So Fresh, So Green
Hey everyone! Hope you’re having a wonderful morning 😀
I ended up staying up too late last night watching the Kardashians and their shenanigans while the pilot studied, and got a little snacky.
I still can’t decide whether the tropical fruit tart or the coconut cream pie flavor is my favorite. I just love them both so much 😀
We crashed out, woke up pretty early and I started the day the YogaDownload way.
The original plan was to do 2 20-minute yoga podcasts, but after Power Vinyasa Yoga #4, I was ready for some bfast.
That tropical beauty had:
1.25 C almond milk
1 frozen banana
1/2 C frozen mango
1/2 C fresh pineapple
handful of spinach
1/2 t spirulina
1 scoop vanilla Sun Warrior
So fresh, so green 😀
Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. (Lent is the 40 days before Easter- many Christians and Catholics spend these days reflecting and often “give something up” that they enjoy, as a reminder of emptiness for the 40 day time period). Just like New Years resolutions, I usually go about Lent the rebel way. I don’t usually “give things up” for Lent and instead strive to do “more” of things that I believe would make me a better person. Pray more, forgive more quickly, try to be more patient and sympathetic, and try not to be negative. This year, I’ve already been working on those things (per my inspiration board) and am going to continue to pray more, yoga more, and be more understanding but since I felt like I needed to do something different to actually participate in Lent, I’m also giving up sweets. My friend Jeni (who is usually my dessert buddy) is also giving up sweets so I think it will be ok 😉
Are you doing the Lent thing?
If not, do you have any Spring goals you’re working towards??
Do share 😀
I’m off to get ready for the day then:
-Planning menus
-Cleaning
-Training clients
-Going for a run
-Movie with the girls
See ya this afternoon <3
xoxo,
Gina
More Questions and Answers (From the Ask Me Anything page <—- Ask me anything! Really)
Have you ever been to Europe? If so, where have you been? If no, where would you like to go?
Not yet, but I can’t wait. We were actually planning on going for two weeks this spring, but since I’ll be working on getting a restaurant up and running, we will most likely wait until the fall. We’re going to Italy for one week and Spain for one week 🙂
seeing that you seem to be close to your family, do you ever get homesick? and if so, how do you go about dealing with this? i will be moving across the country with my husband soon and i will be far away from my family.
Yes, I get homesick pretty often. I usually have to know when I’ll be visiting home again, which always helps with the homesickness. Right now, I have no idea when I’m going back, but a short phone call to anyone in the familia always makes me feel better. My friends, pilot, puppies and jobs help to keep me distracted from homesickness.
I can’t really think of anything scandalous to ask you anonymously…anything I’d want to ask you, I’d just comment or email you! Hmm…what’s your stance on the green tea for weight loss thing?
I’m actually surprised by the lack of scandalous questions 😉 I think that green tea is wonderful (and FULL of cancer-fighting antioxidants), but any type of tea can help with weight loss. If you sip a few mugs full throughout the day, you’ll find that you’re much less hungry.
Just curious what kind of food you feed your furbabies..?
We used to feed them Nutro Ultra (which is pricey, but we had heard good things about it) but they weren’t eating it as much as they should. We switched them over to Iams Natural Chicken, which must be like McDonald’s for dogs because they go crazy for it. I’d love to buy them organic, but no where here sells it and I can’t justify driving to Jacksonville for dog food. So they eat the Iams, Oragnic treats (chicken strips and the Newman’s Own hearts), as well as vegetables galore (they love carrots, peas and sweet potatoes).
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Last year I gave up sweets, tomorrow I’m giving up PEANUT BUTTER!!! Yikes – but it’s supposed to be a sacrifice, right? I eat PB on everything!!!! 🙂 It will be really hard, but it will be worth it. I love a good challenge. And after all the good Lord has done for me, giving up one thing is the least I can do for Him! 🙂
i did that last year! and it was SO HARD!!!!
I don’t really celebrate Lent anymore but I’m thinking about giving something up/encouraging something good this year. It will probably have to do with the amount of time I spend on the computer vs doing schoolwork! Better time management would definitely be a good goal for me.
I love that picture of your dogs lounging on the yoga mat. Without fail, whenever I roll my mat out, our puppy comes flying out and promptly plops down on the mat. It makes every pose just a bit more challenging and interesting when your mat becomes an obstacle course. 🙂 We’ve always adopted a similar approach to Lent– my parents, when we were growing up, encouraged us to consider what we could add, in addition to avoid. This year I will be making more time to acknowledge and show my gratitude… and I’ll be avoiding sugar. Best of luck with your spring goals! 🙂
i’m not really a big fan of the tropical fruit tart larabar… i thought it was too dry and crumbly! i definitely like the coconut cream pie one better, although my favorite is probably pb&j!
i’ve never participated in lent before, but i would probably give up sweets too! i don’t eat too many, but i definitely suffer from a big sweet tooth once and a while!
Hey – when you come to Europe, you really should visit Munich in Germany – my home town! (I will welcome you!)
And: We do the lent here. It is acctually for some people really important. I will also do the lent – skipping eating chocolate stuff that is NOT homemade by myself!! Try to do this almost every year.. 🙂 But it is not so easy for me…
hey girl,
i would LOVE to visit germany! there’s actually a small change we could end up at spangolom (sp?) air force base 🙂
I love that larabar, but it is SO sweet I can only eat half at once!
I used to give up something for lent when I was younger, but the idea of giving something up is too restrictive for me now. I like the idea of doing something MORE instead!
xo
K
I’ve never seen that Lara Bar flavor before.. sounds great!
And I LOVE your view of Lent! I may try that..
Love your take on lent! I agree with you on the New Years resolutions too – this year I set myself goals to aim for instead if ‘resolutions’. Not strictly for Lent but I have entered a 5k run at the end of April so will be spending the time working hard at my running!
Do dips in the almond butter jar count as sweets? ; )
hahaha sadly, yes. i’m going to try to have 1-2 T per day, which is going to be very challenging!
My dog loves that food too!
what do you mean by “sweets”? just because that can mean so many different things 🙂
here is a question…do you ever feel like you got married too young? you are only 25 and have been married for a couple years, right?
oops…maybe i am supposed to ask that on the askanything page, but i have no shame. i will put my name to that question 🙂
I agree about doing more for Lent! I just sent a note to my family encouraging us to each publish a Promise for Lent to each other. I am working on needing to release a MAJOR amount of bodyfat and get in to better shape. My thinking has been off and getting in my way lately. So My Promise is to write a nutrition, workout AND thinking (reading helpful stuff and journaling about why I am working on this) plan for the week each Sunday and then executing the plan like a master!
First I have to say I love your blog!
You inspired me to change a lot of things about my diet and it seems to be working quite well. I might even try a Zumba class again lol, I took one and wasn’t too impressed. But I guess it always depends on the instructor too.
I’m from Germany and my husband is from the US, I’ve been living here for 5 years now. And I get sooooo homesick! I agree that it helps to have a visit date – which right now I don’t, arghs. I feel like I just want to pack up and leave…but well got my hubby and all my critters….so I’m torn! Today’s also my dad’s birthday, so that might add to it too. Missing all birthdays, weddings, holidays etc.
As for lent I’m not sure…I just started changing my diet and gave up a bunch of things, so I don’t want to go more extreme there…have to let the new routine settle a little before I give up more. And budget wise my pets are already eating up most of that…and I support the American veterinary industry a lot – so I already had to cut shopping for myself.
So I guess, there’s nothing to give up right now! I want to keep enjoying the few pleasures that are left haha!
i don’t give anything up for lent. well i guess i’m working on gaining confidence and shedding negative self talk. not specifically for lent but maybe that’s a good idea for me…
This year I am giving up chocolate for Lent. This will be extremely hard for me to do since I enjoy it daily. I have always been a firm believer that you shouldn’t deny yourself any specific food, however this will be a huge sacrifice for me. Good luck with your Lenten promise!
I supplement Nutro or Costco kibble with home-cooked real food for my dogs- mainly chicken thighs and veggies and rice or oats. Easy, good for them, and they love it.
Your green smoothies are so light and pretty! I throw so much spinach in mine they come out almost black (well, that’s with blueberries), but always dark!
I’m experimenting with bfast cookies. Holy cow, is it easy to make a 400 calorie cookie! I want to find a healthy, light, tasty one to feed my 9 y/o.
hey mary,
try using less oats (1/3 cup) or less mix-ins– applesauce also works instead of the banana
I don’t even add mix-ins or banana! I guess when you add protein powder, chia seeds and almond butter to oats, it’s going to add up. Today’s was only 289 calories– no AB, no PP. I like the applesauce idea. I bet a cooked, diced apple would be good in it, too. Considering how they fill me up, I can’t really gripe about the calories, either. : )
I gave up booze two years ago and last year I gave up meat. This year I’m going to give up cheese so I definitely plan on finally trying nutritional yeast because your blog has always made me curious!
I’m giving up any types of chocolate and vanilla type treats.
So no cocoa powder, no whey protein powder of any chocolate or vanilla flavour. No chocolate of any kind (including ice cream). Gonna be tough but I’m doing it!
I love the lemon larabar the best. I do not participate in lent but my springish goal is to run a 5k by may. I have always been an elliptical person and I am trying to learn to enjoy running. I didn’t anticipate running on a treadmill to be so much harder than the elliptical.
I’ll be giving up sweets as well. In my mind this means processed sweets, but also lattes (soy lattes are my weakness)! I think it will be a good challenge. We can do it!
i’m giving up sweets too!
Going to be a tad difficult for 40 days, but isnt that what Lent is all about?!
I am going to try to give up chocolate, I eat wayyy too much of it:) Hopefully I can do it, who knows this might just be my first step to breaking my addiction lol!
That breakfast smoothie slushie creation looks awesome, I’m definitely going to try one in the next few days!
Hi there,
I am also giving up all bars 🙁 No more Larabars, Raw goodies, Globars etc). I gave up sugar a few months ago (I usually give up chocolate for Lent). This will be a HUGE challenge for me because I love, love, love bars.
I am striving to be more patient with someone at work and to be present and positive each moment of each day.
Take care, Lisa
Hubby and I are giving up going out to eat since we do it far too much! I’m also giving up meat which is something I’ve been trying to do lately anyway. I just needed a reason. I love Lent! The symbolism behind it and the way it’s kind of like a challenge makes it fun for me. I’ve given up chocolate and soda in the past, so this year should be interesting, but not too hard!
I am giving up white sugar for lent. I think it would be great if you could do a post about how to deal with sugar cravings! I’ll probably be needing advice in about 48 hours…:)
anytime you need help stepping away, tweet or email me!
Im not doing the Lent thing, but I do have a goal for spring! Theres a hike in my area called the Grouse Grind, it goes straight up the mountain and Ive never done it before. So Im trying to get all the hill running in that I can so Im ready for it. As soon as the spring comes, and the weathers nice Im going for it.
I’m also giving up sweets for Lent! I’m also trying to cut back on all sugar, since I like it so much. Now I have a partner in crime! 🙂
I haven’t given anything up for lent in awhile. In college I gave up cursing 2 years in a row. That was a good one! I think I curse much less overall now.
Wow! I’m not sure if I could give up sweets for that long. I guess I could but the thought scares me. 🙂 Good for you!!!
I haven’t “given up” anything in about 5 years, I was doing the “be a better person” thing for the last few years. But I decided a few days ago, that I will give up chocolate. So it was so great to read that you are giving up sweets also – it will be much easier sticking to it, knowing others (especially other people that I can really relate to!) are giving up something that will challenge them.
You’re going to love Europe! I spent a semester in Rome in college so if you want any travel info for Italy please let me know!
I have the SAME yoga mat!!
hey, love your blog!
wanted to ask how you weaned yourself off splenda.. I drink 3-4 cans of diet coke a week and used SF sweetener on oatmeal..sometimes I sweeten my tea with splenda too, and Im just sick of it!!
How’d you do it?!
i had to ease out slowly (twss? haha)… i’d take it down from 2 T to 1 T, to every other day, to nothing
I am giving up sweets for lent too! Good luck-it’s going to be a struggle for me, but I know I can do it!
I gave up chocolate last year for Lent…it wasn’t so bad actually! But I am at a loss as to what to give up this year…good luck on giving up sweets! I’m not really that into sweets so I guess that wouldn’t be a fair choice for me to give up! haha
I am a big fan of your blog, and am sooo jealous that we don’t have all the health food options here in Australia that you guys have over there!
For Lent I am giving up Wine & Chocolate, they are my other great loves (besides my gorgeous hubby & babies). In our Sunday mass, our priest encouraged us to take up something for Lent instead of giving up something, so I am going to make an effort to smile at strangers, shop keepers, receptionists etc more as well.
I love your smoothies. They look really yummy and healthy, too.
Yum on your smoothie! 🙂
My goals this spring are to keep reading, researching, and preparing for childbirth. 🙂