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 (:

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! 

Date-Me Smoothie

Hey guys! I know I haven't been posting too much lately and I apologize for that. 

"I accept your apology."

(Sorry I saw The Giver this week and now my mind is all black and white and only speaks in the most precise language.)

But as far as the lack of posts go, I can say it has been for good reason: I have actually been busy! Yes, that's right. I have actually occupied my time now with bettering myself instead spending my time on a public website only talking about it. 

My mornings have started early this week, which means no more sleeping in. However I did catch a break this morning, when I was able to sleep in at least an hour later than normal.

Half awake, I walked downstairs to begin my normal morning routine. I took my vitamins, grabbed a snack for later in the day, and finally, began pouring my coffee. Since I had woken up so late, though, the coffee that my mother made this morning was already cold. 

So, being the smoothie-minded girl that I am, I poured what was left in the coffee pot in the Vitamix, and whooped up a new recipe. Ladies and gentlemen, I call this The Date-Me Smoothie.

Ingredients (serves one)

- one frozen banana

- 2.5 ounces of Organic Girl Power Greens

- 1 cup chilled coffee

- two scoops Herbalife healthy meal formula in Cookies n' Cream

- 3 to 5 pitted dates 

Place all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth. 

I say this serves one, but I had a hard time drinking all 20ish ounces of this. The dates plus the banana create a very think and filling drink, even though it may not look like such. If you find you cannot drink it all in one sitting, it might be a good idea to save what's left for a later time. Like when you need healthy remedy to fulfill a hankering sweet tooth. 

This smoothie is bound to make you feel confident and strong throughout your day. The protien powder will add liveliness and energy to your day, and the greens will give you a gorgeous glowy essence. 

Stand tall and be beautiful today. And remember, with this smoothie, you won't need a boy to have the perfect date! *kissey face emoji*

I apologize for the cheesiness. 

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

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). (: