I have many things to smile about in life, but the following is a list of a few things that made me smile last week.
I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate with milk. I typically use water because I don’t want the extra calories. It was a nice change of pace and it tasted heavenly. For some ideas on creating a hot chocolate bar and how to make the chocolate snowflakes pictured above click here.
A friend of mine gave me a recipe for cranberry salsa which I thought sounded wonderful. I’d been wanting to make it, but still hadn’t gotten around to it. As luck has it, I was in Costco and found that Ocean Spray makes a cranberry fiesta salsa. I have been eating it for several weeks with tortilla chips. However, I think there are many ways you could enjoy it. It would also be great on a turkey sandwich or on top of goat cheese or cream cheese as a spread.
I’ve been wanting to change the white wood slat blinds in my family room for the past year. I knew I wanted to buy a rattan shade, but hadn’t researched them yet for this particular room. Micheal at Inspired by Charm shared the above blind in Rangoon Umber from Select Blinds in a room makeover. I knew right away it was the one. I have bamboo shades in my sunroom and this blind is just a little different, but still has the look I’m wanting. I also love his blog. It’s very inspiring!
I’ve been contemplating buying a juicer, but I’m not sure I would use it. What I think I’m really wanting is to drink more green smoothies. I need to get more vegetables into my diet. I was excited to come across the website Simple Green Smoothies. I could spend hours on their site looking at recipes and reading all of their great tips and recommendations. I’ve signed up for the 30 day challenge and will keep you posted on how I’m doing. I made the Cilantro Limeade Smoothie because I happened to have cilantro and it’s one of my favorite herbs. I didn’t measure the ingredients I just guesstimated since I was making it for one and it was pleasantly delicious and refreshing. I just need to add some protein to it. I think I’ll buy some hemp protein and chia seeds. Are you a green smoothie drinker and if so what are some of your tips?
Downton Abbey is back with their new season and as always it has me glued to the television usually with a kleenex in hand. I love how the Crawley women are starting to be a little more independent even though they still aren’t able to dress themselves. Grandma Violet is hands down my favorite character. I can’t wait to hear what she has to say. It’s not just what she says, but how she says it (usually with a roll of the eyes included). Are you a Downton Abbey fan? If so, who is your favorite character?
I have been thinking about getting a juicer, too! I feel like I would be healthier with one, although I also fear I would let it sit in the pantry and get dusty. That hot chocolate looks delicious! :)-Ashley
I’m going to hold off on the juicer. I’ve heard a lot of mixed things about them. Evidently with certain models you lose a lot of the nutrients which sorts of negates the point. I’ll just stick with my little blender for now 🙂
You know I love downton abbey too! In fact, you turned me on to it!:) I love so many of the characters, but my favorite is Anna. She is always so kind and seems to be able to see the bright side if any situation. Although after last nights episode, we shall see, I was so shocked!! This situation will be a hard one to be positive about.
I do love Anna too for those same reasons. Angela mentioned she is sad for Anna after last nights episode as well 🙁 Now you both have me intrigued. I can’t wait to watch it tonight. I was tuned into the Golden Globes last night.
UGH. Anna is one of my favorites….and I’m so sad for her after last nights episode. Violet is another fave, just so wise! Cora is becoming my least favorite because she can just be so dumb sometimes….and Tom, really? men! Perhaps I’m becoming too emotionally involved in this show this season!
I was on a green smoothie kick for a while. I was able to make all the recipes with the blender I bought at Costco for $34. Then I quickly got tired of making smoothies and moved on. Was glad I didn’t invest in the juicer. (I remembered that my parents’ juicer sits in a dusty box in their laundry room, used twice).
I love the shades. Been looking for shades, too, and these are different than others I’ve seen.
I still need to watch last nights episode. I tuned into the Golden Globes instead. I agree with you on Cora 🙂 I’m definitely holding off on the juicer.
I’m doing a 30 day green smoothie challenge also. Tracy has a book with recipes as well. I usually just use the recipes for ideas and switch ingrediants with what I have available. I really enjoyed one using canned pumpkin and cinnamon. Yum! https://www.facebook.com/IncredibleSmoothies
Thanks Julie! I’ll have to check out your link. I’m sort of doing the same thing. Pumpkin and cinnamon sounds yummy!
Dawn, thank you SO much for the wonderfully sweet shout out. I’m in love with the blinds. I’m certain you’ll love them too!
xo Michael
I’m pretty sure I will love them too. I’ve got them ordered and just waiting for them to arrive. I’m sharing one of your recipes tomorrow 🙂 Thanks for all of the inspiration!
Of course I’m a Downton Abbey fan… and the Dowager is also my favorite. Even my husband laughs out loud at what she has to say (which means I’ve finally got him to watch, after all this time.. once he started he couldn’t stop and caught up from Season 1 in about 2 weeks)!
That’s funny! My husband watched the very first episode with me, but that was it. I think you have to watch a few of them before you get hooked 🙂
I’m a big Downton Abby fan too!!! Have you tried your Downton Abby wine? I still haven’t watched Sunday’s episode hopefully tonight. We have a juicer, Rob and Alex use it all the time. It’s a pain to clean. When they are done mixing all their fruits and veggies it looks brown…..I can’t drink brown juice. I just try to eat more veggies/fruits.
I still need to open my wine 🙂 I will soon! Thanks for the heads up on the juicer. I’ve read several things about them being hard to clean and I agree with you on the brown juice. I can drink green juice though 🙂
Cranberry salsa sounds delicious! I’ll have to try it!
It’s a little different than your average salsa. I always like to mix things up a little. It would also would be great on top of cream cheese with a cracker.
I have never had a green smoothie, but I must say that looked quite interesting. I love cilantro and lime…I will have to check that out!
Most of the green smoothies I’ve made taste just like whatever ingredients I’m putting in them. I don’t really taste the spinach. I think it’s more a matter of what the eye sees and green juice doesn’t look appetizing. However, simple green smoothies photos make them look good. I’ve enjoyed every one I made so far. I have another recipe I shared from Iowa Girl Eats that I posted on my blog in the past. It’s the green monster smoothie which is really good. You just taste the peanut butter and banana.
I’m not really a ‘hot chocolate’ drinker but, I like the idea of making it with milk. You might like this idea. Use a fat-free half-n-half, it’s from Trader Joe’s. I use it in my coffee.
Also, I just tried their Jasmine Green Tea – yummy!
Thanks for the tip Shari. I’m going to have to try their Jasmine Green Tea the next time I’m there.