Things I Love: Dessert for Breakfast (that's healthy)

I'm pretty sure I've already blogged about my smoothie obsession.

Well today, I'm confessing: I found a new recipe and the obsession has gotten epically worse.

I couldn't be happier.

So this great little smoothie is loaded with vitamins, protein, and chocolate.  Yep chocolate.

Did I mention it's totally vegan?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

What you need (per smoothie):

• 1 T ground flax seed
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 T peanut butter (almond butter, sunflower seed butter)--More or less to taste
• 1 c. chocolate almond milk (can also use plain almond, soy, or coconut milk and add 1T cocoa powder)
• 1 handful of fresh spinach (what?? trust me--you get all the nutrient benefits without the taste!)
• 1/5 cube of silken tofu (hello protein)

What to do:

In a blender, combine flax seed, almond milk, and tofu.  Blend a few seconds.  Add in peanut butter, banana, and spinach.  Blend again.  Add in ice.  Blend.  Pour into a glass.  Drink.

Why do I blend in batches?  Mainly because my blender is not awesome and will give up if I put too much stuff in at once.  Can you throw all this into one blender and have at it?  Sure, if your blender is awesome you can.  But don't brag about it because no one likes a braggart.  Ha!

Ice or frozen fruit?

Okay, there are people who swear that using ice in a smoothie ruins them.  I'm not one of those people. I love ice :)  But if you are anti-ice, then use frozen bananas--the result will be a creamy, cold delicious breakfast that tastes like dessert.

What I Think About: Sexpresso

Yesterday my husband sent me a link to a news article to read. (<--Click that link to see the article) In it, he called this a "possible business venture."  So, I clicked the link and behold, a scantily clad Le Cafe owner is causing a problems because she likes to serve drinks in barely there outfits (FYI--There is ZERO possibility in this being a business venture for me!).

Here's one of the tamer offending outfits.

Photo Source

Anyhow, this cafe owner is practically becoming a celebrity in her neck of the Italian woods ... but not every one is happy about it.  And when I say "every one," I mean women.  In fact, the women in her refusing to let their partners go to Le Cafe for a drink.

This sort of news story always gets me.

For starters, how is this news again?  I mean, she's wearing more clothing than women on the beach AND she's 34 which isn't under age so I don't get why this is such a shock.  Plus, she does work in a bar (which is not exactly a beacon of morals to begin with).  So we have dirty politics, inflation, unemployment, war, disease, poverty, and a sexy bar maid.  How is this news again?

Secondly, really?  I mean on one hand you have to give this woman some credit.  Talk about brilliant advertising.  But on the other hand, does a "really" brilliant and successful woman have to show her breasts to be successful?  I don't know.  Let's ask Hillary Clinton, Irene Rosenfeld (CEO of Kraft) or my mother.  Yes, I do think I could get some sort of skeezy business off the ground in my town if I hired young, ample breasted women to strut their stuff but in the end, I prefer to be successful based on my hard work and abilities.  Not my ass{ets}.

I could insert some sort of diatribe here on the sexualization of women but I won't.  I'll save that for a whole other week.  Stay tuned (and you're welcome).

Finally, I love the power play of women folk not letting their menfolk go to this bar.  I guess this is on par with not letting your man go to a strip club.  Or walk past a Victoria's Secret store.  Or go to the beach.  Or turn on the TV. Or watch a movie.  Aren't there half-naked women everywhere?  I'd feel like a real hypocrite saying, "you can't get a beer from a girl in a low cut shirt but how about we go to Cabo--even though that means we'll be sharing the sand with 20-somethings in thongs ..."

What I think is that if Matt wanted to go to this place I would NOT go with him.  But I wouldn't fight him on it either.  I guess I'm lucky that I married the sort of guy who does not go to Hooters because HE thinks it is degrading.  But would I ban?  Nope.  I have enough confidence in him and our marriage to know that one barmaid's breasts aren't going to ruin anything.

What do you think?  Would your let your significant other go to this bar? Are the women jealous or on the right track?


 I love participating in Shell's PYHO on Wednesdays!

 

Days of Play: Patterns

Preschool and kindergarten children really work hard on creating, identifying, and extending patterns.  Even adults do this, to a great extent.  Think about the pattern you notice in your checkbook when you go to Starbucks too often or the pattern you notice when your child doesn't get enough sleep.

Patterns are everywhere.  Help your child recognize, create, and extend them.

Activity #1

Find patterns in your house.  Go on a "pattern hunt" and try to find patterns on clothing, blankets, painting, games, etc.

Activity #2

Create a pattern.  Gather objects of all sizes (buttons, coins, water/soda/juice lids, pasta shells, etc. and make a pattern.

Describe your pattern to your child and let your child describe his/her pattern to you.

Create a pattern and have your child extend it (or continue the pattern for you).

Extend your child's pattern.

Music Monday: Panic! At the Disco

I only know two types of people: the people who think Panic! is brilliant and the people who think Panic! sucks the joy out of life.

I'm not sure why this band seems to inspire such passionate love or passionate hate but they do.  Lucky for me, I'm on the love side.  I think Panic! is one of the most underrated bands.

Last summer I was supposed to go to a Panic! concert but instead I got to spend time with the sinister knife man and my husband's friend went to the concert.  Rats.  He did buy me a T-shirt but I feel like a total impostor wearing it.  You should only wear concert T-shirts to concerts you've attended (unless retro).  It's a rule.

Did you not know that rule?  Sheesh.  Amateur ...

Without further ado, my beloved Panic!

Nine in the Afternoon




 I Write Sins Not Tragedies (offended by people saying G. damn? Skip this one).

 

 New Perspective (my fave!)