aloha

I wish this post was wishing you a happy "hello" from Hawaii, but sadly it is not.

However, if you follow this recipe you-Hawaii feels very close.  I conjured up a delicious smoothie the other morning and it was AMAZING!  During the summertime I am all about smoothies.  They are quick, cool, and keep me full for all the errands in the morning.  

What you'll need:

1 c. almond milk

1 scoop protein powder

1 T. flax oil

1/2 c. frozen strawberries

1/2 c. frozen mangos

1/2 c. frozen pineapples

1/2 banana

Put everything in your blender.  This pic reminds me that I really need to wash the top of my Ninja, so sad!  I had to mix mine up in the middle to make sure the mangos blended smoothly.  

Pour and drink up!  Mine was delicious and it kept me full for hours!  This morning I made one again for the husband and I, and I snuck in a handful of fresh spinach.  He never catches me and it gives you that added boost of nutrition.

Enjoy!

mmmmm.....oh my peas!

Saturday morning the mail man brought me the most beautiful thing-

I fell in love with Sarah's blog, Peas and Thank You, a year ago.  Her family is vegetarian, which I am not, but I love all of her recipes.  Everything I have tried turns out amazing!  Sometimes you try recipes that are deemed "healthy" and "clean", but they lack so much flavor.  Everything that I have tried from her blog has turned out amazing.  When I got the book I was ecstatic!  

So, I decided to break it in with her mmmmm sauce.  I put all of the ingredients into the blender and watched the magic unfold before me eyes.  

 We made quesadillas, dipped them in mmmmm sauce, and even the husband like it!!!

Well, you can't tell from this picture.  This is his, "I'm enjoying my food here, is it really necessary to take a picture babe?" look. 

 Much better!  Isn't he just so handsome?!?!  He loved the mmmm sauce and didn't believe me when I told him what all was in it.  (garbanzo beans, nutritional yeast, salsa, lemon juice, and other fun goodies)

We found these beauties at Trader Joe's and they made the perfect quesadillas, and were gluten free!  Daniel even loved them and came home from work the next day requesting the same thing.  

 Not only did I try her mmmm sauce, I also made her infamous Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls.  I had family try them when they were over for dinner and they all raved about them.  She even has a gluten free version of them!!!    If you are reading this right now I highly encourage you to check out her blog, and make the cookies for your husband right now.  Trust me, he will love them!

the battle

Right now there is a battle taking place in my head.

I think to myself, "Is it really August already???"  

Then I think, "Why yes, August is here!  I can totally be productive and get everything done.  Summer has been fun but it is time to get to work!"  

Today, I think I will let my mind continue to battle as I stay in my workout clothes, sit at the desk and waste too much time on Pinterest, continue making a grocery list (but never go to the grocery store), think about all of the chores that need to get done, sip some water to make this headache go away, and reminisce on all of the fun this summer has brought.

No, summer is not over yet.  But in my mind August signals the time to finally get back to work, prepare for another year with my little munchkins, and press on.  

I love this quote I have on my Pinterest.  It motivates me to continually work hard, seek JOY, and persevere through the battles raging inside your head.