Testing, testing...

I have tried to post to my blog via "mobile" blogging... but so far it
hasn't worked. If this appears on my blog, then hopefully my problem
is solved. Anyone have any suggestions? Have you texted a blog post?
Have you emailed one? Have you been successful? Have you run into
problems too and found some solutions? I take a lot of pictures with
my phone nowadays and it would be so very convenient to just post from
my phone. Hopefully I can get this all ironed out.

training vs. sweets?

I have taken a new interest in my health recently. I would say that over the last few years, I have really improved my overall health for the most part. I enjoy exercising. I like to run (most of the time) and really enjoy the competition of it. I love to swim, bike and so many other things. I really like feeling healthy. But for the most part, I haven't ever wanted to drastically change my eating habits. I love to eat. I would exercise so I wouldn't have to worry about what I ate. Sometimes this worked just fine for me.

Over the last few months I have learned a lot about how different foods affect your body, whether it's your kidneys, muscles, joints, what can cause headaches, backaches, foot pains and on and on. As I began preparing for a 200 mile relay that I will be participating in with a group of friends next week, I really took this new found knowledge and put it to work. I have not only seen a major difference in my training, but in my overall feel of health and my waistlline. It's amazing what a big difference, what you are putting in your body can make. But does this mean I never eat anything thats bad for me? No, I'm still human. I do still have a sweet tooth, but I have been able to get it under control.
One of my new favorite recipes came from Affairs of Living where they posted this DE-licious Shamrock Shake! (picture also from Affairs of Living, thank you for sharing) I promise you, all my non-healthy eating friends and family... you really will like this shake. Do not let the ingredients scare you. It is delicious! (And just a note, I do not use Stevia, so if you are like me, you can substitute honey, agave, sugar, etc. Whatever you like to use as a sweetener, but if you use sugar, it won't be suger-free, obviously)

Sugar-Free Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Avocado Shamrock Shake

The mint and the stevia totally cover the spinach - you don't even notice it! A great way to get those extra vitamins and vegetables in, especially if you have picky eaters at home. Try putting it in popsicle molds for kid friendly minty, creamy popsicles! This is a great source of vitamins A, B-6, C, and E, folate, manganese, iron, and copper.

yield: approx 2 1/2 cups, serves 1-2
total time: 5 minutes

1 avocado

1 cup packed spinach

1 cup non-dairy milk

2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves

1 1/2 cups ice

1/2-3/4 tsp peppermint extract/flavoring, to taste

20-25 drops stevia liquid, to taste

Place all ingredients in blender, pulse a few times, and blend on high until smooth, scraping sides as necessary. Adjust mint and sweetness as desired. Serve, garnished with a fresh mint leaf.

APPROXIMATE NUTRITION FACTS - 1 serving

Calories: 521.7, Fat: 50.9 g (Saturated Fat: 25.1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.5 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 18.0 g), Cholesterol: 0 g, Sodium: 53.2 mg, Potassium: 1,311.3 mg, Carbohydrates: 19.7 g, Fiber: 13.2 g, Sugars: .6 g, Protein: 6.7 g

 

-----Want another delicious smoothie recipe?------

Try this morning favorite of mine... It's a nice GREEN way to start the day

 
Green Sunrise

Place one avocado in blender, add spinach leaves to top, without packing them in. Add orange juice until about half full. Blend until nice and smooth. Drink with a smile on your face! This is also great with a cup of frozen blueberries thrown in before blending.

It's a race!

The kids love to be dropped off around the corner from our house, and run the rest of the way home. They liked to "race" the car home. It's fun to watch them laugh and run together. 

da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na - BATGIRL!

No Day Like a SNOW Day!

I love snow. When we moved to South Carolina last year, I had come to terms with the fact that I might not see snow for a really, really long time. It never snowed in South Carolina, and when it did, it was maybe a few flakes, that melted by the time they hit the pavement. At least, this is what I was told. A month later, it snowed. Then, 10 months later, it snowed again. Here, almost a year from our move to the south, a snow storm again swept our southern state. 3 times in a year, yet "it never snows." Hmm... either they're wrong, we're lucky, or there really is no such thing as global warming. Ha. maybe all three are correct? Regardless, we thoroughly enjoyed the snow, thinking it wasn't staying around long, and surely the kids would be back to school the next day.

 

 3 days later... this is looking outside our back windows. See the snow still? School is still canceled. An entire WEEK + 1 day, of no school. Granted, Thursday was supposed to be a half day, Friday no school & Monday no school... but really? It was like Winter Break #2.

 This is randomly in with this post, but on the same day I took pictures of Joseph, in his new hiding spot. Under the table with a box of Nilla Wafers.

 Cute baby boy... oh how I love you.

Make-up Time...

 This girl LOVES makeup. She is constantly on the search for ANY form of makeup. Yesterday she got into my mascara, spreading it quite dramatically through her eyebrows, and getting a little in her hair and eyelashes. Then she added some eyeshadow... purple of course! (too bad I didn't get a pic!) Her favorite thing to get a hold of is most definitely lip gloss. She is definitely ALL GIRL.

 Gotta LOVE this girl!

The Day after Christmas...