Return to Reality

 When people ask me what I've been doing all summer, I look back to see I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen! Part of that was figuring out how I could maintain my healthy routines from summer, when I have so much prep time, amidst an on-the-go lifestyle.

One key component of that is my morning smoothie. The Body Ecology Guide I read suggested eating a light breakfast, and waiting until around 11:00 to eat protein, giving the liver a chance to "wake up." So, following that, I've concocted (some of the earlier rounds were horrible!) this smoothie that gives me mega vitamins while still being palate pleasing.

1. 3/4-1 c broccoli
2. 3/4-1 c kale (could use spinach, but spinach has more oxalates, which inhibit calcium and iron absorption)
3. 1/4-1/2 c pineapple
4. 1/2 small banana
5. 1/8 c coconut/almond milk- just enough to get the other ingredients moving

Honestly, the measurements are not exact. I don't measure when I make mine, so try it out and see which proportions work best for you.

I've timed myself making this smoothie- and washing the blender!- and got it down to five minutes. By putting it in my insulated to-go cup, I can drink my breakfast on the way to work.

Here is why I chose those ingredients and little tips on making it fast and easy.

*Info from http://www.whfoods.com/index.php

Another really fast, really portable healthy treat is this "bar". The recipe I based my own off of calls it a brownie, but it's not flaky enough, chocolatey enough and it never gets heated up and gooey. If you ask me- not a brownie!

 I modified this by using these ingredients:

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup finely shredded coconut 

1 cup pitted dates

1/2 cup raisins

1 tbsp cocoa powder

2-3 tbsp natural peanut butter (store bought or make your own)

1. Put the ingredients in a food processor in order, except the peanut butter.

2. Let the processor run until the ingredients stop swirling around and get caught in a ball. It takes a few minutes.

3. Hand knead in the peanut butter.

4. Place on wax paper in a bread tin to mold into shape. Then store them in the fridge. 

Runaways For The Day

 School's right around the corner. Ryan took off last Friday so we could get away together before my busy schedule resumes. We decided to head to Buffalo and Niagara Falls for the day. 

Maid of the Mist

Before going to the Falls, we stopped at a Polish minimart that also serves lunch. It was like being in a different country. The workers spoke limited English and all of the products sold were in Polish, usually with multilingual labels. It was a great reminder of what life is like for my students when they first come to our country. I especially loved the Italian translation on the juice carton :) Don't you think we should have multilingual labels? Instead of doing a puzzle on the back of the cereal box in the morning, kids could be attempting to decode a different language. That is much more interesting to me than a maze! 

The rest of the weekend was spent doing fun projects to get ready for the first day!! Here is one that I especially liked working on: 

I saw this idea on Pinterest and wanted to change it a little to make it work in my room. Instead of printing it (no access to a color printer), I decided to make M&Ms that I laminated so I can reuse them for various activities throughout the year. 

Label maker and laminating tape- brining out the nerd in all of us! Hah- I love these two things that we have only because of my father-in-law :)

Have a great 2013-2014 school year!

Random- Summer Wrap Up

Two years in the making- our official family housewarming party.  It was a great time!

Used Grandma's silver to hold the hummus and veggie dip. 

 Our dilemma was having a food buffet outside on a hot day! My mom's smart idea was to fill the lids with ice and then rest the platters on the lids they came with to keep the dishes cold. She's so smart :) 

I guess card making runs in the family. My six-year-old cousin made this card on her own, hid it up her shirt on the ride over and surprised both her mom and me with it! So cute.

Here's the latest card I made for a friend's wedding.

Woohoo! I can travel internationally now with my new last name.

The 6th Annual Mercy Flight Golf Tournament with Ryan's family. 

 Mercy Flight brought a helicopter this year!!

Recent Events

Ryan's aunt and uncle brought us some chocolate covered sunflower seeds :) Nice surprise gift. 

Read about this guy... deciding to try it! 

Hosted a lunch get together with girls from my church's community group since we're on break for the summer. The thunderstorms skipped us over completely so we got to enjoy eating outside.

Ryan looked up recipes, shopped for and prepared this meal all on his own initiative. Love him.

Today "I'm starving, let's get something to eat" turned into a whole afternoon spent at the beach. 

'

I love summer :)

Right In Our Own Backyard

My little sister asked me and Ryan to take their engagement pictures for them, as she had done for us three years ago. We of course said yes, not knowing the plans she had in mind. She drove us to a park in the middle of the city... never been to it before, not in the best part of town. I still can't believe this is in the middle of our city. 

We followed a path for a little bit, then hopped a fence and found the perfect setting for her pictures. Isn't this gorgeous??

The sky was absolutely stunning. 

There was even a cave towards the falls that we ventured into. 

These made it a little difficult, but so worth it. 

And a rainbow to bid us farewell. Got gorgeous engagement pictures that I'm not allowed to share :) 

Raincheck For The Drive-In

We had plans to go to the drive-in tonight, but with thunderstorms in the forecast, we went to Plan B... renting a movie at home.

Just like we would have, had we gone to the drive in, we had to decide what treats to have during the movie! And what we came up with is sort of a chicken-and-waffles, sweet-and-salty combo:

Ryan made:

Roasted Garlic

I made:

"Buckeye" Ice Cream

Finally! A SIMPLE ice cream recipe that tastes delish! I am so happy :) These are the four ingredients. (I did make my own sunbutter a week ago which was not complicated, but a little sticky.) 

 

Ryan's favorite ice cream happens to be chocolate peanut butter swirl. Here's a quick comparison of those ingredients:

Mmmmm Mmmm! 

I want to try it again without the sunbutter because I think the chocolate flavor on its own would be enough. Yum!