reallll smooth

          Lately, I've been on this smoothie kick where I throw together some fresh produce and whip it up into a nice breakfast treat. It is a quick and easy way to stuff some nutrients into your body, plus smoothies simply taste wonderful :) Here are a few of my favorite 'recipes' that I've tried out on my guinea pigs (aka the fam.)

mango smoothie: (recipe source -- Wishes and Dishes)

1 cup cubed/peeled/frozen mango
3/4 cup banana
2/3 cup milk
1 tsp. honey
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

 Since I'd never tried using a mango before, this recipe was a pleasant surprise. The texture was unusually thick and creamy. Definitely making this one again...

kiwi/kale smoothie: (recipe source -- Diethood)

2 bananas
2 kiwis
1 cup kale tightly packed
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup ice

 

 The kiwi/kale smoothie is by far my favorite! My observant brother said that it looked like seaweed, and I have to agree, but the flavor is out of this world.

chocolate banana smoothie: (recipe source -- Baker by Nature)

2 frozen bananas
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. honey
1 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups almond milk

Chocolate and bananas..... mmmmm. Can't go wrong with that combination!

coconut strawberry smoothie:

There is no recipe for this one: I made it up! I do remember throwing in some strawberries and blueberries which made it turn pink, but the main ingredient was coconut meat/water.

 

          That's the beauty of blenders -- you can throw in pretty much anything you want and it still tastes good. (Within reason.)

 

          If you are ever interested in some other smoothie idees, check out these links:

 

The Collegiate Vegan

Skinny Mom

Averie Cooks

advice for life.

    

Someone asked me recently if I had any advice to impart. (Because -- you know-- I'm so darn awful wise.) Instead of saying something profound and helpful, I stuttered and managed to spit out a few words. What are you supposed to say when you're asked for advice?

It bothered me that I was unable to answer properly. But, a few days later, I came across this:


ROMANS 12

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

 

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

 

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
 ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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          Paul has written a list of ways to lead a godly life; to put love into action.

So, if anyone else ever asks me for advice, then I will promptly refer them to this list and say: "here is your advice for life right here!"
I myself will be striving to apply this scripture to my daily life, because I desire to be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. "This is your true and proper worship."

on pomegranates and dying poets

Pomegranates:
     It has always been one of my 'unofficial' New Year's resolutions to live life more adventurously.
A phobia of mine is that I'll fall into the ruts of daily life and forget how to be impulsive and daring.
That's why I bought myself a pomegranate yesterday: I've never had one before, so of course I had to try it. (Eating a pomegranate is totally impulsive and daring -- right?)

 

     Scoop out the seeds, put 'em on a salad and BAM! you've got yourself a beautiful treat. Not only does it taste good, but it looks like you're eating bright red gems. And it's healthy.

 

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Dying Poets:
     This is what the piano looks like when there are three musicians living in the house:

Music. Is. Everywhere.
     The piano bookcase is full, so books and sheet music kinda spill out onto the piano bench/floor/parakeet cage/etc.
     Recently, I've been trying to conquer the song "Dying Poet" by Louis Moreau Gottschalk. It's not a difficult piece, but it's rather long. Sometimes I wish the poet would just hurry up and die. (Not really.)

 

What things have been a part of your life recently?

Sunday drive

There have been a ton of changes in my life recently; not all have been good.
When Life is coming hard down on you, it becomes pretty difficult for you to think straight. You try to keep moving forward with work and school but things get more and more twisted.

After church yesterday, I made an impulsive decision (something I'm famous for) to take a Sunday drive in my jeep. I turned the radio on and some country music was playing. Right turn, left turn, around the corner. I had no idea where I was going, but it felt good -- just me and the music and a typical Missouri dirt road.
I wasn't running away, I was just sorting out my thoughts.

Small things started coming to my attention: a flock of turkeys in a field, two horses getting soaked in the rain, an abandoned barn. The pattern of rain on the windshield was calming, and I found myself admiring the colours of a wintery countryside.
This spontaneous Sunday drive had somehow cleared my mind and I was feeling rejuvenated -- ready to face the mess of 'normal' life again..

Sometimes we need to step away from everything.
Maybe that means traveling on a different road for a while before coming back, or maybe that means stopping and taking a deep breath before shouldering onwards. But it doesn't take much; a Sunday drive is more than plenty.

a walk in the woods

     In a leaf littered forest somewhere in mid-Missouri, a caravan of hikers are making their way along a narrow path. They are a colorful group -- blue and green coats, a collection of bags and cameras, one occupied baby carrier, and a couple of large dogs.
    Suddenly, Indian war whoops pierce the silence. Two teenagers are chasing each other with young children riding piggy back (clinging on for dear life.) "I'm going to get you!" one of them shouts, immediately followed by bursts of laughter. They run doggedly up the hill, stopping only when they reach the edge of a sharp drop-off. The remainder of the group catches up and together they stand -- admiring the bony whiteness of the sycamores against the craggy rocks; taking in the wintery scene of brown and grey.
     On their descent, the hikers stop by a creek bed covered in ice. There is only one logical thing to do, and that is to try and crack the ice as much as possible by throwing rocks. It doesn't take long for them to create a game of it: a modified version of shuffleboard. Lots of giggling and joking around is involved as well as numerous Monty Python quotes scattered throughout the conversation.

     Finally, it's time to head home. Everyone has sniffling noses and bright red cheeks, but the sharp winter wind is exhilarating and pushes them back along the trail. Each traveler goes his separate way after many well-wishes and goodbyes, unsure of when they will see each other again and what adventures will arise in the future. But a new year has commenced -- a time of renewing goals and beginning again, starting with a walk in the woods.