Blenders and Smoothies

Hi there everyone....gosh, it has been 7 days since I last posted. Where has that time gone???? I guess I must have taken a short "blog break" or, I just did not feel like blogging...just seems to be too  "much stuff" is coming at us at a rapid pace.

The news on the radio and TV has been so unsettling lately, so many bad things are happening around this world....so sad, the devastation, lawlessness and lies and down-right meanness, one to another. I don't know, it can't be very long now, that the trump will sound and Jesus will gather His church home. That surely will be the greatest day ever!!!

So in the mean time we live our lives and occupy till He does return. Taking care of ourselves and those around us in our neck of the woods.

I have a blogger friend that sent me this blender through Amazon for my Birthday. Oh my, it was a total surprise. I am really loving this little machine. It sure makes some good smoothies AND soups too. (which I blend then heat up on the stove or in the microwave. My previous blender was sounding like a "cement mixer" and could only hold half as much as what this one does.....yeah, I am really liking this blender a lot.

Today's smoothie was:
1 Halo tangerine (peeled of course)
1 cup coconut water
handful of greens (any kind...right now I am using "Power House" greens that have kale, spinach etc)
1/2 frozen banana
handful of frozen fruit (strawberries, mango, pineapple)
1 Tablespoon plain Chobani yogurt
1 teasp. chocolate superfood from NutriBullet

Mix it all up in the blender and "wah lah" a dandy smoothie!!!

The other day I made a vegie soup in the blender that included:
1/2 bag carrots (1 1/2 cup)
2 tomatoes
1/2 red bell pepper
1/4  raw beet
2 handful spinach
1 glove garlic
1/2 teasp. sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
pepper to taste
2 cups vegetable (Swanson)broth
Blend, then heat. Great with some thin crackers...yum, yum.

I have been doing these smoothies pretty regularly for the last 6 to 7 weeks, one smoothie a day. To date, I have lost 14 lbs. Yes.....I feel pretty good, and getting lots of vitamins in my body that were not there. Also, taking Vitamin D3 every day. I have noticed my blood sugars are not so high. So, I think this is a good thing. After struggling so long with my weight, I think I found the "magic pill" that works for this old lady!!!! Something that has been so elusive to me.

Well time to close and go walk Kylie around the block.....or should I say, she takes ME for a walk....lol!!! Weather will be nice for the next week, so we better walk while we can, except it is SO dark out...ish!!!!

Have a good one and keep looking up!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Chocolate Please..........

Hi there everyone. Hope your Sunday evening is special and relaxing. My husband is on a "pity party" right now, and seems to like blaming me for his problems. Although he says it is not, I still feel guilty. So my evening is not so special and relaxing. I think I will go hide in the basement and make some cards till the storm passes by.

Lately the "lemons" have been falling in abundance!! "Sweetest Day" came and went yesterday and my "supposedly sweetheart" did not acknowledge me or the day, he's not very romantic. Oh Well. Finally I reminded him and he said, "what do you want??" I said, no card, no flower, how 'bout a nice "Prime Rib from Festival Foods???" He said, "okay"...huh!...maybe I should ask for some chocolate too?????

We went out to eat today....that was nice. I had a "freightliner omelet" 3 eggs, cheese, fried potatoes and bacon and rye toast. Gosh was that delish. I took half of it home for breakfast tomorrow, or lunch. I did not do my smoothie this morning so I must more then make up for it tomorrow. I have lost a couple of pounds...but not enough to say "I am losing weight" because of my smoothies every morning.

Oh well....I guess a smoothie a day will hopefully keep the Doctor away. I do feel better, so that is a plus. My blood sugars today was 110 this morning....good numbers for me.

The roofers may show up this week and work on our roof.....I hope....the weather is suppose to be nice this week. I will keep you posted. We still have lots of leaves to rake in the back yard. But we have 2 more leaf pick-ups, so we are ahead of the game at this point. I have a leaf blower, so that makes the chore a little easier.

Let's see, what more lemons can I give you today that deserve some chocolate?????  My husband says there is dirt in our drinking water....and does not want to drink it. He wants a Brita water pitcher....okay I said, I will buy a new one for myself, in purple and you can have this one. Oh goodie, I have been wanting a new colored Brita pitcher....Chocolate!!!!!

I am not so sure where this blog is going, or where it went, maybe it is a bit of complaint here and there....but what are blogs for but to get things off our chest. I do feel better though, so thanks for listening.

You all have a good evening and enjoy your week.......don't blink your eyes too long cause these two weeks will fly by pretty fast!!!
Keep looking up and enjoy some chocolate this week!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Who Wants Some Coffee.....MEEEEEE

Hi everyone....hope you are having a wonderful day. It is sunny here and the temps are 16 degrees. Feels good, although I have not been outside, except to let Kylie out. It's been kind of a lazy day today, that's okay though, good to have a day like that once in awhile.

Need to finish the income tax paper work today, JP and I will go over it to make sure I have everything listed. Then Monday it goes in to the accountant. Here's hoping we'll get a refund of some sort. We certainly pay enough in taxes during the year. Did you ever try and figure out how much gas you buy for your car during the year? I went through the check book register...estimated about $1100 and that was not including cash, cause that did not go through the checking account. Geez, no wonder we're broke all the time.

Well, I think I need another cup of coffee......(wink, wink)

I have been on a diet the last couple of days.....fruit on Thursday, vegies on Friday and today it's fruit and vegies. Roasted some asparagus, peppers, onions, carrots and broccoli last night and finished it off today....did not even share with JP....it sure was good. I've lost 5 lbs so far, but I am thinking that is mostly water weight, so that does not count. Been doing a little bit of exercise in the evening. Using DVD/old VHS tapes for exercise, Wednesday night it was "walking with George Foreman" Thursday and last night exercise with Chris Powell from Extreme Weight loss. Tonight I might put a Richard Simmons tape in and revisit the 90's. He was always a fun person to watch and exercise with.

So tomorrow it's bananas and skim milk (I shall make a smoothie for breakfast) plus diet soup with cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots and spinach for the day. Monday I get to add rice with the soup and some tomatoes. We'll see how this goes. It is a cleansing diet also...cause bread, meat and lots of carbs are eliminated.

Well time to close, need to get working on the taxes. Have a great day and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

New T-Shirts and a Challenge

Today I went to Sandi's and we made these t-shirts. The "Three Crosses" is for the Pastor.
I bought the t-shirts at Walmart for $4.00 a piece.

This t-shirt is for JP, his birthday is this month. So, yayyyyyy, this will be his birthday present. Along with a free steak at BJ Clancy's and maybe breakfast in the morning. Our BIG splurge!!!

This is my t-shirt. "Keep Calm - God's Got It" just a little reminder for us all!!! God knows, and see's everything that is going on in this world.......not to fear!!!

This one is for Mary, the Pastor's wife.

A word about the challenges: Biz is having a challenge this month. She'll be doing 100 miles, in either swimming, running, walking, riding. My challenge for May will be:
100 + miles riding my stationary bike
Walking Kylie around the block every day this month (she will be a happy doggie camper.)
One smoothie every day for May.
Hopefully I can lose a few pounds this month.
My goal; to lose 10 pounds by September.
Okay, here we goooooooooooo!!!

You all have a good day and I hope you didn't get snowed under. Keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Ode to my Little Coffee Maker - Part 2

So here is a little snap-shot of my Melitta Coffee maker. I bought it back in 1972 or so. Used it for quite awhile, then put it away, often thinking I should sell it in one of my garage sales. It actually did make it in a sale but there were no takers...(thank goodness for that...huh??)
So one day I brought it up from the basement and started using it after my regular coffee maker died and have used it ever since. That has been a couple of years now....maybe longer. I have found that I am better off with 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day, rather then a whole pot.

Years ago I over-dosed on too much coffee, aspirin and diet pills, a bleeding ulcer developed and I was rushed to the hospital, bleeding from both ends in 1981. Actually, I did not learn my lesson the first time and again drank too much coffee and aspirin minus the diet pills. This episode was in 1986 and resulted with an operation and cutting the nerves in my stomach and my spleen taken out. Guess I almost died from that one but did recover. To this day, I do watch the caffeine intake. For many years I did not touch coffee and drank only tea. I started drinking coffee again about 2001 when I started working for someone who loved coffee. One of my many jobs was to make coffee and every morning would give him a cup. I had to learn how to make that PERFECT cup of coffee. Well, that boss left and I inherited a "new boss" who was also a coffee drinker, so by then I was close to being a "professional coffee maker." Also, another one of the bosses in the office liked his coffee too....but much stronger. I was making his coffee also!! So you see, I was making LOTS of coffee and I think that is where my down-fall came, cause that coffee would smell so good, I started drinking it again.

So here I sit.....my little coffee maker has bit the dust so to speak. I don't want to go with a 10 or 12 cup coffee maker because the temptation would be there to drink it allllllllllllllll and that would be dangerous for this girl. So, I shall continue my quest to look for a new one-cup coffee maker. Until then, I shall use T-filter sacs and dunk them in hot water.....makes for a good cup and I can keep it down to 2 cups a day. Oh, I still drink tea, lots of water and at the moment coconut milk and vegie and fruit smoothies. Not a soda drinker, too much sugar in that substance. 

The above picture is one of JP's meals that I make him for his late night dinner. Stuffed pork chops and roasted vegies. Cabbage, red potatoes, onions and kale. There's a dab of butter on top with some Mediterranean seasoning. Parsley embellishes the dish. He also likes his fruit with a dollop of yogurt on top. I think he had soup with this lovely meal also.

Tonight's menu is fish, broccoli and potatoes, fruit with yogurt and toast. He eats pretty good, but we do have to watch that his "gout" does not flare up and erupt cause that can last 4-6 weeks at a time. So we keep things simple with chicken, fish, chicken and fish and pork, chicken and fish, chicken and fish, beef and back to chicken and fish. With LOTS of vegies and fruit. Oh and he likes a fruit smoothie every day for lunch along with his big lunches.

Smoothie of the day:
1 apple
2-3 florets of broccoli
1/2 banana
1/2 cup coconut milk
Mix together and enjoy!!!

You all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!! Cheers ~ Louise

Birthday Cards and a Smoothie

I was asked to make a card for a man in Hilbert who turned 105 years old this week. Put the card on Facebook and thought I should add it here too. So what do you think??? Been having lots of fun making these cards, cause no two have been alike. I just picked up the "model T Ford" stamp at Hobby Lobby. So when I was asked to make the card, just so happened, I had the stamp.....good timing!

This is the inside of the "105 year old" card.

Here is a look at another one of my "Children's Cards" for a 9 year old. (that's a long way from being 105!!!). I can make this for a little girl also.....the ideas are endless, as long as there is a stamp, there is an idea!!! I will be putting this card up in my Etsy store in about a week or so. I think today I am putting #7 in my Etsy store today. The card will be for $3 + postage ($5 total). I should be charging much more for these cards as I put a lot of time into them. But I figure postage will cover that. I guess this is just a labor of love on my part and hopefully lot's of people will enjoy my cards and I will see a few more orders for them.

Had a smoothie this morning..........didn't exactly have THIS ONE. The above picture is one from a few weeks ago. BUT it looks pretty much the same........GREEN!!!!
Today's smoothie:
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 T Chobani yogurt (chocolate or any flavor you desire)
3-4 strawberries
handful of kale (what fits in the cup)
a few leaves of mint
a few sprigs of parsley
Mix altogether and enjoy!!

I bought a smoothie recipe book at Sam's club and found a few smoothies I want to try. There are so many recipes out there....guess it is just your preference as to what you want to drink.....they all look great. For me it is what I have in the house at the the time. Guess I will always have strawberries, blueberries, bananas, spinach and kale.....so that will be my "go to" every day.

Well, today will be a quiet day....guess I have to take my Christmas tree down.....it has Valentines on it right now.........thought about a St. Patrick's tree. Saw some Easter lights at Shopko yesterday and thought well, why not an Easter tree!?!? Don't think the husband would go for that though.

Took the taxes in yesterday.......now the wait to see if we get a refund.....hoping, hoping....please be kind Obama!!! Have to work on bills and balancing the check book today....another chore that takes awhile. There's never quite enough money to cover the bills....but it always seems to work out at the end of the month for some reason. Miracles upon miracles!!

Well, time to close here for today. Time to go make JP's lunch and get him ready to go off to work. You all have a great day and enjoy the weather that comes upon you. We are starting to get some of that snow that is hitting the midwest and 10 inches for Chicago. Guess we are getting snow-showers, better then rain-showers, ceiling doesn't leak with snow-showers.
Keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!
Cheers ~ Louise



Cold, Cold, Cold and Winter Smoothies

Buuurrrrrrrr..........Baby it is COLD out there!!! I think I want to hibernate for a couple of days.

Although, winter is actually good for us. It gives us time to do the things that get overlooked during Spring, Summer and Fall. Right?!?!?! I know there is always something that gets pushed aside, wish somehow there was a happy balance though. When I was 20 years younger I got those things done......but now, it seems to take a little longer to get all the things done and then I seem to find more things to do.....guess that keeps life interesting though.

Made another interesting Smoothie today....I am starting to like this new, hummmm, what would you call it, new lifestyle, regime, life change, diet, exercise, not sure, but it seems to be working for this old lady.

I call it "Coconut Chocolate Chip Chobani Green Smoothie"

1/2 cup coconut water

3 large strawberries

1 1/2 stalks celery (stringless)

handful of spinich

1/2 banana

2 large tablespoons Chocolate Chip Chobani yogurt

Mix together and enjoy!!

I am really having fun doing these smoothies and have lost 1 lb. YAY!!! (4 since I started). I know, I know it is probably water weight, but hey, I will take it!!! Still ride my bike 5+ miles every night and now have added my rebounder trampoline, maybe 1-2 minutes until I can build up to 5 minutes.  I read where 5-10 minutes a day works every muscle and organ in the body including the fat that bounces around too!!! Let you know how it works after about 20 days. Hopefully by the time I have to go see the Doctor, a few pounds will have been lost since the last time I saw him.

Well tonight is "Bachelor" and "Biggest Loser" have to record one of them, probably will be biggest loser as it is right by my stationary bike. So what would be natural but ride and watch BL at the same time...works for me.

Time to close, you all take care and keep warm  and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!!
cheers ~ Louise

Valentine's and Smoothies

Something new added to my Etsy store. A sweet little candy or cookie box for that special person or lover♥. It's the only one I have, so it would be considered a "one-of-a-kind" Valentine box. I priced the Valentine box at at $10 + $4 shipping.

I will be adding these Valentine cards to my Etsy store today. I think I will sell them for $1.50 a card or $9.00 for the set + shipping which will bring them to $12.00. Three of the cards say "Happy Valentine's Day" inside the card. One is blank and two cards say "hugs and kisses". I am working on a few other Valentine cards and will have them up in my store this next week. Hopefully in time for someone to see them and buy one or two cards for their lover ♥.

Today JP and I made a trip to "Pawn America" and finally picked up his new "used" accordion that was on lay-away since November. He is a happy camper now, and is going to see if he can play it at church tomorrow. We also hit EyeMart (an hour wait to get my glasses fixed), Woodman's (busy, busy place), Citgo to pay the Electric bill  (whew~that's off my mind) and Post Office (mailed a Netflex Cd back). When we got home, JP pulled out his accordion and started playing...nice!! Then he took off to go to church to clean and play his accordion.

Left alone, I made myself a smoothie for lunch...........I am getting a little daring with these fun drinks.
1/2 can coconut water
1 large mushroom
1/4 cup red pepper
1/4 cup avocado
Wasn't bad at all, not sure what the benefits were but it sure was fun to drink. I really needed to use the avocado up cause when I cut it open there were a lot of brown spots..........oh well, froze the rest in Saran plastic, hopefully it won't turn brown.

Well, I guess it is time to take down my Christmas tree and Village...(sniff, sniff) I am actually thinking of leaving up my tree and just take the Christmas stuff off and put Valentine hearts up....sound sweet??? I like the lights.........oh I'll see. Here is a picture of my village and Christmas tree, just in case you are interested.

My little village...I like to add something new every year, whether it is a building, people. tree  or accessories.  This year I added a building. See the garage, far left with the man on top the roof shoveling snow. I picked up the garage for $1.50 at the thrift shop.......not a bad deal. 

  Here you see my little Christmas tree. Not even sure how long I have had this tree.....it sure has been handy, it's a fiber optic tree and this is the first year the optic lights did not work, I thought I would miss them, but I strung lights on the tree and I think I actually enjoyed the tree more this year....guess that is why I don't want to take it down. If I decide to leave it up for Valentine's I will take another picture of it so you can see my "Valentine's Tree" and who knows.....maybe I might make a "St Patrick Tree" and an "Easter Tree".......hummmm that might be pushing it though :)

Well, I guess I will close this blog for today, you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Icicle's and Smoothies

Icicle's hanging out the back of our house. I took this picture from inside the kitchen window. 

Here you can see the icicle's dripping from the gutters. We're suppose to get some rain in the next few days. Hope we don't have "leaking roof" problems.

Well, I have been on the hunt for some smoothie recipes. Found a couple that I would like to try.
Had decided that I was going to do a smoothie a day (to keep the doctor away...lol). I make smoothies for JP everyday....do you think I would make one for myself??? NOT!! But I guess I shall change that and start making one.
The Doctor's office called today,
they want to check my blood and see what my numbers are for the AC-1~3 month check up.
That can be a real motivator to get me going on some kind of diet....
nothing seems to be working for me at this point.
Watching the salt in-take, sugar grams, carbohydrates, drinking more water, less coffee,
more exercise, ride the bike...etc. Sometimes I get frustrated and have a "fat day" and just want to EAT!!
No fun getting older and even harder to lose a few pounds as we age.
Maybe I should go to the Mall and walk around.
PROBLEM.....I need money, cause I would be wanting to shop and stop and look at things.
Something to think about though, I sure do feel better after coming back from a shopping errand.....where I have be doing a lot of walking. Maybe I should keep "walking at the Mall" in mind for 2013.

SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Orange Dreamcicle
1 navel orange (bought some cuties, no seeds)
1 cup of skim milk or vanilla yogurt
1/4 teasp vanilla
4-6 small ice-cubes
(I think I might add 1/2 banana and some spinach)

Well time to close this blog for a few days. It's 2:23 am and time to hit the pillows. You all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise