Link Party Features

Thank you to everyone who came out and linked up at the #biggestlinkpartyever and to Ginger Snap Crafts for hosting! Along with the 40+ co-hosts, we had 782 links showcasing various DIYs, crafts, recipes, home makeovers, etc. These are my favorites:

Freezer paper stencil Tshirts from Delightfully Noted

Brick fireplace makeover from In Designer Jeans

Skinny Oreo milkshake from Will Cook for Smiles

Dark chocolate coconut mudslide cookies from Half Baked Harvest

Lego birthday party from I Dig Pinterest and I Did it Too!

Log cut coasters from Quintonwench

DIY chevron rug from Pneumatic Addict

Custom soap dispensers from In Designer Jeans

Target mirror hack from Pneumatic Addict

Peanut butter brownie cupcakes from It's A Lovely Life

Chocolate strawberry dessert wrap from Mommy on Demand

Blender mush... it's a texture thing.

I have texture issues. Like bad. Especially when it comes to fruit. Pears, peaches, applesauce, mushy berries... may as well be rollin' slime around in my mouth until I gag. So I've basically lived my whole life on a minimal fruit diet. Well, that doesn't fly when you're in charge of growing a tiny human.

I've never been a smoothie person before and until I became pregnant, never touched my blender. I am now, however, a smoothie fanatic! I've learned that you can't have texture issues when everything has just about the same consistency after a swim in the blender. So I figured I'd share with you some of my favorite smoothies I've been downing since becoming pregnant. Enjoy.  :)

Tropical Blend I

1 1/2 C. orange juice

1 T. lime juice

1 C. strawberries (fresh or frozen)

1 - 1 1/2 bananas

Ice

Tropical Blend II

1 1/2 C. orange juice

1 - 2 bananas

1 1/2 C. peaches (fresh or frozen)

Ice

Pina Colada

1 C. pineapple chunks (canned or fresh)

1 C. coconut milk

1 banana

1/4 C. ice

2 t. honey, optional

Green Monster

1 frozen sliced banana

1 T. reduced fat peanut butter

1/2 C. vanilla greek yogurt

1 C. unsweetened vanilla almond breeze or skim milk

4 C. baby spinach

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake (Weight Watchers)

1 3/4 C. fat free chocolate milk

1 T. cocoa

1 1/2 T. sugar

1 1/2 T. reduced fat peanut butter

1 1/4 C. ice

2 bananas, optional

*Yields 2 servings - 2 points per serving (excluding bananas)

Lil Arch definitely isn't going without an adequate amount of potassium. I think I buy bananas every 3-4 days. I love the fruit smoothies in the afternoon... especially when it was such a warm summer. The chocolate peanut butter shake is a perfect alternative to my beloved Oreos in the evening when I need a chocolate fix. Plus I feel so much better getting the fruit, protein and dairy intake rather than bingeing on desserts.

A word to the wise... the green monster requires you to immediately rinse out/wash your glass after finishing up. I've left the remnants of the smoothie in a Nalgene bottle for the afternoon and it may as well be the organic version of gorilla glue. We're talking wallpaper paste-like consistency and I don't know about you, but I don't have dainty lil Bambi hands that can fit inside a water bottle for a good cleaning. Just sayin'... 

Green Goo Smoothie recipe

Disclaimer: I do NOT like vegetables and I do NOT like healthy shakes/smoothies regardless of what you put in them. Unless a smoothie has ice cream and chocolate sauce swirling around in my blender, no thanks. Hoooooooowever.... I was feeling a bit ambitious and decided to try this spinach, peanut butter, banana and yogurt smoothie recipe I found online.

Aaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzing!

No joke! It tastes like bananas and peanut butter... that's it! Definitely my new lunch replacement drink. (Sorry Slim Fast.) I just couldn't get over how good it was! I only eat spinach occasionally on my salad, so the thought of liquid spinach grossed me out.

>Insert rant about spinach health benefits here:<

• One cup has 20% of the daily recommended fiber, which aids in digestion, keeps you nice and regular, maintains low blood sugar and curbs overeating 
• Contains flavonoids which have been shown to significantly protect against the occurance of certain types of aggressive cancers
• The vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium present in spinach all serve as powerful antioxidants that combat the onset of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure
• Contains the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that protects the eyes from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration
• The high amount of vitamin A in spinach also promotes healthy skin by allowing for proper moisture retention in the epidermis, thus fighting psoriasis, keratinization, acne and even wrinkles

...among other things.

Go ahead, give it a try. Even you picky eaters out there....

INGREDIENTS

• 1 frozen sliced banana
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
• 1/2 C. 0% Vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt
• 1 C. unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze 
• (or other kind of milk)
• 4 C. baby spinach (more or less)

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend/liquify until smooth.

Nutritional stats (approx): 350 calories, 10g fiber, 21g protein