polls show that more than 9 of 10 Americans want defined designation of GMOs. The demand for branding transparency has greatly increased, yet nothing has changed .

  The so-called most important meal of your day, unfortunately but it has also fallen victim of the GMOs giant. The most common genetically engineered ingredients–corn, soy and canola oil–find their way into 70 percent of popular processed foods like breakfast cereal, cookies, chips, soda and frozen meals. But that’s not enough. Now, biotechnology companies are lobbying the government to let them market new crops and a genetically engineered fish. Sadly enough, this will probably happen. Gross.

“Oh, but they’re perfectly safe! No one has died… yet,” says the nameless Kellogg’s funded GMO researcher. Despite that convincing argument, the long-term safety of genetically engineered foods has not been proved. All government agencies need to approve GMOs infiltrating American supermarket shelves are a few quick studies involving short-lived laboratory animals. These studies cannot determine the long-term consequences when humans eat genetically engineered foods throughout their entire lifetime. Some scientists have documented their observations of changes in their animal subjects’ metabolism who were fed genetically engineered foods, however no one is funding that route of research.

  GMOs harm biodiversity and also encourage a new strain of weeds that are extremely difficult to uproot. Many genetically engineered crops are engineered to withstand high doses of pesticides. Not even a bucket of Roundup could kill Dole’s weakest GMO tomato. The nonselective process of planting these crops plus the inevitable use of the pesticides associated with them has led to pesticide-resistant superweeds. A vicious cycle thus ensues where farmers use more and stronger pesticides to combat superweeds but the weeds learn to resist, and even stronger pesticides must then be used on our “fresh foods”. Not only that, but genetically engineered crops and their partnered pesticides also harm the beneficial insects that roam the crops. This includes butterflies. Butterflies, guys... I mean, come on, what did they do to you?

One thing GMO advocates stand strongly by their technology for is its potential to solve world hunger. Yet here we are, in the year 2014, with a starkly opposite reality. After nearly two decades, genetically engineered crops have failed to make any meaningful difference for the hungry. Instead, GMO crops drive out locally adapted crop varieties that are suited to particular soils and climates, undermining sustainability and resilience of local farms around the world and contributing to hunger globally.

Genetic engineering hasn’t ended hunger and has no hopeful prospect of doing so. These foods, then have no value other than to make substantial amounts of money and provide business to those with a greedy appetite. Genetically modified or engineered foods only hurt, and do not help, consumers across the nation. While other countries have pushed away these unnatural practices, the United States embraces these foods, blindly pursuing them towards their people. It seems that as time goes on, the prospect of returning to the blue-skied, wild America that once existed—where cowboys and Indians eat their organic crops in peace—fades farther and farther away.

Quick Vitamin C Power Punch

With sickness abound, Vitamin C is a must. Here's a quick recipe for one I whooped up in my Magic Bullet.

 

Ingredients:

-5 oz of Organic Girl Super Greens

-1 sliced orange

-a splash of water

-1 packet of Lipospheric C

Place the greens in first, with the orange slices where they will be closest to the blades. Add a dash of water for easier blending. Gradually add the rest of the greens. Finally add the Liposheric C. 

These ingredients are all packed with Vitamin C and will leave you feeling happy and vibrant! 

Be Well Smoothie: A Remedy for Body and Spirit

Ah, Autumn... The season of reflection and change. The months of September and October act as a transition from yesterday's Summer into tomorrow's Winter. The days gets shorter, and the darkness creeps into the light. It is during this transitional season that night and day become equally prominent in our lives. 

Writer Gary Thorp once said: "Sometimes there is no remedy for our situation than to begin from a point of absolute darkness. Turning off a television set and extinguishing a lantern have certain similarities; they are both abrupt and transition making, and can leave us in a different world. In darkness, we are always on our own." 

When we let go from our futile securities, we then find ourselves completely in the dark. It is then when we have nothing to rely on but ourselves. As we watch the leaves of seasons past flutter to the ground, we are reminded that nature's cycles are mirrored in our own lives. Autumn is a time for letting go and cleansing things that have been a burden. For this reason, I realize now is the time--the season, rather--for a transition from damaging habits to healthy practices.

Starting today, I will be posting a series of updates about my new "Transitional" period. I'll try my best to update at least once a week!

Today, I want to focus on transitioning from physically ill to mentally healthy. While Fall is doubtlessly beautiful and fruits delicious seasonal treats, it can also be a high time for unwanted illnesses. The past few days, for me, have been spent completely indoors, with a box of tissues and cozy blanket nearby at all times. There is not much else besides a comfy bed and a good book that will make sick days enjoyable, but the Blonde Smoothie has found something else to add to the quintessential Sick Day list.

Instead of a normal cup of Joe, my aching throat was asking for something a little more soothing this morning. Suggested by my lovely mother, I opted for a cup of warm water with lemon instead. Though sounding incredibly simple, I was amazed by the power one sip of this drink contained. My throat felt immediately soothed, a citrus fuzz tingling down with each sip. Lemon water has long been known as a healthy, beneficial drink, but I had always thought it too plain to be something worth trying. I was wrong. Experts suggest drinking a cup of warm lemon water everyday to promote a more energized and cleansed lifestyle. Even Lauren Conrad is on the amazingly cool lemon water bandwagon. This drink is not just for sick days, but for everyday. I suggest all (2 of) my readers to try it!

Lemon water holds many health benefits, including soothing a sore throat in despair.

Up next on today's list of remedies was, naturally, my Be Well Smoothie. I kind of just made this up on the spot, but it ended up being actually kind of delicious...

Ingredients:

-1 peeled orange

-1 sliced apple

-1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

-5 oz spinach

-1 banana

-1 tbsp maca powder

-1 cup frozen blueberries

Make sure you get the orange and apple towards the bottom of the blender so their juice will act as the smoothie's liquid base.

Place the ingredients in the blender in the order listed above. By having the water-dense fruits placed closest to the blades, you eliminate the need for an added liquid base (no water, almond milk, etc). If your blender is not powerful enough to tackle all these ingredients at once, I suggest blending the orange first, on its own, and gradually adding handfuls of spinach until you've added it all. Then, continue with the remaining ingredients. 

I named this smoothie "Be Well" because of the awesome, bug-fighting nutrients packed inside. Each ingredient was chosen based off its relevance to fighting illnesses. 

Oranges are packed with Vitamin C, which will strengthen your immune system and reduce the length of your sick days. 

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but in all actuality, there may be some truth in the saying. Apples acts as both a natural antihistamine and an anti inflammatory. Antihistamines are used to relieve allergy symptoms, which is why you might be prone to popping a couple Benadryl tablets around this time of year. 

Apple Cider Vinegar is known for its many health benefits, so I honestly just kind of randomly threw it in the mix. However, it is a cleanser, which will not hurt when your body is being attacked from forces within.  

Adding spinach was a given. Along with its countless other health benefits, this nutrient dense plant is acts as an anti-inflammatory. It is the perfect food to fuel an weak body. 

Bananas are just awesome, so I always include them in my smoothies. Not just because of the creamy texture they add to a blend, but their powerful depression-fighting nutrients. Bananas contain high levels of tryptophan, which converts into serotonin--the chemical in your brain that makes you feel like this. So bananas are an obvious choice to someone who might feel down in the dumps because of their current health status!

There are several benefits of adding Maca to your Be Well smoothie. Maca, a root belonging to the radish family, is rich in vitamin B vitamins, C, and E. It also provides plenty of calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and amino acids. It doesn't end there, Maca's awesome health benefits will have you mixing this powder into everything you eat. 

Blueberries are very rich in anti oxidants like Anthocyanin, vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper, selenium, zinc, iron, among other nutrients. These nutrients boost up your immune system so that you will be less likely to catch another cold, fever, or any type of viral and bacterial communicable diseases.

So, Autumn... The season of reflection and change. While the light in our lives inevitably fades to darkness, we must find time to balance the power between the two. Nature finds a balance between the light and the dark. May we be inspired to do the same. Toxicity will always swarm throughout our lives, but the beauty in existing is being able to find health and happiness despite our dark conditions. 

My transition this week was finding happiness in a situation where even getting out of bed seemed despairing. If you are struggling with feeling under the weather, I urge you to seek for the light. Treat yourself to healthy habits and pleasant thoughts. Your body will be soon to catch up (-:

The Mango Kale Power Smoothie

With everything going on in my life right now, I've been having a hard time getting my greens in. So this morning I decided I needed to squeeze as much salad as I possibly could into my breakfast drink. When I opens the refrigerator door, I noticed a random, perfectly ripe mango, begging to be eaten. So, I for that reason I made the Mango Kale Power smoothie, as a excellent way to start the day. 

Ingredients

- 7 ounces of Organic Girl Baby Kale mix

- about half a cup of almond milk

- 1 sliced mango

- 1 frozen banana 

- a handful of frozen strawberries 

- 1 scoop of Vega One protien powder in French Vanilla 

To begin, I put the first two ingredients into the blender until the kale is blended into a liquid base. From there, I add the rest of the ingredients. This delicious recipe serves about two. 

Enjoy!

Delicious 5 Minute Salsa

Hey guys! Here's a new blog post coming at cha. So, after a long, busy day, it felt good to go to the gym and relieve some stress. When I get home from a workout, I'm almost always starving enough to eat my foot. Why? Because it's filling and convenient. Instead if chewing on body parts, though, tonight, I decided to quickly fix up some delicious salsa! ¡Qué rico!

This simple recipe is a variation of one I found on this cool website called allrecipes.com. I encourage you to check them out! 

Their recipe is as follows:

Ingredients 

- 29 oz of canned, peeled and sliced tomatoes 

- 1 bunch fresh cilantro

- 3 cloves garlic, minced

- salt and pepper to taste 

For my try, I did things a smidgen different. Instead of using completely peeled tomatoes, I combined tomato sauce with canned chopped tomato and green chills peppers. This gave it a little bit of texture while still feeling smooth. 

For the cilantro, I chopped it quickly by sliding my knife vertically through the leaves on all sides, and then began chopping horizontally on the remaining middle leaves. After, I'll quickly spread the leaves out on my cutting board and try to pick out the stems from within them. I LOVE cilantro so I put in as much as I could. 

I varied a little bit with the garlic by adding one extra clove than the recipe called for. 

For seasoning, I added fresh crushed black pepper and whole bunch of coarse sea salt. I found that it still wasn't spicy enough though so I added some extra spice by mixing in about a tablespoon of chili peppers. Zesty. 

This quick recipe was a hit with my family, and honestly myself as well! We ate the whole bowl in an hour! Even though the recipe was so simple, the flavors were so deliciously complex. 

Tomatoes are a fruit containing a relatively high water content, making them a great snack food to quickly satisfy hunger. They have endless health benefits so this tasty snack is also good for you too.

This recipe shows how easy is is to quickly throw together a snack that will keep you feeling clean, light, full and satisfied! 

New Smoothie Recipe: The Power Blonde

When I woke up this morning (ugh, okay, afternoon. I'm working on it, okay?), I was embraced by a much needed sense of renewal. I spent my first few hours of consciousness tanning by the house pool, soaking in my daily dose of vitamin D. Ah, summer. 

After a quick swim, and a substantial shot of the summer sun, I felt the need for a tasty breakfast drink to fuel and envigorate the rest of my day. Introducing The Power Blonde - a smoothie for super heroines, Greek goddesses, and everyone in between. 

Ingredients:

-5 oz of Organic Girl Super Greens

-1 cup of Vanilla So Delicious Coconut Yogurt

-1 handful of frozen strawberries

-1 frozen banana

-1/2 cup of almond milk

-1 scoop of Vega One nutritional shake in French Vanilla

-1 tablespoon of Hemp seeds

Add all ingredients into the blender. If you do not have a high powered blender, I recommend blending the salad, milk, and yogurt first, by themselves. Once blended, add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and top with a tablespoon hemp seeds. 

This smoothie seems daunting because of the heavy amount of greens in it, but I promise you the final product is sweet and admittedly delicious. 

This smoothie is great after a tough Crossfit sesh or time spent out in the dehydrating sun. Whatever your day entails, this smoothie is bound to help you power through.

*punching emoji* 

This "New Me" is Failing Horribly

This week of cleansing and inner renewal has fallen flat on it's face... Let me explain.

Monday began with high hopes, but at a considerably late start- 1 in the afternoon is still morning, right?? Not only did it begin with non eventful gusto, but the day ended equally as miserable with fried food from Pei Wei as dinner (EEK!). 

The rest of the week seemed to follow suit. Though I was going to bed earlier, I was sleeping over 12 hours each night, which would bring me to wake up around 10-12 each morning... Not much of a fresh start...

I did try exercising. A 5k run/walk on Tuesday felt invigorating and motivating, but I felt severe pressure on my knees that I have never felt in my life. Pressure in my knees can only mean one thing: I'm getting really fat. 

As if the weak workout wasn't warning enough, Wednesday included four pieces of French Toast for a REALLY late dinner (11 pm). This dinner only restored my faith in my gluten intolerance as I woke up in the middle of Wednesday night with excruciating nausea. 

This leads me to today. Thursday. Where I am laying hopelessly in bed, recovering from last night's wheat overload. 

That French toast was really delicious though. But not worth the belly pain. 

So, if you're like me, and an estimated 20 million others with gluten sensitivity, but you still want to enjoy the yummy things in life, I've created a quick, simple, tasty, mostly organic, natural, and totally blonde smoothie approved, Gluten-Free French Toast recipe. 

Easy Gluten-Free French Toast

Ingredients: (per slice of bread)

-Udi's Milet-Chia Gluten-Free bread 

-1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil 

-1 tablespoon (or more, to taste) maple syrup 

-cinnimon, sprinkled on top to taste

-torbinado/brown/coconut sugar, sprinkled on, to taste. 

After you have your bread and put all the ingredients on, pop the slices into the microwave for about 45 seconds to 1 minute. It should be warm and soft. Enjoy with coffee or a glass of almond milk!! 

This treat is a good way to satisfy a craving sweet tooth with wholesome, good-for-you ingredients. 

While the freshly baked whole wheat is delicious and satisfying, it is so bad for my cleanse and overall health. Ever since I have begun cutting certain foods out of my diet (i.e. Gluten, dairy, wheat, meat, refined sugar) I've been able to precisely identify the foods that bother me. While I was tested for a gluten allergy (and it came back positive) I never believed I had a problem until I was able to feel it's effects on me myself. I could never contribute my overall sluggish feeling and crampy belly to a single problem. It wasn't until I viewed myself as a science project, changing my dietary variables, until I found the right solution for me. 

I emplore my readers who suffer from chronic aches, pains, fatigue, headaches, etc, to asess your diet. There could be factors in the foods you consume that could be changed. It could very well lead to a healthier life. It is hard, and I understand that. After feeling completely motivated last week for a change, I am still struggling to get back to my healthy habits. 

But, despite it all, here's to another week of trying, progress, and positive thinking. 

Xoxo

A Week Back Home Leaves Me Depressed and Chunky

It's officially been a week since I have been home in Oklahoma. I have physically said my goodbyes to the glistening blue of the Aegean sea, and the wistful whites of the Santorini walls. Mentally, however, I am still frolicking through the decks of the Silver Sea cruise ship wearing little more than my bikini and worry-free smile.
But, life. Life, doggonit! My week back home has been horrible. I have been suffering severe post-vacation depression, which, for me, involves eating everything in sight, whether it's food or not. Also, I have had family in town, staying at my family's house, during almost everyday since our return. Though their company has been helpful for my spirits, it has been detrimental for my waistline. Already pushing it from the daily doses of croissants and gelato from Greece, with the loving help of daily (breakfast, lunches and) dinners out, I'm now pushing towards a size four... Which reminds me, I have yet to have my fourth slice of coffee cake today.

NO, MOLLY. NO MORE COFFEE CAKE FOR YOU.

But, Molly, I love coffee cake! And I'm already chubby, why not just embrace it?

BECAUSE, you dietary idiot!! COFFEE CAKE IS FULL OF SUGAR AND SATURATED FAT. Do you WANT to die an early death?

No ): I guess not. But I am sure as heck not in the mood for any darn smoothies.

I have been jet lagged, and tired, nauseous, and cranky for a week straight. Now, you might even add insanity to the list, as I have finally begun having arguments with myself on a public blogsite.

I have decided that since I have let myself get so far off tract, to the point where I don't even enjoy green smoothies any more (gasp!), I need to begin a total New Me Makeover project. With a new school year about to begin, and summer coming to a close, I feel this is a perfect time for change. I am not planning to start now, but once all my family has gone home, and I am able to find time for myself, I will begin my healthy lifestyle makeover.

Naturally, I will blog my progress. My makeover will involve not only healthy eating, but healthy thinking and healthy activities.

As much as I love spending my last precious weeks of summer lounging around in my pajamas all day and feeling sorry for myself, enough is enough. It is time for a change back to my healthy lifestyle, and I am honestly feeling excited.

NEW ME Begin Date: Monday, 18 August 2014

Can't wait! ..but until then, coffee cake, anyone? (;

Mom's Purple Power Drink

After a long jog this morning, I came home famished. "Feed me," I groaned to the air as I dragged my feet accross the wooden kitchen floor. My mother heard my calls of distress. "Don't worry, boo boo," she says to me. "I gotchu."

(none of this actually happened)

Moral of the story is my ghetto fabulous momma saved the day with an even more fabulous smoothie. She calls it "Purple Power".

Here's how to do it, momma style:

Ingredients:

- 1 peeled orange

- 4 oz of Kale 

- 1 serving of fruit flavored protien powder (we use FEM Intest Restore Advanced powder in Natural Cherry flavor)*

- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 

- 5 oz of frozen blueberries 

- 1 frozen banana

Place all the items in your blender. Most smoothie recipes will call for a liquid base. This one is unique in that it uses the juice from the orange in place of a liquid, thus creating an easy, sip-able, smoothie texture. 

This recipe serves one. Don't be daunted by the proportions. You'll have a lot to drink!! But this will be your post workout meal- your recovery. You won't be hungry with this drink, you will be full and energized. Drink all of this throughout today and your body will thank you with a good workout tomorrow!

Here's a pic of my mom excitingly pouring herself a drink... She's like the green smoothie version of Don Draper... What a lush.  

*more on FEM: It is basically a special blend of nutrients designed specifically for female health. Read more about it here http://www.fcehcstore.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=37777

Nutritious AND Delicious ICE CREAM (!!)

SAY WHAT?! Yes. That is correct. I have perfected a delicious ice cream recipe that is made of all natural, whole ingredients. Everyone who has tried this recipe has said it's amazing and challenges even conventional ice cream.  This peanut butter flavor is all I've tried, but as I figure out other flavors I will post them on here. This recipe is quick, easy, and just overall awesome, so you just have to make it. 

Ingredients:

-6 to 8 frozen bananas

-2 tablespoons of honey

-2 tablespoons of peanut, almond butter, or PB2 butter, already mixed 

Place all the items in your blender. We use a VitaMix at my house which has a specific setting for making ice cream. So, yeah, anyway, I just put it on that setting and voila! 

This recipe serves about two... Or in my case, one. 

 

The Brunette Smoothie

After a sleepless night, I woke up this morning feeling particularly groggy and sluggish. When I remembered I needed to make my breakfast smoothie, my mind was blank. What a blender was, and what it was for, were showing approximently zero results in my foggy morning brain (this is a typical symptom of blondness).

I begin to imagine myself in an Ivy League college as an inspiring law student, naturally betraying the luxury of sleep in hopes of catching a decent score on tomorrow's Bar exam. 

I am that mean fiancée-stealer girl off Legally Blonde. 

No, I am Blair Waldorf, starting my day in need of a drink that will help me rule the the Upper East side. 

After a tall glass of water, my eyes slowly begin to open, and I am just alive enough to mingle some ingredients together for this morning's smoothie. 

The Brunette

- 1/2 cup of chilled coffee

- 1/2 cup of almond milk 

- 1 handful of spinach 

- 1 banana 

- 1 cup ice

- 1/2 tablespoon of raw cocoa powder

- 1/2 tablespoon of maca powder

- add stevia to taste (I used 3 drops)

Blend all the ingredients. I like to blend the spinach with the almond milk alone first, then add the rest of the recipe. This way, I can add more spinach if I want, without sipping up leaves in the finished product. Also, don't be shy about the spinach, add as much as you like, but at least one handful. If you want to be smart like a brunette you must utilize the power if this leavy green. 

Benefits of Spinach: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

After you have blended all ingredients together, grab a straw and enjoy. If you feel as if the smoothie is too thin, feel free to add a couple tablespoons of peanut butter to the mix. This will also give you added protein to fuel the rest of your day.

If only brunettes like Vivian Kensington and Blair Waldorf would have always started their days with this smoothie. Then, maybe, Vivian would have never stolen anyone's fiancé and wouldn't have of been so salty to Elle Woods in the first place. Maybe, too, Blair would have married Chuck in season one. Think of the heartache that would have saved (yes, that's directed towards you, Jenny Humphrey). 

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). (: