Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Healthy Fruit Smoothies

Recently I have been experimenting with smoothies. I love smoothies. They are pretty easy to make and really healthy for you if you add the right stuff. I have been using both fruits and vegetables. Here are some of my favorite fruit smoothie recipes that I found online. (Vege Smoothies to follow.)


Raspberry-Avocado Smoothie

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
  • 3/4 cup orange juice
  • 3/4 cup raspberry juice
  • 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, (not thawed)
  • PREPARATION

    1. Puree avocado, orange juice, raspberry juice and raspberries in a blender until smooth.

  • Wake-Up Smoothie

    INGREDIENTS
    • 1 1/4 cups orange juice, preferably calcium-fortified
    • 1 banana
    • 1 1/4 cups frozen berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries
    • 1/2 cup low-fat silken tofu, or low-fat plain yogurt
    • 1 tablespoon sugar, or Splenda Granular (optional)
    • PREPARATION
    1. Combine orange juice, banana, berries, tofu (or yogurt) and sugar (or Splenda), if using, in a blender; cover and blend until creamy. Serve immediately.

  • Banana-Cocoa Soy Smoothie

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 banana
    • 1/2 cup silken tofu
    • 1/2 cup soymilk
    • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • PREPARATION

      1. Slice banana and freeze until firm. Blend tofu, soymilk, cocoa and honey in a blender until smooth. With the motor running, add the banana slices through the hole in the lid and continue to puree until smooth.


      Banana Honey Breakfast Blast:

      Ingredients

      1/2 cups Vanilla Soy Milk (or regular reduced fat milk)
      2 large bananas
      1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
      1/4 cup honey
      1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
      1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

       Preparation:

      Chuck everything in the blender, blend for about 30 seconds or until it's nice and smooth. Serve with a little sprinkle of nutmeg for looks. 

      Blueberry Protein Smoothie


      Ingredients


      1 cup fresh blueberries
      2/3 cup fat free milk
      1/2 cup silken tofu (About 4 oz)
      2 tablespoons raspberry preserves
      1 (6 oz) container of Raspberry low fat yogurt

      Preparation

      Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. If you like your smoothie thicker, add some crushed ice cubes. 




      Recipes were found online @Light Cooking & Eating Well

    Sunday, March 4, 2012

    Answered.



     Just a couple pics from our night out with friends at a cute little Mexican Restaurant in New York. It was lovely!
    I asked if there was anyone who might have a question for me. I was thrilled to have quite a few people ask me. Thank you....


    1. Do you believe in love at first sight?
    Three years ago, I would have said no. But I fell in love with Ty the first day I saw him. I'm not sure that it counts since I knew him for awhile before I actually saw him but just because I didn't experience it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. 

    2. Make up or No Make up?
    I love make-up. I'm still a kid at heart playing with oversized heels, dressing up in my Nana's silky blouses with mega blue eyeshadow on and hot red lipstick smeared on my lips. 

    3. Who's your best friend? 
    Throughout life, I have had many best friends. I'm still close with mostly all of them but right now, my best friend, is my fiancĂ©, Ty. I've always wanted to say that my boyfriend is my best friend, and now I get that chance to. 

    4. What kind of Camera do you Use?
    I currently use a simple Kodak Easy Share with 10X optical zoom. Although we did go look at Canon Rebels this weekend :)

    5. When will there be baby #2?
    Well, if it wasn't for our upcoming wedding and residential moves I would say now. Ha ha. I want to be married and have our honeymoon first. Baby #2 will, hopefully, come sometime after our wedding in 2013. We definitely both want more babies.

    6. Are you close with your family?
    I am very close with my immediate family. My mother, father, two sisters, brother-in-law and niece all live in Massachusetts, so I visit them as much as I can. I have no grandparents, they have all passed away. I am also close with Ty's family.

    7. What is your Biggest Insecurity? 
    This might be a long one... 
    I have different insecurities that come and go throughout my life, as all humans do. For the most part, I'm pretty comfortable in who I am. But one insecurity that continuously plagues me is one that comes from the inside. My insecurity is that I might not be good enough. Good enough for Ty, good enough for the life I have, etc. I am always one step ahead in case life takes a turn for the worst. I always hold up this wall just...incase. I know that people who hold walls up are people who have been broken in the past. I am one of them. 

     If Ty and I have an argument or we don't agree, I immediately think, 'Well, it's over'. And logically, that is ridiculous to think! All couples have arguments. All couples have their ups and downs. Ty tells me I always think worst case scenario. I work on this daily. 

    But for me, I would rather walk away than be left. I have a hard time believing that Ty will never leave me because it seems too good to be true.  It seems that I'm always waiting for the rain. I have a hard time excepting the fact that I deserve all the happiness that I have right now. I haven't always been the best person but God has still blessed me. I'm thankful. I am working on realizing that I do deserve good things. Over the last couple of years it has slowly dissipated, thanks to my wonderful fiancĂ©. He has broken down my walls. Insecurities of the heart take time to conquer. 


    8.How do you take your coffee or tea?
    I drink half-caff coffee with cream and sugar and my Sleepy Time Tea plain. 


    9.Favorite go-to healthy dinner?
    I would have to say my favorite healthy dinner is Pumpkin Raviolis with Strawberry Spinach Salad and home made dressing. 



    10. Favorite Thing about being a Momma?
    A million things! I love that Scarlett needs me. When she holds her hands out for me to pick her up, when she cries and only wants me to hold her. Knowing that my milk made her grow and the way she plays with my hair while she eats her bottle. I love that my baby needs me. It makes me feel like my life is meaningful. 

    11. Was it Hard losing the baby weight & how long did it take?
    I'm going to direct this question to a blog post I wrote a little while ago, HERE.
    Everyone is different. For me, it wasn't hard because I made healthy choices & worked out the entire pregnancy. I wore my skinny jeans home from the hospital. (Keep in mind I had no pregnancy issues that caused me to gain too much weight.) My biggest advice: Get in shape BEFORE you get pregnant!

    12. How has your life changed the most, since having your precious baby? 
    EVERYTHING has changed. I was a wild child for many years. How I think has been the biggest change. Now, I'm not first, Scarlett is. I wake up and think about what I have to do for Scarlett instead of me. I feed her before I eat. Before I act upon something, I think, how will this effect Scarlett? She has blessed my life. She has saved me in many ways.

    13.  What is your biggest...

    Biggest Disappointment? I always envisioned myself going to school for film directing/producing or screen writing. I never pursued that & that makes me sad. But, it's never too late. 
     Biggest Fear? My biggest fear is that I will lose a loved one. 
     Biggest Fault? Having to be in control at all times.
    Biggest pet Peeve? When people chew with their mouth open. 
    Accomplishment (Besides Scarlett)? Besides Scarlett, I would say my biggest accomplishments are yet to come. The last 2 years were huge accomplishments to me. I Found True Love (HERE), Bought a House (HERE), Had a Baby (HERE), Got Engaged (HERE) and Now I get to See New Places. (HERE) I'd say becoming happy is my biggest accomplishment.  

    14. What is something that no one knows about you? 

      



    Saturday, March 3, 2012

    Self Portrait Saturday: Eyes


    Many people think that they can figure out someone by what they have seen with their eyes....













    Friday, March 2, 2012

    Solace.

    This is my life lately.
    Crazy as always.
    But, better busy than bored, right?

    Another week in Massachusetts put a pause on everything else. 
    It was successful in the fact that I visited a few more friends, saw family and got a number of to-do's checked off my list. 


    Lately...I have been writing like crazy!
    Remember when I said I was having some writer's block? Well, that has subsided and I can't get words down quick enough.

    It's funny where I find solace.
    Last week, I was in kind of a funk. My mood seemed to be not the norm. Although I am a melancholy girl at times, that part of me is just for reminiscent purposes. My outer core is generally always happy. I have a fun spirit. I am not the type to stay down. But last week, I was sad. 

    I didn't even know why really. A bit because I wanted to write. And the writer's block was impending. I was away from Ty for another week, which always has me in an indifferent mood.
    But besides the smiles that I got from my Scarlett at the playground, that seemed to comfort me, I was apathetic. 


    It was like a dark cloud was hovering over me. Of course, every human being has these instants.
    It was in those moments that I turned on the music, sat down and... I couldn't write. It irked me. I closed my laptop and left the house.  

    I watched. 
    I watched the old man at the grocery store shuffling along slowly with his squealing cart. I thought about how he, too, had a story that no one knew. I watched the father at the playground pushing his daughter on the swing. Their connection was fetching. I watched the couple arguing in their car. How bitter they were. But you could tell they were crazy about each other. 

    It was those 3 days of watching, that I started to realize something. I have a tendency to look at everything around me. I don't know if anyone else does this, or if it's just me, but I watch people and things closely. They inspire me. What i don't know about them, I envision. I create a world for them. Maybe that is the writer in me.

    A whole book came pouring into my head about the old man and his life story. The same with the father and his daughter. Poems flooded my imagination when it came to the couple arguing. Some people don't know that it's others that inspire me the most. 

    After those quiet days of observation, I came home and wrote. I didn't even write about any of those people, or their stories, but the simple way they lived their life helped me to unlock my own narrations.

    The best things can come from sadness, bitterness, and the uncertainty if only you look close enough. For me, it is writing. 

    Now, a week later...I am back to my humorous and focused self. I thank those strangers for their inspiration. And to think, they will never know it...



    Wednesday, February 29, 2012

    Meal Plan

     
    I am pretty healthy when it comes to eating. I prefer whole wheat over white bread, I love ALL vegetables and fruits, and I only eat lean meats. I am trying to regain my love for fish since I know how good it is for you. I loved it before I had Scarlett. Once I got pregnant, I couldn't stand the look or taste of it. That food aversion never went away. Although it is getting easier. Ty and I rarely drink soda either. But somehow, our eating habits have gotten....I'd say, lazy.

    Ty told me the other day that he wants to start eating healthier. I looked in our fridge and realized that even though I may be eating healthy, we still have tons of junk in our fridge. Ty's lunches consist of frozen meals and deli meat sandwiches on bulklie rolls. (Sorry for slacking on the meal thing, babe.) Not the healthiest. Even dinner has become less healthy. I blame this on me since I dislike cooking & would rather buy the pre-made frozen lasagna then cook our own healthy lasagna. Ty brings home the dough, so I figure, the least I can do it make the dough...at home that is. Stupid metaphor, but you get the idea. (lol) Not to mention, Scarlett is going to be eating with us soon. I want her eating as healthy as she has been. I just bought a baby bullet to mash up some of the healthy foods that we'll be eating, too. 

    Junk food and pre-made meals are coming to an end! I have recently done a kitchen make-over and thrown out all our naughty foods. Except my chocolate chip cookies. Those are for a rainy day ;) But everything else went. Like, the donuts covered with powder, the frozen meals filled with sodium, the white breads and the sugar-filled juices. I started making meal plans before I go grocery shopping. I shop for a lot of organic fruits and veges, lean meats, whole grain/wheat bread, and flax seed oil over traditional cooking oil. I made a meal plan for this week and we are currently following it. I have to say, eating healthier feels good. Physically. We are not trying to lose weight, we just want to be healthy and in shape. I'm also having fun! I never would have thought!  Here is a peak into our meal plan for next week:
    I linked up some of the meals so you can check out the recipes and make them, too! 

    Meal Plan:

    Monday:
    Breakfast: Grapefruit, Whole wheat English Muffin with peanut butter and a glass of Oj
    Lunch: 2 Hard-Boiled Eggs, Strawberry Spinach Salad w/ home-made dressing & Green Tea 

    Tuesday:
    Breakfast: Oatmeal with Blueberries & Bananas, Whole wheat toast & a glass of 1% milk
    Lunch: RoastBeef Sandwich on Sourdough bread w/ light mayo & a tomato slice, Handful of Walnuts and a Water.
    Dinner: Salmon with Lime Sauce, Steamed Broccoli, and Couscous

    Wednesday:
    Breakfast: Strawberry Banana Smoothie w/ Low fat Raspberry Yogurt & 1% milk and Cantaloup
    Lunch: Healthy Style Tuna Melt w/ low fat Chedder Cheese, Chic Pea Salad, an Apple & a water
    Dinner: Lemon Garlic Chicken, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Organic Cranberry sauce and fresh Salad

    Thursday:
    Breakfast: Organic Wheat Waffles topped with peanut butter and raisins, & a smoothie for mid-meal snack. 
    Lunch: Minestrone Soup, Asian Tuna Lettuce Wrap and Green tea
    Dinner: Greek Chicken w/ Wheat Angel Hair Pasta & feta cheese, baby Carrots and a glass of wine. 

    Friday:
    Breakfast:Scrambled eggs cooked with Onion, mushrooms, and spinach, Whole wheat toast and low fat cottage cheese. 
    Lunch: Curried Chicken Salad with Apples & Raisins, an orange and green tea.
    Dinner: Grilled Eggplant Portabella Sandwich on whole wheat with sweet potato fries and a pickle. 

    Saturday:
    Breakfast:Multigrain Cereal with 1% milk, berries on top and a low fat muffin for a mid meal snack. 
    Lunch: Take Out! Yeah, we do that on occasion :)
    Dinner: Spring Vegetable Risotto with Shrimp and Green Beans 

    Snacks In Between Include:
    Fruit Smoothies (So healthy, tasty & filling)
    Walnuts
    Grapes
    Oranges
    Apples & Cottage Cheese
    Hummus with Crackers
    Protein Bars
    Edamame's

    Monday, February 27, 2012

    What Do You Want To Know?


    I have had a few people ask me questions here or there. I have yet to answer some of those questions. But now I'm throwing it out there. Are there any questions you want to ask me? It can be anything from plain curiousness, personal questions or how-to's... You can ask me your questions in the comment section below. Show who you are or be anonymous. I would love to answer some of your questions... 


    ~Lauren  






    Linking Up With:

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

    After Her...



    By: Lauren Hutchinson Copyright © 2010



    He said, "After her, there's nothing that will suffice....
    I hate her and she's caused too much pain...."
    He said, "After her, color isn't as vibrant. "
    Her love was like wild, wild rain.




    He said, "She took a man and made a fool of me. But I still want her tangled hair to fall on my face.
    And we can live in each other's twisted embrace."

    She said she loved him the best but he always doubted her.
    He said, "I can't forget all those nights when she loved me like I breathed life to her existence..."
    He couldn't live with her; he couldn't live without her.


    He said, "I wish I could fight with her again.
     Let her scream angry words, just to watch her beautiful mouth say my name once more..."
    He said, "She always had one foot out the door."

    He lied to everyone. He said he was fine.
    He confessed, "I'd give up many moments, just to watch her sleeping in my bed one last time."



    He said, "When she was here, we both drank the bottle to stay sane.
    I wished she would leave. I told her to go!"
    He said, "But After her, things aren't the same..."


    He said, "The smell of her skin, her head in my lap, her mystery, were the things I enjoyed."
    All those girls that he took in...they never filled the void.


    After her, the sky clouded up and the rain came without asking.
    He said, "In my venomous oasis is where I'll stay basking."


    Holding the pictures in his hand.
    He said, "She left my camera full of her..."
    He just didn't understand.

    He said "I can still hear the sweet sound of laughter from her."
    He said, "...I'm nothing....after her."