Favorite Smoothie

I know it's freezing outside but I love this almond delight smoothie with strawberries and blueberries from the life cafe at our health club. 

I figured it would be easy to do an at home hack. 

I like to drink this right after a morning workout.  It's healthy, refreshing, and I love the subtle almond taste.  I like to start the day off on the right foot with exercise and a frozen drink even with the freezing temps outside.

Almond Delight Smoothie with Strawberries & Blueberries

1 cup sweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup ice

1 cup vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 cup strawberries

1/4 cup blueberries

Place all ingredients in your high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

 

Enjoy!

Here are some of my favorites for your at home smoothies:

Kicked Up Hot Chocolate

Happy Friday!  I'm thinking this weekend calls for a festive drink.  This adults only recipe is simple and perfect for an evening by the fire.  If you want the lo-cal version I love this recipe.  If you need a super fun holiday drink for the kids-this one is my fave.

Kicked Up Hot Chocolate

2 cups skim milk

1/4 cup of your favorite hot chocolate mix

1 oz. Godiva liqueur

garnish with whipped cream and chocolate syrup

I'm hoping to finish the Christmas decorations and get a bit of shopping done this weekend.

What are your plans?

Shop the post:

Apple Cider Sangria

Last week I hosted my book club and went with a cozy fall theme.  You can read more about my book club here.  I served my favorite soup, mini grilled cheese sandwiches, anti-pasta skewers, cheese platter and pumpkin cookies.  Discussing the book wouldn't be the same without some cocktails.  So I served cider sangria with fresh cider from the apple orchard.  It was a big hit.  Refreshing, seasonal, light and yum!  Be sure to give it a try.

Apple Cider Sangria

1 Pitcher

4 cups apple cider

1 bottle of pinot grigio

1 cup brandy

2 apples cut into small cubes 

1 pear cut into small cubes

Stir together in your favorite pitcher and chill in refrigerator for at least one hour.  Serve in a glass with ice and enjoy!

And if you're looking for a great book, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, was such a great read!  Loved it as much, if not more, than The Husband's Secret written by the same author.  So, whether you are curled up with a great book or out drinkin' cider sangria this weekend-hope it's great!  

Thirsty Thursday-Watermelon Cocktail

How is it even possible that it's already Thursday!?!  How come the summer weeks go flying by and the winter seems never ending??  Anyway, weekend BBQ planning is in full swing and I'm finding myself feeling a bit of motherly guilt.  Except for a trip to the library, a quick trip to the pool, and outings for ice cream-we have been so busy running errands, cleaning the house, preparing the yard that kids summer fun has been minimal this week.  Hoping to make it up to them after Saturday!  

Today is Thirsty Thursday and I'm whipping up this cool watermelon tequila cocktail!  We all deserve a break and I'm sure it's 5 o'clock someplace??!!

Watermelon Cocktail 

1. 8 cups diced seedless watermelon (1 pound)
2. 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3. 1 can of Sprite*special ingredient, use instead of simple syrup
4.  Fresh mint leaves for garnish
5. 1 1/4 cups silver tequila
6. Ice
7. In a blender, puree the watermelon until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp.
8. In a large pitcher, combine the Sprite with the lime juice.  Add the watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
9. Pour the cocktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.

Hope you will enjoy this summer-y drink!  I plan to enjoy mine as I check out the Nordstrom Anniversary Preview Sale online tonight.  It's my favorite yearly sale.  I love to pick out the kids shoes for back to school!  I will find my faves and share them with you tomorrow.  

Happy Thirsty Thursday!

Classic Mojito

I'm sorry I've been MIA for several days.  We've been so busy in the evenings with the kids baseball and softball games that by the time we get home, eat a late dinner, bathe the kids and get them to bed I sit down and I'm too tired to compute!-Ha 

I can't believe it's already Thursday!-Wow, I'm behind. I'll try to make it up by starting the weekend a day early with this Thirsty Thursday recipe.  I think the nice weather we've been having calls for a classic mojito to kick off summer!  This recipe reminds me of my favorite Tommy Bahama cocktail.  Makes me think of a tropical paradise.

It's best to use fresh ingredients. Fresh is best!!

Classic Mojito

1 lime-juice to taste

1/4 cup simple syrup

bunch of fresh mint leaves

1-2 ounces favorite white rum

club soda or for extra sweet, Sprite

crushed ice

Simple Syrup:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Combine equal parts sugar and water and boil in small saucepan until sugar is dissolved.

Directions:

In a tall glass combine lime juice, simple syrup, and a bunch of mint leaves.  Muddle the leaves until bruised.   Fill the glass with ice and pour in rum.  Top off with the club soda or Sprite for extra sweetness. Garnish with a lime wedge.

It's time to kick back and enjoy this fresh taste of summer. -If only I can stay awake long enough to enjoy it!-Ha!

Patriotic Punch

Today is thirsty Thursday and it's one for the kiddos.  I guess you could add a little sometin' for the grown-ups but you might be stretchin' it a bit when it comes to taste.-Ha! 

This conconction reminds me of when you let the littles get their own fountain sodas and they mix all the sodas to make one kid mixture of tastiness.  :)  Well this is a pretty and patriotic version of that!  The kids are sure to love it! Enjoy the day!!!

Patriotic Punch

You will need:

Red juice or punch-high sugar content for the bottom layer

Blue gatorade-the regular kind (not sugar free) for the middle layer

Diet 7-Up or Sprite for the top layer

Fill 1/3 of the glass with ice and add red juice layer.  Fill the middle 1/3 with ice and add the blue gatorade layer.  Lastly fill the top 1/3 with ice and add the clear Sprite layer.

Today is my 100th post!  I guess I should've featured a champagne spritzer in celebration!  Oh well,  I can have one of those and the kids can have one of these! :)

Lavender Lemonade

Happy Friday!!!  It's beginning to feel like summer-yippee!!! The kids are running around the neighborhood with their friends and the windows are open.  Signs that the temperatures are warming up and summer is right around the corner.  I can't wait!   I love having a pitcher of cold lemonade on the counter when the kids run in and need a quick drink.  I found this amazing recipe that puts plain ole' lemonade to shame.  

It's refreshing and pretty and so yum!!!  I think it would be amazing for a mother's day brunch.  Turn it into a cocktail as well, with a splash of vodka. Perfect for a girls night!

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

2 cups water 

1 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons dried lavender

2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice

5 cups water

1 lemon sliced for the garnish

Combine 2 cups of water and 1 cup sugar  in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil until sugar is dissolved and simple syrup is achieved.  Remove from heat and stir in the dried lavender.  Cover and let sit for about 15 minutes.  Strain lavender.  

In a large pitcher, combine lemon juice, lavender/simple syrup and water.  Chill for 2 hours and serve over ice.  And if you want a little party in your summer drink add a bit of vodka.

Enjoy!!!

Doesn't this just look so pretty and summer-y??

Wishing you all the most happiest Mother's Day!

Giving It Up

So I'm going to admit that I was an addict.  Hooked on diet coke for years and years!  Wake up in the morning and crack open a can and then have several more that day.  I was never a coffee drinker except for an occasional latte from Starbucks.  DC has always been my beverage of choice but I've cut it out of my life!  On Ash Wednesday I was working out at the gym and was thinking about what I could give up for Lent- I made the decision in that moment, my diet coke habit was done.  I've felt great the last couple of months and can't believe that I've lasted this long without the constant caffeine.  I've been drinking a lot more water and green iced tea and I'm now trying to spruce them up a bit.  These jazzed up ice cubes make drinking water a bit more fun and flavorful.  I like to add them to sparkling Pellegrino as well to get my fizzy soda fix.  I'm thinking about a warm summer night with these in my wine spritzer!  If you like these fruity cubes, check out this great detox water recipe as well.  

I chose blueberries, raspberries and mint because that's what I had in the fridge but you could use all sorts of fun things to jazz up your cubes.  Lemon and lime slices and cranberries or pomegranates would be great as well.

Enjoy your glass of water a little more with these!

Lucky Leprechaun

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!  Every year in our house the leprechaun visits and makes a real mess.  He scatters glittery shamrocks all over the kitchen and leaves us gold coins.  We feast on green bagels, and lucky charms-The Breakfast of Irish Champions, I'm sure!!!  Tonight, we'll go out to our neighborhood Irish Pub and listen to some Irish music and feast on gourmet Irish cuisine:)  This year I'm making Lucky Leprechauns to celebrate St. Paddy's.

This drink is not for the wee one's, rather for all the mommies off duty when the kids are tucked in their beds!! Simple and festive!

Lucky Leprechaun

1 bottle of your favorite champagne

several drops of kelly green food coloring

Sláinte

In our house green champagne is a hard sell for the hubsy so he celebrates the traditional way.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

"May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours, that stay with you all the year long."

DIY Shamrock Shakes

Love this time of year when shamrock shakes are all the rage.  We decided to make our own for an after school treat!  Save your trip to the drive thru.  These DIYers are super easy and so yum!

DIY Shamrock Shake

3 cups vanilla ice cream

2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon mint extract

green food coloring until minty green

Combine in blender and top with whipped cream!  A super perfect treat for St. Patrick's Day!

Need A Pick Me Up

Some days I wake up and need a bit of a pick-me-up.  My green tea isn't gettin' it done-not because I was out partyin' late night (those nights are few and far between) but I just need an energy boost that will get me going.  Some days it's hard to get motivated to organize closets and wipe baseboards.  Do ya hear me?  Also, with winter crashing down on us it's important to stay active and be healthy so those-gasp…..germs don't find us! I feel that it's important to keep our immunity up-none of us want to bite the dust especially with all that cleanin' that needs to get done:)

I am definitely the mom that likes a great drink!  And I don't mean a margarita at 9a. -Tee Hee

So we're making green smoothies in the kitchen today-ones that don't taste like grass.  Yummy ones that taste great and are good for you too.  The best combination!!!

I'm thinking seasonal produce works best for this one and you can't taste the spinach.-Yay for all those who don't like to drink your salad.  Also, check out this fruity water detox  to stay hydrated.

Greatest Green Smoothie

1 large pear

1 large mango

2 clementines

juice from one lime

2 cups spinach

1 cup ice

Put all ingredients in blender and blend on high until smooth.

D-lish and green!

Skinny Hot Chocolate

Hitting the gym again doesn't mean that we can't indulge in a little winter yum, especially when it's skinny winter yum!  This incredible hot chocolate made with chocolate almond milk is so belly warming good and 1/2 the calories of the regular stuff.  Most importantly it doesn't taste like it is! Did you know that cocoa has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times those found in green tea.  I’ve made this delightful drink a little skinnier by replacing whole milk with chocolate almond milk.  So go ahead and ditch the water and tasteless packet and make this instead…after all, it’s good for your health.  Go get your favorite mug or check out these!

If you want to jazz it up a bit check out these homemade marshmallows. (which are not skinny)

Skinny Hot Chocolate

2 cups chocolate almond milk

1Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract

In a small saucepan add the milk, cocoa, and vanilla.  Mix together and heat over medium heat.  Stir often until hot.  Add nonfat whipped cream and a bit of chocolate shavings if desired.

*Makes 2 servings

It's still cold outside with plenty of days to come in and enjoy this.