Smoothies the EASY way

   Making smoothies is awesome - let me tell you. I love a morning smoothie for breakfast. Here are some reasons why I love smoothies.

1. It makes me feel so good and it doesn't sit heavy in my stomach like bread or bacon and fried potatoes.

2. Practically all cereal is pretty bad for people to eat. Do your own research. So smoothies are a great alternative.

3. They only take a few minutes to toss together

4. Smoothies can be super healthy for us.

5. It is really easy for the body to digest.

6. They are so versatile to make - you can usually just use what you have on hand instead of having to buy too many "extras" for ingredients.

7. Smoothies don't taste healthy if you do it right. They are very tasty and even kids love them.

   Alright. I'll call that a long enough list. When I first tried making smoothies I didn't know where to start. The recipes had fruits we never have on hand and ingredients I'd never heard of. But I'm determined to save you the frustration and show you that it doesn't have to be so complicated. So grab your blender or food processor and I'll teach you how to make any flavor you can dream of! The recipe here is enough for one adult serving.

   Note that all measurements are approximate - don't sweat it. Just dump in "about that much".

Put the following basics into your blender:

- 1 small to medium banana

- 1/2 to 3/4 C fruit of choice

- 1/3 C greens (spinach, kale, chard, etc. - fresh from your garden, perhaps!)

- 1 1/2 to 2 C drinkable liquid (homemade yoghurt, coconut water, milk, juice, kefir, or just water)

Blend it up and YUM!!!

   But wait, it gets better! That's just the basics. Now you can jazz it up even more and make the flavor even better as well as make it even MORE HEALTHY. Here are some things I add to mine:

Spirulina

- 1 Tblsp frozen juice concentrate (adds lots of yummy flavor!)

- 1 Tblsp raw honey (only if the banana is under-ripe and if there isn't any frozen concentrate, otherwise it doesn't need the extra sweetener)

- about 2" slice of coconut meat (makes it creamier tasting and is good for you)

- Liquid minerals (these can get pricey, but is also really good for you and can be found at a health-food store - follow directions for serving size on the bottle)

- 1/2 teas powdered "super-foods" (like spirulina, beetroot powder, and hemp) (these look gross and taste gross eaten straight, but you can't even tell they're in the smoothie when you eat it mixed in. I would strongly suggest looking into getting some as they are so good for you.)

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   Some of the latter ingredients might be making you tip your head in curiosity. Do a quick search and see what you can learn about how good these things are for you. I put the "weird" ingredients at the end, so you could feel more comfortable to make a simple smoothie and work your way up to some more complicated stuff. Once you get in the routine, it's super easy.

   Try it! I challenge you. I'm fairly certain you won't regret it. And remember, kids like them too, so don't leave them out!

Look at all the great blogs this post is linked to today! Wow!

Don't Be A Dead Fish {Tips-n-Tricks Tuesday}

   The tip for today? Don't be a dead fish.

   I'm not really sure in what context this quote originated, but it definitely gets me to think. As I read this it can mean many things, and perhaps something different to each person. A dead Christian conforming to the world (stream)? Coming alive when we let God get ahold of us? Doing something simply because everyone else is doing it? Perhaps it came across as something completely different to you. Is this a "tip". Mmmm. Maybe, maybe not. But for lack of better post, alas, don't be a dead fish.

Use an Anti-Virus {Tips-n-Tricks Tuesday}

   What is it with me and weird posts lately? The last post was about a book with zombies and werewolves - this is about running an anti-virus on your computer.

   Well, bear with me here. Let me just tell you this: using a good anti-virus on your computer is very important. It saves you time, money, and stress by wiping away viruses on your computer. You've probably heard commercials before about how viruses can steal your passwords and credit card numbers, make your computer slow, and sometimes render your computer barely usable (if not completely unusable). Some of you might be saying "yeah, of course - I've been using those things forever." But I've found that there are alot of people who use their computers regularly, but never check for viruses. Instead they wait until it's broken really good and ask their nearest related teenager to come fix it. That's not necessarily bad, but sometimes it can get annoying to keep fixing things that could have been easily avoided by the computer owner. Trust me, I'm sort of in the middle somewhere - not the "nerd" and also not the "doesn't-run-anti-virus-person" either. So I also hear the computery peoples' frustrations and I'm putting out a plead today on their behalf: run a good anti-virus on your computer!

   It's really not as complicated as it sounds. Find a good anti-virus and use it. Ask the teenager that fixes your computer what a safe one is (some of them are viruses in themselves - so don't download something unless you or your computer friends trusts the anti-virus) and maybe they'll even help you set it up and teach you how to use it if you offer them some yummy hot chocolate and a plate of spice cookies or some other yummy cookie! I use "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware". If you download it, just make sure you use the update tab in the program before every time you do the scan.

   Then don't forget it! Put it on your calendar if you have to and do a scan at least once a month - or if your computer is acting funny. Your computery friend will thank you for it.

   In closing, I am so thankful for the various anti-virus programs we have had over time. They have wiped out so many nasty viruses. Just think of it. How much money would we spend if we had to replace our computers every time we got a virus, if there was no anti-virus software? Wow. Now you're thankful for it too, aren't you?!

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   Disclaimer:

(I am in no way affiliated with "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware" and I am not held responsible for anything between you and "Malwarebytes Anit-Malware".)

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Night of the Living Dead Christian - GIVEAWAY

   I know...when do I ever post on Mondays??? Well, I was just thinking of a giveaway and thought I'd invite you all to enter at a blog that I enjoy.

   It's a book called "Night of the Living Dead". I'm not a huge fan of zombies and vampires and such, but according to the blog post (who also isn't a fan of such things), she says she really liked the book. I've never heard of it before, but apparently it's a parallel between zombies/vampires/werewolves/etc and how we are as Christians. Do we selfishly live off of others, like a vampire does to take blood from others? Or are we like a zombie, experiencing a false resurrection?....

   Give it a look and see if it's something you might be interested in. Or perhaps you know someone else who may enjoy it who you could win it for (or invite them over!). Click here for the link to the giveaway. The giveaway goes until December 29th - so hurry!

Merry Christmas

   Wishing you all a meaningful Christmas this year....

   This year we aren't attending the usual Christmas eve service, so I have to point my mind in the right direction without that assistance in remembering. But we'll be up and ready for church tomorrow morning...after breakfast, but before the presents. I'm excited to see how we'll be encouraged with our brothers and sisters in Christ tomorrow.

   I admit that I am also very excited for presents tomorrow. This year we did a home-made-gifts-only Christmas and it has been great. It is way more fun than buying something because $$$ limits options, but creativity can go as far as you're willing to take it! We're all on the edge of our seats for people to open the gifts we poured our time and love into!

   Blessings to you all!

Homemade Baking Powder {Tips-n-Tricks Tuesday}

   Oh wait...today is Tuesday? I thought it was Monday! Sometimes time sure does fly doesn't it?

   I don't think I've done this one before, so here goes.

   Did you know that baking powder is made out of  1 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp cream of tartar? Yup, it is!

   So why do you want to know this?

1. You can make baking powder if you don't have any.

2. You can figure out the substitution if you don't have cream of tartar in a recipe that calls for that and baking soda by using baking powder.

3. Many brands of baking powder have aluminum in it. By making your own, it doesn't have any aluminum in it.

   As an extra tip, I've heard it suggested to use 1 tsp corn starch when storing it so it will absorb the moisture and keep the baking powder from reacting.

Homemade Shaving Cream

   When I came across this recipe, I knew I had to make this for my brother for Christmas (I know I can tell you guys what I made him because he doesn't read my blog - tee hee!!! Nobody tell him!). He has been very much into becoming a classy man, and among other things, he has taken up shaving with the good 'ole foam + water + mix = shaving cream. He is also appreciating hand-crafted items because of their typically higher quality. So I knew I had to make this for him as soon as I found it. I also came up with the name, hoping it sounds goofy and manly enough for him :D

   It's SUPER easy! (I say that about alot of things don't I? Well, it's the truth!) And homemade shaving cream is a great companion to the bath bombs I posted a while back. Now you can make bath bombs for the women and shaving cream for the men!

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- 45 grams cocoa butter

- 30 grams light olive oil

- 20 mls liquid castille soap

- A few drops of essential oil (optional)

   Melt the cocoa butter and olive oil together in a double-boiler. Let cool. Add liquid castille soap - and essential oils if desired. Whisk or blend with an electric blender. It makes about one cup total because it will increase in volume as you blend. When you're ready to use it, mix a little with some water as you usually would and get to shavin'!

   See? Pretty easy. I can't vouch for how it works, as I haven't dipped into my brother's Christmas gift, but it sure does smell good! I had to wrap it so I'd stop smelling it. I'm not sure if it's my imagination or not, but it seems like the scent is dissipating from me opening it so many times to smell, and now it mostly smells like the cocoa butter....oops! Let's hope that's just my nose getting used to the scent and he won't think I made him chocolate scented shaving cream! :D

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