Jennifro: works for me

Showing posts with label works for me. Show all posts

Monday, July 2, 2012

Green Smoothie

my style

Here is how I make me green smoothie every morning. Of course the ingredients vary, but the how-to is basically the same everyday. I like mine less thick so toward the end I generally add a little more ice and water till it's "right." If you start to experiment, you'll begin to figure out what you like and how you like it. For example, I really thought I would be a fan of the vegetable based smoothies--tomatoes, carrots, jalapeno, cucumber, carrots etc but so far I haven't loved anything I've made. Maybe if I thinned them out more with tomato juice, I'd be better off. But so far the consistency kind of gags me with the vegetable flavors. Here's what I made just now and so far it was my favorite:

2 very ripe peaches--skin on
1 cup of blueberries
2 1/2 frozen bananas
1/2-1 inch slice of lime--peel on
2 cups cold water

Blend this very well so lime skin is pulverized

This filled my vitamix nearly half full. Then I added about 5-6 cups baby spinach. After that was smooth I added enough water and ice to take the smoothie all the way to the top of the blender which makes about 64 ounces. It was a dark brownish color thanks to the blueberries--not pretty but very good!

I've found that adding a thick slice of lemon or lime and/or a huge handful of mint makes the drink so fresh tasting--I love it. I always include lemon or lime now. Just use what you like fruit-wise. I've tried almost everything so far and don't think you can really go wrong with anything--by always adding the frozen banana, it'll generally be sweet enough. A tart honey crisp apple is also very flavorful. Lately I've added half a cucumber (skin on) which gives it a different taste, but good. One other add-in I just started is ground flax seeds or chia seeds--can't even taste them. If you make something and it's too tart you can always squeeze in some honey--which usually fixes it.

My general rule is fill the vita-mix with about 1/3 fruit then the rest will be water, ice and greens. Baby spinach and kale are really mild tasting but I think it's really important to add in other stuff. I have used different chards, lettuces, beet tops etc. but it will mostly come down to what you like. Even if I don't love the flavor of chard, I don't really mind using it a few times a week since I believe in the health benefits. One way to incorporate a variety of greens is to mix them up in the same smoothie--1/2 spinach 1/2 rainbow chard for example--this will help tone down the flavor of something you don't love. Next thing I want to try is lime, coconut and banana as the fruit base. We had a smoothie in St. John made with those fruits + soursop, whatever that is, and it was incredible.

Cheers!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Going Green

Say hello to breakfast! I've been going strong for about three weeks toward my goal to drink a green smoothie every day for 30 days. I'm making that sound more legit than it really is but that's about the gist of it. And we're not talking just any green smoothie.. this is like jolly green giant to the 100th power, green glurp. I've been reading websites for awhile now like Green Smoothie Girl and Blend it to Mend it about the awesome benefits of eating way more green and I'm definitely on the bandwagon. But after I read Green for Life I decided to go for it. According to all I've read, it seems like the dark greens are what's missing in most everyone's diet, and are the key element to healing what ails you. I love the book and the philosophy behind it makes a lot of sense to me. The author used her own experience as a raw foodist, and her research of the diet of chimpanzees, who's genes are 99.5 % the same as ours, to help draw conclusions about the power of green plants.

The first week we started the drink, Nick and I didn't notice too much except after four days we realized we were sleeping like 1,000 pound rocks. We literally slept all night and could hardly move in the morning. After a few more days, we still slept great but could get up easily. I drink about a quart a day and he drinks around two cups. The second week, I started coughing pretty bad and felt sort of like I was getting sick--achey and tired for a few days-- but it never developed into anything more. I read that it's pretty common for your body to detox once you start introducing such a healthy change. Anyway, by the third week, I saw the results I was hoping for. My knee which is beginning to have early arthritis felt tons better when I exercised. As a matter of fact I didn't have any pain most days. I even realized today that going down the stairs hasn't hurt in about nine or ten days. Today at yoga, it did hurt a little but nothing that persisted or felt too bad at all. Another cool bonus is I haven't broken a nail since I started which is very uncommon for me. My nails are generally strong but always, always breaking and making them totally uneven. I went and got gels today because I've been so happy that they're all the same length.

I generally go to Whole Foods once or twice a week and buy organic fruit and greens which really doesn't cost much surprisingly. I buy lemons, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, limes, kale, mint, chard, baby spinach and usually some new green to try. Before I was making smoothies with milk or almond milk and adding peanut butter, yogurt and whatnot, but I always felt like maybe they were fattening. With these, I only use water and ice and love the way they taste (usually!) and how they make me feel. Anyway, I'm loving the fact that I'm doing something so healthy and have a feeling it will become a lifelong habit. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book, it has taught me so much and has made a believer out of me in the power of green. GO GREEN!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Mine all Mine

Today has been spectacular and it's only just past noon. I can't believe what a little solitude can do. Let me recommend sending your husband and children away for a few days while you stay home; no hotel necessary! Yesterday I cleverly hired a cleaner to come clean my house so my weekend would be dust, clutter, kid and crud free. Then.. I went to Whole Foods and bought exactly what I wanted to eat. I slept until 8:00 and tweaked a great playlist in bed until 9:00. Then I went to a yoga class that was amazing--super packed and super hard. The drive was beautiful--the weather is all spring with blue skies and daffodils; I opened the sunroof and plugged in my favorite tunes. When I got home I took a shower and put a scrub and mask on my face and teeth whiteners in--I'm not messin' around! I opened almost all the windows in the house because the temperature is unreal gorgeous and put on my aqua robe for the day and cranked my "Relax" playlist which made the birds go manic. I know I've been using far too many superlatives this post, but I swear I have the best music for a day like today.

Just as I was finishing my lunch prep Nick pulled in to get something, so we ate together. I made an awesome salad with grilled chicken, tomatoes, avocados, kalamata olives, pumpkin seeds, feta and the best garlicky lemon dressing you've ever tasted (thanks Jek!). So good in fact my neighbors called to say they could smell my breath from their porch. Anyway it was nice to see Nick coming up the drive and even better to see him goin' back down it. Best thing he said was "I think I'll take the kids camping every month." Can we swear in blood on that?

I then took up a spot near my bedroom window and began again to plink away.. life is good.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Inner Beauty

Organizing my kitchen this past year has, hands down, been one of the best things I've ever done to my house. I told Nick that part of the cost of the redo had to include new stuff. I mean what's so great about pretty skin if your lungs are filled with tar? I'm not kidding when I say I got rid of everything inside my cupboards and drawers except for a few pyrex dishes and two cookie sheets. Everything went.

My hutch is now in order. The kids have a drawer they use to set the table. Tablecloths are folded and put where they should be.

The kitchen aid is no longer on the counter but is still super accessible. This sort of seemed like a waste of space but I wouldn't trade it..

The corner cabinet is the only original piece that remained from our old kitchen. I'm glad we kept it; you should've seen how shameful this cupboard was before. Yikes!

Behind the brooms and mop is the fridge set into the wall. This used to be our pantry closet. It's nice because it still serves a useful purpose. I painted the dry wall with chalkboard paint and found it's the perfect place for this stuff. All our excess food is now down in the basement in a large pantry. It's been so great keeping only what we need in the kitchen.

In the breakfast room I keep most of the baking stuff and extra food. I cannot believe that my cupboards look clean and truly organized for the first time in a million years.

We opted for some split drawers and they have been wonderful. It helps me avoid stacking everything; that was a large part of my last kitchen's dysfunction. Basically an avalanche every time I tried to pull something out.

Another pick me up. It's therapeutic to have only what you use under your sink. Holy cow how did I live before with everything from silver polish to motor oil under there?

What a thrill to get all knew dishes. Martha Stewart from Macy's.. awesome price and a really bright white--not grayish like a lot of other white dishes.

Papin built us this awesome little shelf under the range hood. I love having salt and pepper here and the timer. I swear the little details are the best..

I got new silverware for my birthday from Natalie and I love it. I am so happy she gave it to me because I'm sure this is not something I would've splurged on.

This is my favorite drawer of all. It just makes me feel like I know what I'm doing because it looks so good. I've always wanted to have an organized spice drawer. I got the bottles and all my drawer inserts/organizers from the container store but most of my new kitchen utensils I found at Marshalls and TJMaxx.

I no longer have 75 pointless mixing bowls and mismatched tupperware. I swear I feel like I've been let out of jail when I see this...

...and this. I bought new pans which fit perfectly into this cool pull-out thing. I told Nick I feel like a newlywed again.. ahem, in the kitchen that is. It's so fun to start over in one area of your life. This time around I absolutely know what I need and use and am smart enough to realize the riff-raff just weighs you down. Sadly, I still have three horrendous organizational nightmares left to tackle: the attic, the basement and it who cannot be named it's so evil (garage). At least I have hope and vision now. Progress takes time.. and money; both can be a little hard to come by. So for now I'll try to focus on the good spots.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

New Again

Not a day goes by that I don't say, "I love my kitchen!" It's like stepping into a new outfit every single morning; I just feel cute in there. It was worth the wait and certainly worth the effort. We opted for marble countertops and beveled subway tiles which dressed it up just a bit.

After being told by literally every salesperson not to get the marble I went with my heart, yes I did. I have loved marble ever since I was a little and first noticed it on Grandma Katie's coffee table, so I went for it. Although there's already plenty of etching I don't really care. No regrets.

We kept our breakfast nook a breakfast nook but added custom seating and table and cabinets. It's so darling; I love the way it came together. I'm so glad we didn't turn it into a pantry.. I'm crazy about this charming little spot in the sun. We kept our painted floor--sort of my signature.. I've had it in every house so far and I just couldn't part with it. This time around it's more modern and I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I think one thing that literally transformed this space is the paneling. One day I was sitting at the table long before it was completed and couldn't wrap my mind around what color I would choose. Now that the rooms were combined it just felt like too much color--floor to ceiling. That's when Jayne piped in about the paneling. The two rooms now have a cohesiveness that wouldn't have existed without it.

Best idea ever was putting the fridge in the wall where the pantry closet used to be. This is what makes our kitchen feel spacious now--that, and of course taking the wall down and moving it two feet into the dining room. Frugal Freddy (nick) found it on ebay and drove to Ohio or somewhere to pick it up. We saved buckets of cash... so you bet it was worth the drive!

I love my apron sink and double dishwasher drawers. I was skeptical of those at first but now think they're brilliant! Unloading's a cinch and you never have to wait long for the dishwasher to fill up. Still searching for the perfect pendant lights.

Nick stained the dining room table dark and I reworked the hutch.. I love the plates that match the floor. All in all we are pleased as punch. One final touch which has changed my life is the overhead speakers in the kitchen. I can play the music as loud as I want.. and I do.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

On my Pinterest page I named one of my boards "Funk Shui." I honestly thought I made it up to better define the style I am going for: funky that works. However, I just googled it and apparently someone beat me to it or maybe they got it from me? Anyway, I pinned lots of pages with little offbeat elements and I think I'm on my way to achieving a bit of funk shui in my own home. Of course, you can never say done, but here's what it is so far.

Once the kitchen got underway I literally took everything out of my living room except my green couch, piano and zebra chairs. A clean slate is where it's at.. my brain was on overload.

I love my Atlas Shrugged. Reminds me it could be worse when the day seems heavy.

This picture makes all my colors seem a little more artificial than they are, but you get the idea.

The curtains have cute little gold bees on them. I painted all of my chairs and settee in the library, then had them recovered to get the look I wanted.

This time around I really wanted some blue.. but wasn't totally ready to give up on pink and green. It's been so awesome having the kitchen blue. I've been able to use lots of turquoise and aqua accents throughout the downstairs and I think they work.

After painting the living room a neutral last year.. I realized I just couldn't handle living in no color so I chose a bright yellow and halfed it. It's been a fun change.

The pillows have never worked for me. I have two being made right now in a pretty cool sorta modern floral that incorporates most of my colors plus a titch of purple. We'll see...

I knew I wanted a lot of black and white. The finishing touch for me was the black and white striped rug--it really grounded the look. Also, I've been wanting a gallery wall and I'm happy with the way it turned out.. it looks clean and not overly busy which I like. Plus, it reminds me I have kids.

I'm sure this mantle is too much for some, but I just couldn't take anything down. My house my rules I guess.

I found this settee at Salvation Army and knew it would be perfect right here. It's a happy day when I drop something off to June--a little house-wife high when I get it back!