Monday, August 11, 2008

Bullet Breakfast

I think I've figured out my perfect work day breakfast, and thought I would share... I can't take full credit because I evolved it from a recipe by Tosca Reno in her Eat Clean Cookbook. I call it the Bullet Breakfast because I make it in the Magic Bullet (a mini blender). It's so quick and easy to make - especially if you use a food scale - with minimal clean up! Here you go:

Bullet Breakfast
1 banana
1/2 cup FF/skim milk
1/3 cup rolled oats (old fashioned oatmeal or 1 minute)
1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
1 scoop protein powder - vanilla or chocolate (I use Designer Whey)
1 shot of espresso (optional)
1 tsp honey

This is tasty with or without the espresso (or coffee). I think it's yummier (is that a word?) made with vanilla protein powder if you don't add the espresso.... but better with chocolate if you do (think mocha java!). This is a perfect clean eating breakfast... It's got the complex carbs for fiber, and protein to keep your sugar levels steady and keep you full. Plus, a dose of healthy fats and the kick of the espresso/coffee! If you try it, let me know what you think!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

My Mosaic

You can make your own too!

Instructions:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab’s Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.

Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food? right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favourite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name?

Saturday, August 09, 2008

I heart LUSH

LUSH is a company that sells fresh homemade cosmetics. A close friend of mine has been raving about their bath products for years now... and I never really paid much attention because a) there wasn't a store near me, and b) I'm not much of a bath person. Well... in my search to find more natural beauty products that come in less packaging, I stumbled across LUSH online and finally learned what all the fuss was about! WHY did it take me so long to get with the program? LUSH started over in England, and now has stores all over the world. What I like most about this company is that their products are homemade, and they publish their ingredients - which are good for you, and the environment.

The product that drew me to LUSH is their solid shampoos. I love that they have no evil plastic packaging, and they are great for travel because you don't have to claim them as a liquid/gel at airport security. The Seanik Shampoo Bar pictured to the left is the first one I have tried, they have a hockey puck type shape. I really like the way Seanik smells, it makes my hair soft and shiny, and I actually like the little pieces of seaweed. Each bar lasts ~ 60-80 washes depending on the length and thickness of your hair. I've ordered 3 more (right before the store near me opened - grrr), Godiva, Squeaky Green, and Karma Komba.

My new favorite soap (granted I've only tried a couple so far) is called Honey I Washed the Kids (HIWTK). It smells so good in it's honey vanillaness that you almost want to take a bite (no, you can't eat it). Besides smelling great, its creamy lather left my skin clean and soft, and the scent lingered for a while after my shower. I now have a slice sitting next to my sink, and I'm finding excuses to wash my hands!

Anyway... so far I have loved everything I've tried which includes Angels on Bare Skin (face cleanser), Mask of Magnaminty (face mask), Mudflats (soap with mud in it!), Skinny Dip (body butter), Seanik, and HIWTK. I have a few other kinds of soap, and a bath bomb that I am looking forward to giving a whirl. LUSH has definitely become a new favorite store... 4 days, and I'm already an addict! So, are you a LUSHie already? Have some favorites you'd like to share? Rants or raves? Leave a comment!