Vita-Goodness!!

Many have asked about our smoothies...so we wanted to share!  First off, we have a VitaMix...which is AMAZZZZING!  You can put entire carrots, apples...pretty much any fruit or veggie (without the pit like in a peach) and it will completely blend it together (no chucks!!).  It pretty much has a 2 horsepower lawnmower motor in a blender! ha.  It is really fun.  We've tried many things with it...made soup...smoothies...some good, some not so good.  Here's what we made this morning...

Ingredients:  A few large carrots, pineapple, 1 peeled orange, 2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree, 1 peach (without pit) and a splash of cranberry juice.

Here's some of our favorite ingredients, there are SO many different combinations:

honey

orange juice

yogurt

tomatoes

carrots

apples (tart like granny smith)

banana

frozen mango, srawberries or pineapple to make it a cold smoothie

ginger

oranges

strawberries

The only ingredient we haven't liked is celery because it has a really nasty after-taste!

We also add soy protein powered (from Trader Joe) if we want to enhance calories to keep us full for longer.  I'm usually hungry a few hours after having a smoothie so we always make sure to eat something with or after the smoothie.  We can both agree that our nails and hair are smoother, stronger and more healthy since getting so many more fruits and veggies!!!

Something to keep in mind if you decide to add smoothies to your routine is portion size!!  Smoothies are very healthful and nutritous (depending on the ingredients you use...) but remember if you ADD a smoothie to your diet it will ADD calories.

Check out their website if you'd like more info or ask us if you'd like to borrow ours and test it out!

https://secure.vitamix.com/Default.aspx

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

While my husband was painting...

 ...I made pumpkin spice coffee creamer. It is absolutely heavenly!

Got the recipe from a new blog I've been following, check it out: http://deliciouslyorganic.net/homemade-coffee-creamer/

Didn't take long to make, made about 2 cups which isn't that much but really how much coffee can 2 people drink!? 

We love this pumpkin spice creamer because it's NOT really sweet like most artificial non-dairy creamers and it tastes earthy and quite creamy.  We would highly recommend making your own. 

A few pointers: 
-We used whipping cream instead of heavy whipping cream-- I would use heavy whipping cream because ours is a little thin (thus use more).
-Be sure to run it through a strainer so the creamer is smooth.

It was about $12.00 for all the ingredients, we already had pumpkin spice and vanilla extract but we bought organic everything else.  There is an entire can of pumpkin left, 1/2 gallon of milk and maple syrup which we will use!  It was a little more pricey up-front but I think in the long run this creamer tastes better, is better for us and is worth it when you look at the price of a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks or Dunkin!!!

MmmMmm!!  Now we don't have to wait for the "pumpkin season" to arrive at the grocery store or coffee shop :o)  Look forward to testing out other variations, will let you know how they turn out.

Happy 26th Birthday!

Celebrated our brother-in-law Andrew's birthday this past weekend...he fooled me, I thought he was turning 26, turn that 6 around!!  Big 2-9 for Andrew.  Always so fun to get together and spend time with family.  

 

Check out the birthday dessert...

Scrabble Sugar Cookies

Rice-Krispy Sushi

Dirt 'N Worms on request from the birthday boy!

Andrew's rockin' wife made him ladder-ball...fun times! I never took a try at it.  I was too busy hanging out with sweet Mason on the lawn soaking up some sun and shut eye :)

I love this!  Sweet little fingers.  I love you!

So we had a bag of chips outside and ants got into it.  Not too long after Andrew spotted a mouse...not long after that we found it in the chip bag!  Chris wanted to catch it....never had success lol.  And no, we did not leave chips out for it and no it wasn't able to carry any chips up into it's hiding spot.

We all very much enjoyed our Mason time.  Ahhhh can't get enough of him, he is darling.

No kids, a kid, lots of kids -- the scary progression to the mini van...NOOOOO not us!!!

Momma's tacos!!!  They were SO yummy!! We all tried to soak up Mom's tricks.  What I learned this round-- saute rice in oil to "crisp" before boiling.  That food was so good.  Forgot to take a picture of the plate because we ate it so fast!!!  Chicken tacos, rice and beans.

Monday morning I went to my first HOT yoga class.  It was amazing.  100 degrees and 90 minutesof yoga.  It felt so good, and even better today!  Ha.  Really wish we had HOT yoga in our town.  Chris is starting a HOT class next month.

Monday afternoon Britt and I went down to her craft area and made some fabric headbands!  She is so crafty!  We used her sewing machine and made cute headbands with and without elastic.  Will have to post a pic styling them....

Well, that was our Labor Day weekend.  Can't believe it's already almost Wednesday.  WOW.  Time sure does fly.  We were so glad we went out to visit with Britt & Andrew.  Can't wait to see them and their sweet Mason again soon!

"Our Cows Don't Do Drugs!"

Enjoying burgers from Nooherooka Natural! 

Check out their website, they are in Snow Hill, NC  http://nooherooka.com/

We've really enjoyed purchasing their meat products.  A few weeks ago at the Farmer's Market they had a special, 4lb. ground beef for $20.  We don't eat much meat so we don't mind paying a little more for a good quality meat every few weeks.  Their hot dogs are SOOOOO good!!!!

Hurricane Irene Continues...

Here's an update on Irene...we are making the most of it.  I am thankful for Skype!  We talked with my mom and dad for about 30 minutes today showing them the storm and Aaron and Chris being boys---

 

 Our new lake!!

 Flooding...

 I wouldn't drive in this weather...no way...

More trees down by our place.

Hopefully she will be making her way out of here soon.  Still high winds and rain.  Praying everyone is safe and dry!

Hurricane Irene...

Our first hurricane together!  Been inside since last night and don't plan to go anywhere until Irene passes.  There have been a few CRAZY people out but you can find us watching...and reading...and relaxing!  The wind is insane.  We've seen gutters, siding and shingles whirling around.  Praise be to God this is only a Category 1 hurricane!

 Last night we enjoyed cooking a meal together.  Ground beef from Nooherooka in Goldsboro, NC with mushrooms, rice and green beans sauted with cherry tomatoes from the farmer's market topped off with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc MMmMmmm!

The beginning of the rain/winds Saturday morning--

 The wind is incredible--

 Making a late breakfast, we are lucky to have power!  Many around us are out, ours has flickered a lot but still on--

 Check out my Mrs. Sisneros mug from Aunt Eleanor :o)

Great day to finish a few books!  Updates to follow--stay safe everyone!

Break-through?

Many of you who know me well know I fall asleep during any movie...except if it's a documentary.  I'm not sure what my problem is, nothing seems to keep my attention and if it's up to me I'd rather sleep!  Or, most of the time, I don't care to watch a movie if I think it will be scary.  I think movies are way more powerful than most people realize.  There have been countless movies I wish I didn't watch because they put images and thoughts in my head that, on my own, I would never think up or imagine.  I do love a good documentary.  I like being informed and educated.  Most documentaries are biased but I think that's half the fun.  I like the freedom of watching documentaries and being able to develop my own opinions and thoughs. 

Some of our favorite documentaries include

• Food Ink
• The Business of Being Born
• Food Matters
• Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
• Deconstructing Supper
• Waiting for Superman
• Running the Sahara
• Hell on Wheels

We can't get enough!  Chris and I have really enjoyed watching documentaries together.  I've even found Chris watching documentaries without me and by choice!!!! HA I think that is awesome :)

So when Chris and I started dating he found out, rather quickly, that I would fall asleep during movies...especially if they are at night.  It was pointless to bring me to or rent a movie with me...no matter how hard I tried to fight it I would ALWAYS fall alsleep. 

Recently Chris has ordered some movies on Netflix that 1) I haven't fell alseep to 2) I actually LIKED!!!

We totally recommend YOU watch Soul Surfer and To Save a Life.  They are amazing movies...and the first one is a true story, which makes it that much better!  The second movie has really got Chris and I thinking...we are really excited about some thoughts and are praying hard about some doors to be opened and changes be made....we will update once we have confirmation and/or some more details!  Till next time..hope you watch these movies and enjoy them just as much as we did.