I am off and on with my green smoothies. Mostly on, the off times are when I sleep in and it seems easier to pop a piece of toast in the toaster or have a bowl of cereal. But when I'm on, this is my go-to recipe for smoothies.
I start with a banana and a huge handful of spinach or kale. Next goes in the frozen fruit (sorry no measurements here, I pour until it looks good). I also add in protein powder; being diabetic I need to balance the natural sugars in the banana and frozen fruit with some protein. Then I usually add 1 1/2 - 2 cups of water.
Because I use frozen fruit I don't add ice and it is still thick and cold.
My blender isn't a fancy one but I never have chunks of green stuff I need to slurp back and because of that I decided to add an orange to my smoothie this morning.
It was a great success!
If you follow my "sort-of" recipe, you should have enough for 2 generous smoothies. I put my second one in the fridge for the next day. It isn't pretty but still tastes the same.
This past week I have been serenaded to sleep by the frogs and have woken up to the sounds of happy birds. Yes, spring is here! This also means a lot of rain for us West Coasters, but it doesn't keep us in doors (it can't or we would be hermits). Today we are going on a family hike and doing a bit of gardening.
But before that, here are links I found inspiring this week.
These photographs taken from a bird's-eye-view are stunning. This one of the rice fields in China is my favourite.
If I were to change the time of year for new goals and resolutions it would be to Spring Time. Everything is fresh, new life is beginning and it is a time of renewal. There is nothing fresh or new about January 1 other than a new calendar - there is still dormancy afoot.
I have gone through many renewals myself, pushed myself to reach new goals and try new things but I seem to fall short of getting to my ultimate goal. I relapse into old habits, stop pursuing that result I am craving.
I know this isn't because my goals aren't attainable, they totally are, it is more from my inability to see myself past the process of reaching a goal and living that goal. This isn't a concious decision like:
"I am getting articles published on some big-named websites, I'm going to stop writing now and delete my blog"
"I went from hating running to running a 1/2 marathon, I'm going to stop training and not run at all"
"I've been focusing on my health and have lost weight and gained so much energy in the process. I'm going to go back to my old habits and gain the weight back so my new clothes won't fit me"
They weren't conscious decisions but all of those are decisions I have made.
Spring is here again, I am going to move forward and push through. I am going to work on my goals and include a maintenance plan to keep living the goals I worked hard to reach.
This video from Danielle LaPorte is a good pep talk to start me on my way (and yours too).
I joined the 100 Happy Days project yesterday. Everyday, for 100 days, you take a picture of something that makes you happy and then share it on your Social Media site of choice (or keep it to yourself if you prefer). You can jump in and start your 100 days whenever you want!
Here's my Day 1 picture.
Day 1: Playing outside with my boys and camera
This journal in purple with my name on the front is being added to my birthday list.
I am usually a rule follower, but these are some rule breakers I would join.
That little sprout up there makes me giddy. I love taking a little seed and turning it into food. I've had really good gardening years and then some that really were a lot of work for nothing. This year I'm gunning for a great harvest.
My end goal is to make pickles from cucumbers and dill that I grow myself. Most of the seedlings above are cucumbers and there are some tomatoes coming up there on the right. I am simplifying, trying food I know works for my gardening skills and the soil/sunlight combination we have.
Giant Russian Sunflowers are going to be planted too, mostly for looks and because if they work out, we can eat the seeds. If the birds don't get them first.
I've started a Pinterest page, To Garden, come check it out.
I volunteered to make a photo booth for the Spring Carnival at my boys' school. It is a new fundraiser for the school and I wanted to help out (we're raising money for a new playground).
I was going to make one using a refrigerator box but visions of the box falling over as multiple kids crowded into the booth had me searching for more ideas. Can you tell I'm the mom of 3 boys?
Here are the supplies I used:
a king-sized white sheet (I cheated with this, and used the sheet for our back-yard movies)
craft paper that I cut into triangles and sewed onto ribbon to create the banners
Now I need to decide if I am going to man the booth on my own with my camera for 4 hours or if I can get enough grade 7 volunteers with their iPads to take the pictures. I am definitely leaning towards option 2 so I can enjoy the carnival with my family and I won't have to worry about keeping track of pictures to e-mail to people. Plus, it's a great experience for the kids, right?
Yesterday started the weekend with a bang. I went for a 5k run with my oldest, came home and decided to save the $50 and trimmed my own hair and then made a hair mask with coconut oil and olive oil. I felt productive! Then....it poured and all I wanted to do was waste time on the Internet and lounge with the boys. In retrospect, it was a perfect Saturday.
And on to the links:
I have been working on mushroom crochet/knitting patterns, these fabric mushrooms are an amazing inspiration.
I took the time last Easter to carefully poke holes in both ends of an egg and then blow the contents into a bowl for scrambled eggs. We didn't decorate all of the intact shells and they have been sitting in a flower pot in my kitchen for a year. This is what they are destined for.
I have mentioned it before, but I love Jimmy Fallon. My favourite skit he does with his guests is the water war game. I spend entirely too much time on his YouTube channel.
